A smell, rotting and fetid, and entirely far too familiar. Though it lacked the added scent of oil and smoke that accompanied the discharge of guns, or the sound of explosions that came from artillery fire.
This was the smell of a battlefield. When I focused I could even hear the distant sounds of battle, an odd shout as well as the clang of metal. Frowning at that, that meant this world was far less advanced than my own. It would make sense, if their technological advancements did indeed go along the route of these...Rings.
I even felt one on my left index finger. I opened my eyes, slowly. I didn't need to deal with any damage or disorientation when I was so close to a battlefield...Correction, on the outskirts of it, if the bodies of men and women surrounding me were anything to go by. Tents, dead animals, turned over carts with far more non combatant personnel than there should be told me this had been a camp of some kind.
I tried to get up, but fell back again causing me to grunt before forcing my body to rise. If this worlds war time was anything like my own during the Dark Ages and the following centuries, there would be cut-throats and thieves combing this place soon. I needed to move.
I took stock of my area, little in the way of information with that. Just several dead women. Frowning, I looked at my own arm. Thin, the bone clearly visible beneath the paper thin skin. The only time I'd seen a child's arm like this was from malnutrition, abuse/neglect, or a disease.
I doubted the Goddess would place me within a body riddled with disease, she needed me alive after all. That left neglect, abuse, or malnutrition. Likely all three if the pain from my ribs was anything to go by. I took a deep breath gently, wincing at the pain. At least two broken ribs. My right arm was limp at my side as well, when I tried to move it more pain. A fractured or broken arm.
I wasn't going to get far as I was either. She said something about a status screen, like those games my Munchkin had played as a child for her rewards. 'Status' I thought, and information flooded my mind, simplified information. Short and to the point by the looks of it.
{Name: None
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Social Standing: Slave laborer
Patron Deity: Hekal, Goddess of War, Fire, and Rebirth
Mana: 70/70
Str: 0
End: 2
Dex: 1
Mind: 5
Injuries - Three fractured ribs, one broken arm, suffering from malnutrition.
Rings -
Soul Forge - Perfection, Devour, Mask of Deceit, Location, Translation}
I was off by one rib, sloppy. Malnutrition was accurate and it seemed this body was incredibly weak. No doubt due to those exact reasons. Strength spoke for itself, Endurance no doubt representing defense, stamina, things along that nature. Dexterity likely meant my own personal speed and nimbleness. Mind had to deal with just that, my mind, resolve, ETC. The mana was odd, but was likely some form of internal resource this world had for everyone.
I'd learn more when I was in a safer location. The Ring, my Soul Ring, was apparently called 'Soul Forge'. I knew the abilities it possessed, I'd selected most of them. First I needed to get my priorities straight.
A weapon was needed, weak as I was I should still be able to take someone by surprise. Then I'd need to find a way to get out of here and find someone to pump for further information while using the guise of a defenseless and pitiful child. The 'Slave' part in my social standing area might cause issues. I'd take those on as they came however.
I looked around my immediate area, seeing no one actually looting the dead for some reason, but thankful for it. For now, I picked up a small dagger, seemed to be made of iron, and tested its weight with a few swings. Imperfect, but it would do for now.
I had planned to take any Rings I found as well, use that Devour ability if I couldn't use them myself, but none were here. That might be what was actually looted. It was logical, if Rings were the central force behind this worlds magical system.
Alright, test my abilities. See if I can create a Ring that would be useful to me. I looked at my Ring, my Soul Forge. It looked normal enough, though an emblem of an anvil and hammer were emblazoned upon it. I frowned while thinking of the ability, focusing entirely on the Ring itself. 'Location'.
A small map popped up within my mind, it showed multiple glowing circles all around me and growing further to the right of the map. Where the battle was? When I focused on one dot information popped up for me.
{Human Corpse
Condition - poor
Grade - G
Unusable due to excessive damage done.}
I see, so even corpses were used as Materials. It made sense, if Monsters were in this world. The condition was interesting as well. I cared little for the grade, mostly because I knew anything I created would have the ability to grow in strength somehow. I searched for 'excellent' quality materials.
I ended up gathering, through sheer force of will, ten different materials labeled 'Perfect' a condition higher than 'Excellent'. One female Corpse, she had been dressed in really fine garments, likely a Noble of some kind. Two sets of studded leather armor, one was for me. I'd have to strip it of pieces to make it fit. A perfect condition sword, two bucklers, and two daggers as well. The other two materials were odd crystal like things, one was pitch black and the other a blinding white.
Holy Soul Crystal
Condition - Perfect
Grade - C
Grants a Ring the Holy affinity
Dark Soul Crystal
Condition - Perfect
Grade - C
Grants a Ring the Dark affinity
An interesting function. I placed both on the body that was going to be used, the armor, sword, buckler, and extra dagger joined it on the body. An overlay came up when I thought about creating the Ring.
It had my available materials, those labeled as mine, and then a section where I could mentally drag them. I frowned in concentration, moving the female's body to the 'Primary' section of the overlay.
The overlay changed slightly, showing the Ring that would be made at the top. 'Champion Ring'. It might mean I'd gain some form of creature from this to fight with me. It would make it easier to survive until I gained more information as well.
I moved the armor, sword, buckler, and dagger then. Nothing changed in terms of the name, but it seemed to flow in. I wondered if there was a limit to the amount of Materials used. I learned I could only use one of the Soul Crystals though, each one changing the name of the Ring to either 'Holy Champion' or 'Dark Champion'.
It made me want to make another, but these were the only 'Perfect' Materials that I could safely reach. I had been lucky to find the woman's corpse as it was. No other corpse was higher than 'Decent' condition.
I selected the Dark Soul Crystal, confirming the desire to mold the Materials into a Ring, taking the Holy Soul Crystal away from the pile and storing it in a poorly crafted pocket in my torn tunic. It was simple enough, being the size of a pebble.
When I confirmed it, the body, the gear, and the stone lifted into the air and began rotating slowly in a circle. The Stone went to where the heart would have been on the corpse, while the gear seemed to liquefy and mold itself onto the corpse.
It took five minutes, five minutes and enough light to show my location to anyone with half a mind that was looking. It was enough to set me on alert, constantly scanning my surroundings and ignoring the rest of the apparently automatic creation process.
A soft ding, the sound of the Ring hitting a rock on the ground no doubt, echoed out when it was done. I moved toward it, picking it up and eyeing it slowly. I rotated the Ring between my index finger and thumb absently as I stared at the skull shaped item. Intriguing, the Rings shapes were likely an aspect in determining what kind they were, or what they did.
{Death Knight - Paige
Grade - E
Durability - 20/20
Affinity - Dark
Type - Summoned Guardian, Growth.
0/30,000}
So, the Ring became an E rank creation. I had a few theories about that, it could be because each of the used Materials were 'Perfect' rank, or the Soul Crystal being C grade. I'd figure out a lot of this when I gained a source of information.
Sliding the Ring on, I absently activated the Mask of Deceit ability of my Soul Forge. A list popped up, it showed what the Ring could be masked as. Apparently it was relegated to type, grade, and if some information was shown.
I fiddled with the settings and changed the Rings visible screen, apparently it could indeed be observed, to something worse than it was. Visibly it became something less likely to be desired, in my mind.
Death Knight - Raw Recruit
Grade - G
Durability - 5/5
Type - Summoned Guardian.
It was apparently the weakest available option for the 'Death Knight' series of Rings. At least that was the judgement I came to. It was also two levels below what my 'Paige' Death Knight actually was. There was a very large sum to learn. This was providing enough for now though, albeit all of it was circumstantial and theory at the moment.
Moving on, I figured the numbers at the bottom of the actual status screen was what needed to be filled to increase the Rings Grade further. The issue became how it would increase if it was a Summoned Guardian. Did it go by length of time summoned, how often it was summoned, or how much it battled to increase that number?
I slid the Ring onto my right index finger, wincing at the pain involved in moving the broken limb. I'll need to splint that soon, breathing was also beginning to get more difficult. I'd be overwhelmed by the pain at this rate.
I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply while I focused my mind enough to ignore the growing pain that was steadily growing from the abuse I'd done to this already beaten and battered body. Opening them, I got to work. Searching the area around me I grabbed a few of the broken bits of wood from the tent remains that littered the area around me, a few bits of fabric that I tore from a nearby corpse, and some bits of rope that was burnt and frayed at the edges to create a split and limit the movement of my arm.
'Summon' I thought at the skull shaped Ring. Whether it was the thought or the intent behind it I did not know but a round wispy looking thing escaped the Ring before taking shape before me, kneeling in subjugation like a Knight of old might its Liege Lord.
I could feel my brows rise slowly, matching my shock and curiosity. Before me knelt a woman with the same general body shape and looks of the Corpse I had used during the Rings creation. Curvy, in that way women with just the right amount of muscle and fat were. Hair flowing down to her waist, though blood red in color as opposed to the black of the Corpse. Her head bowed in supplication blocked any view I would have had of her face, though I believed it would be waspish and sharp featured like the corpse had been. A classical 'Noble' appearance.
Bone white skin, blue veins snaking along her exposed flesh. It created an odd contrast that was interesting, if disturbing. The armor I had used was ultimately G grade, even if 'Perfect'. It also seemed to be far less than the full set I had originally used. Instead she had half of a leather chest piece, no vambraces or shin guards. Let alone Pauldrons. The sword was the same, strapped to her waist with a dagger on the opposite hip. The buckler, once metal bound wood was now simple hardwood.
A quick glance at the odd point accumulation section of her Ring showed no increase in it, so that limited how it would increase. Likely the time it was summoned would be the correct assumption. A whispering, rasping voice with a small feminine edge came from the kneeling Death Knight soon after.
"My life for my Lord, my sword to kill your foes, my shield to take their blows. Accept my pledge and binding word."
Odd, that seemed rehearsed to a degree, though I half expected it to rhythm better than it did. The silent rasp of air passing a throat that did not need moisture, air, or anything else a living being might need did add an air of horror to the creature itself.
"I accept" Charming, my voice was childish and sounded as weak as I felt right now. Puberty was not an experience I personally looked forward to in this world either. My thoughts paused momentarily though, because the Death Knight raised her head after I accepted her pledge and I saw her face.
It was indeed as I said, though her lips were painted a deep red. It made it seem like she had been drinking blood and failed to wipe her lips dry. Her eyes showed her to be truly inhuman though, a pale milky white that only the dead would possess.
I fought the involuntary shudder that threatened to shoot its way down my spine as I looked into those milky-white orbs. It still happened, but I chose to ignore it. "Do you have a name, Death Knight?"
May as well test a few more theories while I was waiting. "Only what you wish me to be called, my Lord." came her raspy reply. I noticed her teeth were pearly white, it was at odds with what I believed something called a Death Knight should look like. Everything about her was, in truth. I'd take it in stride. I attempted to call up a Status screen for her, wondering if it would be the same as her Rings.
{Name - None
Gender - Female
Race - Undead
Social Standing - Death Knight - Paige
Affinity - Dark
Mana consumption - 30
Str - 5
End - 6
Dex - 4
Mind - 3}
Very interesting. So it took my Mana to summon her, though it seemed a one time usage. A glance at my own Mana showed it was down to forty out of seventy. Time would tell if it regenerated over time or not. I wondered if the Durability on the Ring would decrease if she fell in combat or not. Preferably not something I would need to concern myself with until later.
Her Stats were far higher than mine, a given based on exactly what she was and the fact I was a ten year old boy who looked more undead than the actual Death Knight. I wouldn't concern myself much with Stats like that however. Believing them to be more guidelines than fact would serve me far better. A hunch, but I had learned long ago to follow my hunches.
I heard movement somewhere behind me, an audible intake of breath that signaled someone about to talk and my Death Knight rising in a fluid motion, drawing her sword and moving to place me behind her.
My only real thought was that while the motion seemed fluid, it wasn't. I'd see if she could be trained properly later. I turned, slowly, to look behind me. The individual began shouting in a high pitched, entitled manner, before I had even completed the motion. I might have just found my source of information after all.