20 Chapter 20 Final Trial
Chapter 20 Final Trial
After looting all of the dead bandits, I was quite happy with the haul we got. They had many resources on their bodies, from herbs and potions to rare metals, and even common-grade artifacts.
"Blaze, why don't you use your soulbound on all your equipment? Wouldn't it make more sense?" Glaze asked as I was organizing everything in my storage. What she asked was indeed a good question, one I often thought of.
"That's because it's lv is too low to do much, when I got the skill, along with the bonus rewards for my quest. I was able to, only turn two items, into growth items. That could be bound to me. So far, only growth items can be bounded to me, and I have, a limit of 4 for level 1 of the skill so far.
It would cost me over 100 skill points to upgrade any item unless I found either, a mid-level magic core or a monster core with a level of 20 or higher, which is quite a lot. I was lucky to find this growth weapon here, only because it's been severely weakened, was I allowed to bind it, along with the spirit inside, basically allowing it. If I'm not strong enough I won't be able to do much with the skill."
After giving my long-winded explanation. It seems Glaze was satisfied enough not to pester me more. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to change next, as equipment can always be changed and unless I just really love how one piece looks or feels, then I'd be a waste of a slot.
Honestly, I was better off using my points to increase my skills at least for now, as they only cost, five per level till hitting lv 10, then I'd be double, and so on. I started to feed all the weapons to silver, the blade shaking softly, taking in the knives and bladed weapons, it would accept nothing, but bladed weapons. It would only need a few more to get to lv 2 as for raising its grade, I would need at max 10 normal-grade ice cores.
Basically, equipment had nine tiers, Trash, Common, Uncommon, Rare, elite, King, Epic, Emperor, and Mythical.
There are 4 types along with a ranking being on what soul it has. Holy, Cursed, Bewitched, and Void.
Holy is having a pure non malicious soul in the weapon that brings many benefits, but is picky on the user and will reject the evil or bad
Cursed being, that which is infamous, and holds many grieving souls down to it that could drive one mad. Anyone can use and will its malicious and destructive power, however, it can corrupt the wielder and twist their mind and, or can possess them and gain their body.
Bewitched is similar to Cursed, however, it is neither malicious nor good, its major straight is its ability to push its or the wielder's will onto others, however, if the user is weak-willed they can be influenced by the blade itself. It mainly houses mischievous souls who wish to play tricks on all, may it be just or, self-harming.
And finally, we have Void. Being a soul of pure destruction may be a friend, self, or enemy. They are the most dangerous to use, as most are self-destructive, may it be them killing the holder or the blade itself, destroying itself from the sheer power it holds.
Seeing as how Silver Snow submitted to me, I should be able to see what soul it had. Closing my eyes and holding them, I tried my best to feel the link between our souls. Soon many different voices kept whispering away like crazy, It was starting to become unbearable as more and more grew louder and louder, yelling, shouting, laughing, singing, and chanting.
Dropping to my knees, yet keeping a firm grip on the pure white handle. I wasn't going to falter. I was the master, not it! Giving out a defiant growling and howling, the voices became more sporadic, yet unified, soon I could make out a sea of gray and white souls, twisting and merging to make a single formless being.
We stared each other down for what felt like years of constantly, goating and trying to assert dominance. Only for what felt like forever, the being bowed before me. If it was at its full strength, I know without a doubt I'd be swallowed whole, by the bewitching souls. They were still too weak to speak at least clearly let alone take a shape, but just this was more than enough.
It bowed before me, meaning no matter how strong it becomes, it will never try and conquer me as I and its master and it is my blade. Waking up and looking around, I was only outta it for a few minutes. Glaze was sitting on the floor, a barrier of ice blocking the hallway to keep us safe. "Heh good job, hun," I said to her amusement and smiling.
Getting up with Glaze we soon headed deeper picking up the pace, we wasted too much time here. I feed the hearts to my system, putting them into stat points. So the 49 would be halved to 25 as it rounded up, thankfully.
_Status_
Blaze Nights
Race: Lower Werewolf (evolution at lv 10)
[Ather core grade incomplete]
Bloodline:-----
Lv: 8
Exp:1976/5000
Gold:161,005
HP:500/500
MP:450/450
Str:64
Int:60 lv cap hit till evolution
Agi:75
Con:55 lv cap hit till evolution
Luck:19
stat points:0
skill points:42
I was quite surprised to see I'd hit a level cap but, it did make sense I'm a lesser level being and I must evolve to get stronger, but I had a loophole.
[Natural Hardness] was a skill that gave stats not stat points and it was how I had the possibility of a hidden evolution so im lv it as high as I could.
[Apex armor] gives the user natural armor making one's skin and muscles more resilient to damage as well as making one body into one of the apex predators for each level user gains 50 con this skill can only be leveled up by taking severe Physical trauma and or by... ....second ability locked till [Devour] reaches lv 10. Previous skills benefits will not be applied only the first level of [Apex Armor] will be applied.
_Status_
Blaze Nights
Race: Lower Werewolf (evolution at lv 10)
[Ather core grade incomplete]
Bloodline:-----
Lv: 8
Exp:1976/5000
Gold:161,005
HP:1000/1000
MP:600/600
Str:64
Int:60 lv cap hit till evolution
Agi:75
Con:100 lv cap hit till evolution
Luck:19
stat points:0
skill points:2
Honestly, I was both happy and mad at the points I was given. If it kept the 80 from the old skill would have been great, but it seems this is how the system will keep me balanced at my lower evolution, too much with a lesser body would kill me so that was great anyway.
Soon I hit a dead end, or so I thought, teleportation runes lit up under me bringing me into another trial room. Looking around I saw it was just me as a large female gargoyle statue, was in front of me.
"Fuck me.." I said out loud as she began to shake and come alive standing up straight, her polished marble body was well detailed and also very naked as nothing was given any modesty, whoever made this was a pervert or the Statue itself hated clothing.
"haha seems my looks have you smitten and even before I explain the rules!" It bellowed out, picking up a large halberd.
"Bullshit, j-just tell me what I gotta do. and why are you naked!?" This was gonna be hard to focus on as she looked absolutely amazing, a perfect work of art, but seeing how she didn't attack me, I'd yet to draw my weapons. For all, I know she could just be an overseer of the dudgeon trial.
"Ahh yes, yes I am milla. I oversee this trial, which is a trial of endurance the reason I'm bare is that clothing is useless when I'll fade away from my ageless body, and I rather give the participants some reward, before they die if they can survive this trial haha!" Milla boasted
Well, I won't lie seeing this was quite a reward to see in itself, but I ain't gonna give in. I gotta win this trial! "Bring it on!" I said confidently
"you're a perv blaze.." Glace said on my shoulder as I was starting, shamelessly at her shiny well sculpted, literally, body. Soon, multiple golems started to walk out of the dusty arena as they were all lv 15 each.
"They will fight you constantly one on one kill 5 you'll get low-rank rewards, kill 10 silver, kill all 25 and you'll get to pick 3 rewards, or you can fight me and last more than 10 minutes, and you'll go to the inner sanctum!" Milla said.
I was not going to fight her in any case her lv was ??? I would fair better trying to kill all 25, I was ballsy, but not stupid. Clearly, I would get something way greater if I could bet her or last more than 10 minutes, but my instincts told me not even to try it. So I went with the tried old method of, killing all the mobs over a boss.
"I'll take on the golems, ma'am". She looked at me curiously, before her head shook slightly as if something hit her barely, and snapped her fingers.
"W-wait, what are you doing? I didn't agree to this !?" I yelled.
The golems, all started merging together till, there was one very hulking mass of rock and metal in front of me nearly twice my size, roaring out loudly, shaking the very ruins themselves, as it was visible even outside the realm. Many were scared or excited, believing the inner tomb opened, finally after, 300 years.
"My master has ordered this so Lycan's successor, your trial is this. Destroy the golem or die. succeed and you will be brought to the heart of the Dungeon itself to my master your time is no longer in your favor. The magic holding us here is weakening with your arrival. STEP TO THE CHALLENGE OR SUBMIT TO THE WILL FOREVER!" Milla declared.
I had nothing I could do, but give this my very all. Summoning winter's snow to my hand I drew my knife with my left as glaze took flight around me ready to help. Milla gave a smile before it became a wide grin throwing her hand out as the golem charged at me. I really, hate my luck...
