53 || Ancient Alphabet's Reappearance! A Continuous Dungeon?

Of course in the eyes of the various NPCs, currently any Explorer is nothing more than a child learning to read. They only have access to the most basic of Skills from their point of view. Only those who are Iron, the third tier, NPCs are considered true powerhouses in Renovel. These characters' strength allows them to govern over towns, to say nothing of rulers of cities within a kingdom or empire.

While they aren't certain of the difficulty of the Quest, many of the Super Guilds and first-rate Guilds are sure they could easily amass many Obsidian players. However, those that had opted not to join the Crossover event would curse themselves if news about this reward leaked. Being able to become an Iron powerhouse wouldn't be a dream if they held onto the Tier Crystal.

"Should we divide and conquer? Split up into three groups of 8 with the Novelists together as a fourth?" Asuka asks, looking over the map. Each group could then take a section and they could meet up for the last one again. While the Event lasts for five days, each session is only 12 hours as opposed to 48 hours of Adventure Mode. However, it wasn't known if the drop rate is the same in each area.

"That sounds good." Tara agrees with a nod, earning a glance from Asuka. Tara merely smiles at how Asuka looks defensive, "I was hoping we could at least look at the mountain the Elder mentioned. I think that's our true goal in all of this."

"Then we'll take my sister and Crane to investigate." Asuka asserts before anyone can volunteer.

"But--" "Wait--" Both Syringa Fang and Ribbon are about to speak up before Asuka's glare stops them. Tara laughs a little at the wounded puppy look her girlfriend gave, placing a hand on her cheek.

Sassy Daisy and Amethyst Crane happily join the Novelists to investigate as the others organize themselves. In rows of two, Asuka and Pakeeja took the front, Hanit and Izel took the middle with Daisy and Crane, as Tara and Aelix brought up the rear. Tara keeps glancing over at Aelix now and then before Aelix chuckles.

"Why are you so nervous?" He asks, knowing very well why Tara was nervous.

Tara, despite her parentage, is just an average girl with a better standing whereas Aelix is a well known celebrity and actor known for both female and male leading roles. Aelix's gender fluidity was partly why he is able to turn the hearts of anyone who glances at her.

With the introduction of virtual reality systems, the movie industry has flourished and evolved. Gone are the days of dangerous physical training and stunt doubles. As long as parameters are set and with some introduction to a variety of martial arts are made, action movies in particular were realistic without any chance of injury during filming!

"Relax a little, I'm just a person like you. You know, one of my favorite character's once said that despite being showered with praise and affection, it's very hard to form any genuine connection. Only those I'm closest to were offered to join our little Workshop. You're one of the few I hope I forge a bond with as well." Aelix muses, taking out her spear and adjusting his shield a little.

Aelix looks to the bickering Pakeeja and Asuka while Hanit pulls Izel away from inspecting an odd plant. A soft look appears on her handsome face and Tara can't help but feel her heart beat quicker as both Oorun and Wolyung purr in delight.

"Pajeeka and Izel met at Valorian Academy when they were younger. As they tell it, the two were little devils and constantly in trouble. I met Asuka at a premier party for one of my movies a few years ago."

"And Hanit?" Tara looks at the quiet girl as Izel describes the importance of cataloging new plants when visiting a different place. Hanit nods patiently, offering her own insights but insisting on caution before approaching anything.

"In a similar way that you're the bridge that connects us all together in this world, she's the same in the real world. Hanit Alvarez complets Pakeeja and Izel's little trio and," The soft smile Aelix has curves an impish grin, "When we met Asuka introduced her as her betrothed."

"She what?!?" Tara shouts, causing the front group to pause and look at her. Aelix beams at Tara's reaction and waves them all off.

"From the way it sounds, it was an arranged marriage from birth. If what I heard is true than Hanit's the heiress of Southeast Asia's Smiling Kapre, similar to Starshine Industries." Aelix theorizes in a private chat.

Tara looks to see Sassy Daisy now at the front talking to Pakeeja. Tara wonders, as she watches Asuka keep her distance from Hanit.

"Then why didn't she let me bring my girlfriend? And why reject Syringa?" Tara wonders back in the chat. Aelix snickers, almost tripping over a loose root at what had crossed her mind.

"For that you should either ask Asuka or Hanit," Asuka says as they catch up with the others, who have finally broken through the treeline onto a worn road. A stone archway greets them before the road continues up the mountain and converges onto the mountain path. The mouth of a cave can be seen in the distance.

"Once the beasts weaken." Asuka reads off the stone from the symbols etched into the archway. Her face wrinkles in confusion and fear. She immediately turns away and walks several yards. Concerned, Hanit follows after as the rest of the group can see what's written.

"No it says 'Defeated sacred shall.' in Damaric, the language of rulers. Not sure what it means though." Aelix reads with confidence. A look of recognition crosses Izel's face before she pulls out a notebook and begins writing what the two had just recited. Only Tara, who stops in her tracks, can read the message clearly as it's exactly the same as the ancient script:

"Once defeated the sacred beasts shall weaken the gate. Finally I can decode the archway in front of my school!" Izel arranges the phrase, still excitedly scribbling down the symbols as best she can.

"You said it was called Daramic in your Story?" Tara asks, weighing whether she should share what she knows.

"My father said it was used by powerful ancient people. A single letter written on a page could hold as much energy as Magic Scroll. I suppose what I can't read is a different dialect though the only reason I'm being taught some of it is because I'm royalty." Aelix sticks out her tongue cheekily and throws up two peace signs.

Asuka looks haunted as she returns with Hanit rubbing a hand on her back.

"Are you okay?" Pakeeja asks her friend, having never seen her like this.

"I've never seen this writing before in my Story. I don't know how I was able to read any of that." Asuka admits. In her World she has already fought many life and death battles but nothing shakes her more than her body going against her wishes.

"I discovered a book written in Daramic and something else. Like you said, when I use it for inscription or making arrays, they become supercharged. I don't really know their origin." With Asuka instinctually being able to read half of it, Aelix being taught the other, and Izel inevitably decoding the ancient language, Tara sighs and pulls out her diamond scroll containing the translation key she made.

"Asuka, irog. Seeing as these letters are something that are showing up in multiple Stories, Tara most likely feared Divine Intervention from the System if she were to share it with us." Hanit warms with a smile, deflating Asuka's shift into the much more comfortable rage and distrust of her family's rival. Tara's head bobs, handing the code towards Asuka as if the scroll will ease her mind.

"That makes sense, I guess." Asuka relents and takes the scroll. Some of the alphabet she clearly understands but others are blurry like it was filtered. Tara passes a version to everyone, even Sassy Daisy and Amethyst Crane to share with the others. At the mention of Divine Intervention, Tara recalls something that happened after her attempting to enter Adventure Mode.

"Izel, how's your hand?"

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Izel continues copying the scroll into her notebook without looking as she is ambidextrous, holding up the marked one, "So far it doesn't do anything, but occasionally the eye moves!"

Everyone looks at Pakeeja who hasn't said a word. Instead of the playful planning look Pakeeja has shown to have, they seem deep in thought as they're pacing now back and forth. Worry creases their brow before Pakeeja sighs, their fingers no longer moving through the air. "Daisy, Crane, I hate to say this but we might have to sign a contract."

In order to prevent secrets from being leaked, contracts within virtual reality could be made. They are immediately enforced by both the Main System and the law. If said contracts are broken the punishment could vary from a fine to a destruction of one's character!

"Oh good finally, some practice," Daisy grins as she quickly but carefully goes through the terms and conditions. Amethyst Crane also takes her time but most of it is basic stuff and they're all friends as she goes to--"I have some arguments with this line here."

Pakeeja and Daisy both drag Crane away from the group for a lesson. Tara's a little confused about what just happened. According to Asuka, while she is trained more towards combat growing up Daisy is reared for the management and legality.

Even small adventuring teams like them were still large organizations. While the teens could very well make money off of virtual reality games, details like bank account numbers or payment days needed to be carefully handled. Having someone like Daisy who was specifically taught the tricks and tips would help their teams' run more smoothly, especially since they had branched out lately.

[Would you like to enter the Continuous Dungeon: Sacred Beasts` Path?]

"Continuous Dungeon?" Tara immediately back tracks from the archway as the notification pops in her head. Asuka steps forward and receives the same thing.

"Dungeons that are done in several parts, unlike just facing Mobs and at least 3 bosses. From what I was told, they're so laborious that some actually have resting spots that double as record spaces. That way if we were to die we'd just return to the previous point." Asuka imparts.

Those that chose Solo mode for the Event in Adventure Mode would find themselves in one such Dungeon. Because dying doesn't guarantee exiting, those who are too weak to complete might find themselves stranded. Luckily, unlike usual Dungeons, they wouldn't lose a level if they died plus any items they gathered were retained. So while they wouldn't receive the same benefits and treasures as the Super or Ultra Guilds who would likely clear these quests, the lower Guilds didn't hesitate to send people in order to gather rare resources or items.

There is a downside in sending people into Solo Mode and that was the introduction of a new feature: Reputation!

With enough Reputation points one could aspire to Baron within a city. The privileges of gaining nobility included not only discounts but the ability to purchase Land. However, with the new system the price of Lands had skyrocketed: even the worst locations are sold for no less than 100 Gold to say nothing of premier spots near Auction Houses or Coin Transfer.