SEVENTY - THREE: THE ICE GLADIUS

"Please, please please " I repeated as I opened the shop to see a new set of items, different from the last one.

I had no time to check for their description, I just needed it to be affordable and hopefully sharp enough to deliver a fatal strike to the massive creatures.

There were ten shop items and they included :

Potion of Healing 

Scroll of Fireball 

Elixir of Invisibility 

Enchanted Sword 

Ring of Protection 

Bag of Holding 

Amulet of Wisdom 

Boots of Speed 

Quiver of Infinite Arrows 

Wand of Teleportation 

All the items in the shop were screaming for money. There was practically none that I could afford.

"Jess!" Hassan called out to me, his voice echoing through the empty clearing now littered by massive carcasses of serpents of snow. He probably thought I was frozen in place by fear.

"I have no weapon," I said to him when I made my player's profile disappear out of my view.

At that point, he was standing on the massive pile of carcasses of countless serpents of snow while he held two immobile.

Sky had stopped near him, breathing raggedly and noisily as she bent over to rest from the madness that had just ensued.

That was her first true fight and from the look on her face, she was proud of herself. But then, what would happen to her when I withdraw the effect of the eye of solace? Would the fear overwhelm her or would it have dissipated by then?

I went closer to the gruesome scene carefully stepping on the creatures' slimy bodies as I walked towards Sky and Hassan. It wasn't that difficult to climb though the distance between the top of the pile and the bare ground was substantial. 

What presented quite a challenge was managing to keep myself from slipping...

It was a wonder how they could hold their selves from slipping with the level of slimy liquid oozing from the pores of the massive creatures.

The heads of the two creatures were raised towards the sky with the moon illuminating their still eyes and the dark aura that drew out from them to some distance above them.

"I don't have a weapon," I said again.

"You can use mine," He said as he handed his ice gladius over to me without as much as a sign of hesitation or second thoughts.

I wasn't expecting that. I was even planning to ask him to check out his shop for any reasonable weapon that I could use.

I hesitated as if I was unsure about receiving the weapon. I looked at his countenance as if I was looking for something to know that he was serious about handing over his artifact to me.

Artifacts were rare, even rarer than exclusive skills that popped out once in a while.

As the ice gladius dropped in my hand a warm surge of energy ran through it to the rest of my body. And immediately after that, just as I was getting accustomed to the soothing effect that the dagger gave I felt an overwhelming surge of power radiating from the dagger into my hands and the rest of my body.

You have acquired a new dagger; The Ice Gladius.

'No way' I thought as I watched the beautiful item; It had a slender, double-edged blade crafted from a gleaming, ice-blue metal that shimmered in the light. Its hilt was adorned with intricate frost-themed engravings and wrapped in supple white leather for a secure grip.

"When you're done with it you'll give it to me"

He said as a reminder. It was worth it though. If he hadn't reminded me I might have been tempted to think that he had gifted the dagger to me.

Every inch of my being felt alive as I wielded the dagger. I wasn't tired initially but I felt a burst of stamina envelope me and it seemed as though I could jump towards the sky.

Every sense was increased by sizable folds. Even my vision heightened and I could see farther than I could initially see.

My sense of smell worked in ways that I couldn't, and so I could perceive the horrid smell of the battle that had just taken place. I could differentiate between the different smells wafting through my now hyper-heightened nostrils. 

My ears could even listen to the feint heartbeats of the two creatures that were held immobile by Hassan. And my skin acted like they were ears, sensing for even the tiniest movement in the atmosphere.

So that was what it was like fighting with Hassan's dagger? The feel of the dagger was enough to tell of it's powerful nature. Was this the sole source of Hassan's ferocious battle craft?

"Hurry up, Sky" Hassan said with a forced sound as if he was growing tired of what he was doing.

I noticed that he had wavered a little bit when he was handing his dagger over to me.

It looked as though the dark aura he was pulling out of the creatures needed as much of his attention as he could give.

My movements with the Ice Gladius were swift and almost unrecognizable. it was as if the dagger was an entity of its own, guiding me through the necks of the massive creatures as I dug it into the necks to cut through the neck cleanly.

In one swipe I was able to completely sever the necks of the creatures as if there wasn't anything in them.

'What a monstrous item' I thought when a new notification popped up simultaneously as the creatures fell to the ground to join the pile of other serpents' carcasses.

Congratulations

You have cleared your quest

Rewards;

A serpents fang

A new quest; unlocking in 120:00:00

Who cares about some lousy notification when you have to check out the description of an awesome item?

Immediately after clearing the quest, I dove into my player's info and then into the inventory to get a quick look at the dagger before the owner requested it back.

Name: Ice Gladius Dagger 

Description: The Ice Gladius Dagger is a weapon of elegance and deadly precision.

Function: This dagger serves as a versatile tool for both combat and utility. Its primary use is in close-quarters combat, offering exceptional speed and precision in slashing and stabbing maneuvers. Additionally, it possesses unique magical properties related to ice and cold.

The secondary function of this dagger is to enhance the user's physical and mental capabilities. When wielded, it can infinitely increase the wielder's stats, such as strength, agility, intelligence, or other attributes, by a remarkable 200 points.

Properties:

Icy Enhancement: When wielded, the Ice Gladius Dagger can be infused with magical energy to unleash chilling attacks. Upon activation, it coats the blade in a layer of ice, dealing additional cold damage to foes.

Stat Enhancement: Upon activation, the dagger channels magical energy into the wielder, granting them a significant boost in various stats.

Frozen Defense: In defensive use, the dagger can create a temporary protective barrier of ice, capable of blocking incoming attacks. However, this ability has a cooldown period before it can be used again.

Safeguard: The dagger can only be used by its attuned owner. Others who attempt to wield it will find it inert.

Resistance to Extreme Cold: The dagger's enchantment also extends to its user, granting them resistance to extreme cold weather conditions, when it's being wielded.

Durability: The dagger is exceptionally durable, crafted with precision, and enchanted to withstand the rigors of combat. It can be used repeatedly without showing signs of wear.

Origin: The origin of the Ice Gladius Dagger is steeped in legends of a powerful ice mage who created it in the heart of a frozen, mythical realm. It is said to have been a weapon of choice for a legendary warrior known for their ice-cold demeanor and unmatched combat prowess.

Value: The Ice Gladius Dagger is a prized possession among adventurers and collectors alike. Its value extends beyond mere currency, as it represents a fusion of artistry, magic, and martial effectiveness. In terms of significance, it is considered a symbol of power and control over the element of ice.

Note: Wielders of the Ice Gladius Dagger should exercise caution when activating its icy abilities, as overuse may lead to the freezing of the wielder's hand or, in extreme cases, self-harm.

As I hastily glanced through the information about the majestic item my heart beat faster in excitement. If not for the eye of solace that was activated there would've been anxiety mixed in with the feeling of excitement.

It was as if I was doing something bad as I looked at the wordings that described the Ice Gladius.

"Can I have it back?" If he had said this a bit earlier I wouldn't have finished reading through the information.

All thanks to my fast reading pace; it came through for me all the time.

"Okay," I said as I handed the dagger back to him, as I simultaneously relinquished my ownership of the dagger.