New Quest: Enter the Dragon
You have been tasked with restricting yourself to only the dreadfang style. For the duration of the incursion, you must use only that which Master Zahif has taught you. Wielding any weapon other than your fists will invalidate this quest. For every monster you slay unarmed, you will gain a stacking Experience and reputation bonus.
Sam wasn’t thrilled with the quest, but he wasn’t about t...
2024-10-10 01:19:32 +0000 UTC
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Sam’s days were filled with blood, sweat, and pain. Zahif was an excellent master. He taught Sam through trial and error. Showing him how to perform the maneuvers first, then having Sam practice with real-world inspired drills.
After the first day, the training sessions were private. Everything he taught Sam was for Sam alone. Zahif was very strict about anybody else except for Komachi viewing the training.
Something that Sam was ambivalent about. The first d...
2024-10-04 15:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Sam returned to the Scarlet Lotus later that day, his inventory stuffed full of new things from the Empire. He could have spent weeks exploring the markets and still not see a tenth of what they had on display.
He had little interest in entertaining offers from the various guilds that approached him while shopping. He was more than happy where he was.
Zahif was one of the Masters of the Scarlet Lotus. One who was willing to train him. If there was anything Sam ...
2024-10-02 15:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Zahif gave Sam and Komachi a tour of the markets.
They were overwhelmed with choice. Though he had just eaten, Sam found he had the appetite for more. The twinned cities were a melting pot of cuisine and craftsmanship.
It was hardly what he expected in a place that was regularly attacked by monster incursions.
He dug into a steaming bowl of red curry, topped with fresh slices of pineapple and a fruit that looked–and tasted–just like mango. He opted fo...
2024-10-01 03:47:47 +0000 UTC
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His cat brandished her brush.
Droplets of blue paint splattered across the floorboards. The paint beaded together and rolled to a stop.
Sam watched, waiting for something to happen. The stuff glowed faintly with the presence of mana. It reminded him of the sea.
Komachi aggressively shook her brush at the paint. The beads bounced on the ground like ants on a trampoline.
Komachi tilted her head back and yowled in frustration. “Whut gives? It’s not workin’ ma...
2024-09-27 20:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Sam took Komachi to their room, where he hoped to spend the rest of the day sleeping away the fatigue of the last few days.
It wasn’t every day you fought ghostly pirates, sorceress lamias, and stood on the frontlines of a city’s invasion one after the other.
He barely had enough time to lock the door before he collapsed onto the low-lying bed. Just for peace of mind, he jammed the key into the lock so he would hear if somebody tried to pick the lock. If th...
2024-09-25 20:34:20 +0000 UTC
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As Sam looked over the older abilities he had earmarked as being potentially useful, he started to question his earlier decisions.
[Flash]
(Hybrid Ability) (E-Class)
(★ Common)
Swordsmen see their weapons as extensions of themselves. Through their weapons, they can perform a myriad of feats that would look like pure magic to any onlooker. By channeling a small amount of mana to your bl...
2024-09-25 20:34:10 +0000 UTC
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The most obvious thought struck Sam right then. I could tell Zarishna everything. The missing Lumanots, the Dead Echo, all of it.
The chances were slim she would ever believe him.
Worse, his being here could dramatically alter her fate. He would need to be careful. He didn’t want to Back to the Future himself out of existence.
If Zarishna’s fate didn’t follow the path that it took to bring Sam here, then what would happen to h...
2024-09-20 18:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Sam looked around for some kind of marker. He had no idea where the Goldgate was. Thankfully, nearly everybody there did. Sam only had to follow the tide of bodies, readying themselves for battle.
Zorin tapped Sam on the shoulder and pointed to the second level, where the press of bodies was much thinner. “The Goldgate is through there. It’s the northernmost gate. We can get an advantage over the others by seeking higher ground. Fewer monsters, but even fewer peo...
2024-09-18 18:00:06 +0000 UTC
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An army is attacking the gates!
You are enlisted in the defense of the city. Earn your share of gold and glory by fighting for the Empire.
You gain combat provisions:
(3) [Imperial Health Potion]
(2) [Imperial Bandages]
(2) [Imperial Mana Potion]
(1) [Minor Monster Repellent]
Sam looked questioning...
2024-09-17 06:24:26 +0000 UTC
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Sam tumbled to the floor and collapsed in a sprawl. The unsettling sensation that draped across his frame announced his return to the Dead Echo. It was a gripping, numbing feeling that stole over every inch of his body.
He wanted to lie there forever, unmoving, unfeeling.
It was the Lumanot, instilling him with vitality, that got him moving again.
That and Komachi’s small mewling as she came around, clinging to his arm.
A brilliant light lifted fr...
2024-09-14 01:00:01 +0000 UTC
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With the addition of the Food Court to their number, Sil’mara’s population had ballooned to over 300 souls. They routinely fished people out from the Maelstrom’s sweeping currents, usually only two or three at a time. The Food Court, on the other hand, had over a hundred well-fed and feverishly loyal subjects to the Burger Queen, Molly.
Raiko didn’t mind their desire to be separate. The Food Court was almost entirely self-sufficient, which made things easier ...
2024-09-12 01:00:03 +0000 UTC
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K’thran, the lamia typhoon dancer, watched the lone human drop from the prow of the ship. How easy this would be! The stupid and the brave always were so kind to send out their heroes to be charmed and pulled into the embrace of the lamia.
Turning a brave champion against his own was the greatest pleasure a lamia knew.
The songstresses began to sing a discordant harmony, their serpentine hips swaying in time. For a moment, K’thran watched as the man stumble...
2024-09-10 01:51:19 +0000 UTC
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“The bane o’ every sailor,” Galbast told him. “Ye couldn’t ask for a more fearsome enemy to face! The Talmoori scare their children with stories o’ the lamia. Sailors would rather bare their teeth at a hurricane than squabble with a single lamia.”
“Are they workin’ together?” Komachi asked, looking between Galbast and Sam. “Or are there just that many monsters?”
Being pinned between these two groups was too much of a coincidence for Sam...
2024-09-06 20:00:04 +0000 UTC
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The fight against the pirates through the night was long and grueling. Despite how much Sam longed for rest, the thrill of battle pushed him on.
When the Wavedancer was trying to outpace the pirates, it was harder to keep his eyes open.
There were brief periods of respite where Sam’s arms could rest. Zahif, too young to fight but wanting to pitch in all the same, rushed around to bandage and offer meals to the weary fighters.
Though Sam could s...
2024-09-04 20:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Ghostly skeletons climbed up the side of the Wavedancer. Rusted, barnacle-encrusted weapons clamped in their teeth promised an agonizing end. Mostly broad, curved scimitars, and knives made for slashing rather than stabbing.
Really hope magical tetanus isn’t a thing here, Sam thought to himself.
Komachi strummed an instrument. A wave of healing magic flowed down the side of the Wavedancer. Silvery flames erupted from the ghosts...
2024-09-03 20:07:52 +0000 UTC
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At the end of the first night, Sam went to check on the cargo hold. Most of the crew gave him a slap on the back or a quick smile, but they were too busy still putting everything to rights to pay him much mind.
It didn’t take him long to scour the hold. Not because it wasn’t big. The hold was massive. Whoever designed the system for storing cargo down here was a genius or severely afflicted with OCD. Despite the storm last night, everything was in its proper plac...
2024-08-29 16:51:21 +0000 UTC
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Komachi rubbing her paws together, then kneading the downed mage with [Healing Biscuits] didn’t do much to calm the ship crew down.
“I know this looks bad,” Sam said, holding his hands up.
The captain shoved through the press of bodies and bared steel. “Put that away ye salt-addled fools! Can’t you tell this man just saved our hides? Or have ye been listenin’ to the calls o’ the lamia?!”
Several crewmen stared at their feet and shifted about.
“...
2024-08-29 16:51:02 +0000 UTC
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Sam thought that the lurching, disorienting sensation of being thrust back into the flow of time last time was bad. This was on an entirely different level.
The large man slammed into the hard wooden floor as salt water rushed and flowed over him. Hail and stinging rain pelted his exposed skin.
Throughout it all, he kept a tight hold on Komachi. He kept her tucked up into a ball to protect her from the jolting sensations that rolled through Sam’s body in wave...
2024-08-29 16:50:44 +0000 UTC
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The Skyshard’s barrier flashed above, repelling errant chunks of rock and debris. The storm seemed to be lessening. Green lightning strikes were replaced by chunks of shattered Skyshards that disguised the Maelstrom’s corrupted meteors.
Haman didn’t look up from kneading this batch of [Endura Dough]. He didn’t even seem to notice anything was amiss. The mandragoras scattered, pulling out wooden weaponry as if preparing for another fight.
There had been ...
2024-08-23 21:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Matt rested within the tunnel, safely out of sight of the agitated spiders. There were two distinct groups fighting each other now. Each believed the other was the aggressor, while Matt was able to rest and recuperate.
It was Matt, of course, that had peppered them with poisoned throwing daggers. Good thing they didn’t know that. His MP was on the low side, even after pacing his attacks.
There were that many monsters to work through.
Rubbing his hands t...
2024-08-22 21:00:03 +0000 UTC
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When Matt awoke again, the Shardscript was still there.
[Toxin]
Few are capable of taming the toxic nature of plants and animals. Most creatures who rely on said toxins are only ever resistant, never immune. The mire of poison you waded through to reach the start of this road represents more than a burgeoning talent for understanding and controlling toxic substances. The difference between poison and medicine is one of dose, and you...
2024-08-20 21:36:26 +0000 UTC
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Matt was in a dark, damp hole.
Again.
While it wasn’t the typical one, it was pretty much the same deal. At least it wasn’t a hole Raiko dug for him and stuffed him into. Oh no. This hole was horizontal.
Very different.
He crawled forward on hands and knees, keeping up a litany of cursing that would make a sailor blush. Or rather, he tried to crawl. It was more like a wriggle. Dragging his limbs through the thick sludge had him sli...
2024-08-20 21:36:07 +0000 UTC
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Matt looked over at Raiko. “Why is he doing that? Is he having a stroke?”
“No,” Raiko said grumpily, “he just got something good. Really good.”
“I got a ‘Skill Talent’,” Xero told them excitedly.
As Xero explained what the Shardscript told him about it, Matt’s mouth hung open.
“Paths can do that?!”
“So it would seem,” Raiko said tersely. “Of course you would get a lucky break.”
Haman looked between them ...
2024-08-17 01:05:02 +0000 UTC
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Your [Heavy Blade] Skill has reached (★☆ Uncommon).
For all the effort he put into that strike, it certainly appeared to pay off. Sam had used [Heavy Blade] frequently since his intense training with the Empress, but this was the first time he saw the skill improve.
It was little wonder since the skill was E-Class now. Unlike F-Class, where he could expect some consistent growth, E-Class clearly had much higher requirements.
Just ...
2024-08-17 01:04:45 +0000 UTC
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“That was a nice thing you did,” Komachi told Sam as he cut-and-thrust around the parrying blade of an automaton.
It was a testament to how much they had both grown that they could hold full conversations in the midst of battle.
Twisting on the balls of his feet, Sam lashed out with his new sword and cut the automaton in two. “I can only imagine how much Zarishna misses her home. Somewhere out there are pieces of Earth, but even if there was never another...
2024-08-17 01:01:54 +0000 UTC
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The first thing that resolved in Sam’s hazy vision was Raiko’s worried face. Her violet eyes drew him in with the promise of safety. The shock of killing another man, the disorientation from the Remnants’ transportation, and the pain piercing through his torso was too much to bear.
Sam slumped into Raiko’s open arms.
“Sam!” Komachi cried. “I healed him, but…”
“Oh, the weapon,” Raiko said, full of sympathy. “It’s still in his back.”
...
2024-08-13 01:11:41 +0000 UTC
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The hideous, profane Tower rose out to pierce the veil of Oblivion mana that surged and roiled around the heart of the Maelstrom. Following the edicts of his newfound family, Quinn had tried to use his Oblivion mana to destroy the Tower.
He had to break the Cycle. It was his duty.
A duty he had failed.
He knew what was wrong now, why he had been too weak to infect the Tower and spread sweet release to all within Il’dran.
An older man step...
2024-08-09 18:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Sam’s next footfall landed on leaf mold. He was immediately assaulted by a dizzying sense of movement. As if he had been plunged into a roaring river.
Komachi licked her paw as Sam nearly went down to his knees in agony and disorientation. It took her a few moments to realize that Sam was struggling, because the cat had absolutely no ill-effects from suddenly entering the normal flow of time.
Gritting his teeth, Sam staggered forward through the wide clearing...
2024-08-08 18:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Sam had never used his Void powers in this way before, and he sorely doubted it would work, but he had to try. There was no way around the dreadnought, no way under or over it.
The only way was through.
Using his aura to supercharge his Path skill, Sam’s body was covered in a protective shell of purple-and-black Eschan flames.
[Escha: Surge] coated Sam and Komachi as they launched themselves at the dreadnought. Komachi screamed, as much in exci...
2024-08-06 06:11:32 +0000 UTC
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