Accidental Reaver

The soft white light from the crystal floating above the food filled table dimmed.

Faint music played, although not in any style Luke had heard before. Perhaps something native to this world, yet not available on Earth. The previously comfortable booth felt more constricting by the second.

Emalia gazed at him with blue irises, "Your battle with Janeus displayed a capability beyond what's reported about you, Luke. You have me intrigued. I still offer you an invitation to attend the Fasa auction with me. Perhaps I could help you acquire any items of note that you come across there?"

Phrased that way, the offer became more tempting to Luke. This auction could allow him access to items he had no other way of being in contact with currently. Add in that he suddenly came into wealth, and having someone help with that upcoming event wouldn't exactly be a bad thing.

"There's something else you're after, I take it?" Luke tried to show no outward signs of acceptance or denial.

Slowly bringing Luke's arm to her chest, Emalia said, "That depends. I suppose you'd like additional information on what happened to your father?"

Now, those are dangerous words. Luke tried—and failed—to keep the burgeoning power within from coming out. Light mist flushed from him. Fortunately, he sapped the frost from it.

A monic Mage appeared, staff at the ready, having come from the teleportation circle, "Relinquish your technique, Defier. Your actions are proving hostile."

Luke trained his gaze on the Mage in yellow-white robes, a smooth white wooden staff, and a black orb to its top. Based on the aura fluctuations, this fellow appeared to be in the third tier. A considerable force, one he couldn't exactly ignore.

Emalia pouted her lips, "Uncle, always such a worry-wart. This man here wouldn't stoop so low as to harm a lady like me. Now would you, Luke?"

Clutching a palm, Luke made the mist dissipate.

Winking at Luke, Emalia said, "There, Uncle, happy? Such a bother whenever another is around."

The monic Mage took on a grimace, conjured a mana cloud, and sat on it, trying his best not to look at either of them. Eyes shut, he crossed his legs, entering into some light trance.

"Now, where were we? Ah, yes, allow me to clarify. While I'm not at liberty to speak on the happenings around your father, that could change under certain conditions."

"Those being? Please don't ask for something ridiculous like eternal servitude or anything along those lines. Push comes to shove; I can find out on my own eventually."

Leaning in closer, Emalia said, "I can see this subject is a tender one for you, Luke. I would so like to reunite you with your dad. It must be a painful separation, and I believe my grandmother may have knowledge that could assist you with that. Entertain my wish to attend the auction with you, and we can discuss our…cooperation further."

The Reaver hated the uncanny ability some people possessed to prod him socially. It should be expected a noble would have such a skill set. Standing up, Luke brought out his sigil stone, "Connect with me through this. I'll attend with you, Emalia, but you owe me some information when I come."

"How delightful, may this be the beginning of a fruitful bond. To put your nerves at ease, I am in complete belief my family has nothing to do with the kidnapping your father underwent."

"Of course you would."

A short Interface log lined informed Luke he now could connect with Emalia Miel with his sigil stone, as could she to him. Having had enough people, Luke exited through the portal before other machinations could occur.

Luke appeared onto the material ground on the arena walkways.

Above, the reddish clouds had dimmed, and another duel was already underway. Drained in more ways than one, he tried to pinpoint an exit. A white portal with grey swirls floated near where he'd met the elderly tora man on a carved platform separated from the ring around the arena.

The Reaver couldn't catch a break today as Aruna stood there, waving wildly at him with a giant man with black hair, brown eyes, rippling muscles, and casual, soft clothes standing beside her. Judging by the faint flush on Aruna's cheeks, she was smash drunk.

When he turned his head away, Luke overheard her voice.

"Little brother. Little brother. I've got someone to introduce to you."

She meant well, so Luke came on over. When he did so, Aruna ringed an arm around his neck, hanging off him, occasionally hiccuping, "The big oaf next to me is our eldest brother, Aloysius. Say hi! Hic."

Before Luke could utter a word, Aloysius bear hugged him, "The elusive Ice Terror finally reveals himself. You are a hard man to meet, youngest."

Luke's bones creaked. The immense pressure from the man would likely crush a regular person. He hoped the big guy innately knew he could handle it, otherwise this did not paint a bright future. On the other hand, since Aruna was here—and seemed to have been watching—Aloysius likely saw his duel against Janeus. Any person with experience could roughly gauge his muster from that spectacle.

Subtly inspecting Aloysius, there seemed to be no weapon on him. Then again, most people didn't have a weapon that refused to enter your Inventory or storage. Tapping against the gigantic man's side, Luke said, "We must've missed each other more than once going in and out the branch. Annika has mentioned you quite a bit."

Boisterously laughing, the human man clapped his hands onto Luke's shoulders, "That she-devil is a crafty one. Since you came around, she's not bothered me about my Exalted Heart. Really, I must thank you, youngest."

While Luke's view of Annika had improved, the mention of hearts soured things. "You're welcome, for all the trouble she brings."

Putting his hands back in a pose around his hips, Aloysius puffed out his chest and said, "She means no real harm. Why the sour face? You've had a glorious battle. It got my blood pumping; I look forward to seeing you beside me in the Tide, youngest."

Aruna leaned against Luke and said, "You should've seen it, eldest brother. There's real hot blood in this one. Why, we almost came to blows at first, but now I dote on him. Haha!"

As people smashed drunk tended to do at inopportune times, Aruna fell asleep then and there, arms hanging around Luke's shoulders. Even Aloysius seemed caught off guard, scratching a cheek, "Aruna likes drink more than any of us nine. I'll see she ends up well, youngest. Are you still under Old Blade's mandatory sessions?"

Not used to the term, Luke thought, Old Blade? Wait, Iona called Musai that every once in a while.

Moving around his muscles and bones now that Aloysius had taken the burden known as Aruna off him, Luke said, "Musai makes good points. I can't find myself to refuse. As much as I'd like to go off and do other things, I'll attend his morning trainings at least until the Tide hits."

"Good man, Musai can be rigid, but ultimately, he's like a grandfather to us. He is the pillar of us all. Learning from him can do you no harm." Aloysius poked one of his massive fingers precisely where the Spectral Heart lay in Luke's chest, "We need to have a conversation about this thing within you. But not here; I'll see you at Musai's realm, youngest."

In a blur, Aloysius rushed off, barely perceived by Luke. The speed failed to wake up the drunk Aruna, though. The Defier pair entered the white-grey swirling portal, exiting the pocket realm. Seeing no reason to stay here now that his business with Janeus had concluded, Luke leisurely followed suit, leaving the arena realm through the same method.

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Back to where the night began, Luke lay in his dorm bed, this time in snug, soft clothes.

His items were all kept in the Inventory, except for one compass, tome, and sword wand. Sooty had come out to tackle hug him for a short spell before going right back to training. His crow certainly was hardworking—more than him. Oddly enough, Sooty showed no signs of exhaustion. Maybe she'd come to enjoy slime bullying with her friend Lulu.

Luke chuckled at the thought.

A slight draft cooled the dorm room, and a soft moonlight slipped in. Half an hour ago, believing maybe he needed to wash up again before sleep, Luke did just that. Xera, showing some social awareness, conversed lowly with Wayfinder, who lay on the nightstand next to Luke's bed.

You'd think the low-tone chatter would help lull him to sleep, life had something else in store for the Reaver. After a while, he'd come to the conclusion that his body needed less sleep yet again.

The first vitality threshold did this, ascending to tier one did this, and now, following that pattern, the second vitality threshold did it again. Things were not looking good for the dream world, not that he enjoyed most dreams lately.

It provided temporary relief to the constant monster slaughtering and city maneuvering. By now, Luke adapted well to this more violent and cutthroat world. Coming to terms with him needing roughly half the sleep he did before, Luke skimmed through what came next.

The Ruined Realm would be locked out until roughly the afternoon for him. This time around, he'd go alone, and should the Shadowed Sanctum be occupied, leave for the Spectral Wing instead. As for Crystal Demon Point—the last subsidiary dungeon beholden to the Silver-Black Tower—there was a sort of waiting system applied to it.

Due to its gauntlet nature and unique respawn timers, only four teams could delve the dungeon every twelve hours. Before heading back to his dorm, Luke had visited the Hunters Branch, registering for a slot.

If not for being a Defier, he'd be forced to wait until after the Tide came, but under the circumstances and the privileges that came with it, he managed to snag a spot in the late morning ticket two days from now. The auction also happened to be on that same day, but in the evening, everything worked out on that end.

While in the Hunter Branch, he picked up an interesting piece of information: Tower entry would be barred three days before the Tide. By the coming morning, there'd only be five days left. If he peered out his window, he'd see the walls crawling with stressed magitech engineers, trying to ready the ancient structure for its most strenuous job.

With only really four days left to prepare, as he anticipated he'd lack freedom on the final day beforehand, Luke tried to plan ahead to make the most of it. The Ruined Realm likely needed another delve or two, plenty of monsters in the later sections could grow him, and he'd yet to hit level fifty.

That left the sessions with Musai, checking on Sooty every so often and perhaps fitting in some crafting. He'd amassed plenty of gear and crafting materials from that Vampiric Wing clearing. Using the Hunter's Branch Repository, he'd gotten plenty of materials relevant to Runic Enchanting, a bit more gold, one rare equipment, and uncommon items better than what he currently used.

By far, the three drops from Arjanax were the most valuable, and Luke couldn't forget he possessed spare gold, a resource he could use to acquire other useful items. The Reaver came across an issue that wasn't all that surprising if he used some forethought.

With the quality of his gear, any real upgrades had to be of rare quality or better—not exactly easy to get your hands on. Demand always outstripped supply, still, exchanging the two aforementioned rares he acquired in the Vampiric Wing, Luke managed to get two others he felt better suited to him. As for the remaining uncommon items, he Disenchanted them outside of a particular few for practice.

As a result, his second profession ability, Disenchant, leveled up to Tier 1, Rank 2, while giving him a small supply of runic enchanting materials. Even with all that done, Luke lay here, stumped as for what to do.

Now is as good time as any to sort out the rares. And a few other tasks I've been putting off.

Lifting the black blanket, Luke settled his feet onto the cold hardwood floors, not that they felt that way to him, he could just tell they should be. He was an ice man, typical cold felt tepid to him. Always.

A sigil stone appeared in his hand, and he attempted to connect to Lilly. To his surprise, the call went through. An image of a priestly woman appeared on the sigil stone.

"That you, Luke? It's three in the morning. What are you doing awake?"

"Turns out, I don't need as much as sleep as I used to. Would you be interested in meeting up in the early evening?"

"I'd love to. Should we start in the same place? The food bar? I can get the girls to go easier on you this time."

"And get grilled by that motherly bar lady, Lisandra, again? Could do worse. Sure, sure, we can start there and see where it goes. You sound tired. Catch you later."

The Reaver cut the connection after Lilly gave a hurried goodbye. The girl seemed to want a longer conversation out of politeness, but Luke could hear the sleep deprivation on the other side. No need for him to drag it out. The Reaver had gotten a rough count of all the Beast Crystals he looted—roughly two hundred and fifty. The three hour farm session had paid off, not to mention all the drops in the Shadowed Sanctum.

His goal was to get Sooty a passive ability through obtaining one thousand of them. He'd set about clearing the other dungeons for them, but for that to work, the monsters had to be roughly level thirty-five. Even then, it rarely showed up until creatures were level forty or over.

Most interesting out of all the gathered loot, outside of the two rares and Arjanax's drops, were an item called Vampire Smith's Armor Token. Asking around, Luke learned weapons had no equivalent, but these were useful all the same. He pulled up the Interface description.

[Vampire Smith's Armor Token]

Quality: Uncommon

Description: Use to upgrade any rare item or lower up by five item levels, maximized at level forty. Unable to be used on items of higher quality. Items are usually slightly weaker than natural items of the same quality, found at the same level upgraded to.

Sometimes, a Blacksmith likes to make more than just molten weapons for Fire-Blood Elemental taskmasters and Red Watchers.

The extraordinarily minor drawback was of no consequence to Luke. The first item to be upgraded was the Blood Weaver Ring. This item—to this day—remained his only consistent source of healing in his tool kit. He browsed some of the similar items on sale at the Hunter's Branch Repository. The cost for anything equivalent was over one thousand gold.

As for anything obviously better? Five thousand. The best he found was an exceptional quality Blood Lord Ring, giving 3% life steal from damage dealt, with higher raw attributes and an odd Blood Bank secondary passive. Luke thought it'd be a backup potion that activated automatically, rather than how one would have to gulp down a health potion manually.

That was all well and good, but it cost seven thousand gold. Luke decided to leave his fortune intact for the upcoming auction. Shaking his head to focus, Luke applied five Armor Tokens to the Blood Weaver Ring, dramatically changing the item.

[Blood Weaver Ring] (Upgraded)

Quality: Rare

Stats: +20 Strength

Passive - Blood Weave: Heal for 2.5% of damage dealt

Requirements: Level 37, Tier 1

Up next came another rare item he wasn't quite ready to let go of, the Shadowmeld Spaulders.

[Shadowmeld Spaulders] (Upgraded)

Quality: Rare

Armor: 18

Stats: +18 Intellect +18 Agility

Passive: If the wearer dodges an attack, movement speed increases moderately for 15 seconds.

Requirements: Level 38, Tier 1

Forged from the shrouded cloths of the elite nocturnal tailors of Elaria, these spaulders carry the silent whispers of secrets untold and moves unseen. Who leaves something like this in a pit of monsters?

Using up most of his stock after upgrading these two items, Luke counted three more Armor Tokens within the Inventory. He figured a grinding session specifically at the Blood Forge could be a good idea, even if the Shadowed Sanctum were in use. Luke applied those last three Armor Tokens to another older item of his.

Going from this:

[Black Ice Mantle]

Quality: Rare

Stats: +9 Agility + 9 Strength +9 Intellect

Passive - Onelius's Tenacity: Adds 150 Health Points, slowly repairs itself and one other designated item. Grants five frost resistance.

Requires Level: 23

To this:

[Black Ice Mantle] (Upgraded)

Quality: Rare

Stats: +13 Agility +13 Strength +13 Intellect

Passive - Onelius's Tenacity: Adds 250 Health Points, slowly repairs itself and one other designated item. Grants eight frost resistance.

Requirements: Level 38, Tier 1

Having run through all that, Luke sorted various enchanting materials before moving on to the one rare he traded for and the three drops from Arjanax. He'd taken a glove slot rare, seeing as it remained his last uncommon quality item.

Boy, he'd grown from the days he celebrated over getting a common grade item in the cave.

[Blood Crafters Hand Wraps]

Quality: Rare

Armor: 15

Stats: +15 Intellect +5 Strength

Passive - Blood Crafting: The blood within you assists with creation of any craftable item, modestly boosting your skill as a creator. Does not apply to combat related creations.

Requirements: Level 40, Tier 1

The rarest drop possible from a Vampire Smith. Often only seen every few months on the market. Lucky man.

Luke figured the last part meant similar to when he created frost armor over himself with Elementalization, a shame, but this happened to be the first item he'd seen that would assist in his Runic Enchanting endeavors that weren't Xera or Wayfinder.

Glancing back at the floating Whispering Tome behind him, the Reaver knew giving that profession attention certainly had the potential for a considerable payoff. He played with the idea of obtaining a crafters set of armor, but soon threw it out of mind. Items with effects like this were beyond scarce. Frankly, he only got the opportunity to trade for it with luck and Defier status with the Hunter's Branch.

Getting up and walking around, the floating Tome behind Luke stuck to him like a certain bird often would, going above his shoulder. He stretched and went to get an early breakfast after a quick brush—making sure not to leave Xera and Wayfinder behind.

He could eat while overlooking his last gains, Arjanax's drops.