Epoch: A Berserker's Rise

It took Adam the entire day to clear the three fortresses. There weren't any surprise in any of them, but he did get the remaining pieces of his set. He also leveled up to Level 20, his skills leveled up quite a bit too, he now had 50 Gold on him and the quests related to the fortresses gifted him 5 additional AP.

Overall, this was a very good trip. When Adam got back to the Capital, although it was almost night already, he first went to the bank and in his personal vault, where he stored everything he didn't want in his inventory nor to sell.

He decided to put the [Everwinter Vest] in there, because it was a gift and it had helped him a lot. After that, he looked at every piece of the Massacre Set like they were the most expensive treasure in the world and put it on.

[Massacre Helmet (Replica)] (Rare, Level 20, Set)

Requirements: Level 20, Berserker, 60 Endurance, 40 Strength

Defense: +100

HP: +1000

Strength: +60

Endurance: +60

Massacre I (1/5 set effect): Heal 20% of your HP instantly, three charges every two hour.

Massacre II (3/5 set effect): All attributes +50.

Massacre III (5/5 set effect): Use the sorrow and pain of your enemies as your energy. +50% to all stats, HP +2000 for 10 seconds. Activation Requirement: Kill 1000 enemies for one activation, non stackable.

[Massacre Ring (Replica)] (Rare, Level 20, Set)

Strength: +120

Massacre I (1/5 set effect): Heal 20% of your HP instantly, three charges every two hour.

Massacre II (3/5 set effect): All attributes +50.

Massacre III (5/5 set effect): Use the sorrow and pain of your enemies as your energy. +50% to all stats, HP +2000 for 10 seconds. Activation Requirement: Kill 1000 enemies for one activation, non stackable.

[Massacre Boots (Replica)] (Rare, Level 20, Set)

Requirements: Level 20, Berserker, 60 Endurance, 50 Strength

Defense: +100

HP: +500

Strength: +60

Agility: +60

Massacre I (1/5 set effect): Heal 20% of your HP instantly, three charges every two hour.

Massacre II (3/5 set effect): All attributes +50.

Massacre III (5/5 set effect): Use the sorrow and pain of your enemies as your energy. +50% to all stats, HP +2000 for 10 seconds. Activation Requirement: Kill 1000 enemies for one activation, non stackable.

[Massacre Gauntlets (Replica)] (Rare, Level 20, Set)

Requirements: Level 20, Berserker, 50 Endurance, 70 Strength

Attack: +100

HP: +500

Strength: +100

Massacre I (1/5 set effect): Heal 20% of your HP instantly, three charges every two hour.

Massacre II (3/5 set effect): All attributes +50.

Massacre III (5/5 set effect): Use the sorrow and pain of your enemies as your energy. +50% to all stats, HP +2000 for 10 seconds. Activation Requirement: Kill 1000 enemies for one activation, non stackable.

[Massacre Chestplate (Replica)] (Rare, Level 20, Set)

Requirements: Level 20, Berserker, 60 Endurance, 60 Strength

Defense: +150

HP: +1500

Strength: +100

Endurance: +100

Massacre I (1/5 set effect): Heal 20% of your HP instantly, three charges every two hour.

Massacre II (3/5 set effect): All attributes +50.

Massacre III (5/5 set effect): Use the sorrow and pain of your enemies as your energy. +50% to all stats, HP +2000 for 10 seconds. Activation Requirement: Kill 1000 enemies for one activation, non stackable.

Once he was done, Adam felt a newfound power course through his body, the upgrade he had just received wasn't small in any sense. From now on, even a Chieftain of the same level would be swatted like a fly.

Adam then looked at his inventory, after putting his AP he had left.

Name: Valiant Heart

Level: 20

Title: Monster Slayer

Race: Northman

Class: Berserker

Rank: Iron

HP: 6250/6250

MP: 950/950

Strength (+3 per level): 100 (715)

Agility (+1 per level): 60 (260)

Endurance (+1 per level): 60 (275)

Intelligence: 40 (95)

Wisdom: 5 (60)

Free AP: 0

Skills: -Mighty Strike (E, Level 10/10)

-Charge (E, Level 10/10)

-Wind Blade (D, Level 9/10)

-Parry (D, Level 8/10)

-Lunar Smite (C, Level 7/10)

-Crushing Blow (C, Level 5/10)

With the power he just acquired, Adam was confidant that even a Lord monster wouldn't be too strong for him to take on, even if it was Level 30. However, although the feeling of power was exhilarating, Adam knew he had more important stuff to do.

His goal was to get as much money as he could, 10 000 Gold to be precise. In three days he only got 50 Gold, that was only half a percent of the total amount he had to get, and he had fixed himself a limit of 1 month. If he didn't pick up the speed then he would never get his 10 000 Gold in a single month.

However, if he could take 10% of the mine's earnings, then he would most certainly be able to get much more money than that. To get those 10% though, he needed to become stronger, and the only way now to become stronger was to promote to Bronze Rank.

He would leave to tomorrow though, because it was already night and he didn't know how long it would take him. Moreover, Skade had said she would take him there, and he would rather wait for the next morning rather than drag her out of her bed. She might be grateful to him, getting dragged out of bed really was a terrible feeling.

So that's why he left the game after putting on his extremely strong set. Once out of the game he directly went for his kitchen, but saw both his parents in the living room, on their tablet. He had stopped playing later than usual today, so he missed dinner.

When he got in the kitchen his mother said "Look in the fridge, there's a salad."

Adam smiled, he preferred that over something made in the microwave. Adam ate at lightning speed before going back to his room. Although he was happy he was about to become a Bronze Rank, there was one thing worrying him.

For the entire day, he forced himself to the limit several times, sometimes by taking off some of his equipment to lower his stats and thus face some challenge with the fortresses.

However, through the day he always had this weird feeling that something wasn't right. His body clearly had reached the appropriate state for opening the Gate of Limit, but it was like there was something missing, stopping it from opening, and it frustrated him to no end.

But no matter how much he searched for a reason in his memories, he couldn't find any explanation. He should have already opened the Gate of Limits, but he wasn't making any process no matter how many times he pushed his body to the limit.

It was with this frustration that Adam went to sleep, not noticing his screen lighting up.

It was only the next morning that he realized he missed a message from his friends, asking whether he wanted to go out or not. After promising them they would do something the next evening, Adam ate a quick breakfast his mother made and entered in the game once again.

When he got in Epoch, he went straight for the Royal Palace. It was actually his first time seeing the entrance of the palace. In front of the gates stood a platoon of guards.

They were all Level 100 Gold Rank guards, they were really powerful. However, the moment Adam showed his Azure Insignia they made a path for him, while being as respectful as they could.

While in the palace Adam saw several platoons of guards, all of them being at least Level 100 Gold Rank. Even a Hero would have to flee in front of so many Gold Ranks.

Adam then reached the main hall, where he could see Henry sitting on his throne, looking bored as a noble was speaking to him. When Adam entered the hall, he didn't get much attention, except from the guards to whom he showed his insignia, and Henry who smiled.

Adam smiled back and waited where he was. A few seconds later, he disappeared from where he was.