“Ha…….”
Klean stood there seemingly, a deep breath escaping him.
Like the winter cold, a frizzy reality slowly seeped through his body. As the cruising adrenaline waned in Klean very being, like the rushing briskly of air; a jolt like sear reappeared through his back shoulder blade, a tear still soaked with crimson blood. His leather vest trickled blood, marking the already red path beneath his boots.
Every breath he took felt like a serrated blade sliding between his ribs.
“Truffles., Huh” Klean muttered, a dry chuckle escaping his throat.
It befitted them, a fat fungus growing in the dirt, leeching off a large tree without doubt, a way to belittle the so-called high born Mortdoms.
Still the thought of being hunted because of their “fat” arrogance made the wound in his back shoulder ache and sting with different kinds of insults.
A sudden realization caught up as Klean eyebrows rose from bewilderment. Klean brought his attention toward the translucent text reappearing in his vision.
[Ding] [Succesful Battle, My lord!]
[Scenario Event Accomplished]
*Status : First ambush defended, My Lord!
*Defeated Foes: 3 Hostiles Killed *
*Rewards: + 30 Combat Experience, + 50 Orb Skills *New skills obtained: ‘Raven Scavenge’ (Passive) - Identifies and highlights lootable items from fallen foes.
Klean’s eyes narrowed as he ‘Especially’ reread the prompt the [3 Hostiles Killed]. He had never actually seen the third assassin fall after throwing the reddish, arrowhead shaped flint.
Nor did he remember finishing off the last assassin, Averting his gaze from the translucent text, his gaze trailed the laying figure of a cloaked man; he saw this pitiful survivor, no… now just laying feed for the crows.
“Did he die from blood loss or the flint destroyed an artery dealing a dead blow… Nevertheless, it doesn't matter. Klean though unbothered
“Tuck me in, hmm,” “ I think I’ll stay up a bit longer if you don't mind,” Klean sneered, his gaze glazing over the cold corpses.
Then, Klean scans the surroundings and reassesses the aftermath of the ambush, in his lustrous pale green eyes, a glint of red flickered in his irises
’Raven Scavenge Skill’
A faint, subtle shimmer outlined the items beside the fallen foes. He was surprised to see the loot neatly arranged and highlighted beside the corpses, almost as if the system had arranged it for him and tidying it nice and neat for looting, ahem… ‘Inventory’
[Scavenge Results:]
- 3x Steel Scimitars (Worn)
- 1x Light Crossbow (Damaged)
- 8x Iron-tipped Bolts
- 15x Bronze Coins
- 1x Map of the Southeastern Border (Detailed)
Klean knew lingering more, cast another danger on the horizon, like a flustered wolf, his demise awaited if he stayed any longer. For the scent of blood would soon draw the other feral beast or other pursuing danger.
With a large gash at his back, with gritted teeth, Klean moved swiftly, swooping up the rewards on the ground like a seasoned fox. He took the three worn scimitars made of 1 fine steel and the other two are made of fine iron. Sling the damaged light crossbow over his left shoulder, gathered the bolts, and fifteen bronze coins disappeared into his rabbit skin pouch. And the most prize map of the Southeastern Border (Detailed).
Without any inkling hesitation, Klean trudged deeper into the gloomy, forgotten southeastern reaches of Eldridge Mortdom.
Ten minutes of quickened trekking, deeper into the gloomy forest of the Southeastern reaches.
The last slivers of twilight vanished as the Dusk settled down, the dense thicket of bushes and wild plants, beyond the narrow pass; breath with shimmers of its own light.
Beneath the Karedian’n sky, hidden within the looming dangers of wilderness, lay the Night Tale River.
According to the tale of the hidden river before him, it was said that it did not just bear perfectly glassy waters. It held the faint echoes of a fallen star resting beneath the riverbed. Even in the gloomy night, the water was clear as a mirror, reflecting the constellation above with such clarity, as they looked like submerged lanterns depicting the cosmos above.
As the night deepened, a soft bioluminescent dust - The “Flickering Star Marrow” rose from the depth of the riverbank, drifted into the night air, illuminating the river reeds and moss covered stones, like a fairy grove surrounding like thousand floating tiny lanterns; the tale of flickering lanterns, a display of nature’s beauty hidden in grace.
“The wondrous beauty of nature…. The wonders shine true in its unturned peace”
Klean whispered as he took in the eye-catching view of the wonders of nature, the serene spectacle, momentarily washing away the grim weight of his lonely stature. Nonetheless, Klean's body could not ignore the throbbing pain in his back.
He tumbled slowly toward the rhythmic sound of the serene flow of the Night Tale River. Klean knew he had to address the gash across his back, if not treated soon, it will be a constant reminder, a searing companion, enticing him to lay down and accept the damp, cold truth of the clutches of death.
Klean knelt by the river’s edge, his sharp but tired eyes scanned the illuminated flora. A thick fibrous stalk of weed like roots. Afterward, a translucent text appeared above the plant root
[Glenwood Root : a medicinal root found near the damp soil of river edges, a root helps in healing burns and gashes if processed properly].
Klean also gaze upon the patches of bush, blending in lushes of green foliages, amicable inside the patches of leaves brushing along the winter winds.
[Amicada Leaves : A medicinal leaf found inside the resting foliage, settling near the river edges. It has anti-flammatory benefits and helps wounds getting infected.]
Klean brandished his Blacktoise axe, as he harvested the two floral medicines.
While he found a smooth, bowl-like stone resting in the shallows of the river. Crushing the Glenwood root and shredding the Amicada leaves against the stone, he ground them into a thick, pungent greenish paste.
Biting down on a piece of leather to muffle his groans, with trembling hands, stripped off his blood soak leather vest, and he gently smeared the herbal mixture directly onto the gash. He then tore a spare strip of linen from the assassin's leftover tunic, binding it tightly across his chest to form a temporary bandage through the night.
Exhausted but stabilized, Klean found the largest tree near the riverbank, a massive, ancient weeping willow tree whose bluish glowing vines dipped into the starry water.
He settled above the largest branch, protecting against the looming elements on the ground, using the canopy foliage of the willow tree as his roof and temporary shelter.
Klean rested his head against the bark while admiring the Night Tale River.
As he watched the Star Marrow dance on the water's surface, reflecting on his own lustrous green and a small faint red iris, a flicker of conviction renewed blazingly at its core.
He wasn't just surviving an unforeseen journey; he had found a renowned purpose. He would claim this wild and perilous land; And rise above all others. like the mighty beast of old, with astonishing strength and monstrous might of an overlord.
In response to this silent, burning vow, a resonant chime echoed in his mind. Fuelled by his renewed vigor and ignited conviction.
[Ding]
[A Lord Blazing Purpose: A polished blade does not sharpen on a brittle wood. He must push the limits to grow and redefine a true blade's purpose.]
[The Aptitude of A True Lord : Unlocked] [The Way of Arms Mastery : Unlocked
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A translucent panel penetrated his vision, displaying his attributes, along the weapons way of mastery.
[ The Lord Aptitudes:]
[ The Way of Arms: Mastery Paths]
Klean stared at the numbers floating amidst the glowing Star Marrow. He pondered his best course of action, the quiet murmur of the Night Tale River, the only witness to his ascension.
His pale lime green eyes narrowly stared at the translucent text floating in the thousands flickering tiny lanterns.
“This Stra…. Strange, very outwardly enigmatic to my liking. Where had it come from… or better yet what its origins, maybe a blessing from a forgotten god, or something buried deep within the soil of the Eldridge reaches?”
Klean pondered in a solemn thought, then diverted his attention to the mystery beyond his comprehension. He once again brought his perspective upon the translucent panel.
His Perception, Constitution, and Dexterity were respectable the highest, among his aptitudes. However his Defense was a glaring vulnerability at a mere E rank [60/100]. A single solid blow from a seasoned mercenary or a knight. Even a claw of simple red basilisk claw could fatally wound him, leading to his Lordly end, before it truly began. Yet, his Perception sat at staggering [189/200], just a breath away from the C- rank threshold.
[Name: Klean Lyn (Mush Lynian Mortdom) / Age: 14 / Status: Exiled Lordling, The Wandering Lord
[Unspent Orb Skill : 50
[Unspent Combat Experience : 30
[ The Lord Aptitudes: ]
[ The Way of Arms: Mastery Paths]
With 50 Orb skills and 30 combat experience indicated in the prompt can be allocated. Klean deeply pondered, then with a single thought while the system followed Klean's will. He allocated 11 Orbs to Perception and the remaining 39 orbs unhesitantly allocated towards his defense.
[Name: Klean Lyn (Mush Lynian Mortdom) / Age: 14 / Status: Exiled Lordling, The Wandering Lord
[Unspent Orb Skill: 0
[Unspent Combat Experience: 50
. [ The Lord Aptitudes:]
[Perception (PER) Upgraded to C-: Sensory Horizon Unlocked]
A mysterious clarity flooded his mind. He could suddenly hear the rhythmic breathing of a field mouse beneath the tree and the specific snap of a twig 50-meter radius.
Satisfied, he turned to his Defense (DEF). At Rank E [60/100], he was too fragile. He poured the remaining 39 Orbs into it, reaching [99/100]. Subtle but he felt his muscle tighten, he felt his body more resilient and more confident to defend the charging boar and deflect the agile claws from the Whitebail Wolf without sustaining any injury. Though, to break through, D rank was still one point away.
Finally, Klean looked at his Combat EXP. “Then this goes to the [The Way of Arms: Mastery Paths].”
Klean mused, in the feeling, a broadening strength from unimaginable mysticism brought by the system.
Once again in a single thought, allocated his remaining unspent experience points. His Axe Mastery was Skilled, but his ranged combat was lacking, considering this. He spent 20 EXP on Short Bow Mastery, reaching Skilled [0/500], and the remaining 10 EXP went into his Axe Mastery [178/500].
[Name: Klean Lyn (Mush Lynian Mortdom) / Age : 14 / Status: Exiled Lordling, The Wandering Lord
[Unspent Orb Skill : 0
[Unspent Combat Experience : 0
[ The Lord Aptitudes: ]
[ The Way of Arms: Mastery Paths]