Friday morning Helo met Micah at the dungeon cavern. He practiced the technique all day yesterday and is ready to finish the dungeon quest. Walking up to Micah Helo waves. “I think I am ready!”
“Good we will make this quick. We are supposed to leave for California tonight. The dual is being held at Bernard’s home.” Micah says and walks into the dungeon.
Helo follows and they end up on the 21st floor. It looks like all the other training floors he has been on. A vast plain with long grass. There are beast packs and solitary goblins traveling the floor. All are strong for their rank and meant to challenge him.
Helo and Micah quickly make their way through the floor. They are not avoiding any fights, but they are not seeking them out either. Helo is taking care of every enemy on his way to the boss.
Stepping before a hobgoblin Helo doesn’t need to take his time entering a ready stance anymore. The past two months have helped him tremendously in his ability to control his bloodline and instincts. Walking forward Helo holds his naginata casually under on hand. The blade is off to the side and tucked under his arm.
The goblin sees Helo’s open torso and jumps forward with a skill infused lunge, intending to spear Helo through. Helo waits for him to come, as the spear draws near Helo tilts his body to the side and catches the blow on his usually forgotten bracer’s metal block.
Sparks fly as the bracer connects with the side of the spear. Sending it to the right Helo’s left foot is now forward with the naginata in his left hand. Grabbing the spear in his right hand, Helo uses his torso to brace the butt of the naginata and draws a clean gash across the goblin’s chest.
Dropping its spear and screaming in pain the creature falls to the ground. Helo also drops the spear and bleeds the naginata’s momentum by spinning it once and taking it now in his right hand. As the blade swings to the right, it lets off an arc of blood.
“Good job. You showed a good mix of patience and decisiveness.” Micah says with a nod of his head.
The next group that the jogging pair meet is a group of three wolves. As they approach, the wolves spread out and rush forward. Helo steps in front of Micah and brandishes his blade.
Taking the moment that his enemies are approaching Helo starts creating the loops in his energy passages required to use the ‘Moon-Staff’ techniques. When the front beast jumps forward Helo sweeps his blade out while taking a step back.
Helo has fought wolves before and knows that they prefer attacking from the sides. Helo is correct a wolf on the right and left are lunging forward. Using the momentum of his sweeping strike, he transitions into the figure eights bo-staff maneuver.
Using the maneuver, he stalls the wolves on both sides. They reposition making a triangle around him. Speeding up his technique Helo has to fight his instincts to stay on the defensive. He keeps reminding himself that this is what he is training for.
The wolf in front once again attacks and Helo can tell that it is a feint. Luckily, they gave Helo the time necessary to build up the flowing power and tempo. Using his honed senses Helo takes a step with his right foot backward. Turing his body Helo continues the spin and collides his energy.
He isn’t capable of keeping a projection connected to his pathways, but he is starting to understand the process. The projection spins free in front of Helo. But he doesn’t stop moving. Catching his naginata Helo twists and slashes behind him.
The wolf that was on his right collides with the spinning projection and Helo can hear a ‘CRACK’. At the same time the energy withing the projection breaks releasing it into the surroundings.
This stuns the main wolf that is pulling back from its feint. Helo knew that this was going to happen so he steps forward and swings again. Catching the lead wolf along its shoulder, Helo turns back to the wolf that hit his projection.
Killing the three wolfs quickly, Helo turns to Micah. “You did good. But I’m sure you can see that needing to take all that time to build up to waves of pressure and shape them both is an issue.”
“I know.” Helo says. “But this was quicker than yesterday. It took me about five seconds of spinning to build up the energy necessary. I also need to work on building the shape.”
“Yeah, that is true.” Micah says. “Both will come with time and familiarity.” He pulls out his spear. With a single twist a projection of his spear appears. Another twist and a second appears. Then with a technique that Helo has not seen before Micah spins his body while holding the end of his spear. As his spear passes the projections they get pulled along. With a flick the two projections get sent forward.
“That was awesome.” Helo says while looking at the spears disappear into the distance.
“Thanks kid. A lot of people get so caught up in their skills, they forget there are four ways to make fighting. Bloodlines and their innate control, skills from the system, runes and their power over reality, and techniques. They use manipulation of body and energy to create skill like techniques.” Micah says as they start walking again.
“And mixing them all is the best to do?” Helo asks.
“I guess. It depends. Each has it ups and downs. If you’re lucky enough that all of them align into a single ability. Then that is going to be powerful.” Micah says. Thay keep talking as they reach the Hobgoblin Weapon Master.
It is similar from the previous one but a higher level. The higher level also means more skilled.
Hobgoblin Weapon Master
Tier 1 Level 23 Uncommon
This Hobgoblin is skilled in multiple weapons and is capable of wielding multiple skills.
Helo steps forward with his blade in hand and gets ready for a fight. The seven-and-a-half-foot tall muscular green man doesn’t take long to notice Helo. It roars with an active skill that makes Helo take a step back in fear. His instinctual response arises and his eyes turn red. The goblin braces its spear as a large blade sits on its back.
With a growl Helo steps forward. He gets three steps before he realizes that he is messing up. Stopping and holding his ground Helo takes his hand of the naginata and gestures for the creature to attack.
The creature surprises Helo by twisting its spear and taking a large step forward. With a twirl of mana and a grunt, the goblin launches its spear in a mana empowered throw. The spear comes toward Helo far faster than a level 23 creature should be capable.
With a surprised shout, Helo dives to the side. The spear passes through a piece of Helo’s shoulder and leaves a bloody gash. On his knees he looks at his wound with a wince, Helo can see that his high vitality is piecing the cut back together.
Helo gets back to his feet and looks at the hobgoblin. Helo starts spinning his naginata and preparing to use the ‘Moon-Staff’ technique. The goblin is slowly drawing its large blade. As Helo gets back into position, he is now ready for anything. The idea that a goblin on this floor would throw a spear was surprising to him. Most of the goblins on this floor used spears.
The hobgoblin doesn’t give Helo much time to prepare. With a sweep of the massive blade the goblin sends a ‘Mana Slash’ arcing toward Helo. Increasing the speed of his naginata Helo’s energy erupts from the weapon and takes on the image of a staff. The staff is spinning in front of Helo and blocks the ‘Mana Slash’. As the slash and projection erupt into a small storm of energy Helo is already stepping around it.
Spinning around the right of the energy eruption, Helo creates another projection on his left. While spinning Helo twists and send a sweeping slash out toward goblin. While Helo is moving the goblins great sword parts the energy eruption. All the wind and sand disrupted the goblins view of Helo.
The great sword connects with the projection Helo just made and send out a loud “CLANG”. As the blade bounces back to the right, Helo’s own attack speeds through from the left.
The goblin is barely able to react in time, diving back it dodges the worst of the attack. The blade still cuts across the goblin’s chest, leaving a large gash that is dripping blood down the goblin’s torso.
Jumping forward out of his projection’s winds Helo ducks under a revenge swipe from the goblin. Both Helo and the goblin take a moment to look into another’s eyes. Both are bleeding, Helo from his shoulder and the goblin from his chest.
Entering spinning his blade Helo pushing his energy to cycle and waits for the monster to attack. The monster sends out a backward swipe and Helo’s right side. Releasing a projection, he leaves that side open and attacks from the left. It is a quick slash from hip to shoulder, but Helo doesn’t let the strike stop his defensive spinning.
As the goblin hits to projection, it notices the attack intime to dodge. Attacking from the left the monster is stopped again, as it continues to attack Helo leaves a projection behind in the wake of his spinning naginata.
Focusing on defense and his own energy control, Helo doesn’t have much focus left to attack. Another issues Helo finds is that each projection costs a considerable amount of his energy. But Helo’s patience is working. The monster continues to lose blood, and other than Helo using his energy, the only thing he is doing is spinning his staff and footwork.
As the monster starts to tire it also gets angrier. While the monster’s anger is making it attack more viciously, it is also making it waste mana on worthless attacks.
Helo is blocking or side stepping the mana-based attacks. His aura’s ability to weaking energy attacks is making it so that his projection can easily block a ‘Mana Slash’. As the fight goes on Helo can feel himself get more tired. He can also feel as the goblin’s attacks get weaker.
Deciding that it is time Helo waits for the monster to release another mana attack, as it is recoving from its attack Helo lashes out in a stream of consecutive attacks. His naginata slashes low, high, diagonally and ends with a spin that lands the butt of his naginata against the monster’s skull.
Dazed the monster falls to the ground and lets out a pained grunt as the slashes that are covering its body weep blood.
Standing of the creature Helo looks at the blade of his naginata and licks off a portion of the blood on the blade. His eyes flash golden and his shoulder wound finishes closing. Looking down at the creature Helo feels a sense of satisfaction. It has been a few months of constant training but he has officially learned the first ‘Moon-Staff’ technique. “Bing”
Your skill Polearm Mastery has transformed into Moon-Staff Style (Uncommon)
You have learned the technique Moonshines Afterblock (Uncommon)
You have completed the training quest given by the BrightMoon Dungeon. BrightMoon style training is complete.
Due to your effort over the last 3 months, you have gained a reward.
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Due to finishing your training with higher level monsters, your reward will be personalized.
After killing the monster Helo stops and stares into space. Looking at his notifications Helo feels a sense of accomplishment. It took him three months of hard work to reach this far.
“So, you got the notification?” Micah asks as he walks up. He can see Helo staring into space and knows what that means.
“Yeah.” Turning back Helo smiles and holds up his blade. Looking at Micah he gets confused as he sees his hand out.
“Blade please.” Handing over the naginata Helo us surprised to see it disappear. “Alright let’s get out of here.”
“Hey! Why did you take my weapon?” Helo asks feeling affronted.
“It wasn’t your weapon. It was a training weapon. Your done with your initial training.”
Following behind Helo isn’t sure what to say to that. That was his first naginata. He felt attached to it. But it also wasn’t enchanted. All his cuts he made with it stopped at bone and left bleeding wounds.
Reaching the exit of the floor Helo can see a chest waiting for him. Hoping that he understands Micah’s intent with taking his training weapon, he steps forward.
“Before you open it, what did your final notification say?” Micah asks?
Looking at his notification again Helo reads. “Your reward will be personalized.”
“Mhhmmm. Carry on.” Micah says while nodding and looking pleased.
Looking back to the simple chest Helo knows not to be discouraged by the basic design. Opening the chest Helo looks inside and give Micah a fanged grin. Grabbing the pristine golden shaft Helo pulls out a naginata.
Revolution Naginata (Uncommon)
Naginata made for you by the BrightMoon Dungeon.
Made from Life Trading Oak and Dark Steel
- Self-Repair
- Increases the efficacy of life and dark energy.
- Each revolution builds a charge of (Yin Yang Cycle)
- Yin Yang Cycle: after 100 spins, decrease consumption and increases the attack of next energy ability released from this weapon. Every energy attack after will be have decreased consumption, if you switch between Dark and Light affinities.
Holding the weapon for Micah to see Helo waits for him to speak. “Yeah, this is a good weapon. You might not think so right away.”
Helo looks as him in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I am not an enchanter or a weapon smith. But these materials are very valuable. The enchantment could be one-hundred times more powerful. It doesn’t have a sharpness or durability enchantment. Plus a few of things.” Micah says while looking over the weapon.
“So, is it bad? I though with my reward increase that I would get a good one.” Helo says a little dejected.
“Well kid, your reward was personalized. It wasn’t increased. But I didn’t say it was bad. These materials are great and if you look at the enchantment there is room for a lot more.” Micah holds the weapon to Helo and he gives it a good look over.
It is a simple staff made from golden brown wood. The wood almost looks to perfect, like an art piece. The blade is the same type that his daggers are made from. The shaft is about five feet with a foot and a half blade. The dark blade is slightly curved and ends with a spear style point. The back half of the weapon is thicker and rounded. Connecting the staff and the blade is a red wrapped ribbon that matches the two colors well.
The enchantment is in the middle of the shaft and is wrapped around the
Curious about the effect Helo is a little nervous about the skill name. He assumes that yang is his physical energy and yin is the mental. But he has only read books about the idea of Yin and Yang.
Spinning his new weapon Helo can tell that this is made much better than his pervious on. It feels lighter in his hands and the weapon feels alive in his hand. Each time he spins the blade he can feel as the enchantment wrapping the center of the shaft starts to gather energy.
Looking at the shaft Helo can see as it starts to alternate between a soft white and dark color. Every revolution is a different color and it is slowly glowing brighter. After 100 spins the entire enchantment is swirling the center of the blade shaft and glowing softly. The glow is more than Helo was expecting but it isn’t enough to blind or distract.
Pushing his energy into the weapon he can feel as the enchantment wants to be released. Letting the enchantment free Helo knows that his next skill or ability will be much cheaper to use.
Taking a step forward Helo uses his ‘Dashing Lunge’ skill. To his surprise it is half the required energy. This is a great boon for Helo, his skills energy requirements and the addition of his new ‘Moon-Staff’ technique is a large drain on his reserves. Continuing to move the skill adds another ten percent to his speed increase and lets the skill last about half as long.
Trying out another skill Helo uses his ‘Forced Still’. This skill went from a small injection of mental energy to a large and powerful attack. Surprised again the skill only costs about three fourths as much. Switching again Helo uses ‘Fang Extension’ and it is the same three fourths cost.
Happy that he has a way to lower the cost of his skills Helo is going to try again when he hears a cough. “Ahem.” Turning around Helo remembers where he is. “Are you ready to go. You have a plane to catch.” Micah says to him while standing at the exit to the dungeon.
“Right! Sorry.” Helo says as he rushes over. Storing his new weapon, he decides that the next thing he will do is enchant his blades. Both his naginata and kukri, are not enchanted.
Exiting the dungeon Helo is surprised to see an attendant waiting for them. “Master BrightMoon, Master Helo.” The attendant says with a bow. Helo still has trouble with the respect that people show him. The man is dressed nicely and has grey hair. To Helo’s surprise he is actually one of the oldest looking people he can remember living here.
“Hey Andy, what’s up.” Micah says to the man.
The attendant smiles softly because Micah is always nice and speaks. “I was about to enter the dungeon to find you. The plane is leaving in two hours. You will have to be ready to go in one Master. Is there anything this humble servant my take of the auspicious shoulders of his lord.” The man bows again and holds the position.
With a roll of his eyes Micah hold back a laugh. “Just get out of here Andy. I know you have better things to do than find ways to annoy me.”
Getting up from his bow Andy keeps a perfectly neutral face. “I would never my lord. I am but a fleeting weed to be swept up in your glory.”
Micah looks at him with a blank face and Andy lets his lip twitch in a smirk. One final shallow bow and he leaves in a flash of red and black. The ground where he was standing is now signed where his feet were.
Helo is just looking between the two in confusion when Micah speaks up, “I have known him for a long time. He was in our father’s party over a hundred years ago. He has been stuck at tier 2 for a long time. Even so, he is one of the most dangerous people here.”
With surprise Helo follows as Micah starts walking back. “How? Arnt, you tier 3?”
“Well, he isn’t more powerful than me. But there are only a few tier three in the clan. His Destruction Affinity makes him a powerful mage. He is capable of dealing massive damage. Unfortunately, he is one of the many people who struggles to reach tier 3. It is the first major road black. This is why you having your aura unlocked before the system is amazing.” They reach the main house and Micah sends Helo on his way. He leaves him with instructions to be back in half an hour.
Running back to the house Helo has gets home and heads straight to his room. Packing up his bags Helo starts placing everything into his necklace, remembering what Allie and Hinata told him about dimensional storages. Helo takes out the bag of holding and puts his clothes and new naginata into it.
With everything packed Helo heads down the stairs. He starts to feel a bit excited about going back to the town he grew up in. Getting to the bottom of the stairs, Helo can see his entire party waiting. Looking at them in confusion it is Gabi that speaks first.
“What! Did you think that we wouldn’t want to see you get your ass beat by an annoying elf.” She smirks at him while speaking.
“Hey! That is inappropriate.” Allie says back to her. They both have similarly loud personalities but Gabi is more pessimistic than Allie. “The fight is to the death, at least it was two years ago. If he loses, he dies.”
“It will be okay.” Hinata says calmly to the two. “I know you both care, this is your own way of supporting him.” As she says this both girls look at her with shock. They are about to speak but Hinata continues before they can. “But Helo has been training for this. He will be okay.”
Giving the group a quick smile Helo walks to the front door and starts his trip to the main house. Getting to the main house a few minutes early he is surprised again to see Micah, Cheyeene, Graham, Elder Anthony, and Elder Shelby waiting for him.
“What! Did you think we wouldn’t want to see you get kicked around?” Elder Shelby says to Helo’s surprised face.
This comment makes the entire party start laughing and looking between Gabi and Shelby. Gabi just looks away and ignores the group. She knows that if she speaks up, she will just get mocked. The older group is just looking at them in confusion.
Graham wanting to get the party moving forward starts pushing the entire group toward the back of the house. As they all walk back, they can see a caravan of SUVs. Everyone starts piling into the vehicles.
As they are getting in Helo watches as over 20 guards enter the front and back vehicles. Closing the door the party that is in one of the large SUVs hears some noise outside. Rolling down the window the group looks outside and Hinata lets out a sigh.
“Wait for me!!!” Everyone hears from the inside of a swarm of leaves. The number of leaves is enough to block out the sun. As the leaves swirl into a single mass Kiyoki steps out of the mass. The rest of the leaves spread out with the wind behind her.
With a majestic toss of her hair and a hand on her hip she looks at the vehicle Graham and Cheyeene got into. “You were just going to leave without me.” She says with a small glare. For one-thousand feet around the caravan all of the trees seem to twist and turn to face them.
Helo isn’t even sure how this feeling can happen; trees don’t have faces. Kiyoki just continues to stare at the caravan. Only the people in Graham’s vehicle can feel as Graham’s aura is overpowered and weighed down by Kiyoki’s.
Looking at his wife and brother for help, Graham only gets a turned head as a response. Scoffing at the helpfulness of the two people he can count on, Graham struggles to open the door.
As Kiyoki sees the door open, she takes her hand off her hip and smiles. Jumping twice and clapping she heads into the car. Many people that were watching Kiyoki are slightly mesmerized by the sight of her jumps.
Finally getting on the way Helo asks about the number of guards coming with them.
“Well, there needs to be enough to guard the compound, come with us, and take brakes.” Allie says to Helo. “We will be safe in Bernards’s compound. But that doesn’t mean that things go perfectly. Taking a group of guard’s just stops the desperate from acting.”
The caravan exit’s the Valley of Honwi and passes the town of Valley Reach. Continuing down the road south of the town Helo is surprised by the speed that they are moving.
He assumes that the SUVs are enhanced with mana, the land is going past far faster than he expected. It isn’t long before they approach another walled town. From Allie’s explanation he learns that this is actually an airfield and the place where the external military lives and trains.
This external military is everyone that was not skilled enough for the Valley Guards or anyone who wants to fight in party format. Of the 8,500 people living in BrightMoon territory about forty percent are a part of the Valley or External guards. The external guards will eventually be a fighting force that expands BrightMoon territory when the integration officially starts.
Entering what appears to be a military base Helo looks around and can see that they are near the external Mountain walls. Turning around Helo can see the mist covered peak of Hanwi Valley.
As soon as they enter the base there is a massive private jet waiting for then to enter. Reaching out with his aura Helo can feel the powerful enchantments that are covering the jet. To his surprise the enchantment even is capable of resisting his aura’s affect.
This is a surprise to him but also a silver lining. He had already noticed that his bloodline’s ability can be countered, but knowing that his aura can as well-made Helo feel more cautious.
As they all board the plane Elder Shelbey smacks Helo on the head. “Stop trying to destroy my enchantments. This plane is a mix of enchantments that were made for us before coming here and my own work.” She says this with a big smile. Both points are a point of pride for her.
Attempting to duck the smack Helo just ends up almost hitting his head on the plane. Looking back, he decides to flatter her. “The enchantments on the plane are impressive. I can feel the density and power in them.” This makes Elder Shelby stop smacking his head and start discussing her work.
Elder Anthony who is nearby just laughs at the two and gets on the plane. The plane ride is a simple affair. The plane itself can hold the entire group and is enchanted for comfort and speed. The distance between the two places is over four-hundred miles as they made it in 15 minutes. This is about 1,600 miles per hour.
Landing outside of the town that Helo grew up in the group finds another caravan waiting for them. Standing near the front car and waiting for them is Amanda. She is Bernard’s longtime assistant.
“Welcome back.” She calmly says with a smile. “It is great to see you all. I just wish it was under different circumstances.”
As Kiyoki steps forward to hug Amanda the rest of the group starts entering to new SUVs. The trip through the town is quick but Helo can’t help but reminisce about how his life has changed. The pass by the pet shop that Helo would always meet Bernard at and the coffee shop that Wendy used to work at.
He was living a few miles outside of the town, in a cave that he thinks is actually filled with water runoff from Bernard’s magical resort. Entering the compound is a simple affair and Helo can see the place that he once snuck into.
The entrance is filled with all of the public access points to the front or right. To the left is another gate that leads to individual compounds for each of the families. Heading further into the resort the caravan stops outside of a familiar compound.
The caravan stops to let the group out and Micah comes up to Helo with a smirk. “Looks different during the day, huh.” He says while laughing.
“Yeah.” Helo says while looking around. The skyline is filled with homes off all different styles. The surroundings is a forest of trees and flowers. “It is far more beautiful than I remember.” Helo can feel within his aura the surrounding enchantments.
Everything is filled with mana, the pathways, walls, buildings, trees. Looking around Helo is astonished by the feeling of it all.
Micah feels as Helo spreads out his aura, he can also see the look in Helo’s eyes as he takes in the magic of the surroundings. “This is all possible due to Bernards druidic class. He can make a domain with natural treasures around the area. He is essentially making an artificial aura that he can connect to.”
“Ah. That is pretty amazing.” Helo says to Micah, focusing on his aura senses Helo starts to pick up on another feeling in the air. This one feels more nature attuned than his own aura. But it doesn’t mask itself like Helo’s aura naturally does. It is like a second aura that is blanketing the surroundings.
“Yeah, that feeling is the domain.” Graham says while walking by. “Now let’s get situated. We have meetings to get to in the morning and then a fight to watch.” Graham steps into their family’s compound and ushers everyone inside.
Hinata is one of the last people to enter. She is looking at the next-door compound, it is a beautiful single-story home with Japanese style roofs and walls. That is all they can see from outside, but it is surrounded by a wall that is lined with a mural in Japanese art.
Helo stops up next to her and speaks. “I can’t hear anyone over there. I don’t think they are here yet.”
“I know Helo-Kun. They are getting here tomorrow morning.” She steps forward into the BrightMoon compound and up to the front door.