“A plan to assassinate various officials and higher ranking Rift Hunters? So he’s going scorched earth?”
Richard, under my guidance, had accepted Gerard’s offer to join his guild and went through a Tutorial dungeon. The white rifts, Tutorial Rifts, were considered public under the new international laws. While many wanted to have a vetting process, ensuring bad actors didn’t get access to magical powers, it became very apparent rather quickly that letting the government of various countries decide on who could, and who could not, enter Tutorials would just ensure the bad actors the government wanted entering the rifts and no one else.
The Rift Hunter Public Resource Provision, although flawed in its own right, made sure anyone who wanted to become a Rift Hunter, had a chance. Even if one in three people who attempted it, died.
That number would go down in due time, as information and preparation schools were formed, but it was still risky no matter what.
Richard had me teaching him, giving him the proper mindset and a game plan. Which is how he managed to enter the rift with the other Inevitability Guild hopefuls and walked out with an Epic Class. One of the very classes I was offered, Shade Knight.
With such a high tier class, Richard became a priority asset for Gerard, even more so than he already was, as I assume, being a friend of mine. I wasn’t stupid enough to think Richard was picked out of the blue. Gerard was certainly trying to collect people with connections to other Hunters, myself included.
“Not scorched earth, he is targeting very specific people. Politicians that, let's be real, we all know are corrupt as fuck but keep getting away with it. But also, mob bosses, gang leaders all across the country. A few powerful Hunters as well. Barry was on that list, he needs to—”
“The attempt on Barry’s life has already happened,” I cut in.
“I’m sorry,” Richard said somberly.
I chuckled, causing Richard to look at me in confusion. “Barry is still alive. I was there when the attempt occurred. The would-be assassin is dead, though.”
“Oh…”
“For now, keep working with Gerard, earn his trust the best you can. Keep training with your new class,” I went into my inventory as we talked and began removing some items. A sword, some armor, things I had scavenged from the Common Dungeon from the orcs. It was shoddy, but would be useful for him to become used to fighting with. “Learn what you can, and quickly. Even with an Epic class, you aren’t strong enough to make a difference, yet. Speaking of, give me a breakdown of your class skills and ability.”
“Well, my class ability is called Living Shade…”
***
“Do you think we are ready for something like this?” Norton asked from over my shoulder.
The large man was wearing his robes, staff in hand, his face drawn tight into a line. Worry etched plainly on his features. He said the words aloud, but he was mostly only talking to Barry, who stood directly to my left.
“Absolutely, we’ve been training for almost a week now while the negotiations were going on. And we have the teams pretty well ironed out. We will be more than fine as long as we are careful.” Barry gave his patented dazzling smile.
I nodded next to him, giving my support.
Behind us, the world’s first appearance of a Light Blue dungeon rift buzzed ominously. The rift had shown up five days prior, and initial investigation showed the wider world that it was classified by the System as an Uncommon Dungeon.
It would be months later that other tiers of Dungeons were discovered, each with their own color. Green was Rare, Yellow was Epic, Orange for Mythic, and Purple for Legendary. Then there was the Red Rift over the Atlantic, but I’m getting far ahead of myself.
Barry looked out over the collected group of Hunters that were arranged in rows in front of us. Almost all of them wore small hexagon shaped pins on their collars. Only four wore Golden pins, each standing at the front of their respective lines. Behind those with golden pins stood one person with a silver pin.
Paragon Guild had taken to a rather simple internal structure. Squads, with basic members, copper Hunters, Lieutenants with silver, and squad Captains with gold pins. The reason for this was twofold, it made a chain of command easy to understand, for one. And, Natalya’s class ability, while immensely useful, wasn’t cut and dry when it came to absolute power, or leadership skills for that matter.
A squad system was just the best idea for the Guild overall.
Norton, Huwett, Vasquez, and Francis stood with Barry and me. Each of their pins were a shiny platinum, marking them as members of Paragon Squad. Barry’s pin was a shiny gemstone, diamond, marking him as the Guild Head. While mine was a border of diamond with platinum in the center, making me Deputy-head. All plain and simple as a Bob Ross painting, really.
“This won’t be easy, and it won’t be bloodless,” Barry said out over the arranged guild members. “Make sure you follow orders, remember your training, and do your best to fight for the Hunters standing beside you.”
Or kill them and steal all their skills, stats and items.
I thought silently, a smile on my face.
“Alright then, let’s go!”
We all turned, stepping towards the portal at our backs. As before, as soon as my foot touched the obsidian platform beneath the flickering rift, my vision went black.
[Dungeon Pre-Entry Room Loading… Stand By]
The familiar gray stone room appeared around me instantly. It was all exactly the same, large pillars, tall walls, and the steps leading the platform with the Dungeon Shop interface. Something I had been looking forward to immensely.
I strode forward after looking around and finding myself alone.
Would have been nice to have my Sponsor here, lots of questions to ask, but fuck me I guess.
It took only a tap of my fingers to activate the shop and have a wave of screens assault my mind. I frantically started closing tabs and categories, trying to wrangle in the interface. It took a moment or two, but I eventually got the hang of it.
Equipment will still probably be my best choice, I need some upgrades. Skills might be tempting, but I have to work with my limited slots, even with my Class Ability cheat, and those prices…
[Dungeon Shop:
Skill Card (Common) - 25 Silver Credits
Skill Card (Uncommon) - 25 Gold Credits
Skill Card (Rare) - 25 Platinum Credits
…]
And that’s for the random skill cards, let alone picking a skill outright.
I swiped over to the long list of available skills for purchase, the titles plain to see, sans description because of course the System was an asshole. Even the common grade skills were 10 gold, and the prices just went up from there.
I closed the skills tab entirely and refocused on equipment and items, but more specifically, on an option that I hadn’t had before which now caught my eye.
[Dungeon Shop: Sell
Shoddy Orkish Broad Sword - 14 Copper Credits
Shoddy Orkish Leather Armor - 58 Copper Credits
Chipped Hynaenid Saber - 11 Copper Credits
Worn Hyaenid Ring Mail - 1 Silver, 4 Copper Credits
Horn, Lord of the Wood - 10 Silver Credits
…]
I was able to sell back loot that I received from the Dungeons. This was a game changer, almost literally. I was dealing with a large supply of gamer hoarded bullshit that I needed to off load, and I saw no reason not to do it.
It took only a few taps, and my credits increased while the literal weight on my shoulders seemed to lessen. It was then that I realized the System didn’t just remove items from existence, they were shunted into another space, but their physical weight was still held by me. I didn’t notice it accumulate little by little when I was looting monsters, but after vanishing all at once, it was impossible to miss.
That’s certainly interesting.
Returning to the purchase options, I went through them quickly, knowing I only had so much time before the System tried to extort me for even more of my precious loot. I knew what sorts of things I was looking for, so it took only a minute for my shopping spree to be complete.
[Regal Black Tunic - Uncommon - (+2 Vit, + 1 Will)
Regal Black Boots - Uncommon - (+3 Dex)
Fine Amulet of Vitality - Uncommon - (+3 Vit)
Bangle of Adept Mana - Rare (Increased Mana control and effectiveness of [Mana] skills (moderate)
Potion of Health - Common (x5)
Total - 300 Copper, 20 Silver, 5 Gold credits
Confirm?
Yes/No]
I accepted the purchases and quickly equipped my new items, admiring the new look I made for myself. Where before I passed as any normal looking rogue or stealth fighter, I now sported a rather nice looking medieval style formal suit with silver regalia. The amulet was also silver, set with a small red gem, and the bangle at my off-hand was more like a small band than a bracelet, the plain looking iron metal somewhat polished and inset with fine etched runes and lines.
Not too bad at all.
I thought happily.
I stepped down from the platform and looked about, searching for the exit to the Dungeon proper, but found nothing. I assumed once I was done, the System would whisk me off toward my death. But it appeared I was wrong, though.
Death was coming to me.
“You chose rather well, all things considered,” a female voice sounded from behind me.
I spun about to find Death now standing on the raised platform, her piercing black eyes staring down at me. Once again, I resisted the urge in flipping my mental switch and simply endured the oppressive pressure standing in the same room as her caused on my body. I didn’t dare activate [Aura Mastery] to peek at her power, figuring that there were things mortals shouldn’t play around with.
“Though, I do detest those little potions you mortals seem to be so fond of,” she continued. “I understand your need for them. I very much hope you don’t come to rely on items to stave off your sponsor’s arrival, be wary.”
“We… need to talk.” I managed to say after a bit of effort. My skin was forming goosebumps, hairs standing on end as I looked at her. Even in her beauty, I felt horribly vulnerable just looking at her.
“I assume you have questions about your Class ability?”
I nodded.
“You seem to be figuring things out rather well without me already. You have skill, even reached your stat cap for the current grade. I don’t see why you need my help in that regard.”
“I need to know how the Soul essence is calculated for different kills. What’s that last option that keeps showing as question marks? Do the available skill slots go up as the ability grade increases? What are the restrictions regarding assimilating abilities? What—”
“Enough,” she waved a hand and a blast of energy radiated from her body. I closed my mouth immediately. “As I said, you seem to be figuring things out just fine. You’ve killed so many types of beings by now, I’m sure you know how to do math. Your little egg seems to be coming along nicely as well, make sure you don’t forget to nurture it. And, well… as I said before, there is only so much I can tell you without the System getting… how do you say… its panties in a bunch?”
My eyes widened at the act of Death saying something like that, but I held my tongue.
“There are other things you should know, which would be more important to your immediate survival. Such as when skills upgrade, or when you unlock your first class feature choice. How the Dungeon ranks work, boss grades, many things I don’t have time for right now, though.”
Well then why even bring them up?
I thought irritably.
“But I will remind you that becoming as powerful as possible is still your main goal. And I urge you to stop wasting time playing politics. You saved Barry, which might have been the right choice for now, you will need powerful allies for what is to come.”
“Allies for what? Later Dungeon Rifts? What’s to come?”
“The initiation phase for a planet only lasts one year as a foothold is made into your universe. From there, you will need to be ready for what follows.”
I couldn’t stop myself from clicking my tongue and sighing. Even something as straight forward as Death appeared to enjoy talking in circles.
“What follows? What’s coming?” I asked again.
“Him… He will be coming. At least his servants will. Why the System allows him to piggyback off its functions is beyond even me, but I do suppose it doesn’t quite care who rules which Universe. When it's all said and done, it's all the same, right?”
“Him?”
“I can’t elaborate, but you must prepare. Adam Pierce, you are the only hope that your planet, and this universe as a whole, has of not succumbing to utter subjugation.”
“Me? But I’m—”
“An asshole, yes, I’ve gathered that much. You seem to be what your people call, a villain. But labels mean nothing if you are dead. So again, get ready. Now go, you’ve wasted enough time as it is. Go, child, kill, bring the System’s creations back into my embrace and grow stronger.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“And you think Death will care about that?” she smiled.
My vision suddenly flashed white.
[ You have entered an Uncommon Dungeon
Quest: Siege the 5 Towers and stop the Rituals summoning the portal to Jotunheim before the time limit.
Time Remaining: 2 Days, 23 hours, 59 minutes…]
1.24: Planning and Plots