The Strongest Spellblade

Level: 1 Experience: BLOCKED

Healing: 340/340 Stamina: 330/330 Mana: 200/200

Class: Tier 0, Child(Blue)

Effect: Increased Skill Acquisition(+10%), Increased Learning Speed(+10%), Increased Stat Gain(+10%), Increased Physical Gain(+10%)

Vitality: 34 (+3)

Endurance: 33 (+5)

Strength: 28 (+1)

Agility: 31 (+1)

Perception: 22 (+1)

Mind: 64 (+2)

Magic: 20 (+2)

Focus: 33 (+1)

Free Points: 0

Tier 1(23)(3+): Eldarin History(99+2), Breathing(99+9), Running(93), Meditation(88+6), Toughness(75+15), Dodge(69), Eldarin Etiquette(69+4), Drawing Skills(61), Sword Skills(50), Light Armor(36), Shield Skills(35), Dancing Skills(35), Pugilist Skills(33), Spear Skills(28), Bow Skills(20), Monster Processing Skills(19), Axe Skills(19), Dagger Skills(17), Speech(17+1), Cooking Skills(15), Cleaning Skills(14), Combat Tactics(13), Wrestling Skills(12)

Tier 2(24)(2+): Mana Sense(80+8), Danger Sense(40), Soul Sense(40+16), Algebra(21+6), Geometry(20+8), System Sense(18+6), Speed Reading(13+6), Darkness Vision(8), Trap Detection(8), Shadow Vision(5+5), Monster Analysis(3), Depth Sense(1)

Tier 3(27): Pain Resistance(60+38), Soul Resistance(41+17), Empowered Will(25+8), Healing Resistance(20+20), Eldarin Runes(20+6), Fear Resistance(16+12), Poison Resistance(15+12), Empowered Writing(11+4), Social Resistance(3)

Tier 6(-): Experience Siphon(C)

Equipment

Gloves: Gloves of Processing(T2) (Blocks Mana T2 and Below)

Boots: Armored Boots(T1) (Basic Equipment)

Head: Armored Helmet(T1) (Basic Equipment)

Body: Light Armor(T1) (Basic Equipment)

Ring1: Ring of Concealment(T3) (Hide Status T3 and Below)

Ring2: Ring of Remote Awareness(T3) (Allows for remote viewing from companion ring)

Amulet/Bracelet: Experience Blocker(T4) (Prevents all experience gain for primary level)

Weapon1: Basic Steel Sword(T1) (Basic Equipment)

Equipment1: Runic Writing Set(T3) (Write Runes T3 and Below)

I read off my status for my mother who paid close attention. That was a lot of skill level gains, especially at tier 3. I could have done without the Healing Resistance skill however. I was at a 86.5% ratio with my Mind stat to my skills. So, nothing to worry about there, which was a relief.

“All this equipment showed up,” I said with a bit of confusion.

“Since you own it and it isn’t tier 0 like your previous equipment. It is nothing special, but it is better than the most basic of stuff. There is slight copper and silver threading and other components to help increase its strength against damage.”

“Why not get me something better?” I asked.

“Because it would hamper your skill growth and you would become overly dependent on your equipment, not your skills. Skills are the path to power. Levels, experience, equipment, they are useful but distractions,” my mother explained.

I had also gained 525 skill levels in relation to tier. I told my mother, and she nodded. “That is the bare minimum requirement to reach heights such as mine. In time you will remember this moment fondly when your skill growth slows down,” she said.

“Will it, since I am staying level 1?” I asked.

“If you want tier 4 skills, then you must level up. Your soul will heavily resist them, since it can’t handle such weight easily. Perhaps you will prove me wrong when you go into the dungeon, but it is doubtful,” my mother said.

“My class became blue, which is incredibly rare for a child,” I said.

“It is. But that is the power of the soul fruits I gave you. If I found a blue one, I would have given it to you as well. Those small percentage boosts might not seem like much, but they make a large difference over a long period of time,” she said, and I nodded at this. I had done the math with Tutor Damian.

While I might be upset at my mother for the suffering I had endured, she did want the best for me, giving me priceless treasures. She had rushed me to the Five Stat Institute of Healing when my life was in danger. My feelings were still jumbled up and how I felt about her.

We reached the city gates and were immediately let through.

“Your last chance to change your mind while I am here?” my mother asked me.

“I am not afraid. I am ready,” I declared bravely, and she smiled at me. I did feel nervous, but I couldn’t back down now. Not after everything I had been through.

“Then may you find what you desire in the dungeon and return alive,” she said. I looked at the Ring of Remote Viewing on my hand. “If you don’t wish me watching, you merely need to take it off.”

“You wouldn’t mind?” I asked.

“Oh, I would, but I am not some puppet master. If you believe yourself grown up enough to not need my review of your abilities, then that is your choice. People would literally kill for me to critique their first solo journey into the dungeon,” she said. My mother was right, which was annoying since I didn’t want her watching my every action.

The magical carriage dropped me inside the city of Monolith. A distance from the Adventurer’s Guild. My mother’s magical carriage took off the second I stepped out without even a goodbye. This was it, it was real. I was being left on my own. I carefully double checked my armor and my equipment. I then put on my pack and sword and set off.

The Adventurer’s Guild tended to be set up in the center of the city since adventurers had money to spend while the dungeon was often located on the edge of a city as a separate fortified building. The Adventurer’s Guild was a collection of several buildings which included a dining room along with a bunch of other services. I saw the main entrance that was for Adventurers and made my way towards it.

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While my mother had been quick in dragging me off and leaving me alone. She was right. If I could survive down there, it was better to find out now. If I didn’t have the mental fortitude, then it was also better to find out now. That this profession was what I truly wanted to do with my life.

Confidence was the key in doing anything. A lesson from my father. I had skill levels of someone far beyond me in age and my stats were immense. I walked through the doorway and then up to the main counter. “I am here to register as a new adventurer and get a pass to enter the Dungeon,” I said.

“Head to the office labeled recruit intake down that hall. If the door is closed, take a seat outside and wait,” the receptionist said and pointed. I followed their instructions and saw 3 other people sitting outside a door with that label. Of the 3 people, 2 were young, around my age, the third was middle aged.

They weren’t wearing armor, had no weapons, and didn’t even have a pack. I took off my pack to sit and made sure to adjust the position of my sword so it went to the side of the chair instead of hitting the back.

The two young boys whispered to each other and looked at me. They were dirty and there was a smell about them. They were probably farmers, orphans, or just desperate. I wanted to talk to them, but after my experience with Sam and Dan, I had no trust to give right now.

Also, the words of my mother and the book I had read lingered in my mind. The Neverending Journey, was not inspiring, but it was brutally honest in its own dark and twisted way. If I was going to be the strongest, I couldn’t depend on anyone else. This was the start of my journey to greatness. I could team up with other people, but my mother would scold me once I left. She hadn’t conveyed her expectations, but I knew what they were.

The book that Tutor Damian had given me was no accident. My mother was testing my commitment to this lifestyle before she invested in me further. There were risks and she wanted to know that I could handle my chosen profession before going further. She didn’t need to say anything, and I didn’t need to ask.

The door opened and another boy exited and went to his friends. “Next,” an old man said. Another boy got up and went into the room. I waited quietly and no one talked to me.

“How was it?” the boy who was still waiting out here asked his friend who had exited.

“Got a copper plate, we are going to be official. The Steel Blades are going to be the best adventuring team ever,” the other boy said.

“Sweet. We just need to get some weapons and pay the entrance fee, then we are set,” the other one said. I listened in without staring. I felt a pang in my heart for the friendships that would never be.

I had grown up alone. The estate’s staff weren’t allowed to interact with the nobles, including me. The staff lived in the basement and had their own culture. Trying to intrude would have made things awkward for everyone. My father had explained this to me. While people might dislike a class structure, we took comfort and understanding from the rules it provided.

These boys, were long time friends. Even if I joined their team, there would no trust. I would be hand holding them, a teacher, not a companion. They would ask questions I wouldn’t want to answer. A friendship between us would never materialize since we weren’t equals. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the confidence to talk to them, but that I didn’t have the confidence to deal with all the headaches that would come after that.

“Next.” I continued to wait as the last boy entered the room. The middle aged man looked resigned and depressed more than anything else. He had probably failed at whatever business he had and was making a desperate attempt to salvage his life by going into the dungeon and earning money.

“Next.” A young woman came up as the man entered and the door shut. She looked around and at me as the three boys left. She nervously took a seat. No armor or equipment either. Another desperate person for the dungeon.

“Next.” I carefully got up and picked up my pack. I passed by the middle aged man and entered the intake room.

The old man closed the door behind me. “Sit,” he said, and I took a seat in a chair across from a desk. “Name.”

“Justin,” I said.

“One silver,” he said. I pulled it out and put it in his hand.

“Level?”

“One,” I said.

“The Adventurer’s Guild takes no responsibility once you enter the dungeon. Once down there, no laws, rules, or conventions exist beyond what an adventurer decides on their own. Place your hand on this truth orb. Answer only yes or no. Nothing else.” I placed my hand on the orb.

“Has anyone pressured or enslaved you to go into the dungeon on their behalf?”

“No.”

“Are you joining to cause chaos or kill people?”

“No.”

“Do you have a clear mind and understand everything I have said and asked?”

“Yes.”

“Take your hand off the truth orb. You are copper plate from the city of Monolith, Justin. The plate is your lifeline in the Adventurer’s Guild. If you lose it a replacement costs a silver. Don’t lose it. There is a hole if you want to tie string or wire through it to attach around your neck. This is quite common, so if your corpse is discovered, people know who you are,” the old man said.

He used a giant contraption behind his desk to stamp out the copper plate while he kept talking. “Don’t bother anyone with a higher plate. Plates are based on level. Copper from level 1 to 20. Silver from level 21 to 40. Gold from level 41 to 60. And platinum from levels 61 to 80. After that the platinum plate will get a glow from levels 81 and beyond for elites,” he explained. Squire Jessica had explained this before, but it was a good refresher and the old man clearly had a process I wasn’t about to interrupt.

“All trades in the guild complex are guaranteed to be fair. If you leave and do business elsewhere including selling monster cores, don’t come complaining to us. The general common room where coppers hang out is at the back of the complex along with the bunkhouse and general treatment area. You can reserve a spot for going into the dungeon in the general common room. There are signs showing the way there. If you can’t read ask a guild employee and they will point you in the right direction,” he said.

“Done. Your plate,” he said and took the freshly stamped copper plate.

Justin

City of Monolith

Level 1

“Updating that costs a silver. Some like to upgrade every level, but a waste of coin and time. No one cares about your level unless you are a gold plate,” he said.

“Thank you,” I said as the old man gestured towards the door. He opened it.

“Next,” he said as I exited. The young woman entered. No one else was waiting. I followed the clearly labeled signs that included a copper plate on them.

I reached the common room, where most of the people were quite young and shabbily outfitted. I ignored the looks and made my way to the counter for reserving a spot into the dungeon.

“First available spot into the dungeon,” I asked the receptionist.

“First spot, is tomorrow afternoon. One silver,” he said. I pulled out the coin and set it on the counter. “Cost for a bunk and meals ten copper.”

I pulled out the small copper coins and handed them over. “Plate,” he asked. I handed it over.

“Your registered time for the dungeon entrance is 3 in the afternoon. This is your entrance token with the time stamped on it. You may bring up to four other people but are not required to. Be an hour early. If you are late or delayed, that is your fault and you will have to reserve another time to make your descent. Do not linger near the entrance. Your name has been added to the list of people staying in the bunkhouse, bed 17. Don’t make a mess. And these are your two food tokens. Take them to the eatery over that way,” the clerk pointed out. I nodded at this and took the tokens he handed over. The dungeon token was steel with a time stamped onto it. The food tokens were colored pieces of wood.

“Thank you,” I said and left. I made my way towards the supply store for coppers here in the Adventurers Guild. I wanted to get some more weapons before my descent. I had a lot of weapons skills to work on down there. I wouldn’t be purchasing tier 1 weapons, but tier 0 weapons should be affordable with what I had.