Vigilon

It had been a fair amount of time since Vigilon had forged something, and now that he had plenty of materials, he might as well get back to it. He was preparing to start up the forge, when a familiar face entered the shop. "Yep, I'm- Oh, hey Astreya, it's good to see you again!" Vigilon responded. When Astreya finished filling out the order forms specifying what kind of gear she needed, Vigilon took a look at the forms, and started up the forge.

He managed to forge the ordered blade, first try. Then he'd need to make the armor that was requested.

His first attempt ended up coming out wrong, so he sighed and did what he could to salvage it. When he tried using that material again, it became a piece of equipment, yes, but not the one that he needed to make. He attempted another craft, but he realized a bit late that there was one crucial bit of maintenance he'd forgotten to do that was meant to keep the forge from having a fiery-

*Boosssssshhhhh!!!!*

Explosion.

Vigilon got back up, signaled a thumbs-up to show that he was fine, and he walked over to fix the damages and clean off the scorch marks from the forge.

Once that was taken care of, he forged one more incorrect armor and salvaged another attempt before feeling a bit tuckered out. "This could take a while..."

Crafting Results:

As the two players stuffed the bags with the valuables, Astreya remarked how she wished she had this much money just laying around. "Heh, don't we all?" Vigilon responded. Wealth of that level, it could be used for so much. Financial security, providing for friends and family, and of course, helping those who have nothing... Such good uses those were, right? Well, such wealth would be nothing in comparison to what would lay ahead, when it was all over...

But while wealth was mortal and finite, it was always best to not keep the coin, but to pass it on. Vigilon noticed something on the pile as he was stuffing his bag. "Is that...?"

Lo and behold, there was a dragon egg sitting on the pile.

"What the hell, sir bad dragon?" Vigilon began. "An egg is a fragile cradle of life, not a collectible hard as diamonds!"

With a sigh, he carefully removed the egg from the shrinking pile of wealth. Now, where to safely lay it down so he could continue stuffing bags...?

Vigilon walked forward, as there seemed to be no other way without climbing back. He just walked. Slowly, but how else would he move safely when his eyes had yet to adjust to the dark? Oh wait, he had the dark vision skill, he was already starting to see better. "Ok...now if I was a pile of shiny coins, where would I be...?" Vigilon asked himself. He walked forward a bit more and somehow there was a sparkle. He ran over to the object, but it wasn't alone. Glistening coins and glittering gemstones were very close by...it was a pretty good sized pile! There it was, the stolen treasure!

Vigilon's eyes widened, and he pulled out an empty bag from his inventory. He wouldn't want the hoard to get mixed up with his other valuables, so of course he'd be doing this.

If Astreya was to happen by, Vigilon would look to her, hand her an empty bag, and say "I found the hoard, let's get stuffing and bring it all back to its original owner!"

ID# 202816 LD: 19+6=25(Found Carsar's Hoard!)

@Astreya

ID# 202712 CD: 8(miss)

ID# 202713 CD: 3(miss)

ID# 202714 CD: 8(miss)

Tags Acquired: 0

THREAD CLOSING

* details of combat loot equipment under the cut.
** lol my bad, sent values are wrong. should be fixed when pag gets to me about it. 
*** also my bad. all equipment here should be tier 4.
- NIGHT

VIGILON
14920xp | 17150 * 6 * 1.45
36405col | [(xp * 0.15) + 100 + 26040] * 1.3
39 materials | 26 * 1.5
34 seeds

KRYSTA
12433xp | 17150 * 5 * 1.45
33506col | [(xp * 0.15) + 100 + 23436] * 1.3
39 materials | (10 + 16) * 1.5
34 seeds

ASTRALIN
7460xp | 17150 * 3 * 1.45
33014col | (100 + 25296) * 1.3
43 materials | (10 + 19) * 1.5
34 seeds

DAZIA
9947xp | 17150 * 4 * 1.45
10285col | (100 + 7812) * 1.3
21 materials | (10 + 4) * 1.5
34 seeds

The players would attempt to leave the garden, but something wasn't right. Going back the way they came apparently led deeper into the garden, so apparently that wasn't an option.

Half an hour of wandering around like clueless chickens later, the players would find Nemo again...but he didn't seem to be in a good mood. He claimed to know what the players did, and demanded that they return everything they'd stolen. The players, of course, were obviously confused. Not one of them had stolen anything...but they did loot some dead wolves.

Oh, crap, so that's where this was going. Nemo transformed into a dragon, and it all began to make sense. This Garden was property of whoever this "Gaia" was, and Nemo was both its caretaker and its guardian. Thus, by looting the wolves, they'd unwittingly stolen from Gaia's creatures. It was in self-defense though, right? ...Right?

"Aw, crap, here we go again." Vigilon said to himself as the ethical dilemma showed up in his mind again, but this time there was nothing that could be done about it, and it was time to fight an angry dragon.

Krysta and Astralin missed their attacks, and Dazia managed to deal fallen damage to Nemo. Now it was Vigilon's time to act. He readied his Sword Art, Draco Rend, and reduced Nemo's HP down to the red. The Dragon cried out in the heavy damage it had received from the two hits Dazia and Vigilon had made against him.

Vigilon held out his blade to block Dazia. "Hold." He commanded.

Nemo began to revert to the human form, and he was clearly exhausted. "You really didn't give me a chance to fight back, you guys are skilled, I'll give you that, too..." He remarked. "Sorry if there was any misunderstanding between us, we really had no idea there were some unspoken rules around here." Vigilon added. Nemo had a half-smile on his face. "It's alright...all is forgiven, I suppose. I did kind of tell you, but maybe you guys were too into that chat of yours, so...I'll let you off this time. Come, I'll guide you to the exit."

Nemo would lead the party over to a panel of sorts in the center of the Garden. He then turned to the party, a dejected look on his face. "Despite all the creatures that roam, it gets kind of lonely around this Garden...that's actually why I bring people here." He admitted. "I'd be glad if you could visit from time to time, you can come back if you want, even if you can't stay for very long. ...You can do that, can't you?" He asked. Vigilon thought for a moment. "I'll see what I can do." He answered. Nemo smiled. "Thanks, that means a lot to me." He said. "...Oh, before I forget, here!" He gave each of the players a crystal that was bluish-green in color. "If you have those, you can use this panel to return to Aincrad. Try not to lose them if you intend to go back during your next visit. Again, you can come back if you want...all I ask is that you clean up any messes you make, and uh..." Nemo looked over to Dazia. "Try not to overdo those antics of yours, Nature has a balance, and kind of needs its creatures if it's going to thrive." He added, as if his point was directed mainly to her, even if it was for the entire party. Vigilon looked to Nemo. "Thanks, I'll do what I can to keep that in mind."

ID# 202680 BD: 5+4-2=7(hit)

ID#

Draco Rend(AoE-I): 21x15-100=215 Damage to Nemo

-Gaia's Protection Activates, the battle is over!

[1]Vigilon: HP 740/740, EN 73/88 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD | 3 Prosperity

[0]Krysta: HP 660/660, EN 84/86 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 3 ACC | 3 LD | 3 Prosperity | Holy: 8 | T4 Bleed

[0]Astralin: HP 480/480, EN 64/66 | 20 DMG | 45 MIT | 5 ACC | 2 EVA | 3 Prosperity | Freeze: 9-10

[1]Dazia: HP 620/620, EN 68/80 | 21 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 1 LD | 3 Prosperity | Fallen: 8

           Enemies:

Nemo, Wind of Gaia: Defeated

Krysta revealed a potential username for the sister Dazia had mentioned, due to recognition of the armor the player wore. "Yeah, that's right, we did kinda get stolen from...I should have kept an eye on the supplies, I don't think we would have lost them if I just stayed there with them. Safe Zone or no, it's a bad idea to just leave stuff." Vigilon remarked, putting the blame on himself.

Dazia began to explain a few details about her siblings to Astralin, and Vigilon began to count up something that led to a pattern... "Galen, Sloth. Another sibling, Pride. Yet Another sibling, Greed? Valna...Lust?" He then looked over to Dazia. "...Wrath."

...

"Wait a minute." Vigilon said as the realization hit him. He had The Seven Deadly Sins for cousins.

Krysta mentioned that she'd lost her mother, and how it devastated her and her father...not to mention the fact that she was apparently an only child. No siblings. That must have been rough. "Jewel, I'm so sorry you had to go through all that..." He said as he placed his other hand over Krysta's, which was gripping his main hand at this moment. "Maybe one day, all this death can just end, and we can live our lives peacefully..."

Dazia pushed Vigilon's point aside, starting to speak of her own...and it seemed that he ended up out of Dazia's life, too, except death wasn't the one who did it. She claimed that if Vigilon thought the family was crazy, that he was probably thinking about their Aunt Rebecca...and Dazia was right that he hadn't heard of her. Maybe from Tara, but his memory on his conversations with Tara were fuzzy these days. Dazia revealed to Krysta that Vigilon had witnessed his father's murder, and done nothing about it. "I was young and scared, what would you expect me to do about it when I just witnessed a traumatic moment in my life, worsen it further?" Vigilon shot back.

Astralin changed the subject over to the reason the players were in the garden to begin with. There didn't seem to be enough intel around to confirm anything, and Dazia didn't have any clues, but she did reveal what the crazy sister had planned. Vigilon couldn't help but imagine a crazy rogue-looking monster killer just waltzing right into the monsters' dens saying "I've come to cure your existence".

Astralin wondered if Dazia knew anything about the essences...she did not, though she did reveal to the players that she had the Red Essence.

"Those Wolves really did a number on our energy, and there's likely to be more monsters lurking about. There's not enough of us to raid the place efficiently, so we need to get out of here and regroup." Vigilon decided.

Dazia said she had six siblings.

Six siblings...that's like, seven kids that her parents had. Not that it was a bad thing, just an...interesting number, seeing how both Dazia and that Galen person had...particular problems....

Wait a minute.

Krysta's response seemed to tell Vigilon she would need some time to take it all in and process. His thoughts drifted away from the um, possibility, and back to the matter he spoke of. "I understand that it's a lot to take in. Take as much time as you need." He said to Krysta after she'd given her response. Dazia dared to laugh about the two players agreeing that Vigilon's father was doing the right thing. "Hey, my father was a great man." Vigilon shot back. Dazia then claimed that even if Vigilon didn't believe it just because the man was his father, that he was a coward who did nothing but run. "My dad had a valid reason for everything he did. He's no coward, and he stood up to protect me to the very end!" He declared. "So what if he had to run once? He was a good person and a great father! We were devastated when we lost him!"

"I'm about as lost as you, Astralin. I've already told you what I knew." Vigilon answered with a shrug.

Dazia began to explain about her...sister. Another sister, to be precise. Dazia had also mentioned the player who cleared out the monsters in the ruins...that player in question was...her sister? Vigilon let out an exasperated groan. "You have got to be kidding me." He began. "First there was Valna, then that Galen person, and now whoever that's supposed to be? How many siblings do you have??" He asked, wondering what this world was coming to. "Are they even all in this game? Is there anyone else who we should probably know about by now?" He was about to lose it. "Man, now I'm really thinking that-"

Vigilon stopped, and took a deep breath. This was already going too deep. He should just tell Krysta...

"Krysta...there's something I should tell you." He began. "Should have told you before, but I got distracted by present issues."

He took another deep breath. "Some time ago, I tried to make a subtle interrogation on Dazia. She managed to get me sidetracked...but in the process, we both kinda stumbled upon something neither of us expected. Dazia and I...are related. My father was her uncle, but I'd never seen her before until this game. He didn't want me to meet his side of the family, and the more I encounter or learn about the few among them, the more I learn why he did that. Yes, we're cousins. No, this does not give me an inclination to take her side." He rambled, revealing the once unknown connection between the two players.

So, it turned out that the Alpha was smarter than expected.

It tried to Disarm Krysta, and after getting hit by Astralin, it was now trying to disarm Dazia. No one managed to finish off the Alpha, and if Vigilon didn't do something soon, the Alpha would hurt someone and the players would need to recover more than just energy. Vigilon sighed, took a deep breath, and readied his sword art. He attacked swiftly, before the Alpha Mossy Wolf had a chance to react, and he finished the battle there.

Vigilon looked around after the last wolf shattered. "Are there any more wolves out there, itching for a fight?" He called out.

Five seconds of awkward silence passed. It was like the silence itself was the answer. "Yeah, I didn't think so!" Vigilon said as he sheathed his weapon. Now there was a non-combat matter to handle. "Right...so Dazia wants a ceasefire that will last until we leave, and I'm pretty sure Krysta doesn't want to agree...do we put this to a vote, flip a coin on the likely chance it will be a tie on the voting end anyway, or do we find another non-combat method for deciding this?" Vigilon asked the players around him.

ID# 202492 BD: 4+4=8(hit), MD: 1(Crit. Miss)

Wyrmslash(ST-I): 21x12=252 Damage to Mossy Wolf 22!

ID# 202502 CD: 4, LD: 1+7=8(3348 Col, 2 Materials, <<Unidentified T4 Uncommon Consumable>>)

Vigilon: HP 740/740, EN 6/88 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD | 3 Prosperity

Krysta: HP 660/660, EN 18/86 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 3 ACC | 3 LD | 3 Prosperity | Holy: 8 | T4 Bleed

Astralin: HP 480/480, EN 11/66 | 20 DMG | 45 MIT | 5 ACC | 2 EVA | 3 Prosperity | Freeze: 9-10

Dazia: HP 620/620, EN 14/80 | 21 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 1 LD | 3 Prosperity | Fallen: 8

           Enemies:

Mossy Wolf 22: HP 0/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

The wolves remained, and they were finished off by Krysta and Astralin, while Dazia started on the wolves behind Vigilon. Now he had to take on those wolves, since the ones he was facing before were already slain. "Alright...let's get this over with, I'm starting to get tired." He remarked. He unleashed his sword art(once again, it was Draco Rend)...maybe he should find an opportunity to use stronger sword arts, maybe he can take them down in less hits, just completely go nuke on them. Whatever the case, his attack landed on all four enemies, and they shattered.

With those four wolves dealt with, Vigilon looked to see the last of the pack... Thank goodness, Vigilon needed a break, and he would now be getting one soon.

One of the four wolves there was larger than the others...that one must be the Alpha.

And that boi looked pissed.

Vigilon sighed. He didn't have time for this.

ID# 202427 BD: 9(Critical, +1 Base DMG, inflicted Paralyze)

ID# 202428 BD: 5+4=9(hit)

ID# 202429 BD: 2+4=6(hit)

ID# 202430 BD: 7+4=11(hit)

Draco Rend: 22x15=330 Damage to Mossy Wolf 16, 21x15=315 Damage to Mossy Wolves 17, 18 and 19!

ID# 202431 CD: 8, LD: 11+7=18(3348 Col, 2 materials, <<Unidentified T4 Rare Consumable>>, and <<Unidentified T4 Rare Light Armor>>)

ID# 202432 CD: 2, LD: 17+7=24(3348 Col, 2 Materials, <<Unidentified T4 Perfect Trinket>>, and <<Unidentified T4 Perfect Straight Sword>>)

ID# 202433 CD: 4, LD: 19+7=26(3348 Col, 2 materials, <<Unidentified T4 Perfect Consumable>> x2, and <<Unidentified T4 Perfect Light Armor>> x2)

ID# 202434 CD: 1, LD: 17+7=24(2604 col, 4 materials, <<Unidentified T4 Perfect Trinket>>, and <<Unidentified T4 Perfect Straight Sword>>)

Vigilon: HP 740/740, EN 14/88 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD | 3 Prosperity

Krysta: HP 660/660, EN 35/86 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 3 ACC | 3 LD | 3 Prosperity | Holy: 8 | T4 Bleed

Astralin: HP 480/480, EN 25/66 | 20 DMG | 45 MIT | 5 ACC | 2 EVA | 3 Prosperity | Freeze: 9-10

Dazia: HP 620/620, EN 26/80 | 21 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 1 LD | 3 Prosperity | Fallen: 8

           Enemies:

Mossy Wolf 16: HP 0/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Mossy Wolf 17: HP 0/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Mossy Wolf 18: HP 0/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Mossy Wolf 19: HP 0/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Amidst the arguing girls and barking wolves, this was something Vigilon was close to not handling...very well, at least. Krysta and Astralin worked together to handle the four wolves there, and Dazia stole a kill, ending that mossy wolf in a bit of a cruel manner. "That wasn't necessary!" Vigilon called out. Four more mossy wolves to the left of him growled in his general direction. "I've got these guys, someone cover me!" He said to the other players so that the other Mossy Wolves now behind him wouldn't catch him off guard.

"Alright, So if you guys aren't leaving, I guess we're still fighting." Vigilon remarked.

Oddly enough, most wolf packs were no larger than like, eight? Were the players finally witnessing some of the Monster Overpopulation? "Ok...why is the Monster Overpopulation more noticeable here? Like, most wolf packs around Aincrad don't go beyond eight, right?" He asked in case someone had a potential answer, if not the conclusion Vigilon also came to. He readied his sword art, and attacked with Draco Rend. He dropped the wolves' HP down into the red, and paralyzed one of them, too. "Know what you're up against now?" Vigilon asked the wolves(not that they'd understand him) in case they would flee. The battle was making things kind of tough, and the players' energy was slowly depleting, so a break would be nice.

ID# 202407 BD: 2+4=6(hit)

ID# 202408 BD: 3+4=7(hit)

ID# 202409 BD: 10(Critical, +2 Base DMG, inflicted Paralyze)

ID# 202410 BD: 3+4=7(hit)

Draco Rend(AoE-I): 21x15=315 Damage to Mossy Wolves 12, 13, and 15, 23x15=345 Damage to Mossy Wolf 14!

Vigilon: HP 740/740, EN 34/88 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD | 3 Prosperity

Krysta: HP 660/660, EN 51/86 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 3 ACC | 3 LD | 3 Prosperity | Holy: 8 | T4 Bleed

Astralin: HP 480/480, EN 36/66 | 20 DMG | 45 MIT | 5 ACC | 2 EVA | 3 Prosperity | Freeze: 9-10

Dazia: HP 620/620, EN 44/80 | 21 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 1 LD | 3 Prosperity | Fallen: 8

           Enemies:

Mossy Wolf 12: HP 57/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Mossy Wolf 13: HP 57/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Mossy Wolf 14: HP 27/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target. {Paralyzed}

Mossy Wolf 15: HP 57/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Vigilon got up to see Krysta completely obliterate three of the four wolves, and Astralin then finished off the one that remained. Both Krysta and Astralin had come a long way, and Vigilon remembered seeing these two at pretty low levels when he first met them. And now? Krysta was both his girlfriend and his equal, and Astralin was on her way to reaching their level. The difference between Vigilon and the two other players in his party, clearly, was the fact that they found unique enhancements they could make use of...and Vigilon hadn't. He wouldn't get jealous of them, for he was, in fact, happy for them, that they were able to find enhancements that complimented both them and their builds. Three more moss wolves took position in front of the trio. "So you want more, then? Ok, guess I'll-"

Before Vigilon could continue speaking, a blur of black entered the scene and slashed at the three wolves from behind. Vigilon jumped, startled by the sudden attack, despite not being the target of it. All eyes turned to the player who just appeared. "Wait...Dazia??"

The heck was she doing here, where Krysta could clearly see her? 

Dazia claimed that the wolves had the players surrounded, and that she was here to help. Well, might as well finish of these three while they were heavily wounded. Vigilon readied his sword art and finished off the three wolves. He looked over towards Krysta and Astralin, but his almost smile faded immediately as he realized that Dazia was right. "Look out behind you!"

ID# 202388 BD: 10(Critical, +2 Base DMG, Inflicted Paralyze)

ID# 202389 BD: 10(Critical, +2 Base DMG, Inflicted Paralyze)

ID# 202390 BD: 3+4=7(hit)

Draco Rend(AoE-I): 21x15=315 Damage to Mossy Wolf 7, 23x15=345 Damage to Mossy Wolves 5 and 6!

ID# 202391 CD: 1, LD: 8+6=14(3348 Col, 2 materials, and <<Unidentified T4 Rare Trinket>>)

ID# 202392 CD: 1, LD: 7+6=13(2604 Col, 4 materials, and <<Unidentified T4 Rare Trinket>>)

ID# 202393 CD: 2, LD: 20+6=26(4092 Col, <<Unidentified T4 Perfect Consumable>> x2, and <<Unidentified T4 Perfect Light Armor>> x2)

Vigilon: HP 740/740, EN 54/88 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD | 3 Prosperity

Krysta: HP 660/660, EN 67/86 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 3 ACC | 3 LD | 3 Prosperity | Holy: 8 | T4 Bleed

Astralin: HP 480/480, EN 54/66 | 20 DMG | 45 MIT | 5 ACC | 2 EVA | 3 Prosperity | Freeze: 9-10

Dazia: HP 620/620, EN 55/80 | 21 DMG | 44 MIT | 3 ACC | 4 EVA | 1 LD | 3 Prosperity | Fallen: 8

           Enemies:

Mossy Wolf 5: HP 0/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Mossy Wolf 6: HP 0/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Mossy Wolf 7: HP 0/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Astralin brought the matter back up, even though it would seem that she, too, wanted to forget that moment. "Well, how else could I have carried you? I wouldn't be able to easily carry you on my back or anything, and I'm not strong enough to carry you with one arm. It was the only way I knew." He responded. Astralin asked Vigilon if he knew the meaning behind the carrying method he used. "Uh, no? I didn't know there was any special meaning behind it."

Nemo would announce the players' arrival. Wait, when did they get there all of a sudden?

He would wish the party well, then he would practically disappear into the garden. "Right...Well, let's start, I guess." Vigilon noted.

As soon as he said this, a pack of unusual wolves arrived in front of the players. Some of them started sniffing the air around them, others were glaring and sniffing in the trio's direction.

Vigilon assumed they would turn hostile at any moment, so he readied his sword art and tore into three of them, the third among the first four members of the pack snapping at his leg, snagging the pant leg and tripping him up. It could have gone better, but at least he didn't miss all four.

ID# 201956 BD: 3+4=7(hit)

ID# 201957 BD: 7+4=11(hit)

ID# 201958 BD: 1(Crit Miss!)

ID# 201959 BD: 6+4=10(hit)

Draco Rend(AoE-I): 15x21=315 Damage to Mossy Wolves 1, 2, and 4!

[1-1-0-1]Vigilon: HP 740/740, EN 69/88 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | PAR | 6 LD | 3 Prosperity

[0-0-0-0]Krysta: HP 660/660, EN 86/86 | 21 DMG | 78 MIT | 3 ACC | 3 LD | 3 Prosperity | Holy: 8 | T4 Bleed

[0-0-0-0]Astralin: HP 480/480, EN 66/66 | 20 DMG | 45 MIT | 5 ACC | 2 EVA | 3 Prosperity | Freeze: 9-10

           Enemies:

Mossy Wolf 1: HP 57/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Mossy Wolf 2: HP 57/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Mossy Wolf 3: HP 372/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

Mossy Wolf 4: HP 57/372, 124 DMG, Leeching Fang | On a natural MD of 9 or 10, this mob heals for 10% of the final damage dealt to its target.

It had been some time since the day the Essences were found. It would seem that Yona had other things to do back on floor one, so the investigation would continue without her for the time being. Vigilon currently believed she could hold out on her own in the first floor, so he wasn't worried. The investigation had currently led the players over to an NPC who went by Nemo, who was, at this point, bringing the players over to some place called "Little Eden".

During this little trek, Vigilon discussed the earlier events with his party members. "Again, I swear, it's not what it looked like, I just wanted to help."

Yeah...Astralin woke up while Vigilon was carrying her, and he was still embarrassed about that awkward moment. "I...um, anyway...I can only hope this lead will get us somewhere, 'cause the other one's over on the fourth floor. We might need to get some kind of winter gear, even if it's just to go over our usual gear, if we're gonna do a full-fledged investigation there." He explained, shifting the topic away from the awkward moment.

"While we're doing this, of course...well, might as well make the most of it." He said as he pulled out a prosperity consumable. ...Dang, if only it was a bit sweeter.

Consumed: Mousse(Prosperity 3)

Stats and Equipment:

Never did Vigilon ever have such an encounter across the dang wilds of Aincrad.

The many changes in the virtual world left him clueless to so much, so he had a lot to do. But who'd have thought that randomly wandering around would lead to a tentless camp in which there was this random dude cooking and selling things?

Do you want wild animal encounters? 'Cause that's how you get wild animal encounters.

Realistically, Wild Animals or bandits would try to steal the food, so if it wasn't a trap, the shopkeeper probably had a lot of combat experience to be able to dispatch any animal intruder in the area, as well as any occasional bandit raider.

But it was currently rather peaceful for the moment, so maybe Vigilon might see if this guy had anything he might need.

Holy crap, this guy's stock was loaded, which probably meant his camp wasn't nearly as defenseless as it looked. "I'd uh, like to buy this right here." Vigilon decided, pulling out a col sack with one hand and gesturing to one of the in-stock foods with the other.

-Purchasing Mousse(Prosperity 3)[5/6/21]

500 Col Paid to @Daemien

Vigilon woke back up on the Platform. The book was on the floor, and Vigilon was backing up to the circle behind the pedestal. Light of many colors began to glow from the circle.

“The world awaits you, Alex Silver.” The Dragon began. “Go forth.”

The light surrounded Vigilon, and he could feel his feet leaving the ground.

“And follow the path We have laid out for you.”

Vigilon suddenly felt himself being carried as he zoomed along with the light of many colors. He zoomed past the stars, but it was like they weren’t stars at all when he seemed to get closer to them. He felt himself picking up even more speed, getting faster, faster, and faster… Until he saw only colors. He Closed his eyes.

Vigilon woke up at the sound of flowing water. He was back on Aincrad again. He felt new, he felt ready, he felt brave.

“Follow the path…” He muttered. He got up, and looked to the horizon.

It was a Brave New World he was in...and it was time to return to it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ID# 201688 CD: 5(miss)

ID# 201689 CD: 8(miss)

ID# 201690 CD: 3(miss)

(Welp, just my damn luck then XD)

Thread Summary:

Total Word Count: 24877
Exp. Value: 4145*Tier
Pumpkin Seeds: 82

Vigilon Receives:

+23833XP | 4145 * 5 * 1.15
+8287col | [(XP*0.15) + 2800] * 1.3

Tags: 0
Pumpkin Seeds: 82

Vigilon slowly walked towards the pedestal, and picked up the book. It was mainly silver in color, even the pages looked like they were the same color. The borders of the book’s cover appeared red, and keeping the book closed was a golden lock. Vigilon looked back to the pedestal and found a silver key. With the key, he unlocked the book, and opened it. The pages were indeed silver in color, and the words were red. Red like blood, red like roses, and many more. The words were constantly flowing and in many different letterings, fonts and languages. Somehow, they all seemed to be flowing into Vigilon’s mind simultaneously, and he was already feeling a migraine from it. Light flashed from the book, and another vision awaited him.

Vigilon saw Himself, coming from his shadow was a Dragon. Vigilon was looking off in the distance, towards a silvery white dragon in the sky. The two dragons flew around him, above and below him, like a circle of sorts. There is no mortal world without Light and Shadow. The Shadows of the Past may haunt him, but he holds onto Hope for the Future. The light may be so bright that he cannot see through its brightness, but in his past, there were good times as well as bad, a balance that kept him moving. The Present was between light and dark, Past and Future, like a gray blot in time. But maybe it was a Silver gift, that he was alive, and that an Eternity full of Light awaited one day…

Vigilon looked at himself, then back to the Dragon. “Like...the Dragon within me?” he asked.

“No.” The Dragon answered. “Your Inner Dragon is one of Silver and Flame.”

Vigilon thought for a few seconds. “Then...is this-”

“No.” The Dragon interrupted. The Dragon lowered himself. “Climb on, and I will show you what I speak of.”

Vigilon hesitantly climbed onto the Dragon’s back. The Dragon then took flight, and Vigilon would find himself riding a Dragon that was flying through active thunderclouds. Vigilon held on tightly, for lightning bolts darted around constantly within these clouds. Soon, the Dragon’s wings folded all of a sudden, and the next thing Vigilon knew, electricity arched around him and the Dragon as the dragon seemed to...speed up? Vigilon held even more tightly, and lowered his face to avoid his head being ripped by wind resistance from the Dragon’s speed. When he felt the Dragon’s speed recede, he lifted his head to see a black void full of what looked like stars. Also a mysterious platform. The Dragon landed on the platform, and Vigilon got off the Dragon. He looked back and saw the clouds of the land he was on, spanning across the horizon around, with a few breaks in the sky revealing the terrain below them. The Platform itself seemed to be made from a silver and titanium alloy, and there was a pedestal in the center, with a book on it.

“Be careful if you dare to open it.” The Dragon warned. “It is likely it contains more than what you can handle. A mere glimpse may be safe, however.”

Something huge landed behind Vigilon, and he turned around to see a dragon.

It wasn’t a Silver Dragon, like he’d seen before in his mindscape, nor was it the dark dragon that represented Vigilon’s Wrath. This Dragon was different. It had golden-brass scales, emerald eyes and its horns were more like a set of spikes, save for the longest two, which looked more like horns than the rest. The Dragon raised its maw to the sky, and Lightning blasted out towards the clouds, spreading through them and raining down on the land like a mighty storm of voltage.

“So, you have managed to make it here.” The Dragon spoke.

“Um, where am I?” Vigilon asked.

“Far from where you were.” The Dragon answered. “As for who I am, as you’re likely to ask, my name is of no current importance, but I am a Dragon of Storms...Storms of Lightning, to be precise.” Vigilon blinked a few times. “Well after that little electric stunt you pulled, there’s no denying that.” He remarked. “But your answer was kinda vague, could you be more specific?” He asked. The Dragon looked to the horizon. “This land...your mind is connected to it, tied to its core. However, it would seem you can only see but a shard of it. This space was formed from said connection, but nothing more.” he explained. He looked back to Vigilon. “You see but one form of one’s inner identity, the dragon within him.”

Vigilon woke up in a strange environment. Was he still in the Isle, or was he somewhere else in the mindscape?

He got up slowly, and looked around him. He was in what seemed to be a rocky plain with a heavy overcast in the sky. The plants around, as well as the occasional tree, seemed kind of odd, like they belong in a different world entirely. There was lightning coming down frequently, but no rain seemed to be presently falling down. Maybe the plants were as they needed to be in an environment with frequent lightning? Some of the stones jutting out of the ground seemed to be ore veins, but due to the lightning it probably wasn’t a good idea to touch one in case there was static lingering within its metal. "Where...am I...?" Vigilon asked himself, though he didn't really have any answer for this at all.

Vigilon absorbed the Meta's weapon, the one it made from Vigilon. He then took a deep breath, and opened himself up. "Go, be free." He said to the souls. One by one, the souls left. The last one to leave was also the first to have been with Vigilon during his time in the challenge. "Thank you for doing your best... I'm sorry it took so long for us to find you." She spoke. Vigilon smiled. "No, thank you." He replied. The first soul giggled before rising up to regroup with the other freed souls.

The arena around him started to crumble. Vigilon started looking around, trying to find a door. There wasn't a single one to be found. The mysterious pillars of light with metallic shards faded, and the area darkened. Before the crumbling floor dropped Vigilon, however, there was a flash of light, and he would awaken somewhere else.

The Meta and the false entities attacked. Vigilon was struck by a clone and he blocked the other two attacks. The Meta then slashed at Vigilon, leaving a near-fatal gash on his torso.

So, it was down to this, then. All or nothing...

Vigilon sheathed his blade.

"So, it is now that you submit? Now, that you have no crystals to save you, no souls to empower you, nor even save from my ability to use them?" The Meta questioned, though it would seem to be rhetorical. "Now at last I will have your-"

Vigilon grappled The Meta, placed a hand on its weapon, and kicked it back. "I'll be taking back what's mine, thank you very much." Vigilon stated. Now that the weapon was in his hands, it changed its form, and Vigilon rushed in to strike the final blow before The Meta could finish forming itself a new weapon.

The Meta's eyes changed. The sight surprised Vigilon. Were those his eyes...or were his eyes The Meta's? Vigilon might never know, for The Crowned Meta shattered two seconds after its true eyes were revealed.

Vigilon: [                    ] [                    ] {7 souls}

<<Crowned Meta>>

     [                     ]

     [                     ]

     [                     ]

        {0 souls}

Vigilon growled. "This will end now."

"I will take every last soul you have!" The Meta roared. Vigilon blocked the first attack. "I will free every last soul you've stolen, you demon!" He responded.

The Meta used all sorts of abilities to prove Vigilon wrong. A blade rain, splitting into copies, and even causing a creature of flame to burst out of the battlefield. "Just try and 'free' the souls." The Meta said.

Vigilon attacked the Flame monster, and it dissipated. He took some damage from the blade rain and from one of the false copies, but he still was able to damage The Meta despite these troubling factors.

This battle was becoming close now, and Vigilon knew the risks he was taking. Hopefully, he'd be able to pull through. No more running, no more pain, it was time to end this at last. Vigilon would win, or he would die. Despite all the pain, he kept going. He wasn't strong because he could endure this pain, for he barely could. He wasn't strong because of the damage he was dealing, for it was a joint effort with him and seven souls. His strength practically was a gift from above, and it was something he'd make use of here, and for the greater good onward.

Vigilon: [                    ] [                    ] {7 souls}

<<Crowned Meta>>

     [                     ]

     [                     ]

     [                     ]

        {3 souls}

Vigilon did as he was told, attacking The Meta with his temporarily powered up weapon. A flurry of sword arts landed upon his enemy.

"No! You're supposed to die!" The Meta's voice rang out.

"Souls, living creatures, living beings...what are they, exactly? Allies? Enemies? Friends? Tools?" Vigilon began. "You probably know nothing about it, but there's this game franchise that was part of my childhood, it was called Pokemon. Various people would often say that Pokemon were not tools of war, but friends you could rely on." Vigilon took a deep breath. "But there was a surprising lack of evidence. I mean, the trainer plays strategist, but nothing more. Trainer and pokemon don't really fight side by side, do they? Sure, they may work together sometimes in out of combat scenarios, but is that really all the effort?"

Vigilon began to smile. "Guess that's the difference between us, then. You see souls as a means to an end, and I see them as they are: Souls. I might not have befriended the ones I'm with, but I've fought to protect them and they've done their part to help me out. They help me not because I forced them to, but because they chose to, and I let them help me, because there is no such thing as perfection, and because as a human, I was never created to always act or be alone."

The Meta responded by using its soulsteal attack, but the seven who helped Vigilon managed to remain resilient enough to avoid being ripped out of Vigilon.

Vigilon: [                    ] [                    ] {7 souls}

<<Crowned Meta>>

     [                     ]

     [                     ]

     [                     ]

        {18 souls}

"You still resist? As brave as you are, this is completely laughable. You've lost, and I'm about to deal the killing blow." The Meta claimed.

A voice then suddenly could be heard directly by Vigilon. "You chose to fight as to protect us. Now let us protect you!"

There was sudden confusion with Vigilon. "Huh??"

A light shone, and coming out seemed to be a light that looked similar to The Meta's attack...but this must have been one of the recent voices in his head. The soul collided with The Meta's attack, and the attack blasted around, resulting in another blade rain instead of what may have been a killing blow.

"What...just happened?" Vigilon asked.

"I can help, too!" Spoke up the first soul. "Let us power your blade! We'll work together this time!"

"You...can hear me now?" Vigilon asked. "Yes, now let us help you!" Came the response.

Finally, communication was possible. The Meta used souls like tools and resources, but he didn't really work with them. Maybe cooperation was key here.

"Alright...the seven of you who were here first...let's fight as one, working side by side!" Vigilon decided...in thought. Lights surrounded Vigilon's weapon. Each consensual assist seemed to change a portion of its design, until it looked like a fused abomination, though it was probably a good thing in this case. "Strike now, our handiwork has surprised it!" The first soul called out to Vigilon.

Vigilon: [                    ] [                    ] {10 souls}

<<Crowned Meta>>

     [                     ]

     [                     ]

     [                     ]

        {15 souls}