Ryo

Without warning, the fake Ryo struck. Its katana flashed in a sharp arc, forcing Ryo to block instinctively. The force of the impact sent vibrations up his arms, and he stepped back, barely avoiding a follow-up thrust. He countered with a diagonal slash, but the double twisted with uncanny precision, parrying the attack and countering with a strike so familiar it sent a chill down Ryo's spine. The pair moved in a deadly rhythm, each action met with an equally measured response. Ryo lunged, his blade aimed at the doppelgänger's shoulder, but his opponent sidestepped and delivered a kick to his ribs, sending him stumbling. Ryo regained his footing, narrowing his focus.

This was no ordinary fight. The doppelgänger fought with the same techniques, the same instincts—his own fears and doubts turned into a physical foe. To win, the Ryo realized, he couldn’t just fight harder. He had to transcend himself. With a deep breath, he steadied his grip and waited, finding clarity amid the chaos. Only then would he strike with unshakable precision, to disrupt the flawless mimicry and shatter the stalemate.

»Combat | ID:240158| BD:7+3=10 [hit!] | MD: 4 [Miss!]
» ST-1 Used
» 18*12=216-13=203 Damage Dealt
» 12 Energy used, +2 from Katana Stamina

Ryo, the Final Demon | HP: 265/468 | DMG: 260 | MIT: 13 |
» Attack Missed

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 81/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Ryo stepped into a room, one he did not fully recognize. He had a guess of who it was he had to see in this room. In the center of the room he saw himself. Who he used to be. A man more comfortable to betray those close to him, so that he did not have to be close himself. A person who hated himself more than anything, and wanted to die. Ryo searched for the words to speak. What to tell himself, what would he tell himself? “What can I say to you?” He fumbled out. “I remember how it felt. All that it meant, and all that it didn't.” He said, thinking back to his past actions.

“I told myself that I chase a redemption, that I know that I can never deserve. But what does that make me? A fool? A man of-” He paused, catching himself realizing the word he wanted to say. “Hope.” He said quietly, barely above a whisper. “When all else is lost. You. Lost. Everything. And everyone. You became-” His voice rose as he growled at his past self. “There is no forgiving you, you chose!” He yelled, before catching himself. “I chose.”

“And what now? Should I, this same man, what should I do? Proclaim my guilt to all? Find my true love and profess? Place myself in service to others?” He paused again, taking his time to think and speak. ”Should I lose, everything and everyone, will there still be enough left inside so I do not become you.” He said, his voice cracking as his emotions reached their peak. “I do not know. But I have hope.” Ryo said, reaching for his blade. “And, we shall soon see.”

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

His crying ceased, his face hurt from it. He knew that when he opened his eyes he would be back in the void. And sure enough when he did, he was. Ryo got to his feet, wiping at his face. He looked at the shape, who seemed to have nothing to say. “Hey.” The shape looked up back at him. “Hey.” It mimicked. “Lowenthal was a really big turning point for you it seems. A literal savior of yours.” Ryo nodded.
“Yeah. He was.” Ryo said, nodding. "He did, a lot for me. Opened my eyes to a lot of things. Gave me the ability to see me, and to fight for me. Instead of just, hating me." Ryo said. "He stopped me from killing myself, instilled me with hope."

"Yes, you lived. And hope still lived inside you, from that day to this one. Regardless of past, hope and feat and love and hate exist in every one of us. The question is-" The shape moved to stand beside the large door. "Which will you choose to let guide your actions? Each choice we make, shapes our world." Ryo took a step forward and looked at the door, taking in every detail he could.
“I see the truth of it.”
“And…?”
“I believe, I am ready to walk through that door.”
The Shape didn't say anything else. It merely grinned, and stepped aside allowing Ryo to open the final door.
 

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 600/625 | EN: 73/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Ryo and Lowenthal both lay on the cavern floor panting, exhausted from their scuffle. “You’ve got quite the mean left.” Lowenthal said, obviously smiling.
“You’ve got a dirty right.” Ryo replied back.
“You’re damn right. Ha ha ha.” Lowenthal chuckled back. “I know I’m a memory of yours, and that I’m not really real. Just a figment. But I’m glad I got to be here.” Lowe said. Ryo could feel his eyes welling up again. “I wish that you were still alive. I wish I could talk to you about, all of this. I need help Lowe, I don’t know if I can do this alone. I know that I’m surrounded by people who love me, in the game and out of it. But I feel so alone, so lost, so afraid to open my mouth and talk about anything for fear of losing them.”
“Yeah, me too.” Lowenthal said. Ryo choked up and began to cry. “Hey there pal, it’s okay. You can cry here.” Lowenthal said, sitting up and placing a hand on Ryo’s head. Ryo continued to sob, unable to stop himself. His eyes turned sore as he could feel his throat beginning to collapse from the emotion. And Ryo cried, until he could not anymore.

»Combat | ID:240156| BD: 7+3=10[Hit!!] | MD: 2 [Monster Dead]
» ST-2 Used! [18 base*15=270]
» -15 energy from ST-2, +2 Energy from Katana Stamina, +3 Energy Naturally
» +30 HP natural recovery, +21 HP Battle Healing 51 Total

Lowenthal, the Third Demon | HP: 0/312 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 9 |
» defeated

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 549/625 | EN: 73/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

The cave continued to echo with the clash of steel on steel as the samurai and ninja traded blow after blow. The confined space amplified their every movement, each strike carrying lethal intent. Ryo's katana arced in wide, deliberate sweeps, its sharp edge whistling through the damp air. Lowenthal darted and weaved, his kunai moving in rapid, precise strikes meant to exploit any opening. Ryo got a decent hit into Lowenthal, but unlike the previous two demons Lowenthal continued his onslaught.

A sharp clang rang out as Lowenthal blocked Ryo's downward slash with a kunai, their faces inches apart. Ryo’s steady gaze met Lowenthal's narrowed eyes, both refusing to yield. With a sudden twist, Lowe disengaged, spinning low and aiming a sweep kick. Ryo leapt back, avoiding the strike, and retaliated with a horizontal slash. Lowenthal ducked, countering with a throwing star that grazed the Ryo's shoulder. They pressed on, relentless, each strike a test of skill and endurance.

»Combat | ID:240155| BD: 10 [Critical Hit!!] | MD: 7 [hit!!]
» ST-1 Used! [(18 base +2 Crit)*12=240]
» -12 energy from ST-1, +2 Energy from Katana Stamina, +3 Energy Naturally
» +30 HP natural recovery, +21 HP Battle Healing 51 Total

Lowenthal, the Third Demon | HP: 81/312 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 9 |
» 180 Damage - 91 mitigation = 89 Total Damage

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 498/625 | EN: 83/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

The dim light of the campfire flickered off the jagged walls of the cave as Ryo and Lowenthal squared off. Shadows danced around them, amplifying the tension in the confined space. Ryos katana gleamed like a sliver of moonlight, held steady in his practiced grip. Ryo, cloaked in darkness, crouched low, his kunai reflecting the firelight.

Lowenthal moved first, a sudden blur. His footsteps were silent, his form blending with the darkness. Ryo stepped forward, his katana flashing in a precise arc. Metal rang against metal as the kunai deflected the strike. Ryo twisted, rolling to the side and hurling a smoke bomb that erupted into a choking cloud.

Ryo steadied his breath, his senses sharpening. A faint whisper of movement betrayed Lowe's position. The samurai struck, his blade slicing through the smoke. The ninja countered from above, dropping with a vicious kick. The cavern they were in echoed loudly with their battle, each strike echoing off the cold stone walls.

 »Combat | ID:240154 | BD: 1 [Critical Miss!!] | MD: 6 [hit!!]
» Missed Attack - 2 energy
» +3 Energy

Lowenthal, the Third Demon | HP: 312/312 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 9 |
» 180 Damage - 91 mitigation = 89 Total Damage

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 536/625 | EN: 90/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Ryo learned the truth. That this man, this Lowenthal was friends with Piera and Lee. He felt sick to his stomach. He told Lowenthal where to find them. He looked back on the path, towards the pit. Death is what he deserved. Maybe, death wasn’t real at all. Maybe it was a lie to scare them into playing his game. Maybe if he died, he’d wake up. Maybe all the people he got killed just woke up. Did he deserve to wake up? He could find out. All he had to do was-”Hey! Ryo!”

Ryo shook his head, finding himself suddenly at the edge of the precipice again. And once again Lowenthal there behind him. “I need you Ryo. Alright? I need your help to get out of here. Any sin of the past can be forgiven in time. When you forgive, you in no way change the past – but you sure do change the future.” Lowenthal said inching toward Ryo. There, that’s the line. That’s what he needed to hear. And before Ryo could snap back to normalcy he was gripped by Lowenthal and thrown backwards into a small circular room.

“Are you fucking stupid or something?” Lowenthal asked. “I heard rumurs that you were running with a guild that did some shady shit, and I went out looking for you. And when I found you you were not what I was expecting.”
    “I expected some man, hooting and hollering and getting ready for his next mark but instead of that I found a sad man who was wallowing in his own grave. A man who was ready to die for the pain he had caused.”
Ryo stood up. “Then why? Why pull me from that edge? I told you what you needed to know to save Piera and Lee! To do what I couldn’t!”
“Because you needed help!” Lowenthal screamed back. “I didn’t see you as some evil, mustache twirling villain who did what he did for enjoyment! What I see in front of me is someone who resents themself so much that they would rather die then relive their memories one more time.” Ryo flinched as his eyes filled with water. “So I’m gonna knock some sense into ya, so let me see you grit those teeth!”
Ryo ducked under the blow, as Lowenthal sailed high over him. Ryo didn't attack just yet, but instead bid his time.

»Combat | ID:240153 | BD: 2+3=5 [miss!!] | MD: 5 [miss!!]
» Missed attack -2 Energy
»

Lowenthal, the Third Demon | HP: 312/312 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 9 |

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 89/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

-4 hours later-

“Why, did you touch it?” Ryo asked, stuck in the bottom of a hole
“How was I supposed to know it was booby trapped?” Lowenthal asked defensively trying to avoid blame.
“Because of several reasons. First, the chest was in the middle of a hallway by itself. Second it had glowing runes on it, and third I. Told. You. It. Was.” Ryo said upset at the situation. “And now we’ve been stuck down here without a way out for three hours. Just have to hope that when the trap resets eventually it doesn’t kill us outright.”
“Hmm yeah, that would be bad.” Lowenthal said, scratching his chin.
“Yeah, that would be bad! And what was it that you wanted to do? ‘Farm some materials’? Fat lot of good that’ll do you when we're covered in stone and dirt.”
“Hey, those radishes are gonna make pretty col when we get out of here.” Ryo groaned loudly.

“Hey, Ryo. If you don’t mind me asking. Were you going to y’know, jump?” Lowenthal asked, pressing his fingers against the stone wall of the pit they were trapped in. Ryo thought for a moment. “I think so.” Lowenthal spun around.
“Why?” The sudden burst of concern caught Ryo off guard. “I, don’t know. I don’t have anything I guess. Not anymore.”
“Bullshit, and you know it. Besides, I know something you don’t know.” Lowenthal said, and as Ryo gave him another side eye he reached over and slid a rock revealing a small button. “Ta-da.” Lowenthal teased.

-1 week later-

Still trapped in the maze Ryo and Lowenthal began to struggle. There was a cliff some ways back, perhaps it was deep enough. But, he looked up at Lowenthal, would he let him? “Lowe.” Ryo asked. Lowenthal turned and beamed a smile at him. “Yeah, whats up?” Ryo gritted his teeth at that smile. “How the hell can you be so chipper all the damn time? We’ve been stuck down here, lost for days. Who knows how big this maze is, if the walls aren’t moving around to keep us in check. That pit back there is the third time I’ve seen it today. We’ve been going in circles.” Lowenthal walked up, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Look Ryo, I know it’s hard now. What with everything that’s been weighing on you. I can’t fathom what it could be to drive you to leap. But, to be honest with you I’m actually looking for some friends of mine.”
 

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Ryo stood at the edge of the world. His body swaying slightly in the wind as his feet displaced soil that fell into the cloudy nothingness. He remembered standing here, so long ago. He stared into the sky blue sea below him and wondered.
“Hey there.” Ryo jumped, not forward but in place. “Sorry to startle you, just trying to figure something out.” A man spoke, his voice slightly shrill but comforting. Ryo turned away and stared back into the sky. “I wouldn’t try to stop me.” Ryo said.
“Oh, I don’t plan to. But, I’m lost and need directions. If you know how to get to the seventh floor that’d be great.”
Ryo scoffed. “Use the teleporter.”
The man groaned. “Yeah I know about the teleporter but that’s too easy. I want to experience the journey. C’Mon, whattya say? And after that you can teleport back here and jump if you still want to.”
Ryo resigned himself, and stepped away from the edge. The man let out a large sigh of relief. “Phew, good to see you back up off there and lend little ole me a hand.” He held out a hand towards Ryo. “Names Lowenthal. But, that’s a mouthful so just call me Lowe.”
 

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

As Gant faded from sight, so did the cave around him. Ryo took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened his them, he was back in the void. “You were afraid to get close to someone, because you were afraid of losing them. But your actions lost them anyway.” The shape spoke, staring into the far nothingness as if looking for words to materialize in front of it. “It’s-”
“Selfish. I hurt them so badly, so that I would be spared the pain.” Ryo said, finishing the sentence. 
“I was going to say sad.” The shape said, looking over at Ryo. “More doors have appeared for you Ryo. Know that you’re close to finishing this journey.”
“One way, or another.” Ryo said, taking the handle of the third door and stepping through. He wondered who else he'd have to face while in here. His ex, a decent friend, but everyone from his past so far. 
 

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 81/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Ryo held the handle of his katana by his side, the blade sheathed. Gant rushed Ryo again, eager to slice into him again but was met with harsh steel as Ryo drew his blade quickly. A thin red line appeared on Gant’s body, and Ryo on the other side of him. “So, you do know.” Gant said, dropping his blade. Its clatter echoed across the cave. Ryo sheathed his blade, and turned to face his second demon. “Yeah. It was genuine. Our friendship, their relationship that I was so envious about. Everything, was just so real.” Ryo said. “I wanted to be them, I wanted to be with them, when I was with them I wasn’t pretending anymore. I was, me.” He said. “They let me be me, and I let them down. I betrayed them. I severed something that was so precious to me, because I was afraid of them. What would happen if I let them get to close. If they knew just how evil I am then they  would’ve left me. And hated me.” Ryo turned to face Gant, sheathing his weapon as he did.

“It was easier then, to just shut myself off from everyone. But now, I’ve got friends. People I can rely on. People that rely on me. I’m not afraid anymore, not of losing those I call friend.”

“Well, damn. Wish you said all that before you kicked my ass. Would’ve made all this a bit eaiser. But hey, good on ya’.” Gant said, before collapsing from his wounds.
 

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 81/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Gasping for air, Ryo watched as Piera and Lee were carried away. Both of them were screaming at him. Piera in her confusion and calling for him to help her, and Lee in his anger damning him. Ryo knelt on the floor and tried to catch his breath. Gant leaned over, whispering into his ear. “If you’re getting soft, we cans just cut you off.” He threatened. He stepped around to the front of Ryo. “And this is where it ends. This little memory of yours. They get carted off and disappear for months. Your friends, if you should you still call them that. They’re separated from each other and can’t see each other. And the second one steps out of line-” He motioned a finger across his neck. “You know what happens. I mean, that’s why you kill Quin later right?” Gant said, pulling out a curved sword.

“So, Ryo I was always curious. Why those two? I mean, I can still hear them calling out for you. You had enough skill to take out this crew, free them and the three of you could’ve taken me. And I understand why you didn’t.” Ryo felt his face become aflame with pain and Gant threw a right hook across his face. Ryo bounced off the hard stone ground. “And so do you, so say it.”
“Because, I was afraid.”
Gant laughed. “Afraid? Certainly not of me? Or those chumps that jumped yer friends.”
“No, not of dying. Scared of what would happen to our friendship.”
“How unsurprisingly, selfish.” Gant mocked, stomping a foot onto Ryo. “Still gotta know. What’s about those two? What about them made you start down this rabbit hole of self righteousness?”

Ryo still didn’t know, what was it about Piera and Lee? What did they do that made him act the way he had, that set him down this road in the first place. “I don’t know.”
“Wrong answer!” Gant excitedly yelled out, as he took a swipe at Ryo. Ryo rolled out of the way, and up to his feet. And quickly deflected Gant's attack, before following up with his own attack driving his blade deep across Gant's torso.

»Combat | ID:240152 | BD: 3+3=6 [Hit!!] | MD: 7  Dead
»ST-1 used | Base 18 * 12 = 216 Damage | 216 - 5 Enemy Mitigation = 213 total damage.
»ST-1 Used | -12 Energy | Katana Stamina -2 Energy Usage | -10 Energy Total

Gant, the Second Demon | HP: 0/206 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 5 |

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 81/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Nets came, followed by the pikemen, then the alchemists with Stun toxins to subdue them. Lee was the first to go down, his heavy armor provided a decent barrier but with the amount of people used in these operations it never mattered.
“Ryo! Watch out!” Lee cried out as he raised a fist against his assailants. “Lee, careful!” Piera cried out. She was slammed onto the floor, her glasses sliding against the cold stone. Lee slammed against the wall, a poisoned knife buried into him to prevent him from moving.

“Well done Ryo, another fine catch.” A thick accent cut through the darkness, carrying a jingling purse of col. “Ryo?” Piera asked, concerned in her voice. Lee shouted. “Damn it! What is this? Ryo, what’s going on?”
Ryo didn’t say anything. How could he, lest his heart shatter again. The man spoke. “Ah did Ryo not tell you? He never does. See, things is. You two are ours now. 1 alchemist, and 1 blacksmith. Perfect timing, we needed the alchemist.” He turned to Ryo. “Lost 4 last week thanks to your master.”
Ryo gritted his teeth and spat his next words. “She’s not my master, Gant.” The man chuckled. “That’s odd, because last time I saw her and you together she gave you a nice hard tug on your leash.” And on the word tug he threw a strong right into Ryo’s stomach knocking the wind from him. “Right, take them away.” Gant said, waving a commanding hand at his men.
 

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

A blinding light had him shield his eyes, and when he removed his hands he could see where he was. A cave, more specifically a passageway. He knew this route, this is where he would promise to take players from the third floor to the fourth one to gather some high end materials. Which would mean, behind him would be someone who didn’t deserve what was going to happen to them. Ryo turned around, knowing who would be there right behind him.
“Ryo, are you okay? You look, sick.” The woman said. Her brunette hair went just past her shoulder, the earthen green cloak obscuring most of it. And whatever light was in these passageways reflected off the lenses of her glasses. Another shape moved up. “Ryo, c’mon we should keep moving. Just to be safe.” The masculine voice came from a head of silvery hair and stubble.

Ryo let out a forced chuckle. “Yeah I’m fine. Besides, you can always look at me later.” He said rubbing the back of his neck. “C’mon, the exit’s this way.” He said, leading them a bit further down the way. “Say Ryo, we never really got a chance to say thank you for helping us. And, it means a lot that you’ve gone so far out of your way for us.” Piera said. Ryo rubbed at his eyes. He really didn’t need them to be talking like this, not using their voices. “Yeah Ryo. I know we got off on the wrong foot, but you’re pretty solid.” Lee said complimenting him. Ryo kept walking, leading them on. Steeling his heart he readied for what was about to happen. He stopped in his tracks. This wasn’t them, the two behind him aren’t actually them. He kept telling himself over and over. He fought every muscles, every synapse in his body to warn them. Instead, all he could murmur out was. “I’m sorry.” And raised his hand high into the air.

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Ryo felt an immense pain shoot over his body as he lost his vision. Darkness, followed by deep crimson as the pressure grew inside his skull and when it finally subsided he was back in the void. “Those two meant a lot to you it seems. So much so that you wish you acted differently.” Ryo, drenched in sweat yelled at the shape. “Of course I do! Piera, and Lee they’re-”
“You’re friends. So you believe.” Ryo gritted his teeth, and closed the gap between him and the shape. He grabbed the thing by the neck and held it aloft by what passed for it’s collar. “You wanted to help them, to save them. Why were they the first to make you feel differently?” The shape asked, unbothered. Ryo’s knuckles turned white from his own grip. “What, do you mean by that?” He growled.

“Every other person you took down those tunnels you never gave a second thought about. You never truly cared about them until this pair. Why is that?” The shape spoke not in a condescending tone, but out of curiosity. Ryo loosened his grip, letting it go. “Piera and Lee were, different from the others.”
“Surely there must be something deeper than that? You sacrificed many couples to appease your guild.”
“I don’t know what that is then.”
“Then go again, and find that answer. But be warned, you cannot change the past. Only accept it for what it is.” Ryo took the warning to heart, nodded and entered the door yet again.

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Ryo took a half step back. “Piera, Lee?” He spoke in a hushed whisper. “No. No no no no no.” Ryo said, now realizing what he was doing. What he was about to do. What was about to happen to them.
“Uhh, yeah?”
“What’s got you all bothered?”
Ryo didn’t think, he acted. “BOTH OF YOU RUN AWAY FROM ME NOW!” He said, taking a demanding step forward.
The woman flinched, and the man stepped in front. “Whoa pal, what’s going on?” But it was too late. The nets came first, then the manacle team, then the knifes.
“Ehh Ryo. Da fuck tha about, eh? You almost let them get away!” A thick accent said from the shadows. Ryo grabbed his katana and raised it at the nearest person, eager to cut them down. He didn’t care if it made him a murderer. He didn’t care if it wasn’t what had happened. He needed to save them, they were going to be tortured, they were going to be hurt, and they were his friends and he was going to save them!
 

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

A blinding light had him shield his eyes, and when he removed his hands he could see where he was. A cave, more specifically a passageway. He knew this route, this is where he would promise to take players from the third floor to the fourth one to gather some high end materials. Which would mean, behind him would be someone who didn’t deserve what was going to happen to them. Ryo turned around, not quite sure what he was expecting but went white as a sheet to see them again.
“Ryo, are you okay? You look, sick.” The woman said. He brunette hair went to just past her shoulder, the earthen green cloak obscuring most of it. And whatever light was in these passageways reflected off the lenses of her glasses. Another shape moved up. “Ryo, c’mon we should keep moving. Just to be safe.” The masculine voice came from a head of silvery hair and stubble.
 

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

“Maybe you’re right.” Ryo said, thinking on it. “Maybe she did deserve to fall for what she had done. To other people, to me. But, I didn’t want her to die. But I didn’t, want her to suffer either.”
“You wanted her to understand. Understand you, your frustrations, your needs and your wants. To be how you imagined her. And then-”
“She tried to kill me.” Ryo said, finishing the sentence. “When she hung over that railing she knew she was going to die. She just chose sooner, rather than later.”
“And with that realization, another door has appeared.” The shape said moving a hand into empty space to where another door appeared from nothing. Another familiar door. Ryo took a deep breath and stood up. The shape held up a hand halting Ryo. “Your memories will only become more violent and unstable from here on. Their barbs will have hooked much more flesh then previously and each removal will be immensely more painful than the last. I offer you this.” The shape provided an archway instead of a door, the muffled sound of crashing water permeated from it. “An exit, if it becomes too painful to bear. If you are not ready for what lies within.” Ryo looked back at the archway, and nodded. “Thanks.” And gripped the handle to the second door and opened it.
  

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

When he opened his eyes he was back in the void, the shape looming over him. “What an interesting memory.” It said. Ryo jolted up, backing away from the shape. Ryo got to his feet, ready for another sudden fight. “What, was that?” Ryo demanded of the shape in front of him. The shape, responded. “A glimpse into you. A piece that haunted you. A barb that stuck itself into your very soul. A rot that you successfully cleansed.” Ryo shook his head in disbelief. “I don’t feel cleansed. I just watched someone die for the second time!” He shouted. "What is this place?" The voice took a moment before speaking. "This is a window into your soul. A place that sits between dream and reality. Mind and matter. Your soul is tainted, covered by many scars and infections. If not properly taken care of, it will fester and destroy you." The shape said. It didn't explain well enough for Ryo. Would it kill for NPC's in this game to speak plainly from time to time? He rubbed his temple. "So in order to fix my soul, I'm reliving past events?" Ryo asked. "How is that going to help?"

"That woman. You failed to save her. Not because you were weak and your grip softened. But because you could not save her from herself. She had nothing to live for so to speak, and so chose to die. There was nothing you could have done to save her." The shape said.

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

“And even if you know that now, why are you fighting to hold on still?”
“Because if I drop you now, then I drop something of myself with you. Despite how shitty you were, despite how terrible this place was it helped shape me to who I am now. And if I just toss you aside, what else of myself would I be willing to throw away?” Ryo said still struggling to keep his balance. The wind threatened to throw them both down the ravine, and despite Ryo's best efforts he was unable to pull her up by himself. There was no way that calling for help would work, they were partying too much in the other room and the wind and snow would steal his voice before it even reached the door let alone get past it.
Quinzel was quiet for a moment. Not fighting against Ryo’s grip, nor was she trying to pull herself up. “Y’know Ryo, you’re really stupid.” Ryo looked down, seeing that Quin had equipped another knife. He knew what was happening. "No Quin, don't do it. I can make this different, I can change it." He pleaded with the facsimile. Ryo felt a sharp pain in his hand, and as he looked he saw the familiar red scratch across his wrist as Quin had cut against his hand. The sudden pain and discomfort caused his grip to loosen. And without a sound, she fell. Ryo stared as she fell into darkness her body disappearing deep below. Ryo, fell back against the cold cobblestone base of the floor. The world around him began to fade away, the door behind him fading from sight, the railing, and soon the platform he was on. He shielded his face and closed his eyes bracing for the worst.

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

“Then, what did you want?” Quinzel asked. Ryo flinched at the sudden question.
“I, don’t know! You, you left me without a choice!” He screamed, his voice echoing against the rocks below. “I just wanted to stop. I couldn’t take it anymore. Being controlled, being told what to do, being abused by you!” He said still hanging on. “I just, wanted to be free. I felt as trapped as the people I sold to you. I hate you, for everything that you did to me. I hate this place, and everything it did to me. I hate that I thought I loved you, and what I hate the most is that I believed it when you said you loved me.”
“I never did though.” Quinzel said coldly. “You did good work for the guild, were a cute little thing to have around, you helped keep me entertained. And that’s all you were to me. A thing. A little boy too scared to leave and when you finally did grow the balls to try and leave we ended up just. Like. This.” The wind howled against the walls of the canyon, biting into Ryo’s skin causing him to slide. He doubled down, both on his footing and his grip. “And despite that, here we are still. You’re still trying to save me? Why?” Ryo looked at her confused. Then, he looked inward. Why was he trying to save her? Why was he putting his life at risk for someone as vile as her. “I-I don’t know.”
“You do know. Just, say what you’re feeling.”
Ryo fought against another chill, his grip on Quin slipping. “I didn’t want you to die! I left you without a choice! If I had just left without saying anything you would’ve lost the best trickster you had, and Adder would’ve probably killed you anyway. I hoped, I hoped that if I told you that I was leaving you’d want to go with me.” Ryo said, as his grip became more firm on her wrist. “But that was then. I wasn’t happy then. Actually happy. I recognize now that you abused me, that you used me. All for your own gain.”
 

+30HP, +3 Energy Recovered | Relaxed (2/2) OoC posts | Energy Fully Recovered!!

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

The demon spun back around and slashed at Ryo again. Her dagger clashed with Ryo’s blade, and using her height advantage over him, thrust it aside. Ryo, now on the back foot, tried to make some distance from her blade so as to not get stabbed. Quinzel pressed her attack against him forcing him against the railing behind him, threatening to throw him over. Ryo struggled to to get his feet under him, but the snow and ice made his footing unsteady. Out of options, Ryo pushed back against Quin with all his strength and pushed her off of him for just a second. And that was all he needed as she attempted to get on top of him again and pressure him against the railing. Ryo used his small frame to his advantage and ducked at the last moment, throwing his shoulder into her abdomen and let her roll over him and over the railing.

Ryo reacted quickly and nearly threw himself over the railing and grabbed Quin by her wrist, her knife clattering into the crevice below. Ryo struggled to keep himself on the railing and keep Quinn from falling to her death. He gritted his teeth, and he spoke. “I didn’t want this dammit.”
 

+30HP, +3 Energy Recovered | Relaxed (1/2) OoC posts

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 84/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Ryo raised an eyebrow. A, fedora? What did a hat have anything to do with manners. Perhaps there was an issue with the game automatic translation? It wasn't unheard of, but definitely uncommon. Ryo scoffed when the man used mi'lady. He would pass his vision over to the rabbit woman and take in her apperance. Was she a noble of some sort? No, she couldn't be. At least, not an NPC one. And, since when did nobles wear bunny ears? "Not quite there, but definitely a start. Some more practice and a gentlemen you'll make yourself yet." Ryo said commenting on the sudden improvement of etiquette. Ryo's attention shifted once again to the woman. It would seem that her plight was the same as another persons he had recently met. Seemed that she needed help with completing an old quest she had picked up, but was afraid of it being too much for her. And that may very be the case.

Regardless, if she needed help he couldn't very well ignore it. Ryo turned to her and nodded his head. "You've caught me at a good time. I've completed my duties for the day and am now free. If you would have me, I would be honored to assist you in your endeavors." He said, offering his services. After hearing Abellio speaking up about joining along, Ryo nodded. "He is correct. I do indeed know my shit. And will make sure that you do not come under serious harm." He said. "And, you would be?" Ryo asked the bunny her name.

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

“You aint leaving us…” Quinzel said under her breath. “You sure as hell aint leavin’ me!” She screamed as she reached over and grabbed Ryo’s wrists. She shoved him against the railing. Ryo fought against her grip and managed to wrench himself free by placing a leg against her abdomen and shoving. Looking now he saw that she was no longer an orange crystal, but an NPCs enemy health bar. Ryo reached down and reached for his katana and drew it, preparing to defend himself just like he did then. She in turn grabbed her dagger and entered a lower stance.

Looking at her now, Ryo noticed that the orange crystal had turned into a red, making it no longer a person but a monster. The nameplate showed above her changed from her username to The First Demon. This must've been an effect of the waterfall. Regardless, Ryo wouldn't let this play out any differently then before. Quin rushed him, using her speed to her advantage. Ryo drew his blade and parried the blow. Sparks danced off of the blades as Ryo side stepped and let lose a strong slash across Quin's back.

»Combat | ID: 240150| BD: [5+3=8 HIT!] | MD: 4 (Monster dead!)
»ST-1 used | Base 18 * 12 = 216 Damage | 216 - 4 Enemy Mitigation = 212 total damage.
»ST-1 Used | -12 Energy | Katana Stamina -2 Energy Usage | -10 Energy Total

Quinzel, the First Demon | HP: 0/156 | DMG: 80 | MIT: 4 |

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 81/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Yui's Grace Used (+ 600% EXP for this thread) » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

Another day, another set of hours set aside to mindlessly look for materials. He couldn't train his cooking if he didn't get more materials, but looking for them was always such a chore. Probably would be more entertaining to Col farm, and just buy them from the general merchants. That was an idea he'd had to try out some day. But today was today, and he was going to put off today's chores somehow. All he needed was to find to right distraction. Something quick, but long enough to waste time. Something big and exciting to keep him awake. And something to justify pulling him away from what he should be doing.

Then Ryo noticed it. A 6 foot tall distraction running through town. Ryo had to make a double take, initially taking the blur as Jomei for the briefest moments. He wouldn't have noticed him if he wasn't two things. First, a literally giant running about. Easilly towered above all the NPC's by a solid foot, maybe two. And secondly, the noises the NPC's were making as he disrupted the stalls. Ryo stood from his seated position, adjusted his katana, and followed behind them. Just to make sure they weren't doing anything illegal, or stupid.

Following the man for a while led Ryo to a different part of town then what he was accustomed to. He never really came this way, it was out of the way and didn't really have the things he would ever need to look for. As long as the NPC's here stayed in their lane and didn't jump him with their requests he might stay here long enough to care. Ryo stopped as the man he was following stopped and what he witnessed was, quite something.

"A bunny?" Ryo said to himself, blinking. Not actual ears, must be a headband of some kind. Regardless, it didn't stop his impulsive target from engaging in conversation. Ryo now had a choice, and after mulling it about he took a few steps closer. "Wonderful manners." He said, scolding the man with fire for hair. He looked over at the woman with rabbit ears and gave a welcoming bow. "A pleasure to meet you madam. I am Ryo, the violet samurai of Taft." He said introducing himself to both parties. 

<quest link>

Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 [TIER LOCK] PARTY STATS Spoiler Ryo | HP: 625/625 | EN: 91/91 | DMG: 18 | MIT:91 | ACC:3 | BH:21 | REC: 3 | LD:2 THREAD INFO Spoiler equipped »Gin Kin (+9 DMG) »Fierce Deities Coat (+36 MIT, +3EN Recovery) »Accuracy Charm (+3 Accuracy) battle-ready inventory » » » » » skills »Katana R5 (+7 DMG) »Heavy Armor R5 (+40 MIT, -5 Stealth) »Battle Healing R3 (18 healing per turn) »Searching R2 (+2 LD, +2 Stealth Detection) » extra skills »Survival (Healing effects 10% more, immune to environmental effects) »Leadership R1 (Grants access to Leadership Arts, takes 2 Extra Slots) »Leadership R1 » » addons »[Katana] Focus (Minor Crit on BD 8, reduce DoT threshold by 1) »[Katana] Stamina (-2 EN) »[Heavy Armor] Iron Skin (+15 MIT, +45 HP) mods »Impetus (+1 DMG) »Emergency Recovery (Heal 62 when brought below 156 | Once per thread | 10EN) »Night Vision (No penalties from low light/darkness) buffs » Dining Room: "Tasty" - Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. » Basic Kitchen: "Filling" - Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.(Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.) » Living Room: "Relaxed" - Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.