Morningstar

Morningstar, after multiple days of stress, took to Urbus once again. His time in the mountains had left him with more questions than answers and he desperately needed a break. Not a relaxing vacation, mind you, but a day where things made sense. He wanted to take a training day. Atop a mountain on floor two, he had heard of a quest that offered just that. It was an opportunity to not only strengthen ones body, but their mind and spirit as well. He carried no weapon, for he would not need it where he was going. A broker had warned him that while risk of death could be ruled out, the quest

Identification Item Fusion #213489+219147a

2.20.2024 Fusions Identifications

2.19.2024 REROLLS cost: 62,000 col xp gained: (5*10)=50

the end Morningstar receives: 3,319 EXP (Word Count [3,638/10*5*1] + Quest [1,500] 9,807 col (1 pages [400] + Loot [8,910] + 15% P5 Reward [497]) T4 Rare Armor/Shield 219297 <<Disguise>> Extra Skill (rewarded for killing the Gemini)

It was empty inside. He turned off the kitchen light, and found his way to the attic where he kept his things. Empty wooden supply boxes had been stacked in the corner. He often used them for work, storing tools and items in them at his shop. He grabbed one and went back to the beach. Beneath a tree, he dug a hole deep enough to fit the box. He equipped the Soulcursed Blade, his face split between regret and yearning, and placed it carefully inside the box. Not long after, it was buried in the sand. A part of him worried that he'd go back for it if he knew where it was hidden. Anoth

He returned to Krycim after hours of bumbling through the dense jungle. Bleeding Giant, a sword he had recently appraised, hung at his side, his temporary replacement for the Soulcursed Blade while he figured out what was wrong with him and what the next step to take was. He struggled to the teleportation arch, wiped from the day's events. He called for it to bring him home, which it did without fuss. He dragged himself across the beach, kicking up sand with each step. He had switched out of his armor, randomly selected a few garbs and throwing them on. Vikhrov's Legacy looked ugly to him

He picked himself up, his eyes on the floor. It occurred to him that he had forgotten to ask his double about Halador and the mountains. There were many things he hadn't had the chance to ask—or to say. He took one last look into the pond and saw his reflection. He tossed a stone, blurring and distorting it. It skipped twice. He wanted more time with the Gemini, despite knowing that the Gemini had come from within. He had always and would always be there with Morningstar. Equipping an alternate sword, he left the clearing and the pond, traveling back to Krycim with the world around him pl

Morningstar's lip quivered, his hands grasping for the floating blue shards the rose into the atmosphere. The birds had finished their song. Nothing but the slight breeze that drafted in through the canopy of leaves made a sound. Numbness climbed through his body. His arms fell, limp, as he stared through a hole in the trees. The sky was bright and blue, contrasting the dark place in which Morningstar had fallen into. Sunlight shone down on him, but it was impossible to reach. The hummingbird hovered by his head, its tiny wings beating dozens of times per second. He turned his head to mee

Identification Item #219216a Reroll

2.19.2024 IDENTIFICATIONS EXP: ((3*3)+2)*8=88 COST: 3040*8=24320 col

Morningstar giggled at Nari's comment regarding the newly dubbed "Demon's Rectum" being the tourist attraction of old. "I was thinking of selling my house and buying something here. Cheap real estate, I'd imagine." He looked around, grimacing. "It might need a little renovating, though." They entered the arena. Four figures sat upon steeds of different appearance. It was easy to tell which of the horsemen was which. "Here's to the apocalypse," Morningstar said. Nari confronted her opponent first. Famine, she had chosen. Very well, he decided. It was his turn. He stepped up to Death.

Morningstar exhaled, relieved. He hadn't even realized he was holding his breath. The fight was over. The destruction of Meteor left the Gemini unable to fight. Morningstar stood as the victor. They looked into each others eyes, seeing two parts of the same self wrapped in conflict and doubt. Morningstar gave his sword a spin before sheathing it. As it touched the steel of its scabbard, his hand burned. Thorns drilled into him, sending him into agony. Control of the weapon had been lost. It moved his body on its own accord and, sensing his mercy, impaled the Gemini. Both of their eyes wid

Red particles emerged from the hole in the armor. The Gemini's expression turned serious. "Fight me as if I were Halador, or the Time King, or the Butcher in the Sands, or Katar. Fight me as if I were Wushen. Don't treat me like I'm worth any less than them—like I'm some weak boar that you can take it easy against." Morningstar stuttered. "That's not-" "No, but it is. I see the way you look at yourself, Stephen—the way you think others look at you. Have you forgotten who I am? I know what you think, what you feel. I know everything about you, Stephen! I. Am. You!" The Gemini roared,

"Come on, Star! Fight like you mean it! You wouldn't have shown Elwood this much restraint!" Morningstar's temper sparked. His next swing was a bit harder and a wide grin appeared on the Gemini's face. "Yeah, there we go," he said, blocking the attack. The swords lingered momentarily before the Soulcursed Blade turned translucent and phased through Meteor. It touched the fake copy of Vikhrov's Legacy, this time with enough force to pierce the armor. Morningstar had drawn blood. They parted, resetting their stances. "Whew. I was wondering if that would happen. Nasty enhancement, phase

Morningstar smirked, weaving a kick into the flurry of sword swings. The Gemini, was surprised, a characteristic that the blonde thought it lacked. He jabbed his blade into the clone's shoulder, not powerfully enough to pierce the armor but enough to send him stumbling backwards. The sword art took effect, briefly stunning the Gemini as he fell to the ground. "That's revenge for making me cry," Morningstar joked. When the paralysis finally wore off, the doppelganger replied. "I didn't say anything that wasn't true. You were due for a good cry." They clanged swords once more, the

Gold struck black, sparks flying from both blades. Morningstar was not accustomed to being last to attack. It made sense that the Gemini would make the first move, however. They were the same person, after all. Meteor struck Morningstar in the arm through an open piece of his armor. He winced. "Lucky shot," Morningstar smirked. "We'll see," the Gemini replied. "Did I mention that I like the new haircut? It feels good to wear it short again." "You're the first to notice," Morningstar ran his hand through his messy locks. "That's gotta sting," the Gemini laughed, charging in

"You're a good guy, Stephen Star. Treat yourself like one," the Gemini said, standing up. "Come on, let's duel." Morningstar jolted up. "What, now?" "Well, I don't mean next week. Get up, we could die of heart failure at any moment. Let's live while we have the chance." He couldn't help but chuckle, picturing what the fight would look like from the outside. It sounded ridiculous but, then again, so did the rest of it. He got up, dusting the dirt off his cloak and unequipping it. He asked his copy for the rules, to which the Gemini answered that there were none. It was to be a st

The conversation moved on and Morningstar's tears dried up. They continued on a positive note, discussing what was going good for them. He told the Gemini how much he liked his new house, as well as his shop in the forest. He explained that nobody really came by and how that was okay because he didn't really want to work anyways. They recounted their brief time as a member of Team Freyd during the boss raid on the twenty-seventh floor. They had many new friends now and were pleasantly surprised by it. "I mean, you play for long enough and you're bound to meet people eventually," Morningst

Morningstar felt the need to cry; but, something in the pond would not allow it. Not even a lone tear touched his cheek. Instead, he said nothing, dropping to his back and staring up at the canopy of leaves. He saw a colourful bird fly overhead, as well as a snake wrapping itself around a long tree branch. The Gemini repeated the question, fishing for an answer. "Because I never lived up to their expectations," Morningstar finally said. The Gemini was unconvinced. "Is that it?" Morningstar hesitated. "We left on bad terms. The next morning, they would have found me hooked up to

The hummingbird flew back to the pond. It had left after Morningstar's abrupt outburst but now, things were silent. He had sat back down, next to the Gemini, and looked into the water. Normally, he would have been sad to see that there were no fish swimming in it; however, the pond lulled him into a state of acceptance. He was at peace. He wondered if that was why the clone had led him there. "Yeah, that's about right." "What, you can read my mind now?" "No, I was just thinking the same thing." "What's the difference?" Neither of them could contain themselves. Simultan

Once Morningstar had calmed down, the Gemini started again. "I thought Halador told you to toss that sword." Morningstar scoffed. "What do you know about it?" "What don't I know about it? Not gonna heed his warning?" The Gemini asked. Star sighed. "I don't know," he said, withdrawing his blade to inspect it. "It's a good, strong weapon. It was also a gift." "Nobody really remembers the gifts they give." "I know you don't really believe that." "Yeah, well. I think it's at least worth considering switching to something else. There's plenty of fish in the sea, as the

"Have you even processed any of it, mate? And I don't just mean the fact that you're stuck in the game. I mean Lexa—and Elwood, too," he added. "The man died a few feet from you in the middle of his own living room and now you can't even think about him without wanting to throw yourself off a cliff." "Stop." "It wasn't your fault. He had a brain tumor. He had no chance to survive, but he lived a damn good life and a long one at that! And Lexa, the poor girl, went in died in a cave that you knew you should have stayed far away from. But that wasn't your fault either. She knew the risk

"Gross. We're still wearing this set? It makes us look so glum." "Don't say us. You're not me." "Really, Stephen? What do I need to do to prove it? Ugh, alright, fine. Your birthday is May 21, your favorite colour is red, and when you were a kid you broke your wrist doing a stunt for an action movie that nobody ever watched." There was a pause while Morningstar tried to understand the situation. He put away his weapon, both confused and convinced, and moved to the pond. "Well, there isn't a soul I'd tell that last one to, so you must be the real deal. But, seriously, what the he

Morningstar stepped into the clearing, dropping his hood, hoping the stranger would do the same. He recognized the voice but from where, he was unsure. "You wanted me to follow you, then?" He asked. The player finally turned. "Yes." "Who are you?" Their hood came down and Morningstar's jaw dropped. His sword shot from its sheath. Then, he picked a new question. "What are you?" The player laughed. "What do you mean 'what'? I'm you, Stephen!" Morningstar was stunned. There were few players alive who knew his real name. Not only that but the man that stood across from cle