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[PP | F01] <<The Third Lesson, Is Also Free>>


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A lot could change in 24 hours. It would be a prevalent thought to anyone that payed attention to Valentine yesterday and today. His current outfit and equipment was updated. The guild he was in dropped of the goods and helped him out. A certain set of people would have an issue with accepting stuff. Val worked as a business man in the real world. He could calculate the value on things based on set and new his current equips were not anything remarkably special.

Valentine made it to a grove of trees to meet the NPC he handed her a package and was met with another quest. He looked at the time and realized Hain should be here soon. He received information about the quest and was able to figure out how it worked. So a game plan was formulated before the duo would take off. He was just waiting for his partner before heading to the cave. Chugging the safeguard potion in preparation.

 

Spoiler

 

Name: Valentine

  • Level: 9
  • HP: 180/180
  • EN: 18/18

Stats:

  • Damage: 8
  • ACC:3
  • EVV:2
  • MIT:5

Equipped Gear:

  • Weapon: <<Dastardly Poker>> ( +3 DMG/2HAS)
  • Armor: <<Cloudskin>> ( +2 EV, +1 Regen/Light Armor)
  • Trinket: <Eye of Horus>> ( +3 ACC/Pin)

Items on hand:

  •  (1) Starter Healing Potions (Heals 50 HP)
  • Immolation Potion (was taken from guild)
  • Safeguard Potion (This quest specific)
  • Debuff Song Lullaby (I) Roll ID: 172080


Skills:

  • 2 Handed Assault Spear [Rank 2]
  • Light Armor [Rank 1]

 

 

 

Chugging the safeguard potion now.

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Joining Firm Anima was a decision done with reluctance. The center of his world were his two friends, the remaining members of his former guild. They'd kept the name of what once was alive in memory, however there was no denying there was nary a benefit of their teamwork. A group of three listless teenagers could only be so efficient without guidance and structure. Upon receiving the invitation to join Firm Anima, he thought it similar to betrayal to the others. He stewed over the offer, and then brought it up to the two. Much to his surprise, they'd agreed, but only as a package deal.

Thus, three more had joined the ranks.

Come noon, Hael gathered himself for an agenda. He possessed no motive behind his drive for these quests. They were as is, fun. Watching those checkmarks tick and those bars fill up granted him a brief sense of satisfaction.

Brought Along: Immolation T1 & Safeguard Potion

Spoiler

Name: Hael
Level: 8
HP: 160/160
EN: 16/16

Stats:
Damage: 5

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: DMG II
Armor: MIT 15
Misc:

Skills:
Martial Arts [Rank 2]

Extra Skills:

Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:
Requires Extended Weight Limit 1
Requires Extended Weight Limit 2
Requires Extended Weight Limit 3
Obtained via Item Stash (Housing)
Obtained via Dimensional Backpack

 

Edited by Hael
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The clock was ticking as Valentine waited. Hael had not even reached the shop and was dragging the quest along. He was starting to wonder if he should start the quest by himself. It was not that he could not he just preferred hanging with other people. Val may bot be one to speak but he enjoyed the company of others. It was lonely fighting alone. It was part of the reason why he decided to join a guild instead of being a solo player. It was possible for him just a lonely road.

"Come on Hael." Val actually spoke softly but audibly. He would start to get worried if Hael did not show up soon. Valentine would send a message if he was late. The fact that Hael showed up on his friends list was the only thing keeping him from panicking. Even Hael was gone the name would be gone.

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The first agenda of his quest: head to the kind ol' smithy's and pick up a package. Hael rounded the corner and stepped onto the shop, greeting the old man with a wave. The NPC, rigidly programmed, went straight to business upon a quick scan. He tossed him a package, one to deliver to a lady named Hannah. Sounded like a piece of cake so far. He knew he wouldn't take upon a quest if it risked his ass getting handed to him.

He set the location on his marker and traveled with the package in tow. Her location was marked on the map... yet... why was it so hard to find her? He scanned the open field. Maybe he blind as shit after all. He sighed heavily and reached for the spyglass looped around his belt. Nothing out there but birds, boars, and grass. He made haste to keep moving, lest he was ambushed by yet another heard of those pesky pigs. He was much more equipped to handle it now, but he refused to deal with it today. This week's grueling brawl served as nightmare fuel.

He swiped up to send a message to Val.

Quote

To: Valentine
From: Hael

Where tf is this lady? I need your help finding her : ( Come here pls I think she's close

 

Edited by Hael
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A wave of relief flowed through Val. It was as if a boulder was lifted of his chest when he read the message from Hael. The thoughts of Hael slowly dying somewhere alone faded from his heart. He checked the marker sent through the message before departing. Hael was not a far walk from him so it only took a couple of minutes till Val found the familiar silhouette.

 "It is this way." Val could have said anything else when he walked up. His tsundere butt could only show the way, as his stony faced countenance made it look like he never noticed Hael was missing.

Valentine would take his compatriot over to the quest starter. They were already running behind schedule and did not have a lot of time. "Drink the safeguard potion and the immolation potion." What he said was a warning. The guardian had a mean first attack and could be dangerous in prolonged battles. It just did not sound like he said all of it.

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The sun's scorching rays permeated his thick, dark armor. He fanned at his nape and the thin film of sweat forming upon his brow. "Ugh." The perks of an open pasture? No flippin' tree or shade to be found in sight. He stood in the middle, carob eyes scanning in search of a silver haired man. The rays were all but blinding, and thus he shielded them with a hand over his eyes like a visor. A scuffing noise from behind alerted his attention in that direction. He whipped around  to find Val. "Oh, there you are." He parted his lips to speak, however the other had no time for pleasantries. He made haste to drag the boy to location on the marker. "Boo, okay." He sealed his lips shut and followed the man to meet Hannah, an artisan in tacky, medieval garb. He tossed the package to her and zoned out through the prompts. An unamused expression overtook him as he glanced at Val, an unspoken "when will this woman stop talking?" exchanged.

At last, they were free with the objective on Hael's marker updated. Valentine stepped forth as leader and Hael followed suit. "Yesssir." He whistled a quick tune, pulling up his menu to down the potions.

Consumes Safeguard and T1 Immolation.

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Valentine walked at his usual brisk pace. It was almost as if he was incapable of changing his walking tempo unless under duress. It was an interesting coincidence that he ended up next to the cave that he was at earlier today. The caves they were going to enter now had a darkness to it that made it nearly impossible to see. Even if they gave it time for their eyes to adjust their vision would be impaired.

"Stay close and watch our backs. I will sound off every three feet in order to keep you alert and on a decent path. If you wander off you will be alone to finish this quest. We would have to try and meet again at Hannah." The quest details did not need to be said as they were in the quest log. As long as he found the jewel and beat the guard he should be fine. Valentine did not plan on going far from him anyway.

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Hael, as spontaneous as ever, only gave the quest list a quick glance. He was not aware of a dark cave, the mere thought of one sent a chill up his spine. Well, he supposed, if anything lurked about in there that could ambush them, at least he wouldn't go down alone. He swallowed thickly and urged on to the cave's entrance. With tentative footsteps, and a nod in acknowledgement to Val's advice, he entered the cave.

Instantaneously, a thick blanket of obsidian shielded his vision. He peered in the dark, his vision returning slowly as he adjusted to his new environment. "Yessir! Let's find that gem. And maybee..." he trailed off, in thought. "Maybe we can find even more gems for profit. Right behind ya." He shot the other a thumbs up, albeit he was certain he couldn't see it. Hael couldn't really make out more than the silhouette of his hand, a faded luminescent glow lighting the path.

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Valentine chose not to comment on looking for more. He had a hefty schedule of things he needed to do today. If he wanted to get it all done in a set amount of time, it would require him to be busy. Valentine could only hope Hael would have other stuff to do later.

"1"

Valentine was fumbling in the way of the dark recesses of the cave looking for one of the requested jewels. The closest jewel he could find was not too far into the dark confines of the cave. It gave off a pale red glow that made it easier to see when juxtaposed by the darkness of the cave. "You can have the first one if you like. I will watch your back and attack in rotation." Valentine was being nice even if he knew he did not have to worry. This was a beginner quest and the immolation potion were kind of a cheat item on the quest. One exchange of blows would see the monster down.

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Hael kept rambling to distract from the jitters crawling up his spine. A faint echo and a sound of distant skulking drove him anxious. From about every direction, there was a different sound seeking his attention. He wound his handwraps tighter around his fists and clenched them, prepared for the worst case scenario. As they moved further, the addition of water dripping served more as a fuel for paranoia than a calming sound. "Gghh... this better be worth it," he spat out. "This is givin' me the heebie jeebies."

He peeked his head from the taller man's side, gaze resting on a vibrant red gem. It shone bright enough to be a blinding hazard. "Ooh. How much COL would this give us?" he mused, aloud. He didn't hesitate twice to snatch the gem from its perch. Small palms nestled the ruby, sharp and pristine at its edges. "Heh," he chuckled, "Sweeeet motherlode!" He bit his tongue shortly after, realizing his lack of tact. 

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Valentine waited as Hael went to grab the crystal. He was on guard for the <<Cave Guardian>> that was supposed to show up. As Hael plucked up the jewel Valentine was on full alert. The cave rumbled for a moment before a creature spawned it was dark but Valentine felt as if he sensed the movement. Valentine believed he would not have been able to make it in time to stop the beast. He used the Lullaby crystal in his bag to slow the monster down.

The soft sound of music played in the cave. If one did not have an ear for sound they may not even hear it. Val could not see if he gave Hael enough time to react. He could only hope his partner did as the song should have slowed it down a sec. From what he remembered of Hael he recalls the man as having good reflexes, so most likely he could take care of the battle initiative.

 

Valentine Played the Lullaby against the Cave Guardian

 

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His anticipation built up at the sound of a count. An enemy was spotted, and in light, both men assumed stances of defense. The shadows provided ample cover for them, however against a creature of the night? The stakes heightened from there. Heavy vibrations shook the ground beneath his soles, rocks falling from the cavern roofs. Hael, in a rush to preserve himself, braced his face with his forearms. 

When his comrade was flung aside like a ragdoll, Hael's blood ran cold. Despite his orders, he threw caution to the wind and went racing forth blindly. The narrow path diverged into an open space, a luminating source of light providing scant clarity. He gritted his teeth and wound his wraps tighter. "Hey, shitface!" He hollered, waving his arms about in an attempt to poke fun. "Eyes over here!" He raced forward, and with frightening velocity, he pummeled a dent through the iron clad guardian's armor. Pieces of armor clattered to the ground, a transparent vessel crystalizing into nothingness. He dusted his hands from the filth.

 

ID: 172405 / BD: 6 [ HIT ] / 5*4=20 DMG

Party:

Valentine | HP:180/180 | EN:18/18 | DMG:8 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | MIT:5
Hael | HP:160/160 | EN:12/16 | DMG:5 | MIT:9

Enemy:

Cave Guardian | -10/20 HP | 5 DMG

Edited by Hael
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Valentine did not get a chance to retaliate as Hael made his move. He used one move to take down the Cave Guardian and Valentine was pretty impressed by it. Hael had learned the martial arts after Valentine learned his spear arts, yet the man could use tier 2 moves before Val could. At this rate Val could not be a front line fighter if he lacked the ability to keep up.

Valentine's hands curled into a fist as he looked for the next jewel. He took a side path in while in thought he forgot to count. Hael could have left and he would have noticed. Valentine came upon a jewel and grabbed it without hesitation. A Cave Guardian sprung out as Valentine grabbed his spear and used a second tier sword are for the first time. The effects of << Fatal Thrust>> was immense before the Cave Guardian could attack the health points hit zero. Shattering the creature leaving Val alone in silence.

 

 

ID: 172409 | BD: 8 [ HIT ] | 8*3=24 DMG

Party:

Valentine | HP:180/180 | EN:15/18 | DMG:8 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | MIT:5
Hael | HP:160/160 | EN:12/16 | DMG:5 | MIT:9

Enemy:

Cave Guardian 2 | -4/20 HP | 5 DMG

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In what felt like seconds, another cave guardian had spawned from the cave's dark recesses. The armor clad guard skulked over, the clattering a dead given sound. The brunette spun around to remain alert, checking over his shoulder towards his surroundings. Among a flickering of light, he caught a telltale glimpse of the creature's armor. Brows furrowed in concentration. Before his next breath, Val stepped in for the kill with remarkable expertise. The boy had silently applauded him. Val had always given the impression of a hardworking, driven man, with his meticulous schedules and his attention to strategy. He was not surprised that he'd climbed the ranks so quickly since their last encounter. "Nice one!" He cut in, watching as the mob crumpled to a heap before them.

Next up on the field, a giant worm out of who knows where at this point? The bruenette heard a skulk from behind him and punched the air out of impulse. Unbeknownst to him, he had punched a decent dent into a giant worm mob.

 

ID: 172420 | BD: 7 [ HIT ] | 5*4=20 DMG

Party:

Valentine | HP:180/180 | EN:15/18 | DMG:8 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | MIT:5
Hael | HP:160/160 | EN:9/16 | DMG:5 | MIT:9

Enemy:

Giant Worm | 70/90 HP | 27 DMG

Edited by Hael
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Valentine was happy to have the quest completed already. He planned to head out of the cave when the sounds of a fight caught his attention. Valentine could barely make out the shape to be a worm or a snake of sorts. When Hael punched it Valentine was able to figure out it was a <<Giant Worm>>. They were lucky because a <<Cave Snake>> would have killed them both.

The spear was already in his hand ready for a fight. Valentine was not used trying out the new spear arts he wanted to try the move the Gemini tried on him before. He brutally charged forward impaled the Giant Worm and swung it in an arc above his head. The worm came down in a crash. Valentine was honestly surprised the move work. The worm looked heavy and the cave was not wide. It was a bit of luck that Valentine was able to crash it down like he did.

Spoiler

 

ID: 172428 | BD: 10 [ C.HIT +2] | 10*4=40 DMG

MD:  4 | [Miss] | 0 DMG

Party:

Valentine | HP:180/180 | EN:12/18 | DMG:8 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | MIT:5
Hael | HP:160/160 | EN:9/16 | DMG:5 | MIT:9

Enemy:

Giant Worm | 30/90 HP | 27 DMG

 

 

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The worm was a scene straight out of a science fiction horror film, titanic in size with a gut protruding about half the space in the cave. Slimy appendages skittered about the soil, making way towards the party. Hael scrunched his nose in distaste. The developers had an eye for detail, perfectly capturing the essence of a grotesque being like that. He held his wraps taut and studied the patterns of the worm. Due to the sheer weight of its body, the creature moved slowly. Maneuvering? Near impossible. That should've been the case until he'd charged at the worm, only to trip on the coil of its tail and fall forward. The creature all but rolled over to crush him and a chill went up his spine. Not under his watch! The brunette gathered himself and evaded for a safe distance. The worm moved like a brainless entity, slithering towards no direction in particular, only striking when in proximity. He found it odd.

Spoiler

 

ID: 172435 | BD: 5 [ MISS ]

Party:

Valentine | HP:180/180 | EN:12/18 | DMG:8 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | MIT:5
Hael | HP:160/160 | EN:7/16 | DMG:5 | MIT:9

Enemy:

Giant Worm | 30/90 HP | 27 DMG

 

 

Edited by Hael
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SAO was the weirdest game he ever played, you would think the fact that dying in the game and dying in real life were the same thing made it weird. One may even believe it would have something to do with the fact that the game locked you in once you starting playing. None of that is what really made the game weird. What made it weird was how it felt like a game and real life at the same time. It was a full dive game and even with Valentine spring for the extra bells and whistles with a gaming cabin instead of a helmet.

A lot of people may not have even noticed stuff like that but Val did notice. It made him feel the wind from the worm as well as understand the smell. He could not fully smell but it was like he knew it smelled bad. The worm was angry with him the most of all. It smashed into him while he stabbed down. Giving the cave wall a vigorous shake.

Spoiler

 

ID: 172443 

BD: 9 [ C.HIT +1] | 9*2=18 DMG

MD:  9 | [C. Hit +1] | 28 DMG - 5 MIT = 23 DMG to Val

 

Party:

Valentine | HP:157/180 | EN:11/18 | DMG:8 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | MIT:5
Hael | HP:160/160 | EN:9/16 | DMG:5 | MIT:9

Enemy:

Giant Worm | 12/90 HP | 27 DMG | [Hate: 4, 0]

 

 

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The concept of death at a game over kept him in check. It was weird to think that a few mistakes could have him digging his own grave, but that was why he weighed his options before each fight. His tact was hopeless as he preferred to move at whims, but fortunately for the duo, Valentine was an efficient tactician. He glanced back to his comrade who was fairing well on his own, spearing the grotesque worm. He'd thought too soon, however, when the worm rolled over to crush Val. Hael blanched for a moment and panicked, unsure of what he would do to be of use. He balled his fists and charged forward, fist glowing red with heat. He punched a dent through the worm's flesh, sprayed by its gut. He scrunched his nose in disgust. "YUCK!" He retreated and spared a look at his comrade. He was back up and in shape now. Hael flexed his palm.

Spoiler

ID: 172456

BD: 8-1=7 [ HIT ] | 5*4=20 DMG
Looting / LD: 4 / ID: 172457 / 270 COL + 180 COL + 2 MATS

Party:

Valentine | HP:157/180 | EN:11/18 | DMG:8 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | MIT:5
Hael | HP:160/160 | EN:7/16 | DMG:5 | MIT:9

Enemy:

Giant Worm | 0/90 HP | 27 DMG | [Hate: 4, 0]

 

Edited by Hael
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"Thank you." Hael had reacted in enough time to keep Val from getting crushed. Val thanked him not for keeping the worm from crushing him. He was saying thanks to Hael for being willing to put himself in harms way. It was the making of a true friend that he could truly trust.

"After you are done collecting the loot we can prepare to head out." Valentine sat down for a moment to regain his energy. When he was able to catch his digital breath he was ready to depart. They needed to head out and complete the quest they were working on. A small indent by his hand caught his attention. A hole like this was hard to see because of the darkness but were usually great places to gather materials for crafting. Valentine remembered he was running low on his crystal supplies. He reached his hand but did not feel the material. Surprisingly he felt something else.

 

Party:

Spoiler

Valentine | HP:167/180 | EN:12/18 | DMG:8 | ACC:3 | EVA:2 | MIT:5   (+10 HP) (1 EN)
Hael | HP:160/160 | EN:9/16 | DMG:5 | MIT:9

 

ID# 172458    LD: 13

Edited by Valentine
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The worm went down in record time, much to the boy's surprise. He'd been too enveloped in battle to even consider the health bar above the opponent's head. The worm's body materialized into nothingness, alerting him of its demise. His tension ebbed away as he sighed in relief. "Whew, good." Free hand skimmed through his matted locks and pushed them back. A stack of loot appeared in place of the body and the boy's eyes glimmered with greed. He picked it up and stowed it away.  

Attention moved to Val and he nodded in confirmation. "Yup! Let's get outta here-" Hael noticed the clearing in the tunnel, a soft glow of light enticing him. "What's that over there? Wanna check it out?" He didn't wait to hear the other's confirmation. He seized the situation himself and followed among Valentine to see if there was anything worth reaping. Unfortunately, their luck had not been so great.

ID: 172551 / LD: 1 / No MATS

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