Player Reached the Top. LitRPG series. Book I Page 13
Active skill (Apprentice).
A rogue may use a dagger to cut an enemy, making him bleed out. The targets undergone by this attack get 35 damage from bleeding every 20 seconds.
Cooldown: 40 seconds.
Class requirements: Berserk, Warrior, Thief, Hunter, Rogue
“Book of skill “Ambush”.
Active skill (Apprentice).
You may ambush an enemy by merging with the environment. The skill cannot be used when an enemy sees you.
Characteristics:
+40% Secrecy;
+37% Basic damage during the attack in the ambush.
Energy required: 70.
Cooldown: 2 minutes.
Class requirements: Thief, Rogue.”
Raven paid six gold coins. He could not constantly rely on Pak, who seemed to be answering with less frequency. Sometimes, Will had no time to wait. For example, if he had not been lucky enough to find a suitable potion, Lekhor would have surely died.
Browsing the stores, he discovered that first dagger and was shocked by its characteristics and price. He examined the dagger once again, then compared it to the Flying Dagger he had now, concluding that he would not exchange it anytime soon.
There was no point in buying the second dagger because he didn’t have the skill “The owner of blades,” which would allow him to use two blades at the same time. Time was expensive, and he could not wait that long. So he opted to buy a crossbow.
The best available was:
“Workmate Crossbow (Gold).
Characteristics:
+140-154 damage;
+36% shot speed;
+4% the amendment on miss;
+7% Chance to strike the getting blow ignoring any armor.
Distance: 131Feet.
Features: 3 shots in a row, with 2 seconds delay between shots.
Level Requirements: 45 level.
Class Requirements: Thief, Rogue, Hunter.”
He reluctantly paid forty-five gold coins for the crossbow and ten for his level bolts. Leaving the store, he inhaled and quietly damned Pak through clenched teeth. Then he decided to look at the prices of available potions, which spoiled his mood. Angry, he decided to go hunting.
“It’s time to kill somebody…” With this thought, the rogue with the crossbow entered a proud-looking forest.
After spending an hour searching for priority targets, he found one at last. It was simple to check for distant attacks. He would climb a tree, anger a monster, and wait for his reaction. If that one rushed, spat, climbed after him, flew up, shot or emitted some gas, Will could disappear into the shadows and search for a new target.
After three unsuccessful attempts, luck was with him. There were three bug-like monsters, covered with bark and a sticky liquid, lying near an elk corpse, sucking out the animal’s blood. When he shot at one of them, the others did not even move. The one Raven chose as his target rose slowly and abandoned its feast.
The two others got jumpy and pressed the third monster as if hinting they would get more. The disturbed monster sniffed the air, turned its head toward Will, and charged.
“Bloody bug: Level 63.
HP: 8,700.”
It tried to ram the tree, but the rogue had already passed that stage while hunting with Dreyrok. There, he had drawn attention of the mob. After climbing the nearest tree, he had fallen to the ground, receiving a short-term stun debuff. The captain had killed that monster. Raven had seen the tree fragments being demolished by the powerful tusks of a mutating boar--the reason for his fall.
Because of this, the attempts of the bug to ram the thick trunk were unsuccessful. Realizing this, the bug hid behind the other tree, blocking its view to Raven. It occasionally peered out, checking if its enemy had already climbed down.
While hiding, the monster seemed to be gradually regenerating. When the rogue surmised this, he became furious. He didn't take into account this ability of monsters because he had either fought with the cursed unable to regenerate, or he had been supported by the Horghs.
He couldn’t wait around all day, so Will stopped trying to hit this bug and instead started shooting at its follows. The monsters did not appreciate such a turn of events, and “leaving the table,” they too began to ram the tree, eager to return to the elk corpse.
While Raven was firing at them, the lone bug dropped from the tree and hurried to the dead animal. Will expected that. Having seen it enjoying its lunch without them, the other two were torn between punishing Will and returning to the corpse.
Will seized the moment, aiming his crossbow at all three bugs at once due to the two-second delay between shots, making them gather near the tree again. With all three hiding, he fired at the dead flesh to stoke the bugs’ rage, and they made to rush into the open again. They were irritated that their precious red liquid would spill out and soak into the ground where they could not get it.
He realized he had found these bloody bugs at exactly the right time. If they had not been feeding, they would have hidden behind the trees, and his attempt to kill just one of them would have been futile, wasting his bolts and time.
The bugs were felled by their greed, dying one by one near the tree eight hours later.
“Level up…”
48 level was close!
Chapter 40. A vagrant charlatan
Will’s next days passed in monotonous routine, battling and killing the bugs. Sometimes he had to wait for hours while they tracked and killed something before he could finish them off without worrying. In that period, he learned a lot about them. Once a day they would dig into the earth, creating a funnel. There were two kinds: one that they would use to excrete what they’d drunk, or one in which they would lay their larvae. He couldn’t tell one from the other.
Three days later, he achieved 51 level. Distributing all his points as he saw fit among Agility, Strength, and Energy, Will chose not to spend the fourth Point of Skill. During the prep work for the game world, he read that the hasty distribution of skills might lead to dismal consequences. He took that to mean that it wasn’t worth spending all the skill points at once.
After looting the bugs’ corpses, he inspected his trophies. Every item was for crafting. Raven was about to close the inventory icon when he noticed a single larva. Will had collected nine that were similar.
In the inventory, there was a separate slot for identical goods from the section “all for crafting,” even if there were thousands of them. Weapons and belongings occupied separate slots too. Therefore, he did not focus attention on this larva at first. Why did it take up a separate place, then?
Inspect.
“??? (???).
Description:???
(Identification of this item requires Master level identification).”
“Wow! Curiously…”
After closing the bag icon, he started along the forest, trying not to draw attention. He had already narrowed down the approximate area of where these mobs dwelt, so he moved in, hiding from occasional monsters.
The silence was broken by a whistling sound.
“What is it?”
Raven applied a “Twilight Walker” and climbed a tree with the help of his shadow skill. It was slow going, but more effective than using “Without barriers.” Finding a suitable hiding place, he took refuge in the three’s foliage and waited.
This whistle came from one who was clearly unafraid of anything in this forest. Like Dreyrok, he was completely confident in his power. Moments later, a man with a large cylindrical hat, a bright red coat, and a large, building sack stepped into view.
Will continued to monitor from his vantage point, suppressing a squeak of surprise.
“Hey, traveler! Don’t just sit there, come and have a look at my goods! I only carry the best, and just for you I’ll offer it at an excellent discount!”
While the young man considered his proposal, the man began organizing his stuff on a table that seemed to appear from nowhere. It was so absurd, it activated Raven’
s short-term cognitive dissonance. He was in hiding, afraid of drawing a dangerous opponent’s attention, and now a strange NPC just appears?
Knowing he couldn’t wriggle away from this traveler, the rogue jumped from the tree. He had underestimated the height, twenty-three feet from the branch to the ground, and he winced in pain when in landed near the odd fellow.
He decided not to use the Inspection Skill as he didn’t want to provoke unnecessary pains again, even if it brought good bonuses. He fought his curiosity, won it, then asked the man in the hat.
“Who are you?”
“Oh! I am glad you asked, dear! My name’s Daltaro Marius. I’m a traveling dealer and collector of rare pieces. If you’ve got something for exchange, I can offer wide choices from footwear to jewelry. If you’ve got nothing to offer, then look at my goods. I have no bad ones.” Daltaro smiled and gestured at his wares, spread out on the table.
His manner was relaxed, as if he was standing not in a silent forest but in an overcrowded square. Will sensed that somewhere there was a riddle with only one correct answer.
Considering what the odd fellow in the hat might want in trade from his items, Will first thought of the shard. But Raven could not part with it. He had been dealing with the cursed for so long, he could not leave it halfway.
But he had little more of worth. The Twilight Ring of Diamond Rank was not so valuable. Then he wondered if the unidentified item would be acceptable to the dealer.
“Daltaro, right? Can you identify objects? I just might have something interesting, but I don’t know whether you’ll like it.”
The dealer, as if he expected the question, rubbed his hands. “Of course, I can. I’m a big admirer of fine and unique goods. Having such a hobby obliges me to distinguish the essential truth. So, what have you got?”
The man’s eyes shone in anticipation. Will’s sixth sense howled in unison with the seventh when he reached for the ring. It was risky. His mind began to function at higher speed, and he made a decision. Instead of the ring, he pulled out a larva.
“Here. I don’t know what it is, but I got it from a local bug.”
The dealer’s face stiffened for a moment then the larva twitched.
“It’s a larva,” he hissed through clenched teeth without touching it. “Are you sure that you all wanna show me or offer in exchange for my expensive goods? Look attentively, these are the best you’ll find!”
Daltaro’s smile had faded. In his eyes Will saw gleaming rage.
“What does he want? He came out of nowhere, and walked up to me as if he knew I… Is this unknown thing a true reason?” thought Will.
“Listen, Daltaro, can you tell what you are interested in? Perhaps I have it, and I will exchange it for this raincoat.” Will pointed at the item lying on the counter, not even looking at its stats.
The dealer seemed to cheer up a little at this. “Tell me, maybe, you came across something unusual. Something you could not identify. I heard that often happens, in this forest. And as I’m a collector of mysterious things, I’d like to have one of them. So, did you?”
“Let me think…” Will clasped his chin with fingers as if considering. “No, nothing. Just some rubbish.”
The dealer frowned at the rogue, his fists clenched. “That’s enough! I know you’ve got it! Give it to me, and you can take anything on this counter in exchange.”
Will’s suspicions were confirmed. Daltaro came to him after he had felt this larva, which was clearly unique. “I see you need it. Why don’t you tell me about it?”
“Because you’re greedy adventurers, you’ll boost the price as soon as you learn that I’m lookin’ for it. I have to dress up in these rags and look like a carefree guy with a wide smile upon my face. You irritate me. Greedy and petty!”
“E-hey! We're not all like that! For example, I just wonder what it is, for the sake of what you have, that makes you pretend to be a dealer and offer all these expensive things.”
“P-f,” Daltaro made a wry face. “You think you’re the first to say you’ll give it to me after you learn what item is in your hands? I don’t trust you!” His face distorted in rage. “Give it to me!”
Will stood quietly. “Wait a moment.” He extended his hand.
“As I understand it, you can’t take away this thing away from me. So you thought up all this to satisfy an unclear condition. Right?”
The dealer looked as Will had hit him over the head with a club.
“Right. It’s all this dirty magic!”
“What did you do with those who boosted the price?”
Twisting his face as if he had a toothache, Daltaro answered, “I paid. What was I supposed to do? Thanks to hundreds of similar transactions, I’ve already learned how to lie and pretend to be skillful, like a charlatan. But sometimes these bastards, who like you said just wanted information. And they took everything I had!!! Dirty pigs!”
“All right, I got it. Hold. I present.” Will stretched out his hand with this item to Daltaro.
He looked at the rogue, then at the item, then at Will again. His eyes enlarged, then he reached out and took it. The moment Daltaro touched the object, his body seemed to shine, and he inhaled slowly.
“You don’t know it, but what you’ve just done helps me a lot. There are few left to find,” Daltaro said with a grateful bow.
“I am glad for you,” Will answered sincerely.
He felt sorry for this NPC having to overcome such difficulties to achieve his goals. How many people had deceived him? How much had he paid for their lie? Daltaro's problem reminded Raven that many would try to put a spoke in his wheel when an access to his Floor was open. And he would have to fight for hope to find a thing of his own.
Chapter 41. On the brink of insanity
“Now that you’ve got what you wanted, can you tell what it is and why you need it? And of course, I’d like to hear your story.”
The dealer stared silently at him. Raven did not hurry, allowing Daltaro to sort himself out.
“You are the first who has given gratuitously what I’ve sought several years. You did not ask anything in exchange and did not deceive me. I do not know what you're up to, but I’ll tell. First, thought, take this from me.
“You’ve gained Daltaro Marius's trust.
Current attitude status: 10/200 − friendliness.”
“Wow!” The young man exclaimed, noticing he had leveled up his attitude status. “I just… I just made a miscalculation…”
“Did you like it?” the dealer asked with satisfaction. When Raven gawked at the screen, he reflexively took the thing Daltaro offered to him so without even looking at it.
“Uh, I haven’t seen yet. I’m just surprised you decided to give something to me. Thanks.”
Daltaro smiled. “Well, look then. I think you’ll like them.”
“The Wild thunder bracelets (Unique).
Description: These bracelets were made for a Warrior living in the northern Shamtan-Kragh castle. Lightning regularly struck a slope on a high mountain near the castle. Varcul de Mosc ordered these bracelets to learn what caused lightning. But he was betrayed and poisoned before he could receive them, never knowing what had been bothering him all his life.
Characteristics:
+145-168 Physical resistance;
+65 Strength;
+26% Damage dealt to swords and axes;
+100% Physical resistance to lightning and thunderstorms.
Requirements: 240 Strength.
Class requirements: No.
It is offered to you as a chain of the covert task: "Under the oppression of lightning".
Visit the place specified in the description of an item and learn what the Gods sealed off.
Accept: Yes/No?”
The item was a quest starter. The requirement for two hundred forty strength meant the task would be postponed for an unclear period, again. At the moment he had only one hundred forty-eight strength from all levels, titles and stats of the twilig
ht ring.
“Thanks, Daltaro. It is an incredibly valuable thing.”
The trader’s face expanded in a smile. “I'm glad you like it. And now, listen to my story…
“A few years ago I was busy searching for artifacts, objects of historical value, and relics of the Ancient races. Do you know, for example, how many races have disappeared without a trace? No? There are only a few people who realize it. And I am one of them. There is a vault in the east, near Ishi-Lastiya's ruins. Even I don’t know how deep it is. But it doesn’t scare me. No. I’m able to worm anywhere and everywhere and unlock any door. Well, except a gate, them I'm out. But I digress. It was said in this vault that there was a tomb of a great magician who had been in the War against the Empire of Kalshar. This war took place three hundred years later after the world had been divided into floors.”
Will shifted his feet.
“I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. You are the first one to be told this story. I like to bury myself in memories of the past. Hence, the rumors turned out to be true. After uncountable battles with the monsters inhabiting those caves, I reached the bottom. Tell me, who the hell chose to hide this coffin so deeply? I mean, who?”
“Developers, or ‘Emperor’, one of them”, Raven hemmed, listening with interest.
“So, all the traps, mechanisms, anti-tomb raider protections the ancients had lovingly crafted were rendered harmless by me. But I didn’t see the critical line of the protection in the symbols at the edges of the coffin which were integral and formed words. As a result, I lost all my power. I became what I had been before becoming a famous adventurer. These spheres look like either a larva or a phial of blood, bile, and other reagents: my skill, my experience, and a store of knowledge I’d gained before I opened this accursed casket door.”