WELL DONE ON DEFEATING THE SHADOW ADVENT!!
…
YOU HAVE OVERCOME GREAT ODDS! BUT THEY ARE NOT OVER JUST YET!!
YOU MUST FACE THE FINAL FOUNTAIN GUARD!
PREPARE!
…
“You all heard the system. Get ready!” Jazmel yelled, suddenly feeling the weight of the last battle. He himself drank a potion, a stamina one and he felt it replenish his energy levels. His tempered body making the most of it.
HE WHO HAS WALKED PATHS FEW HAVE RECALLED
HE KNOWS THE LAY OF THE LAND FROM AGES PAST
HIS SWORD HAS DRANK THE BLOOD OF CREATURES DEEPER IN THE LABYRINTH
FEW HAVE STAYED HIS HAND!
HIS NAME LONG FORGOTTEN TO THE TEST OF TIME!
SLAYER OF GREATER BEASTS!
MOST WELL KNOWN FOR HIS PENCHANT FOR SLAYING IFRIT!
TIER V IFRIT BANE THE FINAL FOUNTAIN GUARDIAN COMES!
…
“Tier V?” Tera Nema said and Jazmel considered that it might be her first time.
“Stick with us, we have fought a few of these.” Katie said, releasing her chains and pumping them full of Mana.
“Yes, we fought a tier V greater ifrit a few months back.” Sadé added, forming her thunder crown, and willing all six of her Mana tails into existence.
Full moon
Bannerman called out his power up and swigged two stamina potions and a Mana one. The full moon mode must be extremely taxing on his body, but this fight was the final one. This would let them free the primordial and complete Jazmel’s plot.
Night of the white moon
Jazmel watched as Baek strolled forward. He was creating his orb and the Mana he was condensing was so large, it made Jazmel wonder if he had ever had that much Mana. The pale white orb formed atop his hand, and it grew till it was literally a smaller form of a moon. It was bigger than Baek almost, the small elderly man looked completely composed. But the fact he had decided to step in, let Jazmel know a tier V was no small feat.
DING!
TIER V IFRIT BANE APPEARS!
In the darkened cavern, where the dimmed lights roil with ethereal light and shadow, stepped out a towering figure, a sentinel of doom. Clad in ancient, battle-worn armour that pulses with the glow of ancient mana, Jazmel’s eyes couldn’t even perceive the sigaldry and warning of the armour. this being was no mere mortal but an avatar of the system’s wrath. Though its pressure was immense, it didn’t feel as suffocating as Fror’s and for that, Jazmel was glad.
It's helm, wrought from metals unknown to Jazmel, was adorned with glowing sigils that shimmer with the intensity of strength and power. From beneath the visor, where eyes should gleam. There was only darkness. a void without life or light of the world. His breastplate, emblazoned with the sigils from forgotten banners, yet it radiated with a soft, haunting luminescence. A light that seems to draw the very soul toward it, as if promising both salvation and oblivion.
Wings, vast and feathered with shadows and embers, stretch from his back, arching high into the heavens. These wings are not merely for flight but weapons in their own right; each feather a blade, each beat a gale of destruction.
In one hand, he grips a spear forged from the ores unknown to Jazmel. But the spear alone made him lick his lips with envy, He would give it to Gorin, and he would find out what it was made of. Its tip emanating as much power as its owner. The weapon thrummed with barely contained energy, strumming the bestial senses that Jazmel had. Crackling with arcs of lightning that dance along its length. It is a weapon for a primordial, Jazmel was sure.
Beneath its feet, the ground trembles, cracks spidering outward as though the very earth fears his presence. His pressure, far greater than the two previous guardians. Jazmel and his friends were in the presence of a servant of the primordial, and here was another thing that could show, just how powerful the primordial were.
This was the final guardian of the fountain, an advent of doom, a being of immeasurable power and presence. A herald of the primordial and one of their last servants.
“Support me!” Baek called out as he darted in, his short sword clutched and his smooth gait, faster than Jazmel could match. Paldane leapt from his shoulder and expanded in size to aid from the skies.
White crane!
Heron herald!
Jazmel had seen Baek used at most, three skills in his entirety of knowing him. But here he was using a multitude of skills, white crane enhanced his speed and dexterity, a white outline of Mana began to form around him and ghost like wings appears to add to his speed.
His second skill made his sword glow like a star, strengthening it for whatever he was aiming to do.
You have come to free the primordial? You managed to slay the two before me, I commend you. But your lives will be recompense since I am here now. She will remain in her eternal slumber.
“Isn’t he confident!” Katie said and Jazmel smirked, even in the face of doom. She was still cocky; he loved that she was back.
You jest in front of your doom!
Baek slammed into him, the guard was sturdy but even Jazmel could tell he had to stand firm. The guardian fell silent and considered Baek in front of him.
You have some strength
Withered whip!
Katie appeared, leaping through the sky, and smashing her rust and death chains into the armour. It cracked, which surprised them all, but the winged guardian didn’t stop his battle. He simply improved his technique.
Divine judgement!
He crashed his spear into the ground, dull white Mana erupted all around them. Baek tried to block it, but the eruption was too much. Instead he took the full blast himself and suffered beneath it, he didn’t cry out or wail. He simply shouldered it all to protect the group.
Spear of the order!
He whirled his spear about and tried to strike Baek as he was reeling. But Jazmel was there and with his sword, he struck where he could. Countering each deadly strike as it came.
DING!
STATUS CONDITION!
BOTH FOREARMS ARE FRACTURED! (minor)
…
Just from blocking those strikes, his body was breaking, and he grit his teeth against the pain.
Thunderfire!
Sadé struck him from behind, his armour firmed the strike. He simple whirled on her and fanned his wings, gales of white winds blasted her and knocked her back. She landed gracefully though, her title and tempered body working in tandem.
Wolf hunt!
Bannerman bounded in, striking with his claws. The final guardian blocked each strike and when he noticed an opening, he struck. Stabbing into Bannerman’s chest or aiming to but Bannerman moved ever so slightly, and the strike caught him in the shoulder deeply.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Arcanum!
Tera Nema shot a bolt of Mana and magic at the guardian. He wrenched his spear tip free, before using it to block her bolt. It shot off into the distance, hitting the cavern in the dark.
Withered chain maiden!
Katie appeared again and slamming her coiled knot of chains into the helmet, the armour broke. Splitting from her death Mana attuned chains.
Beneath the helm was a young face, a child even. He looked like he could be their age, but his eyes had that look. The look of those who had seen a great many things, which could only come with time.
A mere piece of metal, humph
He uttered and whirling his spear about he darted towards the girls.
Heron herald!
Baek appeared, striking with his sword, they fought between them. Baek fought with the agility and grace of a flying bird. His sword looked to float about, Jazmel could keep up with it because the Mana in it showed up to his eyes. Where he gracefully floated around and struck at the openings he tried to make. The guardian fought like a viper, each strike like a coiled snake bite.
“Look at how fast they are moving.” Tera Nema said and Jazmel nodded, it seemed unreal.
“We need to overwhelm him while Baek keeps him busy, prepare your strongest skills.” Jazmel said and looking over to Bannerman, he was preparing to run in with him. his shoulder was bleeding, but his hair was still chalk white.
Jazmel rushed, sprinted forward as fast as he could. Pushing his body to its limits.
Jazmel and Bannerman crisscrossed as they rushed in, pressure pressed on them. but broke through those restraints.
Sundering Raven!
Wolf hunt!
They struck at the back, directly at the wings of the final guardian. He couldn’t block so he simply flared his wings and as feathers shot out at them, they hardened to stone or crystal. But Jazmel had assumed the point and blocked, deflected, and parried them. When the last feather bounced out of the way, Bannerman loped forward.
Wolf hunt
Wolf hunt!
He dragged the wings from the guardians back. Wrenched them out of their sockets and left bloody stumps. The guardian wailed, crying out in anguish and surprise from the pain. But it wasn’t over, no he was about to receive the full team bombardment from everyone.
Night of the white moon
Lightning fall!
Inferno!
Flaming Evisceration
Skill after skill hit him, struck him, and buffeted him impressively. He roared in pain, a death cry. Jazmel had seen each skill hit him, he hadn't even had a chance to block any. He had been in a daze since he lost his wings.
When the dust settled and everyone had stopped moving, they watched as the charred remains of the final guardian kneeled before them. Jazmel sighed and was about to sheathe his sword, but Mana pulsed. He felt it and looking over, he saw a single drop of black Mana fall atop the guardian and it begin to reconfigure its form, one of its arms; that had fallen off in the bombardment began to crawl back.
“Kill him now! Take his head!!” he yelled, Baek didn’t even stop, he brought his hand before him. pulling from his hand, a talisman. Jazmel watched with abject horror and awe. The master tier channelled all his Mana into the talisman. Jazmel watched as he drained his core, but to his surprise the talisman took it all, it absorbed it all and then he placed it atop the blade of his sword. the sword burst with light, so bright Jazmel had to shield his eyes, but even then the light got through.
Mastery of the Heron’s herald
Escaped Baek’s lips and Jazmel watched as he cut the guardian down. Cutting through his restructuring body and smote its ruin with all his Mana. the blade of his short sword shattered, disintegrating from all his Mana and the guardian disappeared, the Mana was so immense it obliterated him and the very ground on which he had kneeled.
DING!
CONGRATULATIONS!!
YOU SLEW THE FINAL FOUNTAIN GUARDIAN!
ALL WILL BE REWARDED!
…
…
+4 STR
+4 AGL
+4 PER
+4 WIL
+3 VIT
+3 END
+2 INT
…
…
TIER IV CAVE BEAR BONE
TIER IV SHADOW ADVENT CORE
TIER V ANGELLUM SPEAR
…
EXP GREATLY ACCRUED!
EXP GREATLY ACCRUED!
EXP GREATLY ACCRUED!
…
LEVEL UP!
LEVEL UP!
LEVEL UP!
LEVEL UP!
His body thrummed with system energy as his stats went up and his levels rose. But before he could delve into it, the cavern changed. The water feature cracked; it was as if the ground yawned. Jazmel stepped forward, walking slowly around the corpse of the final guardian. The others were going through their own rewards, but Baek and Bannerman appeared beside him.
The stone water feature now resembled the resting body of a woman, but a groove had been dug out. In the middle of her chest, Jazmel held his breath as he pulled the rejoined core from his ring. He held it and for the first time, it felt warm in his hand.
“Here goes nothing.” Jazmel said, as he placed and pushed the core into the groove. Nothing happened at first and then the indent swallowed the core, and the stone grew warm as it quickly repaired itself from the wear and tear of time.
He stepped back down and just as he stepped out of the fountain, the stone broke away and a woman stood, taking her first breath she stretched and yawned as if she had simply been sleeping.
YOU HAVE AWOKEN A PRIMORDIAL!
…
…
THIS CANNOT BE UNDONE!
…
ALL ACTIONS MUST HAVE CONSEQUENCES!
YOUR ACTIONS WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!
THEY WILL SHAKE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE LABYRINTH!
…
YOU WILL GAIN 10 STAT POINTS TO USE AS A REWARD!
YOU GAIN A GREAT DEAL OF EXP!
…
…
…
LEVEL UP!
LEVEL UP!
LEVEL UP!
FOR WITNESSING THE RENEWAL OF A PRIMORDIAL!
…
You woke me. I thank you, all of you.
Her voice rang through his ears and pressed on his mind. He had completed another quest and though it had taken immense toll on them all, she was incredibly strong, far stronger than the final guardian and all of them too.
I see on you, the taint of the wicked one. I am sorry for your loss.
She uttered and right away, he knew she meant their battle with Fror and the loss of Patton.
A gift, for freeing me from my slumber!
She waved her hand absentmindedly and the others crumbled and Jazmel grew worried, but Baek shook his head.
“She gave them exp, she gave them enough Mana for them all to undergo their next tier tribulation.” Baek explained and Jazmel watched in wonder as they all began to go through their tier tribulations.
You are about to hit level 100. The precipice of ranker and master tier. Do you know why there is no gap between ranker tier and master tier? She asked Jazmel and he shook his head, fearful to speak in front of this ancient being.
Because to become a master tier, you must unlock your soul. Only those who have unlocked that can break into master tier, some jump straight from ranker tier II into master tier I. I can see your stats are in balance, good you have worked hard. But not hard enough, you need to work harder, war is coming and if the primordial are awakening. Then we are going to need stronger allies.
he listened to her words, letting them simmer in his mind. But he also considered his options with her, she was asking him to work harder, and in doing that he would need to grow stronger. He had grown so much, but before Solis. Before the primordial, it felt little.
Do not feel doubt for your climb, all mountains have differing peaks, is it not admirable that you have climbed to a place where you can witness other peaks? Do not stop your own climb.
She chastised him and he inclined his head to hide his shame.
A trifle gift, something to urge your climb.
DING!
A TITLE HAS BEEN GIFTED TO YOU!
…
…
THE ARDUOUS PATH! ( FOR EVERY +1 IN STR, YOU WILL EARN +1 IN END AND VIT)
(FOR EVERY +1 IN INT YOU WILL EARN +2 IN WIL)
…
DING!
YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A QUEST BY A PRIMORDIAL!
THE FIRST IN A LONG TIME!
EXP GREATLY ACCRUED!
GROW STRONGER!
…
A boon, for awaking me. Here you go.
She opened her palm and a gem that brimmed with power, it wasn’t Mana, it was something else entirely. But he was entranced by it and as it floated over to him, he stared at it. looking deep into its beauty. It was amber and looked like a crystal made of honey.
DING!
TIER V SOUL GEM OF THE SPIRIT HIND GAINED! A rare item with a high soul affinity, this will greatly enhance the soul points when used in a tier tribulation.
…
Was she preparing him for master tier? He simply inclined his head in thanks and lowered his gaze.
I go, but I will be watching, I must recover my powers and seek out old friends. I feel the power of my sister. I will seek out Mirete, you and I will meet again little dragon prince. She said and without a moment, she disappeared, winking out of existence.
“She called you dragon prince.” Baek said and Jazmel nodded, he had heard her too. But before Jazmel could even think or reflect on what had happened, his core coalesced and cramped his stomach. System energy was broiling around.
DING!
YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR PLOT!
FIX THE FOUNTAINS OF &4456& HAS BEEN COMPLETED!
…
…
REWARDS TO FOLLOW!
…
…
…
DING!
+5 STR
+5 PER
+5 VIT
+5 END
+5 INT
+5 WIL
+5 AGL
+5 DEX
…
…
THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR ACTIONS ARE PROFOUND!
THE RESTRICTION OF TIER V CREATURES AND MONSTERS HAS BEEN REMOVED!!
TIER VI
TIER VII
TIER VIII
CREATURES & BEASTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE LABYRINTH!
WITH THE RELEASE OF THE SECOND PRIMORDIAL, THE LABYRINTH WILL ROTATE AGAIN!
YOU WILL BE RETURNED TO YOUR FACTION BUT AFTER THAT THE GATES WILL BE LOCKED
GATES WILL BE LOCKED FOR ONE MONTH!
Jazmel was shocked by what he was seeing, but that was something he would have to deal with later.
YOU HAVE FACED OVERWHELMING ODDS!
YOU HAVE FREED ANOTHER PRIMORDIAL!
YOU COMPLETED YOUR PLOT TOO!!
YOUR REWARDS HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED!
- ORICHALCUM CHEST!
- ORICHALCUM CHEST!
- MITHRIL CHEST!
CONGRATULATIONS!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RETURN TO YOUR FACTION NOW?
Y/N?
He turned to Baek, and he nodded, they should return now and Jazmel accepted. They disappeared from the fountain room, leaving it darkened, and the corpse of the final guardian remained in the dark expanse.