“Captains clear out the courtyard, these guys are all undergoing tier tribulations leave them to it.” he said, and they did as their leader bid them. he was extremely tired, he felt his mind fighting at the recesses, pushing fatigue from his brain. But he couldn’t sleep yet. Not when there was so much going on.
He entered the chamber and climbing the palisade, he sat in his seat, he felt the authority of the outpost strengthen him, but he was still exhausted. Mentally drained from his latest delve into the labyrinth.
Mary, Tango, Timone, Gelth, Myn, Morwen, Grace, Gilmore, Wendy, and Elai appeared. The doors shuttered after and Baek stood on the last step of the palisade as an aide.
“I need to tell you some things, so bear with me.”
Jazmel took the length of time to bring his captains up to speed, he shared with them what the lightning lord of titania had said to him, what had happened beneath the Stormhold and also what the primordial Solis had said to him.
After that, his captains looked at him and then he sighed before continuing.
“She said war was coming, I don’t know with who or what for, but I do know that I will not lose any of you again. So I am setting quests for everyone. I need you all to begin to prepare yourselves. The labyrinth has locked us in our outpost, we are here for a month. Which is fine, we will take the time to prepare. But by the time the labyrinth opens again, I want every single one of you either ranker tier III or master tier I. I also want the outpost strengthened and I want the domain cleared.” He said and everyone looked around, motivated but apprehensive.
“Mary, I leave it to you, check the domain and split the captains into teams, I want them leading their groups and expanding the domain until its ours completely. When you are not training your groups or resting to recuperate. I want you in the astral domain, bettering yourselves.” Jazmel said again and everyone listened, his word was law now and they knew it. He had ran from the title of leader before, but the deck was stacking against them and now he needed to step up. To keep them all safe, he needed to do more.
“Mary and Tango you are already master tier, that’s good. I know how hard it was for you, I want you to enhance your items with Gorin, doesn’t matter what you choose. But gather the items for a master tier work. I don’t know how you will, but that’s what I am asking from you.” They simply nodded, everyone was motivated by his intensity but the empathy of his title, he was the leader. He needed to push them.
“How are you doing?” Tango asked and Jazmel smiled at him, though it lacked mirth.
“I am a step away from ranker tier III or master tier. So I will tell you when I check what I need to do.” He confessed and the group burst into hushed whispers.
“What is it?” Jazmel asked and Elai spoke first.
“Well every time you enter the labyrinth something amazing happens, it would seem that you are favoured by the labyrinth.” She said and Jazmel looked around, but then he looked at Baek who simply inclined his head, maybe it was time to share the secret of his origins.
“Many of you know me as a rising star, I came into the labyrinth and just advanced through the doors and gates that were before me. That might be true, but you don’t know all of my story.” He began and settling into his chair he waited.
Then he told them, of how Tango had found him, of how Baek and he had met and finally he shared with them the mirror of Tildred and how he had seen the ghost of a memory of his mother.
“I know it seems like a lot, but that’s what I have been dealing with, while in the labyrinth. So though I look like a really blessed person. I am just a returning denizen.” He confessed, it felt weird to say he wasn’t an orphan anymore, it felt weird to know where he came from. But he had enough to do, he couldn’t dwell on it.
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“Someday I plan to go to the Kuzuryu kingdom, not yet but soon. When I do, I will bring my faction with me. But we have to get much stronger, we have to grow as a faction, and we need to do that together.” Jazmel offered and everyone seemed to accept his words.
DING!
FACTION QUEST CREATED!
ALL MASTER TIER OF THE FACTION MUST CREATE A MASTER TIER WORKS!
THE FORGE MASTER WILL CREATE A SCHEMA AND SEE THE WORK TO FRUITION!
REWARDS!
- MASTER TIER CREATION
- MASTER TIER SKILL TOKEN
…
DING!
FACTION QUEST!
ALL CAPTAINS OF THE BLACK WING FACTION MUST REACH RANKER TIER III OR MASTER TIER I BY MONTHS END!
REWARDS!
- MASTER TIER TRIBULATION ITEM
- MASTER TIER SCHEMA
- 20 STAT POINTS
…
Jazmel created the quests and watched as his captains all got it at the same time. They fled the chamber, leaving him to just Baek and himself.
“You seem tired young master; you should retire to your quarters.” Baek advised and in truth, Jazmel really wanted to.
“I will, I need to rest. I am exhausted, but I haven’t even checked the plot rewards yet.” He said and Baek listened before simply waiting for him to do as he would.
DING!
ORICHALCUM CHEST!
TIER V ELDER TYRANT BONE GAINED! The bone of an elder tyrant transfused with its power and banality. Master tier tribulation item.
Something for his body! This would be a great tier tribulation item.
TIER IV SOUL SHARD GAINED! The soul shard of an ancient creature when a creature evolves into its third state. A soul shard forms, proof of their sentience. This will awaken the soul attribute of the consumers stats.
He almost laughed allowed, this was exactly what he needed to enter master tier and skip ranker tier immediately. He couldn’t decide if this was a good thing or a bad thing, but with his rune of perception skill. He could feel the edges of his soul, it was something that had begun to build on him, something he couldn’t quite grasp.
MASTER TIER BLOOD CORE GAINED! The core of a blood lich, this item will enhance any blood like abilities.
Sounded a little gruesome, but a reward was a reward.
MASTER TIER ARMOUR SCHEMA GAINED! The schema of a master tier works armour.
MASTER TIER RUKH SONG GAINED! A song to call the Rukh to roost, some believe the Rukh to be a creature of blessing. Guardians of the skies, if you summon one and it chooses to rest within your boundaries, it will form an alliance with you. Not a companion, but a respectable friendly!
That was new, that was something to add to his domain. What interested him was the idea of the floating isles, a further defence. He would use that song, but not for now.
DING!
ORICHALCUM CHEST!
MASTER TIER FENRIR RUNE GAINED! A rune that will enhance any bestial trait within a consumer or user.
Jazmel immediately thought of Bannerman, this item would be great for him. He would give it to him as soon as.
MASTER TIER SKILL TOKEN GAINED! A skill token to grain tier mastery over your skill.
That was awesome, he didn’t know which skill he would use it on yet. But the idea of jumping straight to mastery was enough to boost his mood.
MASTER TIER SWORD TOKEN GAINED! Raise your sword tier to its highest tier!
TIER IV SWORD SCHEMA GAINED! A schema to be created by a master forge master.
Both items were incredible, he looked at them and thought about what he would need to use them on. He had to consider his future.
TIER III DOUBLE CORE SCHEMA GAINED! A rare item that will allow the user to turn their core into dual cores. A double core will allow the user to attune their abilities to two different cores.
He smiled, Jazmel was really impressed with his new items, and he wanted to look at them all. Consider how to move forward, so he opened his final chest. The last of the rewards.
DING!
MITHRIL CHEST!
RANKER TIER RUNE OF CONCEPTION GAINED! It will allow its user to gain a deeper understanding of their skills.
RANKER TIER PANDORA’S EYE GAINED! An eye skill to allow perception and perceiving the chaos Mana.
RANKER TIER BOW OF THOTH GAINED! This bow is extremely keen, it raises the owner’s accuracy.
Literally every item in this chest was perfect for Leno, Serafina, and Saif. He sent AI to call for them and when they appeared, he handed them over. They tried to push back and say they didn’t deserve it, but he didn’t let them refuse.
“Take the items and get accustomed to them, in a month. Everyone is heading out of the outpost, I need everyone stronger, take these items and then I want you to enter the astral domain.” He urged them, begged them almost. Leno finally conceded and accepted the rune of conception.
“Baek, I am going to rest, but I need you to pass this to Bannerman when he completes his tier tribulation. Please.” He said handing over the rune of Fenrir. Baek inclined his head and they both walked out of the chamber together, Jazmel heading into the tower and Baek heading out of it.