[SP-F4] The Sky is Crying Frozen Tears

[Morningstar 0]

He arrived at midnight, dressed in a black cloak that clashed with the winter terrain of the Fourth Floor. Fur lined the edges as well as the inside, keeping him warm as he trekked through nearly knee high snow. The forest was silent but for the whistling breeze and soft crunches of his steps. It was unlike him to venture from a safe zone at such a late hour; yet here he was, wandering beneath the moonlight, cold-eyed.

Restlessness was what initially stole him from his bed. What led him to descend twenty floors was a bounty that, truthfully, paid little col. Regardless, he had accepted it with little thought of motivation or a reward. The idea of a "mission" eased the growing black hole in his belly. He needed this as much as he needed sleep.

The identity of his target was a killer that primarily targeted low level players—likely because he was on the lower end of the spectrum himself. He went by the name of Glitch and Morningstar was not particularly afraid of him. Even so, he held Meteor close by, concealed in the shadows beneath his cloak.

To his right, he heard a heavy grunt. It stopped him in his tracks. What surprised him was not the bear that carefully stepped towards him but the mere fact that he had not noticed it while passing. It closed the gap between them quickly and swatted once. Morningstar stepped out of the way, not yet drawing his blade. It pawed aggressively two more times, missing by inches with each attempt.

Spoiler

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 620/620 | EN: 100/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Equipped

• Meteor | BLD II, PAR I
• In Noctem | MIT II, EVA I
• Lexa's Light | ACC III

 

Battle Ready

• x1 Teleport Crystal
• x4 Health Potion

Skills

Spoiler

• 2HSS | Rank 5
  Precision | Stamina | Ferocity | TECH Specialist
• Light Armor | Rank 5
  Meticulous
• Searching | Rank 5
  Night Vision | Detect
• Combat Mastery: Damage | Rank 3
• Charge | +2*tier ENG cost to activate
• Energist | +15 ENG

Extra

• Survival | Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage-dealing environmental attacks/effects.

Buffs

Spoiler

Housing

• Rested | -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat.
• Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20% (rounded down).
• Filling | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
• Tasty | Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
• Relaxed | Increases out-of-combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.

 

Spoiler

- 1 Yui's Grace
- 1 Boar Jerky (+2 DMG, +5 MIT)

 

Edited June 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Meteor exploded from the darkness, leaving a flood of red in its wake. The bear was gone in what was nearly an instant. He had taken wild animals into account on his trip down from the Twenty-Fourth and so he remained stoic when face-to-face with one.

A grey menu popped up, indicating that the mob had been slain. He had received loot as a reward for his trouble, which was apparently worth a sum of col and a trinket. He intended on taking a look at it when he was back at the shop.

Engulfed in the screen before him, he had yet to hear the pack of wolves that crept up on him from behind. Simultaneously, Morningstar closed the pop-up display and one of the four wolves closed in. As the beast’s speed increased, the louder the sound of it’s paws against the snow became. Morningstar processed the noise quickly and, realizing the origin, spun around. The wolf’s jaws were wide as it lunged through the air, aiming for his neck. He flung himself to the left and rolled on the ground (which looked much softer than it truly was). 

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 620/620 | EN: 86/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Bear | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID212743 | BD: 6+4=10 | <<TECH-A vs. Bear>> | Hit: 25*16 = 400 Damage

Looting
ID212744 | LD: 2+5=7 CD: 8
+ 2976 col
+1 T4 Rare Trinket

 

Edited June 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar's counter to the attack was a glowing sword art. The other three wolves made their move, following their leader's initial attack. Morningstar swung but missed his mark slightly, resulting in red, pixelated slashes on the bodies of only two of the animals. He felt a sharp pain in his back, causing him to stumble forwards. Then another one on his leg.

One wolf lay motionless in the snow, the paralysis enhancement on Morningstar's blade doing its job wonderfully. The part of him that was not trying to fend off wolves was struck with disappointment in himself. They were not particularly dangerous to him; however, had it been the player he was hunting rather than a group of mobs, he could have been killed. He imagined himself lying where the stunned wolf was, eyes wide as he stared up at the murderous player killer. He had mistakenly let his guard down and he thought, perhaps, that he could have dealt with the wolves by now had that not been the case.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 620/620 | EN: 90/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Wolf 1 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 2 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 3 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 4 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 585/620 | EN: 74/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Wolf 1 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124 | No damage to Morningstar
Wolf 2 | HP: 39/372 | DMG: 124 | BLEEDING | PARALYZED
Wolf 3 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124 | Morningstar is hit for 124-71 = 53 damage
Wolf 4 | HP: 97/372 | DMG: 124 | Morningstar is hit for 124-71 = 53 damage

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID212745 | BD: 1 | MD: 1 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 1>> | Critical Miss
ID212746 | BD: 10 | MD: 9 |  <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 2>> | Hit: (27*11)+36 = 333 damage | Bleed | Paralyze
ID212747 | BD: 1 | MD: 8-1=7 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 3>> | Critical Miss
ID212748 | BD: 6+4=10 | MD: 7-1=6 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 4>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage

 

Edited June 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

There was more pain in his left leg as a wolf's teeth dug into it. Then, he was slashed across the chest by another's claws. His cloak had become tattered, revealing the void-like armor he fashioned underneath it. He slammed his fist down on the wolf that was attached to him, causing it to jolt off. Then, in a flash of retaliation, he spun. Each of the wolves fell back in different directions, two of them disappearing entirely as their health bars reached zero. He glanced at his health bar. It was still above the seventy-five percent mark, and he intended on keeping it that way.

The two wolves that were left regained their composure and faced off against the cloaked man. Despite losing half of their pack, they did not waver. Morningstar was not sure if that was part of the game's code or truly how wild creatures like these acted in nature. If he was back home, in the real world, he would have been terrified.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 532/620 | EN: 58/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Wolf 1 | HP: 97/372 | DMG: 124 | Morningstar is not hit
Wolf 2 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 3 | HP: 97/372 | DMG: 124 | Morningstar is hit for 124-71 = 53 damage
Wolf 4 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID212751 | BD: 6 | MD: 6-1=5 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 1>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage
ID212752 | BD: 8 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 2>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage
ID212753 | BD: 7 | MD: 7-1=6 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 3>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage
ID212755 | BD: 6+4=10 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 4>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage

Looting
ID212758 | LD: 13+5=18 CD: 11
+ 2232 col
+ 4 Materials
+ 1 T4 Rare Trinket

ID212759 | LD: 16+5=21 CD: 5
+ 1860 col
+ 2 Materials
+ 1 T4 Perfect Armor
 + 2 T4 Perfect Consumables

 

Edited June 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

They darted at him head-on, leaving no room for anticipation. For a final time, Morningstar ripped through them with his sword art. They exploded, tiny blue pixels floating gently upwards where they once were. Another menu popped up before him. This time, a long list of items followed the significant number of col and the few materials. Two weapons, two sets of armor, and even a couple of trinkets and consumables. Apparently, he had rolled high.

This time, he quickly analyzed the list and tossed it aside, leaving the items in his inventory to assess after his job was done. Although he did not think it was a waste of time, he had spent more than he would have liked fighting the animals. To begin with, his knowledge of Glitch's whereabouts was unspecific at best, and there were likely more opponents to face on his way. He adjusted his cloak slightly, doing what he could to cover his armor with what was left.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 532/620 | EN: 43/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Wolf 1 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 2 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 3 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 4 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID212760 | BD: 6 | MD: 6-1=5 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 1>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage
ID212761 | BD: 2+4=6 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 3>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage

Looting
ID212762 | LD: 17+5=22 CD: 2
+ 1860 col
+ 2 materials
+ 1 T4 Perfect Armor
+ 1 T4 Perfect Weapon

ID212763 | LD: 18+5=23 CD: 1
+ 1860 col
+ 2 materials
+ 1 T4 Perfect Trinket
+ 1 T4 Perfect Weapon
 

 

Edited June 27, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Snow had collected on his upper back and shoulders. Brushing it off, he continued on his path through the forest. The further he walked, the less dense it became. What had previously been a dark tree line now opened up and Morningstar could make out things that were quite a distance from him. Moonlight crept through the branches of the spaced out trees. A trio of colorless hares bounced through thick snow, camouflaged. 

There were no signs of predators nearby. Morningstar's pace slowed, taking the chance to rest and recover from his back-to-back fights with the bear and wolves. He was unsure if he would get another opportunity to do so.

He withdrew a small flash from his inventory, opened the cap, and took a long sip. The water was cold and normally, he would have loved that. In weather like this, however, it seemed counterintuitive. He returned it, scanning the list of items for a quick snack.

Spoiler

Recovering ENG 1/3

 

Edited June 30, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

A tiny bag of walnuts and an apple were all he had, unsurprisingly. He rarely kept much more than finger food on him because he was not a very hungry person, generally speaking. He crunched through the snow, crunching into a few walnuts simultaneously. He ate them in pairs and sometimes trios, resetting his palette with water after every few. The path he was taking was familiar, not because he had been there before but because he knew where it led.

Deep in the frostbitten tundra, where the snowstorm was at its worst, you could find the Fourth Floor's field boss: Avalanche. Every floor had a single monster that was stronger than the rest and they often dropped items that could not be found anywhere else. Avalanche was one of these. He had never challenged one before; they had simply all been out of his way and the items were not on his radar. It seemed Glitch was leading him right to one, however, likely hoping to use it to escape.

Edited July 25, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

This, of course, meant that Glitch knew that somebody was on his trail. The question was, who would make it there first: he or Morningstar? Either way, the blonde was sure he could take down Avalanche. He only hoped he would be able to duel them separately from each other. It was difficult to gauge Glitch's level, skills, and stats. All he knew about was his weapon, really. He was a rapier wielder and Morningstar thought it was safe to assume he would be focused on close, quick strikes rather than a long, dragged-out fight.

As for the effects of his weapon, that was also up in the air. Bleed, paralysis, pure damage—who knew? It was not an impossibility that Glitch intended not on luring Morningstar to his death at the hands of Avalanche but on killing Avalanche himself and using its loot drop to gain an advantage over his pursuer. Frostbite, he knew, was a deadly enhancement to face.

He chewed on the apple, watching something move through the trees in the distance.

Edited July 25, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar found himself face-to-face with four more wolves, exactly the same as the previous pack. They all glared at him with ferocious eyes, baring their fangs and growling intensely. He finished off the apple quickly, swallowing and withdrawing Meteor once more.

"Let's make this quick, alright?" He said to the obviously non-English speakers.

One at a time, they attacked him with sharp claws and even sharper teeth. Every single attempt to take his life was a failure, although two of the attacks grazed him slightly. He activated a sword art and arced wide, hitting three of them but missing the fourth. Those who he damaged lay on the ground, severely wounded by his swift retaliation. The fourth rushed forwards, dancing with him and trading quick and decisive strikes.

He was growing tired of the constant fighting with animals that were below his level. They were a nuisance, getting in the way of his goal with their frivolous hunting.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 615/620 | EN: 100/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Wolf 1 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 2 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 3 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 4 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 509/620 | EN: 84/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Wolf 1 | HP: 97/372 | DMG: 124 | No damage to Morningstar
Wolf 2 | HP: 97/372 | DMG: 124 | No damage to Morningstar 
Wolf 3 | HP: 97/372 | DMG: 124 | 124-71 = 53 damage to Morningstar
Wolf 4 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124 | 124-71 = 53 damage to Morningstar

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID212760 | BD: 6 | MD: 5-1=4 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 1>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage
ID212760 | BD: 3+4=7 | MD: 3-1=2 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 2>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage
ID212760 | BD: 7 | MD: 7-1=6 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 3>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage
ID212760 | BD: 1 | MD: 8-1=7 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 4>> | Critical Miss

 

Edited July 25, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

With a single swing, three of the four wolves were killed. Only the fourth, the strongest, remained. His fury grew greater and he attacked once again. This time, he got the better of Morningstar, launching at him and ripping into his arm with his fangs. Morningstar shouted from the pain and smacked it on the head with the hilt of his blade, forcing it to let go. It backed up, watching carefully to identify his weak points.

The truth was, against something as simple as a wolf, he had no weak points. He could be bit and he could be scratched but, realistically, the beast was destined to lose. It was its role in the game of Sword Art Online: to be used as a tool for player growth.

Morningstar waited for the wolf's next attack. It fought for its life while Morningstar was fearless. He took a fighting stance.

Spoiler

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 509/620 | EN: 72/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Wolf 1 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 2 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 3 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 4 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124 | 124-71 = 53 damage to Morningstar

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID212768 | BD: 5+4=9 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 1>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage
ID212769 | BD: 3+4=7 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 2>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage
ID212770 | BD: 8 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 3>> | Hit: 25*11 = 275 damage
ID212771 | BD: 1 | MD: 7-1=6 | <<AOE-I vs. Wolf 4>> | Critical Miss

Looting
ID212772 | LD: 5+5=10 CD: 4
+ 1,860 col
+ 2 materials
+ 1 T4 Uncommon Consumable

ID212773 | LD: 12+5=17 CD: 12
+ 3,720 col
+ 1 T4 Rare Trinket

ID212774 | LD: 2+5=7 CD: 9
+ 2,232 col
+ 2 materials
+ 1 T4 Rare Trinket

 

Edited July 25, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The wolf let loose a howl before sprinting toward him, the pads of his feet soft in the white snow. It lunged at his legs, aiming to disable him. He countered with a kick followed by the long sway of his blade. It slammed into its side, both cutting and throwing it to the side. Its body hit a nearby tree, crumpling to the ground and shattering.

More items and col funneled into his inventory, mostly useless to him. The money was always appreciated but the weak items would be trashed for additional col anyway. He hummed a tune, hands within the pockets of his cloak as he continued down the snowy hill. Glitch was probably long gone by now. So much time had been wasted fighting low-level animals and very little was gained. Still, he had to be certain before turning back.

He twirled Meteor, proceeding with the mission.

Spoiler

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 509/620 | EN: 66/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Wolf 1 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 2 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 3 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Wolf 4 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID213932 | BD: 8 | <<TECH-D vs. Wolf 4>> | 25*16 = 400 damage

Looting
ID213933 | LD: 2+5=7 CD: 2
+ 2,604 col
+ 1 T4 Uncommon Consumable

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

About a kilometer from the wolves' resting place, Morningstar was stopped by rumbling beneath the snow. The forest had ended, leaving him in an arctic plain. The snowstorm gathered quickly, obscuring his vision. It was cold, much colder than it had been before. From the ground, four frozen bodies emerged. They were large, rectangular, and aggressive in nature. The first of the four immediately tossed a boulder made of ice at the blonde. He leaped to the side, shocked but not dulled by the environment. He dashed at them one at a time, cutting through them with ease until he reached the fourth. His sword stuck into the golem's body just fine, cracking its solid belly.

As he tried to withdraw it, however, it refused to move. He had wedged it inside so hard that it remained stuck no matter how hard he pulled.

"Damn it," he muttered, looking up at the slow monster.

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 509/620 | EN: 70/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Ice Golem 1 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 2 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 3 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 4 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124

 

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 509/620 | EN: 53/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Ice Golem 1 | HP: 97/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 2 | HP: 97/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 3 | HP: 97/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 4 | HP: 372/372 | DMG: 124

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID213934 | BD: 7 | MD: 3 | <<AOE-I vs Ice Golem 1>> | 25*11 = 275 damage
ID213935 | BD: 3+4=7 | MD: 2 | <<AOE-I vs Ice Golem 2>> | 25*11 = 275 damage
ID213936 | BD: 3+4=7 | MD: 4 | <<AOE-I vs Ice Golem 3>> | 25*11 = 275 damage
ID213938 | BD: 1 | MD: 3 | <<AOE-I vs Ice Golem 4>> | Critical Miss

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

He was forced to let go of the weapon. He dropped to the ground from his position on the tall golem and retreated. The lack of his weapon made him capable of moving a tiny bit quicker in return for having nothing sharp to strike with. He sighed, raising his fists. If he had to, he would box the cold terrors. Anything to get him away and back on his path.

One golem approached, dropping his fists on Morningstar. He rolled out of the way and, with a firm grip, punched him in the side of the head. The whole thing shattered, not immediately into pixels but into ice. Two more followed suit, aggressively charging at him. They were slow, likely due to their size. Morningstar kicked through one before backing away, eager to not take any more damage before his awaited duel. He reevaluated the battlefield and decided to run for his sword. He used his speed to slam into the ice golem and upon impact, smashed through him.

One golem remained. As he attempted to stand, he felt the weight of two heavy fists against his back, knocking him to the frozen ground.

Spoiler

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 456/620 | EN: 53/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Ice Golem 1 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 2 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 3 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 4 | HP: 97/372 | DMG: 124 | 53 damage to Morningstar

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID213941 | BD: 6 | <<AOE-I vs Ice Golem 1>> | 25*11 = 275 damage
ID213942 | BD: 4+4=8 | <<AOE-I vs Ice Golem 2>> | 25*11 = 275 damage
ID213943 | BD: 6 | <<AOE-I vs Ice Golem 3>> | 25*11 = 275 damage
ID213944 | BD: 4+4=8 | MD: 9 | <<AOE-I vs Ice Golem 4>> | 25*11 = 275 damage

Looting
ID213945 | LD: 6+5=11 | CD: 8
+ 2,604 col
+ 1 T4 Rare Weapon
+ 1 T4 Uncommon Consumable

ID213946 | LD: 1+5=6 | CD: 7
+ 372 col
+ 4 Materials
+ 1 T4 Rare Trinket

ID213947 | LD: 7+5=12 | CD: 1
+ 1,488 col
+ 4 Materials
+ 1 Rare Trinket

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

He cursed, pain coursing through his back. Morningstar had lowered his guard; he treated the ice golems as if they were nothing but fodder monsters in a land intended for players with poor stats and items. They still packed a punch. He rose, spinning and crushing the cold golem's body with his blade. Finally, he could rest.

He took a moment, falling to the ground. He didn't even care that he was covered in snow, the amount of running around he had been doing warmed him up. It was time for a quick break before he headed on out into the snowstorm.

Glitch could have been anywhere, really. There was no sign of player movement anywhere around him, although the storm could have easily covered up any footprints. He took a swig from his water, before returning it to his inventory. Then, with a lot of hesitation, he picked himself up.

"Time to get going," he mumbled incoherently. 

Spoiler

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 456/620 | EN: 53/100 | DMG: 25 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 71 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 36 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Ice Golem 1 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 2 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 3 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124
Ice Golem 4 | HP: 0/372 | DMG: 124

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID213948 | BD: 4+4=8 | <<TECH-D vs Ice Golem 4>> | 25*16 = 400 damage

Looting
ID213949 | LD: 17+5=22 | CD: 11
+ 3,026 col
+ 2 materials
+ 1 T4 Perfect Trinket

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The trek through the snowstorm was even more difficult than the sandstorms on the Fifth Floor. At least he had the Survival skill for those. Here, he was certain that he would freeze to death. His hood was lifted over his cold ears and his sword returned to its hiding spot beneath his cloak.

There had been no sign of Glitch so far but his gloved hand remained at Meteor's hilt. At any second, he was sure he could be pounced on by the player-killing predator. He wondered how long he would have to walk before he finally found him and could go home. It was possible that the orange player had no idea that he was being tracked.

Coming before a large stone temple that had toppled over, he stopped. He was being watched, he could feel it. Activating Detect, he noticed nothing strange within the temple. A crunch in the snow could be heard from far behind him.

Edited July 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Morningstar spun around and met with Glitch's quick attack. He must have used Charge because faint energy lingered around him. Even so, the blonde was quick to react and blocked his sword gracefully. Their blades clashed a dozen times before finally, one of them spoke.

"You're Glitch, I presume?" Morningstar smirked.

"Who's askin'?"

"Just a guy looking for a bit of col. Heard you like killing off newbies?"

Morningstar kicked, catching the player killer off guard and stumbling back. Then, he took a swift jab at his chest, hoping to finish the fight in a single blow. The rapier wielder, however, moved his weapon against the blonde's, altering its course. The blade slid across Glitch's arm, leaving a wound that was far from fatal.

He grimaced, recovering quickly and reinitiating combat. The rapier nearly hit Morningstar once or twice; however, for the most part, he was able to dodge and deflect the man's strikes with ease.

Edited July 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

"I see why you go for them and not people closer to your level," Morningstar taunted. "You're just not that good with your sword."

His words worked as intended, angering Glitch and causing him to expend all of his energy with offensive jabs. One came close to Morningstar's head and the next to his abdomen. Meteor swooped down in a golden rush, crashing into the rapier and breaking it in two.

"Any last words?" Morningstar asked, glancing up at the orange cursor above the man's head.

"No, p-p-plea-" The plead for mercy was cut off by a final blow.

Meteor sliced through him and as his health bar hit zero, Morningstar could see fear in Glitch's eyes. It was ironic, he thought, that someone who dealt with death as a profession feared it himself. The blonde thought about the dozens of people that Glitch had murdered and how they must have felt in their final moments. There was no punishment fit for a person like him.

Edited July 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Death loomed over the victorious swordsman. His eyes watered but whether it was from fatigue or sadness, he did not know. For a moment, he truly thought he was done. Nature had different plans for him, it seemed. Their short duel had drawn the attention of the goliath known as Avalanche. The monster stomped through the tundra, intent on challenging Morningstar.

"Damn, seriously?" Morningstar exclaimed, lifting his sword once more.

Glitch had succeeded at one aspect of his plan. Morningstar had been lured out into the wilderness and now stood face to face with the one thing he had preferred not to find. He dashed forwards, intending on ending the fight as quickly as possible. His sword dug into the frozen being, breaking off a hefty chunk of ice and damaging it greatly.

The hit should have paralyzed it. Hell, if it was any normal monster, it would be bleeding to death. Clearly, normal enhancement rules did not apply to Avalanche. It remained strong, punching at Morningstar with a large fist. He evaded, preparing his next attack.

Spoiler

SCALED TO TIER 1

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 620/620 | EN: 73/85 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 42 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 12 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Avalanche | HP: 323/525 | MIT: 50 | DMG: 45 | FROSTBITE: 2 slots of T1 | ACC: 0 | EVA: -1

• Crystal Form | Avalanche will take no burn damage, but instead lose 5 MIT every time it would get burned. This effect stacks up to 3 times.
• Shard Sweep | On CD 6+, Avalanche will throw shards in a sweeping motion at its opponents, hitting everyone for 30 unmitigatable DMG.
• Clear Body | Immune to status conditions.
• Weapon Lock | Only Sword Arts of Rank 4 or lower may be used against this boss.
• Tier Lock | For the duration of the fight, all of the participants’ stats that scale with Tier are calculated as though they’re Tier 1. [DMG/MIT/BLEED enhancements etc.]

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID213950 | BD: 10 | MD: 2 | <<TECH-A vs Avalanche>> | 18*14 = 252-50 = 202 damage

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

He tried to swing at Avalanche again, but the giant used its hands to toss snow in his direction. Like a wave in the ocean, it knocked him down. He cursed, wiping it from his body and quickly standing back up. Field bosses, even those on a floor as low as the Fourth, could be forces to reckon with. It charged at him; however, this time, he was ready. With a single swipe, he sliced the fist that moved towards him, removing it from the equation entirely.

Then, the other came and he performed the same sly motion. Disarming his opponents, in the literal sense, seemed to be Morningstar's go-to trick. He could not be killed by a weaponless opponent and what better way was there to rid them of their combat tools? In the case of Avalanche, all that was available to it were its powerful hands. He stepped forward, aiming for the kill.

Spoiler

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 590/620 | EN: 65/85 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 42 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 12 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Avalanche | HP: 121/525 | MIT: 50 | DMG: 45 | FROSTBITE: 2 slots of T1 | ACC: 0 | EVA: -1 | Shard Sweep deals 30 DMG to Morningstar

• Crystal Form | Avalanche will take no burn damage, but instead lose 5 MIT every time it would get burned. This effect stacks up to 3 times.
• Shard Sweep | On CD 6+, Avalanche will throw shards in a sweeping motion at its opponents, hitting everyone for 30 unmitigatable DMG.
• Clear Body | Immune to status conditions.
• Weapon Lock | Only Sword Arts of Rank 4 or lower may be used against this boss.
• Tier Lock | For the duration of the fight, all of the participants’ stats that scale with Tier are calculated as though they’re Tier 1. [DMG/MIT/BLEED enhancements etc.]

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID213951 | BD: 10 | MD: 8-1=7 | CD: 8 | <<TECH-A vs Avalanche>> | 18*14 = 252-50 = 202 damage

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

He felt his body take control as he leaped into the air, his two-handed straight sword raised high. It glowed through the snowstorm and as he brought it down upon his opponent, Avalanche roared chillingly through the night air. It fell hard, Morningstar atop its frozen figure, before disappearing.

His rewards appeared on a final little pop-up. A frostbite potion would come in handy, he was sure. He withdrew a blue crystal from his inventory and lifted it above his head.

"Teleport, Snowfrost."

Suddenly, he was back in the safe zone. Street lamps illuminated the silent city square. He decided that he was ready for bed but, on his way, there was a broker that he needed to stop by. No matter how small of a reward they were offering, he intended on claiming it. The midnight sky stared down at him as he wandered through the city, trying to remember where he had first spoken to the broker.

Spoiler

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 590/620 | EN: 56/85 | DMG: 16 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 42 | EVA: 1 | BLD: 12 | PAR: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Enemies
Avalanche | HP: 0/525 | MIT: 50 | DMG: 45 | FROSTBITE: 2 slots of T1 | ACC: 0 | EVA: -1

• Crystal Form | Avalanche will take no burn damage, but instead lose 5 MIT every time it would get burned. This effect stacks up to 3 times.
• Shard Sweep | On CD 6+, Avalanche will throw shards in a sweeping motion at its opponents, hitting everyone for 30 unmitigatable DMG.
• Clear Body | Immune to status conditions.
• Weapon Lock | Only Sword Arts of Rank 4 or lower may be used against this boss.
• Tier Lock | For the duration of the fight, all of the participants’ stats that scale with Tier are calculated as though they’re Tier 1. [DMG/MIT/BLEED enhancements etc.]

Combat
Morningstar's Attacks
ID213952 | BD: 2+4=6 | <<TECH-A vs Avalanche>> | 16*14 = 224-50 = 174 damage

Looting
+ 1 T1 Consumable | Snowfrost | Frostbite I

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by Morningstar