[SP-F5] He Who Tamed The Desert

[Morningstar 0]

Vast as an ocean, the desert stretched out as far as the eye could see. Few dared to cross it; the beasts that dwelled beneath its dunes were swift and silent. Those who were unthreatened by such creatures had to consider the storms. Losing one's path was easy in a place like this and the desert was merciless towards its victims.

What kinds of things were hidden in the arid regions of the Fifth Floor? It was a difficult question to answer and yet so constant on the minds of those whose hearts yearned for exploration. From time to time, things would appear in places that were once empty, the hot winds kicking up sand and uncovering ruins of temples, dungeons, and even entire cities. Artifacts that appeared to date back hundreds of years would be uncovered at random by players who had lost their way, only to end up in glass cases along the walls of dusty buildings that only a handful of players cared to notice.

Morningstar was one of those players.

Two days earlier, he visited a small, player-owned museum at the heart of Fortaleza. Within it was the (self-proclaimed, I'll add) greatest collection of rare items in all of Aincrad. The owner of the establishment went by a title rather than a name. He called himself "The Curator" and dedicated his time in the game to locating treasures and displaying them to the public. For what reason, no one was quite sure. When asked, The Curator only stated that it was his mission and that he had no real interest in other things.

He told Morningstar of a place far from the city that had called to many players before them; where they would be tested on their pure and instinctual skill, where death was more than a mere possibility. It intrigued the swordsman, who felt he had improved greatly over the years and was hungry for such a trial.

This hunger brought him deep within the desert, to the location that The Curator had specified. A pair of odd goggles covered his eyes, blocking the sand, sharpened by the wind, from entering. He was covered from head to toe in cloak and bandage, inadvertently masking his identity. The colosseum stood before him, grand in its architecture; no description could do justice to its intricacy.

  

Spoiler

1 Yui's Grace used

Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 651/620 | EN: 100/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2

Consumed

• U. T1 Over-Health Potion | + 5% max HP over-health

Equipped

• Royal Greatsword | DMG III
• He Who Tamed The Desert | REG II, REC I
• Lexa's Light | ACC III

Battle Ready

• (x5) U. T1 Health Potion | + 5% of max HP

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.
• Basic Training | +5% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

He entered, shoulders cocked back and blade hung steadily over his right shoulder, itching for battle. A warning appeared in front of him. Those who accepted the quest were to commit entirely. There was no backing out, no teleport crystals, no chance at escape. Fight or die—those were the only options ahead of him, should he accept the quest.

Without hesitation, he pressed a finger against the hollow blue circle on the menu in front of him. Cardinal wished him luck before the gate rose back into the structure of the colosseum. Morningstar stepped out into the sandy arena, removed the goggles from his eyes, and looked around. It was empty, as if it were the remnant of a long-forgotten civilization that refused to disappear. Its body was damaged, far more than what it seemed from the outside.

Nobody came to greet him. No announcers shouted his name into a screaming crowd. He stood alone in the once-buried stadium, awaiting no one.

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Then, “no one” appeared. It began with a faint rumbling, followed by the shifting of sand around him. He awoke the Royal Greatsword from its hibernation, leaping backwards as a long set of fangs gaped at him from below. They clashed blades for a moment and in between swipes, Morningstar glanced at the name that hung above his opponent’s head: Sando Satsu.

“That’s a stupid name,” he scoffed, striking the alligator with the flat end of his weapon.

It dropped to the ground in an instant, trapped in a daze caused by the weight of the greatsword combined with the might of his sword art. He took a moment to breathe. Satsu had given Morningstar no chances to break off and regain his composure. The fight had begun without notice—although, he supposed the system warning was notice enough.

He thought about defeating the beast while he lay stunned on the ground but refrained from doing so. What sort of a trial would that be? Perhaps it proved his strength to be able to claim his victory without his opponent even making a move against him. He did not think so. Besides, he wanted to feel that rush of adrenaline he had felt only seconds ago when their weapons met. Its speed was incredible; truly a force to be reckoned with.

The desert held wondrous things, he was certain of that.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 651/620 | EN: 88/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)

Enemies
Sando Satsu | HP: 1000/1000 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 75

• Untamable | This boss does not follow a standard aggro table. Instead, who it attacks will be based on the LD attached to its attack roll.
  • If there are two players, LD 1-10 will attack the first player, and LD 11-20 will attack the second player.
  • If there are three players, LD 1-6 will attack the first player, LD 7-13 will attack the second player, and LD 14-20 will attack the third player.
  • If there are four Players, the chance will be split evenly across the participants following this same standard. The order of players targeted under this system is determined by the original attack order of the players during the first rotation of combat.
• Sorrowblade | Sando Satsu ignores players' EVA and MIT. 
• Reign | Sando Satsu is immune to the effects of ACC debuff songs.
• Cull of the Meek | On an MD 10, he will spin with his weapon at maximum reach hitting everyone in the fight. He will replenish 75 HP per player hit.
• Dominus | When his HP reaches 400 or lower, he grows to a massive size, upping his damage to 150 and mitigation to 100 for the rest of the fight.

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 651/620 | EN: 100/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)

Enemies
Sando Satsu | HP: 515/1000 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 75 | STUNNED

• Untamable | This boss does not follow a standard aggro table. Instead, who it attacks will be based on the LD attached to its attack roll.
  • If there are two players, LD 1-10 will attack the first player, and LD 11-20 will attack the second player.
  • If there are three players, LD 1-6 will attack the first player, LD 7-13 will attack the second player, and LD 14-20 will attack the third player.
  • If there are four Players, the chance will be split evenly across the participants following this same standard. The order of players targeted under this system is determined by the original attack order of the players during the first rotation of combat.
• Sorrowblade | Sando Satsu ignores players' EVA and MIT. 
• Reign | Sando Satsu is immune to the effects of ACC debuff songs.
• Cull of the Meek | On an MD 10, he will spin with his weapon at maximum reach hitting everyone in the fight. He will replenish 75 HP per player hit.
• Dominus | When his HP reaches 400 or lower, he grows to a massive size, upping his damage to 150 and mitigation to 100 for the rest of the fight.

Combat
Morningstar's Attack
ID213332 | BD: 2+4=6 | <<TECH-A vs. Sando Satsu>> | Hit: 35*16 = 560-75 = 485 Damage | Stun

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Sando Satsu lifted itself from the dusty earth, pushing with the weight of his large weapon. Morningstar was unsure of how to describe the item. It was almost like a bladed fan. It had quite a bit of reach, surprisingly, and judging by the force of the hits it was about as heavy as his greatsword.

Immediately, it resumed attacking. Morningstar was capable of keeping up with its extreme speed but each hit felt like a speeding car against his blade. Suddenly, Satsu spun. The blonde stumbled backwards, losing his balance, and felt a dull pain in his abdomen. He looked down, only to find a long red mark along it where the enemy’s weapon had sliced through him. He gripped the wound, inflicted with placebo, and a tag from his head covering drooped over his eyes. He brushed it out of the way. It read “Unwavering.” He gripped his hilt with two hands.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 549/620 | EN: 75/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)

Enemies
Sando Satsu | HP: 590/1000 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 75

• Untamable | This boss does not follow a standard aggro table. Instead, who it attacks will be based on the LD attached to its attack roll.
  • If there are two players, LD 1-10 will attack the first player, and LD 11-20 will attack the second player.
  • If there are three players, LD 1-6 will attack the first player, LD 7-13 will attack the second player, and LD 14-20 will attack the third player.
  • If there are four Players, the chance will be split evenly across the participants following this same standard. The order of players targeted under this system is determined by the original attack order of the players during the first rotation of combat.
• Sorrowblade | Sando Satsu ignores players' EVA and MIT. 
• Reign | Sando Satsu is immune to the effects of ACC debuff songs.
• Cull of the Meek | On an MD 10, he will spin with his weapon at maximum reach hitting everyone in the fight. He will replenish 75 HP per player hit.
• Dominus | When his HP reaches 400 or lower, he grows to a massive size, upping his damage to 150 and mitigation to 100 for the rest of the fight.

Combat
Morningstar's Attack
ID213333 | BD: 2+4-1=5 | <<Charge>> | <<TECH-D vs. Sando Satsu>> | Miss

Sando Satsu's Attack
ID213334 | BD: 10 | 102 Damage | 75 Health Regen

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

This time, Morningstar took the offensive. He charged at Satsu. When he was as close as he could be, he brought his blade high above his head and swooped it down like a hawk that had spotted prey. It phased directly through the alligator’s right arm, causing it to flop to the ground, unmoving.

The beast roared out, rageful. A red aura formed around it as it began growing larger and larger until it stopped at approximately double that of its former self. What Morningstar was fighting was no longer an animal or a warrior—it was a monster.

This time, Morningstar had no chance at blocking its attack. The weapon grew with him and became far more of a threat than the Royal Greatsword. Satsu swung without worry or thought and Morningstar barely managed to evade the sharp edge of the fan-blade as it arced towards him. He could not, however, dodge the scaly fist that came his way.

Satsu was already huge in comparison to Morningstar’s frail and tiny human physique. Now, he was a towering colossus and his punches were like boulders tumbling off the edge of a cliff. To block would be impossible.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 474/620 | EN: 62/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)
+25 HP from regen

Enemies
Sando Satsu | HP: 153/1000 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 155 (Shatter I: 1/3)

• Untamable | This boss does not follow a standard aggro table. Instead, who it attacks will be based on the LD attached to its attack roll.
  • If there are two players, LD 1-10 will attack the first player, and LD 11-20 will attack the second player.
  • If there are three players, LD 1-6 will attack the first player, LD 7-13 will attack the second player, and LD 14-20 will attack the third player.
  • If there are four Players, the chance will be split evenly across the participants following this same standard. The order of players targeted under this system is determined by the original attack order of the players during the first rotation of combat.
• Sorrowblade | Sando Satsu ignores players' EVA and MIT. 
• Reign | Sando Satsu is immune to the effects of ACC debuff songs.
• Cull of the Meek | On an MD 10, he will spin with his weapon at maximum reach hitting everyone in the fight. He will replenish 75 HP per player hit.
• Dominus | When his HP reaches 400 or lower, he grows to a massive size, upping his damage to 150 and mitigation to 100 for the rest of the fight.

Combat
Morningstar's Attack
ID213335 | BD: 10 | <<TECH-D vs. Sando Satsu>> | SHATTER | (35+2)*16 = 592-155 = 437 Damage

Sando Satsu's Attack
ID213336 | BD: 8 | 100 Damage

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The force knocked him plenty of feet backwards. He crashed into the sandstone wall, rock and dust falling on top of his damaged body. He could swear that a grin had formed on Sando Satsu’s ugly face as he arrogantly strutted towards him.

Did the monster think he had won? That Morningstar would not rise again? His brand new robes had become tattered from the constant combat between the two. It was a nuisance, to say the least, and he found it curious that it was at the forefront of his mind while staring death straight in the eyes.

As Morningstar moved to lift his blade, his opponent swung its own. The swordsman rolled, although he did it with some strain. A few strands of his golden hair stuck out from his headpiece but not enough to obscure his vision. He sidestepped a forward slam and swished his blade up, chopping off the remaining hand.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 499/620 | EN: 47/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)
+25 HP from regen

Enemies
Sando Satsu | HP: 153/1000 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 55 (Shatter I: 2/3)

• Untamable | This boss does not follow a standard aggro table. Instead, who it attacks will be based on the LD attached to its attack roll.
  • If there are two players, LD 1-10 will attack the first player, and LD 11-20 will attack the second player.
  • If there are three players, LD 1-6 will attack the first player, LD 7-13 will attack the second player, and LD 14-20 will attack the third player.
  • If there are four Players, the chance will be split evenly across the participants following this same standard. The order of players targeted under this system is determined by the original attack order of the players during the first rotation of combat.
• Sorrowblade | Sando Satsu ignores players' EVA and MIT. 
• Reign | Sando Satsu is immune to the effects of ACC debuff songs.
• Cull of the Meek | On an MD 10, he will spin with his weapon at maximum reach hitting everyone in the fight. He will replenish 75 HP per player hit.
• Dominus | When his HP reaches 400 or lower, he grows to a massive size, upping his damage to 150 and mitigation to 100 for the rest of the fight.

Combat
Morningstar's Attack
ID213337 | BD: 1 | <<TECH-D vs. Sando Satsu>> | Miss

Sando Satsu's Attack
ID213338 | BD: 3 | Miss

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Its weapon clunked to the ground. He twirled around its fistless swings with ease, completing his dance with a precise stab to the heart, or where he estimated there would be a heart if it were a living creature. It fell to the ground as he pulled the greatsword away. Sando Satsu was dead.

Victory was Morningstar’s. Cardinal spoke to him once more through a tiny virtual pop-up. This time, it congratulated him on his successful duel and listed his rewards for quest completion. The experience was quite nice, he thought. The weapon and armor set were a tad more exciting to him, despite them being more or less useless to him. He equipped the Blade of the Sands, giving it a few quick swings. It was beautiful but lacked the specialness he felt towards his current weapon. He swapped their places once again and returned the Royal Greatsword to his back, where it lay dormant once more, awaiting the next battle.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 524/620 | EN: 34/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)
+25 HP from regen

Enemies
Sando Satsu | HP: 0/1000 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 135 (Shatter II: 1/3)

• Untamable | This boss does not follow a standard aggro table. Instead, who it attacks will be based on the LD attached to its attack roll.
  • If there are two players, LD 1-10 will attack the first player, and LD 11-20 will attack the second player.
  • If there are three players, LD 1-6 will attack the first player, LD 7-13 will attack the second player, and LD 14-20 will attack the third player.
  • If there are four Players, the chance will be split evenly across the participants following this same standard. The order of players targeted under this system is determined by the original attack order of the players during the first rotation of combat.
• Sorrowblade | Sando Satsu ignores players' EVA and MIT. 
• Reign | Sando Satsu is immune to the effects of ACC debuff songs.
• Cull of the Meek | On an MD 10, he will spin with his weapon at maximum reach hitting everyone in the fight. He will replenish 75 HP per player hit.
• Dominus | When his HP reaches 400 or lower, he grows to a massive size, upping his damage to 150 and mitigation to 100 for the rest of the fight.

Combat
Morningstar's Attack
ID213337 | BD: 2+4=6 | <<TECH-D vs. Sando Satsu>> | 35*16 = 560-135 = 425 Damage

Rewards
(P. T2 THSS) Blade of the Sands | DMG II | Keen I
(P. T2 Heavy Armor) Armor of the Sands | MIT II | Heavy Momentum

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The gates behind him unlocked, allowing him to exit the colosseum. He placed his goggles back over his eyes, stepping out from the cover of the immense structure and into the now growing sandstorm. How long had he been inside the arena? It could not have been more than a few minutes of combat but in that time the environment had changed greatly. It was hard for him to tell which way he had come from by looking at the dunes. He marched into the whipping winds, sand kicking up all around him. 

He reflected on his battle with Sando Satsu while simultaneously battling the elements. He questioned himself about how much of his victory was truly his doing and how much of it was the game working alongside him. Numbers circled like a merry-go-round in his mind; it was all just numbers. Take away the sword arts and the critical hits and what was left? A boy swinging a heavy slab of iron.

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Would that boy have been successful?

Maybe.

Had there been no skill, no battle sense, would he have made it that far to begin with? Was it the game that chose to disarm Satsu or was it Morningstar himself?

Then it occurred to him that the whole game was a trial of sorts. He thought about the countless number of players who had not made it off the First Floor, the players who had chosen to die rather than play. After so much time, he was still here—did that not count for something?

His inner monologue was interrupted by an eruption ahead of him. It was hard to tell what was approaching but it was clearly unfriendly. This was not his first time on the Fifth Floor and he was familiar with a few of the creatures that inhabited it. He was not fond of them, no matter the species.

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

The health bar in his peripheral increased slowly from five hundred and twenty-four to six hundred and twenty. He drew his greatsword once more as the being revealed its identity. A giant rattlesnake lunged at him ferociously.

He let out a roar as he ripped through its center with the edge of his blade, cutting it in two. Its health dropped to zero while his remained full. It vanished before it could reach the ground. Morningstar had encountered a burrow by the looks of it. How he had missed it on the way there was beyond him. Maybe he had gotten lost—it would not have surprised him. The further he walked the heavier the storm became. Even simple movements were becoming harder for him. He rolled his shoulders, eyeing down the approaching targets. One. Two. Three. Four.

Four more giant rattlesnakes followed suit. This wave was smaller than their predecessor but still massive compared to what he was used to in the real world.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 620/620 | EN: 88/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)

Enemies
Giant Rattlesnake | HP: 0/560 | DMG: 124

Combat
Morningstar's Attack
ID213352 | BD: 5+4=9 | <<TECH-D vs. Giant Rattlesnake>> | 35*16 = 560 Damage

Looting
ID213353 | CD: 9 | LD: 4+5 = 9
+ 3360 col
+ 2 Materials
+ 1 T4 Rare Trinket

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

They took turns snapping at him until he found himself tired of the wasteful fighting and swept through them all with a single devastating blow. Blue shades remained where their bodies had once been. They floated off into the sky, dispersing into the atmosphere until they were gone completely. He had become so accustomed to not seeing a body left behind after a kill. He wondered why the game destroyed them on death. He theorized that it was for the sanity of the players. Surely, killing monsters over and over again had an impact on the brain. Perhaps a corpse would have made it feel too real.

On the other hand, it could have simply been a storage-saving implementation. That idea annoyed him. It implied that storage was all that they were. They were so much more.

Before then, he had not realized how much he would have liked to bury his friends. Instead, they were deleted from the world entirely, immortalized only by the memories of those who knew them and the stone tablet in the Town of Beginnings.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 620/620 | EN: 73/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)

Enemies
Giant Rattlesnake 1 | HP: 0/385 | DMG: 124
Giant Rattlesnake 2 | HP: 0/385 | DMG: 124
Giant Rattlesnake 3 | HP: 0/385 | DMG: 124
Giant Rattlesnake 4 | HP: 0/385 | DMG: 124

Combat
Morningstar's Attack
ID213354 | CD: 7 | +4 ENG
ID213355 | BD: 6 | <<AOE-I vs. Giant Rattlesnake 1>> | 35*11 = 385 Damage
ID213356 | BD: 3+4 = 7 | <<AOE-I vs. Giant Rattlesnake 2>> | 35*11 = 385 Damage
ID213357 | BD: 2+4 = 6 | <<AOE-I vs. Giant Rattlesnake 3>> | 35*11 = 385 Damage
ID213358 | BD: 10 | <<AOE-I vs. Giant Rattlesnake 4>> | 37*11 = 407 Damage

Looting
Giant Rattlesnake 1
ID213359 | CD: 5 | LD: 4+5 = 9
+ 2310 Col
+ 2 Materials
+ 1 T4 Rare Trinket

Giant Rattlesnake 2
ID213360 | CD: 9 | LD: 13+5 = 18
+ 2310 Col
+ 4 Materials
+ 1 T4 Rare Trinket

Giant Rattlesnake 3
ID213361 | CD: 6 | LD: 4+5 = 9
+ 3080 Col
+ 1 T4 Rare Trinket

Giant Rattlesnake 4
ID213362 | CD: 7 | LD: 9+5 = 14
+ 1155 Col
+ 4 Materials
+ 1 T4 Rare Weapon
+ 1 T4 Uncommon Consumable

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

It felt cruel to leave them with nothing but a scratched-out name. They deserved better, his fallen family. He could feel his crystal necklace against his warm skin. Sometimes, even after all these years, he would see Lexa’s face in a crowd, smiling at him. It was never her and he knew that. And still, he would smile back, wishing it was.

Another rattlesnake emerged from the burrow, this time triple the size and far more intimidating. It had red marks along its wild face and held the title of King above its head. It was his final opponent.

It was fast. It swooped down and Morningstar dodged, causing it to crash its face into the sand. It repeated the attack several times until he retaliated, using the same stunning move he had tried on Sando Satsu. The king of snakes fell to the ground, struggling to lift its long, paralyzed body.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 620/620 | EN: 62/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)

Enemies
Rattlesnake King | HP: 392/1000 | DMG: 124 | STUNNED

Combat
Morningstar's Attack
ID213370 | CD: 6 | No Recovery
ID213369 | BD: 7+4-1 = 10 | <<Charge>> | <<TECH-A vs. Rattlesnake King>> | (35+3)*16 = 608 Damage | Stunned

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

He stared at the serpent, watching as it suffered slowly. Sand quickly piled on top of it. The desert was unkind, even to those that called it home. He pitied the creature, although he knew that it was one of a thousand virtual monsters created to stop him from proceeding through the game. It had no spirit to sympathize with. Still, he pitied it.

Then, it was gone. In its wake was a large dune, no different than the rest of his surroundings. He almost walked away, leaving it to be consumed by the earth, but he knew that it would awaken soon and the fight would continue. Who was he to abandon a battle not yet finished?

He waited a few more minutes, the tip of his blade pointed into the sand and his hands folded over the bottom of the pommel. Nothing stirred but the wind, which continued its wicked whistle.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 620/620 | EN: 48/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)

Enemies
Rattlesnake King | HP: 392/1000 | DMG: 124

Combat
Morningstar's Attack
ID213371 | BD: 1 | MD: 3 | CRITICAL MISS

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Then, it shot towards him. Without flinching, he spun his blade. The rattlesnake king hissed, nearly catching Morningstar in its fangs. But the swordsman was faster. His greatsword met its neck, appearing as though it had phased through it. The monster dropped dead a moment later.

Morningstar stared down at a floating panel that had appeared. More rewards had been added to his inventory. They were lesser in quality than those he had received after his duel with Sando Setsu but he welcomed them nonetheless.

His time in the desert was done; he was ready to return home. With the swish of his hand, the reward notification was removed from his display and he carried on his way.

He had become one of those lost desert travelers whom he had been warned about. Wandering and wandering, he searched for the path that had led him to the colosseum in the first place. It was long gone now; the ever-altering sea of earth had devoured it. He would need to find his own way back to the city.

Spoiler

Party
Morningstar | Lv. 31 | HP: 620/620 | EN: 36/100 | DMG: 35 | ACC: 4 | MIT: 30 | Regen: 2 | Recovery: 1 | Stealth Rating: -2 | ENG Cost: +1 (+0 for first 2 turns of combat)

Enemies
Rattlesnake King | HP: 0/1000 | DMG: 124

Combat
Morningstar's Attack
ID213372 | BD: 2+4=6 | <<ST-I vs. Rattlesnake King>> | 35*12 = 420 Damage

Looting
ID213373 | CD: 1 | LD: 14+5 = 19
+ 5000 Col
+ 2 Materials
+ 1 T4 Perfect Consumable
+ 1 T4 Rare Trinket

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

At the very least, he thought he was walking in the right direction. Not that he could tell, of course. It was like he was walking through a thick mist, except the mist pelted him like miniscule daggers and would likely have suffocated him had he chosen to take his headpiece off. Also, it was hot, stuffy, and he hated it.

One foot in front of the other, he shifted his weight through the sand, wiping sand that had begun gathering on the lenses of his goggles and blocking his sight. For once, his sword felt awkward on his back. He had been carrying it for so long that it was finally beginning to wear him out. He pushed on, without another choice. He could rest when he was back within a safe zone.

He would have killed for a teleport crystal in that moment. If only he had remembered to stock up before heading out on the trip. It was a foolish move, forgetting something so essential.

Edited July 20, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

Unexpectedly, he found his body falling to the ground. His foot had caught onto something, causing Morningstar to lose his balance and trip. He wiped his goggles in a panic, horrified that he had let an extra monster go unnoticed and that this was the end for him.

But nothing so much as moved.

He picked himself up, digging through the sand as he tried to find whatever it was that had caused him to fall. His hand hit something hard and rectangular and as he tugged on it, it came loose. He dusted it off, trailing the tips of his fingers along its cracked face. He gazed upon the withering artifact, astonished by his discovery. It was a tablet made of stone and it looked ancient, as if it were a remnant of a civilization lost to time. There were words etched into it.

HE WHO CONTROLS THE SANDS SHAPES DESTINIES. HE WHO TAMES THE DESERT SHALL BE CALLED KING. ETERNITY AWAITS—

Edited July 20, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

What more was written was now unreadable. The words themselves meant nothing to Morningstar, especially in their incomplete form, yet the tablet evoked a sort of power that he could not explain. His eyes were stuck to it until he noticed something move in the corner of his eye.

His head darted in the direction of the shadow. It was the figure of a man, he thought, and it looked like he was hunched over a bit. His movements were slow, yet precise. The tablet disappeared as he claimed it in his inventory and he used every bit of strength he had left in him to run towards the stranger.

The closer he got, the more certain he became that it was not a stranger after all. They had met before, some time ago, on a day stained with death and tragedy.

“You! It’s you!” He shouted through the vicious winds.

Edited July 20, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

His voice could not reach but he refused to give up.

“Zamek! Zamek!”

Upon hearing his name, the elderly NPC cocked his head. He was masked as well; however, Morningstar could tell from his posture and walk that it was him, the man whom he had saved so long ago. The old man stuck out his hand, as if telling him to stay put, and struggled over to meet him.

Zamek’s eyes told Morningstar that he remembered their fateful meeting. It shocked him; the NPC must have met thousands of players in the period that had passed. It was a sad and yet oddly pleased look. They did not speak much during their time together. The storm would not allow it.

“Follow me!” Zamek yelled, guiding him on a different route than that which he had been taking.

He led Morningstar far, silently maneuvering the assumed death zone that the blonde had found himself in. Zamek was a professional, clearly, and Morningstar could tell by the way he moved. Even in his old age, he was capable of traversing the desert with more skill than someone whose lifestyle was adventure.

Edited July 20, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

At first, Morningstar had not even noticed that they were outside of Fortaleza. It was not until they stepped within the safe zone that he realized it. The sandstorm suddenly stopped and he knew that he had made it. They had both made it. He looked to the old man, who looked just as weary as he had the first time they had met, and thanked him graciously.

“I owe you my life,” Morningstar told Zamek, who responded with a happy smile.

“Anything for an old friend.”

They parted ways shortly after and Morningstar hoped that they would meet again under safer circumstances. Then, he marched off towards the museum, thoughts of the tablet occupying his tired mind.

It was a short walk from the city’s entrance. The blonde was surprised that the place was still open, considering that evening had begun to turn to night. When all that the owner lived for was his museum, however, it made sense that he would keep it available as frequently as possible.

Edited July 20, 2023 by Morningstar

[Morningstar 0]

He twisted the door handle, pushing gently on the wooden door. It creaked open and he was met with the face of The Curator, who welcomed him with pleasure.

“Welcome back. I take it you succeeded, then? You wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

Morningstar nodded before withdrawing the stone tablet from his inventory. He showed it to The Curator, whose eyes grew wide in awe.

“Where did you find this?” The Curator asked.

“Out there,” Morningstar returned, “in the sand.”

The two stared at it for a moment longer, unable to remove themselves, before the blonde spoke up once more.

“It’s yours, if you want it. For the museum, I mean. It should be on display, not left to pick up dust in my inventory.”

“Seriously? For free? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” Morningstar said.

He handed the tablet over to him, trusting that The Curator could make more sense of the cryptic message than he could. Then, he went on his way.

Edited July 20, 2023 by Morningstar