Wild Era 3, Ch 16: Emerald Coast

Kelin arrived on the Emerald Coast before midnight, his body still phased into shadow.

There were several hours left before dawn where he could travel easily, so instead of heading directly to the dungeon he sped across the land, scouting out the Emerald Coast.

It was a region rich in culture and unique life along the southern edge of the Ocean of Storms, forming an arc from east to west. 

On the way here, he’d kept to the east of the Sirenflow River, which emptied into the ocean. Now he was close to Stormhill, the major city state that dominated the central region of the southern coastline.

For now, he had no interest in visiting Stormhill itself, so he’d decided to stick to smaller villages and some of the resort areas that made this coastline famous.

This region was the most popular vacation destination in Celadon and home to dozens of noble families, as well as much of the northern trade routes, so staying out of Stormhill wasn’t a guarantee of peace, but it would help to reduce the amount of local politics.

Instead, he planned to find somewhere smaller with a view of the ocean and its storms and where he could relax.

One of the resorts would work. He could use it as a base in between training his resistances.

He wasn’t sure if a single dungeon would be enough to get the resistances he wanted, so along with the main one he’d chosen, he’d also picked out half a dozen other dungeons nearby.

The storms that gave the ocean its name affected the dungeons here, giving them fierce environments with raw elements, which made it difficult even for experienced adventurers to survive.

The same power condensed elemental gemstones and mana crystals that routinely washed up on the shore, adding beauty and power to the region. Many of the beaches were made of sand that was mixed with crystallized mana from those shattered stones.

For his purposes, this region was perfect.

On a different world with poor resources, it would have been worth mining the beaches for the those fragments of power, but on Lareth it was easier to gather real mana crystals, not the dust that was left behind, and so the beaches were left in peace as a beautiful mix of shades and hues, all shimmering with a sense of power as they rose up from the waves.

This region would have been more popular if the ocean was useful for trade, but except for the few cities and the resorts, it was harsh and unsettled, lacking the small villages that were common to the south.

The Ocean of Storms stretched for over a thousand miles across from north to south and the same east to west. All its coastlines were dangerous, but the southern shore was the most brutal and the least settled.

Most of the gemstones washed up to the south, which meant Celadon got the bulk of the value, at the cost of having to endure the ocean’s wrath.

Those gemstones were the major source of income for Stormhill and the reason the city could survive despite the lack of other settlements, but it depended heavily on trade and imports.

There were some gems that washed up in other regions, which were a bit easier to settle, so the coast in other directions was dotted with free cities and ocean powers, all making a living from the wealth of the ocean and fighting over its resources while living in an uneasy peace between the larger countries.

Before the night was over, Kelin covered two hundred miles of the coast in each direction and even sped across the surface of the waves to some of the nearby islands, investigating some potential dungeons he knew about.

The guild’s records were good for that. 

He also checked on the major trade routes and the condition of the various resorts, looking for a good place to make his own.

Guild information was one thing, but seeing this area for himself was even better. It let him get a feel for what was happening and how the people lived, as well as any signs of undead and Sarathian influence.

The expansion of undead dungeons from Sarathia’s recent interference had affected this region of Celadon and some of their assassins had been captured near Stormhill, so he kept a careful eye out.

Given its nature, this area had dungeons that were cleared less frequently and it was more likely to give rise to a dungeon break.

Eventually, dawn began to approach, so he had to bring his search to a halt. He felt satisfied that he’d crossed most of the local region and seen what was going on, at least on the surface.

As the first rays of daylight broke across the horizon, he faded back into reality on a beach that was touched with golden and sapphire sands.

Two long arms of stone reached out into the ocean, creating stormwalls, while an elegant resort  huddled in the center on a low rise above the surrounding land. 

Cultivated palm trees and mana-touched varieties of flowering bushes and decorative gardens surrounded it, weaving in and around the buildings as they carefully broke up straight lines and gave the resort a relaxed and wild feeling.

Here and there, cottages that were more like small palaces decorated the resort, each of them with private courtyards, pools, and balconies overlooking the ocean.

It was dangerous to have a resort so close to the ocean, since the storms were capable of scouring trees straight off the ground, but the storm walls that stretched out into the ocean shimmered with nearly invisible wards that protected the area inside.

It was designed to give the visitors a sense of power and prestige, looking out over a savage expanse while protected by their wealth.

Kelin gave the resort an amused look, but it had a pleasant and welcoming aura, so he decided it would be good enough as a base.

If things got too irritating, he could always make a private camp somewhere else, but for now the memory of Sandren made him want to experience more of what this world had to offer.

His mood was mostly settled after her departure, but it would be best to fill his days with more people and experience, so that he didn’t become too reserved.

As the dawn filtered through the sky, servants were already moving around the resort and preparing it for the day, and he had no trouble finding the way to the central building, where he acquired a room.

The clerk at the desk was stiff and proper, most likely used to turning away anyone who didn’t come with a proper referral, but as soon as he saw Kelin and his inspection abilities returned the relevant information, his eyes widened and he bowed so low his head nearly scraped the counter.

Being a baron and a Knight of the Path had its value.

“My lord,” the clerk said instantly. “How may I be of service? Please accept my respects and assistance for now. The master of the resort will be here shortly to see to your every need. Are you alone? I will call servants to attend you immediately.”

“I’ll be here for a little while to relax and to study some magic that requires peace of mind,” Kelin said calmly. “I’m looking for a place free of distractions. ”

It was enough of an explanation for why he was alone and for what he wanted, and after that, things were simple enough. 

“Of course, my lord,” the clerk replied, barely rising up from his bow. “This resort is famous for its peace and privacy. We have the perfect place to suit your wishes.”

It turned out that the resort was only half full of guests and after that it was straightforward for Kelin to acquire one of the private cottages with surrounding courtyards that he’d seen from a distance.

Not long later, after more bowing and many offers of things that he might need, he was settled in.

A few servants flitted through the rooms as they set up wine and fruit, fluffed the pillows, and arranged various delicacies as a welcome, but it didn’t take them long.

He walked out of the central room and onto the balcony, which opened onto a stunning view of the ocean. An early storm was building in the distance, resembling a bank of lightning-filled blue clouds that grew larger as he watched.

The storm mixed with slanting golden light from the dawn sun that set off the waves below, making everything shimmer with a rich and translucent energy.

It was a beautiful dawn.

From this angle, not a single one of the other cottages was visible, the result of clever architecture and arrangement.

As far as vacation spots went, it wasn’t bad.

The front of the cottage and almost every room were open to the air and the view, but filled with comforts and small enchantments for privacy and peace. 

He gave everything a once over and then settled down on the balcony, where he picked up a fresh cup of coffee that the servants had left for him. 

A small spatial preservation spell on the saucer beneath kept the coffee from changing while the cup rested on it, making sure that it lost none of its temperature or flavor. 

The saucer and enchantment alone were worth as much as a mid-grade spatial crystal, which made him chuckle. Even on Lareth, it seemed there were forms of excessive luxury.

A month here cost a thousand gold, so he’d paid for that and the clerk hadn’t asked any more questions.

It left him nearly out of money, with just barely over five hundred gold in his storage, but it didn’t matter. If it came down to it, he still had plenty of talismans or other things to sell, but by then, it shouldn’t be an issue.

He sat on the balcony watching the dawn rise and the storm break on the shore. Explosions of lightning and whistling winds sheared across the land, tearing at whatever they found.

Stray things were destroyed, but the energy was absorbed harmlessly into the crystalline sands, like they were a great insulator against the wrath of the ocean. 

If those mana-infused sands were ever removed, it seemed the ocean’s fury would damage a great deal more.

Eventually, he set the cup down and meditated for a while, cycling his energy. When his mind was clear and his heart was still, he opened his eyes, which flashed with brightness.

Then he jumped off the balcony and his form flickered as soulfire accelerated his steps, speeding him toward his destination.

One of the reasons he’d chosen this resort instead of another was that the dungeon he wanted was only a dozen miles away, not far from the beach.

Before long, he reached it.

The familiar silver-black portal gleamed between the rocks of a cliff not far from the shore, in a location that was shadowed by an overhanging ledge. 

Winds whipped across the stones and swept them bare of sand, giving the area a severe appearance, and the face of the cliff was covered in a layer of dark ice where the storm winds had frozen to it, making it sharp and dangerous.

This area shouldn’t have been so cold, but it was touched with a bitter chill that tried to bite into Kelin’s bones. As soon as he focused on the entrance, the voice of the Path echoed in his mind.

Congratulations, Lord of Wildfire.

You have discovered the Chaos Remnant: The Edge of Night.  

Average Level: 210.

Elemental Affinities: Darkness, Shadow, and Ice.

Mana Density: High.

Relative Danger: High.

Rewards: Variable (High).

Notes: This is a natural Chaos Remnant formed from local mana flows and dense elemental essence. Due to the high monster density, a team is recommended.

Requirement: Kill 90% or more of the monsters inside.

Additional Bonus: 100% completion and kill the final boss.

Possible Rewards: Experience, Wealth, Common to Rare-grade Items, Alliance Credit.

Warning: A combination of rare elemental essences has turned the interior of this dungeon into a hazardous area. Winds of freezing darkness and shadow lash the land and drain the stamina of those who enter here. Lightning and Fire spells are recommended to combat the cold. 

As the Path finished speaking, Kelin nodded.

Despite its affinities, the dungeon wasn’t filled with undead. It was just harsh and dangerous, and a place that most would shun.

The adventuring teams that came here to clear it usually did so only out of obligation and they spent as little time inside as possible.

His plan was the exact opposite.

He chuckled as he checked his equipment. Since cold resistance was one of the things he wanted to train, he took off the Ring of Everlasting Flame and put it away in his storage. It was his oldest item, so he was a bit unwilling, but it was temporary. 

If he left it on, his intention to build a resistance here would be undone before it began. 

The Blessed Climate effect on the ring had the ability to shield him from even the most extreme weather as long as the spark from the Elemental Plane of Fire inside wasn’t overwhelmed. It would be easier to seal the ring away than to directly fight it, since it was a tiny portal to the other side.

As soon as he took it off, he felt the bite of the weather in the air more fiercely than he had in months. The spray of the water and the cold wind blowing across the crevice instantly made him hiss in response.

To make it even more intense, he took off his Runewielder's Robe and most of his clothing as well, leaving his skin bare to the cold as a golden aura of flame radiated from him.

He made sure everything was in place. Then he stepped forward into the portal.

Star-lit darkness swept past him and then he was on the other side, which for a moment seemed almost the same as the interior of the portal.

A pitch-black sky stretched out above him, filled with subtle and twisting currents of an even deeper darkness that swept across the area like clouds, which fell to the earth in sheets mixed with a howling and icy wind.

The earth was covered with barren stones, each of them radiating a sharp and chill surface as they stretched out into an open plain that had no shelter except for twisted and frozen mounds that might have once been trees or bushes, but they were now barely distinguishable from the rock.

The frozen wind instantly bit at his skin, making his soulfire leap in response. It was so sharp that it would have left gaping wounds if his Constitution had been much lower. As it was, he still felt the pressure like a set of jaws was trying to chew him to pieces.

He let out a huff of air, forcing himself not to create a stronger shield against it.

This was why he’d come here.

The temperature was enough to freeze almost anyone below the Second Evolution to ice within moments. Above that, an adventurer’s mana field had some ability to resist the danger, but it would drain their energy faster.

Without a mana field to help, it meant he had to resist the cold directly and that was what he wanted.

Gaius rumbled with displeasure as he sensed the area, but the cold had little real effect on him, which was a nice advantage of an earth elemental ally. If he’d been a fire elemental or a water elemental, it would have been harder for him to endure here.

Kelin scanned the dungeon for mana signatures and then he set out toward the first one, his staffing tapping the ground at his side.

He’d come here to train his resistances and the entrance was the weakest location. The guild’s information and his senses gave him a basic understanding of what was present, but he would have to look around a bit to find the best place.

It wasn’t long before the first monster found him. It almost resembled a wraith and it rose out of one of the frozen mounds, slashing toward him with fingers like icy blades.

Kelin suppressed his instinct to summon a mana shield and let it strike, only angling his staff slightly to deflect it from vital areas.

Its claws tore into his forearm and abdomen and withdrew covered in blood, which froze to crystals in an instant and decorated its claws like a spray of rubies.

He analyzed it.

Dark Ice Spirit. Level 205.

An aura of cold surrounded it, making everything nearby feel like it was freezing to a stop, and the chill energy from its cut ached as it burned into his blood. 

It wasn’t an undead wraith, just an elemental spirit that embodied the hostile elements and he studied it for a moment before he continued walking.

Without his soulfire physique, everything near the wound would have already turned to ice, but as it was, it wasn’t enough to do more than slow him down.

Most of the usefulness of this one was in the aura it emitted, which was trying to freeze him, but he needed a few more.

He let the spirit follow him and it continued to attack, leaving trails of blood frozen across his back, legs, and arms. He deflected the more critical blows with mana shields, keeping the damage to a minimum while he let the cold seep into his bones.

Eventually, he had a collection of five of the ice spirits and he found a good spot next to a frozen mound that might have once been a building. 

The area radiated a deadly chill, like the building was a source of cold even harsher than the spirits attacking him, and their presence augmented even further. Their mana fields were full  of ice energy and they pressed around him like five cold flames. 

He sat down beside the building, almost touching it, and kept an eye on his mana as he let out a hiss of discomfort. His body was a bleeding mess by this point and his movements were slow and jerky. 

He’d deliberately held back the greater part of his healing to let the cold infiltrate and it felt like his muscles were blocks of solid ice. Fine control had disappeared.

“Let’s see how you do,” he muttered as he looked at the five ice spirits. “Come on then.”

This was as far as he’d decided to go for now. With the monsters and the building together, it would be a good first spot. 

He could waste his mana on resisting the cold instead, which was what he would have done if he’d just wanted to get through the dungeon, but it was inefficient. 

He needed to acquire some form of natural cold resistance before he ventured in further. 

Now that he was sitting here, the aura of ice from the building was almost freezing him to the spot. He kept his mana cycling, just enough to prevent himself from actually dying, and he lashed out with a mana shield now and then, blocking critical attacks.

Meanwhile, Gaius watched over him, ready to intervene if needed. 

Without him as a backup, this would have been far more dangerous.

The wraiths spun around Kelin, their presence building on one another and layers of ice slowly crept across his legs and lower body, and then over his abdomen. Its touch was like knives driving into his organs and tearing at his bones.

He let out a hiss as he kept his soulfire at a minimum, just enough to keep himself alive.

Then he turned his sight inward and began to focus on the interaction between his flames and the ice, taking advantage of the opportunity to study how the elements interacted.

His physique was supposed to be good at picking up resistances, so he didn’t want to miss it.