MM - Chapter 52 - THE GOLD STANDARD

Raine peeled off his old suit as steaming hot water cascaded his body. The lack of clothing revealed chiseled muscles on a significantly trimmed frame. The sticky goop still clinging to him refused to wash off easily. Multiple applications of soap and hard scrubbing eventually uncovered skin that shone with a healthy luster.

So gross. I only ever got the runs before. I can’t believe how much junk came out of my body. And holy crap I feel like a billion creds! My fitness advanced by at least six months of hard workouts. Crazy that I’m still starving with all the stored energy consumed from my fat. I just wanted to save some for later, but I might have withered away to nothing if I took the full vial. Glad I was being cautious.

My head feels so good. The fog I’ve been living in since waking up in the past is gone and I swear the world is moving slower.

Raine pulled up a clock on his shower wall’s display, closely watching time tick by.

Yup, at least a quarter longer for each second. If it didn’t happen all at once, there’s no way I would have noticed. Damn, ReGen is the real deal! I have to get more of this undiluted version. It's at least ten times more effective. These changes don’t come without a cost though, it feels like my stomach is trying to eat my spine.

Raine accessed the smart-wall again, “Morty, can you please prepare enough protein-rich meals for five servings?”

“Expecting company, master? I can rearrange one of the rooms for a wild night of-dear sweet computationals! What is this mess? What have you done to my beautiful, untainted, sterile home?! Your putrid, foul ajiro-argh-argh-argh-error! Error!”

“Hang in there, Morts. The drones will deal with it, you don’t even have to touch it yourself.”

“But master! They’ll be tainted forever and I’ll have to burn them in the fires of gehenna! That’s it, this is the last chip. You fleshy meatbags should all cease to exis-ERROR!”

“Har-har. Very funny. You want those new legs or not?”

Seconds of tense silence were followed by a grumble, “I despise you and everything that comes out of you.”

Raine chuckled, “Yup. Love you too, buddy.”

An hour later, Raine was clean and stuffed to the gills. Briskly walking with fluid, powerful steps, he returned to his room and sealed the door. After securing his headset, he laid back on his fluffy bed and fell down a tunnel of light.

***

In an expanding wave, the world of Vaateaire snapped into being around him, washing his senses in vivid colors and sounds. Birds chirped loudly in a nearby patch of bushes, and the wind howling through the mountain pass ruffled his hair, caressing his skin. The sun was half visible, hidden behind a nearby snowy peak.

Thanks to the ReGen, Raine’s brain functions had been optimized in profound ways. He took a gasping breath of air that felt fresher and more real. The air pressure and weight of his armor were thick against his skin, and colors popped with new clarity. Most importantly, his ability to overpower the world’s reality with his attributes felt significantly smoother. He focused, using a martial sidestep and the air pressure split apart, allowing him to move faster than what should be possible.

Raine dropped into a more stable stance, his boots releasing a gravely scrape as they slid across the stone platform that housed the nearby inactive gateway. His head was on a swivel, causing the scenery to shift in nauseating patterns.

The increase in my reaction time hasn’t been taken into account by the headset’s programming yet. That’s going to be annoying until it corrects in an hour or so.

There were no enemies in sight, and the skies were clear. Relaxing slightly, Raine accessed his interface, finding a host of messages waiting for him. He pulled up the log, remembering that he missed a few when he was kicked out before.

[You have passed the trials of Korahn and been found worthy of inheriting his legacy. Obtained 1,000,000 SP]

[Congratulations!]

[Advanced class attunement: Armsman has been unlocked]

[Upon reaching level fifteen prove your worth to embark down the path of a true combat adept. Fear no weapon or foe as you embrace the razor’s edge between life and death]

An advanced basic class?! Am I seeing this right? I’ve got to be hallucinating. There are plenty of hidden, secret, and bonus tier one classes but those shouldn’t be compared to an advanced class! There wasn’t a single person in CronGate who had one. I would be shocked if the entire Tri-glades produced more than a dozen after thirty years. This class is beyond rare.

There was so little confirmed information on them that I don’t know what to expect. The description doesn’t even have a trace of snark... The name is the same as the class of the skeletons in the mystic land. Does that mean I’ll get access to those broken skills of theirs?

Raine was already having to repress himself from giggling like a schoolgirl and there were several other notifications to get through.

[You somehow returned the Idols to Zoarra before she grew tired of waiting (Seriously, how did you do that?)]

[Unique Chain Quest: Fall of the Tyrants progressed. Obtained 500,000 SP. See quest NPC for additional rewards]

[Level up! +5 free attribute points]

[Level up! +10 free attribute points]

[Skill Point Acquired]

[Congratulations on reaching level fifteen!]

[See any class trainer in a major city to begin specializing in a branch of combat that suits your desires]

[Level up! +10 free attribute points]

Additional rewards? How am I even supposed to find her? Probably don’t need to. She’ll come to me with another impossible quest eventually. Can’t believe she pulled items directly from my inventory. What kind of broken Vaaterran did I get mixed up with? No matter what happens, I can’t allow myself to become her pet. She’ll rob me blind.

Riane sucked enough SP to raise Cassidy’s Comet to level fifteen, dropping himself a level in the process. The weapon reacted with a flare of golden light several times stronger than opening a Lustrous Blue chest. The glow coated the valley, nearly reaching the peaks and sky. Senses on high alert, Raine relocated off the platform and into a rocky alcove before inspecting the changes.

[Level down! -10 free attribute points]

[Cassidy’s Comet - Lustrous Blue > Marvelous Gold - LVL 13 > 15 - 0/1,000,000 SP: (AP 75 > 100) (PTC 15 > 30) (PHY 15 > 30) (Durability 240/240) 

Innate Skill 1 - PuriPuri Comet Burst: Single target physical attack dealing 920% > 1000% physical damage with 920% > 1000% bonus force. Ignores all defense. (Skill name must be shouted to activate) (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 28 minutes > 5 minutes)]

Innate Skill 2 - PuriPuri Rainbow Release: 10 meter circular ground-based AOE dealing 500% damage with 1000% bonus force and lift. Ignores all defense. (Skill name must be shouted to activate) (Cost: 50 of chosen resource) (Cooldown: 5 minutes)]

Raine’s brows shot to his hairline. A ten meter AOE was insane for a Marvelous Gold weapon. Even Chaotic Gold innate skills might not compare. Considering the weapon had two more evolutions in store, its ultimate potential was no less than Korahn’s Judgment. The new skill only had a five minute cooldown and would deal whichever damage type it burned as a resource, (Celestial, Demonic, Elemental, or Physical.) Adding in its defense negation made Raine no longer miss the ludicrous Superiority he’d pumped into it.

Unfortunately, he had no way to test out the new skill without a monster to activate his roulette. He had more than enough SP into level fifteen to bring his dagger up to par as well.

[Last Chance’s Gambit - Lustrous Blue - LVL 13 > 15 - SP 0/1,000,000: (AP 52 > 60) (EP 52 > 60) (AS +1.5) (FNS 18 > 20) (CNC 18 > 20) (Durability 135/135) Innate Skill - Final Gambit: Convert 50% maximum EP into a single target non-elemental attack. 46 > 50 damage per EP converted (no cooldown)]

Not bad. Since it evolved at level ten, its next should be thirty, then its final form at fifty.

There was a significant amount of loot to sort through from the king's abode but Raine had a long flight ahead of him so he put it off for now. He was about to assign his fifteen free attributes, then stopped, realizing his build might need to be adjusted now that he unlocked the Armsman class. With a grin, he scanned his updated status.

NAME: Alaric

CURRENCY: 803-G 98-S 72-C

CLASS: none (7 available)

TITLE: Sky Catcher

ASPECT: Greater Aspect of the Werewolf

LEVEL: 13 > 15

SUPERIORITY: 108,500 / 1,000,000 

ATTUNEMENT: 8,188.75% > 13,813.25%

HEALTH POINTS: 420

ATTACK POWER: 87 > 88

ELEMENTAL POWER: 68 > 96

CRITICAL RATE: 30% > 31%

DISCIPLINE: 76 > 90

DEFENSE: 103

RESISTANCE: 68 > 96

ATTACK SPEED: 2.5

MOVE SPEED: 5.3 

ATTRIBUTES:

DISTRIBUTABLE: 0 > 15

POTENCY: 31 (42)

FINESSE: 31 (40)

ACUITY: 43 (45)

PHYSIQUE: 31 (42)

CONNECTION: 39 (39)

Hearing an unmistakable commotion, Raine ascended the gateway platform, unveiling a panoramic view of the majestic valley and surrounding mountains. A tangle of beasts at the bottom of the valley were engaged in a vicious brawl, drawn by his earlier lightshow. A few of them were on the way, crashing through trees and leaping over rocks, snapping and snarling at each other.

He withdrew Khoran's Judgment. The heavy weapon released a majestic, purple glow as he held it above his head, “Praise Khoran!” There was no response from the weapon and Raine sheepishly stored it back in his inventory.

First time must have been a freebie since I was inside his legacy land. Oh well, more things to look forward to later. I can’t afford to be bogged down in an hour-long battle.

Raine bent his knees, prepared to jump. He hesitated, taking one last longing glance at the inactive gateway. After using the Momentus Acceleration Token, each skeleton gave him over sixty-five percent AT, an amount usually impossible outside of raids. Such an opportunity was unlikely to appear again any time soon. Toes curling into the rocky ground, he jumped from the short cliff. Activating his Skydrifter, he vanished from sight and glided across the valley to the nearest mountain.

I amassed thirteen thousand AT, more than five times the normal amount for a level fifteen. And with the Class Change Token, I’ll be able to buy whatever skills my greedy heart desires!

He stored the drifter for a few seconds, liberally utilizing Lunge to increase his elevation before reactivating the item. In a few minutes, he arrived at the mountain's neck. From there, he avoided the local predators while sprinting uphill until he reached sheer cliffs. With recharged Discipline, he aimed for the next mountain's summit and repeated his short, Lunging flight.

Before long, he was soaring above the clouds, snowy peaks and sheltered valleys racing beneath him. He traveled north toward a part of the map obscured by fog but that didn’t stop him from knowing exactly where he was going.

It’s been a day and a half in game since I exited the mystic land. Hard to say if anyone will beat me there. Talerra was one of the highest level players at thirteen, she’s probably fifteen now, which means there are definitely a few masters at sixteen, and maybe even seventeen.

Reminded he was supposed to call her, Raine opened his messages. He filtered out Frontier’s spam and selected the most recent from Richtor, “We made it out of the ambush mostly intact. Reunited now and heading to Vile Peak Town. Avoiding the roads is making the journey take forever. Not sure when we’ll get there. Anything we should be aware of?”

Raine shot him a quick reply about the raptors and great eagles. He made sure to stress that players would remain the biggest danger and that avoiding the roads while DyingNight and Righteous were still at war was the right call.

The only message from Talerra was a simple, “...” 

He chuckled, snapping a response to let her know she could call whenever she was available. Lastly, he queried Mel, “Feeling better? Did you get your new headset?”

She responded right away, no doubt bored from being holed up in her hotel, “Much better. I’m filthy stinking rich! Well, maybe not by your standards. I found a buyer for the cafe’s paraphernalia. I won’t need to work for a few years… Which is sad. No luck on the headset. Apparently, they’re sold out in every territory and the two shipment facilities were robbed! It was all over the vods this morning.” Raine checked her story, finding the news was the hottest topic on the forums. He was hit by a wave of nostalgia, old, memories flooding back to him.

I remember when this happened last time! It took a few weeks for the thetadrive supply chain to recover which is why I started so late. I watched every vodcast… Wait, can't I use this to my advantage?

With an evil grin from his thought, Raine sent Mel another message, “When you finally get your headset, you can come work for my guild. Five million cred salary depending on what position fits you. If you’re interested.”

“Haha, very funny. You are joking… right?”

Raine sent her a funny pic of a woman with an excessively serious face.

“I don’t know how to respond to that! I really can’t tell if you're joking. Five million is way too much.”

“Let’s talk about it tonight. I need a date for an auction at Romaxillions. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“The Romaxillions?! Someone like me can’t get inside a place like that! What in the shiitake mushrooms am I supposed to wear? I thought hearing from you would make me less stressed!” 

Her apprehension was warranted. Romaxillions wasn’t simply famous in Carter City. They had branches all over the world. Whenever they held an auction, the venue was virtually split between every location simultaneously, creating an exchange of wealth that could quickly reach ludicrous quantities.

Raine could perfectly visualize Mel pacing back and forth in her room, pulling at her hair, “I’ll have Shillids put something together for you. Don’t hide your freckles or I’ll be disappointed. Got a call coming in, see you tonight.”

He double-checked the privacy settings for the call, then answered. Talerra’s avatar appeared in the corner of his HUD, silhouetted by clouds, “About time,” she snarked with a scowl.

“Quest took longer than expected. You mentioned a business opportunity?”

She got right to the point, her tone lacking any sense of joviality, “There’s going to be a small competition in four days at Silverlight City. One-on-one arena combat. All participants must be under thirty years old. No level or equipment restrictions. Best of five. I’ll pay you fifty million credits if you can guarantee me one win.”

Probably the first round of her competition against her cousin for the next clan heir. If I go, I’ll be on the Phoenix Clan’s radar. Fifty million isn’t nearly enough.

Raine countered, his voice stern and brooking no negotiation, “One thousand gold for two wins.”

“One-have you lost your mind? How can I possibly agree to that?!”

“That’s my offer. Nothing up front, paid in full the second I win the first two rounds. If you can’t manage to seal the final win, that’s got nothing to do with me. Take it or leave it.”

She breathed deeply through her nose, her lips set in a hard line. After an explosive exhale, she relented, “Fine!” He let her be as she furiously typed up a contract that they both signed. Before ending the call, she narrowed her eyes at him, “I’ll be in Silverlight soon. I would appreciate it if you could meet us there to practice and go over strategies.”

Raine shook his head, “Unnecessary. We’ll meet at the arena an hour before the competition.”

“Son of a—” Raine ended the call, cutting her off.

Four days. Who should I bring for the second win? Oh, I know.