《Resurgence of an Immortal - Sample》


 Prologue

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    Dexter ran through the house, kissing his mother on the cheek, before playfully rubbing his younger brother and sister hair as they waited in their high chairs for breakfast before grabbing a piece of toast from the plate on the island, shoving it into his mouth while making a face at the twins. The twins in turn giggled at his antics. Glancing past the head of the dining table, his father''s seat was empty. Having already gone to work long before everyone woke up for the day.


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    He felt gnawing resentment just thinking about his father.


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    Having gotten into an argument with him over his curfew, he was already eighteen and still had a curfew, only weeks away from graduating and going out of state for college, but the stupid curfew remained. His father''s last words kept repeating "My house, my roof," played on a loop in his head.


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    "Dexter, sit and eat," his mom said from the kitchen, who was still preparing breakfast for the twins.


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    Still chewing, he grabbed a fresh bright red apple from the bowl on the island across from her. "Going to meet up with Amelia before school, gotta run."


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    "Fine, fine. See you for dinner, love you."


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    "bye-bye,"


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    "bye-bye,"


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    He heard the twins say, heading for the door and grabbing up his bag.


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    Smiling and waving at the twins at the table. "Bye kiddos, see you later. Love you too."


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    Stepping outside, the smell of fresh-cut grass was the first thing to greet him. Looking at the car in the driveway, clenching his fist. His graduation present. Something he found that was easily taken away when you broke a stupid curfew by a messily twenty minutes. Shaking his head, he began to walk towards school. Sliding his hand over the car as he passed by.


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    Ten minutes later, he met Amelia, his high school sweetheart. After kissing, they began to walk towards the school only a few short blocks away.


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    Sliding his hand into hers and kissing it gently. "I got tickets for the fair tonight. Want to go?"


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    "Already got the tickets. How did you know I would agree?" She asked. Her bright green eyes always made his heart skip a beat.


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    Breaking eye contact, "I didn''t, but hoped."


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    "It sounds fun. What about your curfew?"


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    "I''m not grounded, just got the car taken away,"


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    "Yeah, how are you going to pick me up tonight?"


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    Stopping, "Have you ever ridden on pegs before?" he asked with a smile.


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    She stopped and laughed. "Yeah, how about I pick you up?"


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    "That works too," saying with a smile. Grabbing back her hand for the rest of the walk.


    The school day was over quick, college prep was easy, and being a senior had benefits, like leaving early. Leaving before Amelia was done, and going home early. Dinner was fine but was held mainly in silence besides the twins, who seemed to be in high spirits. He was about to head out the door when his father stopped him.


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    "Going out? Be back at ten," he said instructed.


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    "It''s the weekend. Can''t it be a little later?"


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    We stared at each other for a second. "Fine, eleven, no later," he said before looking back at his tablet.


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    Dex looked at his mom, who simply shook her head apologetically. She said she would talk to him, but I guess not yet.


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    Having my anger slowly beginning to boil. Nodding and heading out the door before saying anything he would regret later.


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    The fair was actually a small carnival with games and rides. Dex won first place at rings, getting a large stuffed unicorn. Giving it too Amelia. She carried it around all night. It was almost curfew, and we were on the fairs-wheel. We shared a long kiss when it stopped with us at the top.


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    We had talked about many things that day, including going to college, where we planned to move in together off-campus. At the top of the Ferris wheel after the kiss, Dex reaching into his pocket, and pulled out a red velvet box and passed it over to her. Sitting the stuffed animal to the side, she opened it. Inside was a small golden ring with a small diamond. Inside the lid had, "would you marry me? " With a check mark with "yes" or "no" on the inside. Just like when she asked him out in sixth grade. Making the choice back then was the best decision he has ever made.


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    "I choose yes," she said, with tears streaming down her beautiful face. A lock of her golden hair sticking to her now wet cheeks. Taking the ring, I slid it onto her finger, a perfect fit.


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    "I love you."


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    "I love you."


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    Kissing again, more deeply this time. Wiping her tears away. The fairs-wheel continued its descent, but the couple couldn''t help but kiss the entire way down instead of staring at the scenery or hearing the laughter and cries of children''s joy around them.


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    Leaving the fairgrounds, he looked over at Amelia, who was focused on the road. He thought of how nervous he was to propose, but it was immediately squashed by the returning resentment towards the strict curfew by his father. This was a night to celebrate, but he had to be home in ten minutes.


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    Amelia, knowing him better than anyone else, reached over and held his now clenched fist.


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    "It will be okay. Soon we will be out of this town and in Boston. Far away and under no one''s rule besides our own."?She stopped at the stop sign before going.


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    "Yeah," he said. Smiling and coming back to himself. Feeling the love in her touch.


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    Bright lights enveloped him, and then he immediately found himself in a world of darkness devoid of everything.


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    Not knowing how long he spent there, floating through nothingness before something changed, feeling like he was being pulled as if by gravity for the first time in a long time. Dex found himself in a circular room with polished columns. The walls looked to be made of swirling darkness like smoke. The darkness moved and made a tapestry of events he didn''t recognize all around him. Looking up towards the ceiling, it seemed to be nothing but a galaxy of stars. A purple nebula in the distance with thousands upon thousands of stars blanketed the ceiling above the columns.


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    Looking down and now noticing a man sitting lazily on a tall throne of black smoke that seemed to hold him like it was solid, creatures of deep black slept at its feet.


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    "Welcome," the figure said, his voice sounding rich and noble with an unfamiliar accent.


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    "Where, where am I?"


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    The man on the throne wearing robes that had stars flowing over them also seemed to shift across its fabric. He wore a mask that reminded him of a jester in a play. "You''re in my palace. I have some questions for you, Dexter."


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    "Who are you?" I asked.


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    "I''m known by many names, too many, in fact. But you may call me Ulin, god of games, gambling, and shadows."


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    "You''re a god?" Dexter asked, stunned.


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    "I am, but I called you here for a purpose. If you had another chance at life, would you take it?"


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    Dexter thought of the question then. It felt like a fog was weighing on him, remembering Amelia and his last moments on Earth. "Where is Amelia? What happened to her?"


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    A long second passed. "She is on Earth," he said, sounding bored.


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    "Thank god, if it means I could get back to her and my family, yes, yes I would," Dex said confidently. The god didn''t see any waver in his heart.


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    Nodding, "Good, I cannot send you directly back to Earth, but I can send you somewhere that has the ability for you to return there. If you''re powerful enough to reach the heavens. If you agree, I''ll send you there. If not, I''ll return you to the void."


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    A shudder went through him thinking about the void. "Why, why me, why are you doing this?" doubts began to surface.


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    "Simple. I see potential in you, great potential. Many others would like to see your progress and see you return home. I have much riding on this, so don''t disappoint me, mortal." His gaze was locked on him. Felling the god''s gaze to see into his very soul chilled him.


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    "I''ll do whatever I need to do to get home."


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    "Good, now as a chosen, you have one request before you''re sent to the new world. What would you like? A powerful weapon, a unique power, knowledge? Remember, you can only ask for one thing, and it must be within my power... so don''t play stupid and ask for me to join you. If I deem the request to stupid, you''ll get nothing."


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    Dexter pondered for a whole minute, thinking. Knowing nothing about the place he was about to go. So this decision was a major one. So asking for anything could lead to a critical decision. "May I ask a question before I make my decision?"


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    Waving his hand lazily, "Go ahead, but the time is running short." he said, looking bored upon the throne, now looking at his nails. His golden mask reflected them perfectly on its polished surface.


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    "Do you carry power in that world?"


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    For the first time since they began talking, the god actually looked excited. Sitting up in his throne and looking down on Dexter, his eyes that matched the ceiling above shone with excitement. "Why yes, I do hold power there."


    Dexter thought of what exactly to say. An idea had come to him, looking to the god before deciding. He took a second and removed his mask, revealing his face, a wide smile with predatory teeth shown upon his handsome features. Snapping his fingers, Dexter fell into the darkness once again, falling directly through the floor.


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    Minutes after, Ulin and Dexter conversed. Within the palace of Ulin.


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    "You sure like to take risks." A deep voice said, his voice echoing off the walls of the palace of shadow and marble.


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    "What is the risk? I broke no rules of our little game," Ulin said.


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    "No, but what he asked for could prove to have him targeted by the other gods and their champions and followers."


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    "He asked for something within my power, so I gave it, and so I rewarded him with it. It''s not my fault the others chosen are not as brilliant as this one."


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    "Still Ulin, It will be..."


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    "You worry too much. How is your chosen one doing?" Ulin said, cutting off his friend.


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    Approaching the wall of shadow nearest them, "She is becoming quite powerful, already at the 4th rank." waving his hand, the shadow shifted and showed an image of a beautiful woman in red armor, holding a long flaming whip.


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    "Impressive," Ulin said, approaching the image. "She''s only been there for a few years now, right?"


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    "Yes, she is doing very well."


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    "Have you chosen her as your champion?"


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    "I have. Next time she visits a shrine and prays. I will bestow my mark on her."


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    "Good. I hope she does well and ascends quickly. she''s reached ascended faster than any others with your guidance. Something we all could learn from."


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    "I do too. I must go. I have other stops to make," he stopped and turned towards Ulin, who was walking away. "Keep an eye on that one. His potential is worrisome."


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    Returning to the throne of swirling smoke, Ulin watched as the closest companion and friend vanish from his palace.?I hope I didn''t make a terrible decision with this one. He has massive potential, but if he does get targeted by the others, there is nothing I can do.?He thought.?Wait a little longer for another chosen, I suppose.?Still feeling weak from the fragment of his power, he closed his eyes and meditated.

 Chapter 1: Reincarnation

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    -Golden Ribbons-


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    Gem of power: Fragment of power - Ulin (Legendary Unique)


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    Support gem: Awakened Mana gem


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 Chapter 2: Mark of the Chosen

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 Chapter 3: Mords Things

    Dex followed a few steps behind Mord. The door brought Dex into a large square room with no windows. The walls were bright white with dark brown trim. The walls had matching display cabinets and shelves along them.


    The center of the room had a large square table with dozens of different boxes arranged within it. A fancy green and gold carpet covered much of the beautifully stained floor below the table.


    Turning around, Dex noticed a picture mounted on the wall which stood out. A charcoal drawing of a stick house and stick family that looked to be made by a child was within an ornate frame. To Dex''s surprise, the door was now gone, like it had never been there.


    Mord sees the young man''s growing anxiety at now being trapped inside the room. "You''re inside of a pocket dimension. My gem of power allows me to create them."


    Letting out a breath, Dexter was scared and amazed at the same time. "Wow," he let out.


    Mord, for the first time, smiled. "I don''t have any common clothes here, but I got a variety of armor and weapons and a variety of gems. If you tell me where you''re staying, I can get them ran to you or get you in touch with my tailor to come and visit you," He said. Mord took on a businesslike approach. "You currently have twenty-one silver worth, but I have a feeling you will be back with more. My services are not cheap, but I assure you, they''re the best."


    Dexter nodded. "I don''t doubt it." Dex walked over to the far wall. It had mannequins wearing full sets of armor. They labeled each with a description. Not being able to read was ruining his mood now. "What do you recommend? I do not know what I''m looking for."


    Mord placed a large polished box on the table in the middle of the room. "I recommend something that allows you to move, and won''t hinder you or teammates within the wilds or in a cramped dungeon." Mord began pulling out items and setting them on the table. "Personally, I stuck to light with a mix of medium armor. Later on, I got accustomed to an armored robe which is more expensive but has greater protection." He said, showing Dex what looked like a simple gray robe.


    "If you want to be in the vanguard. I recommend medium mixed with plate for that, but you don''t really look like you could move in that." he said, looking over Dex''s scrawny frame, "There is also padded and chain mail as well." Mord walked over while explaining, stopping and reaching down, and picking up a box behind a mannequin. Mord''s footsteps were light, and he seemed to glide around the room. Placing the box on the table, "I recommend this, for now. It''s a partial set of light armor, protects your chest and shoulders mainly, forearms as well, only two silver and I''ll throw in some second-hand clothes in too. What kind of weapon do you use?"


    Dex turned towards the corner of the room. Its walls were full of weapons, most hung on horizontal pegs along the wall. The taller weapons leaned against a rack adjacent to it. "I''m not sure. I was using a spear, but it was all I had."


    Mord nodded. "Spear is good. Has good reach and penetration, a potent weapon, but I suggest pairing it with something shorter, just in case you get disarmed or your weapon gets broken." Mord said, standing next to Dex. "Spears are great in open spaces and on horseback. Paired with something like a short sword for anything close range would be ideal."


    Looking over all the weapons on display. Dex was thinking about his spear''s shaft breaking in half and immediately being impaled through the stomach by the spider boss right after it happened.


    "Go ahead, go test them. They won''t mind. And I won''t sell anyone a weapon without having a few good swings. Weight, length, even feel has a direct impact on the wielder."


    Looking over the racks, Dexter picked up a tall spear with a wide broad head of dull metal, but it weighed a ton. "How can a spear made of wood be so heavy?" Dex thought. Not even being able to lift the spear off the wooden rack it was leaning against.


    Finding a much shorter spear, its length being half of what the previous spear was. The entire thing looked to be made of one singular piece and expertly crafted. The handle made up two-thirds of the overall length. The blade was around two feet long and had a delicate but subtle curve that tapered down and faded into the handle seamlessly. The entire thing was blackened steel.


    Lifting it off the stand. It didn''t weigh much at all. The handle had a nice feel to the grip. Swinging it around. Not knowing much about weapons, but it felt good. "How much is this one?"


    Mord looked it over. "That is a very good weapon. Though it''s more of a lance than a spear, some may even call it a glaive due to it only having a single cutting edge. Found that on a trip to the Eastern planes, bought it for 10 silver, so I''ll sell it to you for the same. Though wouldn''t you like to keep searching?" Mord asked.


    Dex picked up half a dozen other weapons and tried them out with a few practice swings. Mord watched as he did. "What an amateur," he thought, watching the kid.


    "I still like that first one the most. What about gems? I only need another support one." Dex said.


    Mord nodded and grabbed the lance from the rack and placed it on the table next to the armor he placed out earlier. "Come over here. I got a good assortment of gems at the moment." Sliding over a wide shallow tray with a dozen gems inside a felt-lined tray.


    Marble size gems filled the whole thing, each in their own little spot within the grid. Some were dull, some were bright, almost all were glowing in a multitude of colors or just a single color. Small labels underneath said the name and a brief description of what they did, and lastly, the price.


    Some ranged from a handful of coppers to whatever black gold was. He nor Dextum ever heard the term before. Shaking his head. Dex quickly eliminated any gem that cost more than a silver, which narrowed down his options drastically. Only five out of the dozen were under a gold and he already could get two of them from the dungeon across the way.


    Troll blood - "Troll blood gem gives the user a small regeneration to the body. Higher levels change the user''s body to more resemble troll physique." - 50C


    Spider eye - "Alters the vision of the user to view around them similar to how a spider sees." - 8S


    Climber Claw - "Creates retractable claws in users'' fingers can be used to attack or climb objects. Painful change in hands until fully adapted." - 25C


    Pebble skin - "Creates a small layer of earth over the body. Changes appearance" - 10S


    Scan - "Used primarily in professions. The use of scan allows the user to see hidden details in an object, and further increasing visual prowess." 5S


    Seeing the prices, Dexter was amazed. The descriptions of some of them left something to be desired. He knew troll blood would begin changing him, but to what extent, he had no idea. Picking it up. Dex felt a connection with it.


    The troll blood gem looked exactly like the one he had already. The connection felt like he wanted to devour it. Looking at it. "Why is the troll blood so cheap? Doesn''t the regeneration out weight the downsides?"


    "Aye, they do, but most people are pretty vain. Gaining a foot or two and gaining a couple of hundred pounds would do that to most, even if it could save their life better than most healers. Cheaper too. Fewer people use a troll blood gem at higher levels. Some people buy them and use them until they''re higher level and replace them before major changes happen," Mord explained.


    "The market dungeon sometimes spawns a fearsome troll. It only drops that gem you''re holding, so a few rolls in here. So I have a stock of them." He said, grabbing another box full of the red gems and slid it across the table.


    "Some adventurers and merchants from out-of-town buy them out of curiosity. Since no one seems to know what a troll is outside of Lux, they don''t really know what to expect." He continued to explain. The desire to consume it was growing the longer Dex held the gem.


    "I used one for a long time, but the effects on the body after removing it are more expensive than buying one. I was almost two feet taller than I am now. Slate had started forming on my legs and arms, which don''t get me wrong. The rocks worked like a free version of pebble skin, but they always itched." he scratched his large forearm like a phantom itch. "After removing the gem, I spent a month bedridden at the church as I healed. Returning me to a more human state." Mord was over six feet tall and he would have towered over most people Dex had seen in the market, including his son, who was shorter than Dexter was.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Dexter had never looked away from the gem. The hunger for it was getting overwhelming. He couldn''t take it anymore, but he needed to be polite. "Would you mind if I try something? If use or harm or destroy it, I''ll repay you."


    Mord looked him over and shrugged. "Sure, go for it, kid. I''ll be right back. Another customer is in the store." A door instantly appeared out of thin air beside him, and Mord walked out of it and the door vanished behind him.


    Normally, being trapped alone would scare whoever it was, but Dex couldn''t be bothered. Nothing seemed to matter besides the gem in his hand.


    Dex willed the tattoo to appear. It slowly floated up, taking on its sphere-like shape. The numbers on the ribbons had changed.


    -Golden Ribbons-


    Power: 5


    Speed: 3


    Grace: 3


    Mana: 8


    Seeing the changes, he felt like he was slowly progressing, but not exactly knowing what each number meant. Power would probably be similar to a strength stat. While speed was movement or how fast he could move. Grace just sounded like a fancier version of speed. Mana was almost exactly as he imagined it, though mana normally is the resource for magic. Knowing he could cast more shadow spikes now than when he first completed the dungeon. Being able to use it around ten times now before it made him almost blackout from the drain.


    Moving the troll blood gem towards the one already within the array, the hunger increased. Touching them together brought an unexpected result. The one in the array pulled the new one against its surface, then it became less of a solid and more of a liquid, which covered the original. Until it solidified and took a deeper red color. Pulling up the description that appeared when he focused on his gems.


    Support gem: Trolls blood (Improved purity)


    "Regenerates health"


    Dexter looked at the new description. Improved purity. "What does that do?" he thought. Just then, the door soundlessly appeared. Seeing Mord, Dex let the sigil vanish.


    Mord frowned. "I got a good glimpse of your sigil. Try not others see your sigil. Someone like me could grab your gems and steal them in less than a blink of an eye. Best to do it in private or around your most trusted allies, if you must."


    Dexter didn''t know what to say. He just nodded. "I owe you a troll blood, but would you by chance have more?" excited to feed the purity of his gem, so he asked.


    "Aye, I do. What do you need another for? You cannot use two of the same gem."


    Dexter didn''t know if it was common or not to improve a gem''s purity or not. He went with his gut and to trust Mord. "I had a troll blood gem already, but when I picked the new one up.." he couldn''t quite come up with the words. "It was like it hungered for it."


    The old man conjured a chair out of thin air and sat down at the table. Reaching over, he pulled over the box. "I''m almost three-hundred years old and an adventurer in my prime. Places like Sundorn would herald me as a hero at being a level five before age caught up with me." Dexter was astonished, three-hundred and a level five. "But in all my years of travel and adventure, I have never heard of such a thing. Show me."


    Opening the box, almost twenty troll blood gems sat inside. "If you can show me something I''ve never seen, I''ll let you have everything on the table, excluding my service fee, of course," he said with a smile. "Summon your tattoo. I promise on my life that I wouldn''t steal from you, harm you in any way, or tell anyone of what I am about to witness," he said confidently. I could feel a bond connect between us and knew for certain he would do those things as if his life depended on it.


    He pushed over the box and watched me. Summoning up the tattoo. Mord could clearly see the gems floating inside. He raised an eyebrow at the centermost one but didn''t brochure the topic. Picking up a gem, I did as before and touched them. The now physically smaller one stuck to the larger gem and melted before our eyes, forming around the first one before solidifying around the oldest. Hearing Mord''s chair crash to the floor as he stood up abruptly. "How, how, how did... how did you do it? Do you know what this means?" Mord said, standing over me, and realizing he was holding his forearm.


    Looking at Mord, Dex wasn''t worried, but he didn''t quite know what it meant. "No, but I know it is getting stronger."


    Mord let go and grabbed the box. "Do them, do them all if you must," he observed Dex place one at a time until on the 10th gem to have completely merged, did Dex feel like the gem was giving off a tingling sensation. Its color, now a deep blood red, pulsed. Reading the description.


    Support gem: Trolls blood (Pureblood)


    "Greatly Regenerates health"


    Advancement required


    Dexter read the description out loud. "It says, "Advancement required." What does that mean?" Looking over at Mord, who looked like he was more excited than me, fidgeting with multiple stones in his hands.


    "This is too fascinating." Mord summoned up his own sigil. In the center was a gem that was ten-sided, with only two support gems above and below it, with no room for more. Mord plucked the bottom one out and shoved it into his pocket before placing a troll blood gem inside. He picked up another from the box, placing it against the first. It slowly melted and formed around the first.


    A smile spread over Mord''s face. It took all the remaining troll blood gems to complete his. He read his description and nodded. "Never in my life had I thought gems could do this," Then upon realizing he frowned. "Don''t tell anyone else. It could get unwanted attention. I already can''t, but don''t allow anyone else to know until we know more. You have one open slot support left. Let''s try something else."


    He handed me the gem "scan" and pulled another box from the table Dex presumed had more "scan" gems inside of. Just one more of the tables many boxes that lined it. Over a dozen more sat inside. "You can remove it whenever you want. It doesn''t make any changes to you physically or mentally. I''ll warn you now that the more you use some gems, the more backlash you''ll get from removing them. Any effects can be temporary or permanent and will mess with your life. Like the troll blood." Mord advised.


    Dexter placed the new gem inside and didn''t feel any difference until he touched the table with his other hand. He felt connected to it, knowing exactly what was inside, how many nails were used, noticing a small chunk was missing out of the very bottom foot that held the center up from sagging. He knew it all until his head started swimming with pain. "Oh, watch out for that. New scan skills will keep going until you know how to sever the connection. It will keep drawing mana until it''s gone."


    "Thanks." Picking up another scan gem from the box, Dex felt no connection, no hunger, no need for another. Placing it against the first resulted in nothing happening. Mord was flustered. It didn''t work.


    We tried more and more using me as a genie pig. Mord closed the shop early, and we did all the support gems he owned that he had multiples of. No other worked like the troll blood. Mord stopped when he heard Dex''s stomach growl.


    We left his dimension and sat in his house above his shop. He introduced me to his wife, and we sat eating some soup his wife made. Mord gave me the Scan gem, saying it can come in handy if I mastered it. Mord didn''t know what the description of the gem meant when it said advancement, but he said it would probably be like when it leveled up and you can advance it further and gain more power with it.


    "Thank you for dinner, Patricia. It was very good." Mord''s wife Patricia was a wonderful woman who, I guess, was over a hundred but barely looked past her thirties. She had a sigil marking of three on her hand. She had insisted I stay for dinner when she found out that Mord had kept me cooped up in the shop all day.


    Dex ended up paying three silvers to Mord for his service, and in turn, got twenty-nine silver worth of gear for free. Leaving me with nineteen silver still to my name. Feeling better in a set of clean clothes, and a complimentary backpack that was an old one of Michels. The clothes were his as well. Patricia wouldn''t have it any other way. Mord set me up to meet a leatherworker to get the glaive a sheath in the afternoon.


    After saying their farewells, Dex headed to the inn Michel mentioned earlier. It was around a twenty-minute walk from the dungeon square. The building was two stories with a rough stone first floor and an overhanging second floor built of wood with peeling white paint. Above the door was a wooden sign with a gold stein painted on it. "The lucky stein." the tavern/inn was artfully written over it.


    The thin owner in his late fifties gave Dex an appraising look as he walked in and before the owner could get rid of him. Dex explained who sent him and the owner only nodded. Explaining the rules and costs. It would cost five copper a night, but Dex paid a full silver and told him to keep a running tab. He just nodded and offered a plate of cold dinner and after seeing Dex, he offered a fresh hot bath on the house. Dex, knowing that he hasn''t bathed in, well, he didn''t know when this body had last seen a true bath. He immediately took the offer.


    The owner called over a server, the only one walking around helping the other patrons in the dimly lit common room of the inn. Taking a seat at the table while the bath was drawn. Watching the other patrons curled around a mug of ale, or picking at a plate of food. Most of them sat near the hearth on the wall opposite the entrance and were chatting quietly.


    A few minutes went by before the tub was ready and Dex followed the server to the bathing room. Using something like a smelly and hard soap helped to scrub his skin clean of filth. It made his skin tingle on contact. Finally relaxing and sitting in the wood tub, did Dex finally felt human again. Talking to Michel was a wonderful boon, and he would owe him and his father.


    After the water lost its warmth. Dex finally got out to get dressed. Getting back in his new used clothes. Grabbing all he had, Dex finally left the bathing room. The server was sitting on a stool right outside. She looked asleep. She had long brown hair that fell over her features, pooling in her lap. She wore a yellow dress that was simple but didn''t look bad on her at all. Dex was confused as to why she was there. Touching her shoulder gently, she finally woke up.


    "Sor...Sorry Sir, I must have fallen asleep. I was told to show you to your room, but I got tired while you were bathing. I''m so sorry," she pleaded, looking at the floor.


    "It''s fine. I was the one who took a long time in the bath. I haven''t had a chance to bathe in a while, so it''s my fault. Would you please show me to my room....uhm, what was your name again?"


    "Emily, my name is Emily." She finally looked up. Seeing her large brown eyes and slightly chubby cheeks made her look younger than me, but she was a little taller than me. Which didn''t take much. This body was barely five-six, and malnourished seemed to stunt this body''s growth.


    "Nice to meet you, I''m Dex. No need to be so formal, Emily." Gesturing for her to lead the way, "Would you mind showing me to my room, Em? Can I call you Em, or do you prefer Emily?"


    Her cheeks got a shade pinker, taking her a second to reply, "Em is fine Sir, I mean Dex. Follow me. Your room is at the end of the hall here. If you need anything, please come find me. Would you need anything else tonight, Dex?" She seemed nervous asking that question but not digging into it.


    Dex just shrugged. "No, I think that I''m good. Thank you, and this is for your trouble." Pulling out a thin copper coin, it had a square through it as well, but it was very plain compared to a silver or gold piece. She smiled and hesitantly took it like she was scared it was a trap or that he would take it back.


    Smiling, before walking into the room. "Goodnight Em, sleep well."


    "You too, Dex," she said quietly. She looked to be even redder now. Closing the door and shaking his head. The room was very spartan. A small dresser with a mirror and a frame with what Dex assumed was a feather mattress.


    He flipped the mattress and threw the blankets back on it. He sat at the end of the bed and looked at the mirror. A face he didn''t recognize was looking back at him. Black hair no longer matted and dirty, with sunken cheeks and thin lips. Sharp features and bright eyes stared back at him. His eyes were dark gray in color. Very different from his baby blues back on Earth that seemed to stand out by being so bright. Laying in the bed, which wasn''t feather but straw of some kind, wasn''t the most comfortable, but remembering he slept on worse or nothing at all in this life and before.


    He looked at the only light source in the room. It looked like a copper lamp similar to antique oil ones from earth with an ornate base that held oil and a glass chimney to protect the flame inside it. This one held a glowing yellow stone embedded in the base as the flame, and the chimney was a dull copper color, with matched the base perfectly. They slid together to block the light if pushed on a simple metal slide that was attached between them. He pushed the top, which smoothly closed, extinguishing the light in the room.


    The room was in total darkness and the only light was seen was barely filtering through the only window that was in the room. The thick glass had a slight swirl and wave in the glass itself and it wasn''t completely clear but with a light blue hue. It was dirty and very cloudy. Not the most refined glass Dex has ever seen, but better than nothing looking out, he could make out the red moon high above, partially hidden by the cloud above the city.

 Chapter 4: Advancement

    Dex fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow on the bed. Finding himself within a dense forest with gigantic trees that seemed to stretch towards the heavens high above his head. Some were huge, bigger than most buildings back on Earth.


    It reminded him of a trip his family took through the redwood national forest just before the twins were born. It was the first thing that came to mind seeing the size of the trees in front of him, but these trees all were more similar to a birch tree with white paper-like bark. All the leaves were transitioning for fall. Turning all the leaves vibrant. Oranges, yellows, and the occasional reds that seemed to pull the eye towards them.


    The forest seemed to go on forever as far as Dex could see. Birds were chirping and the rustle of the leaves on the wind made him look around in wonder. Then he felt a vibration within the earth, and the sound soon followed. It sounded like a wet thud, like when you drop a stone into a mud puddle as a kid. It became louder, and the vibration turned into shaking until he saw what it was.


    Between the trees, a man was walking, but he was no man. Not a human, but a giant bipedal with stone covering his skin. It had a slight hitch to its walk as it made its way through the trees. Dex braced himself on a nearby tree that was only a sapling compared to the others to hold his balance. While the creature moved, it felt more like a small earthquake than simple footfalls as it approached. The creature seemed to be honing in on Dex.


    It had light brown skin, almost sandy in color. The rock that grew out of its skin was a stark contrast. White with flecks that sparkled like a rainbow when light glanced off it. The sparse light that randomly pierced through the dense canopy of the forest. The stones reminded Dex of a geode he had on his desk at home.


    Dex didn''t run, he just knew somehow it didn''t have any ill will and knew it was coming for him. It stared at Dex as it approached. It was over twenty feet tall, still being dwarfed by the massive trees that were easily over a few hundred feet tall. Most of them, even the young ones, were over fifty.


    It was only a few meters from Dex when it stopped and stared before it lowered itself to a knee. Bowing its head to Dex. Dex looked at the giant, knowing that this must have been part of the evolution of the troll blood gem. Dex never heard of anything like this from the memories he had gained. Mord didn''t know what would happen or how. Dex bowed his head to the giant. The troll raised its head, turned, and walked away. Heading deeper into the forest.


    Dex watched as the giant disappeared just as fast as it had appeared. Dex looked up towards the canopy and watched the leaves sway. The light between the canopy became brighter as a bright bream broke through and moved over him. Out of reflex, he closed his eyes.


    Upon opening them; he found himself back in his not so comfortable bed within the inn. The light was directly over his face from the nearby window, blinding him. Dex still felt tired, but he shook it off as he still vividly remembered the dream and kept recalling it in his head.


    Getting dressed and heading downstairs, he carried all of his things and sat at a table in the common area of the inn. The same server Emily from last night brought him some sort of porridge with honey pooled on top of it, with a side of honeyed bread to go with it. She offered him a mead but just asked for water instead. The water was cold, but it had a tangy taste to it but was easily forgotten by the taste of the breakfast that was both savory and sweet.


    Dex went to find the leatherworker Mord sent him to find, and after some directions, found the location. The leatherworker and the tanner were at the outer edge of the city near the wall near the east gate.


    Going in, Dex immediately found himself in a two-story wooden building with an overwhelming scent of leather and oils that tickled the nose. A thin woman of middle age was behind the counter working on something. Behind her were tables, and an older man, who was hunched over his work with nimble fingers. Dex cleared his throat, and they both looked up at him. "Hi, Mord sent me..."


    The woman sat down the glove she was working on and cut him off. "We know. Show us the blade."


    Dex placed the glaive on the table, which was covered in a variety of hides and scraps of hard and soft leathers. She had been working on a pair of gloves; it seems. The man in the back was working on a vest of hardened leather. The women picked up the glaive. Pulling out a length of string, she started writing notes on a sheet of paper that seemed to appear out of thin air. "We''ll need the day to finish it. Come back in the morning and it will be ready. Should be four coppers, kid. Anything else?"


    Dex looked at his feet. "Do you have boots, by chance?"


    The man in the back looked up from his work. "Boots?" he asked. "What are... boots?"


    Maybe they didn''t have boots, or maybe they went by another name, he thought. "Footwear, something to protect my feet more than these," Dex said, showing the thin cotton slippers that were given to him by Patricia, Mord''s darling wife. They barely protected his feet. If it wasn''t for the cobblestones, he might have ripped his feet open.


    "We have some of these," he said, showing a pair of long leather boots that were laced up the front. Made of soft leather with hard, wood soles.


    Dex looked at the boots longer. "Could you do a custom order if I were to give you an idea of what I''m looking for?"


    "We can, but our time can be expensive, but if this is something we''ve never seen before," he said, shrugging, "then maybe we''ll work something out."


    Dex looked at the lady. "Would you mind letting me use the pencil and paper for a minute? I''ll give you a sketch quick." She handed over a fresh piece of paper that was rough to the touch and a thin pencil of graphite.


    Sketching out the drawing, and even going as far as lacing, and the bottom ridges, even a note to make them steel-toed, just like the ones he had back home. Showing the sketch to Ken, and his wife Ada they seemed amused by the idea, and they took measurements of Dex''s feet.


    They said they would make a prototype and I would test them out. I would pay for costs, but I still had some money left over. Plus, I was planning on going into the dungeon after this. Buying the leather boots they had in the meantime for a few coppers. They clashed with his mismatched outfit, but the wood soles were more dependable than cloth, with thin wood that barely absorbed any impact.


    Noticing almost everyone''s footwear outside on the walk back to the dungeon square was primarily made of leather or cloth and looked more like slippers than shoes. Protecting your feet seemed important in doing any kind of physical activity.


    Dex stopped at a food vendor along the way and grabbed some type of roasted meat on a skewer that tasted smokey, salty, and sweet. Getting in line for the dungeon while finishing the second skewer. The line wasn''t very large, only a couple of groups were waiting their turn.


    "I could really go for another skewer," Dex thought while waiting. Ever since coming to this world, he always felt hungry. Though he noticed he didn''t look as scrawny in the mirror as when he woke up. He even appeared to be putting on some muscle, filling out the shirt he was given.


    The glaive was a little awkward to carry around now since he had it wrapped in some linen Ada had given him to conceal the blade, just in case some guards spotted Dex with an open blade. A minor crime within the city. Using it as a walking stick, he rested the butt against the cobblestone as he stood in line.


    Finally, his turn came up, and he was once again greeted by Michel, who greeted him with a smile and even a once over. Checking all of his new equipment and even the bag slung across his shoulder.


    "I see you met my mom and gave you some of my old things. Looks good on you, though still some room to fill it, I see," Michel said, and seemed to realize Dex was alone. Frowning, "Are you going in by yourself?"


    Nodding, "I am, I''ll be fine. Yeah, your mom and dad are very kind. I owe you and them so much."


    Michel just waved it off. "Don''t think of it that way. If dad brought you to see mom then he likes you, and if you paid for his "Services" then he considers you an investment, and as long as you look out for him, he''ll do the same for you."


    Dex and Michel noticed a group come out of the dungeon. One was carrying another out fireman style, the other was covered in blood. Michel shook his head and looked downcast.


    Watching them walk past, all looking unfocused in their tasks. The people in the market parted ways for the group as they made their way down the street, heading towards the church. "They lost someone inside. I''ll have to make a note of it." after writing it down on a sheet of paper and folding it back up and placing it within his robes. "It doesn''t happen often really, a few a month. The dungeon is weak, but it has its trials, especially for new groups from the guild in town. Shame."


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    "Guild, what''s that?" Dex asked.


    Michel looked up at the crystal on the wall, and it was still not glowing. "You probably know already, but it''s a local guild for dungeons and hunting. People will hire the guild for requests and jobs. If you''re a solo, you should check it out, maybe get a team together." Michel finished, just as the gem lit up. "Your turn. Be safe in there," he said with a warm smile.


    Smiling. "I will," Dex said, walking inside with the glaive leaning against his shoulder.


    Once Dex was in the tunnel, he removed the cloth from the glaive''s blade. Slowly giving it a few practice swings within the tunnel. It was light and flowed in his hands. The intricate carvings ran down the metal shaft from blade to the blunted pommel. The designs were highly ornate and detailed. It even seemed to help add to the grip of the short spear-like weapon. The blade reminded Dex of a long dagger. After revealing it. He finally remembered what the glaive reminded him of. The spear used by Prince Nuada from the Hellboy movies. The original, of course.


    The blade of the glaive was a third of the length of the shaft, longer than any spear, and the blade was only on one side. It didn''t quite have the same elegant curve, but it ended in a nasty tapered point. All the intricate details gave the glaive its own flare.


    Dex took a few more steps until he heard the familiar skittering ahead. He slowed his pace and prepared himself. "Personal goal is to complete this run with only the spear," he thought.


    An ambushing spider leaped from the ceiling, aiming for his face. With an overhead swing, he bisected the spider completely in half with the blade. The spider fell into two halves as it landed with a wet thud against the floor.


    Looking at the blade, which left no ichor of the blade behind. He felt powerful, felt a connection like a spark between him and the glaive. He continued through the tunnel, killing with ease as he approached the big, bad boss. The baby spiders stopped posing much of a threat. He could easily dodge, parry, or outright kill them before they can reach him.


    The boss, on the other hand, moved more nimbly. It seemed to know how Dex would move. Dex began getting frustrated and ended up using a shadow spike beneath the spider to finish the fight. Picking up a toxin gem. Pocketing it, he returned to Michel.


    Michel was talking to a group of adventurers and noticed Dex walkout. He motioned me over. "That was fast. How many did you leave behind?"


    "None, the spiders are predictable and easy to kill once you get a hang of their pattern," Dex said, holding up a Venom gem for Michel to see.


    Michel looked impressed and in disbelief. It wasn''t completely unheard of, after all. Nobles sent their children into dungeons solo as well to get combat experience without being coddled by their guards. The only way to improve is through life and death encounters, they say. "I''m glad you made it through. I''ll see you. I have to send the next group through."


    Dex put up his hand in passing. He heard "NEXT" get called behind him by Michel. The line was long now. Midday had arrived, and people were looking forward to the dungeon to earn some experience and fortune. Looking at the Zero on his hand, he frowned. When will I level up?


    He ended up getting in line again. Dex completed it using only shadow spike this time. Occasionally using Scan, which outside of allowing to sense great detail through tactile touch, it also gave an x-ray live vision of whatever was in front of him if he focused. Something he found on accident when squinting at the boss he just killed. It showed the spider''s organs and a dim glow that radiated from inside of its body slowly fade. Using Scan for even a few seconds gave Dex a headache that lingered, and even more so when using the x-ray like version.


    Sitting on the steps of Mord''s shop, he watched the line to the dungeon, which seemed to have wrapped around the dungeon itself and continue to form within the square like a coiling snake. Footsteps brought him back to himself. Looking behind him, he saw old man Mord standing in his doorway.


    "Mind if I sit?"


    "Your stoop. I''m just loitering."


    Mord looked at Dex queer before seeming to move on. He sat down next to Dex. "A lot of people walk through that dungeon every day and most come back, but one day it will go up a level, and whoever is inside. Gods have mercy on those poor bastards." He said, shaking his head.


    "What does the dungeon leveling up entail?"


    Mord seemed to take a second to recall or come up with the words before he began speaking again. "When a dungeon levels up, they grow. The floor gets bigger, and more danger always comes with it. Natural traps and more monsters, but if the monsters are too powerful, they can escape the dungeon and wreak havoc on the surrounding lands," taking a breath, "When a dungeon like this goes up a level or evolves, as some say. It will do this without warning and when a large enough influx of people are inside of it. It will trap them inside until the dungeon is done or they clear the alpha monster at the end. Either way, it will gain enough energy to finish its evolution and become stronger."


    Looking into the distance, he could see the peaks of the nearby mountain range that spanned the continent. Letting out a breath, he continued. "Dungeons in the wild take centuries to level up and if they''re undiscovered, the monsters they spawn will continue to make more and more filling the surroundings and the monsters outside them will begin to evolve as well, growing stronger away from the dungeon and be able to move away from it. Going further, and further, until the tether in the dungeon is severed completely."


    Mord was full of useful information. Something has been bothering Dex ever since seeing his gem of power. Why did it have so many sides, and why did Mord''s have so few? "You saw my gem of power, and I saw yours why makes them different?"


    Mord looked at Dex and glimpsed at the zero on his hand. Then looked at his own. "Gems come from monsters in dungeons or sometimes from the ones who break out of dungeons and begin roaming the countryside, as I explained. Gems of power, or whatever people call them. They carry power in them. The sigil on your hand allows the wielder to use them."


    Mord pulled something out of his pocket, a carved pipe. He packed it full of tobacco and started smoking. "The gems of power are all cut differently, like precious stones, you see. So the more cuts, the stronger the gem. Yours is the second gem with so many cuts I''ve ever seen. I''m not sure where you got it, but don''t tell anyone else you have it. Your life may depend on it."


    "What are the cuts?"


    "Eight is the weakest, and it allows for one support gem. Ten-sided allows for two support gems like my own. Twelve-sided gems are considered the best. They allow for three support gems."


    "What about mine? It has twenty."


    Mord scanned around us quickly. "Shhh, keep it down. Most consider your gem a myth. But I knew someone with one, and now you," he said, looking around again. "It should give you five support gem slots, but yours only has three. Other than that, I don''t really know what other benefits you get. The difference between a ten and twelve-sided one is massive in scale of power, but different gems do different things," he shrugged.


    Dex asked a few more questions, but most of them Mord didn''t have much of an answer to or just didn''t know. Mord left to tend to the shop. Dex went back to the inn. No use getting in line when it was so busy. He decided to wait until late at night when everyone called it a day and go when no one else would be around.


    On the walk back to the inn, Dex forgot to tell Mord about the dream he had about the giant."Next time," he said to himself.


    The inn was lively, people were filling up the common area, sitting at the heavy long tables eating and drinking. A singular chair near the fire in the back was empty and Dex decided to wait and relax until nighttime rolled around, so he sat. Within a minute of sitting, Emily brought him an ale with a smile. She moved away as quickly as she came. Dex watched the other patrons. Sometimes hearing their chats. "It''s not eavesdropping if they''re talking loud enough for the whole bar to hear." Dex thought as he sipped the warm ale that tasted like hops and dirty boot.


    "Did you hear the war in the East is finally settling down?"


    "Of course it is. In a couple months'' time, it be winter and no man wants to march through unknown lands with snow up to their eyes and ice growing from their nethers."


    "I have a silver that they''ll start marching as soon as thaw hits."


    "Aye, I say they turn back."


    "I think you''re both wrong. I say they continue towards the borders and continue into the lands of the frigid queen herself."


    Talk of the war to the East seemed to be a major topic. Finding that far to the East more than a year''s journey by carriage, a war had been going on for the past year between two kingdoms with no signs of stopping.


    "Why hasn''t the Emperor stopped them yet?"


    "Why would he? As long as both are paying their taxes, what does he care? A few idiots are playing at war." The main said with a slur.


    "If they stop paying, then the emperor''s blades will step on both of their throats. If one wins, then they would have to make up for the loss either way."


    "Fair point Jin, fair point."


    Dex was leaning back with his head against the soft fabric of the chair. A different group that was only a few feet away from Dex was eating and drinking, but one of their colleagues looked around and tried to talk to the man next to him quietly. Dex could still hear enough. "Did you hear there is a rank three dungeon just a few days'' ride from here?"


    "Another one of your stories?"


    "No..no, serious as the gods. I heard it from my uncle. He be part of the guild there. It sprouted up near the foot of the mountain. Says some guy found it and claimed it. Guild is already sending a few caravans over to build up a town around it. They got tight wraps on it until its fortified. Even heard it had a beast wave,"


    "We should check it out."


    "Aye."


    "That is some interesting news indeed. Maybe I should check it out as well," Dex thought. As he sipped his ale, the taste was growing on him.


    People came and went. Some stayed and got a room retiring upstairs after their meal. Dex didn''t move from his spot, just nursed his drink all night. Refusing the refills from Emily when she did her rounds. Which resulted in a pouty face from her.


    Leaving the inn. The sun was already falling below the roofline of the buildings nearby. Casting the street in an orange glow.


    Feeling a little light on his feet and warmth in his cheeks, he finally made it to the square. Only Michel was there, sitting under the entrance in the alcove.


    Walking up to him, the glow of a brass lamp with the glowing rock inside cast a yellow glow over the immediate area. Michel looked up as I approached, boots clicking against the stones. "Dex, you''re back." Michel looked beat, not physically but tired.


    "Long day?"


    Michel nodded, "Every day, but it''s for the church, and I do enjoy it. Better than being trapped inside the temple all day."


    The stone above the door was glowing, meaning no one was inside. Instead of going in, Dex continued talking, "Must like it if you keep coming back."


    Michel nodded, "I enjoy it, and I have dreams of becoming a healer one day and also becoming an alchemist as well. The church is the fastest way to get an apprenticeship if one of the gods accepts me. My family may not look it, but we are all devoted to the god of light, and follow her guiding light. Dad must have seen it to pick you. He doesn''t pick most."


    Dex was intrigued. "So your church is for the goddess of light?" he asked.


    Michel looked into Dex''s eyes, seeing if he was being honest or just playing with him since everyone should know about the church. Sensing he was telling the truth. Shrugging, he answered, "The church here houses all of the gods'' statues for prayer and donation, hoping to gain their gods'' blessing. Our church is one of many ''Churches of the six''," he said before stretching a little, "Though each temple may hold them all like our church, there are some built for a specific god or goddess as well by their own acolytes. My family follows the goddess Elune, the goddess of light, but not being chosen by her means, I''m stuck as an acolyte to the church until the day she chooses me." he explained.


    "It''s all so confusing," Dex thought.


    Michel got up and stretched, stiff from his long shift. "My shift is done. I''ll be off tomorrow. Be safe in there. May the light guide you," he said, waving goodbye as he grabbed the lantern and started walking up the street towards the massive temple in the distance.


    Dex remembered the church. It was where he spent a lot of time. The healing house was attached. His mother had spent a lot of time there. He and his sister were born there as well. He was familiar with it, more than most. He remembered the last time he was there vividly, a month before his father had disappeared. He kneeled before the goddess of light and begged her to heal his dying mother, going as far as giving a donation of blood to the altar before being removed by the high priest for making a scene.


    Even though his family never believed in the gods, to begin with, long before his mother got ill. Dextum still prayed. Then later, Dextum began thinking that the gods were punishing him and his family for not believing. After being enslaved and treated no better than a dog.


    Hate, fear, and pain were all that filled him at the end of his life. Those emotions seemed to still be there. Hidden behind the memories of his past. Dex felt wetness on his cheek. Wiping it with his hand. A tear had rolled down his cheek.


    Looking towards the sky, he took a breath, then walked into the dungeon and got to work.

 Chapter 5: Ascension

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    (1) Gem of power: Fragment of power - Ulin (Legendary Unique)


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    Passive: Pool of shadow


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    (1) Support gem: Awakened Mana gem


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    First gate: Lung: open


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    (1) Support gem: Trolls blood (Pureblood)


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    -Noble born path-


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