I was already lucky enough to be the only player to be in the Underworld this early on but to get an S-class mission as well made me want to jump up in joy like a child receiving their requested gift for Christmas. However, after seeing the mission requirements I immediately threw my happiness down the trash shoot. If I were to try and complete this mission it would simply be unrealistic. Already trying to take on that succubus would be a difficult task, assuming all the others on the council were the same level as her if not more would make the mission impossible to complete. As if the AI heard my misgivings a notification appeared at the bottom of the mission.
Mission has no time limit and can be completed at any time
A grin flashed across my face with a newfound confidence I yes to accept the mission. The notification disappeared and in my taskbar the S-class mission reappeared, nodding in satisfaction I refocused my attention back to the somewhat makeshift road Verial was following. There wasn't much change in the gloomy scenery around us besides the occasional random beast popping up now and then it was a smooth journey. Just as I was starting to get bored after seeing everything the scenery has to offer, I soon saw a wall in the distance. Verial turned around and hurriedly told me, "sire, the news of us being wanted has had no way of reaching this town yet, we should be perfectly fine for at least a couple of hours. I need to pick up a couple of things so just follow me sire and we'll be out of this place in no time." I nodded in understanding and looked towards Rogmire where I could start to see the shape of the town appear in my line of sight.
As we got closer I could see guards at the front gate inspecting merchants and traders, since we were just on horseback we got to skip right along ahead and pass through the gate without any incident. Though the town was still looking pretty good, you could tell the difference between the castle I was at and the town. People in poor clothing could be seen everywhere and the general mood of the town seemed depressing. Verial whispered to me, "the local mayor is known for being cruel and has high taxes which go towards him. Nobody can really do anything about it though because he gives more power to the guards making them in on it." Verial's words made me feel kinda sad for the people here, but this was probably common throughout the entire Underworld since the strong have all the power. Ignoring the depressing town I turned towards Verial and asked, "what exactly do we need from the town?" Verial suddenly went and hopped down off the horse and turned to me, "just some medicine, food, and some other general equipment we'll need for the Land of Exile."
Before I could say anything more he offered his hand to help me down from the horse which I accepted. As I was following Verial I attempted to use my menu screen a bit more. Back when I was attempting to escape I never actually looked to see what everything looked like with my interface. When I pulled it up I was slightly shocked. There was nothing, no stats were appearing over anyone it was as if it were actual reality and it wasn't a game. I guess if this is where humanity is moving to in the future I can see why they want it to be more realistic. Best to get people warmed up to the idea and not spoon-feed them with an interface that can tell us everything. But, at the same time, I felt a bit nervous since we could have been given something that could help us survive here since we were all in a game system anyways. "Is the UN hiding something?" I asked myself. I shook my head, these thoughts wouldn't get me anywhere so I turned back to Verial who was leading us through the town.
A girl who had the characteristics of a rabbit had spotted us and began approaching us. I tensed as she moved closer and closer to us. "No need to be nervous, my name is Sylvia and I'm with the Phoenix Union. We have a shop down the road, and we offer potions and some various hunting equipment." I thought that sounded nice, but when I turned to ask Verial I saw he was in deep thought. Just as I was going to ask him if he was alright he responded to Sylvia with a smile, "that would be great, please lead us the way." With no choice but to accept Verial's decision, I walked by the side of him. Verial surprisingly leaned over to my ear and whispered, "the Phoenix Union doesn't exactly have the best relationship with the Nocturnal Council. They are mainly just composed of tradesmen class people such as blacksmiths, jewelers, merchants, etc, but that is what gives them their huge influence in the Underworld.
The Nocturnal Council would love to eliminate them, however, they rely on their abilities to operate and make various items." When Verial finished explaining I took some time to ponder on his words. I could see why Verial was a bit hesitant when considering whether to get involved with them. We pretty much made ourselves enemies with the Nocturnal Council so purchasing items from the Phoenix Union would seem logical since they oppose the Council as well. These would be my thoughts if I was a part of the Council searching for us. But, it wasn't like we would be staying for long as soon as we purchased our items were heading straight out to the Land of Depression by the sound of it
"Here you are my good sirs, please look around and ask if you have any questions." With a smile, she bowed us goodbye and left probably to look for more customers. Verial wasted no time and immediately went up to the clerk to ask for what we needed. To satisfy my boredom, I looked around the shop hoping that I would find something interesting to buy. Although I knew that there definitely was some expensive stuff probably out there I still doubted that they had any items in here worth over 1,500,000 gold. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw something glowing, not in a colorful way though rather there it was emitting a deadly presence. But, I felt drawn to it nonetheless and before I realized I was hovering over the glowing presence. The thing I was looking at was a staff that looked devoid of life. It appeared as if it was phasing out between two different planes of existence. I felt a sudden sharp pain in my forehead, and my eyes were registering my surroundings as if just woke up. I didn't feel any pain besides that earlier sharp pain in my forehead, but when I opened my eyes again there was no color. I looked around in shock to see that everything became black and grey the staff, on the other hand, was no longer phasing in and out. The staff looked like a normal staff except at its head was an orb that was dark as ink. The only reason I could even tell the shape of the object was that it was trapped in the orb, "...wait, it's trapped?" Focusing on the substance inside the orb I felt something horrifying coming from inside its containment. I could feel that whatever was inside wanted to devour everything in sight, what was more worrying is how it didn't feel like darkness either. "No, it wants to devour light and darkness until all that exists is nothing." Oddly this didn't seem to affect for me whatever reason, a matter of fact I felt drawn to the staff as if it belonged to me. Without me realizing my hand was already reaching down to the staff to grab and just as I touched the surface a voice brought me back to reality, "Sire what are you reaching for?"
I jumped and Verial who was looking at me curiously. "Uh, the staff that keeps popping in and out of existence?" Now looking back at the staff I wish that I had retracted that statement because the staff was no longer phasing in and out of existence. But, still, I was a bit confused by Verial's comment, I mean I didn't think Verial was farsighted, but hey I guess you learn new things every day. Verial looked at me as if I were crazy, "Sire I don't know what you are talking about there is no 'staff' that I can see or touch see?" Verial proceeded to place his hand right on part of the staff I was reaching towards, only to watch in bewilderment as his hand went right through. "What the hell!? I swear Verial there is a staff right here see? I once again reached towards the staff with my hand and sure enough, I was able to grip part of the handle for the staff. I then lifted it in the air with ease and presented the staff to Verial. Verial was still looking at me oddly and told me, "Sire, I must admit your acting skills are very realistic, but you're holding nothing." I groaned and just as I was going to argue some more with Verial an old man stepped out from the corner of a shelf and started to glare at me.
I started to get nervous as he didn't look away and his eyes continued to bore into me, but thankfully he stopped after a couple of seconds. "Sorry sir for such an impolite greeting allow me to introduce myself, my name is Jeffery and I am the owner of this establishment. I couldn't help but notice that you can see the void staff is that correct?" Verial couldn't grasp anything going on so he chose to stay silent while I answered, "uh yes indeed I can see this 'void staff' or whatever it's called why?" Jeffrey paused for a second as it appeared he was in his thoughts, "well you see nobody should be able to see the void staff." My mind immediately went blank for a moment as he said this sudden piece of information. "What do you mean 'nobody should be able to see the void staff' when you're clearly looking at it as well?" To my surprise, Jeffrey chuckled and replied, "no-no I can't see it. I simply just know of its existence and where its located, centuries have long since passed when the staff got put in my shop." The shop owner's face went blank for a moment as if he was reminiscing in memories. "Well that's cool and all, but how does me seeing the staff relate to what you claimed earlier?" Jeffery came back to our conversation and replied, "ah yes-yes I forgot for a brief moment. You see, back a long time ago, I don't know, say around 300 years ago there existed something called void magic. Now void magic was some powerful stuff that could rip apart space and time which defied the physical and even magical laws of this world. Few knew how to use it, but oh man they were powerful. Entire armies could be obliterated off the face of the world with one spell, but these people always ended up as pawns though in the end. The Nocturnal Council managed to get control over them with disgraceful tactics and once they did they never let go. That was how they were able to gain overwhelming power in the Underworld, kingdoms could do nothing but watch as the Council rampaged throughout the Underworld. Eventually, though something appeared in the Underworld that even the Nocturnal Council had to admit was horrifying."
Jeffrey's face twitched as he probably was recalling some of these events. Nobody knew how this thing appeared in the Underworld, but some people believe it was work from an evil god who wanted this realm to perish. Anyways, this thing was quite a piece of work, it was like void magic was turned into a liquid. It wanted to devour everything in existence no matter whether light or dark. It brought havoc upon the entire Underworld as it threatened to consume everything in its path, but it was eventually stopped after a while. The realm's most powerful beings were forced to come out and stop the threat and they ended up being destroyed in the process. It left the Underworld weak and that event still weakens us today." "However," Jeffery's face scrunched up as he looked at me. "Only one void magic-user was left after the conflict who was also my friend he left his staff in that same exact spot you're standing in, yet you somehow see the staff." My mind was still in complete awe as I took his entire story in while Verial appeared to be in the same state as I was. But, a notification brought me out of my thoughts as I watched it appear in front of me.
~You have acquired ancient knowledge that few in this world possess~
Reward: New Title, Grand Scholar-You are a being who knows knowledge far greater than most people in the world
+100 hp (Base stats)
+200 mana-N/A(Base stats)
+50% affinity with scholars
+1 world point
My eyes lit up like a Christmas tree seeing the generous rewards, I truly got quite a powerful title. Although +200 mana and +100hp don't seem like too much if they apply as base stats then I possibly received one of the most powerful titles in the game. Not to mention a 50% increase in affinity with scholars was nice, but I had no idea what the world point was for though I bet it's probably something important most likely.
I shoved those thoughts out of my head and faced the old man who was done speaking. "So Jeffery, are you willing to tell this void staff?" I knew what he was going to say, but it was worth a shot especially with that connection I felt earlier with the staff. However, to my surprise, Jeffery answered, "eh why not you seem to have somewhat of control over it and I'd love to see some new things happen in the Underworld, how about 500,000 gold?"