I exited the Holo-room to find the relieved faces of my faction mates. The hard battle made me happy to see familiar faces. Lily sobbing made things somewhat awkward though.
Not to mention I had many questions. Some of which were easily answered. Who had placed me in the nightmare difficulty? Definitely not Lily.
She might like to put me through hell. But she wouldn't put my life in jeopardy.
So the story was told how they had waited two days for me. The combat scenario being displayed for them on the Holo-room's screen.
I told the others about the monsters I had fought and the points that I had gotten. The points proving that the things I had fought were indeed viruses or monsters made by a system.
Lily nodded as she heard all this tapping her chin in thought. The serpent certain as hell was not part of the systems programming. So that meant someone made it.
The viruses I had fought weren't the normal kind either. So that meant that these were all someone else's creations. And they were sicked on me like dogs in a fox hunt. So we concluded that someone was pulling strings. Very big strings. And that we all needed to be careful from now on. Not just in the dome. In our own house as well.
But we all came to the same thought. We would stick together from now on. Cause two people was enough back-up for anybody here. Taking on a group of five was just asking for an ass kicking. And with that out of the way another question was brought up.
"So. Considering you got so many points. Did you get anything good from the snake boss?" Beth asked.
I could tell at that moment as everybody turned to me. That they all had the same thought as her.
I let out a sigh as I pulled out a solid brick of blue that everyone noticed right away. About the size of a normal brick and just as heavy in my eyes. This thing was the points I had collected in total.
The duffel bag sized bundle of points had compressed into this little thing.
"Any idea what this is?" I asked everybody.
Beth's eyes perked up a little. "A point block. I've heard of them but never seen one before." She said leaning in close.
Lily shook her head. "Beth. Quit joking. Nobody here knows what that is." She said as she turned to talk to me. "The best thing you could do is take it to Mercury and see what he says. Maybe it'll be worth something." She said as she patted my shoulder.
"And Sil. I'm glad you're safe. I need friends now as much as ever. And... I would really hate to see a good one go." She said as she passed me and went up the stairs.
Henry and Hoy got close. Henry pulled me in and gave me a Noogie. "That was some badass moves you pulled in there kid. I'll take you down to Mercury's. Maybe we can talk tactics. And who knows. Maybe Hoy will learn a thing or two."
Hoy glared at him before giving him a playful punch to the shoulder. "You know full well I could keek your ass before you could say Caio." He said. His Italian accent was thick as usual.
We all ended up laughing as we went up the stairs and out. I couldn't help but breath in the warm air. The digital sun was halfway in the sky with the fake clouds trying their best to be wisps that flowed with the winds. The smell of flowers and grass met my nose and the smell of wet earthy dirt was comforting.
In comparison to that dingy dark hallway, this place was paradise. And I wanted to revel in it.
Henry, Hoy, and I went down the streets where all the flowers flowed into the streets like a celebration was being held. Not a care in the world. Then there was the elevator. When we got in I felt the close quarters was a bit tight. But after a few breaths I managed to get my anxiety under control. This was not that hallway. And then I realized I might need to stay out of dimly lit tight spaces for a bit.
The doors soon opened to the busy market plaza. A few individuals moving around or away to make room as we passed. And as nothing really came to bother us, finding mercury was easy.
He was at his stall with a couple women seemingly made of flowers and vines. "Nymphs" I'll call them. They were working on selling a few items or parts to the passing crowd. Some players were interested in the wears and others just brushed off the advances and call outs from the nymphs.
Mercury soon noticed us and gave a big smile with spread arms. "My friends! Welcome!" He said as he started rubbing his hands together looking very much like a merchant with a glint in his eye.
I shook my head with a grin. "Good to see you as well. Though I came with a unique request this time." I said as I pointed in the direction of the back room. He nodded earnestly. "Of course. Of course. Right this way." He said as he opened the door and let us through quickly.
The room was like always. Lined with shelves and covered in boxes of parts of varying colors. The chairs were as usual. Big, soft, and easy to relax in.
Mercury gestured for us to sit and I found my spot.
He sat down and crossed his legs with his fingers knitted together. "So. I imagine this must be good for me to have to take this as a personal interest?" He said with raised eyebrows.
"Yes." I said as I reached into my inventory.
"I need you to take a look at this." I pulled the blue brick out and placed it on the table. Mercury's eyes lit up when he laid eyes on the block. His interest was obviously peaked.
He reached out and lifted the hefty object while pulling out his oculus. Fitting it to his eye he seemed very focused. His eye seemed to be reading through something for a while before he placed it back on the table.
He seemed to hum and haw before actually telling us what he knew.
"Before I say anything I want to ask something." He said leaning forward.
I shrugged. "Ask away. I have nothing to hide."
"Where the hell did you get this thing? And how did you get it?" He asked. His previously nice glance seemed to carry a small amount of malice to it now. Like killing intent mixed with words.
Slightly shocked at his sudden change I decided the best route was answer honestly.
"Our Holo-room got hacked while I was inside it. I was stuck in there for 2 days fighting altered viruses. After fighting them all and a boss at the end. I guess I got that as compensation." I said as my hands rested on the arms of my chair. Ready to bolt if I needed to.
Mercury let out a sigh as he rubbed his eyebrows. I couldn't tell if he was frustrated or surprised. "Why... what's wrong with it?" I asked.
Mercury waved his hand at the block.
"From what I can tell... This is a part. Or a lot of parts. Compressed into what looks like one massive part. A mix of different levels from what I can see. I guess you might be able to use it. But I don't know what exactly it will do to you. Or if it'll be good. But I think it'll give you one hell of a boost. But who's to say." He said as he leaned back.
Everybody looked at the block on the table. This thing was most unexpected. I had no idea how to deal with it either. But I knew one thing. There was a great way to test it.
I looked at Mercury with a to thoughtful expression. "If this thing say... Messed up a weapon. Could you say... return it to what it was before?" I asked with interest.
Mercury shrugged his shoulders. "You'd have to see an Egyptian based craftsman for repairs but it could be done. Why? Are you thinking of merging it with some equipment of yours?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
I smiled a bit. "Just wanted to check something before trying it. And seeing as we're here I would like to try it if you wouldn't mind."
Mercury thought for a moment before nodding and giving me the go ahead.
I summoned my coffin. The bracelet quickly expanding to its normal size. It's sandstone texture meeting my finger tips as its large body slammed into the floor. I had no idea what rank this block was. But Mercury said it was a gamble and a mix of parts at that. So I needed to test it out.
My coffin was a prime thing to test as it was kinda my last resort. I didn't want to test it on my body as it could possibly screw me up. And my crook and flail would grow stronger with time as is. So it was an obvious choice.
I picked up the brick and placed it against the coffin.
The coffin began to vibrate and glow as the brick began to heat up turning red.
Despite the heat I could only focus on sucking it into the coffin. And hope for the best.
I felt the heat coming from them together as it made me sweat. The room rose in temperature quickly. Mercury watched in interest as Hoy and Henry backed off a little. The coffin turned bright red as the block began to melt into it. The process taking close to 30 minutes as the pressure built in my arms.
When I reached the 45 minute mark the coffin began to glow a bright gold color as it lifted from the floor. The light began to grow as the brick fully merged with the coffin. The shape changing slightly. The Pharaoh's face changed into that of a jackal faced warrior. It's features were coated in gold with onyx skin. It's sandstone texture became more smooth and the stone itself thicker.
As it floated to the ground I found the coffin had changed rather dramatically. Placing my hand against its now smooth surface I could feel warmth coming from it. The Jackal face was similar to my own avatar. It's long black ears stood tall and proud in the air with a mask of gold covering its upper face.
I felt a little curious about what it might've changed on the inside. So I grabbed the top of it and peeled it open. And much to my disappointment not much really changed. It was cleaner. That was it.
I just shook my head a little as I turned to Mercury. "Is there any changes?"
He approached slowly holding up his oculus. His examination was thorough as he asked me to open the casket a couple times. He tapped the Sarcophagus around Anubis's face and chest as he did so.
"The grade increased to A+. And the defense stat has increased by 10% I'd say. But the other stats remain unchanged. All in all I'd say keep it the way it is. Might be a bit flashy. But defensive items are there for just that. Defense. And btw. Some bandage rolls came in. So I'd reccomend putting a couple in there. The healing effects will increase not to mention the ability to bind enemies. This will be a good boost to your faction. Use it wisely." Mercury said wagging his finger at me.
I smiled broadly as I went to shake his hand.
The points were quickly exchanged and the bandages installed into the coffin so we could leave.
As we were leaving Mercury leaned close to one of the nymphs at the front nodding in our direction. "You see that kid with the ears?" He asked.
The wood nymph nodded quickly. "He'll be a hell of a customer in the future. Make sure he always feels welcome here." He said as he turned and walked into the shadows. Mumbling something to himself.
"Of all things. He brings me an Echidna part. I can't believe that b!+©# is still alive." His voice whispered into the dark.