Baras sat down at the table by Kala's character.
[Kala] [NPC]
[Level 30]
Health: 500 / 500
-------
Stats Hidden
He looked around at [Oasis Castle] and got an impression. If he sold it, the price would probably fetch at least 5000 dollars. He laughed at himself. Thinking about money when the 'Nothingness' might soon swallow the world seemed like a waste of a passtime.
He managed to chuckle.
This couldn't be the system's voice that flirted him into getting into this strange situation, could it?
"It's me. That voice in your head," A cute voice came out of Kala's mouth, matching the tone and pitch of the same freak that regularly spoke in his head.
"I came here to offer you my condolences. This new [Oasis Castle] will soon be swallowed by darkness. The Nothingness plans to swallow this castle. It didn't expect any players to be here soon, and is sending someone to investigate."
"To stop it. You must defend this castle."
[New quest has been received.]
[Defend Oasis Castle]
[Objective one: Capture 30 monsters to populate the Castle's Dens.]
[You've gained one new item: Capture Gate]
[After killing a monster, capture its soul and it will automatically get recreated in your castle]
[To help you with your quest. You've been given one farmer and one oasis miner.]
[Quest has been accepted]
[This will require multiple quests to complete.]
"I thought you were going to tell us something?" Hilly asked as Kala stood up and began to walk towards the door. "You just came to give us a quest?"
"Please don't disturb her exit! She's a very important NPC!" The old hag commented as she walked towards the exit. "She graced us with her presence! Thank the heavens!"
"I'll be back," Kala smiled wryly as she walked through the door.
Her body looked like thousands of flowers all gathered into one place. She looked beautiful, carefully picked from thousands of different arrangements of nearly perfect features.
Her green dress got stretched and turned out a hood that covered her dazzling eyes. A golden light trailed out the doorway from those eyes as she slammed the door.
"She's already gone." Baras laughed at her whimsical presence. "Well, now she's gone. Should we discuss how to renovate the place?"
[Your new farmer is here]
[Would you like him to start planting crops?]
[One farmer will have a grain production rate of +50 grain per hour.]
[You've received one oasis planter.]
[Have him start growing new trees?]
"That'll be yes to both," Baras saw the farmer outside pulling a strange cart as he looked at the two dazzling women huddled up by his side. "Now, all we got to do is murder a few monsters, drop a pretty girl in some water, and find a way to log out!"
"I'm tired. Tell me about your life." Hilly lamented her menu's inability to log out as her hair glittered as she cracked her neck. "Tell us about your life. What did you do to get such a honorable nickname, Razor.��
Baras felt a flashback coming on.
Like a mist appeared around him, he saw a dagger in his hand.
This felt like one of those omens.
He resisted it, blinked a few times, and stretched to get up.
"Let's talk over food." Baras winked at the old maid as she got the hint. "We own this place now, right. A few drinks of fake wine to get some ladies drunk."
"I have a date in 98 game hours." Reed looked down at her armor and pressed a button, a shimmering white dress spun down her body and glittered against her legs.
"My dress for the date. He doesn't like many girls." Reed blushed as she fixed the fabric that gently coated her beautiful body. "Want to do a simulated date? You're an old man right?"
"I'd love to date you for a few nights, but I got a wife," Baras smiled and nodded his head. "The color matches your skin. He's a lucky guy."
"Lucky? I'd smack him three times if he tries to make a move," Reed coughed as she tried to hide the feelings of fear. "He's so good with women I'm afraid I might like him. This dress goes down to my legs so I can hide two guns right here." Reed paused. She fired three fake shots.
"My first wife." Baras coughed. "My first wife took me out in a dress like that. You look like a dazzling, radiant star tucked into a fine white package."
"Anyways, we can get to know each other outside this players castle. Two wives? She knows you're still talking about her?"
"I think we should go," Baras coughed as he walked out the door. "The sooner we get some beasts in cages, the sooner you can whip that guy into your corner. The food will be done when we're back."
Baras opened the door, his eyes trailing at the two young girls as he blushed. They glanced back at him like he stood a shot. For a second, he felt like that young player that used to cruise from shore to shore to greet the beautiful locals.
"Oh, it looks like a slaughter begun. Nothing like the screaming of novices as monster���s try to feast on their young blood.." Hilly saw a few [Oasis Magic Dealers] coraling five much slower novice players into [Oasis Castle] territory.
A girl alighted in flames and screamed as her body shut down and turned to ashes. Her clothes flitted in the wind as her skull turned to dust as three other players tried to fight for their lives.
Baras activated [Greater Teleport] and slashed into the throat of a [Oasis Magic Dealer]. Black blood danced out his blade in three arcs as the creature screeched and howled.
[-3000 Health]
[-200 Health]
[-5000 Health]
The player indulging in the fantasy of escape fell down on his knees and missed the burning cinder of flames crawling towards him on the floor. His body burst into flames as Baras cut with a trail of blood and decapitated the [Oasis Magic Dealer].
At least ten players ran into his [Oasis Castle] as the cannons took turns firing warning shots at the incoming scourge.
[Oasis Magic Dealer Soul Collected]
[Would you like to like to store in Oasis Castle?]
[Limit 1 / 50]
'Accepted'
Baras turned to his side as another two players screamed and became a roasted skeleton version of their former selves.
One player [Rayn] tried to fight back against an irascible [Oasis Fire Scorpion] that coughed out flames as it spun it's sharp tail blades towards his small shield.
Baras twisted his foot and activated [Rebirth Barrage Slash] into the three monsters harassing the one player. A twinkling of light appeared out of the [Great Sword of Rebirth] as the scorpions were mired in a burst of slashes.
[- 1000 Health]
[- 3000 Health]
[- 2000 Health]
Baras' damage to them caused a blank stare to appear on Rayn's face.
[Rayn]
[Level 35]
Health: 2000 / 2000
--------
Strength: 800 (+100)
Stamina 1800 (+300)
Speed: 600 (+800)
--------
Class: Life Tank
Skills: Hidden
He looked like a soldier, not a player of a game. He seemed to be staring up at three shadows of death that threatened his entire world. Baras cut through two of those shadows, black blood raining down onto Rayn's face as a scream burst out his lips.
[+5000 experience]
[+3000 experience]
[+1000 experience]
"This-this game sucks! You-you got to be kidding me!"
Rayn's hands trembled, his entire body collapsing.
"You saved me. Sorry, for freaking out," Rayn sucked up a deep breath. His aura became charming as he turned and saw Hilly.
"Did-did I really just scream that outloud?"
"I'm used to it," Baras offered him a helping hand. "Screaming in the heat of battle means the enemy didn't kill you yet."
Baras held out his hand, looking at three glimmering objects rolling against the grass and bouncing against the spread out rocks.
Hilly touched them, sending them to his inventory.
[Oasis Fire Scorpion soul has been discovered] (2x)
[Would you like to add to Oasis Castle]
[Oasis Magic Dealer soul has been discovered]
[Would you like to add to Oasis Castle?]
"Not saying no," Baras wiped off Rayn��s armor. He pointed to the tall [Oasis Castle] as its cannons paced back and forth in the sky shooting the equivalent of stay out salvos at approaching enemies.
[3 / 50 souls have been added to Oasis Castle]
He closed the blue window and walked towards the shore, and then over to the mountain's edge to scope out the potential monsters he could catch for his castle.
A few [Fire Lurkers] caught his eye.
[Fire Lurker]
[Level 62]
[Health: 1000 / 1000]
[Danger Level: Low]
[Type: Shadow]
He felt inebriated off of the thrill of battle.
He smiled, and noticed Hilly pointing to Oasis castle. The players by the castle in the distance scrambled back from an [Oasis Magic Dealer] and a set of [Oasis Scorpions].
His three new beasts had been created back at the castle, the [Oasis Magic Dealer] included. They didn't take kindly to visitors to his territory. A blue window appeared in front of him, dangling in front of him with a small image of [Oasis Castle] embedded inside of it.
[Fifteen players wish to enter into Oasis Castle]
[A recommended rate of 5 gold per person is recommended]
'Make it ten. They're all rich'. Bavas unsympathetic eyes marginally increased the price with a click of the (+) button.
The game had [granite], [bronze], [silver], [gold], [platinum], and [diamond] coins. Purchasing coins from the menu was possible at a rate of 5 dollars per one gold coin.
One gold coin equalled fifty bronze and one bronze equaled fifty granite. The coins were nothing for rich children of bloodthirsty moguls, he delighted in the coins that they easily spent.
Food for a week just got put on the table.
[+10 gold coins]
[+10 gold coins]
Baras activated [Greater Teleport] and appeared back in front of the Inn. One man screamed in panic when he realized he couldn't log out.
"I paid ten gold coins! I'll rip this place to pieces! Let me log out you stupid old man" His anger contaminated the air as his blade stabbed towards the old maid.
She smiled, and turned away from his thoughtless attacks, ruling over him with her faster motions and turning to slap him in the face.
Her hand blurred as the madness in his eyes turned to a predictable fear. The wealth that normally protected him caused him madness as her hand slashed into his cheeks.
His voice got swallowed in the sound of a gentle bang that knocked him off his feet.
[- 300 Health]
The Old maid huffed and ascended the stairs.
[The Old Maid has requested to expel the player [Heath Mark].
"Here, let me help you up," Baras grinned at his own NPCs pettiness. He laughed. He wiped off Heath Mark's armor and held his hand as he tried to pull out a small weapon. His dagger got stuck near his thighs as his face twisted with madness.
"Dude, come on! She's just an NPC!" Heath Mark noticed the mark above Baras' head and retrieved his arm from Baras' strong grip.
"If you pay me a thousand gold, you can beat her all you want," Baras didn't have time for little squabbles. "I'm looking for some help. An attack on this castle will happen in a few hours. Please display your levels if you want a free ride to a higher level."
"I'll go!" A blonde girl with a passion burning in her eyes spoke out louder than the other voices.
[Mara Lane]
[Level 43]
[Health: 2500 / 2500]
---------
Aura: 1800 (Replacement of Strength)
Speed: 400
Stamina:1800 (+1000)
-----------
Class: Wandering Spell
Skills: Hidden
[Wandering Spell - A magic class for defense that specializes in long range attacks. A class that is like a double edged sword. It can either focus entirely on damage from a distance or entirely on defense.]
"I know her illustrious name," Heath Mark said, cackling as his body managed to balance from the slap he just experienced. "She got kicked out of the Resonance League."
"They're better off with me," Mara Lane squinted as her blue armor with its crystalline ornaments shimmered golden as she released a breathtaking smile.
"My ambitions are the reason they fired me. Couldn't take the idea of a woman being their main tank."
"The league owner is crazy about her," Heath Mark nodded his head. "I heard about it from a friend. You turned him down and then he tried to kill you back to level zero."
"Are you suggesting I shouldn't take her?" Baras requested her to join his party. "I'm an old man. If I cared about petty squabbles in a game, my time as a soldier chopping through enemies and wreaking with their blood would've been pointless."
"Just find a way for us to log out." Heath Mark looked over at the bar. "You got food here yet? Give me a round on the house for letting that old fox slap me in the face."
"I'll leave the old maid to serve you," Baras spun and walked towards the door. "I need to go kill some monsters so [Oasis Castle] can have something for you all to eat."
"I have a high [cooking] skill!" Rayn held up his hand.
"Just let me in for free." Rayn wiped his nose. He couldn't afford to enter into the inn and laughed by the door.
"You're hired."
The [Oasis Scorpions] opened the gateway to the interior of the hall as he smiled. An option appeared in front of Baras.
[Rayn has requested to be a cook for the [Oasis Castle]
[He requests 20% of all profits made from his meals. Would you like to accept?]
"You're broke aren't you?" Baras nodded his head. "I didn't recognize it before. That pitiful glint in your eye. You'd do anything for money."
"We should go," Hilly pointed at a line of players wiping off the grime and sweat that traveled down their bodies as they nearly wretched with fear. "The line for your new castle is getting long. Let's not block your booming business."
------
Baras' [Rebirth Barrage Slash] slashed outwards in trails of sword energy into three [Fire Lurkers].
[-5000 Health]
[-6000 Health]
[-4000 Health]
His closeness to them seemed to speak of his unnatural bravery. However, his reason for getting close now became supremely evident. The tails of the [Fire Lurkers[ turned to attack him and their eight legs slashed towards him like chains of death.
Mara's [Aura Shield] created a blue wall that proliferated in all directions around Baras.
[Aura Shield]
[12,000 health]
It cracked, but defended Bavas as he waited for the cooldown of [Greater Teleport]. A second passed, the shield shattered, and his body manifested on top of a Fire Lurker.
It's eight red eyes glanced upwards.
Baras' pierced its skull deep with the [Great Sword of Rebirth] before it could get a chance to defend its unfortunate death.
[Fire Lurker has been killed]
[+12,000 experience]
[You've leveled up to level 39]
[+100 strength]
[+80 speed]
[+100 stamina]
[+5 class points]
A golden item shot out of its body as the blood drizzled into the air and blinded Baras' vision.
His heart raced before he jumped and kicked off of three tails as he nimbly flipped off his good foot. He attempted to land on his bad foot, and stumbled.
A claw stabbed into his chest, knocking him off his feet and spinning into the ground. Dust shot into air with Hilly's shadow draping over him as she slashed through a [Fire Lurker].
[-800 Health]
[-200 Health]
She jumped back and glided away from three tails as Baras slowly climbed to his feet.
Baras saw a trace of a female nurse he used to date in Reed's beautiful shoulders. Her elegance mired in the blood of her enemies just made her resemblance to her seem all the more real.
[Fire Lurker has been killed!]
Reed jumped back as three items flew into her inventory. She seemed elated, forgetting the two remaining [Fire Lurkers] that sprung at her from behind.
"I got a gold rare item!" Reed lost her focus as a leg pierced into her back from the [Fire Lurker]. Blood shot out her mouth as Baras held out his hand.
The nurse had died in a similar way, her eyes turning dark from a bullet ripped through her head. She wanted to save someone that had already died. In times of battle, reason only managed to stay with those who'd seen so much death that no emotions remained
That nurse had been like a young doe seeing a dead ally for the first time.
Baras had been her superior officer, he'd checked the dead soldier's pulse, and pulled her away, but she refused to stop CPR. These memories seemed unleashed for some reason, flowing out of him the longer he played Omen Online.
He turned, and looked at the forest, seeing a girl in a nurse's outfit fleeing in the woods. His mind couldn't believe it. He lost focus as a thousand emotions fueled his blade. He cut through the head of one [Fire Lurker], the most intense feeling of rage following the slash.
He cut eight more times.
[-3000 Health]
[-5000 Health]
[Fire Lurker has been killed!]
[You've found Lurker Meat (Grade D)] (X10)
[+12,000 experience]
[Four souls of Fire Lurkers can be added to Oasis Castle. Accept?]
"Obviously," Baras coughed, helping Reed up as she pulled away her hand.
"Damn. You trying to let me get killed?" Reed snidely responded, laughing as she knocked his chest.
"I wanted to see if you were awake. What happened?"
"A girl. I thought I recognized a girl," Bavas' hand trembled with his finger flexed towards the forest. "A nurse. A nurse that died in the war. It's like all these memories keep coming back to me."
"It's the game. You gave it permission by joining to look into your background." Hilly said as she scavenged through the glittering items that had blasted out of the [Fire Lurker] corpses. "You got a gold item. What class is it for?"
"It's better for Mara." Bavas tossed the item on the floor.
[Gold Fire Shield]
[Level 55]
[Type: Gold Uncommon]
[Defense: 1200]
[+ 400 Stamina]
[+ 400 Aura]
[+ 1200 Health]
He calmed his breath, and got back up to his feet. The game seemed to have a talent for stirring up his worst memories. If the doctor heard about the game, he'd probably tell Baras to cross it off his bucket list.
[+10 gold]
[+18 gold]
Baras smiled at the extra gold.
A few people new must have come into [Oasis Castle]. Another blue screen twinkled into his vision as he scrambled back onto his good foot. The sensations on his replaced foot were like little beams of light that replaced the void in his heart. The void for the foot he lost years ago.
"Well, I just found out something useful,"
Baras had counted the [Fire Lurkers]. He hadn't done any damage to the large beast that attempted to swallow Reed whole, and still received it's soul.
"I'm guessing you want to split up?" Hilly put her arm around Baras. "I'll take the old man out for a date. You two. Meet us back at his grand castle in thirty minutes after he gets me drunk."
"He might even drowned me," Hilly grinned. "You guys okay with that?"
"I like my girls alive and age appropriate," Baras started to walk off with Hilly as she gently put her arm around his back. "Remember, meet back at the castle in thirty minutes!"
Baras blushed and smiled. He felt like the girl to his right resembled the daughter he never had. He had a son once, but his son hadn't talked to him since his mother married rich. He lived in a world of splendor, with a long life ahead of him, while his father had been unworth a return trip to normality. He got used to being rich, and his father became a sour spot to his new life that contaminated his every day with the eccentric whims of his new father.
"It's getting dark out," Baras commented, "The castle will get attacked soon. Be careful out there."
------
On the opposite side of the hill overlooking [Oasis Castle] a huge bevy of rodents scurried up in a group of hundreds.
[Fire Spring Rodents]
[Level 65]
[Health: 900 / 900]
[Danger Level: Low]
[Type: Black-Fire]
One large rodent in the center had silver fur that barbed up like a thousand deadly blades.
[Fire King Rodent]
[Level 70]
[Health 8000 / 8000]
[Danger Level: High]
[Type: Black-Fire]
Baras saw them approaching [Oasis Castle] with Hilly as his [Floating Cannons], [Oasis Scorpions], [Oasis Magic Dealers], and [Fire Lurkers] started to assail them.
Baras used [Greater Teleport] to stop his new breasts from getting destroyed by the ravenous rodents. Their numbers far outweighed the far superior stats of his [Oasis Castle's] eight new 'steeds'.
He opened up the [Construct] menu. Five Items appeared.
[Defense Constructs Available]
[Moving Fences (set of five)] cost [2 gold] [10 wood]
[Floating Cannons] cost [10 gold] [100 wood]
[Runaway Towers] cost [100 good] [100 wood]
[Raining Blade] cost [30 gold] [200 wood]
[Crossbow Gate] cost [100 gold] [20 wood]
[Magic Gun] cost [900 gold] [1000 wood]
[Resources]
[200 gold]
[1250 wood]
[600 grain]
[Population 11 / 100]
[Guests: 20]
The construct window had [defensive constructs], and [town constructs] in two different categories. He needed some simple [defensive constructs] built before he could venture away from [Oasis Castle].
He had to spend money to be able to afford keeping more rich brats in his castle. If they got killed, all the gold he scooped up out of their privileged pockets would be returned and his territory would have to be rebuilt.
He clicked on the [Raining Blades].
[Raining Blade]
[Level 1]
[Health: 400 / 400]
[Strength: 1000
[Raining Blades - ten blades that seek bloodshed in incoming invaders randomly from the sky.]
[Purchase: Y / N?]
Baras purchased the [Raining Blades] and also purchased some [Moving Fences]. He put them in front of the [Oasis Magic Dealers] as their hands twinkled with sparks as they prepared to dish out damage.
The fences when placed down rushed to protect the [Oasis Magic Dealers] as they cast their spell. Each fence had 1000 health, so the purchase seemed well worth it to bolster his beasts.
Baras smiled as his new [Raining Blades] appeared in the sky and started to rain down like twinkling arrows.
[-500 health]
[-1000 health]
[-800 health]
Three [Fire Spring Rodents] died in the barrage, giving him a sense of relief as the thin blades danced to dodge their large canine like teeth.
He spun his blade and activated [Rebirth Barrage Slash]. A hundred radiant slashes coated the incoming marsupials. A few burst with blood as dust covered them from the attacking cannons.
The [Oasis Magic Dealers] limited their movements by charring the two sides with large [fire mills]. Two spinning fire maelstroms drove them into a straight line. Right towards Baras.
He ordered the three [Oasis Scorpions] and the two [Fire Lurkers] to help create a wall to protect his castle. The rodents looked like miniature blurred balls of killing intent of their eyes glimmered with obvious purpose
[-500 health]
[-1000 health]
[+500 experience]
Hilly used her daggers to kill one. The experience barely registered in her eyes as she used [dagger rain] to send out one hundred daggers.
Her damage nearly matched Baras' even with the huge difference in level. Baras didn't have a true class, and all the class points he had couldn't be used.
Class points were a huge differentiator between a novice player and someone like Baras who got shot straight into the heat of the strange game.
A class point could be used to purchase a class skill, or upgrade a skill in power. Her skill [dagger rain] had 5 class points put into it, so it caused a 200% her normal damage every slash.
It rained blood as the low health rodents that numbered in the hundreds were swallowed by the daggers.
The [Fire King Rodent] took a single attack by her blade, though, and turned to charge at her.
[-50 health]
The damage it took seemed insignificant as Hilly's back turned towards it in fear. Her eyes betrayed her former bravery, and she jumped behind Baras and smiled.
"Sorry, I'm not a fan of marsupials."
"I got it," Baras used [Rebirth Barrage Slash] at the large incoming creature. It's sharp features seemed to cut against his sword as each blade slashed skin deep.
[-500 health]
[-800 health]
[-1000 health]
He spit out to the side as the creature jumped up and sunk it's teeth towards Baras' head. Baras felt like even the rats were amateurs. He spun and slashed its underbelly.
[-2000 health]
It screamed and rolled against the ground, trying to balance it's damaged body as blood dripped underneath it. A high shrill scream came out of its mouth. A few rats ran into its body as its health started to increase.
[+300 health]
[+800 health]
Baras looked down at his cooldown and shook his head. The harder the creature tried to live the less little rodents his beasts would have to kill.
He turned around, seeing a few players running up the hill away from some [Oasis Magic Dealers]. He needed to capture more of those, but his attention remained focused on the beast. It's body began to balloon and grow in size with it's flesh healing at an astounding rate.
"That's annoying."
Baras used [Rebirth Barrage Slash] and got its health down to 4000 before he had his scopions surround it.
All the little rodents that scurried to it were kicked back or turned to flames. Hilly's daggers cut through the air and acted like walls while his blades also joined in the battle.
[-800 health]
[-1000 health]
Baras jumped into the air and turned the hilt of his blade as his body spun. In the military, they considered these types of moves idiocy. He put his back to the monster, and got blinded by the moment.
However, in a game, he could show the back to his enemy.
He activated [Greater Teleport] and dodged the teeth that could easily have torn even a tree in half. Landing on its head, he stabbed down repeatedly, causing it to gush out blood as Hilly wiped off her hands.
[-1000 health]
[-1500 health]
[Fire King Rodent has been killed]
[+40,000 experience]
[You've leveled up to level 40!]
[+500 strength]
[+300 Stamina]
[+400 speed]
[It's extremely recommended that you pick a class before level 50!]
[+10 class points!]
"Geez, I just got a massive strength boost."