Today was especially bright in the World of Promise, all the recent newcomers and various regulars amongst Novices were already up and about, being either humans, beast people, or other special and unique races. They each scattered about hurrying towards various areas to partake in today's questing, or other activities.
Nero who spawned within the park where he had logged off, looked around before he hurriedly left the area, he noticed that the scene in the town was by far more lively compared to the small village, but he didn't stay dazed for long.
'So, what's this thing about getting a weapon? I don't have a lot of coins, so I certainly won't be able to afford it, where do I go to claim it?' Nero asked his older self while he glanced at his current amount of copper coins.
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[Total Copper Coins: 12]
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Adult Nero, who was quiet for a while, replied in a mysterious tone, "It is called a Special Weapon Quest, these are the kinds of the quest you can do to more affordably earn a weapon. However, though affordable it doesn't mean that it will be easy; each has its own risk, equating to an equivalent reward."
When Nero heard this, he felt a bit uneasy, but before he could even say anything, Adult Nero made a dark smile as he spoke, "Yes, that's right, I just remembered the name of this one, it's the [Challenge of the Grezelor's Cursed Scythe]. Huhu, it was fun..."
Nero's face sunk as he heard this, but as if he didn't want to show it, he gritted his teeth and cursed inwardly, 'A Cursed Scythe? Of all the darn names, this bastard, he only wants to watch me suffer...'
Adult Nero snorted as he heard those thoughts, he inwardly decided to choose some harder quests in the future and help him only after he's suffered to the very brink.
Not knowing of those bad thoughts, Nero continued on his way in a somewhat bad mood. Soon, Adult Nero had guided him towards a very spooky area of Birgime. It was here that an eerie mist had filled the streets, a large metal fenced had blocked off a section of land, filled with many gravestones and black structure that stood at its center.
Nero felt a chill seeing this area as he read the finely printed words above a tall metal entrance, "Welcome to Birgime's Graveyard - may your weary soul find peace in eternities resting grounds."
Nero frowned as he thought to himself with a bad look on his face, 'I really didn't think I'd have been forced to find a weapon in such a place...'
Adult Nero chuckled and spoke, "Well, where else would you find a more fitting weapon for a reaper?"
Nero clicked his teeth, not bothering to argue with himself, he sucked him his foul mood and hurriedly entered, but as he did so, he noticed that quite a few individuals were walking back and forth, garbed in cult-like robes.
"Hey, you... come over here," A shady person said, their entire being emanating a truly disgusting and suspicious air.
"Handsome Boy... shall I teach you about your fortune? Or, something else...?" A seductive voice said as a woman whose attire suggested that she wore nothing else but a thing cloak beckoned Nero, her legs fully revealed carrying a startling amount of temptation.
Nero gave her slender legs a second look before looking away, other than those strangers; Nero saw a few people dressed as witches and wizards, with some acting like they were celebrating Halloween despite being far away from the month. He thought those people were quite strange and didn't want to associate with them, or at least, not in this setting.
"Hey you, human kid, I've never seen you here before, are you also aiming for that scythe?" A skinny looking youth with pale skin, glowing purple eyes, a mark of a purple claw on his forehead and chains hanging from his body said as he glanced towards Nero.
Nero turned and glanced at the boy that similar to his age, noticing that he had dark shades under his eyes, giving him a gloomy emo-ish look. Though Nero found his more prominent features a bit odd, somewhat nonhuman, he spoke, "That's right, is there a problem?"
The youth gave Nero and up and down look before sneering, "Ha, as if someone like you can even claim it, a mere human at that, the one who claims this scythe is none other than me, Frazel the Phantom Child,"
Nero didn't even pay attention to the youth anymore; his name wasn't even in the top twelve of the ranking list; he felt it beneath himself to argue with someone like this for no reason.
Not even hesitating, Nero hurried along towards the black stone building, walking past the stone-paved track as well as the various stalls set up nearby the sidewalks.
Frazel glared Nero feeling angry as he was ignored, but he soon snorted and convinced himself, "Hmph! Arrogant human prick, I'll show you who's boss real soon..."
Following this, he quickly moved along, hurrying towards the main area as well. Unlike him, it didn't take long for Nero to reach his destination. He looked and noticed that before the door of the black stone structure, an odd-looking old man sat on top of a wooden crate, he had a scythe tattoo on his forehead, and his eyes were round like circles gleaming in a strange light.
As if he didn't mind Nero, the old man held a scythe over his shoulder as he calmly ate a black colored apple with a suspicious smile.
'I don't like this man...' Nero thought to himself, feeling a striking amount of danger from him; he didn't even want to stand near him.
However, it was too late, the man's attention shifted from his apple towards him, he made a broad smile on his wrinkled face showing a few missing teeth as his eyes curved downwards when he spoke, "Little One, do tell this old grave keeper, what brings you to the door of death?"
Nero took a deep breath, trying to convince himself that it was necessary, and nothing terrible would happen. He spoke with a firm tone, "Mister, I would like to try my hands at your Special Weapon Challange, more precisely, the Challenge of the Grezelor's Cursed Scythe."
When Nero said this, a few onlookers couldn't help but show looks of shock as they didn't think a rookie would be so brave. Before they could say anything or react to the scenario, another voice sounded as if it was Nero's echo.
"I Frazel would like to partake in this trial!" Frazel said as he soon after arrived at the old man's location.
"Frazel? You mean that 15 ranker rising talent from the Grim Race, a Halloween dressed human amongst other races, said he stared at Frazel.
"Ha, these new brats surely are something, from ever since this trial came about, only one person has ever cleared it, they don't know their own limits," Another person said in mock.
Nero was calm, he ignored everyone else and stared at the old man, but as for Frazel, he acted differently as if everyone's words provoked him.
"Hmph! You'll all see, I will prove that I am the only one worthy of that scythe!" Frazel said in a loud manner.
The crowd chuckled at this thinking of it as only the ramblings of a child. By this time, the old man made a slight laugh as his smile grew wider when he spoke, "Oh dear... you little ones are quite brave. Fine, since you are both so willing, then I shall allow it. I shall grant you both passage to the trial space, do you best your best now..."
When the old man said this, Nero felt a bit worried, but before he could say anything, the old man's eyes glowed in a green light as a bright green ray enveloped Nero's body as he vanished from this part of the world.
The old man's eyes flickered in a strange ray as he looked at the empty space before him, his mouth curving in a devilish smile as he spoke to himself, "Funny... he reminds me of another brat, his scent oh so familiar..."
The scene here soon after returned to normal, as no one paid the old man too much attention, or rather, no one dared to interfere in his affairs