Akiol manipulated himself back into his avatar.
The pugilist, shocked, asked,"Akiol? That you?!"
"I do believe so." Akiol responded while nodding his head.
"Haha! I feared I would never see any of you for a long while! It's good to see you man."
"Same, I do apologize for the random attack."
The two laughed together, it was truly heartwarming. Wrock, the pugilist, then offered, "I could send a friend request, that way we could stay in touch?"
Akiol agreed and the two friended each other.
"Wrecking Rocks? Wrock..? Your name is a small pun?"
Wrock laughed sheepishly, "The name Wrock was already taken when I joined. I wasn't lucky as you."
"I joined during the launch so I suppose."
"What?! I was asleep when it launched!"
The two caught up, Akiol mentioned about eventually meeting up in the real world. Wrock turned this down however, and said to wait until the whole party is back together, "We should keep ourselves separate to cover more ground. We can keep in touch this way anyway."
"In that case want to help me hunt a rhino turtle?" Akiol offered.
"Sure, but. . . What's a rhino turtle?"
"I'll show you." Akiol sent a party invite and soon Akiol could see a bit of Wrock's status.
[Name: Wrecking Rocks]
Level:36
Race:Human
Class: Pugilist
Hp: 150/150
Stats:
40 Strength 25 Agility
25 Dexterity 15 Defense
20 Intellect
Some of a players info is kept to only their eyes. Both Akiol and Wrock scanned each other's stats. Wrock first questioned, "Slime? How did you become a slime??"
Akiol sighed and responded, "A long story that I do not wish to share."
Wrock chuckled, "The mighty hero is now a slime. Sounds like the opposite of Phoenix from the ashes."
"It has a surprising amount of benefits."
Akiol lead the way to where he found the rhino turtle, they soon came across it.
Wrock looked at it and said, "I see where you got the name rhino turtle but that's called a Moss Charger."
When Wrock said that a name bar appeared above the rhino turtle's head.
Baffled Akiol asked, "How'd you know?"
Looking at Akiol oddly Wrock responded, "By using the appraisal skill? It tells me the name of any non-player creature I use it on."
Akiol understood incredibly quickly, another skill he was robbed of! His [Power Sense] skill seemed useless, until Wrock pointed out, "I cannot see the level or stats of a creature though. So I have no idea how strong it is."
To this Akiol responded, "About thirty levels more than us, don't quote me."
Wrock grinned, "A challenge then!"
The two, after fighting together for so long, were already in sync when they charged at the Moss Charger. Wrock kicked its jaw with a powerful skill, causing the Moss Charger's front to be lifted. Akiol did not miss this opportunity and slashed at its underbelly.
<-30 hp>
The two then proceeded to toy with the poor Moss Charger. Attacking it's blind and weak spots. It made an awful sound in protest for this bullying. Soon later it fell, defeated. Akiol collected the parts and remarked, "Well that probably wasn't the challenge you were looking for."
"Nah, without help it would have been one-sided. With me being on the losing side."
Akiol didn't comment on that, Wrock was one of the few who he trusted. A true comrade. He need not question his statement.
They continued to wander around in the forest. Until Akiol spotted a cave, pointing towards it he asked, "Should we head in there?"
Wrock frowned and replied, "Where? There's nothing there..?"
Akiol looked at Wrock questioningly, "There's a cave in the rocks. . . ?"
"There's nothing there."
Akiol walked up to it and went through.
"I can't see the cave? It's solid for me.", Wrock placed his palms against the stone.
"Odd. . ."
Stumbling back he looked towards the rock again. "For some reason I cannot enter. Go on ahead, I'm intrigued on what's inside."
A small issue but not a major problem. Akiol stared, "Sure, stay here for a moment."
Wrock sighed, "No problem, I'll guard the entrance carefully sir."
Shaking his head Akiol ignored him and explored the cave. There was no light, only what seemed like endless darkness. In fact the only thing that kept Akiol heading straight was the light shining through the entrance. But that only became a small dot.
Just when the entrance light disappeared Akiol smacked into a wall. He was very disappointed, there was nothing in sight. Just as he turned to leave he saw another light.
Sighing he followed the light.
'At this point I wonder if I died hitting that wall'
When he reached the light he realized it was a sword in a giant crystal.
'If I pull this sword out so I become the king or something?'
He approached the sword and reached towards it. Just as he was about to grab it a voice sounded.
'Stop! Don't touch me.'
Akiol wasn't fond of voices in his head, he had a bad memory of it. Ignoring his discomfort he asked, "Why not?"
'You're not worthy.'
"I doubt you'll find anyone strong in the beginner areas."
'It's not about strength...'
"Then what makes someone worthy?"
'If I look cool in battle.'
". . ."
'. . .'
"Why?"
'It's none of your business ok?'
"How would you know if you looked cool if you're a sword?"
'. . .'
This was a really strange encounter. A weapon that could speak? This was undoubtedly something even Akiol never experienced. His legendary blade crafted exclusively for the hero didn't have its own consciousness.
"How about a deal then?"
'What kind of deal. . . ?'
"Let me take you, and if you find someone worthy enough to wield you. Just let me know and I'll hand you over."
'. . . I can agree to this, but you have to be able to pull me out first.'
Akiol sighed, there seemed to be a good reason why this cave wasn't visible to some. He grabbed the sword's handle pulling with all his might.
The sword did not budge.
'Well looks like the deal cannot happen, please leave.'
Akiol tapped his nose, clearly his strength wasn't enough and his free stat points weren't going to provide the boost he needed. He needed to think outside the box.
Then it hit him, if he couldn't free the sword from the crystal. Then just remove the crystal!
Manipulating his body around the crystal he used [Absorb] and his body ate away at the crystal.
'Hey. . . Hey! That's against the rules! Only with sufficient strength can you release me!'
Ignoring the complaints of the sword he eventually absorbed the whole crystal.
Along with the sword...
'What?? You actually absorbed me?! Are you crazy or something!??'
"Sorry." He then used [Dispel] and the sword was in his hands.
The sword was around the same length of his Steel Sword. The blade being a deep blue color, and the handle being white. The guard was silver and intricate, being the general shape of a basic guard, but designed masterfully. In the middle of the guard sat a shining sapphire in the shape of a star. Akiol saw the status of the sword.
[Breaker of Stars
Damage: ???
Equip Requirement: ???
Skills: ???]
Akiol was disappointed that he couldn't see how strong the sword was.
'You cheated!'
"Nonsense, I am simply upholding my end of the agreement. How can I take you with me if your stuck in a crystal?"
'But you were supposed to pull me out! Not remove the crystal!'
"The details on how your free mean nothing. Now I have a question, how did you speak when I absorbed you?"
'Since my sword technically still existed when absorbed, my thoughts remained.'
"Ah! That saves the trouble of having to carry you around."
'Do NOT absorb me again!'
. . .
After a bit of convincing, the sword agreed to be absorbed. So Akiol absorbed the sword and proceeded to exit the cave. He soon arrived at the entrance.
"So, what was in there?" Wrock questioned.
"A sword I cannot do anything with."