[Necklace of DreamLand]
Grade: Unique/Blue
Level Requirement: 0
MP +300
Mana Regeneration +30%
Magic Damage +20%
• Active Skill: Dream World
Creates an Illusion like Space where all Magic Damage is negated and 20% of would be Magic Damage received will be converted to healing to player's HP for 20 seconds.
Cooldown: 6 Hours
Bound Item
That necklace was indeed a Unique Item since only those of unique grade or above could be bounded.
Bound items would not drop no matter how many times their owners died, unless a god-like entity were to forcefully strip the Player from his/her item, which could happen in some quest, but I wasn't scared of that.
The item gave me a huge boost in the magic department, to the point where any Magic class Player would die from jealously if they knew I had this item, the keyword being 'If'.
It needs to be said that, in the first stages of the game, acquiring MP or HP was not an easy feat. The basic method to do so would be through leveling up or by reading books and by doing some in-game exercises, respectively, but that was too time consuming, and the results were mediocre at best.
To really improve their stats a Player would need to equip items and accessories, or use artifacts that could boost their physic; but each method had a flaw of its own.
Each character could equip up to 6 items, which were limited to: Head, Torso, Legs, Feet, Arms and Hands; and the same rule was applied to other miscellaneous items, which were restricted to: 2 rings, a bracelet, a necklace, a pair of earrings and 3 other accessories (badges, gems, pins, etc.).
Obtaining those items could prove to be difficult, but was the best route Players could take right now.
On the other hand, artifacts that could change a person's physic were still a secret to all Players, and even if they knew such things existed, finding one could be proven a really challenge since they were scattered across the many maps of the game.
Having checked the stats of the necklace I didn't even think twice, and immediately wore the Unique item around my neck, making my MP stat to soar.
Next was the black slab, and I would be lying if I said that it didn't give off an ominous feeling. As always, I was right; the moment I inspected the slab I knew I was dead.
[Calamity Dragon Boromir's Scale]
Long ago, a Sword Master challenged Boromir to a fight, but was only able to steal one of his scales. Enraged, Boromir hunted him to retrieve what was his, but, before dying, the Sword Master locked the scale inside of an indestructible chest, which, according to him, could only be opened by a human. Frustrated for not being able to open it and aware of the greedy nature of human kin, the Dragon took the chest to his lair where he could keep watch over it in case someone dared take what wasn't theirs.
• Dragon's Grudge
Boromir will do everything in its power to retrieve his scale. No matter where you hide, the Dragon will be able to find you and will hunt you down until he gets what is righteously his back.
Drop upon Death
A scale, and not any scale, a Dragon scale. Above all else, this was Boromir's, the Calamity Dragon's Scale!
If this thing was used to forge a weapon it would be, at least, Unique grade, no, maybe even Legendary! This was a jackpot!
Or so many would think.
That 'Dragon's Grudge' was a warning; if I took the scale with me, Boromir would hunt me and kill me, making me drop the item. At that time not only would I lose the scale, I would be in the blacklist of many Guilds and the entire Archeon World for the rest of my life.
If you think I was overreacting then imagine if someone knocked in your door with an angry dragon in hot pursuit right behind. I don't think you would let that guy close to you ever again, and that was the situation I was in.
Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to think about what to do with the scale when a large shadow enveloped me.
Turning my head just enough so I could take a look behind me I became petrified with fear.
The giant boulder of a dragon that was supposed to be peacefully sleeping was now wide awake; its form reached half the height of the dome and cast the shadow that wrapped around me, his red eyes locked on the rough piece of skin in my hands.
My eyes darted back and forth between the hulking form that was Boromir and the small scale which I had wrapped in my arms.
I don't know if it was by instinct or some other reason, but I ended up tightening my hold around the scale, and the dragon didn't miss it. His expression hardened, eyes ablaze with anger; I gulped.
I was so dead.
The dragon produced a mighty roar that shook the entire cavern, if not the entire mountain, and lunged at me, sharp teeth visible in his open jaws.
Now, I wasn't the best athlete in my school, hell, in my whole family I could be called average, but I sure as hell didn't intend to die here and fail my quest, so I rolled dodged to the side and sprinted towards the exit.
His tail came crashing in front of me, cutting my escape short.
Adjusting the course, I turned left and hid myself behind some rocks, which were promptly turned to dust by his powerful claws.
This game of hide and seek continued for a few more seconds, with me running behind some rocks or boulders while he destroyed them by using his claws or tail.
I was at my wits end resting behind a large boulder when I heard it.
It was the sound air made when being sucked inside a moto's engine, a high-pitched whistle, followed by some sort of gargle.
My pupils shrank and I quickly evaded to a nearby boulder. The one I was before reduced to molten rock in a straight cylinder like path that continued through the new hole on the wall.
Dragon Breath, a dragon's most powerful and terrifying attack.
Normally a dragon would need a few seconds after using this move to replenish the expended mana inside their bodies.
Using this chance I jumped from my hiding spot and made a run for it towards the exit/crack.
When the dragon roared again I ducked towards another rock and fell on my ass, my heart beating a few miles per hour while I tried to regain my breathing.
I stretched my head just enough to check if the dragon was coming, but I didn't see nothing. It was as if he had disappeared. I knew that such a thing was impossible, but I couldn't control the sigh of relief that escaped my lips.
Taking the scale from my inventory many thoughts invaded my head. Should I try to sneak out with this? Or should I leave it here so that Boromir could find it?
My thoughts came to a stop when hot air hit my face, blowing part of my hair up.
I knew he didn't disappear, but appear right in front of me? In this small space?!
Boromir's blazing red eyes looked at me as though he could see inside my very soul, the lines across his body symbolizing the mana veins were shining brighter by the second.
He was about to release another breath attack when I shouted.
"WAIT!!!"