Checking to see if the alley was safe, Mack extended his hand and Leo's card materialized in an instant. The card shattered, and a red mist swirled around above his open palm before flying towards the ground, where it took shape of the small cub, who had a very pissed look on his face.
Mack smiled sheepishly, rubbing his other hand behind his head. It wasn't like he did that to get Leo angry, he just didn't want others to see him for the moment.
Giving out a sigh he kneeled down and moved to embrace the cub, "c'mon Leo, I am sorry, but I had to do it."
Leo, on the other hand, just huffed and turned around, not buying the excuse.
"I am serious. If I hadn't then that woman would have become suspicious, and if anyone learns of who you are, what you are, they are going to take you away and do a lot of horrible things to you."
The cub turned his head back, taking a good look at his partner's eyes, searching for any sign of lying, only to find none.
"I promise you that we will go on an adventure, no, lots of them, so, can you forgive me?"
Leo looked down to his pawns then back towards Mack before giving a yap and jumping on his arms, letting the boy hug him.
"Thanks buddy, I won't disappoint you, but you need to hide when I tell you too, ok?"
That won him a pout and a stinky look from the 'cat', though he just chuckled before addressing him with an air of seriousness, "jokes aside, what I am telling you is serious Leo. If I tell you to hide, hide. If I tell you to run, run. I won't tell you to fight when it becomes too dangerous, and if I do then you can just leave me behind. Understood?"
The two of them stood there, one looking straight in the eyes of the other for a few long seconds. Leo was the first to break eye contact so he could nod his head in understanding.
Mack smiled at him, before setting the little feline on the ground right when his stomach began to grow. Mack looked down at Leo with a raised eyebrow while the cub's cheeks began to turn a deeper shade of red due to embarrassment.
Mack only laughed before patting Leo in the head, "It's alright buddy, you must be starving after sleeping for so long. I have one last thing to do, so just wait a little more, then we can go hunt and you can fill your belly."
Smiling, he stood up and opened his status, before clicking at a small 'mail' icon at the left side that had a small, red dot blinking. A series of messages popped up in front of him.
< Congratulations! You are the first Player to receive a Hidden Class! >
< As a reward you will be allowed to use the [Luck Roulette]! >
A multicolored roulette appeared in front of Mack, the entire surface divided in 6 colors, though each area was smaller than the last one. Mack's smile grew wider at the sight.
'Here it is.'
The [Luck Roulette], like the name implied, was a type of game where Players had the chance of obtaining any item, as long as the pointer on top of the disc stopped in the area with the same color that represented the item. The color scheme would follow the grading system with white for common, grey for uncommon and so on.
The higher the grade the smaller the painted area, and the highest one, Gold/Legendary covered less than 1% of the roulette, in other worlds, it was nearly impossible to get your hands on a Legendary item, unless you had a lot of luck. Even so, this was one of the best ways to get an item without need to either pay or commission one, albeit a little random at times.
To receive a chance to use it a Player would need to make grand achievements, complete special quests or participate and win in-game events.
Excitement bubbling inside of him, Mack grabbed the smooth disk' side and gave it a strong push, sending the roulette on a mad spin. The colors that adorned its surface soon mixed in a type of hypnotic rainbow making Mack avert his eyes.
Leo, on the other hand, became fascinated by the moving colors, so much that his eyes became spirals and his head soon began spinning, trying to follow the mad disk.
The roulette continued its movement at a steady pace but signs of slowing down soon appeared. The rainbow started to dismantle itself, the 6 parts that formed it soon visible as the wheel slowed down to a stop.
When Mack looked back the pointer was above the Red area of the roulette, meaning that he had won a Rare grade item.
A small ball of light popped from the wheel and went towards Mack, stopping right I front of him as a small, curved knife materialized itself, a red hue enveloping it.
< You have won [Tempered Kukri] >
Mack smiled bitterly at his prize. Yes, Rare grade items were good, especially in the beginning of the game when all other Players would be using either Common or Uncommon grade items, which would give him an edge. But after getting a Unique grade item and the help of a Legendary Boss, Mack couldn't help and wish for something … more.
Giving out a sigh and resigning himself to what he had received, and remembering that he was luckier than anyone else due to the events of the last hours, Mack took the knife in one hand, the roulette soon disappearing.
Tempered Kukri (Curved Blade)
Level requirement: 5
Grade: Rare
ATK +20
To say he was disappointed would be an understatement. The weapon not only didn't have any special effects attached to it, but it also couldn't be fully used until Mack was level 5.
One of the characteristics of Archeon Online was that Players could use any item, no matter their restrictions. That confused Mack when he saw that in the data, but he soon understood why.
While it was possible to use the weapons and other items, their effects (power boost, skills, etc.) would be sealed until the Player in possession of them reached the minimal requirements. It didn't matter if a level 0 Player had the most powerful weapon in the game, as long as he didn't reach the requirements it would just be like any other piece of scrap metal or wood.
Putting the knife inside his Inventory Mack looked down towards Leo who was shaking his head in an attempt to wake up.
Smiling softly he patted the cub in the head and started moving out from the alley, "let's go bud, time to get some food."
The word food worked like magic, not only snapping Leo awake, but also making the small feline to run after Mack, leaving a small cloud of dust behind, drool already sipping from his mouth at the idea of a big piece of meat cooked right in front of him.
*
*
*
The giant doors that led towards the throne room closed as a tall figure strode ahead. It was a man in his late forties, gray hair very much visible amongst his auburn colored one. His eyes were a dull black, bags right under them adding a lifeless feeling to his features. He walked with large steps, his black robes flowing with each movement.
When he arrived at the steps of a marble stair the man stopped, kneeled with one leg and bowed his head as much as he could in reverence to the one sitting atop the stairs.
"My King, I bring you urgent news." He said, a fearful tone in his voice despite it not wavering.
On top of the stairs stood a large throne made with gold and gems, beasts of all types engraved in its frame. To call it a masterpiece would be like saying that the sky was blue.
Siting in that majestic view was a man who couldn't be older than 30, but looks could deceive even the keenest of eyes. He wore a mix of armor and regal clothes, a collar made with the mane of a lion adorning his neck. The man just groaned as to acknowledge the other male, prompting him to continue.
"It seems that B-Boromir has a-awakened"
The room fell into silence after the statement, and while it would seem like there was nothing wrong the man kneeling at the base of the stairs knew different. His body was frozen in place, breathing ragged, it was like he was drowning.
Bloodlust filled the room as a pair of cold eyes looked down at him, a single word echoing in the room through a low growl.
"What?"