We walked throughout the homely Dürandal, since it was inside a mountain, despite the constant snow on the outside, the city couldn't be cozier. Dürandal could exist due to the gnomes, their big intelligence had helped in the creation of Dürandal, since they had developed a method that made cultivation possible inside a mountain, without the sun. It had a lot to do with alchemy and I didn't know the basics, but I was sure I would ask Corbis about this some time.
We kept walking for a long time, all the way to the entrance of the city.
"Dad, where are we going?"
"To the entrance of the city, Gatgas lives there, he works as the city guardian."
I immediately knew that Gatgas was a strong man. The city guardians were the individuals who guarded Dürandal's iron door against all enemies. The door hadn't been broken through since the creation of the city, our defenses were just too tight. City guardians usually switched spots every 6 months. There would always be two of them and they would be in the 100 more skilled individuals of the city. It was a very prestigious position and managing to enter it gave you quite the rewards.
We walked all the way to a small, elegant home where the two guards stayed. They didn't even have to get out of the house since in this period of guardians was the best sharpshooter in Dürandal. He had incredible eyesight, as I had read about him in the book, he could detect enemies coming to attack Dürandal from 3km away, that's how sharp his instincts where. His name was Simon, quite a human name for a gnome, I had learned he was raised by humans and that would explain his name.
When we reached the house, Corbis was about to knock on it when a big dwarf opened the door.
"Simon told me yer were coming."
"Hello, Gatgas, how have you been?"
"I'm doing great, my friend, how about you?"
"I've never been happier. You haven't come back for potions, what happened?"
"I just haven't finished using the last batch friend, don't worry. Did yer come to just talk or what can I do fer ya?"
"This is my son, Nýr. He's one year old and quite talented in earth magic. I haven't seen anything like it before, I'd risk my knowledge and say he has more talent than you, after all, you're more a warrior than a mage."
Gatgas turned to look at me, he was quite tall for a dwarf.
"Great t' meet ya, boy. I'm great friend of Corbis." he said as a gentle smile appeared on his face.
I hadn't spoken, moved, or done anything. Stable as earth my ass. My mind was completely in rambles, I couldn't even know this was possible! The f*ck!?
The reason I was so shocked was because of the large blue status window I had immediately opened when we first entered.
- - - -
Name: Gatgas Drakemane
Titles: Combat Master, Earth Master, Hammer God
Race: Dwarf
Age: 248 years
Level: 214
XP: 128,000/214,000
Class Mastery: War Maniac
Class: Beast-Warrior
Subclass: War Mage
Professions: [Master Blacksmith Lvl 4]
Passive Skills:
[Inner Beast] SS+
50% Stamina Recovery
50% Magic Power Recovery
50% Increase in Strength
70% Increase in Agility
Beast Instincts
Can contract an additional beast
[The Path of Earth] SS+
70% Increase in effect on Earth-related spells
40% Less cost in Earth spells
80% Resistance against earth element
50% Increase in Stamina
Increased form and mental stability
[One with the hammer] SS
100% Increase in damage dealt when using a hammer
50% Strength increase when using a hammer
150% Strength in the first swing of the hammer(1-day cooldown)
[Warriors Resistance] S+
50% Resistance against fire element
50% Resistance against water element
50% Resistance against demonic ailments
Active Skills:
[Earth Manipulation] S+
Freely manipulate earth, its form, and characteristics, depending on mana used.
[Beast Charge] S
Charge against an enemy, raising your strength by 150% until impact.
[Earth Infusion] S+
Infuse your body, weapons, and armor with the strength of the earth, raising your capabilities by 20%
[Bodily Mastery] S
Complete mastery over your body, granting you a 150% boost in a certain stat depending on the muscle you strengthen.
[Hammer Aura] S+
Strengthen your hammer power by 100%, freely manipulate its aura, changing size, and form.
Stats:
HP: 5710/5710
MP:5100/5100
[Strength: 200][Agility: 204][Stamina: 361][Magic Power: 300]
Stat Points: 0
- - - -
I immediately knew a path I could follow when I saw Gatgas. The broad, black-bearded dwarf with brown eyes had similar skills to Jorrud and me, the only difference is that he was a monster! His HP and MP had reached over 5000, he had many skills that boosted his power by a lot and many skills that boosted his first hit, if someone managed to survive Gatgas first hit, they would be monstrous. His 200 strength plus the earth infusion of 20%, hammer aura of 100%, bodily mastery of 150%, the charge of 150%, 300% from his hammer passive, and 50% from his beastly passive would boost his first attack by 670%.
I was simply astonished by his remarkable strength. He was simply unbeatable in a one on one fight against someone at the same level, plus he also had earth mastery just like me, I would love to see how he used it in a fight. His status had left me so impressed I couldn't respond to his greeting.
"Have you taught him to speak, Corbis?"
"Yes. Nýr, why don't you greet Gatgas?"
"H-hello, sir Gatgas, my name is Nýr!" I timidly said in front of the being with great strength.
"Ho-ho-ho, he can speak! Greetings, kiddo." Yes, I was a kiddo, even Corbis would be a kid compared with you, holy sh*t.
"H-hello."
Gatgas looked at me with a funny grin in his face.
"Simon, come!"
A gnome, with elegant clothing, green eyes, and a fancy haircut, was seen slowly coming down the stairs that I supposed led to the second floor. I immediately opened his status and was shocked once again.
- - - -
Name: Simon
Titles: Master Sharpshooter, Fire Master, Bow God
Race: Gnome
Age: 212
Level: 203
XP: 198,000/203,000
Class Mastery: Infernal Sniper
Class: Sniper
Subclass: Fire Mage
Professions:
[Tinkering Lvl.7]
Passive Skills:
[Eagle Eye] SS+
Drastic Eyesight Improvement
Status Observation
Inhuman Danger Sense
Future Trajectory
[The Path of Fire] SS+
70% Increase in effect on Fire related spells
40% Less cost in Fire spells
80% Resistance against Fire element
50% Increase in Strength
100% Resistance to casters spells
Fiery mental ward
[One with the Bow]
100% Increase in damage dealt when using a bow
50% Increase in stability when using a bow
150% Strength in first arrow shot(1-day cooldown)
[Sniper's Maneuverability]
Flexible body
Can easily climb and move through rough terrain
50% Agility increase when dodging
Active Skills:
[Fire Archer] SS
Freely manipulate fire, its form, and characteristics into the most suitable arrow, power depends on mana used.
[Sniper Aim] Rank S-
Increase damage dealt by 150% after staying still for 5 seconds.
[Bodily Mastery] S
Complete mastery over your body, granting you a 150% boost in a certain stat depending on the muscle you strengthen.
[Expert Escapee] S
Boost your agility by 150% when an enemy gets within 10 meters from you
Stats:
HP: 3800/3800
MP: 5490/5490
[Strength: 259][Agility: 314][Stamina: 180][Magic Power: 349]
Stat Points:0
- - - -
It seemed Gatgas and Simon were quite close friends, since their skills were some-what aiming towards the same thing. Ending the fight smoothly, and early. In one hit. Their abilities were quite similar, yet their age was quite far apart, I supposed Gatgas had quite the influence in Simon, he might've even been somewhat of a mentor.
"Hello, Corbis," said Simon as soon as he was closing upon us.
"Hello Simon, how have you been?"
"I've been fine. You and Fiona?"
"We are great! Nýr has made us quite happily by entering our lives."
"I see. You're quite lucky, my friend." said Simon with a genuine smile.
"Nough chit-chat, I want you to see the kid's status."
Simon immediately turned to look at me and his eyes became like those of an eagle, slowly gazing at my deepest secrets. I felt a bit violated, but there wasn't anything I could do about it.
"So? What do you see, Simon?"
"I can only see his stats and level. It's quite weird, he might have some kind of blessing protecting him from my eyes. He's level 2, STR is 40 AG is 34, STM is 40 and MP is 40."
"He's level 2? Are you sure you're not wrong? How can his stats be higher than mine?" quickly asked Corbis, learning the fact even he didn't know.
"Are you questioning my eyesight, Corbis? I already said he might have some kind of blessing."
"I apologize."
Corbis turned to look at me with a questioning look in his face.
"Nýr? How did you turn level 2?"
"I don't know dad."
"Can ye see what yer status says, kiddo? Do ya have a passive ability?"
"I-i have two passive abilities."
Simon, who had been looking at me quite carefully, immediately stood still, frozen in place, as if looking elsewhere.
"WHAT? TWO?!" surprisedly asked Gatgas.
Simon went running towards a lever in the wall of their house and strongly pulled it down. Gatgas quickly realized the situation and questioned Simon.
"What's coming? How many?" His face instantly turned serious and he went to grab a large and heavy-looking hammer resting beside the door. Simon was already grabbing an elegant black bow with white carvings, he looked awesome, wearing a black leather jacket, some black pants, black boots, and a white shirt. He had several straps of bags around his jacket and several little pouches in his belt.
"7, I don't know what they are. They'll arrive in 5 seconds, it might be wise to call reinforcements."
"5 seconds?! You always warn me 30 minutes in advance! What's their strength?!" Gatgas was quite befuddled.
"I don't know, Gatgas. They're strong. I couldn't detect anything until they were quite close."
*BOOOM*
5 seconds after Simon spoke, we heard something strenuously loud impact the Great Iron Door of Dürandal. Simon pulled another lever and a loud horn immediately rang. It was the horn that signaled an enemy attack, citizens were to head home, and soldiers were to head to the door. Simon rang the horn twice, given the gravity of the situation, people wouldn't expect this, he always warned 30 minutes in advance.
*BOOOM*
*BOOOOM*
*BOOOOOOM*
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
The door kept resisting the enemy hits, we immediately followed Simon and Gatgas outside the house and went closer to the iron door. We stood in front of the Great Iron Door of Dürandal, a door who had never before fallen. The great door had survived thousands of years, enemies, and attacks, yet today, the great door would unexpectedly fall.
"Nýr, Corbis, stay behind me." said Simon, preparing his bow for combat.
"Ya think they pass? Do not worry, the door is stronk."
"Prepare yourself, Gatgas." Simon seriously said.
*BOOOM*
*BOOOOOM
*BOOOOOOOM
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
The loud attacks strenuously sounded throughout Dürandal, it resounded within the whole mountain, that's how strong one could've guessed the attacks to be. The door strongly held, unwavering, unmoving as if the hits were nothing, but then…
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
*CRASH*
The door fell.