The battle to the top of the Demon Lord's mountain had be long and strenuous. Alas the party had made it to the final keep where the Demon Lord was at last sated. The large mountain fortress had been a long trek filled with high level monsters like Orc Kings, Hobgoblins, even a Lich King.
"Finally, i never thought we would get here!" a large man in a loin cloth and leather vest exclaimed as the rest of the party sat down to replenish their energy.
"Garned, just because you are a Barbarian doesn't mean that you have to be so loud." a feminine voice scolded Garned from under a large hat and a blue cloak.
"Ah, Priculsa. I thought i might have to carry you the last leg of the journey." Garned retorted to the woman. Pulling his battle axe out, two smaller hand axes swinging dangerously.
The woman stood up suddenly, coming up to the barbarian's belly. A crackle of energy could be heard as a ball of lightning appeared in her hand.
" I'm sorry you big oaf, would you can to repeat that?" Pricusla asked, with a strained smile.
" Garned. Pricusla. Save your energy. This will be our toughest battle yet." a masculine voice spoke from under a dark brown cloak.
" Wayland, he started it." Pricusla whined, her Lightning Ball diminishing with a final zap.
" Firuas, have you spotted anything that might hinder us?" Wayland asked a spot on the wall as a man materialized from it.
" The body guards are missing. Only the Demon Lord is the only enemy left in this place." Firuas stated coming back from his reconnaissance. This man was dressed in ninja fashion only his eyes being seen.
"This smells fishy. I think we should proceed with caution." a female elf stated in a bored tone. This woman on light leather armor, across her back was a great bow and two short swords on the small of her back.
" I agree with Synclade. Something is off." a large reptilian man spoke up, his tongue flicking out tasting the air.
" I know, but when will we have another chance to save the world. This is our final chance, Trusga." Wayland told the Lizardman.
"So we as a party have two choices. Let the Demon Lord destroy the world and let all those who died in vain be forgotten. Or we can go in there and kill this bugger once and for all."
There was a short silence as this proposal was thought about by the group.
Suddenly a high pitch voice drew attention of the party.
" I say we go in." the voice stated, coming from a fairy.
"Gralie, are you okay? That last battle took a lot out of you." Wayland told the fairy.
" I'll be fine. Yggdrasil heals it's High Priestess' quickly." Gralie confirmed, twirling slightly. Showing that she was fully healed.
"Alright, but pull out if it starts to get to dangerous. You are our last resort." Wayland cautioned the fairy.
Gralie nodded, knowing that Yggdrasil held the world in balance. It was Gralie's sire who had given them this quest. Destroy the Demon Lord, revert the dark creatures to their domain and return the balance to normal.
Wayland slowly raised his head up, his face being revealed. A long scar ran across his upper left forehead across his eye hooking down to his left side of his jaw.
"Holy refreshment." Wayland spoke, shedding a white light from his body, covering his companions with healing light. After drinking a mana potion to replenish his mana level, he picked up his weighted staff.
"Let's go banish a Demon Lord." Wayland told his party. "Chaos Eaters, let's go."
The heavy stone doors swung open creaking from the years of neglect.
The doors opened to a dark throne room, bare of everything except a throne half cloaked in darkness.
"Ah, the vengeful party has finally emerged. Long have i awaited your arrival. For within your group comes my end and a new beginning." a cold voice whispered as the party entered.
"Demon Lord Tiraus, the world tree has judged and marked you for banishment." Wayland announced, flooding the dark room with holy light.
The light revealed several bodies surrounding the throne. All the bodies were shriveled and mummified. The figure on the throne rose up, a thin faced man in a dark cloak with blood red armor. His sleek jet black hair held in place by a onyx circlet.
"By the roots of Yggsdrasil. He used his own guards as an energy source to renew his mana and health." Picusla informed everyone, horrified by the thought of what demonic magic could do.
" Get ready everyone." Wayland ordered, throwing his cloak off. Holy light emitted from his body, the tattoos on his body pulsing forth a golden white light.
Tiraus hissed slightly from the holy light. The rest of the party rushed forward, assuming battle positions.
Garned and Trusga swung their weapons with tremendous strength, only to be stopped by thin hand with claw like fingers right before the weapons could score across the evil beings throat.
"Begone you insects." Tiraus spoke as the man threw the large Barbarian and Lizardman into the pillars. The resulting force broke chunks from the structure.
Firuas appeared from the shadows slashing downward with his daggers. They made no purchase as Tiraus easily sidestepped the attack grabbing the ninja by the arms. Throwing him into Priculsa who had been gathering energy for a large scale spell, both slammed hard into the wall causing a crater to form.
Wayland rushed forward with Gralie, his battle staff swung downward. Tiraus blocked the attack with his arm, pain spouted from the blow. The Demon Lord swatted the fairy away as it started to cause roots to wrap around his legs.
Out of all the party, this man would be the hardest to beat. Not only did he have holy light, which severely hurt the dark being. His strength was stronger than the Barbarians.
Tiraus grabbed Wayland by the throat, slowly crushing his airway. Tiraus then started feeding off the man's life force, replenishing his own.
"Your party is filled with trash. I do not know how you wormed your way here. It has all been for not." Tiraus announced, "What makes you think that you could ever defeat me."
"You forgot one thing." Wayland gasped, feeling his life drain slowly as Tiraus slowly stole his life force.
"What would that be worm?" the Demon Lord asked in a snarling face.
" We have a sniper. Holy Bind. Now Synclade!" Wayland yelled as the holy light pinned Tiraus to the spot in front of him.
Suddenly a large light arrow shot through both Wayland and Tiraus pinning the two together.
Tiraus coughed up blood as the arrow pierced his heart. The blood splattered on Wayland's face. Slowly the light arrow melted into nothingness as Wayland fell back.
Synclade rushed forward catching Wayland, cradling the man as he laid dying.
"You idiot. Why did you do that?" Synclade asked, her eyes wet with tears.
"We both know that... when a light arrow... is shot... it can't be stopped." Wayland told her through gasps of breaths.
" My only... regret... is not... living long... enough to.. be with... you, my love." Wayland informed her before his last breath was released.
" I know my love. I'll find you in the next life." Synclade told him her tears mixing with the demon lord's blood on her love's face. She kissed him lightly on the lips.
Wayland's spirit drifted toward the edge of oblivion. The pain of how he was leaving his friends and his love behind. All the people that had died were now avenged.
All of their thoughts, dreams, and desires and built up until Synclade and Wayland had both confessed their love to one another.
It was this power of love, sacrifice, and darkness that meet the requirments for a special quest.
*Ding*
A small screen suddenly appeared in front of Wayland.
Wayland looked at the details of the quest.
Wayland stared at the screen for a second, wondering if this was some cosmic joke.
" I accept." Wayland announced, he would be able to change the outcome that had doomed his friends and loved one.
Suddenly another screen popped up.
'Huh? A class change.' Wayland thought, 'I wonder what i could get?'
Options for class change: Holy Bishop, High Mage, Paladin.>
Wayland reached out to touch the Holy Bishop, right before he touched it a large error screen popped up.
A new screen popped up with a set of different classes.
'Huh? Contamination?' Wayland thought, suddenly a vision of Tiraus coughing blood on him came to mind.
'Even in death, that guy was a prick.' Wayland thought to himself.
"Information on Classes." Wayland spoke to the screen.
Dread knight: A strong demonic soldier that can evolve into a Dreadnaught then into a Dreadnaught General. Must serve the Demon Lord to survive.
Strengths: Strength and command of lesser demons at higher levels.
Weaknesses: Holy magic, fire magic. Can be banished to the Void.
Lich Mage: An undead mage that can evlove into a Lich Archmage then into a Lich Grand Archmage. May serve the Demon Lord to survive.
Strengths: High mana reserve, intense magical attacks, and low resistance to holy magic.
Weaknesses: Physical harm, fire magic, continual rot.
Necromancer: A human mage that can summon shadow warriors to help them in battle. Further leveling evolves into Shadow Lord, final evolution is King of the Shadows. Can choose not to serve the Demon Lord.
Strengths: Resistance to most magic, shadow summon, and shadow command.
Weaknesses: Physical harm, holy magic, and low stamina.>
'Well the Dread Knight is out due to having to serve the Demon Lord. The Lich Mage seems nice, but the physical damage would suck. With the Necromancer i would be able to strengthen my body and stamina over time. Plus i would be human again.' Wayland analyzed the classes.
"Class Change: Necromancer." Wayland told the screen.
Suddenly Wayland jolted up in a bed made of straw.
Looking around he saw that he was in his old house on the edge of the Grand Forest of Drigun.
'Wait, if i'm here then...' Wayland's thoughts were interrupted by a knocking at the door.
The door opened to show his mother standing in the entrance smiling.
"Are you gonna stay in bed all day, you sleepy head? It's time to get up and head to the Academy." his mother opened the curtains to allow the early morning light to stream in.
Getting up from his bed he rushed to his mother, wrapping her in a tight hug.
"Are you okay? Did you have a bad dream again?" his mother asked in a soothing voice, gently rubbing his head.
"Yeah, it was just a bad dream. I'll get read for the Academy now." Wayland informed her as he went over to his dresser to get out his new uniform that had been bought for him that day.
Suddenly a screen popped up.
'Huh, multipule quests this early? I wonder what it could be.' Wayland thought curiously, 'Quest Details.'
Rewards: Gain an ally.
Do you accept?
Daily Quest: Do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, run 1 kilometer. Reward + 1 to stamina and health. Failure to complete will result in a penalty.>
'An ally this early. I think my first friend was Priscula, she was being bullied on the first day and I helped her out.' Wayland remembered from his past life. 'Accept Quest'
'Let's see where my stats are at.' Wayland thought as he got dressed in his new uniform.
*Ding*
'My stats are basic for my level. I was a weak kid to begin with.' Wayland thought. 'I had better get going or i'll be late.'
His mother wishing him a good day as he headed out the door to the academy.
Wayland ran to the academy as he looked through his screens learning what he could.
Torso: Academy Shirt +1 to Defense
Pants: Academy Pants +1 to Defence
Shoes: Academy Shoes +1 to Agility
Left Hand: Book bag + 10 lbs carry weight
Right Hand: None
Accessories: None>
'It's not much, looks like basic equipment.' Wayland noticed as he scrolled through the screen.
*Ding*
< You have ran 1/1 kilometer.
0/100 push-ups.
0/100 sit-ups.
Stamina used 6/10 remaining.
Stamina will be replenished to full in 2 hours.>
'Well the school is about 1.5 kilometers away, so running the kilometer is easy.' Wayland thought as he slowed down to reserve his stamina level.
He stood in front of the Academy as he sorted through his thoughts and feelings.
From his former life he remembered that there were three programs the students could enter from the beginning of the start.
Fighting, Magic, and Stealth.
From there the students would pick their classes and studies from there. Parties were allowed to be formed when a certain criteria was meet. Most of the Parties were made of second to seventh year students. The first year was more about getting a grasp of what class you had chosen.
"Well, let's get this over with." Wayland told himself. He then entered through the gates for his first day at the Academy.