[Forest Jasper: Also known as Green Jasper, is a stone with earthy green tones. It is often associated with the lushness and vitality of forest landscapes. Forest Jasper is believed to promote growth, abundance, and a deep connection with nature.]
[Forest Jasper: Also known as Green Jasper, is a stone with earthy green tones. It is often associated with the lushness and vitality of forest landscapes. Forest Jasper is believed to promote growth, abundance, and a deep connection with nature.]
[Forest Jasper:.....]
[Emiria's Jasper: Artificially crafted, This jasper is made to activate the small Legacy ruin of Emiria's Grove, it is made to look like a normal forest jasper.]
[Forest Jasper:.....]
Amongst the scattered jasper nestled against the roots of a venerable tree, Koshin's eyes caught one stone whose description differed from the rest.
"Legacy ruin of Emiria's Grove?" Koshin echoed in bemusement whilst walking over. He knelt and scooped the unique jasper into his free hand, scrutinizing it closely. To an ordinary observer, it was identical to the countless others strewn throughout the grove; its significance was only discernible to Koshin due to his unique eyes.
He puzzled over the enigmatic description while turning the stone over in his hands trying to find something physically unique. 'How do I use it to activate this legacy ruin?' he wondered.
Looking around, a sudden realization struck him as his eyes caught sight of another peculiar jasper lying just ahead. Just like before, Koshin moved towards it, curiosity piqued. Then, one by one, he discovered several such stones, each time feeling a stronger pull toward an unseen destination. With each find, he diligently stowed the stones into his satchel, while his mind spun with speculation. 'Is this a trail? Are these jaspers leading me somewhere?'
Upon discovering the eighth jasper, Koshin found himself uncomfortably deep within the confines of Emiria's Grove. He was about to turn back when he stumbled upon the ninth stone. This one rested on what seemed to be a hidden mechanism, a construct expertly concealed by time and nature's unchecked growth.
Only because of his remarkable vision was Koshin able to discern the concealed mechanism beneath the lush moss and grass carpeting it. Its corroded state and the overgrowth cleverly masked its presence from any casual observer, a silent testimony to the passage of time.
Koshin kelt down and caressed the surface of the mechanism, 'There are slots for the eight jaspers I have, If I had to guess, they have to be slotted in these open holes around the 9th one. Is this how I open the legacy ruin?' Koshin questioned while bushing out the empty slots.
Lifting his gaze to the sky, Koshin's eyes narrowed as they swept across the gradually darkening canvas of the sky. He observed the delicate hues of scarlet and gold melting into the deep blue of twilight. Because he got sidetracked he lost track of time forgetting that he had to get back to Void Crow before night.
A sigh slipped past his lips. "Best leave it for tomorrow," he conceded silent. His gaze drifted down from the sky, sweeping across the unfamiliar surroundings, committing to memory how the surroundings looked. His eyes mentally etched the precise location in his mind, a mental post-it note for tomorrow's exploration.
'I should take all the jaspers with me just in case' Koshin thought. Then with a final glance at the terrain, he picked up the 9th jasper and stowed it. He was okay with returning tomorrow, as he would have more time to explore and a lighter load to carry.
With his mind still brimming with unvoiced questions, Koshin couldn't help but mull over the intriguing idea of a legacy. "A legacy? So like an inheritance?" Koshin found himself questioning aloud as he navigated the wilderness back toward Void Crow.
'I wonder, what will I find?' Koshin pondered as he thought about what this legacy could possibly be.
After walking for a few minutes Koshin found himself back on the path to Void Crow and eventually inside. He then sold his findings which netted him a solid 70 copper. After converting his copper into silver, Koshin now had 3 silver on him.
After returning to the inn, Koshin found Eris, the innkeeper, missing. 'She's been going out more often lately,' Koshin mused as he recalled her last mood status, which said 'anxious'.
Meanwhile, Eris was currently chatting with her master about the current situation that was happening. "More cult members have been appearing within the city this past few days, I think whatever they are planning will soon happen" Eris anxiously said.
"Yes, I too have noticed this, from my findings it seems that they are waiting for someone, but my question is why? And why in the city of all places? Sigh~" Eris's master shook her head.
"Shouldn't we report this to the sect? Ask them for support?" Eris suggested.
"No, we have no idea how this will affect the sect or if it even will. For now, yes, we should report this, but asking for reinforcements at this time when we don't even know how this is going to affect the sect will just be a waste. Remember, our job is just to investigate; whatever happens to Void Crow is none of our concern. I'm sure the city lord has that covered.
The Harbingers of Havoc have been a pain in everyone's side for as long as I can remember. It doesn't matter if we get rid of all the ones in Void Crow, as I am sure that more will appear when we leave. We just have to make sure that whatever they are doing doesn't threaten the sect's livelihood." Eris's master explained, she then continued, "Plus, if we do get reinforcements to try to stop them the loss on our side wont be small"
Scrunching her eyebrows Eris responded in a small voice, "I understand" she said as she stared at the floor.
Seeing this, her master tried to alleviate her worries: "Don't worry too much, my child; like I said, from my findings, they seemed to be after a person, not the city or its citizens. Once we find out who it is, we can decide whether to leave that person be or take action.
"Now on to other matters, did you find out about the boy you're currently housing?" she asked.
As her teacher's question broke the silence, Eris' attention snapped back into focus.
"Ah, yes, teacher," she began, her voice clear and steady. "According to the information I've managed to piece together, it appears that the young lad hails from a nearby village known as Teemed. Unfortunately Teemed fell prey to a ruthless band of bandits not too long ago. The villagers fled, and in the chaos of the ordeal, that young boy found his way to Void Crow."
A solemn silence filled the room as Eris shared the somber details. "He wasn't alone, though," she added. " he was accompanied by an elderly gentleman and his family. Tragically, they were not all as lucky in their escape. The older man's wife and his daughter-in-law...they didn't make it, only he, his son, and the boy did."
Eris continued, recalling the horrific account she'd heard. "The boy's arrival here was quite...disturbing. He was drenched in blood from head to toe. From the whispers I've managed to gather, it appears he was sharing the wagon with the others while the old man drove, sadly while escaping tragedy struck."
She then paused and continued, "It seems that a rogue cultivator threw a sword which found its way into their wagon. And in a cruel twist of fate, it claimed the lives of both women in an instant."
"It's said that the sword, once tossed, caused the daughter-in-law's head to explode on impact. The momentum then carried the weapon further into the wagon, and with a gruesome finality, it found its second mark in the older woman's head. It lodged her to the spot she was seated at, leaving a gruesome scene in the wagon for the boy and the old man's son to behold."
"Seems like after arriving at Void Crow the old man took his family away leaving the boy alone to fend for himself, I guess after he was left alone he found himself at my inn"
"After figuring out his backstory I realized why he smelled like that when I first meet him" She paused, stealing a glance at her teacher. Eris's teacher had a contemplative expression on her face, her thoughts a carefully concealed mystery. Eris patiently awaited her response.
Finally, she broke the silence, her voice calm but filled with curiosity. "Eris, can you tell me anything about the boy's life back in his village?"
Thinking, Eris then responded, "Aside from the fact that he is an orphan...I'm afraid I don't know anything else."
Her teacher seemed to take this in, her gaze distant yet focused. "And you said his name was Koshin?" To which Eris shook her head in conformation.
"Is that all you've gathered or noticed about him?" Her master asked.
Her words triggered a cascade of thoughts within Eris. She remembered the silver coin that Koshin had clung to when she first meet him. "He had a silver coin with him," she said, her eyes lighting up with recollection. "I've been wondering about its origin, as no orphan can save that much money. Moreover, his behavior has seen a considerable change since his arrival. He appeared quite nervous and wary at first, but ever since he started on the path of cultivation, his apprehensiveness has vanished. He now carries an air of confidence, so much so that even I can't tell what he's thinking."
"That so?" Eris's master thought as she stared off into an empty space. Leaving Eris to wonder what was going on in her head.
As dawn unfurled its pastel hues across the sky, Koshin gathered his belongings for his journey to Emeria's Grove. He decided to leave earlier than usual as he wanted to give himself enough time to explore.
Like always, the journey to Emeria's Grove was uneventful. After Koshin reached the grove, he retraced his steps, the memory of his route as clear as the sunlight streaming through the trees.
He quickly arrived at the spot with the mechanism, looking down at it as he steeled his nerves. He took a deep breath, the forest air filling his lungs, and declared, "Alright, time to see what this does."
Carefully, he took the jaspers out and placed them into the slots on the mechanism's face. One by one, the stones settled with an audible click, but once the last one was in place, an eerie silence fell around him.
Nothing happened. Koshin frowned, the lines on his forehead etching deeper into his skin. "Am I missing something?" he murmured, the words echoing off the silent trees around him.
Before he could delve into what could be the cause, the ground shook violently beneath him. "What?!" he exclaimed, his heart pounding wildly as he widened his stance so as to not fall down. A square hole then materialized seemingly out of thin air one meter in front of him in an empty space.
After the shaking calmed down, Koshin inwardly questioned, 'Is that it? The legacy?' he thought as he looked at the hole.
Approaching the aperture cautiously, Koshin peered into the void, his eyes straining to make out something - anything - in the abyss. What he saw made him cautious. A set of stone stairs, cracked and worn by the passage of time, disappearing into the inky blackness below.
'Dark,' Koshin thought, the single word echoing in his mind. It was then that a memory surfaced, a discovery he had made about his eyes. While training in the Omni-Realm Koshin found a peculiar trait of his eyes, it was the ability to see the text box even with his eyes closed.
This lead him into testing what the Omni-Eyes could do once he closed them, and to his surprise, he found that if he focused enough, he could still see even if his eyes were closed.
With a curious spark in his mind, Koshin thought, 'I wonder, would that work?' He concentrated, narrowing his mental scope to his vision, and gradually, the darkness brightened, unveiling what the inside of the hole looked like. Then, breaking his focus, the hole plunged back into darkness. A smirk tugged at the corners of Koshin's mouth. 'Nightvision... the Omni-Eyes truly is extraordinary,' he mused, readying himself to venture into the mysterious depths, guided by his newfound ability to see in the dark.
Embracing his newfound night vision, Koshin peered at the encircling walls. They were stark and unadorned, rough-hewn stones that bore the mark of centuries past. Although Koshin could see in the dark now, he was still unable to see further down, as his gaze was obstructed by the stone staircase snaking to the left, the next section of his path shrouded in mystery.
A breathy chuckle slipped past his lips, echoing softly in the narrow passage. "Well, no risk, no reward," he muttered to himself. A spark of adrenaline coursed through his veins, filling him with a sense of boldness. Slowly, cautiously, he placed one foot on the staircase, embarking on his descent into the unknown.
The steps stretched on endlessly, a seemingly infinite loop of twists and turns that twisted his sense of time and direction. Koshin couldn't help but wonder, 'Does it end?' He had been treading on the same cold, unyielding stone path for what felt like an eternity - or, more accurately, a wearisome ten minutes. The monotony was broken only by the abrupt bends that led him deeper into the labyrinthine staircase.
Just as the sameness threatened to numb his senses, a break in the pattern startled him. "Huh? An exit?" He blurted out in surprise, catching sight of a broader space ahead. It bore the unmistakable resemblance to the mouth of a cave, a gaping maw ready to swallow him whole. As he neared this unexpected landmark, his gaze was drawn to the left wall, where a series of strange symbols were etched into the stone.
The symbols, a tantalizing puzzle in this subterranean world, seemed to dance and shimmer under his gaze. Their mysterious allure served as a new challenge for any normal person, a tantalizing enigma wrapped within the confines of the age-old stone.
But that was only when it came to someone normal, for someone like Koshin he had the tools needed to help him.
⌈⍎-⍙-⍢-⍥-⌽-⍫⌋
Looking at the random symbols left Koshin confused as he had never seen any language like this, 'Maybe [Analyze] will help.' Koshin thought.
[Testing Cave] - [Language Used - Eldraline]
'So it's a testing cave...' Koshin realized, tracing his fingers gently over the cryptic symbols. 'And the language used is Eldraline.' The realization sparked a thread of curiosity in him. 'I'll delve deeper into the history of this language if I get a chance. But for now...' His gaze darkened, his thoughts turning serious. 'I need to tread carefully with this "test".'
With a wary sense of caution, he stepped through the yawning mouth of the cave, his straw sandals echoing off the vast, hollow chambers. The subterranean gloom was a stark contrast to the lush forest he had left behind, the oppressive silence amplifying the sounds of his movements.
After entering, the walls flanking the cave entrance began to glow, alight with the luminescence of myriad symbols. They flickered like ghostly fireflies, casting an eerie, azure illumination across the cave. A sudden blue barrier sprang up, sealing off the entrance and making Koshin instinctively step back.
Quickly regaining his composure, Koshin activated [Analyze], his eyes locking onto the floating symbols that shimmered within the barrier. They danced in the air, teasing him with their cryptic allure, challenging him to decipher them.
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[Tier 5] [Mortal Ruin] - [Aegis Azure Ruin]:Description: [The Aegis Azure Ruin radiates a vibrant, light blue aura when activated, forming a resilient qi shield around the area carved. The shield possesses enhanced durability, capable of withstanding moderate-level attacks and providing a notable defense against physical and qi-based assaults. While still considered a relatively weak defense ruin, the Aegis Azure Ruin offers cultivators a reliable and fortified layer of protection and is relatively easy to make.]
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"A ruin?" Koshin confused muttered. He had never heard anything about things like this, but before he could think about it Koshin heard a rumbling sound behind him.
Looking behind, he saw a small crystal orb with a red dot violently spinning in the air.
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[Crystalline Orb]: This orb is used to store a person's blood and plays a practical role in certain ruin-making. When incorporated into ruin carvings, the orb enables the transfer of unique traits and energies from the blood to the ruin, granting it the properties of the blood's owner.
[Tier 3] [Spirit Ruin] - [Terra Echo Projection]: Description: [ The Terra Echo Projection ruin harnesses the power of the Crystalline Orb to create an earth clone infused with the essence of the blood contained within. Activating this ruin initiates a remarkable process, as the orb's energy resonates with the surrounding earth, forming an ethereal connection. Through intricate engravings and channeling techniques, the ruin materializes a solid earth clone, bearing the unique characteristics and abilities of the individual from whom the blood was obtained.]
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'Not good!' Koshin internally shouted as he read the information from [Analyze]. His heart pounded against his ribcage like a war drum, each beat underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Without warning, the orb began to exert an inexplicable gravitational force, pulling the surrounding earth towards it in an ominous spectacle.
The cave walls shook and groaned as layers of rock and sediment were stripped away, swirling towards the orb to form a rough, earthen ball. Dust filled the air, the metallic scent of the exposed mineral mixing with the earthy musk of the dirt.
Before Koshin's wide eyes, the earthen ball began to morph. It smoothed out its rough exterior, the grainy texture giving way to a polished finish. Slowly, it sculpted itself into a humanoid figure - tall and imposing, but devoid of any distinguishing features. It was a monolith of stone, an uncanny echo of human form birthed from the very soil of the cave.
Koshin's heart skipped a beat as a sword materialized in the hand of the Earth clone. The weapon was as rugged and raw as its wielder, hewn from the same unyielding earth.
As soon as the stone sword took form the clone then took on an attacking stance, Koshin could see the lethal intent shimmering in its stance. The cave, once filled with the silence of centuries, now reverberated with the throbbing tension of an impending confrontation.
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-Status
Name: Landon (Earth Clone)
Age: 33
Sex: N/A
Race: Human
CR - [Tier 3 ] Infinitesimal State
Mood: N/A
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'Come on Koshin, you can do this' Koshin assured himself while waiting on the earth clone Landon to make the first move.
He didn't have to wait long as Landon quickly launched itself towards him, raising its sword high in the air.
Upon getting closer it brought down the sword with incredible speed. Yet to Koshin it was as slow as a slug. Koshin who had [Intense Focus] activated quickly jumped away as he deactivated it.
After landing Koshin took the satchel off his shoulder and threw it to the side.
Landon quickly recovered from its miss, the raw strength of the earth clone as unwavering as the stone it was carved from. Only a fleeting moment passed before it launched itself at Koshin once again, its stone form blurring into motion before a storm of slashes then descended from every direction.
Koshin's mind raced while dodging the relentless assault. 'Left, right, down,' his thoughts oscillated in rhythm with the danger. His muscles strained and reacted as his mind under [Intense Focus] told it where to move.
A bitter realization seeped into Koshin's thoughts as he narrowly escaped a slash aimed at his torso. 'Dodging won't win me this fight,' he acknowledged, simultaneously ducking under a violent cut meant to take his head.
Koshin's focus remained unbroken even as he ducked, his gaze trained on Landon's movements. He then saw the subtlest shift in the earth clone's stance, a deft circular twist of the wrist, changing the trajectory of the missed attack. The unexpected motion caught Koshin off guard, but the surprise barely registered in his mind before the imminent danger presented itself.
'A feint?!' Koshin's mind screamed, an instant before Landon's sword, a force of nature in its own right, started its downward journey towards his head.
With a surge of adrenaline, Koshin threw himself to the side, his body hitting the cold floor of the ruins. A metallic resonance resounded as the stone sword cleaved the air where he stood moments ago, echoing ominously in the cavern. The earth clone's sword slammed into the ground, slicing through solid rock as if it was mere parchment.
Seizing the moment, Koshin rolled back onto his feet with a swift, fluid motion, wasting not a moment's breath. He then shot towards Landon, as he planned to be the attacker this time.
As he drew closer, Landon responded, its stone arm slashing at Koshin's head with deadly intent.
Reacting with lightning-fast reflexes, Koshin ducked low, his crouched body sliding beneath the lethal arc of Landon's sword, the echoing swish of missed contact filling his ears. The inertia carried Koshin closer to Landon's towering figure. Koshin's arm then coiled back like a spring, and he released a punch, channeling every ounce of his strength into his fist.
The punch landed dead center on Landon's chest, a muffled thud resonating through the silent ruin. But, to Koshin's bewilderment, Landon remained as unmoved as a mountain, utterly unfazed. 'Impossible!' Koshin thought, his mind reeling from the unexpected development.
Affording Koshin no room for thought, Landon's stone arm swung in a wide arc, the gleaming sword aiming to cut him in half. 'MOVE!' A primal yell echoed through the corridors of Koshin's mind. His body, responding to the survival instinct, barely skirting the razor-sharp edge of the stone sword.
Koshin felt a sharp, searing sting bloom across his chest. He glanced down to see a thin crimson line etched into his flesh, he could feel the blood trickling down his torso under his robe. 'This... is getting dangerous,' Koshin thought, the gravity of his situation sinking in. The desperate intensity in his eyes hardened into steely resolve. 'It's time to end this.' His entire being then narrowed into a razor-sharp focus as he prepared to activate [Accelerator].
The surrounding atmosphere morphed, taking on a palpable tension as Koshin entered the first revolution of [Accelerator]. He felt an electric surge of power course through his veins, lighting up every fiber of his being. He crouched low, his straw sandals burst as they dug into the solid stone floor. With a low rumble, the ground beneath him cracked, succumbing to the immense pressure.
In a sudden explosive burst, Koshin shot forward, crossing the distance between him and Landon at a speed that would be barely visible to an ordinary eye. He appeared in front of the earth clone, his fist already lunging towards its stony countenance before it could mount a defense.
Upon impact, Landon's rock-solid head shattered into myriad fragments, a cloud of dust and debris billowing around them. In the same fluid motion, Koshin grabbed Landon's left arm, twisted his body, and released his grip. The clone was sent spiraling through the air, crashing into the ancient cave wall with a deafening blast, a large dent marking its brief resting place.
'Is it over?' Koshin mused internally, his body then tensing as he heard the unsettling sound of shifting rubble. His question was answered as Landon burst from the debris, its shattered head rapidly reforming. The stone sword, broken in the impact, was whole again, gleaming menacingly in its hand.
'Never is,' Koshin thought grimly, his focus zeroing in on his opponent. 'So, it regenerates... Then how do I kill it? Wait, the crystal... It's in the chest if I recall correctly.'
With a newfound target, Koshin charged at Landon once again. However, his advance was met with a sudden eerie glow that enveloped Landon's stone sword. 'What now?' Koshin thought, barely having a moment to react before Landon swung the sword. Arcs of blinding white light then exploded from the sword, streaking toward Koshin with the intent to kill.
Koshin swerved and twisted, each of his movements narrowly avoiding the fatal arcs of light. The ground and walls around him bore the brunt of the missed strikes, the energy gouging deep, terrifying scars into the stone. 'One touch from those... and I'm done for,' Koshin realized, his heart pounding as he continued his perilous dance around the arcs.
Despite the onslaught, Koshin edged closer to Landon, his movements a blend of precision and evasion. The stone behemoth attempted to cut him down with a swift side slash as he closed the distance. But Koshin was quicker, closing in and grabbing onto Landon's massive right arm with his skinny left one.
Unable to move, Landon tried to shield its chest like it knew what was coming, its free arm moving in a futile attempt to block Koshin's incoming attack. But Koshin was unperturbed, his other arm drawing back before it rocketed forward, his fist meeting stone with unrelenting force.
The collision was catastrophic. Landon's arm and torso disintegrated under the sheer power of Koshin's punch, its stone body crumbling to dust. The Crystalline Orb, the heart of the stone clone, exploded, a fine mist of residual blood splattering onto Koshin's clenched fist.
The cavern shuddered around him, the tremors signifying the end of the test. The barrier that once confined him dissipated, freeing the exit. On the other side of the cave, a new entrance yawned open, the digit '2' etched beside it, silently telling Koshin that there was more.
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[Absorb Blood] - [Landon] - Yes/No]
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"Yes," Koshin said as he deactivated [Accelerator]
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[Blood absorbed, [Landon] blood clone is now useable.]
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Koshin's gaze shifted from the newly-formed '2' back to the ominous entrance leading to another unknown. 'Should I? Well, makes no sense to stop now,' he thought, a newfound resolve firming his features.
His eyes fell upon his satchel, discarded earlier amidst the chaos of the fight. He strode over to it, his movements unhurried yet filled with purpose. Bending over, he then hoisted the bag onto his shoulder.
With one last look at the remnants of the defeated Landon, Koshin turned towards the looming entrance, the dimly lit path beckoning him into its depths. His footsteps echoed through the silence of the ruin as he ventured onward into the unexplored corridor, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him.