Chapter 04: Old Man
Volume 01: Another Life
'I have 5 gold already. Most large guilds are probably barely beginning to migrate together into different towns to start creating parties to farm quests and leveling zones for some measly coppers. It will be quite some time before anyone even gets even close to 1 gold piece seeing as 100 copper equals one silver and 10 silver is a single gold piece.'
Walking through the crowded street began a market where stalls were lining the streets on either side of the road with NPCs of different ages manning each stall. Everyone shouted out their wares and their outstanding prices that beat out the competitors next door. Almost all these wares were not passing a couple of copper pieces in value aside from your regular scam items that were priced way above their own value to trick newbie players to purchase with their starting copper pieces.
'There won't be too much for me to spend on while still in the beginner's town as I will not be able to head over to a city until I kill at least one mob.' This is why finding decent equipment will be needed as it will last me until I get to a city.
Searching further into the market Isaias stalked up on 1 silver worth of common health potions, before spotting a peculiar old man sitting far behind all the ordinary stalls within one of the alleyways connecting the market to a dead-end.
'I have played this game long enough to know that old man sitting over there must be no ordinary merchant. I would have to be stupid to not go check what he has sprawled on the floor before him.'
Scooting between the stalls of the potion cart he had just made a purchase from, and another leatherworking stall Isaias made his way into the alleyway stepping towards the old man deep within the alley.
*UGH*
'What the hell is this I feel like I cannot even move any closer to the old man. There seems to be a field trying to keep me away from that old man.'
Thinking for a while Isaias came up with an explanation. 'This is exciting this must be a special hidden traveling merchant from another empire.'
The regular old man with a wrinkly face and grey hair seemed not to care about the young man that was stopped 10 meters away from his sitting position as he even moved to begin lying down behind his items that are sprawled on a black cloth on the floor.
'I can do this. This is a starting town so it could not possibly be that difficult.'
Succeeding in taking his first step toward the old man followed by his second, third, fourth, and his fifth step falling to one knee.
'What the hell is a person like this doing in a starter town? I was barely able to make it these last 5 steps with everything I had. Even having superior starting stats with an ancient class, I still couldn't move more than 5 steps without falling. I would hate to spend my stat points without any idea for the future, but I need to pass this trial to see what that old man has.'
'*Ding*'
[ Broken Limits | Class Quest | Ancient Quest]
[Break through your limits achieving a minimum of 10 steps toward the mysterious traveling merchant.]
[Reward: Drunken Mantis Fighting Technique and choice of 1 item of the merchants]
[Failure: -1 level of a class-specific skill and also lose the chance of learning the Drunken Mantis Fighting style]
'What the hell? I guess I can't fail as this penalty is rather harsh. Drunken Escape is only Level 1, and it is my only class-specific skill if it loses one level then I would be losing not one but two skills as I will not be able to learn the new one either.'
Catching his breath Ryan activated his only skill. Suddenly the atmosphere around him began to change being filled with his own aura. Suddenly feeling lighter he began making his next 4 steps in the form of a crawl as he moved across the floor on his knees.
Suddenly the old man that was lying down before suddenly began sitting up and looking over in Isaias's direction. Heavy pressure fell onto his body smashing him onto the ground before he could achieve his final step.
Meeting the eyes of the old man he was able to see the swirling of what seemed to be an entire galaxy.
"Get up." A strong voice filled with an unknown sense of suppression came from the old man still sitting in place staring at him.
'What the hell is this? Why suddenly did the suppression get stronger? Did using my aura count as cheating or a bug to surpass this trial easier? If so, then is the system making it up by making the NPC stop me from making the final step? No, that cannot be possible this is a class quest and if I wasn't even able to use my class abilities then what is the point.' Gowning on the floor Isaias turned his head to leave the eyes of the old man.
While on the floor Isaias began to close his eyes.
'It has to be something with my aura.'
As Isaias began to observe his own aura, he began to be able to feel it swirling around himself. As he did this, he could feel the suppressing force over him also felt a bit familiar as it seemed to be much like his own aura. His own blood began to boil and shake happily as it began to meld more and more with the suppressing aura as if eating it all up like a predator that finally found food after being starved.
"HAHAHAHAH. You are just like that stupid man when things do not go their way they take from others. You are a smart one even when faced against a wall. No wonder he chose you to be his successor." The old man bellowed loudly at the struggling young man still a couple of feet away from himself.
'I was right this does have something to do with my aura. I must succeed to find out more about my class and this aura. The first thing I should target is this old man as he seems to know something about where this class originates from.' Steeling his mind Isaias began thinking of different ways to cross the last couple of feet.
'If the quest is only to get closer, then I may be able to steal a couple more feet by melding my aura into his completely. This way it can act as my own allowing me to quickly move past.'
Isaias still lying down but slightly squirming his body sideways so his chest and frontside were now facing the old man. He began to roll as his aura slowly pushed its way forward becoming one with the suppressing force above him.
The mysterious old man contemplated to himself watching the young man begin to roll on the floor towards him. 'That old idiot chose a good one. This is only possible because he has that person's aura, I never would have thought about using my own aura to meld with another creating a new domain to allow my gravitational aura to become his. Well, they are both quite similar in this respect as they are rather innovative in how they go about completing seemingly impossible tasks. Most people would have tried to be stupidly noble and try to stand up in my aura only to be crushed repeatedly till they eventually lost hope and never make the final stretch.'
Ever so slowly Isaias's body began to roll forward another step closer to the old man.
'I did it.' A large, tired smile began to cover Isaias's worn-out face which was still plastered on the floor.
The heavy aura from before disappeared from the alleyway as if just an illusion in his mind.
[Ancient Quest Completed]
[Hidden Class Quest Completed]
[Reward: Drunken Mantis Fighting Technique and 1 item from the old man's wares]
The reward message appeared in his mind.
"Come over boy. You have earned the right to look over some of my wares and take this technique ability." The old man motioned with his hands to come over as he handed me a leather book and as his hand made contact with the book a notification popped up on his face.
[Skill Learned | Drunken Mantis Fighting Technique]
"These are my wares you may choose from for achieving such a feat young man. Choose one." His strong voice picked Isaias up from the floor.
"You may have 3 different options here. You may choose one for free being the first adventurer to pass my trial." The old man said while all except 3 items disappeared from the piece of cloth lying in front of him.
Isaias began to analyze the 3 items in front of him.
[Ring of Insight | Ultra-Rare Accessory]
[Ring made from light steel blessed by a priest from the Holy Order. Allows the user to use skill [Judgement] 3 times per day.]
[Usage Restriction- Bonded upon Equipping]
[Fragment of the Forgotten | Fragmented Mythical (1/4) Treasure Map]
[This fragment will lead the holder to the Forgotten. Completion of this map will allow the user to find one of the Ruins of the Forgotten.]
[Usage Restriction- None]
[Cloak of the Unseen | Legendary Armor]
[Prevents others from prying into the weaknesses or identity of the wearer. No analyzing spell or skills below mythical grade will be able to see through the cloaking of the user.]
[Stats: +20% to base movement speed when in the dark or shadows.]
[Usage Restriction: Bonded Upon Equipping]
'These items are amazing, but there are only two items that draw my interest. The cloak and the treasure map fragment would be the best for my development, but what are the chances of coming across those last parts of the map fragments? I need something that will benefit me now and the cloak will help my speed which is already quite high and most importantly be able to travel unhindered as current players will be unable to gauge my identity. I will be able to move unhindered and unsearchable if I come into an altercation with any guilds. I think that for now, this is the best choice.'
"Your wares are rather mysterious and magical indeed. As I may only choose 1 item, I'd like to choose the cloak." Hesitation was heard in his voice still side-eyeing the treasure map rolled up on the floor.
"You seem to be hesitant about choosing the cloak young man." The old man gave a wry smile eyeing the young man standing in front of him.
"Yes sir, I would be lying if I said I wasn't interested in the treasure map. With my current strength and goals, I do not think possessing this map will help me grow as quickly as the cloak will. As it may serve to become a hindrance to my growth fantasizing about completing the map." Isaias shook his head turning his head to only focus on the midnight black cloak in front of him.
'This young man is very mature for his age seeing past the falsehood of owning an empty item. Rather he thought about what he needed for his current growth and took it. That lazy idiot for an old man got himself a good one indeed. I only thought he was rather clever before, but this shows his mind is mature and he has a clear goal.' The wry smile turned into an actual smile that overtook his seemingly wrinkled face.
"Good young man here is the cloak. Also, here is a gift for allowing me to see one of the inheritors of the Forgotten. I wish I would have run into you before that old man as you could have been my inheritor." The old man handed over the cloak and a piece of paper before disappearing along with all the items that were laid out across the floor.
'What I got two items isn't this better than most Ultra-rare quests? I also got some important information about my class as it must be one of the famous 13 Forgotten Hero classes. I wonder which number class I got. It would be nice if I found one of the top 5 hero classes as they are supposed to be broken.'
Snapping out of his daze Isaias began to exit the alleyway heading back out into the market to gather more materials for himself to head out into the wilderness.
…....
Back in the Town's Tavern
If Isaias were present, he would see two familiar people sitting inside the tavern drinking together. One behind the bar and the other sitting on one of the many wooden stools in the empty tavern.
"You picked a good one you lazy old shit." The mysterious old man with grey hair called out to the man standing behind the counter sipping on a mysterious wine in a mug.
"Ahhhhh, you went to meet him. Is that why you traded for my skill book to make up an excuse to run into him? Also, I did not pick him. I think it would be more proper to say that he found me. Maybe this is his fate to take on my mantle to achieve what I never could as the world is changing with more and more adventures. Speaking of which you gave the boy a rather expensive item plus the map. Why?" The giant barbarian-looking man slowly started to change as his feature began to become older.
"Just like what you said I also wish for him to achieve what you could not and find the temples. Especially since the inspector has already left since there is only one more inheritor to be given besides my own."
"Yes, I felt them leave too once I handed over my position. Hopefully, his world is ready."
Both old men took a rather big chug at the drinks in their hands as they thought about the situation that was about to begin.