"Somewhere in my mind, I must have been prepared for such a sacrifice already. I just hid behind my crippled state and sought the easy way out which doomed my sister to a fate beyond cruel. That Raisman bastard isn't just lecherous; he is a fiend who can put even beasts to shame. So many women have died at his hands after being tortured to death. I just want to prevent my sister from following suit."
Silence took over the study room every time Bruce stopped talking.
Zach didn't say anything at all. He let Bruce empty his heart out but paid attention to every single detail.
"Please help me save my sister. That's what I want to ask of you. I am willing to do anything in my power to pay you back. I am even willing to hand over my soul to you even though it might not be worth very much."
*ding*
[You have successfully triggered a quest by fulfilling the required conditions.]
[A Cripple's Despair]
[Quest Description: The Luther family of Elizabeth city has fallen from grace and is currently under the threat of extermination at the hands of Sosis family and the other vultures of the Elizabeth city. The crippled head of the Luther family 'Bruce' is unable to do anything to prevent the destruction of his family at the hands of those who wish them harm. The sister of the family head has therefore taken it upon herself to save the family by marrying one of their enemies. The head of Luther family is in despair for not being able to save his sister and has therefore requested your assistance in order to save his sister from the despair awaiting her. Accept his request and help Bruce till the end.]
[Quest Clear Condition: Save Bruce's sister as per his request and keep the Luther family from being destroyed.]
[Quest Clear Rewards: …]
[Quest Failure Penalty: …]
[Accept Quest: Y/N]
Zach didn't even think before accepting the quest with all his heart. After the heartfelt story narrated by Bruce, Zach didn't have the heart to reject his request.
Moreover, the triggering of the quest only increased his motivation towards his decision. Quests meant more rewards and more weapons that could potentially increase Zach's strength in this world.
["A Cripple's Despair" has been added to the quest window. The information can be seen on the quest window if required.]
*ding*
[A quest item has been added to the arsenal. It can be retrieved from the arsenal when needed.]
Zach was excited as he had done nothing at all to get an item as a reward just for accepting Bruce's request. Without waiting any further, Zach willed open his weapons arsenal.
As usual the new addition to the arsenal was emboldened so the item was easy to distinguish.
As soon as Zach read the name of the newly received item, the excitement that he had barely been able to contain, vanished without a trace; as if it had never been there in the first place. His face froze and a hint of disappointment appeared on his previously excited face.
The item was called, 'Advanced Limb-Assist Shell'. Although it was an item that was only available towards the later stages of the game Nebula, it had limited use. Only once a player lost their limb in action could they use such an item to maintain their mobility.
Of course the only reason Zach had received such an item early on despite his low level was because it was the requirement of the quest. He needed to help Bruce get back on his feet so that he could get out of the abyss of despair and move on with his life.
The advanced limb-assist shell was capable of not only replacing the missing limb completely but could also enhance the mobility of the individual greatly. Zach knew about the detail because he remembered that the usage of such an item was usually accompanied by a movement speed buff and a slight increase in attack strength, attack speed and defense.
Zach checked the item information just to be sure that the item was exactly as what he remembered. Although he had already seen that the items from Nebula were replicated in their entirety but this time Zach felt that there was a chance of getting something extra ordinary since this was a quest item.
[Advanced Limb-Assisted Shell]
[Physical Damage: +200] [Magic Damage: 0]
[Durability: 100/100]
[Weapon Description: An item created using the advanced concepts of magic and engineering. A highly flexible and tensile metal has been used in the creation of this item as it involves the interlinking of countless intricate pieces that allows it to assume different shape based on the requirement of the wielder. It can be used to replace any missing limb of the body. Not only can the functionality of the limb be replicated but the strength, defense and speed can also be increased slightly.]
[Weapon Skills]
[Touch of Wind]
[Effect: If this item is used to replace a missing foot or leg, the movement speed increases by 50% permanently. If the item is used to replace a hand or arm, the attack speed increases by 50% and retains the buff until the durability of the item falls below 50% of the total durability.]
[Metal Skin]
[Effect: The metal limb increases the defense of the wielder slightly. Low power attacks can be directly stopped using the metal limb without causing any damage to the durability.]
[Polymorph]
[Effect: The magic engineering wonder allows the item to take the shape of any missing limb instantly.]
Zach found that the buff given by this quest item was so nonsensical that he had never seen something like that before in Nebula before. The movement speed and attack speed buff of almost 50% was so high that Zach almost felt jealous of Bruce for being able to use this item.
Being able to become the top gamer in Nebula, Zach wasn't dumb. He knew that the effect of the item were so nonsensical because the system had rewarded him with such an item only because it was supposed to be given to Bruce and wasn't for his own use.
Zach couldn't use it because he wasn't missing a limb. Therefore, system had arranged the item for Bruce to help him with the quest.
Once Zach had understood the effects of the item in their entirety, he proceeded to gain favor of Bruce by offering him a way to move on his own once again.
With an excited smile, Zach turned towards Bruce who had been staring at him earnestly as he waited for Zach's reply.
"Why do you need my help? Why can't you save her yourself?"
Bruce couldn't believe what Zach had asked him. He hadn't expected Zach to be someone who took pleasure in kicking those who were already down especially a cripple like him. He felt betrayed as he had already placed all his trust in Zach.
Bruce felt anger welling up inside of his chest and just as he was about to burst out Zach said something that something that grabbed all his attention and made him forget his earlier anger.
"What if I can make it so that you can protect your sister with your own hands? What would you do?"
Bruce was dumbfounded when he heard Zach's question. Of course Bruce knew that his condition was not permanent since he wasn't born a cripple and had his legs cut off later which could be healed with the help of an S rank healer any of whom were capable of regenerating severed limbs with ease. The only problem was that the services of such individuals were so expensive that all his family's wealth was not enough to make him stand again.
"If such a thing was possible, I would never have waited for someone like you to come along. I would have already taken care of it all on my own." Bruce showed how he felt while clenching his teeth thinking whether such a possibility existed at all.
"I can help you get normal again. Although I can't help you regenerate your feet, the effect won't be any less than that." Zach reassured Bruce whose doubt was constantly rising.
Bruce had not expected that Zach could heal his injury at all. He believed that Zach was a dark mage and there hadn't been a dark mage in history that was capable of regenerating limbs which could only be carried out through healing magic or holy magic which had similar effect.