Ganeer smiled revealing shimmering yellow teeth, "Nice to meet ya Goldilocks. You're bunking with Norris. Don't let him steal ya shit. Cause he will, then I'll have to beat his ass to get it back. But I don't like beating the snot out of little brats like Norris. And I like snitches that rat on our people even less."
Drake smiled wryly, nodding back.
A very heavy hand landed on his shoulder, "Good! You'll fit right in with us bastards!" Ganeer bellowed with a laugh.
"He won't be doing nothing if he's as weak as he looks," scoffed Kuuwei.
"Now, now," an angelic voice cooed from behind Kuuwei, "Tan is bringing him to us. There must be something more to this…dashing young man…"
Drake felt a familiar chill run down his spine. As if he was being sized up as a delicious meal.
"Enough speculation. Rest up for the night, we are going out again tomorrow. We need to gather stones and cores. Whenever they call us off this rock we do not wish to be in short supply," Tan instructed.
"They're just goin to steal them right off us though. What's the point?" Norris griped.
"That is not the point. You want to live? You can not keep relying on me to pull your ass from the fire. Train. That is how we all get off of here and earn our right."
"Right?" Drake asked.
"Where'd you get this kid?" Gnobin laughed, showing a few canines.
"We do not pry. You know that better than anyone Gnobin. That is unless you want to share now?" Tan snapped.
Gnobin waved a furred hand dismissively.
"A Right is our right to live. Everyone here is fighting for themselves or family offworld. When we are of age we are given a class and sent here. If we live long enough or gain enough accolades we are allowed to go back. We are still not free, but we are allowed to at least be with family," Tan explained.
"That's crazy…" Drake grimaced, his eyes going to Mir'phyra.
"Don't know what your blubberin about Tan. My family's right here! Ain't that right boys!" Ganeer chuckled, spreading his arms wide.
The group cheered in agreement.
"That is all the questions I am going to answer for today. Rest up," Tan turned to Drake, "That means you too. Get your weapon from Rodrick then find a place to sleep, even if you do not think you need to. Get some while you can…"
Tan walked off leaving Drake with the rest of the group.
He smiled awkwardly, "So…what kind of monsters are around here?"
"What you worried about monsters for? Didn't we just haul your scrawny ass from the jungle?" Norris smirked.
A greenish hand smacked Norris from behind the head.
"Keep your mouth shut Norris and answer the kid."
The one that was reprimanding Norris was Dolf if Drake remembered correctly.
Norris rubbed the back of his head, "Do you want me to talk or shut up? Which one is it you confusing prick?"
Dolf smacked him again, "It's shut the hell up."
"Now let's not fight boys."
The soothing voice Drake heard earlier spoke up again. It sounded smooth and comforting, like a hearth fire on a cold night. The woman's name was Vale from Tan's introduction. Striking red and gold feathers covered her body, reminding Drake a bit of Quetz with a different color scheme.
However, Vale was far more striking. Her feathers radiated not only with power, but a subtle heat that Drake could tell was being suppressed.
She looked at Drake with vibrant verdant eyes, "Not the most diverse bunch around here. Mostly Moon and Sun Touched Lions. If you're looking for skill stones you won't get many here."
Drake was disappointed to hear that, but beggars couldn't be choosers. He needed whatever he could get for now. Filling out his skill slots was his priority and his fastest way to progress in the Legacy Chamber.
"Thanks for the info."
Vale gave him a blinding smile, "Anytime goldilocks…"
"Stay away from Vale kid," Ganeer warned, bending down to speak into Drake's ear, "Phoenixes might be nice to look at, but they're still a top of the food chain predator. And there aren't any male Phoenixes for a reason."
Drake felt another shiver down his spine, "Thanks…"
I feel like I can't escape this nagging feeling that I'm a tall drink of water sometimes… He thought sarcastically.
He quickly shook his head, "This was nice and all, but I'm going to go. Don't wait up for me."
Kuuwei touched his nose, "Don't worry there, goldilocks. If we need to find ya we will."
Drake didn't wait any longer and began doubling back to the smithing area, feeling both out of place and a slight culture shock from the fight before.
"I knew it was different, but for some reason this feels worse than the tutorial. Why are they being treated like this? What exactly did they do?"
Mir'phyra looked uninterested, but saw Drake's gaze burrowing into her.
"Do not look at me. They were long like this before I came along. The first King of the Asurans did this to them, not I. You would have to ask my grandfather on something that old. Not that you could. He would char you to a crisp before you had the chance."
"The first King again…?" Drake sighed, "No use in dwelling on it right now. I have to gather resources before the quest changes again or something else."
Drake was interested in hearing about another dragon. He didn't think someone as old as Mir'phyra would have any living relatives. But he remembered how long Natto had mentioned he would be able to live now thanks to the system and ranking up.
However his mind still wondered.
If Mir'phyra is the matriarch now. That means she is stronger than her grandfather right? So why does she sound so respectful of him? I've never heard her give a hint of respect to anyone by Han.
Drake groaned and raised his arms to stretch, "Ahhhhh, nothing doing! Time to go bother that dwarf."
He looked down to his younger self. It might have been him, but the distance he felt with the child made him another person. His younger self lived an entirely different life than his own.
Drake shook his head, trying to shake the thought creeping into his mind that his whole life was a mere fabrication of someone. He thought back to that scene of the woman supposedly his mother and the High Lich, Vandaleu.
There was only one way out and to the truth. He had to finish this quest quickly and talk to Han Kol Asura himself.
He suddenly felt overwhelmed with a feeling of impatience, his feet picking up speed.
"In a rush now are we?" Mir'phyra snickered.
"Can it lizard."
Drake moved quickly backtracking to the smith area where they had met up with Rodrick. His hand went for the door, ready to knock. When abruptly the door swung open, the short dwarf diving out of the small hut.
"Don't just stand that you damned idiot! Get down!"
Drake's eyes grew wide seeing Rodrick fly out of the door, a small glow of orange behind him deep within the billowing smoke.
His instincts took over immediately and he pulled the dwarf towards him as he shot backwards. The next moment a thunderous boom followed by splintering wood flying in all directions rang through his ears.
"What the hell was that?!" Drake coughed, slowly getting up from the muddy ground.
Rodrick gave a deep laugh, slapping himself on the leg, "Damn thing blew up again! Oh boy! Back already? Thought I told ya it would be an hour?"
"I got impatient, I want to get started on some things. So? Are my gauntlets ready?"
Rodrick waved a hand dismissively.
"I was done with ya wee knuckles a few minutes after you and Mr. Pretty left."
Drake's expression turned confused, "Why did you say an hour then?"
Rodrick smiled, "I couldn't work uninterrupted if I had you blasted Asuran muts askin' me for things every other minute now could I?"
"I never said I was Asuran…"
Rodrick pointed to his head, "The gold hair's a dead give away lad. Might want to fix that if you don't want an early grave. But I'm sure Tan told ya that much. Either way here's your stuff, now where's my sword?"
Drake pulled the weapon from his side handing it over. Rodrick fished through what Drake guessed was his inventory and a pair of gauntlets materialized in his hands.
"Are you sure it's a fair trade? These gauntlets are E-Grade." Drake said, surprised by the weapons.
"Aye, they aren't my best but they'll do for what you can use in front of those Primordial stiffs. They won't bat an eye at them."
[Studded Hammer Gauntlets] [Rare] [E-Grade]
A pair of dwarven forged gauntlets made to increase the damage dealt by concussive force.744 to 767 Physical Damage214 to 221 Magic Damage+15% to Blunt Damage+5% to in-combat regeneration5% Reduction to stamina used for skills.
Saying Drake was impressed with the weapons was an understatement. He was used to having nothing on his arms while fighting by now thanks to having Spirit Tattoos. But slipping on the gauntlet felt like they weren't even there.
The insides of the gauntlets felt like a glove. Snug but unrestricting. They were inlined with some kind of fur that felt like silk, but were breathable enough to keep his hands from sweating. The metal used to forge the weapons was strong, each piece made so well he could flex his fingers and wrists without hindrance despite the gauntlets coming up his forearms.
On each knuckle was a small spiked stud bluish gray in color. And Drake could tell right away they were infused with some kind of mana.
"These are more than I could have asked for. And you said you did this in a couple minutes? What could you have done if you had hours?"
Rodrick smiled, "That would be something you could never afford lad," then his smile fell, "And a day I'll never get to see. Not so long things stay the way they are."
Drake felt somewhat melancholy after his statement, but patted Rodrick on the shoulder, "Thank you. I'll put them to good use."
"See that ya do boy. Now get out of here, I've work to do," waving Drake away and going back into the still smoking remnants of his shop, "Who made all this mess!? It's like a bomb went off in this godsforsaken hole!"
Drake shook his head briefly before turning back around and making his way out of the smithing area.
—--------------
It took Drake a few minutes to find the edge of the encampment but when he did, he did not find it difficult to find the wild jungle he was found in.
"Susmaryosep, I feel like I just walked into Tarzan or something."
"Who is this Tarzan? Is he a mighty warrior?" his younger self asked.
"Something like that. Beefy dude, long hair, swings from trees, not the smartest tool in the box," Drake responded.
"So he is you essentially?" Mir'phyra snickered to herself.
"You know I'm getting really sick of you…"
"Likewise."
Before Drake and Mir'phyra could argue more, his younger self interrupted.
"What is the purpose of coming to the jungle? Are we not already E-Rank?"
Drake shook his head, "This quest is using some weird pseudo body. I don't have any of my original skills or stats. Even my class is different," he sighed, flexing his hands and rolling his shoulders, "Which means I have to get used to this new class and fill as many of my slots as I can before I get whisked away to somewhere else."
His younger self was more interested than Drake anticipated, his younger selve's eyes brimming with curiosity. Drake guessed he had never seen someone gather skill stones and the like for their class before. And he had to admit, seeing it first hand was a sight to see.
Mir'phyra yawned, covering her mouth with one hand, the other waving an imaginary flag, "Yes, I can't wait to see how mediocre you perform…It would be awful if you were to be eaten alive by those lions from earlier, but by all means, please enter this overly dangerous forest designed by the real primordials to kill off cattle…"
"Smokey," Drake sighed giving her a bombastic side eye, "Just watch me work."
She laughed, "Have you forgotten I proctored your tutorial? I have already witnessed you work. I am not impressed."
"It should be a crime to be as good looking as you are and such a bitch…"
"As much as it is a crime to be dull and unappealing as you are despite having a Father like Han Kol," Mir'phyra smiled sarcastically.
"I can't wait to meet you outside this stupid chamber," Drake scowled.
"And I, you…"
Drake began walking forward into the jungle, not willing to argue with the dragon bitch any longer.
"Now if I was a bloodthirsty lion animal thing, where would I be…?"
"Try a dark hole," Mir'phyra sighed.
"I'd like to push you down a dark hole…" he sighed, picking up speed to go through the jungle, "My best bet is to try and find my way back to where they found me. But first I should try and figure out my class and how to distribute my free points, huh."
Drake quickly put on the breaks, smiling to himself and remembering his initial actions during the tutorial. Which felt like eons ago.
"But this time around I know I can inspect my class."
Sealed Arbiter of Elements P1 0% [E-Rank] 0/5
Known as the guide, you lead the way in the practice of the critical elements of the world. Each element a road and you its destination.Current class has been sealed. Please complete prerequisite tasks to unlock its full potential.Task: Regain your complete Asuran heritage.Skill: Guide of Elements.
[Guide of Elements] [Weakened]
Gives access to the four basic forms of natural elements. Fire, Water, Wind, Earth.
Drake would have to leave the minute details for his elements until he expected his other primary class, but he was elated to see that he hadn't lost his magic. But there was someone who was very willing to rain on his parade.
"You do understand that if you are caught using magic you will be killed immediately, correct? Not that I am advising against that."
He looked over his shoulder to see Mir'phyra smirking behind him, hovering in the air.
"Why's that I thought half-bloods could use magic just fine?"
Mir'phyra shrugged, "Why certainly, the mixing of races will allow some to use skills they should not normally be able. But for Asurans…" she waved her finger back and forth, "It is a, how do you say? A no no? While you would have to have normally, such weak Asuran blood to allow you to use magic, you are still an Asuran. It is the same reason the other races are searched for unique abnormalities as well."
"Abnormalities? So other races have restrictions on what they can do?"
Mir'phyra's eyes moved to Drake's younger self before scoffing, "That's all you will get out of me."
Drake grumbled, but moved on.
Sealed Primordial Asuran Archon P1 0% [E-Rank] 0/5
Leader of the Asurans. Master of Combat. King to the ultimate warrior race. Possibility in impossibility. Blood from stone. A King knows not defeat. There is only forward, even when anchored by chains.Current class has been sealed. Please complete prerequisite tasks to unlock its full potential.Task: Regain your complete Asuran heritage.Skill: Asura Bloodline Martial Arts, Asuran's Battle Pride, Archon's Decree.
[Asura Bloodline Martial Arts] [Weakened]
Through centuries of war, the Asura have battle tested their martial arts to become the greatest combination of the universe's most deadly fighting styles. An unarmed Asura is more deadly than any well trained army.Gives access to the Asura Bloodline Martial Arts. A deadly mixed martial arts turning any body part of an Asuran into a lethal weapon.Increased knowledge of unarmed fighting.+50% to all unarmed combat effectiveness.
[Asuran's Battle Pride] [Weakened]
An Asuran's most trusted weapon is their Pride. Assurance that they have trained beyond any superhuman means to overcome any obstacle they are faced with.Increased combat effectiveness.+25% to all stats while facing more than one opponent. Max 200% (Increases with proficiency.)
[Archon's Decree] [Weakened]
The leader of the Asuran's must not only be strong but pull from the well of strength passed down through the era's of the War Generals before them. Your decree is law, unshakeable, and generations in the making.Tap into the knowledge and power of previous generations of Asuran War Generals.Infuse your body with the skills and strength of past War Generals doubling your stats and bonuses for a set period of time.Skill Duration: 1 Minute.Cooldown: 1 Year.
Drake pursed his lips.
"Hmmm…."
He looked at the skills again.
"Hmmm....."
Drake's head slightly tilted in confusion and some astonishment, his overdone expression bewildering his younger self.
"Is there something wrong with your head?"
Drake shook his head, "No there might be something wrong with my eyes though. I mean seriously, these are supposed to be weakened?"
He wasn't sure how these compared to other Primordial races' skills but even to his juiced up skills after turning into an Asuran. These were powerful. Even as weakened versions of themselves.
"I can only imagine what the pure skills are like and I haven't even looked at the extended magic spells."
His younger self spoke up, "I do not know the extent of our magic capabilities, but it is my understand that my Father could control his magic quite well from an early age. Even without the use of a skill aiding him," he looked around, "But it is perhaps prudent to use yours with discretion here. At least until you have gained more skills."
Drake was surprised even more now. His younger self was the complete opposite of him now. He was showing foresight, calm thinking and assessment of the situation. Something Drake struggled with, even now.
I guess he was trained better than I was… Drake sighed inwardly. I wonder what happened?
Drake was not entirely convinced. But every passing day it was becoming harder and harder to deny that this might have truly been his life.
It doesn't matter at the end though. Right now. He thought. I have to get this done no matter what so I can get back to them as fast as possible.
His hand gripped on the leather insole of his new gauntlet.
"No magic for now then. But it's high time I found some monsters to beat the shit out of."