I stand at the quest board, the undead soldier at my flank. The armor it wears is patchy, dented in places, but it stands steady, unmoving unless commanded. My new armor feels stiff on my shoulders, but it's better than bare skin.
The board is cluttered with scraps of parchment. Most requests look like minor tasks: kill a certain number of beasts, gather rare plant materials, clear out nests of low-level creatures. Easy work that won't bring me closer to serious power. I need something more.
The clerk mentioned artifacts that can raise a unit's tier. If I want to strengthen my summon, I must find one of these items. I have no idea where to start.
I run my finger over a parchment pinned near the bottom. It's darker, yellowed by time, the ink faded. It bears a crude drawing of a structure and skeletal figures. The request reads something like: "Cleanse the Old Crypt, retrieve the Dark Gem."
It notes that the place is a ways east, beyond a scorched plain. The reward is small coin, some experience, and—this is key—an artifact fragment. Artifact fragments might lead to proper artifacts if I gather enough.
It's not a direct upgrade, but it's a path forward. I tear the parchment free and take it to the clerk.
He looks at it and gives a wry smile. "You want this one? The crypt's no training ground. You're still low-level, and your summon's just a C-Tier scrap of undead. The monsters inside won't fall as easily as those hounds." He pauses, then shrugs. "But no rules say you can't try."
I hold his gaze. "I want that artifact fragment."
He raises an eyebrow. "It's your funeral." He stamps the parchment, unlocking the quest. I feel a tug in my vision as the quest confirms:
New Quest: Cleanse the Old Crypt Objective: Retrieve the Dark Gem from the Crypt's Guardian. Reward: 300 EXP, Artifact Fragment (1), 40 Coins
I step outside and pull up the overmap. The crypt's marked by a crude icon eastward, beyond patchy ground and tangled vegetation. I select it, and the world blurs.
I find myself standing before a rough path under a sky that offers no comfort. The undead soldier stands near, sword ready.
I advance along the path. Small creatures lurk, but I manage to skirt a few skirmishes by stepping carefully. After several minutes, a prompt appears:
Encounter: Scavenger Wolves (x2). Engage? Yes/No
I grit my teeth and select "Yes." I can't avoid all fights.
Wolves rush in, lean and hungry. Turn order appears. One wolf moves first, clawing my armor. My HP drops from 60 to 50. I swing my longsword, catching it in the flank. Its health dips halfway.
The soldier steps in, delivering a crushing blow that kills it. The second wolf howls and snaps at my soldier, knocking it down a peg (35/50 HP on the soldier now). I finish it off with a two-handed strike. Victory screen flashes:
Victory! +25 EXP Loot: Wolf Pelt (1)
Not much, but every step matters. I reach the crypt's entrance—a jagged hole in a mound of rock and twisted roots. The place reeks of rot. I confirm entry:
Enter the Old Crypt? Yes/No
I say "Yes." Darkness wraps around me, torches on the inner walls flicker weakly. A chill crawls along my spine.
A prompt tells me enemies inside include skeletal warriors and maybe undead mages. I keep my soldier close. If it falls, I lose my main advantage.
The corridor leads to a fork. I choose left. Another prompt:
Encounter: Skeletal Warrior (x2)
I select "Yes."
The warriors shamble forward, rusted blades raised. Turn order: one skeleton first, then me, then my soldier, then the other skeleton.
The first skeleton swings at me. Its blade nicks my armor, dropping me to 55/60 HP. I respond with a cut, shaving off a chunk of its HP.
The soldier steps in, smashing through its ribcage. Bones scatter as the first skeleton crumbles. The second skeleton tries to strike my soldier, dealing small damage. I finish it with a direct slash. Another victory.
Victory! +40 EXP Loot: Rusted Sword (1), Bone Fragment (2)
I move deeper. A large door looms ahead, carved with grim faces. Locked.
I scan my surroundings. Another corridor stretches right. I head that way, dealing with a pair of undead rats and an emaciated ghoul.
The ghoul puts up a fight, clawing me down to 40/60 HP before I manage to kill it. My soldier suffers too, down to 25/50 HP after these scuffles.
I find a lever hidden behind a broken coffin. Pulling it unleashes a grinding sound somewhere back near the door.
I return to the large door, now partially ajar. Inside lies a wide chamber with scattered debris. A prompt warns:
Mini-Boss Encounter: Crypt Knight (1) Yes/No
I have no healing items left. My soldier is wounded. Still, I press "Yes."
A tall figure lumbers forward, plated in old armor, eyes burning like coals. A shield in one hand, a heavy mace in the other. Turn order: Crypt Knight first, me second, soldier third.
The knight storms forward, swinging its mace. It crashes into my shoulder. I gasp, HP down to 20/60 in one hit. I can't take another blow like that. I must strike hard.
I swing, scoring a hit on its side, dropping its HP by maybe a tenth. Not enough. My soldier steps in, slicing at its knee, reducing a bit more HP.
The knight roars (or something like a roar rattling in a hollow skull), then swings again. This time it targets my soldier, knocking it down to 5/50 HP. My soldier nearly crumbles.
I strike again, aiming for a gap in its armor. I do better this time, pushing it down another quarter. The soldier tries another blow, landing a glancing hit.
The knight's still got over half its HP. This isn't going well.
The knight raises its mace to finish my soldier. If I lose it, I'm as good as dead. I notice I picked up a Rusted Sword earlier. Maybe I can throw it as a distraction.
I open my inventory mid-battle, select the Rusted Sword as a thrown item. I hurl it. It clatters off the knight's helm, stunning it for a turn. This gives me a precious opening.
I bring my blade down hard, shaving off another chunk of its health. My soldier stands and strikes. The knight's HP hovers around one third now.
The knight recovers, swinging at me again. I try to dodge, but it clips my arm. My HP drops to 1/60. My vision dims at the edges. One more hit and I'm done.
It's my turn again. I look at my skill list. "Summon Undead Soldier" is all I have, and I already have it summoned. I need a better tactic. The knight moves slowly—maybe I can circle behind it.
I choose a "Defensive Move" from the action menu, shifting around to its side to try for a critical hit next turn.
The soldier attacks, delivering a hard strike, chipping away the last portion of HP. To my surprise, the knight stumbles and collapses before I even need to risk another swing. A victory prompt appears:
Victory! +100 EXP Loot: Crypt Key, Old Amulet
My level jumps again. Level 3. HP restored to 70/70, soldier back to 50/50. Relief washes over me.
I check my loot. No artifact fragment yet, just a key and an amulet. The quest said I need the Dark Gem from the Guardian. I guess the Guardian waits deeper inside.
I open a second set of doors with the Crypt Key. Past a cramped corridor, I find a vaulted chamber dominated by a pedestal. There stands the Guardian—a tall wraith-like figure clutching a staff topped with a pulsing stone. That must be the Dark Gem. A prompt flickers:
Boss Encounter: Crypt Guardian (1) Yes/No
I inhale. I have full HP now, and my soldier is at full strength. I'm also Level 3, which should help. I select "Yes," stepping into the chamber.
The Guardian points its staff at me, black mist swirling around it. Turn order: Guardian first, me second, soldier third.
The Guardian unleashes a blast of shadow energy. It slams into my chest, dropping my HP from 70 to 50. I sprint forward and slash at its robes, feeling some resistance. Its HP dips a bit.
The soldier attacks, forcing the Guardian to stumble back. The Guardian conjures skeletal hands from the floor, gripping my legs. I struggle free, losing a turn.
My soldier tries to break the bony hands, dealing moderate damage. The Guardian's HP goes down another notch.
The Guardian shifts tactics. It channels energy, pausing its attack. This might be a spell charge. I take the opening to land a heavy strike.
The soldier follows, cutting deep into the phantom flesh. The Guardian howls, blasts me again with shadow energy (HP: 30/70), then tries to spear my soldier with its staff. The soldier loses some HP (40/50), still healthy.
One more exchange and we can finish this.
I strike again, pushing the Guardian down to a sliver of HP. The soldier swings wide and true, ending the threat. The Guardian crumples, leaving only the staff and the Dark Gem behind. A triumphant chime:
Victory! +200 EXP Loot: Dark Gem, Artifact Fragment (1), Old Coins (20)
Quest Complete: Cleanse the Old Crypt Reward: 300 EXP, Artifact Fragment (1), 40 Coins Total Gains: Level Up to 4
I feel my strength rise again. Level 4 already. My soldier stands by me, silent.
In my hands are the Dark Gem and, more importantly, the Artifact Fragment. I grin. This fragment might lead me to a way of raising my soldier's tier. Maybe I can add more summons in time.
I exit the crypt through the prompt. The overmap returns me to the settlement. The clerk seems shocked when I hand over the Dark Gem. He stares at me, then shakes his head.
"You survived the crypt. Didn't think you had it in you. Here's your reward." He slides a pouch of coins and another Artifact Fragment across the counter. "Two fragments. Collect enough and you can form a proper artifact. Then you can strengthen your summons. Might be a while before you find enough, though. Those fragments are rare."
I pocket them. No need to brag or explain myself. I have new levels, a stronger foundation. If I keep pushing forward, I'll stand at the top of this savage place.
I turn to leave. The soldier follows.
I'll need better quests, better loot, and more summons. There must be a path to power hidden in these lands. I'll claim it, step by bloody step.