SLASH
Two zombies fell in a single, clean strike as Ethan drew his blade, the Katana cutting through their decayed bodies with ease.
RAHH
Another three lunged at him from behind, their gnarled hands reaching out. Ethan grabbed one by the head and slammed it into the other two, the impact sending them sprawling.
"Hmm, where are the big ones?" he muttered, his voice calm but alert.
He threw the zombie to the ground and stomped it flat with his boot, the crunch of bones echoing in the quiet graveyard.
"Most of these can't hurt me anymore," he said, brushing off his hands.
Ethan scanned the area, his sharp eyes searching for anything out of the ordinary. Then he spotted something—a strange marker among the tombstones.
"Huh, that's a..."
He walked closer, realizing it wasn't a tombstone but a tree trunk, carved and repurposed as one. The surface was covered in strange markings, unlike anything he'd seen before.
"...Vayrak," he whispered, tracing the symbols with his fingers.
The language was unfamiliar, its intricate patterns and sharp angles unlike any script he knew.
"Not really something I can read... Oi, system, you got something I could use?"
PING
"Translator Acquired."
The strange markings on the tree trunk began to shift and twist, their forms rearranging into something recognizable. Ethan's eyes widened as the words transformed before him, their meaning now clear:
"Here lies Storm Freed Valryk, He who loved the wind and made it his brother."
The inscription carried a weight, a sense of reverence for a figure long forgotten. Ethan stood there for a moment, his expression unreadable.
"You're gone..." he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
He knew him.
"A hero of Old Earth."
Ethan was in a daze, the memories of Valryk's deeds flooding his mind. But despite the heaviness in his chest, he paid his respects in the only way he knew how—by cleaning up the area. He brushed away the dirt and leaves, straightened the broken branches, and made the place as presentable as he could.
"Storm Freed was a hero I loved playing," Ethan said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "His speed made him nimble as a leaf, and if played right, he could snowball into a heavy hitter with his devastating critical strikes."
He laughed softly, the memory of countless battles with Storm Freed bringing a rare moment of lightness. But the smile faded as quickly as it came, replaced by a somber expression as he looked at the tree trunk again.
"....Fuck."
The sound of loud, rhythmic thumping snapped him out of his thoughts. Ethan's head jerked up, his instincts kicking in as he scanned the area for the source of the noise.
THUM THUM THUM THUM
The ground shook with each heavy step, accompanied by the guttural groans of the undead. Ethan's eyes narrowed as he spotted not one, but two giant zombies lumbering toward him.
"Two trucks, I see," he muttered, gripping the hilt of his Kensei tightly.
"HUP!"
Ethan sprinted toward the zombie on the right, his agility allowing him to close the distance in an instant. The zombies reacted, their massive forms charging forward with surprising speed.
SLASH
The blade cut through the air, slicing off one of the zombie's arms. The creature let out an angry groan, but Ethan didn't have time to celebrate.
The other zombie charged at him, its massive fists swinging wildly.
"Oh, crap!"
Ethan raised his blade to block the blow, but the force of the impact sent him skidding backward, his boots digging into the dirt.
"I can't really face two of them, can I?" Ethan muttered, his mind racing as he assessed the situation.
He quickly pulled up his skill menu, his eyes scanning the details of **Dance of the Dead**.
___________ __________
Skill: Dance of the Dead
Cooldown: 48 hours (base)
Cooldown Reduction:
- Agility Bonus: -1 hour per 2 Agility points
- Level Bonus: -1 hour per level
current stats:
- Agility: 16
- Level: 3
Ethan frowned.
"Still 25 hours left... Guess I'll have to do this the hard way."
The two zombies weren't all that interested in him. Instead, their hollow eyes were fixed on the tree—the one he had disturbed.
"...Why now?" he wondered aloud. Then it hit him.
"....I wasn't supposed to disturb it."
The dirt around the tree had been placed in a symbolic pattern, a ward meant to keep the dead at bay. And now, he had ruined it.
"....."
Ethan walked over to the tree, his resolve hardening.
"You two aren't getting past me," he said, planting himself firmly between the zombies and the tree.
GRRRRRR
The two zombies rushed him, their massive forms barreling forward with terrifying speed.
Parry
Dodge
Cut
Ethan's blade sliced through the air, severing the arm of one zombie. He freed his hand and delivered a powerful punch to the other as it lunged at him.
"COME ON!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the graveyard.
Parry
Dodge.
Cut
Parry
Dodge
Cut
Parry Dodge Cut
Exhausted and bruised, Ethan stood his ground, his body aching but his spirit unbroken. The zombies were in worse shape—arms missing, eyes gouged out, and deep cuts covering their decaying bodies.
"Ha ha, not so tough now, are ya?" he taunted, his breath ragged.
But before he could celebrate, the two zombies began to merge, their bodies twisting and contorting as they combined into a single, even larger abomination.
The merged zombie was a grotesque abomination, its massive form towering over Ethan. Its body was a patchwork of decayed flesh and exposed bone, with multiple arms sprouting from its torso. Its face was a twisted mask of rage, its hollow eyes glowing with a malevolent light. Each step it took shook the ground, its sheer size and strength making it a terrifying opponent.
Even though all seemed hopeless, Ethan didn't run. He couldn't.
"...Never disrespect the dead," he said, raising his sword with trembling hands.
"Hahah, you're a funny one, kid," a voice echoed behind him.
Ethan turned, his eyes widening in shock. Standing there was Storm Freed—or rather, his ghostly apparition. Valryk's form was tall and imposing, his four arms clad in bronze and gold armor. His face was a mix of beast and man, with sharp fangs and piercing eyes. His legs were well-toned, radiating power and agility even in death.
"Wha—" Ethan stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.
"Look, I don't have much time," Storm Freed said, his voice calm but urgent. "I just wanted to say thanks for standing up for me."
Before Ethan could respond, the ghostly figure raised a hand.
"Anyways, here you go."
PING
Ethan's system chimed, and a new notification appeared:
SKILL ACQUIRED: THE FLYING STORM
Ethan didn't think twice. His body moved on its own, his steps becoming faster and faster, a blur of motion, a flash, then he jumped his feet Flying in the air with no care
Free as the wind flying like a manic
SLASH
The world seemed to slow down as Ethan's blade cut through the air. The zombie's massive form was reduced to pieces in an instant, its body flying apart in a shower of blood and gore. The droplets of blood hung in the air, their descent slowed to a crawl, each one glistening like a ruby in the moonlight.
When the world returned to normal, Ethan stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving.
"Huh... Guess I did it," he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He turned to look for Storm Freed, but the ghostly figure was gone, leaving only the faint echo of his laughter in the wind.
PING
Ethan glanced at his system screen, the glowing notifications catching his attention.
LEVEL UP
LEVEL UP
A faint smile crossed his lips as he read the messages.
"...Thanks, old man,"
_____________________ _______________________
Name: Ethan Cross
Level: 5 (↑2)
Status: Decrepit Undead
Attributes:
- Strength: 14
- Agility: 16
- Intelligence: 7
- Dexterity: 4
- Perception: 8
- Endurance: 10
Coins: -20,000
Inventory:
- Weapon: Kensei Katana
- Clothing: Officer's Uniform (0 Armor)
- Points: 20
Debuffs:
1. Undead Hunger: Gradually reduces Strength over time. Eating mitigates this effect.
2. Debt Trap: Cannot purchase from the Item Shop until debts are paid. -2 Move Speed
Skills:
- Dance of the Dead: A devastating flurry of slashes that deals physical damage and reduces enemy armor.
- Cooldown: 37 hours (25 hours remaining)
The Flying Storm:
"The wind becomes your ally, each step a crescendo of speed and precision, culminating in a strike that rends the very fabric of your enemies."
Ability: Active
Type: Movement / Critical Strike
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Mana Cost: 100
Description:
Ethan channels the power of the storm, his movements accelerating with each step. As he builds momentum, his next attack delivers a devastating critical strike, its damage increasing with the distance traveled.
Effects:
- Speed Boost: Increases movement speed by 20/30/40/50% for up to 5 seconds.
- Critical Strike: The next attack deals 150/200/250/300% critical damage, scaling with distance traveled.
- Critical Multiplier: Increases by 0.5x for every 100 units traveled.
- Maximum Critical Damage: 500/600/700/800% (at max distance).
Lore:
"A technique born from the union of speed and precision, the Flying Storm is a testament to the Valryk's mastery of momentum. Those who wield it strike with the fury of a tempest, their blows echoing like thunder across the battlefield."
Current Objective:
- Defeat the Minotaur
- Time Limit:** 3 hours
- Reward:** +2 Levels, 1,000 Coins, New Skill Selection
- Failure Penalty:** Additional Debuff
- Hidden Condition:** ???
_____________________ _______________________
Valryk
"Born in the twilight of the old gods, the Valryk are a race of strength and adaptability, their resilience carving a place for them in a world of chaos and change."
Lore:
The Valryk emerged in the late era of the old gods, a younger race compared to the ancient beings that once ruled the land. Known for their powerful bodies and remarkable ability to adapt, they quickly became a dominant force, thriving in a world of constant upheaval.
Despite their imposing physical forms—marked by multiple arms, beast-like features, and unparalleled strength—the Valryk share a surprising kinship with humans. Both races possess a relentless drive to survive and a capacity for growth, traits that have led to a complex and often uneasy relationship. While some Valryk have allied with humans, others view them as rivals, their shared similarities breeding both camaraderie and conflict.
Through wars, alliances, and the passage of time, the Valryk have endured, their legacy a testament to their strength and adaptability in a world that never stops changing.