Astrid was a tough woman with bad temperance and always had a cocky smile, but with big ambitions. Philip on the contrary, was a calm, smart and kindhearted man who was just following and helping Astrid. He didn’t ever tell Ethan why he followed her, but apparently they knew each other from outside that world.
One night, they decided to have dinner at the Cafe. While they were at the table Ethan asked Astrid what she did before they appeared in this game. She said that she lived in a rural area of a country in Europe. She used to go hunting with his father with rifles and all that stuff. Her ability with knives and daggers came from guttering the animals that her family ate. Luckily when they appeared she received as the first item daggers, so she kept with that pace and chose mercenary as her class.
Philip was also from Europe, but from a big city. He had played the game before, but didn’t advance that much. He was a student in college, so he didn’t have that much time to play. He was a guy who liked fantasy stories. Philip didn't say anything more about himself, so it was rather mysterious. He said he chose mage, because that what he chose in the game.
After their chat, Ethan decided to tell them about his plans at the labyrinth. He told them that he was at level 20. They both looked at him surprised, they started to yell at him, telling that he was gonna die for sure. Ethan said that he couldn’t wait any more, he had to go at that moment. Ethan shows them an item that seemed like paper. It had 4 lines to write something and at the bottom in line 4 squares.
Ethan looked at them.”This item is like a teleport. You have to write each name and surname in the lines up to 4 people and also sign with your blood on one box. If I feel like I’m in real danger of dying, I’ll use the item and summon both of you.” Both looked at Ethan concerned, but he just smiled at them and said–”don’t worry guys”.
Going forward just before Ethan entered the boss room, Ethan left the item with Fafner, because that item couldn’t be delivered inside. As his companion Fafner was able to feel when Ethan was dying.
Fafner, who was resting with Grif waiting for Ethan to come back, suddenly felt like something piercing his chest. It was not that painful, but it was constant like a bell. He knew Ethan was having real trouble. As he was told he summoned Astrid and Philip and with just a glare they knew what was happening.
Astrid concentrated for a moment to be able to feel Ethan’s shadow until he found it, “Philip, teleport to me in 3 seconds, I want to welcome them. Phantom Stride”.
The moment Astrid disappears, getting into her shadow, Philip sighs. He counts 3 seconds, says goodbye to Fafner and then he activates his skill. “Teleport” {This skill lets you link yourself with one person and allows the user to teleport to them. It has a cooldown of 1 hour at level 1}
Now we go back to the present.
Ethan uses inspect in both of the new people.
Name: Astrid Roseworth
Level: 34
Character Rank: A
Class: Dagger warrior (2nd Tier Mercenary) (0 player kills)
Weapon: A-Rank Vampire daggers (Heals the user a percentage of the damage done)
Unique Skills:
- Dashstep [B] Lv3(Evolved form quickstep)
- Phantom stride [A] Lv2
- Medium Dagger proficiency [B] Lv7
- Stealth [A] Lv6
- Silent footsteps [A] Lv3
- Smoke Cloak[B] Lv5
- Crimson Fang [A] Lv3
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Name: Philip Hyckman
Level: 34
Character Rank: B
Class: Tri Elemental Mage(2nd Tier)
Weapon: A-Rank Grimoire
Unique skill:
- Teleport[S] Lv1
- Medium mana control [B] Lv3
- Medium enchanting [B] Lv4
- Magical research [A] Lv6
- Lighting chain[B] Lv5
- Inferno Surge[A] Lv4
- Glacial Spike[B] Lv5
- Elemental rejuvenation[A](Class Skill) Lv4
Ethan coughs more blood. Philip raises his hand at Ethan. “Elemental rejuvenation.” He summons vibrant wisps of fire, frost, and lightning, which swirl together and flow on Ethan, mending some of his wounds and invigorating him with energy.
{Due to recent healing, your temporary patch remaining time has been augmented}
<2 minutes has been added to temporary patch>
Ethan gets up with some help from both. Astrid with her cocky smile asks.“Didn’t you say that we wouldn’t have to worry”. Ethan sighs and answers her with a smile on his face. “I was about to end this”.
Aria looks at them with an emotionless face. “It doesn't matter how many ants get together. It won't change the result.”
Anthony stands beside Aria, his body trembling from the wounds inflicted by Ethan but his determination unwavering. Anthony whispers to Aria. "Aria, let's finish this quickly. ‘They’ are calling for us.”
Philip steps forward, gripping his grimoire tightly. "I'll handle Anthony. Astrid, Ethan go for Aria.”
Ethan.“Astrid be careful with Aria, it seems that she is a Rank S, she has the same good RNG as…, you know, that guy”.
Astrid laughs and nods, her Vampire Daggers gleaming with a faint red aura. "Got it. Can you keep my pace Ethan? Let's see how tough this 'RNG' really is. Stealth" She dashes forward, disappearing into the shadows with stealth.
Ethan smiles. “Of course I can, who do you think I am”. Ethan runs at Aria gripping tightly his sword. He jumps at Aria and starts throwing continuous blows at her. Some of them start scratching her.
“Not too bad. Duelist agility”. {Movement and reflexes increases by 30%}.
With that extra reflexes Ethan is unable to land any hit and at the same time, as Aria evades she leaves some scratches and extra wounds on Ethan.
Ethan takes some steps back as he is being outspeed. Aria answers by transforming her daggers into a bow. She gets on one knee and puts one hand on the floor. “Piercing tempest.” The room starts to tremble and suddenly on Ethan’s feet a tornado starts to summon and traps Ethan in it. The moment it has her prey, Aria starts shooting many arrows at the tornado.
The arrows are all redirected within the tornado to Ethan. To avoid being killed, Ethan shouts.”High instincts maximum output!” Ethan starts dodging every arrow. While Aria continues shooting arrows, Astrid gets behind her with stealth and tries to stab Aria on the back, but Aria is so fast that in a second transforms her bow again into daggers and blocks Astrid. Leaving her wounds in both hands, showing how powerful Aria is.
Astrid jumps back and looks at the wounds on her hands, who were spilling blood, then says-“You are kinda good, huh.” After saying that, she dashes again at Aria. “Let's see if you can block this combo. Crimson Fang.” {Allows the user to throw an automatic combo of multiple attacks for 5 seconds. It can be cancelled by the user}
Astrid throws a fastly sequential combo to Aria who is taken aback from the speed of the attack, and receives multiple cuts and wounds. That activates Astrid dagger's ability, healing her and activating the bleed effect from the ability. Astrid takes the advantage of that moment and kicks Aria, who gets to block the kick but it's pushed back. She falls to the ground, her right knee holding her while she breathes heavily.
The tornado that trapped Ethan is dissipated. {Due to the huge stamina use, your buffs will expire completely}
Astrid turns to him. Ethan appears with some arrows in his body, blood flowing from all those wounds, he was sweating and breathing heavily. His legs trembling. He turns to look at Astrid, his face changes and shouts something to her. “ASTRID BEHIND!”
Before astrid has time to look behind, from her shadow Aria emerges. “Death embrace”fast swings on her back vital spots leaving a lot of wounds. Astrid, after receiving it, falls to the ground, but is able to scratch Aria’s ankle.
Ethan starts trembling. “Philip, we need help!”. Ethan looks at him, but what he sees leaves him speechless. Philip is on the ground with Anthony sweating and breathing heavily, nailing his spear into Philip's body. No way!
Ethan remained in his place, horrorized, the friends he made not so long ago, that saved him moments ago. Now, it seems that they are dead.
Aria starts looking at Ethan. She smiles malevolently at Ethan and licks the blood from her dagger. Ethan looks at his both friends. He didn’t have much time to know them, but their bond was strong. He clenches his teeth. A sudden aura starts covering Ethans body What will happen now?