New Main Quest!

 

But Tongqiu wouldn't so openly underestimate it. He took his one-shot plan seriously as he decided to sacrifice some of his HP as to hit it no matter what. And sure enough, as if answering Tongqiu's decisive 'last stand' determination, the Demonic Scorpion-Rose immediately used the skill Entangling Demonic Vine, as its sharp-fast speed was concentrated as if to trap Tongqiu right away, not only that but with barely the amount of that of 134 thorns stacks, it also started to prepare for performing a Demonic Thorny Barrage once again! 

Surely, the low HP factor made it use this skills, as well as the smell of death coming from its previously cherished Demonic Rose!

Seeing this, Tongqiu merely positioned himself again ready to bombard it with a wide shot! Two arrows at the same time.

Meanwhile, the vine was instead already 33 m away from Tongqiu!

Brrrnnngg

Tongqiu felt his own being, then the surroundings, finally everything that he could sense and see stop. Time and Space... it wasn't just that but even he could sense that Natalia was still with her determined eyes and serious face -looking cute in his eyes- already casting Circle of Healing, he also 'sensed' she was about to start preparing another Heal. Such continuous improvement made him proud, even if it was just a game, it also shaped her character. From being scared of finally achieving her a little childish dream of healing powers, to actually using them like a goddess. He was, no matter what, proud.

His senses went back towards the Demonic Scorpion-Rose Enlightened grade BOSS. His grin which should've been entirely impossible to form taking the current situation into consideration slowly faded, as his fingers on his right hand as well as some of his right hand actually gained a 'tainted' color, merging beautifully with the metallic-grey dark-like abyss pitch-black of the arrow's. His left arm shared the gloomy-dark verdant sheen as well as grew some exotic yet extremely fearful as well as bloodthirsty kind of claw-nails at the tip of his fingers; his entire left arm though, was completely merged beautifully as well all the way to his elbow. His fingers from his right hand seemed to move, shake, a little before they also grew those claw-nails at the tip of his fingers in that verdant color before becoming that of the arrow's instead. 

Then, he put strength into them. His left fingers, all in a conjuncture towards the proper use of two arrows, pulled the string as if in this completely timeless and spaceless dimension, only his entire right arm could move. They moved backwards as he finally squeezed with utter precision and immense strength. Before releasing.

MPI-SVING!!!!

Instead of a twang, the noise of the bowstring as well as the following noise of the arrows was that of only a less than the sound of speed kind of noise coming from the bowstring. While the sound coming from the arrow would make anyone's ears bleed without knowing the cause nor moment it happened, it may even be days after such bleed before one realized they are bleeding without anyone telling them. Luckily, his effect wasn't targeted towards Natalia, which he intended so as to not damage her in the slightest.

PUK-BKOM

PUK-BKOM

The sound of a single explosion, added with 'Combustion', wasn't like before where it sounded like electricity for an instant before space shattering-like sound. This time, the sound of the arrow hitting something was like a huge object passing extremely close through one of your ears almost leaving you deaf by the contrast of normal sound in the left ear while extreme levels of sound in the right one. While the explosion being detonated was like the same object made a pre-explosion in a very high note ever so loud in the left ear, and not an instant after, the enormous cosmic clap of stars detonating right before you. Torturing your hearing sense completely for just an instant, but enough to leave one unconscious and deaf from weeks to months!

-10,012, -11,212.

HP: [5,265/130,000]. Only that amount, Tongqiu didn't wait for the mysterious rose to do a move he was about to launch another wide shot again! However, the vine by then had already reached him, once entangled he'd be incapable of all movement. At the same time the Demonic Thorny Barrage was already started as numerous thorns moved towards him. But he was confident in his little darling, as his face was indifferent and... somewhat cold.

Natalia used dispel exactly at the same moment that the Entangling vine reached him, propelling it backwards instantly! Then she used Hidden Potential, as the marvelous and impossible to describe -for her- move her darling just made costed him a lot of his HP, MP and Stamina for each attack he made. Lowering it all the way to below 15%!

*PING*... you've received skill 'Hidden Potential', effects: Stamina and MP 50% total regeneration and HP 75% total regeneration.

His resources as well as his bar HP immediately went to an acceptable degree as he didn't stop looking at the Demonic Scorpion-Rose, finally aiming one more time. Just as he was about to be swept over by the countless thorns coming at him, Natalia was simply casting hard without a single stop- low at MP while covering herself with the exact needed position to not be touched completely by thorns and still have line of sight towards Tongqiu to successfully cast her skills on him.

Yes! Tongqiu's eyes showed victory, but he didn't let his guard down. He locked the little Demonic Rose with his Mental Prowess as he aimed yet again. The little Demonic Rose, knowing it couldn't even use the mutated scorpion's body as a host simply wanted to leave and survive, how could Tongqiu let that happen!

Knowing it was in danger, the little Demonic Rose tried to think of any escape route. It couldn't use the partner of this human, nor could it simply zigzag away hoping he'd fail, he was a monster with that bow! So the only chance at living it thought of was to stake it all against him, so it launched itself without a damn care towards Tongqiu as a huge carnivorous plant mouth came out of the Demonic Rose, intending to eat Tongqiu.

Brrrrrnnggg  -  MPI-SVING!!!!

PUK-BKOM

-28,972.

Skraaaaaaarvvvv...

The little Demonic Rose made a shriek of agony to resound all over the violet room, as if lamenting its failed mission.

*PING*... you've successfully killed an Enlightened grade BOSS, LV32, Demonic Scorpion-Rose, as a reward: SP+400, Fame+400.

'Huh, so it counted both of them as one even to the end. Ironic.' Tongqiu derisively thought of the pair of mobs as he moved closer to see any spoils of battle. The battle after slaying the Deserter was only good for levelling, since it was a Fallen entity, and two times Fallen at that then it didn't drop anything. Sadly.

But in here, it should be different! Just then:

*PING*... your party is the first 'Journeyers' to kill an Enlightened grade BOSS, as a reward: SP+4,000, Fame+4,000(x10 SP and Fame given by the boss), higher item drop has been awarded as well as higher experience points. Congratulations!

...

*PING*...Global Announcement: the first Enlightened grade BOSS has been killed by a party <unknown>, appropriate rewards have been given. We encourage all 'Journeyers' to do their best in the strive for power! 

*PING*...Regional Announcement: the first Enlightened grade BOSS has been killed by a party <unknown>, appropriate rewards have been given. We encourage all 'Journeyers' to do their best in the strive for power! 

*PING*...Regional Announcement: the first Enlightened grade BOSS has been killed by a party <unknown>, appropriate rewards have been given...

*PING*...Regional Announcement:...

*PING*...Regional Announcement:...

...

*PING*... you've levelled up, now LV21...

*PING*... you've levelled up, now LV23, HP+50, MP+50, Stamina+50, all stats have been raised appropriately according to your class. Mind Power+1.

Consequently, Natalia herself advanced to LV22 from LV17 in one go! Thanks to Tongqiu's high level, there were more EXP points distributed towards her than him, as well as the big difference of 15 levels and the BOSS being an Enlightened grade amounted to those 5 immense consecutive level ups.

"What did it drop?" Natalia came over once she received the same notifications as Tongqiu, she walked all the way over Tongqiu as she placed her right hand at his shoulders before leaning her head on him. Tongqiu gently tilted his head towards hers as they ignored the loot for a little before 'Mommy Heals You' bumped her head hard against him as she finally went to check up the stuff.

"Oh, look this one is pretty. OH! You need something that I obviously don't have to see what it is... hm, take a look." As Natalia went over to check the loot, a dizzy Tongqiu merely watched her first take out a beautiful crown made of roses. It was like a tiara for how small each rose was but when combined with Natalia's gorgeous crimson-blood red hair, it was more than enough to make her look heavenly, making Tongqiu be lost in his thoughts for a while.

The next item Natalia picked was a rusty yet ancient key, extremely durable. It had one typical appearance of an old-fashioned or eccentric key, other than that, it was also adorned with vines surrounding it along with decorative little thorns on it. 

He first checked the crown made of roses.

[Rosalía's Blessed Crown]: Type: Helmet, Grade: Magical, Equipment Requirements: LV25, Attributes: MP+250%, WIS+48, REC+18. One of Rosalía's last efforts on recruiting and building an army for the future... which obviously failed, and then transformed into this crown by an unknown power.

Tongqiu himself wanted to put it on her, but that's not how the game worked... so after Natalia let her moronic lover put it on her and then take it off then gave it to her, she smiled resplendently. Which woman wouldn't like it? Ah.

"You like to dress me?" As Natalia gave a rare seductive glance at Tongqiu, she put 'Rosalía's Blessed Crown' on her bag as she intended to use the very first moment she could, it was his darling's first gift to her after all...

Meanwhile, Tongqiu was already salivating.

Then, Tongqiu looked towards the rusty, eccentric key. Which reminded him that he still had his mask off but he decided to let it be so since it was only the two of them.

[Mysterious Key]: Type: Special Item, Effect: ??? (Mental Power: 50 required to know more).

Tongqiu: "..."

'Mommy Heals You': (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ

Besides that, there was a lower garment type of armor, it had the same appearance as that of the Demonic Scorpion-Rose's shell.

[Demoniacal Defenders]: Type: Lower Garment, Grade: Powerful, Equipment Requirements: LV25, Attributes: Physical Defense+128, REC+24, WIS+12.

...

Tongqiu closed his eyes with the Mysterious Key on his hand...

*PING*... requirements for Main Quest have been exceeded! 

*PING*... you are now tasked with the Main Quest: [Finding The Ancient].

Quest Type: Main Quest, Quest Time Limit: 50 days, Quest Reward: ???, SP+5,000, Fame+5,000, Mind Power+5 (since AP can't be given to the player, you may receive other reward in compensation) and random ??? grade weapon.

 

Character: Tongqiu

Race: Human — Innate Race Talents: Adaptability, Racial Reproductive Wonder, Warmonger — Race Ability: Union

Level: 23

Class: Evil Saint

Basic attributes: STR: 161, DEX: 161, LCK: 161, REC: 161, WIS: 161, INT: 161, DET: 161, Luck: 23, Charm: 23

Association: None, Money: 2,530, Fame: 40,000

HP: 4,940, MP: 6,080, Stamina: 6,180

Attack Power: 1,863, Magic Power: 2,829

Physical Defense: 584, Magical Defense: 584, HP Regeneration: 5, MP Regeneration: 15, Stamina Regeneration: 15

Hit Rate: 23%, Dodge Rate: 23%

Critical Hit Rate: 23%, Pierce  Rate: 23%, Critical Hit Damage: 23%

Attack Speed: 123%, Movement Speed: 123%

Core Elemental Resistance: Fire: 0%, Water: 0%, Earth: 0%, Wind: 0%, Lightning: 0%

AP: 0, SP: 10,099

***

Equipment:

x2 [Sunfacing Brilliant Gladius]: Type: One-Handed Dual Sword, Grade: Magical(Violet), Equipment Requirements: Tongqiu, Attributes: Physical Attack+156, STR+32, REC+17, LCK+6. Able to evolve to the next grade. However the required materials and skill capable to do it are extremely demanding.

[Tempered Chestplate]: Type Upper Garment, Grade: Powerful(Dark Blue, Equipment Requirements: LV 6 or higher, Attributes: Physical Defense+62, REC+13, DET+5.

[Durable Iron Boots]: Type: Shoe Garment, Grade: Powerful(Dark Blue), Equipment Requirements: LV5, Attributes: Physical Defense+32, DEX+12, DET+4.

[Sorrowful Glorious Crown]: Type: Helmet, Grade: Powerful, Equipment Requirements: True Wish relic's acknowledgement. Attributes: Mind Power +1, INT+24, Effect:MP and Stamina Regeneration+15. Main Quest reward, cannot be dropped, cannot be traded, cannot be discarded. It is capable of evolving with its user.

[Bloodstained Iron Armguard]: Type: Armguard, Grade: Powerful(Dark Blue), Equipment Requirements: LV5, Attributes: Physical Defense +24, DEX+11, STR+3.

***

Skills: 

[Unparalleled Angle]: Skill: Passive, Trigger, MAX LV 20, LV: 10, SP needed for next LV: 1,536, cooldown: 0 seconds, cost: 25 mana and 50 stamina. Usually, to start an attack one needs to accumulate force, raw strength. Use this skill in the opportune moment to change the direction and angle of attack of your melee weapon without losing any strength, and with accurate precision. Costs 10 mana and 20 stamina. Additional Effect: When activated Physical Damage+9%. 

[Tongqiu's Rain Showdown]: Type: AOE Active Skill, MAX LV: 20, LV: 10, SP needed for next LV: 10,240. Cooldown: 8 seconds, cost: 10 MP, 10 Stamina. Range: 0-30 meters. With Tongqiu's weapon or weapons in use, point with it towards the sky to activate this skill to create from the sky an AOE rain of attacks with the shape of the weapon  or item in use (arrow, bolt, javelin) without stopping for 15 seconds. Creates around 18 of the weapon's shadows per second with damage equal to 180% of Tongqiu's Attack Power and Magic Power for each shadow.

[Combustion]: Type: Activate/Deactivate Skill, MAX LV: 10, LV: 7, SP needed for next LV: 6,400, cooldown: 0.3 seconds, cost: 200 MP and 200 Stamina. Once activated, all attacks (can explode at will) have an explosive effect to it from the user's essence type. It has an AOE of 5 meters melee, 17 meters ranged. This effect can be activated and deactivated in any moment and situation, and only attacking consumes MP and stamina. Damage dealt equals to 220% Magical Power as well as 220% Physical Power.

[Battle Frenzy]: Type: Passive Skill, MAX LV: 10, LV: 8, SP needed for next LV: 12,800, effect: every critical or pierce attack adds 1 stack while every critical and pierce attack adds 3 stacks; dodging an ability or attack adds 1 stack. Once in battle, the longer you keep on fighting and destroying your enemy, the more stacks you'll accumulate. Each 10 stacks grants the user physical and magical power+230. Cap of 180 stacks.

[Low-level Rising Essence!]: Type: Ultimate Skill, MAX LV: 3, LV: 0, SP needed for next LV: 100,000, cost: all your essence stored without affecting your stolen essence contributing towards your main stat. Use this skill to first create an impossible to dodge, block or negate burst of essence that dries completely the user's essence. Damage equal to that of 15,000% Physical and Magical Power. This is not even the complete version (LV0).

***

Seeing how he could still not upgrade Battle Frenzy, Tongqiu was considering on whether or not to upgrade Tongqiu's Rain Showdown or Unparalleled Angle. But he ultimately decided to just wait for the necessary amount of SP to first upgrade Battle Frenzy and then Combustion. After all he still had many more BOSSES to kill and definitely more quests to finish.

Somewhat exhausted, Tongqiu went back towards Natalia, he held her hands as both of them put on their mask, then he  somewhat tiredly headed towards the exit. 

Once they were out, they both used a scroll to return to the main city. Tongqiu then lead 'Mommy Heals You' towards Irllytia's Inn. When he arrived, Irllytia somewhat already with an understanding gaze nodded towards him. Natalia noticed though and he lead both of them towards her, 'so scheming...' thought Tongqiu as he couldn't not follow her.

Natalia walked with her back as straight as it could get, but her glance and expression towards the sitting and now nervous as well as a little scared Irllytia. She side-eyed Tongqiu with the best of her ability which Natalia noticed as well. Tongqiu smiled bitterly for a little before nodding towards her and letting her know 'it's okay'. Only then did Irllytia calmed, albeit a little, and stood up to greet 'Mommy Heals You'.

"I-I-I'm Irllytia, Tongqiu's lover and, and, and- oh... I shouldn't- ah." What seemed to be a determined Irllytia, became instead a dummy Irllytia as her words turned jelly even before reaching the second half of her blabbering. Natalia was obviously so shocked that she remained speechless.

She made a quick turn to look at the guilty aggressor as she then looked back at Irllytia with the same expression. She took Irllytia's left hand before falling into a silent lapse. Then she gently grazed Irllytia's hand as she asked her: "Do you mind to follow us into... the room?" 

Both red-haired exquisite and gorgeous women had their heads low as they blushed profusely. Irllytia nodded and then seemingly pressed a button, a few seconds later while she was going out of the reception desk, a door opened from behind which emerged a grown red-haired old man which intensely looked towards Tongqiu, then towards Irllytia before looking at 'Mommy Heals You'- shocked. The second Tongqiu frowned and his gaze turned cold, the old man lowered his gaze in shame as he once again looked at Tongqiu, this time with a look that said 'bastard' as well as 'envy, jealousy, hatred' before politely greeting them and then sat down in the behind the reception desk.

...

Now in Tongqiu's room. Irllytia spoke up first: "Ah, that was my father he, I had to tell him... w-w..." As she was trying to continue, she suddenly thought of the great meaning of her words. Her eyes widened incredibly large as she stole quick glances at Natalia, she obviously saw her as the Alpha's Queen, so how could she not feel afraid?

Somewhat quite shocked, Natalia's eyes also widened. She hesitated for a little before resolutely placing her right hand on Irllytia's left shoulder, and said as she calmed her: "It's... okay, you can tell him. Tell us." 

As both Irllytia and Tongqiu saw her enigmatic yet sincere smile, Tongqiu was somewhat relieved while Irllytia found new encouragement. Then, she spoke bluntly: "What if he gets me pregnant too? Like Tonkia!"

Tongqiu: ಠ_ಠ

Irllytia: (ᵔᴥᵔ)

Natalia: (•_•)

Suddenly a white bright light illuminated the room.

Tonkia: ⚆ _ ⚆

Natalia: "..."

Then Natalia looked, innocently, at Tongqiu.

Tongqiu: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

...