NOVEL WEB Chapter 5: One Last Thing Before The Main Quest
'I've given you that Class, but it remains to be seen. Will you prove to be a Depraved individual on a Hero's Path, or a Hero on a Depraved Path?'
The Administrator had disappeared after pointing towards the closest Main Quest Location.
Elijah learned that the area he was currently in was extremely dangerous, filled with Creatures known as Guardians whose sole purpose is to drive people away and into the Main Quest Locations. Those areas are also filled with treasures and Dungeons meant to be explored in between Main Quests.
He was told that the Main Quest was starting in two hours, and that the closest Main Quest Location was a college campus.
"The college experience… Part 2!"
He had also learned that the System would automatically translate his and others' words, which was fortunate as he had no idea where he had even landed.
'Should've paid more attention to the screen thingy.'
Shrug-
"Let's focus on the positives. It might not be too late to have a fun college experience."
Elijah called out his Status Window.
[Name: Elijah
Class: Depraved Hero[Legendary]
-Sub-class: X
Species: Human
-Sub-species: X
Stats:
-Strength: 55(+47)
-Agility: 65 (+54)
-Perception: 75(+62)
-Vitality: 50(+43)
-Endurance: 60(+50)
-Mana: 45 (+45)
Skills:
-Slave Mark[B-Rank]
-Healing Touch [B-Rank]
-Skill Share [B-Rank]
-Accelerated HP Regeneration[B]
-Accelerated Stamina Regeneration[B]
-Accelerated Mana Regeneration[B]
-Basic Weapon Mastery[B]
-Absolute Authority[A-Rank]
]
"Nice Stat increase." He nodded to himself. "So the Administrator calls me Elijah and the System just runs with it."
Seeing the "Slave Mark" Skill jump up a Rank was also nice. The idea had come from seeing multiple Skills be condensed into Basic Weapon Mastery, which made the Sub-Skill Potential messages easy to understand.
[Slave Mark[B-Rank]:
The Palm of your hand holds the secret to a Seal, originally created by an Ancient Goddess.
By placing that Seal on another Being's body, the latter's standing in the world will be shamefully revealed to all.
One Marked by the Slave Mark can never hurt or damage their Owner. One Marked by the Slave Mark will always follow their Owner's orders.
For one to be descended into Slave-Status, certain Conditions must be met. There is more than one way for one to descend into Slave-Status
The "Slave Mark" Skill was used by the Ancient Goddess for many different purposes.
-Attached Sub-Skill(1): Healing Touch [B-Rank]
The Healing Touch Skill is imbued in the Seal of the Slave Mark, continually healing the Marked.
-Attached Sub-Skill(2): Skill Share [B-Rank]
The "Skill Share" Skill allows for two Party Members of the same Party to share any one Skill. Because Consent is necessary, both Party Members must own the "Skill Share" Skill, and both must use it, for the "Skill Share" to be successful.
The Skill "Skill Share" is imbued in the Seal of the Slave Mark, allowing the Marked to Share one of their Skills with you. Since you have complete Authority over the Marked, their consent for the Skill Share isn't necessary, and neither is their ownership of the "Skill Share" Skill.
]
Elijah was currently in the middle of an urban park. In the distance, he could see trees growing denser and taller. The park was turning into a forest or jungle in real time.
'The terrain is changing with the coming of the Apocalypse. The areas where the First Main Quests don't take place will change a lot. I need to leave.'
Before doing so, Elijah started heading towards the only two remaining Corrupted Harpies.
Both were slightly injured. Unlike the others which had left and flown away, these two remained on, using their talons to injure the gigantic creature that had served as a surfing board.
Elijah slowly circled around the closest one, then approached it from behind.
'If it works as the Administrator said it would then…'
It did.
The moment Elijah thought about it, a faintly glowing screen appeared. He dipped his hand into it and felt the hilt of the Iron Sword he wanted to use.
After slowly and silently pulling it out of his Inventory, he thrust it through the Corrupted Harpy's stomach before quickly pulling it out.
The Corrupted Harpy could barely muster the strength to let out a pained cry before it fell to the ground, bleeding heavily.
'The System isn't telling me what kind of Conditions are necessary for the Slave Mark to work. I'm sure consent is one of the ways that allow it to work, but no one would be crazy enough to accept being turned into a slave. Other than that, then it's just like people used to do it. Those who lose the war get two choices. A life of slavery, or death.'
Elijah's right hand reached for the Corrupted Harpy's horrible head.
"It's more than you deserve, really. But it isn't totally a lose-lose situations…" He placed his palm against the Corrupted Harpy's head, and the latter screeched loudly as a purple light was emitted by Elija's palm. "My Slaves get healing for free, see?"
[You have successfully used the "Slave Mark[B]" Skill!]
[Owned Slaves: 1/10.]
'And I get ten of them, huh? It's not bad, but I didn't think there would be a limit. Whatever. I'm sure it's only limited for now.'
Elijah took a step back.
The Corrupted Harpy had lost consciousness.
'It's working though. The bleeding has stopped, and the wounds have started healing.'
His facial expression grew colder the more that the Corrupted Harpy's wounds healed.
"Get up." He ordered with an icy cold voice.
A painful screech exited the Corrupted Harpy's mouth as it opened its eyes wide before standing to its feet.
"So there's pain involved, huh?" Noticing that actually made Elijah's expression a bit less cold. "Go to your friend there. Injure it, and bring it to me."
The Corrupted Harpy started with wide eyes, turned towards the other remaining Corrupted Harpy, then turned back towards Elijah.
"Move it."
The order immediately made the Slave Mark on the Corrupted Harpy's head light up. The Marked felt like the skin covering its head was burning, like its skull was about to explode.
"Good boy." Elijah chuckled as the Corrupted Harpy executed itself.
Now fully healed, it would easily win against the injured Corrupted Harpy.
[You have successfully used the "Slave Mark[B]" Skill!]
[Owned Slaves: 2/10.]
'Just one more thing to do before going to the Main Quest… To campus.'