The Ancients World

Chapter 81: The journey to Zenith city XIX

The three of us set on the road to Zenith city. I take a look around as merchant cart after merchant cart is waiting for the road to open for official business, if you are a traveler you can walk yourself. The guards are making sure that all merchants aren't going. We cut to the front and start heading down the closed road, its nice to have a road that isn't packed with traffic. Roads that lead to capital cities are always busy, but the recent war has stopped that. The only downside is the monsters, and I'm looking forward to the little bit of action after not being in any combat. I look over to Thoznal and I'm reminded of the questions I want to ask.

I've never been to the capital of the dwarves, that's the first thing I want to ask about. "Thoznal, do you mind telling me about the Dwarven country. Its one of the places I eventually want to see." In my old future there is only so much you can do in 5 years. There are thousands of places I never got to visit or learn about, and the Dwarven country is one of them. I have a thirst for lore and history, I cant help it when a world is rich with it. Thoznal laughs in a joyous way, dwarves love to talk about their history. I heard its one of the best things you can ask a dwarf.

Tokil chuckles as well, I'll also want to know some things about his country. I may know some, but he will know way more. "Well my friend, the Dwarven capital is called Muldan. Its located in a hollowed out mountain range on the other side of the ocean called Ogeburns Expanse. The mountain range is called Grimde Highlands, its has some of the tallest mountains in the world. Most of the land beyond Muldan is largely unexplored, in recent times some of our best scientists have discovered that the world constantly expands." I already knew this, but I didn't learn about it till many years after it became common knowledge. I heard that lands and oceans are constantly expending and creating new areas from the forums in my old future.

I wonder if players will have the same reaction they did last time, many questioned how this was possible and the only answer was magic. "How do you keep the mountain from collapsing in on its self. Hollowing out a mountain range for a capital city sounds very dangerous." Most knowledge on dwarves is hidden right now, and I knew nothing to begin with. I cant help asking questions like this, the time and effort put into hollowing out a mountain sounds taxing. The risk of collapse jeopardizes all that hard work, and dwarves are clever. They wouldn't do something like this without a guarantee of safety.

He hums to himself in contemplation, he might be debating if he should tell me or not. "In all honesty only the Master smiths know that secret, the devices created to do such a thing was crafted by our most genius scientists. That was thousands of years ago as well, for all I know the devices blueprints are lost to time. Only the masters know, and they never leave their labs." That's interesting for sure. I feel like I want to ask Tokil somethings about his people and culture as well.

I converse with them for hours on history that I knew and didn't know. It's approaching afternoon now and we are taking a break. They have stopped to eat, and I have joined them. "I know why Tokil is traveling the country, but why are you Thoznal. I didn't think dwarves have a place in politics, and I find it hard to believe you are here to talk about products." They both look at each other in slight surprise at my deduction. I have some theories on why he is here, but I want to hear his words. He sets down his food and crosses his arms in thought.

I'm not an NPC so he might tell me, but for all intents and purposes this might be a secret mission or something. "I'm impressed with your questions Zern, I'll tell you but you have to promise you wont tell anyone." I nod my head yes and straighten out, I don't want to miss a word of what he says. "I'm here to determine if my people should involve ourselves in the war, believe it or not there is a threat that the monster armies present to us as well. I've been talking to leaders and generals about the situation, when I send a report to my country they will determine if we side with the humans or stay out of the war." In my old future dwarves never went to war, this is also a first. I have a feeling that they will join, but I shouldn't speak so soon.

This war just might make every thinking creature involved, the monsters may not stop until they are the only ones left. "I wouldn't doubt they join the war Thoznal, we have already lost an entire country to a horde. While Alsoma was smaller and weaker then Zenith, its still impressive they crushed them so swiftly. As a new person I don't have to worry about dying, but the rest who aren't like us have to worry about the worst." They nod quietly at my words, and silently look at their food. I don't like bringing down the mood. I cant help myself from talking sometimes, if I have insight I have to say something.

We continue to eat and talk about other things, before long we are back on the road. Deep into the road to Zenith we hear nothing other than silence. This isn't normal in the loud woods full of birds and bugs that make noise. "This place is to quiet, there isn't a single thing making a sound. Be on guard my friends." Tokil says what I'm thinking. I draw my sword and prepare for combat just incase. "Your blade gives off a unique feeling just like its looks. Do you mind me asking where you got that blade." Tokil asks me about The Witness, I don't want to give its true value away. I should answer them with something though.

I swing it a little to show off how natural it feels to wield it. "I got it as a reward from a quest, it has some great skills. I don't know much other than that though." Tokil looks ready to ask another question, but we both swing our heads and look in the same direction. We got a single monster on its way. Thoznal sees the looks on our faces and draws his amazing looking battle axe, it outsizes him by quiet a bit. He holds it like a master though. Tokil draws his curved blade as well and gets into a combat stance. "We got a visitor guys, and its feels strong. Be ready for a fight." They both nod their heads at my words.

Soon the monster bursts out of the trees and breaks us apart with its hard landing. I backflip mid air and land on my feet. Tokil rolls out of the way and Thoznal jumps since his short legs cant do what we just did. I use inspect on the creature and I cant help my surprise of the level of the beast. This one is notorious for being a headache to kill.

[Steel Skinned Jaguar Lvl.90 tier 1]

2,000,000/2,000,000 HP

[Description: An apex predator that hates anything that invades its territory. Its skin makes it impossible to cause bleeding damage or dismemberment. Its weak point is its soft belly, exercise caution when engaging alone. Even though its heavy, it moves extremely fast.]

I'm glad I'm not alone in this battle, I don't think my dismemberment perk will work on this guy, and the only thing I have that might is the curse of decomposition. I can ignore its defense since my sword does, but its faster then all of us so we should cover each others weaknesses and help our strengths. "I'll go for stronger strikes near the head, it will dodge since its fast. It cant cover all of us, when it jumps away be ready to attack its blind spots. It's a predator after all, it cant see to its side or rear. Try and hit the underbelly, if you cant then take what you can get." I announce my plan and both nod in understanding. I won't be able to hit this thing on my own, so having these 2 help a lot.

We proceed to fight this damn thing for 20 minutes, Thoznal gets a great hit on the underbelly. I think he got a critical because it looks ready to die. We have been chipping away at its health for awhile. I was worried that Thoznal would be to weak to help us, but he proved both me and Tokil wrong. I keep going for the head over and over again, but it dodges a few more time before it lays down and gives up. We watch it bleed out and die, I don't like killing in such a manner. We cant risk a playing dead situation though, one of us can die. I then get system notifications as it closes its eye for the final time.

+2% exp

Since I only landed a couple of regular hits I wont get any skill exp, but 2 percent is good to me. Kind of surprised that the curse didn't work, bad luck in the 2 strikes I got. I haven't looked at my player status in a long time. I open my player stats and see where I'm at.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.61]

[Exp: 38/100%]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden),+3 more]

[Stats]

[Strength - 2050][Endurance - 2000][Dexterity - 2080][Speed - 2195][Focus - 8500]

[Health: 16,200/16,200][Mana: 85000/85000]

[Stat Points: 270][Armor rating: 500]

[Inventory]

[Passive Perks]

[Inheritor of the Sword] [Son of Heaven] [Slayer of Evil] [Holy Willow Trees Savior] [Finder of Legends] [The Divine who has Legend] [Destined for Greatness] [Dungeon Diver]

[Active Skills]

[Heavens light Lvl.7 325/700] [Protected by Heaven Lvl.7 225/700] [Slash Lvl.17 4500/8000] [Parry Lvl.1 80/100] [Double Strike N/A] [Kingslayer N/A] [Raging Machine N/A]

My slash will get better again once it reaches level 20, I don't think I'll be hitting level 62 till after I'm done getting my mana aura. By that time others will start doing their tier up quests as well, staying ahead of the players is only going to get harder. On the other hand I'm already to strong for one to threaten me, I look at my quests and see I have a healthy amount of them.

Tokil and Thoznal start walking and I follow. We should be arriving to Zenith city by tonight, it will be nice to see a capital city after so long. On the other hand Zenith is still being rebuilt so I shouldn't get my hopes up.