Milton escorted Count Gressil and his companions to the governor’s office on the second floor of an ancient-looking building which seemed to be completely out of place in a town like this. The current governor of Silver Springs was a lean middle-aged man with back-brushed black locks and a scraggly beard that had not been shaved for weeks. Although he was dressed in a fine gray overcoat and spotless white shirt paired with a black bowtie, it looked like he was in desperate need of grooming.“Governor Creed. You have visitors,” Milton announced, interrupting the governor’s work.The governor was still sifting through official documents when he was distracted by the voice. He hurriedly stacked the papers and stuffed them inside a cabinet before turning around with a frustrated expression.“I already told you a million times not to—”“Good afternoon to you as well,” Count Gressil greeted, narrowing his eyes on the man.The governor was expecting some engineer or construction working show
The Crypt of Reilor was located under the town of Silver Springs and had a secret entrance through the Garden of Automatons. But only the members of the Creed family knew where the entrance was and how to open it. However, since the Garden of Automatons was a public space, they usually entered the crypt late at night or during the early hours of the morning.So far, Jonathan Creed had done his best to keep things under covers, and only a few town guards and priests knew about the undead infestation inside the Crypt of Reilor. He had taken great precautionary measures to seal the entrance and also limit access to the Garden of Automatons by raising the price of entry tickets.Still, these measures had done little to curb the enthusiasm of the new settlers who had moved into Silver Springs a few months back. So, to stop them from wandering in the garden for too long, the governor had instructed the guards to restrict the visiting hours from noon to evening.However, Jonathan Creed knew
When Ezra had entered the firearms store, he never expected to lay his eyes on such advanced weapons. He could tell that these guns had not been manufactured in Silver Springs and the store owner had most probably acquired them from a dubious source.However, Ezra was more than happy to pick a free weapon even though the guns inside the case looked out of place in this world. They were the kind of weapons one would expect to find in an era dominated by tanks and mortars, instead of trebuchets and battering rams.“You seem to be in two minds, brother. What bothers you?” Kerry asked. “I can teach you how to use them. There is no need to feel awkward. In fact, these weapons handle a lot better than the ones the Imperial Gunners use. Plus, they pack a lot more firepower as well.”Ezra took a good look at the weapons on offer and noticed there were no glyphs or runes engraved on them. It once again confirmed his doubts about the origin of these weapons.“These are all common weapons. Can yo
The look on the Elite Guard’s face was enough to convey the seriousness of the situation. The governor immediately sent for the Captain of the town guards to organize a defense.“We should help them out. Silver Springs will be reduced to rubble if the Elder Lich decides to cast his spells,” Count Gressil said, turning his Elite Guards. “Get to the gate and help the town guards reinforce the wall. Keep an eye on the horde, but do not engage unless I give the word.”The Elite Guards bowed to acknowledge the orders and rushed off to assist the town guards.“Count me in as well. The crypt can wait for now. We will come back for the atlas once the Elder Lich has been dealt with,” Ezra declared, ready to join the fight.But surprisingly enough, Tanya called them back, stopping them from walking away.“We need to retrieve the map right now!” she exclaimed in a frantic voice. “The undead are not attacking this town on a whim. They know the Atlas of Altamir is here and will do their worst to ca
While Count Gressil led the defense against the undead horde marching upon Silver Springs, Ezra and Tanya entered the Garden of Automatons, escorted by one of the town guards. The Garden of Automatons was a carefully curated labyrinth consisting of leafy green hedges and various kinds of exotic floral blossoms.It looked just like any other well-maintained garden, but the main highlights of this attraction weren’t the flowers and creepers. The Garden of Automatons showcased black and white marble statues of the most revolutionary mechanical contraptions designed in Silver Springs.Ezra and Tanya could see the towering sculptures peeping over the hedges as they walked down the leafy trail. There were statues of the first mechanical sentries, as well as the six-legged insectoids used for transport. And deeper inside the garden, they came across a statue of the legendary mechanical engineer Sir Adventus Halicomb, the man who had invented Valaria’s first aerial mode of transport: the Dra
As Ezra and Tanya entered the crypt, the doors slammed shut behind them, closing off their only exit.The Crypt of Reilor was the final resting place of the deceased from the Reeves bloodline and had been protected for generations. But now that Zepheroth had been freed from his eternal prison, his dark influence had cast an evil shadow on Valaria, corrupting the lands.It was still a mystery how the undead had managed to infiltrate the crypt and turn it into their territory, but Ezra was determined to wipe them all out.The Crypt of Reilor was built as a two-floor setup, with the first floor containing the ‘Chamber of Offerings’ and the bottom floor leading to ‘The Burial Chamber’ and ‘Chamber of Spirits’.As Ezra and Tanya took their first steps upon the cobbled floor, a foul stench wafted toward them, choking their nostrils. It smelled like something had recently died here and was left to rot for several days.Tanya retched but covered her mouth and nose with her hand to prevent hers
Ezra’s eyes lit up as he read the new notification. The Gunners in this world could only learn unique skills by obtaining special skill books or unlocking hidden objectives, making it difficult for beginners to unlock them. However, Ezra now had an easy shot at earning that sweet reward.The Dread Wolves rushed out of the shadows and poured into the chamber before Ezra could spare another thought. They were bigger than normal gray wolves but smaller than dire wolves. But what made them stand out was their moldy black fur and the V-shaped red patches on their chests.Sensing the threat, Ezra's spectral wolf raised its head and let out a fierce howl that terrified the undead canines, forcing them into a corner and giving Ezra just enough time to analyze them.[Dragon eye activated!][Target identified: Dread Wolf Forager.][Type: Carnivorous canines. (Undead)][Strengths: Dread Wolves are pack hunters who like isolating their prey and overwhelming larger beasts with their numbers. Their
“What happened? Are you alright?” Tanya rushed to Ezra’s side and slowly helped him to his feet.His creased forehead was covered in sweat and he looked pale and weak. As Tanya touched his forehead with the back of her palm, it singed her skin and she quickly pulled back. “You’re burning up!”“I…saw someone. A man wearing a black robe with coral red eyes and bony fingers.”The words were barely out of Ezra’s mouth when a fiery orb streaked over their heads and crashed into the wall behind them, scattering into sparks.“Divine Barrier!” Tanya hurriedly scrambled to her feet and pointed her open palms forward to conjure a shield of light.Zap! Crackle!Suddenly, a lightning bolt flashed across the bridge and struck the divine shield, causing it to flicker and buzz.“Goddess, grant me your strength!” Tanya knit her eyebrows and squeezed her creased forehead, pouring out all her magic power to reinforce the barrier of light. It was just enough to fortify its weakened core and stave off