Ezra’s decision to get into the museum had proved to be a dangerous one, but now that he was already inside the exhibition hall, there was no turning back.Surrounded by hidden spike traps, Ezra felt like he was standing in the middle of a minefield. The only respite was that he still had his feet on firm ground. However, taking the next step was his biggest challenge.Ezra carefully studied the tiles around him, trying his best to identify a pattern that might reveal which ones had spike traps under them. But no matter how many times he looked at each tile, he could not find any clues which would lead him in the right direction.All the tiles had the same pattern on them and only differed in size. At a glance, it was impossible to tell which ones were safe to step on and which ones would collapse.While Ezra had his eyes glued to the floor, Marlin was looking elsewhere. A sudden sparkle in the gunsmith's cursed eye suggested that he had discovered something useful.“You are looking i
Once Ezra picked up the sniper rifle, a secret corridor opened on his left. As he walked down the narrow path, it led him to an arched stone gateway filled with bright blue smoke.“I must say you have surpassed my expectations!” Ardryll’s familiar voice lauded Ezra’s success. He turned around, hoping to meet the elf’s apparition again, but there was no one standing behind him.“I may not be beside you, but my eyes see everything,” the elf whispered from some unseen corner. “Step into the gateway, and it will lead you back to the main street. We call them Warp Gates. They cut down on traveling time and are immensely useful when you are carrying heavy weights. I promise you will get used to them in no time.”“Sounds awfully convenient,” Marlin mocked. It was clear from his tone that he wasn’t too eager to trust the elf’s words.Ardryll had already noticed the eye on Ezra’s hand but hadn’t been able to put his finger on things until now. Hearing another man’s voice cleared his confusion.
Artificial constructs were the most versatile magical companions a person could ask for. Though initially only mages and sorcerers could summon them and give them commands, gradually several methods were discovered to allow others to enlist their aid as well.The five lifeless constructs standing before Ezra were from a long-forgotten era and looked nothing like the modern elemental golems and mechanical sentries he had seen in Valaria.The rock golem had been assembled using different types of boulders and enchanting them with magic. It had a rotund belly and large gray arms composed of heavy rocks and flat pebbles that formed its fingers.In the middle of the golem’s chest was a large cubical hollow enchanted with magic runes.The treant looked like an ancient oak tree that had uprooted itself and shed most of its leaves. It was similar to the Forest Guardians in some ways but seemed far sturdier and resilient.Just like the Rock Golem, the Primordial Treant also had a hollow core en
In just two hours Ezra had managed to infiltrate the ruined city and make his way into the heart of the Blood Orchid. But the real challenge lay on the other side.Not many would think about scouring the ruins of the Blood Orchid all alone, but Ezra had braved the dangers and used his wits to outsmart the challenges. And now that he had a mechanical sentry protecting him, it allowed him to ease his nerves.Navigating through the rubble which consisted of remnants of crumbling pillars and floating pavilions, Ezra made his way through the deserted streets and eventually reached a wooden suspension bridge that connected the residential zone to the hallowed ground where the city’s holy lake was located.Loseth Arela was an enchanted lake whose waters were rumored to have magical properties. The people of Valaria believed that taking a dip in this holy lake could heal the mind and cleanse one’s sins, helping them get rid of all vices.A thousand years ago it would have been a common chore t
Marlin watched as the sentry flew away and disappeared amidst the clouds.“Do you really think that flying junk even understands what a gravity-disrupting relic looks like?” he asked in an incredulous tone. “What made you think that a dumb golem can accomplish such a task?”“It’s not a golem. That thing is a magic-powered robot,” Ezra replied. “I can bet you a thousand sovereigns that a mechanical sentry is a lot smarter than any other elemental constructs.”While Ezra and Marlin were debating about the merits and demerits of relying on machines, the sentry flew over the holy lake and sped up using its support thruster. When it reached the last wall protecting the inner ring, it had a clear view of the whole city. This elevated position allowed it to easily scan the ruins below and search for the relic Ezra had mentioned.Since the Solar Defender was the most advanced mechanical sentry ever built, it was equipped with an echo scanner that could analyze objects behind walls and ascerta
The Vengeful Spirits crowded onto the shores of Loseth Arela like shadows from some lightless world. And as they closed in on Ezra, the sky overhead turned dark.Ezra and his sentry companion stood with their backs toward each other to eliminate any blind spots and keep the spirits in their sights at all times.“Threat detected! Preparing to eliminate hostiles...” The sentry flew up and launched a missile strike, targeting the shadows in the outer periphery of the ever-tightening ring.Schwoo! Boom!A cluster of explosions ripped through the plateau, leaving a massive crater in its wake. But the blasts did not kill a single spirit. The shadows remained completely unharmed.“Physical attacks do not work against spirits!” Ezra shouted to his sentry. “Only magic and holy spells can harm them!”Ezra equipped his Hodgson submachine gun and reloaded it with magic bullets. Stepping away from the advancing shadows, he fired upon them. The magic bullets punched holes into the shadows, causing
The magical properties of the waters of Loseth Arela helped Ezra regain his strength and overcome all fears. As he walked out of the lake, the water droplets glimmered on his face like silver dust. Miraculously, his soaked clothes dried off in seconds as he walked away from the lake. Ezra felt his magic energy surging inside his veins and empowering his body. He felt much stronger than before and the wounds inflicted by the Vengeful Spirits had healed completely by now.“I already feel more powerful than ever. Now, let’s see how much has changed.” Ezra opened his system profile and swiped to access his skill selection menu. He was immediately surprised by what he saw. All his skills had been enhanced to their maximum levels and even his affinity had been increased.[Level up!][Magic talent level: C.][Maximum Magic Power: 1000%.][1. Magic Surge (level 5) (max) (active): This skill unleashes a magic blast that pushes larger enemies back, disorienting them for a brief period. Smalle
The White Rose was the innermost and smallest subdivision of Galladrium. Despite occupying a small area, it was so well-guarded that no soul had ever managed to breach it. Ezra had a tall task before him, but with his shooting skills maxed out, he felt confident about achieving the impossible.“It is already past noon. You might want to hurry things up if you wish to return to Magaravia before nightfall,” Marlin reminded.“It’s better to plan ahead instead of rushing things.” For the first time, Ezra sounded cautious. It was clear from his tone that he was worried about the obstacles that lay ahead.Since no one had ever breached the city's inner ring, no one in Valaria knew anything about its defenses. Ezra’s best option was to consult the Atlas of Altamir to get somewhat of an idea about the traps on the other side.Accessing his system panel, Ezra tapped on the map and zoomed on the inner ring. The White Rose was surrounded by two walls with a small gap between them. But the most p