2024-12-31 05:11:49Vardy charged at the Essentria this time, rushing toward it before it could do the same. He figured out that the Essentria's only way out was to charge at him and make him dodge, so he acted first to prevent that. It was risky, but he wanted the EXP and undead from defeating Essentria.
When Vardy got close, the Essentria bit his shoulder, causing him a lot of pain. He managed to hold it off while Luthor and Tracy attacked it. They wrestled the Essentria to the ground, and Vardy told them to finish it off.
Vardy swiftly delivered a forceful kick to the Essentria's neck, causing it to snap and crumple in defeat. He then turned his attention to Luthor, who had suffered an injury from the attack. With remorse evident on his face, Vardy apologized for the harm inflicted upon him and offered reassurance that he would soon be healed.
Afterwards, Vardy took a moment to carefully allocate his stat points, meticulously reviewing each attribute's functionality before making any decisions.
- Strength: This measured physical power.
- Agility: It indicated physical speed and coordination.
- Vitality: This measured the total health pool and the durability bonuses from wearing armor. Each point in vitality raised total health by 3.
- Magic: It raised the mana pool and was crucial for casting spells. Each point in magic raised total mana by 3.
- Attunement: This stat determined how many skills, spells, or units a player could control. Every five points allowed an additional spell, skill, or unit.
- Perception: It increased accuracy, critical chance, and critical damage.
Vardy directed his attention towards enhancing his physical prowess and nimbleness in order to match the capabilities of superhuman beings. Subsequently, he allocated resources towards augmenting his magical abilities and fortitude.
Strength: 11
Agility: 8 (13)
Vitality: 6 → 10
Magic: 5 → 11
Attunement: 5
Perception: 8
HP: 21/21 → 33/33
Mana: 11/15 → 33/33
Due to Vardy's proficiency in vitality, magic, and attunement, his Legion Dark Warlock was granted a dual bonus for investing in them.
As an illustration, two points allocated to vitality would translate into four. This 2x modifier was exclusive to the class of Legion Dark Warlocks and served as a counterbalance for the requirement of health offerings when summoning undead creatures and the exorbitant mana costs associated with spellcasting.
Vardy's strategy was clear: level his basic physical stats first, then focus on magic, vitality, and attunement. With a few points in magic, he almost doubled his ability to use Chill Bolts.
He spent the next hour hunting Essentrias in the forest, strengthening his abilities and gaining experience.
Vardy defeated ten more Essentrias, adding their undead forms to his party. He returned to his Sign and checked his status:
Essentria (x10) defeated! +100 EXP
EXP Bar: 5/60 → 105/60
Level Up!
Level 3 → 4
EXP Bar: 45/120
Vardy allocated all his stat points to magic, now having a total mana pool of 66.
Strength: 11
Agility: 8 (13)
Vitality: 10
Magic: 11 → 21
Attunement: 5
Perception: 8
Mana: 3/33 → 3/63
With his mana pool increased, Vardy could now effectively use his mage abilities. He checked the time and date: October 31, 2117, 10 P.M.
Reflecting on the past day, Vardy vowed to avenge himself and his friends. He noticed a glint of glass under the leaves and found a stash of syringes, likely belonging to Sly, a member of Dean's gang.
Realizing Sly might return soon, Vardy hurried back to the Apex Realm. He had to prepare for Sly's arrival between midnight and 2 A.M.
As the Sign's light enveloped him, Vardy felt the weight of his mission. For seventeen years, he endured suffering, but now he had power. He was ready to deliver justice.
Vardy, accompanied by his undead companions, entered the Apex Realm, where golden and blue energy enveloped him, restoring his health and mana to full.
"HP: 33/33"
"Mana: 66/66"
First, he headed to the Wellspring, a platform with a basin of white marble. He refilled his Revival Tainer with golden and blue liquid, capping it with a golden stopper.
Revival Tainer charges: 0/3 → 3/3
Next, he noticed a stick figure entity behind a work table surrounded by smithing tools. It mimicked Sindri, the smithing god, hammering away at nothing.
Vardy approached the stick figure and inquired about its previous mention of the hunt. However, it responded with a scripted dialogue, unable to fulfill his request.
Resigned, Vardy requested a crafted item and presented a Moss Beast Soul. He wanted a two-handed staff that served as a catalyst for magic.
The stick figure presented three options:
Staff of Grasping Vines
Staff of Iron Bark
Staff of Stilling Pollen
Vardy chose the Staff of Stilling Pollen, which could paralyze units in its area of effect. He considered it the most efficient choice for dealing with Sly.
"-80 Coins"
"Coins Remaining: 20"
With limited coins and no easy way to earn more, Vardy decided to be conservative with his spending. He expressed his gratitude to the System and checked if there were any other items available for purchase, but the screen was empty.
System mentioned it would be available if needed, and Vardy prepared to leave. He stood atop the exit Sign, determined to take the first step toward making things right.
"This will be the beginning of my journey to the top"
Luthor and Tracy grunted at Vardy, their zombified vocal cords limited to such sounds. Light surrounded them, blinding them momentarily before teleporting Vardy back to the forest. He glanced at his wristwatch.
Not much time had passed, which was good. Vardy needed time to get ready. He conjured the "Staff of Stilling Pollen" in his hands. It resembled a long bamboo shoot with three branches at the top, each adorned with a yellow bulb the size of a baseball, covered in tiny hairs and bright yellow pollen.
Each bulb contained the "Pollen Cloud" spell, turning them into noxious gas grenades that could be detonated remotely. A nearly perfect tool for Vardy's plan.
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The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 8: Vengeance Made Flesh
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The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 9: The Immortal Knights Return
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The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 10: Forge of the Future
Vardy stepped onto the Sign, and the teleporting light him and everyone else. In a moment, they arrived in the dim interior of the Apex Realm temple, with its gray stone and tall gothic pillars."The Apex Realm. I never thought I'd be back here with you, master," said Ferah. She seemed happy at first, but then she squinted. "Something feels off about this place.""What do you mean?" asked Vardy."The Apex Realm is supposed to be a safe space created by the twin gods Amara and Sindri. It should have a warmth to it from their powers. But I don't sense it. It feels...dead," said Ferah. "It's like this place is just a copy, lacking the real 'life' but still having its powers.""I noticed that too," said Vardy. "My theory is that this isn't the real Apex Realm. It's just a replica, still holding its powers but lacking the true essence.""Is that so?" Ferah looked around warily. "As long as you trust it, I will too.""So far, it hasn't let me down," said Vardy. He leaped over the Wellspring
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The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 12: Shadows over Haven
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The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 13: The Dark Soul
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The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 14: Unveiling the Dark Warlock
The air crackled with tension as Gardy’s mocking laughter echoed through the dimly lit room. The Colossus, momentarily staggered by Luthor’s arrow, slowly returned to its initial position itself, Its huge metal body groaning as it shifted its position.Its red eyes glowed sharply and brighter, and the air slowly vibrated with a slow sound combining a deadly energy. Luthor, covered in shadows, remains still at the doorway, his bow at a steady position, ready to strike at any moment, his expression unreadable.“You’re too late, Luthor,” Gardy hissed, stepping forward, her dark cloak swirling around her like a living shadow with its own mind. “The game has already been set in motion. Vardy’s fate is sealed. No one can escape now.” ahahaha his laughter filled the airVardy tightened his fists, his Evil Eyes glowing as he assessed the situation. Gardy was powerful, but he knew there was a weakness in her overconfidence and arrogance. She was so sure of her victory, so sure of her control,
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Chapter 27: Mysteries Unfold
The five set out to find leverage against Sly and his goons but little did they know it was under their nose the whole time. The group still sat in the War Room late into the night with candle light around the room. Losing hope and as exhaustion overtook their bodies, they sat down around the table with sighs of defeat. Vardy glanced at his staff and felt for the light within. It was dim, more than it had been in recent days. "The light.....seems to be more dim than usual...." Tracy observed. Inside Vardy was in a panic with no idea what to do but outside, he held his face and body in the same loose, confident and poised manner. He nodded. "It is. I don't know how to fix it." His voice came out even as he spoke. Tracy sat there, thinking and mentally Flipping through books she had been reading for research purposes and remembered a particular spell book that had caught her fancy just earlier that day. Scrolls and ancient diaries sat open and scattered across the table making it hard
Chapter 26: Shadows Rising
The calm in Oak Academy was deceptive. Though the city was beginning to rebuild, the team couldn’t ignore the growing tension in the air. The darkness that lingered wasn’t just Sly’s presence,it was something deeper, an under flow of unease that warned them of what was to come, Vardy, Ferah, Luthor, Tracy, and Jesse gathered in the academy’s war room, still looking at the map searching over one maps and ancient texts in the rom. The flickering candlelight danced across their faces, their expressions stood with determination.Jesse leaned over the table, tracing his finger across a map of the region. "Sly’s words weren’t just bravado. He’s not working alone. The Dark Warlocks have been rebuilding their forces in the shadows. If we’re going to stop them, we need to find their stronghold."Luthor crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "We can’t just charge in blind. Sly’s been one step ahead of us every time. If we’re not careful, we’ll walk straight into a trap."Tracy nodded, her fing
Chapter 25: The Unbelievable Return
Days have passed since Aziel’s fall, and the city began its slow recovery. The people were freed from the darkness that had shadowed them, they all started to rebuild, unite, and see each other once again, and the air was lighter than it had been in years. But Vardy and his team knew better than to think the war was over. The presence of the Dark Warlocks lingered like a shadow on the horizon. Despite Aziel’s defeat, there were whispers of power far greater, a force that had been pulling the strings from the shadows for age's.One evening, as the team gathered in their makeshift headquarters at Oak Academy, the familiar figure of Sly appeared on the horizon. His silhouette was unmistakable,tall, confident, and exuding an aura of pure malevolence. His face was partially concealed by a hood, but his eyes gleamed with the same unyielding determination that had marked his every step since the beginning of this journey up till the moment."Sly," Vardy commanded, his voice filled with a m
Chapter 24: The Light against the Dark
The citadel, once a monument to Aziel’s reign of terror, stood silent in the wake of his fall. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the stone, casting long beams across the ruin. The oppressive darkness that had once hung heavy over the city was gone, but the cost of victory weighed heavily on the survivors. Vardy, Ferah, Tracy, Jesse and Luthor stood at the heart of the shattered citadel, the echoes of the battle still roaming through the air.Vardy’s chest rose and fell in labored breaths, the toll of the final confrontation taking its toll on him. The light within him had faded, leaving a hollow emptiness in its wake. He had given everything to defeat Aziel, but in doing so, he felt the last of his strength slip away.Ferah knelt beside him, her gaze soft but unwavering. "You did it, Vardy. We did it. The city is safe because of you."Vardy’s eyes met hers, filled with both gratitude and sorrow. "It doesn’t feel like we are done yet," he admitted, his voice soothing the situatio
Chapter 23: The Confrontation of Vardy against the Dark
Vardy kept on pushing in, giving all he could to stop all of this, he knew. He was no match for what was ahead of him, but should he just. Give in, after all, No he can't do that, not if it was him alone in this,, but for the precious sake of, the one around him, I'll rather die by my hand than give in to this forsaken darkness lurking inside, I won't accept defeat not so soon,His heart was still pounding, it looked more like the dark could listen to everything he was saying, and with every step they took towards the citadel, the depth would always yawn to park them in, but was not a match for the three skills and what they had encountered so far..The air inside the citadel was thick with the weight of dark power, pressing down on them like an invisible hand. The walls seemed to pulse with energy, their surfaces slick with shadow, as though the very structure of the citadel was alive. The distant echoes of Aziel’s laughter vibrate through the halls, mocking and sticking, but Vardy
Chapter 22: The Heart of Darkness
The air was alive with crackling energy, and the very earth beneath Vardy's feet seemed to hold with a dark, unyielding power. Tendrils of shadow reached out from the cracks in the ground, twisting and writhing like serpents with a mind of their own. Each movement sent a shiver through the city, as though the streets themselves were groaning under the weight of an ancient, forgotten force.Aziel’s figure loomed above them, the faint glow of his eyes illuminating the darkness. He stood unaffected, unrestricted, not to be destroyed, his confidence over shadowing him, his hands raised in a commanding gesture. The dark energy swirled around him like an obedient pet, bending to his will. His smile, cruel and knowing, sent a shiver down Vardy’s spine."You still don’t understand, do you?" Vardy. Aziel’s voice was soft, almost coaxing. "This power, and this darkness,is your inheritance, Vardy. It has been waiting for you. All this time, waiting for your presence just to embrace, you’ve fough
Chapter 21: Eyes of the Dark Storm
Now, dark and cold, tired and weary, the city loomed ahead like a dark stain on the earth surface, its towering spires reaching up to the sky like cracking teeth, sharp and unforgiving. Vardy could feel the oppressive weight of its presence pressing on him, the air thick with a sense of looming danger that seemed to emanate from the very streets.Ferah, Luthor, and Vardy walked in silence, their footsteps muffled by the dirt road beneath them. The wind had picked up, circling dust and debris around them, as if the very world was preparing for something monumental."We’re getting close," Luthor said, his voice low, almost as if speaking too loudly might provoke something hidden in the shadows. "This place… it feels wrong.""I can feel it too," Ferah agreed, her expression tense. "Something's off about this city. It’s like it’s been waiting for us."Vardy said nothing, his mind consumed by the storm of thoughts swirling in him. The darkness within him, the pull of Aziel’s words, the ch
Chapter 20: The Daring Choice
The reality is now and here, a way forward is all I can only think of, I don't care about myself, but for those who have journeyed with me up till now, Vardy spoke to himself in silence, I can't put them down, I can't give up on them, he said to himself.Vardy’s heart raced, the weight of Aziel’s words pressing down on him like a thousand stones. The very idea that the darkness, something he had fought so desperately to escape, was a part of him was too much to comprehend. His mind reeled, struggling to understand how he could possibly be connected to the very force he had always seen as an enemy.Aziel’s gaze held steady, watching him closely, almost as if he were savoring Vardy’s internal conflict. "You’re torn, I can see it. You want to deny it, push it away, but you can’t. You’ll come to understand, eventually. We all do."Vardy shook his head, trying to clear the fog clouding his thoughts. "You’re lying. I’m not like you."Aziel’s lips twisted into a cruel smile. "You think you’r
Chapter 19: The Depth Unraveling Threads
The Oracle’s words continued striking Vardy as he and his companions began their journey from the mountain. The cold, thin air had stung their limbs, but the weight of the Oracle’s prophecy hung heavily on their hearts. He had expected guidance, a path to follow, but what he had received was a riddle, a cryptic warning that left more questions than answers.Ferah, ever monitoring, noticed Vardy’s troubled expression as they walked. "You’re still thinking about what she said, aren’t you?" she asked, her voice low and steady.Vardy glanced at her, then nodded. "She’s right. It’s all tied together. The darkness... it’s not just some evil force. It’s alive. It grows. And it has a price. But what does that mean? What exactly is the cost?"Luthor, who had been walking ahead, turned to face them, his eyes seen in thought. "The Oracle speaks in riddles. The truth isn't always easy to see, especially when it’s buried in layers of metaphors, unknown words and heart-pounding questions.""True,"
