(Morgan POV)
It seemed like both of us had different shops. I sort of expected this because of the fact that there was an invisible wall separating us, despite being in the same Respite Zone. It seemed the fact that we both on different sides of the blood river, we couldn't interact physically. However, we can atleast hear and talk to each other.
That was enough for me to insult him every minute.
"How tall you are you, Nico? 5'4? Even for a kid you're age, that's sad. You gotta start doing those internet exercises to increase you're height!"
If they even worked, that is.
As expected, he didn't respond to my provocations. It was impossible to get angry here, after all. So, I wasn't really surprised by this development. Even so, that doesn't mean I won't stop yelling over every insult i could, all the while browsing the items on display.
"You're skinny as a stick, Nico. You gotta start putting in some work to getting built. Im starting to doubt if you even eat, looking like that!"
I exclaimed, as I walked off from the items on display. There wasn't anything interesting. Plus, since I was pretty close to capping at a thousand Abyssal Fragments, I had no intentions of spending anymore of them. I wasn't sure what the conditions for the next level would be, but I felt like any of these items present wouldn't be as useful as the ones I have right now.
The [Duskweave Mantle] and [The Cleave] was more than enough for me right now.
I watched with my arms crossed as Nico was browsing the equipment placed on the tables with white cloths over them, I don't know what he was doing, but I knew he wouldn't buy anything without a reason. So, when he suddenly picked up a herb that was glowing a faint blue and purchased it, I felt suspicious.
"What is that?"
I asked him, my eyes fixed on every move he made. Should I also get that? Could it be helpful in the next level?
Nico looked back at me with an indifferent gaze, then his lips twisted into a coy, almost mocking smile.
"That's a secret."
I huffed in annoyance as he threw the words I said to him, back to me.
"I bet it's helpful for the next level,"
Nico simply rolled his shoulders.
"Or it might not be. You could be wasting the precious Abyssal Fragments you got for killing the Boss."
I knew that there was a possibility that this whole thing was some trick by him. Maybe he already bought the real equipment he needed for the next level and then deliberately showed me him buying that herb to fool me into wasting my Abyssal Fragments.
If I thought about it clearly, why would he buy something so important while I was watching? It can't be that he wasn't aware right? That's just not like him.
Or perhaps this whole thing could be some form of reverse psychology. The thing he wanted was the herb and he bought it infront of me to make me doubt that it was real. After all, it's not in his nature to reveal his cards.
'I'm overthinking things again.'
This was a habit I picked up ever since i was forced to live on the streets. You couldn't trust anyone on the streets and my mind just subconsciously starts distrusting everyone around me, every move they make and every word they say. It could all be a hoax, a deception to get something out of me. In addition to that, after recieving the [Deserted Soul] curse, the distrust just grew worse.
I would like to believe that I had grown close with Isabella, Zeke and Cassie. But did i? Now that things have come to this, I couldn't help but question the way I viewed them. What I felt towards them.
"You seem to be in deep thought there, my friend."
Nico's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, as I realized that I was scowling while staring at him. He was giving me a weird look and I forced a smirk.
"Deep thought? What makes you think I wasn't checking you out during it?"
Nico raised an eyebrow, looking disgusted.
"I'm seventeen, you creep."
I chuckled and licked my lips humorously.
"Even better."
Nico scowled and stepped away from me, prompting me to laugh and respond during fits of it.
"Relax I have no plans of having my way with you."
I rolled my shoulders and stared at him with an intensity strong enough to burn his skin.
"But I do plan on tearing you apart, limb after limb."
Nico chortled.
"You can get more creative than that."
I grinned.
"Perhaps I could."
A beat of silence followed, as i furrowed my eyebrows and asked him curiously.
"I'm curious, how do you know so much anyway?"
And before he could speak, I added—
"And no, I don't wanna hear you say that it's a secret again."
Nico replied casually.
"It's a secret."
I sighed, expecting that.
"How about we trade secrets, hm? I'll tell you where I was and how I killed Velsharath, you tell me how know you so much and what i should expect from the next level."
Nico stared at me for a moment, seemingly contemplating it, before he scoffed.
"That's not happening."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Why not? You'll lose some advantage if you reveal what's in store for us in the next level of this damn river?"
Nico stared at me silently, not saying anything. It was frustrating, but the effects of the Respite Zone kept my voice level despite what I was building inside me.
"That herb has a use for the next level, doesn't it? That's why you don't want to reveal anything."
Nico sighed in exasperation and shook his head.
"You're a real paranoid ass, you know that?"
I narrowed my eyes, but before I could open my mouth, Nico spoke.
"Believe whatever you want to believe. I couldn't careless about what you think."
He turned around and walked away.
I was about to follow after him, but realized that the invisible wall would just block me out of the way. So, I just sighed and turned away, walking the opposite way. Since I wasn't gonna get any information out of him, I'll have to go into the next level blind.
'Has things ever been different?'
I laughed dryly to myself. Difficulty seems to be normal for everything related to The Mulligan, but rewards aren't just unfortunately handed to you.
With still quite some time remaining until the respite was over, I simply sat down on the ground and relaxed.
'I haven't checked my full screen in awhile….'
Curiosity piqued about how much I have progressed recently, I summoned my Screen. The entire Screen this time. The holographic game-like interface blurred, then appeared before me in it's full size, illuminating my face in a blow glow.
At the same time, something sounded inside my head, as I felt some powerful force draining my innate spirit for a brief moment—before halting.
[Skill "???" has revealed some mysteries!]
'What?'
I didn't have time to think, as my eyes wandered over the screen.
Name: Morgan Mornet.
Player: 40,345,678.
Status: Alive.
Equipment: [The Cleave] [Duskweave Mantle] [REDACTED]
Blessing Path: Berserker.
Blessing: [Knight of Madness]
Blessing abilities: [Fury Counter] [Probability Pryer] [The Zone]
Blessing Potential: Celestial.
Blessing Mastery: Apprentice.
Blessing Rank: 1.
Curses: [Deserted Soul] [Frenzied Madman]
Physical attributes: —
Power: [67/1000]
Speed: [54/1000]
Stamina: [80/1000]
Agility: [76/1000]
Flexibility: [78/1000]
Balance: [73/1000]
Accuracy: [34/1000]
Abyssal Fragments: [699/1000]
Titles: —
Achievements: [3/1000]
'What was that?'
My eyes landed on something that was never there before. Two things, actually.
Blessing Path: Berserker.
Blessing Rank: 1.
'What the hell is a path?'
I had an idea of what rank was. It could mean my current level. Could rank be tied to the mastery of my blessing? Rank made sense to existence, but I don't know why it was hidden from me before. Do I need to reach a certain level to be able to unlock the ability to see my rank? But the "???" Skill had just revealed it earlier for me.
Where did that skill come from? Wait, don't tell me….? Was it the mystery orb? It actually did something?!
Only the Mystery Orb has skills with Question marks in them….it seems to be capable of revealing stuff hidden within the system. Or maybe it's capable of doing more? This is the first time the orb has done something.
That's not even the most shocking part of all this. The real surprise is the strange things they revealed. Well, mostly the Path stuff is what intrigued me.
The blessing Path I'm on seems to be Berserker. What significance could this information have in the future? I didn't know. Perhaps I could if I asked Nico, but there is no telling if he would lie or tell the truth. Even if he does tell the truth, he could use this information somehow against me in the future.
I can't reveal it.
But all in all, im glad to have known this. Even if I don't know the significance behind this information.
"Hmm….if my path is Berserker, what could the others path be?"
I mused absently. The Path seems to alignn with what the blessing could do. So, I wondered what Zeke, Isabella and Cassie could her as a path—most of Cassie's abilities remain a mystery to me, though. So. I couldn't imagine hers in anyway.
Right now, this information really had no use for me. So, i didn't linger on what I don't know and focused on what really excited me.
My physical attributes!
As expected, they have been enhanced greatly after everything I have experienced. Though, it's a shame Accuracy was the last one. I wouldn't be too good with a bow or gun, it seemed. However, everything else wasn't too bad. Especially with stats related to Agility. It seemed to be my strongest suit, what I'm best at.
Stamina had the most levels and the largest increase, which I wasnt surprised about. Recently, all I felt like I was doing was chasing after something, walking endlessly until my legs started tiring out. However now, I started tiring out much less quickly. All that walking, running and chasing has actually done me something good.
I checked the achievements, but once again, I couldn't find out what they do, even after rereading and repeatedly tapping on it. It seemed the purpose they serve will be a mystery for me, for now.
After reading it all one last time, I sighed and dismissed the screen with a wave of my hand. At the same time, I heard the familier voice sound inside my head.
[Respite is over!]
Then, a screen appeared before us, with two pictures of the blood river by itself. One side sunny, the other side crimson.
[Choose setting.]
Without hesitating i clicked sunny, but an error appeared.
[Decision invalid! Two player's cannot select the same setting!]
My eyes widened, then narrowed as realization dawned on me. That's right. Nico doesn't know it yet, but when the sun sets for him, it rises at the bottom level of the river. As a result, it would be impossible for us to select the same setting.
So, I shouted.
"Hey! Choose to start at nightfall!"
Nico's response came back a second later.
"Go to hell!"
I snickered, but then turned serious as I stared at the screen. There was a timer at the top. I didn't know what would happen once the five minute timer hit zero, but….
I clicked sunny again.
[Decision invalid! Two Player's can't select the same setting!]
I gritted my teeth. Then continued doing it over and over again, until time itself ran out.
[Decision making time over. The setting will be decided through luck.]
The screen changed and then I saw a scene of a coin being flipped.
[Choose.]
"Heads."
I replied without much thought as two decisions appeared before me.
Then, the coin was flipped. After a tense moment, it landed and the decision was revealed.
[One who chose "Heads" gets to start at daybreak! One who chose "tails" gets to start at Nightfall!]
"YES!"
I grinned, then stood up and stared at the horrified Nico with a smug grin.
"Take that, you ass—"
My insult was cut off as the world around me collapsed. And then, everything turned black. Before the warm glow of the sunlight hit my face. Squinting my eyes, I carefully opended them.
A chill ran down my spine. Quite literally.
"W–what the hell….?"
It was snowing.
Blood River:—
Current Location: Level 2.
Location Monster: [Frozen Hounds]
Distance to next Level: 18km.
Time until Nightfall: 30:00 minutes.