The tallest mountain peak of the Orc Ape Dungeon.
It was known that Orcs have the ability to regenerate, thus, making their bodies stronger than a Native. And this, this is one of the reasons why Zypher stopped from time to time.
The truth is, even if he unlocked the Vitality Stat, it is just a stat that ups his Health, Stamina and lowers consumption of these energies. Taking steps up to the mountains took his energies, and even if he knows that he is near the peak, he can't push himself more because of his stats.
Thus, after climbing for almost twenty minutes, he found the plateau where two shrines stand, and one house.
The two shrines have two statues in them: one has an orc warrior with a lion and a boar's head on its shoulders, and the other statue is a monkey wearing robes and beads on it's neck.
As he walked towards the plateau, he noticed that the the Orc Warrior was glowing, and the eyes of the statue glows purple.
[Congratulations, Champion of the Sage of Beads.]
Sage of Beads, does that mean this monkey?
As he contemplated, a notification appeared on his front.
[Rare Quest: King Kong Orc Selection.]
[The Orcs worship two gods: the Sage of Mace, and the Sage of Beads. These sages however, represents two aspects: brawn, and the brain, respectively.]
As you completed the trials outside killing the Orc Kong Tribe, you were chosen by the Sage of Beads.
Defeat the Champion of the Sage of Mace, and be the next King Kong Orc.]
Zypher, seeing this, smiled at the notification. He did not fail, he sighed under his breath.
He knows this story from his past life. All too well, to be exact, because he is also one of the people who cleared this, and gotten some of the blessings they give.
The Sage of Beads, boosts the Energy, Intelligence and Luck stat, while the Sage of Mace boosts Attack Power, Speed and Defense Stats.
"I decline."
He said loudly, making sure the gods see his dissatisfaction.
[The Sage of Beads looks confused.]
[The Sage of Mace laughs at the Sage of Beads.]
[The Sage of Beads asks why.]
Instead of answering, Zypher just walked towards the house in the middle.
[The Sage of Beads shows dissatisfaction.]
[The Sage of Mace looks warily at you.]
Zypher saw the messages, but he ignored it.
In truth, this is a trap for the players in the game. Although he solved it in his past life, he was a lackey for almost three years, and was not able to do anything, but to do the link quests, as a "devotion" towards the Sage he chose.
This time, he is not thinking of getting any one of them. He is not getting their approval, not their blessing, not allegiance to them.
[The Sage of Mace whispered something to the Sage of Beads.]
[__..._-'++_(?')")#)#>>==€..___]
"And that's three." Zypher said as he walked towards the house, unbothered.
"Please shut up for now, you aren't even a part of the game yet." Zypher said as he opened the door and to the house.
But then, the air froze, and even time itself began to slow down.
A white vortex appeared before Zypher, and a small figure appeared in it. In it, is a small monkey wearing a coat.
"Stop, you filth." It said as it looked at Zypher, but, he did not stop. He entered the house, and started ransacking everything.
"I SAID STOP. CONTINUE AND I WILL--"
"What? Kill me?" Zypher said as he took the things out one at a time.
"Of course, I am a g--"
"You are not a god." Zypher said as he took a hexagonal stone on a cupboard in the house. For a house of an orc, this house is designed for a human, and an orc can use it.
"What did you say? Do you want me to smite you?"
The Sage of Beads roared angrily.
"Am I wrong? That you are not a god?"
As he took the hexagonal stone towards the floor, a certain tile lit up, and there, a small indent can be seen, just enough for the hexagonal stone to be inserted.
"Are you done angering me, child?"
"Then smite me." Zypher said with confidence, as he faced the monkey.
"What?"
"Smite me."
"You do want it, do you-"
"If you can risk being thrown out by the pig guy."
The Sage of Beads was silenced.
This place, is managed by his, and the Sage of Mace's energy, and now, they are in a delicate balance.
If he uses his power to do anything, this means the Sage of Mace can also do the same. He can empower his champion, or he can give him something that he can use to win.
Even if Zypher is not the Sage of Beads' Champion because he did not accept, the fact that he gave his approval to Zypher is already his recognition. And so, if he uses any power in this realm, the other party will also do so.
And now, he must convince Zypher to fight for him, against the Sage of Mace, and not to create a rift in between of them. This is why he decided to use his might to at least, coerce Zypher into fighting for him.
But now, he is torn in between choosing this guy as his champion or just outright killing him, but then, he has no champion to face the Sage of Mace. This will be defaulted to him winning, and he, losing all of this dungeon.
With all these internal monologues going on in his mind, Zypher just chuckled and took the stone into the crevice.
This activated a hidden door, leading to a hidden underground passage. Seeing the darkness, Zypher decided to conjure fire, as his first spell he did for a while.
"Torch."
"Hey, hey, we are not done talking. Where are you going?"
"Are you my mom?"
"No, I don't have a son like you."
"Then it's none of your business."
"Were you lacking with attention when you were a kid?"
"Why?"
"Your brain is underdeveloped."
"Says the monkey wearing a suit."
"..."
"..."
"Fxck you."
"You wish."
Zypher then entered the passageway and walked towards the end of it, only to find a single bracelet.
It is not an ordinary one, as it is made up of a large ring; the metal was rolled, then hammered to create a long square, like prison bars, and shaped into an infinity, before folding it at the intersection, making an X mark, and looking like two rings.
The bracelet is made of as it shone like one, but in a deeper sense because it changes colors from time to time. Sometimes it is blue, sometimes it is purple, or green hue without losing the gold hue.
Looking at it closely, Zypher smiled in anticipation. There were twelve small holes on the bracelet, and each hole shows something different.
Each hole is diamond in shape, and when Zypher touched it, pure bliss poured into him.
[Solomon's Brace]
[Rank - Normal (Growth)]
[The brace of a certain wise king, was embedded with twelve jewels that reacts to pure energy. Embed the jewels, and unlock different abilities of the Brace.]
[Ability 1 - Registration]
[This registers the user, and any type of accessory you use. Once registered, it follows the rank of the Brace, whatever rank it may be.]
[Ability 2 - ????]
[Embed a jewel to unlock]
A great haul.
This was the very thing he wants to get in order to be able to stand out against other players.
In truth, in his past life, this brace was discovered not by any large guilds, but a small one.
The guild then started to sell high quality materials and potions that the market almost shifted to them.
But then, a pearl necklace on a dog is not a treasure, but a liability. One by one, the guild members were hunted down, that they cannot play the game, or even go out of the city.
Even collecting materials was hard for them. In the end, the guild collapsed, and the owner was never seen again. Although some high quality weapons appeared from time to time, it was so scarce that people forgot about it.
And now, he laid his hands on a treasure, he has to be able to protect the treasure, and even if his stats fail him, his mind did not.
{Bind Solomon's Brace?}
"Bind."
[Bounded to: Zypher Miracle.]
[Congratulations! You are the first one to bind a growth accessory to yourself.]
[Title Obtained!]
[Title: The One that Bounds Growth (Accessory).]
Effect 1: Bound accessory becomes growth type, and follow the highest Growth-type accessory worn.
Effect 2: Every bound Accessory multiplies the effect of one accessory by 5%.
"Wow. That's why they almost took over the world last time." Zypher said as he wore the brace into his arm.
And now, he has to find the twelve jewels, and a set of accessories he can use.
He has targets in mind, but he knows that it's more reliable to make the things he need, but the effects of an accessory is not reliant on the maker only, but also to the enchantments and crystals needed for them.
This, makes a whole cycle of him, deciding if he should just take accessories that are already appearing in the game and has no owners? Or does he want to make one by himself?
As he contemplated, the mountain shook, and the room, little by little, began to shrink. This means that this part of the dungeon is already cleared, and he has to go out.
He ran outside the place, and as expected, he saw two people on the plateau, and they look like they were waiting for him.
"Ayaka, Champion of the Sage of Beads."
"Constantine, Champion of the Sage of Mace."
They always say that enemies are bound to meet again even if they are not connected in any way. Just like lovers who lost their partner earlier in life, finds them again later on, better and stronger.
And this is what best describes the scenario today.
[Emergency Quest: Goddess of *****'s Request.]
[The Goddess of *****, which has cursed you, now offers you an opportunity to prove yourself.
Defeat the Champions of the Sages, and she will meet you.]
[Quest cannot be denied. Automatically accepted.]
DING!
[Dungeon Quest Available: Battle of Titans.]
[The Orc Kong Dungeon is coveted by gods, and now, you have to fight so you can have the ownership of the said dungeon
Win the battle, and claim the dungeon for yourself.]
As Zypher was still reading the quest, a sudden slash appeared before him. Heightening his senses, he saw Constantine running towards him, brandishing his sword.
"Nice to meet you again, bastard."
"And here I am, wishing I didn't see you again." Zypher said as he used a dagger on his inventory to block the attack.
But then, he noticed something different.
He blocked it, completely.
Stat wise, he is below the two, and he knows he can't beat them with brute force. He blocked because he knew he will be sent back, causing him to lose fast, and dodge the quests he accepted.
Although he wants to see the Goddess, he has to win, but, all he has now are meager stats and small weapons.
He can win small skirmishes against normal players, but against a psycho with almost thirty times the amount of stats against him, he cannot win.
Last time, he only has to run, but now, he also has to fight, and win.
But, that changed after he saw the last notification panel.
[Due to big level difference, the other Champions stats are lowered to the lowest stat of the one with the lowest level.]
[Ayaka - Soul Queen Apostle Lv. 1]
[Constantine - Knight of Death Lv.1]
And as their stats died down, their hopes of also being the winner died with them.