Chapter 10-The Path

Morpheus walked outside into the garden to look at all his new notifications.

‘Congratulations’ you have levelled up Level (44) (1 stat point available)

…

You have levelled up Pain Resistance Level (16)

You have levelled up Spartans Essence Level (15)

You have levelled up Arcane Step Level (15)

You have Levelled up Arcane Rebirth Level (18)

‘Congratulations’ you have levelled up Level (54) (1 stat point available)

Due to solo killing an enemy 40 levels above your own you have been given the Title ‘Challenger IV’ +2 Strength +2 Endurance +2 Vitality. You are able to toggle this title on and off.

Due to solo killing a boss above your own level you have been given the Title ‘Follower of Themetruük’ +5 Luck +5 Intelligence. You are able to toggle this title on and off.

Since reaching level (50) you have been awarded the choice to pick a Primary Class. Your stats and achievements have been analyzed. Your available classes are:

Before Morpheus even looked at his available class he thought he would try to bring up most of his stats to the multiples of ten mark. He brought his constitution up to forty, then agility and dexterity to fifty. He already had tough skin so constitution didn’t matter to him. He put the rest of his points into intelligence to increase his total mana.

Friend of Loki: You are a friend of Loki

Requirement:

-Title ‘Friend of Loki’

Morpheus chuckled. “Ha cheeky bastard.”

Soldier to Shadows: You have been faithful to the shadows by using them to surprise your enemies. +20 to Agility, +10 to Strength, +10 to Vitality, +5 to Intelligence.

Requirements:

-30 Agility

-30 Strength

-30 Intelligence

-Shadow Affinity

KingsGuard of Kros: You have almost died in battle to save the life of others. You are worthy to join the KingsGuard. +25 to Vitality, +25 to Constitution, +20 to Endurance. New stat unlocked-Loyalty

Requirements:

-40 Vitality

-40 Constitution

-40 Endurance

-Troll Blood

You have been offered a class from the God Isis!

Priest of Isis and The Pure Light: Isis has kept her eye on you since giving you her mark and has offered you a class. +40 to Vitality, +20 to Intelligence, +20 to Wisdom, +10 Charisma. Increased Affinity with Light. Healing skills increased by 100%. New stat unlocked-Piety

Requirements are not given.

You have been offered a class from the Valkyrie, Skeggjöld!

Path to Valhalla: Skeggjöld has spoken with Freyja and offers you the chance to join Valhalla. Warning! You will have to prove yourself to Skeggjöld in order to join Valhalla. Warning! You will not be able to choose your skills, Skeggjöld has already decided them. If you choose this class Skeggjöld has promised By Odin to not deceive you. +30 to Strength, +30 to Vitality, +20 to Endurance, +20 to Constitution, +20 to Intelligence, +10 to Dexterity, +10 to Wisdom. Increased affinity with battle-axe. 25% Reduction in Stamina drain and Mana Drain.

Requirements are not given.

You have been offered a class from the Spirit Themetruük!

Apprentice of Themetruük: Themetruük has been looking for a worthy apprentice over his long slumber. Warning! You cannot advance this class, only change it. Changing the class will only remove skills given. +70 To Vitality, +60 to Endurance, +60 to Strength, +50 to Intelligence, +40 to Wisdom, +40 to Luck, +20 to Constitution, +20 to Charisma. 5% increase to all stats when in a dungeon. New stat unlocked-Perception

Requirements are not given

Morpheus could not believe his eyes. He was stunned beyond belief, the classes he was given before was child’s play. Of course the last three were the only choices he would make. Brevair told him not to discuss his classes with him, Sophia or Reyna. He said ‘Your classes are your greatest strength but can be your greatest weakness if someone knows them.’

Morpheus finally decided he would ask them for help. Him being a priest didn’t sound like the Morpheus he had come to know. Valhalla was the finest resting place for all of the greatest warriors. And he had never heard of the spirit Themetruük, but he assumed it was an adventuring type of spirit.

Morpheus walked into the house to find them all sitting at the table talking about Reyna’s recent adventuring with her team.

“You chose yet Morpheus?” Sophia asked.

“No not yet, the choice is too hard.” He muttered. Before Brevair could tell him off he interjected. “I know you told me not to tell you or anyone but I really need some clarification.”

“Fine go on.” Brevair said in an ignorant tone.

Morpheus explained his available classes ignoring the gasps and shocked faces.

“I think you should go for ‘Friend of Loki’.” Reyna said in a sarcastic tone. “And what’s with the new face, I’m even more interested in you now.”

“Reyna, my love, it would be best to not throw jokes at such an important time.” Sophia said.

“Well boy, I honestly don’t know what to say. Two god offers and one spirit offer, if the king heard about this he would hunt you down even in the Empire.” “Do you know who Themetruük is?” Morpheus shook his head. “He’s a spirit of adventure, he’s not worshipped down here but in Northcross where most unknown dungeons are, he’s worshipped like a god to most adventurers.” Morpheus was silent, taking in the information. “He took a liking to your chimera side, and the fact you fucking solo killed a orc boss with a death curse.”

“So he likes exploring and the unknown?” Morpheus asked.

“Yes indeed, for the stories tell he was a chimera himself. He was created in the first few centuries after the Gods made Arios.”

“People worshiped him so much for his knowledge from exploring that he was reborn as a spirit after he died.”

“The apprentice class of his is a forgotten class for sure. I didn’t even realise spirits could give classes.” Brevair said. “Ha my intelligence has gone up now!”

Sophia jutted in before Brevair could speak again. “The class Isis has offered you is also extremely rare, only those who have received a class from Isis are in Queensdale. Queensdale is a women run city, which is stupid if you ask me.”

“Sorry to go off topic but why do you say that, surely that would be good for women’s rights. On Earth men and women are equal with no doubt” Morpheus questioned.

Sophia laughed. “Arios is terrible. I really wish I could visit Earth. I’d hate to say it but you’ll always need men, having a lady in charge is fantastic but when the whole city is left in charge of a handful of women things get very strange. Oddly enough Queensdale prides itself in prostitution. They worship almost every female god, their main ones are Isis and Aphrodite.” “They say that the gods gave them their bodies to make use of their sexual nature. They are also one of the main cities that allow sentient succubi in.”

+1 Wisdom

“My wisdom just went up!” Morpheus exclaimed.

Brevair burst out laughing.”You must be interested in brothels!”

Reyna and Sophia both glared with killing intent at the bear kin and Morpheus.

Finally Reyna spoke up “I’m so jealous you got offered the path to Valhalla class. The limited few get it at around level two hundred. And you got offered it from Skeggjöld who wields a giant axe! And she's going to choose your skills for you!”

“I’d prefer to choose my own skills though?” Morpheus questioned.

“No you really wouldn’t. It means she’s very interested in you. She sees your potential and knows the right skills which will suit your fighting style. I would kill the king for a chance at receiving a path.” Reyna was clearly getting angry.

“By Chernobog, don’t say such awful things.” Sophia growled.

She then carried on for Reyna.”Reyna’s right, very few get a path to Valhalla even at level two hundred. Those who get it barely manage to advance the class, I’ve not met or heard of anyone getting into Valhalla. You’ve been literally cherry picked.”

Morpheus laid his head on the table and spoke to it. “So I have three extremely rare and powerful classes to choose from.”

Reyna cleared her through “Four classes!”. She received a smack on the back of her head from Sophia.

“Will I get repercussions from the gods?”

“I have no idea, they can’t physically harm you but they could potentially send a giant to our front door.” Sophia replied.

“Isis would definitely not, she’s a pure god. Gods like Athena or Zues would. The Greek gods are very proud so it would look like an insult. It’s a pity that the apprentice class can’t be advanced, that’s why the stats are so high.” Brevair said.

Morpheus didn’t know what to do. He valued Isis a lot, he liked her ideals of the preservation of life. Morpheus was nowhere near a priest, he liked to fight, not hear about people’s problems. He also felt honoured by the unknown spirit, but he wanted to be able to advance the class.

“Thank you for helping me decide, I’m going to head outside to go over my final decision.”

“May you find your path.” Brevair said softly, Sophia and Reyna nodded.

He sat down on a vine bench outside and lit a cigarette. He had finally made up his mind and clicked on ‘Path to Valhalla’ when suddenly a ghostly white figure walked through the walls off the garden.

He almost choked on his cigarette.

“Don’t panic, young one, I mean no harm and your brethren cannot see me.”

(Themetruük, Spirit of Dungeons and the Unknown, Level Ω)

Morpheus bent down on one knee, he could feel the immense power coming from the being. Alarm bells were going off in his head and his hair rose on the back of his neck.

“Don’t kneel to me, I am no king.”

“I apologise Themetruük” he said, standing back up.

“May I ask you why you show your presence to such an unworthy being.” Morphues said as politely and humbly as he could.

“Yes you may, I was glad you didn’t choose my class. It was a test to see if you favoured easy power instead of working for it. You have my deepest apologies, I assumed you would accept it instantly, instead you thought of your others which are far better.”

“Thank you for testing me, I long for power but to not progressive after would leave me powerless and hopeless.”

“Right you are, you smell strange. Like a god's scent.”

“You are correct, I would be inclined to tell you but I wish to not offend them.”

Loki’s tattoo glowed a deep purple and black.

“Very interesting, even more gods have their eyes on you than I thought. Loki is an old friend.”

Morpheus felt more relieved and he managed to look at the spirit. The spirit had a large protruding beak, feathers covered his whole face and he had chicken like feet. The spirit was wearing a sort of explorers outfit, with a baggy top covered with gadgets and pockets and shorts which matched.

“The myths tell me he liked to cause mischief.” Morpheus attempted to joke while still barely managing to not shit himself.

“Yes he does, the apostles of him are rather strange though. Less mischief but more curiosity.” The spirit spoke.

Morpheus stayed silent not wanting to offend the spirit.

“Anyway my child I will be leaving, if you find anything about the Gorgoroth please visit a dungeon and let me know it will be greatly appreciated.”

“May I ask what they are?” He humbly asked.

“Hmm how strange that your knowledge is limited.” The spirit paused but carried on. ”The Gorgoroth are a lost species that were ahead of their time in magic and technology. They have green and black oily skin. Two pairs of arms and an insect-like head. Hive minded creatures but very intelligent.”

“I will look for them, I may thank you for blessing me with your presence. I still need to remember that their are extremely powerful beings other than Loki.”

“Don’t fret child, you are but young and optimistic. I would like to mark you if you’ll allow it, it won’t be noticeable by any enchanter.”

“It would be an honour.”

The spirit calmly floated closer to him and lifted Morpheus’s left hand up. A slight burn followed.

“Your left hand holds the torch that guides you into the unknown, while your right holds your sword to attack. May you find knowledge in your future.” The spirit then vanished into a mist, floating away with the breeze.

Morpheus let out a long awaited breath.

“Fuck me, how could someone be so powerful yet humble.” He said to himself.

He looked down at his left hand. It was completely covered in tattoos. The top of his hand was him and the orc brute, facing off in the boss room. Sprouting from the boss room there were caves, long windy corridors and giant trees that entangled between his fingers. On his palm it was the Gorgoroth that the spirit described. It truly looked like an alien to him. Perhaps they had visited and someone caught a glimpse of them he thought. The whole tattoo was incredibly detailed like the marks from the gods, it felt less powerful but Morpheus could not complain.

You have been marked by the Spirit of Dungeons and the Unknown, Themetruük. You have been awarded this mark because you chose to earn power rather than take it. You also solo killed a boss 40 levels above your own.+10 to Wisdom, +5 to Intelligence. You have been awarded with a sixth sense, this is not a stat nor a skill.

“Thank you Themetruük.” He softly said to himself Morpheus sat down.

‘Now for my class skills.’ Morpheus thought, he went to check when he felt a slight burning over his right peck.

“Oh please Odin, I’m not ready to meet another god.”

After a minute nothing had happened, he went into his vine shed to look at his new tattoo.

A round circle covered in runes and strange markings, he guessed that this would be a symbol of Valhalla. Or the path to it.

Finally he could look at his new skills.

Warning! Your skills have already been chosen.

Warning! The Valkyrie Skeggjöld has been gifted a skill from Hermes and has given it to you.

Passive-Flow of the Valkyrie

This skill increases the flow of which you move yourself and your weapons. This skill imitates the beauty of the Valkyries

Passive-Arcane Pulse

Every second you release a small pulse of arcane energy around you. The Arcane pulse is returned when it encounters an obstacle.

Passive-Taste of Talaria

You are able to control the space around your feet, projecting yourself forward using a tiny fraction of Talaria.

Passive-Arcane Tuning

Your skin has been compressed and hardened with arcane tuning. Arcane magic flows through your skins

Do you accept these skills? Y/N

Morpheus was more than disappointed with his new skills. He knew that it would be hard to cope with so many battle like skills but he still wanted maybe a long distance skill of sorts.

He sighed and clicked yes, then he fell unconscious.