The three spirits were slowly approaching, a pale ghostly aura surrounding them.

Phantom Boss: Elder Lao Kei has appeared

Phantom Boss: Chief Alseif Fullbuster has appeared

Phantom Boss: Nameless Warrior has appeared

“Damn it, I was careless! Everyone, head to the center of the healing field!” I shouted! While we waited for the inevitable battle, i took the opportunity to analyze them further. They we're all lvl. 20, thank God. After facing a level 25 Boss before, I can safely say we would all die against one of those. Unfortunately, while I have levelled my [Analyze] skill up sufficiently enough to see their levels and health bars, I can't glean anymore information from them this way, so I guess I’ll have to do it the old fashioned way: Guessing.

I start with Elder Lao Kei. He’s dressed in robes similar to what I've seen on mages back in the city. He has an orb in both hands, one red, and one blue. He also has unusually high health, higher infact, than either of the spirits he came out with. Well, that pretty much settles it, he’s most likely some type of Channeler. He’s probably the weakest one here, but if we leave him alone, he’ll become an annoyance.

Next, is Chief Fullbuster He’s wearing clothes, upper class ones by the look of it. In his right hand, he holds a pickaxe, and in his left, some type of chisel. I can't tell exactly what he does, but he looks more like a crafter than anything. If he is a crafter, he’ll have high strength and dexterity.

The nameless warrior is just that: a warrior. He’s wearing full armor, including a helmet. In his left hand, he had a single, sinister looking sword that seemed to be broken towards the end. He stood taller than the other two. toward the end of my analysis, his behaviour changed. He pounded the ground once, then charged toward us with a raspy scream, as much on four limbs as on two.

“He’s coming!” I shouted. We had mostly healed up, but our mana and stamina were a little low. This battle would be difficult. He closed the distance quickly, until he reached the anti-monster field. Then, somehow, he began to walk over it. It didn't look like it was easy, but he was certainly doing it.

“Leai, cancel out the [anti-monster field], and set up a [corrosive field]!” I shouted, seeing the boss almost at the edge of the field.

“Okay, but after I do that, my mana will be severely depleted, I won't be able to do much else but maintain the fields!”

“That's fine, hurry!” She didn't have much fighting potential anyway. She did as I asked, and the Nameless Warrior regained speed. He was only on the field for a few moments, so his health didn't drop far. Locke moved to intercept it, as he had the highest magical defense. While all this was happening, I took the chance to check my notifications, I had to have passed lvl. 20 by now, I could have learned a more powerful skill.

Level up x3!

Congratulations on clearing the first milestone (lvl.20) You have been awarded a skill! Next milestone at lvl.50

New skill: Mana Channelling!

Channels mana at a rate of 5 mana per second

Orb Mastery has reached intermediate!

Greater effect from charging up an orb

New Title: Slayer!

You and your fellows have killed over 500 beings in under an hour, earning the title of slayer!

+5% damage against all things

Of course, the skill was useless, and it had even worse rate than [Health Channelling]. The title should help, but 5% was a little low. My greatest hope was probably in [orb mastery]. While I was consumed in my thoughts, I heard a noise, and saw Locke’s body flying past me, covered in blood.

“He deals… physical damage!” Locke said, coughing up blood. Looks like he got slashed pretty hard. I turn and look at the Nameless warrior. His body must be corporeal, unlike his ethereal brethren. Which means it's time for a tactics change.

“Raknar, Phalanx! you two engage that one! Dave, follow up, and cut his health down when you see an opening! Moxxie, you do the same, but keep an eye on the other two, when they get close enough, I want them full of knives. Sybilla, curse him up. Jamz, slow down those other two. Drywood, u stay here, and help heal Locke, and protect Leai.” I said quickly.

“What about the rest of us?” said secundus.

“You guys just stay in the [Healing Field]. We’re gonna need you as fresh as possible before this is over.” I say. I watch and see the battle between the Nameless Warrior and our guys. The Warrior was severely Debuffed, and was being pressured on each side by Raknar and Phalanx, while Dave weaved in and out slashing at the warrior whenever possible. The warrior also had a thin knife sticking out of one eye socket of his helmet. I could guess who's work that was. Still, the boss was taking little damage from the physical attacks, and more from the magical ones sybilla was putting out. Unfortunately, we only have one Sybilla. Jamz was busy holding back the other two bosses by using sound waves to induce the ‘Dazed’ status. Locke was still recovering. It was up to me.

I hurried and used [group health channelling] on myself, Dave, Raknar, Phalanx, and Sybilla. I noticed the warrior had got a hit in on Dave, sending him into a critical state beforehand. Then I began sending mana through my palms, charging my orb. On a side note, I was most likely the only one in my party who could do this, reason being, they didn't know the feeling of mana or stamina.That was because no one else took the tutorial. NO ONE! Like, I realize tutorials are boring, but come on guys! Anyway, the process took around one minute, then I got closer and let loose a [Mana Burst]. The effect was pretty good, I got the knockback effect , which was strengthened by the fully charged orb,and the Warrior flew back into the corrosive field.

“Hurry and move up! keep him there!” I tell my comrades. They run to the edge of the field, and set up defensive positions. God, I wish Logan wouldn't have died, he could have kept up the damage output at a greater range, being a spearman and all. I decided to switch back to support anyway. With the warrior in the corrosive field, his heal will steadily go down, all the others have to do is keep him there. That being the case, I began buffing my teammates with [Strengthen], and debuffing the Warrior even further with [Weaken]. over the next two minutes, the Warrior’s health went down to critical levels. As it got lower, his damage output increased to the point where I had to go back to the healing field and ask Drywood to heal me some to keep us all from dying.

Just when we thought that the warrior was down, something happened, his health bar was increased. No, increased may not be the right word. I recognize what happened, as I had just done it myself. I looked over at the other two bosses, and they we're far closer than I remember, and their health bars were lower. The Elder Lao Kei had an orb held

high, thin tendrils of mana connecting him and the other two bosses. He had just cast [Group Health Channelling]. Damn it, I wanted to kill one so that we wouldn't have to deal with all three.

“Secundus, Vy, Locke. Break time's over. Go support Jamz. Jamz! Go full offense on em! Drywood, support if you can. Thelia, Hit the warrior with a [Skyray], then, if he’s still alive when the cooldown is up, hit em again. We need him dead. Moxxie! switch targets to Lao Kei! Remember everyone, try and keep them in the corrosive field!” I said. The fighting escalated quickly.

Secundus, Vy and her monsters we're doing their best to combat Chief Fullbuster, but his high attack stat made getting in close hazardous. He also seemed to have an recovery skill which due to the effects of [Group Health Channelling] would heal all three. The Elder was also a nuisance as he kept buffing the other two, and debuffing us. He had a high mana pool, being a channeller, and I knew he could do it all day, whereas we weren't at 100% at the start of this battle, and we're wearing down fast. And then it hit me. I remembered the greatest strength of the skill [Group Health Channelling] is also it's greatest weakness. I was about to end this battle so anticlimactically I was almost disappointed. Almost. We’ve been out here on this quest for days. I’m ready for it to end.

“Everyone, five seconds after I stop talking, hit the Nameless Warrior with your most powerful skills. It doesn't matter who you’re fighting right now, just do it! Start counting down. Mages start your incantations!” I said. and five seconds later, everyone turned towards the Nameless Warrior, and rained hell upon him.”

“[Mana Burst]!”

“[Knife Barrage]!”

“[Shield Launch]!”

“[Shadow Sword]!”

“[Heavy Slash]!”

“[Reckless Charge]!”

“Foxes, [Magic Blast] Wolves, [Rush]!”

“[Skyray]!”

“[Dark Orb Barrage]!”

“[SONAR BLAST]!”

“[Earth Missile]!”

“...[Wild Vine]”

Twelve high powered skills and spells all hit the body of the Nameless warrior, who had the lowest defenses, instantly bringing the bosses’ joint health to zero. Luckily that worked, because it also brought down our mana and stamina to dangerously low levels. We would be dead in the next 3 minutes, probably. But that isn't what happened. we won! The Bosses slowly faded away, as their health was now empty. In hindsight, it wasn't anticlimactic at all.

“Haha… hahahahahaha!” Suddenly I found myself laughing. Looking around, grins began to appear on all my friends faces as well. Soon we were all laughing and slapping each other on the back. After a few moments though, the pale translucent energy I came to associate with ghosts began to swirl around and condense. Elder Lao Kei appeared before us once more. Our hands immediately flew back to our weapons, but The Elder raised his hand, and spoke.

“There is no need for that, young ones. We have been defeated, and our minds are our own once again, if for but a short time. Please, if you would, join us at the Town Hall, that we may converse, and thank you for what you have done here.” The elder vanished.

Slowly, we took our hands off our weapons. None of the ghosts had ever spoke before, only screamed and moaned. The elder also looked more… human than he had only a few minutes ago, when we did battle. We turned and headed in the direction of the biggest building that we could only assume was the town hall.

When we opened the door, we heard the same ominous creak as before, when the bosses first came out, but when we entered, there were no traps, only a large foyer, with three bluish spirits at the far end, near a derelict fireplace. As we approached, two of them waved at us, grinning. The nameless warrior just sat on one of the sofas silently, still fully dressed in armor.

“We’d ask you to sit, but I'm afraid these poor sofas have seen better days. They’d probably break under your weight! Luckily, We’re weightless! HAHAHAHA!” Said the one I believe was named Chief Fullbuster. He’s dressed in the same clothes he was wearing earlier, but they seem to be in better repair. He, like the Elder, Now looks more defined and human. I could see he had huge muscles under the shirt, but still had a beer belly. Overall, he gave off a friendly neighborhood drunk kind of feeling.

“Do be silent Lord Fullbuster. Mentioning things like their weight when there are women present, how rude. Conduct yourself more as the head of a settlement should!” the elder said.

“Oh come on, Lao! We're dead now, so none of that ‘etiquette’ bullshit matters now!, Come on, just call me Alseif!”

“I’ll do no such thing. Also, refer to me as Elder Kei.We are in the presence of youngsters, are you attempting to make me lose face? Shameless!”

“Ugh, whatever, this is why when we were alive, no one invited you to private parties, you're no fun. Anyway, Hey kids, gather round, I’m going to give you all some gifts! Ah, but first, You're gonna have to listen to this old man tell you a story. How we all died.

“It's important you know, so you don't make the same mistakes we made. I’ll start from the beginning. Back then, I was just Alseif from the capital slums. I had talent, so I ended up an apprentice for a local blacksmith. over the next ten years, I mastered every field that had to do with metal. Mining, Blacksmithing, engraving, sculpting, you name it. using my skills, I made the set of armor and accessories that once saved the prince’s life. In his gratitude, he granted me nobility, and the beginnings of a settlement.

“We started off just me, Lao, that warrior over there, and a couple dozen settlers. over the next fifteen years, our ranks swole to over one hundred households. The settlement was mining the Boulder mountains, and our small contingent of guards, led by the warrior here of course, we're able to repel any threats that entered the valley. Everything was fine, until one day. We had delved too deep into the earth, and stumbled upon something.

“It was an ancient evil, sealed deep under the mountain,we weakened the seal, allowing a bit of it's malevolence out. It spawned vile creatures in the mines, killing many workers before the warrior could get down there with his troop to try and defeat them. They we're unsuccessful. However, they were spared… only to be twisted into something even more foul. The warrior in particular had impressed that foul demon, and was partly possessed by it. his very identity was warped.

“He is not nameless, only, no one remembers his name, or his face. He was at my wedding. He once saved Lao from a bear on the way here, he was there for the birth of our children, and yet we cannot recall his name…” The chief trailed off, and looked straight ahead, as though recalling some distant memory. It almost looked as though his eyes we're watering The elder resumed speaking in his stead.

“We were all corrupted by its influence. After the befouled troops exited the mines, they fell upon the settlement like rabid dogs, killing their loved ones, their friends, everyone. In the end, the majority of people died fighting, some of the merchants with fast carriages we're able to get a few of the women and children from the violence before it was too late. But myself, Chief Fullbuster and all the other spirits you fought here were killed in action, fighting the possessed warriors, or the demon spawn. We became ghosts due to coming in contact with the corruption of the demon.” Chief Fullbuster rose a hand, signalling he was alright. He began speaking again.

“We don't tell you this in order to seek vengeance, though it would be nice. We know better though. Right now, we are shadows of our former selves, which is the only reason you defeated us. We were over lvl. 100 when this tragedy first sprang forth, and we still were no match. No, we only tell you this, that you may know the truth of this matter, that you know the true history of the Boulder Settlement.

“Now, Enough of this foul business! Thank you for setting us free! We have gifts to give you, lowborn prince!”

“Lowborn prince?” I ask. Is that some new title?

“Ah, you don't know,” The chief tapped his head, then pointed at the circlet I was wearing. “Kid, that's a crown. One for the poor man's’ kings, one of few. Well, it don't much matter anyways, only the low class will recognize it. where'd you get it?”

“It was… a pity gift.” i said, recalling the unpleasantness I went through, getting this Circlet of Poverty.

“Mmm probably didn't even know what he was giving away, probably found it someplace like a ruin, or sewers. Like I said though, it don't really matter, cause only the poor, and the high aristocracy would recognize it as even being a crown. And only the poor would actually respect it. Anyway, onto gifts!!” The chief announced, and began laughing heartily.

While he was doing so, the Nameless Warrior approached me. He put a hand on my shoulder, and I felt energy flow into me. Before I could even react, there was a sound, as though he was taking his last breath, and the warrior burst into light particles and drifted off, disappeared.

“No fair!” Hollered Fullbuster, “I’m the Chief I get to move on first! Lao, Summon him back here this instant!”

“That would be impossible. Now, for my gift. You are a Channeller, no? You are the first I've ever seen to fight on the front lines, to command men. But you are weak, I too am a channeller, so I know this. I give you this gift, that you might find some measure of strength to protect your friends. That is a Channeller’s job, no?” The elder said with a wry smile. then, he gave me a ring. It immediately appeared on my left index finger. I analyzed it.

Spectral Ring

Skills: Summon spirit, Spectral energy absorption

Spectral ring is soulbound.

Summon Spirit

summons 1 wisp

mana cost 50

Basic level 1

Spectral Energy Absorption

Absorbs nearby spectral energy

passively increases mana regeneration.

MAX level

“That ring is the first step to being self sufficient in combat. Absorb as much spectral energy as you can, whenever you can find any, it’ll help the growth rate of the ring’s skill. Start here. I wish I could do more.”

“My turn, My turn!” The chief said. “This is ridiculous! treachery! making me go last like this Lao!”

“My lord, we're simply saving the obvious best for last.”

“Oh… of course! Wahaahahaha Of course it was that way, I must be getting old to not have realized. even though I'm kind of dead. Well, anyway, If there was one amongst you that practiced metalworking, I could give you greater rewards, but alas.” Damn Logan, why'd you have to die on us like that? As I recall, Logan had obtained the [Smithing] skill somehow. But since he was dead, we would never know what ‘greater rewards’ we could've had.

“Well, I suppose all that's left is to give you what we died for, in hopes that you make it great again. Take care of Boulder for me, hmm? Remember, that you are the ones that make this place a home. I mean, without friends, this is just a random valley with wood and stone sticking out of the ground. Now, it is time I joined my darling wife.”

“Agreed,” said Elder Kei. “It has been far too long since I have witnessed my Landria’s smile, heard her angelic voice, held her close. I can only hope that in the next life she continues to love this man, who never deserved her.”

“Fuck all that poetic shit,” said the chief, disappearing. “I miss Julie’s titties hahahahahahahaha!!!!” His voice gradually died away

“UGH that man…. I hope the gods do not see fit to pair us together in the next life, he is insufferable. Still, what he would do without me, and I without him, I do not know. Be well young ones, I wish you all the fortune in the world!” Elder Kei said with a smile, before he too disappeared.

You have completed the Quest: Bringing the Dead Peace!

Level up x3

You have been given ownership of the settlement: Boulder

You are the first player to own a Settlement of any kind!!

+1000 fame

+500 Leadership

+50% Settlement Growth

Wow, this… this was far more than I imagined it ever would be, I told my friends about it, and they were all shocked too. I mean, it was a D rank quest, usually it's C rank or more in most games that can get you a whole village, and those require whole guilds. Then again, why complain? We went and looked around the village, quiet other than the sound of wind breaking on the houses. I was busy collecting the last bits of spectral energy in the area, when i saw something to the south. I called Thelia and Moxxie to look at the growing black dot on the horizon.

“Exactly 267 players, Linderman.” said Thelia.

“They got a weird flag too. It’s crimson, with a bunch of small swords making up one big one” said Moxxie.

“Shit…isn't the myriad of swords? seriously?!” Raknar said , looking at me. I slowly nodded my head. Well, this wasn't going to be fun.

“What, what is it?” asked Dave.

“That, my friend, is ”