The Amber Sword

Chapter 14 – The tomb of Gerald

Things were a little different compared to Freya’s route. Sneaking into the farmhouse was aided with the cover of the trees, while Brendel had to move to the patch of short trees under the skeleton soldiers’ watchful eyes.

He had to take a risk here but there was also no need have additional risk by going in early. He decided to only act after the sky turned darker. Even though the undead was able to perceive the life force, their range was limited during the night time.

Meanwhile, Brendel studied the patterns of the skeletons patrolling the area. He quickly found there was a gap between the two squadrons. When the two intersected with each other, he was able to move forward safely for approximately ten seconds.

He looked at the area in front of him and estimated he was about twenty meters away from his destination. Even though he had 2 OZ worth of agility, he was definitely unable to able to run forty meters to and fro and dig up the key that was under the tree. He also had the attribute of being weakened too, and it seemed like an impossible task.

He decided to make a new strategy instead.

The sky rapidly darkened.

It was time to act. His heart pulsed rapidly and strongly from the tension in the darkness.

What he did not expect was a wandering skeleton in it, which gave Brendel a huge jump scare. It was fortunate his nerves were tough enough to endure it and he quickly calmed down, with the thought that it was merely a puppet that had no intelligence.

He felt it was getting harder and harder to breathe, and his vision was starting to become a blur.

He had only one minute left.

After searching through his memory a little, he searched behind the podium, and discovered a four-sided depression there. At this moment he thanked Mother Marsha and put the slab into it with trembling fingers. He was afraid that a cruel joke would be played on him again.

Fortunately no such event like that happened here.

At first, it was an unlocking sound in the darkness, then a second low rumbling sound from beneath, and finally a third sound that seemed to indicate something was opening. He felt a slight breeze blowing him from his back. When Brendel turned around, he saw light coming from within the passageway of the tomb.

There were purple colored crystals that decorated the walls. These were not worth anything due to the light being too weak, and thus they were not used.

He shook his head as he nearly collapsed from the giddiness. The game’s version was completely different from this world. Players did not experience what Brendel was experiencing right now, and in fact they were completely unaffected for five minutes. However, once the time was up, no matter how fine they felt, they would immediately collapse onto the ground.

Brendel was completely relying on his own willpower and the desperate resolution to survive. He tried to keep himself awake by recalling the details about the person who was buried here. The NPC who was buried here was famous, and his name was Gerald or something who was born in this village. He had participated in Aouine’s battle for Independence, and he acted honorably for his whole life, and requested to be buried in his hometown when he died.

It was said that this location used to be part of the forest which was later cleared, and a shrine was built on it. The Holy Cathedral of Fire created a pathway inside the shrine to make a tomb for this holy knight, allowing him to forever sleep in peace. Brendel wanted to get this knight’s weapon that he used in the past, which was the ‘Thorn of light’. He did not wish to interrupt the knight’s eternal sleep, but even the knight was probably unwilling to desecrate this village.

The youth panted as he struggled forward against the wall another twenty or thirty meters. He knew that he had gradually reached the end of the passageway when it started to brighten from the effects of high grade crystals that adorned the walls. He tried to wake himself up, but he did not have the time to relax, as a black figure suddenly dropped down on him.

Two steely claws hooked onto his shoulders and lifted him upwards into the air.

Brendel felt the immense strength penetrating his shoulders. He could not move at all from the vice-like claws and he recognized there was an absolute difference in strength between them. In his great shock, his mind started rattling and he realized that it was a gargoyle. It had at least the strength of 4 OZ.

[The person who completed this quest in his previous life did not say anything about a gargoyle!]

A gargoyle was the great work of an artisan Bucce wizard. It was a level 23 monster, and a low ranking necromancer was like a gentle puppy compared to it.

Before Brendel finished thinking, he felt himself hurtling through the air and smashed against the icy wall. His bones creaked and groaned, as if every single one of them shattered.

He did not have any time to worry about it, as the gargoyle started to attack him again. He climbed up and shook his head.

Was there any chance left?