The High Priest dropped a huge pile of items, the largest I’d seen ever since the Woe of Riverhear. Seven drops were scattered around the spot where Az’Bad?r fell, each one more impressive than the other. I even saw the distinct glow of epic rated items.
"That's... a lot," Kara breathed.
"We deserve it," Lothras said, his voice carrying a hint of awe despite his usual composure. "This dungeon was something else."
"Indeed," Athos laughed. "Although this went easier than I expected it to go."
I felt the same way. The notification before the battle made it seem like this was going to be our hardest battle to date, but even though the HP pool of the boss was out of this world, I felt like our fights with the Sacrificer or even Lord Aldmar took more of a toll on me.
The High Priest definitely was of a higher tier, but we were way more equipped to deal with him.
"Let's see what we earned, then." I stepped forward and began examining each item.
The first two pieces were immediately recognizable. It was more of the Unholy Rites armor set we'd started collecting from The Sacrificer.
[Gloves of Unholy Rites]
Level 20
Rare
Light armor
Defense: 26
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 5
Healing rate: 5
Dark resistance: 10%
Restriction: Cleric, Acolyte
Armor set: Unholy Rites
[Boots of Unholy Rites]
Level 20
Rare
Light Armor
Defense: 30
Wisdom: 10
Healing rate: 5
Holy resistance: 10%
Restriction: Cleric, Acolyte
Armor set: Unholy Rites
*Set effect 4/4: Holy attacks deal 10% more damage. Dark attacks deal 10% more damage.
"That completes the set," I said. "Four out of four pieces. The full bonus is... significant."
"Ten percent increased damage on both holy and dark attacks," Lothras read. "Both Clerics and Acolytes have access to some of either school."
“Let’s see the other loot first, before deciding what to do with these.”
The third item made me pause. It was an epic-tier hood that radiated with dark energy.
[Cowl of Az'Bad?r]
Level 20
Epic
Light Armor
Defense: 35
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 8
You can convert Health to Mana.
Armor skill: Congregation of the Damned
Summon a congregation of spirits bound into singular form to fight for you.
Duration: 24 seconds + 1 second per Wisdom
Cooldown: 15 minutes
Restriction: Cleric, Acolyte
"That's the add," Athos said, recognition in his voice. "The spirit giant. Someone wearing this can summon that thing?"
"Once every fifteen minutes," I confirmed. "And the health-to-mana conversion is incredibly valuable for sustained fights."
Kara was examining the items with a complicated expression. "These are all Cleric or Acolyte restricted. None of us can use them."
"No," Lothras agreed. "But I know someone who can."
We all looked at him.
"Crimson Court's main Cleric," he continued. "She's been struggling with mana management and survivability. This set—all five pieces together—would transform her into one of the strongest healers in the game."
The implication hung in the air.
Selling these items to Crimson Court meant empowering a guild that was at best rival to Athos’s Second Wind, and at worst, a group that was actively hunting me.
A guild that would eventually be competing for dominance.
"How much?" I asked.
Lothras considered. "For the complete Unholy Rites set plus the Cowl? The guild would pay... generously. At the very least forty-fifty gold."
I had plenty of money from the tournament, and so did Athos. However, we were still in the early game, and these items would eventually be powercrept anyway; gold was always needed.
Athos's jaw tightened. I could see him wrestling with the decision. Crimson Court was his potential enemy, or would be, once Second Wind was established. Giving them this kind of advantage went against every competitive instinct.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
But Lothras, despite his loner and stubborn attitude, never let us down during the quest. He'd been a reliable ally through two dungeons and countless battles.
"Do it," Athos said finally. "You've earned it."
Kara nodded in agreement, and I didn’t disagree either.
Lothras nodded, traces of gratitude flickering across his features before his usual stoic look returned. "I'll arrange the sale when we return to Tidemark. You'll each receive your share."
He bagged the five items and we moved on to the remaining loot.
The fourth item made Lothras inhale sharply.
[Shield of Failed Triumph]
Level 20
Epic
Shield
Defense: 50
All magic damage is reduced by 12%
Incoming healing increased by 8%
Weapon skill: Trial of the Judge
Taunt a single target for 12 seconds. After 12 seconds, a bonus effect will apply on your target based on your current HP.
100% - 75% HP: Target is taunted for an additional 6 seconds
74% - 50% HP: Target is immobilized for 3 seconds
49% - 25% HP: Deal damage equal to your missing HP x3 to the target
24% - 1% HP: Heal yourself for 25% of your missing HP
Can only be used against monsters.
Cooldown: 480 seconds
It was clear that Lothras wanted the piece, but he already asked us for a favor and was hesitant to do so once again.
“Take it,” I said. “You’ve been using your replacement piece ever since the first dungeon.”
The others nodded in agreement. The shield was an insane piece, with a versatile skill that would definitely help him a lot in the future. It was perfect for Lothras.
"The skill is fascinating," the paladin murmured, reading the description again. "Risk versus reward. The lower my health when the taunt ends, the better the bonus effect." He looked up. "Thank you. This is... this is exceptional."
He equipped it immediately, his old, battered kite-shield disappearing into his inventory. The Shield of Failed Triumph materialized on his arm, its surface etched with faint, blue patterns.
The fifth item was a ring.
[Ancient Ring of the Raven]
Epic
Level 20
Wisdom: 10
Agility: 5
Potency of Damage over time and Healing over time effects increased by 10%
10% chance of surviving one deadly attack every 24 hours
Restriction: none
"This one’s for you, Kara," I said. "With the DoT and HoT amplifier, you’ll be on a completely different level. And the survival passive..." I remembered how close she'd come to dying multiple times during the fights. "Some bosses seem to know to focus the healer first. It will come in handy."
"Lothras could also benefit from it, as well as the Wisdom increase," she hesitated, but the Paladin shrugged.
“I’ve got more than my share. Take it.”
Kara took the ring, slipping it onto her finger. The metal adjusted to fit perfectly, the raven motif glinting in the light of the torches that were burning once again.
"Thank you," she said quietly. Then, with a hint of her usual humor: "Although I didn’t expect a ring from you, just yet."
"I—, It’s just loot." Lothras muttered.
The sixth item was a skill rune, its crystalline surface swirling with condensed light.
Skill Rune (epic)
Skill: Ascended Blade
Infuse your sword with both holy and dark energy, changing your basic attacks into ranged attacks, dealing 110% of your attack power with each swing, launching an arc of devastating energy.
Duration: 12 seconds
Restriction: Swordsman
Mana: 60
"Ranged basic attacks for twelve seconds," I analyzed. "Against flying enemies, against kiting situations, against anything you can't reach in melee... this is game-changing."
Athos took the rune with something approaching reverence. "This would have come in handy."
“I’m pretty sure you’ll have plenty of chances to use it.”
"Definitely," Lothras agreed, without any jealousy. "Ascended Blade will make you a threat at any range. Combined with your existing kit..." He shook his head. "Second Wind is going to have a terrifying leader."
Athos used the rune, light and darkness swirling around him briefly before settling into his skill list.
The final item was also a skill rune, but this one pulsed with light and darkness, and due to the system notification I didn’t share with the others yet, I knew it was waiting for me.
Skill Rune (epic)
Skill: Dead Calm
Enter a focused state. During Dead Calm, movement speed is reduced to zero and defense is reduced by 75%, but your next shot ignores all resistances, passes through obstacles and enemies, and deals damage equal to 400% of attack power.
Range is doubled.
Stance is broken by taking damage.
Cooldown: 6 hours
Required level: 21
Restriction: Ranger
Mana cost: 90
Note: dropped for player “Orion” as MVP bonus
The ultimate sniper skill, I thought. Insane damage, great range, unblockable attack.
The cooldown was ridiculous, and the drawbacks would make it a situational skill at best, but once the time and place were right, it would be a game changer every single time.
“Now that’s a skill,,” Athos said, looking at the other rune the boss’d dropped. “You deserve it.”
“This boss was mostly you,” Lothras nodded. “That skill is borderline OP, though.”
I used the rune immediately, bagging the new skill. I’m getting there.
We stood in silence for a moment, each of us processing what we'd gained.
Seven items from a single boss, with five of them being Epic rated. I was pretty sure the first clear bonus came into play, but still, it looked like clearing dungeons was a great way to improve yourself.
We were so occupied with the loot I didn’t even register at first, but I leveled up to 21, and so did Athos and Kara.
I allocated my new attribute points into Agility without hesitation. The pattern was established now; I will get my AGI all the way up so it matches my DEX before moving back to my primary stat.
“Alright, everyone okay?”
My question got three nods.
"Good. Let's see what's behind that door." I gestured toward the small archway at the far end of the chamber; the only exit besides the sealed entrance we'd come through.
The passage beyond was short, barely ten meters, leading to a small, circular room, a tranquil chamber after the chaos of the boss fight. The walls were smooth, unmarked by the ritualistic carvings that had covered every other surface in the catacombs. A single pedestal stood in the center, and resting upon it...
"The second key fragment," Kara pointed out.
It was similar to the first piece we'd recovered from the Twinfire Burial Site: a simple metal piece. However, where that fragment had been silver and blue, this one was gold and green, as if depicting the waves of the sea and the sunlight as they meet at the horizon.
I reached out and took it.
Quest Updated: The Tidemark Trident
Key fragments collected: 2/2
Return to Calian in Tidemark to complete the key and unlock the Trident's resting place.
The moment the fragment entered my inventory, the room began to change. Light gathered in the center of the floor, forming into a familiar pattern: a teleportation circle, identical to the one at the end of Twinfire Burial Site.
"Our exit," Lothras observed. "The dungeon acknowledges our victory."
Why is he always so formal?
"Finally." Kara stepped toward the portal without hesitation. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of dungeons for a while.”
"I bet the Trident will be in a third one, even longer and more dangerous," Athos said with a tired smile.
"Don't even joke about that."
One by one, we stepped into the light. The teleportation effect washed over me, and a moment later I was standing outside, blinking in the harsh afternoon sun.
The cliff face stood behind us, the entrance to the Ravenmere Catacombs slightly changing to represent it becoming a normal, unlocked dungeon.
"So," I said, "who wants to go see Calian?”
