Mining for Monsters, Non-canon story JT

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

Plotline: It's simple isekai shenanigans. The victim is drawn in by a myserious force and taken to a new world. Unlike most isekai's however the user finds themself in a soul-starved land. Specifically in the outskirts of a wasteland with nothing but the entrance to an impressive mining area the only hint at where they are at. With nothing but their wits, the clothes on their back, and whatever abilities the user has they will have to fight through to the depths in an attempt to figure out just what has summoned their from the world into this place.

Let's be blunt I'm trying my hand at another Demon Soul's theme'd adventure. Albiet smaller and one on one. The user is going to deal with Stonefang tunnel and all it's monsters within in an attempt to find a means back to the world they got ripped form. Win and surivive or lose and die. Same as the old Souls formula. -


Estimated Enemy Strength:

This depends on the area.

The starting area (2-1) will deal with enemies that about class 4 to a couple class 3 creatures. The boss for it will be class 2.

The intermediate area (2-2) will have class 3 enemies predominantly with a few class 2 enemies sprinkled around. The boss is going to be class 1.

The last area (2-3) deals simply with the final boss and is expected to a hard won fight. Class is 1-0 with the works.

This can be lowered if the participant is on the lower end of the accepted class range.


Special Conditions:

Ok so there are a few!

1. Step techs limited to twice a post max and can only go a maximum of 5 feet.

2. Air ground does not exist. If the user can't fly via a tech or some inherent ability, or cannot create constructs the user cannot remain suspended in the air.

3. Upon killing a boss the RPC will be refreshed in all manner. Physical health, reiatsu, stamin, and extra resources such as. Stamina posts, times they can release, ability cooldowns, etc.

4. Characters have 2 extra lives. If they die 3 times the thread is considered finished but failed. These will not be regained upon killing a boss.

Video Reference for first level of Stonefang tunnel:

[Edward]

Well hello there

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

Fair enough. Slots yours. Let's see how far your might will carry you.

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

"YOU GODDAMN BASTARD!" The older quincy had yelled out as Edward wholesale slaughtered his family members. Before his eyes no less. The man had to wonder how his entire family, his lineage was being utterly erased by a single individual. But honestly he should have expected as much. The vandenriech were a collection of monsters. Pure in blood, with a cultish devotion to their "god", and a complete disregard to anyone who didn't follow their ideology. Edward certainly seemed no different, especially when he was killing teenagers who dared to oppose him. But such was the path they'd chosen wasn't it? The man knew that upon leaving the Silbern they'd be targetted. He'd known that it would only be a matter of time if he didn't find Asmoskon and his lineage but he'd never suspected they'd make it an entire hour outside the Silbern before being lambs to the slaughter.



A few hours prior. . .



All was well in the Silbern. Quiet, content, and filled with the sounds of Edward putting his underlings through almost literal grinders in order to strengthen them. Everything was in order and it almost seemed like nothing would change today, especially given there was a convention that was just a couple days around the corner, one the author of Jojo's would be attending. And Edward had managed to wiggle his way out of any responsibilities for the coming days of the convention. It was perfect. And that was when he knew, everything Edward had planned up to now would be thrown to shit in a handbasket.

Edward mid work out would recieve nothing less than a divine vision from the Emperor himself. Though no words were spoken there was an immense weight upon Edward. Spiritual in nature and almost overwhelming, he'd be unable to move even a finger from the distant presence of his progenitor. The vision itself was surprisingly clear. An entire house of quincy, the Dulivians, were shown to be leaving the Silbern through nothing less than their leaders dimensional powers. A gift rarely given to any quincy and here it was being used as a means of escape to somewhere in the human world. The vision shifted dramatically to a figure Edward likely knew by name alone, Asmoskon. The troublesome renegade free quincy and within moments it'd be easy to understand why the Emperor had been concerned. This house was leaving entirely, taking any and all secrets as well as battle plans, and other information and gifting it to Asmoskon.

That is unless Edward had a say in the matter. And given the vision showed that this would occur later in the day, sometime in the early afternoon, Edward very much had been given time to intervene. And in fact it was a wordless order from his Emperor to deal with this problem swiftly. The question however would be finding the household as they weren't a noble line, simply a collection converts or a couple few pure quincies. But such was the trial of a god wasn't it? To give you the infromation you needed. Edward wasn't known for being a fool afterall so he'd be expected to find them swiftly. With the vision completed and his newest quest from god he'd be spending the next several hours locating their household and begin the slaughter.



Back to the present. . .


The house had been found and purged almost entirely aside from the pesky head of the household. His emperor given powers were nothing if not aggravating given it allowed him all manner of evasive maneuvers and redirections. Each arrow a new destination for a portal entrance or a new path to be travelled by said quincy for his portal powers. The old man knew he could very easily have used his powers and escaped the Silbern but his blood boiled at the loss of his family. His clan. This was why he'd decided to leave or die trying. Their "god" was nothing short of a false idol with a god complex due to it's immense powers. And from that stemmed entitlement to "claim" an entire race of beings. Perhaps their had once been some truth to his "loving" and "caring" nature towards his own but with these hounds he sent after "heritics" and other races he knew that god had long since passed.

This dog in particular however was nothing short of a beast from hell itself. The house was decimated. One of his limbs obliterated and he'd almost lost another due to the sheer volume and force behind the nearly infinite shockwaves. His portals did short work of them when he was able to produce one given he'd return them to their sender. But even this man's own attacks held no potency against him. At least from what it seemed like. So what options did he have left at his disposal? He NEEDED to beat this fool. His fallen family demanded it. He swore in some ways he could almost hear them crying out for vengeance, but he knew it was simply his mind. Their souls had been erased long before their fight had began.

That's when it hit him. It was desperate. It was stupid. And by all means it shouldn't work. But it was his only gambit he could rely on having a chance at working. And that was assuming he could lure the man into a false sense of security. Which you'd think would have been easy to do given he'd killed most of his clan with a single movement from his fist or selee schniede. But that likely just showed the power of what a Captain Supervisor was meant to entail. Still he'd been a captain once so he wasn't a slouch either and it showed by how long he'd managed to survive even if he couldn't land a decisive blow to this quincy.

That was when a shockwave that otherwise should have been easy enough to dodge landed square on this man's knee cap. Promptly ripping it off and forcing the man to fall flat on his ass. "Shit! F-FUCK!" Edward was only getting closer now and his time was running out it was now or never. His gambit would work or fail. The man activated his soul property and fired off a volley of arrows, as many as he could manage, even if Edward managed to swat them away he'd be unable to realize just what was happening. Within each a tiny portal. But given several of the mans arrows remained punctured throughout the ruins of the house there were several arrows spread throughout, a decent number of which lied beneath Edward.

"May you rot in hell you pathetic excuse of a guard dog! YOU LIKE YOUR FALSE IDOL WILL FALL!" Within moments every arrow that surrounded Edward would dissappear subsequently replaced by portals, black ominous things that quickly merged into one massive all encompassing sphere around him. Try as he might to escape Edward had fallen into a dimensional prison one immensely powerful and without a weak point. Then from nowhere came an array of colors so bright and vivid it all but blinded him as it went from green, to pink, to red, to orange, back to green, then to purple, and continued shifting ever more. Alternate worlds showed before him, some even glancing back at him and sending nothing but chills down his spine as it was clear the emperor had no sway whatsoever in many of them.

That's when it finally happened. A realm deep underground, something akin to a shrine of sorts but made out of obsidian or some other immensely dark stone. Lava swirled and churned, spawning from the walls and like waterfalls and creating at least a several mile wide lake with an opposing shrine on the opposite side. It was strangely content and for a moment the remainder of the corridor seemed to be at a stand still. That was until Edward heard a roar that blasted his eardrums causing him to go deaf for a moment. It was like several cannons had gone off at once and continued to fire off several more rounds for several minutes after. The corridor itself shook from how immense the bellowing roar was. And from within the realm what could only be described as an arm reached through. It was 3 times Edwards size and infinitely more layered in muscle, scales, and surprisingly lava if the glowing veins were anything to go by. The grip it had on him was immense and broke nearly every bone in his body without trying.

Pain shot through his entire being and it wasn't long before he was wrenched from the corridor and into some alternate world. Sadly Edward wouldn't see any of it not because he was encompassed in a fist entirely but because its immense strength continued to squeeze around him causing more and more pain until he ultimately passed out from the pain and stress to his body. When he'd next return to the world of conciousness and the living he'd be in a very different place than the corridor had shown him. He was at the bottom of a stairway to nowhere. Its latter stairs had been caved in as it was carved into the side of some body of rock.

Walking up to the remaining stairs Edward would see an incredibly long stretch of wastelands and plateau's. Vegetation and plant life was non-existant as was the joy of water given how several large dust devils made themselves present below him. But what was here was a large convoluted array of mining carts, rails, and machinery dedicated to excavating minerals and other material from the earth. In his immediate area however there was a bridge to his right, a tower of sorts that was carved from the plateau he was next to. To his left was a the remains of a broken bridge, eroded away no doubt initially. The remainder of some wagons and other crates were the bridges only company. Lastly was a small building, or ruin of such that had a frozen elevator going into it. If Edward listened closely he'd be able to hear a clear cliking sound of a blacksmith and could only guess it was their abode beneath him that the elevator lead to.

"Ahh what do we have here? Another adventurer from a strange land in search of the demons? And strange you are indeed with such clothing hehe. It matters not who you are honestly, so long as you have bring a desire for goods I am at your service. My name is Talis feel free to gaze over my wares but that is about the only thing I've available for free hehe!"

Talis was nothing short of a beggar among beggars. He wore rags, probably sacks and had shottily sewned them together and in some places simply tied them with rope around his person. His hair was shaggy, long, and infinitely filled with sweat. His skin a deep deep tan easily from a long period of time spent in the sunlight. And though he looked emaciated his eyes showed a lust for monetary payment that exceeded his will to live. It was not a stretch to say he lived to amass wealth despite it not seeming to have ever aided him any if his current living conditions were any indication. In short he was utter filth but he was the only humanoid filth around given if Edward looked back at the tower there were lizard skinned humanoid objects moving. Dispropotionate, clearly unthinking, and just. . . existing if you could call it that.

Talis simply smiled his disgusting half rotted, half empty smile at Edward. His wares were laid out before him and it be a curious mixture of several oddities. Green weeds, dark yellow weeds, a flat slab of rock that seemed to be sheared off at the top and unnaturally smooth, manufactured even at the base, a couple fragile looking vials with shreaded green leaves within, and a few sharpening stones untouched and in excellent condition surprisingly. There were several other objects but nothing of interest and certainly not useful to Edward in the slightest. "See anything you like? Also if you're concerned about the weapons they are made from the steel mined out of these mines. Hehe. Or they used to. Nowadays the husks remaining don't really do much other than mine raw materials. Complex tasks can't really be handled by soulless beings as it requires some level of mental acquity. Regardless they are as good as you could ask for."

OOC: Alright so as with my other adventure threads there is a gimmick for you. However unlike the others it's entirely optional to you. It only serves to aid you if Edward cares enough to complete it. Your gimmick is item crafting. The first two bosses can have certain parts of their bodies harvest for material and the blacksmith in this level can forge them into something useful for you. Not to mention there is a special blade of note in this level that will aide against the final boss. However the pieces are spread out and usually "guarded" by something.

Last but not the least if you manage to do the above the blacksmith will make you an in-thread item of your choosing. It's not limited to site items so you can request something and the blacksmith may be inclined to make it as long as you gather the last materials for it. Again this is entirely up to you if you feel so inclined to play along with it. If not I'm sure Edward can easily cleave through most of the enemies here.

Also just a note because I didn't mention it earlier, quincy regen is nil. Same as it was in the Boletarian thread (Souls of the lost). You'll need an item for that. Otherwise if you have any questions hit me up.

[Edward]

As Edward’s consciousness came back he was annoyed at himself for falling for an obvious trap, however he knew that his mission wouldn’t end in failure. He would return and kill that man, even if somehow the quincy made contact with Asmokon, Edward would just kill the both. He was the faithful executioner of the Emperor and he wouldn’t allow a lonely quincy simply run away. He thought that allowing the man a fighting chance was a mercy the former captain was to have, however now when he returned he would make sure that the man would end up dead without issue.

At first Edward didn’t even bother try to look around at where he was, there wasn’t a point really. The only thing he needed was the shadows to take him back to where he had been before. He summoned the shadows to engulf him and take him back. He watched as they wrapped around him and he felt himself sinking into them, then just as suddenly as they wrapped around him they were painfully ripped off of his body and shattered. “Annoying….” Something had happened to being able to use the shadows as transportation. It was at this time that Edward took in his surroundings.

Before him a massive stairway leading upwards, all around him an empty wasteland of darkness and bleakness. Walking upwards Edward started to attempt to draw in reiatsu, yet something felt off about the air in this world. As he tried to draw in natural reiatsu he found it impossible, as if there wasn’t any in this world. Before taking another step he allowed his senses to take in the flow of the world around him. If he was going to get out of the state he was in he needed to know exactly what was going on.

It was as he felt the energy of this place that he felt sick to his stomach. In the air and in the world there was clearly some form of natural energy, however it wasn’t like anything else he had ever felt before. It was clear that it wasn’t reiatsu and unusable to him to absorb and replenish his reserves. As he felt the world around him he could easily sense the strength of the things around him, most were weak pathetic beings that didn’t even stand a chance surviving a single blow, yet there were a few that were powerful enough to give him a fair fight.

Eventually he would come up and find himself with three options as well as a very filthy vagrant. While the man spoke Edward finally started to realize where the hell he was, or at least he was getting a very good idea. The area, this man and the feeling of despair and dread in the world. He was in a souls game, or at the very least something very similar to that. Normally Edward wouldn’t even bother with a dirty looking vagrant, however if he was right than this man was an NPC and it wouldn’t be prudent to killing him. He nodded at the vagrant and simply said “I’ll be back later for your wares.”

He needed money and more important he needed a weapon, with that in mind he could hear the clanking of a blacksmith. He was interested in two things, how much weapons cost and where his swords could be considered in terms of strength compared to what was here. With that in mind he went down the elevator to meet the blacksmith and speak with him about everything he had in mind. While there he would form a single class 1 arrow and ask about the power of it compared to what was for sale as well as the prices. The elevator would have some issue moving, as it seemed stuck, however a swift kick to the side of it loosened it from whatever was keeping it in place. 

remaining reiatsu 3330/3500 -100 for activating bow form -70 for class 1 arrow



Strength - [400]x3= 1320 Points

Speed - [318 ] 350 Points

Spiritual Pressure – [364] 400 Points

Reiatsu Strength – [138]x.3= 50Points

Instinct - [275].33=100 Points

Senses - [91]=100 Points

Energy sensory - [114]X3= 376 Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


[Strength of Will] {3}

[Swords] {3}

[Damage Recovery ] {3}

[Battle Analysis ] {3}

[shockwaves ] {3}

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

Talis simply chuckled as he watched Edward in his musing. The man noticed his general distaste for him and simply chuckled to himself. He was very much like the other fools that came around here. But at least that would mean Talis could potentially get better wares from his body if he didn't get how outmatched he'd be around here. Still that would be if he could survive an encounter with the old man. Even Talis's disgusting smile thined until his lips were in a near from and tight. "Here's to you getting the old man to doing anything other than kicking you out. The fool won't hear even those with souls to spare."

Edward would find the elevator very accomadating given he'd done nothing less than beat the shit out of it until it worked. A distinct "clunking" sound would be heard and the elevator would begin moving down and up depending on the side a prospective user would be using. When he'd get down he'd be graced with a noticable difference in temperature, nothing that would affect him negatively but it was definitely sweltering. The blacksmith he was looking for was very obvious as he was the only individual working here and he was head first into his newest sword he was crafting. The sword was still an orange-red from having been taken out of the furnace.

The man in question was very clearly on the end cycle of his life. He had no hair on the top of his head, and what remainde on the sides was burnt and obviously not well taken care of. His form though could only be described as "Old man strong" given he still had a solid showing of muscle despite his thin physique. Little things to note would be his old and scratched up glasses, a thick and full beard that started at the sides of his head near his temples and trailed down his jawline to his chin. It was just as burnt and not cared for as his hair on his head. As for his attire it's what one would expect from a smith. He had an apron on him, thick but old gloves, and a pair of trousers worn, faded, and covered in soot behind the apron. He had no shoes or boots to speak of.


Upon walking up the blacksmith would pointedly ignore him as he continued to work on his sword. Assuming Edward didn't try to stop him outright he'd finish beating the sword into the form he desired and would throw it into a nearby basin of water before groaning at Edward. He'd roughly take the sword from Edwards hand, regardless of how strong he was gripping it and begin inspecting it thoroughly, even going so far as to use some of his tools on it. Hammer, enrgaving tool, a few different materials with which to cut it. Eventually he'd lay it back down on the anvil he had been using. "I'll give you one thing, your swords aren't shit. Most of your idiotic kind walk in proclaiming swords passed down through their family for generations will survive encounters with a demon. Only to find out they can barely handle the thick-skinned hide of the "miners"."

"However it's still barely above average and will likely be useless to you if used in a fight against a potent demon. And before you ask, no. I won't be selling anything. And no, they wouldn't be useful to you. Your sword here is equal to a standard weapon I produce on any given day. It will at least get you to the infernal bug deep in the shafts. Now leave me be. I've no time to waste on those without materials nor the decency to leave an old man alone. Don't make me show you the way out." If the words alone didn't show his distate for Edward existing in his smithy his tone, through haggard and rough held back none of his frustration with him. Nor his lack of fucks to give. With his piece said he simply moved Edwards sword to another anvil and returned to his work. Pulling out yet another blazing hot sword and beginning his work yet again.

[Edward]

Edward would allow the sword to be taken without any issue, really he had no reason to resist the pull of his weapon from the blacksmith as he asked about the strength of it compared to what the man had. The words that the blacksmith said were both hopeful and interesting. If anything his sword was good enough just on it’s own strength to break down most beasts, however what the black smith said about other demons did give him a bit of pause. If this was anything like the game he though he was in, then he really didn’t want to end up like so many of those that play it.

“Materials…. So if I brought you proper materials you could make something even better than this sword?" Edwards words were filled with curiosity, even though he could make swords at will he was always looking for new additions to his collection. “If that is the case then tell me what you need and were I can acquire them.” Edward gave extra emphasis on the word acquire to note that Edward was more than ready to do whatever was needed to get these materials. After all grinding out resources was part of any RPG.

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

The blacksmith sighed putting the sword he'd just put out back into the furnace. If looks could kill his glare was definitely able to kill several people in wide area. Needless to say it couldn't but it would definitely show he was growing more frustrated with Edward for constantly interrupting him. Especially with what he considered were "pointless questions." With eyes narrowed, frown immense, and distaste growing more acidic in tone he responded.

"You fancy yourself capable of harvesting materials eh? Fine I'll tell you what to get. Start with the hide of the infernal bug in the mineshafts. Between the flames it spews out and the chitanous hide thats more like black steel it'll be a perfect material to melt down and reforge. But to do this you need to get me another demon part. I need a demon heart that produces magma and ignites damn near anything it comes in contact with. There are rumors of a demon of pure flame somewhere but I obviously don't know where it is. I'm doubtful the vagrant up top will be of any use in case you were thinking. The fool refuses to share with anyone where he gets his "wares" from, including his stones."

"But say you actually manage to get those materials I can produce you something to deal with this fiery death pit. And hell, I'll even make a sword for you if you can find the "shattered" pieces. The fool upstairs always talks about a "Dragon's blade" with his "fragment" he "found". I'd need the heart of the demon to reforge that blade. But if it's true you'd likely find it very useful. Heh. If you have enough muscle to wield the damn thing. You however? Barely look like you've got any muscle on you that isn't used for moving. Especially with your "noble" clothing. Your kind are almost always physically weak as a starving man."

"Find me those and I'll forge them for you. Find me all of that and I'll even make you one weapon you want. Why not? It's not like your chasing after hearsay and other dreams afterall. Now get. OUT. And don't come back without something of actual value." From here on the blacksmith would simply ignore Edward. Unwilling to be distracted any further from creating yet another sword. Anger and frustration fueling his hits as he was slamming his hammer into the blade harder than he had been prior to Edwards arrival.

[Edward]

Edward listened to everything that the blacksmith said, in cases like this usually hidden items or secret overpowered things were hidden with only vague clues given as to where they would be. The blacksmith needed at least two things, the first was the hide of a bug, the next a heart of a demon that spewed magma. Annoying was the word that came to mind when he was told what he needed, however there was something more interesting spoken about. It seemed that the vagrant above had a piece of a dragon blade, this was the start to a hidden quest, so at the very least he had his own objectives. Edward bid the blacksmith farewell and rode the elevator back up to where the filthy hobo lived.

Edward still had a distain for the man, however he spoke trying to keep back his disgust. “Tell me, how much for the dragon blade fragment that you have.” It was at this time that Edward also realized something, in games money would come after beating foes automatically, however he had no idea as to what they were using for money or how he would come to obtain it. “So….. what exactly do you use as currency here?” As much as he didn’t want to owe this man anything information was needed and he didn’t think the blacksmith would be willing to talk.

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

Tallis chuckled as he saw Edward walk out from the smithy. Though Tallis didn't realize the mild signs of disgust were for him he still smiled his degenerate smile filled with missing teeth and apparent gum disease. This lessened some once he spotted Edwards gaze go to his sword fragment. Tallis was the kind of man to sell just about anything, even his own child if it'd help him get ahead. But this fragment was the first of the few that were supposedly hidden around. He wasn't terribly keen on selling it ironically.

"The fragment eh? He glanced at the fragment as he considered what to do. Tallis wasn't a fool. He couldn't fight this man if he had a weapon. He also couldn't give an incredibly outrageous price as he might still incur his wrath. But if he put it at a price he likely wasn't to get? That was something he could do. High enough to deter but low enough to prevent him from harming him to get it. Looking back at Edward he spoke quickly with his smile for once not on his face. "1,500 soul dregs is the minimum I'd sell it to you for. Price may vary depending on the day as it IS the handle of a legendary weapon.

Tallis almost started speaking again given they'd had a momentary pause between them. But once he heard Edwards question he simply started laughing. And laughing. And laughing. Laughing so hard his sides hurt and it wasn't because he had bruising on either end. He couldn't believe how much of a whelp Edward was. He'd come to this unforgiving land, nothing but the clothes on his back and he seriously had no idea what sort of currency they ran off of. In truth perhaps it was a bit more reasonable given he very clearly wasn't from here but as far as Tallis was concerned they traded in the only thing that mattered anymore. Souls.

A few minutes later once Tallis had calmed himself down, wiping his eyes from the small tears that spawned. He looked back up at Edward with much more brevity than prior. "Lad, if you think coin is what we trade in then you're shit out of luck. We trade in souls, specifically the dregs that remain after you kill something but a full soul will get you somewhere. Mostly the attention of the demons and their ilk but everyone and their mother needs souls so you'll get everyones attention. Thankfully getting them is easy, just walk up to something and kill them. Nine times out of ten they'll simply be drawn to you but if they rest on the corpse you just need to will them to you while you're near them."

Tallis was very curious now how Edward would handle this revelation. Most folk when they'd find out originally would vomit. Blanche. Try to find a means of trading goods for something else. Souls just wasn't within the realm of most individuals "morals" if they weren't already used to the hellscape that was Boletaria and the various lands around it. But then again the fog and it's damnable demons did change that. It wasn't always souls but when you had to fight to keep yours things changed and people showed colors they didn't even know they had within themselves. The more Tallis thought on this the more he was curious about just how Edward would handle this. And just how he'd try to get the blade fragment.

[Edward]

Edward glared daggers at the man as he said that price for the handle, especially how he made mention how prices would change depending on the time of the day. If Edward wasn’t sure that eventually he would need this man later on for something Edward would have killed him by simply crushing him with gravitational pressure. This little vermin was lucky that he was a friendly NPC, if not Edward would have long ago killed him without regard for what the consequences were. Still Edward knew in the back of his mind, before this was over he would kill this waste of space.

When he found out what the currency they used was, a wicked smile came across his face. The more he listened to the explanation as to how they were collected and used he came to a realization about this place. For him this was a perfect playground, if they traded souls and the way to gain them was to kill things well then… he wondered how many souls this dirty grifter had and was worth. The temptation to kill him was growing in him. Still Edward held his blade as he didn’t know what this waste of space’s role was. “I apricate the information.” Edward spoke with disgust in his tone as he stepped away before looking towards the only other way he hadn’t gone. Without anything else to do he started down blade in hand ready to kill whatever came his way.

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

Tallis had to admit the smile that Edward made, especially towards him didn't exactly bode well within. He knew that look. And it wasn't just the look of someone faking the promise of violence. It was someone who'd killed several times over. . . And worse yet enjoyed it. Tallis would have to be very careful around this man from here on out. Careful enough that he didn't even bother saying anything as the other left. Simply watched with a frown on his face as he pondered just how far this nobleman would go.



As far as Edward was concerned however the path foward would be incredibly obvious. The opposite side of the bridge with the large building building into the side of the cliffside. It was clearly the entrance to the mine but given some of the equipment at the top most portion of the building it looked like it was also there to assist in picking up things more physically average beings wouldn't be able to pick up, like large collections of boulders. Speaking of boulders as Edward would cross the bridge and make it to the small courtyard before the entrance he'd start getting assualted with boulders. From two semi-humanoids miners or at least used to be miners on a higher level of the building. They threw the rocks the size of a normal man and considering the fact that the boulders when they hit the ground broke apart into pebbles had a bit of force put behind them also. That or the rock was brittle.



As far as the humanoids were concerend they looked warped. Humanoid in form but with dull yellow brown scaling around their arms and chests that matched their overall skin color. They had barely any hair though some had a few tufts here and there on their head. They're eyes were devoid of pupils and simply white, and what "Clothing" they were wearings was akin to rags. Not unlike Tallis in fact. They had "skirts" of various rags wrapped around their waste and sometimes a worn and ripped chest piece that hung on one shoulder. With pointed ears, sunken features, sharpened nails as well as teeth they looked more akin to very tall goblinoids than anything strictly human. These were what were throwing boulders down at Edwards with 2 actually managing to be accurate enough to be heading his way.



However there was one thing that stood out. And it wasn't the things throwing down rocks at him. It was an energy. He couldn't see it but he would be able to feel it and the feeling was something almost ominous. It was subtle and mingling with the latent energy but the sheer volume of energy that radiated from the source made it easy to notice. At least for those inclined to detect energy like Edward. It was behind the building and rising up from somewhere. Considering it didn't have a hostile vibe to it, it would be safe to assume that it hadn't realized Edward was present yet so Edwards had just as much opportunity to walk away as he did to search for it, once he'd finished dealing with the miners on the floor above.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Weaponless miners}Strength: 400 (680)
Speed: 250 (425)
RS: 50 (38)
SPPR: 50
Senses: 150
Instinct: 150
ES: 0
HE: 0

SPOILER: Click to show

{Enemies nearby}2 weaponless miners throwing boulders - 40 feet above Edward

1 ominous energy presence nearby

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reference for Miners and area}Miner reference:

Reference for bridge and building:

[Edward]

The moment that Edward stepped into the new area he saw what was coming towards him, honestly it made him laugh. Whatever those hideous things were thought that they could actually harm him by throwing boulders at him? Did they honestly think that they could harm him with rocks that appeared to be lighter than his work out weights? He couldn’t help but to laugh as the rocks were flung at him, his hands went out to catch both rocks as they got close. Edward’s strength was more than enough to simply catch them without budging. Once in his hands he threw them back at full strength at the two creatures. He had no doubt in his mind that they would be killed instantly if they tried to block.

Once they were dead Edward would expand his search by using his energy sensory. While this whole place was filled with a strange source of energy, he assumed the same principle of reiatsu was true for this energy. The more of it in a location the stronger a foe he would find. It was at this time that he felt something sinister coming from behind the building before him. He smiled as he narrowed his senses towards it. “Gotcha.” He said to himself as he walked towards the source of this evil energy, ready to kill whatever he saw.

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

The miners didn't stand a chance once Edward caught the boulders. In fact they stood so little a chance that they didn't even bother trying to defend themselves. Not that they really had the chance to if we're being honest. The boulders moved far faster than when they threw them and upon coming in contact with them, the miners simply became piles of smashed flesh. There was a momentary cracking sound that reverberated through the building and along the wall but it quieted shortly after. If Edward took the time to look up again he'd notice that there were several large cracks that trailed up to the roof of the building.

As Edward honed in on the ominous presence nearby another entity quietly walked out from the perch above Edward. A man so fat and with skin so grey that it was almost akin to stone. The wierdest thing was that he also had an surprisingly fancy attire to him that was wholely unfit for this mining facility. It looked as though he was a politcian of some far off court. And worse yet he held a great axe slightly larger than himself that almost looked the same color as his skin. The man chuckled to themself as they watched Edward walk closer. With a smile that ate most of his face he quickly walked to the edge and jumped off. With greataxe aimed at Edwards head if he didn't move or block the attack he'd get bisectet without a doubt.

As far as Edward sensing the presence it seemed to pick up that something was going on and subsequently tried to lower its energy output to make it easier to hide itself. Sadly this wouldn't work quite as it intended given that Edward actually had a fair bit of energy sensory capabilities and he had focused his attention on it. However it did make it's presence a bit more dubious. It was close but Edward wouldn't be able to tell exactly where it was or the general direction it was coming from aside from forward. However he could without a doubt tell the difference between it and the fat man coming to kill him from above. And the fat man was a good bit weaker than it.

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{Fat man stats / Skills}
Str: 400->(600)
Speed: 350
RS: 300->(450)
SPPR: 200->(150)
Senses: 150
Instinct: 200->(150)
ES: 0
HE: 0

Skills:

2 - Magic: Pyromancy
3 - Weapon: Axe
2 - Battle Analysis
2 -Bleeding Tolerance
2 - Strength of Will

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{Fat man reference}


That's right Faust Marus has siblings. Weaker and dumber siblings but siblings nonetheless. (This is actually an in game enemy placed there so ironically you get to see them again lol.)

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{Souls gained}
+20 Souls for each miner

40 total

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{Enemies around:}
Ominous Presence

Fatman currently falling down onto Edward

[Edward]

Edward had sensed the fat man and honestly wasn’t that worried about the tub of lard trying it’s hardest to attack him. He was more interested in the prescense that was trying to hide it’s self from him. That thing that he had sensed was able to hide somewhat, but not enterally. Going forward would eventually get him to it. He let out a sigh as he knew his path forward was the only way to go. Still he had one thing that was blocking his path, one very large and fat thing that was coming down with a bit of an alarming speed.

Edward took his artificial zan and swung the blade towards the fatman. The resulting shockwave would hit the fat blob midair. The force alone would send the man flying backwards and kill him the moment it came into contact, if it was a normal shockwave. No Edward was using cutting wave, which made each shockwave used with his blade a cutting force. The man’s lower half would soon be disconnected from his upper half. Edward wasn’t about to waste too much time with these things, they weren’t worth any real effort and killing them was only good for a bit of soul dregs. With the man dispatched he went towards what he sensed.