The Ancients World

~~~(POV: Cera Adamo)~~~

~~~(Location: Flying towards The Raid Deep Crystal Crypt, The Kingdom of Avalon)~~~

~~~(Time: 11:45 PM)~~~

It's almost midnight, and I'm closing in on Deep Crystal Crypt. The trip took a little longer than I wanted it to, and that's because I stopped for just a little bit to check out a clear lake. It was a sight that I've never seen on earth. "The screenshots I took really captured the beauty of it." The next time I'm with everyone, I show them what I found.

My view is taken up by a large abandoned mining operation, and the only reason I can see it is from how big the damage to Gaia is. The moonlight shining down on the site helps me see the true scale. "One of the most notorious Raids known to Player in my old future." Deep Crystal Crypt has a lot of history behind it. 

The Raid is known for being one of the most challenging due to its tightly enclosed spaces and a limited number of participants, given that it's a Raid. Most Raid lets you take up to 4000 Players, and some can go up to 8000. "Deep Crystal Crypt doesn't even come close to those numbers..." The limit for Deep Crystal Crypt is 150 Players at a single given time.

During the time when everyone was challenging the Raid, people were cursing out the devs and blaming them. When it was really the AI, Angelus, that was in charge of the game's design. But now we know this is, in fact, a different world. "I've never taken it on, but I know the main strategies to deal with the bosses." Another mechanic that makes Deep Crystal Crypt unique is its bosses.

p There are several different bosses that you can fight. Some are optional, and some are required. The drops from this Raid are known to be some of the best around the 200 to 400 level mark. "Sucks that I'm not here for any of the drops... My damn tier-up quest is here..." While there is a chance, I could get some of the items to drop. It's better if there are more people.

The Raid is strange in the fact that more people means better loot drops. It's the only Raid known with this function. "Taking it on alone pretty much means I'll have the lowest odds for something to drop. I could get help, but that would mean getting strangers, and that's something I don't want." Seeing that the barrier for the Raid is getting close, I dive down and land.

I leave my wings out since I'm going to need them in my fights inside the Raid. "This should be easier now that I'm tier-2, but that doesn't mean this will be a cakewalk." If I were still tier-1, I would definitely need help with this Raid. But since I'm tier-2 now, there are better odds that I don't need said help. This is what I prefer, after all. To do things alone.

Sally is likely asleep right now, and Hailey is probably the same. I'm not sleeping tonight. I'm pulling an all-nighter and challenging the Raid right now. "I'm not quitting for the night when I could start instead. This is going to take a while, and I'm in the mood for some fighting now that I'm actually here." Flying from point A to point B can get really boring.

<br/>Hence why I'm starting the Raid now. I approach the barrier around the massive abandoned mine, and I place my hand on the barrier. I get the usual notification of warnings and asking if I wish to enter the Raid. I simply select yes, and the barrier opens enough for me to get inside. "This is where so many Players raged and died repeatedly." Just stepping into this legendary place is amazing.

~~~(POV: Nelmorphius)~~~

~~~(Location: Flying to the Dragon Mountains of Hader)~~~

~~~(Time: 12:06 AM)~~~

Slayer Zern has changed a lot since the last time I saw him, and he's gotten stronger. Being a Player has benefited him greatly, and I think I should become one too. "Dad isn't going to be happy about the Fenrir deal, but what can you do?" There isn't much about Gaia that we dragons don't know or understand, but the enigma known as Players still eludes us.

There are several things I plan to find out once I become a Player. One of these things being why it is so much better to be a Player. "Dad might not like it, but I'll only find out after I do it. Cause I might be heading in the direction of home, but it's not where I'm actually heading." I've gotten a quest to become a Player, and I need to visit a Player Cathedral.

That's the only way to turn into a Player. Facing a trial tailor-made for you. If you're able to overcome it, then you'll become a Player. If not, you'll be kicked out of the trial, and you'll have to try again. "From what I've heard, it's supposed to be something that haunts you from your past..." The times I mingle with humans have shed great light on recent events.

There is something that haunts me greatly about my past, and that's my mother's death. My mom died fighting the being known as Sin of Pride. A demon that rules over Underworld with other beings like it. The Sin of Pride is unique in that he used to be an angel with a different name. It's forbidden in our culture to say his true name. For it angers my father greatly.

When the Sin of Pride killed my mother, my father entered Underworld and went on a rampage. Destroying everything he could find and trying to draw out one of the Sins. But they all stayed hidden. For they knew they had already dealt a devastating blow to the balance of power on Gaia. They had achieved their goal, and my father left Underworld knowing they'd never appear.

My mother was beloved by all dragons and the love of my father. When she was killed, my father changed that day. He foreswore that no dragon shall interact with the world unless given permission by him. I disobey that rule all the time, and while it frustrates him, I'm the only daughter he has. Given to him by the mother that I lost and the wife he loved.

There is a lot of history that I still think about our people, and if my trial is to overcome something that haunts me. I know that it will involve my mother and what the Sin of Pride did to her. He didn't just kill her. He mutilated her. Her body was nearly unrecognizable. She was powerful too. Showing the strength of the Sin of Pride and his ability to fight.

I know for a fact that the Sin of Pride is very powerful and very smart. I don't know if he's stronger than my father or not, but I wouldn't doubt the fallen angel is. "A part of me is grateful my father never found him in the Underworld..." I don't know what our people would do without my father. He's the one that keeps the dragon race in check.

~~~(POV: Cera Adamo)~~~

~~~(Location: Inside the Raid Deep Crystal Crypt)~~~

~~~(Time: 12:31 AM)~~~

I've been at this for an hour already, and from the fights that I've already been in, I can tell this will be a long and thought battle. The good news is I've gained 5 percent EXP towards my next level. From the rate at which I'm gaining EXP, I'm probably going to level up once or twice in this Raid. But it's getting harder and harder as time goes on.

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A/N: Below this line, I'll be keeping Cera's player information. That way, I won't have to place it into the story above anymore. It takes about 180 words up.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.226][Tier-2]

[Exp: 42/100%]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden)]

[Stats] [Strength - 7095][Endurance - 7045][Dexterity - 7215][Speed - 8240][Focus - 19,660]

[Mana aura control: 6/100%]

[Health: 76,560,000,000/76,560,000,000] [Mana: 216,600,000,000/216,600,000,000]

[Stat Points: 350] [Armor rating: 500]

[Inventory] [Dice of Wayland (Divine)] [Hardened Tree sap Armor (Very Rare)] [The Witness (Legendary Sword)] [Fenrir's Whistle (Divine)] [Sally's Dresses 5x] [Camping gear] [Food Rations 3x] [Dried meat 3x] [Fishing poles 2x] [Fish 8x] [Festival Garbs 2x] [4x EXP Boosts] [Scroll of Eternity (1x use)]

[Passive Perks]

[Inheritor of the Sword] [Son of Heaven] [Slayer of Evil] [Holy Willow Trees Savior] [Finder of Legends] [The Divine who has Legend] [Destined for Greatness] [Dungeon Diver] [An Overachiever]

[Active Skills]

[Heavens light Lvl.74 325/7400] [Protected by Heaven Lvl.74 225/7400] [Slash Lvl.92 4600/21000] [Parry Lvl.68 80/6800] [Double Strike N/A] [Kingslayer N/A] [Raging Machine N/A] [Winged Glory] [Angelic Flight] [Divine Pressure Exertion] [Divinity Pulse] [Controlled Fun]