Records Of The Fallen (1)

What Tongqiu did immediately after disconnecting from Rising Essence was first, check his gauntlets: safe; then eat, eat a fucking lot so that they, Natalia and Diana, won't notice his clear mental exhaustion from his risky double BOSS killing one after another. Which he unfortunately  failed. They, however, merely let it pass as he had not played for 4 days straight and simply enjoyed watching him eat their dishes patiently. Since Natalia and Diana now genuinely lived at Tongqiu's villa and furthermore, didn't had any pending matters, the three of them had quite the lot of free time which they didn't really had before, specially 'Naty' and Diana, who were previously engrossed with their personal matters.

Natalia and her voluntary deployment over different hospitals, communities focused on the well-being and all types of healing towards people with- well, poor; and also movements which would converge people from all over New Earth to share knowledge and use it best for the 'poor' people in form of educative info dumps at the reach of anyone, whether or not they were in dire need of it.

Diana herself would always be working on aiding people in more or less the same way as Natalia, which made it more obvious for Tongqiu but since they were still unwilling to let him know, for whatever silly reason of theirs, he didn't push for an answer and calmly enjoyed his time with this pair of gorgeous beauties. Besides, her solidarity though it was also focused on health, it was mainly about exercising; since she was raised at the Tarn Clan, her very first given knowledge was of that related to the human body and how it would work should something happen to it, injuries, infections, viruses, inherited illness, mental disorders... it was quite the immense amount for kids her age but she nonetheless dominated the area like a champ. Of course, when she grew older she changed her views as she then rather moved towards a path of directly affecting the body inside as well as out; basically, with how advanced and still progressing was nowadays humanity, elixirs, treatments, medicinal baths to boots or rather, improve the physical body weren't new nor rare. As long as one had enough training and impressive result, one would be able to join any kind of group focused on tempering their bodies. As long as one could join such an organization, depending on how advanced it has come to be, previous such methods of having one's body boosted -without secondary effects- would be available to such individual. Though these kind of things were that easy to obtain -more or less-, they weren't anything incredible nor extraordinary, one may be able to throw a large armored car for a couple of meters even in not full strength if that person it's quite advanced into the 'tempering' of their body; but still have their bodies keep their  slimness or even their lithe composition. That was what was truly 'magical' about these body 'tempering' experts.

And Diana was one of them, he didn't know to what level she has reached but to be an official and venerated personal trainer at the most renown and respected gym -body 'tempering' training grounds, open to the public- in the whole New Earth, then she must be one hella advanced, probably even more so than that of the previous example. As for why she instead insisted on aiding the 'poor' people and those who couldn't get their things easily? Well, Tongqiu could deduce she had some kind of predisposition similar to that of Natalia's. Whether it was thanks to her upbringing at the Tarn Clan or that she was actually heavily influenced by his little Naty was still unknown to him. But knowing that these two incredible women were at his side was enough to make him content and horny, every day. 

Since it was still quite early as evening was quite far away from reaching their time zone; Diana first grabbed Tongqiu to bring him around the villa for a walk as she was watching Natalia still eating her food all relaxed and smiling at them, as if to inform her that it's okay. Diana, noticing Natalia's approving smile, flashed a girly satisfied smile as well before moving the mentally exhausted Tongqiu around.

With the extensive yet incredible calm walk, Tongqiu relaxed quite a lot and felt as if he had slept for a whole half-a-day as his mental exhaustion was long gone. With the intention to thank his glorious savior, he in a flash, grabbed Diana's left hand with his right hand before squeezing at the center of her palms as he flashed her a smile full of gratified playfulness before rapidly letting go of her and merely resuming his walk as if nothing happened. Diana's reaction was that of her body, namely from her torso to the top of her head, jolted into a stiff pose as she felt her body warm up starting from her left hand.

Once they went back to the residential area, she allowed naughty Tongqiu to rest for a quarter of an hour before forcibly dragging him to the now finished gym 'area' of the villa. Tongqiu was punished with an actual two little slaps at his butt when he expected it the less, of course he noticed what she wanted to do in both occasions, but with her speed and cleverness as well as his feebleness, Tongqiu could do nothing but accept the punishment for her wrongdoings in silence.

As for Natalia, she was unexpectedly having a lot of reading numerous papers which none of the both of them had the chance to ask her for. Of course, she merely commented that it would be things that she'd need to learn for the future, heavily emphasizing on the word future as she looked at both of them at the same time. Anyways, Tongqiu saw her with glasses, and coupled with her ponytail... it was too much stimulation. Thanks to Diana, he didn't had an accident and safely survived the day.

Once the day was over and night had already descended, Tongqiu politely thanked her with a shake of their hands as he would always be doing after their every training session. And a polite and cooperative Diana would similarly accept his gratitude with a brilliant smile.

After having a little meal before going to bed, desiring goodnights here and there, they finally went to sleep... but Tongqiu was still feeling somewhat annoyed at his previous punishments, and hence... Diana at first had her mouth wide opened with her hand unnecessarily covering it as she first heard the very first couple of meat vs meat sounds that clapped from the room 2 doors away from hers. Later, after a pause of 2 minutes or so, the clapping sounds resounded again after she slightly heard Tongqiu say something about having discovered something new; this time for a couple of minutes though, before hearing out -once more- Natalia's moans thorough a long part of the previously silent night.

***

After doing a little of his mourning routing with light exercises, Tongqiu entered Rising Essence once more, this time he did not care much about him levelling up since it had not that much difference anyway so he simply checked his SP and skills which he resolutely didn't wanted to upgrade before since he wanted this to be a kind of challenge. It was quite a stubborn and unnecessary choice but, in his thoughts he simply believed he didn't needed to boost his strength to deal with these 'victims'.

However, his train of thought matured when the fact that he still didn't know anything about this Mysterious Hidden Grounds nor the rest of the floors. He opened his available skills, not a skill branch because this class of his only gave him those two amazing skills and that other skill which he merely believed to be for all players or even NPCs, except that he got it way earlier. Anyway, he didn't really gave much thought to that 'Low-level Rising Essence!' skill which he couldn't even use so it didn't really got into his mind, and even if he had enough SP for it, for something he can't use, he obviously wouldn't upgrade it.

[Unparalleled Angle]: Skill: Passive, Trigger, MAX LV 20, LV: 10, SP needed for next LV: 1,536, cooldown: 0 seconds, cost: 25 mana and 50 stamina. Usually, to start an attack one needs to accumulate force, raw strength. Use this skill in the opportune moment to change the direction and angle of attack of your melee weapon without losing any strength, and with accurate precision. Costs 10 mana and 20 stamina. Additional Effect: When activated Physical Damage+9%. 

[Tongqiu's Rain Showdown]: Type: AOE Active Skill, MAX LV: 20, LV: 10, SP needed for next LV: 10,240. Cooldown: 8 seconds, cost: 10 MP, 10 Stamina. Range: 0-30 meters. With Tongqiu's weapon or weapons in use, point with it towards the sky to activate this skill to create from the sky an AOE rain of attacks with the shape of the weapon  or item in use (arrow, bolt, javelin) without stopping for 15 seconds. Creates around 18 of the weapon's shadows per second with damage equal to 180% of Tongqiu's Attack Power and Magic Power for each shadow.

[Combustion]: Type: Activate/Deactivate Skill, MAX LV: 10, LV: 8, SP needed for next LV: 12,800, cooldown: 0.25 seconds, cost: 250MP and 250 Stamina. Once activated, all attacks (can explode at will) have an explosive effect to it from the user's essence type. It has an AOE of 6 meters melee, 18 meters ranged. This effect can be activated and deactivated in any moment and situation, and only attacking consumes MP and stamina. Damage dealt equals to 230% Magical Power as well as 230% Physical Power.

[Battle Frenzy]: Type: Passive Skill, MAX LV: 10, LV: 10, SP needed for next LV: MAX, effect: every critical or pierce attack adds 1 stack while every critical and pierce attack adds 3 stacks; dodging an ability or attack adds 1 stack. Once in battle, the longer you keep on fighting and destroying your enemy, the more stacks you'll accumulate. Each 10 stacks grants the user physical and magical power+300. Cap of 200 stacks.

[Low-level Rising Essence!]: Type: Ultimate Skill, MAX LV: 3, LV: 0, SP needed for next LV: 100,000, cost: all your essence stored without affecting your stolen essence contributing towards your main stat. Use this skill to first create an impossible to dodge, block or negate burst of essence that dries completely the user's essence. Damage equal to that of 15,000% Physical and Magical Power. This is not even the complete version (LV0).

After looking through them, he upgraded Combustion to the MAX LV which left him with 32,409 SP before upgrading next; Unparalleled Angle to LV14, this skill he had not used with the bow nor the arrow but merely with his dual swords Sunfacing Brilliant Gladiuses. It wasn't because it had just a little of extra physical damage but because he himself never needed any aid to successfully hit his enemies, whether it was his essential weaponry or himself with his unbelievable Mental Power stat, it was completely useless to use it with them as he rather used only when he needed to go melee and restore some of his resources if needed.

[Combustion]: Type: Activate/Deactivate Skill, MAX LV: 10, LV: 10, SP needed for next LV: MAX, cooldown: 0.05 seconds, cost: 300 MP and 300 Stamina. Once activated, all attacks (can explode at will) have an explosive effect to it from the user's essence type. It has an AOE of 9 meters melee, 30 meters ranged. This effect can be activated and deactivated in any moment and situation, and only attacking consumes MP and stamina. Damage dealt equals to 300% Magical Power as well as 300% Physical Power.

[Unparalleled Angle]: Skill: Passive, Trigger, MAX LV 20, LV: 14, SP needed for next LV: 24,576, cooldown: 0 seconds, cost: 35 mana and 70 stamina. Usually, to start an attack one needs to accumulate force, raw strength. Use this skill in the opportune moment to change the direction and angle of attack of your melee weapon without losing any strength, and with accurate precision.Additional Effect: When activated Physical Damage+13%. 

***

Arriving before the next Fallen Summoner that was the nearest to the area where he last killed the previous Fallen Summoner, Tongqiu didn't utter a word as he simply glanced at the thing indifferently and somewhat coldly. 

As this Fallen Summoner also took out its crosier with the head-sized 'colorless' blue gem at the top of the shaft with its right hand, a familiar notification appeared before Tongqiu.

[Downcast Fallen Summoner]: Type: Fallen (Human), Grade: Lord, Level: 42, HP: 1/1. It is unknown how or why this previously extremely strong summoner abandoned its path for. But their mana is the only lasting living characteristic of themselves. It uses all of its mana to create an impenetrable shield, should the Fallen Summoner spend all its remaining mana pool, it'll be defenseless to an easy death. This particular Fallen had reached an incredible level with its previous allies, presumably its Summoned fellows, before its demise. With your Mental Prowess, you're able to glimpse slightly into the Fallen's previous emotions and longings. It seemed to had a family consisting on many beautiful maidens who alongside him, grew in power through ups and downs with innumerably beautiful stories and nostalgic memories. Only to be brutally buried by the G?? and the G??'s scheme... at least her beloved ones were given a clean and honorable death without prior humiliation in the midst of their final battle. They intended to die together for the sake of the ??? ??? and their beloved Main Kingdom, successfully giving more and more time for their Leader's plan to succeed and prevail against these monstrosities. Alas, he was cruelly dragged away from this Fallen already incoming death, as it was being tarnished into The Fall, its people in their last breath as well as those no longer with a physical body, purely having their soul which was slipping away, smiled in towards it in both, joy from its fate of 'remaining alive' and sorrow, from becoming the most pitied and despised form of being in the entire universe without them by its side to at the very least, keep him some kind of company. Where they able to fall too, only to be with him, they would've done so unhesitatingly. This Fallen looked at them as they each, one by one, dissipated away...

Passive Skill: Every Fallen Summoned dealt with will consume 5% of the killer's HP and 35% MP and Stamina. For each Fallen Summoned someone kills, a stack is added, whenever the number of stacks reaches 5, it consumes the killer's 50% of their total HP, then it resets the amount of stacks.

*PING* ... a Fallen Summoner has used up 10% of its mana to summon its undying Fallen Summons.

'Sigh, time to work.' He took out his dual gladiuses rather than his essential weaponry before dashing at his utmost speed towards the nearest Fallen Summoned, he was already familiar with the procedures.

And as he looked at it, its information appeared before him:

[Earthen Ferret Excavator]: Type: Fallen(Beast), Grade: Lord, Level: 40, HP: 110,000. Although this Ferret species isn't an allrounder like other types of primary choice for Summoners, this one is among the best for those desiring an incredibly scout-type of Summon when it comes to ground terrains. It is really fast and has extremely element resistant sharp claws.

And sure enough, Tongqiu found himself getting his attacks blocked, parried, mitigated and even counterattacked. Tongqiu's eyes shined extremely, something that hadn't happened for a long, long while. He decided to take this Earthen Ferret Excavator as his practice partner, to spar until he himself could put this extremely talented Ferret down with his dual gladiuses again.

***

3 hours had gone by, Tongqiu was still sparring with the ferret and for some reason, he felt extremely strange and pensive towards the Fallen Summoners. Each of them seemed to hint at him ever so obviously in many different ways.

There was an unknown even which happened in the past. And for the people -NPCs- of Main Kingdom to not even know a single bit about it nor having records of it... it HAD to be from more than a couple thousands of years, according to lore. This reminded him of the post owner called 'Lotion Lost' which also talked a little of the game's semi-inexistent lore.

Each of these Fallen Summoners were able to put a stop to certain group or organization which seemed to be extremely powerful and capable. Not only as it being each individual being powerful themselves but rather, that being capable of even controlling beings like the 'Fallen'. Rather than controlling, it was more like an exceptional manipulation of such, that ability or knowledge alone was truly terrifying, and now more than ever he felt a slight sense of urgency at finding the 'Ancient'.

That was when he thought; that little girl he was supposed to save from the bastard bandits in the Misty region at the east of the Novice Village was utterly shocked and even trembling when she realized what kind of Mental Power Tongqiu had in him... for a being who had in her possession such a overpowered-cheat item like the True Wish relic to react like that, Tongqiu wasn't before, but now he was apprehensive about it.

'In truth, how many players or even NPCs would have that amount of Mental Power when barely beginning? In truth, what was the real regular amount of Mental Power for each player and even NPC? The fact that it was genuinely 300+ stat points to it was too ambiguous to understand its efficiency, specially since he'd never had read or heard other players nor NPCs talk about it besides a couple few -from NPCs-, not even Natalia knew what it was, it probably appeared as an '???' to her while I could perfectly read the description from the Mysterious Key... Mysterious-key... Mysterious- Hidden Grounds... siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh. It's whatever, let's keep on training!' Without realizing about it, Tongqiu managed to easily spar against the Ferret even while his head was completely lost in his own non-stopping blabber. He also didn't noticed how the Ferret started going more, and more and even more and more aggressive and berserk as well as the Downcast Fallen Summoner had, surprisingly, its arms crossed in front of its chest as he was seemingly 'watching' them spar.

This continued for another 3 hours, which was when the system warned that someone was calling him over from outside the game. 

As Tongqiu's eyes brightened, he stopped sparring with the Ferret which was now visible sweating, probably utterly exhausted from this unexpected never-ending 'spar' with this little human. It even had a 'weakened state' at its status window even though its HP was perfectly at 100%.

The moment where Tongqiu finally stopped, this Fallen Summoned was surprisingly laying on the ground while 'calmly' looking at Tongqiu. He found it weird as his essential bow and arrow materialized into his hands, left and right respectively, before aiming at the tired Ferret.

Suddenly, there was another prompt notification from the system right as he was about to enter into that 'abnormal' state:

*PING*... host has been in a state of harshly training for a long time while also being in a state of comprehension! Now that the host has exited the 'in battle' state, the host will receive an important announcement. The host has self-created a brand new and unique skill, would the host like to name it?

Tongqiu didn't receive any direct information about the skill but even then, he felt as if he already knew what it would be about, as if he himself comprehended it already and the system was 'allowing' him to have such a skill. He wondered whether or not that'd happen in the future when he 'unlocks' his essential weaponry, allowing to stop wasting his resources as well as HP and tiring him to death every time he entered into the 'abnormal' state.

"Yes, name it, 'Transient Divine Burst'."

*PING*... unique skill successfully named! Please take a look to your new skill.

[Transient Divine Burst]: Type: Active/Self-Buff, MAX LV: 10, LV: 0, SP needed for next LV: 175, cooldown: 5 minutes, cost: 500 MP and 500 Stamina and 15% of the host's total HP. You've gone through arduous battle experience and comprehended a skill that has never been as flexible when it comes to melee battle empowering. Effect: Once this skill is activated, all your melee attack's type of damage are the adjoined by your Physical and Magical Power; all your basic attacks without any other skill empowering it or transforming them increases its total damage dealt by 150%, your attacks also gain a +10% chance of stunning the enemy and Critical Hit Rate+10%. All kinds of damage received are reduced by 50%. Duration: 15 Seconds.

"Goodbye little guy, thank you." Tongqiu was shocked, this new skill of his was beautiful alright, this, along Unparalleled Angle made him just as fearful as him only using his bow and arrow along Combustion. Besides, Battle Frenzy only increased his raw Physical and Magical Power and not his attacks or actions directly, so he could freely use Transient Divine Burst whenever he wanted.

...