Starting from Zero

Book 2, Chapter 17
Cape Quest

     I threw my current c.r.a.p to the side and started fitting. 

    Clark handed me a pair of metal boots. "I picked them according to your numbers. Don"t worry about the requirement. This is Wind Boots, Defense 20, Dexterity +1, Movement Speed +10%, +20% dodge rate against projectile weapons." 

     "Nice!" I put them on. Umhmm, comfy. I walked around, and felt like floating! 

     "Wind Legguard, Defense 35, Movement Speed +10%, +5% dodge rate."

     "Wind ta.s.set, Defense 33, 5% chance of countering your attacker with a lightning strike." 

     "Wind Armor, Defense 45, +10% Lightning resistance, reduce Poison damage by half, 5% rate damage reflecting."

     "Wind Armguard, Defense 20, +15% Attack Speed, +5% damage absorb." 

     "Wind Shoulder Guard, Defense 25, Dexterity +3, 5% rate damage reflecting."

     "Wind Heavy Gauntlets, Defense 20, Attack +5%, Strength +3, +20% Attack & Spell Speed, 5-6 Poison Attack, lasts 10 seconds, 3-7 Fire Attack." 

     "Wind Helmet, Defense 30, +10% Spell Speed, all spell level +1."

     "Wind Shield, Defense 100, Block Rate 37%, 15% rate damage reflecting, 25% rate to paralyze attacker for two seconds." 

     "That"s all of them! Your sword is probably the best at this level, I"ll not change that. If ya need quiver, cape, belt and accessories you will need to go to the other stores!" 

    I put on all of them and stood in front of the mirror. They look real cool, plus now I appear more "manly", at least. 

    "They look awesome! And I think I can see some golden shimmering!" 

    "Of course! I took my best level 100 equipment set I have!" Clark seems satisfied with the result, too. 

    "Then I"ll leave you to your business now, and see if I can fill the other slots. After that I"ll go look for those materials you need."

    "Off you go then! You"d better be quick with it, I"ll need them soon!" 

    "Got it!" That answer came from the outside. Instead of walking downstairs, I [Blink]"d out of the shop.

    I asked several NPCs how to find the clothing store, surprisingly they all know me somehow.

    I finally found the place at a corner, and saw a female NPC about the age of 30 sewing cloth. She dropped her work when she saw me.

    "Isn"t this Ziri! What can I do for you?" 

    "You know me?"

     "Well that old man kinda introduced you to the whole city that day." 

    "Now I remember it. I was wondering why everyone knows my name." 

    "So what will it be?"

     "Cape and belt!" 

    "Oh the belt is easy. Your level?" 

    "100!"

     "Just one moment." She ran inside and came back with a shiny belt. "Try it! This is the Spring Belt, Defense 10, HP regen speed +20%, money reward from monsters +20%. How is it? Quite nice attribute!" 

    "Sounds good!" I checked the belt and yes, a real nice one. "How much?" 

    "200 gold!"

     "Not bad. Here"s the money!" I"m pretty rich now and don"t need to count my coins anymore! Ha-hahaha! 

     "But, you...don"t have capes?" 

     She answered apologetically: "Capes are special equipment, I can"t craft them now. You can go and defeat the Hidden Palace Knight Captain at the Dark Valley, he will drop a cape. You can use the cape yourself, if you"re not satisfied with the attribute you can bring it to me and I can help you make it something better. But whatever you get, I hope you can let me see it anyway so I can learn something!" 

    "Not Dark Valley again! Those Undead Fighter almost buried me alive last time!" 

    "Ah you don"t have to be afraid! I have something here that will help you get past those fighters, and challenge the captain directly. That shouldn"t be too hard!" 

    "That...sounds better. But the captain won"t be a push-over! I don"t even know his level! 

    "He is level 600! How about it? Not that dangerous right?" 

    She said that with a innocent smile but I"m not foolish! 

    "600?!" I gasped. "Ah, my beautiful young lady, I"m positive many kind warriors will be willing to take over your honorable mission, but I"m a mere nameless peasant, forgive my incompetence and let me go!"

    I turned and left. 

    Only fools would accept that quest! 

    (Sometime later)

    I"m well on my way towards the Dark Valley.

     Two days ago I b.u.mped into Clark when I left the clothing shop. Then I was told the mistress was Clark"s lover. Clark decided to turn coat after some "affectionate persuade". I logged off for two days only to consider the situation, and now I just decided to step on this path of no return after I finally submitted myself to Clark"s friendship, and the potential profit behind all this. 

    Still, I kept mumbling complaint, with a Demon"s Eye in my hand. It"s just a purple crystal. [Identify] reads "Demon"s Eye", can be used to trigger a series of quests, only needs to be in the inventory to take effect. 

    But why would the owner of a clothing shop give me such stuff? 

    While on Lucky"s back, I figured people"s level would have gone up while I was gone for two days, so I opened the rankings.
 

    
No big change in my eyes. Someone came up, someone went off. But man they level fast! It"s only two days and they are way above me. 

    "Master! Enemy ahead!" Phantom alerted me. 

    I looked, several zombies are wandering. I"m not looking for these things. I"m level 100 now and they"re just a waste of time. 

    I ordered Lucky to fly above them. Lucky is fast, plus we ignored minions this time, we arrived at where we were chased off pretty soon. 

    The place is just as creepy as before, several Undead Fighters are patrolling. I was terrified of last time, I just felt like running away when I see them. But I need to finish Clark and his lover"s request, so I collected my courage and walked towards them. 

    The two fighters spotted me soon. "Freeze!" 

    "Sorry! I mean no trouble, I wish to talk to your boss!" Better avoid any fighting. I don"t want them to pile up on me again! 

    "You want to meet our captain?" One of them came to me. 

    "That"s right!" Looks like I actually got a chance, so I nodded quickly. 

    The fighter considered for a bit. "Do you have anything to prove you"re worth it?" 

    "I do!" I took out the Demon"s Eye. 

    The Undead Fighters went down on one knee immediately. "We do not know the Demon Marshal has arrived. I will lead your highness to our captain right away!" 

    So they don"t even need to go in and notify their boss or something? This is convenient.