Chapter 34
Dane had a clear head and was unquestionably whole; the instant he had second thoughts about his choices, he asked himself a question. He was thorough and never made decisions impulsively. This trait had served him well in the past, and he trusted it would guide him to the right path once again. But the moment he woke up with a younger body, he couldn't understand why all the events that happened were easy for him to accept and embrace.
It was as if he lost something, but he didn't know what; all the memories were there, but something was missing. Now he regains those emotions related to those memories.
Dane was still having difficulty seeing in the dark, but his vision was much better now; his senses were more heightened, allowing him to navigate his surroundings with ease. The familiar feeling that he knew when he was hunting with his father and cousin in the past, even that time he was the best hunter among the young Lazarus batch.
Dane was meticulous and understood how to eliminate a target, as he studied every single aspect of any living creature. From their movements and behaviors to their weaknesses and vulnerabilities, Dane was a master at tracking and taking down his prey. His skills had been honed; he was gifted on his own merit. It started when he was just 5 years old, when a fox killed his pet guinea pig. He roamed the huge Lazarus farmland daily after all his household chores and home studies with his mother and father; he never stopped until he found and killed the fox responsible.
The young boy even took the dead fox and showed the dead wild animal and explained why he did it; he wanted to confirm through his parents if his action was the right decision. This father explained that
The boy's parents heard his explanation and comprehended his logic, endorsing his choice to pursue retribution. "Taking a life is not easy to do, but sometimes revenge is the only way to lessen your burden." They acknowledged that death is death and that nothing is wicked in and of itself, and they reminded him of the significance of the hard truth of the world. However, the justification for murdering should never be taken lightly. They counseled him to always think about the repercussions of his acts and, whenever feasible, pursue justice peacefully. But they also understood that sometimes seeking justice by death may feel like the only option for closure and healing, especially in extreme circumstances.
Dane has already killed a few more Dire wolves the long inter connected tunnel were finally getting some light as the thumb size fire flies were seen illuminating the tunnel a few meters from were he was , each swing of his katana was minimal and he made sure sure each thrust forward was not to deep and Dane would us his wrist to twist the stab would and make the flesh wound tore open instantly killing the target , Dane movements were reserve and he took time in his action like a choreographed dance, each step will be accompanied with a kill, his breathing was deep and he regulated his exhale to correspond with his strike.
Until he reaches a large cavern chamber that was wide and as huge as a basketball court.
The ceiling and floor were radiating crystals that illuminated the chamber. The long and seemingly endless darkness was finally over. It seems this area was huge enough to develop its own small environment, as vines are seen draping above the ceiling going down. Trees took root as the crystals were emitting sufficient heat and light, replacing the sun in this underground world. The sight was breathtaking, a stark contrast to the darkness he had been surrounded by for so long.
Dane dragged a dire wolf's remains, the very last he had killed that day; he knew how to cut and dissect a wolf with precision, a skill he had honed over years of survival in the harsh wilderness. As he prepared the meat for his next meal, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment at conquering yet another challenge in this unforgiving environment. The satisfaction of knowing he could fend for himself in even the most treacherous conditions fueled his determination to continue pushing forward, no matter what obstacles lay ahead.
Dane camped near a small creek; the water was running, and it seemed to be traveling downward. Into yet another underground route, it was a good sign; he just needs to follow the water, and surely he will reach the mana vein in no time.
He placed the dead dire wolf. In the running water, as he chops off its head and legs and cuts open its belly, he removes the internal organs and just lets the running water clean the fresh kill until its meat has no more blood on it. Dane started a small fire and sliced a small piece of meat about two inches thick and four inches wide, and he took out a small metal meat hook with an attached chain and made a tripod from tree branches. And tied it firmly. And dangled the meat on the fire and waited; the dire wolf meat can really be eaten.
Dane was accustomed to these types of cooking, as he had been camping with his cousins for many years when they were still young. The dire wolf meat was tough and has a unique gamey flavor. He took a short break as he awaited Miko's response. As Dane calculated, this was the moment when his skill would be leveled up and modified to fit his current situation. The crackling of the fire and the smell of cooking meat filled the air; the large, chamber-like cave was disturbingly very accommodating for him.
"ATTENTION, ALL SKILLS ARE NOW UPGRADED, ASSESSMENT, SCAN, AND HEAL HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FORMLESS ARMOR."
"FORMLESS ARMOR CAN NOW BE USED WITH MINIMAL MANA CONSUMPTION—ONE POINT PER MINUTE."
"STRENGTH, SPEED, AGILITY, AND STAMINA HAVE BEEN INCREASED TO MAX. NO MANA CONSUMPTION."
"PERSONAL ASSISTANCE MIKO HAS TEMPORARILY GONE INTO SLEEP MODE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE."
"I guess these changes took a toll on her; I will let her be for the time being."
"MASTER DANE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO REPLENISH YOUR AMMUNITION?"
"But Miko is in sleep mode,
"YOU CAN STOCKPILE THOSE MATERIALS NORMALLY AS YOUR DIMENSIONAL STORAGE CAN HOLD ONE TON PER SLOT. CURRENTLY, YOU HAVE FIVE SLOTS, AND FOUR SLOTS ARE FREE.".
"MASTER DANE, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD GET. ACCUSTOMED TO. REMEMBER YOU ARE INSIDE THE TOWER.,'
"You are right, Ward. I am getting too pampered. I want to gain true freedom, but not in this manner; it's too lazy and convenient. I need to push myself harder and not rely on these luxuries." "I will start training more rigorously from now on to prepare for the challenges ahead."
"Can I teleport back to the main city out of the Tower of Chaos?"
"YES, BUT THE COOLDOWN OF THE TELEPORTATION IS ONE WEEK."
"IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO HELP THE EASH LAZARUS GUILD IN THE EVOLVE DRAKE QUEST, I SUGGEST YOU REFRAIN FROM DOING SO."
"ATTENTION: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SECONDARY ASSISTANT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO REOCCURRING ANOMALY DETECTED BY THE MAIN TOWER SYSTEM."
"ANOMALY MUST BE REMOVED OR CORRECTED, BASED ON THE MAIN SYSTEM LAW AND PROTOCOLS. PLEASE CONTACT THE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS." "FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PROMPTLY MAY RESULT IN FURTHER DISRUPTIONS TO TOWER OPERATIONS."
"Ward, go to sleep mode until I decide to reactivate both of you. I'll be fine; my level is still zero, but my stats are far too strong. Before doing so, connect all stats to the formless armor skill so they can be hidden."
"The formless armor is part of the main scenario; the main system won't touch that skill. I earn it properly, but my status might be the anomaly; better correct it now."
"DOING THIS WILL JUST AFFECT YOUR REGISTRATION STATUS AND NOT REALLY AFFECT YOU IN ANY WAY; YOU CAN STILL USE ALL YOUR SKILLS AND STATS WITHOUT ANY ISSUES."
"Just make sure to re-register my status after the correction to avoid any potential system errors in the future."
" DONE MASTER,"
"I WILL NOW COMPLY WITH YOUR ORDER UNTIL FURTHER COMMAND."
"ATTENTION, ANOMALY HAS BEEN CORRECTED. REGISTRATION STATUS UPDATED. ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY."
"status window open,"
"It seems that all my stats were reverted to look like a novice player; the level is still zero, the stats are all normal, and I am jobless with no profession listed. I think this is for the best."
Dane took a deep breath and understood this must be that part where he needs to stand up on his own. The main system tower administrator hasn't responded to the anomaly directly, but Dane was sure it was monitoring his action. And evaluating all his crazy modifications, Dane doubted the reason why the administrator was not taking action; the anomaly was corrected, so he might as well go with the current flow and try not to gather too much attention and remain under the radar. Dane decided to continue his work as usual, keeping a close eye on any further anomalies that may arise.
Dane now really needs to obtain the mana vein the right way. I might be hard, but it's better than getting attacked by the tower guardian and being seen as using a cheat inside the tower. Dane organized his equipment and took out the katana and calculated he still just had two days left until the White Devil Guild and the East Lazarus Guild reached their final gathering point. The situation with the bewilderment of Charlotte Lazarus was still unknown. But gaining the mana vein kept lingering in his mind. As soon as he came inside the tower, Dane thought it was the most logical thing to do. He understands having a large mana core capacity can truly be a great help, but considering what just happened when he discovered another entity was occupying the dark parts of his consciousness a few days ago.
The chaos bringing scenario was already activated, and the main system already acknowledged this. As soon as he claims the mana vein, he will get exposed even if the anomaly was fixed. Resetting his status was the issue itself.
Dane checked his player stats; everything seemed to be fine. His mana was still high for a newly registered player, but is that an issue considering there are players with much higher levels than his? He closed his status window; he didn't notice that his race was no longer human. He might well finish what he started and just run toward the mana vein with all his might and not waste any more time dwelling on too many unwanted events..
Was the chaos bringer really that unrefined and too open to being easily manipulated? Or was Dane just overthinking things and letting his imagination run wild in the tower? But he knew the cursed cave wasn't part of the scenario that would branch toward the Chaos Bringer story line.
So he could only conclude that when he merged the six skills into one, that was the trigger, and the output would always be associated with the formless armor. While running deeper into the cave underground tunnels, he eluded any enemy that came out to attack him, just ran, and threw a flash grenade to escape. And used the remaining hand grenades he had if the enemy were all huddled together. The last five hand grenades gave him enough experience points to level up as he placed these points into speed and stamina.
He felt lighter and more agile; he made sure to attack the enemy with enough force to kill it while in full running speed. He got this idea when his mother told him in the Edo period most samurais would use this method to increase their chances of survival in battle. As enemies would always use long bows to attack from a distance, being able to swiftly move in and strike quickly was crucial. This new strategy proved to be effective as he successfully took down multiple enemies without sustaining any injuries.
Dane was like running and dancing at the same time; his footwork was firm and precise, allowing him to maneuver around his opponents with ease. He would use the momentum to add more force to his slashes and strikes; he recalls all his mother's movements when she was training him at a young age. While his father would watch them both and provide feedback on technique and strategy. Dane's ability to combine speed, agility, and precision in his attacks made him a true successor to his mother's sword technique. While his marksmanship never falls behind .
After four grueling hours, Dane finally stood before the entrance to the mana vein. The tunnel system, a testament to his team's meticulous planning, bore the marks of the Tower's reality warping. The terrain had shifted, molded by the creatures that now called the underground labyrinth home. Yet, the path remained true, leading to a colossal gate, twenty feet tall and twelve feet wide, the sole barrier protecting the mana vein. A potent enchantment sealed the gate, but Dane held the key, a master password from the location's virtual genesis.
Touching the cold, unyielding surface, a holographic notification shimmered into existence, a standard feature for these hidden chambers. A tiny dot in the corner confirmed his master password's validity. With a tap, his thumbprint was scanned, and the gargantuan gate shuddered open, revealing a sliver of the chamber within. He slipped through the narrow opening, mindful of the traps designed to safeguard the chamber.
Beyond the gate, the hidden chamber resembled a Roman temple. Flickering torches cast dancing shadows across the walls, illuminating a small altar at the center. Memory guiding his steps, he navigated the booby-trapped marble floor, each tile programmed with a motion-triggered defense. Fifty precise steps, honed from countless virtual playthroughs, brought him to the altar.
There, he reached for the basketball-sized orb, the concentrated essence of the mana vein. He cradled it against his chest, feeling the raw energy flow into his core, transforming it. From an orb, it shifted into a second heart, pulsing with newfound power. As it shrank to the size of a marble, he returned it to the altar. The instant it touched the stone, blinding light erupted, and the mana vein's primary function resumed, drawing energy from the mountain and replenishing the depleted source.
His actions averted a potential catastrophe. Extracting the mana vein improperly would have triggered a devastating explosion, releasing toxic spores that could plague Solnara Cererindur. His team designed this scenario to highlight the consequences of reckless actions. The mana vein's energy was tied to three branching storylines: the plague quest, the mana vein curse, and the resurfacing of the Chaos Bringer lore, offering the first clue to the coveted formless armor. Though these conditions were accessible, Dane's fusion of six skills allowed him to bypass the initial challenges, using the energy to upgrade his own mana core.
While a player removing the mana vein outside the chamber might seem advantageous, it would destabilize the mana flow, causing chaos and unpredictable consequences for everyone involved. The mana vein, in its proper place, was the key regulator, and disrupting its function could have devastating results.
From the main curse cave entrance, traveling down toward the mana vein chamber became such a difficult task because of the darkness that enveloped the narrow passageways. It took him a while, as he had to gain some sense toward what he found out while he was traveling inside. The annoying circumstance that made him lose track of time and direction only added to the challenge of reaching the chamber. But as he gained what he needed, he came out of the chamber, closed the huge gate, and casually went out like nothing happened.
Miko wanted to say something, but Ward discouraged her from doing so. He told Miko they were created by Dane when he was still Damon Lazarus; all their coded personalities were created out of frustration, sadness, and anger toward all of his resentment. The other being lurking inside his mind was the remnants of the old Damon Lazarus, whoever gave him the opportunity to be reborn again, merge with his old persona, and hide within his dark and suppressed emotion.
Ward mentioned to Miko they were created to represent his parents; that was the reason why he created the open virtual game of Arcane Crusade in the first place. He wanted to show his parents a world totally free from the constraints of reality. It was his way of honoring their memory and giving them the chance to experience a new life in a different realm.
Miko understood this, and she just wanted to fulfill her duties, but Ward, being programmed to like Dan's father, knows that constantly interacting with him consciously has already shown mental strain on his new younger persona. Who even manipulated his mind and wanted to control his actions toward not entirely his own?.
Ward added that going to the cursed forest to obtain the mana vein was not really Dane's initial plan, but the other persona gradually made him do it when Miko granted Ward access and activated him. He was able to see that the old Damon and the younger Dane were having issues with his mental state. So Ward asked Miko to remain silent as Dane needs to understand what he truly wants.,
Within a few days, he had so many confusing situations that he couldn't differentiate between his own desires and the influence of the other persona. Ward realized that Dane needed time to sort out his thoughts and make decisions for himself, so he decided to support him in finding clarity amidst the chaos. Miko finally agreed and just remained silent as Ward did the same. And let Dane find his own path without any external interference.
Dane finally got what he wanted to gain, so the only thing he needed to do was go back out from the cursed cave and head back toward his worn-down rented-out apartment room back in the main city. He wanted to do this right, even if he had already made so many impulsive and reckless actions. Because, for one thing, he wasn't like that. Having OCD was the real reason he questioned his actions before he felt something wasn't right about him.
And he is too laid back and very much accepting. To the drastic change that happened, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping in. It was as if his usual calm demeanor was being tested by the unexpected turn of events, as he was running at full speed and made sure to once again elude the creatures that would notice him or eliminate the enemy in a swift and fast manner and not drag the situation any longer than needed. His stamina and speed were pushed beyond the limit. He didn't even check his current stats nor use his experience points to once again bypass the level system; Dane really wanted to correct all of his mistakes.
His true persona was fully aware now and complete; he was sure the remnants of the dark persona were no longer in control. That is why his obsessive-compulsive disorder was now in full swing, as his thoughts were filled with correcting his mistake and ensuring everything was in perfect order. Dane's determination to make things right drove him to work tirelessly, leaving no room for error or delay.
Dane now gains this side of him, which made him who he was; he never acted spoiled nor threw any tantrums toward all his parents daily regimen; he actually liked it, especially in performing his training and hunting routines. As soon as as as reached reach the cave exit, leaving a trail of dead monster behind him, his mothers katana was dripping with different blood stains , as he made his way out into the sunlight. The adrenaline from the battle still coursing through his veins, Dane couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at a job well done. The weight of his responsibility lifted slightly, knowing he had once again proven himself capable in the face of danger.
"ATTENTION, THE MAIN SYSTEM WAS DETERNIMED PLAYER ZERO HAS CREATED AN ANOMALY IN THE TOWER . PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION."
"CURSE FOREST SCENARIO CLEAR, CURSE CAVE SCENARIO CLEAR, MANA VAIN ERROR .."
"OBTAIN MANA VAIN USING UNKNOWN METHOD IN UNLOCKING MAIN GATE.."
"GATEKEEPERS HAS CONFIRMED AND OBTAIN INFORMATION THIS ANOMALY AND HAS REGARDED THIS AS AN ERROR."
" NO ILLEGAL ACTIONS WERE MADE , NO ARTIFACTS WERE USED , AND NO RULES WERE BROKEN. THE MAIN SYSTEM ERROR MUST BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ANOMALY."
"REGULATION HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO PREVENT FURTHER ANOMALIES. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE."
"PLAYER ZERO WILL NOW BE REMOVED FROM THE TOWER AND CAN RESUME NORMAL HUNTING AFTER THE GATEKEEPERS INVESTIGATION ."
"PLEASE ENSURE ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN TO PREVENT SIMILAR ANOMALIES IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING DURING THIS TIME."
Dane suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness. Soon he felt he was being transported out of the cursed forest; he could hear voices talking and confirming his identity and saw their was nothing wrong with him as their were no high grade artifacts on him nor any powerful magic scrolls on him.
The gatekeepers had the power to eliminate any player, but they were just and fair, ensuring that only those who followed the rules were allowed to continue on their journey. As Dane regained consciousness, he was lying in bed the same clinic where Cody and Bonnie recuperated; the nurse informed him that the Gatekeepers placed him under the clinics care as they were connected with the player association.
This wasn't the first time gatekeepers dragged unconscious players outside the tower; it was a normal occurrence as many would use illegal means to gain the upper hand inside the tower. Many new players got into a lot of trouble as they still didn't know the rules and regulations of the tower. Dane was grateful for the small clinic staff intervention, knowing that without them, he may have faced even greater consequences for his actions. The Gatekeepers' presence provided a sense of security.
The nurse told Dane that the Gatekeepers provided them with a reason. Why he was removed from the tower but assured him he can return after 3 days, as they saw through their investigation. The infraction was created by an error that they could not yet determine.
Dane never expected that even after all those years studying and developing his skill in hunting swordplay and marksmanship and spending countless hours and days creating the virtual world, he never actually learned how the social world functions. He realized that mastering physical skills was only part of the equation, and he needed to understand the intricacies of human interaction to truly succeed in the world beyond the tower. He thought he was actually normal, but focusing too much on a few things for years was now hindering his ability to navigate social situations effectively. Dane knew he needed to step out of his comfort zone and start learning how to connect with others on a deeper level in order to truly thrive in the real world.
Interacting with other people feels foreign and intimidating to him, but he was determined to push past his fears and develop the social skills necessary for success. With dedication and practice, Dane believed he could overcome his social barriers and build meaningful relationships with those around him. He thought being happy alone and never wanting to socialize was normal. He always saw those activities to be a waste of time. Now seeing this as another hindrance to what he wanted to achieve was annoying him. Dane looked 23 years old, but his old habits are still holding him back from reaching his full potential. He knew that in order to truly succeed and thrive, he needed to step out of his comfort zone and embrace the discomfort of social interactions. With determination and a willingness to change, Dane was ready to break free from his old habits and start building the relationships he needed for success.
Now think, recall the other person luring in the dark corner of his mind might somehow be right in suppressing some of his emotions, as it can hold him back. But he was sure that without those sad memories, he wasn't whole as a person to begin with. Dane needs to finally gain answers on his own and just move forward. Or he is just questioning his choices in a constant loop. Like what he's doing now again.