Epoch: A Berserker's Rise

Chapter 30: Azure Insignia

As Adam looted the dead Assassin, the archer winced "Kill me! I won't say anything!"

Adam raised an eyebrow at the archer and said "What are you talking about? I'm not keeping you alive for information, I already know who is targeting me."

The assassin ranger was confused, but the pain made it hard for him to think. Adam thus decided to explain to him "You see you aren't the first to attack me, another Assassin from Blackheart Mountain attacked me. I killed her and brought her head for the reward. But only after that did I learn I only got 66% of the reward because I brought her dead!"

Adam shook his head and said "Apparently you have some juicy information for them, so I will deliver you to them, alive."

As he heard that, the assassin began fearing for his life and tried to bite his tongue. However, Adam appeared before him and punched him hard in the face, breaking almost all his teeth, bringing his health to a single digit, and sending him unconscious.

Adam sighed and said "I would rather not do something like this, but I can't have you die on me, I want my gold."

He left the poor archer alone and went back to the other assassin. Adam pocketed his head in his inventory as well as the loot he got from him. The looting system in Epoch was quite realistic, way more than in other games as the loot one would get was influenced by what monster or NPC was killed.

Because this was an assassin, Adam knew he wouldn't get anything for himself. It was the same for the monsters he had killed the entire day, they only dropped light equipment made from scales.

His only hope were the special pieces of equipment like rings or amulets, but those were rare and even with the first kills, he didn't get any.

However, his second hunting location would have monsters that dropped equipment for Berserker, Knight and Monk classes. But before going there, he needed to pass by the city, to repair all his equipment, and hand over the two assassins.

When he was on his way back from the hunt though, he was surprised to receive a message. Opening his system, it was coming from King Slayer. Adam read the message and replied.

'Did you go through Geppo Pass or went around it?' King Slayer

'I went through it. The only monsters I met inside were lizards who could hide in the shadows and transform. If you meet a guard NPC at the beginning of the tunnel, don't trust him, that's a lizard. The real guards are Level 70 Silver Rank, at least. Also, I killed an Elite Lizard at the end of the tunnel, I don't know if it respawned.' Valiant Heart

'Thanks for the info. Did you manage to create the guild?' King Slayer

'Nah, I need to be Level 15.' Valiant Heart

'Do you have enough Gold to establish the guild, or should we meet so I give you enough Gold?' King Slayer

'I completed a quest that allow me to create it for free.' Valiant Heart

'Good, contact me when you create it.' King Slayer

'Sure.' Valiant Heart

Adam then closed the chat and began thinking. He needed to find a way to advertise his guild when he creates it, so that players would join. The best way for that was probably to get the first clear on a dungeon.

To enter a Dungeon one needed to be at least Level 15, so Adam would probably have to wait until tomorrow to raid one.

Most of the low level dungeons were 5-men dungeons, with a few 10-men ones. As for 20-men dungeon, they were higher leveled.

And that's why, Adam didn't know whether he should wait for teammates or not. Dungeons had several difficulties, Adam didn't know what difficulties there was in this game since no one entered a dungeon yet, but normally the lowest difficulty dungeon would be made so that a team of 5 casual level 15 players should be able to clear it with some difficulty. And Adam was pretty sure that by the time he turns Level 15, he would be able to crush 5 casuals of the same level.

But for the higher difficulties, it may not be the case Adam decided to stop thinking about it, he didn't have enough information. When the moment comes to enter one, he would have enough information to make a decision.

Soon Adam reached the gate of the city, but as he expected to pass without a problem like last time, he was blocked by a guard. He looked at the guard in confusion, who just shook his head in direction of Adam's shoulder.

Adam looked and realized that the assassin was there, and the guard saw the bloody smashed face. Adam grinned and said "My bad, I was thinking and forgot about this guy. He is an assassin, from Blackheart, I'm bringing him to the guards barracks. I also got his friend."

Adam took out the other head off his inventory before putting it back. The surrounding guards looked at him weirdly, and the one who stopped him decided to go with him to the barracks, just to be sure.

Adam was helpless about it, he indeed looked suspicious, but what could he do, he didn't want to lose his reward!

Once he entered the barracks, the same secretary was still there. She recognized Adam immediately, they saw each other slight more than an hour ago after all. So she looked at the guard and asked "Paul, did he break any law?"

Paul, the Level 100 Silver Guard who had been accompanying Adam, shrugged and said "I don't know, he entered the city with this elf on his shoulder, claiming it was an assassin. To make sure he was telling the truth, I accompanied him."

The secretary shook her head and said "He is a friend of the boss." Paul tilted his head and asked "Which boss?" The secretary pointed upwards and said "That boss."

Paul was shocked, and he immediately saluted toward Adam and "I'm sorry sir, I"

Adam laughed and patted his shoulder saying "Don't worry, you were doing your job. And you don't need to be formal with me, I'm nothing but an adventurer."

Paul sighed in relief and said "Thank you for your understanding. I'll be going now." As he said that he left, and Adam couldn't help but sigh. Truly, be it the real or virtual world, having connections was really the way to go. To have a Level 100 Silver Guard bow to a Level 12 Iron Berserker

Adam approached the secretary and said "I was attacked, once again. There were two of them, and I caught one alive." As he said that he placed the unconscious archer down and took the head out, placing it on the counter.

The secretary began looking inside one of her drawers and took out an insignia, and said "The boss forgot to give this to you, so she told me to give it you."

Adam took the insignia curiously and inspected it. It was round and had an azure blue crown on it.

[Azure Insignia]

Description: Token of the royal family of the Azure Sky Kingdom.

Adam was stunned he was getting such a valuable item, and the secretary said "This can be used in various ways, if you show this to any noble in the kingdom or any soldier, they will be respectful. Now for the two of them, here is your reward."

Adam received slightly more than 2 Golds, bringing his total wealth to slightly above 10 Golds, or 1000 $ in the real world. Adam didn't expect his SS Quest would give him so much money.

Adam nodded to her and left the building to repair his equipment and buy some health potions. Once done, he headed for the next area, the Level 15-20 [Edea Jungle].