In the dimly lit fines of the prison chamber, the captives ted Reeza’s name like a sacred prayer. As she passed by, desperate hands reached through the metal bars, each prisoner yearning to touch their savior and perhaps cim a sliver of her fortune for themselves.
Daisuke watched the ironic se unfold with mixed emotions, knowing Reeza felt the same flict. She had uionally pyed a role in ning her kin to their fate, yet she was also the one who had fed and cared for them throughout their bondage.
“I’m so happy you’re okay,” said Petu’s husband as they ced their fingers and shared a special moment. Then the man shifted his gaze toward Daisuke. “Thanks for keeping your promise.”
“You thaer we all get out of here,” Daisuke returned as he sloroached Reeza. “Would you like to do the honors?” He offered empathetically as the prison key materialized in his palm.
Reeza’s gaze quivered, tears welling up as she locked eyes with him. With a heavy heart, she bowed her head, her bangs veiling her expression in shadow. In a hushed tone, she murmured, “Why couldn’t you have e sooner? If you had...”
“Mm?” Daisuke raised an eyebrow. “Did you say something?”
Reeza quickly cleared her tears with a wan smile, shaking her head dismissively. “No. Thank you.”
Without dey, she set to work, using the universal key to unlock all the cells and free her people. The captives, overwhelmed with gratitude, sobbed and embraced one another, collectively thanking Reeza and Daisuke for resg them.
DING!
[The quest ?Liberation of the Florians? has been pleted!]
[115,000 Experience Points have been acquired.]
[The title ?The Liberator of Sves? has been acquired.]
[Ruablet ×2 has been acquired.]
[Reinfort Tablet x3 has been acquired.]
[280 gold has been acquired.]
[Level Up!]
[The Liberator of Races]
[Rank: Legendary
This prestigious title is bestowed upon individuals bearing the mark of a genial Denizen, who epitomize a life dedicated to moral iy and steadfast advocacy for freedom and equality.
It is reserved for those who have selflessly risked their own well-being to emancipate others from the s of boransding barriers of race, gender, ahnicity to embody the true spirit of liberation.
Title Effect:
?? Each liberated race grants an increase of 5% to maximum HP (1/5)
?? Receives a stat boost for each race liberated:
? Florians: Dexterity +40
? Elves: Agility +0
? Dwarves: Strength +0
? Beastfolk: Critical Damage +0
? Goliaths: Defense +0
?? Grants the power to teleport rescued sves, be it individuals roups, to a designated location. However, this ability ot be employed on the same target more than once.]
Anendary title? Daisuke’s internal voice echoed with disbelief. That’s insane! Florians, Elves, Dwarves, Beastfolk, Goliath—are you seriously tellihat liberating all five races will grant a 30% increase in HP? That’s nuts! And if gaining 40 points ierity from helping the Florians is any indication, could I expect simir boosts in Agility, Strength, Critical Damage, and Defehat 40 points ierity alone is like the equivalent of gaining 40 levels!
[Name: Haxks
Species: Human
Level: 32 | EXP: 29,804/160,000 (18.62%)
Css: Dual Bder
Affiliation: Adventurers’ Guild | Merts’ Guild
Title: Lone Wolf, Pathfinder, Unwavering Spirit, genial Denizen, Master of Divi, Devoted Huhe Liberator of Races
HP: 4516/4516 | MP: 553/553
Strength: 83 (+21) | Stamina: 129 (+22) | Agility: 155 (+35) | Intelligence: 42 (+10) | Dexterity: 35 (+75) | posure: 24 | Indomitable: 14 | Perception: 5
Stat Points: 0]
Currently, I’m gaining an additional 5% HP from the Stygian Abyss, and another 5% from the itle—bringing it to a total of 4516, Daisuke mused, his thoughts rag ahead to the possibilities. So, how much I expect with ara 20%?
Instead of attempting the math, Daisuke shifted his focus to the Agate Magic Bag that, if he recalled correctly, cost a whopping 50,000 gold at the General Store. He was already in a daze at the thought of the resale value, but when he peeked inside and saw the tents, his mouth hung open in abject shock.
[Mana crystals (3,904lb, 11oz)]
[Covered Carriage x4]
[Lumber x2500]
[156,000 Gold]
No way! He thought while gawking at the holographidow. Fet the mana crystals! Is that… really 150k?! T-This has to be some kind of glitch!
“My daughter… has anyone seen my daughter?”
The frantic cries of a woman searg for her child caught Daisuke’s attention. Closing the translut window, he sed the surroundings, but he couldn’t recall seeing a single child in any of the holding cells.
Reeza, who seemed to know something, bit her lip as she listeo the woman’s desperate cries. Watg her shuffle through the crowd, Reeza couldn’t help but recall her own ordeal with her mother when their vilge was raided and pilged by their captors.
Her fists trembled and her eyes burned with vi as she observed the despairing woman.
***
Daisuke felt a wave of déjà vu wash over him. It hadn’t been long since he’d escaped the stifling fines of the dungeon, and now, as he emerged from the underground stronghold, a familiar sense of intense relief surged through him once again.
On the rolling hills just beyond Wonderelle’s t walls, beh the outstretched arms of a rge tree, a handful of horses, graciously provided by Daisuke’s patronage, indulged in peaceful grazing. Their noble forms swayed gently in the breeze, their flowing manes catg the soft sunlight.
Tethered securely to the creatures were the fons pulled from the depths of the magic bag. Within their fihe Florians savored their newfound freedom, indulging in the simple pleasure of a meal. However, amidst the chatter and the g of utensils, many were without an appetite, their hearts heavy with worry and longing for their missing loved ones, or for those who had perished.
Petu and her husband were among their ranks, their faces etched with the weight of ret events. The trials they endured in Wonderelle had left scars too deep to ignore. Now they found themselves uo pte rebuilding their lives iy that held such painful memories.
“What’s your move?” Daisuke inquired with genuihy as Reeza reverently id a flower at her mrave. “Will you seek revenge?”
At his inquiry, the taunting image of Fynch resurfaced in Reeza’s mind, mog aless. She shook her head vigorously, trying to banish the unwele thought—yet, in its wake, another uling memory began to stir.
The night was devoid of the moon’s guiding light, shrouding the small vilge of Ghouldsboro in an eerie darkness.
Without warning, chaos erupted, sweeping through the tranquil streets like a tempest. In an instant, the tranquility was shattered by the bze of hellfire, casting the vilge into a nightmarish glow of destru.
There was no slression to the anarchy. The hunters came on the backs of bck stallions like the breath of death, their faithful Bearhounds by their side.
Without a moment’s pause or shred of mercy, the men of the vilge were sughtered, their lives extinguished for sheer sport. Meanwhile, adult females suffered a fate worse thah, torn from their homes ained for the dehumanizing fines of brothels. The children, in turn, would be fed to tration camps to be groomed into courtesans, borers, or submissive pawns in the service of dignitaries.
As the barbarivasion unfolded, a young Reeza found herself frozen in the ter of her living room, hands pressed firmly over her ears in a futile attempt to block out the harrowing screams of her neighbors.
Simultaneously, her parents worked feverishly to fortify the feeble defenses of their modest home, hastily barrig the doors in a desperate bid for a few precious seds of reprieve.
BAM-BAM-BAM!
The hammer repeatedly drove nails into a length of plywood to reinforce the front door. While her father was busy seg the windows, her mother opened a small trapdoor revealing a hidden partmeh the floorboards. Theuro daughter with a wan smile.
“Reeza, honey, I need you to stay here and be pletely quiet. Do you think you do that for mommy?”
Reeza nodded her head meekly; she wasn’t so much of a child that she didn’t know what was happening. “What about Hatid her mom?” She asked wistfully, tears welling up in her eyes.
The ressed her lips to a thin line, searg for the right words to say. But when a loud crash came at the front door followed by callous demands and amused cag, she khey were out of time.
“Bridgette!” the father called demandingly, then he cast his daughter a warm but fleeting gnce.
“Mommy has to go now,” Bridgette said with urgency, “remember to stay still and not make a sound. Mommy and Daddy loves you very much, sweetheart.”
Reeza reached out desperately, the words that were remi of an ominous goodbye fueling the motion. But before her fingers could reach, she was shrouded in pitch-bck darkness.
Vaughn_RR_Seider
