Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

Kaizen then said goodbye to Alina and left the library, going up the spiral staircase back to the first floor of the store. He then went to a tavern that he had known for a few streets and sent the location to Klank. To pass the time, he ordered some beer from the waitress.

It didn't take long for Klank to finally arrive, and in Kaizen's view he hadn't changed much since they had last seen each other. Except for the fact that Klank was wearing much better green, light armor than his last.

"Kaizen! It's been a long time!" Klank greeted Kaizen with a slap on the back. "Sorry for the delay, I was sorting out some things."

"That's okay, have a seat. How's life going?"

Klank smiled and sat down. "No problem, Klaus. Always good to work on something new."

"It's going well, I'm always looking for jobs. What about you? What have you been doing lately?"

Kaizen had no reason to keep secrets when talking to Klank, so he told him about his adventure in the Mage Tower. Finally, he ended the story by saying:

"She is a great craftsman and an advanced mage. It was certainly worth all the effort."

"That's amazing! And speaking of weapons, besides the spear, I just got a new gauntlet diagram in a dungeon I was exploring. Want to take a look?"

"Show me what you have there."

Klank opened his system, opened his inventory, and clicked on one of the first items. The scroll materialized in his hand and he handed it to Kaizen.  Kaizen took the scroll and began to examine it carefully. The diagram looked very detailed and well elaborated, with various annotations and inscriptions in ancient languages, perhaps precisely because he didn't understand several of these runes Klank would like to sell it. Kaizen smiled, impressed.

"That's an amazing diagram you have on hand, Klank. Where did you find this diagram?"

"I found it in a dungeon hidden in a cave deep in the Iron Mountains. It was dangerous work, but it was worth it, luckily Bloody Lily and the others were with me. I am sure that these gauntlets can be made with a very strong material to increase their durability, and this kind of item is very useful for melee class players."

Upon hearing a certain name, Kaizen was a bit thoughtful for a second, and when he realized that he was taking too long to respond, he finally said:

"For sure, they look very useful. Thanks for showing me, Klank. But I have no interest, thank you."

"No problem, Klaus. And speaking of which, have you had any assignments recently besides the mission at the Mage Tower?"

"Actually, I was thinking of exploring the area after the Howling Canyons. I learned that there is a very good dungeon for farming items there."

"That dungeon? I've heard of some problems there lately. Be careful, man."

"I always am, don't worry, but why did you ask? Are you wanting to share a mission you think is risky like last time?" Kaizen asked, curious.

Klank frowned strangely, seeming to be pondering something. After a moment, he raised his eyebrows in surprise, as if he finally understood what was wrong.

"Wait, you don't know, do you? Of course you're not, you've been away from the Capital for a long time and you're a lone player, no offense intended."

"Rest assured, you have not offended. So, what are you talking about?"

"There is an International Tournament taking place this weekend. Anyone can sign up, from NPCs to players of all levels, and the prize will be a mystery legendary item."

Kaizen arched his eyebrows in surprise. "A tournament?"

"Exactly. Apparently it's an annual custom among the three most powerful human nations on Midgard, so it must take place every year starting with this one. Shouldn't you try to participate? After all, you are... you know who you are, everyone would like to see you there." Klank suggested, with an excited look on his face.

"I don't know..." Kaizen said while still pondering, "But this legendary item you mentioned, do you have any idea what it is?"

"I have no idea, but it's a legendary item, it must be amazing. And the fame you would gain if you win the tournament would be indescribable. You're a strong and skilled player, Klaus, not to mention you must have gotten much more powerful since the last time I saw you fight, I'm sure you could win." Klank spoke, trying to persuade him.

Kaizen was thoughtful for a moment, pondering the possibilities and consequences of appearing in public again. It would expose him to The Eye of Hermodr and other threats, and he had not been very fond of competitions since his last competition as a professional. Now he preferred to play alone and explore the game world on his own. But at the same time, the chance to win a legendary item and to feel the thrill of crowd pressure again were tempting.

"Okay, I'll think about it. Thanks for letting me know, Klank." Kaizen finally replied, leaving the possibility open. "Now, let's get to what really matters to us: the spear. Did you bring it with you?"

"Certainly, here it is." Affirmed Klank with a confident look and turned a screen of his system interface so Kaizen could see it without him needing to equip it.

[Item: Capable Fury Spear (+6 Enhancement)

A spear with a black handle, decorated with fire runes. Its tip is made of a vivid red material, which glows like glowing embers in its center.

When wielded by a brave warrior, the Spear of Fury is able to channel the energy of fire into powerful attacks that can pierce even the toughest defenses and deal +20 burn damage.

Forged from the rare black steel of volcanic depths, this spear has been tempered into a flame of intense fire and imbued with blood, making it a weapon feared by all who face it.

*The appearance of the Spear of Fury can change as it is upgraded, becoming more menacing and imposing with each level achieved.

Class: Epic

Item Level: 1/3

Attack: 220 (+60)

Defense: 130 (+60)

Fitness Level needed: 90.

(Warning: you must be at least level 80 to use this spear)].

...

Edited by: DrHitsuji

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