As Dante searched through the store recommendations he felt something weigh upon his neck that hadn't been there before. Quickly Dante reached down his shirt and pulled out an amulet. The amulet was a perfect match to the symbol embroidered upon the chest of his robe. It was like a stained glass mosaic each bone in the skeletal hand and every section of the heart was made from a different color of glass. Along its edges and even between the individual pieces of stained glass was golden wire acting to both keep the pieces separate and to hold everything together. Dante quickly scanned his new amulet for some exp in his observation analysis skill.

Holy symbol of Rosana

Your skills relating to blood and life have a 10% bonus to strength.

For being the first of her faithful on earth you are awarded 50% damage reduction from enemy blood spells/skills, which includes curses. Grants attuned creature use of the skill, Blood Regeneration.

Blood Regeneration: Expend 4 points of mana per minute for every point health regeneration is increased by. Maximum of doubled health regeneration. Stacks with other health multiplications.

Dante realized he doesn't need the items in the store for this one. A smile crept across Dante's face as he opened his Roads menu whilst he turned to look at Oscar. "Go guard the door for a minute and then we'll go." Oscar didn't argue, he simply nodded with a smile on his face and went to stand guard.

Road of Blood

0/25

Road of Earth I

0/10

Road of the Burning Heart

5/25

Road of Family

0/100

Road of the Unyielding Will

0/50

Road to Everlasting Life

0/1,000

Road of Courage VI

0/1000

Road of New Beginnings

0/20

Road of the Wizard III

0/50

Road of Light I

0/20

????

?/???

Road of Water I

0/10

Road of Radiance I

0/50

Road of the Tireless I 0/50

Dante noticed the question marks and out of curiosity he tried to reach out to the road to take the first step but his foot found nothing. There was no road to meet his feet. He didn't like that. "We'll check that out when things cool down." Dante turned to his new paths, noticing that the road of dust was no longer available. 'Perhaps it's for the best.' Dante thought as he quickly weighed the Roads. He needed something quick but the larger roads could have more for him. He stood for several seconds stuck with indecision. Even though he knew it was the right path for him, he needed to wait on the Road of Blood. He decided and pressed forth down the Road of Earth.

The earth has been our home for all your life, you find yourself in a forest clearing. +1 Con...

You breath in the fresh air and dig your feet deep into soft fertile soil. + 1 Str...

You see the paths before you are as numerous as the tree's themselves, but you must choose one. +2 Will...

...

Another decision along the Road, since he had little description he simply chose North. It was as good a direction as any.

You pull up your feet and choose a direction, this is the way you choose. +1 Luck...

You walk through the clearing and pass into the treeline, this path is well worn. +1 End...

Congratulations! You have completed the Road of Earth I! The Road of Earth II opens to you! +10 health and stamina, +1 health and stamina regen...

You have obtained the, Uncommon, skill, Seed Creation Lvl. 1...

Seed Creation- Create seeds of a plant you are familiar with. Mana cost variable...

He felt the soft earth beneath his feet, and his feet digging in. He felt the grass as he put one foot in front of another. He felt dried leaves beneath his feet as the road came to an end.

Dante appreciated the small increases but that wasn't what he needed. The skill however, could be of use. Dante looked upon the 10 free stat points he had. Dante put 3 into Strength, Constitution, Endurance, and 1 into Wisdom.

While the first three were rather explanatory he could use wisdom for the mana regeneration. By his calculations it would take him a bit more than 40 minutes to regenerate his entire mana pool, not including possible mana exhaustion, 'Not bad.' Dante thought.

Before he activated the skill however, a bit of new knowledge surfaced in his mind. A cantrip from D&D his lady had taken a liking to when she learned the system had made it real, Druidcraft. He knew how to use the spell and the skill, but what if he combined them? Dante first used the seed creation skill thinking of sunflower seeds. He closed his hand for a second and lost a few mana. He opened his hand to find five sunflower seeds in his hand.

He smiled and placed the seeds in his pocket for later, "Now let's bring them together." Dante said as he closed his hand once more, he thought of a single plant, the rose his lady had given him. Much more mana was consumed this time around. When it was done he had lost 50 mana and in his hand he saw 5 small crimson seeds. He smiled and inspected them.

Congratulations! Your skill, Seed Creation, has leveled up! Level. 2!...

Congratulations! Your skill, Seed Creation, has leveled up! Level. 3!...

Seeds of the Blood Rose

This spared yet another idea in Dante's mind. 'I love wisdom. It gives me such awesome ideas. Intellect may be smarts, but it's not ' Dante thought his smile growing wider. Dante tossed one of the seeds upon the ground and cast Druidcraft upon it, willing it to grow. The seed sprouted growing quite quickly but not as fast as he needed. He poured on his will and forced his own mana through the cantrip. The plants growth accelerated growing faster and faster until the plants growth became explosively fast. A few notices appeared in front of him as he watched the writing mass of green tentacles.

You have taken a few steps down the Road of the Wizard III!...

Your experiments begin to change life itself. Is this truly the wisest road to walk? +5 Int...

You have created the Rare skill, Vines of the Blood Rose!...

You have earned experience!...

Vines of the Blood Rose- Bind a target in thorny vines that inflict magical piercing damage. Slows a target with strength less than your Intellect. Inflicts the bleeding condition if successful in drawing targets blood. Cannot bleed targets that don't possess blood.

Bonus to skill strength when used in tandem with real seeds. Doubles skill strength when using real seeds of the Blood Rose.

Grants the user a small amount of the damage dealt to afflicted targets as healing. Life steal effects can be shared with others.

Take a cantrip meant for druids, crafted from it, a Rare skill. -Rosana

Dante was mildly concerned by the road notice and its phrasing even the bonus to his Int did little to help. The skill however did.

Dante smiled wide, "Let's go kick some ass Oscar!" Dante said as he ran toward the door. Oscar turned to him after having peeked out into the main room. He held up three fingers. Dante nodded as he ran past him into the large main room of the temple. There he saw three men immediately turn toward him, as he was making no effort to be quiet. Of the three men, the two larger were humanoids, and the smallest one appeared to be an actual human. Dante ran straight toward the three men who smiled back in turn. Dante aimed for the largest of the three men. He could see their levels above their heads, 52, 54, and 57 for the largest of them.

Dante had to play his cards right or they would slaughter him. Now was not the time for fear however, they were here to kill him and stagnation would only mean his death. 'The only way is forward!' Dante exclaimed in his mind as he slid across the smooth floor between the legs of the largest of them. He came to a stop several feet behind them and they quickly turned expecting him to run. He did not run, he stood up and looked upon them with a smile. Well rather he smiled at what he had left on the ground beneath them.

"Vines of the Blood Rose!" Dante exclaimed as his mana flowed away from him. The seeds he had left on the ground beneath them exploded with growth quickly entangling the three of them. From the vines began to grow small pods which bloomed into crimson roses. As the three struggled against their thorny prison they continued to be cut and pierced by the thorns.

Vines of the Blood Rose has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

Dante saw Oscar was still at the door where he had left him when he looked up, Dante waved him over. He blinked and Oscar was gone. Dante tilted his head in confusion, before he felt a tap on his shoulder. He spun around ready to duke it out, and found Oscar standing behind him. "I am sorry my friend, but I will not be joining you in the fighting. I am not a fighter. I will go get Califa and take her back to my shop for safety." Oscar stated with a worried tone.

Dante simply nodded as he certainly didn't want either of them to die. Besides what happens to Oscar's business if the original dies? What happens to his, 'One free nut card'? Dante laughed internally as he smiled a bit outwardly. He found it funny to call it that, so he did. Dante smiled saying, "Go. I can handle myself here." With a smile Oscar was gone in a blink, appearing next to the outer pillars for a moment, and in a blink he was gone again, leaving a small trail of dust in his wake.

Dante turned back to the three crimson king follower's he had captured. Perhaps it was the bonus from the seeds making it so strong, but he had honestly expected more from these guys. The largest of the three, seeming to be some kind of fish person, yelled out, "Feeding Frenzy!" Afterwards his blood lifted off the ground and took the shape of what he suspected to be predatory fish similar to sharks. The blood fish swam quickly through the air towards Dante. Try as he might, even with his not bad dex, the blood fish managed to latch onto him dealing...no damage?

Dante felt a bit of pain and he knew that he should be taking damage, but he didn't seem to be. He smacked the several blood fish like mosquitoes causing them to paint his hands with crimson blood. Something else odd that he noticed was that the blood didn't seem to stick to his robe, but did to the few pieces of light armor he had. '50% damage reduction from enemy blood spells huh?' Dante smiled as the level 57 fishman looked on with a mixture of rage and fear.

'I could make an example of him.' Dante thought darkly for a moment before shaking away that thought. Once more the fishman used the skill, "Feeding... Frenzy." He paused for a moment before completing the activation of the skill, seeming to be trying to catch his breath. A dozen of the blood fish flew towards Dante this time, and as they bit down Dante finally realized why he didn't seem to be taking damage. Crimson particles were floating over to him from the crimson roses that had blossomed upon the vines created by his skill. 'It must be my own health regen, the plants' lifesteal, and the damage reduction working together to basically nullify this guys attacks.' Dante thought as he laughed in amazement.

Even as he had taken a moment to think about it, his health was still not going down. "Please no more!" the human cried out Dante saw the guy was turning pale from blood loss. He commanded the vines that entangled the man to feed the life steal from the other's towards him. His complexion grew more lively. The vines that entangled him retreated to merely bind together his hands and feet and keep him anchored to the floor.

Vines of the Blood Rose has leveled up! Lvl. 3...

Blood Absorption has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

Dante was surprised at the notice for blood absorption, 'Is Vines of the Blood Rose sharing experience? It would make some sense given the life steal effect.' Dante thought. Dante advanced to stand before the human man. His hair was brown as were his eyes. He wore tanned leathers and seemed unremarkable. "I will spare your life if you renounce the crimson king." Dante stated plainly the others either not able or willing to respond to his words. The man looked at him with desperation in his eyes, "I can't..." He said his voice shaking with fear as he squeezed his eyes shut waiting for death. Dante didn't want to kill him. He had given up, while the others were still putting up a modecrime of resistance. "Feeding..." Dante didn't allow the fishman to complete his skill causing his vines to become a gag in his mouth.

The blood that had begun to float splashing back down to the ground. Dante held his new holy symbol only for something unexpected to happen. He received a vision from Rosana.

--------------------------------------

The world faded away for a moment as he saw a small human village from above. It seemed like something from the middle ages. He felt his lady's presence as her arms took hold of his. There was a blur of motion and they were upon the ground watching the towns people going about their lives. Everything seemed fine. The sun moved from its position high above, dipping below the horizon. He realized that he was watching time on fast forward. A full blue moon was high in the sky when time resumed a normal pace.

He heard a great cacophony of screams and voices that the system didn't seem to translate. He watched as the village went up on flames and he saw a single scared boy cowering in the shadows hoping not to be found. Though in the light of the human raiders' torches he was easily found. They took turns abusing the small boy with punches and kicks to the stomach until he was unconscious. The boy stirred after a moment, his eyes dyed in crimson hues.

"This is where the king found him." Rosana whispered in his ear. Dante watched as the younger version of the man he had captured slaughtered the raiders, growing stronger with every kill. When it was done he fell to his knees and wept as the sun rose on a new day. He was the last living being in this burnt down village.

----------------------------------------

The scene before Dante faded leaving only darkness. He was alone for a moment there when he felt something in his other hand. He looked to find another amulet like his own. He knew what his lady desired. He blinked and the world returned to normal, seeming as if hardly a moment had passed. Dante looked down to see the new amulet still clutched in his other hand. He released the right hand of the scrawny man who looked up with fear filled eyes. Dante held out the amulet and stated simply, "Take this and If my Lady chooses you. You will have nothing to fear from me."

The man looked to the amulet he held out and back to his face several times before he reached out and took it. When he grasped it, it glowed with a soft divine light. "Perhaps one day you will have the power to raise those you lost that day." The man was speechless, then his eyes began to glow gold. Dante felt his connection to the plants that entrapped him get cut. The plants rapidly grew until he was covered from head to toe, without anything of him being visible. Dante turned toward the other's and he felt their malice.

He raised up his hand and then closed it. The vines around the men tightened squeezing them. "At least one could be saved. It was me or you. I chose me." Dante tightened his grip as the fishman and the nameless other humanoid struggled with all their might, fruitlessly, against the vines. A moment later.

You have slain a follower of the Crimson king, Lvl. 57!...

You have earned experience.

You have slain a follower of the Crimson king, Lvl. 54!...

You have earned experience.

Vines of the Blood Rose has leveled up! Lvl. 4...

You have Leveled Up!...

You have Leveled Up!...

Congratulations! Your Will stat has exceeded 100! You are awarded the Uncommon Passive skill, Iron Will...

Iron Will- Your will steels your heart and mind against what is to come. Increased resistance to mind control and physical control effects per level of the skill. Increased resistance to fear effects per level of the skill.

Dante did not celebrate. They had been people, and he had killed them. The fire in his chest dimmed. The flame of his burning heart growing faint as the weight of his actions took hold. He closed his eyes thinking of a thousand different reasons why they deserved death. But all was for not, as he opened his eyes and looked upon the mutilated bodies of those he had just slain. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes once more trying to keep himself calm, to keep himself from slipping into hysteria. He opened his eyes and stated, "I did not kill them for pleasure. I killed them to survive." Dante did not have the luxury of further contemplation as a dozen more of the crimson kings follower's raced in the temple's entrance. Their levels ranged from 37 to 53. They didn't stand a chance.

Vines of the Blood Rose has leveled up! Lvl. 5...

Over Heal has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

Vines of the Blood Rose has leveled up! Lvl. 6...

Over Heal has leveled up! Lvl. 3...

Blood Absorption has leveled up! Lvl. 3...

Blood Absorption has leveled up! Lvl. 4...

Blood Absorption has leveled up! Lvl. 5...

Burning Heart has leveled up! Lvl. 4...

Resistance to Mundane Exhaustion has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

Resistance to Mundane Exhaustion has leveled up! Lvl. 3...

Throwing has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

Throwing has leveled up! Lvl. 3...

You have leveled up!...

You have leveled up!...

You have leveled up!...

Congratulations! Your Constitution has exceeded 100!...

Congratulations! Your Common Passive skill, Physical Endurance, has become the Uncommon, Active skill, Iron Body...

Iron Body- Increase your defense power by focusing energy into your skin. Higher mastery/skill level means quicker activation and a greater ability to localize its application. Costs 10 stamina per second. Defensive boost based on level of the skill.

Dante's breath was labored as he felt the effects of stamina and mana exhaustion in effect slowing his respectable stamina and mana regenerations. On the ground laid more than a dozen mutilated corpses surrounded by the vines he had made to kill them. Only a single man besides himself remained alive, still wrapped in the vines Dante no longer controlled. He sat down on his ass hugging his legs against his sweat soaked chest and wept silently. He couldn't even register the blue box that had appeared.

Quest failure!

Though they suffered heavy losses the follower's of the Crimson king succeeded in their mission to retrieve their dark master.

Penalty: None

The city guards arrived only for a few of them to throw up when they saw the massacre in the temples main room. They approached Dante with weapons drawn.

The captain stepped forward wearily with his hand upon his sheathed weapon. "Dante Stone?" The captain having gotten his name by using an inspection skill on him. Dante turned his head to face the man, his eyes red from the tears. Though he looked upon the man, there was no light in his eyes. The fire in his heart had gone out. What replaced it was the feeling of hollowness.

He was in shock. The captain of the guard saw the blue box that hovered before Dante and moved behind him to see if he could read it. To his dismay he could.

Dante offered no resistance as the guards lifted him up carefully and carried him to one of the temple's back rooms with the rest of the wounded.

Dante A. Stone

Race: Human

Class: Cleric

LVl. 29

EXP:5,410/5,900

Gold: 7615

Strength

84

Resources

Total

Regen.

Constitution/Vitality

101

Health

(1,778+30=

1,808)

(90.5x2=

181/min)

Endurance

95

Mana

2,647

(70.2/min)

Dexterity

80

Stamina

1,532

(79.7x2=

159.4/min)

Willpower

113

Road Points

80

Intellect

99

Stat Points

10

Wisdom

98

Charisma

101

Luck

43

Perception

79

Spirit

62

+1 Str, +1 End, +1 Con, +1 Cha additional for every level up.

Road of Blood

0/25

Road of Water I

0/10

Road of the Burning Heart

5/25

Road of Family

0/100

Road of the Unyielding Will

0/50

Road to Everlasting Life

0/1,000

Road of Courage VI

0/1000

Road of New Beginnings

0/20

Road of the Wizard III

10/50

Road of Light I

0/20

????

?/???

Road of Radiance I

0/50

Road of Earth II

0/25

Road of the Tireless I

0/50

Road of the Psion I

0/50

Affinities Unlocked: Earth, Water, Radiance, Blood, Light

Mana’s Unlocked: Red, Green, Yellow, Blue