Though your power exceeds that which is expected for your level, you have come to realize you are far from invincible. +3 Wis...

You bleed and endure all that life throws at you so that those weaker than you may be saved. +4 Con...

The Barren is slain but the scent of his blood lingers upon the air. +3 Per...

The King grows wise to your presence in his domain and...

Error!..

Recal...

A soul...

Error!...

As many were before, and surely many to come would be, something unexpected happened as he walked this road.

In the blink of his eyes he was once more before the Lion Barren.

Time ran in slow motion as he felt his adrenaline pumping.

His extended arm covered with the spectral shield created by the skill of the same name.

The lion's paw, the size of a catcher's mitt, slowly made its way towards him.

His mind raced as he knew the shield wouldn't hold out against the strike.

'Not alone...' Dante thought as he resolved himself.

"I won't let this play out the same way!" He exclaimed with a smile as he remembered something.

Burning Heart has leveled up! Lvl. 17...

'Skill's can work together to achieve greater effects. Here's my hail mary, let's try an image.

The Barren's strike was almost upon him.

Shield Mastery! 1000 mana went into the Spectral shield!

Spectral shield has leveled up! Lvl. 2!...

Spectral shield has leveled up! Lvl. 3!...

Shield Mastery has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

Spectral shield has leveled up! Lvl. 4!...

The spectral shield on his arm grew in all its dimensions. It became a slightly opaque, 2x2 foot version of a certain hero's legendary shield, gem and all.

"Not this time!" Dante exclaimed as the blow connected. Time resumed its normal flow as he triggered one final skill.

Parrying!

With great effort he redirected the force of the Barrens strike knocking the Barren back a few steps.

Parrying has leveled up! Lvl. 2...

...

Parrying has leveled up! Lvl. 8...

Shield Mastery has leveled up! Lvl. 3...

Shield Mastery has leveled up! Lvl. 4...

"Death has weakened you Barren! While I have grown stronger!" Dante proclaimed not expecting anything other than a roar as a response. He summoned the Dagger of Sacrifice he had shaped into a shortsword.

To his dismay he heard the Barren's voice as its eyes locked upon his, "That may be true, but it still won't be enough."

As the lion spoke bands of yellow orange mana began to lift up from the surrounding grass. All the bands of flowing mana converged upon the Barren.

Mana Sense has leveled up! Lvl. 36...

Observation Analysis!

New born Spirit Lion, Lvl.64

Through the will of it's king the soul of the lion barren has been called back to slay you. Though the beast has returned to the world of the living and become a spirit its power has been weakened by its death and return.

Observation Analysis has leveled up! Lvl. 41...

"You are alone, child." The barren's voice echoed in Dante's mind.

Due to outside influence you have been forced from your party!...

Legion has been disbanded!

The Road of Family...

Error in the Road system!...

Recalculating...

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

Across multiple zones those within Dante's legion, and some outside it, felt a moment of sudden loss.

Then the notices began to appear.

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

Those present with Dante's body were puzzled by the notices for a moment before they read one or two.

With eyes wide they jumped to their feet and scrambled towards Dante.

They shook, poked, prodded, and even did mild damage with various blunt and sharp weapons but nothing they tried woke Dante.

His body shaking lightly while his eyes darted back and forth beneath his eyelids.

There upon his head the golden hat had returned to its original form.

Something had gone arigh however.

Though the sun shined bright though the tree top catching off the sterling gems and metal of the crown, it did not shine.

All feared as the once vibrantly colorful robe became black as night. Only the golden symbol of his Lady remained unchanged.

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

Endure the elements has leveled up! Lvl. 5...

Dante gasped as he fell to one knee. His body shook uncontrollably as he felt loss, many connections snapping all at once.

He reached up only to find his hat, the crown, was missing.

He reached for his chest and found only his shirt. His robe was missing.

He looked upon his right hand, and the ring of the King too, was missing.

The flame of his burning heart dimmed as he could not cease the trembling of his heart.

Dante in that moment felt truly...afraid.

He was alone here.

There was no sound save for the Barrens voice in his mind. "You will die cut off from your allies! You shall die in the dirt now as you should have then!" The Barren exclaimed as it leapt forth for another attack.

A new sound filled his ears, the beating of wings. He had heard this sound once before when the Crimson king took a swing at him. The beating of death's wings.

Dante raised the shield once more, readying himself for the blow.

He hid his head behind his spectral shield and wept, for it felt as if his heart had been torn out.

As Adrenaline pumped through his veins time slowed once more, but the voice of the Barren Persisted. Something was different this time however.

You are weak!

Without these items, these crutches!

You would be nothing!

YOU ARE NOTHING!

You are UNWORTHY to be called a KING!

The Barren exclaimed, his voice not quite his own.

To Dante, it felt as if the world was crumbling down around him and all was for naught.

Then a new familiar voice spoke up. A faint and distant voice that nevertheless seemed omnipresent.

"My king." Came a familiar voice. "I am here whenever you have a need for me." The crown stated simply. As he felt a familiar weight upon his head.

A familiar colorful robe appeared upon him. The robe of everlasting life.

A large signet ring reappeared upon his middle finger. The ring of the king.

He felt a rush of relief as the connections to his items began to mend.

But something was still missing...

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

The rest of those watching his body breathed a little easier when the crown began to shine in the light.

The robe once more took on its vibrant colors.

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

A coward as well then?

Always relying on crutches.

Fearing to stand upon his own feet lest he fall...

The Barren spoke again, softer this time. Like the voice of a disappointed father.

Dante opened his eyes as he realized what was happening.

'This is the test.' He thought and then he spoke, "I will stand on my own two feet. Forgive me..." He reached up and touched the crown with his left hand still using the spectral shield on his right to block.

Time resumed as he ducked and rolled to the side barely avoiding the Barren's attack.

The Barren turned, ready for another attempt.

You are a cowa...

Its voice cut off as it saw that things had changed.

Dante stood upon his own two feet. White t-shirt and jeans. Around his neck he wore the symbol of his lady.

On his feet he wore combat boots with rainbow socks.

Upon his left hand was his spectral shield and in his right a dagger of sacrifice.

The same one he had shaped into a short sword and used to help slay the Barren the first time.

Nowhere upon him could be seen his crown, the robe, or any of his rings.

He stood for himself, by himself.

All items he still had from the crimson king placed away in his inventory.

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

Their joy was short lived as but a moment after they had returned to their previous splendor than the items simply vanished from Dante's person.

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

Status!

Stats

Resources

Total

Regen.

Strength

108

Health

(2,567+80=2,647)

(111/min)

Constitution

136

Mana

(2,431+80=2,511)

(107/min)

Endurance

123

Stamina

(2,078+80=2,158)

(98/min)

Dexterity

92

Road Points

68

Willpower

125

Stat Points

96

Intellect

97

Luck

151

Wisdom

137

Perception

92

Charisma

78

Spirit

130

Now was the time for immediate action. A small, faith light shined through Dante's white t-shirt.

Your story has only just begun Dante...

As he heard those knowing words from Anansi the spider, a bit of light seeped through the seams of that door in the back of his mind and he had a few ideas.

Some quick math told him he could spread the stat points he had right now four ways evenly, so he did.

Strength, Con, End, and Dex all increased by 24.

"Enhance Ability, 7th Level! If it's a fight to the death you want, so be it!" Dante proclaimed as he beat his sword of sacrifice, against his spectral shield. At 7th level, Enhance Ability let him buff 6 stats. So, he targeted the same stats he had just put points into along with his Spirit and Perception. He gazed in amazement as his status jumped up in the still open status window.

Stats

Resources

Total

Regen.

Strength

230

Health

(4,465+80=4,545)

(191/min)

Constitution

274

Mana

(2,431+80=2,511)

(127/min)

Endurance

260

Stamina

(3,948+80=4,028)

(175/min)

Dexterity

203

Road Points

66

Willpower

125

Stat Points

0

Intellect

97

Luck

151

Wisdom

137

Perception

159

Charisma

78

Spirit

227

Burning Heart has leveled up! Lvl. 18...

The Road of the Warrior has opened to you!...

Error! Roads intersecting...

The Road of Unyielding Will...

You resolve yourself for what is to come. You stand against the tide. You'll win, or you'll die trying. +5 Will...

The Road of the Warrior...

You resolve yourself for what is to come. You are a warrior who stands upon his own two feet! You'll win, or you'll die trying. +4 End...

"If I can't use my items, then so be it! I don't need them, they are but tools to give me an advantage. But that doesn't mean I'll make it easy for you!"

Burning Heart has leveled up! Lvl. 19...

"In the end you made one mistake."

Silence reigned for several seconds as the Barren cocked his head in confusion.

"What might that be?" The Barren asked. Its voice seeming to be its own for the moment.

Dante smiled as he gave his response. "I'm not alone here!" he exclaimed as he felt the flame of his heart rekindle, growing ever greater and brighter.

Burning Heart has leveled up! Lvl. 20...

The Road of the Burning Heart II has opened to you!...

Burning Heart has leveled up! Lvl. 21...

Burning Heart has leveled up! Lvl. 22...

Your affinity for light has increased!...

Your affinity for fire has increased!...

He raised up the dagger of sacrifice he had made into a sword and invoked the skill he had been saving for the boss.

Summon Xenora!

Analysing the situation...

Calculating response...

'What the fuck?' Dante thought, having not expected this.

Summoning approved...

'Well alright then.'

Congratulations! The Summoner's Road has opened to you!...

You shout your summons to the world and the world responds. +3 Spirit...

The Barren bared his teeth as a shimmering cobalt blue dragon began to apparate behind Dante. Towering above both of them, standing 20 feet tall.

A huge blue dragon.

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

Here upon the beach Xenora laid upon the warm sands, her wings spread wide to catch as much of the sun's warming light as she could.

She felt something within her. An unfamiliar tug, like a string tied to her very soul.

She felt she needed to investigate.

First she closed her Nictitating membrane, (secondary eyelid seen on many lizards), then her scaled eyelids.

She appeared in her soul space upon the top of a great sand dune in an expansive desert that was reminiscent of her father's territory.

In the distance in addition to what she always saw.

There was a crackling thunderstorm raging in the distance, beneath which was a salty ocean.

Among a myriad of other things she saw something new.

Something odd.

A small rope of vibrantly colored mana extending far into the distance past the edge of her sight.

As she tracked it back she found the mana rope connecting to her own chest.

The rope pulled taut and once more she felt that tugging upon her very soul.

She smiled for this could be only one thing.

She spread her wings and took flight. As she did so, she felt and beheld something spectacular.

The mana rope pulled upon her with ever greater force pulling her through the sky of her soul space with ever greater speed.

Xenora beat her wings as she moved faster and faster, the ground racing beneath her.

All too quickly she came to the edge of her soul space where the mana rope was leading her straight towards the wall.

She began to panic for a moment before the edge of her soul space parted like two halves of an egg shell cracked open, allowing her passage.

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

Xenora stood now in a grassland. Before her she saw the back of the man who had given her the hope for freedom she had long ago lost.

It was immediately apparent to her that something was missing and what it was.

"It has only been a few hours and already you have to summon me to save you from fighting on the back foot." Xenora smiled as she lightly berated Dante. Her eyes saw all things and so the small tattoo of divine energy didn't go unnoticed by her. However she simply smiled, 'You are, most interesting little one...' She thought before turning to the small creature standing before her.

This small short furred creature dared to bare its teeth at her?!

She would return its threat in kind.

"RRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" Xenora roared back at the small thing that dared show such insolence to her. The ground shaking slightly underfoot from the might of her roar.

The Barren's eyes went wide as it lowered itself to the ground and backed up several steps.

Dante stood motionless for a moment. Listening to the echoing roar from Xenora. He thought for a moment about dropping Enhance Ability on himself and recasting it on Xenora, but that just seemed like overkill. He held that in reserve. Him and his party still had to fight the boss.

He spoke with a voice that caused the very ground beneath him to tremble. "I..." He paused to give greater weight to his words.

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

Those who had know him the longest felt the deepest cuts. Even those Dante had only recently met felt that wound. That moment of loss still clung to them, like a piece of them was missing.

Dante's parent's fell to their knees gasping as that moment hit them like a ton of bricks.

They closed their eyes and knew what had happened and so they prayed for their son's safety, for his safe return.

Across several tutorial zones Dante's college friends raged and wept, for a reason they knew not. All they knew was something was wrong.

Try as they might James and his party couldn't wake Dante.

"He'll be fine! He always is!" James stated in his most confident voice though it was obvious he was putting on a show more for himself than for the other's.

James leaned down to grasp the one item still on Dante's person. The holy symbol of his lady he wore around his neck. 'We need him to beat this dungeon. Please get him through this.' James prayed to Rosana, hoping for Dante's well being.

The oppressive heat of the African plains faded for a moment, becoming the gentle warmth of a mother's loving hug. She spoke and all who held Dante dear could hear her voice, "Call out to him. Show his enemy that even when you're divided, you're never really lost to one another."

James and his party redoubled their cries for Dante.

"We're here for you Dante you can do it!" They exclaimed in many voices as they felt his presence redouble!

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

"AM NOT..." The world vibrated at the amount of power that had been accumulated. Cracks began forming in the fabric of this illusion. Dante felt something within him flicker, something he had lost was trying to be found again. Two faint figure's appeared behind Dante.

He could hear the voices of his mother and father. "Please be safe Dante." His father begged as he shed tears.

"We believe in you." His mother said her tears flowed freely as well.

A dozen more voices made themselves heard as a dozen more faint figures appeared behind Dante. Each giving their best. With every new person added to this space the cracks grew wider and wider until the whole place seemed almost ready to fall apart.

Error!...

Road collapse Imminent!...

"alone." The building pressure caused by his voice all at once fell.

He could feel them again.

His friends and family.

He looked over to the Barren whom looked upon him with weary eyes.

Dante then spoke with a smile. "I'm not alone."

No sooner was it said than the illusion shattered and its pieces hung in the air like free floating pieces of a broken mosaic.

Between the broken pieces could only be seen darkness. Though the ground still seemed solid enough.

The Barren dared another roar but was quickly silenced by another from Xenora.

More than a dozen voices now rang forth with all their might.

His mother and father prayed for his safety.

His new friends begged him to wake up.

His old friends he had not seen since before winter break for college, wishing for one more day with their friend.

Lean on me...

When you're not strong, and I'll be your friend…

I’ll help you carry on...

Error!...

Three Roads intersecting!...

Be it a single step or the journey of 1000 lifetimes, you are always connected to your family...

Error, Divine Interference!...

The reward has been rendered....

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

Those words rang out within Dante's soul space as all words on the road he walked did.

This time something new happened.

The ashen tree stood proud and tall. It had weathered the storm and grown resilient.

Occationally the tree's truck split open from it rapid growth, revealing the white phloem beneath before its wounds healed shut.

Again and again the tree's truck split revealing its phloem.

9 times the trunk split. 9 times did it heal.

With each revealing its phloem slowly changing.

At the first splitting its phloem was white as snow.

Some form of liquid light trickled out from the wound in the tree pooling beneath it, before its wound healed shut.

By the 3rd the color of snow had began to shift, becoming light pink.

As the ninth splitting occured the phloem had become crimson.

Slowly blood trickled from the tree's wound, running down its side before pooling on the ground.

By now a large puddle had formed around the base of the ashen tree. Its contents several shades red.

But slowly other colors appeared within those waters.

Its once common strength had grown considerably. The strength of its bare skin now tough as metal, like ironwood.

This tree that slowly took in bits and pieces now took in the sounds of roads walked.

The sounds of songs and life.

Light bleed into its leaves until they shined with inner light.

Mana raced like wind though its leaves giving off a sound similar to wind chimes as the leaves rustled.

Just a few words from a song.

Dante had been here but a moment ago singing to it.

It too felt something lost and so it too sang hoping that its words might reach him as his words had reached it.

Just call on me brother when you need a hand… we all need somebody to lean on.

The ashen tree grew and grew until its size was dwarfed only by the tower that stood in the distance.

It felt that connection flicker and so it kept singing.

Singing songs known by Dante's heart and soul.

Slowly as it grew, the connections were being built.

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

Dante approached the Barren with all those he loved and cherished behind him.

Even a tree stood singing soft songs for him. Songs he cherished.

As he stood before the crouching Barren it bared its fangs and lunged at him.

"This isn't over!" The Barren exclaimed as his form barred down upon Dante.

He did not avoid it. Instead he leaned forward and bear hugged the Lion.

He reached back a hand indicating for Xenora to stay. This wasn't her fight.

Try as it might, its claws couldn't pierce the little human's back this time, though it did ruin his shirt.

As much as Dante wanted to.

As much as he justified why he should hate this creature.

He couldn't.

He wouldn't!

He spoke from the bottom of his heart for he had no hate to give. "It’s time to rest. Your time is done."

"I still have to!..."

"You don't have to do anything. All you need to do is let go of your pain. Let go and rest." Dante spoke not with authority, but with compassion.

Slowly the Barren's erratic breathing steadied. His head slowly dropped until it rested upon Dante's head, before slipping onto his left shoulder.

"Will you stay with me?" The Barren's voice ringing tired in his mind.

"As long as you need." Dante responded.

Slowly Dante laid the Barren down upon the ground. Gently he rubbed the Barren's side before another hand joined his.

The Barren took in the sound of the music sang by the ashen tree and after a moment he slipped off into sleep.

Instead of fighting the vengeful spirit, you have made peace with it and laid it down to rest. +6 Wis...

Error!...

Recalculating...

You have earned a spirits respect and gratitude.

Even as you weep, the flame of your heart burns ever brighter!

With every beat of your heart, you feel closer to those you love...

One step closer to a Revelation...

Burning Heart has leveled up! Lvl. 23...

You have leveled up!...

You have taken your first steps upon the Road of everlasting life!...

10 points have been added to the Road of everlasting life!...

Dante looked up with tears free flowing to see his lady, Rosana, clad in her glamorous and colorful robes, standing beside him with her hand too upon the Barren.

With her other hand she pulled Dante in and kissed him on the forehead.

"I knew I was right to choose you. You've made me proud." She said with a small smile before turning to the sleeping Barren.

Placing her other hand upon the Barren they both began to glow.

Dante turned to the shadows of his friends and family, to Xenora.

What had once been shadows now seemed more...definate, solid.

He smiled for he was grateful for all he had.

For all those he held dear.

The bright light emitted by his lady and the Barren reached it climax before blinking out. Dante turned to see his lady and the Barren were gone. The broken pieces of the shattered world around them began to move and click back together.

A moment later, the world was whole, as if it had never been broken.

You have endured! +3 End, +4 Con...

Not a drop of blood has been spilt, and yet you have a greater respect for your own life and the lives of those around you. +4 Wis...

Congratulations! You have completed the Road of Blood II! +250 Health/stamina, +10 health/stamina regen...

Your affinity for blood has increased...

You have passed the first trial...

Few or many trials still remain...

But whose to say which?...

Only your action can determine that...

Only when the trials have been overcome will the Kings Road open to you...

The King of this land wishes to speak to you...

They didn't move but nevertheless the ground raced beneath them until they stood before a large rock formation.

The rock formed what appeared to be a dome with several small windows leading into it.

The rock had to be 20 feet in diameter, and about 10 feet tall at its apex.

A single lion stepped up upon the large rock. It towered above everyone save for Xenora as it stood upon the stone.

'This is probably the boss of the dungeon.' Dante thought as he fired off a skill.

Observation Analysis!

Skill has been resisted!...

Only partial information can be made available...

Nemean Lion

(King of the Pride Lands)

Lvl. 127

'Fuck!' Dante shouted in his mind as his right eye began to twitch slightly.

The lion that stood before him reminded him greatly of Aslan from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Only adding to the impression of its power and regalness.

The Lion spoke in his mind as the Barren had.

"You have impressed me little manling, that is no easy feat. Tell me why have you come?"

Dante supressed his fear as he spoke, "We came to clear this dungeon. He charged us and so we killed him."

"Awe would that mean you will come for me? You and your compatriots slayed my Barren. Though I called him back it seems that he has returned to death." The king asked, its voice denoting amusement as it almost seemed to be smiling.

"Yes. Your death will give us the right to say we cleared this dungeon." Dante spoke, choosing his words carefully.

The King began to lean down towards Dante but ceased as Xenora asserted her presense with a stomp that buckled the ground beneath her foot.

The King looked to her in shock for a moment before his smile returned and his gaze once more fell to Dante.

"You are a summoner. How interesting. I am most impressed...Dante."

Silence hung for a moment as Dante looked on in confusion and growing fear.

"How do you know my name?"

"I know many things about you little...human. You ARE within MY domain afterall. You are a keeper of great treasures and powerful allies..." The king changing where he was looking from Dante at the beginning of his sentence and towards Xenora at the end.

Suddenly the King roared, "RAWR!..." As its great voice raced across this illusionary world a notice appeared.

Neaman Lion has used Frightening Roar!...

You have become frightened!...

The bright and burning flame of Dante's heart fought against the encroaching fear but in the end that flame was but a candle in the wind and snuffed out as such.

Dante shook with fear unable to otherwise move. Xenora seeing this took a step forward undaunted by and ready to fight the impudent creature.

The King looked up to catch her gaze and smiled as the voice rang in their minds one more time.

"I will relish our fight. It seems you are a bit stronger that your summoner lizard. Come and I shall face you all with all of my might."

Dante blinked and once more he was beneath the tree.

Summoning canceled...

Dante looked up to his friends who said nothing, their eyes widened with fear.

With all of his strength he managed a single sentence, "We definitely need the dragon!"