You have fallen.

Please await resurrection or until the respawn timer ticks down to zero.

You will be given spawn options in; 1:59

Raven sighed as he hovered, incorporeal in mid-air. Although this time it was different than the last time he died, his perspective was locked onto Discordia, his party mate. He could slightly look around and move about for a few feet but that was it.

”Well, didn’t expect it to do that.” He mused whilst watching the massive creature rise and turn to face Discordia. As she stared up at it, her hands clenching about her weapon’s shaft. “This girl though…Heh guess not everyone is cut out for hardcore farming.”

She couldn’t hear him at all, she didn’t even know he was still watching. But Raven watched and waited, fully expecting the spider to crush her as she stood frozen in fear and confusion. She proved him otherwise, as he watched her expression harden. Just like before, her eyes changed entirely, focusing on what lay ahead of her.

As anger filled her visage, as she clenched her teeth and spoke quietly under her breath “Get a damn hold of yourself…”

Discordia lowered her stance as she held her weapon straight like a spear, widening her legs she held her ground. Her feet digging into the violet dirt beneath, she watched the creature rise and turn.

She charged aside, gaining distance between her and the monster.

{Pole-arm Mastery} 0/30 [+1]

{Unlocked Skills}

Warrior’s Charge [0/5] +

{Available Skills}

Superior Parry [+]

Quickly, now viewable to even Raven. She mentally opened her skill tab, seeing the new skill point from levelling up to level 2 due to the level 3 Arachnids they killed, she allocated it to her charge skill. Increasing its power and decreasing its cooldown, but in tandem increase its stamina drain per use.

It also reset the cooldown on her charge skill.

She watched as the creature quickly turned to face her once again, hissing as it raised its front legs before charging forwards. Discordia lined herself up, her weapon’s spike moving from left to right as she took aim.

She waited for the right moment…As the creature’s middle right leg came down, she charged. Her pole-axe’s top spike was a whirlwind of unstoppable force as it pierced through the hard carapace. Cracking its surface before tearing through the flesh within, bursting out of the other side just as easily.

Discordia charged right through its leg, breaking the bladed joint right off and continuing onwards. The Arachnid Queen hissed angrily, as it stomped its legs down and quickly turned to reface her. Discordia too turned as she came out of her charge, it seemed like the maximum range had also increased.

Finding a brief moment of pause she opened her Character page.

{Character Page}

DiscordiaX

Conqueror Level - 2

{Statistics} +1

Strength / 5 +

Constitution / 5 +

Agility / 5 +

Intelligence / 5 +

Wisdom / 5 +

Health - 10

Stamina - 10

Mana - 15

Physical Defence Multiplier - 10

Physical Damage Multiplier - 10

Magical Power Multiplier - 10

Spell CastSpeed Multiplier - 5

Physical AttackSpeed Multiplier - 5

Mobility Multiplier - 5

{Specializations}

Weapon Mastery [Pole-Arm]

Level 1/30

Elemental Mastery [Light]

Level 0/30

Companion Mastery [ Unavailable ]

Level 0/30

{Racial}

[Locked]

She inserted her available attribute point into Strength then immediately closed the window, finding herself faced with a charging and maddened Spider Queen once again. Discordia charged just as its leg came down just like before, but she missed her timing and rushed right beside it. Barely scraping its bladed leg with her spike.

Discordia’s charge was deflected, sending her tumbling over and to the ground. She groaned in brief pain from the fall but quickly rose up. Readying herself to clash with the creature again.

But this time the Spider didn’t turn, instead, it slammed down its legs and lowered its abdomen towards her. Discordia’s eyes opened wide as the creature’s spinnerets, small leg-like appendages, worked out a black silk much more quickly than she could react.

It shot out the ball of silk, as it opened up and widened in mid-air into a net.

Discordia’s charge was still on cooldown and wouldn’t make it, forcing her to evade with her base speed. She leapt aside, dragging her weapon ahead of her. The web collided with her pole-axe’s top, entangling itself around it and spinning Discordia with its powerful momentum.

She fell to the ground once more, this time disoriented from the sudden spin.

As the Grimwood Arachnid Queen stood above her, its front legs rising briefly before stomping down onto her body. It ripped her apart, its bladed legs working in tandem with quick stabbing movements.

Party member [DiscordiaX] Level 2 has been killed by [Grimwood Arachnid Queen] Level 5

Discordia died long before the Spider stopped. Revealing the mush of flesh and metal that remained behind, slowly dissipating into green light. She had to watch as the large spider moved back into the forest. Victoriously walking away albeit injured.

Raven respawned moments later.

He glanced around the spawn area, a circular platform of black crystal. Stepping off he laid his back to the blacksmith nearby, fully opening his chat he began going through the notifications he missed over while in combat.

You have killed [Grimwood Arachnid] Level 3! Experience gain! 11.2% [Warning] Parties reduce experience gain exponentially by party size.

6/6: - 50%

5/6: - 45%

4/6: -40%

3/6: -35%

2/6: -30%

He and Discordia had killed a total of 18 Arachnids, alongside the experience gained from the [Angelic Wildcat] which was also reduced to 1.8%. That, in his math, should have brought him up to level 3 with 3.4% extra experience in his bar.

But it hadn’t, as he noticed later down when he did kill a level 3 Arachnid as a Level 2...

You have killed [Grimwood Arachnid] Level 3! Experience gain! 5.6%

The experience gained dropped by about half. Meaning that it took the Wildcat and 9 Arachnids to level him to level two with a remainder of 0.7%. After which the remaining 9 Arachnids where added as a 5.6% increase each. Raising him to 51.1% to level 3.

You have died and lost the following: 51.1% Experience progression within the Specializations: Bow Mastery.

He chuckled weakly at the half a level of experience he lost, fighting stronger monsters was worth it but the risk was still very much there. He had begun pondering over the chaos a full party would have been within in that scenario, managing more people always made a fight more complicated.

He moved on to the next notification.

Level up!

You are now Level 2

Skill point in [Bow Mastery] available

Attribute point available

This was what he wanted to see, as he quickly opened his skill tab before anything else.

{Bow Mastery} 0/30 [+1]

{Unlocked Skills}

?

{Available Skills}

Charged Shot [+]

Ranger’s Acrobatics [+]

Raven focused on each skill, gaining a short description for each.

{Active} Charged Shot 0/5

Charge up a powerful projectile.

Cast-Time: 2.0 seconds

Stamina Cost: 3

Damage Multiplier: + 10

{Passive} Ranger’s Acrobatics 0/5

Walk over and around obstacles with more ease whilst opening the door for more complex movements.

Mobility Multiplier: + 5

Raven had a rule when it came to picking skills, need over use. Both skills were useful yet once he listed the issues he had with the Grimwood Arachnid Queen, he decided which was more needed. [Ranger’s Acrobatics] increased his mobility and therefore allowing him to evade more easily but he already could evade the spider’s slashes albeit closely. What he needed was more firepower, as his arrows couldn’t pierce the creature’s hard carapace yet.

So he went for Charged Shot first.

Next, he opened his character page, looking through the different stats and remembering what each actually increased.

{Character Page} Raven Conqueror Level - 2 {Statistics} +1 Strength / 5 + Constitution / 5 + Agility / 5 + Intelligence / 5 + Wisdom / 5 + Health - 10 Stamina - 10 Mana - 15 Physical Defence Multiplier - 10 Physical Damage Multiplier - 10 Magical Power Multiplier - 10 Spell CastSpeed Multiplier - 5 Physical AttackSpeed Multiplier - 5 Mobility Multiplier - 5 {Specializations} Weapon Mastery [ Bow Mastery ] Level 1/30 Elemental Mastery [ Unavailable ] Level 0/30 Companion Mastery [ Unavailable ] Level 0/30 {Racial} [Locked]

Now this is where he began to think of himself as a hypocrite, as he could have entered the point into Strength for more firepower but the small increase compared to the skill just wasn’t worth it yet. As a ranged player he had no use for defence, stamina would be useful later on once he had more skills but at this level the damage alone was the only appealing part.

Which he had already gained through the new skill, so instead he looked elsewhere. Raven looked at Agility, the usual stat ranged characters aim to maximize. Otherwise also known as dexterity, this stat increased only mobility and attackspeed within COTD.

Mobility increased survivability and Attackspeed increased damage dealt in the long run. Due to these two factors, Raven decided to enter his point into Agility.

(“That does it for that level up.”) He thought before glancing at the spawn circle, Discordia hadn’t respawned yet. (“Guess I’ll wait now.”)

But alas a few moments rest wasn’t what expected him, as a loud rattling sound came from a nearby store.

“Thief!” shouted the apothecary as an Elven player ran out of the front door of the potion shop, an amused grin about his face as he dashed down the street holding a small cloth sack within his left hand.

Raven watched with interest as he ran right by him, noting that the sack seemed a tad light for someone robbing a potion shop…Making him curious at what expensive items did he actually steal.

The Elven rogue ran as quickly as his legs took him, which appeared to be quite the mobility stat as he reached the corner within moments. Disappearing around it…only to appear back, falling onto his ass as two other players suddenly appeared before him.

Raven recognised one as Thane but didn’t know the other, he narrowed his eyes to get a better look at the other player’s tag and the thief’s. Prompting two small windows to open in his view.

{Cerberus} JesterYu [Level 71] (Mentor) Bleak [Level 1]

Raven watched as the thief handed his loot over and seemingly apologised, Raven couldn’t actually hear their conversation but he could tell from their movements. The two Cerberus members seemed to let him off the hook and allow him to walk off.

Raven didn’t know why but he truly was interested in what that player had actually stolen (“Aren’t base resources free?”) he thought while watching Thane walk over. “That happens often?” Raven asked the Mentor as he walked by.

Thane glanced over at him, seemingly taking him a moment to recognise the newbie “Ah, Raven. Eh not so much, no real point in thieving at such a low level since the really good stuff is held in the guild keep and guild stores uptown. Stuff that is highly guarded and too damn high tier for you newbies anyway.” He explained with a shrug “Plus stolen items cannot be entered into your inventory until the timer on them runs out.”

“How long is the timer?” Raven asked.

“Meh, depends on the item stolen.” Thane replied as he weighed the sack in one hand.

“What did he steal anyway?” Raven then asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.

Thane raised a brow before looking inside the sack, seemingly curious himself. He emptied it slightly into his other hand, revealing basic potion making tools like empty vials, a water jug and a mortar & pestle. Thane snorted in amusement “You can get this shit for free…Not even an actual potion?”

“Stupid thief?” Raven offered as he eyed the items in confusion himself “By the way, are potions in this game the same as the usual?”

“Yeap, usual tiers with the usual side-effect if you use too many. Costly as hell too, stuff to make them comes straight from the Delve.” Thane responded before turning to move on “Welp, I got loot to return…should I even return this shit?...” he walked off, mumbling to himself.

Raven sighed (“No potions till mid level is what that means…”) he was hoping he could get a hold of some to make up for Discordia’s lack of accuracy with her charge skill but now he decided to just focus on what he had available.

What he had available appeared before him just then, as his meatshield/support respawned.

Party has exited combat Abandoned loot discovered out of range, please make your way back to the monster’s corpse for loot collection.

And she did not seem happy.

Discordia stomped over to stand in front of him, weapon strapped to her back and hands crossed over her chest. As she stared at him with annoyance “You.”

“Me?” Raven asked as he looked back at her with an apologetic expression, still laying back onto the wall behind him. Seemingly relaxed.

“You.Could.Have.Told me there was a god damn MASSIVE SPIDER!” Discordia leaned in close, poking his chest with her left finger with every word. She slowly began to word her sentence out, before suddenly shouting as her face turned actual red with anger.

Raven chuckled awkwardly “Would you have fought it if I told you?...”

Discordia’s mouth opened and closed several times, as she tried to respond but her mind seemed to disagree with her mouth. Before finally, she spoke “I don’t know, I might have…I might not have.”

“See? How could I have known if you don’t right now?” He answered with an amused smile.

Again Discordia seemed unsure of how to respond, before slowly backing away from him. Huffing in defeat and looking away from him in annoyance. Raven though continued looking at her with hollow eyes, boring through her as if he could see right through. It made her feel uncomfortable “W-what?” she asked, her usual stuttering back.

“Why did you come back.” He asked, an empty, solemn tone as he continued to stare at her.

Discordia met his stare with her own, surprised at first before turning grim “What…do you mean?”

“You know what I mean, back there. When I told you to log out, why did you log back in?” Raven was dead serious, his expression and tone showed as little emotion “Nobody would have blamed you for never coming back. I sure damn wouldn’t have.” He rose away from the wall, standing taller than her “So, why did you come back?”

Raven thought himself someone who understood humans and their behavioural patterns, why Discordia even came back was something that bugged him. Nobody would have done the same.

("Unless...")

Discordia sighed, as she hugged her arms in, her shoulders slumped. She was looking aside, her eyes glancing over the street. But her mind was elsewhere “Someone once told me that, if you cannot go all the way then don’t go at all.” Her lips curved into a grimace “Right before they jumped off the edge, permanently removing themselves from my life.”

("Of course.") Raven’s eyes widened as did his jaw “I’m...sorry for your loss. I apologise for asking…too.”

She shook her head “I asked you of your past too, now we’re even.” She looked up at him “I came back, because even though you didn’t need to. You came to my help, you got me out of that horrid situation. But I couldn’t just leave you to deal with it on your own…I…I had to do something. I couldn’t just stand around and be the victim, I’m done being a burden to others.”

“She says” Raven chuckled weakly as he rested back onto the wall ”But I saw you back there with the Elite. I fully expected you to remain frozen, but you didn’t. You not only made use of the system to your advantage, you hit that thing pretty hard.” she surprised him, something he didn't see often in people.

“Y-You were s-still watching?” Discordia asked as she stepped away, mildly reddening at the cheeks. Raven shrugged, saying no more as she calmed herself from the embarrassment “But…I still froze.” Her eyes drooped, disdain in her tone directed at herself.

Raven though smiled “Yeah you did, so how about we do better next time?” inwardly though he thought differently. He had planned that after all (“Shock factors into capability, inducing further shock like I did… She should be fine now, if not, fidgety.”) he stared down at his subject, a seemingly timid girl gone through a grim past and recently a just as grim scene.

Discordia to Raven wasn’t a new-found friend, just an easily manipulatable tool. A tool that he discovered, had the potential he was looking for. But he also noted, after finding out of her past, to be more careful from now on. Instability lead to unwanted outcomes.

“Yeah…” Discordia nodded, she was still unsure of Raven, but so far he had proven to be an interesting individual to stick around with.

She herself knew she wasn’t the best mechanically, and if it meant sticking with others she didn’t know to get better. At least, she could go with good players who she mildly liked. Raven could prove to be dislikeable later, but for now, he was better than nothing. Far better.

Those were their thoughts as they stood facing each other, neither in that moment, realising that both had less than savoury thoughts on the other. Where the bird of prey saw a branch to rest on, the fox saw a log to traverse the rapid river over.

And within their midst suddenly appeared the rodent, as Raven saw from the corner of his eye someone approach the potion shop nearby “Hah, this game hasn’t changed.” said Bleak as he stepped back from a barrel nearby the store, holding a bright yellow potion flask.

Raven eyed the player with interest “How…”

Then Bleak suddenly turned to them, gesturing with the flask whilst wearing a knowing smirk.

(“He knows I saw him?”) Raven thought as the cloaked Elf approached them. The golden flask disappearing into his cloak.

“I was wondering when the other one would arrive.” Bleak said as he glanced at Discordia “So, the two newbies she told me about huh?”

Raven and Discordia glanced at each other in confusion, before turning back to Bleak and asking “Who are you?...”

Bleak’s smirk widened “I’m the show master, and the show is about to begin children.”