I stared at the giant scroll on SpartanDonkey’s back as he galloped away. He stopped by several Mardukryons chatting outside an enchantment shop the next block over. Presumably, he shared with them the divine prophecy of Herald Stone about an impending world quest before moving on.

Those players looked in my direction.

Not knowing what I was supposed to do, I settled with waving at them.

They cheered and hooted as if I promised to treat them to dinner. This was going to be embarrassing as hell if I was mistaken about the world quest. At any rate, SpartanDonkey agreed with my suspicion after I told him about the missing mini-boss and the peculiar behavior of the NPCs.

He had noticed the Hunter-Warriors acting strangely but dismissed it as preparations for the upcoming Great Hunt. Having heard about a possible world quest that I triggered, it became evident to him that something else was up. The disappearance of Mon-Aleh, one of the mini-bosses in the tunnels, meant that a permanent change did happen.

And more was likely to come. SpartanDonkey was heading to the tunnels to confirm what I told him.

Prior to parting ways, SpartanDonkey tried to wheedle more details from me. I only divulged that this was connected to Bawu. I figured it was fine to reveal that because he’d eventually know once shit went down between the Hunter-Warriors and Bawu.

Certainly, the game would provide a way to prevent a disastrous clash—a heroic path, a good ending of some kind—but I was less inclined with each passing minute to bother finding it. There were moments I just wanted to enjoy the fireworks.

More importantly, the bigger the commotion brought by the world quest, the taller my pedestal in the Mardukryon community would be. As Chimi had said, we needed something fresh to attract new players. Bawu’s brews, chimeras, and plagues might not be literally fresh, but it’d rouse interest in Mardukryons.

And who was the guy who discovered this?

The Great Herald Stone!

Mardukryon players should be grateful I chose to grace this icy landscape with my glorious presence.

I noticed in the party interface that Kezo’s icon turned online. Soon, Megan and Nitana would be back too. I should finish up my shopping that was interrupted by SpartanDonkey.

I didn’t want to splurge my unexpected windfall on expensive armor pieces. With my Blighted Vinereaver’s Revenge set, I expected to breeze through level thirty and might even reach forty without too much of a struggle. I’d instead aim for better buffs and debuff Shards; extra Artas would go to poison-brewing.

I settled for an Epic Quality set called the Fiery Devise, a heavy armor type for, well, more armor.

Fiery Devise wasn’t an actual set with bonuses the more pieces I wore. Rather, its parts were thematically tied in their design and had a common attribute for Mardukryon players—a percentage bonus to Ancestral Shroud. I couldn’t find any counterpart for health, so I went for the next best thing. [Greater Pyro Shell] was pseudo-health in a way; boosting AS would also increase it.

For a little bit over five million Artas, I bought a Peytral, Bracers, and Flanchards of Fiery Devise.

Peytral of Fiery Devise {3} | Item Level: 20

Epic | Heavy Armor | Lower Chest

197 Armor

8% Additional Ancestral Shroud (Only for Mardukryons)

Requires: 47 Might, 60 Vigor

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

+82 Ancestral Shroud

+38 Evasion Rating

+17% Fire Resistance

Bracer of Fiery Devise | Item Level: 20

Epic | Heavy Armor | Wrists

156 Armor

6% Additional Ancestral Shroud (Only for Mardukryons)

Requires: 43 Might, 58 Vigor

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

+12 Health Gained for Each Enemy Hit by Your Skill

+18% Wind Resistance

+71 Magic Resilience

Flanchard of Fiery Devise | Item Level: 20

Epic | Heavy Armor | Flanks

182 Armor

7% Additional Ancestral Shroud (Only for Mardukryons)

Requires: 43 Might, 60 Vigor

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

+365 Health

+46 Vigor

+16% Poison Resistance

A sad affair changing [Mehubanarath’s Old Bracer], my first ever equipment worn. But it was just a level three item. Sentimentality shouldn’t stand in the way of getting hard.

Its replacement, [Bracer of Fiery Devise], had an interesting enchantment—I could gain a bit of health for every enemy hit by my skills. Though the heal was small, it’d add up when tanking large groups of monsters. I had a few AoE skills at my disposal to proc this effect.

[Greater Pyro Skill] was my staple, and there was [Blight Cloud] from the Blighted Vinereaver’s Revenge set yet to be tested. Lastly, when I’d reach level twenty, I’d have [Tongues of Flames] from [Smoldering Hooves of Kaghao].

The [Bracer of Fiery Devise] wasn’t expensive despite the enchantment—it cost only two and a half million. I supposed most players didn’t care for it. DPSers would rather have lifesteal, and tanks wouldn’t typically use a lot of AoE skills unless it was for CC. The health gained wasn’t high either, more like a garnish on the dish of healing.

But this effect was the sort I should go for in a non-meta build, looking for unboxlike ways of taking advantage of the underutilized and unappreciated.

I didn’t pick a new shield. My [Reinforced Pavise] should do fine for a while, and I was considering other equipment that’d work for an Unarmed State. Should I get a scroll to pair with my [Tower Shield] in the future? A small statue to carry around? Maybe a guitar?

My new best buddy, SpartanDonkey, might have some tips.

Too impatient to see the improvements in my stats, I excitedly equipped my new gear.

Name: Herald Stone | Lvl 20 Exp: 0.8%

Base: Mardukryon

Health: 4,552/4,552

Energy: 550/550

Ancestral Shroud: 1,460/1,460

ATTRIBUTES:

Might: 112

Vigor: 229

Spirit: 100

Sense: 15

OFFENSE

Attack Power: 368

Physical Dmg. Inc.: 38.6%

Magic Power: 377

Magical Dmg. Inc.: 35%

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

Movement Speed: 21%

Evasion Rating: 38

DEFENSE

Armor: 3,764

Magic Resilience: 1,306

Phys. Dmg. Red.: 21%

Mag. Dmg. Red.: 21%

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

Fire Resistance: 41%

Water Resistance: 50%

Earth Resistance: 39%

Wind Resistance: 18%

Poison Resistance: 16%

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

Freeze Resistance: 10%

Slow Resistance: 10%

Stun Resistance: 5%

RETRIBUTION

Neutral Damage: 366

Earth Damage: 377

Poison Damage: 1,062

HEALTH / ENERGY

Health per Second: 121

Health Regeneration: 4%

Energy per Second: 10

AS per Second: 39

Blazing meatballs from the Andromeda Galaxy! It was breathtaking to see myself getting harder.

The stark difference between my previous and current stats was due to switching from a notch above scrap to mostly level twenty Relic and Epic Quality gear. This puts in perspective how much I relied on [Ancestral Constitution] and, more importantly, [Greater Pyro Shell] for my survival.

My Armor and Magic Resilience had shot up. Not only did I have much higher base values, but the multipliers of [Tower Shield] and the Blighted Vinereaver’s Revenge set also helped out.

Were armor stacker builds viable in MCO? I had to do more research.

“That retribution damage!” I gushed as if I had drawn the winning lottery numbers. The universe wouldn’t actually let me win the lottery because that’d make me too imbalanced. “Multipliers are putting in the work,” I observed. “Compounding, one of the greatest forces of nature, right up there with gravity.”

However, a retri-build, even on the higher end, still couldn’t compare to an average DPS build farming-wise.

Kezo could lash with black flames, or Nitana could send exploding fairies to wipe out a bunch of monsters minding their own business and then move on to the next target. In comparison, a retri-build needed to aggro the monster and wait for them to attack to be able to deal damage. That was a massive time delay in grinding.

[Blight Cloud] would be helpful in that aspect, elevating a basic retri-build to a so-so AoE DPSer. The AoE wasn’t large and was restricted around me, but it was better than nothing and didn’t need monsters to attack.

I noted that the passive of [Horde Stampede] increased my movement speed because Kezo was online.

Next, I buffed up. [Ancestral Constitution] maxed at six stacks, [Rejuvenation Charge] also maxed at four, [Cleansing Flames] still only at three because I didn’t have any other self-debuffs available, and [Cloak of the Plaguespreader].

I didn’t use [Greater Pyro Shell] because it was slotted in the Big M's bracer. I had to transfer it later.

Name: Herald Stone | Lvl 20 Exp: 0.8%

Base: Mardukryon

Health: 5,014/5,014

Energy: 550/550

Ancestral Shroud: 1,766/1,823

ATTRIBUTES:

Might: 112

Vigor: 229

Spirit: 100

Sense: 15

OFFENSE

Attack Power: 368

Physical Dmg. Inc.: 38.6%

Magic Power: 377

Magical Dmg. Inc.: 35%

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

Movement Speed: 21(-17)%

Evasion Rating: 38(-40)

DEFENSE

Armor: 4,241

Magic Resilience: 2,054

Phys. Dmg. Red.: 21%

Mag. Dmg. Red.: 21%

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

Fire Resistance: 41%

Water Resistance: 50%

Earth Resistance: 39%

Wind Resistance: 18%

Poison Resistance: 16%

All Element Resistance: 6%

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

Freeze Resistance: 10%

Slow Resistance: 10%

Stun Resistance: 5%

All Ailment Resistance: 7%

RETRIBUTION

Neutral Damage: 366

Earth Damage: 377

Poison Damage: 1,062

HEALTH / ENERGY

Healing Increase: 33%

Healing Received: 33%

Health per Second: 384

Health Regeneration: 3.6%

Energy per Second: 10

AS per Second: 69

“I need to work on all my regeneration more,” I muttered, observing the values. “A whole lot more.”

Discounting my second [Band of Loamy Renewal], my health regeneration was lower than before. I lost the health regeneration and healing modifiers of [Wellness Ring]. Since my health pool had grown, my regeneration should keep up in proportion, but it didn’t—that was one of the problems I should remedy soon.

I also lost a significant amount of Energy regeneration from the Invigorated Pygmy set, with a measly ten Energy per second remaining. My current AS regeneration was a very nice number, but it wouldn’t be enough. My AS pool was far larger than before, translating to higher casting costs for [Greater Pyro Shell]. [Tongues of Flames] combo with [Mantle of Kindling] would help, but I couldn’t rely on it if I were up against enemies I couldn’t consistently Head-On Block.

In all, plenty of work to be done. The ding of a message from Kezo brought me out of theorycrafting mode.

[Kezodilla: Herald, where are you?]

[Herald Stone: Just going to the Chief’s Lodge quick. Let’s meet there?]

I had to transfer [Greater Pyro Shell] to my [Tower Shield] and link it with [Arcane Poison Empowerment]. I also had to take out my [Enraging Call] and Totem Shards from the [Buckler of the Invigorated Pygmy] and slot them into the [Peytral of Fiery Devise].

Should I fiddle around my primary attributes while I was there? Dump the points I had invested in Spirit and Might to Vigor?

“Oh wait, Hunter-Warriors might be at the Chief’s Lodge,” I said. “I should avoid—what’s this?”

[Kezodilla: Can you come to Healer Gula’s place first?]

[Kezodilla: She’s not here.]

[Kezodilla: Some guards are searching her store.]

I cast [Horde Stampede] and galloped to Kezo. I had to go the long way to avoid the Chief’s Lodge at the center of the village.

“Seems like something’s going on over there,” I said, noticing the NPCs and players trotting down an alley to the Chief’s Lodge.

A couple of blocks later, I reached the side alley leading to Healer Gula’s store facing the main street. Rounding the corner, I found Kezo waiting for me. He pointed at the NPCs inside the store as I approached.

“Did the guards say what happened to Healer Gula?” I asked Kezo.

“They wouldn’t give me a straight answer,” he replied. “They’d either tell me it was none of my business, or I should ask the Hunter-Warriors. You should try. It’s probably your quest.”

“Excuse me, sir,” I said, descending into the burrow. The village guards stopped trifling with the drawers and cabinets to look at me. “Can you tell me where Healer Gula went?”

“Why are you asking?” The biggest of them demanded, looking down at me with narrowed eyes.

“I… need medicine,” I cautiously said. “For an upset stomach. I ate too much Plemy Fruit.” If this was connected to my quests, then these guards must be searching for evidence related to Bawu. And Healer Gula was probably taken away for interrogation.

But how did they know about Bawu so fast?

“Go to the Healer’s Lodge, youngling,” said the village guard. “Healers aplenty there. Hurry on, lest your ailment worsens. Bother us no more.”

I went back up and told Kezo, “They wouldn’t tell me either. Should I be more forceful, or should we search for Healer Gula on our own?” I had the ingredients for a powerful healing elixir we were supposed to recreate. She shouldn’t disappear now.

“We can ask Megan and Nitana what they think,” Kezo said. “They just came online. Faster to search for Gula if we spread out.”

“I’ll message them.”

[Herald Stone: Megan, Nitana? Kezo and I are at Healer Gula’s store]

[Herald Stone: Let’s meet here for planning.]

[Megantress: Come here!!!!]

[Megantress: You have to come here!!!]

[Nitana2003: You didn’t even tell them where we are.]

[Nitana2003: Chief’s Lodge.]

[Herald Stone: What’s there?]

[Megantress: Healer Gula!]

[Nitana2003: They’re having a trial or something for her.]