Smoldering Hooves of Kaghao| Item Level: 25

Relic | Med-Armor | Feet

220 Armor

15% Movement Speed

Leave [Tongues of Flames] in your trail, lasting 5 Seconds

25% additional Burn Chance and Duration

Requires: 83 Might, 45 Vigor

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+3 Seconds Burn Duration

+14% All Ailment Duration

+12% Burn Resistance

“Soon, I’ll be able to wear you,” I mumbled, perusing the other item SpartanDonkey exchanged for the battle logs of my party killing Zoar Elab, the Living Statue. “One more level to go…”

“Sir?” Jimmy called from the front, checking the rearview mirror. “Do you want to pass somewhere before the office?”

“It’s nothing, Jimmy.” Just gushing over my fancy new shoes, I thought.

No, not shoes. Footwear made from the hooves of Kaghao, whoever he was. Given the flame-related ability and Burn modifiers on the item, I surmised he was an important Mardukryon who had died. Someone then fashioned his hooves to be wearable.

My hooves inside another creature’s hooves? Even if Kaghao was not a Mardukryon but a different fire monster with hooves, it was still a morbid thought.

To push away the disturbing image, I examined the skill granted by the item.

Lvl. 3 Tongues of Flames: Fiery tendrils rise from the ground, dancing across a small area. They strike nearby enemies with (50% Attack Power) as Fire Damage (affected by the user’s Attack Speed). Each attack has a (55%) chance to Burn for (15%) of the initial damage per second, lasting 4 seconds. (Stacks with other Burn instances.) Enemies inside the area of effect will have their Fire Resistance reduced by (-12%).

At first glance, this was crap for a tank, better suited for a fast-attacking DPSer. The skill also clashed with the buffs of [Band of Loamy Renewal] that kicked in only if I stood still. Seemingly, its only good part was helping my party by reducing the enemy’s Fire Resistance, with Mardukryons predominantly using Fire abilities.

But that was what a box would think. [Tongues of Flames] wasn’t a DoT effect; the attacking tendrils could proc on-hit effects like poison and the Freeze of my amulet.

Pristine Frostore Amulet | Item Level: 15

Epic | Amulet

86 Magic Resilience

20 - 34 Magic Power

Requires: 32 Spirit, 13 Sense

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+18% Water Resistance

+10% Freeze Resistance

+5% Chance to Freeze the target for 2 seconds

Very nifty for my envisioned Plaguetank build when I’d eventually add more ailments and CCs inflicted by hits. While I pulled mobs or bosses, [Smoldering Hooves of Kaghao] would plant the fiery tendrils. Enemies chasing me would get sprinkled with negative statuses as I’d focus on surviving or herding them for my party. I wouldn’t stay in place then, so there wasn’t a conflict with [Band of Loamy Renewal].

Come to think of it, this footwear wasn’t that good for DPS builds since they’d need to run and draw monsters to the [Tongues of Flames] instead of attacking.

The best part was that [Tongues of Flames] had a high chance to Burn. Damage was pitiable—I shouldn’t expect much as a tank—but I needed all the sources of Burn I could get to synergize with [Mantle of Kindling].

Lvl. 3 Mantle of Kindling: Intense heat deep within bursts outward, enveloping you with protection from the ancestors. Punish those who would strike you by Burning them. (25% chance to Burn attacker with 23% of Attack and Magic Power per second for 6 seconds). Those Burned by any source will be weakened by (-11% Attack and Magic Power) when attacking you. Replenish (45 + 0.5% of Armor) Ancestral Shroud when you Head-On Block an attack from a Burned enemy; limited to once every second.

The third Rank skill of my Cidule had leveled to three yesterday. I’d indirectly get tankier the more enemies Burned. And the last effect of [Mantle of Kindling] was much-needed for my Ancestral Shroud problems—each cast of a level ten [Greater Pyro Shell] Linked to a maxed [Arcane Poison Empowerment] costs more than a third of my Ancestral Shroud pool.

While waiting to reach level twenty-five, I wore the boots I had bought for the Zoar Elab fight.

Boots of Swiftness| Item Level: 8

Rare | Med-Armor | Feet

64 Armor

10% Movement Speed

Requires: 25 Might, 17 Vigor

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+6% Movement Speed

+10% Slow Resistance

Next, I scrolled through the five items making up my Blighted Vinereaver’s Revenge set.

Blighted Crown of Vinereaver’s Revenge {2} | Item Level: 20

Relic | Heavy-Armor | Helmet

212 Armor

135 Retribution Damage (Poison)

5% All Retribution Damage

Requires: 43 Might, 55 Vigor

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+65 Retribution Damage (Neutral)

+43 Vigor

+26 Health Per Second

Blighted Berms of Vinereaver’s Revenge {1} | Item Level: 20

Relic | Heavy-Armor | Shoulder

224 Armor

140 Retribution Damage (Poison)

5% All Retribution Damage

Requires: 44 Might, 57 Vigor

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+72 Retribution Damage (Earth)

+85 Armor

+17% Earth Resistance

Blighted Bark of Vinereaver’s Revenge {1} | Item Level: 20

Relic | Heavy-Armor | Upper Chest

254 Armor

155 Retribution Damage (Poison)

6% All Retribution Damage

Requires: 49 Might, 62 Vigor

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+45 Vigor

+410 Health

+27 Health per Second

Blighted Tendrils of Vinereaver’s Revenge | Item Level: 20

Relic | Heavy-Armor | Hands

198 Armor

125 Retribution Damage (Poison)

4% All Retribution Damage

Requires: 41 Might, 52 Vigor

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+30 Might

+375 Health

+22 Health per Second

Blighted Spikes of Vinereaver’s Revenge {1} | Item Level: 20

Relic | Heavy-Armor | Legs

201 Armor

130 Retribution Damage (Poison)

4% All Retribution Damage

Requires: 42 Might, 54 Vigor

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+60 Retribution Damage (Neutral)

+32 Might

+16% Water Resistance

[Blighted Vinereaver’s Revenge] Set Bonuses:

(2 pieces) + 105 Retribution Damage (Neutral), +5% Armor

(3 pieces) 50% of (Might + Vigor) added as Retribution Damage (Earth), +5% Armor

(4 pieces) +25% Neutral Retribution, +25% Earth Retribution, +25% Poison Retribution, +450 Health

(5 pieces) Blight Cloud: Inflict 37% of all Retribution Damage to enemies in a small area around you per second.

Was it possible to get these items elsewhere? I wouldn’t be surprised if it were with how MCO questlines had unexpected twists and turns.

Could I compete with DPSers with Blighted Vinereaver’s Revenge?

Of course, not. I needed monsters to hit me to deal retribution damage; that alone was slower than DPSers raining death on enemy mobs on demand. And though much improved, my damage was still laughable compared to pure DPS builds.

But I was a tank. The craptons of retribution damage was a godsend—I sent it to myself—and helped big time in my pathetic grind. Furthermore, [Blight Cloud], as an AoE skill, could also inflict on-hit effects, including poisons. I hadn’t tested it, but it might be possible to spread several kinds of poison if I coated each set piece with a different one.

Herald Stone the Plaguetank was shaping up to be hard and very potent.

As for my other items, I filled them with cheap Fiery Devise pieces.

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

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+12 Health Gained for Each Enemy Hit by Your Skill

+18% Wind Resistance

+71 Magic Resilience

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

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+87 Ancestral Shroud

+38 Evasion Rating

+17% Fire Resistance

Flanchard of Fiery Devise | Item Level: 20

Epic | Heavy Armor | Flanks

182 Armor

7% of Ancestral Shroud (Only for Mardukryons)

Requires: 43 Might, 60 Vigor

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+365 Health

+46 Vigor

+16% Poison Resistance

I chose Fiery Devise as it inherently increased Ancestral Shroud, thickening [Greater Pyro Shell]. Too bad these items didn’t have a set bonus. Their secondary attributes were pretty unremarkable except that of [Bracer of Fiery Devise]. Gaining a sliver of Health for each enemy hit by my skills was far from impressive, but it could add up. [Blight Cloud], [Greater Pyro Shell], and, in the future, also [Tongues of Flames] could simultaneously hit many enemies.

As for my non-armor slots, besides my rings and amulet, I also had a cloak from Chimichangaroo.

Drapes of Vitality | Item Level: 20

Epic | Cloak

121 Magic Resilience

10% Maximum Health

Requires: 25 Might, 60 Vigor, 25 Sense

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+30 Might

+30 Vigor

+30 Spirit

Reaching level thirty wouldn’t be a problem with my current equipment. They might hold up beyond, hopefully until forty. I was itching to get back into MCO and farm Blight Tokens. I had my eye on a debuff skill from the rewards list that might be a suitable replacement for [Gnawing Rot] and [Withering Brand.]

But before any more MCO, a meeting with my sister first.

“You should’ve come with me furniture shopping,” Nelly said, leaning back as far as she could without tipping her swivel chair. “What if Mum doesn’t like the stuff I chose?”

She vaguely resembled a female version of me—though she shared Sawyer’s lush, wavy hair—that we’d sometimes get mistaken as twins when we were kids. As we grew older, the differences between our faces became more pronounced, and the stress of piloting our business chipped away at the minuscule good looks I had. It was now Nelly’s turn at the helm.

“You volunteered for it,” I pointed out, looking up from the document I signed. “I’m not going to get in between you and your chosen destiny.”

She snorted. “Chosen destiny?”

“Sawyer was up for it, but you insisted.” I knew Nelly did it to escape work.

“It’d be too suspicious if it were Sawyer,” she said. “What excuse would she give Mum? It couldn’t be you either because you’ll just pick whatever to get it over with.”

“That’s right,” I said, scribbling my signature on the bottom of the page before flipping to the next. “I’m pretty clueless about design, matching colors, those sorts of things. For me, a chair is a chair. Your tastes are closest to Mum’s, so it should be fine.”

“But what if—”

“Time travel hasn’t been invented yet.” I wagged the fountain pen between my fingers at her. “It’s a waste of time to think about ‘what ifs.’”

“Is that the intro for your next inspirational speech?” Nelly said, chuckling as she spun her chair.

“I already used that line before. Anyway, don’t worry about it. Mum will be delighted when she sees the house this weekend.”

“We’ll go to Pop’s grave before that. Reminding you in case you forget; I know it’s the opening of MotherCon.”

“I didn’t forget,” I said, pausing mid-scribbling. The ink pooled in a small spot.

I thought of saying something more but didn’t, finishing the last few wiggles of my signature. I separated the paper with the ink splotch away from the others and continued signing the rest of the stack. We should start full digitization in our company, but it costs a lot with no immediate return, and the regulatory agencies were annoying to deal with. Perhaps Nelly could get on with that project.

“How’s your head injury?” Nelly asked after several seconds of silence, punctuated by squeaks of the swivel chair and scratching of the pen.

“All good, I suppose. I hadn’t felt anything wrong since I left the hospital. Though I’ll go for a check-up before this weekend.”

“Have you told Mum about it?”

“It’s better she didn’t know.” I had made Nelly and Sawyer promise not to breathe a word of my accident to our mother because she’d needlessly fuss. I didn’t want to worry Mum about a small thing; she deserved to relax without a care in the world. I brought up something else before Nelly could pester me about my injury. “Actually, I feel so great that I started jogging.”

“Really? Look at you, jogging to be healthy and all.”

“I even bought running shoes and a water bottle.”

“Water is good. Don’t touch energy drinks—their sugar levels are insane.”

“What about protein bars?” I asked. Eclairs had given me one the first time I passed by the convenience store Boady owned.

“Candy bars with high protein. Sugar’s everywhere these days.”

“Pure water it is,” I said. “That reminds me. I got this idea for a new Dolly’s item. Our bread rolls border the statutory sugar content for bread. We could cut the sugar—maybe have a substitute if it’ll affect the taste—then market a healthier option.”

“Let me guess…” Nelly drawled. “This has something to do with your ‘healthy lifestyle?’” She exaggeratedly signed air quotes. “Tell me, dear brother, what is your new capital ‘G’ Goal? This got to be connected with that, am I right?”

“I’m going to run a marathon,” I said with a straight face.

Nelly gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up—Kezo’s favorite gesture. “Awesome! Don’t forget to wear Dolly’s merchandise when you do join a marathon event.”

I angled a suspicious brow. “You’re not laughing at me, dear sister?”

“If it’s your capital ‘G’ Goal, then I’m sure you’ll accomplish it. But I’ll laugh if you fail to finish the marathon, you can be sure of that. It’s my duty as your sister.”

I opened my eyes, and I was back in the world of Hierakon.

The sun above, bigger and yellower than Earth’s, was in the middle of its journey through the long Mardukryon daytime. The village was bustling. Mardukryon players mingled with the NPCs and the six-legged beasts of burden, turning the fairly wide streets cramped. The green haze muddying the silhouettes of partially eroded cliff walls was the backdrop of the low Mardukryon huts.

I can probably squeeze in a quest, I thought.

Right now, I was sitting in the backseat of the company car wearing an AU-VR Helm, with Jimmy driving me home. Traffic was horrible around lunchtime, so why not play Mother Core Online on the way? I told Jimmy to pick me a burger from the first drive-thru we’d pass.

I was jostling through the crowd around the auction house—there seemed to be some big items for sale—when I heard my name.

“Herald! Herald, over here!” It was Megantress, waving her sparkling wands to get my attention.

Behind her were Nitana2003 and three other players I hadn’t seen before. New players, given their sizes. Their equipment didn’t look that shabby. Megan and Nitana must’ve given their friends some Artas to start.

“Hey, Megan,” I said. I nodded at Nitana too.

“These are our college friends.” Megan pointed at each player with her wand and introduced them like a preschool teacher identifying pictures on the board. “Lavender, Jani, and Kai.” She then tapped my armor. “Everyone, this is Herald Stone—his name’s like the owners of the Dolly’s. He’s from Eyrie too.”

“Really? That’s cool,” Kai said. He had a sword and board getup. “We should make a guild of people from Eyrie.”

“Are you going to attend MotherCon too?” Lavender asked, stepping forward, jostling Jani aside with the giant hammer on her back that had a comically oversized head.

“Wait a minute, guys!” Megan stepped in front of her friends. “Let me say my piece first. Herald, we’re picking up some quests to farm Blight Tokens. You want to join?”