I could gain a random item chest, but I could only use it once a day. Likewise, I could use all my skills once a day without mana cost. However, I was Janus, and as Janus – I lived twice. The power to experience the road not taken was the description of my skill [Duality] and thus –
“Summon Reward Chest.”
There was no flash of light. No sound effects. No nothing. Checking my surroundings in the forest, I questioned if it had spawned around me without my knowledge.
[Sixth Sense – Danger Detected!]
I side-stepped just a large wooden trunk slammed into the earth on the spot where I was seconds ago. I stared at it. “What in the –” I turned my gaze up, to the thick, heavy foliage of trees that almost obscured the sky. My vision took note of several freshly broken branches, some still dangling by a thin line.
“The chest drops from the sky…?”
I was not going to question it. I was going to question how I could abuse it.
Reward Chest
Class: [Common]
Description: This is a Treasure Chest spawned into Alamir’s existence by the Daily Task system, under the authorization of an Administrator Code. This chest contains a random item of [Common] quality that originated from somewhere in Alamir.
Common quality. The Daily Task system said that the quality of the items I would get would increase with each consecutive use. Kicking the chest upright, I noticed it was less of a chest and more of a miniature safe, but designed in the manner of a traditional chest. It even possessed a combination lock, the rotating type that spy movie protagonists would press a stethoscope beside in an attempt to crack it.
“I’ll just assume that the password is…” turning the knob three times, “Zero-Zero-Zero.”
The chest opened with a click. The contents within it were… “…papyrus?”
Loot Obtained!
Miscellaneous Item: [Scribblings of a Nightshaman]
“Scribblings?”
[Scribblings of a Nightshaman]
Class: Common Item(?)
Quality: Poor
Details: The illegible scribblings of a Nightshaman in the cursed language, often found in ancient crypts and abandoned lairs, rumored to bring madness and misfortune to those who see it. Some have claimed that the scribblings have an effect when it the presence of a powerful nightmare, but no one has confirmed the rumors.
Effects: [Unknown]
The words on the paper were smeared and written in cursive script. The handwriting was beautiful, despite the ink blurring together. It read:
Nightmares… script do have… godscript like. Nightscript… command all -options – help, darkness carry… command tongue old… power have not work.
“This is gibberish.”
Except perhaps for tinder to start a fire, I could not understand for the life of me what the absurd words were supposed to mean. I crumbled the paper into a ball and stuffed it into my cloak.
“Second time’s the charm. [Duality].”
[You are now in the True Path]
Closing the timeline where I used the chest, I was left with one where I had not. “[Duality].”
[You have split Paths]
[You are now in Path A]
Splitting timelines again, I called for the chest, again. “Summon Reward Chest.”
I waited. The sound of branches snapping and breaking was my cue to sidestep, as a chest slammed into the earth beside me. The sight of the chest, of a different chest with a different color and scheme brought excitement bubbling within me.
Reward Chest
Class: [Uncommon]
Description: This is a Treasure Chest spawned into Alamir’s existence by the Daily Task system, under the authorization of an Admin Code. This chest contains a random item of [Uncommon] quality that originated from somewhere in Alamir.
“Excellent.” I went to work on the lock immediately. “Zero-Zero-Zero –”
The chest opened with a click.
Loot Obtained!
Weapon: [Elvani Dagger]
The weapon was sheathed in smooth-looking, soft leather, with several thorn-like patterns. Grabbing it from the chest and unsheathing it brought forth an unusual weapon. The blade of the dagger was thin and straight. The pommel was ornate, and the guard was curved like an open parasol. It resembled a miniaturized rapier more than it did a dagger.
Weapon: [Elvani Dagger]
Class: Uncommon Item
Durability: 200/200
Description: A dagger forged and commonly used as a hidden, secondary weapon by those of Elvani origin. The elegant craftsmanship of the esteemed Elvani displays itself in this dagger, as such it is considered a rare find anywhere outside of Oreilles.
Effects: Deals Double Damage when used for Stealth Attacks.
Spinning the dagger within my gauntleted hand, I attached it to my hip with some difficulty. Elvani... are those elves? Does Alamir have elves? There were druids and humans, so it should not have come as a surprise to me.
Patting my cloak, I checked and confirmed that a crumbled piece of paper was still there. The Scribblings of a Nightshaman were still in my possession along with my new Elvani Dagger, and it was all because I realized that my [Duality] allowed me to retain any knowledge, skills, and experience from both realities.
It never mentioned that I could retain items. However, it never said I could not retain items. This meant, if I split realities, and in one reality, ran into a cave and fought a dragon to steal its golden egg, as long as I had the golden egg on my person once I closed that reality, the golden egg would immediately appear on me in the reality where I had not entered the cave.
What I was not sure, however, was if this meant I was cloning items across realities, or if the item would suddenly vanish from its original location in the current reality, and re-appear in my possession.
I’m going to need to test this further.
The fact that I had to resort to exploits, loopholes and cheats just to be able to even the odds against my future enemies was already telling. I doubted my enemies did the same. They overwhelmed me with just pure unbridled power.
I need to be even stronger.
