Mother’s kiss (choice of respawn location)
* Addition
Mana is not spent in the Solar System
3 000 Mana is spent in deep space
.
Alex sighed. Sorry, AK-47, but you will be my first-born today.
He beckoned the man, who had been still in prostration, forward. He extended his palm to AK-47, and they shook hands. “I pass you Mother’s Blessing!” he announced.
A shining pillar of light enveloped AK-47. Alex had to support him so he didn’t collapse.
“Okay, who’s next?” Alex asked, glancing at Tataki.
Subsequent events resembled a well-coordinated assembly line. Alex not only passed the skills of the Firstborn and the Mother’s Blessing to his people but rewarded them with the Phoenix brand so as not to offend anyone. Gradually, this ritual grew into jubilation. The group supported each blessing with applause and friendly shouts of his or her name. Alex managed to conclude the task before sunset.
Finally, I can take care of myself and try to contact the mechoes.
Suddenly, a bell rang out from above. Then, without warning, a massive pile of gold coins poured over Alex, gleaming with obverse and reverse. Shielding his face, Alex cried, “Don’t you think this is too much?”
A solemnly framed message flashed before his eyes.
.
Player Phoenix,
you have obtained Great Bounty achievement
Available: Give and Take (without restriction)
Available: Characteristics plundering (randomly)
.
Chapter 6. Dark Druid
The evening wore on. Darkness moved from the east, a lilac haze mingled with the ink wings of the warm night breeze. Despite the surrounding calmness, Alex decided to play it safe and appoint watchmen.
“Great, Flash, thanks,” Alex said, smiling.
It pleased him that Flash had taken on the responsibility of finding the guards. The ermine greatly discouraged the clan members, backing up his words with a growl and a demonstration of his fangs and claws. That made the impression that the ermine's orders were not up for discussion. Flash quickly assigned three groups of guards around the Field of Mars, three men in each group. Then, under the gaze of the impressed clan members, he established a hidden observation post in an overgrown lilac bush, changed his guise to a small one, and disappeared into this bush.
Alex mentally thanked his friend, I’m glad to have you on my team, Battle Ermine Flash!
Flash didn’t answer, as the hidden post suggested absolute secrecy.
“Well, let’s move on.”
Alex deliberately didn’t upgrade himself. First, he hoped to level-up on Earth. Second, it was wise to save free stat points “for a rainy day…” Alex smirked, standing in the pouring rain.
He had tried to contact the mechoes several times, but all attempts had been thwarted, and this bothered him. He knew for sure that Tiсktock and Chichik were listed in the clan register as alive and active. However, a second attempt at communication ended with the same result — nothing.
I need to jog. It may help me figure out how to improve connection and reach the mechoes.
It was dark when Alex finished jogging. The pansies had moved to the western part of the field, apparently to be the first to greet the sun in the morning, even if hidden behind a rainy veil.
Every clan member preferred to sleep in the rain, in the center of the Field of Mars square and take passive level-ups. Their foggy vestments turned out to be more useful than they initially looked – despite many hours in the rain and wind, the people felt no discomfort. In fact, everyone felt great.
Many didn’t sleep, they thoughtfully distributed their stat points and listened to quiet conversations with their clan leader.
“Alex, can you tell me what you meant when you talked about the ancient races?” AK-47 asked. “Were they the Sumerians, or who?”
All held their breath, listening.
Alex paused. What could he say? What did he know for sure?
Soon after, a vision appeared. For a few moments, he seemed deafened by the roar of battle trumpets, the clang of steel, and warriors' shouts. Extraordinary banners, flashes of spells, and bright protective domes flashed before his eyes. The sudden transition from complete calm to terrifying battle nauseated him.
Tough, armored warriors furiously fought with axes in the shadow of ancient dungeons. Oddly enough, they were successfully opposed by tall, agile, pale warriors in skillfully woven dark purple chain mail.
Dwarves, and, most likely, dark elves! he almost yelled out loud.
These visions were so real that Alex woke up drenched in sweat, oblivious to where he was. He hardly registered when someone shook his shoulders.
When the confusion finally lifted, Alex addressed his frightened clanmates, “The Sumerians? No… most likely, not. I saw dwarves and dark elves…”
Then he passed out.
***
Alex woke up unusually late. His face and head were not only being caressed by the warm rain, but also by gentle female hands. He opened his eyes.
“He’s awake, girls,” Sophia said.
What does it mean, huh? Alex thought, dumbfounded. His head rested comfortably on Sophia’s plush hips. The worried Tataki and Daga sa Daga sat nearby.
“How do you feel?’ Tataki asked.
Looks like the girls are getting along. Everything’s fine and I will stay alive. Phew.
Alex struggled to sit up. He noted that about two-thirds of his men were on guard duty. “What happened?”
Tataki took his hand. “In the morning, our main camp on the southern outskirts of St. Petersburg was attacked by about five hundred dead. Three of them had high levels of about three to four thousand. They managed to flee, sending several dozen of our guardsmen to rebirth. What’s important to note is, all of them had names and the external attributes of belonging to the System, as well as the ability for respawning.”
“How fast are they? Do they have weapons?” Alex asked.
Tataki shrugged her shoulders, “I didn’t see them, but those who participated in the battle said the dead
