(Second Book Complete!) Runeblade: A Delving & Skill Merging LitRPG

Pausing as he met the guildmasters’ eyes, Kaius considered the responsibility that had been offered. Taking out a boggart swarm of once in a century’s strength? That was vital, and the fact that they had been offered the task showed a level of trust he didn’t expect to receive so early.

“Given the risks, and the importance of this task, we won’t force you to take it on.” Ro said, drawing Kaius’s attention away from Rieker. “Take a few minutes to think it through—we have backups, but this is a genuine opportunity if you can seize it. Similarly, if you do decide to accept, you should prepare thoroughly—it’s a little more complex than what you did with the spider.”

Kaius looked to his team, searching their faces for any indication of their preferences.

Porkchop, as always, looked thrilled at the idea of any form of challenge—so he was a shoe in. Ianmus however, looked concerned, with a slight frown marring his angular features.

He caught the man’s eye. “What do you think?”

Ianmus paused, contemplative for a few moments, before he shrugged. “It’s up to you, I trust your judgement. A swarm of that size is dangerous, but I am less concerned for our safety—the two of you can handle it. I do have one question though.”

“How are we allowed to do this? This can’t be a Bronze rated task.” Ianmus asked, his attention turning to the two guild administrators on the opposite side of the table.

One of Ro’s eyes scrunched as she grimaced—her awareness of the non-standard nature of their mission obvious. Rieker only grinned.

“Technically, since the scout only saw enemies under level seventy—and he only saw a few dozen at any one given time—it’s within the bounds of what a Bronze can handle.” Rieker said, his voice carrying through the room. “Though I will admit that it is stretching the definition just a little. Traditionally anything that can potentially escalate to disastrous levels is given priority to delvers who have a certainty of success—though I have plenty of leeway in how that applies.”

Ianmus mulled the words over, before he turned back to Kaius. “I’m satisfied—it’s up to you.”

Nodding to his teammate, Kaius leaned over to look closer at the map that Ro had placed on the table—considering the boggart swarm that they were tasked with culling.

The group itself should be easy to navigate to. Deep in the dense and rocky hills that lay east and south of Deadacre—about two weeks walk if he was reading the map right. It would likely be a relatively easy journey. Flat land, with few stopping points other than a few smaller villages that they could stop by for supplies.

If they were still inhabited, that is. Kaius frowned—the fact that the scout had moved past them, going straight to Deadacre, was telling. Though, it was possible they just simply didn’t have the infrastructure or supplies to handle the influx of hopefuls.

No doubt the boggarts were holed up in some cave, as their kind was wont to do. While he knew relatively little of that region, he had heard that there were some pretty extensive systems that networked the hills and bedrock beneath.

He didn’t deny it was an exhilarating opportunity, but it had its risks.

Boggarts of the level that they had described were rare, and were usually the result of some small tribe of the buggers being left undiscovered in a particularly dangerous region. However, swarms were slightly more common.

As one of the lower races, boggarts formed complex communities that could grow and scale. Unfortunately, like all others of their cursed nature, they seemed to be inherently destructive and parasitic.

They festered, eating regions barren until they either starved themselves out or formed conquesting warbands, descending on surrounding territories to pillage and eat and slave.

Normally, it was a rare issue—lacking the faculties of the higher races and greater beasts, they had little of either’s raw power and ingenuity. Hells, they couldn’t even speak Common, which Kaius assumed meant that they had some lower form of the system like beasts.

Even when they did form hosts, most of the time their environment couldn’t support large numbers, and they stabilised in small tribal groups—vicious and bloodthirsty, but low level and weak. It was only when a rare shaman or warchief appeared—pulling various tribes under their banner—that they would form a host and raid in search of the resources they needed to grow their numbers, increasing in levels all the while.

Kaius sincerely hoped that this tribe, numbering in the hundreds, was some result of the increased number of beasts allowing them to grow fat and numerous, and not the result of one of their number becoming a chieftain.

Warchiefs, and the various other types of boggarts that rode at the head of swarms, were universally powerful. A cut above their more common brethren, both in stature and the might of their system-granted abilities, from what he had heard. If even the common rabble beat him in level…one of them would be potent indeed.

On the other hand, Kaius could see Rieker’s wisdom in them taking this mission on.

First, the guildmaster was correct in that it would be a fantastic whetstone to hone the edge of their skills against. More than that though, it would give them valuable practice against thinking enemies.

Boggarts might have a base and simple intelligence, but they were conniving and cunning. Learning how to manage opposing tactics, ambushes, and the like, now instead of against a superior force of men could save their life. Plus, ever since gaining his Veteran’s Edge, he had taken a new shine to the breadth of value that varied experience held.

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In his spars against Porkchop and Rieker he had realised that his knowledge of war was fragmented and relatively untested. No matter how much his mind pulled on his past experiences to seek a path to victory, it mattered little when almost all of them were against rabid depths-born and simple beasts.

Plus, he didn’t need an Aspect to know that they had yet to adapt their team tactics against large volumes of enemies. Learning to manoeuvre and dismantle a numerically superior force would be vital before they returned to the depths—especially considering Ianmus’s relative vulnerability to being caught out alone.

All in all, he thought it would be worth it.

Besides, surely a mission of this import would have a commensurate reward?

“What’s the pay?” he asked.

“Now we’re talking! Should have been the first bloody question out of your mouth.” Rieker said, walloping the table hard enough for it to jump. As the table crashed back to the ground, the guild master winced as Ro stared daggers at him.

“Rieker! If I have to fill out a requisition form again for another table, I am going to hand off your precious liquor to the closest booze-hound I can find that looks like he drinks rotten apples for a living!” Ro yelled at the man, swatting him on the arm.

It seemed even the guildmaster himself wasn’t immune to her fire—Ro clearly had no compunctions about denying Rieker the respect his station was ‘due’.

Kaius bit the inside of his cheek, hiding his amusement.

Rieker, at the very least, had the good sense to look abashed. “Sorry, Ro.”

Sniffing, and giving him a swift nod at his minor contrition, Ro turned her attention back to them.

“The reward is considerable. A full platinum piece—one-thousand gold to split between you—” she explained.

Kaius’s eyebrows shot up, and he heard his teammates gasp in surprise. That was a lot of money—even enough to start securing a couple of pieces of Rare- gear for him and his team, potentially even more.

Ro continued on, uncaring of their reactions. “—however, we have a suggestion. Rieker can explain.”

“It’s quite simple really,” Rieker said, taking over from his guild manager. “You all are in desperate need of some better gear. Unfortunately, coin rewards for guild work are relatively controlled—the guidelines are set by the head office, and we have very little ability to shift them. Not by much, at least.”

“I’m sensing there’s a ‘but’ coming.” Porkchop grunted, sitting up taller on the carpeted floor to watch the guildmaster closer.

Rieker nodded. “There is, but it’s the good kind.”

Drumming his fingers on the table, the guildmaster searched for his words. “The guild has an Armoury system. It’s the same place we got those Masking artefacts from. Any member can forgo their mission rewards in place of receiving an artefact—chosen by us, in most cases.”

Kaius nodded—he could see where the guildmaster was going with that. Artefacts were…difficult to concretely price, beyond certain generalities. If they could receive it as a reward…Kaius decided to voice his assumption.

“I imagine if we take that option, you will have far greater leeway in what we are rewarded with?” he asked.

Both Ro and Rieker nodded.

“We have a few things in mind, actually.” Ro explained, clearly more in her element as the change of pace to logistical concerns made her perk up. While she might have hated paperwork, it was becoming more and more clear that she was a fantastic administrator.

“Though, some of them you might have to forfeit your rewards from more than one mission to be able to afford.” she rose her hand as Ianmus opened his mouth. “Trust me, you’ll be getting an impossibly good price, but there are limits to how far we can bend things—even for the Armoury.”

Kaius sat up straighter. He did have to admit, the idea of fresh gear was an appealing one. While his rewards from the Depths had been invaluable in keeping him alive, most of them were of little assistance against the monsters they currently faced. Hells, his armour had barely been holding up against Champions—and even if they were empowered compared to even Elites, it wasn’t enough to make them compare to something like the infernus hound.

It might even be possible to leverage the rewards for materials to upgrade his blade. It was holding up better than most, despite nominally being Common, but the sooner he could improve it the better. He knew little of growth artefacts, but almost all stories agreed on one thing—the first step in their development was the most impactful. A sort of awakening.

It was a risk. Telling Ro and the guildmaster that he had a growth weapon would be as impactful as telling them they had Honours—only slightly less uncertain than letting slip that he and Porkchop were behind the phase shift.

His mind raced—face staying still as Ro and Rieker went through a laundry list of gear improvements that they could make. A new staff for Ianmus—followed by some decently protective robes. Rings galore for Porkchop, to better increase his damage output and maneuverability. Armour for him, a full set this time—something that Ro emphasised would be better off saving for.

Unfortunately, the guild administrators were also adamant he replace his blade—and soon. A Common weapon was a poor tool at their level of strength, in their eyes.

The idea rankled—relinquishing his pay in return for a weapon he would never use. Yet the idea of revealing the existence of his sword—Father’s most precious gift—made his stomach twist. At the very least, it would need Ro to be looped into the same oath that the guildmaster had made.

His mind torn, Kaius reached for his bond—seeking out Porkchop’s advice.

“Just do it,” Porkchop replied upon hearing him out. “The worst that can happen is she has to leave the room—it’s too big of an opportunity to miss out on, and they already know much. Besides, I think it is good for us if she is oathbound anyway, and this is a good excuse to get that done.”

The tense indecision that was balled up in his chest eased at his brother’s words. Steeling himself, Kaius waited for his moment while Ianmus nodded along to Rieker’s insistence that he needed an ioun stone. He’d never heard of them, but judging by the way the conversation was going, it seemed to be some sort of artifact that would act as a store of mana for Ianmus to tap upon when needed.

Finally, their words petered off, and he sensed his moment.

Time to find out if he could squeeze the guild for help in upgrading A Father’s Gift.