A faint, shadowy aura began to bleed from the boots, wrapping around the leather until their form grew hazy and indistinct.
“Ordinarily, a piece of gear like this would run you a hundred Gold Coins, kid!” Bramwell declared with a dismissive wave of his hand. The newly identified boots sailed through the air and landed squarely in Ethan Sorel’s grasp.
【Shadowstep Boots】
(Plate Armor – Feet)
Level 10
Tier: Dark Gold
Durability: 200/200
Requirements: 80 Strength, 50 Constitution
+75 Physical Defense
+50 Magical Defense
+800 Health
+20 Strength
+20 Constitution
+10 Agility
+10% Movement Speed
Attached Skill:
【Shadow Step】: Melt into the shadows, increasing Movement Speed by 60% and reducing all incoming damage by 10%. Lasts 30 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
(Guaranteed to teach you how to ghost-walk.)
It was a magnificent piece of Level 10 Dark Gold equipment, no doubt about it. The stats were stellar. Unfortunately, as Plate Armor, they were useless to Ethan.
“Looks like we’ve got a small set here. Not bad,” Bramwell’s voice cut through Ethan’s thoughts. While he had been inspecting the boots, the appraiser had already finished with two more items.
【Bonewarden Plate】
(Plate Armor – Chest)
Level 10
Upgradeable (0/3)
Tier: Dark Gold
Durability: 200/200
Requirements: 100 Strength, 80 Constitution
+180 Physical Defense
+120 Magical Defense
+1200 Health
+25 Strength
+25 Constitution
-100 Physical Damage Taken
+100 Melee Damage Reflected
Attached Skill:
【Ossian Plating】: Encase yourself in a skeletal armament. The damage reduction and reflection effects of the Bonewarden Plate are increased by 300%. Lasts 30 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Bonewarden Set: 1/2
Set Bonus: +10% Attack Power, +10% Physical Defense (Inactive)
(So spiky, your enemies won't know where to grab you.)
The "Upgradeable" tag was a game-changer. With the right materials, a blacksmith could raise the item's level. Each upgrade would add 5 levels, meaning this exquisite piece of Dark Gold gear could eventually reach Level 25. Equipping it with the matching greatsword would also activate the set bonus.
【Bonewarden Greatsword】
(Two-Handed Sword)
Level 10
Upgradeable (0/3)
Tier: Dark Gold
Durability: 200/200
Requirements: 120 Strength
+288 Attack Power
+50 Strength
30% of attack damage is dealt as splash damage to nearby enemies.
Attached Skill:
【Crushing Blow】 (Passive): Attacks have a chance to deal triple damage.
Bonewarden Set: 1/2
(Brute force is the ultimate aesthetic.)
The greatsword’s stats were simple but brutal. A staggering 288 Attack Power, plus 50 Strength, was an insane boost for any Level 10 player. The splash damage and the passive `Crushing Blow` made it an undeniably top-tier weapon.
Ethan could already imagine the feeding frenzy these three items would cause at the auction house once he left the Starter Village. And this was before even considering his `Cataclysm` talent. A single use would turn them into three Epic-tier masterpieces.
Still, he held back. He’d wait until he was out of this beginner zone and could gauge the market. Whether he Ascended them or not depended entirely on the financial power of the other players. He pinned his hopes on two names: WealthSupreme, for obvious reasons, and GrandDominion. The latter’s Talent was perfect for rapidly forming a massive guild, which should translate into a formidable war chest.
“Here, take this. This one actually seems suited for you,” Bramwell said, stretching with a groan. He tossed the final item to Ethan. It was a necklace made of tiny, interlocking bones, with a miniature skeleton for a pendant.
【Deadbound Pendant】
(Accessory – Necklace)
Level 10
Tier: Dark Gold
Durability: 200/200
Requirements: 100 Spirit
+80 Spell Power
+500 Health
+1000 Mana
+30 Spirit
+10 Constitution
+10 Agility
Attacks apply a curse, reducing the target's Physical and Magical Defense by 100. (Effect can be triggered by summoned units.)
Attached Skill:
【The Undying】: Reduces the effects of Fear-type debuffs on you by 50%.
(The dead have nothing to fear.)
Finally, a piece of top-tier loot he could actually use. It wasn't upgradeable, but the stats were incredible. Ethan’s eyes lit up, but he maintained a neutral expression as he slipped the pendant into his inventory. He would definitely Ascend it, but not until Bramwell was long gone. The “NPCs” in Myriad Realms Online were real people; he wasn't about to expose his god-tier talent in front of one.
“Alright, that’s everything. Four Dark Gold items in this backwater… you’re one lucky kid,” Bramwell said, turning to leave. “And tell your bony friends to keep their distance. Don't interrupt my Field Excursion again.”
"Wait! Hold on a moment," Ethan called out hastily.
Bramwell glanced back, a pained expression flashing across his face. "What? Don't tell me you have another Dark Gold piece that needs identifying?" Damn it to hell, he thought, I never should have promised to do this for free. This is costing me a fortune. "Fine, bring it here! I'm a man of my word. Free appraisals for you today!"
"There are no more Dark Gold items."
A relieved smile spread across Bramwell’s face. "Well, of course not. What were the chances of finding so many in a dump like this? So, if you don't have any gear, what do you want? Spit it out. Don't waste my time."
“Uhh…” Ethan scratched the back of his head, looking as innocent as he could. He pulled a robe from his inventory. “Well, the Dark Gold items are gone, but… I do have one more piece that needs looking at.”
"Not Dark Gold? Then what's the point? Even if I’m just moonlighting as an Appraiser, I know anything below Dark Gold is…" Bramwell's voice trailed off. He snatched the robe from Ethan’s hands, his eyes widening as he examined it. He looked up, staring at Ethan as if he were some kind of monster.
"How in the hell did an Epic item show up in this godforsaken place?!"
It was, of course, the `Whisper of the Dead Robes`, his reward for the solo World First clear of the Catastrophe difficulty dungeon. If it hadn't triggered the Azure Prime server-wide announcement, such an item would never exist in a Starter Village.
“Just lucky, I guess,” Ethan said with a hopeful smile. “So… this one’s free to identify too, right?”
From Bramwell’s grumbling, he’d gathered that appraisals were expensive. A hundred Gold for Dark Gold meant an Epic piece could cost thousands. This was a massive saving he couldn't pass up.
"I said free, and I meant it. I won't charge you a single coin."
Ethan’s face beamed. But in the next second, his smile froze.
Bramwell tossed the robe back to him with a wry grin. "Unfortunately, my Appraisal skill is too low. I can't identify this thing."
What?
Ethan was completely dumbfounded. You can only appraise up to Dark Gold?
“I’m just here covering a shift, kid. Does it seem so unreasonable that I can’t identify Epic gear?” Bramwell said with a shrug, reading the look on Ethan's face.
Ethan suddenly had the distinct feeling of, You make a good point, and I have no comeback.
Seeing Ethan’s crestfallen expression, Bramwell seemed to consider something. “Hey, kid. You ever think about learning Appraisal yourself?”
A chance like this?!
Ethan’s eyes snapped wide open. He nodded emphatically. “Yes!”
If he learned Appraisal, he could just identify his own Ascended Epic gear. He’d never have to rely on anyone again.
“It’s possible,” Bramwell said, a sly smile playing on his lips as he raised an eyebrow. “But there’s a tuition fee.”
“How much?” Ethan asked, his confidence wavering as he mentally checked his inventory balance of 658 Gold. If a single Dark Gold appraisal cost 100, what would the price to learn the entire skill be?
Bramwell slowly raised his hand, palm open, showing five fingers.
“Five hundred?” Ethan asked tentatively, not daring to hope. A player could have one sub-profession like blacksmithing, alchemy, or tailoring. Appraisal was clearly a hidden class within that system. There was no way it would be that cheap, but he couldn't afford much more.
To his shock, Bramwell nodded. “That’s right. Five hundred.” Then he flipped his hand over. In his palm rested a gold coin engraved with ancient, unfamiliar runes. “But not five hundred normal Gold Coins. Five hundred of these.”
【Antique Gold Coin】: One of the first coins ever minted. No longer in circulation and worthless as currency, but to a collector of antiquities, its value far exceeds that of a normal Gold Coin.
“Contact me when you’ve gathered five hundred of these,” Bramwell said, already preparing to leave again. “And don’t bother me about my Field Excursion until you have them.”
A series of notifications chimed in Ethan’s mind.
`System: Bramwell has added you as a friend.`
`System: You have accepted the hidden quest '[Quest] The Antique Collector'.`
`Quest Details: Collect 500 Antique Gold Coins for Bramwell.`
`Quest Reward: Sub-Profession Skill 'Appraisal: Novice'.`
The notifications brought Ethan back to reality. Antique Gold Coins? The name sounded strangely familiar.
A memory sparked. He immediately opened his inventory, his gaze locking onto the antique copper coin in the first slot.
【Antique Copper Coin】: A discontinued copper coin of unknown value. To a collector, it might be worth 10 normal copper coins.
What was the saying? You search the world for something, only to find it right under your nose.
If Ascending a copper coin turned it into an antique, then Ascending a gold coin…
As Bramwell’s back receded into the distance, a flicker of excitement ignited in Ethan’s eyes. He quickly called out, “Wait! Please, just one more moment!”
At the same time, a single thought echoed in his mind.
`Cataclysm`!
Target: 500 Gold Coins in my inventory.
“Ascend to Tier 1.”
`System: You have received 500 Antique Gold Coins.`
In the next instant, a stack of coins identical to the one Bramwell had shown him appeared in his inventory, a small ‘x500’ in the corner.
“Now what, kid? You really think…” Bramwell turned, his annoyed words dying in his throat.
He was in front of Ethan in a flash, snatching one of the coins from Ethan’s outstretched palm and scrutinizing it.
“This… how… I…” Bramwell was practically speechless after confirming they were all genuine Antique Gold Coins. Drawing and collecting old currency were his two greatest passions. These coins weren't priceless, but they were incredibly rare. And this kid had just produced five hundred of them? Here? In a starter village?
Ethan calmly handed over the entire stack of 500 coins. “So,” he said with a faint smile, “can you teach me Appraisal now?”
Bramwell pocketed the coins, his gaze finally taking a long, hard look at the young man before him. He could understand someone lucking into an Epic item. But something like Antique Gold Coins? That was simply impossible in a place like this. He didn't ask where Ethan got them, but his eyes held a new, profound depth.
“You, kid, are full of surprises.” He tossed a small book to Ethan. “Here you go.”
`System: You have completed the hidden quest '[Quest] The Antique Collector'. You have received the skill book 'Appraisal: Novice'.`
This time, Bramwell didn’t linger. With a single step, he launched himself into the air, his voice echoing back. “Kid, contact me when you have ten thousand Antique Gold Coins. I’ll have another surprise for you then.”
`System: You have accepted the hidden quest '[Quest] The Antique Collector II'.`
`Quest Details: Collect 10,000 Antique Gold Coins for Bramwell.`
`Quest Reward: Unknown.`
In a blink, Bramwell’s figure vanished over the horizon. He seemed to have remembered something urgent, moving so fast he didn’t even bother with his "Field Excursion."
Looking at Bramwell’s name in his friends list, Ethan smiled. He had just made a powerful connection. He had a strong feeling that Bramwell was far more than he appeared. His ability to fly and instantly obliterate a Skeleton Warrior proved his immense power. A man like that couldn’t possibly be a simple part-time Appraiser in Starter Village #9527.
“Wonder when I’ll be that strong,” Ethan mused, shaking his head. He looked down at the `Appraisal: Novice` skill book.
`Cataclysm`!
Target: Appraisal: Novice.
`System: Please select an Ascension Tier.`
`Option 1: Ascend to [Appraisal: Journeyman]. Cost: None.`
`Option 2: Sublimate to [Appraisal: Adept]. Cost: 50,000 Gold Coins.`
`Option 3: Cataclysm to [Appraisal: Master]. Cost: 500 Years Lifespan.`
“Ascend to Tier 1.”
`System: You have received 'Appraisal: Journeyman'.`
`[Appraisal: Journeyman]: Learning this grants the sub-profession 'Journeyman Appraiser'.`
The silver eye on the book’s cover now had a far more intricate design. Without hesitation, Ethan used it. The book dissolved into a stream of silver light that flowed into his forehead.
`Congratulations! You have changed your sub-profession to the hidden class 'Journeyman Appraiser'.`
`You have learned the new skill 'Appraisal: Journeyman'.`
A new panel unlocked in his character interface.
【Sub-Profession Panel】
Player: Whitenox
Sub-Profession: Journeyman Appraiser
Skill: Appraisal: Journeyman
【Appraisal: Journeyman】 (0/10,000)
Success rate increases slightly with proficiency.
Dark Gold Item Identification Success Rate: 60%
Epic Item Identification Success Rate: 10%
Cast Time: 5 seconds. Cooldown: 60 seconds. Cost: 1000 Mana.
Sub-profession skills didn't take up slots on his main skill bar. Ethan pulled out the `Whisper of the Dead Robes` and immediately began the process.
Vmmmmm.
A silver light emanated from his palm, slowly enveloping the robe. Five seconds later, a notification popped up.
`System: Appraisal failed.`
He had expected as much. Ethan wasn’t worried. It wasn't like he had to grind the skill himself. With Bramwell gone, the Verdant Plains had become his personal backyard. His skeleton army was already back at work, clearing a 500-meter radius around him.
Ethan settled back onto the large boulder where this had all started. He had nothing but time. After a one-minute wait, he placed his hand on the `Whisper of the Dead Robes` and began the appraisal again.