Pantheon Online

301  True Mechanics (Part 1)

Exile groaned as he dropped his barrier and made another attempt to escape. But after having made several attempts, he couldn't even make it two paces before something cut into his chest again. Exile cried out in pain as he collapsed in agony and watched helplessly as three more greenish arrows impacted where he fell. This wasn't normal! The attacks were dealing damage now! And the enemy was too fast for him to keep up!

"Heh! Do you see now? It's easy for me to kill you!" The mysterious voice chuckled.

A chill ran down Exile's spine at its gloating tone of voice. 'Is this some kind of game-mechanic thing because of their authority?' His mind worked furiously as his thoughts raced through every possible scenario he could come up with while trying desperately not to die. 'I can't give in, but I don't see a way out!'

As his head started swimming with panic, a single thought popped into his mind. "I'll leave your inheritance alone if that's what you wish. I'm no match for a higher levelled god!"

"You really are an idiot," The mysterious voice laughed. "You think I'm one of the game's wills? What a moron. You're so sure of your strength that you can't even imagine being hunted by a weaker player!"

Mikijah finally revealed himself as he stepped out of the darkness. Exile glared at Mikijah as he sat on a fallen tree and stared at him coldly. He didn't remember ever meeting this player, but he knew better than to trust this man. 'This isn't going to end well.' He felt like throwing something at Mikijah in frustration, but there wasn't anything nearby he could use.

"Oh, please." He chuckled sarcastically as Exile tried hard not to grind his teeth together in anger. "Did you really think having high stats is everything? It's clear you have no idea about the deeper mechanics of this game."

"What do you mean?" Exile growled through gritted teeth.

"There are rules that govern how much damage you take when attacked by someone who has a lower value stat compared to yours," Mikijah explained calmly. "In fact, it takes a very specific set of circumstances for these attacks to be able to hurt you at all! The damage a lower-level player can deal to a stronger character is practically non-existent! However, what if I tell you this is only true on the surface? That the reality is much different?"

Exile's eyes widened as he listened to the explanation with disbelief.

"There are many variables that can be manipulated if you know how." Mikijah chuckled. "For example, you're a Tier 2 player. Probably on the high end of the levels. Now, take me. I'm only Tier 1, Level 9! Yet, here you are, rolling in the dirt at my feet. Unable to do anything against me."

Exile clenched his jaw in frustration as he considered the strange player's words. 'I don't get it! How can a player that far behind me be a threat? It doesn't make sense!' A cold chill swept through Exile's body. 'Unless he's lying? Is it possible he's a lot closer to my level than he says he is?'

That was when Exile realised something else. 'My log hasn't registered taking damage! My health has gone down, but there's no log telling me his name!'

"Oh..." The man sighed dramatically before rising from his seat and walking towards him. "You should probably see this then."

"See what?" He asked nervously, but Mikijah just kept moving toward him and pulled out a single dagger.

'What's he up to?' He stared at Mikijah uncertainly until the knife swung into view again. This time it came up close to Exile's neck so fast that he didn't even have time to react. Before Exile could scream in pain, however, he felt something warm rush over the wound left by the blade. He blinked several times in surprise as he looked down at his chest in awe. His black robes had been painted with bright red blood splatters as more fell onto the ground around him!

"Look!" Mikijah grinned as he pointed with his dagger. "There! Look! Now do you understand why I won't kill you? Even though I'd love nothing better right now? That's because I want you alive."

Exile opened his mouth to ask questions but decided against it when he saw how amused the mysterious voice seemed to be by this conversation. Instead of speaking, he watched with curiosity as another gash appeared on his arm from a projectile spell, followed immediately by another on his torso. He whimpered softly as his wounds started oozing and bubbling beneath the crimson paint of blood.

Mikijah smirked slightly as Exile struggled to stand. It was clear that whatever was happening to him wasn't going to end anytime soon unless he made an attempt to run or attack. 'How can this hurt if my health bar is barely decreasing?' However, Mikijah didn't seem too concerned about any damage done to Exile so far. "And here we have the mighty Exile, incapable of protecting himself from a weaker player, don't we?" Mikijah continued to laugh. "What a fun game you've got yourself into, Exile."

The last word had barely left his lips before Exile found himself flying through the air as several bolts of green liquid hit him. The next moment, he slammed into the ground hard enough for all the breath to leave his lungs. His vision blurred as he tried desperately to recover before looking up again in shock.

Mikijah stood over him with a smug smile on his face as he lowered his dagger toward Exile's chest again. This time there were three more arrows ready in case Exile managed to get away. "So now do you understand why I won't kill you? Because I'm not some petty, weak monster that will simply take your life and leave you dead where you fell! No! I want something much different!" Mikijah raised his blade high and plunged it deep into Exile's heart!

The attack dealt such a blow that Exile passed out...

Exile jerked awake as pain coursed throughout his body like lightning. He opened his eyes slowly, expecting to find himself in Valheim's temple. Instead, what met his gaze was Mikijah's vicious grin.

"I win." He snarled. "You're finished. Just accept that because once this fight is done, you'll never be able to reclaim your spot at the top of Skardia's gods again." The mysterious voice laughed coldly. "Now die!"

Mikijah began chanting words of power. As he did so, Exile saw the glow of an effect he hadn't noticed before. A black barrier surrounded him from all sides while another spell activated a few paces above him. A brilliant beam of light pierced the air between them and struck the man standing at his feet!

Mikijah let out a short cry as his head was knocked backwards by the impact, but he didn't fall down as expected. In fact, instead of dropping straight to the ground, Mikijah just continued falling slowly until he stopped suddenly!

"What? What happened?" He looked down at himself in confusion as several large dark patches covered his entire body. "What are those?!"

The magic holding him in place vanished without any warning or fanfare, sending Mikijah crashing back onto the grassy floor, where he landed on his back with a loud thud. Exile stared in awe as blood began oozing out of two holes where Mikijah's eyes were a moment ago. Then with a final groan, Mikijah slumped over on his side like a puppet whose strings had been cut. His hand dropped away from the dagger that had stabbed into his own heart.

Exile sat up slowly and stared at his tormentor as Mikijah's body vanished among motes of light. Exile squinted as he studied Mikijah's orb that had been left behind. It was glowing brightly in the darkness, and there was an energy to it he'd never seen before. 'Who saved me?' Exile wondered as he looked around, finding nobody in sight. He silently swallowed as he returned his gaze to Mikijah's orb. 'Is it alright to take it? Or will my saviour kill me for taking their spoils?' He had no doubt that whoever had been able to kill Mikijah with such ease would be able to do the same to him.

As if answering his question, a sudden flash of white appeared out of nowhere right next to him. "Good day!" A woman's voice greeted him cheerfully. "Wow, what a mess this was. I'm glad I made it in time." Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Exile nearly fell over in surprise when he saw who spoke. "What? Wait, did you save me?"

The woman blinked curiously at him for a moment before nodding politely. "Sure did! Allow me to escort you back to Valheim," she offered kindly as she took her time to pick out the direction. She then walked forward while Exile followed suit and found himself walking alongside a beautiful redhead that had eyes so blue they almost seemed translucent. "Oh, don't forget to grab Mikijah's orb. It should be helpful."

Exile gulped as he quickly retrieved the orb, storing it in his inventory before returning to the woman. "Who are you? Why are you out here?"

"Hm," the woman tapped her chin with a delicate finger as she continued walking. "I'm just out here performing a favour for a friend."

"A favour brought you out here?" Exile asked as he raised his eyebrows dubiously.

"Yep, but you can ask Paul all about it when you log out." She chuckled with a mischievous grin.