Etherea Online: The Seeker’s Revenge

[System Notification]

Archangel Zephyriel defeated

Rank: Archangel (Level 300)

Experience gained: 7,296,000 EXP!

Note : World leaderboard has not started yet

World announcement rejected]

[CURSE ACTIVATION]

[The curse of Asmodeus, Sovereign of the Abyss, has triggered!]

• Energy Drain Detected:

• 100% of experience is being siphoned

• Source: Asmodeus (Level ???).

• Player Experience Gain:

• 0 EXP gained

[You have earned (2) titles!]

[ Light faction enemy has been defeated Curse has been deactivated

Cooldown : 10 days]

[^*%# ERROR*%#*]

[Tutorial area is unstable... Breakdown occuring in 3..2..]

[...]

[Celestia has intervened]

[Player is now transitioning to the starting area]

[Starting area chosen: ...]

[No area chosen-

[Selecting area at random]

[*Error*]

[External interference detected]

[*Error*]

[Asmodeus Curse is resonating...]

[...]

[Success! Starting area chosen!]

Ray paid no heed to the ringing notification from the system for he was too distracted by the revelation from the archangel

"As I suspected… there's a reason why angels lose all their memories after the tutorial,"

If what she said was true then the real battle was never between the light faction and dark faction.

*Sigh* This is so tiring" Ray exasperated.

'Fine then, let's start with the starter ques-

Ray was about to start with his plans when suddenly he noticed residual demonic energy all around him.

He was currently standing in the middle of an empty street. The houses and shops alike were badly damaged as if some dragon had been on a rampage. Not a single soul was in sight.

'This..Where the hell am I? This high level of demonic energy must mean that monsters rampage here every night. Shit, this is in no way a starting area. I need to escape this place'

The sky above the abandoned town was unnaturally dark, with faint embers floating through the air.

He started walking through the street observing dried bloodstains in some places.

'These stains are not very old, the town must have been attacked about two to three weeks ago when the rampage started'

Ray noticed a wreckage having weathered carvings of sunbursts and angels, symbols of the Light Faction.

'This town must be on the borders of Veil's Edge for there to be no paladins sent after this demonic invasion' Ray thought.

Elyndor was the name of the continent belonging to the light faction holding a major area of the map of Etherea. Along the north was Tenebris, the continent of dark faction.

The southern border of Tenebris and the northern edge of Elyndor meet in a volatile region known as the Veil's Edge.

[You have pending system notifications]

[Would you like to see them: Yes/No]

'Yes' Ray thought.

[Beginner's survival kit :

5x bread

5x drinking water

1x Hunting knife

20x bronze coins

added to inventory ]

[You may open Inven-]

[You may -]

[ Think 'Status' t- ]

Ray skipped through the system tutorial as he was already more than familiar with it from his past life.

'Status' Ray thought.

[ Status Window ]

Name: *%%# *error* (not selected)

Level: 01 (-/-)(cursed)

Class: Civilian (none)

[Curse: Sovereign of the Abyss][??]

Attributes:

Strength: 5

Dextirity: 5

Endurance: 5

Intelligence: 5

Wisdom: 5

Perception: 5

Special attributes:

(These attributes cannot be changed with stat points)

Charisma: 0

Affinity: 0

Luck: 0

Unused attributes points: 0

Title obtained:

[Title: Challenger of the Impossible][Unique][Rank:SS - Growth type]

Description:

"You have achieved the unthinkable for the first timw in history by defeating an adversary far beyond your strength. Your unwavering defiance of fate has branded you with an aura of dominance that inspires fear and awe. However, even the strongest aura has its limits."

Effects:

-Dominion Unleashed (Active)

Effects (Active):

For 60 seconds radiate an aura of absolute dominance, affecting all enemies in a sight, regardless of their level or rank.

Cooldown: 10 days

-Suppressive Aura (Passive):

Creates an oppressive field of energy that unnerves all enemies within range:

Enemies 5 levels or more below :

Fear Status Effect: They may hesitate, flee, or become unable to attack directly.

Reduces their combat effectiveness by 25% (accuracy, attack power, speed)

[ Slayer of Radiance][Rank: B]

Description: "You have slain a being of pure Light, an act that leaves a stain upon your soul yet grants you a fragment of their divine essence. The heavens will never forget this transgression."

-Fallen's Mark (Debuff): A cursed brand visible to celestial beings and light faction members marking you as an enemy of light faction

-Increased favourabilty from dark faction]

'That damn archangel did not let me choose even my name. At least I got my titles again' Ray thought shaking his head.

Ray was very familiar with both the titles as they both were rewarded to him in the previous life too.

Suppressive aura was worthless to him as he was only stuck on Level 1 the whole time but the active skill associated with the tile was truly one of his most used skills in his previous life.

He was about to close his status when he saw there to be one another title below which he had never seen earlier,

[Title: Celestia's Last Oath][??]

[Sealed]

Ray had no idea about this title even existing in his previous life. Somehow he had a gut feeling that it may be connected with his regression.

'Shit, I don't have time to think about all this. Sun is going to set in some hours, I have to find a safe place to spend the night or those demonic creatures will skin me alive

'I think a blacksmith workshop may have a well-covered basement'

He decided to find the blacksmith's house remains.

He walked all around the abandoned town searching until,

he sensed a feeble divine energy among the demonic energy scattered all over coming from beneath the rubble of a house which may have stood there before.

He entered the rubble silently and saw broken swords and weapons littered all over.

The once sturdy stone walls were cracked, with chunks of stone scattered across the floor. The forge, once a source of warmth and light, was now cold and lifeless, its metal frame twisted and broken.

The anvil lied toppled, dented from heavy blows, while the tools that once filled the room now lay scattered, some crushed, others bent out of shape.

'This must have been the blacksmith workshop before but..'

It was only for a small moment but he sensed a divine energy coming from the basement but now he could sense nothing strange.

'Was it a holy artifact..?'

He was about to enter the basement through the door when suddenly, out of pure instinct he dodged a sword coated feebly with divine energy slicing from inside the door.

He forcefully kicked open the door, and his breath was caught in his throat at the sight that unfolded before him.

Standing in the dim light of the room was the only paladin in the entire town, her figure cloaked in shining armor that glimmered even in the shadows.

She gripped a radiant holy sword, its blade a brilliant silver, reflecting the faint light like a beacon of hope. 

her golden hair were tangled and matted with dirt and dried blood.

Her once radiant armor was now dented and scratched, stained with blood from countless battles.

Despite the grime and the heavy wear on her, faint holy symbols glow weakly on her chest plate signifying her to be from light faction.

Her sapphire eyes, sharp and full of distrust, narrow as she looked at Ray.

The exhaustion and pain was clear in her face, but there was still a fierce spark in her gaze, as if she was ready to strike at any moment.

Hoping to dispel the tension Ray asked-

"I mean no harm. See I don't even have a weapon. I just arrived here. I just need a shelter, that's all. Any idea what happened to the town and who did all of this?"

"Do you take me as a fool? I can sense him all over you!" She said her blade raised to attack.

"No wait, Wha- who did this?"

"Asmodeus" she responded with anger.