The following day, they walked into the Monster Hunters Guild again, this time to hire a tracker.
“Welcome back!” Iris said in a cheery voice. “You two have already handled all my level 70- 80 quests, but I have some 60 - 70 open if you would like.”
“Actually, we were hoping to put in a request of our own, for a tracker,” Ray said.
“Hmm, since you have helped me out so much, I might be able to find you one. Let me check.” She popped below her desk and emerged a few moments later with a large parchment. “It looks like Sam will be back in two days if you are ok with waiting.”
“Oh, that works just fine, thank you.”
“It's the least I could do.”
“You know what, since we are going to have to wait anyway, we might as well help you out with some of those 60 - 70 jobs,” Erith added.
Ray nodded, thinking the same thing.
Iris’s eyes lit up. “That would be wonderful!”
They jumped from quest to quest, completing six of them before Sam returned from his. They explained what they wanted his help with, and he quickly agreed to help for the discounted price of six gold coins. Ray paid him happily, and they set out to return to the outskirts of the former Ashrend clan.
They made their way through the forest following a faint trail Sam’s tracking skill had managed to pick up on. They traveled for two days, slowly traveling deep into the forest. It led them to a part of the forest Ray had not been to before. The tree cover grew much denser. Leaves had already fallen from the trees, creating a deep layer on the ground.
They continued following the trail, traveling deeper into the forest, until eventually they found a group of trees that looked to have been damaged recently.
“We're almost there,” Sam said, observing the damage.
Ray and Erith nodded.
They continued for another hour before Sam suddenly signaled them to stop.
“There's a strange creature up ahead.”
“What does it look like?” Erith asked.
“Kind of like a werewolf if it were starved for several weeks and made of steel.”
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“We found them!” Ray exclaimed. “Thanks for all your help, Sam. I can make you a portal back to the guild now if you would like.”
“Not a problem. Please feel free to reach out if you need any more assistance.”
As he stepped through the portal, Ray and Erith celebrated. They could finally get back to a good leveling speed. They spent the next few days slowly slaughtering their way through the horde, leaving them both on the verge of the eighth threshold, with the quest being the only thing remaining.
Quests
Incarnate threshold level eight
Requirements for compilation
Create an item of artifact or higher grade 0/1
Rewards
Eighth threshold title
Access to levels 81-90
Additional rewards based on performance
Ray sighed as he looked at the screen. Erith had also received a challenging quest, but she would be able to work on hers as they fought.
Quests
Incarnate threshold level eight
Requirements for compilation
Perform an E grade Battleweave technique 0/1
Rewards
Eighth threshold title
Access to levels 81-90
Additional rewards based on performance
She would need to do something similar to the spell resonance Ray and horde breaker had performed, but instead, she would have to mix a martial and mystic art to create a new and powerful tech called a Battleweave.
“I know you don’t want to return to the castle, but it would be the quickest way to complete your quest, and I could work on mine while we are there.”
“I know, but I just don’t feel right going back there, and I know you don’t either.”
“Well, I still think it's the best thing for us to do, and if we run into any issues, we can just leave.”
Ray let out a long sigh. “Fine, we can go back tomorrow morning and quickly complete my quest.”
The following morning, he opened a portal directly outside the workshop and knocked on the door.
“Coming, Freia called from the back room. She opened the door, and her jaw dropped as her eyes widened.
“Hey Freia, it's been a while.”
The scale kin knocked the breath out of Ray and Erith as she hugged them tightly.
“I’ve been worried sick about ya. Where have ya been off to these past few weeks?”
“Well,” Ray said, patting Freia on the back. “A lot has happened within the forest, and we had to take time to sort it all out.”
She let the two go and took a step back. “I’m glad you're back.”
“About that, the situation over there still isn’t great, and I need to craft a new artifact grade item to reach the eighth threshold.”
“I thought that might be the case. But we should be able to… wait, did you say the eighth threshold?”
“Yeah, we both reached it yesterday.”
Freia stared dumbfounded, moving her eyes from Ray to Erith then back again. “I think you two might have set a new record. I have never heard of anyone reaching the sixth threshold within one year, let alone the eighth. That will also make it harder; items will go through a regradin’ process as you pass the eighth threshold and prepare to take on ascension. I am guessing that quest wants you to make one that is still considered an artifact even after that process.”
“What is regarding?” Erith asked.
“It’s a process that happens for all incarnates when they reach level 80. A sword considered a sacred treasure to an average person would just be another lump of steel to anyone else. So when you hit that threshold, your items will most likely go down a grade or two.”
“So what grade would it have to be?”
“At least legendary, if not mythic, and to reach either of those, you'll have to learn about component imbuements.”
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