Chapter 12: The Ancient ruins of the Dryads II

We have been flying for about 3 hours now and I can see the ruins between huge mountains and deep within the forest. If I didn't have this map I wouldn't even know it was here. I land the griffin outside of the ruins and I don't feel or see any hostile monsters. I don't feel anything coming from the ruins. "You stay here, if trouble comes go to those mountains over there and I'll meet you if you are there and not here." I tell the griffin what he should do if he encounters trouble. He lowers his head and closes his eye's indicating that he understands. Griffins are extremely intelligent and can understand most of the time what you are saying.

I walk for about 2 minutes until I approach the old arch way into the temple grounds. I then get a system notification explaining some things.

[Hidden Location: This is the old temple of the dryad priests. The dryad people use to reside in this forest until they disappeared without a trace. There are many secrets here, you may discover something worth while other than your quest item.]

So the dryad people once existed here in the surrounding forest and they built this temple. The lore about the dryads is scarce in the future. All that was revealed was that they were one of the most ancient people in Ancients World. They were one of The Almighty Fathers earliest creations.

I look around the huge courtyard and I notice lush gardens and old statues of dryads. I approach one of them and inspect it.

[Description: This is an old statue that was dedicated to the 3rd princess of the dryad kingdom, Lady Elenore. It was said her beauty could cause kings to go to war.]

This is the only statue that is in good enough condition to inspect. There are piles of rubble that once belonged to other statues lining the grounds. There is one giant 3 cornered pyramid, unlike the 4 cornered pyramids in Egypt. I walk up to it and I try to open the door, but I get stopped by a system notification.

[You need to find the key that unlocks these doors]

[Hint: It is on temple grounds]

There is only one other building in this place that hasn't been destroyed. I head to the building down the long court yard. This place is at least 5 miles long in every direction. After walking through the beautiful empty gardens and pathways I reach the only other building here. It took about 22 minutes walking to get here, I was distracted by the lush landscapes of this place.

I approach the door and I can feel an energy from the other side of the door. It isn't hostile, but it has the potential to be. I open the door slowly and walk inside, the sunlight is lighting up the room through all the holes in the walls and ceiling. I look around the room and I spot an old man cooking some food over a fire. "Hello?" I lightly call out to the man.

He turns to me and he is wearing old clothes and a weaved hat. "Why hello young man. What brings you out to these old ruins?" He seems friendly enough and I walk over to him and sit across from him. I pull out my quest and hand it to him.

As he is reading I should explain what I am currently looking for. "I am looking for the key that goes to the door of the main temple. I came searching over here to see if I could find it." After I explained why I am over here. He lifts his head and inspects me. I am a little taken aback by what the system says.

[This NPC is strong enough to view all of your information]

Then that means he will see my title and divine class. I can see the look of general surprise on his face. I take this moment to view his information too. I don't expect what I get in response.

[You are not strong enough to view this NPC's basic information]

Talk about a mysterious person. What is someone so strong doing all the way out here. "Well, that explains the incredible power buried deep with in you young man." He says as he laughs. I don't really know the full potential or power of my class. All I know is NPC's are more in tune with this world. If strong enough, they can see remnants of hidden power. "Mind telling me what The Son of Arch-Angel Michael is doing in such a place you are not prepared for." I guess there are things here I am not strong enough for.

He read the quest, but I guess he wants to hear my personal opinion on why I came. "I came because I didn't want to miss the opportunity to see such a place. I figured that I may not be strong enough, but I still want to try." The old man looks into the fire while sucking on a piece of wheat. I guess he is thinking about something. All of a sudden I get a system notification and I didn't think that this was going to happen.

[Sub-quest: The betrayal]

[Description: Find out what happened to the dryads using the information that the mysterious NPC provides]

[Objective 1: Use the key that the NPC gives you to enter the temple]

[Objective 2: Find the diary of Lady Melina]

[Objective 3: Bring the diary back to the mysterious NPC]

[Quality: Legacy]

[Rewards: Hidden]

[You have no choice but to accept the quest since it provides the item you need]

The old man lifts his head and hands me some food so I have something to eat while he talks. Its pretty good considering. "I'll give you the key in exchange for the diary of Lady Melina. It is also in the temple along with what you are asking for. Only people of purity may enter the temple. I am no longer pure." That confuses me, I wonder why he would say that. Before I ask him what he means he raises his hand with a chuckle. "Not as in evil impure, I am no longer a virgin and only virgins can open the temple." Ohh, well that explains it. I don't know how he knows I am a virgin, but I cant focus on that right now.

I finish my food because it is the polite thing to do. "I'll get the diary for you. You have my word, is there anything you can tell me about the inside of the temple?" He takes out the key and hands it too me. I grab it and place it in my inventory.

He stands up and I follow. He takes me to a table in the room and gives me a map. "This is a map of the inside. Whatever you do don't go into the main chamber. Your item is located in the eastern wings treasure room. Down the hall from there is Lady Melina's room." I should take what he says seriously. If he is warning me about the main chamber than I should listen.

I take all the useful stuff he has given me and told me and I head back to the temple. It is faster getting back since I am no longer distracted by the scenery like last time. I approach the doors again with the key out and I place it in the lock. I turn the key and the door opens. I get a system prompt that says what I feel.

[There are powerful enemies in this location]

[The sentinels guarding this location want you gone]

[There is an optional dungeon in this location]

I can also see why I was given a map. This place is giant and impossible to navigate without one. I follow the map and head to the east wing. I might as well get the diary first and then get the horn of the forest on my way out. I head up 4 flights of stairs before I reach the top floor and I come across my first mob and he is a powerful elite enemy.

[Sentinel Guard Lvl. 15 Elite]

70,000/70,000 HP

This guy is stronger then Krel'wis. He notices me and draws his sword, I guess this mean I am fighting. I won't be able to kill this guy and not take damage. I do however have 50 unspent skill points and I have every intention to use them.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.7]

[Exp: 3090/9000]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden),+1 more]

[Stats]

[Strength - 155]

[Endurance - 155]

[Dexterity - 160]

[Speed - 155]

[Focus - 155]

[Mana: 1550/1550]

[Health: 1240/1240]

[Stat Points: 50 unspent]

[Armor rating: 320]

[Inventory]

[Skills/Perks]

[Inheritor of the sword (Passive) - Son of Heaven (Passive) - Heavens light Lvl.2 0/200 (Active) - Protected by Heaven Lvl.1 25/100 (Active) - Slash Lvl.6 300/600 (Active) Slayer of Evil - (Passive) - Holy Willow Trees savior - (Passive) - Parry Lvl.1 80/100 (Active)]

I take my 50 unspent skill points and add all 50 to strength to increase my damage. Now I know I can contend, with the 500 damage with my steel sword I will be slicing and dicing now.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.7]

[Exp: 3090/9000]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden),+1 more]

[Stats]

[Strength - 205]

[Endurance - 155]

[Dexterity - 160]

[Speed - 155]

[Focus - 155]

[Mana: 1550/1550]

[Health: 1440/1440]

[Stat Points: 0]

[Armor rating: 320]

[Inventory]

[Skills/Perks]

[Inheritor of the sword (Passive) - Son of Heaven (Passive) - Heavens light Lvl.2 0/200 (Active) - Protected by Heaven Lvl.1 25/100 (Active) - Slash Lvl.6 300/600 (Active) Slayer of Evil - (Passive) - Holy Willow Trees savior - (Passive) - Parry Lvl.1 80/100 (Active)]

Now I deal 2050 raw damage, add that to the 500 that my steel sword provides I have a new damage of 2550. Add the 75% damage from slash and I get 4462.5 damage every swing with slash. With the Holy Willow Trees savior I'll regenerate 516 health a minute while not taking damage. Heavens light will do between 6,375 and 8,925 without slash. With slash it does between 11,156.25 and 15,619.75. I'll be able to survive all my battles with these guards I come across. I cant wait to see how much exp I make.