Chapter 55: Vestige of Decay
"Sand... there's nothing but fricking sand, what the hell!" Exclaimed Imogen while running across the great desert, kicking up sand as she trekked.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: You're in a desert
"Oh really, I didn't know; you've enlightened me, great system!" Snarled Imogen as she shielded her eyes from the oppressive sun.
"Frick!" "I just realized something system, Clarence is in another dimension; I can't just walk there!" Snapped Imogen while feeling as though the heat was really getting to her head.
*𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭: Kill The King Of The Dunes in the Lofty Mirage region of The Great Desert Of Tanvene - Rewards, gain 1 key to the second dimension of the successor chain, 5 Skill Stones, 2 Evolution Shards; and a fire based skill
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Evolution Stones will now be known as Evolution Shards
"I bet you were waiting to give me that, patently watching to see if I realized that you can't access The Successor Dimensions without a key." Grumbled Imogen as she stopped dead in her tracks.
"So where is this self proclaimed 'King Of The Dunes', and what tier is he?" Inquired Imogen while wondering how many pairs of clothes she had left before they were all torn.
*𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Minimum level of 20, 1 Sandstone Golem's heart, 3 Lesser Wyvern scales; and 4 molten stone chunks from The Obsidian Spires
Imogen frowned when she saw the notification, her displeasure slowly morphing into anger. "First off, that's complete bullcrap, and second off; I didn't even ask for it!"
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫: Did you really think I'd just tell you where to find your quest objective, I'd think not; instead enjoy the dread of your next evolution's requirements
"You mean I have search this whole goddarn desert for a tiny little creature that pales in comparison, you're truly malicious system." Sighed Imogen as she looked around the vast desert in vain.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐞: Tiny? No, I wouldn't say that; I wouldn't say that at all
"Are you hinting that it's a giant creature, because I'll just kill it all the same... even if I do only have one arm." Claimed Imogen while gesturing to the misshapen stump that used to be her right arm.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧: Even with your luck... I have my doubts
"What?" "Is 'The King Of The Dunes' really that powerful, don't you have faith in me?" Chuckled Imogen as she tried to sheath her halberd, only to have it drop into the sand.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐇𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐨𝐧: No, it's not that... you'll know when you see it
"Just tell me, system, for god's sake; you're driving me up the wall!" Exhorted Imogen while picking up her halberd, and holding it awkwardly at her side.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞: Fine, if you're ready; please repeat the following phrases. Surrounded by the beast I stand, wallowing knee deep in sand, I beseech thee; thy vitaticum!
"Why?" "I thought you were going to tell me what the creature looked like, not ask me to sing some awful poetry!" Protested Imogen as she spat out some sand.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Just say the **** phrases, my excitement will soon boil over!
"Oh fine... surrounded by the beast I stand, wallowing knee deep in sand; I beseech thee; thy vitaticum!" Shouted Imogen while the ground rumbled, and the dunes of sand grew ever higher.
"What the frick did you make me say, why is the sand rising; is this some sort of trap!" Cried Imogen as she barely stopped herself from falling by using her halberd.
"Is it time for my yearly feast already... my stomach yearns for a mana filled TRESPASSER to crunch into paste!" Screamed The King Of The Dunes while looking down at the pathetically tiny bug below.
"Hey you big fricker, I'm going to spill your brains all over the dunes you once proclaimed you reign over; and claim your crown!" Bellowed Imogen as she flipped the colossal sand worm off.
"Hahahahahahahaha!" Roared The King Of The Dunes as the very ground shook at his laugh.
"Hey!" "I'm being serious you fat knobhead, I'm going to kill you with my own two... I mean my own hand!" Raged Imogen while kicking The King Of The Dunes, and breaking one of his scales.
"Hahahahaha hahahahahahahaha!" Howled The King Of The Dunes as he trashed his tail around, unable to stop laughing.
"Okay, I'm done being nice; enjoy having my halberd dig through your flesh!" Fumed Imogen while attempting to stab her halberd through its scales, but only for it to bounce off like it was nothing.
"Ahahaha, my hide is impenetrable to blades of mortal make; the futility of your actions is amusing!" Chortled The King Of The Dunes as he watched Imogen fail again at stabbing through his hide.
"System!" "What the frick is this, I thought you could only send me on missions with at least a one percent chance of success!" Panicked Imogen while climbing onto of The King Of The Dunes, and stabbing down with all her might.
"System, SYSTEM... frick; you're not going to answer are you!" Scowled Imogen as she started to run up The King Of The Dunes back.
"Are you trying to get a better look at my glorious face, well too bad; that's privilege only for me!" Laughed The King Of The Dunes while attempting to shake off Imogen by swaying his body.
Imogen Grimaced as she hung by one hand off the side of The King Of The Dunes "He shook only slightly, and I could barely hold on... it's time for me to morph into my true form."
"What?" "Are you one of those revulsive human imitators... you disgust me." Growled The King Of The Dunes while trying to snap up the pesky bug on its back.
"Look who's talking, from what I've heard, you just sit there; and wait for the humans to bring you food!" Accused Imogen as she dodged the attack, and got knocked several feet back.
"That's called putting humans in their place, not pretending to be them like some faithful mutt; you're the reason us creatures get a bad name!" Thundered The King Of The Dunes while conjuring four spectral claws to tear Imogen off his back.
"Yeah, and it's not scaring them into being our slaves; you really need to come up with a better responce than that!" Sneered Imogen as she barely managed to slice in half a spectral claw with her beak.
"Aghh, you annoying pest, just give in already; your climb is pointless!" Insisted The King Of The Dunes while violently shaking his back, almost blowing Imogen off by the shear wind power he generated alone.
"Hah, you'll have to try better than that; I'm a persistent little bugger!" Cackled Imogen as her back got badly torn by a spectral claw.
"Why are you even trying to climb higher, there's no point; it'll only lead you to your death faster!" Persisted The King Of The Dunes while Imogen dispersed another one of the spectral claws.
"Well, I'll see for myself when I get there, if there's naught; I'll kill myself before you can kill me!" Grinned Imogen as she dodged a ferocious bite from The King Of The Dunes, and eliminated another spectral claw.
"Fine!" "I've toyed with you long enough, it's time for you to burn!" Exploded The King Of The Dunes while spawning fire from his back, and empowering the last spectral claw with blue flame.
"Wow, congratulations, you lit yourself on fire; and turned a floating claw blue!" Mocked Imogen as she narrowly blocked the flaming claw with her beak.
"You'll swallow those words once I burn you to a crisp, you tiny little bitch!" Vituperated The King Of The Dunes while missing Imogen's small body by but an inch.
"Is that all you could think of, like so many people haven't said that before!" Sniggered Imogen as she failed at her attempt to destroy the flaming blue claw.
"THAT'S IT, I've had it up to here with you; you're dead meat!" Fulminated The King Of The Dunes while flipping upside down, and conjuring three more flaming blue claws to spill Imogen's guts to the floor.
"Oh, so you can flip upside down now... that's actually kind of impressive!" Sneered Imogen as The King Of The Dunes Face lit on fire to show his rage.
"I'll burn your body, then your ashes; and then every fucking soul that knows you!" Excreted The King Of The Dunes while his fiery claws sliced off a piece of Imogen's beak.
"I'm getting closer... I can finally see the scaleless scar I was hoping for!" Snickered Imogen as she pushed through the blockade of fiery claws, and attempted to jump onto The King Of Dune's spike crowned head.
~~~
"You need to be more careful, you could've chopped off the whole frontal part of your foot; you're lucky you only lost a couple of toes." Smiled Craigen while patting The Rebellious One on the back.
"I'm sorry... I was arrogant, I'll do well to not make the same mistake again." Apologized The Rebellious One as he stared at his right foot, of which was missing the last two toes.
"You better, I was worried I'd have to amputate; Denair blesses you with luck kid." Muttered Craigen while looking out at the second moon's beautiful reflection upon the scarlet sea.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone