Hidden Quests were supposed to be exceedingly rare. Percival had encountered only one or two throughout the entire former timeline.
Getting two within just a few hours was startling, though the reason soon became clear.
Quests were assigned based on the Class one awakened.
Most of these quests were standard for every Awakener of a particular Class, but in Percival's case, these quests surfaced as Hidden Quests because they weren't linked to a specific Class.
As Percival could see, the floating screen in front of him had a blend of dark blue and silver colors merged at the center.
It was a Dual Class Quest.
Interesting as that was, Percival's mind was far gone from the subject.
He was more concerned with the details displayed on the floating screen.
⸢Hidden Quest Completed!⸥
⸢Quest: The Blade and the Grave⸥
⸢Description: Combine a Necromancer Skill and Swordsman Skill in combat to form a unified execution⸥
⸢Reward: +100 EXP | +2 Skill Points | +3 Dexterity | +3 Intelligence | +5 Summon Spaces⸥
The rewards were great, but it was the revelation that truly thrilled him.
He didn't know how he did it, but yes, the quest was correct, he had used two different Skills from both his Classes to finish the Crownless King.
⸢Grave Step⸥ and ⸢Sword Projection⸥
He'd switched from Swordsman to Necromancer and back so swiftly that it felt like he hadn't switched at all.
Rather than drawing from two different mana pools, for that brilliant, fleeting moment, Percival had merged both pools into one.
And from this single, unified reservoir of his Necromancer and Swordsman Skills, he simply selected which one to unleash.
A dual resonance.
Percival exhaled slowly. "So that's it…"
There was a way after all. A way to blend both Classes even in the thick of battle.
A Necromancer holding a sword, fighting with Swordsman Skills while wreathing foes in ⸢Soulfire⸥.
Percival could already imagine it.
With that kind of power, even if betrayed, he would put up a better fight than he had before.
All he needed was practice.
He had to uncover how exactly he'd done it just moments ago. How he was able to force both mana pools into one.
If he mastered that, he wouldn't have to neglect his Swordsman Class in the pursuit of leveling up his Necromancer Class.
Mixing them meant becoming one entity, where every kill with a Swordsman Skill would still count toward leveling his Necromancer Class.
This was it. This was the ultimate breakthrough.
He was already leveling faster than most, but with this, in no time he'd build a wall of immeasurable power that would guarantee he'd never face betrayal again.
Ever.
He had more questions, but none of them could be answered here. The screen blinked with another notification.
⸢Gate World cleared successfully!⸥
⸢The courtyard is free from the chains of death vines forced upon them by a mad king⸥
⸢Rewards: +2000 EXP⸥
⸢+2 Skill Points⸥
⸢+ 200 Mana Coins⸥
⸢Congratulations, you have leveled up!⸥
⸢Lvl 7 → Lvl 8⸥
⸢Congratulations, you have leveled up!⸥
⸢Lvl 8 → Lvl 9⸥
⸢Congratulations, you have leveled up!⸥
⸢Lvl 9 → Lvl 10⸥
⸢+300 Mana⸥
⸢+300 Attack⸥
⸢+150 Defense⸥
⸢+100 Health⸥
⸢All Attributes increased by 10⸥
⸢Rewards: +5 Skill Points⸥
⸢+400 EXP⸥
⸢+2 Summon Space⸥
⸢+400 Mana Coins⸥
Percival felt the increase in his Necromancer mana pool, like a well expanding.
'Level 10,' he thought. 'Halfway to 20.'
He interacted with the Crownless King's corpse, and found the available loot:
⸢Iron Ore (x5)⸥
⸢Magic Herb (x8)⸥
⸢200 Mana Coins⸥
⸢5 Health Potions⸥
⸢Thornwrought Armor - C-Grade⸥
⸢Crownless Greatsword - C-Grade⸥
⸢Steel Vine Helm - C-Grade⸥
Percival claimed all the loot, safe for the potions, then turned toward the crown.
He approached the throne and the priest. The vines were now brittle, crumbling to dust.
He inspected the crown.
⸢Circlet of Golden Spires - C-Grade⸥
⸢Description: A crown that never graced a King's head. Its spine and base has long withered, leaving its spires adrift, bound by unseen energy and forever searching for the ruler who never was⸥
⸢Aspect: Defense and Endurance boost⸥
⸢Defense: +50⸥
⸢Constitution +4 | Intelligence +3⸥
Percival pried the magnificent crown from the dead priest's grasp.
The description was true.
The base of the crown was gone, leaving only the spires themselves—seven sharp peaks of pure gold, floating in a perfect circle.
It was a good find for a new Awakener, but for him, it was a trinket.
He stored it in his inventory.
Then another message appeared, and with it came the most important reward after killing a Gate World Boss.
⸢You killed the Crownless King⸥
⸢You have claimed the Aspect: Aspect of the Briar King⸥
A scroll appeared before him, spreading open in cinematic fashion, revealing the tragic tale of the Briar King.
Once a prince destined to rule, his throne was stolen by treachery, leaving his life consumed by a single, burning purpose: to reclaim what was his.
No cost was too high. Allies, friends, family—all were stepping stones or obstacles. His obsession was a force of nature, a gravity that pulled his entire world into its wake.
He murdered his way through court and kin, a trail of blood leading to the very steps of the throne room.
He forced a captured priest to crown him, the ultimate validation.
But as the golden circlet hovered inches from his head, the castle gates burst open. His enemies had come.
In that final, crushing moment, the crown was so close, yet eternally far.
The thought of being denied, after all he had done… petrified him. His obsession, so long a mental force, became a physical one.
It burst from his chest in a torrent of agonized, hungry vines, devouring the palace, the priest, and his very own self.
Thus was born the Crownless King, Ruler of the Briar.
The scroll closed and a soft ding sang in Percival's mind.
⸢Aspect of the Briar King (D-Rank)⸥
⸢Aspect Description: "For you have stolen my crown, and denied me my kingdom, I have nothing else to lose. Any more pain you inflict upon me shall return to you"⸥
⸢Primary: When Health ≤ 40%, gain +15% Attack Speed for 10s.
Secondary: For the same 10s, reflect 10% of melee damage taken as Bleed DoT back to attackers (Bleed = 1.5% of attacker HP/sec.)
Cooldown: 60s⸥
It was a decent Aspect, Percival thought.
He remembered the hundreds of Aspects he'd claimed in the former timeline. Now, in this one, his Aspect Chest was as empty as his stomach.
He stored the Aspect inside the Chest and hoped that the traders in the market were still out there.
The final notification appeared.
⸢You are now recognized as the Master of this Gate World by Soul Contract⸥
⸢A return portal has been created⸥
Instantly, a swirling portal of yellow light burst open on the dais where the throne sat.
Percival took one last look at the battlefield and his Skeletons gathered near him, motionless but somehow waiting.
He sighed, lowering his head as he sheathed his sword. "Alright, you boneheads. Let's get out of here."
With that, he stepped into the light, his Skeleton Soldiers clanking obediently after him.
-----
A/N: Please support with your power stones