Epoch: A Berserker's Rise

[Gimme yer stones]

All the adventurers except from Adam immediately went on their knees as soon as they saw the rulers of the Kingdoms. Henry and Skade looked down and analyzed the room in an instant.

Skade's eyes immediately went to Johan, while Henry looked at Adam with an amused gaze. The two disappeared and appeared next to Adam and Johan.

Skade was in front of Adam while Henry appeared next to Adam and put an arm over his shoulder and said "Adam, would you mind explaining to me what happened here?"

Eddy and the others were shocked seeing a King act so familiar and close with Adam, but Adam wasn't fazed as he began narrating what happened to his group of adventurers, omitting unnecessary details.

When he was finished Skade suddenly said "You saved my daughter, and now you saved my brother. I don't know how to thank you."

Adam waved his hand and said "You already thanked me for Victoria, and I'm sure I will need help some time in the future, by then you can repay me if you really want to, but you seriously don't have to."

Skade smiled and turned back to Johan and said "Now, let big sister remove those chains for you." Johan nodded and Skade began levitating and attacked the chains. She was holding a beautifully made staff and showed her status as a mage as she did so.

However, after a single attack she suddenly stopped. After a few seconds she said "Henry, come see this."

Henry raised an eyebrow and floated toward her, curious why his wife still hadn't freed his brother in law. She pointed at the chains and said "Try to attack it." Henry nodded and drew out his sword, and dealt a magnificent attack.

The green sword light hit the chains, and he abruptly stopped, just like Skade did before. He then shook his head and said "I'm afraid we can't destroy the chains."

Hearing this, Johan, who had been beaming happily until now, paled and said "Brother-in-law, why are you saying this?!"

Skade sighed and said "These chains are special, they can't be broken by mere power, the power of the Gates needs to be used."

Johan frowned and asked "But sister, haven't you opened the 4th Gate, the Gate of View?" Skade scowled and said "I have, but this chain needs a prowess at the 5th Gate. In the family, only father would be able to open this chain, but he isn't here."

[Ding! New Quest detected, 'Chained'!]

Quest Detail: Johan, the son of the mighty King of the North, has been imprisoned by the Goblin Kingdom to threaten the King of the North, but you have discovered his location.

Quest Level: None

Quest Difficulty: SS

Objective: Free Johan

Reward: ??

As Adam was looking at the chains curiously, he suddenly received a notification. But upon seeing it, he felt helpless, how was he supposed to open this?

On the side, both Skade's and Johan's faces were heavy, but Henry suddenly said "Adam, how many Gates have you opened?"

Adam looked at Henry and said "None, why?"

Henry raised an eyebrow and said "None? For now, maybe. But what I'm asking, how many have you opened, even before."

Hearing his question, everyone except Skade seemed confused. For Skade though, hope reappeared on her face. Adam was surprised by the question too, they didn't seem confused by his condition, but rather seemed to know it. Were there other people who had their Gates opened and then shut in this world?

Still, Adam decided not to lie and replied "I opened the Gate of Life, the 5th one."

After the 3rd Gate of Limit, came the 4th Gate of View and the 5th Gate of Life, the last Gate Old Adam had opened in his past life.

When they heard his words, Henry's and Skade's expressions turned fiery, and Henry asked "This is an extremely important matter, I need you to swear a life contract!"

[Character 'King Henry Azure I' has initiated a lifeblood contract with you. If you accept it, breaking it would kill you and make you lose 100 Levels. The cabin on which you are connected is granted a restricted and exclusive access to your brain waves to see whether you are lying or not.]

Adam couldn't help but be astonished by the penalty. Still, he wasn't lying so he accepted. Henry showed him his palm and made a cut on it, dropping a single drop of blood, and told Adam to do the same.

He did, and the two drops of blood fused together and then expended to transform into a parchment. Henry then asked "How many Gates have you ever opened?"

Adam replied "I opened up to the Gate of Life."

A couple of seconds passed, and the parchment of blood suddenly disappeared. Henry sighed in relief and said "I don't know how you opened so many Gates at such a young age, but it sure is impressive. I hope you can understand why I doubted your words."

Adam nodded and said "I understand. But why did you ask me? Even if I opened them in the past, they have been locked away, and I need to unlock them once again."

Henry nodded and said "Johan has been missing for 3 months now, and his family has been searching for him since then. One of the rewards for information on his location is an incredibly precious scroll that if used correctly can enhance one's odds for their Bronze Promotion. I will show you in a moment, but before that I need to bring two people here."

As he said that he disappeared from the spot, and ten seconds later he appeared with two girls, the first being Sarah, the Marshall of the Kingdom, and Victoria, the Princess.

Upon seeing Adam, the two smiled and greeted him, while Eddy's group was simply too astonished to even react accordingly. Well, except for Jude who was being smug.

Now that everyone was gathered, Skade took out a scroll and said "This scroll is a rare treasure that allows one to create an illusory realm. In this realm, they can recreate their bodies, as well as the ones of others. This means one can give directions to others for the Gates. Originally I should be the one activating the scroll and showing to those who saved my brother the way to the 4th Gate. But since you have opened the 5th Gate in the past, even if they have been locked you can still recreate it in the illusory realm."

Adam said "So you want me to teach you how to open the 5th Gate?" Skade and Henry bowed toward Adam and said "We know this is too much to ask, especially when we are the ones owing you, but we have no choice but to ask you."

Adam then looked at Victoria and Sarah before saying "And if I teach one of you, I might as well teach the others… Well, why not if there isn't a limit to the numbers of users for this scroll."

Skade and Henry smiled, clearly excited, and said "There is no limit except for space. Here, the scroll."

[How to open the Gates? (Special)]

Adam took the scroll in his hand and looked at Eddy's group and said "Come over, this is what you came here for after all."

As he said that though, Adam felt this was weird. How did they know they would get something good for their promotion here, but did not know Johan would be here?"

As if he read his mind Eddy said "We stumbled upon a powerful seer during one of our quests, and she told us that this place had an opportunity for us."

Adam nodded and then said "Is everyone close enough to get in the illusion?" Henry nodded "We are, you can activate the scroll."

Adam looked down at the scroll, and activated it. Suddenly a dome formed around him, enveloping everyone inside.