DISCLAIMER : MapleStory does not belong to me, and is under full copyright of Nexon, Wizet, and Asiasoft. And any other company that owns it. I hold no right to the use of the related names and in-game characters. I do, however, hold full rights to the personality and construction of the story, and the OC's that may and will appear throughout the story.


Finding the portal was easy enough. A few monkeys tried to block me, but fled when I drew my dagger. I stepped into the portal, and immediately my surroundings blurred. It refocused into a dimly lit cave.

The torches on the pillars flickered steadily as I took in my surroundings.

Quiet.

As I took a step forward, trails of shadows gathered to form a wispy portal a few meters away. A gloved hand shot through portal. Then, the whole form of Shadow Dark Lord manifested through the gloomy shadows.

My eyes followed his movements. Shadow Dark Lord stepped through the portal and stood ever so still as the portal behind him evaporated to nothing.

I could feel Shadow Dark Lord's cold eyes appraising me. Gripping the handle of my dagger, I took a steady breath.

Then I started running in his direction. But as soon as I began to move, he was right in front of me, slashing at my torso with a quick stroke of his dagger. I barely had time to raise my own dagger to counter the attack. As I rose my blade to rush in to my defence, my left forearm suddenly emanated a searing pain.

I jumped back, startled, and glanced at my forearm. Starting from my wrist, my sleeve, along with my flesh had been ripped open. The sharp point of a shuriken was embedded deeply near my elbow joint.

I winced slightly as I pulled the shuriken out quickly and rolled away as Shadow Dark Lord sent an onslaught of shuriken coming my way.

I looked at Shadow Dark Lord again after coming up from my roll; the ground around me was smattered with blood.

The hands of Shadow Dark Lord formed an intricate seal and from his shadow, a human-like shape emerged. It stood and transformed into the perfect likeliness of Shadow Dark Lord.

I witnessed the process with slight fascination before remembering that the purpose of it was for my defeat.

Shadow Dark Lord and his clone shot me a steely gaze. Then, at the same time, they started advancing towards me.

My dagger was at the ready and I held my ground even if I was burdened with the fact that I couldn't take down the both of them.

One of them leapt off the ground so suddenly in mid-run that I was tempted to look up...shouldn't have even thought about that. Just in time, my blade blocked a swipe from... wait... no... This is the clone... almost as fast as it's maker.

But only almost.

The clone's attacks were swift but I managed to counter and evade them much easier. But still, one strike could prove deadly. I knew that even if the clone wasn't as quick as the original...

Shit! The original!

Knowing that heaps of trouble will just befall me if I start looking out for Shadow Dark Lord while fighting his relentless clone, I ran a quick plan in my head and fell back a little as the clone attacked.

At the first chance I got, I back-somersaulted behind a large fallen stone slab; one of which I caught sight of earlier. Just as I thought, the clone followed suit. I figured that I'd at least have some cover from the real Shadow Dark Lord and focus on defeating my current opponent.

Got him, was the last thing I thought as he got backed up against the stone. I lifted my dagger, preparing to end it.

An ominous whirring sound, too fast.

I stared in disbelief as I watched the wicked edges of a giant shuriken slice through the sturdy stone slab then reducing the clone to mere wisps of shadowy matter before the shuriken hit its actual mark.

*Thuck*

I don't know if it was awe or shock that kept me standing. My trembling fingers went up to my torso. I looked down at myself and saw that my fingers were coated in fresh blood... and the side of my chest... a point of the shuriken had pierced about a few centimetres away from my heart.

Maybe it was the shock that held me up for that moment. It sure didn't last long. Unbearable pain overwhelmed me and I doubled over. Cold sweat started to break over me. The shuriken... I knew that one way or another, I couldn't let it stay in my chest. Its weight slowly dragged it down closer to my heart.

Gritting my teeth and vying for deep breaths, I raised my hands out and gripped the sides of the shuriken, the new cuts on my hands failed to shun the burning in my chest.

I had to put all my efforts in pulling the shuriken till it was out.

I coughed.

Huh...I forgot how blood tasted like.

Trying to ignore the unpleasant sensations issued on my body, I struggled to focus on my breathing and think of a plan to get myself out of this mess. But my mind drew a blank, and erupted in a spasm of pain.

I squeezed my eyes shut and let it pass. When I wrenched them open again, I saw Shadow Dark Lord standing over me, the look in his uncovered eyes radiated neither pity nor disgust. It was a neutral, matter-of-fact expression. It was like I was looking at the real Dark Lord.

Except, he wouldn't conjure another giant killer shuriken when I'm already down, would he?

That's it, I thought. Might as well leave the face of this world gracefully. The pain wasn't so bad anymore. All I felt was a dull aching throb at my side.

I closed my eyes; I didn't want to have Dark Lord's crazy clone as the last thing I see. Instead, I chose darkness. The very essence of the profession I prize so much; thievery. Speed, reliability, stealth, cloaked secrecy.

Shadow Dark Lord's about to fling the shuriken at me, aiming just right over my heart. He won't miss, I know.

I just waited.

This is not where you fall...You are not finished, not until you accomplish your destiny...But very well, I will lend you some power...

In an instant, I was up, I was moving. I barely had time to register Shadow Dark Lord's interesting aura of surprise before I noticed that I was on the other side of the cavern.

Wha—?, I started to think, but another voice inside of me ordered that I just go with it and ask questions later.

In a flash, Shadow Dark Lord appeared in front of me again, but this time, I could actually see him running towards me. His movements too... I anticipated every move he planned to make, blocking them without a problem.

I was... swifter. I tested out this theory and got to another far end in almost a blink of an eye.

I have no idea how or why but it's as if I know what to do almost without thinking. I knew I wasn't possessed or anything but it seemed that my body was naturally moving on its own. As if it was fuelled entirely by instinct.

Swipe. Parry. Thrust.

On every area we crossed blades upon, my hand slipped into my pocket and pulled out a flat, gold coin.

They then get dropped on the ground and we somehow move on to another place in the cavern.

I didn't know what these coins were or anything. But I didn't question fate and just went with it. Somehow, it felt like I was directing this fight; successfully manoeuvring my opponent wherever I want before discreetly leaving another coin on the ground.

I blocked Shadow Dark Lord's furious strikes a couple more times before engaging with him in a sword lock.

Our blades clanged together deafeningly. His eyes displayed absolute hatred this time but I was guessing that mine displayed something as tough.

After a moment of staring one another down, we added slightly more pressure that our daggers repelled from each other.

Both of us ended up at the far ends of the cavern on opposite sides.

Shadow Dark Lord started to come after me again, ploughing his way in my direction.

Then, it hit me. I looked his way, and then glanced at the ground around him.

I smirked and snapped my fingers.

A distinct sound was heard. A soft *click*.

The coins set on the ground exploded in lovely unison, leaving the cavern flooded with a thick, dusty mist.

When the mist cleared, I looked over to where Shadow Dark Lord was standing. He was no more. In the rubble though, a black medal was lying conspicuously among the fragments of shattered rock.

Picking it up, I examined my new found prize and slipped it in my pocket.


"Your clone's a bitch."

Dark Lord acknowledged my words as he examined the medal, as though determining if it was real. After a quick minute, he nodded.

"I am impressed. Usually bandits take much longer to return to me with this, and rarely do they come back unharmed."

"How long is usual?"

He eyed me calculatingly. "Certainly longer than an hour, my student."

He clenched the medal, and it dissipated into black smoke.

"In any case, your task is done. You have proven your strength. But now, you must prove your wisdom. Travel to El Nath, and speak to Arec, in the cabin on the highest peak in the town. He will explain your second task."

"Very well."


"Dude, you're being sent out for Third, already?"

"Well, at least it shows you've been training. Going all the way to El Nath sounds like a waste of time, though."

"But to be a Third! That's like, one of the best things any Mapler could hope for! Gosh, you're so lucky!"

"This will be good for you...for all of us."

The reactions of my friends were as such when I had told them what Dark Lord had instructed of me. Wanting to do this as soon as possible, I headed to the Ellinia station the next day. Rise had followed to see me off, whereas the other three decided to do some intensive training, so they could "catch up with that overpowered asshole", as quoted from Roy.

As we arrived at the station, we could hear the final call for the ship due to Orbis. As I ran off, I heard her call after me.

"Good luck! Please come back safe!"

"I will! Then we'll go out!" I yelled back. Even from a distance, I saw the color in her face rise. She just smiled, and waved at me. I waved back, and dived onto the ship as it just started to set sail.


You are on the right path, to fulfilling your destiny...

My eyes flew open. I was in the ship's cabin, having just woken up. Odd, I didn't remember falling asleep. Also, I realized that I've been getting these strange dreams, but when I wake up, I wouldn't remember them. Paying it no mind, I heard the announcement saying we would be arriving at the Orbis station shortly.

Not wanting to waste any time, I headed straight to Orbis Tower. Peering out of one of the windows, I saw the snowy town of El Nath. However, this tower still challenged me with it's bothersome floors of twenty.

I don't have time for this...There must be a quicker way down this damn tower.

"Ready for deployment!"

I looked to my right. On the windowsill beside me, was a ridiculously short man in a green jumpsuit with goggles on his head. More importantly, he was carrying a parachute.

Hmm...Am I really going to do this?

I noted that he had another bag with him as well. Probably a spare chute. I would've asked him for it, but he crouched down and leaped off the window ledge

Shit. Well, here goes.

And I followed suit.

Deciding that asking now would not probably be such a good idea, I angled my fall to face him. He hadn't noticed me there, so I came up with a plan. Gathering some energy, I focused on his parachute, willing it to be in my possession. In one swift movement, the shadow that my body cast on the tower took a full shape, and dived out to the man. It came back as quickly as it did, and the next thing I knew, the parachute was in my hands. He had not noticed anything, it seemed, for he continued his descent. As he reached for the string to release his parachute, only then did he realize it was gone.

"AAAAAHHHH!"

The man fumbled around with his second backpack, and opened it, pulling out an umbrella.

Oh. Not a spare.

Luckily, the umbrella managed to support his weight, and his descent slowed.

Not wanting to be at the same altitude, I pulled the string on the chute. It billowed out behind me, and my fall to death was prevented. Trying my best to steer this thing, I aimed myself to the town, particularly the cabin at the highest peak of the town. As I got closer, I tried my best not to slam into a cliff or any other building, but I was coming in too quickly. I closed my eyes and braced for impact.

FWUMP.

Upon opening my eyes, I saw that I was standing on my feet. The parachute had spread out safely behind me. And I was at the front door of the cabin.

Sweet.

I knocked on the door, and a few seconds later, this strange green creature opened it from the inside. It gave me a glare, but I didn't want to look at it, lest I break the status quo of my emotions and insult him. He really was an ugly sap. Walking past him, I took in my surroundings. I was in a large cabin, with a cozy fire crackling in the fireplace. Sitting around in lounge chairs were several hooded people.

I noted five of them. Four of which didn't strike any sense of importance to me. To their respective classes, maybe. One of them had a scar on his face in the shape of an 'X'. I opened my mouth to speak, but he held his hand up.

"I know why you are here, young bandit."

"Oh," I began. "So wha-"

He stopped me again. "You will be tested on your knowledge. Gain the mark of wisdom, and your task will be done."

"Wait, what do you mean by te-"

"I will not wait. Are you ready to begin?"

Stupid arrogant bastard.

"I am."

"First question : What color Athena Pierce's eyes?"

What the fuck? How am I supposed to know something like that?

"Uh." Okay, archers have dexterity. Green for dexterity, right? "Green?"

"Correct."

Oh. Sweet.

"Second. What is a thief's main stat?"

Oh, this is easy.

"Luck."

"Third. Which monster is sighted on the boats from Ellinia to Orbis?"

Wow, I guess I really do have luck.

"Crimson Balrogs."

"Fourth. What is two to the power of thirty-two, minus one?"

What kind of stupid question is this? I took a chance, and flipped my phone open. He didn't object, so I continued and typed in the value in my calculator.

"2,147,483,647?"

"Fifth. What are you hoping to accomplish by taking this test?"

"My third job advancement?"

"Very well," he nodded. "You have proven your knowledge. I grant you the mark of wisdom."

"Okay."

"You have acquired the mark of strength and wisdom. You have proven your capability as a mapler. From this moment on, you will be a Chief Bandit."

A surge of energy, similar like the one I received when I advanced to bandit, only stronger, flowed into me.

"Come," he smirked at me. "You have many skills to learn."


Author's Notes : CHAPTER 9 IS UP! First, I must apologize to ALL you readers for the retardedly long wait. To justify myself, I have been undergoing my SPM examination (That's kinda like SATs where i'm from). Please forgive =( So...reviewer responses!

Blinded by the Moonlight : Because the Black Magician is important enough to have one whole blob of text all for himself. If I made a sucky main character, the story wouldn't go that far. Don't worry though, I have a reason for his overpoweredness ;) just keep reading and you'll see. I can't expect to make them train at normal speed can I? Otherwise i'd have 5 chapters of "I whacked the windraider. Then I whacked it again. Then I whacked another windraider." Hope you enjoy the story nevertheless =)

The 21 blue dudes : There will be character development, worry not :D I have each of their backstories planned out. 4th job will be a cinch, at least for Trane, you will see why soon. Yes, but going to ElNath and back to Kerning, then back to ElNath AGAIN would be a bother, so. Magical improvisation! Hope you stay with the story :D

Insanity's Light : Is he a good guy? You'll find out soon. Hope you stay with the story ;D

Next time : Chief Bandit's skills, a gift from dad?