A nerfed Dingir in Final Fantasy 9 Chapter 23: Journey to Cid (3), a Final Fantasy IX + Manhwa/Korean Comics/만화 Crossover fanfic

A/N: Still unable to undo the main screw in the laptop, guess I'll have to go shopping, and bring my laptop with me. Still this is my fourth chapter in a week. Not bad.

Also, the Light Novel's current working title is: Nerfed as a Level 1 in someone else's fantasy world. Keep an eye out for it on Amazon later in the year. All the place names are named after villages in an area in India, such as Alexandretta and Doli. (A pat on the back for those who get that ref.)

Also, let's see some reviews from someone other than just Warwick. (Thanks as always though buddy.)

(Start of chapter)

DINGIR AVATAR STATS

Character class: Grey Mage

Rank: Pluto Knight X (Private)

Level: 16, 2106xp until next level up.

HP: 872 / 1116

MP: 999 / 999 (maxed)

Strength: 49 (67)

Speed: 31 (26)

Spirit: 46 (49)

Magic Defence/Defence: 32 (53)

Magic: 75

Magic Evasion/Evasion: 16 (28)

Primary Weapon: Iron Sword

Secondary Weapon: Mythril Dagger

Headwear: Iron helm

Armour: Iron Armour

Accessory: Steel Gauntlet with buckler

Skills: Minus Strike

Abilities: Bright Eyes, Level Up, Man Eater, Bug Killer, Grey Magic, Antibody, Bandit

Magic: Poison, Regen, Sleep, Panacea, Osmose, Protect, Cure, Bio, Shell

Magic Stacking: Asag's Toxin - level 1 (40MP) Adel's Healing – level 1 (30MP) Hypnos Field – level 1 (50MP) Physical Barrier – level 1 (30MP) Magical Barrier – level 1 (30MP) Magic Gluttony – level 1 (20MP)

Trance: Balmung strike

Items: 20 D-Potions, 6 Phoenix Down, 10 P-Potion, 9 R-Potions, 30 Potions, 10 Eye Drops, 10 Echo Screen, 10 Soft, 13 Goblin Steak, Goblin dagger, Traveller's cloak, Isekai ring, silk shirt, lots of regular clothes.

Gil: 24,966

A nerfed Dingir in Final Fantasy 9, seriously?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Journey to Cid (3)

Their march from the coast to the trade gates of Lindblum took nearly three full days. In that time, they had been attacked relentlessly by mist monsters as these areas where not dealt with by scouting forces, as was done outside the gates of Alexandria. With air travel being the norm, Lindblum had little need to, especially so far out from the walled, multi-levelled city.

Mark levelled up four times in those few days. With the Experience points being shared out via group combat, all of the Pluto Knights levelled up. Steiner got up to level 28, and his colleges got up as high as levels thirteen to sixteen. Some of Beatrix's soldier's also levelled up, but not as much, as they were much higher levelled than the Pluto Knights were to begin with. Mark been required to stay near the carriage, but he blasted at the various monsters with long range Poison and Bio spells, while using supporting magic on those around him, such as Protect and Shell. He didn't use his stacked magic; he dared not do so in front of her Majesty.

After such battles, Garnet went around healing anyone who was injured with her white magic, despite her Mother's suggestions to remain inside the carriage. Mark noticed she had levelled up slightly, she was currently level 5, and given that she wasn't allowed to enter combat, she was doing well. He had given her a few more knife lessons prior to the trip when their schedules when had allowed. She had been practicing in her room most nights, shaving an hour or two off her scheduled sleep time, one of the few times she had alone. He had Darius make a blunt iron knife that was four times heavier than the normal variety, and gave it to her to use in practice, to help build the muscles needed for that type of fighting, and improve her speed if she used a regular knife.

Mark sadly had to avoid Garnet's healing rounds, as it was part of his punishment.

After giving orders in the presence of a superior officer, and being dismissive of her, a General at that, he was sentenced to twenty lashes for insubordinate behaviour. Thankfully it was not done with an audience, only the Queen, Beatrix, and the muscular woman holding the whip were present. Fortunately it was Emilia, and she definitely went easy on him, never the less his back was crisscrossed with shallow red cuts, which burned with each lick of the whip. He had held back on screaming, gritted his teeth, letting out a faint grunt with each hit.

Mark had been required to kneel during the punishment, hands on the ground, his bare back exposed. His lumberjack torso was littered with scars from his original world, as well as the Goblin Assault, which had given him a number of stab wounds. Now his once clear back was also disfigured, save for his shoulder, which had already been scarred front and back after one un-dead Goblin had punched its weapon all the way through him.

"I trust next time you will show more respect to your superiors," Queen Brahne stated, the gleam in her eye showing she had taken pleasure in the show, the sadistic bitch. Eyes roving over his old scars and fresh wounds with a show of interest he found honestly disturbing. "Your usual work quality and my daughter's fondness of you can only go so far in protecting you. You're fortunate, Private, that the monster was dealt with without any losses."

"Yes, your Majesty," Mark stated quietly, forcing himself to keep his features stoic, hiding his contempt, as he struggled back to his feet.

"Next time, it will be fifty," Beatrix stated, her gaze neutral.

"Understood, General."

His wounds had been bandaged, but still stung and throbbed. Per the General's orders, he was not to use healing magic or items until the lashes healed naturally, meaning that they would definitely scar. As Mark marched, he tried to keep his back straight and shoulder's stiff to keep from pulling on his wounds any further. Steiner hadn't been happy about, beyond a personality conflict, his soldier had done a good job, helping to defend the ship carrying the ruler and heir of the Alexandrian kingdom, and had been whipped for it. He wouldn't dare question his Queen, but his interactions with Beatrix were noticeably frosty.

They finally passed through the massive trade gate which led into their sibling kingdom.

'Wow!' Mark internally exclaimed as he saw the sheer magnitude and beauty of Lindblum, the game graphics on the PS1, and even the HD remake on PS3 failed utterly to capture its magnificence. The city was surrounded on all sides by mountains, protecting them from conventional attack. The city had many levels to it, many homes and businesses built into the walls, the castle at its centre was gigantic as well, large enough to fit its full army of airships.

The technology had been built by Cid the seventh, the game creators little shout-out to the rocket building Cid from Final Fantasy 7 game, it was he who defeated Alexandria in the long and numerous conflicts, becoming the most powerful nation on the planet. Lindblum was now ruled by Cid the Ninth, a reference to his being the ninth Cid in the ninth game in the Final Fantasy games.

'I can see why Brahne feels jealous of Lindblum; I'm surprised in a way that they never sold their technology outside of their country…though I suppose it's the edge that keeps them safe, regardless of the Queen's jealousy.'

Unlike the game, the walled city was spread over a massive area; Mark would later learn that it covered a similar size to London, not including its many mountainous communities, and farmlands outside the wall. As they drew near, they were met with by the local forces, who after polite exchanges with the royalty and higher ranked, then formed an escort, banners raised of both nations, like miniature parade.

They were met with cheers from obvious actors and plants, with regular civilians later joining in. The Queen however seemed to lap up the attention, waving demurely from her carriage."

Eventually they made it to castle itself, where they were met by King Cid and Queen Hilda, backed by their elites.

"It's good to see you again after so long, Brahne," Cid smiled, kissing her on the hand, and waxing poetic about her and Garnet, the usual empty pleasantries that often hid nasty intentions.

"Indeed, I trust our rooms and refreshments are ready for us, it has been quite the tiring trip."

"But of course."

Mark calmly regarded each of the new arrivals, memorising their appearances, names, and titles, unlike the game and its cartoonish style, these were actual people, so they didn't look the same.

The day before they had been informed that the Pluto Knights, save the Captain would be guarding the Queen, Princess and others while they slept, meaning that once this nonsense was done, he had the rest of the day off until night came. During the day, Beatrix's soldiers would guard them, while within the castle itself, Beatrix and Steiner alone would be on guard duty, remaining close to their two charges.

Later after being shown the rooms that were for the servants accompanying royal or noble guests, Steiner dismissed them for the day.

"Knights, until 8pm you are relieved of duty, at which point you will meet up in the main waiting hall prior to the throne room, you must be in full gear, it must be pristine, and you must be on your best behaviour. Any actions here will reflect on her Majesty, and you do not wish to earn her ire, or mine." Steiner ordered sharply, all of us stood proudly at attention.

Mark noticed Steiner's gaze flicker to him, when he said, 'Queen's ire' as though saying, 'as you well know.' Mark nodded back in understanding to his Captain. Once he left, Mark stripped off his armour and put on his favourite black shirt, black slacks, and boots, wincing occasionally because of the pain in his back. Mark also wore the traveller's sack strapped to his back, and wore the Mythril Dagger belted to his waist, Mark put the rest away.

He had a limited amount of free time, and only a fairly short number of days to increase his weapons and armour prior to the game starting, when they would come here after Garnet is kidnapped/rescued by Zidane and the Tantalus thieves. But that was a long time away, and he wanted to gain as many new abilities and skills from equipment on this trip while he could.

"Well, I'm off shopping, see you guys later," Mark said to his fellow Knights, some of whom were already resting, and others planned to explore the massive city.

"Take care!"

"Don't be late; you don't want another lashing, right?"

"Very funny, Haagen."

"I'm going to try out moves on the Lindblum ladies," Lauden declared.

"Yeah...Good luck with that."

"No really, I got some advice I want to try out."

CHAPTER END

Next Chapter: Weapons, armour, and Freya?

A/N: Thanks for reading the newest chapter.

And as always, check out my current novels and comics listed below, and buy one.

MY MAIN BOOKS AND COMICS:

Search the titles on Amazon, Lulu, Barnes&Noble, and most major online retailers. Available in Kindle/eBook, and Paperback. (Some in Hardback)

Grey Faction: Arrival of the Grey Queen

Grey Faction: Mistaken Apostles

Grey Faction Comic: Jinhai's Justice

Grey Faction Comic: School Wars

Detective Michael: The Scalpel Murder

Detective Michael: Riverside Mystery

Detective Michael Comic: Volume 1

Vampire Attack: Empire of Shadows

Vampire Attack: Shadow Force (coming soon) If I can retrieve the data from my dead laptop.

Secret Yuuki & the Guilty Heart Chronicles: Dimension Wars

Secret Yuuki & the Guilty Heart Chronicles: Starlight Alliance

Nexus Comic: Volume 1

'N' Things Anthology: Corpses 'N' Things

'N' Things Anthology: Monsters 'N' Things

(End of chapter)

DINGIR AVATAR STATS

Character class: Grey Mage

Rank: Pluto Knight X (Private)

Level: 20, 7041xp until next level up.

HP: 1673 / 2126

MP: 999 / 999 (maxed)

Strength: 52 (70)

Speed: 33 (28)

Spirit: 46 (49)

Magic Defence/Defence: 40 (61)

Magic: 78

Magic Evasion/Evasion: 28 (40)