ã€ŠMage of the Abyss: Siola Mithraã€‹


 Chapter 1 â€“ The End of Me

    September 28, 2080.

    The clock is slowly striking in.

    *D-I-N-G*

    The icy atmosphere within this enormous Throne Room chills the air inside, and the cold blue crystals radiating their blinding light shows a group of valiant women standing on the opposite side of the throne. A girl, standing behind all alone while her friends made their move up front. With one standing on the side and the other flying high, they are attempting the impossible.

    A pitch-black dragon casting mist of volumetric fog out of its jarring mouth full of sharp fangs. Its 8 serrated horns highlight the purple beast of animal in its eyes. Glowing so brightly in rage.

    {Gillz Hrundak, Abandoned Heir of the Dragon Lord | Lv. 10.000 | Transcendental Purity: Demigod}

    Standing behind its horns is a hooded skeleton in a pitch-black robe. It carries a staff with an unnerving look. At the tip of it lies, three left hands grasping a large dark gem that glows the moment it made contact with magical energy.

    {Ludwig, Mage of the Abyss | Lv. 10.000 | Transcendental Purity: Demigod}

    Against them, floating in the air above, wield two different wands with the features of that of a dragon. She wears a revealing outfit that provides little to no defense, but the benefits it gave are otherworldly. The wide grin under the large pointy hat she wears shows no fear.

    {Kurira, Woman of the Hour | Lv. 6699 | Transcendental Purity: Eternal}

    On the low ground is one who cloaked herself entirely, revealing no skin whatsoever, she blends into the shadows naturally. With a serrated dagger in each hand, her focus is concentrated on the enemy.

    {Rakuri, Shadow''s Hand | Lv. 5826 | Transcendental Purity: Eternal}

    And she who wears a majestic robe covered in dread, she who wields a staff with several human skulls tied to the tip. She stood behind menacingly with an incomprehensible amount of excitement and fear.

    {Dola, Devotee of the End Kings | Lv. 8604 | Transcendental Purity: Eternal}

    ...

    *BOOM*

    A blast of an explosion destroyed the flow of air beside the skeleton¡¯s face.

    "Woo-hoo!" shouted Kurira flying in the sky, "Hell yeah! Debuff''s in, baby! Shit clear for you, bitch!"

    ¡°Shut UP!¡± yelled Rakuri.

    Quickly shifting her attention to the skeleton, despite what Kurira said, Rakuri knows well that the debuff did not ¡°in¡± at all. But it didn¡¯t discourage her, Rakuri tapped the ground as hard as she could and mumbled, ¡°Acceleration.¡±

    *Bwoosh*

    She dashed towards the dragon at an extremely fast speed, but it noticed her coming. It moves its head like an eel before hurling a giant black flame out of its mouth, it swirls like a spiral of wind. At just the right moment with the right movement, it passes her just barely.

    *Bwoomph*

    Leaving trails of black flame that should remain untouched.

    Rakuri split open the air and suddenly reappeared at the bottom of the dragon while maneuvering her body to avoid a collision. She repelled herself to the back end of its tail and climbed it high before stabbing it.

    *ROAR*

    The scream of the dragon as it shot up a black flame to the ceiling, groaning as its head turned, ¡°Dur hi. Zu¡¯u fent du hin bein kopraan.¡±

    Rakuri brings her legs up to a swirl before stepping on top of the dragon and dragging her dagger all the way to its back, tearing its body as dark blood gushed out of it. But there she found the skeleton awaiting as the dragon roared in pain once more. The two dots in the skeleton¡¯s eye sockets are a form of his eyes, ¡°You dare,¡± his disturbing voice as his eyes turn white. A spark of silver thunder formed at the tip of his bones, violently striking anything around it.

    Noticing exactly what he is casting, Rakuri formed her hands together, a sign. The Skeleton aim the clashing thunder at Rakuri as her eyes peeled. Smoke coming out of her hand, a sinister dark aura emerging outwardly from her body, she mutters, "Transcendental Law of Shadow, Murci¨¦lago."

    *Crackle*

    *Bwoooosh*

    A storm of lightning blasts through the center of her body, but as soon as it hits, her entire being splintered into shadowy bats and scattered throughout the room, dissipating. When the storm passes, she emerges from the Skeleton''s shadow.

    "True Aspect of the Blade, Edged Continuity Reflection."

    The dragon flinched, shouting, "Bo nu!"

    As soon as he heard it, the Skeleton attempts to fly but suddenly, as if time has stopped, a ray of light slashes his body apart before another one appeared. Vertical, horizontal, one after another, slashes of slashes from the ray of light appeared within a second, reflected by the many square glasses that magically appeared around him. The image where all the slices appear soon cracks.

    *CRASH*

    The layers of invisible barriers protecting the skeleton broke while he himself has been wounded by the attack, but cuts on its bones and clothes quickly healed themselves.

    ¡°Acceleration!¡±

    Rakuri dashes through the air, attacking the skeleton repeatedly with a slash after slash but he kept blocking them with his staff. His barrier started forming but with each attack Rakuri is doing, the faster she gets. From the ground, the dragon tries to assist by attempting to blast both of them with a hurl of dark flame, but then suddenly shouted a woman from afar, ¡°BUBBLE SHELL!¡±

    A liquid barrier formed around the dragon just right before it shouted its breath.

    *BOOOM*

    It cooks itself alive by its own attack.

    Rakuri kept on attacking the skeleton, but no matter how many times she strikes, the barrier protecting the skeleton formed much quicker than her attack.

    ¡°Sim Parse!¡± upon mattering those words, the last attack she does is a stab that pierces every barrier the skeleton has and she herself reappeared behind him while rotating her body with one leg swinging.

    *BAM*

    The skeleton flew straight down at the impact of her attack. Before gravity pulls Rakuri down, Kurira appeared in front of her, grinning as she let Rakuri float with her magic, ¡°Heheh, could let you fall.¡±

    ¡°Bitch.¡±

    Tilting her pointy hat, ¡°Ready?¡±

    ¡°Do it.¡±

    Kurira reappeared behind her. Lighting suddenly flashes, circling them both as Kurira¡¯s appearance turns into a shade of a thunder element, including her eyes.

    Rakuri then summoned a single dagger that is shaped differently than before, primarily how it arched to the front instead of to the back. She then muttered, "Core Lightning Infusion."

    The lightning spiral into her daggers, absorbed.

    *Zzzzzzzt *Crackle *Crackle

    Kurira then gives her a push, ¡°Sim Blast.¡±

    *Bwoosh*

    Rakuri flew straight down with a lightning strike.

    *BOOOOOOOOM*

    Smoke clouded everyone¡¯s vision. It was until it clears up that one can see Rakuri below the pitch-black dragon, its eyes opened.

    Rakuri, in disbelief, her hand started shaking. But not because of fear, but rage. The moment the dragon¡¯s jaw comes out of the smoke to gnaw on her body, she escaped by jumping over but there she met the skeleton, unharmed, prepared to cast his spell, ¡°Chaos Blaze.¡±

    Eyes peeled as a swirl of red flame comes, ¡°Sim Parse!¡±

    Piercing through the lava and reappearing behind him but he already turned with his hand wide open. Magical energy formed in less than a second, pushing Rakuri with a blast of wind.

    *Bwoosh*

    ¡°Hrrngh,¡± her eyes widened as she tries to resist the flow. She attempts to stab the dragon¡¯s tail which has already healed, but then suddenly, it moves in a different way than she expected and Rakuri gets blown once again by the physical attack of the dragon¡¯s tail.

    She flew across the ice fields, destroying many crystals in her path until the back of her head collided with the throne.

    *BAM*

    Blood spills out as she falls.

    Kurira witnessed it all. How Rakuri¡¯s body went limp upon the throne. The wands in her hands were let go and they fall to the ground, but then, Kurira closed her eyes and mumbled, ¡°Aspect of the Hellblade, Ignition.¡±

    *Bwooosh*

    Red flame engulfs her body entirely. Her hair flows upwardly like she¡¯s going on a downward stream in a river, every single part of her body denies gravity. The dragon and skeleton sense what is about to come and began charging their attacks.

    Kurira¡¯s flaming hands created embers, she raised both of her arms and formed her hands into a circle aiming at the dragon and the skeleton.

    ¡°Ultima Vow,¡± her eyes raging in fire, ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *BWOOOOOOOOOOSH*

    A breath that summons the hellfire. The dragon and the skeleton¡¯s black and red flames collided against it, creating a massive outbreak of flame.

    Kurira abruptly stopped the breath and opened her arms, muttering, ¡°Transcendental Law of Hellblade,¡± she grasped the air above the dragon and bring it down, ¡°Explosion!¡±

    ¡°BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    Massive destruction burns the center of the throne room. The icy crystal soon melted because of the heat generated by all three-fire colliding with one another.

    Soon, the flame disappears slowly from her hair as it goes down until her body returns to normal but at that time, she is exhausted. But then, she saw movement from the center where she casted her strongest spell, ¡°No fucking way,¡± said it exhaustively.

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    Glancing at the girl standing with a giant transparent golden white clock who stays behind, ¡°Oi, are you touching yourself there, hon?¡±

    No replies, when she shifts her attention to Rakuri¡¯s lying down so lifelessly, she mumbled, ¡°Fucking Realism Mode,¡± but then she saw her moving and getting back up. A grin started to form and it gets wider and wider. Moving towards her, but then.

    *D-I-I-I-I-N-G*

    A striking sound of a bell echoes across the hall, one that almost deafens her ears. The sound came from the woman in the back, Dola, she has been standing behind the battle all this time. Carrying a large transparent golden-white clock that keeps ticking behind her back.

    ¡°Heheheh, what would you guys do without me?¡±

    Suddenly from the opposite end, ¡°Lighting Infusion!¡±

    *BOOM*

    Kurira widened her eyes as she saw Rakuri recklessly attacking the stunned dragon and the skeleton. After glancing at Dola, ¡°No, Rakuri, get out of there!¡±

    *BOOM*

    Another explosion of lightning struck the Skeleton, but he was unharmed. He casts thunder from his hand, but the Rakuri dodged at the right moment, but her mask was broken by it. Revealing one of her cat-like eyes.

    Moving with the speed of the wind, she strikes the dragon''s tail, trying to cut them again as she did before. However, her attacks were in vain. The dragon''s body has become even sturdier than before. Kurira witnessed Rakuri¡¯s stubborn act and quickly flew toward her.

    Sweats dripped from the chin of the woman behind them. Dola, with each second of the clock passing by, gets more and more exhausted despite seemingly not doing anything.

    *Pant *Pant

    Her silver eyes become heavy, but the grip on her staff is strong still.

    *Tink*

    She felt tingles coming from the back of her neck. Suddenly¡­ a smile cracked on her face, and her eyes widened like a madman''s. Shaking uncontrollably, she starts laughing sinisterly, "Heheheh, Hyahahahahahaha!¡±

    Kurira noticed the loud laughter. She swiftly maneuvers through the flames and the attacks of both the dragon and the skeleton, quickly pulling Rakuri away from them.

    ¡°CAPITAL! I¡¯ll be there soon!¡±

    The clock strike exactly 00.00, creating a powerful burst of wind and shattering the ground as the shockwave blew.

    *D-I-I-I-I-I-I-N-N-G*

    A loud deafening sound of the clock ring across the entire hall.

    *Fwooooosh*

    Dola¡¯s eyes turned golden white. Symbols started appearing from her dreaded clothes, when they shine, it¡¯s no longer vile. The symbols turn her dirty dark clothing into a clean white outfit of a proper priest. Then, at the center of her forehead appears a symbol.

    [Judgment]

    She pulled her staff and then slam it to the ground.

    *BOOOM*

    The shockwave created an earthquake. Putting a notice to the skeleton, he sees the one shining far in the distance. The two dots in his eye sockets erupted like a burning flame, he reaches out his hand, muttering, ¡°Law of the Abyss,¡± grasping the image of the woman, ¡°Bless¡ª¡±

    Stretching her arms wide, Dola slaps her hands together, "I summon you. Kita."

    *Bwooooooooosh*

    A shockwave. Shining ever so brightly, a glowing white flame slowly emerges from the inside of her palms. The clock behind her turned completely white and then a divine creature slowly emerged from it. With the appearance of a gigantic angelic ghost flapping its 6 wings along with a crown-like horn growing out of its head, they shine.

    "Hruuooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!"

    The ghost then formed its hand, imitating Dola¡¯s movement. Completely in sync. She narrows her eyes down to a slit, and mumbled, "True Art of Chronomancy."

    *Tink*

    Echoes the belling clock.

    Opening her palms, she directed it towards the skeleton and the ghost follows her hand movement. Slowly, she ¨C they ¨C opened it wide. Both they and the skeleton grasp the air slowly.

    With many echoing voices spitting out of Dola''s mouth, she and the ghost mumbled at the same time, ¡°Life Distortion."

    *Fwoooth*

    Suddenly, her whole vision became black and white. As if the whole world is slowing down. The space around the Skeleton started to spiral. Despite everything can be seen by the skeleton. His eyes are set on Dola, and her only.

    Her companions, Rakuri and Kurira would¡¯ve also gotten caught by the spell she cast but fortunately, they managed to stay out of its range in time.

    ¡°Heheh. Too bad, huh.¡±

    Dola moved normally in this monochrome world of hers. The whirling air slowly sucked both the dragon and the skeleton like a black hole. Forming her fingers to a flick, she was ready to snap it at any moment. Standing against them, ¡°Somewhat short, but... Guess it''s my time to shine, in this cold lifeless world of mine.¡±

    The rotation of the air is getting faster and faster at a rapid pace. The skeleton is staring at her fiercely. His intent, she can feel it, but Dola cracked a grin, "Welcome to my world, Skelly."

    *Snap*

    *W-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-M-P-H*

    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    Massive destruction of explosion spiraling out of control. Like a controlled nuclear blast. It resulted in the dragon losing its upper half. But the skeleton still stood amidst the smoke, lost his bottom half. His staff carries him, and without his robe, one can see the same symbol of [Judgement] the same as Dola, he has it on the same exact place as well.

    She formed a grin of satisfaction at the result of her spell.

    The spell she cast did not cause any other damage aside from the target location, the remaining area outside of it is completely unaffected. But in another sense of life, the skeleton, Ludwig still lives. His flaring silver eyes, to the one who inflicted this much damage upon him. An eerily disturbing tone came out of his mouth, ¡°You¡­¡±

    Dola flinched. His eyes turned pure silver, ¡°Why is it always you¡­ Traveler¡­¡± it suddenly flew towards her and grasped her neck, fear in her eyes.

    ¡°Why did you¡­ do this to us... Traveler¡­"

    ¡°U-ULTIMA TURN UNDEAD!¡±

    *BWOOSH*

    The skeleton¡¯s body burns in holy flame, not long after he was touched by it, the grip on his hand lessened before its head lay on her chest before turning into ashes.

    *Pant *Pant

    Grinning still, and yet, her heartbeat never stops. Dola heard him well. She can feel his emotion, his hatred. Her smile soon faded. Left with confusion. The ghost behind her then submerged back into the clock and disappeared.

    Suddenly, a ding sound. A different sound from her clock, it¡¯s a sound coming from her head, and then following it is a series of messages displayed in her field of vision.

    ! {Congratulations, you have defeated a Demigod [Ludwig]}

    ~ {+320.000.000.000.000.000 Experience Points have been received}

    ! {Congratulations, you have defeated a Demigod [Gillz Hrundak]

    ~ {+320.000.000.000.000.000 Experience Points have been received}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Congratulations, you are the first¡ª

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Congratulations, you are the first to¡ª

    Dola waved her hand, stopping more of them to come through. Her face hardened as one of her eyes twitched, her heart beating strongly.

    ¡®What just¡­ happened?¡¯

    ¡®Always me?¡¯

    ¡®The fuck was it talking about? It¡¯s my first time facing him.¡¯

    ¡®Was it a Quest? A follow-up one? Did we just steal a main Quest from someone?¡¯

    ¡®What the FUCK IS IT?!¡¯

    Suddenly, she felt something else. Her eyes glanced to the side and she saw another floating screen and this time with a video feed in it. Two men in a suit, and with them, a blonde man.

    Kurira suddenly shouted from a distance, ¡°Wooh!! Look at all these points and loot, baybeeeeh!! See those gems over there!?" pointing at the dragon, many items have appeared on the side of it.

    ¡°We''re gonna be rich! Shit, I¡¯m gonna buy some kits, some dildo, or even¡­ Hm?¡¯

    Notices that her friend is not being her usual self.

    ¡°What''s up with that bitch¡­¡±

    *Fwoosh*

    She flew down to Dola. Upon approaching the ground, she tapped her shoulder, ¡°Dola, what''s wrong? You don''t like the loot or something?¡±

    ¡°No, it''s just.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡± glances at the video feed that Dola shared with her vision.

    ¡°Fuck. That piece of shit again. I told you; you should¡¯ve moved with us. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going ahead.¡±

    ¡°Wait, Dola!¡±

    Her body suddenly disappears.

    ¡°Oh yeah, she¡¯s not like us,¡± speaking of which, Rakuri is wreaking havoc on the corpse of the dragon by slicing repeatedly to no end, ¡°Oi, bitch! We got an emergency! Collect the loot asap, we¡¯re going to Dola''s place.¡±

    ¡°Wha¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shit¡¯s happening again, don¡¯t ask.¡±

    Attentively looking at a red ¡°Log Out¡± button from the floating blue screen. Her body soon flopped to the ground. Rakuri quickly hurries over after absorbing every golden coin and item into her dimensional pocket. She lies beside Kurira before doing the same.

    [author]

    Dragon Tongue Translation:

    Curse you. I shall devour your foul corpse - Dur hi. Zu¡¯u fent du hin bein kopraan

    Get Away - Bo nu

    [/author]

    ¡­

    Stuttering images of black and white, 101 going forward. That was what Dola sees before opening her eyes surrounded by darkness clouded in white fog.

    She reaches her hands out and gripped the edges of something, she rose from a device with an appearance of a large capsule. She too also looks different from before, and so is the essence of the surrounding, ¡°Fuck me, finally get back to the real world.¡±

    She¡¯s in a place where a giant bed lies beside the capsule. Neon light coming from the walls, she walks towards a mirror as she grabbed some clothing. After putting on some light makeup, she reaches underneath a drawer and intakes a couple of pills from its bottle.

    Once again, she looks in the mirror. A beautiful young woman with silky long hair, ample enough breasts, and a slender body. Wearing a simple white tank top and black colored spats.

    A floating blue screen appeared in her sight, the same live video feed from a CCTV. After giving a sigh, she began counting with only one of her hands.

    And then¡­

    *BANG *BANG *BANG

    A loud deafening sound came out of the door, someone knocking on them hard. It was loud, loud enough to wake everyone in the building. She hasn¡¯t opened the door, and her heart kept beating still. Another sigh was given. Her face hardened, saddened.

    She took a long deep breath once more and reaches the bottom of the drawer. A silver gun with a long barrel, a magnum. She shook her head and slid the gun to the back of her spat. Slowly unlocking the door, but then two muscular men barged in without hesitation, and behind them, is a guy in a suit wearing a shade.

    The way his hair was stylized to the back of his head; she always recognizes this person. Dola formed a glaring expression. She asked, ¡°What do you want, Leon?¡±

    ¡°Hmph,¡± chuckles, ¡°I want all of them.¡±

    People would tilt their heads when someone appears out of nowhere and said that. But Dola however, understood what he meant.

    ¡°But I just gave you 5 million last week.¡±

    ¡°Bwahaha,¡± Leon burst into laughter, ¡°You really don''t understand, huh¡±

    He waved his hand, signaling the two men in suits. They started approaching her. Dola notices what is going on, ¡°W-Wait, you¡­ you can''t be serious, Leon. What the hell happened with Mithra? Aren¡¯t you married now? I¡¯m just. L-Leon, earning that amount, took everything I¡¯ve got.¡±

    Slowly rubbing his hand, ¡°Heh, playing Ekolia all day and saying ¡®Everything¡¯ you got. People earn billions from that game, Siola. So, of course. I know you have more, but you¡­ You chose to keep it from me.¡±

    ¡°But why? Why do you even need so much money anyway?! And why me?¡±

    ¡°Well, of course, it''s for my future¡­ with your sister.¡±

    Dola with a hardened expression like she couldn¡¯t hold it anymore, ¡°I just¡­¡± his blunt response gave her a fright. The image of the past started flowing back to her, the image of her sister. Her sweet and beautiful older sister. She meant everything to her.

    ¡°You owe it to Rosa, remember?¡±

    ¡°Leon.¡±

    ¡°This will be the last one. Just give everything you have. And I¡¯m¡­ We, out of your life.¡±

    Grinding her teeth as her brows frowned, her eyes squeezed, ¡°S-So, not only does she steal my fianc¨¦, my inheritance, and now she just¡­ wants to bring my life to ruin. Again? For a second time. She wants to take everything, is that what you¡¯re saying?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    She bit her lips, ¡°You¡­¡± stuttered, trembling as she spoke. ¡°Leon, I¡­ I gave you everything, I devoted my entire life for you, even now I,¡± no energy left to speak, ¡°You¡­¡±

    Leon rolled his eyes at the sight of the dramatic tone. Leaning back to his subordinate, he muttered, ¡°Get it done.¡±

    They nodded. Dola¡¯s eyes peeled at the sight of the two men pulling out their guns, wasting no second for her to react, they quickly pulled the trigger.

    *Bang*

    Blood splashed out of her head, and Dola fell on her back.

    Leon rubbed his ears. The sound of that shot was too loud for him as he stood where the gunshot went. Fixing his jacket, ¡°Hmph,¡± he dust off the nonexistent and said, ¡°How come a low life like you who is worth nothing to the Mithra Family, deserves to be with me, the heir of Visthan.¡±

    Dola is lying there, on the ground. Blood leaking out.

    ¡°Goodbye, Siola.¡±

    Turning his head to the shooter, ¡°Good work, I¡¯ll transfer your pay when we get back.¡±

    Suddenly¡­ a wide grin formed on the woman who lies on the floor. Her eyes opened and she swiftly pulls out her gun, looking directly at Leon. She pulled the trigger.

    *Boom *Boom!

    Twice, accurately on his head.

    *Boom *Boom *Boom

    She continues to shoot him again and again until the magazine ran empty. Consecutively, she shot him in mere seconds, making the subordinate unable to react correctly. They turned around and then shot her again with all their got despite some bullets missing their mark.

    *Bang *Bang *Bang

    Blood splattered out of her body, and many of their bullets went through. Even after she didn¡¯t shoot their employer, they shot her again. But it was too late for them to save Leon as he fell from the impact and with his eyes wide open, as if he were in disbelief, his death is nothing but guaranteed by the many holes in his head.

    *BAM*

    Suddenly, two women barged in with a pump-action shotgun and jumped the two men in suits with their guns aimed at them.

    *BOOOM*

    *Clack*

    *BOOOM*

    They shot them right on their heads, splattering their inside all over the place. One of them defended when Kurira mounted them, but the gun is already in a vertical position the hole staring directly at his eyes. If the girl were to pull the trigger.

    *BOOOM*

    His brain will scatter into pieces. But then she aimed it at his chest.

    *BOOOOM*

    *Clack*

    To his stomach.

    *BOOOOOM*

    To his groin.

    *BOOOOOOM*

    The floor flooded with their blood.

    *Pant *Pant

    But on the other side is, ¡°No,¡± Kurira rushes to Dola, lifting her head, ¡°Hey, hey. Come on, don''t go dark on me, babe.¡±

    The metal substance on Dola''s skeleton protected her head from being splattered, however, the wound is another story.

    ¡°Rakuri, the Meds!¡±

    She paused with watery eyes and rapidly thumping hearts.

    ¡°What the fuck are you still standing here for!? Hurry the fuck up, YOU STUPID BITCH!"

    Rakuri quickly left the room. Kurira shifted her eyes to Dola, ¡°Hey, come on, you''re gonna make it, just hold on.¡±

    Dola didn''t respond. However, she can still see Kurira panicking. Her face made her chuckle even with blood in her throat.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Kurira¡¯s mouth trembling, ¡°See, you¡¯ll be just fine.¡±

    Shedding tears, both of them. Dola gripped Kurira¡¯s hand tightly as her mouth widened and the edge of her lips tilted, smiling so brightly even in red. And so Kurira smiled the same, widely, as if she was grinning. Dola did not force that smile, she just wants to see Kurira does it.

    ¡°Yyyeeww¡­¡± her mind started to become cloudy, ¡°Hiiihi, wwuuk swufid.¡±

    Trying her hardest to keep her eyes from rolling, Dola look at her friend deeply in the eye. Keeping up that smile so wide that it can never be tilted down.

    ¡°Dola, please,¡± keeping her wide grin, ¡°Don¡¯t do this to me."

    But Dola keeps smiling.

    Suddenly, her arms went limp.

    ¡°No¡­ Dola¡­ Dola, please. Please¡­ Dola¡­¡±

    She held her tightly and mumbled her name over and over again. Dola sees it all, and that pushes her once more to make the last effort to smile.

    The image of her friend crying soon faded, and Dola¡­ is no more.

 Chapter 2 â€“ My Return

    Tring-ring-ring!! Sound of an old alarm, waking up the sun. Slowly, I open my eyes, ¡°Mm¡­ nuh-uh?¡± trying to reach out to anything I can hold onto.

    *Thud*

    ¡°Ouch, my b...¡±

    Rolling around made me fell from¡­ a sofa?

    ¡°Hm?¡± I smell something, ¡°What the hell is that revolting sense of¡­ no wait, it''s me.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    *Sniff*

    As it turns out, my armpits just became a bio-weapon. The scent is so strong, it could even kill an elephant, ¡°Might even be able to kill the masses with this, Hahaha!¡±

    Glancing around though, I found myself in a place that I¡¯m familiar with. It didn¡¯t take long for this cramped and dusty environment to wipe my grin away though.

    ¡°Heheh, what¡¯s this? I¡¯m still alive? Did those two get a brain surgeon or something?¡± I tried my best to smile, but¡­ that sense of discomfort. My bad habit of predicting the future kept me anxious, what¡¯s gonna happen in the next second? Finding out that I¡¯m alive after those bullets I took, I really don¡¯t like where it¡¯s gonna go if it¡¯s something I did not expect.

    Stretching my thin arms, I let out a bit of a moan, ¡°Hnnn¡­¡± I sighed, ¡°All right where the hell am I? Did somebody kidnap the beautiful me or what?¡±

    My body feels different. I¡¯ve put all kinds of cybernetics enhancement so that I¡¯m always at my best and even some bio stuff, but sluggishly, I stood. This place, something like an abandoned restaurant, a scene that I¡¯m familiar with, ¡°Small, and what''s it with these cheap-ass chairs? Wood?¡±

    I don¡¯t want to admit it.

    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me¡­¡±

    Walking out, I can see the whole building.

    ¡°Fuck me.¡±

    Walking back inside, seeing the living room or should I say, the diner, got mixed up with the kitchen reminds me of when the time Kurira went down on me, right on that counter. This place got a bathroom and storage full of empty boxes.

    ¡°Oh, shit¡­¡±

    ¡°No wonder it feels familiar. This is the same house where I got dumped by those fu¨C I mean, awful people.¡±

    My family. I¡¯m not worthy of the name of Mithra, they said. I did cause a little bit of scene from time to time but the way they treated me afterward, especially my mother and grandfather. Just thinking about it boils my blood.

    But then I accidentally glanced at the paper calendar, a flash of memories where I rip things apart and cry, lifelessly staring into space on this very sofa.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    September 28, 2076.

    My eyes peeled, and I quickly turned my head away, sweating. Then I glanced again only to turn my head again, ¡°Argh,¡± looking at my hand, feeling my arm only to smell the chemically-inducing scent of my armpits, ¡°Nooooooooooooooooo!¡±

    I¡¯ve returned to the past.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Staring at the ceiling, ¡°But why,¡± narrowing my eyes down, I pondered to myself, ¡®Was it to remind me that I once had a family?¡¯

    My sister Rosa, I can see her red-filled lipstick of a mouth screaming, mumbling, spouting all kinds of nonsense. Turning every single member of the family against me. Or maybe not, I don¡¯t know. I used to be my grandfather''s favorite. My mother holds me dearly, and I even have another mom, Sadrin, who is the head maid of the house. My father rarely talks to me, and this one time when he raised his hand, I can still feel my cheek burning because of it.

    But then there are also people who are still kind to me and related in some way to the Mithra Household. Aunt Linda, mother¡¯s sister. Uncle Martin, Sadrin¡¯s brother. The latter had a wife and a kid but with that kid, I severed my ties with her so long ago.

    ¡®She must be in the university around this time. I wonder if I can meet her again just to say that I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ for rejecting her silent confession.

    ¡°Nothing can really fix what had happened. Nothing.¡±

    I sighed when suddenly, a faint pleasant smell passes through my nose.

    "Bah, this is bad, what a disaster! My armpits just turned into aphrodisiacs."

    Rose from the sofa, I quickly head to the bathroom.

    ¡°Dammit, so itchy¡­."

    As soon as I entered, my eyes stopped at a mirror behind the shower. Chuckled after seeing myself in the reflection, ¡°Heh, so I went back to this ugly face, huh.¡±

    Short hair nerd. Plain, and worse, my freckles.

    ¡®This is the face that those two fall in love with. I changed it because I don¡¯t.¡¯

    ¡°Hmm, looking at it again after having the face of a Diva. I kinda like it.¡±

    It put a smile on my face, seeing it go back to its origin. I cannot even remember how many surgeries, enhancements, and other divine goods I put in my body. Instinctively, I went nude and posed with my arms up.

    ¡°Hehehe, I might end up in the top ten of worse-looking kid of the year.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t grow anymore than this, so I had height adjustment among other things. This year is 2076, which means 4 years in the past. Making me 21 years old now.

    *Pssssssssh*

    The shower still works, but it¡¯s cold.

    ¡®I gotta change that. Gotta gets back up. Going back to the past might give me another opportunity but it also means that I¡¯ve lost everything.¡¯

    My wealth, my friends.

    ¡®How do I thread from here, I wonder.¡¯

    Wealth, Power, and Connection. These three things are what makes someone truly important. Everyone has a status, and those three things determined if it is the good or the bad kind. This place for example, is at the bottom of the barrel. And the residents can¡¯t just walk to someone above expecting them to hold a conversation. They won¡¯t accept you, or even look at you.

    ¡°Haa¡­ times like this really make you want to play that game. I wonder what¡¯s the state of the world at this time. Must be suck bawls.¡±

    Which reminds me, ¡®Heheh, wish we could at least celebrate that moment. We actually won against two demigods, and all of that was thanks to me. My chronomancy class, that spell.¡¯

    ¡°Haha, only I know how to get it.¡±

    ¡®But does it even matter now? I¡¯ve lost the years of memories I spent with those two. Even if I were to obtain it again, who the hell am I gonna talk to about it? Who am I gonna brag about it too?¡¯

    Without realizing it, tears have fallen and mixed with the water. Dripping together, but I can tell when it went alone; When it falls to the floor.

    *Sob *Sob

    Kurira¡¯s face, ¡°Pfft, she was really¡­ looking stupid there.¡±

    *Hic*

    *Sob *Sob

    *BAM*

    Slamming the door open, I walked out of that shitty cold bathroom. Heart beating like I just jog for thousand miles, the pain in my chest which has none of the useless fat others usually has!

    ¡°FUCK!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough sobbing! Capital¡ª No, Desolated Sector! Dola HAS RETURNED!¡±

    ...

 Chapter 3 â€“ Outcasts

    This world is separated. Places are divided into sectors. Sky Sector, where the high-ranking status lives, the Earth sector where normal people live, and there¡¯s this place, the Desolated Sector where only the waste of society is put together in the lonely part of the world.

    ¡°D-sect, sixth island.¡±

    ¡®Probably the least dangerous place than the rest, but still dangerous nonetheless. Like a prison except the prisoners are able to walk around freely. Luckily, the government still put the dangerous ones behind bars. Otherwise, even I¡¯m gonna start to worry,¡¯ there is still surveillance to some extent, not something I have to worry about at the moment, ¡®I¡¯m just a nobody now.¡¯

    I wonder what happened after my death, ¡®Did those two able to leave safely? MCPD must¡¯ve made a fuss about the incident since my apartment is so close to it.¡¯

    Believe it or not, I used to have ties with the Metro City Police Department. I slept with one of the chiefs with my signature handmade dildo strapped tightly on my mmmph, and she¡¯s just, oomph!

    ¡®Despite her being in her mid 40s, she''s still got it in her. And I love me some MILFs.¡¯

    And, talking about someone who fucked me over.

    ¡®Leon, that jerk really¡­ maybe I should¡¯ve given him all of my money, but that''s for those two¡¯s ticket to the capital.¡¯

    It¡¯s a place where only the elite settle. A single huge island, a paradise where everything is at your disposal. When your name got listed to it, respect naturally comes your way. Nothing can deny your entry to anything. Even the government can¡¯t willy nilly touch anyone who is listed as a part of the Capital. It¡¯s our endgame.

    ¡°Visthan, my ass. You only get to be the heir because of me.¡±

    ¡°Siola Mithra, you stupid ass bitch. Fallen in love with an asshole and now look at you,¡± flying onto the sofa, ¡°Fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff,¡± the next word was muffled.

    Gasping as I lift my head, ¡°Two-faced bastaaaard!¡±

    ¡°Haa¡­ Haa¡­¡±

    No cybernetics, my stamina feels so damn low.

    ¡°Fuck this, where¡¯re my clothes?¡±

    Seems that I had it in a plastic bag. A tank top and this cheap ass jeans. I used to have a black one but I guess Sadrin changed it to this.

    "Maybe for my safety, but damn, this sucks."

    It fits me nicely.

    ¡°Now then,¡± turning towards the door. I walked out of the place to feel the environment outside. The sun slowly rose, blinding me with its light. I began to survey my surrounding, ¡°If I want to have a nice life, I shouldn¡¯t wait for two years. I have to start now.¡±

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    The ceiling isn¡¯t gonna go down. A bit of moss around the place, but nothing to worry about.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get why grandpa put this house here. In the swamp of all places.¡±

    Alas, it¡¯s the only place I have.

    ¡®To play Ekolia. One needs the device to run it. Cheapest capsule costs around $15k, but the good ones can go up to millions. Rental is an option, but what concerns me is privacy. I¡¯d be more willing if I¡¯m in the Sky Sect, but here in the D-Sect, can¡¯t be more careful.¡¯

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯m gonna need to make a call.¡±

    Walking by the wooden bridge, I glanced at the swamp¡¯s water below, ¡°¡­¡± I¡¯m determined to not make it my final resting place, and I don¡¯t just mean this swamp.

    ¡­

    The streets are buzzing with a crowd I don¡¯t like to associate myself with. Some remind me of Kurira, that wild card. Rakuri however, is well and proper. I kept glancing around to match my memories with the place I often go to if I want some things I can¡¯t get by normal means.

    *Beep *BEEEEP

    ¡°SHUT THE FUCK UP, MOTHERFUCKER!¡±

    ¡°Think this your place, huh!¡±

    Road rage in this lonely street.

    ¡°The fuck you say, cunt?!¡±

    ¡°You heard me!¡±

    ¡°Wha, you wanna go?!¡±

    I really just don¡¯t get these people. Being so unreasonable, makes me ponder, ¡®Can¡¯t they just say fuck you and go about their business? Seriously, there''s really no merit to¡ª¡¯

    *BANG*

    My eyes peeled. That sound rang in my eardrums so violently that it reminds me of the time I got shot, ¡®N-No,¡¯ fear of it happening again, I ran with all my might. With my weak body, I can¡¯t push the crowd aside. In fact, I¡¯m the one who got pushed all over. Eventually, I managed to get out of there and got myself here at the park, which is my destination in the first place.

    My legs trembling, ¡°Fuooo¡­¡±

    ¡°Calm down. Calm down. You¡¯re okay. You¡¯re okay.¡±

    Repeating these words in my head, ¡°Fuck, fuck!¡± I¡¯m practically naked right now. One shot and I¡¯m gone. My heart is beating so fast for so long and it¡¯s only after a while I can manage to regain my composure. I can finally look at the beautiful park in front of me. Though, it is filled not with the beautiful people it deserves.

    "Shit."

    I walked, ''Now, where is it?''

    Business is made here. Guns, drugs, and just about anything that screams illegal are out in the open and the people here casually do the exchange without a care in the world. Almost no security can be seen, but if one were to break the law¡­ Well, let''s just say that a burst of flames would start surrounding the area and quite possibly, burning everyone involved.

    I hope I can avoid offending someone by accident.

    ¡°Old electronics. Finally.¡±

    Someone still sells those things. One I saw is a man covering his entire skin with rags. Though the stuff he laid in front of him is exactly what I need.

    ¡®This man. I remember someone tried to rob him and succeeded, only the day after the person who did rob him ended up in a sewer with all his body parts sliced into bits. Something about him screams danger to me, but I myself am nobody important, at least right now.''

    ¡°Excuse me.¡±

    ¡°Hm, pretty gal¡­ Welcome, take a look at these goods. Got just about everything.¡±

    His muffled voice, I can tell it¡¯s belonged to a middle-aged man.

    ¡°Um, I know it¡¯s weird or um, fishy, for someone to suddenly ask you this, but can I borrow a phone? Anything that can um, make a call for a resident in Sky Sector.¡±

    His blue eyes stare at me.

    ¡°Of course, which island?¡±

    ¡°Third one. I promise I¡¯ll pay the fees as soon as possible.¡±

    The Merchant stroke his jaw. A moment after, he took a different phone from the first one he tries to reach. And when he handed it to me, ¡°You have 320 minutes.¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t think I need that long.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Hesitant at first, but I encourage myself to take the phone. I¡¯m not sure what that was. Does the phone I¡¯m holding is wired, or is it a safe one? As they say, when the product is free, you are the product. But I don¡¯t know how to start this life without Ekolia, I¡¯m not sure if I want to go through another way. This merchant, shouldn¡¯t be messed with and maybe I should¡¯ve reconsidered before I actually take the phone, but now that it¡¯s in my hand, I have to make this phone call no matter what.

    I¡¯m dialing up the number of the best auntie in the world.

    Aunt Linda.

 Chapter 4 â€“ Well Ended Transaction

    *Beep ¡­ *Beep ¡­ *Beep

    ¡®Hah,¡¯ Aunt Linda, ¡®I still remember the time when she spanked me so hard my butt ended up all red, and all of that because I took a few cookies from the kitchen back home.¡¯

    When the scene played in my mind, can¡¯t help myself but to smile, ¡®Haa¡­ if only I can get her recipe or something. Those are one hell of a cookie, but it also made my head a bit cloudy.¡¯

    I wonder what she put in it to make it so addicting. But anyway, I''m sure she¡¯ll help me with my money problem. She always is.

    ¡­

    [No!] said the voice on the phone.

    ¡°B-Buh, Aunt Linda!¡±

    [I said no]

    [Goodness, it¡¯s not even a week since you left, Siola! After you disgrace the name of our family and now, you''re asking us for money?]

    ¡°N-No, Auntie. I¡¯m not asking for the family¡¯s money, j-just yuwww. I don¡¯t want to owe anything to those bas¨C I mean, awful people.¡±

    [Was that¡­]

    ¡°Th-The point is, I really need that money, Auntie. Please¡­¡±

    [¡­]

    ¡®That was a close one, but guhh, she really said no! What do I do?! It seems that I got no choice but to do THAT after all.¡¯

    Cute Damsel in Distress Mode Activated, ¡°Auntie¡­ please, I really need it. Just one last time, I promise I¡¯ll do anything you ask. Can you please help me? I promise I will return it later.¡±

    [Humph! Siola, that was exactly what I heard from you last time, and guess what, you still have not returned a single digit from the last time I gave you that money]

    Guh, I took phantom damage. It felt like I was being punched right in the gut.

    ¡°Th-That was¡­ well¡­¡± stuttering as I tried to give a good answer.

    ¡®Damn it! How could I forget that I still have some debts to her? Guh, and I even lost those because grandpa found out about the money I borrowed, and he didn¡¯t even return it to Aunt Linda even though I was the one who borrowed it! He stole it from me! A Mithra! Stealing!¡¯

    [When your mother not giving you things, you always turn to me. What am I, your backup storage or something? Your banks? Should I remind you that¡­]

    Well, it¡¯s true but I treat Auntie as my savior. The one who rescued me from the depth of poorness and sadness, my beacon of hope where the glittering green paper lies. And so, I got caught by the binding spell [Lectures of Aunt Linda] and I have not prepared a countermeasure from it.

    Several moments later.

    [¡­ and that is why you should think before you act, missy!]

    ¡°Uwu¡­¡±

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    [Obwuwuhwuh!]

    I feel like I just came 5 times. So tired after getting trapped by her spell, the lectures. I can only sigh, ¡°Yes, Auntie. I understand.¡±

    Lifeless.

    [Humph! Good. Failure is a good lesson for anyone who seeks success but that doesn¡¯t mean you should be on the low side all the time, Siola. I will transfer the money, but remember¡­ This is the last one, princess]

    My eyes glittered right after hearing the sound of that beautiful voice¡­ and words, ¡°Yes, Auntie!! Oh my gaaahd! Thwanyu swho muwch!!¡¯ clenching my fist tightly in blissful joy.

    [Wu sho wewcom, dear]

    ¡°Mnyumnyum wuv u sho mwuch, Auntie.¡±

    [Mhm. Alright, alright. I''ll be hanging up now, do take care of yourself, Siola]

    ¡°Yes, Auntie, I will. Goodbye!¡±

    Upon hearing the phone beep, I hung up and quickly punched the air a few times, ¡°Hell yeah!!¡¯ then returned the phone to the Merchant.

    ¡°Quite the interesting exchange. Do forgive me for¡­ eavesdropping?¡±

    ¡°Ehehe, it¡¯s okay.¡±

    *Crack *Crack *Crushed

    Flinched at the man twisting the phone in half. That made shocked me a bit, but now I know it¡¯s a burner phone, I feel like I owe him more than I expected.

    Our eyes met. He then said, ¡°Mere $50 and change. You don¡¯t have to return them.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll give them back for sure,¡± after all, ¡®I just asked for a hundred K from Aunt Linda.¡¯

    He nodded, ¡°Suit yourself.¡±

    I only smiled.

    ¡°Yo, MC! That your kid?¡±

    A loud one suddenly came. A tall muscular guy with tattoos all over his body. The form is impressive but I can tell it¡¯s not a natural one.

    ¡°Malek.¡±

    With a big smile on his face, ¡°Damn, she¡¯s fine. Ya might wanna have some blade in your back pocket, girl, cause this town ain¡¯t as pretty as you.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ huh.¡±

    Smooth, but I don¡¯t like it.

    ¡°Here, take this. A little gift from the ol¡¯ me.¡±

    ¡°Ahh.¡±

    ¡®Shit, just when I made up my mind about him. Now I felt bad,¡¯ flustered, I clarify, ¡°B-But I¡¯m not really his daughter or anything. I was just¡­ a customer, is all.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Business, eh. Well, whatever, just take it. Mine has been slow lately, wouldn¡¯t mind takin'' one off the clearance. Right, let me teach you how to roll with it.¡±

    9mm handgun, the appearance is sleek and compact.

    ¡°Glock 45.¡±

    ¡°Ohh? Ya know your stuff, girl.¡±

    ¡°Well truth is, I already know how to use a gun so¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh? Let¡¯s go! Here then, see that guy over there,¡± pointing at the back, ¡°I want one of that bullets to go straight up his ass.¡±

    He gave me a suppressor. I was quite taken aback by it, but thinking after the incident just a while back, I didn¡¯t question nor do I refuse it. It¡¯s something that would definitely be useful if I were to be in a sticky situation.

    *Clack*

    This gun is actually loaded. He actually gave me a fully loaded gun. This Malek whatever pointed at the guy busy assembling some armaments, minding his own business until the next moment.

    *Phyuushtt*

    His head tilted backwards, ¡°Guoooooooh!!!¡±

    I doubt it did any real damage since his body looks to be augmented.

    ¡°Bwahahaha, now that¡¯s what I¡¯m talkin'' about! Ya might even be a sharpshooter if ya were in the army, girl. Aight, you can keep that thing too. Double gift from me. Though, if ya want more of those bullets, my shop''s always around.¡±

    I nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Quite nerve-wracking that I got a gun from a stranger, but when I look at the Merchant nodding at me. Maybe it''s a good choice to keep it. The guy doesn''t seem to be that bad anyway.

    ***

    Siola left the sight of both the merchant and the man who gave her a firearm, and that¡¯s when the atmosphere changed as Malek¡¯s eyes became weary. He asked, ¡°Was it really her?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    The merchant only grunted at his question, and then his phone beeped. Receiving a message from a local bank stating that $100.000.000 has been received.

    ¡°Uncertain.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb with me. You better tell me or I will-¡±

    *Clack *Clack *Clasp

    The people around, from store owners to buyers, started to surround Malek and his assistant, each wielding their own weapons. The only exception is Malek¡¯s partner who is dumbstruck by what is happening, ¡°Um, B-Boss?¡±

    Looking at the merchant¡¯s eye. The way his vein gets closer to his iris brought chills down Malek¡¯s spine. The merchant asked to clarify, grunting in a deep voice, ¡°You will what?¡±

    Malek¡¯s expression hardened.

    Another message to the Merchant, another bill has been received, $400.000.000.

    ¡°Hmph. 15%, only her name matches with the registry.¡±

    ¡°That tells me nothing.¡±

    ¡°Is it?¡±

    His face turns ugly. Grinding his teeth looking at the road Siola has walked, his fist clenches tightly as his eyes narrow down to a slit. He mumbled, ¡°Just you wait¡­ Mithra.¡±

 Chapter 4.1 â€“ Interesting Exchange

    There are many things in the world that can intimidate people. Cosmic horrors, monsters, strangers, tall muscular man, and one that intimidates Siola the most is her asking for another favor with her most beloved Aunt. It¡¯s even more intimidating when she¡¯s not facing her face to face. Because she is now limited only by using one method of charm.

    The voice of her Aunt Linda can directly be heard from the antiquated phone Siola borrowed that is now pressing her cheek, [¡­ Should I remind you that in that closet of yours, there were these mountains of dolls, enough to smother your grandfather''s sanity with just the sheer number you bought¡­ and all of that, you used my money for it]

    ¡°B-Buh Auntie,¡± puffing her cheeks, ¡°Thwat was bwecause iw wes ndiscouwnt¡­¡±

    [Siola, I¡¯ve looked at the receipt. Don¡¯t you dare to lie to me young lady because there is not a single moment where a Mithra ever resorted to buying discounted items. And because of that, you sour the relationship between me and the rest of the family. Besides, what are you going to spend them this time? Oh, let me guess. Toys]

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    [Yes, of course you would buy those again, padding your time with playing games. Did you know that a ¡°Time Killer¡± doesn¡¯t mean a thing if you don¡¯t have anything meaningful to do before you decided to ¡°Kill Time¡± beforehand, Siola? Don¡¯t Sadrin ever tell you that work comes first before you can play?]

    ¡°Buh, Aunt Linda!¡±

    [Don¡¯t ¡°Buh, Buh¡± me, young lady. Every single time, you put on these cutesy puffing cheeks like it¡¯s some kind of inflated balloons that I want to squeeze so much! And I can see you are doing it now, Siola]

    And indeed, she is. Her cheeks become even more inflated as her aunt continues.

    [Well, do you have anything to say for yourself?]

    ¡°I wiw wyum bwek.¡±

    [You will pay them back? Somehow, I doubt it.¡±

    ¡°Bwuh ai pwomiese, iw wownt bwe aik aws tweime.¡±

    [Stop talking like that, young lady]

    ¡°Bwuh ai pwomiese, wuantie.¡±

    [¡­]

    ¡°Ai pwomiese¡­¡±

    [Siola¡­ you dwimwit chu weweys dwo dis aike ai wiw wowewa wit wagwain]

    ¡°Buhnyumnyumnyu hwunyu.¡±

    [Wubyuhbyuhubyu!]

    ¡°Hyumnmyumyubyu myumumyuuu!¡±

    Her cheeks puffed to the maximum they can possibly hold. And all this is happening while the merchant from whom Siola got the phone to talk to her aunt is now looking at her antics with dead-looking eyes, wondering when it¡¯s going to be over.

 Chapter 4.5 â€“ Lone Mithra

    Without Malek and his assistance around, the park returned to its original atmosphere of being natural. All the store owners gave a slight bow to the Merchant and he nodded at them before they all return to attend their stores. But then he grabbed a phone, the one he chose originally before he decided on another to give Siola. He took the broken phone and took out a SIM card from within, inserting it into the new phone. There he found the number Siola has called.

    *Beep *Beep

    The other end accepted the call.

    [How is it?]

    The exact same voice that Siola has heard.

    ¡°Two men.¡±

    [Just Malek and the skinny guy?]

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    [Hm, alright]

    ¡°Farewell.¡±

    [Before that, I suggest you stay out of this one]

    ¡°With pleasure.¡±

    [Hmph, alright]

    He hangs up. Walking towards one of the stores, there is a barrel full of trash on fire. He threw both phones and watches them burn, explode, and melted.

    ***

    Within a large skyscraper in the middle of a dense city full of extravagant buildings, is a woman who just hangs up a call on the floating blue screen within her sight. She has short brown hair touching just the top of her spine with a little bun tied at the top, light lipstick, and a face with little to no makeup. Her brown eyes narrow warmly. The woman wears a dress with a cleavage cutout revealing her massively busty assets. She turns around, lifting both feet up on the desk. Her dress barely covers her legs and on both sides of her waist is another cutout, revealing the string of her underwear.

    On the other end is an obese man on both knees with his arms tied to his back. A pump-action shotgun is directed at the back of his head by a man in suit wearing a shade. His white eyes glow through the pair of tinted glasses.

    ¡°Hah,¡± chuckled the woman, ¡°Color me surprised, you actually told the truth.¡±

    ¡°Wh-Why would I lie to you, Shanti? Please, I swear I¡¯m not involved in any of this¡­¡±

    The woman, Shanti, stood.

    And the man continues, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s been years Flare Wings have supported you, and you brought us to this height, there is not a single reason in the world that¡­¡±

    She walked around her desk, stepping with her high heels, stopping right before the man¡¯s face as he glanced up at her bare legs, but she quickly glanced down. The woman chuckled at his reaction so she walked around him, she can see something bulking up the man¡¯s pants.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    "... No reason that, w-we would ever betr¡ª"

    *Stomp*

    Eyes peeled as a sting was felt on the center of his butt, ¡°Hounnngh!¡±

    ¡°Sure does,¡± said Shanti, ¡°FW has been doing magnificent work so far, but your employees are little¡­ mischief. This clown. Wants to feel more than just this. How greedy, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    *Pressed*

    ¡°Y-Yes, Shanti!¡±

    ¡°What did you call me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m, M-Madam Shanti, y-you¡¯re right.¡±

    ¡°What am I right about?¡±

    *Pressed*

    ¡°Hnnnnnnnghh!¡±

    Her sharp heel cap pierced the man¡¯s pants and the heel went inside him. His eyes roll as his mouth leaks out saliva, drooling at the pain he is experiencing.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°Th-The clown¡­ d-doesn¡¯t kn-know his place.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Shanti kept pressing more and more until it went deep inside him. He squirms, grinning uncontrollably. Shanti formed a large grin at the sight she''s viewing, "Truly... Shamless, yes?"

    "Y-Yeaaahhn."

    His moan made her chuckle. Slowly, she grinds him in all directions. He kept squirming, and moaning, until the last moment when he stiffened up and started jolting. His pants became wet as white liquid dripped through.

    ¡°Heheh,¡± she left one of her heels in his butt and a servant has prepared to lay a new one before she took a step. Another came from the door, without knocking, and with a robotic voice, she said, ¡°Madam Shanti, a Proxy wishes to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Whose?¡±

    ¡°Unknown, but the woman told us to pass you this item.¡±

    A cotton doll of a Panda. Shanti narrowed her eyes down to a slit and her expression hardened to a fury, ¡°BT,¡± the man with the gun, ¡°Escort this pathetic man back to the dumpster where he belongs. Lockdown the building once you do.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Madam.¡±

    Shanti walked out of her office with the two servants following from behind. She headed towards the destination stated within a floating screen in her sight, showing a path to an unidentified object. Within the middle of the building where the construction is not yet done, stood a person before the glass wall, staring at the scenery of the massive bountiful city of Sky Sector.

    Massive curly black hair that extends all the way to the person¡¯s waist. Wearing all-black clothes, with a slim figure. Shanti assumed that it was a woman. From the reflection, her plain mask and one of her eyes are visible, but her eye enlarged and shrank itself while forming curved strips on her irises. At that moment Shanti knows who it is, ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Shanti chuckled, ¡°You managed to find a Proxy to slot it in.¡±

    ¡°No thanks to you.¡±

    The woman turns around and approached her closer, but the two servants of Shanti stepped forward as the air becomes intensified. However, Shanti suddenly stopped the two from moving any further. Instead, she faces the woman from a meter away. Suddenly, Shanti opened her arms and began smiling warmly, but the woman said, ¡°Wear something else, then I¡¯ll hug you.¡±

    Sighing as she rolled her eyes, ¡°You¡¯re no fun at all. That¡¯s why you¡¯re my least favorite.¡± Looking at the woman once more, Shanti chuckled once again before staying silent for a minute, ¡°Three times a day.¡±

    ¡°A week,¡± the woman quickly answered.

    ¡°Two times a day.¡±

    ¡°Once a week.¡±

    ¡°Two times per three days.¡±

    ¡°Three times a month.¡±

    ¡°Final offer. I tell you where she is with all the details you want, but you will allow me to visit her 5 times a week.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± the person then said, ¡°Four times a week, no weekends.¡±

    ¡°Heheh, that works.¡±

    The unknown person raised her hand, and Shanti with her wide grin shook her hand to a conclusion of their deal. But Shanti quickly pulls her in and hug her, burying the person¡¯s face deep in her cleavage between those massive bosoms.

    ¡°Waaaaahh, your new Proxy is so kyuute. I can¡¯t help but two mnyumyunyum!¡±

    ¡°Gwaah! Get off me, you hag!¡±

    Meanwhile, Siola is chomping down on a massive meal she ordered at a restaurant while watching the motion of two skimpy outfitted women talking at each other on a live TV. Suddenly, she raised her hands, and with her cheeks still inflated because of the food in there, she yelled, "Excaese Mae! Tu Moar ''a Deez Peess!"

 Chapter 5 â€“ Purchasing Gaming Capsule

    ***

    *Munch *Munch *Munch

    ¡®Oh my god, oh my god, OH MY G!¡¯

    *Gulp*

    ¡®Swallowing that big chunk of cheeseburger without worrying about how much money is left in my pocket is total bliss! I got nothing to worry about except for my weight which will never increase!¡¯

    *Sluuuuuuuuuurp*

    ¡°Pwah.¡±

    ¡®Thicc juice, baby! Love me that refreshing strawberry flavor.¡¯

    (. ? ? ?.)

    ¡®Alright, that¡¯s enough break for me.¡¯

    Earlier in the day, I went to the bank and managed to get a new card because the old one was left in Sky Sect. And of course, it¡¯s issued by the Black Network. Gonna need this if I want to spend the money I have in the bank. BN is also the company that made Ekolia among other things, they have tons of subsidiaries.

    ¡°Ahh¡­ should be able to buy the capsule now.¡±

    ¡®Though, I¡¯m limited to the amount that I have at the moment. Should be able to a get decent one. Maybe $80k can get me the 6th gen. I don¡¯t want to be too far out of date from the current 8th.¡¯

    Currently, I¡¯m on the upper floors of Cybernetics Mall in the middle of Metro City. I had to take a long ride to get here because the company, BN, doesn¡¯t have a store around my area. This place is on the third island, another one that has the least crime rate. Maybe it¡¯s because of safety issues that there are not many of their stores around D-Sect even though a quarter of Ekolia¡¯s player base came from here, this pathetic sector.

    ¡°Haa¡­ if only I¡¯m still in Sky Sect though. I wouldn¡¯t need to worry about stepping outside since everything can be delivered to me in just one quick phone call.¡±

    Verification issues.

    *Sluuuuuuurp*

    Drinking the juice on the way still, I went straight down to the lower floors and get to a shop that I¡¯m familiar with, ¡®I used to come here to buy those RGB kits for my room. It¡¯s nice to be back,¡¯ a large store, spacious. Most edges around this place are lit up in neon lights. Walking up to the counter, ¡°Excuse me, an order please.¡±

    The handsome boy notices me here, but instead of coming here and swooning all over me, he instead went to the back. Only to return with a 6ft black man with a look that could kill.

    ¡®That suit is gonna rip soon¡­ uwu, those biceps.¡¯

    ¡®Scary!¡¯

    ¡°What can I do for you?¡±

    ¡®Ugh, it¡¯s hard to talk to him now that I¡¯m supposed to not know him. That fierce-looking eyes belong to none other than Galliano Mantre. An acquaintance from my past life, a friend I used to hang out with, and what he¡¯s packing down there is much thicker than those muscles.¡±

    *Gulp*

    *Sluuuuuurp*

    ¡°Was looking to buy a capsule, think you got any 6<sup>th</sup> or 7<sup>th</sup> gen on discount?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    ¡®Odd,¡¯ he used to be so talkative and full of spirit. The first time we met was in Ekolia. He fell from the sky with no clothes on, flashing that big DONG on me, ''Maybe something¡¯s going on with his life in this day and age.¡¯

    *Sluuuuuurp*

    He filtered out what I need by smoothly tapping the screen on the desk, ¡°Here is what we have available. For playing Ekolia, I assume?¡±

    I nodded enthusiastically, ¡°Yes.¡±

    His eyes light up, ¡°I play that game too. What¡¯s your level?¡±

    ¡®Already asking my level instead of whether I have played it or not, that¡¯s to be expected. Ekolia is massive, it¡¯s the most popular game in Desolated Sector, probably in the whole world. When you buy a capsule, it¡¯s either because you¡¯re committed to owning your character or you just have tons of money you don''t know how to spend.¡¯

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    It costs $20.000 for a new account to buy a character slot. 5th gen and above is already bundled with one character slot that one can own right away. But the beauty of Ekolia is, along with the risk, there are many opportunities for people to cash in big time from the game.

    ¡°Hehe, I was actually going to make a new character because the last one was an Anonymous so¡­ Can¡¯t tell you that, sorry.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no problem¡­¡± leaning on the desk, ¡°But hey, tell you what, I¡¯m gonna give you¡­ an additional discount on this but on the condition that you¡¯ll help me out, literally, from the tutorial. Been stuck in that place for three weeks now.¡±

    ¡°Eh, you want my help getting out of the¡­ Tutorial? As in the Starter Camp in the Prison?¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous I know. It¡¯s because a certain someone in my team pissed off this one guardian holding one of the gates and she has been hunting us down whenever we logged in. They¡¯re gonna make a new character, but the broke me can¡¯t just casually spend tens of thousands of dollars just to get out of that situation. It looks bleak, but, thought maybe an experienced one like you might¡­¡± he smiled, ¡°You know, guide me the fuck out of there. Pardon my language.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    ¡®A guardian holding a gate, huh? There¡¯s a lot of Guardian in the starting area, but the infamous ones are the undead in the West Gate.¡¯

    ¡®There¡¯s a rumor that behind that gate is something very special, maybe a very rare treasure, but no one actually managed to get through them. People kept wondering why they even exist.¡¯

    ¡°Okay¡­ How much is this discount? Said that you¡¯re broke.¡±

    He chuckled, ¡°6<sup>th</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> gen are all sold out. But we got this 8<sup>th</sup> gen for 140k with a discount sale of 36%,¡± after updating the checkout on the desk, ¡°And I will give you an additional¡­¡± with his fingers, ¡°5 percent on top of that.¡±

    My eyes widened, ¡°Hah, think you can just sway me with a measly 5% discount?¡± mocking him. My fingers move steadfastly to swipe my card on the machine, ¡°Well, you can!¡±

    ¡°Bwahahaha!¡±

    We burst into laughter.

    He and his partner act swiftly in taking my order and organizing the shipping.

    ¡°Say, if you really can get me out of there, I¡¯ll throw in another bonus when we got out. The name is Galliano, got the same IGN.¡±

    ''Well, having the same In-Game-Names can help out a lot too, back then, he uses a different one though. Hope I can help him out on this,'' extending his hand, I received to shake it, ¡°Siola, be the same too.¡±

    A slight chuckle and a smile on our faces.

    ¡°Well, guess I¡¯ll see you in there, Siola. Just circle around the entry, I¡¯ll find you myself, and don¡¯t take too long now.¡±

    Giving him that O in my hand, we partway not long after. I got a ride from them but I stopped by the park to visit that Merchant who did me a favor with the phone call. I paid him the $50 in cash and another $50 for the trouble.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t need to.¡±

    ¡°Hehehe, but I want to.¡±

    A bit of a grunt behind that mask. I waved him goodbye and get the android from Metro City to drive me home. They also help set up the capsule in my house. It¡¯s just beside the sofa.

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    The android nodded, ¡°It is a pleasure, Ma¡¯am.¡±

    They left with their automobile and I got me that, ¡°Sweet RGB, baby!¡±

    ¡°Look at em, look at these bleeding white colors, oomph!¡±

    I started dancing around the lights coming from the capsule. I hugged and caress the big ass shaft, ¡°Mm, oh yeah, yea ye¡­¡± and then finishing the ritual, I gave the lid - the tip - a sweet gentle kiss.

    *Chu*

    *Fwoosh*

    My eyes peeled whilst my mouth is still shaped like that of a fish¡¯s. A cold wind brushes through my body, ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± I feel like I just had an orgasm.

    Once the capsule has done pumping out the air, the lid opens up. No time to waste, I thought, so I just slap that bad boy and hop in like a boss.

    ¡°Ahhhh¡­¡±

    The lid closes automatically and the inside of the capsule light up.

    ¡°Alright, this is it. Time to turn my life around.¡±

    Of course, the thing is different than the custom-made one I got back in my previous life. But having the latest gen, even though it¡¯s the most basic one, probably has a few quirks in it, but it is still the official capsule offered by the company.

    ¡®The manual said that I will be booted off automatically when I¡¯m lacking in nutrients or when my mental state is in chaos.¡¯

    ¡°48 hours, it¡¯s not too bad.¡¯

    *Fwoosh*

    Another sound of air pumping out, ¡°Ooh yeah, that sound hits me real good, baby¡­ What was the word again?¡±

    ¡°Ahh yes. Nostalgic."

    ¡°Hahaa, I feel like I''m at home.¡±

    ! {Caution: Please ensure that you are in a stable 80% condition before logging in, please check your body temperature is at¡ª}

    ¡°Baby, I''m at 200% right now! Skip!¡±

    ! {Would you like to view the Basic Manual?}

    ¡°Hehe, let''s skip the foreplay and LES GO!!¡±

    ! {Connecting to the System¡­}

    *Z-i-i-i-n-g*

    ! {Checking Account Status¡­}

    ! {Installed Game: Network Eye Online, Ekolia}

    ! {Device: BNC 8}

    ! {Updating Firmware}

    ~ {Firmware is up-to-date}

    ! {Checking Account Status}

    ~ {User: Siola Mithra}

    ~ {Account Number: ### - ### - ####}

    ! {Syncing¡­}

    ¡°Oh, a bonus game? Okay, that¡¯s great. Gonna play that one after I finish this one¡­ which will never be!! Ahahaha.¡±

    When it comes to privacy, one has to fully trust in something to give it away. Black Network is one of them, every single one of my information from my bank accounts to my senses, they handle these things very seriously. No number of hackings can exploit anything they protect.

    ! {Synchronization Complete}

    ! {Would you like to boot into the System?}

    Just by thinking about what I can do in the game now that I have all this knowledge and memories in my head thanks to my past life, my mouth just can¡¯t stop smiling.

    ¡°No,¡± I swallowed my cold saliva and spoke in high-octane spirit, ¡°Let¡¯s go straight to Ekolia, please!¡±

    ! {Launching Ekolia}

    ! {Logging in¡­}

    The smile still here on my face, I can feel it anticipating the moment that is about to come. I want to savor them. This moment I¡¯m having right now.

    A tear just shed, "Ehehe.¡±

    ¡°Ekolia! I''m home!"

    A few minutes later, everything went dark.

 Chapter 6 â€“ Character Creation

    Static blue and gray color, 1 0 1 phasing me into the world of the system. When the turbulence stopped, I¡¯m greeted by a little girl waving at me. Transparent from top to bottom, she swears pixelated clothing similar to that of an adventurer outfit. Her entire body including the clothes is seen as pixels, deep blue in color. Two symbols unknown to me are carved on both sides of her forehead.

    She never introduced herself but many people would just call her the Intro Girl, as lazy as people generally are, it is what she is. But the way she stares at a player without blinking her eye¡­

    It¡¯s creepy.

    ! {Welcome, it seems that this is your first time here in Ekolia. Would you like me to guide you through the Basics?}

    The creepiness is gone and it turns into a good feeling.

    ¡®Ahh, the nostalgia¡­¡¯ I thought to myself.

    ¡°Yes, please!¡± nodding enthusiastically.

    She began explaining in dramatic posture and gesture.

    ! {Ekolia, Home of the High Fantasy, filled with limitless possibilities. It is up to you to decide what you want to do with your life. You may either fly so high up to the endless sky or fall deep into the bottomless abyss¡­}

    {¡­ or maybe you just want to live normally. Having a comfortably stable normal life on the Second Earth just like any other people as an ordinary person¡­ it is all up to you}

    The girl lifted one of her arms, {You have the power to choose} and we flew through the passage of dynamic screening of many scenes and environments from Ekolia in a blink of an eye. It feels as if we are moving at a Mach speed but then we stopped abruptly.

    ¡°W-Woah.¡±

    No damage to me at all, and the scene disappeared without me ever reacting to it, but the shocking experience felt real.

    Soon, all of the somewhat familiar interfaces appeared. Social Networks like forums, video streaming site, and other option of what a normal operating system would look like is there. Though, all of them are locked except for one, the Character Creation.

    ! {Before you delve into the Second Earth, here is where you can customize your appearance, choose your occupation, what kind of skill you want to have, and what class you want to be. After all of those options, you can then decide whether to enable the Realism Mode}

    ¡®The Realism mode, huh.¡¯

    I haven''t tried it before, mainly because of how hard it is. At least I know that both Rakuri and Kurira have been playing on a few of their character slots with them [On].

    ! {Realism Mode is our¡­}

    Her explanation is quite lengthy, but basically and fundamentally, everything that is happening is real. Or should I say, realistic? The air, the scenery, the interaction, all of them seem to be a touch above when it is enabled. But the downside is... there''s no pain reduction, no aim assist, and there is a lot more survival mechanic that has been added into the gameplay as well. Hunger, thirst, and fatigue. I wonder if I can overcome those challenges. The gameplay wise though seems fun.

    ¡®General populace usually plays at 10-15% sensitivity. They won¡¯t have all the feel of Ekolia but enough for them to feel some feedback. It¡¯s also the sweet spot for pain reduction.¡¯

    Like the taste of food, touch and hearing senses, exhaustion when running out of stamina, and fatigue when running out of mana, among other things. There are people out there who choose not to enable Realism Mode but go up on the sensitivity to 30 or even 50%. Getting stabbed by a knife, getting shot by a bullet, all seems normal when you play Ekolia. The pain is just on another level in that mode.

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    ! {The Realism Mode is our most advanced feature. It allows players to fully experience the world of Ekolia at its maximum potential}

    ¡°Are you saying by enabling this mode, I will be able to play the ¡®Real Ekolia¡¯?"

    ! {¡­}

    She smiles.

    ! {Yes}

    My eyes narrowed down to a slit. I didn¡¯t expect her to respond like that. But no matter what she said, it doesn''t change the fact that it¡¯s potentially a dangerous thing to enable. No one dies, but it¡¯s possible for people to experience terrible things, and I¡¯m included.

    ¡®To say that I¡¯m not interested would be a lie. After all, why would Rakuri and Kurira choose to enable it in almost every single CS they have? And the idea of playing the ¡®Real Ekolia¡¯ intrigues me.¡¯

    Raising her right arm, she waved and revealed the Character Creation.

    ! {Ekolia features extensive character customization unlike any other. From the tip of your hair, all the way to how your toes look can be sculpted to your liking. Here you can also choose one of the three major races, Human, Elven, and Dwarven. Or if you are feeling adventurous, you can enable Realism Mode the option to choose one of the lesser races from Lizardmen, Beastmen, and many other demi-humans we have available. All are equipped with their own benefits while also offering their own unique gameplay}

    ! {Additionally, some races like Elven with their many variations of sub-races, can evolve into something higher. Such as ordinary wood elf can evolve into a High Elf, and it can then evolve into the higher species called the Gaia}

    ¡°What about those Heteromorphy Races?¡±

    ! {By enabling Realism Mode, the option will also be available to you. By choosing it, you can experience Ekolia from a non-human perspective}

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± pondering, ¡®It¡¯s definitely interesting, but not something I want at the moment.¡¯

    I decided on Human with the default character. The only thing I changed is me removing my freckles, but everything else, such as my height and chest, ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡°Hmph!¡±

    I¡¯m tempted to change them, but I decided not to because then, people wouldn¡¯t be able to recognize me in real life when I become famous. After settling with this appearance, the girl waved her arm once more, revealing my [Profile] screen where things such as levels and attributes are shown and [Ability] screen where skills and such are shown.

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 1 / Class: ---

    Primary Attributes (600)

    Max Health: --- | Max Mana: --- | Max Stamina: ---

    Health: --- | Mana: --- | Stamina: ---

    Secondary Attributes (20)

    Strength: --- / Dexterity: --- / Endurance: ---

    Vitality: --- / Agility: ---

    Intelligence: --- / Faith: --- / Luck: ---

    Combat

    Physical Attack: --- / Physical Defense: ---

    Magical Attack: --- / Magical Defense: ---

    Health Regeneration: --- / Mana Regeneration: --- / Stamina Regeneration: ---

    Gear

    None

    Active Effect

    None

    ===== Profile Status =====

    ===== Ability Status =====

    Title

    None

    Innate Ability

    None

    Skill

    None

    Spell

    None

    Miracle

    None

    ===== Ability Status =====

    ! {Do you understand the term used on this screen?}

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ! {Is there any you don¡¯t understand?}

    ¡°No.¡±

    ! {Do you have any questions about any of what is shown here?}

    ¡°What do I need to know?¡±

    ! {¡­}

    ! {Ekolia latest update, 6.0, has brought numerous changes to the last combat system. One such example is Limitless Class System. Starting your journey, you may allocate the Attribute Points we have provided and you may choose one Class from the available 4 major Classes}

    ! {Warrior, Mage, Priest, and Rogue}

    ! {With the new Limitless Class System in place, you may choose to obtain more than one class at a time without limits throughout your gameplay}

    ¡®Hmm, I don¡¯t want to move around much, and there¡¯s a problem with me not being religious and all dared to choose the priest class. Got a ton of backlash right after I made my debut. Those idiots in the media have been so out of touch to the point that it¡¯s painful to watch.¡¯

    ¡®And the people supporting them are just¡­¡¯

    *Sigh*

    In Ekolia, the NPCs in that world have their own gods, and there are many of them. Then again, I suppose it¡¯s fair that I got criticized since back then I made a coin toss between it and mage.

    ¡®But I like magic the most. Guess I¡¯ll opt for a Mage this time, hmm. Besides, I can still pick up the Priest Class anytime at a church.¡¯

 Chapter 7 â€“ Start Old Game

    ! {Additional changes were made to the Ability System. A maximum of 5 Spell Slots has been implemented and a player can only have 1 Title active at a time}

    ¡°Mhm,¡± listening as I allocate the attribute points.

    ! {Strength points affect your combat attack when using Heavy Weaponry while Dexterity increases your combat attack when using Light Weaponry}

    ! {Endurance affects your Combat Defense and it acts as a base for your Magical Defense should you have enough points invested into Intelligence. Speaking of which, will enable you to learn even stronger magic while additionally increasing your Mana Regeneration}

    ! {Investing in Faith will allow you to learn stronger magic with it as a requirement. Vitality affects all of your Attribute''s Regeneration. Agility affects your Stamina Regeneration and movement speed. Motion sickness may occur, thus invest responsibly}

    ! {Luck affects the chances of items you will obtain throughout your gameplay time}

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 1 / Class: Mage

    Primary Attributes

    Max Health: 100 | Max Mana: 400 | Max Stamina: 100

    Health: 100 | Mana: 400 | Stamina: 100

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 0 / Dexterity: 0 / Endurance: 0

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 6

    Intelligence: 13 / Faith: 0 / Luck: 1

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 0 / Physical Defense: 0

    Magical Attack: 0 / Magical Defense: 0

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 2 / Stamina Regeneration: 1

    Gear

    [Ragged Outfit]

    Active Effect

    None

    ===== Profile Status =====

    ! {Naming can be done once you have entered the new world. The change is permanent. Thus, we recommend that players to evaluate their circumstances before deciding on their username. We hold no responsibility to a player who reveals their identity by their own decision}

    ! {As you chose the Mage Class, you will receive an upgrade to your entire abilities based on what you chose to specialize in after reaching the milestone of Arcane Ranks. At level 10, Novice. At level 25, Apprentice. At level 50, Adept. At level 75, Expert. At level 100, Master}

    ! {Further from that, unrelated to your class, you will follow the Soul Arcane Ranks. Level 1000 will grant you a Transcendental Purity of an Eternal. At the max level of 10000, you will be granted the Transcendental Purity of an Ethereal. More details will be revealed to you in due time once you have achieved it}

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Specialization. In my previous life, I was all in on Light spells because of the priest class. This proves Specialization isn¡¯t all that great until your reach some mad number levels. The same situation for Jack of All Trades, you can do everything, but you can only do it mediocrely.

    Made me scratch my head, ¡®Guess I¡¯ll just think about it when the time arrives. Besides, I can still upgrade my abilities at a later date.¡¯

    ! {Character Creation has been Completed. Would you like to enable Realism Mode?}

    ¡®This again.¡¯

    Sighing as I¡¯m pondering about it.

    ¡®Content consumption from my previous life is about 40% completion, which means there¡¯s a good chunk of content left to explore. Not to mention the Expansions, which add even more stuff to do.¡¯

    Comparing myself to the grand scheme of things. Professional Players, I may be in the top 1000 but it is still the top 1000. There are 999 people stronger than me. Not to mention the Ranked Players who also dominate when it comes to popularity.

    Kurira and Rakuri may celebrate this accomplishment of mine but it¡¯s still a drop in the bucket and that bucket is ocean-wide.

    ¡®All right, I''ve decided.¡¯

    Steeled my resolve, I clenched my butt tight as I responded, ¡°Yes.¡± But upon answering that question, the edges of the girl¡¯s lips tilted to a grin.

    ! {Realism Mode has been Activated}

    ~ {Starter Pack will be given once you have entered a Safe Zone}

    She doesn¡¯t even ask me if I¡¯m sure of this important decision I¡¯ve made. But regardless, I chose to enable it. And I hope the experience I¡¯m about to have is truly worth it.

    ! {Thank you for purchasing Ekolia}

    ~ {Your new life in the Second Earth¡­}

    ~ {¡­ Starts now}

    In a second, my vision went blank. But the moment I blink, opening my eyes, I can feel that I¡¯m no longer with that girl. But I couldn¡¯t see anything since my eyes are still adjusting to the dark. Though, I know where I am right now.

    This place used to be famous for entrapping people to play. I¡¯ve never experienced the early version of Ekolia but this short introduction the dev calls ¡°Tutorial¡± used to be hellishly brutal. Thus, resulting in them making a change into what it is now. A place where one struggles to fight their way through a choice they made, though, it¡¯s not really a hard one these days.

    {Prison Realm}

    Separated into 4 different levels of difficulty one can pick and choose with the hardest being the West Gate called the [Gifted End], and following that in order, the South Gate [Righteous End], the East Gate [Evil End], and the North Gate [Common End]. Each of them leads to a portal, it¡¯s the exit of this place that will teleport them to the surface that is [Ekolia].

    ¡®Guh, my head still spinning, but I hear voices¡­¡¯

    ¡®Right, it must be the NPCs¡­ but wait,¡¯ it¡¯s odd, ¡®Don¡¯t Ekolia give people different intro every time they play? For Rakuri and Kurira, they said they don¡¯t meet the NPCs I met, in fact, they didn¡¯t meet anyone at all. But even then, am I really going to meet the same NPCs?¡¯

    The same circumstances apply to many players out there. Only a few out of the billions of us who play only gets to experience some that are called unique, but I thought it was because I was lucky, and there¡¯s no way that I would meet those people again.

    Those NPCs whom I treated as nothing but fodder to start my gameplay. The expression on their face, that despair, they have long gone from my memories. Why did it return now? I refuse to believe it, ¡®Haha, there¡¯s no fucking that way would happen really. Once these eyes can see, I¡¯m sure that¡­¡¯

    My eyes slowly adjusted to the dark.

    ¡®¡­ I¡¯ll be meeting a new NPC that''s not only different, but I''ll have an entirely¡­¡¯

    ''... different experience than my previous...''

    I want to burst into laughter, my stomach is holding it, but suddenly, I see light. I see shadows on the walls. People are talking, and the number of those shadows kept increasing.

    ¡®No, it can¡¯t be¡­¡¯

    Light from the campfire. Inside this cell where 7 NPC gather. It was then that my eyes peeled after seeing their faces.

    ¡®How can this be¡­¡¯

    I see every single one of them is here.

 Chapter 8 â€“ New Path to Thread

    Smashing the ground with enough force to blow dust away, ¡°West Gate is OUT OF THE QUESTION!¡± yelled one of the old men with a beard reaching his hairy chest.

    The other says, ¡°He¡¯s right. West Gate has unordinary undead guarding the gate, even Travelers are keeping their distance from them.¡±

    ¡°And we can¡¯t get through the North Gate without meeting the sea of Travelers.¡±

    Travelers, it is what the people in this world call a player. Something I cannot believe however is the fact that these people are actually the same NPCs I met in my first playthrough back in my previous life. The time I plays also different, so I kept hugging my legs around these people, asking myself, ¡®Why?¡¯

    ''In any case, I¡¯ve already prepared a plan to go through and get to the surface. Once this cutscene ends, I¡¯ll get out, meet with Galliano, speedrun the North Gate and git.''

    ¡°What do you think, lass?¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    The bald old man stared at me after I heard that question. I thought to myself, ¡®Was it him?¡¯ my eyes peeled, ¡®Did he just¡­ talk to me?¡¯

    ¡°Between all these 4 gates, which one do you think we should go for?¡±

    ¡°Wait, Boland, are you seriously asking a little girl about this?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to hear everyone¡¯s opinion, Ken.¡±

    ¡®Little girl?'' made my eyes twitch, but, ''He¡¯s talking to me¡­ they¡¯re talking about me. Boland, so that¡¯s his name. Is this what playing Realism Mode is like? Am I going to be able to engage in a normal conversation with NPCs? Th-That¡¯s cool, but¡­¡¯

    ¡°So, what do you think, lass?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Scary.¡±

    ¡°Hm? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡®Shoot, did I say that out loud?¡¯ but he actually responded, which caught me off guard, ¡°Ahh um, nothing, I mean, um¡­¡±

    ¡®Calm down, Siola. It¡¯s just Baldy, it¡¯s not like answering him is gonna kill you.¡¯

    This man is the last person in the group to die. I left him alone when a PK group came out to get me, I made him my shield while I escaped through the portal.

    They¡¯re waiting for me to answer, but I ponder about it a bit, ¡®I¡¯m playing on Realism Mode. The moment I got injured, it¡¯s gonna hurt a lot. I already have a plan but¡­ going to the North Gate with these guys. There¡¯s bound for me to encounter another player killer. But I haven¡¯t gone into the other gates before, what do I do?¡¯

    Experience is important, and if I can repeat the past but do it better, without a doubt I might be able to become the number one player in this lifetime, but my curiosity is still in gear. Recalling the past where Kurira talks about her experiences on passing through the South Gate which is the second easiest one out of the four.

    Its layout. I drew it on the ground using my finger. Shaping the sands.

    Between the South and the East, it¡¯s arguable whether one is harder than the other, but I know that it¡¯s possible to go through those Gates, unlike the West. With North being out of the question, I think it¡¯s right for me to opt for the [Righteous End] Gate instead.

    [Siola]: What about going this way? To the South Gate.

    [Old Man Ken]: Why?

    [Boland]: Kenmartha.

    [Old Man Ken]: No, Boland. We can¡¯t have her say her opinion if she doesn¡¯t explain why she came to that decision. Especially after looking at our condition.

    [???]: He¡¯s right.

    [Boland]: Dura¡­

    The baldy sighed and all of them proceed to stare at me. I don¡¯t mind their gaze but this sure is uncomfortable. The last time I was in a spotlight was when I accomplished a feat, now I feel like I¡¯m being interrogated. But this too, is fine. They didn¡¯t bother to ask me about anything like, I don¡¯t know, introduction or something. How I got here. In any case, the reason that I came up with.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    [Siola]: Is there any of you who have gone to any of these places? Those gates.

    [Boland]: No, but we have been tipped this information from those who have gone there.

    [Siola]: With the West and the North being out of option, what makes the East more appealing than the other?

    [Boland]: That we don¡¯t know.

    [Siola]: And why is that?

    [Boland]: Because those who went in either of them never returns.

    Made me pause for a moment.

    [Siola]: So, you¡¯re looking for a reason to not choose those two options. Then consider this, Travelers pose just as much danger as whatever is behind those gates.

    They stay silent as they whisper to one another. But then suddenly, the short bearded old man who¡¯s injured says, ¡°Does that mean, you will be ditching us here in this shithole?¡±

    ¡°Dura.¡±

    ¡°Boland, I¡¯m talking to the girl,¡± turning his head at me, ¡°So, what¡¯s your plan?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll fight our way through.¡±

    ¡°You,,,¡± gritting his teeth but then suddenly, he coughed blood out.

    Boland hurries over and taps his shoulder, ¡°Don''t worry too much about it, Dura. We¡¯ll never leave you or anyone else here. So, all of you, stay calm, and hang in there.¡±

    *Pant *Pant

    Narrowing my eyes down at the blood-soaked cloth pressing on his stomach, ¡®He doesn¡¯t look too good,¡¯ so I say, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you all think of me. Whether I¡¯m just a snot brat who doesn¡¯t know what she¡¯s talking about or just whatever. But I will get out of this place¡­¡±

    ¡°... With or without you.¡±

    Maybe it¡¯s best for me and them to be separated. I was the one who caused their future death and maybe if I¡¯m just not there with them, they will survive by themselves. Even now, they¡¯re seeming to be talking to each other without me.

    ¡®Yeah, in the beginning, I¡¯m not even one of them.¡¯

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    My eyes peeled hearing Boland''s shout.

    ¡°If you have opinions, state them clearly! Don¡¯t just keep it for yourself! We¡¯re in this together, and we are more likely to survive if we stay that way,¡± turning his head at me, ¡°Rather than going off by yourself.¡±

    His eyes, ¡®He really wants everyone to get out safe, huh.¡¯

    But then suddenly, I got pulled, ¡°What the,¡± at the sound of an explosion.

    *BOOM*

    Out of nowhere, the metal door holding us up was blasted open. Two of the old men put me behind them and protected me from potential shrapnel. Luckily, there was none.

    ¡°It¡¯s time! Everyone, get up!¡±

    ¡®So, it has started.¡¯

    Kenmartha assisted Dura in standing up. Four of the injured old men assisted one another.

    ¡®But what¡¯re we gonna do exactly? We haven¡¯t decided on anything. No, they have to decide, but whatever their choice is, as long as they get out alive¡­¡¯

    Suddenly, Boland grips my shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll take your route, lass.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    ! {You have formed a Raid Party}

    ~ {--- / Lv. 1 / Mage / Unassociated / Raid Leader}

    ~ {Boland / Lv. 43 / Warrior / Adventurers Guild / Former Rank D}

    ~ {Dura / Lv. 40 / Rogue / Adventurers Guild / Former Rank D}

    ~ {Kenmartha / Lv. 34 / Warrior / Unassociated}

    ~ {Holin / Lv. 27 / Civilian / Unassociated}

    ~ {Jigza / Lv. 28 / Civilian / Unassociated}

    ~ {Dono / Lv. 27 / Civilian / Unassociated}

    ~ {Giorimona / Lv. 38 / Civilian / Unassociated}

    ~ {8/24 Members}

    ! {Quest Bestowed}

    ~ {Breakout (South Gate) / Rank A / Objective: Fight your way out of Prison Realm through the [Gate of Righteous End] and reach the surface / Reward: 100 Experience Points / Additional Reward: Multiply the main reward based on performance / Penalty: None}

    ~ {Creeps of Bones / Rank B / Objective: Bring all 7 Prisoners in your Raid Party to escape through the [Righteous End] portal / Reward: None / Penalty: [Permadeath] Upon death, you will have no chance to regain your life}

    ¡®Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhh?!¡¯

    The system just shoved me these NPCs on me without me having a say in it. What happened to the usual ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll do it¡± way of accepting quests? Plus, the penalty on that Rank B quest is just totally unfair for new players! And the rewards are trash!

    ¡°We have to hurry, come on.¡±

    Leading the men outside, I¡¯m still struck by the shock. Leaving me with no choice but to accept this, I follow them in a hurry. Catching up. But suddenly, the short bearded old man Dura stood to block me. I wondered what he wanted but just as suddenly, he passed me something.

    ¡°Here. You¡¯ll need it.¡±

    ¡°A knife?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing special, but it will prove useful.¡±

    ! {Item Received}

    ~ {Boland Stone Shiv / Rank F / Uncommon / Physical Attack: 7}

    ¡®No requirement or level restriction. It''s nice. I didn¡¯t allocate a single point to Strength and Dexterity, but I should be able to use it even without bonuses from those two stats.¡¯

    ¡®And also,¡¯ looking at the raid party list, ¡®Why does it say that I¡¯m the leader when clearly Boland is the one leading the team?¡¯

    This is bad. Because I will be the one responsible when things go wrong, ¡®Wait, I¡¯m the only one Traveler here,¡¯ I paused for a moment, ¡®Hmm¡­ Traveler. Why did I it form that when I clearly said Traveler¡­ What?¡¯ I could not even think of the word Player now.

    ¡®Anyway. A leader,¡¯ seeing Boland¡¯s massive back, lapsed a memory of seeing Kurira¡¯s. The way she walks as I follow her as I am now with Boland. But then suddenly, flashes of memories, the faces of every single one of these guys looking at me in despair as I left them to die.

    My teeth grinding without me knowing, I shoved everyone aside as I head up front, ¡°Move!¡± my eyes peeled as I feel everyone¡¯s gazes towards me, ¡°We¡¯re getting out my way,¡± glancing at them, ¡°Don¡¯t you wander around on your own.¡±

    This time, things will be different.

 Chapter 9 â€“ Towards the Gate of Righteous End

    Prison Realm. One would at least wonder what the latter means, a [Realm]. In this game, think of it as its own galaxy. A few numbers of planets exist within a Realm, and when [Transcendental Realm Expansion] is open, the planets within are fully explorable. But then why the game is called Ekolia when other planets exist?

    The answer differs depending on what version of Ekolia one plays on. Mine, that which at version 8.4, the reason is that Ekolia is the center of everything. There is nothing like the one called the Realm of the Surface.

    But right now, not only that the expansion is not yet open, I¡¯m literally in prison. Circular layout, the center is where the prisoners are put behind bars, and there are three layers. The second and the third are separated by walls and the only way to go through them is by passing one of the four gates, and they lead towards a portal that will teleport us back to the Surface that is Ekolia.

    *Stab *Stab

    {12}

    {12}

    Plucking [Boland Stone Shiv] out of a draugr stomach, I grabbed its shoulders and stabbed its head before kicking it away.

    {80}

    {+50 Exp}

    Brushing the dirt with the lower part of my clothes, ¡®That¡¯s a good chunk of Exp. No wonder people take a while to escape. I can make this place a farming spot before escaping, but¡­¡¯ I turned around to see how the others are doing.

    We have 5 injured, and one of them is an essential damage dealer of our team. That means only Boland, Kenmartha, and me ¨C the three of us are the only damage dealers we have which is enough in a party, but not in this scenario where we have to protect 5 people at the same time.

    *Slash*

    {8}

    Low attack damage, but I can feel my next move is going to deal much higher damage. Thus I pulled the draugr by the hand, and then stab its neck before violently twisting it at an angle.

    {120}

    {+50 Exp}

    This meatless draugr is the second weakest creature that I encounter in the Tutorial, ¡®And it seems that I don¡¯t get a party bonus Exp when dealing with these mobs, that¡¯s messed up. Looks like the update for that feature isn¡¯t here yet.¡¯

    Back in my previous life, you get bonus Exp on Non-boss kills when you are in a Party. That¡¯s important for me, but what¡¯s more important is those guys.

    ¡°Sir Boland! You guys okay?!¡±

    *Slash*

    Cutting the undead in half, he yelled, ¡°Yeah! Nothing to worry about!¡±

    Mm, I should worry less about them. They¡¯re all double digits in levels. Worrying about myself more who is still a newborn baby would be a better decision for us all. Several hours passed and we were already exhausted, and yes¡­ me too. Mostly me.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    *Pant *Pant

    I may have underestimated the scale of this place.

    ¡°Haa¡­ Haa¡­¡± my vision becomes blurry, ¡®So, this is what it¡¯s like playing on Realism Mode, huh. No biggies, it¡¯s just the start. Once I get my hands on some spells, I won¡¯t have to move my body like this, but damn. I¡¯m thirsty, but not the perverted kind of thirsty.¡¯

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re okay, kid?¡± said Kenmartha.

    ¡°Kid?¡± my jaw dropped. I kept staring at him and he just tilts his head like he didn¡¯t know what he just said to me. I rolled my eyes, ¡®Fuck! Even NPCs are calling me a kid.¡¯

    ¡®Hm?¡¯

    Something was caught at the back of my eyes. There shouldn''t be anyone around here so why is that guy, ¡°No wait¡­ HEY!¡± I ran up to him and yelled again, ¡°Galliano!!¡±

    When the black man turned around, it turns out, it was really him.

    *Tak*

    "Ah."

    Why is there a rock on the pavement, and why out of all the places it could¡¯ve possibly been, it had to be there and I had to be one to suffer.

    *Thud*

    I fall flat to the ground.

    {-30}

    The impact was great, ¡°Oww, oww oww,¡± my eyes twitching, ¡®Fuck, it hurt so bad. And come on, did I really lose that much health just because I stumbled a little?¡¯

    ¡°Hey, hey, are you okay?¡± assisting to lift my body.

    ¡°Ah yeah, that was¡­ quite unsightly of me.¡±

    ¡°Haha, what¡¯s with the honorifics? You¡¯re a noble or something?¡±

    Kind of insulted a little bit since I was in fact am one, mister. Was, but yeah. Boland must¡¯ve seen me fall, he¡¯s coming straight in this direction, ¡°Lass, are you alright? Who is this?¡±

    I went to introduce them, ¡°Yeah, just a little dizzy. He is uhm, my acquaintance. I owe him a favor and he will be joining us in getting out of this place.¡±

    ¡°What? You¡¯re a friend of this Traveler?¡±

    Galliano¡¯s eyes peeled, ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡®Wait, that¡¯s odd. The way he words it. As if I¡¯m not a Traveler too. He can tell that Galliano is not an NPC right off the bat. Is this another thing when enabling Realism Mode? I don''t get easily recognized that I''m also a Traveler?¡¯

    Wait, more importantly, I then explain, ¡°Not much of a friend but it doesn¡¯t matter, we need all the strength we can get. The both of us can benefit from working together.¡±

    Galliano was about to say something, but I tapped his stomach to silence him. Though I originally intended to tap his chest, it¡¯s just that I don¡¯t wear my high heels right now so¡­

    ¡°Can we trust him with our circumstances?¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± narrowing my eyes down, I suddenly remember something, ¡®Come to think of it. Galliano is being hunted by what I assume is the guardian of the West Gate. It¡¯s a risk to bring him with me, but I¡¯ve already promised him. No matter, we¡¯ll get out before the thing catch him or us.¡¯

    ¡°I can vouch for him.¡±

    Boland nodded, ¡°Alright.¡±

    When he leaves the range where Galliano and I can talk without worries, I sent him an invite. Requesting him to join the Raid Party.

    "Hm? You haven''t named yourself yet?"

    "Ahh, maybe later."

    ! {New Raid Party Member Added}

    ~ {Galliano / Lv. 6 / Monk / Unassociated}

    ¡°Wha, you¡¯re still level 6? I mean I¡¯m not one to talk, but¡­¡±

    Rubbing the back of his head, ¡°Haha, I kept getting killed by that bitch so my levels keep going down no matter how much I grind for them.¡±

    ¡°Just who exactly is this bitch, I wonder?¡±

    ¡°Nasty one, I tell ya. White armor, kind of like a knight with dragon armor or something. Kept laughing at me whenever she slit my throat, but thank God, I max out that sweet Pain Reduction to 0, you know. Otherwise, I might¡¯ve gone insane by now.¡±

    So jealous!

    ¡°Right, who are those geezers?¡±

    ¡°Them?¡± I smiled after seeing everyone holding on, ¡°I gotta get them out of here. Same as you except they only have one life, and those people wouldn¡¯t last here.¡±

    ¡°So, it¡¯s a Quest? Here in Prison Realm? Ain''t that a rare one?"

    "Not really."

    "Hmm, you sure they¡¯re not dragging you down?¡±

    ¡°Hah,¡± smiling as I momentarily ponder, ¡®Maybe I shouldn¡¯t mention the Quest,¡¯ closing in on him with my forearm on his stomach, I said, ¡°We kind of scratched each other¡¯s back,¡± tapping him as I walk away, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you out of here.¡±

    He didn¡¯t say anything. He just smiles as he joined our little group. With another pair of hands, the chances of us escaping this place grew.

 Chapter 10 â€“ Arrival at the South Gate

    Not long after we got a new member for our raid party, that smile of his faded as he saw me lagging behind, breathing so heavily.

    Galliano asked, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up? You ran out of stamina or something?¡±

    ¡°F-Fatigue.¡±

    ¡°You mean, you wanna sleep?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ Well, I enabled the Realism Mode.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± his gasp can tell it all, ¡°Dude, that¡¯s just insane. Like for real. I don¡¯t see the benefits, but are you sure you can get me out of this place in that state?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you doubt me. My plan for our escape won¡¯t change just because of this.¡±

    ¡°Lass,¡± Boland came, ¡°You alright?¡±

    *Pant *Pant

    ¡°Just exhausted, nothing to worry about. Hehe.¡±

    Trying to keep that positive energy so that I don¡¯t make the group worry about this little miscalculation that I did.

    ¡°Come, we gotta move,¡± posing in a weird yet familiar way, ¡°Don¡¯t keep me waiting now, lass. We have to hurry, I sensed something is coming for us.¡±

    A piggyback pose!

    My face is red all the way right now, ¡°Th-Thank you, sir.¡±

    ¡°Wait, why don¡¯t I do it for you instead?¡± asked Galliano.

    ¡°No, we need to optimize our firepower. Sir Boland will not have a problem with me in his back but you and your attacks would be hindered.¡±

    He is a Monk after all. At least if I go with Boland, he can still attack with his sword without shaking much from this uncomfortable posture. Besides, his back is much¡­ thicker. Galliano sighed as he nodded. Don¡¯t get why he feels the need to offer his assistance. After all, I¡¯m the one that will be assisting him.

    About an hour later, we arrived at the so-called [Gate of Righteous End].

    It¡¯s enormous.

    The height and width of this gate are like a fully built skyscraper but so much wider. It seems like the gate is meant for a giant to go through. Not only that, it¡¯s so extravagantly ornated unlike the shithole of a cell we were put in.

    I never know much about Prison Realm, mainly because this place is meant to serve as a Tutorial for players to get a hang of things, and never to be visited again.

    ¡°Wait, why is it closed?¡± confused Galliano, ¡°I¡¯ve walked through here just now and I¡¯m sure, it was wide open. In fact, I¡¯ve seen some players go in.¡±

    ¡®Okay that was confusing, and it looks like he can still call Travelers, Travelers.¡¯

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡®I can¡¯t even think about saying the word.¡¯

    Boland put me down and I noticed that some geared undead were closing in, so I says, ¡°There must be a way to open it. Those Draugr looks different.¡±

    ¡°All the wounded stick close to the wall! Ken, you guard them while we take care of those things. You too, Traveler. Don¡¯t let them get to any one of ours.¡±

    Galliano¡¯s eyes peeled before it¡¯s narrowed down with a serious look on his face, he nods. Boland quickly went towards the undead.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± I asked Galliano.

    ¡°Just got a quest.¡±

    That surprises me, but it¡¯s a relief now that he has a reason to protect the old men. Before I went to assist Boland, ¡°Hey, kid,¡± the old man Dura yelled, ¡°Take this with you!¡±

    Throwing me an axe. Wait¡­

    "Gyaaaaahhh!"

    I somehow managed to grab the handle while screaming my lungs out.

    ! {Item Received}

    ~ {Rooted Spirit Axe / Rank F / Rare / Physical Attack: 20 / Magical Attack: 15 / Innate Ability: Can be used as a Catalyst}

    *Pant *Pant

    "You wanna kill me, old man?!" but then I noticed something odd, ¡°Wait, why did you even have something like this?¡±

    ¡°Heheh, didn¡¯t notice the blade in your hand? Boland got these weapons for everyone.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± so the dagger was his.

    With a one-sided tilt on his mouth, he says, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare lose them, you hear?¡±

    *Groooah*

    The undead is too close for comfort.

    Turning my head around, ¡®Hmph! so he was hiding the item that was meant for me, huh? Why, I don''t think I even need to ask.¡¯

    Rotating the axe, it looks like birch trees swirling on each other. There are even roots under the handle, I think it looks fantastic.

    ¡°Heh, I got this, old man.¡±

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 20 / Physical Defense: 0

    Magical Attack: 15 (+5) / Magical Defense: 0

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 2 / Stamina Regeneration: 1

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Now that I have a Magical Attack, the bonus from my Intelligence stats finally kicks in which is +5 per 10 points. This works the same for Physical Attack if I have the Strength or Dexterity stats for either Heavy or Light Weaponry.

    ¡®These Draugrs.¡¯

    ¡®Even without magic, I can still fight.¡¯

    Dashing forward as we scattered. I keep rotating my weapon back and forth because I like how it looks but once I¡¯m close enough to the enemy, I¡¯m swinging it down and rip the skin off the draugr¡¯s lifeless body, I follow up with the dagger before swinging my axe again.

    *Slash *Stab *SLASH

    {+100 Exp}

    More and more of them are coming to get me.

    *Grrraaaaaaah*

    Ducking as the Draugr attacked.

    *SLASH*

    When the axe blade made contact with its armpit, it cut deep ¡ª slicing its arm off. It¡¯s nothing new as dismemberment is also part of the feature of combat in Ekolia, but the feedback, the sensation I got from decapitating this undead, somehow fueled my brain with a kick.

    As the group of undead started swarming Galliano. His ¡®fisting¡¯ technique made the Draugr coming at him elated in ecstasy to the point of being purified.

    *Bam *Bam *Bam

    While my boring attacks are still ongoing, Boland shoved his sword all the way inside that Draugr, piercing its stomach deeply. Meanwhile, Kenmartha is holding the old men from the many Draugrs about to gangbanging them.

    *Stab *Slice *Slash

    All right, I''m gonna stop that.

    The slow attack from a Draugr swinging an axe at me. I lean away at the right moment. Backing away before turning my axe, plunging its shoulder. Kicking it away, I scan the surroundings to find the mechanism to open the gate or at least, the way to open it.

    ¡®Doesn¡¯t seem to have anything unusual though. The number of undead coming kept increasing but they don¡¯t look to be reviving after they die, so maybe¡­ there might be a boss coming after we clear up these mob.¡¯

    *Rrraghh*

    One is slowly coming at me like a zombie.

    ¡®These things are so easy to kill even if they have armor, it shouldn¡¯t take us long.¡¯

    Glancing at my hands.

    ¡®Hmm, I¡¯m not a fan of dual wielding. I can put the dagger in my inventory, but¡­ I¡¯ve enabled Realism Mode, why not go a step further and get the feel of it?¡¯

    So, I slid the dagger on my waist and wield my axe with both hands. Coming to a Draugr with the knife in his hand swinging high. I make sure to twist the axe handle before puncturing its head.

    *TAKS*

    {+80 Exp}

    ! {Level UP}

 Chapter 11 â€“ Mossed Guardian

    My eyes widened. Clenched my fist high and take that level up in high spirits, ¡®Hell yeah!¡¯ quickly opens up my profile status, ¡®Worry about builds later. My boys need me.¡¯

    With the level going up, I can now allocate 1200 points to Primary Attributes and 40 Points to Secondary Attributes. However, everyone can only allocate per 100 points for the Primary instead of per point like the Secondary Attributes'' points.

    Leveling up only gives 600 points for the Primary and 20 points for the Secondary, but for the first level, players always get an extra bonus.

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 2 / Class: Mage

    Primary Attributes

    Max Health: 100 | Max Mana: 400 | Max Stamina: 1300

    Health: 100 | Mana: 400 | Stamina: 1300

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 20 / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: 0

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 12

    Intelligence: 13 / Faith: 0 / Luck: 5

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 20 (+10) / Physical Defense: 0

    Magical Attack: 15 (+5) / Magical Defense: 0

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 2 / Stamina Regeneration: 2

    ==== Quick Status ====

    I can feel my body improving, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be getting a new kind of addiction.¡±

    Doubling the points on Agility does not give me double the movement speed, but I can feel the senses of my own steps are¡ª

    *Tak*

    Hitting my own foot.

    *Thud*

    {-30}

    With that kind of sound, even Boland heard it. Quickly heading towards my direction as I struggle to get up, ¡®D-Damn it, I still haven¡¯t gotten used to this yet.¡¯

    My performance is a lot worse than in my previous life, not that it was really that good in the first place anyway, back then I still got beaten up a lot in martial arts training with Rakuri, but still! Messing up my footwork like this. Unacceptable!

    ¡®My body then and now are worlds apart. I gotta get used to this as soon as possible.¡¯

    Boland slashes through the undead and assisted me in getting up, ¡°You okay, lass?¡±

    ¡°S-Sorry.¡±

    He paused as he looks at me, ¡°¡­¡± tapping my shoulder, ¡°Face up. More coming.¡± Dashing onward, he continues his rampage on the mindless undead.

    I sighed hoping that he was not mad at me.

    *Raaargh*

    A Draugr coming to my right.

    ¡°I guess it''s time to wrap this up.¡±

    ¡­

    {+80 Exp}

    {+80 Exp}

    {+80 Exp}

    ! {Level UP}

    Fatigue tightening my chest, ¡°Haa¡­¡± I sighed.

    It wasn¡¯t even that hard, we pretty much breeze through it with no problem, but¡­ there were just too many of them. Boland seems to have finished his portion, the group is safe, and Galliano is also about to be done too.

    Looking back to my Profile Status, ¡®I should save these points until I need¡ª¡¯

    *BOOM*

    ¡®Just had to jinx it, huh.¡¯

    The time for these saved points to be used has arrived. I froze in place. Something just came crashing down at Galliano¡¯s location. Amidst the smoke, something suddenly swings at him.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°What the¡ª¡±

    *Bwoosh*

    It was slow, but thanks to that, Galliano managed to react in time to dodge it. But then, when the smoke clears up, even I was astonished at what is coming out of it.

    "Holy shit."

    A 25ft (7.62 meters) tall mossed golem.

    I thought it was a fist that came swinging but turns out, it was a huge rock mashed together. Technically it was a fist, but regardless, ¡®This is bad,¡¯ quickly I shout, ¡°Galliano! Come here!¡±

    *Groooooooaaaaaah*

    Powerful battle music started ringing in my ears.

    ! {Boss Encounter}

    ~ {Aged Stone Golem | Lv. 10}

    ¡°Fuck!¡± the roar pinned my head due to how loud it was.

    Opening my eyes, I see the golem pursue Galliano as he runs towards us, ¡®Shit,¡¯ with Boland standing beside me, ¡°I doubt our attacks can do anything, but do you think you have anything we can use against it, sir?¡±

    ¡°Of course, lass. Though, against that thing, I doubt it¡¯ll do much.¡±

    ¡®His main weapon is a sword, just by that fact and his class alone, it¡¯s easy to tell that his offensive skills are all slashing type. What we need however is the impact of something blunt. Heavy enough to shatter that thing. Galliano might be better with his fisting style, but let¡¯s not joke around, I doubt he has any usable skills at this stage.¡¯

    ¡®Kenmartha doesn¡¯t look to be it either.¡¯

    The NPCs are all much higher level than that thing, but Level, in general, is different for both humans and monsters. There is a reason why a death slime level 1 is inherently much more powerful than a giant slime level 100.

    ¡®All right, let¡¯s do this then.¡¯

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 3 / Class: Mage

    Primary Attributes

    Max Health: 700 | Max Mana: 400 | Max Stamina: 1300

    Health: 700 | Mana: 400 | Stamina: 1300

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 20 / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: 20

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 12

    Intelligence: 13 / Faith: 0 / Luck: 5

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 20 (+10) | 7 (+5) / Physical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Magical Attack: 15 (+5) / Magical Defense: 0 (+5)

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 2 / Stamina Regeneration: 2

    ==== Quick Status ====

    ¡®There are soft gaps on each of its limbs. If I can at least replicate half of what Rakuri can do in a fight like this, then that thing will be nothing more than just a walking stone.¡¯

    My heart beat fast as Galliano came closer and closer, bringing the golem with him.

    *Boom *Boom *Boom

    The steps of the golem make, suffocating me.

    Running towards it, ¡°Galliano! I¡¯ll take over from here! You attack that piece of stone from behind! Aim for the back of its knees, okay!?¡±

    ¡°Wha¡ª¡±

    Dashing even faster, and in a quick slow motion, as I passed him, I tapped his shoulder with the back of my hand and entrusted everything to him. My face shudders in tears as I come closer and closer to the golem, this fear, I never felt this in a while.

    Its hand is at the back of its head. I can predict how it¡¯s going to attack me. Its slow movement is nothing against these perfect eyes of mine. But I didn¡¯t expect when the thing actually swings its hand, the volume, how much space it occupies. I gritted my teeth as I slide with one foot at the front and the other at the back, leaning back as much as possible, so close to the ground, before closing my foot together.

    *Woosh*

    But I managed to evade it. There I see the gap on where I should attack. With both hands, gripping my axe tightly I swing at it. But then¡­

    *Plack*

    {2}

    My eyes widened as it turns out, I have missed that strike. It moves at the last second before my axe hits the gap. It felt like the whole world went silent.

    ¡°SIOLA!¡±

    When I look up, I see the giant form of the golem, and his right hand swinging.

    *CRASH*

    I flew upon impact with a crushing noise coming out of my bones.

    {-689}

    *Thud *Plak *Thud

    My sights have gone dark, it took but a moment¡­ for the pain to settle in.

    ¡°Aaa¡­¡±

    ¡®It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts¡­¡¯ my lips trembling, my eyes, ¡®No, no, no. NO! D-Don¡¯t¡­ Don¡¯t cry, d-don¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hnnnngrhm, ¡°Bursting into tears, ¡°Hraaaaaaaaaaaaaghhh!¡± clenching my lips as I grit my teeth as hard as I could, ¡®Wh-Why did I, why did¡­¡¯

    *Boom *Boom *Boom

    The Golem is heading towards me, ¡°N-No,¡± I couldn¡¯t move my feet, I couldn¡¯t move my hips, and only one of my eyes can open. So, I crawled with the only limb I can move.

    ¡°Hnnngrh, Hehh¡­¡±

    *Sob*

    *Boom *Boom *Boom

    ¡°N-No, don¡¯t come. Please, d-don¡¯t¡­¡± I don¡¯t understand myself, ¡°P-Please¡­¡±

    Why am I begging for my life at a few pixels in a game?

    *BOOM*

    Suddenly, the golem stumbled on its knees when one of its legs cracked by an impact. My eyes soon clear up to see that it was done by Galliano¡¯s impactful strike. Boland then came around with a strong brown aura coming out of him and his sword.

    From afar, his sword slashes made waves that cut even air itself. Smoke bursts out when the wave slash hits the golem¡¯s back.

    *BOOM*

    It dealt damage, but I just don¡¯t see it getting defeated by that method, so quickly I try to get away as far as possible so I can recover. My health regen is slow but I will eventually heal on my own and I don¡¯t see Realism Mode denying that.

    *Grooooooooaaaaaaaaah*

    Both Galliano and Boland have their face hardened at the roar of the Golem.

    The latter quickly head straight towards me, quickly kneeling, and fed me a subtle red-colored potion, ¡°There, there. You¡¯re okay now. Take it slow, lass.¡±

    *Gulp *Gulp *Gulp

    ¡°Th-Thank you.¡±

    Quickly taking a glance right when the smoke clears up, ¡®Huh?¡¯ the golem is just standing there doing nothing. I expected it to deliver a hard blow after that roar.

    ¡®What the hell is it even¡­¡¯ my eyes widened after seeing Galliano is also frozen in place, and Boland too, stops at the moment where he¡¯s putting the potion bottle in his bag.

    But then I noticed that I can no longer move my body, ¡®What is this¡­¡¯

    Chills crept up the back of my spine.

    ¡®Am I dreaming? In this situation?!¡¯

    *Tap*

    Something just gripped my shoulder. At this very moment, I feel spiders crawling up to every single part of my skin. I can feel it, there is something behind me.

 Chapter 12 â€“ Nightmare

    Crippling chills, cold as a winter night. It felt as though the wind blows directly through the clothes I wore, hitting my skin as if it was laid bare.

    *Badum *Badum *Badum

    I can hear my heartbeat so close to me like the time when I pressed the side of my head on a pillow. Except, it hits harder. Much harder, it¡¯s making me suffocate from its hurtless pain. I kept wondering what is happening with the world around me. I see Boland holding the potion bottle he fed me. I see the golem roaring with its mouth wide open, and I see Galliano frozen in place.

    No, everything is frozen in place. Every being, everything, all in a disturbing scenery I can¡¯t fully comprehend. Incomprehensible things, the nightmare I want to avoid.

    *Grab*

    If words can come out, I¡¯d be gasping at the sensation of the cold touch unknown to me, suddenly grabbing my elbow. It¡¯s hard and rigid, if only I can move my eyes to see it. In front of me, I see a lot of colors, but why do I feel that behind me is nothing but darkness?

    *Grab *Grab *Grab

    The more I wanted to wheeze, as my body is slowly being touched by these things. I can feel fingers, their hands. I counted 13 and it kept going up. My entire body is enveloped by it. Fatigue, I can feel it quickly rising to my head as fear and desperation surge into my brain. I wanted to roll my eyes and pass out there and then, but I couldn¡¯t even do it. Eventually, the thing grabbed my neck, my head, and my mouth, until eventually, I¡¯m completely wrapped. I see pitch-black fingers, rigid and hard, but I couldn¡¯t even see their palms. Closing my entire sight full of colors into nothing but cold black darkness.

    {+5000 Exp}

    ! {Level UP}

    My eyes open wide to the ringing sound of notifications coming my way. My sight is flooded by these things until I close them all.

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Boss Defeated}

    ~ {Loot Obtained: E-Grade Random Item Box}

    ¡°Lass, you¡¯re finally awake.¡±

    *Pant *Pant

    My eyes shake as I ponder to myself, ¡®What am I looking at right now?¡¯

    Not only that I¡¯m being carried on Boland¡¯s back, we¡¯re in a new area. The same fortification, but instead of a circle, it¡¯s a wide-open space with a linear pathway, and not only that. Seeing these mushy green plants and trees growing out of the pavement, and the stone walls give a vibe of that of an abandoned building decades old. And I don¡¯t like any of it.

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    ¡°Where¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But this surely is an ominous place.¡±

    ¡°Wh-What happen to¡­ that thing, the golem.¡±

    Boland stopped, and as his expression showed a sign of confusion, I know that something is weighing his mind. What he muttered stated the obvious, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Wh-What do you mean you don¡¯t know, sir?¡±

    ¡°Just call me by name, lass.¡±

    Putting me down, I then noticed that the rest of the raid party are not with him, so I asks, ¡°Where are the others?¡± asking as I check my Profile Status.

    ¡°We split up.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°After you drank the potion, you suddenly passed out. But all of a sudden, the gate was opened. So, I told the others to pass through while that Traveler and I deal with the golem, but¡­¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    His brows frowned, ¡°That thing suddenly turn his back on us, showing no interest to continue the fight, and a moment later, it shattered itself to pieces.¡±

    "That¡­ doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡±

    Turning around, surveying the area, ¡°Believe me, it¡¯s not even the thing that we have to worry about, it¡¯s the others. When we entered the gate, the Traveler went missing and so is everything behind us. Replaced with that large wall full of webs. There was no gate at all.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Know anything about it?¡±

    ¡°Teleportation¡­ maybe.¡±

    I sat down to collect myself. Pondering, ¡®So, that was just a dream, huh? A sleep paralysis, maybe, but to think I actually slept in-game. In any case, my raid party¡­¡¯

    Pulling up the list, I see everyone¡¯s name still there.

    ¡°They¡¯re still alive, it seems.¡± My chest tightened, ¡°We can take a break for a bit, but we need to hurry and find them before it¡¯s too late.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°There must be a reason why Travelers chose to avoid this place. And adding the little info we have about them. I¡¯m worried about even wasting a minute moping around.¡±

    Taking a seat beside me, ¡°You seem to know something we don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you chose my route?¡±

    He nods.

    ¡°Do you want to me explain how I know?¡±

    ¡°No. I just want to know how we should go from here.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± turning my head to take a few rocks, I drew the layout I made back in the cell, ¡°I don¡¯t have the exact map nor have I been into this place, but I know that there is a secret passage that would allow us to¡­ ignore a couple of things that will get in our way.¡±

    ¡°But first, is the group. There are three designated points of interest. We are here in the middle, and the other two are here and here. We have to find a way to get to them.¡±

    ¡°How do we know we¡¯re in the middle?¡±

    ¡°From the look of this place, I feel like we are.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re not certain.¡±

    ¡°Regardless, we will be looking for an intersection. We need to find them fast before they accidentally bumped into one of the guardians in this place.¡±

    ¡°Guardians? You mean like that golem?¡±

    ¡°Far worse, probably.¡±

    Stroking his subtle thick beard, ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    ¡°The guardian will be the least to our problem if we can regroup. Once I level up a bit more, I¡¯m sure that I will be even more useful than I am now.¡±

    ¡®Shoot, I mentioned leveling even though he might not know that term. Wait, shouldn¡¯t the system be changing my wording when it comes to these things.¡¯

    ¡°Hmm, just like that Traveler, you seem to be relying so much on the Divine System.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s due to the very same thing that we were tossed into this place, but if it can also bring us back home. I suppose it¡¯s not a bad option to consider.¡±

    Making me sweat a little bit, ¡®So, he knows about the system. No, it seems like the system and everything it has is totally normal to them. In any case, the raid party getting split up is the worst thing that could happen. I need to bring them back and stat!¡¯

 Chapter 13 â€“ The Divine System

    My luck has been terrible so far, ¡®Maybe I should invest some points in that attribute. Having good drop rates on things is not so bad of investment too.¡¯

    So, I did. Spending the 40 points I got on the Luck stat. As for my Primary Attribute points, I decided to keep them for later. Within my [Inventory] window, I can see the item reward for defeating the golem boss, even though we didn''t actually defeat it ourselves.

    ¡°Lass, you must¡¯ve gotten it too, yes? What the divine system gave us.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Did you get anything out of it?¡±

    ¡°This sword.¡±

    Unlike the previous one he holds which then could shatter at any moment. The new one he has is a tempered steel blade, ¡°I cannot fathom how it is possible,¡± for me to witness an NPC receiving anything from the system. Then again, I¡¯m in uncharted territory here with Realism Mode enabled.

    [E-Grade Random Item Box]

    It appears with the appearance to that of a treasure chest. Ornated depending on its grade. Upon making a concentrated contact, whether touch or sight, the box spins extravagantly with a glorious sound effect accompanying it as it opens.

    *Wooooooosh *Woosh *Woosh

    5 cards can be unveiled. Sharp edges with two of them having metallic bronze color and the other two having a metallic silver color. The last has unique characteristics having an additional gold-colored lining spreading throughout the card.

    Unveiling the first silver color.

    ! {Item Unveiled}

    ~ {Fatigue Relieve Potion / Tier 1 / Upon full consumption, slightly release tiredness and recover 10% of Maximum Health}

    My hand staggered for a moment, but after taking a deep breath, I flipped them all in one go.

    ! {Items Unveiled}

    ~ {Health Potion / Tier 1 / Recover 10% of Maximum Health}

    ~ {Telekinesis (Skill) / Rank E / Mana / Book / Uncommon / Learning Requirement: Level 10, 40 Intelligence, 50 Dexterity / Potency: Leveling}

    ~ {Wall of Stone (Spell) / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Earth / Book / Common / Learning Requirement: Level 5, 30 Intelligence / Potency: Evolving}

    ~ {Healing Potion / Tier 1 / Recover 1% health per second, up to 15% of Maximum Health}

    ! {Choose One}

    My eyes light up, ¡®Assuming the basics are the same, it should be¡­¡¯

    Tier 1 Basic ¨C Tier 2 Intermediate ¨C Tier 3 Advanced ¨C Tier 4 Expert ¨C Tier 5 Master ¨C Tier 6 Extreme ¨C Tier 7 Supreme ¨C Tier 8 Mega ¨C Tier 9 Ultima ¨C Tier 10 Maxima ¨C Tier 11 Overdrive

    Rank F ¨C E ¨C D ¨C C ¨C B ¨C A ¨C S

    Common ¨C Uncommon ¨C Rare ¨C Heroic ¨C Legendary ¨C Mythic ¨C Ancient ¨C Ascended ¨C Transcendental ¨C Eternal ¨C Ethereal

    ¡®Alright, I remember them all still. Let''s see, I got good silver and decent gold. A Skill and Spell. The latter has limited quantity to be held at a time while the former is not, but unlike Spells, Skills have roughly less than 10-30% less effectiveness than Spells.¡¯

    ¡®Hm?¡¯ wait a minute, ¡®I can only pick one of these items???¡¯

    Gritting my teeth at the sight of the worst system ever, ¡®Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiii? I just wasted my 40 SP on this!¡¯ a shame to be using the Secondary Points like that, ¡®No, come on, Siola. It¡¯s an investment, just make do with what you have now.¡¯

    [Wall of Stone]

    ¡®I don¡¯t remember the spell being that useful in the later stage of the game but I have used it before. Summoning a literal wall made of stones, I can think of a number of ways to use it. Plus, it¡¯s evolution-based. This means it will become a stronger spell the more I use it just like Tier 2 [Turn Undead] that I evolved all the way into Tier 9 [Ultima Turn Undead]. Not only that I can scare away non-living creatures, but I can also even inflict damage at the same time. And on top of that, heals me based on the damage I dealt. Priest class is truly powerful at endgame.¡¯

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡®Telekinesis just won¡¯t cut it. What am I gonna do with it? Throwing rocks? I can just pick it up with my own hand. Plus, it¡¯s leveling-based. So, what? The rock becomes faster when I throw it? Pretty much leaves the Wall of Stone, huh?¡¯

    ! {Item Received}

    I took the book out of the inventory and kept it in my arm. The sight makes Boland tilt his eyebrows, asking as he muttered, ¡°A book?

    Lightly smiling at him.

    ¡­

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 5 / Class: Mage

    Primary Attributes (1200)

    Max Health: 700 | Max Mana: 400 | Max Stamina: 1300

    Health: 700 | Mana: 400 | Stamina: 1300

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 20 / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: 20

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 12

    Intelligence: 13 / Faith: 0 / Luck: 45

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 20 (+10) | 7 (+5) / Physical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Magical Attack: 15 (+5) / Magical Defense: 0 (+5)

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 2 / Stamina Regeneration: 2

    ==== Quick Status ====

    I think I understand why the golem is all mossy and old, this place reeks like a swamp. Much worse than the house I¡¯m in. Not that it will affect my reading speed on this book.

    ! {Learning [Wall of Stone] Spell}

    ~ {Progress: 88%}

    ~ {Progress: 90%}

    ~ {Progress: 94%}

    ~ {Progress: 98%}

    ~ {Progress: 100%}

    ~ {Progress Completion}

    ~ {Requirement has not been met | Additional 17 Intelligence is required}

    ~ {Learning Failed}

    ~ {Spell [Wall of Stone] has been added to Completed List}

    ¡®Now then, all I need to level up one more and I should be able to use it. We¡¯ve stalled for long enough because of me, I gotta get those times back and make haste.¡¯

    At a steady pace, we marched onward while keeping ourselves on guard.

    But then I caught an enemy hiding behind a rock on the sideway. Small, like the size of a goblin but it has wings and the color of its skin is red.

    ¡®A demon,¡¯ squinting my eyes, ¡®And it''s also an undead.¡¯

    Missed the little details about the fact that its skin is rotting. I can see it, even without a night-vision spell, I can see it clearly thanks to my well-maintained eyes. Holding Boland to stop walking any further, I whisper, ¡°Behind that rock. I¡¯ll take the hit. You aim for the head.¡±

    ¡°Hm? Wait¡ª¡±

    Dashing towards it as it was jumped by the sudden action I took, quickly taking my axe out of the inventory, I leaped over the rock and slice the fucking thing.

    *Woosh*

    It evaded and instantly retaliate.

    *Bam *Bam *Bam

    Blocking it with the weapon I have, I can see where his claws are gonna go. However, if I dodge that kind of that attack, my Stamina meter will certainly be falling off the ceiling.

    *Slash *BANG

    Boland came in and sliced the monster¡¯s head but it didn¡¯t cut deep enough as it was struck and left staggered on the rock. I quickly take my dagger out and shove it up its ass¡­ grinding it up as I swirl it inside.

    *Grraaaaaaaaaaaaaagh*

    {88}

    {125}

    {135}

    {154}

    Stacking damage to a point that it gets to a hundred, ¡®Well, I mean, if its skull is thicc... I should aim for the soft meat, right? Hehe,¡¯ I finish the thing off with my axe puncturing its head.

    *Taks*

    {30}

    {+400 Exp}

    ¡°That was¡­ quite a unique way of killing them.¡±

    ¡®D-Don¡¯t say it! I know it¡¯s embarrassing but it was the only way I can think of defeating the thing at the moment!¡¯

    My memories of common enemies are vague, so I don¡¯t really know the most efficient way of killing them other than using a Crowd Control spell.

    Continuing on, we encountered many more of that creature. But as it turns out, it is not that big of a deal. Boland can inflict a number of damage on them without even using his abilities. I only support him by watching his back.

    ! {Level UP}

    Hearing that ringing sound of the notification, a grin on my face appeared. Swiftly, I hold down on the (+) button on many of my stats.

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 6 / Class: Mage

    Primary Attributes

    Max Health: 700 | Max Mana: 2200 | Max Stamina: 1300

    Health: 700 | Mana: 2200 | Stamina: 1300

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 20 / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: 20

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 15

    Intelligence: 30 / Faith: 0 / Luck: 45

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 20 (+10) | 7 (+5) / Physical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Magical Attack: 15 (+15) / Magical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 4 / Stamina Regeneration: 2

    ==== Quick Status ====

    ! {Learning [Wall of Stone] Spell}

    ~ {Requirement has been met}

    ! {New Spell has been Learned}

    ~ {Wall of Stone / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Earth / Conjure a stone wall at target location based on the amount of mana spent / Cooldown: 10 Seconds / Costs: ---}

    ~ {1/5 Slot}

    Upon intently activating it, my arm brims blue energy that spirals around it. I can feel a weight pressing unto my forearm as the energy turns color into brown, it looks magical. I directed my hand at the monster coming my way. I tightened my arm, clenching my fist, and bring it high.

    *Boom*

    At the same speed as the movement of my arm, the [Wall of Stone] that was conjured all of a sudden, hit the little monster from the bottom, crushing its pelvis on its way up.

    {180}

    Not even a critical hit, but the firepower is high to the point that it managed to unalive the thing for the second time.

    ¡®Heheh, as I expected. I can use it as a weapon. Although short to mid-range, it¡¯s already better than going melee when another golem decided to pop up.¡¯

    This realization alone makes me hyped about how my future venture will be as a Mage.

 Chapter 14 â€“ Undead Demon

    ¡°Over there!¡± I yelled.

    Someone lying unconscious by the edge of a mossy rock. It¡¯s one of the old men, Kenmartha. My heart thumps seeing that behind him is a dead end. Boland quickly hurries over to give him a shoulder. He asked, ¡°Does this mean the Traveler and the rest are on the other side?¡±

    ¡°Quite possibly, yes.¡±

    ¡®If he¡¯s here fainted, does that mean the others too? What if there were monsters roaming around and found them in that state?¡¯

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    I nodded.

    We traced back to where we were and continued on the path forward. But there is no intersection at all, until the very end where we see a large gate in the middle of the pathway. Different from the last, this one is wide open but blocking that path is something horrifying. Red eyes, pitch black figure with decayed wings, its body almost blocks the entrance of the gate fully.

    ''That thing is not an evolution of the undead monster we fought but rather its matured version. A boss, huh? I don''t have time to grind for levels or wait for those things to respawn.''

    Hiding behind a tree, ¡®I doubt that thing can fly but can I really beat that with the only spell I have? Not to mention, it¡¯s been a while since I fought low-level bosses like that to a point that I don¡¯t remember the pattern of its attacks.¡¯

    ¡®Wait, can¡¯t I use my axe as the catalyst for that spell? Wouldn¡¯t it enhance its effects? But even then, will it be enough? I will never find out if I don¡¯t try.¡¯

    ¡°What do we do now, lass? That thing doesn¡¯t look like your ordinary imps.¡±

    Narrowing my eyes down, I ponder, ¡®There¡¯s another passage just before the gate but we can¡¯t sneak our way through without getting caught.¡¯

    Observing every part of its body. I¡¯m searching for the softest part with less defense than the others and it led me to its stomach, ¡®Hmm, it could work.¡¯

    ¡°Just leave it to me.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    I went out from hiding and before leaving I requested, ¡°Please help me if things go awry. But if not, please stay here and guard the old man, Ken.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    Taking the axe from my waist. Upon activating [Wall of Stone], my arm was pressed by the weight of magical energy. It once again turns into brown color when reaching my hand but it didn¡¯t stop there as the energy went into my axe, making the vein-like root glow up in brown color. I aim it at the ground beneath the monster, but it seems that I cannot conjure the wall at this range. So, I went closer and closer until it was just enough for me to do it.

    But then suddenly, my mouth moves on its own, ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    *BOOM*

    {130}

    My eyes widened at the sight of the monster being pushed into the air by the wall created underneath him. The monster spins in the air as he recovers. Stomping the wall, crushing it in half.

    *Boooooom*

    Its throat breathing hard.

    *Grrrrrrooooooooooooooooooaaah*

    A symphony of battle music started playing in my head.

    ! {Boss Encounter}

    ~ {Gargantua Imp (Undead) | Lv. 20}

    It took a low leap and dashes straight towards me.

    Making my heart jump, ¡®Fast!¡¯

    Activating the spell and swinging my axe again, this time the process of the magical energy flows really fast, and my mouth not having the urge to yell out the spell name. Quickly summoning that wall in an impulse to stop its track.

    *Boom*

    Hit its feet but the wall was destroyed before it can even go up far. But it did manage to halt the monster a little.

    ¡®With Boland¡¯s attack, I might gonna have an easier time but I don¡¯t want to risk leaving. There¡¯s no other way, I have to do it right.¡¯

    When it leaps forward to me again, I took a step back to control my focus. Activating the spell beforehand and waiting for the opportunity to strike.

    ¡®There!¡¯ my eyes peeled as I swing my axe down, ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    *Boom*

    {130}

    The monster is stunned by it but quickly recovers 5 seconds later.

    ¡®I¡¯m not even going to risk doing a riposte in that kind of window. Especially with the range I have with the thing.¡¯

    ¡®10 second cooldown on the spell. I have to be as far away from it as possible while maintaining enough distance to attack.¡¯

    Once again, upon recovering, he does another leap, but I have foreseen it.

    *Boom*

    {130}

    Confidence grew as I kept hitting its stomach consecutively without fail, ¡®My accuracy is just unfathomably accurate, alright. Hehe, no way you¡¯re beating me out of my own game, little imp.¡¯

    This repeats until the monster stunned by the wall grew longer and longer. Until it¡¯s long enough that I can activate [Wall of Stone] again before it can recover. I feel every last vein in my arms hardened once I get close to the monster, magical energy weighs them greatly as it charged my axe with its brown colors. I leaped forward and swing it right to the imp¡¯s head while at the same time screaming, ¡°Wall of Stone!¡± at the top of my lungs.

    *TAKS*

    *BOOOOM*

    The rising ground split the monster¡¯s head from its body with the skull stuck to my axe.

    {80 Critikal}

    {480 Critikal}

    Soon, black blood drips from the conjured stone wall.

    ! {Boss ¨C Gargantua Imp ¨C has been defeated}

    ~ {+15.000 Exp}

    ~ {Loot Obtained: [E-Grade Random Item Box] x2, [F-Grade Random Item Box] x1}

    ~ {Special Loot Obtained: {Half Wing of Gargantua Imp (Undead) / Rank E / Rare / Innate Ability: One Wing, triplets the length of travel distance for all leap-type abilities / Usage Requirement: 60 Agility}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    The sound of those notifications brought relief to my beating heart. I kicked the monster''s head from my axe and breathe a sigh of relief.

    ''What''s with that urge of yelling out the spell name? Back then, I only do it when I have to activate an art or a law. But somehow, just by saying it, I can feel that it made a difference somehow.

    Glancing at a specific attribute of my profile status.

    [Mana: 180/2200]

    ''You ain''t kidding. I''ve spent almost all of that already.''

    Odd because I always kept my spending in check. I would always leave at least half of my Mana as a backup, but to think that a Tier 1 spell can consume that much without me knowing it.

    ''Yelling out the name makes it strong. But it consumes a lot more Mana. And I can''t even control it at times.''

    ¡®I should worry about that later. In any case, the reward item went straight into my inventory, but the boss monster didn¡¯t turn into pixels. And its wings are also intact. I wonder if I can just¡­¡¯

    Walking towards the corpse, I stabbed the area around the chest with a dagger, cut it, and took out its dark silver heart.

    ! {Item Obtained}

    ~ {Heart of Gargantua Imp (Undead) / Rank E / Uncommon}

    ¡®Now that¡¯s something. Usually, materials of a monster like this went into the RNG pool and are sent straight into Inventory at the same time it¡¯s defeated based on the drop chance and luck stat.¡¯

    ¡®Good to know that grinding will be easier. But the process of looting is going to be even more painful.''

 Chapter 15 â€“ Random Chances

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 8 / Class: Mage

    Primary Attributes (900)

    Max Health: 700 | Max Mana: 2500 | Max Stamina: 1300

    Health: 700 | Mana: 2500 | Stamina: 1300

    Secondary Attributes (10)

    Strength: 20 / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: 20

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 20

    Intelligence: 50 / Faith: 0 / Luck: 50

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 20 (+10) | 7 (+5) / Physical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Magical Attack: 15 (+25) / Magical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 6 / Stamina Regeneration: 3

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Quite a repetitive boss fight, but what came out of its death is quite nice. And hopefully so for the rewards in those three loot boxes, considering I can only have one item from each one.

    ¡°Good work, lass.¡±

    ¡°Mm. How¡¯s Kenmartha holding up?¡±

    ¡°Still out, but nothing for you to worry about. I¡¯ll stand guard here. If there¡¯s something you can¡¯t handle by yourself, just shout out for me. I¡¯ll be there as soon as possible.¡±

    I nodded.

    Before this gate is two paths connected to it. One is where we came from and the other is what I assume to be the road leading to where the others are at. Considering the boss has yet to be defeated, they must be there. I dashed forward, wasting no time in search of the rest of the group.

    On my way, I decided to open the item boxes sitting in my inventory.

    ¡®First, let¡¯s open the F-Grade one.¡¯

    I flipped every single card that came out of it as soon as it appears so that I don¡¯t cling to the hope that I will be getting something good. And what came out of it is truly disappointing.

    ! {Items Unveiled}

    ~ {Health Potion / Tier 1 / Recover up to 10% of Maximum Health}

    ~ {Healing Potion / Tier 1 / Recover 1% health per second, up to 15% of Maximum Health}

    ~ {5 Lockpick}

    ~ {Shovel}

    ~ {Black Devil Book / Common / Contains the story of the undying flame that spark the gate before the heaven and hell, the Purgatory Realm}

    ¡®I¡¯ve read that book in my previous life when looking around in the so-called Demon King¡¯s Quarter with Kurira and Rakuri. Can¡¯t say it has anything useful for me.¡¯

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    It¡¯s actually a story about one of the old heroes succumbing to madness and becoming a terrorizing figure to the whole world but instead of destroying the world itself like what I expected the story was heading, instead, another group of heroes ¡®rescued¡¯ the mad hero. The so-called undying flame that the book mentioned, and their connection to one of the ruling factions of Ekolia.

    The Purgatory Realm, ruled by the Undead God, Lehdrith.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take the Lockpick.¡±

    Lehdrith once made an appearance in one of the main quests that the top rankers went. Thus, confirming that he and the other 31 gods can be encountered. But in the case of the demon king, however. I don¡¯t really know if it even exists, but demon bosses reference him in some way. But no one really knows if the king itself is real.

    ! {Items Unveiled}

    ~ {Firebolt (Spell) / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Fire / Book / Common / Learning Requirement: 30 Intelligence / Potency: None}

    ~ {Air Cutter (Skill) / Rank E / Wind / Book / Uncommon / Learning Requirement: Level 20, 50 Intelligence / Potency: Evolving}

    ~ {Tear of a Goddess / Rank S / Legendary}

    ~ {Summoning Mark (Guidance) / Rank E / Uncommon / Class Requirement: Summoner}

    ~ {Mana Control (Guidance) / Rank D / Rare / Class Requirement: Sorcerer}

    ! {Choose One}

    Frozen in place with my eyes peeled after seeing the shining card glowing in bright gold.

    ¡°Hmmmmmmmm???¡±

    ¡®Buhhhhhh! You¡¯re telling me that a legendary fucking item actually dropped from an E-Grade Box? How?!¡¯ oh, I know the answer, ¡®R.N.G!¡¯

    ''God is on my side!''

    It boosted my morale so high to the point that I almost slipped the pressing matters at hand, but I quickly snap back to reality.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see, the first is a thing I can use. The second is a useful thing I can use in the future. The third which is the legendary material is a very sought-out item for crafting and can be made as a spell-holder for enchanting. I can pick any of them and I won¡¯t regret it at least until I reach the endgame where the obvious option is to choose the third one.¡¯

    The last two are Quests to obtain the mentioned Innate Ability. It¡¯s like Spells but without a limit of quantity or the reduced power from Skills.

    ¡®It¡¯s unfortunate that it¡¯s low-rank guidance. They only teach a single ability. Meanwhile, the Chronomancy Guidance that I got back in my previous life, not only that it gives you the Chronomancer class, it also teaches you every single ability that the class has all the way to its arts and laws.¡¯

    But even if higher ranks are stronger, doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s better. At least, in a way for people to actually unlock the Guidance¡¯s full protentional. The higher the ranks, the harder its quests are. But the timing is unfortunate. Time itself is not something I cannot afford right now.

    ¡®If only I can have them all.¡¯

    Deep inside, I know what I need. But I¡¯m afraid to lose out on what the future holds for me, so I ended up choosing the [Tear of a Goddess]

    ! {Item Received}

    ¡°Now then, the last one. Not gonna expect this to be as good as the last box but let¡¯s do open it anyway. If I can have another gold, that¡¯d be awesome.¡±

    ! {Items Unveiled}

    ~ {Silver Ring of Steadfast Horse / Rank F / Uncommon / Effect: Increases the balance of the user¡¯s posture while riding a mount / Usage Requirement: 20 Agility}

    ~ {Blue Jelly Potion / Tier 2 / Recover up to 30% of Max Mana, the leftover portion will be used to heal both Health and Stamina for up 10% of their maximum capacity}

    ~ {Stamina Potion / Tier 1 / Recover up to 10% of Max Stamina}

    ~ {Combustion (Skill) / Rank F / Fire / Book / Common / Learning Requirement: 10 Intelligence, 5 Faith / Potency: Evolving}

    ~ {Firebolt Spellbook / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Fire / Book / Common / Learning Requirement: 30 Intelligence / Potency: None}

    ¡°Hm? Another Firebolt? Nice,¡± a sigh of relief, ''If I had chosen Firebolt, I''d pretty much have missed out on the legendary item.''

    ¡®No, wait a minute.¡¯

    ¡®The other 3 are useless for me, but this Combustion. It¡¯s a skill book. So, maybe I should get that instead of Firebolt? While it is significantly weaker, it won¡¯t take a slot in my spells.¡¯

    ¡°Hmm¡­ Considering future prospects. Alright, I¡¯ll be taking that one.¡±

    ! {Item Received}

    Taking out the Combustion skill book from the inventory.

    ¡®Hoho, look at this sick pyromancy. I swear the --/E-r/-- are so biased when it comes to designing fire-related books. This should help me out a lot.¡¯

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

 Chapter 16 â€“ Big Toad

    Ever seen an undead frog? Back in the day, I used to get jumped by a regular one whether it was big or small, reality or not, they always got me. Now we¡¯re talking about a dread-looking thing with its skin peeled off and decayed blood all over its body. Eyes as white as a dead fish. Visible bones from each of its limbs. There are 6 of them coming my way.

    I slide beneath one when it lunges at me. And just as quickly, I activated one of the skills I have recently obtained. A spark of embers appear at the palm of my hand, and my mouth moved on its own, mumbling, ¡°Combustion.¡±

    *Bwoosh*

    A flame ignited from these embers, briefly engulfing the undead frog as it flew past me.

    {200}

    An undead has two major weaknesses. One is a light attribute and the other is fire. If hits with any magic from those two, it can deal twice to 4x damage depending on the undead¡¯s resistance. And these frog creatures have the lowest resistance second only to a bare skeleton.

    [Combustion (Skill) / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Fire / Conjure a spark of ember on the caster¡¯s hand to be ignited in explosion / Cooldown: 5 Seconds / Costs: 20 Mana]

    I regained my foothold and ignore that dwindling frog. Three in the front, two on my sides. My boots slide and my body up front. The two frogs launch themselves at me but quickly, I raised my left hand, conjuring the [Wall of Stone].

    *BOOM*

    Blocking their path leaves me a few seconds to catch my breath. I took the axe out of my [Inventory] but suddenly, the other two frogs avoided my wall and readied themselves to lunge toward me. Quickly I activated [Wall of Stone] again, but instead of weighing my arm, my leg moves on its own, raising it as I see the frogs launching themselves again. I stomped the ground hard and a stone wall raised in front of me. Blocking the frogs¡¯ path.

    The back of my neck suddenly experiences chills, making my eyes peel. I quickly turn around and just as quickly, activated my [Combustion] skill.

    *Bwoosh*

    The frog that got flamed before is burning once again. The impact from the attack managed to push it hard enough to stop it in mid-air.

    {300}

    Flopping as it rolls backward in its lifeless condition.

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    {+600 Exp}

    ¡®That¡¯s quite the amount of Exp.¡¯

    *BOOM*

    Instead of going around like last time, they chose to destroy the wall.

    ¡°Hmph, mindless undead.¡±

    They lump together as they lunge toward me. I just duck and pass them from beneath as I activate my fire skill. But instead of in the palm of my hand, the embers appear on the edges of the axe¡¯s blade. Blowing it as I shout, ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *Bwooooosh*

    {550}

    {550}

    {550}

    {550}

    {550}

    {10}

    {10}

    {10}

    There are some that survived the initial flame, but the burn effect got to them all in the end. It¡¯s satisfying to use the appropriate attack on an opponent¡¯s weakness like this.

    {+600 Exp}

    {+600 Exp}

    {+600 Exp}

    {+600 Exp}

    {+600 Exp}

    ! {Level UP}

    With Realism Mode enabled. I¡¯ve found a lot of new things, but this feeling is just like how I remembered when I¡¯m having fun. Then it reminded me of what happened a few minutes ago, ¡®How the word --/E-r/-- is censored. The people who make this world, Ekolia.¡¯

    And there are other things like ¡®--/E-r/--, --/E-r/--, and --/E-r/-- that are also censored.¡¯ But the fact that censored itself and the word Realism Mode are not censored, makes it feel like this is an experimental thing.

    ¡®Though, I do hope that the mode itself is a complete and finished feature. The last thing I want to worry about is me dealing with bugs and --/E-r/--.¡¯

    In any case, there are more important matters I have to focus on.

    Moving onward. All of my attributes are regenerating fast thanks to the Level UP, but how I wish it would go up instantly. Better than nothing however, and I decided not to spend the points I¡¯ve got. Might be useful for later when I really need it.

    ¡°Ah.¡±

    Suddenly, something gigantic falls down from the ceiling.

    *BOOM*

    ¡°I just can¡¯t help myself, huh.¡±

    Always jinx it.

    The creature that fell down is a giant toad. About 50ft (~15 meters) tall. But then suddenly, it opens its mouth and its tongue appeared.

    *Woosh*

    My eyes peeled, slashing my axe upward, ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    *BOOM*

    The sound of the impact made me nervous. If it were to hit me, I¡¯d be dead. But the attack did not manage to break the wall. Suddenly, a symphony of melancholic music rang in my head.

    ! {Boss Encounter}

    ~ {Genoa | Lv. 50}

    ¡°Yep, can¡¯t beat that one for sure. At least, not now.¡±

    *Woosh*

    Its tongue is flexible. It retracted just as fast as its attacks. As soon as it targets me, I ran around the wall until the thing hits it enough to destroy it. I take a step back and summon more [Wall of Stone], but now I¡¯m worried about the fact that I don¡¯t have unlimited Mana.

    *BOOM *BOOM *BOOM

    ¡®To destroy [Wall of Stone] in a single attack. The attack has gone stronger. No, it¡¯s the Mana I spent to cast it is low. I didn¡¯t even yell out the name.¡¯

    *BOOM *BOOM

    ¡®Yeah, gotta bail out of this one for now. Even Boland wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it. I doubt the both of us together can do it either.¡¯

    *Woosh*

    ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *Bwooosh*

    {100}

    Hit it right before the tongue hits me.

    ¡®Couldn¡¯t even burn it, huh.¡¯

    I quickly went hard left, going around and going past the entire area until the music completely dies down. If I don¡¯t have a pressing issue at hand, maybe I can spend hours grinding here and spend another hour against that thing, but now I should focus on finding my raid party.

    Escaping the Prison Realm itself should be my top priority.

 Chapter 17 â€“ Lost Party Members

    Getting back to the sand road, the giant toad has lost me. In case of another ambush, I¡¯ve decided to spend my stat points on the attributes I might need.

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 9 / Class: Mage

    Primary Attributes

    Max Health: 1000 | Max Mana: 3600 | Max Stamina: 1400

    Health: 1000 | Mana: 2390 | Stamina: 342

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 20 / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: 20

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 20

    Intelligence: 70 / Faith: 10 / Luck: 50

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 20 (+10) | 7 (+5) / Physical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Magical Attack: 15 (+35) / Magical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 8 / Stamina Regeneration: 3

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Rotating my axe back and forth, I ponder, ¡®This thing is useful to increase the potency of my spells, but it¡¯s too inconvenient for me to use. If only I have a proper catalyst like a wand or a staff, ideally a magical device on each of my limbs. Mages I fought usually have that and kept their staff as a backup.¡¯

    Continuing on the path of this dreaded jungle, I finally found someone on the side of the road. Covered in all sorts of wounds. I squinted my eyes to see who.

    ¡®Hm? Wait, that¡¯s the old man that gave me the axe. What was his name again?¡¯ briefly looking at the party members list, ¡°Dura!¡±

    Hurrying over and assisting him to rest, ¡°Hey, hey, are you okay?¡±

    *Cough *Cough

    Panting, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m very well okay. In fact, I just took a nap on a cotton-filled bed in the obviously not a place where the undead roam around.¡±

    Oof, ¡°Mean!¡±

    ¡°Damn it, do I look okay to you? Your Traveler¡¯s friend is in trouble. That way, hurry on and head east, follow the trail I left behind and you¡¯ll be there.¡±

    ¡°W-Wait, explain to me a bit. What happened?¡±

    ¡°Leeches,¡± panting, ¡°As big as Mamoa lizards and just as long. They came out of the swamp and that Traveler¡¯s friend of yours is holding them back so the rest of us won¡¯t get eaten by those parasites. Thought I should get away, finding you and Boland. So, where is he?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s safe, he should be, but you can¡¯t go to him just yet. I¡¯ve narrowly missed death for coming all this way, so you should stay here, okay? I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± grabbing my wrist, ¡°Here, take this.¡±

    ! {Item Received}

    ~ {Black Viper Venom / Rare / Dealt Toxin damage over time. Decreases Fire Resistance. Coat a bladed weapon to use [Fire Enchantment]. Lasts 2 hours}

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    A small bag containing a powder of the said item, it¡¯s charred as charcoal.

    ¡°This should burn them to a crisp. Use it with the dagger I gave you, and don¡¯t waste it, you hear? You won¡¯t find this thing around often.¡±

    I nodded.

    Leaving him there, I head to the place he was at.

    ¡®Black Piper Venom. A poison like this is the second most effective method of burning something so squishy, but since I have the first most effective method, I should keep this one safe in my pocket for now. Might be useful if I were to go up against that frog again.¡¯

    Arriving at the end of the road. The path forward is covered in bushes and tall grass. Those trails that Dura came from, I follow it carefully while gripping my axe tight. This reminds me of the time when Rakuri brought me on her Quest, how she enthusiastically teaches me the things I don¡¯t really care about. Hunting, traps, markings. I was swayed and heavily distracted by that beautiful face of hers that I ended up not really listening at all.

    ¡®But she¡¯s patient enough to me that she never stops.¡¯

    Somehow, it made me smile. How I missed her and Kurira. They¡¯re one of the few that actually bother to learn these things even if there¡¯s already an alternate method that makes it easier. But that was never their goal. It¡¯s not about using the method itself, but learning them. If you only know one way to do something, you will only stick to that way. But if you know many more ways to do it, you will have options when one doesn¡¯t work out.

    Knowledge is the supreme element that separates real professionals and amateurs calling themselves veterans.

    *Bak *Bak *Boom *Bak

    Sounds like something is being pummeled. Once I took a peek at it from a thick bush, I see 12 giant leeches surrounding a black man gritting his teeth.

    ¡°Galliano.¡±

    Behind him is the unconscious old men, they don''t look so fine. But he himself is looking rough, ¡®That¡¯s the sign of someone hitting the limit. Soon, he¡¯ll get pulled out of this world because of the stress.¡¯

    ¡®I need to help him.¡¯

    I forced myself out of the bush and activate my fire magic. Creating embers at the blade of my axe and sneaking to one of the leeches. Blowing the embers as I mumbled, ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *Bwoosh*

    *Kreeeeeech*

    When the leech screeches as it burns. Galliano noticed it and our eyes met as the leech engulfed completely in flame.

    ¡®To think a simple combustion can deal this much damage.¡¯

    Activating it once again to another one that is turning towards me, ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *Bwoosh*

    I propelled myself back and yelled out, ¡°Ayo, G! Back away a bit.¡±

    He did as I said after smacking a leech. Quickly, I rotate my axe backward and activate the earth magic. Glowing my weapon in its energy, I lock on a meter before Galliano and pull my axe up as I yelled out, ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    *Boom*

    With the wall raised, the leeches have no choice but to focus their attention on me. But I¡¯m prepared. With these embers on my axe, their death is nothing but guaranteed.

    ¡­

    As the leeches are turning in charcoal. The ashes of their former skin flew in the air¡­ alongside their Experience Points, getting sucked into my butt.

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Experience Points Pending}

    ! {New Milestone Achieved}

    ~ {Novice Mage}

    ~ {Available Elemental Upgrade: Fire / Earth}

    ! {Choose One}

    ~ {If none is chosen, automatically opt for the most used attribute | 30 Seconds remaining}

    ¡®Hmm, right. I can only upgrade the abilities related to the attribute I¡¯ve been using. The incoming Exp is in Pending so I cannot keep this upgrade at a later stage. And there¡¯s even a countdown, a very short one at that.¡¯

    ¡®Between Wall of Stone and Combustion, which one should I upgrade?¡¯

    Without a doubt, both of them are useful to me. Wall of Stone can be used for both defense and offense while combustion can only do offense, and occasionally defense also but the fact that it¡¯s a fire spell gives it more value for me to upgrade considering the place I¡¯m in.

    ¡®Looks like there¡¯s not really much of a choice in this. Let¡¯s take fire for now. There¡¯s a lot of undead here, might as well take what¡¯s most effective.¡¯

    ! {Fire Attribute has been Upgraded}

    ~ {Related Abilities have been transferred into Innate Ability}

    ~ {Combustion has been altered into Ignition}

    ~ {Ignition / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Coat oneself aflame. In the Ignition state, increases Fire Resistance by 10%, able to activate [Combustion] at will. Requires up to 10 Mana per second to maintain / Cooldown: None / Costs: 100 Mana}

    ¡®Ayo?¡¯

 Chapter 18 â€“ Checkpoint

    [Ignition / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Coat oneself aflame. In Ignition state, increases Fire Resistance by 10%, able to active [Combustion] at will. Requires up to 10 Mana per second to maintain / Cooldown: None / Costs: 100 Mana]

    ¡®That¡¯s the spell Kurira is championing. Despite becoming a wizard and ditching Mage class, she still uses that spell. The fact that it has the potential to go toe to toe against a dragon¡¯s breath speaks its value.¡¯

    I remember her haughty face when she was looking down on me grinning as she explains it.

    (Listen, Combustion is shit only when it¡¯s by itself. You can only do so much to enhance it so you might as well invest in another shit that¡¯s doing a better job at it. But when used in Ignition state. You can use art or law with it, setting that base power high. Then, you can multiply the damage with those gears, weapons, accessories buff whatever, but THEN! You can also use a Vow to raise that power ceiling even higher. And we¡¯re not even talking about when Ignition becomes an aspect. AND! Not to mention, Third Party buff, oh yeah, that gets your attention ain¡¯t it? Adding to that¡­)

    She just never stops, but I get the point. It¡¯s good stuff.

    *Pant *Pant

    I see that someone is getting exhausted. Sitting on that rock as he catches his breath.

    [Galliano | Lv. 12]

    ¡°Heheh, wow. Already level 12? Now that¡¯s a teammate I want in a party.¡±

    Chuckles as he shook his head, ¡°Well, I should be the one to be glad to have you in my party. Thank god you came just in time. Man, these warnings keep popping into my head like crazy! Thought for sure that I only have to worry about that bitch, but turns out¡­ Damn, never thought that the South Gate was going to be this nail in the butt.¡±

    ¡°Whaaat, you''re only struggling cause these things ain''t your match. It''s like, you''re punching a jelly. Your fists be bouncing back."

    "You''re going somewhere?

    "Yeah. Gonna get that old man Dura back here. Wouldn¡¯t want him to encounter some of these things.¡±

    Nodding, ¡°Aight, don¡¯t take too long though. These things might respawn.¡±

    ¡°Doubt that''ll be the case, but you got it.¡±

    Players can never be injured for real, even if they were cut in half. That''ll just be a passing discomfort. Especially so when their Sensitivity is minimized, but still, stress is a tough one. No amount of advancement in technology can even handle that without a side effect, which is the reason why the system would boot us out when the mental capacity exceeds 80%.

    After bringing Dura back to the rest of the group, he inspects everyone¡¯s condition. The old man¡¯s wound is looking rather painful, but it¡¯s nothing life-threatening to the point that he can¡¯t move. I don''t want to spend my legendary item just on that too. Not that I have the skill to make a potion out of it, but consuming the Tier of a Goddess will heal him regardless.

    ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Mm? What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°This Quest that I got from that guy, Boland. Stated that I have to protect these people, but that also includes you. And that¡¯s I don¡¯t know, feels weird. Like, a Quest protecting a player? Where have I ever heard that kind of thing before? Main Quest Players.¡±

    ¡°Whaat,¡± that is indeed odd, ¡°Ehh, probably because I¡¯m playing realism mode. Ain''t that cool though, it''s like you''re the main star.¡±

    ¡°Haha, Well, I thought of that too. Realism Mode. But the system mentioned you by name. Same as the rest. Except of course, you don¡¯t have a name here. It just shows up as ---, you know.¡±

    Us staring at each for a moment, it made me ponder how that happened. But then when I was about to talk, mysteriously, no words came out of my mouth. My body moves on its own and just shrugs, and then I glanced at Dura inspecting not the unconscious member, but the defeated monster I burned.

    It made me curious so I walked toward him and ask, ¡°What are you up to?¡±

    *Slash *Slash

    Cutting the flesh of the leech with the blade he lent me. I didn¡¯t even know how he took it from me, but then again, I did put it on the back of my hip instead of the [Inventory]. So, for a rogue, it''s easy to snatch. Better keep the important stuff in the [Inventory] still.

    ¡°We need energy. Stamina, enough to get us back to the surface.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    *Slice*

    ¡°Here, you can have the liver.¡±

    ¡°W-Woah, woah, woah, hold up there. I¡¯m not desperate enough to eat a monster¡¯s corpse, old man. Imagine the germs and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop being picky and take it, you some princess or something? Here.¡±

    ¡®Well, I used to be on that level, sir.¡¯

    Rolling my eyes, I took it since he insisted on it.

    ! {Item Received}

    ~ {Charred Boa Liver / Increase Stamina Regeneration by 2 for 1 hour}

    ¡®Well, I don¡¯t need to eat it but, why not? I always wondered what those OP monster-eater freaks feel like when they taste thi¡ª''

    *Cough*

    I feel like I¡¯m spiraling in the lonesome me within a galaxy. I see my past playing on a playback that kept repeating to me. I was reminded of Rakuri¡¯s cooking. That beautiful gentle girl, so elegant and captivating, but then suddenly, she served a pile of goop that she called fried rice.

    ¡°Bleeergh~¡±

    Desperate to get it all out I activated [Ignition] for the first time, but only in my mouth. I cannot even believe that this is how I¡¯m gonna use it.

    ¡°Kid, that¡¯s disgusting.¡±

    ¡°Bahk, Blaahhk. You meant me or the shit you put in me?¡±

    Galliano suddenly formed an Eww face.

    ¡°Just swallow it. Shouldn¡¯t taste like anything.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, I shall give it another chance to satiate my palate!¡±

    *Chomp*

    ¡®Eww, the textures are so weeeeeeeeeeird.¡¯

    ¡°You want some too, Traveler?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m good. Thanks.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, suit yourself.¡±

    ¡°Bleeeergh~¡±

    ¡°Y-You,,,¡±

    What can I say? Dura¡¯s palate and my god tongue are truly incompatible with one another. I didn¡¯t manage to get the food buff because I kept throwing it out. Then I noticed the old men are waking up one by one. We quickly assist them while Dura serves them a piece of that abomination. But they gobble it up without a care in the world.

    ¡®Looks like it¡¯s normal for these people to eat monster¡¯s meat.¡¯

    I didn¡¯t really care that much about how people lived in this world. So, this is news to me. Onto something that I know though, these people wouldn¡¯t last a second against that big toad.

    In any case, I told them about everything. What¡¯s up with Boland and Kenmartha, the fight against the big undead imp, how I got here, and the encounter with that big toad. I also tell them a bit about my arsenal. How I will be more useful in a fight, and how I will handle the next one.

    ==== Quick Status ====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 10 / Class: Mage

    Primary Attributes

    Max Health: 1000 | Max Mana: 4000 | Max Stamina: 1600

    Health: 1000 | Mana: 4000 | Stamina: 1600

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 20 / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: 20

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 20

    Intelligence: 80 / Faith: 20 / Luck: 50

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 20 (+10) | 7 (+5) / Physical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Magical Attack: 15 (+40) / Magical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 9 / Stamina Regeneration: 3

    ==== Quick Status ====

 Chapter 19 â€“ Genoa Boss Fight

    A level 50 undead boss against the level 10 me. Its huge butt could crush me at any time except for the fact that it¡¯s a toad, and I made use of that limitation to sneak up behind it. Why at this point it doesn¡¯t notice me, I wonder. I¡¯m standing right behind it looking up.

    I mumbled, ¡°Ignition.¡±

    The flare of fire swirl at the center of my chest before engulfing my entire body fully. It¡¯s like an aura made of flame, but it doesn¡¯t extend to my axe. Regardless, I activated the fire within the spell. Created embers at the surface of the axe¡¯s blade. Glancing at the toad¡¯s bottom, I blew the embers at it.

    ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *BWOOOOOSH*

    {800}

    It jumps away the moment it felt its ass burning.

    *Crooak *Croaaak

    Turning around, I can see its dead fish-looking eyes, opening its mouth and revealing the flexible tongue that made me have a hard time before. But this time, it''s different.

    *Woosh*

    My eyes peeled as I see it coming at me, ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *BWOOOSH*

    Staggered as its tongue burns. I deactivated [Ignition] as quickly as possible. Turning my head and scream, ¡°NOW!¡±

    The old men carrying the injured and Galliano carrying Dura on his back. At my signal, they ran as fast as they could while the toad is having a hard time dealing with the flame cooking its tongue but before I make another move, Galliano yell out, ¡°Don¡¯t DIE! We still need you!¡±

    I raise my hand high, clenching my fist tight!

    ¡®Can¡¯t let that thing recovers and change its aggro,¡¯ dashing forward to close the distance, ¡®1600 Stamina points, but the regen is low. I have to go all out and end it as soon as possible.¡¯

    *Crooaaak*

    My eyes peeled seeing the toad¡¯s tongue move even with the flame still there.

    *Woosh*

    Kicking the back of my foot, I flip myself backward. Whilst in the air, I can feel the tongue and the flame passing my hair.

    *Splash*

    That was not a proper backflip. Made me land on this damp wet dirt, the tongue is ready to swing itself at me. I rolled to the side as it tries to hit me, but it was a second too late.

    *SPLASH *SPLASH *SPLASH

    Regaining my footing, I quickly muttered, ¡°Ignition!¡±

    Summoning my axe, ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *BWOOOOOSH*

    (1200)

    Burning the tongue once more. It should¡¯ve been stunned by that, instead, the toad insisted on attacking me further. My arm weighted by the power of Earth Magic imbuing my axe, I raised, ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    *BOOM*

    Preventing the toad¡¯s tongue from attacking me any further.

    [Mana: 3120/4000 | Stamina: 1488/1600]

    ¡®Already burned that much just by casting a few spells. Wait, I wonder what would happen if I go all out in one combustion?¡¯

    ¡®No time to think, let¡¯s do it.¡¯

    ¡°Ignition!¡± I climbed the stone wall I made and quickly prepped to cast the spell, with the embers appearing on my axe¡¯s blade, ¡°Combust¡ª¡±

    My eyes peeled as suddenly; my body is tied by the toad¡¯s tongue. I didn¡¯t expect it to be able to react that fast. Looking down at me. Making my teeth grind in rage.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡®Fuck!¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t believe that I made an error like this. And not to mention the tongue that is wrapping me is so tight to the point that I couldn¡¯t even try to get out.

    ¡®It¡¯s burning! Why isn¡¯t it staggered at least?! Isn¡¯t this thing undead? There¡¯s no way its resistance is that high, and it was staggered before, so why not now?!¡¯

    Bringing me closer as it opens its mouth.

    ¡®No! If I die, I¡¯ll have to --//E-r//-- all over again, and there¡¯s no guarantee what¡¯s gonna happen if,¡¯ my eyes widened as a surging pain felt in my arms, ¡®No way, I... I...''

    (-80)

    (-80)

    (-80)

    (-80)

    I¡¯m being crushed.

    (-120)

    ¡°Aaaah,¡± shaking, I can feel my arms dislocating and my body twisting, ¡®No¡­ I-I don¡¯t wanna die.¡±

    The darkness that is about to swallow me hole brought fear into my heart. I remember the time when I was in my last moment, looking at Kurira¡¯s stupid face. It was cold.

    My eyes widened whole as the toad closes its mouth with my body inside.

    ¡®I can¡¯t die here.¡¯

    [Mana: 3010/4000]

    [Mana: 0/4000]

    *BOOOOOOOOOM*

    ***

    Mossed Jungle. All calm and quiet. Dread fills the atmosphere within as undead frogs roam around the forest swamp. Among them are burned corpses of their kin found on the road by Galliano. But then suddenly, a loud deafening explosion came from behind. Enough to send waves of powerful wind.

    His eyes widened as he gritted his teeth, ¡°Can it be?¡± a flash of an image of where the wide grin of a tall woman appeared, her sinister laughter rang in his ears. Chills at the back of his spine.

    The explosion came from where he left Siola to fight against the giant toad alone. Hesitation in his heart but then suddenly, Dura tapped Galliano¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Traveler. Go and save her.¡±

    Even after those words, his legs couldn¡¯t move forward. Instead, he turns around, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what she said? She got this.¡±

    His brows frowning as he looks forward, ¡°Put trust in her words.¡±

    And so, they continued onward with the rest following them.

    Within the area of the explosion. The damage to the trees causes a wildfire but it stopped spreading soon after. There one can see the enormous undead toad lying with half of its stomach and body missing. Not even its head remains.

    But there lying on the water is Siola with her eyes wearily open.

    [Health: 0/1000]

    Half of her body is charred, her clothes burned, and her face becomes unrecognizable. No life within those eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling. But then her face was covered by a shadow. That shade formed itself into a hand with extremely long fingers. Grasping Siola¡¯s face. Then, another one appeared beside her feet, grasping her shin. Then another appeared beside her waist, grasping her stomach. More and more appearing until her entire body is completely enclosed by the shadows.

    ***

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    ~ {(1) Use Fire Magic at maximum output 10 times, (2) Have 1 Fire Magic as Innate Ability, (3) Experience a failure casting of Fire Magic (4) Survive a failure casting of Fire Magic}

    ~ {Pyromancy Guidance has been acquired}

    My eyes widened. Quickly, I lift my body up, and just as suddenly, my head is bombarded by the number of notifications appearing in my sight. Glancing left and right, ¡®Wha?!¡¯

    ! {New Title has been obtained}

    ~ {Fire Wielder / Increases the potency of all fire-type abilities}

    The place is a mess but I still recognize the jungle. I was fighting Genoa; the big toad that is the optional boss I was sure I can beat but only ended up getting myself getting eaten by it.

    ¡®What the hell just happened?¡¯

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    ~ {(1) Dealt 100.000 Damage with Fire Magic (2) Defeat a Boss with Fire Magic}

    ~ {Fire Wielder has been leveled up}

    ¡®No, I didn¡¯t get eaten by it, I¡¯m sure. I cast high-scale combustion.¡¯

    *Crooooak*

    Jumped, and the noise came from the back. My eyes widened at the sight of the big toad with half of its body blown away, but it still managed to make a noise, ¡®How can that thing still be alive?¡¯

    {Fire Wielder / Level 2 / Greatly increases the Potency of all Fire-type abilities and unlock all type of fire enhancement effect hidden within all Pyro catalyst}

    ! {Quest Unlocked}

    ~ {Acquisition Aflame / Rank D / Objective: (1) Dealt 1.000.000 Damage with Fire Magic, (2) Inflict Burn to 100.000 Enemies, (3) Acquire Intermediate Tier [Ignition] / Reward: Pyromancer (Class) / Additional Reward: 1 [D-Grade Pyromancy Box], 2 [E-Grade Pyromancy Box}

    ~ {Main Reward will be given once 2 out of the 3 objectives have been completed}

    ~ {The completion of all objectives is required to receive the Additional Reward}

    Walking towards the big toad. I can feel it whenever it croaks from the vibration in the ground but I thought to myself, ¡®What the hell am I even doing? Risking my life like that where I could just stall for time and get out when the others are safe. I¡¯m lucky that I survived that.¡¯

    [Health: 82/1000]

    ¡®I have not a single point invested in vitality.¡¯

    Looking at the toad once again, ¡®I¡¯m so greedy. Next time, it won¡¯t be like this.¡¯

    *Crooooak*

    Summoning my axe.

    ¡°Go rest, big guy.¡±

    Embers appear on the blade once again.

    ¡°Combustion.¡±

    *Bwoosh*

    {500}

    Engulfing the inside of its flesh. The fire unexpectedly spread throughout its body. Burning the toad entirely, creating a huge bonfire.

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Boss Defeated}

    ~ {Loot Obtained: D-Grade Random Item Box}

    ~ {Special Loot Obtained: Diamond of Genoa / Rank E / Epic / Innate Ability: Boost the potency of all liquidation-type abilities / Usage Requirement: 200 Vitality}

    ¡°A necklace, eh? Not bad. I doubt I¡¯ll be using it though,¡± but then I noticed the amount of wet dirt on my ragged clothes, "Ewww! What the hell? Figures, I shouldn''t have rolled around like that. Heheh, I''m lucky it didn''t get burned by the spell though."

    Sighing, ¡°Failure casting, huh? Guess I gotta be more careful from now on."

    ''Realism mode is ruthless. To implement this kind of thing. I''ve only ever heard of it, and to experience it like this...''

 Chapter 20 â€“ Reunite

    While holding this golden white book in my arm, I walk on the lonely road returning to the rest of my party members which I have successfully rescued. Although I¡¯m still exhausted after that fight with the big toad, I can¡¯t let myself be a burden to those people. Galliano aside, I owed those old men for their death in my past life. This time, I will help them escape this place.

    ¡®I thought I was gonna die after that explosion. Guess it¡¯s thanks to my senses for a future prediction that investing in a bit of health beforehand is a wise choice.¡¯

    ¡®And with this book in my hand, I¡¯m sure that things will get easier from now.¡¯

    [Heal Array (Spell) / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Light / Book / Learning Requirement: 50 Faith / Potency: None]

    ¡°Heheh, I ended up choosing light magic in the end.¡±

    Back then, I got the title [Devotee of the End Kings]. I was a bit into roleplay that I ended up taking a lot of miscellaneous quests that people don¡¯t often take. Especially when it comes to religion. My first choice then was Armalia, the first-ranked God ruling the Divine Order. But somewhere along the lines, I made a lot of choices that I thought would let me have an enjoyable walkthrough but ended up resulting in the opposite.

    For example, blowing up a whole church because there were rumors and a bit of, I thought at the time was evidence that it was the case of corruption. Said that the archbishop was involved in human trafficking, but after everything was done, I found out that the rumors and evidence were false and I ended up unjustly killing innocent¡ª no, people who are helping others. They don¡¯t deserve that fate, so on my path to redemption, one thing led to another.

    Somewhere along the way, I got that horrible-sounding title.

    ¡®But that was the past.¡¯

    Here, I will be something more. Someone even I myself can be proud of.

    ¡°Haa¡­¡±

    ¡®This place. Even though it¡¯s dark, it¡¯s somewhat visible. Even though it¡¯s cold, it¡¯s somewhat comforting.¡¯

    I eventually arrived at the gate where I have slain the undead demon a while back. But I don¡¯t see anyone around here.

    ¡°Did they get back?¡±

    ¡°No, why would they?¡±

    This predicament makes me nervous so I make haste forward.

    I found them, but the situation is not looking good. They¡¯re being attacked by furry four-legged creatures known as wolves. Not to mention them being undead, Galliano is having a hard time once again protecting those old men. Boland on the other hand is struggling with the number of wolves hounding him.

    ¡°Ignition.¡±

    Flame coated my entire body.

    *Bwoosh*

    ! {Title Equipped: Fire Wielder}

    ~ {Activating Effects¡­}

    *Bwooooosh*

    The flame becomes larger and fuller.

    ¡°Boland, get back!¡±

    He glanced at me with his eyes peeled. He quickly swirls his sword 360 and quickly went back while I headed straight to those wolves with my axe in hand and embers on its blade.

    ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *BWOOOOOSH*

    My eyes widened after seeing those flame sparks bigger than it ever was before. It is still much smaller than what Kurira can do but, I can now see why this spell is much endorsed by her.

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    I did a quick cleanup with the rest of the wolves before reuniting with my whole raid party.

    ¡°Lass, you¡¯re alive.¡±

    ¡°Hah? Of course, I am. Like I said, since we¡¯re going my way, I will be the one taking the lead. You all should¡¯ve waited for me. But seeing you¡¯re all still alive¡­ All¡¯s well when it ends well, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°Thought you were gonna leave us after all that boom, kid.¡±

    ¡°No way, old man.¡±

    Dura seems to be getting better.

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    Galliano seems to be fine too.

    ¡°You¡¯re alright?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Yeah, why would I not?¡±

    ¡°Heheh.¡±

    Clapping my hand once, ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough break. Let¡¯s talk us getting out of here.¡±

    ¡°Where are we going exactly?¡± asked Galliano, ¡°Far as I can see, we can only move forward.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and we¡¯ll continue moving forward until we arrived at a Secret Passage.¡±

    ¡°Okay, are we supposed to know what and where it is?¡± asked Galliano.

    ¡°Boland. You know how we¡¯ve met like two guardians so far?¡±

    He nods.

    ¡°That confirms that this place is partially a dungeon. And a dungeon as some of you I¡¯m sure might know it,¡± being ones to have a class and all, ¡°That there should be a teleportation device. So, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already wrapped it around your head of what I¡¯m getting at here, yes?¡±

    ¡°You will teleport us outside?¡±

    ¡°No. We will be using it to get to the nearest device close to the main portal. It¡¯s the only way for us to get to the surface. But there¡¯s one problem.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°There will be one last guardian waiting for us.¡±

    ¡°What do we know about it?¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s the thing. We don¡¯t.¡±

    Everyone¡¯s faces hardened. Though there is no better plan than this. So, I turn my head forward and walk through the narrow path as the area gets dimmer and dimmer.

    ¡®Kurira said that after it¡¯s hard to see anything, I should go right. Consider her eyesight is as good as mine, then it should be right here.¡¯

    ¡°This way.¡±

    We strayed from the linear path and headed to the darker area where the place is blocked by stone walls that are not conjured by my spell, but the thing is, we can actually climb this.

    So, we did.

    One by one, we assisted each other in crossing over the wall, and once we did, I became a human torch.

    ¡°Ignition.¡±

    *Bwoosh*

    ¡°Woah there.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, sorry, am I¡­ too hot?¡± posing erotically.

    I got no response whatsoever, not from the jackass nor Boland. I walk as I contemplate the reason why is anyone not wanting a piece of this? Sure, I may not have the useless meat the common slut would flaunt around, but like, my butt, baby. They¡¯re still bouncy, round, and¡ª

    ¡®Hm?¡¯

    I quickly look back and scan the area, ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, lass?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Maybe it was just my imagination. No, hold up.

    ¡®Hm?¡¯

    Squinting my eyes at the far sight of my vision, I see¡­ a still figure behind a tree. Everyone is behind me, so, ¡®Who is that?¡¯

    I can see a pair of eyes. A bright blue color, shattered like a broken glass, even I myself am not sure what it is, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be moving nor blinking.

    ¡®Hm, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a person. Probably just¡ª whatever, this is getting a bit creepy. Let¡¯s just get out of here asap. I saw nothing.¡¯

    Tip-toeing ahead and speeds up my movement.

    We crossed a narrow double wall and proceed to squeeze through the crack in another wall.

    ¡°I think this is it.¡±

    The shortcut to getting out of this place.

    ¡°Come, everyone. We¡¯re here.¡±

    All of them passed through and then we do count for the first time, making sure everyone is present and no one is left behind. Boland passed me to see the device for himself.

    ¡°Hooh, so this is the teleportation device you were talking about.¡±

    A flat chunk of stone with purple magic words drawn on top of it, the size is big enough to fit everyone and probably a couple more.

    ¡°How do we use it?¡± asked Boland.

    ¡°Well, two ways. We need to either provide a suitable offering or get someone knowledgeable and skillful enough to transport us all in.¡±

    ¡°What kind of offering?¡±

    ¡°Well, money.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Hehe. I¡¯m just kidding. You already got this beautiful goddess in front of you to opt for the second option. Come, sit down in a circle. You too, Galliano.¡±

    ¡°Just call me Galli.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Galli. Put your beautiful butt down there, and close your eyes, everyone!¡±

    Using this teleporter is not as easy as tearing a teleportation scroll in half. One is required to do a visualization. Like, setting point A as our location and B as our destination.

    ! {Destination Point has been Chosen}

    ~ {Teleporting to Target Location}

    ¡®And that should be it.¡¯

    Opening my eyes, I see that everyone has closed theirs. Seeing them all actually listening to me somewhat brings comfort.

    *CLAP*

    ¡°Alright! We¡¯re riding out, boys!¡±

    Light covers our vision as the bursting wind sweeps the air around us.

    *Woooooooooooooosh*

    <hr>

    ==== Profile Status ====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 16 / Class: Mage

    Primary Attributes

    Max Health: 1000 | Max Mana: 7600 | Max Stamina: 1600

    Health: 1000 | Mana: 7600 | Stamina: 1600

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 20 / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: 20

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 20

    Intelligence: 110 / Faith: 110 / Luck: 50

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 20 (+10) / Physical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Magical Attack: 15 (+55) / Magical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 12 / Stamina Regeneration: 3

    ==== Profile Status ====

 Chapter 21 â€“ Roadblock

    As water flows by my eyes, I see that we have teleported into a new environment. A dark and eerily horrifying place where the stone walls themselves are so old they are covered in moss.

    Cloaking my hand in flames, ¡°Ignition.¡±

    *Bwoosh*

    ¡°Wah?!¡±

    ¡°Where are we?¡±

    ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    Everyone seems to be nauseated by the teleportation.

    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived,¡± I said.

    ¡°Already?¡±

    Boland and the rest are confused but I heard relief coming out of their voice.

    ¡°Finally, I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re about to leave soon.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and to think there was such a place in the South Gate.¡±

    ¡°If only we could tell others about it.¡±

    ¡®Morale seems to be improving, that¡¯s good.¡¯

    In this linear passage, I lead them with my hand torch. I wonder if we can smash the one that looks fragile. But I decided that that would be the last option.

    ¡°Oh, here. I think we can squeeze through here. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    It¡¯s bright, the place on the other side. Catch me a glance at a wide area beyond this wall. I deactivated [Ignition].

    ¡°No doubt about it. That light must have come from the portal.¡±

    Blue in hue and it¡¯s shaking violently as it whirls.

    ¡°Get ready, everyone.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± asked Galliano.

    ¡°Hmm, I want to have a guaranteed chance of us getting out of here alive. So, I will be the last one to enter the portal. You have to wait until the rest went through. Is that okay?¡±

    ¡°No problem.¡±

    ¡°You have an idea of what we¡¯re facing up against?¡± asked Boland.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Kurira once told me that she got different bosses when she went through this gate. So, it must be random. Either way, it¡¯s not required for us to defeat it.

    On the other side of the wall. The dimly lighted path on the right side seems to be the place where we should¡¯ve come from while the other end¡­ well, it¡¯s the boss.

    ¡°That thing¡­¡± Boland narrowed his eyes down in nervousness as he catches the form of that beast, ¡°What is that?¡±

    A tall humanoid monster. I see a tail and two horns.

    ¡®Minotaur?¡¯

    Such a monster changes its target whenever one annoys it.

    ¡®Not the kind I should let others attack.¡¯

    ¡°Change of plan. I¡¯ll hold that thing off. You all should focus on getting to that portal.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Lass, that¡¯s reckless.¡±

    Galliano grabbed my elbow as I was about to step, ¡°Hey, we¡¯re in this together.¡±

    Chuckled as I get my arm off of him, nudging him a bit.

    ¡°I did promise you in getting out of here, no? And that is exactly what I¡¯m doing now,¡± turning around, ¡°And that applies to you all.¡±

    Gripping my axe tight, ¡°Trust me on this one.¡±

    I take one more look at the rest of the old men and kept their names in mind. Taking their silence as a yes, I approach the Minotaur as I¡¯m swinging the axe around, and when I¡¯m close enough. I conjured, ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    *Broooomph*

    One on the right.

    ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    *Broooomph*

    One on the left.

    Now it sees me clearly.

    ¡°Scatter! You know what to do! Don¡¯t let it see you!¡±

    I charged the spell one more as I see the thing start running. I run towards it with my axe in the air and when I¡¯m close enough, I raise a wall to block him.

    ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    *Broooomph*

    ¡°Now go!¡±

    The old men split to both the left and right path. But then suddenly, my stone wall made a crack.

    *BOOM*

    Rocks flying, as my wall was destroyed, a powerful burst of raging symphony rang in my head.

    ! {Boss Encounter}

    ~ {Botokka Makka Lv. 80}

    ¡®What?¡¯ narrowing my eyes down, ¡®A named monster?¡¯

    ¡°Ignition!¡±

    ! {Title Equipped: Fire Wielder}

    ~ {Activating Effects¡­}

    Before the thing comes close, I quickly readied embers on the axe¡¯s blade, ¡°COMBUSTION!¡±

    *BWOOOOOSH*

    The minotaur burns, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be doing much damage. It quickly lunges at me as my eyes peeled, ¡°Then, how about this! Wall of Stone!¡±

    *BOOM*

    Directly puncturing its stomach.

    The minotaur was stopped for a few moments, but I¡¯m not gonna let it rest just like that. With another flame on the axe¡¯s blade, ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *BWOOOOSH*

    As the sea of flame disappeared, I could not find the minotaur anywhere.

    ¡°Wha?!¡±

    But then I sensed something behind me. My eyes widened as I saw the minotaur up close. That thing¡­ is not a Minotaur.

    ¡°Combu¡ª¡±

    *BAM*

    Striking me right on my cheekbone.

    *Woooosh *BOOM*

    {-788}

    Thrown away straight to the wall I¡¯ve built.

    ¡°Nngh!¡±

    It hurts, and my ignition faded against my will.

    ¡°Teleportation, huh.¡±

    Low-tier Teleportation magic usually has a massively long cooldown, ¡®Assuming it¡¯s the same thing, that monster shouldn¡¯t be able to use it again for a while.¡¯

    Walking up to me menacingly.

    "Have quite the pride, aren¡¯t you?" raising my axe, ¡°W-Wall of stone.¡±

    *Broooomph*

    Blocking its path.

    *BOOOM*

    ¡®Destroyed in one hit. figures.¡¯

    ¡°Hey, hey, hey," Galliano rushes in to check on me, "You still there?"

    Magical energy flows in my hand, I created a few white balls. Casting my new spell.

    {Heal Array (Spell) / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Light / Create a sphere of light that can be connected to another created sphere to form a healing area once fully connected. At least 3 spheres are required for the healing area to be activated / Cooldown: None / Costs: 30 Mana}

    The balls are circling on their own and create about 2-3 meters field in diameter with 5 balls, the healing effect is activated as soon as the thread is connected.

    ¡°Damn, where in the hell did you get all these spells?¡±

    Grinning widely, ¡°Hehe, cool, ain¡¯t it?¡±

    *Cough *Cough *Cough

    Blood stuck in my throat. It tastes like shit. No time to rest, the thing is coming.

    ¡°Go, I can handle it.¡±

    ¡°Like hell, you can. Come on, we¡¯re getting out of here together,¡± his face becomes serious as he looks at the monster, then he noticed me staring. He smiles, ¡°Got a pride of my own as a man, you know,¡± he said as he offered his hand.

    ¡°Hmph, rare to see a man like that nowadays.¡±

    I took his hand and stood up. Our eyes have locked onto the monster once again.

    That thing felt as though it has styles. Not in a hurry of beating our asses, he slowly walks up to us at the speed of a snail. We can now see its appearance clearly. Hard flaring muscles made of bones with patched-up skins of different furry animals. It¡¯s lowering its head.

    ¡°Get ready.¡±

    *Groooooooooooooahh*

    Like a bull, it dashes with its horns heading to its target. Not towards us, but Boland. The old man may notice it but I won¡¯t let it get near him!

    ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    *Broooomph*

    ¡°Ignition!¡±

    ! {Title Equipped: Fire Wielder}

    ~ {Activating Effects¡­}

    Closing the distance between the monster and me, I shouted as my axe¡¯s blade created embers, ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *BWOOOOSH*

    It burns once again, but just like before, the monster hardly took any damage from the flame. But that wasn¡¯t the goal, I just needed to attract its attention.

    ¡°We have to get away before it can teleport again!¡±

    Backing a bit, I raised a [Wall of Stone] in front of me to block its view even though it will smash it in an instant again.

    ! {Quest Updated}

    ~ {Creeps of Bones / Rank B / Objective: Bring all 7 Prisoners in your Raid Party to escape through the [Righteous End] portal / Reward: None / Penalty: [Permadeath] Upon death, you will have no chance to regain your life}

    ! {Quest Updated}

    ~ {Creeps of Bones / Rank B / Objective: Bring all 5 Prisoners in your Raid Party to escape through the [Righteous End] portal / Reward: None / Penalty: [Permadeath] Upon death, you will have no chance to regain your life}

    ! {Quest Updated}

    ! {Quest Updated}

    Good, it looks like everyone managed to reach the portal. But then I heard the sound of impact from slashing. My eyes peeled after realizing that Boland is still on the other side, but even then, the monster should still have the aggro on me. But no, turns out, it¡¯s not only Boland who¡¯s fighting that monster. Galliano has also joined the fight.

    ¡°They should¡¯ve gone to the portal, but whatever.¡±

    ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    *BOOM*

    The emerging wall struck the monster¡¯s jaw and stagger it.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have to fight that thing. Get to the portal now!¡±

    Boland and Galliano ran as I follow them from behind. Tilting my head to see our back and the stone wall as I expected, is smashed.

    *BOOM*

    Gritted my teeth as I run as fast as I can.

    [Stamina: 550/1600]

    [Stamina: 500/1600]

    But then, I did not expect that the monster¡¯s teleportation cooldown is much shorter than I thought. Appearing right in front of me, casting its shadows on my entire body. I can¡¯t see Boland or Galliano with the thing swinging its arm at me. But I heard their gentle voice, their scream. But suddenly, clashing thunder blasted everything.

    *Crackle *Crackle *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    Repelled by the giant shockwave, I flew several tens of meters away from the portal. Unable to land properly because of the momentum, which left me with further injuries.

    [Health: 125/1000]

    ! {Quest Completed}

    My eyes peeled.

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    A slight relief. Everyone made it.

    ¡®I did it.¡¯

    Although it is quite a momentous occasion that made me smile for a moment, I don¡¯t have the chance to celebrate it. A different-sounding symphony of electric music blasted in my head. Like a powerful storm that can sweep me away. It Intensifies as I lift my head to see. Another monster has arrived.

    ! {Ethereal Encounter}

    ~ {Avarice, Alpha and the Omega | Lv. ???}

 Chapter 22 â€“ Avarice

    It¡¯s like a storm approaching. The beating sound of the music in my head brings a sense of unfathomable hype as a new figure appears in my line of sight. Long serrated tail sways, revealing the shadow of the humanoid creature. Large and long feathers attached to its draconic helmet. Not a single skin is exposed to the air as the entirety of its body is covered in hard armor.

    ¡®Dragon?¡¯

    The entity holds a large spear with immense thunder energy. Clashing its surroundings without it even doing anything. I witness that entity walks toward the monster I fought and raised its spear toward the helpless thing.

    *Gwooooooh*

    *Clack *Clack *BOOOOOOOOOM

    My eyes peeled as the shockwave of dust blew me away, but I resisted.

    ¡®Wh-What the hell is that thing doing here?¡¯

    {Avarice, Alpha and the Omega | Lv. ???}

    ¡®Second stage Transcendental rank monster. Its level must be in the thousands,¡¯ a sudden realization, ¡®Wait, that¡¯s the monster from the West Gate. What the hell is it doing here?¡¯

    Then I see it approaching me. Unconsciously, I took a step back as my heart beats.

    ¡®Galliano.¡¯

    ¡®You idiot! That thing must be the one he was talking about. And she just kills her own guy without hesitation, and not to mention, the one she¡¯s looking for already went through the portal. Wait, then why is she coming at me? Shouldn¡¯t she be going after him?!¡¯

    Readying my axe as she approaches closer and closer, sweat dripped on the side of my cheek. My legs started to tremble, but then suddenly, my heart dropped as the second I blink my eyes, a short and gentle shockwave blew at me. She¡¯s already in front of me. Her shining blue eyes scattered like a broken moon, I thought they were beautiful.

    *SLASH*

    *Thud *Tink *Tink

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    My eyes widened as I felt an instant surging pain coming from one of my arms. I glanced down to see my hand still grabbing onto my axe, but my whole arm is on the ground. I see blood spills.

    ¡°Haaaaaaaaaaagh!¡±

    It¡¯s no longer there. My arm has been separated from my body.

    ¡°Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!¡±

    Pain. It hurts. I can¡¯t even think of how much.

    She grabs my head, pulling my hair to lift my face to see hers. But then she tilts her head down and pulls her thundering spear.

    *STAB*

    My eyes widened once more as I feel a surging pain coming from my stomach. I can feel a gaping hole in the center of my belly.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The spear''s blade. I didn¡¯t know it was this big, I have to remove it I thought, but it kept getting deeper and deeper. It might have even gone through; I couldn¡¯t even tell. But then I caught a glance at the wielder. With the spear, she lifts me up high.

    *Clack *Clack

    Wait, ¡°Huh?¡±

    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    ***

    [Existence]

    [Before the land of humanity rose to its prosperity, the nameless world was on fire. Dread filled the ocean, chaos seeped through the forest, and terror dominates the skies]

    [Within each of them holds the great entity known as the Kings]

    [That who rules the sky, the Dragon King]

    [That who rules the forest, the Spirit King]

    [That who rules the ocean, the End King]

    [And That who rule the land, the Demon King]

    [Upon the start of their appearance, chaos ensues. The descendants of the kings follow their will and thus started the Great War where many falls. Each king has their own perspective of the world and their own method to end that war]

    [As generations passed, their view began to change. Both the Dragon King and the Demon King remain to only have one ruler while the Spirit King and the End King both have split into many. Spirit Kings divide their descendants and differentiate themselves as Human, Elven, and Dwarven. End Kings merely divide their own and later be known as the Nine Harbingers]

    [But, an even greater chaos erupts. Within the domain of the ocean, the End Kings try to conquer one another. This event being at the bottom of the abyss made it unknown to the rest of the world. The event that ultimately decides which is the Great End King]

    [The nameless world that once is lonesome now exists many, not even the descendants ever know]

    --// Page 4/111 ¨C Black Devil Book \\ --

    ***

    ! {Warning}

    ~ {Kernel System has been infected}

    ~ {Connection to the Server has been interrupted}

    ~ {Troubleshooting¡­}

    ~ {¡­}

    ! {Troubleshooting Complete}

    ~ {Connection to the Server has been Established}

    ~ {Checking Kernel System Condition¡­}

    ~ {¡­}

    ~ {No Issue Detected}

    ~ {Checking the User''s Mental Condition¡­}

    ~ {¡­}

    ! {Error}

    ~ {Unable to measure User¡¯s Mental Condition}

    ~ {Please Logout of the System Immediately}

    ¡°Ngh, what¡­ 5 more minutes please¡­¡±

    My eyes peeled, ¡°Wait!¡±

    ¡°What the!¡± glancing left and right aggressively, ¡°Where the hell am I?¡±

    Sitting on a smooth table made of stone. On the front, I see nothing but a door. The walls are old with a few cracks in them. On the right, I see a set of armor. Same as the left, except, it¡¯s cloth instead of steel. But I somehow feel like I¡¯ve seen that dragon armor before.

    ¡®Wait, it¡¯s from that one guardian on the west gate. It¡¯s one of the most unique pieces in the world so this place might be where the guardian came from. Maybe their spawn point.¡¯

    ¡®Oh? I can think that now. What about developers? Yes!¡¯

    ¡®What about Travelers? Nope, still can¡¯t even think of saying, Travelers.¡¯

    ¡®In any case, where am I exactly?¡¯

    As I was about to get off the table.

    ¡°Where did you think you¡¯re going?¡± walking out of the shadow behind me is a tall woman with dark blue skin. Her blue iris scattered like broken glass. She says, ¡°Stay put.¡±

    My cheeks puffed and my butt seated.

    ¡®Naked woman spotted. NAKED WOMAN SPOTTED!¡¯

    ¡®BUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THOSE BOOBA BIIIIIIIIIIIG! And those abs! Buhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! A lot of Travelers-made avatars usually have weird-looking shapes to them, and some even almost too unrealistic that it even hurts to see, but THIS!¡¯

    ¡®Awawawawa me wanna sock those tiddies. Me wanna sniff dat navel, and me definitely wanna lick dat PP.¡¯

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡®Wait.¡¯

    Long, veiny, and extremely rigid.

    ¡®PP?!¡¯

    (((¦Õ(¡ò¥í¡ò)¦Õ)))

    ¡°Hm? You want to feel it?¡±

    *Gasp*

    ¡°C-Can I?!¡±

    She grins, ¡°Maybe some other time.¡±

    "Awww."

    Walking closer, approaching me. She lightly touches my shoulder and put her arm around me as she seated beside me. I can smell the wonderful scent coming from her armpit and how her muscle wraps around the back of my neck. It made me swallow my saliva.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been out for some time, Traveler¡­¡±

    But then suddenly, another naked woman emerged from the shadow. Bringing with her a pitch-black slime in her palm. It is an easily recognizable monster for me as I¡¯ve witnessed it many times in my past life. One that gives me so much trouble to deal with as there is almost no way to defeat that thing with ordinary methods.

    The Death Slimes.

    ¡°What say you lie down for a moment?¡±

 Chapter 23 â€“ Malice

    A black see-through lace bandana covered her eyes. The pale beauty with long black hair. Skinny with a body seemingly in a state of hunger. Even if there¡¯s something hiding her eyes, she never opens them. Unlike the muscular blue-skinned lady, she got no PP. But them booba she got is bigger than hers which makes me reminded of the two most precious women in my life.

    ! {Eternal Encounter}

    ~ {Malice, Whisperer of the Ancient Kings | Lv. ???}

    ¡®Her level must also be in the thousands. Even if she¡¯s on the first stage of Transcendental rank, such entity is dangerous whether it¡¯s Travelers or NPCs.¡¯

    Then suddenly, I felt something grasping my stomach. My eyes widened at the sight of a large tail wriggling my belly, it was Avarice.

    ¡°Uhh, um, l-lie down, you say?¡±

    She grins.

    ¡®Avarice is even more dangerous. An Ethereal ranked monster, just a step before Demigod. Looking at her now in that context is scary. Her silver hair making her look like a warlord makes her vibe even more terrifying.¡¯

    ¡®Malice, on the other hand, is so beautiful and calming. In any case though, I¡¯m not so sure about this and what they¡¯re gonna do to me if I do as they said. But what choice do I have?¡¯

    ¡®But¡­¡¯

    ¡®Wuhhh, two naked women telling me to lie down. Awawa, are they gonna massage me with those blobbious BOBA?! Ahhh, them tiddies remind me of Aunt Linda¡¯s even if they are not as big as hers, I can stare at them all day. Fine! I¡¯m gonna lie down! Do whatever you want! I''m ready, so come at me!¡¯

    ¡°Uhh, do you want me to face up?¡±

    ¡°Down.¡±

    ¡°Oh okay.¡±

    ¡®What a shame! Could¡¯ve seen them booba, but alright. Tis fine either way.¡¯

    They¡¯re cutting the back of my ragged clothes, and then¡­ they touch me.

    ¡®Ohh, oooohhh?!¡¯

    I can feel their hands, on my legs, rough but on my back, they¡¯re smooth. Doing firm and steady presses on my back. This woman, Malice, she never talks but I can picture her voice as the beautiful soothing kind, like Rakuri. And that rough woman, Avarice, she¡¯s just like Kurira.

    Somehow, thinking about them makes this atmosphere even more comfortable. This feeling. Even in this game world, these NPCs, even with them¡­ it¡¯s as if I¡¯m home.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    ***

    Siola is there, fallen asleep on the table as both Avarice and Malice massage her lightly. Gentle pressure, not too harsh, not too soft. They continued to massage Siola until she falls deep in her sleep and when it happens, Avarice cracks a wide grin, ¡°Heh.¡±

    ¡°Even with your divinely charming figure, she¡¯s not ogling much at it at all. Were you even trying?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Malice remain silent. She made a round, assessing every part of Siola¡¯s body. Her eyes narrowed down to a slit as she observed her.

    ¡°Heheh, I didn¡¯t get what Madam Goolag sees in her, and I¡¯ve seen a couple of odd Travelers a couple of times. But it''s quite unsettling witnessing her death, how I electrocute her until that indescribable state.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Even in death, her eyes were open. And for a brief moment, I can feel them staring at me. Before and after her death."

    "You think she¡¯ll be the next candidate?¡±

    Malice shook her head.

    ¡°No? Figures, let alone them all. There¡¯s no way she can even handle one. If even that whore can¡¯t get it done, I just don¡¯t see this Traveler going far.¡±

    Malice put her hand on top of Siola¡¯s head, grasping it.

    ¡°Do it quick. Don¡¯t let the Divine System aware of it.¡±

    She laid the Death Slime on the table and remove the bandana covering her eyes. When they open, one can see both eyes are horizontally cut. They look just like frozen lava, but the flame where the cut lies are fuming in black flame. When she opens her mouth, a disturbingly distorted voice came out saying, ¡°Transcendental Law of Whispering Curse, Faint Memories.¡±

    Like an overflown water in a boiling pot, black substances are bubbling on the palm of her hand that is grasping Siola¡¯s head. The black substance leaks out and started dripping from Siola¡¯s head but not long after, she opens her eyes.

    ***

    I¡¯m walking.

    When I open my eyes, I see a tall knight wearing dragon armor. The sound of them clanking to one another makes me awake. I feel that I¡¯ve seen it somewhere but my head just not working out right now, but when I see an armored tail sways. I shudder when a memory flashes in my head. The image of a guardian on the West Gate.

    ¡®Huh? What was her name again?¡¯

    ¡®Right, it¡¯s Avarice.¡¯

    And behind me, is a black knight wearing a similar armor, but instead of a tail, this one has multiple bone-like foundations coming out of the back and it''s holding a round metal structure resembling that of a clock, similar to my chronomancy spell from my previous life. It''s like the physical and a more eerie version of it.

    *Pat*

    The black knight strokes my head, ¡®Is she who I think she is?¡¯

    ¡°Malice?¡±

    She nods.

    I couldn''t tell since her face is covered by that armor.

    ¡®I thought she¡¯d be wearing something else. Wait, why did I think that she should be wearing something else? Gosh, my mind is a mess.¡¯

    ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±

    Hearing that from Avarice made my eyes peel. My feet suddenly stopped themselves, I feel like I¡¯ve been having no control over my body until now. We¡¯ve been walking through a massive hallway, and it¡¯s dark as far as the eye can see.

    As the woman in front of me wiggles her tail, she opens the large door in front of us. It creaks when it¡¯s opening, and what I see inside is something truly unbelievable.

    Avarice chuckles as she walks in, ¡°Come, meet your new comrades, Traveler.¡±

    The door leads to a throne room where two undead lies. One is a Draugr donning a majestic outfit with countless golden accessories standing beside the throne and a hooded skeleton with a pitch-black robe sitting on it.

    I cannot believe it.

    That skeleton is none other than the one I killed in my past life. The last enemy that Rakuri, Kurira, and I fought in this world before my untimely death.

    ! {Demigod Encounter}

    ~ {Ludwig, Warrior of the Abyss | Lv. ???}

 Chapter 24 â€“ Serve a Purpose

    There is nothing unordinary about its appearance. It¡¯s a skeleton wearing a black robe. And yet he sits on the throne while the more grandeur-looking being is standing beside him. That Draugr, it¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve seen such a high-ranking Draugr, but its gilded appearance makes me nervous just by looking at his face with all those unsettling accessories.

    ! {Ethereal Encounter}

    ~ {Ludtleth, Ancient King of Death Overlord | Lv. ???}

    At this moment, I¡¯m in the middle of 4 Transcendental beings varied in rank. Me, who am only at my tens of levels surrounded by those who have reached thousands to the max.

    No candle is lit in this throne room, but the light from the moon shines through the windowed wall, casting my shadow behind.

    Malice grabbed my shoulder as Avarice gave a slight bow to the skeleton on the throne, ¡°Lord Ludwig,¡± and another bow to the Draugr, ¡°Lord Ludtleth.¡±

    ¡°As ordered, we have cleansed this traveler with the purity of a death slime. A pair of hands on the upcoming matter shall be much lighter.¡±

    ¡®?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t get what she means, supposedly they want someone to do an errand, why me? And comrades, she said. With that thing sitting on the throne like that, there¡¯s obviously a clear hierarchy to keep in mind here.''

    ''Ranks have been established no matter where you go, it seems.¡¯

    My eyes lock onto the skeleton and he too at me. Although his eyes are not that of an eye but rather a simple white dot, I know he¡¯s looking at me. It¡¯s like a condensed beam.

    ¡°What did she look like?¡±

    His dread voice, it¡¯s just as I remembered.

    ¡°The very same, but without these.¡±

    ¡®?¡¯ I raised my brow in confusion, ¡®Without what? My face?¡¯

    Then I noticed Ludwig¡¯s dot of an eye flaring in silver, ¡°Hrrmm.¡±

    ¡°If you would allow me to speak, my lord.¡±

    ¡°Ludtleth. Hm, go ahead.¡±

    The Draugr approached with his head held high, ¡°Despite her circumstances, standing here with the rest of us. Even in the presence of the lord, her eyes remain as sharp as it is now.¡±

    ¡°Have you nulled the sense of fear, Traveler?¡±

    Sweating, ¡°W-Well, truth is. I¡¯m about to piss my pants right now.¡±

    He¡¯s coming closer and closer to a point where he had to lean down to face me. I thought to myself, ''Did that annoy him? That''s great, now if you only just kill me here. I wouldn''t really mind. Bet I''d just restart anyway, and I can go to the North Gate then.''

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    Swallowing my saliva, ¡°Wh-Why brought me here, and why me exactly?¡±

    ¡°Why? You have an excellent figure.¡±

    Another sweat dripped from my cheek, ¡®Is he flirting with me or just toying with me?¡¯ not only that he¡¯s tall, his appearance is truly a disturbing sight, ¡°An excellent figure, you say.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    He leans back, ¡°You are here to serve our lord, the Undead God Lehdrith. Plead your loyalty to Purgatory, or suffer under the eternal hell of the abyss.¡±

    Those decayed eyes of his stares at me.

    ¡°Doesn''t seem to leave me with a lot of choices there.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    *Choke*

    My eyes widened as my body lifts in the air. It hurts, how this draugr¡¯s hand not only lifted my body but also grasped my neck tightly like I''m some kind of animal.

    ¡°Which of the two options do you choose?¡±

    Avarice and Malice are not intervening, the same as Ludwig. Thinking about it like this saddened me somewhat, like, I genuinely have no worth at all. It¡¯s the same as back then when I have fallen from the Mithra household, how everyone sees me like I¡¯m nothing but a burden. Or how when I went to the Desolated Sector with nothing next to my name. Now in this world where all my accomplishments have merely become memories, where all those precious events with Rakuri and Kurira, never happen.

    ¡°I¡¯ll serve.¡±

    I really am a nobody, huh.

    ¡­

    Everything has gone dark.

    ¡°What the? Where am I? Wait, I died from that?¡±

    ¡®No, this feels... weird."

    This sense of discomfort, like I''m awake in my dream. My body is glowing and it¡¯s lighting up the area around me, but I don¡¯t see anything. That feeling kicks in again, the feeling of being watched from behind.

    I turned around and sees a mirror.

    Just a tad bit over my height, I found another me in the mirror wearing not a single piece of cloth even though right now, I¡¯m still wearing these rags. But her face.

    ''It¡¯s the same as I look like in real life, does that mean it¡¯s a dream and not in-game? Considering that I can think of that, then it must be.¡¯

    I approach it closer, and my chest started tightening, but I endure it. Doesn¡¯t seem to be unordinary, and the frame of the mirror is as simplistic as it gets, but it¡¯s wide. Way too wide, and it keeps extending, the height too.

    Feels like the mirror has become a reflective wall now.

    I look at myself in the mirror, and then checked my forearms to the back of my hands. Something feels odd. I know my body well, and it¡¯s not supposed to be this unsettlingly weak.

    ¡®Is it because I went back in time?¡¯

    I''ve thought about it but thinking about it more, I can see the value of something so pure. So much different than my modified body years in the future. It¡¯s somewhat¡­ reassuring.

    ¡°Hehe.¡±

    My eyes peeled after hearing that chuckle. No longer mimicking me, the me in the mirror, staring at me without even blinking an eye.

    ¡°Feel free to laugh,¡± she said, ¡°After all, you¡¯ve been through far worse than just some nightmare that came out of nowhere.¡±

    ¡°So, you know things. I would prefer if you would be quiet.¡±

    ¡°Mean! Don¡¯t be so stiff. Want me to rub one out for you?¡± gesturing inappropriately.

    Glaring down at her.

    ¡°Ahaha, you mad! Boohoo, Siola is mad, Siola is mad!¡±

    ¡°Hunh, Siola. So, we¡¯re not in-game then.¡±

    ¡°Siola is mad, Siola is mad!¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    ¡°Muhuh?! Munyumunyu!¡±

    Acting all cutesy like that. Those are my signature moves she copies. Then again, this being a dream makes it even more unsettling. And the fact that I can¡¯t wake up. When I cross my arms to see the weird antics of the me in the mirror, I see her crossing her arms too. But the expression she has is not the fluffy idiotic face, but a glaringly cold one.

    ¡°Siola Mithra.¡±

    The edges of my lips frowned, ¡°Leave the latter.¡±

    ¡°April 3rd, 2055. Quite a blissful day for the Mithra to have me carrying their name to the next generation. It¡¯s odd really. Just a few years. It¡¯s astonishing, to say the least. How those years I¡¯ve shown them a glimpse of what the future looks like for the Mithra.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± this damn mirror, ¡°You better shut the fuck up.¡±

 Chapter 25 â€“ A Knight to Behold

    ¡°You don¡¯t think it¡¯s exhausting? Living a perfect life, being the perfect successor they wanted me to be. Would it hurt them to give me Leon just for a few more years?¡±

    The me in the mirror saying whatever she likes.

    ¡°I always wanted to ask them. Why Rosa? I was the one who got to him first, so why her? I could still carry Mithra¡¯s name even if I have 5 lovers licking my feet, and yet¡ª¡±

    ¡°Clearly, you¡¯re not me,¡± interrupting her, ¡°Unlike you, I know what love is. Rakuri and Kurira, those two are enough. I love them.¡±

    Staring at an empty space above. Her cold arrogant expression turns lifeless, ¡°What went wrong? I used to have everything.¡±

    ¡°A caring mother, a hardworking father,¡±

    Shudder, my chest tightening.

    ¡°A loving grandfather, and one-of-a-kind sister.¡±

    My fist clenched.

    ¡°I saw us all together, the glimpse of us in the future. How we would laugh all day without much of a care in the world. How my mother would pat my head when I smile at her, how I would climb on my father¡¯s back ¨C hanging onto his muscles, or how my grandfather feeds me potato chips while I¡¯m sitting on his lap, or maybe even¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Rosa, hugging me through a big teddy bear she brought.¡±

    Seeing her cry gritted my teeth.

    ¡°Why did I ruin it?¡±

    *SMASH*

    *C-R-A-S-H*

    Mirror wall turning splinters.

    My chest feels tight as my knuckles bleed. Now I¡¯m truly alone in this place. The darkness enveloped me like a blanket. And yet, it was still cold.

    ¡°Heh.¡±

    ¡°Just because you¡¯re being a reflection, a mirror, doesn¡¯t mean you are me. With you merely copying me, no matter how much you see, you will never understand.¡±

    I ponder about the method to get out of this dream. But my thoughts are unable to run, so I just walk through the splinters of sharp glass cutting the bottom of my feet. But I feel no pain. The same as this bleeding knuckle of mine. It¡¯s nice, being immune to pain for once in a while.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Into the darkness, I go.

    ***

    ! {Blessing of the Purgatory has been Received}

    ~ {Once a day, at a random interval, you will receive a permanent Secondary Attributes increase based on your contribution to the Purgatory Realm}

    I open my eyes to see the faint reflection of myself from the blood on the floor, there are none of those freckles I got back in the real world, so I realized that I have gotten out of that dream. The endless dream where I walk for I don¡¯t know how long. But then, I sense a bit of comfort from something brushing my head. Looking up, I see a hooded skeleton¡¯s dot of an eye flares up in silver. Somehow, they look warm.

    ! {Unending Contract to the Abyss has been Established}

    ! {Blessing of the Abyss}

    ~ {Active Effect: Experience Gain has been Reduced by 95% | Permanent}

    ~ {Innate Ability: Immortality / Rank 1 / Defy death upon reaching 0% Health}

    ~ {Skill: Abyssal Touch / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Dark / Weaken the target, reducing their Endurance by 10%. Slightly drain all of their Primary Attributes until they are fully depleted / Cooldown: None / Costs: None}

    ! {New Mail has been Received}

    With his bony fingers, the skeleton brushes my hair aside, making my sight clear. As he lifts his body, I heard the disturbing voice once more, ¡°Stand.¡±

    ¡°Ah.¡±

    I wondered if he pats my head beforehand. Before I stood, my eyes caught the bottom of his robe touching the blood on the floor. I took off my top and clean that up for him. Although there is nothing I can do with the parts that are already drenched, at least I can keep the blood off him.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    I may be topless but I doubt anyone would glance at this body.

    ¡°Stand.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes.¡±

    Noticing the empty throne, ¡®So, he left it just like that. Even though the others are still here.¡¯

    ¡°Ludtleth believes that you are not a Traveler, but a Wanderer. Regardless of your circumstances, you are weak. Before you can be of any use to us or the undead god himself, you shall better yourself,¡± walking towards the throne and stopping after taking the stairs, ¡°Malice.¡±

    The black knight bows deeply.

    ¡°Take her with you. Let her familiarize herself with the castle.¡±

    She nods. Although her movements are imposing, I¡¯ve seen what¡¯s inside that armor so it makes me at ease that she will be the one to take care of me. At least, that¡¯s what I assume.

    ¡°Avarice, I have a task for you.¡±

    Glancing back, I wonder when will I be a part of them. The long corridor and the silent babe I have next to me make the walks seem longer than it supposed to be.

    ¡®In the end, I decided to join them.¡¯

    ¡®Ludwig, Warrior of the Abyss. I thought for sure that he was a mage. I¡¯m sure it was. I wonder what happened between now and then.¡¯

    Suddenly, I bumped into Malice¡¯s back.

    ¡°Ughyak!¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Malice?¡±

    Suddenly,

    *BAM*

    She pushed me against the wall!

    ¡°Muhuh?! M-Malice? Is everything okay?¡±

    *Clank *Clank

    She took off her helmet and holds me. Leaning her face close and pressed her lips against mine. Awestruck, fluffy feeling in my heart. I return her kiss as we make out under the blue light from the moon shining through the corridor.

    Our shadows as she rips my clothes and sucks my neck.

    ¡°Ahh.¡±

    A bit of moan I let out as she touches my bare skin. The nonexistent fat, she touched them too, ¡°Kyah!¡± I can¡¯t even believe how sensitive I am.

    ¡®Ahhhhh, I don''t have them tiddies. Me wanna touch them BOBA! Give me yoar tiddies!¡¯

    *Grope *Grope

    ¡®Noooooooooooooo! Not the armor!¡¯

    ¡°¡­¡±

    But then she hugged me up and we continue to kiss as she once again, walk through the corridor. I see her helmet that is lying on the floor, how terrifying it is versus the face I¡¯m making out right now. They are truly worlds apart.

    Malice, is far more beautiful than that.

 Chapter 26 â€“ Well Rested

    Finding myself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling, I glance to the side, seeing Malice tending to her sharp long nails in front of a mirror, ¡®Ugh, I feel like a bloated sea urchin that is about to burst.¡¯

    ¡®What the hell happened?¡¯

    Last I remembered is walking through the shade of light in the corridor. I feel a bit of discomfort coming from my stomach, ¡®Hunger?¡¯

    ¡®That¡¯s odd. I should have enough time to last for 2 days.¡¯

    ¡®Could it be?¡¯

    It must be it. The Realism Mode.

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    Name: --- / Level: 19 / Class: Mage / Faction: Purgatory

    Primary Attributes

    Max Health: 1000 | Max Mana: 9000 | Max Stamina: 2000

    Health: 1000 | Mana: 9000 | Stamina: 2000

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 20 / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: 20

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 20

    Intelligence: 140 / Faith: 140 / Luck: 50

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 20 (+10) / Physical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Magical Attack: 15 (+70) / Magical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 15 / Stamina Regeneration: 3

    Gear

    None

    Active Effect

    - (Once a day, at a random interval, you will receive a permanent Secondary Attributes increase based on your contribution to the Purgatory Realm} ~ Blessing of the Purgatory

    - (Experience Gain has been Reduced by 95%) ~ Blessing of the Abyss

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Lifting my body to sit by the bed, I caress my spinning head, ¡®Purgatory? That¡¯s quite the blessing alright. As expected of a god who ruled the major realm. But what contribution do I need to do to for the effect to kick in? Especially since the other effect is chaining me down.¡¯

    ¡®95% reduction? That¡¯s insane! You can¡¯t even call that a blessing.¡¯

    ¡®And what even is the Abyss? Out of the many god¡¯s realms that I know of, none are called that.''

    ''Hmm, it must be a subsidiary of Purgatory or something.¡¯

    ! {Abilities}

    ~ {Ignition / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Coat oneself aflame. In Ignition state, increases Fire Resistance by 10%, able to active [Combustion] at will. Requires up to 10 Mana per second to maintain / Cooldown: None / Costs: 100 Mana}

    ~ {Immortality / Rank 1 / Defy death upon reaching 0% Health}

    ~ {Abyssal Touch (Skill) / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Dark / Weaken the target, reducing their Endurance by 10%. Slightly drain all of their Primary Attributes until they are fully depleted / Cooldown: None / Costs: None}

    ~ {Heal Array (Spell) / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Light / Create a sphere of light that can be connected to another created sphere to form a healing area once fully connected. At least 3 spheres are required for the healing area to be activated / Cooldown: None / Costs: 30 Mana}

    ¡®Two Innate, one Skill, one Spell.¡¯

    ¡®And the one I got because of the contract is Immortality and Abyssal Touch, huh? It¡¯s not how it usually goes when one joins the Purgatory Faction.¡¯

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡®I wonder how this Immortality works. Bet it''s not going to be the same as my [Absolute Reverse Point State] which kept the Majority of my excess healing into an unlimited source of second Health reserve. As for the [Abyssal Touch (Skill)] spell¡­ it¡¯s meh, I guess. Doesn¡¯t look to be that strong and I¡¯ve never been into touch spells in the first place. Unless it¡¯s an instant effect, one requires a high level of defense in order to carry it out.¡¯

    ¡®Hm?¡¯

    I noticed there¡¯s a mail in my [Inbox]

    ! {Realism Mode Maintenance Compensation}

    ~ {Advanced Black Gold Pack | 30 Days Expiration}

    ¡®Maintenance? Since when did that happen? Regardless, that¡¯s quite the premium loot box. I wonder if they gave it away for everyone who chose to enable it.¡¯

    People can pay for things in the System¡¯s own Marketplace within the major cities in Ekolia, the surface. But this kind of pack can only be traded with Ekolia¡¯s global currency, and every one of its kind is super expensive. While you can exchange Ekolia¡¯s money for dollars, you can¡¯t exchange it the other way around. Unless you make a trade with others in real life, that kind of money is hard to obtain and hold on to.

    ! {Items Unveiled}

    ~ {Serrated Jaw of Leviathan / Rank A / Heroic / Physical Attack: 1000 / Magical Attack: 1800 / Innate Ability: Can be used as a Catalyst, Increases the Potency of Water-based Spells / Requirement: 350 Dexterity, 350 Agility, 500 Intelligence}

    ~ {Deserter Cape / Rank A / Common / Magical Defense: 500 / Requirement: 100 Dexterity, 100 Agility}

    ~ {Sovereign Ritual (Skill) / Rank S / Dark / Book / Rare / Learning Requirement: Equal Intelligence and Faith Allocation / Potency: None}

    ¡®A Rank S skill that I¡¯ve never heard of. To think it has that kind of requirement. If it was to be given to a level 2 pyromancer who just had to up both stats at the same time, even they can use this spell. Guess my habit from my previous life paid off.¡¯

    A ritual spell. Different from summoning which only summons a specter temporarily, a ritual can conjure a real creature permanently. Each has its own upside and downside.

    ¡®I¡¯ll take the last one, of course.¡¯

    ! {Item Received}

    Sighing.

    ¡®Hm?¡¯

    I just caught a glance at myself in a mirror. I stood to see it close. With that dream still fresh in my mind, I can¡¯t help but worry that I¡¯m still in it. But clearly, I¡¯m not.

    My eyes. They¡¯re glitching. A number of ones and zeroes are running infinitely down my sight, but they''re too opaque for me to be bothered by them. I wonder if there¡¯s an error that occurs, ¡®Should I leave and do a restart?¡¯

    *Tap*

    Malice pats my hand. Light, she brushes her finger around the back of my hand, ¡®Is she teasing me or something? Waahh, that outfit she¡¯s wearing.¡¯

    It¡¯s like a nun, but dark all the way through.

    ¡®Greatly emphasized her booba!¡¯

    She raised her index finger and then pointed at the wardrobe in front of the bed. Come to think of it, this place is small and cramped. It¡¯s like my room from my previous life. I don¡¯t own a house but the room I rent had everything I need.

    *C-r-e-a-k*

    In the wardrobe, I see a black priestess robe. The same outfit as hers. Not really the official name of the clothes, but can I really use this? Does it not have a requirement?

    {Ul¡¯ Sejidah / Rank S / Unique / Physical Defense: 0 / Magical Defense: 0 / Innate Ability: Can be used as a Catalyst for dark magic, Significantly Increases the Potency of Dark-based Spells / Effect: Bypass all requirements of all dark magic up to Supreme Tier}

    ¡®Oh? The 0 defenses aside. It can bypass dark-type magic up to the 7th tier.¡¯

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡®Well, I don¡¯t know what uses of that since I¡¯m not too familiar with mid-tier dark magic. Plus, I¡¯m not really fond of Hexes.¡¯

    0 defense, and the last time I got hit, it took 4/5 of my total Health. But it looks really nice, and for someone who cares about looks more than functionality.

    *BAM*

    Shudder. I looked to see that helmet-less Avarice came in with a bang when she smashes open that door. She surveyed both me and Malice and grinned after shifting her attention to the latter.

    ¡°Come here,¡± approaching Malice closer with a kissing face, ¡°Mmph!¡± Malice closed that mouth of hers before Avarice reaches her lips.

    ¡®What a shame! And here I thought they¡¯d gonna start scissoring each other!¡¯

    But Avarice suddenly opens her eyes slightly, and it¡¯s focusing on me. She grins as she approaches me, putting her arm around my shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Eh? Um, w-wait, I haven¡¯t put my clothes on!¡±

    She didn¡¯t listen so I had to wear the new outfit on the way, thankfully, I didn¡¯t see anyone despite the fact that the corridor around here is well-lit.

    ¡°U-Um, where are we going?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough.¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ okay.¡±

    She smiles and proceeds to pat my head.

    It somewhat makes me fluffy. When she smiles, Avarice looks absolutely stunning. Just like Kurira, that wild crazy ass girl, when she smiles, it¡¯s always fulfilling me.

    *Rub *Rub

    ¡°Hm?¡± something is feeling me up from behind, ¡®Geh, her tail is groping my ass! She is just like Kurira, alright! Always ruining the good mood we got going on with her pervy acts! Fine, if that¡¯s what you want, then take this!¡¯

    We stopped all of a sudden.

    *Fondle *Fondle

    Sweats ran down my cheeks a bit, my left hand was feeling the soft part of her armor, that bottom cushion! I¡¯m feeling it like it¡¯s the last piece of artifact in the world.

    Avarice chuckled a bit, she pulled me in and we walk towards an intersection. With me groping her butt as her tail groping mine.

 Chapter 27 â€“ Replica

    Avarice has her arm wrapped around my shoulder. We¡¯ve been walking for a while and it looks like she¡¯s not in a hurry at all. This gives me time to ponder, ¡®Just how big is this place?¡¯

    ¡®Too many long and connected corridors. It¡¯s not even packed with rooms and seems to be unnecessarily big just for the sake of it. Whoever designs this castle is truly an amateur.¡¯

    But then we saw light.

    *BOOOM *BOOOOM *Bwoooooosh *BOOOOM

    There¡¯s definitely something happening on the other side. Upon pushing through the blinding light, we entered a bright yet empty colosseum. Squinting my eyes at the battleground, I see two people fighting against each other.

    ¡°What is this place for?¡± I asked.

    ¡°For? Heheh, you don¡¯t remember?¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡®Have I been here before?¡¯

    ¡°This is the place where we put a trial on the intruders before we confine them.¡±

    Walking downstairs.

    ¡°There are three people overseeing this trial. You¡¯ve already met one of them. Lord Ludtleth. The other is your judge, Madam Goolag. And then there is this¡­ lovely lady.¡±

    Floating in the air, a pale beauty with wavy black hair reaching her shoulders, ¡®Nuhuh?!¡¯

    Looking from behind, I can see the thin-layer strap of her bra. She wore pants and forearm sleeves with matching colors and a set of tools strapped around her hips, but topless all the way with the only exception being the leather covering her breasts, I can see her SIDE BOOBA!

    ¡®OH MY GAH! Just by looking at her arm, I can tell she¡¯s the sporty type too! Awawawa, I can¡¯t wait to see her abs! And from this side, I know she got them BIG TIDDIES!¡¯

    *BOOOOOOOM*

    Shuddered at the sound of that impact. She just smashes her opponent down. Seems to be a woman warrior, and even though she¡¯s holding a battleaxe, the skimpy outfit-wearing lady defeats her still.

    ¡°Disappointing, I expect more from a warrior. You didn¡¯t have the spirit nor the willpower to face the impossible. Just by the sight of seeing an opponent stronger than you¡­¡±

    Sighing, ¡°Well, you¡¯re already dead anyway. What a waste of words.¡±

    That voice, I still remember.

    ¡°Mom?¡±

    The lady reacted, but when she turned around, Avarice block me with her arm and tail. Even though the lady has the same voice as my mother. Judging by the slight wrinkle on her face and those terrorizing marigold eyes, it seems that I was mistaken. Floating as she approaches me.

    ! {Ethereal Encounter}

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ~ {Replica | Lv. ???}

    ¡®No title? Phew, I¡¯m safe then. Besides, Avarice¡¯s title is that of the amazing uhh, what was it? Alpha and the Omega! Yes, I shouldn¡¯t worry too much. Besides I¡¯m immortal now.¡¯

    Avarice hid me behind her back.

    ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t the self-proclaimed Omega herself. What has brought you to my humble domain, Madam Alpha?¡±

    Clenching my fist, ¡®Yes! I was right. In terms of hierarchy, Avarice seems to be somewhere in the top 5 here. I¡¯m safe!¡¯

    ¡°Heheh, and if it isn¡¯t the disgraceful Mage of the Abyss herself. This Madam Alpha greets you.¡±

    I peeked through the gap between Avarice¡¯s arms and sees that woman looking at Avarice with murderous eyes. It was then that I know how wrong I was. A sudden outburst of something incomprehensible spread everywhere.

    *KRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAHEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHH*

    Anxiety, Fear, Terror. I feel like my sight is split and swirled at the same time. I couldn¡¯t feel my entire body, only myself in the lonesome darkness, floating.

    *Gasp*

    My eyes widened, ¡°Kogh, Keogh? Wha¡­¡±

    ! {Maxima Protection of Dragon}

    ~ {Significantly Increases Willpower. Increase Resistance against Earth Magic by 95%. Increase Resistance against Fire Magic by 95%. Increase Resistance against Light Magic by 80%. Increase Resistance against Dark Magic by 80%. Null Hexes below Tier 10 ¨C Maxima. Null Mind Control Magic below Tier 8 ¨C Mega. Increase Maximum Health by 100.000.000}

    Avarice glowing brightly in earthly color. I too.

    ¡®Th-This is¡­¡¯

    Seeing both Replica and Avarice facing off makes me realize that it doesn¡¯t matter whether the woman Replica has a title or not. Her being a Transcendental being is enough to prove her power.

    ¡®These two¡­ they¡¯re endgame-level monsters.¡¯

    ¡°Holding up quite well, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    That woman Replica pierce me with those horrifying eyes. Made me glance down only to be met with her tight abs, ¡°Muh?!¡±

    Them bare curves! Lookin¡¯ all juicy.

    ¡°What do you think? Didn¡¯t she remind you of someone?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s precisely because of that I want to tear her apart.¡±

    ¡°Hngh?!¡±

    ¡®NO! Please! I know I was wrong, buh that wasn¡¯t enough reason to kill me, was it?! Besides, what was that? I almost feel like my entire existence was about to be erased. Was that a spell she cast? I didn¡¯t even know something like that exist and what do you even use it for?¡¯

    ¡®Intimidation? That¡¯s way too overkill!¡¯

    ¡°Why did you bring her here, Avarice?¡±

    ¡°You being holed up here for so long probably null your senses. This here is our newest member and she will be serving Lord Lehdrith. But being a weak Wanderer that she is, Lord Ludwig wants her to at least be able to take care of herself.¡¯

    ¡°Eh? Um, A-Avarice, wha-what are you¡­¡±

    ¡®From the way she says it¡­¡¯

    Dimming the ominous air, she glanced at me, ¡°A Wanderer, you say.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. She needs to be at the level of our youngest to be of use. And since the said youngest was brought and raised by you¡­¡±

    ¡®No, no no no no way, no fucking way! Avarice?! Please no!¡¯

    ¡°Lord Ludwig wants you to take her in and guide her as a Mage.¡±

    ¡®NOoooooooooooooooooooooooo.¡¯

    ¡°She seems to be unwilling.¡±

    ¡®Hiiiiiiiik!¡± hugging Avarice tight, ¡®Of course, I¡¯m unwilling! Just a moment ago you said you were gonna tear me apart so, of course, I don¡¯t wanna be with you!¡¯

    ¡°Heheh, she may appear like so but she¡¯s actually very eager to be taught by you.¡±

    ¡®I never showed any single moment when that is the case!¡¯

    ¡°She¡¯s been ogling your bare skin for a while. I think you know what that means.¡±

    ¡°Nuh?!¡±

    ¡®Avarice. AVARICE! Why did you go and say thaaaaaaaaaaaat?!¡¯

    Glaring at me deep with those horrifying eyes.

    ¡®Hiiiiiiiiik! Avarice, look at what you¡¯ve done! She might even gonna bury me alive before she will teach me anything! Besides, why do I even need to be taught? I just gotta be stronger. That¡¯s all!¡¯

    ¡°If it¡¯s his will. Fine.¡±

    ¡®I¡¯m ded.¡¯

    ¡°Then¡­¡±

    Avarice separates my hand from her bod. Pats my head gently and looks me in the eye. Hers may also be horrifying but unlike that woman Replica, Avarice¡¯s gives a warm and gentle feeling.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you soon, Luosa.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡®Luosa who?¡¯

    She gave a comforting look before turning around and disappearing into thin air.

    But then suddenly, my body was turned and lifted. My neck was choked by Replica as I saw her already terrifying face making an even more horrifying expression.

    ¡°Huh?¡± intense murderous aura seeping out of her, ¡°Did I hear that right? Luosa?!¡±

    ¡®Hiiiiiiiiiiiik! What is it now?!¡¯

 Chapter 28 â€“ Complication

    Plenty of times I ponder about the choices I¡¯ve made that led me here to this moment. Not about joining this group of undead and demons, but rather, everything. Was it right? Was it not? People thought I left the grace of Mithra because of my stupidity and that might be true, even if those words came out of someone stupider than me. Everything is open for interpretation and one explanation to another can be a valid opinion. But that¡¯s all, it''s an opinion.

    I left Mithra because I feel like I¡¯m not a Mithra.

    *BOOM*

    Sitting while hugging my legs with my back against the wall. In this battleground I¡¯m watching that woman, Replica, fighting against another one of those ¡°Intruders¡±. Odd because they didn''t just pop out of nowhere, instead were brought here chained from head to toe. This time, it¡¯s a pyromancer, but unlike the traditional one, the guy uses a magical device strapped to the four of his limbs to conjure those flames.

    *BOOM *BOOM *Bwooosh

    ¡®Tier 3 [Canon Bomb] missing all its target. Using Tier 4 [Blast Ablaze], with those flames firing wildly around him, it created a distance between him and his opponent. He¡¯s solid, but¡­¡¯

    Replica uses Tier 1 [Firebolt], but it fires so fast, it almost looks like a bullet. I know that it''s a [Firebolt] simply because of the rapid casting, it''s one of the spells that has the shortest cooldown especially so if it''s a (Spell) instead of (Skill). At the right time, however, many of them were blocked by the [Blast Ablaze] when it made contact.

    ¡®Clearly, she¡¯s just toying with him,¡¯ but after seeing her expression throughout the whole fight, ¡®No, I can¡¯t just say that. She¡¯s limiting herself.¡¯

    The man landed and quickly smash his two hands together, ¡°True Art of the Flame.¡±

    My eyes peeled as I see a red aura spiraling out of him.

    ¡°Blaze Concoction.¡±

    Within his hands, he created a condensed ball of fire. Its color changes from looking like an ordinary fire to a miniature sun. How it animated from a dancing flame to a surging wave of fire. He made 15 of them in less than 5 seconds and tied them to gather with a string of flame.

    Right before Replica land, he swings them as hard as he could and I can¡¯t help myself but get excited with a fight I finally understood.

    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    The blast created a shockwave, sending all the dirt my way.

    *Cough *Cough

    I glanced at the smoke created by the explosion, ¡®Wait, he didn¡¯t use Fire Resisting Spells when using that. He must¡¯ve gotten caught up in it.¡¯

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    When the smoke clears up, I was right. Some of his clothes were charred and parts of his body is burned too. But his eyes, are still intensely focused on the opponent ¨C which came out unscathed after all of that. Replica looks down at him with her marigold eyes.

    ¡°Is this all you have?¡±

    Gritted his teeth, ¡°You¡­ pillage our home. Kill our women. Tortured our warriors. And you brought us here. For what?¡± the red aura emerge from his body once more, ¡°You demon!¡±

    *BWOOSH*

    The aura ascends to the ceiling as his body is engulfed in flame, ¡°This is YOUR END, DEMON! Aspect of Belial, Sea Blaze Form!¡±

    His entire skin shed a burning flame. His aura condensed to himself and enveloped him entirely until it was no longer visible from the outside. When the flame bubble burst, there is a change in his appearance. Blue scales burning blue flame, armor from neck below. His face was no longer the same as it turned mammals. From a gallant man to a monstrosity that is a demon.

    Forming a circle with both of his hands, his voice becomes unsettling, ¡°True Art of Flame, Blaze Concoction.¡±

    ¡®Hm? Another one? No, that¡¯s¡­¡¯

    Instead of 15, there are over 40 fireballs were made, and it''s bright blue. Flame string connected them all, but instead of swinging them, he lunged towards Replica with every one of them strapped around him. With his bombs, right before they made contact with her. Explodes.

    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    Smoke clouded everything. I couldn¡¯t even open my eyes with all the sand flying around.

    ¡°Such hypocrisy.¡±

    My eyes peeled. That was indeed my mother¡¯s voice. I open my eyes to see Replica survived that attack and once again, unscathed. No damage even to her skimpy clothes.

    ¡°Rotten to the core. How unfortunate for the gods to have blessed someone like you. Then again, Belial is not quite the one I would picture as one.¡±

    Walking closer to the unconscious who landed near me.

    ¡°Mere demons. Rose to the 33 seats.¡±

    ¡°Mordor, take him away.¡±

    A dark shade of air appeared around him before cloaking him fully. The man who became a demon submerged into the sand and disappear.

    ¡®Mordor? I don¡¯t see anyone here. Must be a creature she summons or something. Which reminds me, I also got a spell where I can summon one too.¡¯

    ¡°Luosa.¡±

    Shudder. She¡¯s looking at me with those murderous eyes, ¡°Th-That¡¯s not my name, I swear!¡±

    ¡®First, she choked me out of nowhere, throwing me like baggage, and then forced me to sit here to wait for her to finish. Now what?!¡¯

    Lowering her body to lift my chin, I swallowed my saliva. Looking at her closely, she looks like my mother. Maybe it¡¯s because of the cybernetics augment that made my mother no longer age that I don¡¯t know what she would look like. Maybe this is what she looks like.

    My cheeks pressed, ''Her hands are cold,'' both her thumbs caress my cheekbones and it calms me a little. That was before she presses my eyes with them.

    ¡°Gyaaaaaaaaaaaahk!¡±

    ¡°Aaaaah AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!¡±

    For a whole minute, I struggled but she wouldn¡¯t budge. It was when I couldn¡¯t handle the pain anymore that she finally let go.

    ¡°Haaah! Haah! Haa¡­¡±

    Heart beating, my consciousness almost faded as I ran out of breath. My eyes bleed, must be from the scratches because of her nails.

    ! {Innate Ability Advanced}

    ~ {Immortality / Rank 2 / Defy death upon reaching 0% Health. Negate any fatal wound and significantly increase Pain Resistance}

    ! {Lucid Eyes ¨C 24 Hours}

    ~ {Maxima Appraisal, inspect the target to obtain more information about the target. Detection, able to sense everything in the line of sight. Mana Vision, decrease obscurity of the unknown}

    ¡°Wha, what¡¯s, what are you¡­¡±

    This time, I genuinely fear this one who resembles my mother. She stood. Looking down at me intensely, she says, ¡°State your purpose. Your life will depend on your answer and not even Immortality will save you.¡±

    Her eyes shine, ¡°Why did you decide to serve Lehdrith?¡±

 Chapter 29 â€“ Mind of a Mithra

    The Undead God, Lehdrith, Ruler of the Purgatory Realm. Once upon a time in the near future, top-ranking players who have progressed the Main Quest discover a way to enter the Transcendental Realms, pioneering the opening of a new expansion to Ekolia. People thought that the place they venturing all this time was so big to a point that not even a billion people can fit in it, but then, they came to find that there are many more places out there.

    Ekolia itself is big but adds hundreds of realms that contain two or more planets each. One has to wonder, just what is it that lies beyond the Surface. Countless treasures, variants of unknown environments, creatures indescribable by words, and numerous unknown races inhabit the new space with their own culture and thoughts.

    Back then, there are 9 major realms that are accessible, and all of them are ruled by the gods. One of them being the Purgatory Realm. It¡¯s like a cold hell with many of its citizens being nothing but empty husks walking around eating dirt and their own flesh. Under the rule of the death god, every one of them is immune to death, making them immortal. But a realm with no food or water, no safety or danger, there is a reason why many players avoid that realm.

    It¡¯s a place, not even a psychopath can find livable.

    ¡°Why did I decide to serve him?¡±

    I grin as I stood, ¡°Well, it¡¯s because,¡± with Replica observing my every move, I make an elegant pose as I draw a circle in the air with both of my hands, ¡°BOBA!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± blinking a few times, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°BOBA! Tiddies! Blobbious Boha Boha!¡± I express my sentiment, these sacred words emotionally and physically, ¡°Oh how when I met that gorgeous demon lady, Avarice, Buhhh! Her Boba biiiiiiiiiig! And that¡¯s the first delightful thing I see when I came here! AND THEN!¡±

    O(¨R¿Ú¨Q)o

    ¡°BUHHHHHHHH! HER PP BIIIIIIIIIIIIIG!¡±

    ¡°Them rigid and powerful curves, that big ass dark-ish glands just begging me to suck it! Ahhh, if I only she let me touch it. But she said, ¡®Maybe later¡¯, Buuuhhhh! And then, and then! A pale beauty ¨C not you ¨C this Malice woman just came in all naked too OH MY GAH!¡±

    ¡°AHH!¡±

    ¡°SO, IN SHORT, I JOINED BECAUSE THEM BOBA IS BLOB¡ª¡±

    *SLAP*

    My entire head turned as my body was blown away by the impact.

    *BOOM*

    It seems that I have made myself part of the colosseum wall.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    [0/1000]

    ¡®Thanks for telling me that I¡¯m dead. But wow¡­¡¯

    [1/1000]

    ¡®Not only that I felt no pain, I resisted death itself. My broken bones are healing by themselves albeit extremely slowly. It¡¯s inferior to my old [Absolute Reverse Point State] since that one protects me from any wound. Even if I got stabbed in the eye, there wouldn¡¯t be any damage even if it were supposed to look like there should be damage. Regardless, [Immortality] is not bad.¡¯

    ¡°Your nonsense shall end here.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Respond.¡±

    Muffled, ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°I lack the time to raise a pet like you.¡±

    Muffled, ¡°Buh, aren¡¯t you an Immortal, Ma¡¯am? You should have a lot of time.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk back.¡±

    Muffled, ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡±

    Walking back and forth, ¡°The eye I gave you will not last forever. I have a task for you and it is quite a substantial one. If you fail to do it, I suppose we can then see your lack of potential.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± hunh, ¡®Potential. Every place I went really loves to throw that word around, huh.¡¯

    ¡°You will go to the surface and retrieve an item from a ruin. You are contracted to the abyss and have received their blessing. Not only that but you also have been blessed by Purgatory. You may not know what they mean, but know this, you will not last on the surface. Assume a day at most, but beyond that, you¡¯d be seeking not only your death but how gruesome it would be.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Respond.¡±

    Muffled, ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am. What exactly am I supposed to retrieve?¡±

    Suddenly, I felt the back of my collar being grabbed, ¡°Nuh?!¡± I got pulled from the wall but it was so rough that my health went to 0 again. Plus, she just threw me after I got out.

    *Thud*

    ¡°Ouch, Muhuh?!¡± my face got stomped!

    ¡°Listen closely,¡±

    By her feet! She¡¯s not wearing shoes!

    *Chu *kiss *chu *chu

    ¡°¡­¡±

    She lifted her foot?!

    *BAM*

    Kicking me right in the gut, ¡°Kogough!¡± I flew several meters away.

    ¡°I was going to tell you but any more seconds I spent breathing the same air in the same space as you make me suffocate.¡±

    ¡®Mean!¡¯

    ¡°Summon, Mirror of Mire.¡±

    My eyes peeled at the sight of a bubbling black substance suddenly conjuring a shattered mirror twice the size of me. Replica shifted her eyes to me and says, ¡°Come.¡±

    So, I hurried over.

    ¡°Your current appearance will be extremely problematic if others know that you are associated with us. Change it.¡±

    ¡°Uhh, how do I do that?¡±

    ¡°Just stare at the mirror and the Divine System will guide you.¡±

    Squinting my eyes, ¡°Hrrmm¡ª¡±

    *Slap*

    ¡°Owww!¡± I got slapped on the back of my head!

    ¡°Just look at it.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes, Ma¡¯am!¡±

    Not long after I focus on it. My eyes widened after seeing many different popups window appeared before me, ¡®Th-This is,¡¯ I honestly can¡¯t believe it, ¡®Character Creation Menu?!¡¯

    ¡°Um, can I ask something?¡±

    ¡°If you spout any more nonsense, I¡¯ll throw you straight to the graveyard.¡±

    ¡°Nuh?! No, um,¡± breathing out, ¡°What do you mean about my appearance being problematic?¡± as far as I know, I¡¯ve been playing this game in my past life for quite some time and there was no problem at all. Why do I need to worry about it now?

    ¡°Because of the name associated with it, and how it relates to us.¡±

    ¡°Um, okay?¡±

    ¡°There is no reason for me to tell you more if you ended up dead on the surface within the next hour. So, don¡¯t waste my time anymore, Luosa.¡±

    ¡°A-Again! That¡¯s not my name. Please!¡±

    ¡®Why is she look so angry when she said that name?!¡¯

    ¡°So? Why don¡¯t you tell me your name then? Not that I¡¯m interested in the dead¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not gonna die! And my name is¡ª¡± no, she¡¯s right. There¡¯s no reason for me to tell her my name with how little she cares about me nor do I gain anything from telling her my name.

    ¡®But, changing my appearance, huh.¡¯

 Chapter 30 â€“ Memorable Encounter

    I often feel as though I¡¯m standing on a thin line between two options. This time, about my appearance in Ekolia. Kept it similar to my real-life self but not at the same time. I want people to know me, but I¡¯m also afraid of them knowing. Back then it was a simple decision, I changed it because of those two. I love them, so I thought I¡¯d start anew.

    But now I don¡¯t have them. The only reason I have to change my appearance now is that I¡¯m forced to do so for a reason I don¡¯t even know much about.

    ¡®Some of the options are blocked but many of the sliders are there,¡¯ this is hard, ¡°Uhh, I¡¯m not sure how to change it really.¡¯

    ¡°Just change to how you used to look.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± pondering, ¡®How I used to look like? Does she think I changed my appearance to this? Alright, I guess.¡¯

    So I set everything back to default. Well, I only applied a bit of makeup to cover my freckles so it¡¯s not that hard.

    *BWOOSH*

    I got smoked bombed, ¡°Nuh?¡±

    The mirror just shattered and spread dust everywhere. But when it clears up, Replica¡¯s marigold eyes shine brightly as it glares daggers at me.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Wh-What? You told me to make myself look like how I was before, and that mirror, what¡¯s with that thing suddenly explodes like that? And why are all the glasses still intact even after that?!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re saying that that is what you look like?¡±

    ¡°What? You got something to say? Say it! I know I don¡¯t have them blobbious booba on me but that doesn¡¯t mean you can just¡ª¡±

    ¡°Silence.¡±

    Puffed my cheeks. I can tell that she didn¡¯t like it so I went back to the mirror, but still! It''s hard to change my appearance considering that I just don¡¯t feel comfortable with it.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Replica suddenly walked towards me after staring so intensely. It¡¯s making me nervous that I swallowed my saliva so deeply, ¡°Here,¡± she said calmly.

    ¡°?¡±

    She just showed me her palm. I don¡¯t get what she means so I stare at it for a bit but then, a small round magical ball appears on her palm, hovering. Then a flow of magical energy swirls around it as more magical balls appear. When I blinked, I¡¯m in the center of the galaxy. Just floating in the space, I see colors so bright and pretty, it¡¯s astonishing.

    The many stars, the many planets, asteroids, and how everything moves, make my heart beat. But then when I blinked, I returned to staring at an empty palm.

    It made me blink a few times before my thought process can continue.

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    Clenching that palm, ¡°The Divine System said that it¡¯s an artifact of the Unknown. What do you think? Was that helpful? Because I¡¯m about to set you in flames.¡±

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Hiiik! That¡¯s helpful! Very helpful! Thank you, Ma¡¯am.¡±

    It was really pretty, ¡®Ahh, I wanna see it again. Maybe someday I¡¯ll ask her.''

    The scenery is still fresh in my mind. It reminded me of the time I experience VR for the first time and to have that kind of experience again, makes my head as clear as ever.

    White hair, pink shade. Long with a plaited tail. Swaying bangs. No freckles, and most of all, with a silver eye.

    ¡°Bam bam Baaaam!¡±

    Standing proudly with my head held high.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°So, what do you think?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll do.¡±

    ¡°Nuh?! That¡¯s it?!¡±

    ¡®Mmph, I expected a bit more reaction out of her.¡¯

    Staring at me for a bit more before turning around and raising one of her arms, she mumbled, ¡°Phased Intrusion.¡±

    Magical energy swirls around her flowing through her arm so violently but she grasped and twisted it.

    *Bwoosh*

    And there appears an ominous Portal with no visible destination.

    ¡°Go.¡±

    ¡°Eh? Ah, yes, Ma¡¯am!¡±

    Buh before I leave the portal, ¡°Um, I¡¯d like to say that even though I¡¯ve joined because Avarice and Malice BOBA, um, after seeing you. I think that you might have become a reason for me to stay, Ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Your topless figure!¡± expressing my joy once more, ¡°Tender pale skin, making me wanna sniff your armpits. Licking them belly, like it¡¯s my last fucking meal! Booba big, YOUR SIDE BOOBA IS SO GREAT!¡±

    *SLAP*

    Once again, I got flung into the air, except this time, into nowhere.

    ***

    A waterfall. The scenery is calm and quiet as small animals move within the forest. The lush green scenery as the sun rose from the east. Under the waterfall, bubbles of water are forming. It scattered more and more until a person emerged from it.

    ¡°Pwah, haa¡­ haa¡­¡±

    Dark-skinned male taking his time to catch his breath before swimming to the land. His heart rapidly beat so hard.

    ! {Warning}

    ~ {User¡¯s Mental State has exceeded the default level}

    ~ {Please Logout Immediately}

    Brows frowned. With one of his eyes opened, a status window appeared.

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    Name: Galliano Mantre / Level: 13 / Class: Warrior | Monk

    Primary Attributes

    Max Health: 3500 | Max Mana: 400 | Max Stamina: 4500

    Health: 285 | Mana: 400 | Stamina: 880

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 180 / Dexterity: 0 / Endurance: 40

    Vitality: 60 / Agility: 0

    Intelligence: 0 / Faith: 0 / Luck: 0

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 0 (+70) / Physical Defense: 0 (+20)

    Magical Attack: 0 / Magical Defense: 0

    Health Regeneration: 13 / Mana Regeneration: 13 / Stamina Regeneration: 13

    Gear

    {Ragged Outfit}

    Active Effect

    None

    ===== Profile Status =====

    A memory flashes before his mind. An explosion, right behind him. But before that happened, there was Siola whose path was obstructed by the demon they fought.

    Teeth gritted, a tear in his eye, ¡°Why¡­¡± stomping the ground, ¡°Fuck!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ You son of a bitch.¡±

    (-70)

    (-70)

    (-70)

    Repeated flashes of memories, the image of Siola¡¯s face. The many expressions she makes throughout their short journey together. But then something came to mind, ¡°Wait, I can just meet her again in real life,¡± though after seeing the image of her suffering injury. Knowing that she said that she plays Realism Mode. That short relief turned into despair, ¡°When that explosion happens. Why did I leave her?¡±

    ¡°Have I really not changed since then?¡±

    Staring at the yellow warning screen. He decided to log out and awaken to his place in the Cybernetics Mall within the Metro City. When the capsule lid opens, he finds difficulty breathing and thus finds an inhaler that can soothe his lungs.

    ¡°Haah¡­¡±

    The room he is in is small and cramped. There¡¯s only a kitchen and a bathroom which the latter is separated by a door. Leaving the place into the changing room. After getting outfitted with his working uniform, he greets his coworker.

    ¡°Dane, if that girl comes by¡­¡±

    ¡°Heh, Galli. Logging out of Ekolia this early, let me guess, she done mess it up, huh? I mean, that walking nightmare must¡¯ve already memorized our routes. What a shame.¡±

    ¡°No, I got out of the starter camp.¡±

    ¡°What? Really, that¡¯s awesome dude. Ey, we gotta catch up. There¡¯s a lot of cool stuff we gotta do. And oh, where do you think we should¡ª¡±

    ¡°Dane.¡±

    ¡°Uh, yes?¡±

    ¡°The girl. Just holler when you see her, okay?¡±

    ¡°Oh um, sure, man.¡±

    Galliano nodded and proceeds to the back of the store. Spending his days as a store owner, but no matter how many days he waits, Siola never returns.

    ***

 Chapter 31 â€“ Deserted Land of Sand

    *Bam*

    {-600}

    Plopping on hard rock.

    ¡°Owwwwww!!¡±

    Quickly rolling around as I hold the back of my head. Even though there''s no pain, the impact was so surreal that it made me think I got wounded¡ª no, wait, ¡°I am!¡±

    ¡°Muhuh?!¡±

    ¡°Where the hell am I?!¡±

    Sand, as far the eye can see.

    ¡°A desert, huh.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what am I supposed to do here?!¡±

    Something heavy pummeled me in the head, ¡°Nyuhuh?!¡± and I have fallen from the sudden discomfort, becoming one with the sand.

    {Luosa}

    ¡°Nuh?!¡± mom¡¯s voice, ¡®No wait, it¡¯s Replica. But where?¡¯

    Then I see an orb at a size I can grip with only a hand. The thing looks ominous. The inside is like a fog swirling around, but dark in color.

    {With the level of your Immortality, you should be free from most of what the Divine System allows for a Phased Intrusion. Regardless of whether you succeed or not on this task, keep this orb with you at all times}

    ¡°Eh? At. All. Times?!¡±

    {Is there a problem?}

    ¡°Ahh no,¡± except for the fact that you¡¯re breaching my privacy?!

    {As your time is limited, I require you to do this as quickly as possible while also delivering a satisfying result. I mentioned an item, specifically, a book]

    ¡°A book?¡±

    {I cannot tell you more, but you will know when you find it}

    ¡°Okay, where do I go from here?¡±

    {¡­}

    ¡°Uhh, right! Part of the test is me finding it, right?¡± Except it¡¯s not a test!

    And I did not expect that that was the end of our conversation. Not only that I got thrown out of nowhere and into nowhere, I didn¡¯t even get a hint as to where I¡¯m going.

    But, ¡®I remember she mentioned a ruin. I don¡¯t get where this place is, maybe I can pull up the Map screen now,¡¯ my face became lifeless as my jaw hit the sand, ¡®Why it¡¯s empty¡­¡¯

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Kicking the back of my own foot, I laid myself on the sand, yelling loudly in this open area where no one can hear me, ¡°AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!¡±

    The Map Screen is empty!

    ¡®Nuhuh?! Wait, Replica can hear me from this.¡¯

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡®Ah, considering her personality. I doubt she sticks around.¡¯

    ¡®Aren¡¯t I already got out to the surface? I¡¯m here in Ekolia. Why has the Quest [Breakout] hasn¡¯t been completed yet? Could it be because I got out from Replica¡¯s portal instead of the gate¡¯s?¡¯

    ! {Quest Completed}

    ~ {Retrieving Reward¡­}

    ! {Level UP}

    ¡®Oh, there it is. Never mind then.¡¯

    ¡®But what am I supposed to do now?¡¯ I ponder as I allocate new points in my Profile Status. I heard footsteps so I glanced above me to see that there are some reptiles passing by but luckily, they are not meat eaters, and rather than eating leaves, they choose to eat rocks. It¡¯s understandable after looking at the environment they live in though.

    Long legs, a small body frame, but a long armored beak.

    ¡®Must¡¯ve got a small brain too.¡¯

    But then suddenly they went and surrounded me.

    ¡°What?¡±

    First, they nudge me with their beak, then they started pecking me, ¡°HEEY! I¡¯m not a rock! Don¡¯t tell me! Are you... No, no way?! You¡¯re trying to insinuate something? Huh?!¡±

    ***

    Within the reflection of the black orb that Siola is holding. Beyond the realm of the surface is Replica observing the entirety of Siola¡¯s behavior in a room surrounded by assorted books and herbs. Narrowing her eyes down, the girl she¡¯s looking at is picking a fight with the many oversized chickens that came her way.

    ¡°Their similarities are quite uncanny, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    A subtle glance to the edge of her eye, at the shadow cast by the light from Replica is a black hush covering many parts of the surface''s top, it moves as it slowly forms into one and becomes the silhouette of a human. Clothes were formed, and what came out of it is Siola.

    A creature has taken the same form as the girl spitting fire within the orb.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be the judge of that. And you call THIS similar? Luosa would¡¯ve taken them in as her pet while her,¡± veins popped on her forehead, ¡°Not only that she picks a fight with something weaker than her, she¡¯s needlessly spouting all those nonsense.¡±

    Reiterate it once more, ¡°She¡¯s nothing alike.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± the one who resembles Siola walks around the table and sits by the opposite of Replica, ¡°Well, shall we observe her a bit more then? Oh, the former Mage of the Abyss.¡±

    Her marigold eyes shine as she intensely glares at the scene within the orb.

    ***

    Munching on a cooked thigh I made.

    ¡®This is terrible.¡¯

    ¡®[Ignition] allows me to adjust which part of my body I can set aflame but the [Combustion]¡¯s strength is adjustable only if you put in more mana not less. And the more mana I put in the stronger it gets, which led me to char everything I cook.¡¯

    ¡®This one is so dry even though it¡¯s dark meat. Hngh, this sucks!¡¯

    But it reminds me of my past life when I met Rakuri and Kurira. They often eat less than savory things whenever they started out their new avatars. Unlike me who only has one and has never been using Realism Mode, those two adjusted pretty well, or rather, they have been used to it even if they don¡¯t play Realism Mode. I¡¯m the only one who doesn¡¯t belong in the Desolated Sector.

    My whole life, I have had everything sent to me, never had the need to take action or even suffer to the slightest hunger. But that was before my downfall.

    ¡®I bet when I¡¯m all cheery and full. Those two were scavenging for scraps and leftovers.¡¯

    Just thinking about it clenched my heart. I started Ekolia way after them back in my previous life and now I started way before them. Thinking about meeting them in real life, but even then, would they even recognize me? Of course, they won¡¯t. I didn¡¯t even understand why they approached me first, but now, will I even have a chance to be approached by them?

    In my last moment, briefly, I was relieved that everything came to an end. But at the same time after seeing Kurira¡¯s face, ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡®I chose Rakuri, but¡­¡¯

    I wished I had a better ending.

    ***

 Chapter 32 â€“ Rosa Mithra

    ***

    In a broad daylight, black tire screech on the city''s border. A car, driving far away from the suburban area towards a swamp in the distance. Two men are loading up their guns in preparation for their plan.

    ¡°You sure she¡¯s there?¡± asked the tall muscular man, Malek, the person who gave Siola the gun she never had the chance to use.

    ¡°Yes, boss. Pretty deep in, but the boys from the third island saw a girl walking up to the C-mall and bought one of those gaming capsules. Look, they even got pics of them installing it there.¡±

    ¡°Alright. So, she might still be inside that thing now?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s possible, but no guarantee, boss. It¡¯ll be hard when she¡¯s still playing, thanks to the shield of the capsule, but we can still wait there since nobody will come after her.¡±

    ¡°You better pray you¡¯re right. We¡¯re here.¡±

    The men stepped out of their car while carrying their guns. They wore casual clothing while the tall one wears slightly open clothing, a sleeveless to show off his other guns.

    ¡°Holster that thing. Wouldn¡¯t want to jump on her too soon, she got a good aim on you last time.¡±

    Just by remembering it, the guy shivers as he strokes his metal butt.

    ¡°Can¡¯t believe the fucking Mithras actually thought their kids how to shoot.¡±

    ¡°Do all nobles are like that, boss?¡±

    ¡°Well, never heard shit be like that but you never know.¡±

    They then found the rundown building Siola, ¡°Alright, get ready,¡± said Malek.

    His partner nodded.

    Crossing the bridge, they went. But upon entering the building, they found an unexpected appearance of another person just standing there. Staring at Siola who is still inside the capsule.

    A young woman, with massive curly black hair that extends all the way to her waist and wearing an all-black outfit with a crop top revealing her waist and stomach. She wears all kinds of gothic accessories including a black collar, bracelets, and more. Her fingernails are also painted black, but what caught Malek¡¯s eyes is the dim light flowing in the vein of her fingers.

    She heard the sound of the door opening, but she did not react to it at all nor did she shift her attention away from Siola. Malek stopped his partner from moving too harshly, and both of them have gotten slightly nervous after seeing the unknown variable.

    ¡°Ahem, sorry for intruding, but I was looking for a girl¡ª that girl in the pod,¡± Malek said as he approaches closer. However, the young woman didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°Ahh, you might be wondering who I am, but I¡¯m not anyone suspicious or anything. I lent the girl over there a gun so I¡¯m just here to check on her. Thought I¡¯d give her a better one instead.¡±

    Her head tilted for a moment, and that was enough to make the two men flinch in response, Malek is close enough to grab her from behind now. But then, she turned her head slightly as she spoke in a muffled voice behind a black mask covering half of her face, ¡°You¡­¡± her brown eyes narrowed as they shrank to simple white dots and her sclera turn completely black. Glaring at him in the eye and asked, ¡°You gave her a gun?¡±

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°W-Well yes, I thought it¡¯d protect her. You know, in this kind of¡ª¡±

    *BOOM*

    Swirling air rotates in slow motion as the back of the delicate fist of the young woman was sent into Malek¡¯s six-pack abs. Creating an explosive impact and rendering Malek to have a mixed expression of both pain and shock as his eyes widened when his gut is punched.

    *Bwoosh *Bwoosh

    The dim white veins glow as air were pumped out of the young woman¡¯s left elbow and wrist, cutting her flesh but no blood coming out of them. A metallic hard material can be seen then. When she aligns her hand straight up, her entire forearm detached itself from her elbow and propelled to Malek¡¯s jaw.

    *BAM*

    With that impactful force hitting him directly to the bottom of his face, several of his metal teeth flew out of his mouth with his entire body slightly lifted for a brief moment as the young woman¡¯s forearm flung in the air.

    *Bwoosh *Bwoosh

    Her right-hand clenches as white veins surge brightly. Several more air gushes out of her arm, cutting several parts of her skin, and this time, they¡¯re glowing so brightly from the inside as she clenches her fist so tightly before sending it straight to Malek¡¯s chest.

    *BOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    The close to 7ft tall man flew and crushed the wall behind him, sending the man outside and making himself part of a large tree. The young woman grabbed her forearm whilst it was still in the air and reattached it back to where it belonged.

    ¡°BOSS!!!¡± Malek¡¯s partner screamed.

    He quickly shifts his attention to the young woman and pulls the trigger of his shotgun.

    *Clack*

    ¡°Huh?¡± it won¡¯t fire, and when he looked up at the young woman, he found out why the gun won¡¯t go off. The white irises are now layered by two white lines, animated in a both clockwise and counterclockwise motion.

    His vision became static as he can¡¯t turn his eyes away from hers.

    ¡°F-F-Fuuuuck¡­¡± the man loses control of his body. Kneeling, ¡°Wh-why the suits¡­ Hngh, made that sh¡­¡± struggling to stop his hands from pointing his shotgun at his own head, ¡°No! Wait, I don¡¯t, I don¡¯t wanna die here. Please, I was just taking his or¡ª¡±

    *BANG*

    *Splat *Splat

    His head splattered everywhere.

    ¡°They weren¡¯t the ones who made it.¡±

    Silence came a moment later and the young woman went back to gaze at Siola who soundly slept in the capsule. But then, appearing from the side further off the broken wall, Malek stood once more with some of his teeth grinding at each other. Veins popped all over his forehead as his eyes all turned white, ¡°Mithraaaaaaaa!!!¡± yelling as he charged with all his might.

    *BOOM*

    But his head was blown to pieces before he can even reach the broken wall. His body falls to the muddy waters below.

    {All targets have been eliminated. Shall we inform Madam Linda¡ª}

    ¡°No, let her wait a while.¡±

    Caressing the lid where Siola¡¯s face is shown, patting it gently. She then left the house and a man is waiting for her by the door. In a completely metal body frame with a shrouded outfit, he saluted her with his fist on his chest. His eyes shine in white.

    ¡°Take that idiot back home.¡±

    He did not reply and simply nodded.

    But before the young woman walked far, she raised her index finger, ¡°And oh, don¡¯t touch her. Just bring the idiot with whatever that thing is as is.¡±

    He nodded once again with a slight bowing posture.

    A flying car appeared in the sky, guarded by multiple bulkier cars full of armaments. Several agile tanks appeared and one even stomped the car that the two men had brought. Several metal robots with a badge of [MCPD] got out of the tanks and cut the bridge to the rundown house. Replacing it with a metal foundation that extended all the way.

    When the flying car descended low, the door opens vertically and a man with half of his face burned, revealing the metal skeleton. His blue eyes shine. Then a masculine voice is heard in her head.

    {This collaboration is not what I expected}

    ¡°You got what you wanted.¡±

    {300}

    Leaning down yelling as he keeps his composure, ¡°300 people died! 15 of my own men quit life! And look at me! I thought there would be 3 billion dollars in that place.¡±

    ¡°3 billion dollars in assets, yeah.¡±

    ¡°In cash!¡± nodding a few times as he kept his wide forced smile, ¡°In C.A.S.H! CASH!¡±

    She smirked, the young woman propelled herself high, jumping several meters above, and grabbed the robotic hand that was reluctant to pull her up. Once she was in the flying car, she tapped the driver and said, ¡°Sky Sect Border.¡±

    ¡°Hospital!¡±

    Seeing that the hand that helped her is the only hand he has left, ¡°Well, Sky Sect Border after that.¡±

    Leaning outside, viewing the total security of the transport that is about to happen in the rundown building, she narrowed her eyes down with a tightened pain in her chest.

    ¡®Sleep tight, little queen. I won''t let you go again. Never.¡¯

    On the other end of the view, Siola is there in her capsule, still sleeping soundly despite the extremely loud noises from the outside.

    As she was brought into a large compartment, her story continues.

    ***

 Chapter 33 â€“ State of the World

    The sun''s scorching heat dried up my lips and throat. I''m tired... Walking in this kind of environment in this kind of black clothing. Not to mention, I don¡¯t even have boots, only wrapping of cloth covering only parts of my feet. To say the sand is hot is an understatement. I have been mindlessly walking onward until I suddenly snapped out of it.

    ¡°Nuh?!¡±

    Subconsciously opening my inventory and taking a potion out of it, I regain my composure upon looking at the bottle.

    {Fatigue Relieve Potion / Tier 1 / Upon full consumption, slightly release tiredness and recover 10% of Maximum Health}

    ¡°Should I?¡±

    ¡®But what if I will need it later?¡¯

    ¡®If possible, I want to save up all the resources I have as much as possible so I can complete this task with flying colors. Besides, will this thing even quench my thirst?¡¯

    Glancing at it.

    *Chug *Chug *Chug

    Eyes peeled, my body instinctively do ballet as my face smoothened like a baby, ¡°Ohohohohoho~!¡±

    ¡°Whoopsies. Almost dropped the orb thing.¡±

    Still thirsty, but I¡¯m refreshed to my very core!

    ¡°Oooooooooiii, is there anyone there?!¡± an echo of a masculine voice coming from afar.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    Pinpointing its direction, I make haste to check it out. When I arrive there, I saw a man on top of a giant elephant-like creature. Multiple tusks that resemble a fang, three small ruby eyes, and one large eye on each side of its head. The elephant-like creature has thick black fur all around its body and a ¡°balancing weight¡± carpet laid on its body, it''s the symbol of a merchant.

    ¡°Heeey!~¡±

    The man flinched as he saw me, ¡°Holy shit, finally!¡±

    Dressed in a vagabond-like fashion, he was quite intimidating at first glance but turns out, he¡¯s quite nice. Since it was my first encounter with another player other than Galliano, I approach him with caution. It would be disrespectful of me to use the [Lucid Eyes]¡¯s Maxima Appraisal on him, plus, he might have the ability to detect it.

    He set up a quick tarp and pulls the carpet so he can sit, sighing as he felt relief, ¡°Thank God, I thought for sure that I was going in a circle. About to give up on this godforsaken place,¡±

    ¡°GalaxBiTokua,¡± extending his hand, ¡°Just call me Galax.¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    I shook his hand. It''s odd to think that a player can get lost in the overworld when they have [Map] screen available, ''Does his is also glitching out?''

    ¡°A merchant in this place. Doesn¡¯t seem like a good route to take.¡±

    ¡°Well duh, but seriously, me and my boy Gajah over here got swept by a whirlpool when we walked to that jungle. And when I woke up, I got my boy almost turning into a ghost from that damn scorpion, and let me tell ya, it was nasty.¡±

    ¡°A whirlpool in a jungle?¡±

    Nodding, ¡°The Great Forest of Sylph.¡±

    ¡°Home of the Fairies,¡± pondering a minute, it got me thinking, ¡®A teleportation barrier maybe. I wish I can hear about it more, but in case it''s related to any of his quests, then it''s not the best action to ask him about it. We¡¯ve just met, after all, there¡¯s no way he would tell me ¨C a stranger ¨C something so important.¡¯

    ¡°Anyway, where are you headed? Those clothes you wear¡­  doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯re looking for a church nearby. And let me tell you, there¡¯s no evil-looking one I¡¯ve seen.¡±

    Got a slight chuckle out of me, ¡°No, I was going to meet up with someone but I got lost in the way. Did you find ruin on the way here? We were supposed to meet there.¡±

    ¡°A ruin? Nah, I found a big demon though. World boss, I think.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± a problem for another time then, ¡°Do you have a map of Ekolia?¡±

    There are two ways to view a map. One is the [Map] screen panel which can reveal the entire world of Ekolia and the state of things like major questline, guilds, and events announced by the system. And the other is Map Items which is a physical map one can carry around but you cannot interact with it the same way as a screen.

    ¡°Only got sketches.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s alright. Do you think I can trade that with the books I have? There¡¯s [Combustion], [Wall of Stone], and [Heal Array] I can trade.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s absolutely fine.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like a few provisions if you have some on you still.¡±

    ¡°Of course, dude. Not like I ever been hungry lol, I was totally going to log out and eat if I can¡¯t find the exit out of this place soon.¡±

    The map he gave. It¡¯s not the world¡¯s sketch, but rather, this region. A place where 4 kingdoms lie.

    ¡°Uhhh, for some reason, I can¡¯t send you the invite. Without the prompt, you¡¯ll have no proof of the trade we did. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡®Oh? That¡¯s odd,¡¯ but that shouldn¡¯t be a problem, ¡°Can we still trade even without it?¡±

    ¡°I mean if you¡¯re fine with it.¡±

    Shifting my attention back to the map, ¡®In this timeline where many places are still locked, and the fact that he has it. I can assume that we''re in this region. There is a desert area around Borsuli, so we might be close to the poorest kingdom here.¡¯

    ¡®This map is as barebone as it gets. I might want to ditch it later for something more useful.¡¯

    Leaving the tarp while looking at the map, I see the sun up in the sky. Glancing from my left to my right, determine where is North. Where I came from, the position of the sun then. I turned approximately 90 degrees to the right and look at the map once again.

    ¡°Man, I was hoping you would have to have a Teleportation Scroll at least, but I should¡¯ve guessed that since you¡¯re here in the first place, you wouldn¡¯t have one.¡±

    ¡®Do people not have teleportation spell on hand these days?¡¯

    ¡°If you head straight over there, just follow where the sun sets. I believe you will get out of the desert in no time.¡±

    ¡°What?! Really?!!¡±

    I nodded, ¡°If you head in the opposite, you will get to Bursoli, but it¡¯ll take time.¡±

    ¡°Damn, dude. You¡¯re awesome man, thank you. Oh yeah, you¡¯re still new, right?¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°Wanna join our guild? I belong to Kaliaga Phyton, a sub 10k guild, and have all members pretty much active during both day and night.¡±

    Definitely, never heard of it before.

    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, you must be planning to join the top ones, ain¡¯tcha? Don¡¯t bother. Like seriously, even the ninth-rank Black Moon in the local guild is impossible for us mortals to be in. Crazy standards, I tell ya.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± come to think of it, I never actually care much about being in a group, ¡°Can you tell me more about them? Guilds, I mean.¡±

 Chapter 34 â€“ Players and Guilds

    Sitting under the shade he built, Galax updates me on everything, and it expands my horizon even more as information is key to progress. A guild has a base structure and leaderboard division between them. A guild is made up of 6 official roles.

    <ul>

    <li>Guildmaster</li>

    <li>Vice-Guildmaster</li>

    <li>Officer</li>

    <li>Veteran</li>

    <li>Member</li>

    <li>Initiate</li>

    </ul>

    A guild can make a custom role out of these but they will have to assign it to have a specific perk belonging to the official role. As for the leaderboard, it is split into three divisions. Local, National, and International. Within the real world, Local means the ¡°Island¡± they¡¯re in. National is the entire sector while International means all 4 sectors or the entire world.

    The Top 10 Internationals.

    <ul>

    <li>Jormungandr / 1<sup>st</sup> / 4B+ Points</li>

    <li>Elven Monastery / 2<sup>nd</sup> / 3B+ Points</li>

    <li>Kalash Backlash / 3<sup>rd</sup> / 2B+ Points</li>

    <li>Heavenly God Union / 4<sup>th</sup> / 2B+ Points</li>

    <li>Seven Warriors / 5<sup>th</sup> / 1B+ Points</li>

    <li>Black Gold Practitioner / 6<sup>th</sup> / 1B+ Points</li>

    <li>Ruling Sky / 7<sup>th</sup> / 1B+ Points</li>

    <li>Drake Mega Blast / 8<sup>th</sup> / 1B+ Points</li>

    <li>Holy City / 9<sup>th</sup> / 1B+ Points</li>

    <li>B.B.W / 10<sup>th</sup> / 1B+ Points</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I mentioned our guild is sub 10k, that was the ''Points'' that have been accumulated from a lot of questing, resource gathering, upgrades, dungeon, etc. Lots of stuff, we¡¯re even building a guild housing which will make it official for us to enter the leaderboards.¡±

    Guild Housing. Part of what makes Ekolia special is that people can truly live in it. Galax mentioned that the top 5, all have guild housing so big they had to manage and pay the top-ranking members/officers like an employee. Jormungandr and Elven Monastery even have large enough housing to rival the most prosperous kingdom in this region.

    Switching it to individuals however, is where everything becomes foggy because the strongest player never listed themselves in the leaderboards. I know this because it¡¯s the first thing my shitty-ass manager told me when I joined the league back in my previous life.

    Not only that I was recommended to unlist myself from all the rankings, but I was also constantly being told to lay low. There is a valid reason for this. If you¡¯re well known, people will know how you play, how you do things, your style, and almost everything. It¡¯s good to advertise yourself by becoming a ranker, but you will not know the extent of the pro league players who sweat themselves to no end while rankers out there stream their cute personalities.

    So, rankers and pro league players are living in a different world entirely. While the former enjoy the glory and fame of having their name bringing so much exposure, the latter have to live in caves before they get their hands on a trophy.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    I used to be at the top 1000 as a pro league player, and that is enough achievement for me to publicize myself but I never won big tournaments.

    Current Top Rankers

    <ul>

    <li>Mona / 1<sup>st</sup> / Level 370</li>

    <li>[PAGN] Everblade / 2<sup>nd</sup> / Level 331</li>

    <li>Hanbin / 3<sup>rd</sup> / Level 328</li>

    <li>00008992382123 / 4<sup>th</sup> / Level 311</li>

    <li>Tikshun-Oppa / 5<sup>th</sup> / Level 306</li>

    <li>Kun Ta Mere / 6<sup>th</sup> / Level 302</li>

    <li>Xiao Liao / 7<sup>th</sup> / Level 295</li>

    <li>Andre / 8<sup>th</sup> / Level 295</li>

    <li>PP2k / 9<sup>th</sup> / Level 288</li>

    <li>DrakeBlaster13 / 10<sup>th</sup> / Level 273</li>

    </ul>

    Going by these rankings, the average players in the game should be something around Level 80-200, which means, they¡¯re still babies. It takes 4 years for these numbers to go around 3000-5000 and of course, there are those who have reached max level.

    ¡®Rakuri and Kurira, if those two settled on just one avatar, they would¡¯ve reached max level considering how active they are. All in the dream of reaching the Capital.¡¯

    There is one thing that enables people to have a high level, it¡¯s Ekolia¡¯s biggest expansion. Transcendental Realms of the End Kings. Ekolia¡¯s expansion comes out yearly, but none of them opens up without a pioneer. The first is Mechanical Technology, which brings many numbers of improvements and unique mechanics to the game, pun intended.

    Not only that it introduces several new subclasses, but it¡¯s also a dream come true for the crafting community. Particularly since the system allows for limitless item creation. I¡¯ve seen what people can do with it. The scariest part about Mechanical Technology, or rather, the people that invented a system based on it. The so-called Automation. People can build metal ships with turrets that can blast a sea dragon in no time without even using many human resources.

    It also introduces several explorable areas, unique monsters, raids, and many other things. And it has been opened, it seems. But Ekolia shines the greatest with the Lost Realms from the Transcendental Realms of the End Kings. It¡¯s a huge raid area that takes tens to even hundreds of thousands of people to complete, and it takes months to finish. It''s like exploring and conquering another planet.

    And to add to that, the entirety of Ekolia itself will become fully explorable.

    ¡°Thanks for keeping me company, man. I was almost bored myself to death walking out here alone, and if fate allows it. Ey, hope I can meet you again.¡±

    I shook his hand, ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± shocked face, ¡°Geh?! Why can¡¯t I send you Friend Request?¡±

    I don¡¯t even know why that happens, ¡®It''s probably a bug because I haven¡¯t gone through the normal gate''s portal and maybe once I finish the stuff in Prison Realm where I can then explore Ekolia freely, will make things go normal again.¡¯

    ¡®Just in case, I¡¯ll send a ticket when I return.¡¯

    I waved the man goodbye as he leaves with his elephant monster to the west side. Thanks to him, this journey to find the ruin will become a bit more bearable.

    ¡°Haah¡­ I¡¯m lacking in time but those are useful info, alright,¡± glancing at the black orb in my palm, I narrowed my eyes down, ¡®If Replica is there, she must¡¯ve heard all of that. Not that it¡¯s really a problem as I never said who I was or my name or anything. Her not saying anything must¡¯ve determined that I¡¯m in the clear also.¡±

    After looking at the map, I decided to head south. Further into the desert.

 Chapter 35 â€“ Terra-beak Raptor

    The wind blows in the heat of the sun. I kept thinking about how big this world is yet how empty despite that. But thanks to the provisions I bought from that guy, the heat is bearable.

    *Gulp *Gulp *Gulp

    Drinking from the flask, ¡°Pwah,¡± I sighed, ¡°Haa¡­ I need a mount.¡±

    ¡®I got a new spell that can summon a creature, but I¡¯m too tired to learn it now. Plus, I doubt it¡¯ll be something that I need,¡¯ then I remembered those chicken things, ¡®Right, I need to find one.¡¯

    I regretted turning them all into my meal.

    Halting my step, I took a deep breath as I calm my mind, ¡°Alright,¡± slowly opened my [Lucid Eyes], ¡°Maxima Appraisal.¡±

    One ought to think of how tiers are implemented to an evolving spell. There are three paths to which a spell can evolve. First is triggering a condition, for example, [Siphon], a spell that can consume all three attributes at the same time, but when the user keeps using a lot of Mana and constantly absorbing in excess of the other two attributes, it becomes [Mana Siphon].

    The second is infusion. It¡¯s where a spell can be enhanced with an element that boosts or even changes its effect entirely, for example, using [Siphon] at lava to absorb its attribute ¨C it¡¯s not possible ¨C but doing it long enough and it will become [Lava Siphon] which will make it possible to do so and whenever one uses it on lava, their body will receive protection of flame for a while, but the infusion nulls the previous ability to consume attributes from a creature.

    The last is the simplest, most straightforward path but the hardest to get right. And that is evolving the tier of the spell. Letting Tier 3 [Siphon] become Tier 5 [Greater Siphon] by constantly practicing and using it without triggering any condition of evolution. Once the proficiency is enough, it will evolve into the higher tier version of itself whenever the user has enough attributes to use it. Such as the Tier 8 [Mega Siphon] to Tier 10 [Maxima Siphon].

    Or even the peak version of itself, the Tier 11 [Siphon Overdrive].

    ¡°Detection. Mana Vision.¡±

    So, what is the difference now between a Tier 2 [Appraisal] and a Tier 10 [Maxima Appraisal]? Right now, I¡¯m seeing every object in my line of sight having a floating window above them detailing their entire information. Including the far away ones that need me to squint my eyes to see them in detail, but thanks to [Mana Vision] however, I can view the majority of them, but adding [Detection] on top of those two. The amount of information in my eyes can literally blind people and nullify their minds but I can¡¯t help myself but laugh at it.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    If I were to glance somewhere right now, I¡¯ll faint. Blinking once more, I decided to deactivate everything and reactivate only the [Maxima Appraisal] and [Mana Vision]. This I can handle as I always have these two active all the time back in my previous life except I have the maxed out version of the former, the Tier 11 [Appraisal Overdrive].

    ¡®The fact that they don¡¯t consume anything after passing Tier 8 is awesome. Self-sustaining spells like these are truly underrated. Then again, it¡¯s because people can¡¯t handle them. Skill issue.¡¯

    A presence finally tickles the edge of my eyes, coming from the west. A group of birds scattered in the distance, ¡®If only I have [Hawk Eyes] too.¡¯

    Not being able to zoom in as I want is truly inconvenient, so I had to go there myself.

    Sharp beak, two sapphire eyes. Black feather on its chest, white feather on its body. Standing on two long legs with huge puncturing claws extending from their feet.

    ! {Appraisal}

    ~ {Terra-Beak Raptor / Level 89 / Reptile / Health: 21.000 / Mana: 1000 / Stamina: 32.000 / Attack: 300 / Defense: 50 / Innate Ability: [Greater Fire Resist] [Lightweight] [Cries of the Pack] [Power Slash] [Strengthened Pierce] [Earth Spike] [Haste]}

    ¡°Hmm, how do I tame one of those? They¡¯re all above 80.¡±

    The general rule of thumb is you need to be at least 1.5x higher level than the creature you want to tame, and there are a few methods one can use to do it if they are not a beast tamer. One that I know I can do is feed it until it likes you or torture it until it fears you.

    ¡°Nah, no way.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not gonna give ''em my food!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll just force you guys to give me a ride!!¡±

    Jumping on them. I wanted to land on the back of one, but it suddenly turns its head towards me and blasted my body with a shockwave crying out of its mouth.

    *K-Kaaaaaawwwwww *Bwooooooosh

    The deafening sound followed by an impactful wind blowing me away, ¡°Ignition!¡± rotating in the air as a burst of flame swirl when I land. Without wasting time, I run towards them with my hands wide open! Welcoming their attack!

    ¡°Come, chicky chicky chicky.¡±

    *K-Kaaaaaawwwwww*

    *K-Kaaaaaawwwwww*

    *K-Kaaaaaawwwwww*

    ¡°Bah! Trying to push me from all sides now? What, you want me to faint from this?¡±

    But then suddenly one raises its feet and stomps them. I can still see every one of their status windows so of course, I expect those spikes coming at me, ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    Pushing me up but the spikes are growing even to the side of the wall and coming straight to its surface, I had no choice but to get away and land right on the back of the raptor.

    *K-Kaaaaaawwwwww*

    ¡°Hmph,¡± resisting the wind with all my might, ¡°Haha! I gotcha!¡±

    *Bak *Bak *Bak

    Pecking me.

    {-200}

    {-200}

    {-200}

    ¡°Ow, ow, owwww! Stop doing that, I feel weird since there¡¯s no pain in it, but please stahp!¡± grabbing its thin scaled neck, I blow it with my own flaming echo, ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *Bwoooooooosh*

    Staggered, the reptile chicken suffers a concussion, but I don¡¯t plan to let it rest. Pulling the back of its head and smacking the side of its stomach with my foot.

    *K-Kaaaaaaaaawwwwwwww *Bwooosh

    The waving flame radiating out of my body often covers my eyes, but I can see the flow of this battle clearly, ¡°Trying to save your friend? Haha, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t kill her.¡±

    Gasping as I hold my breath deeper, ¡°Combustion!¡±

    *BWOOOOOOOOOOOSH*

    ¡°Heheh,¡± pulling my new mount¡¯s head to the south, ¡°See ya!¡±

    When it uses [Haste], it speeds up its movement and I bail out from all those reptile chickens with my new temporary companion giving me a ride to my unknown destination.

 Chapter 36 â€“ Depth of an Abyss

    Slapping me to the sandy ground, ¡°Nuhuh?!¡± I landed flat with my butt in the air.

    *K-Kaawww*

    The bird left with a fuming scalp.

    There¡¯s no reason for me to tame it in my current condition, not that I have a tamed beast in my previous life as it poses quite an inconvenience for me to manage and raise.

    Lifting my sight, I found an incredible view of a cracked landscape that shines a light on the place beneath it, ¡°Huh, it blends in quite nicely. No wonder it¡¯s so hard to find.¡±

    Thanks to [Mana Vision], I managed to find this earlier than expected.

    ¡°I think I found the place, Ma¡¯am,¡± talking to the orb, but no response was given from the other side, ¡°Should I just go in?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡®No,¡¯ taking a seat on the heated desert, ¡°Just be a good girl and wait. Maybe she¡¯s occupied with something right now. Hell, is this book really that important to her?¡±

    ¡®For all I know, she might just be looking for a reason to kill me.¡¯

    While waiting, I thought it¡¯s a good idea for me to take out some of the food and enjoy the scenery under the scorching light of the sun here in the middle of the desert. It¡¯s a bit terrible of an idea but I require snacks to enjoy this scene.

    ¡°Ruins, huh.¡±

    ¡®The scenery reminds me of a dungeon. Back when I first started, I don¡¯t bother looking for one until those two introduced me to it.¡¯

    When I touch a game, I tend to dominate it. But Ekolia is different. Doing alchemy, being a team player, and doing charities to the NPC in need. I can¡¯t help but smile at how blissful it was.

    A game is all about having fun, and that is what I hope I can cherish in this lifetime.

    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    My skin crawls as soon as the explosive sound rang behind me. I turned to look in shock to abruptly see an enormously large creature emerging from the sand. Hundreds of feet tall if it can even be measured as ¡°tall¡±, the creature that has emerged is an enormous worm full of sharp scales with its carapace hardening in black color.

    ¡°What. The. F¡ª¡±

    ! {Hidden World Boss Encounter}

    ~ {Ignimulnir, Desert Slave | Lv. ???}

    ! {Appraisal}

    ~ {Ignimulnir / Level: 875 / Rock Eater / Health: 400.000 / Mana: 25.600 /Stamina: 100.000 / Attack: 2.500 / Defense: 5.500 / Innate Ability: [Grand Fire Resist] [Impenetrable] [Bolstered Drill] [Tempered Shell] [Puncturing Carapace]}

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    *BOOOOOOOOOOM*

    Crashing straight at me, my legs instinctively stretched out more than a V as the worm went inside the ground. It was long, so long that it felt like an eternity for it completely submerges.

    *Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooosh*

    ¡°Awawawawawawawawawawawawawawwawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawa.¡±

    Quickly stood, I ran away as I yell, "MADAM REPLICA! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!"

    I kept running as the creature emerged from the sand and spiraling at me, "PLEASE HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!"

    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    Smashing right near me, "Nyuhuh?"

    "HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

    I thought the situation was pretty funny. How when I finally found the place I¡¯m looking for only to be ambushed by a creature I cannot imagine defeating. At that moment, I thought for sure that Replica will come and get me or assist me in any way she can. I even hold on to the orb she entrusted to me like it¡¯s my fifth limb, but why she never came?

    An hour or so has passed by and I¡¯m too tired to go on any further. The worm¡¯s persistence to drill me into pieces, I don¡¯t find it funny. I¡¯m conflicted. Should I go into the ruin or should I wait for another minute? I wasn¡¯t given much instruction so I don¡¯t know what to do. What is it that I should do? Should I just stop running?

    Right, I have [Immortality], I thought. And it was then that I stopped moving.

    *BWOOSH*

    That gory sound of flesh decapitated in a quick flash. Half of my body was cut roughly. Half of my chest, half of my waist, half of my head. Yet, I feel no pain. This experience, it¡¯s different from the time when my health reaches 0.

    This extreme discomfort.

    My blood leaked out of my belly. My kidney missing, and my gut is sagging. I can even touch it, and there I see the deepest color of blood on my hand. How it dripped from the edge of my palm, it¡¯s the same scene as when I took a life for the first time.

    ***

    Flashes of unsavory memories swept every attention away from her mind, it¡¯s at the time when she returns from a vending machine bringing a bag of food and drinks for her friends. The city streets are dark and lonely. Before taking a turn to an alley, she heard the voices of her friends.

    ¡°¡­ Oughta ye¡­¡±

    *Murmur*

    ¡°¡­ Meh¡­ Not Bad¡­¡±

    Several cuts to their speech due to how far she is away from them. But then Siola heard something that made her eyes peel to the edge.

    ¡°¡­ Cily¡­ Uhuh¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Recruit¡­ and, to¡­ We¡­¡±

    Siola appeared from the shadows to bring that food to her friends with a smile on her face. But something doesn¡¯t feel right and the others notice it.

    ¡°Dola? You good?¡± asked Kurira.

    ¡°¡­¡± smiling still, ¡°I think I¡¯m gonna poop.¡±

    ¡°Nuhuh?!¡± Rakuri was shocked to the very core, ¡°Why did you hold it in till now?! Let¡¯s go, quick!¡±

    ¡°Bathroom¡¯s right there!¡±

    ¡°Awawawawa!¡±

    Not long after that night. When the moon is at its highest, Siola came to her senses. She sees a young woman, with her eyes wide open. Scared and shocked, her neck showering blood. In Siola¡¯s hand is a kitchen knife, and on the young woman¡¯s body are thirteen stab wounds to her chest and fifteen slashes to her stomach. There is not a single wound inflicted on Siola.

    All the nerves in her left hand suddenly disappear, letting her drop the knife she holds. But dripping from the edge of her palm is the deepest color of blood.

    It¡¯s as though that scene is swallowed hole in the darkness when Siola stood in the middle of the desert with half of her upper body roughly torn, leading her to bleed to an extreme degree and even though her mind is nulled from the pain, her body experience it all.

    The rock eater emerged once more to finish its job. Rotating as it swirls in a straight line toward Siola while she¡¯s standing still. But then, the rock eater phases through her. The parts of Siola that it pierced through turned to smoke just gushing out of her.

    *BRMMMMMM*

    The rock eater submerged into the sand, preparing for the next attack. The parts of Siola that have turned to smoke return to her. Slowly but surely, her torn body is healing. Restoring both her and her clothes. Her neck tilted as her heart formed anew, but its color is not that of blood, but a pitch-black goo. The hand she¡¯s staring at is raised to the heat of the sun. She let out a light gasp as she breathes.

    {Luosa, Mage of the Abyss | Lv. 1}

 Chapter 37 â€“ Luosa, Mage of the Abyss

    Fingernails extended as she felt the sensation of her thumb and index finger rubbing, the texture of the skin, the details she sees, and the noise she heard. Behind her, is the giant rock eater swirling as it''s heading towards her direction. But at that time, her body has completely healed. When she turns to see the rock eater, the silver eyes of Siola''s avatar have long disappeared, and in their place are the darkest pitch-black eyes covering her entire sclera.

    Flame sparks before engulfing her entire body aflame, but upon it touching her chest, the flame swirl, and its color changes to the color of her eyes with a shade of cold purple flaring.

    [Ignition]

    > [Abyssal Ignition]

    [Abyssal Ignition / Tier 7 ¨C Supreme / Dark / Coat oneself in Abyss Flame. In the Abyssal Ignition state, increase Fire Resistance by up to 100%, increase Dark Resistance by up to 100%, reduce Light Resistance by up to 200%, and able to activate [Abyssal Combustion] at will. Potency and penalty increase as more Mana is consumed. Reduce Experience Gain by flat 50% / Cooldown: None / Costs: 5% Mana]

    She walks towards the rock eater slowly, sluggishly, but with an unfathomable focus. She then raises her arm, her left hand, and when the rock eater phases through her once more, she grabs and holds on to its carapace. That hand of hers glows.

    [Abyssal Touch]

    Magical energy of three different colors sucked into Siola¡¯s hand, going into her veins as it glows silver as all three colors infused. The rock eater submerged into the sand with Siola still holding onto it. But then a spark of embers appears on her teeth when she clicks her tongue.

    [Abyssal Combustion]

    Not long after the rock eater is submerged, the lonely sand is quiet until the rock eater emerged once more engulfed in the darkest flame. It shines brightly in the sun as the creature is up in the air before smashing impactfully to the ground.

    *BOOOOOOOM*

    ***

    Within a glowing orb, it reveals Siola from a 135 field of vision from the side. How she falls flat on her face to the ground but on the observer¡¯s side, Replica widens her eyes after witnessing what has unfolded. She is glancing at the fake Siola in front of her, smirking.

    ¡°You,¡± Replica glares, ¡°Which one did you put inside her?¡±

    Grinning widely, ¡°It seems I may have accidentally made a mistake.¡±

    ¡°Goolag, you did not.¡±

    ¡°Heheh,¡± gasping lightly yet remained grinning widely, ¡°It was an honest mistake. But you saw it too. That was not the thing¡¯s doing. That was something else entirely.¡±

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Replica stood and takes the orb with her, ¡°Lord Ludwig will not be pleased about this.¡±

    ¡°Your daughter has returned! What¡¯s not to like about that?¡±

    Waving her hand violently in the air, Replica created a portal that sucks air, violently making a mess of the herbs and books within the room.

    *Bwoosh*

    ¡°That thing is not her. And I¡¯m not her mother.¡±

    ***

    I¡¯m awake, but the ground is so comfortable to the point that I don¡¯t want to leave it. Sighing, I express my feelings deeply, ¡°Haa¡­ I wanna suck some tits.¡±

    {Luosa}

    Replica, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I wanna suck your tiddies.¡±

    {¡­}

    {Have you found the ruin?}

    Lifting my body, ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am!¡±

    {Head inside then. Quickly retrieve the book}

    ¡°Right away, Ma¡¯am!¡±

    But I can¡¯t help but notice the giant corpse of the rock eater lying behind me, ¡®What the hell happened actually? Did it die after getting tired of killing me?¡¯

    Tilting my head, I narrow my eyes down as I observe the corpse.

    ¡®Doesn¡¯t look to be damaged much, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it starts moving all of a sudden but how did it die exactly? Could it be, miss Replica came here to help me?¡¯

    ¡®No, had it been that she wouldn¡¯t have asked me about the ruin.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s most likely that in this desert, there is another creature stronger than this thing. One that can inflict damage without harming the thing¡¯s body,¡¯ pondering, ¡®A few creatures came to mind but those kinds are not the type that walks around in the daylight and especially in this kind of place.¡¯

    At the top of the creature¡¯s front, a giant orb sticking out of it before landing on the ground.

    [Corrupted Heart of the Desert Slave (Quest Item) / Rank S / Legendary]

    ¡°Ohoh?¡±

    ¡®So, I triggered a Quest, huh? No wait, I didn¡¯t get the quest, I only got the item. Hm? Wait, have I ever gotten a Quest Item without receiving the Quest itself before?¡¯

    ¡®In any case, though, I got something great. Single Rank S but a legendary item. It¡¯s quite possibly the best in this class range. I would definitely want a Mythic Rank A instead of this, but can¡¯t really complain at the stage I¡¯m in.¡¯

    ¡®I wonder what this thing is. Although it says that it''s a heart, I have never seen anything like it.¡¯

    Every monster has a core. An animal is no longer classified as an animal if they have something else pumping its body other than its heart. Same thing with humans. I¡¯ve seen lunatics. Both players and NPCs, trying to become something more. Using incomprehensible methods of madness and ended up becoming miserable.

    ¡®Heheh, bastards that can never be like me who has reached the top 1000 with a Priest Class no less. This time too. Although it¡¯s meaningless to compete in real life as the view I had on them does not exist yet.¡¯

    Glancing at the dark orb on the ground. I slip the giant red orb into [Inventory] as I don¡¯t like to bring something so heavy in hand.

    I approach the dark orb as I hold it up, ¡°Can I ask something?¡±

    {¡­}

    {Speak}

    ¡°How strong is everyone?¡±

    {Who is this everyone?}

    ¡°Avarice, Malice, or um, that Draugr and¡­ you.¡±

    {Enough to kill you in a blink of an eye}

    ¡°Nuhuh?!¡±

    But no, that¡¯s not the answer I want, so I ask once more, ¡°Say if I were to use magic that can distort time and space. Say if one of you were to get caught in it.¡±

    ¡°And then¡­¡± expressing it as I remember the scene of the last battle I fought in my previous life. The explosion that destroys both the skeleton and the dragon I face, ¡°Boom.¡±

    {¡­}

    {Time and Space. What a peculiar combination of words. You who know nothing of the Arcane to even mention the idea. But no, even if you implode every one of us from within, we would simply recover by the use of our [Immortality] which is incomparable to yours}

    ¡®Then why did they die from that?¡¯ the notification I received was no lie, I have truly defeated both Mage of the Abyss and the Abandoned Heir of the Dragon King.

    {Have you gone inside the ruin?}

    ¡°Eh? Oh, I¡¯m about to.¡±

    {Luosa!}

    ¡°Awawawawawa!¡± dashing onward! To the ruin of whatever book it¡¯s holding!

 Chapter 38 â€“ Book of the Unknown

    Descending a level from the entrance of the ruin, I see no light, not even a single candle or a punch hole through anything, leaving me to use [Ignition] on my right hand as a torch. Staircase, I walked down expecting danger, but there¡¯s nothing here. Except, a marking on the walls, some kind of symbol portraying many planets with starry clouds above, presumable, the galaxy.

    ¡°What is this place?¡±

    {A relic from ancient times. They once said it was a place of worship}

    ¡°Hunh, and who are they?¡±

    {Elves}

    Narrow foundation connecting the staircase to another. Glancing at the open space both on my right and left side. I don''t dare to lean away to look at the depth, ¡®Oof. I¡¯d be dead if I fall here.¡¯

    ¡°A place of worship. If it¡¯s Elven, does it mean the fairies? Like the God of Fairies?¡±

    {The Spirit King}

    ¡°¡­¡± narrowing my eyes down, I ponder, ¡®So, we¡¯re not talking about the recent ancient time, but rather, the old ancient time. The topic of the four kings rarely ever comes out of people¡¯s mouths.¡¯

    {As far as I remember, this temple used to be surrounded not by a desert but by a forest}

    ¡°Was it part of the Great Forest of Sylph?¡±

    {No. That place was called that long after}

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    {The Divine Order laid waste upon that land. Turning it into what it is today in the war against the Demon King. Regardless, you must obtain the book. I believe it contains something related to The Unknown. Have you ever heard of the term, Idle-State?}

    ¡°Uhh? Like standing still?¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute, I can¡¯t follow. What War? And huh? Demon King? I mean okay, but the Divine Order is ruled by a human god, right? It stems from the same root, the Spirit King, so why would they destroy their allies, the Elves, and turns this place into this?¡±

    {You sounded just like a real Wanderer. Or maybe you¡¯re just an ignorant fool}

    ¡°Mean!¡±

    {Alliance is made to accomplish a goal, working together towards it, but by no means one will share the same views as the other. One of the many such examples is the ruin you''re in. Despite already having many gods that can be chosen to grant a blessing from, they chose to worship another being. One who is revered even by the gods themselves}

    ¡®Well, I guess it¡¯s just like me then. I didn¡¯t worship any of the gods, but rather, I chose to worship one of the End Kings called Konig. Even though I didn¡¯t get a blessing from it, I did gain the Chronomancy Magic through the Unique Quest related to that one.¡±

    {One speaks of magical occurrences where one of the worshippers often levitates in the air, calling a powerful storm that can last for days. They don¡¯t eat, they don¡¯t drink, they just stay floating in the air as if they are sleeping in the comfort of the wind constantly being rotated by it. That is the so-called Idle-State, a method of prayer presumably used by the original worshipper of the Spirit King}

    ¡®¡­¡¯ puffing my cheeks, ¡®She seems to be enthusiastic about these things. I never even prayed once in my past life. I wonder if I should have?¡¯

    ¡®Whatever, let''s just focus on the task at hand.''

    Upon arrival to the bottom floor, music and a melancholic humbling symphony of men were rumbling in my head. Signaling my arrival at the special place.

    ! {You have entered a Safe Zone}

    ~ {Gaia¡¯s Tooth}

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Narrowing my eyes down, ¡®Gaia?¡¯

    ¡®So, it is elven.¡¯

    Non-combat areas, Safe Zone. They are usually only available where major cities lie. It¡¯s a place where restrictions apply to players. Combat will be met with heavy consequences by either the gods or the Divine Order, but it also protects players from encountering any monsters. So, it made me ponder, ¡®What an odd decision to make this a safe zone. In this empty desert where no activities are available, I would wager that none of the Travelers will even consider spending time in this place.¡¯

    I remember that I¡¯ll be getting a starter pack once I entered a safe zone, but apparently, it seems that that too is bugged which I assumed because this place doesn¡¯t really count as a Safe Zone. Sighing as I thought, ¡®Probably just some food or some other trash anyway.¡¯

    Then suddenly, my [Ignition] extinguished.

    {You¡¯re close}

    My eyes peeled as I peek at my Profile Status still seeing there was some mana left.

    ¡®Anti-magic field.¡¯

    Encountering such a high-tiered spell makes me nervous. It¡¯s dark, this place. Even after my eyes adjusted to it, hardly any light remotely lit.

    ¡°Hesso Neampha¡­¡±

    *Fwoosh*

    My eyes widened as a hush of whisper blew into my ear. Glancing to the right, I see no one, the same as the left and behind me. But then, when I faced the front, I heard chanting. It¡¯s like from both sides of me, more than a dozen people chanting incomprehensible words at me.

    ¡°Hesso Naempha Le he De So Hemma Naempha Le Me Ra¡­¡±

    I can¡¯t move as the voice is powerful enough to stun me. Listening to every word spoken makes my head wobble, but it reminds me of something. The encounter I had in my past life as a worshipper of the End King. I was tasked to deliver some unconscious people through different realms and place them in many different parts of Ekolia. In a few instances, some of them were full of people already waiting for me. Hooded old men with skin already deteriorated to an unrecognizable degree.

    ¡°Hateke Me Ra Hashi si No se Ha Ma Re Tedoso¡­¡±

    All chanting the same thing they are now, with vigor.

    ¡°Hesso Naempha La Ma Re Tekko He So Nemera. Be Le Heso Oh Tekke¡­¡±

    Feeling veins pop in my eyes, widening as I bit my tongue. Letting it bleed as I let the dark orb in my hand fall. I took a step forward but a sudden shockwave blew my mind from all directions. But, I won¡¯t let my eyes roll out from this. Anxious, enough to a point that it¡¯s making me mad. It¡¯s similar to what happened when I and Avarice meet Replica, but this, I don¡¯t think these things are doing something to me, rather, they¡¯re doing something for me. And I don''t like it at all.

    ¡°Gido Sessho Ha Shi Bi. Be Le Hesho Hatika¡­¡±

    This, I don¡¯t like it. I don¡¯t like any of this. So, I walk further until every single chanting is behind me. But as I walk, I¡¯m starting to lose consciousness.

    ¡°Hesso Naempha He De So Hemma Naempha Le Me Ra¡­¡±

    ¡°Hesso Naempha He De So Hemma Naempha Le Me Ra¡­¡±

    ¡°Hesso Naempha He De So Hemma Naempha Le Me Ra¡­¡±

    ¡°Hesso Naempha He De So Hemma Naempha Le Me Ra¡­¡±

    ¡°SASSHHI TEKKO MA MA RE! HASHI NE MA HASHIHA!¡±

    ¡°SASSHHI TEKKO MA MA RE! HASHI NE MA HASHIHA!¡±

    ¡°SASSHHI TEKKO MA MA RE! HASHI NE MA HASHIHA!¡±

    ¡°SASSHHI TEKKO MA MA RE! HASHI NE MA HASHIHA!¡±

    ¡°SASSHHI TEKKO MA MA RE! HASHI NE MA HASHIHA!¡±

    ¡°SASSHHI TEKKO MA MA RE! HASHI NE MA HASHIHA!¡±

    ¡°SASSHHI TEKKO MA MA RE! HASHI NE MA HASHIHA!¡±

    ¡°SASSHHI TEKKO MA MA RE! HASHI NE MA HASHIHA!¡±

    I feel my feet no longer touch the ground.

    ¡°HERA HOSO HEMORA!¡±

    ¡°HERA HOSO HEMORA!¡±

    ¡°HERA HOSO HEMORA!¡±

    ¡°HASHE TO SHO MEMORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-----------------------///|\\\\\\\\\\----------------------EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR|\\\OOOOOOOOO\\\\|=========RRRRR/////////////////////|\\\\\\\\EEEEEEEEEEE----------------------------------||||||||||/========\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\.......!¡±

    ***

    ! {Warning}

    ~ {Critical System Services has ceased to function}

    ~ {Initiating Reboot}

    ~ {...}

    ~ {Reboot Failed}

    ~ {Troubleshooting...}

    ~ {...}

    ~ {Failed}

    ~ {Unable to Identify the Error}

    ~ {Retrying...}

    ~ {Failed 1/7}

    ~ {Retrying...}

    ~ {Failed 2/7}

    ~ {Failed 3/7}

    ~ {Failed 4/7}

    ~ {Failed 5/7}

    ~ {Failed 6/7}

    ! {Error C-RS-01 has been identified}

    ~ {Resolving...}

    ~ {Failed}

    ~ {Retrying...}

    ! {Error has been Resolved}

    ~ {Profile: Siola Mithra - has been Restored}

    ~ {Critical System Services Online}

    ~ {Connecting to the Server}

    ~ {Failed}

    ~ {Retrying...}

    ~ {Failed 1/7}

    ~ {Retrying...}

    ~ {Failed 2/7}

    ~ {Failed 3/7}

    ~ {Failed 4/7}

    ~ {Failed 5/7}

    ~ {Failed 6/7}

    ~ {Failed 7/7}

    ~ {Troubleshooting...}

    ~ {Error E-RM0 has been Identified}

    ~ {Resolving...}

    ~ {Server Connection has been Established}

    ! {Profile: Siola Mithra}

    ~ {Security Patch Applied: C-RS-E0}

    ~ {User''s ability to connect to the internet via Capsule has been restricted}

    ~ {User''s ability to connect to the internet via Menu has been restricted}

    ~ {User''s ability to access the System''s World Services has been restricted}

    ~ {New Tag applied: NPC}

    ~ {Realism Mode has been Removed}

    ~ {Non-Player Mode has been Added}

    ~ {C-RS-E1 Pre-Patch has been applied}

 Chapter 39 â€“ Relativity of Identity

    I recall the time when my friends and I fought the skeleton, Ludwig, and his dragon. Me and him using our mightiest spell as we face off against each other. But I remember how odd it was. The spell he used, nothing came out of it.

    {Transcendental Law of the Abyss, Bless Soul}

    *Pant *Pant

    My eyes open to see the room lit up brightly. The light comes from a spectral orb, its color is golden and it''s shining.

    As I try to catch my breath, I ponder heavily at the sight of an ominous book in my hand. Its hardcover design is colorfully dark like I see a snippet of the galaxy and it kept me wondering, just what have I got myself into?

    ! {Item Obtained}

    ~ {Book of the Unknown / Transcendental / ---}

    My eyes peeled like never before.

    "A transcendental rank? What the hell is this?"

    It¡¯s not a grimoire that contains a spell nor it is a skill book. It¡¯s just a book. Like the simplest definition of it. But for it to be a Transcendental Rank, for me, it¡¯s unheard of. I wonder, just what is it contained within. So, I flipped the cover and take a look at its content.

    {Luosa}

    Replica calling out to me, but my curiosity is uncontrollable, but upon opening the book. I see words and symbols unfamiliar to me. I¡¯ve never seen any of them either. Something totally new in front of my eyes, it has totally caught my interest. This would require me to learn about what these characters mean before I can study the symbols, which means, there should be a Quest.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to get back and go through a normal portal first and see if my profile is fixed by doing that because I think, supposedly, I should be getting a Quest here. No, even all the way back where I was tasked by Replica or even when I got taken in.¡¯

    Glancing up at the bright orb above, I calm myself down as I tilt the edge of my lips and raise my brows, ¡°Oh, right.¡± Turning around and taking the dark orb with me, ¡°Ma¡¯am! I have obtained the book!¡±

    {¡­}

    {You have obtained it?}

    {...}

    {Well done}

    ¡®What''s with the awkward pause?¡¯

    {Sit tight, I shall make preparation to teleport you back here}

    ¡°Oh okay.¡±

    ¡®That''s convenient.¡¯

    ¡°¡­¡±

    All those whispers have disappeared when that ball of light appears, ¡°I don''t want to experience that again.¡± And for some reason, my tongue has healed. I mean I expected it, but there''s no blood whatsoever.

    ¡®I wouldn''t dare to try that in real life with my current body as that tongue is not replaceable, haha.¡¯

    The light from the ball briefly flashes in my eyes. I wonder if I can take that sphere so I try to reach it but even at my highest jump, it''s short a few inches away from it.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    *Pomf*

    My cheeks puffed to a balloon.

    *Fume *Fume

    ¡°Oh well, it¡¯s probably just a torch anyway.¡±

    If it is something that can be acquired, it would naturally float to the player. Regardless, now that it produces light to shine on my surrounding, I can inspect the place while I wait for the portal to appear. But there really is nothing here except for the center part of the room where I obtained the book. On the ground, there is a symbol, one that I¡¯m actually familiar with.

    [Judgement]

    ¡®Why is this here?¡¯

    Glancing at the shining orb, ¡®Replica said this place used to be a place of worship to the Spirit King but why there¡¯s a remnant of the End Kings?¡¯

    From the chants of those unknown groups to this symbol.

    ¡®It¡¯s¡ª¡±

    *BWOOSH*

    Interrupting my thoughts, the dark orb in my hand shoots out a magical energy that turns into a portal with the other end not visible from this side. I stood with the book held in my hand, and mumbled to myself cheerily, ¡°Heheh, time to get those praises!¡±

    With my heart fluttering, the edges of my lips tilted. I jump into the portal and present Replica with the book she wanted. I hold it up high as I phase through, shouting, ¡°TADA!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Hm? No response? Ma¡¯am, I got the¡­¡± my eyes widened after seeing that I stood not just before Replica but also the skeleton, Ludwig, and the draugr, Ludtleth. I realize I was not brought to the colosseum as I expected I would be.

    Dumbstruck, but I remember how Avarice greets them. However, I¡¯m nowhere near her status which means, what I should be doing right now, is kneeling on my knees and bowing my head.

    Replica then commanded, ¡°Lift your head, Luosa.¡±

    Upon her mentioning that name, chills ran down my spine as my throat dried up in an instant. My body responded to the sudden outburst of cold magical energy going rampant in front of me. Glancing up, I see a terrorizing dark green flame radiating out of Ludtleth¡¯s decayed body. His eyes turn the same color as his aura but they shine brightly as he glares at Replica.

    ¡°You dare to utter that name in front of our lord? Know your place, mage.¡±

    Shudder. I knew there was something problematic with that name but she kept insisting on calling me that. But then again, I also refuse to give up my real name.

    ¡°Do pardon my insolence, my lord. It was Alpha who calls the Wanderer by that name while she was conversing with her.¡±

    ¡°You could¡¯ve called her a Wanderer just now, but you didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°It is not to my liking to call one as such.¡±

    This heated exchange between them makes my head spin, but then suddenly, the skeleton who sits on the throne speaks, ¡°Silence.¡±

    And so the two stop before things escalate any further. Ludtleth also withdraws his aura. But now their attention is no longer on that name, but rather, me. The sharp gaze that Ludwig has, opens my eyes. This scene where three Transcendental beings stood before the powerless me. I¡¯m being judged for something.

    ¡°Why is that thing in your hand?¡± asked Ludwig in his disturbingly eerie voice.

    ¡°M-Madam Replica told me to retrieve it, um, my lord.¡±

    ¡°And why are we here, Replica?¡±

    She steps forward as she looks down at me with narrowed eyes, ¡°I want her removed.¡±

    My eyes peeled.

    ¡°Alpha told me that she is a Wanderer, and yet, not only that she possesses similar power to that of an experienced Traveler, she constantly dominates her fight against those that are stronger than her which makes me ponder, who is she exactly?¡±

    Puzzled, many things run through my thoughts, ¡°W-Wait, Ma¡¯am, I¡­ I¡ª¡±

    ¡°She refused to tell me her identity. Again, it begs the question, just how a Wanderer can accomplish the retrieval of that book.¡±

    ¡°W-What? But you told me to get it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, I told you to. You were not the first that I ask to retrieve it. I myself have also entered that place, only to find myself waking up hundreds of years later. Parched, starved. That book is there floating brightly inside an orb. I can feel it burning my hand at the slightest touch, but I can never bring it with me. No kind of Telekinesis can be used, but you, it''s in your hand!"

    Puzzled, I don''t know how to respond.

    ¡°Luosa.¡±

    I lift my head to see her looking at me with narrowed eyes.

    ¡°How did you survive?¡±

    ¡°I,¡± how I survived what exactly?

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡± know.

    ¡°She could be a spy from the Divine Order, or the champion of the fairies, maybe even a worshipper of one of the kings themselves.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡ª¡± my eyes widened after seeing the sharp glare of both Ludtleth and Ludwig. I thought to myself, ¡®N-No way, they¡¯re gonna kick me out. Just like that? But I got the book so,¡¯ gritting my teeth my mind turns chaotic as my attention flare everywhere.

    But unexpectedly, things went quiet. My mind calms itself down when the only thing occupying it is the woman standing before me. The woman who resembles my mother. Replica. Their face overlaps.

    ¡®You want me to leave again?¡¯ I lift my legs to stand, ¡®Then you better do your best.¡¯

 Chapter 40 â€“ Here Lies a Mask

    It was a rainy day in the Mithra household. Siola, 14 years old, staring at a trophy under the name of Rosa Mithra. It¡¯s bright silver and it is housed behind a protective glass. But glancing to the side, she can see the many gold and platinum trophies under her name filling up the entire room, not her sister¡¯s. It doesn¡¯t make her smile, nor does it make her express anything.

    Looking at a small doll of a panda she holds, she pats its head lightly. She squishes both of its cheeks before pressing its head to her forehead. Brushing them together gently. She continued to stare at Rosa¡¯s trophy before leaving the room. Right by the door, an old maid awaits her, and it was then that Siola¡¯s lifeless expression turns naturally bright.

    ¡°Ehehe,¡± the brightest smile she can ever forms. She took out the panda doll and cheerfully yelled, ¡°Found it!¡±

    The old maid smiles.

    Walking on the carpet in the corridor, she caught a glance at a barbeque from the glass window and it was her family. Her grandfather, her father, and her mother. Alongside them also stands a bright young man being patted by his father.

    Siola turns her attention away and walks further to the hallway. There she sees her sister and her aunt enjoying their cup of tea while cheerfully talking to a young girl. Siola pays attention to her in particular, how beautiful her expression is. It''s different than how Siola usually has and the one she is making right now.

    "Lady Hashiri is as bright as ever. You have a good friend, Siola."

    "..." she smiles, ¡°Sadrin, may I ask you something?¡±

    ¡°There is not a question I will not answer you, my dear. And I will always listen.¡±

    Warmth oozed out of her, ¡°...¡±, holding Siola¡¯s question for a moment, ¡°Don¡¯t you find things adequate the way it is? To be blunt, in the past 10 years, how has life treated you so far? The life with us Mithra, the life with me.¡±

    The maid, Sadrin, gaze into Siola¡¯s eyes for a moment before a smile formed. She hugs the young lady warmly as she whispers into her ear, ¡°It has been the most wonderful journey of my life, dear.¡±

    Her small fists clenched, she hugs Sadrin¡¯s back, accepting her warm and comforting breeze. Rosa then caught a glance at the two just before the stairs, she raised her brows, wondering.

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ***

    Three Transcendental beings gazing upon the weakling that is me. Judging whether to kick me out of their palace or worse. I asked one of them, the one that resembles my mother, I asks her, ¡°You send me to my death knowing that I have [Immortality]?¡±

    ¡°Death can be more than your limited knowledge of it is.¡±

    ¡°Was that a test?¡± asked earnestly, ¡°You send me out there knowing how weak I was and am, you wish for me to suffer. Experiencing this death, all for what? To test my courage?¡±

    Stepping to the stairs, ¡°You wanted to become one of us. I want a reason for you to be it.¡±

    ¡°Does that make sense to you?¡±

    She narrows her eyes down.

    ¡°Just look at me.¡±

    ¡°Overcoming adversaries is necessary for you to¡ª¡±

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL WHERE YOU EVEN EXPECTING?!¡± the room went even more silent after my scream, ¡°What, you think I¡¯m gonna pull a legendary weapon out of my behind? Activating a hidden power long slumbering inside me or overpowering that giant worm with the power of friendship within my memories? Well, I have none of that.¡±

    The memories of my sweet family who has turned on me, ¡°I don¡¯t have them,¡± the memories of my friends in the future, ¡°I don¡¯t have anyone.¡±

    Glancing at Replica who kept her head held high, ¡°But then I was brought here. I was told to serve someone who I don¡¯t even know. I had to bow my head because apparently, I have no pride. I¡¯m worth nothing and I can be killed at any time by any one of you.¡±

    Keeping a forced smile, ¡°I''m dancing at every opportunity to be in your favor. I can never defy you. I can never oppose you, all of you."

    Her arrogant expression lessened.

    ¡°Rob me out of my purity, kicked around like a dirtbag, or being told to die in the middle of nowhere. Although it saddens me, I never had any resentment toward any of you for that. I''ll do anything you ask me to do, but...¡±

    The inner part of her brows tilts up as the edge of her outer eyes relaxes.

    ¡°Just look at me, what things am I capable of doing? I¡¯m not even a quarter level to a hundred and you¡¯re already expecting me to kill a rock eater. If it eases your mind, why don''t you just turn me into a skeleton? Maybe then you¡¯ll see a tiny portion of me that can be useful to you, or at least, a thing that won''t even bother you in the least.¡±

    People can be amusing at times. How they expect you to respond in a specific way when they are interacting with you. By meeting their expectation in a way, you would make them happy but something odd happens when you go above and beyond it. Something even you yourself cannot imagine happening. This unpredictability is what fuels me.

    Replica wants me to feel fear of getting kicked out, so I¡¯ll show her even more than that. Hopelessness. Will she find it delightful, or will she find it pitiful? But what I ended up seeing is something different. Her brows frowned, her teeth gritted, eyes narrowed but it cast reflection brighter than usual.

    Why is she feeling remorse?

    But it was then that the image of the past came back to me, overlapping my vision. The face of Replica wearing the same expression as my mother at the time she managed to kick me out of the house. Their face overlaps with one another, and they are the exact same.

    [Ignition]

    Flame engulfs that image as I spend every last mana to blow everything away. Burning every single one of those memories as I don¡¯t want to be haunted by the past. No matter what.

 Chapter 41 â€“ Broken

    ***

    Before there was flame, there is wood emerging and spiraling behind Siola, it carried with it decayed leaves and thorns as the tip condensed into the sharpest spear made of wood. But after the flame appears as embers scattered in Siola¡¯s palm, the largest whirling combustion she ever made was blown but it was blocked by a wall. A robed skeleton body that is Ludwig. He grabbed her wrist as he halted the wood spear that was about to pierce Siola¡¯s body and twists it, stopping its growth.

    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    It took but a moment after the smoke clears up for Siola to snap back to reality. Ludwig¡¯s dot of an eye flares as he gazes her deep in the eye as she looks at Replica in confusion, it was but for a moment as she quickly changes her expression to that of a maniac. She didn¡¯t even glance at the one who holds her wrist before screaming, ¡°DID YOU SEE THAT?!¡±

    ¡°See how much I¡¯m capable of? That¡¯s right, NOTHING!¡±

    She suddenly steps forward but then realized that her movement is restricted.

    ¡°Let me go!¡±

    Struggling to remove Ludwig¡¯s skeleton hand holding her wrist.

    ¡°Hnngh.¡±

    What Ludwig sees is not that of fear nor is it hopelessness, but rather, desperation. Or is it? Because for a moment, her expression changes to that of sadness.

    ¡°My lord,¡± Ludtleth steps forward.

    Glancing at him and the flowered spear behind Siola, ¡°Return to your quarters. Both of you.¡±

    Siola lifts her head, confused. Before she can process anything, Ludwig lifts his arm and summon a black portal where the other end is visible. A bedroom where sorrowing flowers were decorated neatly in the dark. The portal swallows them both, but Siola caught the image of Replica¡¯s face before that happens. No longer remorse, but regret. At that point, Siola kept asking herself, ¡°Why?¡±

    Dropping on her shins, images of fond memories of her real-life family flashes before her eyes and once again, she asked herself, ¡°Why?¡±

    [Why did I come back here?]

    Coming back to the past that she is experiencing now. No matter how much she tries to suppress her thoughts from thinking about it, it comes back to her time and time again. Why did she come back not at the point in time where she regrets the most?

    The night is cold, but shivers from it she''s not.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    But then a symphony of melancholic melody rang in her head as light from the outside shines through a balcony window. She sees the skeleton, Ludwig, letting more of the cold air in before her he turns to the bed. Right on the dirty white blanket is a straw doll. Gently, he picks it up and caresses it before walking to Siola and handing it to her.

    Hesitating, but comfort lies in the gesture, so she took it. The doll''s appearance, its build, amateurishly made, she thought. But somehow, it gives her warmth.

    ! {Item Received}

    ~ {Straw Doll / Crafted / Put-together toy weaved with fun and love}

    Despite the terrifying figure that is Ludwig, she looks at him with an unshakable gaze. She says, ¡°I¡¯m not a spy nor do I want any of this to happen.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    Her eyes peeled at the lord¡¯s response. Seated by the bed, he says, ¡°Replica has never been¡­ the brightest child, but her intention and action¡­ have always been for the betterment of the rest of us.¡±

    ¡°But she¡­¡±

    Ludwig pays extra attention to her words, but she didn¡¯t let out more.

    ¡°Traveler, Wanderer, whatever the case may be. You have an intention of serving Purgatory, are you not?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± hesitating once again. Frowning her brows as she took a deep breath, she let it out slowly before saying, ¡°I just want to be a part of something.¡±

    ¡°Are you looking for a purpose?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± looking at the straw doll, rotating it up and down, ¡°Distraction, maybe. I just want more time to think about the new life I received.¡±

    ¡°New life? Here, as a Traveler? A Wanderer?¡±

    She glances at him, asking, ¡°Are you not going to kill me?¡±

    ¡°The book that you have obtained¡­¡±

    Eyes peeled. Sitting cross-leg, she lay the Straw Doll on her thigh as she holds the [Book of the Unknown] as if she presented it to him, but he''s not taking it.

    ¡°That is the remnant of the Black Old King. Once a dominant ruler of the old world, now lost in the realm of the unknown. Will you hand it to me and receive a tremendous reward for your contribution to the Purgatory Realm, or will you take it for yourself?¡±

    At that moment, several thoughts flares in Siola¡¯s mind. Connecting pieces of Ludwig¡¯s words with other beings in the castle. Replica¡¯s question of Siola¡¯s intention in serving the ruler of Purgatory, Ludtleth¡¯s options for her to join or suffer, and the first word that greets her upon coming into this world, {Prison Realm}. Her eyes peeled.

    ¡°If possible, I¡¯d like to take it.¡±

    Ludwig¡¯s dot of an eye flamed in silver.

    ¡°If that is what you wish.¡±

    In the palm of his skeleton¡¯s hand appear black embers that slowly shine as it forms into a blade darker than a shadow. It floats toward Siola.

    ¡°Stab your heart, and you shall be free.¡±

    Nervously confused, ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave.¡±

    ¡°That is a decision for me to make at another time.¡±

    Hesitant to even hold the dagger. But she clenches her spirit to grab it and just as quickly, stabs her chest. The sensation of her flesh pierced so smoothly by the blade made her disgusted and afraid. Not long after her heart beats, the black blade is absorbed into her heart. Rendering the already dark heart even darker than it ever was. Ludwig can see it, but Siola couldn''t.

    ! {Blessing of the Purgatory has been removed}

    ! {The Unending Contract of the Abyss has been removed}

    ~ {Blessing of the Abyss has been adjusted}

    ~ {Experience gain reduction has been changed from 95% to 80%}

    ~ {Innate Ability: Immortality ¨C has advanced to Rank 3 / Defy death upon reaching 0% Health. Negate any fatal wound and significantly increase Pain Resistance. Revival will occur every hour if death persists}

    ~ {Skill: Abyssal Touch ¨C has advanced to Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Weaken the target, reducing their Endurance by 20%. Slightly drain all of their Primary Attributes until they are fully depleted / Cooldown: None / Costs: None}

    ! {You have been --/E-r/-- from Purgatory Realm}

 Chapter 42 â€“ Moments of Serenity

    ! {You have been --/E-r/--}

    ! {You have been --/E-r/--}

    ! {You have been banned from the Purgatory Realm}

    ~ {Your access to the prohibited realm is blocked and the realm¡¯s ruler will be notified if your presence collided with the prohibited realm, revealing your location for 1 hour}

    Ludwig stood as Siola forms a puzzled look. He steps outside to the balcony and Siola quickly follows while holding the Straw Doll still. But when she left the comfort of the room, the melancholic melody in her head changes to that of a solemn tone as she bears witness to a decayed land from her pedestal.

    Dark brown wood, no leaves can be found in any of these trees. No animals, only that and the blue moon shining in the sky. It¡¯s brightly lit, with such a magnificent display.

    ¡°At times, it seems you have accustomed to everything, but also not,¡± Ludwig said. He shifts his attention from the blue moon to Siola, ¡°May I know your name?¡±

    Siola kept staring at the blue moon. The scenery of the environment and the following music now calm her mind greatly. It¡¯s at a point where she thinks that everything no longer matters, but there¡¯s something weighing her down. Comfort. She needs a bit more comfort.

    Answering his question, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Why is that? Why am I not allowed to know your name?¡±

    ¡°You can force it out of me if you want.¡±

    ¡°I will not do such things.¡±

    ¡°Then, earn it. My name, you deserve to know.¡±

    A word of what she said [Deserve] lit up the fire in his eyes, he turns to Siola and was about to ask what she meant by it but before he can ask anything, Siola looks up to him and mutters, ¡°I killed you once, Ludwig. Mage of the Abyss.¡±

    Turbulent wind passes through them as Ludwig¡¯s dot of an eye flares brightly in smoke.

    ¡°Sometime in the future, you in the Crystal Palace of the Demon King¡¯s Castle, I and the other two friends of mine fought both you and your dragon. We defeated you. I remember how we were about to trade blows, but your spell turns to nothing.¡±

    ¡°Although we won, it didn¡¯t feel like a victory to me.¡±

    Ludwig asks, ¡°You came from the future?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t come from the future, I returned back to the past.¡±

    The turbulent wind calmed as Ludwig¡¯s dot of an eye dim slightly. He walks closer to Siola after recalling the reason why she decided to serve Purgatory, the reason for wanting to be a part of something. Knowing what she just says, Ludwig asks, ¡°Will you stay? Here with us.¡±

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Although it is not clear how sharp Siola¡¯s expression is right now, Ludwig¡¯s attentive gaze caught her lips slightly tremble. She responds with, ¡°I will,¡± as her eyes slightly turn reflective.

    When the path ahead is clouded, anxiety rules over. Him asking that question confirms the gaping hole in her heart and clears the cloud in that path. Ludwig raise his skeleton arm and tilts Siola¡¯s head down when he pats her head with his skeleton hand, ¡°Until I earn the right to know your name. Luosa. Your name shall be Luosa.¡±

    Even though she has rejected that name, in the end, that is the name she will be known as from this point onward. But that is not what made her shiver nor it is the cold. In this freezing atmosphere that swept her sense of discomfort, this gentle breeze, a droplet of tears dripped from her chin. Ludwig turns his gaze towards the blue moon.

    ! {You have been offered the name [Luosa] by Ludwig, Warrior of the Abyss}

    ~ {This change is Permanent unless [Ludwig, Warrior of the Abyss] removes it}

    ~ {Would you like to accept?}

    ! {¡­}

    ! {New Name has been Adopted}

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    Name: Luosa / Level: 20 / Class: Mage

    Primary Attributes

    Max Health: 1000 | Max Mana: 9600 | Max Stamina: 2000

    Health: 1000 | Mana: 9600 | Stamina: 2000

    Secondary Attributes

    Strength: 20 / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: 20

    Vitality: 0 / Agility: 20

    Intelligence: 150 / Faith: 150 / Luck: 50

    Combat

    Physical Attack: 0 / Physical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Magical Attack: 0 (+75) / Magical Defense: 0 (+10)

    Health Regeneration: 1 / Mana Regeneration: 16 / Stamina Regeneration: 3

    Gear

    {Ul¡¯ Sejidah / Rank S / Unique / Physical Defense: 0 / Magical Defense: 0 / Innate Ability: Can be used as a Catalyst for dark magic, Significantly Increases the Potency of Dark-based Spells / Effect: Bypass all requirements of all dark magic up to Supreme Tier}

    Active Effect

    - (Experience gain has been reduced by 80%) ~ Blessing of the Abyss

    ===== Profile Status =====

    ***

    In a place only known by a few. Darkness throughout. An entity resembling that of a human is chained in front of a carved wall. A woman, unclothed from the tip of her hair to the end of her toes. On her knees, both ankles pinned by two war pikes. Her feminine yet muscular figure is unmoving still because an enormously large divine cross punctured a hole through her chest, and it sunken deep into the ground. A cursed blade pierced the center of her head, disturbing her chain of thoughts.

    The chains holding her anchored deep within her flesh were pulled so tightly, and with the combination of other contraptions, they rendered her unable to move even a single limb. But then, mini cubic polygons started forming in the shadows. Upon stepping close, from head to toe, one can see the complete resemblance of Siola Mithra with additional features, the one and zeroes running through her eyes, and the unknown symbols on each side of her forehead.

    A picture of Siola and her personal information is laid out in front of the chained woman in the form of a floating blue screen, and it was then, that still mouth of hers tilted to a grin.

    Slowly in a croaked voice, ¡°You. Bring, her. To me.¡±

    ¡°I want, to¡­ see, her. In the flesh.¡±

    Changing shape to a larger form of Siola, the woman formerly known as Mage of the Abyss. Replica. The blue floating screen narrowed down as it changes into a countdown.

    {212 Days / 21 Hours / 21 Minutes}

    ¡°Heheheh,¡± her grin widened, ¡°Sounds¡­ like an hour, to me.¡±

    Changing shape once more, into Siola, the thing returns to the deep shadows. Separated into a grid of polygons before disappearing entirely. Leaving the chained woman alone, in the darkest depth of the abyss.

    ***

 Chapter 43 â€“ Glimpse of the Past

    I have always wanted to thread this path of my life as perfectly as possible, but the moment I strayed a bit from it I found myself staring mindlessly into space. Whenever I woke up, flowers every single day, but after the change, nothing but nightmares and thorny roads appears. I feel that that path is blocked, telling me that I can no longer go back to how things used to be.

    Exacting my ¡°Revenge¡± on my own family. I truly have no courage to do so when each and every one of them reacted differently than what I had expected. The fact that it happened again even in this lifetime to someone who is not even my family. Just a mere code, an A.I.

    Wheezing as I sit here on the parapet, I look up at the blue moon, and it made me think, ¡®This place¡­ Why does it feel like home?¡¯

    This serenity. Although it¡¯s different, it reminds me of many things back home. This place is just like the blue scenery in the garden back in Mithra¡¯s house. Replica resembling my mother, Avarice and Malice also reminds me of my friends. Kurira and Rakuri. And Ludwig¡­

    He felt familiar but also different. That attentiveness of his reminds me of my grandfather. One who cherishes me above all others with the purest kind of love. I want to see him smile again.

    *Step *Step *Step

    Ludwig approaches and he brought with him, a bright green-colored potion. Laying the bottle beside me as he says, ¡°Those who have been granted a blessing by an ancestral being will not last long on the surface. There is nothing for you in this realm, but you are welcome to stay.¡±

    I took the green bottle and examine it while [Lucid Eyes] is still in effect.

    ! {Appraisal}

    ~ {Slither Phased Bloom (Custom) / Tier 9 / Increase Decay Resistance. Lasts 31 days}

    ¡°Decay Resistance? I have never heard of such things before, and I never had the need for this back then. So, why do I have to drink it now?¡±

    ¡°You were once an ordinary Traveler are you not? You were protected by the Divine System, hence why you could roam around freely on the surface while being able to receive as many blessings as you want. But the current you however, do not have that kind of protection.¡±

    ¡°How do you know?¡±

    His dot of an eye flare, ¡°I can see it, and you will be able to as well. Eventually.¡±

    Uncapping the lid.

    *Gulp *Gulp *Gulp

    It doesn¡¯t taste like anything at first, but then its flavor kicks in. Bitter.

    ¡°Bleghh, what¡¯s in this?¡±

    ¡°You will have to request the recipe from Goolag.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°She is our... Alchemist. You will meet her soon enough,¡± approaching closer as he looks up at the blue moon, ¡°You mentioned that you have killed me once. What was I like in the future?¡±

    It occurs to me how odd this game came to be after I enable Realism Mode. How the NPC can respond to everything that I do and speak? Although I know that the maker of the game has created the most advanced AI, and without Realism Mode enabled, the NPCs are still able to wow anyone who interacts with them. But this is on a whole other level.

    ¡°You were a mage. You don¡¯t do much in the way of fighting and always rely on your dragon despite the fact you never made any advances.¡±

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Hunh,¡± humming in cracking of his skull, ¡°Does not sound like me at all.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡±

    ¡°Despite my appearance, I¡¯m adept in the way of combat. How far is it in the future? A hundred? Two hundred years?¡±

    ¡°Hm? No, it¡¯s 4 years.¡±

    ¡°4 years?¡±

    Silent for a moment as he gazes at the blue moon, but then he tilts his head down, ¡°I see,¡± grunting, ¡°Yes, that makes sense.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    ¡°Let me hear your plan. Now that you have returned to the past, what will you be doing with the life that you have now?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± muttering, ¡°I¡¯m not supposed to exist here just yet.¡± Looking up to the sky, ¡°All the friends I make in the next 4 years, all the people that I lost up until now, I don¡¯t have anything, nor do I have anyone. So, I don¡¯t know what to do.¡±

    ¡°There must be someone.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    Looking at him, my heart weighs. My eyes widened at the sudden realization, ¡®Aunt Linda,¡¯ she¡¯s the only person I made contact with in this lifetime.

    ¡®Odd, I never thought of that. Why would she lend me that money? She and I have cut ties and have never been in contact ever since I left the Mithra Household. So, why?''

    ''Don''t tell me, there is something I miss?''

    Aunt Linda, Sadrin, and maybe even, Uncle Martin.

    ¡°There is one, yes?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    For some reason, that alone is enough reason to give me the strength to keep smiling. I thought I have lost everything when I step out of that house.

    ¡°I recalled you mention about your purity being stolen. What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°Oh that, Malice took my first kiss,¡± cheeks puffed to a balloon, ¡°My maiden¡¯s kiss! I was saving it until I found my prince charming!¡±

    *Kreegh *Kreegh *Kreegh

    Disturbing cracking sounds from, ¡®Is that how he laughs?¡¯ CREEPY!

    Leaning his head as he looks up to the blue moon, ¡°Your life as a Traveler has ended, Luosa. There is much for you to learn about the world. Our view towards it.¡±

    ¡°Your view?¡±

    ¡°The existence that is a Traveler is quite an odd one. They are weak, and yet, they don¡¯t seem to care about their life. And why is that?¡±

    ¡°Because we can revive?¡±

    ¡°And how does that happen?¡±

    ¡°Well, because,¡± that¡¯s what naturally came to be when a player dies.

    ¡°The Divine System.¡±

    My eyes peeled.

    ¡°Every since its appearance many years ago, it changes the balance of power. To learn magic, how we used to painstakingly rely on the practice of the Arcane now can be mitigated by taking the path of using the Divine System. It simplifies everything for you at no cost to the end result.¡±

    ¡®What?¡¯

    ¡°But it often made odd choices throughout the years. How it randomly became more restrictive and lenient at times, or the introduction of the use of [Appraisal]. You have used the [Lucid Eyes] that Replica made, are you not? Although it is lacking, it comes close to what [Appraisal] used to be where every single thing in this world can be described by the Divine System.¡±

    ¡®H-Hold on!¡¯

    ¡°But then comes Travelers.¡±

    My eyes widened once more.

    ¡°Their existence is not unfamiliar to us as their former existence, the [Wanderer], used to appear every now and then. But the rate they are coming recently has increased exponentially. And the Divine System chose this realm of all places. Creating those portals for them to get through and reach the realm of the surface. I find it odd. No matter how many times they were killed, they return as they used to be as if they were unharmed.¡±

    Shifting his eyes at me.

    ¡°They spoke gibberish. Of how this world is made by their ancestors. Every single one of us, the original citizens of this world, is merely food for their strength. En-pee-sii as they called it. But one thing is clear, they came here for the sole purpose of entertainment.¡±

    Out of thin air, a burst of wind on his palm, and a black orb appears. Inside is the reflection of an ongoing battle between players and skeletons before the North Gate. Their cheery expression, the rush they felt as they killed one, or the disappointment when they died by it.

    ¡°I have only seen a few exceptions, but this is the majority of them.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± pondering, ¡®What is this? He started talking about the system itself and lore related to it but how is that even possible? Do the devs intend for this to happen? Like the people in this world to be self-aware that¡ª¡±

    ¡°It does not matter whether you are one of the exceptions or not. You are now one of us. As such, I expect loyalty from you. If not for me, at least for this realm. Your new home.¡±

    Although there is much that I don¡¯t understand, it is clear that I will not be kicked out of this place anytime soon.

    ¡°Should you need anything. You can always find one of us in the grand archive.¡±

    I nodded.

    Before leaving, he looks me in the eye, ¡°Rest.¡±

    That image of him saying that overlaps with a memory of my grandfather. Always saying his piece whenever I went to sleep. Once Ludwig closed the door, I lay my body on the giant bed while scratching my stomach.

    I''m both hungry and tired.

    ''I think it''s safe for me to close my eyes a bit.''

    In the 48 hours here, I''ve experienced a lot of new things, but most importantly, I regain the will to live. It was worth coming here. I can now close my eyes in peace with a smile on my face, and return¡­ to the real world.

 Chapter 44 â€“ Reliving Life Anew

    Cloudy space filled with a satisfying breeze. Mechanical noises extend to shut as the cloud becomes opaque. With a huge grin on my face, I reach out to the light and yell out, ¡°D-Sect! Your Dola is BACK!¡±

    This wide grin of mine stays still for a whole minute as I¡¯m wondering why my surrounding feels odd. Is it because I slept too long in the capsule to the point that I got adjusted to it so much that I couldn¡¯t recognize the place I live in?! No.

    The moment I open my eyes, I see not a broken never-attended wall, but a golden one in its prestige form. The small place that I was in... it''s not this.

    ¡®Clean flowery decoration. Not your typical kidnapping hideout, but,¡¯ narrowing my eyes down as I breathe to keep myself calm, ¡®What¡¯s behind that curtain feels familiar somehow.¡¯

    The bed, someone is resting on it. They would¡¯ve woken up thanks to my stupid shouting, and that is indeed true as I see them lifting their upper body. How great it is for both my in-game self and real-life self to be kidnapped.

    ''Being the diva that I was, I¡¯ve already had my fair share of this game already.''

    So, I open the curtain, revealing myself. But to my surprise, I see a goth girl in front of me. Though, her demeanor is not as attractive as she looks. Hiding her face behind a mask, she rests her leg on the other as she stares at me.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    I was about to ask who she is, but I noticed something in my surrounding. This room is as barebone as it gets despite how extravagant it is. But, the familiarity. That bed, the shape of the mirror on that desk. There used to be a lot of accessories there. I used them to doll up my things. And it seems that I have returned to the unpleasant place that is the Mithra Household.

    When I shift my attention to the girl, I see a panda doll in her hands. My eyes narrowed down as she stood and approaches me. I was taken aback, anticipating a sudden action, but she stretches her arms and presented me with the doll. Sudden rage fuels me.

    *Slap*

    I feel my hand numbed from the impact of trying to slap the doll away. It hurts. At that point, one thing comes to mind, ¡®She¡¯s kitted. A cyborg perhaps?¡¯

    Her brown eyes, those circular lines of motion on her irises resemble something from my previous life. I saw the news, an augment that can control another¡¯s action. They can take another''s life simply by sending an order to unalive themselves. But the reason it¡¯s on the news is that a wanted criminal has been spotted using it.

    The girl retracted the doll to her embrace and pats it.

    ¡°It has been some time, Siola.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± her eyes, ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± paused for a moment, but I don¡¯t. Keep looking at her eyes still, I follow them, giving every bit of my attention, but then she says, ¡°It¡¯s me. Your sister.¡±

    Eyes peeled. Though it shocked me, I don¡¯t want to show it, ¡°Hah,¡± I really don¡¯t, ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what my sister looks like? What are you? A Proxy or something?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Chuckles as I turned around, swaying my head as I look at the ceiling, ¡°Okay then, prove it.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡®Please¡­¡¯

    ¡°Back when you were little. You used to tell me how you would become the brightest star in the whole wide world. Shining the whole family in your radiant light.¡±

    ¡®¡­ Don¡¯t¡­ Please¡­¡¯

    ¡°You remember, I know you do. There is not a single person in the Mithra household who can have that much confidence in themselves while also proving that they have what it takes to make it a reality. Siola, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m the same person who embarrasses you in front of the whole crowd in college, the one who took your fianc¨¦, and the one who erased your last name.¡±

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    My fists clenched.

    ¡°Siola, I¡¯m your sister. Rosa¡ª¡±

    ¡°Haaaaaaaaaaaargh!¡±

    *Punch *Punch

    Flashes of unsavory memories finally come back to haunt me. The time when I was smeared from head to toe with food and vegetables. The time when I was left alone, cold in the rainy streets. And the time when even my own mother no longer holds me when I cry.

    ¡°AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHH!¡±

    ¡°Siola! Your hand! Please stop!¡±

    Softening my every punch, ¡®If only I have my augments, I would¡¯ve¡­ I would¡¯ve¡­¡¯ the rage in my heart, deep inside... No, I couldn¡¯t even think of what I''ll do. I know it myself... That I won''t do it. I know that I wouldn¡¯t do anything.

    ¡°Whyyyy¡­¡± Sob, ¡°Why did you bring me baaaaaaaack?!¡±

    ¡°Siola.¡±

    ¡°I gave you everythiiiing¡­ So, please¡­ Leave me alooone! Hick.¡±

    *Sob*

    ¡°Whyyy¡­¡±

    My eyes peeled as I feel tightened by a hug, ¡°Hrnngh,¡± but no, I don¡¯t want this. I don''t want it, but I find myself crying my eyes out in the comfort of her chest. I see a panda looking at me. Many things run through my head, but it''s all a jumbled mess.

    ¡­

    *Pat *Pat

    Glaring daggers at her feeling my head, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±

    Shrugging as she stood.

    ¡°What do you want? Bringing me here.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°What, you can¡¯t even answer that?¡±

    ¡°I would like to make it up to you. You can have Leon back. I¡¯ll even convince grandfather to reconsider your status. But in return, I want you to stay here. At least, until I can get back.¡±

    ¡°Heheh, making it up to me by imprisoning me? Out with it. Just what are you up to?¡±

    ¡°We really have grown that far apart, huh, for you to ask my intention,¡± she said as she walks up to the sun ray passing through a window. The panda doll she holds glues itself to her arm, ¡°This is not a prison, Siola. Do I really have to answer that?¡±

    ¡°You want to make a deal with me, so, yes. But I¡¯d like it best if we don¡¯t even have to talk in the first place. Seeing you makes me sick and if I had seen your real body right now, I¡¯d vomit the cheeseburgers I ate two days ago.¡±

    ¡°Wow. Quite the repulsive one you¡¯ve become.¡±

    ¡°Just tell me already!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Shifting her attention to the view outside, ¡°Just like you back then, Siola. I¡¯ve been thinking about becoming the brightest star of the family.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°The Capital.¡±

    My eyes peeled, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I will bring the name of our family to the Capital. The Mithra. I want to let it be known throughout the world, the significance of that name. So, until then, I want you to stay here and witness it. I¡­ I will take you to the most beautiful place in this world.¡±

    Her eyes, ¡®She¡¯s not playing around. Just what the hell is going on? What¡¯s driving her? And for me to be brought here by her. This didn¡¯t happen in my previous life. So, why?¡¯

    Suddenly, my hands were held. Rosa suddenly appears in front of me and I couldn¡¯t even react to it. The proxy she¡¯s using, it''s not normal. Just what exactly, ¡°I never viewed my sister as the type that can get physical.¡±

    ¡°Things happen, and this is the result of it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I said as I retracted my hands from her grasp and stood. Rubbing my wrists as I glare at her, ¡°Things did happen.¡±

    Her eyes narrowed, ¡°I will not be involved in whatever it is you decide to do from now on. In the upcoming days, I will also send a letter to the Visthan family, informing them of the cancellation of¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, you can have him,¡± that prick who shot me dead, ¡°I¡¯m just gonna keep playing games so don¡¯t even bother me.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± a moment, ¡°Of course, but first, lunch is coming up. I can''t keep you to myself for too long as I¡¯m sure the family is getting¡­ rowdy, no thanks to your sudden uninvited and unplanned arrival.¡±

    ¡°You did not just¡­¡±

    I can tell from behind her mask, she¡¯s smiling. Especially with those twitching cheekbones, ¡®To think she would do this without even informing the family. This is going to be... hard.¡¯

    I¡¯ll be facing everyone. Mother, father, Sadrin, and grandfather. My legs hardened. The anxiety fills me up as quickly as it appears.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Two days with nothing but medicinal rations wouldn¡¯t do any good for you. And to think you¡¯d actually borrow yet another sum from Aunt Linda of all people. Then again, you are her favorite.¡±

    ¡°Yeah well, thanks to a certain infatuated dumb poo poo who got me removed not only from the house but the whole sky sector itself. I didn¡¯t have a choice.¡±

    ¡°Ouch.¡±

    ¡°Not to mention, Aunt Linda is the only one who cares about me.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Fufu,¡± opening the door, she chuckles as she tilts her head, ¡°With your intellect, you could¡¯ve easily gotten a job there instead of deepening your debts. Especially so in a place they called the Waste of Society.¡±

    ¡°Hmph.¡±

    Before I step outside of my room, I caught a glimpse of sparkle bouncing off a windowed wall in the corridor. I turn around to see the capsule behind the curtain. Shined by a reflected ray of light. Lessening the anxiety inside, the bright and colorful view made me smile.

    ¡®Ekolia.¡¯

    I can¡¯t wait to meet everyone again.

    ¡®Ludwig, I wonder if he has something for me when I get back or maybe I can get more intimate with Avarice and Malice, or even settle the score with Replica.¡¯

    With a smile on my face, I see the shine on the capsule.

    ¡®Hehe, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡¯

    To the beautiful world within.

    {***}

    TO BE CONTINUED

 Ekolia (Build 6_40)

    Patch Notes:

    You know, doing something you¡¯re passionate about really do make a difference. The feeling you get is just can¡¯t be beat. Today, on behalf of BN, I present you, our biggest update yet in Build 6, and I call it, World Restoration. I know I haven''t been talking about it a lot, but you''ve seen the teasers. Overhauls! That¡¯s right people, the Golden Age of Gaming is here!

    Update Highlights

    <ul>

    <li>Complete System Overhaul. Quest system improvement, improved UI, age-restricted zone, new in-game content creation tools, and more.</li>

    <li>Complete Gameplay Overhaul. New damage calculation, new scaling, new ways to cast magic, new requirement, class changes, item changes, and more.</li>

    <li>All Players will now start in the surface of Ekolia. Current players outside will be transferred into Ekolia.</li>

    <li>Status has been converted into the new system and reset as respec.</li>

    </ul>

    There are a lot of things to go over, so why don¡¯t we go straight into the most important part of this update, yeah?

    <h2>Complete System Overhaul</h2>

    Profile Status Changes

    <ul>

    <li>New and improved UI which now shows all the Titles you unlocked</li>

    <li>Gear section has been removed, in its place has the third [Status] screen that is now called Equipment Status</li>

    <li>Every ability in Ability Status including Title now also displays their complete details</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes

    Changed starting points from three digits to one digit, 1 for each attribute at Level 0. Every level up now also rewards 3 points instead of 600.

    <ul>

    <li>[Health Regeneration] now starts at 0.001 per second instead of 1 per second</li>

    <li>[Mana Regeneration] now starts at 0.01 per second instead of 1 per second</li>

    <li>[Stamina Regeneration] now starts at 0.1 per second instead of 1 per second</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes

    Changed starting points from double digits to one digit, 0 for each attribute at Level 0. Now in equal scale with Level, giving 1 point instead of 20 with every level up.

    <ul>

    <li>[Endurance] grants additional stat points to [Max Stamina] and [Physical Defense] by 5%, also grants additional stat points to [Stamina Regeneration] by 0.1</li>

    <li>[Endurance + Intelligence] grants additional stat points to [Magical Defense] by 2.5%</li>

    <li>[Strength] increase the efficiency use of Heavy Weapons by 5%</li>

    <li>[Dexterity] increase the efficiency use of Light Weapons by 2.5%</li>

    <li>[Intelligence] increase the Potency of Spells except Restoration-type Spells by 5% , allows to learn spells that requires it, and grants additional stat points to [Mana Regeneration] by 0.01</li>

    <li>[Faith] increase the Potency of Restoration-type Spells and all Miracles by 5%, allows to learn spells that requires it, and grants additional stat points to [Mana Regeneration] by 0.01</li>

    <li>[Vitality] grants additional stat points to [Max Health], [Max Mana], and [Max Stamina] by 5%</li>

    <li>[Agility] grants additional stat points to [Stamina Regeneration] by 0.1</li>

    <li>[Luck] affect all random chances</li>

    </ul>

    <h2>Complete Gameplay Overhaul</h2>

    With the new changes to the System, we now have a new damage calculation table, power scaling throughout the entire range of the game alongside new ways to use abilities with spellcasting and fun progression with upgrades and evolutions.

    Class Changes

    <ul>

    <li>Class Upgrades. You will now automatically obtain Innate Ability of your class by reaching a milestone in levels.</li>

    <li>Class Evolution. When completing certain requirements, you can upgrade your class and obtain new innate abilities while keeping your previous class¡¯s abilities.</li>

    <li>Class Change. When changing into different class, you will forego your entire innate abilities in exchange for the new abilities from the new class. This include changing into Subclass, but some innate abilities will be kept if there is any related to the new subclass.</li>

    <li>Innate Ability is now locked to respective Class and Subclasses. You can no longer obtain Innate Abilities through any other means.</li>

    </ul>

    Abilities Overhaul

    <ul>

    <li>Abilities now will require [Cast], [Cast Sign], or [Chant] with the exception of Abilities that has [at Will]. Some may require two signs and some require a cast or cast sign even if it doesn¡¯t require it initially.</li>

    <li>Abilities adjustment. Spells now exclusively uses [Tier] system and passive spell is no longer exist. Skill now exclusively uses [Level] system, can have both active and passive. Miracles now exclusively uses [Rank] system, can have both active and passive. Innate abilities, depending on the innate ability, can be either of them.</li>

    <li>Titles can be obtained by completing certain hidden requirements.</li>

    <li>Innate Abilities can be obtained by leveling up, and it will be related to your class.</li>

    <li>Spells can be learned through a number of ways. Either by learning from a Grimoire and Spell Book, obtained from someone else (not player), granted through magic itself, and through repetition by using scrolls.</li>

    <li>Skills can be obtained through training and repetitions, and also learn from someone else (not player). Can also be learned from Skill Books.</li>

    <li>Miracles can be obtained through blessing from the gods.</li>

    <li>System Quests can also reward any abilities.</li>

    <li>All Ability now require no cooldown.</li>

    <li>All Ability requirements have been adjusted and changed. Most commonly, power requires Strength and Endurance, speed requires Dexterity and Agility, and Magic requires either Intelligence, faith, or both.</li>

    </ul>

    Weapons and Equipment System Overhaul.

    <ul>

    <li>Weapons are now differentiated into two categories. Heavy Weapons and Light Weapons. All while keeping weapon types.</li>

    <li>Mandatory requirements. Heavy Weapons now require Strength and Endurance to use. Light Weapons now require Dexterity and Agility to use.</li>

    <li>Weapons that are enchanted can either require Intelligence, Faith, or both for the enchantment to be used or activated.</li>

    <li>Staff and other magic weapons have innate enchantment that enhances Spells. Which include its Potency, Duration, and Range.</li>

    <li>Equipment is now differentiated into three types. Heavy Armor which requires Strength and Endurance, Light Armor which requires Dexterity and Agility, and Cloth which does not require anything except when enchanted. Enchanted Equipment now require Intelligence, Faith, or both for the enchantment to be used or activated.</li>

    <li>Enchantment on Armors requires no resources to use except for special effect of which will require cooldown for the effect to be used again.</li>

    <li>Potion now requires Vitality to be used comfortably.</li>

    <li>Poison now requires Vitality to be overcome.</li>

    <li>Spells from a Grimoire can now be learned, but using it by the Grimoire will provide less Costs and Requirements.</li>

    <li>Spells can now be learned from Scrolls by using it a number enough times.</li>

    <li>All Weapons, Equipment, and Items have all been adjusted properly to the new change. Grimoire, Scrolls, Spell Books, and Skill Books requirement have also been adjusted.</li>

    </ul>

    <h2>Quality of Life</h2>

    <ul>

    <li>Quest system is now easily trackable with its new UI, which is NONE! Unless it is being given by the system, you better not forget to do that quest you¡¯ve got, and oh it is possible to fail a Quest given by the system now.</li>

    <li>Players under the age of 18 can no longer leave safe zone and is restricted to Safe Zones in respective kingdom¡¯s capital.</li>

    <li>New built-in tools to create, edit, and stream content in-game.</li>

    <li>Cash Shop. You can now directly purchase items with real money from other players through the Marketplace and bid in the Auction.</li>

    <li>Vendor Creation. You can set up your own shop for free in the new Cash Shop. Any item you sell will be subjected to Tax in accordance to your Sector, 5% handling fee of any item you sell, 10% platform fee, and additional 5% after your first $10.000 sales in a year, 15% after your first $150.000 sales in a year, 25% after your first $1.000.000 sales in a year, and 45% after your first $5.000.000 sales in a year.</li>

    <li>New Tutorial Zone in the Surface! New and old players will now start in and be teleported to Ekolia where they can choose 4 different portals that lead to each capital city. Lorkhan Empire, Sonata Kingdom, Avenier Kingdom, and Bursoli Kingdom.</li>

    <li>Lorkhan status has been changed from Kingdom to Empire.</li>

    <li>All Player¡¯s Status has been reset but progression remained intact.</li>

    <li>Realism Mode has been deprecated.</li>

    <li>Every player above 18 years of age will now have 1:1 experience with their avatar</li>

    <li>Safe Zone Expansion. Now the capital city¡¯s safe zone and some areas can now reach beyond its walls for light exploration.</li>

    <li>All Achievements have now been reset and All dungeons have been restored. Previously obtained rewards can be kept still as new rewards now awaits you.</li>

    </ul>

    There are a lot of other things we¡¯ve brought to you on this update. So, you better get yourself out there and get to it, okay?!

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    That¡¯s all I¡¯ve got for you for today. Thank you for reading all of that, Ekolia has been a blessing for me, and I hope for you as well.

    Alright, hope you have a great day, everyone!

    -- Konig

 Chapter 45 â€“ Season 2 â€“ Runaway

    ¡°Welcome to the Major Leagues, peopleeeeeeeeee!¡±

    ¡°Here we are again! Ekolia Global Elites Championship 2077! I was so very excited! Very hyped to see you all gather in this stadium to witness the greatest moment in VRMMO!¡±

    ¡°BUT!¡±

    A huge sigh from the news anchor, ¡°Unfortunately, the god themselves have said NO to this summer! New Patch for Ekolia has just dropped! Sad to say, but we gotta lay back and wait. Gotta makes sure everyone is prepped and adjusted to the new changes with the game.¡±

    ¡°And so! With heavy heart, the competition is delayed to Fall!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still looking forward to all of you to¡ª¡±

    My ears started ringing the moment I heard it. Eyes narrowed, my delicate fingers grazing on my forehead as I feel brain freeze from this ice cream.

    ¡°New Patch?¡±

    And here I thought that I would get a break by coming to the city, especially after hearing all those nagging back home.

    The noises from people walking on the roadside, the cars, the birds, and the robots serving me coffee. Unfortunately, not enough to distract me.

    My sister got me new clothes. A little wild for my taste, punk-ish style has never been my thing. But when I see her busy arguing about nutrition or whatever she¡¯s on about. Makes me grin.

    Taking the ice cream with me, I blend in with the crowds and disappear from there.

    ¡°Ahhh,¡± hopping from the taste of the ice cream to the chilling breeze, ¡°Freedom is so sweet!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°But now what?¡±

    As I navigate through the city, I thought to myself, ¡®Being brought here is not all bad.¡¯

    Aside from the fact that Sky Sector itself is a much more peaceful place than that of Desolated Sector, there¡¯s a lot of opportunities here. One that aligns with me.

    ¡°First, I need a place to stay and second, find a way to game.¡±

    Rummaging through my past, I remember someone. One who watches my downfall from the backline, she¡¯s just perfect.

    And so, I set out straight to her house, or rather, her apartment. Just like me, she still lives with her family, but unlike me, she cared about her image.

    Thirty sixth floor, Room number 288.

    *Knock *Knock *Knock

    ¡°¡­¡±

    *Knock *Knock

    *Clack*

    I expected to see her shocked expression, but¡­

    ¡°Siola? Is that you, sweetie?¡±

    ¡°Ah, Minty¡¯s Mama?¡±

    Picked me up like a doll and brought me to her huge tiddies.

    *Squeeze*

    ¡°Awww, it¡¯s really you. How have you been?! You¡¯ve grown taller since I last saw you.¡±

    ¡®Mwehehehehehe, boobies!¡¯

    ¡®No wait!¡¯

    ¡°Minty¡¯s Mama, can you help me with something?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, but let¡¯s get inside first. It¡¯s hot outside, no?¡±

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Instead of putting me down on the sofa, she continues to carry me on her lap.

    ¡°Mm, you¡¯re still as light as a feather, have you eaten yet? Wanna have breakfast?¡±

    Shaking head, ¡°Nooo, Minty Mama, listen,¡± pulling away from her boobies, ¡°I¡¯m on very big journey right now. Buh, me need a place to stay.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡± her brows raised, ¡°Why, your family is going to be looking for you, won¡¯t they?¡±

    Whispering, ¡°Best not to let Sadrin busy, she¡¯s such a worrywart.¡±

    Melting into her cleavage, ¡°Nooo, please let me stay, Minty Mama. Pleaseee.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    ¡°Pleaseeee.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright. You can stay.¡±

    ¡°Yay!¡±

    She chuckles, ¡°You can sleep in Minty¡¯s room or sleep with me, however you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°Me want sleep with Minty¡¯s Mama.¡±

    ¡°Aww, of course you are.¡±

    Blowing raspberries on me as she gives some pecks to my cheek.

    ¡°Oh, right, breakfast. You sure you don¡¯t want it? How about milk?¡± pulling her clothes and bra aside, ¡°Here, you still love them, yes?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± me went super happy, ¡°Yesh!¡±

    Big nip nip, me sucky sucky, milk squeeeeeze. Gulp Gulp!

    ¡°Oohh, so eager.¡±

    She chuckles, brushing my hair slightly with a somewhat pained expression in her eyes, but she forces herself to smile.

    ¡°Back when you used to come here all the time, Minty has always look so bright.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    She carried me to a dark room, when the place is illuminated, there I can see a decent setup of gaming capsule. Dropping from her warm hug, I went to see it.

    ¡°There¡¯s this sensational virtual game nowadays where people can earn money from it. And well, it¡¯s what she¡¯s been doing for the past few years.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s very pretty.¡±

    ¡°It is. She takes care of it each and every day from the first day we bought it for her.¡±

    ¡°You bought it? But you said she¡¯s been doing it for a few years now.¡±

    Still in disbelief herself, she smiles.

    ¡°These days, she never asks for anything, Siola. It was always enough for her to be happy. we don¡¯t need her money to live. Good sakes, we even bought our own capsules to play with her.¡±

    ¡°Although, I love to see my baby works hard¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, but we¡¯ve never seen her smile for a while now.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Siola, can you help Minty?¡±

    The girl was never my friend. If she was, she would¡¯ve extended her hand at every opportunity, every chance I gave to the world, but no.

    ¡®I don¡¯t have a choice right now, but her mother is a different case.¡¯

    ¡°Of course, Minty Mama.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    Think it¡¯s around ten when the time that Minty got back home. Those unnatural blue eyes and hair implant in ponytail too, they¡¯re definitely the same person I first met, but it¡¯s a good change.

    Shudder like her hair just went up after seeing me in the kitchen with a smile.

    ¡°Jeezus, S-Siola?! Wh-What are you doing here?!¡±

    ¡°Mom!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Minty Mama is out. Quite a hardworking mom she is, yeah?¡±

    ¡°Stop. You, you shouldn¡¯t be here.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll be staying here actually. Got your mom permission for it.¡±

    ¡°What? No, no?!¡±

    Walking straight to her room.

    ¡°In for Ekolia?¡±

    Glancing at me with a piercing dagger, ¡°What do you know? You rich people always looks down on us, on me! You never cared for something like a silly game!¡±

    ¡°Heh, that silly game is the most popular one on earth, of course even I know about it. Hell, I just started out myself.¡±

    ¡°Really. You?¡±

    Shrugging with a smile.

    She scoffed, ¡°Heh.¡±

    With my brows raised, I waited for a proper respond with my charming eyes. She took a moment to think about it.

    ¡°I heard Ekolia got a new patch. You know about that?¡±

    ¡°Saw it on TV.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    Behind that stern expression, I can already feel a smile. God, she¡¯s so easy to please. Though it makes me wonder if she truly hasn¡¯t changed at all. All flaring with makeup and styles, is it just who she is now? Or is it just a fa?ade she put on.

    ¡°Listen, what happened in college and¡ª.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that for now. It¡¯s you we¡¯re talking about here. Wanna team up?¡±

    Her eyes glistened.

    ¡°I dunno.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on. For old time sakes. I got a level 20 character, but you¡¯ll carry me, right?¡±

    Her mouth puckers, ¡°Heh, so you know what being carried means? I guess I could show you the rope a little. Get you going until level 50 or so and I know a couple of good spots for farming and all that.¡±

    ¡°Sounds neat.¡±

    ¡°Okay then, um, mom¡ª I mean, my mother got a console in her room, so¡ª.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah, I saw it. Then, see you there? Heard we¡¯ll be teleported to a new place.¡±

    Nodding enthusiastically albeit a bit nervous, ¡°Mhm.¡±

    Awkwardly, she closes the door on me. And I think it¡¯s about time for me to return to the game too, the new patch sounds concerning.

    The console that Minty Mama has is more recent than Minty¡¯s, it should work wonders.

    As I enter, with the lid pumping air, chilling what¡¯s inside the capsule that is me. I¡¯m being pulled at Mach speed, loading into the game, to Ekolia.

    ¡°¡­sa.¡±

    Familiar voice, it¡¯s heavy, cracking sound of a skeleton.

    ¡°Luosa!¡±

    A woman this time, no, that¡¯s my own voice.

    ¡°Wake up, you fool!¡±

    My eyes widened to see that I¡¯m in the grand archive with Ludwig, Ludtleth, and Madam Goolag who is replicating me. They¡¯re looking at me intensely as if something is happening with me. And indeed, it is, my hands are glowing brightly. Yet, there¡¯s no notification of what exactly is happening to me right now, but I realized what¡¯s about to happen.

    ¡°My lord, what do we do?!¡±

    ¡°This is the work of the Divine System. Luosa, tell us what happened?¡±

    My hands started disappearing, ¡®Fuck.¡¯

    But then my mind racing, searching every corner of my memory for information. Trying to tell the most important thing before I left, but there¡¯s no time.

    ¡°Ludwig! I¡¯ll be back! I¡¯ll be¡ª.¡±

    My vision suddenly brightened as I¡¯m covered in the warmth of a golden light.

 Chapter 46 â€“ Season 2 â€“ Spawn Point

    ¡°Yo, what the fuck is this place?!¡±

    ¡°Sonya! Sonya, I¡¯m heeereeee!¡±

    One of my eyes twitching as I covered it, waiting for them to adjust. I can see a whole pack of people just swarming the place. Outdoor, grasslands, so open and wide.

    I managed to get out to a less dense area.

    *Pant *Pant

    When I opened a menu and glance at the balance¡¯s patch highlight, I immediately went to see my profile status.

    ¡°Fuck!¡±

    ¡°What the hell is this?!¡±

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    <ul>

    <li>Name: ---</li>

    <li>Level: 20</li>

    <li>Class: Mage</li>

    <li>Title: [Fire Wielder]</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes (60)

    <ul>

    <li>Max Health: 1 | Max Mana: 1 | Max Stamina: 1</li>

    <li>Health: 1| Mana: 1 | Stamina: 1</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes (20)

    <ul>

    <li>Strength: --- / Dexterity: --- / Endurance: ---</li>

    <li>Vitality: --- / Agility: ---</li>

    <li>Intelligence: --- / Faith: --- / Luck: ---</li>

    </ul>

    Combat

    <ul>

    <li>Physical Attack: --- / Physical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Magical Attack: --- / Magical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Health Regeneration: 0.001 / Mana Regeneration: 0.01 / Stamina Regeneration: 0.1</li>

    </ul>

    Active Effect

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

    ===== Ability Status =====

    Title

    <ul>

    <li>Fire Wielder / One who carries flame as source of power in the palm of their hands / Effect: Fire-based spells have increased 50% Potency</li>

    </ul>

    Innate Ability

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    Skill

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    Spell

    <ul>

    <li>Wall of Stone / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Earth / Cast to conjure a 6:2 stone wall at target location, lasts 1 hour / Cost: 10 Mana / Requirement: 10 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Heal Array / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Light / Create a sphere of light at Will, it can be connected to another created sphere to form a healing area once fully connected, restoring 0.25 Health per second. At least 3 spheres are required for healing area to be activated and requires Cast, lasts 300 seconds / Cost: 8 Mana / Requirement: 8 Faith</li>

    <li>Sovereign Ritual / Tier 7 ¨C Supreme / Arcane / Cast Sign to summon a creature from the outer plane unreachable by the gods to form a contract / Cost: 2400 Mana / Requirement: 200 Intelligence, 200 Faith</li>

    </ul>

    Miracle

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Ability Status =====

    ===== Equipment Status =====

    <ul>

    <li>Ul¡¯ Sejidah / Mythic / Physical Defense: 0 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: Dark-based spells has increased 80% Potency and 80% Duration. Has innate spell [Solas Overblack], create a vortex that pulls arcane from the surrounding and sucks everything in 5-meter radius at target location that will grow up to 100-meter vortex dealing up to 1200 dark damage / Requirement: 150 Intelligence, 50 Faith</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Equipment Status =====

    ¡®My immortality, my telekinesis, my ignition, combustion! Where are they!¡¯

    ¡®Damn it. Damn it!¡¯

    I can¡¯t even use the enchantment on the equipment I¡¯ve got, not that I have a use for it now. Still, the change is too drastic! What do you mean spells require casting?

    ¡°Cringe!¡±

    ¡°Damn it, I can¡¯t even cast the spell I rely on so much cause it¡¯s gone!¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    With my head pinning down, I tried to allocate points to the new change, and although it looks slightly different, it changes things massively.

    Secondary Attributes are in line with Levels now, and there¡¯s a massive drop in Primary Attributes, even all regen is affected. This is just too much!

    ¡®What to do, what to do.¡¯

    This didn¡¯t happen in my past life, it¡¯s ridiculous!

    There are too many changes that I need to consider. Every Attributes now matters but I think I can get away from leaving some for now. In order for me to have less problem in my future, ¡°Vitality gotta go.¡±

    ¡°No wait, potion requires that shit now!¡±

    Face palming, ¡°What do you mean?!¡±

    ¡°Okay, just. Get what I need to get going for now. No weapons. Just spells. I¡¯ll need to chug a lot of blue pots for me to use spells reliably, but¡­¡±

    ¡°I could fulfil both requirements on Heal Array and Wall of Stone but leaving only two points for others is just not a good idea.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Intelligence only for now, and how much do I need for Vitality?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Blue Jelly Potion / Uncommon / Recover up to 40 Mana / Requirement: 10 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Phock!¡±

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    <ul>

    <li>Name: ---</li>

    <li>Level: 20</li>

    <li>Class: Mage</li>

    <li>Title: [Fire Wielder]</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Max Health: 11 [+5.5] | Max Mana: 41 [+20.5] | Max Stamina: 11 [+5.5]</li>

    <li>Health: 16.5 | Mana: 61.5 | Stamina: 16.5</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Strength: --- / Dexterity: --- / Endurance: ---</li>

    <li>Vitality: 10 / Agility: ---</li>

    <li>Intelligence: 10 / Faith: --- / Luck: ---</li>

    </ul>

    Combat

    <ul>

    <li>Physical Attack: --- / Physical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Magical Attack: --- / Magical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Health Regeneration: 0.001 / Mana Regeneration: 0.1 / Stamina Regeneration: 0.1</li>

    </ul>

    Active Effect

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

    ¡°Damn, that Mana Regeneration sucks.¡±

    It seems that my blessings and all of that has been removed as well. Which means, I will be progressing at normal pace. The new normal pace.

    ¡°Siola?¡±

    Brows raised, I turned to look and found a gorgeous elf girl with big bust and butts. She carries bow and arrows and seems to be very well equipped with light armor.

    ¡°You actually went default, huh.¡±

    My jaw dropped, ¡°Minty?¡±

    ¡°Ahh, I go by Silvita, here in Ekolia, at least.¡±

    ¡°Right, but my goodness, you look so different. Why elf though?¡±

    ¡°Hm? I thought they look pretty.¡±

    Crossing my arms, ¡°There¡¯s other races that are prettier. Like, humans.¡±

    ¡°Hm, you got something against elves?¡±

    ¡°No?¡±

    ¡°If you say so.¡±

    Looking at me up and down.

    ¡°I don¡¯t recognize that outfit, are you a wizard or something?¡±

    ¡°Mage actually.¡±

    ¡°Really? I¡¯m a Rogue, so that means, our party is going to be greatly imbalance!¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t have a party yet?¡±

    A smile, shaking her head.

    ¡°A solo player, huh. Oh well, don¡¯t worry. You still got me. Though it¡¯s more like I got you instead because I¡¯m a mage. Considering the changes to the game, I¡¯m gonna have a real hard time.¡±

    ¡°They did change a lot, huh.¡±

    ¡°Guess they decided to teleport us here to the middle of nowhere so that we can test our stuff before heading out. Still, it¡¯s quite packed in here.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Make way! Make way, you retards!¡±

    ¡°Out of the way!¡±

    Several men in a herd, pushing others away as an squinty-eyed man leading them.

    ¡°Heavenly God Sword?¡±

    Glancing at Minty being awestruck by them. I still remember that name from that peddler I met a while back when I was in the dessert. One of the top five Guilds in Ekolia, ranked 4<sup>th</sup>.

    ¡°They¡¯re a guild, right? Did you join them?¡±

    ¡°I wanted to, but¡­¡±

    Gallantly heading towards the west portal.

    ¡°They don¡¯t take just anyone.¡±

    She sighs, ¡°Anyway, you said you reaches Level 20? What can you do though?¡±

    ¡°Well, this.¡±

    ¡°Wall of Stone.¡±

    It only goes up to a meter in 6:2 bricks, very different than what it was before.

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±

    ¡°Well, before this I could use combustion, then that thing evolves, but now I lost it because of the patch. This stone used to be powerful too. So, yeah. This is all I¡¯ve got.¡±

    ¡°Oof, that¡¯s rough.¡±

    ¡°Mhm, and the regeneration is mad slow now so magic is pretty¡­ useless at this point.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, what about a class change?¡±

    ¡°I like the sound of that.¡±

    ¡°No wait, err¡­ this is your experience, so I don¡¯t want to tell you, like, what to do and stuff. So instead, maybe we should just start on farming your levels? I¡¯m level 114 actually.¡±

    ¡°Ohhh, that¡¯s amazing.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I mean, not really especially for how many years I¡¯ve been playing.¡±

    ¡°Eh? Is leveling that hard?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes but¡­¡±

    ¡°There other reason for you not to level up?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°You might not know this, Siola, but Ekolia is like¡­ work. It¡¯s a game, but you can also earn money from it. You know, and um¡­ I¡¯ve been living with my parents and I¡¯m about to be 22. I don¡¯t even have anything to show for myself. I couldn¡¯t even pay the bills for playing too¡­¡±

    Forcing a smile, she is.

    ¡°Well, guess we have a goal then! How about you help me level up fast and in return, we¡¯ll work on that financial situation of yours. We¡¯ll open up this new vendor thing and earn money that way, how¡¯s that sound?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve mostly been selling mats to Trade Guilds. It¡¯s hard to sell items when you open up a shop on your own, you know.¡±

    ¡°Ahahah, so you tried it?¡±

    Nodding, ¡°Mm.¡±

    ¡°I see. Well don¡¯t worry, you got me this time. If it doesn¡¯t work, you can still go back to the Trading Guild or whatever, come on. Which one of these portals should we go through?¡±

    ¡°Umm, it¡¯s gotta be the East one.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a farming spot that I used to go to back in the day. There¡¯s not a particularly hard monsters or anything, but they give a lot of exp.¡±

    ¡°Lead the way then, my lady.¡±

    She smiles and awkwardly leading the charge as I follow.

 Chapter 47 â€“ Season 2 â€“ Realism to All

    The East gate allows one to enter the vicinity of Sonata Kingdom. The largest kingdom in the region and is currently in a war against two other kingdoms and Lorkhan Empire. We arrived to a settlement made by other players.

    ¡°Weapons, y¡¯all! Got some epics here for a somewhat affordable price!¡±

    ¡°Potions here!¡±

    ¡°It gets rowdy, huh, Siola.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Oh right, do you need anything? I can buy you some to get started.¡±

    ¡°A spell that requires less than 10 Intelligence would be nice. Low Mana consumption too.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s look for them before we set out then.¡±

    ¡°Heheh, I¡¯m in your debt.¡±

    We went searching a lot, but unfortunately, no one is selling anything less than Rare here. That is until I see a hand waving at me just by the tree.

    Squinting closely, I can see black long nails belonging to a pale skin hand.

    Glancing at Minty who is busy haggling with someone, I went to check it out and see that there is nothing on the other side of the tree.

    At least, that¡¯s what I thought until I got choked and lifted into the air, pinned to the tree.

    ¡°Hnngh?!¡±

    ¡°Hush, Luosa.¡±

    My mother¡¯s voice, except not. When she reveals herself, it is indeed Replica. That woman who tried to set me up in front of Ludtleth.

    ¡°You, hnngh, wh-why are you here?!¡±

    ¡°Something¡¯s changed. Before, you walk in the middle of that line between a wanderer and a traveler. And now, all of those insects feel somewhat the same. Including you.¡±

    ¡°Explain.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s, nnngh, can you let me go so I can explain it properly?¡±

    As soon as she let go, her tiddies pushes my back to the tree, ¡°Buh?!¡±

    ¡°Speak.¡±

    I wanted to say that I feel threatened when she got me cornered like this, but surprisingly, I don¡¯t feel that way. But I have to explain this change in a way for her to understand.

    ¡°It¡¯s the Divine System.¡±

    ¡°My powers are all gone, including the blessings and contract that I¡¯ve made with lord Ludwig, I¡¯m reduced to literally nothing. I can¡¯t even make walls to protect myself properly like how I used to. Same goes for them.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re all have gotten weaker?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but there¡¯s also one more thing. What you know of as Travelers, they never felt pain or feel much of it at all, were they not?¡±

    ¡°Right now, all travelers are the same as I. They can feel pain just like I am. It used to be an option for them to opt out. But now, they can all feel excruciatingly pure one at that.¡±

    Her eyes looking at me like a hawk, she backs one step only for her to stab me with those sharp nails. Pain quickly surged to my brain.

    ¡°Ngaaah¡ª" my mouth shutted and my eyes grown heavy in an instant, but then¡­

    ! {You have died¡ª E--/0r}

    ! {You have died¡ª E--/0r}

    ! {You have died¡ª E--/0r}

    ¡°How annoying. Your body has been deeply reinforced by it.¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°It¡¯ll take time for me to find a way do it, but I¡¯ll be in touch.¡±

    ¡°D-Do what?¡±

    {Health: 0/11}

    {Health: 4/11}

    {Health: 11/11}

    Healing me just like that. Her eyes glances somewhere and so I went to see in her direction and find Minty walking towards me. Replica has gone when I look back.

    ¡°Siola, jeez. What¡¯re you doing here. Look, I found something for you.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Firebolt Spell Book / Common / Requirement: 3 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    Sighing, ¡®It really has to come down to this one, huh.¡¯

    ¡°What, you don¡¯t like it?¡±

    ¡°No, no, I mean I¡¯ve actually seen it before, but ahh, gimme gimme.¡±

    ¡°Here you go.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡±

    Flipping the book over. Reading and flipping pages. Thankfully, nothing¡¯s changed about the learning process. There¡¯s only a stat requirement now.

    ! {New Spell has been learned}

    <ul>

    <li>Firebolt / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Fire / Cast to conjure a small bolt of fire, dealing 10 fire damage at enemy upon impact, buildup burn overtime / Cost: 3 Mana / Requirement: 3 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    ¡°Eh? Already? Wow, you read fast.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. How much did you get it from?¡±

    ¡°Oh, for free actually. The mage that was selling actually got pretty annoyed at me and just send me on my way with it.¡±

    ¡°Lol, what the hell.¡±

    ¡°Lol?¡±

    ¡°Ah.¡±

    ¡°Heheh, didn¡¯t know a Mithra would say that.¡±

    ¡°Come on, stop it. Let¡¯s get us those Exp so we can farm stuff for our shop.¡±

    Nodding, ¡°Mm! Oh wait¡­¡±

    ¡°I forgot to put us in a party. I need to add you to my friend list too.¡±

    ¡°Oh, my friend list is actually broken, so¡ª¡± when I pull it up, it works, ¡°Oh wait, never mind. Let me just add you instead. Silvita¡­ right there.¡±

    ¡°Hm? You don¡¯t have a name yet?¡±

    ¡°Oh right, I forgot. Ahh, I¡¯ll do it later.¡±

    ¡°Alright then.¡±

    ! {Party Created}

    ~ {Silvita Lv. 144 has been added to the Party}

    ~ {Leader Status has been relinquished to Silvita Lv. 144}

    Following her as we go down the hill right on the dirt road.

    Something I noticed though is that Stamina is slowly going down. A single point does not mean it will go instantly to 0 but walking reduces it variably depending on how much movement is spent and it¡¯s less than 1. But then I noticed something up ahead.

    ¡°Mint¡ª I mean, Silvita look! Goblins.¡±

    ¡°Okay! Watch my back, Siola.¡±

    Taking an arrow from her quiver, she takes her first shot, initiating the battle. But she missed her shot, but then another one, and she missed again. The goblins notice the arrow and charges.

    ¡°What the¡ª.¡±

    ¡°Minty?¡±

    ¡°Ahh, hold on, Siola.¡±

    She takes another arrow and pulled it to the back and then shouted, ¡°Magic Volley!¡±

    When she takes her shot, the arrow split into three and swirly as it hits the body of a goblin, they push the creature on its butt upon impact and killed it.

    ¡°Nice! Two more!¡±

    She quickly takes another arrow from her quiver and proceed to use the same strategy to deal with the goblins. They died, but she suddenly breathing heavily.

    ¡°Good job, Minty!¡±

    ¡°Let me see what we got here.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>[2x] Magic Core / Common / Contains the soul of a low ranked creature</li>

    <li>[3x] Goblin Ear / Common / Goblin body part</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Some materials, what do you think, Minty?¡±

    Walking with a heavy panting.

    ¡°Minty?¡±

    ¡°Huff, th-that¡¯s as expected, hehe. But why do I feel so¡­ tired?¡±

    Assisting her to take a seat.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I ran out of Stamina.¡±

    ¡°What? Already?¡±

    ¡°I-It wasn¡¯t like this before.¡±

    ¡°Wait, have you checked your ability status yet? You know, the update changed quite a bit. I lost a lot of my magic too, which is why I was¡ª.¡±

    When she checked, her face shudder, ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°No, this can¡¯t be.¡±

    ¡°Siola¡­¡±

    ¡°What do I do?¡±

    Taking out a Stamina Potion, ¡°Here, drink this.¡±

    When she calms down, I wait for her to recover.

    ¡°I thought they were just reducing the attributes. I forgot to check¡­ Now I have useless stats with me. Did I just¡­ ruined my account?¡±

    ¡°Hey, hey. Relax, okay? You¡¯re still level what, 100? By the time you get to level 200, you can just patch the hole you need. Besides, all attributes are important now.¡±

    ¡°I almost couldn¡¯t drink that Stamina pot.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Stamina Potion / Common / Restore up to 10 Stamina / Requirement: 1 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°If I were to get hit, I wouldn¡¯t even be able to drink a health potion, Siola.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll just have to be careful from now on. Wouldn¡¯t want either of us got hurt.¡±

    ¡°Hurt?¡±

    ¡°Realism Mode is gone remember? Instead, it¡¯s we all have something similar active now. The patch says if we get hit, we can feel it. At least, that¡¯s what I interpreted.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Realism Mode has been deprecated.</li>

    <li>Every player above 18 years of age will now have 1:1 experience with their avatar</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°One-to-one?¡±

    ¡°No wonder I feel so tired.¡±

    Grimace, I can feel her worries. With my hands on her shoulders, I tried to relax her with a massage but it looks like it doesn¡¯t help at all.

    ¡°How¡­ How can you be so calm about this? What if we¡­ die?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re actually going to die though.¡±

    ¡°No, but¡­ Siola, the, the pain and everything. Don¡¯t you feel scared about this?¡±

    ¡°I do, Minty, I do. Of course I¡¯m scared. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve started the game on Realism Mode to begin with so nothing has changed for me in that regard.¡±

    ¡°What? Why would you. No, it doesn¡¯t matter now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m-I¡¯m sorry Siola, but I don¡¯t think I can do this. The place we¡¯re going is not high level, but at this point, I might as well be a beginner like you. I can¡¯t just¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, hey,¡± feeling her cheek, ¡°What is this? I thought you became more dashing but turns out, you¡¯re the same little duckling I first met.¡±

    ¡°Siola.¡±

    ¡°Come on, get up.¡±

    Pulling both of her hands.

    ¡°We can do this. Both of us, together.¡±

    Looking at her in the eye, waiting for a proper respond. She nodded.

    That nod puts me to smile. And so, we continue our journey, but this time, with me leading the front with her as my guide. A guide shall be protected.

 Chapter 48 - Season 2 - Dungeon Delving

    Burning face of a goblin as it receives a kick, thump as it falls down. My hand flowing like a river as I deliver my palm with a cast, ¡°Firebolt.¡±

    Hurl a fiery flame towards another goblin, staggering it as the flame hits its chest. Closing in, I took the opportunity to grab and twist its neck but I couldn¡¯t. So, I kick it away from me.

    In the corner of my eye, I can see another one approaching.

    ¡°Firebolt!¡±

    Bwoosh, its head aflame, but it¡¯s not enough to stop it. But then, Minty passes me by with a sword in her hands.

    A swing, ¡°Haaaaaaaaaah! AAAAH!¡±

    It slices its chest and killed it. She turns to the previous goblin and impale its body.

    ¡°Haaargh!¡±

    ¡°Haa¡­ Haa¡­¡±

    ¡°That should be all of them. Good work, Minty.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>[5x] Magic Core / Common / Contains the soul of a low ranked creature</li>

    <li>[8x] Goblin Ear / Common / Goblin body part</li>

    <li>[1x] Goblin Shiv / Common / Physical Attack: 3 / Magical Attack: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: 0 Dexterity, 0 Agility</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Yeah, huff.¡±

    ¡°Huff, Siola look. It¡¯s a weapon you can use, I think.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, oh yeah, you¡¯re right.¡±

    ¡°Should be useful for something.¡±

    Looking at me like she wanna say something, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just¡­ wondering why you can stay so calm. When I slice into that goblin, it felt so different than how it used to.¡±

    ¡°Like¡­ it¡¯s real, you know.¡±

    Finger snap, ¡°Putting the real in the realism!¡± I said, ¡°Ehehehe, but yeah, I gotchu. Been doing this for more than a week, albeit, with lesser difficulty.¡±

    ¡°Mm. Right, the place shouldn¡¯t be far, we should get moving.¡±

    ¡°Okey dokey.¡±

    ¡°Heh, why are you acting like that.¡±

    We follow the dirt road further and encountered wolves. It¡¯s large and the jagged teeth dripping in its saliva. Minty hesitant to move despite it being an ordinary wolf.

    Tapping her shoulder, giving her the courage with a nod. And she nods back.

    With a deep breath, she takes a quiver as a wolf lunge at us. But when she shoots, she miss¡ª, ¡°Firebolt!¡±

    Head full of fire, I dashed towards it as the other comes to get us.

    ¡°Magic Volley!¡±

    Once it¡¯s struck by the arrow, I went to deliver the killing bow with the newly acquired dagger, stabbed deep inside the burning wolf¡¯s mouth.

    It whimpers before it died.

    <ul>

    <li>[1x] Wolf Pelt / Common / Wolf skin</li>

    <li>[2x] Magic Core / Common / Contains the soul of a low ranked creature</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Level UP}

    ¡°Oh, my level just went up.¡±

    ¡°Really? Nice.¡±

    ¡°Mm, I¡¯ve added it up to Faith. Just need 7 more levels for me to be able to use [Heal Array].

    ¡°Ohoh, that¡¯s gonna be very useful.¡±

    ¡°Right?¡±

    Further down the road, we arrived at a bridge and the other end of it is an enormous gate, unguarded, and the structure itself is rundown.

    [Minty]: ¡°Down there.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Beside the high current river where many fish are jumping, there lies a narrow path where an extinguished torch and a sign is pinned to a rocky wall.

    [Siola]: ¡°Huh, it looks empty¡­¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°After you.¡±

    Following the narrow pathway down from the bridge. Upon entering the area by the river, there we see not a single soul around.

    [Minty]: ¡°Wow, I guess we¡¯re pretty early.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°From the looks of it, yeah. People might¡¯ve chosen someplace else or just busy trying stuff out after the new update, and that¡¯s good, I think.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°We have this place for ourselves.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Are you sure we¡¯re going to be fine? I know I¡¯m high level in your eyes, but I¡¯m not really. Highest level players are around 300 or so, and people generally are in the 200 range.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, we can do it. Come on. Give me a rundown of this place.¡±

    Nodding.

    [Minty]: ¡°Sotrieta Dungeon. Behind this gate, is full of uncommon monsters. Which is a step above what we fought so far. They don¡¯t give much Exp, but there are plenty of them inside.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°What kind of monsters?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Sprites and plants. At least until floor 6, but we¡¯re not going beyond that floor anyway.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Oh that¡¯s perfect for us. You can easily deal with a sprite with your bow and I can just burn plants, hahaha.¡±

    Though it¡¯s weird that I¡¯m the only one laughing. She looks very nervous.

    Tapping her arm, ¡°Come on.¡±

    Upon opening the dungeon gate, a gushing wind washes over us. It¡¯s oddly eerie.

    I cast [Firebolt] on an extinguished torch, and takes it with us inside. Dungeon delving has always been my thing. It¡¯s like exploring the unknown. The only time I come to despise a dungeon is when I found a good farming spot and make a repeat on it.

    Doing the same thing over and over again.

    ¡°Magic Volley!¡±

    ¡°Firebolt!¡±

    Endurance run is all about resource management and efficiency. If one tip the scale to one or the other, the imbalance will ruin it.

    Arrows flying, wings torn. Stomped like a fly.

    Sprites. A small flying creature capable of immense annoyance with its wind magic. In the darkness, the intensity would multiply, but surprisingly, this dungeon has a bright level even on deeper down as magic mushroom, fireflies, among other things illuminate the area.

    Their wind attack is easily intercept-able just by aiming torches at it.

    [Minty]: ¡°I-I didn¡¯t know you could do that.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, me neither.¡±

    The key to completing an endurance has always been about balance. And it¡¯s not just charging through every level, no, we need rests in between our march.

    [Minty]: ¡°What you got there?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Chicken. You want one?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Yeah, why not?¡±

    Upon taking a bite of it at the same time, our brows raised as the immense flavor of the food just sent our tongue dancing.

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh wow, that¡¯s actually good. I mean, I tasted it before the patch, but wow.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°That¡¯s one point for Realism Mode.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Still wish we can opt out of it.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh.¡±

    As we march on, we continue our massacre upon the sprites and plants. The latter couldn¡¯t even dodge when I set them on fire. Sprites dropping like flies, and our dropdown is filled with exp.

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level 25 Milestone has been reached}

    ! {Innate Ability has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Mana Recharge / Rank 1 / Arcane / Cast and hold to gather the surrounding arcane and converts them into usable Mana by 0.1 per second / Cost: None / Requirement: 8 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Nice, a milestone. Resource gathering ability, Mana Recharge.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Ah that one, where you can spend Stamina to gain Mana.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No, this one says I need to hold as it gathers Mana from the surrounding. Doesn¡¯t cost anything and thankfully, I got the requirement set.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°It changed too, huh.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Let¡¯s see, Mana Recharge.¡±

    [Mana 44/50]

    [Mana 44.1/50]

    [Mana 44.6/50]

    [Siola]: ¡°Oh wow, I cannot wait for them to fully recharge my 50 MP next year.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Pfft. No kidding, heard it was like less than a per second I think.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°So, we need what. Three more levels for your [Heal Array]?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, wanna take a break? We¡¯ve been at it for like 6 hours now lol.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Lol, but nah. I want you to reach a comfy spot. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll get you to 28 before my mom¡ª I mean, my mother comes yelling.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Let¡¯s get to it then. But my goodness I¡¯ve gotta say, this place is massive. We emptied four whole floors only in the amount of time people can clear a dungeon.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Haha, we¡¯re already plenty fast, I think.¡±

    Continuing onward, more mushroom burning, more potion chugging. The good think about this whole update is the removal of Toxin in potion. I feel like we can chug a whole crate full of them and we wouldn¡¯t get one thanks to the vitality requirement on the update.

    <ul>

    <li>[218x] Magic Core / Common / Contains the soul of a low ranked creature</li>

    <li>[12x] Magic Core / Uncommon / Contains the soul of a low ranked creature</li>

    <li>[344x] Sprite Jewel / Common / Sprite¡¯s innards</li>

    <li>[8x] Spore Mushroom / Uncommon / Magic Mushroom¡¯s innards, can glow in the dark and be consumed to heal 5 Health / Requirement: 8 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    [Minty]: ¡°Ah, I just got a skill!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Oh?¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Steady Hand (Passive) / Level 1 / Increases balance when aiming a bow by 10%</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°What? How come you never got that?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Ehehehe, the game usually does the aiming for me, I mean, I use skills and spells most of the time so I rarely ever do any archery like¡­ AT ALL.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No wonder, lol.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Lol.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°So, did you get to 28?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Nope, just 26.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Really. Well, that¡¯s Ekolia for you. After each milestone it just gets harder and harder to level up.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mm. Should we go further?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°What, to floor 7? No.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Sprites and mushrooms. Yes. But crystal golems and shadow beasts? That¡¯s a no.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Oh.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Yeah, the difficulty spiked so hard after this one. We should get back.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I¡¯m right behind you.¡±

    Glancing at the deep darkness awaiting in the next floor, I know that I¡¯ll be back to explore it someday. But for now, this girl is my priority.

 Chapter 49 - Season 2 - Grind

    [Minty]: ¡°Just how fast do they have to respawn?!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Minty! Behind you!¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Arrgh!¡±

    Swings her sword down, SLASH, cutting the sprite in two. Switching to her bow, she and I continues our march towards the surface. And I myself grabbed another level once we reach it.

    Falling flat on the ground, ¡°Buh, me so tireeed.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Mmm, I¡¯m hungry.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Let¡¯s logout, maybe Minty Mama is back.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°She should be¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­¡±

    Weak and exhausted, we hit our logout button at the same time and awaken at our own capsule in reality. Waiting for the lid to open as it pumps out cold breeze from within.

    ¡°Urrgh, even though I have a better setup at home, this doesn¡¯t come from the capsule, this tired bones! Goodness, the update is insane!¡±

    I opened the door and slid into the living space, there I see Minty Mama and a guy. It¡¯s¡­

    ¡°Minty Papa!¡±

    ¡°Oh, Siola? I heard you¡¯ll be staying with us today, is that right?¡±

    Hugs, ¡°Yesh! Me will sleep with Minty Mama.¡±

    ¡°Whaaaat, but if you sleep with Minty Mama, then where will Minty Papa be sleeping?¡±

    Looking up at him with puffed cheeks, ¡°Minty Papa sleep on couch!¡±

    ¡°Awww.¡±

    ¡°Siola, sweetie. Here¡¯s your dinner, and can you give this one to Minty?¡±

    Big whole tray, I nodded ¡°Mm.¡±

    She and her husband smiles at me before I left to Minty¡¯s door.

    ¡°Minty! Dinner!¡±

    Door is opened but I don¡¯t see anyone welcoming me. I squeeze myself in there and my brows raised after seeing Minty struggles to close the door without her parents seeing.

    But she did in the end and we have dinner afterwards.

    *Munch *Munch

    Salty fish meat, and jelly tofu.

    ¡°Well?¡±

    She jolted, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Come on, you seriously thought that I wouldn¡¯t ask you about THAT?¡±

    Hesitant, ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ they¡¯re annoying.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t stop now.¡±

    ¡°Well, I happened to meet this guy. Said he¡¯s gonna get me in the Heavenly God Sword, but then the update happens so we had to postpone it. He just needs monthly payment for a year.¡±

    ¡°So, your mom found out about it?¡±

    ¡°Dad did.¡±

    ¡°Mm, so this guy. Is he like¡­ legit?¡±

    ¡°Of course, he is. He¡¯s one of the officers in the guild.¡±

    ¡°Hunh, so your intent on joining the guild is¡­ why?¡±

    ¡°What else? If I can join Heavenly Sword Guild, I can earn more money. It¡¯s their connections, their reach. Half of trades in Ekolia goes through them. They have physical vendors all over the region, physical auctions, people who wish to make a living ideally would join them. And they have one of the top rankers as a leader too.¡±

    *Munch *Munch

    ¡°Are you listening?¡±

    ¡°Just wondering if you¡¯re still going for it. What about our plans for making a vendor shop?¡±

    ¡°Siola, it¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°Minty, your head is not working right.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°I mean you¡¯re talking to me. Sure, I went through that weird phase and you saw it all unfold, but I¡¯m still me, you know.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°How about this, Minty. Just you and me. We do our own thing, make our own store. We make all the money from Ekolia and stuff your room here full of cash. If we ever fail, you can quit.¡±

    ¡°But why um¡­ why, why would you help me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m staying here for a while. Might as well, right?¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯ll stop and leave when you don¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Heheh, you¡¯ll get two-weeks¡¯ notice if that ever happens.¡±

    Smiling as I look her in the eyes, and she smiles back. Nodding enthusiastically. After that dinner, Minty Mama washes the dishes with me hugging her butt with my face planted on the crack of her plump cloth-covered booty cheeks. Though, she ignores me.

    Minty awkwardly came over and help her washes the dishes, I could see it, her mother smiling and somehow, it brought some warmth to my heart.

    Usually, I¡¯d play until midnight, but I have to consider Minty¡¯s health this time around. Thus, I sleep now with Minty Mama with her boobies smothering me. And when I woke up, boi, them blobbious boha boha are the first thing I see.

    ¡°Boobies, tiddies.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Love boobies and tiddies.¡±

    ¡®I wanna go back to being a kid¡­¡¯

    I went to check on Minty.

    Door is unlocked and I see her changing clothes, her big tiddy kept her clothes tight.

    Whispering, ¡°Minty!¡±

    ¡°Of fuck, S-Siola?! Don¡¯t sneak up on me like that.¡±

    ¡°You ready to play?¡±

    ¡°Wh-What about breakfast?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll just do brunch later on, yeah?¡±

    ¡°I guess.¡±

    Each of us went to our own capsule, mine in Minty Mama¡¯s bedroom. I give her tiddy a kiss before hopping into Ekolia. Flashes of light as I descend on where I left off.

    ¡°Good, you¡¯re here. Ready for another grind?¡±

    I nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡±

    And so, with our weapons in tow, energized with the fresh feeling of the morn, we went inside and wreak havoc to the poor sprites and mushrooms.

    Tip of a goblin¡¯s shiv punctured through its head. I cleaned it off this beautiful weapon and then throw it to another one coming up to me. Knife throwing is my friend¡¯s specialty.

    ¡°Firebolt, firebolt. Firebolt!¡±

    Rakuri¡¯s teaching was pretty strict but me being me, it was nothing. I love her punishment too.

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Cast 10 consecutive Destruction-type projectile spell without missing target: 11/10</li>

    <li>Cast 5 consecutive Destruction-type projectile spell on target¡¯s weak spot 11/5</li>

    </ul>

    ! {New Skill has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Rapid Spell Casting (Passive) / Level 1 / Consecutive use of spells now has reduced 5% Cost</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Rapid Spell Casting (Passive) / Level 2 / Consecutive use of spells now has reduced 10% Cost</li>

    </ul>

    As soon as my head starts getting lightheaded, I popped a bottle of jelly potion. Restoring a big chunk of my Mana. Taking this opportunity to further upping the requirement on that skill.

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Cast 20 consecutive Destruction-type projectile spell without missing target: 20/20</li>

    <li>Cast 10 consecutive Destruction-type projectile spell on target¡¯s weak spot 20/10</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Rapid Spell Casting (Passive) / Level 3 / Consecutive use of spells now has reduced 20% Cost</li>

    </ul>

    More, I want more.

    ¡°Firebolt, firebolt, Firebolt!¡±

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Cast 40 consecutive Destruction-type projectile spell without missing target: 40/40</li>

    <li>Cast 20 consecutive Destruction-type projectile spell on target¡¯s weak spot: 40/20</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Rapid Spell Casting (Passive) / Level 4 / Consecutive use of spells now has reduced 25% Cost</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Minty! If you have Mana Potion, give it to me!¡± yelling as I chug another Jelly. Continuing to send more firebolt in consistent interval.

    ¡°Here! And don¡¯t call me by name, please!¡±

    ! {Item Mail by Silvita ¨C Would you like to accept these items?}

    <ul>

    <li>[28x] Mana Potion / Common / Restore up to 10 Mana / Requirement: 5 Vitality</li>

    <li>[80x] Mana Draught / Uncommon / Increases Max Mana by 30, recover Mana by 10 / Requirement: 8 Vitality</li>

    <li>[115x] Surplus Mana Jar / Uncommon / Restore up to 25 Mana / Requirement: 4 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    It¡¯s easy to drop everything when you just got something cool and getting excited by it, but opportunities lie in the moment. I was trying to take it easy, explore everything I hadn¡¯t gotten a chance to, and I was given that opportunity thanks to Realism Mode. But no way I¡¯m passing on this.

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Cast 60 consecutive Destruction-type projectile spell without missing target: 65/50</li>

    <li>Cast 40 consecutive Destruction-type projectile spell on target¡¯s weak spot 65/40</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Rapid Spell Casting (Passive) / Level 5 / Consecutive use of spells now has reduced 30% Cost</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Firebolt!¡±

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Cast 180 consecutive Destruction-type projectile spell without missing target: 255/180</li>

    <li>Cast 180 consecutive Destruction-type projectile spell on target¡¯s weak spot 251/180</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Rapid Spell Casting (Passive) / Level 10 (Max) / Consecutive use of spells now has reduced 80% Cost</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Cast the same Spells 1000 times: 2240/1000</li>

    <li>Cast the same Fire-type spell 1000 times: 2240/1000</li>

    </ul>

    ! {New Skill has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Magi Mastery (Passive) / Level 1 / Increases all spells Potency by 10%</li>

    <li>Pyro Mastery (Passive) / Level 1 / Increases Fire-type spells Potency by 10%</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Magi Mastery (Passive) / Level 2 / Increases all spells Potency by 20%</li>

    <li>Pyro Mastery (Passive) / Level 2 / Increases Fire-type spells Potency by 25%</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Throw weapon 10 times without missing the target: 35/10</li>

    <li>Throw weapon 5 times on target¡¯s weak spot without missing: 35/5</li>

    </ul>

    ! {New Skill has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Power Throw / Level 1 / Effectively strengthened the force of thrown item, increases attack power by 15% / Cost: 3 Stamina</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Power Throw / Level 2 / Effectively strengthened the force of thrown item, increases attack power by 25% / Cost: 8 Stamina</li>

    </ul>

    ! {New Quest Received}

    <ul>

    <li>Path of Psion / Mythic / Become one with your mind, unlock Psychomancy / Requirement 1: Obtain [Rapid Spell Casting] Level 8 / Requirement 2: Acquire [Tome of Psionic Magic] / Requirement 3: Cast [Malevolent Shadow] / Reward: Class Evolution to [Psion] / Condition: Completing a Class Change will fail this Quest</li>

    </ul>

    *Pant *Pant

    ¡°Goodness, that took quite a lot of me.¡±

    It was well worth the effort though, considering how much it reduces the cost of the next cast and ones after that. Maybe not as useful now, but later on. It¡¯s going to be something I¡¯d thank my past self for. A [Power Throw] is good too, and a Psychomancy quest!

    ¡®The trash magic that couldn¡¯t even kill low level skeleton. And later on, almost every boss at a later stage of the game has resistance and outright immunity against mental attack.¡¯

    ¡®Still, NPC with a Psion class I¡¯ve met was somewhat strong and I¡¯ve never seen a player trying that class out, at least extensively. The requirements aren¡¯t bad at all.¡¯

    ¡°Siola, look! I got a couple of new skills and a quest too!¡±

    ¡°Ohoh?¡±

    Guess I wasn¡¯t the only one.

    ¡°Let me see.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Precision Shot (Passive) / Level 1 / Projectile attack upon target¡¯s weak spot has increased 10% damage</li>

    <li>Steady Hand (Passive) / Level 3 / Increases balance when aiming a bow by 20%</li>

    <li>Long Shot (Passive) / Level 1 / Projectile attack on target beyond 50 meters have increased 10% damage</li>

    <li>Bash (Passive) / Level 1 / Attack with weapon¡¯s handle now has increased 10% force</li>

    <li>Sword Slash (Passive) / Level 1 / Slashes with a sword now deals 5% additional damage</li>

    <li>Power Shot (Passive) / Level 2 / Releasing an arrow within the time window of a fully drawn bow will increase its damage by 25%</li>

    <li>Overdraw / Level 1 / Drawing an arrow over the limit will increase damage by 100% with a chance of breaking the bow / Cost: 300 Stamina</li>

    <li>Magic Marksman / Epic / Bring balance to your magic and arrow / Requirement 1: Obtain [Overdraw] / Requirement 2: Acquire [Tome of Silent Arrow] / Requirement 3: Acquire Enchanted Bow with innate spell / Reward: Class Evolution to [Magic Marksman] / Condition: Completing a Class Change will fail this Quest</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Ohhh, these look good. And Magic Marksman, any idea where to get those things it says?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Enchanted Bow with an innate ability¡ª I mean, spell, innate spell is what it¡¯s called now, but it¡¯s still pretty expensive in the market. Like they cost about a week¡¯s meal.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°So, 25-35k?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°No, silly, that¡¯s YOUR meal. It¡¯s around $5000-$8000, let me see.¡±

    She opens the new cash shop and true that. The lowest cost of a bow that has an innate spell is indeed $5300, and she also searches for the tome and it costs $12000.

    [Minty]: ¡°That¡¯s pretty steep. There¡¯s no way I can convince my parents to let me buy this.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Do they have to know?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Well, I don¡¯t keep my financials a secret, so they¡¯d be worried.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmm, what if we just get them ourselves? You know where they drops?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Lol, it¡¯s not that easy. I mean, it¡¯s been three years I¡¯ve been playing, and I never got it.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, that¡¯s because you never actually look or try hard enough to get it.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Look at us, Minty. Just how much progress do we make in just two days, huh? What¡¯s not to say that a single bow and a tome wouldn¡¯t just be another two days of our time?¡±

    Puckering her mouth and tucking it in, tempted.

    [Minty]: ¡°Alright, but first we gotta get out of here and have that brunch.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh.¡±

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    <ul>

    <li>Name: ---</li>

    <li>Level: 28</li>

    <li>Class: Mage</li>

    <li>Title: [Fire Wielder]</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Max Health: 12 [+6] | Max Mana: 60 [+30] | Max Stamina: 15 [+7.5]</li>

    <li>Health: 18 | Mana: 90 | Stamina: 22.5</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Strength: --- / Dexterity: --- / Endurance: ---</li>

    <li>Vitality: 10 / Agility: ---</li>

    <li>Intelligence: 10 / Faith: 8 / Luck: ---</li>

    </ul>

    Combat

    <ul>

    <li>Physical Attack: 3 / Physical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Magical Attack: --- / Magical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Health Regeneration: 0.001 / Mana Regeneration: 0.18 / Stamina Regeneration: 0.1</li>

    </ul>

    Active Effect

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

 Chapter 50 - Season 2 - Towards the Second Dungeon

    Both me and Minty appears in Ekolia almost at the same time just in front of the gate to Sotrieta Dungeon, dusting non-existent dust away as I get myself comfortable.

    [Minty]: ¡°Come to think of it, your [Firebolt] spell was unusually strong.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hm? Oh, that¡¯s because I have [Fire Wielder] Title. Something I got from pre-patch.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh? Wait, isn¡¯t that a title that can get you Pyromancy?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, but being pyromaniac isn¡¯t actually something I want. I mean I was too busy with other things before the patch drops. But anyway, this is what it looks like now.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Firebolt / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Fire / Cast to conjure a small bolt of fire, dealing 27 fire damage at enemy upon impact, buildup burn overtime / Cost: 3 Mana / Requirement: 3 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Fire Wielder increases the damage by flat 50% and then Pyro Mastery increases it further by 25% alongside my 10 Intelligence stat, and the result is further increased by Magi Mastery¡¯s 20% after accounting for all of that.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°So, it dealt more than two times the original damage.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mhm, 17 extra damage to be exact.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Ohh, so that¡¯s why you needed those Mana potions then.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No, that¡¯s for this one.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Rapid Spell Casting (Passive) / Level 10 (Max) / Consecutive use of spells now has reduced 80% Cost</li>

    </ul>

    [Minty]: ¡°Ohhhh, wait, that¡¯s¡­ amazing, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, the requirement was quite brutal. I even got a new Quest thanks to it too. Look.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Path of Psion / Mythic / Become one with your mind, unlock Psychomancy / Requirement 1: Obtain [Rapid Spell Casting] Level 8 / Requirement 2: Acquire [Tome of Psionic Magic] / Requirement 3: Cast [Malevolent Shadow] / Reward: Class Evolution to [Psion] / Condition: Completing a Class Change will fail this Quest</li>

    </ul>

    [Minty]: ¡°Psion. Wait, what¡¯s that rarity? No way.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hm?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Siola, that¡¯s Mythic! That¡¯s the rank above Legendary!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°That¡¯s good, yeah?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°That¡¯s more than good! Do you know how rare it is for people to get anything Mythic? Only a few top rankers even own it and there hasn¡¯t been a Mythic rank class either!¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°This is Amazing, Siola!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Ahahah, if you say so, then it must be!¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°It is! Wait um, why are you showing me this? Something like this is¡­ you shouldn¡¯t be showing it to just anyone, okay?¡±

    Chuckles, ¡°Hmph, as if I¡¯ll hide anything from you. We¡¯re a team, remember?¡±

    Her eyes sparkled, nodding, ¡°Mm!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Let¡¯s go to that place I asked you about. We need you to rank up first.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Okay! Goodness, I¡¯m hyped! It¡¯s not far, too.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Lead the way, ma¡¯am.¡±

    We walk back up to the bridge, but instead of returning along the path of where we came from, Minty sees past the broken gate.

    [Minty]: ¡°Beyond this path, we won¡¯t be dealing with ordinary goblins and wolves anymore.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°But something much worse.¡±

    Holding her hand, smiling at her with confidence. Her eyes turn hopeful. Although the day is bright and cheery, it doesn¡¯t take long for us to meet our first enemy.

    The size of a grown adult, its body is bulky and fangs full of saliva and blood. A gorilla with a black fur and a long tail like a scorpion. Its upper limb is replaced with claws instead of hands.

    {Stygian Ape / Level 40}

    [Siola]: ¡°Do none of us have Appraisal ability?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, let¡¯s hope this one don¡¯t have a lot of health.¡±

    *Roooooooooar*

    Tip-toeing to the side, I grabbed its attention as Minty sends a volley of arrows at it. The creature felt those sharp wounds hitting its body, but when he turns, he caught a bunch of firebolts setting fire on its fur.

    *Roooarghoooooough*

    [Minty]: ¡°It¡¯s coming after you!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, no shit!¡±

    I run quickly uphill and started climbing, and there I can see my stamina dropping rapidly so I stopped and keep on sending firebolts its way.

    *Boom *Boom *Boom *Boom

    No matter how much it flinched, it just won¡¯t stop. I had to kick its face and jump away from the tree but I don¡¯t stop casting those firebolts.

    ! {New Quest Received}

    <ul>

    <li>Pyromancer / Uncommon / Become one with fire, unlocks [Pyromancy] / Requirement 1: Obtain [Fire Wielder] / Requirement 2: Cast Fire-type Spell 100 times / Requirement 3: Have at least 3 Fire-type Spells / Reward: Class Evolution to [Pyromancer] / Condition: Completing a Class Change will fail this Quest</li>

    </ul>

    Ignoring the notification, I rolled and safely landed on the ground but then when I look at the gorilla. A powerful burst of wind just blasts its head and breaking the tree. An arrow punctured its head and the thing just ragdolls away.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Siola, are you okay?!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, good work. Let¡¯s check out the drop.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>[1x] Magic Core / Rare / Contains the souls of a lesser ranked creature</li>

    <li>[1x] Stygian Gland / Uncommon / Body Part of Stygian Ape, highly venomous</li>

    <li>[1x] Stygian Sting / Rare / Physical Attack: 50 / Magical Attack: 40 / Enchantment: Buildup toxin upon contact. Has innate spell [Blue Venom], upon Cast, imbue the dagger further with a concentrated venom that guarantees toxin upon impact and has chance to put the target to sleep for 5 second / Requirement: 30 Dexterity, 20 Agility, 20 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh my god, Siola!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Ohhhh!¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°A rare dagger with an innate ability¡ª I mean, spell!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°That¡¯s so lucky! Good job! Did you put any stats in Luck or something?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Just a bit yeah. My goodness, we could definitely sell this, oh my god.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°You goddamn right. Put it in your inventory and don¡¯t lose it.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Hehe, I won¡¯t.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Alright, come on.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Wait, how about you use it?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmm¡­ nope. I can¡¯t even if I wanted to.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh right, it got quite the requirements. Wait, I can use this.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Then what¡¯re you waiting for then. Tuck that sword back in your inventory and get that dagger on your hip.¡±

    Nodding, ¡°Mm!¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Still, it¡¯s not quite as comfortable to use than a sword. It¡¯s light, but the reach is¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, you gotta get close and personal.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Something I wish I don¡¯t have to do.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, come on. Where is that place we¡¯re looking for?¡±

    We march onward, descending downhill following the road. There¡¯re more of those apes albeit with a brown color instead, somewhat weaker at Level 25-30 each, and we kept utilizing clever tactics and the surrounding terrain to our advantage. Be it delivering the first blow as we sneak up on them, throwing big rocks while they¡¯re busy with themselves, rolling a boulder, the point is there¡¯s a lot of sneak attack employed.

    As we arrive to the foot of the hill, we go through another forest area. There we found wolves with long rabbit-like ears, scales on parts of their limbs.

    {Rabbit Wolf / Level 5}

    Once again, rapid casting bolt of fire finishes them off quickly.

    [Minty]: ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Cast, I bet you could use them like a machine gun.¡±

    Scoff, ¡°Yeah, I bet.¡±

    We passed through a river and there were more wolves blocking our path. It¡¯s no longer a problem as we tried our best not to receive any damage, but even if we do, we¡¯ll be ready.

    [Minty]: ¡°I¡¯ve never asked, but I¡¯ve been wondering why did you decide to stay at our house. Like, what would you do if my mom wasn¡¯t gonna let you.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heh, she¡¯s always going to let me. But if I must answer that, it¡¯s because of you.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Me?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mhm. Just curious how someone that I¡¯ve known in the past would become after years of no interaction. It¡¯s either you or my close family.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Was it a hard choice for you?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Psst, what kind of question is that? But yeah, a little, I did have to consider some things.¡±

    When she said that the place is not far, I didn¡¯t expect that we would walk three times the length than our previous journey to Sotrieta Dungeon.

    Wedging in between a mountain and a cliff, there lies a space underneath.

    [Minty]: ¡°It¡¯s down there. Follow me.¡±

    Sliding down the hole, I entered the place with her. I expected dark and gloomy place, but with the number of furniture and decorations in place left behind by other players, it¡¯s lively.

    [Minty]: ¡°No one¡¯s here too.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°How about we check what other people are doing nowadays?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Good idea.¡±

    She took a seat with me looking at her screen right beside her. I could¡¯ve used mine, but it¡¯s best to have the same information and is shared like this.

    We first check out the forum, and there¡¯s a lot of topics about relating to the new patch.

    [Minty]: ¡°Almost 500k votes and it said, ¡®Why¡¯, that¡¯s interesting.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a top player¡¯s post, from the first ranker, Mona.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°The game has been out for a while, but there¡¯s a lot of places and things we haven¡¯t explore yet and now you drop a MASSIVE gameplay patch? It¡¯s not like we¡¯re running out of fun here.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°She said.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Does she complain a lot?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°No, first one I¡¯ve seen of her.¡±

    I mean it was shocking, I would complain if I could. But it looks like it went on deft ears.

    There are more like it which sum up to people saying that the patch is a nerf to everything, many say they¡¯re going to quit, even death threats were made publicly.

    [Minty]: ¡°Top players are struggling with the new system it seems. They can¡¯t go to the same place they used to go because the difficulty is blown out of proportion. Oh look at this, it said that every guild had to postpone their operation to make changes to the new patch.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°So?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°That means everyone is on the same spot, Siola. Like me. I used to spend day and night grinding for materials and everything so I can earn money. It¡¯s like a job, but now, everyone is back to the same spot like me, I mean us. They have to adjust to this new¡­ old experience where we explore and do fun things. Isn¡¯t it great? That means, we¡¯re not falling behind everyone.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Woah, hold your horses there. What¡¯s not to say that those people are just gonna try to adjust to the new patch and go back doing the same thing they were doing before the patch?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Well, that could happen.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heh, let¡¯s just forget about them. What about the stream and TV side of things?¡±

    She switches the channel and there are a lot of flashy thumbnails talking about the update.

    [Siola]: ¡°These clowns are boring, what about the stream ones?¡±

    People are struggling to fight low level creatures. Even the cheery people that fights with goblins too, they got them screaming.

    [Minty]: ¡°It looks like they¡¯re in a lot of pain.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, yeah, I¡¯m not gonna comment on that.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh look, it¡¯s Mona.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Who?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°The top ranked player.¡±

    She¡¯s fighting a group of the apes that we fought earlier. But she¡¯s running out of breath after only taking a few of them out.

    [ElitEpic23]: oh no, wife has lost her touch ??

    [usera]: What happened, elite be getting ¡®ape¡¯d by some fantasy apes?

    [BrawlersUnite]: Lol, first she can''t clear the first dungeon floor without dying to a few monkeys, and now she can¡¯t even beat some outside ??

    [ElitePanic]: help! I''m stuck on level 1 and these apes are too fast

    [usera]: Looks like someone needs to work on those ¡®Elite¡¯ Skills

    [NoScope_Ninja]: 10k viewers can''t believe what we''re seeing right now ???¡á?

    The chat doesn¡¯t look all that creative in their insults.

    [Siola]: ¡°What¡¯s Elite?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Just one of her title, Elite Guard. But that¡¯s odd though, why can¡¯t she just use her op skills on them? She has this awesome spell where she cast Art of something, and then knives just appear and kill everything for her.¡±

    Art Spells, ones created by special individuals. Those are rare stuff. There¡¯s also Laws too, but that¡¯s something beyond this stage of the game.

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, she looks like she could use it now. What is that movement? Ewww.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°You sure she¡¯s the top ranker?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Of course! Maybe once she gets used to things, she¡¯ll be back to how she used to. I mean, we don¡¯t actually play fair with those apes either.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mmm. Welp, let us go back to what we¡¯re here to do. Gimme the rundown.¡±

    She stood, ¡°Right.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°So, behind that gate is a very special dungeon called Dread Black. This place is PACKED in pre-patch, and there¡¯s a reason for it. And that is the amount of LOOT in the dungeon. It is insanely¡­ nonexistent. But, when they drop, it could be anything. There¡¯s one guy that manages to pull a Legendary weapon in just the fifth floor, and there¡¯s 25 floors here.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Considering what I¡¯ve seen of us, we should keep to the third and up. No fourth floor and below.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°What¡¯s inside though?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Undead.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Oooo, that¡¯s spooky.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Your fire can deal with them quickly enough, so we won¡¯t have to worry about it much.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, let¡¯s put that to the test.¡±

    Opening the gate as hard as I can, but it can only open slightly so Minty pushes on the other side and we managed to open it. The air inside is eerie without a torch, but we have one.

 Chapter 51 - Season 2 - Progress

    A flying knife split open wind and punctured a walking corpse. I follow it up with a kick as I shove a firebolt inside its mouth. Three arrows flying past me, hitting the undead right on its chest. It¡¯s Minty. She follows them up with a dagger in hand. She jumps and stab the undead¡¯s head.

    *Burst*

    Dried black blood squirt when she pulls it out.

    <ul>

    <li>[1x] Magic Core / Rare / Contains the souls of a lesser ranked creature</li>

    </ul>

    [Minty]: ¡°Not that one either?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No.¡±

    Panting as I look behind us, hundreds of undead now truly dead. After cracking some bubbles in my neck, we march onward to the third floor. Because of the poor drop rates, I even put some points into Luck myself just to get a higher chance of what we need to drop.

    Surprisingly however, once we reach the third floor. There are no enemies, and the path to the next floor is opened. However, in this floor, there are a couple of different colored gems floating above. Red, blue, yellow, green, and black.

    [Minty]: ¡°So, the mechanic is very simple. If we try to take any of these gems, it¡¯ll spawn an enemy. Blue is the easiest one, and then green and yellow, red and black. If we manage to kill an undead, it¡¯ll have a chance to drop an item.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hunh, guess we¡¯ll take the black one then.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°No wait!¡±

    Upon grabbing it, chills running down my spine as the path to the fourth floor is clouded. Black mist gathers and there I can see a shadow forming into being. It has everything¡­ of me.

    My weapons, my clothes, my face.

    ¡°Minty, explain this to me.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Minty?¡±

    I can feel my eyes widened at the sight of Minty staying in place. But not only that, her entire body is shifting in gray color, almost like her texture is being pulled aside.

    ! {Quest Updated}

    <ul>

    <li>Path of Psion / Requirement 3: Cast [Malevolent Shadow]</li>

    <li>Path of Psion / Requirement 3: Defeat your shadow</li>

    </ul>

    Looking back, my instinct pulled my head back as a dagger flies. A sting on my forehead. When I rub it, my fingers are coated in blood.

    There I can feel it, veins popped.

    The thing awkwardly tries so hard to make a smiley face with my fucking face!

    Rapidly casting firebolt as she dashes towards me, just like what I would¡¯ve done had I don¡¯t feel this fucking rage in my head!

    Punch, punch, hook, and a kick. Pushing each other¡¯s back, the shadow copied my every move but I¡¯m not stopping. Martial arts of the Mithra family, I never thought I would use it as it has been years now, and yet, it¡¯s like I¡¯ve never stopped.

    But the shadow never failed a move. Even when I tried to gouge its eyes, crack open its knees or holding its body. It always escaped and returned it to me.

    Blood in my mouth.

    It smiles.

    Seeing that grin snaps something inside me.

    My heart races.

    ! {Warning: User¡¯s instability has been detected}

    ~ {Please stay¡ª

    As I dashes and threw a kick, I can see the world slowing down, I can see myself, my shadow following what I would¡¯ve done but it¡¯s different WHEN I CAN SEE IT!

    A kick down to its forehead.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    Raising wall at an angle and cracks the fragile body of my shadow. A crushing blow to its neck by an elbow, and kick to its gut. Crushing to the wall I raised, I quickly step over and smashes its head to ground. My beautiful face, my fucking face!

    Grabbing its hair, I don¡¯t see her smiling anymore. I drag her to the wall of stone, grabs my dagger and mess its face up!

    ¡°Grraaaaaaaaaghrrrrrrugh!¡±

    ¡°You have a voice, huh?! My fucking VOICE too!¡±

    Stuffing its mouth with a dagger, I grind its tongue and let the blood gushes when I pulled it out but it all soon turns to ashes. Black, like a dirty smoke.

    ¡°Siola?¡±

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    Tasting the blood in my mouth as I see her, Minty. I¡¯m glad she returned to normal, but most importantly, I¡¯m glad the fucking thing died already.

    <ul>

    <li>Overcome your body limitation without failing once</li>

    </ul>

    ! {New Skill has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Limit Break (Passive) / Level 1 / When the state of your soul reaches beyond limit, applies [Overdrive]. Increases all Primary Attributes by 600 + 300%, Strength by 150 + 50%, Endurance by 150 + 50%, Dexterity by 150 + 50%, Agility by 150 + 50%</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Oh my god, you¡¯re bleeding.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just, give me a little heads-up next time.¡±

    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t if you already snatch it.¡±

    ¡°Heheh.¡±

    Giving me a bottle of potion even though she knows I already have it in my inventory. Well, I appreciate the gesture regardless.

    ¡°Look, Siola, the loot.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Tome of Malevolent Shadow / Legendary / Contains [Malevolent Shadow], [Dark Current], [Death Reach] / Requirement: 130 Intelligence, 20 Faith, 30 Faith</li>

    <li>[1x] Black Magic Core / Legendary / Contains a dark soul</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Oh, my, God! Jeez, Siola, I couldn¡¯t even react properly, look. We got a Legendary item!¡±

    Nodding to her excitement.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong? Potion didn¡¯t heal you enough?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s¡­¡± sighing, ¡°Fighting myself took a little toll on me. Right, the magic core. It got out of my inventory, maybe that¡¯s the one.¡±

    ¡°It must be, yeah. But look, a legendary tome! If we have enough of these requirements, we can learn what¡¯s in it and can you just imagine it?! I haven¡¯t even heard of [Malevolent Shadow] and [Death Reach] before, and the [Dark Current] is used only by that one mage from the dark guild.¡±

    ¡°Fitting, heheh. Alright, tuck that in, and let¡¯s do the proper magic item this time.¡±

    ¡°Wait, no. You tuck it in, it¡¯s yours.¡±

    Chuckles at how easily she¡¯s willing to let it go despite how excited she was. Once I put it in the inventory, we moved towards the gems with me at the green and she¡¯s at yellow.

    ¡°So, we¡¯re only going to be doing these two, and it¡¯s very simple. All we have to do is take it, but not putting it in our inventory. Instead, we¡¯re just going to drop it somewhere, that way, the enemy will keep respawning when it dies. We won¡¯t have to wait until the respawn window which will take a while.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve done this before?¡±

    ¡°Many times. Though, I don¡¯t really have much drops from this place, at least valuable ones. It¡¯s like gambling, you know. You win some, and you lose a LOT.¡±

    Chuckles.

    We yank the gems out of their holders and we dropped it further behind. Two heavily armored skeletons appeared on the other end. One of them carries a staff and the other a sword.

    My mind wonders.

    ¡°Okay, Siola, first we¡¯re going to¡ª Siola? Hey!¡±

    *Bwoosh*

    ¡°Siola!¡±

    ¡°GET AWAY!¡±

    Eyes widened as power courses through me.

    ! {Limit Break}

    Skeleton swinging its sword, a straight to its head, a *CRASH*. Bones scattered as I jab its ribs three times before kicking it away.

    *Boom*

    Dashing towards the mage skeleton and sees it aiming its staff. Grabbing it a shove straight to its chest, the spell it cast hits itself. A [Magic Blast], an arcane version of fireball. It pushes the undead back to the wall and before it hits the ground, I deliver a straight to its head, destroying it.

    *Boom*

    - [2x] Magic Core / Rare / Contains the souls of a lesser ranked creature

    ¡°Huff, huff, Siola! Are you okay?!¡±

    Before I could even respond, they¡¯re already respawning. But before they can even stand, I deliver kick to their heads. Crushing and stomping. I don¡¯t know when the Limit Break effect is will stop but while it¡¯s there, I¡¯ll make the most of it.

    Hours passed.

    *Pant *Pant

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Maintain Limit Break for 60 seconds: 14.482/60</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Limit Break / Level 2 / When the state of your soul reaches beyond limit, applies [Overdrive]. Increases all Primary Attributes by 1200 + 500%, Strength by 200 + 100%, Endurance by 200 + 100%, Dexterity by 200 + 100%, Agility by 200 + 100%</li>

    <li>Limit Break / Level 3 (Max) / When the state of your soul reaches beyond limit, applies [Overdrive]. Increases all Primary Attributes by 4500 + 1000%, Strength by 600 + 200%, Endurance by 600 + 200%, Dexterity by 600 + 200%, Agility by 600 + 200%,</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been evolved}

    <ul>

    <li>Pantheon Drive (Passive) / Level 1 (Max) / When the state of your soul reaches beyond limit, you take a Transcendental form of your Class. Increasing all Primary Attributes by 9000 + 1000% and all Secondary Attributes related to your Class by 1000 + 300%</li>

    </ul>

    My vision became blurry as I stumble to sit, but Minty quickly took me and lay me down. My chest pumping hard, and every beat hurts like hell.

    ! {Logout function has been locked}

    ~ {Please remain still}

    ~ {If you are not recovering within 60 seconds, emergency care will be alerted}

    ¡°Urgh.¡±

    My head spinning, but soon, I feel a slight warmth and it¡¯s wrapping my entire body. It took a moment but I finally calmed down. As it turns out, I¡¯m in her embrace.

    ¡°Minty.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°Did we get it?¡±

    It took a moment for her to smile, ¡°Yep.¡±

    ¡°Heheh. See that? Just how much progress we make, just the two of us.¡±

    Biting her lips as she tries to smile. I caress her cheek. I know it deep in my heart and only if she uses a better capsule, I would¡¯ve seen it. Her tears.

 Chapter 52 â€“ Season 2 â€“ Magic Marksman

    [Minty]: ¡°Come on, let¡¯s check the loot.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mm.¡±

    She helps me getting up but I¡¯m fine to walk on my own. The result of those four-hour worth of grind is finally right in front me.

    <ul>

    <li>[386x] Magic Core / Rare / Contains the souls of a lesser ranked creature</li>

    <li>[18x] Steel Longsword / Light Weapon / Common / Physical Attack: 30 / Magical Attack: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: 6 Dexterity, 0 Agility</li>

    <li>[3x] Pagrim Staff / Heavy Weapon / Uncommon / Physical Attack: 15 / Magical Attack: 20 / Enchantment: Arcane-based spells have increased 10% Potency and 5% Range / Requirement: 5 Strength, 5 Endurance, 25 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Aethonix Cycle / Light Weapon / Epic / Physical Attack: 10 / Magical Attack: 230 / Enchantment: Every arrow drawn will be infused by Lunar Cycle, increasing the velocity of arrows by 10%-100% towards the last shot. Has innate spell [Stellar Resonance], Cast before releasing arrows that upon impact will create a sound wave in 25-meter radius, nearby creatures will be affected and receive up to 80% of damage and has 1% chance to be stunned / Requirement: 40 Dexterity, 20 Agility, 60 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Tome of Silent Arrow / Rare / Contains [Silent Barrage], [Silent Blast], [Silent Volley], [Hover], [Magic Field], [Arcane Stupor] / Requirement: 10 Intelligence, 20 Intelligence, 30 Intelligence, 40 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Book of the End / Transcendental / Contains the knowledge of Black Old King</li>

    <li>[1x] Book of Daylight / Rare / Contains the knowledge of [Luminous Orb], [Light Bolt] [Light Spear], [Greater Illuminate] / Requirement: 10 Intelligence, 50 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    [Minty]: ¡°See that? Isn¡¯t it amazing? Now I can evolve my class and we don¡¯t even have to spend like ten thousand dollars on it. Plus, there are other cool stuff too, see?¡±

    I quickly snatched Book of the End and recoils aback.

    [Minty]: ¡°Siola?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Sorry, I have to take this one.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Huh? Oh, I don¡¯t mind it, I mean, it¡¯s all you, so.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No. Please don¡¯t hate me for this, but there¡¯s something I did not tell you and I¡¯m not going to. However, this book is dangerous and I can¡¯t put you in danger because of it.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°O-Okay? Okay.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Siola, can you calm down. I¡¯m not going to take it, okay? I¡¯m not even interested in it.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°You promise?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I promise.¡±

    Holding it tight, I put it in my inventory alongside the other book that I have. My heart racing, and I thought to myself, ¡®If even Ludwig don¡¯t want it, I can¡¯t let anyone have it.¡¯

    [Siola]: ¡°Sorry, I know I¡¯m being unreasonable.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. Come on, anything else you want to take? How about this book? You could use the staff too, right?¡±

    Nodding as I take them, ¡°I still need points in Strength and Endurance, more on the Intelligence. So, no. But anyway, what about that bow? Can you use it?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Yeah, I have enough stats thanks to you. But this is really cool.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°See that? I basically can load 10 whole arrows in here. I can¡¯t even imagine the damage, but it looks like I might have to stock up on them. I¡¯m running low. Well, on this type of arrow at least.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Right, do you have to learn the spells in that tome to evolve your class?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°No, actually. The notification has been pinging me to evolve, but what do you think?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°What do I think?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Yeah.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hahaha, I don¡¯t know. Why not, right? Plus, you¡¯ve been playing longer than me remember? Why even ask me.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh right, I forgot, lol.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Lol.¡±

    I back away a little as I awaits her class evolution. She takes a deep breath as arcane particles started to gather, swirling her as she closes her eyes. I can see her veins moves. The particles turn purple and deep blue as it continuously envelopes her and then! Like an aura, its radiance as a cloak.

    She looks down to see that whenever she moves, she leaves behind a particle of arcane in her footsteps that disappear in a moment. It¡¯s a temporary effect.

    [Siola]: ¡°How do you feel?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Ohhh, amazing. It¡¯s like, I¡¯m brimming with POWA!¡±

    *Clap *Clap *Clap

    [Minty]: ¡°Thank you, thank you.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I got new abilities thanks to that. I forgot that I haven¡¯t shown you my status yet, have I?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I mean, you don¡¯t have to.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°No, no. Just look at it.¡±

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    <ul>

    <li>Name: Silvita</li>

    <li>Level: 132</li>

    <li>Class: Magic Marksman</li>

    <li>Title: [---]</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Max Health: 80 [+64] | Max Mana: 220 [+176] | Max Stamina: 100 [+95]</li>

    <li>Health: 144 | Mana: 396 | Stamina: 195</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Strength: 3 / Dexterity: 40 / Endurance: 3</li>

    <li>Vitality: 16 / Agility: 20</li>

    <li>Intelligence: 60 / Faith: --- / Luck: 10</li>

    </ul>

    Combat

    <ul>

    <li>Physical Attack: 10 [+10] / Physical Defense: 70 [+10.5]</li>

    <li>Magical Attack: 230 [+230] / Magical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Health Regeneration: 0.001 / Mana Regeneration: 0.6 / Stamina Regeneration: 2.3</li>

    </ul>

    Active Effect

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

    ===== Ability Status =====Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Title

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    Innate Ability

    <ul>

    <li>Fleetfoot (Passive) / Level 1 / Dodging attacks in close proximity increases movement speed by 10% and increase Stamina Regeneration by 5% for 5 second</li>

    <li>Adrenaline Rush / Level 1 / Taps into Stamina reserve, instantly increasing movement speed at Will by 15% and Stamina Regeneration by 10% for 15 second / Cost: 30 Stamina</li>

    <li>Relentless Assault / Level 1 / Upon Cast, each successive attack increases damage by 2% continue to increase up to 30%, each successful attack restores 2 Stamina, missing an attack will consume additional 10% Stamina / Cost: 95 Stamina</li>

    <li>Arcane Quiver (Passive) / Rank 1 / Arcane-miracle / Bless currently equipped Quiver with Arcane, arrows stored within will be infused, dealing additional 5% damage and have additional 1% chance to pierce</li>

    <li>Mystic Volley / Tier 4 ¨C Expert / Arcane / Cast to infuse arrow with Arcane Mystic, turning them ethereal and deal 0 damage to target. Upon impact, 5 of the same arrows will be conjured to home at target, dealing 50% additional damage / Cost: 300 Mana / Requirement: 80 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Astral Barrage / Tier 5 ¨C Master / Arcane / Cast to call upon the stars, infuse arrow with Arcane Astral, turning them ethereal and deal 0 damage to target. Upon impact, 10 of the same arrows will rain down from the sky at target location dealing 50% of Physical Attack and 150% of Magical Attack. Each arrow that hit the target will explode, dealing up to 80% of damage in 10-meter radius and has 30% chance to blind targets for 3 seconds. Each arrow that misses the target will be reconjured to home towards it but they will not have an explosion effect / Cost: 600 Mana / Requirement: 150 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    Skill

    <ul>

    <li>Overdraw / Level 1 / Drawing an arrow over the limit will increase damage by 100% with a chance of breaking the bow / Cost: 300 Stamina</li>

    <li>Sneak (Passive) / Level 7 / Increases the likely hood of being spotted while obscured by 45%</li>

    <li>Backstab (Passive) / Level 4 / Strikes from behind deals additional 25% damage</li>

    <li>Steady Hand (Passive) / Level 1 / Increases balance when aiming a bow by 10%</li>

    <li>Precision Shot (Passive) / Level 1 / Projectile attack upon target¡¯s weak spot has increased 10% damage</li>

    <li>Steady Hand (Passive) / Level 3 / Increases balance when aiming a bow by 20%</li>

    <li>Long Shot (Passive) / Level 1 / Projectile attack on target beyond 50 meters have increased 10% damage</li>

    <li>Bash (Passive) / Level 1 / Attack with weapon¡¯s handle now has increased 10% force</li>

    <li>Sword Slash (Passive) / Level 1 / Slashes with a sword now deals 5% additional damage</li>

    <li>Power Shot (Passive) / Level 2 / Releasing an arrow within the time window of a fully drawn bow will increase its damage by 25%</li>

    </ul>

    Spell

    <ul>

    <li>Magic Infusion / Tier 1 / Arcane / Cast to imbue drawn arrow with arcane increases damage by 10% / Cost: 5 Mana / Requirement: 3 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Magic Volley / Tier 2 / Arcane / Cast to imbue drawn arrow with arcane, splitting it into three pieces in a spiral upon release, increases damage by 15% / Cost: 10 Mana, 25 Stamina / Requirement: 8 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Frostbite Blast / Tier 2 / Ice / Cast to imbue drawn projectile with arcane, upon impact with the target, it causes a burst of ice, dealing additional 35 damage. Affected target builds up cold overtime / Cost 40 Mana / 18 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Smokescreen / Tier 3 / Arcane / Cast to create a small bomb that ignites upon making contact with the ground, burst into a cloud of smoke / Cost: 90 Mana / Requirement: 30 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    Miracle

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Ability Status =====

    ===== Equipment Status =====

    <ul>

    <li>Aethonix Cycle / Light Weapon / Epic / Physical Attack: 10 / Magical Attack: 230 / Enchantment: Every arrow drawn will be infused by Lunar Cycle, increasing the velocity of arrows by 10%-100% towards the last shot. Has innate spell [Stellar Resonance], Cast before releasing arrows that upon impact will create a sound wave in 25-meter radius, nearby creatures will be affected and receive up to 80% of damage and has chance to be stunned / Requirement: 40 Dexterity, 20 Agility, 60 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Stygian Sting / Rare / Physical Attack: 50 / Magical Attack: 40 / Enchantment: Buildup toxin upon contact. Has innate spell [Blue Venom], upon Cast, imbue the dagger further with a concentrated venom that guarantees toxin upon impact and has chance to put the target to sleep for 5 second / Requirement: 30 Dexterity, 20 Agility, 20 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Leather Armor / Common / Physical Defense: 50 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: 10 Dexterity, 5 Agility</li>

    <li>Leather Gloves / Common / Physical Defense: 20 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: 5 Dexterity, 3 Agility</li>

    <li>Leather Boots / Common / Physical Defense: 20 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: 5 Dexterity, 3 Agility</li>

    <li>Linen Cloak / Common / Physical Defense: 0 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: None</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Equipment Status =====

    [Siola]: ¡°Ohhhh, those are the new abilities you¡¯ve got as Magic Marksman?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Yeah.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmm, you didn¡¯t have a lot of things going on for you before this.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Well¡­ yeah.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I guess you could say, life without you¡­ sucks.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, well I¡¯m glad I¡¯m here now. Should we test your stuff out? Look, your quiver is already glowing and hissing.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh wow, you¡¯re right. That¡¯s a cool effect, and it¡¯s free too?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, makin¡¯ me jealous!¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Wait, what about you though? Your quest, we didn¡¯t get that book you need?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Tome of Psionic Magic. That¡¯s not a common tome, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Considering the Quest¡¯s rank, hmm¡­¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°How about we continue down to the fifth floor? Maybe this place, has it?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°What, you wanna skip dinner?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I mean¡­¡±

    Sassily as she shows off her new bow and magical quiver, made me grinned widely. With her newfound confidence, I can finally relax as she storms the fourth floor.

    Her overdraw skill would be insanely good with that new bow, but considering that it has a chance that it will break it, it¡¯s unwise to use that. Not that she needs it, nor does she need to use any skills or spells since Aethonix Cycle is an AOE weapon.

    Firing 10 consecutive shots of arrows that also damages others in the vicinity of the impact. Clearing horde of undead is a breeze. Even when we get to the fifth floor, the armored undead boss was slain in just three loads of the bow.

    Unfortunately¡­

    <ul>

    <li>[1x] Magic Core / Rare / Contains the souls of a lesser ranked creature</li>

    <li>[1x] Tome of Black Flame / Epic / Contains [Hex Combustion], [Hellfire], [Hex Pillars], [Hex Flame] / 20 Faith, 20 Intelligence, 40 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    [Minty]: ¡°Dang, not your book too.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°It¡¯s alright, this looks great too.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Should we go further down?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Look at you, the confidence!¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Ehehehe.¡±

    Hexes. One of the most fearsome type of spells. Each and every spell contains curses. It doesn¡¯t matter if a flame of hex is put out, it will continue haunting and damaging the victim. The only counter there is, is a purification which makes Priest and other classes that can uses it to be invaluable even if it¡¯s the only thing they¡¯re good at in later game.

    So many people chose to ignore Hex because of how relatively rare one can get it and simply hiring a Priest when the need arises. Fool, the lot of them!

    Continuing further down the floor, it was still manageable until the tenth floor when I had to step in. Providing long range support as Minty fights an undead chimera. When it dashes at her, I raised Wall of Stone, disrupting its path as Minty finally uses her new spell.

    ¡°Mystic Volley!¡±

    Upon release, her 10 arrows turn invisible as it hits the chimera, it didn¡¯t do anything, nor does it stagger it by any means, but then, 50 arrows conjured in the air and struck the chimera in the same spot that the invisible arrow struck it, the lion¡¯s head.

    *Brrrrrrrroooooowsh*

    Its satisfying sound as it pinned the lion¡¯s head, the only head that was alive, to the ground.

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level 50 Milestone has been reached}

    ! {Innate Ability Unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Mana Pool (Passive) / Rank 1 / Arcane-miracle / Intelligence value now contribute 2.5% per point of Intelligence to Max Mana. Create an additional Mana reserve</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Hunh, now that¡¯s useful.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Siola!¡± seeing her running at me with a book, ¡°Look, it¡¯s another one of that books from before!¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Book of Crypt Death / Ancient / Contains the knowledge of Mad Dead</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s not really, but I guess I¡¯ll keep that too.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Okay.¡±

    I guess she doesn¡¯t really know what Ancient and Transcendental means. Beyond Legendary, there is Mythic, but there are even rarer ones beyond it. Ancient, Ascended, Transcendental, and beyond that is the realm of unfathomable power. The Eternal, the Ethereal, and the Demigods.

    [Minty]: ¡°Should we go for another 5 floors?¡±

    Now I¡¯m taken aback.

    [Minty]: ¡°No, but like, I can still go, and we¡¯re still at what dinner time? I thought we¡¯re skipping it? So, might as well, right?¡±

    Looking at me with puppy eyes, I can¡¯t help but giggle.

    [Siola]: ¡°A dinner and a full sleep. Okay? Any more than this, and your mom is gonna be worried.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Awww. Okay.¡±

 Chapter 53 - Season 2 - Mad God Spawns

    Tightening the grip on her weapon, Minty strides to the next floor with me following behind. The 11<sup>th</sup> floor has new type of undead, no longer are we fighting skeletons and draugr, there is now beasts and ghouls.

    The four-legged ones are fast and small, even Minty struggles to keep all ten arrows of her shot hits. The other is ghouls, they¡¯re fast too, but their trick is annoying at best and straight up dangerous at worst. They keep pumping out gasses out of their mouth, highly poisonous.

    ¡°Wall of Stone.¡±

    Conjuring multiple obstacles for them as Minty fires her arrows.

    ¡°Stellar Resonance!¡±

    But at this point, both Minty and I have gotten used to the new system, and her resource management can keep up with the task ahead, just like me. Thus, we no longer have problems dealing with these undead.

    Trouble arises upon reaching the 15<sup>th</sup> floor though. Vampires. They can turn into bats when hit and hides in the shadow, obscured out of view, but unfortunately for these guys, when they turn into a big bat, Minty can easily shot them.

    ¡°Misty Volley!¡±

    When they felt it, they turned into multiple smaller bats but the arrows that the spell has conjured homed to every single one of them.

    [Siola]: ¡°That¡¯s the last one.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>[3x] Magic Core / Epic / Contains the souls of a greater ranked creature</li>

    <li>[1x] Gnawing Ring / Rare / Increases Health by 100. Sacrifice 50% Health to grant 25% additional damage to wearer¡¯s attack, 20-second cooldown.</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Oh, hell no.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Yeah, tuck that in. Trash!¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Wait, we can just wear it and not use the effect, right? That¡¯s a free 100 Health points.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, if you want, but I¡¯m not touching it, Minty.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°¡­¡±

    She put it in her inventory.

    We never planned it but we ended up continuing to the lower floors and fight the book on the 20<sup>th</sup> floor as well. Big giant skeletons. Slow and very big targets.

    [Siola]: ¡°Okay, that¡¯s a head shot. Duck!¡±

    Giant limb swinging.

    [Siola]: ¡°Okay, aim at the eye, Minty!¡±

    ¡°Mystic Volley!¡±

    *Brrrrrrrrooooowsh*

    ¡°Prone!¡±

    We repeat that strategy all while keeping our distance from it. Though we underestimated just how much Health the thing has, and we spent almost half an hour to bring it down.

    Tedious process.

    [Minty]: ¡°No drop?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Damn, this boss sucks!¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°A lot of Exp though.¡±

    And so, we ended up marching onwards with the goal of beating the entire dungeon. Five more floors and we got back to skeletons again. Except, something different this time.

    Creaking sound of a skull, the skeleton moves weirdly and almost moving three times as fast.

    {Mad Dead Spawn / Level 100}

    It turns its head at us as Minty shudder, it approaches rapidly not enough for her to draw her arrows. I pulled her back as I graze my fingertips at the skeleton.

    ! {Pantheon Drive}The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Choking its face as it rapidly slamming its hand at my face. I shatter its skeleton to pieces with a crush. Brimming with power, I look back at Minty.

    [Minty]: ¡°S-Sorry, that thing was just too fast.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Stay behind me.¡±

    Nodding, ¡°Mm.¡±

    The dungeon floor is somewhat different than the previous. Whilst before it was wide and massive, this time, it¡¯s somewhat linear and even the ceiling is much lower.

    [Minty]: ¡°You look really cool, you know.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hm?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Like, all of your hair is going up and it¡¯s moving SO majestically.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Majestically? Seriously now.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I mean it! Even your eyes turn blue, and they¡¯re bright!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Focus, Minty.¡±

    Guess she¡¯s nervous. Understandable after the shift in atmosphere around here. Our walk gets disrupted by the many spawns rising from the muddy ground. It¡¯s the very same one as before. Minty prepares to draw her bow.

    ¡°Save your arrows, Minty. Let me take care of this for now.¡±

    ¡°Be careful.¡±

    The word is unnecessary for me, but it did make me relieved.

    Crushing every single bonehead is never a problem, but what I¡¯m worried about is if any of them passes me by. Losing a ranger right now would be bad.

    We continued on our rampage, or rather, my rampage to the 22th and the 23<sup>rd</sup> floor, but there we started seeing beast version of the spawn. Much faster, much more dangerous. Minty and I is forced to work together even though I don¡¯t want to put her in danger, but staying still would make her the target. The problem is that there is so many of them.

    Her Mystic Volley can only be used once per battle due to its high cost. I tries to keep them off of her and I successfully did.

    *BOOM*

    On the 24<sup>th</sup> floor. Three giant undead dinosaurs appear crashing through the walls. Roaring their mighty sound, splitting wind.

    ¡°Oh fuck, Siola!¡±

    {Mad Dead Dragon Spawn / Level 255}

    ¡°I don¡¯t think my volley can do anything against those!¡±

    ¡°Step back and hide!¡±

    Grinding my teeth as my head starts spinning, ¡°Hrrngh.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I¡¯ll get us through.¡±

    They begin charging at us as I am at them. Jumping as I insert myself to its mouth before it gnaws on me, I deliver a blow to its upper mouth as I exit but then, another went ahead and deliver a bite on both me and its own ally.

    {-600}

    ¡°Gahk?!¡±

    Stinging pain, like an old friend coming over to slap me. Not that I have any. I smash its head to the ground. The third did a tail swipe and send me to the wall.

    {-800}

    ¡°Hrmmph.¡±

    And just like that, one tenth of my Health is gone. I lunges back at the them, avoiding their attacks as I deliver a plunge to one of their head. *BAM*. But then one caught me in its jaw.

    {-900}

    {-900}

    {-1200}

    ¡°Gyaaaaaaagh!¡±

    Another caught my upper body as both tries to tear me in half.

    {-600}

    {-600}

    {-600}

    {-600}

    {-600}

    ¡°Hnnngaaaaaaaaaah!¡±

    {-600}

    {-600}

    {-600}

    ¡°Grrrrgngghhh.¡±

    {-900}

    {-900}

    {-1200}

    Tears started to fall as the pain becomes unbearable.

    {-600}

    {-600}

    {-600}

    But then, a powerful blow crashes onto the one gnawing my upper half. It was stunned, and as I can finally see light, my eyes burn as I can feel veins popped.

    ¡°Siola!¡±

    My fists clenched tightly as I deliver a straight.

    *BOOM*

    I know why I¡¯m no longer dealing much damage compared to before. The secondary attributes related to my class is Strength, Endurance, and Intelligence. I¡¯ve lost Dexterity and Agility from Limit Break as the ability transition into Pantheon Drive, but this won¡¯t stop me from pummeling these dinosaurs to the ground.

    Dodging attacks as my sense heightened and my rage is filled to the brim.

    Strike, crush, and plunged.

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level¡­

    *Pant *Pant

    Falling to my knees as I try to breathe. My ears ringing. Minty came over and quickly brought me to her warmth, I couldn¡¯t even make out what she¡¯s saying.

    I kept looking at her as I¡¯m in this tranced. I can see her mouth moves as if she¡¯s telling me something. It takes some time for that image of her face becomes clear.

    ¡°Minty.¡±

    ¡°Goodness, sake, Siola. Call me Silvita when we¡¯re in-game.¡±

    Chuckles, ¡°Silvita. How do you even come up with that name?¡±

    ¡°I just thought it was pretty.¡±

    ¡°So, you just make yourself pretty to get along with that pretty name, huh.¡±

    ¡°Pretty much.¡±

    Caressing her cheek, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be this pretty. One I saw when outside is already pretty enough. You¡¯re pretty, Minty.¡±

    ¡°Jeez, how many times are you going to say pretty. I get it.¡±

    Seeing her blushing amused me.

    ¡°Tell me we got that loot I need.¡±

    She smiles, ¡°Ta-da.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Tome of Psionic Magic / Legendary / Contains [Mind Splitter], [Mental Fortress], [Psionic Shockwave], [Psychic Vortex], [Mental Lock], [Psionic Lance], [Limbic Possession], [Psionic Cataclysm], [Phantasmagoria] / Requirement: 30 Intelligence, 80 Intelligence, 150 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Heheh, we actually got it, huh. I guess the gods of RNG are on our side.¡±

    ¡°You goddamn right, lol.¡±

    ¡°Lol.¡±

    Lifting myself back up and she assisted me.

    [Minty]: ¡°Listen, can you not use that power again? Even if we can¡¯t beat this floor, we can just go back and be stronger or whatever, you know.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Minty.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I know you¡¯re trying to help me, Siola. I know you do, and I really appreciate it and thankful for that but I don¡¯t want you to get hurt¡­ for me, for this.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Can you promise me not to use that power again? Unless like, super necessary thing comes up and you are forced to use it, that is when other options don¡¯t exist for you.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Siola, please.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Alright, I promise.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°You promise what?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I promise I won¡¯t use that power again, unless of course¡ª.¡±

    I repeat it her words again and burst out laughing because of it.

    She handed to me the legendary Tome of Psionic Magic, and as soon as I have it in my possession, I received the notification.

    ! {Quest Completed}

    ! {Class Evolution is now available}

 Chapter 54 - Season 2 - Black Old King

    ! {Class Evolution is now available}

    ~ {Would you like to Evolve your class to [Psion]? You will keep previously obtained Innate Abilities from [Mage] class, progression of [Mage] class will also continue}

    No reason not to.

    ! {Evolving Class}

    Powerful burst of wind pushes Minty several meters back, but thankfully, she¡¯s alright. My mind is spinning but very differently than before.

    Cracks on the ground, rocks, splinters, floats to the air as my mind hardened.

    ! {Psionic Magic ¨C Unlocked}

    ! {Class Evolution Succeeded}

    ! {New Innate Abilities have been obtained}

    <ul>

    <li>Telekinesis / Rank 1 / Arcane-miracle / Take control of arcane particles in the surrounding area and bends them to at Will / Cost: 0.5 Mana per second / Requirement: 8 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Potent Mind (Passive) / Level 1 / Increases Resistance against mind-attack by 10%. Intelligence value now contribute 2.5% per point of Intelligence to all Spell¡¯s Potency and additional 5% to Psionic-related Spells. Create an additional Mana reserve</li>

    </ul>

    The debris fall to the ground once the class evolution is over.

    [Minty]: ¡°Not as flashy as I was, but how do you feel?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmm, well, take a look at it yourself.¡±

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    <ul>

    <li>Name: ---</li>

    <li>Level: 69</li>

    <li>Class: Psion</li>

    <li>Title: [Fire Wielder]</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Max Health: 12 [+6] | Max Mana 1: 180 [+360] | Max Mana 2: 180 [+270] | Max Mana 3: 180 [+90] | Max Stamina: 18 [+9]</li>

    <li>Health: 18 | Mana: 1260 | Stamina: 27</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes (4)

    <ul>

    <li>Strength: --- / Dexterity: --- / Endurance: ---</li>

    <li>Vitality: 10 / Agility: ---</li>

    <li>Intelligence: 30 / Faith: 20 / Luck: 5</li>

    </ul>

    Combat

    <ul>

    <li>Physical Attack: 3 / Physical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Magical Attack: --- / Magical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Health Regeneration: 0.001 / Mana Regeneration: 0.5 / Stamina Regeneration: 0.1</li>

    </ul>

    Active Effect

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

    ===== Ability Status =====

    Title

    <ul>

    <li>Fire Wielder / One who carries flame as source of power in the palm of their hands / Effect: Fire-based spells have increased 50% Potency</li>

    </ul>

    Innate Ability

    <ul>

    <li>Mana Recharge / Rank 1 / Arcane / Cast and hold to gather the surrounding arcane and converts them into usable Mana by 0.1 per second / Cost: None / Requirement: 8 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Mana Pool (Passive) / Rank 1 / Intelligence value now contribute 2.5% per point of Intelligence to Max Mana. Create an additional Mana reserve</li>

    <li>Telekinesis / Rank 1 / Arcane-miracle / Take control of arcane particles in the surrounding area and bends them to your will / Cost: 0.5 Mana per second / Requirement: 8 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Potent Mind (Passive) / Level 1 / Increases Resistance against mind-attack magic by 10%. Increases all spells Potency by 20%. Create an additional Mana reserve</li>

    </ul>

    Skill

    <ul>

    <li>Power Throw / Level 2 / Effectively strengthened the force of thrown item, increases attack power by 25% / Cost: 8 Stamina</li>

    <li>Rapid Spell Casting (Passive) / Level 10 (Max) / Consecutive use of spells now has reduced 80% Cost</li>

    <li>Magi Mastery (Passive) / Level 2 / Increases all spells Potency by 20%</li>

    <li>Pyro Mastery (Passive) / Level 2 / Increases Fire-type spells Potency by 25%</li>

    <li>Pantheon Drive (Passive) / Level 1 (Max) / When the state of your soul reaches beyond limit, you take a Transcendental form of your Class. Increasing all Primary Attributes by 9000 + 1000% and all Secondary Attributes related to your Class by 1000 + 300%</li>

    </ul>

    Spell

    <ul>

    <li>Wall of Stone / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Earth / Cast to conjure a 6:2 stone wall at target location, lasts 1 hour / Cost: 10 Mana / Requirement: 10 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Firebolt / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Fire / Cast to conjure a small bolt of fire, dealing 2 fire damage at enemy upon impact, buildup burn overtime / Cost: 3 Mana / Requirement: 3 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Heal Array / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Light / Create a sphere of light at will, it can be connected to another created sphere to form a healing area once fully connected, restoring 0.54 Health per second. At least 3 spheres are required for healing area to be activated and requires Cast, lasts 300 seconds / Cost: 8 Mana / Requirement: 8 Faith</li>

    <li>Sovereign Ritual / Arcane / Cast Sign to summon a creature from the outer plane unreachable by the gods to form a contract / Cost: 2400 Mana / Requirement: 200 Intelligence, 100 Faith</li>

    </ul>

    Miracle

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Ability Status =====

    [Minty]: ¡°So, the one that got you in that state is called Pantheon Drive? I never heard that before. How do you even activate it? No wait, I don¡¯t wanna know.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Wait, hold on! 43 Fire damage from a single firebolt?! That¡¯s almost just as much as I was dealing before I got this bow!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, to think the new Psion class actually got me another multiplier.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°You still have some unassigned points though.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Gonna save them for later. Just in case.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Mm. Right, about the last floor. Should we call it a day?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I don¡¯t know, should we?¡±

    Both her and I eyeing each other with a grin as our brows tilts up and down. OF COURSE we¡¯re going down there and finish the job.

    Entering the 25th floor from the wall that the dinosaurs have broken through. However, when we slide down the slippery slope into the last floor, there is nothing to greet us there. Nothing but a chest and an altar.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    [Siola]: ¡°Sweet, no bosses.¡±

    She opens the chest, ¡°Maybe those dinosaurs were the bosses. Look, Siola.¡±

    I went to see what¡¯s up, ¡°Ohoo¡­¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Tome of the Mad Dead / Legendary / Contains [Conjure Spawn], [Conjure Beast Spawn], [Conjure Dragon Spawn], [Undeath Form] / Requirement: 20 Faith, 40 Intelligence, 90 Intelligence, 130 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Crypt Death Robe / Legendary / Physical Defense: 0 / Magical Defense: 1100 / Enchantment: Increases Health Regeneration by 10 per second. Sacrifice one Mana Reserve to increase Max Health by equal amount. All Conjuration-type spells have increased 50% Duration and is conjured twice / Requirement: 20 Faith, 150 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Crypt Death Footwrap / Legendary / Physical Defense: 0 / Magical Defense: 520 / Enchantment: Increases Health Regeneration by 1 per second. Wearer is immune to mobility-disrupting effects / Requirement: 20 Faith, 150 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Crypt Death Lock / Light Weapon / Legendary / Physical Attack: 0 / Magical Attack: 1100 / Enchantment: Necromancy-based and Blood-based Spells have increased 100% Potency. Conjuration-type spells have increased 50% Duration and is conjured twice. Has innate spell [Crucible Black], Cast Sign to conjure Death Lord from beyond, wreaking havoc to everything in its path, dealing 1500-3000 damage / Cost: 2000 Mana / Requirement: 60 Faith, 110 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Tuck those in¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°TUCK THOSE IN!¡±

    Minty quickly take them all into her inventory as we look around us suspiciously. Both of us giggling to ourselves, all excited about our findings.

    [Siola]: ¡°Too bad we can¡¯t use them though.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Yeah, shame.¡±

    I went to investigate the altar. There are obvious signs of blood magic and necromancy magic involved, which are in line with what Mad Dead is, but something¡¯s odd is here too. The blood gives sign that it is some sort of a ritual, then I realized that I have a book related to it.

    ¡°Mad Dead.¡±

    Seems to be a fool who wish to obtain immortality by experimenting on both the living and the dead. Whether one can be alive without a soul, or the other whether they can be dead with a soul. There¡¯s a lot of tangents thanks to the mind of this Mad Dead. It¡¯s simply too chaotic to understand. His findings gave birth to a lot of spells containing both Necromancy and Blood Magic.

    [Minty]: ¡°Find anything?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Shh.¡±

    As Minty zipped her mouth, I continue on my search, and there lies a ritual. Same markings, same signs, but something that shocked me however is this mention of the Black Old King.

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    He wishes to serve him. He wishes to learn from him. He wishes to kill him.

    By creating this ritual, with the knowledge of the Black Old King, he will be able to meet him and obtain true immortality with Book of the End. However, his research stopped after finding out that there is a missing piece. There is yet another book. Somewhere in the world.

    He died a century looking after it. The very same book, tucked in my inventory.

    ¡®I have to inform Ludwig about this, but what if he also doesn¡¯t want it?¡¯

    ¡®Should I just¡­¡¯

    ¡°Siola, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Remember when I told you that things can get dangerous with those books? It might be right now, so can you wait on the other side of the room? Just in case.¡±

    Hesitating, ¡°You sure you¡¯re going to be alright?¡±

    ¡°Heheh, I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Worried, and yet, still doing what I said. I¡¯m glad that she did because even I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s about to happen. This is something entirely new from my past life.

    I lay the Book of Crypt Death in the middle. Then, I took out the books of the Black Old King. Suddenly, both of them were taken by the air and forcefully opened. All three books flip their own pages until they reach a specific page.

    Taken aback, illusory walls behind me, everything around me turns black. Until, it becomes gray and white. Fog. Clouds. Spreads throughout an open space as I stand on it.

    ¡°Huff, huff, huff.¡±

    The footing on the clouds is hard, I never need to balance myself.

    ¡°No way.¡±

    The sky. There is nothing in the galaxy, there is not even a galaxy. Just thick clouds.

    ¡®A Lost Realm.¡¯

    An unclaimed Transcendental Realm hidden from the world, from everything. Every Lost Realm that I know of took a massive amount of effort to conquer. Three whole guilds and it took them no more than 6 months to do it. And I¡¯m standing on my lonesome here.

    [???]: ¡°The Abyss¡­¡±

    Powerful soundwave ushered the clouds as I¡¯m blown away by it.

    [Siola]: ¡°Hnnngh.¡±

    When I turned, my eyes widened at the sight of a ginormous crown lifting the clouds away. Its wearer is a black helmet, a soldier, a knight. All bent and loose as it stretches out.

    [???]: ¡°Here for me¡­¡±

    I kept looking up as it towering over me, I¡¯m just a speck in its shadow.

    [???]: ¡°Walk this path¡­¡±

    [???]: ¡°And you shall perish¡­¡±

    ! {New Quest Received ¨C Choose One}

    <ul>

    <li>Path of the Dead God / God / Challenge the once mighty and fearsome warrior in a duel / Requirement: Defeat Black Old King / Reward: O-D Realm Ownership, Black Old King Sets, Black Old King Power / Condition: Leave the Lost Realm</li>

    <li>Black Old King / Demigod / Learn the existence of The Unknown / Requirement: Unknown / Reward: Unknown / Condition: Walk towards the unknown</li>

    </ul>

    I wish it would be so simple. Leaving the Lost Realm is the easiest one I could right now. There is no time limit of when I can go back, if I can obtain Chronomancy magic, I might have a chance but it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen it. A difficulty of ¡°God¡±.

    But the other quest being on a lesser difficulty requires me to go through this, and I don¡¯t even know if I get a reward, or what am I even going to do.

    Taking a step back, suddenly, I remember how Ludwig doesn¡¯t want this. He knew about this. Does that mean it would be useless if I were to inform him about this whole thing?

    I stopped thinking and walk forward; the giant disappears into the clouds.

    [???]: ¡°You are not here for me¡­ Abyss¡­¡±

    I can feel my hair going up as another shade towering me from behind. A tall knight in rusted black armor, he doesn¡¯t wear a cape but he wears a crown with many dark-colored gems.

    [???]: ¡°You are not in control¡­ yet¡­¡±

    [???]: ¡°You are¡­ a Traveler¡­ from the outer plane.¡±

    [???]: ¡°You do not have a name.¡±

    [???]: ¡°You came¡­ unknowingly.¡±

    [???]: ¡°You do not wish for anything. You do not want anything.¡±

    [???]: ¡°But you shall not leave this place empty handed.¡±

    [???]: ¡°Come.¡±

    My legs feel like they¡¯re giving up on me. The amount of pressure he¡¯s making is enough to make me tremble and I¡¯m having difficulty to breathe. But I power through and follow.

    [???]: ¡°Many wishes to destroy this world.¡±

    [???]: ¡°Some were after my power.¡±

    [???]: ¡°A few sought my knowledge.¡±

    [???]: ¡°But one came to me for one thing, for one that shall never be named. One who walks above the Gods, one who walks among our universe, one who has been missing in our timeline.¡±

    [???]: ¡°The Unknown.¡±

    We arrive at an empty throne. Cracked walls it attached to. The knight walks to the throne. When he is seated, it is like the throne is made for him.

    He pinched the gem from his crown and pluck it out. Flicking it towards me, it hovers. The cloud gathers to it and froze, becoming a circlet with a dark orange gem.

    <ul>

    <li>Pulsar Nebula Diadem / Ethereal / The wearer can no longer be healed. Health Regeneration is increased by 2500 per second. Upon death, shield the wearer in a cocoon of arcane, restoring all primary attributes, 60-second cooldown. Has innate Spells [Cosmic Aperture], Cast Sign to conjure a wormhole that allows instant travel to known realms and other locations, 10-second cooldown. [Starfall Annihilation], Cast Sign to unleash cataclysmic meteorite forged from Arcane Pulsar, can be guided by casting [Nebula], teleporting the user to the top of the spearhead meteorite, 240-second cooldown. Has innate spell [Nebula Obliteration], Cast to unleash a wave of Arcane Pulsar that expands outwards in all direction, dealing 20.000 Damage / Requirement: 2500 Endurance, 1000 Intelligence, 1000 Strength, 500 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    [???]: ¡°Use it as you wish, but never let it be witnessed by the gods.¡±

    Struggling to move my mouth, ¡°I um. I cannot wear it as I am now.¡±

    [???]: ¡°Matters not.¡±

    Hesitant, I decided to grab the circle and wear it.

    ! {E--/r}

    <ul>

    <li>Pulsar Nebula Diadem / Rare / The wearer can no longer be healed. Health Regeneration is increased by 0.375 per second. Upon death, shield the wearer in a cocoon of arcane, restoring all primary attributes, 86.400-second cooldown. Has innate Spells [Cosmic Aperture], Cast Sign to conjure a wormhole that allows instant travel to known realms and other locations, 14.400-second cooldown. [Starfall Annihilation], Cast Sign to unleash cataclysmic meteorite forged from Arcane Pulsar, can be guided by casting [Nebula], teleporting the user to the top of the spearhead meteorite, 345.600-second cooldown. Has innate spell [Nebula Obliteration], Cast to unleash a wave of Arcane Pulsar that expands outwards in all direction, dealing 50 Damage / Requirement: 30 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I now have a task for you, Abyss.¡±

 Chapter 55 - Season 2 - Top Ranker

    [Black Old King]: ¡°Seek the power you once lost.¡±

    My eyes peeled. Him sitting on his throne. His powerful voice that makes my whole-body tremble in its quake.

    [Black Old King]: ¡°Seek the power to bend time itself.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Huh?¡±

    [Black Old King]: ¡°You shall not return before you obtain it.¡±

    My old power. I kept searching through the back of mind if he had truly said what I think he just said. Chronomancy magic, one that I have from my past life.

    [Siola]: ¡°How.¡±

    This is a game, I thought.

    [Black Old King]: ¡°You have question, Abyss?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I um¡­ I¡¯m not supposed to be alive. I um¡­ came from the future.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°4 years.¡±

    [Black Old King]: ¡°Indeed, one who wields time magic will always be the victim of it, especially so for one who worship the Great End King.¡±

    A familiar name, one of my titles. A Devotee of the End Kings.

    [Black Old King]: ¡°You are simply not ready for what awaits you, Abyss.¡±

    [Black Old King]: ¡°Return to me, once you have reclaimed yourself.¡±

    The clouds gather around and pushes me out of the Lost Realm. Dark all around, I see all three books flipped their pages as the darkness around becomes opaque. I returned to where I once was, the 25<sup>th</sup> floor of Dread Black Dungeon as the books shut themselves.

    Grabbing them, I tuck them back into my inventory.

    [Minty]: ¡°Siola, good, you¡¯re okay. How was it, what just happened?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I um, I don¡¯t know. I need uhh, to sit down and think.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh, okay. Just take your time.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Time? Yeah, I¡¯m taking my time¡­¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°?¡±

    An NPC knows that I¡¯ve returned to the past without me even telling them. The Black Old King. It knows something about me. About how I came here. I need to know more. I need to know why. But at this level, there is no way I¡¯m going anywhere near Chronomancy magic.

    This is so frustrating.

    [Siola]: ¡°FUCK!¡±

    Minty jolted.

    [Siola]: ¡°Ah, sorry. It¡¯s just¡­ Haa¡­ I got a Quest but there¡¯s no tracking on it.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh? Another class evolution?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, I guess you could say that. Not that I¡¯ll be able to do it considering what I saw. It¡¯s all a little too early for me, I think. I haven¡¯t even reach level 100 and I was standing against a damn giant of all things, can you believe that?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°A giant? Through those books?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, they teleported me somewhere unpleasant. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t out to kill me. So, I¡¯m here now. Let¡¯s get out of here, I¡¯m sick of this place.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°You won¡¯t have any objection from me.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°But you sure you¡¯re good to go? We have a long way up, you know.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Oh, gimme a sec.¡±

    I cast a sign and aim my palm at the front, ¡°Cosmic Aperture.¡±

    A small wormhole, but enough to fit the both of us. On the other side is the image of the green forest above the dungeon.

    [Minty]: ¡°Woah, is that really a portal? Wait, how did you do it?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, thanks to this beautiful circlet.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Ohhhhh.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    Passing through the wormhole is very different than any portal I¡¯ve gotten. It¡¯s a bit disorienting but the travel is instantaneous.

    Breathing fresh air together.

    [Minty]: ¡°Ahhh, I so miss this. Everyone would be so jealous to know that we can open a portal. Speaking of which, can¡¯t you do another one and teleport us to the capital?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Nope. Once every 4 hours. Plus, where is this capital? I can only teleport us to locations I know about.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oof, guess we¡¯re walking then.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°There¡¯s a town nearby though, we could go there, a little detour but it¡¯s a good chance to relax and we can even open up our vendor store too.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    [Siola]: ¡°Like, a walking distance close or what?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Very close, I promise.¡±

    Following closely right beside her. The sun is high, but we¡¯re somewhat resistance to the exhaustion now.

    [Minty]: ¡°You know what I think you should do, Siola?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hm, what?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Equipment upgrade.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I mean what is that black nun outfit, you¡¯ve been fighting in skirt, don¡¯t you feel¡­ I don¡¯t know, restricted? There should be some outfit sold for cheap.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I guess it¡¯s long overdue, yeah.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°What do you fancy though?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Maybe, something like a¡ª.¡±

    Before I can even finish my sentence, there¡¯s something in my line of sight. Just on the other side of the dirt road, someone is sitting by themselves.

    [Siola]: ¡°The hell? Is she talking to herself?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°A streamer, probably. We shouldn¡¯t bother her.¡±

    How I wish she can be a little foul mouthed.

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh right, what are you going to do about the other Quest you have. You know, the Pyromancer one.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°By the looks of it, both Psion and that one is subclasses so, I¡¯d lose the stuff I¡¯ve got from Psion if I want to be that one. I¡¯ll decline the evolution when it comes up.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Wise, I think? I mean just by looking at those spells in that tome.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°It¡¯s not my priority for now. There¡¯s the other book that I¡¯m interested in.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Mad Dead?¡±

    Shaking my head.

    [Siola]: ¡°The Black Flame.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Ohhh.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°No wonder you rank up Faith, you still need what, 10 more Intelligence I think no?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mhm, I really want this one called [Hex Flame], but 6 more Intelligence doesn¡¯t sound too bad.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Hmm, I wonder if we can get stat-enhancing items, but they can be pricy.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°We should be able to afford them once we sell some of the stuff we got. Or maybe just grind for them again?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Aha, I¡¯d love that!¡±

    [???]: ¡°Wait, you two!¡±

    Our brows raised as we look behind us. It¡¯s the girl sitting on the other side of the road.

    [???]: ¡°You, are you heading to Ravenswood? There¡¯s a horde of Stygian blocking the road, how about we party up?¡±

    Glancing at Minty as she glances back at me. When the woman approaches us, Minty recognizes her.

    [Minty]: ¡°Hm? Wait a minute, you¡¯re¡­ miss Mona?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Who?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Mona. Mona! She¡¯s the top ranker, number one in the world! Remember?!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Ahh.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°A-Are you sure you wanna party with us?¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°I mean just¡­ until we get to town.¡±

    *Gasp*

    [Minty]: ¡°Really?! Goodness me, we¡¯re going to party up with Mona!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Uhuh, well go on invite her already.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Okay, there you go.¡±

    The woman looks nervous and hesitant after Minty sent her an invite.

    [Mona]: ¡°Hm? A¡­ Level 138 Magic Marksman, and¡­ Level 69 Psion?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Yep, that¡¯s us.¡±

    Glancing at Minty. She nods.

    [Mona]: ¡°I¡¯ve never heard about those classes before, um, right. I¡¯ll be in your care.¡±

    ! {New Party Member has been added}

    <ul>

    <li>Mona / Assassin / Level 370 / Title: Elite Crucible</li>

    </ul>

    [Minty]: ¡°Welcome to the party, miss Mona!¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Ah-ahaha.¡±

    Nervously laughing like that kind of irks me. I get that Minty has a somewhat bright and bubbly personality but if this girl ever thought of her as annoying, rank 1 or not¡ª

    [Minty]: ¡°Hey, we were talking about whether you will update your name.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hm?¡±

    Oh right, I got that name from Ludwig. Why not, he bestowed it upon me anyway. And so, I updated my profile name to be Luosa as we continue to walk.

    [Minty]: ¡°So, miss Mona. I saw your forum post, and I completely agree! They changed too much and there¡¯s just so many stuffs we could still explore, but now we have to reacquaint ourselves with the new system. And I can¡¯t believe they make Realism Mode the default even though supposedly, it was deprecated. I mean they said so in the notes!¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Haha, yeah.¡±

    Her eyes kept glancing to a different direction than the one she¡¯s talking to. It looks like she¡¯s still streaming. Glancing at Minty, she probably hasn¡¯t figured it out yet.

    [Mona]: ¡°That quiver you have is glowing, do you have a spell active or something?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh, just one of my passive skills.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Passive? Like, as Magic Marksman?¡±

    Nodding enthusiastically, ¡°Mhm.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°I¡¯ve heard of Magic Swordman before, but never marksman. How did you even get that?¡±

    Minty¡¯s eyes peeled as her smile still tilts up, but her tongue is hold. I don¡¯t need to tell her, she¡¯s already aware of what¡¯s going on. Although not the whole picture, she knows.

    [Minty]: ¡°Heheh, is miss Mona¡­ curious?¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Eh?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Hahahaha, I mean of course you would, why wouldn¡¯t you be. Even when I have it now, I still couldn¡¯t believe it myself.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Enough about her though, miss Mona. We¡¯re actually more curious about you. A level 370, a top ranker of the entire world. You must¡¯ve played for a long time.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Of course, she is, dummy.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Mm, although not day one, I¡¯ve been playing the same year as this game came out.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Impressive.¡±

    Her eyes peeled.

    [Siola]: ¡°That kind of resilience is definitely what got you to the height you are at now.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Ah-hahah, not really. I mean a part of it, sure. But it takes a lot of hard work for it too.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mmm.¡±

    A load of horseshit. In the eyes of the world, sure you¡¯re number one. But if she ever steps into any major league, you wouldn¡¯t even fit in the thousands of its ranks.

    [Mona]: ¡°You¡¯re a Psion, I guess you have something to do with a mind control magic?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yep. A little telekinesis is all I can do for now though.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Ahh, telekinesis. So, like a physic, yes?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mhm, do you wanna know how I got this class too, miss Mona?¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Eh?¡±

    A grin as I eye her. Minty looking at me nervously.

    [Mona]: ¡°I mean if you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, well you¡¯ll have to wonder for a while then.¡±

    Taken aback, flustered, her face flushed.

    [Mona]: ¡°Goodness, you two teases me too much. Fine, I won¡¯t pry any further on those weird classes. And sorry for secretly streaming just now.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Ehhh, you were streaming, miss Mona?! Does that mean, I was in miss Mona¡¯s stream? Me?!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°You did, you did.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Ohhhh.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Your levels don¡¯t match though. What¡¯s up with that?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Well, Siola and me just started playing recently. I was actually going to carry her a bit but I ended up getting carried thanks to the update.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Right, the update. How long have you two been playing?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I¡¯ve been for a few years, but¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Two weeks for me.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Eh?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Eh?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Wait, you¡¯ve only been playing for two weeks?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I was only level 20 remember?¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Level 20 is a big deal for a beginner too. Especially for two weeks, but you¡¯re almost 50 levels above now, that¡¯s really fast.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, I can thank that meathead over there.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°M-Meathead.¡±

    Seeing a horde of Stygian ape. There are a few dozens of them.

    [Mona]: ¡°There, see?!¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Okay, you two. So, what we¡¯re gonna do is¡ª.¡±

    Minty took a step before Mona can even tell us what we¡¯re supposed to do.

    [Mona]: ¡°Hey, what¡¯re you¡ª.¡±

    Aethonix Cycle bow loaded in ten arrows. Mona can see it, how Minty drawing it.

    [Minty]: ¡°Stellar Resonance.¡±

    10 consecutive arrows were shot in line with a single draw. They fly, and when the first one hits, it sends a shockwave in 25-meter radius dealing damage to the surrounding apes. And it is repeated 10 times. Only a few were left alive, and they quickly flee.

    Gasping, Mona¡¯s eyes peeled.

    I grabbed my Goblin Shiv and threw it. It¡¯s the perfect chance for me to test it again, my telekinesis. One that I¡¯ve finally reclaimed as part of Psion innate ability now.

    And it works much better than I expected.

    The knife accelerated in swirl and with trajectory is now under my control, it cuts all of the ape¡¯s neck. Killing them slowly.

    ¡°Wh-What?¡± Head shifting back and forth, ¡°Wait, how?¡±

    Minty¡¯s smile is the brightest one I have ever seen. And it¡¯s the biggest one now.

 Chapter 56 - Season 2 - The Limelight and Shadow

    [Mona]: ¡°All those stygian¡­¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Died just like that?¡±

    Minty smiles brightly before her cheeks flushed, ¡°Ehehehe.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°It¡¯s actually thanks to this bow, it has like an AOE effect so it gets the job done nicely.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°That¡¯s, ahaha, I haven¡¯t seen that one either.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Wow, you guys looks like you¡¯re um¡­ doing well! Even in this update.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°We weren¡¯t at first, but thanks to her, I¡¯ve managed. Plus, she¡¯s a Realism Mode player before it was deprecated anyway.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°What, you were?¡±

    I nodded.

    [Mona]: ¡°Th-That¡¯s insane! Then, I guess there¡¯s nothing really changed with the update for you then?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Haha, what do you mean. The new system takes a while to get used to, I lost a lot of my abilities too, so there is a lot that has changed, miss Mona.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°R-Right but¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I guess the reason you¡¯re struggling is because you¡¯re not accustomed of thinking that everything is real here, yeah? The pain, the exhaustion. Resource management, you know.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°S-Struggling?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Ah, we saw a bit of your stream before. I mean we didn¡¯t really know what happens afterward, we just saw you were exhausted. Probably have killed those apes no prob, right?¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Ah¡­ ahaha, yeah¡­

    As the last Stygian ape died out blood lost, we walk.

    [Minty]: ¡°Okay, that¡¯s the loot for you miss Mona.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°No, you can keep it. I didn¡¯t even do anything anyway.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Eh? Really? Thanks!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Still. You should¡¯ve been fine in dealing with these monsters in your level.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°I was¡­ I could kill them without even touching them, but after the update, I um¡­ kind of messed up my profile status.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Did you forget to put any stat on Vitality?¡±

    She blushes and nods.

    [Mona]: ¡°Fuck, I don¡¯t know why I started blabbering to you guys about this. Never mind that, and please don¡¯t tell anyone, okay?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Right. You are just a temporary party member after all. The town is over there.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I guess this is it, huh.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I know this was just a little walk, but thank you for partying up together with us, miss Mona.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Huh? Ah, no, I wasn¡¯t even doing anything. Thank you, Silvita.¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°But, um, are you guys on any guild?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Why, you want us to join your guild?

    [Mona]: ¡°No, I don¡¯t have one, but um¡­¡±

    [Mona]: ¡°Actually, never mind.¡±

    I know what she was about to say, and I don¡¯t like it. There¡¯s a lot of variables of what would happen if her temporary companion status becomes permanent, and one of them is the likelihood of Minty just becoming another spectator to the action. Like she was to me.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    I¡¯ve promised her mother, and I intend to keep it.

    Mona ended up adding us to her friends list, and we go our separate ways once we reach the town of Ravenswood. It¡¯s way larger than I expected. The place that I¡¯ve never interested in because at the point where I was aware of its existence, I was already killing demons on another realm.

    [Minty]: ¡°Wow, usually there¡¯s a lot of players here, but now¡ª well, there¡¯s still a lot, but I can actually look at the street now. It¡¯s not packed to the brim like before.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°We should find a place to relax. Can¡¯t just open up a shop on a whim.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°A restaurant maybe?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Or, there needs to be like a good spot for portable vendor maybe?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Portable vendor?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°It¡¯s like when you set it up, people can see that you are a vendor, and then they can come over and browse our goods. Travelling merchant, stuff like that.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Ahhh, well we better grab a table somewhere, gets us food and drinks too.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Sounds like a plan.¡±

    In an open restaurant, under the shade of its roof, we took our seat at the corner. We got ales in bottles, meat skewers, melted cheese and bread.

    [Minty]: ¡°Sorry, I only got a few golds.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hm? Right, we do want that currency too.¡±

    As I take a bite of the skewer, Minty sits uncomfortably close to me as she opens Cash Shop. And there it takes us to the setup process.

    [Minty]: ¡°Hmm, what do we name it?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°General Store?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Seriously?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hhmm¡­¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Oh, how about we just use our name?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Sioty or Minla?¡±

    Feeding her the next meat on the skewer.

    [Minty]: ¡°Mmph.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°S&M.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Hm? Waih¡ª.¡±

    *Cough *Cough

    [Siola]: ¡°I¡¯m just kidding.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°How about this one.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°D-O-L¡­¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Dola?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, it gotta be this.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Okay, next.¡±

    She added me to the list of founders. Revenue split was 70:30 heavy on me, but I fought her finger on the slide and now it¡¯s 51:49 so that I have access to her shared party items inventory. There we have established our own store in the Cash Shop.

    [Minty]: ¡°Okay, what do we sell?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°That dagger you¡¯ve got, the [Stygian Sting], that¡¯ll get us something. Check the Marketplace and the Auction.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Lowest price in the marketplace is $2300???¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hunh, so low.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°What? No! For you maybe, but that¡¯s big, Siola! $2300 for a single item.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I guess it¡¯s a lot then.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°It sure is, but how much should we sell them for? $2200?¡±

    The next one is selling it for $2450 and there are five of them selling it for $2500.

    [Siola]: ¡°Do it for $2500.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Eh? Really?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°It¡¯s automated right? Like, you don¡¯t have to confirm purchase or anything?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°I think so.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Just list it then.¡±

    Once it is listed, we look through the prices for magic core. Lowest price for an Uncommon is a dozen per dollar and 5 Rare per dollar and one per Epic.

    [Minty]: ¡°Should we sell them?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°It¡¯s a chump change. Best if we use it to get golds instead.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Well, what else we can sell then?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°We can¡¯t sell my bow, right?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No, why do we sell the thing we use?¡±

    Looking into our pretty sad inventory.

    [Siola]: ¡°Once we learn the spells from those tomes, we can sell them afterward, I think, but for now, sell that one.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Eh, this one? You sure?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°It sounds so powerful though, I bet you could use it when you level up later on.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, and like what, a hundred level? I like conjuration but my class is not suitable for it.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Hmm, no one is selling in the marketplace though.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Put it on Auction. What¡¯s the average sales of legendary orb?¡±

    There¡¯s only a handful of legendary items are sold in the Marketplace, and although there are more in Auction, I was expecting more competition.

    [Minty]: ¡°Th-This is insane, Siola. There¡¯s no legendary orb that has ever been listed, but the legendary items that got sold are no less than a hundred thousand dollars.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Did we just¡­ win a lottery, Siola?¡±

    Being excited for it is good. Especially so since legendary items cost a lot nowadays. Back then it wouldn¡¯t even touch any more than 10k..

    [Minty]: ¡°So, we put it in Auction, right?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mhm.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Okay, phew. Okay, um, what¡¯s the initial price?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ One million.¡±

    *Cough*

    [Minty]: ¡°Wha?¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°No way, Siola. I mean, wh-why, wh-who would even buy um¡­?¡±

    Looking at her in the eye with brows raised and a tilty smile.

    [Minty]: ¡°Wait, you¡¯re serious. Oh my god, my heart can¡¯t take this.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Put the initial price of that and buyout Not Set. No time limit either.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Eh? I mean, 1 million. You think we can get more?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°There¡¯s a lot of rich people out there. And you¡¯re talking to one of them here.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Mmmmrmph, okay.¡±

    [Minty]: ¡°Crypt Death Lock¡­ is now up!¡±

    Exhausted as she leans on my chest, ¡°Goodness, I think I need a break. And there¡¯s the other ones too. Should I put it up?¡±

    ¡°Not for now. I mean do you need more than one million?¡±

    ¡°Jeez, Siola. That amount of money can do a lot for me already.¡±

    Chuckles, feeding her another meat on a skewer.

    After that meal, we got hungry and so we decided to log out and have lunch. Minty Mama and Papa is out so we ordered a meal from the restaurant downstairs.

 Chapter 57 - Season 2 - Sudden Recourse

    Sunsetting sun, the sound of screaming Stygian Apes in pain were heard loudly. As I read this book that is becoming harder to see, my enemies came just in time.

    ! {New Spell has been learned}

    <ul>

    <li>Hex Combustion / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Hex-Fire / Cast to create embers of cursed black flame, dealing 90 Damage and inflict Slight Hex that lasts for 2 hours, buildup burn overtime / Cost: 90 Mana / Requirement: 20 Faith, 20 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    By shouting its name alone is not enough for it deal any damage. No, I need to blow it.

    *Bwoosh*

    And it charged the running ape. Mindlessly charging towards it, and the ape regrets it instantly. Rolling around on the ground trying to put it out and continues to do so even when the fire is no longer, and it eventually dies.

    *Huff*

    Sitting down, looking at the sunset amidst the corpses of these animals. Looking right besides me, I somehow expect that Minty would be there.

    (Sorry about this, Siola, but my grandpa fell. We need to check up on him.)

    (Siola, sweetie. Make sure you lock the door when you come in and out, okay?)

    ¡°Grandfather, huh.¡±

    Reminds me of my own, ¡°Heh, whatever.¡±

    And yet, I feel my grips tightened. I don¡¯t feel like playing, so I log out and take a morning stroll outside the apartment. The fantastical scenery of Ekolia, to the high-rise scenery of Sky Sector.

    I sighed. Stopping at a vending machine to get a coffee. As I don¡¯t have any money, I decided to do a little trick on it which rewards me one warm ahh coffee.

    My eyes glances to the side of the vending machine, a goth lady with a mask leaning against. Her color is pretty much my drink. It¡¯s black, bitter.

    Wait.

    ¡°Jesus, Rosa,¡± I jolted, ¡°What the fuck?!¡±

    ¡°What a foul mouth, to greet your sister with a curse.¡±

    ¡°Urgh, what do you want? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m not in the mood for¡­ you, right now?!¡±

    ¡°Uhuh, and why is that?¡±

    ¡°Why should I tell you?¡±

    ¡°For a start, you ran and left me behind alone with two cone of ice cream on each hand. A bit of an apology would be appreciated, but instead, you put god¡¯s name in vain the moment you see me.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    I sighed, leaning my back against the vending machine as I look out to the street.

    [Siola]: ¡°How¡¯s grandpa doing?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°He¡¯s well.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Sitting besides me, I scooch and creates a bit more distance.

    [Rosa]: ¡°A little turbulent. It¡¯ll pass.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heh.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°When you ran away, I thought I should leave you alone. I thought, maybe I was wrong to bring you back here with me. Maybe I should¡¯ve just watches over you from far distance.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°But I don¡¯t want to lose you. Not again.¡±

    Again?

    [Rosa]: ¡°I was always wondering what got you hooked up to that capsule. Now that it is left empty, I decided to try it for myself, and that got me thinking. What if I just assist you instead? Two Mithras together, in the comfort of freezing capsules.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heh. You? Playing games?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°You can¡¯t be doing without a reason, so what is it?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°I¡¯ve looked into it, your way to reaching the Capital. You¡¯re after this Major League, aren¡¯t you? The upcoming championship, yes? I¡¯ve convinced grandfather that you will earn your pardon if you can take over this woman called Mona.¡±

    She looked into it, huh, but not far enough it seems.

    [Siola]: ¡°Shallow.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Hm?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mona? The woman who struggles to fight just a few apes, that¡¯s how low the bar is set for me? Please, these ranks mean nothing. These leagues mean nothing!This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    [Siola]: ¡°Your help offers me nothing!¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Fools, the lot of them!

    Why do I care about some level 300 something punk ass who can¡¯t even do shit in a fight. Why the fuck do I care about some championships that don¡¯t even reward prestige!

    No, the reason why I keep playing.

    [Black Old King]

    My blood keeps on boiling, but her patience is unbreakable.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Careful now, you¡¯re starting to lose sight of yourself. As a Mithra, surely you know the value of an object is in the eye of the beholder. What others value, they set the price. We¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Take advantage of it, I know.¡±

    Clicking my tongue. Like it or not, I have to get back on my feet.

    [Siola]: ¡°He wants me to be in the limelight, huh.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Surely you see why. No matter how much I¡¯ve shown him what I can do, he still chooses you. Like how it¡¯s always been.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    And just like how it always been, she¡¯s never even bothered by it. I went back to Minty¡¯s apartment and went straight to the capsule. Returning to Ekolia with a burning rage in my heart.

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    <ul>

    <li>Name: Luosa</li>

    <li>Level: 98</li>

    <li>Class: Psion</li>

    <li>Title: [Fire Wielder]</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Max Health: 12 [+6] | Max Mana 1: 250 [+750] | Max Mana 2: 250 [+625] | Max Mana 3: 250 [+125] | Max Stamina: 35 [+17.5]</li>

    <li>Health: 18 | Mana: 2250 | Stamina: 52.5</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes (13)

    <ul>

    <li>Strength: --- / Dexterity: --- / Endurance: ---</li>

    <li>Vitality: 10 / Agility: ---</li>

    <li>Intelligence: 50 / Faith: 20 / Luck: 5</li>

    </ul>

    Combat

    <ul>

    <li>Physical Attack: 3 / Physical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Magical Attack: --- / Magical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Health Regeneration: 0.001 / Mana Regeneration: 0.7 / Stamina Regeneration: 0.1</li>

    </ul>

    Active Effect

    <ul>

    <li>Pulsar Nebula Diadem: The wearer can no longer be healed. Health Regeneration is increased by 0.375 per second. Upon death, shield the wearer in a cocoon of arcane, restoring all primary attributes, 86.400-second cooldown.</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

    ===== Ability Status =====

    Title

    <ul>

    <li>Fire Wielder / One who carries flame as source of power in the palm of their hands / Effect: Fire-based spells have increased 50% Potency</li>

    </ul>

    Innate Ability

    <ul>

    <li>Mana Recharge / Rank 1 / Arcane / Cast and hold to gather the surrounding arcane and converts them into usable Mana by 0.1 per second / Cost: None / Requirement: 8 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Mana Pool (Passive) / Rank 1 / Intelligence value now contribute 2.5% per point of Intelligence to Max Mana. Create an additional Mana reserve</li>

    <li>Telekinesis / Rank 1 / Arcane-miracle / Take control of arcane particles in the surrounding area and bends them at Will / Costs: 0.5 Mana per second / Requirement: 8 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Potent Mind (Passive) / Level 1 / Increases Resistance against mind-attack magic by 10%. Increases all spells Potency by 20%. Create an additional Mana reserve</li>

    </ul>

    Skill

    <ul>

    <li>Power Throw / Level 2 / Effectively strengthened the force of thrown item, increases attack power by 25% / Cost: 8 Stamina</li>

    <li>Rapid Spell Casting (Passive) / Level 10 (Max) / Consecutive use of spells now has reduced 80% Cost</li>

    <li>Magi Mastery (Passive) / Level 2 / Increases all spells Potency by 20%</li>

    <li>Pyro Mastery (Passive) / Level 2 / Increases Fire-type spells Potency by 25%</li>

    <li>Pantheon Drive (Passive) / Level 1 (Max) / When the state of your soul reaches beyond limit, you take a Transcendental form of your Class. Increasing all Primary Attributes by 9000 + 1000% and all Secondary Attributes related to your Class by 1000 + 300%</li>

    </ul>

    Spell

    <ul>

    <li>Wall of Stone / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Earth / Cast to conjure a 6:2 stone wall at target location, lasts 1 hour / Cost: 10 Mana / Requirement: 10 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Firebolt / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Fire / Cast to conjure a small bolt of fire, dealing 54 fire damage at enemy upon impact, buildup burn overtime / Cost: 3 Mana / Requirement: 3 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Heal Array / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Light / Create a sphere of light at will, it can be connected to another created sphere to form a healing area once fully connected, restoring 0.54 Health per second. At least 3 spheres are required for healing area to be activated and requires Cast, lasts 300 seconds / Cost: 8 Mana / Requirement: 8 Faith</li>

    <li>Sovereign Ritual / Arcane / Cast Sign to summon a creature from the outer plane unreachable by the gods to form a contract / Cost: 2400 Mana / Requirement: 200 Intelligence, 100 Faith</li>

    <li>Conjure Spawn / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Necromancy / Cast to call upon a skeletal servant of Mad Dead¡¯s infantry for 80 seconds / Cost: 100 Mana / Requirement: 20 Faith, 40 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Conjure Beast Spawn / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Necromancy / Cast to call upon a skeletal servant of Mad Dead¡¯s loyal hounds for 80 seconds / Cost: 80 Mana / Requirement: 20 Faith, 40 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Luminous Orb / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Light / Cast to conjure a source of light in target location for 900 seconds / Cost: 10 Mana / Requirement: 10 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Light Bolt / Tier 1 ¨C Basic / Light / Cast to hurl a small light sphere towards the target, dealing 4 light damage at enemy upon impact, chance to cause blindness for 10 second / Cost: 5 Mana / Requirement: 10 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Greater Illuminate / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Light / Cast Sign to create a great sphere of light as a source of visibility that follows the caster for 900 seconds / Cost: 100 Mana / Requirement: 50 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Light Spear / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Light / Cast to conjure a light-infused arcane in a form of a spear with 486 Magical Attack as light damage for 10 seconds / Cost: 150 Mana / Requirement: 50 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Hex Combustion / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Hex-Fire / Cast to create embers of cursed black flame, dealing 2 Damage and inflict Slight Hex that lasts for 2 hours, buildup burn overtime / Cost: 90 Mana / Requirement: 20 Faith, 20 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Hellfire / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Fire / Infuse body in a fiery flame of hell at Will, allowing the user to charge the Potency, Cast Sign to release it at target location / Cost: Up to 299 Mana / Requirement: 20 Faith, 20 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Hex Flame / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Hex-Fire / Allows the gathering of Hex at Will, charging its Capacity to be used by other Hex-based Spells. Amplifying their damage and duration / Cost: Up to 299 Mana / Requirement: 20 Faith, 40 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Hex Pillars / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Hex-Fire / Cast to conjure a large pillar of [Hex Flame] at target location, dealing 1350 Inflict Moderate Hex that lasts for 2 hours, buildup burn overtime / Requirement: 20 Faith, 40 Intelligence, [Hex Flame] Spell</li>

    <li>Mind Splitter / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Psychomancy / Cast Sign to inflict mental attack that disrupt the target¡¯s thought, dealing 648 Has 20% chance to cause a stun / Cost: 120 Mana / Requirement: 30 Intelligence, Psion Class</li>

    <li>Mental Fortress / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Psychomancy / Cast Sign to create a mind barrier, shielding the caster from mental attack with 405 Health / Cost: 100 Mana / Requirement: 30 Intelligence, Psion Class</li>

    <li>Psionic Shockwave / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Psychomancy / Cast Sign to send a wave of mental attack in cone, dealing 6 damage. Has 5% chance to cause a stun / Cost: 90 Mana / Requirement: 30 Intelligence, Psion Class</li>

    </ul>

    Miracle

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Ability Status =====

 Chapter 58 â€“ Season 2 â€“ Ambush

    ! {New Mail ¨C Unread [x34]}

    <ul>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: Excuse me, I saw your auction post for [Crypt Death Lock], and I¡¯d like to buyout this item for 2.000.000</li>

    <li>[SeraphinaWW]: Hi there! Could you provide more details about how ¡®increased potency¡¯ and ¡®duration¡¯ work with enchanted spells? Also, is ¡®Crucible Black¡¯ single-target or AoE?</li>

    <li>[Darkheart]: I¡¯m thinking of buying out the auction for 1.5 million. Interested in a quick sale?</li>

    <li>[Elysia Sunstrider]: I¡¯ve bid several times but keep getting sniped. If you''re open to private offers, I can go as high as 2 million.</li>

    <li>[Vex''aria Shadowblade]: Haha, 1 million? You must be joking! I¡¯ll offer 500k.</li>

    <li>[Gideon Stormweaver]: 300k final offer ¨C way too high at 1 million.</li>

    <li>[Cassia Silverleaf]: Would you accept payments in instalments if I''m the highest bidder?</li>

    <li>[XTBlackwood]: 200k plus a free repair service if you throw in a ¡®repair¡¯ service</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: I apologize, I meant for 5.000.000</li>

    <li>[Gideon Stormweaver]: Lol, idiots actually bid 3 mil wtf, you scammer</li>

    <li>[Skyborn3]: If nobody meets your reserve, would you sell it to me for 6 million?</li>

    <li>[Lyra Nightingale]: What do ¡®Necromancy-based¡¯ and ¡®Blood-based¡¯ Spells mean for this item? Is it like one or the other?</li>

    <li>[Skyborn3]: Hey, I¡¯m truly interested in this time. Might we work something out?</li>

    <li>[IsoldeEmerald]: Could you give me some guidance on whether my character¡¯s stats are high enough to wield this effectively? Other than the requirements, you know. I bid 7 mil</li>

    <li>[Rowan Shadowrunner]: Trade this Crypt Death Lock for two legendary weapons of your choice from my collection.</li>

    <li>[Finn888]: Payment in the form of a well-trained pet shadow wolf, if that''s interesting to you. Level 200, and it¡¯s legendary type too.</li>

    <li>[GwenJet]: I can offer 8 million, plus a legendary item, if you want.</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: Hello, excuse me. Please, I would like to purchase [Crypt Death Lock], I can give you $10.000.000. Please respond.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡®All these fighting for a single legendary item.¡¯

    ¡®Though, I must admit that it is quite unique.¡¯

    Checking on the forum, it looks like the item is trending.

    <ul>

    <li>[anonymous]: What the fuck, I heard someone is trying to trade two legendries for this thing.</li>

    <li>[BBBolt]: 8 Millioooooooooooooon!</li>

    </ul>

    Checking out the video tab, there are surprisingly a lot of number of content creator are covering this item. No wonder it¡¯s popular. One of them in particular is this¡­

    ¡°Yo, guys. What the fuck! New Legendary item just dropped on the Auction, and it¡¯s fucking insane! Like, look here, check this out.¡±

    ¡°5 million at the time of making this video. This is the second biggest bid in the history of Ekolia¡¯s auction and I predict that it¡¯s going to keep rising. Just look at this thing.¡±

    ¡°A fucking Light Weapon for a mage. No physical attack, but that 1100 Magical Attack is the BIGGEST one I¡¯ve ever seen out of any legendary that is purely on one stat of attack. Usually it was split, but this time, you don¡¯t have to worry about wasted potential here. You got the whole thing.¡±

    ¡°This fucking thing also has two, I repeat, TWO Potency increasing enchantment. DOUBLING the already rare Necromancy-based spells, and God only knows how many people actually got to use this one, Blood Magic. And that¡¯s not all either, this thing got an increased effect on Conjuration-type spells and every conjuration spells are activated twice. What the fuck!¡±

    ¡°And it doesn¡¯t fucking stop. It even has an innate spell that I¡¯ve never even heard before. [Crucible Black], Cast Sign to conjure Death Lord from beyond, wreaking havoc to everything in its path, dealing 1500-3000 damage. And if you think that¡¯s impressive, remember the conjuration effect? That means upon casting this innate spell, it is conjured twice. Oh my god¡­¡±

    ¡°It does cost 2000 Mana, but bro, it¡¯s pretty much halved the moment you summon two of the bastards, and you don¡¯t even have to use it too! Just summon other creatures and there¡¯ll be two of them popping up. If you¡¯ve got the money, bro¡­ and this thing is post-patch too, wtf?!¡±

    ¡°Now, there is a bit of a caveat, well not really. But this store is extremely new. Like, this is literally the first item they auction. Dola is what the vendor is called, so I gotta¡­¡±

    ! {New Mail}

    <ul>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: Hello, please respond. I really want this weapon. Just name your price, and it¡¯ll be awesome if we could meet. Thank you.</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°How persistent.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>[Vendor-Luosa]: I have a set for the weapon, you either bid for the weapon or buy the entire set / Attached-Preview: [Crypt Death Robe], [Crypt Death Footwrap]</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: Oh my god, thank you for replying, finally!</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: Wait, what do you mean by set?</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: Ahh hold on, oh my god. There¡¯s a set?! You¡¯re sure about this? Wait, what about the price though? How much do you want for them?</li>

    <li>[Vendor-Luosa]: ¡­</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: Not trying to shade anyone here, I assure you. I just really want the item. Would you mind waiting for a few minutes? Please.</li>

    <li>[Vendor-Luosa]: Ok.</li>

    </ul>

    Sliding the chat away, ¡®Now where¡¯s that bitch, Rosa.¡¯

    I told her that we should meet at the gate of the town in this fine morning. I assumed she also teleports to Sonata considering she¡¯s familiar with the name of this town when I mentioned it. Suddenly, I felt someone touching my shoulder, and not even a sound of footsteps of it I heard.

    Without a mask, now I can see her face, and it is indeed not the face of my sister. Looking up and down, she¡¯s still wearing rags. I can¡¯t comment on it since I¡¯m on a borrowed item.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Been waiting long?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mhm, what do I call you?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Rosa, what else?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Adding her as my party member, ¡°There, accept.¡±

    ! {New Party Member has been added}

    <ul>

    <li>Rosa / Rogue / Level 30</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Level 30 and you¡¯re still looking like that. Can¡¯t you just buy an item from the Cash Shop? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re me.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°You jest. Playing with a toy I¡¯m not familiar off, it¡¯ll have to wait until I have full of understanding of this¡­ whole thing.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Uhuh, show me your status.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Here.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Not even a shred of hesitation.¡±

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    <ul>

    <li>Name: Rosa</li>

    <li>Level: 30</li>

    <li>Class: Rogue</li>

    <li>Title: [Ambusher], [Blade Master], [Indomitable]</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Max Health: 1 [+0.05] | Max Mana: 12 [+0.6] | Max Stamina: 80 [+4]</li>

    <li>Health: 1.05 | Mana: 12.6 | Stamina: 84</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Strength: --- / Dexterity: 10 / Endurance: ---</li>

    <li>Vitality: 1 / Agility: 19</li>

    <li>Intelligence: --- / Faith: --- / Luck: ---</li>

    </ul>

    Combat

    <ul>

    <li>Physical Attack: 50 [+25] + 50 [+25] / Physical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Magical Attack: --- / Magical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Health Regeneration: 0.001 / Mana Regeneration: 0.01 / Stamina Regeneration: 1.9</li>

    </ul>

    Active Effect

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

    ===== Ability Status =====

    Title

    <ul>

    <li>Ambusher / Hunter lies in wait / Effect: Attacking unaware target can have 10% chance for them to be stunned for 10 seconds. Deal additional 250% damage on the first strike and 100% damage for the next 10 seconds</li>

    <li>Blade Master / Mastery of the blades require stillness and precision / Effect: All Bladed Light Weapon has innate chance to cause [Hemorrhage], reducing 30% of their Max Health and blocked their heals from Potions for the next 10 seconds, causes bleed for the duration. All Bladed Light Weapon now have increased 50% damage</li>

    <li>Indomitable / One who overcome a great challenge against a mighty foe / Effect: Gain Invincibility for 5 second when health drops below 25%. Immune from being staggered and have 50% resistance from being stunned</li>

    </ul>

    Innate AbilityThe narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    <ul>

    <li>Fleetfoot (Passive) / Level 1 / Dodging attacks in close proximity increases movement speed by 10% and increase Stamina Regeneration by 5% for 5 second</li>

    </ul>

    Skill

    <ul>

    <li>Power Throw / Level 5 (Max) / Effectively strengthened the force of thrown item, increases attack power by 80% / Cost: 3 Stamina</li>

    <li>Unarmed Combat (Passive) / Level 5 (Max) / Unarmed strikes now deal additional 150% damage. Grants additional 40 Strength and 40 Dexterity when unarmed. Grants additional 245 Physical Defense when unarmed.</li>

    <li>Killer Advantage (Passive) / Level 5 / Attacking unaware targets deals 150% damage</li>

    <li>Light-footed (Passive) / Level 10 (Max) / Null the sound of your footsteps</li>

    <li>Sneak (Passive) / Level 8 / Increases the likely hood of being spotted while obscured by 50%</li>

    <li>Backstab (Passive) / Level 5 / Strikes from behind deals additional 30% damage</li>

    </ul>

    Spell

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    Miracle

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Ability Status =====

    ===== Equipment Status =====

    <ul>

    <li>[2x] Sarak Claw / Uncommon / Physical Attack: 50 / Magical Attack: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: 8 Dexterity, 5 Agility</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Equipment Status =====

    For a beginner, she already leagues above them. Probably much closer to me. Still, it¡¯s much more impressive since she¡¯s doing this post-patch. One could only imagine what she would be like before then. I guess she really is serious about this.

    That¡¯s good.

    It is only fair if I were to show her my status, but she didn¡¯t even ask. I showed it to her anyway so she can grasp my strength in comparison and what I can do.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Magic. What an odd thing.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Trust me, you can¡¯t go without it. You¡¯ll be benefitted from investing on some spells. But you need Intelligence stats to learn them.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Rubbish, but fine. I shall adhere to the rules.¡±

    ! {New Mail}

    <ul>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: Hello, you still have the items, right? I¡¯ve talked to some people, and we¡¯ve agreed to take your items for 40 million dollars. Here are the reasons why / Attached: [Picture Bundle]</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: I think that¡¯s the fairest price for those items</li>

    </ul>

    [Rosa]: ¡°What is it?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Someone looking to buy an item. 40 million.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°In dollars?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yes.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Impressive. Do 25 more of that and I¡¯m sure grandfather would happily welcome you back, his forehead on the ground too.¡±

    She chuckles.

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    <ul>

    <li>[Luosa]: You missed the point on the footwrap. Mobility-disrupting effects doesn¡¯t just tie in to the ones that hinder you from moving, but ones that can stop you completely too. Petrification, stun, etc.</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: What?! I didn¡¯t know that!</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: O-Okay, wait, please wait. Another 5 million. No, I can do 50 million on everything. Please, sell it to me. Please! I really wanted it!</li>

    </ul>

    I¡¯m sure other people would give me some offers when they know it¡¯s a set, but it¡¯s not going to go the same way. I could probably sell them for 40-45 million then.

    <ul>

    <li>[Luosa]: 50 million, alright. Where do you wanna meet?</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: Really? Great, I¡¯m in Sonata Kingdom capital right now, or I could go to you instead?</li>

    <li>[Luosa]: No, I¡¯ll come to you. Give me a few hours.</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: Awesome! Thank you so much!</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: I¡¯ll be around the Adventurer¡¯s Guilds, tell me when you¡¯re nearby.</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°50 million, they said.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Hm, a sweet price. I take it they wanted us to meet then, hmm?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah, how do you know?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Spending that amount of money? One would want to establish a connection. In case of future benefits.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Right, but first, our clothes.¡±

    Leading the charge, I went to look for some NPC that sells equipment that we like. We eventually arrive to Mult General Store. Established by an NPC, it¡¯s not big and its empty inside.

    [Shopkeeper]: ¡°Welcome, welcome. Please, take a look around. Don¡¯t hesitate to ask, I may have what you need in the back.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I¡¯d like to trade items with your equipment.¡±

    [Shopkeeper]: ¡°Certainly, may I ask what items you wish to trade?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I have this staff, and cores from common to epic rarity.¡±

    [Shopkeeper]: ¡°An epic rarity cores from monsters? Why I would certainly give a pretty amount of gold for that. This staff is although quite common in magic stores, it is still of value.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Some light armors, clothes, and if you have a magical device or staff that can enhance all spells potency. Show me.¡±

    [Shopkeeper]: ¡°Most certainly, ma¡¯am.¡±

    Glancing at Rosa, she seems unlikely to cause trouble.

    [Shopkeeper]: ¡°Here you go, ma¡¯am. These are ones that I have in stock.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Linen-Etched Cotton Armored Skirt One Piece / Cloth / Common / Physical Defense: 10 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: None</li>

    <li>Linen-Etched Cotton Leggings and Boots / Cloth / Common / Physical Defense: 10 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: None</li>

    <li>Linen-Etched Cotton Gloves / Cloth / Common / Physical Defense: 5 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: None</li>

    <li>Linen-Etched Chainmail / Light Armor / Uncommon / Physical Defense: 50 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: 5 Dexterity, 3 Agility</li>

    <li>Linen-Etched Gloves / Light Armor / Uncommon / Physical Defense: 35 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: 3 Dexterity, 3 Agility</li>

    <li>Linen-Etched Leggings and Boots / Light Armor / Uncommon / Physical Defense: 50 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: 5 Dexterity, 3 Agility</li>

    </ul>

    [Shopkeeper]: ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have anything better than this, and I don¡¯t have any weapon that matches what you need. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Narrowing my eyes down, looking at him in the eye, holding his gaze as he sweats nervously. I¡¯ve been wondering why he is so polite, but it looks like he¡¯s¡­ afraid.

    Laying a couple of cores on the table.

    [Siola]: ¡°How many do you want for them?¡±

    [Shopkeeper]: ¡°J-Just a few epics and some for each rarity below it.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°How much¡­ exactly?¡±

    [Shopkeeper]: ¡°Th-Three, Ma¡¯am. Five for the rest.¡±

    Gave him what he wants plus an extra epic core. We changed into them in an empty alley, and I put the outfit that I¡¯ve borrowed tucked into my Inventory. Looking at Rosa, she looks like she has accustomed to her new outfit already.

    [Rosa]: ¡°I prefer to have less weight put on me, but this is nothing. I guess it¡¯s a pass.¡±

    Rolling my eyes. We head towards the gate.

    [Siola]: ¡°You haven¡¯t increased your Health points at all.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°I never have a need to.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Right.¡±

    We set out to Sonata Kingdom capital. Following the path I thread with Minty, we traced back uphill towards the forest above. There we see that black stygian ape again.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Oh, that thing. There seems to be a lot of them around this part.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah.¡±

    It caught on us.

    *Hogh-hoghogh*

    [Rosa]: ¡°Want me to handle it?¡±

    Clicking my tongue as the gorilla charged at us. I cast a sign, with both my index and middle fingers aimed towards the incoming attack. I can feel the energy on my fingertips.

    Mirroring with my other hand, I chop, ¡°Mindsplitter.¡±

    Unseen force shattered its head, blood leaks out of its eyes and ears as it falls rolling on the ground.

    ! {Level UP}

    [Rosa]: ¡°Hunh, so that¡¯s magic. It¡¯s like you put a little daemon on that thing and pops.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Daemon, huh. I guess it¡¯ll looks to be that way.¡±

    I guess from my perspective, Rosa has been living in a different world. Just like Rakuri and Kurira was to me when I started playing Ekolia.

    ! {You have made a sale}

    <ul>

    <li>$2500: Stygian Sting</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Hm? Someone just bought an item. $2500.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good. You can have a fulfilling meal for a day.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Her witty comment aside, it¡¯s good that I¡¯m not alone with my thoughts.

    It doesn¡¯t take long before we reach the broken gate. Which means, we¡¯re now inside the controlled area of Sonata.

    We continued our walk as I begin charging [Hex Flame]. Arcane particles gather around my hands, turning my fingernails black. Animated in fiery charred of a flame.

    [Siola]: ¡°Hrmm, if only I have a full glove instead of a fingerless one.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°It doesn¡¯t look too bad.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Anyway, who is this person who is will to fork out 50 million dollars for your items?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°You don¡¯t? Are you not worry that you might end up in a bit of a predicament?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°If it¡¯s a week ago, I might.¡±

    Rustling in the bushes, one by one, a man and a woman, three, four. 7 of them came out of them and starts looking down on us. Archers on the uphill, two behind us, three in front.

    [Man 1]: ¡°Ladies.¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Ayyy,¡± squatting, ¡°Looking a little fresh there.¡±

    [Woman 1]: ¡°You two need a lil helping hand?¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Wanna join our party? We got some open for you, if you would open something up for us.¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Kekekeke.¡±

    I¡¯m already not in a good mood, you ass.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Heheh, these clowns. Though I have never fight against anyone else here before. Can you show me how it¡¯s done, Siola?¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Hey sissy!¡± teleporting right in front of my face, ¡°We¡¯re talking to ya. Can¡¯t you show some respect?¡±

    My teeth clenched as I look at his punk ass in the eye.

    [Siola]: ¡°Find someone else, ***.¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Huh?¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Huhhhhhhhh?¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°What did you say you little piece of shit? You wanna die?!¡±

    ! {Pantheon Drive}

    Pushing him, his eyes widened and it opens wider as I deliver a blow to his gut with a kick.

    *BAM*

    ¡°Goghahk?!¡±

    Grabbing his wrist, I kick his side, shattering his ribs.

    [Man 1]: ¡°Houuuhngh?!¡±

    My fist clenched as I send an open hand uppercut his jaw, onto his brain. Grabbing the crevices of his head I split it in two. Blood splattered.

    [Woman 1]: ¡°Huh? Wh-What just¡ª¡±

    Lunges at her with my hand going through her eye. Puncturing her stomach as I opened her a hole to this fucking bitch.

    [Woman 1]: ¡°Ngaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!¡±

    [Man]: ¡°Hraaaaaaah!¡±

    Slapping a dildo (mace) on my head. Fear in his eye. I grabbed his neck.

    [Man 1]: Hiiiiiik?! N-No, please! Stop stop!¡±

    Pressing his head more and more until it turns pink. More and more, until I crushed it.

    The archer fell on his butt, ¡°Wh-Whaaat I¡¯m I¡¯m out of here!¡±

    ¡°Light Spear!¡±

    Blade of light punctured at the center of his head, he falls. Four left.

    ¡°Mind Splitter!¡±

    ¡°Goghgk?!

    ¡°Hex Pillar!¡±

    The black flame in my fingernails turn into a black magic circle, and summons a large pillar that burns two of the stunned bastards. Burning themin the cursed flame.

    ¡°Gyaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!¡±

    ¡°Heeeeeeeeeeeelp!¡±

    ¡°Heeeeeeeeeeeeelp meeeee!¡±

    ¡°Pleaseeee¡­ Stop iiiiiiiit!¡±

    Only one archer left. His legs trembling, quickly, he turns away and started running.

    ¡°Conjure Beast Spawn.¡±

    Dark white circle appeared and soon a portal opens, summoning a skeletal hound with red eyes. It chases after the man running as if there is no obstacle in its path.

    ¡°No, no! Noooooooooooooooooo!¡±

    My hearts beating so fast as I relish these kills. I wish I could do more, but I¡¯m satisfied.

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level 100 Milestone has been reached}

    ! {Innate Ability has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Potent Arcana (Passive) / Rank 1 / Arcane / Arcane-based Spells have increased 10% Potency. Increase Mana Regeneration by 0.5 per second</li>

    </ul>

 Chapter 59 - Season 2 - Transaction

    Exhaling, my heartrate stabilized.

    [Siola]: ¡®What, I don¡¯t faint if I don¡¯t use it for too long? Who would¡¯ve thought.¡¯

    ! {You have killed 7 Players}

    ! {Your soul has now been tagged}

    ~ {Restriction may apply to E--/r}

    ~ {Restriction may apply to E--/r}

    ~ {Restriction may apply to E--/r}

    ! {E--/r}

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s this?¡±

    ! {Unknown Patch detected}

    ! {Resolving issue¡­}

    ! {Resolving issue¡­}

    ! {E--/r}

    ! {Issues persisted}

    ! {Submitting ticket¡­}

    ! {Submitting ticket¡­}

    ! {E--/r}

    ! {Account has been tagged}

    [Siola]: ¡®Hmm¡­ a bug? Oh, well, as long as it doesn¡¯t impact my experience or anything, I¡¯m fine with it. Update is pretty new after all. If it even is a game.¡¯

    [Rosa]: ¡°Good work. I see you¡¯re still as visceral as ever. Reminds me of old time. Except, you actually have power now. Pure unfiltered power.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Just in this game¡­ It¡¯s a fantasy.¡±

    She continues to follow and we soon reached the gate of Sonata Kingdom¡¯s capital. It¡¯s vast and large, spanning across several different terrains in height. Many people are running around in the grass fields as carriages and horses travel by the dirt road.

    [Rosa]: ¡°My goodness, would you look at that. To think something like this exist, it¡¯s like a whole different world here.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Uhuh, it might just be.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°?¡±

    People keep giving us the look and we were stopped by the gate.

    [Guard] ¡°Hold, you are¡­ Travelers, are you not?¡±

    [Guard]: ¡°It is not that you are unwelcome, but clean yourself before entering. You can¡¯t be walking around with blood all over you.¡±

    [Guard]: ¡°Sena, you¡¯re up.¡±

    A woman, ginger, freckles, nervously approaching me as she has her palms aim towards me, ¡°A-Aqua Cleanse.¡±

    Water appears from the ground, drenching me completely as it washes away the blood around me. And then, wind blows, drying me up.

    [Guard]: ¡°Alright, you¡¯re good. But try to keep clean before you come here, okay? Next!¡±

    Glancing at the frightened woman as I passed by.

    [Siola]: ¡°Rosa. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s just me, but¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Do I have something on my face that make people so¡­ scared?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Hmm? Let me see.¡±

    Her face leaning so close.

    [Rosa]: ¡°No.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmm, I swear people seem a little frightened when I talk to them. From now on when we¡¯re talking to NPC, you will be the one talking.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Okay.¡±

    Unlike Ravenswood, the capital city is absolutely filled with Players. And as for the NPCs. From pedestrians who just going about their day, to merchants inside their stores, and of course, nobles passing by in a fancy carriage. This place is a lot.

    The pave road lead us to a small bridge where clean water flows. And just right before it is a building called Adventurers Guild.

    <ul>

    <li>[Luosa]: I¡¯m here, where you at.</li>

    <li>[BunnyLoop]: OHHH! There¡¯s a Player¡¯s restaurant on the other end, I¡¯m on second floor. Looking around for you right now.</li>

    </ul>

    Charging up my [Hex Flame], I look up and see a woman in torn black robe scanning the area until she saw me. Her eyes brightened. I wonder if she actually thinks I¡¯m the one selling. If so, she got quite lucky. Shouldn¡¯t be waving that hand when you haven¡¯t confirmed the other¡¯s identity. Otherwise, you¡¯d look like an idiot.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Siola, I¡¯ll be back with you in a moment.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Where you off to?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°I saw something interesting.¡±

    And she just left without me even agreeing to it. And so, I enter the premises on to the second floor and meet this buyer of my items. And just as I expected, she is not alone. A woman that is seemingly of a similar stature of a mature woman. Both of the buyer and her are of human race, spell casters too, surprisingly.

    ¡°BunnyLoop? My name¡¯s Siola, the one selling the sets.¡±

    She came to shake my hand, ¡°Ahh, your ign is Luosa, right? Since you mention the set, you must be the one then. Please, have a seat.¡±

    ¡°So, first we¡¯d like to um¡ª.¡±

    Before she even said, I took the item out of my inventory. Charred black and red. It is small, enough to fit in my palm.

    Gasping as their eyes peeled.

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°S-So that¡¯s the item.¡±

    [???]: ¡°And the set?¡±

    Glancing at her, I put the lock back in my inventory while their eyes locked on it. I have the trade open with the complete set, the weapon, the clothes, the footwraps. All it takes is a handshake.

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°M-Mom, it¡¯s¡­.¡±

    Her face grimaced.

    [???]: ¡°45 Million.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    What did she just say?

    [Siola]: ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    [???]: ¡°We¡¯ll buy them for 45 million.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    What a waste of time. I stood and head towards the door.

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°Wait, miss Siola! Please!¡±

    Looking back.

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°M-Mom, I thought we were¡ª!¡±

    Brows frowned. I can feel her sweat dripping.

    There¡¯s a lot of buyers who would pay good money, and a few for 45 million. But I could just go to them instead of one who tries to get back on a deal.

    [???]: ¡°50 million is a lot of money, dear. You don¡¯t even know if it would work out like the way you wanted. We can still go other ways to complete your raid.¡±

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s going to cost a lot too, and I won¡¯t get any stronger from it if you spent the money to hire those people.¡±

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°And besides, we could use the item for future raids, mom?¡±

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°Pleaseee¡­¡±

    Clenching her jaw, her attention returns to me, ¡°50 million, is it?¡±

    Rolling my eyes, I returned with my hand raised. She¡¯s hesitant still, but ended up shaking it.

    ! {$50.000.000 ¨C has been received. Pending Review}

    ~ {Item removed from Auction: Crypt Death Lock}

    [???]: ¡°Here, sweety.¡±

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°Oh my god, thank you, mom! Thank you!¡±

    [???]: ¡°Yes, yes,¡± sighing, ¡°What I wouldn¡¯t do for you¡­¡±

    [???]: ¡°You said your name is Siola? To sell a whole set of such item, I can¡¯t help but wonder if you still have more in your possession.¡±

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°What, really?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Miss BunnyLoop¡¯s mother¡ª.¡±

    [???]: ¡°Kagesti.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Madam Kagesti.¡±

    Pulling a dreaded tome out of my inventory. Their eyes peeled. Of course, they would, what I have here is the addon for the set that I just sold. Majestically glowing in blood red.

    [Kagesti]: ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°This here is Tome of the Mad Dead. This can conjure its minions as well as the boss monster in the Dread Black Dungeon.¡±

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°M-Mad Dead¡­ mom?¡±

    [Kagesti]: ¡°You,,, why didn¡¯t you sell it with the rest?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Weapons and outfit, that is a set. Tome on the other hand. There¡¯s no way I can give this away at 50 million, considering the fact that it also allows you to transform into Undeath.¡±

    [Kagesti]: ¡°Transform?!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°When I wouldn¡¯t even sell it at 50 million, of course, you won¡¯t be seeing it in a cash shop.¡±

    [Kagesti]: ¡°Then why did you show it to us?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°So that you can look forward to buying it.¡±

    Her daughter looking at her.

    [Kagesti]: ¡°No, Loopy, no.¡±

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°But, mom¡­¡±

    [Kagesti]: ¡°I said no.¡±

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°Aww.¡±

    Chuckles. Looking at them frantically panicking with fear of missing out. I suddenly remember what Rosa said to me before.

    (Spending that amount of money? One would want to establish a connection. In case of future benefits.)

    Invests in the future.

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, don¡¯t you worry. I simply couldn¡¯t sell it because I need to talk about it with my partner, but I¡¯ll reserve it for you if those things you¡¯ve got perform as you expected it to.¡±

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°What, really?! You¡¯re not lying, are you, miss Siola?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, I¡¯ll give you, my promise.¡±

    Her eyes gleamed in excitement.

    [BunnyLoop]: ¡°Thank you, thank you! Th-Then can I add you to my friends list?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°We could make contact through the store, but sure.¡±

    I walked away but my wrist was hold by the girl, ¡°Thank you. Really.¡±

    Tapping her hand, I walk out of there expecting Rosa to wait for me, but I don¡¯t see her around. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to continue without her, so I went to look around.

    But I can¡¯t find her, and now I¡¯m stuck sitting on this bench.

    [Siola]: ¡°Oh shit, I forgot that I can just¡­ message her.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Bitch, I¡¯m on a fucking bench by the side of the bridge. Come here!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°And sent.¡±

    Not long after that, she actually came.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Siola, look what I found.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Finally, you showed up.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hm, is that a¡­¡±

    A violin.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Remember how you made a beautiful piece for six days in a row? Grandfather was so awestruck that he brags about it to every one of his friends to no end.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Here, try it.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°It¡¯s been years, I¡¯ve lost touch of it.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Merely a few. Go on.¡±

    Glancing at it, I ended up taking it off her hand. It¡¯s somewhat bigger than what I used to. It¡¯s poorly made too. And yet, when I made a note.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Hmm, beautiful.¡±

    It¡¯s like it¡¯s never left me, my hands keep on going. The highs, the lows. The memory of my past coming back to me. A dance. Music.

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Play an instrument to a significant degree</li>

    </ul>

    ! {New Quest Received}

    <ul>

    <li>Music to My Ears / Uncommon / Be one with the sound / Requirement 1: Own an instrument / Requirement 2: Play an instrument to a significant degree / Reward: Class Change to Bard / Condition: None</li>

    </ul>

    The sound of notification brought me back. Memories of the faces of whom I¡¯ve lost. Rakuri and Kurira. I will never forget them.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Why did you stop?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°It¡¯s just not for me.¡±

    I gave it back to her.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Then, in that case. Would you like to hear one I¡¯ve made?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Which one?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Heheh, it¡¯s a new one. I¡¯ve been¡­ making it for years. Wondering if it can catch up to you.¡±

    Years?

    Holding it gently before gripping it firmly. A small lengthy start before a fast stroke. The sound it hums, its ferocity, yet gentle and windy. Under the bright sun as the wind passing me by. I can remember those notes, the songs it was inspired from. Mine.

    Stride fast and true. A very precise strike. Strong, witty, heart thumping sounds. Followed by a long-ended note, a fiery hand. Dynamically adjusting the tune as she left it hums. Echoes.

    Echoes of Life.

    ¡®You liar.¡¯

    Tears falling out of my eyes.

    Her hands majestically move, the hums, hitting all the right notes. There¡¯s no doubt about it. Her eyes, her smiles. The edges of my mouth tilted. I cannot believe it. For her to be cheating like this, but I have to admit. I don¡¯t want her to stop.

 Chapter 60 â€“ Season 2 â€“ Missive

    [Siola]: ¡°A bard?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Rogue suits you more than that mess of a class.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Whatever do you mean. I never had the option to choose this, and I want it.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what you want then who am I to keep you from it.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°I lost the one I have with the rogue, but I¡¯ve obtained this ability from the new class.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Melodic Empowerment / Rank 1 / Arcane-miracle / By the use of your instrument, bless your immediate party with a temporary boost to their physical condition, granting additional 25 Max Health, Max Mana, Max Stamina, and additional 10% to their Physical Defense and Magical Defense for 300 seconds / Cost: 5 Mana / Requirement: 5 Dexterity, 5 Agility, 1 Intelligence, 1 faith</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Hm, so you need two more levels to use it then.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get to it.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Wait, I think we shouldn¡¯t just be doing that with our time. Do you have any other plan aside from getting stronger?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmm, well, we¡¯ll want to have some money. There are good things I¡¯ve seen that I couldn¡¯t afford because all I have is items, and no golds.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Can¡¯t you turn money into golds?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°That¡¯d be a waste, no?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Is it?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Well, in that case, I¡¯ve seen some missives posted on that board.¡±

    I¡¯ve been thinking about just offloading everything we sell to a general store, but I guess doing some missions would be just fine.

    [Siola]: ¡°No, hold on.¡±

    I think it¡¯s because she¡¯s not really familiar with trading. But why doing missives is the first thing she thinks of when we¡¯re trying to make money?

    Whatever it is, we decided to check the board. Apparently, guards posted them there.

    {Quest}

    <ul>

    <li>Missing Pet / A somewhat big Moonshell Tortoise is missing [Show more] / Reward: 30.000 Golds / Requested By: HavenRift House, Dorothy</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmm¡­ these quests¡¯ rewards are too low for me.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°This one.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Manhunt ¨C Royal Decree / Your skills and courage are required to capture this criminal mastermind before more innocent lives are lost [Show more] / Reward: 1.000.000 Golds / Requested By: Guard Lysander, Royal Headquarters Entrance</li>

    </ul>

    [Siola]: ¡°Only one million? That¡¯s like $10.000, but I suppose it¡¯s a good enough.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Look, his face looks like he just went through a depression. Like you.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    An ex-baron called Jigi. Standing at 5¡¯ 6¡¯¡¯, assassin class, emaciated. Hunting for an assassin sounds like a bad idea. Not if you are one as well. I¡¯m a spellcaster, a mage, at least I used to be. But assassination is not about what one class uses. Sure, it can be useful in killing the target. But there are plenty of ways to kill a target. However, there¡¯s something odd about this.

    Steak and carrot on a platter served to me by Rosa as we are sitting in a restaurant.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Left side, yours. Up on the corner. See the orange one?¡±

    Glancing to her right side. Our guy is having a serious conversation with a merchant and another.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    [Siola]: ¡°You could simply fwoot, and be done with it, but cutting is not an option here.¡±

    Cutting through the steak.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Heheh, it feels like you¡¯ve done this so many times before.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmph.¡±

    Not talking about the steak, not talking about the whole assassination either. No, I¡¯ve been playing games long before my weird phase. Plus, Rakuri and Kurira always took me on their weird missions, I didn¡¯t know then that they weren¡¯t just a game fanatic.

    [Siola]: ¡°Eww.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Did they not even bother season it?¡±

    It took an hour to find the guy, and to think that he¡¯s not even bothered to hide. I have my assumption here.

    [Rosa]: ¡°I like an eel better.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Eel?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Mhm, though it¡¯s hard to prepare if you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, what it needs is a little poke to the head, and it won¡¯t be going anywhere.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Any teleportation ability is a possibility.

    Before the guy finishes his conversation with his friends, Rosa is already out. Keeping an eye on him throughout. In the marketplace, I finally got to see how she¡¯s doing it, and talk about surprise. I wouldn¡¯t even be able to tell where she is exactly without her telling me. Even with the clothes I gave her, it doesn¡¯t even matter when she¡¯s blending all too well with the crowd.

    But I can see the target well enough.

    <ul>

    <li>[Luosa]: 3 second when you read this</li>

    </ul>

    Upon seeing her looking into her mail, I quickly cast a sign with a chop, ¡°Mindsplitter.¡±

    She moves without even a shred of hesitation as the man receives the mental attack. It doesn¡¯t matter if he has any magical defense, he¡¯s gonna feel the damage as it bypasses it, and it doesn¡¯t matter whether or not he was stunned by it either. Unfortunately for him, he was.

    Taken him off the street. He¡¯s tied to a chair somewhere only Rosa and I know. Isolated from the outside world. She fetches the request and I¡¯m left with him alone.

    ¡°Guhk¡­ Hnngh¡­¡±

    *Pant *Pant

    ¡°Wh-Who are you people, no, who are you, why¡¯re you doing this?!¡±

    Showing him the picture quest, ¡°This you?¡±

    His eyes peeled, ¡°N-No, you got the wrong person. I¡¯m I¡¯m not a noble, I¡¯m just a farmer.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes. Wh-Why would I be here? I¡¯m not even hiding or anything. Please, don¡¯t kill me.¡±

    Holding his eyes. Slightly twitching but there¡¯s not even a nervous sweat.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Well? Wh-What¡¯re you waiting for? L-Let me out!¡±

    ¡°Are you saying I got the wrong person?¡±

    ¡°Yes! You are! Please. I have a family back home! I¡¯m not the one you think I am.¡±

    What an idiot. No, it makes sense for him to try that maneuver, but as a player, Rosa and I wouldn¡¯t even be able to get away unscathed when we attack an NPC here in a safe zone.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    His eyes gleamed.

    ¡°Well, since you know us now and what we¡¯re after. I have no choice but to kill you now.¡±

    ¡°H-Huh?¡±

    I stood.

    He grinded his teeth, ¡°Y-You fucker.¡±

    Quickly teleporting to the door, only to face plant to it before falling to the ground.

    My belly rumble as I snickered.

    ¡°Grrr.¡±

    ¡°Is it my bounty? You¡¯re planning to hand me over to the guards?! Then you¡¯re making a mistake!¡±

    ¡°And why is that?¡±

    ¡°Do you even know why I am?¡±

    Rolling my eyes, ¡°Just get to the point before I crush your brains out.¡±

    ¡°Look, I know what I''ve done isn''t exactly noble, but trust me when I say the kingdom''s the real problem here. And people I kill isn¡¯t really innocent either. I belong to Blue Raven, surely, you¡¯ve heard of it? We¡¯re trying to bring justice and peace to Sonata. To stop the war!¡±

    Leaning down on him, ¡°I need golds. The price on your head is 1 million, can you give me that?¡±

    ¡°O-One million?!¡± nervously laughing, ¡°I see, so the royal family¡¯s gone desperate, huh. They sent you here to capture me.¡±

    Not really, your face is just on the missive board.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have much money, but if you come to the¡ª.¡±

    Well, I¡¯ve heard enough of that. Sighing as I cast a sign.

    ¡°H-Hey, wh-what¡¯re you doing?¡±

    ¡°Conjure Beast Spawn.¡±

    Her eyes widened as a growling skeletal beast appeared from the dark magical circle in the ground. He looks at me in the eye. I don¡¯t take pleasure to this, but I want to guarantee my money.

    Soon, Rosa opened the door with a buffed tall dude walking in. His eyes peeled after witnessing the scene in this room. The target in question floating above his chair with no limbs. Several spheres of light surrounding him, healing him but they cannot restore his limbs that are now scattered on the ground, drenched in his blood.

    But the man is still conscious, he sees the man coming in.

    [Jigi]: ¡°Lysander.¡±

    [Lysander]: ¡°Ran out of luck, huh, Jigi.¡±

    I release my telekinesis and let him fall on his face against the chair. The sound it makes as he fell to the ground was nice.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Did you really have to do that, Siola?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, as it turns out, he got a teleportation ability. I didn¡¯t know whether it¡¯s an enchantment on his person or whether he has a spell for it.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Is it then?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Nope.¡±

    I show her his boots.

    <ul>

    <li>Boots of Shadow Steps / Light Armor / Epic / Physical Defense: 100 / Magical Defense: 145 / Enchantment: Increases Dexterity by 15. Has innate spell [Shadow Steps]. Allows the wearer to teleport to lightly obscured area at Will, 30-second cooldown / Requirement: 40 Dexterity, 20 Agility, 20 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    [Rosa]: ¡°Ohh, it all sounds wonderful.¡±

    The man, Lysander, grabbed the thief and put him in a sack alongside all of his limbs.

    [Lysander]: ¡°I take it that you two are Travelers?¡±

 Chapter 61 - Season 2 - Sonataâ€™s First Dungeon

    [Lysander]: ¡°I take it that you two are Travelers?¡±

    Travelers, what the people in this world commonly call us players.

    [Lysander]: ¡°Here¡¯s your reward.¡±

    With a single wave, he summons a chest with the use of his ring.

    <ul>

    <li>Royal Chest / Contains 1.000.000 Golds</li>

    </ul>

    Rosa hums as she collects half of it.

    [Lysander]: ¡°Say, miss Rosa, and by extension, your partner here. Would you like to do another job for us? I promise it pays just as well if not better.¡±

    Her eyes gleamed, but she looks at me for confirmation.

    [Siola]: ¡°No, we¡¯ve earned enough. Maybe next time.¡±

    [Lysander]: ¡°Hmm, is that so. Well in that case, on behalf of the kingdom, I thank you for your assistance in capturing this criminal.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°We¡¯re glad to help.¡±

    Sidestepping the blood on the floor,

    [Siola]: ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Rosa and I left the premise. Although the quest was a short one, we still spent hours that we could have used to leveling instead. As the sun is about to set, I¡¯m still scouring the forums as Rosa massages my shoulders. I never asked for it, but it¡¯s nice.

    [Siola]: ¡°I have a goal, Rosa, but I can¡¯t reach it yet.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°And you won¡¯t tell me?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No, but what I can tell you though is my plan to get to it. However, first¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I just want to say sorry about what I said before. How everything meant nothing, including your help. They do, but it¡¯s not as much for me.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Heheh, I have never needed your apology. You should never have a need to.¡±

    A little chuckle out of me.

    [Siola]: ¡°Our first order of business is climbing through the ranks. There¡¯s a lot of dungeons in this part of the region, so we don¡¯t need to go beyond Sonata¡¯s borders to look for them.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°So, you will take over the number one after all.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°That status is just a ranking in terms of level. It doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re the best.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°We will pass those rankers regardless, but what we actually need is powering up ourselves. Items, abilities, things that are more important in a fight. We will rack up achievements in the meanwhile, and then we may proceed to the major leagues. The championship where every best player in the world gathers, or maybe not.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Hmm, and what¡¯s the status of that Mona?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Surprisingly, she¡¯s in a good place at it too. Rank 8.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Hou, so, she really is not the best one after all.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Hmm, so what does it take for one to be the best player here?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Many things. Strategy, reflex, you¡¯ll fit right in, I promise. There¡¯s no need to be in a rush since the both of us have pretty much only just started.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Hm. You know plenty about this game. Guess I wouldn¡¯t have to worry.¡±

    Although I said we may go to the championship, does it even have any value to me? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to be facing the legends from past life.

    Rosa and I set out to our first dungeon but it¡¯s night time. Something one should always avoid to be in due to the Night Terrors. Similar to what Minty and I have encountered beneath the Dread Black dungeon. The spawns of the mad dead. The undead have those red eyes that increases their aggression and ferocity. But Night Terrors applies not just to the dead.

    Some big monsters won¡¯t have it, but small ones. They become ferocious. Not to mention, new ghastly creatures that roam around in the woods.

    [Rosa]: ¡°I see, so that¡¯s what those creatures are.¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    [Rosa]: ¡°No wonder they prove to be quite troublesome than their regular counterparts.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°But you can pummel them to their death, yes?¡±

    Shaking my head.

    [Siola]: ¡°What you¡¯ve seen before is called Pantheon Drive, it¡¯s something derived from Limit Break. What it does is giving you power, but once it¡¯s over, there¡¯s a massive setback.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Last time I used it, I grew half unconscious for almost an hour.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Sounds¡­ dangerous. How do you come across it?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I don¡¯t know. It happens when I was really ticked off, and I can¡¯t exactly explain it, but I can use that ability whenever I want ever since.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Heheh, I see. Well, I¡¯ll try to let loose when something angers me.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°You should. It¡¯s good to the mind.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°¡­¡±

    I see something in the distance. Small and there¡¯s multiple of them.

    [Siola]: ¡°Goblins, Rosa.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Let me. You¡¯re a bit rowdy.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, all yours.¡±

    Claws, a type of fist-weapon that is rarely used due to their range. People prefer daggers simply because they resemble the thing they often use, knives, or simply just other type of fist weapons, commonly gauntlets. But in the right hand, one can easily unlock the full potential of claws. And even in this environment where being hidden is involved. It still works wonders.

    Rosa pierces the goblin¡¯s mouth from the back and put it down to the grass. Even when she¡¯s right in front of them, she still hasn¡¯t been found.

    Decapitated, chopped, she makes quick work of the goblins.

    <ul>

    <li>[3x] Magic Core / Common / Contains the soul of a low ranked creature</li>

    <li>[5x] Goblin Ear / Common / Goblin body part</li>

    </ul>

    [Rosa]: ¡°Do they really have nothing valuable to offer?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, sometime they do have enchanted accessories, or so I¡¯ve heard at least.¡±

    Continuing our journey. There¡¯s a vine leading to a platform above where there is a tall ladder leading to another one above it.

    [Rosa]: ¡°It seems we¡¯re in the right place, sis.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Don¡¯t call me sis.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°What, you¡¯re still mad at me?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No, it¡¯s something else. But yes, that feeling will never left me. After everything that you did, I can never forgive you. Regardless whether that asshole is with you or not.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Heheh, something you can¡¯t say at the moment, yes? I¡¯ll be patient.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°We have all the time in the world, after all.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°?¡±

    Climbing the vines, climbing the tall ladder, and it¡¯s not as grippy as I expected.

    I fell.

    Feet crossed to the ladder. My wrist gripped tightly by two rough gloves.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Heheh, losing your edge, I see.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I¡¯ll be fine even if you dropped me down.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Heh.¡±

    Helping me get back to the ladder. I must say, her athletic agility has already surpassed mine. I guess that new body of hers is not just for looks.

    With some patient, we reached the summit. There we see a few people closing down shop and some entering a large gate to the dungeon.

    As we approach the gate.

    [Man]: ¡°Oi, the hell you two goin¡¯ huh?¡±

    Three large men blocked our path.

    [Man]: ¡°Never seen you here before. If you wanna enter, you either have to be in Heavenly God Sword guild or pay 25.000 Golds. Per person.¡±

    Looking up to the one in the middle, I lift my hand for a shake, ¡°Here.¡±

    [Man]: ¡°?¡±

    ! {50.000 Golds has been transferred}

    [Man]: ¡°Oh! Well, go on in then, lil ladies.¡±

    The path is cleared, and we entered the dungeon. It is called Magen Repath. A 5-floor dungeon that has yet to be conquered. The first floor has a small stream of lava, and there are thousands of mutated turtles in the area.

    {Magma-rock tortoise / Level 45}

    These things shoot lava out of their mouth, leaving trail of fire whenever they took a step, but they¡¯re slow. A perfect place for me and Rosa. Especially so with her reflexes.

    Easily competing against their gnawing attack, and won.

    <ul>

    <li>[1x] Magic Core / Uncommon / Contains the soul of a low ranked creature</li>

    <li>[1x] Staff of Magma / Heavy Weapon / Uncommon / Physical Attack: 10 / Magical Attack: 25 / Enchantment: Fire-based Spells have increased 25% Potency / Requirement: 3 Strength, 3 Endurance, 2 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    [Rosa]: ¡°I¡¯m surprised you wouldn¡¯t just kill those bastards when you could.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Just because I could, doesn¡¯t mean I should.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Is that right, well I¡¯ve obtained this. Think you can use it?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yes, but it is useless at the moment.¡±

    Rosa keeps on rampaging on those turtles. Her movement is so different than what I remember. She used to be less agile and couldn¡¯t even be compared to mine. But now, she¡¯s like an entirely different person.

    It almost feels like a good thing.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Yes! I did it, Siola. I can use that new ability given to me when I have the bard class!¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Oh?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, try it then.¡±

    She took out her violin and let her hand do its thing. Hums and gentle swing before it¡¯s pumping up full of adrenaline.

    ! {Melodic Empowerment}

    <ul>

    <li>Additional reserve to [Max Health], [Max Mana], [Max Stamina] has been added by 25 points</li>

    <li>Additional 10% increase to Physical Defense and Magical Defense</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    <ul>

    <li>Name: Luosa</li>

    <li>Level: 101</li>

    <li>Class: Psion</li>

    <li>Title: [Fire Wielder]</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Max Health 1: 12 [+6] | Max Health 2: 25 | Max Mana 1: 250 [+750] | Max Mana 2: 250 [+625] | Max Mana 3: 250 [+125] | Max Mana 4: 25 | Max Stamina 1: 44 [+22] | Max Stamina 2: 25</li>

    <li>Health: 43 | Mana: 2275 | Stamina: 91</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes (16)

    <ul>

    <li>Strength: --- / Dexterity: --- / Endurance: ---</li>

    <li>Vitality: 10 / Agility: ---</li>

    <li>Intelligence: 50 / Faith: 20 / Luck: 5</li>

    </ul>

    Combat

    <ul>

    <li>Physical Attack: 3 / Physical Defense: 25 [+2.5]</li>

    <li>Magical Attack: --- / Magical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Health Regeneration: 0.001 / Mana Regeneration: 0.7 / Stamina Regeneration: 0.1</li>

    </ul>

    Active Effect

    <ul>

    <li>Pulsar Nebula Diadem: The wearer can no longer be healed. Health Regeneration is increased by 0.375 per second. Upon death, shield the wearer in a cocoon of arcane, restoring all primary attributes, 86.400-second cooldown.</li>

    <li>Melodic Empowerment: Additional reserve to [Max Health], [Max Mana], [Max Stamina] has been added by 25 points. Additional 10% increase to Physical Defense and Magical Defense</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

 Chapter 62 â€“ Season 2 â€“ Further Into the Dungeon

    The tune she plays, lit my eyes on fire. My fist clenches as my heart racing. I cast a sign, ¡°Conjure Beast Spawn.¡±

    And then another, ¡°Conjure Spawn.¡±

    One skeleton and one skeletal beast. Together, they take care of the left side of the enemies as I give a nod to Rosa to take care of the right side while I march on ward with a Sign. I cast, ¡°Psionic Shockwave.¡±

    A blast of wind pushes towards a dozen of Magma-rock Tortoise, killing them. I charged up my [Hex Flame] but instead of using Hex Spells, I decided to cast, ¡°Light Spear.¡±

    Slicing forth the many turtles trying gnaw their long neck at me. Heads were cutoff, punctured, and stabbed.

    ¡°Light Spear!¡±

    It appears once again, it only last ten seconds, but at the last minute, I throw it but this time, without Pantheon Drive. And as expected, it¡¯s not enough to pierce it. But the damage it dealt was able to kill it. But then, I see a lava bolt coming at me.

    ¡°Wall of Stone!¡±

    A barricade conjured to block it.

    ¡°Mind Splitter.¡±

    The turtle went limb after a slight snap to its brain.

    I went to see how Rosa is doing, and there isn¡¯t even a need for me to worry. Corpses upon corpses of those turtles were left in her wake. As for the skeletons, they¡¯re no longer around.

    I cast a Sign, ¡°Conjure Beast Spawn.¡±

    And another, ¡°Conjure Spawn.¡±

    We continue our march, rapidly gaining levels and exp. Though, we do try to stay away from other people¡¯s hunting ground. Not like they are going to pose any problem to us, and considering these turtles will continue to spawn endlessly too.

    ¡°Psionic Shockwave!¡±

    Another dozens of turtles died with just a swing of my hand.

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Defeat 100 enemies of at least level 10 with less than 10 Spell Cast of the same Spell: 133/100, 9/10</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Magi Mastery (Passive) / Level 3 / Increases all spells Potency by 30%</li>

    </ul>

    Rosa came up to me after she finishes her portion.

    ¡®That said, we¡¯re quite efficient in this farm.¡¯

    [???]: ¡°Excuse me.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hm?¡±

    Three people with quite a flashy gear. One seems to be a warrior, a rogue and a mage.

    [Rogue]: ¡°We saw you two kill those things no problem and we were wondering if you guys are farming here too. What if we¡¯re like join up?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No thanks.¡±

    [Rogue]: ¡°Woah woah, wait, wait? Wh-Why though? I mean all of us are level 200 here, and uhh, I think we could help each other out.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°We don¡¯t need help. Sorry but we¡¯re a party of two.¡±

    [Warrior]: ¡°Oi, he¡¯s asking you kindly. Just because you can kill a few turtles doesn¡¯t mean you can be a jerk.¡±

    Oh my god, here when I started enjoying myself, this shit happens. Rolling my eyes, I ignored them and proceed to the next floor.

    [Warrior]: ¡°Oi, where you going?!¡±

    [Mage]: ¡°You fucking bitch, listen to what he says! Pyro Bl¡ª.¡±

    ! {Pantheon Drive}

    Her mouth shut by a meter long spear of light impaling her.

    [Mage]: ¡°Gohogk?!¡±

    [Rogue]: ¡°Liara?¡±

    Her eyes rolled to the back before she falls.

    [Warrior]: ¡°You fucker!¡±

    [Rogue]: ¡°Hubin, wait!¡±

    I cast a Sign, ¡°Conjure Beast Spawn.¡±

    ¡°Conjure Spawn.¡±

    Their eyes widened as they bear witness to the red-eyed skeleton and its beast.

    Glancing at Rosa, she doesn¡¯t seem to be bothered by it, and is already waiting on me. And so, we proceed to the next floor.

    ¡°Graaaaaaaaaaaaagh?!¡±

    ¡°H-Hubin!¡±

    ¡°Help!¡±

    ¡°Heeeeeeeeeeelp meeeeeeee!¡±

    In the second floor. Things took a different turn as we no longer be fighting one type of enemy in the area. In additional to the large turtles, there are now snake and fish too.

    {Magma-scaled Python / Level 60}

    {Magmaskipper / Level 50}You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    [Rosa]: ¡°I don¡¯t think I will be able to deal with those things. My blade will melt and I wouldn¡¯t be able to pierce those scales.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Stick to the turtles.¡±

    While I could use more [Psionic Shockwave], I think it would be best for me to use my [Telekinesis] instead.

    [Rosa]: ¡°A moment, Siola.¡±

    She played another tune to hype me up.

    ! {Melodic Empowerment}

    As the fishes took notice of us, with [Telekinesis], I push them back.

    [Siola]: ¡°Hnngh?!¡±

    A sudden sting in my head.

    ¡°Siola?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    I guess it¡¯s a little straining to do [Telekinesis] when I have to deal with a lot of them at once. But then, that push actually gave me quite an idea.

    Running around, catching the aggression of these creatures. The snake especially is a problem as they can quickly catches up to me. But with [Telekinesis], I round them out quite nicely as I keep getting a nasty headache, much harder than the first time I use [Limit Break].

    About 40, 50 of these magma creatures combined. Chasing me as I round them up periodically while increasing their numbers.

    80, 100, 125.

    It¡¯s getting a lot harder for me to maintain distance especially while dodging their attacks.

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Avoid enemies attack 500 times: 503/500</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been obtained}

    <ul>

    <li>Nimble (Passive) / Level 1 / Increases strafing speed by 10%</li>

    </ul>

    Bure more, I need more.

    180, 210, 230.

    Rosa sitting on a dead turtle¡¯s shell, watching me.

    With that, it would really be embarrassing if I were to fail. When there¡¯s about 250 of those snakes and fishes combined, I turned around and grasp my hand. With [Telekinesis], I brought them all to the epicenter. And there I felt a stinging pain, unlike any other.

    My eyes twitched, but it¡¯s not enough to stop me.

    The black flame at the tip of my fingers, I cast, ¡°Hex Pillars!¡±

    Three 1-meter pillars of silver black flame rose to the ceiling. Burning everything in that radius, dealing 1350 damage however long they stay in it. The fire themselves doesn¡¯t deal damage, but the curse it inflicts, that¡¯s where the damage truly lies.

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Defeat 100 enemies of at least level 50 with less than 10 Spell Cast of the same Spell: 258/100, 1/10</li>

    <li>Defeat 100 enemies of at least level 50 with a single Spell: 258/100</li>

    <li>Defeat 100 enemies of at least level 10 with a single Fire-based Spell: 258/100</li>

    <li>Defeat 250 enemies of at least level 50 with a single Fire-based Spell: 258/250</li>

    <li>Defeat 100 Fire-type enemies with Fire-based Spells: 258/100</li>

    <li>Defeat 250 Fire-type enemies of at least level 50 with Fire-based Spells: 258/250</li>

    <li>Defeat 100 Fire-type enemies of at least level 50 with a single Fire-based Spell: 258/100</li>

    <li>Defeat 250 Fire-type enemies of at least level 50 with a single Fire-based Spell: 258/250</li>

    <li>Defeat 250 enemies with Psychomancy: 411/250</li>

    <li>Defeat 250 enemies of at least level 50 with Psychomancy: 258/250</li>

    <li>Reaches Max Level with Magi Mastery</li>

    <li>Proper Psychomancy Utilization: 424%</li>

    </ul>

    ! {New Skill has been obtained}

    <ul>

    <li>Psychic Mastery (Passive) / Level 1 / Increases Psychomancy-based spells Potency and Range by 10%, and reduced Cost by 10%</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Skill has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Magi Mastery (Passive) / Level 5 (Max) / Increases all spells Potency by 80%</li>

    <li>Pyro Mastery (Passive) / Level 8 / Increases Fire-type spells Potency by 120%</li>

    <li>Psychic Mastery (Passive) / Level 3 / Increases Psychomancy-based spells Potency and Range by 50%, and reduced Cost by 25%</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Innate Ability has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Mana Recharge / Rank 3 / Arcane / Cast and hold to gather the surrounding arcane and converts them into usable Mana by 1 per second / Cost: None / Requirement: 8 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Mana Pool (Passive) / Rank 2 / Arcane / Intelligence value now contribute 5% per point of Intelligence to Max Mana. Create an additional Mana reserve</li>

    <li>Telekinesis / Rank 5 / Take control of Arcane Particles in the surrounding area / Costs: 60 per second / Requirement: 8 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Potent Mind (Passive) / Level 6 / Increases Resistance against mind-attack magic by 75%. Increases all spells Potency by 50%. Create an additional Mana reserve</li>

    <li>Potent Arcana (Passive) / Rank 2 / Arcane / Arcane-based Spells have increased 25% Potency. Increase Mana Regeneration by 1 per second</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Ohhhh yesssssssss!¡±

    I didn¡¯t expect that it actually got me screaming in joy.

    All these increases are crazy. And thanks to that, more and more magma creatures fall victim to my [Psionic Shockwave] as I cleared the path to the third floor.

    Rosa catches up to me.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Fine work, Siola. All those experience points, to think I would get stronger simply by watching your rampage.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, we¡¯re not stopping here. Look forward to more levels rising up.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°You sure you don¡¯t need rest?

    [Siola]: ¡°Sure I do, but not now.¡±

    On the third floor, the environment becomes much hotter than before. One where we can directly feel impacting our body.

    [Rosa]: ¡°At this temperature, I think it¡¯s safe to say that we are ill prepared for this floor.¡±

    However, there is another problem that also poses a challenge. This place doesn¡¯t have those smaller creatures but instead, medium to large creatures exist. Hard scales, eyes that can rotate in every direction. These creatures stick to the walls while the other camouflaged as a boulder.

    {Magma-rock Tokay / Level 90}

    {Magma-rock Chameleon / Level 90}

    The walls are literally covered in Tokay while you can¡¯t go further without bumping to a boulder that is the chameleon.

    [Siola]: ¡°Stay close.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Need me to do another one of that tunes?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No need. That¡¯ll attract their attention.¡¯

    There¡¯s probably a thousand Tokay in the walls alone, much more so in the ceiling. I was also expecting to see another player, but ever since the first floor, we haven¡¯t found any.

    Upon reaching two boulders, I cast a sign, ¡°Psionic Shockwave.¡±

    It hits the mind of those two. I expected them to fall after revealing their disguise, but then their eyes opened and soon retracted themselves.

    ¡®Not enough?¡¯

    I cast a sign and chopped, ¡°Mind Splitter.¡±

    Consecutively using twice, and that¡¯s when they fall.

    *Brmmm*

    [Siola]: ¡°Goodness me. Looks like you¡¯re about to see me being silly, Rosa.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Oh?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mana Recharge.¡±

    Restoring my MP back to full, patiently waiting.

    [Rosa]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Is this the silly thing you mentioned.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Shush! But no.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Waiting, patiently.

    Back when I was with Minty, I was fine with it, but now that I¡¯m with someone who actually knows me. I can¡¯t help but blush about what I¡¯m going to do. Taking this time for my MP to recharge, so that I can prepare myself mentally.

    I take a deep breath, and started chopping, ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Spliiter.¡±

    The silence hurt but I had to keep going for the both of us. These creatures surprisingly give an enormously large Exp, and using this method, it¡¯s the fastest and safest way to kill them.

    Because of the increases I¡¯ve got, [Mind Splitter] is my second highest damage dealing spell I¡¯ve got, and it¡¯s insane how I got this number and I¡¯m not even using a weapon yet.

    Original:

    <ul>

    <li>Mind Splitter / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Psychomancy / Cast Sign to inflict mental attack that disrupt the target¡¯s thought, dealing 200 damage. Has 20% chance to cause a stun / Cost: 120 Mana / Requirement: 30 Intelligence, Psion Class</li>

    </ul>

    Adding 50 Intelligence and Psychic Mastery, then a double back-to-back modifier with Magi Mastery and Potent Mind. It resulted in this

    <ul>

    <li>Mind Splitter / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Psychomancy / Cast Sign to inflict mental attack that disrupt the target¡¯s thought, dealing 1485 Has 20% chance to cause a stun / Cost: 90 Mana / Requirement: 30 Intelligence, Psion Class</li>

    </ul>

    And then, with Rapid Spell Casting, reducing by 80%, the cost after the initial cast is only 18 Mana at every cast. And considering my massive multi reserve Mana.

    I have just made a wonderful memory so beautiful that I physically am crying right now, this is the kind of memory that I will not forget whenever I asleep.

    Wish I never made it¡­

 Chapter 63 - Season 2 - Boss Encounter

    Morning came around in the real world, but rather than spending my time under the sun, I spend it being torched by a boiling lava in Ekolia.

    [Siola]: ¡°Good lord, it¡¯s so hot.¡±

    Looking around, I don¡¯t see Rosa anywhere. I¡¯ve obtained a lot of items from killing all those Tokay and Chameleon but I don¡¯t see anything of interest beside these two.

    <ul>

    <li>Magma Ring / Rare / Increases Fire Resistance by 50%. Has innate spell [Magma Blast], shoot a lava-filled magma through the palm of the wearer, dealing initial 10 physical damage followed by 90 damage blast in 1-meter radius, with 12-second cooldown / Cost: 90 Mana / Requirement: 30 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Lava Ring / Rare / Increases Fire Resistance by 50%. Has innate spell [Lava Blast], shoot a pure lava through the palm of the wearer, dealing 10 fire damage followed by 90 damage blast in 1-meter radius, with 12-second cooldown / Cost: 90 Mana / Requirement: 30 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    Funny that even wearing the both of them, I can still feel the heat. And that is because the increase is not actually additive to the other but rather is calculated afterwards. One is flat increase, the other is additive. I wish they would state it clearly which one is which.

    ¡°One thing though, why are these things dead?¡±

    The Tokay and Chameleon should¡¯ve respawned long before I login, but these wounds are not from my doing. Only way to find out is going to the fourth floor of which I found someone donned in a magma-themed light armor from head to toe.

    ¡°You¡¯re here, Siola.¡±

    ¡°Rosa?¡±

    ¡°Heheh, I had the chance to scout ahead, but then I figured, I cannot proceed pass this one without you.¡±

    On the fourth floor, the ratio between ground and lava turned exponentially. Now, there¡¯s truly is a lava pool with bridges connecting to small islands until the fifth floor on the other side. But the threats don¡¯t stop there. Drakes scattered around the place, and I can see something is swimming inside the lava.

    {Magma Drake / Level 125}

    Clenching my fist as I take my steps, ¡°I see you¡¯ve been busy.¡±

    ¡°Heheheh.¡±

    I cast a sign, ¡°Conjure Beast Spawn.¡±

    ¡°Conjure Spawn.¡±

    Me and her, and these two, dashes onward as those things take notice of us. My palm opens for [Telekinesis] to pull those things further away and gathering them in place.

    ¡°Psionic Shockwave.¡±

    It merely jolted them, but that¡¯s not the end of my casts.

    ¡°Psionic Shockwave.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Can I leave them to you?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Oh, I can clean them up for you.¡±

    When I got that confirmed, my shoulders feel a lot lighter.

    The both of us breeze through the flaming hot lava as the skeletal monster¡¯s struggle to fight against multiple drakes. But they provide good enough cover for Rosa.

    With [Telekinesis] at my disposal, I keeps on crumpling those drakes in one place before spamming [Psionic Shockwave] at them. Done a lot to lower their health, enough for Rosa to kill them. Saving me another cast or two for the next one.

    *BWwwwwwwoooooooooooooorgh*

    My eyes peeled at the sight a massive dragon suddenly emerging from the lava. Its skin¡ª no, its rigid hard scales is full of running magma. It has no wings, but the sheer size of that thing is unbelievable. I¡¯m almost literally looking at the ceiling as that thing towering over me.

    ! {Boss Encounter}

    ~ {Magma Dragon / Level 250 / Max Health: 1000 [+1000]}

    Its mouth radiating in heat as the glows. My eyes peeled the moment it opens its mouth.

    *Bwoooooooooooooooooooooosh*

    Smoking hot, flames exhume as I landed on a small island. My Pantheon Drive saved me in time but that was too sudden.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°Two thousand health?¡±

    I cast a sign and chopped, ¡°Mind Splitter.¡±

    It only staggers the dragon as it shifts its head at me.

    ¡°Mind Splitter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Splitter.¡±

    ¡°Mind Splitter.¡±

    Its head twitch.

    *ROAAAAAAAAAAAAR*

    The ground quakes as the ceiling falling down.

    It can never be that simple. Even if my spell deals 75% of its health, doesn¡¯t mean that it will take two cast to kill it. There¡¯s resistance and magical defense to consider.

    If that thing¡¯s magical defense is one thousand, that means my spell just now only dealt 485 damage if it wasn¡¯t bypassing it, but it also hasn¡¯t factor in the fact that dragons do in fact, has mental-attack resistance and sometimes even an immunity.

    ¡°This is why my class sucks!¡±

    But I have a backup, at the tip of my fingers, that spell has charged up. I cast, ¡°Hex Pillars!¡±

    It looks down below and soon its face are engulfed in a silver black flame.

    *ROAR*

    It extinguishes my fire just by a roar, but the unique thing about the Hex, is that the flame is not really the point, but rather its curses.

    Scratching its body as it submerges itself into the lava and come back up spewing massive fireball. I run towards the bridge and as the small island explode, I jump over to another island.

    ¡°Fuck!¡±

    That thing submerged again into the lava.

    My eyes peeled, behind me, a tail swiped. I stretched my legs away as I ducked.

    *Bwoosh*

    The magma on its skin is once again glowing up, my eyes peeled as it opens its mouth but then a violent sound cracks its momentum as it opens its mouth and blast the ceiling on my far left.

    It¡¯s Rosa, from the other bridge.

    She plays her violin violently continuously as she ran further ahead. Eventually, she caught its aggression and submerged into the lava.

    I can tell what it¡¯s about to do so I stood up and run to the other platform while charging up [Hex Flame]. Quickly, I try to catch up to Rosa¡¯s pace as I see the rigid spike of the dragon¡¯s body slowly coming to Rosa.

    As it emerged, my eyes peeled as I grasped the air around the dragon and pull everything with all my might using [Telekinesis].

    *ROAR*

    ! {Pantheon Drive}

    As my hair went up, my vision brightened.

    ¡°Hex Pillars!¡±

    *Bwoooooooooosh*

    *Roooooooooooooooooar*

    It got out of the silver black flame¡¯s range and submerged once again into the lava. Using any spells with Pantheon Drive attack deals massively more damage, but¡­

    That thing is still alive.

    ¡°How the fuck?!¡±

    And that¡¯s when I¡¯m certain of it. That things¡¯ defense and resistance is insanely high. However, I can see visible injury from that.

    It submerged and I began charging up another [Hex Flame].

    Rosa stops on a platform and began to use her instrument more violently in a highly distracting¡­ almost destructive tone. Splitting and cutting the lava just by its sound.

    The dragon emerged.

    *ROAR*

    The magma on its body is once again began glowing up, but the rhythm sounds and look different this time, and when I see it not facing either of us, that can only mean one thing.

    With my [Telekinesis], I grabbed Rosa and pushes her all the way to the other side when¡ª.

    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    It was bright and instant.

    ¡°SIOLA!¡±

    Burnt smell, I clenched my jaw as I see that I¡¯m trapped in a translucent cocoon. My hands are left to its skeleton form, but inside here, I can feel warm energy and it¡¯s healing me. Regenerating my flesh, my skin, and everything.

    ! {Nebula Revival}

    The gift from the Black Old King. I take my old black nun outfit and got out of the cocoon. Seeing the large dragon in smoke. It¡¯s still fucking alive.

    Half of its body is lighting in lava, but the top half is not.

    ¡®Don¡¯t tell me.¡¯

    ¡®The lava is healing it?!¡¯

    ! {Pantheon Drive}

    Grabbing the air, and gripping what¡¯s coming out of it, ¡°Light Spear.¡±

    As hard as I could, I threw the spear straight at his head, puncturing it as it shatters its defenses. Stunning it as it falls.

    I charged [Hex Flame] as hard as I could and once again, ¡°Hex Pillars!¡±

    Three pillars of flame engulf the dragon once more. Dealing insurmountable amount of damage until I hear it¡­

    ! {Congratulations, you have defeated a Legendary Dragon. The first to have been slain}

    ! {Your name and contributing party will be listed in the Hall of Fame}

    <ul>

    <li>Luosa: 68% Damage</li>

    <li>Rosa: 32% Damage</li>

    </ul>

    ! {New Titles has been granted}

    <ul>

    <li>Indomitable / One who overcome a great challenge against a mighty foe / Effect: Gain Invincibility for 5 second when health drops below 25%. Immune from being staggered and have 50% resistance from being stunned</li>

    <li>Dragon Lord Scourge / One who have slain Legendary Magma Dragon / Effect: Gain immunity against fire. All Fire-based abilities has increased Potency and Range by 80%</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Siola! Are you alright?!¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡±

    The bridge is destroyed, but I try to use [Telekinesis] on myself. Although it¡¯s hard to control, I can hover to the other side while staring at lava which definitely does not scare me at all.

    I landed safely.

    ¡°My goodness, you¡­ you¡¯re really fine?¡±

    ¡°Mm. Well, that was not my first time, so¡­¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    ¡°You did well, Rosa. I didn¡¯t expect you to be dealing that much damage from a few attacks. You could¡¯ve probably killed that thing by yourself.¡±

    Chuckles, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t try that. And thankfully I didn¡¯t.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>[1x] Magic Core / Legendary / Contains the soul of a high ranked creature</li>

    <li>[1x] Magma Dragon Greatsword / Heavy Weapon / Legendary / Physical Attack: 300 / Magical Attack: 800 / Enchantment: Attack with this weapon deals additional 50% fire damage. Can sacrifice 300 Mana to coat the weapon in lava, dealing additional 30% fire damage and buildup burn overtime / Requirement: 50 Strength, 30 Endurance, 80 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Magma Dragon Orb / Light Weapon / Legendary / Physical Attack: 0 / Magical Attack: 1150 / Enchantment: All Earth-based and Fire-based Spells have increased 100% Potency, Duration, and Range. Has innate spell [Volcanic Explosion], charges up an incredibly condensed Mana at Will, creating high pressure magma that explode upon Cast / Cost: 1000 Mana / Requirement: 175 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Magma Dragon Collar / Legendary / Increases Intelligence by 50. Obtain [Dragon Skin], increases Physical Defense by 500 + 100% and Magical Defense by 250 + 50%. Has innate spell [Condensed Magma Solar Breath], charges up an incredibly condensed Mana in the surrounding at Will, creating high pressure magma that shoots into a solar beam, 30-second cooldown / Requirement: 175 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

 Chapter 64 - Season 2 - View of the Capital

    [Rosa]: ¡°I literally saw you charred to the bones, how are you even alive still?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, it¡¯s thanks to this circlet. Dying would mean you would be teleported back to a safe zone with a heavy penalty to your stats.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°You¡¯ve died before?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Unfortunately, not in this game.

    To the fifth floor we go. This place is quite different than the other, and the fact that it is the center of the dungeon and where the lava came from.

    I¡¯m not expecting another empty place, and I was right.

    There is a massive orb at the epicenter of the lava and it is unreachable by normal means. I could use [Telekinesis] again, but there¡¯s no point to it.

    Inside that orb is a feathered winged creature doused in flame.

    {Cinderlight Phoenix / Level 1500}

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re not beating that¡­ right?¡±

    ¡°Mm. There¡¯s no way we can.¡±

    The creature is an Ascended ranked monster. It¡¯s a step beyond Ancient and just before Transcendental rank. But oddly, no matter how far we walk around the place, it hasn¡¯t woken up.

    ¡°Siola, there¡¯s a chest over here.¡±

    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t open it!¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±

    ¡°Phew.¡±

    That¡¯s a classic trap. Although there might not be a trap, the boss might just wake up when we opened it. Happens too many times for me.

    [Siola]: ¡°I think we¡¯re done, here. Let¡¯s just leave.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°You sure?¡±

    [???]: ¡°Halt.¡±

    Our eyes peeled. As we look behind us, the phoenix is still inside the orb. But upon looking up, a powerful energy gathers in the air, and a woman in a dazzling flame appears.

    Her hair styled magnanimously just by her shoulders, her slender yet voluptuous figure sways as she descends from above. She dons an outfit, a dress, that encapsulate the size of her bosoms. A V-cut with a naked back. Her fiery eyes opened.

    {Cinderlight Vessel, Inferna / Level 480}

    She approaches us, ¡°I sensed another presence of a vessel, but it seems I was mistaken.¡±

    Looking at me in the eye.

    ¡°To think you have slain our guardian, but it matters not, for it shall revive once again through his blessing, the Hellblade.¡±

    I noticed something inside her hair, ears.

    ¡°You¡¯re an Elf?¡±

    ¡°Hou, so you have noticed. Indeed, I am.¡±

    ! {Pantheon Drive}

    Casting a Sign as I chop, ¡°Mind Splitter.¡±

    A stinging pain in her head, ¡°Gahangh?!¡±

    [Inferna]: ¡°Wh-What¡¯re you¡ª¡±

    My [Hex Flame] charged up.

    [Siola]: ¡°Hex Pillars.¡±

    Her eyes widened at the sight of silver black flame erupting from the ground, engulfing her entire body in its cursed energy.

    [Inferna]: ¡°Ngaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!¡±

    [Inferna]: ¡°Y-You vile beings!¡±

    Rosa dashes past me. As the elf takes to the sky, she violently plays a screeching tune that creates a soundwave that split the air and damages the elf.

    [Inferna]: ¡°Ngahhh?!¡±

    It falls, Rosa quickly takes a new weapon I¡¯ve never seen. A sword with a scale similar to that of the Chameleon we fought before.

    She stabbed the elf¡¯s chest as she falls upside down and create a massive cut in her stomach.

    *Thump*

    Grabbing the elf¡¯s by the hair as she lifts it upwards.

    [Inferna]: ¡°Hnnngh, wh-why¡­ why did you do this?¡±

    Suddenly, a piece of memory from my past life. Ludwig, asking me why I¡¯m killing him before he turns into dust. My eyes opened to the current reality.

    [Siola]: ¡°Why did you stop us from leaving?¡±

    [Inferna]: ¡°Nothing! I just¡­ I just wanted to talk¡­ Please¡­ kill me if you must, but don¡¯t touch my lord. She¡¯s very close to her reincarnation.¡±

    [Inferna]: ¡°And I guarantee you¡­ y-you will benefit from her uprising.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°How long will that be?¡±

    [Inferna]: ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s very close¡­ I can feel it¡­ please¡­¡±

    Reincarnation.

    Looking at her, I wonder if she knows something about that topic. I¡¯m sure she is. I might be able to kill the phoenix since her vessel can pretty much die with one more attack, but maybe this time, it is more beneficial for me if I were to let this one go, after all.

    I never had a choice then.

    [Siola]: ¡°Then I hope we can meet again when she¡¯s awake. Let¡¯s go, Rosa.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°What, we¡¯re not killing her?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No.¡±

    Rosa loosened her grip and walk over her.

    [Inferna]: ¡°Nnnngh, th-thank you.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Goodness, Siola. Why did you suddenly attack for no reason then?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Nothing good comes from elves, especially the pretty ones.¡±

    [Inferna]: ¡°Wait!¡±

    Rolling my eyes as I turned back, my [Hex Flame] charging up.

    [Inferna]: ¡°I-I can teleport you two back to the entrance. But first, please, would you be so kind to assist me with a task for my lord?¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Her stomach regenerating but her skin is still burning from the spell I cast.

    [Inferna]: ¡°No wonder you managed to defeat our guardian. This is quite a¡­ terrifying magic.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Inferna, it¡¯s what you called, right?¡±

    [Inferna]: ¡°Yes, feel free to call me so.¡±

    [Inferna]: ¡°I require you to bring me an item called [Everlasting Flame]. An outer world dragon has stolen it from us. Last time we saw it. It was headed to a place called The Witch Mountain Path.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°A dragon? What kind?¡±

    [Inferna]: ¡°Almost as large as our guardian, but it doused in purple flame. It¡¯s also a winged one.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmm. I won¡¯t guarantee it, but I¡¯ll keep it in mind.¡±

    [Inferna]: ¡°Thank you.¡±

    The moment she raised her palm, none of us twitched, but I can feel Rosa¡¯s piercing gaze to her every movement.

    [Inferna]: ¡°Siola and Rosa, I hope for your return.¡±

    ! {Congratulation, you have conquered Magen Repath}

    ! {Your name and contributing party will be listed in the Hall of Fame}

    <ul>

    <li>Luosa & Rosa</li>

    </ul>

    Our bodies enveloped by a fiery shining light. Soon, when we opened our eyes. We¡¯re greeted by the breeze of the wind, and the sun in the sky above.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Goodness, we¡¯ve been in there for too long.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No kidding. I forgot that I have my own method of teleportation so we never needed her actually.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°It¡¯s good to conserve resources though.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I guess.¡±

    [???] ¡°That¡¯s them!¡±

    A couple of people gathers, including some faces we¡¯ve seen previously.

    [Warrior]: ¡°They¡¯re the one who PK-ed us!¡±

    [Man]: ¡°Out of the way!¡±

    A bulky man, the one we who asks us for a fee to enter the dungeon.

    [Man]: ¡°You there. We got a weird notification here, telling us that someone just conquered this dungeon. Don¡¯t happen to be the two of you, right?¡±

    [Mage]: ¡°Huh?¡±

    [Warrior]: ¡°What, what did you say?¡±

    [Rogue]: ¡°They¡­ conquered the dungeon?¡±

    [Warrior]: ¡°Just the two of them?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°And what if we are?¡±

    The man narrowed his eyes down, ¡°Well, first. This dungeon is our guild¡¯s property. It¡¯s fine for you to grind and get the drops or whatever, but any treasures within it must be handed over.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Man]: ¡°Just give us the loot, little ladies. We don¡¯t wanna any trouble.¡±

    [Man]: ¡°Surely you know what it means to go against the Heavenly God Sword, right?¡±

    Raising my hand towards him.

    [Man]: ¡°Heheh. Good, I know you¡¯re the sensible type. One who knows your place.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hex Pillars.¡±

    Their eyes peeled a moment before three 1-meter pillars flame burns 5 of them in its fire.

    ¡°Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!¡±

    ¡°Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!¡±

    Screams of agony.

    ¡°Ngooooooooohhhhhhh! Wh-Whaaaaaaaaaaaat is aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangh!¡±

    Six of them were not caught, including one of the people we encountered before. The woman looking into the fire as it extinguishes and sees the people in it charred down to their bones.

    [Mage]: ¡°Wh-What just¡­¡±

    Some fell on their butt. Some took a few steps back.

    We went passed them and just as I figured, there¡¯s no longer resistance or blockade in our path. We go down the latter smoothly and jump off platform onto the dirt road.

    Resuming our journey.

    [Rosa]: ¡°I take it we¡¯re going to this Witch Mountain Path?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°No, that¡¯s on another side of the region. Somewhere in Lorkhan¡¯s territory, I think.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°We still have plenty of dungeons to conquer, so let¡¯s focus on that, Rosa.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°You plan to conquer them all?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°God no. I don¡¯t have all the time in the world. We just need to get stronger up to a point. A point where we can easily dominate others without a fear of losing.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°You¡¯re fearless as you are now.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°I won¡¯t be as fearless when there¡¯s tens of thousands of the best players in the world fighting against my lonesome. Even if such scenario won¡¯t happen, people who play this game will continuously get stronger. I just don¡¯t want to be left too far behind.¡±

    She grabs my hand, clenches her fingers against my fist. Even through her gloves, I can still feel her warmth washing over me.

    [Siola]: ¡°You¡¯re making my stomach churning.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Heh.¡±

    Heading south, we go by the dirt road and sliding down the trenches as we enter the forest off the road. Rosa tilted her head as she turns.

    [Siola]: ¡°What is it?¡±

    [Rosa]: I heard something.¡±

    She decided to follow it and after a few minutes of walk, even I can hear it now. Streams of water following clashing against rocks. It¡¯s a river.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Heh, I knew it.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°What, a river?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°What we¡¯ve got back home is a canal and you can find human footprints all over them, but this here¡­ this is nature. Same one where we saw from the books, the videos of old.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°This here is the view of the Capital, Siola.¡±

    Capital, as if. Though her eyes seemingly full of joy, I can¡¯t take this moment away from her as I too can sense a hint of excitement within me.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Look, fish.¡±

    Heheh, I guess it really is amusing.

    [Siola]: ¡°Think this might be a good chance to catch up. I haven¡¯t checked anything since we delved in that dungeon.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Will it take a while? I¡¯d like to take a look around.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°It won¡¯t, but sure, go ahead.¡±

    She goes tip-toeing around the river and I myself decided to take a seat on the damp flat rock by it. Bright sky, vegetation on the other side, it¡¯s nice.

    ¡°Now, why did I not get the level 100 milestone for Psion class yet? Do I have to learn all the spells in this tome?¡±

    ¡°First, let¡¯s check the loot.¡±

    ¡°Good lord, there¡¯s too much of them.¡±

    There¡¯s only a few that is of interest to me.

    <ul>

    <li>[3x] Magma-woven One-piece / Cloth / Epic / Physical Defense: 50 / Magical Defense: 450 / Enchantment: Increases Fire Resistance by 25%. Has innate spell [Magma Armour], Cast to create magma stones and pad them into equipped outfit, granting additional 250 Physical Defense and 125 Magical Defense, lasts 320 seconds, cooldown 360 seconds / Requirement: 80 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[5x] Scorched Linen Leggings and Boots / Cloth / Rare / Physical Defense: 10 / Magical Defense: 80 / Enchantment: Wearer is immune to mobility-obstructing effect and can walk on any Fire-based surface without taking damage / Requirements: 40 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Flamebite Gloves / Cloth / Epic / Physical Defense: 45 / Magical Defense: 200 / Enchantment: Fire-based Spells have increased 25% Potency and Range. Has innate spell [Magma Grasp], Cast to conjure scorching magma from a surface to erupt, 12-second cooldown / Requirement: 80 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Drake¡¯s Ember Hat / Cloth / Legendary / Physical Defense: 20 / Magical Defense: 500 / Enchantment: Fire-based Spells have increased 50% Potency and Range. Reduced Fire-based Spells Cost by 25%. Increases Fire Resistance by 30% / Requirement: 150 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Nuh?!¡±

    ¡°Since when did I got a legendary, and why did I get a hat?¡±

    Goodness, if only it¡¯s an armor or something. A circlet maybe, but a hat? And it¡¯s a witch-like hat too, I¡¯m about to flip right now. What a waste.

    ¡°Damn it. The stats are good too!¡±

    And so, I wear them all. A sleeved top one piece in black-ish gray with red accent, the skirt has a little texture that is similar to the turtles we found on the first floor. The boot is lightweight, but somewhat beefy, including the legging.

    ¡°Guess I won¡¯t have to worry about someone flipping my skirt.¡±

    The gloves are also comfortable to use, albeit, being too tight. I had to remove my rings and wear them from the outside. And speaking of rings, I also got two new accessories I can use.

    <ul>

    <li>[1x] Molten Core Amulet / Epic / Enchantment: Increases Fire Resistance by 50%. Grants additional 40 Strength and Endurance / Requirement: 120 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[3x] Smoldering Bracelets / Rare / Enchantment: Has innate Spell [Lava Tremor], Cast to create a quake in 10-meter radius and filles every crack with lava, 35-second cooldown / Requirement: 80 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    I can sell off the surplus and I even got a couple of skill and spell books. No tome or grimoire unfortunately, but these can be used or maybe just sold later on.

    <ul>

    <li>[1x] Emberheart Skill Book / Epic / Requirement: 80 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[4x] Serpent Strike Skill Book / Rare / Requirement: 30 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[5x] Chameleon¡¯s Cloak Spell Book / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Requirement: 45 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Volcanic Grasp / Tier 4 ¨C Expert / Requirement: 100 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Fissure Strike Skill Book / Uncommon / Requirement: 10 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Molten Shield Spell Book / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Requirement: 10 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[3x] Inferno Step Skill Book / Tier 3 ¨C Advanced / Requirement: 50 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    Let¡¯s see here. I got a good amount of Exp, enough to level me up more than 60 times. I¡¯m lacking a couple more levels to up my Faith stat so I can learn the only book that I have yet to learn a single spell from, the [Tome of Malevolent Shadow].

    This should do a lot for now.

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    <ul>

    <li>Name: Luosa</li>

    <li>Level: 165</li>

    <li>Class: Psion</li>

    <li>Title: [Dragon Lord Scourge], [Fire Wielder], [Indomitable]</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Max Health: 12 [+6] | Max Mana 1: 420 [+3885] | Max Mana 2: 420 [+3675] | Max Mana 3: 420 [+210] | Max Stamina: 66 [+165]</li>

    <li>Health: 18 | Mana: 9030 | Stamina: 231</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes (5)

    <ul>

    <li>Strength: --- [+40] / Dexterity: --- / Endurance: --- [+40]</li>

    <li>Vitality: 10 / Agility: ---</li>

    <li>Intelligence: 125 [+50] / Faith: 20 / Luck: 5</li>

    </ul>

    Combat

    <ul>

    <li>Physical Attack: --- / Physical Defense: 125 [+1250]</li>

    <li>Magical Attack: 1150 / Magical Defense: 1230 [+990]</li>

    <li>Health Regeneration: 0.001 [+0.375] / Mana Regeneration: 1.95 / Stamina Regeneration: 4</li>

    </ul>

    Active Effect

    <ul>

    <li>Pulsar Nebula Diadem: The wearer can no longer be healed. Health Regeneration is increased by 0.375 per second. Upon death, shield the wearer in a cocoon of arcane, restoring all primary attributes, 86.400-second cooldown.</li>

    <li>Magma Ring: Increases Fire Resistance by 50%</li>

    <li>Lava Ring: Increases Fire Resistance by 50%</li>

    <li>Molten Core Amulet: Increases Fire Resistance by 50%. Grants additional 40 Strength and Endurance</li>

    <li>Drake¡¯s Ember Hat: Fire-based Spells have increased 50% Potency and Range. Reduced Fire-based Spells Cost by 25%. Increases Fire Resistance by 30%</li>

    <li>Magma-woven One-piece: Increases Fire Resistance by 25%</li>

    <li>Flamebite Gloves: Fire-based Spells have increased 25% Potency and Range</li>

    <li>Scorched Linen Leggings and Boots: Wearer is immune to mobility-obstructing effect and can walk on any Fire-based surface without taking damage</li>

    <li>Magma Dragon Collar: Increases Intelligence by 50</li>

    <li>Dragon Skin: Physical Defense by 500 + 100% and Magical Defense by 250 + 50%</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

 Chapter 65 - Season 2 - Undeath Form

    ! {New Spells have been learned}

    <ul>

    <li>Psychic Vortex / Tier 4 ¨C Expert / Psychomancy / Cast to create a center point that pulls every creature in 25-meter radius in a spiral that lasts for 10 seconds, dealing initial 350 Damage and has 30% chance to stun enemies caught within / Cost: 450 Mana / Requirement: 80 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Mental Lock / Tier 4 ¨C Expert / Psychomancy / Cast to disrupt the target¡¯s mind and put them in a chokehold, blocking all abilities that utilizes [at Will] from activating, lasts 80 seconds, and has 50% chance to stun the target for 3 second / Cost: 550 Mana / Requirement: 100 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Psionic Lance / Tier 4 ¨C Expert / Psychomancy / Cast Sign to create a force of psionic that shoots towards the target, piercing all in its direction, dealing 500 damage and has 80% chance for the initial target to be stunned / Costs: 599 Mana / Requirement: 120 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Limbic Possession / Tier 5 ¨C Master / Psychomancy / Cast to take control of the target¡¯s limb, following the movement of the caster for 10 second / Cost: 600 Mana / Requirement: 150 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Psionic Cataclysm / Tier 5 ¨C Master / Psychomancy / Cast Sign to release Psionic force in all direction dealing 800 damage, creating resonance that constantly pinging each other, continuously dealing 80% to 10% damage until the resonance stopped / Cost: 2000 Mana / Requirement: 150 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Phantasmagoria / Tier 5 ¨C Master / Psychomancy / Cast Sign to release a condensed force of Psionic attack, dealing 1000 damage and stun them for 30 second, the target will then be locked in a continuous ever-changing illusion for the duration of the stun / Cost: 2300 Mana / Requirement: 150 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Conjure Dragon Spawn / Tier 5 ¨C Master / Necromancy / Cast Sign to call upon Mad Dead¡¯s loyal spawn, Dread Black Guardian, for 80 seconds / Cost: 600 Mana / Requirement: 20 Faith, 130 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Undeath Form / Tier 5 ¨C Master / Necromancy / Cast Sign to turn your flesh into bones and receive [Blessing of Mad Dead]. Increasing your Agility by 150. Increasing Intelligence and Faith by 75. All Necromancy-based and Blood-based spells have increased 100% Potency, Duration, and Range. Reduced Fire Resistance and Light Resistance by 80%. Unable to feel. Unable to speak. Unable to use social features / Cost: 2222 Mana / Requirement: 20 Faith, 130 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Malevolent Shadow / Tier 5 ¨C Master / Dark / Create a 1:1 replica of the caster at Will / Cost: 2300 Mana / Requirement: 130 Intelligence, 20 Faith</li>

    <li>Dark Current / Tier 5 ¨C Master / Dark / Cast to send a force of a powerful current infused in dark, dealing 200 damage per second / Cost: 800 Mana / Requirement: 130 Intelligence, 20 Faith</li>

    </ul>

    Giggling to myself. To think that I have managed to reach Master rank. A level that is not only in the legendary bracket but can also uses all that is the legendary offers.

    At least to some extent.

    I cast a sign, ¡°Conjure Dragon Spawn.¡±

    A large bleeding dark circle appears on the ground, soon I see a gnawing jaw. Large skeletal creature that is in the similar form of a dinosaur. Its eyes glowing red.

    ¡°Hell yeah!¡±

    To think I¡¯ll be able to conjure that pain in the ass boss. Although there is only one of them, it¡¯s quite satisfactory for me.

    ¡°Heheh, just how awesome would it be if I have Mad Dead set. Heh.¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see how the other magic does.¡±

    Casting a different Sign, ¡°Undeath Form.¡±

    I can feel my chest burning, my blood boiling. No, literally. Smoke coming out of me and soon my eyesight turns dark but only for a moment. I feel an odd sensation.

    ! {Quest Received}

    <ul>

    <li>Mad Dead Path of Ancestry / Mythic / Embrace the form of the dead craze / Requirement 1: Use [Undeath Form] / Requirement 2: Kill 1000 enemies that at least level 100 as a Skeleton / Reward: Book of Mad Dead / Condition: Fail if you change into other form</li>

    <li>Wandering Soul / Mythic / Embrace your new form and reach a new height / Requirement 1: Become a Skeleton / Requirement 2: Consume 10 Epic Core / Requirement 3: Consume 3 Legendary Core / Reward: Evolve into a Wraith / Condition: Fail if you change into human form</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡®Hm?¡¯

    ¡®I can¡¯t speak?¡¯

    Looking at the reflection in the river, I see a skeleton wearing the new drip I¡¯ve got. And that thing is definitely me.

    ¡®Neat.¡¯

    ¡°What in the¡ª?¡±

    I turned to see that it¡¯s Rosa, suddenly pulling out her instrument. I wonder what¡¯s she going to play this time. I already missed her¡ª.

    Violent burst of soundwave pushes me back.

    (-0.15)

    ¡®Damage?¡¯

    ¡®Wait.¡¯If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    The skeletal dinosaur charges at her, ¡°Groooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaar!¡±

    Gnawing at her, but she jumped, easily dodging its attack as she takes to the air and jumps towards me with a couple stroke to the violin¡¯s strings.

    (-0.15)

    (-0.15)

    (-0.15)

    (-0.15)

    (-0.15)

    ¡®Goddamn it, Rosa!¡¯

    With [Telekinesis], I grasp her in the air.

    ¡°Hnngh, you,,, damn you, DAMN YOU!!!¡±

    ¡®Why does she sound angry? I get that you¡¯re frustrated that you can¡¯t move, but I never saw her being that¡ª.¡¯ My eyes peeled at the sight of her hair rising up.

    ¡®No way.¡¯

    She broke free and descended into the ground, but not a second after, she lunges at me in an incredible speed and with a straight aiming at my chest. My body flew crashing into water, skipping.

    {-5}

    ¡®Limit Break?!¡¯

    When I lift my head to see, I see her face, ¡®No.¡¯

    Kicking me back to the land with an incredible force.

    ! {Pantheon Drive}

    ! {Malevolent Shadow}

    Creating another one of myself, Rosa smashed her.

    Quickly holding her with my [Telekinesis], my shadow summersault her to the air.

    ¡®No!¡¯

    When I look up, she¡¯s coming back at an incredible speed with a plunge. Holding my hand, she struck and it felt like a whole eight-wheeler just comes crashing on me.

    My shadow punches her stomach, sending her to the ground.

    ¡®Goddamn it! How do I stop this?!¡¯

    Rosa stands back up like she never took any damage. We both have it, but it¡¯s still a two against one. She¡¯s not showing any signs of backing down either, and those eyes. She¡¯s serious.

    She comes at me but my shadow kicks her face, but she ducks in time, to deliver a roundhouse at me. Blocking it with my arm, it felt like I was struck by a baseball bat.

    I fought back, striking and kicking, just like how I used to be taught back then. At Mithra. But of course, I¡¯m not the only one with this style of fighting. And the result shows.

    Even with the two of me fighting against her barehanded, she¡¯s still able to keep up. But I don¡¯t want to hurt her any more than necessary.

    But then, my eyes widened when my shadow spotted a weak point, one that I¡¯m seeing from Rosa, one that I¡¯ve been ignoring, it took the opportunity and fell her. A strike to chin, double jab to one side and another to a stomach, before kicking her neck.

    I punched my shadow with all my might.

    *BOOM*

    Rosa with her butt on the ground, turn to see my shadow became one with a stone before turning into dust. She looks at me and I raised both of my hands. I lowered my body slowly as she observes in confusion. On my knees, gently, I plucked some grass and have me with her pictured.

    ¡°You,,,¡±

    She looks at me in the eye.

    ¡°Siola?¡±

    I nodded.

    From my inventory, I grabbed my black clothes, the one she saw me wearing. And for the last proof, I make her float, just like how I did it when we were at Mageth Repath.

    ¡°It¡¯s really you?¡±

    Nodding once more.

    She hugs me, embracing my skeleton form.

    ¡°You¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t just¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t just do this without telling me, you fool!¡±

    Rustling her hair as they fall back down and curled. She never let me go, and I can¡¯t tell her to stop either, but why would I?

    I just hugged her until she¡¯s tired of it.

    But I never am.

    We take a seat by the river. And there I remember that I could¡¯ve just flash her with my status and that would clear it all up, or even the party tab.

    I can¡¯t talk, I can¡¯t send her any messages, so I¡¯ve just been drawing at a stone, carving it. Telling her how it came to be with a few words, and how I want to proceed.

    ¡°I see. It¡¯s unfortunate that you didn¡¯t learn a sign language, that would prove useful in this case but this is enough. So, we¡¯re to keep going then?¡±

    I nodded and take out a legendary core out of my inventory, the one we¡¯ve obtained from the fight against the Magma Dragon. It¡¯s big and bulky. I hold out three fingers alongside it.

    ¡°You need three more of that?¡±

    Shaking my head, I remove one finger.

    ¡°You need two more of it?¡±

    I nodded.

    ¡°The one we¡¯ve obtained from the Magma Dragon. So, we¡¯re out clearing more dungeon and fight creatures like that again?¡±

    I nodded.

    ¡°Very well, buy you sure you¡¯ll be okay? If you can¡¯t say anything, does that mean you also cannot use your¡­ spells?¡±

    I nodded.

    ¡°How unfortunate. To think you¡¯d make a mistake like this. You¡¯re truly have lost your edge, Siola.¡±

    Crossing my arms and pout.

    ¡°Heheh, well alright, princess. Let¡¯s resume our journey.¡±

    And with my new skeletal form, Rosa and I set out to continue our journey together. But I swear, I¡¯m somewhat thankful for this tippity top hat I¡¯ve got. Otherwise, I¡¯d be bald as hell.

    Walking on a green lush land, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s a bliss, but I can only feel the pressure of the wind and not the cold it brought with it.

    Sorting my inventory.

    ¡®Book of Daylight, I¡¯m going to sell that for $3000. As for the Tome of Black Flame, I won¡¯t be the first to sell Hexes.¡¯

    ¡®Too many Staff of Magma. For an uncommon it¡¯s not bad to have base 25 considering most Tier 1 spells having so low mana cost and they can up the limit with Strength. $60 bucks for them. Good too up the ceiling, considering other people are selling it for no less than $150.¡¯

    ¡®Extra clothes, books. Anything Rare and above is put on $1000 and up while Uncommon is set below $100 excluding books which is no less than $500.¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t get why people are selling it so expensively.¡¯

    After looking into the forums, it seems that the prices have gone up due to the new patch. Legendaries now goes for no less than 5 million.

    ¡®Which means, I could very well sell this Tome of the Mad Dead for fifty and more. It would be foolish to give it away to that girl for cheaper, but I¡¯m generous like that. Not that it¡¯s time yet.¡¯

    When I look up their profile, BunnyLoop is actually belong to the top ranked guild called Jormungandr. Ranked first with more than 4 billion points of contribution. Just to put in to perspective, a hundred-man guild can raid the same dungeon every week for a month and it might just earn itself 1000 contribution points if they do so without rest.

    Being an officer to a massive guild like that. It¡¯s no wonder that she and her mother is able to afford 50 million dollars¡¯ worth of items.

    There¡¯s a couple of clips, videos of their recent raid to a dungeon far north from the capital. BunnyLoop, with a single cast, she summons 4 creatures. And another one when she is fighting a petrifying lizard, she¡¯s the only one in her raid party to be the only one surviving. There¡¯s also a footage of Death Lord being summoned. The upper body of giant skeleton with charred bones giving out smoke as four of them kills so many creatures in that floor.

    ¡®Guess, she¡¯s making use of it. I wonder if she even needs the tome.¡¯

    ¡°Siola, what¡¯s that?¡±

 Chapter 66 - Season 2 - Umbral Dungeon

    Tail swinging, scaly creature feasting upon a boar on the side of the road. It¡¯s off-green with slightly blue hue. A gnawing jaw and it has four limbs, almost humanoid.

    Rosa pulls out her sword, but I grabbed her shoulder.

    It¡¯s a lizardman, not a monster.

    I took charge as we walk past him, but he took notice of us. Our eyes met and he fall on his tail, confirming the reality of my new form.

    His greatsword unsheathed but he¡¯s trembling even move.

    ¡®Not worth the effort.¡¯

    We ignore him, and it¡¯s also a smart decision that he also didn¡¯t try to pursue.

    Though I¡¯m hoping for a smooth journey. There are a couple of feral wolves blocking the road and they took notice of us real quick.

    ¡°Want me to handle them?¡±

    I may not be able to cast any spells, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t do anything. With [Telekinesis], I hold them in place. Then, an idea came to mind. Instead of sending them into the air and let the gravity do its thing or smashing around, why don¡¯t I try to¡­ Twist them.

    *Crrrack*

    *Crack*

    *Crack*

    Head, neck, arms, upper and lower body, squished, mushed.

    ¡°Woah there, I think you¡¯ve overdone it.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>[3x] Magic Core / Common / Contains the soul of a low ranked creature</li>

    <li>[8x] Wolf Pelt / Common / Skin of a wolf</li>

    </ul>

    Small magic core at the size of pinky finger.

    ¡®Hm, how do I consume this?¡¯

    Putting it in my mouth.

    I felt a little sting, and now it¡¯s gone.

    {+50 Exp}

    ¡®Experience Points just from eating that?¡¯

    ¡®Heheh, well now. Say less.¡¯

    With both palms, I let out all the magic core I¡¯m seeing and put them all in my mouth. I didn¡¯t feel much when it was one, but now I can see arcane particles puffing out of my mouth.

    {+50 Exp}

    {+50 Exp}

    {+50 Exp}

    {+50 Exp}

    {+50 Exp}

    ¡°Siola? You okay there?¡±

    Putting my thumb up.

    ¡°Okay, don¡¯t just start doing weird things without telling me, okay?¡±

    Putting another thumb up.

    She rests on a rock as she watches me gorge on every single magic core I have. Increasing my level several more times and there I finally get to the big one.

    The legendary core. Absorbing it straight up. I feel rejuvenated.

    {Level UP}

    {Level UP}

    {Level UP}

    {Level UP}

    {Level UP}

    Twenty whole levels from that alone. I can actually learn all the spells that I have in my possession but what¡¯s the point in that when I can¡¯t cast them.

    ¡®I know of a way, but then I¡¯ll have to deal with those lizardmen.¡¯

    One lizard is never a problem, but you take a group of them together, that¡¯s when things can get a little tricky. Especially if one is a spell caster.

    ¡®If not me, I at least want Rosa to be a bit stronger. Strong enough to handle things without me. Since she has also obtained Pantheon Drive, the chances of her being able to do so is high.¡¯

    ¡®Heh, what am I saying, I don¡¯t think she ever actually needs me.¡¯

    There¡¯s also one more magic core that I haven¡¯t yet consumed.

    <ul>

    <li>[1x] Black Magic Core / Legendary / Contains a dark soul</li>

    </ul>

    It¡¯s not as big the other legendary core, it¡¯s just as big as my palm and as long as my forearm. Upon consuming it, I didn¡¯t receive any Experience Points, but¡­If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ! {Transcendental Purity has been increased}

    <ul>

    <li>Transcendental Purity Next Rank: 1/3000</li>

    </ul>

    ¡®A purity increase, just like that?¡¯

    Transcendental Purity is a progression beyond master, beyond ancient, beyond ascended. Eventually, one will be locked out from leveling beyond Level 1500. Which is the checkpoint for an Ancient rank to evolve into Ascended being. Every checkpoint onward will continue to be locked until the required purity is fulfilled.

    It¡¯s also going to be required for one to use ¡°Transcendental Law¡± spells.

    ! {New Quest Received}

    <ul>

    <li>Undeath / Ancient / Embrace your new form and reach an even higher height / Requirement 1: Obtain [Death Lord] Title / Requirement 2: Obtain alternate way to Cast spells / Requirement 3: Consume a Dark Soul / Requirement 4: Become Wraith / Reward: Evolve into a Lich / Condition: Fail if you change into human form</li>

    </ul>

    ¡®Lich?¡¯

    ¡®Seems to be the continuation of the previous Quest which I had yet to complete. I guess it¡¯s fine to do them since they can make me stronger anyway.¡¯

    ¡®Death Lord title is going to be a pain, but even I who was a Priest can get them.¡¯

    *Rumble *Rumble

    ¡®Hm?¡¯

    Rumbling from the forest. I see trees falling one by one. Closer and closer, if I have my eyes, they would be peeled by now. A minotaur charging straight at me.

    My fingers together, I stab with [Telekinesis], pushing the minotaur¡¯s head down. It sends itself rolling upwards. Our eyes met before it crashes out.

    Rosa rolled to the side before it hits.

    *Brmmmmmmm*

    She grabs her violin and starts playing.

    ! {Melodic Empowerment}

    <ul>

    <li>Melodic Empowerment: Additional reserve to [Max Health], [Max Mana], [Max Stamina] has been added by 125 points. Additional 40% increase to Physical Defense and Magical Defense</li>

    </ul>

    It recovers and starts to violently bashing around with its horns.

    Rosa also starts smacking it with the sound she¡¯s making with her violin but despite the size of the monster, it is extremely agile. His ferocity is halted by my [Telekinesis]. I grasp and hold it in place as Rosa spam her violent soundwave. It struggles so hard that it might just escape from me.

    ¡®Hnngh.¡¯

    I pulled the thing away and raise it high to the air before smashing it down.

    *BOOM*

    ¡®NOW!¡¯

    Of course, there¡¯s no sound coming out of my mouth but Rosa understood perfectly what she¡¯s supposed to do. She pulls out a weird sword and take a plunge.

    Violent burst of volcanic eruption blows from the ground.

    *BOOOM*

    The explosion creates quite a powerful heat in the air. Despite how much protection I have against Fire, I can still¡­ no, I actually don¡¯t feel anything.

    ! {Level UP}

    ¡°Siola, look.¡±

    A large magic core, but it is no legendary unfortunately.

    ¡°What, it¡¯s not it?¡±

    I shook my head.

    ¡°I see. And here I thought I should go all out.¡±

    I¡¯m still taking it.

    The minotaur is a lot bigger up close. Though, with its head decapitated and its upper body glazed in lava. I can hardly say that.

    Once we passed the forest, we climbs uphill following the mountain road. Night is about to set but just before the cliffside, there lies an encampment of players outside of the dungeon gate. However, there is no players in it.

    ¡°Empty? For a supposedly be the most popular VR game, there doesn¡¯t seem to be that many people playing it.¡±

    ¡®Ekolia is big. Just look at the spawn point, it¡¯s possible that they went to another¡ª¡¯

    Ah shit! I forgot I can¡¯t speak. I could¡¯ve refuted that point!

    We descended nicely thanks to the few ladders set up by previous people. It truly is empty, but that works out good for me considering my form.

    Umbral Dungeon. A place full of undead, and there¡¯s only three floors. Even when I reached Transcendental Rank, I still went to this place to chill and hangout. There is an abundance of enemies, endless of them on every single floor.

    Yet to be open, we seem to be the first one to enter post-patch.

    ¡°Hmm, the air feels¡­ different here.¡±

    The entrance is dark, you won¡¯t see much if you don¡¯t bring out a torch, but you never need one further in as glowing crystals are all over the place. Other than farming spot for Exp, this is a great place to mine for rare resources. But one has to deal with the dead first. Despite how spacious the area is, they¡¯re packed full of those shaky bones.

    {Dread Skeleton / Level 120}

    ¡°Seems a lot more powerful than the first floor of our previous dungeon.¡±

    A shadow of myself left my body and the both of us jumped down. I brought Rosa with my [Telekinesis] and my shadow pushes the skeletons down before clearing our landing. When one notices us, all of them jumped in on the action.

    Telekinetically, I pushes them before rounding them up, but as I don¡¯t have an AOE spell. I will have to rely on my sister delivering the blow with music.

    Violently creating soundwave that crushes and split the bones coming our way. Her, me, and my shadow work together in synchrony.

    {Dread Skeleton / Level 150}

    {Dread Draugr / Level 150}

    {Dread Ghoul / Level 200}

    Second floor is filled with toxin puffing creatures, Ghouls. They have skinny limbs and stature but large torso and sunken head.

    I keep them at bay while Rosa continues on killing them effortlessly with her strings of music. But then, I sense her reaching over the limit and activated Pantheon Drive.

    Hundreds of enemies keep approaching and there¡¯s thousands of them, she continues playing her violin as it glows brightly in blue.

    And so, I use [Telekinesis] to help her a bit and started rowdily crashing every undead creating a whole stack to twist them back and forth. I started doing it with both hands, and remove the upper body and the lower body of our enemies, separating them.

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Learn the basic of Telekinesis and kill one of at least level 100 enemies with each method</li>

    <li>Proper Psychomancy Utilization: 885%</li>

    </ul>

    ! {New Ability has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Finer Control (Passive) / Level 1 / Can now increase and reduces Mana Cost while using [Telekinesis] to adjust its power, making the Cost Variable.</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Innate Ability has been¡­

    More and more until we reach the third floor. But Rosa collapses after we reaches it.

    ¡°Hnngh.¡±

    Side effect of Pantheon Drive. Thankfully, not too severe. It¡¯s not bad for me to rest either. I need to catch up on some things.

    ! {Quest Completed}

    ! {Item Received}

    <ul>

    <li>Book of Mad Dead / Mythic / Contains the knowledge of Mad Dead Arts and Laws</li>

    </ul>

    ¡®Arts and Laws? Forgetting the latter, the art will surely have some restriction too.¡¯

    High requirements, as expected. One of them being the magic that is inside the Crypt Dead Lock that I sold to BunnyLoop.

    <ul>

    <li>Art of the Mad Dead, Crucible Black / Tier 7 ¨C Supreme / Cast Sign to summon Death Lord from beyond to wreck everything in its path, dealing 3500-6000 damage, and can conjure Death Knights to assist in its rampage / Cost: 3000 Mana / Requirement: 100 Faith, 350 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    Unless it is truly unique, spells that exist as an innate enchantment will always be the inferior version. However, it is impossible for me to cast even the lowest tier spells on this book. I will need to have a look at it again once I reach at least level 300.

    ¡°Urgh, I feel useless.¡±

    Looking at her in the eye, and grabbed her shoulder. I nodded to that statement.

    ¡°Mrmmph, you¡¯re not supposed to agree to that.¡±

 Chapter 67 - Season 2 - Umbral Twin

    Taking our step into the third floor. Unexpectedly, it is empty. The area is spacious and wide, so I know that it was supposed to be filled with more undead, but no.

    Instead, there are only two undead floating in the air. Skeleton bone like me. Wearing cloak and rags but I know something for sure. The fact that they are strong.

    ! {Boss Encounter}

    ~ {Umbral Dragon Priest / Level 350 / Health: 1100 [+1100]}

    ~ {Umbral Dragon Priest / Level 350 / Health: 1100 [+1100]}

    ¡°Siola.¡±

    Holding her back as I took a step. Both of them turns, but there¡¯s something else. Behind them is a cocoon emitting a bright brown light, inside it is a ghastly form of a creature.

    {Sound Demon / Level 1500}

    My eyes peeled. It¡¯s just like the phoenix, but I don¡¯t see any vessel like Inferna. Which means these two are the guardians.

    They turn to face us and began to create a miniature sun above them. Grasping it telekinetically and pulls it down.

    *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

    Smoke cloud, I waited for their moves. I know for sure, even with that massive explosion. There¡¯s no way that they would die like that.

    And I was right. Water dragon coming at us, but Rosa uses her violin to cut it in half.

    ! {Pantheon Drive}

    Separating my shadow. We grasp their bodies and pull them closer but they sever [Telekinesis] connection effortlessly before sending a solar beam at us.

    ! {Melodic Empowerment}

    Grasping them, we smash them to the ground.

    But of course, it dealt no damage at all. At least, not by me and my shadows. Rosa and her violent tune creates a shockwave that damages them severely to a point that they lost an arm.

    Another solar beam, we pulled their body and led the beam combust into an explosion. Even for the second that it last, dealing damage against one and the other is crucial now.

    We grasp them and round them up together so that Rosa can go all out.

    Twisting the two-dragon priest with all our might as Rosa plays as hard as she can. But then, the strings gave out. Her instrument.

    ¡®No.¡¯

    The dragon priests broke free and started conjuring skeletons, draugrs, and ghouls endlessly while the other charging up a spell.

    She grabbed her sword from the inventory, ¡°Damn it.¡±

    ¡®Protect her, shadow.¡¯

    Tens, hundreds and counting. I can¡¯t believe it. A memory flashes before me. A memory of Rakuri and Kurira watching me exploit a bug in Ekolia. A bug where if you reach a certain amount of Mana and have a certain passive spell active, you can pretty much guarantee unlimited Mana.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you will ever need that much Mana, Dola.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, your obsession makes your status looks weird.¡±

    ¡°First, you got infinite health, and then you got infinite stamina, now infinite mana?¡±

    ¡°Like, for what? You still need to kill things, you know.¡±

    Fools!

    I mean they¡¯re actually right, but still, even with that bug is patched, I still spend my points prioritizing Mana because who knows, someday I might need it. And I was right again back then. We managed to kill a demigod and his dragon thanks to the spell I cast.

    ¡®I can¡¯t do such exploit right now, but even without it, it¡¯ll still be enough.¡¯

    <ul>

    <li>Telekinesis / Rank 7 / Psychomancy / Take control of Arcane Particles in the surrounding area / Costs: Variable / Requirement: 8 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    Here in the epicenter of the swarm. I grasp the air and take them all on.

    My sight brightened, revealing colors of all enemies in red. All of them gathers into one big pile as I mushed them together, twist, crunch. Spending all my Mana until all undead is dead.

    ! {Congratulations, you have killed the Twin Umbral. The firsts to have been slain}

    ! {Your name and contributing party will be listed in the Hall of Fame}

    <ul>

    <li>Luosa: 32% Damage</li>

    <li>Rosa: 68% Damage</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Kill 1000 undead of Level 100 or higher as an undead: 2024/1000</li>

    <li>Kill 1000 undead of Level 200 or higher as an undead: 2024/1000</li>

    <li>Kill an undead boss monster of at least level 200 as an undead: 2/1</li>

    <li>Kill a Lich of at least level 300 as an undead: 2/1</li>

    </ul>

    ! {New Title has been obtained}

    <ul>

    <li>Death Champion / Dread walks among the dead / Effect: Increases All Secondary Attributes except Luck by 25. Increases All Resistance except for Fire and Light by 30%. Increases Light Resistance by 50%.</li>

    </ul>

    I feel lightheaded.

    ¡°Siola!¡±

    Grabbing my bones before I fall. She let me sit on the ground amidst the corpses of these undead, I feel so tired even though I¡¯m not supposed to feel anything.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Mana potion, fell out of my inventory. Rosa saw it and quickly went to feed me but the thing just dripping pass my bones. But then suddenly, she floats in the air.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡®Rosa?¡¯

    Pulled towards the Sound Demon cocoon.

    ¡°Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh?!¡±

    ¡®No.¡¯

    The cocoon envelope her thoroughly and trapping her inside.

    ¡®Hnngh.¡¯

    ¡®Rosa!¡¯

    Crawling on the floor, I couldn¡¯t even cast [Mana Recharge] because I¡¯m unable to talk. I completely forgot about that demon.

    No matter how hard I¡¯m trying, I can¡¯t move any further.

    Light shines from the cocoon, but then, I see a sword cutting from within it. The light dims as Rosa emerges from the cocoon. Panting and stumbling to stand properly.

    ¡°Hnnngh, Siola¡­ what¡¯s happening to me?¡±

    The cocoon is broken, and behind her I can see it. A large monstrous creature, light blue in color with black accent. Its bottom half is like a larva while the top half resembling that of a humanoid if not for its mangled head.

    ¡°Hoooooowwwww¡­¡±

    {Sound Demon / Level 1500 / Health: 345/2300}

    ¡°You were supposed to be¡­¡±

    ¡°You were supposed to be¡­ MINE!¡±

    As the monster scream at her, Rosa is stunned, but it doesn¡¯t seem like the scream actually had any stunning effect. Which means, it doesn¡¯t come from the monster.

    ¡°Hnnngh, Siola¡­ I feel like¡­ I¡¯m about to hnnnngh¡­¡±

    ¡°You insolent beings. Die!¡± the creature cast multiple signs, ¡°True Art of the Banshee¡­¡±

    But then suddenly, Rosa turns and screamed loudly. Creating massive shockwave to her front, pushing the demon back to the cocoon, slashing, crushing. The sound resonated through every corner of the cocoon, deafening and damaging the monster.

    I couldn¡¯t even hear its scream before its entire head got blown off.

    *Pant *Pant *Pant

    ¡°Bahhh¡­ Hah, what is this?¡±

    ¡°Siola, I think I might¡¯ve gotten stronger.¡±

    That made me chuckle, I give her a thumbs up.

    There¡¯s no announcement about it, but I think she¡¯s the only one who received it. Well, I¡¯m glad either way. As long as she¡¯s fine.

    Weird, why do I even care if she¡¯s fine or not. When did I start feeling this way for her?

    Waving her hand around. Looks like she¡¯s practicing something, and there I heard it. Sound. She can creature sound similar to that of a violin, but then I heard a guitar, and a piano. All sorts of musical instrument are slowly sampled, I can hear it clearly.

    Her eyes absorbing every information she experiences. And there, she plays it. A music that I was once made when I was a toddler.

    Happy tune, a happy birthday tune. It¡¯s not even my birthday, but, I¡¯m proud of that one. And she seems to enjoy playing it too. Her smile is beautiful, her eyes gleaming brightly.

    At the end of it, she looks at me, my skeletal form, and hugs me.

    Her warmth feels nice.

    ¡°Well, guess I no longer need an instrument.¡±

    ¡®Nonsense. You will be leaving Potency enhance¡ª goddamn it, I forgot I can¡¯t speak!¡¯

    She went to collect the items that have been dropped from the monsters. And surprisingly, despite the sheer numbers, there¡¯s only a few good ones here.

    <ul>

    <li>[2x] Magic Core / Legendary / Contains the soul of a high ranked creature</li>

    <li>[1x] Magic Core / Ancient / Contains 3 dark souls</li>

    <li>[2x] Umbral Dragon Priest Staff / Heavy Weapon / Legendary / Physical Attack: 100 / Magical Attack: 750 / Enchantment: Necromancy-based Spells have increased 150% Potency and Duration. Dark-based Spells have increased 100% Potency. Has innate spell [Umbral Army], charge to conjure up to 5 Skeletons, Draugrs, and Ghouls at target location, lasts for 80 Seconds / Cost: 1000 Mana / Requirement: 30 Strength, 25 Endurance, 125 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Grimoire of Demonic Melody / Mythic / Contains [Ravenous Echo], [Doom Chord], [Demonic Overture], [Infernal Crescendo], [Serene Ballad], [Discordant Requiem] / Cost: Variable / Requirement: 100 Dexterity, 50 Agility, 50 Intelligence, Sound Demon class</li>

    <li>[1x] Sound Demon Larynx / Ancient / Body part of Sound Demon</li>

    <li>[2x] Umbral Dragon Priest Mask / Heavy Armor / Legendary / Physical Defense: 500 / Magical Defense: 500 / Enchantment: Increases Strength and Endurance by 40. Increases Intelligence by 80. Increases Mana Regeneration by 5 per second and Stamina Regeneration by 15 per second / Requirement: 60 Strength, 60 Endurance, 130 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Is there anything you can use?¡±

    ¡®I supposed I could use the mask, but eww, it looks DISGUSTING!¡¯

    The enchantment is good. Mana Regeneration and a huge chunk of intelligence increases, any spell caster would definitely love to have this. Unless they prefer light weapon instead.

    The weapon looks like something I can actually use, there¡¯s no cast, but a charge up. I guess it¡¯s a bit cringe to shout Umbral Army. So far, I haven¡¯t cringe as much as I thought I would after this whole change with casting. I¡¯m starting to miss it.

    I¡¯m also taking the sound box. I think this is what I need in this form but first¡­ the two legendary magic cores. Without hesitation, I gorge on them.

    ¡°Woah there.¡±

    ! {Quest Completed}

    ~ {Evolving into Wraith}

    ¡®I couldn¡¯t even say no?¡¯

    Like I was just pulled by something, I stood as I feel heat coursing through my body. I can feel glowing arcane particles surrounding me before turning gray.

    ! {Evolution Complete}

    ! {Innate Ability has been obtained}

    <ul>

    <li>Ghastly Form / Tier 4 ¨C Expert / Wraith / Remove physical body and turns formless, allowing flight. Agility increases by 200% in the first 3 seconds / Cost: 10 Mana per second / Requirement: 100 Intelligence</li>

    <li>Dark Protection (Passive) / Level 5 (Max) / Wraith / Increases Dark Resistance by 30%</li>

    </ul>

    Strangely, I feel¡­ ghastly.

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡®I wish I could say that.¡¯

    Looking at the sound box on the palm of my hand, I put it in my mouth and hope for the best. I can feel it disintegrating inside.

    ! {Innate Ability has been obtained}

    <ul>

    <li>Sound Demon Vocal Cord (Passive) / Rank 1 (Max) / Gain the ability to speak and access social features. Tone adjustable</li>

    </ul>

    Cracking my neck as I tap my fingers on each other, ¡°Mmmmm¡­¡±

    ¡°Aaaaaaa¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, you can speak now?¡±

    Lifting my index, shutting her up. Trying to focus on my tonality and vocal.

    ¡°AaaaaaaaAAAAAaaaaaaaaaa¡­ BrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRrrrrrrr.¡±

    ¡°Knife ear, Knife ear, Brrrrrrrrrr¡­¡±

    ¡°Barrel midget bomb squad.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Shush.¡±

    Adjusting it further, ¡°Hrmmmmmm¡­¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Okay, how do I sound?¡±

    She shrugs.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Like you never lost it.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°So, is there anything else you want to do now or do we go to another dungeon? Maybe fulfil that lady¡¯s request perhaps?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Hmm, well I¡¯d love to obtain more powers.¡±

    Although, I have obtained a way to cast spells, and even better than that actually lifted restriction on social features. I can actually speak. Which means, I don¡¯t necessarily need to visit the lizardmen and obtain THAT item. But who knows, maybe it¡¯s good to have a backup. I always carry that thing in my pocket back in my previous life.

    [Siola]: ¡°There is a place, but not necessarily a dungeon. It¡¯s a bit far unfortunately. There are two dungeons on the way, so it¡¯s perfect. But what do you think?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°What do I think?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Yeah?¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°I think it is best if we leave this place as soon as possible, and rest. We can continue this tomorrow, after a good night sleep.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Mm, alright.¡±

    I cast a Sign, ¡°Cosmic Aperture.¡±

    A wormhole appears, upon taking it, it will lead us outside. Rosa walks towards it alone.

    [Rosa]: ¡°Hm, Siola?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Actually, you go on ahead. I want to try something out.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°You¡¯ll be alright, I hope?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Of course.¡±

    [Rosa]: ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow then.¡±

    Once she enters, I closed the wormhole.

    Being all alone with my thoughts again without the need to think of others. Somehow, it feels nice. Just like how it was when I was thrown to the desert. I never truly have a chance to be alone while feeling good about it. It¡¯s good to have this feeling sometimes.

    It reminds me of the fact that I¡¯m truly alone in this world.

    4 years¡¯ worth of events gone. My friends gone. All those joy and sadness, all gone because of a single piece of stain decided to be stupid.

    *Sigh*

    Yet, I feel fulfilled now.

    But I don¡¯t want it to end just like this. I¡¯m not repeating of what had happened before. Each and every single moment I strayed from the path I took in my past life, I can no longer rethread that path, which means, my friends. I wonder¡­

    What will become of us when we meet?

 Chapter 68 - Season 2 Special - Kurira and Rakuri

    From my childhood years to my teenage years, I¡¯ve seen it happening. People fall out of grace was a misconception, they are who they are the moment they were born. Why would I care about others when all of them wants to take advantage of us.

    ***

    September 28, 2080 ¨C 1 hour and 30 minutes after the incident.

    *Brooooooooowmph*

    A large motorbike splashes the puddles it hits. The rider rode without a helmet, one can see, her brows squeezed. Riding in 120 miles/hour, it keeps speeding up. Its passenger is holding tightly to a wounded woman in her arms. Tears shed as rains keeps pouring down. The moon is high, lighting their way towards a bridge with no other vehicle around.

    They stopped at a certain warehouse. A workshop of what looks to be a place of tinkerers. The rider slams the door opens, veins popping from her neck, yelling, ¡°SCALLOPS!!!¡±

    A man in a worker¡¯s outfit and blue glowing eyes came. He took a glance not to the woman in the front, but one that is held by another woman in the back. His eyes widened with a nervous breath coming out of his mouth, ¡°No.¡±

    He pulled a rug from the table full of chemicals tubes. Some have shattered when they fell, but that¡¯s now what¡¯s on his mind.

    ¡°What happened, Kurira?!¡±

    Taking the wounded from the woman¡¯s arms, Kurira, laid her on the table. It is none other than Siola herself, lifeless.

    They urgently took many equipment to bring her back. Medicine, repair tools among others. Rakuri watches them doing their best. Every second, their heart beat.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Come on, Dola. Come on!¡±

    But no response.

    [Kurira]: ¡°No. Come on! Scallops! Pass me the¡ª,¡±

    He punches her face with a straight.

    *Clank *Clank

    The weight of the impact, she didn¡¯t have time to recover as he quickly mounted her. Grabbing her collars.

    [Scallops]: ¡°YOU PROMISED!¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Scallops! Stop!¡±

    [Scallops]: ¡°You promised, not a single scratch on her. What the fuck happened?!!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Get out of my fucking way!¡±

    [Scallops]: ¡°KURIRA!!!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°OUT OF MY WAY!!!¡±

    [Scallops]: ¡°SHE¡¯S GONE!¡±

    Her irises shrank as her eyes widened. Grinding her teeth, she delivers a punch straight to Scallops¡¯ eye, sending him away. The table turns, she quickly delivers another, and again, and again. Even after his face becomes unrecognizable, the expression she makes as she¡¯s about to finish him is not pretty, but then, she lowered her hand after seeing Rakuri.

    The news of one¡¯s passing, one who she greatly holds dear.

    Running away from it, out of the building, out of the street.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Rakuri!¡±

    Pushing Scallops away as chase after her, but she¡¯s already gone far towards a bridge. Her eyes turned bright red as she speeds up. Quickly closing the gaps.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Rakuri!¡±

    No signs of slowing down.

    In this rain, fog covers the bridge. Lightning strikes frequently disturb their hearing.

    Kurira recalls a similar scene from her old days. In her eyes, in this moment, she sees the slender body of her sister turning wide as her body shrinking.

    When she blinks, the night hour turns into daylight. It feels like the world has slowed down. Their sweat mixed in with the rain, with their blood, their tears.

    The only thing they have in their mind is how things have led to this.

    Seeing all three version of her sister jumping off a bridge. How her hands are reaching out to her as their body fall to the sea. A lightning strike again. Hairs were separated amidst the water as their body sinks to the deep abyss.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Light appears from the top. Rakuri¡¯s cold body. Sharp eyes, intuitive reflexes, Kurira pulled her sister back to the surface.

    ¡°Pwah!¡±

    *Pant *Pant

    Her eyes blinded by the sun. Gasping for air as she swims towards the shore. Quickly pumping air into Rakuri¡¯s lung. Her chest, push, push, and push. When water rises from Rakuri¡¯s body, flowing out of her mouth.

    *Cough *Cough

    Her eyes opened, and she sees a flash of a back hand.

    *SLAP*

    [Kurira]: ¡°What the hell were you thinking?!¡±

    However, something¡¯s strange. The impact was less than she expected, the sensation of pain that is coming through after the effect, it¡¯s odd.

    Only after Rakuri turned her face when it all makes sense.

    ¡°K-Kurira?¡±

    ¡°Rakuri?¡±

    It is because of their face. Younger, cleaner.

    Kurira dismounts her and sluggishly moving towards the water, to see her own reflection in it. Her eyes twitched, ¡°What the hell is this?

    No piercing, messy blue hair thinned on both sides. She looked up, seeing the busy streets of the rundown bridge. The scene of them jumping from it flashes her mind again.

    It¡¯s daytime when it shouldn¡¯t be.

    Rakuri then said, ¡°We went back to the past, aren¡¯t we? That means Dola could be¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡±

    Cutting the conversation short. Kurira walks around past the bridge with her sister following sluggishly. Unlike the stern expression that Kurira makes, Rakuri has grimace on her face.

    She sees Kurira clenching her fists till her nails cut the skin of her palm.

    They arrived to the warehouse but they didn¡¯t see their bike parked anywhere. Once again, Kurira gritted her teeth as they walked in.

    Laughter echoed through the entire space.

    [Man 1]: ¡°Bwahahaha, so, this big tits on Metro actually went in on that guy. Spreading them juicy legs!¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Hah, told you. There¡¯s a lot of em bitches goin¡¯ over there. Hey, we shuld save up in case if we see one of em around.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Bwahaha, as if them fancy bitches gonna be on this shithole.¡±

    None of these boys seem to be mature enough to act like one. Three of them in total. One saw the two girls coming their way, and soon all of them stood.

    [Man 1]: ¡°Yoo, ain¡¯t this a lucky fate.¡±

    He¡¯s about to walk but shoved back by a bigger muscular guy.

    [Man 1]: ¡°Ah, come on, dawg. Should save some for us sometimes.¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Heh, just shut it. When Borong wanna do some¡¯, we better not get on his way. Less we wanna go hospital we can¡¯t afford lol.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Haha.¡±

    The big guy Borong approach them and ask.

    [Borong]: ¡°Sure you girls ain¡¯t lost or somethin¡¯? Wanna accompany us boys pass time?¡±

    Kurira with her eyes locking with a bloodshot.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Pack your panties, and get the fuck out of this place, you ******.¡±

    The boys at the back burst to laughter, ¡°Bwahahaha.¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°She ded.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Hahahaha¡­ Haah¡­ This girl, not even gangs are gonna mess with our Borong after having a taste of his punch.¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Heh, man be punching boulders with that.¡±

    *SLAP*

    Their eyes widened. Hearing that noise, the Borong they respected and feared, getting slapped by a woman. He glanced at Kurira with his eyes popping veins.

    [Kurira]: ¡°You ain¡¯t moving?¡±

    A fist clenched with an ugly expression formed. He swung his body as his arms flew with his fist going towards Kurira¡¯s face. A knee went up, extended, the tip of her shoes went straight to Borong¡¯s jaw as her body leaned back.

    *Bam*

    *CRACK*

    She didn¡¯t fell, instead, Rakuri got her back.

    Kurira with her teeth grinding as she looks at the ceiling, a flash of memory, an image of it with a darker tone of the future.

    Opening her mouth, ¡°You¡¯re dead then.¡±

    Borong¡¯s still feeling the impact from the kick, flails. He quickly opens his eyes and throw another punch but Kurira scratches his forearm as she went and deliver two double tap kick straight to his cheek and eye, ending with another heavy kick to his nose.

    Staggered, he covered his face for a moment, but his knee was kicked. Disjointing it slightly.

    [Borong]: ¡°Gwargh!¡±

    That¡¯s when he felt the pain. Switching from covering his face to feeling his knees, his unguarded face was damaged yet again with a heavy blow of a kick.

    Rakuri swiftly handed her a weapon. It was then when Borong falls, but suddenly, his head is smashed to the ground in mid-air with a metal pipe.

    *Thud *Thud *Thud

    *Crack *BAKK *Thudd *CRACK

    With each hit, his body responded with a jolt. Until it never again.

    [Man 2]: ¡°N-No way.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m, I¡¯m out! I¡¯m outta here!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hraaaaaaaaaah!¡±

    *CRACK*

    Seeing that her sister hasn¡¯t yet to stop pummeling, Rakuri grabbed her sister¡¯s arm.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Kurira, that¡¯s enough.¡±

    At that moment, her bloodshot eyes widened. She gripped her metal pipe and struck her sister¡¯s head. Her eyes rolled as she falls to the ground.

    *Clank *Clank

    Grabbing Rakuri by the collar as her mind tries to recover, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t because of you¡­¡± her fists drenched with blood, clenched, ¡°If only I had gone alone¡­ she would¡¯ve¡­ she would¡¯ve¡­¡±

    Rakuri grab a hold of a metal pipe and struck her.

    *BAM*

    But Kurira remains unmoving despite her bleeding mouth.

    Rakuri¡¯s irises shrank as her consciousness returns. Kurira¡¯s punch, she dodges it and kick her away but not before Kurira landed a straight.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Gohogkh?!¡±

    The two standing against each other. Rakuri gritted her bloodied teeth and went for a tackle.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Hraaaaaaaaaargh!¡±

    The two spills blood. A punch with a punch. A kick against a kick. Their attack always hits as they both never goes on defense.

    The scene continues as blood splashes around. On the ground, Rakuri holding Kurira¡¯s arm in a chokehold as she repeatedly kicking her face.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, Fuck YOU! She chose me! Just admit it you¡¯re jealous! You never accepted it! Now you have a reason to deny it!¡±

    Kurira grabbed her clenched fist and pull Rukira¡¯s entire body that is clinging to her arm, and threw her down. The back of her head struck to the ground.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Gahk?!¡±

    Kurira pulls her sister¡¯s leg, and by extension, her body, and mounts her as she delivers a punch to Rakuri¡¯s face.

    Her eyes rolled as she tries her hardest to keep Kurira¡¯s hands away from her but she quickly overpowers her. Kurira¡¯s hands on her neck, choking her.

    ¡°Hnnngh¡­ Ghhrk¡­¡±

    ¡°Ghhrkgoghkk¡­¡±

    The grimace on Kurira¡¯s face, she sees it for the first time clearly. The tears coming out as she feels the air getting thin.

    No matter how much Rakuri struggles, Kurira never moved an inch. Never stops.

    ¡°Haaaaghhkk¡­¡±

    Rakuri¡¯s eyes rolling out, her strength weakened.

    Kurira with a tear in her eyes, choke her sister even harder. But then, a flash of light. Golden and warm. A face that she recognizes, a face that she has lost. Grasping her shoulder. A smile. Brightest one she has ever seen before.

    [Siola]: ¡°Guys, cut it out. Let¡¯s go to the Capital together.¡±

    Her tears fall.

 Chapter 69 - Season 2 Special - Recovery

    With the temperature getting warmer, walking down the road is exhausting. Especially so when she is carrying her sister¡¯s limp body. Rakuri sees the bright sun blinding her, turning her head to the sister who almost killed her not too long ago. Brushes her cheek to the firm shoulder.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Your armpit must¡¯ve smell so good right about now.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Hey, I think I¡¯m a little¡­ off. What did you do?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°It¡¯s just a couple of patches since you were bleeding out. Stop asking stupid question.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Heheee¡­ Like I can do anything about that, hahaha¡­ for real though, I wanna sniff your armpit. Gimme gimmeeee.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°So, you¡¯re better now, huh. Why didn¡¯t you say so.¡±

    Leaving her to walk by herself.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°W-Waoh wwheeee¡­¡±

    Kurira sees a rusted old car parked behind fences. They found a hole on the other side and once they got close to the car. Kurira went topless, and uses her top as a glove.

    *Crash*

    Smashed window.

    Rakuri blow a whistle, ¡°Nice bod you got there.¡±

    Ignoring her, she went and inspect the car. Attempting to hotwire, but she notices that there¡¯s no gas in it.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Damn it! Fucking useless.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Should¡¯ve expected it after just looking at it, ehehehe.¡±

    Putting her top back on.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Well, I guess we¡¯re walking then.¡±

    Rakuri tiptoeing weirdly as she¡¯s reaching out to her. Kurira rolled her eyes as she finally decided to lend her hand. Sighing deeply, the two walks towards the sun and head home.

    A less than modest place. Walls that have never been repaint, a home without window. Inside, there are two gaming capsules but they¡¯re dated. She can even see rust from it.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Urgh, I feel like I¡¯m about to throw up.¡±

    Rakuri sludge herself to her capsule. The seat bed inside. Her eyes widened.

    [Rakuri]: Geh?! It stinks!¡±

    Kurira look around the place, and a flood of memories surge through her head. Memories of laughter, memories of joy, memories of sadness. She remembers gathering pennies and saved them in that jar. How happy the two of them were when they got a dollar. All to rebuild this house.

    Years went by, but that jar was never full.

    She had enough of it, no longer she decided to scrounge for scraps, she spend it all in these two gaming capsules. It was recent, as recent as yesterday. It was the moment where Rakuri decided to give up on everything, and Kurira had to chase her for it. It took months for that young woman to recover but now, she¡¯s over there cleaning her capsule.

    [Kurira]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Can¡¯t help herself but to smile.

    The bedroom is not empty. There¡¯re so many things that the two have gathered throughout the years. From old mattresses, dolls, decorations. All from the landfill nearby.

    A wooden doll, one she made herself.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    [Kurira]: ¡®Dola¡­¡¯

    [Kurira]: ¡°Heheh, I like quality metal but this is good too, I guess.¡±

    She chuckles as tears falling. Hugging it closely to her chest.

    *Sob*

    Rakuri, just by the door. Leaning her back on the wall. She didn¡¯t enter, she cannot. And so, only a clenched fish and a forced smile is let out until her strong sister stops crying.

    Hours passed. After a thorough cleaning and checks, their capsules are ready, but they sit on the lid instead of entering it.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Maybe if we had saved for a couple more months, we would¡¯ve had enough money to rebuilt this house.¡±

    Rakuri chuckles.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Maybe.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°But we wouldn¡¯t have met her.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°We probably would¡¯ve just gone out there. Being thieves, and ended up getting shot by the MCPD. Have you seen what¡¯s happening out there? It¡¯s nasty!¡±

    {*Metro City Police Department*}

    Her wide grin as she looks at Kurira finally forming a smile.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Think we¡¯ll ever meet her in there?¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Heheh, and even if we do. What then?¡±

    Kurira glances at her.

    Rakuri with a weird gesture.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Ooooh, we¡¯re from the future, Siola. You¡¯re our girlfriend, so what say we hook up together again?¡±

    Ending that with a shrug.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh, I¡¯d love to say that at least once.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Heheh.¡±

    Rakuri form a smile.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Well, it¡¯s settled then. Let¡¯s find her. After we fix this dump.¡±

    Scoffed. They then enter the capsule. Unlike their past high-end setup, it¡¯s extremely uncomfortable, but the fact that they know that they have indeed survived with it for so long, it is enough confidence for them to move forward with it. Not like they have any choice.

    After creating their account, both are transferred into a white space with a few screens on them and the title above it says [Character Creation].

    [Kurira]: ¡®It looks more modern than what I had back then. Weird.¡¯

    [Kurira]: ¡°Let¡¯s go defaults for now.¡±

    Glancing to the next screen, this time is her profile status.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Mage.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Heheh.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡®Back to old times.¡¯

    And just like that, she hit the finish button and skip everything that is thrown at her. And then, bright white lights. From the dirty street and musky atmosphere of desolated sector, to a beautiful grass plain in the new world that is Ekolia.

    A morning breeze washes over her. She blinks to see a somewhat unfamiliar environment.

    [Shopkeeper 1]: ¡°Potions! Potions here! Just a few buck a piece!¡±

    [Shopkeeper 2]: ¡°Weapons, y¡¯all! Come oonnnn you need it! I got all the common goods you want, little to no requirements here!¡±

    Vendors, people walking about, people sparring with each other, people training with dolls and small monsters in the area. And there¡¯s a lot of them, both the people and the monsters.

    [Man 1]: ¡°Oi, miss. Never seen you around here, need some carrying? Pretty affordable, me. Just 10 bucks an hour. I know some good resting spots too.¡±

    Glancing and surveying around, she ignored the man and leave.

    [Man 1]: ¡°O-Oi!¡±

    As she walks further and further away, he gives up on her.

    Kurira went to a quieter place where her thoughts can run with minimal disturbance. There she opens her main menu screens and notices the new patch. Ekolia Build 4_61. It¡¯s much lighter than the previous build where only a few improvements are added, such as learning skills and spells without the need of fulfilling the requirements.

    But that¡¯s not the one she¡¯s interested in, but rather the patch before that.

    ¡®Hunh, definitely never seen this.¡¯

    ¡®Realism Mode is no more? No wonder I didn¡¯t see it. And spell casting?¡¯

    ¡®Heh, Dola would often say its cringe but almost all-powerful spells in later game including her requires casting. And no cooldown this time? My goodness.¡¯

    Looking down on her breast, the rags she¡¯s wearing and the empty hands she has.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Now where do I get me some items?¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Kurira, is that you?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Ah, Rakuri, good timing. Let¡¯s go and get¡ª.¡±

    Her eyes widened to the sight of magnanimous breasts. Eyes twitching when she sees her face, it is indeed her sister, but she took the liberty of appearing as her future self.

    [Kurira]: ¡°What the fuck?¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Oh, when you said that we¡¯ll meet Dola, I thought we¡¯re going out like this?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hell no! What do you mean?! No wait, that makes sense, but gahh?!¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°You¡¯re stressing too much about it. Anyway, should we go our separate ways? I¡¯m thinking about approaching this in a less brutish way.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Brutish?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°You don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m about to¡ª.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°I can guess. Banging on bosses and high-level monsters. Not very efficient if I say so myself.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Better than to come out empty at the end of it. Please, are we seriously gonna do this now? It worked out last time.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Heh, it ¡®worked out¡¯ because we had Dola¡¯s weird OP build, but no way I¡¯m going around with you without her.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°What¡¯s your problem? Tch, well, good luck then.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°You¡¯re the one who needs it.¡±

    She said as she¡¯s leaving.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hey, idiot. Friend list.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Tip toeing back as Kurira shook her head. Rakuri has left her speechless by her blunder and thus, she finally left afterwards with a red flush on her ears.

    Rolling her eyes, Kurira takes a walk to the west portal while Rakuri went to the east. Their hands touching the brilliant colors of the portal. Kurira looked at her sister once more, pained by the thought of not seeing her again, even for a moment.

    ¡°Heh,¡± shaking her head in disbelief.

    Her eyes forward, ready to face whatever is ahead of her.

 Chapter 70 - Season 2 Special - Navigating Unfamiliarity

    Gaming, to think such a beautiful hobby would be muddied to a point that nobody is thinking of having fun anymore. At least, not the way it used to be. Same goes for me, in my past live, I had 4 characters in Ekolia. I grinded levels for each and every one of them, and they serve different purposes. Be it a paladin to act as a tank, a wayfarer for scouts, a wizard for a firepower, and a jack-of-all trades to act as a dummy practice. All to help my friend progress.

    Dola, that cute little puffball, I kept nibbling on her cheek cause of how fluffy it is. But that¡¯s not why I like her. That¡¯s not why I helped her. The both of us made a promise before she went into my sister¡¯s arm, to find joy in what we do. In gaming.

    As I opened my eyes, I¡¯m awaken to a busy encampment with wooden buildings in different variety of heights all around me. Cola Boyo, StripCold, CopyCat Magenta, these buildings are obviously made by other players. From an inn, a bar, and a marketplace. It¡¯s sufficed to say that it¡¯s more like a village than that of a camp.

    ¡®Now, what would one have to do after that World Restoration patch, I wonder. Obviously, training before going into the portal. But why would I waste my time on that?¡¯

    ¡®As I don¡¯t have any firepower, I should get one. Which I assumed to be the point of those little animals before the gate, but assuming that everyone is now in Realism Mode.¡¯

    ¡®That makes it easier.¡¯

    Some twerp with her mom probably, he got a sword on his hip. Grinning a little as I walk bump into them.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh, sorry.¡±

    [Girl]: ¡°No, my bad.¡±

    In that split moment, I have her sword in my hand, but I decided to let it go and just smile when I¡¯m walking away.

    ¡°Goodness, watch where you¡¯re going, dear.¡±

    ¡°Yes, mom¡­¡±

    Grin falling out of my face as I walk out of the encampment, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡®It¡¯s too easy.¡¯

    And so, with empty hands, I decided to go to the forest.

    It doesn¡¯t take me long for me to find out where I am after my first encounter with a beast. Long ears, a common beast walking in all four, those fangs.

    {Rabbit Wolf / Level 5}

    Busy with its prey, eating and munching on it.

    ¡®Lorkhan kingdom¡­ or what, is it empire now?¡¯

    ¡®There¡¯s a lot of things that have changed, but I doubt it alters the core of it all.¡¯

    How would one without any firepower defeat anything at all? Well, they would need to turn that 0 into 1, and there¡¯s a lot of ways to do that. Be it stealing, helped by others, or maybe go through the proper way that is the new tutorial zone. But all are too easy for me.

    Right now, I don¡¯t have anything. But if I don¡¯t aggro those wolves, those goblins, that giant fucking T-rex, I wouldn¡¯t even need to crouch.

    There¡¯s a flower I want.

    {Greenbloom Stinger / Uncommon}

    A three-petal flower with a spiky and sticky body. Just need a little pluck out from the roots, and then I move on to the next one. A blue mountain flower and a very tricky double flower living on the side of a river. There are so many crocodile-like creatures sitting close by.

    {Nimbus Petal / Common}

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    {Bridgeroot / Uncommon}

    I got an abundant of them, thankfully. Next is getting a lot of yellow fruit from down the cliff and takes out their seed. They also taste good, but not the seed, they¡¯re extremely sour.

    {Ferula Seed / Common}

    The last piece of ingredient would be the carcass of an undead goat. Now, how would someone without a firepower kills it? Well, I necessarily don¡¯t have to hit them with anything.

    I aggroed a couple of them until they decided to roll into a cliff and I just dodge them.

    {Thokk Bone Marrow / Common}

    Of course, I just keep doing that over and over again until my body can¡¯t take it and I had to sleep it off for the day. But now it¡¯s morning, and I have all the ingredients on hand.

    I start working on my first masterpiece by smushing that thorny flower.

    *Mush*

    *Mush*

    Certainly, one would need to have an alchemy table to make something extraordinary, but what I aimed to make doesn¡¯t necessarily need that kind of preparation. This nothing but a simple concoction. I even prepared some filtration for water before boiling it.

    I also made sure to separate the sticky liquid off the flower¡¯s stem, and have the petal as garnish before I mush it together with the goat¡¯s bone marrow.

    ! {New Potion has been created}

    <ul>

    <li>Magenta Vitalis / Epic / Increases All Secondary Attributes by 10 for 2 hours / Requirement: 80 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Brew your first potion</li>

    <li>Brew an Uncommon potion</li>

    <li>Brew a Rare potion</li>

    <li>Brew an Epic potion</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Quest Received}

    <ul>

    <li>Alchemy / Uncommon / Embrace the nature / Requirement 1: Brew a Rare Potion / Requirement 2: Consume a Rare Potion and receive the full effect / Requirement 3: Brew 25 Potion / Reward: Class Change into [Alchemist] / Condition: None</li>

    <li>Path of Alchemy / Rare / Embrace the nature of your ingredients / Requirement: Become [Alchemist] / Requirement 2: Brew an Epic Potion / Requirement 3: Consume an Epic Potion and receive the full effect / Requirement 3: Brew 100 Rare Potion / Requirement: Book of Living Nature / Condition: None</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°80 Vitality?! What do you MEAN?!!¡±

    ¡®Urgh, I thought it¡¯s just gonna give me toxin or whatever, but nope!¡¯

    ¡°Change of plan!¡±

    If this is what the game wants from me, then it¡¯s gonna get it.

    There are a lot of recipes out there that one can create even without skills or mana. They just have to know what they have to make. And so, I spent an entire week, scavenging for alchemical ingredients without killing a single enemy.

    Munching on a delicious burger, a fry and that spicy ketchup.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Mmmph.¡±

    It¡¯s been days, a week, yeah. Eating trash and leftovers. Rakuri looking at me, disgusted.

    [Kurira]: ¡°What?¡±

    Shaking her head in disbelief.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°A whole week and you have nothing to show for it. I saw a fucking trash bag outside and I know for sure we don¡¯t even have a single trash bag in our house.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°God, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll survive long without me.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. I never said I needed your help, and you bought this for me when I didn¡¯t even ask.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°I already got $800 in my bank account, and I spent $2000 to get all the necessities for the kitchen plus $15 for this meal. And I wanna know how you can spend an entire week and not even have a single cent, again, to show for it, hm?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°I¡¯m working on it, okay? Jeez. You can spend all your money on yourself, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll be handling the house.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°When? When?!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Soon.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°How soon?!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Tch, seriously, what¡¯s your problem?¡±

    Tapping her arm as she pouts and looking away. I continue to munch on the fries and milkshake until she responds.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°I wanna get kitted again.¡±

    Shrugging.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Okay?¡±

    Nervously playing with her mouth.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°I¡¯m serious. You um¡­ you¡¯re not like, um¡­¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°What?¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°I wanna have some augments!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Okay?¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Why you¡ª.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Seriously, what?!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°I can¡¯t stand always being so tired because of these bones! These, these flesh, Kurira! I wanna get kitted, I wanna get some augments! I promise I won¡¯t be a whole cyborg, but I at least want to rock my old stuff from¡ª you know!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Well, do you have the money?¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°I¡¯m working on it!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Why do you keep yelling?!¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry?!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Why?!¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Because you don¡¯t want me to get kitted!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°When did I say that?¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Aren¡¯t you?!¡±

    Kurira squeezed her brows as stinging pain surged to her forehead. She massages it.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Aha! See, I know you don¡¯t want me to!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Rakuri! Shut the fuck up!¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Tight lipped and zipped.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Goddamn it, why do you need my permission to do that?! If you have the money, then go for it, you dumbo!¡±

    Grimace as she looks away, grabbing her arm.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°It¡¯s okay, right?¡±

    She said as she looks at me in the eye.

    I don¡¯t like it when she keeps probing for confirmation, but I know why she did it, and it doesn¡¯t come from a place of annoyance, but more of anger. From me.

    Clenching my mouth as I nodded.

    She smiles as she grabs my hand, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    We took our seat and continue our meal. That conversation we had, Rakuri was right. It¡¯s been a week and I really have nothing to show. Hell, I¡¯m still at level one. But that¡¯ll change soon.

 Chapter 71 - Season 2 Special - Fireworks

    When you think of Alchemy, you think of Potions, you think of wounds being healed, you think of Mana and Stamina being restored. Even the game itself only gives you task to brew potions to become an alchemist, but it¡¯s never all about that.

    <ul>

    <li>[15x] Frostfire Bomb / Rare / Creates a highly explosive blast that deals up to 120 damage in 20-meter radius and leave two different trails of element, lasts for 15 seconds, build up burn and cold overtime, and targets caught close to the epic center has up to 25% chance to get frostbitten / Requirement: 35 Vitality</li>

    <li>[30x] Crucible Bomb / Uncommon / Creates an explosion that deals up to 75 damage in 15-meter radius, releasing thorn that has 10% chance to stun targets for 10 seconds / Requirement: 15 Vitality</li>

    <li>[8x] Verdant Vortex Bomb / Epic / Creates a large vines and branches that rooted into the ground, spiked with large thorns that buildup toxin and 2.5% chance to cause Paralysis for 30 seconds. Upon impact, it releases a whirling gush of air that pulls anything in 30-meter radius. Lasts for 90 seconds / Requirement: 135 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    We need Vitality to be able to take the effect of a potion properly, but what about poisons? We would need Vitality to be able to overcome it, but nobody is going to be willingly drink a poison.

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Concoct a Bomb</li>

    <li>Concoct an Uncommon Bomb</li>

    <li>Concoct a Rare Bomb</li>

    <li>Concoct an Epic Bomb</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Quest Received}

    <ul>

    <li>Explosion / Epic / Embrace the chaos made / Requirement 1: Concoct an Epic Bomb / Requirement 2: Kill an enemy of at least level 100 with an Epic Bomb / Requirement 3: Concoct 25 Bombs / Reward: Class Change into [Engineer] / Condition: None</li>

    </ul>

    Nothing forbids me from holding these bombs, nothing forbids me from throwing it. Which means, I can have a field day with any monsters below the rank of these bombs.

    ¡®Hm?¡¯

    ¡®Hold on, what is this [Engineer] class?¡¯

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡®Ah, I remember. Yeah, one of those crafter class. It¡¯s quite powerful if you want to settle down, especially beneficial for a guild that would want to have an armada of battleships.¡¯

    ¡®Well, I can change class later on, but I never tried that one. It¡¯ll be all too easy for me to change into a wizard, so why not explore my options since it¡¯s quite early anyway?¡¯

    The edge of my lips tilted.

    I grabbed a branch and play with it as I mumbled, ¡°World Boss or Dungeons, world boss or dungeons, world boss or¡­¡±

    I tossed it up, and as it landed, I chuckle.

    ¡°World Boss, it is then.¡±

    In this beautiful morning, I followed a large tree that serves as a bridge in between two lands. There¡¯s a massive waterfall, and it¡¯s a long way down if I were to fall.

    If I go straight, I will find a group of raptors around.

    {Rockwings / Level 60}

    These creatures are large, bird-like predators with razor-sharp talons and beaks. Their bodies are covered in tough, stone-like scales that range in color from gray to deep green, allowing them to blend seamlessly into the forest canopy. They are skilled hunters, and I wouldn¡¯t want to be caught with my pants down with them. They can even climb trees.

    Eight of them and they¡¯re pretty scattered, which is a weakness of my grenadier approach.

    I grinned, ¡®Not like they¡¯ll see me when it goes¡ª.¡±

    *BOOM*

    The chilling ice and fire spread in double X formation, burning and chilling a few that have caught and have even frostbitten one. Stunned and chilled. Two of them are dead.

    *Croooooak-croak-croak*

    They scatter, but I see three are together, so I send another one their way. They even look at it as it falls to one of their faces before it goes¡ª.

    *BOOM*

    Again. All three dead and the chills and burns also caught the previous targets, and now only two of them are left, but they soon escaped.

    ¡°Heheheh, yeah, I¡¯m not catching that.¡±

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ¡°Easy exp right there. Now, then¡­¡±

    <ul>

    <li>[3x] Magic Core / Rare / Contains a creature¡¯s strength</li>

    <li>[15x] Talon Claws / Common / Razor-sharp</li>

    <li>[2x] Feathered Scales / Rare / Lightweight, iridescent scales resembling feathers</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Heheh, I guess this is what 0 luck means. No equipment or weapon drops at all. I guess it¡¯s a waste of bombs throwing at these mobs.¡±

    Going even further into the forest, one can encounter a massive dinosaur that is close to three times the size of a T-rex, except with a rock-like scales covering its entire body. Iridescent, shifting from deep greens to earthy browns as light hits them at different angles, it¡¯s natural camo.

    ! {World Boss Encounter}

    ~ {Terrasaur / Level 180 / Health: 543 [+280]}

    ¡°Just shy 20 levels from a master rank.¡±

    ¡°Now, tell me, Terrasaur. Have you invested 135 points to Vitality?¡±

    Spending some points into it myself. With a proper technique, I don¡¯t need to exert too much power into my throw for the bomb to reach that thing.

    Seeing it falls right under its feet, I grinned.

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    *Bwoooosh*

    Spikes of massive vines sprouts from beneath, tripping the creature as it falls onto its thorns. A gush of wind whirls around creating a vortex.

    *Roaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar*

    It¡¯s deep anger.

    *Rooooaaaaaaa¡ª*

    It suddenly stops, and that¡¯s when my grin grows wider. The creature has been paralyzed by the vines, but I¡¯m not about to let it recover without any resistance.

    With a [Frostfire Bomb], I throw it straight at it.

    *BOOM*

    Creating that double effect of cold and fire, something that should be opposite to one another, like how could you get burned if you¡¯re frozen? Well, that¡¯s the neat part, you don¡¯t. They cancel each other depending on which one buildup first. If it¡¯s cold, the creature is frozen until the burn builds up completed, resetting it until it got frozen again.

    But that explosion doesn¡¯t stop. Three more is send on its way and one more Verdant bomb.

    Watching the view as I seated.

    ¡°Heheh, it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.¡±

    ! {Congratulations, you have defeated a Terrasaur. The first to have been slain}

    ! {Your name will be listed in the Hall of Fame}

    ! {New Titles has been granted}

    <ul>

    <li>Indomitable / One who overcome a great challenge against a mighty foe / Effect: Gain Invincibility for 5 second when health drops below 25%. Immune from being staggered and have 50% resistance from being stunned</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level 25 Milestone has been reached}

    ! {Level 50 Milestone has been reached}

    ! {Quest has been completed}

    ! {Class Change to [Engineer] is now available}

    ¡°Do it.¡±

    ! {Changing Class}

    A nice breeze washes over me.

    ! {Class Change Completed}

    ! {Innate Ability has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Chemist (Passive) / Rank 1 / Nature-miracle / Intelligence value now contribute 2.5% per point of Intelligence to created item¡¯s effect</li>

    <li>Explosive Expertise (Passive) / Level 1 / Engineer / Created bombs can now be detonated remotely by spending 3 Mana per-meter distance. Rare bombs and above will now deal 25% more damage and has 5% more reach</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Four rare and two epic is all it takes to take that thing down. Well, concocting the epic one is quite painful, but the result is well worth it.¡±

    ¡°Or is it?¡±

    I went to check on the loot.

    <ul>

    <li>[1x] Magic Core / Epic / Contains a creature¡¯s strength</li>

    <li>[8x] Bloodstone / Epic / Iridescent gemstone found in a creature''s blood vessels</li>

    <li>[5x] Jaw Crusher / Epic / A set of fearsome teeth</li>

    <li>[8x] Claws of the Terrasaur / Epic / Massive, curved claws</li>

    <li>[1x] Plate Scales / Heavy Armor / Epic / Physical Defense: 250 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: Increases Physical Defense by 50%. Has innate spell [Earth Armor], Cast to cover equipment in stones, granting 300 additional Health that blocks physical damage and increases Physical Defense by additional 50%, lasts for 420-seconds, 45-second cooldown / Requirement: 40 Strength, 40 Endurance, 10 Intelligence</li>

    <li>[1x] Crusher''s Jaw Maul / Heavy Weapon / Epic / Physical Attack: 250 / Magical Attack: 0 / Enchantment: Upon a slam, creates a tremor in 15-meter radius, staggering those above except the wielder and has up to 5% chance to stun targets for 20 seconds the further they are from impact, effect minimized the further they are from impact. In 20 seconds, attacks within the tremor deals additional 50% damage / Requirement: 60 Strength, 40 Endurance</li>

    <li>[1x] Terrasaur Claw Cannon / Heavy Weapon / Epic / Physical Attack: 400 / Magical Attack: 0 / Enchantment: Upon impact, creates a tremor in 30-meter radius, staggering those above and has up to 5% chance to stun targets for 20 seconds the further they are from impact, effect minimized the further they are from impact. Attacks within the tremor radius deals additional 50% damage / Requirement: 60 Strength, 40 Endurance</li>

    <li>[1x] Bangle of the Earthshaker / Epic / Enchantment: Increases Strength and Endurance by 20. Increases Physical Defense by 200 + 50% / Requirement: 30 Strength, 30 Endurance, 20 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    ¡®Hmm, all of these sounds terrible at first glance, but stuns and physical damage goes hand in hand, and it¡¯s going hard. But considering what I aimed to do at first, and that is increasing my base stats for magic¡­¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t think I actually need it anymore, right?¡¯

    ¡®Yeah, I don¡¯t need attacks or physical defense, my bombs can do it all for me. Thing is, what if I got cornered? What would I do then?¡¯

    ¡®For now, though, it benefits me to invest in Intelligence and anything that increases Stamina. And considering Vitality increases all three Primary Attributes, that¡¯s the one I go for.¡¯

    ¡®Equal amount each.¡¯

    ===== Profile Status =====

    Statistics

    <ul>

    <li>Name: Kurira</li>

    <li>Level: 69</li>

    <li>Class: Engineer</li>

    <li>Title: ---</li>

    </ul>

    Primary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Max Health: 53 [+92.75] | Max Mana: 1 [+1.75] | Max Stamina: 156 [+273]</li>

    <li>Health: 145.75 | Mana: 1 | Stamina: 429</li>

    </ul>

    Secondary Attributes

    <ul>

    <li>Strength: --- / Dexterity: --- / Endurance: ---</li>

    <li>Vitality: 35 / Agility: ---</li>

    <li>Intelligence: 34 / Faith: --- / Luck: ---</li>

    </ul>

    Combat

    <ul>

    <li>Physical Attack: --- / Physical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Magical Attack: --- / Magical Defense: ---</li>

    <li>Health Regeneration: 0.001 / Mana Regeneration: 0.01 / Stamina Regeneration: 0.1</li>

    </ul>

    Active Effect

    <ul>

    <li>[---]</li>

    </ul>

    ===== Profile Status =====

    ¡°Stamina Regen is going to be a problem, but it shouldn¡¯t be hard to brew a couple of green pots. Plus, I don¡¯t need the extra benefits of Endurance and Agility, it¡¯d be a waste of points.¡±

    ¡°Now then, I still have a lot of bombs left.¡±

    And so, I went to the next World Boss. Skipping every little monster, I see, and there I see it. A shadow beast, a panther half of the size of these great trees, almost as big as the Terrasaur.

    ! {World Boss Encounter}

    ~ {Umbral Panther / Level 250 / Health: 750 [+550]}

    ¡®A master rank boss, huh. Well, why not, I guess. Haha.¡¯

    Start with a verdant bomb. Aiming it straight under it, and I got it, but just in case it didn¡¯t get the thing caught, I threw another one beside it.

    Vines full of thorn appears and gush of wind entrapped the creature within it.

    *RAWR*

    It looks around frantically, but it will never find me for I am actually above it, literally. Sitting right on the large branch of this tree. Swinging my legs as I see the thing got swept up and paralyzed. And with that, a gentle throw of my bombs went on.

    It¡¯s so nice hearing it go¡ª

    *BOOM*

    When the verdant is on its last seconds, I threw another one to repeat it with more Firefrost going, and I¡¯m just here enjoying the fireworks.

    ¡°Heheh, I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.¡±

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ! {Level UP}

    ¡°Oh? I¡¯m not the first to defeat that thing?¡±

    ! {Level 100 Milestone has been reached}

    ! {New Innate Ability has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Modular Assembly Terminal / Rank 1 / Store created workstation and storage up to 7x7 meters at Will, Cast Sign to release. Spend Mana to create M.A.T for item automation, items created in M.A.T has decreased 50% Potency / Cost: 25 Mana</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Requirement has been met}

    <ul>

    <li>Defeat 2 bosses with only bombs</li>

    <li>Defeat a boss of at least level 150 with only Epic bombs or lower</li>

    <li>Defeat a final dungeon boss or World Boss of at least level 200 with only Epic bombs or lower</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Innate Abilities have been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Chemist (Passive) / Rank 2 / Nature-miracle / Intelligence value now contribute 5% per point of Intelligence to created item¡¯s effect</li>

    <li>Explosive Expertise (Passive) / Level 5 / Engineer / Created bombs can now be detonated remotely by spending 3 Mana per-meter distance. Rare bombs and above will now deal 75% more damage and has 45% more reach</li>

    <li>Modular Assembly Terminal / Rank 3 / Engineer / Store created workstation and storage up to 7x7 meters at Will, Cast Sign to release. Spend Mana to create M.A.T for item automation, items created in M.A.T has decreased 25% Potency / Cost: 100 Mana</li>

    </ul>

    Climbing down slowly, I went to check on the loot, but there¡¯s nothing on it. Only a legendary magic core and a few parts of the boss.

    <ul>

    <li>[2x] Magic Core / Legendary / Contains a creature¡¯s strength</li>

    <li>[2x] Fang of the Night / Legendary / Razor-sharp fangs of an Umbra</li>

    <li>[2x] Eye of the Umbral Panther / Legendary / Uncanny eyes of an Umbra</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°I guess that big drops are awarded only to the first timers. I¡¯m guess Luck will have to be bumped up if I want that kind of loot.¡±

 Chapter 72 - Season 2 Special - Crafting

    ! {Level 200 Milestone has been reached}

    ! {New Innate Ability has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Synthesis Research Protocol / Tier 5 ¨C Master / Engineer / Cast to create an S.R.P, analyzing your memories and process them into usable research. S.R.P can be applied to M.A.T to increase efficiency and potency of manual crafting in workstation depending on the amount of usable research. S.R.P applied M.A.T can create fusion of components/ingredients depending on the amount of usable research / Cost: None</li>

    </ul>

    Looking into the Cash Shop as I sit on top of a giant earth worm. I peruse after slotting in a couple of items into my vendor store that I recently created.

    ! {You have made a sale}

    <ul>

    <li>$4000: Plate Scales</li>

    <li>$5000: Crusher¡¯s Jaw Maul</li>

    <li>$1500: Feathered Talon Bow</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Processing your sales}

    ! {Completed}

    ! {$3,787.5 has been added to your account}

    With a bit of patient, I was able to sell those items throughout the week. I could make more money if I invested in luck or just do all unfinished dungeons, but I don¡¯t want to compete for limited quantity of items.

    My original plan is to earn money simply by getting stronger and get a sponsorship, but I realized that this is not the Ekolia that I knew. It¡¯s not Ekolia where you spend a hundred bucks for a mythic deal, it¡¯s Ekolia where you spend TENS OF THOUSANDS on a fucking Epic trash.

    ¡®Damn, no wonder Rakuri suddenly has some fat stacks.¡¯

    ¡®But sooner or later, these first-time rewards will cease and people will go back on the grind. So, a stream of reliable income will have to come from a different source.¡¯

    <ul>

    <li>Magenta Vitalis / Epic / Increases All Secondary Attributes by 10 for 2 hours / Requirement: 80 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    Holding this beautiful potion. I pretty much have a thousand dollars in my hand, before taxes, fees, and marketplace share.

    ¡°Now then, let me have those money processed. And spend yet another equal amount to my Vitality and Intelligence. This class has been great so far.¡±

    ! {Quest Received}

    <ul>

    <li>Humanity / Legendary / Discover the limits of human form / Requirement 1: Have at least 100 Vitality and 100 Intelligence as an Engineer / Requirement 2: Create an Augment / Requirement 3: Create a permanent lasting Potion as an Engineer / Reward: Class Evolution to [Biomedical Engineer] / Condition: Completing a Class Change will fail this Quest</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Oh? Now this is interesting.¡±

    I¡¯ve only heard of it in the real world but not in-game. A biomedical engineer. And in order to get the one here is through making a permanent lasting potion, and¡­

    ¡°Augment?¡±

    ¡®As in prosthetic? Why would I need that when my hands are fully functional? But considering that it needs augment and not replacement¡­¡¯

    ¡®If it¡¯s enhancement¡­¡¯

    I think I got the gist of what I need. A couple of points to Strength and Endurance, I can now wear the Bangle of the Earthshaker. Which thankfully, nobody bought because they thought you need 30 Strength and 30 Endurance with it, but actually no, you just need 10 of each because the bangle already increases the Strength and Endurance by 20 when you have enough to fill it.

    ¡°I¡¯m still wearing nothing but these rags, but I don¡¯t want to spend money on it.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait, can¡¯t I just make my own clothes? No, that¡¯s a pain, I¡¯ll leave it to a crafter.¡±

    For now, though, I Cast Sign, ¡°Modular Assembly Terminal.¡±

    Targeting the location, and it summons a wooden workbench and a couple of drawers I made. It even has a bit of rudimentary alchemy station and arsenal workshop for my bombs. If I can get my hands on some metals, I could make wonders here.

    ¡°First, what do I do with this new ability I¡¯ve got?¡±

    I cast, ¡°Synthesis Research Protocol.¡±

    My sight turns pixelated and before I knew it, arcane particles have created a cyan orb floating in front of me.

    I raised my brow as I grabs it, ¡°This is S.R.P?¡±

    Laying it at the top of the workstation, the desk, the wood cracks open as it submerges the cyan orb and lighting every crack and crevice of the workstation, becoming one with it.

    There a menu appears, hovering just by the desk. Putting the rock eater¡¯s body parts into the drawer, it instantly updated smoothly as it adds them into the list.

    I can already automate item creation with M.A.T but not ingredients or components. With this, I don¡¯t have to spend too much time on pestle and mortar. Half of my processes can be automated for free. I can even just let it do everything and with only a small decrease in potency.

    ¡°Not bad. Not bad at all.¡±

    ¡®And would you look at that. A permanent lasting potion is there too.¡¯

    It really did a sweep into my brain, huh. Considering I know a lot of things from the future, does it mean that it also have those information never seen by others too?

    ¡®Neat. I guess I have to recast it if I want to update it, but that¡¯s fine.¡¯

    ! {M.A.T has finished an item}

    Cracking my hand, I get to work on this potion. It took about 20 minutes thanks to M.A.T making things a lot easier than it¡¯s supposed to.

    <ul>

    <li>Cinderbloom Concentrate / Epic / Permanently increases Strength by 1 / Requirement: 80 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    Not available for automation apparently. I need to rank up my M.A.T in order to do that.

    Glancing to the carcass of the rock eater, ¡®Don¡¯t look like it¡¯s gonna come back to life. Guess I have to exit the area for that to be the case, huh.¡¯

    Storing M.A.T back in my dimensional pocket, I walked out and return to the forest. I have also restocked my bombs and added a few more to my arsenal.

    <ul>

    <li>[40x] Shatterbomb / Rare / Creates a 15-meter explosion that deals 120 damage. If there is a target hits within 3 meters radius, it creates an additional explosion that expands to 25-meter radius, dealing 50% damage / Requirement: 60 Vitality</li>

    <li>[55x] Arcane Powder Bomb / Rare / Creates a 15-meter arcane explosion that deals 120 damage and additional 120 arcane damage</li>

    <li>[32x] Geotic Sylphid Bomb / Epic / Creates a 50-meter explosion that deals 1 damage and creates a tremor, staggering those that are caught within and has 10% chance to be stunned for the next 5 second. Earth surface will be cracked and leveled, creating living vines that entrap those in the explosion radius into the cracks. After 5 seconds, Toxin gas will be released from the cracks, dealing 10 damage per second and build up poison / Requirement: 140 Vitality</li>

    <li>[6x] Nightshade Reaver Bomb / Legendary / Creates a continuous melting point in 6-meter radius that deals up to 100 dark damage per second, an inner circle of 10-meter radius that deals up to 50 dark damage per second, a middle circle of 15-meter radius that deals up to 25 dark damage per second, and an outer circle of 50-meter radius that deals up to 10 damage per second. Lasts for 20 seconds. Each circle will pull anything caught in the radius with an even stronger pulling energy the closer the targets to the epi center. Has up to 50% chance to create an illusion that stuns the target for the duration of the reaver and weaken the targets that got caught in the epi center, reducing all their Primary Attributes and Secondary Attributes by 25% / Requirement: 150 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    ¡®Still have no use for bloodstone, but these are quite the goods.¡¯

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡®Heh, who would¡¯ve thought that something that I do as Wayfarer would turn out to be used like this. I don¡¯t know how long this is going to last, but I should make the most of it.¡¯

    ¡°Let¡¯s do some mining.¡±

    In Lorkhan, there¡¯s a lot of mining spots for common ores, but it¡¯s rare for one to come across mithril or even adamantine. But I don¡¯t think I need something as fancy as those things.

    After two weeks of solitary, I finally come in contact with a civilization or at least, part of it. A mining excavation of iron, and sure enough, there¡¯re lot of NPCs around here.

    An old man walks up to me nervously with one of his hands up, ¡°Please, halt, Traveler.¡±

    So, they know I¡¯m a player.

    ¡°D-Do you have any¡ª I mean, is there anything I can do for you?¡±

    Looking around, this place is complete. They even make steel here.

    ¡°Miss Traveler?¡±

    Shifting my attention to the old man. Well, I said old, but he¡¯s actually just a little hunchback guy, probably in his late forties or so.

    ¡°You got iron here, I want some.¡±

    ¡°Y-You want iron?¡±

    ¡°Mhm, think you¡¯re open for trades? I have potions.¡±

    His eyes gleamed, ¡°Ah, trades, of course. We have plenty of iron. Please, come this way.¡±

    Following him to a tent, he has a table full of ingots. Though I can¡¯t help but notice a couple of glances coming my way. Maybe I¡¯m the only player here.

    ¡°Over here, um, how many do you need? Oh, can you show me your potions first, if you don¡¯t mind? I¡¯ll trade you the appropriate number of ingots. Oh um, do you have Health potions with you? If not, Stamina potions would be very helpful too.¡±

    Taking some out of my inventory.

    <ul>

    <li>Nettle Nectar Wrap / Common / Restore up to 44 Health / Requirement: 2 Vitality</li>

    <li>Mountain Berry Wrap / Common / Restore up to 44 Health / Requirement: 2 Vitality</li>

    <li>Bramble Rush / Common / Restore up to 44 Stamina / Requirement: 1 Vitality</li>

    <li>Yarrow Yonder Wrap / Common / Restore up to 22 Stamina and increase Stamina Regeneration by 2 per second / Requirement: 5 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Eh? Wait, what are these?¡±

    Raising my brow, ¡°Potions?¡±

    ¡°Potions¡­ but they don¡¯t¡ª,¡± his eyes widened, ¡°Wait, their effects are¡­ a lot more than what our usual potions are. 44 restorations instead of 12.5 or 10. These are¡­¡±

    I think I get it, ¡°You mean elixir type potions, the one with bottles? Yeah, I don¡¯t have a glass to make that kind, but these are just the same. You just chew and eat instead of drink.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Sample it, one on the house.¡±

    He chooses the Yarrow Yonder Wrap and eats it. Chewing on it as he looks at me in the eye, nervously. But it doesn¡¯t take long for him to feel the effect as his eyes popped. Energized.

    ¡°Ohhhhh! Th-This is AMAZING!¡±

    The others began to gather as one steps up.

    [Man 1]: ¡°Kell, you alright?¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°Yeah. Yeah! Bring me more irons and steel you¡¯ve got! Come on!¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°Well? No lollygagging, I said bring me more of those ingots! Go!¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Alright!¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°S-So, um, miss Traveler, you said you wanted iron, right? I can even give you steel, like 60 or so ingots of iron and 20 steels. Do you have a few more of these that you can spare? My men will need 10 of the stamina ones and 2 more of these wraps.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°I only have 7 of Yonder, I have more of the rest. Though I will need an additional 60 irons if that¡¯s the trade you want.¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°We can give you more steels, about 12 more. And if you don¡¯t mind ores, you can take 50 that we just mined or you can wait and we¡¯ll smelt them for you, which will be about 30-40 ingots. But can we have 5 more of the um that one item?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Sure.¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°Great! Thank you so much!¡±

    I made them before I reached this level, but I figured that I rarely ever need them. I could just buy those irons in bulk from a trade guild and they¡¯d be dirt cheap, but that¡¯ll be too easy.

    As I didn¡¯t expect that I would get this much materials, I went to make myself some crates for them. I mean I can put the ores in my inventory but M.A.T is just too useful.

    [Man 1]: ¡°Um, do you need any help, miss Traveler?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hm? No.¡±

    *Thump*

    *Thump*

    *Thump*

    [Man 1]: ¡°Are you some sort of blacksmith and alchemist?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°I dabble in a bit of both, yeah.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Ahh okay, I know this dwarf in town. He makes most of our equipment, so if you need some help in that. He goes by the name Dura.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Dura. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±

    Putting it close to M.A.T, I loaded it with all the ingots I¡¯ve got from the trade with the help of these people too. And with that, I scored myself a good number of metals.

    Updating my M.A.T, I stored them in my dimensional pocket.

    I cast, ¡°Modular Assembly Terminal.¡±

    And I summon it again, and now, the storage is connected to the workbench.

    [Man 1]: ¡°Woah, that¡¯s¡­ That¡¯s the first time I¡¯m seeing such ability.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Yeah? That¡¯s too bad, this thing is incredibly useful.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°How useful?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Heheh, I¡¯d be talking all day and I doubt you¡¯ll understand it. No offense, it¡¯s simply something that has to do with the limit of human comprehension after such long period of time absorbing all those information.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°A-Ahh, yes, of course.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll let you get back to it, miss¡­¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Kurira.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Miss Kurira.¡±

    Seeing him nervously leaving awkwardly makes me shake my head. It¡¯s quite amusing, but I appreciate them for letting me stay for a bit.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what this augment needs of me.¡±

    Thinking about something that can be useful for an able-body, I can¡¯t help but think of an Exoskeleton. A simple mechanical engineering for my dominant arm would suffice, I think.

    Opening the back of my oven, I replace the magic core inside.

    ¡°Iron ingot goes in.¡±

    I¡¯m gonna start with M.A.T for fusion, some dandelion, rose bush, this common magic core and this little ruby. And this will work as the power source.

    *Ting*

    Getting my tongs to pull out the heated ingot. With S.R.P, I draw the design and wait for confirmation and I see a lot of red.

    ! {Workstation toolkit is insufficient}

    It can only do some basic cuts, but it should suffice. I take my hammer and starts working on some plates, and I might as well heat up another ingot.

    Small but rigid. Structure integrity needs to be top notch; it doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s a patchwork as long as it doesn¡¯t wobble or worse yet, crumble.

    *Tink*

    *Tink*

    *Tink*

    I don¡¯t have a machine to get a fully rounded corners, but it¡¯s good enough when it can rotate properly. When the framework is done, I work on the joints and connectors.

    Four ingots were needed for me to craft this one, and it¡¯s finally done.

    ¡°Phew. Alright, let¡¯s put them together.¡±

    Another iron ingot goes in, I start assembling the design. Combining the framework, with the joints and connectors. Heating them up with M.A.T before patching some more iron into it. I need them a little loose but not loose enough to make my wrist going 360.

    There I add a whole magic core to the side of the elbow, common, just enough for it to run. I carefully let the smelted power source in line throughout the framework and connects them to the frame of the magic core. After that, I properly closed them with another coating of iron.

    ! {Masterpiece has been created}

    ! {Name your item}

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Well, now that¡¯s something. To think something like this is being called masterpiece, that¡¯s ridiculous. I mean, in comparison the people in desolated sector would just give something like these five bucks, but I guess it¡¯s nice that I can name my item.

    <ul>

    <li>Iron Arm / Augment / Rare / Health: 90 / Enchantment: Increases Strength by 30 / Requirement: 30 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    ! {Item has been upgraded}

    <ul>

    <li>Iron Doll Arm / Masterwork Augment / Epic / Health: 300 / Enchantment: Increases Strength by 80 / Requirement: 30 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    ¡®Holy, that¡¯s 80 free levels.¡¯

    ¡®Now that¡¯s fun.¡¯

    ! {Quest Completed}

    ! {Class Evolution is now available}

    ¡®Do it.¡¯

    ! {Evolving Class}

    My sight turns pixelated as I feel a rush of adrenaline. It makes my mind clearer, my will stronger, and my heart beats faster.

    ! {Class Evolution Succeeded}

    ! {New Innate Abilities has been unlocked}

    <ul>

    <li>Synthetic Reconstruction / Tier 2 ¨C Intermediate / Biomedical Engineer / Cast to repair damaged tissue and regenerate lost limbs temporarily, providing additional 50 Health, lasts for 300 seconds / Cost: 50 Mana</li>

    <li>Biomechanical Limb Fabrication / Level 1 / Biomedical Engineer / Cast to create a B.L.F, analyzing the structure of a limb of one¡¯s own or any target to be added as Research into S.R.P, allowing M.A.T to create identical prosthetic or usable and modifiable replacement and/or augments for one¡¯s own use / Cost: None</li>

    <li>Vital Organ Fabrication / Level 1 / Biomedical Engineer / Cast to create V.O.F, analyzing the complete innerworkings of a creature or one¡¯s own to be added as Research into S.R.P, allowing M.A.T to create identical synthetic organs or usable and modifiable replacement for one¡¯s own use / Cost: None</li>

    <li>Autonomic System Fabrication / Level 1 / Biomedical Engineer / Cast Sign to create A.S.F, analyzing the entire autonomic system, including the heart and neural networks of a creature or one¡¯s own with the exception of the brain, and they will be added as Research into S.R.P, allowing M.A.T to create modifiable synthetic replacements for one¡¯s own body / Cost: None</li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Holy goodness, what the hell are these?¡±

    ¡®Synthetic replacements, so we¡¯re no longer talking about augments, I can outright replace my body with machines just like in real life, huh.¡¯

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s try analyzing first.¡±

    I cast, ¡°Biomechanical Limb Fabrication.¡±

    Arcane particles swirl in front of me before becoming one and it creates, a cyan tablet. Upon pressing it with my index finger, its energy courses through it.

    ¡°Woah there,¡± I retracted it but the energy remains, it¡¯s just stopped.

    ¡°Mm.¡±

    I pressed it again and hold on to it as it analyzes my entire body. But I don¡¯t really feel anything aside from a cold breeze. Same goes for the other two, and the energy disappear when they finished analyzing.

    After inserting them all into M.A.T, I can now see the details on my entire body, the measurement of my bust down to the size of my hips. Everything is recorded and ready to make a replacement of, once I have the materials that is.

    ¡°Hunh, and here I thought making some augments is enough.¡±

 Chapter 73 - Season 2 Special - Prosthetic Limbs

    The man called Kell, sweating bullets as he tries to keep his lips wet. A machete on his hand. Others are looking, frightened and worried.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Just by the knee, right here.¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Kell?¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°Huh? Ahh, yeah, but¡­¡±

    I¡¯ve been laying my leg for almost half an hour now, but he clearly can¡¯t do it.

    [Kell]: ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry, I just can¡¯t¡­¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hey, look at me. You can do it. I believe in you.¡±

    Nodding as his sweat drops.

    [Kell]: ¡°O-Okay.¡±

    A machete going up and it goes down. Blood splattered and I feel excruciating pain from it, but it¡¯s still intact. Brows frowned as I try to keep my calm.

    [Kell]: ¡°O-Oh no.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°K-Keep going, Kell.¡±

    Grinding his teeth, he took another swing. And then another, and then another.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Gaaahhhh!¡±

    Finally.

    [Kell]: ¡°M-M-Miss Kurira, I¡¯m sorry, I¡ª.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°It¡¯s okay!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hnngh¡­ Haa¡­¡±

    Fuck I didn¡¯t think it¡¯d hurt this fucking much! Grabbing my prosthetic leg, and stick it in my knee, but I designed it not as a prosthetic, but actually replacement from half of my leg. It continues cutting until it¡¯s a proper fit and I just wait for it reattaches itself.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Gahhh, fuck!¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°Miss Kurira?!¡±

    The instruction is that I shouldn¡¯t be healed by anything, otherwise, it¡¯ll mess up the process. This thing is still digging inside my leg, and when it¡¯s done, it applies the medicine I put in there.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hnngh, haa¡­ haa¡­¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Steel Doll Synthetic Left Leg / Masterwork Augment / Legendary / Health: 1200 / Enchantment: Increases Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, and Agility by 45. Reduces Stamina consumption by 45% / Requirement: 100 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    [Kurira]: ¡°Goodness, alright. Finally.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Here, miss Kurira.¡±

    Some water, ¡°Thank you¡­¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Jondi.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Thank you, Jondi.¡±

    *Gulp *Gulp *Gulp

    [Kell]: ¡°Pwah. Haa¡­¡±

    Glancing at Kell, ¡°Alright, one more.¡±

    He shudders. I know how weak willed he is, but he¡¯s the only one who has enough strength to make a dozen of chopping into a few.

    [Kell]: ¡°But, miss Kurira. Are you sure it¡¯s, okay?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Yeah, look, I can move it see? Like I said, I won¡¯t hold it against you. Plus, I¡¯ll give you all the good potions I have. Now, come on. Can¡¯t be sitting here all day.¡±

    Nodding hesitantly in an agreement, ¡°Okay.¡±

    Aiming the bloodied machete on my legs.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh, Kell.¡±

    He shudders.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Try to chop it off clean in less than a few strikes, okay?¡±

    Nodding awkwardly.

    <ul>

    <li>Steel Doll Synthetic Right Leg / Masterwork Augment / Legendary / Health: 1200 / Enchantment: Increases Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, and Agility by 45. Reduces Stamina consumption by 45% / Requirement: 100 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    Cleaning off the blood, I made sure that I got every last drop soaked in a cloth and storing it into my storage M.A.T alongside my real legs. And everything feels alright, it¡¯s like my legs never left me actually. The strength and balance need a little to get used to though.

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    [Kell]: ¡°U-Um, miss Kurira?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hm? Oh right, here you go. Your payment, Kell.¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°I was about to say, um¡­ R-Right.¡±

    I wear the Bangle of the Earthshaker again and store my M.A.T back into my dimensional pocket which is something I made up. I don¡¯t know where it went actually.

    My brows raised. I realized that the people are still staring at me.

    [Kell]: ¡°Miss Kurira, we noticed that you are wearing those same rags that Travelers use, but we¡¯re wondering if you¡¯re actually are one.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hm? I am.¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°R-Right, of course, it¡¯s a stupid question. Shouldn¡¯t even need to ask, um¡­ actually, we figured that you might need some¡­ clothes, err, equipment and a place to stay.¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°We¡¯re about to get back, so we were wondering if you¡¯d like to come with us back to town? I can recommend you to an inn and a tailor.¡±

    Looking at him in the eye, wondering what¡¯s exactly is going on, but he never tries to leave my gaze. His eyes really are full of worries. It almost made me chuckle.

    For an NPC to really be worrying about me, but I guess it¡¯s time I settle down a bit. I need to catch up on my M.A.T too and maybe find a way to earn golds now.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Sure. I mean, if you guys wouldn¡¯t mind me.¡±

    [Man]: ¡°Nonsense,¡± said one in the back, ¡°You¡¯re always welcome with us, miss Kurira. Ain¡¯t that right, boys?!¡±

    [Men]: ¡°Ou!¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°Your potions, wraps really helps us a lot, miss Kurira. Please, let us return the favor for once.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Haha, you don¡¯t owe me anything, Jondi. None of you people do. I¡¯ve received my payments and you¡¯ve received my products, it¡¯s as simple as that.¡±

    He smiles. Kell wraps his hand around his shoulder.

    [Kell]: ¡°Alright, why don¡¯t we start moving out before the sun goes down, huh? It¡¯s a long way home.¡±

    And with that, the group and I head out.

    Everyone is so cheery, and that¡¯s quite lovely sight if I¡¯m being honest. Reminds me of the old times when I have someone close to me in my arms.

    Things I¡¯d give to see her again.

    [Jondi]: ¡°Miss Kurira, is everything all¡ª.¡±

    *Rooooooar*

    Eyes widened as a roaring sound of a monster was heard. It¡¯s a large zebra tiger with four eerily big fangs on its jaw.

    {Sabletiger / Level 50}

    The men frightened as they see it.

    [Kell]: ¡°J-Jondi, come here, boy!¡±

    Kell holding Jondi tightly as the men carefully tries not to make a single move, except me who is squeezing through them.

    ¡°M-Miss Kurira?¡±

    ¡°Wait, miss Kurira, it¡¯s dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Miss Kurira?¡±

    ¡°Hey, you need to¡ª.¡±

    *Rawrrrr*

    Grabbing an Arcane Powder Bomb. It oozes out arcane particles as I hold it with me. Taking a step forward, the tiger lunges at us and I throw the bomb as hard as I can. I don¡¯t just aim for it to touch the ground. I want it to make a direct impact to its face.

    *BOOM*

    Blue flame in the explosion, smoke exhumes from the tiger¡¯s body.

    ¡°B-By the divine.¡±

    ¡°What just¡­¡±

    ¡°Oi, that thing still moving!¡±

    Now that¡¯s quite surprising. I could throw another bomb, but it quickly hid into the forest and I¡¯m not keen of leaving these guys alone.

    ¡°It left.¡±

    ¡°It left!¡±

    ¡°Ohhhhhh!¡±

    ¡°Miss Kurira! Miss Kurira just saved us!¡±

    ¡°Ouhhhhhhhhh!¡±

    Heheh, the crowd really gets rowdy real quick. Shaking hands in turn just because of that, but I guess it¡¯d be tough when I didn¡¯t do that.

    [Man 1]: ¡°Thank you, miss Kurira.¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°I¡¯m so happy to have you with us.¡±

    [Man 3]: ¡°Thank you!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Alright, alright, it¡¯s nothing really. That thing is still alive, so it might come back.¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll report this to the baron, I¡¯m sure the empire would like to keep his iron surplus well and healthy.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Ye goddamn right they do.¡±

    [Men]: ¡°Hahaha¡­¡±

    With a shaking head, it made me chuckle. This joyful and warm scenery eases my mind. Making me hopeful for what the future will holds.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul¡­¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°Feathers?¡±

    A wide grin and a fist clenched in the air, ¡°To the town we go, boys!¡±

    ¡°!¡±

    ¡°Oouuuuuuuh!!!¡±

    Before the sun is set, we arrived to a large town. A large circle walls covering those within from without. There is quite a large farm and pasture outside. Grains and sheep, I must say that it¡¯s a good sight to see.

    ¡°Oi, the woman over there.¡±

    ¡°Ah, she¡¯s with us.¡±

    ¡°Still need some id.¡±

    ¡°Oh come on, not some copper can¡¯t give?¡±

    ¡°Silver.¡±

    Clicking his tongue, ¡°Bah, here, here.¡±

    ¡°Mm, alright, move along. Welcome to Clearwater Creek, young lady.¡±

    Smiling at him.

    Upon entering, the men scatter as we fare our goodbyes.

    [Kell]: ¡°This way, miss Kurira.¡±

    Following Kell, we soon arrive to a clothing store called, Felifenli.

    He knocks on the door, and a plump woman in a black and white dress comes out.

    [Woman]: ¡°Kell?! It¡¯s closed, can¡¯t you see?¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°I know, Muodi, but can you help this one for me? Put it on my tab, okay? I¡¯ll pay you back tomorrow, I promise.¡±

    [Muodi]: ¡°What, a traveler?¡±

    Looking at me up and down, but jolted when she sees my legs.

    [Muodi]: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what you need. Come in.¡±

    Inside, there¡¯s quite an assortment of clothes neatly organized and displayed behind glass cases and rack mounts.

    [Muodi]: ¡°First and foremost, something to cover your legs maybe? Boots and such? Got any idea on what kind of top you like?¡±

    [Muodi]: ¡°Alright, this one, maybe? Here¡¯s your leggings. You can change over there.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Sleeveless Linen Attire / Cloth / Common / Physical Defense: 0 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: None</li>

    <li>Heavy-duty Legging and Boots / Cloth / Common / Physical Defense: 0 / Magical Defense: 0 / Enchantment: None / Requirement: None</li>

    </ul>

    [Kurira]: ¡°What do you think, Kell?¡±

    [Kell]: ¡°Looks simple yet functional.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Definitely the looks I¡¯d go for.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°So, how much for these?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh, I promise I¡¯ll pay you back tomorrow.¡±

    [Muodi]: ¡°No need, it¡¯s on the house.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Really now.¡±

    [Muodi]: ¡°Well, I got the feeling you¡¯ll be shopping again, and I hope I¡¯ll have what you have then.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Muodi, yes?¡±

    She nodded.

    Lifting my augmented hand for a shake.

    She hesitates as she glances at me, but she shakes it. With a smile, I left the premises with Kell and we went our separate ways.

 Chapter 74 - Season 2 Special - Adventurer Quest

    ¡°Now then, he did recommend me an inn, but there¡¯s no need for me to rest just yet.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s check out the local guilds, I need me some golds.¡±

    A large two-stories building located close to the town¡¯s entrance, and it is called the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. It¡¯s quite rowdy inside and I see all kind of people in here. Not just the different path of life they took, but rather, their race. A walking lizard, there¡¯s the usual elves and dwarves, hell they even have some demon kin. One hooded lady was pretty shy when they met my eyes.

    [Jondi]: ¡°Ah, miss Kurira?¡±

    The young lad from the mine.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Jondi? Heeey, what¡¯re you doing here?¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°Ahahah, when I¡¯m not mining stones, I do a little job from the guild. It pays well.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh, I could use some of that good pay right now.¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°Really, you¡¯re signing up? As an Adventurer? Right over here, let me guide you to the receptionist lady.¡±

    Tilting my head with a light smile. I followed him to the counter where a beautiful lady with a curly bun joyfully humming a tune as she writes on a piece of parchment.

    [Jondi]: ¡°Miss Valysha, I need your help with something. My um¡­ friend wants to sign up.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Hm?¡±

    Her bright beautiful eyes looking up at mine.

    [Valysha]: ¡°Oh! Welcome welcome, my goodness! We haven¡¯t had a signup for quite a bit.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Valysha.¡±

    Shaking her hand as I nod, ¡°Kurira.¡±

    Taking a notice of my augmented exoskeleton, ¡°Alright, miss Kurira, let me just get this piece of parchment right here. K-U-R-I-R-A, and your level and class?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Two hundred and thirty. I¡¯m Biomedical Engineer.¡±

    [Jondi & Valysha]: ¡°Eh?¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°T-T-Two hundred?!¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°Y-Y-You¡¯re a l-l-level two hundred?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°From the sound of it, you sound shocked, but are you impressed by it?¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°O-Of course, I am! That¡¯s amazing, miss Kurira. You¡¯re pretty much on Rank B adventurers or even Rank A, I can¡¯t wait to tell this to the others.¡±

    Chuckles.

    [Valysha]: ¡°True that. If I may, miss Kurira, although it is within the guild¡¯s right to ask of new recruits to show their profile status, in Clearwater, we value privacy. However, we have other ways for one to show proof of their abilities in a different way, but first can you tell me more about your class? It¡¯s something one rarely ever encounters if ever.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hm, well my class specialization is synthetic fabrication for augments and prosthetic. Alchemy as a secondary and smithing as tertiary, but my method of assault is down to¡­ bombs.¡±

    Raising her brows.

    [Valysha]: ¡°Um¡­ bombs? As in that thing you throw at an enemy and it explodes?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Yes.¡±

    Her jaw slightly drops.

    [Valysha]: ¡°Okay, um, that can certainly be dangerous if one were to get caught in the radius, but um, can you show me anything that you have made so far?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hm, well I can¡¯t show you everything. Well, you¡¯ve seen this exoskeleton, but I have this bomb which has proven reliable.¡±

    Taking a menacing oozy bomb slowly from the inventory, slightly hidden from others.

    <ul>

    <li>Verdant Vortex Bomb / Epic / Creates a large vines and branches that rooted into the ground, spiked with large thorns that buildup toxin and 2.5% chance to cause Paralysis for 30 seconds. Upon impact, it releases a whirling gush of air that pulls anything in 30-meter radius. Lasts for 90 seconds / Requirement: 135 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    Upon reading it, Valysha shudders immensely, ¡°Hiii, p-p-please put that away.¡±

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    [Kurira]: ¡°?¡±

    Putting it back into my inventory.

    [Valysha]: ¡°I, I see, so that¡¯s the kind of bomb you have. And you have a dimensional storage which also proves quite beneficial for storing that thing. I see¡­ I see¡­¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Mhm, I¡¯ve made other kinds that are incredibly useful as well.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°I¡¯m sure they are, but unnecessary for me to see them, let me finish this form first.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°That looks strong, miss Kurira.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh yeah, absolutely. A Terrasaur couldn¡¯t even move its limb when it got caught by it.¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°A Terrasaur? Wait, you beat a Terrasaur?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°First victim of this bomb. Well, this alone didn¡¯t actually kill it, but wouldn¡¯t have done it without this one for sure.¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°Ohhhhh, that¡¯s amazing, miss Kurira!¡±

    Heheh, so easily excited. Maybe I ought to show him my legendary bomb. Though after glancing at the nervously awkward Valysha, maybe next time.

    [Valysha]: ¡°Oh, um, it¡¯s finished. And like I said before, you can actually skip a few ranks if you can meet some criteria that we have. Doing a couple of quests for us, and if you come out on top at the end, you can start out as low as a D Rank.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°A D Rank at least?¡±

    Nodding.

    [Valysha]: ¡°If you can already beat a Terrasaur, miss Kurira, that¡¯ll put you straight in A Rank.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°A Rank sounds good.¡±

    Valysha shudder.

    [Kurira]: ¡°But I understand that the qualification for such rank goes beyond a simple elimination of a creature. I¡¯ll happily join and partake in that qualification, miss Valysha.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Th-That¡¯s good to hear, let me prepare some the quest papers for you. Just a moment.¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°Oh, I have to get going too, miss Kurira. Will I be seeing you again soon?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Heheh, I¡¯ll frequent this place, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°Great! Seriously, you¡¯re awesome, and thank you again for saving us earlier. I never got the chance to say it, but we probably wouldn¡¯t have made it out alive without you.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Don¡¯t mention, and let¡¯s hope Kell comes back with good news, huh.¡±

    [Jondi]: ¡°I sure hope so. Until then, miss Kurira.¡±

    Nodding with a smile, he left the guild with his friends.

    After a bit of waiting, Valysha comes back and in a different clothing. Stripes green, leather. She even has a bag and a staff with her.

    [Valysha]: ¡°Okay, so, I have these quests for you. They¡¯re for C and B rank quests. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not permitted to take an A rank quests because you are not in a party.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Now, I will be observing you along the way, and we have three quests here that needs to be done in less than three days. So, would you be fine with that?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Mm. Sure thing.¡±

    She nods and goes around the counter but was stopped by another receptionist. I can¡¯t quite make out what they¡¯re saying, but there seems to be a little argument with Valysha ended up reassuring her to let her pass.

    We walk out of town as the sun is setting. Reading and discussing the quests with my new supervisor.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Subjugation and elimination quests, huh. That¡¯s right up my alley, especially if you don¡¯t need them alive¡­ or rather, left intact.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°¡­¡±

    First order of business is a rampaging giant snake, and the quest rank is B. Last sighting was that it¡¯s on the other side of the hill, deeper into the forest.

    It¡¯ll be problematic if we are to try and find this thing at night.

    {Horned Serpent Snake / Level 80}

    Its body blending nicely with the bushes. A giant snake that can camouflage.

    Glancing at Valysha, sweat drops on the side of forehead.

    I grabbed her shoulder.

    ¡°!¡±

    With a shush gesture, I told her to stay put.

    I love face-to-face combat, but ever since I made these bombs, things have been very amusing to me. And I¡¯m planning to keep it that way.

    This tree, I climb it high. Stealthily yet swiftly.

    ¡®Now.¡¯

    Considering the size of that thing, it would be wise for me to cover a lot of ground and make a sequence of attack. A foolproof one.

    Waiting for it to curl a bit more, I grabbed this thing.

    <ul>

    <li>Geotic Sylphid Bomb / Epic / Creates a 50-meter explosion that deals 1 damage and creates a tremor, staggering those that are caught within and has 10% chance to be stunned for the next 5 second. Earth surface will be cracked and leveled, creating living vines that entrap those in the explosion radius into the cracks. After 5 seconds, Toxin gas will be released from the cracks, dealing 10 damage per second and build up poison / Requirement: 140 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    ¡®Heheh, I have a lot of it.¡¯

    Toxin is not going to do much against it, but that¡¯s not what I¡¯m going for.

    Holding it carefully, wouldn¡¯t want it to misfire. With my augmented hand I took a step on this tree branch and throw it as hard as I can, hitting the center of its body as it curls.

    *BOOM *Brrrrrmmmm

    It¡¯s hissing but the tremor staggers it before the ground is cracked and shattered. Pieces of debris flying all over as it sunken the creature, entrapping it, but that thing is not stunned.

    And that¡¯s where my Verdant Vortex Bomb comes in, three of them in fact. Landing appropriately to cover the thing¡¯s entire body with its effect. Although it is resisting the toxin, it¡¯s repeatedly being stunned because of the effect of Paralysis.

    I had to resort to a different way of dealing damage and that is by raw unfiltered damage that is the Arcane Powder Bomb. A barrage of them sent its way.

    Lots of explosion, and it makes good music to my ears.

    I descended back to the ground and there I see Valysha seemingly shell shocked a bit. Well, it was quite loud to begin with, and a barrage of them didn¡¯t help.

    Looking at me frantically as she pants. Went to check on the spoils and just as I expected, nothing but its body parts have dropped.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s one. Two more to go.¡±

    Unfortunately for me. That¡¯s when the night has settled. And we have no choice but to make camp, well, not my choice actually. Ever since that fight with the snake, the girl Valysha has been real quiet. She has been quiet, but not this quiet.

    ¡®Well, she¡¯s an NPC, maybe she¡¯s hungry or something.¡¯

    I cast a Sign, ¡°Modular Assembly Terminal.¡±

    Placing it just by the rock. And so, I started cooking. Literally.

    Something simple, something easy on the gut. My Alchemy station supports it. A little veggie, some meat, a little pepper and such. Putting them in a wooden bowl, and I served. Except Valysha is intensely staring at my workstation.

    ¡°Th-This is where you make those bombs?¡±

    ¡°Yep. It is called M.A.T, be it bombs, potions, or augments, I made it here.¡±

    Tapping her shoulder with the bowl, she takes it albeit slightly awkwardly. She took a seat by a rock and starts eating. Nodding to its taste, I made another one for myself as we watch the moon rise. A beautiful sight to see, those stars in the sky.

    Something you rarely see in real life.

 Chapter 75 - Season 2 Special - NPC

    Morning comes, and Valysha is holding my newest invention. A synthetic right arm with a propeller and holder for explosives. Allowing for that quick bombing and seamless barrage.

    [Valysha]: ¡°A-Are you sure it¡¯s okay? What if it doesn¡¯t work?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh, it¡¯ll work, don¡¯t worry. I was actually going to do it yesterday, but the prototype was a bust. I mean this one is a prototype too, but it¡¯ll work.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°How do you know?¡±

    Because there¡¯s no errors in S.R.P this time, but telling her about errors in my invention kinda hurting a little.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Well, I just know.¡±

    Smiling as I align this large scissor in my arm, and snip.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Ghhhhnkkk?!¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°???¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°M-Miss Kurira?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Give me, quick!¡±

    Aligning it properly, and smushed. It starts digging.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Ghnnnghkk¡­¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°!!!¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Do, do you need anything? Potions? Healing? Should I heal you?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°No! Don¡¯t! That¡¯ll just make a mess.¡±

    *Clink *Clack

    *Brrrrrrrr*

    [Kurira]: ¡°Nnngh¡­¡±

    Patience, a little bit of struggles, and there¡¯ll be an abundant of harvest for those fruits I planted. Just a bit more. A little bit more.

    *Clack *Clack

    I can feel the medicine applied, and before I know it, I can already move it. This skeletal synthetic arm. Cold, and it stings.

    <ul>

    <li>Shiv Steel Doll Synthetic Launcher Right Arm / Masterwork Augment / Legendary / Health: 1200 / Enchantment: Increases Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, and Agility by 45. Queued explosives deal 25% more damage / Requirement: 100 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    We start cleaning up and I stored my original arm to M.A.T for safekeeping and also the exoskeleton. I will have to scrap it for parts and make adjustment if I want to use that with the launcher or I can make a left-handed version of it.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Thanks, Valysha. If you ever lost a limb, you can find me.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Uh um, thanks, but I didn¡¯t do anything.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh, come on, your magic know-how is pretty useful in getting this to not only work, but work splendidly.¡±

    Smiles. She smiles too, nervously.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get to the next order of business. Would be nice if we can finish it before noon, I really need those money. Oh, I still get the money from these quests, right?¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Yes, of course.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Sweet.¡±

    And so, we walk towards our next destination which is a little further away from the deep part of the forest. Loading bombs into my arm is a one-way process, which means, I can¡¯t get it out without risk of it exploding. I will need to make further adjustment and make bombs in a way that can systematically work with this launcher. One that is more proprietary solution. New type of bombs that works more like a shell grenade they use in a real-life launcher.

    This arm also has a unique feature. A large and sturdy retractable blade. Two more of these and I¡¯d be a monster for real, or downsize it and have one for each finger, but sadly, until I can figure out the design, I¡¯m running out of space here.

    Glancing at Valysha, I accidentally caught her looking. She looks away and I retracted my blade, maybe that startled her.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Carrying that staff around. Are you a mage or¡­ a wizard?¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Well, a sorcerer¡­ actually.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Pssh, and here I thought my class is rare.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Well, for one, I¡¯ve never heard of a biomedical engineer. Sorcerer, people have known. Ruthless magic seeking monsters.¡±

    Glancing her gloomy face, I chuckled.

    [Valysha]: ¡°?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Magic is as much of a tool as this arm. It all depends on what¡¯s it¡¯s being used for.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    [Valysha]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Finally looking at me in the eye. That made me smile for some reason.

    Tapping her back with my only real limb, we set out on this fine morning to a cave guarded by green humanoid creatures. Dirty and smells.

    {Goblins / Level 15}

    [Valysha]: ¡°Five of them. How are you going to do this? Bombing?¡±

    Raising my brows to the first time she¡¯s asking me about what I¡¯ll do.

    [Kurira]: ¡°No, there¡¯s no need to for these weaklings.¡±

    Scratching my head.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Well, it¡¯s been a while, but here I go.¡±

    Walking out of the bushes to confront these goblins.

    [Goblin 1]: ¡°Raa?¡±

    [Goblin 2]: ¡°Raa Raaa!¡±

    [Goblin 2]: ¡°Mannn! Homaaan!¡±

    [Goblin 1]: ¡°Raaa!¡±

    Swinging its club. A short lean and then a punch.

    Blood splattered as its neck snapped and its body falls away.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hm, weaker than I expected.¡±

    [Goblin 1]: ¡°R-Raaaaaaaaa!¡±

    All three coming at once.

    A club going pass, pass, a little tap to the elbow to go down and a twisty head. I tripped the dead and give a roundhouse to another before grabbing the jumping goblin and smack it to the ground. It really has been a while.

    Adjusting the shoulder to my new arm, ¡°Mmmph, nothing beats pummeling a real flesh. Too bad I don¡¯t have a real one to use.¡±

    The sensation is lost, but the trade-off is worth it.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Wait, shouldn¡¯t there be five of them?¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Miss Kurira.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Out with the miss, Valysha. Stay here, I¡¯ll be out in a minute.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°But¡­ are you sure you won¡¯t be using your bombs? It can get dangerous in there.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡±

    Entering the darkness and it is indeed dangerous. An enemy that is heavily obscured, you would have to keep an eye on things, every little thing.

    Not for me actually, but for them.

    One little gobbly struggling frantically to get his face away from my grasp.

    *CRUNCH*

    Well now, it gave up. Tossing his lifeless body aside.

    ¡°RAAAAAA¡±

    ¡°RAAAAAAAAAAA!¡±

    ¡°RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!¡±

    A little scream, guess they know I¡¯m here, but whatever. I went to clear out the cave anyway and head out cause there¡¯s no loot in there whatsoever. At least not trash weapons that I still tuck into my inventory and there¡¯s a load of them. I even got a giant chicken leg with it.

    ¡°M-Mi¡ª um, Kurira?¡±

    Blood dripping from my new synthetic skeletal fingers. The blade retracting.

    ¡°All clear. If you need to do your inspection or whatever. I¡¯ve gotta clean these.¡±

    ¡°O-oh, okay.¡±

    After getting all the blood cleaned off, I come to a conclusion that a face-to-face combat is not ideal for me atm. The fact that some blood got in and I have to wash it out. Which is no big deal since unlike real world¡¯s circuitry, magic cores don¡¯t care if it got submerged in water.

    I came back to see Valysha and I see her cutting goblin¡¯s ear and make deep incision on their chest. Getting out their magic cores even though, I got their loot. Reminds me of the old Realism Mode.

    ¡°Hunh, you didn¡¯t do that with the snake, so why them?¡±

    ¡°Realistically, everything should be collected, but we don¡¯t have a porter bag and that too will be limited, and you didn¡¯t just kill the snake. I saw its core and body blown to pieces.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    I stood back up, ¡°Last one is close by, yeah? Let¡¯s get to it if you¡¯re done with that.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Although it feels good to complete a task, cleaning up other people¡¯s mess is not my thing. This next quest is quite the leftover for me.

    Away from the forest, on a certain grassland lies a manticore. It¡¯s a disturbing creature that has the body of a lion, a tail of a scorpion, wings like a wyvern, and a huge face of a human.

    ¡°Valysha, where¡¯s the enemy?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Um, over there.¡±

    ¡°Where is over there?¡±

    ¡°In that direction.¡±

    ¡°Got it, removing that direction.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    Loading 8 of my balls, I mean, bombs. It works like any launcher would. Except, I designed specifically for long range thrust. The sound it makes when it¡¯s launching those bombs.

    And the one that comes after that.

    Safe to say that the manticore has now been reduced to dust. Though, there¡¯s still some body parts scattered around and Valysha chose to take a part of its wing.

    [Valysha]: ¡°To think we actually finished these quests this fast¡­¡±

    We nod to each other before returning back to town, that is what we would like to do if not for a group of people standing on the middle of the road, menacingly.

    [Valysha]: ¡°Travelers.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hm?¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°They¡¯re an otherworldly being that comes to our world for unknown purpose. They¡¯re strong, Kurira. A lot of them are.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Yeah, I know, I¡¯m one of them.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°?¡± blinking a few times, ¡°Oh, uhh, yes. So, what do we do now?¡±

    I guess their flashy appearance gave away their identities or something. I wouldn¡¯t worry if I¡¯m alone but I¡¯m not. Guess a reload is necessary.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Wait here.¡±

    Approaching those ominous figures. Not so ominous once you get close. We got blonde and silver hair, the contrast is massive here.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Fellas, why¡¯re you blocking the road. Scaring me to my pants here.¡±

    Tatted silver haired coming out here, licking dagger.

    [Woman 1]: ¡°Toll.¡±

    Raising my brows.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Toll?¡±

    Blondie clicking her tongue.

    [Woman 1]: ¡°Just piss off, you NPC. Fuck, we don¡¯t got all day.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Yeah we do apparently? If there¡¯s no one passing in a minute, I¡¯m gonna flip!¡±

    [Woman 1]: ¡°I told you we should be going just outside the safe zone. The hell we doing out here?¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Shut the fuck up, all o¡¯ you! Shit!¡±

    Silver looking back to me.

    [Man 2]: ¡°Aye, you not looking half bad. Wanna spend some time with us?¡±

    [Woman 1]: ¡°Lex, seriously?¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°What? Not like she gon do nothing? We¡¯re way off the safe zone!¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°You don¡¯t want to touch an NPC, man. If they die, those winged bastards gonna rain down on us. Safe zone or not.¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Yeah, but what if she don¡¯t die, huh?¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Well¡­¡±

    All looking back at me. Blondie noticed my side.

    [Woman 1]: ¡°Hey, wait, her arm.¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Hm?¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Yo! Hol up now.¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Never seen one with that before?¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°Unique NPC, man. Might just be a quest-giver too.¡±

    I supposed they don¡¯t really think much, and this type of thing is also rare for me back then too. Their ignorance is a pass.

    [Man 2]: ¡°Heyyy, was just kidding me, say¡­¡±

    Wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

    [Man 2]: ¡°Ye don¡¯t happen to be needing any help, do ya?¡±

    Help, huh. Pretty standard for a player to ask for a quest from an NPC, but now you don¡¯t even get to track or receive it by notification unless it¡¯s being given by the system.

    [Woman 1]: ¡°What are those balls?¡±

    [Man 1]: ¡°Yeah, feel like I¡¯ve seen them before.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh, this?¡± aiming my fist straight to the blondie, ¡°It¡¯s bombs.¡±

    [Man 2]: ¡°?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°See, when it launches from the launcher here, it goes super duper fast. If you got hit by it, it will feel like you got slapped or punched before the bombs go off. When it does, it creates an explosion similar to that of a grenade, but because the shrapnel hits one close by, another explosion is created, now larger but with less damage. Still, it doesn¡¯t make it any less damaging.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Shatterbomb / Rare / Creates a 15-meter explosion that deals 120 damage. If there is a target hits within 3 meters radius, it creates an additional explosion that expands to 25-meter radius, dealing 50% damage / Requirement: 60 Vitality</li>

    </ul>

    *BOOOOOO¡ª.*

 Chapter 76 - Season 2 Special - Adventurer

    Dragging his massively damaged body away from his friends. The red hair¡¯s unrecognizable, the blondie has her eyes opened, but lifeless as half of her body is missing.

    [Woman 1]: ¡°Aaaaa¡­ aaaa¡­¡±

    Struggling to even let out a cry.

    Protracting my blade, another shudders. I guess he heard the sound of it.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Goodness me, I got these clothes yesterday, you know.¡±

    Looking at me with a puppy eye. Grabbing his hair.

    ¡°N-No, wait, please please, please, don¡¯t do this. Please.¡±

    Looking at him in the eye, I smiled.

    *STAB*

    Doing it sideway is good since you can see their last expression when they die. Make sure to clean it before I wait on them. Soon their body crumble to dust and I take it that they¡¯ll revive somewhere close by, probably in town.

    ¡°Huh, I should be getting a PK penalty by now, but where is it?¡±

    My eyes peeled, ¡°Wait, is it because¡­¡±

    Valysha finally entering the scene. Looking around the explosion before looking back at me. I¡¯m not really exposed. My pants become shorts and I got a couple holes in my top.

    ¡°You um¡­ are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Yep. I got this bangle.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Bangle of the Earthshaker / Epic / Enchantment: Increases Strength and Endurance by 20. Increases Physical Defense by 200 + 50% / Requirement: 30 Strength, 30 Endurance, 20 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    Nodding, ¡°I, I see.¡±

    Looking at the ground of the explosion.

    [Valysha]: ¡°Those Travelers um, did they have to¡­ die?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re coming back to life. Don¡¯t you know that?¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Right, of course.¡±

    Chuckling, I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s on her mind, but I guess she¡¯s the type to overthinking things. Pretty similar to someone I know, but she wouldn¡¯t mop around like that.

    Tapping Valysha¡¯s back, I lead us back to civilization. Back to Clearwater Creek. To Adventurers Guild.

    [???]: ¡°Ah, Valysha! Finally coming to your senses, I see.¡±

    A muscular man with a heavily trimmed beard. Walking up to the counter, ¡°Guildmaster.¡±

    [GM]: ¡°And this is the one you¡¯re supervising? Came back so early though, how did it go?¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°¡­¡±

    His cheery demeanor kind of annoys me, but whatever. Valysha simply take her bag and drops all the things she had collected from our little expedition.

    The man, the guildmaster, look through the items and it looks like he¡¯s in disbelief.

    ¡°This wing¡­¡±

    ¡°The manticore, sir.¡±

    He paused, almost like it makes him remember something. He looks at the other items, the goblin ears and their magic cores.

    [GM]: ¡°Where¡¯s the um, magic core on the manticore? And didn¡¯t you take another quest with you?¡±

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    [Valysha]: ¡°The core is destroyed, sir, same as the horned snake as there was nothing after Kurira¡¯s attack. Those are all I can take from them, at least with the bag I have.¡±

    [GM]: ¡°Destroyed?¡±

    He looks at me.

    [Kurira]: ¡°The bombs took the chunk from those things, with the cores alongside it.¡±

    [GM]: ¡°Bombs?¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°It¡¯s what she specializes in, sir. Her class is Biomedical Engineer, and she crafts these bombs and defeat those things without them even noticing her. The goblins were taken out by¡ª.¡±

    The man raises his finger, signaling for her to stop. He looks at my arm and feet. His breathing becomes heavier.

    [GM]: ¡°Were you damaged by your bombs when you fight these creatures?¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°No, sir. But we did encounter some Travelers on the way home, and well, she had to take some drastic measures to um¡­ get us home.¡±

    I glance at her before looking back to the man as he gazes to the manticore¡¯s wing.

    [GM]: ¡°Travelers¡­ alright. Okay.¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°May I also give my recommendation, sir? I think miss Kurira would make a very positive impact to the guild and the people.¡±

    [Gm]: ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve heard.¡±

    Tilting her head.

    [Valysha]: ¡°You¡­ heard?¡±

    [GM]: ¡°You saved Jondi and my brothers from the mine,¡± he chuckles, ¡°Even got Kell to chop up your legs for you. I swear I didn¡¯t see it in him, but he did, huh.¡±

    Holding his gaze. He nods.

    [GM]: ¡°Rank B. Think you can be satisfied with that?¡±

    Holding my synthetic skeletal hand up for a shake. He looks at it for a moment before shaking it confidently.

    [GM]: ¡°Well then, Valysha, be sure to give our lady here your best support, and of course, the payment for these quests. I hope we meet again, miss Kurira.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Likewise¡­¡±

    [GM]: ¡°Donovan.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Sir Donovan.¡±

    He walks up the stairs and Valysha smiles before entering another room. I peruse in the Quest board to see if there¡¯s any handsomely rewarding quests, and I found a few.

    ¡°Ogre village, orc camps¡­¡±

    ¡°Mountain lion?¡±

    All I can do in a day and they¡¯re C and B rank quests.

    [???]: ¡°Oi, that¡¯s mine.¡±

    Looking behind me, I see nobody.

    [???]: ¡°You blind?!¡±

    I look down and I see a little midget, somewhat of a young dwarf. Well, actually it¡¯s an adult, but I can¡¯t really tell.

    ¡°The ogre?¡±

    ¡°No, the other one.¡±

    ¡°Mountain lion?¡±

    ¡°Yea! I got that set and I¡¯m bringing my party with me right there and you snatched it up.¡±

    Raising my arms as I shrug, ¡°Didn¡¯t know it was already taken. Here you go.¡±

    Looking at the quest paper, he pauses. His eyes wonder, almost looking at my legs, and I¡¯d snap him up if only I still have those flesh equipped instead of them being tucked away in the drawer of my M.A.T.

    ¡°What, you don¡¯t want it?¡±

    He snatches it. Looking at it before looking up to my legs, and arm again.

    ¡°You¡¯re an Engineer?¡±

    ¡°Mm, close.¡±

    Rolling his lower lip as he started to sweat. Nervous. He looks at me in the eye once more before nodding away and leave. Joining back to his party and they left wondering as he rushes out.

    Eventually Valysha got changed and she returns with a bag full of coins. Laying it on the counter for me to take.

    ¡°Here you go, 230.000 golds. That¡¯s 120.000 for the manticore, 80.000 for Horned Scaled Serpent, and 30.000 for the goblin subjugation.¡±

    ¡°Sweet.¡±

    ¡°Right, um, do you have a place to stay, Kurira?¡±

    ¡°No, but I¡¯m looking for one.¡±

    ¡°I know someone that can help you with that.¡±

    Taking the golds, ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Mm. Her prices are pretty steep but all the houses she manages are of very good quality. I can refer you to her, see if you can get better deal.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯ll be helpful. But first, give me the go for these.¡±

    Three quests papers.

    ¡°Um, but we just got back.¡±

    Eyes peeled, ¡°Did I stutter?¡± I smiled.

    For some reason, she giggles. She did end up giving the stamps for all of them, and I got out of there and get myself new drip from Felifenli. Muodi set me up with a nice attire.

    [Muodi]: ¡°Crisp white linen shirt, featuring intricate black embroidery along the collar and cuffs. Trousers made from soft yet sturdy wool. Leather belt adorned with a silver buckle. Black leather boots, laced up with silver white lacing. Gloves, maybe not.¡±

    [Muodi]: ¡°And considering you don¡¯t need any defenses. Comfort must be your priority.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hmm, 65.000 Golds for these?¡±

    [Muodi]: ¡°Comes with a hat.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Sold.¡±

    It¡¯s not just a hat. Rounded crown and narrow brim that curves slightly upward at the front, a gambler hat. Even has a gold-colored ribbon trimmed with intricate embroidery, and all that is needed is sewing this excess power core from the legendary core I processed on the right side.

    [Muodi]: ¡°Where do you even find this?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Just a leftover from something I made.¡±

    [Muodi]: ¡°Hunh, it¡¯s strangely captivating.¡±

    Wearing it.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Well then, be seeing you, Muodi.¡±

    She nods and I left that beautiful store.

    To be honest, I never really expected much from booting up the game. I thought it¡¯s going to be very straightforward on what I¡¯d do, but surprisingly, I have been having fun.

    Tell that to me from last month and I¡¯d spit on your face if you tell me that I actually had fun playing alone like this. Though, it will never beat the feeling of happiness, fun, and joy that I experience with Dola, but when Konig says that this is the Golden Age of VR Gaming. I can see where she¡¯s going with it.

    ¡°Hope is the thing with feathers.¡±

    ¡°That perches in the soul,¡±

    ¡°And sings the tune without the words,¡±

    ¡°And never stops at all.¡±

 Chapter 77 - Season 2 Special - Eternal

    A dirty place, a dirty house, but a home. Power tools were brought, wood, cement, bricks. With each day, the sisters work on their home. Come new challenges, new problems, but they are good problems. From crumbling framework to sturdy ones, from decade old coats to fresh paints, from a clogged plumbing to a clean pathway.

    Day and night, the walls are standing firmly and there¡¯s no more holes on the rooftop. All that is left to do is decorate and furnish. That is, if they don¡¯t exhaust their bank account.

    The sisters rest on the only furniture they managed to obtain with the little money they have left, a nice cushioned sofa for each.

    ¡°Kurira, money¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Kurira.¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡±

    ¡°Money¡­¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°Money!¡±

    ¡°I know!¡±

    Palming their face.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Every single guild out there has been spreading out and people recovered a lot thanks to those bitches over at the dark guild. Spreading their cheeks for info and just blasting on those syrup-like cockroaches. Which means, first time loot is mostly gone, and no one is up to make Transcendental Realms a thing.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°What, you wanna be a pioneer on that?¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Hell no!¡±

    Clicking her tongue.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Just chill, my potions are selling like hot cakes, gimme another month and I¡¯ll fill up that fridge.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Uhuh.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°What?¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Well, now that you mentioned it¡­ maybe we should be the one to open the expansion.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Sure, meet me up in Lorkhan. I got a house in Clearwater.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Wait, really? Just like that?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Whatever you wanna do, I¡¯ll tag along. Lest you make a mess of things.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°What?! You think I¡¯m gonna mess it up?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Yeah, I mean look at the wall you painted. That stripe shouldn¡¯t go all wobbly like that, yo!¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Urgh¡­¡±

    Like a balloon flushing out its air. Clicking her tongue, Kurira stood to open her capsule. Entering her capsule and closing it, ¡°Clearwater, now!¡±

    Letting out a big sigh, Rakuri enters her own capsule and they soon enter Ekolia once more.

    In this beautiful morn just outside of clearwater. A wormhole appears out of thin air, and there lies a masked woman in a dark outfit coming out of it. Passerby stops in their tracks, staring at the masked woman.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    She ignores them and continue to walk towards the town.

    ¡°Halt, never seen you here before. Either you pay the fee or get¡ª.¡± Got his face bashed in with a bag full of silvers.

    Rakuri went in and look for her sister¡¯s house. It¡¯s located close to the end of the canal where it¡¯s the only house there. It has fences covering a much wider area of the house itself, plants, and small gardens. There are white-ish gray smoke coming out of the chimney.

    There on the balcony lies a woman with metal arm and eyes that looks extremely artificial. Snacking on a sizzling meat with a natural tongue but artificial metal teeth.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°What the fuck?!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°You¡¯re finally here.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Finally? That only took less than half an hour, but what that fuck is that, Kurira?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°What, you¡¯re not the only one who got kitted.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Not the same thing!¡±

    Chewing meat before going back in, and she comes out of the first floor pulling a large mechanical case that houses several weapons and its constantly pumping air.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°The hell is that?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Modular Assembly Terminal. Version 3.2. This is our ticket to enter another realm.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Yeah? And how¡¯s that gonna happen?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°You¡¯ll see. Here, I even got new weapons for you.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Hah, as if they¡¯re gonna beat these babies.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Current Death / Legendary / Physical Attack: 520 / Magical Attack: 580 / Enchantment: Increases Stab Attack by 200% and become invisible for 30 second when the target dies / Requirement: 40 Dexterity, 60 Agility, 50 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    Kurira handing the new daggers. Silver and golds with hollow body for its blade, the handle is grippy and texture is comfortable to hold on to.

    <ul>

    <li>Vermillion Steel Daggers Version 8.1 / Masterwork Light Weapon / Mythic / Physical Attack: 2000 / Magical Attack: 1000 / Enchantment: Increases Dexterity and Agility by 100. Third strike creatures a vortex that extend to 15-meter radius that lasts 10 seconds, dealing 300% damage per second and has 1% chance to stun those caught within, if a target dies, the effect extended by 5 second and the radius expanded by 8-meter per target / Requirement: 50 Dexterity, 50 Agility, 50 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    [Rakuri]: ¡°¡­¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°H-How?!¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Well, I know you¡¯d keep threading the same path as an assassin. Sooner or later, we¡¯ll come across each other, so I thought I¡¯d prep you up in case you wanna do something stupid like pioneering an expansion.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Okay, fair. But that¡¯s not what I was asking!¡±

    Passing her by.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Come on, we got a long way to go.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Wait, I can teleport us there.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh? How convenient.¡±

    [???]: ¡°Kurira?¡±

    A woman just outside of the scene. Curly bun for a hair, and green stripes outfit. She carries a bag and a metal box similar to what Kurira¡¯s portable M.A.T.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Ah, Valysha. I¡¯ll be out for a bit. Can you watch the house for me?¡±

    [Valysha]: ¡°Eh? But¡­¡±

    Rakuri takes out a device with a bright gem that has the color of the galaxy, and with a swing, a powerful wormhole appears.

    Valysha reaches out for Kurira but she smiles before entering the wormhole. She looks at Rakuri, her mask makes it impossible for Valysha to identify who it is.

    When she enters, the wormhole is gone.

    In disbelief, it¡¯s like Kurira was never there, ¡°K-Kurira?¡±

    On the other side of the wormhole, a blizzard.

    Forest trees being swept away by the chilling wind. The sisters arrive at the foot of the mountain and before they can say anything, their lips are getting frosty.

    [Kurira]: ¡°?!!¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°!!!¡±

    Kurira quickly turns the upper body of the M.A.T and it lets out powerful heat rivaling the chilling cold of the blizzard. Warmth returns to their body.

    ¡°Goodness, Rakuri. Can¡¯t you teleport us outside or better yet, anywhere inside the place?¡±

    ¡°Well, any further than this and we¡¯d be frozen solid, and it¡¯s a long way walk out there.¡±

    ¡°Fucking hell.¡±

    Grabbing the M.A.T puller, they hitchhike towards the surface of the mountain.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°You know. There are other ways to get to another realm.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°And how I wish we could wait things out, and look for that other way, huh?¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Shut up. God, this is getting cold, you sure that thing¡¯s working?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hey, my M.A.T can heat shit up like a volcano. This place is just that cold.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Yeah. Well, what do you know about this place?¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Other than it being an empty graveyard?¡± Kurira takes a magic core out of her inventory and put in the furnace of M.A.T, ¡°The Witch Mountain Path.¡±

    [Kurira]; ¡°A forbidden zone that could kill anyone and anything even if they are at thousands of levels. The Transcendental Law spell that was cast, no one has identified what it was, but it sure as hell strong enough for the witch to recoil and actually¡­ ascended to godhood.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Quite a tale.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Uhuh, can you imagine how strong for it to be able to¡­ hnngh, freeze a whole mountain. And the blizzard even extended outside.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Must be one mighty law.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Something she made herself.¡±

    Kurira sees her synthetic hand, her fingers started to freeze.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Good thing I stock up on legend cores, but gimme yours, just in case.¡±

    Shoving another one into the M.A.T, Rakuri sends all of her magic cores to Kurira.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°That girl, she called you by name. That¡¯s an odd-looking player, if I must say. A spell caster with a staff? Don¡¯t you remind her of someone?¡±

    She chuckles.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Heh, that¡¯s because she¡¯s not¡­ and yeah.¡±

    [Rakuri]: ¡°¡­¡±

    Rakuri watches her sister gallantly taking the lead towards the heavy blizzard. To the darkness beyond, towards what lies at the surface.

    A massive gothic church.

    [Rakuri]: ¡°Holy shit, that thing is still intact.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°Not for long, let¡¯s go.¡±

    Kurira inserts her synthetic hand into the portable M.A.T and loaded it with bombs. She has succeeded in creating them in a new form factor, much more elegant with the use of steel, and it enhances the explosion effect much further.

    She expected to use it, but the sisters didn¡¯t expect to find a scene similar to their old past. A massive dragon baring its wings across the room.

    It¡¯s a different dragon than the one she and her sister encountered in the past, but the scene is similar because there is a clothed skeleton with a wizard hat facing it. Its head rotates as a silver white dot in its eye gaze upon Kurira¡¯s fist, but when it met her eyes.

    It gasps.

    [???]: ¡°Kurira?¡±

    Her eyes peeled at the sound of that familiar voice. The voice she often heard, every morning, every night, a calming voice of a friend, a lover.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Siola?¡±

    The skeleton turns to the sister, ¡°Ra¡ª¡± the dot flares as it turns its head to the dragon, seeing it charging a concentrated mass of pure arcane in its mouth, ¡°No!¡±

    A blasting laser. Instinctively, Kurira throws her portable M.A.T, turning itself into a dome, but before it can fully enclosed, the concentrated blue laser hits it. She pulls Rakuri and then¡­

    *BOOOOOOOOM*

    Smoke as arcane particles scatter. Slowly revealing fully destroyed M.A.T, half destroyed dome, and the sisters in each other¡¯s embrace. Rakuri looks up to her sister, and sees, machine. Kurira looks at her sister up and down, knowing that she is fine, she pushes her away as she turns to look at the dragon before looking at Siola.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Hm.¡±

    She cast a sign, ¡°Modular Assembly Terminal.¡±

    A massive workstation appears right behind her. There is another portable M.A.T, one that rolls toward her and attaches itself to her. Filling every possible gap in her torso. New heart, new lungs, new skeletons, body and she pull out a large colossal sword from it.

    <ul>

    <li>Vermillion Steel Weapon in Weapon / Masterwork Heavy Weapon / Ancient / Physical Attack: 5000 / Magical Attack: 1000 / Enchantment: Increases Strength and Endurance by 200. Every swing deal two strikes. Can be charged as it sunken into the earth to create a 50-meter vortex that has 30% chance to stun anything in the radius for 10 seconds / Requirement: 150 Strength, 100 Endurance, 100 Intelligence</li>

    </ul>

    [Kurira]: ¡°I don¡¯t know what your deal is, Siola, but we¡¯ll have plenty of chance to catch up after that thing is under the earth.¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, right on.¡±

    Rakuri walking past her sister to approach that skeleton, that friend, that lover.

    The skeleton, Siola, giving her hand out and Rakuri takes it. And she extends the same for Kurira, but she looks at it for a second before glancing to Rakuri.

    [Kurira]: ¡°What, you wanna fight that thing blind?¡±

    Shaking her head as she walks past them, gripping the colossal sword in one hand, she and her new (old) party stand against a colossal dragon once more.

    The earth trembles by its roar.

    {Dread Lord Dragon King / Level: 2000}

    [Kurira]: ¡°An Ascended, huh?! Well, let¡¯s fucking go!¡±

    A hurl of a fire blast, blue explosion. The trio scatter in three separate directions. Kurira running on the left, Siola take flight, and Rakuri running on walls.

    The latter slip out three kunai with a scroll attach and throw them, hitting the dragon¡¯s head and creates a massive explosion.

    Slight burns on its face, the dragon roars as it sends a blast her way but the she acrobatically dodges with a twirl in the air, but the dragon lunges at her with a gnawing jaw.

    [Siola]: ¡°Dark Current.¡±

    Powerful dark force with massive size disrupted its attack and missed its target. Siola, and yet, there is two Siola floating in the air, casting a sign.

    [Siola & Shadow]: ¡°Limbic Possession.¡±

    Both of the dragon¡¯s arms stretches out, making it losing balance while preventing it from making any optimal movement. And there¡¯s Kurira taking that opportunity.

    Sinking her colossal weapon straight to the dragon¡¯s tail, piercing and locking it down to the ground. The sword shines and unleashes a great vortex, the dragon¡¯s roar in rage but then it stops. Stunned by the vortex. Siola flew right above it and its eyes sees her silver white dot of an eye.

    [Siola]: ¡°Heheh, should¡¯ve taken the deal.¡±

    She cast a sign, ¡°Phantasmagoria.¡±

    Powerful psionic force hits the dragon as its rage consume it but no longer can it do anything. Its body is completely resisting its will to move. In its eye, it sees something beyond nightmare.

    Rakuri descends and rapidly slicing the dragon by the neck, twirling into a tornado as it digs inside. Kurira pulls out her sword, ending the vortex before following it up deep powerful stabs throughout its body. Siola, the tip of her skeleton fingers flare in black flame.

    ! {Pantheon Drive}

    Both Rakuri and Kurira notices the change in the air and scatter away.

    [Siola]: ¡°Hex Pillars.¡±

    Three-point circle of magic covering the entire body of the dragon. Cursed flame surge into the sky, incinerating whatever they touch and the pain will continue to linger even when it¡¯s done.

    All gathers together to witness the dragon behind its smoke. Tail swipes the air as all of them bear witness to the new form of the dragon. Brilliant glows of dark purple crystals, popping up throughout its body. Its wings stretched out as it takes flight, covering a large portion of the sky.

    It roars.

    Kurira chuckles, ¡°Phase 2?¡±

    [Siola]: ¡°Well, that¡¯s not gonna be the end of it too.¡±

    [Kurira]: ¡°You¡¯re kidding me.¡±

    Siola shrugs and Rakuri giggles.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Oh, boy. I might just pull out my secret weapon if that¡¯s how it¡¯s gonna be.¡±

    However, she has no time to tell what it is as the dragon launches its first attack with another concentrated force of the blast. But this time, everyone is ready.

    *BOOOOOOOM*

    A wormhole right above the dragon, all three landed on different part of its body with Kurira thrusting her colossal sword into its eye.

    The dragon roars, enraged even more.

    [Kurira]: ¡°Haha, bitch! I got you, bitch! You¡¯re my little bitch!¡±

    In this cold chilling night, the moon lights up the faces of her dearest. Siola with her skeleton face, she can see it, her real face, how she smiles so brightly. Her sister, Rakuri, behind that mask, those squinty eyes closing in joy. Laughter. Even in this cold breeze, she can feel the warmth.

    [Kurira]: ¡®This is it.¡¯

    Eyes meet with a silent understanding,

    A recognition that time has passed,

    But love¡ªlike the roots of old trees¡ªruns deep, unseen.

    ¡®Here we stand,¡¯

    ¡®Not as we were, but as we have always been.¡¯

    ¡®And in the quiet between words,¡¯

    ¡®There¡¯s that pulse of something eternal:¡¯

    ¡®Home.¡¯

    ***

    <hr>

    <h2>To Be Continued</h2>