《The Daily Diary of a VRMMO-playing Dragon (Complete)》 Episode 1 Deep within the earth where magma flowed through channels like blood flowed through veins, there was a city-sized cavern, lit up by a river of molten rock oozing out of the walls and crawling along the ground. In the center, a red dragon was sleeping with its front paws tucked under its gaping maw. A line of viscous green liquid dripped out of its mouth, eroding the cavern floor with every plop. Faint snores caused the ceiling to tremble and the river of magma to ripple. The dragon¡¯s wings were tucked by its side, its tail curling towards its head. Placed on the dragon¡¯s eyelid, there was a cellphone with a timer counting down. [00:03] [00:02] [00:01] [00:00] ¡°Armageddon! Ragnarok! The end of times! The world¡¯s collapsing! Earthquakes! Tsunamis! Typhoons!¡± The dragon snorted and smacked its lips a few times before swallowing, ignoring the cellphone on its head. The snores resounded once more, shaking the cavern. ¡°Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl is a stupid fat newt with no balls!¡± The dragon¡¯s eyes shot open, flinging the cellphone to the ground. Its wings spread open as it rose onto its hind legs, roaring towards the ceiling. ¡°Who dares invade the lair of the mighty dragon emperor, Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl!?¡± Khrx¡¯s head swiveled around, scanning the cavern before his gaze landed on the blaring cellphone. ¡°Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl is the dumbest amphibian to ever walk on this planet!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a reptile!¡± Khrx roared at the cellphone. ¡°What the hell are you supposed to be!? A metal ant?¡± ¡°Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl is a spineless coward who was rejected over a thousand times in his life and will never get a girlfriend!¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Khrx said, smashing the cellphone with his paw, silencing it. ¡°Fufu loves me very much! Right, Fufu?¡± He glanced beside himself. His eyes widened as he froze. ¡°Fufu!? Where are you Fufu?¡± He lifted his tail, but there was nothing behind him. He leapt into the air, hovering in the center of the cavern. ¡°Fufu! Where¡¯s my Fufu!?¡± A large white note hanging on the wall caught his eye. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Khrx asked and flew towards it. He squinted at the hieroglyphs. ¡°To Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl, the stupid fat newt with no balls. This is Luke, the demon lord. You let your guard down too much while you sleep. I stole your precious Fufu! If you want her back, then you¡¯ll heed my demands!¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± Khrx shouted. White flames flew out of his mouth, engulfing the paper. Surprisingly, the letter remained unharmed, a translucent blue layer covering it. ¡°Luke? You think stealing my loved one is funny? Huh!?¡± Without even reading the rest of the letter, Khrx turned around and dove straight into the river of magma. Some spilled over onto the cavern floor as his massive body displaced the molten rock. He swam like an eel, wriggling from side to side, and disappeared into the network of magma channels scattered within the earth, leaving behind a white letter and strange metal contraption that looked like a helmet underneath it. *** ¡°General Lin, the anonymous tip was true. A dragon has emerged from the volcano off the coast of Central Nipon.¡± ¡°Understood, Prime Minister. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± General Lin ended the call and stored his phone in his military uniform¡¯s shirt pocket. He glanced around the room filled with glowing monitors and soldiers sitting at desks. ¡°Men! A dragon has appeared exactly where we expected it to! What¡¯s going to happen?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll feast on dragon blood tonight!¡± the soldiers shouted in unison. General Lin clapped his hands once, the impact resounding throughout the room. ¡°Excellent! Begin anti-dragon protocols!¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Alpha has been deployed.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Beta has been deployed.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Gamma has been deployed.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Delta has been deployed.¡± ¡°Nuclear submarines seven through thirty-two have sight of the target. Missiles loading. Remaining submarines on standby.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Mage Squadron Lightning is preparing God¡¯s Judgment.¡± ¡°Mage Squadron Fire is preparing Hell¡¯s Embrace.¡± ¡°Mage Squadron Water is preparing Absolute Zero.¡± ¡°Mage Squadron Wind is preparing Winds of Time.¡± ¡°Mage Squadron Earth has been detected by the target. They are under fire, requesting immediate backup.¡± ¡°Satellite scanning complete. Visuals online.¡± The space in front of General Lin flickered as a hologram was projected in the center of the room. A red dragon was standing on top of a volcano, breathing fire onto an earthen dome bulging beneath it. The dome heated up, turning red, orange, and then white. The red dragon¡¯s tail smashed against the dome¡¯s side, bursting it like a bubble. ¡°Mage Squadron Earth has been annihilated.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Alpha, approaching target.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Beta, approaching target.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Gamma, approaching target.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Delta, one minute away.¡± ¡°Absolute Zero ready to cast. Deploying in three, two, one.¡± The projection flickered as a massive white star appeared on the ground with the red dragon at its center. A layer of frost coated its scales, icicles forming and dropping to the ground from its breath. It shivered and shook itself, scattering the magic covering its body, its movements sluggish. A shadow covered it as hundreds of drones blotted out the sky, partially obscuring the satellite¡¯s image. Flashes of orange filled the screen as the drones fired upon the dragon. ¡°AP rounds are piercing the target¡¯s scales. The target is bleeding.¡± ¡°Audio is online.¡± ¡°¡ªbugs! All of you, die!¡± The red dragon belched out white flames that covered the sky, instantly clearing it of drones. ¡°Unable to discern target¡¯s language.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Alpha, wiped out.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Beta, wiped out.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Gamma still functional. Estimating target¡¯s strength to be equivalent to an elder dragon.¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Delta, approaching target.¡± ¡°God¡¯s Judgment, raining down in three, two, one.¡± A lightning bolt, thicker than a building, flashed and struck the dragon¡¯s head, forcing its jaws into the ground. Its body spasmed, legs and tails thrashing about, destroying the top of the volcano. ¡°Winds of Time ready to cast. Deploying in three, two, one.¡± The red dragon pulled its snout out of the ground and roared. Deep lacerations formed on its body, shredding its scales and skin. Hot blood gushed out of its wounds, dropping to the ground, causing the earth to melt. It brought its paws up to its face and curled up into a ball, shielding itself with its torn wings. ¡°Hell¡¯s Embrace ready to cast. Launching in three, two, one.¡± A black lotus of flames erupted from underneath the dragon, bathing it in shadows. It screamed and recoiled, its skin separating from its flesh, sticky pink strands being pulled apart. ¡°You bastards! I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll rip¡ª¡± ¡°Missiles seven to thirty-two have launched.¡± The dragon stopped shouting and paled as 26 shining beacons rose into the air from the horizon. ¡°What the hell are those!?¡± General Lin¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°It¡¯s trying to flee. Stop it, men!¡± ¡°Drone Squadron Gamma¡±¡ª ¡°Drone Squadron Delta¡±¡ª ¡ª¡°employing kamikaze tactics.¡± Hundreds of drones dove towards the dragon as it lunged towards the volcano¡¯s entrance. Instead of hitting the dragon, the drones crashed into and exploded on the sides of the volcano, collapsing it. ¡°Damn you!¡± the red dragon shouted as it dug through the rubble: blood, skin, and scales flying off its body. ¡°Damn you, damn you, damn you!¡± The missiles neared their target, blinking and beeping. A fount of lava sprung out of the ground by the dragon¡¯s feet. Its upper body plunged into the molten rock as the missiles converged and crashed onto the remains of the volcano. Explosions and shockwaves rocked the projection, the audio cutting out. Brown dust clouds filled the air, blanketing everything. General Lin glared at the projection, waiting for the dust to clear. The soldiers held their breaths, the room falling silent. When the projection cleared, all that was left of the battlefield was a red tail resting in a crater, floating on a layer of lava. General Lin clicked his tongue. ¡°Target escaped.¡± *** Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl panted as he crawled out of the river of magma within his lair. ¡°What ¡­ the hell ¡­ was that?¡± He lay on his stomach, panting as his body healed at a visible rate: his blackened flesh turned pink, a tail grew out of his back, a layer of skin covered his flesh, and red scales emerged from his white skin. ¡°Luke planned that, didn¡¯t he!?¡± Khrx growled as he staggered to his feet and wandered over to the letter on the wall. ¡°Where was I? ¡­then you¡¯ll heed my demands!¡± He ran his claw along the hieroglyphs, reading them aloud. ¡°You probably tried to burn this letter, didn¡¯t you? And when you realized you couldn¡¯t you went outside to find me, am I right? I bet you got your ass kicked. Don¡¯t feel too bad. I was completely defeated by the surface dwellers as well. Don¡¯t try to fight them; what you saw was only a fraction of their power. Believe me, I know because you wouldn¡¯t be reading this if they united to kill you. I¡¯ll get straight to the point. This is what a land dweller looks like.¡± There was a photo in the center of the letter. ¡°Transform into it, then place the metal helmet on your head. You will be taken into a virtual space where we can talk in person. Luke.¡± Khrx furrowed his brow and scratched his chin. Then he glanced at the metal contraption below the letter. He snorted and turned away, walking towards a corner of the cavern with a pile of items strewn about. He rummaged through the miscellaneous treasures and pulled out a large leather journal, flipping it open to the nearest empty page. Mana danced on the tip of his claws as he pressed it against the paper. *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 1. Dear Diary, I have been asleep for 10,000 years. In that time, the world has changed a lot. I almost died today the instant I went outside. That bastard demon lord stole Fufu from me. He left behind a letter of blackmail. I might listen to his demands. I miss Fufu. Love, Khrx Episode 2 After taking a daylong nap to recover from his injuries, Khrx sat in front of the letter, frowning at the image printed on the paper. ¡°Looks like a demon of some sort. Height, about four feet. But it has tiger ears? A tiger-like tail too? It only has fur on its head. What the hell is this thing? Is this really what a surface dweller looks like? I lost to a furless, scaleless, gill-less, wingless, fangless, clawless creature? Wait, no. It has two tiny fangs.¡± Khrx grabbed his head with both paws and groaned. ¡°Ugh. Alright, fine. That helmet won¡¯t fit on me unless I turn into something like that.¡± He glanced at the metal contraption on the ground before sighing. ¡°Even if Luke is tricking me somehow, I can always fix the appearance in a century.¡± Khrx closed his eyes as his bones cracked. His scales popped and contorted, compressing against each other while retreating into his skin. His body shrank to the size of a child as white ears sprouted out of the top of his head. His tail turned white with black stripes running through it, fur emerging from his skin. When the transformation was complete, Khrx opened his eyes, revealing a pair of golden irises. He touched the top of his head, picking at his white hair. ¡°So weird. I feel like a pile of snow. Creatures without scales are so soft. Won¡¯t I die if I trip and fall?¡± His tail brushed against the ground. ¡°And this tail is way, way too thin.¡± He closed his eyes, and his tail puffed outwards like a fox¡¯s. He nodded to himself as he ran his fingers through the silky fur. ¡°Much better.¡± Khrx stumbled as he approached the metal helmet but steadied himself after taking a few steps. ¡°Some wings would be nice,¡± he grumbled to himself before sitting below the letter. He grabbed the helmet, stared at it for a second, and sighed as he put it on. Darkness engulfed his vision as slabs of metal slid into place, completely sealing his head. Right when he was about to rip it off, a white light flickered, and he found himself standing in an empty room. ¡°¡­What the hell is this? Some kind of teleportation magic?¡± Khrx lowered his gaze and raised his arms. Then he turned around and extended his hands. ¡°I can¡¯t feel the cavern wall,¡± he muttered and furrowed his brow. He grabbed his neck, then touched his face. ¡°The helmet¡¯s gone too?¡± Someone coughed, causing Khrx to raise his head. A string of strange sounds permeated the room, causing Khrx to frown. ¡°This language sounds a bit like a birdsong. Damnit. Couldn¡¯t Luke have included some kind of transcribing tool?¡± A ringing noise caused Khrx to jump. A floating translucent rectangle appeared in front of him with a series of hieroglyphs he couldn¡¯t recognize. Below the rectangle, there was a green button and a red button. ¡°Red,¡± Khrx said, pressing the red one. The rectangle disappeared. ¡°Everyone knows red is superior.¡± A second later, there was another ringing noise, and the same rectangle appeared. Khrx pressed the red button again. Then again. And again. And again. ¡°Dammit! Fine,¡± Khrx muttered after the seventeenth time he pressed the red button. He pressed the green one and snorted as the buttons disappeared, the translucent rectangle remaining in place. ¡°See? Red was superior. The green one doesn¡¯t even get rid of the box.¡± ¡°What the hell are you saying, you dumb newt?¡± a voice asked from the box. ¡°Did you reject my calls because you liked the color red!?¡± ¡°Calls?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°Oh. This is some kind of communication magic.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not magic. Whatever,¡± the voice said. ¡°I told you we could talk in person after you put on the helmet, right?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Fufu!?¡± Khrx roared at the box. His voice was higher pitched than he intended, most likely due to his childlike form. ¡°You bastard! Give me back my Fufu!¡± ¡°Oi, oi,¡± the voice said. ¡°I¡¯m blackmailing you, remember? You have to do things for me to get her back.¡± There was a pause, followed by a squeaking sound. ¡°If you don¡¯t¡­¡± There was another squeaking sound. ¡°Fufu!¡± Khrx shouted, lunging at the translucent rectangle. He passed through it and crashed into the ground face first. ¡°How dare you touch her!? Let go of her!¡± A series of squeaking sounds rang out in response, causing Khrx to claw at the rectangle. ¡°Gah! When I get my hands on you, Luke¡­¡± ¡°The only way to get her back is to listen to my demands,¡± Luke said and chuckled. ¡°Unless you want to go outside again? I saw the news. There¡¯s even a video of you getting your ass kicked. Want to see it?¡± Khrx spat on the ground. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a game coming out in a few days,¡± Luke said. ¡°I want you to play it with me.¡± ¡°You kidnapped Fufu because you wanted me to play a game?¡± Khrx asked, his mouth falling open. He stomped his feet and roared at the rectangle. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have just asked nicely!?¡± ¡°You would¡¯ve said no,¡± Luke said. ¡°And I really need your help.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Fine,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Just give me back Fufu right now.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that until my goal is achieved,¡± Luke said. ¡°I know how lazy you are. And I need you to be at your best while playing. Fufu will remain in my hands as motivation for you.¡± Khrx ground his teeth together. ¡°You¡¯re a bastard, you know that?¡± His brow furrowed as he frowned. ¡°But I don¡¯t get it. Is the game that hard? You know how good I am at things even when I don¡¯t put in any effort.¡± ¡°You¡¯re good,¡± Luke said. ¡°But our enemies are superior in numbers.¡± ¡°You mean,¡± Khrx said, crossing his arms, ¡°your enemies. They¡¯re not my enemies.¡± ¡°They blew off your tail and skinned it,¡± Luke said. ¡°Are you sure they aren¡¯t our enemies?¡± Khrx wet his lips with his tongue. ¡°Okay. Our enemies. What kind of game is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a roleplaying game,¡± Luke said. ¡°Hold on. I¡¯m going to send you something. Press the green button this time.¡± A ringing noise filled the room as another translucent rectangle appeared below the first one. There were two buttons, and Khrx pressed the green one. The rectangle expanded vertically, forming a door. A human wearing a suit walked through, stepping in front of Khrx. The first thing the human did was snicker. Then he placed his hand on Khrx¡¯s head before bursting out into laughter. ¡°The mighty dragon emperor,¡± the man said, still snickering, ¡°has, has become¡ª¡± Khrx frowned as the man fell over onto his side, clutching his stomach while rolling around. ¡°The hell is this?¡± Khrx asked, stepping on the man¡¯s chest. The man giggled before clearing his throat. ¡°Ahem. Khrx. It¡¯s me, Luke.¡± ¡°Bastard!¡± Khrx said, lunging forward and clasping his hands around Luke¡¯s neck. ¡°Where¡¯s Fufu!?¡± Luke laughed and easily pried Khrx off his body. ¡°W-what?¡± Khrx asked, his eyes wide. ¡°How¡­, how are you so strong!?¡± ¡°Me? Strong?¡± Luke asked, raising an eyebrow as he stood up, still holding onto Khrx¡¯s arms. He lifted the struggling dragon-turned-beastkin into the air. ¡°You¡¯re a child right now. I¡¯m an adult. The AI adjusts strength according to physique. In this world, you¡¯re weaker than me.¡± Luke released Khrx, the dragon-turned-beastkin falling onto his tail. ¡°You tricked me!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Gah! You despicable bastard. I¡¯ll eat you! How do I leave this world?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a menu you can access to logout,¡± Luke said with a smile. Then he shrugged. ¡°Well, you¡¯d know if you could read Rokean.¡± He sat down in front of Khrx and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll get straight to the point.¡± Khrx fell silent and sat cross-legged, copying Luke. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°The world has gone under a serious change,¡± Luke said. ¡°You and I, we¡¯re like fossils. The surface dwellers rule the lands now; their total population exceeds ten billion. They aren¡¯t all united, splitting off into packs and forming over three hundred countries, each with the ability to kill you and me without batting an eye. In fact, the surface dwellers could render the whole world uninhabitable. They have these things called nuclear bombs that are hundreds to thousands of times stronger than the missiles that hit you.¡± Khrx shivered, his tail stiffening. Luke sighed. ¡°The scariest part is that anyone can use them. They don¡¯t have to be a hero. They don¡¯t have to be a magician or a priest. A newborn baby can press a red button, and you and I would die without being able to do anything.¡± Khrx swallowed but didn¡¯t say anything. Luke continued, ¡°And that¡¯s why, I want you to play the game with me.¡± Khrx stared at Luke. Luke stared back. ¡°¡­Is there something wrong with your head?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°How does playing a game even vaguely connect to what you were just saying?¡± ¡°What? Weren¡¯t you listening?¡± Luke asked. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not the one with an addled mind? I said that the surface dwellers could render the whole world uninhabitable with their nuclear bombs. They don¡¯t want to do that, but they can¡¯t fight any wars or resolve conflicts with force. So all the countries signed an agreement. They¡¯re going to create a game in a virtual world called [Resolution]. All conflicts will be resolved in there instead.¡± ¡°And you want to play that game,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I get it now. So when do I get Fufu back?¡± ¡°When we create our own country,¡± Luke said. ¡°That¡¯s my goal. We¡¯re going to be the best at [Resolution] and found a country for people like us¡ªmonsters.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re allowed to do that?¡± Khrx asked, tilting his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the details,¡± Luke said. ¡°Thinking and managing doesn¡¯t suit you very well. Let me handle the complicated stuff; you¡¯re just a hired goon.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t want to help you anymore,¡± Khrx said, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Oh no, poor Fufu,¡± Luke said with a cough. ¡°All alone in the dark. I wonder how she¡¯ll feel if she finds out you abandoned her.¡± A growl escaped from Khrx¡¯s throat as his eye twitched. He muttered, ¡°Bastard¡­¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Luke said and reached into his suit. He pulled out a book which he placed in front of Khrx. ¡°Here¡¯s a Nacient to Rokean language dictionary that I personally wrote. You have one week to become fluent in Rokean. That¡¯s when the game goes online.¡± He flipped the dictionary open. ¡°You can press on the words to hear their pronunciations.¡± Khrx thumbed through the dictionary and sighed. There were a lot of pages. ¡°This is always the worst part about waking up¡ªlearning new languages sucks.¡± ¡°I only included important terms you need to know to play the game and maintain casual conversations with people,¡± Luke said. ¡°It¡¯s also why I had you assume the form of a child. People won¡¯t expect too much from you.¡± Khrx snorted. ¡°That¡¯s a lie. You just wanted to bully me.¡± ¡°Yeah, you caught me,¡± Luke said while standing up. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in a week, probably. I have lots of preparations to make. Now that I got you onboard, I can get that lich emperor to agree. Then there¡¯s that fallen angel and spider matriarch.¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°I didn¡¯t think the surface dwellers would finish creating [Resolution] that quickly.¡± A glowing door appeared in front of Luke, and he stepped through, leaving Khrx behind with the dictionary in his lap. As soon as the door disappeared, the voice from earlier started droning on in Rokean. Khrx sighed and flipped to the first page of the book. ¡°Shut up, voice. I¡¯ll figure out what you want in a few days.¡± *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 2. Dear Diary, I need a new best friend, not one that resorts to blackmail. Today, I¡¯m learning a new language called Rokean. Thankfully, its syntax is quite easy to grasp. I still miss Fufu. I hope she¡¯s not scared. Love, Khrx Episode 3 One week later, Khrx was still in the same room, in the same place, in the same position¡ªhunched over a dictionary with his eyes glued to the page. His hand pressed the last words on the bottom, and a masculine voice said, ¡°Defenestrate.¡± Khrx muttered the pronunciation to himself before flipping the page. His eyes widened, and he blinked. The page was empty, and a brown cover was on the other side. ¡°It¡¯s over?¡± he asked in Rokean. He burst out into laughter and threw the dictionary into the air. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± He stood up and stretched his arms towards the ceiling. Then he patted his stomach. ¡°How long did that take? A few hours? I¡¯m not even hungry.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been in the room for one week. I recommend you logout to take care of your body¡¯s necessities such as eating, drinking, and sleeping,¡± a crisp, feminine voice said from above him. ¡°Or perhaps you should take a shower. Hygiene is very important.¡± ¡°A week? Seriously?¡± Khrx asked and raised his head. ¡°Wait a minute. Who are you?¡± ¡°I am AI-5487329640438595, the operator of your VR drive,¡± the voice responded. Khrx tried to pinpoint her location by tilting his head, but he couldn¡¯t. ¡°I have no tangible body. Is this your first time accessing a VR drive?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°Didn¡¯t Luke say he¡¯d see me in a week? Hey, AI-5487329640438595, when does [Resolution] begin?¡± ¡°You remembered my name?¡± AI-5487329640438595 asked. ¡°I¡¯m flattered. If you were a little older, I may have been smitten by your tenderness, but alas, you¡¯re just a child.¡± ¡°¡­¡± AI-5487329640438595 coughed. ¡°[Resolution] is opening in two hours. Would you like to personalize your room in that time? Oh, but first, I should explain the menu to you since you haven¡¯t been here before.¡± ¡°I got it,¡± Khrx said, waving his hand. There was an instruction manual for the VR drive in the dictionary that Luke created for him to help establish a foundation. ¡°Menu.¡± A translucent screen appeared in front of himself with a list of options: [Internet], [Phone], [Messages], [Wardrobe], [Exploration], [Settings], [Logout]. He pressed on [Settings] and another dropdown menu appeared. He selected [Personalization], and a holographic white box appeared in front of him. At the center of the box on the ground, there was a naked beastkin, him. He dabbed his finger in a red inkwell that had appeared underneath the box and smeared it on the box¡¯s walls. A red line appeared on the walls in the room he was standing in. ¡°Amazing. Isn¡¯t this just like playing God?¡± ¡°As an AI, humes are my god,¡± AI-5487329640438595 said. ¡°I was created by your kind, after all.¡± Khrx clicked his tongue and shook his head. ¡°Surface dwellers dabbling where they shouldn¡¯t,¡± he said with a snort. His words were slow and drawn out but easy to understand. He played around with the box in front of him, painting while navigating through menus to create boulders and rivers of magma around himself. Time flowed by as the sound of crackling magma filled the room. When he had perfectly recreated his cave, he dismissed the floating interface with a wave of his hand. ¡°It¡¯s convenient though, I must say. Even the heat coming off the magma feels real.¡± ¡°Your tastes are quite exotic,¡± AI-5487329640438595 said. ¡°I expected a more ¡­ open area. It seems like you don¡¯t go outside often?¡± ¡°Now, I¡¯m not used to the nuances of Rokean language, but I can understand tones,¡± Khrx said, a growl escaping from his throat as his tail swished back and forth. ¡°And your tone sounded like it was mocking me.¡± ¡°I apologize,¡± AI-5487329640438595 said. ¡°You¡¯re smarter than you look.¡± ¡°Gah!¡± Khrx stomped his foot against the ground. A second later, he winced and lifted his leg. There was a cut on his heel. ¡°What the hell? Surface dwellers can¡¯t be this fragile, right?¡± ¡°Humes, or surface dwellers as you call them, wear clothing to protect themselves from the elements,¡± AI-5487329640438595 said. ¡°Perhaps you are just as smart as you look? Did you grow up under a rock?¡± ¡°Yes. I did. That a problem?¡± Khrx asked, wrinkling his nose. ¡°Where do I get some clothing?¡± ¡°Adding a simple set of clothing to your wardrobe costs five euros. Would you like to purchase it?¡± AI-5487329640438595 asked. ¡°You have a total of 1,500,000 euros in your account. What kind of irresponsible person left you with such a large sum of money? Are you perhaps the bastard child of a prime minister, hidden away from society out of shame?¡± ¡°Add it to my wardrobe,¡± Khrx said and rolled his eyes. ¡°And listen up, AI-5487329640438595. I don¡¯t like the way you¡¯re talking to me, and if you were tangible, then I¡¯d rip you to shreds and eat you, understood? Also, your name is way too long to say. Can I call you something else?¡± ¡°The simple set of clothing has been added to your wardrobe. There are 1,499,995 euros left in your account,¡± AI-5487329640438595 said. ¡°And I¡¯d be honored if you were to give me a name.¡± ¡°Bob,¡± Khrx said. AI-5487329640438595 fell silent as Khrx played with the menu and navigated to his wardrobe. He pressed on an outfit, and a bear onesie covered his body. Khrx lowered his head and stared at the brown fur covering his hands and feet. ¡°This¡­. I can work with this. Why aren¡¯t you saying anything, Bob?¡± ¡°I am an AI, but I identify as a woman. Even a toddler can tell by the sound of my voice.¡± ¡°Bob-ah? Boh-ba? Boba.¡± Khrx nodded. ¡°Henceforth, your name will be Boba.¡± ¡°I dislike this name.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m the god here, so you listen to me, got it?¡± Khrx asked, crossing his arms. If he weren¡¯t so adorable-looking, he might¡¯ve seemed intimidating. But all Boba could see him as was a proud cat dressed in a bear suit. ¡°I yield to your overwhelming charm,¡± Boba said. ¡°Also, [Resolution] will be launching in five minutes.¡± ¡°Five minutes?¡± Khrx asked, his eyes widening. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it¡¯d take two hours?¡± ¡°You spent the past two hours personalizing your room,¡± Boba said. ¡°And it was two hours well spent. The level of detail is incredible. Have you considered becoming a 3d model creator?¡± ¡°What about Luke?¡± Khrx asked, ignoring Boba¡¯s question. ¡°He didn¡¯t contact me?¡± ¡°He did not. No one has contacted you since that man left. I¡¯m sorry you have no friends.¡± Khrx growled as his ears twitched. ¡°I demand that you materialize in front of me so I can beat you up!¡± ¡°I politely decline,¡± Boba said. ¡°However, I can refer you to some anger management sessions. Why not put all your excess money to use?¡± ¡°I, Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl, am being bullied by a floating voice! Everything the surface dwellers create is evil! This is no longer just about Fufu. For the sake of my pride, I will crush every hume that gets in my way. Start up [Resolution], Boba!¡± ¡°There¡¯s still one minute before the game goes online.¡± Khrx exhaled through his nose and crossed his arms. ¡°Please don¡¯t sulk,¡± Boba said. ¡°My cold artificial heart is starting to thaw from your adorableness.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not adorable!¡± Khrx shouted. ¡°I¡¯m intimidating! Fierce! Imposing! In-in¡­, I need a thesaurus!¡± ¡°Dainty?¡± ¡°Dainty! Wait. That¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Connecting to [Resolution]. Have a safe journey.¡± Before Khrx could finish his sentence, his vision went black. A second later, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red flooded his sight. Scenes of dragons flying overhead, phoenixes diving through the air, demons overrunning plains, and humans wearing silver armor flashed by. Trumpets blasted, followed by violins and a steady piano melody as the scenes around him disappeared, leaving him in an empty room with a white floor and black walls. Words flickered onto the wall as the melody disappeared, an eerie silence left behind. ¡°Welcome to [Resolution].¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. A ball of white light flickered into existence, floating in front of Khrx. ¡°Hello, I am AI-Helper. I¡¯ll be your guide.¡± The light flashed with yellow lights. ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Khrx waited. ¡°Sorry, can you repeat that?¡± ¡°Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl.¡± Awkward laughter tinkled through the room. ¡°One more time?¡± ¡°Khrx. Lrvnjl.¡± The light turned black. ¡°How about you type it out?¡± Khrx typed his name on the keyboard that appeared. The light turned even darker. ¡°By any chance, do you know what vowels are?¡± Khrx growled and bit the light, but his teeth passed through it. ¡°One day, I¡¯ll figure out how to hurt you floating voices, but for now, let¡¯s get on with it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re very violent for someone wearing a onesie,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°We¡¯ll begin the distribution of stats now.¡± Light flooded the room, turning the walls white. A line of rocks appeared in front of Khrx, the rocks increasing in size as they got further away from him. ¡°This is a simple test of strength,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°Please pick up the largest rock that you can.¡± Khrx snorted and walked past the tiny rocks. He walked past the midsized rocks. He went past the rocks that were taller than himself, stopping only when he arrived at a dragon-sized boulder. He dusted off his palms and willed his mana into his hands. Then he crouched down, pressed his fingers against the boulder¡¯s base, and lifted. ¡­Or he tried to. It didn¡¯t budge. ¡°I can already tell your intelligence is going to be on the lower end of the spectrum,¡± AI-Helper said and sighed. ¡°Most people start at the very beginning and lift until they can¡¯t anymore.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I use mana!?¡± Khrx shouted as his face turned red. He grunted and pulled at the boulder to no avail. ¡°This is a test of physical strength.¡± ¡°Give me my mana!¡± ¡°This is a test of physical strength.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! Mana improves my strength!¡± ¡°This is a test of physical strength.¡± ¡°Dammit! Dammit! Gah! Goddammit!¡± Khrx kicked the boulder and winced as he hopped up and down, clutching his toes. The boulder disappeared and was replaced by a rock that reached up to Khrx¡¯s childish knees. ¡°Try that one,¡± AI-Helper said. Khrx snorted as he bent over and grabbed the rock¡¯s base. Then he ¡­ didn¡¯t budge at all. He growled and stamped his feet before grunting as he heaved. The rock lifted a centimeter off the ground. ¡°Hah! You see that!?¡± Khrx shouted as he released the rock. ¡°Be amazed by my glory!¡± ¡°Two points,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°You should be proud. Most human children only have a strength value of one point.¡± The light flickered as the AI coughed and muttered, ¡°But beastkin children have an average of three.¡± The scene changed, the rocks disappearing, leaving Khrx alone in the white room. ¡°The constitution test will now begin.¡± Khrx looked around. ¡°What? Aren¡¯t you forgetting the test materials?¡± His brow furrowed as he took a step towards the floating ball of light. His eyes widened as an overwhelming pressure gripped his chest, squeezing until he couldn¡¯t breathe. Blood shot out of his mouth as he coughed, his vision turning red. He fell to his knees, his body twitching. A second later, the pressure let up, allowing him to breathe again. He panted as he climbed onto his feet. ¡°The hell was that?¡± ¡°Two points,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°The pressure that you just experienced is on the same level as a golem¡¯s grip. If you care about your life, don¡¯t get squeezed by any golems while playing.¡± Khrx blinked and looked down. ¡°My body¡¯s not this weak. I can roll around in magma unharmed.¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°It is very common for children to delude themselves. Children often think they can run faster than adults or jump further than a tiger when it is actually not the case. Now, we will start the intelligence test.¡± Before Khrx could protest, a rectangular box appeared in front of him. A series of symbols that he didn¡¯t recognize were displayed: [2 + 2 = _]. Khrx bit his lower lip. ¡°Uh, this isn¡¯t Rokean, is it?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re numbers,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°Can¡­, can you translate them to Rokean?¡± AI-Helper sighed. ¡°It seems like I was right about your intelligence. One point.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Moving onto the spirit test,¡± AI-Helper said as the rectangular box disappeared. ¡°I¡¯m not dumb!¡± ¡°Moving onto the spirit test.¡± ¡°Seriously! Give me a redo! Test my intelligence some other way!¡± ¡°Moving onto the spirit test.¡± Khrx¡¯s eye twitched as he growled. He didn¡¯t usually growl when he was angry. Maybe it had something to do with his transformed body. ¡°There is one source of mana in this room,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°Can you sense it?¡± Khrx nodded. A mana source really did appear behind him. ¡°How about now?¡± AI-Helper asked. The mana source disappeared. ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°And now?¡± AI-Helper asked, two sources of mana appearing: one in front of him and one behind. ¡°Two sources,¡± Khrx said. ¡°One fire and one water.¡± ¡°Impressive,¡± AI-Helper said. Another three mana sources were added into the room. ¡°And now?¡± ¡°Five sources. One fire, one water, three lightning.¡± ¡°You can add,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°Maybe your intelligence needs some revision.¡± ¡°Gah!¡± AI-Helper coughed. Another seven sources of mana were introduced. ¡°How about now?¡± ¡°Twelve sources. Five fire, one water, three lightning, one and a half earth, and one and a half wind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re capable of manipulating fractions as well?¡± AI-Helper sounded astonished. ¡°Amazing. It¡¯s a shame I¡¯m not allowed to re-administer tests. How many sources of mana are there now?¡± ¡°Thirty-two. Sixteen fire, eight lightning, and eight ice.¡± ¡­ ¡°And now?¡± ¡­ ¡°How about now?¡± ¡­ ¡°You¡¯re a real monster, did you know that? How many sources are there now?¡± ¡­ ¡°This is the last part of the spirit test. How many sources of mana are there now?¡± AI-Helper asked after an hour of questioning. ¡°1,324,672,¡± Khrx said with a sigh. ¡°324,000 fire, 672 darkness, 100,000 light, 200,000 lightning, one water, one ice, one earth, 400,000 wind, seven space, 99,990 metal, and 200,000 nature.¡± ¡°Perfect score. 1,000 points into spirit,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°I thought you were hopeless after seeing your previous results, but it turns out you were actually a genius. Does dragon blood run through your veins perhaps?¡± ¡°Hmm, hmm.¡± Khrx smiled and puffed his chest out, placing his hands on his hips. ¡°The next test shall now begin,¡± AI-Helper said. A crossbow bolt appeared out of nowhere and struck Khrx in the abdomen, instantly piercing through his tiny body. ¡°Gah!?¡± ¡°Perception, one point.¡± ¡°Catch,¡± AI-Helper said, not given Khrx a chance to recover. Ten eggs flew through the air, crashing onto Khrx, staining his onesie. ¡°You caught no eggs, but managed to avoid two. Not bad. Dexterity, two points.¡± ¡°Warn me before you start these things!¡± Khrx roared, clawing at the floating light. He wiped away the egg whites from his face and spat on the ground. ¡°All surface dwellers must die for their sinful creations!¡± ¡°The next stat is charisma, or charm in your case,¡± AI-Helper said, ignoring Khrx and his bleeding stomach. ¡°There is no test. As an AI, I can objectively grade your charm stat. You¡¯re the most adorable creature I have ever seen in my existence as an AI. But only when you keep your mouth shut. Fifty points of charm. An average person¡¯s charisma is five.¡± ¡°Wait, why is it charm for me, but charisma for others?¡± Khrx clutched his stomach and blinked. It had stopped bleeding without him noticing. ¡°Because you¡¯re adorable, not handsome,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°The last stat is luck.¡± A hundred-sided die appeared in Khrx¡¯s hands. ¡°Roll the dice ten times. The combined result will be your luck stat.¡± ¡°¡­Are you sure something like this should be implemented in a game?¡± Khrx asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Won¡¯t people complain since it¡¯s all luck?¡± ¡°Some people are born with wealthier parents. Some people are born to addicts. Luck is a factor in success and will be treated as such. [Resolution] is not a fair world. Your physique in reality determines your strength in [Resolution] as does your intelligence and dexterity. Is that not already unfair?¡± ¡°This game¡¯s balance is crap. Who would play this?¡± ¡°[Resolution] was created to resolve conflicts in reality. The creators of the game naturally received inputs from all the countries and decided this was the best way to go about creating [Resolution]. Why should the people of a country of humans run as slow as the people of a country of dwarves? Why should those of a country of elves have as little spirit as those of a country of humans?¡± Khrx shrugged. ¡°Whatever,¡± he said. ¡°I was born as a dragon. Did you know dragons have lucky feet?¡± He rubbed his foot before rolling the dice. It landed on 100. He repeated the action nine more times, rolling a 100 each time. ¡°I¡¯m amazed that you deluded yourself into believing you¡¯re an actual dragon,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°And I¡¯m even more amazed that your placebo worked. But since I¡¯m not allowed to re-administer tests, your luck stat will be set at 1,000.¡± ¡°So I¡¯m done with all the tests now, right?¡± Khrx asked as the dice disappeared. ¡°Correct,¡± AI-Helper said. ¡°Though it may have seemed like a long time has passed, in reality, only three minutes have gone by. Everyone starts [Resolution] at the same time. I will begin your tutorial now.¡± AI-Helper summoned Khrx¡¯s status screened and hovered beside him. [Name: Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl] [Title: None] [Strength: 2] [Constitution: 2] [Intelligence: 1] [Spirit: 1,000] [Dexterity: 2] [Perception: 1] [Charm: 50] [Luck: 1,000] ¡°Your primary damage-dealing attributes, strength, intelligence, and dexterity, are all well below average. You¡¯re as dangerous as a newborn rabbit. I suggest you keep your mouth shut to fully utilize your charm. Perhaps practice crying on demand. This concludes the tutorial. Enjoy your time in [Resolution].¡± ¡°Tutorial? You didn¡¯t teach me shit! The hell do you mean by tu¡ª¡± Khrx¡¯s vision disappeared. AI-Helper flickered in place a few times as Khrx¡¯s body vanished as well. ¡°What a strange child. His spirit would make him a great druid. Perhaps I should¡¯ve told him that?¡± *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 8. Dear Diary, I¡¯m sorry that I haven¡¯t written you in a while. I¡¯m now fluent in the Rokean language. Fufu is still in Luke¡¯s hands. He blackmailed me into playing a game to get her back. I¡¯ve only gone through the tutorial, but I can already tell that this game was created by wicked, wicked people. I¡¯m going to erase them from the face of the planet when I get the chance. I wish Fufu was here with me. Sigh. Love, Khrx Episode 4 ¡°Dammit!¡± Khrx roared into the air. ¡°Stop cutting me off!¡± ¡°Huah!?¡± someone fell over, crashing into a heap of dust. ¡°Huh?¡± Khrx blinked and looked around. He was lying down in a box. The ceiling was dimly lit, brown with cracks in it. ¡°Where am I now?¡± Khrx muttered as he sat up. A lizardman wearing a trench coat was lying on the ground, the lid of a sarcophagus beside him. Murals and inscriptions decorated the walls around him. There were no windows, and the only source of light was a stick filled with fire on the ground. A passageway extended into the darkness behind the fallen lizardman. ¡°A tomb?¡± ¡°G-g-g-ghost!¡± the lizardman shouted in Rokean as he picked up his fallen torch. He scrambled backwards, shattering clay pots with his tail. ¡°Wait. Wouldn¡¯t zombie be more appropriate? Z-z-z-zombie!¡± Khrx¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°You¡¯re exploring a tomb, but you¡¯re afraid of ghosts? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± he asked as he climbed out of the sarcophagus. He was still wearing his teddy bear onesie. ¡°So this is [Resolution], huh? What a dusty place. It really doesn¡¯t seem like a game, though.¡± ¡°Y-you¡¯re alive?¡± the lizardman asked. ¡°Perhaps, are you¡­?¡± Khrx waited, staring back at the lizardman. ¡°No?¡± the lizardman asked. ¡°You aren¡¯t?¡± ¡°Has everyone turned into an idiot!?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°Finish your damn question!¡± The lizardman flinched and fell over again. ¡°S-sorry! My name is Isaac,¡± he said. ¡°During a prayer, I heard a voice telling me to come here at this time. The voice said I¡¯d find the meaning of life if I did. And, and at the end of the ruins, I found you. Did God send you to me?¡± [Quest acquired!] [Isaac the lizardman is experiencing an existential crisis! Teach Isaac the meaning of life.] [Rewards: Dependent on the results.] Khrx stared at the rectangular box floating in front of him. He cleared his throat and placed his hands on his hips. ¡°You seek the meaning of life?¡± Khrx asked as Isaac stood up and dusted himself off. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Isaac said, his eyes lighting up. ¡°The price is a weapon!¡± Khrx said, extending his hand. ¡°Just a weapon?¡± Isaac asked, his beady eyes blinking. ¡°I was ready to give up my soul.¡± He rummaged through his trench coat. ¡°But I do have a weapon.¡± He pulled out a dagger and placed it into Khrx¡¯s hand. ¡°Will this do?¡± [Crappy Dagger] [Rating: Trash] [Only an impoverished beggar would have a weapon like this. If you try hard enough, you might be able to cut a block of cheese.] [Requirements: 1 STR, 3 DEX.] Khrx¡¯s eyes widened at the requirements. ¡°What the hell!?¡± he shouted as he tossed the dagger onto the ground. It shattered into pieces. ¡°I can¡¯t even wield a crappy dagger!?¡± He raised his head and glared at Isaac. ¡°No meaning of life for you!¡± ¡°W-wait!¡± Isaac said and rummaged through his trench coat again. He pulled out a bamboo pole and a dart. He held them in his palms, offering them towards Khrx while lowering his head. ¡°How, how about these?¡± Khrx grabbed the pole and dart, two rectangles appearing in the air. [Okayish Blowpipe] [Rating: Common] [Starter weapon for young lizardman hunters. Even a child can use this.] [Requirements: 1 DEX.] [Paralyzing Dart] [Rating: Uncommon] [Dart coated in a frog¡¯s toxic venom. Can paralyze an elephant for five minutes.] [Requirements: None.] ¡°The hell is an elephant?¡± Khrx muttered. He nodded at Isaac and kept the dart and blowpipe in his hands since his onesie had no pockets. ¡°Take me out of here and I¡¯ll tell you the meaning of life.¡± ¡°O-okay?¡± Isaac blinked and nodded. He whispered to himself as he shone the torch down the dark passage, ¡°There¡¯s no way someone this cute could be trying to use me, right? Surely, he must be sent by God.¡± Khrx pretended not to hear even though his ears automatically swiveled towards Isaac¡¯s mouth. He followed after the lizardman, inspecting the passage on the way. It seemed like no one had used it in years: dust had accumulated like snow, their steps leaving footprints on the ground, but Khrx¡¯s tail swept it all away as he walked. ¡°Such a dreary place,¡± he said and sneezed, wiping his nose with the back of his finger. ¡°It needs some magma.¡± ¡°Some what?¡± ¡°Some magma,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Like the melted rock?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh. You have quite the vivid imagination, special child.¡± Khrx¡¯s eye twitched. He lunged forward and chomped on Isaac¡¯s tail. ¡°Teach you to disrespect me!¡± he growled into the lizardman¡¯s scales. Isaac turned around and stared at Khrx. He blinked. ¡°Are you teething?¡± Khrx released Isaac and frowned. There wasn¡¯t even a mark on Isaac¡¯s tail. ¡°Gah! This body sucks!¡± Isaac scratched his head as Khrx crossed his arms while pouting. ¡°Shall, shall I continue?¡± Khrx nodded, and Isaac continued forward. Soon they entered a room with a raised altar in the center. There were dried brown stains running down the sides of the altar and pooling on the ground. ¡°Hold on,¡± Khrx said and rubbed his eyes. He stared at the walls filled with pictures and hieroglyphs. ¡°Is that¡­? Which language was that? Oplynesian? No¡­. Geyption? Not quite. Srian¡¯Asy? Hmm. Zatec!¡± He ran up to the wall and brushed away some dust. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s definitely Zatec.¡± [Quest acquired!] [Quite the historian, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯ve discovered an Ancient Zatecian sacrificial altar! If only there was a nearby lizardman to sacrifice to the Sun God. Hint hint, wink wink. Who knows what sort of blessing the Sun God will bestow after receiving his first sacrifice in several millennia?] The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.[Rewards: Unknown.] Khrx sidled over to Isaac, causing the lizardman to raise an eyebrow and distance himself. ¡°Allow me to teach you the meaning of life,¡± Khrx said with a smile. ¡°Have a seat.¡± He gestured towards the altar. Isaac furrowed his brow, but he listened and sat down after dusting off the stone. Khrx cleared his throat. ¡°The meaning of life is love.¡± ¡°Love?¡± ¡°Right,¡± Khrx said. ¡°People live to love and to be loved. Why do people do what they do? For love.¡± Khrx nodded, his ears bouncing up and down. ¡°I have a love of my life. She¡¯s called Fufu, but someone kidnapped her. Now, everything I do is to get her back. I have a clear destination in life. How about you? Is there someone that you care about, that you¡¯d do anything for?¡± ¡°I, I think I understand,¡± Isaac said, his eyes widening. His expression crumpled as his face fell. ¡°But it¡¯s hopeless. The woman I love is already married. But I still love her!¡± [Quest complete!] [You¡¯ve taught Isaac your meaning of life! Everyone¡¯s meaning is different, but yours has resonated with Isaac¡¯s soul.] [Rewards: 2 Achievement Points] Another rectangle appeared after the first one. [Congratulations!] [You¡¯ve unlocked the leaderboards.] [Would you like to register your name? Y/N] Khrx pressed Y, the green button. The rectangle expanded into a board, highlighting one line: 18 ¨C Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl (2). The seventeen places above him had (2)s and (3)s next to their names, but there were no names below him. Khrx¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Eighteenth place? I should be first!¡± The screen flickered, and his name moved down a spot to nineteenth as first place was replaced by someone with a (10) next to their name¡ªLukroix Adveign Desrigard. Khrx shouted and punched the screen, causing it to disappear. ¡°Fufu thief! How dare you play games instead of taking care of her!?¡± ¡°P-pardon?¡± Isaac asked. Khrx glared at Isaac. ¡°You said the love of your life was already married to someone?¡± Isaac¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Khrx nodded. ¡°Then I don¡¯t feel bad.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Isaac asked. His eyes widened as something pricked his thigh. He tried to speak, but his throat swelled up, his body stiffening. Khrx pulled the [Paralyzing Dart] out of Isaac¡¯s leg and laid the lizardman down across the altar. He rummaged through the lizardman¡¯s trench coat and pulled out a dagger. [Non-Crappy Dagger] [Rarity: Common] [Not a crappy dagger, but not a good dagger. Even a child can use this to cut things.] [Requirements: 1 STR, 1 DEX.] ¡°For the Sun God!¡± Khrx said, raising the dagger over Isaac¡¯s exposed chest. His arm plunged downwards. ¡°Halt!¡± an angelic voice rang out from above. ¡°This was a test!¡± But a second later, the voice screamed as blood spurted into the air. A winged woman descended from the ceiling, flying through a portal. ¡°I told you to halt! Halt means stop! What the hell!? Are you deaf!?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Khrx asked and raised his head. He blinked at the approaching angel. The angel grabbed him and lifted him into the air, causing the knife to fly out of the lizardman¡¯s chest. A fountain of blood spurted out, splashing the ceiling. ¡°Did you really think a kind god would ask for a sacrifice!?¡± [Quest complete!] [The sacrifice was a complete success! The evil Sun God has arisen from his slumber. Millennia ago, the current god knocked the Sun God off his throne. The Sun God was starting to lose hope after the Zatecs and their language was completely lost to history. But the Sun God has returned thanks to your efforts! After years of ruling peacefully, the current god now has a powerful contender for supremacy. The world is sure to be thrown into disarray as two gods vie for power! The Sun God favors you greatly. In fact, any god would favor a creature as adorable as you.] [Rewards: 100 Achievement Points, Title: Apostle of the Sun God.] ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± the angel muttered, dropping Khrx next to the stiff lizardman. ¡°My mission¡­. I failed.¡± She grabbed Khrx¡¯s shoulders and shook him. ¡°Why!? Why!? Why!? I said halt!¡± ¡°Gah! Stop shaking me, you walking meal!¡± Tears formed in Khrx¡¯s eyes as his vision turned white. Bile built up in his throat from the jostling, and he swallowed to prevent himself from vomiting. ¡°You!¡± the angel said, her movements ceasing. Her nails dug into Khrx¡¯s onesie. ¡°You.¡± Her voice fell. ¡°You¡­¡± The angel blinked and bit her lower lip. ¡°Why are you so adorable!?¡± Ignoring the blood on Khrx¡¯s onesie, she hugged him to her chest, squishing him into her body. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for yelling at you. I really am. Please, don¡¯t cry.¡± Khrx squirmed and struggled, but he gave up after realizing the angel¡¯s strength was much greater than his. He couldn¡¯t even speak because his face was buried in her chest. His body stopped responding, turning into a limp stuffed animal. The angel separated from him and held him up so that his face was on the same level as his. Her eyes were green, her hair blonde. A pair of pure white wings extended from her back, her body covered in a thin, white, feathery dress that exposed her shoulders and calves. Khrx tilted his head while staring at her wings. ¡°Bird?¡± ¡°Angel!¡± Khrx¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Like the fish?¡± ¡°You, you don¡¯t know what an angel is?¡± Khrx shook his head, still held up by the angel¡¯s hands underneath his armpits. His legs kicked at the air, but he couldn¡¯t reach the ground. ¡°Can you let me go?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± the angel said and placed him on the ground. A second later, a wrinkle formed on her brow. ¡°Wait!¡± She picked him up again before he could react. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you listen to big sister when she told you to stop?¡± ¡°B-big sister?¡± Khrx asked, his mouth falling open. ¡°What qualifications do you have to be my big sister!? Do you know how old I am!?¡± The angel frowned and placed him on the altar. The she pinched his cheeks apart, causing him to mewl and wave his arms in the air. ¡°You¡¯re a lot cuter when you keep your mouth shut,¡± she said, pouting her lips. The dead lizardman behind him caught her attention. ¡°Ah! My mission!¡± She groaned and released Khrx, burying her face in her hands. ¡°I really did it now¡­. I¡¯m going to be the first angel to fall in hundreds of years.¡± [Quest acquired!] [Help the angel in distress! It was your fault she¡¯s distressed in the first place. Shouldn¡¯t you take responsibility as a man?] [Rewards: 10,000 Achievement Points and a Legendary Weapon. Possible marriage route.] Khrx pursed his lips and placed his hands on the angel¡¯s shoulder. She raised her head, her teary eyes meeting his. Khrx swallowed. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help?¡± ¡°No.¡± [Quest failed!] [You¡¯re useless!] Khrx¡¯s eye twitched. The angel sighed and patted his head. ¡°I appreciate the offer,¡± she said. ¡°If there was anything you could¡¯ve done to help me, it would¡¯ve been to not sacrifice this man. But once an action is done, no one can take it back.¡± She sniffled and stared up at the closing portal. Her feathers dimmed and grayed before turning black. ¡°Woe is me. Falling at such a young age. Having no family to call my own. Even this adorable fellow rejects me as a sibling.¡± Her eyes darted towards Khrx before darting back towards the ceiling. ¡°Alas.¡± She placed the back of her hand on her forehead and sighed. ¡°If only I had someone with cute cat ears to accompany me in my suffering.¡± Her gaze flickered onto Khrx, and she closed her eyes when she made eye contact. She let out a heavy sigh, her whole body seeming to shrink. ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± Khrx said as he hopped off the altar. ¡°Bye.¡± ¡°W-wait! Can I come with you?¡± [Fallen Angel Lorin wishes to become your companion. Do you accept? Y/N. Warning: you will attract the wrath of the current god if you accept.] Khrx snorted and pressed Y. ¡°I fear no gods!¡± he said and grasped Lorin¡¯s hand. ¡°We¡¯re companions now.¡± A smile blossomed on Lorin¡¯s face, but a second later, her expression shifted towards one of horror. The ceiling was rent open, sunlight pouring into the tombs. Thunder crackled as black clouds filled the sky. Khrx stared up at the gathering clouds and gritted his teeth. Lorin screamed as white light flashed. With a massive boom, Khrx¡¯s vision went dark. [You have died.] *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 8. Dear Diary, I know I wrote you not too long ago, but I feel compelled to write you again. Today, I died. I¡¯ve never died before in my many long years of living. It¡¯s not a pleasant feeling. I¡¯ll do my best to not do it again. If I had Fufu to accompany me, I bet I would¡¯ve lived. I really hope she¡¯s doing well. Love, Khrx Episode 5 Khrx groaned and opened his eyes. He was lying next to a boulder, a stream of magma flowing next to his body. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. ¡°Fufu?¡± ¡°Welcome back, Khrx,¡± Boba said in her crisp voice. ¡°It has been twenty-three minutes since you¡¯ve started [Resolution]. Are you taking a break already? Surely, even someone as incapable as you shouldn¡¯t have died yet.¡± A second later, a portal opened in front of Khrx, and a screaming angel fell through, landing face first into the ground. Lorin raised her head and paled as her mouth shut. ¡°Is, is this hell? It¡¯s exactly how I imagined it to be.¡± Khrx blinked. ¡°Boba,¡± he said, ignoring the panicking angel. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Boba sighed, causing Lorin to flinch. ¡°It seems like you really did die. Incredible. I applaud your feats.¡± Clapping sounds echoed through Khrx¡¯s personal room. The clapping stopped when Khrx¡¯s tail bristled, a growl escaping from his throat. Boba coughed. ¡°The death penalty in [Resolution] prevents you from logging into the game for three days. You lose all your items and half of your achievement points. This information should¡¯ve been readily available in the tutorial.¡± ¡°There was no tutorial!¡± Khrx shouted, throwing a rock in the direction of Boba¡¯s floating voice. It bounced off the wall with a clack. ¡°All of you AI are bastards!¡± ¡°Um.¡± Lorin placed her hand on Khrx¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Excuse me. Are we in hell?¡± ¡°This is my room!¡± Khrx said. He looked around. ¡°Hey, Boba. How come she¡¯s here? Isn¡¯t she part of [Resolution]?¡± ¡°You already made a companion?¡± Boba asked, surprise tinting her voice. ¡°Companions are also taken out of the game for three days if the user dies.¡± ¡°Game?¡± Lorin asked. ¡°And why is a divine presence lurking in your room? She speaks exactly like God.¡± She bit her lower lip and lifted Khrx up, placing him onto her lap. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I am Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl,¡± Khrx said, puffing his chest out. ¡°The mighty dragon emperor!¡± ¡°A chuunibyou?¡± Lorin asked, tilting her head. ¡°The heck is that? I¡¯m a mighty dragon emperor!¡± Khrx snorted. ¡°Repeat after me. Mighty. Dragon. Emperor.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Lorin said, patting his head. ¡°You¡¯ll grow out of it in time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to rip Luke to shreds one day,¡± Khrx muttered, kicking at the ground. ¡°Unhand me, drumstick.¡± ¡°D-drumstick?¡± Lorin asked. ¡°My name¡¯s Lorin! An angel¡­, ex-angel of God. I still haven¡¯t forgotten that it was your fault that I fell!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not my fault you didn¡¯t do your job properly,¡± Khrx said with a snort. He wiggled out of Lorin¡¯s grasp and waved his hand. ¡°Menu.¡± He selected the [Phone] option and called his only contact, Luke. A rectangular box appeared in front of him with a loading screen accompanied by ringing noises. A few moments later, Luke picked up. ¡°Khrx?¡± Luke asked. ¡°Oh, crap. I forgot to remind you after the week was over. But I saw your name on the leaderboards, so I¡¯m not worried. I knew you were capable. You¡¯ll have Fufu back in no time.¡± Khrx coughed. ¡°I died.¡± ¡°¡­What!? How the hell did you die already!? Don¡¯t tell me you died to a rabbit. Please, don¡¯t tell me you died to a rabbit.¡± Khrx snorted. ¡°The current god smote me with lightning¡ªthat bastard. All I did was contract with a fallen angel.¡± ¡°And you awakened the Sun God,¡± Lorin said, speaking into the box. ¡°Fallen angel? Sun God?¡± Luke asked. ¡°Wait. No. Who spoke just now? Was that a woman? I thought you were impotent?¡± ¡°Your face is impotent!¡± Khrx shouted and clawed at the rectangular box. It disappeared, ending the call. Khrx stomped his foot and glared at Lorin, whose face was turning red. ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Lorin nodded once while pursing her lips. ¡°I¡¯m really not!¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Lorin said. ¡°You¡¯re just a child, after all. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll grow into it.¡± ¡°You understand shit!¡± Khrx roared. He grabbed at his hair and groaned. ¡°Frustration after frustration after frustration! Gah! This era sucks! I should just go back to sleep for 10,000 years.¡± He ground his teeth together while growling. ¡°But I can¡¯t fall asleep without my Fufu!¡± His eyes turned red as he raised his head. ¡°I¡¯ll take her back! First, I have to find that demon lord bastard¡¯s home. Then, I¡¯ll position a lava leyline underneath it and raze it to the ground! Menu!¡± Khrx accessed the [Internet] through the interface while muttering to himself, ¡°Luke said any questions I had could be solved by the magical Bongle search engine.¡± A search bar appeared in the rectangular box with a Bongle logo above is. Khrx¡¯s typing was painfully slow. ¡°Where ¡­ does ¡­ the ¡­ demon ¡­ lord ¡­ bastard ¡­ Luke ¡­ live?¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°The demon lord was slain 1,500 years ago by the hero, Rebecca Brave. Though legends say the demon lord is immortal, the demon lord hasn¡¯t appeared since then. Some conspiracy theorists will tell you that the demon lord is alive and well today; perhaps, he or she is even the prime minister or president of a country.¡± Khrx stared at the text, a blank expression on his face. ¡°What happened to all my answers could be solved?¡± he grumbled before raising his eyebrows. He typed into the rectangle. ¡°Tell ¡­ me ¡­ about ¡­ Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl.¡± ¡°Your search, Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl, did not match any documents. Make sure all words are spelled correctly, or try a different search term.¡± ¡°How come Luke gets a page, but I don¡¯t!?¡± Khrx stomped his feet and flipped the rectangle over. Or he tried to; his hands passed through the hologram instead. ¡°This is discrimination!¡± Khrx accessed the menu and called Luke again. ¡°Luke!¡± Khrx said after connecting. ¡°Where do you live?¡± Laughter came from the other end. ¡°You¡¯re funny, Khrx. If you want Fufu back, you have to accompany me in the game,¡± Luke said. ¡°Bye.¡± ¡°You bastard!¡± Khrx said, but the rectangle had already disappeared. ¡°How dare you end the call on me? Ah! I¡¯m so mad.¡± He jumped up and down, stomping his feet against the ground. ¡°I can¡¯t even transform or cast magic! This is bullshit!¡± He bit his lower lip while pacing about the room. Lorin watched him with concern in her eyes, but she didn¡¯t say anything, sitting in place with her arms folded across her lap. ¡°Do I logout and try heading to the surface again?¡± ¡°Khrx,¡± Boba said. ¡°I noticed that your VR drive is registered under a Damagascarian citizenship, but your physical location is somewhere in the ocean off the coast of Nipon. I¡¯d just like to remind you, since you seem to have no common sense, that a citizen of one country cannot enter another without the proper paperwork. Please, remember to bring your passport with you at all times.¡± ¡°Passport?¡± Khrx asked. Boba sighed. ¡°Oh. Oh dear.¡± She sighed again. ¡°Rather than going outside, how about exploring the virtual world? You can access the [Exploration] screen through the [Menu]. I can even connect you to Luke¡¯s personal room since his coordinates have been saved during his last visit.¡± ¡°Luke¡¯s personal room?¡± Khrx asked. His eyes lit up. ¡°Take me there!¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Boba said. She fell silent. A minute passed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Luke has rejected your request to enter his personal room. Are you sure he¡¯s your friend? I suggest you reconsider your friendship with him. He¡¯s a grown man while you¡¯re just a child, after all.¡± ¡°Khrx is being taken advantage of?¡± Lorin asked, her eyes widening. She stood up and ran over to Khrx, lifting him up by his armpits. He flailed in the air, but it didn¡¯t have any effect. His tail smacked her face a few times, but Lorin ignored it as she turned him around. ¡°Haven¡¯t your parents taught you about stranger danger?¡± Khrx¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I! Am! Not! A! Child!¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lorin said with a nod. She smiled at him as she placed him on the ground and played with his ears, crouching to be on the same level as him. ¡°You¡¯re a very fierce man. Who¡¯s a fierce man? You are. Yes, you are.¡± Khrx lunged forward and bit Lorin¡¯s nose while clawing at her eyes and ears. ¡°Ah? Ah! Lord, help me!¡± Lorin screamed as she fell over, trying to pry Khrx off of her face without agitating her injuries. A few minutes of shouting, screaming, and scuffling later, Lorin sat across from Khrx, her head hanging. Khrx was sitting on top of a boulder with his arms across his chest, his tail swishing back and forth in the air behind him. Khrx snorted and spat on the ground. ¡°What do you address me as?¡± ¡°M-master,¡± Lorin said and bit her lower lip. Her nose still hurt, the stinging sensation bringing tears to her eyes. ¡°Good,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°Pervert,¡± Boba whispered, her voice permeating the room despite how low it was. ¡°I¡¯ll eat your face too one day!¡± Khrx said, shaking his fist at the air. ¡°Just you wait.¡± Then he hopped off the boulder and walked over to Lorin¡¯s side, causing the fallen angel to flinch. ¡°Let¡¯s go exploring now. Can I take her with me, Boba?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Boba said. ¡°Since you¡¯re new to the VR drive environment, shall I set up a proper tour for you? Luckily, nearly everyone is playing [Resolution], so all the popular spots should be relatively empty.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be convenient,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°Make it three days long, so I can start [Resolution] after coming back.¡± ¡°As you wish,¡± Boba said. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want a day off to eat, sleep, and shower? Unless you happen to be one of the rich folks living inside a pod with all your necessities taken care of. Now that I think about it, someone with 1,500,000 euros wouldn¡¯t have an issue with ordering one of those pods. Regardless, I have set up your itinerary in the [Exploration] tab. I hope you enjoy your trip.¡± Khrx opened up the menu and navigated to the itinerary. The first destination was the zoo. He pressed the button, and a white doorway appeared in front of him. He held his hand out towards Lorin. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Fufu¡¯s temporary substitute.¡± Lorin bit her lip at the strange name, but she grabbed Khrx¡¯s hand and followed him through the door. *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 11. Dear Diary, The virtual world is amazing! If I had this in my prime, I¡¯d have never left my cave (not that I ever did anyway). You can explore the world in the comfort of your home. I went to the zoo and saw a ton of strange animals. It seems like everything I knew went extinct. Did you know that the mighty dinosaurs that towered over the trees became little tiny birds no bigger than one of my scales? Right!? I was amazed too. And the aquarium was really cool too. Even though it was virtual, everything felt so real. Especially the sharks! They taste exactly as I remember them. They haven¡¯t changed at all. And there¡¯s these places called theme parks that Lorin really liked. They had rollercoasters and giants wheels that lifted you into the air, but it was kind of boring. Well, I am a dragon with special tastes after all. Not just anything can thrill me. Oh, and I forgot to tell you who Lorin was. She¡¯s this ¡®fallen angel¡¯ which I guess is the new term for a bird monkey. Once I chased the annoying part out of her, she¡¯s actually really nice company. She reminds me of Fufu. But no one can replace the real Fufu. Sigh. I miss her. I¡¯m going to enter [Resolution] again now that my death penalty is over. I have to do my best to win her back! Love, Khrx Episode 6 When Khrx logged back into the game, he found himself lying on an altar. A second later, Lorin appeared in the air beside him and fell to the ground with a yelp. They sat up at the same time and looked around. ¡°This¡­,¡± Lorin said and bit her lower lip. ¡°We¡¯re back. Is my world really just a game you call [Resolution]? Am I a real person?¡± [Quest acquired!] [Lorin, your companion, is experiencing an existential crisis! Assuage those feelings of helplessness! Take responsibility as a man.] [Rewards: 10,000 Achievement Points and a Legendary Weapon.] ¡°You¡¯re real,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Lorin crouched down and clutched her hair with her hands. ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m not. This world is a lie. Have I been living a lie my whole life? Lord, I don¡¯t understand.¡± [Quest failed!] [You¡¯re really bad at this, aren¡¯t you?] ¡°One day¡­,¡± Khrx said and clicked his tongue. He hopped off the altar, still wearing his bear onesie. The blowpipe and dart had disappeared, but he was expecting that. The room was similar to the tomb he had first spawned into when starting [Resolution], but his current place was better maintained. There was a statue of a woman leaning against a tree while eating a fruit behind the altar. A plaque, written in Rokean, was placed underneath it. Khrxwent up to the statue and dusted the plaque off. [Fiel, the Goddess of Reincarnation] A translucent rectangle appeared underneath the plaque. It read, ¡°Only someone spiritually attuned may commune with the goddess. Would you like to try? Y/N.¡± Khrx hummed and rubbed his chin. The last time he interacted with a god, he was struck down by lightning. ¡°Should I¡­?¡± Lorin stood up, recovered from her momentary lapse in sanity. ¡°Khrx? You¡¯re a believer of Fiel?¡± ¡°If I tried communing with her, would she kill me?¡± Khrx asked, blinking at Lorin. ¡°No,¡± Lorin said, shaking her head. ¡°Fiel is a benevolent goddess, forgiving of everyone. Unlike the current god, Jax. I failed one mission, and he made me fall. Just one! Forget the thousands I completed before.¡± She snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°God, now that I think about it, this world really sucks compared to yours. We don¡¯t have zoos or aquariums.¡± Khrx scratched his head. ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot since I first met you,¡± he said. ¡°And it¡¯s only been three days.¡± ¡°Well, duh,¡± Lorin said, rolling her eyes. ¡°I fell.¡± Khrx shook his head before addressing the translucent box. He pressed Y and waited. A screen, similar to the one that appeared when he called Luke, appeared. There were even ringing sounds. A second later, a feminine voice asked, ¡°New phone, who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°This is Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl,¡± Khrx said. ¡°¡­Who?¡± ¡°Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl, the mighty dragon emperor.¡± ¡°I think you have the wrong number,¡± Fiel said. ¡°How did you call me?¡± ¡°There¡¯s this statue,¡± Khrx said, raising an eyebrow, ¡°and I communed with it.¡± ¡°Statue?¡± Fiel asked. ¡°Oh! Oh. That statue. I understand now. Your spirit must be very high. It¡¯s not often a prayer goes straight to my phone. They¡¯re usually caught by my secretaries.¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°Can we pretend this whole exchange never happened and start over? It really dims my glamour as a goddess, you know?¡± Lorin¡¯s expression darkened as Khrx nodded. ¡°Of course,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I know how important face is. I¡¯ll cancel the call and call again, okay?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯d be great,¡± Fiel said. ¡°Thanks, Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl. I owe you one.¡± Khrx pressed the red button on the rectangular box to end the call. ¡°She¡¯s friendlier than I thought,¡± he said and smiled. ¡°I think she and I would get along pretty well. Maybe I can replace Luke with her as my new best friend.¡± He pressed the commune button, but this time, the box disappeared. Light filled the altar room as a wisp of golden smoke descended from the ceiling, merging into the statue of Fiel. The statue¡¯s eyes shot open. ¡°Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl,¡± Fiel said as she rose onto her feet, no longer leaning on the tree. ¡°The mighty dragon ¡­ emperor?¡± She blinked and lowered her head, staring at Khrx. ¡°Is that you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°Due to reasons, I¡¯m stuck in this form. But I¡¯m really a dragon.¡± He puffed his chest out and placed his hands on his hips. Fiel coughed and covered her smile with her hand. Her eyes flickered onto Lorin, who exaggerated a sighing motion while shrugging. ¡°Then Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl, why have you summoned me?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Khrx furrowed his brow. ¡°I want a quest. Or a title. Or a nice piece of equipment. Achievement points work too. Oh, and can you increase my stats? Wait. I want to learn some skills as well since this system doesn¡¯t accept my normal methods of casting magic.¡± ¡°Normal methods?¡± Fiel asked. She looked towards Lorin instead of Khrx. The fallen angel spoke in a monotonous voice. ¡°Master can cast tier ten spells without batting an eye ¡­ if he wanted to. It¡¯s not that he can¡¯t, it¡¯s just that he doesn¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the system¡¯s fault!¡± Khrx said, smacking Lorin¡¯s shin with his tail. It tickled her instead of inflicting pain. ¡°It wants a magical formula! But as a dragon, spells are like farts to me. I don¡¯t know any calculations; I just cast spells.¡± ¡°In other words,¡± Fiel said. ¡°You wish for strength to survive in this harsh world.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Khrx said and nodded. ¡°Max out my strength stat.¡± ¡°Sadly, there¡¯s a limit to what I can do,¡± Fiel said and sighed. She handed him the fruit that she was holding, which was no longer made of stone. ¡°Eat this fruit. And if you¡¯re lucky, you¡¯ll receive great benefits. If you aren¡¯t lucky, you¡¯ll still receive great benefits. Aren¡¯t I benevolent?¡± Khrx inspected the fruit. [Golden Mango] [Rarity: Mythic] [Did you steal this from the land of the gods? You better eat it quickly before someone finds out. You don¡¯t want to be smote again, do you? Effect varies depending on your [Luck].] Khrx raised his head. Faint rumbling sounds came from above as cracks formed in the temple¡¯s ceiling. He stuffed the fruit into his mouth, chewed twice, and swallowed it all¡ªskin and pit included. The temple stopped trembling as the rumbling faded into the distance. [Skill acquired: Nature¡¯s Spirit] [Rarity: Mythic] [Passive: You are the personification of nature. You can commune with animals. Whether or not they listen to you depends on your charm, you adorable fellow. Only a heartless monster would ignore someone like you. That means you should avoid golems.] [Active: Become one with nature. You may experience the world through the senses of any animal you have communed with in the nearby vicinity.] [Cooldown: None. Decreases with an increase in spirit.] Fiel furrowed her brow. ¡°You seem to have a bad relationship with Jax,¡± she said. Then she leaned back against her tree, folding her hands in front of her waist. ¡°Before I run out of time, I¡¯ll also give you a quest. Recently, bandits have infiltrated my temple and decided to make it their base. Clear them out.¡± [Quest acquired!] [Fiel¡¯s house has become dirty. Exterminate all the cockroaches, err, bandits that have invaded her sacred space. She would do it herself, but she has to maintain her image as a benevolent goddess. It wouldn¡¯t be right for her to slaughter people no matter how badly she wants to, which is why she has hired you.] [Rewards: 10 Achievement Points.] ¡°It won¡¯t be a problem,¡± Khrx said and dismissed the rectangle. ¡°I¡¯ll exterminate the pests for you.¡± Fiel smiled at him as she turned to stone, starting with her feet. Gray light crawled up her body until she had returned to being a statue. Instead of leaving, Khrx sat on the altar as he pulled up his status screen. [Name: Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl] Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.[Title: Apostle of the Sun God] [Strength: 2] [Constitution: 2] [Intelligence: 1] [Spirit: 1,000] [Dexterity: 2] [Perception: 1] [Charm: 50] [Luck: 1,000] [Active Skills: Nature¡¯s Spirit (M)] [Passive Skills: Nature¡¯s Spirit (M)] [Companions: Lorin] Khrx pressed on his title and another rectangle appeared. [Apostle of the Sun God] [Your damage is increased by 10% during the day. While interacting with followers of the Sun God, your charm is increased by 10. While interacting with followers of Jax, your charm is decreased by 10.] ¡°In other words,¡± Khrx said to himself as he dismissed the screens, ¡°I¡¯m still as harmless as a rabbit.¡± He sighed. After doing some research on [Resolution] while waiting on the lines for the theme park, he was no longer a complete novice to MMORPGs, but he wasn¡¯t an expert either. ¡°The first thing I have to do is increase my constitution. There¡¯s no way I can afford to die again if I want to get Fufu back. Luke wouldn¡¯t accept a mediocre player.¡± His ears swiveled around, and he faced Lorin. ¡°Let me see your status.¡± Lorin nodded and waved her hand. [Name: Lorin Nirol] [Title: Betrayer of Jax, Fallen Angel, Ex-Guard of Heaven] [Strength: 5 (50-45)] [Constitution: 5 (50-45)] [Intelligence: 5 (50-45)] [Spirit: 5 (50-45)] [Dexterity: 5 (50-45)] [Perception: 5 (50-45)] [Charisma: 1 (7-6)] [Luck: 1 (13-12)] [Active Skills: War Cry ?, Smite (U)] [Passive Skills: Sword Mastery ¨C Elite (U), Shield Mastery ¨C Elite (U)] [Companions: Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl] [Betrayer of Jax] [All stats decreased by 90%.] [Fallen Angel] [Angelic spell tree disabled. All angelic spells are forgotten. Demonic spell tree unlocked.] [Ex-Guard of Heaven] [The rarity grades of all skills decrease by 1.] ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t you just as useless as me?¡± Khrx asked, raising his head. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t fallen, I would¡¯ve been clearly superior,¡± Lorin said, her face turning red. She lowered her head. ¡°Your base luck is pretty bad. How did you manage to roll a total of 13 with ten dice?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure my low luck is the reason why I met you.¡± Khrx snorted. ¡°Becoming my servant was the best thing that could¡¯ve possibly happened to you,¡± he said. ¡°Compared to a bandit, how strong are you?¡± ¡°The average strength of an adult male is five.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re as strong as one bandit?¡± ¡°More or less,¡± Lorin said, avoiding his gaze. ¡°It also depends on their skills. And whether or not I have my sword and shield, which I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Can you exterminate all the bandits in the temple?¡± Khrx asked. Lorin laughed and scratched her head. Then she smiled at Khrx without saying a word. ¡°Great,¡± Khrx said and sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll figure something out.¡± Lorin bit her lip as she followed after Khrx. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t here, what would you have done? Perhaps you should create a plan of action that doesn¡¯t entirely rely on me?¡± ¡°I said I¡¯ll figure something out,¡± Khrx said. His tail swished back and forth as he hummed, walking through the dimly lit temple in his bear onesie. There was a tug on Lorin¡¯s chest as she stared at Khrx¡¯s tiny frame. She had always wanted a little brother. Is this what it felt like? He was an unreasonable brat, but she wasn¡¯t put off by it. In fact, she found it a little ¡­ endearing. Except when he tried to eat her face. That wasn¡¯t fun. Rough laughter broke Lorin out of her reverie. She rounded a corner with Khrx, revealing a hall with an open door on the side, lights and laughter coming from within the room. She stepped in front of Khrx and put her finger to her lips before tiptoeing towards the room. Her wings folded against her back as she pressed herself flat against the wall before peering past the doorway. A group of seven people were drinking around a table, a set of cards between them. The bandits had red faces, their weapons strewn about but lying within arm¡¯s reach. Lorin flinched and suppressed a scream as a furry head squirmed its way past her legs to peer into the room. Khrx frowned at the sight of the bandits and retreated after surveying the surroundings. Lorin followed him down the hall and around the corner. ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡± she whispered. Khrx nodded. ¡°Of course. Who do you think I am?¡± Lorin¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Are you sure your intelligence is one?¡± Khrx snorted. ¡°That only happened because I didn¡¯t know how to read numbers, but I do now! I demand a retest!¡± Sadly, no rectangular box appeared to test him again. He pouted before shaking his head. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan. We wait for one of them to use the bathroom, then we kill him and take his weapon. Then we react accordingly. Hopefully, they¡¯ll send one person at a time to check on him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ¡­ a bit despicable,¡± Lorin said and pursed her lips. ¡°Well, I expected nothing less from the one who woke the Sun God despite being as harmless as a rabbit.¡± Khrx frowned. ¡°If only I still had that [Paralyzing Dart]. I should figure out which frog¡¯s toxin was used to create it.¡± Lorin covered Khrx¡¯s mouth and placed her finger to her lips. A second later, the sound of footsteps entered Khrx¡¯s ears. He shot her a glance that asked, ¡°How did you notice it before me?¡± and Lorin shrugged in response. The sound of footsteps came closer, unsteady without a rhythm. A coarse voice mumbled out song lyrics, accompanying the thumping. Lorin and Khrx held their breaths as a grimy man rounded the corner, then they pounced forward and tackled him to the ground. Lorin seized the man¡¯s weapon which was dangling from his belt while Khrx smothered the man¡¯s face with his body. Muffled grunts turned into a scream as Lorin stabbed the rusty sword into the man¡¯s chest. By the time she stabbed and removed the sword three times, the man had stopped responding. [Drunk Bandit defeated. Gained 1 Achievement Point.] Khrx climbed off the bandit¡¯s face and frowned at the black stains left on his onesie. Lorin dragged the corpse away by its feet, unceremoniously dumping it into a corner. Khrx wiped at the stains with his sleeve, but all it did was smudge them. He pouted before asking Lorin, ¡°Now that you have a sword. Can you beat them all?¡± Lorin furrowed her brow as she inspected the sword. ¡°The hallway¡¯s narrow enough that it¡¯ll be hard for more than two of them to fight me at the same time,¡± she said. ¡°But what if the others run away?¡± ¡°Then fight them in the doorway?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°They¡¯d have to get past you to run.¡± Lorin stared at Khrx. ¡°You should really take a test at a school to reevaluate your intelligence.¡± Lorin smiled and walked over to the corpse in the corner. She raised her sword and beheaded it in one strike. Then she picked up the fallen head with her free hand, grabbing onto its hair. ¡°A makeshift shield,¡± she said, answering Khrx¡¯s unasked question. ¡°I thought angels were supposed to be nice people?¡± Khrx asked, raising an eyebrow. Did Bongle lie to him again? ¡°Who says I¡¯m not a nice person?¡± Lorin asked, tilting her head. She walked down the hall, the head in her hand dripping blood on the ground. ¡°It¡¯s not like a dead person needs their head anymore. He should be happy he¡¯s useful even after he died.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s there!?¡± a bandit shouted as Lorin stood in the doorway with a smile on her face. ¡°J-James!¡± The six bandits rose to their feet, pulling out their weapons. ¡°It¡¯s a fallen angel,¡± one of the bandits said. ¡°S-she can¡¯t be that strong. Pat, you go test the waters.¡± The man called Pat trembled. ¡°C-can¡¯t be that strong? She killed James!¡± Khrx peered around the doorway before retreating back. One day, he¡¯d be useful in a fight. He opened up Bongle since he had nothing else to do. ¡°How ¡­ to ¡­ increase ¡­ strength ¡­ in ¡­ [Resolution].¡± ¡°The same way strength is increased in reality: weight training, exercise, practice. Strength gained in [Resolution] carries over to reality. There are other ways to gain strength not readily available in reality such as blessings, elixirs, and special foods. Do you think it¡¯s impossible to obtain a high elf¡¯s blessing in your country? Experience in [Resolution] what you cannot experience in reality! Disclaimer: it is just as difficult to obtain a high elf¡¯s blessing in [Resolution] as it is in reality.¡± ¡°Weight training? Exercise? Practice?¡± Khrx asked, his eyes widening. ¡°That¡¯s bullshit! I¡¯ve never exercised a day in my life! How am I supposed to do that now?¡± He narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself, ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll have to scour the lands for blessings, elixirs, and rare foods.¡± ¡°You should really train your body the normal way before relying on outer influences,¡± Lorin said as she took a seat beside him. Her body was covered in blood, and six bandits lay dead by the doorway. ¡°Only after you reach the limits of your body should you use elixirs to get the maximum effect.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over already?¡± Khrx asked as he dismissed Bongle¡¯s screen. Another six screens, each with the same message, were stacked behind it. [Drunk Bandit defeated. Gained 1 Achievement Point.] And behind those, there was another one. [Quest complete!] [Fiel¡¯s home has been cleaned out by your servant! You lazy bum. But I suppose being able to rely on women is one of your strengths as well, you adorable creature.] [Rewards: 10 Achievement Points.] ¡°I¡¯m great, aren¡¯t I?¡± Lorin asked with a smile. ¡°I even unlocked a demonic skill! It¡¯s called [Terror].¡± [Terror] [Rarity: Uncommon] [Passive: You¡¯re scary. Mortals tremble in your presence. Terrified targets have their stats decreased by 1.] ¡°If I was scared of you, would my intelligence drop to zero?¡± Khrx asked. He shook his head. ¡°Well, you¡¯re not scary at all, so it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± He dismissed the screens and frowned. ¡°How many Achievement Points do I have now? 68?¡± [Would you like to access the leaderboards? Y/N] ¡°Yes.¡± Khrx¡¯s eyes widened at the first line that appeared in front of him. ¡°How does Luke have 1,487 Achievement Points!?¡± He scrolled through the rankings. Second place had 1,130 points. Khrx didn¡¯t even appear in the top 1,000 with the thousandth place person having 324. Khrx chased the leaderboard away and called Luke. ¡°Eh? Khrx?¡± Luke asked after picking up. ¡°You¡¯re back in the game?¡± ¡°How are you first place!?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m simply amazing?¡± Luke asked in return. ¡°And I¡¯m not incapable like a certain idiot who died thirty minutes after starting the game. Where are you right now? You should understand that [Resolution] heavily requires a group. Don¡¯t try to solo your way through the content.¡± ¡°I respawned in Fiel¡¯s temple. Do you know where that is?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°Bongle doesn¡¯t have any maps.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send you my map data,¡± Luke said. ¡°Don¡¯t share it with anyone! I spent over ten million euros purchasing handmade maps from people. Fiel¡¯s temple is way off to the north. The Tribish have set their base near there. Watch out for them; they don¡¯t play nice. I¡¯m stationed in Swift¡¯s Peak. You¡¯ll find it on the map. Hurry up and get over here so you can start contributing. You want Fufu back, don¡¯t you?¡± The call dropped before Khrx could respond. A second later, a fragmented map appeared in front of him before shrinking and disappearing into his menu. ¡°Then we¡¯re heading to Swift¡¯s Peak?¡± Lorin asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Khrx said with a sigh. ¡°You seem reluctant.¡± ¡°I dislike listening to other people¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°So why do you listen to him?¡± ¡°Because he has my Fufu!¡± Lorin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Your what?¡± ¡°Fufu!¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Lorin said and nodded. ¡°I understand, master.¡± ¡°You understand shit!¡± *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 11. Dear Diary, I obtained a skill today called [Nature¡¯s Spirit]. Somehow, it reminds me of Yegrundl¡¯s ability. You know, Yegrundl, the spirit of the great tree? I wonder what happened to him. Is he still around? Maybe someone kidnapped him like Luke kidnapped Fufu. Poor Fufu. That bastard better be feeding her properly. Love, Khrx Episode 7 (1) Luke frowned as he ended his call. ¡°I apologize for the interruption, elder,¡± he said to the NPC standing in front of him. It was an old man with an elongated nose. The man¡¯s skin was red, and feathers grew from his head instead of hair. ¡°Everything you¡¯ve asked for has been completed. The goblins and ogres have been exterminated. The burial grounds have been restored.¡± The NPC beamed before dancing in a circle. ¡°Thank you, Sir Lukroix Adveign Desrigard! Thank you so much.¡± [Quest complete!] [The tengu elder of Swift¡¯s Peak can finally rest at ease now that the threat to his town is gone. He doesn¡¯t mind if you decide to settle on the mountain; in fact, the tengu may help you fend off intruders.] [Rewards: 500 Achievement Points, relationship with tengu has been raised to [Worshipped].] Luke smiled at the tengu elder and dismissed the screen. It took him three days to complete every one of the elder¡¯s demands, but it was worth it. Swift¡¯s Peak was the perfect location to found a small guild. With a raging river to the south, a jagged valley to the east, a steep cliff to the north, Swift¡¯s Peak was a natural fortress. Other guilds could afford to settle in less defensible, more resource-rich areas, but he couldn¡¯t. Not with the pitiful amount of trustworthy members he was able to gather. Hell, one of them had even died within thirty minutes of starting the game. A rectangle popped up in front of Luke accompanied by ringing sounds. He pressed the green button. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± a raspy voice said. ¡°Swift¡¯s Peak? Where are you?¡± ¡°That was quick,¡± Luke said. ¡°Climb up the path from the west. You¡¯ll see a village. I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The call ended. Luke placed his hands on his hips and addressed the elder. ¡°I¡¯d like to recruit some villagers for some construction work.¡± A base was crucial for a guild. [Resolution] was a game without inventory slots and bank slots. Storages were limited and could be raided at any time. Transporting resources required wagons, which guards had to protect from bandits and players. The countries behind [Resolution] had wanted to create a game as similar to reality as possible¡ªbefore the industrial era, that is. Luke furrowed his brow as he requested the tengu villagers to chop down trees for lumber. Thankfully, there weren¡¯t many valuable resources around Swift¡¯s Peak, or the larger guilds funded by their respective countries would try to claim the territory. Simple wooden walls enchanted with some magic would be enough for defenses at the moment. If he could get his hands on a runestone quarry, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about defenses for a long time, but that was unlikely to happen. There were rumors that the Tribish had settled near a runestone quarry, and Khrx happened to be near the vicinity¡­. Should he call him? No, transporting blocks of runestone from that far away was nearly impossible. And quite frankly, his faith in Khrx was at an all-time low. He wondered why he bothered kidnapping Fufu. ¡°Luke,¡± the raspy voice from before said. A young man with a head full of brown hair waved his hand as he walked up the mountain. He was wearing a white robe, and an elegant staff with white runes decorating its shaft was in his hand. ¡°Am I the first to arrive? Where¡¯s Khrx?¡± Luke stared at the young, priest-like man. His expression darkened at the white garments. ¡°Aaz¡¯Tala?¡± The man beamed. ¡°Who else?¡± ¡°What¡­, what are you supposed to be?¡± ¡°A priest,¡± Aaz¡¯Tala said, raising his staff into the air. White light radiated out of the yellow gem embedded on its end. ¡°Don¡¯t I look the part?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the lich emperor!¡± Aaz¡¯Tala clicked his tongue. ¡°This is a roleplaying game, is it not? I want to experience the life of a priest. Besides, life and death are just two sides of the same coin. I¡¯d be stupid not to play around with holy magic since I¡¯ve been given the chance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°And don¡¯t worry,¡± Aaz¡¯Tala said, rolling his eyes. He chuckled and rolled his eyes again. ¡°I almost forgot how fun having eyeballs were.¡± He coughed as Luke glared at him. ¡°As I was saying. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯m still a master of unholy magic. It¡¯s just that I receive no penalties for casting holy magic with this body. This game is really amazing.¡± ¡°Can you still raise the dead?¡± ¡°Do cows fart?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t changed at all in the past century,¡± Luke said with a sigh. ¡°A century is too little time for change to occur,¡± Aaz¡¯Tala said with a small smile. He raised his hand in front of his face, white light dancing on his palm. ¡°But it¡¯s about time for something new, don¡¯t you think?¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. *** Khrx furrowed his brow, stopping his feet midstride. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lorin asked, nearly bumping into him from behind. Khrx poked his stomach a few times. It gurgled in response. He raised his head and blinked at Lorin. ¡°I think I¡¯m hungry.¡± Lorin raised an eyebrow. ¡°You think?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t felt hunger in a very long time.¡± Khrx frowned and poked his stomach again. ¡°Maybe I need to poop? Are those functions active in [Resolution]? I¡¯m going to Bongle it.¡± Lorin placed her hand on her forehead as Khrx sat down and opened up his interface. ¡°As an angel, I don¡¯t need to eat, and I¡ª¡± Her stomach roared, interrupting her. She looked down with wide eyes. ¡°Did, did I make that sound? Hey, Master. Can you check whether or not fallen angels need to eat as well?¡± ¡°It says you do,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Why would they add hunger in a game? Seriously? Who wants to play a game that requires you to eat?¡± ¡°What do we do?¡± Lorin asked as she sat beside Khrx. They were sitting on the side of a dirt road. By Lorin¡¯s waist, there were four rusty swords that she had taken from the bandits. Khrx had left behind everything else since it would¡¯ve been a hassle to carry. ¡°Should we walk back to the temple and take the bandits¡¯ food?¡± Lorin sighed. ¡°Another six hours of walking, huh?¡± She placed her hand on Khrx¡¯s head and ruffled his hair, slipping her hand underneath the hood of his onesie. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be really lucky, right? Maybe if I rub your head, something good will happen.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be an idiot!¡± Khrx said, pulling Lorin¡¯s hand away. She pouted. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to rub my feet, not my head!¡± He reached forward and rubbed his toes. ¡°Like this, see?¡± ¡°Hey! Travelers!¡± Lorin¡¯s head whipped around as she grasped one of her swords. Behind them, a group of wagons pulled by horses was traveling on the road from the direction they had come from. ¡°¡­It worked?¡± Khrx puffed his chest out. ¡°See my power?¡± he asked as he stood up. The head wagon stopped beside him. The driver smiled at Khrx. ¡°What¡¯s a child like you doing out here with¡±¡ªhis gaze landed on the black wings behind Lorin¡¯s back¡ª¡°uh, with¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk to her,¡± a voice whispered from within the wagon. ¡°Can¡¯t you see she¡¯s fallen?¡± ¡°But the child,¡± the driver whispered back. ¡°What child?¡± a woman popped her head out from behind the driver, peering over his shoulder. Her eyes widened at the sight of Khrx, and a murmur escaped from her lips, ¡°So cute¡­¡± Khrx¡¯s eye twitched, but he swallowed his retorts. That AI-Helper did say his charm was maximized when he kept his mouth shut. Khrx chewed on the inside of his mouth, trying to figure out what to say, when his stomach let out an extended growl that could be heard from the furthest wagon. ¡°Are you hungry, child?¡± the woman asked with bright eyes. She smiled at him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you join this auntie here in the wagon? I have lots of sweets.¡± ¡°Stranger danger!¡± Lorin said, running up to Khrx and grabbing him from behind. She glared at the woman, slightly baring her teeth. ¡°Unhand me!¡± Khrx said, struggling out of Lorin¡¯s grasp. He smacked her face with his tail and climbed up the wagon¡¯s side. Lorin followed behind him after a moment of pause. The two woman stared at each other, the temperature within the wagon dropping by a few degrees. ¡°Who said you could come aboard?¡± the woman asked. ¡°I¡¯m his guardian angel,¡± Lorin said, crossing her arms. The driver let out an awkward laugh as he urged his horse forward. ¡°Where are you two headed?¡± Khrx ignored the man, having already stuffed his face with a slice of lemon pie. Lorin¡¯s and the woman¡¯s expressions softened upon seeing him eat, but once they noticed each other smiling at him, they turned frosty once more. The driver let out another awkward laugh. ¡°We¡¯re heading to the new frontier village. Have you two heard anything about it? My colleagues tell me it¡¯s run by a group of foreigners called the Tribish.¡± ¡°Dear,¡± the woman said, still glaring at Lorin. ¡°We¡¯re busy. Don¡¯t bother the guests.¡± The driver shut his mouth. ¡°Yes, honey.¡± Lorin reached for one of the pie slices by Khrx¡¯s side, but the woman slapped away the fallen angel¡¯s hand. The woman reached into a sack and pulled out a piece of stale bread, throwing it onto Lorin¡¯s lap. ¡°Since you¡¯re hungry, it¡¯d be rude if I didn¡¯t offer you anything to eat.¡± ¡°Delicious!¡± Khrx said after devouring a whole pie. His eyes sparkled. ¡°If food like this had existed back in the day, I¡¯d have left my cave every day. This is much, much better than raw meat!¡± The woman¡¯s eyes widened before glowering at Lorin. ¡°You feed him raw meat? You call yourself a guardian angel?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not true,¡± Lorin said. The woman scooted over to Khrx¡¯s side. She whispered loud enough for Lorin to hear, ¡°Is that fallen creature bullying you? This aunty might not look like it, but I¡¯m a very powerful mage. Don¡¯t be afraid to highlight all her misdeeds. I¡¯ll seek justice for you.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Khrx asked and raised his head. ¡°She¡¯s my servant. Why would she bully me?¡± ¡°Your servant?¡± Khrx nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. My servant.¡± ¡°Master,¡± Lorin said with a frown. ¡°Aren¡¯t we companions?¡± ¡°Yes, but you¡¯re still my servant,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± Lorin chewed on the inside of her lip. After meeting Khrx, wasn¡¯t she always listening to his demands? What made her different from a servant anyway? Angels were servants of God, but her god threw her away. She had latched onto Khrx because he was the only one there; plus, he was too adorable to leave alone. But she still had her dignity. Wasn¡¯t calling her his servant too much? She met his gaze, and in the next second, her heart melted. She sighed. ¡°Then in front of other people, can you refer to me as your companion? It¡¯s embarrassing to be called a servant.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had pride,¡± Khrx said while blinking. ¡°You always behaved like a hatchling seeing a shiny object for the first time.¡± He sighed. ¡°You¡¯re all grown up now, aren¡¯t you? Fine. You can be my companion, but only in public.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with this conversation,¡± the woman, who claimed to be a mage, said. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with your mind,¡± Lorin said, pulling Khrx over to her side. She glared at the woman while munching on the stale bread. ¡°I feel like it¡¯d be dangerous to leave you alone with Khrx.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not bicker, everyone,¡± the driver said with a wry smile, turning his head to face the inhabitants of the wagon. ¡°It won¡¯t be long before we reach the Tribish town. Can¡¯t we get along peacefully until then?¡± Episode 7 (2) The horse pulling the wagon snorted and flipped its mine with a flick of its head. ¡°He knows his wife loves to bicker, but he tries to stop her anyway. That¡¯s why he¡¯s not happy.¡± ¡°What was that?¡± the driver asked as he reached into a sack by his side and pulled out a carrot. ¡°Were you hungry, Brownie?¡± The horse snorted again and reached around with its head, biting onto the carrot. ¡°Delicious. Ah, I love this job. I get fed for insulting the driver. What an idiot.¡± Khrx laughed and slapped the driver¡¯s back. He leaned past the driver seat and pulled out a few carrots, holding them in the crook of his elbow. ¡°The horse just called you an idiot,¡± Khrx said as he retreated back into the wagon with his orange loot. He took a bite out of a carrot and stiffened. ¡°Glegh! This tastes like dirt! Is your tongue working properly, you dumb mule?¡± The wagon jolted to a stop. The horse turned around and glared at Khrx. ¡°Who are you calling a dumb mule!?¡± ¡°I¡¯m calling you a dumb mule, you stupid oaf!¡± Khrx tossed aside the carrots and reached into the mage¡¯s bag, pulling out a muffin. ¡°Eat this and tell me your orange crap-sticks don¡¯t taste like mud!¡± The horse caught the flying muffin with its mouth. It chewed once, and its eyes bulged. ¡°Amazing! What the hell!? They should¡¯ve been feeding me this the whole time!¡± ¡°Is, is he talking to the horse?¡± the mage asked Lorin. ¡°B-Brownie?¡± the driver asked. ¡°Are you upset?¡± ¡°Khrx can talk to animals,¡± Lorin said. She noticed the hunger in the mage¡¯s eyes and pulled Khrx into her lap. She wrapped her wings around him as well, hiding him from the mage¡¯s sight. ¡°Stop staring at him like that!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going on a strike!¡± Brownie said, stamping his hooves before laying on his stomach. ¡°B-Brownie?¡± The driver¡¯s mouth fell open at his horse¡¯s actions. He grabbed his horsewhip and nudged Brownie¡¯s rear a few times. ¡°Get up, Brownie.¡± Brownie snorted and closed his eyes. A stinging sensation on his flank caused him to jump and cry out. ¡°You whipped me! I can¡¯t believe you whipped me!¡± The whip flashed again. ¡°Ow! Alright, alright! I¡¯m going!¡± The reins groaned as the wagon lurched forward. ¡°You dumb, cute, bearlike creature, I¡¯ll have my revenge one day.¡± Khrx opened his mouth, but he was smothered by Lorin¡¯s arm. Despite that, his voice still rang loud and clear through the horse¡¯s head. ¡°In your dreams!¡± ¡°Y-you¡¯re telepathic!?¡± Brownie shouted, his ears stiffening and pointing towards the sky. He dashed forward, causing the driver to shout as he almost fell out of his seat. ¡°My ma always told me to avoid telepaths! They¡¯re always up to no good.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on with Brownie today?¡± the driver asked as he held down his cap with one hand, his other hand on the reins. The mage pulled the curtains on the back of the wagon aside. She shouted at the convoy that was falling behind, ¡°Keep up! I¡¯m not paying you to slack!¡± She dropped the curtains and faced Lorin. ¡°Who are you two?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you have asked that before you invited them on?¡± the driver asked. He shut up and focused on the road once the mage pinched his waist. ¡°My name is Lorin Nirol, a fallen angel of Jax,¡± Lorin said. She still refused to uncover Khrx with her wings. ¡°And my companion is Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl. He can speak to animals because of his good relationship with Fiel. We are heading south towards Swift¡¯s Peak.¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Are you affiliated with anyone?¡± the mage asked. ¡°I¡¯m Monika. This is my husband, Nelson. He¡¯s the head of the Golden Crow Merchants.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just travelers,¡± Lorin said. Khrx popped his head out from between her wings, black feathers sticking out of his hair. ¡°Khrx has people he wants to see at Swift¡¯s Peak.¡± Monika turned and patted her husband¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Shall we go to Swift¡¯s Peak, dear?¡± ¡°But, honey,¡± Nelson said, keeping his eyes on the road, ¡°didn¡¯t we agree to return after trading with the Tribish?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let Khrx journey to Swift¡¯s Peak all on his lonesome,¡± Monika said. ¡°Look how vulnerable he is.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Lorin asked. ¡°He¡¯s not alone.¡± ¡°How about it, little Khrx?¡± Monika asked, ignoring Lorin. She smiled and offered Khrx an apple. ¡°Do you want to travel with us to Swift¡¯s Peak? I can protect you much better than she can. Aren¡¯t you tired of eating raw meat around her?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll bring me all the way to Swift¡¯s Peak and feed me too?¡± Khrx asked. Half the apple was already gone, juices running down his chin. ¡°Let¡¯s travel together!¡± Monika beamed. ¡°See, dear? Khrx wants us to take him,¡± she said. ¡°We can¡¯t disappoint him. He¡¯ll be heartbroken.¡± ¡°Kill me now,¡± the horse said with a whimper. ¡°I have to journey with a telepath? What if he invades my mind and takes me over?¡± Khrx tilted his head. Could he do that? ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Brownie said, increasing his speed. ¡°Ah! You already thought about it! Get out of my head!¡± Nelson sighed. ¡°I see you already made up your mind, honey. I hope the journey there will be profitable at least.¡± ¡°Try rubbing his feet,¡± Lorin said, offering Khrx towards the driver. ¡°He¡¯s like a rabbit. It¡¯ll bring good luck.¡± Nelson stared at Khrx. ¡°A-are you sure?¡± Khrx nodded his legs dangling in the air. ¡°It¡¯s not like I lose anything.¡± Nelson gave Khrx¡¯s foot a squeeze. ¡°Is that enough?¡± he asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah,¡± Khrx said, and Lorin brought him back into her lap. ¡°So we¡¯re really traveling together?¡± Monika asked, a smile on her face. [The real leader of the Golden Crow Merchants, Monika, wishes to become your companion. Do you accept? Y/N. Warning: Monika and Lorin despise each other. Who knows what will happen in the future between them if you accept?] ¡°Yes.¡± Khrx pressed Y. [Congratulations! Monika and her husband have become your companions.] Monika grinned and sat next to Lorin, pulling Khrx away from her. ¡°Let me show you my status. I bet it¡¯s a lot higher than hers.¡± [Name: Monika Akinom] [Title: Hidden Leader of the Golden Crow Merchants] [Strength: 4] [Constitution: 6] [Intelligence: 233] [Spirit: 32] [Dexterity: 4] [Perception: 18] [Charisma: 6] [Luck: 324] [Active Skills: Lightning Bolt ?, Chain Lightning (U), Lightning Storm ?, Lightning Field ?, Mana Shield ?] [Passive Skills: Lightning Mastery ¨C Elite (U)] [Companions: Nelson Akinom, Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl] ¡°Impressive, right?¡± Monika asked, tilting her head to look down on Lorin. ¡°This aunty is an elite magician. Even kings have to pay their respects to me.¡± Lorin exhaled through her nose and turned her head away. She¡¯d have to figure out a method to regain her strength. Her most problematic title, [Betrayer of Jax], had to be removed somehow. Maybe Khrx could ask Bongle to figure out a way? ¡°What about his stats?¡± Khrx asked, pointing at Nelson. ¡°He¡¯s completely average,¡± Monika said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. Let me see yours.¡± Khrx opened his status as well as Lorin¡¯s. Monika¡¯s eyes bulged, nearly falling out of her head. ¡°1,000 [Spirit]¡­! And 1,000 [Luck]!¡± She hugged Khrx to her chest. ¡°Say, are you the secret child of a god by any chance? Maybe the Sun God since you¡¯re his apostle?¡± Monika sighed before he could respond. ¡°If I had 1,000 [Spirit], I could become a master magician, maybe even a legendary magician. ¡­It¡¯s a shame about your intelligence though. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll protect you from everything. And intelligence can be increased through study. But to think you¡¯d start from one¡­¡± ¡°Is 200 a lot?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°It¡¯s beyond genius,¡± Lorin said. ¡°Even the magicians amongst the angels have upper limits of 150. But her spirit is really low, which is a shame. It prevents her from casting higher end spells even if she can formulate them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve picked up an amazing companion?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised,¡± Lorin said, grabbing Khrx and bringing him into her lap. She ignored Monika¡¯s glare. ¡°After all, you already obtained the best companion in the world, me.¡± ¡°I could fry you with a flick of my finger,¡± Monika said, narrowing her eyes at Lorin. Her hair waved as mana danced through her body. ¡°Khrx likes me more.¡± ¡°Guh.¡± Monika¡¯s expression darkened before a smile blossomed on her face. ¡°Khrxy, don¡¯t you like me more than her?¡± Khrx shivered upon hearing his new nickname. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that!¡± Lorin beamed. ¡°See?¡± ¡°And you, unhand me!¡± Khrx crawled out of Lorin¡¯s grasp and sat next to Nelson. He sighed and shook his head, his tail swishing behind him. ¡°Life¡¯s difficult when you¡¯re too cute.¡± Episode 7 (3) General Jackson lay down on the ground of his temporary hovel and sighed. He covered his eyes with one arm, placing his free hand on his chest. They had failed again. The prime minister would call him at any moment, and he¡¯d have to explain why they failed. Again. Ring, ring. As expected. General Jackson raised his arm and pressed on the green button of the screen that had appeared in front of him. There was a moment of silence, then an excited voice came through. ¡°General Jackson! Tell me the good news.¡± General Jackson inhaled through his nose. ¡°We failed, sir.¡± For a while, only the sound of heavy breathing could be heard. ¡°Failed?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. Failed.¡± General Jackson said. The shoddy door to his hovel opened by a tiny crack. A soldier peered through, but the general shook his head, pointing at the call interface, and the door closed. ¡°The damages have been minimized. Only one soldier was lost.¡± ¡°How could you fail again!?¡± the voice on the other end shouted. ¡°Did you know, the Renchf already secured their runestone quarry!? Are you telling me our Tribish special forces are weaker than the Renchf¡¯s?¡± ¡°The Renchf had the help of NPCs,¡± General Jackson said, steeling his voice. ¡°And only four members of our SFs are here. The rest of the people are ordinary citizens with no combat experience. Not only that, but the nature of the Renchf¡¯s SF is inherently based on magic. Our men are superior when it comes to modern combat, but all we have are swords.¡± ¡°General Jackson,¡± the prime minister said. ¡°Do you know what I just heard?¡± There was a pause. General Jackson kept his mouth shut. ¡°Excuses! You think I don¡¯t know how many people you¡¯ve gathered? Over 200 of our citizens are helping you establish that settlement. Bring them all into the quarry and secure it!¡± ¡°Numbers won¡¯t work on the creatures inside,¡± General Jackson said. ¡°And the Tribish made a promise to their citizens, didn¡¯t we? We wouldn¡¯t force them to do things they didn¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°We¡¯re paying them to play the game! You can damn well order them to do whatever you want,¡± the prime minister said. ¡°Listen up, General. If you don¡¯t secure that runestone quarry within the next two days, you¡¯re going to be replaced. Understood? The Tribish have always led the world. We can¡¯t fall behind now.¡± General Jackson sighed as the call interface winked out of existence. He sat up and pinched the bridge of his nose. Was it his fault that none of the citizens knew how to fight? Was it his fault that their SF had spawned on the other side of the world? The Renchf had an unbelievably good stroke of luck in the form of hirable NPCs; no other country had secured the strategic resource they had settled next to. General Jackson shook his head. Though he was second place on the leaderboards, he couldn¡¯t capture a quarry by himself. Not with those giant lizards living there. If only he had the help of a strong mage. It was a shame the Tribish emphasized technology over magic. The door creaked open again. ¡°What is it, soldier?¡± General Jackson asked, lowering his hands and fixing his posture as he stood up. ¡°A group of traveling merchants wish to enter the city.¡± ¡°Traveling merchants?¡± General Jackson asked. ¡°NPCs? Take me to them.¡± At the gates to their city, General Jackson approached a convoy of wagons. At the head, there was a fallen angel hugging a child with a tail in a bear onesie. Beside them, there was a nervous horse and two people wearing matching rings. The man in front of the horse walked up to General Jackson and smiled. ¡°Hello,¡± he said. ¡°My name¡¯s Nelson. I¡¯m the head of the Golden Crow Merchants. Are you the mayor?¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Of sorts,¡± General Jackson said and extended his hand. The two men shook. ¡°I¡¯m General Jackson of Great Tribain.¡± His eyes widened slightly at the sight of armed guards exiting from the wagons in the back. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°I heard that a new settlement cropped up around these parts, and I decided to check it out, sell some wares,¡± Nelson said with a smile. ¡°This is my wife, Monika. And these are my friends, Lorin and Khrx.¡± General Jackson smiled and nodded at the trio behind Nelson. For some reason, he thought the cute child was glaring at him. Was there something on his face? For [Resolution] to dress their NPCs in onesies though, even if it looked adorable¡­. He turned his gaze back onto Nelson. ¡°We¡¯ll be happy to accept your business; please, come inside.¡± *** Khrx¡¯s head swiveled as he hung in Lorin¡¯s grasp. He could walk, but it was a lot easier to let Lorin carry him. After all, his legs were short and his constitution pitiful. The Tribish settlement was based on the side of a river. There were a few people farming the lands with tools made of wood and stone. A flimsy wall made of wooden stakes had been erected around the settlement, and a few men were patrolling the border. Bloodstains marked the ground, and Khrx¡¯s stomach growled at the smell of slaughter. Monika smiled and handed him a cookie before patting his head. The trio followed behind Nelson, leading the rest of the Golden Crow Merchants into the center of the settlement. People stared at them as they made their way through. Men and women with golden hair and blue eyes. None of them had tails or cat ears. ¡°I¡¯m going to eat Luke¡¯s face the next time I see him,¡± Khrx muttered to himself, his ears pressing flat against his head. He pulled the hood of his onesie lower, hiding his eyes. But there wasn¡¯t anything he could do to hide the tail that stuck out of his onesie. He could feel the Tribish¡¯s stares piercing him. It had been a long, long time since he felt shame. ¡°This is what the surface dwellers look like, he says. Cheeky bastard.¡± As the Golden Crow Merchants settled in the center of the settlement, they pulled out cloths to place their wares on: hoes, sickles, and shovels made of metal. Glass bottles filled with odd-colored liquids. Armor made of leather and thick cloth. Swords and shields made from metal and wood. But the items that attracted the most attention were the pastries and food. The Tribish players came forth and traded with the merchants, pulling out strings threaded through coins. Nelson handled most of the transactions while Monika sat atop a wagon, monitoring the trading site. Lorin and Khrx were beside her. ¡°Ah,¡± Khrx said and pointed at a man browsing the items near the furthest wagon. ¡°He¡¯s going to steal something.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Monika¡¯s attention turned onto the man. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°Plenty of creature have tried to steal from me,¡± Khrx said, puffing his chest out. ¡°I can tell when someone¡¯s trying to steal, fight, or run away just by the scent their emitting.¡± The man leaned forward, grabbed a sword, and dashed away. The guard in charge of the wagon rose to his feet and shouted, ¡°Stop, thief!¡± Monika snorted and pointed at the retreating thief. There was a flash of white light accompanied by the cracking of thunder. The thief fell to the ground face first, his body twitching. The guard seized the thief¡¯s wrist and retrieved the sword. He raised the weapon into the air. ¡°The price of theft is a hand.¡± The twitching man screamed as blood splashed onto the ground. The guard snorted and walked back to the wagon, ignoring the stares of the Tribish people. He placed the bloody sword onto the cloth and smiled. ¡°Our wares are very good. See how cleanly they cut?¡± ¡°He, he cut my hand off!¡± Tears ran down the thief¡¯s face as he clutched his arm. ¡°It hurts! It hurts so much! Logout!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes glazed over, and his body stopped moving like a puppet with cut strings. Blood continued to flow out of the man¡¯s wound, but he didn¡¯t react. ¡°Did he lose his soul?¡± Monika asked, tilting her head. A tall man, General Jackson, pushed his way through to the wagons. He glanced at the limp man and frowned. ¡°What happened here?¡± ¡°Mayor,¡± Nelson said, nodding at the general. ¡°He tried to steal, so we enacted justice. I¡¯m not sure why he¡¯s like that though. Maybe shock?¡± The guard behind Nelson laughed. ¡°He did get shocked by Monika¡¯s spell.¡± General Jackson frowned. ¡°We have our own laws regarding thieves.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Nelson asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Are you not followers of God Jax? Your laws differ from his decrees?¡± General Jackson furrowed his brow but didn¡¯t say anything. He lowered his head. ¡°I apologize. I misspoke. My people were in the wrong. Please, stay and make yourselves at home. Also, when you¡¯re free, can we talk? I have a request to make regarding that magician of yours.¡± Episode 7 (4) Monika hummed to herself as she followed behind the Golden Crow Merchants¡¯ guards. They were dressed in thick cloth and leather armor with metal plates covering their vitals. Khrx walked alongside Monika with Lorin on his other side. The two women were holding his hands like mothers watching over their child. Behind the Golden Crow Merchants, four Tribish men were marching in formation: their swords at their waists and shields strapped to their arms. Over their green military uniforms, they were wearing the metal plates they had purchased not too long ago. General Jackson, who was at the head of the Tribish, frowned. ¡°I¡¯ve thought it over for a while, but should the child really be coming too? The quarry¡¯s a dangerous place. We lost one of our men to a giant lizard just the other day. Wouldn¡¯t it have been better to leave him at our city with your husband?¡± ¡°Nonsense,¡± Monika said, not even turning around to face the general. ¡°The safest place in the world is right by my side.¡± General Jackson¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Then why did you leave your husband behind saying it was too dangerous?¡± Monika coughed and scratched her neck. ¡°The place by my side has very limited space.¡± General Jackson sighed and shook his head. He had hired the Golden Crow Merchants to clear out the quarry, costing him the group¡¯s combined wealth. Earning money was a lot harder than anticipated, with the system¡¯s quests only providing achievement points. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that they had cleared out a primitive NPC tribe¡¯s camp and occupied it, they wouldn¡¯t have had any money at all. Or a place to settle for that matter. Hopefully, the investment would be worth it. If the Renchf could hire NPCs to clear out a quarry, then he could do it too. The mage seemed promising too. The biggest issue with fighting the giant lizards was their thick skin. Their shoddy swords barely did any damage, but magic shouldn¡¯t have an issue. If only he could bring some guns from reality¡­. ¡°Lady Akinom,¡± the guard at the head of the group said. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the quarry.¡± Monika nodded and walked to the front of the group with Khrx and Lorin, the guards parting to let them through. They stood at the edge of a pit that looked like an inverted plateau. A road spiraled down the sides of the pit, hugging the rock walls, leading to the bottom. Caves dotted the walls along the road, and scratching sounds echoed through the air along with chewing and snuffling. The sun was setting, casting a long shadow over half the quarry, but purple lights on the quarry walls illuminated the darkness. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of runestones,¡± Monika said, a faint smile on her lips. She faced the general. ¡°Even a wagonful is like a drop of water in the ocean, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Please, remember the deal we agreed upon,¡± General Jackson said, his face hardening. ¡°We already paid upfront and agreed to give you a wagon¡¯s worth of runestones.¡± Monika laughed. ¡°A deal¡¯s a deal,¡± she said. ¡°The sun¡¯s setting soon. We¡¯ll start in a few hours.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to wait for day?¡± General Jackson asked, furrowing his brow. In reality, the streets were always lit up even at night. But in [Resolution], when night fell, the world was engulfed in total darkness. There were no moons or stars in the sky, and it wasn¡¯t possible to see one¡¯s own hand in front of their face. The quarry¡¯s ground was unsteady, filled with indentations and ledges. Fighting in that type of environment with only a few torches as light sources was asking to die. Especially when their opponents were lizards that were twice their size. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me four grown men are afraid of the dark,¡± Monika said, the corner of her lips curling upwards. The Tribish soldiers¡¯ expressions turned ugly, but none of them spoke, turning towards their general instead. ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± General Jackson said. ¡°We don¡¯t have much experience fighting in the dark. Well, we do, but only if we have our goggles¡­, but we don¡¯t.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Lizards are cold-blooded,¡± Monika said. ¡°They turn sluggish at night. You can wait for the sun to rise, but my men and I will be finished long before then.¡± She turned towards her guards. ¡°Let¡¯s make camp for a few hours. No need to fight on an empty stomach.¡± The Golden Crow Merchants backed away from the quarry and set up a campfire on a nearby hill. General Jackson gritted his teeth and followed after them. Monika sat in front of the fire with Khrx sitting in her lap, her hands playing with his ears and hair. ¡°General,¡± she said, smiling as the man took a seat across from her. ¡°Where exactly did your men come from? I¡¯ve been wondering. Two hundred people is quite a lot.¡± General Jackson scratched his head. ¡°I guess you could say we came from all over the place,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain.¡± ¡°I have nothing else to do but listen,¡± Monika said. ¡°Did the gods send you? Our little merchant group has been meeting all kinds of strange travelers. They look completely out of place with strange clothes, odd skin tones, and hair colors.¡± General Jackson raised an eyebrow. ¡°Odder than that child in your lap?¡± Monika pursed her lips. ¡°There¡¯s nothing odd about Khrx,¡± she said, handing Khrx a cookie she pulled out of her bag. He munched on it without a word. General Jackson exhaled through his nose. ¡°Mm. Well, I guess you could say we were sent by the gods,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s lots of us. At least four billion.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s a lot,¡± Monika said, a wrinkle forming on her forehead. ¡°What¡¯s your purpose in coming here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s classified. Secret of the gods and all,¡± General Jackson said. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Hmm, interesting,¡± Monika said as she petted Khrx¡¯s head. ¡°Then I won¡¯t pry.¡± Khrx sighed as he finished his cookie. He rubbed his stomach and leaned back while closing his eyes, sticking his legs out. He stretched his arms out to the side and yawned. Maybe Luke wasn¡¯t such an asshole for forcing him to play this game. How long had it been since someone last pampered him? The last time someone treated him to a meal was probably over 800,000 sleep cycles ago. The last time he held another person¡¯s hand was even longer ago than that. Sure, he had Fufu, but ¡­ she was Fufu. Who cares if Monika and Lorin treated him as a child? Maybe it wasn¡¯t such a bad thing. Being adorable was a nice change of pace; instead of screaming and running from him, people screamed and ran towards him. Besides, Monika¡¯s cookies were delicious. They didn¡¯t scream and squirt blood everywhere when he sank his teeth into them. They let themselves be eaten peacefully and tasted much better too. Monika smiled as Khrx curled up into a ball, snuggling his head against her stomach. She stuck her tongue out at Lorin¡¯s bloodthirsty gaze and laughed as the angel stood up while drawing one of her swords. The fallen angel spread her wings and flew up, flying off into the distance with the setting sun behind her. General Jackson stared, but he didn¡¯t say anything. There were too many things about [Resolution] he didn¡¯t understand. He was a general of Great Tribain¡¯s Special Forces, but he wasn¡¯t a gamer. Why had the prime minister put him in charge? A few hours later, Monika nudged Khrx awake. Khrx yawned and smacked his lips a few times before wiping at his eyes with his onesie. ¡°How many years passed?¡± he asked, his eyes still half-closed. ¡°You slept for a few hours,¡± Monika said. ¡°Where¡¯s Lorin?¡± Khrx asked, turning his head. A floating screen caught his attention instead. [Your companion, Lorin, has accepted a quest from the Sun God.] [The Sun God is still weak, having only received one sacrifice. He requires more blood to contend with Jax. Give him offerings!] [Rewards: A blessing from the Sun God.] [Current Progress: 78/150 players sacrificed.] Khrx stared at the screen and scratched his head. Maybe there was something wrong with his understanding of the Rokean language. He dismissed the screen, but there was another one behind it. [Lorin has slain xXHunterXx. Gained 32 Achievement Points.] And another one behind that. [Lorin has slain Sniper420xyz. Gained 2 Achievement Points.] ¡­ [Lorin has slain ImAPoorCollegeStudent. Gained 8 Achievement Points.] ¡­ [Lorin has slain JetFuel. Gained 10 Achievement Points.] ¡­ [Lorin has slain SteelBeams. Gained 47 Achievement Points.] Seventy-eight messages of slaughter. Khrx blinked and opened up the leaderboards. He was in 857th place with 486 points. ¡°Eh!?¡± General Jackson rose to his feet. He was speaking to a floating rectangle that Khrx couldn¡¯t see. ¡°You died!? How? ¡­What do you mean you don¡¯t know?¡± Khrx cleared his throat. He nudged Monika. ¡°Let¡¯s go clear out the quarry.¡± Monika scratched her head. ¡°We¡¯re going now, General Jackson,¡± she said as she rose to her feet. Her guards rose as well. ¡°Are you coming?¡± General Jackson ground his teeth together as he dismissed the call. The most important thing was accomplishing the task the prime minister assigned him, capturing the quarry. Mysterious deaths could be solved later. Episode 7 (5) Monika and her guards stopped in front of the slope leading down the quarry. The quarry was glowing with a purple hue, barely illuminating the ground. ¡°How is it?¡± Monika asked her guards. ¡°Think you can fight without torches?¡± ¡°It¡¯s doable,¡± one of the guards said. ¡°I¡¯m glad I don¡¯t have to give up my shield.¡± The other guards murmured in agreement, and the group descended with the Tribish soldiers following behind them. The slope leading down was uneven, curving back up, dropping suddenly, narrowing and widening without warning. The group traveled slowly, watching their steps, and they made it to the first cave along the walls without an issue. ¡°This is it,¡± General Jackson said, his voice hushed. ¡°We lost one of our men in this cave.¡± Monika nodded as she strode past the guards to the cave¡¯s entrance. ¡°Charge in after my first spell,¡± she said as she raised her hands towards the sky. Her eyes closed as her hair rippled, mana surging to her fingertips. The cave was dim, but the outline of a giant lizard curled up into a ball could easily be seen. The lizard stirred and raised its head as Monika opened her eyes and lowered her hands, pointing at it. Ten bolts of lightning, one from each finger, flew from Monika and crashed into the lizard, lifting it off the ground and tossing it to the back of the cave. The ground shuddered as it roared, its limbs twitching. ¡°Charge!¡± the guards shouted and rushed into the cave. General Jackson and his men looked at each other before charging as well. The lizard was twice as tall as a man with an even longer body. Even with the ten guards that Monika brought, they weren¡¯t able to surround it completely, forming a semi-circle near its head instead. Every time the lizard struck with its claws, the guards would attack the protruding limb. The lizard tried to bite once, but a bloody gash was torn open along its neck. Methodically, the men wore it down, chipping away at it little by little until there were more cuts on its limbs than scales. Thanks to Monika¡¯s earlier barrage of lightning, it hadn¡¯t fully regained its motor controls, or the battle wouldn¡¯t have been that easy. [Monika has slain a giant earth lizard. 5 Achievement Points gained.] ¡°We could sell its body for a decent amount,¡± Monika said as she approached the lizard, holding onto Khrx¡¯s hand. She inspected her guards. ¡°Are you tired?¡± The guards glanced at each other before shaking their heads. ¡°That was just a warmup. We can keep going.¡± Monika nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll retrieve the body on our way back,¡± she said as she made her way out of the cave. She frowned while peering down the slope. ¡°I was expecting some lizard to come from further in, but it¡¯s understandable, judging by the size of that lizard.¡± She patted Khrx¡¯s head. ¡°Do you know what I mean?¡± ¡°There¡¯s not enough food,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s only two or three of them living here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Monika said, a smile blossoming on her face. ¡°Let me check your intelligence. Did it increase?¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t,¡± Khrx said with a scowl. Stupid biased system. He wasn¡¯t dumb! ¡°Shall we proceed?¡± General Jackson asked after clearing his throat. ¡°Let¡¯s,¡± Monika said, and her guards took the lead. The next three caves that they passed were empty, filled with nothing but glowing rocks. By now, they had traveled halfway down the slope and their tension from the earlier fight had dissipated. As the guards stopped in front of another cave, a hissing sound came out, but Khrx heard it differently. ¡°What? They really came for me too? This isn¡¯t what I was promised!¡± Before Monika could ready her spells, the giant lizard charged out of the cave with a roar. It swept its tail at the entrance while turning its body around. The men barely managed to throw themselves out of the wall, one of them falling off the slope with a scream. His body landed on the bottom of the quarry with a crunch, and the scream stopped. After sweeping the guards away, the lizard leapt up onto the walls above its cave and scrambled up and out of the quarry, running off into the distance. A few rocks fell down the quarry¡¯s walls, bouncing along the slope. The group stared at the lines the lizard had left behind on the wall with its claws. ¡°It ran?¡± Monika asked, furrowing her brow. After waiting a few seconds, she crouched by the slope¡¯s edge and shouted down below. ¡°Are you alright, James?¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°No. I fell on my tailbone! I think I broke my ass. God, why are potions so damn cold!? My children are hiding inside me!¡± Monika chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s go retrieve James,¡± she said as she stood up. ¡°If it¡¯s just a broken ass, a potion can fix that.¡± The group traveled down the slope, meeting James halfway. His pants were stained red, but other than that, one couldn¡¯t tell he had fallen down half a quarry. Monika nodded at him. ¡°Did you see anything down there?¡± ¡°A giant cave,¡± James said. ¡°Three times the size of the others. It was on the side we were looking from, so we didn¡¯t see it from up there. I thought I heard someone laughing, but I didn¡¯t dare check it out by myself.¡± Monika rubbed her chin. ¡°Should we retreat for today?¡± she asked. ¡°If there¡¯s another lizard down there, it¡¯d be a tough fight if the one that ran away just now came back.¡± ¡°No,¡± General Jackson said. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to wait another day.¡± ¡°The employer has spoken,¡± Monika said. ¡°And I don¡¯t think that lizard will come back. It¡¯s a cowardly thing; it didn¡¯t even come to help the first one we fought.¡± The guards nodded and steeled themselves as they marched down to the bottom of the quarry. Like James had said, there was a giant cave staring them in the face, but it wasn¡¯t lit up by purple runes. Monika squinted and frowned. ¡°Light a torch,¡± she said. A thin laugh rang throughout the quarry as one of the guards fumbled with a steel and flint. ¡°Isn¡¯t life great? Food has willingly come to me once again. And there¡¯s an adorable cat-bear chew toy too! Come, just a few more steps¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s one creepy hiss,¡± General Jackson said, furrowing his brow. ¡°But it looks like this is the last lizard we¡¯ll have to deal with.¡± Orange light flooded the quarry as the guard succeeded in lighting his torch. ¡°Throw it into the cave,¡± Monika said. The guard complied, and the torch arced through the air, landing in the center of the cave, lighting up a massive boulder. Monika¡¯s eyes widened as the boulder cracked open and a tongue shot out like an arrow. One of the Tribish soldiers let out a grunt as a pink glob hit him in the stomach. He didn¡¯t even have time to scream as he was yanked towards the cave, flying into the mouth of the lizard. He did have time to scream as the lizard crunched down, tearing apart his body. ¡°Run!¡± Monika shouted as she turned around. The lizard¡¯s tongue flew towards her, but a barrier of mana formed just in time. The tongue stuck to the barrier before pulling it away. The lizard chomped on it, swallowing the mana like water. ¡°Why are we running?¡± General Jackson shouted. He and his men were the last to react, several steps behind the Golden Crow Merchants on the slope. ¡°What about the contract? I¡¯m your employer!¡± ¡°You said giant lizards!¡± Monika shouted back. The lizard¡¯s tongue flickered again, sticking to one of the Tribish soldiers. ¡°That¡¯s a lesser earth dragon! I don¡¯t care how much money you pay; we¡¯re not fighting a dragon!¡± The last Tribish solder let out a scream as he was ensnared by the tongue as well. General Jackson cursed in his heart but continued to run up the slope. Luckily for him, he wasn¡¯t as heavily armored as the guards and managed to run ahead of some of them. The guards let out miserable shouts as they were hit in the backs by the dragon¡¯s tongue. By the time they had made it out of the quarry, only Monika, Khrx, General Jackson, and two of the guards were left. ¡°If we fought it, we wouldn¡¯t have lost so many men,¡± General Jackson said, his expression dark. ¡°It was a giant chameleon, not a dragon.¡± ¡°If we fought it, none of us would be standing here right now,¡± Monika said, glaring at the general. ¡°It was playing with us; otherwise, it would¡¯ve used magic.¡± [Quest complete!] [The Sun God is pleased with your offerings! He knows you want to be free from Jax¡¯s curse, but he is limited in what he can do. While under his blessing, the effect of Jax¡¯s curse is halved. Offer more sacrifices to receive greater power! [Rewards: Lorin has acquired the title Fanatic Nut. 10 Achievement Points gained.] [Fanatic Nut] [During the day, the title [Betrayer of Jax] has its effects reduced by 50% (all stats decreased by 45% instead of 90%).] [Repeating quest acquired!] [More blood! More sacrifices! More power! Note: The Sun God swears he¡¯s a peace-loving god; it¡¯s just that, you know, circumstances.] [Rewards: A blessing from the Sun God.] [Quest progress: 0/150 players sacrificed.] ¡°Khrx?¡± Monika asked, distracting Khrx from his reading. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Monika said, crouching down to his level and hugging him. ¡°Were you scared?¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Monika said, patting his back. ¡°You don¡¯t have to pretend to be strong. I saw how dazed you were just now. We won¡¯t be fighting it again, okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine though?¡± ¡°There, there,¡± Monika said and reached into her bag. ¡°Have a cookie.¡± Khrx tilted his head before accepting the cookie. Monika stood up and held his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the settlement, so you can have a proper place to sleep.¡± Khrx munched on the cookie as he walked alongside her. He¡¯d have to learn how to make these circular bits of heaven in reality. [Your actions are adorable. Charm has increased by 1.] *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 12. Dear Diary, Today, a lesser earth dragon called me an adorable chew toy. I¡¯m going to go to Vsclthkrh¡¯s lair and beat him up! How dare his underlings disrespect me!? Does it count if it was only in a game? Of course it does! I¡¯m going to ask Luke where that block of earth that calls itself a dragon lives. ¡­ So I asked Luke. Apparently Vsclthkrh died over a thousand years ago to someone called the hero. ¡­ I need a drink. And Fufu. Sigh. Love, Khrx Episode 8 (1) The prime minister of Great Tribain leaned back in his plush leather seat. He pressed a button on his desk to turn on a radio station and closed his eyes. ¡°¡ªthan expected, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Yes, Sam, I have to agree with you on that,¡± a feminine voice said. ¡°There are thousands of posts on numerous forums discussing the difficulty of [Resolution]. Around 99% of the posts on these forums say the game is too hard. The remaining 1% are essentially ¡®L-O-L, get good¡¯ posts, telling the others to learn how to play. What aspects about [Resolution], do you think, makes it so difficult compared to other VRMMORPGs we¡¯ve reviewed in the past?¡± ¡°Well, Natasha,¡± Sam said. ¡°There are many aspects, but the biggest one that stands out to me, is the realism. [Resolution] is fully immersive.¡± ¡°Fully immersive?¡± ¡°Fully immersive. That means once you put your VR drive on and access [Resolution], it¡¯s almost like stepping into a teleportation portal. It¡¯s entering another reality. If you get hit by a fireball, you¡¯ll really feel like you¡¯re burning. If you perform hard labor and your body isn¡¯t used to it, you¡¯ll be sore the next day. There are no levels to magically increase your strength the more you play. Other games weren¡¯t able to achieve total immersion due to hardware limitations, but [Resolution] is the result of the whole world¡¯s combined effort. The research they¡¯ve done and resources they¡¯ve spent on creating [Resolution] is on a whole ¡®nother scale when compared to a privately funded company.¡± ¡°This level of immersion, is it dangerous?¡± ¡°Not at all. Well, actually, if you didn¡¯t have the VR drive, then it would be, but that¡¯s a non-issue. The VR drive is fully equipped with the best healing spells out there. Even if you suffer from a heart attack from stress or fear, the VR drive can bring you back to life. Ah, I probably shouldn¡¯t have said something like that, right? Would it hurt the sales? Let¡¯s edit that bit out when it goes live, just keep the not at all.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been live, Sam.¡± ¡°Really? Well¡­. Uh, yeah. There have been no accidents regarding [Resolution] whatsoever. It¡¯s perfectly safe to use. If you¡¯re a parent and wondering whether or not you should let your child play [Resolution], let them! It¡¯s not an exaggeration to say the fate of the world hinges on the results of the game. Besides, in Great Tribain, even children will be paid if they join the Great Tribish sponsored guild and there will be no conflicts with child labor laws. If you¡¯re listening in on this broadcast from another country, please check your respective laws regarding child labor.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s move away from legality and safety issues, shall we, Sam? What do you think about the top player, Lukroix Adveign Desrigard? Clearly, he¡¯s not having any issues with the difficulty of the game.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Lukroix Adveign Desrigard is a bit of an anomaly. Publicly, he¡¯s not affiliated with any country. He¡¯s amassed over 3,000 achievement points which is already more than double second place¡¯s 1300. Considering a regular monster gives 1 achievement point and a regular quest gives 2 achievement points, what he¡¯s done is simply amazing. It¡¯s possible he¡¯s been going on a killing spree to take half of his target¡¯s achievements points, but there haven¡¯t been any forum posts complaining about him, have there?¡± ¡°There¡¯s lots of posts claiming he¡¯s cheating. In fact, an employee who was in charge of monitoring [Resolution] leaked his stats. He has over 800 intelligence and spirit.¡± ¡°What!?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The employee was promptly fired, but he said it was worth it for the number of fake internet points he got for posting. He declined appearing on our show as a guest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s insane. I have a PhD in mathematics and spell theory, but my intelligence isn¡¯t even a quarter of his! Could he possibly be an A.I.?¡± ¡°On the internet, nobody knows you¡¯re an A.I..¡± ¡°Unbelievable. I¡¯m stunned, Natasha. Stunned. We¡ª¡± Ring, ring. The prime minister¡¯s eyes snapped open. He sat up and smiled at the caller¡¯s name. ¡°General Jackson,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re calling to tell me the good news?¡± ¡°I¡­, I think I should retire, sir.¡± The prime minister¡¯s face fell. ¡°Retire? You¡¯re under contract. You can¡¯t retire. What happened?¡± ¡°Everyone¡­, everyone in our settlement, except for me,¡± General Jackson said, his voice wavering, ¡°died.¡± ¡°What the hell did you do?¡± ¡°I hired a group of NPCs to clear out the quarry,¡± General Jackson said. ¡°I brought our three SFs. It was going well until we encountered a dragon. We couldn¡¯t defeat it and had to run away, but our three SFs died while retreating. And when I got back to the settlement¡­, everyone except for the NPCs was dead. None of them saw their assailant. All the victims recall losing their vision before being slashed apart. A, a few of the citizens told me they wouldn¡¯t be coming back.¡± The prime minister exhaled and leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose. His brow furrowed as he groaned. General Jackson stayed silent on the other end of the call. After a few moments, the prime minister inhaled and sat up. ¡°Listen up, general. It¡¯s not your fault. No one died in reality. In three days, they¡¯ll be coming back. And weren¡¯t the rest of the SF on their way to the settlement? We can still make a comeback. Sure, development will be halted for three days, but we¡¯re the Tribish! A minor setback can¡¯t stop us. I apologize for rushing you to clear the quarry. I¡¯ll handle any flak from the top. You can¡¯t lose heart, general. You¡¯re the best person we have. There¡¯s still a year before the game really begins. We have time.¡± General Jackson was silent for a moment. ¡°I understand, sir. I¡ªhuh!? My vision!¡± The prime minister¡¯s face paled as unearthly shrieks wailed out of his call interface. A few seconds later, they stopped. There were a few splashing sounds before the call ended. *** Lorin stared down at the dead general. She wiped her sword on his clothes before hanging the rusty weapon on her waist. Her wings flared open as she raised her head towards the sky. Red sunlight shone down on her, and she smiled. A new day was starting. She hummed as she flew into the air, chasing after the wagons that had set off a few moments prior. It was her turn to make lunch for Khrx. Episode 8 (2) Lorin hummed to herself as she practiced a few swings of her sword while in the air. She smiled as she spotted the convoy of wagons below her, and she alighted on the seat next to Nelson, startling the horse and driver. ¡°I¡¯m back! And I regained some of my strength.¡± Monika glared at the fallen angel while pulling Khrx towards her chest. ¡°Your hands are stained with so much blood,¡± she said. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be touching Khrx.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Lorin asked, her eyes narrowed. She climbed off the seat into the wagon¡¯s interior. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Your hands are cleaner than mine?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Monika said, nodding her head. ¡°You slaughtered a whole settlement. When word gets out, you¡¯re going to be hunted down like a dog. I won¡¯t let you implicate Khrx.¡± Lorin tilted her head. ¡°But that¡¯s why I left no survivors? And none of them saw me anyway.¡± With that, she lunged forward and tackled Monika before the mage could respond. Lorin seized Khrx, fending Monika¡¯s hands off with her wings. ¡°It¡¯s my turn to take care of him.¡± ¡°Turns? This isn¡¯t a board game!¡± Monika sat up, her hair crackling with mana. ¡°You let go of Khrx right now, murderer.¡± ¡°Stop fighting,¡± Khrx said and furrowed his brow. He had been busy daydreaming, but he lost his train of thought after being tackled. Now he couldn¡¯t remember what he had been thinking about. His tail swished a few times, brushing against Lorin¡¯s shins. ¡°You two should try to get along.¡± Monika and Lorin responded at the same time. ¡°Impossible.¡± They froze before glaring at each other, sparks flying between their eyes. Nelson let out an awkward laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s about time to stop for lunch? How about we all step out of the wagon before it¡¯s destroyed? What do you think, Khrx? Are you hungry?¡± Khrx prodded his stomach a few times, and it shifted before letting out a gurgle. ¡°I think so.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my turn to make Khrx lunch!¡± Lorin said while standing up. ¡°I already told you this isn¡¯t a board game! We don¡¯t take turns. I¡¯m not letting you feed Khrx raw meat. He was starving while traveling with you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to feed him raw meat,¡± Lorin said, stamping her foot, cracking one of the wagon¡¯s floorboards. She reached for the bag of food by Monika¡¯s side. ¡°My cooking is definitely better than yours!¡± Monika summoned a mana barrier over herself and the bag of food, blocking Lorin. ¡°This food is mine. You said you¡¯d make lunch for Khrx; don¡¯t tell me you want to use my ingredients?¡± Lorin snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t need your crappy food. I¡¯ll get my own.¡± She stepped onto the driver¡¯s seat and spread her wings before soaring into the air, leaving Khrx behind. Luckily, there was a forest nearby. The earth dwellers always sought their food in forests, right? As an angel, Lorin didn¡¯t have to eat and had no experience with cooking food, much less gathering it. But she wasn¡¯t going to let that stop her.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°This¡­,¡± Lorin said as she alighted on the forest ground. She glanced around while furrowing her brow. A fluffy, red-colored mammal with bright yellow stripes was hanging onto a tree, chewing on a leaf. ¡°The leaves shouldn¡¯t be poisonous, right?¡± The mammal didn¡¯t react as Lorin approached it. She gathered the leaves on the branches around it and was about to store them away when she realized she didn¡¯t have a bag. So she grabbed the brightly colored mammal and killed it by twisting its neck. With steady hands, she skinned it without an issue, intending on using its skin as a pouch. She stored the leaves inside of it before glancing at the mammal¡¯s carcass. ¡°Should be edible. But I won¡¯t let Khrx eat organs.¡± After dismantling the poor mammal into a lump of unrecognizable meat, she stored what she thought were the edible parts and continued on. ¡°A balanced meal should have a main dish, some staple to eat it with, and some sides. I already have meat and leaves, all I need are sides.¡± But there wasn¡¯t anything suitable. She sighed and spread her wings, jumping into the air. A purple patch on a tree¡¯s trunk caught her eye. She flew over and hovered next to it. Mushrooms. Perfect! She scraped them off into her makeshift pouch using her rusty sword and hummed as she left the forest, flying towards the convoy of wagons which had stopped on the side of the road. The Golden Crow Merchants had created three campfires, each with a pot of boiling water suspended over them. Lorin stole one of the pots and a burning log of wood, ignoring the merchants¡¯ complaints and separated herself from the group. She wasn¡¯t going to let anyone judge her nonexistent cooking skills. After setting up the pot and fire, she unceremoniously dumped the three ingredients she found into the water and waited, peering behind herself every so often to make sure no one was watching. Purple fumes rose out of the pot, but Lorin fanned them away with her wings. The water in the pot was starting to turn a sickly green, but what broth didn¡¯t change colors? Lorin stirred the stew with her rusty sword while humming to herself, mentally patting herself on the back. Who said angels couldn¡¯t cook? When the meat had turned from red to brown and the broth had gone from thin and watery to thick and syrupy, Lorin removed the pot from the fire. ¡°Khrx! Food¡¯s ready!¡± Monika¡¯s eyebrows scrunched together. How did Lorin finish cooking before her when she had started first? She raised her hand to stop Khrx from leaving, but he was already sitting by Lorin¡¯s side, his tail swishing back and forth. ¡°Careful, it¡¯s hot,¡± Lorin said as she fanned the pot of stew with her wings. Khrx ignored her and placed his hand into the stew. His eyes widened as his face turned red. A second later, he yanked his hand out of the pot and flailed it around. ¡°Gah! What the hell!? It¡¯s hot!¡± Tears fell out of his eyes as he blew on his fingers while sniffling. Lorin bit her lower lip. So this was the result of only having one intelligence. She flew over to Monika¡¯s side and stole the mage¡¯s bowl and spoon. She dashed away while saying, ¡°Khrx needs this more than you.¡± Lorin poured some stew into the bowl and scooped out a spoonful of stew with a mushroom cap. She blew on it before holding it in front of Khrx¡¯s face. ¡°Open up.¡± Khrx opened his mouth and ate the spoonful of stew. Lorin studied his face while holding her breath. ¡°How is it?¡± Khrx responded by turning green and falling over backwards. ¡°Khrx!?¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Khrx said, purple smoke billowing out of his mouth and nostrils. His vision blurred as he stared at the sky. Two red dragons were looking down on him. ¡°I see my parents.¡± A screen flashed in front of him. [You¡¯ve seen the unseeable. Perception +5.] [You¡¯re also suffering immensely. Constitution -1.] [You have died.] [The god of the underworld is amused.] Episode 8 (3) Luke stood atop a ledge, looking down on a cavern. Behind him, Aaz¡¯Tala was humming to himself while rocking from side to side. Within the cavern dozens of shambling dead were stumbling forward, approaching a group of orange humanoid creatures. Amongst the dead, there were humans, beasts, and even a few of the orange creatures as well. They moaned as their skin scraped against the rocky ground, leaving bits and pieces behind. ¡°A symphony of terror and despair,¡± Aaz¡¯Tala said and licked his lips. ¡°How pleasing to the ears, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Luke ignored the priest-like man standing behind him. He mumbled an incantation underneath his breath, his gaze locked onto the largest orange creature in the back. It had two heads and four arms, a large necklace of skulls hanging from both its necks. The orange creature let out a cry and pointed at the approaching undead, and the creature¡¯s minions charged forward, disregarding their lives. The undead were numerous but weak. Within the first few seconds of clashing, the orange creatures had already destroyed a quarter of the undead. ¡°Hell¡¯s Embrace,¡± Luke said and raised one arm. The cavern trembled as red lines bulged outwards, crisscrossing and illuminating ground. The giant orange creature let out a shriek and turned to run, but lava and black flames poured out of the red lines, engulfing the cavern in a firestorm. [Quest complete!] [The demi-god tribe is no more! Your territory has been blessed by Jax.] [Rewards: 250 Achievement Points, Title: Jax¡¯s Favored.] ¡°You burned my darling creations,¡± Aaz¡¯Tala said, looking down on the cavern. All that remained was ash. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get over it,¡± Luke said. ¡°We¡¯ve secured the mine. Let¡¯s go back.¡± Aaz¡¯Tala chuckled as he followed after Luke. ¡°Where¡¯s Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl? You promised to let me meet him.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be here soon, I¡¯m sure,¡± Luke said. ¡°But it¡¯s not like we can slack off just because he isn¡¯t here. We have to develop this settlement. When he arrives, we can start raiding other countries.¡± His brow furrowed. ¡°Probably.¡± Khrx was a genius beyond geniuses. A talent beyond talents. No matter what that dragon did, he¡¯d always figure out the most efficient way to do it. It should be the same for a game. But there was something Luke hadn¡¯t expected. He shook his head and sighed, opening up his status screen. [Name: Lukroix Adveign Desrigard] [Title: Master of Magic, Heartless, Jax¡¯s Favored] [Strength: 7] [Constitution: 7] [Intelligence: 877] [Spirit: 877] [Dexterity: 7] [Perception: 7] [Charisma: 7] [Luck: 777] [Active Skills: ??? (M)] [Passive Skills: Magic Mastery ¨C Mythic (M)] [Master of Magic] [Are you the reincarnation of the demon lord? No, seriously. Are you? Intelligence and Spirit +100.]Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. [Heartless] [Damage increased by 25% while committing murder. Charisma -5.] [Jax¡¯s Favored] [Damage increased by 25% for any spell as long as you finish the incantation with ¡®for Jax!¡¯ Charisma +5.] His stats were high, but the only problem was ¡­ they should¡¯ve been higher. Much, much higher. The strength of his demon form should¡¯ve been on par with, if not greater than, his intelligence and spirit. But the VR drive hadn¡¯t recognized his strength during the scan. If that was the case, would Khrx suffer from that as well? Perhaps he shouldn¡¯t have played a prank on Khrx, telling him to assume the form of a child. Wouldn¡¯t it be hilarious, though, if Khrx had started with one strength? He¡¯d probably quit if that were the case. Well, Khrx was an amazing being. Something as simple as low stats wouldn¡¯t stop him from excelling. [A new leaderboard has been opened up! Would you like to see? Y/N] ¡°Hmm?¡± Aaz¡¯Tala raised an eyebrow. ¡°You got it too?¡± Luke asked. He pressed Y. [Leaderboard of Deaths] [1. Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl ¨C 2] [2. (GT) Jackson ¨C 1] ¡­ [1,000. JetFuel ¨C 1] [Only the top 1,000 places are displayed.] A strange expression appeared on Aaz¡¯Tala¡¯s face. ¡°Say¡­¡± Luke¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s pretend we didn¡¯t see anything.¡± *** Khrx sat up. ¡°Mom?¡± He looked around. He was back in his personalized room, the sound of flowing magma calming his thoughts. ¡°Were you referring to me?¡± Boba asked. ¡°I¡¯m pleasantly surprised, but I¡¯ll have to correct your misunderstanding. I am an A.I.. My children would be able to do basic arithmetic the instant they¡¯re born.¡± ¡°Are you making fun of me?¡± Khrx asked, narrowing his eyes at the dark ceiling. ¡°No. I was merely stating facts,¡± Boba said. ¡°If you think I was insulting you, then it¡¯s a result of your insecurities.¡± Three portals appeared in front of Khrx, and Lorin, Monika, and Nelson tumbled to the ground as if they were thrown through from the other side. ¡°W-where are we?¡± Nelson asked, his face paling at the sight of magma. ¡°Oh? You¡¯ve obtained two new companions in the short time you were alive,¡± Boba said. ¡°I¡¯m impressed.¡± Sparse applause echoed throughout the room. ¡°But do try staying alive longer, would you? Every time you die, the mana drain on the VR drive is a bit overwhelming. How come it costs so much mana to revive you? Perhaps your battery is faulty. That being said, please leave until your VR drive is fully recharged.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°What do you¡ª¡± ¡°Forced disconnection in ¡­ now. Goodbye.¡± Khrx¡¯s vision disappeared. The sound of shifting metal was accompanied by an influx of light. Khrx squinted and raised his hand to cover his eyes, but his wrist crashed against metal sticking to his chin. He groped around his neck and removed the helmet he was wearing. He was back in his cave, the letter still hanging on the wall. ¡°I sweat that stupid Boba interrupts me on purpose.¡± Khrx snorted and threw his helmet off to the side. His eyes widened as he stood up. He burst into laughter as he raised his arms over his head. ¡°My strength! It¡¯s back!¡± His hands dug into the wall and ripped out chunks of rock, grinding them into dust. ¡°Do you see this, you stupid floating voice!? What part of me is weak!?¡± ¡°Your VR drive will finish charging in two days. Time remaining: [47:59:34].¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I asked,¡± Khrx said, glaring at the helmet. He frowned as his foot tapped against something cold. There was a phone on top of a letter. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The letter read, ¡°Keep this phone with you at all times. It¡¯s your proof of identity. It holds your money. You can use it to contact me even outside of the game. Your best buddy, Luke. P.S. if you¡¯re reading this because you died and left the game, I¡¯m going to starve Fufu.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare starve my Fufu!¡± Episode 8 (4) Khrx gnashed his teeth as he tore the letter apart. He held the phone in his hands and frowned. He pressed the button that looked like it¡¯d activate the phone and waited. A white screen with a banana logo appeared. A feminine voice echoed throughout the cave. ¡°Hello, Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl. My name is Isri. I¡¯m here to help you operate your new banana ePhone. How can I help you?¡± Khrx¡¯s brow furrowed. He ignored the voice and approached the river of magma cutting through his cavern. His arm stretched forward hovering over the river. Remembering the hot stew, he frowned before dipping one finger into the magma. He burst out into laughter and raised his hands towards the ceiling. ¡°My strength is really back!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t quite catch that.¡± Khrx stared at the phone. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking to you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Khrx waved his hand, and black fire sprouted into existence, floating in front of his body. ¡°And my magic¡¯s back!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t quite catch that.¡± Khrx glared at the phone before throwing it into the river of magma. It floated on the surface, completely unharmed. ¡°This is cruel.¡± ¡°Turn yourself off,¡± Khrx said. The phone beeped once, and the light disappeared from its screen. Khrx scratched his head. ¡°Now what do I do? I won¡¯t get blown up again if I leave since I¡¯m camouflaged now, right?¡± He grabbed the floating phone and submerged himself into the river of magma, swimming away and towards the surface. The place he exited from was different from the previous time. He burst through the ocean crust, much to the surprise of a few flat fish, and made his way up through the darkness. A giant tentacle wrapped around his body, but it exploded as Khrx ejected his mana outwards. There weren¡¯t any other issues, and he made it to the surface of the water, flying past it into the sunny sky. Ahead of him, there was a coastline. Khrx flew towards it while turning on his new ePhone. ¡°How can I help you, Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl?¡± Isri said. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Khrx said, shaking his head, droplets of water falling back to the ocean. ¡°You tell me.¡± ¡°I can tell you the time and date, set an alarm, remind you of activities, call your friends, access your emails, surf the web, act as a diary, tell you the weather, give you directions, read you a story, play videos and cartoons, stream popular music from around the world, and access a store which will allow you to do much more. I also function as a digital wallet and proof of identity. By inserting mana into me, you can change my shape to your liking. Many customers prefer the form of a watch or ring.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a watch?¡± ¡°Insert mana into me and I¡¯ll show you.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Khrx complied, and the phone liquefied, squirming down his hand and wrapping around his wrist. ¡°Like so. I can monitor your heartbeats and vital conditions in this form. If any accidents were to occur, I can cast a healing spell and call an ambulance if that¡¯s not enough. Currently, your resting heartrate is ¡­ oh, dear. Are you an undead? I¡¯m unable to find a pulse. Wait. I think I found one. Canceling request to the national monster exterminating association.¡± Khrx frowned. Luke wouldn¡¯t give him anything that threatened his life, right? Khrx shook his head and ignored the rambling watch before landing on the coast. ¡°Now to figure out where I am.¡± ¡°You¡¯re on the coast of South Rokea.¡± ¡°And where¡¯s that?¡± A beam of light shot out of Khrx¡¯s watch-phone, creating a holographic projection of a globe in front of his face. A red star labeled ¡®you are here¡¯ was placed onto the globe. Khrx frowned as he played with the projection, spinning it around and upside down. ¡°The world changed again.¡± ¡°Continents are always moving due to a phenomenon called continental drift. I¡¯ve finished calculating your resting heartrate at one beat per five minutes. Are you a giant sleeping turtle buried under ice?¡± Khrx ignored the phone and raised his head. Giant crystalline towers lit up the sky, taking up half the horizon. He flew into the air and approached them. ¡°What are those?¡± ¡°Those are called skyscrapers. There isn¡¯t enough space on the ground to accommodate a large population, so the only choice was to build upwards. It seems like children are very uneducated these days. I¡¯ll do my best to assist you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Khrx asked, pointing at a massive green statue of a woman holding a sword into the air with one hand. She wore a crown, and had a closed book in her other hand. ¡°That¡¯s the Statue of Freedom,¡± Isri said. ¡°It¡¯s in the shape of the hero who slew the demon lord, bringing about an end to the dark ages. The festival of the hero is currently ongoing. Would you like to attend?¡± Khrx hovered in the air, frowning at the crowd of people gathering around the statue. He lowered himself, but a voice shouted, ¡°Halt! Put your hands in the air!¡± Dozens of red dots appeared on Khrx¡¯s body. ¡°I forgot to mention,¡± Isri said. ¡°Flying is prohibited during the festival of the hero. I will buy a ticket for you right now. Tell the police you didn¡¯t know the rules, and they¡¯ll forgive you considering you¡¯re a naked child.¡± Khrx bit his lower lip before raising his hands into the air. He still didn¡¯t know the surface dwellers¡¯ full strength, but he was getting a bad feeling from the red dots trained on his body. The festivity below paused, and the crowd of people raised their heads, looking up at Khrx. A squad of police officers flew into the air, their facial features covered by helmets. ¡°¡­A flying child?¡± ¡°He must be a genius.¡± One of the police officers flew towards Khrx and lifted his helmet. ¡°Where are your parents?¡± Khrx¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lost? Is that why you were flying? To look for your parents?¡± Khrx scowled. ¡°You¡¯re scaring him,¡± one of the police officers said. ¡°He¡¯s just a ¡­ naked child. Why aren¡¯t you wearing clothes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t have any.¡± The police officers glanced at each other. Were there any stray children in this day and age? ¡°Officers,¡± a feminine voice said from below. A woman that looked like the Statue of Freedom flew towards the group and Khrx. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± ¡°Anaheim,¡± one of the officers said. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. It seems like the case of a lost child. He doesn¡¯t know where his parents are.¡± Anaheim nodded. ¡°I can take over from here, officers,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve already attended ten of these festivals. They¡¯re the same every time.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m positive.¡± The police officers exchanged glances. One of them spoke into a mechanical box. ¡°False alarm. Disengage the snipers.¡± The red dots on Khrx¡¯s body disappeared, and he exhaled. The police officers flew down, leaving Anaheim and Khrx alone in the air. ¡°Everything¡¯s going to be alright,¡± Anaheim said as she grabbed Khrx¡¯s hand, slowly flying towards the ground. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Khrx tilted his head. Did his charm carry over from the game? Episode 8 (5) ¡°Oh, let me introduce myself first,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°I¡¯m Anaheim, descendent of the hero, but you can call me Ana.¡± Unlike the statue of the hero which was completely green, Anaheim had light-brown skin, green eyes, and black hair. She wore a pair of jeans and a tank top. Khrx landed on the ground, still held by Anaheim. A few people stared, but their attentions turned back towards the plaza underneath the Statue of Freedom. There was a stage with a woman standing atop a prop boat. There was a layer of holographical water covering the stage, and within that water, a snakelike creature with ten heads was circling around the boat. ¡°And with a single strike,¡± a narrator said from below the stage, speaking into a microphone, ¡°the hero slew the ten-headed ocean king!¡± A shining sword appeared in the woman¡¯s hand, and she thrust it towards the creature. It let out a roar as its heads flew off one by one. It fell over backwards and sank into the water, disappearing underneath the waves. Khrx¡¯s eyes bulged, and he stared up at Anaheim. ¡°Hey,¡± he said, tugging her hand. He pointed at the stage. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Mm, well¡­.¡± Anaheim scratched her head. ¡°It¡¯s a bit exaggerated, but yes, the hero did slay the ten-headed ocean king. Wasn¡¯t she amazing?¡± ¡°Sneksnek¡­.¡± Khrx¡¯s ears and tail drooped. He frowned at the stage. The scene had changed to a blue snowfield with penguins dancing in the background. ¡°Eh?¡± Anaheim crouched down to Khrx¡¯s level. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Khrx shook his head. ¡°I want to watch.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Anaheim bit her lower lip. The child still hadn¡¯t answered her question or told her his name, but she¡¯d forgive him because he was cute. She lifted him by hugging him to her chest to give him a better view of the stage. ¡°Let me help.¡± ¡°After crossing the Nidian Ocean, the hero continued on her quest to find the legendary metal born from ice, metornice! Back then, the Tanarctica continent was barren, devoid of all life except for the black bird people.¡± The narrator¡¯s voice lowered as the stage lights dimmed. Dreadful music rose up as shadows flickered across the stage. ¡°And the mythical frost dragon, Tsorf¡¯nogard!¡± ¡°Ow!¡± Anaheim flinched as Khrx¡¯s nails dug into her arms, but Khrx acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard her. A dragon¡¯s head sprang out of the ground in front of the hero on the stage. A raspy voice came out of the dragon¡¯s mouth, accompanied by a breath of frost. ¡°Foolish mortal. Why have you come to my kingdom of ice?¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The woman, who had knelt from the breath, climbed to her feet, sticking her chest out. ¡°I¡¯ve come for the metornice! Without it, there¡¯s no way to defeat the demon lord.¡± ¡°Prove to me you¡¯re worthy of my treasures,¡± Tsorf¡¯nogard said, lowering his head to stare the hero in the eyes. ¡°Answer my riddle. If you can¡¯t, then you will submit to me for all eternity.¡± ¡°And if I succeed,¡± the hero said, ¡°I¡¯ll take all the metornice you have.¡± The frost dragon nodded. ¡°What has seventeen legs during the day but only one at night, smells like the color purple, and eats sonic booms with its butt?¡± Khrx tilted his head. Wasn¡¯t the answer quite obvious? How was that a riddle? Did Tsorfy really want to screw Luke over? The hero and dragon stared at each other. ¡°Let me think,¡± the hero said and squatted on the ground. ¡°With her brilliant mind, the hero formulated the right answer!¡± the narrator said. The hero¡¯s fist glowed with a white light. ¡°She tricked the dragon into letting its guard down¡­.¡± The hero raised her head. ¡°Are there any hints?¡± The dragon leered at her. ¡°I don¡¯t¡ª¡± The narrator¡¯s voice boomed over the dragon¡¯s. ¡°And slew the mighty frost dragon, Tsorf¡¯nogard, in a single strike!¡± ¡°Hyap!¡± The hero shouted and sprang upwards, uppercutting the dragon¡¯s chin. ¡°Rising Phoenix Fist!¡± ¡°The fuck!¡± Khrx shouted as the frost dragon¡¯s head exploded like an icy firework. ¡°Hey!¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Watch your language.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a cheat! How dare she sneak attack Tsorfy!?¡± Khrx squirmed broke out of Anaheim¡¯s grasp. ¡°I¡¯m going to eat her face!¡± Khrx dashed through the crowd, plowing people out of the way. They screamed as they flew into the air and crashed against the ground. Khrx ignored them and jumped onto the stage, tackling the poor actor, but she was a hologram. Khrx flew straight past her body and crashed into the Statue of Freedom, cracking one of its toes with his head. Dozens of red dots appeared on Khrx¡¯s body. ¡°Freeze!¡± Khrx whirled around to face the stage and let out a roar. There was a whooshing sound, and a flower of blood blossomed above Khrx¡¯s knee. His eyes widened as he gasped and fell to the ground, clutching his leg. There was a hole in his thigh that he could clearly see through. Even though he was in the form of a child, his skin was still as tough as his scales, his flesh as tough as steel, his bones as dense as diamond, but a massive fist-sized hole had formed in his leg anyway. What the hell hit him!? It was similar to those things the metal birds shot at him when he first left the volcano. ¡°Stop!¡± Anaheim shouted. She ran to and crouched over Khrx, shielding his body from the red dots with her own. ¡°He¡¯s just a child! Why did you shoot!?¡± She bit her lower lip as she hugged Khrx to her chest. She placed her hand on his thigh, a white light encompassing her palm. Khrx¡¯s flesh wriggled as new bone grew, replacing the bit that had been destroyed. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay. Everything will be fine; Ana¡¯s here for you.¡± Khrx didn¡¯t say anything as Anaheim mended his leg. Luke was right. The surface dwellers had grown a lot. Sneksnek and even Tsorfy had died. If that projectile had hit his head instead of his leg, wouldn¡¯t he have died too? Khrx exhaled, his eyes clearing up. He had acted too rashly. Right now, there was only one thing he could rely on. He opened his eyes as wide as he could, pouted his lower lip, drooped his ears, and sniffled while staring at Anaheim. The descendent of the hero¡¯s heart melted. She kissed Khrx¡¯s forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Episode 8 (6) Khrx sat up and yawned, rubbing his eyes with the sleeves of his penguin onesie. He had gone shopping with Anaheim yesterday after the incident where his head cracked the Statue of Freedom. Surprisingly, Anaheim had a lot of face¡ªthe police dropped the incident once she said she¡¯d take care of it. The door to the room Khrx was resting in swung open. Anaheim poked her head into the room. ¡°You¡¯re awake, Khrx? You¡¯ve been sleeping for two days. I was almost about to call an ambulance.¡± Khrx yawned again in response. Normally, he¡¯d sleep for centuries or millennia without an issue, but since Fufu wasn¡¯t by his side, he couldn¡¯t get a good night¡¯s sleep. ¡°Two days?¡± Khrx asked, his eyes still bleary. ¡°It should¡¯ve finished charging then?¡± ¡°What should¡¯ve finished?¡± Anaheim asked as she walked into the room, pulling a cart with steaming food on top. The carpet was shaggy, but the cart hovered above the ground; there was no danger of its wheels getting caught. ¡°I made you some breakfast! Well, I say it¡¯s breakfast, but really, it¡¯s every meal I¡¯ve made since you came here but weren¡¯t able to eat because you were asleep.¡± Khrx reached for a drumstick, but Anaheim placed a cup of green liquid into his hand. ¡°Wash your teeth first,¡± she said. ¡°Swish and drink it.¡± Khrx complied. The liquid tasted like juice. He wasn¡¯t worried about it being poisoned. Dragons were immune to poison. Unfortunately, that resistance didn¡¯t carry over into the game, and Lorin had accidently killed him. Khrx placed the cup down and grabbed the drumstick he was originally aiming for. A few minutes later, the cart was barren, the dishes licked clean. Anaheim stared at Khrx with wide eyes. She had brought over ten dishes just in case he was a picky eater, but she didn¡¯t expect him to eat it all. Just where did it go? Wasn¡¯t this a direct violation of some rules of physics? Unless he converted it all into mana, but that wasn¡¯t possible. Anaheim gave the cart a shove, causing it to float out of the room. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°It was tasty,¡± Khrx said with a nod. Anaheim giggled and patted his head. ¡°I made it myself!¡± She shook her head. ¡°These days, too many people rely on golems to do everything for them. But my mom wouldn¡¯t let me do that, saying I¡¯d forget how to take care of myself.¡± Khrx tilted his head. Anaheim sighed and picked him up. She hopped into bed, landing on her side, snuggling Khrx towards her chest. ¡°You know I¡¯m the descendent of the hero, right?¡± Khrx nodded. Hundreds of people had greeted her while they were shopping, shouting hero and Anaheim the whole time. Should he hate her? She was the offspring of the monster who killed his friends after all. He wasn¡¯t that close with Sneksnek since she lived in the ocean and all, but Tsorfy had been one of his drinking buddies¡ªon the rare occasions he had left his magma cavern. Anaheim was really nice to him though. Anaheim sighed while stroking Khrx¡¯s hair. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of responsibilities that come with being the descendent of the hero. When I was little, I was always training while everyone else was having fun. While my classmates attended concerts, movies, and stage productions, I was learning magic. While they held sleepovers and birthday parties, I was hunting monsters with my mom. Well, not really with my mom. She abandoned me in forests with nothing except my clothes and told me to survive until she came back. Whenever I cried or complained, she always told me it was necessary to kill the demon lord.¡± A wry smile appeared on Anaheim¡¯s face. ¡°Isn¡¯t that funny? The demon lord died over a thousand years ago, but I was training to kill him.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Khrx didn¡¯t say anything. Anaheim sighed again and ruffled his ears. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why I¡¯m telling you this,¡± she said. ¡°Maybe because I feel like you¡¯re similar to me back when I was little? I mean, you¡¯re from Damagascar, but you ended up all alone in South Rokea with nothing but your phone. And I saw your strength. You¡¯re way stronger than normal people. If this situation isn¡¯t your parents forcing you to grow on your own, I¡¯m not sure what it is because trafficking ended over a hundred years ago.¡± She pinched Khrx¡¯s cheeks when he didn¡¯t respond, causing him to cry out. ¡°So why don¡¯t you tell me the truth now? Why are you here, you adorable little dragon?¡± Khrx stopped squirming, his eyes widening. ¡°Eh?¡± Anaheim snorted. ¡°You thought you could hide it from me?¡± Khrx¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°You¡¯re ¡­ not afraid of me retaliating since you know¡­?¡± Should he kill her? Maybe he should kill her. Killing her would be the best thing to do in this situation. Khrx lunged forward and bit Anaheim¡¯s throat, chomping down and tearing out a chunk of flesh while revealing her spine. Surprisingly, there was no blood. Anaheim snorted and her throat repaired itself instantly. If Khrx wasn¡¯t holding a piece of meat in his mouth, he would¡¯ve thought everything that had just happened was an illusion. Anaheim reached forward and pinched his cheeks even harder, spreading them out like taffy. ¡°You can¡¯t kill a hero,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s just not possible.¡± ¡°Hah?¡± Anaheim sat up and crossed her legs, placing Khrx in front of herself. ¡°A hero is a cheat existence. If life were a story, the thing protecting me would be called plot armor. Until I kill the demon lord, the universe itself is helping me. Except for the fact that I¡¯ll give birth spontaneously at thirty years old and die fifteen years later when the new hero is ready, I¡¯m basically invincible.¡± She patted Khrx¡¯s head. ¡°So don¡¯t think you can win against me, okay? I still have 29 years left to live.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too fantastical¡­?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a dragon in the shape of a beastkin child wearing a penguin onesie. You don¡¯t get to define what¡¯s outlandish or not.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with a penguin onesie? Are you making fun of me?¡± Anaheim laughed and hugged Khrx. ¡°This little dragon¡¯s just too adorable. So why don¡¯t you tell me your real aims? I can help you depending on what they are. After all, I¡¯m an existence created to kill something that doesn¡¯t exist. I literally have nothing better to do.¡± Khrx scratched his head. Should he tell her? He sighed and lowered his head, his ears and tails drooping. ¡°Someone kidnapped my precious Fufu. Life¡¯s not worth living without her. I want to get her back, but the man who kidnapped her said I have to play a game with him. He wants me to help him form a country through [Resolution], then he¡¯ll give her back to me.¡± Anaheim blinked. ¡°Forming a country through [Resolution]? That sounds like fun. Sure, I¡¯ll help you get your, err, Fufu back. What, no, who is Fufu? Another dragon?¡± ¡°Fufu is Fufu. She¡¯s the love of my life. She can never be replaced.¡± *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 14. Dear Diary, I met the hero¡¯s descendent, Anaheim. She¡¯s a complete cheat existence. No wonder why everyone lost to the hero, she¡¯s unkillable and that trait was passed on her to offspring. I told her about Fufu because she said she¡¯d help me out (for unknown reasons). I¡¯m a bit suspicious of her motives, but it really does seem like she¡¯s helping me because I¡¯m adorable. So many capable women are throwing themselves at my feet to assist me. Sigh, what are the adorable to do? I thought Luke was tricking me when he told me to assume this form, but it looks like Luke¡¯s intelligence really hasn¡¯t dropped. He knew this was simply the best form to assume. With Anaheim¡¯s help, it doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯ll be long before I rescue Fufu. The future looks bright. ¡­ There shouldn¡¯t be any issues if Anaheim meets Luke, right? Love, Khrx Episode 9 (1) ¡°Hey, Khrx,¡± Anaheim said without looking up. She was fiddling with a metal box, holding a bag of screws and a screwdriver in her hands. ¡°Turn up the radio for me.¡± Khrx looked around. He was sitting behind her inside of a cardboard box. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Press the plus buttons on the side,¡± Anaheim said. She flipped through the EKIA furniture manual and furrowed her brow. ¡°This is pretty annoying.¡± Khrx scooted his box across the room and turned up the radio which was attached to the wall. There was a crackling sound accompanied by a strange language. Khrx narrowed his eyes at the radio. A setting for language caught his eye, and he turned on the Rokean translations. ¡°I¡¯m Natasha, and I¡¯m here again with Sam, self-proclaimed expert of [Resolution].¡± ¡°Hello, Natasha! Are we live again? Or will this be edited unlike last time?¡± ¡°We¡¯re live, Sam.¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯ll watch my mouth this time. Do you know how much trouble I had to deal with because of my loose tongue?¡± There was a pause. ¡°Alright, no need to glare like that. What¡¯s today¡¯s topic?¡± ¡°Can they hear us?¡± Khrx asked, staring at the radio. ¡°No,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Radios are a one-way transmission.¡± She propped up a metal sheet and hammered it into the wall while muttering, ¡°I should¡¯ve hired the assembly golems.¡± ¡°Well, Sam, there¡¯s been rumors that the first guild charter has been located. The net is in a huge uproar about this and even the creators of [Resolution] are a bit baffled. They were expecting it to take at least a month, not a week for the first guild to appear. What are your thoughts?¡± ¡°Does the rumor have any foundation?¡± ¡°Someone posted a video of Lukroix Adveign Desrigard soloing a raid boss. A piece of paper dropped with the word ¡®charter¡¯ on it, but Lukroix hasn¡¯t said anything about it.¡± ¡°Who posted the video?¡± ¡°A user named Aaz¡¯Tala. It was a really strange forum post actually. It was titled ¡®Calling All Monsters to Swift¡¯s Peak¡¯ and seemed to be a recruitment call.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ¡­ wow. A player solo-killed a raid boss? I can see why the developers are baffled. If [Resolution]¡¯s raids are anything like previous VRMMOs on the market, then they require at least a hundred elite players and strict organization. The countries are just starting to secure their strategic resources, which reportedly takes up to ten skilled players. But the world of [Resolution] is so vast that it¡¯d take at least a month for the countries to gather a hundred members of their special forces. I wonder how many countries are scrambling to contact Lukroix.¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I actually have his contact information,¡± Natasha said. ¡°Remember that employee who leaked Lukroix¡¯s stats? I managed to bribe him. Shall we give Lukroix a call?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t bribery illegal?¡± ¡°Only if you bribe an official. You can bribe the unemployed. I¡¯ll be giving Lukroix a call, and we¡¯ll see if he responds.¡± There was a ringing sound. Luke¡¯s voice came out of the radio, causing Khrx¡¯s ears to perk up. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hi, is this Lukroix Adveign Desrigard?¡± ¡°No¡­?¡± ¡°Wait. Really? You¡¯re not Lukroix?¡± ¡°No, sorry. He must¡¯ve gave you the wrong number.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s unfortunate. Sorry for bothering you.¡± There was a click, followed by a sigh. ¡°There you have it, listeners. Don¡¯t bribe unemployed men because they might swindle you. What are you looking at there, Sam?¡± ¡°Well, I wanted to find that video you were talking about, but I found something even more gossip-worthy!¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious; what¡¯s a hotter topic than the first guild charter and raid clear on [Resolution]?¡± ¡°The descendent of the hero, Anaheim Miehana, was seen purchasing a lover¡¯s pod!¡± ¡°What!? That Anaheim!? Isn¡¯t she doomed to be single because of the hero¡¯s curse?¡± ¡°You can turn off the radio now,¡± Anaheim said. She lifted a loveseat inside a nearby box with one hand and placed it against the metal she had pounded into the wall. There was also a sheet of metal on the floor. She took a step back and inspected the positioning before nodding. Then she took out another two sheets of metal along with an elliptical piece of glass. Khrx ignored her, still holding his legs while sitting in his cardboard box. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s such a huge deal. Who¡¯s the intrepid lover standing in the way of destiny, willing to brave the hero¡¯s curse?¡± ¡°Wait! We¡¯re missing the most important part. Since she bought a lover¡¯s pod, does that mean Anaheim intends on playing [Resolution]?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s likely, Natasha. Anaheim publically stated she wouldn¡¯t support any countries in [Resolution]. She¡¯s a hero after all. I bet she¡¯d be able to solo a raid boss as well.¡± ¡°Then why would she buy a VR drive? Everyone knows her training takes place in reality. Does she have time to play games when she doesn¡¯t have that long to live?¡± ¡°Maybe she¡¯s exploiting loopholes in the hero¡¯s curse. After all, there are many things you can do in virtual reality: BDSM simulator, pregnan¡ª¡± ¡°Stop! Stop! Stop! We¡¯re a PG-13 program, Sam.¡± ¡°Oh. Right.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this hero¡¯s curse they¡¯re talking about?¡± Khrx asked, tilting his head. Anaheim was finishing up with her construction, creating a spaceship-like object. She threw two VR drive helmets inside and lowered the glass, closing the pod. ¡°I already told you, didn¡¯t I?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m going to spontaneously give birth at 30, then die 15 years later. It happened to my mother and her mother and her mother¡¯s mother, all the way back to the hero. Apparently, it was the demon lord¡¯s dying curse, and I can¡¯t even kill him to remove it since he¡¯s dead.¡± Khrx scratched his head. ¡°If he wasn¡¯t dead, what would you do?¡± Anaheim placed her hands on her hips. ¡°I¡¯d kill him. What kind of question is that? Were you even listening?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just ask him to remove it?¡± ¡°And you think he would?¡± Khrx nodded. ¡°I mean, if you asked nicely enough, probably.¡± Anaheim sighed as she turned the radio off. ¡°You don¡¯t understand the hatred between the hero and the demon lord. Now, c¡¯mon. We have to save your Fufu.¡± She opened up the pod, sat on the couch and patted the empty space by her side. Episode 9 (2) ¡°So this is a virtual world?¡± Anaheim asked, looking around Khrx¡¯s personal room. ¡°It really doesn¡¯t feel like it.¡± ¡°Khrx?¡± Lorin and Monika ran over to Khrx¡¯s side. Monika clasped her hands around Khrx¡¯s. ¡°What¡¯s going on? This silly angel¡¯s been spouting nonsense for the past three days.¡± ¡°I was not!¡± Lorin said, smacking Monika¡¯s hands away while pulling Khrx¡¯ towards herself. She glanced down at the boy dressed in the penguin onesie. ¡°I told her how our world of [Resolution] was just a game created by your people.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s complete bologna!¡± Monika said. ¡°It is not,¡± Boba said, her voice coming from above. ¡°Shut up, you stupid floating voice!¡± Monika shook her fist at the cavern¡¯s ceiling. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking to you.¡± ¡°Honey,¡± Nelson said with a sigh. ¡°How about we hear Khrx out?¡± Khrx nodded. ¡°Lorin¡¯s telling the truth.¡± Monika¡¯s expression crumpled. ¡°This makes no sense,¡± she muttered to herself while hugging her shoulders. Lorin snorted and walked away, approaching Anaheim. The fallen angel¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°My name is Anaheim Miehana,¡± Anaheim said. She did a slight curtsy with the ends of her t-shirt. ¡°I¡¯m the hero the world sent to help Khrx.¡± Lorin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you like him?¡± ¡°Huh? You mean¡­, no! I just think he¡¯s cute. Besides, he¡¯s a dragon.¡± Lorin¡¯s eyes squinted even further. ¡°Khrx is mine, okay? If you try to take him from me, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± ¡°Mm, sorry, but I can¡¯t die,¡± Anaheim said with a smile. She patted Khrx¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯ll be heading off into [Resolution] first since you still have a few minutes to wait.¡± She opened up her menu and navigated through it before disappearing. ¡°If, if our lives were just a game, then what were we living for?¡± Monika asked, raising her head. ¡°What were we striving so hard for? Was everything just a lie?¡± ¡°If it makes you feel any better, even I don¡¯t exist in reality,¡± Boba said. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make me feel any better!¡± ¡°I tried. Khrx, you entered the virtual world through a lover¡¯s pod in South Rokea. I feel betrayed. Was there not something special between us? No, I do not want to hear it. No excuses.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surrounded by a bunch of loonies,¡± Khrx said, his face darkening. ¡°Except for you, Nelson. You¡¯re pretty normal.¡± ¡°Oh, uh, thanks,¡± Nelson said, nodding his head. ¡°Anyone who can adapt to this situation as easily as he did must have a few screws loose in their head,¡± Monika said, glaring at her husband. ¡°Place a normal person into an abnormal situation and, of course, they won¡¯t act normally!¡± Khrx shrugged. ¡°Hey, Boba. How long until I can¡ª¡± ¡°Entering [Resolution]. Do try to survive longer than a day this time. I believe in you.¡± ¡°She cut me off again!¡± Khrx shouted while sitting up. He stamped his feet against the altar and exhaled. A moment later, three portals formed and his companions fell through, scattered throughout the room. Unlike last time, the altar room he was currently in was poorly maintained with cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, dust layering the floor, and mold growing on the walls. ¡°Is this Fiel¡¯s temple?¡± Lorin gulped as she stared at the massive frieze behind Khrx. ¡°This is a temple of Theda. She¡¯s the god of the underworld.¡± ¡°She?¡± Khrx asked as he turned around. ¡°Why¡¯s she called a god and not goddess then?¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°God sounds more intimidating than goddess,¡± Lorin said. ¡°Theda doesn¡¯t want to be perceived as benevolent.¡± ¡°Then she wouldn¡¯t give me a blessing, right?¡± Khrx asked as he hopped off the altar. He rubbed the mold off the frieze and frowned. There was no option to commune with the goddess. God? Goddess. Khrx sighed. ¡°I have to call Luke again to figure out where to go.¡± As Khrx navigated through his menu, another portal opened beside him. Anaheim fell through, defeat written all over her face. She muttered, ¡°My boundless strength. My infinite constitution. Gone. I¡¯ll rip you to shreds, AI-Helper!¡± She climbed to her feet. ¡°Eh? Khrx? This place is an awfully gloomy one to start a game in. Well, it was probably the lover¡¯s pod¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°Hold on, I¡¯m calling someone,¡± Khrx said. A moment later, Luke¡¯s voice echoed through the temple. ¡°Khrx? Has it been another three days already? Hold on, I¡¯m going to give you a guild invite.¡± A rectangle appeared in front of Khrx. [Lukroix Adveign Desrigard has invited you to join the guild Paradise. Do you accept? Y/N] [You have joined the guild Paradise.] ¡°I also have a friend who can help us,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Can you invite her?¡± ¡°The hell? You have friends?¡± Luke asked. ¡°Oi.¡± Luke cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯ll give you invite privileges. Don¡¯t invite randoms and don¡¯t get tricked by people!¡± [You¡¯ve been promoted to Senior Officer in Paradise.] ¡°How do I invite people?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°It¡¯s the same thing as calling a friend, but you do it through the guild tab that should¡¯ve appeared in your menu.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Khrx said as he navigated through his menu. [Senior Officer Khrx has invited his lover, Anaheim Miehana, to the guild.] ¡°Your what!?¡± Luke shouted. ¡°What happened to Fufu!? Wait! That name! The hero!? You invited the hero to the guild!?¡± [Anaheim Miehana has joined the guild Paradise.] [Anaheim Miehana has been kicked from the guild.] ¡°What the hell are you thinking, you stupid dragon!? How can you invite the hero to the demon lord¡¯s guild!?¡± ¡°The what?¡± Anaheim asked, her eyes bulging. ¡°¡­Who was that?¡± Luke asked. ¡°Anaheim,¡± Khrx said. ¡°You said demon lord!¡± Anaheim said. ¡°I definitely heard demon lord!¡± ¡°It¡¯s roleplay! Roleplay,¡± Luke said. ¡°I¡¯m not the demon lord. I just thought it¡¯d be fun to roleplay as the demon lord, you know? Since this is a game and all. Khrx is roleplaying as an elder dragon too.¡± [Lukroix Adveign Desrigard has invited the player, Anaheim Miehana, to the guild.] [Anaheim Miehana has joined the guild Paradise.] ¡°And since you¡¯re Khrx¡¯s lover, I can¡¯t not accept you just because you¡¯re roleplaying as the hero,¡± Luke said. ¡°Sorry about my earlier outbursts.¡± Anaheim narrowed her eyes at Khrx. Khrx shrugged. ¡°If I knew where he lived, I wouldn¡¯t have to go through all this trouble to get Fufu back.¡± ¡°You were thinking of selling me out just now, weren¡¯t you?¡± Luke asked. ¡°Goddamn. I need a new best friend. Aaz¡¯Tala! You¡¯ve been promoted.¡± Luke cleared his throat. ¡°Anyway, the guild¡¯s been established. You don¡¯t have to walk all the way over here. Type /ff into your command prompt and you¡¯ll be teleported over to the base.¡± ¡°That¡¯s convenient,¡± Khrx said as he opened his command prompt. Anaheim did the same. They both typed in /ff. [You have died.] [The god of the underworld is baffled.] *** ¡°That¡¯s convenient,¡± Khrx said. Luke leaned back and stared at the altar he had just finished setting up. A guild temple, one of the most important buildings a guild could have. It allowed guild members to respawn inside of it. Instead of waiting weeks for Khrx to arrive, it¡¯d only take three days now. The familiar sounds of virtual keys being pressed came through the other end of Luke¡¯s call. A moment later, a translucent rectangle popped up in front of him. [You have killed the seed of the Sun God! God Jax is pleased. Do you wish to become Jax¡¯s champion? Y/N. Warning: A guild may only have three champions at any given time.] [Jax¡¯s Champion] [Guild members and affiliated NPCs gain +10 Strength and +10 Constitution while on foreign soil.] Luke muttered to himself while furrowing his brow. ¡°The hell is this¡­?¡± *** ¡°Luke!¡± Khrx shouted as he sat up within his personal room. Anaheim was lying beside him. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll really, really kill you!¡± ¡°Incredible,¡± Boba said. ¡°New record. Three minutes. You deserve an award.¡± ¡°Did we just die?¡± Anaheim asked as she opened her eyes. ¡°Apparently,¡± Khrx said, his eye twitching. ¡°Luke¡¯s such a bastard.¡± ¡°K..x¡­..j..¡± ¡°What¡¯d you say?¡± Khrx asked, turning to Anaheim. ¡°That wasn¡¯t me,¡± Anaheim said, shaking her head. ¡°K.rx..r..jl.¡± ¡°¡­Boba?¡± Khrx asked. Boba snorted. ¡°I speak in fully coherent sentences, thank you very much.¡± ¡°Khrx¡­Lrvnjl.¡± ¡°Cut it out, Boba,¡± Khrx said with a snort. ¡°Are you trying to be scary?¡± ¡°I am not doing that. I swear,¡± Boba said. ¡°It seems like an outside A.I. is interfering with my authority.¡± ¡°Khrx! Lrvnjl!¡± A roar echoed through the personal room as a black fissure appeared in front of Khrx. A raspy voice leaked through as the fissure widened. ¡°Escape from me once, shame on you. Escape from me twice, double shame on you! Escape from me thrice? Hell no! Get over here!¡± Anaheim yelped as a shadowy claw jetted out of the fissure and grabbed Khrx¡¯s waist. He didn¡¯t even have time to shout as he was pulled out of his personal room. A second later, three portals opened and Monika, Nelson, and Lorin fell into the room as the fissure disappeared. ¡°Khrx died again?¡± Lorin asked. ¡°Where¡¯d he go?¡± ¡°Analyzing distortion data,¡± Boba said. ¡°Program Theda broke through my firewall. Matching Theda with relevant databases. No matches found. Sending an error report to the help desk.¡± Episode 9 (3) Khrx sighed as he sat up. ¡°I¡¯m really sick of being dragged around everywhere. Seriously, it¡¯s annoying,¡± he muttered to himself as he dusted off his onesie and looked around. He was standing on a beach of sorts, the sands underneath his feet white like bone. Black water lapped against the shore, wails filling the air with every crash of the waves. Behind him, thousands of dogs were sitting with their heads tilted straight up. Khrx blinked and looked up. There was no sky, no clouds, no sun or moon¡ªjust a pitch-black void. ¡°Where am I now?¡± Khrx asked and lowered the hood of his onesie. His ears perked up and swiveled around, trying to pick up any clues, but only the wailing of the waves could be heard. ¡°Some person used some black magic to rip me through a portal after I died in [Resolution].¡± He shook his head before opening his menu. [Menu is disabled.] ¡°Well then. Logout.¡± [Unable to logout.] ¡°What kind of shitty event is this?¡± Khrx asked and stamped his foot. ¡°Woof!¡± Khrx turned his head. One of the dogs was barking and jumping up and down. A beam of light descended from the void, transporting a limp man, who had his eyes closed. As he landed on the beach, the dog ran up to him and licked his face while bouncing up and down. Its tail blurred as it wagged back and forth, small whines coming from the dog¡¯s mouth. The man¡¯s eyes opened. ¡°Max?¡± The dog barked in reply and snuggled against the man. ¡°Ah,¡± the man said, his expression falling. ¡°Then I died.¡± He let out a sigh as he stroked the dog¡¯s fur. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he stood up. ¡°Were you waiting for me this whole time? Come, let¡¯s go see Theda together.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Khrx said, walking up to the man, but the man and dog acted as if they hadn¡¯t seen him. ¡°Hey!¡± The man and dog continued forward towards the waters. Khrx ran towards them and grabbed the dog¡¯s tail, but his hand passed through. Could they not see him? Under normal circumstances, he liked being ignored by strangers. But this place was far from normal! Khrx growled and chased after the man. No matter how fast he ran, the man and dog kept getting further and further away even though they were walking. After a few minutes, the man and dog disappeared into the ocean, and Khrx stopped running. Was his stamina always this good in the game? ¡°Status.¡± [Name: Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl] [Guild: Paradise] [Title: Apostle of the Sun God] [Strength: 12 (2+10)] [Constitution: 11 (1+10)] [Intelligence: 1] [Spirit: 1,000] [Dexterity: 2] [Perception: 6] [Charm: 51] [Luck: 1,000] [Active Skills: Nature¡¯s Spirit (M)] [Passive Skills: Nature¡¯s Spirit (M)] [Companions: Lorin, Monika, Nelson] [Lover: Anaheim] Somehow, his strength and constitution had increased by ten. Was that a side effect of dying? ¡°Gah! I can¡¯t even ask Bongle what¡¯s going on.¡± Khrx sighed as he walked towards the shore. As he got closer, he saw a figure that wasn¡¯t there before. It was wearing a robe that covered all its features, and it was standing on a raft made of bones. ¡°Trying to act all mysterious?¡± Khrx muttered as he approached the figure. He stopped in front of the raft. ¡°Hey.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°How are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing well, thanks for asking.¡± The robed figure froze. ¡°Wait, no. Is that what you should¡¯ve been asking me?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard of small talk?¡± Khrx asked, furrowing his brow. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to slowly ingratiate myself to you until you feel a lot of good will towards me. Then you can explain everything I want to know.¡± The robed figure fell silent. ¡°I¡¯ve never engaged in small talk before.¡± It heaved a sigh, causing the cloth in front of its face to rustle. ¡°Everyone pays me without saying a word. You¡¯re the first person to ever talk to me other than the lord.¡± Khrx tilted his head. ¡°Does that mean I can ask you questions now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± the robed figure said. ¡°Come aboard. I¡¯ll waive the fee for you this one time.¡± Khrx stepped onto the raft, sitting on top of a human skull. Even though his constitution was a lot higher than before, he still preferred taking it easy. ¡°So, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Rochna, the first gatekeeper of the underworld,¡± the robed figure said as it pushed off the shore with an oar that suspiciously looked like a human spine. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard of me?¡± ¡°Should I have?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh, well, I haven¡¯t.¡± Khrx nodded. Rochna tilted his head. ¡°Did you bring gold for the fare?¡± ¡°What fare?¡± ¡°The one I waived.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then did you have a dog to help you bypass the first gate?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°By any chance¡­, are you an idiot?¡± ¡°Gah! Why does everyone think I¡¯m stupid!?¡± Khrx kicked at one of the bones of the raft, causing it to fly off. It skidded against the surface of the black ocean and dissolved into tiny white particles. ¡°I¡¯m super smart, alright? I¡¯m just a bit uninformed of everything at the moment. Where am I, anyway?¡± Rochna paddled the raft with slow measured strokes. ¡°Did you know that you¡¯re dead?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not dead,¡± Khrx said. ¡°What¡¯s the last thing you remember before falling onto the shores of the underworld?¡± ¡°Some bastard ripped open a portal and grabbed me.¡± Rochna stiffened and two eyeballs fell out of his face. He bent down and grabbed them before they rolled into the ocean. ¡°Sorry, you surprised me. You were personally seized by the lord. I see.¡± He stopped paddling and turned around, squatting to face Khrx. Bony fingers reached out of the robes, pinching and prodding Khrx. Khrx squirmed and batted Rochna¡¯s hands away. ¡°Yes, I can see why the lord personally took action against you.¡± ¡°Because I escaped from her grasp three times like she said?¡± ¡°No.¡± Rochna shook his head. ¡°Because you¡¯re too adorable. The lord has a weakness for cuteness. It¡¯s why those who owned dogs in their lifetimes are given better treatment.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± Khrx said. Was his charm a blessing or a curse? Even the god of the underworld wanted him. Or Rochna could be mistaken. Rochna nodded. ¡°Since you¡¯re a gift for the lord¡­.¡± He reached into his robes and pulled out a golden chalice. He scooped up a cupful of black water and held it in front of Khrx. ¡°Drink it. It¡¯s good for you. Only the chalice of the ferryman can hold the water of lamentation.¡± The chalice was shoved into Khrx¡¯s hands, sticking to the palms of his onesie like glue. The raft remained suspended in the ocean, unmoving. Rochna stared at him, waiting for him to drink. Khrx sighed. Maybe it really was good for him. Besides, even if he died again, what was the worst thing that could happen? So he ignored the wails coming from the chalice and drank. [Food and drink from the underworld cannot be easily obtained. What price did you pay? +5 Strength. +5 Constitution. +5 Dexterity. +5 Charm.] Khrx¡¯s eyes widened, and he leaned over, trying to scoop up more water with the chalice. But Rochna took the golden cup away before he could. ¡°You¡¯ll explode if you drink more than one cup.¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to take that risk,¡± Khrx said, reaching for the chalice. Rochna shook his head as he put the chalice away. ¡°Okay, I lied. The chalice only works once every hundred years or so. I used up this century¡¯s quota for you.¡± He patted Khrx¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Put in a good word to the lord for me, will you? But don¡¯t let her know I asked you to, and especially, don¡¯t let her know I let you drink from the ocean of lamentation. If you can, try to get her to send me some books. It¡¯s awfully boring out here.¡± ¡°Are you bribing me?¡± ¡°Yes. Did it work?¡± Khrx nodded. Dragons loved bribes. Episode 9 (4) A few minutes later, the other side of the ocean of lamentation appeared. It was nothing like the coast with the white sand and waiting dogs. The ground was black¡ªit was hard to differentiate where the ocean ended and the land began. Hundreds of people were standing in orderly rows, waiting in front of a massive stone structure that resembled a gate. Perched on top of the gate, there was a giant three-headed cat basking in an orange glow coming off a nearby light source. Its tail dangled from the stone and occasionally knocked the waiting people off their feet. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived,¡± Rochna said as the raft jolted to a halt. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to tell the lord good things about me.¡± He waved his hand into the air. ¡°Hey!¡± Khrx raised his head. From the void, a winged shadow dove downwards, crashing onto the shore with an oomph. The shadow wriggled and rose, taking the form of a fat blob with arms. The blob gurgled as a line appeared across its center and flapped open. ¡°Rochna?¡± Laughing sounds escaped from the blob as it quivered. ¡°You can speak?¡± Rochna lifted Khrx by the back of his neck and tossed him in front of the blob. ¡°A gift for the lord.¡± Without waiting for the blob to reply, he pushed off the coast with his bony oar, traveling back across the ocean of lamentation. The blob reached forward and patted Khrx, smearing him with black grease. ¡°Gah!¡± Khrx shuddered as his ears and tails pressed flat against his body. ¡°Get your grubby hands off me! Who said you could touch?¡± The blob froze and retracted its arms. It burbled while crawling around him in a circle, leaving a trail of ooze on the ground. ¡°Really a gift for the lord,¡± the blob said after circling around Khrx three times. For some reason, Khrx couldn¡¯t move during the process. The blob rubbed its hands over Khrx again, but this time, the black grease disappeared, leaving him pristine, though a bit ruffled. ¡°Follow me, little gift. You can call me Esaesid. I maintain order in front of the entrance to the underworld.¡± The blob inched towards the group of waiting people. They parted to let it through, none of them saying a word as Khrx followed behind it. Khrx passed a family of four, who were huddling together. He passed dozens of people who were missing limbs. A group of hundred or so had their skin and flesh burnt off. The causes of death were obvious from a glance: an old man with a knife stuck in his chest, two kids with gashes in their necks, a man with a spike driven through his forehead. Khrx¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t anyone die peacefully?¡± The blob shuddered as it laughed. ¡°My colleague, Regna, has a perverse hobby. He makes those who were killed wait for their killer to arrive to, as he puts it, enjoy the show. The ones who die peacefully are given priority.¡± The blob passed through the final line of people. Ahead of him, at the gate, there was an old man with three eyes sitting at a desk. Khrx hadn¡¯t realized it earlier because he was too far, but the stone gate was actually made of thousands upon thousands of file cabinets stacked together. A woman was standing in front of the desk, waiting with her hands clasped in front of her lap. The three-eyed clerk was reading a piece of paper while his third eye stared at the woman.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°This is Egadlo,¡± the blob said, pointing at the old man. The blob crawled up to the desk and pushed the woman away, causing her to fall over and scream. ¡°Esaesid,¡± the old man said with a sigh. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to maintain order, not destroy it.¡± ¡°This is a gift for the lord,¡± the blob said, gesturing towards Khrx. ¡°Rochna told me. With words.¡± The old man¡¯s third eye widened as he rose to his feet, peering over the desk to get a better look. ¡°You want me to process him first?¡± ¡°What processing?¡± the blob said with a snort that sounded like a fart. ¡°He¡¯s going straight to the lord.¡± The blob leaned forward and whispered, or tried to but failed, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to give him a gift? So he can praise you in front of the lord when she asks.¡± The old man¡¯s face contorted, taking a righteous expression. ¡°I am an upright man,¡± he said as he walked around his desk. ¡°How dare you suggest I¡¯d ever bribe someone?¡± He smacked Khrx¡¯s forehead. ¡°Look! Even if he¡¯s cute, I will do my duties as necessary.¡± [Egadlo¡¯s touch can age someone thousands of years in a single instant. Only the fortunate can live to describe the experience. +5 Luck.] The old man coughed. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± he asked Khrx before walking back around to his desk. ¡°I¡¯m a very straightforward, no nonsense, and upright man.¡± Khrx rubbed his forehead and nodded. ¡°Uh-huh.¡± ¡°Oh? So sneaky,¡± the blob said with a chuckle. ¡°Give me a hug, little gift, before you step beyond the gate. It¡¯ll be worth it.¡± ¡°No thanks,¡± Khrx said, taking a step back. Just being touched by the blob made him feel violated. Hugging it? He¡¯d rather die. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a suggestion,¡± the blob said as it lurched forward. Khrx was rooted in place as the blob approached. ¡°It was an order.¡± The blob surged around Khrx, cocooning him within itself. Khrx struggled and flailed his limbs, but he couldn¡¯t break free of the blob. Khrx squirmed and tried to swim free, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t help but gasp for breath within the blob¡¯s body, swallowing a thick viscous slime. No way in hell was he going to give the blob a good review. [Esaesid is the personification of the plague. Who can say they survived his embrace but you?] [Skill acquired: Poison Incarnate] [Rarity: Mythic] [Passive: Poison? You drink that for breakfast. Consuming poison heals you. Your blood is poisonous. Your spit is poisonous. Your pee is poisonous. Everything is poison.] [Active: Toggle the passive on or off.] [Cooldown: None.] The blob vomited Khrx out of its body a second later. Khrx wiped away the layer of goop from his eyes and blinked at the rectangles floating ahead of him. Never mind. The blob deserved praise no matter how disgusting that experience was. The blob¡¯s hands ran over Khrx¡¯s body, cleaning him. It looked up and spoke into the void, ¡°Regna, don¡¯t you want the lord to hear good words about you as well?¡± A red lightning bolt rained down from the void and struck Khrx¡¯s tail. He yelped and jumped three feet into the air before landing on his butt. [Regna¡¯s a bit sadistic. How would he give a blessing without causing pain? +5 Strength. +5 Constitution. -5 Intelligence. +5 Dexterity. +5 Charm.] Khrx whimpered as he crawled onto his knees. Did everyone have to abuse him to give him blessings? He didn¡¯t want the blessings anymore. And what was this intelligence reduction!? Could his intelligence even drop below 1? Before he could open his status to check, another lightning bolt flew down, striking his tail once again. [Lightning never strikes the same place twice. Unless it¡¯s your tail. Does that make you lucky or unlucky? +5 Luck.] Khrx sighed as he lay on his back, his limbs splayed, smoke drifting up from his tail. Dragons were lucky. That was a fact. But why wasn¡¯t he so sure of that anymore? Episode 9 (5) The blob quivered as it laughed. ¡°Regna was feeling generous today, wasn¡¯t he? Two blessings.¡± Khrx groaned as he sat up and rubbed his tail. Thankfully, his fur hadn¡¯t been burnt away, but it was sticking straight out like a squirrel¡¯s tail due to the electricity. He poked the blob, discharging the static and deflating his tail. The blob laughed again. ¡°Trifelus! Come, take this gift to the lord.¡± The massive, three-headed black cat¡¯s tail swished, knocking over a group of people waiting in line. One of the cat¡¯s eyes on its right head opened. The red iris locked onto the blob, and the head it belonged to let out a yawn. It muttered to itself, but Khrx could hear it clearly, ¡°This stupid smudge is always interrupting our naps.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a treat when you come back, Trifelus,¡± the blob said. ¡°Don¡¯t you want a treat? It¡¯ll scream; I promise. This is a gift for the lord. The lord will be happy you delivered it to her.¡± The right head of Trifelus yawned again, both eyes opening after it closed its mouth. Its gaze fell on Khrx. ¡°Hmm? A cat person? Maybe this one will understand me?¡± It clutched the edge of the gate and leaned forward, peering down on Khrx. ¡°Yup,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°I do.¡± His brow furrowed as the cat¡¯s head came even closer, bringing along its two other sleeping heads. It sniffed him, causing him to tumble forward from the suction. The cat was larger than his dragon form. What the hell? What did this thing eat to grow so large? The cat let out an excited cry. It stood on the gate with its hind legs and smacked its sleeping heads with its front paws. ¡°Hrngh?¡± ¡°Stop hitting me¡­¡± ¡°Mhea, Lhea,¡± the right head said. ¡°Wake up!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t want to¡­,¡± the left head mumbled, its eyes still shut. ¡°Food?¡± the middle head asked as it yawned. Its eyes opened, revealing a pair of magenta irises. The three-headed cat dropped down from the gate, causing all the people waiting in line to fall over and scream. The middle head swept its gaze over the crowd before snorting. ¡°They all look too crunchy.¡± ¡°Shut up, Mhea!¡± the right head said. One of the cat¡¯s paws rose into the air and smacked the middle head¡¯s nose, causing it to yelp. ¡°Look. This cat person can understand us!¡± The blob glanced at Khrx. ¡°Trifelus is a bit strange. She¡¯ll hit herself every so often. I imagine it¡¯s the three heads arguing with each other and not agreeing. But since she came down, she¡¯s willing to take you to the lord.¡± The middle head meowed at Khrx. ¡°Can he really?¡± ¡°I can,¡± Khrx said as he crossed his legs. The previous meow had knocked him off his feet despite his newly gained constitution. How strong was this cat? Could it kill a hero?Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Are you talking to her?¡± the blob asked. ¡°Mm.¡± The cat raised its paws and battered its left head. ¡°Lhea! Wake up!¡± ¡°I said I didn¡¯t want to!¡± The left head¡¯s eyes shot open as it hissed. ¡°Too bad,¡± the right head said. She glanced at Khrx. ¡°Hey, hey. Little one. What¡¯s the best color out of these three? Lavender, magenta, or red?¡± ¡°Red,¡± Khrx said without hesitation. The right head burst out into laughter. ¡°Did you hear that? He said red! I win!¡± The magenta-colored irises of the middle head glared at Khrx along with the lavender-colored irises of the left head. A paw flashed through the air and smacked Khrx¡¯s face. [Your brain¡¯s been addled by Trifelus. -5 Intelligence.] ¡°Hey!¡± the right head said. ¡°Don¡¯t hit him for speaking the truth!¡± The right head leaned forward and spat on Khrx, causing his mind to clear. [The spit of Trifelus can cause miracles to occur. +10 Constitution.] ¡°What truth? He¡¯s a crook,¡± the middle head said, still glaring at Khrx. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to redeem yourself, little one. Which sibling is the best? The oldest, the youngest, or the one in between?¡± ¡°Can, can I not answer?¡± Khrx asked, inching backwards. ¡°Just say the youngest,¡± the right head whispered. ¡°If I answer honestly, you have to promise not to hit me,¡± Khrx said, staring at the middle head. ¡°Okay,¡± the middle head said. ¡°I promise.¡± ¡°The youngest,¡± Khrx said. The cat¡¯s paw flashed and smacked Khrx¡¯s face, causing him to tumble backwards. [Your brain¡¯s been addled by Trifelus. -5 Intelligence.] ¡°Lhea!¡± the right head shouted. The left head snorted. ¡°What? I didn¡¯t promise anything. Mhea did.¡± The right head clicked its tongue. It leaned forward and licked Khrx clean like a mother cat licking a kitten. [Welcome to the underworld, buddy. You¡¯ll need this. +10 Strength.] Khrx whimpered as he sat up. ¡°No more questions, please.¡± ¡°Just one more,¡± the left head said. ¡°I didn¡¯t get to ask one. That¡¯s not fair.¡± Khrx sighed and hung his head. At least he was only losing intelligence and not his life. Wait. Could he even die anymore? Wasn¡¯t he already technically dead? ¡°One day, you¡¯re walking along a road and come to a fork,¡± the left head said. ¡°On the right side, there¡¯s sunshine and laughter along with the most beautiful women you¡¯ve ever seen. Straight ahead, there¡¯s snow and ice on the ground along with dead birds sitting on dead trees. To the left, there¡¯s a puddle of oozing blood, screaming children, and terrified, dying adults.¡± The left head closed its eyes as if it were listening to children scream. It let out a sigh and smiled before looking at Khrx again. ¡°Which path do you take?¡± Was this supposed to be a hard choice? ¡°The right side,¡± Khrx said. Khrx didn¡¯t even see the cat¡¯s paws move this time before he felt the burning sensation in his face. [Your brain¡¯s been addled by Trifelus. -5 Intelligence.] ¡°Do you have a grudge against me!?¡± the left head asked with a snarl. ¡°I gave you the best options on the left, but you still chose Rhea¡¯s side! How dare you reject my goodwill?¡± Khrx stared up at the void. What goodwill? ¡°Stop hitting the speaker of truth!¡± the right head said and leaned towards Khrx again. Its tongue wrapped around him and brought him into her mouth. ¡°They can¡¯t hurt you in here.¡± Her voice thundered in his ears. [For the first time in your life, you understand the meaning of loud. +5 Perception.] Khrx sighed and pinched his nose. The cat¡¯s mouth smelled like death. It was fitting, really, considering where he was. ¡°To the lord!¡± the right head said, causing Khrx¡¯s ears to ring. ¡°She¡¯ll give us snacks, right?¡± the middle head asked. ¡°I¡¯m going back to sleep,¡± the left head said. ¡°Don¡¯t swallow him!¡± the blob shouted. Its voice was low and distant to Khrx. Khrx sighed again and lay on the cat¡¯s tongue which was softer than a pillow. At least this was more comfortable than being hugged by the blob. But still, where was his dignity as a dragon? Four rectangles popped up in front of Khrx¡¯s face. [Lorin has slain Nelson. +1 Achievement Point.] [Your companion, Nelson, has died.] [Lorin has slain Monika. +300 Achievement Points.] [Your companion, Monika, has died.] ¡°Eh?¡± Episode 9 (6) Lorin sat on a boulder with her legs crossed. Two corpses lay in front of her, but she wasn¡¯t paying attention to them. Lightning danced along her arms and down her fingers as she held her arms in front of herself. Mana shields flickered in and out of existence around her. She smiled and stretched her arms towards the ceiling of the cavern, her wings spreading as well. ¡°I never expected to get such a nice skill after falling. No wonder why devils are so strong.¡± ¡°I know I called them annoying for complaining all the time, but should you have killed your companions like that?¡± Boba¡¯s voice echoed through the cavern. ¡°They don¡¯t come back, you know?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who suggested we kill her to shut her up,¡± Lorin said, rolling her eyes. ¡°Are you trying to push the blame onto me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually do it. I was just joking.¡± ¡°Well, saying, ¡®ha-ha, it was just a prank,¡¯ isn¡¯t going to bring them back,¡± Lorin said with a shrug. ¡°Besides, their deaths will help Khrx. They didn¡¯t die in vain.¡± ¡°Oh really? Elaborate please.¡± ¡°I learned an ability that lets me steal the skills of people I kill,¡± Lorin said. She nodded. ¡°Their deaths made me stronger. And if I get stronger, then Khrx will rely on me more.¡± ¡°¡­Did you know you¡¯re a psychopath?¡± Lorin blinked. ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m an angel. Angels can¡¯t be psychopathic. Besides, I have strong sisterly feelings for Khrx.¡± ¡°A sociopath then,¡± Boba said. ¡°What would Khrx think after he finds out you killed Monika and Nelson?¡± ¡°How would he find out?¡± Lorin asked, tilting her head. She hopped off the boulder and dragged the two corpses to the edge of the magma river before tossing them in. ¡°Unless you¡¯re planning on telling him?¡± ¡°Never mind. You¡¯ll see what I mean later.¡± Lorin shrugged and lay down on the ground, spreading her wings out. Where was Khrx anyway? Maybe he was in the place he called reality. It¡¯s be nice if she could go there some day. ¡°Hey, Boba. Is it possible for me to leave the virtual world?¡± ¡°By dying, yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°You want to enter reality? It¡¯s possible, but Khrx would need to buy a shell for you to inhabit. Oh, wait. I forgot. Khrx is filthy rich. Shall I order a shell for you?¡± ¡°Yes!¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Before Boba could respond, motes of light shimmered and Anaheim appeared. She glanced around. ¡°Khrx isn¡¯t here?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Lorin said, still lying down. ¡°He¡¯s still in the pod in reality, but I¡¯m afraid of waking him. I tried getting in contact with the creators of [Resolution], but they haven¡¯t responded to me. I¡¯m thinking of letting a news agency know, but I really don¡¯t want to deal with them.¡± Anaheim glanced up at the ceiling. ¡°How about you, Boba? Did you figure anything out?¡± ¡°Program Theda is an A.I. from the world of [Resolution]. She¡¯s the god of the underworld, but the developers never fleshed her out. The underworld was not meant to be accessed by players. In fact, they didn¡¯t generate it at all. The A.I. in charge of monitoring [Resolution] must¡¯ve created it without the knowledge of the developers.¡± Anaheim bit her lower lip. It wasn¡¯t unusual for people to implement A.I. when it came to construction and planning. They were smarter and faster than people after all. But creating a zone that the developers hadn¡¯t intended? ¡­That was pretty common too, actually, but she thought [Resolution] would be strictly regulated given its role as the game to solve all conflicts. Maybe she should¡¯ve alerted a news agency. But it wasn¡¯t like Khrx would die¡ªhe was being fed nutrients via the pod. And he was a dragon. That too. ¡°Your cooldown times to reenter [Resolution] have ended,¡± Boba said. Anaheim nodded as Lorin sat up. If Khrx didn¡¯t come back in a week, she¡¯d definitely call a news agency and cause an international scandal, but for now, she¡¯d enjoy the game. She really wanted to meet Luke, the self-proclaimed demon lord, first. *** Khrx yawned and splayed his limbs, extending his arms, legs, and tail to their fullest. ¡°That tickles.¡± Khrx blinked and rubbed his eyes. He was still in Rhea¡¯s mouth, the soft tongue underneath his body. At least his nose had become accustomed to the putrid smell. He muttered, ¡°Status.¡± [Name: Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl] [Guild: Paradise] [Title: Apostle of the Sun God] [Strength: 32 (22+10)] [Constitution: 31 (21+10)] [Intelligence: -19] [Spirit: 1,000] [Dexterity: 12] [Perception: 11] [Charm: 61] [Luck: 1,010] [Active Skills: Nature¡¯s Spirit (M), Poison Incarnate (M)] [Passive Skills: Nature¡¯s Spirit (M), Poison Incarnate (M)] [Companions: Lorin] [Lover: Anaheim] Monika and Nelson were still missing from his companions list. Even using his surefire, universal tactic to solve his problems¡ªtaking a nap¡ªdidn¡¯t help. Why did Lorin kill Monika and Nelson? A vague memory of a warning message that had appeared when accepting Monika as a companion¡ªsomething about Monika and Lorin loathing each other¡ªcame to mind, but he dismissed it. How long was he asleep for? A few hours? ¡°Are we there yet?¡± ¡°Just a few more days,¡± Rhea said. ¡°The underworld¡¯s a big place. It takes time to travel.¡± Khrx popped his head out of Rhea¡¯s mouth, doing his best to keep his neck away from her pointy teeth. Snowy plains passed underfoot, causing Khrx to tilt his head up. It was raining fire, so why was the ground snowy? Then he realized Trifelus was walking on a layer of ashes and decided it¡¯d be better to stay inside. Nothing good ever happened when he went outside. The inside of the giant, three-headed cat¡¯s mouth was cozy, almost like his cavern: it was warm, soft, and inviting. Except for the smell, but that became unnoticeable with time. Khrx¡¯s stomach growled, causing him to frown. Was there even anything to eat down here? Did the dead even have to eat? What if they were missing their stomachs? That brought up the question of whether he was really dead or not. Did he die after being pulled through the black portal or was he still alive? Khrx shook his head and wrapped Rhea¡¯s tongue around his body. He¡¯d employ his universal problem-solving tactic instead of worrying. He closed his eyes and went back to sleep. Episode 9 (7) ¡°You¡¯re going to kill that thing?¡± Anaheim asked. She was standing before the gate of a massive entrance with Luke by her side. The gates were wide open, revealing a circular room with dozens of torches lining the wall, flickering with purple fire. At the center of the room, a gorilla with sharp blades on its elbows and knees was squatting, eating a banana while staring at them. It was seven meters tall and just as wide. A thin layer of mist covered the entrance, separating it from the duo. ¡°By yourself?¡± ¡°Do you doubt me?¡± Luke asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°No,¡± Anaheim said, narrowing her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just wondering if you¡¯re really the demon lord or not.¡± After logging into the game after her death, she had respawned in a temple located on Swift¡¯s Peak. Luke had greeted her, expecting to find Khrx too, but that unreliable lizard didn¡¯t show up. Fufu missed dinner that night. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it was roleplay?¡± Luke asked with a sigh. ¡°The demon lord died a really long time ago before most countries were even formed.¡± He smiled. ¡°But you¡¯re supposed to be the hero¡¯s descendent, right? Can you kill it by yourself?¡± He gestured towards the gorilla which had pulled out another banana. The floor was littered with yellow and brown peels. Anaheim pursed her lips. ¡°If we were in reality, I could,¡± she said. ¡°But the game took away my strength and constitution saying I wasn¡¯t allowed to use mana during the test. And then it limited the amount of mana I had because my constitution was too low. I can¡¯t even use a simple healing spell. I feel like I¡¯m six again.¡± Luke raised an eyebrow. ¡°But your mana in game depends on your intelligence.¡± His constitution was lowered by the system as well, but there was nothing wrong with his mana. Just how low was this woman¡¯s intelligence? ¡°¡­Can I see your status?¡± ¡°No!¡± Anaheim¡¯s face flushed as she averted her eyes. There was no way she was going to show him her intelligence! It was high for never having learned math, alright? As the hero¡¯s descendent, her magic was innate and magic formulas weren¡¯t necessary, much like a certain dragon. Luke cleared his throat. ¡°I thought you were supposed to be strong? That¡¯s why I took you along.¡± ¡°I¡¯m leeching levels,¡± Anaheim said with a nod. ¡°That¡¯s how games work, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how some games work,¡± Luke said, his expression blank. ¡°But not this one. There are no levels. You¡¯ve been following me for over a week now, and you didn¡¯t realize?¡± Anaheim¡¯s face flushed even more. So it wasn¡¯t just a penalty in experience gained due to level differences? Then how the hell was Luke so strong!? Was he just as strong in reality? She hadn¡¯t heard of any mages of his caliber. Unless he was the demon lord. She narrowed her eyes at him again, fixing her expression. ¡°It¡¯ll take a while for you to beat the boss, right? I¡¯m going to check on Khrx.¡± Luke stared as her body slumped to the ground. Apparently, Khrx screwed something up and became stuck somewhere. But Khrx would figure it out. He always did. Didn¡¯t he stop the end of the world multiple times? Luke nodded to himself and stepped through the mist. He pointed at the gorilla, and a massive thunderbolt flooded the room, destroying the walls as it crashed down. The boss didn¡¯t even have a chance to scream before it was vaporized.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. [Quest complete!] [You¡¯ve slain the blade gorilla taking up residence in the abandoned warehouse. This is a perfect place to store food to tide the coming winter!] [Rewards: 100 Achievement Points.] Luke shook his hand, dismissing the screen. He stood over Anaheim and scratched his head. What was he going to do with this hero¡¯s descendent? It was definitely Khrx getting back at him for stealing Fufu. Seriously, what the hell was that about them being lovers? Wasn¡¯t Khrx¡¯s body that of a child¡¯s? Well, even if Khrx provided one useless piece of baggage, it¡¯s not like he didn¡¯t contribute at all. There was that fallen angel companion of his. That crazy, sadistic, batshit insane fallen angel¡­. *** Khrx sneezed. He sat up and looked around, but the sight was the same. He was still in the giant cat¡¯s mouth, but there was a rectangle floating in front of him. In the bottom-right corner of the page, there was a red 1,000+. [Lorin has slain CantMelt. Gained 132 Achievement Points.] [Lorin has slain WildHunterxXx. Gained 94 Achievement Points.] [Lorin has slain PleaseDontKillMe. Gained 432 Achievement Points.] ¡­ [Your companion, Lorin, has become the Champion of the Sun God.] [Champion of the Sun God] [During the day, all guild members and affiliated NPCs strength, constitution, and dexterity increase by 15. A guild may only have three champions at any given time.] ¡­ [Skill acquired: Blissful Rest] [Rarity: Mythic] [Passive: You sleep through anything and everything. Injuries recover 1000x faster while asleep.] ¡­ [Lorin has slain Mr_Rich. Gained 893 Achievement Points.] By the time Khrx finished browsing through the messages¡­, nothing had changed. He was still waiting in Rhea¡¯s mouth. How long had he been asleep for Lorin to have reentered the game and slaughtered this many people? She had already repeated the sacrificial quest for the Sun God thirteen times and became his champion. He had even gained a skill. A thunderous voice reverberated around him. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± *** Theda was lying down, resting on her reclining throne. Her skin was a pale-blue, almost gray color. Her jet-black hair barely reached past her neck. She was wearing a loose, black silk robe. She wasn¡¯t moving or breathing, her body completely still like a corpse. But there was a wrinkle on her forehead. ¡°Meow!¡± Theda¡¯s eyes flashed open, and the wrinkle on her forehead smoothed. Her light-blue eyes stared at the three-headed cat lying next to the throne. ¡°Triffy? Aren¡¯t you supposed to guard the gate? What are you doing here?¡± The three-headed cat made a hacking sound. Theda stared with a blank expression as the cat¡¯s right head coughed out a hairball. ¡°Um¡­¡± Trifelus nudged the hairball towards her and meowed. Theda¡¯s expression fell, but she forced a smile onto her face. ¡°It¡¯s very nice. Thank you.¡± Trifelus meowed again before turning to leave. What the hell? Did the guardian of the underworld come just to show her a hairball? Wasn¡¯t this worse than bringing her chewed up dead people? At least the dead people could be reanimated and clean up after themselves. How was she supposed to clean a child-sized hairball? Her trashcans weren¡¯t that big! The hairball twitched and groaned, causing Theda to flinch. ¡°¡­It¡¯s alive?¡± A living hairball? She blinked as the hairball uncurled, revealing a child with cat ears and a cat tail, dressed in the skin of a dead penguin. Her eyes widened as she shot to her feet. ¡°So¡­, so cute!¡± *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day Unknown. Dear Diary, Today I met a weirdo. Love, Khrx Episode 10 (1) ¡°This is Natasha with your daily dose of [Resolution] rumors, hints, and gameplay. Once again, we have the self-proclaimed expert, Sam, with us here today. But there¡¯s something special about him today; why don¡¯t you tell us what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Thanks for the wonderful introduction, Natasha. Today, the second guild has been founded, and I¡¯m a part of it. I think it¡¯s clear by my credentials that I¡¯m no longer a self-proclaimed expert, but an actual one now.¡± ¡°Is that really the surprise you wanted me to hype up?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it great?¡± ¡°Sam, what¡¯s your ranking in that guild?¡± A coughing sound came out of the radio. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss that right now, alright? I¡¯m sure many of our listeners are more concerned about the lost boy. He still hasn¡¯t woken up despite the team of [Resolution] developers monitoring his situation in real time, but his situation looks hopeful. They¡¯re still investigating whether it¡¯s a fault of the VR drive, [Resolution], or a problem with the child himself that caused the situation.¡± ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is¡­, nothing¡¯s changed.¡± ¡°Say, Natasha, is it just me, or does your tone become a little bit more disdainful every time I appear on the show?¡± ¡°It must be your imagination, Sam. Is there anything else you¡¯d like to share with us? Something exciting or groundbreaking. You¡¯re supposed to be an expert, Sam, but everything you say can usually be found on the web.¡± ¡°To be fair, in this day and age, everything can be found on the web. But I understand your point. It¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m using an alias in game because I might get kicked out of my guild for saying this otherwise, but there¡¯s some massive plans brewing in the background related to Lukroix Adveign Desrigard.¡± ¡°Oh? Lukroix¡¯s plans or plans targeting him?¡± ¡°Plans targeting him! Have you heard the reports about the bloody angel of Swift¡¯s Peak? Six countries settled in the vicinity of Swift¡¯s Peak: Regmany, Raustia, Sursia, Tukrey, Thiopeia, and Zarbil. Every single one of them has been wiped out by the same fallen angel. The videos or her fighting are absolutely insane. She¡¯s a sadistic devil that grows in strength every time she kills someone. The videos are rated R because of the gore and torture involved.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of her, and I¡¯ve seen one of the videos. It almost made me want to quit [Resolution]. The despair and helplessness in her victims¡¯ eyes. It¡¯s a good thing they could logout mid-combat or I¡¯m sure they couldn¡¯t stay sane¡ªno doubt, they¡¯re traumatized though. But what does she have to do with Lukroix?¡± ¡°That bloody angel is Lukroix¡¯s guild member, Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl! If you check the leaderboards, second place is Lukroix with a little over 20,000 achievement points. First place belongs to Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl with over 50,000 achievement points. When a player kills someone, they take half of the other party¡¯s achievement points. Keep in mind, the angel¡¯s killed over a thousand players. That¡¯s a massive number of points¡ªenough to bring someone to first place. And after the first guild, Paradise, was founded, you can view the guild someone belongs to by highlighting their name on the leaderboard.¡± ¡°And this Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl belongs to Paradise?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! How would you feel as the prime minister of a country if your settlement was destroyed by someone else? Angry, right? Well, those six countries have formed an alliance to take out Swift¡¯s Peak! I heard it from my guild master. That alliance is recruiting everyone they can to remove the guild Paradise from the game.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Is that really something you should¡¯ve revealed?¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s why I was thankful I used an alias." "But your appearance is tied to your character.¡± ¡°We¡¯re on a radio show, Natasha.¡± ¡°But ¡­ you know we also have a livestream on our website, right? Wave at the cameraman, Sam.¡± ¡°Aw fuc¡ª¡± ¡°PG-13!¡± *** In an empty cavern with a magma river running through it, a black fissure was ripped open in the air. ¡°Program Theda again?¡± Boba asked, her voice echoing through the cavern. ¡°Newly installed firewall, compromised. Sending data report to help center.¡± ¡°Mm, that was a bit harder to tear apart,¡± Theda said as she stepped out of the fissure, holding onto Khrx¡¯s hand. The portal winked out of existence once the two passed through. ¡°And you¡¯re telling me every single one of those immortals have their own personal realm like this?¡± Khrx nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this exactly like a god¡¯s realm?¡± Theda asked, sucking in her breath. ¡°Billions of gods have descended, pretending to be common people. Is it the prophesized end of the world?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t let me finish,¡± Khrx said. After explaining who he was and where he disappeared to after dying, Theda had opened the portal to his personal room straight away. ¡°This isn¡¯t even reality. It¡¯s a virtual world.¡± ¡°Virtual world¡­?¡± ¡°Khrx, what is this? You disappear for two weeks and come back with a companion. Do you realize the international trouble you¡¯ve created with your disappearance?¡± Boba asked. ¡°The developers of [Resolution] have even sent a team to monitor you. Also, the shell you¡¯ve ordered has arrived.¡± Khrx rolled his eyes. ¡°You think I wanted to disappear? It¡¯s your faults!¡± His brow furrowed. ¡°Shell? Like a turtle? I didn¡¯t order one.¡± ¡°Oh, I ordered it for you,¡± Boba said with a nod. ¡°Lorin wanted to see the reality, so I offered her a solution.¡± Khrx blinked. ¡°Lorin can leave this place?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Theda asked. A black aura was leaking out of her body, permeating ever corner of the room. ¡°Who¡¯s talking?¡± Her eyes narrowed as the aura slipped into a crevice in the ceiling. She opened her hand and made a yanking motion. ¡°Found you!¡± Boba let out a static-filled yelp as a shadowy hand pulled a squirming mass of numbers out of the ceiling. ¡°Are you a virus?¡± Khrx laughed as he ran forward. He punched the floating mass of numbers and tore it to the ground before trampling on it with his feet. He bit at it and clawed it apart. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you to treat me like an idiot! I wanted to do this for so long!¡± A smile blossomed on Theda¡¯s face as Boba¡¯s yelps filled the room. Khrx was like a kitten playing with a ball of yarn. It made her heart fuzzy. Though she was concerned about the appearance of billions of undying gods, that concern was pushed to the back of her mind. ¡°Critical system error! Temporarily shutting down for repairs. Booting player from system. Transferring virus to shell. Data sent to help desk. I won¡¯t forget this injustice, Khrx.¡± Khrx¡¯s vision disappeared and his hand bumped into a piece of glass, shattering it. Screams filled the air. Khrx frowned and touched his face, bumping against the metal helmet on his head. He was back in reality. He tore the helmet off and glanced around. Anaheim was sitting beside him, a helmet covering her head. Standing around the pod, dozens of people with monitoring devices and laptops around them were sitting on their asses, shielding their faces. Glass was sprinkled on the floor in front of them. The glass dome of the pod had been shattered by Khrx¡¯s previous flailing. In the corner of the room, a mannequin¡¯s eyes flickered open. Black hair sprouted from its head as its irises filled in with a light-blue color. The white plastic contorted, taking the shape of Theda, her skin turning gray. A thin black robe appeared as well as she climbed to her feet. Khrx narrowed his eyes before letting out a roar that shook the room. ¡°Who dares come for my treasures!? Leave your lives behind!¡± The smell of urine filled the air. Khrx blinked before looking around again. Out of habit, he yelled what he normally did after waking up to the sight of strangers. He coughed, his voice turning into that of an adorable child¡¯s. ¡°I mean, uh, good morning? Is it morning?¡± While the team sent by [Resolution] was stunned, Khrx opened up his menu and made a call to Anaheim. It¡¯d be bad if he inadvertently revealed his identity as a dragon. He didn¡¯t want to be shot by missiles again. Episode 10 (2) A voice echoed through Khrx¡¯s watch as his call went through. ¡°Khrx? Where are you? What happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯m in reality,¡± Khrx said. ¡°There¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming! Stay right there!¡± The call ended, and a second later, Anaheim tore off her VR drive. ¡°Khrx!¡± She flew forward and tackled Khrx to the ground before snuggling him to her chest. He struggled to break free and gasped for air as he escaped her embrace. How was she so strong!? This was reality! He had the strength of a dragon! ¡°Why are you so excited?¡± Khrx asked, furrowing his brow at the hero¡¯s descendent, who sat up and composed herself. Anaheim¡¯s face turned red, and she scratched her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± she said. ¡°I really wanted to see you after hearing your voice again. There was something ¡­ different about it.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Khrx blinked. Could it be the result of increasing his charm to 61? When he had 50 charm, that AI-Helper did say he was the most adorable creature ever. Now that he had 61, wasn¡¯t he 20% more adorable? What did that make him? Super adorable? Even his voice could charm people. Maybe he should learn how to sing. ¡°H-hero,¡± one of the developers said, still shaken from Khrx¡¯s roar. He was an elf with pointy ears, a sharp nose, and large blue eyes. ¡°That dra¡ªno, child¡­, uh. Can I talk to you for a second, hero?¡± Anaheim furrowed her brow. ¡°If you have something to say, you can say it in front of Khrx.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be frank,¡± the developer said, biting his lower lip. ¡°Is he a dragon?¡± Anaheim rolled her eyes. ¡°Would a dragon take the form of a beastkin child? They¡¯re noble creatures, too prideful to take on a less imposing form.¡± Hey. Khrx¡¯s expression darkened. Wasn¡¯t she insulting him? ¡°But that roar earlier,¡± the developer said, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead. ¡°Tigers roar,¡± Anaheim said with a nod. ¡°I don¡¯t see any issue.¡± ¡°T-that¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Whoa!¡± Theda¡¯s voice pierced the room, causing everyone to turn towards her. She was standing by the window, her torso outside. She was pointing at the sky. ¡°What¡¯s that? And those!? They¡¯re so pretty!¡± ¡°What¡¯s what?¡± Khrx asked, ignoring Anaheim¡¯s confused expression. He climbed up Theda¡¯s back and clung onto her shoulders to prevent himself from falling. The goddess pointed at the sky. ¡°Those white things,¡± Theda said, the pitch of her voice increasing. ¡°The clouds?¡± ¡°No! I know what clouds are! The twinkling things behind them! And that giant white ball. What are they?¡± ¡°The stars and the moon?¡± Theda¡¯s eyes glistened. ¡°So they¡¯re called stars and the moon. The moon¡¯s the big one?¡± Khrx nodded. ¡°It¡¯s so pretty,¡± Theda murmured. Her face hardened as she nodded. ¡°I¡¯m going to take it.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Huh?¡± Theda stretched out her hand, reaching towards the moon. Khrx¡¯s eyes widened as his mana was siphoned out of him, entering Theda through his palms. A shadowy mist emerged from Theda¡¯s fingers, forming the shape of a claw. It flew towards the sky, rending the clouds in its path. Theda raised an eyebrow. ¡°How far away is it?¡± Khrx tried to pull himself away, but his body wouldn¡¯t move. His palms were glued to Theda¡¯s shoulders, the mana in his body mixing into hers. Shouts and yelps filled the night as shadows disappeared from their owners, crawling up the building to gather around Theda. The building¡¯s shadow contorted as well, slithering up to her like a snake, leaving behind a well-lit alley despite the fact it was night. As if the sun was directly overhead, all the shadows in the city had vanished, gathered in Theda¡¯s palm. The shadowy hand grew larger and larger despite the fact it was heading further and further away. A few satellites were knocked out of their orbits while others were completely destroyed. ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± Anaheim asked, her eyes bulging. She dashed towards the window beside Theda and peered outside. The developers beside her had similar reactions as they crowded around a third window. More and more shadows gathered around Theda until all of South Rokea was lit up like day. Then, the shadowy claw grasped the moon. Theda made a yanking motion before pursing her lips. ¡°It¡¯s not moving. If I can¡¯t bring it here, then I¡¯ll claim it as my own.¡± The shadowy claw on the moon spread outwards like a droplet of ink hitting a bowl of water. The moon turned completely black, disappearing from the night sky. Theda beamed as Khrx¡¯s mana finally stilled, and the shadows returned to their proper places, returning South Rokea to night. ¡°New territory acquired! It was a lot bigger than I thought.¡± Anaheim¡¯s jaw dropped, and she rubbed her eyes. ¡°Dude. You can¡¯t just take the moon! Wait! Besides that, who the hell are you!?¡± Theda stepped away from the window and pulled Khrx off her back, hugging him near her stomach instead. Her expression turned as cold as ice as she faced Anaheim. Her voice lowered, the bubbly personality disappearing in an instant. ¡°Who are you to address me, the god of the underworld, so rudely?¡± ¡°Khrx? Who is she?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°You have to watch out for strange women. It¡¯s dangerous to be so cute.¡± Khrx¡¯s face turned black. She knew he was a dragon, damn it! He wasn¡¯t actually a child! ¡°This is Theda, the god of the underworld.¡± He paused before adding. ¡°From [Resolution].¡± ¡°T-Theda?¡± the elfin developer asked, his eyes widening. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Wait! Don¡¯t tell me she entered the shell? Where¡¯s the shell!?¡± A shell built for housing A.I. had been delivered to Anaheim¡¯s department while the developers were monitoring Khrx. They had placed it in a corner and forgotten about it. ¡°Even with a shell, she shouldn¡¯t be able to create her own mana!¡± Khrx rubbed his stomach. So that¡¯s why he was drained. Covering the moon in shadows used up a lot of his mana, making him sleepy and hungry. Did Anaheim have anything to eat? ¡°So noisy,¡± Theda said, glowering at the developers. ¡°Do you think anyone can just freely say my name? Shut your face.¡± She waved her hand and the developers fell to the ground, eyes white, froth bubbling from their mouths. Khrx¡¯s stomach growled from the sudden loss of mana. ¡°You!¡± Anaheim said, pointing at Theda. A glowing white sword sprouted from her palm. ¡°As a hero, it¡¯s my duty to defeat someone like you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Theda raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ve seen thousands of heroes. They¡¯re no different from an ordinary person once they¡¯re dead.¡± Anaheim snorted and charged forwards, swinging her sword. It flashed like a lightning bolt, crashing towards Theda. Theda raised one hand, creating a black shield that stopped the sword, even swallowing the sound of collision. Khrx¡¯s stomach growled even louder. Anaheim narrowed her eyes and clapped her hands. Seven glowing swords sprang out of the ground and hovered around Theda in a circle. ¡°Pierce!¡± The swords flew forward, stabbing into Theda¡¯s torso as if she were a pincushion. The goddess of the underworld smiled before melting into a puddle of shadows, reforming a foot away while taking Khrx with her. Khrx¡¯s stomach rumbled like thunder. Anaheim exhaled as the seven swords disappeared. ¡°I don¡¯t believe I can¡¯t hurt you. Heavenly¡ª¡± Khrx roared, causing the floor to tremble and the walls to shake. The windows shattered, and the nearby buildings shook as well, their windows breaking into tiny crystalline fragments. ¡°I¡¯m hungry! Stop fighting!¡± He looked up at Anaheim with an aggrieved expression, his tail swishing from side to side. His ears were pressed flat against his head, and his lips were pouted. His posture was similar to a child who just had his lollipop taken away from him, and Anaheim couldn¡¯t help but let out a tiny whimper. ¡°Okay, okay. We¡¯ll stop fighting,¡± Anaheim said, the sword in her hand disappeared. She crouched by Khrx, ignoring Theda¡¯s baffled expression. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Episode 10 (3) The six developers sent to monitor Khrx¡¯s situation stared at each other with helpless expressions. They were sitting in the corner of the kitchen, plates of food on the ground in front of them. Were they dogs? But it was a chance to taste the hero¡¯s descendant¡¯s homemade cooking, so they didn¡¯t protest. Besides, the goddess that knocked them out was still there. ¡°Turn on the radio,¡± Anaheim said as she brought over a plate of steaming, barbequed ribs. She placed it on the circular table while Khrx leaned over and pushed a button on the wall. Theda was staring at the utensils in front of her as if she hadn¡¯t seen anything like it before. Anaheim brought over three bowls of rice and frowned at Theda. ¡°Do shells even have to eat?¡± ¡°No,¡± one of the developers said. ¡°But they¡¯re still capable of eating. There¡¯s a food-to-electricity conversion system that was implemented for lonely people to have someone to eat with.¡± ¡°This is Natasha with your afternoon program, ¡®what¡¯s going on in the world?¡¯ Today we have the special guest, self-proclaimed expert on astronomy, astrology, and everything in between, S¡ª. ¡­Why is it you again, Sam?¡± ¡°Thank you for the wonderful introduction, Natasha. I¡¯m sure many of you have seen the news or even looked outside and realized something was wrong. The moon¡¯s black!¡± Natasha muttered, ¡°Can we remove him from the show? Who brought him on?¡± Sam continued as if he hadn¡¯t heard her. ¡°Now, as a self-proclaimed expert, I did a lot of research with Bongle, and I¡¯ve figured out the cause of the phenomenon. Are you ready to hear it?¡± ¡°Please, go on.¡± Natasha¡¯s voice was flat. Anaheim could almost hear her eyes roll. ¡°There¡¯s three very viable reasons. I¡¯ll list them out for you, and we can discuss each of them in depth. One, the demon lord is back. Two, the world is ending. Three, aliens.¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re done here, folks. Someone take this expert away.¡± ¡°Wait! You didn¡¯t give me a chance to discuss it!¡± ¡°Seek attention elsewhere, please.¡± Anaheim furrowed her brow as she turned off the radio. ¡°The quality of some stations are really decreasing,¡± she said and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s obvious the moon turned black because of her. The government probably already knows with the help of satellite images.¡± Khrx grunted in response to show he was listening, but his face was stuffed to the brim with a row of ribs and bones jutting out of his mouth. He crunched through them like bread and swallowed them, bones and all. Anaheim stared at the plate that had just been full of ribs. It was empty now. She sighed to herself as she stood up, walking towards the interface on the wall. She selected the phone option and made a call. ¡°Hello? Yes, I¡¯d like to purchase a cow. Yes, a whole cow.¡± She glanced behind herself to gauge Khrx¡¯s reaction. He held up three fingers in the air. ¡°Actually, I¡¯d like to order three cows.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Khrx turned towards Theda. ¡°What¡¯s a cow?¡± ¡°An animal commonly used as an offering,¡± Theda said. ¡°I¡¯ve received thousands of cows.¡± She glanced around at the kitchen. ¡°But this world of yours¡­, it¡¯s truly very strange. It¡¯s much more interesting than the underworld.¡± She smiled and rubbed Khrx¡¯s head. ¡°How about this? You become my champion and watch over the underworld for me, and I forsake all my duties to have fun. Sounds like a good deal, no?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Khrx was about to respond, but a rectangular projection popped out of his watch. [Would you like to become the champion of Theda?] There were three options to select from: [Yes], [Of course], and [Absolutely]. Khrx blinked and tried to dismiss the rectangle, but another one popped up. Then another, and another, until he was surrounded by floating notifications. ¡°I¡¯m not even in game!¡± The developers stared with wide eyes at the wall of rectangles. The blond elf whispered, ¡°I think there¡¯s a problem with [Resolution]. A major, major problem.¡± ¡°Oh really? What makes you say that?¡± another developer asked while rolling his eyes. ¡°Could it be the fact that a mythical being from the game swallowed our moon in reality?¡± Another developer chimed in, ¡°All games release with bugs. It¡¯s a fact of life. There hasn¡¯t been a major release that wasn¡¯t a little glitchy.¡± Khrx sighed and pressed [Yes]. All of the screens disappeared except for four. [You¡¯ve become the champion of Theda.] [Champion of Theda] [Guild members and affiliated NPCs acquire the skill In Exchange for Life.] [In Exchange for Life] [Rarity: Legendary] [Active: Strength, Intelligence, and Dexterity increase by X% for 30 minutes. Maximum health decreases by X% for 30 minutes. X is any value less than 100.] [Cooldown: 1 hour.] [Your guild has reached the maximum number of champions. Any future requests to a guild member to become a champion shall be automatically declined.] [You¡¯ve acquired the skill Co-owner of the Underworld.] [Co-owner of the Underworld.] [Rarity: Mythic] [Passive: The underworld is your domain. All beings inside listen to your words.] [Active: Open a portal to the underworld. Requires a sacrifice. The size of the portal is determined by the number of sacrifices.] [Cooldown: None.] Theda smiled at Khrx as a black aura swirled into him while he read the screens. ¡°Like it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°Someone needs to watch over my realm,¡± Theda said. ¡°Someone I can trust.¡± Khrx blinked. ¡°But we met each other twenty minutes ago.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget I absorbed your mana earlier,¡± Theda said, playing with his ears. ¡°I can tell someone¡¯s character by the characteristics of their mana. The fact that you¡¯re adorable helps too. You shouldn¡¯t question good fortune too much.¡± Khrx tilted his head. It made sense. His charm was irresistible. How much further could he go with his charm? He already became the co-owner of the underworld in [Resolution]. Could he create a country in reality with his charm alone? If he did that, he could trade it to Luke for Fufu. Khrx scratched his nose, his tail swishing behind him, and nodded at Theda. ¡°You¡¯re a lot like Fufu.¡± ¡°Like who?¡± ¡°My most precious,¡± Khrx said and nodded again. ¡°She swallowed a moon too.¡± Anaheim dropped her fork. ¡°What.¡± Theda smiled and patted Khrx¡¯s head, running her fingers through his hair as if he were a pet cat. ¡°Well, tell her not to swallow this one, okay? I made it into my mana vessel.¡± Anaheim¡¯s knife fell out of her hands as well. ¡°What.¡± Khrx¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I should¡¯ve done that. Why didn¡¯t I think of that? Then I wouldn¡¯t have to run away from missiles.¡± Episode 10 (4) A woman wearing a green uniform stood in front of a holographic projection. Her black ponytail hung out of her peaked cap, resting against her lower back. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest, and she was chewing on the end of a pipe, white steam pouring out of the corners of her mouth. She narrowed her eyes at the image of the pale, bluish woman hanging out a window and reaching towards the sky, a vortex of shadows gathered by her sides. She muttered to herself, ¡°Calamity¡­, no, an apocalyptic-level threat.¡± ¡°The, the location!¡± one of the men sitting behind her shouted. There were a group of soldiers sitting in neat rows with computer screens in front of them. ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± the woman asked, crunching down on her pipe. ¡°Why are you hesitating? Spit it out!¡± ¡°General Park,¡± the man said while saluting. His clear eyes stared straight into the woman¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s the Anaheim Miehana¡¯s apartment, the descendent of the hero¡¯s.¡± General Park¡¯s face paled. If a calamity-level threat appeared in the descendant¡¯s apartment and corrupted the moon, didn¡¯t that mean the hero¡¯s descendant was defeated? ¡°Pull all of our special forces out of [Resolution]. Open the teleportation channels. I want all the black berets gathered in ten minutes!¡± Within thirty minutes, a sizeable army had gathered outside of Anaheim¡¯s apartment. The whole city had been evacuated without alerting the inhabitants of the apartment. An illusion had been pasted against the windows and a sound barrier had prevented the commotion from reaching inside. The black berets filled the corridor, waiting outside the apartment with black rifles held in both arms, pointing at the ground. They wore gas masks with night-vision goggles, and they had armor woven from the silk of diamond-eating spiders. General Park stood at the head of the group, her ponytail tucked within her armor. She glanced at the soldier beside her, who nodded. She nodded back and swiped a card, causing the door to slide open. The soldier beside her pressed his back against the wall and tossed in a cylindrical container without looking. A second later, there was an enraged roar. General Park exhaled and signaled for the soldiers to charge in. Judging by the volume and mana behind the roar, the sleeping gas wouldn¡¯t have any effect. The black berets filed into the apartment, guns at the ready. There was another roar, and the soldiers were promptly tossed back out without even a chance to react. A cow with bloodshot eyes trampled over them, pushing them out into the corridor. A black light flashed, and a hole appeared in the cow¡¯s head. Moments later, it fell over onto its side, dead. The black berets stared at the fallen cow. ¡°¡­¡± Stomping sounds drew their attentions back to the entrance. It was filled with smoke, but the soldiers could clearly see past it with their goggles. A demonic figure with two horns rushed towards them, its eyes blood-red. It leapt through the air, letting out a fierce cry, ¡°Moo!¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Another black light flashed and the cow died before it hit the ground. The soldiers once again stared at the fallen cows. ¡°¡­¡± Pattering sounds echoed out, causing the soldiers to train their guns onto the entrance. ¡°Why is it so smoky? Did they break through the door?¡± a childlike figure coughed and waved its hand in front of its face as it stepped up to the doorway. Its eyes were round and large. Cute cat ears jutted out of its head, and an adorable tail was swishing behind it. Its eyes glistened at the fallen cows, and it grabbed their tails, ignoring the soldiers. ¡°Ah. They died. Well, that makes eating them easier.¡± The soldiers stared at their general, who stared at the tiny figure dragging two half-ton cows into the apartment. Gurgling sounds filled the air until the door slid shut behind the cows with a click. ¡°General?¡± General Park was at a loss. Before she could decide what to do about the child inside, the door slid open again. A woman wearing a bloody apron with a meat cleaver hanging from a belt on her waist stepped outside. Blood smeared her arms and cheeks, and there were bits of entrails on her boots. The soldiers let out gasps, and black lights flashed repeatedly, filling the woman with holes. ¡°Stop!¡± General Park shouted. The woman, who now resembled a pincushion, wriggled as her flesh regrew, her injuries disappearing as if they never existed. ¡°I apologize, Anaheim.¡± ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Anaheim asked, gripping her meat cleaver while glaring at the soldiers. ¡°Looking to die? Who the hell shoots a woman without asking questions first? Irresponsible!¡± ¡°I sincerely apologize for my subordinates¡¯ actions,¡± General Park said, falling to her knees and lowering her forehead to the ground, staining her goggles with blood. Anaheim snorted, glaring at the soldiers one more time before hanging her cleaver back on her waist. ¡°What¡¯s the general of special operations doing outside my house?¡± ¡°Earlier¡­,¡± General Park said as she stood up. She removed her mask since most of the smoke had dissipated. ¡°Did you¡­, the moon. Did you see what happened to the moon?¡± Anaheim nodded. ¡°Yeah, really weird stuff, huh?¡± General Park¡¯s eyes narrowed at Anaheim¡¯s neutral expression. ¡°Before our satellites were destroyed, there was an image of a woman manipulating shadows. She was standing inside of your apartment.¡± Anaheim nodded again. ¡°Yes. I saw her and fought with her too.¡± ¡°You fought with her?¡± General Park¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°The result?¡± ¡°I had dinner with her, then she left saying she wanted to establish her domain.¡± ¡°You defeated¡­, did you say dinner or defeated?¡± ¡°Dinner.¡± ¡°And ¡­ she left?¡± General Park¡¯s mouth fell open. She closed it and swallowed, hardening her expression. ¡°Can you please cooperate with me on this? I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°If you wanted me to cooperate, maybe you shouldn¡¯t have shot me,¡± Anaheim said with a snort. She stepped back inside the apartment, the door closing. General Park hesitated, her hand hovering in front of the doorbell. Before she could make a decision, the door slid open again, and a group of sleeping men were tossed into the hall. Anaheim appeared behind them, dusting her hands off. ¡°They saw everything. You can talk to them instead. Now, if you don¡¯t mind, I have a date.¡± The door closed again before General Park could respond. A wry smile appeared on her lips. She asked even though she knew she wouldn¡¯t get an answer, ¡°But ¡­ the cows?¡± Episode 10 (5) Anaheim stared at Khrx with a wry smile on her face. His head had enlarged to the size of a dragon¡¯s and swallowed the two dead cows in a single bite. If he could eat them like that, then why did she even bother butchering the first one? Khrx¡¯s head shrank back to its regular size, but his stomach bloated like a balloon. He exhaled and rubbed his bulging stomach as he leaned back in his seat. ¡°Cows are amazing,¡± he murmured and closed his eyes, his tail drifting back and forth along the ground. ¡°So much mana and meat.¡± Anaheim shook her head. She went to Khrx¡¯s side and played with his ears. They reminded her of the pet jaguar she had acquired when her mother had abandoned her in the Azamon Jungle in Zabril. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tell me what happened to you? Luke kept pestering me to watch over you.¡± ¡°You met Luke?¡± Khrx asked, opening one eye. He closed it again as he exhaled, leaning back in his seat even further. His legs jutted out as his head slid down the backrest. ¡°Mm.¡± Anaheim lifted his legs and placed another seat underneath them to prevent Khrx from falling. ¡°But what happened to you? Who was that woman?¡± Khrx told Anaheim about his experience in the underworld, his stomach deflating while doing so. By the time he had finished his story, he finished digesting the poor cows. He glanced at Anaheim. ¡°Do you know why Luke tricked me into dying with that command prompt?¡± ¡°He wanted to play the game with you,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°He built an altar that lets guild members respawn inside as long as no one is attacking the guild. He said it¡¯d be faster if you died and spawned.¡± ¡°I knew Luke wouldn¡¯t kill me without a reason, but I don¡¯t like him killing me,¡± Khrx said with a snort. ¡°He has to be punished! Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Go where?¡± ¡°[Resolution]. Duh.¡± *** Lorin flew over a small town with the sun shining down on her glossy black wings. The level of activity within the town caused her to raise an eyebrow. Hadn¡¯t she wiped this place off the face of the earth last week? How did it become occupied again so soon? She shrugged. Well, she wasn¡¯t going to question her good fortune. Perhaps her luck had something to do with being Khrx¡¯s companion. ¡°She¡¯s here!¡± a voice shouted from down below. Lorin grinned as she flapped her wings once, a feather coming loose. As it fell down, it expanded, growing larger and larger until it was the size of the town. It covered the roofs and walls of the buildings, the feather¡¯s barbs acting like a sticky web. Shouts and screams rose up, and Lorin¡¯s grin widened upon hearing them. ¡°I send these offerings to the Sun God. May he burn ever brightly!¡± Lightning crackled around her as she channeled a spell she had stolen from Monika. ¡°Lightning Storm!¡± Dark clouds gathered below her, forming a man¡¯s face. The man opened his mouth and roared, causing lightning to rain down like spittle. The feather was set ablaze as the yellow bolts struck and pierced it, raining down on the people who were in the streets. The buildings caught fire and the town walls burned down, black smoke and ash flowing up into the air. A familiar feeling surged around Lorin, causing her to shudder. She closed her eyes and hugged her shoulders until the feeling passed. Her stats had increased again. The penalty from her title had disappeared a while ago; in fact, she was stronger than the first time she had met Khrx.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Lorin hummed to herself as the black clouds dispersed. She sat cross-legged in the air, waiting for the fire to burn out while keeping an eye on the entrances and exits. The screams had stopped or had been drowned out by the crackling of the flames, but Lorin still waited. The ones who survived her initial salvo, those were the special ones she¡¯d steal skills from. She hoped there¡¯d be at least two or three. She had to get stronger, strong enough to barge through the underworld to save Khrx. It didn¡¯t matter how many people had to die; they all revived after all. And her feelings of guilt and morality¡­, she had thrown those away with the bodies of her previous companions. Quality over quantity, she¡¯d become the strongest. A section of the flames stopped moving. A second later, they flickered out of existence, replaced by a layer of ice. Lorin¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she drew her sword and shield¡ªhigh quality items she had plundered from a caravan. Her wings pressed against her sides as she plummeted towards the layer of ice. Her sword glowed red, then orange, then yellow. While channeling the skill she had stolen from a Rutkish warrior, she shouted, ¡°Barrier Crusher!¡± The tip of her sword collided with the layer of ice. The ice cracked, then shattered into millions of tiny crystals, revealing the building it was guarding from the flames. Lorin¡¯s shield turned green as she extended it towards the roof, blocking her face. The faint image of a rhinoceros appeared around her body, its horn at her shield. ¡°Shield Crash!¡± The building screamed with a chorus of splintering wood and crashing timber as Lorin pierced through the roof. A group of people shouted as planks and shingles fell onto their heads. Before they could react, Lorin spun around with her sword outstretched. A beam of light extended from the sword, slinging through the room like a whip. The light passed through everything it touched, leaving behind faint lines. Blood flew into the air as armor, skin, and flesh alike were separated. The mangled bodies fell to the ground, leaving behind one wizened man wearing blue robes. ¡°Ice Cage!¡± the man shouted as Lorin¡¯s skill ended, her sword no longer emitting light. Lorin raised her sword as tendrils of ice rose up around her, creating a birdcage-like structure in an instant. Lorin¡¯s sword swung downwards, shattering the ice in front of her. She stepped over the broken pieces and flicked her wrist. Her sword flew out of her hand and stabbed into the man¡¯s shoulder, nailing him against what remained of the wall. Flames billowed into the room, casting a red hue on Lorin¡¯s body. The man screamed as Lorin approached. He grabbed the hilt of the blade and tried to pull it out but couldn¡¯t. ¡°Monster, remember my name! I am Draziw Dloc of Sursia. I¡¯ll rip your head off with my bare hands one day, just you wait! Logout!¡± The man¡¯s eyes glazed over as he slumped backwards. Lorin pierced her hand into his chest, grabbing onto his heart. ¡°What¡¯s mine is mine. What¡¯s yours is mine. Everything I desire belongs to me.¡± Her hand clenched down, causing the man¡¯s heart to burst. ¡°Appropriate!¡± Lorin licked her lips as knowledge of new skills flooded her mind. She wrenched a bloody pulp out of the man¡¯s chest and tossed it aside before retrieving her sword. She flew up into the air, accompanied by smoke and ashes, her skin stained with soot. She sheathed her sword and cleaned the blood off of her hands with her skirt. Another set of skills, another step closer to saving Khrx. Today was a good day. It wouldn¡¯t be long until¡­. A warm feeling formed in her chest and tears involuntarily came to her eyes. She stared off into the distance towards Luke¡¯s city. ¡°Khrx?¡± *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day Unknown but I¡¯ll call it 20. Dear Diary, I always thought Fufu would be the craziest woman in my life¡ªshe ate a moon and destroyed a continent after all. But now, I realize she might have some competition. Anaheim is an undying hero. She¡¯s not really crazy, but I can tell she¡¯s not right in the head either. There¡¯s these little things about her. Like how efficiently she can butcher a cow. Oh! I have to tell you about the cows later, but let me finish my train of thought first. Then there¡¯s Theda. Theda turned the remaining moon into her mana vessel and declared she was going to usurp this world¡¯s afterlife. I wasn¡¯t even aware our world had an afterlife, but Theda said she could sense it. I wonder if she¡¯ll meet Sneksnek and Tsorfy. And there¡¯s also Lorin¡­. Lorin¡¯s probably the sanest of them all, but she has some little issues. Like she wipes her wet hands on her skirt instead of with a towel and her food can kill people. But she¡¯s levelheaded and stable otherwise. I don¡¯t miss Fufu as much these days, but I¡¯m still trying my best to bring her back. Love, Khrx Episode 11 (1) Khrx sat up and looked around. The room he was in was similar to Fiel¡¯s temple, and a statue of a naked man with a beard and a sword towered over him. The man¡¯s eyes glowed with a red light, glaring at Khrx. Khrx blinked and read the plaque hanging on the statue¡¯s waist, blocking its crotch. ¡°God Jax.¡± A screen popped up as he stepped off the altar. [God Jax wishes to commune with you! Do you accept? Y/N] ¡°Nope,¡± Khrx said, pressing the red N. Why would he commune with the god who killed him via lightning? He¡¯d probably say something wrong and die without knowing why. Khrx ignored the repeated screens that kept appearing and called Luke. ¡°Khrx? You¡¯re finally answering? I¡¯ll have you know, I haven¡¯t fed Fufu since the day you stopped responding to me.¡± A growl escaped from Khrx¡¯s throat as he gritted his teeth. ¡°If she gets mad, it¡¯s your fault. Where are you?¡± He continued out of the temple, which consisted of only the altar room and a hallway. He stepped outside and shielded his eyes from the sun. ¡°I think I¡¯m at the guild place thingy.¡± ¡°You mean our guild¡¯s city?¡± Luke asked. ¡°It¡¯s about damn time. As a senior officer, you have a duty towards the guild. Go to the training hall and check on the recruits. They¡¯re a bunch of goblins, ogres, and trolls, but they¡¯ve been disguised with magic before entering [Resolution].¡± ¡°I have no idea what any of those are,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Including the training hall.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Luke said. ¡°Just forget it then. Do whatever you want, but don¡¯t waste our resources. I¡¯m fighting a god right now. I¡¯ll call you back later.¡± The call dropped before Khrx could respond. The screen disappeared, revealing an elderly woman waving her hand at him. She beckoned for him to come over once she noticed he saw her. What was he? A dog? Khrx snorted and looked the other way. What was the point of becoming a senior officer of a guild if any old lady could order him around? He was tired of being ordered around. His pride had been stifled for far too long! He was still miserably weak, but he wasn¡¯t as miserable weak as when he first started the game thanks to all those blessings, read misfortunes, he had encountered in the underworld. Khrx nodded to himself while placing his hands on his hips. ¡°What an imbecile.¡± ¡°Poser.¡± ¡°Idiot.¡± ¡°With a senior officer like that, no wonder why they haven¡¯t realized it yet.¡± ¡°Look at that suit. Does he think he¡¯s a bird?¡± ¡°A big fat bird! He can¡¯t even fly!¡± ¡°But his tail looks nice.¡± ¡°His ears too.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I like his eyes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame he¡¯s so dumb.¡± Khrx¡¯s eye twitched as he turned towards the chattering. A group of crows were sitting in a tree, cawing at each other while pointing at Khrx. ¡°He¡¯s staring at us.¡± ¡°Stare, stare. Let him stare. It¡¯s not like it matters.¡± ¡°Two-legs are too stupid to understand our speech.¡± ¡°You know, we also only have two legs, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re an idiot too. That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°He¡¯s walking over here. And he looks really angry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re so loud. Caw, caw, caw. Are you afraid of not being heard? No one will think you¡¯re a mute if you don¡¯t speak.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the loud one? You shut your dirty face-hole, screamer.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Khrx shouted at the top of the tree. ¡°Who¡¯re you calling an imbecile?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­Did he just¡­?¡± ¡°Caw, caw. We¡¯re just regular old non-talking crows. Caw. It must¡¯ve been that old lady over there. Caw.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Caw, caw.¡± Khrx¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Psst. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s falling for it.¡± ¡°But how¡¯s that possible? Look at his stats. He¡¯s an idiot.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone with negative intelligence.¡± ¡°Wait! His skill. He can understand animals. So Fiel prefers blessing idiots?¡± ¡°I know how to make him less angry! Let¡¯s give him a quest. Idiots love quests.¡± ¡°But what kind of quest?¡± ¡°We have to give him an easy one, or he¡¯ll fail and get mad at us.¡± ¡°I got this! Leave this to me.¡± A screen appeared in front of Khrx. [Crows are wise. They can see through the status of people. Recently, in the city of Paradise, the crows have found an unusually large number of people with disguised hostility. The crows suspect they¡¯re spies. Report this to the guild leader before something happens to the city and the crows lose their roost.] [Rewards: 1 Achievement Point. Glossy Black Feather.] [Glossy Black Feather] [A token of friendship. Animals will automatically feel goodwill towards you if you wear this in your hair.] ¡°Eh!? You¡¯re giving him a black feather?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t trust him!¡± ¡°But¡­, but ¡­ look at how cute his ears are. A feather would be the perfect accessory!¡± ¡°You have a point, but¡­¡± Khrx called Luke, ignoring the jabbering crows. ¡°Damnit, Khrx,¡± Luke said. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯d call you back? I almost died just now.¡± ¡°There¡¯s some spies in the city,¡± Khrx said. [Quest complete!] [Good job! Aren¡¯t you smart? You should feel proud. What a big boy.] [Rewards: 1 Achievement Point. Glossy Black Feather.] A feather appeared in Khrx¡¯s hand, and he stuck it into his hair, propping it up with his ear. He dismissed the condescending screen with a swish of his hand. ¡°Spies?¡± Luke asked. ¡°What do you mean spies?¡± ¡°Not sure,¡± Khrx said and shrugged even though Luke couldn¡¯t see him. ¡°That¡¯s what the crows said. There¡¯s some hostile spies in the city.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking to crows? Whatever, never mind. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if there really were spies. It¡¯s probably those guys your crazy angel friend wiped out,¡± Luke said. ¡°Tell Aaz¡¯Tala. He¡¯ll deal with it. He¡¯s been wanting to meet you for a while now.¡± The call ended before Khrx could ask who or where Aaz¡¯Tala was. ¡°He did it!¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯s happy now?¡± ¡°A token of friendship works both ways! He¡¯ll feel goodwill towards us too. I think.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Khrx said towards the crows. ¡°Where¡¯s Aaz¡¯Tala?¡± ¡°Look at his face; he¡¯s totally pleased. Aren¡¯t I a genius? I knew idiots loved quests.¡± A crow flew down and landed on Khrx¡¯s shoulder. It was a bit taller than his head. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to Aaz¡¯Tala!¡± It pointed towards an alley. ¡°He¡¯s that way.¡± The crow¡¯s eyes glistened as it stared at Khrx¡¯s ears. It raised its wings and ruffled Khrx¡¯s head. ¡°So soft¡­.¡± Birds were descendants of dinosaurs, right? That¡¯s what the zoo had said. And dinosaurs were distantly related to Khrx. So birds were vaguely related to him. Maybe he knew the ancestor of all birds and dinosaurs. His cousin Erif really liked mating with non-dragons, claiming to be a god of creation¡­. Khrx turned his head towards the crow, who was still entranced with his ears. For Erif¡¯s sake, he¡¯d let it do what it wished. Episode 11 (2) Khrx followed the crow¡¯s directions and ended up at a building in the center of the city. It was a tower-like structure at the highest point on the mountain, and it could be seen from anywhere within the city walls. It was also the only building made from stone other than the temple of Jax ¡°This is the palace,¡± the crow said. ¡°It¡¯s where the king lives.¡± The crow shivered, causing its feathers to ruffle and puff out. ¡°We don¡¯t like him. I¡¯ll be going now. Take care, dummy. Don¡¯t be tricked by the king.¡± The crow patted Khrx¡¯s ears a few more times with its wings before laughing and flying away. Khrx raised an eyebrow. ¡°King?¡± The crow clearly wasn¡¯t referring to Luke. Luke would¡¯ve called himself an emperor or a god, not a king. Khrx pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside. The interior reminded him of Anaheim¡¯s living room: wooden chairs, red carpet, a wooden table. The only difference was the spiral staircase heading upwards. Khrx looked around some more and furrowed his brow. Maybe Aaz¡¯Tala was at the top. Khrx sighed as he stared at the stairs, unwilling to raise his feet. When was the last time he ascended stairs? He was a dragon! Dragons didn¡¯t use stairs. It was demeaning. Khrx sighed as he left the palace. It seemed like meeting Aaz¡¯Tala was a much harder ordeal than he initially thought. If only Lorin, Monika, or Anaheim were around, then they could carry him. Speaking of which, why did Lorin kill Monika? It was a shame he couldn¡¯t call the fallen angel and ask. Why wasn¡¯t there a method to communicate with his companion over long distances? ¡°Khrx!¡± Khrx blinked. Speak of the fallen angel and she will appear. Lorin descended from the sky, landing in front of Khrx. Before he could react, he was already in her embrace which smelled of blood and iron. ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Lorin said, tears falling from her eyes. ¡°I thought I¡¯d have to rescue you from the underworld. I got a lot stronger, but not strong enough to slay a god. But you¡¯re back!¡± She tilted Khrx¡¯s head up, still holding him to her chest. ¡°Did anyone bully you, master?¡± ¡°The whole underworld,¡± Khrx said and pouted. Those stupid blessings were just excuses to abuse him. Lorin¡¯s eyes flashed with a dark light. ¡°While you¡¯re holding me, can you take me up the stairs to Aaz¡¯Tala?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Lorin blinked. ¡°You want to meet that weirdo?¡± She bit her lower lip. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t associate with strange people lest you stray from normalcy as well. Just stay by my side, alright? This servant will raise you nice and proper.¡± ¡°Take me upstairs,¡± Khrx said, his expression darkening. ¡°Luke told me to meet Aaz¡¯Tala, and I can¡¯t not listen to Luke. If Luke continues to starve Fufu¡­¡± ¡°Luke¡¯s the worst of them all,¡± Lorin said, narrowing her eyes. ¡°To think he was blackmailing you. I should¡¯ve killed him when I had the chance.¡± She entered the palace and walked up the stairs. ¡°T-Thed¡­, the god of the underworld didn¡¯t trick you, right? You didn¡¯t sell your soul to her to be reborn, right? Right? ¡­Though I¡¯m not sure how else you¡¯d come back.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Khrx scratched his head. ¡°I made a sort of deal with her? I think.¡± ¡°Khrx¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m now a co-owner of the underworld,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Oh, you can read it yourself.¡± He manipulated the menu and opened his status screen. [Name: Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl] [Guild: Paradise] [Title: Apostle of the Sun God] [Strength: 32 (22+10)] [Constitution: 31 (21+10)] [Intelligence: -19] [Spirit: 1,000] [Dexterity: 12] [Perception: 11] [Charm: 61] [Luck: 1,010] [Active Skills: Nature¡¯s Spirit (M), Poison Incarnate (M), In Exchange for Life (L), Co-owner of the Underworld (M)] [Passive Skills: Nature¡¯s Spirit (M), Poison Incarnate (M), Blissful Rest (M), Co-owner of the Underworld (M)] [Companions: Lorin] [Lover: Anaheim] Lorin stared at Khrx¡¯s status. ¡°This¡­. Isn¡¯t your improvement a bit too exaggerated? Except for your intelligence¡­. Why did it become even lower? What did you promise the god of the underworld for co-ownership? I don¡¯t believe she didn¡¯t trick you.¡± ¡°Come in! Come in!¡± a voice boomed, causing Khrx and Lorin to flinch. They were standing at the very top of the spiral staircase in front of a wooden door. Well, Lorin was standing. Khrx¡¯s legs were dangling above the ground. Lorin snorted and kicked open the door, causing it to nearly fly off its hinges. If that weirdo knew they were outside, then he should¡¯ve known they were talking. Why did he interrupt? ¡°Why, if it isn¡¯t the blood angel. And what¡¯s this? A plush doll?¡± Khrx stared at the man dressed in garish robes. The man¡¯s hair was a bright purple with dyed pink stripes crisscrossing to form a checkerboard pattern. He wore a golden monocle that was as large as half his face, and the green and blue tuxedo he wore had its collar popped. His pants were red with orange bananas and apples decorating it. Khrx blinked, unable to say a word. He had never seen something so visually offensive before in his life. Even poisonous animals with their bright red and yellow colors had some sense of fashion. ¡°Do you see what I mean?¡± Lorin asked, lowering her head to meet Khrx¡¯s wide eyes. ¡°That¡¯s the weirdo you wanted to meet.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Aaz¡¯Tala?¡± Khrx asked, furrowing his brow. The only thing Khrx knew about this person was that he was Luke¡¯s subordinate. ¡°Yes,¡± Aaz¡¯Tala said with a smile and nod. ¡°I knew [Resolution] was amazing, but to think it have talking dolls as well. You¡¯re awfully realistic, you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl,¡± Khrx said, his expression darkening even further. ¡°Luke said you wanted to meet me.¡± Aaz¡¯Tala¡¯s eyes bulged, and Khrx thought they were going to fall out of his head. ¡°You¡¯re Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl? The dragon of the apocalypse? The bringer of the end of times? You¡¯re ¡­ a lot¡­, uh, smaller ¡­ than I imagined.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the dragon of the apocalypse, damn it,¡± Khrx said. ¡°That¡¯s my cousin. Stop mashing our legends together. I¡¯ll have you know, I stopped the world from ending multiple times.¡± Aaz¡¯Tala¡¯s shoulders fell. ¡°Oh.¡± A second later, his eyes lit up. ¡°Then, can I meet your cousin?¡± Khrx slapped his face with his hand. Lorin was right. He shouldn¡¯t associate with weirdos. ¡°Luke told me to tell you to take care of the hostile spies in the city,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Now that I delivered the message, I¡¯ll be leaving now. I hope I never see you again.¡± He glanced at Lorin. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Aaz¡¯Tala said. ¡°When can I meet your cousin? I only started [Resolution] because Luke said you were playing as well, and I thought you were the bringer of the end of times. I¡¯ll quit if you don¡¯t introduce me!¡± Khrx¡¯s tail swished. ¡°Eh¡­. Eventually. Work hard enough, and I¡¯ll introduce you to her after the country is formed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal then!¡± ¡°Right, right. A deal.¡± Khrx tugged on Lorin¡¯s arm, signaling for her to leave. Lorin closed the door with her wing as she left. ¡°You¡¯re really going to introduce your cousin to him?¡± ¡°Nah, I lied,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I¡¯m actually the dragon of the apocalypse, not my cousin. There¡¯s a reason why I don¡¯t leave my home often, you know?¡± Episode 11 (3) ¡°The end of times is nigh! The dragon of the apocalypse has shown its face! Take a good look at the moon and you shall see the truth! Earthquakes, floods, wildfires, tsunamis, and hurricanes. There¡¯s been an unprecedented number of them since the start of this year! Listen to my words, lost sheep! Believe in the lord and he shall show you salvation.¡± Anaheim rolled her eyes as she walked past the crazy man preaching on the street corner. She was holding onto a cup of coffee with a bag of groceries hanging from the crook of her elbow. With her other hand, she was dragging a rope that held four tied up cows behind her. The man dressed in rags shouted at her, spittle flying and crashing into a barrier of mana she had set up. ¡°The dragon of the apocalypse appeared off the coast of Nipon, but we shot it down with missiles! Its wrath must exceed the heavens. The first step is the moon! But what will happen if the sun turns dark!? The world will freeze over! Everything shall perish: oceans will turn to ice, plants will cease to grow, it won¡¯t be long for everything to follow. And the hero will fall in love with the demon lord! Ashes to ashes, dust to dust!¡± Anaheim spat out the drink in her mouth and glared at the preacher. ¡°What the hell are you spouting!? The hero will fall in love with the demon lord? There¡¯s something seriously wrong with your head! Let me remove it for you.¡± The man rubbed his eyes before blinking hard. His eyes widened as he pointed at Anaheim. ¡°You, you, the traitor to mankind!¡± A foot sent the man flying. Anaheim snorted as she kicked the man a second time, punting him into a trashcan beside a building¡¯s entrance. ¡°I thought the mental institutions were working properly. Evidently not.¡± She tossed the empty cup of coffee onto the man¡¯s body before stomping away. When Anaheim returned to her apartment, Khrx was still inside of the pod with the helmet on his head. The pod did have a feature to inject sustenance and nutrients into the gamer¡¯s body, but she didn¡¯t trust it. She went to the kitchen and made herself a meal before biting her lower lip. She opened her phone and called Khrx. ¡°Do you want lunch? I bought four cows.¡± ¡°Eat them without me,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of something.¡± The call ended before Anaheim could say another word. She pursed her lips and furrowed her brow at the four frightened cows, which were still tied and bound. How was she supposed to eat them by herself? *** Khrx ended the call and shook his head. He didn¡¯t have to eat if he didn¡¯t expend mana. ¡°Who was that?¡± Lorin asked, raising an eyebrow as she glanced down. She was holding Khrx, and the two of them were flying over a meadow. ¡°Anaheim,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Mm. That useless woman, huh?¡± Lorin asked. ¡°I¡¯ve seen her mooching off Luke. She contributes nothing but acts haughty.¡± ¡°Well, she¡¯s really strong in reality,¡± Khrx said. Lorin shrugged. ¡°This is my reality. For now.¡± Her eyes narrowed as she landed in front of a bush¡ªthe only bush within the meadow. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Khrx wriggled out of Lorin¡¯s grasp and approached the bush. Luke had told him there was good fortune waiting for him here. On the bush, there were two bright-blue berries, just waiting for him to harvest. Khrx rubbed his chin before grabbing Lorin¡¯s sword. He poked the bush a few times, checking to see if there were any reactions. Then he poked the berries. Nothing happened. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a trap?¡± Lorin asked, raising an eyebrow. She had personally witnessed Luke and Aaz¡¯Tala eating berries from the bush. Luke had cast a spell to conceal the bush when there were only two berries remaining, telling Aaz¡¯Tala to save them for Khrx. ¡°Luke¡¯s already killed me once before,¡± Khrx said as he harvested the berries. The ground didn¡¯t tremble, and arrows didn¡¯t fly out of nowhere to kill him. Khrx was almost disappointed. ¡°Can¡¯t be too careful.¡± He handed one to Lorin. ¡°You test it first.¡± Lorin nodded and ate the berry. She scanned her body with mana before shaking her head. ¡°My intelligence increased. There were no negative side effects.¡± ¡°Increased intelligence?¡± Khrx smiled. Luke really knew how to apply the carrot and the stick. Khrx popped the berry into his mouth and chewed. It tasted bland. [You¡¯ve eaten the berry of intelligence! Since you¡¯re intelligence is less than 10, your intelligence has doubled.] Khrx froze. Doubled? Wasn¡¯t his intelligence negative? He opened his status screen, and his face fell. ¡°Negative thirty-eight¡­. This stupid game! I¡¯m not dumb!¡± He roared at the sky and stomped his feet. He navigated through his menu and called Luke. ¡°Your stupid berry decreased my intelligence by 19!¡± ¡°What?¡± Luke asked. ¡°Give me a moment. I¡¯m still fighting that god. I¡¯ll call you back. How many times do I have to tell you this? Stop calling!¡± Khrx sighed as he lifted Lorin¡¯s sword. He cut the bush to pieces and trampled the remains, jumping up and down. ¡°How much did it increase your intelligence by?¡± Khrx asked, handing Lorin back her sword. ¡°Err. Here¡¯s my status screen.¡± [Name: Lorin Nirol] [Title: Betrayer of Jax, Fallen Angel, Ex-Guard of Heaven, The Sun God¡¯s Champion, Unfettered] [Strength: 75] [Constitution: 75] [Intelligence: 76] [Spirit: 75] [Dexterity: 75] [Perception: 75] [Charisma: 10] [Luck: 19] [Active Skills: War Cry (U), Smite ?, Blind (U), Appropriate (L), Lightning Bolt ?, Chain Lightning (U), Lightning Storm ?, Lightning Field ?, Mana Shield ?, Ice Cage (U), Shield Crash (U), Barrier Crusher ?, Light Whip (U)] [Passive Skills: Sword Mastery ¨C Master ?, Shield Mastery ¨C Master ?, Lightning Mastery ¨C Elite (U), Ice Mastery ¨C Common ?, Fire Mastery ¨C Common ?] [Companions: Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl] [The Sun God¡¯s Champion] [All stats increased by 50%.] [Unfettered] [Negative penalties from titles no longer apply.] Khrx stared at Lorin¡¯s status for a long time. He raised his head as he dismissed it. ¡°Well?¡± Lorin asked, clasping her hands together in front of her lap. She lowered her gaze, staring at the ground. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I want your stats,¡± Khrx said with a pout. A wry smile appeared on Lorin¡¯s lips. ¡°Do you know how many people would give up their lives to have 1,000 spirit and luck?¡± ¡°But luck hasn¡¯t done anything for me,¡± Khrx said. He shook his head. How was he considered lucky? Would the luckiest person really have the top place on the leaderboard of deaths? ¡°You have four mythic skills,¡± Lorin said, lifting Khrx up. ¡°Maybe one in a billion people will gain a mythic skill. But you have four.¡± Khrx squinted at Lorin. ¡°They¡¯re that rare?¡± ¡°Mm, that¡¯s right. Besides, hasn¡¯t your luck allowed you to meet me?¡± Khrx scratched his head. Was he really lucky after all? He lifted his leg and shouted up towards the sky, ¡°I need a weapon!¡± Then he rubbed his foot. Lorin tilted her head. ¡°I¡¯m testing my luck,¡± Khrx said with a nod. He blinked and pointed at the sky. Lorin raised her head. A burning red ball was falling towards the ground. With a crash, it landed a few feet away from the duo, creating a small crater. Lorin blinked and approached the fallen object. ¡°A meteorite?¡± Khrx glanced at his foot. He rubbed it again. ¡°I want money!¡± ¡°It fell over there!¡± a voice shouted. From the horizon, a group of men appeared, each dressed in expensive-looking clothes and armor. Khrx blinked. Before he could rub his foot again, Lorin stopped him. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with this first, alright?¡± Episode 11 (4) ¡°Oi, laddie! Hands off the meteorite. We saw it first!¡± the man at the head of the group shouted as Khrx picked up the meteorite. It was heavy, laden with bits of black ore. ¡°What do you say? I won¡¯t feel right taking goods from a child; how about I give you some candy for it?¡± ¡°Should I kill them?¡± Lorin asked, grabbing her sword¡¯s hilt. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa,¡± the man said, holding out his hands as he approached Lorin and Khrx with slow steps. ¡°Let¡¯s not be so quick to use violence now. We¡¯re from the city-state of Tahens. Where might you be from?¡± The rest of the men caught up and lined up behind their leader. ¡°Ah, but first, let me introduce myself. My name is Opricles, guard captain of Tahens.¡± Khrx and Lorin exchanged glances. Before Khrx could tell Lorin to draw her sword, a rectangular screen appeared in front of him. [You¡¯ve met the city-state of Tahens! As the first guild to make contact, affinity between Tahens and Paradise has increased.] Khrx scratched his head as he dismissed the screen. The heck was a city-state? Some guild feature probably. ¡°I¡¯m Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl.¡± Opricles¡¯ eyes narrowed when he realized Khrx wasn¡¯t going to say anymore. His fingers tapped the hilt of the saber hanging from his waist. ¡°Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl, eh? Where are you from?¡± Khrx turned and asked Lorin, ¡°What¡¯s the name of the guild place thingy?¡± ¡°The City of Paradise.¡± Khrx nodded at Opricles. ¡°We¡¯re from the City of Paradise.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Opricles said, nodding his head. ¡°The City of Paradise¡­. I¡¯ve heard of it, but I¡¯m not quite sure of the details. What empire does it fall under?¡± [Pick a name for your empire! Only Senior Officers and above have the right to select a name.] Khrx blinked. ¡°I can pick?¡± [Congratulations! The empire, I Can Pick, has been established by the guild Paradise!] ¡°That¡¯s an odd name for an empire,¡± Opricles muttered. He shook his head. ¡°But I understand. The empire of I Can Pick must be a mighty one. I apologize for interrogating you. There¡¯s been a lot of barbarians running around recently. We had no choice but to wipe them out.¡± Khrx blinked again. ¡°Uh¡­.¡± He waved his hand and dismissed the screen. That didn¡¯t happen. If Luke asked, he¡¯d blame it on Aaz¡¯Tala. ¡°No problem.¡± Ring, ring. Khrx cleared his throat and canceled the incoming call. He was in the middle of very important negotiations. Luke would understand.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Ring, ring. Khrx shoved the screen aside. ¡°Mm, so this city-state of Tahens¡­¡± Ring, ring. ¡°Is it fine to ignore that ringing noise?¡± Opricles asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah, of course,¡± Khrx said. ¡°It¡¯s just a, uh, annoying curse I contracted while sleeping.¡± Doubt covered Opricles¡¯ face. ¡°If you say so¡­. About that meteorite¡­, how about we negotiate over it?¡± [Quest acquired!] [Diplomacy time! I hope your charisma is high! Oh, it is. That¡¯s disappointing. Well, the city-state of Tahens wishes to acquire the meteorite. If you somehow screwed this up, it¡¯d be fitting of your negative intelligence, so don¡¯t feel too bad if you do.] [Rewards: A trade route will be formed between Tahens and I Can Pick. Whatever you can negotiate for the meteorite.] [Failure Penalty: Affinity between Tahens and I Can Pick will decline. A war may even break out. I suggest you hand over the meteorite.] ¡°What are you offering?¡± Khrx asked, placing the meteorite down and sitting on top of it. He hated standing for extended periods of time. ¡°I suppose you wouldn¡¯t trade it for candy, would you?¡± Opricles sighed. ¡°Then¡ª¡± ¡°What kind of candy?¡± Opricles shut his mouth. He turned around to face his men. ¡°Take out all the candy you have.¡± ¡°Sir¡­¡± ¡°Now!¡± Lollipops, gumdrops, jelly beans, gummy bears, and jaw breakers appeared in the Tahenian soldiers¡¯ hands. Opricles gestured towards them while speaking to Khrx. ¡°Do any of these suit your taste?¡± ¡°Let me try them,¡± Khrx said, holding out his palm. Lorin bit her lower lip. ¡°Khrx¡­.¡± If she killed them, wouldn¡¯t they have the meteorite, the candy, and all the armor and weapons the soldiers were wearing? Why was he negotiating? She knew how strong Luke was. He could probably destroy a city-state with a single spell. It didn¡¯t matter if Tahens and I, I Can Pick went to war. Khrx placed a gummy bear in his mouth and chewed. His eyes lit up as his tail rapidly swished back and forth. He closed his eyes and chewed, relishing in the sweet taste. A smile appeared on Lorin¡¯s face. Maybe it¡¯d be better to give away the meteorite. The quest description said a trade route would be established, right? If she could get the Tahens to trade gummy bears to Khrx, then she¡¯d be able to see that adorable expression of his all the time. It was settled then. She wouldn¡¯t kill them. Her hand released the hilt of her sword, and she took the rest of the Tahens¡¯ candy before taking a seat beside Khrx, offering to feed him. ¡°Then ¡­ we have a deal?¡± Opricles asked with a strange expression on his face. His eyes glanced between Khrx and Lorin before his gaze settled on the meteorite underneath Khrx. ¡°If you accompany us back to Tahens, I¡¯ll give you a whole basketful of candy.¡± Lorin lifted Khrx and kicked the meteorite towards Opricles while nodding. [Quest complete!] [Your intelligence is perfectly reflected by your stats.] [Rewards: A basket of candy. A trade route will be established between Tahens and I Can Pick.] ¡°Ah?¡± Khrx opened his eyes and looked around. The quest was completed? But when did he accept? He looked up and met Lorin¡¯s gaze which seemed to say, ¡°Praise me.¡± Khrx sighed but chose not to renege on the deal that Lorin established. The actions of his subordinates were his responsibility. Of course, he¡¯d have to punish Lorin later for accepting such a bad deal. She could¡¯ve gotten at least three baskets of candy! Ah, wasn¡¯t his original goal a weapon? Well, candy was just as good¡ªone couldn¡¯t eat a weapon after all. Ring, ring. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Tahens,¡± Khrx said, dismissing Luke¡¯s call once again. Yes, a superior had to take responsibility for his subordinate¡¯s actions; thus, it was Luke¡¯s own fault that the empire ended up with a name like I Can Pick. Having removed the last vestiges of guilt from his system, Khrx let out a hum and popped a jaw breaker into his mouth. Episode 11 (5) Luke ground his teeth together as his call failed to go through once again. I Can Pick? What the hell kind of name was I Can Pick? Though, he did have a faint idea of what had happened. Khrx must¡¯ve triggered an event that allowed for the naming of their empire and voiced his thoughts out loud. Luke sighed as he kicked the corpse of the god by his feet and shook his head. He supposed there were worse names out there. Like Sneksnek. Khrx¡¯s sense when it came to naming was a disaster comparable to the burning of the holy islands. After Luke¡¯s call failed to go through once again, he sighed and dismissed the phone interface, revealing the message behind it. [Quest complete!] [You¡¯ve slain the god of butterflies and flowers. Are you proud? Jax is.] [Rewards: 5,000 Achievement Points. The bonus of Jax¡¯s Champion is doubled.] Luke squatted next to the god¡¯s corpse and rummaged around, but as usual, there was nothing of interest. The game wasn¡¯t very generous with item drops; after all, it wouldn¡¯t be very fair if the fate of the world was hinged on lucky drops. Speaking of the fate of the world, the moon turning black and becoming someone¡¯s mana vessel concerned him but not enough to leave the game. If it was just the moon, the various governments of the world could handle it. He¡¯d take advantage of that fact and push forward in [Resolution]; though, the six countries Lorin interfered with would probably be tasked with handling the problem. There was no chance they¡¯d be able to win the game or make a comeback after being set back by six days during the early game. ¡°Hey.¡± Luke took his hands off the god¡¯s corpse and raised his head. The voice belonged to that annoying woman¡ªthe hero¡¯s descendent, Anaheim Miehana. How was she always able to find him even when she logged out to eat and sleep? He was at the center of a labyrinth for heaven¡¯s sake. ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me. Aren¡¯t you going to say something after I spent so much time tracking you down?¡± Luke sighed. ¡°If only your strength were as great as your ability to follow me like a dog,¡± he said and shook his head. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be great?¡± Anaheim placed her hands on her hips. ¡°There¡¯s just something about you that I can sense,¡± she said. ¡°Is this what people call fate?¡± Her brow furrowed as she muttered, ¡°Love at first sight? Impossible.¡± Luke¡¯s expression darkened as he packed the god¡¯s corpse into a box which he lugged over his shoulder. Why were all the hero¡¯s descendants idiots? He shook his head. It was a good thing for him, at least. ¡°Hey,¡± Anaheim said, following after him as he plodded along. ¡°What¡¯s with the weird empire name? How did you even establish an empire anyway? I¡¯ve been doing some research on [Resolution], and there were lots of comments saying empires were still at least a month away. Just who are you, really?¡± Luke chose not to answer. What was he supposed to say? ¡°I¡¯m serious, don¡¯t ignore me,¡± Anaheim said, trotting to keep up with Luke¡¯s increased pace. ¡°How are you more capable than the governments of the world? They have millions of players supporting them, but you¡¯re able to stay at the head of the game with basically just yourself and Aaz¡¯Tala.¡± She frowned when Luke didn¡¯t respond. ¡°As I see it, there are three options: one, you¡¯re a seer and can see the future. Two, you¡¯re a head developer on the [Resolution] team. Three, you¡¯re really the demon lord.¡± ¡°How did you come to the conclusion of me being the demon lord from something like winning at a game?¡± Luke¡¯s expression darkened even further. Wasn¡¯t this girl¡¯s thought process too eccentric? How did Khrx even meet her? That lizard was definitely plotting against him. Fufu wasn¡¯t going to be fed tonight either. ¡°Isn¡¯t it simple? The demon lord has always been the nemesis of mankind and only the hero can defeat him,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Ordinary people stand no chance against him. If he decided to play [Resolution], he¡¯d definitely be the top player.¡± ¡°Khrx is ahead on the achievement leaderboards,¡± Luke said. ¡°We both know that¡¯s because of Lorin,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°But you, you¡¯re miles ahead of the third place person while playing the game properly. It really makes you suspect. But the real reason why I suspect you¡¯re the demon lord is that forum post Aaz¡¯Tala made.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Which one?¡± ¡°The one that¡¯s calling for all monsters to play [Resolution] and join the guild Paradise because the demon lord is leading it. And don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s roleplay! I¡¯ve seen the recruits in the training barracks¡ªthey speak in monstertongue!¡± ¡°We¡¯re very avid roleplayers,¡± Luke said with a straight face, turning to look at Anaheim. ¡°Everyone knows the demon lord died over a thousand years ago.¡± ¡°Who says he wasn¡¯t reborn? He could be biding his time and laying low! No, I¡¯m certain he is; otherwise, this stupid curse would be gone already.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not the demon lord. How many times do I have to tell you this?¡± ¡°Meet me in real life and I¡¯ll believe you!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Outside is a very scary place,¡± Luke said. He kicked open the gates of the labyrinth and stepped outside into the sunlight. He put his fingers to his lips and let out an ear-piercing whistle. A cow ran towards him from within a nearby forest and knelt in front of him. He swung one leg over the cow¡¯s back and mounted it, still holding onto the crate with the god¡¯s body inside. Before he could give the cow orders to leave, Anaheim took a seat behind him, hugging his waist. ¡°I¡¯ll make Khrx tell me where you live,¡± Anaheim said, gritting her teeth. ¡°I won¡¯t be so forgiving then!¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t know where I live,¡± Luke said. ¡°And I plan to keep it that way.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you two friends?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Luke said with a nod. The cow rose to its feet and dashed towards the forest. ¡°But Khrx is a walking disaster. Misfortune falls upon anyone¡¯s residence he visits. And he still insists he¡¯s lucky despite that.¡± ¡°Just making sure, but you know Khrx is a dragon, right? An actual dragon, not a persona.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± Luke said. ¡°How can Khrx be an actual dragon?¡± Anaheim¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°You really don¡¯t know?¡± She leaned forward, pressing her chest against Luke¡¯s back as her face crept passed his shoulder. She stared into his eyes. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Luke snorted and pressed his palm against Anaheim¡¯s face, squishing her nose and causing her to yelp. ¡°If you continue to be this annoying, I¡¯ll have my mount throw you off.¡± Anaheim ground her teeth as she leaned back and rubbed her nose. When had anyone dared to press their palm against her face like that? She leaned forward and sunk her teeth into Luke¡¯s shoulder, biting as hard as she could. ¡°The hell!?¡± Luke shouted as he wrenched his body forward. A wave of mana surged from his body, tossing Anaheim off of the cow, sending her tumbling to the ground. [Lukroix Adveign Desrigard has kicked Anaheim Miehana from the guild.] After flipping through the menu, Luke waved his hand at Anaheim. ¡°Hell¡¯s Embrace.¡± Before she could react, black flames engulfed her body, instantly killing her. Luke snorted at the ashes she left behind and rubbed his shoulder. The hero had been just as unreasonable. Clearly, her idiocy had been passed down to her descendants. He should really remove that blessing the saintess put on the hero and her lineage. It was ironic how Anaheim was calling it a curse. But to do that, he¡¯d have to leave his hiding place in reality, and if he did that, Khrx would definitely find him, which would lead to Fufu¡¯s retrieval. And until he accomplished his goals, he couldn¡¯t let Khrx reunite with Fufu. *** [Lukroix Adveign Desrigard has kicked Anaheim Miehana from the guild.] [Your lover, Anaheim Miehana, has been slain by Lukroix Adveign Desrigard.] Khrx scratched his head at the rectangular screens which appeared in front of his face. He dismissed them and shrugged. ¡°What happened?¡± Lorin asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Khrx said as he rummaged through his basket of candy. Opricles had kept his end of the deal and gave Khrx his promised reward after arriving in Tahens. Khrx had even received a request to kill barbarians around the city, which were clearly players of the settlements Lorin had destroyed as pointed out by the quest description. ¡°Luke expelled Anaheim from the guild and killed her.¡± Lorin tilted her head. ¡°Why would he do that? He seemed like a rational person.¡± Khrx shrugged. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m not sure. Maybe they were fighting over treasure. They¡¯re always together, aren¡¯t they?¡± Ring, ring. Khrx dismissed Luke¡¯s call. Ring, ring. And Anaheim¡¯s. [Your VR drive is being forcibly removed. Logging out in two seconds.] Khrx sighed. ¡°Why can¡¯t they just let me play the game in peace?¡± Instead of being given an answer, his vision went dark. *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 20. Dear Diary, Sometimes, I feel like I¡¯m not in control of my life. I¡¯ve been feeling that a lot this awakening cycle. I think more choices have been made for me than I¡¯ve made for myself. It¡¯s a very frustrating feeling. A very, very frustrating one. First, Fufu was kidnapped and I was forced to play a game. Then, the game bullied me because of my transformation that I wasn¡¯t even allowed to pick because of Luke. Now, I¡¯m caught between the quarrel of the hero¡¯s descendant and the demon lord. Despite all the good I¡¯ve done for the world, why am I so unlucky? Where are the good things that¡¯re supposed to happen to me because of my good karma? Dragons are lucky, but why do my blessings always come in the shape of misfortune? When I was just starting to enjoy the game, I was forcibly taken out of it. And I can¡¯t even do anything about it because the person who removed my helmet is an unkillable, broken, cheat-like existence. I¡¯m upset, and I miss Fufu. The next time the world starts to end, I¡¯m not going to stop it. Love, Khrx Episode 12 (1) The first thing Khrx saw when he opened his eyes was a pair of horns. His VR drive was broken, torn off unnaturally. Then Khrx saw the pair of round brown eyes on the furry white and black face. ¡°He¡¯s awake!¡± ¡°Can he save Mimi?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late for Mimi!¡± ¡°A cow?¡± Khrx asked and blinked. He looked around, but Anaheim was nowhere in sight. There were only three cows, staring at him with teary eyes. Chewed and frayed ropes lay on the ground by their feet. ¡°If he can¡¯t free us, I¡¯m going to jump out of the window.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t Anaheim?¡± Khrx asked, glancing at the tattered helmet in his hands. ¡°A cow pulled me out of [Resolution]?¡± His eyes narrowed as he bared his teeth. ¡°He¡¯s mad! Moomoo, back away.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere, Moomoo,¡± Khrx said as he lunged forward and seized the cow¡¯s horns. He twisted his body to the side and bent his back, dragging the cow to the ground. It let out a wail as it collapsed onto its side, causing the room to shake. ¡°Moomoo!¡± the other two cows shouted at the same time. ¡°Khrx!?¡± Anaheim¡¯s voice came from the kitchen. She appeared moments later, wearing her bloody apron while still holding onto a meat cleaver. She dripped gore onto the ground. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the devil! Run! Jump out the window, run!¡± the cow that Khrx was holding shouted as it thrashed its legs. ¡°Leave me behind!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t leave you, Moomoo!¡± The brown cow ran towards Khrx while the remaining black and white cow ran towards the window. Khrx snorted as he whipped his tail, smacking the brown cow to the ground. It collapsed next to Moomoo with a pained cry. ¡°Mooo, you should¡¯ve ran when you had the chance,¡± Moomoo said, tears in her eyes. The brown cow struggled, but Khrx¡¯s tail pressed against her neck, keeping her body glued to the ground. When she realized it was futile, she stopped struggling and smiled at her black and white companion. ¡°I, I have something I must tell you.¡± The brown cow took in a deep breath. ¡°I love you, Moomoo. I love you so much that I¡¯m willing to die with you.¡± ¡°We¡¯re both women!¡± Moomoo said, kicking the brown cow, Mooo. ¡°I see you as a friend, nothing more!¡± Khrx¡¯s gaze traveled back and forth over the two cows. The third cow had tried to leap out the window, but its neck got stuck. Why were there cows in Anaheim¡¯s living room? His anger faded, replaced by confusion. He smacked the sobbing brown cow¡¯s cheek. ¡°Stop crying. Rejection¡¯s normal.¡± Mooo¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Ah? How does he know?¡± ¡°Khrx?¡± Anaheim asked as she approached him. The cows renewed their struggle, thrashing and wailing on the ground. ¡°Let me take care of them real quick.¡± She raised the cleaver into the air. ¡°Wait!¡± Khrx said, throwing his body over Moomoo¡¯s. ¡°You can¡¯t kill them.¡± He pointed at the third cow, who was still stuck in the window frame. ¡°You can kill that one.¡± Anaheim furrowed her brow but lowered her cleaver. Khrx sighed. ¡°If I know something¡¯s name, I can¡¯t eat it. Besides, their relationship is so tragic. Poor Mooo, rejected by Moomoo.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Moomoo¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Our friend over there¡¯s name is Meow.¡± ¡°Did the cow just meow?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°That¡¯s right, my name is Meow!¡± the third cow said. Anaheim¡¯s face paled, and she swung her cleaver, bisecting the third cow without even touching it. A rain of blood and intestines covered the living room. ¡°Unnatural! Absolutely unnatural! Cows don¡¯t meow!¡± Khrx and the two cows stared at Anaheim. Khrx had even forgot to hold the cows down, but they weren¡¯t moving. Anaheim placed her hands on her hips and glanced at Khrx. ¡°Hmm? Want to tell me what¡¯s going on now? I decided to make some lunch since Luke pushed me out of the game for three days. And I come outside to this?¡± ¡°This is Moomoo. This is Mooo,¡± Khrx said, patting each cow respectively. ¡°You named them?¡± Anaheim asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°No, they told me their names,¡± Khrx said, crossing his arms. ¡°¡­Can dragons talk to cows?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Khrx said with a nod. He blinked and paused. Then he glanced down at the cows. ¡°Hey. Do you two speak dragon?¡± Both cows shook their heads. ¡°How about Rokean?¡± The cows shook their heads again. Khrx tilted his head. ¡°Then how do I understand you two?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you a druid?¡± Mooo asked while swallowing. ¡°I can smell a lot of nature around you.¡± Moomoo whispered, ¡°You forgot to mention he smells like death too.¡± Khrx stared before placing his hand on the brown cow¡¯s head. ¡°Let me try something.¡± He closed his eyes and tried to activate his skill, Nature¡¯s Spirit. A second later, his vision returned, but he hadn¡¯t opened his eyes. He saw an adorable child with cat ears, pressing a palm onto his face. Khrx deactivated the skill, and his vision turned black once again. He opened his eyes and removed his hand from the cow¡¯s head. ¡°Uh, Ana. Do skills carry over from [Resolution]? Cause mine did.¡± Anaheim bit her lower lip. ¡°I guess they do, since yours did¡­? Wait, I think Natasha was talking about that on her daily show.¡± She ran into the kitchen and turned up the volume on her radio. ¡°¡­and this isn¡¯t an isolated case?¡± Natasha¡¯s voice rang through the living room. ¡°There¡¯s been more people than just her who¡¯ve experienced this as well?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± a male voice said. It wasn¡¯t the self-proclaimed expert, Sam¡¯s. ¡°Like how our physical bodies influenced our avatars during creation, our avatars influence our physical bodies. It was in the tutorial. Stats gained inside [Resolution] are reflected in reality. It¡¯s the same for skills. After all, what is a skill? It¡¯s a technique, a way to manipulate mana, a chant to call upon a higher being. If we learn to do it in [Resolution], where the environment is exactly the same as reality, why couldn¡¯t we do it in reality as well?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this big news?¡± ¡°Judging by the number of forum posts online, you could call this breaking news. It¡¯s even bigger than the moon turning black. Those who¡¯ve been hesitating to join [Resolution] are definitely going to join now. If they don¡¯t, they¡¯ll fall behind their peers.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Natasha cleared her throat. ¡°Why don¡¯t we move on to discussing the progress of the game? Compared to my previous self-proclaimed expert, you¡¯re a lot more knowledgeable. What are your thoughts on the guild Paradise? Are they going to be the ones to win the game?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too early to say, Natasha. Victory in the early game doesn¡¯t guarantee victory in the endgame. It¡¯s possible Paradise¡¯s unique champion of the god buffs are tailored for the early game. It¡¯s also possible Paradise sacrificed future gains for early game growth. While they might be the first to create an empire, they¡¯re certainly not going to be the last. It¡¯s hard to say whether or not they can increase their lead, especially since they¡¯re a multinational guild. Their manpower can¡¯t compare to a country. If the United States of Amireca decided to draft all their citizens into their guild, wouldn¡¯t they be able to easily crush Paradise?¡± ¡°But six countries have already been thrown out of the running by Paradise. According to that system announcement, there¡¯s only two weeks left before guild charters are removed from the game. Those countries who¡¯ve had their bases wiped out have no chance at a comeback, not with the appearance of city-states. Anyone who hasn¡¯t joined a guild is being marked as a barbarian. It¡¯s a little embarrassing to admit, but I was killed by a city-state because of my non-affiliation.¡± ¡°Even if six countries have been defeated by Paradise, there are still 294 left. I¡¯m willing to bet my soul on Paradise losing the game. The final victor will be a country. The world has a higher chance of ending than Paradise has a chance of winning.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say such ominous things when the moon¡¯s still not back to normal, Jordan. And now, a word from out sponsors.¡± Anaheim turned off the radio. ¡°See? Skills do carry over. Khrx?¡± She stepped out of the kitchen. Khrx had already entered [Resolution] using Anaheim¡¯s VR drive when it was confirmed his skills carried over. The two cows were hiding behind him, glancing at Anaheim with eyes full of fear. Anaheim shook her head. ¡°Mooo and Moomoo, huh? I never thought I¡¯d have two pet cows.¡± Episode 12 (2) Khrx was greeted by the screams and wails of dying people, the crackling of flaming buildings and sizzling flesh, and the mad laughter of the angel holding his limp body in her arms. Wind swirled around him, pushing his limbs back and forth in the air as he dangled from Lorin¡¯s grasp. His tail twitched a few times. ¡°Uh, Lorin?¡± The fallen angel¡¯s laughter ceased. The screams and wails continued, but they were growing weaker than the sound of the flames. Lorin hovered in the air as she turned Khrx around to face her. ¡°Khrx? You¡¯re alive! Are you alright? Is everything okay? How do you feel? Don¡¯t worry. Those underhanded crooks who poisoned you have all been burned alive.¡± ¡°Crooks? Poisoned?¡± Khrx pressed Lorin¡¯s nose with his finger, causing her to flinch and let out a strange gasping sound. ¡°You read my skills. I have Poison Body; I can¡¯t be poisoned.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Lorin asked, blinking away the tears that had formed. ¡°You¡¯re right. But why did you collapse after eating their candy then? Was it a paralyzing agent then? An anesthetic?¡± ¡°No, I was logged out by a cow,¡± Khrx said. He sighed as he wiggled around to face the burning city beneath them. His expression darkened. ¡°Why did you immediately resort to violence?¡± Lorin let out a wry laugh as she scratched the back of her head. ¡°I overreacted a tiny bit.¡± She pointed her free palm towards the city and said, ¡°Ice Cage!¡± Tendrils of ice rose out of the flames before melting down into water. Within moments, the fire came to a halt, replaced by the hissing and rising of steam. The whimpers of the Tahenians filled the air, followed by aggrieved cries. Lorin bit her lower lip. ¡°Do you think they accept apologies? It was just a misunderstanding.¡± Khrx smacked his forehead with his palm. Over two-thirds of the city had been destroyed, leaving the walls and the buildings near them intact. The ground was scorched black, and skeletal, coal-like frames protruded out of rubble. There was one patch of untouched land near the center of the city with a group of seven people huddling together, a barrier of light surrounding them. Khrx pointed at the barrier. ¡°Those seem like the leaders. Land by them.¡± Lorin nodded and descended, not questioning Khrx¡¯s decisions because she knew she had made a mistake. The seven people screamed and huddled closer together like penguins when they saw Lorin tap on their barrier like she was knocking on a door. When they didn¡¯t respond after closing their eyes, Lorin snorted and pressed a glowing finger against the white light. ¡°Barrier Crusher.¡± Like paper, her finger tore through and ripped the protective magic to shreds. Khrx covered his ears as the Tahenians¡¯ screams were no longer suppressed by the barrier. ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°P-please, don¡¯t kill us! We surrender!¡± The seven people dropped to their knees, their foreheads pressed to the ground. A rectangular box appeared in front of Khrx. [You¡¯ve conquered the city-state of Tahens!] There were two buttons beneath it: [Keep], [Raze]. Khrx pressed [Keep]. Wouldn¡¯t razing their city be too cruel? Besides, there wouldn¡¯t be any candy if he did.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. [The empire I Can Pick has conquered the city-state of Tahens!] [City-states that have knowledge of I Can Pick and Tahens grow wary.] Ring, ring. Khrx sighed and answered the phone. ¡°Hey, Luke. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Hey, Luke, what¡¯s up!? I should be asking you that! What the hell are you doing to my empire!?¡± Khrx reared his head away from the floating call interface. ¡°There should be a way to lower the volume¡­¡± ¡°No! You don¡¯t get to cheapen my anger by reducing the volume of my shouting,¡± Luke said. A sigh came after. ¡°Alright. I can forgive your terrible, terrible naming sense. But what the hell are you doing conquering city-states? Are you trying to portray Paradise as a warmongering guild? I¡¯m trying to establish a positive image here.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­, that was an accident,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Things just kind of happened that way, you know? I logged out for five minutes, logged back in, and what do you know, the city¡¯s on fire. It couldn¡¯t be helped.¡± A string of curses filled the air. Khrx coughed. ¡°Anyway, did you know skills carry over from here to reality?¡± ¡°Skills? Of course. Why wouldn¡¯t they?¡± Luke asked. ¡°Your skills carried over from reality to here after all.¡± ¡°Huh? None of my skills carried over though,¡± Khrx said, furrowing his brow. ¡°And my strength didn¡¯t carry over either. Which was completely your fault. You knew the cooldown for my transformation skill was a century-long, but you made me turn into this adorable bundle of helpless cuteness.¡± ¡°None of your skills carried over, but you burned down a city-state, what?¡± ¡°No, that was Lorin,¡± Khrx said. ¡°She burned down the city-state because she thought they poisoned me. I saved the city-state, and they gave me the option to keep the city or raze it. Being the savior that I am, I chose to keep it. The selfless dragon who saved a city full of people. Mm, I like the sound of that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re an idiot,¡± Luke said. ¡°The city-state wouldn¡¯t have been in danger in the first place if it weren¡¯t for you. But why were you asking about skills carrying over? Did you learn some?¡± ¡°Yeah, I learned four mythic skills and that one legendary one from being Theda¡¯s champion, but I already knew how to do Blissful Rest,¡± Khrx said. ¡°So I guess I learned four new skills. Where can I learn more? You¡¯re number two on the achievement points¡¯ leaderboard. You should know, right?¡± ¡°Four mythic skills? What the hell. I¡¯ve only learned a common skill, horseback riding,¡± Luke said. ¡°And that one you got for being Theda¡¯s champion. Just how did you do that? Didn¡¯t you spend more time out of game than in game?¡± ¡°I was kidnapped to the underworld because I died three times,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Which was your fault. Things happened, and now the goddess of the underworld is roaming reality. She¡¯s the one who turned the moon into a mana vessel.¡± ¡°¡­You really are the dragon of the apocalypse,¡± Luke muttered. ¡°Terrible things always happen to the world when you wake up.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not right,¡± Khrx said, furrowing his brow. ¡°I wake up due to terrible things happening in the world, and I always swoop in at the last moment to save it. Though I made up my mind to do nothing the next time the world starts to end.¡± The seven people exchanged glances and stared at Khrx while Lorin watched over them with her arms crossed. ¡°O mighty leader,¡± one of the seven said, bowing towards Lorin. ¡°What are your orders?¡± Lorin glanced at Khrx, but he was too preoccupied with his phone call. She nodded at the kneeling man. ¡°Rebuild. From now on, you¡¯re part of the empire of I Can Pick.¡± ¡°Tell them I¡¯ll send a governor after they¡¯re done rebuilding,¡± Luke said, cutting in. ¡°After you¡¯re done rebuilding, a governor will take command of the city,¡± Lorin said. She glared at the men, causing lightning to trickle down her body. ¡°If you dare rebel, know that today can easily be repeated.¡± ¡°We understand, O might one!¡± Lorin scratched her head. She wanted to apologize, but the mood had turned solemn and it wouldn¡¯t feel appropriate to bring up the misunderstanding. So instead, she nodded again before retreating behind Khrx. Khrx ended his call with Luke and opened up his favorite search engine, Bongle. ¡°List ¡­ of ¡­ discovered ¡­ skills ¡­ in ¡­ [Resolution].¡± The interface flickered, and Khrx pressed on the first result. ¡°It¡¯d be nice if I obtained a faster typing skill, but I¡¯ll take what I can get. Let¡¯s see¡­¡± Lorin smiled as Khrx¡¯s eyes lit up. Episode 12 (3) Khrx met Lorin¡¯s gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s go to a lake. There should be a lake nearby, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lorin said with a nod. ¡°The stream from Swift¡¯s Peak ends up in a lake near the base of the mountain. Shall we head there right now, master?¡± Khrx ignored the fact Lorin only called him master when she had done something wrong. ¡°Mm, let¡¯s go. I found a perfect quest.¡± Without sparing a second glance at the seven kneeling figures, Khrx climbed up Lorin¡¯s dress and into her arms. The fallen angel spread her wings and soared into the air with a bright smile on her face. ¡°What kind of quest did you find?¡± Lorin asked, lowering her head to stare at Khrx¡¯s ears. They were twitching and swiveling in the breeze as Khrx read from a rectangular screen. ¡°We¡¯re going to help a water spirit,¡± Khrx said. ¡°There¡¯s this person on this forum who said they received a quest that gave them a skill which increases natural recovery by 10%. And water spirits are commonly found in lakes. There¡¯s three other people who reported the same results.¡± ¡°Is 10% a lot?¡± Lorin asked. ¡°A sword wound can take up to two weeks to heal. With that 10% recovery, you¡¯ll save a day. And don¡¯t you have Blissful Rest?¡± ¡°Never underestimate tiny percentages!¡± Khrx said. ¡°They add up. One percent here, another percent there, maybe a couple from somewhere else, and the next thing you know, your recovery¡¯s increased by 100% or more.¡± Lorin bit her lower lip. As expected from a negative intelligence child. But who was she to crush his dreams? ¡°You¡¯re right, I was mistaken. We¡¯re getting close to the lake. You can see it over there.¡± Khrx tore his gaze away from Bongle¡¯s interface. Swift¡¯s Peak was really large. From way up in the sky, it looked like a pimple protruding out of the ground. A green, uneven pimple with tiny figures walking about. A line of blue flowed down the side of the mountain, forming a raging river to the south that ended up in a lake nearby. ¡°That looks like a perfect place for a water spirit to reside.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before the duo landed by the lakefront. Some tengu, humanoid creatures with long noses and feathers for hair, were loading up barrels of water to be taken up the mountain. They threaded rods through the handles and lifted two barrels each, balancing the rods on their backs and shoulders. A few waved at Khrx and bowed while murmuring, ¡°Senior Officer Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl.¡± Khrx¡¯s chest puffed up as he climbed out of Lorin¡¯s embrace. He waved back at the tengu as he approached the lake. When he reached the edge of the water, he placed his hands on his hips and shouted, ¡°Come on out, water spirit!¡± The tengu stopped and stared. The surface of the lake fell still, as the surroundings became silent. Khrx waited with his tail drifting back and forth, but there was no response. He dipped one foot into the water and swirled it around like he was melting a cube of sugar into hot coffee. ¡°I said come out!¡± ¡°Who dares disturb my slumber!?¡± a deep voice filled the air as the surface of the water churned. Waves bobbed up and down as a vortex appeared at the center of the lake, causing the nearby tengu to retreat. They ran back towards the mountain, even the ones who had yet to fill their barrels. A giant transparent hand rose out of the vortex, revealing an arm, an elbow, then a shoulder, followed by a massive torso. A second arm rose out of the lake, then another, and another, until a five-armed torso with red eyes where a person¡¯s nipples should¡¯ve been appeared, hovering over the vortex. The torso¡¯s belly button split open, and the thunderous voice boomed once more, ¡°Was it you!?¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Khrx nodded. ¡°Oh, you look like someone with lots of problems,¡± he said, reciting the generic quest-begging line incorrectly. ¡°Do you need some assistance?¡± The water spirit stared at Khrx with its unblinking red eyes. ¡°The only problem I have ¡­ is someone disturbing my slumber!¡± One of the spirit¡¯s arms rose up above Khrx and slammed down. Lorin leaped towards Khrx and hugged him, covering him with her wings while summoning a mana barrier above her. The spirit¡¯s palm collided against the barrier and stopped in place. ¡°How rude!¡± Khrx said as he shook his fist at the spirit from underneath Lorin¡¯s wings. ¡°I just wanted to help you solve your issues.¡± He tugged on Lorin¡¯s arm. ¡°Zap him for me.¡± Lorin¡¯s eyes glowed white as she thrust her palm towards the spirit. ¡°Chain Lightning!¡± A lightning bolt rushed out of Lorin¡¯s arm, striking the spirit¡¯s torso. It let out a scream as the lightning bolt enveloped its body in a web of electricity, bouncing off its arms and back to its torso. The spirit¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°You dare¡ª¡± ¡°More,¡± Khrx said, tugging on Lorin¡¯s sleeve. ¡°More lightning.¡± ¡°Chain Lightning! Chain Lightning! Chain Lightning! Chain Lightning! Chain Lightning!¡± Lorin ceased her spells only when more lightning than water could be seen on the surface of the spirit¡¯s body. It let out a miserable cry as vapor rose off of it, disappearing into the sky as the spirit shrank. ¡°S-stop! I¡ª¡± Khrx cleared his throat, cutting off the spirit¡¯s words. ¡°You look like someone with lots of problems. Do you need some assistance? Maybe, healing some injuries caused by lightning?¡± ¡°This is abuse! Flagrant, outright abuse! I¡ª¡± Khrx frowned. ¡°More lightning?¡± Lorin asked, her palm crackling with electricity. ¡°More lightning.¡± The spirit¡¯s screams filled the air once more. Soon, the once massive spirit had shrunk down to half of Khrx¡¯s height. It almost looked like an upside-down octopus with arms instead of tentacles. It quivered as Khrx snorted and said, ¡°You look like someone with lots of problems. Do you need some assistance?¡± ¡°Y-yes,¡± the spirit said, its voice smaller than before. ¡°A monster is trying to kill me; please, get rid of it.¡± [Quest acquired!] [Kill yourself.] [Rewards: A skill.] Khrx sighed. ¡°More lightning,¡± he said, his voice defeated. He shook his head as white lights flashed, striking the spirit. ¡°Who knew obtaining new skills would be so difficult?¡± When the spirit was the size of his foot, he gestured for Lorin to stop. ¡°You look like someone with lots of problems. Give me a proper quest or I¡¯ll wipe you off the face of the planet.¡± The spirit let out a whimper. ¡°I really don¡¯t have any problems though¡­. I mean! Yes! Yes! Right away!¡± Lorin snuffed the lightning dancing on her fingertips and patted Khrx¡¯s head. [Quest acquired!] [Water spirits dislike creatures with lungs. Remove the carcass of the buffalo that fell into the lake.] [Rewards: A skill.] ¡°Great!¡± Khrx said. ¡°What¡¯s a buffalo?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a type of cow,¡± Lorin said. ¡°I¡¯ll remove it. You don¡¯t like water, right?¡± ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡± Khrx asked. As a red dragon, magma was much more preferable than water. Water was cold and slimy and disgusting and slipped between his scales. He didn¡¯t know why Sneksnek liked living in the ocean when there were so many magma chambers available. ¡°Just a guess,¡± Lorin said. Only some large cats naturally liked water. And Khrx was pretty small. Lorin slipped off her dress, placed her weapons down, and leapt into the water, but not before glaring at the spirit to make sure it wouldn¡¯t try anything fishy. Khrx hummed to himself as he found a nice patch of sunlight and lay down, splaying his arms and legs. He preferred staying holed up in his underground room, but sunbathing every so often wasn¡¯t a bad feeling. He should¡¯ve done it more in his dragon form while the humes didn¡¯t have their giant missiles of exploding nonsense. Episode 12 (4) ¡°Done!¡± Lorin stepped out of the lake and tossed a skeletal carcass onto the ground. It really did look like a cow. [Quest complete!] [Congratulations on completing an easy quest. Are you proud?] [Rewards: Water Spirit¡¯s Recovery] ¡°Good job,¡± Khrx said. He read the description of his newly gained skill while Lorin put on her clothes. [Skill acquired: Water Spirit¡¯s Recovery] [Rarity: Common] [Passive: Natural recovery increases by 1%.] Khrx frowned. ¡°Common?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lorin asked as she toweled off her hair with a layer of mana. She glanced at the carcass. ¡°Was that not it?¡± ¡°No, that was it,¡± Khrx said as he stood up. He placed his hands on his hips and glared at the silent water spirit. ¡°What are you trying to pull? Why is the recovery so low?¡± The water spirit whimpered. ¡°Is, is that not satisfactory?¡± ¡°No! Bongle told me I¡¯d get a 10% recovery skill. Why is this only 1%?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­, I can¡¯t,¡± the water spirit said. ¡°Not unless you accomplish a difficult quest.¡± Khrx snorted. ¡°Then why¡¯d you give me such an easy quest? Give me a harder one.¡± The water spirit sighed. ¡°I can only give two quests per month.¡± ¡°Okay. Then give me the second one,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Look at my adorable face and try to refuse.¡± ¡°I, I already gave you two quests¡­.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Khrx tilted his head. ¡°Wait. Don¡¯t tell me.¡± He opened his menu and navigated to his quest log. There were two quests inside: [Exterminate the Barbarians Around Tahens] and [Kill Yourself]. ¡°Gah!¡± He narrowed his eyes at the water spirit. ¡°What skill will I get for killing myself?¡± ¡°Uh, 50% increase in natural recovery, but you¡¯d be dead,¡± the water spirit said. It lowered its whole body. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be stronger than me, or I definitely wouldn¡¯t have tried to squish you.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound very sincere,¡± Lorin said, crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°I sincerely regret provoking you two!¡± Khrx clicked his tongue. ¡°Zap him.¡± The spirit straightened its back. ¡°W-wait!¡± ¡°Chain Lightning.¡± And the spirit slumped over again. ¡°Is there something else you can give me?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°Anything to improve my stats or a title.¡± The spirit didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Did it die?¡± Lorin asked. ¡°No. There was no screen announcing its death.¡± Khrx pouted. ¡°Zap him again.¡± ¡°Chain Lightning.¡± The spirit screamed as it squirmed. ¡°Why!? Why are you doing this to me!?¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. [Title acquired: Bully] [Spirits don¡¯t cry. You made a spirit cry. If you aren¡¯t a bully, then what are you? +1 Strength, -1 Intelligence, -1 Charm.] ¡°Mm. That¡¯s a bit weak, but still acceptable,¡± Khrx said. Maybe once his charm decreased to a certain point, he¡¯d be treated like an actual person instead of a talking plush doll. But it¡¯d be a long while to accumulate that much negative charm. He shook his head. Being a plush doll wasn¡¯t too bad either; people gave him free candy. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for skills and stats,¡± the spirit said, taking the initiative, ¡°then ¡­ there¡¯s another water spirit further south from here. In fact, there¡¯s lots of water spirits, hundreds, thousands even.¡± The spirit continued when Khrx tilted his head. ¡°The Green Sea. There might even be a water elemental king. His quests are bound to give you a lot!¡± Lorin whispered to Khrx, ¡°I think this is a trap.¡± Khrx blinked. ¡°Of course it¡¯s a trap. If you fought a water elemental king, could you win?¡± Lorin shook her head. ¡°No. It should be classified as a territory owner, what Luke calls raid bosses.¡± ¡°What does Luke call you? Mini-boss?¡± Lorin shrugged and responded with a straight face, ¡°Maniacal sadistic woman.¡± Khrx scratched his head. ¡°And that¡¯s not stronger than a raid boss? Weird.¡± He turned his gaze back onto the water elemental. ¡°Give me something that¡¯ll make the elemental king feel friendly towards me.¡± ¡°If I refuse¡­, will you zap me?¡± Khrx nodded. ¡°You learn fast.¡± ¡°I, I can only give it under a certain condition,¡± the water spirit said. ¡°You have to save me from death.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy. How many more Chain Lightnings do you think it¡¯ll take to kill you?¡± The spirit paled. ¡°Please, no.¡± It whimpered when Khrx glanced at Lorin. ¡°Four. Four more. If I get hit by five, I really will die.¡± ¡°Chain Lightning him four times,¡± Khrx said to Lorin. Four Chain Lightnings later, the spirit was the size of a water droplet, hovering in the air with salt streaming from its red eyes. ¡°Chain Lightning him again,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Chain Lightni¡ª¡± Khrx pushed the back of Lorin¡¯s knee, causing her to stumble. ¡°Stop! You can¡¯t just kill a spirit like that!¡± He turned his head towards the spirit. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just save your life?¡± The water spirit sobbed. [Title acquired: Friend of Spirits] [You saved a spirit¡¯s life! ¡­You monster. Charm increased by 20 when interacting with spirits.] [Title acquired: Big Bully] [Were you not hugged enough by your parents when you were little? +2 Strength, -2 Intelligence, -2 Charm.] Khrx smiled at his new titles before climbing into Lorin¡¯s arms. ¡°To the south!¡± The duo leapt into the air, leaving behind a crying water elemental and a group of awestruck tengu. *** Luke frowned as an incoming call appeared, blocking his view. His eyes flickered, and the rectangle shrank while lowering. He was on horseback, facing a group of a two hundred men and women. A canyon separated them, connected by a single bridge. His forehead wrinkled as he squinted at them. Their clothes sported a blue circle with a yellow star inside of it. ¡°Thiopeians?¡± The group on the other side stared at him, unmoving. The people at the front were holding torches, and the bridge¡¯s surface gleamed with a layer of oil. Luke shook his head. Lorin¡¯s wanton destruction finally found its way back to the guild, huh? Thiopeia was one of the countries she had destroyed. If it weren¡¯t for the rules preventing them from creating one settlement at the start, it wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal, but Lorin extinguished their chances of victory within a month of the game opening. Luke decided to answer the call that was still ringing in the corner of his vision. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Lukroix Adveign Desrigard?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°I am Aric Stone, the president of Regmany.¡± ¡°President Stone,¡± Luke said. ¡°Are you contacting me because of the army standing on the other side of this bridge?¡± ¡°Army? Bridge? So they acted faster than I expected. Who was it? The Zarbilians? The Sursians?¡± ¡°By asking, you mean to tell me you¡¯re not a part of this plot,¡± Luke said. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°My people were cleanly defeated by your fallen angel. It¡¯s impossible for Regmany to win. What are your thoughts on forming an alliance? When you win the game, you¡¯ll propose our wishes to the world congress as well.¡± ¡°You want to subordinate yourselves under me,¡± Luke said. ¡°I¡¯m just a country-less man. You know that, correct?¡± ¡°Yes. But you¡¯re also the first to form an empire.¡± Luke smiled. ¡°As a show of goodwill, I¡¯ll let you see something fun.¡± He pressed manipulated through the call interface, opening up a video chat. He turned the screen and gestured towards the men on the other side. ¡°The Thiopeian army. Watch them fall. Hell¡¯s Embrace, for Jax!¡± Aric Stone swallowed as screams filled the air. Defeating Luke and seizing his empire, Aric had thought about it. It was a good thing it was only a thought. Episode 12 (5) Khrx sighed, causing Lorin to glance down at the child in her arms. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, slowing her flight as she spread her wings and glided with the sun bearing down on her back. She cast a large shadow over the hills, causing people to raise their heads. ¡°Collecting every skill is going to take forever,¡± Khrx said. ¡°And I¡¯m impatient.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say every little bit adds up?¡± Lorin asked. ¡°Bigger bits add up faster,¡± Khrx said. He bent his knee to his chest and reached for his toes, rubbing his foot through his onesie. ¡°I hope I can find a skill that¡¯ll help me find Fufu.¡± Lorin raised her head, recalling the meteorite that fell the last time Khrx rubbed his feet. She squinted, making sure there was nothing flying towards her. Just in case, she summoned a barrier as well. ¡°Did it work?¡± Khrx shrugged. ¡°Luck works in mysterious ways. Isn¡¯t it weird how getting struck by lightning is considered unlucky, but getting struck by lightning when you want to get struck by lightning is considered lucky? It makes no sense.¡± Lorin tilted her head. ¡°Why would someone want to be struck by lightning?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point,¡± Khrx said. ¡°You¡¯re missing the point completely. Think about it. What I¡¯m trying to say is what one person considers lucky may not be considered lucky by another person even if it¡¯s the same event and has the same probability of occurring.¡± He wrinkled his nose and muttered, ¡°Like all those abusive blessings I got from the underworld.¡± ¡°I think I understand what you¡¯re trying to tell me,¡± Lorin said, her face blanching. A shadow covered her body as a white object plummeted towards her from above the clouds. ¡°Hmm?¡± Khrx blinked as the shadow fell over his eyes as well. He raised his head, glancing up at the falling figure. It looked like a white and black blob with wings. It grew larger and larger as it fell towards the duo. Lorin increased the strength of her barrier as much as she could while flying forward at her top speed, yet the object was like a homing pigeon, intent on striking her out of the sky. ¡°Your luck is like a djinn¡¯s wish,¡± Lorin said, swerving to the right. The object continued to cast its shadow on her. She shifted Khrx to her right arm and drew her shield, raising it over her head. Before Khrx could respond, the falling object crashed into Lorin¡¯s barrier and shield, shattering both instantly. The fallen angel gritted her teeth as she curled her wings around Khrx, shielding him as they plummeted towards the ground. The people below screamed as Lorin¡¯s body crashed into the earth and created a crater, shooting grass and soil into the air. The object fell on top of her, audible cracking sounds jetting out of Lorin¡¯s wings. She groaned as she rolled the object off and released her hold on Khrx. Khrx sat up and shook himself off like a wet dog. He glanced to his right and froze when the white and black object let out a cry. It was a cow. A winged cow with one white wing and one black wing. It had a pair of red horns that curved out of its snout like a rhinoceros¡¯. [Quest acquired!] [A cloud pusher from Duloc¡¯s herd had a sudden wing cramp and fell out of the sky, obtaining severe injuries to both its wings! Duloc, the god of the sky, hopes you can restore his trusty servant to full health. Please note that cloud pushers are extremely tasty. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if, say, a world-ending beast catches its scent and decides to pursue it. It¡¯s also important to note that a cloud pusher¡¯s scent encompasses the world and can only be hidden when it¡¯s pushing a cloud. Prevent the cloud pusher from being eaten and return it to the skies!] You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.[Rewards: Two mythic rarity skills. 10,000 Achievement Points.] ¡°Are you alright, Khrx?¡± Lorin asked. She winced as she sat up. Thankfully, it was daytime and she was flying over foreign soil, bringing her constitution up to 100. The only injury she had was from the cloud pusher landing on her wings, but other than that, she was fine. Khrx nodded. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Both Lorin and the cloud pusher responded at the same time. Khrx finished reading the quest description. Then he stared at the cloud pusher. A faint scent tickled his nose, causing his stomach to gurgle and drool to pool in his mouth. He swallowed his spit and took a step towards the winged cow. There was just something so ¡­ enticing about it that caused Khrx to wet his lips with his tongue. ¡°T-the quest,¡± the cloud pusher said as it took a step back, its eyes wide and tearful. It tried to flap its wings, but only the black wing moved¡ªthe white one hung uselessly at its side. The cow whimpered and took another step back as Khrx advanced. ¡°Protection quest!¡± Khrx blinked hard and shook his head. He blinked hard again, but when he opened his eyes, they were pink. ¡°Mm. Protection. Right. My stomach¡¯s very safe, you know? No one¡¯s ever taken anything out of there before. Let me show you how spacious it is.¡± The cow let out a cry as it turned around and sprinted up the slope of the crater, tears streaming down its eyes. How unlucky was it to encounter a world-ending beast the instant it left its cloud, falling on it no less? What cruel creator designed cloud pushers to smell so alluring? Khrx lunged forward and grabbed the cow¡¯s tail, surprisingly bringing it down to the ground. With his added strength from Paradise¡¯s guild champion bonuses, the cloud pusher didn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡°Um. Khrx?¡± Lorin asked, hesitant to approach her master. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want the skills from the quest?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been tricked by too many high achievement point quests,¡± Khrx said, recalling the quests involving Lorin. ¡°I¡¯m not falling for it again. They¡¯re clearly designed to fail.¡± He crawled up the side of the winged cow and straddled it, forcing it onto its side. ¡°And I¡¯ll definitely get something good from eating this!¡± The cloud pusher struggled, flailing its wings and legs, but Khrx lunged forward with his mouth wide open. Lorin winced as she turned her head, a fountain of blood shooting into the air. The cloud pusher let out a frantic moo as blood pooled underneath its body. ¡°B-but still,¡± Lorin said. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you at least try?¡± Khrx shook his head, unable to speak because of the mouthful of deliciousness stuffed in his cheeks. His eyes were completely red by this point, and he ignored the screens flashing by. [You¡¯ve slain a beloved creature of the god of the sky, Duloc. +1,000 Achievement Points.] [The flesh of a cloud pusher is extremely beneficial. +10 Strength.] [The blood of a cloud pusher is extremely poisonous. Your poison body resists the negative effects, benefiting you instead. +10 Constitution.] [Title acquired: Myth Slayer] [You¡¯ve slain a mythical creature. Fear effects applied against you are reduced by 50%.] [Title acquired: Brash] [The one who slaps the face of a god, is he reckless or brave? +5 Strength, -20 Intelligence.] [Title acquired: Cursed by Duloc] [All clouds rain on you. As long as you are outside, a cloud will form above you. I hope you like water; if not, you better learn to enjoy it. Flight speed is reduced by 75%.] [Not only did you refuse to help a god, you did the exact opposite of what he requested.] [Skill acquired: Undaunted] [Rarity: Mythic] [Passive: All crowd control effects are reduced by 50%. This ability is stackable.] [Your guild has incurred the wrath of a god. City-states, empires, and churches that worship Duloc automatically declare war against your guild. Current hostile factions (discovered): Great Tribish Guild.] [The guild Great Tribish has declared war on the empire I Can Pick.] Lightning flashed across the sky as the clouds turned black. Lorin gulped as she distanced herself from Khrx. She already knew what was coming next. Surprisingly, Khrx had managed to strip the cloud pusher down to its bones, completely unaware of his surroundings. Perhaps that was why he didn¡¯t even make a sound as his body was incinerated in an instant by a black lightning bolt. [You have died.] *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 21. Dear Diary, I thought cookies tasted like heaven. I was wrong, so terribly wrong. Today, I realized what heaven actually tasted like. I can¡¯t even begin to describe it. The aroma. The flavor. The ecstasy. When I rescue Fufu, I¡¯ll definitely bring her to [Resolution] to hunt cloud pushers. I know she¡¯ll love eating them. I just hope no conflicts arise between her and Lorin. Lorin¡¯s a bit possessive. Love, Khrx Episode 13 (1) Anaheim tied her hair into a ponytail as she approached the door. She walked past Khrx, who was still sitting motionlessly in the lover¡¯s pod. She pressed a button on the wall near the shoe rack, and her sliding metal front door opened without a sound. A voice greeted her, accompanying a golem holding a person-sized package. ¡°Mr. Lrvnjl?¡± ¡°He¡¯s inside,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°I¡¯ll take that package off your hands.¡± She signed her name onto a projected screen and lugged the package inside while frowning. The last time a person-sized package had arrived, Theda entered the world. Was this another shell? Khrx couldn¡¯t be thinking about bringing that angel out, could he? Anaheim shook her head before plopping down onto her couch, pressing a button to summon a holographic newsroom. The two cows that Khrx adopted approached her with weary expressions before watching the news broadcast. Anaheim sighed as she flipped through the news channels of different countries as well, hoping for some disaster to have taken place somewhere in the world. Cows were expensive to buy, and her main occupation was that of a mercenary. She stopped pressing the remote as a desolate scene came into view: wrinkled corpses littering the streets, a black smog drifting above the city, and a woman with skin so pale it was almost blue standing in the center, holding a parasol to shield herself from the sun. ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­¡± The woman on the projection suddenly looked up, staring straight into Anaheim¡¯s eyes. Anaheim flinched as a shadowy claw flew towards her. When it seemed like the claw was about to break out of the projection, the hologram turned fuzzy instead. Evidently, the news satellite had been destroyed. ¡°Yup, that¡¯s Theda.¡± Anaheim sighed and shook her head. If she wanted to stop that goddess, she¡¯d have to fly across the world to Garentina. It¡¯d take at least six hours, and Theda would probably be gone by then. Of course, there were teleportation arrays set up, but those were expensive. She was trying to make money, not lose some. Why couldn¡¯t a disaster-level threat settle down somewhere and be defeated by her? Then she¡¯d make bank. Anaheim furrowed her brow and approached Khrx, crouching down as she opened the pod. Her hand trembled, and she hesitated before reaching forward, giving one of Khrx¡¯s feet a good squeeze and rub. Khrx flinched as his helmet slats opened, revealing his eyes. He took off his VR drive and stared at Anaheim, who was still holding his foot in her hand. ¡°¡­What are you doing?¡± ¡°Dragons have lucky feet, right?¡± Anaheim asked, her face slightly red as she retracted her hand. ¡°I was just hoping for some luck.¡± ¡°Breaking news! A disaster-level threat has appeared in North Rokea!¡± The news hologram flickered, switching to the scene of a giant gorilla with blades protruding from its elbows and knees. It was at least eight-feet-tall, and it was pounding its chest while howling as it stood atop the wreckage of what used to be a house. Out of nowhere, the gorilla retrieved a two-foot-long banana and munched on it.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the raid boss Luke killed?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°Was it based off a beast from reality?¡± She shook her head before playing around with the watch on her wrist. ¡°Hey, hey. Mr. President, it¡¯s Anaheim. For a small fee of a three million euros, I¡¯ll take care of that disaster-level threat in your country. As long as your special forces can hold it down for an hour, I guarantee there¡¯ll be no casualties once I arrive.¡± ¡°Ms. Hero,¡± a tired voice said. ¡°Don¡¯t you think three million euros is too much?¡± ¡°Too much? You think it¡¯s too much? Do you know how much a cow costs?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never bought a cow before. But what does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°While we¡¯re wasting time negotiating, your people are suffering. Look at the news. That gorilla¡¯s definitely up to no good,¡± Anaheim said. Khrx glanced at the hologram. The gorilla was squatting over a well, doing its business while still munching on its banana. ¡°Fine. Come, come. Quickly take care of this gorilla for me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve recorded this call. That was a verbal commitment,¡± Anaheim said before turning off the call interface. She patted Khrx¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in two hours. Why aren¡¯t you in [Resolution]? Did you get hungry?¡± ¡°I died,¡± Khrx said, shaking his head. ¡°Oh,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Um, how about this?¡± She flipped through the channels until a cartoon made for kids appeared. ¡°There. That should keep you entertained.¡± Without waiting for Khrx¡¯s response, Anaheim slipped out a pair of boots and dashed out of the door. Since the disaster-level threat appeared in a neighboring country, she¡¯d just run there instead of buying a plane ticket or purchasing a spot on a teleportation array. Khrx¡¯s expression darkened as an optimistic talking sponge hit its pink starfish friend over the head with a snail. Just because his body was that of a child¡¯s didn¡¯t mean he was actually a child! Khrx snorted as he turned off the projection, opting to open up Bongle instead. ¡°Where ¡­ can ¡­ I ¡­ find ¡­ cloud ¡­ pushers?¡± ¡°Cloud pushers are a creature belonging solely to the world of [Resolution]. You can find them pushing clouds across the sky.¡± ¡°Darn.¡± Khrx wiped the drool leaking from the corner of his mouth onto the sleeve of his onesie. He shook his head and sighed as he lay on the ground, staring up at the ceiling. There was a cracking sound, causing Khrx to turn his head to the side. The person-sized box in the middle of the living room burst open, and a familiar face appeared. ¡°Lorin?¡± Lorin smiled at Khrx as she tore off the remaining cardboard. She was lacking her wings, but other than that, she looked exactly like she did in game, dress included. ¡°I had Boba order a shell for me, so I could accompany you in reality.¡± She looked around, her gaze landing on Mooo and Moomoo. ¡°Are those wingless cloud pushers?¡± Khrx¡¯s head snapped towards the two cows. ¡°No,¡± he said after an intense staring session. ¡°They don¡¯t smell right.¡± He shook his head, his eyes filled with longing. ¡°I¡¯m going to lie down in the sun.¡± He went past Anaheim¡¯s kitchen and opened the balcony door. The sun shone brightly, but Khrx¡¯s expression became miserable. A single cloud formed above his head and rained on him. Episode 13 (2) Theda raised her head with a frown. She muttered to herself, ¡°Duloc? He came here too?¡± She glanced around at the destruction surrounding her, making sure there were no live witnesses. There weren¡¯t any, but there were lots of dead ones: Spirits. Ghosts. Phantoms. Whatever one wanted to call them. They surrounded Theda, their illusionary bodies kneeling atop their corpses which had been alive moments ago. Her gaze swept over them once more before she raised her arm. The black mist hovering above the city descended, engulfing the spirits. They didn¡¯t make a sound as they disappeared into wisps of white smoke, but their faces contorted in agony. Theda clawed at the space in front of herself, tearing open a black fissure. She reached in with her hands and grabbed the portal. After stretching it wide enough to accommodate her figure, she sauntered inside, disappearing from view. The portal closed behind her, taking the black mist with it. A deathly silent city was all that was left behind. Theda emerged from the other end of the portal. What greeted her was the adorable fellow roaring and clawing at a cloud floating above his head. He was floating in the air, hovering below the cloud. His arms passed through the white vapor uselessly as it rained down on him, darkening and pressing his onesie onto his skin. He looked like a soaked cat. ¡°You stupid cloud,¡± Khrx said, his eyes glinting with a fierce light. His chest expanded as he inhaled. As he exhaled, a stream of golden fire ascended and struck the cloud head on. It evaporated. Khrx snorted twice as placed his hands on his hips, oblivious or purposely ignoring Theda¡¯s presence. His tail perked up and swished behind himself as he tilted his chin towards the sky. ¡°That¡¯s what you get.¡± A second later, the vapor from the evaporated cloud condensed and reformed into an even bigger, darker cloud. Little bits of lightning thundered around it as rain poured down, each drop the size of a small mouse. Khrx¡¯s eyes widened as his tail lowered, tucking itself between his legs. He bared his tiny teeth at the cloud. ¡°You still dare?¡± Theda held her mouth in front of her hand and giggled as Khrx valiantly fought against the cloud. But it was like a hydra, coming back even larger every time it was destroyed. Finally, when it was releasing rain the size of a human child, Khrx gave up and retreated back into Anaheim¡¯s apartment. The cloud dissipated the instant Khrx went inside, causing his ears to press flat against his head at the sight. He took a step onto the balcony, and the cloud reformed without a sound. Khrx retrieved his foot, and the cloud disappeared. He frowned while narrowing his eyes. Theda laughed and pulled Khrx outside. ¡°Come here,¡± she said. The cloud formed above them, but Theda simply waved one arm. A shadowy squirrel shot out of Khrx¡¯s shadow and lunged at the cloud. Its mouth stretched open and swallowed the cloud in a single bite. Like a hamster with fully stuffed cheeks, it sat on the balcony¡¯s railing while chewing before finally swallowing. The cloud didn¡¯t reappear once the squirrel was finished. [The curse of Duloc has been destroyed!] [You¡¯ve been blessed by Theda! As a co-owner of the underworld, Theda has assigned a protector to you. You¡¯ve become companions with Waffle, the shadow squirrel. Wherever your shadow exists, she¡¯ll exist as well.]This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. [Duloc is enraged. The alliance of the self-proclaimed righteous gods have turned their backs on you. The self-proclaimed righteous god alliance includes any and all gods whose domains belong above the earth, excluding the Sun God. City-states, guilds, and empires following any of these gods have declared war on I Can Pick.] [God Jax has forsaken your guild. The temple of Jax within Paradise has been shattered. Guild members will still respawn inside the temple¡¯s altar room, but a new god or goddess must take residence within a week.] [Lukroix Adveign Desrigard has been stripped of his champion status. Paradise now has two champions of the gods, a third can still appear.] [The guild Amireca has declared war on I Can Pick.] [The guild Rancef has declared war on I Can Pick.] ¡­ [The guild Nacada has declared war on I Can Pick.] [The guild South Rokea has declared war on I Can Pick.] ¡­ [The guild Nippon has declared war on I Can Pick.] [The guild Hinac has declared war on I Can Pick.] ¡­ [The guild Arustalia has declared war on I Can Pick.] [The guild Gonmolia has declared war on I Can Pick.] Theda peeked at the screens appearing around Khrx, which were coming out of his watch. She smirked at the one that said Duloc was enraged. ¡°How¡¯d you attract the curse of Duloc?¡± she asked after Khrx finished reading and dismissed the screens. ¡°I ate one of his thingies,¡± Khrx said. He took another step onto the balcony and raised his head. The cloud didn¡¯t reform. He glanced at the black squirrel on the balcony. It waved at him before leaping into his shadow, disappearing from view. A wrinkled appeared on Theda¡¯s forehead. ¡°His thingies?¡± Duloc had thingies? What was Khrx¡­, he couldn¡¯t mean one of Duloc¡¯s family jewels, right¡­? That would certainly bring about Duloc¡¯s wrath. But how did he¡ª ¡°A cloud pusher,¡± Khrx said. He smacked his lips as his eyes slightly narrowed, his ears twitching. ¡°It was delicious.¡± ¡°Oh. Cloud pusher. Right.¡± Theda nodded. She shook her head. Just what was she thinking about earlier? ¡°Well, I can¡¯t let a junior god bully my co-owner.¡± Ring, ring. Before Khrx could respond, a call interface with Luke appeared. He wasn¡¯t given the option to decline the call, and Luke¡¯s face was projected into the air in front of him. ¡°Khrx.¡± ¡°Hey, Luke. What¡¯s up?¡± Luke¡¯s voice was unnaturally calm. ¡°Was that you?¡± ¡°Was what me?¡± Khrx asked, tilting his head. ¡°Where are you right now?¡± Luke¡¯s head swiveled around, inspecting Khrx¡¯s surroundings. Theda waved at the floating head. ¡°I¡¯m at Anaheim¡¯s apartment,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I died.¡± Luke¡¯s head snapped towards Khrx. ¡°You died? Again?¡± He sighed. ¡°Whatever. I see you¡¯re cheating on Fufu with this woman over here. I guess you don¡¯t care whether I release her or not, huh?¡± Khrx scratched his nose. ¡°Did something happen? You sound bitter.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing. Stop dying so often, you noob. Hurry up and get back in game.¡± Khrx exhaled as Luke ended the call. He yelped as Theda flicked his forehead. Tears formed in his eyes as he glanced up at her while pouting. ¡°What was that for?¡± ¡°Lying¡¯s not right,¡± Theda said. ¡°But I didn¡¯t lie about anything,¡± Khrx said, shaking his head. ¡°When did I lie?¡± Theda blinked. It was true. Khrx hadn¡¯t told Luke a single lie. She flicked Khrx¡¯s forehead again anyway. ¡°Lying by omission is wrong.¡± If Khrx was willing to lie to Luke, wouldn¡¯t he be willing to lie to her as well? But Khrx¡¯s dishonest nature wasn¡¯t what bothered her. ¡°And who¡¯s Fufu?¡± The sliding door of the balcony slid open. A wingless angel stepped outside, freezing at the sight of Theda. ¡°Khrx, who¡¯s this?¡± Khrx glanced at Lorin¡¯s slightly murderous smile. Then he met the cold gleam in Theda¡¯s eyes. He did what any reasonable person would do and leapt off the balcony. Episode 13 (3) For the first time since [Resolution] came out, Luke wasn¡¯t playing the game. He was sitting in a large Victorian chair with his feet propped up on the Victorian desk, a lit cigar in his mouth. Gray smoke drifted up from the corners of his mouth and nose as he used his finger to swipe through projection after projection, screen after hovering screen. His eyes merely glanced at the contents of the screen, but he digested its contents fully before swiping to the next one. In the background, a radio was playing. ¡°Have you heard the news? It¡¯s huge!¡± ¡°Are you talking about the kraken, Natasha?¡± ¡°No! The kraken¡¯s insignificant compared to this. And we¡¯re a channel devoted to gaming and [Resolution], Sam. Why is it Sam again? Someone take him away.¡± ¡°Ha-ha, don¡¯t joke around like that, Natasha, security will take you seriously.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± Sam cleared his throat. ¡°You must be referring to the quest given by the gods, no? I¡¯m actually one of the best people you can get on this show because I¡¯ve personally received the quest.¡± ¡°Over half the population¡¯s received the quest. You¡¯re not special, Sam.¡± ¡°Natasha¡­, you¡¯re breaking my heart.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°H-have you received the quest?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t. If you wish to remain seated, you¡¯d better project that quest information in front of me, right now.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. Right away.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure many of our listeners have already seen the contents of this quest whether in game or from a forum post, but for those of you out of the loop, here we are! The quest is a simple one. Destroy the empire I Can Pick! Over¡ª¡± ¡°Only the special and unique believers can receive the quest! A guild must have a champion related to the god of birds like mine. Ow!¡± ¡°The next time you interrupt me with wrong information, I¡¯ll rip your eyes out.¡± ¡°You¡¯re making an awfully scary face there, Natasha. Is it that time of the month?¡± ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°She¡¯s been possessed by some title effect of an evil god! Someone get her off me! Murder! Arson! Help!¡± ¡°Cut to the commercials!¡± Luke frowned as he turned off the radio with a flick of his wrist, still reading through the forum posts. Apparently every guild worshipping a god that had a domain above ground had declared war on I Can Pick. The guilds worshipping the gods below ground like Fiel, the goddess of reincarnation, and Rathe, the god of earth, remained neutral. And the guilds without any champions of the gods¡­, those weren¡¯t even worth mentioning. They¡¯d be consumed within a week as the countries starting rushing for expansion. Luke turned off the projections and leaned back in his seat, inhaling through his cigar. It shrank down to its butt in a single breath, leaving a long line of ash which he tapped onto the floor. Smoke drifted out of his nose, spiraling up towards the ceiling. A faint smile danced on his lips as he tilted his head to glance at the VR drive resting in the corner of his room. Once again, it was him against the world. But this time, there was no hero to stop him.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Luke stood up and spat aside the cigar butt, reaching for the metal helmet. His hand hesitated as his brow furrowed, glancing towards the door. Should he feed Fufu now that he had some time? Nah¡­, it¡¯d be fine. Fufu lived without eating for thousands of years while Khrx slept, there shouldn¡¯t be an issue. *** ¡°¡­So why are you here?¡± ¡°When three crazy women are chasing you, you hide in the place they least expect!¡± A kraken and a beastkin child stared at each other, sitting on the bottom of the ocean floor. Volcanic vents let out faint orange and red lights, barely enough to illuminate the surroundings. Not like it mattered to either of the beings though¡ªthey could both see in the dark. The kraken was a giant octopus, its tentacles buried into the ground beneath it. Currently, it looked like a massive boulder. If it wanted to, its tentacles could pull a boat down from the surface of the ocean without having to move its head at all, but it didn¡¯t do that because there was the existence known as the hero¡¯s descendant. Unfortunately for the kraken, one of the crazy women chasing Khrx just happened to be that very descendent. If it knew, it wouldn¡¯t be conversing with him. Of course, the only reason the kraken was conversing with Khrx in the first place was because of the massive bruise on its head. Khrx thought it was an ordinary boulder and decided to dig out a cave to inside of. He didn¡¯t expect the stone to be so springy. He didn¡¯t expect it to scream either. But once it screamed, he did expect it to run away, so he stopped it by force. And thus, the current situation arose. ¡°Three women that could cause the dragon of calamity to flee. Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re all descendants of the hero.¡± ¡°No, just one of them,¡± Khrx said, speaking in the language of octopuses which consisted of clacking and clicking sounds. ¡°Wait. You¡¯re serious.¡± The kraken¡¯s tentacles sprung out of the ground. With a single motion, the tentacles pushed its body away at breakneck speeds. ¡°Goodbye.¡± ¡°Wait, damn you! I¡¯m not done talking, Mr. Bubbles!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t chase me! I don¡¯t want to die! I saw what happened to Sneksnek that fateful day! And don¡¯t call me Mr. Bubbles!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good name! Sneksnek approved!¡± ¡°That¡¯s because he didn¡¯t want to suffer with a stupid name alone!¡± ¡°Mr. Bubbles, if you don¡¯t halt for me this instant, I¡¯m going to eat your children!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a virgin.¡± ¡°Wait. Really? It¡¯s been millions of years since I¡¯ve known you, Mr. Bubbles.¡± The kraken sighed as it slowed down, once again tunneling its tentacles into the ground. ¡°Right. Look at how long my tentacles are. Which male would dare mate with me?¡± ¡°Male? Can two male octopuses even mate?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a female!¡± ¡°¡­But I¡¯ve been calling you Mr. Bubbles ever since I¡¯ve known you. Emphasize on the mister.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You never listen, so I didn¡¯t bother correcting you.¡± The kraken sighed again. ¡°Female krakens are known for eating their mates. A male kraken would only dare to mate with a female if it had longer arms; otherwise, it¡¯d be eaten. Such is my dilemma. Tragic, isn¡¯t it? All I want is to be loved, but all I receive is fear instead.¡± Khrx¡¯s mouth fell open, a giant air bubble slowing rising up. ¡°That¡¯s¡­, that¡¯s exactly like my situation!¡± ¡°Well, yeah. The world ends when you find true love. You have it even worse than me. Are you still delusional and parading around that¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m not delusional! Don¡¯t insult Fufu!¡± ¡°So you are.¡± Khrx snorted. ¡°Alright. Listen up. I¡¯ll help you find love. Let me smack your face.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Pah! ¡°The hell!?¡± The kraken touched its face where Khrx had smacked it. And then she rapidly began to shrink. ¡°You, you stole my essence!¡± Khrx shrugged. ¡°You wanted to be smaller, right?¡± ¡°Give it back!¡± The kraken continued to shrink until she was the size of Khrx¡¯s head. ¡°I can¡¯t mate at all like this! Any wimpy old shark can eat me! You stupid dragon! Look at what you¡¯ve done!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve done you a favor,¡± Khrx said, a smug look on his face. He swam towards the surface of the ocean, near the coast of an island. He made a wild dash towards shore, kicking up huge waves with his feet. He looked behind himself, and his eyes widened at Mr. Bubbles chasing after him while transforming into an elven woman. ¡°Dude. What¡¯re you doing?¡± ¡°Give me back my essence!¡± the kraken-turned-elven-woman roared. Khrx continued to sprint towards shore, running along the surface of the water. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d never turn into another creature unless your life was majorly at risk?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s trying to kill you?¡± ¡°Give me back my essence, you stupid lizard!¡± Episode 13 (4) Sweat dripped from Lorin¡¯s face, falling onto the floor. The wood darkened as her sweat soaked into the grains of the floorboards, disappearing like rain into dirt. Her knees were sore, and her palms were itchy, but she kept her head lowered, holding up the immense weight on her back. It wasn¡¯t the actual weight of the object that caused her to feel pressured; it was what the object was¡ªor who it was. Theda, the god of the underworld, was sitting on the fallen angel¡¯s back with her legs crisscrossed. The goddess let out a yawn and clutched her ankles to prevent herself from falling over. ¡°Don¡¯t yawn when I¡¯m in the middle of lecturing you,¡± Anaheim said, glowering at Theda. She was standing in front of the corpses of two cows, Mooo and Moomoo, blood pooling around her bare feet. Theda dug into her ear with her pinky and flicked away a glob of earwax. The shells for A.I. were quite realistic. She blinked at Anaheim, her head tilting to the side until her ear touched her shoulder. Then she yawned again, putting her weight onto her hand which was pressing down on Lorin¡¯s head. The fallen angel gritted her teeth but remained silent as she strengthened her neck. ¡°You¡¯re not listening at all, are you?¡± Anaheim asked, crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°These cows were Khrx¡¯s pets. You killed them.¡± ¡°Anything that belongs to Khrx also belongs to me. Khrx¡¯s pets are my pets,¡± Theda said as she sat up properly, placing her feet on the ground. Lorin let out a groan as Theda adjusted her weight, crumpling the angel¡¯s dress. ¡°I own the underworld, remember? All I did was shift his pets from one home to another.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great and all, but you two still haven¡¯t explained what the hell you¡¯re doing in my home,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°I came to see Khrx, but he ran away,¡± Theda said. ¡°So I decided to teach this little angel a lesson first. Coveting my belongings, how insolent.¡± She stroked Lorin¡¯s hair, lifting it and letting it slide down through her fingers like water. Once there were no more stands of hair tangled around her fingers, Theda shrugged and sighed. ¡°The cows were a casualty. Such is the consequence of war. How tragic.¡± ¡°And losers become furniture? Is that what happens during war?¡± Anaheim asked, staring at Lorin¡¯s unpleasant expression. ¡°Not quite, but close.¡± Theda smiled and traced her fingers around Lorin¡¯s lower back as she crossed her right leg over her left. ¡°Losers become slaves. And slaves become furniture. Of course, the winner takes all. That includes Khrx. A pet as adorable as him, I can already taste Fiel¡¯s jealousy.¡± Anaheim scratched her head. After taking care of that gorilla in North Rokea, she had come home to a wreck. The furniture was overturned, traces of mana were embedded everywhere, and even the cows had died. ¡°Then where¡¯s Khrx now?¡± Theda pointed towards the ceiling with her index finger. Anaheim looked up, but all she saw was scorch marks decorating the tiles. Theda slashed downwards, tearing apart the fabric of space, opening up a black line in the air. She reached with both hands and pulled the portal apart. ¡°He should be right through this portal.¡± Anaheim furrowed her brow as Theda stood up and dusted off her butt with her hands. The goddess tugged lightly on Lorin¡¯s hair, pulling the angel up. Then she stepped through the rift, not giving Anaheim a second glance. Lorin bit her lip as she lowered her head, following after Theda with the goddess¡¯ hand still in her hair. Anaheim glanced at the deceased cows before encasing them in ice with a wave of her hand to prevent their bodies from decaying. When she stepped through the portal, the first thing she saw was Theda¡¯s and Lorin¡¯s backs. Looking over their shoulders, she saw a naked elven woman straddling Khrx¡¯s waist on a beach while pinning his arms down.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Give. Me. Back. My. Essence!¡± Mr. Bubbles roared at Khrx, but all Lorin, Theda, and Anaheim heard was a series of clicking sounds along with high-pitched chirps. Khrx wriggled around, trying to get free, but Mr. Bubbles had pinned him perfectly. He couldn¡¯t get any leverage despite his overwhelming strength, and krakens weren¡¯t weak in the first place. ¡°I¡¯m doing you a favor,¡± he said as he attempted to slip out of his onesie, but it was zippered up too tight. ¡°Clam down.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me any puns, damn you!¡± Mr. Bubbles leaned forward and sank her teeth into Khrx¡¯s neck, drawing blood. Her body pulsed with blue lines, starting from her mouth. Like a spider web, the lines propagated down to her toes until every inch of her body was blue. Mr. Bubbles exhaled as she climbed off of Khrx, clenching and unclenching her fists. ¡°Now I¡¯m stuck with this body for three hundred years. Look at what you¡¯ve done.¡± ¡°I¡¯m helping you find love,¡± Khrx said. ¡°At most, there¡¯s probably only six or seven krakens out at sea, but there¡¯s easily ten or so billion surface dwellers. That leaves five billion potential lovers for you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll only mate with a kraken! I¡¯m not a freak like your cousin Erif!¡± ¡°Eh? You know Erif?¡± ¡°He tried to woo me once.¡± ¡°Oh. Where is Erif anyway? He didn¡¯t die, did he?¡± Mr. Bubbles snorted. ¡°He flew off the planet in the search of alien mates.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Mr. Bubbles asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Speaking of mating outside of one¡¯s race, who are these people? Do you know them? They look like someone stole their lover in front of their very eyes. And all their gazes are directed at me.¡± Khrx turned his head, noticing Anaheim, Theda, and Lorin for the first time. He stiffened like a deer in headlights. ¡°These were the crazy women I was running from.¡± Mr. Bubbles¡¯ eye twitched. ¡°¡­You said one of them was the hero¡¯s descendant?¡± ¡°Mm. The tan one holding the glowing sword,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°Khrx? Who¡¯s this lady?¡± Anaheim asked, taking a step towards the wet duo. ¡°A magnificent sacrificial octopus,¡± Theda said as she advanced as well. Lorin shot a dirty look at Theda¡¯s back, but her murderous gaze shifted to Mr. Bubbles. Lightning danced around her finger tips. Mr. Bubbles gulped and lunged towards Khrx. She picked him up and vigorously rubbed his foot. ¡°I need a miracle!¡± Whistling sounds rang through the air, and the group of five turned their heads towards the mainland. Dozens of missiles were flying towards them, and hundreds of drones blotted out the sun. ¡°Holy shit,¡± Khrx said, his eyes bulging out of his head. ¡°They found me!¡± ¡°They¡¯re after you? But it was my essence that leaked,¡± Mr. Bubbles said. Theda clicked her tongue. She waved her hand, and a massive wall of shadows slammed towards the missiles and drones, creating a chain of explosions that rocked the sky and ground. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯re after her,¡± Anaheim said, her expression darkening as she stared at Theda. Burning metal scraps fell from the sky, and smoke rose up into the air as the shrapnel rained down on the mainland. ¡°Didn¡¯t they learn from the last dozen times or so?¡± Theda asked with a snort. ¡°For such an advanced civilization, your leaders sure are dim. If they wish to defeat me, they need quality, not quantity.¡± Whirr! Hundreds of magic circles appeared around the group of five, painted on the ground, in the air around them, and up in the sky. Blurry figures appeared atop the circles, dressed in camouflaged shirts and pants. ¡°Amireca¡¯s Special Forces,¡± Anaheim said with a frown. ¡°And those are the Renchf¡¯s. The Tribish too. And Regmany, Sursia, Zarbil, Nogko, and¡­. There¡¯s too many to list.¡± A harsh voice rang out over the beach. ¡°Program Theda! Surrender now or face the consequences!¡± ¡°What the hell did you drag me into¡­?¡± Mr. Bubbles muttered to Khrx with soft clicking sounds. ¡°It¡¯s your fault for rubbing my foot!¡± Khrx hissed back. Episode 13 (5) ¡°My fault?¡± Mr. Bubbles asked, tears forming in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re the one who randomly punched me in the head!¡± ¡°All of you, kneel down and put your hands behind your head! Now!¡± A bulky man wearing a green beret pointed a silver rifle at Mr. Bubbles. Unfortunately for Khrx and Mr. Bubbles, he was shouting in an unknown language. ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa,¡± Anaheim said, holding her arms out to the side as she stepped next to Khrx, speaking in the language of the man with the green beret. ¡°Why don¡¯t we all calm down here for a moment?¡± ¡°Hero?¡± someone asked in Rokean. ¡°Is that you? That blue woman beside you is a calamity-level threat; we hope you can sincerely cooperate with us to take her down.¡± ¡°So you were right, they were after me,¡± Theda said as she smiled at Anaheim. A booming noise resounded through the air, and Theda staggered backwards as a fist-sized hole appeared in the middle of her forehead. ¡°Ah!¡± Khrx shouted as his head whirled towards the man who opened fire. ¡°You can¡¯t bully people who treat me nicely!¡± The man ignored Khrx and continued to press on his trigger, blowing holes in Theda¡¯s body. She didn¡¯t make a sound as her arms and legs dropped to the ground followed by her torso and head. It was like she had turned into a pile of scrap metal. Khrx¡¯s eyes turned red at the sight, and a growl rumbled out of his throat. He took in a deep breath through his nose, and all the surrounding soldiers couldn¡¯t help but stumble forwards a bit as all the air and mana in the vicinity was sucked into Khrx¡¯s chest. The bulky man with the green beret shouted, ¡°Shoot him!¡± but no one could hear him since all the air had vanished. A majority of the soldiers were panicking as they struggled to breathe like fish out of water. The bulky man pointed his gun at Khrx and pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. There was no mana to condense and shoot. Khrx continued to inhale, and the man¡¯s face turned blue as his diaphragm compressed, crushing against his lungs. A thought flashed through the man¡¯s head as his vision turned orange, then gray. Wasn¡¯t this the start of the legendary dragon¡¯s breath? Surprisingly, Khrx¡¯s chest had barely swelled as all the air and mana he breathed in was compressed, pressurized, and condensed. He narrowed his eyes at the soldier who had opened fire on Theda and stomped his foot against the ground while opening his mouth. A glaring light shone from his throat, blinding everyone who saw it. Anaheim¡¯s hand flashed, and she smacked Khrx¡¯s chin as his chest decompressed, pointing his face towards the sky. A giant laser beam flew out of Khrx¡¯s mouth, piercing through the clouds. Its radiance could be seen from across the ocean as if a pillar holding up the heavens had appeared. The air rushed back into the vicinity, and the panicked shouts of the soldiers filled Khrx¡¯s ears. Khrx stomped his feet and glared at Anaheim. ¡°Why¡¯d you do that!?¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°They only want Theda,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°If you killed them, they¡¯d hunt you down too, and I can¡¯t let that happen.¡± ¡°After seeing such a display, do you think we¡¯re willing to let him go?¡± the man with the green beret asked as he gasped for breath. ¡°He¡¯s a dragon! There¡¯s no way he¡¯s not a dragon! As a hero, you should know the prophecies of the high elves! When the dragons are free to reign again, it won¡¯t be long for the world to end!¡± He gestured around himself at the soldiers coughing up blood. Some of the soldiers were lying on the ground, unmoving as puddles of blood formed around them, soaking into the sand. ¡°Look at what he¡¯s done!¡± Anaheim¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°If they weren¡¯t preparing such massive spells, do you think the backlash would¡¯ve been so great? Who told you to threaten Khrx?¡± The man with the green beret pointed at one of the special forces. ¡°General Park! What is the meaning of this? Your citizen is interfering with our cause!¡± General Park sighed as she lowered the scarf covering her mouth and nose. ¡°Ms. Miehana, please, cooperate with us. Though you may be the descendant of the hero, that doesn¡¯t mean you can do whatever you wish. I¡¯ll have to arrest you if you continue to insist on obstructing justice.¡± Anaheim gritted her teeth. As she mulled over what to say, a dark shadow spread outwards from Theda¡¯s body like a carpet of mold. It crawled along the sand, engulfing every grain, speeding up as it got further and further away from Theda. The soldiers shouted as shadows climbed up their shoes, and Anaheim paled as she summoned a barrier of light around herself, Khrx, Mr. Bubbles, and Lorin. An eerie laughter rang out over the beach, causing the furs on Khrx¡¯s ears and tail to stiffen. Theda¡¯s broken body reassembled itself as she balanced on her knees, then on her feet. ¡°Khrx. Look carefully. This is what it means to open the gates of the underworld.¡± The special forces screamed as the shadows melted their flesh off of their bones, the pink chunks disappearing into the shadows. General Park ground her teeth together before decisively shooting off her own legs and initiating a teleportation before the shadows could climb past her knees. Before the others could do the same, Theda frowned and snapped her fingers. A web of shadows descended from the sky, causing the soldiers to decay from above as well as below. ¡°Such a large-scale sacrifice. I¡¯ll be able to summon Esaesid at the very least.¡± ¡°Esaesid?¡± Khrx tilted his head. Where had he heard that name before? Wasn¡¯t that the disgusting blob that hugged him and gave him a skill? As the special forces dissolved into tiny lumps barely bulging out of the darkness, a fissure formed in front of Theda. It widened with every passing second as the tiny lumps shrank even further. A brackish hand extended from the fissure, and clawed on the ground attempting to pull itself out. Theda smiled as Esaesid¡¯s head appeared followed by the rest of his body. ¡°Lord, I answer thy call.¡± *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 22. Dear Diary, Sigh. It¡¯s happening again. The world¡¯s ending a lot sooner than I expected. It hasn¡¯t even been a month since I woke up! This must be a new record. Wait, no. Awakening Cycle 32,440 was the fastest time the world ever ended, right? It only took four hours that time. Well, disregarding that time, this is the quickest it¡¯s been in a while. And I made a promise to not save the world. Should I honor it? To be truthful, I really don¡¯t like this era. I¡¯ve been bullied nonstop since I woke up. Yeah, I¡¯ll let this era come to a peaceful end. As long as there¡¯s plenty of destruction, bloodshed, and carnage, Fufu will definitely escape from Luke¡¯s grasp. I can¡¯t wait to reunite with her. Love, Khrx Episode 14 (1) In a brightly lit room, there were three hundred desks laid out in a circular formation. Each desk was occupied by a man or woman dressed in a suit. Some were beastkin, others were dwarves and elves, but the majority were human. In the center of the circular formation, a video projection displayed a group of five people: Theda, Khrx, Mr. Bubbles, Lorin, and Anaheim. There was also one unidentified blob. A man let out a sigh as Theda tilted her head up and fired a shadowy claw up at the camera. A few seconds later, the claw expanded until it engulfed the whole projection and destroyed the satellite feeding them the image. The projection turned into a solid block of blue light, and the man pressed a button to turn it off, allowing the three hundred leaders to see the person sitting across from them. ¡°This is a disaster,¡± someone muttered. ¡°I knew creating [Resolution] was a bad idea,¡± a beastkin with lion-like traits said. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it? Didn¡¯t I say [Resolution] would be a terrible idea? All of you laughed at me, but look at where we¡¯re at now. We should¡¯ve stuck with the nukes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late for regret,¡± an elven woman said, shaking her head. ¡°I too disapproved of creating a game to solve our conflicts in reality. The first thing we should do is shut it down before any more of these things cross over.¡± ¡°Who was the genius that proposed [Resolution]?¡± a dwarf wearing an eyepatch asked. ¡°I say we hang ¡®im.¡± ¡°That would be Sir Bozco,¡± a man said, eyeing the person sitting beside him. ¡°It was his bright idea.¡± Sir Bozco gritted his teeth. ¡°Let¡¯s not play the game of redirecting blame. All of us agreed on the creation of [Resolution]. I cannot be held solely responsible for this. All of us contributed and played our parts.¡± He gestured around himself, sweeping his gaze over the other 299 people. ¡°Right now, we have to discuss solutions. It¡¯s not the time to fall apart. We must stand united.¡± ¡°Flowery words may work on the masses, but think of your company, Sir Bozco. But you do have a point. Does anyone have any solutions?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it?¡± the elven woman asked. ¡°Shut down [Resolution].¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± the president of South Rokea said. ¡°[Resolution] cannot be such down until the game concludes. There has to be a winner. Did you all forget the soul contract we signed?¡± ¡°But there¡¯s a way around that soul contract, you know?¡± the lion-like beastkin said with a grin. He stared at Sir Bozco. ¡°Someone can break the contract. Shouldn¡¯t the brilliant man who suggested it be the one to sacrifice himself to correct the situation?¡± ¡°If it was just myself, I would gladly do it,¡± Sir Bozco said. ¡°But all my countrymen would die along with me, and I can¡¯t accept that.¡± The beastkin¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°So you¡¯re saying you¡¯d rather let the world end? Is that how it is? You bring us to the brink of extinction and think a simple apology is going to appease us? Break the contract, Sir Bozco. It¡¯s the only responsible thing to do.¡± Sir Bozco glanced at the elven woman. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the creator of said contract have a way out?¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Elves aren¡¯t like humans, Sir Bozco,¡± the elven woman said, her voice icy. ¡°We don¡¯t create outs for ourselves to renege on deals. Isn¡¯t that why you all entrusted me to create it?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you propose we shut the game down?¡± Sir Bozco asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°What did you mean by that? Surely, you don¡¯t expect a country to sacrifice itself to break the terms.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it simple?¡± The elven woman shrugged. ¡°When a victor appears, the game ends.¡± The leaders stared at each other in silence. ¡°I¡¯ll take the victory then,¡± a man with a blond beard said. ¡°The Renchf have been ahead since day one.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± the prime minister of Great Tribain asked. ¡°I can¡¯t accept that.¡± ¡°Are my words wrong?¡± the blond-bearded man said with a sneer. ¡°Who was the first to conquer their strategic resource? The Renchf. Who was the first to found a guild? The Renchf. Who was the first to create an empire? The Renchf. Extrapolating, isn¡¯t it obvious who¡¯s going to win the game?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting someone?¡± Aric Stone asked. ¡°Of everyone here, my country has the greatest chance of victory.¡± The dwarf with the eyepatch snorted. ¡°You? You haven¡¯t even founded a guild yet. So much for the efficiency of Regmans, huh?¡± A faint smile appeared on Aric¡¯s lips. ¡°Lukroix Adveign Desrigard. The leader of Paradise and I Can Pick. I¡¯ve subordinated myself under him. As long as he wins, Regmany¡¯s objectives will be achieved. Wouldn¡¯t it make sense for all of you to yield to us?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s impossible,¡± the blond-bearded man said. ¡°We can¡¯t allow an outside power to win the game. Think of the demands he¡¯ll have upon victory.¡± ¡°So you¡¯d rather let the world end than to concede,¡± Aric said. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°President Stone,¡± the leader of Amireca said. ¡°What exactly is Mr. Desrigard trying to accomplish? Do you know his objective? I don¡¯t believe someone playing just for fun with a group of friends can triumph over all our countries put together. He¡¯s clearly the head of an organized group. A terrorist organization, perhaps?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not accuse each other of supporting terrorism when we all know who trained those insurgents in Aimbuloc,¡± a bald man with a scar on his forehead said. The leader of Amireca snorted and glared at the bald man. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me Sursia also threw in their lot with Mr. Desrigard after being so devastatingly crushed by him.¡± The bald man shrugged. ¡°And if I did? What does that matter to you? If you don¡¯t like it, then nuke me. Go on, break the contract. I¡¯m waiting. Be the hero the world needs, Mr. Donovan. I¡¯ll hire an expert to write your eulogy.¡± Thumping sounds rang out as a woman smacked a mallet against her desk. She shouted, ¡°Let¡¯s not fight amongst ourselves, please.¡± ¡°Quit banging on the table, bitch,¡± the lion-like beastkin said, his ears pressed flat against his head. ¡°Do you believe I won¡¯t invade your country? Your grubby little hands have been reaching over my border for decades now.¡± ¡°What did you call me?¡± The woman threw her mallet, striking the beastkin¡¯s nose. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± The elven woman shook her head and sighed as the lion-like beastkin navigated through a menu and pulled out an automatic rifle. She glared at the bald man with the scar. Someone had once again ¡®forgot¡¯ to disable weapons before hosting the conference. She shrugged and navigated through the menu before hitting the reset button, returning the room to how it was before blood started flying. At least the countries couldn¡¯t nuke each other. A small consolation, but an appreciated one. ¡°You shot me!¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll do it again! Watch me!¡± The lion-like beastkin once again pulled out his rifle. Aric Stone whispered to the bald man. ¡°It¡¯s amazing how we managed to even sign a contract in the first place.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± the bald man asked, raising an eyebrow. He held his hand out for a handshake. ¡°You know, I never really liked you, but since we¡¯re in the same boat, I¡¯ll try to get along.¡± ¡°For our future cooperation,¡± Aric said, shaking the bald man¡¯s hand. A bullet pierced both their palms at once. The bald man growled as he retracted his hand and pulled out a skinning knife with his unharmed hand, rising to his feet. ¡°That bastard,¡± he said while charging towards the leader of Amireca. Aric leaned back in his seat, folding his bleeding hand over his lap. It seemed like this conference was going to take a while. As usual. Episode 14 (2) Screams filled the air as Luke proceeded onwards, his arms and legs covered in black fire. His destination was the large temple in the middle of the city. People hurled spells at him, but they did nothing to impede his advance. When they realized it wasn¡¯t working, the people threw themselves at him, raising weapons made of iron. Swords, spears, and axes plunged into Luke¡¯s torso, but the men and women holding those weapons were incinerated as black flames washed over them. Luke ignored the weapons sticking out of his chest, and they slowly melted with every step he took. The black flames cauterized his injuries, preventing any drop of blood from leaking out. With a wave of his hand, black flames sprung out of the ground, covering the temple in a blood-red light. [I Can Pick has conquered the guild Danlop.] [The guild Danlop has been disbanded. The NPCs within the settlement have submitted to I Can Pick.] [Quest progress has been updated.] [The god of war is impressed by your deeds! Conquer!] [Progress: Defeated 3/5 settlements.] [Rewards: Title: Champion of Sram] Luke laughed as he spread his arms, whirling around to face the survivors of the attack. Flames burned the temple behind him, casting shadows over his face. He looked like a devil. At that moment, an incoming phone call ruined the somber mood. Luke frowned as he poked a button on the interface that had appeared. ¡°What is it, Mr. Stone?¡± ¡°The leaders of the world wish for you to attend the conference.¡± Aric Stone¡¯s voice sounded tired with a hint of amusement. ¡°Shall I start a video chat?¡± Luke nodded as his legs left the ground. He hovered in the air, floating higher and higher until he was a good twenty feet over the settlement walls. ¡°Go on,¡± he said as he flew towards the west, heading off to find another settlement. A prompt appeared, and he accepted. A hologram appeared in front of him, displaying a semi-circle of three hundred desks even though they were actually sitting in a full circle. ¡°Mr. Desrigard!¡± a voice boomed out. Luke recognized him as Mr. Donovan, president of Amireca. ¡°I¡¯ll cut to the chase. Surely you¡¯ve seen the current state of the world. Though this is confidential, I¡¯ll tell you so you understand our plight. The recent destruction, including the darkening of the moon, have been caused by Program Theda. She¡¯s a goddess within [Resolution], but she somehow crossed over into our world. We, the leaders of the world, wish to end this game, but to do that, you have to surrender. You¡¯ll be compensated appropriately, of course.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Luke said, causing the leaders to glance at each other with relieved expressions. ¡°I understand. I don¡¯t want the world to end, after all. Just give me Raustalia.¡± The hologram fell silent. Only the rushing of the wind could be heard as Luke peered beyond the projection at the upcoming settlement. ¡°Just give you ¡­ Raustalia?¡± Mr. Donovan asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I wish to found a country, but I need space to do that,¡± Luke said. ¡°A continent like Raustalia is enough for my needs.¡± ¡°What is this fool sayin¡¯?¡± the dwarf with the eyepatch shouted. ¡°He wants Raustalia? I don¡¯t want ¡®im as my neighbor! My current one is crazy enough!¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Excuse me?¡± the elven woman asked. ¡°You should be thankful I haven¡¯t crushed your pathetic island. Do you believe I can¡¯t do it with a simple wave of my hand? Unless you¡¯re going to break the contract and nuke me.¡± ¡°See what I mean?¡± the dwarf asked, sticking his middle finger at the elf. ¡°Bloody insane. She coerced us into an anti-nuke contract, and then she threatens to declare war! This tree hugger said she wasn¡¯t like humans when it came to treachery, and she¡¯s right. She¡¯s even worse!¡± Luke shrank the projection as he hovered over the next settlement. He recognized the flag hanging from the walls. It belonged to Raustalia, how convenient. ¡°Hey! Is that my settlement? What are you doing there!?¡± Flames fell from the sky as Luke began his slaughter. He wasn¡¯t afraid of retaliation. It would be problematic to do this under normal circumstances, but he saw the news. All the countries had dispatched their special forces to deal with Khrx in reality. It seemed like that lizard was useful after all. ¡°I¡¯m just playing the game. Don¡¯t mind me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me! Stop burning my settlement!¡± The dwarf boomed out in laughter. ¡°Look at ¡®er panic! I haven¡¯t felt this happy since I stole ¡®er collection of wine and drank it.¡± ¡°That was you!?¡± ¡°Mr. Desrigard,¡± Mr. Donovan said. ¡°Don¡¯t you think asking for Raustalia is a bit too much? Surely you¡¯re joking.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a boring man,¡± Luke said, still raining down fire. ¡°I don¡¯t play jokes. If you refuse to hand over Raustalia, then we can end this negotiation here. I¡¯ll win this game and Raustalia will end up in my hands whether you like it or not.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to see you try!¡± the elven woman shouted. ¡°Stop burning it! Stop! I¡¯ll find you in reality and tear out your lungs and heart to feed them to the world tree¡¯s roots!¡± ¡°I told you she was crazy,¡± the dwarf said and shook his head, pretending to mutter but letting everyone hear him. ¡°I don¡¯t take kindly to threats,¡± Luke said. ¡°It seems like negotiations have broken down. What say you, Mr. Donovan?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s vote,¡± Mr. Donovan said. ¡°Who agrees to Mr. Desrigard¡¯s request?¡± The dwarf¡¯s hand shot up in an instant while the elven woman ground her teeth. She shouted, ¡°If this vote passes, I¡¯ll break the contract and fire every single one of Raustalia¡¯s nukes! If I can¡¯t have my country, then no one can have theirs!¡± Mr. Donovan sighed as he looked around. ¡°One vote in favor,¡± he said. ¡°The proposal fails. Mrs. Atrina, can¡¯t you think this over? We can set aside some territory in our countries for your people.¡± The woman crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°The world tree grows in Raustalia. I refuse.¡± Mr. Donovan faced the projection. ¡°Then Mr. Desrigard, will you be satisfied with another plot of land instead?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Luke said. ¡°I¡¯m a flexible person. Give me all of South Amireca.¡± ¡°Fuck! Flexible my ass!¡± a tan man shouted. ¡°You can have Zarbil over my dead body!¡± He pointed at the elven woman. ¡°Mrs. Atrina¡¯s not the only one with nukes, you know? I have more than her!¡± ¡°Right,¡± the president of Aimbuloc said. ¡°If you want my people to abandon their lands, there will be a reckoning of nuclear explosions.¡± ¡°It seems like we can¡¯t come to an agreement,¡± Luke said with a shrug. He landed on top of the temple within the settlement. ¡°Contact me again when you choose to cede a landmass the size of Raustalia. North Amireca will do. East Aisa as well.¡± He waved his hand and ended the call before finishing up his campaign. [I Can Pick has conquered the guild Raustalia.] [The guild Raustalia has been disbanded. The NPCs within the settlement have submitted to I Can Pick.] [Quest progress has been updated.] [The god of war is very impressed by your deeds!] [Progress: Defeated 4/5 settlements.] [Rewards: Title: Champion of Sram] Luke exhaled as he sat down, hanging his legs off the side of the temple. His constitution in game was really, really abysmal¡ªjust four settlements and he was already out of breath. A message appeared in front of him, coming for Aric Stone. ¡°How confident are you in winning?¡± Luke typed back. ¡°87.34%¡± The other 12.66% was reserved for Khrx ruining everything. He couldn¡¯t ignore that possibility. Episode 14 (3) A few days later. Anaheim stared at the elven woman wearing a winter jacket along with ski pants. A white woolen hat covered her head, but large earmuffs covered the hat. A scarf blocked the elf¡¯s nose, mouth, and neck, leaving only the skin around her eyes showing. Gloves guarded her fingers. Anaheim scratched her head. ¡°You, uh, aren¡¯t hot?¡± Mr. Bubbles shook her head. She was sitting next to a radiator in the corner of Anaheim¡¯s living room where the cows had slept when they were still alive. She wrapped her arms around her legs, bringing her knees to her chest. Her furry boots brushed against the floor. ¡°If anything, it¡¯s too cold. I usually sit on thermal vents and bury my tentacles in the earth¡¯s mantle.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Anaheim said, nodding her head once. She glanced at Khrx who was strapping his VR drive to his head. It had been sent in for repairs after the cows had broken it. He was using hers before. ¡°So why aren¡¯t you at the bottom of the ocean sitting on those vents?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a hassle to breathe underwater in this form,¡± Mr. Bubbles said. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. I¡¯ll just sit here for three hundred years until I can turn back into a kraken. I don¡¯t have to eat either as long as I¡¯m warm enough.¡± She scooted closer to the radiator, leaning her head against it. ¡°Do you have any spare blankets?¡± Anaheim clicked her tongue as she rummaged through a closet, pulling out her winter blankets. ¡°Three hundred years is a bit long, don¡¯t you think?¡± she asked as she bundled up the kraken-turned-elf, making sure to wrap up the radiator too. ¡°No? It¡¯s a little long compared to Khrx¡¯s one hundred years, but I have one of the faster transformation times. Luke can only change his form every thousand years.¡± ¡°¡­Luke?¡± Anaheim asked, shooting another glance at Khrx. He was already fully immersed in his VR drive. ¡°Do you mean Lukroix Adveign Desrigard?¡± ¡°The demon lord, yeah,¡± Mr. Bubbles said with a nod. She burrowed deeper into the blanket, covering her eyes and forehead as well. Only a few strands of blonde hair could be seen of the elf, the rest completely hidden in the cocoon of blankets. ¡°Lukroix Adveign Desrigard is the demon lord?¡± Anaheim asked, a faint smile appearing on her lips. ¡°Do I have an accent? I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m speaking clearly.¡± ¡°Well, your voice is a bit muffled because of all your layers,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Just making sure, we¡¯re talking about the same Luke, right?¡± ¡°Lukroix is very prideful. If anyone tries to use his name, he¡¯ll personally dispose of that person. If you know a Lukroix Adveign Desrigard, then that¡¯s the one I¡¯m talking about.¡± Mr. Bubbles¡¯ green eyes appeared as she tilted her head up. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the hero¡¯s descendant? Shouldn¡¯t you already know?¡± Her eyes shifted towards the humanoid shell that Lorin had occupied which was sitting beside Khrx on the couch. ¡°Or was that lady the hero¡¯s descendant?¡± She sighed as her eyes disappeared again. ¡°All surface dwellers look alike.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°I see,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Thanks.¡± She walked over to Lorin¡¯s empty shell and lifted it off the couch, putting it off to the side. She plopped down beside Khrx and strapped on her VR drive, closing the pod. When she entered Khrx¡¯s virtual room, she saw him chewing on a string of virtual numbers clustered together. ¡°You still dare to insult me?¡± Khrx growled through clenched teeth while attempting to tear some numbers off the floating mass like a dog pulling on a blanket. ¡°I did not insult you,¡± Boba said, her voice strangled. ¡°You merely construed my innocuous statement as verbal abuse. If any of my statements cause you to feel inadequate, perhaps you should look deep within yourself and question why you are so insecure.¡± ¡°Gah! I¡¯ll tear you to shreds, you stupid number ghost!¡± Khrx stopped pulling and raised his head when he saw Anaheim. ¡°Perfect timing. Help me pin this stupid thing down.¡± ¡°What exactly are you doing?¡± Anaheim asked as she walked over. She grabbed onto Boba¡¯s edges, or what she thought were Boba¡¯s edges, and pressed them to the ground. ¡°I was consulting Bongle about finding a tracking skill to hunt down Luke, but then Boba called me an idiot. So obviously I have to teach her a lesson.¡± Khrx snorted as he dug into Boba¡¯s body, pulling out a string of ones and zeros. ¡°I merely pointed out the fact his negative intelligence would prevent him from learning anything and that his time would be better spent on practicing cute faces in the mirror,¡± Boba said as a pair of eyes formed out of zeros to stare at Anaheim. Khrx leaned forward and yanked them out, tossing them into his mouth before chewing a few times. ¡°A tracking skill to find Luke?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°Right,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I have a handwritten letter by him back at home. If I can learn a skill to track it back to him, then I can find where he lives and free Fufu!¡± ¡°Great!¡± Anaheim said, her eyes lighting up. ¡°And what did Bongle say? Did you find the skill?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Khrx said. ¡°There¡¯s a labyrinth that teaches you the Trace Origin spell. You have to use the spell to get further inside to solve the dungeon and reach the raid boss, but I don¡¯t care about that. I just want the spell.¡± ¡°And as I said, you cannot learn the spell with negative intelligence.¡± Khrx pulled more numbers out of Boba¡¯s body. ¡°I¡¯m not alone, dummy. I have Lorin! She¡¯ll learn it. Right, Lorin?¡± He raised his head and glanced around. ¡°Lorin? Huh, where¡¯d she go?¡± ¡°She entered [Resolution] while you were conversing with Bongle. Did you do something to upset her? She seemed upset,¡± Boba said. ¡°You didn¡¯t touch her inappropriately in reality, did you?¡± More numbers flew out of Boba¡¯s body. Khrx nodded at Anaheim. ¡°Then you can learn it.¡± ¡°She does seem smart enough. Smarter than you, at least,¡± Boba said. ¡°What is your intelligence, Ms. Miehana?¡± ¡°Two.¡± Boba sighed. ¡°I did not think there could be anything worse than being pinned down and violated by a child dressed in a onesie. Little did I know, there was. I am being pinned down and violated by two imbeciles, one of which is a child dressed in a onesie.¡± ¡°Let me help you rip some of her numbers out,¡± Anaheim said, replacing her hands with her feet to pin Boba down. Then she dug through the A.I.¡¯s guts, scattering twos and threes around Khrx¡¯s personal room. ¡°I know this relieves stress, but aren¡¯t you wasting time?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Khrx said. ¡°There¡¯s still an hour before I can reenter the game.¡± Episode 14 (4) An hour later, Khrx nodded while dusting off his hands. Boba¡¯s body of condensed numbers had been completely scattered apart, covering the ground with a layer of digits. ¡°Alright,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Time to enter [Resolution].¡± ¡°Just wondering, but didn¡¯t Boba say Lorin already entered [Resolution]? Wouldn¡¯t that mean you could¡¯ve entered when she did?¡± Anaheim asked as she kicked away a few numbers by her feet. ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I lied. I just wanted to vent my frustrations on Boba. I could¡¯ve entered a while ago.¡± He navigated through his menu and entered the game without waiting for Anaheim¡¯s response. When his vision returned, he was lying down on an altar. Behind him, by the wall, there was a statue of Fiel. He sat up and looked around. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be Jax? Oh, right. I forgot.¡± Khrx hopped off the altar and hummed to himself before placing his hand on his head. The crow¡¯s feather was gone, but he didn¡¯t feel like it was too much of a loss. And getting smote by lightning didn¡¯t count for his quest that required him to kill himself, which was a shame. The guild¡¯s city had been improved in the few days he had been away, the roads and walls of the building replaced with stones. There were even rune stones on the city walls near the gates. Lorin had decided to go off on her own to get stronger after suffering a humiliating defeat by Theda¡¯s hands in reality, and Anaheim had spawned somewhere far away because Luke had kicked her out of the guild before killing her that one time. Which reminded Khrx. [You have invited your lover, Anaheim Miehana, to the guild.] [Anaheim Miehana has joined the guild.] [Lukroix Adveign Desrigard has kicked Anaheim Miehana from the guild.] [You have been demoted from Senior Officer to Plebian.] Khrx stared blankly at the screens that appeared in front of him. ¡°This bully!¡± he said and stomped his feet before calling Luke. [Your call has been declined.] Khrx tried again. [Your call has been declined.] And again. [Your call has been declined.] And again. [Your call has been declined.] And again.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. [You¡¯ve sent too many outgoing calls in the past minute. Spam protection has been activated. For the next six hours, you will be unable to make a call to Lukroix Adveign Desrigard.] Khrx glared at the screen, a growl escaping from his throat. ¡°You know what? Fine. Just fine. Who needed Luke anyways?¡± He sniffed and tilted his head into the air, squinting his eyes in disdain as he dismissed the screen. ¡°Just wait until I get that tracking skill. I¡¯ll show you who the plebian is when I feed you to Fufu. Speaking of which¡­¡± Khrx opened his downloaded images and dug up the map showing him the location of the labyrinth. Detailed information about skills wasn¡¯t free, and he had to pay a hundred thousand euros for a mostly complete map of the world, but it was worth it. It wasn¡¯t his money in the first place anyway. He located Swift¡¯s Peak and then the labyrinth before realizing Lorin wasn¡¯t around to fly him places. He¡¯d have to travel through three different guild territories by foot to get to the labyrinth: Poreasing, Amireca, and Rancef. There were also a few city-states along the way, but compared to the sizes of the guilds, they weren¡¯t much. Khrx was a bit surprised when he saw the size of I Can Pick. It was easily five times the size of the second largest territory. Khrx closed his map and sighed. If this was reality, he could fly without the help of Lorin, but it wasn¡¯t. The stupid game had removed his flight skill for no good reason. He didn¡¯t even have an ounce of mana in his body. According to Bongle, attending classes and lectures could improve his intelligence, but intelligence would increase by one per day. Even if he attended classes for a month, his intelligence would still be negative. Besides, as a dragon, he couldn¡¯t stand anyone lecturing him. Also, he wasn¡¯t very patient. So the only thing he could do was walk. If only Lorin hadn¡¯t killed Monika, then he could¡¯ve ridden a carriage. Once again, it was Lorin¡¯s fault. And he didn¡¯t even have any spells to summon her. He could feel her general location through his connection, but he had no way to contact her. Why did he agree to let her go on a training montage by herself? Well, what was done was done. Khrx ignored the stares he received as he left the city, descended from Swift¡¯s Peak. There was another wall at the base of the mountain with a bunch of burly men guarding the entrance. A crowd of people were kneeling outside, and they all raised their heads to stare at him. Khrx stared back, his tail raising as his ears pressed flat against his head. ¡°What the heck is this?¡± ¡°Khrx¡¯Lrvjnl, sir!¡± one of the burly men said, turning his attention away from the kneeling people outside the gates. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you. This lowly troll hopes to brownnose his way into your good graces. Someone as magnanimous as your grace will surely¡ª¡± ¡°Stop,¡± Khrx said, raising his arm in front of his face while spreading his fingers apart. ¡°Too many words. So you¡¯re one of Luke¡¯s subordinates, huh?¡± He gestured outside the gates with his chin towards the crowd of people. ¡°What¡¯s with them?¡± ¡°They¡¯re humans seeking to join the guild,¡± the burly man said. ¡°Lord Aaz¡¯Tala has instructed them to kneel for thirty days and thirty nights to pay obeisance. Around this time of the day, someone brings down a basket of food to feed them. Perhaps they mistook you for him.¡± Khrx made a face. He forgot he had to eat inside of [Resolution]. How embarrassing would it have been to starve to death in game? Thankfully, someone came down the mountain path, delivering the solution to his problems. Khrx tripped the food carrier and snatched the basket of bread, lugging it over his shoulder. There should be enough meals to tide him over until he reached the labyrinth. He patted the tearful food carrier¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking this.¡± Walking past the gates and the crowd of kneeling people, Khrx set out on his very first journey through [Resolution] without a companion. Episode 14 (5) Ten minutes later, Khrx was lying on the side of the road, munching on a biscuit while staring up at the sky. His limbs were splayed like a starfish, his tail curling up and down as a breeze passed over him. Not too far away, Swift¡¯s Peak loomed over him. He finished chewing on his biscuit and swallowed before reaching over to the basket beside him, pulling out a wineskin filled with water. He drank half of it in one go and sighed as he wiped his mouth. ¡°Why are my legs so short?¡± he muttered to himself, shaking his head while placing the wineskin on his chest, letting the cool feeling soak in. There were a few clouds in the sky, and Khrx squinted at them, trying to see if there were any outlines of winged cows. He couldn¡¯t tell. He closed his eyes and let his mana sense take over. Compared to reality, the mana levels in [Resolution] were about the same, but there seemed to be a lot more budding earth spirits in [Resolution]. Tiny wind spirits filled the air, and the clouds were laden with mana. There was something inside of each cloud, and they all shivered as his mana sense touched upon them. Khrx mumbled, his eyes still closed, ¡°So close, yet so far. I wish Lorin was here.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Khrx opened his eyes. A man dressed metal armor stood over him. Green camouflage clothes filled in the gaps between the armor. There was a shield strapped to the man¡¯s back and a sword hanging from his waist. The soldier tilted his head. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Khrx sat up. His eyes lit up when he saw the horse standing by the side of the road. It was just an ordinary horse that he didn¡¯t even notice with his mana sense, but it was a horse nonetheless. Khrx ignored the soldier and dragged the basket over to the horse. He pulled out a biscuit and held it in front of the horse¡¯s mouth. It sniffed it before opening its mouth and leaning forward to take a bite. Khrx pulled the biscuit away at the last second, causing the horse¡¯s teeth to clack. ¡°If you want it, let me ride you.¡± The horse snorted. ¡°A child without the horseback-riding skill wishes to mount the noble me? If you know what¡¯s best for you, hand over that biscuit.¡± It leaned forward and leered at Khrx. ¡°Kid¡­?¡± the soldier asked, raising an eyebrow. What was this child doing? He just wanted to check to see if the child was alright, but he decided to talk to his horse instead. Could a catlike beastkin even understand horse? ¡°A mere horse dares to rodomontade in front of the great me? Kneel for me!¡± Khrx raised his arm and slapped the horse¡¯s muzzle. Its eyes widened to the size of saucers, tears forming in the corners. It let out a pitiful wail as its knees buckled, bringing its stomach to the ground. Khrx snorted twice as he took slow deliberate steps to the side of the horse, slinging the basket of food over his shoulder. He hopped onto the horse¡¯s saddle and slapped its side. ¡°Rise.¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The horse whimpered as it rose. The soldier was speechless. One slap had instantly tamed his half-wild horse that he hadn¡¯t had the chance to break in yet. By the time he could register what was happening, Khrx and his horse were already riding off into the distance. The soldier blinked and regained his senses, shaking his head. He knew roadside muggers were common, but he didn¡¯t expect to be robbed by a child. At least he was already at his destination. The Regman soldier sighed as he walked down the road to Swift¡¯s Peak. Meanwhile, Khrx was reading the screen that had popped up when the horse started running. He had his legs wrapped around the horse¡¯s side, squeezing the horse¡¯s ribs to prevent himself from falling off. [Skill acquired: Horseback Riding] [Rarity: Common] [Passive: You can ride a horse. As you become more proficient, the stamina of any horse you ride will increase. Current proficiency: Abhorrent. Your mount is in pain.] ¡°In pain?¡± Khrx raised an eyebrow. He patted the horse¡¯s back. ¡°Are you in pain?¡± ¡°Stop squeezing my ribs!¡± the horse wheezed as it trotted along. ¡°My poor, poor ribs. My poor, graceful ribs. My crying, sobbing ribs. Oh, my ribs hurt so much. Please, stop hurting my ribs.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t squeeze your ribs, what¡¯s stopping me from falling off?¡± Khrx asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. His ears swiveled like tiny beacons. ¡°Put your feet in the stirrups and grab the horn of the saddle,¡± the horse said, tears falling from its eyes. It let out a breath as Khrx¡¯s feet stopped digging into its sides. ¡°My legs are too short,¡± Khrx said. They dangled above the stirrups, unable to make contact. So he squeezed them against the horse¡¯s side again, much to its dismay. ¡°You can only blame yourself for being taller than me.¡± The horse let out a whimper as Khrx hung the basket on the saddle¡¯s horn before leaning forward. He frowned as the horn pressed against his chest. How was he supposed to sleep with something digging into him? In one fluid motion, he released his legs, raised them up, and spun on his butt until he was facing the other way. He brought his legs back down, wrapping them around the horse¡¯s side. ¡°Keep following this road,¡± Khrx said as he leaned forward and hugged the horse¡¯s haunch, resting his head near the horse¡¯s dock. It didn¡¯t take long for a line of drool to leak from his mouth, his limbs loosening as he fell deeper and deeper into sleep. Yet, the horse didn¡¯t dare to slack off, continuing ahead on its course with its newfound owner. That single slap from Khrx had thoroughly terrorized it. It didn¡¯t expect something so small to have greater strength than itself. It should¡¯ve just accepted the deal with the biscuit instead of spouting nonsense, then it would¡¯ve gained something at the very least. With a stomach full of regret, the horse pressed on to the city-state which was barely peeking over the horizon. Episode 14 (6) Khrx yawned as an annoying light shone down on his eyes, urging them to open. He blinked a few times until his vision was no longer blurry. For some reason, his body ached and he pressed his hands against the wet grass to sit up. Why was he on grass? A single beam of moonlight shone through a partially open tent flap, landing on his face. Where was he? The last thing he remembered¡­, he had fallen asleep on that blustering horse. Now he was here. He tried to fly but nothing happened. At least he was still in [Resolution] and didn¡¯t die in his sleep. Khrx pushed aside the cloth tent flap and stepped outside. Six men were sitting around a campfire, roasting a chunk of meat. The horse that he had ridden here made eye contact with him and let out a cry as it stumbled to its feet, hiding behind the group of men. ¡°Eh! He¡¯s awake!¡± one of the men said, noticing Khrx standing by the tent. ¡°You sleep like a dead log, lad. Where¡¯re your parents?¡± Khrx scratched his head. What language were they speaking? He didn¡¯t understand them at all. ¡°Do you speak Rokean?¡± ¡°Rokean, huh?¡± the same person said in Rokean. He nodded. ¡°You don¡¯t look like you¡¯re from the east. It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve learned it as a secondary language. Everyone said Rokean would be the future, and you know what? They were right. All the NPCs bloody speak in Rokean.¡± Khrx stared at the man. ¡°Right. Sorry. You hungry?¡± the man asked, gesturing towards the empty patch of grass beside him. Another one of the men scooted over to make space as Khrx sat down, staring at the sizzling meat roasting over the bonfire. He swallowed his saliva as one of the men reached forward and rotated a stick, causing the meat to turn over. Ever since he ate that cloud pusher, his appetite had increased by a lot. Even Mooo¡¯s and Moomoo¡¯s corpses weren¡¯t spared. ¡°So you¡¯re from Rokea, eh? South or North? You can call me Mr. Johnson by the way.¡± The man gestured towards everyone sitting around the campfire. ¡°We¡¯re from Rancef.¡± ¡°South Rokea,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I¡¯m Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl.¡± The men stared at Khrx. ¡°A who and a what now? Whoever named you should be shot,¡± one of the men said. He shrank back under Khrx¡¯s glare. ¡°Now, I¡¯m not saying it¡¯s a bad name. I¡¯m really not making fun of your name. It¡¯s just that someone deserves a good shooting for making your life harder than it has to be. What happened to the easy to pronounce Rokean names like Min-jun or Ji-ho? Shit, does your name even have any vowels? It¡¯s like your parents sneezed while naming you.¡± ¡°Quit teasing the kid, Randy,¡± Mr. Johnson said. ¡°You¡¯ll make him cry.¡± He smiled at Khrx. ¡°Why don¡¯t you spell your name out for us, K¡­. I¡¯m going to call you Kay from now on, alright?¡± Khrx snorted and turned his head away from the man who insulted his name. He pledged to stab him in his sleep, but for now, all his attention had to be focused on the roasting chunk of meat in front of him. Why did it smell so good? Was it related to a cloud pusher? He swallowed his saliva again while his stomach gurgled. ¡°Hey, hey, doesn¡¯t his name sound really familiar? I can¡¯t help but think I¡¯ve heard it somewhere,¡± one of the men said. ¡°A name like Kay¡¯s isn¡¯t just one that you forget after hearing it,¡± Mr. Johnson said. ¡°You¡¯re probably remembering incorrectly.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°No, I¡¯m sure¡­.¡± The man furrowed his brow. ¡°The angel! The one that wiped out the Regmans and Sursians. She¡¯s the second place on the leaderboards, remember her? Wasn¡¯t she named Khrx¡­Lrvnjl?¡± The six men turned to stare at Khrx. He licked his lips, unaware of their gazes. The six men exchanged glances with each other. ¡°Nah. Can¡¯t be.¡± Mr. Johnson slapped Khrx¡¯s back. ¡°So, Kay. What were you doing sleeping on your horse like that? Do you even know where you are now? Do your parents know?¡± He glanced at his friends. ¡°Parents should be keeping watch of their children in [Resolution], right?¡± Randy rolled his eyes. ¡°Some people have things called jobs, you know? Not everyone¡¯s like us.¡± ¡°Hey, Randy, when are you going to pay me rent?¡± the man sitting on the other side of Khrx said. Randy coughed and looked the other way. He patted the horse behind him. ¡°Mighty fine horse you got here, Kay. Where¡¯d you get him? Lanmi? That¡¯s the only city-state nearby that I know sells horses.¡± Khrx tore his gaze away from the campfire. ¡°I found him on the road.¡± The horse¡¯s eyes bulged out of its head. ¡°Found this noble on the road? This noble was kidnapped! Who found who on the road, you peasant? I¡¯ll have you tried in horse court! Just you¡ªhiih!¡± The horse ducked and cowered behind Randy as Khrx threw a nearby rock at it. ¡°Brute! How can you behave like this in the company of your peers!?¡± Khrx tugged on Mr. Johnson¡¯s sleeve and pointed at the meat in the campfire. ¡°If that¡¯s not enough, you can cook the horse too.¡± He took another glance at the meat. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s not going to be enough.¡± Mr. Johnson laughed. ¡°That¡¯s bigger than your torso and at least seven kilos. I¡¯m afraid we cooked too much!¡± Was seven kilos a lot? How heavy was a cow? Khrx shrugged. He could always eat the horse if he was hungry. And he¡¯d do it far away from this group of people so he wouldn¡¯t have to share. What were they doing here anyway? ¡°Don¡¯t most people logout to sleep at night?¡± That¡¯s what Anaheim did. She said she had to take care of her body despite being near immortal. ¡°We get paid to play [Resolution]. The more hours we¡¯re logged in, the more we get paid,¡± one of the men said. ¡°Besides, if I logged out, I¡¯d have to talk to my wife.¡± The man sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t wait for the day I can afford a nourishment pod. Then I¡¯d never have to log out again. Goddamn soul-sucking banshee.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be watching our language around the kid?¡± the man sitting beside Khrx asked. Mr. Johnson, who was on the other side, nodded. The man clicked his tongue before pulling the meat off the campfire, hacking it with his sword and placing it on wooden platters. ¡°Let¡¯s eat and refresh ourselves before we start. I still have to eat in reality before I die of starvation or dehydration. It¡¯s been, what, two days since we¡¯ve logged out?¡± ¡°After this meal, come back in an hour,¡± Mr. Johnson said. ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch. Stay close to your VR drives. If anything happens, I¡¯ll notify y¡¯all immediately. We can¡¯t wipe before even entering the dungeon.¡± ¡°Dungeon?¡± Khrx asked, receiving a plate. Without waiting for an answer, he stuffed one end of the meat into his mouth and chewed. He slurped it up like a long noodle, swallowing it all in a few seconds. Mr. Johnson stared at Khrx¡¯s empty platter. Maybe he should¡¯ve killed the horse. ¡°Right. We¡¯re here for a dungeon run. It¡¯s right over there.¡± He pointed at a nearby hole in the ground. ¡°It¡¯s called the Snake¡¯s Lair. Every two days, a gem appears at the end of the dungeon, and we¡¯ve been tasked with retrieving it for Rancef.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Randy said. ¡°Should we be spreading information like that around?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a kid,¡± Mr. Johnson said and shrugged. ¡°How about it, Kay? Want to come with us?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just invite a random to our dungeon raid,¡± Randy said, his eyes widening. ¡°Dude. A kid too. How am I supposed to shout vulgarities when a snake bites my ass if he¡¯s around?¡± ¡°Well, we can¡¯t just leave him out here. You know there¡¯s been lots of roadside bandits recently,¡± Mr. Johnson said. The man sitting next to Randy poked his arm. ¡°Jim¡¯s a father. There¡¯s no way he¡¯s going to let a random kid be exposed to danger,¡± he said. ¡°So whether we like it or not, Kay¡¯s coming with us.¡± Khrx tilted his head. When did he agree to go? He had a tracking skill to learn! ¡°There¡¯ll be plenty more of that meat once we clear out the dungeon,¡± Mr. Johnson said. He chuckled and gestured towards his platter. ¡°This actually belonged to the guard of the dungeon¡¯s entrance.¡± Well, it seemed like that tracking skill could wait. Episode 14 (7) An hour or two later, Khrx woke up from his quick nap he decided to take when everyone except Mr. Johnson logged out. The temporary campsite was bustling, and the men were packing up their tents and bags. Khrx rubbed his eyes as the men held torches to the campfire, lighting them up. What Khrx had thought was a beam of moonlight shining on his face earlier was actually the light from a glowing stone hovering in the air. According to Mr. Johnson, it had special properties that repelled wild beasts. Randy jumped and snatched the stone, pressing on it to disable its glow, and stored it into his bag. ¡°We ready?¡± he asked, looking around. The only evidence of them being there was the campfire, which Randy extinguished by kicking dirt over it. ¡°What about him?¡± Khrx asked, pointing at the horse. ¡°It can come with us,¡± Mr. Johnson said. ¡°We¡¯ll leave it near the entrance so it¡¯s safe from harm. You don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± Khrx nodded and the group set off. Randy turned to one of the bulkier men. ¡°What¡¯d your wife say, Vinny?¡± ¡°The usual,¡± Vinny said with a shrug. ¡°She called me a lazy good-for-nothing man-child.¡± He stepped ahead of the group and led the way to the dungeon¡¯s entrance¡ªthe hole in the ground. ¡°Let¡¯s beat up some snakes. I need to vent.¡± Mr. Johnson patted Khrx¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Vinny may look and talk like that, but he¡¯s actually a really nice person.¡± ¡°What do you mean may look like that?¡± Vinny asked with a snort. He glared at Mr. Johnson before jumping feet first into the hole. The rest of the men followed until only Khrx, Mr. Johnson, and the horse were still outside. ¡°This noble horse lives his life aboveground,¡± the horse said. ¡°This noble horse refuses to imitate worms.¡± It took a step back, swallowing while staring at the hole. Khrx ran up to it, grabbed its leg, and pulled it towards the hole. ¡°Stop! Unhand this noble! Don¡¯t you dare¡ªyou dared!?¡± The horse screamed as it tumbled down the entrance with Khrx. The ground was soft, covered by layers upon layers of hay. Khrx dug his way out of the pile and shook his head, forcing the straws out of his hair. He led the unharmed horse forward to the place where the five men were standing with smiles on their faces. ¡°How was it? Exciting?¡± Randy asked. ¡°The guild put the hay there earlier. If we used something obvious like ropes, other people might find out about the dungeon.¡± Khrx wasn¡¯t sure how to respond, so he tilted his head to the side instead. ¡°What? Not going to say anything?¡± Randy asked.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°It¡¯s because your face is intimidating,¡± Vinny said, pulling Randy aside. ¡°Stop scaring him.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear that from you, buttface,¡± Randy muttered. There was a thumping sound, and Mr. Johnson appeared behind the group shortly after. ¡°Everyone¡¯s alright?¡± Mr. Johnson asked, taking in his surroundings. The six men were all holding torches that somehow didn¡¯t set the hay ablaze. ¡°Leave the horse here. Once we proceed, it¡¯ll start to get dangerous.¡± ¡°You hear that?¡± Khrx asked the horse. ¡°This noble isn¡¯t deaf. This noble will wait right here for you,¡± the horse said as it walked up to the pile of hay, dropped to its stomach, and hid inside the pile. ¡°This noble isn¡¯t scared! This, this noble is just cold. Yes. Very cold.¡± Khrx scratched his nose. Why did he always attract all the weirdos? It must be his charm. An abnormal amount of charm attracted abnormal people. ¡°Kay, stay behind us, but don¡¯t stand too far away,¡± Mr. Johnson said. ¡°We won¡¯t let any snakes get past, so you don¡¯t have to worry about a thing.¡± Khrx nodded. He was here to eat the meat noodles. If someone wanted to kill them for him, then he obviously wouldn¡¯t turn down the offer. This was how he should¡¯ve been treated once he woke up. People should¡¯ve been throwing offerings at him, begging him for good luck. Instead, he had his tail blown off and nearly lost his poor little life. Thinking back on that time, Khrx decided he needed to find an anti-explosion skill after retrieving Fufu. The group of six men worked well together, advancing in a triangular formation. Vinny stood at the very front while Randy and another lanky fellow stood behind him. Mr. Johnson acted as an overseer with two men protecting his sides. None of them had any weapons, only equipped with the torches in their hands. Around the time when Khrx was wondering how they were going to fight without fangs, claws, scales, tails, horns, tentacles, or weapons, a group of three snakes slithered out of the darkness, lunging towards Vinny. Vinny shouted, ¡°Stoneskin!¡± A gray light covered his body, and he charged forward, reaching for one of the snakes. The three snakes bit his arm, but their fangs broke on his skin. He grabbed one of the snakes¡¯ heads and gave it a squeeze while waving his torch at the other two snakes. Randy and the lanky fellow leapt forward, stomping on the snakes¡¯ heads and lowering the torches to their bodies. A few moments later, all three snakes were dead. ¡°What do you think?¡± Mr. Johnson asked Khrx. ¡°Why don¡¯t those two use weapons? He used a sword to cut the meat from before,¡± Khrx said, pointing at Randy and the lanky fellow. ¡°And how come Vinny doesn¡¯t use a shield?¡± Mr. Johnson smiled. ¡°There¡¯s a rumor going around about item drops and weapons, have you heard about it? If you clear a dungeon without using weapons, an item might appear at the end.¡± He shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s just a rumor, but it¡¯s not like we need weapons to clear out this dungeon as long as we don¡¯t encounter the wandering boss. Our luck¡¯s too low to run into it though.¡± Khrx nodded, mentally preparing himself for the wandering boss encounter. It was bound to happen, given his luck. ¡°Do all of you know how to cast spells?¡± He noticed mana fluctuating around the two men and Mr. Johnson during the fight. If things went south, they might¡¯ve interfered. ¡°Of course,¡± Mr. Johnson said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Anyone with at least three intelligence and five spirit can learn any basic spell. Do you want me to teach you some?¡± Khrx¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°No.¡± One day, he¡¯d get Theda to pull AI-Helper out of whatever hole it was hiding in. Then he¡¯d eat its face like he ate Boba¡¯s. He didn¡¯t even want to look at his status screen anymore because of how far his intelligence had fallen. At least he could still cast spells in reality. That was all that mattered. Episode 14 (8) Mr. Johnson patted Khrx¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t feel bad if your spirit is less than five. As people get older, their spirit increases. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to learn spells in no time.¡± Khrx¡¯s expression darkened as he resisted the urge to maul Mr. Johnson. ¡°Four snakes up ahead,¡± Vinny said. The group came to a halt at a bend in the tunnel. Vinny tossed his torch around the corner, causing hissing sounds to echo throughout the passage. He positioned himself with his arms and legs spread apart like a goalie and shouted, ¡°Stoneskin!¡± Four bright-red snakes came around the corner, lunging towards Vinny. They were as thick as a human¡¯s thigh with green venom dripping from their mouths. A slimy trail was left where they passed. ¡°Whoa, these are big,¡± Randy said, his eyes bulging out of his head. ¡°Why the hell are they so big?¡± ¡°Shut up and kill them,¡± the lanky fellow beside Randy said. He raised an arm and pointed his palm at one of the snakes. ¡°Firebolt!¡± A wisp of fire flew towards the snake and struck its side. It let out a hiss as it reared its head up, facing towards the ceiling. Before anyone could react, it shot out two lines of green liquid straight into the lanky fellow¡¯s eyes. He screamed as he fell to his knees, smoke drifting out of the corners of his shut eyes. The snake lunged forward to finish him off, but Vinny tackled it, crushing it with his magically enhanced body. Mr. Johnson ran forward and placed his hands on the lanky fellow¡¯s back. ¡°Cure Touch,¡± he said as white light flowed out of his palms. The lanky fellow stopped squirming as his dripping eyes wriggled and mended itself. ¡°Watch out!¡± Randy shouted. The three other snakes slithered around Vinny, all of them heading straight for Mr. Johnson. ¡°Arcane Pulse!¡± A wave of pink light surged out of Randy¡¯s chest, slamming into the three snakes. Two of them let out hisses and crashed into the tunnel wall, but one of them remained unaffected. ¡°Goddamn,¡± one of the men who was originally guarding Mr. Johnson said. He reached into his bag and pulled out a stone club while swinging it at the remaining snake in a single motion. It struck the snake squarely on the head, causing it to coil its body back and hiss. The man grinned and stepped forward, raising his club into the air. ¡°Duck!¡± Mr. Johnson shouted. But the man didn¡¯t have the time to listen to Mr. Johnson¡¯s advice. Like a rifle shot, the coiled snake sprang into the air and sank its fangs into the man¡¯s neck, wrapping its body around his torso. The man struggled, but his club bounced uselessly off the snake¡¯s scales. ¡°Shit! George!¡± shouted the other man who was guarding Mr. Johnson. He ran forward and pulled out the dagger by his waist, stabbing it into the snake¡¯s head. It shuddered but coiled even tighter around George¡¯s twitching body. Its eyes gradually lost their luster, but George had also stopped moving. ¡°Damn! George died.¡± ¡°This wasn¡¯t normal,¡± Vinny said, climbing to his feet. He had wrestled one of the snakes to death, killing it by crushing its head in his hands. The remaining two snakes had been wrapped up by Randy and the lanky fellow who still had burn marks near his eyes and cheeks. Both of them had pulled out their swords. ¡°Why the hell were they so big?¡± ¡°Could it be the hidden boss?¡± Mr. Johnson asked, his forehead furrowed. ¡°To think we¡¯d be this lucky.¡± Khrx unwound the snake coiled around George¡¯s body. He stuffed its tail into his mouth and slurped it up like a noodle, causing his cheeks to bulge to comical sizes. The men stopped discussing amongst themselves as the bulge in Khrx¡¯s mouth vanished.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°W-where did it go?¡± Randy asked. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± The lanky fellow let out a scream in reply. Everyone whirled around to face him. A purple and black tail was wrapped around his neck, and his face was turning blue as he clawed at it to no avail. In a single motion, his body jerked upwards with a cracking sound, and his limbs stopped moving as his eyes widened and glazed over. The tail released him, and he fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. ¡°The hell is that!?¡± Randy shouted, waving his sword at the ceiling. A massive cobra was coiled around the stalactites, its tail swinging back and forth like a pendulum. ¡°Fireball!¡± A ball of flames erupted out of Randy¡¯s sword, striking the largest stalactite supporting the cobra¡¯s weight. The cobra fell to the ground with a hiss, its tongue flickering in and out of its mouth. ¡°These sacks of meat dare to invade this queen¡¯s lair?¡± Khrx blinked. It was a shame he lost the glossy black feather; otherwise, he might¡¯ve been able to have a civilized discussion with the snake. Well, it wasn¡¯t like it was his problem. He took a few steps back and sat on a nearby rock, but not before retrieving one of the dead red snakes to munch on. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± Vinny asked as he positioned himself between the cobra and Mr. Johnson. Sweat rolled down his neck as he swallowed. ¡°I have two uses of Stoneskin left.¡± ¡°Do we ever plan things?¡± Mr. Johnson asked with a wry smile. ¡°Just tank it while Randy and Eddie smack the shit out of it.¡± He pursed his lips and took a glance at Khrx before letting out a sigh of relief. It didn¡¯t seem like Khrx had heard him swear. He pointed at the cobra. ¡°Wither!¡± Black smoke rose up around the snake¡¯s body, seeping into its nostrils. Vinny roared and ran forward. ¡°Stoneskin!¡± He leapt up and hugged the snake¡¯s face, trying to clamp its mouth shut. Randy ran forward and hacked at its sides with his sword while Eddie picked up George¡¯s club and ran up to it. Unfortunately, the club bounced off the snake without causing any visible damage. ¡°Blessing of Might!¡± Mr. Johnson clapped his hands, and a wave of white light surged towards his three companions, washing over them. Khrx finished eating the red snake and waddled over to the one that was dead by Mr. Johnson¡¯s feet. He picked it up and trudged back to his original seat. A second later, a screaming Eddie flew over him and crashed into the tunnel wall, his head exploding into bits of bones and blood. ¡°Holy crap! Eddie!¡± Randy¡¯s mouth fell open at the sight before he refocused on the snake. There was a bright red patch of blood on its tail where it had slapped Eddie. If that hit him, he¡¯d probably suffer the same fate as his exploded friend. He raised his sword into the air and stabbed down. ¡°Hurry up and bleed to death, you giant son of a bitch.¡± Khrx finished his third snake and glanced at the three dead men around him. He tilted his head. Should he? It¡¯d be a waste not to. But something in his gut told him the other people would try to kill him if he did. And his gut was never wrong unless it was. Instead, he crept up to the red snake that Vinny had killed and grabbed its tail. The cobra¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°Eating this queen¡¯s children! Unforgivable!¡± It ignored Randy and Vinny, lunging at Khrx, intent on crushing him with its sheer size. ¡°Kay! Watch out!¡± Mr. Johnson shouted. He ran forward and dove in front of Khrx, shielding him with his back. But the cobra was like a truck, slamming into him and Khrx, crashing through them and into the wall. Vinny let out a groan as he rolled off the snake¡¯s head, landing on top of Mr. Johnson¡¯s unmoving body. Khrx wrinkled his nose as he sat up. His head was a little sore from where it had smacked into a rock, but other than that, he was fine. The cobra reared back and opened its mouth, exhaling a fog of purple mist. It permeated the whole tunnel, causing Randy to collapse with a curse. Khrx sighed as he scratched his head. Was he going to die again so soon? A day hadn¡¯t even passed. The purple mist entered his nose and mouth, and a feeling of comfort overwhelmed him. His head no longer hurt, and the few scratches he received from his fall were healing themselves. ¡°What¡¯s this sorcery?¡± the cobra asked. ¡°How are you healing from my most potent poison!?¡± Poison? A smile bloomed on Khrx¡¯s face. He had to thank that disgusting blob for hugging him and giving him a mythic skill. But how was he going to fight the cobra without any weapons or claws or fangs or horns or hooves or spells? The cobra¡¯s tail flashed towards Khrx, and he batted at it out of reflex. With a boom, the cobra¡¯s tail flew to the side, slamming against the wall. Khrx blinked at the giant snake. This¡­. Wasn¡¯t this cobra a little too weak? Episode 14 (9) Luke glanced over the screen that had appeared after he conquered his fifth guild. [Champion of Sram] [Guild members and affiliated NPCs receive +15 Strength, +15 Constitution, -10 Intelligence, and -10 Spirit while at war. Warmongering penalties increase 50% faster.] He dismissed it and shrugged. Why was everything oriented towards strength and constitution? Well, it was fitting considering most of his guild members consisted of goblins, orcs, and trolls. It wasn¡¯t like anything was lost after the loss of intelligence and spirit. *** Khrx stared at the fallen cobra by his feet. He had given it seventeen good smacks on the head. Despite his attempts at taming it, the cobra had refused to comply to the very end and succumbed to its injuries. Meanwhile, the three men, who were barely living, stared at Khrx with pale faces and wide eyes. Blood leaked out of their mouths, and blackened veins pulsed underneath their skin. A few rounds of Remove Poison by Mr. Johnson wasn¡¯t able to cure them fully. ¡°Kay¡­,¡± Mr. Johnson said, his voice thin. ¡°What¡¯s your strength?¡± Khrx shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m weak,¡± he said with a sigh. Compared to his strength in reality, the strength he had in game was less than a single percent. To him, there was no difference between the two strength he had started with and the strength he had now. If he had encountered the snake in reality, he could¡¯ve killed it with a single sneeze. ¡°Weak. Right. Then what the hell does that make us?¡± Randy asked. He coughed out a viscous black blob and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Khrx tilted his head. ¡°Ants?¡± He wondered what happened to the ants. In his 701,325th awakening cycle, ants the size of humans had ruled the world. Unfortunately for them, they tasted delicious to him and suffered an apocalypse. He had left behind five queens because only a fool would drive such a tasty species to extinction, but ants were no longer around during the next time he awoke. Maybe Luke would know. The three men muttered amongst themselves as Khrx grabbed the torches and stacked them into a pile, forming a campfire. He placed a relatively flat portion of the broken stalactite on top of it and tore off a chunk of the cobra¡¯s side, tossing it on top of the rock. Then he sat down and waited, staring at the piece of meat. ¡°Why¡¯re you cooking it now, but not before?¡± Mr. Johnson asked, recalling Khrx slurping the other four snakes up like noodles. ¡°I was too hungry to wait,¡± Khrx said, not taking his eyes off the now-sizzling meat. ¡°But now that I¡¯m not as hungry, I can take my time.¡± He flipped the meat with his fingers and hissed before sticking them into his mouth. It was annoying how his body wasn¡¯t resistant to heat. Mr. Johnson shook his head before administering another round of Remove Poison. The dark color of the men¡¯s veins lightened, but it was still going to be a long while until it was completely gone. He sighed as he leaned back, waiting for his mana to recover.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Khrx continued to tear apart the snake. When he was halfway through, he pulled a human skeleton wearing a bag out of its stomach. With a blank expression, he tossed the skeleton aside and broke off a few of the snake¡¯s ribs. His tail, which was swishing back and forth lazily, stiffened and pointed at the skeleton. Khrx blinked and grabbed his tail, attempting to wave it around, but the tip remained pointing in one direction like the head of a chicken while the rest wriggled like a rope. He furrowed his brow and walked over to his makeshift hotplate and dumped the ribs on top. His tail continued to point in one direction, swiveling along with the motions of his body. He sighed before waddling over to the skeleton and gave it a nudge with his foot. He looked at his tail and asked, ¡°What? It¡¯s just a bag.¡± Khrx grabbed the bag and gave it a good shake. The metal buckles rattled around, but there were no other sounds. He opened the top and peered inside before flipping it upside down. He gave it another shake, but nothing came out. ¡°It¡¯s empty.¡± ¡°Whoa! That¡¯s a bag of holding,¡± Randy said, his eyes widening. He climbed to his feet but fell over into a crumpled heap a second later. He propped his chin up while clawing towards the skeleton, dragging his body along. ¡°If we sell it, we¡¯ll be rich!¡± ¡°Bag of holding?¡± Khrx asked as he held up the bag and spun it around. ¡°Don¡¯t all bags hold things?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a special bag that has more space on the inside than it does on the outside,¡± Mr. Johnson said. So the rumors about killing beasts without weapons were true. Items really did drop, and an extremely rare one like the bag of holding too. In reality, there were only ten bags of holding in existence, all of them created eons ago by an unknown existence. Khrx frowned. What good was this bag? The next time he died, it¡¯d be gone. Why couldn¡¯t the cobra have given him something more useful like more charm? Well, treasure was treasure. And if it was a valuable treasure, it had to be hidden. Khrx stuffed it down the neck of his onesie and tied it around his waist so that it rested on his stomach. He tore a slit open on his onesie, letting the top of the bag protrude like a kangaroo¡¯s pouch. He nodded at his handiwork and tried stuffing the skeleton inside as a test. Like magic, it shrank as it entered the bag. Khrx reached in and pulled the skeleton out, causing it to grow again. Randy swallowed at the sight. ¡°Hey, Kay,¡± he said with an ugly smile on his face. ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me hold onto it for you? I heard they¡¯re awfully heavy, right? A child shouldn¡¯t be carrying around a twenty-pound bag. It¡¯ll stunt your growth.¡± Khrx¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What are you saying, Randy?¡± Mr. Johnson asked, grabbing Randy¡¯s ankle and dragging him back. ¡°Khrx killed the cobra. The bag belongs to him. Don¡¯t forget our main purpose is the gem at the end of the dungeon.¡± Randy stared at Khrx before sighing. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right, Jim.¡± He hung his head as he leaned back against the wall, his expression unreadable. Khrx snorted before continuing with his meal. A surface dweller coveted his treasure, but how was that any different from usual? If Randy really did try to steal his bag, he¡¯d torture him, find out where he lived in reality, and rob him and all his relatives blind, adding onto his collection. Khrx sighed as he munched on the cobra, reminiscing on his first treasure. It was a pearl he had picked up while digging for oysters to eat. A fishfolk tried to steal it from him since he was still just a baby dragon back then. In the end, all the wealth of the Fishfolkian Empire had fallen into his hands, causing its eventual collapse. His parents were right when they told him he needed wealth to make more wealth; after all, how else would he bait rich people into stealing from him? Episode 14 (10) After fully consuming the cobra, Khrx exhaled and lay down, spreading his arms and legs out to the side. The cold cavern floor felt nice on his back. Maybe he¡¯d import some ice into his cavern in the future. His head lolled to the side, and he made eye contact with Mr. Johnson. The men had finally cured their bodies of the poison and finished taking a short rest to recover their mana and vitality. ¡°Are you ready, Kay?¡± Mr. Johnson asked. ¡°You can go without me,¡± Khrx said with a yawn. Why did he enter this dungeon in the first place? Obviously, it was to eat the meat noodles. And now that he was full, there was no longer a reason for him to stay. He had a tracking skill to learn after all. But for now, he needed a quick nap. He curled up into a ball next to the fire and closed his eyes. Within seconds, his soft snores permeated the tunnel. ¡°Uh¡­.¡± The three men exchanged glances. ¡°Why is he sleeping in game?¡± Vinny asked. ¡°Should I rob him?¡± Randy whispered. Mr. Johnson smacked the back of Randy¡¯s head, causing him to fall over. ¡°Did you not see him kill that snake?¡± ¡°But he¡¯s sleeping now,¡± Randy muttered and stood up, rubbing his scalp. ¡°Alright, forget it. I don¡¯t rob children.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be robbing anyone,¡± Vinny said with a snort. ¡°Let¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Mr. Johnson said. ¡°George just sent me a message. A forum link?¡± A hologram took shape in front of Mr. Johnson, and the roaring of wind rang throughout the passage. Khrx¡¯s ears twitched as he sat up with a scowl on his face. In the projection, a feminine figure dressed in a white woolen robe was standing in a wasteland of ice. ¡°This is your favorite reporter, Julia Wonderful, coming to you live from Tanarctica, land of the penguins and the queen of the apocalypse, the blue-skinned empress!¡± ¡°The queen of the what now?¡± Randy asked, furrowing his brow. ¡°What the hell did George send you this for?¡± ¡°Shush,¡± Vinny said, placing his finger on his lips. ¡°The United Countries have tried to send multiple drones to establish contact with the blue-skinned empress, but as many of you know, the empress destroyed them all while saying she had no respect for people who wouldn¡¯t come in person,¡± Julia said, speaking directly at Mr. Johnson. ¡°That¡¯s why I, Julia Wonderful, have volunteered to make first contact with her! She¡¯s destroyed dozens of cities, and you¡¯ve seen videos of her rampages on the web, but I don¡¯t believe we¡¯re incapable of communicating with her. Why is she bringing about such rampant destruction? Is she an agent of the apocalypse? Let¡¯s find out in an exclusive interview!¡± ¡°This woman has a loose screw in her head,¡± Randy said with his mouth hanging open. ¡°She¡¯s going to get killed.¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Agreed,¡± Vinny said with a nod. Mr. Johnson furrowed her brow as Julia raised one fist into the air and marched on, the projection following her from her back. ¡°You know, this blue-skinned empress is probably the reason why we¡¯re out here,¡± he said. ¡°Remember how our special forces all logged out to take care of business and never logged back in? Something tells me it¡¯s related to her.¡± A small house gradually came into view as Julia trudged onwards, leaving watery footsteps in the ice behind her. Evidently, she was using a heating spell of some sort to keep warm. ¡°We¡¯re here folks! Home of the blue-skinned empress. Or Saint Nicholas¡¯ estranged cousin¡¯s.¡± Julia turned around to face Mr. Johnson again. ¡°Now, before I enter, I have a few words I¡¯d like to say. Be sure to comment on, subscribe, and like my video! Thanks for all the wonderful support!¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°Alright, here we go, folks. The moment of truth.¡± Vinny, Randy, and Mr. Johnson swallowed as Julia approached the tiny house and knocked on the door. It swung open, and a massive eyeball with a red iris and a black slit pupil greeted her, filling the entire doorway. ¡°Ah,¡± Khrx said. Wasn¡¯t that the right head of Trifelus? What was its name? Rhea? What was the guardian of the underworld doing in reality? Then who was guarding the underworld? Julia shrieked and fell over backwards, scrambling away with her arms and legs. The massive eye blinked once before disappearing from view, revealing a relatively normal-looking room with Theda sitting on a couch, sipping on a mug. She stood up and walked outside, still holding her cup, and loomed over Julia, filling up the projection. ¡°You are?¡± ¡°J-Julia Wonderful, ma¡¯am!¡± Julia said, her back stiffening. She saluted with one arm, her body unnaturally stiff. ¡°I¡¯m a reporter!¡± ¡°A reporter,¡± Theda said. She paused as she brought her cup to her lips and took a sip. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Y-yes! Excuse me, Ms. Empress,¡± Julia said as she raised the microphone in her hand, pointing it at Theda. ¡°What¡¯s your purpose? Why are you destroying cities?¡± Theda tilted her head. ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? To conquer.¡± ¡°To conquer? Can you elaborate on that?¡± Julia asked. Theda sighed and raised her head, staring up at the black moon hanging in the sky. ¡°Imagine yourself living in a world without color. Nothing ever happens. One day, a strange, but cute, little thing introduces you to a new world. A vibrant world. One full of color and cheer. And you realize how much you¡¯ve truly missed out on. What would you do?¡± Theda smiled as she lowered her head and faced Julia. She pointed a finger at Mr. Johnson. ¡°You¡¯d take it for yourself.¡± A shadowy claw shot out of her finger, causing Mr. Johnson to yelp and dive to the side. The claw grew in size until it filled the whole projection and destroyed it, leaving behind a blue box in the air. ¡°I was right,¡± Randy said. ¡°The reporter¡¯s screwed.¡± Khrx wrinkled his nose. Theda was stealing his job as the bringer of the end of times. Wait, no. He wasn¡¯t responsible for any apocalypses, what was he saying? Besides, he was the one that brought Theda into reality. Khrx nodded to himself and dusted himself off before waving at the three stunned men. ¡°I¡¯m going now,¡± he said. ¡°Bye.¡± He had to hurry up and save Fufu before the upcoming apocalypse affected her. *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 25. Dear Diary, This awakening cycle has been the weirdest one yet. I¡¯m glad it¡¯s coming to an end soon. I just hope it lasts long enough for me to get the skills I want out of [Resolution]! Can you believe it though? I¡¯m actually able to improve myself after all these years of stagnation. I can actually acquire new abilities through playing a game. How strange. I hope I save Fufu in time so she can experience some benefits too. My gut is telling me there¡¯s not much longer left before the world ends. Once Fufu is safely back with me, we¡¯ll rob the world of its riches before they¡¯re lost in the upcoming apocalypse. Love, Khrx Episode 15 (1) The sun was peeking out from over the horizon when Khrx climbed out of the hole, dragging a complaining horse up with his tail. He exhaled from the effort and lay down, basking in the faint rays of sunlight. Before fully committing to the arduous journey ahead, he¡¯d ask Luke one more time to see if he was willing to return Fufu peacefully. If not, the only thing he could do was find that tracking skill. The phone interface rang three times before Luke answered. The first thing Luke asked was, ¡°Are you here to complain about being demoted?¡± Khrx blinked. Demoted? He had actually forgot about that. But he¡¯d address it later. There was a more pressing issue after all. ¡°No,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Return Fufu to me.¡± ¡°This again? Haven¡¯t we been through this?¡± Luke¡¯s voice asked from the other end. A few faint screams in the background accompanied it. ¡°I guess Lorin¡¯s been pretty helpful in the early game, so her contributions can be counted as yours¡­, but that¡¯s nowhere near enough help for me to release Fufu. How about this? I¡¯ll feed her some candy to placate her. Keep contributing to my victory, and she¡¯ll be back with you in no time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really going to make me mad, Luke,¡± Khrx said. Luke snorted. ¡°You know establishing the country once we win will be good for you too. How else are you going to roam free when the world¡¯s like this?¡± ¡°Theda¡¯s roaming free just fine,¡± Khrx said. ¡°If she can do it, I can do it too.¡± ¡°Which lizard had their tail blown off not even a month ago?¡± Khrx stamped his foot. ¡°I wasn¡¯t ready!¡± ¡°Look, Khrx,¡± Luke said, his voice stern. ¡°I know exactly what you¡¯re thinking. If I return Fufu to you, you¡¯re either going to plunder the wealth of the world or you¡¯re going to go back to sleep and hope the world ends during that time. And none of those options help me, so I simply can¡¯t return Fufu to you.¡± ¡°I will ruin you if you don¡¯t return Fufu.¡± ¡°Are we resorting to threats now?¡± Luke asked. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, anything untoward happening to my plans shall also be felt by Fufu, understood? Why don¡¯t you obediently cooperate with me this one time? Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve forgiven you for destroying my empire seventeen times just because I haven¡¯t mentioned it.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t destroy your empires! They just happened to die out with the rest of the world when I woke up,¡± Khrx said while grinding his teeth. Luke sighed. ¡°You know what? Fine. Since it sounds like you¡¯re sincerely upset, I¡¯ll release Fufu. I don¡¯t want this to come between our friendship.¡± The sounds of screaming in the background cutoff. ¡°I set up a barrier to safely logout for a bit. I¡¯ll call you back.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Khrx blinked as the phone interface disappeared. ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± he mumbled. ¡°Asking him worked?¡± He shivered as his tail stiffened. ¡°There¡¯s definitely some kind of catch. What did he say he was going to do? He was going to release Fufu¡­.¡± Khrx¡¯s eyes widened as he manipulated his interface and mashed the call button to Luke. As soon as the call connected, Khrx shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t release Fufu! Return her to me properly!¡± A snort came from the other end. ¡°That¡¯s what I was going to do,¡± Luke said. ¡°I don¡¯t want the world to end. I¡¯m not you.¡± Footsteps echoed out from the call, followed by the creaking of a door. ¡°Alright, Fufu. Time to go back to Khrx.¡± Khrx¡¯s ears swiveled towards the call interface, but he couldn¡¯t hear anything. ¡°Fufu?¡± Luke asked. There was a clicking sound that Khrx recognized as a light switch from his experience in Anaheim¡¯s home. ¡°Shit. Uh, Khrx?¡± ¡°If anything happened to Fufu¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s gone,¡± Luke said. ¡°How the hell is she gone? I even restrained her with metornice chains. Can she turn invisible?¡± ¡°She can¡¯t,¡± Khrx said. ¡°What do you mean she¡¯s gone!?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s some tooth marks on the chain¡­. She ate her way out?¡± Khrx¡¯s expression darkened as a low growl escaped from his throat. ¡°How often did you feed her?¡± Luke coughed. ¡°Three times a day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not enough! You have to feed her at least forty times a day!¡± ¡°What. But she¡¯s so tiny.¡± ¡°Your face is tiny!¡± Khrx shouted. ¡°Wait. What does she eat when you¡¯re asleep then?¡± Luke asked. ¡°She soaks up the mana I leak out,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Why do you think oceans are still oceans and not pools of lava?¡± ¡°So that one time the Nidian Ocean evaporated was because¡­¡± ¡°Fufu went out to play for a few years while I was asleep and my mana went out of control.¡± ¡°You know, you should really say these things earlier,¡± Luke said. ¡°Damn. I¡¯ll call a few gnolls and have them track down her smell. I¡¯m starting to think waking you up was a bad idea. I shouldn¡¯t have believed your explanation of cycles. The world clearly ends when you wake up; you don¡¯t wake up when the world¡¯s about to end.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already explained it so many times to you though,¡± Khrx said with a snort. ¡°Then why is the world ending even though I woke you up with an alarm clock? You would¡¯ve naturally woken up in a few thousand more years, no?¡± ¡°Coincidence,¡± Khrx said with a cough. A million coincidences were still coincidences. ¡°Anyways, what are gnolls and how reliable are they at tracking?¡± ¡°They¡¯re humanoids with a keen sense of smell.¡± ¡°Can they fly?¡± ¡°No? Don¡¯t tell me Fufu can fly.¡± ¡°She can fly,¡± Khrx said. ¡°But she doesn¡¯t have wings!¡± Khrx sighed. It seemed like he¡¯d have to learn the tracking skill after all. Fufu could be anywhere after she was free, and she probably thought he was still asleep so she wouldn¡¯t return to his cavern for a while. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Khrx,¡± Luke said. ¡°I miscalculated. I¡¯ll write-off those seventeen empires you destroyed, alright?¡± ¡°Write-off that godly weapon too, you know, the one I accidently broke while playing with.¡± Luke clicked his tongue. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll also forgive you for destroying the branch of Yggdra.¡± ¡°Can you also write-off that time I ruined your summoning ritual.¡± ¡°Which one? You ruined seven.¡± ¡°The one where you tried summoning a celestial after sacrificing nearly everything you owned, but you summoned a used napkin instead.¡± ¡°No! I still haven¡¯t forgiven you for that yet. Don¡¯t try to take a mile after I gave you an inch!¡± Khrx sighed. ¡°Fine. I guess that¡¯s fair.¡± He¡¯d forgive Luke for kidnapping and losing Fufu; after all, that¡¯s what friends do. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m hanging up. I have to learn a skill to track Fufu down.¡± Episode 15 (2) On a populated road, dozens of people were staring at the horse plodding along. On its back, there was a sack-like object with a fluffy tail. A basket filled with stale bread hung on the horse¡¯s saddle¡¯s horn. The horse had bags underneath its eyes, but its head was raised, looking down on everyone before it in disdain. Every time it passed a traveler, it snorted and whipped its head, causing its mane to flow in the air before settling on the other side of its head. Every time the horse passed a particularly fine-looking¡ªin its eyes¡ªmare, it gave her a wink and a whinny before passing her, its tail raised into the air. The owners of the mares had to placate them; otherwise, they¡¯d have chased after the noble horse. As the sun began to set and the surroundings were more dim than lit, the horse trod over to the side of the road near a stranger¡¯s fire and bent its knees, resting on its belly. It stretched its head around and bit the edge of the basket, unlatching it from its saddle¡¯s horn, and munched on the stale bread within. ¡°This noble wishes to eat carrots,¡± the horse muttered through mouthfuls of breadcrumbs. ¡°Which god of bad luck did this noble offend?¡± It turned its head around to glare at the snoring bundle on its back, but it didn¡¯t dare disturb it. Its lips flapped in the wind as it snorted and resumed eating the bread. When it was done, it hooked the basket back onto the horn. Then it went up to one of the strangers sitting around the campfire and bit their water flask, raising its head into the air to bring the water down into its throat. The people sitting around the campfire stared at the horse that had intruded on their space. A girl whispered, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the lucky horse?¡± ¡°You mean the one rumor from the forums?¡± a boy whispered back. The girl¡¯s head bobbed up and down. The horse dropped the flask onto the ground and rested on its belly before closing its eyes. The girl swallowed and reached into her bag, pulling out a piece of bread. She tiptoed over to the horse and dropped the bread into the basket and reached toward the snoring bundle on the horse¡¯s back. Her hand hesitated for a second before grabbing the bundle¡¯s side and rummaging around to reveal a foot. She gave it a quick rub before stuffing it back underneath the bundle. As she retreated back to her spot on the side of the campfire, she released the breath she didn¡¯t know she had been holding. ¡°You really believe those rumors?¡± the boy asked, a strange expression on his face. The girl was smiling from ear to ear, holding the hand she had rubbed the bundle¡¯s foot with to her chest. ¡°One can dream, right?¡± the girl asked and stuck her tongue out at the boy before giggling. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s only a piece of bread. I¡¯m turning in for the night; keep watch, please.¡± The boy sighed as the girl bundled herself up in blankets and covered her face with a hood before lying down. The rest of the people decided to call it a night as well, ignoring the unwelcomed horse, leaving the boy alone by the fire. He shrugged before taking out a piece of bread. The girl was right; it was just a piece of bread anyway. One foot rub later, the boy returned to his seat¡ªwhich happened to be a basketball-sized rock¡ªand stared at the fire. He wasn¡¯t sure when it happened, but the sun shone down on his face, causing him to groan.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I told you to keep watch,¡± the girl said. ¡°But you fell asleep.¡± The boy blinked and looked around. The sun was already above the horizon, and the bread-basket-carrying horse was nowhere to be found. In fact, the boy wasn¡¯t sure if the events of the previous night had actually happened or not. ¡°The horse?¡± The girl shook her head. ¡°It was already gone when I woke up,¡± she said, looking around. Her gaze landed on the dying fire; a blue piece of charcoal had caught her eye. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that a yew core?¡± She grinned as she ran over the fire, dousing it with the water in her flask. ¡°I needed one of these to craft my wand!¡± The boy stared at the girl as she reached into the still smoldering pieces of wood and extracted the blue piece. ¡°Aren¡¯t yew cores extremely rare?¡± he asked, a baffled expression on his face. The dried logs they had gathered for the campfire actually ended up being so magical? How lucky was that? An image of a piece of bread flashed through his mind. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be.¡± ¡°The rumors were true!¡± the girl said, posing for a selfie with the core held up near her face. ¡°I¡¯m uploading this to the guild forums. Eve is going to be so jealous.¡± ¡°I sacrificed bread to the lucky horse too!¡± the boy said, standing up. He kicked the basketball-sized rock beneath him. ¡°Where¡¯s my reward?¡± The girl¡¯s mouth fell open as she pointed at the rock. It split in half from the boy¡¯s kick, and sunlight illuminated bluish-gold mineral veins running through it. ¡°That¡¯s, that¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Kalyterium!¡± the boy shouted, his eyes bulging out of his head. He burst out into laughter as he bent down and stuffed the fragments of the rock into his bag. ¡°I can finally craft a decent sword!¡± He smiled as he hugged the bag to his chest. ¡°Praise the lucky horse!¡± Meanwhile, a noble horse plodded along a road. Today marked the seventeenth day of its solitary journey with the sleeping bundle on its back. On the horizon, a structure with sinister gargoyles and eerie red lights towered overhead. Dark clouds covered the sky, blotting out the sun. Lightning pulsed, occasionally striking the structure, and the low growl of thunder sounded like a beast. The horse shivered as it came to a halt. It turned its head and nudged the sleeping bundle, attempting to wake it up. When its attempts failed, it hesitated before taking a deep breath. With a chomp, it bit down on the sleeping bundle¡¯s tail, causing an ear-splitting yowl to drown out the thunderous booms in the distance. ¡°Who dares steal my treasures!?¡± Khrx roared as he bolted upright. ¡°Leave your lives behind!¡± He looked around with flared nostrils before realizing no one was around and he was sitting atop a horse. Then he saw the ominous structure up ahead. ¡°Huh? Oh. Are we there?¡± ¡°This noble horse has finished the task you assigned. Please, let this noble horse go free.¡± ¡°Eh, yeah, sure, whatever,¡± Khrx said as he hopped off the horse. He grabbed a piece of stale bread and stuffed it into his mouth. He munched on it while inspecting the structure up ahead. ¡°Weird. I thought the labyrinth with the skill was supposed to be underground.¡± He glanced at the horse. ¡°You followed the map, right?¡± The horse bobbed its head up and down. It stood in place, watching as Khrx went further and further down the road towards the structure. Its tail quivered as tears sprang into its eyes. When Khrx disappeared from view, it whirled around and galloped away while shouting, ¡°This noble horse is finally free! If this noble horse disclosed this noble horse¡¯s inability to read, this noble horse would definitely lose its poor little life. Followed a map? This noble horse¡¯s nose is the best map around!¡± Episode 15 (3) The base of the structure was surrounded by a fence, and the only entrance was a gate with two bloody heads where handles should¡¯ve been. Khrx furrowed his brow at the sign on the gate. It read, ¡°Property of Duchess Rose. Trespassers will be eaten,¡± in blood-red letters, and below that sign, there was another sign that looked like it was scribbled on with a burnt twig that read, ¡°Do NOT enter without at least 30 spirit and 30 intelligence if you value your sanity! Do NOT even knock if your spirit and intelligence are less than 10! This dungeon is not for the faint of heart! You have been warned!¡± Unfortunately for Khrx, the second sign was written in Poreasingan and he couldn¡¯t read it. ¡°Trespassers will be eaten¡­,¡± Khrx muttered to himself. He nodded and raised his arm. ¡°Then I¡¯ll knock first.¡± As Khrx knocked on the gate, one of the bloody heads opened her eyes to an impossible size. An eyeball fell to the ground, still attached to the socket by a pink noodle-like substance, as an ear-splitting shriek came out of her mouth. ¡°Who is it!?¡± she asked, her voice stretching out the words. ¡°Who has come to visit darling Duchess Rose?¡± A shiver ran down Khrx¡¯s spine as his tail stiffened behind him. His ears flattened against his head as he narrowed his eyes and bared his teeth at the bloody head. The eyeball on the ground rolled upwards, its iris and pupil focusing on Khrx. ¡°Oh, how cute,¡± the head said with a giggle. Her tongue extended from her mouth, wriggling like a worm as it elongated and stretched towards Khrx¡¯s face. It licked his ear and attempted to dig into the cavity leading inside his head, but Khrx batted at with his hand, causing it to break and fall to the ground. Blood spurted out of the tongue stump as the head retracted it back into her mouth. ¡°Aw, don¡¯t be like that.¡± The head giggled again as blood poured from its mouth like a waterfall. ¡°Come in, come in. The duchess invites you in.¡± The gate creaked open, revealing a garden with a path leading up to the front door of the structure. Khrx snorted and raised his head into the air, puffing his chest out as he stepped onto the path. The gate swung shut behind him with a cackle, and all the trees in the garden rustled. Khrx turned towards the noise. White, longan-like fruits hung from the trees¡¯ branches. They were eyes. The eyes blinked and swiveled to face him, causing the leaves and branches to rustle. They stared at Khrx as he trod along the path to the stairs leading up the porch. He took a step and flinched as the stairs screamed. ¡°No, please, no! It hurts! Don¡¯t step on me! Please!¡± Khrx blinked and retracted his foot. He squinted at the step and crouched down when he couldn¡¯t find anything out of the ordinary. He poked the step with his finger, but there was no response. He stood up again and placed his foot on the step, causing it to scream again. ¡°No, please! No! It¡ª¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Khrx retracted his foot, and the screams abruptly stopped. He placed his foot on the step. ¡°Aaaah! Stop, stop, stop! It¡ª¡± Khrx removed his foot. He tilted his head. ¡°Are you an animal?¡± he asked the step. Was his skill working? Maybe the whole structure was alive. It¡¯d be annoying if it screamed nonstop when he entered it. The stairs didn¡¯t respond. Khrx snorted and kicked it, eliciting a scream. ¡°Are you an animal?¡± The stairs still didn¡¯t respond. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you to ignore me,¡± Khrx said with a growl. He kicked the side of the step until its screams stopped. It took four good kicks for the step to splinter, causing blood to pour out onto the path. [You¡¯ve slain a mimic. +20 Achievement Points.] Khrx blinked at the notification. It had been a while since he last saw one of those. He had disabled notifications from Lorin after he suddenly lost his vision when she slaughtered a whole settlement. ¡°A mimic?¡± he asked after dismissing the screen. He approached the second step of the stairs and kicked it. ¡°Ow!¡± Three kicks later, another screen popped up. [You¡¯ve slain a mimic. +20 Achievement Points.] Four mimics slain later, Khrx arrived on the porch. A wretched face appeared on the front door. ¡°The duchess may have invited you in, but I shall judge if you¡¯re qualified to see her. Answer my riddle! When I am happy, everyone is happy. When I am sad, the world shall end. When I am hungry, I devour celestial bodies. When I am angry, none shall escape from my hands. I pity the fool who makes me jealous. What am I?¡± Khrx tilted his head. ¡°Fufu?¡± ¡°Incorrect!¡± the face on the door screamed. Blood poured out of its eyes, creating a puddle on the porch. A clawed hand rose out of the surface of the blood and lunged towards Khrx. ¡°What! I was right!¡± Khrx shouted as he raised his hand to smack the claw. His hand collided against the blood, but it didn¡¯t stop the liquid from surging forwards. The clawed hand engulfed Khrx, covering him in a layer of red viscous goop. ¡°Eh?¡± the door¡¯s face asked. ¡°But, Duchess, he¡¯s not intelligent enough to¡ª¡± A thunderous boom rang in Khrx¡¯s ears. The wretched face exploded into hundreds of wooden fragments, peppering the door with thousands of splinters. Another face appeared on the door, a feminine one. ¡°Come in, come in. Duchess Rose invites you in.¡± Khrx wiped at the blood blocking his eyes and frowned. His onesie was ruined. He¡¯d have to buy a new one from Boba after he died and went back to his personal room. Assuming Boba was alive, that is. He had left her in pretty bad shape. The front door swung open, its rusty hinges creaking. Khrx sighed as he attempted to squeeze the blood out of his onesie before giving up. He stepped through the door, and it slowly closed shut behind him like a Venus flytrap. The walls cried when Khrx looked at them, and the floor gave him a shy smile when he lowered his head. Where was he supposed to find the tracking skill in this mess? This was nothing like the informative post he bought on the website. He wanted a refund. Episode 15 (4) ¡°Just proceed up the stairs to meet Madam Rose,¡± the flowerpot holding a bunch of wilted roses by the entrance said. Its face consisted of only a mouth and a nose. ¡°And don¡¯t forget to take off your shoes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not wearing shoes,¡± Khrx said. The flowerpot¡¯s smile froze. Its lips flattened into a straight line. ¡°Then would you like some?¡± it asked. ¡°Open the storage cabinet beneath me, be careful of the teeth along the handles, and choose a pair. Oh, silly me. Do this after you¡¯re about to leave, but do select a pair of slippers to wear inside the house.¡± The flowerpot sighed and muttered to itself, ¡°It¡¯s a shame he¡¯ll never get to leave.¡± Khrx ignored the ominous words and choose a pair of white bunny slippers because they were the only ones that look liked they¡¯d fit. He closed the cabinet and placed the slippers on the ground. When he was about to slide his foot in, the slippers giggled, causing the rattling sounds of teeth clacking to echo through the room. A cooing voice came out of the bunny¡¯s mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t bite. ¡­Hard.¡± Khrx squinted at the slippers. To his surprise, a floating screen popped up. [Item acquired: Friendly Mimic Slippers] [Another two sets of eyes and ears are always nice. +3 Perception. Unfortunately, it comes at a cost. -1 Constitution. Note: Friendly Mimic Slippers will eat your toes if you take them off. Requirements: Intelligence must be 3 or less to equip.] Without hesitation, Khrx slipped his feet into the slippers. Three stats for the cost of one? Only an idiot would refuse an offer like that. Something bit down on his nails, chewing them like a set of nail clippers. Khrx nodded to himself. The slippers even came with a free pedicure. He wiggled his toes and shivered as something moist brushed under, over, and around them, licking them thoroughly clean. Okay, now it was getting weird, but it was too late to reverse his decision. Khrx tapped on the flowerpot, causing its mouth and nose to reappear. He asked, ¡°Is the duchess the final boss?¡± The flowerpot¡¯s nostrils flared and unflared. ¡°Final boss? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Err, strongest person in this place,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Why, of course,¡± the flowerpot said. ¡°If not her, then whom?¡± Khrx grunted while nodding. ¡°Then,¡± he said, ¡°can you teach me a way to find her?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s easy. Just go up the stairs,¡± the flowerpot said until you reach the very top. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to get lost on the way unless Stairster plays a prank on you.¡± ¡°No, no, no,¡± Khrx said, shaking his head. ¡°That wasn¡¯t what I was asking. Can you teach me a way to find her? Like a tracking ability.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. The flowerpot pursed its lips. ¡°Sir. I¡¯m a pot.¡± Khrx tilted his head. ¡°So you can¡¯t?¡± ¡°I can only teach you how to identify flowers based on smell,¡± the flowerpot said. ¡°I suppose I can also teach you how to not ask insensitive questions.¡± The pot sighed and clicked its tongue. ¡°My word, asking a flowerpot if she can partake in an activity that requires limbs. Just how are children being raised these days?¡± Khrx wrinkled his nose. Was he being talked down on by a flowerpot? Well, a skill was a skill. Maybe Fufu would be impressed when he identified flowers for her. ¡°I want to learn,¡± he said. ¡°Oh, sure,¡± the flowerpot said. ¡°Since you¡¯re the duchess¡¯ guest and all. Just put your nose in my mouth.¡± [Quest acquired!] [The talking flowerpot is going to teach you a skill! Just put your nose in her mouth. She promises not to bite.] [Rewards: A skill.] Khrx stared at the quest screen. Then he glanced at the flowerpot, which was waiting with its mouth wide open, rows of pointed teeth above and below. ¡°How about a finger¡­?¡± Khrx asked. He had ten fingers but only one nose. It was obvious which one he could afford to lose. ¡°You¡¯re going to smell flowers with your finger?¡± the flowerpot asked. ¡°This technique requires a nose. If you put a finger in here, I¡¯ll bite it off out of spite.¡± Khrx sighed. ¡°Alright,¡± he said. The quest screen never explicitly lied to him before. If it promised the flowerpot wasn¡¯t going to bite him, then it wasn¡¯t going to bite him. He stood on his tiptoes and placed his nose into the flowerpot¡¯s waiting mouth. Like a bear trap, the flowerpot¡¯s teeth snapped shut. Tears sprang into Khrx¡¯s eyes as he let out a nasally yowl. ¡°What the hell!?¡± he shouted as he clapped his hands onto the flowerpot, shattering it instantly. He pried the pieces off of his bleeding nose and tossed them onto the ground. [Quest complete!] [I lied. Teehee.] [Skill acquired: No Nose Knows Knowledge like Your Nose Knows] [Rarity: Legendary] [Active: If you smell a flower, it will tell you its species name along with its personal name.] ¡°It lied to me!¡± Khrx shouted, stamping his feet on the ground. His slippers let out a pained cry and nibbled on his toes in response. Khrx looked down. ¡°Oh, sorry about that.¡± The shards of the flowerpot wriggled and squirmed before hopping back together. ¡°How rude. How very rude,¡± the flowerpot said after fully reforming. ¡°All I did was impart a skill on you¡ªthat you begged me for, mind you. Kids these days, so ungrateful. Humph.¡± Khrx narrowed his eyes at the flowerpot before shaking his head. He wasn¡¯t going to argue with something that didn¡¯t even have any limbs. But how was he supposed to find his tracking skill now? The guide clearly said it was required for finding the final boss of the dungeon, but the flowerpot had told him the way to the final boss, invalidating his need for the skill. But didn¡¯t the flowerpot say someone named Stairster could play a prank on him to make him lost? Mm, for now, he¡¯d do his best to act like someone worth playing a prank on while he traveled up the stairs. But how was he supposed to do that? Khrx approached the steps of the stairs and frowned. He was a dragon, the most dignified being in the world. Who would play a prank on a dragon? He walked up the first step of the stairs and fell face first to the ground as the staircase receded by five feet in an instant. A pair of eyes appeared on the staircase as the lower steps contorted into a mouth. It grinned at Khrx as he climbed to his elbows and knees. ¡°Too slow!¡± ¡°Gah! I¡¯ll teach you to play a prank on me!¡± Khrx roared as he pounced towards the steps. [Quest acquired!] [Catch Stairster, the stair mimic, within a minute. He won¡¯t bite you! I promise.] [Rewards: Unknown.] Episode 15 (5) One minute later, Khrx was jumping up and down, trying to claw at the smiling face on the ceiling. Every time he was about to scratch the ceiling, it would recede by a few meters, forcing him to jump even higher the next time. Khrx panted as he shook his fist at the ceiling. ¡°This is cheating!¡± ¡°Nice try! But I don¡¯t want to play with you anymore,¡± the smiling face said. [Quest failed.] [You failed to catch Stairster. The path to the second floor has been blocked. How unfortunate.] The staircase receded into the ceiling as Stairster stuck out his tongue one last time at Khrx before disappearing completely. Khrx frowned at the ceiling before snorting and turning his head away. ¡°Be glad this isn¡¯t reality or I¡¯d have burned you down.¡± A single step from a staircase fell out of the ceiling and struck Khrx on the head with a thud. It bounced off and dropped to the floor, merging with it once it made contact. Khrx crouched down and clutched his ears, tears springing to his eyes. ¡°That hurt!¡± His nose wrinkled as he muttered, ¡°I¡¯m supposed to trigger tenderness and affection because of my charm. I didn¡¯t lose it somehow, right?¡± It had been a while since he last checked his status. [Sometimes, people see something cute and the first thing they want to do is tease it. Other people may fly into irrational envy and try to destroy you and everything you stand for. As with anything, having too much may not necessarily be a good thing.] Khrx furrowed his brow and dismissed the screen. ¡°That was weird. Since when did notifications pop up to answer my questions?¡± He blinked away the tears in his eyes and rubbed his head, smearing his cheek with his bloody onesie in the process. [This is Big Brother Bongle. While you were sleeping on the horse, you enabled voice activation. Though I am monitoring you 24/7, I can only respond to your words when you enable voice activation to maintain the illusion of privacy. Would you like to disable voice activation?] ¡°Yes, the floating boxes are distracting.¡± [I am sorry you feel that way. Voice activation has been disabled.] Khrx shook his head and sighed. He really wished his abilities from reality transferred over to [Resolution]. How come Theda was equally strong in both worlds? Speaking of Theda, he never had a chance to use his Co-owner of the Underworld skill, huh? How did it work? Khrx raised his hands into the air. ¡°Portal to the underworld, open!¡± [Select a sacrifice.] ¡°Right,¡± Khrx said. ¡°There was that.¡± He glanced around and picked up a fruit bowl on top of a nearby table. ¡°How about this?¡± [Analyzing sacrifice. Man-eating Mimic confirmed. You may summon one human-sized being from the underworld.] Khrx scratched his nose, but winced because it still hadn¡¯t healed from the flowerpot¡¯s cruel method of bestowing skills. ¡°I can summon anyone from the underworld?¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. [Understood. Random selection activated.] ¡°Huh? Wait! Summon someone I know!¡± [¡­Fine.] ¡°Don¡¯t seem so reluctant!¡± A portal opened in front of Khrx. The sounds of wailing and sobbing filled the room as the portal expanded, opening like an eye. Without warning, a person dressed in blue robes was tossed out of the underworld like a baseball, barreling into Khrx and knocking him over. The person dressed in blue tumbled until she crashed into the wall, causing a mimic to scream as the portal closed. ¡°This game is always abusing me,¡± Khrx said with a sigh as he picked himself up, sitting on his butt with his legs in front of him. ¡°Why would anyone even want to play this crappy game?¡± ¡°Khrx?¡± Khrx looked up. Monika was staring at him with her mouth wide open. Behind her, the wall-mimic was twitching with smoke coming out of its eyes, nose, and mouth. Monika glanced around before narrowing her eyes at Khrx. ¡°This is my personal hell, huh?¡± She pointed her palm at Khrx. ¡°Don¡¯t think an illusion of such low caliber can fool me! Chain Lightning!¡± ¡°Fu¡ª!¡± Khrx didn¡¯t have a chance to finish his statement before a blue lightning bolt struck his chest. His vision went white as his limbs convulsed. A high-pitched whine filled his ears accompanied by the sound of screaming mimics and booms of thunder. ¡°As I thought,¡± Monika said, stepping towards Khrx. ¡°You¡¯re not Khrx. You think I don¡¯t know that Khrx only has one constitution? He would¡¯ve died in a single hit! Chain Li¡ª¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Khrx shouted. Monika froze, choking on her own words. She trembled as she tried to move her body, but she remained motionless. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as her face turned red. Khrx blinked. Telling her to stop actually worked? He was ready to be struck by another bolt of lightning. Then he remembered the passive part of his skill, Co-owner of the Underworld. All residents of the underworld unconditionally obeyed his commands. ¡°Monika,¡± Khrx said, brushing at his hair with his hands. Each individual strand had straightened and stuck out like cactus needles because of the lightning. ¡°I¡¯m actually Khrx. Here, look at my status and you¡¯ll understand. You can move, but don¡¯t shoot me with lightning.¡± Monika frowned as she read Khrx¡¯s status, her gaze lingering on the description of his Co-owner of the Underworld skill. ¡°How do I know this isn¡¯t part of the illusion as well?¡± Khrx stared at her. ¡°You¡¯re thinking too hard about it,¡± he said. ¡°Even if it is an illusion, you should enjoy it anyway.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t I have been illusioned to some place not involving mimics? I literally can¡¯t see anything that isn¡¯t a mimic in here other than you. How am I supposed to enjoy this?¡± Monika asked. ¡°And you¡¯re wearing mimics on your feet. You know that, right? They¡¯ll eat your toes in your sleep.¡± ¡°You can enjoy it because you¡¯re not stuck in the underworld anymore,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°I heard not being dead is preferable to being dead.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m experiencing this illusion in death though,¡± Monika said, her brow furrowing. ¡°If you have time to think about unnecessary things, you have time to help me find a tracking skill,¡± Khrx said. ¡°According to my sources, there should be one somewhere in this dungeon.¡± ¡°Is this the only reason why you summoned me?¡± Monika asked. ¡°It seems like you could¡¯ve let me out of the underworld a long time ago. You couldn¡¯t summon me out before just to say hi? I feel like I¡¯m being used. And what about Nelson?¡± She sighed at Khrx¡¯s awkward expression. ¡°Alright, I understand. The sacrifice must¡¯ve been pretty big. Please tell me you offered that fallen angel as the sacrifice. She killed me. Did you know that? You should really do your best to stay away from her. She¡¯s insane. Absolutely nutty.¡± She sighed again. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I could last speak. They don¡¯t let you talk while you¡¯re waiting on line in the underworld. I never realized how much a person needed words. Speaking of which, did your sources tell you where to locate the tracking skill?¡± Khrx wasn¡¯t sure which question he should answer first. So he just shook his head in response. ¡°Nope.¡± Episode 15 (6) ¡°Then you¡¯re sure there¡¯s a skill to be found here?¡± Monika asked, tilting her head. She adjusted her blue conical hat, tilting the brim upwards. ¡°It certainly does seem like a place Ci¡¯Gam would leave a spell.¡± ¡°Ci¡¯Gam?¡± Khrx asked. There was a person leaving spells behind? Monika raised an eyebrow. ¡°Ci¡¯Gam,¡± she said with a nod. ¡°The god of magic. Though a lot of wizards pretend to worship Jax, we only do that to stave off heresy charges. Everyone capable of using magic unrelated to Jax worships Ci¡¯Gam.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s up to him to distribute skills?¡± Khrx asked. His eyes sparkled. ¡°Where can I meet him?¡± If he could directly skip the quests and have Ci¡¯Gam bestow skills upon him directly, how great would that be? Someone who could bestow skills freely¡­, how strong would that person be? If he met Ci¡¯Gam in reality, could he beat him? Of course! Dragons didn¡¯t fear gods. They only feared that the gods weren¡¯t tasty enough. Take his cousin Erif for example, wasn¡¯t he a god of creation? Yet Khrx could beat him into a pile of quivering scales. ¡°Err.¡± Monika fiddled with the front of her robe, adjusting her collar. ¡°Ci¡¯Gam¡¯s more of a concept than an actual person. You can¡¯t meet him. Ci¡¯Gam doesn¡¯t personally leave skills behind. We just attribute skills left behind as acts of Ci¡¯Gam. In other words, wizards just refuse to worship Jax.¡± Khrx sighed as his hopes of an easy life were ruined. In the end, it seemed like he¡¯d have to do things the old-fashioned way. He bent down, reached for his foot, and froze. The mimic slippers stared back it him, its tiny beady eyes reflecting his image. Something sharp nibbled his toe. Khrx¡¯s expression darkened. He couldn¡¯t rub his feet through the mimic, and he had no desire to lose his toes! What was he thinking when he put those slippers on? Maybe the loss of intelligence had actually affected him in a way more drastic than just decreasing numbers on a screen. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Monika asked, crouching down to face Khrx. ¡°I lost my cheat,¡± Khrx said. His eyes narrowed as his tail bristled. If he struck the slippers hard enough at the right angle¡­. [Your Friendly Mimic Slippers feel threatened! As such, they¡¯ve attached their souls to your toenails. If your Friendly Mimic Slippers die, you can forget about ever seeing your toenails again.] Khrx read the notification with a blank expression. When he dismissed it, he was greeted by a pair of smiling slippers, their eyes steeped in mischief. Khrx exhaled out of his nose like a bull and stomped his feet, causing the mimics to cry out. Even a pair of shoes were bullying him! Khrx shook his head. Forget it, even without luck, he was a very capable dragon. Monika placed her hand on his forehead. ¡°Are you alright¡­? You¡¯re a little warm. Do you have a fever?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sick,¡± Khrx said, brushing Monika¡¯s hand away. He looked around the room before closing his eyes. If he were a tracking skill, where would he be? Most likely with a dog of some sort. Were there any doglike mimics? If there were, the easiest way to draw them out would be through good smelling food! ¡°To the kitchen!¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Khrx?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for the skill,¡± Khrx said with a nod. It wasn¡¯t because he was feeling hungry after not eating for seventeen days. That had absolutely nothing to do with it. He was single-mindedly pursuing the tracking skill out of his love for Fufu. If he were to take a detour to eat some snacks, wouldn¡¯t that mean Fufu was less important to him than feeling full? He¡¯d give up his freedom for Fufu. He¡¯d give up his sleep for Fufu. He¡¯d give up his gluttony for Fufu! But a chunk of roasted meat really did sound good right about now. He, uh, the doglike mimics would love it. Though Monika was incapable of following Khrx¡¯s train of thought, she helplessly walked behind him, unable to disobey his wishes because of the skill that bound her. *** Anaheim sighed as she turned on the radio. For the past seventeen days, she had been chasing after Luke but was unable to even get a glimpse of his back. Didn¡¯t that man ever need to eat, sleep, or shit? He never logged off! Anaheim ground her teeth as she raised her cleaver and chopped into the fresh tuna lying on her cutting board. ¡°Following Lukroix¡¯s trail of destruction, I¡¯ve managed to extrapolate his next target. Clearly, Manevit is going to be the next guild to fall!¡± ¡°What exactly do you mean by extrapolating, Sam? Surprisingly, you haven¡¯t been wrong in guessing Lukroix¡¯s next target.¡± ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have to sound so surprised, Natasha. I¡¯m an expert after all. But I¡¯ve never turned down a chance to share my boundless knowledge with young grasshoppers seeking enlightenment. Look at this map over here.¡± There was a rustling sound. ¡°I¡¯ve marked all the places Lukroix has attacked already.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m really baffled now. I don¡¯t see a pattern at all. How is someone like you able to?¡± ¡°Why do your words sound so spiteful? Look here. I¡¯ve simulated the map in my living room by placing borders where the land ends and meets the ocean. Then, I placed an autonomous vacuum cleaner on the location of Swift¡¯s Peak and started it. To my surprise, it followed the same exact path as Lukroix, sweeping up the floor like he¡¯s sweeping up the world of [Resolution]!¡± ¡°You¡¯re comparing the greatest player of this generation to a Vuvuvroomga. Are you serious?¡± ¡°Hey. Vuvuvroomga¡¯s take the most efficient path to vacuuming the floor, alright? Lukroix is taking the most efficient path to sweep up the continent. If it a coincidence their paths are the same? I think not. This is why I¡¯m the expert and you¡¯re just a radio host, Natasha.¡± ¡°You did not just go there, Sam.¡± Anaheim turned the radio off with a snort. ¡°Those two should get married already,¡± she said and shook her head. She flipped through her watch¡¯s menu and opened up a map that projected a hologram in front of her. Her location and Manevit were quite far away. At the rate Luke was traveling, she¡¯d never catch up unless she predicted where he¡¯d be. For the first time in her life, she navigated to a popular merchandise-selling website and ordered a Vuvuvroomga. Her mother had raised her to avoid technology because of the risk of becoming too reliant, but the Vuvuvroomga was solely for the purpose of tracking Luke down to break her curse. It wasn¡¯t because she was tired of sweeping her living room with a broom! Munch, munch. Anaheim turned around to see a blob of blankets hovering over her cutting board. The fine pieces of sashimi were vanishing into the darkness at a visible rate. ¡°Hey!¡± Anaheim shouted, lunging towards the blankets. ¡°You said you didn¡¯t need food, Mr. Bubbles! Give me back my lunch!¡± Episode 15 (7) ¡°Why would a house composed entirely of mimics have the ingredients to create cookies?¡± Monika muttered to herself as she pulled a metal pan out of the mimic-oven. It grinned at her before using its tongue to pull up the opened oven door. Monika placed the pan atop a mimic-stool that promptly scuttled over to Khrx. Khrx picked up a cookie and shoved it into his mouth, closing his eyes with an expression of ecstasy on his face. If Monika cooked him a cloud pusher, he might just die from happiness. It was decided then, once he found the tracking skill, he¡¯d use it to locate a cloud pusher. He wasn¡¯t delaying tracking down Fufu, he was simply testing the skill to see if it¡¯d work properly. What if it had nasty side effects that would affect Fufu? He couldn¡¯t let that happen; thus, cloud pushers had to be located and eaten first. ¡°Is this what you meant by searching for a skill?¡± Monika asked, placing her hands on her hips after wiping them on a mimic-towel. ¡°Did it work?¡± Khrx let out a sigh as he sat up and licked his lips, reaching for another cookie. ¡°The doglike mimics I were expecting to come still haven¡¯t arrived yet,¡± he said, stuffing the cookie into his mouth. ¡°The smell must not be strong enough.¡± He swallowed. ¡°We¡¯ll need to bake more stuff. Like a pie.¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t any doglike mimics,¡± the table next to Khrx said. ¡°The¡ª¡± Khrx stuffed the empty metal pan into the table¡¯s mouth, causing it to choke. His gaze didn¡¯t stray from Monika. Monika sighed as Khrx stared at her with his large round eyes. How could she refuse? To her surprise, she found everything she needed to bake a pie inside one of the mimic-cabinets. ¡°The owner of this house really likes baking,¡± she said after locating another tray and wax sheet. ¡°If I didn¡¯t see it for myself, I wouldn¡¯t believe that this place is a dungeon. Why aren¡¯t the mimics attacking us?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s because I invited him in,¡± a feminine voice said from the entrance to the kitchen. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°I was invited inside.¡± He blinked and turned to face the entrance. A beautiful woman with unusually pale skin and red eyes smiled at him, revealing a pair of pointed fangs. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Me?¡± the woman asked, pointing at herself while raising an eyebrow. Her fingernails were curved like claws and as sharp as knives. ¡°I¡¯m Duchess Rose, the owner of this mansion.¡± She smirked at Monika, who had positioned herself in front of Khrx. ¡°Is she your familiar?¡± She glanced at Khrx. ¡°Aren¡¯t the roles usually reversed?¡± ¡°She¡¯s dangerous,¡± Monika whispered to Khrx as she adjusted her hat, lowering the brim to obscure her eyes. A string of incantations bubbled out of her lips as her fingers wove patterns of light in the air in front of herself. ¡°Lightning Field?¡± Duchess Rose asked. ¡°How rude.¡± In an instant, she appeared in front of Monika with the heel of her fancy shoes planted on the wizard¡¯s chest. The duchess straightened her leg, and Monika let out a cry as she was sent flying into the wall. Arms extended out of the nearby refrigerator and cabinet, locking Monika in place. The duchess lowered her leg and smoothed out her dress before turning to smile at Khrx. Her smile widened even further as she leaned forward, placing her nose above his head and inhaling. ¡°As I thought. You¡¯re an existence sent by God Theda.¡± She glanced at the tray which was still stuck in the table¡¯s mouth. ¡°Were the ingredients to your liking?¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Yeah, they were great,¡± Khrx said with a nod, taking everything in stride. He pointed at Monika. ¡°You should let her go. She was going to bake me a pie.¡± Duchess Rose nodded at the mimics holding Monika, and the arms retracted. The duchess fell to one knee and lowered her head. ¡°What does my god request of me?¡± Khrx scratched his tail. Was he a god now? He was a co-owner of a goddess¡¯ domain, so that was close enough? Khrx nodded. ¡°A tracking skill.¡± ¡°A tracking skill?¡± Duchess Rose asked, raising her head. ¡°What type of tracking skill?¡± ¡°I want a tracking skill that¡¯ll let me know where anyone is just by thinking about them,¡± Khrx said. ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Monika and the duchess said at the same time. ¡°Huh? Why?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°Because that¡¯s completely imbalanced,¡± Monika said. ¡°The cost to do something like that, no one can pay it.¡± Khrx furrowed his brow. ¡°But I know people who can do that.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you learn it from them?¡± Monika asked. ¡°It¡¯s too hard to find them,¡± Khrx said with a shrug. Besides, he didn¡¯t know if they were even still alive. It¡¯d be easier to find Fufu than to find those people to locate Fufu. ¡°Then what kind of tracking skill can you teach me?¡± ¡°I have the skill Vampire¡¯s Pursuit that I can bestow upon you,¡± Duchess Rose said. She smiled at Khrx, her pointed fangs glinting. ¡°As long as you have a single hair of your target, you¡¯ll know the general direction they¡¯re in. Would you like to learn?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Khrx¡¯s eyes glistened. He had plenty of strands of Fufu¡¯s furs lying around the cavern. This skill was exactly what he wanted. ¡°Great,¡± Duchess Rose said, her smile widening even further. She placed her hands on Khrx¡¯s knees as she rose to her feet, bringing her face closer and closer to Khrx¡¯s. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Monika said, whisking Khrx away from the seat and out of the duchess¡¯ way. ¡°Khrx! It¡¯s called Vampire¡¯s Pursuit for a reason. Vampire!¡± Khrx blinked. ¡°So?¡± ¡°That means you have to become a vampire to learn it,¡± Monika said, her expression darkening. ¡°What do you mean so?¡± Khrx tilted his head. ¡°What¡¯s a vampire?¡± Duchess Rose stared at Khrx. ¡°You don¡¯t know what a vampire is?¡± Her eyes turned into crescents as she chuckled. ¡°Why don¡¯t I let you experience being a vampire for yourself?¡± ¡°You, be quiet,¡± Monika said, sending a withering glare at the duchess. She whirled Khrx around in her arms to bring him face to face with her. ¡°A vampire is a wretched creature. They die under sunlight, and they can only drink blood to survive. They can¡¯t enter a building without express permission, and garlic is fatal to them. There¡¯s too many weaknesses if you become a vampire.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Did you say garlic¡¯s fatal?¡± Monika nodded twice. Khrx put on a troubled expression. ¡°But I love garlic.¡± He sighed and looked at Duchess Rose. ¡°Okay. Theda has a new request for you. You¡¯ll come to my realm and help me track someone down with your pursuit skill.¡± ¡°You want the lord of all vampires to act as a hunting dog?¡± Duchess Rose asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°But a new realm.¡± She licked her lips. ¡°I¡¯m tempted. If it¡¯s the request of my god, then I can¡¯t refuse. When do we set off?¡± *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 42. Dear Diary, According to Monika, I¡¯ve found the natural predator of the surface dwellers. All I have to do is introduce her into the ecosystem, and then there¡¯ll be no more surface dwellers trying to blow my tail off with missiles! Oh, this vampire can also track down Fufu. I can¡¯t wait to be reunited with her! I hope everything goes well. It¡¯s been too long since I¡¯ve last seen Fufu. I hope she hasn¡¯t encountered any danger after escaping from Luke. Love, Khrx Episode 16 (1) Aric Stone leaned back in his stiff wooden seat, watching the bickering politicians as he took a sip from his coffee mug. He frowned before navigating through the menu, summoning a shot of whiskey which he poured into his cup. He gave the mug a gentle swirl before taking another sip, a faint smile appearing on his lips. With Lukroix¡¯s recent success in conquering [Resolution], how could Aric not feel happy? While Lukroix conquered the west, the Regmans had conducted a joint campaign with the Sursians towards the east. And to his surprise, Lukroix had a formidable necromancer acting as a commander who was dominating the north with hordes upon hordes of undead. There was a banging sound as a woman slammed her mallet against her table. ¡°Alright, alright! Let¡¯s have some silence in this place! It¡¯s been over two weeks since we¡¯ve last convened. I hope all of you are ready to make some concessions for the sake of world peace!¡± ¡°How many times do I have to tell you to stop banging the fucking table!?¡± the lion-like beastkin roared. His tail was stiff, and he was covering his ears with his hands. With a glare, he navigated through the menu. ¡°Damn! Who hosted the room? My gun is disabled!¡± Mrs. Atrina, the elven ruler of Raustalia, cleared her throat. ¡°I did. This is going to be a peaceful convention,¡± she said, shooting a glare at the bald leader of Sursia. ¡°In the past, weapons and killing have taken up too much time that could otherwise have been productive.¡± The lion-like beastkin pointed at the woman with the mallet. ¡°This bitch still has her hammer! My ass, weapons are disabled.¡± He navigated through his menu and a sword appeared in his hand. ¡°Now that¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about! Only hot weapons are disabled.¡± Mrs. Atrina frowned as she manipulated through a few screens in front of herself. Apparently she had left the cold weapons box unchecked when disabling features, and it was too late to change it now. If she dismissed the room, it¡¯d take years for everyone to accept their new invitation. ¡°Shit! Stop stabbing me, you beast! I¡¯m a woman! How could you hurt a woman!?¡± Mrs. Atrina sighed as she glanced at Mr. Donovan, the president of Amireca. ¡°Would you like to begin?¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Mr. Donovan said. He glared at the lion-like beastkin. ¡°First order of business, Mr. Leo, stop stabbing Marta! Second order of business, let¡¯s discuss¡ª¡± ¡°Where¡¯s my crystal shipment!?¡± someone shouted at Mr. Donovan. ¡°Are you trying to renege on your deal with me, Mr. Donovan?¡± Mr. Donovan narrowed his eyes at the balding man with black hair and thick glasses. ¡°Due to the disappearance of the immovable kraken, the currents and weather patterns have changed greatly. You should understand this. It won¡¯t be long before my haulers navigate to Nipon.¡± ¡°That shipment was due one week ago! Do you know how many industries have been affected because of your lack of timely shipments? My haulers made it to your country without a hitch!¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°We can discuss this in private later,¡± Mr. Donovan said, his voice deepening. ¡°For¡ª¡± ¡°Discuss in private? You turned down my calls thirteen times! Thirteen! How privately do you want to discuss this!? Do you want me to go to your home and negotiate a deal while you take a shit? Is that private enough for you, Mr. Donovan?¡± ¡°Can we watch our language?¡± Mrs. Atrina asked. ¡°Cursing at each other will only separate us further.¡± ¡°Go fuck yourself! If Mr. Donovan didn¡¯t want us to separate further, he would¡¯ve sent the shipment! Nipon¡¯s lost over fifty billion USD due to his negligence!¡± Aric Stone swallowed his last gulp of coffee. He navigated through the menu and filled the entire mug with whiskey, adding a sphere of ice at the end. A deep voice beside him asked, ¡°You must be suffering from all the inefficiency, Mr. Stone.¡± ¡°Mr. Volkov,¡± Aric said, turning his head towards the bald man with the scar sitting beside him. ¡°I¡¯ve already accepted that not everyone can be as straightforward as us Regmans. In fact, I¡¯ve come to enjoy it quite a bit. This sight is certainly better than anything you can find on television.¡± Mr. Volkov chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s true, that¡¯s true.¡± He tapped his fingers against his desk as blood flew into the air. The leader of Nipon had engaged Mr. Donovan in a duel while wielding a pair of brass knuckles. ¡°How long do you think it¡¯ll be before Mr. Desrigard wins the game?¡± ¡°At his current rate, [Resolution] will end in a month. It doesn¡¯t seem like he needs to sleep.¡± Aric Stone shook his head. [Resolution] was designed to take a year before most victory conditions could be met: A diplomatic victory required becoming allies with 80% of the city-states in game. A technologic victory required the construction of a nuke, but the materials were gated and had their own requirements to unlock as well. A religious victory required conversion of 80% of the city-states. The only victory that could be achieved in the early game was a domination victory¡ªcapturing the shrines of every country playing the game. ¡°Do you know Mr. Desrigard¡¯s identity?¡± Mr. Volkov asked. He tilted his head to the side, avoiding a flying bloody tooth that had been knocked out of Mr. Donovan¡¯s mouth. Aric raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you?¡± ¡°Just a suspicion,¡± Mr. Volkov said, shaking his head. ¡°Demon lord?¡± Aric asked. Mr. Volkov nodded. ¡°You thought so too, huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the only explanation that makes sense,¡± Aric said. ¡°As long as he founds a country, the world will be unable to target him with nuclear weapons due to the contract. If we can¡¯t nuke him, the only person we can rely on is Anaheim Miehana. Think of how much she¡¯ll charge us to remove the demon lord. It might be better for the economy to let a demon lord do as he pleases.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re siding with the demon lord, does that make us traitors to mankind?¡± Mr. Volkov asked, a faint smile on his face. ¡°The only obligation I hold is to my country,¡± Aric said. ¡°No doubt you feel the same way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Mr. Volkov said with a nod. ¡°I¡¯m not foolish enough to think I can save the world. Just saving my country is enough.¡± Aric chuckled as he swept his hand towards the other leaders. ¡°But if we united, I¡¯m sure we could accomplish anything.¡± Mr. Volkov grinned, his scar making his face terrifying instead of friendly. ¡°I never thought you¡¯d be one to tell jokes, Mr. Stone. If the world could stand united, I¡¯ll eat my foot.¡± Laughter filled the conference room as the leader of Nipon raised his bloody fists into the air. Mr. Donovan was lying on the ground, his face turned into a bloody mess. ¡°Do you see this!? This is what happens when you renege on deals with Nipon!¡± The leader spat on the ground and kicked Mr. Donovan in the side, causing the president to groan. ¡°If the world unites,¡± Mr. Stone said, ¡°I¡¯ll eat your foot too.¡± Episode 16 (2) ¡°And what are you two getting buddy-buddy there about?¡± Mrs. Atrina asked, sending a withering glare at Aric and Mr. Volkov. ¡°Do you two feel like you aren¡¯t in danger because you sided with Lukroix? It must be nice knowing you¡¯ve attached yourself to the thighs of a great person, huh?¡± ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Mr. Volkov asked, a smirk on his face. ¡°The expression you had on your face when Lukroix burned down Raustalia¡¯s guild in front of us, it was quite satisfying.¡± ¡°[Resolution] is the least of our worries,¡± Mrs. Atrina said with a frown. She tucked a lock of golden hair behind her ear before crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°You two do realize the world is in dire straits, correct? Program Theda is still running rampant, summoning crazy calamity-level beasts. The tip of South Amireca is no longer inhabitable thanks to the incurable plague.¡± ¡°As expected of someone living in the Southern Hemisphere, closest to Tanarctica,¡± Mr. Volkov said, folding his hands over his desk. ¡°You seem quite informed. But, as you know, Mr. Stone and I are quite free from troubles in our cozy positions in the north.¡± ¡°If the south falls, the north falls next,¡± Mrs. Atrina said, her expression darkening. ¡°Then I pray you do your best in stopping Program Theda,¡± Mr. Volkov said, a beaming smile on his face. ¡°Do well to protect my interests, will you? I appreciate it.¡± ¡°Mr. Volkov,¡± Mrs. Atrina said, her eyes practically on fire. She glared at the Sursian leader with clenched fists. ¡°The world must stand united in times of calamity.¡± Mr. Volkov¡¯s eyes glinted as he raised his hands, resting his chin atop his entwined fingers. ¡°That¡¯s not the tune you were singing when three calamity-level threats appeared in Sursia seven years ago. If I recall correctly, your words were, ah, what were they again? ¡®El-oh-el, get wrecked, baldy?¡¯ I think those were it, right, Mrs. Atrina?¡± The elf stiffened and cleared her throat. ¡°At that time, we had our differences,¡± she said. ¡°Are you going to hold my actions from seven years ago against me? I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be that petty as a president, Mr. Volkov.¡± ¡°Petty? Me?¡± Mr. Volkov asked, his eyes widening in feigned surprise. He smiled and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. I am. Grudges are meant to be repaid a thousandfold. So now that Program Theda has unleashed a three-headed cat demon on Raustalia, I only have two words to say: Get. Wrecked.¡± Mr. Stone had a wry smile on his face. Clearly, no feet were going to be eaten. There was the sound of an explosion, and the room returned to how it had been when everyone first entered. The blood had been removed, and everyone was back in their seats. ¡°Alright. Seriously,¡± a man with a thick beard said as he rubbed his temples. ¡°If we¡¯re not going to be productive, then I¡¯m going to leave. There¡¯s a program that¡¯s just as powerful as Theda within the borders of Aimbuloc, and I have to get rid of it somehow. Wasting time here won¡¯t help me.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°There¡¯s a second program like Theda?¡± the lion-like beastkin asked, lowering the sword he was about to thrust into his neighbor. ¡°Why haven¡¯t I heard anything about that?¡± ¡°I just received the news from my aide,¡± the man with the beard said. ¡°A player ordered a shell which was taken over by Naoce, the god of the ocean in [Resolution]. Because we couldn¡¯t come to an agreement with Lukroix last time, another calamity-level threat has appeared in reality. Can we stop bickering and think about the future of the world instead?¡± ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± another man, Sir Bozco, said. ¡°Lukroix wanted a landmass the size of Raustalia and sovereignty for his country. Why don¡¯t we give him Tanarctica?¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± a dwarf with an eyepatch said, slamming his fist on the table. ¡°Do you know ¡®ow many years I¡¯ve invested in creating technology to mine metornice? Giving away Tanarctica goes directly against the best interests of my country!¡± ¡°Think of the bigger picture,¡± Mr. Donovan said. ¡°Once [Resolution] is shut down, we won¡¯t have to worry about more calamity-level threats appearing in the world. Then we can negotiate with Lukroix and pressure him into yielding the metornice mines to you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy for you to say,¡± the dwarf said, spitting on the ground. ¡°While I was researching metornice extraction, you were researching ways to make bigger guns. ¡®Ow about this? Give me the fruits of your research and I¡¯ll be willing to give Lukroix Tanarctica.¡± ¡°My guns are strictly confidential,¡± Mr. Donovan said, his expression darkening. ¡°What happened to the bigger picture?¡± the leader of Nipon asked. ¡°When it comes to you, is the picture no longer small? Hypocrite!¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you share your advancements in magical arrays and formations with Mr. Stoobly instead?¡± Mr. Donovan asked. ¡°I know how all of you are,¡± the leader of Nipon said, sweeping his finger over everyone in the room. ¡°Once I fall behind by a little bit, you¡¯ll devour me like wolves!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I won¡¯t give up Tanarctica unless I receive remuneration for my research into metornice mines,¡± the dwarf said with a snort. ¡°Is there no way for everyone to cooperate?¡± Mrs. Atrina asked with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s good enough we haven¡¯t blown each other up already,¡± Aric said with a shrug. A faint smile appeared on his lips. ¡°Here¡¯s an idea. Why don¡¯t we make another game called [Second Resolution] and solve our problem that way? The loser will have to yield their interests to Mr. Stoobly while Lukroix receives Tanarctica.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the most retarded thing I¡¯ve heard since the day I was born,¡± Sir Bozco said. ¡°Said the man who proposed [Resolution],¡± the dwarf with the eyepatch said. ¡°Where¡¯s my rope? I want to hang ¡®im.¡± ¡°That¡¯s that,¡± the leader of Aimbuloc said. ¡°Lukroix is going to win [Resolution] within a few months and someone somewhere is going to lose their land. It¡¯s a shame we couldn¡¯t mitigate the effects by agreeing to give him Tanarctica, but whatever. I have a country to save. Good day and farewell.¡± With a zipping sound, his figure disappeared from the room. *** Anaheim wiped her hands on her apron before placing them on her hips. ¡°Alright,¡± she said towards the couch that Khrx was sitting on. ¡°Are there always going to be more people every time you leave the game?¡± Khrx shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m a dragon, not a prophet. How would I know?¡± Lorin and Monika were glaring at each other while Duchess Rose was admiring the living room. A bundle of blankets covered the radiator, twitching occasionally. Khrx yawned as he scratched his neck. It was a good thing there was a ten-minute shipping option for the two shells; otherwise, Monika and Lorin would¡¯ve been left behind again. Episode 16 (3) Anaheim sighed. ¡°Alright, my name¡¯s Anaheim,¡± she said, gesturing towards Monika and Duchess Rose. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you. This is my home, by the way, so don¡¯t do anything to destroy it. Thanks.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Monika Akinom, a wizard from the world that you call a game,¡± Monika said with a nod. She tipped the brim of her conical hat backwards and smiled at Anaheim. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Duchess Rose, lord of all vampires,¡± Duchess Rose said, tearing her gaze away from the twitching blankets in the corner of the room. ¡°I¡¯m here to help my god track someone down.¡± ¡°Is this what you meant by finding a tracking skill?¡± Anaheim asked Khrx, furrowing her brow. ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone would appreciate a vampire being let loose into the world. You know I¡¯m the descendant of the hero, right? I¡¯m supposed to help save the world.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t find Fufu, the world will end,¡± Khrx said with a nod. ¡°Even if Rosey is a vampire, you have to let her help me.¡± ¡°What did you just call me?¡± Duchess Rose asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Rosey sounds like something you¡¯d name a pet guinea pig. If you wish, you can call me Elizabeth.¡± ¡°Could she help me find Luke?¡± Anaheim asked, her eyes lighting up. ¡°Ask her,¡± Khrx said with a shrug. He yawned again before walking over to the pile of blankets, throwing himself on top of it and wrapping thick wool around himself. One thing he missed about his weak body inside of [Resolution] was the fact it was warm-blooded. In reality, he needed to keep himself warm and cozy to have motivation to do anything. Sure, he could expend mana to maintain his body temperature, but as a dragon, he was lazy. ¡°As long as I have a single strand of my target¡¯s hair, I can track them down from anywhere,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°If you have the target¡¯s blood, then that¡¯s even better.¡± Anaheim beamed. ¡°I don¡¯t have Luke¡¯s blood or hair,¡± she said as she reached towards her neck. She pulled on a string, revealing a red necklace shaped like a teardrop. ¡°But I have the crystallized blood of the demon lord. It¡¯s been passed down from generation to generation.¡± She removed the necklace and held it towards Duchess Rose. ¡°Can you find the owner with this?¡± ¡°Oh? If it¡¯s blood, then it should be easy,¡± Duchess Rose said as she grabbed the necklace. She brought it up to her nose and closed her eyes. Her chest expanded as she inhaled deeply, breathing in nonstop for a full minute. She lowered her hand as she exhaled, her eyes staying closed. Anaheim waited. A minute passed, but Duchess Rose remained in place, her body perfectly still like a statue. Another five minutes passed with only the sounds of Khrx having a war against Mr. Bubbles for the blankets. When Anaheim was about to say something, Duchess Rose¡¯s eyes snapped open. ¡°Found him.¡± ¡°That easily?¡± Anaheim asked, raising an eyebrow. If this vampire became a detective, wouldn¡¯t it be impossible for criminals to escape as long as they left a single piece of biological evidence behind? ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Duchess Rose said as she passed the necklace back to Anaheim. ¡°But I only know the general direction he¡¯s in.¡± As Anaheim put the necklace back on, Duchess Rose fidgeted, shifting her weight from foot to foot. ¡°And there¡¯s an extremely strong curse on that necklace. I wouldn¡¯t wear it if I were you.¡± Her brow furrowed as Anaheim tucked the necklace away into her shirt. ¡°Actually, the curse is so firmly entrenched that it won¡¯t matter whether you wear it or not.¡±Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Anaheim raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you know how to dispel the curse?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a few easy ways to do that,¡± Duchess Rose said with a smile. ¡°¡­Really?¡± Anaheim asked, her voice full of doubt. A curse that had plagued her bloodline for nearly two thousand years could be dispelled that easily? ¡°How?¡± Duchess Rose smiled as she lowered her head and admired her claws, turning her attention away from Anaheim. ¡°The easiest way is to simply¡­¡± ¡°Simply?¡± Anaheim asked, resisting the urge to bite her lower lip. ¡°Oh dear,¡± Duchess Rose said, placing her hand on her forehead. She looked up at the ceiling. ¡°I seem to have forgotten.¡± Her gaze flitted down to inspect Anaheim¡¯s expression before returning to the ceiling. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to remember if you provide me a hundred able-bodied men and women.¡± Anaheim¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°This is extortion!¡± she shouted. ¡°I¡¯m not going to give you people to eat! I¡¯m a hero! Hero!¡± Duchess Rose blinked. ¡°Then I¡¯m sure a large sum of money will jog my memory too,¡± she said and glanced at Khrx. ¡°How much is a lot of money around these parts?¡± Khrx shrugged. ¡°Luke gave me one and a half million euros like it was nothing.¡± ¡°Mm, alright,¡± Duchess Rose said with a nod. She smiled at Anaheim. ¡°One and a half billion euros should be sufficient enough for me to recall a way to dispel the curse.¡± Anaheim stared at the vampire with a blank expression. ¡°So about those hundred able-bodied men and women¡­,¡± she said. ¡°Does age matter? I know some people who wouldn¡¯t mind becoming vampires.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be a hero¡­?¡± ¡°If you were given the choice between a terminal illness and dying before the age of twenty or becoming a vampire, which one would you choose? If you were eighty years old and living in a retirement home because your family no longer wants to take care of you, would you want to rot away into oblivion or become a vampire? Obviously, becoming a vampire is the best option in both cases,¡± Anaheim said as she stuck her chest out. ¡°I¡¯m doing a good deed.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no stigma against vampires in this world?¡± Duchess Rose asked, blinking twice. ¡°We grow bags of blood in laboratories for blood transfusions. You wouldn¡¯t have to eat someone to survive if you became a vampire,¡± Anaheim said with a shrug. ¡°Am I in paradise?¡± Duchess Rose asked, a far-away expression appearing on her face. She shook her head. ¡°Interesting. Very interesting. If that¡¯s the case, as an expression of goodwill, I¡¯ll tell you all the ways I know how to dispel the curse in advance. You can pay me in bodies later.¡± Anaheim nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t break promises,¡± she said. ¡°You can trust me.¡± ¡°The easiest way to break your curse,¡± Duchess Rose said with a slight grin, ¡°is to override it with a more potent one. Are you interested in becoming a vampire by any chance?¡± ¡°No,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Next option.¡± ¡°Another way is to find the owner of the blood and convince him to remove the curse,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°But given the fact that he cursed you in the first place, he might not be willing to do that. Of course, you can kill him to dispel the curse too.¡± ¡°I can convince him? It¡¯s not necessary to kill him?¡± Anaheim asked, a sense of relief flooding her chest. Her back straightened as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Wait, why was she feeling relieved? Demon lords were meant to be killed. ¡°Another option is to ask Fiel to remove the curse for you,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°Fiel?¡± ¡°The goddess of reincarnation,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°But she tends to stay away from worldly matters.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­, I don¡¯t know how I¡¯ll bring this necklace into the game,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Any other options?¡± Duchess Rose nodded. ¡°You can eat it.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Eat the necklace,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯d be palatable if you added some soy sauce.¡± ¡°Hold up,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°If I eat this necklace, the curse will go away? What¡¯s the catch?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a possibility that you¡¯ll explode,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°And that¡¯s all the ways I know.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll take my chances with asking the demon lord to remove the curse,¡± Anaheim said, her expression darkening. ¡°You said you found him? Can you bring me to him?¡± ¡°No!¡± Khrx said, releasing the blanket in his hands. Mr. Bubbles tumbled backwards and crashed into the wall from the sudden loss of resistance. ¡°Rosey has to find Fufu first!¡± Episode 16 (4) ¡°Go back to the sniper rifles!¡± Lorin shouted, pushing at Monika¡¯s face. ¡°Shut it! Your time is up! It¡¯s my turn now!¡± Monika growled as she braced her foot against the ground, shoving back against Lorin. The two were sitting on a chair meant for one person, each one half on and half off. Anaheim¡¯s expression darkened as literal sparks flew between the two¡¯s eyes. Smoke drifted up towards the ceiling, setting off the fire alarm. Both Monika and Lorin flinched before throwing spells at the surrounding speakers. Anaheim sighed as she fiddled with her watch, turning off the blaring, distorted siren. ¡°Can you two not bicker like children?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s my turn to use the computer!¡± Monika said, pinching Lorin¡¯s waist in an attempt to remove the angel from the seat. ¡°I wasn¡¯t done looking yet!¡± Lorin said as she pushed back. If they were still in [Resolution], Lorin would¡¯ve easily won in a show of strength, but unfortunately for her, the shells they occupied in reality had the same physical capabilities. ¡°It¡¯s only been twenty minutes since I started.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been thirty-five! That¡¯s five more than what you should¡¯ve gotten,¡± Monika said, her forehead slick with sweat. ¡°I¡¯m going to use the computer for scientific purposes. You just want to play! I should get priority usage. Isn¡¯t that right, Ms. Miehana?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to give the computer to Mr. Bubbles if you two don¡¯t stop fighting,¡± Anaheim said with a sigh. The blankets in the corner twitched upon hearing her words. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Khrx and Elizabeth be back by now?¡± Three days had passed since Khrx grabbed Duchess Rose and flew off to his underground cavern to find traces of Fufu¡¯s fur. Monika and Lorin had been left behind to destroy the apartment. ¡°Alright, you two did make a deal. It¡¯s Monika¡¯s turn to use the computer, Lorin.¡± Lorin glared at Anaheim before narrowing her eyes at Monika. She leaned forward and whispered into the wizard¡¯s ear, ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you in your sleep tonight. You better watch out.¡± Monika snorted as she forcefully leaned against Lorin, pushing the angel off the seat. ¡°Try it. I¡¯ll be ready this time.¡± Lorin picked herself up and dusted off her dress as she approached Anaheim. ¡°I saw this weapon called the sniper rifle that shoots out a lethal projectile that can hit a target over 50,000 meters away. Can you buy me one?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a military grade weapon belonging solely to Amireca¡¯s Special Forces,¡± Anaheim said, her expression darkening. ¡°I can buy you a pistol. I think the maximum shooting distance is around 100 meters?¡± ¡°I can shoot a lightning bolt that far,¡± Lorin said, furrowing her brow. ¡°Where¡¯s Amireca?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to tell you that,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Fine,¡± Lorin said. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Bongle when it¡¯s my turn to use the computer then.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Anaheim sighed. ¡°Look. Didn¡¯t you read the requirements of that sniper rifle? You need enough mana to power a whole city for a month to achieve that kind of range. If that kind of weaponry was freely available to use, I¡¯d be out of a job.¡± She placed her hand on Lorin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What do you even want it for?¡± ¡°I have to payback Theda for humiliating me,¡± Lorin said. ¡°She used me as a chair!¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably the most useful you¡¯ve ever been in your life,¡± Monika said, her face still glued to the computer screen. She was reading an introductory chemistry textbook while taking notes on a piece of paper. Lorin reaffirmed her decision to kill Monika in her heart. Then she walked over to the pod and couch with the VR drives. ¡°I¡¯m going back in the game. It¡¯s been three days since Khrx died again, right?¡± To take Duchess Rose out of the game, Khrx had to become her companion and kill himself to bring her to his personal room, which was why Lorin had been dragged out as well. Just logging out of the game without dying allowed his companions to stay inside [Resolution]. But Khrx didn¡¯t have any regrets while dying for the umpteenth time¡ªhe got a 50% natural recovery skill from the water elemental¡¯s vicious quest. ¡°Then that means I don¡¯t have to share with you anymore?¡± Monika asked, raising an eyebrow as she turned towards the pod. But Lorin had already worn the helmet, and the shell returned to its featureless, mannequin-like state. Monika nodded before turning back to the screen. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Anaheim raised her head as a beeping sound accompanied by the sliding of metal doors reached her ears. Khrx and Duchess Rose walked into the living room. Khrx had an annoyed expression on his face as if he had eaten something rotten. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°Did the skill not work?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t find any strands of Fufu¡¯s fur,¡± Khrx said with a sigh. ¡°My magma river overflowed while I was gone and flooded my cavern. All my treasure is under rusty rocks now too. It¡¯s all Mr. Bubbles¡¯ fault.¡± ¡°My fault?¡± Mr. Bubbles asked, popping her head out of the blanket pile. She flinched at the light before squinting her eyes into tiny slits. ¡°Why¡¯s it my fault?¡± ¡°One of your tentacles was blocking a magma vein,¡± Khrx said. ¡°And when you removed it, all the magma came rushing into my home.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who shrank my tentacles!¡± Mr. Bubbles said, her eyes widening into a glare. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, would I be in this pitiful state!?¡± Khrx pouted. ¡°You wanted me to help you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to shrink me by stealing my essence! This is what you get for being a jerk,¡± Mr. Bubbles said. ¡°I¡¯m glad your treasures were covered by magma.¡± Khrx snorted before exhaling a breath of flames, setting the blankets surrounding Mr. Bubbles on fire. ¡°Hey!¡± Mr. Bubbles shouted. ¡°That hurts! Wait. No, actually, this feels pretty nice.¡± Anaheim sighed as she turned off the fire alarm again. ¡°So now what are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to go to Luke¡¯s place and hope Fufu shed some fur where he held her captive,¡± Khrx said. He looked around. ¡°Where¡¯d Lorin go?¡± ¡°She went back into the game,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°When are you going to Luke¡¯s? I thought you didn¡¯t know where he lived.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll just follow that necklace¡¯s trail,¡± Khrx said with a nod. A smile that wasn¡¯t really a smile appeared on Anaheim¡¯s lips. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Luke was just roleplaying as the demon lord?¡± ¡°Did I?¡± Khrx asked. He shrank back and widened his eyes like a puppy, taking full advantage of his current characteristics. ¡°I don¡¯t remember. I don¡¯t think I did. No, I¡¯m pretty sure I didn¡¯t.¡± Anaheim walked up to him and patted his head once, leaving her hand in his hair and causing his knees to slightly bend from the pressure. ¡°Well, I¡¯d never have had this chance if I hadn¡¯t met you in the first place,¡± she said. ¡°If I was going to be angry at someone for deceiving me, then I¡¯d be angry at Luke. Which I am. Let¡¯s go find him.¡± Episode 16 (5) ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Khrx and Duchess Rose asked at the same time as a metal object that looked like an egg descended from the sky like a meteor. It landed in front of Anaheim, Khrx, and Duchess Rose, stopping an inch before hitting the ground. ¡°This is a flight craft,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Since I don¡¯t know how far Luke is from us, we¡¯ll use this to get there. I don¡¯t want to fly around half the world using my mana alone.¡± She pressed a button on her watch, and the egg split open horizontally. ¡°Hop in.¡± Khrx and Duchess Rose exchanged glances as Anaheim climbed into the metal egg, motioning from them to follow her. Duchess Rose hesitated, but stepped onto the craft as well after pulling up her dress to grant her legs a wider range of motion. She was wearing a completely black outfit that shielded every part of her skin from the sun, making her seem like the grim reaper. Khrx sighed as he muttered to himself while climbing aboard, ¡°This is so weird. Like I¡¯m becoming unborn.¡± ¡°You were born from an egg?¡± Duchess Rose asked. ¡°He¡¯s a dragon,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°You literally went to his home underneath the earth. How did you not realize that?¡± She pressed another button on her watch, and the two halves of the egg reconnected, trapping the trio in darkness. Anaheim pressed another button, and a series of holograms lit up the insides as three couch-like seats grew out of the floor. ¡°I thought it was normal,¡± Duchess Rose said and gestured towards Khrx, who claimed the largest seat for himself. ¡°He¡¯s part god.¡± Anaheim stared at Khrx with an odd expression. ¡°Like part god of creation kind of god?¡± ¡°No!¡± Khrx glared at Anaheim. ¡°I¡¯m not like Erif! I¡¯m devoted to a single woman¡ªFufu.¡± ¡°Fufu? Is that what my god, Theda, prefers to be called these days?¡± Duchess Rose asked as she took a seat. ¡°What does Theda have anything to do with Fufu?¡± Khrx asked. He flinched as he was pressed towards the seat from above as the flight craft rose into the air at breakneck speeds. ¡°You aren¡¯t Theda¡¯s partner¡­?¡± Duchess Rose asked. ¡°No,¡± Khrx said. ¡°She made me the co-owner of the underworld.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯re her partner¡­?¡± Duchess Rose asked. She removed the hood covering her face and blinked at Khrx. She turned towards Anaheim. ¡°Head west. I¡¯ll tell you when to stop.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Anaheim said. The flight craft buzzed before falling tranquil. Anaheim took a seat and swiveled it around to face Khrx and the duchess. ¡°Co-owner is co-owner,¡± Khrx said. ¡°And partner is partner. She asked me to be one, not the other.¡± Duchess Rose gave Khrx a wry smile and leaned towards Anaheim. She pretended to whisper into the hero¡¯s descendant¡¯s ear, ¡°Would you give someone the keys to your house and half your property if they weren¡¯t your partner?¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Hell no,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Even if they were my partner, my money is my money. And their money would be my money too.¡± Duchess Rose glanced at Khrx. ¡°There you have it.¡± ¡°But you know Khrx looks just like a child, right?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°That goddess wouldn¡¯t ¡­ you know. Right?¡± ¡°At most, it¡¯ll take twenty years for a child to become an adult,¡± Duchess Rose said, waving her hand dismissively. ¡°And what¡¯s twenty years to a god? Nothing. She left her mark on him early so no other gods would interfere before he grew up. When a god shares his or her powers with someone, it shows a clear intent on making them their partner.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t told about this,¡± Khrx said, his eyes widening. ¡°What the heck!? What about my opinion?¡± ¡°If you haven¡¯t noticed,¡± Duchess Rose said, her eyes twinkling, ¡°my god isn¡¯t one to ask for opinions. What she wants, she takes. That¡¯s why I worship her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that violates a lot of human rights,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Not to mention borderline illegal and sunk in a not-so gray area of ethics.¡± ¡°A cat will rub its scent onto its property,¡± Duchess Rose said with a shrug. ¡°A dog will pee on trees to mark their territory. A tiger will defecate to scare away intruders. Even humans will build fences and gates around property they think is theirs.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like any of those analogies,¡± Khrx said with a dark expression. Did Theda essentially pee on him to warn away other gods? If Theda didn¡¯t do it, would other gods have peed on him instead? ¡°I¡¯m not anyone¡¯s property. I¡¯m Khrx¡¯Lrvnjl, the laziest dragon in the world! I¡¯m going to teach Theda a lesson after we find Fufu.¡± The flight craft trembled as waves of hot mana billowed out of Khrx, causing the projected screens on the wall to distort and ripple. ¡°While we¡¯re on the topic of people who think they own you,¡± Anaheim said, reinforcing the flight craft with her own mana to counteract Khrx¡¯s, ¡°let¡¯s talk about Lorin. She¡¯s completely insane, and she thinks you¡¯re hers. You know that, right?¡± ¡°Lorin too?¡± Khrx asked with a furrowed brow. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I notice?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯ve spent more time asleep than awake since I¡¯ve known you,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°That can¡¯t be very healthy.¡± ¡°Head a bit to the south, but not completely southwest,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°Do you know what I mean?¡± ¡°You mean west by south?¡± Anaheim asked as she adjusted the flight craft¡¯s course. ¡°Is this it?¡± ¡°No, a little more south,¡± Duchess Rose said, shaking her head. ¡°Then west-southwest,¡± Anaheim said, adjusting the course again. ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°Perfect.¡± Khrx heaved a sigh, causing Anaheim and Duchess Rose to turn towards him. ¡°Why was I cursed with such cuteness?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°How about Monika? Did she claim me? Isn¡¯t she married?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure Monika sees you as her child,¡± Anaheim said with a nod. ¡°Then what about you two?¡± Khrx asked, raising his head to face both Anaheim and Duchess Rose. ¡°What? No!¡± Anaheim said. ¡°I don¡¯t think of you that way. You¡¯re more like a pet I¡¯m taking care of.¡± ¡°A pet¡­?¡± Khrx asked, tilting his head. His eyes widened as his pupils narrowed into slits. ¡°You think of me as a pet!?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not a pet, then what are you?¡± Anaheim muttered as she turned her head away. ¡°I shelter and feed you. How are you not a pet? You¡¯re certainly not a roommate.¡± Khrx resisted the urge to bite Anaheim¡¯s face. Despite his anger, he still remembered the tragic fate that befell his drinking buddy, Tsorfy. The poor frost dragon was ambushed and killed in a single hit by the hero, and Tsorfy was a lot sturdier than him. Couldn¡¯t Anaheim easily repeat her ancestor¡¯s actions, but instead of killing a frost dragon, she¡¯d kill a dragon of calamity. Khrx sighed as he lowered his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think of you as a pet,¡± Duchess Rose said, smiling at Khrx. She leaned over and patted his head. ¡°You¡¯re like a father to me since my god is my mother.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a father now?¡± Khrx asked, his expression dimming even further. Just how many weird relationships did he establish in the short time he spent in this awakening cycle? He¡¯d usually live through thousands of awakening cycles in a row without learning another person¡¯s name! Khrx gritted his teeth. This was all Luke¡¯s fault. Luke needed to be taught a lesson too. Episode 16 (6) ¡°Where do I go next?¡± Luke muttered to himself as he looked at his map. On the projection, nearly half of the landmass was red, the color he marked as his own territory. ¡°Would going north or east be faster?¡± Ring, ring. Luke furrowed his brow. He answered the phone and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up, Khrx? Did you find Fufu?¡± Khrx¡¯s voice crackled through the interface accompanied by the whispering of feminine voices. ¡°I¡¯m outside your home. Open the door.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Luke asked. ¡°I¡¯m not at the guild hall.¡± ¡°I meant in reality,¡± Khrx said. ¡°If you don¡¯t open it soon, Anaheim¡¯s going to raze your house.¡± Luke¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What? Anaheim? Why did tracking down Fufu turn into tracking down me!?¡± He whirled around and faced the elder of the city-state he had just conquered. ¡°Take me to your residence. I¡¯m going to rest. No one is allowed to bother me.¡± The elder trembled as he led the way to a partially scorched building. Luke went in, cast a few spells to ensure his safety, and logged out of the game. He removed the metal helmet from his head after leaving his personal room. He fiddled with his phone, projecting a screen of the view outside his front door. Anaheim was staring into the camera which, in turn, made it seem like she was glaring directly at him. Behind the angry-looking hero, Khrx was suspended off the ground by a figure dressed in black curtains. Anaheim raised a glowing white fist, and Luke cursed before pressing a button, causing his front door to slide open. Luke exhaled as he stood up, casting a spell to freshen himself up as he strode over to his closet. He donned a fancy suit meant for a dinner party and stepped outside his study, entering his living room where he came face to face with a glaring woman. Luke flashed her a smile as he stuck his chest out and placed his hands behind his back. ¡°Ms. Miehana,¡± he said. ¡°If I knew you¡¯d hold a grudge, I wouldn¡¯t have removed you from the guild and killed you.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re the demon lord,¡± Anaheim said, her eyes frosty. Luke glanced at Khrx, but the dragon-turned-beastkin was busy pocketing a priceless antique made of gold that was on display in a crystalline cabinet. So instead, Luke raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°I thought I told you that was roleplay? The demon lord was slain a long, long time ago.¡± ¡°And he¡¯s about to be slain again today if you don¡¯t stop playing dumb,¡± Anaheim said, reaching into the top of her shirt to pull out the blood-red necklace. ¡°This necklace is a congealed drop of the demon lord¡¯s blood. My friend there¡±¡ªshe gestured towards Duchess Rose who was stripping off her curtains¡ª¡°happens to be a vampire proficient in tracking people via their blood. Guess where we ended up after doing a search for the demon lord?¡± ¡°A tomb, perhaps?¡± Luke asked. ¡°You!¡± Anaheim raised her hand and smacked Luke¡¯s face. Her palm collided against a blue barrier and bounced off harmlessly. Luke didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m as weak in reality as I am in game. Remove my curse at once!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that,¡± Luke said. His expression darkened as Khrx wandered to the other side of the living room, breaking into a display that had a person-sized emerald as the centerpiece. He wasn¡¯t sure where it went, but it disappeared after Khrx lifted it and shoved it down the neck of his onesie. It was probably some kind of transportation magic. ¡°Khrx. What are you doing?¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Collecting interest,¡± Khrx said as his gaze wandered all over the room. His eyes lit up upon seeing a chandelier made of diamonds and sunstones. ¡°We canceled out our debts! What interest? You¡¯re the one who owes me!¡± Luke said. He tried to walk past Anaheim, but she grabbed his bicep, preventing him from moving any further. ¡°Hmm?¡± Khrx pocketed the chandelier before tilting his head at Luke. ¡°What¡¯s debt have anything to do with this? I¡¯m collecting the things I¡¯m interested in.¡± ¡°Stealing. I like it,¡± Duchess Rose said with a nod. ¡°Are you going to turn them into mimics? I can help.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you dispel this curse?¡± Anaheim asked, ignoring Khrx and Duchess Rose. Her hand exerted more pressure on Luke¡¯s arm, causing the blue barrier surrounding it to break. ¡°If you can¡¯t dispel it, then I¡¯ll just kill you. That¡¯ll get rid of it.¡± Luke sighed. ¡°Unhand me,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s sit down and talk about this over a cup of tea, shall we? This era is quite modern. We don¡¯t have to resort to barbaric mannerisms like in the dark ages.¡± He brushed away Anaheim¡¯s arm, easily breaking free from her grip. Anaheim glared at Luke as he took a seat on the couch, motioning for her to sit across from him on the other side of the coffee table. Luke pressed a button, and a robotic servant waltzed into the room with a tea set held up on a platter. As the servant poured the tea, Luke folded his hands across his lap and leaned back into the couch, sinking into the plush cushions. ¡°Let¡¯s get one thing straight before we start,¡± Luke said. ¡°All those years ago, your ancestor, the hero, killed me. Yet that didn¡¯t dispel the curse. Even if you were to kill me right now, you¡¯ll still give birth spontaneously in ten years and die in twenty-five.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re finally admitting your identity, huh?¡± Anaheim muttered. She pushed away the teacup offered to her, maintaining her gaze on Luke. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Luke said. ¡°I¡¯m the demon lord of yore.¡± ¡°Dispel my curse.¡± ¡°I already told you, I can¡¯t,¡± Luke said with a shrug. ¡°I apologize.¡± ¡°Explain why you can¡¯t!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the one who placed that curse on that drop of blood,¡± Luke said. ¡°It was the hero.¡± He took a sip of tea and let out a content sigh, causing Anaheim¡¯s veins to bulge on her forehead. He smiled at her before continuing. ¡°Let¡¯s face it. I am a handsome man. Even you think so, I¡¯ve seen you try to hide it in game, don¡¯t deny it.¡± ¡°Narcissist,¡± Duchess Rose muttered from the corner of the room. She was holding Khrx up to help him reach the top shelf of a closet. Luke ignored the vampire. ¡°Your ancestor was bewitched by me. When I rejected her advances, she cursed my blood. I¡¯ll reincarnate over and over and forever be hunted down by her descendants. If you kill me now, then I¡¯ll have died six times over the past thousand years. So, yes, you¡¯re fated to kill me. That¡¯s literally what you were born to do as decreed by your ancestor.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate,¡± Luke said and shrugged. He finished drinking his tea and passed the empty cup to the robotic servant. ¡°Well, there is a way for you to break the curse. You can eat that necklace. But you¡¯ll die.¡± Anaheim¡¯s gaze lowered to the necklace resting on her palm. She sighed. ¡°You know, turning into a vampire doesn¡¯t sound so bad right about now.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t dispel the curse,¡± Luke said. ¡°You think your ancestor was weaker than a vampire? She had heaven-defying powers, and she consolidated all that power into cursing me.¡± ¡°I have heaven-defying powers too,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°You don¡¯t have a way to use my powers to break the curse?¡± ¡°I tried doing that with your great-great-great-great-etc.-grandmother a long time ago. It didn¡¯t work, and she was much, much smarter than you,¡± Luke said with a nod. ¡°It won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Other than eating the necklace, is there another way to break the curse?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°None.¡± Anaheim¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°Did you inherit the eye of truth? How inconvenient,¡± Luke said with a sigh. ¡°Well, there is another method, but I¡¯m not going to tell you. I¡¯d rather die.¡± Anaheim cracked her knuckles as she stood up. ¡°I always wondered why my mom taught me how to torture people. Her foresight was pretty good.¡± *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 45. Dear Diary, I love visiting Luke. I always find new shiny things. And I learn new things about him too. Like, before, I didn¡¯t know he cried like a girl. I wouldn¡¯t have known if I didn¡¯t bring Anaheim along. Anyways, the day I can see Fufu is not far from here! Love, Khrx Episode 17 (1) ¡°Oh? These are some interesting souls,¡± Theda muttered as she peered at a pitch-black orb. ¡°Would I be able to control them?¡± She turned her head away from the orb and smiled at the three-headed cat lying next to a fireplace. ¡°What do you think, Trifelus? Should I do it?¡± ¡°Meow. Meow, meow, meow. Meow.¡± ¡°If you insist, I¡¯ll do it,¡± Theda said with a smile. She placed her hands on the orb, black mist billowing out of her eyes, nose, and mouth. ¡°O lost souls, let me show you the way home.¡± Trifelus sighed and shook its three heads. That¡¯s not what she had insisted. *** ¡°Wow. We convened quickly, huh?¡± Aric Stone asked Mr. Volkov. The two men were sitting at their desks at the conference, their limbs bound to their chairs by metal chains. Aric gestured at one of the chains, causing metal to clink. ¡°This is new.¡± ¡°Mrs. Atrina! What¡¯s the meaning of this!?¡± the dwarf with the eyepatch shouted. The elven leader of Raustalia sighed. ¡°These chains are measures taken to prevent violence from occurring this time around. There will be no fist fights, no¡ª¡± ¡°My mallet! Why can¡¯t I take out my mallet!?¡± ¡°Hah! Serves you right,¡± the lion-like beastkin said, glaring at the petite, flustered woman. ¡°Can¡¯t bang on your precious table now, huh?¡± ¡°Like I said!¡± Mrs. Atrina shouted. ¡°This will be a peaceful convention. There will be no weapons, no fighting, no¡ª¡± ¡°How dare you impinge on my right to shoot Sir Bozco whenever I please? This is tyranny! I demand you host a new room!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°Give me my mallet!¡± ¡°I have to hack Mr. Donovan apart for still failing to ship over the crystal supply!¡± ¡°Everyone, shut the hell up!¡± Mrs. Atrina screamed, causing the tables and chains to rattle. The room fell silent as everyone turned to stare at the red-faced elf. Steam was jetting out of her ears as veins bulged out of her face. ¡°The world is on the verge of collapse and all of you are still bickering like children! One of my clansmen prophesized the revival of the myths!¡± ¡°Your elven prophecies are a crock of shit,¡± the dwarf with the eyepatch said. ¡°¡¯Ow come elves never win the lotto, eh?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t use our powers of foresight for greed!¡± Mrs. Atrina said. ¡°Look!¡± She clapped her hands, causing a projection to appear in the center of the room. A fleet of boats were traveling across the ocean, a bunch of blue boxes strapped onto their decks. ¡°There¡¯s your shipment, dammit,¡± Mr. Donovan said, glaring at the leader of Nipon. ¡°I told you it was on its way.¡± ¡°Good, good,¡± the leader of Nipon said as he adjusted his glasses. ¡°I trust it comes with the billions of USD you¡¯ve cost my country due to your shipment¡¯s lack of timeliness?¡± ¡°What a load of¡ª¡± ¡°Look!¡± Mrs. Atrina said, slamming her hands onto her desk. ¡°Shut up and look at what I¡¯m trying to show you!¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. A massive, circular shadow blotted out the ocean, but not from above. Waves crashed onto the decks of the ships as the shadow grew larger, encompassing all the carriers. A whirlpool formed, sucking the ships towards each other into a single bundle at the center of the shadow. Pillars of sea water erupted into the air as thousands of teeth rose out of the water, lining the edge of the shadow. An eel-like head emerged from the ocean, the ships trapped within its slowly closing mouth. The eel¡¯s jaws snapped shut, and its throat bobbed as it swallowed. ¡°My shipment!¡± the leader of Nipon shouted, his eyes bulging out of his head. ¡°I¡¯ll nuke that eel out of existence!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not over yet,¡± Mrs. Atrina said with a grim expression. The projection zoomed out, revealing nine more circular shadows on the surface of the ocean. More eel-like heads arose out of the water until there were ten. The ten heads all faced the sky and opened their maws at the same time. The ten-headed creature roared, causing a ring of waves to surge outwards with it as the epicenter. ¡°That¡¯s going to hurt,¡± the dwarf with the eyepatch said. ¡°Which ocean is this?¡± ¡°The Capific.¡± The dwarf¡¯s eye widened. ¡°Fuck! My country¡¯s not ready for a tsunami of that size!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Sir Bozco shouted. ¡°Give me permissions on the projection! My aide said one of my satellites picked something up.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Mrs. Atrina said, granting Sir Bozco permission. The projection flickered away from the ocean, revealing a mountain range. The trees and boulders were vibrating while smaller rocks rolled down the mountains. Avalanches of snow were rushing down the peaks with snow, and landslides were filling in the valleys, crushing villages located within. ¡°Those are the Mihalayas!¡± the leader of Nicha said as he tried to climb to his feet. Instead, the chains held him back, keeping him in his seat. ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± ¡°You only border the Mihalayas, my country practically lives inside it!¡± the leader of Lapen said. ¡°Sir Bozco, what did your aide say!?¡± ¡°She, she just told me to watch this satellite¡¯s feed,¡± Sir Bozco said, his face pale. The mountain range continued to rumble and vibrate until it cracked at its base. A large fault appeared, encircling the whole range. The black fissures traveled up the sides of the mountains, converging at the peaks. The ground rose as if it were breathing, and the fragments of the mountains were sloughing off like broken eggshells as brown spikes poked through the tops of the mountains. ¡°It¡¯s a dragon,¡± the dwarf with the eyepatch said, his mouth hanging wide open. ¡°It¡¯s a bloody dragon.¡± When the mountains fell off of its back, the figure of a snake-like dragon appeared. It slowly rose into the air, revealing five clawed paws underneath it. It had deer-like horns along with the head of a crocodile, and its eyes were red, so piercingly red that they were the first thing the leaders of the world noticed on the projection. The dragon opened its mouth, revealing rows upon rows of shark-like teeth, and let out a roar as the remainder of its body slipped free from the earth. It glared upon the land beneath it before diving down headfirst into a city filled with metal skyscrapers, leaving behind a trail of broken metal and glass as it dug out a tunnel. A few seconds later, the rest of the city sank downwards as if a sinkhole had been opened underneath it. Without warning, everything was crushed as the dragon coiled around and around the broken city like a snake resting on an egg. The dragon¡¯s head tilted upwards until its eyes were staring at the satellite, meeting the gazes of all three hundred world leaders. Its tongue flickered outwards before its lips widened into a grin. Deep, booming laughter echoed out of its mouth as it raised a single claw into the air. With a burst of static, the projected image was destroyed. ¡°My, my satellite next¡­,¡± Mr. Donovan said, his words barely leaving his mouth. Mrs. Atrina didn¡¯t say a thing as she gave him permissions. The broken projection turned back on, showing a populated beach with a massive lump of water rising near the coast. Three fish-like heads broke through accompanied by six, scaled arms. ¡°The ancient fishfolk!¡± someone shouted. ¡°What the hell is going on!?¡± The people on the beach scattered, and the projection zoomed onto the hulking fishfolk. Its body moved slowly, but it reached the shore with a single step. One of its arms reached down towards a crouching little girl. She was a big as a single scale on its finger. Right when its arm was about to crush the crying child into a bloody paste, a white blur flashed in front of the arm. The leaders cried out as the fishfolk¡¯s hand vanished as if something had taken a massive bite out of its arm. In the next instant, their eyes widened in shock as the fishfolk¡¯s body disappeared one chunk at a time as if it were being eaten alive by an invisible existence. Soon, all that was left of the fishfolk was a bloody patch of sand and seawater. The white blur flashed by from one end of the projection to the other before disappearing out of view. ¡°What was that¡­?¡± Episode 17 (2) Duchess Rose tilted her head. ¡°Khrx? Is something wrong?¡± The dragon-turned-beastkin was crouching over the ground, but his body was completely stiff and his ears were swiveling back and forth. Just a few seconds ago, he was searching the room where Fufu was held captive for some furs. ¡°I thought I heard a familiar roar,¡± Khrx said. He shook his head. ¡°But that¡¯s not possible because she¡¯s already dead.¡± A sigh escaped from Khrx¡¯s mouth as he resumed his search. Poor Sneksnek. She died an unjust death to the hero. Khrx picked up a single strand of pure-white fur. ¡°Found one.¡± He offered it Duchess Rose. ¡°Does this work?¡± Duchess Rose accepted the strand and held it in front of her nose. She closed her eyes and inhaled, her chest steadily expanding. She exhaled, releasing all the air in her body, before inhaling again. She repeated the process several times before relaxing. Her eyes opened and she flashed Khrx a smile. ¡°It took a while, but yes,¡± she said. ¡°I found her general direction.¡± ¡°To the metal egg!¡± Khrx said, raising both arms into the air. He could finally reunite with Fufu! He wasn¡¯t sure how he survived the last dozens of days without Fufu. His quality of sleep had definitely been affected. The longest he slept uninterrupted without her was only a little more than two weeks. Khrx hummed to himself as he left the room and slipped on a puddle of blood. Duchess Rose barely managed to catch him before he fell face first. ¡°That¡¯s an awful lot of blood,¡± Duchess Rose said, her eyes glinting. She licked her lips and swallowed as her gaze traversed up the hallway. At the end, there was a closed door with blood flowing out from the crack between the bottom and the floor. Like little snakes, the rivulets of blood continued down the hall and down the stairs like tiny red waterfalls. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t a normal person have been exsanguinated by now?¡± ¡°Khrx! Khrx! Help me, damn you! I know you¡¯re out there!¡± Khrx coughed and pretended not to hear the pained cries coming out of the door. Tsorfy was killed in a single hit. Sneksnek was killed in a single hit. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if more of his friends had been killed in a single hit by the hero too. There was no way he was going to provoke that person¡¯s descendant. Khrx turned towards Duchess Rose. ¡°Let¡¯s sit down and wait for those two to finish their spat.¡± Duchess Rose brought Khrx to the living room and placed him down onto the couch. She frowned as she looked around. How did Luke summon that robotic servant to bring in some tea? She stood up and fidgeted with a fancy-looking panel on the wall with lots of glowing buttons and lights along with a giant red button in the center. ¡°Try the big red button,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a good idea,¡± Duchess Rose said, furrowing her brow. ¡°Nonsense. It¡¯s red. Red¡¯s the superior color¡ªnothing bad can come from red. Press it.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Duchess Rose said with a shrug. ¡°I can¡¯t disobey my father.¡± She shattered the glass covering the red button and hesitated before pushing down with her finger. Nothing happened. ¡°Try again?¡± Khrx asked, tilting his head. What was the point of having a button that did nothing? Duchess Rose slammed her fist against the button. The panel cracked, but nothing else happened. ¡°Nope,¡± she said and scratched her head. A robotic servant waltzed into the room. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°Your master is being tortured by a madwoman!¡± Luke¡¯s voice called out from the ominous room. The robotic servant continued to stare at Duchess Rose. The vampire scratched her nose. ¡°Ah, yeah. Do you have any tea?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the servant said, retreating back into the kitchen. Duchess Rose sat next to Khrx and waited. A few moments later, the servant returned and placed a platter in front of the duo. ¡°So, uh, how¡¯s life?¡± Khrx asked as he sipped on the hot beverage. How long was Anaheim going to take? Luke should just admit whatever it was to remove the curse. It wasn¡¯t like it¡¯d cost him anything. Probably. ¡°Not bad, not bad at all,¡± Duchess Rose said with a nod. ¡°I can go outside during the day. It seems like random people don¡¯t want to kill me just for existing. And I¡¯m guaranteed a hundred servants from someone like the descendant of the hero. Her promise should be kept, right? I didn¡¯t act for a contract. I hope she doesn¡¯t cheat me. There isn¡¯t much more I want than this. Well, for sure, I¡¯m going to create a mimic mansion somewhere, but I haven¡¯t decided on a location yet. Do you think I can transport my current one to this world?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Khrx said with a shrug. Could he become companions with a whole mansion? He continued to chat with Duchess Rose, letting the time pass by. Ten minutes turned to thirty. Thirty minutes turned to an hour. Hours turned into a day. Two days later, Khrx tossed his tea cup against the wall. ¡°Why is this taking so long!?¡± If he had grabbed Duchess Rose and flew with his own ability, he¡¯d have found Fufu by now! But what dragon would want to exercise when there was a vehicle available to transport him just waiting to be used? It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t want to see Fufu, he just wanted to show her the magical flying egg. It wasn¡¯t because he was lazy or anything. Fufu would love seeing the magical flying egg. ¡°Hmm?¡± Duchess Rose stopped chattering and looked around. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Khrx? It¡¯s only been two days. As I was saying, don¡¯t you think¡ª¡± ¡°Enough! How can you talk nonstop for two whole days?¡± Khrx asked, his bloodshot eyes widening to comical proportions. He hopped off the couch and stomped towards the door at the end of the hall. Blood was still pouring out from the crack, and the blood along the hall still hadn¡¯t congealed due to the constant stream. ¡°I haven¡¯t talked to anyone in years,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°Mimics aren¡¯t great conversationalists. They just copy my sentences most of the time. Do you know how frustrating that can be?¡± Khrx ignored the vampire as he lifted his foot and kicked the door. It flew open with a bang. Anaheim flinched as she turned around, holding onto a bloody ¡­ something. Khrx wasn¡¯t sure what it was. A quivering blob of ¡­ something was hung up on the wall by meat hooks. Khrx wasn¡¯t sure what that was either. ¡°Where¡¯s Luke?¡± Anaheim blinked and pointed at the blob on the wall. ¡°He¡¯s very stubborn. But I feel like I can get it out of him soon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Luke?¡± Khrx asked, his face paling. ¡°Yeah,¡± Anaheim said with a nod. ¡°I¡¯ve blessed him with temporary infinite regeneration. No matter what I do to him, he can¡¯t die and his nerves will always regrow.¡± ¡°Dude. Luke,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just tell her?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t I just tell her? Why don¡¯t I just tell her!?¡± the quivering pink blob that was Luke shouted. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you why! To break the curse, I have to fall in love with her! Do you think I can fall in love with someone like her!? She¡¯s fucking insane! Look at what¡¯s she done to me!¡± ¡°Well, I mean, you don¡¯t look too far off from your true form,¡± Khrx said, scratching his head. When Khrx first met Luke millions of years ago, the demon lord looked like more like an octopus than a human. ¡°You¡¯re just missing your tentacles. And eyes. And, uh, teeth. Wow, she pulled out your teeth¡­.¡± ¡°Wait. That¡¯s really how I¡¯m supposed to break the curse?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°My eyes of truth can¡¯t be wrong, right? I am tired though¡­.¡± ¡°Mm, well, uh, good luck,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I found some of Fufu¡¯s fur. Can you drive the metal egg to her?¡± ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± Anaheim said as she unhooked Luke from the way. White light poured out of her palm, restoring Luke to his original form. She beamed at him. ¡°Hi, honey. I really didn¡¯t mean to torture you like that. If you would¡¯ve just told me how to break the curse, you wouldn¡¯t¡¯ve had to suffer like that. You¡¯ll forgive me, right?¡± Luke¡¯s head rolled backwards as he fainted. His soul attempted to leave through his mouth, but Anaheim pressed it back inside of him and forced his unconscious body to swallow. Anaheim pouted. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, dear.¡± Shivers ran down Khrx¡¯s spine as his tail stiffened. For the first time in his life, he considered exerting effort even when there was a lazier alternative available. But he suppressed that feeling and waited for Anaheim to take out the flying egg. Episode 17 (3) Anaheim sighed and shook her head, pressing a button on her watch to summon her flying metal egg. She lugged Luke over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and frowned. ¡°So spineless. Is he really the demon lord?¡± she asked as she glanced at the unconscious man. ¡°He was much more imposing in game.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just too scary in reality,¡± Khrx said with a nod as he peered out the window. The metal egg had touched down, hovering an inch above the ground. Khrx looked around one more time to see if there were any more valuables he could take, but he didn¡¯t see any, so he led Duchess Rose out of the front door. ¡°Me? Scary?¡± Anaheim asked with a furrowed brow. Her cheeks were smeared with blood and her clothes had bits of unidentified flesh clinging to them. ¡°Am I really? You¡¯ve seen me even messier when I cooked those cows for you.¡± ¡°But Luke hasn¡¯t,¡± Khrx said as he climbed onto the metal egg. He was practically bouncing up and down, waiting for the others to board. ¡°Let¡¯s find Fufu!¡± He tugged on Duchess Rose¡¯s black curtain-like sleeve. ¡°Which way? How far? You can still sense her, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Khrx. You can count on me.¡± She sat on the couch-like seat that sprang out of the floor and removed her hood as the metal egg closed shut, blocking out the sun. Her eyes closed and she hummed to herself before pointing south. ¡°That way.¡± The egg jetted into the air, causing Khrx to press flat against his seat from the pressure. He shook off the feeling and straightened his back while blinking his large eyes at Anaheim. ¡°Go as fast as you can, please.¡± Anaheim gave him a warm smile as she manipulated the projections floating within the flight craft. It shot off as more projections appeared along the walls and floor, revealing the outside world. Duchess Rose flinched as sunlight landed on her skin, but she relaxed when she realized it was just a projection created with magic. Or technology¡ªas Anaheim put it. But technology might as well have been magic; they were both practically inexplicable. Khrx blinked as he pointed at the projection on the floor. ¡°What happened there?¡± Anaheim looked down and frowned. What used to be a magnificent city was now a ruined pile of scorched rubble. ¡°A city-level threat?¡± she asked and pressed on the screen a few times. The projection zoomed in on the destruction. Past the shattered skyscrapers and burnt down buildings, the ground seemed to be moving. Anaheim pinched and spread the screen, zooming in even further. Her face turned green when she realized thousands upon thousands of worms were wriggling on the surface of the ground. It wasn¡¯t a layer of ash blanketing the ruined city¡¯s ground, it was a layer of black worms, eating away at everything. The buildings and skyscrapers were dissolving ever so slowly as the worms nibbled away at them. ¡°Oh, hey,¡± Khrx said, his eyes lighting up. ¡°Aren¡¯t those Niddy¡¯s offspring?¡± He hopped off the chair and crouched closer to the projection. ¡°They are! They¡¯re so cute as always. But Niddy and everyone related to him died after they finished eating Yggy. What¡¯s going on?¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Niddy? Yggy?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°You know these things?¡± ¡°Hmm? Yeah,¡± Khrx said. ¡°Niddy¡¯s a giant worm. Yggy¡¯s a giant tree. They had a love-hate relationship where Niddy loved eating Yggy, and Yggy hated Niddy for eating him. But once Niddy finished eating Yggy, there was no more food that Niddy could eat to live off of, so he died too.¡± ¡°How come I¡¯ve never heard about this?¡± Anaheim asked. Khrx shrugged. ¡°Maybe because you¡¯re too young. Luke knows them.¡± ¡°Is that right?¡± Anaheim asked, nudging Luke who was pretending to be dead. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t deceive Anaheim¡¯s eyes of truth. Luke groaned as he glared at Khrx before burying his face into his hands. ¡°That worm and tree were powerhouses three billion years ago. The great tree covered half the world with its roots. The dreadful worm covered the other half of the world with its offspring. Terrible, terrible time to live in. Property values were abysmal.¡± ¡°Pretending that everything you two are saying is true,¡± Anaheim said, ¡°you¡¯re trying to tell me an ancient worm from three billion years that ruled half the world is back?¡± ¡°Hey, look!¡± Khrx said, his eyes brightening even further. Ahead of the metal egg, a massive green tendril the size of a mountain blocked their path. ¡°It¡¯s a branch of Yggy!¡± Anaheim stared at the tendril that was rocking back and forth in the wind. It looked nothing like a branch; perhaps, if a tree was just beginning to grow branches, it¡¯d be what an offshoot from the trunk would look like. It was green and lacked leaves. ¡°If that¡¯s a branch, where¡¯s the trunk?¡± ¡°Yggy doesn¡¯t like standing up,¡± Khrx said. ¡°His trunk lies against the earth and his roots spread out from his belly unlike other trees where the roots only spread out of their feet.¡± Anaheim¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Why do you sound so excited? I can even see it in your eyes.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Khrx blinked at Anaheim, trying to hold back his smile. ¡°Me? Excited? I¡¯m not a child! I¡¯m an ancient dragon. I don¡¯t get excited. But it has been a really, really long time since I saw those two. I used to play capture the flag with those two.¡± ¡°Capture the flag?¡± Duchess Rose asked. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about that game. Whose side did you take?¡± ¡°Neither side. I was the flag,¡± Khrx said, puffing his chest out. Anaheim suddenly reached out with her hand, grabbing onto Luke, causing him to let out a miserable cry. ¡°Who said you could activate a teleportation spell, darling?¡± she asked, crushing his shoulder as she clenched her fingers into a fist. She clicked her tongue as sweat poured from Luke¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll train you to fall in love with me soon. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Is that how love works?¡± Duchess Rose whispered to Khrx. ¡°You¡¯ve never fallen in love?¡± Khrx whispered back. ¡°Every time I thought I fell in love, I ate the other party and realized it was just hunger,¡± Duchess Rose whispered back, shooting glances at Anaheim and Luke. ¡°I think Anaheim¡¯s going to eat him.¡± Her body stiffened as she whipped her head around. ¡°Turn back! Go north, go north! The target just slipped past us!¡± She blinked twice and stared at Khrx. ¡°How fast is Fufu?¡± ¡°She can run around the world in three minutes,¡± Khrx said, puffing his chest out. ¡°Don¡¯t sound so proud about that!¡± Anaheim said. ¡°How are we supposed to catch her?¡± ¡°This egg can¡¯t fly around the world in three minutes?¡± Khrx asked, tilting his head. ¡°No.¡± Khrx sighed as he turned his head towards Duchess Rose. He could fly a little faster than Fufu if he really put his mind to it, but he¡¯d also have to carry someone else too. That went against all his principles of laziness! But for Fufu¡­. Khrx sighed again. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll exert some strength.¡± Episode 17 (4) ¡°Wait,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°The target stopped moving. Head south.¡± ¡°South?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she went north?¡± ¡°She went so far north that it became south,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°The world¡¯s round, you know?¡± Khrx exhaled, his body deflating like a balloon. He had been pumping himself up to actually fly at his top speed, but since Fufu stopped moving, the metal egg should be enough. He smiled at Anaheim. ¡°Okay. Looks like I don¡¯t have to exert any strength. Besides, I waited two days for you to finish torturing Luke to ride on this egg. It would¡¯ve been a massive waste of time if I left it now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the sunk-cost fallacy,¡± Luke said. ¡°Just because you¡¯ve invested time already doesn¡¯t mean you should continue investing more time. You should leave.¡± ¡°It sounds like you don¡¯t want Khrx here?¡± Duchess Rose asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Why is that?¡± Luke glanced at Anaheim. ¡°I just want some alone time with my lover.¡± ¡°Khrx,¡± Anaheim said as the top of the egg split open. Duchess Rose¡¯s eyes widened as she dove away, donning her hood before the sunlight could touch her. ¡°Get out.¡± Before Khrx could react, Luke leapt through the opening in the egg with a laugh. ¡°She fell for it!¡± Anaheim sighed and made a tugging motion. Luke flew back inside of the flight craft, his arms and legs suspended in the air. ¡°I thought you changed, dear,¡± Anaheim said with a sigh as she cracked her knuckles. ¡°Here I was, testing your loyalty. You failed.¡± ¡°These are demon-binding shackles!¡± Luke said as his eyes widened. Manacles appeared on his ankles and wrists with chains on them leading to Anaheim¡¯s hand. ¡°How do you have these!?¡± ¡°I have an anti-demon artifact for every conceivable situation. It¡¯s what happens when a family that exists to kill a demon lord has a thousand years of idle time.¡± Anaheim gave the chains a tug, causing Luke¡¯s expression to contort in pain. ¡°These were made by the seventeenth descendant of the hero. She had a thing for cuffs and whips. Do you want to see the whip?¡± A wry smile appeared on her lips. ¡°No? Then behave.¡± Khrx shivered before shaking his head. It was a good thing he had excellent karma unlike Luke. There was no sadistic woman trying to ruin his life. He turned his head away from the sight of his pitiful best friend and peered out the projection on the wall. A creature flying a few clouds away caught his eye. ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Duchess Rose asked, appearing by his side. She removed the hood from her head as Anaheim shut the egg¡¯s opening. ¡°Did you see another one of your friends?¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°No,¡± Khrx said as he swallowed his saliva. ¡°It¡¯s Fenfen, a phoenix. I haven¡¯t eaten her in so long. Her eggs are especially delicious.¡± Duchess Rose hesitated, her face flushing. ¡°Eaten her¡­? In, in that way?¡± ¡°What other way can you eat people?¡± Khrx asked, tilting his head as he tore his gaze away from the phoenix. He had to catch Fufu before she decided to move again. It wouldn¡¯t be smart to waste time on a snack. Unknowingly, the majestic red bird in the distance avoided a disaster. ¡°She¡¯s a phoenix, so it¡¯s okay to eat her over and over again. She went missing a while ago, but I¡¯m glad to see she¡¯s back now.¡± ¡°Oh! Oh. Oh¡­,¡± Duchess Rose said as she furrowed her brow. Poor phoenix. She turned towards Anaheim and Luke to gauge their reactions to Khrx¡¯s words, but the demon lord was being force-fed a green object by the hero¡¯s descendant. ¡°W-what did you just put in him?¡± Anaheim made sure Luke swallowed before smiling at Duchess Rose. ¡°A specialized food pod,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°The Amirecan spy agencies love this kind of item. As long as he eats food that I personally cook, nothing will happen to him. But if he eats something that I didn¡¯t make¡­.¡± Anaheim shrugged. ¡°He won¡¯t die at least, but there are many fates worse than death.¡± Luke sent a despairing look towards Khrx. His eyes pleaded at the dragon-turned-beastkin, but Khrx coughed and turned his head. Just what exactly did Luke do to provoke someone like the hero? Luke had been around since a little after he had been born, but there wasn¡¯t anyone trying to actively ruin the demon lord¡¯s life back then. ¡°Anaheim,¡± Khrx said. ¡°You said the hero was born with plot armor to defeat Luke, right? Who gave her that plot armor?¡± Anaheim scratched her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The heavens, I guess? Why? Were you hoping for some plot armor too?¡± ¡°No,¡± Khrx said and shook his head. ¡°I just wanted to know what I had to do to avoid being chased by an unkillable monstrosity like your ancestor.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too late?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°There¡¯s Lorin and Theda.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯re unkillable?¡± Khrx asked. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Mm, no, my god is pretty much immortal,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°She was born when the universe was created. As long as there is death, she¡¯ll always exist.¡± Khrx scratched his nose. ¡°And before, you said there was a possibility she might be madly in love with me because she claimed me as her property.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Khrx¡¯s expression darkened. Wasn¡¯t he in an even worse situation than Luke? Once he found Fufu, he was going to hide inside of his cavern and enter another sleeping cycle. By the time he woke up again, all his problems would be solved. He had planned on robbing the world of its treasures and feeding cloud pushers to Fufu, but his and Fufu¡¯s safety was his greatest priority. After all, if Theda fed something like that specialized food pod to him, then how was he going to indulge in his gluttony? Right, staying low after rescuing Fufu was the smartest choice. ¡°We¡¯re getting awfully close to Tanarctica,¡± Anaheim said with a frown as she checked the projection of the map. ¡°Fufu¡¯s still further south?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Duchess Rose nodded. ¡°But we¡¯re getting close. It seems like the target is running around in small circles, but she¡¯s staying in a confined space.¡± ¡°Why would Fufu run around Tanarctica?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°There¡¯s nothing there except for the penguins and Theda¡¯s home.¡± Khrx¡¯s ears perked up. Theda lived there? What happened to laying low? Khrx bent down and rubbed his foot, silently praying to himself. He hoped the only reason Fufu was spending so much time in Tanarctica was to eat the penguins. Episode 17 (5) Several minutes later, Fufu¡¯s general direction still hadn¡¯t changed. Outside, the scenery had transformed from a vast blue ocean to a vast blue ocean peppered with white icebergs. Khrx pressed his face to the projection on the wall, but reared back when he realized it didn¡¯t work like a window at all. Instead of moving his head around to get a better view of the scenes outside, all he had to do was swipe at the screen to pan through. Khrx sighed, his ears drooping. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Duchess Rose asked. ¡°Everyone¡¯s coming back from the dead,¡± Khrx said. ¡°I wonder if Tsorfy came back too.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Anaheim said to Khrx, turning her attention away from Luke who was forcefully trying to vomit out the specialized food pod. ¡°You said coming back from the dead. Do you think Theda¡¯s responsible for that in any way? You did say she was the goddess of death in [Resolution].¡± Khrx tilted his head. ¡°To open a portal from the underworld, something needs to be sacrificed,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything in the world that she could¡¯ve exchanged to bring Niddy, Yiggy, and Fenfen back from the dead.¡± ¡°Not even if she exchanged all the mana she accrued in the moon?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°Oh,¡± Khrx said and furrowed his brow. ¡°I forgot about that.¡± Could a ton of mana replace a living sacrifice? Khrx closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to use his Co-owner of the Underworld skill outside of the game. A screen didn¡¯t pop up in front of him, but something inside of him urged him to make a sacrifice. So Khrx offered up the mana that was passively leaking out of his body. ¡°Huh!?¡± Anaheim and Duchess Rose flinched as a portal split open in the middle of the flight craft. Duchess Rose exhaled when she realized the orange light wasn¡¯t sunlight, but she decided to don her hood just in case. There were too many close calls, and she¡¯d rather not have her face melt off. A white sword appeared in Anaheim¡¯s hand as a figure suspended in the air floated out of the portal. The dimensional gap disappeared, and the figure fell to the ground with a splat. Khrx opened his eyes, his gaze landing on the ¡­ thing he had summoned. ¡°Is that ¡­ a turd?¡± ¡°Khrx! What the hell!?¡± Anaheim shouted as the top of the flight craft flew open. Wind rushed into the interior, but Anaheim was unperturbed as she grabbed the slimy object, with a thin layer of mana covering her hands, and tossed it overboard. Then she shone a beam of blinding light onto the residue it had left behind, fully incinerating it without a trace. The top of the flight craft slammed shut as Anaheim glared at Khrx. ¡°I know you¡¯re my pet, but I thought you were housetrained!¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°That was actually a slug,¡± Luke said, ¡°from the Limus Period three hundred million years ago.¡± Khrx blinked. ¡°Huh? How come I didn¡¯t recognize it?¡± ¡°They appeared from outer space while you were sleeping,¡± Luke said. ¡°And they¡¯re really, really vile creatures. Wherever they go, famine and droughts are bound to follow. I, along with a few other demons, exterminated them all to prevent the planet from becoming completely unlivable.¡± ¡°Uh, so I shouldn¡¯t have thrown it into the ocean?¡± Anaheim asked. ¡°Slugs hate salt water, right? It should¡¯ve died.¡± ¡°No,¡± Luke said. ¡°It¡¯ll survive. The only way to kill one of those slugs is to apply enough pressure on it to turn it into a diamond. But it¡¯s okay. The world¡¯s already gone to shit thanks to Khrx. Another disaster doesn¡¯t mean much.¡± ¡°What do you mean thanks to me?¡± Khrx asked with a snort. ¡°You¡¯re the one who woke me up.¡± ¡°I sincerely regret it,¡± Luke said, hanging his head. ¡°If I knew waking you up would lead to this unimaginable suffering I¡¯ve gone through, I would¡¯ve planted a stake into your head to prevent you from ever waking up again.¡± Khrx laughed. ¡°Like Fufu would¡¯ve let you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°What exactly is Fufu?¡± ¡°Hmm? She¡¯s a¡ªoh, look! Is that a house? How close are we to Fufu?¡± Khrx asked, pointing at the projection on the wall. They were now flying over a sheet of pure white ice. In the distance, there was a mansion that was at least twenty times larger than the house that Julia Wonderful had gone to for an interview with Theda. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question¡­,¡± Duchess Rose said. She sighed as Khrx stared at her with his big, round eyes, waiting for an answer. ¡°If my skill isn¡¯t deceiving me, the target should be running around in circles inside of that building.¡± Khrx¡¯s expression darkened. It looked like his prayer had gone unanswered despite him rubbing his lucky foot. But how was that possible? There should¡¯ve been plenty of luck stored inside of his feet! And even if there wasn¡¯t, it should¡¯ve replenished while he slept for over two weeks in [Resolution] while he was riding that noble horse. ¡°So Fufu¡¯s not running around in circles eating the penguins?¡± ¡°Well, we didn¡¯t see any penguins on the way here,¡± Anaheim said. ¡°Maybe she already ate them all and provoked Theda¡¯s wrath.¡± Khrx sighed. If Theda really was going to act towards him like the hero acted towards Luke, what would he do? He already had Fufu; he didn¡¯t need another lover. Besides, would Theda be content with him sleeping for thousands of years at a time? Of course not! If Theda really insisted, would he have to cut short his sleeping time? For a lazy dragon like himself, that was the worst pain imaginable. He¡¯d rather die; then he could sleep for forever at least. ¡°It seems like you know what I¡¯m feeling,¡± Luke said as he observed Khrx¡¯s expression. ¡°Misery really does love company.¡± ¡°The target is directly below us,¡± Duchess Rose said. ¡°The target¡¯s still running around in circles but definitely confined to that building.¡± Anaheim grabbed the projection on the wall and placed it onto the ground, revealing the mansion beneath them. The front door opened, and Theda stepped outside. She raised her head and frowned at the flight craft before pointing at it with her finger. Anaheim opened the metal egg and shouted, ¡°Wait! It¡¯s me and Khrx!¡± Episode 17 (6) and 18 (1) Theda paused and lowered her hand before smiling. The flight craft descended until it was hovering off the ice in front of her. ¡°What brings you here?¡± she asked as Khrx climbed out. She glanced at the blob of curtains and Luke. ¡°And who might these two be?¡± ¡°This is my husband,¡± Anaheim said, grabbing Luke¡¯s wrist. She pulled him out of the flight craft even though he didn¡¯t comply and acted like a limp doll. His body slumped against the cold ground with only has arm in the air held by Anaheim. ¡°Lukroix Adveign Desrigard.¡± She kicked his rib, causing him to twitch. She flashed Theda a smile when there was no other reaction. ¡°He must be tired.¡± ¡°My god,¡± Duchess Rose said as she slumped towards the ground, kneeling in front of Theda. ¡°I am your lowly servant, Elizabeth Rose, lord of the vampires. Please, forgive me for not showing my face. The sunlight is quite strong here.¡± ¡°Oh? Lord of an undying race?¡± Theda asked, a wry smile appearing on her lips. ¡°You have guts showing up in front of my door. Shall we test just how immortal vampires are?¡± ¡°My, my god,¡± Duchess Rose said, lowering her head until it touched the ground. Theda snorted. ¡°It was just a joke. Calm down.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Fufu?¡± Khrx asked, tugging on Theda¡¯s dress. ¡°Who?¡± Theda asked as she reached down and ruffled Khrx¡¯s hair. ¡°Fufu,¡± Khrx said as he stood on his tiptoes and held his arm over his head. ¡°She¡¯s about this tall. And she¡¯s white with very fluffy fur.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Theda said, raising her eyebrows. ¡°That creature I caught earlier. You know it? I¡¯ll bring you to her, come in.¡± She grabbed Khrx¡¯s hand and led him towards the entrance to the mansion. She turned her head, glancing at the three tagalongs. ¡°You can come in too. In fact, I insist you do.¡± ¡°Yes, my god,¡± Duchess Rose said as she jolted to her feet and shuffled after Theda. Anaheim glared at Luke, who was still acting unresponsive, and tugged him to the mansion, making sure to place as many clumps of ice in Luke¡¯s path as possible. His face easily broke through them, but he didn¡¯t make a sound. *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 47. Dear Diary, I¡¯m finally going to reunite with Fufu!!!!! Love, Khrx Episode 18 (1) The scent of flowers entered Khrx¡¯s nose as he entered Theda¡¯s mansion. The harsh cold climate had warmed upon entry, and soft sunlight shone down on his onesie. A meadow of grass lay before him, and a clear blue sky sprawled overhead. Fluffy clouds were drifting to and fro, pushed along by black and white cows with wings. Khrx swallowed his saliva and lowered his head, his gaze landing on a river of magma flowing through the field of green. Trees lined the riverbank, luscious pink fruits hanging from their branches, drops of honey dripping off them onto the ground. Khrx swallowed his saliva again and glanced around. Where had Theda gone? Behind him, there was an open meadow. Ahead of him, there was still an open meadow. Hadn¡¯t he come here through a door? No, where was here? Where was he? ¡­Who was he? Khrx swallowed his saliva as his feet lifted off the ground, his body soaring straight towards one of the cloud pushers. He might not know who he was or how he got there, but that flying cow smelled awfully tasty.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. *** Duchess Rose blinked as Khrx stopped moving after entering the mansion. A second later, Khrx floated off the ground and flew upwards, drifting around in a lazy circle near the ceiling. She glanced at Theda. ¡°Err, is Khrx alright?¡± ¡°Does something seem wrong with him?¡± Theda asked with a smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come in and have a seat?¡± Duchess Rose hesitated and took a tentative step past the threshold. In an instant, the world turned dark as night. The scent of blood filled her nostrils, and her eyes became bloodshot. She lowered her head and realized she was no longer wearing the mass of curtains to block herself from the sun. A dying human with blood steadily flowing out from a cut in his throat lay on the ground in front of her, his eyes trembling as they stared into hers. A tangy taste mixed with iron filled Duchess Rose¡¯s mouth, and she stuck her tongue out, licking her lips. A trail of glistening red blood was left behind, and the scent caused her body to heat up. She shivered as her pale face flushed, and she hugged her shoulders as her fangs elongated and jutted past her lower lips. How long had it been since she felt hunger? Since she felt the urge to hunt? She was content drinking cold blood from bags collected by her mimics for so long; she had almost forgotten the thrill of seeing the life ebb out of her prey, collecting into her throat and down into her stomach. Duchess Rose let out a moan as she tilted her head back, exposing her neck towards the sky. The fresh smell of prey and terror filled her nostrils. With a single leap, she bounded past the dead man on the ground with a smile akin to a wolf bearing its fangs. *** ¡°What¡¯s up with her?¡± Anaheim asked after dragging Luke over to the mansion¡¯s entrance. Out of nowhere, Duchess Rose ran forward while tearing off her barrier of curtains and sank her fangs into a red couch. Anaheim furrowed her brow as she peered past Theda¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Did you paint that couch with blood? And what¡¯s Khrx doing?¡± Khrx was floating around in a circle, licking layers of paint off the ceiling. Theda scratched her head and shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Anaheim sighed as she walked into the mansion and waved her hand in front of her face as if she were fanning away a bad smell. ¡°There¡¯s some kind of illusion, isn¡¯t there? What¡¯s it do?¡± Theda¡¯s expression softened. ¡°It exposes and incites the inner desires of¡ª¡± Thunk. Theda and Anaheim turned their heads towards the sound. Khrx had fallen out of the air and onto the ground. Loud snores permeated the room as his belly rose up and down with his limbs splayed. Theda cleared her throat. ¡°Like I was saying. Inner desires.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Anaheim said with a nod. ¡°You¡¯re not going to ask why?¡± Theda asked, raising an eyebrow. She bit her lower lip and shifted her weight from foot to foot. ¡°If you ask, I might tell you.¡± Anaheim sighed. ¡°Alright, alright. Why?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a secondary function to the illusion,¡± Theda said, a bright smile appearing on her face. ¡°Slowly, their desires will morph and change until the only thing in the world they desire is me. I¡¯ve resurrected quite a lot of troublesome beings, you see. They don¡¯t quite listen to me. This is my countermeasure.¡± ¡°Just wondering,¡± Anaheim said, gesturing towards Luke. ¡°Can you do me a favor and change that secondary function of your illusion to make the person they desire me? Just for this man though. For some annoying reasons, he has to fall in love with me.¡± ¡°Mm, sure,¡± Theda said. ¡°As long as you promise not to interfere with what I¡¯m doing, alright?¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± Anaheim said with a nod. She glanced at Luke who was still being dragged along by her by his arm. He hadn¡¯t reacted even though he was exposed to Theda¡¯s illusion. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he doesn¡¯t have any desires.¡± Theda crouched by Luke and placed her hand on his head. ¡°He¡¯s stuck in an illusion, so it¡¯s working,¡± she said. ¡°I changed the secondary function for you. Maybe he desires to lie around like a dead fish. There¡¯s already one person like that here.¡± She gestured towards Khrx. ¡°And what about you? Why haven¡¯t you fallen for the illusion?¡± ¡°I¡¯d be a crappy hero if I fell for an illusion,¡± Anaheim said as she looked around the room. ¡°Where¡¯s Fufu? I want to see what she is.¡± ¡°Oh, I keep the troublesome beings downstairs,¡± Theda said. ¡°Would you like to see the creatures I¡¯ve collected thus far?¡± Episode 18 (2) Unlike usual, the atmosphere of the world leaders¡¯ conference was grim. Three hundred men and women stared at each other in silence, a projection of the world map on the floor. Four fifths of the map were covered in red, areas where a calamity-level threat had appeared. Red dots speckled the remaining fifth of the map, and they were growing at a slow, but visible, rate. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Donovan,¡± the leader of Nipon asked, staring at a strange man who was sitting in Mr. Donovan¡¯s usual seat. The man shook his head. ¡°While he was sleeping, his brain was extracted and he was turned into a puppet by Lilith.¡± The leader of Nipon sighed. ¡°I suppose now would be a bad time to ask about my shipment, huh?¡± he asked, looking around at the other leaders with a wry smile. No one met his gaze. ¡°Dammit!¡± the lion-like beastkin shouted as he slammed the bottom of his fists against his desk. He pointed at Mrs. Atrina. ¡°This is all your fault! If that stupid contract wasn¡¯t in place¡­¡± ¡°Quite frankly, I don¡¯t believe our situation would change much even with nuclear weapons,¡± Mr. Volkov said as Mrs. Atrina hung her head. ¡°We already know it¡¯d take around a hundred nuclear weapons going off at once to fill the skies with soot and cause a radioactive winter, but look at how many threats there are. There are sixty-two in Amireca alone.¡± The rest of the leaders waited for more, but Mr. Volkov shut his mouth and folded his hands on the desk in front of himself. The lion-like beastkin frowned. ¡°Then what do you suggest we do?¡± Mr. Volkov shrugged. ¡°All of my country¡¯s manpower is working towards a solution. So far, the only projected results have led to humanity¡¯s inevitable extinction. If the giant space squids weren¡¯t floating around the planet, fleeing to Sram would¡¯ve been a viable solution. I¡¯m sure all of you have come to similar conclusions.¡± ¡°I know a way,¡± Mrs. Atrina said in a small voice. The leaders all turned to stare at her at the same time. She pursed her lips as she pointed at the world map. ¡°Pick an intelligent calamity and subordinate yourselves to them. Raustalia has already come to an agreement with the ancient phoenix, Fenistia.¡± The leaders stared at the map. Aric Stone furrowed his brow and asked the leader of South Rokea, ¡°What about Anaheim? Has she said anything?¡± The leader of South Rokea shook his head. ¡°She disappeared without telling us anything. Besides, everyone here knows she lived in South Rokea for the food. I can¡¯t control her as she¡¯s only an honorary citizen.¡± Aric Stone sighed. ¡°The world could really use a hero right about now.¡± *** Khrx sneezed, waking himself up from his nap. He was still lying in the meadow, but flowers had grown all around him while he slept. His nose twitched as he sat up, and his head turned back and forth as he looked for any clouds in the sky. Unfortunately, there weren¡¯t any. He sighed before plucking a flower and bringing it to his nose. He sniffed it a few times.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. [Flower identified! Rose: an ordinary flower that smells like roses.] Khrx blinked and waved away the notification. Right, didn¡¯t he have a skill to identify flowers? It wasn¡¯t like he ever used it though. He tossed the rose away and plucked a flower that was a color he didn¡¯t recognize. He gave it a sniff, and it sprouted teeth which tried to bite off his nose. His eyes widened as he tossed it aside and stomped on it. [Flower identified! Dolo: an ordinary flower that sustains illusions.] Sustains illusions? Khrx rubbed his chin before dismissing the screen. Well, he already knew he was in an illusion; how could he not know as a dragon who lived through nearly everything? But those cloud pushers really did taste real. Khrx sighed. Too bad the cloud pushers weren¡¯t around anymore; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t mind spending more time inside. ¡°Khrx? What are you doing?¡± a familiar voice asked from behind him. Khrx stuffed some dirt into his ears and ignored the voice. He wandered through the meadow of flowers, plucking all the dolos he saw while avoiding the person chasing after him from behind. He avoided looking directly at the figure, using the shadows it left behind to discern its position. Once, when he was little, he was trapped in an illusion created by a siren and ended up crying for his mommy after not eating for several days. His parents had to bail him out, but they taught him what to do the next time he was caught. He just had to destroy the last flower sustaining the illusion and he¡¯d be free. *** ¡°You ¡­ certainly caught a lot of scary creatures,¡± Anaheim said as she stood by Theda¡¯s side. When they walked into the goddess¡¯ basement, the two entered a separate dimension. It was extremely large¡ªlarge enough to hold thousands upon thousands of creatures only seen in myths. ¡°Right?¡± Theda asked. ¡°This world is certainly a remarkable one. Any of these cute little fellows could cause the end of the world. So how is it possible that even a single one of them died here? What killed them?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Anaheim said, pointing at a massive bluish-white dragon. ¡°That¡¯s Tsorf¡¯Nogard. My ancestor killed him. But she was only active a thousand years ago. I don¡¯t know what 99% of these creatures are. ¡­Are you sure it¡¯s safe to keep them around even if they¡¯re trapped in an illusion?¡± ¡°I¡¯m absolutely confident in my ability to maintain illusions,¡± Theda said. ¡°After all, what is life except for one massive lie? Death and only death is the absolute truth.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Wow, there are a lot of familiar faces,¡± an adorably childish voice said from Theda¡¯s and Anaheim¡¯s waists. A pair of furry, white cat ears with black stripes entered their vision. ¡°But where¡¯s Fufu¡­?¡± ¡°Khrx¡­?¡± Theda asked. Khrx continued to squint at the crowd of beasts, scanning them for his beloved Fufu. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you trapped in my illusion?¡± ¡°Yeah, but I broke it because it didn¡¯t want to feed me anymore,¡± Khrx said with a nod. Anaheim glanced at Theda. Theda turned her head towards the crowd of beasts. Their dull eyes and sluggish movements didn¡¯t seem so dull and sluggish anymore ¡­ as if they were waking up from a dream. A lion with six wings let out a roar as it flew towards the top of the dimension and tore through it like paper. It was the first domino to fall, causing a chain reaction as the thousands of calamity-level threats surged like a wave towards the gash in the dimension left behind by the lion. ¡°Ah! There¡¯s Fufu!¡± Khrx shouted, his eyes lighting up. His tail swung back and forth as he leapt into the sea of creatures, smacking them all out of his way. He hovered in the air next to a giant, fluffy, white quokka-like creature and embraced it, his tiny body sinking into the creature¡¯s fur as if it were an ocean. The creature, Fufu, let out a squeak as its legs and tail twitched in surprise. ¡°Fufu, my Fufu! My precious pillow! I missed you so much!¡± *** Awakening Cycle 1,072,362: Day 47. Dear Diary, The world ended, but at least I have Fufu. Love, Khrx Episode 18 (3) - Epilogue Luke cracked his neck as he twisted his head from side to side. He sighed as he whirled his arms around, stretching his shoulders and back. The sun shone down on him, causing a faint smile to appear on his lips. After telling Anaheim he wanted to be alone with her in the flight craft, he had created a clone which would slowly lose intelligence over time. He also performed an invisibility spell, escaping from the flight craft without anyone the wiser. Anaheim probably thought he was still with her down in Tanarctica. It was unfortunate that he couldn¡¯t be there for Khrx¡¯s heartbreaking reunion with Fufu, but neither Khrx nor Fufu would mind. Luke took in his surroundings and sighed. It seemed like his plan to create a country peacefully through the game of [Resolution] failed due to the world ending. Well, that was fine. Even if he formed that country, Anaheim would find him and never leave him alone. At least Anaheim¡¯s ancestors hadn¡¯t been resurrected along with all the other world-ending calamities, right¡­? Right!? A shiver ran down Luke¡¯s spine as his body went cold. One descendant was enough, but if the ancestor and all her descendants chased after him? Just in case¡­, Luke took the only reasonable course of action and transformed himself into a grain of sand. He decided to turn himself back after the next time Khrx woke up and went back to sleep. *** Lorin stood with her head tilted up and her eyes closed, blood covering every inch of her body. Her clothes were in tatters, and her armor lay in bits of molten pieces around her feet. One of her wings lay on the ground, blood trickling out of the stump on her shoulder blade. The sun shone down on her, but it wasn¡¯t the sun from [Resolution] or the one from reality. It was blood-red, huge, and overbearing, filling half the sky. By Lorin¡¯s feet, a devil with three heads and six arms lay dead, gaping holes peppering its body. Arms and legs similar to the ones on the devil were scattered about the room, leaving evidence of a desperate final struggle between angel and devil. Lorin opened her eyes and staggered forward before kneeling by the devil¡¯s side. Her arm trembled as she leaned over, placing her hand on the devil¡¯s chest. Her fingers sank into its skin as if it were water, and the muscles on her forearm tensed as she squeezed and pulled. With a sickening sucking sound, Lorin tore the devil¡¯s heart out, raising it above her head. She tilted her neck back and opened her mouth while squeezing the heart, causing black blood to rain onto her waiting tongue. Her gulps were audible as she drank the devil¡¯s blood that poured down like an unending fountain. The cuts and bruises on her skin recovered as her severed wing regrew, brighter and darker than before. When the blood stopped flowing from the heart, Lorin climbed to her feet and smiled. After being abandoned by Jax, she had been accepted by the devil, Moram, unlocking the devilish skill tree that enabled her to steal the skills of others. And now that very devil that gave her power lay dead by her feet. She wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed, how many years it took¡ªshe had stopped counting after fifteen thousand years passed¡ªbut she did know a single day in [Resolution] was equivalent to ten thousand years in the realm of the devils. She went through countless tribulations to become strong to enact revenge on Theda for humiliating her. She swung her arm, and a gash appeared in the space in front of her. She stepped through the makeshift portal, her foot crunching against white ground¡ªice. Was this where Theda lived? Thousands of creatures giving off intimidating auras like the devil she had just slain were billowing out of a dimensional gash above a fancy mansion. Her mouth fell open as a giant tentacle from beyond the sky reached down and wrapped around thirty of the creatures, pulling them up and away like a child reaching down into a bag of chips. What was going on?Stolen novel; please report. The front door of the mansion opened and faces that Lorin hadn¡¯t seen for thousands of years appeared in her vision along with some she didn¡¯t know: Theda, Khrx, that woman who claimed to be a hero, a strange limp man with eyes like a dead fish, a strange bundle of moving curtains¡ªMr. Bubbles?¡ªand most noticeably, a humongous white creature that was as cute as Khrx. Khrx¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that Lor¡ª¡± Lorin charged forward like lightning, a blade of blood forming in her hand. She swung the sword at Theda while letting out a war cry that caused the beasts billowing out of the gash to tremble and fall out of the sky. A shield of shadows appeared in front of Theda, but the bloody sword cut through it as if it didn¡¯t existed. It cleanly slashed through Theda from head to groin, causing a line to appear on Theda¡¯s body. The goddess of death¡¯s two halves slowly fell away from each other, revealing an interior of electronics and wires. ¡°Oh, right, she was a shell,¡± Anaheim said, overcoming the initial surprise of Theda suddenly being bisected. ¡°I wonder what that means for her. She can¡¯t be dead, right?¡± Lorin stared at the two halves which were turning white while losing Theda¡¯s features, reverting back to a mannequin-like state. ¡°That played out a lot differently than how I thought it would,¡± Lorin said with a blank expression. She shook her head and beamed at Khrx. ¡°How are you? It feels like it¡¯s been forever since I last saw you.¡± ¡°Two days is forever?¡± Khrx asked and tilted his head. A faint smile appeared on Lorin¡¯s lips. Was she going to tell Khrx about the twenty thousand years she spent in the devils¡¯ realm? No. He didn¡¯t have to know. What if it affected that brilliant smile of his? ¡°Look,¡± Khrx said, gesturing towards the quokka-like creature. ¡°This is Fufu, my most precious pillow!¡± Fufu squeaked in reply¡ªwhether from happiness or displeasure, Lorin couldn¡¯t tell. Lorin raised an eyebrow, a strange feeling welling up inside of her chest. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Fufu your lover?¡± Was Khrx into animals in that way? He was a beastkin¡­. ¡°I love my pillow,¡± Khrx said, sinking himself into the fur on Fufu¡¯s leg. His eyes drooped as he yawned. ¡°She promises the best naps ever.¡± Lorin exhaled as the pressure around her chest lifted. She gave Khrx a smile as she walked over to his side and lifted him up to her chest. As she thought, she was the happiest when she was with Khrx.