《New Game Plus: I crave challenges》 Chapter 1: Laim Varsmith ¡°And it hit! It hit! Pale Dream falls!¡± ¡°Unbelievable! Are we, at this very moment, witnessing history?!¡± ¡°Only Bleary Mirage is left! One against two!¡± ¡°If not now then it will never happen!¡± ¡°Will the untouchable champion face defeat today?!¡± ¡°Is it time for the next generation to take over after so many years?!¡± Bleary Mirage couldn¡¯t hear the caster¡¯s voices. Even he had to concentrate on this final match. However, his eyes showed his characteristically confident look as if anything was in his grasp. ¡°Liam! This is it! Today I, Burning Lion, will take what belongs to me!¡± Bleary Mirage ¨C or Liam Varsmith, as he was named in the real world ¨C smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. As long as I still play this game, no one can take the championship away from me!¡± ¡°Mirage! Just give up! We are one against two! Tank and mage against a single hunter! You don¡¯t stand a chance!¡± ¡°Hah! Delusional!¡± At this moment the brawny man facing Bleary Mirage jumped backwards, letting out a mocking laugh. ¡°Arrogant as always Liam! Bye bye!¡± ¡°I knew you were buying time. But I couldn¡¯t be happier about it!¡± Suddenly Liam smiled at the mage in the distance, who was in the process of casting a spell to end the game. He raised his graceful divine bow at inhuman speeds. A skill was cast. An arrow shot out. The tank sneered, ready to block Liam¡¯s last struggle. But to his surprise¡­ the arrow missed! Boom! An explosion went off as the arrow crashed into the ground. The gorge around them rumbled. Rocks began to fall from both sides. The mage trembled; his casting time delayed. A heavy impact shook the earth as the rocks landed. Millions of spectators cried out in alarm as they watched cracks spread on the ground. Dust rose. Dangerous sounds echoed. Suddenly! The ground cracked open. A deep black abyss was revealed. Burning Lion and his teammate could only watch in shock as the ground disappeared below their feet. A screech rang through the air. A majestic hawk descended, grabbing Bleary Mirage by his shoulders. The man¡¯s hood came off, revealing his short black hair and well-defined face. Bright blue eyes watched as his enemies fell into the darkness. Bleary Mirage waved his hand, letting out a chuckle as the world around him gradually vanished. Thunderous applause reached Liam¡¯s ears as he climbed out of his VR capsule. His teammates stared at him in awe. His enemies reluctantly congratulated him. The caster¡¯s frantic voice shook the stadium, explaining what happened to millions of spectators around the world. ¡°Bleary Mirage! He did it again!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have words for this! Indescribable!¡± ¡°This planning! This genius!¡± ¡°He must¡¯ve known the HP of the surrounding terrain, even calculating the damage done during the fight!¡± ¡°It¡¯s inhuman! As expected from mister perfect! No one knows Fate of Crunaboul like him!¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°This is what it takes to stay undefeated, winning five championships in a row!¡± ¡°The undisputed best no matter which game!¡± Light flashed and celebratory music played as the championship team hoisted their trophy. Liam wore a bright smile. However, if someone would look into his eyes at this moment, they would find a hint of something else but joy there. Interviews followed quickly after. A pretty female anchor took their time to celebrate every single teammate. Soon, she reached Liam: ¡°Bleary Mirage! Your fifth championship! Many doubted if it would be enough this year! Do you have anything to say to your critics?¡± ¡°I guess those people just like to be proven wrong. And I¡¯m not one to deprive them of this joy.¡± Chuckles and screams sounded from the audience. Everyone hung on Liam¡¯s lips, soaking up every single word. ¡°Altruistic as always. But during the last fight the situation looked dire. Was this your most difficult final?¡± ¡°Of course it was!¡± People were surprised by this reply. Bleary Mirage was not known as one to praise his opponents. Sadly no one could hear the thoughts in Liam¡¯s mind. Of course it was close. I did everything I could to make it so. And still Burning Lion almost failed. Liam let out a sigh as the anchor finally went on to interview other teammates. *** A heavy iron gate opened slowly, allowing a luxurious limousine to enter a vast estate. Multiple manors proved the incredible wealth of their owners. The limousine drove towards a manor to the right, stopping in front of the entrance. A car door opened, revealing a young man in a tidy white suit. He stepped out with a straight back, approaching the door in the back. With a light bow the young man opened the car. Liam stood up, thanking his driver with a nod. His pricey modern shoes made low sounds as he walked up smooth white stairs. The large entrance opened before him. Liam took it for granted as he entered. ¡°Welcome home, young master.¡± ¡°Thanks Charles.¡± An elegant older man closed the doors, following behind Liam with a respectful stride. At this moment a young woman approached form the side. Liam took off his olive-green sports jacket, handing it to his trusty maid with a polite smile. The young woman blushed faintly but she was still a new employee, not even daring to talk to the handsome young master. Not bothering with others Liam took large steps, entering his dining room. Large windows let in bright sunlight. They revealed a vast garden with perfectly trimmed plants and a clear pool. Liam was used to the sight as he sat down on a table large enough for a dozen people. A strange light flickered through his eyes subconsciously. ¡°Young master, your dinner for today.¡± The trusty steward walked in, presenting perfectly fried meat and various exotic vegetables. A three-star cook worked for the family, making sure to present his best works every day. ¡°Young master, should I bring something else for you to wear?¡± Liam raised his sharp brow as he looked down on his shirt. It was a golden jersey produced by his team to celebrate their championship. A moment of silence ensued. ¡°No. It¡¯s ok.¡± Charles didn¡¯t show any emotion as he bowed and retreated to the side. The sound of cutlery echoed in the empty room. Liam felt the meat melt on his tongue, but it didn¡¯t particularly excite him. As he ate the young man gradually relaxed. The tension fell of, slowly revealing a side of him he didn¡¯t show in public. Liam slowly slacked in his comfortable chair, his shoulders dropping. The day¡¯s happenings ran through his mind. Liam¡¯s eyes involuntarily swayed to the side. It appeared as if he could see through the wall, his gaze falling on a massive cabinet. Multiple trophies and medals were contained in the cabinet. World championships in three different games, national championships in swimming and archery, a world record in sprinting¡­ To the outside world it looked as if Liam was perfect in everything he did. He was handsome, wealthy, athletic. Whatever he touched turned to gold. Liam had everything one could wish for. ¡°Then why is it so¡­ boring?¡± ¡°Excuse me, young master?¡± Charles took a step forward, not understanding Liam¡¯s murmur. ¡°Charles. Would you say your life is boring?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand, young master?¡± ¡°I mean it.¡± The older man coughed faintly. He sighed inwardly, noticing a look in Liam¡¯s eyes, which the young man showed more and more often in the recent past. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t consider my life boring, young master.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well, my job allows me to solve many challenging tasks. I met interesting people and have seen much of the world.¡± ¡°Challenge¡­ And what is outside your job? What do you do for fun?¡± ¡°Sometimes I meet with my old friends to play chess or just to talk.¡± ¡°Friends, hmm. Must be nice. Maybe I should also try to find friends.¡± ¡°What about your teammates, young master?¡± ¡°They are alright but the way they treat me¡­ It¡¯s always respectful. Like a superior. Even you treat me more like a person.¡± ¡°I have seen you growing up, young master.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Liam let out a sigh. As his food was finished, Charles immediately stepped forward to clean the table. ¡°Thanks.¡± In a strange mood the young master stood up, leaving the room. He walked through luxurious corridors until he reached his gaming room. It contained everything one might need from training equipment to PCs to its centerpiece, a large VR cabin, a marvel of current technology. Liam stared at it with a complicated gaze before turning it on. A blue glass door opened with a smooth sound. Padded interior invited the young master to lay down. ¡°Let¡¯s hope that you can come up with some new challenges.¡± Liam entered the device, watching the glass door closing slowly. A helmet embraced his head comfortably. A signal sounded out. Liam counted down from ten. His vision gradually darkened. The young man expected to enter the familiar virtual world of Crunaboul. However, this didn¡¯t happen! Liam found himself in a vast black space. His mind was somewhat groggy. Suddenly a bright text appeared before his eyes, read by a mechanical voice: ¡°Do you want to start New Game Plus?¡± [Yes] [No] Liam instinctively pressed [Yes]. Chapter 2: New Game Plus ¡°Congratulations on choosing New Game Plus player Liam! You are allowed to advance shortly. But before that two choices must be made.¡± While the mechanical voice continued to talk, Liam gradually sobered up. He looked at the surrounding darkness, his voice ringing endlessly: ¡°C? What¡¯s going on?¡± C was the incredible KI controlling the world¡¯s largest VRMMORPG Fate of Crunaboul. This magical world has enticed nearly two billion players with its endless fantasy world. All those players found themselves in a similar darkness when entering the game for the first time. C spoke to every player, explaining some basics and helping them create their character. But Liam had never heard of any instance where C spoke to a single player again. However, the AI obviously didn¡¯t plan on explaining itself. ¡°Tw choices have to be made.¡± ¡°Hey, C? Do you hear me?¡± ¡°Two choices have to be made.¡± Laim rolled his eyes. ¡°Ok. What are my choices?¡± ¡°Player Liam. Please choose the difficulty of your New Game Plus.¡± [Normal] [Expert] [Hell] Liam furrowed his brows. He couldn¡¯t figure out how a VRMMORPG was supposed to have varying difficulties. But the repeated champion didn¡¯t hesitate long, choosing [Hell]. With Liam¡¯s knowledge about Fate of Crunaboul and his incredible use of movement and skills, this was the only option which might offer a hint of challenge. ¡°Difficulty [Hell] selected.¡± ¡°Good. What now?¡± ¡°Player Liam. Please chose one thing you want to bring with you in New Game Plus. All requirements will be waved.¡± ¡°What? Are you joking?¡± Liam was taken aback. Didn¡¯t this mean he could bring a level 100 weapon, have its level requirements waved, and use it from level 1? ¡°C, are you for real? Where is the balance in that? Wouldn¡¯t I just stomp the entire game?¡± ¡°Player Liam, please choose.¡± ¡°Or wait¡­ am I the only one starting a New Game Plus or is everyone doing so? Or only the top players?¡± ¡°You are the only one, Player Liam.¡± ¡°Oh, so you do know how to answer me?¡± ¡°Player Liam, please choose.¡± Liam could only shake his head. Thousands of items, skills, and titles ran through his head. But a seed of doubt was growing as well. What exactly is New Game Plus? How can I be the only one? Liam wasn¡¯t able to figure it out, but a strong confidence built from all his achievements allowed him to continue without worry. He knew that whatever life threw at him, he would be at the top eventually. That¡¯s how it always has been for the last thirty years. Thus, Liam finally came to a decision, remembering an item which was fairly useless in game, but still held some sentimental value for him.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°C, I choose my championship ring!¡± ¡°Choice accepted.¡± Suddenly Liam felt something on his hand. He looked down, finding a golden ring inlaid with a large blue gem. The game¡¯s logo was engraved on the gem, a valiant sword in front of two pairs of wings, one angelic and one demonic. It was a work of art, infinitely detailed. Liam admired the ring for a moment before C¡¯s voice echoed again. ¡°All preparations completed. Player Liam, good luck. New Game Plus. Start.¡± Abruptly Liam fell unconscious, his body dissolving in the dark. *** ¡°What?!¡± Suddenly Liam¡¯s eyes shot open. He was disoriented, taking a few seconds to make sense of his surroundings. But there wasn¡¯t much to see, his eyes staring at the grey wall of a tall building. Liam¡¯s body shivered. A freezing cold invaded his bones. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Focusing on his body, Liam had a strange feeling. He realized that his clothes were thin, rough, and too short. Especially since the weather was more than harsh for humans. What is this? Am I in Crunaboul? It¡¯s so cold. Did I start in the eastern mountains? But what¡¯s with the strange building? Chaotic thoughts raced through Liam¡¯s mind until he looked down on his own body. Suddenly his mind turned blank. Liam found himself in an unfamiliar body. It was the body of a young adult, malnourished and his limbs numb from the coldness. But even more confusing was the young girl snuggled up in his arms. The poor girl¡¯s state appeared to be even worse than his own. While Liam was sitting against a cold wall, feeling completely lost, a voice appeared in his head. [Welcome to New Game Plus, Player Liam.] [I will be offering you several quests in the future.] [Please complete them in ord¡­] ¡°C?! Is that you? What¡¯s going on? What quests?¡± Liam wasn¡¯t weirded out by the voice in his head. This was the way C communicated with players, for example during server announcements. [Please complete them¡­] ¡°C! F*ck your quests! Tell me what¡¯s happening!¡± Liam looked like a crazy person, angrily talking to himself. It took a few seconds until C answered. [I received your complaint.] [I will be offering you challenges in the future.] ¡°Please... C!¡± [Please complete these challenges in the future in order to earn various beneficial rewards.] [To understand your current situation, please refer to your memories.] ¡°Memories? What memories?¡± With C¡¯s reminder Liam began to actively dig into his memories. Suddenly he found various strange information. ¡°I¡¯m still Liam Varsmith. I¡¯m on a planet called Falva Star? It¡¯s the year 1874 in the federation calendar? My parents are famous explorers who never returned from exploring some ruins a few years ago, leaving me and my sister, Serena, alone? Eventually we lost our home, forced to live on the streets?¡± Liam was frozen in shock. He felt like stranded on a lonely island. Only the mental fortitude built during his endless hours of harsh training allowed him to barely hold on. What am I doing here? Why is my situation so terrible? Is this the so-called [Hell] difficulty? Can I go back? What should I do now? Did I really transmigrate? Countless questions let Liam freeze in inaction. [Player Liam, your first challenge has arrived:] [Save the life of your sister!] [Your rewards will depend on the degree of completion.] Challenge? Right! I¡¯m here for a challenge! Liam forced himself to suppress his doubts for now. He stared at the frail girl in his arms. Her blond hair was unkempt, a coarse dress barely offering any warmth. Even her little shoes were riddled with holes. Serena¡¯s limbs had an unhealthy blue color, her body shivering. Even Liam¡¯s movements didn¡¯t wake her. ¡°She doesn¡¯t look good. What should I do?¡± Liam felt pity in his heart. Although his feelings for the young girl were vague, looking at the cute face stained with dirt would melt anyone¡¯s heart. Rummaging through his memories he managed to understand more about their current situation. We were on our way to a doctor who even helps those without any money to pay. But I fell in this alley. I don¡¯t know if the original owner of this body died. Ok, Liam, time to get a grip! It¡¯s not far. However, what about the degree of completion? Does it mean the better treatment Serena receives, the better my reward? Hmm if I can make some money, the doctor will probably show more effort. Liam was pondering his options when his gaze fell on his right hand. There, on his thin ring finger sat a peculiar ring. His championship ring. ¡°How?¡±¡°¡±¡±H Liam could only shake his head. But another idea came to his mind. There should be a pawn shop not far away¡­ Taking a deep breath, Liam dragged his body up. The cold made his body tremble as his thin shoes stepped on the stone floor. It was winter right now on Falva Star. This planet, which hasn¡¯t been populated for a long time, was blessed with hot summers and bitter winters. Liam subconsciously looked upwards searching for the sun but high-rise buildings and elevated streets blocked his vision. This was the fate of the homeless in Red Oak City. They lived on the bottom of the city literally and figuratively, spending most of their time in the shadow of others. Liam smiled wryly. The contrast to his old life was too brutal. As the son of two billionaires, he was never even able to imagine how harsh life can be to the less fortunate. While Liam was lamenting, he soon reached a point where two allies were crossing. A few others were curled up on the ground here. Liam ignored them, carrying his sister in his arms and turning to the right. His legs felt heavy, his body tired like never before. Even after the most brutal sprint training in his past life Liam never felt this exhausted. It took him a great deal of effort to finally reach a small square. This was a popular gathering place for those forced to live in the lowest parts of the city. Mainly because a hint of sunshine reached this place for a few hours every day. Thus, a few shops had settled here. Among them was Liam¡¯s target: Ben¡¯s Pawn Shop. Chapter 3: Siblings A happy ¡®ding!¡¯ rang out as Liam crossed the door. It came from a tiny bell placed above the door. Even in this age where humans were traveling the stars the owner of this pawn shop still liked his old gimmicks. Liam had a soft smile on his face as a bit of warmth engulfed his body. He carefully put his sister down, leaning her back against the wall. Taking a short look at the trinkets placed in the shop he approached the counter, his eyes focusing on an old man half dosing off. Only when Liam appeared right before him did the owner turn his head towards him. ¡°Oh? Liam? What a rare guest. Did you find something good?¡± ¡°Ben.¡± Liam looked at the old man before him as related memories appeared in his mind. Ben looked harmless but he was basically a black-market dealer trading stolen goods. However, he had a good reputation among the homeless as he gave them relatively fair prices. Thus, many of Liam¡¯s acquaintances regularly ¡®found¡¯ some valuable things to bring them here. However, the old Liam never dared to do so despite the terrible situation he was in. ¡°I found something, yes. Want to take a look at this?¡± Liam did know what to feel as he took off the ring around his finger and handed it to Ben. ¡°A ring? Not bad. I can already tell that this will be quite valuable.¡± Ben showed a toothless smile as he took Liam¡¯s championship ring. He fished out a magnifying glass from below his counter, expertly studying the ring. Liam could tell that the old man¡¯s face quickly grew solemn. ¡°How did you get your hands on this, boy? Do you have more?¡± ¡°Unfortunately not.¡± ¡°Pity. This is the work of a master, I tell you. Marvelous. Even I can¡¯t tell what gem this is¡­¡± Ben played around with the ring. Liam stared at him closely, making sure the old man didn¡¯t show some unreasonable greed. Fortunately, Ben did his reputation justice as he put the ring on the counter. ¡°This is really¡­¡± ¡°Impressive.¡± ¡°What can you give me for it?¡± Silence fell in the room as Ben pondered. A few minutes later he spat out a number. ¡°4k.¡± Liam had to take a second to put this number into perspective. Ben offered four thousand credits, the official currency since the United Human Federation was established. In the lowest part of Red Oak City this was enough to live for about two years. In the highest parts it might barely last a week. Liam looked at the ring, openly displaying hesitation. For a few seconds no one talked, a silent price war going on. Eventually Ben gritted his teeth as he relented: ¡°Four thousand five hundred. My last offer.¡± ¡°Alright. Deal.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Both Ben and Liam were satisfied with the price. The old man put away the ring, handing a black card over to his young customer.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°This is a Black Credit Card. It has your money on it. But it¡¯s best to only use it in the lower city since it¡¯s not registered. You better don¡¯t get caught with it. And if you do, don¡¯t tell anyone where you got it from.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Mhm. As for your ring, the same rules as always. You have the right to buy it back for six months. Interest is fifty percent per month.¡± Liam was shocked. He never heard of a fifty percent interest rate. But unfortunately, those were Ben¡¯s rules, and he could only comply. At this moment the old man suddenly turned around, taking something from a box behind him. He handed a thick blanket to Liam. ¡°Here. For your sister.¡± For a moment Liam was surprised before letting out a warm smile. ¡°Thank you, Ben.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. We all have to survive somehow. Just don¡¯t forget this old man when you find something else in the future.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Liam carefully wrapped his sister in the blanket, before nodding goodbye. He left the pawn shop, the black card in his pocket offering him some confidence. He turned around, returning the way he came from. His memories told Liam to go straight at the earlier crossing to reach the friendly doctor. But just as he reached the crossing, a few men suddenly blocked his way. Dressed in rags and with thin bodies, these were obviously beggars as well. The man in middle put on a threatening expression below his dirty face as he spoke in a hoarse voice: ¡°Boy! Hand over everything you have!¡± Liam was staring ahead in shock, having never experienced such a scene. ¡°Is this a robbery?¡± ¡°Of course it is! What do you think?!¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t have anything¡­¡± ¡°Bullsh*t! We saw that ring on your finger!¡±, exclaimed another man, licking his dry lips. ¡°No, no! You must be mistaken. I don¡¯t have a ring!¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± As Liam shoved his hand out from below the blanket, the three thieves showed confused expressions. ¡°There really is no ring.¡± ¡°Did we mistake him?¡± For a moment the beggars didn¡¯t know what to do. But suddenly one of them came up with a conclusion: ¡°Didn¡¯t he come from over there? He must have gone to Ben¡¯s place!¡± ¡°Ha! Right, right! You¡¯re a genius, Harry!¡± The man called Harry smiled foolishly, revealing his black teeth. ¡°Boy, I won¡¯t repeat it again. Hand over everything on you!¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Stop talking!¡± Finally, one of the men lost his patience. He took a step forward, trying to grab Liam. The young man gritted his teeth as he jumped backwards. The floor was slippery beneath his feet, almost causing him to stumble. ¡°Ok. You can only blame yourself!¡± Liam spoke with anger as he carefully laid his sister down. Taking a deep breath, he took on a fighting stance. In Liam¡¯s old life it was common to practice the moves from Fate of Crunaboul even in real life. Although one¡¯s body within the game was able to perform the skills on its own, additional practice ensured smoother movements, something which could make a big difference among the top players. Thus, Liam often trained in real life, leading him to develop an interest in martial arts. Although he never participated in tournaments, Liam eventually became a master. This was only natural for the athletic man who seemed to find success in whatever he touched. ¡°Kid, what is this? Want to resist?¡± ¡°Just hand over your money and we can let you go!¡± ¡°Right, don¡¯t get injured or¡­¡± Liam suddenly let out a scoff, having heard enough. He made quick steps, reaching the talking man and plunging his elbow into the man¡¯s kidney. ¡°You little!¡± The man took a few steps back with pain on his face. But Liam wasn¡¯t happy. He didn¡¯t expect the man to remain standing. This body is too weak. ¡°Harry! Grab him!¡± The other men felt anxious as they clumsily attacked. Liam was quick on his toes, dancing around their hands. Finding the perfect moment his fist suddenly delivered a vicious blow. The opponent managed to raise his arms, but Liam abruptly changed trajectory. ¡°Ah!¡± A scream rang out as Liam¡¯s fist hit, followed by the cracking of a rip. ¡°B*stard!¡± Liam felt a cold breeze on his cheek. He hastily turned his head, barely avoiding a blow. His knee immediately counterattacked, landing between the opponent¡¯s legs. Critical hit! Harry¡¯s eyes bulged as he went to the floor. ¡°We.. we¡­¡± The other two men grew unsettled. They didn¡¯t understand how Liam could hold on in a 3v1. But they knew that getting injured out here can lead to terrible consequences. Thus, the beggars hesitated. They stared at Liam, waiting for any reaction from him. But as the young man didn¡¯t move, they hastily reached out for Harry before escaping into the alleys. Only as the three men disappeared from his vision did Liam let out a deep breath. As the tension fell off, his body trembled. He felt incredibly exhausted, having used up all his energy in the short fight. At this moment a feeble voice reached his ears. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, brother.¡± Liam stared at Serena in surprise. Clear blue eyes looked back at him with admiration and dependence. ¡°Serena? You¡¯re awake?¡± ¡°Y¡­ yes.¡± ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling good.¡± Liam felt something stuck in his throat as he looked at the young girl trying to be brave. At this moment his heart was moved. If so far he took care of Serena mainly because of the challenge issued by C, then now his attitude subtly changed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Serena. Brother will bring you to Doctor Hearley.¡± ¡°Doctor Hearley? That¡¯s good.¡± Serena stopped speaking, smiling tiredly at her brother. Liam ignored the state of his own body as he picked up his sister again and hastily jogged down the alley. Soon the duo reached an inconspicuous door only setting itself apart by the red cross painted on it. As Liam pushed it, the metallic door opened with an ominous creak, revealing a dark staircase. Pressing Serena tightly against his body Liam quickly went up. Chapter 4: The kind doctor Liam¡¯s footsteps echoed in the dim light from the stairs. Every move felt difficult as the staircase appeared to be never-ending. Doors branched off from the staircase, leading to apartments. Although they were shabby and bleak, they were still apartments. A luxury which not many can afford in the lower city. But finally, Liam reached the top floor. Only a single opening could be found here, blocked by a heavy curtain. Liam pushed his body through. It was as if entering a different world. The walls were white, and a warm light shone from the ceiling. Chairs, which didn¡¯t look like they might fall as soon as one sat down, were lined up against a wall. A comfortable warmth animated Liam¡¯s tired spirit. He carried Serena and sat down next to a tall man hiding his bleeding hand below his rugged clothes. The young girl also felt the comfortable environment, letting out a low sigh. But Liam suddenly had a bad premonition. He nudged Serena, who was slowly closing her eyes. ¡°Hey, sister! Don¡¯t sleep now. Come, talk to brother Liam.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m so tired¡­¡± ¡°No, no. Now it¡¯s not the time to sleep.¡± At this moment a young woman sitting on a receptionist desk not far away looked over. She furrowed her brows as she studied Serena. Her body tensed up. She pressed a button on her desk before standing up and approaching Liam with a cup in her hand. ¡°Serena. Look who¡¯s coming. It¡¯s Kathrin.¡± ¡°Hey, Serena.¡± With those words some spirit returned to Serena¡¯s eyes. She looked at the young woman in white clothes arriving. ¡°Sister Kathrin.¡± Liam felt relieved inwardly as he noticed Serena¡¯s smile. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s me, Serena. Don¡¯t worry. Doctor Hearley will be here any second. Come, drink something.¡± Kathrin smiled warmly as she brought her cup to Serena¡¯s lips. The young girl wasn¡¯t shy slurping the hot tea. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Liam and Kathrin chuckled as Serena let out a strange sound. Feeling a stone falling from his heart, the young man subconsciously caressed his sister¡¯s shoulder. Serena showed a warm smile, feeling blessed as she was surrounded by good people. At this moment a door opened, a middle-aged woman with brown hair styled as a bun entering the room. ¡°Good to see you, Doctor Hearley.¡± ¡°Doctor!¡± Greetings rang out in the room. The man seated next to Liam looked at Serena and held himself back as Hearley approached the brother-sister duo. ¡°Liam, Serena. Can you walk?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Ok. Come with me!¡± Liam gratefully followed the doctor into another room. Multiple beds could be seen here, surrounded by some machines. The smell of medicine wafted around one¡¯s nose, waking some memories in Liam¡¯s mind. Although Doctor Healey¡¯s office was not in the lower city, she furnished this room to treat the less fortunate citizens.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The quality of the appliances here wasn¡¯t great, but it was already more than the lower city¡¯s inhabitants could have asked for. A few moans could be heard. Liam scanned the other beds but soon averted his eyes. The patients resting here didn¡¯t look great. ¡°Place your sister here!¡± Liam¡¯s attention was back on the doctor as he hastily complied. He carefully placed Serena down on a bed. ¡°You lie there!¡± ¡°Me? But I¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t refuse! You look terrible!¡± Liam didn¡¯t know how to refute. He shook his head and laid down on another bed. This was the first time he could relax since coming to this world. As the tension left his body, Liam immediately felt sleepy, unable to keep his eyes open. A few hours later Liam noticed some movement around him. He slowly opened his eyes, looking at the doctor inspecting his hands. ¡°You woke up.¡± ¡°Yes. Thanks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Liam smiled weakly as his eyes wandered to his sister. He watched as the little girl slept peacefully, some special blankets surrounding her body. ¡°No. I do have to mention it¡­¡± ¡°Whatever. Your body isn¡¯t in a good condition either. You two should rest here for a while.¡± ¡°Oh right. Doctor, do you have anything good for my sister? Maybe something to strengthen her? I can pay!¡± Doctor Hearley raised her brow, looking at Liam in surprise. ¡°You want better treatment? Well, I do have some better medicine¡­¡± ¡°Great! Don¡¯t worry. As long as it¡¯s good for Serena, we will take it.¡± ¡°Did you make a windfall recently? Never mind, don¡¯t answer! Let me see what I can do for your sister.¡± For the next day Liam and Serena stayed at the doctor¡¯s office. Liam got some food while Serena received all kinds of nourishing medicines. But the young girl got anxious after feeling the effects on her body, refusing to drink if Liam didn¡¯t share it with her. Liam found no way to convince his sister, reluctantly taking small sips as well. Soon, his body recovered some strength although it couldn¡¯t be considered healthy yet. As Liam drank a green liquid named Grade 1 Nourishing Fluid, he dug out a few more memories. He was shocked as he recalled that martial artists existed in this universe. They trained their bodies, top masters even able to survive in space. The Nourishing Fluid he drank was meant to aid them in their training. Even Liam¡¯s parents were martial artists with some accomplishments. However, they weren¡¯t interested in fighting against others but used their power to explore the ruins of an ancient civilization. Liam involuntarily let out a sigh. Doubts threatened to creep into his mind again, but he hastily suppressed them. After a while the young man stood up together with his sister. He smiled warmly as he noticed how much better Serena was walking. Doctor Hearley even allowed the siblings to use a small bath, letting them temporarily feel more human. ¡°Thank you for everything doctor. Here, take the money.¡± Laim looked at the doctor, genuinely grateful, handing out his black card. The doctor¡¯s face remained stoic as she took out a small device, placing Liam¡¯s card in it. However, she showed some surprise as she noticed the balance on the card. Still, Nourishing Fluid was pricey, and two thousand credits were gone in an instant. Liam felt a hint of pain in his heart. Half of my wealth gone immediately. I never expected that I would ever have to worry about money. However, Liam didn¡¯t complain, knowing that the doctor took good care of them. ¡°Thank you, doctor. And you too, Kathrin. I don¡¯t know if we could¡¯ve made it without you!¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you! Thank you for everything!¡± Serena smiled happily as the siblings said their goodbye. Kathrin showed a complicated expression, wishing them all the best. Laim and Serena braced themselves as they were about to return to the cold. But suddenly Doctor Hearley let out a sigh. Looking at the siblings¡¯ backs she spoke up: ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°Hmm? Did you forget something, doctor?¡± ¡°Liam. What do you plan to do now?¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know yet.¡± ¡°I have an empty room. Do you want it?¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± Noticing Serena¡¯s eyes light up brightly, Liam already knew that he wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse. ¡°300 per month. Food included.¡± ¡°Thank you doctor. You¡¯re too kind.¡± Liam felt incredibly touched. Doctor Hearly didn¡¯t live in the lower city. If she spoke of an empty room, it was most likely in the upper city. Liam was sure she could¡¯ve rented it out for double the price. ¡°I just can¡¯t bear to see you die. Come with me. Kathrin, let¡¯s end the day.¡± ¡°Yes, doctor.¡± Even Kathrin smiled brightly knowing that the cute Serena wouldn¡¯t be forced to sleep in the cold. While the young assistant began tidying up the office, Liam and Serena followed behind the doctor, the young girl having expectant eyes. They walked past the treatment room, entering a corridor which led to the rooms reserved for upper class citizens. But the trio turned the other way, walking up some stairs. Soon they stopped before a metallic door, a numpad next to it. Liam hastily blocked his sister¡¯s eyes, averting his own head. ¡°Brother? Hey, what are you doing?¡± The little girl swayed her head left and right, trying to peek between Liam¡¯s fingers. Doctor Hearley was taken aback, letting out a chuckle. ¡°You can look. In fact, you should. Or do you expect me to open the door for you each time?¡± ¡°Oh. Sorry. I just thought¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. If I wasn¡¯t assured, I wouldn¡¯t let you in anyways.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Sorry.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Liam watched his sister with a smile. ¡°And what are you laughing for?¡± ¡°Hehe, you suddenly turned so obedient, Liam!¡± ¡°That¡¯s called being polite.¡± Serena continued to snicker as the door slid to the side. ¡°4493.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Liam answered calmly before the trio entered the doctor¡¯s flat. They arrived in a spacious living room with a large TV. Obviously, the doctor wasn¡¯t short on money. Liam scanned the room, noticing how everything looked smooth and modern, but rather colorful. It reminded him of the place he used to live in with his parents. Chapter 5: A new home Doctor Hearley led the siblings to a door at the side. She opened it, revealing a girly room. A comfortable bed with many pillows, a desk, and a large cabinet made up the room. The room was mostly white with some pink accents and a wood-like floor. Scanning the room, Liam was surprised as he noticed the pictures showing in a digital frame on one of the walls. ¡°Doctor, i¡­¡± ¡°You can call me Merida.¡± ¡°Ok, thank you. Merida, is this the room of your daughter?¡± ¡°It was, yes. I could never decide what to do with it since my daughter left.¡± ¡°What? This¡­ I¡¯m so sorry! Is this¡­¡± ¡°What are you thinking?! Mara went to study two years ago and hasn¡¯t been back since. Disobedient girl! Only bothering to ca¡­¡± Suddenly heart wrenching sobs interrupted the doctor. Liam turned to Serena, finding his sister fighting against tears. ¡°Serena? What?... Are you thinking about mom and dad?¡± The young girl¡¯s lips quivered, nodding sadly. Liam let out a sigh as he hugged his sister. ¡°It¡¯s ok. Let it all out. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure mom and dad will come back.¡± ¡°Really? But¡­ what if they don¡¯t find us after we lost our house?¡± Liam felt a stabbing pain right in his heart. The biggest regret of the old Liam was not being able to keep their home. All his possessions had been taken away by some greedy people, thinking that his parents hid some of their findings over the years. One must know that exploring the ancient ruins scattered in the universe was dangerous business and those able to bring something back were highly respected. Most of the technology humanity had today was found in the ruins and reverse engineered, Liam¡¯s parents playing a small part in this as well. Thus, it wasn¡¯t surprising that some forces eyed Liam after his parents went missing. They came up will all kinds of shady reasons to step for step force him into bankruptcy. [Player Liam. Receive your second challenge.] [Regain your old possessions.] [Rewards will be based on degree of completion.] A new challenge? Seems like this will take a while. By the way. C, what about my current challenge? [Evaluation ongoing.] Liam shook his head, putting this matter at the back of his head. Regaining his old possessions couldn¡¯t be accomplished in the short term. A while later Serena had calmed down. The doctor went elsewhere, giving the siblings some room, now returning with an extra mattress. ¡°Thank you doctor. For everything.¡± ¡°Merida!¡± ¡°Merida.¡± ¡°Thank you, Merida.¡±, echoed Serena, her smile still looking somewhat sad. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Treat this as your home for now. The door over there leads to a separate bathroom.¡± ¡°Thank you. I guess we will go to sleep now.¡± ¡°Sure. Good night.¡± ¡°Good night.¡± ¡°Nighty!¡± Merida left with a smile, leaving the siblings alone.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Liam sighed. He walked towards a large window. It was already dark outside, snowflakes fluttering silently through the air. But the city was brightly illuminated. Screens and lanterns could be found at all heights, some of them hanging from the giant high-rise buildings making up most of the city. The lanterns illuminated the busy street below, filled with cars. Above, even flying cars could occasionally be spotted, but they were only sold since a few years ago at astronomical prices. In the distance a monstrous tree, reaching for the skies, filled with festive decorations, could be seen between a few houses. This was the red oak lending the city its name. Liam¡¯s former home wasn¡¯t far away from this tree. I still can¡¯t believe it¡­ Before Liam could sink into thoughts, he felt someone grabbing his hand tightly. Liam tilted his head, looking into his sister¡¯s cute eyes. ¡°Should we go to sleep?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go.¡± Liam gripped Serena¡¯s hand tightly for once before letting go. But as he tried to lay down on the extra mattress, Serena pulled on his sleeve. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Can we please share a bed? I can¡¯t sleep alone¡­¡± ¡°But I¡¯m right here.¡± ¡°Pleaaase?¡± Liam smiled wryly while patting his sister¡¯s head. ¡°Ok. But just this once, alright?¡± ¡°Ok.¡±, pouted Serena. Thus, Liam hugged his sister as the young girl fell into a peaceful sleep. At this moment C reminded Liam of its presence. [Challenge ¡®¡¯Save the life of your sister!¡¯ accomplished.] [Evaluation: Rank A!] [Possible rewards:
  1. A strengthened body.
  2. Choose one item with a level requirement below 20.
Please choose, Player Liam.] Liam calmly took in the information. He quickly had a question. C? Is the evaluation system the same as in Fate of Crunaboul? [Yes. Player Liam.] So it goes from F to SSS¡­ I feel like I already did pretty good. How could I have reached SSS? Liam was somewhat confused. But he felt a strange itch in his chest. It had been quite some time since he got anything less than an S in one of the game¡¯s quests. Still, I have to accept that this is real life and not a game. But it didn¡¯t matter how much he tried to remind himself. The fact that he wasn¡¯t able to reach a higher evaluation irked him. However, he wasn¡¯t discouraged. Quite the opposite. A faint excitement twinkled in Liam¡¯s eyes. Let¡¯s take a look at the rewards. Liam pondered for a while. A strengthened body wasn¡¯t bad, but he was confident to achieve it by himself. An item might be useful. In this world there were alien beasts and martial artists who might pose a threat to normal humans. But Liam had a vague idea about their strength from his parents. An item below level twenty wouldn¡¯t be enough to defend himself. Thus, his focus fell on the information. In Fate of Crunaboul information was highly valuable. Whenever it was a possible reward, it was incredibly helpful most of the time. Liam hoped that C would stand true to its principles as he decided on reward 3. [You have chosen 3: information. Is this correct?] Yes. [Congratulations on finishing this challenge. You reward will arrive shortly.] [Reward information:] [The Virtual World will be spread in the universe in three days.] Liam suddenly opened his eyes in shock. Virtual World? Are you talking about Fate of Crunaboul? [Yes.] Liam laid frozen in his bed. He didn¡¯t know what to feel about this information. Originally Liam expected New Game Plus to let him play Fate of Crunaboul from the beginning. But before he could react, C miraculously brought him to another world. Liam struggled to adapt, only the challenges forcing him to work towards a clear goal. However, now C revealed that Fate of Crunaboul will be coming to this world as well. Liam found some incredibly vague information in his mind. His parents once mentioned signs hinting at a virtual reality which played a huge role in the Ancient Civilization. Humanity tried to replicate it but was met with many obstacles. They only made rapid progress with the devices used to enter virtual reality, even putting them on sale already. Naturally those weren¡¯t highly popular, only spreading among some hardcore gamers and people rich enough to buy them without worry. However, Liam could already imagine the change when Fate of Crunaboul finally went live. Wait! If the game is about to launch, why is there no advertisement at all? [¡­] C? [¡­] Great. Playing dead? Liam shook his head, contemplating something else. Should I play? This question wasn¡¯t easy to answer for Liam. He didn¡¯t know if there was much meaning in him playing the game. On the other hand, he did enjoy it, or he would¡¯ve ended his career after the first championship in his former life. Although buying a console won¡¯t be cheap, Liam was confident that he would be able to make a fortune from the game. While Liam was weighing the pros and cons, C suddenly interrupted him. [Player Liam, receive your next challenge.] [Enter Fate of Crunaboul on the first day of its launch.] [Rewards will be based on degree of completion.] Another challenge? At this moment a smirk formed on Liam¡¯s face. Maybe this was a way to manipulate C to give him more challenges and thus more rewards. Although his intention for New Game Plus was to experience a new challenge, Liam wasn¡¯t stupid enough to let go of some advantages. It¡¯s getting interesting¡­ Liam¡¯s thoughts churned some more until he finally fell asleep. The next morning Liam woke up with the smell of fresh bread in his nose. Liam was about to turn around but immediately stopped himself as he felt the small body in his arms. He looked down at his sister. ¡°Good morning, Serena.¡± Waiting for a moment, Liam smiled in amusement when Serena didn¡¯t move. But her twitching nose and fluttering eyes gave the young girl away. ¡°Come, Serena. Let¡¯s get up. Don¡¯t you want some delicious breakfast?¡± Serena still didn¡¯t move but at this moment her stomach let out a loud growl. Serena¡¯s ears reddened in embarrassment. Suddenly she grabbed the pillow below her head, hitting her brother right in the face. ¡°You dummy!¡± Liam could only blink, questioning how he deserved this. Chapter 6: Becoming a hunter The siblings were incredibly grateful after sharing a sumptuous breakfast with Merida. Finally feeling some energy returning to his body, Liam pondered how to earn some money. He didn¡¯t dare to ask Merida, lest the doctor looked down on him, thinking he only wanted to play games after finally finding a place to live. Although this was exactly what he planned on doing. Naturally, he dared to do so because he was confident that this was a fast way to earn more money. However, for now he had to come up with something else. ¡°Three days¡­¡± Liam felt some pressure. What could he do to earn money in three days? For the homeless there were two main methods to get their hands on some credits. One was to ¡®find¡¯ things and sell them to Ben. The other was to work at a factory at the edge of the city, skinning beasts. Liam found a modern tablet in the living room, browsing the internet for alternatives. At the same time, he quickly looked up the price for a virtual reality console. But doing so left him in despair as he would have to pay at least 7,5k credits. This insane price completely eliminated all his options. Only one of them remained but it was incredibly risky. Well, I don¡¯t have a choice. This time I¡¯m really facing a challenge. Liam ignored the conflicting emotions in his chest as he told Serena and Merida that he would be working today. Merida encouraged him, offering to take Serena with her and letting her help in the clinic. Naturally Liam accepted readily. It would be great for Serena to follow Merida and learn something. After all, the poor girl hadn¡¯t been to school for four years. Thus, the siblings separated as Liam went back to the lower city. He had to walk for a while. The surrounding buildings gradually grew smaller, the environment becoming more industrial. The factory Liam worked in from time-to-time was not far away from here. But Liam didn¡¯t go there as he soon reached the giant wall separating the city from the hostile wilderness. Falva Star hasn¡¯t been populated for a long time. Thus, the planet wasn¡¯t tamed yet, with nature still occupying a large part of it. It was different from humanity¡¯s older planets where every little spot was occupied by someone. Liam felt his heart pound as he walked up some stairs near the wall, reaching a special part of the city. All kinds of rough figures gathered here, ready to risk their lives in the wilderness for some quick money. Liam entered a square, feeling skeptical eyes following him. This was the first time he also spotted a few martial artists. However, none of them were really powerful. The bloody aura surrounding them still put some pressure on Liam as he passed them, eyeing the sharp swords dangling from their bodies. Not daring to stare, Liam quickly entered a few stores, buying some basic equipment, spending another thousand credits. Liam smiled wryly as the money ran out of his hands like sand. But this was necessary if he wanted to have a chance in the wilderness. Completing his preparations Liam came to a stop in front of the enormous gate leading outside. It was surrounded by stern soldiers eyeing Liam with sharp eyes.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The young man was confused about what to do, having no choice but to approach one of the soldiers. ¡°Hey, can you open the gate for me, please?¡± Liam didn¡¯t dare to be disrespectful. But the soldier completely ignored him. Liam frowned as a few of the surrounding hunters snickered. Luckily there were some helpful people among them as well. A tall man with three scars on his face wearing a thick red armor approached Liam: ¡°Yo. You new here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Mhm thought so. You need to register.¡± With those words the hunter pointed at a building. Above its entrance ¡®hunters office¡¯ was written in bold red letters. ¡°Oh. Ok. Thank you for reminding me.¡± ¡°Are you planning to go out alone?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re suicidal.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I can offer you to join our party.¡± Liam was taken aback. He looked at the hunter strangely, certain that there was a catch to it. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. We can never have enough hands.¡± At this moment a woman approached. She came to a stop next to the hunter. ¡°Boss, another newbie?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You, newbie. Don¡¯t be surprised. The boss has always had the strategy of overwhelming beasts with numbers.¡± The tall hunter nodded at his colleague. ¡°And it¡¯s successful, right?¡± ¡°It is.¡± Liam stared closely at the two hunters as he voiced his doubts: ¡°How high are your casualties?¡± The boss simply shrugged his shoulders. ¡°High. But being a hunter is inherently risky.¡± Liam nodded calmly. ¡°You¡¯re probably right. But I still have to decline. I need to make a lot of money.¡± ¡°Haha. This isn¡¯t the first time I have heard those words. How much do you need?¡± ¡°Seven and a half thousand in three days.¡± Instantly the hunter¡¯s face froze. He shook his head. ¡°Impossible.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Only the most experienced hunters can earn this much.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The female hunter saw the heavy frown on Liam¡¯s face. She hesitated for a moment before whispering: ¡°There is a chance.¡± ¡°There is? Can you tell me?¡± ¡°If you manage to come back with a beast egg, you will earn big. But trying to do so is indeed suicidal.¡± Liam¡¯s expression was solemn but inwardly he came to a decision. Afterwards he asked a few more questions before thanking the two hunters and walking towards the hunters office. Registration was fast despite Liam not having an ID. But this was a common occurrence in the office, where all kinds of poor fools came to try their luck. Thus, Liam soon held a bronze medal in his hand. Showing it in front of the large gate, a separate door was opened for him, allowing him to leave the city. Liam felt his heart beat wildly as he walked through a narrow corridor. Soon he arrived in the wilderness. Liam took a whiff of the air. Compared to the city it was incredibly clean, containing no smog or the smell of unwashed humans. A look around revealed the enormous city wall behind him. It was surrounded by large plains covered in snow, revealing various tracks. Far to the right was a street connecting to another city. It was regularly patrolled, discouraging any beasts from drawing near. Behind it laid a few plantations producing food for the city. Lastly Liam looked ahead at the towering trees in the distance. Calming his mind the young man began to step forward. His movements changed gradually, resembling the steps of hunters in the game. Liam was silent, his mind vigilant, as he reached the forest after a while. His footsteps produced as little sound as possible despite the snow. Keeping his breath shallow, Liam found some confidence as he managed to observe a few deer playing outside the forest. Normally newbie hunters would probably be delighted to hunt these common animals. But Liam had no choice but to go after beasts, which were more or less extremely powerful alien animals with the potential to increase their strength over time. However, the really powerful beasts didn¡¯t live close to the city. They usually stayed around the Ancient Civilization¡¯s ruins for some reason. Liam let out a sigh as he remembered that his parents went missing in one of them. Suddenly the deer perked up. Liam reprimanded himself. This was no game! A low sound had already alerted the animals. Liam watched them jump away, branding this lesson in his mind. With renewed vigilance he sneaked into the forest. A dense foliage welcomed him, forcing him to take every step carefully. Snow fell from the leaves as Liam¡¯s body brushed against them. Fortunately, he bought comfortable leather armor which served to keep him warm in the harsh weather. However, as Liam moved deeper into the forest the temperature even rose since the towering trees prevented the warmth from escaping. Suddenly Liam heard a sound nearby. He calmly took off his bow which was slung around his upper body. Treading carefully, he approached a large bush growing near a tree trunk, hiding within it. Holding his breath the young man peeked around the trunk. Liam furrowed his brows as he spotted a kind of small wolf with dark brown fur sniffing the ground. He just realized that he didn¡¯t have much knowledge about the local beasts. He could only recognize them based on the vague pressure beasts usually emitted. Liam pondered if it was worth going back but he didn¡¯t have a suitable source of information. I can¡¯t expect all the hunters to teach me¡­ Not able to come up with other options, Laim could only continue. As the beast slowly distanced itself, he advanced deeper into the forest. Soon, he arrived before a small hill. A pack of scaled beasts slowly circled it, leisurely feeding on the foliage. Chapter 7: Stealing eggs The scenery was deceptively peaceful. The small hill was less overgrown, allowing a bit of snow to drift in. Many plants had adapted to the harsh weather, stubbornly keeping their green dresses. The small beasts weren¡¯t discouraged by the snow falling on their scales, continuing their rounds. And not far away Laim hid behind a tree with a serious expression. He quietly prowled from hiding spot to hiding spot, analyzing if it was worth choosing this pack as his target. After a while Liam spotted something halfway up the hill. It was an underground entrance, faint fog wafting around it. One beast always seemed to stay close while the others went to search for food. This has to be their nest. Liam stared at the hole closely. With how guarded they are, chances are high that they are hiding a few eggs. This should be my best bet. If I fail here, I might have to ask Merida for money¡­ Liam smiled wryly while staring at the three small grenades hanging from his belt. Glancing at the light coming through the trees he directly ruled out the flashbang. This only left him with a smoke grenade and a noise grenade. Liam took the latter into his hand. His eyes narrowed. Let¡¯s gamble. A moment later a black sphere sailed through the air. A few of the beasts noticed something, looking up in confusion. The grenade landed close to the lair. It instantly erupted, letting out a deafening noise. The surrounding trees shook. Beast cries echoed in the forest. Their ears hurt, leaving them disoriented. Liam didn¡¯t waste a second, running up the hill. He looked quite comical with his hands covering his ears. He quickly reached the entrance. The guarding beast was closest to the earlier grenade. It was badly affected, blood coming out of its tiny ears. Liam didn¡¯t pay much attention to it as he dived into the nest. He entered a narrow tunnel, forcing him to rob on all fours. His rather small body served as an advantage right now. Fortunately, the nest wasn¡¯t deep. Soon, a bigger cave came into view. Liam could oversee it at one glance. Towards the side was a beast, which obviously got rudely interrupted in its sleep. It also looked confused, but its eyes were slowly clearing up. Right next to the beast was a pile of rather small eggs with green spots. Liam felt anxiousness welling up in his heart. He didn¡¯t dare to think too much. Directly grabbing two eggs he immediately robbed backwards. But the moment it noticed its eggs stolen, the resting beast sobered up. It stared angrily at Liam, letting out a loud growl. Liam felt his heart skip a beat. The small beast dashed at him, its claw raised high. Gritting his teeth the novice hunter could only place the eggs down and draw a short knife from his belt. Liam took a swing, aiming for the beast¡¯s eyes just as he did thousands of times in the game. But unfortunately, this was real life. Before Liam¡¯s knife hit, he felt a pang of guilt. He hesitated. At this moment the beast¡¯s claw arrived. Liam instinctively tried to block with his knife, but it was too late.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Liam groaned in pain as the claw graced his hand. Liam felt an unreasonable anger affecting him. Stimulated by the pain he suddenly stabbed out with his knife. However, in the small tunnel the beast had a huge advantage. It jumped backwards out of the hunter¡¯s reach. At this moment a sound reached Liam¡¯s ears form behind, reminding him of the other beasts. Liam¡¯s mind immediately cleared up. He had a quick thought, taking out his smoke grenade and dropping it to the floor. Instantly a large cloud of smoke escaped the lair, shrouding the hill. Liam hurried up. With the two eggs in hand, he left the nest followed by angry roars. Counting on his luck the hunter ran straight down the hill. At this point most of the beasts had sobered up. Some of them plunged into the smoke, while others kept guard outside. Suddenly the smoke churned, revealing a large figure. Liam took a quick glance, deciding on a direction. He darted between two beasts and disappeared into the forest. After a few moments Liam let out a sigh of relief. He looked at the eggs in his hands with a grin. But suddenly he heard the rustling of leaves behind him. Turning around, Liam almost didn¡¯t belief his eyes as he saw the beasts pursuing him at a speed, he didn¡¯t deem possible with their small legs. F*ck! Liam realized that he rejoiced too early. He hastily continued. Deliberately jumping over fallen trees and smaller rocks, Liam chose a path which proved difficult for the short beasts. Fortunately, his tactic worked, helping him to build some distance. However, Liam had already learned his lesson and didn¡¯t dare to let go of his vigilance. Behind him the beasts kept roaring, adamant about getting their eggs back. But what Liam didn¡¯t know was that these roars weren¡¯t only meant for their own race. Instead, they could also be understood by other beasts. Thus, as Liam passed another large tree, a small wolf-like beast suddenly pounced at him, the likes of which he had seen earlier. ¡°What?!¡± Liam was shocked. His body moved on instinct, dodging like he did uncountable times in the game. But the beast¡¯s attack was too sudden and more flexible than enemies in Fate of Crunaboul. The small wolf adjusted its claw, reaching Liam¡¯s waist. Fortunately the young man didn¡¯t save on the armor earlier. The claw got entangled, only producing some shallow cuts on his waist. Liam took a deep breath, not hesitating to stab out with his knife this time. ¡°Let go!¡± The beast didn¡¯t dare to receive the hit, retracting its claws. Liam immediately dashed away. An angry snarl sent shivers down his back. Liam gritted his teeth. He sent out a short prayer as he placed the eggs in his grenade holders, put away his knife and took out his bow again. Suddenly Liam dug his heel into the floor. He turned his upper body, aimed, and shot in a smooth motion. Archery has always been one of Liam¡¯s best disciplines. The arrow glided through the air, aiming for the wolf¡¯s heart. The beast¡¯s instincts screamed danger. It managed to move its body at the last moment, the arrow burrowing deeply into its shoulder. Liam didn¡¯t take the time to watch the result as he escaped. But with the faster moving wolf handicapped, a lot of pressure fell off Liam¡¯s shoulders. He continued running as the sounds behind him gradually quieted down. Liam breathed erratically. He felt the temperature around him drop, more light reaching the forest. With a few last steps he finally left the forest. I did it! Liam felt a mix of lingering fear and excitement. Luck and skills allowed him to leave the forest with minor injuries. In his former life Liam already trained the game¡¯s moves in real life, but he never had to use them in a threatening situation like today. Who would¡¯ve thought that all those hours would pay off some day. Maybe I should continue to train in the future. Especially in this world filled with beasts and martial artists. It might save my life someday. Various thoughts were going through Liam¡¯s head as he reached the city wall. He marveled at the black, unblemished metal which protected the city from the dangers outside. Showing his medal, a soldier wordlessly allowed him entry. Tension left Liam¡¯s body as he arrived back in the secure city. A few hunters glanced at him, a hint of respect in their eyes as they noticed the newbie¡¯s bloody hand. Liam smiled as he entered the hunters office. All transactions had to be made through them else they would be considered illegal. Liam didn¡¯t want any trouble with the law, obediently placing the eggs he stolen on the counter in front of a friendly female assistant. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s you again!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°It seems you were quite successful. Two Scaled Menaar eggs. Not bad for a newbie! Good job!¡± ¡°Thank you. How much can I get for them?¡± ¡°I can give you three thousand five hundred per egg, taxes already deducted.¡± Liam stared at the assistant in surprise. ¡°What? But others told me eggs are worth a lot. Only 3,5k?¡± ¡°Well, they are not wrong. But eggs are only worth a lot if they belong to rare beasts. Menaar are too weak and ordinary. If they weren¡¯t unique to Falva Star their eggs would be worth even less.¡± ¡°So¡­ is this it?¡± The assistant showed a troubled expression. Since she helped Liam register earlier, she knew he didn¡¯t even have an ID, making it obvious that the youngster was a lower-class citizen. Blinking her slender eyes the assistant pondered for a moment before speaking up. ¡°Ok. Since you are a newbie, we can make some concessions. Four thousand per egg. But not a cent more!¡± Liam showed a grateful expression. ¡°Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this helps me!¡± Chapter 8: Groups of the lower city In the lower city existed a certain renowned district. Clubs and casinos made up the scenery. Despite the bright neon lights, it was one of the darkest places in the city. Everyone could live out their primitive desires here, sometimes even enticing upper-class citizens like the whisper of a devil. In a dim strip club geared towards the middle-class a man was seated in a private both. He proudly showed off the scars adorning his bare upper body. His eyes were cloudy as they scanned the curves of the graceful girl dancing before him. Many lower-class citizens would flee in fear when they spotted his bearded face, recognizing one of the most ruthless crime bosses in Red Oak, Serin the Butcher. Ironically the man didn¡¯t get his nickname from his deeds but because he worked as a butcher before one day burning the hole place down. Suddenly a knock on the door drew Serin¡¯s attention. He huffed in displeasure as his rough voice rang out: ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Boss, important news.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened as a thin woman with burn marks on her skin entered. ¡°Boss, news about Liam Varsmith.¡± ¡°Who? Never heard of it. If you came to waste my time, just leave your head behind!¡± Serin¡¯s assistant knew her boss¡¯s temper, continuing without fault. ¡°The target our VIP clients asked us to keep a look at.¡± ¡°Oh? That homeless boy?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the news?¡± ¡°He became a hunter today and left the city for the first time.¡± ¡°Is he still alive?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bang! Suddenly Serin¡¯s hand hit the table, cracks spreading on its surface. A low cry escaped the dancer¡¯s mouth, but she didn¡¯t dare to stop. ¡°That boy left the city and we didn¡¯t get rid of him? Who was it that saw him?! Cut off two of his fingers! If I hate something the most it¡¯s useless subordinates!¡± ¡°The Levrowska twins saw him leave the city but didn¡¯t dare to act without guarantee, thus they came to inform me.¡± ¡°Hmpf. Excuses.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry boss. My prediction was already correct. The target eventually couldn¡¯t hold on and became a hunter. Now we just need to continue observing. The next time that kid leaves the city we will follow with a dozen people, and nothing will go wrong!¡± ¡°So much effort for a kid! Why not just end him right now?!¡± ¡°Boss, we already analyzed it. If not even our VIPs dare to give the order to kill him within the city, then they fear something. The only one able to restrain them is the army. I¡¯m certain the kid isn¡¯t simple. Even after more than a year our clients don¡¯t urge us, meaning they acquiesce with our actions.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Thus, let¡¯s play it safe and let him die outside. Let some beasts feed on his corpse so no one can find any evidence.¡± ¡°Whatever. I let you handle this matter.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry boss. I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Serin exchanged an ambiguous look with his assistant before the woman left. *** Meanwhile, Liam was back in the lower city with a lot of money on his black card. He scurried through the alley as he planned for the next few days. After a few minutes of walking, he reached a shabby metallic fence. The gate opened with a sound which begged for some oil, drawing a few people¡¯s attention. Liam sighed as he looked into a bunch of hopeless eyes. People huddled around fires in barrels, clad in rugged and dirty clothes. All of them were beggars, gathering in this spot below a highway for some comfort. Liam knew this place from his memories as he and his sister had called it home for the last four years. Suddenly a surprised voice reached Liam¡¯s ears. ¡°Liam?! Ish id you?! Wow I didn¡¯d even recognie you in dish fandcy geddup!¡± Liam looked at the middle-aged man who had approached him. The man had graying hair, wearing a black robe. He looked somewhat healthier than most others despite his mouth swollen from an illness. ¡°It¡¯s me Pastor Frey.¡± The man had always insisted on being called pastor. No one knew if he really held this profession in the past, but he indeed served as a spiritual pillar for the beggars gathered here. ¡°Wow. Look ad you! Where did all dish come from?¡± ¡°Ahh nothing, I just had some luck.¡± Liam smiled, not daring to mention Ben¡¯s. He knew that it would only lead to a tirade about the sin of theft form the pastor. But this was also the reason why Liam could feel at ease in this small community. The people here stuck together, not robbing each other. Furthermore, it wasn¡¯t as if others never gained a windfall through some sudden luck. Unfortunately, clubs and casinos had a tight grip on most of the homeless, sucking the credits out of their pockets. Pastor Frey showed a friendly smile as he led Liam to one of the fires. A young man was already waiting for them. A lot of fond memories came to Liam¡¯s mind as he looked at the boy one year older than him. ¡°Trey!¡± ¡°Liam! Damn, you look so cool! Like a warrior!¡± Liam chuckled as his best friend greeted him excitedly. Knowing that Trey always dreamed of being a warrior, Liam¡¯s outfit naturally surprised him. ¡°But where did you leave Serena? Don¡¯t tell me you sold her!¡± ¡°Hey, what are you thinking of me? She is with Doctor Hearley!¡± As he joked around with Trey, Liam felt a surprising warmth in his chest. He could hardly remember the last time he was able to have such a genuine conversation with his peers. In his former life Liam had to realize early on that people got close to him because of his parents. Even when he grew up other always treated him different because of his accomplishments. Many only saw a ¡®mister perfect¡¯ instead of Liam Varsmith. ¡°She is still with the doctor? Was her health worse than we thought?¡± ¡°Not quite. To be honest, we were lucky, and Doctor Hearley offered us a room in her apartment. We moved there.¡± The surrounding beggars overhearing Liam¡¯s words were surprised. Quickly, congratulations came from their mouths. Most sounded genuine, with only a few of them revealing jealousy. Liam smiled kindly looking into the dirty faces. ¡°Thank you, guys. Don¡¯t worry, after earning some money I won¡¯t forget you!¡± Liam meant what he said. When he and his sister became homeless, Trey¡¯s parents found them and introduced them to the community. But only after a vote were they allowed to stay. Surprisingly the vote was overwhelmingly positive, with not a single voice disagreeing. As these memories appeared one by one in his mind, Liam couldn¡¯t help but feel touched. These people at the bottom of the food chain were generous enough to take in some kids, teaching them how to survive on the streets. However, the homeless didn¡¯t expect much, politely declining Liam¡¯s offer. Even Trey¡¯s mother sitting next to her son shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us little Liam. We are already happy if you¡¯re doing fine. Just try to find a stable job and get your own life back on track.¡± Liam held back a tear as he looked at the older woman. ¡°No. I really mean it! In fact, I already have a bit of money. Trey, do you have a black card?¡± ¡°Ehm. Yes.¡± Liam took the card from his friend, holding it against his own. Immediately 400 credits were transferred. Contrary to regular cards, black ones didn¡¯t show the money on them. Thus, no one could figure out what had happened. The only one in the community with a device to check the amount was the pastor. But before the man could act, Liam quickly stood up. He dashed towards a spot protected from wind to the side. Two dirty mattresses covered the ground. This was Liam¡¯s and Serena¡¯s ¡®home¡¯. Liam stared at the ground with a dazed look, wondering how people could live in such a condition. Glancing at the other homeless he could only let out a sigh. Soon, Liam did what he came here for. He took off his equipment, storing it among a pile of bags next to the beds. His eyes fell on the wound on his hand. Liam tore off something form an old shirt, loosely bandaging his wound. Next, he rummaged through the bags. After a moment he pulled out a stuffed animal. It was a small brown bear in surprisingly good condition. Looking at it with a smile, Liam could already hear hurried steps coming from behind his back. ¡°Liam! Liam! Wait!¡± But Liam didn¡¯t comply. He knew that Trey¡¯s mother came to give him back the money. Liam turned around, dashing past the thin woman. ¡°Sorry Miss Ecras, I need to go! If you don¡¯t want the money, give it to Pastor Frey for emergencies!¡± ¡°You!¡± Trey¡¯s mother could only watch helplessly as Liam escaped through the gate. Chapter 9: Joining a martial dojo It was already evening when Liam returned to his new home. He was in a good mood after meeting the homeless. Although the feelings of the ¡®old¡¯ Liam didn¡¯t entirely translate, he still considered the small community good people judging from his memories. Liam was indeed determined to help them. After all he was confident to earn a lot of money from the game. Not interested in fame or fortune, Liam knew that he would earn more than he could ever spend. Two months¡­ This was the time when the currency exchange opened in his past life, multiplying the importance of Fate of Crunaboul. With its unprecedented player base, it soon became like a second world, allowing many smart people to make a fortune. Naturally, Liam was among them. By the time he achieved his fifth championship the young man had even overtaken his billionaire parents. Liam felt confident about his future as he entered the doctor¡¯s apartment. He immediately spotted Serena helping Merida in the kitchen, bringing a smile to his face. ¡°Ah! Brother you¡¯re back!¡± Serena called out excitedly, dropping the vegetables in her hand and running over to hug Liam. The young man nodded thankfully at Merida as he noticed the clean, white clothes Serena was wearing. Those were the same Merida gave the workers in her clinic. ¡°Hey, Serena!¡± The young girl buried her head in Liam¡¯s chest. But as her hands hugged her brother, she felt a strange sensation. Peeking past Liam¡¯s body, Serena found the small bear her brother was hiding behind his back. ¡°Sergeant!¡± Serena let out a joyous shout as Liam handed her the stuffed animal. ¡°You¡¯re the best, brother! Did you go back home? Oh maybe it¡¯s not home anymore¡­ But did you see the others? How are they doing?¡± Liam patted Serena¡¯s head gently. ¡°They are doing fine. Everyone asked about you, missing my cute sister.¡± ¡°Oh. I also miss them. Should we visit them?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s first get settled here. I promised the others to help them after earning some money.¡± At this moment Merida¡¯s skeptical voice came: ¡°You got a job?¡± ¡°I¡¯m about to.¡± The doctor fell silent. Liam noticed her eyes wandering to his bandaged hand, awkwardly hiding it behind his back. ¡°We will talk about this later. Let¡¯s eat first.¡± Liam and Serena obediently sat down. The trio enjoyed a sumptuous meal. Laughter sounded in the apartment. After eating their fill, Serena returned to her room while Liam stayed under Merida¡¯s urging. The resolute woman sat him down in the living room, undoing the bandage on his hand. Three wounds were revealed, blood dried around Liam¡¯s hand. Liam tried to come up with an explanation, but the experienced doctor recognized a hunter¡¯s injuries without fail. Merida scolded Liam for a long time while treating his hand. The doctor only stopped when Liam promised to never hunt again.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Liam also knew that Merida was worried about him and his sister. But fortunately, he already earned enough money today and had no need to go out into the wilderness again. At the same time, Liam felt touched about Merida¡¯s care. He certainly wouldn¡¯t forget her in the future. Liam spent the rest of the day browsing the internet before going to bed. This time, he slept on his own mattress. The next morning Liam woke up early. He threw his clothes bought yesterday on the floor as he thankfully took the white working clothes Merida prepared for him as well. Serena was still sleeping when Liam left. He made a quick breakfast, leaving the bread out for the two women before going out. Finally, Liam felt confident about his looks again. He wore white clothes and had clean black hair. It was a bit too long for his taste and his face was still pale, but at least Liam didn¡¯t need to be ashamed as he left the house towards the upper city. Liam stepped on the brought walkway running along the elevated streets. He squinted as the sun shone onto his face, hanging in the blue sky. No snow covered the roads. Liam remembered the place he found on the internet yesterday, beginning his walk. Liam enjoyed the view of this modern city. The walkway wasn¡¯t too crowded as the city was still in the process of being populated. Large walls with many glass parts prevented people from leaving the walkway randomly. Liam enjoyed the view as he walked, soon reaching another district with lower roofs and some more natural decoration. He arrived before a gate leading to an open area framed by a white stone wall. A few smaller buildings could be seen, their old style not quite fitting in with the city¡¯s high-rises. The few letters above the gate were paled by the sun, forming a name. ¡®Winding Dragon Martial Dojo¡¯. Liam nodded as this was the place he had sought out. But as he looked around, he was surprised as the few people coming and going didn¡¯t look like martial masters. But Liam could only shrug his shoulders as he entered. A smooth stone floor felt good below his feet, some plants offering a touch of color in this city dominated by steel. Liam approached the largest building. Entering through wide open doors he found a counter not far away. ¡°Welcome to Winding Dragon Martial Dojo. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Hi. I came to register.¡± ¡°Sure. Here, this is our contract. Just make sure to pay on time.¡± Liam was somewhat surprised as he looked at the white paper handed out to him. So easy? But as he studied the contract, he realized something. ¡°Sorry. There must be a misunderstanding. I didn¡¯t come for a training room.¡± ¡°What? Are you sure?¡±, questioned the receptionist, her voice heavy with doubt. ¡°Well, if possible, I do need one, but I also came to learn martial arts.¡± The receptionist looked at Liam silently. Obviously, she took a second to process this information. ¡°W¡­ wait a second, I need to get the master.¡± Liam was confused as he watched the receptionist leave and soon return with an old man. He was barefooted, wearing a red training uniform, his long white hair bound behind his back. The man¡¯s eyes immediately fell on Liam, squinting. ¡°Sarah told me you want to learn martial arts?¡± ¡°Yes, Sir. Please teach me!¡± Liam didn¡¯t dare to be disrespectful. He could feel a faint aura emitted by the old man. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well, to defend myself.¡± The man¡¯s eyes were sharp, glancing at the wound on Liam¡¯s hand. ¡°Are you a hunter?¡± ¡°Not anymore.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Suddenly the old man moved. A fist rushed through the air. Liam felt his chest tighten as his eyes opened wildly. He tried to dodge backwards, but he couldn¡¯t get rid of the fist. Fortunately, it stopped right in front of his face. ¡°Not bad. You have a bit of foundation. Come with me.¡± Liam gulped as he looked at the old man¡¯s back. ¡°Thank you for teaching me.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± The two men went to a different building where Liam was told to change his clothes before entering a spacious martial arts gym. A young man and woman were conversing in low voices as they turned towards the door. They stared in surprise at Liam following the old man. ¡°A new student?!¡± ¡°Really? Who would¡¯ve¡­¡± The old man interrupted his students gossip with a scoff. He turned towards Liam. ¡°Let¡¯s introduce ourselves. My name is Aldwyn Baker. For you it¡¯s either master or Master Baker. I am a master in the Winding Dragon Art. These two are your senior brother and senior sister.¡± ¡°Welcome, junior brother. I¡¯m Silva. I have been training with Master Baker for four years.¡± ¡°Hey. I¡¯m Felix. I came here three years ago! Silva is my sister.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Liam.¡± The three youngsters nodded at each other. Felix was more outgoing, with a bright smile on his face. Meanwhile Silva seemed somewhat reserved, speaking in a mellow voice. But both siblings gave Liam a friendly feeling as they welcomed him. ¡°Good. Since we are done, let¡¯s focus. Liam, stand here. Eyes up front. Stabilize your mind. Since we have a new student, I will teach the foundations today. It will also be beneficial for the both of you. The foundation in the most important in martial arts! Never forget this! No 10-star starlight master could grow up with a shaky foundation. Oh, right. Liam! Do you know the ranks of martial artists?¡± ¡°Only vaguely, from my parents, sir.¡± ¡°Well, let Silva and Felix teach you later. Now I will teach you something we call origin pose in out school of martial arts.¡± The origin pose was focused on keeping the core of your body stable. Its name already showed that it was the origin of all moves, allowing you to mobilize all energy in your body. Liam didn¡¯t complain as Master Baker constantly corrected him, letting him train until his muscles hurt and his body felt tired. When evening came, he was finally done. His body ached reminding him of the time he trained for the sprint championship as he dragged it back home. Chapter 10: VR console Before leaving the dojo, Liam stopped at the reception. He had to sign a contract for the training and his own training room. Just as advertised on the internet he would have to pay five hundred credits a month. Liam felt his money slipping through his fingers. Nevertheless, he found the dojo¡¯s price to be surprisingly fair. But he understood as Sarah explained that he was only allowed to learn the deeper Winding Dragon Art if the master accepted him. It was not a matter of money. Afterwards Liam felt somewhat awkward as he asked if it was ok to deliver a VR console to his training room. He didn¡¯t want to use it at home, letting Merida think that he wasted all his money. Liam was surprised as Sarah looked at him with incredibly complicated emotions. Eventually she agreed with a sigh. Since he just got to know her, Liam didn¡¯t ask further questions. He said his goodbyes and returned home. The next day Liam got up even earlier to buy a console. But he was surprisingly met with difficulties. It turned out that the console was only sold in high-class shops, which refused to accept his black card. One shop even threatened to call the army. Liam had to search for quite a while until a rather shady shop was finally willing to serve him. As a consequence, he came late to the dojo, getting scolded by the master and forced to complete some difficult routines. Merida was even worried as he returned home with exhaustion written all over his face. But Liam reassured her as he ate a joyful meal with Serena and the doctor. Looking at Serena, Liam felt warmth in his heart. It was great to see the young girl smiling more often, waking up like a colorful flower after winter. As Liam went to bed that day, he realized that he gradually got used to his new life, even finding many positive aspects. Waking up, Liam stretched his body, all his muscles tingling. Today was finally the day. C? Are you here? [Player Liam?] Can you tell me when the game launches? [¡­] [At twelve o¡¯clock within your time zone.] Thanks. Liam kept this in mind as he stood up and ate breakfast. Reaching the dojo, he told the master that he would prefer to train alone today. The old man agreed, handing Liam a training plan. This was a normal procedure. After all, the master couldn¡¯t permanently tend to his students. Felix and Silva also didn¡¯t visit the dojo every day. Thus, Liam found his training room. It was only a small room, its main feature that it was quiet. It had some props for training and a small window. A calming fragrance filled the room. Liam involuntarily smiled, affected by the peaceful aura. Training for a while the young man was soon interrupted when a knock came from his door. ¡°Delivery for Varsmith.¡± Liam¡¯s eyes lit up as he opened the door. A disinterested man put a large package into his arms, letting him sign before leaving.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. But before Liam could carry the VR console into the room, another door opened. A young man strolled out, looking at Liam in surprise before smiling. ¡°Oh, a new neighbor. Hi. I¡¯m Ken.¡± Liam shook the outstretched hand. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Liam. I guess I call you senior brother in the future.¡± Ken blinked his eyes in confusion. Looking at Liam¡¯s white training clothes he suddenly let out a laughter before suppressing it immediately after. ¡°Mate, have you been tricked? I hear the old man does try it sometimes. Don¡¯t worry, you should be able to cancel next month.¡± ¡°What? What do you mean by tricked?¡± ¡°They told you to become a student if you want to rent a room, didn¡¯t they?¡± ¡°What? No, I asked to become a student.¡± ¡°You¡­ oh. Well.¡± Liam felt some worry looking at Ken¡¯s face. ¡°Why? Is there something wrong with the dojo?¡± ¡°No, no. In fact, it¡¯s quite prestigious.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s going on?¡± Ken pondered for a moment, glancing at the package in front of Liam. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a VR console?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Then, don¡¯t you know the rumor? The reason why martial arts declined.¡± ¡°What rumor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that the Virtual World was a place where the Ancient Civilization trained their warriors. You could not only learn from the movements ingame, but the advancement in level will be fed back to your body. You can literally strengthen yourself by playing a game. Who would still bother with learning martial arts?¡± Liam was stunned. He couldn¡¯t quite believe Ken¡¯s words. C? Is this true? [¡­] Unreliable¡­ ¡°Is there some substance to this rumor? Can it really be this easy?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know. But since the console is still sold freely, there should be a catch. Most people speculate that the upper limit isn¡¯t that high. Thus, the top masters don¡¯t feel threatened.¡± Liam furrowed his brows. He learned a bit about starlight masters form Silva and Felix, knowing that a 10-star master was the peak. Humanity only had a few of them. He couldn¡¯t imagine their power, however. But thinking about those top figures in the game it was hard to believe that humans could ever reach such a level. At this moment Ken¡¯s voice snapped Liam out of his thoughts. ¡°Well, it was nice getting to know you. I have to go now. Maybe we can meet up sometime.¡± ¡°Sure. Thanks for telling me so much.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Wanna give me your phone number?¡± ¡°Oh sorry. I don¡¯t have a phone.¡± Ken looked confused for a moment but quickly a polite smile formed on his face again. ¡°Ahh, I also often thought about getting rid of my phone. It¡¯s too stressful. I kind of envy you. Well, I¡¯m sure we will meet again if you are staying here from now on. Bye!¡± ¡°Bye!¡± Liam¡¯s smile fell as Ken disappeared. Although they had a friendly conversation, Liam didn¡¯t know what to feel about this neighbor of his. He saw through Ken at a glance, having seen too many such people. Young upper-class citizens eager to make new connections. Purely utilitarian. In his old life Liam was surrounded by such people, even his parents counting among them. Although such people weren¡¯t necessarily bad, one shouldn¡¯t interpret too much in their politeness. Liam shook his head, getting rid of his thoughts as he pushed the VR console into his room. Opening the box with eager eyes, he was surprised by what he found. Liam originally expected a cabin to lie down in. This changed when seeing the size of the box, making him think about a helmet. But what really appeared was a metallic construct with a form similar to suspenders, a broad metallic bridge connecting them at the height of his neck. Liam spent some time figuring out how to use the console before patiently waiting until it was twelve o¡¯clock. *** Meanwhile on some secret human planet. There was a secret underground laboratory with a security so tight not even a speck of dust would get in undetected. In a large room, a sphere floated in midair. It was built from various unknown metals, lights shining on its surface, emitting strange signals from time to time. A walkway circled the sphere, filled with all kinds of sensors and computers running on confidential technology. Above them was a room showing the sphere through a large window, a few people gathered within. A stern middle-aged man with short dark hair, round glasses, and wearing luxurious clothes spoke up: ¡°Director Enurey, how long will it take? You have put us off multiple times. Even my father is getting impatient!¡± Director Enurey was a middle-aged woman with a pale face. She rolled her eyes at this question. ¡°Don¡¯t always use your father¡¯s name. No one will believe that a dignified 10-star starlight master cares for our small research.¡± ¡°This is not small research.¡± ¡°I agree.¡±, spoke a tall man in military uniform, his chest filled with medals. ¡°Tzz. Must be my lucky day if even General Raghoff agrees.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it, Traunim. Never forget that we keep an eye on you and your private army. The virtual world will be used to strengthen humanity and is not something you can monopolize!¡± ¡°Sure, sure. Don¡¯t forget that my father is also a hero of humanity. But all this talk is useless anyways as long as the Director can¡¯t present any results.¡± ¡°Gentleman, please. My team is working day and night. But the virtual world is the most advanced technology we ever unearthed. We still need two¡­ three years.¡± The man called Traunim shook his head with a displeased look on his face. Just as he wanted to urge the director to hurry up, blaring alarms rang out in the laboratory. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Has the laboratory been found?¡± ¡°Status report!¡± The general immediately checked his confident channels but didn¡¯t find anything. However, next to him the director¡¯s face paled as she stared at the screens in front of her, the displayed data playing crazy. ¡°No! How is this possible?!¡± ¡°Director?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The Virtual World! It¡¯s launching by itself!¡± Chapter 11: Character creation The federation government panicked. News went out to all media stations. The Virtual World had to be organized. Emergency plans were rolled out to tighten security and start the recruitment of players. Even the surrounding alien races showed similar reactions. However, Liam didn¡¯t know about any of that. He calmly sat in his training room until a green light lit up on his VR console. ¡°Is it time?¡± Liam pressed a button on the lower part of his console. A shock ran through his body. Liam was used to this feeling, his mind growing tired. Closing his eyes he suddenly found himself in a black void. ¡°Welcome, Player, to Fate of Crunaboul.¡± C¡¯s mechanical voice rang out accompanied by festive music. The world changed, placing Liam in a closed room. A fireplace nearby spent a comfortable warmth. Strange items floated above small displays. A colorful flower emitted a comfortable smell, luring a fly to come close. As soon as the insect was within reach, the flower suddenly shot out web like a spider, swallowing up its prey. An artful grandfather clock ticked slowly, its pendulum swinging in a hypnotic rhythm. Liam let out a smile as he scanned the room. He recognized it. This was the room of Vasily, one of humanity¡¯s most famous mages. ¡°Player, a fascinating world filled with ancient myths, famous warriors, and powerful magic awaits you. But a few prep¡­¡± ¡°Ok, C. We both know that I need no introductions. Can we get to character creation?¡± [¡­] [¡­] [Ew Othb Wnko¡­!] ¡°What? Are you¡­ swearing?¡± ¡°¡­ a few preparations have to be completed.¡± ¡°Let me introduce myself. I am C, the omnipotent AI making sure your gaming experience will be fair as well as fun. The world of Crunaboul was designed by me. If you find some glaring mistakes, please report them any time. Next, some basics. Player, please open your status. To do so think ¡®Status¡¯ in your head.¡± Liam rolled his eyes. Status.
>>> <<<
Name: Liam
Level: 1
Race: N/A
Class: N/A
Primary Attributes:
STR: 5
INT: 5
AGI: 5
HP: 27
Mana: 11
(show more)
>>> <<
¡°Great. You should now be able to see your most important stats. Your Primary attributes will be STR = strength, INT = intelligence, and AGI = agility. All your combat relevant attributes, including health and mana will be derived from them, as well as from your secondary attributes. Now, please press (show more).¡± Liam was impatient, a new window already in front of his eyes.
>>> <<<
Secondary Attributes:
PRES: 5 MRES: 5
DEX: 5 CONST: 5
HASTE: 5 SRC: 5
(show more)
>>> <<<
¡°These are your secondary attributes. You have physical and magical resistance, dexterity, constitution, haste, and source. Together with your main attributes those dictate the strengths and weaknesses of your character. With each level up you will always be able to allocate at least three points to your main attributes and four to your secondary attributes. There are also tertiary attributes, but you can¡¯t influence them directly. If you want to take a look at them, you should by now be able to figure it out by yourself. On top of that some attributes exist which can only be gained through equipment, skill, titles, etc., for example elemental damage and elemental defense.¡± At this point C fell silent to give the player some time to think. However, Liam naturally already knew everything C was telling him and more. He noticed for example that C didn¡¯t mention the two hidden stats Luck and Charisma. ¡°Player, do you have any more questions for me?¡± ¡°No, thank you.¡± ¡°Great then let me help you in creating your character.¡± Suddenly a large mirror appeared before Liam. A handsome young man, too thin from years of not eating enough, with short black hair, confident blue eyes, long legs, and high cheekbones looked back at him. Liam already resembled the elves in the game, safe for the characteristic pointed ears. He tilted his head upwards, looking at the portraits which had appeared together with the mirror. Seven big frames showed the main playable races in Crunaboul. Next to them hung multiple smaller ones, their pictures blurry just to tease the players. ¡°Player. All these portraits show the proud races of Crunaboul. Do you want me to introduce them to you?¡± Liam already recognized the races as a glance. The proud elves, resilient humans, savage orcs, tenacious dwarfs, righteous godspawn, chaotic infernals, and torn nephilim. Even some of the blurry pictures couldn¡¯t hide their secrets in front of him. ¡°No, th¡­¡± But suddenly Liam stopped himself. It might be wise to make sure nothing changed from the past. Let¡¯s go for a quick test. ¡°C, please show me the human race.¡± Without a sound all portraits vanished, only the one depicting a human emperor remaining. It enlarged, separating into three pieces in the process. ¡°Humans are separated into three distinct groups. Should I int¡­¡± ¡°Show me the Tarraner, please.¡± After Liam spoke, his vision changed. It was like watching a movie from a bird-eye view. Humans built mighty ships, leaving their homes to explore the fabled main continent. Even C¡¯s voice changed to a deep, male voice giving a short introduction about the Tarraner: ¡°Tired of constant fights against the merfolk, human ancestors crossed the ocean to search for peaceful lands. But they only found war-torn plains and various races. With incredible resilience and a huge population humans spread across the land, soon founding cities and empires throughout most of Crunaboul.¡± Returning to the earlier room, Liam nodded slightly. Still the same. Receiving conformation Liam decided to continue with his original plan. In his past life he started a few characters but played most of his time as an elven hunter. However, Liam never considered choosing the same combination again. It didn¡¯t bring him any excitement to play the class he knew like the back of his hand. No, the young man had his own considerations. In my past life a certain class was considered the most difficult in the later stages of the game. I hope it can prove challenging¡­ ¡°C, show me the nephilim.¡± The earlier process repeated itself, leaving behind a large frame showing three groups of nephilim. ¡°Original nephilim, please.¡± The world changed again. A few blurry figures appeared. They didn¡¯t dare to show their faces as they made a pact with an arrogant devil-like being. A moment later these figures could be seen bowing towards an angel emitting righteous light, forming another contract. Time moved on and the nephilim appeared in the form of beautiful beings resembling humans or elves but carrying even some characteristics of other races. Behind their backs they proudly showed a pair of feathery wings half black and half white. "The original Nephilim, considered a mistake of nature by some, are an unholy mix of Godspawn and Infernals. Yet they are allowed to wield holy magic as well as dark magic seamlessly. Only since hell has been invaded are the nephilim''s dark powers cut off. Still, to the displeasure of many, this arrogant race refuses to swear off their dark side." Liam nodded, satisfied with his choice. ¡°Player, do you want to know more about the original nephilim?¡± ¡°Show me.¡± ¡°Nephilim race: Walking between light and dark. Grants additional defense against light and dark magic based on level. Original Nephilim: Tricking gods and devils Additional holy magic damage: 15% Additional dark magic damage: 5% Will bonus: 15% Malus in HP regeneration Are you ready to make your choice, player?¡± Liam scanned the information quickly. Nephilim was an interesting race. The player had to be able to use holy and dark magic skillfully. A good player could use the combination to deal a lot of extra damage while a bad player might negate his own spells. Additionally, original nephilim started with the will stat, which reduced the duration of all non-physical crowd control, its physical equivalent being control. ¡°C. I choose to be an original nephilim.¡± ¡°Accepted. Please adjust your look to your liking in the next step, player.¡± Liam looked at the mirror where multiple instructions popped up. In his old life he was a pro player. Naturally, he kept his original appearance. But now he wasn¡¯t interested in fame. Liam knew he would never be short of money as long as he played the game. This was enough to afford himself, his sister, and even his friends a good life. There was no need for people to recognize him in real life. Thus, Liam began to adjust his appearance drastically. He made himself smaller, his face more ordinary. His hair would change to half white and half black anyways. As he planned to continue training in martial arts, his body would inevitably get healthier in the future. All in all, no one should be able to recognize him if he didn¡¯t want them to. ¡°Is this your final choice?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Accepted. Don¡¯t worry player, we are almost done. For the final step please choose the name you will go by within Crunaboul.¡± There was no need to think much. ¡°Bleary Mirage!¡± Chapter 12: Entering the game The room vanished around Liam. A movie played before him showing the world of Crunaboul in all its glory. The flying continent Deaviny and the mainland divided into central plains, eastern mountains, northern desert, western ocean, and southern wasteland, offered infinite stories and puzzles. But this time Liam was finally able to skip. A light shone on a small altar in a nephilim village as Liam stepped out. He stared ahead with varying complicated emotions. Carried to a new world he finally felt a hint of familiarity in Crunaboul. Excited voice reached him. A few people were surprisingly done with the character creation already. ¡°Wow is this really a game?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a virtual world. My father said it¡¯s thousand of times more complicated than any game we know.¡± ¡°Why did they start so suddenly? I¡¯m glad I bought a console early.¡± ¡°Frank is that you? Damn, you look just like in real life!¡± A tall man looked at a short woman before him. ¡°Do I know you?!¡± The short woman opened her eyes wide, boxing Frank¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t you recognize your own sister?!¡± Liam smiled at the lively scene when a young man approached him. ¡°Hey, bro. Did you just arrive? My name is Raadu, the Allknowing, the best information broker in all of Crunaboul. Should I introduce the novice village to you? Only two copper coins! Do you know how to access your money? Here, I will tell you for free. Think ¡®inventory¡¯ in your head.¡± Liam watched the blond, slightly chubby man before him, not able to suppress a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re an information broker? Didn¡¯t you just join the game as well?¡± ¡°What does this have to do with it? Let me tell you, my parents are part of the devs. I have a lot of insider information!¡± ¡°Devs? Isn¡¯t the virtual world retrieved from the Ancient Civilization?¡± ¡°SHHH! Don¡¯t talk too much! Are you buying now or what?¡± ¡°Maybe next time.¡± Raadu shook his head, but he wasn¡¯t discouraged. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s add each other as friends. Don¡¯t forget to call me in the future if you need to know something.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± A friend invite popped up before Raadu¡¯s eyes. Bleary Mirage was confused for a moment as he noticed the surprise in the man¡¯s eyes, but he quickly understood where it came from. After all, even such simple things like friend invites took most people a few minutes to figure out. ¡°Damn I feel like I¡¯m talking to a peer. Let¡¯s cooperate in the future!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Raadu smiled brightly as he walked away, trying to sell his services elsewhere. Liam was left standing on a town square, looking at all the different players. Some immediately left for the surrounding forests. Some stayed and tried to find likeminded people. Some talked to the NPC, astonished by their incredibly lifelike behavior.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. But as Liam watched this behavior, he couldn¡¯t help but fall into thought. He didn¡¯t have any clear direction right now. He could do some quest or go leveling but it didn¡¯t bring much excitement to him. Let¡¯s see¡­ what do I want to do? Earn some money to secure a good life for Serena? Not bad, but the credit exchange isn¡¯t open yet. Search for a challenge? I could do so, but I would have to make it up myself. Something along the lines of soloing a level 10 boss at level five¡­ Just then a voice appeared in Liam¡¯s head. [Challenge ¡®Enter Fate of Crunaboul on the first day of its launch!¡¯ accomplished.] [Evaluation: Rank S!] [Possible rewards:
  1. EXP boost.
  2. Choose one item with a level requirement below 20.
Please choose, Player Liam.] Liam¡¯s eyes lit up. He couldn¡¯t deny that he was glad to receive an S-ranked evaluation this time. Looking at the rewards his previous reasoning didn¡¯t change much, directly choosing reward 3. [Congratulations on finishing this challenge. You reward will arrive shortly.] [Reward information:] [The currency exchange will open in one month at a rate of 1:2000.] ¡°One gold coin for two thousand credits?¡± Liam was surprised, even speaking out loud, before quickly suppressing his voice. [Yes, Player Liam.] Liam was surprised by this price. In his old life even at the beginning the rate was only 1:300, gradually dwindling over time. But he soon figured it out. Taking the entire federation into contemplation, the population was much larger than on earth. On top of that the virtual world could grant one strength in real life, making it much more important. At this moment a small commotion nearby caught Liam¡¯s attention. ¡°Hmm? Why does my status say I have three lives?¡± ¡°Oh, mine too.¡± ¡°Focus on it to get more information!¡± ¡°What?! If one dies, they can only revive in the graveyard three times a day? Otherwise, they will be returned to the city and lose a life? After losing three lives one will be banned from the game?¡± ¡°What?! Why would the devs do this?¡± ¡°Is this some measurement by the government?!¡± Liam was confused to hear this as such a rule hadn¡¯t existed in his previous life. He scrolled through his status, soon freezing in place. C? Why does it say I only have one life?! [This is a feature of [Hell] difficulty, player Liam.] Liam didn¡¯t know how to feel but he could only accept it. I still have three revives from the graveyard. This shouldn¡¯t be much of a problem for me. While new players arrived and others left, Liam closed his status, finally ready to begin playing. A few funny quests with good rewards came to his mind as well as some of the more challenging fights. Let¡¯s begin with the novice village. Liam pushed his body through the crowd. He reached a small wooden home overgrown with greenery. In front of it, its owner opened a small stall selling some beginner gear. The complaints of multiple players could be heard. ¡°Hey, why is this sword so expensive? Wouldn¡¯t I change it by tomorrow the latest?¡± ¡°And look at this tunic! One point in defense? A single point? What is this?¡± ¡°Merchant, are you trying to scam us?!¡± As the new players clamored, the merchant¡¯s face turned more and more ugly. Liam shook his head, knowing that this was one of the plights of the nephilim. The merchant, Zeygnar, who had settled here was a dark-skinned human originating from somewhere in the northern desert. But the nephilim didn¡¯t have a good reputation in the world and this merchant only came to make money. He didn¡¯t like their race at all. Thus, if one wanted to get good deals from him, the player first needed to complete some quests. However, Fate of Crunaboul wasn¡¯t like other games where a bright yellow exclamation mark symbolized quest givers. In this game almost every character could give quests. Some after only one question, others needed some sweettalking. Additionally, the hidden charisma stat also eased the process. However, many quests also had various requirements like a high charisma stat, a certain level, or the possession of items etc. The merchant¡¯s face turned ever more unsightly. But fortunately, Liam wasn¡¯t here to deal with him. Just as he passed the crowd though, Zeygnar suddenly showed some movement. ¡°You came to buy from me? Of course, of course. You look like a woman of character. Say, why don¡¯t you help me with a little something and I will open my wares to you?¡± Liam was taken aback. So was the crowd. Everyone stared at a young woman who just arrived. She didn¡¯t even speak before Zeygnar warmly welcomed her. The woman was confused as well. She stared at Zeygnar but wasn¡¯t unsettled by the attention on her. At this moment a prompt appeared in front of her eyes. [Bleary Mirage wants to be your friend.] The woman was new to gaming, not suspecting anything. Thus, she accepted the friend request. Liam acted purely out of curiosity. He wasn¡¯t someone trying to hold others down. There was no need to do so. Thus, he sent a message to the woman. [Bleary Mirage: Hi! Your charisma stat must be through the roof for Zeygnar to be so enthusiastic. Quickly, accept the quest.] [Silver Blade: Hi. Sorry, I don¡¯t understand. What is charisma? And how do I accept the quest?] [Bleary Mirage: Charisma is a hidden attribute useful when dealing with NPCs. And to accept the quest, just say yes.] The crowd watch as the young woman opened her mouth. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wonderful, wonderful. Thank you. You know, recently I have spilled a health potion, dirtying my beautiful carpet. If you could bring me some rabbit fur, I would be utmost grateful.¡± [Do you wish to accept the quest ¡®Rabbit fur for Zeygnar¡¯?] [Yes] [No] Silver Blade naturally didn¡¯t need further explanation, pressing [Yes.] A reminder flashed before her eyes for a few seconds. [Quest: Rabbit fur for Zeygnar] [Collect ten ¡®Fur of the red eyed rabbit¡¯! (0/10)] [Hint: Red eyed rabbit can often be seen near Rabbit Creek.] After Silver Blade read the text, it quickly vanished. Chapter 13: First quest and new friends Silver Blade thanked Bleary Mirage for his help before leaving. The crowd finally reacted. ¡°Merchant, merchant, why are you giving her a quest?!¡± ¡°Here, I can help you!¡± ¡°Me, me! Pick me!¡± Liam smiled as he continued on his way. He passed the crowd arriving behind the merchant¡¯s house. A low wooden fence encircled a small backyard. Liam looked left and right, making sure that no NPC was watching. What he was about to do would be considered a crime by the NPCs, most likely resulting in a small fine. After a moment Liam felt assured. He grabbed the fence, bent his knees and hopped over it. The backyard couldn¡¯t be called orderly. Liam took a quick look as he found his target, an old-looking wooden box. He removed the few tools placed on it before opening the lid. Since this box could be considered a special item, nothing could be seen inside but darkness. Liam didn¡¯t hesitate to put his hand in. A short loading bar appeared. [Search in progress: 5s] Liam looked somewhat stupid as he waited for five seconds. [Search successful:] [Retrieved item: Moldy apple] Liam shook his head as he took his hand back, looking at the item in his hand. [Moldy apple Category: Trash Effect: Deals 2+5%(HP) poison damage per second when eaten. Lasts for three seconds. Can¡¯t exceed 30HP. What did you expect?] Smiling slightly, Liam put the apple in his inventory. Although it was of trash category, at this point in the game it still was able to take more than half of Liam¡¯s HP. However, naturally he didn¡¯t come here for a moldy apple. Thus, Liam continued to fish in the box. He rolled his eyes as he received three more apples. But finally, the item he was searching for appeared. [Massage in a bottle Category: Quest A mysterious bottle Zeygnar fished out of the ocean. The merchant never cared to read the message it contained. Is it right to open it?] ¡°Got it.¡± Liam knew what the bottle contained but to start the quest he had to open it. Without hesitation he pulled out the letter and read it. ¡°Gabe! How are you doing, old friend? Still not leaving that old home of yours? Personally, I¡¯m living a great life! I enjoy the sun every day and fish the biggest fish. I tell you, you have never seen such massive fish! Anyways, why don¡¯t you come visit me sometimes? Wishing you all the best! Your Sentrav!¡± Liam didn¡¯t read the prompt, directly accepting the quest. [ Quest: Massage in a bottle Locate Gabe and bring him the letter from his old friend Sentrav. Hint: Some of the older people might know Gabe.] The prompt quickly disappeared again. Liam knew that it was accessible in a player¡¯s journal, but naturally this was unnecessary for him. He remembered where Gabe lived.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. This questline was quite popular in his old life. Thus, many tricks have also been figured out. For example, that Zeygnar was not only holding on to a single bottle. Liam smiled as he continued rummaging through the box. After three attempts he retrieved another bottle. However, it was not necessary for the quest to read it. Thus, Liam put it away and continued. But suddenly his ears twitched, the sound of footsteps reaching him. What¡¯s going on? It comes from within the house! But Zeygnar is always managing his stall, why would he leave? Liam was surprised. But luckily, he always kept basic vigilance. He fished out another moldy apple before closing the box and jumping over the fence. A moment later Zeygnar stuck his head out of the back door. Suspicious eyes scanned around before finding the tools lying on the floor. ¡°A thief?! How dare you! Come out!¡± Liam stood outside the fence with a frown on his face. Such a situation never happened in his past life. Finally, Zeygnar murmured something and returned. Liam checked the front to make sure the merchant was back at work before jumping over the fence again. But just as he reached the box, footsteps sounded out. What?! Liam gritted his teeth as he was forced to leave the backyard again. The play repeated once more before Liam came to a conclusion. The quest changed¡­ It has become more difficult to get the third bottle. Liam was confused but he also found it interesting. He joined the crowd of players at the front as he pondered what to do. Although the quest could be continued with only two bottles, Liam didn¡¯t want to do so. On one hand the quest line would be shortened and on the other it would grant less rewards. But most importantly it was interesting to figure out a way to get his hands on the third bottle. While Liam was thinking, the crowd around him vented their annoyance: ¡°What¡¯s up with this merchant?¡± ¡°First he only sells trash and now he disappeared all the time.¡± ¡°Is this a bug?¡± ¡°It might be a quest.¡± ¡°I heard a few people managed to get a quest from him.¡± As he listened, an idea came to Liam¡¯s mind. But right then¡­ [Cyclone wants to be your friend.] Liam stared at the prompt which had just appeared. Cyclone? Never heard of them. Was it a mistake? Liam scanned the crowd for anyone with this name but didn¡¯t spot a player called Cyclone. Still, he accepted with a shrug, immediately receiving a message: [Cyclone: Hi! I¡¯m Silver Blade¡¯s bestest friend. Are you that expert?] [Bleary Mirage: Hey! Well, this might be me.] [Cyclone: Great! Listen, my friend is too embarrassed to ask for help so I¡¯m doing it. Do you have some time? :-)] [Bleary Mirage: Because of the quest? Great!] [Cyclone: Yo yo yo, this sounded a bit too enthusiastic. You can¡¯t be having any ideas about my friend, right?] [Bleary Mirage: Don¡¯t worry. I could just need your help as well.] [Cyclone: Oh? The great expert needs our help? What an honor. Should we meet at the eastern gate?] [Bleary Mirage: Sure.] What perfect timing. Liam smiled as he left the crowd and walked towards the eastern gate. Although Prento, where Liam was right now, was considered a novice village in gaming terms, it was more of a small town. Many citizens strolled through paved roads, only a part of them nephilim. However, because of the players¡¯ arrival the number of nephilim naturally skyrocketed. Liam oriented himself on the tall mountain in the distance, which was an active volcano, soon reaching the eastern gate. He looked towards the left and spotted Silver Blade, the tall woman in a white robe which was the starting gear. Next to here was a shorter woman, talking with wide gestures, her long blond hair swaying behind her. As Liam approached, Silver Blade looked over, drawing Cyclone¡¯s attention. The blond woman looked Liam up and down, putting her hand to her chin, and nodding repeatedly. ¡°You don¡¯t look like much of an expert.¡± ¡°Be¡­ Cyclone! Don¡¯t be rude.¡± ¡°Haha it¡¯s alright. I also don¡¯t think I look like an expert.¡± Cyclone smiled brightly turning to her friend. ¡°Look, he has good self-awareness!¡± Silver Blade smiled wryly. ¡°Sorry Mirage. That¡¯s just her temper.¡± ¡°There is nothing to apologize.¡± ¡°You see, Silver. I told you to be more relaxed. You didn¡¯t even dare to ask for help!¡± Silver Blade blushed slightly, giving her fair face a cute look. ¡°Hehe, so cute. Ok I will stop teasing you. Bleary Mirage, you know what we are after but why did you say you needed our help?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. But when we return the quest, it would be good if Silver Blade could buy some time.¡± ¡°Buy time?¡± ¡°Yeah, just talk to Zeygnar. I need to fetch something from his backyard.¡± Cyclone¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Are you stealing something?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± ¡°Hehe. Sounds fun. What is it for?¡± ¡°For a questline.¡± ¡°Ok, Cyclone, don¡¯t ask too many questions!¡±, interrupted Silver Blade, nodding at Liam. ¡°I can naturally help you as thanks.¡± ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s start with your quest.¡± ¡°Great, let¡¯s go!¡± Cyclone showed an enthusiastic smile as she urged Liam. The young man nodded, inviting the two girls in his party. By now most players were familiar with such basics, even newbies like Silver Blade. Liam took the lead, walking away from the gate. Cyclone was immediately looking at him oddly as she asked: ¡°Where are we going? Oh! Is that Rabbit Creek in the west? But didn¡¯t many players say that the west has stronger monsters? Can we deal with them?¡± Liam shook his head with a smile. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a bit hasty?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Do you want to leave the village with the stuff you¡¯re wearing?¡± ¡°Well, do we have another choice? The merchants are too greedy! A single dagger costs four copper! We only start with ten, how should we get some useful equipment?¡± Even Silver Blade nodded. But Liam stayed silent for a few more seconds until the trio reached a small arena. Huffing and the clashes of metal could be heard from inside. Chapter 14: Warrior training Cyclone and Silver Blade looked skeptically at Bleary Mirage. ¡°What? Don¡¯t trust me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the expert.¡± Liam nodded with a smile as he led the two women in. He was surprised to see a few players already sticking around. Obviously, these hardcore gamers had good game sense. Walking past the training soldiers, most of them nephilim, Liam reached a wall on the other side. Three nephilim could be found here, a man and two women. They directed the trainees in the arena with stern faces. Liam came to a stop as he addressed his companions: ¡°If you talk to these three, you can choose a class. Do you have any preferences?¡± Cyclone stared at Liam with bright eyes. ¡°We can choose a class here? How did you figure this out?! Wow, you must have a lot of insider information. Not even my family knew this!¡± Liam kept a polite smile, neither admitting nor declining. But inwardly he was surprised by the information Cyclone had just revealed. The young woman didn¡¯t harp on the matter though. ¡°I want to become a mighty lightning mage! The storms at my back and call! Everyone will tremble before me!¡± Liam and Silver Blade both chuckled. The man turned his eyes towards the black-haired woman. ¡°I¡¯d prefer to defend.¡± ¡°Defend?¡± Liam was taken aback. People who liked to take a tank class usually choose a dwarf or orc as their race. But a nephilim tank? However, it could prove quite useful in certain circumstances. Nephilim had bonuses on their holy and dark defense. Thus, they could shine brightly especially in many main quests. Silver Blade felt uncertain as Liam stayed silent. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a bad choice?¡± Liam noticed the young woman¡¯s uncertainty. ¡°No, no. Not at all. But the difficulty might not be low.¡± ¡°Ok. I still want to try.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Subsequently Liam directed Cyclone to one of the female trainers while he and Silver Blade approached the male one. ¡°At this point we don¡¯t have many choices yet, only warrior, mage, and thief. But we can specialize further at level 10.¡± ¡°Ok. By the way, what are you playing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going for the most challenging class! Warrior!¡± Silver Blade and Cyclone both looked at Bleary Mirage skeptically. Eventually he couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle under their stares. Liam naturally had a path in mind, but it would only come to play during future specializations. Explaining himself now might be too abnormal. At this moment the trio approached the trainers. The man shouting at his trainees immediately stopped and turned towards Silver Blade. Liam¡¯s eye twitched. Look at your ugly smile! ¡°Adventurer! I¡¯m Querin, the warrior instructor here! I can already see that you are cut out to become a powerful warrior! Are you willing to learn from me?¡± [Do you wish to start the warrior training?] Silver Blade was embarrassed by the trainer¡¯s enthusiasm, hastily accepting.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Great! Your future will be limitless! In fact, I already know that I can put my trust in you. Are you willing to help me with something else?¡± [Do you wish to accept the quest ¡®Show-off¡¯?] Liam stared from the side, the warrior trainer still not showing him any attention. Meanwhile Silver Blade already received her second quest. ¡°Really, comparison makes depressed¡­¡± Silver Blade smiled apologetically at Liam as she followed the trainer¡¯s instructions. She grabbed a wooden sword from the side and began training. Only at this point did Querin finally turn to Liam. ¡°Adventurer! Are you here to become a warrior?¡± F*ck. Where is your enthusiasm now?! Liam cursed inwardly, hastily accepting the quest and getting away from the trainer. He already knew what to do, grabbing a wooden sword and approaching one of the trainees on the field. A tall nephilim nodded at him. ¡°You want to become a warrior? Show me what you got!¡± Suddenly two notifications lit up. Liam only glanced at them. [Received skill ¡®Double Slash¡¯] [Received skill ¡®Sidestep¡¯] [Double Slash (rank 1) Cost: 5 Fury Effect: Slash out two times in quick succession, dealing 80% (PDMG) and 130% (PDMG) physical damage. Cooldown: 6 seconds] [Sidestep (rank 1) Cost: 3 Fury Effect: Do a quick sidestep. Cooldown: 8 seconds] Liam already knew pretty much everything there was to know about skills, especially these basic ones. He understood that the damage of the Double Slash skill was calculated based on his attack power, which was dependent on his weapon power, strength, and dexterity. Even his mana changed to fury at this moment. It was the resource most close-combat classes needed to cast their skills. Fury was gathered by attacking or being attacked. For Liam, who usually preferred a fighting style reliant on dodging, it was somewhat counterintuitive. But he had to make do with it for now. The sparring partner took on a defensive fighting stance, giving the player enough time to get familiar with their spells. But Liam didn¡¯t need it as he immediately started with a normal attack. The experienced player swung his sword at a tricky angle, increasing the chance for a critical attack. The trainee was naturally no strong opponent. He didn¡¯t manage to block. [-5!] Liam looked at the number plopping up, frowning faintly. The damage was less than he thought. As someone hailed as being all-knowing about the game, doubts came to his mind. But after all this was just the most basic training opponent. Even Liam could recall their stats wrong. Still, he quickly used a skill everyone possessed: [Inspect]. [Warrior Trainee Common enemy LVL: 2 HP: 77/82 Fury: 4/100 Main Attributes: ?????] Liam couldn¡¯t help but whisper: ¡°I could¡¯ve sworn you¡¯re level 1.¡± The NPCs in the game were incredibly lifelike. With a low exclamation the trainee swung his sword: ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted!¡± But Liam could win this fight with closed eyes. He skillfully raised his sword, blocking the enemy attack. [Stance -6] Stance was a special attribute in the game which allowed one to negate enemy attacks. A player had three different options to do so, namely defending, dodging, and flash step. Naturally there were skills with the same effect but those required fury/mana instead of stance. Of course, stance wasn¡¯t unlimited. Right now, Liam had only 30 points, allowing him to defend 5 times, most likely up to 7 considering the passive regeneration. But this way of fighting was something most players hadn¡¯t discovered yet. A few of the present hardcore gamers looked over at Liam, enticed by his actions. The latter didn¡¯t care for the attention. Still in doubt about the enemy¡¯s prowess he continued the fight. Normal attacks had a certain attack speed, which could also be understood as a kind of cooldown. It mainly depended on the weapon used. With the wooden sword Liam used he had to wait an agonizing 1,4 seconds until he could attack again. The same was true for the opponent, forcing them to awkwardly stare at each other. Suddenly Liam moved again. His sword came in a graceful arc. [-5!] The trainee retaliated instantly, but Liam expected it, blocking again. [Stance -6] This time Liam didn¡¯t have to wait as he had enough Fury for his skill. [Double Slash] Left, right! Liam performed two quick slashes. [-4! -6,5!] Blood splashed as the trainee lost a huge chunk of HP. Some fainthearted players in the vicinity looked away with disgusted expressions. Liam knew that people would figure out some basics about the game soon, for example how to turn on some family friendly options. The warrior trainee didn¡¯t end the fight yet, copying Liam¡¯s actions. But at the slightest hint of moving in for a double slash, the trainee already saw his opponent evading with a [Sidestep]. Liam appeared next to his opponent. The same rotation began anew. Soon the trainee had less than half of his HP remaining. Jumping back, he shouted loudly: ¡°Stop, stop! I admit defeat!¡± Liam nodded without comment, putting the wooden sword away. In his mind nothing of importance happened but a few of the surrounding players already took note of him, discussing in hushed whispers: ¡°Wow, have you seen this fight? Didn¡¯t lose a single HP!¡± ¡°Impressive. Do you think he is some kind of martial master in real life?¡± ¡°Might be! His movements were so smooth, now wasting a single step!¡± ¡°The poor trainee didn¡¯t stand a chance!¡± ¡°I have decided! I¡¯m going to become a warrior!¡± Liam didn¡¯t know that his actions would lead to a handful of skilled warriors emerging from this novice village. He was already talking with the instructor. ¡°Adventurer! Impressive! You are a famous warrior in the making! Say, are you interested in helping me with something?¡± [Do you wish to accept the quest ¡®Show-off¡¯?] Liam cursed inwardly. Silver Blade received the quest without even initiating a talk. But he had to perform a flawless fight for the instructor to take note of him. ¡°Of course, instructor.¡± Liam accepted anyways. Although this quest wasn¡¯t important to him, he wouldn¡¯t get punished even if he left it to rot in his journal. Chapter 15: Status and Basic equipment A few seconds later Cyclone and Silver Blade also returned. They wore proud expressions after winning their fights. Even Liam was impressed. Not all new players could accomplish this. Later in the game many didn¡¯t even try as they would receive their preferred class anyways. ¡°Expert! We won!¡± ¡°Yeah, good job girls. I have to admit I didn¡¯t expect it.¡± ¡°Ha! Don¡¯t look down on us! We are fearsome martial masters in real life!¡±, exclaimed Cyclone, hands on her hips and puffing out her chest. Silver Blade let out a faint chuckle. ¡°Cyclone. Don¡¯t boast. Aren¡¯t you afraid that your master will punish you?¡± ¡°How should master learn about what happens in the game? The old man surely won¡¯t come and play!¡± ¡°But what if I tell him?¡±, laughed Silver Blade. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t!¡± Cyclone looked at her best friend with exaggerated shock. Tension built for a few seconds until both girls broke out in laughter. Liam stood at the side, smiling faintly when Cyclone turned towards him. ¡°Expert! I received a quest, called Show-off. Should I complete it?¡± ¡°What? You too?¡± Liam was surprised, inspecting the smaller woman. But she had clearly lost HP and was still recovering. The only way she could¡¯ve gotten the quest anyways is by having a sufficient charisma stat. Are those two just lucky or is something else going on? Liam was confused but he answered Cyclone quickly: ¡°You can do it if you have some free time, but you need to reach another novice village. This will take some time.¡± ¡°Good. I will keep it in mind.¡± Silver Blade listened quietly before injecting herself: ¡°Mirage, we got our classes. Can we do the other quest now?¡± ¡°Not quite. Although we have our classes, we haven¡¯t made use of them yet. Every time you switch classes you will be allowed to relocate your attributes. This will help you to make the best of your skills.¡± ¡°Ahh, makes sense. Any tips?¡± ¡°Sure. For you, Cyclone. You want to focus on INT with a few points in AGI. It will improve your damage and give you a slight increase in mobility, which is important for mastering Flash Step. Your secondaries should mainly be haste and source, eventually some dexterity. I think it¡¯s useful for lighting mages. While you, Silver Blade, want STR and some AGI. And as a tank you naturally focus on constitution and defense. Since you chose nephilim as a race, you have bonus against holy and dark magic. Thus, I would recommend you specialize as a magic tank.¡± Silver Blade and Cyclone looked at each other, somewhat uncertain. ¡°I know it can be a bit much at first. Maybe try around for a bit and see how your stats change. As long as you don¡¯t press confirm, nothing is set in stone. You can also always seek out the place where you got your class from to get some recommendations. Right now, this would be the instructors.¡± Even while talking Liam confidently adjusted his own attributes. His status quickly changed.
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Name: Bleary Mirage
Level: 1
Race: Original Nephilim
Class:Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Warrior
Primary Attributes:
STR: 9
INT: 1
AGI: 5
HP: 53/53
Fury 0/30
(show more)
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Secondary Attributes:
PRES: 6 MRES: 2
DEX: 9 CONST: 7
HASTE: 3 SRC: 3
(show more)
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Liam¡¯s new distribution was quite peculiar. He planned to dodge magical damage and partially tank physical damage. Only someone with high confidence would decide to do so. After all it was hard to judge every spell on the fly. Even mages could cast spells which resulted in physical damage. But obviously Liam was confident enough in his skills. He didn¡¯t even bat an eyelid, advising Silver Blade and Cyclone at the same time. With the veteran¡¯s help the two women soon had an advanced understanding of attributes. Their layouts were quickly finished, allowing them to tap into the advantages of their classes. Naturally the various classes had their own advantages and disadvantages. Warriors for example could wear most shields and heavy armors but were barred from donning mage robes. At the same time, they received one extra point in STR all five levels. After learning more about their classes, the women understood the different playstyles. Now, they were eager to get out and fight some monsters. Silver Blade and Cyclone looked at Liam with eager faces. The young man didn¡¯t dare to hold them back anymore. He hurried up as he showed them one last trick. If a player with a class talked to their instructor again, they could buy a basic set of equipment for only one copper. The women smiled as they inspected their new weapons. Silver Blade received a shield, sword, and medium armor, while Cyclone got a robe and wand. Meanwhile Liam also took a look at his sword. [Basic Iron Sword Category: Common Level requirement: 1 Attack Damage: 5-6 Attack Speed: 0,7 The most basic sword a warrior can get. Nevertheless, a trusty companion.] Liam nodded as this weapon was no different than he remembered. As a white item, indicating its common quality, there wasn¡¯t much it could offer. Only from green-magic quality on could equipment provide extra effects. The same was true for Liam¡¯s armor. He received basic boots, pants, chest armor, helmet, and gloves. All of them offered some defense and had varying influence on his movement speed. After equipping everything the trio was finally ready to go. The women couldn¡¯t wait any longer, hurrying towards the eastern gate. On the way many eyes turned towards them. A few people stopped them to ask where the equipment was from. But Silver Blade and Cyclone only looked at each other and chuckled. They didn¡¯t answer, uncertain if Bleary Mirage planned to make this information public. Meanwhile, Liam felt an unfamiliar feeling. It was strange not being the center of attention. However, with his ordinary face he paled next to the two cute girls, whose appearance was embellished by playing as nephilim. Even if he also wore armor, he would at most draw some jealous gazes. Liam could only ignore them. When the trio reached the eastern gate, they saw many eager players going out to explore the dense tropical forest. Even the women felt some pity as they realized that these players would probably have a hard time. By now the town slowly began to fill up. Outside, the information about the game¡¯s launch began spreading, causing a huge commotion. The space around the eastern gate was even somewhat cramped, causing Silver Blade and Cyclone to sigh in relief as they left the town behind. The smaller woman turned towards Liam. ¡°Ok, take the lead, mister expert.¡± ¡°What? From the way you ran I thought you knew where to go.¡± ¡°Ehh you¡¯re talking too much.¡± Silver Blade chuckled as she added: ¡°If we knew the way, we wouldn¡¯t have asked for help.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡±, disagreed Bleary Mirage. ¡°You would¡¯ve still asked after reviving from the graveyard.¡± Cyclone cocked her head mischievously: ¡°Pff, how strong can a few rabbits be?¡± ¡°Not that strong. But the difficulty lies in singling them out.¡± Silver Blade and Cyclone pondered for a second before nodding. Taking a step back they signaled Liam to finally go ahead. The latter didn¡¯t delay. He walked along the broader dirt road paved through the forest by the local merchants. Soon, a few voices could be heard around them. A notification popped up, signaling that the trio had left the vicinity of the town. [Discovered Outer Forest. Reward: 10EXP] [EXP: 10/100] While Liam was more interested in the reward, his companions had a twinkling of joy in their eyes. Although they just left the town they discovered the fun of exploration for the first time. In Liam¡¯s old life there were many players who made it their goal to travel all of Crunaboul. Liam was one of them, but he only did it for the precious achievement. However, looking into Silver Blade¡¯s especially interested eyes, Liam felt as if he might have missed out on something. At this moment two young men arrived from behind their backs. They were just about to overtake them when they noticed the trio¡¯s equipment, prompting them to stop. ¡°Wow guys! You already got equipment?¡± ¡°Sure! Nothing special.¡±, answered Cyclone with her head held high. ¡°Great! You must be experts! Are you willing to help us take revenge?¡± ¡°Revenge? Against whom? Are there already people killing other players?¡± ¡°No. Not players! It¡¯s those damn wolves blocking the road up ahead! Come, we will show you. While Cyclone was interested, Silver Blade was indecisive, eyeing Liam. ¡°Those wolves are indeed in the way. We can take a look.¡± ¡°Good, good. Thanks. I¡¯m Talin by the way!¡± ¡°And I¡¯m Malin! We are brothers.¡± The two brothers talked enthusiastically as they led the way. Soon the group caught up with a small crowd. Many of them stood together, discussing. In front of their eyes a few players were trying to get rid of a pack of wolves. But the mobs were level 5, not something the current players could fight. Thus, many were forced to return from the graveyard in the novice village, becoming vigilant. Chapter 16: Unique quest Liam scanned the scene, figuring out the situation. This was the first unique quest which players encountered after leaving the novice village. Unique quests could only be completed once and were usually rather rare. However, the game placed one around every novice village as a form of introduction. Not even Liam remembered all of them as they didn¡¯t affect the big picture much. But as he looked at the ferocious wolves, he felt an itch in his mind. Why¡­? Liam pondered for a moment as he looked around. He froze as his eyes fell on an old man standing by the roadside, a distressed look on his face. That old man! Although Liam didn¡¯t recall this specific quest, he wouldn¡¯t forget about a famous NPC like this the old man in rags, carrying a large bundle on his back. That¡¯s it. This was actually the first time Mehyran appeared! At this moment a loud shout drew everyone¡¯s attention. A young man with long blond hair stood at the front of the crowd, raising a flashing sword in the air. Most Nephilim usually decided to hide their wings, a convenient option offered by the game, but this man displayed them openly. ¡°Everyone! We can¡¯t go on like this! Those wolves are clearly a hindrance we have to overcome! Let¡¯s work together! Form small groups and fight as a unit!¡± The few people staying back looked at each other. ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s work together.¡± ¡°I just want those wolves to die! They almost cost me a life!¡± Even at this moment players were dying in the fight. Many had indignant expressions, cursing the wolves¡¯ entire bloodline. Liam eyed the blond man with some appreciation. A good leader was worth a lot. Especially later on when the game opened the guild system, they would become important. Since everyone was eager to overcome those wolves, it wasn¡¯t too difficult to work together. Under the blond man¡¯s lead, they discussed for a few second before over a dozen groups separated from the crowd. Liam¡¯s companions were conversing as well. They were eager for the fight. Cyclone was just about to run out when Liam grabbed her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t be eager to throw your life away.¡± ¡°What? Do you think we have no chance? But we have equipment!¡± ¡°The level difference can¡¯t be bridged so easily. You should always keep this in mind.¡± Cyclone pouted but didn¡¯t dare to engage the fight anymore. Talin and Malin were surprised, realizing that Liam apparently had some knowledge. At least judging from Cyclone¡¯s reaction, it could be seen that they trusted the man¡¯s judgement. ¡°Bleary Mirage, if you think the fight can¡¯t be won then what should we do?¡± Liam pondered for a second before sending the two brothers a party invite. Seeing them accept, he explained in the party chat. [Bleary Mirage: The players are on the right track, but we don¡¯t need to go through so much trouble. We have a secret weapon.] [Cyclone: What do you mean?] Liam grinned as he turned towards Silver Blade. [Bleary Mirage: Can you talk to the old man over there?]Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Silver Blade rolled her eyes at Bleary Mirage, but she didn¡¯t hesitate. The young woman made her way through the crowd. A few other players noticed her actions, discussing among themselves. ¡°Someone wants to talk to the old man again?¡± ¡°We have already tried, that guy is just frightened but doesn¡¯t help at all.¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s not even giving out quests.¡± Liam grinned upon hearing those discussions. The old man could indeed give out a quest. But he only did so if he felt that the players had a chance to succeed. However, with Silver Blade¡¯s ridiculously high charisma stat they might be able to move the old man. Silver Blade could also guess Liam¡¯s thoughts as she approached the old man. The NPC¡¯s name was floating above his head in white letters, indicating his neutral stance. ¡°Hello Sir Mehyran. Is your path barred by those wolves as well?¡± Mehyran turned his wrinkly face towards Silver Blade, squinting his eyes while keeping a fearful expression. A second passed, feeling like a long time while Silver Blade¡¯s heart beat nervously. Liam was also somewhat surprised that the old man didn¡¯t react immediately. But finally, he spoke the words Liam wanted to hear. ¡°Yes! Those damn beasts! Why are they threatening even an old man like me?! Look! I don¡¯t have anything on me but the shirt I wear and the boots on my feet. Not even a bit of tasty flesh could be found. I just want to wander the world, looking down from the highest mountains and stepping foot on the vast plains. Could it be that my path ends here?¡± Silver Blade was affected by the old man¡¯s distress, her eyes softening. ¡°Say, maybe I and my friends can help you somehow?¡± Meyhran¡¯s eyes betrayed his inner struggle. But eventually he gritted his teeth. ¡°Fine. Adventurer, naturally I know how dangerous the world can be. I didn¡¯t come unprepared. Here take these and burry them. Talk to me after you are done.¡± [Do you wish to accept the quest ¡®Get rid of the wolves?¡¯] [Yes] [No] Of course, Silver Blade quickly accepted. Cyclone meanwhile scrunched her face, whispering to Bleary Mirage. ¡°Didn¡¯t the old man just say he has nothing on him? How could he pull those items from his bag suddenly?¡± ¡°Haha. I think he is hiding even more things in his bag.¡± Suddenly Talin¡¯s and Malin¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Hey! We are thieves! We start with the auxiliary skill [Steal]. What do say? Should we¡­¡± ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t do it if I where you.¡± Liam discouraged the brothers but with one glance he could already tell that they had made up their minds. He could only sigh and wish them good luck, planning to kick them from the party after the quest was done. At this moment Silver Blade came back with a small black plate in her hand, showing it to everyone. [Meyhran¡¯s minor flame trap Category: Quest; Magic Effect: A flame erupts dealing 1000 fire damage in a 10m radius. The flame burns for 20 seconds, dealing 100 fire damage per second. Chance to inflict burn status. Meyhran¡¯s favorite way for getting rid of pests? Can only be placed in quest area; can¡¯t be sold, dropped, or traded.] Everyone drew a sharp breath. ¡°A green item!¡±, exclaimed Cyclone with shining eyes. Silver Blade nodded as she looked at Bleary Mirage. ¡°I received a unique quest. But those flame traps can¡¯t be traded¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You first need to share the quest with us.¡± ¡°How do I do this?¡± ¡°Just think ¡®journal¡¯ in your head and you will find it.¡± Silver Blade nodded, suddenly finding the image of a notebook yellowed by time floating in front of her face. It recorded all her current quests. [ Quest: Get rid of the wolves] [Step one: Place Meyhran¡¯s minor flame trap in the marked area.] It took her a second to figure it out before sharing the quest with her party members. Liam saw the notification, and found the quest items appear in his inventory as well. ¡°Good. We have five quest areas. Let¡¯s separate and place the traps.¡± Noticing a few players eyeing them, Liam hurriedly urged his group to scatter. He knew that if he explains that they received the quest because of Silver Blade¡¯s high charisma, others might not believe it. Some would probably even get hostile, pressuring him to reveal the ¡®real method¡¯. Thus, Liam quickly vanished into the forest. Sprinting on the uneven terrain he reached the area marked on the map. Fate of Crunaboul had a very limited map, only showing some important points except for the area already discovered by the player. Even party members were only marked as green points. Still, it was enough to locate the quest area, which was a small clearing in the forest. But as soon as Liam stepped into it, a rustling came from a bush nearby. Two small grey wolves trotted out, fletching their teeth at Liam. Suddenly a massage appeared in the party chat: [Cyclone: Eh, there are two wolves here?!] [Talin: I¡¯ve met two as well.] [Malin: What? How should we win this?] [Bleary Mirage: Don¡¯t worry. Those are not the level five wolves. But if you think you can¡¯t win, team up!] [Talin: Help! They are chasing me!] [Bleary Mirage: Leave the quest area and they should leave you alone!] A second passed in silence. [Talin: Whew, I did it. Can someone come here?] [Malin: Yeah, I¡¯m coming.] Liam waited for more messages, but nothing came. He nodded in approval, knowing that Cyclone and Silver Blade were confident in fighting two wolves alone. Closing the massage window, Liam focused on the monsters ahead. ¡°Maybe you guys should have teamed up.¡± Liam chuckled to himself as he dashed forward. His sword quickly slashed down, leaving the wolf no time to dodge. [-30!] A big number popped up. Common wolves were obviously no armored soldiers. With his new equipment Liam only needed three normal attacks per opponent, ending the fight quickly. Chapter 17: Blockade [Received 4EXP (14/100)] [Received 4EXP (18/100)] [Received 3 copper] Liam shook his head from his harvest. ¡°Leveling up is still slow as always.¡± However, Liam didn¡¯t expect much from those level one wolves. Fate of Crunaboul had always based its rewards on difficulty. To truly level up quickly one had to defeat monsters with a higher level than oneself. Liam ignored the wolf corpses which would disappear in a minute and took out Meyhran¡¯s trap, burying it in the ground. Having achieved his objective, Liam returned, stopping before the crowd could spot him. At this moment his message window plopped up: [Cyclone: Haha! An item! Those wolves dropped an item!] [Bleary Mirage: Really?] [Silver Blade: Congratulations!] [Talin: Wow! Can you show us?] [Bleary Mirage: You can post its information in the message window.] Cyclone took a second to figure it out. [Cyclone: [Old copper ring Category: Common Level requirement: 1 Intelligence +1 Why does your brain feel clearer?] [Silver Blade: Great! It¡¯s perfect for you!] [Cyclone: Hehe.] Liam was also happy for Cyclone. It was quite unexpected to receive an item during one¡¯s first fight. Don¡¯t tell me she has a high luck stat? Liam thought randomly while directing his team to gather at his position. After everyone arrived, he sent out Silver Blade to talk to the old man, hoping that her moving alone was less conspicuous. But at this point another batch of players had died to the wolves. As they discussed angrily, they couldn¡¯t help but mention Liam¡¯s group. Thus, many noticed Silver Blade as she came out of the forest. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s her! She got the quest!¡± Immediately people crowded around Silver Blade. The young woman was taken aback, feeling nervous. ¡°Come on, just tell us!¡± ¡°How did you get that old man to give you a quest?¡± [Silver Blade: Guys, what should I do?] [Bleary Mirage: Just tell the truth.] Silver Blade looked in the eager faces. She gritted her teeth and straightened her body. ¡°Please, calm down everyone! You only need to talk to the old man for the quest!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to us! I tried it earlier!¡± At this moment, Liam also led the others out of the forest, since hiding was clearly useless. But just as he stepped onto the road, Liam noticed something. The blond man taking the lead earlier went up to Meyhran. Liam thanked the man inwardly as he exclaimed: ¡°Look! That guy is receiving the quest!¡± The shout directed everyone¡¯s attention towards the blond man. Freezing for a moment the man quickly proved his composure as he spoke with a smile: ¡°Everyone, I just confirmed it for you. You can indeed gat a quest here. Come, don¡¯t be shy guys.¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Immediately the crowd of players reacted, swarming around Meyhran. Liam didn¡¯t notice the glint flashing in the blond man¡¯s eyes as he approached Silver Blade. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Let¡¯s wait for the players to scatter for a bit before finishing the quest. We just can¡¯t waste our lead.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± The party followed Liam¡¯s words, approaching Meyhran a few seconds later. ¡°Ah, adventurer, you are back. Did you place all the traps?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Great. Here, take this! I prepared this bait for the wolves. Just take it and lead them to the traps, and then¡­ barbecue!¡± Meyhran almost drooled as he spoke the last word. Liam smiled wryly, recalling how much of a foodie the old man was. As Silver Blade took the pieces of meat which Meyhran retrieved from his bag, the quest changed for the party. [ Quest: Get rid of the wolves] [Step one: Place Meyhran¡¯s minor flame trap in the marked area.] [Step two: Lead the wolves towards the traps.] [Hint: The traps will only react to the wolves.] Liam addressed his party: ¡°Ok guys, the first to lure the wolves will draw most of them¡­¡± ¡°You can do it.¡±, interrupted Cyclone with a snicker. Liam smiled but this was what he was about to suggest anyways. Everyone agreed, opening up some distance. Liam imagined the path in his mind. He wasn¡¯t nervous as he approached the wolves, knowing that such quest enemies usually had tampered stats. If a quest was designed to be solvable for level one players, then even level five monsters would have their stats nerved appropriately. Thus, Liam even had the leisure to give his teammates some advice as he took out a large piece of meat. Immediately, sniffing could be heard. Some players stared in confusion as the wolves they were fighting just now suddenly lost interest. Liam felt up to ten pairs of hungry eyes staring at him. ¡°Tzz. Come here if you dare!¡± Taunting the wolves Liam abruptly turned around and disappeared into the forest. Excited and angered howls echoed through the air. Ten wolves separated from the group and shot after Liam. The young man breathed evenly as he sprinted through the foliage. He ducked between low-hanging branches and jumped over fallen trees. The cracking of branches sent shivers down Liam¡¯s spine. He looked over his shoulders, finding the wolves approaching quickly. They are faster than I thought! Liam gritted his teeth as he took off all his equipment save for his boots. His movement speed rose slightly. Fortunately, the situation right now didn¡¯t count as a fight or Liam wouldn¡¯t have been able to unequip. Don¡¯t panic, you are almost there. Howls rang from behind Liam¡¯s back. He could almost feel the wolves breathing down his neck. Suddenly a claw brushed Liam¡¯s leg. [-10!] Seeing the number popping up Liam wasn¡¯t distressed but rather delighted. Obviously, the damage had been nerved, making the escape more about psychological pressure. Still, with ten wolves behind me I have to give it my all. Liam narrowed his eyes, gathering all his focus. He could already see the clearing not far away. But just then a few leaves in front of Liam rustled. Three players suddenly jumped out, led by the man with blond hair. Liam didn¡¯t show any change in emotion. He continued running, using [Inspect].
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Name: Glorious Sunrise
Level: 1
Primary Attributes:
?????
HP: 39/39
Fury: 0/30
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I will remember you¡­ Glorious Sunrise blocked Liam¡¯s path, staring at him with a vicious smile: ¡°Ha! B*stard! Where are you going now? Think you can complete the quest by yourself?¡± A smaller man with black tattoos on his face echoed: ¡°Right boss! No one but us can complete this quest!¡± Next to the tattooed man was a tall woman: ¡°Look at him! Doesn¡¯t even dare to talk! Hahaha! Such a coward!¡± The distance between Liam and the group closed quickly. Glorious Sunshine already brandished his sword. ¡°Just hold him back!¡± ¡°Got it, boss!¡± Suddenly a sword swung through the air. Glorious Sunshine¡¯s name turned red, marking him as someone engaging in player killing. Although Liam could now kill him without penalty, he was rather busy at the moment, to say the least. The other two players didn¡¯t have weapons yet, stepping forward with wide open arms, this action not recognized as an attack yet. Everything happened within seconds. The sword came for Liam, intent on slowing him down. The veteran moved perfectly. Bending his body he dodged below the sword. [Stance -5] Glorious Sunshine¡¯s wings were in Liam¡¯s way. He punched out heavily, knowing that most new nephilim didn¡¯t have much control over their wings yet. And indeed, the opponent was easily pushed away, turning his body from the momentum, like a door. The blond man opened his mouth, questioning his own gaming experience. Next to him, the tattooed man tried to react, but Liam easily evaded his hands. A mocking shout reached the trio¡¯s ears: ¡°Thank you.¡± They could only stare blankly as the wolves arrived, tearing them apart. Even with their damage nerfed ten wolves didn¡¯t take much time to get rid of the three players. Glorious Sunrise even dropped his precious sword. Liam chuckled as he reached the clearing. The small interlude bought him a lot of time. Stading right outside the trap¡¯s radius, Liam stared at the forest, waiting for the wolves to come. Soon the wolves appeared, their graceful movements hiding a deeper threat. The monsters slowed down, snarling at their prey. Hunger was in their bloody eyes as they stared at the peace of meat in Liam¡¯s hands. Suddenly the human moved his arm, throwing the meat before him. ¡°Grab it if you want to!¡± Instantly the pack of wolves pounced. Wild growling rang as ten wolves fought for a single piece of meat. However, the struggle didn¡¯t last long. Boom! An enormous flame shot into the air. The wolves wailed in pain. Liam was unperturbed as a wall of flames raged ten centimeters before his face, heat engulfing his body. He was rather thinking about how great it were if he could take some flame traps with him. Liam waited for a while until the flames died down, meanwhile confirming with his party members if they succeeded. A few players arrived during this time, looking at the large flame with ugly faces. They realized that it probably wasn¡¯t their turn to finish the quest. Chapter 18: Exiting rewards The flame died down in front of Liam, revealing the few lifeless wolves. Their corpses didn¡¯t show any injuries. Clearly the game wasn¡¯t that cruel to the players. Immediately Liam flashed. He touched the wolves quickly before anyone could think about robbing him. [Received 16 copper] [Received ¡®Wolf meat¡¯ x3] [Received ¡®Wolf fur¡¯ x2] Liam wasn¡¯t impressed by his loot. While a few of the arriving players congratulated him and a few wore sour faces, the veteran disappeared into the forest. He did his best to look natural while his eyes scanned the ground. A moment later a grin formed on his face. Great, no one noticed it. Liam reached out with his hand, pulling a sword out from under a tree trunk. [Rech¡¯s Iron Sword Category: Common Level requirement: 1 Attack Damage: 6-7 Attack Speed: 0,7 Rech doesn¡¯t like waste, reusing even scrap metal. However, the result isn¡¯t much better than scrap.] Liam was surprised. This sword certainly didn¡¯t drop from the monsters. Apparently, the blond man solved a quest in the town. But now this reward had changed hands. Liam didn¡¯t think much about it as he equipped this sword instead of his Basic Iron Sword. At low levels even one point of damage shouldn¡¯t be looked down upon. A short while later the party gathered again around old man Meyhran. Silver Blade spoke to the man: ¡°Sir, the wolves have been taken care of.¡± ¡°Great, thank you, well done! Finally, I can continue on my way. You, young adventurer will be a great hero one day! I can already see it.¡± Even knowing that the old man was an NPC Silver Blade felt flustered from the praise. ¡°Ah, don¡¯t, don¡¯t. I just wanted to do a good deed.¡± ¡°You are right. And no good deed should be without reward. Here, each of you can take one item from my bag.¡± [Cyclone: That bag again! Didn¡¯t the old man say he doesn¡¯t have anything on him?] The party members chuckled while Meyhran put his leather bag on the floor, opened it wide, revealing a black hole. ¡°I would say Silver Blade should have the honor of the first draw.¡± Silver Blade smiled shyly as everyone agreed with Liam¡¯s suggestion. But when she stepped forward, Meyhran spoke up again: ¡°You can draw two items.¡± Liam stared at the old man in disbelief. Where did the Meyhran he knew go; the old man famous for his stinginess? But the others didn¡¯t think too much, staring at Silver Blade¡¯s hand in anticipation. ¡°Go, go!¡±, cheered Cyclone happily. [Search in progress: 5s] A progress bar filled in front of Silver Blade. After five seconds she drew her hand back. A dagger appeared, glinting in the sunlight. While Silver Blade looked somewhat disappointed, the two brothers had shining eyes. ¡°A level five dagger¡­¡± Everyone could hear the disinterest in Silver Blade¡¯s voice. Talin immediately perked up:The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°If you don¡¯t need it, you can sell it to me at any time! Just name a price!¡± ¡°S¡­¡± Silver Blade was just about to accept when a message appeared before her eyes. [Bleary Mirage: If you want to make the most of it, don¡¯t accept yet. Wait until players have some money.] Silver Blade read Bleary Mirage¡¯s message, obvious struggle on her face. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your brother was a thief?¡±, asked Liam leisurely. But ultimately Silver Blade didn¡¯t feel comfortable with tricking people. She answered somewhat guiltily. ¡°No, no. You must have misheard. Talin, I can sell you the dagger. What about fifteen copper?¡± Malin had a jealous look, realizing that he was too slow as his brother hastily opened the trade window, placing 15 copper. Talin and Silver Blade accepted, and the dagger changed owners. With a smug smile the thief played with the dagger in his hand. Liam could only shake his head, knowing that Silver Blade made a loss. But the woman didn¡¯t care that much, reaching for Meyhran¡¯s bag again. After five seconds a pair of earrings appeared in her hand, dreamy turquoise stone expertly inlaid in a golden foundation. Cyclone looked at them with big eyes. ¡°So beautiful.¡± Liam had a similar reaction as he inwardly praised Silver Blade¡¯s luck. But maybe it was also because this was the first unique quest, granting generous rewards. Anyways, Silver Blade was satisfied as she put the earrings on, their colors giving her fair face a gentle aura. ¡°My earrings increase magical defense! They¡¯re perfect!¡±, explained the woman with a happy smile. Cyclone almost couldn¡¯t hold herself back. ¡°Now me, me!¡± Stepping forward she quickly put her hand in the bag. As the loading bar appeared, the woman closed her eyes, her lips moving silently, praying for luck. Pulling her hand, a small inconspicuous tome appeared in her hand, green light playing around it. Liam¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°How could you draw a green-magic item?!¡± Cyclone grinned at the tome in her hand, but hearing Liam¡¯s question she straightened her face, appearing nonchalant. ¡°What¡¯s so special about a magic item?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Silver Blade chuckled as even Liam didn¡¯t know what to say. The two thief brothers couldn¡¯t stop their jealousy from showing on their faces. Growing impatient, they stepped forth and reached for the bag. Cyclone looked at them in displeasure, deciding to only show her tome to Silver Blade and Bleary Mirage. [Small Basic Tome of Magic Category: Magic Level requirement: 1 Magical Damage +7 Effect: Whenever you deal magical damage, you have a 2% chance to strike critically. A small tome lost by a magical initiate of the Academy of Svebrial. Let¡¯s hope they didn¡¯t get into too much trouble.] Cyclone was a bit uncertain as two percent sounded rather low. But looking at Liam¡¯s appreciative face she grew confident. ¡°Hehe, is it very good?¡± ¡°Quite impressive. Don¡¯t look down on the critical chance, such an effect is pretty rare.¡± ¡°Congratulations, Cyclone.¡±, spoke Silver Blade with a genuine smile. ¡°Hehehe.¡± As Cyclone equipped her tome in her off-hand, Liam looked over at the two thieves. He was a bit late, only noticing them pocketing a weapon and a piece of paper, their faces not showing much joy. Finally, it was Liam¡¯s turn. He stepped forth, inwardly pleading Meyhran to prepare something good for him. Five seconds passed quickly. A small white book appeared in Liam¡¯s hand. He felt his heart skip a beat, instantly letting it disappear in his inventory. The others couldn¡¯t even look fast enough. Cyclone asked with a puzzled expression: ¡°What did you get?¡± ¡°Tzz. That old man kept the worst for last! I got a lore book. What a waste!¡± ¡°Lore book? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A book writing about some of the history of Crunaboul. If you read it attentively it can help in quests and grant some EXP.¡± ¡°But this doesn¡¯t sound so bad.¡± ¡°The problem is there are thousands of such books scattered everywhere. Who knows which book can be useful for which quest.¡± The others showed understanding expression. No one noticed the amused glint in Meyhran¡¯s eyes as he retrieved his bag. With a grunt the old man slung it over his shoulders, the bag obviously not a bit less heavy then at the beginning. Liam looked in the understanding faces of his party members, feigning annoyance. But at this point quite a few players had already gathered, and he didn¡¯t want those to know what he really got. [Cross Slash Category: Basic Skillbook Effect: Slash a cross with your weapons, dealing 150% physical damage and reduce your opponent¡¯s armor by 0,5% for three seconds. Requirement: 20 STR or 20 AGI; two weapons] Silver Blade felt uncomfortable by the curious gazes as well, urging her group on. ¡°We should be done here, right? Can we leave?¡± At this moment Meyhran addressed the young woman: ¡°Adventurer, I hope you are satisfied with your reward. This old man will continue his journey now. Let¡¯s meet again if fate wills it!¡± [ Quest: Get rid of the wolves; Completed!] [Evaluation: A] [Receive 75 EXP] [Reward: One chance to draw from Meyhran¡¯s bag.] [¡°Let¡¯s meet again if fate wills it!¡±] ¡°Oh. Of course, old man! Good luck!¡± ¡°Good luck ono your journey.¡± ¡°¡¯till next time, old man.¡±, murmured Liam. Silver Blade showed a bright smile, feeling an exhilarating feeling after completing her first quest. Is this why my brother likes games so much? I have to admit this feeling isn¡¯t bad. But the surprises for the young woman didn¡¯t end here as a notification suddenly appeared in front of the party¡¯s eyes. [Congratulations on being the first to solve a quest.] [Your accomplishment is worthy of being remembered.] [You can choose to name your team or stay anonymous.] Various emotions hit everyone. While his team members were mostly pleasantly surprised, Liam couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. Even if I don¡¯t try, I still gather achievements. I guess it¡¯s only natural with the current information gap. Maybe it will change in the future. Silver Blade knew that C was waiting for her, asking the others for opinions: ¡°Guys, what should I do?¡± Liam pondered for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. Although he wasn¡¯t interested in fame, he also didn¡¯t fear it, leaving the choice to his teammates. After a short discussion in was Cyclone¡¯s suggestion which was accepted by everyone: ¡°Since this was a team effort, let¡¯s the first letters of our names: Team TMMBC.¡± Chapter 19: Greedy thieves [Server Announcement:] [Please congratulate TEAM TMMBC on completing the first quest, a feat worthy of being remembered!] Immediately commotion broke out among the players. ¡°The first unique quest?¡± ¡°Damn! I haven¡¯t even received a normal quest yet!¡± ¡°I heard one can get a unique quest outside our village. Many people are working on it right now!¡± ¡°Congratulations to the brave team!¡± Curses and congratulatory words intermixed. Back in Prento, three figures stood on the town square. A handsome, blond man wore an ugly face as he read the announcement. ¡°B*stard! I won¡¯t forget this!¡± Meanwhile, the party members received another notification. [Accomplished achievement: Even a blind newbie finds a quest.] [Received title: Problem solver] [Effect: Charisma +2] [The people of Crunaboul begin to entrust you with their problems. Don¡¯t disappoint them.] Cyclone wore a giddy smile, feeling like a pro gamer. But Silver Blade felt somewhat uneasy. She finally managed to get everyone to move on. The party chatted leisurely as they continued on the road. Soon, they passed old man Meyhran again, exchanging friendly nods without stopping. But at this moment Talin and Malin exchanged strange glances. ¡°Guys, thank you for everything but I have a quest in another direction. Let¡¯s separate here.¡± ¡°Yeah, sorry, I will help my brother.¡± Silver Blade and Cyclone showed some surprise but naturally didn¡¯t want to hold the others back. ¡°Oh ok. Thank you for your help. I hope we will meet again.¡± ¡°Yeah, thanks.¡± Liam only smiled knowingly as the two thieves left the party and disappeared. A few seconds later he directed his companions: ¡°You two go ahead. I will catch up in a while.¡± ¡°What? Expert, don¡¯t leave!¡±, exclaimed Cyclone with a pout. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will stay in the party. You two go ahead and take the next path on the left to Rabbit Creek. Remember not to enter the zone before I arrive.¡± Silver Blade nodded calmly but still asked: ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Getting your dagger back.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± With those words Liam revealed a crafty smile as he turned around. The young man entered the forest, carefully staying close to the road. A short while later he spotted old man Meyhran again. Liam stayed silent as he observed the road carefully. Just then he saw footsteps in the dirt, small clouds of dust rising. Liam inwardly shook his head. In Fate of Crunaboul stealth wasn¡¯t all-powerful. Even with a high skill rank it would still leave some signs behind.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. With Liam¡¯s experience he could even see the faint distortion in the air, taking the form of two human figures walking upright. Talin and Malin didn¡¯t even adjust their posture. In his old life those two would¡¯ve died before reaching anyone. They really didn¡¯t show much intelligence. The two brothers were blinded by greed. However, it was hard to blame them as Meyhran was too deceptive. Even if they inspected the NPC right now, they would only see an old man of level 1 with hardly any strength. Liam recalled the stats Meyhran showed in his previous life but even he couldn¡¯t be sure if those were real or fake. Unfortunately, the two thieves didn¡¯t consider any of this as they sneaked up on the old man. With shining eyes, they both activated their [Steal] auxiliary skill. Their hearts beat wildly as a loading bar filled. Talin could already imagine the powerful item which might land in his hand soon. Meanwhile, Malin¡¯s ambition was even grander, desiring to take away the old man¡¯s magical bag. But after a few seconds they were surprised as they ended up empty handed. Liam nodded inwardly, knowing that this was Meyhran¡¯s generosity. But the thieves didn¡¯t think so. After a moment of pondering, they figured it out. How could the good stuff be won after just a single try? With eager smiles on their lips, they reached out again. The progress bar filled. Talin and Malin pulled their hands back at the same time, almost unable to suppress their laughter as they felt the metallic texture on their fingers. They tilted their heads down, appreciating their loot. At this moment, Meyhran suddenly flashed. With a single step he appeared ten meters away, continuing as if nothing happened. Liam saw the scene from within the forest, lamenting the thieves¡¯ fate. Boom! An explosion shook the ground. Dirt splattered in all directions. Flames shot into the air. Liam scrunched his face as miserable wails reached his ears. He realized that the brothers might not have bothered to reduce the standard 50% pain simulation yet. A familiar wall of flames burned in front of Liam¡¯s eyes. After twenty seconds it gradually died down. Players jogged on the road, lured by the commotion. But Liam was prepared, not giving anyone time to react. He rushed out of his hiding spot, quickly grabbing the items on the ground before disappearing again. The onlooking players were surprised. ¡°What happened here?¡± ¡°I think someone died.¡± ¡°Damn, we were too late. The items are gone.¡± ¡°Do you think that guy laid a trap here?¡± A few players felt shivers running down their spines. They decided to take a detour. However, if they knew what Liam just picked up, they might have disregarded all danger to chase after him. The young man smiled brightly as he sneaked through the forest, playing with the dagger in his hand. He decided to give it back to Silver Blade directly. Receiving the notification the young woman was reluctant, but after Bleary Mirage explain how he got the dagger back, she accepted without much guilt. She was even disappointed in those thieves, setting their greedy eyes on an old man. Liam refrained from trying to let her understand that it was just a NPC, knowing that it was important that everyone could enjoy the game their own way. While approaching Rabbit Creek Liam still wore a huge smile on his face, thinking about the piece of paper Malin dropped. It was actually the recipe for a basic dagger. Although the weapon was nothing special, this recipe would allow Liam to acquire the blacksmith profession, which was one of the things he genuinely enjoyed. Thus, Liam arrived at Rabbit Creek in a good mood, watching the beginner zone. The environment changed a little, with less trees and more high grasses. The path was narrower, somewhat overgrown, leading up to an old wooden bridge. Water gurgled joyfully below it, attracting white rabbits to drink and bathe. If it weren¡¯t for Bleary Mirage¡¯s warning, Silver Blade and Cyclone would¡¯ve long walked up to enjoy the peaceful scenery. Now they hid behind a tree, waving at Liam as the noticed the young man arriving. ¡°Expert, I don¡¯t get it. Why did you asked us to wait?¡± ¡°Use your inspect skill.¡±, advised Liam with a smile. The two women complied, focusing on a cute looking white rabbit. But they were confused when they noted the monster¡¯s name written in red. ¡°Do you see its name? Red-named monsters are aggressive, attacking on sight.¡± ¡°Really? Those cute rabbits?!¡± ¡°Yes. I have to admit that it is quite evil from C to place red-named level 1 monsters here. But I guess players need to learn somehow.¡± Just as the trio was talking among themselves, two young men arrived from the road. They drew their weapons and ran towards the creek not far away. But their path led them right into the center of this area. About a dozen rabbits noticed the invaders, instantly pouncing at them angrily. The poor players didn¡¯t stand a chance. At least they had some luck as their equipment didn¡¯t drop. Silver Blade and Cyclone gulped. ¡°It¡¯s good that we listened to an expert.¡± ¡°Well, those two were quite unlucky. But we also shouldn¡¯t overly fear red-named monsters. If you are a bit careful, there isn¡¯t much threat to it.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. You lead the way!¡± Cyclone nodded, still wearily looking at the bunch of rabbits slowly scattering again. Liam didn¡¯t mind, signaling the two women as he slowly approached the area from the side. A moment later a notification popped up, prompting him to stop in place. [Discovered Rabbit Creek. Reward: 10EXP] [EXP: 103/100] [Congratulations, you have reached level 2.] [Please remember to distribute your attribute points.] Liam didn¡¯t care much, as he had read such a notification too often. He quickly distributed his new points. But as he listened to the two women exclaiming in delight, he couldn¡¯t help but show a faint smile as well. ¡°Hey, I reached level 2!¡± ¡°Me too, me too!¡± Liam waited, letting Silver Blade and Cyclone celebrate for a bit. Afterward he helped them distribute their points before continuing with the quest. Liam sneaked forward alone, slowly approaching the rabbits. He chose his angle wisely, making sure not to attract too many of them. However, with the level up right now he knew that they didn¡¯t need to be overly careful anymore against those level 1 enemies. Thus, Liam took a last bold step, prompting five pairs of red eyes to turn his direction. Chapter 20: Fighting rabbits Liam kept a calm mind, falling back. The five rabbits fletched their teeth and hopped after the intruder. ¡°Get ready!¡± Liam warned his teammates, but it turned out to be unnecessary. The two young women were indeed martial artists in real life, not flustered by a mere five rabbits. Silver Blade took a step forward, ready to fulfill the role of tank. Meanwhile Cyclone swung her wand. Mages had normal attacks as well, dealing magical damage. [-62!] A surprisingly high number rose from the head of a rabbit, caused by Cyclone¡¯s new equipment. The rabbit didn¡¯t have much HP, dropping dead on the spot. Silver Blade smiled brightly at her best friend: ¡°Good job Cyclone!¡± The smaller girl smiled foolishly, clearly enjoying the feeling of triumph over the monsters. At this moment Liam arrived with the other four rabbits. He stood still, swinging his sword. [-42!] Immediately another rabbit was down to critical health. But the fierce opponents also knew how to attack. Sharp teeth snapped at Liam¡¯s leg. The warrior calmly placed his sword in the way, not taking any damage. [Stance -4!] Silver Blade had already watched Bleary Mirage fight, easily grasping the basics. With her big shield it wasn¡¯t difficult to defend against two rabbit attacks. On the contrary. Wielding a shield influenced one¡¯s stance, thus the two attacks only deducted four points for Silver Blade. With three level 2 characters Liam and the two women obviously overpowered their opponents. The rabbits stood no chance. Two more of them fell under Cyclone¡¯s magic attacks, while the last one was defeated by Liam. ¡°Ha, so easy!¡±, exclaimed Cyclone happily as she went to loot the bodies. But Liam hastily stopped her. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Why? I clearly have lucky hands! Just let me do the looting. I promise I won¡¯t hide anything.¡± Liam looked skeptically at the woman¡¯s mischievous smile, but this wasn¡¯t the reason why he stopped her. ¡°We should let Silver Blade loot them; she has her quest after all.¡± ¡°You mean it doesn¡¯t count if I loot?¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t get the quest item.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I share the quest?¡±, asked Silver Blade from the side. ¡°No. Most common quests can¡¯t be shared.¡± ¡°Pity. Then I will loot¡­¡± ¡°Ok¡­¡± Silver Blade stepped forward but when she saw the struggle in Cyclone¡¯s eyes, she couldn¡¯t help but say: ¡°Why don¡¯t we do it like this? You can loot every fifth rabbit, Cyclone.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cyclone looked between Silver Blade and Bleary Mirage. Noticing that they both didn¡¯t object, she quickly went ahead as well. Silver Blade looted quickly while Cyclone rubbed her hands together, building up her luck. ¡°Ewh!¡± Suddenly a strange scream could be heard. Liam and Silver Blade both looked at Cyclone with shock.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an eye! Wah, I looted an eye!¡± Silver Blade stared for a moment before chuckling at her friend. ¡°That¡¯s not funny! How can they make us loot eyes?! Here, you take it!¡± With those words Cyclone threw the eye to Silver Blade who calmly caught it in the air. Liam watched from the side, his gaze fixed on the eye, once again realizing how lucky Cyclone was. Although the eye was an alchemy ingredient of decent worth, it had another important effect which might come into play soon. But contrary to Cyclone, Silver Blade didn¡¯t seem quite as fortunate, not getting a single fur from the rabbit. The group wasn¡¯t discouraged though, and continued hunting. Liam repeated the same strategy luring another five rabbits. After this fight went flawless as well, the group grew bolder. Silver Blade and Cyclone urged Bleary Mirage to aggro more monsters. Liam nodded and sneaked closer toward the center. Instantly nine pairs of eyes turned towards him. Let¡¯s see how the girls do. So far they have shown quite the talent for someone who has never played games. Maybe martial artists really have it easier in the game. Liam even had time for leisurely thoughts as he returned to his two companions. But Silver Blade and Cyclone felt some pleasure. They gripped their weapons tightly, eyes focused on the rabbits. Cyclone cleverly took a few steps forward to get more attacks in. She swung her wand, a small white sphere flying at one of the rabbits. [-61!] With a sad squeak the rabbit toppled over and ceased movement. His peers weren¡¯t intimidated in the slightest though as they chased after Liam. Suddenly a small spear of light formed in the air, shooting at another rabbit. This was Cyclone¡¯s skill [Holy Strike]. [Holy Strike (rank 1) Cost: 8 Mana Effect: Strike the target with holy magic, dealing 140% (MDMG) magical damage. Has a chance of doing an additional 10% (MDMG)holy damage. Cooldown: 6 seconds] [-84!] The rabbit couldn¡¯t be more dead as the spear hit it. Liam showed some pleasant surprise reaching the two women. Cyclone had already returned to her position at the back, waiting for her next normal attack to be ready. ¡°Well played.¡± ¡°Good job.¡± Receiving praise from her two friends, Cyclone smiled happily. But seven rabbits still arrived, ready to revenge their brethren. Silver Blade immediately took a defense posture, focusing on three opponents. Meanwhile Liam brought in a quick attack before three mouths snapped for his legs. The veteran showed practiced movements, evading two enemies while blocking one. [-8!] Suddenly Liam almost froze in place, doubting himself. One rabbit actually managed to hit him. How?! He didn¡¯t understand how he could miscalculate the speed of a level 1 enemy. Liam almost felt embarrassed as the two women looked at him in surprise. ¡°Expert, did you just get hit?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I was thinking about something else.¡± Liam threw out a random excuse, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the rabbits. If this was real life the rabbits might get an ominous feeling now but ingame the monsters were fearless. As the next wave of attacks arrived, Liam concentrated. He evaded perfectly, with not one step wasted. But his instincts still warned him that something was amiss. Those little monsters did indeed move a tiny bit faster than he was used to. This difference was negligible. Most players wouldn¡¯t pay it any attention. But for Liam and other pros, everything about the game had to be thoroughly analyzed to find even the smallest advantages in tough situations. For now, Liam could only shelve his doubts as the timing for an attack opened up. Two more rabbits dropped dead. Now only five remained, a number the team was already used to. With their fury built up it didn¡¯t take long for the rabbits to die. This round rewarded them with some fur and another eye, bringing them closer to the quest¡¯s completion. Unfortunately, with one level difference there was a heavy reduction in the EXP gained, further diminished as it was split among the party members. Thus, Liam¡¯s EXP bar filled at an agonizingly slow pace. [EXP: 20/500] Fate of Crunaboul had always been like this. The first level was more of a tutorial, easily achievable within a day for most people. But from then on you had to put in the work. The difficulty was even bound to increase again when reaching certain thresholds. But on the other hand, there were many possibilities of earning a large number of EXP. Rare, hidden, and unique quests, dungeon raids and field bosses, would attract the attention of players soon. But for Liam¡¯s party this was still a thing of the future as they continued luring in rabbits. With renewed concentration Liam didn¡¯t get hit again. Meanwhile a few other players had also arrived at the scene, learning from Liam and only pulling a few rabbits over. Doomsday had come for the poor rabbits. Silver Blade and Cyclone even felt somewhat bad as they continued to empty the field. Gradually new rabbits spawned and were immediately killed again. After getting rid of another wave of monsters, Liam¡¯s party continued looting. Silver Blade already had eight out of ten pieces of fur, close to completing the quest. But at this moment she suddenly pulled back her hand in surprise. ¡°Hey! I found an eye as well!¡± Liam instantly perked up, waving at his companions, already prepared for this moment. ¡°Quick, guys, come over here!¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not done looting¡­¡± Cyclone spoke with a pout, about to reach out with her hand. ¡°You will have enough to loot later on. Hurry up.¡± The two women were confused but they had enough trust in Bleary Mirage by now. Stopping what they were doing they jogged towards Liam, who retreated to the edge of the area. Just as Silver Blade and Cyclone arrived, they heard a commotion behind them. A low rumble spread. Dity scattered, falling in the gorgeous clear water. Not far from the creek a hole suddenly appeared in the ground. Two large red eyes could be seen in the darkness, staring at Liam¡¯s group angrily. The eyes moved. The dirt around the hole crumbled. Slowly a fat white body was revealed. Long claws could be seen grabbing onto the grass, ripping it apart. A few seconds later a white rabbit, the tips of its long fluffy ears at the height of Liam¡¯s neck, reached the ground. Its pressure enshrouded the entire Rabbit Creek. Chapter 21: Fighting the Huge Reed-eyed Rabbit Starlted cries left the players¡¯ mouths. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°A boss monster?¡± ¡°Did mama rabbit come out because we killed too many of its children?¡± After a short moment of surprise, the players became restless. Many dreamed about being the first to defeat a boss monster. But the huge rabbit had its tiny eyes focused on Silver Blade at the moment. The young woman felt a kind of subconscious pressure, finding it difficult to keep her composure. ¡°What is this monster? Why does it stare at me like that?¡± ¡°Use your inspect skill.¡±, reminded Liam. Cyclone and Silver Blade followed his advice. [Huge Red-eyed Rabbit Rank: Elite Level: 3 HP: 350/350 Fury: ???] Liam inspected the rabbit as well. More doubts rose in his mind as he noticed the monster¡¯s HP. They were higher than he remembered. But after all this was still a novice area he never personally visited in his past life. Maybe his memory wasn¡¯t as flawless as he thought. Maybe all the praise did get to his head¡­ ¡°An elite monster?!¡± ¡°Why does it have so much HP?¡± His teammates¡¯ surprised exclamations broke Liam¡¯s train of thought. He calmly answered. ¡°Monsters often have tweaked attributes. They are supposed to be difficult to solo. Elites are still alright, but the higher ranked lords and all kinds of bosses almost always need a whole party to defeat. World bosses can even give a group of hundreds a hard time.¡± Cyclone had sparkles in her eyes, imagining the scene of hundreds of players fighting a single world boss. The blond woman was giddy, about to engage the elite. But Liam stopped her. ¡°What?¡±, asked Cyclone, clearly annoyed. ¡°Wait for a bit. Let the rabbit sort out the other players first.¡± At this moment movement came in the area. The elite monster was just about to rush up to Silver Blade when two players blocked its way. ¡°Hehe, little rabbit, I hope you drop great loot!¡± ¡°Yes, y¡­¡± Before the second player could speak the rabbit attacked with a swift headbutt. [-54!] With only a single piece of armor the player was immediately at critical health, causing Liam¡¯s companions to breath sharply. His friend was stunned for a moment but decided to attack. Doing only a pitiful amount of damage he was instantly hit with the rabbit¡¯s retaliation, the thief¡¯s low health points bottoming out from one hit. The other player turned around to run but was caught up, his body falling to the ground lifelessly. About ten players watched the scene, their chests tightening. Suddenly a man stepped forward, showing his name - Fat Tiger - deliberately, and shouting loudly: ¡°Everyone! This might be the first elite monster in the game! Let¡¯s combined our strengths and take it down! Whoever is lucky gets the last hit!¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. The players looked at each other skeptically, but seeing Fat Tiger taking out a large shield they gained some confidence. ¡°Ok, let¡¯s do it!¡± ¡°Whoever is lucky wins!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t steal my last hit!¡± Most players at this point played the game for fun anyways, thus they were quickly convinced. After killing two players the huge rabbit lost its aggro. Despite Liam¡¯s team drawing it out by gathering three rabbit eyes, it now turned towards the player closest to it, an unsuspecting thief. The young woman still had some excitement on her face, expecting the group to surround the elite when red eyes suddenly appeared before her face. ¡°Why me?¡± Frozen in shock, the thief only managed to get out two words before a vicious attack sent her to the graveyard. ¡°Careful!¡± ¡°Move! Attack it!¡± Finally, the group of players reacted, encircling the rabbit. A harsh battle broke out. The players fought with weapons and partially barehanded against fierce teeth and a huge body. Numbers popped up, increasing the excitement. But Liam could only shake his head watching the number of players dwindling. Glancing at the back of the group he even spotted the instigator Fat Tiger slowly withdrawing. Clearly, he used the other players to probe the elite. After a short while only a single warrior remained. He looked left and right in shock, seeing all the players on the floor. The tall man gulped as a claw pushed his shield away, long, sharp teeth biting his stomach. In real life his guts might spill out now but fortunately the game wasn¡¯t this graphic, sending the man to a peaceful sleep. Cyclone stared at the scary scene with blinking eyes. ¡°That thing still has 220 HP left?! Can we even defeat it?!¡± ¡°We can. It has lower magical defense, so you will be our main damage. Don¡¯t hold back. Silver Blade, you should engage it. You can also do normal attacks with your shield. They will do negligible damage, but serve to hold its aggro.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± With a mix of apprehension and excitement, Silver Blade took a few steps forward, drawing the rabbit¡¯s attention. The elite fletched its teeth. Suddenly it recalled the group who brutally dug out it¡¯s brethren¡¯s eyes. With fur swaying in the wind the monster angrily rushed at Silver Blade. [- 34!] [- 26!] Two huge damage numbers appeared above the monster¡¯s head. ¡°Ha! Take this!¡± Cyclone exclaimed happily as she lowered the rabbit¡¯s HP before it even arrived. Unfortunately, her [Holy Strike] didn¡¯t hit perfectly, thus only dealing half the damage. ¡°Good job. We got this!¡± Liam encouraged his team as the rabbit lowered its head and rammed into Silver Blade¡¯s shield. [Stance ¨C 14] Silver Blade felt a powerful blow. She took a step back before ramming her heel into the ground. ¡°So strong, I can only defend two times!¡± Speaking in a solemn voice the young woman gathered all her concentration, striking with her shield. [- 2!] With Silver Blade securing the aggro, Liam approached from the side, swinging his sword at the rabbit¡¯s belly. [-22!!!] Liam¡¯s wasn¡¯t too surprised as he landed a critical hit. This low-leveled elite¡¯s belly was its weakness. But Cyclone chuckled. ¡°This was a critical hit? Watch me!¡± [- 34!] ¡°Show him, Cyclone.¡±, praised Silver Blade with a smile. Liam could only accept the superiority of magical damage while the fight went on. The elite continued attacking Silver Blade. A claw landed, almost emptying her stance. ¡°Careful!¡± Liam¡¯s warning came too late. Silver Blade didn¡¯t expect the beast to have a skill, which it sent out instantly after its normal attack. Sharp teeth broke through Silver Blade¡¯s defense, scratching her shoulder. [-42!] Cyclone stared in shock as her best friend almost lost half of her 89 HP. ¡°So fierce!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry guys, one more rotation!¡± The girls nodded, Cyclone staring at the cooldown of her [Holy Strike]. ¡°I have a lot of fury, I will save it for [Sidestep]!¡±, announced Silver Blade calmly. ¡°Yes.¡± Everyone knew what to do. The rabbit¡¯s HP emptied out gradually. Liam didn¡¯t land another critical hit, but Silver Blade expertly dodged the next attack. ¡°We almost got it! One more normal attack from Cyclone!¡± Silver Blade spoke with a bright smile, discovering the fun in gaming for herself. But at this moment, Liam¡¯s vigilance was maxed out, his attention not on the elite but on the surroundings. Suddenly something rustled between a few trees. ¡°Watch out!¡± A low hiss sounded out as a fast arrow shot towards the elite. Liam reacted immediately. He jumped to the side, his sword meeting the arrow. [Stance -7] A tremor ran through Liam¡¯s arms. He smiled smugly, his eyes staring at the player hiding behind a tree. Furrowing his brows from the failure, the bowman turned around, ready to leave. ¡°Not so easy!¡± Liam knew that trying to kill steal was an essential part of the game, but this didn¡¯t mean that one shouldn¡¯t suffer any consequences from it. ¡°You guys end the fight, loot quickly and return to the town. Those players will wake up soon!¡± Hastily directing his teammates Liam dashed towards the trees, chasing down the attacker. Two pairs of eyes met. Liam recognized the gaze of his opponent, welcoming challenges, even searching for them. A grin formed on Liam¡¯s face as he discovered a like-minded person. Another arrow shot at Liam, forcing him to dodge. [Stance -4] The player escaped through the forest, not allowing Liam to engage him in close combat. When Liam reached the trees, the next arrow pierced out of the foliage. Unfortunately, at these low levels Liam had no skill to close the distance yet, forcing him to dodge again. With a frown on his face the young man leaned his body against a tree. Using it as shield against the arrows, he didn¡¯t lose more stance. A stalemate ensued. At this moment a notification popped up before Liam. [Congratulations on defeating the elite monster ¡®Huge Red-eyed Rabbit!] [Received 25EXP] [EXP: 45/500] Liam instantly closed the notification, not daring to be distracted. Suddenly he noticed a movement among the leaves on the ground. His arm twitched, his sword moving quickly. ¡°Hm?¡± The thief couldn¡¯t suppress his voice as he dodged backwards. But Liam didn¡¯t really attack, only feigning his movement. With a grin on his face he jumped, using [Double Slash]. Chapter 22: Handing in the quest [-58!] A huge chunk of HP was gone as Liam¡¯s second attack forced the thief out of stealth. A young man was revealed, probably not even eighteen years old. His eyes were narrowed, brown hair peeking out of his hood. He let out a dissatisfied grunt, coming to a stop some distance away. The two players mustered each other, with respect in their eyes. [Silent Acacia] Finally, the young thief broke the silence. ¡°I admit defeat. You¡¯re really good! Why have I never heard about you?¡± Liam smiled confidently. ¡°Why? I never heard about you either.¡± ¡°Nice joke.¡± ¡°What joke? Should I know you?¡± The young thief had a skeptical expression. ¡°Are you for real? I wouldn¡¯t say that I¡¯m famous throughout the federation, but among gamers I¡¯m confident that everyone knows me! Didn¡¯t you watch the championship in Rent¡¯s Revolution last year?¡± Liam had to dig quite deep into his memory until he found the name ¡®Rent¡¯s revolution¡¯. It was the last big VR game before Fate of Crunaboul came out. Liam shook his head: ¡°Sorry. I had other stuff to do at the time.¡± ¡°Wait, are meaning to tell me you didn¡¯t even play RR?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. How can you be so good? Your movements looked so practiced!¡± ¡°Well, I feel like many martial artists are able to show their skills in this game.¡± Silent Acacia furrowed his brows. If Liam¡¯s words were true, a lot of strong opponents would appear in Fate of Crunaboul. Excitement welled in the young thied¡¯s heart. Only by overcoming obstacles could he grow. Liam noticed the change in his opponent¡¯s expression, nodding inwardly. He could already foretell that Silent Acacia would make it far with his mindset. At this moment a friend request appeared before Liam, which he accepted calmly. The young thief turned around, about to leave. ¡°Let¡¯s keep in touch.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Liam watched until the man vanished into the foliage. He realized that some impressive players already roamed the world. Not bad, but still can¡¯t touch me. With a confident grin the five times champion returned to the town. He messaged Silver Blade and Cyclone, agreeing to meet on the town square. Players still appeared regularly from a platform. By now information had already spread outside about the various races. Nephilim ranked rather high purely based on their appearance. But Liam knew that this might change soon. Ignoring the newcomers, Liam scanned the crowd for his companions. A lot of players were gathered here, crowding around a beautiful pavilion with mysterious blue shimmering runes on the ground. This was the teleportation point connecting the novice village with other towns and cities. But the players weren¡¯t here for this reason, rather for the person standing within the pavilion.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. She was an angelic young woman with long white hair. The white half of her wings shone brightly, radiating holy dignity, while the black half of her wings hung listlessly, evoking a desire to take care of her. The nephilim had concerned eyes, her white robe swaying as she moved her hands to direct the mana in the air. Her graceful figure made most male players¡¯ and even some female players¡¯ hearts melt, their eyes unable to let go. ¡°I think I¡¯ve fallen in love.¡± ¡°Please marry me, goddess!¡± ¡°Think you are worthy?¡± ¡°Right, I only want to serve you, goddess! Use me however you like.¡± Liam shook his head, knowing that this beautiful nephilim mage, going by the name Her Holiness Lewriova, would continue to ignore the players for a while longer. Only after the first player reached level ten would the mighty mage be done with repairing the teleportation platform, allowing players to reach other towns and cities. ¡°Tzz. Didn¡¯t expect our mighty expert to be captivated by beauty.¡± Suddenly a snarky comment let Liam snap back to reality. He turned his head, looking at Silver Blade and Cyclone with a strange expression. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. I caught you staring. Don¡¯t worry. There is nothing wrong with liking beauty. But maybe don¡¯t get enamored with an NPC.¡± Liam smiled wryly. He saw the mirth in Cyclone¡¯s eyes, knowing that she wouldn¡¯t accept any explanation. Turning to Silver Blade for help he noticed the apparent embarrassment on her face. ¡°Great¡­¡± Cyclone chuckled, counting this as a win in her book. ¡°Ok then. If you are done with goggling the NPC, we can split the loot.¡± ¡°Sure, sure. Go ahead.¡± Cyclone led Silver Blade and Bleary Mirage to the side, rubbing her hands in glee. ¡°Hehe, expert, my lucky hands strike again! You won¡¯t believe what we got.¡± ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡± ¡°First, we received the missing fur for Silver Blade¡¯s quest from a few other rabbits my bestest friend looted in the meantime.¡± ¡°Oh great, you can hand in your quest.¡±, commented Liam with a nod at Silver Blade. ¡°Yes. Then I can pay you back for the help along the way.¡± ¡°What pay back? This is called teamwork.¡± ¡°Yes, Silver Blade. Don¡¯t talk like we won¡¯t see each other again. We still need to cling to the expert¡¯s leg!¡± All three youngsters laughed as a friendship began blooming. Next, Cyclone excitedly revealed the items dropped by the elite rabbit. It was a green-magic sword, level three boots, some coins, a lore book, and a strange green crystal without information. The group quickly came to a decision, handing the sword to Liam and the boots to Silver Blade. Cyclone would hold onto the rest. Despite the unreliability of lore books, Liam didn¡¯t advise his friends to sell it. Liam handed his old sword to Silver Blade as well, while inspecting his new one. It was rather broad, without a sharp tip. But in the game the appearance didn¡¯t matter, only the numbers. [Rabbit tooth Category: magic Level requirement: 2 Attack Damage: 8-9 Attack Speed: 0,7 Effect: Every attack has a 2% chance to reduce armor for 2 seconds. A sword made from the large front teeth of a Huge Red-eyed Rabbit.] Cyclone played with the mysterious crystal in her hand, turning it left and right. Despite not getting a new item herself, she was still satisfied with the loot. ¡°Expert, what do you think is this?¡± Liam looked closely at the crystal enveloped by a green sheen. Although he had a few guesses in his mind, even he couldn¡¯t be sure. There were just too many similar objects in the game, most only revealing their real form under certain conditions. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Cyclone looked at Liam skeptically, prompting him to laugh. ¡°What? Do you think I recognize every item in the game?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Liam almost choked from the conviction in Cyclone¡¯s voice. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t. But I can tell you what to do with it.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°You need to bring it to an NPC to identify. Every city has at least one.¡± ¡°Soo this novice village doesn¡¯t have such an NPC is what you¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°Coincidentally it does, but she is quite busy.¡± Liam grinned as his eyes hinted at the angelic mage repairing the teleporter. Cyclone rolled her eyes. ¡°Great. So, we can¡¯t do anything?¡± ¡°Nope. Let¡¯s wait for someone to reach level ten. Only then will the teleporter be fixed.¡± Silver Blade looked at her best friend. ¡°We can try it later, Cyclone. Maybe we¡¯re lucky.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Although Silver Blade had an impressive charisma stat, Liam didn¡¯t hold much hope. At this point in time all the nephilim novice villages had high-leveled NPCs repairing the teleporters. But they didn¡¯t play a role yet, ignoring all players without fault. Still, Liam didn¡¯t discourage his friends as they arrived at Zeygnar¡¯s stall. Silver Blade initiated a conversation, watching Liam sneak behind the house. ¡°Zeygnar, I¡¯m back with your fur.¡± ¡°Ahh! Brave adventurer, thank you so much!¡± Zeygnar had dreamy eyes as he caressed the soft fur handed over by Silver Blade. A few seconds later he coughed. ¡°You have done a good deed, brave adventurer. Those rabbits not only make for a good carpet, but they also harass us merchants. With your help our travels will be safer in the future.¡± Cyclone opened her eyes wide as she asked form the side: ¡°But aren¡¯t they spawning all the time? Their numbers don¡¯t diminish, right?¡± The NPC was confused, proving the limitations of the game. ¡°Spawning? Ohh, you mean because these rabbits breed like¡­ well, rabbits. You are right. It is difficult to get rid of them completely. But back to you, adventurer. Please, accept this reward for your work.¡± A notification appeared before Silver Blade, telling her to choose between three rewards. After a quick contemplation she decided on a tall red shield. [Quest: Rabbit fur for Zeygnar; Completed!] [Receive 30 EXP] [Reward: Rech¡¯s flame shield.] [¡°What a fine carpet.¡±] [EXP: 75/500] Cyclone immediately perked up when she noticed the new equipment in her friend¡¯s hand. ¡°Silver Blade, let me see.¡± ¡°Here.¡± Silver Blade sent the shield¡¯s information through a message. [Rech¡¯s flame shield Category: magic Level requirement: 1 Physical Defense: 3 Magical Defense: 4 Attack speed malus: 0,1 Bonus defense against fire damage: 3 This shield was made by Rech with magma from a volcano.] Chapter 23: Chaos in the city While Silver Blade and Cyclone talked to Zeygnar, Liam circled the house. Standing before the fence he listened closely. The air was clear! Liam jumped, climbing over the fence. He stopped for a moment. No footsteps! Letting out a relieved smile, Liam approached the box and began searching. It took him three attempts, but he finally retrieved the last message in a bottle! A feeling of satisfaction crept into his mind as he managed to achieve his goal despite the changes compared to his past life. Subsequently Liam left, meeting up with Silver Blade and Cyclone. At this moment a person suddenly revealed themselves from the shadow of a nearby building. Tiny eyes stared at Liam¡¯s back in surprise. Why didn¡¯t I think of this? The player who had observed Liam¡¯s actions was another renowned thief in other games, Black Rat. However, Black Rat didn¡¯t get his reputation through fighting but by being able to steal from anyone. Although this was naturally boasting, he was indeed quite famous for his skills. So far Black Rat had already started robbing a few common NPCs in Fate of Crunaboul. But watching Liam, he suddenly felt as if a new world opened up before his eyes. Right, I don¡¯t need to steal out of NPC¡¯s pockets. This game clearly offers so much freedom. I can steal from everywhere! The famous thief was excited. Entering his stealth, he sneaked up to Zeygnar¡¯s house and jumped over the fence. Looking around in excitement, Black Rat didn¡¯t find anything worthy of this reputation. Thus, he opened the back door and sneaked into the house. At this moment, footsteps echoed on the wooden floor. Black Rat hid below a table, remaining perfectly still. Quickly, the dark-skinned Zeygnar entered his vision. The merchant murmured something as he walked towards the backyard with a frown on his face. Suddenly Zeygnar stopped in place. Black Rat felt a hint of doubt. He couldn¡¯t have seen me, right? If this was really the house of a common NPC, Black Rat might be able to stay hidden. But Zeygnar, albeit not powerful in the context of this world, was still a few levels above the player. Thus, with a quick glance he spotted the thief hiding below his table. ¡°You dare, little thief?! What do you take me for, entering my house as you please?!¡± Black Rat felt his throat drying up as heavy footsteps approached him. Meanwhile Liam had already gathered with his friends. He looked at the street in surprise as two heavily armored guards entered Zeygnar¡¯s house. Silver Blade was confused as well: ¡°This doesn¡¯t have anything to do with us, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Hopefully they don¡¯t arrest the merchant.¡±, worried Cyclone. ¡°Where should we go for Silver Blade¡¯s new quest if that guy goes to jail?¡± ¡°You received another quest?¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Liam looked at Silver Blade in disbelief, still surprised by her charisma stat. ¡°Yes. But I don¡¯t know if I can accomplish it yet.¡± ¡°Why? What are you supposed to do?¡± ¡°Apparently Zeygnar was attacked while crossing the ocean, leading to some of his wares falling into the water. Now we have to get them from a place called Red¡¯or island.¡± ¡°Ahh, this will take some time.¡± Red¡¯or island was one of the myriad islands located withing the vast Deavin Ocean. The original nephilim lived mostly on the several bigger islands, like the volcanic island Ventarra, which Liam was on right now. Many quests would eventually guide the players to explore the islands, but this was only possible at higher levels. The friends conversed a bit longer. Eventually Liam asked a question in his head. C? Can you tell me what time it is? [It is 17:26, player.] Oh, I thought more time had passed. [The time flow between the virtual world and the real world is 3:1.] Are there any limitations on game time? [Right now, the virtual world is accessible from 9:00 to 19:00.] Liam nodded his head. In his past life the virtual world followed a similar pattern, changing its schedule after a while. But it¡¯s already getting late. I should go home to Serena. Thus, Liam addressed his friends. ¡°Sorry guys but I have to end here for today.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re leaving, expert?¡± ¡°Yeah. I have some responsibilities at home.¡± ¡°Ahh, a pity.¡± Silver Blade and Cyclone accepted reluctantly. ¡°Are you back tomorrow?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Great, then we can solve some more quests!¡±, chuckled Cyclone. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s work together again.¡±, added Silver Blade. ¡°You guys can do some quests on your own as well. Here in the town are a lot of easy quests.¡± ¡°Hmm, we will see.¡±, answered Cyclone noncommittal. ¡°Well, play at your own pace. I¡¯m off now. Bye!¡± ¡°Bye.¡± ¡°Bye, bye expert.¡± Silver Blade and Cyclone waved at Liam as he suddenly disappeared. A few seconds later the young man woke up within the training room. He moved carefully, his body sore from all the sitting. I wonder if they will provide VR capsules in the future¡­ Liam carefully stood up, moving his body. But suddenly he froze in place. What¡¯s going on? Liam did a few exercises, finding them a lot easier all of a sudden. His thoughts spun as he stared at the console around his upper body. Are those rumors true? Our strength in the virtual world can be brought to the real world?! Liam was frozen in disbelief. He concentrated on his body, feeling a faint trace of warmth spreading form the console through his body. With trembling hands he grabbed the console, carefully lifting it up. Suddenly a feeling of weakness assaulted him. His mind felt dizzy as an invisible connection was interrupted. How can this be¡­ At this moment a commotion reached Liam¡¯s room from outside. The young man shelved his doubts. Putting the console back on he left the room. Near the entrance Liam spotted Master Baker. A fist like a proud dragon smashed into a young man¡¯s stomach, lifting him up and throwing him outside. ¡°Hmpf. Good-for-nothings! Found a tiny bit of strength and think you¡¯re some kings? Relying on external strength. What a disgrace. This is exactly the reason why I didn¡¯t take you in back then!¡± A few youngsters sat outside the dojo, obviously having received a fierce beating. One of them dragged his injured body up. ¡°You will pay for this, old man!¡± Leaving behind these words he helped up his friends and left. Liam approached the master from behind, bowing lightly. ¡°Master, what was that about?¡± ¡°Just some arrogant guys I refused in the past. Now they got their hands on a VR console. With their little bit of strength, they already think about taking revenge. Don¡¯t learn from them, boy. I have some hope for you but if you only rely on external forces, you will lose yourself!¡± Master Baker eyed Liam with a sharp gaze, obviously able to tell something despite Liam¡¯s shirt hiding the console. Liam took a sharp breath as he bowed deeply. ¡°I will remember your words, master.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Are there more people causing chaos?¡± ¡°Sure. Today will be quite chaotic, with the army distracted by the virtual world and too many people suddenly growing stronger. Many egos are going through the roofs.¡± Eyes shooting wide open, a shiver ran down Liam¡¯s spine. Oh no, Serena! ¡°Sorry, master, I have to leave.¡± Liam didn¡¯t explain more as he dashed out of the dojo. He made his way through the lower city. Ironically it was relatively peaceful as no one in the lower city could afford a console. The middle-class citizens were hit the hardest, with many stores looted and fights happening on the open street. But as the army was slow to quell the chaos, it slowly began to engulf the city, with many troublemakers feeling that their chance had come. Meanwhile Doctor Hearley had closed her clinic as soon as the first wounded arrived. Although as a doctor she felt guilty, but the people coming didn¡¯t stop their fight even within the clinic, making it impossible for the doctor to continue doing her job. Thus, she gathered all her employees, naturally including Serena, and hid in her apartment. For a while nothing happened but eventually a commotion could be heard throughout the entire building. When a banging came from the solid door, poor Serena hugged her stuffed animal and pressed her body against the wall. Kathrin calmly caressed her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Serena. Nothing will happen. The army will arrive soon.¡± Serena¡¯s body trembled. Kathrin naturally didn¡¯t know that the poor girl was reminded of the time when people tried to get her and Liam out of their old home. Brother, where are you? Are you safe? A door opened, letting everyone flinch. But it was only Merida who came out of the bathroom. Small pouches were in her hand. ¡°Guys.¡± Six pairs of eyes turned towards the doctor. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Those are just some people making use of the chaos. They aren¡¯t strong! Here, take these and throw them if the door should open!¡± Chapter 24: Fighting criminals Liam sprinted through snow covered streets soon reaching his new home. He gritted his teeth when he heard a flurry of footsteps echoing from the staircase. With a worried heart he entered, racing up the stairs. Soon, he reached the first floor, finding two of the apartment doors open. Distressed voices came from inside. ¡°Please! Just leave! I don¡¯t have anything!¡± ¡°What? You live in such a nice flat and tell me you don¡¯t have money? Don¡¯t lie to me!¡± Liam felt his heart sink, his worry only increasing. Similar voices came from another door. ¡°Just go! Your friends already took everything!¡± ¡°Really? But obviously they didn¡¯t take you. Haha, this leaves more for me!¡± With every word, the turmoil in Liam¡¯s head increased. He was torn, not knowing what to do. But his body was honest. Even while worrying about his sister, he couldn¡¯t ignore the plight of others. Liam approached the open door. He spotted a dirty man, obviously homeless, reaching out for a woman, her face already covered in tears. The apartment was nothing special. A single room, with all the woman¡¯s belongings scattered on the ground. Liam didn¡¯t hesitate. He grabbed a metallic folding chair, the only one the woman could afford. With a quick step he was behind the man. Thud! Without holding back, Liam smashed the chair at the man¡¯s head. Naturally the latter didn¡¯t have any kind of strength in his body. With one blow he immediately dropped to the floor, the white of his eyes showing, his fate unknown. ¡°You¡­ thank you! Thank you so much!¡± The woman let out a heartfelt cry. The way she looked at Liam was almost worshipful. But the hero in her mind had no time to waste and turned around abruptly. ¡°Hide somewhere.¡± ¡°W¡­ wait. I¡­ where¡­ wait¡­ I¡¯m Tiff!¡± ¡°Liam!¡± Leaving his name behind, Liam immediately returned to the staircase. His heart raced. He hurried upwards. On the other floors he found smaller groups of criminals, but obviously the doors hadn¡¯t been breached yet. Thus, Liam evaded everyone, heading for Merida¡¯s clinic. ¡°Hey Wait!¡± ¡°Who are you?!¡± Angry shouts followed Liam, but he was too agile compared to these malnourished figures. Fortunately, no one else appeared as Liam reached the clinic. Thus, he took another set of stairs, reaching the door to Merida¡¯s apartment. But right now, it was blocked by six tall men and a woman. All of them wore ragged clothing, banging on the solid metal door. ¡°Doctor, open up! Don¡¯t worry, we will only take the money.¡± ¡°Yeah! Don¡¯t delay! If the boss comes personally, we can¡¯t guarantee for anything.¡± Liam felt complicated emotions. Coming from a mostly peaceful society and even being part of the highest class he never had to worry about anyone. No one would¡¯ve ever been able to reach his doorstep, neither clever thieves nor fervent fans.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. But now he imagined his poor sister hiding in the apartment, causing rage to boil in his chest. ¡°HEY! You b*stards! Take your hands away from that door!¡± The criminals were startled, turning around. Liam was surprised as he recognized a few of the faces. They belonged to the homeless who tried to rob him before. ¡°It¡¯s you?!¡± ¡°Harry, you know him?¡± ¡°Yes. Be careful. That kid has some moves.¡± The criminals¡¯ faces turned stern from the warning. But the woman among them eyed her companions mockingly. ¡°What? Seven against one and you are afraid?¡± ¡°Liz is right. Let¡¯s get him!¡± Liam took a deep breath, taking on the origin pose as taught by Master Baker. He stood in a narrow path, between the stair¡¯s railing and the wall. The homeless were apprehensive as it was only enough space for two people next to each other. Eventually someone gathered their courage. ¡°HA!¡± A deep shout was supposed to build confidence for the man as he threw a punch at Liam. But the latter stayed composed. He reached out with his hands. An iron grip shackled the criminal¡¯s arm as Liam pulled heavily. ¡°Woah!¡± The man tumbled forwards, meeting with Liam¡¯s knee. Someone tried to help, sending another fist. Liam scrunched his face as he blocked with his shoulder. With a pained groan the first man went to the floor. Liam moved swiftly, a heavy punch leaving the other attacker dazed. Another quick jab sent him to the floor. Someone gritted his teeth as he trampled on his companion, trying to grab Liam. The young man dodged backwards. No one dared to move. A strange silence fell on the room as the situation reversed. Now it appeared to be Liam who blocked the path, with the criminals turning apprehensive. ¡°He¡¯s just a kid, damn!¡±, cursed Liz. ¡°Grow a pair you dirty losers! Get him!¡± The men looked at each other. None of them expected to be met with trouble. So far, their superior numbers allowed them to easily overwhelm some weak citizens. ¡°AHH!¡± Suddenly it was Harry who dashed forward with a weird shout. He didn¡¯t know what he was doing, his defense wide open. Liam waited for the perfect timing. Now! A vicious kick lashed out. Liam¡¯s foot moved incredibly fast, letting Harry no time to react. ¡°Why?¡± The man pressed his hands between his legs, barely suppressing his urge to vomit as he dropped to the floor. The other criminals gulped, feeling a pain between their legs just from looking at Harry. Liz shook her head. ¡°After this he really needs to grow a new pair.¡± No one moved for a few seconds. ¡°Are you guys not coming anymore?¡±, taunted Liam. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come over here?¡± Liam¡¯s sharp eyes looked at the criminals. Although he was confident against one or two opponents, there was no need to take the risk of fighting against four. ¡°I can just stand here all day. When the army comes, you guys are done for.¡± ¡°Should we bet if the army comes first or your boss?¡± Liam saw the frown on Liz¡¯s face, calling her bluff. The criminals felt uneasy. If the army really came it was difficult to say what might happen to them. ¡°Guys. We need to leave.¡±, whispered Liz carefully. ¡°Let¡¯s not fight. Just try to get past him. On my signal. 3, 2, 1¡­ go!¡± Suddenly all four criminals moved. Liam readied his muscles, staring at his opponents. The two tall men in the lead held their arms close, sticking out their shoulders. Like angry bulls the criminals threatened to collide with Liam. Moving swiftly the young man took a step to the right, his leg shooting through the air. An ugly cracking sound sent shivers down everyone¡¯s spines. ¡°AH!¡± One of the men felt an enormous pain in his knee. Dropping to the floor he rolled and came to a stop before Liam¡¯s feet. The other man¡¯s eyes lit up. With the path no longer blocked he dashed past Liam, Liz following directly behind him. Liam wanted to stop the woman, but suddenly he felt something on his leg. He was shocked as he found it difficult to move. The man with his knee shattered had a vicious expression. With revenge on his mind he embraced Liam¡¯s legs, yelling loudly: ¡°NOW! Liz!¡± The woman gritted her teeth, suddenly pulling a knife from below her clothes. In the dim hallway it was difficult to spot. ¡°Rot in hell!¡± Liz swung her arm. Liam¡¯s chest tightened. He felt death approaching, acting purely on instinct. A loud clank echoed in the hallway. Metal clashed against metal. Liz froze, staring at her own hand in surprise. Liam realized that the VR console saved him. He was the first to move, shoving Liz away, somewhat panicky. ¡°No! Ah!¡± Everyone watched in horror as the woman received a strong push. Not able to keep her balance she crashed against the low railing, toppling over. ¡°Liz!¡± A horrified scream rang out. Even Liam was shaken, afraid that the woman might die. ¡°Ouh!¡± ¡°Damn!¡± ¡°Quick, let¡¯s get out of here!¡± Liam watched in relief as the man who escaped first awkwardly stopped Liz from falling on her head. He leaned on the wall, not pursuing as the last man rushed past him as well. Liam took deep breaths. The criminal who grabbed his legs let go and played dead. Liam scoffed, hoping for the army to arrive soon. He didn¡¯t care for the people on the floor, looking forward to seeing his sister. Right now, he needed a family to calm his chaotic, adrenaline-fueled nerves. Liam looked at down on his chest, where the VR console just blocked the knife. He absentmindedly typed in the security code. With a swish the door before him opened. ¡°Now!¡± Liam raised his head in confusion as two small bags came flying at him. He looked at Merida, who barely stopped herself from throwing. ¡°Liam!¡± Serena¡¯s joyful shout registered in his mind. Liam had a bad feeling, trying to dodge it but it was already too late. The bags crashed around him, popping open, spreading a yellow powder in the air. ¡°What?!¡± Liam felt as if all his organs were assaulted by an unbearable itch. He fell to the floor, questioning his life. Chapter 25: Ripples (I) A short while later Liam was lying on a couch in the living room. His eyes were red, his body feeling terrible. Serena was exhausted from the day¡¯s events, falling asleep on top of Liam. Next to him stood Kathrin, carefully nursing him and apologizing continuously for being one of the people who threw a bag at Liam. The young man could only smile wryly as the burning in his throat gradually subsided. At this moment orderly footsteps could be heard from outside. The doorbell rang. With a command from Merida, a screen next to the door revealed the outside view, showing a tall man and woman duo in tidy uniforms. Liam¡¯s mouth opened staring at Merida in disbelief and accusation, The woman didn¡¯t show any guilt as she explained: ¡°Those criminals didn¡¯t ring.¡± A moment later Merida opened the door, letting the visitors in. Two people entered the apartment, wearing red uniforms with black boots. Scabbards were tied to their belts, hiding dangerous cold weapons. Liam still wasn¡¯t quite sure why guns didn¡¯t develop well in this world. ¡°Citizens. We are private Gerjo and Lieutenant Taver from the Federation army, Falva Division. We apologize for any inconvenience today. The criminals in this district have been apprehended. Now, please let us talk to the brave fighter chasing away the criminals and I also must ask all of you to register as you might be called up as witness.¡± The uniformed woman spoke with a hint of warmth, contrary to the lieutenant next to her, whose expression made it clear that he didn¡¯t enjoy being here at all. When Kathrin pointed at Liam and praised his heroic deeds the male soldier looked at him with disregard, not impressed by the young man¡¯s current state. Nevertheless, the female private didn¡¯t forget what they came here for, approaching Liam with respect. ¡°Liam, right? Thank you on behalf of the city for standing up during troubled times.¡± ¡°Everyone would have done the same. Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Liam was somewhat flustered as everyone looked at him with kind eyes. A warm feeling settled in his heart. ¡°Oh, you would be surprised how many people don¡¯t have the same courage. You have reacted exceptionally and even proved that you can fight. The army could use people like you. Are you interested in joining?¡± Looking at the woman in surprise, Liam came to understand what was going on. Still, the army had a good reputation, and it was an honor being invited by them. Liam was contemplating the offer seriously, his judgement influenced by the sweet feeling of experiencing the genuine gratitude of others. But after a moment his eyes drifted to Serena still sleeping on his body. He carefully patted her head while speaking up: ¡°Thank you for the offer but I have someone to take care off.¡± There was no need to take risks with the army if he could earn money safely from the game. The private didn¡¯t show a change in emotions. ¡°A pity, but we respect your decision. If you ever change your mind, you can reach out to us here.¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. With those words the female soldier handed a small card over to Liam, who received it calmly. Suddenly the lieutenant spoke in a deep voice: ¡°He already declined. Why are we still wasting time here?¡± ¡°Apologies, Sir.¡± Under the rude man¡¯s urging the two soldiers quickly left. ¡°I often heard that some martial artists think they are better than us common people, but this soldier was really insufferable.¡±, commented one of Merida¡¯s workers. ¡°Hush! Are you crazy? Don¡¯t let them hear you!¡± ¡°Why? What can they do? The federation is still governed by law and order!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be na?ve they have a thousand ways to take revenge!¡± ¡°Shut up! Both of you!¡± Merida suddenly spoke in an authoritative tone, bringing silence to the room. *** An hour later in a high-rise building close to the majestic red oak tree. Close to the top was an enormous appartement. It was luxurious, with its own gym, whirlpool, a screen rivaling theaters, and more. A single picture on the wall was worth more than a whole group of lower-class citizens. At this moment a door opened, a tall woman stepping out. Her face looked slightly tired, with a fair skin, curly brown hair reaching her shoulders, and captivating green eyes. She wore the clothes of a martial arts student, her feet bare, exuding an athletic vibe. Despite a day of playing, she didn¡¯t feel much increase in her strength, as she already had a decent cultivation beforehand, reaching the marrow strengthening stage at twenty years old. Only two more stages and she would be able to draw starlight into her body, making her an official starlight master, respected throughout the federation. But right now, the young woman didn¡¯t look like a dignified starlight master at all, stretching her body and sitting down on a large dark wooden dining table. ¡°Young miss, any wishes?¡± A calm female voice came from a middle-aged woman in the kitchen. ¡°Just some water.¡± A moment later the servant appeared, pouring a glass of water. ¡°Thanks Daphne.¡± ¡°Daphne, pour me one as well, please!¡± ¡°Right away, young master!¡± The young miss looked to the side where her younger brother left his bedroom. His short black hair was parted in the middle. He wore beige, baggy clothes with metal pieces inlaid, partaking in the modern trend. If Liam was present, he would recognize the siblings as Silva and Felix who trained in the same dojo as him. Felix was excited as he approached the table, talking to his sister: ¡°Silva! It¡¯s unbelievable, right? The virtual world is so real! All the older games look like sh*t compared to Fate of Crunaboul!¡± ¡°Language, Felix.¡± Felix rolled his eyes, ignoring the remark. ¡°How far did you get? Ahh, never mind. You never played games before. If you have any questions, just ask me! By the way, what race did you choose? And what class? Maybe we can team up!¡± Silva smiled faintly looking at her eager brother. ¡°I choose nephilim and want to become a tank.¡± ¡°Nephilim tank? Ahh, sister¡­ why? If you want to become a tank you should¡¯ve chosen dwarf or orc. Why go with nephilim?¡± ¡°Their story sounded the most interesting. But don¡¯t worry, I have met an expert. He said that nephilim can become strong magic tanks.¡± ¡°An expert? This early in the game? Be careful that you don¡¯t get tricked! You know that those guys can spin the most outrageous lies if they fall for you!¡± Felix noticed the unpleasant expression on his sister¡¯s face. ¡°Sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have said this.¡± ¡°No. You are not wrong. But I¡¯ve matured a lot since then.¡± ¡°Exactly! I say you don¡¯t need some expert. You can make it in the game on your own, with a bit of support from your brother! Look, there was already a server announcement today! They also didn¡¯t have an expert among them! This only shows that everyone can make it in the game!¡± Silva looked at her brother with a strange expression. ¡°How do you know that there was no expert in the team?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Team TMMBC?! Which expert would accept such a team name?! Wouldn¡¯t they lose all face? Where can you brag with such a name?¡± Suddenly Silva couldn¡¯t hold it in, letting out a loud laugh, echoing like chimes under the high ceiling. Felix was surprised, about to ask a question. Ding! At this moment a conspicuous sound rang out, a metal door sliding to the side and revealing a spacious escalator. A middle-aged man and woman steeped out, their faces showing pleasant surprise upon hearing their daughter¡¯s joyful laughter. ¡°What¡¯s going on? You seem to be in a good mood.¡±, spoke the black-haired man in his deep voice. Felix and Silva perked up. ¡°Mom, dad! We just came out of the game.¡± ¡°Mhm. How is it?¡± With their mother¡¯s question, Felix began praising the game to high heaven. But Silva noticed the somewhat conflicted emotion in her parents¡¯ eyes. Soon she managed to get her question in: ¡°Mom, dad? What did you come here for? Especially dressed so formally?¡± Silva¡¯s mother sighed faintly as her father spoke up: ¡°Silva, the family dinner has been brought forward.¡± ¡°Oh? To today?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The air was somewhat oppressive. But Silva soon steeled her face. ¡°I want to go!¡± ¡°Are you sure? We told you before. You don¡¯t need to fight for the succession. We can just drop out. It¡¯s not a big deal, really. Our lives would still be great.¡± Silva looked into her parents¡¯ faces. They had this talk before. With his parents¡¯ blessing, Felix indeed dropped out of the race. But Silva could feel that this matter still weighed on her parents¡¯ minds. Their branch of the family didn¡¯t have it easy, with her father¡¯s older brother always being the favored one. But now that the virtual world appeared, the cards were shuffled anew, and no one could tell what the future might bring. Silva was more determined than ever to put her vicious uncle in place. Chapter 26: Ripples (II) In another luxurious high-rise building a young lady was putting on a fine red coat, her long blond hair bound above her head. A voice came from behind her back: ¡°Cynthia, are you going out today?¡± ¡°Yes, mom. I¡¯m meeting a few friends for dinner.¡± ¡°Please take some security with you. It¡¯s quite dangerous today.¡± ¡°Sure, sure. I¡¯m off then, bye.¡± ¡°Bye!¡± Cynthia left through the escalator, reaching a lower floor. A reception took the center of this floor, handling all kinds of miscellaneous matters for the inhabitants of the building. After a short talk she organized her favorite bodyguard, who waited with a luxurious limousine before her home. Cynthia got in, greeting the tall man responsible for her security. The limousine started, rushing along the highway, soon reaching a smaller building in a middle-class district. Cynthia left the car with her bodyguard, entering the building. She bought it as soon as she turned eighteen, serving as an escape for herself. Her parents didn¡¯t know about it. And to make sure this wouldn¡¯t change Cynthia casually handed her bodyguard a thousand credits, which he received without comment. A short while later the young woman left her house, now dressed in a white shirt, and ripped jeans. The car continued, soon reaching a famous nightclub. This was still in the middle-class area. The nightclub wasn¡¯t shabby and had a good reputation, but for a high-class lady like Cynthia it had a wicked flair. Coming here might be considered an act of rebellion. Cynthai smiled eagerly as she entered, her appearance immediately drawing eyes. Her bodyguard followed inconspicuously from behind, making sure nothing happened to the young lady. Finally, Cynthia entered a private booth. ¡°Look! Cy is here!¡± ¡°Cy! Damn girl, you look grate today!¡± Cynthia was warmly welcomed by a few young women. Judging from their getup and the drinks on the table, those women were well off but couldn¡¯t be counted among the high-class citizens. ¡°Cy, have you played already?¡± ¡°Of course. Mel, you won¡¯t believe it!¡± ¡°What? Tell us!¡± ¡°I made it into the first server announcement!¡± ¡°Haha, stop joking!¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t boast! We have been playing games together for years. Shouldn¡¯t we know it if you¡¯re a hidden bigshot?¡± ¡°Hey! I¡¯m not bad, alright! But we wouldn¡¯t have been able to do it without meeting an expert.¡± ¡°An expert? Is he cute?¡± Thinking of Liam¡¯s face in the game, Cynthia couldn¡¯t help but scrunch her face. Joyful laughter rang in the booth. ¡°Hey, Cy, if you make it big one day, don¡¯t forget about us.¡± ¡°Of course, of course! Didn¡¯t we always dream about our future guild? Maybe this is it! Let¡¯s rise to the top in Crunaboul!¡± ¡°Hah! That¡¯s the spirit! Cheers, girls!¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Cheers!¡± The mood was great as the girls clinked their glasses. Liam would¡¯ve been surprised if he overheard the conversation. Cyclone in the game indeed behaved like a newbie most of the time. But who could expect that Cynthia even hid her secret hobby from her best friend Silva. *** Meanwhile the mood was oppressive in another nightclub. Boom! ¡°Bullsh*t!¡± Serin the Butcher shouted angrily as he threw his VR console through the room. ¡°Too old?! TOO OLD?! Who put an age limit on this sh*tty console?! What are those b*stards planning?¡± ¡°F*CK!¡± A few of Serin¡¯s subordinates shivered at the side, not daring to let out a single noise. Their boss had rarely been this burning with rage. But this week was indeed going purely. The target they had been looking out for hasn¡¯t returned. On top of that the people on lookout missed the start of the virtual world, as well as the subsequent looting. A few other gangs even mocked them after a large harvest. And as if one misfortune wasn¡¯t enough, they were still hit by the subsequent sweeping done by the army, costing them a lot of money. But Serin was actually the most enraged by the age limit placed on the virtual world, preventing him from playing Fate of Crunaboul. Many reliable sources stressed the importance of the game multiple times. Even their VIPs placed a lot of focus on it. Serin¡¯s chest heaved. He took a large sip of some unrecognizable liquid, his eyes cloudy. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t see the growing ambition in the eyes of some of his subordinates. Those who got their hands on a console could already feel the newfound strength of their bodies, looking forward to a bright future. *** A tumultuous night passed, sending a ripple through the entire human federation or even the entire world. Many plans were set into motion. The real extent of change can only be judged in the future. But Liam didn¡¯t think so much as he woke up the next morning. He was only glad as he felt much better already. Standing up early he threw his old clothes to the ground. He stopped for a moment, wondering where the pile folded neatly atop a chair came from. However, he had a lot of his mind, ignoring the issue. Liam grabbed a quick breakfast, reading some news. ¡°Everyone is going crazy for a console. The government confirmed that strength ingame can be reflected in reality. Every planet is their own server. They even congratulated those accomplishing server announcements. The attention put on the game is obvious.¡± Liam was deep in thought as he finished eating. Without waking the two women he left the apartment and headed for the martial dojo. Yesterday Merida confronted him about the VR console. Liam apologized multiple times for keeping it secret. Merida didn¡¯t know what to feel about the virtual world, but she was glad that Liam at least didn¡¯t accept some dangerous job. After the conversation Liam could¡¯ve stayed at home to play, but he didn¡¯t forget Master Baker¡¯s words, still trying not to neglect his martial arts training. Thus, Liam arrived at the dojo early. He was surprised as a luxurious car stopped in front of the building. Silva and Felix got off, both seemingly lost in thought. ¡°Morning guys!¡± The siblings snapped back to reality from Liam¡¯s greeting. Felix immediately showed a bright smile. ¡°Liam! Hey! Damn, you still came. Haha, the master will be glad!¡± ¡°Morning Liam.¡± ¡°Of course I came. Strength from the console is only external after all.¡± ¡°Right. I took it off once yesterday. The feeling was terrible!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t feel that much difference.¡± Felix rolled his eyes as he felt as if his sister was boasting. ¡°You are playing as well, Silva?¡± ¡°Of course. There¡¯s no way around it right now.¡± The trio conversed happily as they reached the large training gym. Master Baker was already waiting, not showing any emotion on his face. ¡°Good. You are here. Silva, Felix you can train by yourself for a while. I will teach you later.¡± ¡°Yes, master!¡± ¡°As for Liam, you come over here.¡± Liam was surprised by the treatment but complied. Subsequently Master Baker ordered him to take off the console before beginning to teach him a new posture. It looked easy but all of Liam¡¯s muscles burned after just a few minutes. However, when Master Baker explained that this was necessary to reach the first stage in martial training, flesh strengthening, Liam swallowed his complaints. From Silva and Felix, he already knew the stages of martial artists. One¡¯s body must be strengthened first, beginning with flesh, bone, marrow, and blood strengthening. Afterwards one was ready to draw starlight into the body and awaken the constellation inherent to every being, officially becoming a starlight master. Every constellation consisted of ten stars. Filling them up with starlight, one would enter the corresponding 1-star to 10-star ranks, eventually reaching the top. But after knowing all of this, Liam couldn¡¯t help but doubt it in his heart. Because after reaching level 100 in the game, one would also awaken a constellation. Unfortunately, C refused to answer his questions and he couldn¡¯t ask anyone else. But now it seemed as if Master Baker had accepted Liam, teaching him the genuine Winding Dragon Art. Maybe this would allow Liam to solve his doubts on his own one day. For now, he could only train diligently, ignoring all the pain. After an hour Master Baker sent Liam away to train on his own, focusing on Silva and Felix. Liam returned to his training room. With some time left until the game opened, he pondered how to kill time. Eventually he settled on replicating a training from his old life. Liam liked to perform the skill from the game in the real world. It would allow him to perfect his movements, making his skills difficult to block or evade. Thus, Liam focused his mind and performed [Double Slash] and [Sidestep] continuously until his arms and legs grew tired. Finally, 9:00 approached. Liam sat on the floor, sweat sticking to his body. But he didn¡¯t care as he put on his VR console, eager to return to Crunaboul. Suddenly Liam¡¯s vision grew dark as the console sent him to the virtual world. Chapter 27: Reylar’s temple Liam reappeared in the town square of Prento. Excited chatter reached his ears as more and more players entered the game. From the platform not far away a constant stream of new players walked down. After the news spread yesterday, everyone did their best to get their hands on a console. Those noobs mostly looked around in wonder, only a few walking with purpose. Some of the veteran players also gathered on the town square. They flaunted their achievements to enjoy the admiring gazes of others. ¡°Hey, you, look. I played the entire day yesterday, already reaching level three! Do you know what this means? Level three is the highest level right now!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him! Level three is nothing if you just farm lame monsters! But I was among the first to kill the elite monster ¡®Huge Red-eyed Rabbit¡¯! That¡¯s something no one can replicate!¡± ¡°Tzz. Amateurs!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I said amateurs! I already discovered the first dungeon yesterday while you were still playing around in the newbie village!¡± The last person grinned under his hood as many came to eagerly talk to him. Liam overheard the discussion. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a pinch of annoyance as he realized someone had overtaken him. His competitive streak reared itself. Obviously, Liam wasn¡¯t as unperturbed as he wished to believe. Being at the top is boring but getting there might still offer some challenges. At this moment a notification suddenly popped up before Liam. [Congratulations! [Double Slash] reached rank 2!] [Congratulations! [Sidestep] reached rank 2!] Liam stared at the empty air in shock and confusion. He couldn¡¯t comprehend how his skills suddenly leveled up. Usually this took hundreds of uses at lower ranks and thousands at higher ranks. Liam only believed it as he checked his skill¡¯s information. [Double Slash (rank 2) Cost: 6 Fury Effect: Slash out two times in quick succession, dealing 85% (PATK) and 135%(PATK) physical damage. Cooldown: 6 seconds] Liam tried to understand the reason but ultimately, he could only ask C. C? What¡¯s going on with my skills? [Your skills rose through repeated training, Player Liam.] But I didn¡¯t¡­ wait. Are you talking about training in real life? [Indeed, player Liam.] Liam¡¯s thoughts were chaotic as he processed the information. Something like this never happened in his past life. Is this something everyone can do? [Indeed, player Liam.] Liam stood frozen for a while. But eventually he pushed the matter to the back of his mind. His situation wouldn¡¯t change much. Subsequently Liam left the town square, his thoughts back on the first dungeon. Reylar¡¯s curse¡­ However, the dungeon was only accessible from level 5-10, so the players would most likely be able to enter sometime tomorrow. Liam pondered for a bit as he formed plans in his mind.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. I need to make some preparations. I can earn money from the dungeon and fight some bosses soon. The veteran gamer realized that his schedule was densely packed. Thus, he hurried up and left the novice village. Cyclone invited him to play but Liam declined, urging her to level up and meet later that day. At this point he had already left through the western gate, walking deep into the outer forest. Liam had a clear path in his mind as he tried to avoid most fights. Soon, the area turned more hilly as Liam advanced in the direction of the volcano. The flaming giant appeared big in his view, but Liam knew that it was still quite a distance away. He followed a narrow path through the dense forest. Fortunately, most of the obvious paths in Crunaboul were free from monsters, allowing Liam to reach his target soon. Withered, dark steles lined the path, most of them broken, their surfaces covered in cracks. The surrounding temperature dropped, the light dimming. A notification appeared before Liam¡¯s eyes. [Discovered Reylar¡¯s temple. Reward: 15EXP] [EXP: 90/500] Liam took a last turn as an old temple appeared in his vision. It was heavily damaged, its once pristinely white wall darkened and broken in many places. A few smaller structures once surrounded the temple, but only some walls and rubble were left. A player could be seen lingering at the temple¡¯s entrance. Liam wasn¡¯t surprised about the man¡¯s presence as the first dungeon, Reylar¡¯s curse, was located here. Suddenly a monster walked out form behind a pile of rubble, its narrow eyes focused on Liam. The veteran kept his calm, using [Inspect]. [Cursed Wolf Rank: Common Level: 4 HP: 120/120] Liam didn¡¯t back down as the wolf clad in pitch-black fur rushed towards him. The agile monster had a high movement speed. Ordinary players might get overwhelmed, but Liam reacted leisurely. As a large maw with disgusting black teeth bit at him, Liam took a step to the side, retaliating in kind. [Stance -6] [-24!] The wolf howled angrily, its voice sounding like the weeping of ghosts. Another attack followed but Liam blocked quickly. [Double Slash]! [Stance -8] [-20! -36!] The wolf lost more than half its HP. A real animal might run away now but in the game the monster naturally kept attacking. A short while later the wolf¡¯s HP bottomed out. Liam received a generous 17EXP. But just as he wanted to carry on, another monster attacked from his back. Liam frowned as he dodged to the side. [Stance -6] With a grim face Liam realized that his stance was used up. The wolves had given him no time to recover between fights. Although stance recovered during fights as well, it only did so slowly. From Liam¡¯s calculations he had to take at least two hits until he could dodge again. The veteran focused his mind as he started with another [Double Slash] [-19! -36!] The wolf fletched its teeth, sending a claw attack. [-47!] Liam drew a sharp breath as a huge number appeared, sending him close to critical health immediately. Without the Nephilim¡¯s resistance against dark damage, it would¡¯ve been even worse. Stronger than I thought. Why? Despite his doubts he wasn¡¯t distracted, attacking again. [-24!] The wolf swung its claw, difficult to detect in the dim light, but Liam hastily used [Sidestep]. I have to save my fury. But it might still not be enough. The pattern repeated twice more but eventually Liam had no fury left and the wolf was only at half HP. Just as he planned to use his barely recovered stance to disengage the fight and recover, a deep voice reached his ears. ¡°Don¡¯t worry friend! Radiant Shield is here!¡± Liam was taken aback, missing the perfect timing to get away from the monster. But a tall man with broad shoulders suddenly jumped in front of him blocking the wolf¡¯s attack with his shield. ¡°What are you waiting for, let¡¯s kill this beast and bring peace to its cursed soul!¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Liam hid his amusement as he attacked quickly. Together with the newly appeared tank he easily took the wolf down, even landing the last hit. But the two men didn¡¯t have much time to celebrate as more and more wolves appeared in the vicinity. ¡°You choose a bad time, my friend! Those cursed beasts are respawning in droves. Let¡¯s enter the once sacred temple. It¡¯s divine might sill keeps the monsters outside.¡± Liam was almost questioning whether he talked to an NPC or a player. But he held back, not wanting to antagonize the kind tank. ¡°Thanks for your help. I¡¯m Bleary Mirage.¡± ¡°You are welcome, warrior! My name is Radiant Shield, future hero of the nephilim!¡± ¡°Maybe you should have chosen the human race.¡±, murmured Liam inaudibly. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± A moment later the two men walked up some stairs, entering the large temple. Liam spotted a few other players lingering around a large, closed gate. Some NPCs prevented the players from getting too close, protecting a male nephilim who apparently prepared some kind of ritual. ¡°My friend, did you come to assist these righteous priests as well?¡± Radiant Shield spoke while pointing at the NPCs. Liam naturally knew that these NPCs would only interact with players when the dungeon opened. ¡°Well, I¡¯m just taking a look.¡± ¡°Oh, I understand, another curious soul drawn by the tales of the first dungeon.¡± ¡°Sorry bro, he just likes to roleplay. Don¡¯t take it seriously. I¡¯m Sun¡¯s knight. Nice to meet you.¡± A tall man with red makeup around his eyes approached with a wry smile. ¡°Bleary Mirage.¡± Liam shook hands with the tall man while Radiant Shield rolled his eyes. ¡°How often do I have to tell you? Someone who doesn¡¯t roleplay doesn¡¯t love the game! Oh, I mean. He who doesn¡¯t stay true to himself, will be forsaken by the world.¡± Liam and Sun¡¯s Knight both had to chuckle. ¡°Bleary Mirage, did you come for a quest? I¡¯m afraid there isn¡¯t much to get here. We also thought about going back just now.¡± ¡°Well, I came to fetch something for a different quest.¡± ¡°Oh! If you need help, just speak my name, friend!¡± Liam pondered for a second. Although the two men didn¡¯t appear as if they wanted to steal from him, he could only feel relieved when the item was in his hands. ¡°Thanks for the offer but I¡¯m alright. I will just grind slowly.¡± Chapter 28: Hidden Prayer Room Radiant Shield wasn¡¯t discouraged by the rejection. ¡°A pity. If you ever need help in the future, don¡¯t hesitate to ask.¡± ¡°If you really mean it, I might indeed need help later today.¡±, nodded Liam. ¡°You can count on me as long as my name is Radiant Shield!¡± ¡°He means we¡¯re looking forward to playing with you.¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯ll message you.¡± Liam wasn¡¯t surprised by the men¡¯s behavior. He knew that many people liked to make friends in the game. In his old life Liam might have rejected them, afraid that others would drag him down or steal his knowledge. But now he was a lot more relaxed about these kinds of things. Thus, he sent a friend invitation to the two men before they left the temple. Liam lingered for a bit more, making use of his passive regeneration, observing the wolves outside. Seeing a few other players struggling against the monsters, Liam finally couldn¡¯t ignore his doubts anymore, asking C. C, tell me, are all monsters stronger? I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m mistaken so often! [¡­] [This is Hell difficulty, Player Liam.] Liam raised his brows sharply. Finally, he got confirmation. Hell difficulty¡­ Liam¡¯s surprise quickly turned to excitement as he tried to comprehend what this meant for his future gaming experience. From what I¡¯ve seen so far, I must reevaluate every mob. I have to consider them at least 10% stronger in my calculations. Liam grinned as he thought about a few particularly difficult bosses, looking forward to challenging them in the future. But unfortunately, his opponents now were still a few cursed wolves. Liam went outside, continuing his fight. He moved slowly, only drawing one enemy after another while searching around. Distancing himself from the temple, Liam reached the edge of the zone. The buildings here were the most damaged, only rubble overgrown with shrubbery remaining. Players hadn¡¯t discovered the usefulness of exploration yet, most of them adhering to quests. But Liam knew that many secrets were hidden everywhere in the world. One of them was around Reylar¡¯s Temple, extremely difficult to find. However, Liam was naturally at a huge advantage. After fifteen minutes of strolling around he found a conspicuous boulder half buried in the ground. In Crunaboul almost everything was destructible with enough strength and patience. [Inspect] could reveal the HP of objects. A normal rock had at least 600HP. But this one¡­ [Boulder HP: 1/1] Liam grinned, knowing that this was the game¡¯s way of grabbing the players¡¯ attention. After this information spread, people would explore every nook and cranny, trying to find items with 1HP. But compared to the enormous size of the world it was like playing in the lottery with a chance of maybe 1:1,000,000. Liam inwardly thanked these tireless explorers as he drew his sword and stabbed at the boulder. With the slightest touch the boulder disintegrated into dust, carried away by a cold breeze.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. A dark staircase appeared before Liam¡¯s eyes, looking quite eerie as it swallowed all light. However, knowing what to expect Liam didn¡¯t hesitate as he stepped on the wet stone. After a short descend Liam arrived at a door which barely clung to its hinges. Liam carefully pushed it open. Thud! The door didn¡¯t withstand the slightest movement, falling to the ground with a loud sound echoing conspicuously in the dark. Rustling could be heard. Something woke up. Suddenly torches lit up on both sides, revealing a large room to Liam. It was decorated with chains and skulls, dry bloodstains on the walls. Some distance away stood a small sacrificial altar. [Discovered hidden prayer room. Reward: 40EXP] [EXP: 280/500] Since this place was considered secret, it gave more EXP upon discovering. But before Liam could scan the room, a human-like figure with extremely pale face walked out from behind a pillar, approaching him. In the light of the torch, one could see the figure¡¯s rotting skin and withered hair. Even Liam had to focus and not get distracted by the disgusting appearance. [Minor Zombie Rank: Common Level: 4 HP: 60/60] Minor Zombies were rather weak creatures, but they often appeared in groups. Thus, Liam didn¡¯t enter the room, waiting by the door for the opponent to arrive. ¡°Gnaah Lerkk.¡± The zombie¡¯s dislocated jaw moved, letting out strange sounds. ¡°Shut up.¡± Liam initiated the attack, making use of his sword¡¯s reach. [-32!] Satisfied with his damage the veteran took a step back. Since the zombie wasn¡¯t able to attack yet, this didn¡¯t count as dodge. A moment later Liam¡¯s attack was off cooldown, another swift slash finishing the zombie off. The fight ended quickly but Liam didn¡¯t dare to be complacent. A soft breeze came from his back, letting the torches sway eerily. Right then the corpses scattered on the ground began moving. They stood up, staring at Liam with small green flames in their eyes. Liam readied his sword as the zombies approached him with stiff steps. He stayed outside the room, waiting for the perfect moment. Suddenly his sword flashed, using [Double Slash] [-27! -42!] [-27! -42!] Liam¡¯s sword drew a graceful curve. Both his slashes hit two zombies, killing them both. Attacks like this one were the reason why he trained the movement of his skills to perfection. With strong enough control one was able to get the maximum out of every skill. The remaining eight zombies weren¡¯t intimidated, however, continuing without stopping. Liam kept a calm mind. Preventing them from swarming him, he got rid of them one by one. Soon, the zombies returned to their lifeless states, lying dead before Liam¡¯s feet. Liam stayed calm as the fight ended. Knowing that zombies dropped fabric, which was a useful item for many professions, Liam quickly looted them all. But to his pleasant surprise he found a small bottle in his hand after a few attempts. [Minor poison of decay Category: Common Effect: Deals 40+2%(HP) poison damage per second. Lasts for five seconds. Charges: 3 Don¡¯t get it on your hands!] Poison was one of the many consumables in the game. It could be applied on weapons to unleash its effects. Liam was satisfied, finally entering the room. A moldy smell assaulted his nose, incredibly lifelike. The heat of the torches fought against the cold from outside, but the bloody room made one¡¯s body freeze, nevertheless. Liam was already used to such scenes, ignoring it for the most part as he began searching the room. Random chests stood at the side. Some players might think they encountered their first treasure chest but Liam recognized them as part of the scenery. Opening them only revealed some moldy food bitten by rats. Liam shook his head. The prayer room he was in was first discovered by a teammate of his in Liam¡¯s first life. It was supposed to contain a certain key, but his teammate never explained were exactly. Thus, Liam was forced to search all the miscellaneous chests and decorations. Suddenly a crisp sound could be heard. Liam¡¯s eyes lit up. He put the skull in his hand back on its pedestal, scanning the floor. He found a small black key which just dropped out of the skull. [Black Key Category: ??? A black key, found in the hidden prayer room. Its use is unknown. You found the key but where is the lock?] Naturally Liam knew the usage of the key, or he wouldn¡¯t have deliberately searched for it. He put it into his inventory before directing his gaze at a shelf he ignored so far. It was filled with tattered books covered in dust. Their covers were grey, their sites yellowed by time. However, upon a closer look one would notice one book standing out. Below all the dust a violet light peeked out, proving that one of the books survived the erosion of time. Liam took it away, reading its title out loud. ¡°Refresnim!¡± Refresnim was one of the devils in hell and the book baring its name was a lore book containing tales about the devil. But in this prayer room it had another function. As soon as Bleary Mirage spoke the devil¡¯s name, the torches flickered ominously. A rumble rang through the room as the wall before Liam began moving. A large part of it opened, turning and revealing a secret passage, the way forward pitch black. The wailing of ghosts could vaguely be heard. Even Liam felt the hairs on his arms stand up as he stared into the darkness. He grabbed a torch from the room before entering, the door closing behind him. A corridor made from rough stone was revealed in the flickering flame. Liam advanced carefully, his eyes on the floor, knowing that this path was filled with traps. He spotted a few reddish spots on the ground, avoiding them carefully. After a while most players would gain a rudimentary pathfinder profession, allowing them to spot some traps. A few classes, mostly those evolved from thieves, also had a bonus on this profession. But at this point in the game traps were still a novelty most people other than Liam would fall for. Chapter 29: Treasure storage [-1!] [-1!] [-1!] Suddenly Liam stopped in place. His HP continued to sink steadily as ghostly laughter echoed in the corridor. But Liam didn¡¯t panic, using his [Inspect]. Instantly a few white, ghostly heads not bigger than Liam¡¯s arm appeared in his vision. Strange steam came from their mouths as they swished through the corridor. [Minor Hungry Ghost Rank: Common Level: 2 HP: 1/1 A small ghost taking a bite out of everything it passes through.] Liam was somewhat surprised that these ghosts appeared earlier than he expected, but it didn¡¯t matter much. He calmly swung his sword in front of him. The ghosts laughed mockingly as they passed through without being affected. If his sword was of a higher level and had a durability stat it would be slightly damaged. [-1!] [-1!] [-1!] Liam stayed unperturbed as he had already expected this. With a flick of his hand, he suddenly grabbed something else out of his inventory. It was a moldy apple. The hungry ghosts didn¡¯t react to Liam¡¯s action, continuing their crisscrossing flight. One of them dashed straight for Liam¡¯s chest, eager to suck the vitality out of this living being. But instead, it was met with an apple. The ghost scrunched its face as if it had eaten something disgusting, disappearing in thin air and giving Liam 10EXP. Naturally the other monsters didn¡¯t show any more intelligence. While Liam advanced, they dove at him, gradually all dying to the apple. Suddenly a notification popped up before Liam: [Congratulations, you have reached level 3.] [Please remember to distribute your attribute points.] Liam couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Easiest level up of my life.¡± [Congratulations, you have learned [Brutal Strike]!] Liam grew more confident in his upcoming endeavor as he took a quick look at his status and new skill.
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Name: Bleary Mirage
Level: 3
Race: Original Nephilim
Class: Warrior
Primary Attributes:
STR: 13
INT: 1
AGI: 7
HP: 117/117
Fury: 0/32
(show more)Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
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[Brutal Strike (rank 1) Cost: 6 Fury Effect: Gather all your strength for a brutal strike. Deal 130% (PDMG) and stun for a maximum of 4 seconds. Cooldown: 8 seconds] Liam refocused his mind as he finally arrived at a black metal door. Dark red lines spread on the door like blood vessels, giving off an ominous aura. Taking a deep breath the warrior reached out with his hand and pushed the door open. He felt a short prick on his hand. Although in the game no blood ran from his hand, he continuously lost HP again. [-1!] [-1!] [-1!] After 10HP the door had finally drunk its fill and slowly moved, granting Liam the right to continue. He arrived in a large underground hall. Within the high ceiling a few small crystals were inlaid, emitting a blueish light. The center of the room was wide open, its walls lined with shelves and racks carrying all kinds of items. But Liam didn¡¯t have time to take a look at those yet as a shuffling reached his ears. A monster gradually revealed itself from the shadows. Liam¡¯s eyes narrowed as he observed its two bloodlusted heads sitting on top of a slender black furred body. The monster reached Liam¡¯s chest in height, viscous drool dripping out of its wide maws. ¡°Roaar!¡± A horrifying roar echoed through the hall, chilling Liam. [Minor two-headed hellhound Rank: Elite Level: 4 HP: 600/600] Suddenly the hellhound rushed forward, moving silently like a shadow. Liam adjusted his position. He stood under the light in order to spot the monster more easily. A moment later the ferocious hound arrived. It clawed at Liam, eager to tear the greedy human apart. Liam defended quickly. [Stance -6] Liam was glad about his level up as he took a step backward to mitigate the hound¡¯s momentum. He waited with a tense heart. After a second his own attack was off cooldown, directly swinging his sword. [-34!] Only a fraction of a second later the hellhound attacked as well. Liam moved perfectly, dodging another claw. He grinned confidently. ¡°Even with a slight buff, your attack speed is still so slow!¡± The hellhound bellowed angrily. Feeling as if the human mocked it, it suddenly opened its mouths wide. Liam remained vigilant. Noticing the monster¡¯s move, he instantly used his new skill. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t!¡± Grabbing his sword with both hands he raised it above his head and brought it down to deliver a vicious blow. [Brutal Strike] [-44!] [Status: Stun 2,6 seconds] The game took the strength difference into consideration when calculating the stun duration. But Liam was satisfied. A lot of damage could be done in a few seconds. [-34!] [Status: Armor shred] Liam¡¯s eyes lit up as his weapon¡¯s effect luckily triggered. He quickly followed with a [Double Slash]. [-47! -64!] A huge chunk of the hellhound¡¯s HP was gone in an instant. The monster still seemed dazed after recovering from the stun, as if not able to comprehend how the human was able to interrupt its skill. [-52!] Another heavy blow from Liam¡¯s sword woke up the hellhound. It let out a wail as its claws stabbed like bloodlusted daggers. Liam defended gracefully, shifting to the side. At this point the rotation began from the beginning. Liam knew he only needed to take care of the monster¡¯s skill, and this fight wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. After a few seconds the hellhound already lost most of its HP, staring at Liam with rage in its eyes. Suddenly it let out a loud howl. Liam was surprised as black energy gathered around the hellhound. Its size increased slightly, while its eyes took on a bloodred color. ¡°Are you kidding me?! You¡¯re a level 4 elite! Where did you get a berserk state from?!¡± Liam was genuinely shocked. Usually not even all boss monsters were able to enter a berserk state, but now this mere elite was suddenly able to do it? Is this also [Hell] difficulty?] Liam drew a sharp breath. He saw the monster¡¯s status return to normal, quickly landing another [Double Slash]. [-18! -31!] The hellhound roared triumphantly as its transformation was over. All its stats had increased. Liam immediately experienced it closely as the hound¡¯s claws arrived with increased speed. Liam reacted almost instinctively, turning his body, the claw nearly ripping open his armor. [Stance -9] Realizing that he only had one dodge left, Liam gritted his teeth. He had to end the fight quickly. Meanwhile the hellhound showed almost human-like grins on its ugly faces as it raised them high. Liam felt an itch in his chest. He knew the monster¡¯s skill would follow again. He swung his sword with all his might. [Brutal Strike] [-26!] Liam did a good amount of damage but unfortunately the stun didn¡¯t follow. Monsters in berserk state had a solid resistance to all status affects and Liam¡¯s luck appeared to be rather bad. At this moment two balls of black fire arrived. Liam tried to defend with his sword, but his stance emptied out, leaving his body sluggish. He could only block part of the damage. [-36!] Liam took a deep breath. From his calculations he could barely survive another skill. But the monster was close to dying as well. The fight should be winnable! Both opponents exchanged another normal attack. The hellhound fletched its teeth. Its heads rose again. Liam stared at his cooldowns. 0,3 0,2 0,1 Now! Liam moved like lightning, his training over the years paying off at this moment. He arrived before the hellhound as flames already gathered in the monster¡¯s mouths. A sword flickered mysteriously under the blue light. A sorrowful wail echoed from the walls as the hellhound¡¯s HP emptied out. The monster wobbled and fell to the ground. Sparks scattered from its mouth as it wasn¡¯t able to produce another fireball. Liam sighed in relief. He understood how close this fight was. If it was a different type of monster with more intelligence, opening up some distance before casting its skill, Liam might have lost his life here. Although his HP were barely below half, not appearing critical, it only would¡¯ve taken one more fireball to kill him. Not only are the monsters stronger but they also have some unexpected moves. Is this [Hell] mode? Liam sorted his thoughts as he reached out for the hound¡¯s corpse, praying for some premium loot. The 100EXP he received were already substantial. If he could get some good items as well, he would be satisfied. ¡°I don¡¯t ask for much. Just one legendary item, alright?¡± Liam joked around without anybody to hear it while pulling his hand back. A few items transferred directly into his inventory while a green shimmer spread from his hand. He grinned as he inspected the chest armor in his hand. [Black Flame Chest Category: Magic Level requirement: 3 Physical Defense: 6 Magical Defense: 5 Bonus defense against fire damage: 4 A chest armor hardened by a hellhound¡¯s black flame.] Liam quickly put on his new armor, looking quite stylish clad in smooth black metal. Apart from this he also received common trousers and a strange small fiery stone. Liam recognized it as a hellhound¡¯s fire source, knowing that it was quite rare at this stage in the game. Chapter 30: Back to town After sorting out his loot Liam could finally take a look around. He found various items on the walls. All of them were cursed, not useful in their current states. But Liam pocketed them anyway. Although they weren¡¯t impressive, they could fetch some money after the curse is broken. Thus, Liam¡¯s inventory rapidly filled. Soon he reached the deepest part of the storage. A grin formed on his face as he spotted an inconspicuous chest. But despite its shabby looks this chest was a real treasure chest. It was of the lowest wooden rank. However, a treasure chest always hid precious rewards. Liam reached out with his hands, a progress bar appearing. Five seconds later the chest opened. A faint light played around it. Liam looked at his hand, finding a piece of paper in it. [Recipe: Basic Health Potion Effects: Use to learn the recipe for ¡®Basic Health Potion¡¯. Requirements: none The first recipe for many alchemists.] Liam stared at the recipe with pleasant surprise. Health potions were an essential part of the game, coveted by everyone. The alchemist able to concoct them was basically printing money. Unfortunately, Liam never found much joy in cooking herbs. He would rather make a deal with an alchemist, opening his own business. Doing so would take a lot of effort and time, but the rewards would be limitless. Many lucky players in his old life got rich from opening up shops in the game. Plans began to take form in Liam¡¯s mind as he put away the recipe. He was almost done with searching the storage, save for one conspicuous pedestal. A small blue-black sphere rested on top of it. Liam already knew what to expect as this was the item he came here for. He took the sphere away, studying it shortly. [Refresnim¡¯s dark orb of flight Category: Unique Effect: Allows for 60 seconds of flight. Charges: 3 per day. Restrictions: Only original and dark nephilim Bound item. Can¡¯t be traded, dropped, or sold. The pact between the nephilim and hell has been broken. But Refresnim¡¯s magic lets your black wings shine again.] Liam was glad that he got his hand on this item early. Since it was unique there was only one throughout all servers. Although its description might not sound powerful, Liam knew that it would assist him in reaching a lot of usually inaccessible places. Liam took one last look, making sure not to forget anything. Done with his work he turned around and went back the way he came from. The secret door opened by itself as Liam stepped back into the prayer room. But suddenly he stopped in place. ¡°Something moved!¡± ¡°Damn, a secret door!¡± ¡°Stop it before it closes!¡± Excited voice echoed in the hidden room. About a dozen players were cramped in it, their eyes staring at the quickly closing wall. ¡°Fool, you blocked me! I didn¡¯t reach the door!¡± The players shoved each other in annoyance.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. While the commotion threatened to escalate, a somewhat chubby man stepped forward, shouting loudly. ¡°Everyone! Don¡¯t fight! Isn¡¯t there someone who knows how to enter the secret door?¡± Liam frowned as he stared at the speaker, finding him familiar. He recalled the man called Fat Tiger, who schemed against the players back in Rabbit Creek. This guy definitely meant trouble. ¡°Yo, that fatty is right. You! Tell us how to get through!¡± Liam detected a ferocious glint in Fat Tiger¡¯s eyes. Obviously, the man didn¡¯t appreciate the comment about his body. ¡°All of you want to enter?¡± ¡°Wait.¡±, warned Fat Tiger. ¡°That guy probably already looted whatever is hidden behind the secret door. It¡¯s no use going there. It would be better to make him hand it over!¡± ¡°True, true.¡± ¡°You, warrior! You heard him. Obediently hand over your loot if you don¡¯t want to lose a life today!¡± Liam silently stared at the crowd, his face still showing a smile of confidence. ¡°And who do I give my loot to?¡± ¡°Me of course.¡± ¡°I take it. ¡°Here!¡± Instantly the placers¡¯ unity was broken, prompting Fat Tiger to intervene: ¡°Guys, don¡¯t fight! Don¡¯t fight! Let¡¯s first get the loot and then divide it fairly!¡± ¡°Haha, good plan¡­ fatty¡­ I won¡¯t forget you.¡± Liam grinned at Fat Tiger, sending a chill down the man¡¯s spine. Fat Tiger retreated, getting a bad premonition. At this moment Liam spat out a word: ¡°Ternavolae!¡± Ternavolae was the name of the goddess of fertility, revered by most races. Coincidentally she was also the devil Refresnim¡¯s most hated enemy. With a single word all the torches abruptly extinguished. The room was engulfed by darkness. The rattling of chains could be heard. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Who turned off the light?!¡± ¡°Damn, who touched my butt? Do it again!¡± The players were confused, exclaiming loudly. Liam took the chance to push into the crowd unseen. He hastily approached the door, knowing that it was not a good idea to stay here any longer. Quickly he felt the stairs before him, dashing up to freedom. Panicked screams and whaling ghosts rang out behind him, making him shiver. A moment later Liam took a deep breath of fresh air having it made outside. But soon he frowned. ¡°Come out!¡± ¡°You¡¯re indeed a pro. Not bad. But you can¡¯t escape today!¡± Liam turned his head left and right as players appeared from behind the surrounding rubble. With close to twenty players they formed a tight encirclement, their greedy eyes staring at Liam. Fat Tiger stood at the front, pushing out his chest proudly. ¡°Hehe. I have always liked robbing you pros the most. The items you carry should be quite impressive.¡± ¡°Boss, that chest plate doesn¡¯t look bad.¡± ¡°Yeah, and this sword isn¡¯t too shabby either.¡± ¡°Good job guys. Who was it that reported this information? You will get the first pick.¡± A thief, only his eyes recognizable, spoke up in joy. ¡°It was me, boss!¡± [Dark Shadow Walker] Liam nodded as he committed their names to memory. ¡°Mirage! There is no need to struggle. Just obediently hand over everything.¡± ¡°F*ck off.¡± Liam knew that there wasn¡¯t much to talk about. He would get his revenge in the future. Fat Tiger was confused as his target suddenly revealed their wings. Like all original nephilim, one of those was lively and white, while the other was listless and dark. However, Liam took out his newly acquired item, activating it with a thought. Instantly dark mana gathered around the black wing. It began to emit a mysterious pressure. A moment later it unfolded, showing of its might as if eager to compete with the white wing. Liam didn¡¯t delay any longer. His wings flapped as he shot in the air. ¡°What? Sh*t! Quickly, shoot, shoot! Where are our mages? Shoot him down!¡± Fat Tiger showed the qualities of a leader, reacting swiftly to unexpected changes. Spells were cast, shooting at Liam. But the veteran traveled too fast. It was easy evading these unexperienced mages. Soon he was out of their range, disappearing into the forest. ¡°RAHH!¡± While Fat Tiger yelled angrily, Liam enjoyed the feeling of the wind ruffling his hair. Unfortunately, the orb only lasted sixty seconds. He soon had to land again. ¡°I miss my flying mount¡­¡± Feeling the soft forest floor under his feet, Liam shook his head. His face didn¡¯t show much emotion, but inwardly he already blacklisted Fat Tiger and his friends. His great mood after looting was diminished as Liam made his way back to Prento. He reached the town without much trouble. Thinking about his other plans for the day he quickly approached the blacksmith¡¯s shop. On the way many players could be found sitting on the ground and trying to sell items placed on some fabrics before them. All kinds of rather common weapons and armor could be found. But as Liam¡¯s gaze swiped the wares, he felt some surprise. Someone is selling a skill book? Liam didn¡¯t expect someone to be able to find a skill book this early in the game. Although he got one from the unique quest, he considered this extremely lucky. However, now he found a skill book which was up for selling. Liam inspected it quickly. [Sidestep Category: Basic Skillbook Effect: Do a quick sidestep. Requirement: warrior or thief] Seeing the book, Liam understood what was going on. He somewhat emphasized with the seller. Receiving a skill book for a skill one already had was a terrible feeling. As he was about to move on, Liam heard a familiar voice form behind his back. ¡°Boss, I take your skill book.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The transaction was quick. Liam looked back and found the young thief Silent Acacia standing behind him. The brown-haired man was surprised as well. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± ¡°Well, who else? Nice to meet you again.¡± ¡°Same, same. Did you have any good fights today?¡± ¡°I almost died against some elite monster.¡± ¡°You did? Well, I defeated an elite too, barely receiving a scratch.¡± Liam eyed the thief, feeling like he was boasting. ¡°Good job. The white rabbit?¡± ¡°Hmpf. Childs play. The enemy I killed today was level f¡­ five!¡± Liam used his inspect. Silent Acacia was still level 3, making his claim rather unlikely. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Chapter 31: Gathering herbs Silent Acacia stared at Bleary Mirage, not knowing what to say. He was indeed boasting somewhat but usually no one called out his bluffs as he was still a respected pro player. Thus, he hastily changed the topic. ¡°Oh, by the way. After our last meeting I checked the ranking list and really didn¡¯t find you. Could this actually be the first time you are playing a game?¡± ¡°What ranking list?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know this?!¡± Silent Acacia blinked, unable to comprehend how someone couldn¡¯t know about the ranking list. At this moment an amused female voice interjected. ¡°The ranking list is created by ¡®games weekly¡¯ taking into account all pro gamers in the federation. Known for their neutrality their opinions are highly respected.¡± Liam turned his head, smiling at the two women who had approached them. ¡°Hey, Cyclone, Silver Blade.¡± ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Silent Acacia, these are Cyclone and Silver Blade.¡± The young thief suddenly turned shy as he greeted the two women. Cyclone found it amusing but as she studied Acacia¡¯s face, she suddenly recalled something. ¡°You! You¡¯re the guy trying to steal our rabbit!¡± ¡°Eh, no¡­ sorry¡­ you must be mistaken.¡± ¡°What now? Are you apologizing or denying?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Silver Blade chuckled lightly. ¡°It¡¯s alright. That¡¯s all part of the game.¡± ¡°Hmpf. Whatever. What did you talk about just now?¡± ¡°About some fights we had today.¡± ¡°What? Not fair! We only did boring quests today. How come you fought?¡± Silver Blade shook her head at Cyclone. ¡°I don¡¯t think our quests were boring. And didn¡¯t we gain a lot? We are already level 4.¡± At this point Acacia¡¯s eyes opened wide, forgetting his shyness. ¡°You are level 4? Damn, you are probably among the fastest players.¡± ¡°Well, we didn¡¯t do much else apart from leveling for two days.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because someone is in a hurry.¡±, added Cyclone with a look at Silver Blade. However, no one caught the hint and Cyclone addressed Liam again. ¡°Bleary Mirage, you said we would play together later. What are you plans now?¡± ¡°I have something in mind, but before that I wanted to earn some money. If you want to, you can come with me. It¡¯s more or less on the way.¡± Cyclone¡¯s eyes lit up as she turned towards Silver Blade. ¡°What do you say?¡± ¡°You can decide. I¡¯m fine either way.¡± ¡°Great. Then we¡¯ll go with you, expert.¡± ¡°Ok. But I have to warn you, it won¡¯t be exciting. I¡¯m only gathering some herbs.¡± ¡°Herbs? What herbs?¡± ¡°Fiery Tacaria.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. The three players around Liam all looked thoughtful. Silent Acacia was the first to shake his head. ¡°Never heard of it.¡± ¡°It can negate fire damage to a certain extent. It will be important in the first dungeon.¡± Instantly Cyclone rolled her eyes at Liam. ¡°You are preparing for the first dungeon and say it¡¯s not exciting?!¡± ¡°It really isn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Hmm we¡¯ll see.¡± The conversation quickly died down as Liam got ready to leave. But before they could say goodbye, Silent Acacia spoke up carefully. ¡°Mirage. You spoke about a good fight, correct? Could I maybe¡­ come with you?¡± Liam almost expected this question. He looked at Cyclone and Silver Blade. But the two women followed Liam¡¯s lead, thus they naturally let him make the decision. ¡°Sure. You can come. We might even need some more reinforcements.¡± ¡°More? Just what are you planning?¡± ¡°Haha, I won¡¯t spoil the surprise.¡± Even Liam looked forward to it, knowing that a challenging boss fight awaited them. Cyclone tried to get more out of her friend, but Liam¡¯s lips stayed sealed. The others could only give up as they followed him. Liam still had some menial tasks to do. He talked to a few merchants, selling his miscellaneous items. Afterwards he talked to the blacksmith Rech, buying a satchel. The others followed his example, knowing that it was never bad to have these kinds of tools. Finally done with his preparations he left the town again. The group went deeper into the outer forest, crossing the bridge in Rabbit Creek. Soon they entered a new zone. [Discovered Flower Clearing. Reward: 10EXP] Silver Blade smiled happily upon seeing the colorful scene before them. Within a small clearing, thousands of beautiful flowers grew. A sweet smell spread in the surroundings, attracting all kinds of peaceful animals during normal times. But right now, only some large bees with sharp stingers could be seen. At the side stood a young woman with a basket in her hand, her face distressed. Liam invited everyone into a party, signaling them to follow him as he approached the NPC. ¡°Lady, can we help you?¡± ¡°Oh, brave adventurers. It¡¯s good that you¡¯re here. I wanted to gather some flowers, but this place has been occupied by the Giant Bees. Please, could you chase them away?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Liam didn¡¯t waste much time on this quest. It was just something to do by the way, asking him to kill ten Giant Bees. With their party of four it was easy. But it had a nice side effect as the other bees left after handing in the quest. They would only return in about 30 minutes. Coincidently this was also the time when the young woman returned to gather flowers again. Now, with nothing to annoy him Liam could peacefully gather his herbs. He used his satchel to cut off stalks of red herbs one by one. With the help of his friends, Liam was quickly amassing a huge number of herbs. However, it was somewhat tedious as the process had a certain chance of failing, destroying the herb. Only after gathering enough to receive the [Gathering] auxiliary skill did this situation improve slightly. At the same time the group had to repeat the quest every thirty minutes. Thus, after a few hours of gardening, Cyclone suddenly put her satchel away. ¡°That¡¯s it! I can¡¯t see these flowers anymore. Please, Bleary Mirage, can we go now? I want to do something exciting!¡± Liam chuckled a bit as he counted the herbs in his inventory. Herbs could be stacked up to a hundred and Liam now had more than five stacks. ¡°I guess that¡¯s enough for now. Thanks for the help, guys.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t thank us. Make up for it with a good fight.¡± ¡°What Cyclone says!¡±, added even Silent Acacia. Only Silver Blade was somewhat reluctant, clearly enjoying the colorful sight. Nevertheless, the group quickly moved on. Liam led them back along the way, taking a path out of the forest and towards the island¡¯s beach. ¡°Ok guys, what we¡¯re about to do won¡¯t be easy. If you have some trustworthy friends, you should call them. We are lacking in damage.¡± ¡°We need so many people?¡± Cyclone grinned as she imagined the scene of a large party fighting together. She was thrilled, quickly calling her ¡®secret¡¯ friend Mel. Unfortunately, no one else out of her friend group was online right now. The girls weren¡¯t leading such leisurely lives, having to work during the day. The others searched their friend lists as well, sending out invitations. Soon the foliage parted before the group, revealing a tranquil scene. A large village, almost rivaling Prento appeared before them. It was located along a beautiful sandy beach. Waves surged, splashing sparkling water. Small boats drifted outside the village, busily catching fish. [Discovered Lomen Village. Reward: 20EXP] ¡°Oh, is this the village where our fight is? Why didn¡¯t we find anything earlier?¡± Liam looked at Cyclone in surprise: ¡°Have you been here before?¡± ¡°Of course. We got some quests here.¡± ¡°Oh. Did you talk to the village elder?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±, commented Silver Blade. Liam turned to Silent Acacia: ¡°Have you been here as well?¡± ¡°No. Although I have traveled most of the fo¡­¡± ¡°Ok, ok. Got it.¡± Liam hastily interrupted the young thief before he could begin to boast again. The veteran led his group along the path made from wooden planks, reaching an inconspicuous hut close to the water. The fresh ocean air played around their faces as they looked into the distance, spotting a few dots of land. ¡°Mirage, are those the other islands? Do I need to go there for my quest?¡± ¡°Not quite. The islands we can see from here are only small, mostly occupied by a single group. The one where your quest is located is further away. We can¡¯t reach it yet.¡± ¡°Oh, ok.¡± Clearing Silver Blade¡¯s doubts, Liam approached the wooden hut. He knocked once before entering. Immediately the smell of medicine reached the group. There wasn¡¯t much furniture in the hut, a tiny kitchen, a table, and two beds were all cramped in a single room. An old human man could be seen lying on one of the beds, his eyes covered by a piece of fabric. The man¡¯s skin was pale, and he was clearly extremely weak. Next to him stood a young woman with unkempt black hair, a sad look on her face, using a wet towel to clean the old man¡¯s face. ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t worry. You will get better soon. I¡¯m here for you.¡± Chapter 32: New teammates Everyone was affected upon watching this touching scene. Hearing people enter her house, the young woman turned around in shock, pointing at the players. ¡°Who are you? P¡­ please leave! My grandfather isn¡¯t doing well.¡± But the old man spoke with a cough: ¡°No. *cough* Onriel. These are precious guests. It¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°But grandpa¡­¡± Onriel¡¯s eyes turned wet as she looked at the weak old man. ¡°Adventurers. You came at the right time. I know you have helped the village greatly. Are you willing to aid this old man?¡± Liam was surprised by the smooth progression. Normally the elder only talked to players if they completed quests in the village. Liam hoped to skip those tasks, betting on Silver Blade¡¯s outrageous charisma stat. But Cyclone and Silver Blade had already fulfilled quests in the village, thus easily clearing all obstacles. Liam sent a message to Silver Blade: [Bleary Mirage: Do you want to talk?] [Silver Blade: I don¡¯t know what¡¯s your goal. You do the talking.] Liam nodded as he addressed the village elder: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, old man. We are here to help.¡± ¡°Good, good. Listen, youngsters. A while ago ruthless pirates have settled on Bone Island. They plunder along the coast and didn¡¯t even spare our peaceful village. Those scoundrels took the village as hostages to force my beloved granddaughter to hand over a magical treasure, the Blue Blood Trident. *cough cough* If I were still in my prime those pirates wouldn¡¯t even dare to appear before me, but unfortunately¡­¡± The old man sighed, prompting Onriel to grab his hand tightly. ¡°Anyways. I¡¯m sure you understand. Bring back our trident and you will be rewarded handsomely.¡± [Do you wish to accept the quest ¡®Retrieve Blue Blood Trident¡¯?] [Yes] [No] Liam naturally pressed [Yes]. This was the reason he came here for, after all. Recalling the entire quest line, Liam even came up with another idea. It might be interesting to see if his companions could lead the quest to a good ending without his deliberate direction. For now, one might not think too much about it, but the old man had quite the impressive backstory. ¡°Old man, we will naturally help you.¡± ¡°Good. Just talk to Onriel when you are ready. She will help you get to Bone Island.¡± ¡°But grandfather, I can¡¯t leave you alone now!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t die just yet. But you need to get a hold on our trident now. *cough* This takes priority!¡± Onriel looked at the old man, the worry apparent on her face. ¡°Ok. I will do it. Please, adventurers, make your preparations.¡± With those words Onriel turned around, caring for her grandfather again, both of them ignoring the players. Liam was just about to talk when a low sniff could be heard. Everyone turned to Silent Acacia, who only showed the group his back. ¡°Are you¡­?¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Cyclone wore a mischievous grin as she sneaked up on the young man. She suddenly jumped past him, staring at his face. ¡°Got y¡­!¡± Cyclone stopped. Silent Acacia looked perfectly normal as if the story didn¡¯t touch him at all. ¡°Why are y¡­ you jumping around?¡± Silver Blade snickered. Liam inwardly praised the young thief¡¯s ability to adjust his face as he waved at his group to leave the hut. Outside, Silent Acacia received a message, relaying it to Liam: ¡°The friend I invited has arrived.¡± ¡°Great. Tell her to wait at the village entrance, we will be there in a second.¡± ¡°What are we doing next?¡±, asked Cyclone. ¡°We have to look for something. It won¡¯t take long.¡± With those words Liam led his group around the hut, approaching a pile of barrels at the back. All kinds of old fishing tools were stacked here. Rods, pants, knives, whatever one needed. ¡°Bah!¡± Cyclone complained as a nauseating stench wafted from the tools. She refused to step closer while Liam began to search the pile. ¡°How long do you need?¡± ¡°Only a few seconds. It should be somewhere here.¡± Liam rummaged around, pushing a pair of trousers away. Finally, a blue covered book peeked through the rubbish. ¡°Got it.¡± Liam pulled out the book, holding it in the air triumphantly, prompting Cyclone to turn her head away. ¡°What is this?¡±, questioned Silent Acacia. ¡°It¡¯s a lore book.¡± Silver Blade took a good look, barely able to decipher the title. ¡°Blunnriel, the half-human hero. Is it important for this quest?¡± Liam inwardly praised Silver Blade¡¯s intellect, but he didn¡¯t want to give too much away. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Who wants to read it?¡± Everyone looked at Bleary Mirage skeptically. You straightforwardly pulled out this book. But now you tell us you don¡¯t know anything about it? However, Silver Blade didn¡¯t mind. She spoke up eagerly. ¡°Let me take a look.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Liam handed the lore book over to his friend. He could already foresee that Silver Blade was the type of player enjoying the game¡¯s world and the stories it had to offer. Next, the team went back to the village entrance while Silver Blade was engrossed in her book. ¡°Blunnriel, the half-human hero. It¡¯s not certain where he grew up. But the first time he appeared in the limelight was when he repelled an attack by the merfolk against a human island. Wielding a blue trident he defeated the powerful enemy combatants, becoming a hero of humanity.¡± Silver Blade¡¯s eyes lit up. A trident! Blunnriel must be related to the old man in the hut! ¡°Afterwards Blunnriel lived his life helping humans, becoming a guardian of the island he saved. But one day one of humanity¡¯s powerful mages, Yagen, came to the island. Blunnriel felt honored and invited him for a discussion. But suddenly, the mage attacked. Yagen¡¯s loyal followers appeared and invaded the island. When the inhabitants questioned them, the attackers stated that Blunnriel was half-merfolk and should not be allowed to live. But Blunnriel accused Yagen of being greedy for his trident, stating that only his own bloodline could wield its real power. In the end Blunnriel relied on his trident to barely bring everyone away, he as well as his son getting gravely injured in the process.¡± Silver Blade closed the book with a sigh. ¡°Hello, Cyclone to Silver Blade, are you there?¡± Silver Blade was startled, looking at the people gathered around here. ¡°Finally, for a second I thought we lost you.¡± ¡°Cyclone? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°You were so engrossed in your book, that you didn¡¯t register anything else.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Silver Blade had a disbelieving look, prompting a red-headed female mage to giggle. ¡°Silver Blade, this is Balm, a good friend of mine. Balm, this is Silver Blade.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you. How come I don¡¯t know you?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think we met before.¡± Silver Blade looked at Cyclone with a questioning gaze. The blond woman smiled awkwardly. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it later.¡± Liam picked up on the awkward atmosphere and interrupted by introducing the other new party members. ¡°Silver Blade, these are Radiant Shield and Sun¡¯s Knight, two helpful warriors I met today. And this is Quickstep, Silent Acacia¡¯s girlfriend.¡± ¡°A pleasant first meeting on a radiant beach will warm our hearts.¡± ¡°Hi. Hope you guys are ok with me tagging along.¡± Silver Blade didn¡¯t react to Radiant Shield¡¯s strange words but stared at the tall female warrior, who got introduced last. She had a great figure, her brown hair shaved on one side, with a warm smile on her face. One of her hands tightly embraced Silent Acacia. ¡°You¡¯re Acacia¡¯s girlfriend?¡± The young thief averted his head shily upon Silver Blade¡¯s words, but his girlfriend smiled radiantly. ¡°Yes! Since half a year ago! Isn¡¯t he the cutest?!¡± With a jolt of her arm Quickstep pressed her boyfriend closer, the poor man almost unable to brave, but his face showing no resistance. ¡°Oh, well. Congratulations.¡± ¡°Indeed. A blooming love is a sight for sore eyes!¡±, added Radiant Shield. Next to him, Sun¡¯s Knight rolled his eyes. ¡°Can¡¯t you talk normal for once?¡± ¡°I can. But we are about to embark on an important story quest. I thought we should set the mood.¡± ¡°Well, I think it¡¯s funny.¡±, commented Balm. Liam was glad that the group was off to a good start. Stress among group members was one of the most troublesome problems when questing together. While everyone got to know each other, Liam took the lead, entering a merchant for common goods. Everyone bought two basic health potions at 30 copper each. This was Liam¡¯s way of being cautious, preparing against unforeseen difficulties. Afterwards they walked down towards the pier, where Onriel was waiting next to an old, large fishing boat. ¡°Adventurers, are you ready to head for Bone Island? Please, come aboard!¡± Liam had already shared the quest with everyone, allowing the newcomers to get on the boat as well. Onriel showed her expertise as they drifted out towards the sea. ¡°Wow!¡± Silent Acacia couldn¡¯t help but exclaim aloud as he watched the beautiful scenery. Seagulls played in the wind; the low waves brandished against the boat. Some distance away a large cliff could be seen, white foam decorating its base. Chapter 33: Bone Island The fishing boat wasn¡¯t fast, needing a few minutes to reach Bone Island. Silver Blade took the time to approach Onriel. ¡°How is your grandfather?¡± ¡°Ah, he¡­ I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t be able to hold on much longer.¡± ¡°Could the trident help him?¡± Onriel had a troubled look on her face. ¡°Probably. Grandfather has always been a proud man. He was the guardian of the village, protecting it regardless of his health. But the last time those pirates came he wasn¡¯t even powerful enough to chase them away. I handed over the trident to protect the village.¡± Onriel choked, her face fraught with sadness. Silver Blade felt a pang in her chest. Just as she was about to comfort the young woman, Cyclone dashed towards them. The mage had a distressed face, her skin taking on a sickly color. ¡°Onriel, sister. How long until¡­?¡± Cyclone didn¡¯t manage to finish her sentence. She leaned over the railing, letting out ugly sounds. ¡°Bwaah.¡± Silver Blade scrunched her face. She looked apologetically at Onriel before hastily approaching Cyclone, holding her friend¡¯s hair back. To her surprise, Onriel helped as well, gently patting Cyclone¡¯s back. Silver Blade was amazed by this lifelike behavior. The fishing boat wasn¡¯t big enough for everyone to scatter. Naturally the commotion attracted the attention of the rest of the party. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t take long for the boat to cross the sea. When Onriel expertly came to a stop before a gorgeous tropical beach, Cyclone was the first to jump off, glad to have solid ground below her feet. Silver Blade followed, giggling at her friend now that the situation was over. ¡°I never knew you get seasick this easily.¡± ¡°Well, there isn¡¯t much sea on Falva, so it never came up.¡± ¡°What about space travel?¡± ¡°It alright as long as I hide in a closed room.¡± ¡°Miss Cyclone, maybe you should train being on boats. This behavior is not very ladylike.¡±, said Radiant Shield. ¡°You! I show you ladylike! Wait, stand still!¡± Everyone laughed as Cyclone raised her fists and chased Radiant Shield around the beach. Even Liam wore a refreshed smile. A short while later the group gathered, waiting for Liam¡¯s arrangements. ¡°Ok guys. Here is what we¡¯ll be doing. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield take the lead. Silent Acacia will do the scouting. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Of course. What were you expecting?¡± Cyclone looked at Liam with furrowed brows. ¡°What are you planning? Do you want to watch us make fools of ourselves?¡± ¡°Are you training us?¡±, guessed Sun¡¯s Knight. ¡°No. He wants us to experience the challenge. Thank you, brother mirage!¡± Silent Acacia had a touched expression, prompting his girlfriend to look at him strangely. ¡°I don¡¯t know if we can do this.¡± Balm looked somewhat intimidated as her eyes fell on a group of monkeys roaming the beach, a few of them at level 6.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry guys. We are so many people. Just pull small groups and fight your way through.¡± Liam encouraged his party while Silver Blade looked at him thoughtfully. The young woman tried to figure out her new friend. Obviously, Liam had extremely rich knowledge about the game. This wasn¡¯t impossible as explorers found information about the virtual world in ancient ruins. But in Liam¡¯s case he most likely came from a prestigious family who bought the results of multiple explorers. However, Silva thought she knew all the higher-class families on Falva Star. None of their young masters matched Liam. Furthermore, those families wouldn¡¯t happily share their knowledge with others, but rather build up their own powers. What was Bleary Mirage¡¯s purpose in gathering them and then relinquishing the lead? She couldn¡¯t figure it out! Meanwhile Radiant Shield didn¡¯t ask too many questions. He puffed out his chest, announcing matter-of-factly. ¡°Companions, I won¡¯t betray your trust! As a warrior it is my duty to be the first in every fight and lead the party to success. Follow my lead! Let us punish the pirates and retrieve the mighty trident!¡± Liam recalled the quest information. [ Quest: Retrieve the Blue Blood Trident] [Step one: Reach Bone Island.] [Step two: Find the pirate hideout.] [Optional: Kill 20 Pirates] [Hint: Don¡¯t underestimate the captain.] Obviously Radiant Shield suggested accomplishing the optional goal as well, which Liam strongly agreed with. Optional goals increased the evaluation and subsequently the rewards as well. The others didn¡¯t have strong opinions, ready to follow Radiant Shield. After a short discussion between the two tanks the group got moving. Silent Acacia separated from the group, closing in on the few palm trees lining the beach. He took out his bow, attacking one of the small, red-furred monkeys. ¡°Ouh, ouh, ouh.¡± The monkeys let out strange sounds as someone dared to interrupt their peaceful lives. A handful of them immediately chased after the intruder, who returned to the group. ¡°Everyone ready! We got this!¡± Silver Blade encouraged the group as she and Radiant Shield stepped forward, welcoming the opponents. [Red-furred violent monkey Rank: Common Level: 5 HP: 150/150] Silver Blade strike out with her shield. The taunting move drew the attention of four monkeys. Meanwhile Radiant Shield attacked normally with his sword. [-27!] The tank looked at his female colleague, surprised. ¡°You can do that?¡± Silver Blade wasn¡¯t affected but Cyclone immediately felt proud as her knowledge as above some veteran gamer¡¯s. ¡°Cyclone, attack!¡± The woman smiled sheepishly from Silver Blade¡¯s command. ¡°On it, on it!¡± [-33!] Balm looked at her good friend with admiring eyes. ¡°Wow, your damage¡­¡± But Cyclone was unsatisfied. ¡°What¡¯s going on?! Why is my damage so low? Is this a bug?!¡± Liam shook his head. ¡°Those monkeys have a good defense against magic.¡± ¡°Unfair!¡± ¡°Hey, stop talking and help!¡± Liam inwardly praised Silver Blade for fitting in her new role so quickly. Together with Quickstep he flanked the monkeys, raining down normal attacks. Meanwhile the two tanks raised their shield, defending continuously, their stance dropping by the second. ¡°They are all low, finish them off!¡± ¡°On it!¡± With Silver Blade¡¯s command everyone was ready to use their skills. Liam activated [Sidestep], flashing behind the monsters. A quick [Double Slash] followed. Several numbers popped up as three monkeys dropped dead at the same time. Everyone was amazed by Liam¡¯s expert use of his skills, controlled movements allowing him to hit multiple enemies. ¡°Beautiful!¡± Silent Acacia exclaimed as he activated a skill of his own. [Flurry (rank 1) Cost: 6 Fury Effect: Sent out two attacks in quick suggestion, dealing 120%(PDMG) two times. Can be used with bow or dagger. Cooldown: 6 seconds] Two silent arrows shot through the air, hitting a monkey right in its forehead, emptying out its HP. Only a single primate remained standing, angrily pounding its own chest. It was level six, able to take a beating. [-86!] A blinding light hit the monkey, burning it to crisps. Everyone was taken aback by the huge number popping up. ¡°HA! Serves you right!¡± Cyclone laughed proudly. Her equipment effect had triggered, allowing her [Holy Strike] to hit critically. ¡°Good job!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were so strong.¡± Cyclone smiled smugly at her friends Silver Blade and Balm. ¡°Wow, I leveled up!¡± Sun¡¯s Knight¡¯s delighted proclamation drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°You reached level four?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not far away, too.¡± The party was talking animatedly while Liam checked his own EXP as well. [EXP: 520/750] After fighting against zombies, ghosts, and monkeys, together with discovering Bone Island Liam made a lot of EXP. He would soon be able to advance as well. Apart from EXP the monkeys naturally had loot as well. Cyclone insisted on looting, eager to prove her lucky hand. She received a few coins and even a common hood which was slightly better than what Silent Acacia currently had. Eager for more the group continued, carefully pulling groups of monkeys. Under Silver Blade¡¯s urgings they didn¡¯t underestimate the opponents, advancing stably. Soon they were deep into Bone Island, standing before a crossroad. A shabby wooden sign explained their options. ¡°Pirate Village or Bone Cliff?¡±, read Silver Blade. Cyclone scrunched her nose. ¡°Who put this sign here? Those pirates?¡± ¡°Who cares, it¡¯s still a game.¡±, chuckled Balm. ¡°Fellow comrades, which path should we choose?¡± ¡°Our quest should be in pirate village.¡± ¡°But maybe there is something in Bone Cliff able to help us. Maybe an advantageous position.¡± Liam didn¡¯t state his opinion, finding it interesting to watch the group figure it out by themselves. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at the cliff first.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Eventually Silver Blade and Radiant Shield came to a decision. They sent Silent Acacia ahead to scout the way. But the young thief returned after a few moments with a conflicted expression. ¡°The area ahead is a higher-level zone inhabited by stronger monkeys. The common ones are still alight but I even saw an elite.¡± ¡°Ok. I guess the cliff is off limits.¡± ¡°But¡­ the elite was guarding a treasure chest. And it wasn¡¯t wooden.¡± Instantly everyone¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Treasure chest? Wow, I have never seen one!¡± ¡°We need to get it!¡± ¡°I could use a new weapon.¡± Chapter 34: Sneaky treasure hunt The party discussed animatedly, but ultimately Silver Blade doused their enthusiasm. ¡°I don¡¯t know if we can beat a level 9 or 10 elite.¡± Liam nodded his head. The level difference was too much. They wouldn¡¯t be able to do a lot of damage. ¡°So we just let it go?¡± Cyclone looked unwilling. She was eager to test her lucky hands on a treasure chest. ¡°We have no choice.¡± Everyone was ready to accept it when Liam spoke up: ¡°You don¡¯t necessarily have to fight all the time.¡± ¡°Expert, do you have a way?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Liam smiled as Cyclone and Balm put their hands on their hips, staring at Liam angrily. ¡°Tell us!¡± ¡°Yeah, tell us!¡± ¡°Take a look around.¡± Silver Blade headed Bleary Mirage¡¯s advice, scanning the surroundings. ¡°What¡¯s there to see?¡± Suddenly Silent Acacia exclaimed: ¡°Bananas!¡± Quickstep looked at him strangely, holding a hand against his forehead. ¡°Strange, no fever.¡± ¡°No, look!¡± The young thief pointed at a large palm tree a short distance away. Everyone watched as one of the red-furred monkeys climbed up to grab a few fresh, green-yellow bananas, a foolish grin on its face. Silver Blade¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°This might work!¡± ¡°Luring monkeys with bananas. A trick as simple as it is genius.¡± ¡°Speak like a human!¡± Sun¡¯s Knight had enough as he hit the back of Radiant Shield¡¯s head. ¡°Yo, are you crazy?¡± ¡°Am I crazy, or are you?¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡±, Cyclone¡¯s chuckle let the two men stop, embarrassed. ¡°Guys, we should figure out how to get those bananas down.¡± ¡°Easy, I do it!¡± Silent Acacia put away his bow, a childish joy in his eyes as he ran at the next tree. With smooth movements he climbed up, even faster than a monkey. He reached out with his hand. But the banana didn¡¯t move, a progress bar appearing in his vision. Meanwhile Liam smiled faintly as he approached the same tree, using his gathering skill from the ground. After a few seconds both men held a banana in their hands. Silent Acacia looked strangely at the ground. A moment later Cyclone and Balm couldn¡¯t hold back, breaking out in laughter. ¡°Hahaha, I didn¡¯t know you could be so mean, Bleary Mirage.¡± ¡°Yeah, look at him climbing like a monkey.¡± Only Quickstep waved at her boyfriend in support: ¡°Babe, you look great! Not everyone can climb such a tree. Don¡¯t listen to them!¡± The entire group was amused as they began copying Liam, using their gathering skills on the nearby trees if they had it. Soon, a pile of bananas was collected. Silver Blade had her eyes on the ground, pondering how to proceed. As she raised her head, she looked at two innocent faces, their cheeks bulging.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Cyclone, Balm? Did you take bananas?¡± The two women shook their heads heavily. ¡°Really? Then why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± ¡°I am dalging.¡± Silver Blade let out a bell-like laugh as white pieces fell from Cyclone¡¯s mouth. ¡°You two monkeys¡­ Apparently, the bananas work on you. Let¡¯s hope the same is true for the elite. Silent Acacia, do you think you can approach the elite in stealth and drop bananas to lure it away?¡± ¡°It might be possible. Dropping doesn¡¯t count as use, so it shouldn¡¯t break my stealth.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try it.¡± ¡°Good luck.¡± ¡°You have my blessing, young friend!¡± ¡°You got this.¡± Silent Acacia smiled as everyone encouraged him. He took the bananas into his inventory and sneaked away. The young thief was indeed a pro, his footsteps careful, trying not to disturb the foliage. He weaved between groups of monkeys until he reached a large tree not far from a small river. A tall monkey with fists like hammers leaned against the tree, enjoying life as two female monkeys cleaned its fur. Silent Acacia stopped a short distance away, carefully dropping a banana on the ground. Suddenly the surrounding monkeys stopped making any sounds. Their heads carefully turned to the elite. The tall monkey watched for a second before waving its hand gernerously. One of the female monkeys immediately jumped in excitement. Silent Acacia took a few steps back, watching with a frown as the female monkey grabbed the banana, peeling it and taking a big bite. It fell backwards, planting its butt on the ground with a satisfied expression. Suddenly another banana appeared. But the same routine repeated, this time with the other female monkey. Silent Acacia stared angrily at the elite. Is it not good enough for you?! Somewhat impatient the young thief scattered a dozen fruits on the floor. Instantly all the monkeys¡¯ eyes opened wide. The elite stood up from its comfortable chair. That¡¯s it! Silent Acacia understood. He retreated, throwing out large amounts of bananas on the way. A craze broke out among the monkeys. They hastily scrambled for the golden treasures. Whoever got their hands on one sat on the ground, enjoying themselves without moving. Silent Acacia quickly returned to the group. ¡°It worked, but I don¡¯t know how much time we have.¡± ¡°Quick, take Cyclone with you and open the chest.¡± By now everyone was convinced by Cyclone¡¯s luck, agreeing with Silver Blade. Thus, Cyclone and Silent Acacia ran as fast as possible. Noticing that the monkeys showed no signs of chasing after them, they grew bolder, not taking a detour. Soon they passed the elite, arriving before the treasure chest. ¡°It¡¯s bronze!¡± Exclaimed Cyclone with a grin. Silent Acacia was surprised that she knew the grade at a glance but had no time to discuss. ¡°Quick, open it!¡± ¡°On it.¡± Cyclone reached out with her hand, a progress bar appearing. [Opening Treasure Chest. 10 seconds remaining] ¡°So long¡­¡± Silent Acacia looked anxiously at the elite. He took out the last few of his bananas and threw them over. ¡°Come on, big monkey. Just eat. Ignore us.¡± The seconds ticked by and Cyclone soon pulled her hand back. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the blue light. ¡°It¡­¡± ¡°Roarr!¡± A loud roar interrupted Cyclone. She looked over at the elite monkey, smiling wryly as she watched it stand up, its rage-filled eyes staring at the two thieving nephilim. ¡°You watched us steal, but now you react?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk, run!¡± Silent Acacia urged Cyclone as he ran explosively, disappearing down the hill. ¡°Hey, wait!¡± Unfortunately, a thief was much faster than a mage. Silent Acacia looked back; his heart anxious. He turned around and tried to help Cyclone, but movement speed was a fixed attribute. The ground trembled as the elite monkey followed with big jumps. ¡°It¡¯s catching up!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Cyclone looked distressed, proud about her deathless record so far. Suddenly a person appeared before the two. ¡°Mirage!¡± Cyclone smiled brightly, instinctively trusting Liam to save them, contrary to Silent Acacia. ¡°Careful, Mirage! Run away!¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright we can just trade.¡± ¡°What?¡± Silent Acacia didn¡¯t understand Liam¡¯s words. The latter waved his hand leisurely, more than a hundred bananas appearing out of thin air. The elite monkey was already close, but it suddenly stopped. Its eyes stared at the mountain of delicious yellow snacks before it. It was calculating in its brain. Eventually it decided that bananas were more important than some items it couldn¡¯t use anyways. The elite monkey indulged itself while the players got away safely. Cyclone sighed in relief as they regrouped. ¡°Puh. This was a bit too exciting.¡± Silver Blade had a conflicted expression. ¡°Sorry. I should have thought about it. Without Bleary Mirage you would¡¯ve died.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up, I only saved us some time. We would¡¯ve gotten the items anyways.¡±, encouraged Liam. Quickstep checked her boyfriend¡¯s state while the group began gathering around Cyclone. ¡°Brave companion, please, reveal the treasure to us.¡± ¡°What did you get?¡± Cyclone enjoyed the attention, smiling brightly. She flicked her wrist, and a beautiful bow appeared, surrounded by green sparkles. Everyone looked enviously at Silent Acacia, knowing that he was the only bow user present. Next, Cyclone built some tension before revealing a piece of paper. Everyone quickly inspected it. ¡°A recipe for fire resistance potion? Not bad.¡± ¡°Who wants to take this?¡± Balm was somewhat hesitant as she was still new to the group. But after no one showed a strong desire, she raised her hand. ¡°I¡­ I would like it, please. Is it ok?¡± Liam looked at the red-haired woman in surprise. ¡°Are you interested in becoming an alchemist?¡± ¡°Yes. I always liked it in other games.¡± ¡°Not bad. I have another recipe. Let¡¯s talk about it sometime.¡± ¡°Ehm, sure.¡± Balm was somewhat confused, not sure what Liam meant. But if she could buy the recipe, it would be good for her. However, as Cyclone handed the recipe to her friend, Quickstep intervened. ¡°Sorry guys. Don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but a recipe is clearly worth a lot.¡± Everyone showed a different reaction with Radiant Shield and Sun¡¯s knight being the most offended. ¡°Treasures go to whoever needs them. The young lady wants to become an alchemist, so she should have the recipe.¡± ¡°No. Quickstep is not wrong.¡±, agreed Liam. ¡°We should find a solution which satisfies everyone.¡± Fortunately, Liam already knew how groups in his old life handled these problems. Thus, they quickly agreed on a certain percentage Balm had to hand over from the profits made through the potion, up to a cap. Chapter 35: Drunken pirates Liam was glad that his group made it through the first small test without much trouble. Everyone looked largely satisfied with the deal. Only Liam knew how much wealth a good alchemist was able to amass. In his old life the top alchemists had their own shops, protected by their guilds. More than one of them turned their lives around, rising from a normal citizen to an ultrarich person. Liam didn¡¯t have any concrete plans yet but if Balm showed some talent he might discuss business with her. Somewhat annoyed by the group pressuring her good friend, Cyclone didn¡¯t make much of a spectacle out of it as she revealed the last piece of loot. A blue sparkle immediately attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Even Radiant Shield forgot his roleplay as he announced his surprise: ¡°An uncommon item!¡± ¡°And even a necklace. Super rare!¡± ¡°What effects does it have?¡± Cyclone posted the information in the party chat. [Phera¡¯s experiment Category: Uncommon Level requirement: 4 Intelligence +4 Agility +6 Effect: Increase the rank of a single skill of your choosing by two. An experimental subject of Vasily¡¯s student Phera. Dissatisfied, she eventually sold it.] Everyone observed the necklace¡¯s stats, not quite sure what to make of the necklace. However, Liam was quite interested in it, as it would come in handy after his next class change. With the expert speaking up, the others were somewhat reluctant but still handed over the necklace to Bleary Mirage. ¡°Thanks guys. Don¡¯t worry I¡¯m sure we will find equipment for everyone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. At out levels we discard equipment quickly anyways.¡± Finally, all the loot was distributed. Liam chose to rank up his [Brutal Strike], not because of the damage but because of the stun effect. Knowing that the cliff hid high leveled monsters Silver Blade led the party along the path towards the pirate village. Soon, human voices reached their ears. The pirates sounded drunk, singing of imaginary adventures. The environment around the party changed subtly as many trees were cut down, obviously used for the wooden houses which came into view gradually. The pirate village was located under the cliff side, occupying a surprisingly vast space. It wasn¡¯t built on one plain but rather on higher and lower platforms. Unnecessary, tacky decorations adorned the wooden paths. In the distance an impressive black ship could be seen. While Quickstep stared at the pirates with a gaze as if wishing to join them, Balm threw out a question: ¡°Such a big ship must have cost a lot! Can they even make enough money to pay for it?¡± Everyone was thrown off by the question, not considering such a problem. ¡°Maybe they stole it?¡± ¡°Who cares. The key is that it will be ours after the quest. Whether it likes to or not.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like we can get there.¡±, commented Silver Blade. Liam shook his head. ¡°Guys, let¡¯s concentrate on the quest. We can get our hands on the ship later.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Quickstep eyed Bleary Mirage suspiciously, not yet regarding him as all-knowing. Liam just shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Companions, Bleary Mirage is right. Let us not discuss whether to¡­ confiscate¡­ the ship yet. First, we need to retrieve the trident!¡± As Radiant Shield spoke up as well, the group focused back on the quest. Silent Acacia knew his job and approached the pirate village carefully, shooting an arrow. ¡°Oi! Who interrupts our drinking session?¡± A small group of pirates yelled angrily as they stood up from a few crates and chased after Silent Acacia, a cup in one hand and sword in the other. Silver Blade readied her shield as she quickly used [Inspect]. [Drunken Pirate Fighter Rank: Common Level: 6 HP: 250/260 Status: Poisoned] Silver Blade quickly made the connection between drinking and a poisoned status as the pirate tumbled towards the group. Bang! Suddenly a gunshot rang out. Silent Acacia felt the hair on his neck stand up, hastily throwing his body forward. [Stance -8] Proving that he was indeed a pro gamer, the thief narrowly dodged the bullet. He looked over his shoulder at a pirate standing at the back. [Drunken Pirate Shooter Rank: Common Level: 6 HP: 190/210 Status: Poisoned] The pirate shooter had trouble reloading his small revolver, naturally making its attack speed extremely low. Additionally, he had to keep walking forward as Silent Acacia left his range, delaying him further. Cyclone flinched from the loud sound, staring ahead with wide eyes. ¡°They have ranged fighters!¡± ¡°Hmpf. Let¡¯s show them, Cy!¡±, exclaimed Balm as she opened fire. ¡°Right!¡± [-60!] [- 51!] The first pirate already lost a huge chunk of HP before he even arrived. ¡°Good job!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t save on MP!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± The mages went to work. One pirate died unjustly, not able to engage in close combat. But the rest crashed into Silver Blade¡¯s and Radiant Shield¡¯s defense, easily held back by the two tanks. Meanwhile Silent Acacia stared at the pirate shooter. He knew his team could easily deal with these week mobs, getting more interested in his personal duel. He stopped his retreat, firing an arrow. The pirate shooter staggered drunkenly, maybe trying to avoid the arrow but it was useless. Liam knew that later in the game enemies would begin dodging, but now they were still more or less in the tutorial. Silent Acacia hit the pirate squarely in the chest. [-55!] The thief was delighted by the damage he dealt with his new bow. But he knew not to be distracted as the opponent raised his weapon again. Bang! [Stance -8] Silent Acacia dodged smoothly, answering with a [Flurry]. [-66!] [-66!] ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Silent Acacia rolled his eyes as the pirate only had a sliver of health left. He dodged another attack, shot once more and the opponent finally dropped to the ground. Turning around with a smile on his face, he looked into seven faces patiently waiting for him. ¡°Well done, babe!¡±, cheered Quickstep half-seriously. Silent Acacia was somewhat embarrassed, turning around quickly to pull more mobs. The party continued in a steady rhythm, fighting their way through the pirate village. All the drunken pirates were unfortunately interrupted in their leisurely lives. At first a few of the group members were uncomfortable with fighting human enemies but it helped as the unintelligent pirates always repeated the same lines. During the fights Liam studied the group. Silent Acacia, Silver Blade, and Quickstep were definitely the best among them. It was quite impressive as Silver Blade relied on her martial expertise to rival two pro players. Next up were Radiant Shield and Cyclone, one also a martial artist, and the other a veteran gamer. Balm was able to keep up with Cyclone most of the time but showed some weakness when attacked by a large group. Since the young woman explained that she aimed to become a healer, Liam hoped that she improved her ability to cast under pressure. Lastly, Sun¡¯s Knight was the most casual among the group. Liam could see the annoyance on his face as he found it difficult to keep up. It would show in the future if he chose to improve or give up. The party didn¡¯t know Liam¡¯s thoughts, continuing to fight left and right. Silver Blade had decided to explore the pirate village, raising everyone¡¯s level in the meantime. Liam soon reached level 4, but it would still take some time until Silver Blade made it to level 5. On top of that they found two wooden treasure chest, getting a new sword for Quickstep and a helmet which was given to Sun¡¯s Knight. Altogether it took two hours until the party reached the deepest part of the village. Before them was a large platform, stairs going upwards from the right and left. A few pirates were gathered around it, all of them looking stern without any signs of being drunk. Radiant Shield signaled everyone to stay back as he used [Inspect]. [Pirate Fighter Rank: Common Level: 7 HP: 330/330] ¡°Careful, those guys are tough.¡± No one revealed any playfulness, knowing full well that the strong enemies were coming now. Guarding the stairs were two tall female pirates, wearing bandanas around their heads, most likely elite opponents. ¡°Acacia, you know what to do.¡± The young thief nodded his head as he carefully pulled a small group, quickly retreating. ¡°Cyclone, Balm!¡± [-48!] [-38!] [-62!] [-50!] Damage numbers popped up as the mages mixed normal attacks with skills, welcoming the pirates fiercely. ¡°Not bad!¡± The pirates appeared angry as they approached, their faces grim, their sabers hacking at the tanks. [Stance -7] ¡°Damn, I won¡¯t be able to tank long.¡± ¡°Focus them one by one.¡± The rest of the group reacted quickly. Attacks rained down on the opponents. [-52!] Liam dealt considerable damage, the pirate quickly dropping below one hundred HP. His party members followed. ¡°Why?¡± With a sad expression, the pirate dropped to the ground. His companions didn¡¯t appear to care for the loss, readying their next attacks. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield watched closely, fully focused. As soon as the pirates¡¯ swords moved, they directly used [Brutal Strike]. With two pirates stunned, only one was able to attack. This was a common strategy to minimize the damage. Under the two tanks¡¯ lead, the party worked together calmly, defeating the few pirates one by one. Chapter 36: Sober pirates While the party happily shared their loot, Silent Acacia looked at the remaining mobs with a twinkle in his eyes. In his mind, the fights were too easy, not posing much of a challenge. ¡°Ok. Acacia, you can pull the next group.¡±, said Silver Blade. ¡°On it.¡± The young thief sneaked forward, circling the pirates. Radiant Shield looked at him strangely, wondering what Silent Acacia was up to. But suddenly an arrow shot into the densely packed pirates. Multiple heads turned, at least eight pirates attracted. Silent Acacia grinned as he hastily returned to the group. ¡°Hey, why did you pull so many?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. The fights are too easy.¡± ¡°You could¡¯ve asked us first!¡± A part of the group was not happy. They felt the pressure as nine pirates turned to attack, two of them ranged. ¡°Guys, focus!¡± Silver Blade hastily stopped the party from discussing. But after this fight they would have to confront Silent Acacia. The thief stood in the back, feeling somewhat guilty as he noticed the nervousness among the group. Cyclone and Balm hastily began attacking, spending their mana freely. Silent Acacia gritted his teeth. He dashed to the side, redirecting the pirates. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Quick, grab as much aggro as you can!¡± ¡°Kid, you¡¯re making everything even more chaotic.¡± Now two pirates were focused on Cyclone and Balm, while the rest chased after Silent Acacia. Silver Blade had to stay in place and defend their mages, leaving only Radiant Shield to hastily catch up to the group of pirates and drawing aggro. The burly man soon got attacked by two pirates. Liam shook his head as he also attacked, luring one more pirate away, leaving three of them to chase after Silent Acacia. The thief made use of his agility to run circles, preventing the pirates from catching up. But the two ranged attackers were free to shoot. Silent Acacia was distracted, quickly grazed by a bullet. [-84!] The thief felt his heart sink as he lost more than half of his HP.
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Name: Silent Acacia
Level: 4
Race: Original Nephilim
Class: thief
Primary Attributes:
STR: 8
INT: 1
AGI: 15
HP: 124/124
Fury:The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. 0/43
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He gritted his teeth, directing his focus on the ranged attackers. Meanwhile the rest of the party did their best to free up Silver Blade. [Stance -6] [Stance -6] The tank defended against two pirates while everyone attacked. [-38!] [-43!] Sun¡¯s Knight and Quickstep attacked with their swords, dealing solid damage. [-44!] [-39!] Cyclone and Balm attacked as well. However, the pirates weren¡¯t done yet. They raised their sabers again. ¡°Let me!¡± Cyclone warned her party as she hastily casted one of the standard spells among mages. [Push (rank 1) Cost: 10 Mana Effect: Push back all enemies in a 2-meter radius around you, dazing them for 1 second. Cooldown: 8 seconds] A white shockwave spread from Cyclone. The pirates didn¡¯t manage to get their attacks off, tumbling backwards. ¡°Good job!¡± Another wave of skill directly followed, sending the two pirates to the afterlife. ¡°Friends, I could use some help!¡± Radiant Shield shouted frantically. At this moment his stance was used up. One attack went through, hitting him squarely in the chest. [-72!] The tank flinched as he lost close to one third of his HP. The others knew the situation was bad, hastily coming to help. Balm learned from Cyclone, using her own [Push] to negate the next wave of attacks. As the team worked together, juggling the skills, another two pirates soon fell. ¡°Bleary Mirage, Silent Acacia! Bring them over!¡± The two young men quickly complied, their stance about to be used up as well. They returned to the party, where Silver Blade and Radiant Shield did their jobs and aggroed the pirates. At this point even the tanks didn¡¯t have much stance left. But the ranged attackers among the opponents were still firing freely, needing the tanks to block. Thus, the party had to coordinate perfectly, using their crowd control skills to prevent the melee pirates from attacking. Liam was impressed as the team worked together well. The pirates didn¡¯t get off another attack until they died. Afterwards the party made quick process with the two ranged opponents. Everyone took a deep breath after the fight was over. Sun¡¯s knight frowned, staring at Silent Acacia: ¡°Damn, why the f*ck would you do this?!¡± Silent Acacia felt uncomfortable, only encouraged by his girlfriend¡¯s hold on his hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought the other fights were too boring.¡± ¡°What¡¯s bad about boring? We are not pressed for time.¡± ¡°But wasn¡¯t it much more fun this time?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°I think he has a point.¡±, intervened Cyclone carefully. Silent Acacia suddenly felt his eyes light up as he found an alley. ¡°Right? What¡¯s the point of playing a game if it isn¡¯t fun?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we have the same idea about fun!¡±, stated Sun¡¯s knight. The others watched with subtle expressions, each having their own opinions. Liam observed calmly. Gathering this preliminary group only happened on a whim. If it didn¡¯t work out, he would have to change players. Liam hoped to form a group of friends to play the game with. Fate of Crunaboul ultimately was not a game which could be played solo. Even with his advantages. ¡°Guys, guys. Please calm down!¡± Silver Blade opened her arms wide. The competent tank managed to get everyone¡¯s respect, a good sign for a leader. Thus, the discussion died down as she spoke up. ¡°Silent Acacia, if you have any ideas in the future, please discuss them with the group first. We can slowly test out our limits.¡± ¡°Alright, sorry.¡± ¡°Good. Now let¡¯s continue stably, get rid of the elite, and face the boss. Everyone ok with this?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s be the first to kill a boss!¡± Most of the group was eager to continue. Liam eyed Cyclone strangely. Where does your enthusiasm come from? I never mentioned anything about a boss¡­ The veteran shook his head, working with the party as they killed swaths of pirates. Soon only five normal pirates and the two elites remained. ¡°Ok let¡¯s be careful and pull the normal mobs first.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Silent Acacia complied, shooting an arrow from a carefully chosen angle. But to everyone¡¯s surprise the two elites suddenly stared at the thief. ¡°You! How dared you mess with us!¡± ¡°Give us your head as compensation!¡± Silent Acacia froze in place for a moment. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t pull them!¡± This time Liam didn¡¯t want the group to argue, speaking up for the thief. ¡°Those elites attack automatically after too many pirates die! Get ready, guys!¡± ¡°You heard him! Focus the small mobs first! Quick!¡± Silver Blade ordered the group, knowing that the upcoming fight wouldn¡¯t be easy. She inspected the elite. [Osick¡¯s right hand Rank: Elite Level: 7 HP: 900/900] [Osick¡¯s left hand Rank: Elite Level: 7 HP: 1200/1200] Meanwhile the normal pirates were already bombarded with attacks. Cyclone and Balm used everything to get them low. A moment later close combat began. The two elites focused on Silver Blade and Radiant Shield. [Stance -16] [Stance -12] Silver Blade was shocked by the tremor running through her shield. ¡°Oh no! Don¡¯t let them land another attack!¡± The other party members felt an urge in their hearts. They repeated their tricks, preventing the normal pirates from attacking. Their HP quickly dropped. But the elite weren¡¯t impressed. Osick¡¯s right hand obviously had a higher attack speed, her saber swinging quickly. Silver Blade narrowed her eyes as she used [Brutal Strike]. [-24!] [Stun 1second] The tank took a deep breath as she realized how little damage she did. But at least the elite was interrupted in her attack as well. Liam calmly attacked the normal mobs, building up his fury. The rest of the team used everything they had to quickly get rid of the pirates. A few seconds later only the elites remained. ¡°Focus this one, the other is a tank!¡±, ordered Silver Blade, pointing at Osick¡¯s right hand. ¡°Got it!¡± Instantly two blinding lights shot at the elite¡¯s head as the mages used their [Holy Strike] [-87!] [-75!] [-9!] ¡°Wow nice one!¡± ¡°Haha, my [Holy Strike] effect triggered!¡± ¡°Little rats!¡± The elite cursed angrily as a large chunk of her HP disappeared. The others followed up with their attacks. Having used their fury against the weaker mobs they had to do with normal attacks for now. The elites followed up with another wave of attacks. ¡°I got this!¡± Cyclone exclaimed proudly as she used [Push]. But this time the elites weren¡¯t moved. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Careful!¡± Everyone was shocked. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield reacted instinctively, raising their shields. [Stance -16] [Stance -12] ¡°We are almost out of stance, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The elites can get used to crowd control.¡±, explained Liam dryly. ¡°What?!¡± Silver Blade realized that this was bad news for them. ¡°Get rid of this one, hurry!¡± Attacks rained down on the less tanky elite, eager to whittle it down. But it proved to be difficult. A saber slashed through the air. [-100!] Chapter 37: Pirate captain Osick (I) A murmur ran through the group as Silver Blade lost almost half her HP. ¡°Don¡¯t let her attack me again! Everyone needs to defend once!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The group never stopped attacking. The weaker elite¡¯s HP were almost running out. Suddenly the pirate gritted her teeth shouting dangerously: ¡°Die! You landlubbers!¡± The two pirates looked at each other, about to distance themselves from the fight. Liam narrowed his eyes. He had been waiting for this moment. ¡°Stay here!¡± Suddenly Liam used his skill. With a [Sidestep] he flashed behind the elites, reaching the perfect position for a [Brutal Strike]. The veteran grabbed his sword with two hands. Building momentum with his entire body he forcefully brought it down on the elite¡¯s head. [Stun 1second] Osick¡¯s right hand stopped in place, holding her head. But Osick¡¯s left hand wasn¡¯t held back. With a smooth move she suddenly fled a few meters. Liam knew what was about to come. He let Osick¡¯s right hand for his team to finish off as he swiftly closed the distance to the other elite. Fortunately, Silver Blade proved awareness of the situation, directing everyone to get rid of the pirate. At this moment Osick¡¯s left hand pulled a weapon out of thin air. It looked like a small version of a ship¡¯s cannon, its opening steaming ominously. ¡°Go to hell!¡± Boom! A deafening sound rang out as a small black bomb shot out. Liam gritted his teeth seeing the explosive coming towards him. His body tensed, his sword held before him in defense. Boom! The ground trembled as a large explosion went off. Sparks flew through the air, black steam rising. Flames and shockwaves spread, reaching the party, even dealing a few points of damage. Everyone understood that if the attack reached them unimpeded, the damage would¡¯ve been catastrophic. ¡°Oh no, Bleary Mirage!¡± Cyclone looked at the center of the explosion in worry. As the vision cleared, a man covered in black dirt appeared. He looked weak on his legs, small fires burning around him. ¡°What are you waiting for? Entangle the elite!¡± Liam yelled urgently. Blocking the elite¡¯s skill took away his entire stance and still robbed him of a few dozen HP. He couldn¡¯t defend against the elite in this state. Fortunately, Silver Blade reacted instantly, dashing past the battered warrior and attracting the elite¡¯s attention. With the main damage source gone, the subsequent fight didn¡¯t hold any more surprises. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield did well in juggling the aggro until Osick¡¯s left hand finally fell. ¡°Puh, we did it.¡± ¡°Well done, guys.¡± The players congratulated each other after a difficult fight. As they recovered, Cyclone stared at Liam, eventually not able to hold back her laughter. ¡°Hahaha, you look so funny!¡± Liam rolled his eyes. Blocking the skill had temporarily altered his appearance. But it should return to normal in a few minutes. ¡°Your hair looks like from a cartoon!¡±, exclaimed Balm.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°So much soot. Maybe you should go wash real quick.¡± ¡°No, stay like this, maybe the boss runs away by itself.¡± Liam shook his head. He grinned, reaching out his hand towards the elite. ¡°Keep making fun of me. In the meantime, I will enjoy looting the elites.¡± ¡°No!¡± The party members chuckled amusedly as Cyclone dove forward, grabbing the elite like a goalkeeper. This round of looting revealed a few more green-magic items, preparing the group for the upcoming fight. Cyclone was finally able to change her wand, boosting her damage. Noticing that everyone was ready, Silver Blade looked at Liam. ¡°Mirage, can you tell us what to expect?¡± Liam knew that the upcoming fight would be impossible without his assistance. After all, he had already prepared for it in the morning. Thus, he revealed some information to Silver Blade. ¡°Our opponent is the pirate captain Osick. He draws power from the trident and will be too difficult for us to fight. Thus, when the fight starts you need to juggle aggro perfectly. Everyone but our mages has to defend once. I will do something to cut the connection. After he is weakened you can fight regularly.¡± ¡°Thanks. You all heard it, right? Don¡¯t save your health potions. Give it all you¡¯ve got!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± The prospect of defeating a boss excited everyone. Liam decided not to reveal to them that Osick couldn¡¯t be considered a boss enemy. The party lined up behind Silver Blade, walking up the stairs to the right. They reached a large wooden platform. A thin, tall man, his skin surprisingly pale came into view. He lazed around on a throne made from all kinds of stone found in the ocean. A crooked crown sat atop his head; a blue armor made from flowing water covering his body. At the center of his chest sat a suspicious blue crystal. Faint mist hung over the platform, coming from the rushing waterfall to the right. Behind the man an impressive pirate ship drifted on the ocean, the sun reflecting from the waves. Silver Blade signaled everyone to spread along the edge of the platform, while inspecting the pirate captain. [Pirate Captain Osick Rank: Lord Level: 15 HP: ??? Skill 1: ??? Skill 2: ??? Skill 3: ??? A vicious pirate captain. Appearing out of nowhere he terrorizes the surrounding coasts.] Everyone was tense as they looked at the information. Although the pirate captain was no boss enemy, he was far beyond the current party. ¡°Look, look, look. What did the waves wash ashore? So weak, yet you made it here? My subordinates are really incompetent. Well, then I will have to finish you off personally.¡± The pirate captain spoke with a high voice not matching the tense atmosphere. Standing up slowly, a vague pressure spread. Osick grinned, gripping the pale blue saber next to his throne. His other hand went to his chest, touching the blue crystal. At this moment the air stirred. Walls of water rose, blocking the stairs. Even the ocean moved faintly. An illusionary blue line connected Osick to somewhere up the waterfall. ¡°Witness the might of Osick, the king of pirates!¡± Osick laughed excitedly as he flashed, quickly appearing before Radiant Shield. ¡°Careful everyone!¡± [Stance -30] The tank¡¯s body trembled. Most of his stance was gone in one hit. And this wasn¡¯t all. With Osick¡¯s attack, water splashed towards the surroundings, prompting Cyclone to evade hastily. ¡°Don¡¯t let him reach the mages!¡± The fight started suddenly. Liam directly took out Refresnim¡¯s dark orb of flight. Wings spread behind his body, carrying him into the air. Everyone including Osick looked at Bleary Mirage in surprise. But the pirate captain wasn¡¯t distracted for long, swinging his saber at Quickstep who brazenly attacked him. Liam hoped that his party would survive as he flew higher and higher. A few seconds later he plunged into the waterfall, following the line originating from Osick. Liam¡¯s feathery wings weren¡¯t affected by the water due to their magical nature. They allowed him to safely reach a narrow cave behind the waterfall. Blue dots of light floated in their air. They originated from the water, coerced by the mysterious trident standing upright in the center of the cave. The light reflected from the walls, creating a serene atmosphere. But Liam had no time to admire the scenery. He drew his sword and quickly hacked at a few blue crystals scattered around the trident. The crystals burst apart. The light dimmed gradually. Eventually Liam got rid of all five crystals. ¡°You dare!¡± An angry shout came from the ground. The rest of the party watched as the line originating from Osick faded, his armor disappearing and his body turning listless. Silver Blade inspected the pirate captain again. [Pirate Captain Osick Rank: Lord Level: 8 HP: 2200/2200 Skill 1: [Passive] Osick deals water attributed splash damage with each of his attacks as long as he draws power from the trident. Skill 2: ??? Skill 3: ??? Status: Weakened, Dazed A vicious pirate captain. Appearing out of nowhere he terrorizes the surrounding coasts.] ¡°Quick! Attack with all you got!¡± Silver Blade¡¯s shout woke up her teammates. Seeing that Osick didn¡¯t move, they unleashed everything. [-91!] [-60!] [-79!] [-48!] The magic damage arrived first, shaving off a good amount of HP. ¡°Well done!¡± ¡°Continue!¡± Silent Acacia didn¡¯t have to face Osick directly yet, so he wasn¡¯t able to build up fury. He could only continue with normal attacks. [-40!] The young thief smiled smugly. His damage was alright compared to the other physical attackers. Suddenly a shadow fell on the platform. Liam made use of the bit of time left from his item to descend, striking Osick squarely in the head. [-28!] Liam frowned, not satisfied with his damage. But he knew as well that the only reason his party was able to face of against Osick was because of the weakened state. Under normal circumstances it wasn¡¯t possible to fight a lord enemy with this much level difference. However, at this moment Osick shook off his dazed state. ¡°You all will pay for this!¡± The pirate captain bellowed angrily as he swung his saber at Liam. Watching the blue streak flash at him, Liam¡¯s chest tightened. He threw himself to the ground, barely able to evade. Chapter 38: Pirate captain Osick (II) Silver Blade noticed Bleary Mirage¡®s predicament. She gritted her teeth, quickly approaching Osick and ramming him with her shield. The damage was negligible, but Osick scoffed angrily and turned around to focus on the tank. The pirate captain¡¯s attack speed was not low, swinging his saber again in a smooth motion. Silver Blade already had to defend against one attack before, her stance almost emptied out. She braced herself, deciding to tank one hit. [-110!] Silver Blade gritted her teeth as nearly half of her HP disappeared. The others realized the situation was tense. They quickly started another rotation of attack. More skills were mixed in this time, doing a lot of damage. ¡°Keep going guys! Keep going!¡± ¡°We got this!¡± Osick¡¯s eye reddened, rage welling in his chest. ¡°Imbeciles! How dare you challenge pirate captain Osick!¡± With an angry yell the pirate suddenly flashed backwards. A large chest stood next to his throne. Osick grabbed blindly, pulling out a handful of blue crystals from the chest. ¡°Don¡¯t just watch, attack!¡± Liam shouted loudly to animate his teammates. A few more ranged attacks hit the pirate before he swung his arm, precisely throwing the crystals at the trident. Immediately a huge amount of mana gathered. The connection between Osick and the trident was restored. An armor of water formed around Osick¡¯s body. ¡°Feel my wrath!¡± As a shrill scream rattled everyone¡¯s eardrums, Osick raised his saber high. The ocean below churned, ferocious waves building up. The waterfall increased in power, determined to stop anyone trying to lay hands on the trident. ¡°Be careful everyone, this should be a skill!¡± ¡°Keep your eyes open, friends!¡± The two tanks warned the party as a ball of dense water suddenly shot out from the ocean. It drew a graceful curve through the air, threatening to bombard the platform. A blue ring lit up below Cyclone¡¯s and Balm¡¯s feet. Fortunately, the blond woman stayed vigilant. She grabbed Balm¡¯s arm and with quick footwork dodged to the side. Boom! The platform trembled as the large sphere of water crashed against the wooden floor. ¡°Thanks Cy!¡± ¡°Nice one!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen it guys, watch the floor!¡± With Cyclone¡¯s example everyone knew what to look out for. They lowered their heads, tensely staring at the floor. Silver Blade narrowed her eyes as the next blue ring appeared below her. She hastily jumped to the side. Fortunately, these kinds of indiscriminate skills didn¡¯t use up one¡¯s stance during dodging. But on the other hand, blocking them with a shield was impossible as well. ¡°Scurry! Like the rats you are!¡± Osick mocked gloatingly as he waved his saber, commanding the water to bombard faster and faster. ¡°Don¡¯t slack now!¡± Blue rings lit up on the platform. Spheres of water shot out of the ocean. The party dodged left and right, narrowly avoiding the damage. Suddenly Radiant Shield shouted anxiously: ¡°Watch out!¡± The burly man watched as Sun¡¯s Knight evaded one water sphere, only to land in the impact area of the next one.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! He threw his body forward, pushing his friend away. [-100!] Radiant Shield¡¯s body trembled as he was doused in water, receiving a fixed amount of damage. ¡°Don¡¯t panic guys!¡± ¡°Sorry, bro¡­¡± Sun¡¯s Knight looked guilty at Radiant Shield, feeling as if it would¡¯ve been better to take the damage himself. ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted now!¡±, warned Radiant Shield, not taking it to heart. Fortunately, the skill slowly ended as Osick lowered his saber. Liam didn¡¯t waste a single second, activating Refresnim¡¯s dark orb of flight and shooting up the cliff. Silver Blade was reminded by his actions. ¡°Focus, quick. Who has stance left? Tank one attack!¡± Sun¡¯s Knight gritted his teeth, wanting to make up for his mistake. He dashed towards Osick, attacking swiftly. A sword swung through the air and clashed with the bluish armor. [-0!] Sun¡¯s knight felt awkward, having forgotten that Osick at this moment was back to level 15. But fortunately, he kept his mind on high alert. When Osick¡¯s saber hacked down on his head the man hastily dodged. [Stance -32] ¡°Quick, someone draw his aggro!¡± As Sun¡¯s Knight shouted frantically, Silent Acacia reacted, sending out two arrows with [Flurry]. ¡°Just wait, you will soon feed the sharks!¡± Osick bellowed angrily as he rushed towards the thief. Silent Acacia tried to get away, but his movement speed wasn¡¯t enough. Luckily, just before the pirate captain could attack, his connection towards the trident was cut off. [Pirate Captain Osick Rank: Lord Level: 8 HP: 1280/2200 Skill 1: [Passive] Osick deals water attributed splash damage with each of his attacks as long as he draws power from the trident. Skill 2: Osick commands the ocean, shooting bombs of water, each dealing 100 points of water damage. Skill 3: ??? Status: Weakened, Dazed A vicious pirate captain. Appearing out of nowhere he terrorizes the surrounding coasts.] Silver Blade¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Give it your all guys!¡± Instantly skills and attacks flooded the pirate captain. Another chunk of his HP disappeared in a blink. But this time the dazed state lasted only for a short time. ¡°Damn it! Do you know who you¡¯re messing with?!¡± Cyclone couldn¡¯t help but taunt the pirate captain: ¡°No, I don¡¯t. No one ever mentioned it before.¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± Osick¡¯s eyes spewed flames but unfortunately, he was bound by the game, forced to attack Silver Blade. The blue saber slashed like a vicious wave. Silver Blade narrowed her eyes, waiting for the perfect timing. [Brutal Slash]! [-22!] Silver Blade felt confident, but quickly her face fell. Osick¡¯s saber didn¡¯t stop! ¡°On no! He got used to the stun!¡± [-110!] ¡°Silver!¡± ¡°Sh*t!¡± ¡°Drink a health potion, quick!¡±, reminded Liam. Silver Blade trembled, feeling the pressure. She almost instinctively reacted to Liam¡¯s shout. She took out a small bottle, downing the red liquid inside. [Basic Health Potion Category: Common Effect: Heals 400HP immediately and 10%(HP) per second for three seconds. Capped at 1000HP Every adventurer¡¯s best friend. Never leave the town without it.] [+400!] Everyone sighed in relief as they saw their tank returning to full health. Subconsciously the party developed a certain dependence towards Silver Blade. ¡°Don¡¯t slack off guys! This fight isn¡¯t over yet!¡± Liam woke up his teammates as Osick gathered momentum for another attack. Radiant Shield narrowed his eyes. Hoping to share the pressure, he jumped before Silver Blade, tanking the next hit. [-106!] Nearly half of the burly man¡¯s HP vanished in an instant. ¡°I can still take another one! Friends! Attack! End the pirate!¡± Liam watched the fight with rapt attention. Another wave of attacks shaved away Osick¡¯s HP. But the veteran wasn¡¯t convinced yet. From Osick¡¯s information he had still one skill left. Liam was afraid that the pirate captain might enter berserk mode and defeat the party effortlessly. Thus, he took out the minor poison he received from those zombies earlier. Liam opened the bottle with deft hands and poured the viscous liquid on his blade. A moment later he flashed forward and cut Osick with the poisoned blade. [-26!] [-40!] ¡°Argh! You! I curse all of you!¡± Osick¡¯s body trembled, his voice hoarse, sounding like a demon from hell. Veins popped up on his forehead. Jumping backwards, the pirate captain stared at the party with hate-filled eyes. ¡°You asked for it! Feel the wrath of the Black Storm!¡± ¡°What¡¯s black storm?¡± ¡°Focus! We almost got it!¡± ¡°Bleary Mirage, fly quickly!¡± Liam¡¯s chest tightened. The others didn¡¯t know but his orb of flight had no charges left. Fortunately, the poison was already ticking down. ¡°We only need to hold on for three seconds, guys! Don¡¯t panic!¡± Liam encouraged his team while worry appeared in his eyes. He didn¡¯t know what the pirate captain was about to do. Black Storm was the name of Osick¡¯s ship but in Liam¡¯s old life it wasn¡¯t involved in the fight at all. The party could only watch as Osick reestablished his connection with the trident. But this time no armor formed around the pirate captain. Instead, a bubble of water suddenly engulfed him. Enclosed in the bubble Osick levitated. A storm formed out of nowhere, clouds gathering above. Osick grinned ferociously as the bubble flashed and carried him toward the pirate ship in the distance. A single dark word hung in the air. ¡°Despair!¡± Bang! Suddenly the ship rocked heavily. An explosion went off. A red line appeared on the wooden platform for less than a second. Liam noticed the line below his feet. Without thinking about it, his instincts told him to dodge. The veteran threw his body to the side. Boom! The platform shook crazily as a large cannonball flashed past it and crashed somewhere into the village. Wooden splinters, dust, and water splashed. It was an impressive spectacle as the village was ripped apart. Bus Osick didn¡¯t stop there, another cannonball quickly followed. Silver Blade felt her body tense up as a red line appeared below her. She was just about to dodge when a notification suddenly reached everyone. [Server Announcement:] [Please congratulate Player Star Gazer on being the first Player to reach level 5, a feat worthy of being remembered!] [Server Announcement:] [Level 5-10 dungeons around the world will be opened from this moment on!] Chapter 39: Pirate treasure Silver Blade¡¯s face was painted in shock, her body freezing. Liam noticed that something was wrong. ¡°SILVER!¡± The young woman woke up, but it was already too late. A cannonball aimed right for her chest. [-1000!] Without any suspense the tank lost all her HP, dropping dead on the ground. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Silver Blade?¡± Cyclone looked at the corpse of her bestest friend in disbelief. Although Liam was surprised as well, he knew that now was not the time to get distracted. ¡°Keep your eyes open, guys! Only one second.¡± The pirate ship aimed again, this time focusing on Silent Acacia. But the agile thief evaded swiftly. ¡°You WILL pay for this!¡± A rage-filled roar echoed over the ocean as Osick¡¯s HP ran out. The party sighed in relief when Cyclone suddenly exclaimed indignantly: ¡°Stop! You thief! Don¡¯t drive away with our loot!¡± Everyone looked towards the ocean, their mouths opening involuntarily as the pirate ship opened its majestic sails, leaving the island. ¡°Noo! My beautiful ship!¡±, shouted Quickstep sadly. A quick [Inspect] revealed that Osick was forcefully kept alive with 1HP. Most of the party members could guess that the pirate captain would reappear in the future. [Congratulations on defeating the lord enemy ¡®Pirate Captain Osick¡¯!] [Received 500EXP] [EXP: 67/1400] Notifications arrived, confirming that the fight was over. They came with a huge amount of EXP, pushing the whole party to level up. Even Silver Blade still received half the EXP, allowing her to reach level 5. For a moment the platform fell silent as everyone read the messages. [Congratulations, you have reached level 5.] [Please remember to distribute your attribute points.] [Congratulations, you have learned [Combat Instinct]!] Liam nodded his head as he read the information about his new skill. [Combat Instinct (rank 1) Cost: 10 Fury Effect: Sharpen your instincts, increasing your damage, defense and stance by 15% for five seconds. Cooldown: 30 seconds] Every class received a similar skill at level five, allowing them to enter an enhanced mode for a short moment. One by one the party members grew active again. ¡°I reached level five!¡± ¡°Our party emerges victorious after a thrilling fight.¡± Silent Acacia grinned at Radiant Shield: ¡°This was indeed not bad.¡± ¡°We couldn¡¯t have done it without severing the connection to the trident.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, the expert¡¯s preparation was vital.¡± At this moment, Silver Blade returned from the graveyard, her lifeless body standing up in a flash. Cyclone immediately looked at her with apparent worry. ¡°Silver! What¡¯s going on? Why didn¡¯t you dodge?¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Yeah, you were like¡­ frozen.¡± ¡°Please share with your companions if something weighs you down, maiden.¡± Silver Blade looked at the many concerned faces, her thoughts in a mess. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± Ultimately, she didn¡¯t know the present people well enough, deciding to keep the matter private. Liam frowned as he looked at the tank. ¡°If you want to become a great player, you mustn¡¯t get distracted. During any other time the team might¡¯ve gotten wiped.¡± Cyclone was taken aback, feeling that Liam was unfair to her friend. ¡°Hey, expert! Don¡¯t you see that she is clearly distressed?!¡± ¡°No.¡±, sighed Silver Blade. ¡°He is right. I can¡¯t let such mistakes happen. I¡¯m sorry everyone.¡± Cyclone pouted in disagreement. The rest of the party had mixed opinions, with the professional players leaning towards Liam¡¯s side, and the others towards Cyclone¡¯s. But as Silver Blade stayed silent, there wasn¡¯t much else to discuss. Cyclone unhappily changed the topic. ¡°Great! Now our loot has driven away on a boat! Did we fight for nothing?¡± Liam was confronted with mixed emotions, his competitive spirit clashing with his wish to make friends. Thus, the veteran decided to cheer up Cyclone by telling her how to proceed. Usually, players had to go on a short treasure hunt after defeating Osick to get their rewards, but it was a lot easier if you already knew where to find the treasure. ¡°Cyclone?¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Can you attack this spot?¡± Liam pointed at a few thin-looking planks below Osick¡¯s throne. Eyeing the expert strangely, Cyclone complied, nonetheless. A small magic attack left her wand, striking the planks. The thin wood broke at the slightest touch. With a loud rumble the throne crashed through the platform, shattering against the rocks below. A large hole was suddenly revealed within the cliff face, opened by the throne. ¡°Look! What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°A pirate¡¯s treasure cave?¡± ¡°So, this is the real loot?¡± Everyone wore sparkling eyes, staring at the hole in the ground. Cyclone¡¯s mood improved immediately, waving at everyone: ¡°Come! Treasure awaits us!¡± ¡°But how do we get down there?¡±, asked Balm. The party members looked around. Fortunately, thick wooden beams could be seen at the edge of the platform. Their job was to stabilize the platform, massive robes conveniently hanging from them. Quickstep expertly tied a strong knot before throwing the other end of the rope down. ¡°Easy! Let¡¯s go!¡± Everyone was eager to loot the treasure. Cyclone took the lead, descending the rope like a monkey. The others quickly followed. But suddenly Liam grabbed Silver Blade¡¯s shoulder, holding her back. Radiant Shield looked at Bleary Mirage strangely but decided not to intervene. Apparently, the expert wanted to have a serious talk with the main tank. Silver Blade braced herself, having similar thoughts as she watched the rest of the party leave. For a second the young woman fidgeted awkwardly in place, before taking a deep breath and stealing her mind. As someone fighting for the succession in her family, she couldn¡¯t show weakness in important situations. If Liam knew her thoughts he would¡¯ve laughed loudly. Silver Blade was overthinking it, something she realized as well as Liam began talking: ¡°Everyone is in a hurry, missing the biggest treasure.¡± Silver Blade was dazed, staring at Liam with big green eyes. The young man had already turned around but as he didn¡¯t receive an answer, he looked back over his shoulder. Two pairs of eyes met. It was silent for a moment before Liam questioned: ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Silver Blade stayed composed but couldn¡¯t suppress the embarrassed smile on her face. ¡°I thought you were going to scold me.¡± ¡°Scold you? Why? For someone who has never played games you show unbelievable talent. One death doesn¡¯t mean anything. Don¡¯t take it to heart but learn from it.¡± The smile on Silver Blade face turned from embarrassment to relief, a hint of warmth spreading in her chest. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. You still need to lead the party to success! Here, catch!¡± With those words Liam reached for the chest not far from Osick¡¯s throne and fished out one of the blue crystals. With a reassuring gaze he threw it at Silver Blade. The young woman caught the crystal smoothly, surprised by the cold it emitted. [Mysterious Blue Crystal Category: Uncommon, Quest Effect: Allows to tap into the power of the Blue Blood Trident. Restrictions: Can only be used by the holder of the quest ¡®Retrieve the Blue Blood Trident¡¯. A mysterious crystal brimming with water attributed mana. What could be its source?] Silver Blade frowned. She looked at Liam, who acted all innocent. But the young woman understood that Bleary Mirage had a purpose in giving her this crystal. ¡°Say, are you testing me? Or training?¡± ¡°Neither. I just feel it¡¯s more interesting.¡± ¡°So, you admit that you know what to do with this crystal?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Silver Blade watched as Liam followed the others into the treasure cave. She felt confused, not able to figure Liam out anymore. The level of detail of his knowledge was hard to explain just with information from ancient ruins. Silver Blade¡¯s family had some of this information as well, thus she had a certain comparison. Let¡¯s not get caught up if we can¡¯t figure it out¡­ Silver Blade shook her head, putting her attention back on the crystal, activating it with a thought. Suddenly the waterfall to her right steered as a mysterious trident appeared, shimmering gorgeously with the aura of the king of the sea. It glided towards the platform, obediently landing in Silver Blade¡¯s hand. [Blue Blood Trident [SEALED] Temporary effect: The holder of the mysterious blue crystal can wield the trident to call the tides. A mighty weapon forged by the merfolk traitor Hyoral, an heirloom to ensure the protection of her bloodline. Can only be wielded by the designated heir.] Silver Blade studied the weapon¡¯s description with a frown. From everything she knew Hyoral should be old man Blunnriel¡¯s ancestor. But she couldn¡¯t figure out yet what Liam¡¯s purpose was in letting her control the trident. Keeping the doubts in her mind, she finally descended into the treasure cave. The trident couldn¡¯t be kept in one¡¯s inventory, thus the party stared in amazement as Silver Blade appeared with the ethereal weapon. ¡°Wow, did you loot this? Why haven¡¯t I thought of it?!¡± Cyclone looked at the weapon with envy, causing chuckles among the group. ¡°It¡¯s just a quest item. Don¡¯t think too much.¡± ¡°Right, we were so preoccupied with looting that we almost forgot the quest.¡± ¡°Greed blinded our eyes!¡±, exclaimed Radiant Shield dramatically. Sun¡¯s Knight could only roll his eyes. ¡°Drama queen!¡± Chapter 40: Old man on a cliff The party members were in a good mood, joking around while looting. Everyone received at least one suitable green-magic item, boosting the entire group. Common items were abundant. When Cyclone first reached the cave, it was filled with piles of gold and jewelry. The young woman¡¯s eyes reflected the coins, imagining infinite wealth. However, when she reached out with her hand each pile only yielded three gold coins, causing despair. Cyclone sulked in a corner while the rest of the party separated the gold into one pile each. Most of the friends were excited, as three gold coins were a lot at this point in the game, equivalent to one hundred silver or ten thousand copper. Other than this the party found a replica of Osick¡¯s sword. With multiple people interested in it, they had no choice but to roll for it, relying on luck. In the end Quickstep beat everyone despite only rolling a 58. [Saber of the blue tide Category: Uncommon Level requirement: 5 Attack Damage: 13-15 Attack Speed: 0,7 Effect 1: Every attack deals 2%(PDMG) water damage. Effect 2: Every attack deals splash damage of 0,5%(PDMG) water damage. A saber bought by Pirate Captain Osick. Known for his tendency to throw his weapons in a fit of anger he bought in batches.] Fortunately, Cyclone was a mage and not interested in sabers. If the lucky young lady would¡¯ve rolled the dice, everyone would have been certain of her win. And at this moment Cyclone proved her luck again as she looted the three copper-grade treasure chests in the room. She received two magic rings with strength and intelligence respectively, one given to Liam and one to Balm. The kind mage almost didn¡¯t want to accept, but she shut up as Cyclone pulled another uncommon item, a powerful tome, its effect granting a chance to repeat one skill without cost. She quipped it, generously giving her old tome to Balm. The party received an all-around upgrade. Only Liam knew that even this might not be enough to make it through the upcoming dungeon. After half an hour of happy looting, the party left. The once golden treasure cave only held some empty chests and racks now. Somewhere on the vast ocean Osick felt a stab in his heart, swearing revenge. Naturally, the party would welcome him with open arms, urging him to bring more loot. Under Silver Blade¡¯s lead they left the pirate village, crossing the island. The monkeys had already respawned, awaiting demise as everyone wanted to test their new equipment. Thus, the return journey only lasted a few minutes, the path plastered with dead primates. Fortunately, Onriel didn¡¯t care about the massacre. She waited on her boat, anxiously praying for the party to return. When Silver Blade came into her view with the trident in hand, the young woman¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Adventurers! You did it! You retrieved the trident!¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t disappoint you, young maiden!¡±, exclaimed Radiant Shield. ¡°Great! Great news! Now grandpa will be able to defend the village again!¡± A tear ran down Onriel¡¯s cheek, touching everyone as they boarded the fishing boat. ¡°Tell me, adventurers. What happened to the vicious pirate?¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Silver Blade naturally did the talking. ¡°Unfortunately, the captain was able to escape, fleeing on his ship.¡± ¡°A pity. But I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t dare to return anytime soon. Thank you!¡± Silver Blade smiled at Onriel, but her mind was still on the quest. ¡°Say, Onriel. Are you sure your grandfather will be strong enough to unleash the trident again?¡± ¡°Of course. Over the last few days, he has already been looking better. I think it¡¯s his iron will to protect the village which motivates him.¡± ¡°So, your grandfather has always been protecting the village. That¡¯s his top priority?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Onriel looked puzzled but answered the helpful adventurer obediently. ¡°Is he the only one able to wield the trident?¡± ¡°Of course. The Blue Blood Trident is our family heirloom, acknowledging only grandpa.¡± ¡°But what if¡­ he was to die?¡± ¡°Impossible!¡±, exclaimed Onriel with conviction. ¡°But just if it really happened?¡± ¡°Well, in that case I would succeed him.¡± ¡°Oh no!¡± Suddenly the pieces of the puzzle matched in Silver Blade¡¯s mind. She grew anxious, getting a bad premonition. ¡°Onriel, can we speed up? We need to hurry!¡± Silver Blade spoke loudly, attracting the other¡¯s attention. ¡°Silver? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°This old fishing boat can¡¯t go faster¡­¡±, answered Onriel. Silver Blade¡¯s mind churned. Suddenly she remembered the trident¡¯s description. Without waiting for anyone she walked towards the boat¡¯s bow, raising the Blue Blood Trident towards the sky. With a thought the weapon¡¯s effect activated. Liam smiled knowingly as the ocean below them began stirring. ¡°Hmm? What is Silver Blade doing?¡± ¡°Are we getting into a storm?¡± At this moment Silver Blade finally explained herself, her face grave: ¡°I think if we don¡¯t hurry up the old man will kill himself!¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Why? Where did you get this from?¡± ¡°Because the old man¡¯s wish is to guard the village. Even if he needs to die for it!¡± The party members stared at Silver Blade¡¯s back, but they naturally believed her. The waves building below the ship were prove that the game created this way to reach the village faster. ¡°Not again¡­¡± Cyclone wailed as the boat was pushed by the ocean, rocking continuously. The blond woman hung over the railing, her face green. Quickstep was the complete opposite, dragging Silent Acacia towards the bow and enjoying the wild ride. Waves churned, pushed by an invisible force. They grabbed the frail fishing boat and threw it towards the coast, leaving the seagulls circling in the air behind. A minute later the peaceful Lomen Village came into view again. The villagers were startled as strong winds blew through their houses. A little boy turned towards the sea, staring with wide eyes. ¡°Mom, mom! Look! Such a huge wave!¡± The mother rolled her eyes, about to admonish her son when she turned around and froze in horror. ¡°What is happening?!¡± ¡°Frascaido, have mercy! Please! Save us so we can sacrifice in your name!¡± The villagers panicked, calling out to their gods, fearing for their lives. Silver Blade stood on the boat, gulping heavily. The moment she activated the trident¡¯s effect, the game had taken over control, similar to a cutscene. Suddenly Silent Acacia squinted his eyes, shouting at the party. ¡°Look! The cliff over there!¡± Following his reminder, everyone found an old man standing atop of a cliff, his back towards the ocean, arms opened wide. ¡°No! Grandpa!¡± Onriel¡¯s shrill scream tugged at everyone¡¯s heartstrings. But at this moment the waves suddenly changed direction. Forced by the magical trident they rolled towards the large cliff. It looked as if an invisible magic was protecting the village, all waves mellowing out before reaching the coast. At the same time the water rose higher and higher, almost being at one level with the cliff. Old man Blunnriel was in his own world, not noticing any of the commotion. He whispered with tears in his eyes. ¡°Goodbye, beautiful world. I¡¯m sorry, Onriel. Please continue protecting the village in my stead. I¡­ have failed. Let me return to the ocean where I belong.¡± His dry voice barely audible, the old man slowly tilted backwards. The empty air embraced him. But a moment later¡­ ¡°OUH!¡± Blunnriel left out a pained shout. ¡°Grandpa! Grandpa! Why¡­ what?!¡± Blunnriel heard his granddaughter¡¯s voice, opening his eyes in confusion. ¡°Onriel? What are you doing here?¡± Onriel choked on her own words, kneeling down and holding her grandfather¡¯s head with tearstained eyes. *sob* *sob* Liam looked to the side, spotting Cyclone who managed to raise her head, sobbing audibly, her face looking terrible. ¡°Ah! Don¡¯t look! *sob*¡± Liam chuckled, taking a quick look at his other teammates, all of them obviously touched. No one spoke as the waves below the boat gradually receded, transporting them back to the village. The old man sighed heavily as he stepped foot on the familiar wooden ground, Onriel clinging to his arms, not daring to let go. A complicated look was in the village guardian¡¯s eyes as he looked at the trident handed over by Silver Blade. ¡°You brought back the trident, adventurer. But you can¡¯t bring back my youth¡­¡± Onriel¡¯s body trembled. ¡°Grandpa! It¡¯s time for someone to share the pressure with you! The village can¡¯t rely solely on you!¡± ¡°No. This is my fault, and I vowed to protect all of us! If only I could wield the trident again¡­¡± Blunnriel looked downtrodden, but suddenly a spark lit up in his mind. ¡°Adventurer, tell me, how could you command the trident?¡± ¡°We found these in the pirate¡¯s lair.¡±, explained Silver Blade, handing over the blue crystals. ¡°This¡­ how is this possible?! Who could forge such a medium?! With those lessening the burden I might be able to unleash the trident¡¯s power!¡± Onriel stared at her grandfather in shock. ¡°No! I have to research this!¡± Blunnriel began mumbling to himself, entering his hut with the trident and crystal. Onriel was dazed before suddenly bowing to the players. ¡°I can¡¯t thank all of you enough. Here, take this for your help. And please come back in a while. I might have more tasks for you.¡± Chapter 41: Star Gazer [ Quest: Retrieve the Blue Blood Trident] [Step one: Reach Bone Island.] [Step two: Find the pirate hideout.] [Step three: Bring the trident back to Lomen Village] [Optional: Kill 20 Pirates] [Hint: Don¡¯t underestimate the captain.] [ Quest: Retrieve the Blue Blood Trident; Completed!] [Evaluation: SSS] [Receive 400EXP] [Receive 2 gold coins] [Choose one item reward] [Receive: Recipe: Basic bait for coastal fish] [The old man¡¯s life shall not end today!] Everyone read the notifications with glee. At the end a choice between three green-magic items was provided, based on the player¡¯s class. Liam found it difficult to decide, as two of them were quite useful. But ultimately, he longed to upgrade his weapon, not satisfied with falling far behind Quickstep in damage. [Heirim¡¯s Crimson Sword Category: Magic Level requirement: 5 Attack Damage: 11-14 Attack Speed: 0,7 Effect 1: Every attack has a 5% chance to add one stack of bleed onto the target. Effect 2: Deal an additional 3%(PDMG) damage against bleeding targets. The proud work of Heirim, blacksmith at Lomen Village.] Onriel said goodbye, returning to her hut as well, leaving the party to discuss happily. ¡°I got new boots!¡± ¡°This quest was so generous! Let¡¯s try talking to Onriel again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t harass the young maiden, friend, she implored us to visit after a while!¡± ¡°A pity.¡± At this moment Liam addressed the others. ¡°Ok guys, it¡¯s getting late. I¡¯m off.¡± ¡°But the server is still online for another half an hour?¡± ¡°Yeah, but there isn¡¯t much left to do.¡± Cyclone pouted, looking at Liam. ¡°Are we playing tomorrow, expert?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Then what are we doing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°Can we¡­ try the dungeon?¡±, asked Balm tentatively, the sparkle in her eyes betraying her desire. Next to her Cyclone nodded heavily as well. The two girls were eager to gather achievements. In the future when they opened their guild and showed off their achievements, strong players would beg to be accepted. Liam was surprised that those two were the most eager. But the other party members appeared interested as well. ¡°Sure, we can try. But first we should do some preparations. Maybe advance by a level and search for a healing spell.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Oh, will the dungeon be difficult?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± As the questions gradually stopped, Liam was ready to go. However, Cyclone held him back once more, urging him to explain everything about fishing in the game. Only after a few minutes was he able shake of the blond woman and finally log off. Liam took a deep breath, moving his numb body, as he found himself back in the martial dojo. ¡°Another day passed¡­¡± The young man spent a few minutes to calm down, relaxing his brain. Afterwards he returned home swiftly, happy to meet Serena again. The siblings and Merida shared a hearty meal, discussing yesterday¡¯s chaos. ¡°I¡¯m glad no one came to make trouble in the clinic today.¡±, stated Merida. ¡°But there were sooo many patients!¡±, exclaimed Serena, lowering her voice as she continued: ¡°Some were even brought by the army!¡± ¡°Oh, some of the criminals from yesterday?¡± ¡°Yes. Many of them were just normal citizens, but with the console on they suddenly went crazy! I don¡¯t understand them. Now the army took their consoles away. Who knows if they can ever return to Crunaboul. They lost so much!¡± Liam eyed his little sister, finding a hint of longing in her eyes. ¡°You know about Crunaboul?¡± ¡°Ahh, just a little¡­¡± Merida rolled her eyes. ¡°Your sister has spent every free minute reading about the game. I doubt if even some players know as much as her.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Serena¡¯s ears reddened, revealing her embarrassment. Liam couldn¡¯t help but pet her head, smiling at his cute sister. ¡°Would you like to play as well? You are barely within the age limit.¡± ¡°Oh, no, no!¡± Serena waved her hands in denial, but her eyes clearly told otherwise. Merida let out a sigh. ¡°I have already looked into it, but consoles are difficult to get at the moment. Let¡¯s talk again in a few days.¡± Liam turned his head in shock. ¡°No! Merida, you don¡¯t have to buy a console! I will take care of it!¡± ¡°You? From what money? Just obediently pay rent for you and your sister.¡± Liam felt touched, not quite sure why Merida was willing to do so much for them. Could she really be this lonely? But whatever it was, Liam didn¡¯t want to push her generosity too far. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Merida. I will find a way soon.¡± ¡°If you say so. But don¡¯t you dare do something dangerous!¡± *** Meanwhile in Silva¡¯s lavish bedroom. The young woman was sitting cross-legged on her bed, absentmindedly scrolling through the tablet before her. To the side Cynthia was sprawled on an inviting, comfortable armchair, her blond hair almost hanging to the ground. She stared at her best friend, swaying her head. ¡°Silva?¡± ¡°Siiilvaa?¡± Silva reacted, looking at Cynthia blankly. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°What¡¯s up with you today? You even died in the game!¡± ¡°Ah I¡¯m¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Come one, you can tell your bestest friend!¡± Silva sighed, gazing at the ceiling. ¡°We had a family dinner yesterday.¡± ¡°Ouh, with that uncle of yours? Did he make things difficult for you again?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. Yesterday we had a videocall with great-grandfather. He talked about the succession¡­ ¡­He placed a lot of importance on Fate of Crunaboul.¡± ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t this great? We should be among the top players!¡± ¡°Right¡­ but do you remember the player from the server announcement today?¡± ¡°Sure. Star¡­ Gazer?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s my cousin.¡± ¡°Weah, that sly dumbass!¡±, Cynthia showed obvious disgust on her face thinking about the man. ¡°Yes. With such an announcement under his belt, he has taken the first step.¡± ¡°Pff, he was only a few seconds faster! This shows nothing!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Silver Blade was clearly distressed, concerning Cynthia. The young woman pondered before coming up with an idea. ¡°It that guys can get server announcements, we definitely can too! We already proved it once, let¡¯s just repeat our feat!¡± ¡°The first dungeon? I thought about it as well, but I don¡¯t know if we can do it.¡± ¡°Have some faith! We have an expert on the team!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. It somehow feels wrong. I feel like I¡¯m using Mirage and the others for my gains.¡± ¡°Easy! Just separate personal relationship and business! You can hire the party in the name of your company.¡± Silver Blade blinked her eyes, looking at Cyclone strangely. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you could come up with such an idea.¡± ¡°Hey! What do you mean?¡± The room fell silent for a few seconds. ¡°Ok maybe I didn¡¯t come up with it. Companies have been doing this for years in other games.¡± ¡°Oh? And how would you know this clearly?¡± ¡°Ehm maybe¡­ I have been playing before.¡± Cynthia smiled awkwardly as she explained herself to her best friend. It turned out that before Cynthia¡¯s family moved to Flava Star two years ago, she was an avid gamer. But because gaming on Falva Star, located at the edge of the federation, wasn¡¯t big, and because her family didn¡¯t like it, Cynthia did her best to hide her past and adapt to local customs. But a year ago when she turned eighteen the young woman couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and met with other gamer friends she secretly got to know online. Silva had some conflicting emotions but was glad that Cynthia trusted her enough to ¡®come clean¡¯. *** Elsewhere on Falva Star, in a city called Five Lake City. Next to one of the serena natural lakes was a large complex, the city¡¯s college. Within one of the dorms four youths sat together, happily munching on surprisingly healthy instant meals. One rather corpulent young man, a pile of boxes stacked on the table before him, talked happily about his time in Fate of Crunaboul. ¡°I tell you, this pirate captain was so fierce! We almost f*cked up, but luckily Mirage had a poison with him. ¡°Is this mirage really this good?¡± ¡°Yeah, he always looks confident, as if nothing in the game could stump him.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± One of the young men, of smaller stature but with impressive muscles below his tank top, looked enviously at the fatty. ¡°Damn. Are you going to the dungeon tomorrow?¡± ¡°Of course! Just wait for the announcement!¡± ¡°Hey, Dom, do you think you can talk to your party and take me along?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know how many people we need. I can try.¡± Suddenly a tall man sitting next to the chubby Dom spoke up. ¡°Kel can have my spot.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Dom stared at shock at his friend, who was Sun¡¯s Knight in the game. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t feel like I can keep up. I might rather concentrate on my studies.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t we all agree that we want to make a living through games? Why do you want to study now?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s just not that easy. I¡¯d rather take the stable route. And it¡¯s not like I will stop gaming entirely.¡± ¡°Well, ok¡­¡± Chapter 42: Ratkin Village The next day after his usual routine Liam logged into the game. He was greeted with a large number of messages. Most of those only asked him about the plan for the day, but Silver Blade¡¯s sounded rather urgent. [Silver Blade: Mirage, cane we meet?] Liam was still in Lomen Village where he went off yesterday. But since he was a few minutes late, the other party members had already scattered. [Bleary Mirage: Sure. Now?] [Silver Blade: Yes. Are you still in the village?] [Bleary Mirage: Yeah.] [Silver Blade: Good. I¡¯m coming.] Liam waited for a few minutes before the tall female warrior with a fair, straight face approached him. ¡°Morning.¡± ¡°Morning. Now. What¡¯s so urgent today?¡± ¡°I want to hire you.¡± ¡°Hire? For what?¡± ¡°To clear the dungeon and get the server announcement in the name of my company.¡± That¡¯s unexpected. Liam was surprised. Not because someone wanted to hire him ¨C he had taken plenty such jobs in his old life ¨C but because Silver Blade had her own company. ¡°Sure, I accept.¡± ¡°What? But I haven¡¯t told you any details yet. Furthermore, are you really this confident in getting the first clear?¡± ¡°Your timing was perfect. I was just thinking about how to buy my sister a console when you appeared. And for your second question: If I seriously want to take first clear, no one will be able to take it away from me!¡± Silver Blade stared at Liam in a daze. The young man excluded a confidence engraved in his bones, giving off the aura of a person at the top. A moment later the young woman forcibly coughed. ¡°Alright. How do we set up a contract?¡± ¡°Let me ask. C? Can we make contracts in the game?¡± Silver Blade was taken aback as a mechanical voice sounded from the air around them. [Yes.] ¡°Are they legally binding?¡± [No. But violation will result in a permanent ban form the game.] Liam nodded his head. This was somewhat different from his past life. Silver Blade pondered for a moment before offering: ¡°Why don¡¯t we set up a contract inside and out of the game?¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll send you my address later.¡± ¡°Alright. And¡­ thank you.¡± Liam waved his hand, not taking it to heart. ¡°Should we gather the party then?¡± ¡°Are we preparing for the dungeon?¡± ¡°Yes. I want everyone to level up at least once today. On top of that we should get our hands on a healing skill.¡± ¡°Sure. You know best.¡± Nodding his head, Liam sent out party invitations. The others accepted one by one. When it was Radiant Shield¡¯s turn, a message appeared instantly. [Radiant Shield: Guys, Sun¡¯s Knight won¡¯t be coming.]This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. [Cyclone: Did something happen? Is he ok?] [Radiant Shield: Yeah, don¡¯t worry. He just prioritizes studying for now.] [Cyclone: Bummer.] [Silent Acacia: Can¡¯t blame him.] [Radiant Shield: Yeah. But I have another friend who would like to join us if you guys are ok with it.] The party chat fell silent for a moment. [Silver Blade: Mirage, how many people do we need for the dungeon?] [Bleary Mirage: Ten would be the best case.] [Cyclone: So many?] [Bleary Mirage: Yeah. If we want to clear it with our levels, ten will be necessary. So, if you guys know some people you can invite them.] [Silver Blade: Right, I still need to discuss with you guys. I, as representative of my company, would like to hire you. I hope we can get the first clear server announcement!] [Radiant Shield: Really?!] [Silent Acacia: Sure. NP] [Quickstep: Good idea.] [Cyclone: Yeah! Nice one, Silver!] [Balm: Is this appropriate?] [Silver Blade: Let¡¯s discuss it face to face later.] Radiant Shield stared at the messages before his eyes, not knowing what to do. After a few seconds he decided to log out and inform Sun¡¯s Knight. However, compared to his other dormmates Sun¡¯s Knight was rather well off. Earning money wasn¡¯t enough to shake off the uncomfortable feeling of dragging others down. Thus, the man declined calmly. Radiant Shield rejoined the game, where the party already decided to gather in Prento. It didn¡¯t take long for all of them to meet at the town square. Radiant Shield also informed his friend Kelvin, who appeared quickly. The young man looked just like in real life except for the conveniently short hair hidden under a black hood. ¡°My valiant companions, this noble thief is going by the name of Bloody Edge! He will be a valuable addition to our party!¡± ¡°My blade is ready to slice through the dungeon!¡± The others did their best to hold back their laughter. Obviously Bloody Edge¡¯s speech was just as bad as Radiant Shield¡¯s. ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± After a round of introduction everyone looked at Liam, waiting for him to take the lead. The veteran gathered everyone, leaving through the western gate. They followed the path through the outer forest for a while before diving deeper into the foliage. The light was dim, and the leaves rustled. From time to time some wolves attacked, but they posed no challenge to the party. Soon, a shabby village came into view. Mounds of dirt served as its walls, protected by a single flimsy gate. Two figures stood in front of it. With hairy bodies, sharp claws and a thin tail behind them. ¡°Huh? What are they?¡± ¡°Those are Ratkin, a branch of the beastkin. They can be found everywhere in Crunaboul.¡± Suddenly Bloody Edge¡¯s body trembled. ¡°Beastkin? Are you talking about a mix of humans and beasts? Doesn¡¯t this mean¡­ catgirls?¡± Silver Blade scoffed at the smaller man. ¡°Tzz. Men¡­ You even fell out of your role.¡± ¡°Maiden, you won¡¯t understand. Catgirls are a man¡¯s greatest pursuit. Am I right?¡± Bloody Edge turned to the other men. But while Radiant Shield nodded embarrassedly, Bleary Mirage and Silent Acacia looked away, cleverly avoiding involving themselves in the discussion. Fortunately, before Bloody Edge could continue, a squeaky but cold voice rang out. ¡°Who goes there?!¡± Two pairs of narrow eyes stared at the party, the guards raising their spears dangerously. ¡°We are only adventurers searching for work. Do have something for us to do?¡± The two guards looked at each other. But before they could give an answer, a small hatch opened within the gate and an envelope was thrown out. One of the guards read it quickly, eying Liam¡¯s group. ¡°To the west of this place is a small fort occupied by the Lame Locust bandits. Kill them and bring us their tokens. We will reward you.¡± Cyclone looked strangely at the village before them. ¡°What an odd quest. Why are they so hostile?¡± ¡°Because we first need to farm reputation.¡±, explained Liam. ¡°Oh! And with enough reputation we will be able to enter the village?¡± ¡°Yes. And we can take more quests.¡± The party naturally understood quickly as they followed Liam towards the west. Suddenly Cyclone grinned. ¡°Mirage, do we need to clear the bandit lair? Is there a boss and lots of loot?¡± The quest they received only asked them to gather at least 20 tokens, not going into detail. But Liam only shook his head. ¡°You can try.¡± Cyclone didn¡¯t understand until the first bandits came into view. They were a pair, clad in light black clothes and with scarred faces. [Lame Locust Scout Rank: Common Level: 9 HP: 650/650] Cyclone looked at the area ahead, a notification reminding them that they discovered the Lame Locust Fortress. The forest thinned, revealing dozens of bandit groups roaming around. The scouts were obviously only the weakest among them. ¡°Ok guys. Standard procedures. Acacia pulls and we kill. We should be able to do this easily.¡± With a sign from Liam, Silver Blade took the lead, ordering the party calmly. Everyone accepted as they began their fight. Two bandits sprinted towards them, daggers glinting under the sun. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield stood like an insurmountable wall, their shields welcoming the attacks. [Stance -10] The tanks lost a considerable amount of stance, but in a fight against normal mobs this wasn¡¯t of much concern, as they were susceptible to stuns and similar crowd control. Thus, the two bandits fell quickly under the group¡¯s assault. They dropped a few coins, a token, and gave 24EXP each, a solid amount. Next the group trained in this place for most of the day, leveling up quickly. The old party members all reached level 6, making it halfway towards level 7. Bloody Edge was somewhat behind, not yet reaching level 6. Satisfied with the day¡¯s accomplishments, the group returned to the Ratkin village. Immediately the two guards¡¯ tiny eyes lit up, their faces showing kindness. Cyclone cocked her head, glancing at them strangely: ¡°Why are they so happy? They don¡¯t know if we killed the bandits yet!¡± Liam chuckled while one of the guards spoke up. ¡°Honored adventurers, please enter. The village leader wants to see you.¡± The guards quickly opened the gates, letting Liam and his friends in. A small village with houses made from mud and clay appeared before them. A few Ratkin scurried about, most of them working on some farmland close to the dirt walls. However, the group didn¡¯t continue further as time was running out. They agreed to meet at the same place tomorrow, logging out. Chapter 43: Getting hired (I) Liam stretched his body as he took off the console. He didn¡¯t return home immediately but sent his current location to Silver Blade. This was one of the console¡¯s functions, able to send messages to friends even after the game was offline. Not knowing how long it would take for his friend to get here, Liam did some martial arts training, enjoying the serene atmosphere. When Silva exited the game and received a message, she was taken aback. The location mentioned was actually the Winding Dragon Martial Dojo! She didn¡¯t expect that the expert was using one of their training rooms. Honestly, Silva didn¡¯t have a good opinion of these people misusing the training rooms. The dojo used to be a respectable place, but now people began looking down on martial masters. Silva shelved her prejudices as she got up. Passing another door, she reached a room almost bigger than Merida¡¯s apartment, filled with clothes. She was deciding whether to dress for business or casually. In the end she didn¡¯t want to make their relationship too formal, deciding on a long white top with a short blue jacket. Wide, modern black trousers were held in place by a large metallic looking belt, the front of her top casually tucked below her trousers. Small blue earrings and black boots finalized the outfit. Silva looked at herself in the mirror, showing a faint smile, radiant like the sun. When the young woman left her room, she was greeted by Felix¡¯s scrutinizing eyes. ¡°Are you going out?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m going on a business trip.¡± ¡°Business? Dressed like this? You look more like someone going on a date.¡± Silva was stunned for a fraction of a second, before rolling her eyes dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s related to the game. I don¡¯t feel like I should dress up all fancy.¡± Luckily Felix¡¯s attention was diverted from the topic: ¡°What does the game have to do with it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hiring someone to clear the first dungeon.¡± ¡°Really? How did you come up with such an idea? Could¡¯ve been from me.¡±, asked Felix with a laugh. ¡°Cynthia told me. She said it¡¯s something companies do in other games.¡± ¡°Oh! But are you sure about this? How do you know the one you¡¯re hiring can clear the dungeon?¡± Felix stood up from the couch, a skeptical look in his eyes. ¡°He¡¯s an expert. I trust he can do it.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t sound reassuring. I¡¯m coming with you!¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t!¡± A few minutes later the siblings reached the martial dojo, getting off the car together. A tall man in a suit wanted to follow but Silva shook her head. Felix went ahead with his head held high, ignoring Silva¡¯s displeased looks. They went past the training rooms, soon spotting the correct number. But at this moment a neighboring door opened, a man dressed in white strolling out. He smiled brightly as he spotted Felix. ¡°Felix! What a surprise! Did you come to train so late in the evening? I¡¯m impressed.¡± Ken laughed brightly, hastily fixing his hair. ¡°Good evening, Ken. I didn¡¯t expect you to still be here.¡±Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m still working, storing some stuff.¡± At this moment footsteps echoed in the corridor as Silva turned the corner. Ken¡¯s eyes visibly lit up. He stepped forward, gracefully reaching out his hand. ¡°Silva! I¡¯m so glad to meet you! You look great as always.¡± Felix rolled his eyes as Ken carefully shook Silva¡¯s hand, as if he was afraid of breaking it. But the young woman was obviously less enthusiastic. ¡°Ken. Are you still misusing the training rooms?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t say it like that! Wouldn¡¯t the space be wasted without me? I¡¯m basically doing the old master a favor! Without renting out the training rooms its questionable if the dojo could remain open.¡± Silva furrowed her brows. Not in the mood to talk to the acquaintance, she stepped past him, catching up to Felix. ¡°Sorry Ken, we¡¯re busy.¡± ¡°Oh, I understand. Let¡¯s meet again another time. How about I buy you dinner?¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll write you!¡± ¡°Great! Bye!¡± As soon as Ken turned around, his smile fell. This wasn¡¯t the first time Silva put him off. He gritted his teeth thinking about all his efforts. Why did she never respond positively?! Ken¡¯s face turned venomous as he walked away. When he was almost out of sight, he heard a door open. Turning around he watched the new neighbor talking to Silva and Felix happily. Liam didn¡¯t notice Ken as he opened the door, staring at Felix in surprise. ¡°Senior brother? Do you need something from me? And senior sister is here as well?¡± The trio looked at each other strangely. ¡°Junior Brother? Is this your training room?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± ¡°Strange. Silva, did you get the number wrong?¡± The young woman furrowed her brows, quickly checking with C. ¡°Number 24. Weird. Junior Brother, are you alone? I was supposed to meet someone here.¡± Liam¡¯s eyes opened wide. He stared at Silva closely, two figures gradually overlapping, forming a full picture. Although her face in the game looked more ordinary, the general outline was similar. ¡°Are you Silver Blade?!¡±, he blurted out. At this moment Silva understood as well. ¡°You are Bleary Mirage?¡± Felix took a few more seconds, staring ahead in bewilderment, not connecting the dots. Liam smiled warmly, inviting the siblings in. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect you to be Silver Blade.¡± ¡°I¡¯m even more surprised. Who would¡¯ve expected that our junior brother is such an expert.¡± The atmosphere was light as the trio joked around, not at all like a business meeting. But eventually Felix couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Junior Brother, are you really confident in getting the first clear? I don¡¯t want to pressure you, but this is quite important for my sister.¡± Liam raised his brow at Silva, who nodded in agreement. ¡°Well, knowing this, how can I not give it my all? I promise you we can do this! Especially if we could gather a party of ten.¡± ¡°Ok. I will take care of it. As the employee it¡¯s my duty to ask around for more people.¡± ¡°We are putting a lot of trust in you, Junior Brother!¡± Although Felix had a good impression of Liam, they only knew each other for about a week after all. It was better to remind him. If Liam wasn¡¯t confident, now was still time to opt out. But how could Liam show weakness in matters concerning Fate of Crunaboul? Felix remarks rather scratched his pride. Thus, he confidently reassured the siblings until Silva took out a contract prepared beforehand. However, when Liam read through it, he suddenly trembled. Colville Constructions¡­ Liam stared at the company¡¯s name. Unpleasant memories assaulted his mind. A debt, a credit, people sieging his home¡­ Silva noticed that something was off as Liam¡¯s breath grew chaotic. ¡°Junior Brother?¡± ¡°Hey, Junior Brother?!¡± Liam snapped out of it as the siblings patted his shoulders in concern. ¡°Junior Brother, what¡¯s going on?¡± Liam took a deep breath, looking at his seniors. Silva and Felix were still too young, most likely not deeply involved. But if Colville Constructions belonged to their family¡­ ¡°Colville Constructions¡­¡± Silva overheard Liam¡¯s murmur. Suddenly she seemed to understand. The company could be considered a behemoth, having built most of the building on Falva Star. Such a name could be overwhelming to poorer citizens. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Junior Brother. I will vouch for you. The company won¡¯t trouble you even if you fail. ¡°So you don¡¯t own it?¡±, asked Liam tentatively. ¡°It belongs to our family.¡±, explained Felix. Silva struggled somewhat. But feeling that it was positive to develop trust with Liam, she revealed more. ¡°The company was given to my father to handle. But my uncle has always been greedy, extending his hands towards the company and gradually gaining some control. I already told you about my cousin Star Gazer, or rather Brayan Colville. If I could clear the dungeon before him and advertise the company while doing so, I would gain great grandfather¡¯s favor and cement our control over the company.¡± Liam watched Silva¡¯s face, noticing the concern in her eyes. She looks genuine. At least the siblings most likely don¡¯t know about my matters. Liam let out a deep sigh. Coming from a rich family he could emphasize with Silva. But at least in his past life his relatives didn¡¯t obstruct each other although they couldn¡¯t be considered close. Calming his mind, Liam looked over the contract again, considering his options. It looks clean. There shouldn¡¯t be any disadvantages in taking from the company which owes me so much. Let¡¯s consider it interest. For a moment a fierce look flashed past Liam¡¯s eyes before he signed his name. Silva and Felix smiled, hoping for a successful future. Subsequently the trio had a leisurely talk before the siblings left. Liam looked at his black credit card with a smile, having earned 5.000 Credits as a down payment, with 45.000 more waiting for him. With money in hand, Liam contemplated how to spend it, Serena¡¯s face naturally coming to mind. Although the credits weren¡¯t enough for a good home yet, a few new clothes and phones were affordable. Thus, Liam went on a shopping trip before returning home happily with big bags. Chapter 44: Getting hired (II) When Liam entered Merida¡¯s apartment with big shopping bags in hand, the doctor and Serena stared at him in surprise. ¡°Serena, look! I bought you a phone.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The young girl beamed happily. Recently she had spent a lot of time with Kathrin who always showed her funny videos on her phone. ¡°Of course, here.¡± ¡°Welcome back, Liam.¡± While Serena eagerly unpacked her phone, Liam noticed the skeptical and questioning undertone in Merida¡¯s voice. ¡°I earned the first bit of money in Fate of Crunaboul today. In a while I might make even more. I can look for a nice flat then.¡± Liam spoke in a reassuring tone, but Merida didn¡¯t appear enthusiastic, waving him off. Her gaze swept over Serena, showing a faint smile. She is really lonely, isn¡¯t she? Liam sighed as he put away the clothes he bought. Suddenly an idea came to his mind. C? Can you connect my phone with the console? [¡­] C? [Player Liam, receive your next challenge.] [Cook a meal for your sister and the doctor.] [Reward: Your phone will be connected to the VR console.] Liam was surprised. It had been a few days since he got his last challenge. But what¡¯s the point? Despite not understanding C¡¯s purpose, Liam felt that it was a good idea. Merida had done so much for them it was time to give back, even if only a little bit. ¡°Merida. How about I cook for us today?¡± ¡°You? Can you cook?¡± ¡°Well, how difficult can it be?¡± Merida had a bad feeling, but she agreed, willing to give Liam a chance to prove himself. The young man smiled brightly as he stood in the kitchen, sorting through his memory for recipes. But his eye twitched as he only came up with difficult, high-class meals. I do remember watching our chef create noodles with tomato sauce when I was a kid, delicious and simple. This should be doable, right? Liam encouraged himself as he heated up water, meanwhile cutting all kinds of vegetables. Twenty minutes later he put the food on the table, satisfied with his performance. ¡°Serena, put your phone away. We¡¯re eating.¡± The young girl complied reluctantly as she sat down on the table. ¡°Enjoy your meal!¡± Filling their plates, the trio began eating with bright smiles. But with every bite Merida and Liam gradually scrunched their faces, finding it difficult to endure, their stomachs rolling in protest. Only Serena continued eating happily, considering her brother¡¯s cooking a highlight ever since living on the streets. Liam forced another bite down while asking Merida: ¡°How does it taste?¡± ¡°Good, good. Although I would¡¯ve put salt into the water. And pureed the tomatoes.¡± ¡°Oh, my bad.¡±, said Liam sheepishly.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°And give more pepper into the sauce. And don¡¯t put chilly in. And thicken it. And¡­¡± Merida clearly found it amusing, listing mistake after mistake. ¡°Ok, ok. I got it. It¡¯s bad.¡± ¡°Brother¡¯s cooking is the best! Don¡¯t lie!¡±, disagreed Serena with a pout, causing the others to laugh. After the meal, Merida dragged Liam into the kitchen. She couldn¡¯t understand how the young man made such a mess cooking such a simple meal. Liam felt embarrassed as he helped the doctor to clean up. ¡°How did you get sauce below the stove?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Finally, an eventful evening came to an end as everyone went to sleep. The next day Liam decided to order a ride with his new phone, spending his money to save time. The driver was silent along the way. With a screen installed into the car, there was no need to entertain the guests. Liam scrolled through the programs. Right now, there was only one popular topic, Fate of Crunaboul. Suddenly Liam stopped, narrowing his eyes as he came across the replay of an interview. Anchor: ¡±Star Gazer, right now you are regarded as the number one player on Falva Star. Are you satisfied?¡± Star Gazer: ¡°Of course not! Our Falva Star isn¡¯t considered important in the federation, but I will prove those doubters wrong! Not only will I be first on Falva, but first in the federation!¡± Anchor: ¡°A noble goal! Any plans?¡± Star Gazer: ¡°Within five days I will clear the first dungeon! And from then on, I will only speed up!¡± Anchor: ¡°Where does your confidence come from?¡± Star Gazer: ¡°It is not a secret that my family has explored the ancient ruins, contributing greatly to humanity. With the information I have in hand, I can¡¯t help but be confident.¡± The anchor smiled, glossing over some controversies in this statement. Anchor: ¡°Some people don¡¯t consider you the best player, since someone else managed to clear the first unique quest. Any thoughts?¡± Star Gazer: ¡°What does it matter? Only luck! While I was working towards the first dungeon, others still cared for the quest. Ridiculous!¡± Liam turned off the interview, his face stern. So this is Star Gazer¡­ The fine, beardless face, with dashing eyebrows and short black hair branded itself deeply into his mind. Five days? Groundless boasting! Lucky? Heh! Liam scoffed inwardly. He couldn¡¯t help but look forward to reigning in the rich young master¡¯s parade. A short while later Liam reached his training room. Wearing the console, he entered the game, finding himself back in the Ratkin village. One by one his party members appeared. ¡°Morning guys.¡± ¡°Morning.¡± ¡°Hurry up! We have a dungeon to clear! Expert, go!¡±, urged Cyclone. Bloody Edge looked at Cyclone with tired eyes. ¡°Maiden, how can you be so eager on this thankless morning?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys watch the interview yesterday? Star Gazer wants to clear the dungeon in five days!¡± Most of the party shook their heads. Yesterday they negotiated with Silver Blade, not having much time to do anything else. In the end Silver Blade made everyone fair offers, naturally not paying them as much as Bleary Mirage. ¡°Cyclone is right.¡±, agreed Silent Acacia suddenly, appearing more serious than usual. ¡°Now that we officially took on a job, we have to put some effort in.¡± At this moment notifications popped up before everyone. [A contract concerning Fate of Crunaboul was detected.] [Do you wish to copy it into the game?] [Punishment for breach of contract: Permanent ban from the game.] [Accept] [Decline] ¡°What? We can do this?!¡± Everyone was surprised, with Quickstep showing a pleasant smile. She had already experienced a company trying to scam her out of her payment before, causing a tiring legal battle. But if the contract was enforced in the game, no one would dare to mess around. ¡°You guys can all accept.¡±, stated Silver Blade. The party members didn¡¯t hesitate. Only Liam looked at Silver Blade, knowing the risk she was taking. Since the contract was made in the company¡¯s name, a potential breach would ban the company from the game, taking away all advertising opportunities. Naturally Silva would become a sinner in her family¡¯s eyes. However, this was only the worst-case scenario. No one expected something like this to happen. Thus, the party was in a good mood as they followed Liam to meet the village leader. He was a hunchbacked Ratkin with white spots in his fur, looking at the party through thick glasses. ¡°You did a great service for our humble village.¡± The old Ratkin was pleased as Liam handed over the gathered tokens. Although the quest didn¡¯t bring substantial rewards, Liam was after something else. [Congratulations. Relationship with Ratkin Village increased.] [Hostile -> Friendly] Liam smiled as his plan worked, gathering enough tokens yesterday to directly skip the neutral relationship. But his smile froze as the village leader didn¡¯t continue talking. Liam rolled his eyes sending out his secret weapon Silver Blade. ¡°Elder. Is there something else we can do for you?¡± As soon as the young woman spoke, the elder reacted, two sharp front teeth sticking from his mouth as he grinned. ¡°Yes, brave adventurers. You see, those dirty bandits usually don¡¯t stand a chance against us¡­¡± Silver Blade was surprised by the village leader¡¯s words, using a quick [Inspect]. [Village Leader Rathol Level: ??? HP: ???] Surprisingly Silver Blade couldn¡¯t see through the old rat, who continued as if nothing happened. ¡°¡­ but those bandits acted before we knew it, taking Lersra, our precious healer, hostage. Please, adventurers, help us rescuing her.¡± The party quickly accepted. Following the quest description, they approached another young Ratkin with formidable claws, good at digging. The Ratkin introduced himself as Scrarn, leading them through the forest, carefully avoiding the scattered bandits until they reached an inconspicuous hole. Under Liam¡¯s lead, the party entered, finding themselves in a dim and moldy tunnel. Fortunately, the Ratkin were considerate enough to make the tunnel suitable for Nephilim. While the party advanced below ground, the village leader set off as well. The old Ratkin showed of impressive strength, weaving through bandits and reaching the fort within seconds. Immediately alarms went off, with most bandits facing off against the village leader with trembling knees, counting themselves lucky since they had taken a hostage beforehand. A few second later Liam¡¯s party reached the end of the tunnel. ¡°That¡¯s it. If I dig through here, we should enter the fort. The village leader is buying us time. You guys need to hurry up and save Lersra.¡±, explained Scrarn. ¡°You can count on us!¡± The young Ratkin nodded as he swung his claw, getting rid of the last layer of dirt. Chapter 45: Sneaking into the bandit fort Silver Blade and Radiant Shield took the lead as light fell into the tunnel. They surged out, finding themselves in a small room smelling of herbs. Two shabby white herbs and shelves with various tinctures made up the furniture. ¡°Huh? Who are you?¡± A surprised voice came from a young female Ratkin standing at the side, clad in a white coat. Her face looked haggard, her body showing clear signs of a beating. ¡°Quick, Lersra. We are here to save you. Come with us.¡± ¡°Really?¡± At this moment Scrarn peeked out of the tunnel, reassuring their healer, urging her to leave with them. But the latter hesitated. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t. Those bandits took my book away. I can¡¯t let it fall into their hands!¡± Silver Blade was just about to explain the situation when a door was shoved open with a rumble. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?!¡± A bandit suddenly entered, shouting loudly, scanning the party with a fierce and observing face. Silver Blade felt a strange pressure as she checked the newcomer. [Lazy Locust Bandit Captain Rank: Elite Level: 10 HP: 2000/2000] Radiant Shield frowned as he faced the elite. ¡°What¡¯s up with those HP?¡± Liam urged everyone to leave the tunnel as he explained hastily. ¡°Level 10 is a threshold in the game. Now hurry up guys, we need to win. This quest will become more difficult the longer we delay.¡± With Liam¡¯s warning Silver Blade didn¡¯t wait for the bandit to make the first move. Shoving the beds away, she immediately engaged, even before the entire party could leave the tunnel. ¡°Intruders! Are you here to kidnap our healer?!¡± The bandit bellowed angrily as he swung a huge wooden club like a small tree trunk, veins on his arms moving like snakes. [Stance ¨C 9] ¡°Attack!¡± Quickstep led the charge, eager for a fight. Attacks rained down on the bandit captain crashing against his makeshift armor. But when the players saw the numbers popping up, they almost didn¡¯t believe their eyes. [-25!] [-26!] [-11!] ¡°Where is my damage?¡±, complained Silent Acacia, distressed. Liam wore a grave face as well, the fight more difficult than he expected. ¡°Don¡¯t hold anything back!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Cyclone answered jokingly, using her new level 5 skill which allowed for a higher firing power. [-85!] [-85!] [-85!] Everyone stared at the huge numbers above the bandit¡¯s head. ¡°How? Cyclone casually out-damages all of us.¡± ¡°My item effect triggered.¡±, explained Cyclone with a foolish giggle. ¡°I won¡¯t let you leave!¡± The bandit captain yelled with a deep voice. He shoved his body past Silver Blade, his eyes clearly focused on Cyclone. ¡°Oh no, you drew aggro!¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Careful!¡± ¡°Protect Cyclone!¡± Attacks came from all sides, but the elite ignored them, eager to take out the pesky mage. The air stirred as a heavy club was swung, threatening to bash Cyclone¡¯s head in. The blond woman panicked. ¡°Stay away from me!¡± Using her [Push] skill, Cyclone gained some distance, interrupting the elite¡¯s attack. A moment later Radiant Shield bashed his shield into the pirate¡¯s back, prompting him to turn around and stare at the tank in hatred. ¡°Good job!¡± Liam praised as he swung his blade again, the sharp edge cutting through the air. [-28!] After another round of attacks the melee classes built up enough fury to use their skills, drowning the elite in attacks. ¡°You will pay for angering me!¡± The bandit captain huffed heavily. He raised his club over his head, his arms turning red, vague steam rising from them. ¡°Careful! He¡¯s using a skill!¡± The bandit captain wildly swung his club, going on a rampage, sending the party into a mad scramble. No one dared to get near. Herbs and bottles were shattered to pieces. ¡°ARGH!¡± With a guttural roar the bandit captain suddenly made a short jump. Not even Liam had expected this as the bandit abruptly cornered Balm. ¡°Nono, stay away!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t use your skills!¡± Silver Blade quickly warned the young mage. She knew from a quick check that the bandit¡¯s skill couldn¡¯t be interrupted. ¡°But, but¡­¡± Balm stammered; her body frozen as the bandit would surely kill her the next second. Suddenly a burly back appeared before her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, honored mage. For no harm will befall you.¡± ¡°Radiant Shield!¡± Balm exclaimed happily; her eyes focused on the broad back. Cyclone had watched her friend with worry, but now her look turned somewhat peculiar. Radiant Shield on the other hand did his job, blocking the heavy club. His stance was emptied immediately, some damage coming through. [-34!] But the bandit¡¯s skill wasn¡¯t over yet, landing another solid hit. [-195!] Radiant Shield groaned as more than a third of his HP were gone. ¡°Are you ok?¡±, Balm appeared somewhat timid as she asked with worry. ¡°Of course. A mere bandit can¡¯t bring me to fall!¡± Luckily, the bandit¡¯s skill ended, forcing him to enter a weakened state. Silver Blade immediately noticed the opportunity. ¡°The boss is weakened! Use everything!¡± A huge chunk of HP disappeared from the elite, sending him below half health. Silver Blade took over the aggro again. The process repeated itself. Although Cyclone didn¡¯t land another double hit, the bandit elite¡¯s HP were slowly dwindling down. Before falling the elite used his skill again, not contend with traveling to the afterlife alone. But after seeing it once, everyone was prepared, not giving the bandit any chance. He died with grievances on his face. ¡°Phew. Did it. It was indeed not that easy this time.¡± ¡°Yeah, it was just an elite, but both our tanks lost more than half HP.¡± ¡°At least we saved out health potions.¡± While the party discussed animatedly, Balm approached Radiant Shield with a shy expression. ¡°Radiant Shield, thank you for saving me!¡± ¡°Oh no need to thank me, maiden! This is what a hero should do!¡± Cyclone snickered as she walked by them to pick up the loot. Getting a green-magic bow, she handed it to Silent Acacia without discussion. ¡°I really need this. My damage this fight was abysmal.¡± ¡°True, true.¡± Cyclone playfully mocked as she looked at the rest of the loot in her inventory. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s this?¡± As the mage took out a yellowed scroll, everyone looked at it in confusion. Even Liam only recognized the item type but couldn¡¯t tell the exact effect without inspecting it. ¡°Wow!¡± Cyclone exclaimed joyously but didn¡¯t show any signs of explaining. Quickstep rolled her eyes as she implored the blond woman: ¡°Can you tell us more?¡± ¡°More what?¡± ¡°You know exactly what I mean¡­¡± Feeling that her friends were ready to beat her up, Cyclone snickered and revealed the scroll¡¯s contents. ¡°It¡¯s a summoning scroll! It allows us to summon the bandit captain once to fight for us!¡± ¡°Really? Such a good deal?!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t this make the dungeon raid way easier?¡± Liam listened calmly, not wanting to douse everyone¡¯s excitement. Although a summoning scroll could be powerful, a dungeon wasn¡¯t beaten purely with stats. While the group discussed animatedly, Silver Blade turned towards the Ratkin healer. ¡°We have killed the bandit. Please, follow us now to safety.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, brave adventurer but I can¡¯t go like this! I need my book back!¡± ¡°Ok.¡±, sighed Silver Blade exasperatedly. ¡°Where is your book?¡± ¡°It should in one of the captains¡¯ rooms upstairs.¡± ¡°Good. We will hurry up.¡± A prompt appeared before the party, reminding them to refocus on the quest. [ Quest: Assist the village leader] [Step one: Speak to Scrarn] [Step two: Enter the Lazy Locust Bandit Fortress through Scrarn¡¯s tunnel. [Step three: Defeat the bandit captain. [Step four: Retrieve Lersra¡¯s precious book.] [Restriction: Relationship of friendly or higher with Ratkin village.] [Failure conditions: Lersra dies.] ¡°Damn, we are still not done?¡±, questioned Silent Acacia. ¡°Another fight lies before us.¡±, spoke Bloody Edge sternly. But Liam shook his head. ¡°No. We can¡¯t fight this one, we are too low leveled.¡± ¡°Hmm? Then what should we do, expert?¡± ¡°One of our thieves will have to do the job.¡± Silent Acacia and Bloody Edge looked at each other in surprise. ¡°Are we going to steal the book?¡± ¡°Exactly. Which of you wants to go?¡± Silent Acacia and Bloody Edge stared at each other, both eager to give it a try. Silent Acacia hoped for a challenge while Bloody Edge wanted to prove himself. Eventually Acacia gave in, planning to take the role of a security net in case Bloody Edge fails. ¡°Good idea babe. If he doesn¡¯t fail it wouldn¡¯t be challenging for you anyways.¡± Quickstep happily talked to her boyfriend, sending a jab at Bloody Edge. ¡°Hmpf. I will be silent like a shadow, besting every thief out there!¡± ¡°Just leave.¡± Silver Blade shook her head as she sent Bloody Edge away. Now the party could do nothing but wait, hoping for Bloody Edge to successfully retrieve the book. At the same time, outside. A pair of eyes watched the Ratkin village leader from the shadows. ¡°Perfect! I have been pondering on hot to get into this bandit lair. Who would¡¯ve thought that someone would come and draw so much attention. Today I, Black Rat, shall steal the bandit treasure! This precious quest will be completed easily.¡± A thief cladded in black came out of the forest, carefully throwing a hook to climb the fort¡¯s wall. If Liam were here, he¡­ wouldn¡¯t have recognized the thief anyways. Chapter 46: Bloody Edge’s test Bloody Edge left Lersra¡¯s small room carefully. Using his stealth he sneaked along a corridor unseen, keeping Liam¡¯s description of the path in mind. Fortunately, not many bandits roamed around as they still confronted the village leader. The old Ratkin was too fierce after all, only the hostage prevented him from eradicating the bandit fort. Thus, Bloody Edge had it easier staying undetected within the barely lit, crude hallways. But after making it towards the upper floor, the situation changed, with bandits patrolling in front of the higher-ups¡¯ rooms. Bloody Edge hid in the shadows, trying to gauge their field of view. Three groups of patrols. Between group three and one I should be able to enter the room¡­ The thief felt his body tense up. He was eager to prove himself, seeing hope for his future life as a gamer. Despite only joining yesterday and having the lowest level, Silver Blade still generously offered him 6000 Credits for the dungeon clear. Bloody Edge painted a beautiful vision for himself. If he could stick to this party he might manage to make a living from gaming, a dream come true. Thus, the thief hyped himself up, focusing his mind. 3, 2, 1, now! Silent like an owl Bloody Edge glided over the floor, his footsteps barely touching the wooden ground. Patrol team number three had just turned the corner and number one would reappear in a second. You can do it! Bloody Edge held his breath, his hand already reaching out for the door. He quickly pushed it open. Squeak! Suddenly the thief froze. The door made a conspicuous sound. ¡°Who goes there?!¡± A shout came from patrol team number 1. The three bandits saw the open door, bellowing angrily. ¡°Show yourself, thief!¡± Rapid footsteps could be heard. Bloody Edge shivered, scanning his surroundings quickly. He looked upwards. There! Boosting himself from a chair, Bloody Edge made use of his inhuman agility and landed on top of a wooden beam close to the ceiling. Right below him was the captain¡¯s bed, the target of his covert mission right next to it. Yet it was so far away as the patrol team entered, scanning the room. Don¡¯t look up! Don¡¯t look up! Bloody Edge prayed to all gods he knew. After a few seconds one of the bandits left to sound alarm, the others keeping their eyes on the room. Oh no, what should I do? While Bloody Edge cowered desperately, Black Rat felt that today was his lucky day. The pro gamer had used his trusty hook to enter the fort through a window, already close to the boss¡¯s quarters. Finally, my luck is improving! I almost doubted myself after getting caught by the guards. Shaking his head, the thief sneaked along the wall, almost about to touch the door. But at this moment a commotion broke out in the corridor. Suddenly about a dozen bandits appeared, running in a hurry. ¡°The thief couldn¡¯t have gotten far! Hurry up!¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Black Rat froze in place. Could I have been found? Black Rat gulped, pressing his body against the wall, even closing his eyes, still as a statue. But fortunately, the bandits were too preoccupied, passing him without taking a closer look. Black Rat wiped the sweat from his forehead. Let¡¯s get out of here quickly. With a tight chest the thief pushed the door open. Squeak! Oh no¡­ The heavy door made a loud sound. Black Rat felt his stomach drop. For a moment everything seemed fine, but suddenly the bandits turned around. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± ¡°Audacious thief! Stop right there!¡± Bloody Edge heard the sounds outside, leaving him completely confused. Especially as the guards below him left the room, Bloody Edge felt as if something was wrong with the world today. But a moment later he recovered. No time to be dazed! Hurry up! The thief dropped down on the bed, quickly reaching out for the quest item. [Lersra¡¯s precious book of healing Category: Magic, Quest A book compiled by the famous Tractra, given out to all Ratkin who desire to learn the art of medicine.] Bloody Edge didn¡¯t stare at the book for long. He was just about to leave when his gaze swiped a small chest in the room. As a proper thief I can¡¯t leave without taking everything away. Controlled by a hint of greed Bloody Edge swept away all the valuable items in the room like a whirlwind. Outside, the footsteps grew louder again. The thief hurried up and exited the room. At this moment he noticed a moving silhouette at the other end of the corridor. As a thief it was an important skill to recognize other stealthed entities. Black Rat and Bloody Edge stared at each other across the corridor in a daze. ¡°Don¡¯t let him escape!¡± A shout from the bandits quickly allowed the thieves to snap out of it. Black Rat dived through the window while Bloody Edge escaped through the staircase. The party was already waiting downstairs when the door was suddenly pushed open. ¡°Friend, did you accomplish your task?¡± ¡°Did you get it?¡± ¡°Finally!¡± Bloody Edge panted, ignoring all remarks as he approached Lersra. ¡°Here, this is the item you wanted.¡± ¡°Indeed, thank you adventurer.¡± The female Ratkin smiled brightly as she caressed the precious book. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go!¡± Bloody Edge was in a hurry, basically shoving the two Ratkin into the tunnel. ¡°Hurry up guys! Bandits will arrive soon!¡± The party members were infected by Bloody Edge¡¯s anxiousness, hastily following him into the tunnel. A short while later the group paused within the forest, looking at the bandit fortress in the distance. ¡°We did it.¡± ¡°We¡¯re save.¡± Scrarn turned towards the party. ¡°Thank you, adventurers. Now it is time for those daring bandits to pay!¡± The young Ratkin¡¯s face turned grim as he pulled out a rocket from who-knows-where. Bang! A moment later a bloody red firework could be seen above the forest. The village leader nodded his head. This was the agreed upon signaled. From Liam¡¯s position he only saw the old Ratkin suddenly vanish, as distressed shouts echoed from within the fortress. Cyclone plugged her ears with her fingers, not willing to listen to the screams. Fortunately Scrarn signaled the party. ¡°Let¡¯s go adventurers. There is nothing left for us to do here.¡± Following the two Ratkin, the party soon returned to the village. Surprisingly the leader was already waiting for them, murderous intent still lingering in his eyes, cooling the atmosphere. ¡°I have to thank you, adventurers. You helped our little village greatly.¡± ¡°No need, no need.¡±, spoke Silver Blade, somewhat intimidated. ¡°Thank you for saving me! Here, take this as a token of appreciation.¡± Lersra took out a small book, looking identical to her own book of healing, eliciting baffled looks from the party. ¡°If there is more than one book and the bandits died, then what did Bloody Edge take the risk for?¡±, questioned Cyclone skeptically. But the NPC didn¡¯t react to the question, only waiting for Silver Blade took the book of healing. [ Quest: Assist the village leader; Completed!] [Evaluation: B] [Receive 450EXP] [Receive Ratkin pass] [Receive Skillbook: Heal] [Receive 500 Relationship with ¡®Ratkin Village¡¯] [Receive 100 Relationship with ¡®Ratkin¡¯] [Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover!] Seeing a skillbook appear in their inventories, everyone realized why Liam chose this quest before diving into the dungeon. [Heal] was the bread and butter of every heling class, a backbone for every party. Radiant Shield¡¯s thoughts moved as he coughed embarrassedly, turning towards Liam: ¡°Mirage. These skillbooks should be worth quite a bit. And we only need one. Don¡¯t you think¡­¡± Liam raised his brow with a smirk. ¡°My trusted companion, your words sound as if spoken in foreign language. Please forgive me for not being able to comprehend.¡± Radiant Shield rolled his eyes as their friends chuckled. ¡°Is it possible to trade this precious skillbook for some coin?¡± ¡°You can, but it would be better to wait for a while. Let Balm buy it from you after making some money. Skillbooks not only teach skills, but also increase their ranks.¡± Silver Blade added her opinion as well: ¡°Bleary Mirage¡¯s suggestion sounds solid. We shouldn¡¯t sell these books yet, lest someone takes advantage of it and uses it to beat the dungeon.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m convinced.¡± The others nodded as well, planning to store their books for now. But Cyclone had another question: ¡°Mirage, what is this Ratkin pass thingy?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t it say in the description? It allows you to enter the Ratkin¡¯s underground network. Those can be found anywhere in the world. But you can explore them later. Right now, let¡¯s focus on the dungeon.¡± Liam¡¯s face grew serious. Having already promised Silver Blade to succeed in getting the first clear, he didn¡¯t dare to dawdle. The party members thought similarly, exited and eager. Thus, the group bade farewell to the Ratkin and returned to the town. They sold some miscellaneous items and bought health potions. A few minutes later they gathered at the town square, as one last important matter remained. They were about to meet three new teammates. Chapter 47: New teammates for the dungeon When the party arrived at the town square Silver Blade found a tall man standing at the side. Looking similar to his real life self, the man had broad shoulders and a stern face, eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings and his hair cut short. Silver Blade immediately signaled her friends. ¡°Over there, that¡¯s the help I invited.¡± Everyone mustered the tall warrior with interest as they approached him. Naturally the warrior noticed the group. Before anyone could speak, he bowed politely. ¡°Watchful Eye, at your service.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± The party welcomed the polite man warmly, curious about his origins as Watchful Eye was about ten years older than Silver Blade. Only Cyclone looked at the warrior strangely, finding him familiar. Silver Blade, however, didn¡¯t explain more. Watchful Eye was her bodyguard since a few years ago, a martial artist trained by the family and fiercely loyal to her. But it was up to him if he wanted to disclose information to the group. The group conversed calmly, Watchful Eye staying true to his profession and instinctively always remaining half a step behind Silver Blade. Liam found it quite comical. Having dealt with many security guards in his old life, he had an inkling about Watchful Eye¡¯s identity. Fortunately, the group didn¡¯t have to wait long until Quickstep received a message, directing someone over. A tall woman appeared, the wide mage robe not able to hide her perfect figure. With long blond hair and a radiant smile, she approached the group. Quickstep embraced the newcomer briefly as she prepared to make the introduction. But apparently it was unnecessary as Cyclone stared with a worshipful gaze, her hands shaking. ¡°F¡­ fortune! You are fortune! I¡¯m your biggest fan!¡± The newcomer was obviously used to such a scene. She smiled brightly, her eyes prideful as they swiped the party, reveling in the attention. But her gaze stopped at Bleary Mirage, who showed no signs of recognizing her, leaving her puzzled. Bleary Mirage noticed the look, smiling calmly: ¡°Welcome to the party.¡± Cyclone turned her head, looking at Liam strangely: ¡°Expert, could it be that you don¡¯t recognize Fortune?¡± ¡°I¡­ guess not? Should I?¡± ¡°Of course! She is a MyTube legend, probably one of the most famous gamers in the federation! Don¡¯t tell me you never heard of her!¡± Liam looked at the other party members, noticing that even Silver Blade seemed to recognize the name. He could only shake his head. Cynthia wore a disbelieving expression, but Fortune waved at her. ¡°I¡¯m glad about your enthusiasm. I¡¯m sure we will have time to get to know each other. Quickstep invited me, hinting that this party has potential. I hope I won¡¯t be disappointed.¡± ¡°No no! We are the best! I promise!¡± Cyclone spoke with bright eyes, already sticking closely to Fortune, utterly starstruck. But Bleary Mirage stated skeptically: ¡°It¡¯s fine if you want to make content. But don¡¯t leak strategies. You can only upload dungeons after we beat them.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have been gaming long enough. I understand the basics.¡± Liam nodded his head, trusting that she knew the rules as a successful content creator. ¡°Alright, then we can leave.¡± ¡°To the dungeon!¡±, exclaimed Cyclone happily. ¡°And thus, we set off, ready to claim our achievement. But what awaited us there¡­ no one could¡¯ve foreseen!¡± Fortune walked at the back of the group, speaking in a dramatic voice. Suddenly Cyclone and Balm popped up before her. ¡°Ahh! Fortune, are you recording? Will this be cut in? Will I be in one of your videos?!¡± Fortune smiled, her voice calm. ¡°Of course. If everything goes well, you will be permanent guests in my videos. But for them to be seen by many people, I need you to behave naturally, alright?¡± Cyclone and Balm looked at each other with sparkling eyes. They straightened their backs, walking at the side of the party and scanning the surroundings as if a huge threat was waiting in the forest. Liam was amused by their antics as he led the party. He could only hope that the presence of a content creator wouldn¡¯t lead to careless mistakes. The veteran¡¯s thoughts wandered to his old life, where his teammates also liked to produce videos at the side. But he never joined them, not considering his personality interesting enough. After a while a commotion could be heard, stopping Liam¡¯s train of thought. Raylar¡¯s Temple came into view, with a large crowd gathered outside, staring angrily at the entrance. ¡°F*ck! Do you think you can monopolize the dungeon?¡± ¡°There are so many of us, open the way!¡± ¡°Yeah, square off, damn it!¡± A grim-faced warrior confronted the crowd, blocking the temple¡¯s entrance with a few others. ¡°Hmpf! What can all of you do? Small fry! Go home and don¡¯t waste space!¡± Another man with black tattoos on his face stood next to the grim-faced warrior. ¡°Bear is right. Some of you even level five, what do you want to do here?¡± ¡°Go home and cry to your moms!¡± One of the players below the temple couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. With an angry bellow he rushed up, hacking at Bear. The warrior smiled, raising a shield to defend. The attacker was immediately marked with a red name. Suddenly a disparaging voice could be heard from the temple. ¡°Really, original nephilim, a den of criminals.¡± A light flashed out of the entrance, hitting the red-named player squarely in the chest. The poor man died on the spot, not even able to react. ¡°Hehe, let me tell you: This dungeon will be cleared by our guilds Beast Den and Morning Glow! Rember these names, you ants!¡± At the back of the crowd, Cyclone stared ahead in confusion. ¡°What is happening?¡± ¡°Two guilds are trying to monopolize the dungeon.¡± ¡°But who attacked just now?¡±, asked Silver Blade similarly puzzled, looking at Liam for an answer. ¡°The NPC within the temple. He¡¯s the type to attack red-named players on sight. The guilds are making use of him.¡± ¡°Are guilds already a thing?¡± ¡°Not officially, no.¡± ¡°What glaring injustice! Friends, we need to do something in the name of all the heroes of this world!¡± Radiant Shield¡¯s face showed righteous indignation, eager to punish the evildoers. Suddenly Fortune appeared next to him, a peculiar look in her eyes. ¡°Great, who would¡¯ve thought your party is hiding such a talent?! Can you repeat this? Tilt your head a bit more, maybe ball your fists.¡± Radiant Shield froze in place, embarrassed by the attention. Fortune was famous and beautiful, a deadly combination for the usually nerdy gamer. But Bloody Edge saw the opportunity. He sneaked behind Radiant Shield, putting on a cold face. ¡°Lurking in the dark to rid the world of darkness. Such is my mission.¡± While Fortune smiled brightly, Liam shook his head, pondering on how to deal with the situation. He thought about killing form a distance but getting rid of their red names would take too much time. Liam swiped the crowd before stopping on Fortune, an idea forming in his mind. Silver Blade was thinking about the issue as well, watching strangely as Bleary Mirage began whispering something to the newest member. Obviously Fortune wasn¡¯t overly enthusiastic but agreed anyways. Under Liam¡¯s lead the party pushed through the crowd, reaching the front. Going up a few stairs they turned around to face the players. With their moves they already drew most of the attention. But as Fortune took a step forward, all eyes were fixated on her. Murmurs ran through the crowd. ¡°Isn¡¯t this¡­¡± ¡°It should be, right?¡± ¡°My goddess¡­ I have seen my goddess!¡± Women and men alike stared at the gorgeous celebrity. Silent Acacia pouted, taking half a step forward and hoping for some reaction. But no one minded him. The thief¡¯s eye twitched, considering himself no less famous than Fortune among gamers. You ignorants are only lusting after beauty! Quickstep watched from the side, giggling as she grabbed her boyfriend¡¯s hand. Meanwhile Fortune began to speak: ¡°Players, don¡¯t be intimidated by these brutes! With our numbers they stand no chance! Let¡¯s push our way in. Just don¡¯t attack!¡± It didn¡¯t need many words to get the idea across. The players were long dissatisfied with the two guilds, only waiting for someone to take the lead. ¡°Lady Fortune is right! Let¡¯s advance together!¡± ¡°Yeah, show them our fury!¡± Fortune¡¯s smile froze as the ocean of players began surging up the stairs. She hastily turned around, catching up with her party. Above, the guild members felt their legs tremble. ¡°Boss, what¡­ should we do?¡± ¡°D¡­ don¡¯t move! We can¡¯t let them in!¡± Liam¡¯s party was the first to arrive. Keeping their hands strictly to themselves, the tried to push the guild players away. A short stalemate ensued. But it didn¡¯t last long. When the crowd arrived, the guild players felt their bodies turn numb, mercilessly shoved into the small room behind them. Cyclone was squeezed between bodies, cursing Liam: ¡°Mirage! Do something! I can¡¯t breathe!¡± Liam was at the front of the group. He directly turned towards the NPCs nearby. Powerful, white-robed warriors protected a priest in their middle, no player able to get close. ¡°Priest, I seek to break Reylar¡¯s Curse.¡± ¡°You? Did you come to throw your l¡­¡± ¡°Stop yapping, I accept your quest.¡± The priest had a shocked expression, but the quest was given out, nevertheless. Liam accepted quickly. Touching the large door upfront, he and his party vanished abruptly. Chapter 48: First fights in the dungeon ¡°Puh, we made it in.¡± Cyclone sighed heavily, throwing a fierce look at Liam. ¡°This wasn¡¯t your best idea!¡± ¡°But it worked.¡±, stated Liam with a shrug. [Welcome, adventurers!] [You have entered the dungeon ¡®Reylar¡¯s Curse¡¯.] [Only Players leveled 5-10 admitted.] [The limit on deaths will be suspended within the dungeon.] [A player can only die thrice during a single run.] [All EXP earned will be stored and only given out upon completion of the dungeon.] C¡¯s mechanical voice rang in everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°Are those the dungeon¡¯s rules? Interesting.¡± Silent Acacia murmured, comparing the rules to past games. Meanwhile Silver Blade looked at Liam with some curiosity. ¡°Since we couldn¡¯t listen to the priest¡¯s explanation, could you tell us more about the dungeon?¡± The veteran nodded his head. He still held onto the lore book about the devil Refresnim, handing it to Silver Blade as he began talking. ¡°Fortune, please don¡¯t cut this in.¡± ¡°Sure, sure.¡± ¡°Thanks. So, Reylar was a strong warrior among the original nephilim. Like many others he tried to rekindle the pact with hell, so that original nephilim could regain their dark magic. To do so he contacted the devil Refresnim. But the holy nephilim found out quickly. Abhorring the dark side, they sent someone to stop Reylar. The latter felt threatened and performed a ritual to cast a curse. It stopped the holy nephilim, but also bound himself in place. Now the priest outside sent us to kill Raylar.¡± The party nodded in understanding, some more and some less interested. Silent Acacia obviously wasn¡¯t the type to care for lore, urging the group: ¡°Got it. Go in. Kill boss. Can we begin?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Liam stepped to the side, letting Silver Blade go ahead. However, he planned to direct the party this time since payment was on the line. The group looked around, finding themselves in a small, save room, with only one large door leading away. Oil lamps hung from the dark stone walls. Silver Blade stepped forward, pushing the heavy door open. Cracking echoed between the smooth walls. Coupled with the dim corridor behind the door, it created an ominous atmosphere. Shadows played on the floor. Balm looked ahead, suddenly shivering as she pointed towards the ground. ¡°T¡­ there. Corpses!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They won¡¯t stay dead.¡±, joked Liam. ¡°What?¡± Balm quickly understood what Liam meant. As soon as Silver Blade took the first step, rustling noises echoed in the corridor while the corpses began moving. The bodies slowly dragged themselves up, their pale skin half rotten, old armors clinging to their bodies. ¡°Z¡­ zombies.¡± Balm wasn¡¯t able to stay calm facing those pungent monsters straight out of horror stories. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. They are just mobs like any other.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Silver Blade spoke with an encouraging voice as she checked the opponents. [Minor Zombie Warrior Rank: Common Level: 7 HP: 500/500] ¡°Level 7? Small fry! Watch me dispose of them.¡± Bloody Edge spoke boldly as he went into stealth, sneaking behind one of the zombies. Liam shook his head. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate them.¡± [-240!!!] Bloody Edge¡¯s body appeared again; his dagger stabbed into a zombie¡¯s back. Coming out of stealth he had a higher chance to hit critically, almost killing the monster in one go. ¡°A valiant effort!¡±, praised Radiant Shield. But the others suddenly showed worried faces. ¡°Careful!¡± ¡°Behind you!¡± At this moment zombies stepped out of the shadows. There were more than a hundred, all of them staring at Bloody Edge with poisonous green eyes. The thief felt a shiver running down his spine. Suddenly the zombies began moving, their speed at the level of an average human. ¡°W¡­ what? You¡¯re zombies, damn it!¡± Bloody Edge felt his stomach sink as he was instantly encircled by five opponents. Silver Blade contemplated whether to save him or not when Radiant Shield already dashed forward. Since there was no penalty for dying in the dungeon the tank was fearless, slamming his shield into the first zombie. Silver Blade had no choice but to copy his actions. ¡°Quick! Form a line! Protect the mages!¡± Urgently directing everyone the young woman engaged a zombie as well. But suddenly she found a tall body before her, blocking a punch. ¡°Watchful Eye, what are you doing?¡± The bodyguard heard Silver Blade voice, feeling somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Apologies, young lady. Habits¡­¡± Silver Blade rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t call me young lady in the game.¡± The others looked at the interaction with amusement while guessing who Silver Blade might be. With Watchful Eye taking a step to the side, the fight continued normally. Bloody Edge got rid of the zombies. Making use of his agility he darted left and right, taking out opponents at low health. Meanwhile the warriors formed a line of defense, allowing the long-ranged combatants to fire freely. Liam ignored the rusty swords swinging at him. If he kept defending, he would never be able to attack. [-4!] [-5!] [-4!] The zombies dealt little damage, but Liam knew that their sheer numbers would still provide some difficulties. ¡°Balm. This time it¡¯s on you. Use your [Heal] cleverly. The rest need to juggle their health. Don¡¯t drop to low health at the same time! Keep your eyes open!¡± Everyone acknowledged Liam¡¯s words. This would be a test of their awareness. The zombies smelled living souls, swarming at the party with drooling mouths. ¡°Now I know how those guild players felt like.¡±, joked Fortune while leisurely throwing out her magic attacks. [-91!] Cyclone chuckled happily, fighting alongside one of her idols. [-109!] ¡°Your damage is not bad.¡± With a single praise from Fortune, the smaller woman felt elated, as if on cloud nine. Liam continued fighting in the frontline, keeping his eyes on his HP. [-4!] [-5!] [-4!] While his own health was trickling down, he swung his sword robotically on cooldown, easily hitting multiple of the densely packed monsters. [-120!] [-122!] It took about four attacks for two zombies to fall, but their numbers were simply too much. After a bit more than a minute, Liam looked worriedly at the other warriors. The two tanks were alright but Watchful Eye¡¯s and Quickstep¡¯s HP were about to run out at the same time. However, Liam refrained from saying anything. It was necessary for everyone to adapt. But at this moment a faint red energy enveloped Quickstep, giving off a fierce aura. Liam immediately recognized it as [Combat instinct]. Although the skill was somewhat wasted this way, it allowed their party to continue without troubles. Balm was somewhat tense, keeping a close look on everyone¡¯s HP, even her attack speed decreased because of it. When she saw Quickstep and Watchful Eye close to critical health, she was hesitating to speak up and berate others. But luckily Quickstep resolved the situation. Balm flicked her wand, a warm light immediately embracing Watchful Eye. [Heal (rank 1) Cost: 25 Mana Effect: Heal the target for 400HP+78HP(CONST&INT). Has a 2%chance to cleanse one status effect. Cooldown: 30 seconds] Watchful Eye nodded thankfully as his HP were restored. But Balm still felt anxious. After five seconds Quickstep¡¯s skill ran out, her HP reducing steadily. The female warrior on the other hand didn¡¯t feel any pressure. She was a pro player, having been through many difficult fights. As her health slowly reached a critical state, Quickstep switched from attacking to defending, losing stance instead of HP, waiting for Balm¡¯s heal to come off cooldown. Thiry seconds later a warm light filled up her HP. Meanwhile Liam went through the same rotation, soon brimming with life once again. Thus, the fight continued orderly as zombies fell one by one. Soon only a few stragglers remained. Blocked by Silver Blade and Radiant Shield those couldn¡¯t make any big waves and soon died under the party¡¯s attack. Cyclone sighed briefly, her arm already feeling numb from attacking. ¡°We did it. What a hassle.¡± ¡°May their cursed souls find relief.¡± ¡°Well said! That¡¯s definitely in the vid!¡± Fortune was glad to at least get something noteworthy at the end as this fight against the zombies would be rather boring to watch, not suitable to put into a video in full. Silver Blade scanned the dead zombies with a smile, but as she glanced at Liam she found him frowning. ¡°Mirage? What¡¯s with that face?¡± ¡°Sorry to speak bluntly guys, but this was a terrible performance.¡± ¡°What do you mean, expert?¡± While Cyclone was confused, Quickstep and Silent Acacia, the pro players, nodded in agreement. ¡°How can you go into a dungeon and not communicate at all? You should call out your HP, the opponent¡¯s movements, your comrade¡¯s HP, basically everything you see. If we go into a boss fight like this, we will surely be wiped.¡± The party members looked at each other, not daring to refute. ¡°The expert is right. Let¡¯s do better next fight.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry guys, this should be my responsibility.¡±, said Silver Blade guilty. But the others disagreed. Most of the group had spectated pro games before. They knew that communication was key in many situations. If they wanted to rise swiftly in Fate of Crunaboul, they had to take it seriously. Chapter 49: Skeleton dinner Liam¡¯s party wasn¡¯t the only one moving through the dungeon. Naturally each group was within their own instance, not able to interact with each other. But messages from outside could still reach them. Fat Tiger stood stably, holding back monsters with a large shield when something popped up in front of him. [Fighting Bear: Boss! We failed¡­ others made it into the dungeon.] [Fat Tiger: What? How? Did you mess up?] [Fighting Bear: No! We perfectly adhered to the plan. But someone united the crowd, pushing us aside without attacking.] [Fat Tiger: Who dared to do so?!] [Fighting Bear: It was that streamer, Fortune.] [Fat Tiger: Fortune? Why does she care for the dungeon?] [Fighting Bear: She entered together with a party.] [Fat Tiger: Really? Who is stupid enough to take a content creator in? Haven¡¯t all pros already banned her?] [Fighting Bear: I was only able to check one name. A warrior called Bleary Mirage.] Fat Tiger fell silent, veins popping on his forehead. How could it be that guy again? The chubby man looked towards the side, where his alley Glorious Sunshine wore a similar expression, also having received a report. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± At the same time Liam¡¯s party moved with purpose, looting the zombies quickly. No copper was left behind. At the end of the corridor was a spiraling staircase leading upwards. Silver Blade sent Silent Acacia to scout, carefully following behind. The thief was highly vigilant, quick on his feet. His eyes scanned the wall, discovering quite a few traps. With dexterous hands he dismantled them, even picking up some poisonous arrows for himself. But after a short while he returned to the group, reporting diligently: ¡°The path up ahead is blocked by a wall of black fire. I can¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°Then what should we do?¡± ¡°Before the blockade, a single door leads away. We might be able to find a lever or something similar.¡± ¡°Good job. Let¡¯s go.¡± Silver Blade signaled the party to move on. Silent Acacia moved ahead again, using his [Stealth] to carefully open the door. But he was stunned as he was met with complete darkness, nothing about the next room discernable. He didn¡¯t dare to enter, waiting for the party to arrive. Balm trembled faintly, subconsciously hiding behind Radiant Shield, speaking quietly: ¡°What is this? Why can¡¯t we see anything?¡± Silver Blade frowned, gazing at Bleary Mirage, who nodded calmly. ¡°Let¡¯s just go in.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The party members braced themselves as they stepped into the darkness. They felt a wooden floor under their feet as they tried to discern anything about their surroundings. ¡°What might await us in this darkness? Will we come out alive? Will we be devoured?¡± Fortune spoke a few ominous sentences, being the last to enter. But as soon as she stepped in¡­ Boom! Fortune flinched as the door closed behind her with a deafening sound.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. But inwardly she grinned, knowing this was a great shot for her video. ¡°Ah! Guys are you still there?¡±, asked Balm into the darkness. ¡°Get ready for a fight! Mages at the back!¡± Liam spoke sternly. The others tried to orient themselves in the darkness, gathering in front of the door. A moment later flames suddenly lit up in fire bowls at the side. They were black as the night, emitting an eerie coldness, their light barely enough to highlight bright surfaces. The special atmosphere immediately directed one¡¯s attention to the white figures sitting around a table. ¡°Hehehe.¡± Eerie cackling echoed in the room as blue flames suddenly lit up within eye sockets, their shine outlining the skeleton heads around them. ¡°The undead are feasting here¡­¡±, spoke Bloody Edge in a deep voice. ¡°Shut up! You¡¯re not making it better!¡±, grumbled Cyclone. ¡°Careful guys! They are moving.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch the black fire!¡± Everyone kept Liam¡¯s warning in mind as they inspected the opponents. [Skeleton soldier Rank: Common Level: 8 HP: 850/850] [Skeleton archer Rank: Common Level: 8 HP: 660/660] [Skeleton Guard Rank: Elite Level: 8 HP: 1600/1600] ¡°Two elites and ten common monsters. Stay alert.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s focus the small mobs first!¡± Orders were relayed as the group got ready for a fight. [-86!] A magical attack arrived immediately before the skeletons could even stand up. The archer stared at Cyclone as if blaming her for not playing by the rules. ¡°Hmm, my damage is not great. Seem like they have high magical defense.¡± ¡°Let me try!¡±, spoke Silent Acacia, sending out an arrow. [-142!] ¡°Their bones are quite brittle!¡± Liam nodded quietly as his party took his earlier words to heart, immediately gathering information. ¡°Gnaah!¡± One of the skeleton soldiers let out a strange sound, as it stood up and angrily approached the group, a sword raised above its head. Radiant Shield took the first blow. [Stance -8] ¡°Eight points of stance, I should be able to block six attacks.¡± The fight began, with the party constantly talking. They designated a target, bringing it down in a short time before the two elites arrived. Radiant Shield and Silver Blade took deep breaths, facing one elite each. The skeleton guards were tall, with dominating, long spears. [Stance -12] ¡°Twelve points. This won¡¯t be easy!¡± ¡°Quickly, kill the soldiers! Silent Acacia, Bloody Edge, can you take down the archers?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Easy.¡± There was little space to move in the dining room. Bloody Edge had to tread carefully, avoiding the black hellfire as he sneaked towards the archers. Suddenly he lunged forwards, his dagger stabbing towards the opponent¡¯s knee. [-136!] The archer was already injured, now close to death. Silent Acacia quickly followed up with a [Flurry], sending it to the afterlife. Cyclone watched from the back, Bloody Edge¡¯s actions giving her an idea. She slightly repositioned herself, aiming carefully, before casting [Push]. The skeleton soldiers were hit by her spell, tumbling backwards. Two of them came into contact with the fire bowls. Instantly fierce flames climbed up their arms. The skeletons rattled their heads, shaking their arms as damage numbers plopped up above them. [-30!] [-30!] [¡­] ¡°Good job Cy!¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± After a few seconds the skeletons got rid of the flames, having lost nearly half of their HP. But their ordeal wasn¡¯t over yet as it was now Balm¡¯s turn to do the same. Only one skeleton was shoved into the fire this time. Not able to extinguish the fierce flames it was burned to ashes. Meanwhile, the archers had already been dealt with, Bloody Edge now creeping up behind the elites. ¡°My stance has run out!¡± Radiant Shield spoke calmly, but everyone concluded that they had to finish the fight soon. Immediately after his announcement, a rusty blade cut at Radiant Shield¡¯s chest. [-50!] Radiant Shield looked at his HP, his face stern. ¡°I can endure 12 hits.¡± Balm nodded her head quickly, trying to keep up with the fight so she wouldn¡¯t miss any healing. But a moment later, one of the elites moved swift like the wind, its spear stabbing at Radiant Shield. [-96!] ¡°Damn. Forget what I said. A quarter of my HP are gone.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic, guys. Use your combat instinct if necessary.¡±, reminded Liam calmly. He moved to the side, targeting two skeletons with his [Double Slash]. [-110!] [-180!] Liam sword directly severed the undead monsters¡¯ spines, both dropping to the ground, dead. One by one the other soldiers fell as well, leaving only the elites behind. Balm already had to use her first heal on Silver Blade, who was geared towards magical defense, with Radiant Shield following soon behind. Cyclone was disappointed in her damage throughout the fight, using her skill on cooldown. A flash of bright light stroke one of the elites from above. [-142!] [-21!] ¡°Huh, what was that second damage?¡± ¡°Your holy strike¡¯s effect triggered and those skeletons are weak to holy damage.¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± Suddenly Cyclone¡¯s eyes lit up as she pulled out a small white sphere. ¡°Take this!¡± The young woman smiled brightly as she threw it at the two elites. Liam didn¡¯t react fast enough, staring in disbelief. ¡°A bomb with holy damage?! No! Don¡¯t waste it here!¡± But it was already too late. The bomb shattered on the ground, emitting a bright light, burning the skeletons. [-115!] [-115!] [-115!] ¡°Roaah!¡± Even the skeleton guards let out pained groans as their HP kept dwindling. ¡°Hehe, take that!¡± Cyclone smiled brightly, but Liam didn¡¯t find it funny. ¡°Why did you waste this here? We don¡¯t even know if we can clear the dungeon.¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry I still have some left.¡± ¡°What? How? Where did you get them?¡± Possibilities played in Liam¡¯s mind, but none of those made sense at this point in the game. ¡°I fished them!¡± Liam didn¡¯t know what to say, stunned by Cyclone¡¯s unbelievable luck. ¡°O¡­ of course.¡± With Cyclone¡¯s bomb the elite skeletons were already not far from dying. With ten people attacking from all sides, they weren¡¯t able to hold on much longer, soon collapsing in a pile of bones. As soon as the skeletons were gone, candles lit up in the room, driving away the cold, and creating a comfortable atmosphere. Chapter 50: Behind the wall ¡°Woah, finally done!¡±, exclaimed Silver Blade tiredly. She had done her best in this fight, coordinating attacks with high focus. But the result was commendable as they ended the battle without losses. Silent Acacia was close to the door, getting a good look at the room. ¡°A kitchen? Could there really be some mechanism hidden here?¡± Meanwhile Cyclone already rubbed her hands, happily looting. The common skeletons dropped nothing special, leaving only the elites. Cyclone sent a prayer in her heart as she reached out quickly. ¡°Haha! It¡¯s uncommon!¡± Everyone looked at the blue sparkle in Cyclone¡¯s hand, gradually growing numb to her luck. ¡°Come on, show us!¡± Cyclone grinned as she posted the item¡¯s information in the party chat. [Assassin¡¯s ring of dark magic Category: Uncommon Level requirement: 7 Agility +5 Critical Chance +4% Effect: Critical attacks have a 30% chance to deal an additional 10% (PDMG) dark damage. A ring commonly worn by the members of Black Bone.] Bloody Edge and Silent Acacia looked at each other, glints in their eyes. ¡°A game of dice, gentleman?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The loot distribution in the party was set to leader¡¯s decision, thus the two thieves had to ask C to roll the dice for them. [Bloody Edge: 76] [Silent Acacia: 45] ¡°Haha, mine!¡± Bloody Edge grinned as he received the ring. He looked at it happily, eager to put it on soon. ¡°Let¡¯s continue, guys! I need to reach level seven.¡± The others rolled their eyes. They realized that when Radiant Shield or Bloody Edge forgot their roleplay, it was better not to answer at all. With her next attempt Cyclone drew a green-magic wand which was quickly given to Balm, allowing the young mage to heal even better. During this time the rest of the party was already busily searching the room, looking for any method to turn off the trap outside. Liam stayed quiet for a few minutes, noticing how the party appeared eager to figure out the solution by themselves. He tried to strike a delicate balance between clearing the dungeon quickly and not taking away the fun for the others. But even so he didn¡¯t expect Watchful Eye to suddenly state calmly: ¡°I found it.¡± The taciturn man was kneeling next to a stove made from stone, his hand rummaging through the old firewood. Suddenly a click could be heard. The floor next to the stove sank, turning into stairs. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem to have anything to do with the fire outside.¡± ¡°Who would¡¯ve expected a secret pathway to be hidden in this humble kitchen? What might we find after entering?¡± Fortune spoke as if telling a story, suppressing her excitement. She knew that secrets equaled clicks!If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The others looked eager to explore as well, looking at Silver Blade. ¡°Acacia, you go scouting.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The thief entered stealth and sneaked downwards. A moment later a shout could be heard. ¡°You can come down. There is no danger!¡± The party trusted their scout, descending the stairs quickly. At the bottom a small dark room awaited them, containing only a single skeleton in long white robes. Balm skeptically stared at the skeleton. ¡°Are you sure it won¡¯t wake up suddenly, Acacia?¡± ¡°Of course, look.¡± Silent Acacia took out one of his arrows, poking the skeleton unceremoniously. ¡°As dead as it gets.¡± Suddenly he pushed too strongly, causing the skeleton to tilt. ¡°Ah!¡± Balm flinched, expecting it to stand up, but only a low clang could be heard. A ring slipped from the skeleton¡¯s finger, rolling on the smooth stone floor towards Quickstep¡¯s feet. ¡°Let us not disturb the dead in their eternal rest.¡±, said Radiant Shield solemnly. But Silent Acacia only rolled his eyes and leaned down as he took a letter from the skeleton¡¯s hand. He scanned it quickly. ¡°Something something, Reylar is crazy, this ring is the key, know what to do with it¡­¡± Silent Acacia wasn¡¯t one to dive deeply into lore. It was enough to open the letter once to trigger a quest for everyone. [ Quest: Reylar¡¯s pact] [Step one: Bring Raylar¡¯s cursed ring to Svapharel in Duabalis City.] [Hint: Don¡¯t let the holy nephilim see you.] Silver Blade quietly reached out with her hand, taking the letter from Acacia. ¡°Looks like that¡¯s it.¡±, announced Cyclone unhappily. ¡°Somewhat lacking for a secret room.¡± Everybody agreed with Quickstep but there was nothing they could do. The party returned upstairs, still with no clue on how to pass the flame wall outside. But after a few seconds Watchful Eye finally found something. ¡°There is a button here.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Within the fire bowl.¡± ¡°Oh, in this one as well.¡±, announced Balm, pointing at another flame. ¡°Careful, friends, do not act rashly.¡± ¡°Do we have to press all of them? Maybe in a certain order?¡± Liam watched as the party was brainstorming, but he knew that only trial and error would allow them to figure out the solution. Thus, he decided to shorten the process. ¡°We need to press all the buttons at the same time.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t this flame dangerous? How can six of us sacrifice so much HP?¡±, asked Cyclone with a frown. ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s time to bring out our secret weapon.¡± Liam grinned as he distributed stalks of red herbs to everyone. Bloody Edge wasn¡¯t part of the party when they gathered the herbs, checking them curiously. [Fiery Tacaria Category: Common Effect: Negate one stack of burn. Take this if you have no water nearby.] Liam calmly explained his plan: ¡°Ok guys, six of you stand nearby one bowl each. On my signal, press the button quickly, don¡¯t keep your hands within the flame. If you are too slow, the burn effect will stack, and you will waste resources.¡± Cyclone and Balm shifted their bodies, staying at the back of the group, whistling innocently. The rest of the group didn¡¯t care, complying with Liam¡¯s orders. Everyone sharpened their ears, ready to move swiftly. ¡°Ready? 3, 2, 1, go!¡± Six hands plunged into the fires. Ignoring the heat, they pressed the buttons and quickly retreated. With Liam¡¯s reminder no one accumulated more than one stack of burn, nothing a single herb couldn¡¯t heal. A moment later the black flames flickered. A breeze seemingly blew through the dining area as the fire extinguished. ¡°Good job. Let¡¯s go!¡± The party jokingly congratulated each other as they continued. Meanwhile, in the first room of the dungeon ten grumpy figures gathered. ¡°Damn, how can you be so useless?¡±, hollered Glorious Sunshine at his subordinates. ¡°Boss, how is this our fault?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s your fault!¡± Fat Tiger frowned as he looked at his alley. ¡°Don¡¯t get agitated. We never expected to clear the dungeon on the first try.¡± ¡°But it sure would help if we were the only ones in here!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, but we already got a head start. Others still need to figure out the traps and mechanics. It¡¯s only a matter of time until we get the first clear. But we got hasty after knowing that someone came in, leading to failure.¡± Glorious Sunshine took a deep breath, gradually calming down. ¡°You¡¯re right. However, that Mirage has duped me twice now. I won¡¯t let this slide. ¡°We can think about revenge later. Let¡¯s focus on the dungeon now.¡± *** Liam didn¡¯t know that he had been targeted. Right now, he followed the party upstairs, walking briskly through a corridor, black flames running along the walls. No monsters attacked them until they reached a vast empty hall, a single chandelier spending a bit of light. Right below it stood a statue, its back towards the group. ¡°Hmm? Who put this thing here? How ugly.¡±, commented Cyclone as she circled the statue. ¡°Such big wings and a white robe, it looks like the nephilim outside.¡± Silver Blade frowned, turning towards Bleary Mirage: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the holy nephilim sent someone to take down Reylar? Could it be this guy?¡± ¡°Good guess. You¡¯re correct.¡± ¡°Oh, so this Reylar guy turned his attacker into stone?¡± While the party studied the statue, Silent Acacia was already looking around, ignoring the lore. He noticed three large doors leading towards three directions, the statue¡¯s palm pointing at the one upfront. ¡°Guys, look. The statue might be pointing out the way.¡± ¡°Hmm makes sense.¡± With Silent Acacia¡¯s words, Cyclone looked at the statue¡¯s open palm, suddenly shivering. ¡°Ewh, this guy is missing two fingers.¡± Bleary Mirage nodded towards Acacia. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. But the door is blocked. We can only pass after the statue opens it for us. And to do so, we need to retrieve its two missing fingers.¡± ¡°Got it. Those are behind the other doors, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Friends, let us rescue this fallen priest and bring an end to this dark curse.¡± ¡°My blade is ready.¡± Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge spoke up, ready to go, each of them approaching a different door, causing the others to chuckle faintly. Liam shook his head as he retrieved more of the Fiery Tacaria, distributing them among the party. Silver Blade watched his actions with an ominous feeling. ¡°Why would we need so many herbs?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see¡­¡± Chapter 51: The first hallway (I) The party prepared themselves in their hearts as Silver Blade pushed open the first door. Immediately a terrifying heat welcomed them as black flames danced towards the ceiling. Cyclone gulped, speaking carefully: ¡°Why don¡¯t we try the other door?¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty much the same.¡± Hearing Liam¡¯s words, the party knew they had no other choice. They preemptively turned down the options for pain simulation as they waited for Silver Blade to take the lead. The young woman observed carefully. Through the black flame, vents could vaguely be seen on the floor along the entire hallway. A few seconds later the fire in front of the party gradually died down, allowing them a clearer view. The hallway¡¯s floor was separated into squares, alternating between fire-spewing vents and stone flooring. Silver Blade quickly waved her hand. ¡°Go, go, go! Hurry up!¡± Everyone naturally understood, dashing across the vent before another burst of flames could burn them to a crisp. But as soon as they reached the supposedly safe stone floor, the fire on both sides suddenly burned fiercely. Their path was cut off. ¡°What is happening?¡± Suddenly holes opened in the ceiling. ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s a trap.¡± Silver Blade¡¯s face turned grim as piles of bones dropped down, crashing onto the floor. It only took a moment for these bones to begin moving, reassembling themselves and forming skeleton soldiers. ¡°So many!¡± The group was chaotic. Before they could get into formation, the skeleton soldiers already started attacking. Balm was panicking, standing at the edge of the group. Two rusty swords aimed for her neck. She hastily turned away, but it wasn¡¯t enough. [-198!] ¡°Damn! Protect our healer!¡± Silver Blade noticed the predicament as Balm was only a single strike from dying. She tried to push through the skeletons, even ignoring their attacks. But suddenly a spear tip enlarged in front of her face. Silver Blade reacted instinctively, raising her shield. [Stance -14] ¡°An elite! Careful!¡± Balm didn¡¯t know how to get out of the situation, hastily casting a [Push]. The skeletons around her were shoved away, one of them landing in the flames, taking a lot of damage. But the others collided with their brethren, making the space even more cramped, their movements stopping briefly. Liam wasn¡¯t sure if there was still a way to salvage the situation. He attacked left and right, but the opponents were too numerous. A second later a notification pooped up in the party chat. [Player Balm has died!] The party members took a hit to their motivation. They tried to hold on for a while, but eventually they were met with their first wipe. A few moments later they revived at the beginning of the dungeon. Balm sat on the ground, back against the wall, her face looking disheartened. Cyclone sighed as she patted her friend¡¯s shoulder.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Sorry guys. I let you down.¡± The young woman apologized sadly. But Silver Blade shook her head. She looked unhappy as well, stating solemnly: ¡°Don¡¯t say this. It was my mistake. I led all of you into a trap.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself young lady!¡±, said Watchful Eye. Fortune looked left and right, commenting in a narrator¡¯s voice: ¡°Our heart fell victim to the flames. Can the party recover from such a setback? Find out in the next video!¡± Quickstep shoved her friend¡¯s shoulder, clearly showing her disapproval. She knew that this was one of the reasons why Fortune and other content creators weren¡¯t well received among pros. Liam watched his party members, surprised that a considerable number of them were sulking. Silent Acacia felt similar to Bleary Mirage, addressing the group nonchalantly: ¡°Guys, what¡¯s with your faces? You didn¡¯t really expect we would succeed at first try?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡±, Cyclone smiled sheepishly. ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself. Dungeons aren¡¯t meant to be easy. We need to learn their workings through trial and order. Do you know the record for the fastest clear of competitive dungeons in RR?¡± ¡°Pray tell.¡± ¡°It¡¯s seven wipes. Me and Quickstep were part of the team, surrounded by seasoned veterans. Yet it still took us seven attempts. And the longest we ever struggled was 241 attempts! It took us months!¡± ¡°So, don¡¯t give up this easily. That¡¯s not how the game is meant to be played.¡± ¡°Acacia is right.¡±, agreed Quickstep with her boyfriend. The others mulled over those words. It took a few minutes, but they gradually managed to recover their spirits. ¡°My friends, we can¡¯t falter like this! Let us prove our courage, advance with brain and brawn, and conquer this dungeon!¡± Silver Blade chuckled from Radiant Shield¡¯s little speech: ¡°Acacia and Radiant are right. Our expectations were too lofty. Let¡¯s continue one step at a time.¡± Liam watched as the others nodded their heads, gradually getting up again. He didn¡¯t expect them to need this much time though. It ultimately goes to show the difference between pros and casual gamers. However, failures and setbacks weren¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. They served to temper the team and offered opportunities to learn. One just had to grasp them. Silver Blade obviously was of the same opinion as she raised her attentiveness as a leader, keeping a keen eye on the formation, allowing the party to make it through the dungeon swiftly. With knowledge of what to expect the party dominated the fight in the kitchen. Cyclone was disgruntled because of the poor loot from the elites. Liam¡¯s explanation that dungeon monsters offered the best loot after their first defeat, didn¡¯t help to cheer the woman up, rather the contrary. Still, when the party faced the wall of flames for a second time, even Cyclone focused her mind. Silver Blade stared at their place of defeat, speaking to the party: ¡°Let¡¯s not make the same mistake again. We need a solid formation and stick to it. Warriors, let¡¯s form a circle. The others will be protected in the middle. When those skeletons drop, focus on the circle¡¯s inside. Balm, you will have to concentrate on healing. Understood?¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Yes, young lady.¡± ¡°A new attempt. Will Silver Blade lead the party to success this time? Are we destined to take the first clear? Only time will tell!¡± Liam glanced at Fortune. There wasn¡¯t much to say. He could only praise her dedication. The party followed Silver Blade, staring intently at the wall of flames. A few moments later it died down. ¡°Now!¡± Everyone moved orderly, adjusting their movement speed to the slower mages. They safely reached the other side. Instantly the flames revived with a hiss, closing the escape route. The ceiling opened and the fight began. Three opponents landed within the formation. They were barely able to stand up before dozens of attacks focused on them. One skeleton fell immediately. ¡°Continue!¡± Cyclone swung her wand, while watching the warriors protecting them. Suddenly her eyes nearly popped out. She observed as two swords aimed for Liam¡¯s back. But the expert only swayed and with a smooth step he evaded both attacks. Quickstep did something similar, but she still had to look over her shoulder. Meanwhile, Silver Blade and Radiant Shield didn¡¯t bother with dodging, letting the skeletons clash with their sturdy armors. [-110!] [-54!] The difference between a physical and magical tank began to show itself. Balm focused on the health of her teammates, ready to heal Silver Blade at any moment. However, the situation changed quickly. The elite skeleton guard had arrived, its spear aiming for Watchful Eye. The tall man was forced to dodge to the side. He didn¡¯t consider it a big deal, his face remaining calm. But just as he was about to close the gap again, dark energy enveloped the skeleton guard. The party was caught off guard as the elite used its skill right at the start of the battle. ¡°Che, che, che.¡± With an eerie cackle the skeleton guard suddenly began swinging its spear widely, affecting a large area. Watchful Eye gritted his teeth, raising his sword to defend. ¡°Careful!¡± Liam saw what was happening, issuing a warning. But it was too late. The skeleton¡¯s skill hit. A pulse ran along the spear, erupting against Watchful Eye¡¯s weapon and pushing him away. Caught off guard, the man lost his balance, stumbling into the fire. Flames latched onto his armor. Although they didn¡¯t hurt, the fierce heat still made Watchful Eye sweat, as burn damage began to stack. Fortunately, Watchful Eye only entered the flames briefly, getting back onto the stone. But the damage still continued to tick. [-60!] [-60!] [-60!] Silver Blade noticed what happened, hastily reminding her bodyguard. ¡°Use Tacaria!¡± Watchful Eye reacted instinctively, grabbing two herbs from his inventory and shoving it into his mouth. The burn was negated, but his HP had dropped considerably. Meanwhile the elite skeleton didn¡¯t stop its rampage. With Watchful Eye out of the way its sight was set on the frail mages. A spear swiped through the air. ¡°Oh no, you don¡¯t!¡± Silver Blade shouted angrily as she used [Brutal Strike]. The stun triggered, finally interrupting the skeleton¡¯s skill. The opponents within the formation fell at the same time. ¡°Keep it up! We got this!¡± Chapter 52: The first hallway (II) As the boney figure before him died, Liam turned around with a smooth motion, attacking the skeletons outside with a [Double Slash]. His sword moved forcefully, cutting at dry bones. [-110!] [-180!] But the opponents weren¡¯t intimidated, retaliating fiercely. Meanwhile Silver Blade furrowed her brows, signaling Radiant Shield: ¡°Let¡¯s change positions.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The tanks showed their tacit understanding, performing the maneuver without letting any skeletons reach the mages. Radiant Shield attacked, drawing the elite¡¯s attention and forming a stable blockade. A couple of seconds later, Watchful Eye managed to return to his old position. The party was confident. Having already dealt with two elites before, they didn¡¯t consider this fight difficult. The common skeletons died under the fierce assault, their numbers dwindling quickly. ¡°Friends, let¡¯s grant these undead rest.¡± ¡°To the afterlife!¡± ¡°Die, stupid skeletons.¡± Just as the mood among the party reached a high, unforeseen change occurred. A crisp sound echoed in the hallway as holes opened in the ceiling. Cyclone looked up, opening her mouth without words coming out. ¡°More skeletons?¡±, asked Balm uneasily. A moment later the answer arrived as flames suddenly erupted. With a hiss they traveled through the air, the hallway immediately resembling hell. ¡°Unfair!¡± Unfortunately, the flames didn¡¯t care for Balm¡¯s complaints as her HP emptied out. The flames didn¡¯t stop, soon sending the party back to the entrance. Cyclone looked around in disbelief. ¡°Why¡­?¡± ¡°The fight might have a time limit.¡±, analyzed Silver Blade. ¡°The difficulty is not low¡­¡± Silver Blade glanced at Bleary Mirage, finding even the veteran frowning. Liam was indeed surprised. He knew about the time limit, but expected his party to easily finish early. But obviously the game increased the difficulty. Luckily, there was a strategy commonly employed by groups who couldn¡¯t end the battle fast enough. Now Liam was contemplating if he should inform his team. But at this moment Balm surprisingly spoke up with a smile: ¡°We made it further than last time!¡± ¡°Indeed, this is the joy of improvement.¡±, chuckled Radiant Shield. ¡°The party forging an unbreakable spirit to overcome the obstacles in their way. The viewers will love it.¡± ¡°You guys have some potential.¡±, complimented Silent Acacia. Liam was delighted to see the development, deciding to give the party time to figure out the way forward. With their improved mindset the group didn¡¯t need a long rest before they dived into the dungeon once more. They quickly reached the wall of flames, engaging in battle. With renewed vigor they gave it their all, slaying the skeletons quickly.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. But unfortunately, it still wasn¡¯t enough as the flames sent them back to the entrance again. The party gave it two more tries, constantly honing their teamwork but never managing to overcome the elite skeleton. Somewhat exhausted they called it a day. Outside the dungeon they said their goodbyes, logging off one by one. Liam found himself back in the training room. A contemplating expression was on his face as he walked towards the dojo¡¯s exit. But suddenly a voice interrupted him. ¡°Haha, Liam, right? Fancey meeting you.¡± Liam was surprised to find a brightly smiling Ken standing before him. ¡°Evening. Did you just leave as well?¡± ¡°Ahh, yes. I had to check some inventory.¡± ¡°You seem to be working all day. Impressive.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m not as diligent as you.¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m just playing games. Hardly worthy of mention.¡± ¡°Well, who isn¡¯t, these days? Now that you mention it, why don¡¯t we play together sometime?¡± ¡°Oh I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t want to hold you back.¡± The young men appeared to converse amicably, bright smiles of their faces. But their real thoughts remained hidden. Liam remained noncommittal until Ken finally left. So exhausting. Sighing, Liam left the dojo. He didn¡¯t enjoy making contact with people like Ken. He was forced to uphold too many of these fake relationships in his old life. *** At the same time in another city on Flava Star. A young man left his hotel room, his eyes conflicted. He walked on a comfortable red carpet, soon reaching a spacious restaurant. A valiant looking woman spotted him, waving her hand. The young man smiled, feeling a warmth in his heart as he sat down on her table. ¡°Babe, don¡¯t show such a sad look. I¡¯m here for you.¡± ¡°I know, Quiana. Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We will show them!¡± Adrian let out a sigh, looking at his girlfriend¡¯s encouraging eyes. ¡°But can we do it? With this team?¡± ¡°I think they have potential. Silver Blade looks like a natural talent and Bleary Mirage impresses even me. The others will get there.¡± ¡°I hope so. If we need to look for a new team halfway, we might as well give up.¡± ¡°Well, we need to find out if they are interested in tournaments.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Adrian¡¯s face turned uncharacteristically grim, some unpleasant memories appearing in his mind at the mention of tournaments. ¡°We will prove to them that letting us go was a mistake!¡± Quiana silently held Adrian¡¯s hand, supporting him. *** Later that evening Liam sat on the coach, Serena leaning against his shoulder. The young girl watched as Liam scrolled through various interviews. With the first player reaching level 5, a small craze had broken out in the media. Every news outlet outdid each other to get first hand news from players. Gradually a few names gained popularity, building up a fan base. Star Gazer was at the forefront, enjoying the limelight at the moment. But even Fat Tiger was among them, busily giving interviews with a bright smile. ¡°Liam, are you jealous?¡± Liam chuckled, looking at Serena¡¯s large eyes. ¡°Why would I be jealous? I¡¯m looking up free information.¡± ¡°Those guys are about to get famous, yet they haven¡¯t played the game any longer than you.¡± ¡°And what good is that fame?¡± ¡°Well, fame is¡­ hmm¡­¡± Watching Serena¡¯s thoughtful expression, Liam couldn¡¯t help but pat her head. ¡°You see. I think it¡¯s those guys who should be jealous of me!¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I have the cutest sister in the world!¡± Serena¡¯s ears immediately turned red from embarrassment. She lightly punched Liam¡¯s shoulder before running out of the room. ¡°Idiot!¡± Liam shook his head with a chuckle as he focused on reading some comments. ¡°Star Gazer is the best! Already at the third chamber!¡± ¡°What third chamber? We don¡¯t even know how much chambers there are.¡± ¡°Fat Tiger embarrassed himself today. He shouldn¡¯t have tried blocking the dungeon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that Fat Tiger was stumped by Fortune! I¡¯m looking forward to the video.¡± ¡°Did Fortune find a team?¡± ¡°Why talk about some lame content creators? You all should focus on Mountain Lord! I tell you, he¡¯s a dark horse.¡± ¡°That old dwarf? No way!¡± ¡°Guys, I heard rumors that Silent Acacia is playing on our server.¡± ¡°Acacia? But he¡¯s not from Falva Star, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that he was on vacation. He must¡¯ve been caught off guard.¡± ¡°Damn. Can¡¯t he change the server?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone has tried yet, we don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s good for Silent Acacia. I phoned my cousin on Traneh Star yesterday. The competition over there is fierce. The first player reached level 5 yesterday in the morning.¡± ¡°Phoning across planets? Damn, we have a bigshot here.¡± ¡°Begging for donation!¡± ¡°+1¡± ¡°+1¡± Liam continued reading for a while, checking on the other players. But from what he saw, his first clear shouldn¡¯t be in danger. We need to make it through both wings tomorrow. Liam went to bed with his thoughts revolving around the game, a faint smile unconsciously on his face. The next day the party met again in front of the dungeon. A considerable crowd gathered as more and more players reached level 5. Feeling a bit cramped, the party directly entered the dungeon. ¡°So many people. Can we really get first clear? Expert, it¡¯s time for you to do something!¡± Cyclone looked somewhat anxious as she addressed Liam. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I checked up on our competition yesterday. We are in the clear.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take it one step at a time. I thought about some ideas on how to pass the hallway.¡± Everyone nodded when Silver Blade mentioned the hallway. ¡°Same.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you guys are so invested. Who wants to go first?¡± Radiant Shield was just about to speak up when he saw Balm raise her hand. He smiled as he signaled her to speak her mind. ¡°Maybe we could push the skeletons into the fire.¡± ¡°Maybe focusing the elite first is the way to go.¡± ¡°We need to draw the skeletons outside.¡± Ideas were thrown around the room. All of them had their merit and Silver Blade found it difficult to decide. ¡°Bleary Mirage, what do you think?¡± ¡°All your ideas are good, but they won¡¯t work as soon as there is more than one elite. Therefore, let¡¯s go with Acacia¡¯s suggestion.¡± ¡°There is more than one elite, expert?¡±, asked Cyclone. ¡°Who knows¡­¡± Cyclone rolled her eyes at Liam, but his words were close to a confirmation anyways. Everyone prepared themselves mentally as they started a new attempt. Chapter 53: The first hallway (III) The party once more built a tight formation, crossing the dangerous vent quickly. A moment later piles of bones dropped form the ceiling, the flames burning high. Silver Blade didn¡¯t wait for the enemies to confront them. Waving at the party she ordered without hesitation. ¡°Turn around, we go back!¡± The party members braced themselves as they dived into the wall of flames. ¡°Keep an eye on your status! Use your Tacaria quickly!¡± Liam ignored the heat invading his skin. He had dealt with similar situations too often, allowing him to focus on his status. Suddenly a symbol of flames appeared, signifying the change in his status. His HP began to reduce. [-30!] The second his health bar moved, Liam reacted, crushing the red herb in his hand. The burn status vanished immediately. ¡°So hot¡­¡± The others felt the pressure, their actions slightly delayed. Most of Liam¡¯s friends endured two ticks of burn before getting rid of it. The rotation repeated itself two more times before the party jumped out of the flames on the other side. ¡°Everyone alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bit low on HP!¡±, announced Balm. ¡°You can use a [Heal].¡± The redhead nodded, waving her wand, trading mana for HP. ¡°Quick, let us gather at the statue!¡±, suggested Radiant Shield. ¡°Great idea!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up as they distanced themselves from the flaming wall. At this moment the fire moved, revealing skeleton soldiers. Small flames clung to their bony bodies, continuously scorching them. Silver Blade squinted her eyes, inspecting the opponents. [Skeleton soldier Rank: Common Level: 8 HP: 550/850 Status: Burn x4] [-120!] [-120!] ¡°It worked! They are losing so much HP!¡± Cyclone couldn¡¯t help but laugh, taunting the skeletons: ¡°Haha, catch me, catch me! You won¡¯t even make it here!¡± ¡°Your strategy worked, Acacia!¡± And indeed, the skeletons chased after the group, one by one succumbing to the damage. Only the elite arrived, half of its HP left. It couldn¡¯t pose any danger, quickly taken out by the group like a pile of trash. ¡°Ha! We¡¯ve done it!¡± ¡°We broke our personal record.¡± ¡°What a joyous feeling, my friends!¡± Fortune smiled, letting her invisible cam ¨C a feature of the game ¨C circle around the party. ¡°Brains before brawns! Dear audience, this is how our party overcame our difficulties, bravely advancing through the dungeon!¡± Liam was infected by the mood as well, complimenting his friends with a smile: ¡°Well done everyone. That¡¯s how a dungeon should be conquered. With strategy!¡± The party reveled in this feeling for a brief minute before they got ready to move on.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Silver Blade looked at the hallway, finding the first two walls of flames dying down, revealing another patch of stone. ¡°Let¡¯s try the same strategy again!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone refocused, eyes on the price. They repeated their actions. As soon as they reached the next area of solid ground, they didn¡¯t wait for the skeletons falling from the ceiling to stand up, diving into the flames behind them. However, although the plan worked just as well as last time, now two elites were mixed among the skeletons. With their HP reduced by the black fire those were still easily dispatched, but Silver Blade felt a foreboding feeling. Meanwhile Cyclone didn¡¯t think too much, pouting because the elite didn¡¯t drop anything significant. The same spiel repeated again, this time with four elites. After another short fight, the party stood in front of another wall of fire, their faces stern. ¡°There might be eight elites behind this one.¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s getting tricky.¡± ¡°Do we need a change in strategy?¡± ¡°I suggest not engaging in a fight until the burn status is over.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± The party quickly came to a decision while the flickering flame died down. As soon as the players made it to the other side, skeletons fell from the ceiling again. No one had time to take a closer look yet, repeating the same old strategy of returning to the statue. A few seconds later everyone¡¯s chest tightened. ¡°Unfair!¡± ¡°I think the devs failed at math!¡± Grim comments were made, as not eight but ten elite skeletons walked out of the flames, their bony faces looking ferocious with black and blue fire burning on them. ¡°Draw back, let them burn first!¡± Silver Blade felt the mounting pressure as she directed the party. She didn¡¯t dare to engage the elites, drawing out the fight, letting the flames do the work for her. But the burn status didn¡¯t last forever. Eventually the flames clinging to the skeleton guards died out, leaving them with about five hundred HP each. ¡°Can we¡­ win this?¡±, asked Balm carefully. Silver Blade nodded reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t panic guys. We will fight them calmly one by one. Don¡¯t let them encircle us!¡± But at this moment Liam interjected. ¡°Let our ranged classes attack. I will make the first move.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The party readied themselves, staring at the incoming skeletons with steady eyes. Quickly, the opponents came into range, a rain of attacks welcoming them. [-70!] [-79!] [-62!] Liam watched as one of the elites lost another half of its remaining HP. He fell into a quick jog, a grin on his face. His feet were agile like a cat¡¯s as he approached the skeletons. The veteran focused his mind, his eyes on the enemies¡¯ chests. A moment later he was in attack distance. Suddenly all the skeletons cackled eerily. The blue flames in their eyes danced as if searching for souls to burn. Dark energy gathered, engulfing the skeleton¡¯s bodies. Instantly multiple spears flashed through the air like vicious snakes. Liam felt his chest tighten, an invisible pressure compelling him to stay in place and just take the attacks obediently. Shaking his body, the veteran moved to the side with a [Sidestep], a spear missing him by a hair¡¯s breadth. Immediately after, Liam put strength in his legs, jumping backwards as far as possible. Spears thundered down on his former position, leaving cracks in the floor. Liam felt weak on his legs. The game counted his action just now as disengaging the fight, costing him almost all of his stance. Silver Blade watched the entire sequence, feeling a drop of sweat run down her neck. She imagined herself in Liam¡¯s position just now, knowing that the elites might have killed her on the spot. She hadn¡¯t thought that the skeletons, triggered by their low health, would all use their skills at the same time. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there! End them!¡± Liam turned around, waking up the party with a shout. Radiant Shield and Silver Blade nodded their heads, ready to do their jobs. The two tanks quickly clashed with the elites, engaging from the side. ¡°Try not to fight all of them at the same time! Eliminate them one by one!¡± Silver Blade quickly gave orders as spears clashed against her shield. Attacks fell on her opponent, quickly taking its last bit of HP. ¡°One down!¡± The opponents eyed the party greedily, slowly trying to encircle them. A spear stabbed out, almost unseen, aiming for Quickstep¡¯s side. ¡°What?¡± Even the pro was slow to react, taking a direct hit. [135!] ¡°Damn! That damage!¡± ¡°My bad.¡± Radiant Shield apologized as he positioned himself further to the side, ready to block incoming attacks. ¡°Stupid bones!¡± Quickstep growled angrily. She flourished her sword, performing a [Double Slash]. Over the last few days she had observed Liam, attempting to replicate his feat of hitting two enemies at once. But the female warrior didn¡¯t have the same control over her movements, which Liam honed in real life. Her sword flashed, hitting one elite but missing the second. The others didn¡¯t stop attacking as well, soon downing another two skeletons. ¡°Seven to go! We got this!¡± ¡°I¡¯m out of stance!¡± Both the tanks reported, their faces still calm. But a moment later Radiant Shield frowned as the elite before him gathered dark energy again. ¡°I won¡¯t let you!¡± With a shout the burly man used [Brutal Strike] to try and interrupt the skill. ¡°F*ck, my stun failed!¡± Quickstep noticed Radiant Shield¡¯s predicament, wanting to help him. But it was already too late. The spear engulfed in darkness swirled, hitting Radiant Shield squarely in the chest, even pushing him away. A pulse of dark magic shot through his body. [-84!] [-10!] Even as a tank Radiant Shield nearly lost 100HP. But this wasn¡¯t the worst, as the way towards the backline was opened up. The elite in its skill rampaged blindly, ignoring the aggro system. It set its sight on Quickstep nearby, the tip of its spear aiming for her heart. The valiant woman felt the hairs on her neck rise. She stabilized her legs, leaning her upper body to the side. A spear tip barely passed her chest, Quickstep¡¯s eyes frozen on its cold end. ¡°Oh no!¡± ¡°Watch out!¡± Disteressed shouts came from nearby. One of the elites managed to reach the mages, its face almost grinning as it swung its spear at Fortune. The content creator was flustered. Although she was an experienced gamer, this was the first time that the party allowed an opponent to get close to her. A spear tip enlarged in her eyes. Chapter 54: Head Priest Fuyarhin (I) Fortune tried to dodge the incoming attack but she wasn¡¯t fast enough. [-203!] Next to Fortune, Balm didn¡¯t get a chance to cast her heal when she saw the woman falling. ¡°Fortune!¡± [Player Fortune has died!] The notification shook the party. ¡°Damn.¡± ¡°How dare you, stupid skeletons!¡± Cyclone felt frustrated as she watched her idol die before her eyes. She casted a [Holy Strike], wishing to exterminate the audacious skeletons. [-105!] [-105!] Two brilliant rays of light barreled into the skeleton¡¯s head as Cyclone¡¯s tome miraculously triggered. With a crisp sound the opponent¡¯s dry skull shattered, leaving only dust behind. Another elite died. However, Cyclone wasn¡¯t happy, admonishing herself for not attacking earlier. A moment later Bloody Edge appeared behind the skill-casting skeleton guard, ramming his dagger into the opponent¡¯s back, emptying out its HP. Only five enemies remained. Radiant Shield wore a guilty face as he closed the formation, stabilizing the party. The rest of the fight was tense but manageable. Balm focused on healing, keeping the two tanks alive as they held back the monsters. The other party members moved with purpose, dishing out as much damage as possible. A few minutes later the skeletons finally fell. Cyclone had an unhappy look on her face, hitting the ground with her wand. ¡°You bunch of broken bones! How dare you kill Fortune! Come on, stand up and let me kill you again!¡± Balm stood next to her friend, wiping the sweat from her forehead. ¡°Nonono, mister skeleton, stay dead! Just go to rest!¡± Liam chuckled from their antics as a voice came from nearby. ¡°Sorry guys, I let you down.¡± Fortune caught up with the group. Within a dungeon one could return thrice after death as long as the party wasn¡¯t wiped. ¡°No, friend. You put your trust in me, and I failed you. I have to apologize.¡±, said Radiant Shield with righteousness in his voice. ¡°N¡­¡± ¡°Let it be.¡±, interrupted Liam as Fortune tried to speak again. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t harp on every mistake. Just learn from it, guys.¡± ¡°You are right, Bleary Mirage. I will train my movements and be ready to dodge next time.¡± ¡°Yeah, but instead of dodging we should start training flash step. The same goes for you, Cyclone and Balm.¡± Suddenly being mentioned, Cyclone was puzzled: ¡°What is flash step?¡± The rest of the party held the same question, looking at Liam. ¡°Flash step is a mage¡¯s way of using stance. Without 50% of your points in INT you won¡¯t be able to learn it. On top of that it¡¯s rather difficult, but once you got the hang of it, flash step is more efficient than simply dodging.¡± ¡°Something like this exists? How does it work?¡± Fortune¡¯s eyes sparkled, staring closely at Liam. She knew that a tutorial on such a mechanic made for a great video. She could already see millions of views rolling in.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Liam glanced at her, pondering for a moment. ¡°50%!¡± Fortune was taken aback. ¡°What?¡± ¡°My cut from the video.¡± ¡°B¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t argue. You are already making money by recording us. Honestly, you should be paying us anyways.¡± Fortune opened her mouth, but no words came out. Eventually she let out a sigh. ¡°You are right. We can negotiate some terms.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Fortune didn¡¯t take it to heart. She was a veteran content creator. Naturally she worked with others before, having made similar deals. Liam on the other hand was glad that Fortune was susceptible to reason, not starting an argument. ¡°Well then. You better listen up.¡± Cyclone dragged Balm towards Fortune, lining up like an obedient student. ¡°No need to overdo it, I don¡¯t expect you to succeed in one day. Flash step is difficult because it is unintuitive, involving the movement of mana in your body. Those among you who have trained in martial arts before might have an advantage. Close your eyes. Concentrate your mind and focus on your body. You need to feel the mana flowing in your body. It¡¯s a strange sensation, similar to the blood in your veins but artificially generated by the game. If you manage to feel the mana, you want to push it, letting it run faster. Your body will enter a highly energetic state. Next, you need to imagine your body moving purely by will and you will perform a flash step, teleporting a short distance. Train often enough and you will be able to accomplish it in an instant.¡± ¡°It really resembles some martial arts techniques.¡±, murmured Silver Blade. ¡°Yes. But ultimately it is only a mechanic assisted by the game. Mages can¡¯t really move their mana freely.¡± Cyclone, Balm and Fortune had wrinkled foreheads as they tried to replicate Liam¡¯s instructions. The three mages closed their eyes, focusing on their bodies. They tried to perceive the mana running through them. ¡°Ha! Got it!¡±, exclaimed Cyclone happily. Liam stared at her in disbelief: ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°Ye¡­ ah no, never mind.¡± Luckily Cyclone still had her eyes closed, not seeing the other party member¡¯s annoyed looks. Liam allowed the three women to try for a minute before reminding them: ¡°Alright, you should train later. We still have a dungeon to clear.¡± ¡°Just a bit more, I¡¯ll soon get it!¡±, complained Cyclone. ¡°Ok. Then I will collect the loot in the meantime.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Everyone chuckled as Cyclone¡¯s eyes shot open, staring fiercely at Bleary Mirage. Seeing the warrior stop in place, the blond woman nodded calmly and approached the monsters on the floor. The loot wasn¡¯t impressive compared to the number of monsters, but at least they received a green-magic shield for Radiant Shield. A short while later Silver Blade gathered the party, facing the hallway which was free of flames by now. A large red metal door with religious engraving could be seen at the end. ¡°Looks like a boss fight is coming up.¡± ¡°Brace yourself, brave companions!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± The party hyped themselves up as Silver Blade pushed the heavy door open. An extensive room came into view. Fire bowls burning with black fire were lined along the walls, illuminating mosaics of a tall nephilim fighting various races with his two spears. Patches of vents were scattered all over the walls and floor. Silver Blade studied the room with a sharp gaze, asking Bleary Mirage: ¡°I guess those vents can spew fire?¡± ¡°Exactly. Those vents will turn red before firing, so stay vigilant.¡± Everyone nodded solemnly as they entered the room. The door behind them shut abruptly, sending a tremble through the room. A light in the ceiling turned on, falling on a person kneeling in prayer. He wore a long white robe, his hear white as snow. Two large wings grew from behind the man¡¯s back. But those wings deviated from the usual half-black and half-white of original nephilim as they were almost entirely doused in a black tar-like color, with only a few white feathers remaining at the left tip. While the boss closed his ominous wings behind his back, standing up solemnly, the party didn¡¯t forget to inspect him. [Head Priest Fuyarhin Rank: Lord Level: 9 HP: 3000/3000] [-0!] Seeing a magical attack hit Fuyarhin¡¯s back, Liam looked at Cyclone strangely. ¡°He¡¯s cheating!¡± ¡°The fight hasn¡¯t started yet.¡± Cyclone rolled her eyes, obviously not a fan of this mechanic. Meanwhile the head priest didn¡¯t appear as if he noticed the attack at all. He turned around, showing the party his righteous face adorned with thin golden lines. ¡°Brothers and Sisters. Why? Why have you come to do the bidding of the haughty holy nephilim? Shouldn¡¯t you assist us? Isn¡¯t it the wish of every original nephilim to rekindle the pact with hell? To be able to wield both the powers of light and darkness again? Oh, how glorious we were back then. It didn¡¯t matter if others looked down on us as we dominated with absolute strength! But now! Look at us! Fighting amongst ourselves, simply because those holies say so? Pathetic! Reylar will succeed soon! And I won¡¯t let you stop him!¡± While the head priest spoke, black lines crept up his neck, stopping below his chin. His narrow eyes turned red. An ominous dark power played around his wings. Suddenly he began moving. Taking out a long white staff he rushed towards the party. Liam and his friends had already honed their teamwork well enough. No one panicked as they took on a basic formation, with Radiant Shield meeting the incoming attack. But before the priest could come close, he was already welcomed by the party¡¯s ranged attacks. [-52!] [-25!] [-34!] [-101!] ¡°Nah, my damage¡­ this guy has high magical defense.¡± Cyclone was displeased, seeing the disparity between hers and Silent Acacia¡¯s damage. Fuyarhin however didn¡¯t show any change in his ferocious expression as his staff clashed with Radiant Shield¡¯ shield. [Stance ¨C 7] The tank was just about to announce that the head priest appeared to be weak in attack when the enemy did something unprecedented. The head priest¡¯s staff turned quickly, attacking with its other end as well. Radiant Shield was taken by surprise, only able to defend hastily, his stance negatively affected. [Stance -9] Chapter 55: Head Priest Fuyarhin (II) ¡°Good job!¡± Liam was indeed impressed with Radiant Shield¡¯s quick reaction. ¡°You could¡¯ve said something.¡±, complained the burly warrior. Not wanting to comment, Bleary Mirage shook his head. He couldn¡¯t warn the party about everything beforehand. Else they would not be able to grow, never able to defeat stronger bosses. While the two warriors were talking, no one stood still. Radiant Shield lashed out with his shield, firmly securing aggro, allowing the other close ranged fighters to attack as well. [-190!!!] Bloody Edge grinned as he attacked like a predator out of stealth, landing a solid critical hit. [-98!] Comparatively, Liam was rather unhappy with his damage although it was roughly on par with the rest of the party. ¡°You! Suffer my wrath!¡± Fuyarhin shouted angrily as the black lines on his neck wiggled. He jumped backwards, whirling his staff. A red light lit up on its tip. ¡°What is this?¡± The question was on everyone¡¯s mind as a red ray of light suddenly shot at Radiant Shield. ¡°On no, it¡¯s a magical attack!¡± The tank gritted his teeth as his stance almost emptied out. ¡°Close the distance!¡± Silver Blade waved her sword, compelling the party to move. But at this moment a few vents lit up before them. ¡°Careful!¡± Bloody Edge was too eager, ahead of the party. Suddenly black flames enveloped him. [-84!] Feeling the heat playing around his skin, the thief turned anxious, doing a strange roll backwards. [-60!] ¡°Don¡¯t clown around! Get rid of your burn!¡±, reminded Liam. Bloody Edge¡¯s mind was chaotic as he reacted instinctively, taking out two stalks of Fiery Tacaria. [-30!] After one last tick of burn the thief barely managed to save his life. Balm swung her wand, sending a comfortable energy his way, healing him back to full. ¡°Thanks!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± ¡°Watch out!¡± Silver Blade¡¯s eyes never swayed form the flames. As they died down a second later, she glimpsed at the priest¡¯s staff enveloped in a red light. Warning the party, she took the front, welcoming the hit. [Stance -5] The magic attack was noticeably less powerful, posing no problems to the powerful tank. ¡°Now! Attack!¡± The party reacted immediately, surging towards the head priest like an unstoppable flood, multiple attacks engulfing him, a lot of skills mixed in. ¡°You imbeciles! Die already!¡± ¡°AHHH!¡± Fuyarhin let out a guttural scream. An invisible force pushed the party back. The black lines on his neck grew, quickly swallowing his face. The priest¡¯s hair turned black as well, his eyes spewing black flames. ¡°You asked for this!¡± Even the priest¡¯s voice changed, turning deeper, almost demonic. Fuyarhin suddenly swung his staff in a wide arc. A black energy attack shot out. ¡°Careful! Dodge!¡± Silver Blade reminded the party as she took a step to the side, protecting Balm behind her shield. A heavy impact rocked her body. [Stance ¨C 11] Silver Blade frowned, inspecting the enemy again.Stolen novel; please report. [Cursed Head Priest Fuyarhin Rank: Lord Level: 9 HP: 1432/3000 Skill 1: Fuyarhin swings his staff, producing a wave of black energy, dealing 150%(MDMG) magical damage. Skill 2: ???] The party scrambled madly, not expecting such an attack. Unfortunately, only Liam and Silent Acacia managed to dodge, all the others taking the direct hit. Huge damage numbers plopped up above everyone¡¯s heads. Cyclone and Fortune were close to death, only the nephilim¡¯s natural defense against dark damage saving them. ¡°My heal isn¡¯t off cooldown yet.¡± Balm was anxious, but Fortune calmed her down. ¡°Don¡¯t worry we have health potions.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t use them yet.¡±, disagreed Liam. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s only use them if we are close to clearing the dungeon.¡± ¡°Hmm. Heartless.¡± Fortune grumbled as Bleary Mirage more or less just sentenced her to death. Liam wasn¡¯t in the mood to argue as everyone approached the head priest again. Fuyarhin leaned on his staff, appearing tired, but he wasn¡¯t in a weakened state. [-32!] Liam frowned, noticing the heavy reduction to his damage. ¡°Die!¡± Fuyarhin growled as he flourished his staff again. Radiant Shield gritted his teeth, ready to block. [-180!] [-150!] Radiant Shield¡¯s body trembled as the priest attacked twice. With wide eyes he stared at his status.
>>> <<<
Name: Radiant Shield
Level: 6
Race: Original Nephilim
Class: Warrior
Primary Attributes:
STR: 22
INT: 1
AGI: 8
HP: 344/674
Fury: 48/55
(show more)
>>> <<<
¡°Damn, almost half of my HP are gone.¡± ¡°Are you sure you are a tank?¡± ¡°Do you want to take the next hit?¡± ¡°Never mind.¡± Radiant Shield and Quickstep bickered as everyone was intimidated by the priest¡¯s damage. ¡°We need to kill him quickly!¡±, reminded Silver Blade solemnly. ¡°Yes!¡± Cyclone echoed her bestest friend as she threw another [Holy Strike]. Fortunately, the extra effect triggered, dealing additional holy damage. ¡°AH!¡± Fuyarhin screamed angrily, losing a staggering 100 HP from the holy damage. ¡°That should be his weakness!¡± ¡°Mages, use your skills on cooldown!¡± ¡°Burn in the flames of hell!¡± Before the party could press on, Fuyarhin quickly retreated to the side. A wall of flames surrounded him. ¡°Get away from him!¡± Liam couldn¡¯t hold himself back from warning his friends sternly, already dashing backwards. Unseen to the party, Fuyarhin began to rotate his staff quickly. Strong winds blew through the room, letting the flames flicker eerily. Unnaturally large sparks separated from the flame wall, shooting in all directions. The party members dodged left and right, sweat running down their backs. [-20!] [-20!] The flames didn¡¯t deal much damage but were difficult to evade. Cyclone and Fortune had unwilling eyes as they dropped to the floor, dead. The indiscriminate attack ended after a while, with everyone taking varying amounts of damage. Balm looked at the dropping HP with a worried heart, using her heal on Radiant Shield. A moment later the head priest appeared again, approaching the party for another assault. Radiant Shield took a deep breath, blocking so the others could land another round of attacks. ¡°Only 900HP left! We got this!¡± Silver Blade tried to encourage everyone while keeping a close look on the multiple vents. Suddenly she spotted something. ¡°Quickstep! Move!¡± As a seasoned pro, Quickstep knew to trust her teammates. She jumped to the side right in time as a burst of flames came from the ceiling. ¡°Nice communication guys! Keep it up!¡± Fuyarhin¡¯s face on the other hand turned increasingly ferocious, the black color moving over his skin as if alive. Another staff attack followed. Radiant Shield¡¯s HP almost dropped to zero. Just as the party was about to attack again, the head priest opened up some distance and fired another magic attack. Silver Blade¡¯s concentration was at a peak. She didn¡¯t allow the priest to attack Radiant Shield again, stepping forward to defend. [-25!] ¡°Wow, those magic attacks barely leave a dent in your defense!¡±, exclaimed Balm happily. Meanwhile the close combat forces caught up with the priest, dishing out another wave of attacks. ¡°Yooouu!¡± Fuyarhin voice was drawn out as his staff lit up with a black light. ¡°Careful! It¡¯s that skill!¡± A wave of dark energy shot at the group. Despite Silver Blade¡¯s heroic defense, the grim reaper came to harvest lives this time. Bloody Edge and Radiant Shield died tragically. The others, their stance mostly used up, took varying amounts of damage as well. ¡°Is this it?¡± Silent Acacia whispered, disheartened. Silver Blade looked over in surprise. She instantly saw the red glow below his feet. ¡°Acacia! Careful!¡± The young thief snapped out of his thoughts, looking at Silver Blade before realizing what was going on. But it was already too late as flames seared his body. When the fire disappeared, Silent Acacia¡¯s corpse could be found lying on the ground. Meanwhile, the head priest recovered from his skill, ready to attack again. With Radiant Shield dead, Silver Blade knew it was her turn to tank. [-220!] [-200!] The young woman found a large amount of her HP gone in an instant. A few more attacks landed on Fuyarhin, shoving off another 100HP. Silver Blade sighed as she inspected the priest. [Cursed Head Priest Fuyarhin Rank: Lord Level: 9 HP: 542/3000 Skill 1: Fuyarhin swings his staff, producing a wave of black energy, dealing 150%(MDMG) magical damage. Skill 2: Fuyarhin hides behind a wall of flames, rotating his staff quickly, scattering dangerous flames.] ¡°This might be it¡­¡± Silver Blade was unwilling as the priest¡¯s staff came again. Her HP emptied out, leaving her dead on the ground. The party struggled for a while more. Liam took the role of a tank, surviving for a bit with Balm¡¯s heals. But it wasn¡¯t enough. Soon, Balm was the only one left while Fuyarhin still had more than 200HP. She could only smile wryly as the priest¡¯s staff ended her life. When Balm opened her eyes again, she was met with the party discussing animatedly. ¡°We almost got it!¡± ¡°Yeah, a few better dodges and that priest will be finished.¡± ¡°My comrades, let us put this accursed priest to rest.¡± ¡°My blade is ready to cut those wings off!¡± Cyclone gripped her wand tightly. ¡°I want my revenge!¡± Chapter 56: The second hallway Liam scanned his teammates, glad that no one appeared disheartened. But he stopped when meeting Silent Acacia¡¯s face. The young thief looked downtrodden, quietly whispering with Quickstep. Liam furrowed his brows as he approached the couple: ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± Silent Acacia was startled, looking awkwardly at Bleary Mirage. ¡°Ah, nothing. Nothing¡­¡± Quickstep only sighed. ¡°How can a single wipe rattle you like this? It¡¯s not the first and won¡¯t be the last, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have died to such a mistake.¡± Quickstep emphatically patted her boyfriend¡¯s back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, babe. Everyone makes mistakes!¡± ¡°But I shouldn¡¯t!¡± Silent Acacia suddenly raised his voice, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Smiling in embarrassment, he tried to adjust his state of mind. ¡°Sorry guys. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°My friend, why are you distressed?¡±, asked Radiant Shield with a concerned face. The others echoed him, willing to support Silent Acacia. But the thief only shook his head: ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m fine.¡± Liam frowned. But if Silent Acacia didn¡¯t want to talk about it, there was not much he could do. He patted the young man¡¯s shoulders, leaving him with a single sentence. ¡°We are a team, Acacia!¡± Silent Acacia nodded at Liam, not commenting further. The party could only move on, discussing the boss fight, looking for possible improvements. Silver Blade was the first to speak up: ¡°I didn¡¯t block the first magical attack, causing Radiant Shield to lose most of his stance.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t dodge the fire¡­¡±, admitted Bloody Edge. A few others echoed him, mentioning the attacks they failed to dodge. Liam nodded, satisfied that no one tried to hide their mistakes. ¡°Well. To summarize: it¡¯s mostly about dodging. All of you need to keep an eye on the priest¡¯s staff.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t get wiped again!¡± The party was in high spirits. With the experience form the first fight, everyone felt confident. Silver Blade was ready to capitalize on the mood, leading the party to start the fight. By now the lower floor didn¡¯t pose any challenge anymore. The party swept through it like a storm. Only clearing the hallway still took some time. Soon Liam and his friends confronted the head priest again. With Silver Blade keeping her vigilance, she effortlessly blocked the magical attacks, allowing Radiant Shield to save his stance. Thus, the burly warrior didn¡¯t lose any HP before Fuyarhin entered the second phase. This time, Bloody Edge didn¡¯t storm ahead, avoiding the flames. Even Fuyarhin¡¯s first skill was dodged brilliantly. Only the second skill poised some difficulties, but it didn¡¯t deal enough damage to endanger anyone¡¯s life. ¡°Keep it up!¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Liam encouraged the party, watching the opponent¡¯s HP plummet. Fuyarhin, however, wasn¡¯t ready to surrender yet, his staff lighting up in a dark light. ¡°Dodge!¡± A wave of dark magic shot through the room. Cyclone was just about to attack, thus she didn¡¯t manage to dodge. But luckily the damage wasn¡¯t enough to kill her. Balm looked at her friend with a wry smile, not daring to use her heal on the mage, as Radiant Shield would need it after the next attack. Cyclone rolled her eyes, letting out her anger on the head priest. [Holy Strike]¡¯s effect triggered, sending the head priest close to death. Another round of attacks arrived. ¡°NO! Reylar! Please¡­ succeed¡­!¡± Fuyarhin cried out weekly. His staff dropped with a brisk sound before the priest¡¯s legs gave in, his body dropping to the floor. ¡°We did it!¡± Cyclone beamed happily. But a moment later her face scrunched up in disgust. She watched as the black color moved along the priest¡¯s body. A sizzling sound reminiscent of acid came from the man¡¯s skin as it dissolved like sticky glue. A moment later only a white robe and a black liquid remained, which quietly oozed into the floor, mysteriously ignoring the solid stone. ¡°Eww what was that?¡± ¡°Is this the curse¡¯s manifestation?¡± ¡°Disgusting!¡± The party trembled upon witnessing the eerie scene. But suddenly Cyclone¡¯s eyes opened wide, as she spoke in a frantic voice: ¡°Wait, with the body gone, did my loot vanish as well?!¡± The young woman shook, quickly rushing towards the white priest robe, touching it while sending out prayers in her heart. Cyclone let out a relieved sigh as a bright blue light shone from her hand. Everyone looked over with curiosity. [Onadarlia¡¯s first wand Category: Uncommon Level requirement: 6 Attack Damage: 14-15 Attack Speed: 0,7 Effect 1: Increases all healing done by 2%. Effect 2: Has a low chance to heal another alley every time the skill [Heal] is cast. A long time ago this wand was given to the famous human priest Onadarlia. Maybe a bit of her magic still lingers.] Balm¡¯s eyes lit up brightly, but she appeared rather timid. However, naturally this wand could only go to her. Cyclone chuckled as she stuffed the wand into her friend¡¯s hand. Fortunately, the head priest dropped even more loot, albeit only of green-magic quality. But with a new robe for Cyclone, a new armor for Quickstep, and new trousers for Silent Acacia and Watchful Eye, the group received a thorough upgrade. On top of that the head priest dropped a recipe for some basic traps, which was given to Silent Acacia. ¡°Hehe, good job priest! You didn¡¯t disappoint me.¡± While Cyclone snickered, light gradually turned on, illuminating the room. The mosaics on both sides of the room drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Huh? Who is this?¡± ¡°Looks like an original nephilim. Might be Reylar.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± The party was about to dismiss the artworks when Liam coughed. ¡°Maybe you should take a closer look.¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s there to see?¡± The others were surprised by Liam¡¯s reminder, studying the mosaics closely. They followed the nephilim¡¯s journey with their eyes, battling various races until he eventually made contact with Refresnim. Pondering for a while, Watchful Eye was the first to notice something. ¡°Look, young lady, the way Reylar is fighting.¡± Silver Blade rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t bother with correcting him, instead staring at the wall. ¡°His attacks do indeed look peculiar. Are those hints?¡± When the young woman turned towards Liam, he didn¡¯t want to delay the party much longer. ¡°Indeed. You should keep in mind Reylar¡¯s figure before he attacks.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Damn, how can they hide such a hint here?!¡± The party clamored as they followed Liam¡¯s advice, deeply memorizing Reylar¡¯s moves. A short while later everyone felt more or less satisfied, ready to leave. But Silver Blade shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t you forget something?¡± ¡°Again? What is it?¡± Silver Blade chuckled as she went to the back of the room, approaching a tiny platform framed by two fire bowls. Without a change in expression, she grabbed what seemed like a human finger, showing it off. ¡°Eww! Put it away!¡± ¡°Disgusting!¡± Silver Blade shrugged her shoulders. Putting the quest item in her inventory, she finally led the party out of the room. They returned to the large hall inhabited by a single statue. At this moment Quickstep approached Liam: ¡°Hey, Mirage, can I ask you a question?¡± ¡°Sure. Go ahead.¡± ¡°If we get wiped now, do we have to repeat the fight?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t worry. We already have the finger, and it won¡¯t drop.¡± Quickstep nodded, obviously relieved. Meanwhile the rest of the team was already staring at the hallway left of the statue, discussing how to proceed. ¡°Why is it so empty?¡± ¡°There is no way this isn¡¯t a trap.¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± The party members frowned as they scanned the hallway. It was completely empty. Only its floor was conspicuous, separated in rows of large stone plates, with three per row. ¡°Should we send Silent Acacia to scout?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Silent Acacia took a deep breath. The mistake from earlier still weighed on his mind. He desired to do better. Thus, the young thief moved with utmost caution, setting his foot on the first stone plate, pausing for a few seconds with a tense body. ¡°Nothing¡­¡± The thief informed his party as he took a step forward. Suddenly a low click could be heard. Silent Acacia immediately jumped backwards as a burst of flames shot out of the ceiling. Even Liam was impressed that the thief managed to avoid any damage. ¡°Good job!¡± ¡°So that¡¯s the trap.¡± ¡°What now? Do we send Acacia ahead?¡± While the others discussed, Silent Acacia¡¯s mind moved quickly. He readied his bow, shooting at the apparent trap. Another burst of flames descended. ¡°Oh, look! We can scout the traps like this!¡± ¡°You prove to be of quick mind, my friend!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up as they found a clever way to proceed. Suppressing the smile which tried to creep onto his face, Silent Acacia began to test the stone plates one by one. Soon the party figured out the pattern. Each row had a single stone plate triggering a trap. However, Silent Acacia¡¯s attack range wasn¡¯t infinite, thus he could only probe about ten rows. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, guys. I memorized the way. Let me scout.¡± Saying so, the thief darted over the stone plates light as a phantom. Chapter 57: Head Priest Fuyerhan Silent Acacia moved quickly, soon reaching the tenth plate. He kept his vigilance high as he fired out more arrows, deciphering the path ahead. The thief carefully advanced. But as soon as he took another step forward, a sound suddenly drew his attention. Holes opened in the ceiling and piles of bones fell out, surrounding him. ¡°Ha! Knew it wasn¡¯t that easy!¡± Silent Acacia grinned confidently. Before the threatening skeletons could even stand up, he had already left their encirclement, returning to the party. The friends praised their thief as he arrived without taking any damage. Nat far behind were the skeletons. Not capable of critical thinking they mindlessly ran into every trap as they approached the party, their rusty sabers raised high. But Liam and his friends repeated the tactics honed during their clear of the other hallway. They drew back, letting the skeletons suffer from burn continuously before engaging in a fight. Naturally they easily won this battle. Achieving such an effortless success, the party didn¡¯t hesitate to send Silent Acacia again. Soon the hallway was cleared. Although Silent Acacia was hit by the flames two times towards the end, this was nothing a few Tacaria couldn¡¯t deal with. Thus, the party was full of confidence as they arrived before another towering, red door. ¡°Everyone ready?¡± Seeing the party nod unanimously, Silver Blade touched the warm metal, pushing open the heavy iron door. The room lying behind was similar to Fuyarhin¡¯s, except for the vents which were exchanged for randomly scattered stone plates. When the party entered, they took a thorough scan, attempting to remember the traps revealed under the dim lighting. A few seconds later another light turned on, falling on a figure kneeling on the ground. It was a woman looking similar to Fuyarhin. Her long hair was pristinely white, her large wings mostly black. She stood up and turned around, showing the party her smooth face adorned by golden lines and the darkness rising from her chest. ¡°I take it you have already killed Fuyarhin? Foolish! Why would you choose their side?! When Reylar succeeds, it might be time to do a cleansing among our own!¡± [-78!] The party was not yet prepared, expecting a long speech. But Cyclone didn¡¯t care, attacking carefreely. Surprisingly the boss was already done, taking the first bit of damage. Silver Blade glanced at her friend, finding a triumphant smile on the blond woman¡¯s mouth. But a moment later Cyclone¡¯s face fell as the opponent took out a wand of her own, hurling an attack towards Cyclone. Even Silver Blade didn¡¯t see it coming. Luckily though the mage dodged quick enough. [Stance -20] ¡°Huh, that was close.¡± ¡°You have taken aggro!¡± ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Silver Blade rolled her eyes as she dashed towards the enemy, checking her status on the way. [Head Priest Fuyerhan Rank: Lord Level: 9 HP: 3000/3000] A moment later she reached the priest, smashing her shield at the woman. The head priest¡¯s head turned, staring angrily at the tank. ¡°Die, sinners!¡± Silver Blade held her shield before her, blocking the incoming attack.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. [Stance -8] ¡°It¡¯s alright I can block a few hits.¡± ¡°Keep your eyes open. She might change between physical and magical.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After fighting the other head priest, the party could already foresee some of Fuyerhan¡¯s moves. They kept their minds focused, dodging the conspicuous stone plates on the floor and approaching the opponent for attacks. About 600 HP vanished quickly. At the same time the effect of Liam¡¯s sword finally triggered, adding a stack of bleed onto the head priest. The veteran instantly grasped his chance to use a [Double Slash], profiting from the increased damage. [-73!] [-40!] [-44!] ¡°Wow, an expert is an expert indeed!¡± ¡°You little¡­¡± Fuyerhan growled angrily as a silvery light engulfed her wand. It stretched out, a moment later turning into a noble sword. The head priest gritted her teeth as she swung her graceful weapon in a wide arc before her. ¡°Careful!¡± ¡°Evade!¡± The party members didn¡¯t hesitate to jump back. Only Radiant Shield stayed, bravely catching the blade. [Stance -8] ¡°Nice! Good coordination!¡± But just as they praised each other, a burst of flame suddenly shot from the ceiling, engulfing Watchful Eye. ¡°What? How?¡± Everyone stared perplexedly as the man escaped from the fire, directlyy eating a few herbs to quell the burn. Quickstep frowned, looking at the ground. ¡°Those stone plates have moved!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Damn, that¡¯s insidious!¡± The others came to the same conclusion, the pressure on their shoulders increasing. ¡°Hey, friends, we are still fighting!¡± Radiant Shield complained loudly, redirecting everyone¡¯s attention back to the head priest. As Fuyerhan lowered her sword, the party approached her again, dishing out another round of attacks. Just like Fuyarhin the black color on Fuyerhan¡¯s neck suddenly began to wiggle, seemingly alive. It spread over her face, giving her a ferocious, almost demonic appearance. ¡°You don¡¯t deserve master Reylar¡¯s gifts!¡± Growling like a wounded beast the head priest distanced herself from the group, flourishing her wand. A red glow gathered at the tip of dark ebony. She pointed forward, ready to use a skill. Liam¡¯s eyes lit up. He grinned, deciding to show the group a little trick. While everyone stayed apprehensive, ready to dodge whatever Fuyerhan was about to throw at them, Bleary Mirage suddenly dashed towards the head priest. Although the others were surprised, no one questioned their expert. Fuyerhan, however, felt provoked. She pointed her wand at Liam, sending a ball of red light towards his feet. A red blinking ring of light appeared around Liam, indicating the incoming danger. But the warrior only sped up, leaving the area, before it was covered in flames. Dodging the skill didn¡¯t cost stance, thus Liam stayed confident despite drawing the opponent¡¯s attention. A moment later he reached the head priest, swinging his sword. [-51!] ¡°Die vermin!¡± Fuyerhan¡¯s expression became increasingly crazed, swinging her wand faster and faster. Two red rings appeared below Liam¡¯s feet. Coupled with the low travel distance, those spells arrived almost instantly, forcing the veteran to concentrate entirely on dodging. However, with the way Liam moved, Fuyerhan was within the area affected by her spell as well. Surprisingly she suffered from the flames. [-30!] [-30!] [-30!] The other party members stared slack-jawed as Bleary Mirage danced around Fuyerhan, who continued to burn herself. ¡°F*ck! Who came up with this?!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t she move away?!¡± Cyclone even leaned against a wall, pretending to yawn while Liam did all the hard work. Half a minute later the head priest lost about 300HP from her own skill before stopping her actions. Liam panted slightly. He stared at the opponent, a grin forming on his face involuntarily. Pulling off such a maneuver wasn¡¯t easy, even for him. Clapping echoed in the room. Liam¡¯s eye twitched as he looked at Cyclone. ¡°Nicely done, expert! Good job!¡± ¡°What are you doing over there? Attack the boss!¡± ¡°Coming, coming.¡± Silver Blade chuckled as she approached as well, ready to draw Fuyerhan¡¯s aggro. Two more rounds of attacks passed quickly, the boss not able to make things difficult for the party. When Fuyerhan was almost running out of HP, she let out a deep roar. Her wand transformed into a sword again, enveloped by a red glow. She swung it fiercely at Silver Blade. The two tanks were confused, not able to discern the nature of the attack. Thus, Silver Blade braced herself as she blocked with her shield. [Stance -8] [Stance -15] [-32!] ¡°Whoa, what¡¯s going on there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s two attacks in one. Physical and magical.¡± ¡°Damn? How are we supposed to block this?¡± ¡°We need to kill her before she kills us!¡± The others nodded solemnly, bringing out everything they got. [-185!] [-25!] Two more attacks reached Silver Blade. The magical damage was almost negligible, but the physical took a huge chunk of the tank¡¯s HP. ¡°Don¡¯t stop attacking!¡± [-48!] A brilliant sheen struck Fuyerhan¡¯s head, finally taking the last of her HP. ¡°Haha, last hit!¡±, exclaimed Cyclone smugly. Fortune took a few steps back for a perfect shot, speaking heroically: ¡°The party stays victorious, felling the opponent on their first try, thanks to everyone¡¯s contributions.¡± But while everyone was celebrating, Silent Acacia suddenly pointed at Fuyerhan. ¡°What¡¯s going on with her?¡± Attracted by the thief everyone looked at the head priest. She was kneeling on one knee, her sword used as a crutch, her head lowered, covered by her wild hair. Fuyerhan trembled strangely, struggling with something. Suddenly the black color enveloping her showed signs of retreating as she raised her head slowly. ¡°Adventurer. I can¡¯t end like this. Are you willing to spare me just this once?¡± Everyone was surprised by this request, not sure what to do. They turned towards Liam. ¡°Spare her if you want to meet again in the future.¡±, explained Liam with a shrug. ¡°Will she be enemy or friend?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Radiant Shield rolled his eyes looking at Liam¡¯s grin. ¡°Does it matter?¡±, interrupted Cyclone. ¡°It¡¯s a game. If there is more story to get, we should naturally let her go.¡± ¡°Sounds reasonable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m with Cy on this one.¡± Gauging the party¡¯s sentiment, Silver Blade sheathed her sword, turning towards Fuyerhan. ¡°We will spare you!¡± Chapter 58: Engaging Reylar Hearing Silver Blade¡¯s words, the head priest sighed in relief. ¡°Thank you, adventurers. I owe you.¡± At the same time the black color engulfing Fuyerhan¡¯s body slowly drew back. A bright light enveloped her. Cyclone suddenly got a bad feeling. She was just about to take out her wand and attack when the light reached its peak, vanishing a moment later together with the nephilim. Cyclone stared ahead with her mouth open, disbelief in her eyes. She rigidly turned her head towards Liam. A low, raspy voice escaped her mouth: ¡°Mirage. Where is¡­ my loot?!¡± Looking at the blond woman¡¯s livid face, the others weren¡¯t able to hold back their laughter. A happy mood spread, leaving Cyclone pouting at the side. Liam didn¡¯t want to be too mean. A few second later he grabbed something from the floor where Fuyerhan had been, handing it over to Cyclone. The young woman looked skeptical at the strange emblem engraved with a vivid flame. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°A key.¡± Instantly Cyclone¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So, you do have a conscience!¡± The blond woman pretentiously patted Liam¡¯s shoulder as she took the emblem, scanning the room. Additional light appeared after the boss died, illuminating the mosaics on the wall. Cyclone quickly found a piece missing, perfectly shaped to put her emblem in. Immediately a gap opened within the wall. Cyclone was delighted as she found two treasure chests behind it. ¡°This should be¡­ copper and bronze rarity? Not too shabby!¡± The rest of the party kept their distance. No one wanted to accidentally open a chest, drawing Cyclone¡¯s never-ending wrath. Thus, the young woman was able to take her time, rubbing her hands, opening the chests with bright eyes. Three small black spheres appeared in her hands. While Liam recognized the bombs at first glance, quite satisfied with the loot, Cyclone mumbled unhappily, putting them away. Silver Blade frowned. ¡°What did you get just now?¡± ¡°Just some bombs.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t this sound good? Why do you look so unhappy?¡± ¡°How can a chest only give three bombs? Isn¡¯t this a scam?¡± Silver Blade stayed silent, not able comprehend Cyclone¡¯s perspective. Meanwhile her friend turned towards the rarer bronze chest, opening it with expectant eyes. A blue light played around the woman, prompting her to grin smugly. ¡°Hehe, a sword! I guess you have to fight for it!¡± Most of the warriors appeared eager, staring at the broad, noble sword with a prominent golden guard, desire painted on their faces. ¡°Can you share its information?¡± [Sword of the Lion Guard Category: Common Level requirement: 5 Attack Damage: 10-11 Attack Speed: 0,6 Effect: Blocking attacks with this sword costs 2-3 less stance.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Only the famous elven army Lion Guard wield this sword with the necessary grace to make full use of it.] The fervor diminished somewhat. Although this sword could be used by all warriors, it was ultimately geared towards defense. Thus, the warriors eyed Silver Blade and Radiant Shield with jealousy. But the male tank already received a shield a while ago. Thus, he didn¡¯t fight for it, smiling at Silver Blade as he handed the sword over. The young woman didn¡¯t pretend. She grinned happily as she equipped her new weapon. ¡°Great, with this we have more assurance for the final boss fight.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go guys! Let¡¯s clear the dungeon!¡± ¡°We got this!¡± Everyone was in high spirits, eager to put another achievement under their belt. The party bantered with each other as they grabbed the second finger and went back to the statue, gathering in front of it. Silver Blade took a deep breath as she was about to retrieve the two fingers. Cyclone and Balm subtly looked away. ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡±, interrupted Fortune. The content creator naturally couldn¡¯t let such a moment go uncommented. She distanced herself, looking for a great angle. Eventually she was satisfied, speaking in a dramatic voice: ¡°The party finally gathered the severed fingers of the misfortunate nephilim. Now it was time. Only a single door separated us and the dungeon¡¯s boss, Reylar!¡± Recognizing the situation, Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge turned their bodies left and right, seeking to present themselves in the best light. Silent Acacia and Quickstep tapped their feet impatiently. Cyclone and Balm still avoided the scene. While Silver Blade, Liam, and Watchful Eye stoically waited for Fortune to finish. Finally, she smiled, giving a thumbs up to Silver Blade. The young woman didn¡¯t delay any longer. She took out the two fingers, holding them close to the statue¡¯s palm. Suddenly a red light enveloped them. The fingers spun, levitating in the air, slowly approaching the statue. A few seconds later they returned to their natural spots, looking out of place on the stone hand. The red glow around the fingers increased, growing over the palm. It became blinding, forcing the party to avert their eyes. Suddenly it separated, shooting at the large door up front. Black, viscous chains appeared, melting under the searing red light. A click could be heard a few moments later, signaling that the obstacles had been cleared as the red light died down. ¡°Is that it? Can we fight the boss now?¡± Cyclone looked at the ominous door, two parts eager, one part apprehensive. ¡°Friends, are our preparations sufficient?¡± ¡°My blade is ready!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get the first clear, for the young lady!¡± ¡°I told you¡­ ahh never mind.¡± Liam felt the tense atmosphere. He contemplated whether to tell his friends to curb their high expectations but decided against it. They would learn for themselves that a dungeon boss is not something which can be defeated at first try. Thus, the party gathered before the door with wildly beating hearts. Under everyone¡¯s stares Silver Blade solemnly pushed it open. Suddenly a howling storm shook the entire dungeon. The party was caught unprepared, pushed into the boss room. ¡°Hey, hey, hey! I wasn¡¯t ready!¡± ¡°Damn, I thought we can take a look at the boss first¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what the game wants to prevent.¡± ¡°Unfair!¡± The party discussed animatedly as they scanned their surroundings. They found themselves in a spacious hall. Hellfire burned in patches, creating an eerie atmosphere. Yet the air was still cold, with a metallic taste to it. Cyclone scrunched her face as she swiped her eyes over the strange blobs of sticky, black liquid scattered throughout the room. Silver Blade focused on a large altar towards the back, depicting a demonic grimace. She recognized it as Refresnim¡¯s devilish face. [Knowledge+1] Silver Blade was taken aback, messaging Liam with a question. [Silver Blade: I just gained a point of Knowledge, what¡¯s going on?] [Bleary Mirage: Good job. You probably interfered something from a lore book.] [Silver Blade: That¡¯s a thing? What use does it have?] [Bleary Mirage: It¡¯s not overly important. But it can help with some quests and relationships.] Silver Blade wanted to ask more, but a crisp sound drew everyone¡¯s attention. The party had to look around for a bit before finding a large black cocoon hanging from the high ceiling, above the altar. Cracks could be vaguely made out on its surface. They grew longer and longer until the cocoon suddenly broke apart. A large swath of viscous black liquid came out of the cocoon, only barely revealing a living person within. They landed with a thud, sending a tremor through the floor, the black liquid oozing into the ground. The person took a dramatic pause before standing up, staring calmly at the party. It was an original nephilim, wearing thick black armor over their pitch-black skin. His eyes emitted serene confidence, his clam demeanor contrasted by the two hooked, bloodstained spears in his hands. The man was almost three meters tall, his glorious wings spanning more than four meters. Surprisingly one of his wings was still pristinely white. ¡°I¡­ have succeeded!¡± The man, obviously Reylar, spoke in a demonic voice, soundings as if two people spoke at the same time. Meanwhile, black lines, wiggling like tentacles spread from his body, connecting to the various dark blobs scattered in the room. The party would¡¯ve liked to intervene, but they were forced by the game to stand and watch. Reylar tilted his head upwards, reveling in the feeling of a powerful body. ¡°You did well, coming here. We original nephilim are united in our glorious ancestry. We all seek to reawaken our powers, forcing the world to pay the price for underestimating us. Come children, pray to Refresnim and he shall revive our glory!¡± Cyclone scanned the disgusting scene, looking at the blood at the walls and the strange black liquid. ¡°Ew, no thanks.¡± Silver Blade turned her head in surprise. She hadn¡¯t realized that they could talk again. But with Cyclone¡¯s words, Reylar immediately lost his patience. ¡°Foolish children! Did you come on the behest of those holy nephilim?! Traitors! Just wait. If you don¡¯t want to acknowledge your noble birth, I will force you to!¡± With those words dark energy gathered around Reylar. It subtly tried to climb up his white wing, but a holy glow kept it at bay. Thus, the energy engulfed Reylar¡¯s spears, now pointed at the party, sending chills down their spines. Chapter 59: Reylar’s skills With the fight about to start, Silver Blade naturally first inspected the opponent. [Reylar, the devilish nephilim Rank: Boss Level: 9 HP: 1.000.000/10.000 Skill 1: ??? Skill 2: ??? Skill 3: ???] ¡°Huh? What¡¯s up with those HP?¡± ¡°This can¡¯t be right.¡± ¡°There needs to be a trick behind it.¡± Naturally it wasn¡¯t difficult to figure out. Silent Acacia pointed at the dark liquid blobs. ¡°Destroy those first!¡± Everyone agreed readily. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield cautiously approached Reylar, planning to hold the boss back, while the rest swarmed out to destroy the blobs. Boom! An explosion shook the room. Everyone stopped in their tracks, staring at Cyclone who had just destroyed the first blob from a distance. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Reylar growled angrily, smashing his two spears against the ground. A wave of dark magic travelled along the floor, aiming for Cyclone. ¡°Oh no! Dodge!¡± Silver Blade was too slow, not able to intercept the attack. Cyclone felt her chest tighten. But she was quite a distance away from Reylar, giving her enough time to step to the side. Unfortunately, Quickstep stood in the line between the mage and the boss. Expecting the skill to target Cyclone, she was too late to evade, getting hit directly. [-222!] Quickstep drew a sharp breath as she lost nearly half her HP from a single attack. ¡°Careful guys! Don¡¯t attack randomly!¡± Radiant Shield and Silver Blade showed grave expression as they neared Reylar. A subconscious pressure barreled down on them, dampening their movement. ¡°That looks like a magic attack, let me block it!¡±, announced Silver Blade. But Radiant Shield had some doubts: ¡°Should we even block it? Maybe it is better for the others to evade.¡± ¡°You got a point.¡± While the two tank were still discussing, Reylar was already turning towards them. He raised his spears and swung them at Radiant Shield. [Stance -13] [Stance -8] The burly warrior¡¯s body trembled, air almost leaving his lungs. ¡°Damn, looks like it¡¯s a mix of magical and physical damage again.¡± ¡°Everyone! Careful!¡± Silent Acacia realized that none of the melee attackers dared to get near the blobs after the earlier explosion, thus taking things into his own hands. He fired an arrow, followed by another deafening explosion. Right after, Reylar turn his way with murderous eyes, ready to kill. ¡°Don¡¯t stand in the way!¡± The young thief warned his teammates as he saw a wave of dark magic coming towards him like a predator in the night. He watched with relief as nobody stood in the way, dodging effortlessly with a few light steps. The wave continued for a bit before crashing into the wall. ¡°Good job!¡± ¡°That¡¯s it!¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Fortune felt encouraged by Silent Acacia¡¯s ease, destroying the next blob. At this moment the two tanks wore solemn faces as Reylar raised his saber for another attack. But when an explosion reached their ears, he stopped his movements, focusing on Fortune. ¡°He stopped!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the strategy! We need to keep him occupied!¡± As the party continued to destroy the blobs, they gradually figured out more tricks. But implementing them was still difficult. Reylar managed to get two more attacks in, putting heavy pressure on Silver Blade and Radiant Shield. However, after a few moments the blobs were finally destroyed. ¡°Phew, done! I hope we can fight normally now!¡± The party watched carefully as Reylar¡¯s connections with the black liquid broke. ¡°You! Why are you resisting?! I won¡¯t kill you!¡± The powerful nephilim growled as the black color on his skin surged like a stormy sea. He gritted his teeth, stabbing one of his spears into the floor. The dark energy around his weapons retreated, gathering on his now empty hand and morphing into a viscous dark liquid. He raised his disgusting hand, swinging it towards Silver Blade. Liam couldn¡¯t help but shout a warning: ¡°Don¡¯t block! Dodge!¡± Silver Blade was just about to raise her shield when she reacted instinctively, evading backwards. [Stance -8] The liquid landed on the ground, melting off a layer of stone. ¡°Thanks!¡± Silver Blade was glad not to get doused by the disgusting attack. But Reylar¡¯s movements didn¡¯t cease yet. His other spear, now without the dark energy engulfing it, hacked towards Radiant Shield. The tank gritted his teeth. Surmising that this was a physical attack, he took a step to the side, welcoming the saber with his shield. [Stance -10] ¡°My stance is almost used up!¡±, informed the tank gravely. ¡°Damn, the fight didn¡¯t even start yet!¡± ¡°Hurry up, guys!¡± Liam waved his sword, rallying the party to attack. His weapon cut through the air, reaching Reylar¡¯s stomach. [-41!] Bloody Edge entered stealth, sneaking behind the boss. His eyes were focused on the part where both wings met, having already figured out this weak point of the nephilim. With a quick flourish of his dagger, he stabbed precisely. But not only did the expected critical hit not occur, Bloody Edge was even unable to land a normal attack. Holy and dark magic combined below his dagger, showing signs of conflict yet forming a shield. A small explosion followed, throwing the thief backwards. [-100!] ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Bloody Edge shouted indignantly as he dragged up his body from the floor. Balm looked around in concern, asking Silver Blade: ¡°Should I heal once?¡± ¡°Yes. Heal Quickstep.¡± ¡°Why not me?¡±, complained Bloody Edge. ¡°You¡¯re a thief, learn to dodge!¡± Bloody Edge rolled his eyes but didn¡¯t continue to argue. A green magic fell on Quickstep, bringing her back to full HP. ¡°Thanks guys!¡± With Bloody Edge¡¯s failed attempt, the melees didn¡¯t manage to do a lot of damage. But a moment later the ranged attackers were ready. Cyclone waved her magical weapon, eager to let everyone marvel at her prowess. But¡­ [-31!] The blond woman rolled her eyes as her damage was once again below Liam¡¯s. Naturally Fortune and Balm weren¡¯t much better off. Reylar appeared to have a mocking look in his eyes as his saber aimed for Radiant Shield. The tank knew that his stance was running low, bracing for the damage. [-46!] ¡°Looks like you can hold on for a while.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Subsequently the fight entered a routine of attacking and being attacked. The party began using their skills, only saving their controlling skills for critical moments. Soon, Reylar dropped more than a thousand HP. ¡°Why continue to struggle? Let me show you true bliss!¡± The boss spoke angrily as black liquid gathered towards him. It covered his body, shielding him but also forcing him to stand in place. Cyclone threw another probing attack, dealing a pitiful damage of 1. Recognizing that the boss was about to pull off a big move, the party retreated wisely in advance, keeping their eyes focused on Reylar. Suddenly Balm frowned, perceiving a movement behind her. She turned around, looking at a patch of black liquid. It whirled left and right, eventually concentrating towards the center, forming a strange figure. Standing upright it barely reached Balm¡¯s waist. It had a sticky body surface, with claws for hands. Even without a face it emitted a strange bloodlust. ¡°Ew, guys! What¡­ what is that?¡± When Balm¡¯s question reached the party, they looked around the room, finding dozens such figures rising from the ground. [Liquid Puppet Rank: common Level: 5 HP: 1/1] ¡°We¡¯re surrounded¡­¡±, Silver Blade¡¯s voice was stern, contemplating how to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, the puppets already moved towards the party, their steps slow but threatening. The ranged classes quickly began to fire. The puppets fell one by one, but they were just too many. Soon, they came into attack range. Everyone did their best to dodge hastily. But within the narrow space the party found it difficult to maneuver. While running into each other they also had no time to get in attacks of their own. Eventually Silver Blade waved her sword: ¡°Forget dodging, guys! Attack them!¡± The others nodded, swinging their weapons. After a few seconds they glanced at Quickstep, who managed to open up some space. ¡°Hey, tell us your strategy!¡±, exclaimed Cyclone. ¡°It¡¯s my sword¡¯s effect! Finally, it proves useful!¡± [Saber of the blue tide Category: Uncommon Effect 2: Every attack deals splash damage of 0,5%(PDMG) water damage.] Although the damage caused as splash damage was low, it was a great counter to the many puppets. Seeing this, Cyclone hit her own forehead. ¡°How could I forget this!¡± With a grin she took out a small dark sphere. She was just about to throw it when Liam hastily stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t! Save them!¡± ¡°Why?¡±, asked the mage reluctantly. Liam opened his mouth, but he didn¡¯t know what to say. Telling the party now that they won¡¯t be able to defeat the boss would be a heavy blow to morale. Fortunately, Cyclone complied, nevertheless. Thus, the party continued fighting the puppets arduously. However, with this strategy the puppets were able to chip away at everyone¡¯s health bar little by little. Soon, Bloody Edge was close to death. He sighed, knowing that Liam wouldn¡¯t allow him to use a health potion. Luckily, just before the thief was about to die, the liquid surrounding Reylar surged wildly. It spun, forming a languid whirlpool, a suction force suddenly affecting the puppets. Those stopped in place before helplessly being dragged towards Reylar and dissolving into the whirlpool. Chapter 60: Liam takes the lead Silver Blade squinted her eyes staring at the whirlpool surrounding Reylar. With each puppet absorbed it grew higher and higher, emitting a power which began to shake the room. ¡°Is the skill not over yet?¡± ¡°What evil is brewing over there?¡± ¡°This skill looks quite fierce¡­¡± Everyone felt the air getting heavy. Suddenly dust fell from the ceiling. Watchful Eye frowned as his instincts tingled, directing his gaze upwards. ¡°Guys, the ceiling is breaking!¡± Just as the tall man spoke, irregular outlines appeared on the floor. With their experience so far, the party understood that those marked danger. But it was still difficult to react quickly. A rumble echoed through the room as large bricks, as tall as a dwarf¡¯s height, crashed from the ceiling. The party was forced to scatter, some throwing their bodies to the floor in an effort to evade. ¡°Ouh!¡± Fortune groaned as a boulder landed on her leg. Fortunately, the game allowed her to pull her leg out, but the damage was considerable. [-120!] A few seconds later the room stabilized. The party members let out sighs of relive. But suddenly Silver Blade spoke in an anxious voice: ¡°Guys, the boss is not done yet! Watch out!¡± ¡°Hide behind the boulders!¡±, advised Liam hastily. At this moment the whirlpool surrounding Reylar suddenly exploded. Black liquid splashed in all directions. Most of the party took cover behind one of the boulders. But Bloody Edge had dodged too hastily earlier. He was too far from the boulders, getting hit directly. [Player Bloody Edge has died!] ¡°So quick?¡± ¡°My friend, you were too young to die!¡± The party didn¡¯t harp long on the thief¡¯s death as Reylar came into view again, panting heavily. A quick check showed that he was in a weakened state. ¡°Great! Let¡¯s attack!¡± Moving rapidly, the party got in two rounds of attacks, taking almost one thousand HP. When Reylar recovered, his eyes contained an ever-increasing coldness, staring at the party with hatred. ¡°I see clearly now! You can¡¯t understand my aspirations! You don¡¯t comprehend the power of light and darkness!¡± The nephilim spoke with a twisted voice, his spear swinging at Radiant Shield. [-76!] Only a moment later he waved his other hand. Silver Blade recognized this move, noticing the dark liquid separating from Reylar¡¯s palm. But Radiant Shield stood too close. The two tanks couldn¡¯t change places in time, forcing Radiant Shield to suffer. [-50!] x8 Balm drew a sharp breath as she watched her tank losing HP at an alarming rate. She hastily casted another [Heal]. Radiant Shield wiped the sweat from his forehead after being back at full health. A few more seconds passed before Reylar slammed his saber onto the floor, causing a shockwave which pushed everyone back, unable to resist. ¡°Revel in the beauty of darkness!¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. As the nephilim spoke, the black color on his body wiggled, showing signs of growing along his white wing, but not yet succeeding. Meanwhile, the party was forced to dodge again as patches of black liquid were attracted back to Reylar. Multiple people were hit unprepared. Quickstep and Watchful Eye lost huge chunks of HP. [Player Cyclone died.] [Player Silent Acacia died.] ¡°What? Why so suddenly?¡± ¡°Babe¡­¡± The party was shocked as they lost two strong damage dealers. ¡°Should we end the fight?¡±, asked Silver Blade with a sigh. The others had varying opinions. Some wanted to fight to the end, some wanted to restart. Liam hastily intercepted: ¡°Let¡¯s observe this skill before restarting.¡± The others agreed, watching Reylar who prepared a large amount of black liquid above his hand. It swayed left and right, gradually separating into two groups. One of them suddenly turned into fiercely burning black flames while the other turned into bone-chilling, cold, black ice. ¡°Huh, you can do this?¡±, asked Balm jokingly, less tense since the decision had been made. Unfortunately, Reylar wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk to her, raising his hand slowly. Projectiles of ice and fire separated, shooting in high arcs, covering the whole room. The party didn¡¯t move, discussing the skill. ¡°Do you notice something?¡±, asked Liam calmly. ¡°The attacks are denser behind the boulders.¡±, said Watchful Eye. ¡°Right!¡± Liam was pleasantly surprised, glancing at the tall bodyguard. He might have to reevaluate the man. An eye for detail was a quality trait to have in a party. With Watchful Eye¡¯s reminder the others noticed this fact as well. They subtly moved towards those dense attacks, suiciding one by one. When Reylar¡¯s skill ended only the two tanks and Liam remained. But they didn¡¯t resist much longer and were sent back to the dungeon entrance as well. Once more the party gathered in the small room. Fortunately no one appeared disheartened, discussing the boss fight calmly. They dissected Reylar¡¯s skills, arguing how to position themselves in each case. After a few minutes the conversation died down. Everyone was ready to take on the nephilim again. But at this moment, Silver Blade suddenly turned towards Bleary Mirage. ¡°Mirage, I think it¡¯s time for you to work for your money.¡± Liam raised his brows. Although Silver Blade spoke in a joking voice, a serious undertone could be heard. Thus, Liam answered calmly: ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± ¡°I want you to lead us this time. I want to beat the boss.¡± ¡°I can naturally lead. But it¡¯s also beneficial for you guys to get familiar with dungeon mechanics.¡± ¡°We can do so another time. This dungeon is too important for me.¡± ¡°Alright. You¡¯re the boss.¡± Liam stopped arguing. He adjusted his mindset, taking it as a challenge to lead a few rookies through a boss fight. The veteran took a deep breath, straightening his back. The others could perceive a change in demeanor looking at him. Suddenly a faint aura came from Bleary Mirage. It originated from his unshakable confidence, from being an undefeatable king. The room quieted down instinctively as everyone watched Bleary Mirage. ¡°You heard Silver Blade, guys. If we want to kill the boss, listen to my commands. In a serious raid, you follow the leader to a tee. If I say jump, you jump! Understood?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The others answered solemnly, but the atmosphere was destroyed when a low thud was heard. It was Cyclone who jumped on the spot. Noticing the others looking at her the blond woman had obvious difficulties with suppressing her laughter. Liam¡¯s eye twitched. He had experienced people being fired for such pulling such stunts. Fortunately, they were no professional team. He glossed over it, signaling the party to leave. At this point the party could finish the way up to the boss with closed eyes, even without Liam¡¯s lead. Soon, they crossed the door, finding Reylar back in a cocoon hanging from the ceiling. The cocoon cracked slowly. ¡°Ranged fighters, scatter through the room. Melees, encircle Reylar. Ranged, stagger your attacks and call out before destroying a blob. Keep Reylar occupied. Melees, attack freely and keep an ear on the calls, be sure to dodge!¡± Everyone felt the brewing tension as they made sure to follow instructions. A moment later Reylar dropped from the ceiling. He gave a short speech before the fight began. ¡°I attack!¡± Cyclone¡¯s shout came first from the left. An explosion shook the room. When Reylar raised his spears covered in dark energy, Quickstep realized that she stood in the way, hastily evading. A wave of black energy travelled along the floor. But with this much time, Cyclone was able to dodge leisurely. ¡°Nicely done!¡± The party praised Cyclone and Quickstep as they set a positive example. But this time Liam didn¡¯t let them off: ¡°Less talking, more attacking! Why are you being lazy? We are missing out on damage!¡± Instantly the party shut up as the melee fighters swung their weapons. ¡°From the back!¡± Silent Acacia called out his position before destroying the next blob. Reylar¡¯s next attack already played in Liam¡¯s mind. He knew that it would be Bloody Edge¡¯s and Radiant Shield¡¯s turn to dodge. He reminded them as a precaution: ¡°Edge, dodge left! Shield, dodge right!¡± With their leader¡¯s order the two men showed no hesitation as they dodged, allowing Reylar¡¯s attack to travel into the distance. A second later the boss gritted his teeth, staring angrily at the pesky flies around him. He raised his spears high. ¡°Where is the next attack?! Hurry up!¡± Balm flinched as Liam¡¯s serious voice reached her. ¡°F¡­ from the back!¡± Fortunately, just before Reylar could bring his spears down, Balm destroyed the next blob, distracting the boss. This phase of the fight went on for a short while. Liam kept vigilant at all times, directing his party¡¯s moves meticulously. Blob after blob got destroyed until Reylar eventually lost all connections. Silver Blade was surprised when she checked out the boss a moment later. [Reylar, the devilish nephilim Rank: Boss Level: 9 HP: 9.142/10.000] ¡°So the damage done remains¡­¡± The others smiled wryly, feeling foolish for not considering this. ¡°No time to speak! Attack!¡± Liam¡¯s stern shout woke them up. They flinched, swinging their weapons quickly. Chapter 61: A tough fight Under Liam¡¯s lead the party was unrelenting. Reylar barely got two attacks in before losing another 600HP. The boss yelled angrily, gathering the black liquid to shield himself. ¡°Scatter through the room guys! Everyone of you will be attacked by liquid puppets. Kill those close to you first. Quickstep, see if you can kill through them quicker to take some pressure off others. Cyclone, only throw a bomb if I say so!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Liam rolled his eyes as Cyclone was just short of giving him a military salute. A moment later the party was scattered throughout the room, looking at the wiggling black liquid with tense faces. Slowly, liquid puppets stood up. But to everyone¡¯s surprise the puppets didn¡¯t automatically attack the person closest to them. Their target selection was random, sometimes forcing them to cross the entire room. This gave the party members some time to deal with the incoming threats one by one. Quickstep now understood Liam¡¯s instructions, attacking proactively and even killing puppets which didn¡¯t target her. Suddenly the boss¡¯s skill wasn¡¯t scary anymore. Even Balm didn¡¯t find it difficult to kill the puppets, always focusing on the closest one. A few seconds later the dozens of puppets had all vanished. ¡°Good job!¡± The party couldn¡¯t help but celebrate. And this time Liam didn¡¯t stop them as they had a few seconds of rest while the whirlpool around Reylar grew towards the ceiling. The room shook heavily, dust gliding from the ceiling. ¡°Come on guys! Gather around Reylar!¡± Liam¡¯s voice barely reached his friends as they complied despite their doubts. A moment later rocks fell from the ceiling, all of them far away from the boss, posing no danger. The black whirlpool trembled, roaring angrily, sending chills down everyone¡¯s spine. It soon reached a peak. But suddenly it deflated like an empty shell, with the liquid collapsing into a puddle below Reylar¡¯s feet. ¡°Attack!¡± The party had no time to think as their leader urged them. Reylar was in a weakened state. No time could be wasted. [-82!] Liam watched his damage, doing calculations in his head. He urged everyone to use their skills. Terrifyingly the boss lost almost two thousand HP. ¡°Wow, did we do this?¡± Only Cyclone was still in the mood to joke despite the tense fight, something her friends appreciated about her. But they had no time to comment as Reylar began moving again. The nephilim fletched his teeth angrily, hacking mindlessly with his spear. Radiant Shield and Silver Blade knew what to expect. The male tank quickly blocked the weapon before taking a step back. Immediately after, a black liquid was thrown from Reylar¡¯s hand, which Silver Blade blocked calmly. [-18!] x4 Surprisingly the liquid still dealt damage through the tank¡¯s shield. But Liam hadn¡¯t said anything as Silver Blade was still the best candidate to tank it. However, the others showed stronger surprise than Bleary Mirage expected, thus he quickly explained: ¡°Get used to it. In the future strong opponents will deal some damage despite your dodges or blocks.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Got it.¡± The others nodded, keeping this advice in mind. Meanwhile Reylar breathed heavily, his face increasingly grimacing. He smashed his weapon against the floor, pushing the party back with a shockwave. ¡°Don¡¯t gather behind the rocks! Keep your eyes open and dodge! When you¡¯re confident, try to get attacks in!¡± Liam quickly shouted commands as fire and ice began raining down on the party. Meanwhile the veteran was next to Reylar again as if he had never left, swinging his sword. Fire and ice crashed around him, but he evaded them with perfect movement. The other warriors planned to approach the boss as well. Their eyes involuntarily fell on Liam, skipping a breath. ¡°Such¡­ perfect movement¡­¡±, mumbled Quickstep. Even as an experienced pro she had seldom seen such a performance. Especially without training it beforehand. The others noticed something amiss as well. When they looked at Liam, they couldn¡¯t help but slow down as if in trance. At the same time Liam was zoned in. He didn¡¯t pay attention to the party, his single-minded focus on Reylar. Watching Bleary Mirage, some of the party members were too distracted, even getting hit by Reylar¡¯s skill. Only the high damage number woke them up, sending a chill down their spines. Fortunate trembled faintly; her breath hot. She realized that this was a perfect moment for her video. Countless people might analyze and learn from those perfects movements. Maybe I should blur Mirage¡¯s face? Let people guess who this mysterious pro is? She couldn¡¯t hold back her grin as she imagined a bright future. A few seconds later Reylar¡¯s skill ended. Liam came out of his zone, satisfied with his performance. But when he looked at Reylar¡¯s HP, he frowned. ¡°Guys, why did you do so little damage? Didn¡¯t I tell you to attack while dodging?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this your fault?¡±, mumbled Cyclone. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Nothing! My bad!¡± Liam shook his head. ¡°Whatever, just concentrate!¡± While Liam was admonishing the group, he simultaneously approached the two tanks. Reylar growled, raising his spear and continuing to attack. At this point the rotation started from the beginning. After Reylar circled through his two skills again, he was soon down to two thousand HP. Meanwhile the party members were still rather healthy despite taking a few scratches from the liquid puppets. However, with health potions and heals this posed no danger. ¡°Keep it up!¡± ¡°He¡¯ll die soon!¡± While the party members shouted encouragements, Reylar¡¯s body trembled. ¡°Why? Why persist? Why I¡¯m I so weak?! I refuse to accept this!¡± The nephilim had wide open eyes, tumbling backwards. He held his head, his face contorted in pain. At this moment Watchful Eye pointed towards the back of the room, where Refresnim¡¯s face was depicted: ¡°What is happening there?¡± The others followed his finger, watching as the devilish face moved slowly, forming a grin. Whispers in a twisted, ancient language began to spread in the room. Despite knowing that it was the ancient langue of devils, even Liam wasn¡¯t able to understand the words. However, Reylar was obviously affected. ¡°Power? Of course I want power! I want to remind everyone of the nephilim¡¯s glory! Take whatever you need!¡± Reylar spoke with a crazy expression, his eyeballs rolling chaotically. Suddenly the black color on his body came to life. It pressed against his white wing. As Reylar gave up resistance it soon gained the upper hand, devouring the white wing. Reylar froze in place. For a moment silence fell onto the room. But then a grin formed on Reylar¡¯s face, vicious and mocking. ¡°So, this is the power I have been longing for. Come, I will show you!¡± Reylar¡¯s voice eerily echoed from the surrounding walls, sounding as if spoken in two languages at the same time. Cyclone didn¡¯t hold back anymore and attacked once. [-1!] ¡°Again?¡± ¡°No need to attack.¡±, explained Liam. ¡°We only need to hold on for one minute!¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Suddenly Reylar disappeared from his position. ¡°Watchful Eye! Careful!¡± Fortunately, the vigilant bodyguard already began moving. Even without Liam¡¯s warning he noticed the black shadow next to him. However, this wasn¡¯t all. More shadows appeared, beginning to attack the party at irregular intervals. [Player Bloody Edge died.] [Player Balm died.] Radiant Shield was hit as well, losing a huge chunk of HP. But at this point Liam wasn¡¯t worried anymore. After all it was enough if a single person survived. And he was still there! Reylar pulled a few more tricks, throwing black liquid, raining down dark fire, putting pressure on the party. Even Quickstep miss stepped, dying as she was hit by the black liquid. But the dense attacks stopped after one more minute. The party members panted heavily as Reylar reappeared in the room¡¯s center. He looked emaciated, the black color losing its luster. His face appeared weak and without energy, his skin wrinkly. ¡°Whyyy¡­¡± Sadness escaped his throat, bundling in one mournful cry, echoing through heaven and hell, bemoaning the fate of all nephilim. At this moment the devilish face behind him grinned, showing signs of separating from the wall. ¡°So, this is it. I have been tricked! NO! How dare you play with me Refresnim?!¡± Suddenly Reylar straightened his body. The black color was slowly being pushed back, giving him a half-holy half-dark appearance. A cold, mocking whisper could be heard, which even the players understood: ¡°Are you breaking our contract?¡± Reylar answered with a swing of his spear. Suddenly blinding, holy energy erupted. Stinging, it forced everyone to avert their eyes as it shot at Refresnim¡¯s face. The black liquid all over the room receded, leaving Reylar¡¯s body. It surged towards the devil¡¯s face before disappearing together with him. When the party members opened their eyes again, they only found Reylar dead on the floor, clad in a gorgeous white armor and with a pair of holy wings. Cyclone looked at the boss with a puzzled expression: ¡°So, what happened?¡± Liam gazed at Cyclone, speaking solemnly: ¡°You might see in the future. A devil¡¯s contract isn¡¯t so easily broken.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, dummy! I wondered if we got the first clear?¡± Chapter 62: A devil’s trick ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, dummy! I wondered if we got the first clear?¡± Cyclone¡¯s question lingered in the air, leaving Liam with an odd expression. Suddenly laughter broke out, loud and free. It was a mix of relief, delight, and amusement. Liam also shook his head with a smile. But the party suddenly shut up as the announcement they longed for finally appeared before their eyes. [Congratulations on achieving the first clear of a level 5-10 dungeon. >Achieved in: Reylar¡¯s Curse<] [Your accomplishment is worthy of being remembered.] [You can choose to name your team or stay anonymous.] [Congratulations on achieving the first clear of Reylar¡¯s Curse.] [Your accomplishment is worthy of being remembered.] ¡°We did it!¡± With confirmation in front of them, the party cheered. Cyclone and Balm jumped around excitedly. Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge spoke gibberish. Watchful Eye nodded stoically. Liam, Quickstep and Silent Acacia smiled faintly. Fortune cheered before commenting form the side. Only Silver Blade stood in place, her body trembling, close to tears. The faces of her parents flashed before her mind. This is it! My first step! I have taken the lead in the fight for succession! Suddenly the young woman snapped out of it as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She glanced to the side, meeting Liam¡¯s eyes. ¡°Liam¡­ thank you! Truly!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. You hired us, after all.¡±, answered Liam with a wink. Not far away Balm and Cyclone stopped jumping as their eyes fell on the duo. They stuck their heads together, whispering: ¡°Did you hear this?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°Who is Liam?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Silver Blade is your friend! It will be your mission to find out!¡± ¡°What do you think? Is the expert some rich second generation?¡± Fortunately, Liam didn¡¯t notice the two girls gossiping as he was occupied with the announcement. ¡°So I will name the team Colville Construction, just as previously discussed. Alright?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± ¡°Great. Should we make the announcement now?¡± ¡°Is there any advantage in delaying?¡± ¡°Not really. Only if you need to make some real world preparations. Or you want to wait for Star Gazer to clear the dungeon and look at his face when he doesn¡¯t get the first clear notice.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t this be too mean?¡±, asked Silver Blade with a frown. But Liam only answered with a shrug of his shoulders. Such a move could be considered tame compared to what he has watched rivaling gamers pull off. ¡°I think it is alright to make the announcement now.¡± ¡°You heard her C.¡± [¡­] [Server Announcement:] [Please congratulate team Colville Constructions on being the first to achieve the first clear of a level 5-10 dungeon. >Achieved in: Reylar¡¯s Curse<] Simultaneously two other notifications appeared before all the party members.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. [Accomplished achievement: First step on a long path.] [Received title: Forerunner] [Effect: Gain one extra life.] [You have cleared a dungeon before all others. No time to rest.] [Accomplished achievement: Reylar¡¯s retribution] [Received title: Cursebreaker] [Effect: Gain an extra 5% defense against dark magic.] [Refresnim will remember you.] Meanwhile the outside world was suddenly thrown in chaos. TV and radio stations interrupted their shows to play the breaking news. Even people who had no time to watch got to know what happened per word of mouth. Suddenly only a single topic was discussed on the street and the web. Some lavish people even called their friends on other planets, comparing Falva Star¡¯s progress to the rest of the federation. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it, they were so fast!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Star Gazer say he needed five days?¡± ¡°Do you think Star Gazer got the first clear?¡± ¡°The team is called Colville Constructions, of course it was Star Gazer¡¯s doing!¡± ¡°But doesn¡¯t Colville Constructions belong to his uncle or something?¡± ¡°Tzz. What do you know? It¡¯s said they have long tried to get their hands on the company. Maybe they succeeded.¡± ¡°Hiss. Are you suicidal? Airing the Colville Family¡¯s dirty laundry in public?!¡± Will some people were speculating, the business world focused on something else. ¡°Damn, Colville pulled a brilliant move!¡± ¡°Yeah, look at all the advertisement! It¡¯s on every channel!¡± ¡°That¡¯s worth millions, insane!¡± ¡°My employees advised me to advertise in games, but I never took it seriously before.¡± ¡°Wow, you missed out!¡± ¡°No, I agreed. Brb, requesting some reports!¡± ¡°Hahaha, guess someone is working overtime today!¡± ¡°I can feel a massive shift incoming.¡± ¡°Yeah guys, invest early.¡± However, the party didn¡¯t know yet that they dominated the conversations throughout Falva Star and beyond. They were gradually stopping their celebrations, turning their gazes towards Reylar. Cyclone rubbed her hands as she approached the skinny corpse. A few moments later she had a blue shimmer in hand, but her face was puzzled. ¡°Why is it level 10?¡± ¡°Reylar will only drop level 10 items. But don¡¯t worry, after getting out of here we will level up.¡± Liam¡¯s explanation doused the blond woman¡¯s enthusiasm. She stuffed all the loot in her inventory, planning to distribute it later. ¡°Are we leaving now?¡±, asked Silver Blade with a look at Bleary Mirage. ¡°I still have a small surprise prepared for you.¡± ¡°Really? What is it?¡± If you want, we can fight a hidden boss.¡± Liam¡¯s words grabbed everyone¡¯s attention. A hidden boss usually meant a lot of rare loot. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With a laugh, the veteran turned around and approached the wall formerly hidden by the devil¡¯s face. Only now did the other party members notice that a door made from thick metal bars had been revealed there. In the dim light a single display could be seen behind, with a small gem on top of it. Liam pulled out the black key he received in the hidden prayer room, putting it into the lock. With a click the door sprang open. Cyclone brushed past Liam, quickly taking the gem with a grin. [Refresnim¡¯s panacea Category: Legendary Effect: Heals all curses in the world Refresnim, greatest of all devils, nearly almighty, created this gem for the case of Reylar¡¯s success. You are seeing right, mortal! There is not a single lie in these words! What do you mean you don¡¯t believe me?] At first Cyclone¡¯s couldn¡¯t believe her eyes, her breath turning hot, fingers trembling. But after reading the item¡¯s description she felt skeptical, eyeing Bleary Mirage. ¡°Expert? What¡¯s up with this thing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s naturally Refresnim¡¯s deception. But we can pretend not to have seen it. Let¡¯s go, we should save the holy nephilim outside.¡± ¡°So mean¡­ count me in!¡± The party joked around, no one blaming Liam. Clearly the game wanted them to act like this. Soon, they gathered in front of the statue outside, looking at a clear indention at the man¡¯s chest. ¡°This fight isn¡¯t difficult. Just keep up your attacks. Everyone ready?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Good. Ranged fighters, you can stand behind his back. Tanks, fight from the front. Let¡¯s do this.¡± The party members scattered quickly, looking at Liam with expectant eyes. The latter nodded before placing the gem on the nephilim¡¯s chest. A holy light traveled form the statue¡¯s outstretched palm to its feet. But it was only a flash, a fleeting brilliance. Right after, a cold laughter breezed through the air. Cracks appeared on the statue, a deep unsettling black. Chucks of stone fell off, turning to dust before reaching the ground. The holy nephilim¡¯s face was freed first. ¡°What have you done?¡± Before he could speak anything else the nephilim was devoured by a black color, his face contorted in pain and struggle. A few moments later the stone had disappeared, leaving a tall nephilim with long blond hair, white wings and a slender sword. [Phanret the righteous (possessed) Rank: ??? Level: ??? HP: ???] ¡°You shall pay!¡± The man growled strangely as he flourished his sword. Radiant Shield realized that the battle had started, quickly blocking the first attack. [Stance -10] The rest of the party was ready to fight, but Liam hastily stopped them. ¡°Wait a few seconds. We can only attack when his wings are mostly black!¡± The others were just about to reluctantly lower their weapons when the nephilim¡¯s wings suddenly darkened. Instantly attacks rained down on him. ¡°Little pests!¡± Despite talking to the people behind his back, the nephilim couldn¡¯t turn around. He held his arm before his body. Liam watched closely. Seeing a light flicker on the sword¡¯s tip he hastily warned the tanks. ¡°Don¡¯t block! Jump back diagonally!¡± Unfortunately, the warning was a bit too sudden, causing the two tanks to choose directions poorly. With a swing of the nephilim¡¯s sword, three waves of holy light shoot out in a cone shape, one of them hitting Radiant Shield. [-98!] ¡°Huh, less serious than I thought.¡± ¡°Yeah, because of our race¡¯s resistance to holy damage.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± Silver Blade and Radiant Shield assessed the damage while approaching the holy nephilim again, crashing their shields into him. Suddenly his wings changed again, turning half-black, half-white. Liam realized what was about to come, ordering the two tanks to distance themselves from the opponent. ¡°Feel my¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Chapter 63: Fighting Phanret The party wore awkward expressions as the nephilim interrupted himself, presenting two distinct personalities. But they didn¡¯t have much time to care as the opponent flapped his wings, shooting projectiles of dark energy in all directions. ¡°There are so many!¡± ¡°How are we supposed to dodge this?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move! It¡¯s alright!¡±, calmed Liam his friends. Proving their trust the other party members froze in place, looking at the dark projectiles worriedly. ¡°I won¡¯t let you cause any more damage!¡± Phanret growled angrily as he flapped his wings once more, shooting bullets of holy light. They traveled at incredible speeds, perfectly crashing into the dark bullets and decimating them. Bloody Edge was in stealth not far from the holy nephilim, staring at the scene in puzzlement. He already expected to die at this distance but none of the projectiles ever reached the ground. ¡°Is this really a boss?¡±, asked Cyclone with a chuckle. ¡°What a righteous nephilim. Battling against the devil inside his mind! Friends! We need to assist him!¡± Radiant Shield felt inspired, looking at Phanret with fascinated eyes. His call came at the right moment as the nephilim¡¯s wings were overtaken by darkness again. ¡°I will destroy everything you love!¡± The nephilim spoke with a vicious voice as he landed on the ground, raising his hands above his head. Dark magic gathered, enveloping the entire dungeon in a freezing aura. Liam hastily ordered his teammates: ¡°Quick, quick! Bring out everything! Cyclone, throw all your holy grenades!¡± The others were infected by Mirage¡¯s urgency. They used all their skills, hacking wildly with their weapons. A blinding light erupted as Cyclone began throwing her holy grenades. After the third, Phanret¡¯s casting got interrupted, sending him stumbling. Liam stared at the blond woman in bewilderment: ¡°How many of those grenades do you have?¡± ¡°Hm? About ten more or so?¡± ¡°Wha¡­¡± Liam¡¯s voice became stuck in his throat, in disbelief of Cyclone¡¯s luck. Had he known there were so many grenades he would¡¯ve allowed her to use a few during the boss fight. ¡°How dare all of you fight back?! Do you know what it means to face a devil¡¯s wrath?!¡± ¡°Refresnim! Go back to hell! Your kind doesn¡¯t belong to the land of the living!¡± ¡°Who are you to decide this, nephilim?! You are closer to my kind than many other races. Why resist me?!¡± ¡°You are not going with the times! Us holy nephilim are righteous fighters, close to the gods!¡± As Phanret was arguing with himself, his face suddenly contorted, looking as if he had seen something impossible. ¡°No! How can this be?! Why are you carrying a blessing? Are those disgusting Godspawn playing tricks?! No! No! I don¡¯t! AHH!¡± Patches of brightly burning holy flames gradually appeared on the surface of Phanret¡¯s body. They gave of a comfortable warmth, benevolent towards all of creation. However, the present players, all original nephilim, felt a strange conflict between attraction and disgust.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. This holy flame appeared to be the nemesis of all dark energy. The black color on Phanret¡¯s skin only resisted briefly before melting away, electing shrill screams from the devilish voice. Finally, the holy nephilim stood proudly in the room¡¯s center, his skin a healthy rosy color, his head tilted slightly upwards with a benevolent smile on his face. ¡°Pfff.¡± Suddenly a snort ruined the atmosphere. Cyclone and Balm pressed their hands on their mouths, tears threatening to come out of their eyes. But no one blamed them as the others wore awkward looks as well. No one could avert their eyes from the shining bald head which now appeared before them. ¡°Brave adventurers. The devil has been sent back to hell. I hope this will be a lesson to you, teaching you a devil¡¯s trickery. Nevertheless, you acted with righteous intentions. I thank you for that.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± More laughter escaped Cyclone¡¯s mouth as she glanced at Bleary Mirage. Righteous intentions¡­ sure. Totally didn¡¯t know that gem was fake. Phanret showed a puzzled expression for a moment before ignoring the commotion. ¡°Adventurers, I can see all of you have a righteous heart. It is not your fault for being born with darkness in your bodies. Speak the word and I shall cleanse you of your dark side, welcoming you among the glorious holy nephilim. Together we will serve the gods, assist the godspawn and quell chaos in the world!¡± Listening to the man¡¯s speech, the party was taken aback. Silver Blade frowned as she turned towards Bleary Mirage: ¡°Does he offer us to change races?¡± ¡°Yeah. If you accept, you will become a holy nephilim.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± A discussion immediately broke out. Now that they had a bit of experience in the game, they contemplated the advantages and disadvantages of changing races. Naturally, this brought forth other questions: ¡°Mirage, can we change to other races as well?¡± ¡°Yes, mostly through items. But there are also quests for some special races. For example, vampires.¡± Suddenly Cyclone¡¯s and Balm¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Did you say vampires?¡± ¡°Eh¡­ yes¡­¡± ¡°Balm, did you hear this?¡± ¡°Yes, we can meet vampires! Athletic, pale, handsome¡­¡± ¡°Maybe one of them falls in love with me. But we can¡¯t be together. So he will be torn between biting or forgetting. How romantic¡­¡± ¡°Girls, you¡¯re drooling!¡± Fortune didn¡¯t understand the two girl¡¯s reaction as she reminded them. Luckily Cyclone and Balm snapped out of it, looking not one bit embarrassed. ¡°Fortune! Don¡¯t you wish to be held in the strong arms of¡­¡± *cough* Just as Cyclone wanted to convince the content creator, a loud cough interrupted her. It came from Phanret, who spoke in a stern voice: ¡°All vampiric creatures are but filth! We holy nephilim are the epitome of righteousness. I strongly recommend all of you to let me cleanse the darkness in your bodies.¡± The three mages felt a faint pressure directed at them, prompting them to keep their mouths shut. Thus, Radiant Shield turned towards Bleary Mirage: ¡°Mirage, I might want to try it. Can you recommend a good path for me?¡± ¡°You want to remain a tank, right? Why did you even choose original nephilim in the first place?¡± ¡°I wanted to be a hero, Bloody Edge wanted to be a thief, and Sun¡¯s knight suggested we should all play together.¡± Hearing this, Liam smiled wryly. This was a common story for casual friends but among pro players every decision had to be carefully considered. ¡°I see. Then I would recommend a change. Go down the path of a paladin, a mix of tank and healer. I think it should suit your playstyle.¡± Radiant Shield showed obvious relief as if getting rid of a burden in his heart. ¡°Great. I have loved playing paladin in other games. I won¡¯t disappoint you guys!¡± The party members smiled at Radiant Shield, encouraging him. But Liam noticed that Bloody Edge appeared somewhat stiff. Their eyes met in midair. [Bloody Edge: Hey, Mirage.] [Bleary Mirage: Why are you sending a message?] [Bloody Edge: I don¡¯t want to get the NPC¡¯s attention. He¡¯s scary.] [Bleary Mirage: Understandable. So, what do you want to ask?] [Bloody Edge: Is it possible to become a dark nephilim? I imagine those will be better for thieves?] [Bleary Mirage: I wouldn¡¯t put such high emphasis on races. They have a higher impact on stories than on your character. However, there are classes you can only pick if you belong to certain races.] [Bleary Mirage: Dark nephilim certainly offer advanced thief classes, but it will be more difficult to play as a group. Holy nephilim also have advanced thief classes, following a path of illusions. The decision is yours to make.] Bloody Edge fell silent, reading Mirage¡¯s messages. He looked at the ground, at his black clothes. His thoughts churned. This was a decision between playing for fun or becoming professional. The man glanced at his party members. He remembered the dungeon they had just cleared and the money he would soon earn. He balled his fists as he watched Radiant Shield steeping forward as if in slow motion, approaching Phanret. Subconsciously Bloody Edge took a step as well. A jolt went through his body as he let out a deep breath. Let¡¯s go. I will try my luck! If I fail, I can still join Sun¡¯s Knight in college¡­ Moving quickly, Bloody Edge arrived before the holy nephilim together with Radiant Shield. The two friends looked at each other: ¡°Edge? What are you doing?¡± ¡°Changing my race of course. I received a hint that holy nephilim have strong thieves as well.¡± Before Radiant Shield could ask more, Phanret interrupted the conversation: ¡°So, it is only the both of you? A pity. If anyone else decides to embrace the holy light in the future, come to find me.¡± With those words Phanret held out his hand above the two men¡¯s heads. A golden light erupted. Bloody Edge and Radiant Shield closed their eyes, bracing for the pain. But the game wasn¡¯t unreasonable. It wouldn¡¯t do something like violently stripping the darkness from them. After bathing in a golden shower for a few seconds, black steam sizzled, disappearing beyond the ceiling. Phanret drew back his hand with a satisfied smile, finishing the process. Chapter 64: Players waiting outside Bloody Edge and Radiant Shield carefully opened their eyes. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Did something change?¡± The two friends looked at each other strangely. Suddenly they remembered the games option to hide and show their wings. Two pairs of pristine white wings appeared at the same time, emitting a holy aura. At the same time notifications rushed before their eyes. Liam glanced at the two men dealing with the changes. However, in his opinion, now wasn¡¯t the time to think too deeply about it. Soon, they would reach level ten, allowing them to get their first class specialization, which would reshuffle all their attributes. Thus, Liam addressed the party: ¡°Guys, how about we leave the dungeon first? Let¡¯s get to level 10 first!¡± Bloody Edge and Radiant Shield looked somewhat reluctant but complied. ¡°If our expert says so.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Hey, were did¡­¡± Suddenly Bloody Edge realized that Phanret had mysteriously vanished at some point. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. Maybe you will see him again in the future.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± No one in the party looked particularly concerned about the holy nephilim. A small option had been in the corner of everyone¡¯s view since defeating Reylar, allowing them to leave the dungeon without having to walk all the way back. Accepting it, they found themselves back in Reylar¡¯s temple. A few players lingered around. Noticing the party appearing they suddenly jumped up and scurried outside. Liam watched their actions with a frown while the party approached two holy nephilim soldiers, the only ones still present. Silver Blade walked at the front. But even her high charisma stat was unimportant to the soldiers compared to the fact that two holy nephilim were now among the party. The soldiers showed bright smiles, ignoring everyone as they approached Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge: ¡°Haha, you must be the new brothers! A wise decision! Congratulations!¡± ¡°Such valiant heroes! Righteous hearts! I know you will make it far! By killing that traitor Reylar you have done a great deed!¡± ¡°Here this is your rightful reward!¡± Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge were taken aback by the enthusiasm, automatically grabbing the items stuffed into their hands. Fortunately, the game was kind enough to distribute the rewards fairly among the party. But before they had time to check those out, a commotion could be heard outside. ¡°Are you sure it''s that party?¡± ¡°How would you know?¡± ¡°Come out! Come out! Come out!¡± Loud chanting echoed in the temple, causing the old walls to vibrate and dust to fall off. Silver Blade frowned. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Are they having a party out there?¡± ¡°Celebrating our victorious return?¡± ¡°I guess someone is trying to make trouble for us.¡±, said Liam with an unhappy expression. Discussing amongst each other the party slowly stepped outside, stopping on the temple¡¯s stairs.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Their faces were either frowning or confused as they found a couple hundred players gathered below the temple. When the party appeared, the scene fell silent. Some players looked up with worship while others showed unfriendly faces. Liam squinted his eyes, finding two familiar faces at the front of the crowd. Fat Tiger and Glorious Sunshine. A person whispered something into Fat Tiger¡¯s ears before the chubby man shouted for everyone to hear: ¡°YOU! You still dare to swagger around after offending our Beast Den Guild?!¡± Immediately a murmur went through the crowd. A subtle separation could be seen, revealing the players who were only here for the fun and were suddenly caught up in a confrontation. ¡°What is a Beast Den Guild?¡±, asked Cyclone puzzledly. ¡°Don¡¯t play stupid! You tricked the masses to confront our people! This is abuse! Now the masses are here to take revenge!¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not¡­¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it said that¡­¡± A few insecure voice came form the crowd but feeling the fierce glares of some people around them, they shut up. Liam watched the play, rolling his eyes in boredom. ¡°Just state your mind. What do you want?¡± ¡°Naturally, I want judgem¡­¡± ¡°Brother Tiger¡­¡±, interrupted Glorious Sunshine suddenly. ¡°Why talk so much? Tell us how you beat the dungeon! Or we will make sure to kick you out of the game!¡± ¡°How do they know we cleared the dungeon?¡±, asked Balm quietly. ¡°Because the priest in front of the temple left. It¡¯s no hard evidence but enough to stir some trouble.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°What are you whispering up there?! Have you pissed your pants?¡± ¡°You want to know our secret? Sure! Here it is!¡± Liam grinned brightly as he held up Fiery Tacaria for everyone to see. ¡°I am an honest businessman. This miraculous herb cures burn! Essential in clearing the dungeon! If you want it, I will naturally sell. How about 10 silver per stalk?¡± Below the temple Fat Tiger and Glorious Sunshine didn¡¯t know what to say. No one knew if Liam¡¯s word could be trusted. ¡°Not believing? Catch!¡± Liam spoke with a grin as he threw the herb out, perfectly aiming between his two opponents. Fat Tiger and Glorious Sunshine looked at each other wearily. Suddenly the chubby man made a large step, pushing Sunshine away. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Hm? Said something?¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± Liam grinned as his plan worked. Obviously there was no deep friendship between the two men. As Fat Tiger checked the red herb in his hand, a greedy glint was apparent in his eyes. He focused his gaze on Liam, his thoughts churning. Eventually he couldn¡¯t hold himself back anymore, dropping all pretense. ¡°Alright. Give us all the herbs you have, and we can let you go!¡± Liam scoffed: ¡°Seems your cunning ends where your greed begins.¡± ¡°Seems you don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you¡­¡± ¡°Brother Tiger, let¡¯s stop talking. We came to take revenge and loot today! Let¡¯s attack!¡± ¡°You are right! Let¡¯s go!¡± Suddenly Fat Tiger waved his hand above his head. ¡°Ranged fighters! Attack!¡± ¡°Wh¡­ what?¡± ¡°How did it come to this?!¡± ¡°Mirage, what should we do now?¡± Liam¡¯s party was shaking, staring at the attacks flying towards them like a swarm of birds. But the veteran smiled confidently: ¡°What should we do? Distribute our attribute points and show them what it means to fight at a level difference! Not even level 10¡­ fools!¡± Liam straightened his back, walking down the stairs as if he couldn¡¯t see the incoming attacks. At the same time the players who only came to join the fun were confused. ¡°Is this really the team which achieved first clear?¡± ¡°Are they in trouble?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we help? Those are heroes of our server!¡± Slowly a fire ignited in the crowd. ¡°Right! Right! Let¡¯s help them!¡± ¡°Help the heroes!¡± ¡°Go, go!¡± ¡°For my goddess Fortune!¡± ¡°Bro¡­ your priorities are off¡­¡± Suddenly the mages who just fired their spells were faced with attacks from multiple sides. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± ¡°Hey! How dare you offend our Beast Den?!¡± ¡°Morning Glow won¡¯t let you off!¡± Fat Tiger was startled by the voices coming from behind him. He turned around, trying to make sense of the commotion. ¡°Hey! HEY! What¡¯s going on? Report!¡± Meanwhile Glorious Sunshine stared at the stairs. He gulped heavily. ¡°B¡­ brother Tiger?¡± ¡°What is it?!¡± ¡°Th¡­ there¡± ¡°What? Speak clearly!¡± Fat Tiger glared angrily at his incompetent business partner before turning his attention back to the front. But his face instantly froze in shock as he found Liam standing right before him. ¡°Mirage? How? Shouldn¡¯t you be dead?!¡± ¡°I can only say that you don¡¯t know the game well enough.¡± Liam smirked as he unhesitatingly swung his sword. [-387!] ¡°What? I¡¯m a tank!¡± Fat Tiger was too scared to even defend. But Liam showed no mercy, following right up with a [Double Slash]. Fat Tiger dropped to the ground, the face of his corpse still painted in disbelief. Next to him Glorious Shunshine surprisingly reacted swiftly: ¡°You, you, and you! Stop him! Hold him off!¡± Shouting out orders the warrior immediately fell back into the crowd, using other to shield his escape. ¡°Wow! So cool, Mirage!¡±, cheered Cyclone happily. The veteran¡¯s performance reassured the party, proving to them that the level gap was like an insurmountable chasm. Thus, they also began to attack the guild players, eager to show off their power. Spells and attacks were exchanged but only one side fell. After one boss died and the other escaped, the guild players fought chaotically. Together with the random players added into the mix, the guild players were soon grinded down from two sides, seeing no hope. They began to escape or even surrender, inwardly cursing their bosses for forcing them into such a situation. Soon, Liam¡¯s alleys were the only ones still standing. They cheered happily, celebrating the party which achieved the first dungeon clear. A few players wanted to ask for pictures first, but seeing the large amount of loot dropped by the dead players, everything else lost priority. Even Liam¡¯s party gathered a lot of it, as the veteran planned to turn it into money soon. After the clean up they could finally hold a small-scale celebration. It went on for a few minutes, with a disproportionate number of players gathered around Fortune, until it was finally time for the party to log off. Chapter 65: Scheming Colville family When Liam returned home, he already heard the news playing from the living room. ¡°Our reporters have already contacted the Colville Family. We are committed to inform you as soon as an official statement has been issued.¡± Obviously, the public was discussing who might be the mysterious team which cleared the first dungeon. From the team''s name many expected it to be Star Gazer. However, some voices stated that it didn¡¯t make sense. Star Gazer prominently was an elven mage. But so far no one found a dungeon called Reylar¡¯s Curse near any elven novice village. Compared to the public¡¯s obsession with the topic, the perpetrator, Liam, didn¡¯t care much about it. As he entered the apartment, his eyes fell on Serena, pondering what he could buy his little sister with the money he was about to earn. Hearing the door open, Merida and Serena looked over form their comfy spots on the couch. Suddenly Serena jumped up, running towards Liam with her teddy Sergeant in her arms. A happy smile formed on Liam¡¯s face, but seeing the complicated expression his little sister was showing, he froze in place. Serena¡¯s feelings were chaotic as she threw herself into her brother''s arms, instantly receiving a warm hug. ¡°Hey, hey. Serena, what¡¯s with you face?¡± ¡°Liam¡­ did you see the news?¡± Serena spoke slowly, sniffling somewhat. ¡°I did, what about it?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it that evil company again? Colville? It¡¯s them, right?!¡± Liam understood quickly. The happenings from a few years back were branded too deeply in the little girl¡¯s mind. Back then Liam also wasn¡¯t good at hiding certain things. Thus, Colville Constructions might as well be synonym with the devil for Serena. Liam felt rather awkward: ¡°Alright, Serena. Don¡¯t worry. A company is also made out of people, you know. And some people are bad, while some are good. We just need to filter out the good ones and kick away the bad ones.¡± ¡°No, no! They are the devil!¡± Serena didn''t have it, turning her body left and right. Liam smiled wryly, looking at Merida for help. But the doctor naturally didn¡¯t know about Liam¡¯s participation in the dungeon raid yet, thus only nodding in greeting before turning back to the screen. Liam sighed as he picked up Serena and sat on the couch. He tried to coax his little sister for the rest of the evening with moderate success. In the end he didn¡¯t mention that he was part of the successful team. *** When Silver Blade returned from the Virtual World, her parents were already waiting anxiously for her. They showed anxious expressions, walking nervously left and right. ¡°Silva! Finally! Get ready, quick! We have an urgent family meeting!¡± ¡°A family meeting?¡±, asked Silva, still not fully awake. ¡°Yes. You should¡¯ve seen the server announcement.¡±, answered Silva¡¯s mother, Alyssa, with a sigh. ¡°What a move! I never expected them to pull something like this!¡± Silva¡¯s father, Malik, had a grim expression, angry at himself. His brother once again proved to be a step ahead.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. When other families were still concerned with buying consoles that damn guy had already realized the immense advertising potential of Fate of Crunaboul. Silva was a bit tired, but the mention of a server announcement cleared her mind. ¡°Wait, mom, dad, is the meeting about this announcement?¡± ¡°Of course, what else?¡± Malik looked somewhat puzzled. His daughter was usually quite intelligent but today she seemed somewhat slow on the uptake. ¡°Does this mean great grandfather is attending?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then what are we still waiting for?!¡± Suddenly Silva felt the urgency. She vanished into her wardrobe, changing at record speed. Grabbing a black suitcase from the side of her bed she rushed past her parents. ¡°What are you waiting for? Come!¡± Mother and Father Colville looked at each other confused when Silva¡¯s voice came from the escalator. They hastily followed. After a short drive which many would consider unnecessary, they reached the highest building in all of Red Oak City, right next to the majestic tree. The building was called Colville Tower, known throughout Falva Star as the home of the planet¡¯s governor Owen Colville, coincidentally Silva¡¯s grandfather. It was a testament to the power their family had on this planet. But Silva hated this tower since her father had been kicked out of it at the age of eighteen. She detested it every time she was forced to come here. How nice it would be if great grandfather could call us at our home. Entertaining such thoughts Silva took another elevator with her parents. But she found herself grinning as for the first time these thoughts didn¡¯t sound unreasonably far-fetched. A low ring sounded out as the door before them opened. The three people exited, entering a large, oval room. Towards three sides the walls were made of glass, allowing a fascinating view over Red Oak City. One might get the misconception of being able to grab the sky from here. A large round table made from finest red oak wood stood in the center. All kinds of strategic documents were orderly spread over it. Opposite the elevator was a large screen, which could be hidden in the ceiling if necessary. But none of the people present would dare to this at the moment, as the stern face of an old man was shown on it right now. He had perfectly groomed gray hair, gelled towards the back. His face emitted unquestionable authority and his blue eyes spread a sharp pressure. This was Silva¡¯s great grandfather, current head of the Colville Family, a bigshot even considering the entire federation, Edward Colville. At the moment the old man¡¯s gaze was on Brayan, aka Star Gazer, who stood at the front of the table, explaining something. A few other men and women were seated at the table as well, but no one turned around to welcome Silva and her parents. However, the latter didn¡¯t get angry, knowing that they were late and needed to wait for Edward¡¯s acknowledgment. Thus, they carefully walked towards the back of the table, listening quietly. Brayan didn¡¯t show the slightest reaction, continuing calmly: ¡°Family Head, as you see here the effectiveness can¡¯t be discerned yet, but the influence is already gigantic. With a single advertisement we reached almost the entire Federation.¡± Hearing Star Gazer talk, Silva¡¯s face turned into a frown. ¡°Our website has to be constantly strengthened, not able to handle the load, which is still increasing. Not only our company is winning in popularity, but even Falva Star as a whole. We will be able attract more explorers, speeding up the excavation of ancient ruins on the planet. The ROI is unprecedented!¡± Brayan spoke with a large smile, his chest sticking out proudly. Meanwhile the family head didn¡¯t show a change in expression. Nothing could be read from his face before he opened his mouth. ¡°You have done well. This move has catapulted our family to the top position in the new era. Everyone is vying for Fate of Crunaboul and now we have taken the lead. This brings danger and opportunity.¡± With every word Silva¡¯s breath turned heavier, her eyes opening wider. She feared that she had misjudged the implications of those words. ¡°Continue doing a good job, gather more server announcements. I am looking forward to it.¡± ¡°Yes, Family Head, I will do my best.¡± ¡°BRAYAN!¡± Suddenly a shout filled with anger interrupted the conversation. The atmosphere turned tense instantly. Silva¡¯s parents didn¡¯t understand what got into their daughter. The people seated around the table turned around, most of their faces filled with shock. A middle-aged man, Silva¡¯s hated uncle, called Owen like his father, immediately took the chance to berate her: ¡°Have you gone insane, child?! How dare you scream like this? How dare you interrupt the family head?!¡± Brayan naturally followed up immediately, an insufferable smile on his face: ¡°Silva, not only did you come late, but you also don''t show regard for the rules. I think it might be better for you to go home.¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡±, shouted Silva uncharacteristically fiercely. ¡°How dare you spout lies with such a confidence?! You didn¡¯t order this advertisement, it w¡­¡± ¡°Silva, don¡¯t twist¡­¡± ¡°SILENCE!¡± A single word came from the family head¡¯s mouth. Even through the screen it carried an undeniable authority. None of the family members present dared to go against it. Nothing moved except for Edward¡¯s sharp gaze, studying everyone¡¯s face, sorting his thoughts. ¡°Silva, what do you want to say?¡± ¡°Thank you, family head. It was me who hired a team to get the first clear. I was even part of the team. I don¡¯t know what Brayan is planning.¡± A minuscule twitch could be seen from Brayan¡¯s jaw, but it was uncertain if Edward noticed it or not. ¡°Brayan, your answer?¡± ¡°Thank you, family head. Silva must have gone crazy. She is spouting lies.¡± ¡°Do any of you have evidence of your claims?¡± ¡°Of course, here!¡± This was the moment Silva had been waiting for. She took the black suitcase she had been carrying with her for the past few days and laid it on the table. Opening it, nine contracts could be found inside. Chapter 66: Aftermath Silva took out the contracts, lining them on top of the table, clear for Edward to see. Brayan showed no change in expression, waiting for his cousin to finish. Suddenly he sighed. ¡°To think you would go that far¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Silva was still feeling relieved when her throat suddenly dried. Brayan grabbed a stack of documents, showing ten contracts, similar to the ones presented by Silva. ¡°You¡­¡± The young woman couldn¡¯t believe her cousin would be this shameless. Shouldn¡¯t he be clear about the consequences of lying to the family head. ¡°Silva! How dare you fake these contracts?! The audacity!¡± ¡°Yeah, girl, what did you think?¡± ¡°How can you¡­¡± Led by her vicious uncle, the other adults began admonishing Silva, drowning the poor girl in words. Bang! Suddenly everyone was startled as Malik smashed the table with his hand. Even his brother was surprised, as the man usually held himself in the background. ¡°Who asked for your opinions?! Isn¡¯t the family head judging right now?!¡± The faint pressure of an accomplished martial artist surrounded the angry father. For a moment, the other adults present didn''t dare to talk. Silva¡¯s mother looked kindly at her husband as she subtly laid her hand on Silva¡¯s shoulder. The young woman felt an immense warmth in her heart. At this moment she was confident that she could make it through anything. Luckily, Edward Colville¡¯s stern voice sounded at this moment: ¡°No one talks without being asked from now on! Silva, who are the people you contracted?¡± Subsequently the family head asked a bunch of questions. Silva answered everything in as much detail as possible, while Brayan mostly talked himself out by stating that he only hired the team. ¡°This discussion ends here. The family will investigate. I hope you are clear about what this means. Media delay, no conclusive statement. Each second delayed is costing us money and prestige. Whoever dared to lie to me today will be punished severely! Dismissed!¡± The screen turned black abruptly, leaving the family members trembling. Although the old man didn¡¯t show a change in expression until the end, those present knew that he was suppressing his fury. Silva glanced hatefully at Brayan while she packed up her contracts. She never hated her cousin this much before. This was her moment to shine, and Brayan destroyed it, even daring to lie blatantly. Silva couldn¡¯t understand what was going on in her cousin¡¯s brain, but she knew that retribution would come. In the face of the family¡¯s investigation none of those present could protect him. ¡°Come, we will leave.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Silva¡¯s voice was weak as her parents led her outside. The room slowly emptied out, until only Brayan and his father Owen remained, their faces frowning. Owen spoke first, his voice containing suppressed anger:Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you investigated the company?! That this team has nothing to do with us?¡± ¡°Dad, I did. I was sure everything is perfect! That b*tch must have hidden the contracts! If she brought them to the company, I would¡¯ve known.¡± ¡°F*ck! Who would¡¯ve thought the daughter of this worthless brother of mine could be so cunning?!¡± ¡°What should we do now?¡± ¡°We need to find evidence, overwhelming evidence! Find people who vouch for you! Those names on your contract must be airtight as well!¡± ¡°I¡­ I will do my best, father!¡± ¡°Right. Also, go and sway public opinion. Even the family¡¯s investigation is done by humans. Your chances are higher if they favor you.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± While the father-son duo was frantically making plans, the mood at Silva¡¯s home was largely positive. Only Felix was angrily clamoring about beating Brayan up after Silva told him what happened. But their parents stared at their daughter with proud eyes, never once doubting her, which she was incredibly grateful for. They only questioned her why she never showed them the contracts. Unfortunately, Silva was just too busy with the game. Thus, a tumultuous night passed. The next day Liam went to training early, learning from Master Baker, until Silva appeared. Liam was surprised when he greeted the young woman: ¡°I thought you would look more enthusiastic today. Did you go out to party yesterday?¡± Silva smiled wryly. ¡°No it¡¯s¡­ didn¡¯t quite go as planned.¡± ¡°What? Wanna talk about it?¡± ¡°Brayan claimed that he hired the team, fake evidence and everything.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Liam stared at Silva in shock. ¡°And your family believed him?!¡± ¡°No. They are starting an investigation.¡± ¡°Phew, so he¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Yeah. The family will definitely find out the truth.¡± ¡°No need to wait so long. Fortune''s video will surely release today or tomorrow.¡± Suddenly Silva froze in place. Her eyes began shining, her whole face lighting up. ¡°Of course! Fortune''s video! How could I forget about it! Liam, you¡¯re a genius!¡± ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t say¡­¡± Liam¡¯s words got stuck in his throat as he suddenly found two strong but soft arms embracing his neck. The young man didn¡¯t anticipate it. Before he could react, Silva had already drawn back, her face filled with happiness. ¡°I should hire you as an adviser or something.¡± ¡°Ehm¡­ yeah.¡± Subsequently Silva talked joyfully about how much she looks forward to seeing Brayan¡¯s shocked face when their video came out. Meanwhile, Liam gradually recovered, commenting from time to time. Only when the topic changed towards the game was Liam back in his element, advising Silva about which class to take and where to go from this point on. Time passed quickly during the joyous conversation and soon it was 10am. Before the two finally decided to enter the game, Silva remembered the reason she came today, paying Liam a full 60.000 credits, calling it a ¡®tip¡¯. Liam refused sternly but he lost as Silva didn¡¯t give up. Eventually the young woman remembered Liam¡¯s mention of a sister, using her to shut him up. Silva wore a smug smile as she entered her training room to start the game. When Silver Blade and Bleary Mirage entered the game, they found themselves back at Reylar¡¯s Temple. After the news of yesterday, the nephilim player¡¯s enthusiasm exploded, thinking that Reylar¡¯s Curse might be an easy dungeon. But so far, no second team even got close to clearing it. However, as more was found out about the game, the players everywhere began to form strategies and patterns. ¡°Searching two more mages for Reylar¡¯s Curse! Must be at least level 6!¡± ¡°Party of eight looks for two more friendly players. Interested in long term play!¡± ¡°Buying heal skill book at a high price!¡± With a quick look it could be seen that heal was in absurdly high demand. Obviously, some lucky players got the book from treasure chests or monsters, spreading the information around. As Liam enjoyed the atmosphere, Silver Blade asked him a question: ¡°What do plan on doing today?¡± ¡°I guess I¡¯ll make some money now that so much attention is on the dungeon.¡± ¡°Are you planning on selling the Tacaria?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°But¡­ isn¡¯t this wasting your time? Now that we have an advantage¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±, said Liam with a shrug. He didn¡¯t mind others catching up. ¡°But¡­¡± Silver Blade looked at Mirage with a puzzled expression, not understanding his lack of urgency. Could there really be a pro player who didn¡¯t care about his number one spot being taken away? Could one become a pro without this ambition? ¡°Don''t worry too much. Even if I play around for a day, I¡¯m still the best player in this game.¡± Silver Blade was perplexed. Bleary Mirage spoke with such disarming leisure as if his words were the most natural truth in the world. He somehow didn¡¯t even sound arrogant. Shaking her head she didn¡¯t know what to think. Silver Blade didn¡¯t want Mirage to waste his time. It didn¡¯t sit well with her own ambition if her teammates fell behind others. But from Bleary Mirage¡¯s attitude it was obvious that he would never consider himself as falling behind even if others had higher levels. Silver Blade pondered for a second before trying another angle: ¡°But don¡¯t you think playing as a merchant for a whole day sounds quite boring?¡± ¡°Well, it does¡­¡±, admitted Liam. ¡°Right? Why don¡¯t I hire some people to do it, and you can go for more exciting tasks?¡± ¡°Can we trust others with this?¡± ¡°Of course. My family sent many of our workers to the game to farm all kinds of resources. I pick a few trustworthy ones to sell the Tacaria.¡± ¡°Hmm, I trust you know what you¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°Of course. You give me the herb. For the first 500 stalks the money will be yours, afterwards we split it 50/50.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite generous.¡± ¡°We¡¯re teammates.¡± ¡°We will still sign a contract.¡± Silver Blade rolled her eyes at Liam. But with a precedent in place, she didn¡¯t hesitate. Soon a contract was signed under C¡¯s watchful gaze. With everything in place, Liam didn¡¯t care any longer about the business side of things, trusting that Silver Blade would set everything up. He returned to the novice village, setting his eyes on the teleporter which would finally grant him access to a wider world. Chapter 67: Duabalis City Back in Prento it was still the familiar lively scene. Liam reached the town square where her holiness Lewriova was working on the large teleportation platform, constantly accompanied by a horde of admiring fans. ¡°Have you heard? Those elf losers found a new NPC, claiming she is more beautiful than our Lewriova!¡± ¡°Nonsense! How could this be possible! They simply never got a glimpse of perfection like we did.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°Lewriova is our goddess!¡± ¡°Please marry me, goddess!¡± Liam watched the scene with a chuckle. He recalled his past life. Soon, players would create some sort of beauty list, sparking fierce internet discussions. Sometimes those rankings would lead to fiercer wars than the fight over legendary items. And the gorgeous NPCs still wouldn¡¯t look twice at the players fighting in their name. As Liam approached the teleportation platform, someone happily addressed him form the side. ¡°Oh, a new face? Bro, I am glad you found enlightenment. Come, tell us why you think Lewriova is the most beautiful NPC in the world!¡± Liam glanced to the side. Finding a pair of sleezy eyes he coughed and quickened his steps. ¡°Ahh, another lovestruck fool. Going straight for Lewriova? Do you think you can get a reaction out of¡­¡± Suddenly the young man¡¯s words got stuck in his throat. He and his friends stared dumbstruck as Liam set foot on the teleportation platform. Lewriova turned her head gracefully, smiling at Liam, the world around her losing all color. ¡°Adventurer! Thank you for destroying Reylar¡¯s curse. I didn¡¯t expect it to interfere so strongly with the teleportation platform. But now that it is gone, nephilim from this town can finally travel the world again!¡± ¡°I just did what everyone would do, your holiness.¡± ¡°I am glad you can say this. Do you want to travel right now?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± A notification popped up before Liam, showing him all possible travel locations. There were usually two types of possible targets. Large cities which could be traveled to as long as your faction didn¡¯t have a hostile relationship with them. Or small spots which can be unlocked by visiting once. However, right now Liam only had a single option: Duabalis City, the main city of all original nephilim. As soon as he accepted, a bluish light engulfed him, his body vanishing from the spot. The players watching below were dumbfounded. ¡°Who is this guy?¡± ¡°He talked to our goddess!¡± ¡°He will be my eternal enemy!¡± ¡°I want to follow and learn from him!¡± ¡°Did our goddess just smile?¡± Well, at least these people had their priorities set straight. Liam opened his eyes as he felt the floor under his feet again. Teleportation in the game felt more like a short flight, usually leaving people dizzy the first few times. Fortunately, Liam didn¡¯t have to worry about this as he left the teleportation platform with stable steps.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. He found himself in a large circular building, the ceiling a high dome. Eight teleportation platforms took up most of the space. The walls were painted in a solemn grey without much decoration, shimmering mysteriously under the teleportation platform¡¯s constant illumination. There was almost no moment of silence, the platforms in constant use. People went in and out every second of the day. However, despite this being Duabalis, the original nephilim¡¯s main city, one would mostly meet other races, with humans being the most numerous. But goblins, beastkin and others could be found as well. Liam wasn¡¯t surprised. He knew that he nephilim didn¡¯t have a large population while enjoying peace and quiet most of the time. It was rather rare to find them busying themselves in the city. Pushing through the crowd Liam left through a large arc. He put his hand against his forehead, shielding his eyes against the blinding sun. He gazed at the strange mountain in the distance, which took the form of a pair of wings. A magical fog played around it, hiding the abodes of nephilim, who only allowed those they acknowledged to step onto their mountain. Right now, the sun shone through the valley between the mountains, reflecting off the magical fog, illuminating the vast city sprawling below in various colors. Liam knew that the nephilim planned for this spectacle, which occurred once a day. It was sold as an auspicious sign to ¡®dumber¡¯ or ¡®lesser¡¯ races, boosting the original nephilim¡¯s struggling reputation. Guess they hired a good PR person. Liam chuckled inwardly as he followed the crowd onto a large main street. Judging from this place one could think the city was densely populated but this couldn¡¯t be farther from the truth. Duabalis City spanned an entire island. It was way too big for the few people daring enough to live close to the nephilim. Even within the city there were large patches of forests and fields. The only reason why it was called Duabalis City and not Duabalis island was because of the enormous wall spanning the entire coast, offering solid protection, even able to form a magic barrier above the entire city. The incredible building was named Saltae after one of the nephilim¡¯s most powerful ancestors. But just as Liam stepped on the city¡¯s extensive street, a cold voice entered his ears. [Server Announcement:] [Teleportation is now open for all players level 10 and above.] [Raking list: Level is now open for all players.] [Global chat is now open for all players.] A chat window instantly plopped up before Liam, messages scrolling like crazy. Liam couldn¡¯t even read them fast enough. Just as he hid the chat window, another notification rang in his ears. [Congratulations on making it onto the Ranking list: level.] [Do you want to hide your name?] Liam pondered for a while before deciding to reveal his name. He took a look at the ranking list, not able to suppress a grin. For now, only him and Silver Blade were on the list. But as soon as his team came online, all ten places would naturally be taken by them. Star Gazer should feel the pressure now¡­ With the ranking list open for all, the global chat was going crazy as well. ¡°Damn, two people have made it to level 10!¡± ¡°How did they do it? Do they know some crazy farming spots?¡± ¡°Does someone know them? Bleary Mirage and Silver Blade?¡± ¡°F*ck, which race are they playing? I want to switch!¡± The commotion Liam caused was big, but it was only an appetizer for later when the rest of the team came online. Liam couldn¡¯t help but feel a sliver of excitement. He couldn¡¯t entirely deny his competitive nature. The young man walked along the main street with a grin on his face. His eyes swept over the buildings on both sides. Those were surprisingly spacious, with some empty patches between them. The shopkeepers all had a rough air to them as they praised their wares. Green plants grew along the mostly wooden houses, giving the city a lively and natural feel. But the scenery soon changed when Liam reached a majestic gate. It was framed by two spiraling towers, the mystical and powerful atmosphere dissuading people from getting close. Two stern-faced nephilim in gorgeous white armor guarded the gate, not letting anyone in. When Liam came closer the two guards mustered him skeptically. He quickly went into the game¡¯s options, choosing to reveal his characteristic wings. Immediately the guard¡¯s faces turned friendly. ¡°Adventurer, welcome home.¡± ¡°Thank you, brother.¡± Liam nodded at the guard who treated him like a real nephilim. They opened the gate for him, allowing him to enter the home of the original nephilim. [Discovered Wing Mountain. Reward: 50EXP] [EXP: 230/2000] Liam took in the beautiful scenery before him. Winding paths went up the two magical mountains. Small, temple-like buildings were scattered on the mountains, which were inhabited solely by original nephilim. A few of the powerful beings could be seen wandering on the roads, accompanied by a soothing melody engulfing the entire area. In his old life even Liam only managed to come here twice, as the nephilim were known not to invite strangers. Thus, he had some difficulties orienting himself. He struggled along the mountain paths, finding himself in a dead end more than once. Liam would¡¯ve lamented the waste of time if he didn¡¯t find two treasure chests along the way, giving him a good-looking level 10 helmet and a strong spell scroll. But finally, he arrived before a small stone hut. Despite its size the building looked sturdy, with picturesque stone benches placed outside below colorful trees. Everything was well taken care of. Liam dug deep into his memory to reassure himself before taking a step forward and suddenly kneeling down before the stone hut. For a few minutes nothing happened. Liam almost began to doubt himself before a deep voice finally came out of the hut. ¡°Leave!¡± Liam knew he was at the right spot, not moving a muscle. ¡°I don¡¯t know who told you of this place, but I won¡¯t let you in.¡± ¡°Leave!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t teach anymore!¡± The voice coming from inside the hut was stubborn. Liam knew that it was pointless to answer, waiting for a good ten minutes. Chapter 68: Holy Tempest Suddenly a sigh came from behind Liam¡¯s back. ¡°Someone found teacher? Young nephilim, let it be.¡± Liam knew that the person he waited for arrived. He stood up, finding a rather short female nephilim with long white hair behind him. Her body full of power and the missing left eye gave her a valiant appearance. ¡°Are you Ganrala??¡±, questioned Liam despite knowing the answer. The woman obviously didn¡¯t find it strange that someone recognized her. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Ganrala the brave. Disciple of Reychnalyn. Guardian of nephilim!¡± Ganrala stood with a heroic posture, her prominent abs visible below her slim chest armor. Liam knew that the NPC was a heroic character, looking at her with admiring eyes. ¡°Young nephilim, did you come to learn from my teacher?¡± ¡°Yes, someone told me that he is one of the most powerful original nephilim. I want to learn the chaotic tempest class form him.¡± ¡°What a pity.¡±, sighed Ganrala. ¡°Ever since our pact with hell shattered, teacher hasn¡¯t been the same. Except from his disciples, he refuses to see people. You won¡¯t be able to learn from him.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡±, asked Liam with disappointment. ¡°Yes, unfortunately. However¡­ I see that you have a lot of potential. Why don¡¯t you consider learning form me?¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Although I am not allowed to teach the chaotic tempest class, we disciples have worked hard over the years to develop a similar class which doesn¡¯t rely on dark magic.¡± Liam nodded his head. This was the reason why he came here. The veteran knew that chaotic tempest was a pinnacle class not available before level 50. Right now, he could only learn the holy tempest class from Ganrala. [Do you wish to accept the quest ¡®Class change: Holy Tempest¡¯?] [Yes] [No] ¡°I would be incredibly grateful.¡± ¡°Great. Then come with me.¡± [ Quest: Cass change: Holy Tempest] [Step one: Follow Ganrala] Liam did as told, walking behind the powerful nephilim. At this time, Liam¡¯s friends slowly came online after a night of celebration, discussing in the group chat. Most of them were without plans, asking for class recommendations from Liam. Naturally the veteran wouldn¡¯t be stingy, digging his brain for powerful and suitable classes for everyone. Suddenly an angry message came from Cyclone. [Cyclone: This despicable Star Gazer!] [Silver Blade: What?] [Cyclone: He¡¯s giving interviews again, hinting that it was him who hired a team to clear the first dungeon!] [Silver Blade: He dares?!] [Radiant Shield: What a lowly man!] [Fortune: Is he crazy? My video will come out tonight!] [Cyclone: Video? Oh, right! Haha, then everyone will see it was us who cleared the dungeon!] [Balm: It still feels bad.] [Cyclone: Hey, did you see the notification? Let¡¯s all get on the ranking list and put some pressure on that loser!] [Balm: Good idea!]Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Bleary Mirage watched as his teammates quickly filled out the ranking list. Another commotion was engulfing the global chat, but Liam had no time to watch as he and Ganala reached a small training arena. Its floor was made from dirt, which was surrounded by a simple wall. Heavy clashes could be heard from within it. When Ganala and Liam entered, they found two valiant men battle each other, holy light shooting in all directions. Ganala gave her trainee a few seconds to take in the sight, letting him witness the power of holy tempests. When she saw Bleary Mirage staring at the fight with impressed eyes, she nodded in satisfaction before calling out. ¡°Demuni! Lerg! Take a break for now, we have a new trainee!¡± It took a few seconds for the fighting men to stop. Their sweaty bodies glistened in the sun as they looked over, mustering Liam calmly. To the veteran¡¯s surprise those two were actually holy nephilim, the bright white wings behind their backs opened proudly. Despite being in the home of original nephilim they still had a haughty air about them as they stepped to the side. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯re made of, newbie.¡± Demuni spoke skeptically as Ganala led Lima into the arena. ¡°The best way to learn is through actual combat. Are you ready young nephilim?¡± Liam already knew what to expect. He took a deep breath as he nodded solemnly. ¡°Good.¡± Ganala grinned as she walked to the side, activating a magical circle. Suddenly Liam felt his body change. A white armor appeared on his body, with two sharp swords lying in his hands. This was a newbie equipment for holy tempests, granted temporarily by the game. The class in his status changed as the player was given a few seconds to familiarize himself with the new class. Notifications popped up before Liam, offering him a short tutorial. Fortunately, Liam already knew about most of it or it would be difficult to learn much in such a short time. Still, he hastily read everything, making sure that nothing changed compared to his past life. Holy tempest¡­ damage reliant on INT and AGI¡­ allowed to wield two weapons. A new passive skill [Holy Mark]. [Holy Mark (passive) Effect: Every attack of yours has a 50% chance to mark the enemy with a holy mark. Holy marks synergize with your skills. Stacking five holy marks on one enemy leads the marks to explode, dealing holy damage.] This should be my most important skill. At the same time other skills will be automatically adjusted to synergize with holy mark. And I gain two new skills while my resource switches from fury to mana. Everything is as I remembered it. Just as Liam was done reading, a light came from the magic circle activated by Ganala. Suddenly five zombies appeared in the arena, staring at Liam with insatiable hunger. ¡°You guys again¡­¡± Liam joked as he checked them briefly. [Minor Zombie Rank: Common Level: 10 HP: 1500/1500] Liam jumped a bit in place, getting used to his automatically changed stats and weight. A second later the first zombie was before him. Liam quickly swung both his swords before dodging gracefully, his movements instinctual. [-206!] [-103!] [Stance -10] Not bad¡­ The veteran grinned, looking at the single holy mark above the zombie¡¯s head. The other monsters arrived rapidly as well. Liam danced outside their attack range, saving his stance, before using one of his new skills. An impulse came from Liam, spreading a wave of brilliant holy magic, dealing some damage and putting a holy mark on every enemy. His skill hadn¡¯t even reached the enemy yet when Liam dove forward, using his [Double Slash]. The skill was modified by the class change, it¡¯s first attack adding a holy mark, while its second attack prompted it to explode. The veteran fought with profound concentration, preforming difficult moves and choosing tricky angles. Three of the zombies were hit by his double slash. Small explosions went off as the holy marks exploded, rattling the zombies. Liam¡¯s first target was carrying three holy marks, taking copious amounts of damage. [-296!] ¡°Way to go newbie!¡± Even Ganala appeared impressed, cheering form the side. However, the zombies only turned angrier, swiping their ugly claws at Liam. He stepped back, letting them hit empty air. [Stance -20] Liam watched worriedly as his important resource dwindled. But he had no other options than to continue the fight. He swung his swords again, seeking to build up holy marks. A few seconds later his skills came off cooldown, allowing him to send another wave of holy magic. Liam circled the roaring zombies, using [Double Slash] and normal attacks perfectly to hit multiple enemies. But suddenly a sluggish feeling overcame his body. My stance is used up¡­ The veteran gritted his teeth watching the opponent¡¯s HP. I got this. Encouraging himself Liam swung his swords quickly. At this point it was only a contest of raw stats. [-206!] Liam sighed in relief when the first opponent fell to the floor. However, the other zombies weren¡¯t impressed, keeping up their attacks. [-92!]x4 Reaching level 10 Liam had a bit over 1200HP. Thus, he would be able to survive another two rounds of attacks. The veteran did the calculations in his head while tirelessly swinging his swords. Another zombie folded as its HP emptied out. Liam sighed in relief. With a brutal strike he stunned one enemy, only taking two attacks. The pressure noticeably decreased. Liam kept up his focus nonetheless until he finally managed to kil the last zomby, having only a couple hundred HP left. Slow clapping rang out in the arena. Even the two holy nephilim acknowledged the newbie¡¯s power. ¡°Well done, well done. I didn¡¯t expect you to kill them all!¡± Ganala exclaimed proudly, revealing information about the quest. Liam had already known that it wasn¡¯t necessary to kill all zombies, but it was important for his evaluation. He was rewarded for his efforts when Ganala came over with a bright smile, handing him a skill book. ¡°Take this. It is something I personally compiled for promising newbies. You deserve it.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Liam couldn¡¯t suppress his grin as he checked out the book. [(Ultimate) Holy Tempest Category: Ultimate Skillbook Effect: Empower yourself with holy magic, allowing every attack of yours to place a holy mark on your enemies. For the duration of this skill dealing holy damage will grant you stance, increased attack speed, reduce cooldowns, and increase the skill¡¯s duration. Requirement: holy tempest class; bound to Bleary Mirage] Chapter 69: Treasure hunt (I) Finally, Liam held an ultimate skill in his hand. Although one would always receive one through the class change, its power depended on the evaluation of the fight. Naturally there were other ways to get ultimate skills, but only this one would be tailor made for his class. With the reward in hand, the quest was naturally completed. But Ganala was not done yet. ¡°Bleary Mirage, it is a joyous occasion for us to welcome one more holy tempest. But unfortunately, we don¡¯t have time to celebrate. Do you know why only the three of us are gathered here?¡± Ganala pointed at Demuni and Lerg. ¡°It¡¯s because out lineage is embroiled in fierce fights. Now that you joined us, some of this responsibility must be carried by you as well.¡± Liam stayed calm as he listened. In real life he might complain about being tricked, but in the game one could never have enough quests. ¡°Newbie, why don¡¯t you visit Enmegala in Red Mist City. She could surely need your help.¡± Liam nodded, accepting the quest. But he didn¡¯t decide to go right now. Red Mist City was a human city which was constantly clashing with the hellish Infernals. But the biggest danger of this quest weren¡¯t the monsters but the infernal players. In Fate of Crunaboul players belonging to hostile factions could freely attack each other. Naturally players loved doing so to interfere in each other¡¯s quests. Thus, Liam needed to wait until his alleys grabbed some of the infernals¡¯ attention before he dared to come close to their territory. Even as a pro he couldn¡¯t deal with a horde of enemies. However, outwardly he reassured Ganala happily while asking the NPC for information. A few seconds later Liam got everything he needed, saying his goodbyes to the three holy tempests. Finally, I got my class. What should I do now? Liam was in a good mood, strolling along the mountain path while contemplating his next moves. At the same time, he did a quick check of his status.
>>> <<<
Name: Bleary Mirage
Level: 10
Race: Original Nephilim
Class: Holy Tempest
Primary Attributes:
STR: 6
INT: 28
AGI: 25
HP: 1270/1270
Mana: 438/438
(show more)
>>> <<<
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. A lot has changed. Now my equipment is lagging behind. Maybe I should look for a few treasure chests. Liam pondered for a while, remembering treasure chests he could loot before other players arrived. Making his way down the mountain, he leisurely chatted with his friends. [Bleary Mirage: How is everyone doing?] [Radiant Shield: Me and Bloody Edge have made contact with the holy nephilim.] [Bleary Mirage: Not bad.] [Silver Blade: I have found the Winged Vanguard.] [Bleary Mirage: Good. Focus on the quest, you need a good evaluation for your magical vanguard class.] [Silver Blade: Yeah.] [Cyclone: MIRAGE! I need help.] [Bleary Mirage: What? I can¡¯t help with your class quest.] [Cyclone: I did everything as you told me. But then I found some secret passage and entered a circle of magi. Now my quest changed.] Bleary Mirage read the message with a frown. His mind moved quickly, trying to figure out what happened to Cyclone. Suddenly his eyes opened wide. [Bleary Mirage: Do those magi have a blue claw on their robes?] [Cyclone: Yes!] Bleary Mirage was stunned. He never expected Cyclone to find the Lightning Hawk alliance. In Fate of Crunaboul there were beasts born for magic, embodiments of their respective elements. And there were secret organizations worshiping these beasts. The Lightning Hawk Alliance was one of these organizations. But their whereabouts were usually extremely hidden and even changing from time to time. Thus, even Liam couldn¡¯t pinpoint them. Cyclone¡¯s luck is unbelievable¡­ [Bleary Mirage: Cyclone, you found a secret organization called Lightning Hawk Alliance. Did your quest really change after talking to them?] [Cyclone: Yes, really really.] [Bleary Mirage: Alright. Then how about you look for some treasures for a while. Let¡¯s all get our classes first before helping with yours.] [Cyclone: But¡­ how long will this take?] [Bleary Mirage: A few hours I guess.] [Cyclone: Ok¡­] Seeing that Cyclone reluctantly agreed, Liam urged the others to complete their quests. If Liam wasn¡¯t mistaken Cyclone might have found a unique class. Those were immensely powerful, but it was unusual that she could learn it at level 10. For example, the chaotic tempest Liam set his eyes on was a unique class but could only be learned from level 50 and after solving the race quest of original nephilim. Liam rummaged through his memories, but he stopped when his target appeared in front of his eyes. A small distance away from the main street was a block of houses forming a ring with a large yard inside. Two rough looking men in black clothes stood at the entrance, one of them surprisingly from the orc race. Liam checked their status, finding their names written in red. [Bloody Gall bandit Rank: Common Level: 11 HP: 1550/1550] This was something unique to Duabalis City. Only here would one find enemies within the city area. Since the nephilim were rather lax in their rules, only the core city area was kept save. Venturing out all kinds of monsters could be met. Bandits also liked to settle here after being chased away from their home regions. However, most players wouldn¡¯t think this deeply. For them it was simply ¡®see enemy, kill enemy¡¯. Liam also didn¡¯t come for some elaborate reason other than hoping to grab some loot. With a grin the veteran prepared for the fight, taking out two skillbooks. They were [Cross Slash] and [Holy Tempest]. A simple thought was enough to learn those, granting him two new skills. Liam approached the guards with a confident stride. ¡°Halt!¡± ¡°Who goes there!¡± Seeing that the audacious nephilim didn¡¯t stop, the two bandits immediately attacked. Liam took a deep breath as he readied his swords. He didn¡¯t dodge the first attacks, deciding to trade damage and stacking holy marks on his enemies. It worked¡­ Liam grinned as he saw the symbol above the bandits¡¯ heads. A second later he attacked again before dodging between the opponents and entering the yard behind them. ¡°Stop right there!¡± The two bandits hollered angrily as they followed him. Inside, Liam was met with a chaotic scene. Tables and chairs were spread wildly on a stone square. Clothes hung form some lines. A few bandits conversed in groups. Towards one side was a small pile of loot. Two treasure chests peeked out, enticing Liam. That¡¯s the place. Liam grinned faintly as he moved like the wind. He stabbed his two swords towards other opponents, aggroing another two bandits, before directly activating [Holy Tempest]. A shimmering, golden energy immediately streamed towards Liam, playing around his skin. He felt his body lightening up, every movement feeling more natural. A sword came form behind his head. Liam didn¡¯t need to look as he danced to the side. With a grin he returned the attack in kind. [-198!] [-99!] With holy tempest activated the holy marks on the bandits¡¯ head continued to stack dangerously. But time was ticking in the corner of Liam¡¯s eyes. [Holy Tempest: 7s... 6s¡­] ¡°Intruder! Do you know who you are messing with?¡± One of the bandits shouted angrily as he hacked towards Liam. The veteran dodged perfectly without any wasted movements, brining himself in position for a [Double Slash]. [Stance -9] Liam¡¯s swords raced through the air. Another holy mark was applied before his second sword triggered them. [-210!] [-324!] [-494!] A large amount of damage hit the first enemy as four holy marks exploded above his head. Naturally the others weren¡¯t spared as well. The beautiful move immediately allowed Liam to recover a lot of stance while pushing holy tempest¡¯s remaining duration above 20 seconds. Liam was satisfied with his opening. Subsequently he continued the fight, evading the bandits with his large amount of stance and stacking holy marks continuesly. A few seconds later the first two bandits dropped to the floor. Instead of getting rid of the others as well, Liam jumped over a table, his swords aiming for a new group of enemies. ¡°Where do you come from?! Brothers, attack!¡± Liam was instantly embroiled in a fight against five opponents. But this was exactly what he wanted as it allowed him to constantly uphold some holy marks. With a perfect rotation of attacks, using [Cross Slash] and [Holy Magic Wave] to apply holy marks and [Brutal Strike] as well as [Double Slash] to trigger them, he could guarantee an almost endless supply of stance. Unfortunately, his last skill was difficult to use in solo fights as it required a casting time of two seconds. Thus, he could only ignore it for now as he worked himself through the bandits. The opponents fell one by one under his blade. Liam could already see himself opening the treasure chest when a rumble suddenly spread within the yard. A door almost flew out of its hinges as a burly man with tattoos on his face came out. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?!¡± Chapter 70: Treasure hunt (II) [Bloody Gall Heinrigg Rank: Elite Level: 10 HP: 2400/2400] Liam was surprised by the elite¡¯s appearance. He looked over his shoulder, watching the three bandits standing behind him menacingly. Meanwhile his holy tempest skill was ticking quickly, with only five seconds left. ¡°Well then, come on!¡± Liam gritted his teeth as he turned around, aiming his double slash at a single bandit. The orc¡¯s chest was cut open as he fell dead to the floor, increasing the duration of Liam¡¯s skill. ¡°Little rat!¡± The other bandits shouted with rage in their voice, hacking at Liam with long blades. Holding his breath the veteran twisted his foot. With a quick turn he barely evaded the threatening edges. Meanwhile, splinters shot through the air as the bandit elite swung his two-handed great sword. With loud cracking a few tables in his way were hacked apart. ¡°Come here!¡± Heinrigg shouted angrily as Liam surprisingly complied. The young man made use of his newfound agility to perform a large step and swing his swords at the bandit elite. [-153!] [-77!] NaturaNaturally Heinrigg retaliated in kind. A pressure spread through the area as his heavy weapon shot at Liam. The latter gritted his teeth as he dove below the weapon, sending out a [Cross Slash] in one smooth motion. [-300!] [-47!] The cross slash affected by Liam¡¯s holy tempests dealt additional holy damage, shaving of a huge chunk of the elite¡¯s HP. Suddenly a blade enlarged in front of Liam¡¯s eyes. While he dealt with the elite, the other bandits had sneaked up on him. Liam was thrown off balance. He could do nothing but let himself fall to the ground. [Stance -12] The veteran felt incredibly awkward as he tried to get back to his feet. But the bandit elite wouldn¡¯t have it. ¡°Die! Vermin!¡± The burly man¡¯s muscles bulged even more as he swung his heavy sword wildly in all directions. Liam gritted his teeth as he felt the lump of metal colliding with his waist, throwing him out a few meters. [-346!] Liam came to a stop, leaning against the wall, his breath irregular. [Holy Tempest: 11s... 10s¡­] Right! No time to waste! The veteran ignored the mild pain as he dragged his body up. His eyes fell on the still rampaging bandit elite and his two minions, which stormed towards Liam. The veteran calculated for a single moment before reaching out with his hand. His last skill, [Holy Mark Explosion] was activated. A progress bar appeared before his eyes, counting down two seconds. Meanwhile the weaker bandits came dangerously close. One of them raised his sword. If Liam were to be hit, his skill would be canceled, putting him in a precarious situation. But fortunately, his estimation proved correct. Before the bandit¡¯s attack could land, Liam¡¯s skill was ready.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Bang! Bang! Bang! With a loud noise all the holy marks exploded simultaneously, searing rays of holy light shooting in all directions. The huge damage was too much for the normal bandits to bear as their HP emptied out. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s only me and you now.¡±, Liam murmured as the bandit elite closed the distance. The huge sword swung towards Liam¡¯s neck. Following its trajectory closely Liam landed an attack on his own before abruptly ducking below the sharp blade. ¡°You¡­!¡± The bandit elite bellowed angrily as his muscles bulged again. Liam gritted his teeth knowing that Heinrigg was about to use his skill. I have to risk it¡­ Liam acted quickly, using his [Brutal Strike]. But unfortunately, the stun didn¡¯t trigger. The instant his sword made contact with the enemy, the veteran drew back. Seeing the result, he could do nothing but wait helplessly and watch Heinrigg perform. His movements were too fast. Even Liam didn¡¯t want to risk dodging. [Holy Tempest: 2s... 1s¡­] Liam sighed as his ultimate skill ran out. Now he only had some stance left. A few moments later the bandit elite showed signs of slowing down. Liam was ready for this moment. He instantly sent out a wave of holy magic. A second holy mark appeared above Heinrigg¡¯s head. Before the bandit elite knew it, Liam had closed the distance, attacking with his swords, applying another holy mark. A cross slash followed immediately. Four marks! Take this! Liam¡¯s swords flashed, ending the rotation ended with a double slash. Boom! The ground shook slightly as the five marks exploded, rocking the bandit elite. Liam¡¯s attacks flowed beautifully. Heinrigg only got in a single attack before lifelessly dropping to the ground. Liam took a deep breath. Throughout the fight he lost a bit more than a third of his HP. This was the result of his skillful usage of [Holy Tempest]. Still, the veteran was not satisfied. I¡¯m too rusty. If I had used flash step, I would¡¯ve avoided the damage form the skill. I guess it¡¯s not only our mages who need to train. While Liam replayed the fight in his mind, he went around gathering all the loot. Unfortunately, the normal bandits only dropped white items which Liam equipped casually. Liam could only hypnotize himself with the about 800 EXP the fight brought him before reaching the bandit elite. He was just about to reach out with his hand when he remembered Cyclone¡¯s usual routine. Carefully looking around, making sure that no one saw him, Liam brought his hands together in prayer. Liam silently pleaded all the gods coming to his mind, not even stopping before Zeus and Jupiter, before finally looting the bandit. A blue sheen appeared in his hand. For a second Liam was smiling brightly before his mouth slowly returned to normal. Usually a blue-uncommon equipment was a reason for happiness but Liam remembered that he was level 10 now. There should be a slim chance for yellow-rare equipment to drop now. Although it¡¯s unlikely, it¡¯s not impossible. Truly, sometimes ignorance is bliss. If I wouldn¡¯t have known this, I would be more than satisfied with a blue equipment. Liam smiled wryly as he looked at the ring in his hand. [Ring of Flaming Lakes of Roulard Category: Uncommon Level requirement: 10 Intelligence +7 Fire Damage +10% Critical Chance +10% Effect: With a chance of 5% every skill of yours deals an additional 10% damage as fire damage. Fished out of a lava lake this ring has seen better days.] Although the ring wasn¡¯t a perfect fit for Liam, it could still boost his damage somewhat. For now, there was no harm in wearing it. Next the veteran looked into his inventory, searching for the rest of the elite¡¯s loot. His eyes lit up as he found a green sword, which he equipped in his main hand, delegating Heirim¡¯s Crimson Sword to his offhand. Even a few basic health potions dropped. But the most surprising was a small dark dagger. A notification appeared before Liam¡¯s eyes as he inspected it. [Do you wish to accept the quest ¡®Reaches of the Black Hand¡¯?] Liam was taken aback, forced to rummage through his memories. Soon the quest roughly appeared in his mind while he accepted it. [>Story< Quest: Reaches of the Black Hand Step 1: Bring ¡®mysterious black dagger¡¯ either to Taragal in Duabalis City or to Seytor in Five River City! Hint: Your decision will influence the quest going forward] Liam was surprised to casually find a story quest with branching decisions. He played with the mysterious black dagger in his hand before putting it away. Story quests were more interesting to clear with the group, thus he would discuss with them later. For now, Liam still had two treasure chests to loot. Rummaging through a pile of rubbish he soon found the chests, opening them with a grin. Unfortunately, he only received some green-magic equipment. That¡¯s what you get for not praying¡­ Liam choose not to be overly greedy, making his way back towards the core city area. At this point quite some time had passed. Liam chatted with his team, making sure that everyone had received their advanced class. Thus, the party finally decided to help out Cyclone who was still stuck. [Bleary Mirage: Alright guys, gather at Svebrial City.] At first no one complained, but soon Bloody Edge and Radiant Shield were the first to reach the teleporter. They saw the cost of five silver and felt their stomachs sink. This was almost half of what the party members had at this point in time. Fortunately, Cyclone managed to arduously convince everyone. As Liam watched the discussion he couldn¡¯t help but inquire with Silver Blade. [Bleary Mirage: @Silver Blade, how is the selling of Fiery Tacaria going along?] [Silver Blade: Great! Your five hundred stalks were sold in no time as soon as some guilds got wind of it. Now, my people are constantly farming and raking in money!] [Bleary Mirage: Good job. Keep an eye out for any news about someone clearing the dungeon. This should be the time when the demand will decrease.] [Silver Blade: Sure.] Suddenly Silver Blade couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Just as she answered Bleary Mirage, the expert turned around a corner, appearing in her vision. It wasn¡¯t surprising since their goal was the teleporter. Thus, the two bantered for a bit before travelling to Svebrial together. Chapter 71: Helping out Cyclone Liam and Silver Blade alighted the teleporter, arriving on a low hill amidst a busy crowd. From their position they could see a sprawling city, densely populated, with large, paved roads and a mix of wooden and stone houses. Steam rose form the many chimneys, a sign of prosperity, characteristic of the high-quality homes. The streets were mostly filled with humans, albeit a few other races were mixed in. When Bleary Mirage and Silver Blade appeared, a group of people suddenly waved their hands, already waiting for them. ¡°Friends, what took you so long?¡± ¡°Young lady.¡± ¡°Come on guys, let¡¯s help Cy!¡± Liam couldn¡¯t help but grin as his friends warmly welcomed him. [Discovered Svebrial. Reward: 50EXP] [970/2200 EXP] Ignoring the notifications flashing before him, Liam convened with his party. They joked around as they made their way into the city. A large, strictly guarded arc separated the teleporters from the core of the city. A corridor was above the arc, from which guards with heavy crossbows and even some in mage robes observed the roads. ¡°Those guys look like they have some power.¡±, commented Silent Acacia solemnly. ¡°Yes. Svebrial is one of the strongest cities in the world. Not only is it the capital city of the Striving Basilisk Empire but it also has the famous magic academy. Together with its large walls the city pretty much counts as unshakable.¡± Even Silent Acacia, who doesn¡¯t care for lore, committed Liam¡¯s words to memory, making sure to never cause trouble within Svebrial. Liam was glad to see his words achieving their desired effect. Meanwhile, the party couldn¡¯t peel their eyes away from the city. ¡°Wow it¡¯s like in those anime.¡± ¡°Such a beautiful medieval city.¡± ¡°Look at all those horse carts! Can we ride one?¡± ¡°Yeah, but why would they simulate the smell so well?¡± Svebrial was a proper fantasy city. Duabalis couldn¡¯t compare to it. Especially the prosperous shops selling everything from household appliances to magic wands attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Thus, time went by quickly for the party as they reached a district with obviously higher quality houses. Even the people on the streets wore colorful fur clothing, showing of their wealth. If the party weren¡¯t made of players, they might¡¯ve been asked to turn around. But luckily, they could advance until they reached a large compound made from multiple buildings. The most prominent among them was a gorgeous castle with towers reaching towards the sky, its old walls painted by time. A large, open gate led inside the compound, allowing one to gaze at the many young, aspiring mages busying themselves. Above the gate the words ¡®Svebrial Ancient Academy¡¯ were written in striking letters. The party admired the impressive academy when a voice reached them from the side. ¡°Finally, you are here!¡± Cyclone wore a relieved face as she jogged towards the party, her blond hair swaying behind her head.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Cyclone! Did you have to wait for a long time?¡±, greeted Silver Blade happily. ¡°Of course! I was doing boring fetch quests the whole time. Damn, I hope this quest is worth it or I will¡­¡± Cyclone trailed of, frustrated as she couldn¡¯t do anything to the Lightning Hawk Alliance. ¡°My friend, why don¡¯t you start at the beginning?¡± ¡°Sure. I followed Mirage¡¯s advice and found the academy. To get a strong lightning class I should find the teacher¡¯s missing wand. Mirage told me the way to the wand through the academy¡¯s catacombs. But when I got there it was dark and full of monsters, so I lost my way. Luckily, I stumbled upon a secret passage and entered a meeting of the Lightning Hawk Alliance. Those guys discussed for a bit before deciding to test me. And now I need to kill some leviathan thingy. But that guy is a boss monster, and I don¡¯t think I have a chance without help!¡± ¡°Damn, what a journey.¡±, said Balm with a baffled face. Meanwhile Liam furrowed his brows, pondering which boss fit Cyclone¡¯s description. After a few seconds he came up with something: ¡°Cyclone, did those mages send you to kill the Deep Blue Winding Snake?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it.¡± Liam scrunched his face, recalling everything about the boss monster. ¡°That won¡¯t be easy¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I called you, expert!¡± Rolling his eyes at Cyclone, Liam began pondering possible strategies. ¡°Is this boss too strong for us?¡±, asked Quickstep carefully. ¡°At least in water it is, yes. But if we could get it on land¡­ we might have a chance.¡± Cyclone sighed in relief. She was rather nervous seeing Liam fall silent but now it appeared that the expert had a plan. Suddenly a tremor went through the surroundings. A low explosion could be heard. The friends looked around in shock. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Is the city under attack?¡± ¡°Why are the NPCs not reacting?¡± Only Liam and Cyclone remained without any change in expression. ¡°Seems like some mage is working on a new spell again. You¡¯ll get used to it.¡±, explained the blond woman smugly, not divulging that she hid behind a rock the first time she felt such an explosion. The others looked at each other strangely. ¡°This¡­ why don¡¯t we just leave? I don¡¯t want to lose a life because the academy fell on my head.¡±, suggested Balm with a sheepish smile. Fortunately the others agreed. Liam didn¡¯t delay much longer and led the party through the lively city. ¡°Hey, where are we going?¡± ¡°Sightseeing is nice, but didn¡¯t we come for a quest?¡± Liam rolled his telling his friends to be patient as they approached the lower parts of the city. The people living here amongst dyers and leather workers were the lower-class citizens. Although they could still be considered well off compared to other parts of Crunaboul. The girls waved their hands before their noses, complaining about the smell. The boys agreed but didn¡¯t show anything on their faces, subtly hiding their noses below their armors. ¡°Mirage, where are you leading us?¡±, inquired Cyclone impatiently. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± Liam didn¡¯t lie. The group turned two more corners before going down a set of stairs, entering an inconspicuous door. Suddenly Silver Blade¡¯s eyes shot open as an inconceivable idea came to her mind: ¡°Hey Mirage, could it be that the entire city is simulated? Can every door be entered?¡± ¡°As far as I know¡­ sure.¡± ¡°Unbelievable¡­ what computing power is needed to do this?¡± They others also felt their eyes clear up as they looked around, drawing sharp breaths. Liam¡¯s mind drifted. The game in his new life felt even more realistic than in his old life. As someone interested in technology, he would love to learn more about it. This was after all a field where something new could always be discovered. He enjoyed it when novel problems challenged his brain. Maybe in the future¡­ Liam shook his head, focusing back on the game. Together with his party he walked into an underground tavern. Only a few people could be found at this time of the day. Two orcs snored noisily, their heads resting on a table in the corner, not disturbed by the bard caressing his lute mindlessly. The party scanned their surroundings, most of them drawn in by the shady atmosphere. ¡°Friends, I have come to a decision. This establishment shall be my den from now on!¡± Bloody Edge exclaimed with sparkling eyes, the roleplaying thief feeling right at home. He walked towards a table with a few cups on it. Grabbing one, he took a deep sniff, his face showing a satisfied expression. Fortune was weirded out but nevertheless directed her camera at the thief¡¯s back, never missing a good shot. Even Liam felt strange. Shaking his head he waved his friends over towards the counter. A rough looking bartender put away the cloth and cup in his hand as Liam approached him, selling the player a Cerberus beer. A strong and spicy variant which could be found in taverns throughout Crunaboul. The party watched curiously as Liam approached a table half in the shadows of a stuffed animal. A small creature with dark green skin and a leathern cap hiding his bald head sat at the table. This was the first time the party got a closer look at one of the famous goblins. His unfocused eyes moved lazily as Liam placed the Cerberus beer before the goblin. ¡°Fregdo. I need to buy something from you.¡± The goblin¡¯s head swayed. He grabbed the cup of beer before him, taking a large sip. Liquid splashed as he slammed the cup back on the table. ¡°Not selling!¡± Liam¡¯s eyes twitched. He knew that the goblin was not easy to convince. But he expected a friendlier reaction thanks to the beer. The veteran felt annoyed. Not willing to spend that much effort, he turned around beckoning to his secret weapon. Silver Blade rolled her eyes as Liam bought another cup of beer, handing it over to the young woman and sending her to talk to Fregdo. Repeating Liam¡¯s earlier actions Silver Blade approacjed the merchant. Fregdo¡¯s small yellow eyes swirled in their sockets before focusing on Silver Blade. ¡°Alright. Come with me.¡± Cyclone¡¯s laughter echoed through the room as she looked between Silver Blade and Bleary Mirage. Chapter 72: Rope ladders The party followed the swaying Fregdo out of the tavern. After making their way through a few more winding alleys they reached a small house in a quiet district. A narrow river ran not far away, forcing the city to build dozens of bridges big and small. Fregdo fished out an old key from his pocket, opening a greying wooden door with unsteady fingers. He pushed it open, revealing a dark room. The goblin still seemed grumpy, not inviting the party in, but Liam signaled them to enter anyways. ¡°Ahh where is it¡­¡± Fregdo talked with a heavy tongue as he touched the wall up and down. Finally, he found a small button, hitting it with his palm. A light turned on in the ceiling. ¡°Wow, what¡¯s that? Electricity?¡±, marveled Balm. ¡°It¡¯s similar. Goblins are well known for their mechanical prowess. Mixed with a hint of magic they build some of the world¡¯s most impressive machineries.¡± ¡°Hmpf. At least you know how to talk.¡±, grumbled Fregdo as he overheard Liam¡¯s explanation. Meanwhile the party looked around the room. They found disorderly shelves and racks, filled with all kinds of items. Everything form small bombs to kitchen equipment could be found. Fregdo didn¡¯t bother stepping behind the counter as he turned around and focused on Silver Blade. ¡°So what do you need from me?¡± The young woman glanced at Liam. ¡°Rope ladders.¡± Silver Blade blinked, her gaze turning strange. The others wore puzzled expressions as well. ¡°Expert, are you sure? What would we use rope ladders for?¡± ¡°To save someone.¡±, replied Liam with a grin. Silver Blade had enough trust in Liam. She turned to Fregdo and asked him for rope ladders. The goblin wasn¡¯t enthusiastic, but he rummaged through his shelves, pulling out rope ladders and metallic hooks. Liam signaled Silver Blade to pay. Afterwards the party left the shop, quickly followed by Fregdo who tumbled back in the direction of the tavern. With the odd equipment in hand Liam brought the party to freshen up on potions before finally leaving the city through an impressively large gate. They found themselves on a broad dirt road. A lot of people could be seen traveling between cities on foot or horse, an indication of the road¡¯s safety. Life in the Striving Basilisk Empire was prosperous and save. The empire laid within the boundless central plains, filled with lively rivers and sprawling forests. However, dangers still lurked when leaving the safe roads, waiting for the players to explore them. Liam and his friends traveled along the main road for a while before reaching a crossing leading them to a small bridge over a river. [Discovered Wouliph Forest. Reward: 50EXP] ¡°Guys, from now on let¡¯s advance carefully. The monsters here aren¡¯t week.¡± ¡°Heh. With our new classes, what is there to fear?¡± Silent Acacia was full of confidence as he began to scout the forest. Running ahead of the party he soon found groups of deer snacking calmly on the foliage. Let¡¯s go. The first prey for our party after level 10.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The young man wore a grin, ready to pull all the deer. Fortunately, his habits as a professional player came through, making him check the opponent¡¯s status first. [Red-Tailed deer Rank: Common Level: 17 HP: 1900/1900] Silent Acacia¡¯s body stiffened. Although these deer couldn¡¯t be considered powerful, the level difference was not easy to overcome. Reluctantly the hunter readied his arrow, choosing his angle carefully and fired. He didn¡¯t dare to overdo it, drawing the attention of three deer. A moment later the party spotted Silent Acacia again. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s those three deer? Weren¡¯t there more monsters?¡± Fortune felt a bit displeased, knowing that a few deer wouldn¡¯t grab her viewer¡¯s attention. ¡°Win this fight first before talking about others! Guys, formation and attack!¡± Liam was annoyed as no one took the opponents seriously. Only with his order did the party move, the mages beginning their attacks. [-99!] [-76!] Interestingly Fortune still dealt less damage than Cyclone despite having already switched classes. This was the case because Liam recommended her the arcane mage class which focused on large, destructive spells which would look good in a video. But seeing the damage numbers the rest of the party grew alarmed. ¡°Careful guys, they are level 17.¡± Silent Acacia warned loudly, finally waking the party up. ¡°My friends, time to focus!¡± Radiant Shield spoke grimly as he welcomed the first deer with his shield. [Stance -12] ¡°Don¡¯t worry I can block for a while.¡± Radiant Shield felt confident. With his new class he didn¡¯t fear a few attacks. The two tanks quickly secured aggro, allowing the others to attack. Quickstep was the most eager to show off her new class. Similarly to Liam she fought with two swords, her damage relying on strength and agility. The young woman danced around the three deer during her attacks. Her movement built up a special resource called Storm which was able to boost her attacks and skills. [Storm: 19/99¡­ 20/99] Quickstep grinned as she accumulated 20 points. She swung both her swords through the air, activating a skill called [Whirlwind Slash]. A small whirlwind suddenly formed, engulfing the three opponents. As it turned quicker and quicker, the wind became razor sharp, constantly dealing damage. A single blade of wind dealt a solid 30 points of damage. Considering all three deer, the whirlwind hit twenty-seven times, instantly shaving off a large amount of HP. Cyclone looked on with a gaping mouth, grumbling unhappily. ¡°Stupid magic defense! Just wait until I get my class! I will show you what damage is!¡± Balm was the only one hearing her, smiling wryly. After going down the path of a healer her damage couldn¡¯t be considered impressive. But she was content with her standing in the group. Liam fought calmly, watching how his party controlled their new classes. Although he spotted some space for improvement he was satisfied overall. Under the combined firepower of the party those three deer soon fell. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield had taken some damage, but it wasn¡¯t threatening. Thus, the party recovered for a while before moving on. Luckily there was no need to fight all the deer. They only needed to open a path deeper into the forest. Silent Acacia though pulled a few more opponents than necessary, aiming for the party to advance in level quickly. The others were concerned as well. The feeling of being on the ranking list was novel for most of the party members. Even now their names were still occasionally discussed in the global chat. This was a feeling most of them didn¡¯t want to miss. However, under Liam¡¯s urging the party soon advanced rather swiftly, arriving below a short cliff. All kinds of plants stubbornly clung to the stone. Following them with one¡¯s eyes, one would notice the foliage growing thin towards the top as white steam rose towards the air. ¡°Mirage, that¡¯s a dead end.¡± Cyclone snickered, amused as even Mirage could get lost sometimes. But Liam didn¡¯t show a change in expression. ¡°Remember what we bought earlier?¡± Cyclone looked puzzled for a seconds before the color drained from her face. But the young woman wasn¡¯t the only one. Radiant Shield suddenly shivered as well. ¡°Mirage¡­ you don¡¯t expect us to climb up there?¡± ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not difficult.¡± ¡°Oh nonono¡­ isn¡¯t this way too high?¡± The others were surprised by Radiant Shield¡¯s strong reaction. ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re afraid of heights?¡±, asked Silent Acacia curiously. ¡°Of course!¡± Radiant Shield didn¡¯t feel embarrassed. In his mind others were crazy for not respecting heights. Wasn¡¯t it normal to be afraid of something which would kill you with a single slip up? Suddenly Radiant Shield flinched. He was staring at the cliff intently, not even realizing when Liam approached him and patted his shoulder. Radiant Shield felt a warmth going through his body, thinking that Mirage came to back him up. But the next words threw him in an icy cellar: ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The game is the perfect place to get rid of a fear of heights.¡± Liam smiled encouragingly while the others had to hold back their laughter. Next, he turned around, not wanting to delay the matter unnecessarily. Liam got the bought equipment from Silver Blade before taking out a small sphere. It was Refresnim¡¯s orb of flight. With a thought from Liam the item activated. Resplendent wings appeared behind his back. With a heavy swing the veteran swiftly shot into the air, traveling along the cliff face. He tried his best to estimate the distance before taking out a rope latter and a few metal hooks. Assisted by the game he attached them to a gap between boulders, creating a path up the cliff. The others stood on the solid ground, looking at the swaying ropes with trepidation. No one made fun of Radiant Shield anymore as they imagined themselves climbing up the ladder. ¡°Ehm, Mirage? Do you even need us up there. Otherwise¡­¡± Up in the air Liam barely understood the voices. He nodded with a reassuring smile: ¡°Yes, the rope is safe. Don¡¯t worry!¡± Chapter 73: Deserter Jailer (I) Liam was free of worries as he flapped his wings to ascend higher. After a few seconds he reached another gap in the cliff, serving as a good spot to fasten the rope ladder. Taking out the item he unfurled it, letting it sway freely in the wind. Next, he took the metal hooks and attached the ladder to the cliff side. The others felt their stomachs churning ever more the higher Liam traveled. After attaching the second rope ladder, they saw him grab onto it and stop moving. ¡°What is he doing?¡± ¡°Maybe he also got afraid¡­¡± The party whispered among themselves when Liam¡¯s wings suddenly vanished. As soon as his item¡¯s effect had run out, gravity pulled on his body as if angry about his defiance. Liam held onto the ladder, groaning as he felt the strain in his arm. He dangled dangerously in the air for a second before activating the second charge of Refresnim¡¯s orb of flight. Fortunately, he was already close to the top of the cliff. With a solid push from his wings, he came to a stop above the rocks, quickly installing the last rope ladder. Silver Blade gulped as she watched Liam happily waving from above. ¡°Damn, why is Mirage the only one with useful wings?¡± ¡°My friends, I think you have to tread this adventure without me.¡± ¡°No way, you¡¯re coming with us!¡± The party joked around to hide their anxiousness. Eventually it was Silent Acacia who stepped forward bravely, setting an example. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you drop something upon your inevitable death I will take good care of it.¡± Silent Acacia¡¯s eye twitched as he stared at Radiant Shield. Before he could say something, Quickstep kicked the tank¡¯s butt. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t curse my boyfriend like this!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go guys, I think it can¡¯t be that bad.¡± With those words Silent Acacia reached for the lowest ladder, beginning to climb up. A low breeze played around his body, causing the rope ladder to sway dangerously. Don¡¯t look down¡­ don¡¯t look down¡­ Hypnotizing himself the hunter steadily scaled one rung after another. Eventually he managed to pass the first ladder. But his stomach sank looking around as he found the next ladder blown to the side by a few meters. Silent Acacia could to nothing but wait in 40meters height, until the second ladder swayed back to him. The others watching from the ground cursed Liam for putting them in such a position. Eventually Silent Acacia was finally able to grab onto the second ladder. Wishing for his ordeal to be over he gathered all his courage, climbing up like an agile monkey. Liam was impressed as the hunter soon made it to the top. ¡°Good job!¡± Unfortunately, Liam¡¯s praise was met with a punch to his chest. ¡°What a stupid idea!¡± Liam only smiled wryly without commenting further. Following Silent Acacia¡¯s success, the others finally felt emboldened. They began to climb up one by one. At this point the differences in stats were clear for all to see. Those with high agility found the task easier while the mages struggled the most.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. At least not counting Radiant Shield, who took a long time to convince himself before every single move. But even so, he made it, falling on his knees on top of the cliff. ¡°I¡­ did it! Never¡­ again! Never ever!¡± Liam patted the man¡¯s shoulder in encouragement, deciding not to mention the fact that they had to get down somehow as well. Meanwhile the rest of the party had more than enough time to take a look around. They found themselves on a smooth plateau. A few plants grew sparsely along a ragtag wooden wall blocking their sight not far away. The steam which could be seen from the bottom of the cliff came from behind the wall. ¡°Mirage? What now?¡± ¡°Let me see¡­¡± Liam trailed off as he looked left and right. Soon, he found a hole in the wooden wall, peeking out behind some shrubbery. ¡°There!¡± Liam pointed it out, bringing the party over. His friends sighed as they figured out what would follow next. Pushing aside some annoying branches Liam went on all fours, crawling through the hole. Reaching the other side he still didn¡¯t dare to stand up, signaling everyone to hide until the party had gathered. The others complied while scanning the surroundings. Metal cages could be seen lining the walls, containing a bunch of prisoners. Most of them were goblins, but a few humans and beastkin were mixed in as well. From their positions the party members had a good view. They observed what looked to be a bandit camp, noticing the tightly guarded long road up the cliff. Still, the decision between scaling the cliff with rope ladders and fighting through a hundred bandits was a tough one. Gazing at the bandits Silver Blade didn¡¯t doubt Liam, questioning carefully: ¡°So, who is our target?¡± ¡°That guy.¡± Following Liam¡¯s pointed finger, the party members gazed at a goblin in large yellow trousers far to the left. He certainly didn¡¯t look like the first person one would invite to a boss fight. ¡°Is he some hidden bigshot or something?¡±, asked Silent Acacia skeptically. ¡°Nope. But he has an item we need.¡± ¡°Ok. So Bloody Edge sneaks over, gets the item and we leave happily?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, not.¡± ¡°Thought so.¡± ¡°We need to kill the jailer so that guy can have his revenge. Then he will give us a reward after freeing him.¡± Alright. And the jailer is that burly fellow over there?¡± Liam nodded as Silent Acacia pointed at a large man. He looked incredibly ferocious in his bloodstained clothes and with his scarred, bald head. Not even his colleagues dared to get close. But this was exactly what Liam counted on to defeat him. ¡°Is everyone here?¡± The others nodded, their bodies tensing up for the fight. ¡°Good. Acacia, you need to pull him over here. Don¡¯t forget guys, we need to fight him close to the wall without alerting anyone else.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± With Liam¡¯s warning the party positioned themselves along the wall, forming a long line as they watched Acacia sneaking forward. The hunter moved carefully, stopping as soon as he got into attack range. But before he could shoot an arrow, a pair of cold eyes already turned towards him. ¡°Well, where did you come from? Did you break out of my cages?¡± The jailer spoke in a rough voice sounding as if his throat was injured. Silent Acacia felt a shiver run down his spine. He turned around, quickly returning to the party. ¡°Let¡¯s go, guys!¡± Silver Blade encouraged the party as she inspected the enemy. [Deserter Jailer Maliff Rank: Lord Level: 19 HP: 4200/4200] Silver Blade drew a sharp breath: ¡°Damn, level 19.¡± ¡°So strong?¡± The party felt a heavy pressure on their shoulders as they began attacking. [-44!] [-29!] As always, the mages¡¯ attacks arrived first, the damage serving as appetizer for the party. ¡°This guy¡¯s defense doesn¡¯t seem weak¡­¡± Maliff¡¯s jagged knife spun in his hand. His eyes turned towards Cyclone as he fletched his teeth like a rabid dog. The mage felt disgusted. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t her job to engage the jailer. Radiant Shield had recovered his bearings as he approached the tall opponent, slamming his shield against the man¡¯s chest. ¡°Go back into your cage!¡± Maliff spoke maliciously as his knife hacked at Radiant Shield. The tank raised his defense, feeling a powerful blow traveling along his arm and shaking his core. [Stance -18] ¡°Maybe I can defend four hits.¡± The tank¡¯s face was grim as he spoke. ¡°Then we should hurry up!¡±, exclaimed Liam, swinging his swords. [-20!] [-10!] Liam¡¯s damage was almost pitiful. But at least Cyclone felt happy, finally confronting an enemy with more physical than magical defense. ¡°Wait guys, let me use my ultimate!¡± Silent Acacia called out, recalling his new skill. The young man had changed to the class of a beast hunter. Using his ultimate, a bloody red mark appeared above the jailer. ¡°What does it do?¡±, asked Silver Blade, knowing that it was important to understand her allies¡¯ abilities. ¡°It increases damage done by allies.¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty strong!¡±, praised Quickstep as she attacked, dealing more damage than Liam. Even Watchful Eye and Bloody Edge were able replicate this feat. Naturally Maliff didn¡¯t stand around and allowed the party to hit him as they pleased. He never stopped swinging his knife, putting pressure on Radiant Shield. Soon the tank was almost out of stance while the jailer barely lost somewhat over 500HP. Suddenly a small explosion went off above his bald head. Everyone stared in shock at the damage number produced by Liam. [-265!] ¡°Damn, expert how did you do this?!¡± ¡°Well, not many opponents have defense against holy damage.¡± ¡°What about other types of damage?¡± ¡°You need to try.¡± Listening to the conversation, the others longed for additional types of damage as well. Liam could only placate them, promising that more advanced classes would fulfill their demands later in the game. Chapter 74: Deserter Jailer (II) Feeling his strength being chipped away, Maliff¡¯s face suddenly turned vicious. ¡°Come here you pigs!¡± The jailer growled angrily as he put his knife away, stretching out his arms. ¡°Careful! Don¡¯t get grabbed! Dodge!¡± Liam hastily warned his party as Maliff threw his body forward, aiming for Radiant Shield¡¯s shoulders. The tank felt as if a bear was about to maul him. His body shook as he dodged at the last second. But the jailer wasn¡¯t done yet. Chaos broke out as he threw his body left and right to catch the party members. Unfortunately, the party didn¡¯t have much room to dodge as they were forced to fight close to the wall. After five attempts Maliff finally managed to get his hands on Bloody Edge. The thief yelped as two hands clamped down on his shoulders like bear claws. No amount of struggle was able to save him. Even as the other party members attacked, Maliff didn¡¯t let go. Suddenly a cage to the right opened by itself. The jailer grinned hideously as he easily tossed Bloody Edge into the cage, closing the door behind him. The thief groaned as he landed heavily on the floor, loosing almost half of his HP. [-250!] Cyclone couldn¡¯t help but snicker seeing the young man locked away. But Liam admonished her quickly: ¡°Don¡¯t laugh! We need to get him out! Acacia, open the lock!¡± With how urgent Liam¡¯s voice sounded the hunter didn¡¯t complain. He darted over, dexterously fiddling with the lock. In the meantime, though, the fight didn¡¯t stop. Maliff took out his knife again, swinging it fiercely. Silver Blade reacted immediately. Her shield clashed with the weapon, sending a tremor through her body. The loud collision sound reminded everyone, prompting them to act against Maliff swiftly. ¡°I¡¯m trying a spell!¡± Fortune yelled her announcement as she moved some distance away. She felt nervous as this would be her first time casting. If Maliff somehow managed to get close to her, the six second cast could be interrupted at any moment. Thus, Fortune felt incredibly tense as she swung her long staff above her head, gathering a large amount of mana. Luckily NPCs weren¡¯t intelligent enough to prioritize casting mages. Malif was still preoccupied with Silver Blade, hacking his knife at her. At this moment the tank¡¯s stance broke. [-478!] A terrifying damage number popped up, shaking the party. ¡°Damn that physical damage! Let me do the tanking!¡±, suggested Radiant Shield. Naturally Silver Blade accepted readily. Radiant Shield activated one of his new skills. He slammed his sword against his shield, scattering a holy light in all directions. Maliff was hit squarely in the chest. Although this skill dealt some holy damage, it¡¯s main purpose was to draw the opponent¡¯s aggro. Thus, the jailer let go of Silver Blade, directing his angry eyes at Radiant Shield. ¡°Finally did it!¡± At this moment Silent Acacia exclaimed with relief as a click could be heard, the cage door swinging open, granting Bloody Edge his freedom back.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The thief felt embarrassed. Wishing to make good on his mistake he directly went into stealth, sneaking behind Maliff. His new class Light Walker allowed him to wield two daggers. Both their tips suddenly shone in a dangerous grey light as he plunged them into the enemy¡¯s back. This was one of his new skills, applying his offhand weapon¡¯s damage as holy damage. [-110!] ¡°Argh!¡± Maliff groaned strangely as he stabbed his knife forward like a pouncing snake. Radiant Shield was caught off guard as the opponent¡¯s attack speed had strangely increased. He didn¡¯t manage to get his shield in the way. [-594!] Radiant Shield almost didn¡¯t belief his eyes as he reeled backwards. ¡°F*ck! What¡¯s with that guy¡¯s attack speed?¡± ¡°It¡¯s increasing.¡± ¡°Well, no sh*t¡­¡± The tank took a deep breath as a warm energy suddenly fell on him. It was Balm¡¯s new skill, which regenerated HP over time. [+194!] ¡°Thanks Balm! Glad you got some new healing spells.¡± ¡°Hehe, yes.¡±, replied the young woman with a hint of pride in her voice. ¡°Watch out!¡± At this moment Fortune suddenly yelled a warning. A large amount of mana gathered towards her, letting the tip of her staff shine in a mystical blue light. ¡°Arcana Bolt!¡± The woman shouted dramatically as multiple magical arrows shot out of her weapon. The arrows were full of energy, forcing the caster to control them tightly and not get overwhelmed by the rebound. Since this was the first time for Fortune, she found it incredibly difficult, only landing three out of ten attacks. [-74!] [-74!] [-74!] ¡°Wow, you¡¯re the best Fortune!¡± Cyclone praised with stars in her eyes, impressed by the damage her idol was dealing. Liam, who just managed to let his holy marks explode again, felt his eye twitch as he overheard Cyclone. But there was no time to compare damage numbers as Maliff suddenly let out a guttural roar. ¡°Ahhh!¡± All the party members felt their eardrums beating wildly, a dizziness assaulting their heads. They were forced to remain rooted as the jailer took a large step, arriving before the cage which held Bloody Edge earlier. With steam visibly coming from his nostrils the scarred man grabbed the cage, raising it high above his head. Liam felt his chest tighten. He didn¡¯t remember that this boss had the ability to stun. Most likely this had something to do with what C described as hell difficulty. But the veteran didn¡¯t despair. He knew how to deal with stuns, focusing his mind and pushing his stiff limbs to move. It was a feeling as if frozen in ice. A moment later Liam managed to break out. ¡°Force yourselves to move! Don¡¯t wait for the stun to end on its own!¡± Hastily informing his teammates, Liam dashed towards the opponent, hoping to draw his attention. But the jailer wouldn¡¯t have it. He fletched his teeth as a red line blinked before him, aiming right for Fortune. The mage felt her stomach sink. Fear gripped her heart, preventing her from struggling against the stun. ¡°Catch, worm!¡± Maliff spoke with an ugly grin as he suddenly threw the cage. It raced through the air at high speeds. Fortune closed her eyes, expecting to lose a life here. But suddenly a heroic voice could be heard. ¡°Holy barrier!¡± Radiant Shield raised his sword high shining a brilliant light on fortune. A thin, holy barrier engulfed the mage, shielding her from harm. The sturdy metallic cage arrived a moment later. Everyone held their breaths as they watched the projectile collide with the barrier. Bang! A tremor spread accompanied by a loud sound. The holy barrier wavered dangerously, but in the end, it barely held on. Fortune sighed in relief shooting Radiant Shield a thankful glance. Even Liam threw the tank a thumbs up before hacking his swords at Maliff. One by one the party members managed to free themselves form the stun. The heated battle continued. Maliff landed some more attacks on Radiant Shield, but Balm¡¯s healing canceled them out. A few moments later the jailer activated his skill again. Putting his knife away he lunged like a rampaging bear. However, the party didn¡¯t fall for the same trick a second time. They positioned themselves well, dancing around the scarred opponent skillfully. A few of the members were even brave enough to get a few attacks in while dodging. Liam was pleased with the development as he stacked his holy marks. With some luck he managed to build up five marks, dealing a record breaking nearly 400 points of damage. With such brutal hits the jailer was soon down to critical health. Liam held his breath, fearing that Maliff might enter a berserk mode. But luckily nothing of the sort happened, allowing the party to bring the fight to an end. ¡°No! I don¡¯t deserve this!¡± Maliff let out a shout of despair as Bloody Edge angrily plunged his daggers into the jailer¡¯s back, ending his life. ¡°Villain! That¡¯s for putting me in a cage!¡± Bloody Edge still felt humiliated even after the NPC laid on the ground lifelessly. Suddenly a low laughter could be heard. ¡°Haha, right I would¡¯ve almost forgotten without your reminder.¡± Bloody Edge felt his brows twitch as he listened to Cyclone. Balm stood next to the mage, holding her hands over mouth, finding it difficult not to be infected by the laughter. Fortunately, there was always an easy way to shut Cyclone up. Everyone in the party knew it by now. Thus, Bloody Edge grinned as he moved his hand as if in slow motion, reaching for the boss¡¯s corpse. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Cyclone¡¯s eyes opened wide as she threw her body forward, vying for the loot. The other party members were amused by her posture as they watched Cyclone overtaking Bloody Edge. Sighing, the young woman looked at her hand where a one-handed hammer shimmering with a blue light had appeared. She checked out the item before handing it over to Radiant Shield. ¡°I guess you deserve it.¡± [Hammer of the sacred order Category: Uncommon Level requirement: 15 Attack Damage: 19-21 Attack Speed: 0,6 Physical Resistance: +5 Effect 1: Shield skills block all attributed damage for 10% of their strength. A powerful weapon forged and sold by the sacred order. If you want a stronger version, you will be forced to join them.] Chapter 75: Saving Ruxor Radiant Shield put his weapon away with a joyful look. He couldn¡¯t wait to reach level 15 and equip his new hammer. Luckily the EXP from the fight had already pushed most of the party to level 11, shortening the distance slightly. Meanwhile Cyclone divided the rest of the loot, showing little interest in the green and white items. The jailer dropped a key as well, which was handed over to Bleary Mirage. ¡°Good job guys. Let¡¯s let those poor souls out.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°A deed worthy of heroes.¡± The party talked happily among themselves as Liam approached the cages. Three of them were still intact, containing prisoners which looked at Liam with hopeful eyes eager to finally regain their freedom. The veteran didn¡¯t delay, opening the doors one by one, aiding the unlucky prisoners in escaping. ¡°They could¡¯ve at least thanked us¡­¡±, grumbled Cyclone unhappily. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They are part of a quest. Although we skipped it, you can go back and claim the reward. I¡¯ll give you directions later.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Liam¡¯s explanation dissolved some of the party¡¯s dissatisfaction as they reached the last cage. A single goblin could be seen inside, wearing a way too large pair of yellow trousers and a strange tattered brown hat. The goblin appeared surprisingly lively despite his imprisonment, beginning to talk as soon as Liam opened the door. ¡°Adventurers, it¡¯s good to see you! I knew someone would come to save me, Ruxor, the greatest fisherman to ever grace the three oceans and myriad lakes!¡± ¡°Can you imagine? I was happily going about my business, skinning a one-hundred-meter big fish I just dragged on land, when those deserters appeared and ruthlessly kidnapped me!¡± ¡°Speechless, right? Yeah, I couldn¡¯t imagine it as well! I felt like back then when some audacious see anemone dared to swallow me!¡± The party wore strained smiles as the goblin continued rambling, conveniently boasting about all his achievements. Liam soon had enough. But he didn¡¯t dare to forcefully interrupt the goblin, fearing to drag down the relationship, causing the goblin to hold back the reward. But luckily the veteran had a great idea, sending out his secret weapon. Silver Blade rolled her eyes reading the message sent by Liam. She stepped forward, carefully interrupting the goblin. ¡°¡­ do you know what a clown fish is? Don¡¯t underestimate those silly little¡­¡± *cough* ¡°Sir Ruxor. Sorry for interrupting you, but we need to leave. Else these deserters might notice what happened here.¡± ¡°Oh, young lady, you are naturally correct. I still have fish to catch and oceans to conquer! Let me thank you again for the timely help. Here, take this famous fishing tool of mine. Increase your skills and seek me out again! I¡¯m sure we will work well together in the future!¡± Notifications flashed before the party¡¯s eyes telling them that they automatically accepted a quest and finished it instantly. Balm smiled brightly as this was the final push towards reaching level 11, being the last in the party to do so. Suddenly Balm felt a gust of wind besides her. She watched with bewilderment as Ruxor dashed swiftly like the wind, disappearing behind the wooden wall.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°How did those deserters capture him with that speed?¡± Cyclone was baffled as well, but even Liam didn¡¯t have an answer. This was simply how the game¡¯s setup. Meanwhile Silent Acacia was more interested in the quest reward. He retrieved it from his inventory, holding an object in the form of a lantern, its center surrounded by a net made of thin metal. Acacia furrowed his brows as he checked the object¡¯s description. ¡°This thing is made to fish with electricity?¡± The hunter pursed his lips, ridiculing the ¡®world¡¯s greatest fisherman¡¯ in his head. Listening to Acacia the party began to joke around while Liam led them back to the cliffside. ¡°Let¡¯s go guys.¡± ¡°Mirage¡­ can¡¯t we take another path?¡± ¡°Come on, it¡¯s not that bad. Just don¡¯t look down.¡± Liam smiled while setting an example, climbing the first rope ladder agile like a monkey. ¡°He¡¯s doing that on purpose, right?¡±, grumbled Fortune, her camera trained on Liam. ¡°We don¡¯t have much of a choice¡­¡± The party sighed and cursed as they one by one scurried down the cliff. Radiant Shield felt his stomach churn and roll. As soon as he made it to the floor, he laid down refusing to move. It took a while until the party followed Liam out of the forest. They returned to Svebrial City, directly taking the teleporter. A moment later the party found themselves in a town of average size. Watchful Eye looked around, speaking with a grim face: ¡°The atmosphere is rather bloody.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Silver Blade agreed solemnly looking at the soldiers in heavy armor patrolling the street. ¡°What¡¯s going on here Mirage?¡± ¡°We reached the empire¡¯s border. Traveling some more we would enter orc territory. Although there is no open war between the two powers, orcs come here from time to time to raid the villages and towns.¡± ¡°Oh, so are there any good quests here?¡± ¡°There are but they are somewhat out of our league.¡± ¡°A pity.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. We aren¡¯t here to fight orcs. We have a snake to kill.¡± ¡°Finally!¡± Cyclone exclaimed happily, looking forward to her new class. She also wished for new skills to flaunt around. Under the young woman¡¯s urging the party moved quickly, leaving the town in the direction of the empire¡¯s center. They traveled along a dirt road for a while before turning towards the wilderness. A deep gorge opened up before them, a narrow path leading downwards. Excited screeches echoed between the rocks. Soon, black dots could be seen in the sky, swooping down towards the party. It was the first time they had to deal with flying opponents. The fight proved to be difficult as the tanks had a hard time drawing aggro. Thus, everyone had to keep up their focus to dodge the birds¡¯ attacks. Luckily the opponents were only level 14, too weak to obstruct the path for long. The party continued deeper into the gorge, gradually leaving the birds behind. Soon, they reached the bottom. A fantastical scene presented itself. Multiple lakes of all sizes laid before them. Their water was crystal clear, supporting a small ecosystem of plants and animals. A refreshing smell of nature permeated the air. At the edge of the lake scenery fishermen could be found, staying perfectly silent as they held their rods into the water. A few carts stood around, carrying barrels filled with beautiful fish, their blue scales sparkling in the sunlight. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Everyone looked around with astounded eyes taking in the picturesque scenery. ¡°Is this where we should fight a boss?¡± ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t worry, the lake won¡¯t be destroyed.¡± ¡°I hope so¡­¡± Silver Blade felt somewhat reluctant as she followed Liam towards the muddy paths running between the lakes. ¡°You ready guys?¡± ¡°What?¡± Liam¡¯s friends were confused. They didn¡¯t understand what to look out for as the scenery was peaceful and the fishers apparently didn¡¯t seem to be in danger. But as soon as the party got close to the lakes, croaking could be heard. With a splash two large, ugly toads jumped out of the water, their tongues flashing at insane speeds. ¡°Ew¡­¡± Fortune shuddered in disgust, managing to dodge the attack purely by instinct. ¡°Keep those ugly things away from me!¡± The content creator hastily hid behind Silver Blade, urging the tanks to do their jobs. Naturally two toads couldn¡¯t trouble the party. They quickly died under a rain of attacks. More croaking could be heard as the party continued. From time-to-time toads jumped out of the lakes, barring the path. Fortune scrunched her face. Treading through muddy paths, constantly being attacked by ugly toads was certainly not her favorite hobby. But luckily, she kept her complaints to herself, earning her Liam¡¯s silent praise. It was important not to demoralize the party. Soon the party arrived on a larger piece of land between two smaller lakes, where the ground was more solid. Silver Blade let out a sigh of relief as her eyes swiped over a formation of smaller trees not far away. But suddenly she paused in surprise. ¡°Guys, look.¡± The other party members followed the tank¡¯s finger, finding a familiar old man sitting on a low branch. His face showed a worried expression as he patted the large bag next to him with his hand. ¡°An old man in need of ai¡­¡± Before Radiant Shield could finish his words, Cyclone¡¯s delighted exclamation interrupted him. ¡°Meyhran! My favorite NPC!¡± The others looked over in surprise, confused by the bright, foolish grin on Cyclone¡¯s face. ¡°Who is Meyhran?¡± ¡°An NPC who lets you draw from his bag when you complete his quest. He gave us the first unique quest.¡±, explained Silver Blade. ¡°What? You cleared the first unique quest?!¡± Quickstep turned towards the female tank in surprise. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°W¡­¡± ¡°Who cares about some quest in the past? Hurry, let¡¯s see what the old man has to say!¡± Cyclone¡¯s hands felt restless as she urged the party to hurry up, approaching Meyhran with the look of a child seeing santa. Chapter 76: Meeting Meyhran again ¡°Old man, we meet again!¡±, greeted Cyclone happily. ¡°Oh, adventurer, you came at the right time.¡± ¡°You look worried, can we help you?¡±, asked Silver Blade politely. ¡°Yes, yes. You see, this old man was traveling peacefully, feasting upon the beautiful scenery. But behind these few trees here lays an enormous lake. I didn¡¯t think much, allowing my mind to be cleansed by the serene atmosphere. Who would have expected a monster to suddenly appear from the lake? I was almost forced to lay down my life right there.¡± Cyclone squinted her eyes skeptically. ¡°How did you make it past those toads?¡± ¡°What toads?¡± Cyclone rolled her eyes. How could she not understand that it was useless to probe the NPC? ¡°Well, adventurers, what do you say? Can you open the way for this old man? Ter down the obstacles barring my travels.¡± [Do you wish to accept the quest ¡®Monster in the lake¡¯?] Naturally Silver Blade hastily accepted. This was simply a great bargain. They received another unique quest, it¡¯s target coinciding with their original goal. The woman leaned towards Liam, whispering curiously: ¡°Did you plan this?¡± ¡°No. Even I don¡¯t know where the old man appears next.¡± Liam looked at Silver Blade¡¯s eyes, noticing her unconvinced gaze. But his words were the truth. There was nothing more he could say. He shrugged his shoulders before waving at the party to follow him. After another short minute they reached an extensive piece of land adherent to the biggest lake within the gorge. Before the group could prepare much, the lake already began to stir. Waves built up, radiating a strong danger, the small lake akin to a raging sea. ¡°Quick! Take out Ruxor¡¯s fishing tools before it can attack!¡± Liam felt the mounting pressure as he directed the party. Everyone complied urgently, bringing out the strange lamps. On Liam¡¯s order they swung their arms, throwing the strange fishing tools into the water. ¡°Ouuuhhh!¡± An odd, painfilled roar shook the surroundings as electricity suddenly permeated the lake. Silver Blade averted her eyes guiltily when hundreds of fish surfaced on the lake, their flesh grilled by the strong current. Suddenly water splashed in all direction. A big monster jumped out of the lake, landing awkwardly on the land. It roared angrily, shaking its long snake-like body. Two large fins stretched threateningly below its head. It stared at the party with vicious, raging, slit-like eyes. Liquid dripped from its sharp teeth as it opened its maw widely. Everyone could feel a primal pressure emanating from the snake monster. [Deep Blue Winding Snake Rank: Boss Level: 15 HP: 4400/4400] Silver Blade gritted her teeth as she got into position. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Kill the monster!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The others echoed her as the first attacks reached the snake¡¯s head. [-132!] ¡°Hehe, this will be easy!¡±, proclaimed Cyclone happily as she saw her damage. The others felt confident as well. The snake appeared rather weak at the first clash.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°It¡¯s because we got her out of the water. But don¡¯t underestimate her!¡± Liam warned with a stern face as he swung his swords. The snakeskin felt rubbery under his swords but even without dealing any injury he still caused some damage. Suddenly however his chest tightened. He kept his eyes on the snake, noticing its muscles contracting quickly. ¡°Close ranged fighters, back up!¡± Liam warned his friends urgently while moving towards the back himself. The others reacted somewhat slower. Especially Bloody Edge who had circled the snake to find a weak point. The thief had just turned around when he felt a gust of wind on his back. Suddenly something heavy crashed into him, pressing all the air out of his lungs. Bloody Edge was thrown through the air by the snake¡¯s tail. When he landed in the dirt, he only had a tenth of his HP left. ¡°Why is everyone throwing me around today?¡± The thief complained with difficulties. Fortunately, a warm energy fell on him immediately as Balm graced him with a heal. Dragging his body up, Bloody Edge found that he wasn¡¯t the only one hurt by the skill. Even Quickstep and Watchful Eye had been scraped, losing a few dozen HP. Everyone instantly got the payback for underestimating a boss monster. Radiant Shield took a deep breath looking at the uprooted foliage after the snake swung her tail once. He felt the pressure as he stepped forward to draw aggro. The snake shook her head growling angrily. It snapped after Radiant Shield, its maw almost as big as the man¡¯s upper body. [Stance -18] [-80!] Radiant Shield was surprised as a swell of water came together with the attack. It was unlockable, dealing water attributed damage directly. ¡°This beast got some tricks up its sleeves.¡± Silent Acacia commented gravely as he used his ultimate [Mark of Death] and fired an arrow right after. [-168!!!] Even the hunter was surprised as his arrow was a critical hit, dealing a lot of damage. ¡°Keep it up!¡± More attacks landed on the snake in quick succession. With their new classes the party members shaved away its HP in next to no time. The snake focused on Radiant Shield. But when it felt its own strength weaken, concern flashed in its slit-like eyes. Suddenly the monster hissed angrily while drawing back. The party members quickly retreated, expecting another tail lash. Only Liam noticed something off, recalling another of the boss¡¯s skills. ¡°No! Come here! Attack quickly!¡± While Liam urgently called his friends back, the snake had reached the lake. A mysterious shimmer traveled over its skin as it held its tail into the water. [+40!] [+40!] [+40!] Numbers began to tick above the snake¡¯s head. In a short two seconds it had already recovered 200HP. At the same time the electricity shot into its body, paralyzing the monster. Spark even played on the surface of its skin, causing the party to behave carefully, afraid of getting too close. But Liam ignored everything as he slashed with his swords, setting an example. ¡°We need to attack it to shorten the time it uses to recover!¡± Everyone realized the urgency of the situation through Liam¡¯s explanation. Instantly multiple attacks slammed into the snake¡¯s head. The monster¡¯s HP fluctuated wildly but still moved upwards as everyone waited for their cooldowns. Only after the next round did the boss suddenly thrash wildly. The snake trembled as if the electric shock only reached it now, prompting the players to retreat. A few moments later the snake¡¯s movements stopped as the fight resumed normally. Radiant Shield looked at his used-up stance with worry but still blocked the way bravely. A foul-smelling maw bit at his body. [-445!] [-80!] ¡°How many hits can you take?¡± ¡°Only three more!¡± ¡°I will take over if necessary!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The two tanks conversed with grim expressions knowing that Balm¡¯s heal was still on cooldown for a while. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back!¡± Liam animated his friends as he stacked the fifth holy mark on the boss monster. Severe damage shook the snake. A strange roar escaped the monster¡¯s maw as it raised its head, stretching its fins wide. ¡°Careful!¡± Everyone realized that this was not a normal attack, going on the defense. With a heavy tremor the snake brought its head down, slamming it onto the floor. A shockwave spread over the entire piece of land. ¡°Woah!¡± No one was able to escape, taking a fixed 200 points of damage. At the same time this was a test of balance. Multiple party members were swiped off their feet, landing on their butts. Only Liam, Silver Blade, Cyclone, and Silent Acacia managed to remain standing while all the others were forced into a stunned state. ¡°Help!¡± Quickstep yelped anxiously as the snake randomly turned its head towards her. ¡°Silver Blade! Quick!¡± ¡°I know!¡± The tank moved hastily, jumping before Quickstep who laid unmoving on the ground. [Stance -23] [-80!] Silver Blade felt her stomach sink knowing that she wouldn¡¯t be able to defend for long. Meanwhile Liam closed the distance towards the boss. He activated his ultimate skill [Holy Tempest] right before stabbing with his swords. [-118!] [-47!] The moment the damage registered Liam instantly crossed his swords, performing a [Cross Slash]. [-162!] [-8!] His movements flowed beautifully as he activated [Holy Wave] with a thought while raising his swords for a [Double Slash]. Liam¡¯s weapons cut through the air. Five holy marks were applied within less than three seconds and directly triggered. [-453!] The others watched in amazement as Liam dealt nearly one thousand points of damage in a smooth rotation. ¡°ZSSS¡± A high-pitched hiss stabbed in everyone¡¯s ears as the snake turned its rage-filled eyes towards Liam. Its terryfiying maw snapped after the veteran. Liam, however, remained unperturbed after building up a lot of stance through his ultimate skill. With the calmness of an undefeatable champion, he moved his feet skillfully, escaping the attack by a hair¡¯s breath. [Stance -28] During the exchange Cyclone and Silent Acacia didn¡¯t stand still, dishing out attacks as well. Finally, even the other party members managed to stand up just in time as the snake swung its tail again. Luckily no one was close to the boss, causing the tail to miss widely. Chapter 77: Lucky Bag The electric current still zapped on the lake¡¯s surface while the blue snake monster stared at the party in hatred. If it would be able to fight from the water, the snake would¡¯ve been confident to kill the party members as easy as killing a chicken. But thanks to Liam¡¯s trick the fight was now in favor of the players. ¡°Only two thousand HP left, we got this!¡± Cyclone encouraged everyone as she swung her wand. In her mind she was already imagining her new class, wielding the might of lighting to decimate her opponents. ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± Balm gazed strangely at her friend as the blond woman laughed evilly. ¡°Heal!¡± Radiant Shield¡¯s distressed voice caught Balm¡¯s attention. Fortunately, her skill was already off cooldown. With a swing of her wand a comfortable energy enveloped Radiant Shield, allowing the tank to recover. But as if to show that it wouldn¡¯t be outdone by a bunch of players the boss drew back, putting its tail in the water. Once again it began to recover a large amount of HP. The party didn¡¯t need Liam¡¯s reminder this time. They brought out all their skills, crushing the boss under their attacks. The snake was quickly interrupted in its recovery. It swayed angrily, its eyes full of rage. Unfortunately, the party wasn¡¯t threatened by a mere gaze. They never stopped pressing on. A short while later the snake slammed its head down like a tiny meteor. While a few of the party members fell, Liam watched his skills coming off cooldown. The veteran dished out another round of attacks. Boom! Five holy marks exploded simultaneously. Finally, the snake couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. It wailed one last time before crashing to the floor, stopping all its movements. ¡°We did it!¡± Cyclone was excited as a notification flashed before her eyes, letting her know that she advanced in her quest. Now she only needed to bring back the snake¡¯s head as evidence and would be granted a new class. ¡°What are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go!¡± Radiant Shield panted heavily, exhaustion written on his face: ¡°My friend, have some mercy on us.¡± ¡°I¡¯m with you, Cy.¡±, said Balm as she watched her friend reach towards the snake¡¯s corpse. A blue shimmer instantly appeared in her hand. ¡°Fortune, I guess you¡¯re lucky!¡± Cyclone had a hint of longing in her eyes while handing over a mage robe to her idol. ¡°Reduces cast time? Not bad!¡± Fortune put on her new robe with a grin. Suddenly all the boys had strange expressions, some averting their eyes, some taking an extra look. Compared to traditional wide robes, Fortune¡¯s new one didn¡¯t try to hide her feminine charm. Cyclone felt a hint of relief that this robe didn¡¯t land in her hands. Fortune on the other hand wasn¡¯t shy, presenting herself proudly. She knew how to use her figure to her advantage as a content creator. ¡°Maybe I have to record less from my own perspective¡­¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Liam coughed awkwardly as Fortune murmured to herself. ¡°We got what we came for. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡±, agreed Cyclone joyfully, taking the lead. Soon the party was back at the earlier crossing, facing old man Meyhran. ¡°Adventurers, you are back! Has the beast been slain?¡± ¡°Old man, we have completed your quest.¡± ¡°Great. You have done a good deed. The world is a bit saver thanks to you. This old man can finally continue his travels. You know I don¡¯t have much to give. Each of you can try your luck in my tattered, old bag. But I can¡¯t promise you anything.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry old man, I will definitely get something good!¡± Cyclone rubbed her hands before opening the bag wide. A seemingly infinite darkness waited for her. ¡°Cy-clone! Cy-clone!¡± Balm cheered jokingly as her friend rummaged through the bag. When she drew her hand back, a shining yellow light played around it. The others didn¡¯t immediately comprehend the situation, but Liam¡¯s jaw gaped open as he stared at Cyclone¡¯s hand. ¡°Impossible.¡± ¡°What is it, Mirage?¡± ¡°A rare item! That¡¯s the best you can get for the foreseeable future!¡± When Cyclone heard Liam¡¯s explanation she first grinned brightly before quickly putting on a nonchalant facade. ¡°It¡¯s only rare. I can draw something like this whenever I want.¡± Cyclone flicked her hair with her hand as she spoke arrogantly. ¡°Stop pretending!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± The blond woman glared at Balm, who mischievously poked her waist. ¡°Come on, show us the item.¡± ¡°Yes, we want to see the first rare.¡± ¡°Show it into the camera!¡± Under the party¡¯s urgings Cyclone finally posted the information into the chat. [Boots of Saphrala Category: Rare Level requirement: 12 Movement speed: +15 Magical Resistance: +4 Magical Damage: +30 Effect 1: Reduces stance cost of Flash Step by half. Effect 2: Every time you use Flash Step lightning will strike a random enemy. Skill: Phantom Clone The famous elven mage Saphrala personally imbued these boots with her magic for thirty days. They were given to her daughter Maphrola, who got rid of everything reminding her of her mother after a fierce argument.] ¡°Wow! They even have a skill attached!¡± ¡°So strong!¡± ¡°What do we do with them?¡± The party discussed for a few seconds. Everyone was enticed by the rare item even if it didn¡¯t have any use for them. But eventually, Fortune and Balm graciously took a step back, allowing the boots to end up in Cyclone¡¯s hands. After finding a rare item, the subsequent items couldn¡¯t raise the excitement anymore. Even as Radiant Shield retrieved a blue bow it was barely enough to move Silent Acacia. Thus, the subsequent looting passed quickly. Soon old man Meyhran took his leave, his magical bag dangling over his shoulder. Liam shook his head seeing the hint of greed in Bloody Edge¡¯s eyes: ¡°Forget it. You aren¡¯t the first and won¡¯t be last. But no one can take the old man¡¯s bag away.¡± ¡°My instincts tell me the old man hides deeply.¡± ¡°Of course. Else he couldn¡¯t casually travel everywhere.¡± ¡°Can we trail him and accept all his quests?¡±, questioned Cyclone with sparkling eyes, drawing laughter from Liam. ¡°Sure. If you manage to stick to him.¡± Cyclone narrowed her eyes, seemingly pondering if it was worth a try. But at this moment a deafening screech suddenly echoed through the gorge. A monstrous hawk with a wingspan of multiple meters swooped down from the air, thirsty for revenge. The party members felt their chest tighten. If this monster aimed for them, they could just lie down and let it kill them. There was no way to fight back. But fortunately, the hawk didn¡¯t look at them, racing towards a spot hidden behind a few trees. A faint breeze danced around the party members. They didn¡¯t take it to heart until they suddenly found the hawk struggling in the air. A second later the gigantic beast tumbled. A deafening bang shook the surroundings as the hawk broke the sound barrier shooting into the distance. ¡°What¡­ was this?¡± ¡°Wind magic probably.¡± ¡°Eh¡­ you know what? Maybe we shouldn¡¯t follow the old man.¡± ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right¡­¡± The party members turned around stiffly. This was the first time they saw magic of a high grade being used, leaving a profound impression in their minds. But their apprehension quickly turned into longing. Cyclone was all the more hyped for her new class, urging the group to return to the city quickly. However, by now it was already getting late. The party decided to separate and do their own thing. Liam didn¡¯t feel like starting a new quest, farming some EXP instead. An hour later the gaming time for the day was over, forcing everyone to log off. Liam stretched and left his training room. Patting his pocket the young man smiled, feeling the black credit card with more than 60.000 credits in it. He strolled out of the dojo, following a path through the lower city. Liam couldn¡¯t help but sigh as he watched the people who were trying to survive. Deep rooted feelings moved in his heart. Now that I have a path to success, I might be able to save a few people. Many of the homeless here are innocent, left alone by the world. Yet it was those who don¡¯t have anything themselves, who reached out a helping hand to me and Serena in the past. Especially our old community. I would love to gift Trey a console, but a poor man can be guilty for owning a jewel¡­ Random thoughts ran in Liam¡¯s hand when he finally reached his target, entering Ben¡¯s Pawn Shop where he pawned his champions ring off. When the familiar ¡®ding¡¯ rang out, Liam furrowed his brows. Looking around, he found many cracked shelves with only a few sparsely placed items. With a sinking feeling in his stomach Liam approached the unmanned counter. It took a few seconds until Ben came from a door at the back. The old man had a bandage around his head, his expression icy. He spoke with a dry voice: ¡°Who are you? Are you buying or selling?¡± ¡°Old man, don¡¯t you recognize me anymore?¡± Chapter 78: Championship Ring and family meeting Ben narrowed his eyes, staring at Liam¡¯s face for a few seconds. ¡°Liam? Look at you, dressed all fancy.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it fancy¡­¡± ¡°Whatever. What did you come here for?¡± ¡°I¡­ wanted to buy my ring back.¡± Liam spoke carefully as Ben¡¯s face fell. ¡°Your ring? It¡¯s probably gone! F*ck!¡± The old man gritted his teeth as he slammed his fist on the counter. Liam wasn¡¯t exactly surprised. He asked with a sigh: ¡°What happened here?¡± ¡°What could¡¯ve happened?! I¡¯ve been robbed!¡± Liam felt it was a pity. But ultimately, he wasn¡¯t that attached to the ring. But just as Liam was ready to give up on it, a mechanical voice sounded in his head. [Player Liam, receive your next challenge.] [Get your championship ring back.] [Rewards will be based on degree of completion.] Liam¡¯s face froze as he finally received another challenge. But he didn¡¯t know what to think about this one. The young man looked at Ben¡¯s face as he asked with mixed emotions: ¡°Old man, who would have the guts to rob you?¡± ¡°People from the Southern District Gang! When that game came out those idiots were some of the craziest. Thought they are suddenly unbeatable. Hmpf!¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t try to get your stuff back?¡± ¡°Bullsh*t! After the chaos, the army is more ruthless than ever! The gangs in the city have been decimated. No one dares to show their tails.¡± ¡°Could it be that the army has confiscated my ring?¡± ¡°Chances are high.¡± ¡°Great.¡±, said Liam sarcastically. ¡°Any idea how I could get it back?¡± Ben eyed Liam skeptically. The young man asked a lot of questions about a ring he had supposedly stolen. ¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up. I¡¯m still the rightful owner, but you can forget it if you expect me to talk to the army.¡± Liam¡¯s thoughts churned but he found himself out of options. Even if he joined the army, he couldn¡¯t expect the to simply allow him to take his ring away. Liam felt indignant as he was forced to put the issue at the back of his mind. It was rare for him to face such obstacles. In his old life there were no problems money couldn¡¯t fix. Taking a deep breath to adjust his mindset Liam said his goodbyes to Ben. He strolled through the city some more, soon reaching a shady shop in the middle district. While all the other shop were running out of consoles within seconds after refilling their stock, this shop still promised next day delivery. Although the situation was odd, Liam didn¡¯t care, ordering a console for Serena. The young girl appeared incredibly interested in the game. Thus, Liam didn¡¯t feel that the money was wasted. He felt even more reassured when he returned home, warmly welcomed by a hug from his sister.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Serena, how was your day? Are you learning something?¡± ¡°Of course! I helped Kathrin wash wounds today!¡± ¡°Oh? Did you have many patients?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Merida was sitting not far away, adding to the conversation: ¡°All those idiots feel like heroes since Fate of Crunaboul released. Grown men suddenly tend to solve even the smallest differences with their fists. I hope some regulations will be put in place soon.¡± ¡°Makes sense. Especially since you can¡¯t see someone¡¯s stats. You never know if you are arguing with a level 1 or level 10.¡± ¡°Liam! I heard that the ranking list released today! Everyone is trying to find out who those level 10 players are.¡± ¡°Well, one of them stands before you.¡± Serena wrinkled her brows, searching for signs of a joke on Liam¡¯s face. But it was only natural. As far as the young girl knew, her brother had never touched games before. Liam could only smile bitterly. ¡°Just wait for Fortune¡¯s video. You will see.¡± ¡°Right, Kathrin told me about her. Apparently, Fortune is some famous video creator. She should¡¯ve recorded the dungeon run, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Serena smiled, looking forward to the video. For her it was the first time following some stars. She felt as if she was part of something impressive witnessing the rise of many new celebrities. One had to understand that Fate of Crunaboul received even more attention now than in Liam¡¯s past life. It was basically the only topic people talked about nowadays. Strength had always been a way to gain status even under the lawful Human Federation. And now that the game had appeared, everyone was suddenly granted a chance to rise. However, only time could tell if this would be a bad or a good thing. For Liam such issues were far away right now. He had a hearty meal with Serena and Merida, enjoying the delightful atmosphere. Afterwards the trio relaxed in the living room, watching some TV until a message suddenly reached Liam through the console embracing his upper body. [Fortune: Two minutes until release guys!] [Cyclone: Finally! I¡¯ve been waiting all evening.] [Radiant Shield: Oh, I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m ready. Will we become stars?] [Bloody Edge: Damn right we will! I haven¡¯t seen anyone talk about something other than Crunaboul.] Everyone was anxious, excited, nervous. They stared at their screens, constantly refreshing Fortune¡¯s channel. Silver Blade was already dressed, prepared to face her family as soon as the video was out. Meanwhile Liam startled Merida when he suddenly brought up Fortune¡¯s channel on the TV. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Fortune should upload her video any second now.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡±, asked Serena with a puzzled face. ¡°Are you really part of the team?¡± Liam was just about to answer Merida when a change occurred on the screen. An additional video appeared bearing the simple title ¡®Reylar¡¯s Curse first clear: Fate of Crunaboul¡¯. In the federation¡¯s media all kinds of clickbait were frowned upon. But even though the title sounded rather dry it immediately grabbed the attention of people all over the planet. The views exploded within seconds even before Liam could press play. It didn¡¯t take long for Fortune to meet her teammates in the video. Instantly Serena stared at Liam, her face filled with disbelief. Although his face in the game was altered considerably how could Serena not recognize her brother? ¡°It¡¯s really you!¡± ¡°I told you.¡±, answered Liam with a smug smile. But the surprise didn¡¯t stop yet. Serena found it unbelievable watching Liam valiantly fight against all the monsters, his performance obviously standing out among the group. The young girl asked Liam why he was so powerful. He could only make something up about natural talent and information left behind by their parents. Fortunately, Serena and Merida believed him as they couldn¡¯t think of other possible explanations. But while Liam was joking around with the two women, an incredible ripple had been set off. Silver Blade was one of the first to feel it as she entered a family meeting which was suddenly convened. Arriving in the familiar office the large screen was still black. The family members looked at Silva and her parents with complicated expressions. Brayan sat at the front, his expression grim. The young man had been trying to sway public opinion all day. However, just as he thought things were going well, Fortune¡¯s video released. At that moment he felt his heart stop. The video clearly showed the names of ten people, matching those on Silva¡¯s contracts. And to make matters worse the tank called Silver Blade looked suspiciously similar to his cousin. Suddenly a voice broke the silence. A man in a formal suit with well-groomed graying hair stood up, smiling brightly at Silva and her parents. ¡°Malik, Alyssa, Silva! What are you standing around for? Come, come. Sit here!¡± Silva kept a professional smile but was inwardly disgusted. This man called Mr. Glan was a good friend of her uncle Owen. Despite not being related by blood he managed to receive the trust of the Colville family on Falva Star. Usually, Mr. Glan always fawned Owen, being the first to stand out and criticize her father with disgusting words. But now that it looked like Owen and his son were about to suffer a setback, Mr. Glan was the quickest to change his attitude. Silva would¡¯ve liked to push the treacherous man aside, but she held herself back. Vying for the families¡¯ succession meant proving many skills, for example social skills and managing people. Therefore, Silva couldn¡¯t disregard any of the people present. With a polite smile she nodded at Mr. Glan and sat down on the empty seats next to him. The office fell silent. Everyone¡¯s eyes were trained on the large black screen. A few seconds later it finally switched on, revealing the noble face of Edward Edel Coville. The old family head kept a neutral expression, showing no emotions. A pressuring silence spread, making it difficult to breathe. Eventually Edward finally opened his mouth: ¡°Well done Silva Colville.¡± This sentence fell like a judgement. Silva¡¯s emotions threatened to erupt violently, barely kept in check by her. After so many years of struggling against her uncle this was the first time she gained the family head¡¯s recognition. Chapter 79: New game day Brayan felt his throat dry up. He closed his eyes knowing that he wouldn¡¯t escape punishment this time. After a few moments Edward¡¯s stern eyes focused on him. The old man still didn¡¯t reveal any emotions, his voice monotonous as if simply stating facts: ¡°Brayan Colville. You tried to deceive the family, faking accomplishments. A ship has already set off from Libra Star. You will come back, serving in the army for 10 years. Your shares in Colville Constructions will be handed over to Silva. You will step back from your position as COO. Silva will be allowed to buy 2% shares of Colville City Military from Owen.¡± With every word he heard, Brayan felt a stabbing pain in his heart. Over the years he and his father toiled laboriously to build up influence in the family¡¯s companies, but now a massive shift in power had taken place with one mistake. Meanwhile Silva felt incredibly relieved. From now on her annoying cousin couldn¡¯t leverage his power as COO anymore to meddle in the affairs of Colville Constructions, which should rightfully belong to her father. On top of that Silva would be allowed to buy shares in the family¡¯s other company, which was led by her uncle Owen, allowing her to overwatch her uncle¡¯s dealings. Everyone present could feel the changing atmosphere, knowing that Silva had caught the family head¡¯s attention. The ambitious individuals were forced to rethink their behavior, imagining all kinds of ways to get closer to the young woman. Many awkwardly fiddled with their collars, remembering how they made life difficult for the family in the past. ¡°In three months the first federation tournament will begin. Rember to do well!¡± Dropping one last bombshell the family head ended the call, leaving everyone to their own thoughts. Mr. Glan was the first to react. Ignoring Owen¡¯s terrifying gaze the sleazy man turned towards Silva: ¡°Young miss, congratulations! You did our family a great service. Colville Constructions is talked about throughout the federation. Our popularity has reached an unprecedented peak.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± As Silva accepted the congratulations politely, the others woke up as well, hastily approaching the young woman. Superficial conversations could be heard for a few minutes. Even Silva¡¯s grandfather the governor spoke a few words. Only Owen and Brayan remained silent, grinding their teeth until everyone else had left. Brayan finally allowed his face to contort, his skin turning pale: ¡°It¡¯s over! That b*tch Silva destroyed all my hard work! F*ck! Our influence in Colville Constructions will be dwindling.¡± His father Owen had venom in his eyes, cursing his brother¡¯s family. ¡°What a vicious move. Hiding those contracts from us and letting us run into the knife. I never expected them to scheme so deeply!¡± Owen felt the rage overcoming his mind. He recalled scenes of him growing up. The day a woman came to their family claiming to have birthed a son for his father everything went downhill. With the family¡¯s strict rules, which stated to give every family member a fair chance, his father didn¡¯t dare to silence them. Neither with money nor otherwise. Thus, the bastard was accepted and grew up as Malin Colville. Suddenly Owen¡¯s position was threatened. All the family assets suddenly had to be split according to the brothers¡¯ accomplishments.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Fortunately, Malin understood his position early on and distanced himself. However, the situation changed when Silva began to show ambition. And now after struggling for years it was the first time his brother¡¯s side gained an advantage. Owen¡¯s gaze landed on his son. He didn¡¯t blame Brayan for what happened as the idea was approved by him. Now he could only remind the young man: ¡°Don¡¯t be disheartened by a temporary setback! Joining the army is not the end! Focus on the game and show your talent. It was certainly no coincidence that the family head mentioned this tournament. If you can place higher than Silva, you will quickly regain the family¡¯s favor!¡± Brayan took a deep breath, calming the emotions in his eyes. ¡°You are right father! If Silva thinks I will be defeated this easily, she is gravely mistaken!¡± The other party members felt the effect of Fortune¡¯s video as well. Cyclone and Balm, or rather Cynthia and Mel, gathered with their gamer friends in Cynthia¡¯s secret home. They celebrated while reading comments online. Girlish giggles could be heard for multiple hours as the two women were teased by their friends constantly searching for comments praising them. However, eventually both women grew annoyed as more people praised their appearance rather than their skills. The long cherished with in their hearts to found a powerful guild and reach the top sprouted with fervor. They wanted to prove what they were capable of to shut everyone up with their skills. Meanwhile Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge, or rather Dom and Kel, took a while to convince their college buddies that they were part of the team. Especially the chubby Dom, who looked much too different form the burly warrior in game, was forced to explain himself awkwardly. But eventually the others were convinced, allowing Dom and Kel to feel like heroes for the night. Even some girls which normally wouldn¡¯t look at them twice took the initiative to get closer. Unfortunately, the two young men were too inexperienced to grab the chance. On top of that Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge suddenly felt like many of the former fairy-like girls looked rather bland after hanging out with Fortune for a few days. Elsewhere Silent Acacia and Quickstep were accepting congratulations as well. Some old teammates and agents even spent some money to call them across planets. Naturally these people didn¡¯t do so purely for fun, but rather to send subtle and overt invitations to join their teams. However, the couple stayed noncommittal. Silent Acacia didn¡¯t hold much trust after being thrown out of his last team after a single bad season. If he could rise together with his new party and prove his former team wrong, it would be ideal. Another night passed quickly like this. The next morning Liam woke up early for some training before entering the game. None of his party members had appeared yet. Liam sat next to a random fountain in Svebrial, enjoying the atmosphere, pondering what to do today. Maybe it is time to follow the message in a bottle quest. My stats should be just about enough to make it fun. Making up his mind Liam strolled down the street leisurely, soon reaching the teleporter. A bright blue light shone as he found himself back in Prento. His arrival was extremely conspicuous, alerting the nearby players. ¡°Hey, look someone came through the teleporter!¡± ¡°Is it an NPC? Maybe he carries a special quest!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check it out!¡± ¡°No, look at the name above his head! It¡¯s Bleary Mirage! He was part of the group who cleared the dungeon!¡± ¡°Ahh! It¡¯s him! Mirage, marry me!¡± ¡°Can I get an autograph?¡± ¡°Mirage! Mirage! Take me as your disciple!¡± Liam looked over the motely crowd, sighing inwardly. It¡¯s just like before¡­ I should look for an item to hide my identity. Before more people could gather, Liam hastily left from the back of the teleportation platform. With agile steps he made his way through the crowd, disappearing amongst the houses. But not all the people who spotted Liam were fans. A sneaky fellow standing at the back of the crowd hastily sent out a message. Fat Tiger had already gathered his elites early, attacking the dungeon together with Glorious Sunrise. After buying a large part of Liam¡¯s Fiery Tacaria they were confident in clearing the dungeon today. But just as they were about to enter the kitchen filled with skeletons, a message arrived. [Sharp Eagle: @Boss! I saw one of those level 10 players! It¡¯s that guy, Bleary Mirage.] [Fat Tiger: What? How? Is he back in Prento?] [Sharp Eagle: Yes!] [Fat Tiger: Haha, great! Quick, gather a team and follow the plan! Someone is willing to pay a lot of money for everyone who can slow down that party!] [Sharp Eagle: Got it boss!] Sharp Eagle¡¯s hands trembled form excitement. He felt that his time had come. The warrior with his narrow eyes hastily informed some available guild members while sprinting through the town, afraid of losing Liam. Meanwhile the latter left Prento, following the jungle path. He passed the spot where they met old man Meyhran for the first time, strolling deeper into the outer forest. Suddenly Liam frowned, looking over his shoulder. He found a few players innocently going about their business. Shaking his head he turned back, falling into a jog. After a while he dived into the jungle to his right, making his way through the dense foliage. Liam¡¯s chest tightened. He trusted his instincts, stopping in place and taking a closer look at the area up front. Through the dense leaves he found a small metallic sphere. A subtle magic surrounded it, distorting the air around it. 99% of the current players wouldn¡¯t have spotted the inconspicuous object, walking right into it. Unfortunately for some people Liam naturally belong to the other 1%. Chapter 80: Ambush A trap¡­ intresting A fleeting grin flashed on Liam¡¯s face as he readied his mind for combat. At this moment a faint rustling could be heard from his back. Liam swiftly stepped to the side. A few leaves were cut apart as a sharp dagger barely missed his back. [Stance -6] ¡°Nice try.¡± Sneering at the amateurish thief, Liam turned around, his swords appearing in his hand. The weapon in his offhand cut down, aiming for the attacker¡¯s neck. The thief instantly felt the pressure. With no time to think he threw his body to the right. But miraculously a sword was already waiting for him. [-510!] The thief felt stifled as his HP were almost gone with a single attack. ¡°Guys! Where are you?!¡± An angry shout left his mouth, blaming his comrades. Not far away Sharp Eagle was hiding behind a tree, his expression conflicted, cursing the thief inwardly. Since their target didn¡¯t step into the trap, why did this idiot attack anyways?! Liam eyed the surrounding trees. He dodged the thief¡¯s attack again. Just as he was about to end the man¡¯s life, a rather short warrior with a large shield jumped before his sword. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect this, hm? Mirage, it¡¯s time to leave your life behind!¡± The warrior spoke confidently but a drop of sweat was running down his neck looking at the huge amount of stance he lost from a single attack. ¡°F*ck it! Attack!¡± Seeing another guild member step out, Sharp Eagle knew that it was too late for a retreat. With an angry shout he ordered the attack. Suddenly the forest seemed to come alive as a team of ten players revealed themselves. Even Liam felt the pressure. He instantly used [Holy Tempest]. A golden light engulfed his skin as he circled the warrior with a smooth movement. Multiple ranged attacks struck the spot which Liam just left. ¡°Judging from your names you are those guys from Beast Den? Quite daring!¡± Liam¡¯s voice didn¡¯t sound strained. Before the thief¡¯s dagger could reach him, his swords flashed. The thief died with an unwilling expression and even the tank didn¡¯t manage to avoid the hit. [-347!] Seeing multiple people closing in on him, Liam quickly sent out a wave of brilliant light. Holy marks appeared above everyone¡¯s hearts. Some of the players were taken aback, apprehensive because of the unknown status. But Sharp Eagle ignored everything around himself. Knowing the importance the boss placed on Bleary Mirage, he was eager to show his worth and finally get the recognition he deserves. The warrior only took a moment to close the distance, his sword drawing a graceful arc. Liam¡¯s leg twitched. But he held himself back, crossing his swords to defend instead of dodging. He¡¯s trying to get me into the trap¡­ ¡°Flurry!¡± A shout came from a bow-wielding player, letting everyone¡¯s eyes twitch. ¡°Idiot! What are you doing, announcing your skills?!¡±, shouted Sharp Eagle angrily. Liam couldn¡¯t help but grin as he used a cross slash.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Sharp Eagle had good senses. He felt a glimmer running along Liam¡¯s swords. But it was too late to dodge as the attack landed squarely on his chest. [-618!] [-61!] Liam leaned his body into the attack. With a strong push he shoved Sharp Eagle away, once more placing the hostile tank between himself and the ranged attackers. ¡°Elk, you idiot! Whose side are you on?!¡± The tank called Elk gritted his teeth. ¡°Stay still!¡± With an angry shout he hacked his sword at Liam¡¯s head, using [Brutal Strike]. Liam knew that getting stunned would be fatal. Dread crept into his mind as he saw two other warriors arriving, blocking his path. But instead of falling into despair, Liam¡¯s mind cleared up under the pressure. Mana erupted abruptly, circling through his body at immense speeds. Every single cell felt energized, longing for an outlet. Suddenly a few sparks played around Liam¡¯s body as the veteran vanished, reappearing behind the backs of the incoming warriors. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°What skill is this?¡± The opponents weren¡¯t able to comprehend the situation as flash step was still an unknown concept. But Liam didn¡¯t think much of it. Everything felt incredibly familiar to him, not able to divert his attention from the fight. He only furrowed his brows as he noticed his stance running out. While everyone was distracted Liam made use of the situation. He turned swiftly, his swords moving like the wind as a perfectly executed [Double Slash] hit the two warriors. The holy marks above their heads exploded. Shocking damage numbers popped up. The warriors stood no chance. They died without being able to land a single attack on Liam. Watching all this play out, the others were shocked to their cores. Without understanding Liam¡¯s Holy Tempest class, they couldn¡¯t comprehend what was going on. But Liam had no mercy. He instantly darted to the right, swinging his swords at a seemingly inconspicuous bush. But a thief was directly forced out of stealth as Liam¡¯s swords landed on him. Finally, Sharp Eagle got out of his stupor, yelling angrily at his group: ¡°Damn it! Attack, attack! Use everything you have! I can¡¯t believe we don¡¯t get that guy killed!¡± Sharp Eagle gritted his teeth as he glanced at the trap not far away. If they wanted to have a chance, they needed Liam to step in it. Fat Tiger didn¡¯t forget that Liam had a way to fly. Thus, he had been asking around for a countermeasure for a few days. Eventually the crafty guild leader found a trap preventing the use of consumable items. Everyone was confident that this trap was enough to kill Bleary Mirage. But now Sharp Eagle felt his confidence crumble. It was questionable if they would be able to kill the opponent even if he walked into the trap voluntarily. But we are already riding the tiger now and can¡¯t get off! Sharp Eagle shook his head rapidly as an image of his guild leader appeared in his mind. Damn, I¡¯m never going to use this idiom again! Although the warrior¡¯s thoughts were chaotic, he still followed the fight closely. Watching Liam reveal their thief as if stealth didn¡¯t exist for him, Sharp Eagle gritted his teeth, taking out a small bomb, and throwing it towards the opponent. Sorry! Liam suddenly felt his instincts screaming at him. He didn¡¯t care about finishing the thief off as he lunged to the side. Boom! An explosion went off, shaking the trees and splashing dirt in all directions. The thief was barely able to throw an accusatory gaze at Sharp Eagle before being sent to the graveyard. However, his sacrifice was worth it in his comrade¡¯s eyes as Liam finally took some damage while rolling awkwardly on the ground. [-400!] The veteran took a sharp breath feeling his back in pain. But it was no time to relax. Multiple ranged attacks rained down on him, eager to take his life. Sharp Eagle sighed as Liam stopped before entering the trap¡¯s range. But seeing the latter¡¯s precarious condition with multiple attacks shooting towards him, Sharp Eagle suddenly felt hope. However, Liam wasn¡¯t defeated yet. Mana once more ran through his body as he vanished from the spot. ¡°Careful!¡± Sharp Eagle gritted his teeth, cursing the game for allowing such an overpowered ability to exist. He naturally couldn¡¯t know that Liam¡¯s smooth execution was the result of years of training. When people first learned flash step, it was already not bad if they could dodge a skill with multiple seconds preparation time. Liam made use of his advanced skills to appear next to an unsuspecting mage. Both players looked dumbly at each other for a moment until Liam¡¯s attack was ready. His swords stabbed into the mage¡¯s chest, ending the frail opponent¡¯s life. ¡°Get away!¡± Sharp Eagle bellowed angrily as he and the tank tried to catch up with Liam. By now only the two warriors and three ranged fighters were left. Thus, a strange situation ensued. The ranged fighters tried to get away while Liam chased after them, followed by the warriors. After a short couple of seconds Liam had caught up to another mage, felling him quickly. Meanwhile the rest of the guild members gathered together. The two warriors stood at the front, glaring angrily at Liam while doing their best to hide the fear in their hearts. ¡°Mirage, come! Attack us if you¡¯re a man!¡± Liam chuckled, glancing at his cooldowns. ¡°Sure!¡± A moment later his skill was ready again, a wave of light spreading from Liam. While the guild members were still apprehensive, Liam raised his hand, a progress bar appearing before his eyes. 1¡­ 2! Two seconds passed quickly. Boom! Suddenly multiple small explosions went off. The holy marks erupted, shaking the opponents. Shock clouded their eyes as they dropped lifelessly to the floor. Liam slowly lowered his hand. His face was grim. Obviously, he didn¡¯t appreciate being ambushed. He could¡¯ve escaped the entire time but chose to eliminate the other party as a lesson. It was questionable, however, if Fat Tiger would learn from it. Chapter 81: Leisurely questing Liam looked at the bodies on the floor. Seven items were dropped by the unlucky guild members. Except for a fine black wolf pelt, which could be used as a gift to NPCs, there was nothing outstanding among the items. With their low levels they couldn¡¯t enter Liam¡¯s eyes anymore. Liam carelessly put them away as he continued his way. Soon, the scenery changed as the young man arrived at a peaceful beach. The golden sand was incredibly soft. A faint breeze carried the ocean air towards one¡¯s nose, refreshing the mind. Small red crabs scurried about, scavenging for food. When Liam appeared, a group of three crabs immediately focused their eyes on him. A few moments they laid dead on the ground, not able to trouble the player at all. Strolling along the beach, Liam almost appeared to be on vacation as he soon arrived at a wooden hut. The building looked perfectly aligned with nature. Crabs played around it, not even disturbed by Liam¡¯s arrival. A few seagulls perched on the greyish roof. A long pier stretched from the wooden hut out into the ocean, waves brandishing against its wooden support pillars. Fishes swam happily around the man-made structure despite the middle-aged man sitting at the end with his fishing pole held into the water. Liam approached carefully. His steps were soft, preventing the wooden floor from creaking. He came to a stop behind the fisherman, watching him calmly. The man wore a black coat and a broad brown hat. A stubbly beard grazed his face. Adding his dirty grey trousers and unmoving body he appeared as if he had been sitting in the same spot for a few days already. Perceiving Liam¡¯s arrival, the man waited a few seconds before speaking in a hoarse voice: ¡°Adventurer. What could you seek from me?¡± The man behaved mysterious and taciturn. His voice sounded full of wisdom. ¡°Sir Gabe, I found a few messages which should¡¯ve been addressed to you.¡± ¡°Let me see!¡± Gabe spoke with a sigh as his transcendent mind was suddenly forced to deal with worldly matters. Liam secretly scoffed as he took out three bottles containing messages in them, handing them over towards Gabe. A trace of emotions flashed in Gabe¡¯s eyes. The man obviously expected something specific as he unfurled the first note. The scene fell silent for a bit while Gabe went through all three notes. Suddenly a crisp sound rang out. One of the bottles shattered beneath Gabe¡¯s shoe. Glass splintered, falling into the water below. ¡°This %*%&! For years you don¡¯t hear anything form him and in his first message he boasts so much you could think he became a god or something! Peaceful life on a lonely island? Fishing sea monsters?! I will show you sea monsters!¡± Gabe gritted his teeth, jumping up from the crate he had been sitting on. His eyes were spewing fire. Due to the quick movements the man¡¯s hat fell from his head, revealing his black hair with graceful grey streaks. The brown hat glided through the air, about to fall into the water. But with a flick of his wrist, Gabe¡¯s fishing line snapped upwards, skillfully delivering the hat back on his head and returning to the water.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Gabe put his fishing pole to the side, turned around and stormed into his hut. But a moment later he walked out again, black lines on his face. ¡°F+ck! This idiot didn¡¯t even specify his current location! How am I supposed to find him? I want to¡­¡± Nothing was left of Gabe¡¯s transcendental mindset. He was walking around stomping his feet angrily like a little kid. However, Liam could see the hint of delight hidden in his eyes. ¡°You! Adventurer! Help me locate Sentrav! I will reward you!¡± ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°Find an old friend of mine. He¡¯s a priest called Alotrs. Guards a small shrine in Duabalis City. He has a way to track people.¡± Liam couldn¡¯t refrain from giving a small jab: ¡°Why don¡¯t you do it yourself?¡± ¡°Me? As if I would waste any effort on that idiot! Isn¡¯t this exactly what he wants? To disturb my peaceful life? No chance!¡± ¡°Alright. Then I will do it.¡± ¡°Good. Come back when you know where Sentrav hides!¡± Liam turned around while taking a look at the changed quest. [ Quest: Massage in a bottle Step 1: Locate Gabe and bring him the letter from his old friend Sentrav. Step 2: Talk to Alotrs at Ternavolae¡¯s shrine in Duabalis City.] Fortunately, Liam didn¡¯t have to ask around for the shrine¡¯s location. He went straight back towards Prento. Meanwhile he noticed his party members slowly coming online. They chatted animatedly until Liam interrupted, telling anyone to be careful from now on. Liam¡¯s friends were infuriated when they heard that someone tried to ambush him. They discussed taking revenge on Fat Tiger, but Silver Blade argued that the guild leader might even be happy if they did so. If they wanted to destroy Fat Tiger¡¯s efforts it would be more useful to level up and leave all the others in the dust. The party was convinced, focusing on quests and leveling. At the same time Liam arranged to meet Silver Blade in Duabalis City. They gathered before the gate leading towards the nephilim¡¯s homes, where Silver Blade handed over the money earned from selling Fiery Tacaria. Silver Blade¡¯s workers have already sold more than 700 stalks at ten silver per piece. Even Liam found it amazing as the young woman handed him a full 60 gold coins. This was an unimaginable amount of wealth this early into the game. And they still stood to earn some more until the first parties would manage to clear the dungeon. The duo talked for a bit as Silver Blade was in a great mood. She even hinted at the outcome of the family meeting the day before. Liam was surprised to hear that a tournament would be held so soon. It was obvious that Silver Blade hoped for the party to take part. After the first success she was ready to officially hire the others more often to collect achievements. But the young woman also felt the pressure of needing to stay ahead. Soon, she bade goodbye to Liam, leaving for leveling. Liam didn¡¯t notice the smile on his face as he walked along the streets. Soon, he left the city¡¯s core area, arriving at a hilly district towards the south. A few buildings were scattered here, most of them baring a religious character. The original nephilim needed to keep a good relationship with the gods. If for some reason the contract with the gods would be broken as well, it would spell disaster for their race. Thus, almost all religions were allowed to freely erect religious sides in this district. Liam walked among the peaceful roads, spotting the occasional inhabitant who walked between various temples with a pious face. Soon, he reached his target, climbing up a low hill. This place stood out among the others as it was filled with fertile fields and all kinds of lush food trees. People were even working here, producing food for the city. Arriving at the top Liam spotted a small temple, more like a chapel. Inside it stood an inconspicuous statue of some stalks of wheat, symbolizing the goddess of fertility Ternavolae. A few fruits and vegetables were placed around it as sacrifice. Outside the chapel a surprisingly young-looking man in green priest robe could be found tending to a tree sapling. He looked up with a benevolent smile as soon as Liam arrived. ¡°Adventurer! Great to see you! I have heard how you thwarted that loathsome devil¡¯s plans. Come, let me bless you in the name of mother Ternavolae.¡± Liam naturally didn¡¯t decline. Blessings were small boons which could be found everywhere in Crunaboul. The blessing given by Alotrs was rather easy to receive, given to everyone who cleared Reylar¡¯s Curse. ¡°Thank you, priest.¡± Seeing Liam fold his hands before him, Alotrs didn¡¯t delay. The priest opened his arms wide, sending a prayer to his goddess. A small dot of green-colored magic seemingly descended from heaven, landing on Liam¡¯s head. [Received Ternavolae¡¯s blessing Effect: With a chance of 5% you will find extra materials when gathering plants.] Although this blessing wasn¡¯t game changing, having it was better than not having it. Maybe there would be a need to gather a large number of herbs in the future. ¡°Thank you, priest. And thank mother Ternavolae.¡± ¡°Her benevolence is boundless.¡± Alotrs nodded kindly, just about to turn around and tend to the sapling, when Liam spoke up: ¡°Priest, I am here for a second matter.¡± ¡°Oh? What could it be? Are you here to join the believe of Ternavolae?¡± ¡°Ehm, no. Sorry. Gabe sent me here to ask for your help in locating someone.¡± Alotrs stopped in his movements, looking in the distance in reminiscence. ¡°Old Gabe sent you? What a surprise. I haven¡¯t heard from him in ages. How is he doing?¡± Chapter 82: Black-Ringed Swamp Carp ¡°Gabe is living a solitary lifestyle as a fisher. But recently messages arrived for him. Sent by someone named Sentrav. Gabe asks for your assistance in locating the latter.¡± ¡°Sentrav? Another name I haven¡¯t heard in a long time. Should I really help them?¡± Alotrs appeared to be lost in thought. But after a few seconds he sighed, nodding at Liam. ¡°Alright, I will do it. But in order to locate Sentrav I need a medium. Something dear to him. Something which has been with him for a long time.¡± ¡°Where could I find something like that?¡± ¡°There is a place we call Sentrav¡¯s swamp. That weirdo has been living there for so long that people named the swamp after him. You should find a hut there. You will definitely find something.¡± Finishing his words Alotrs sighed deeply before turning back to the tree sapling. Liam took his updated quest as a sign, leaving the priest and strolling down the hill. It didn¡¯t take long for him to navigate the streets of Duabalis City, exiting the core are and soon arriving before a moldy swamp. Fog spread over the wet ground, leaving a faint watery layer on the reeds growing within the muddy water. Patches of pine trees were scattered, some of them looking dried out and sick. The buzzing of insects sounded unceasingly in Liam¡¯s ears. The veteran scrunched his face, reluctant to advance. Now that no people watched him Liam didn¡¯t need to keep a positive expression, showing his dislike for the environment. ¡°Here goes nothing¡­¡± Liam stepped forward carefully. Fortunately, the game had some pity on the players, creating some path which allowed one to traverse the swamp without sinking into the water. But other obstacles excited on or rather above this path. Liam furrowed his brows as a mosquito the size of his fist spotted him, dashing through the air, hungry for delicious blood. [Black-Winged Mosquito Rank: Common Level: 17 HP: 1200/1200] The agile insect was quite fast in the air. Liam squinted his eyes, raising his swords slowly. Maybe it felt the threat, but the mosquito suddenly began flying in crisscrossing lines. Its wings moved faster than the eye could see. Its long mouth twitching in anticipation. Suddenly Liam¡¯s left sword flashed. The fog churned lightly as the sword left a clear trajectory behind. Liam felt the tremble traveling through his hand, telling him that he hit the mosquito. The fragile mob lost close to a third of its HP as the buzzing of its wings intensified. After being forced to stop for a moment the mosquito sped up, aiming for Liam. The monster¡¯s speed made it difficult to dodge but Liam already anticipated its actions. He bent his upper body, watching the mosquito pass right before his eyes. With a quick turn of his body, Liam used the momentum to send an attack with his other sword. The mosquito was instantly brought close to death. But it didn¡¯t think of running away. One might¡¯ve praised its honor if it wasn¡¯t mindless mob in the game. Thus, the mosquito attacked again, presenting itself to Liam¡¯s readied sword. It died after another hit, its lifeless body tumbling to the ground.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Liam looted it quickly knowing that the mosquito¡¯s body was used as a material to craft poison potions. Just as he was glad that the insect was dead, a shiver ran down his spine. Loud buzzing entered Liam¡¯s ears. The young man sighed as a group of three insects entered his eyes. Another fight followed inevitably. Liam did his best to maneuver on the narrow path. The first mosquito fell quickly but Liam had to trade its life for a hit. Apart from the damage a stack of poison appeared in his status. Frowning helplessly Liam had to watch his HP tick down. While the other opponents died soon enough it took a full thirty seconds for the poison effect to end. Liam was annoyed with himself noticing that he lost almost 10% of his HP during the fight, forcing him to stay in place and allowing his passive regeneration to kick in. Back at full health Liam advanced slowly through the swamp. He had to be careful of the poison, which posed a real threat. After a while his eyes lit up. Not far away was a patch of trees. Long bones were scattered before it, barely sticking out of the swamp. I remember this place. Fighting that carp was quite fun. Liam grinned as he veered from the path, entering the deeper swamp. His steps grew slower and more difficult as muddy water soaked his pants. Liam passed the few grey bones, the light dimming between the trees, creating an eerie atmosphere. Raising his vigilance the young man advanced slowly. Suddenly he glanced over his shoulder. But the water remained calm. Bubbles popped up to his right, but when Liam turned his eye, nothing seemed to be there. ¡°Craw!¡± A crow could be heard from somewhere up in the trees. Liam refrained from looking, keeping his eyes on the water. Suddenly Liam pushed heavily with his legs, jumping forwards through the sticky water. A creature shot out from the shadow of a tree, splashing water in all directions, lunging at Liam with sharp teeth. Liam evaded the attack in the nick of time. He managed to turn his upper body, landing an attack of his own. [-157!] Just before the opponent could return to the water Liam hastily checked its status. [Black Ringed Swamp Carp Rank: Elite Level: 17 HP: 2343/2500 Status: Holy mark x1] Liam¡¯s breath was flat as the environment fell silent again. It was as if the carp only existed in his imagination. After a few seconds the young man continued to advance, all his focus on the water. Suddenly he felt something stir around his legs. Liam didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately grabbing onto a sturdy branch and pulling himself up. A viscous bubble, black and lethargic like oil, formed in the water below his feet. It exploded with a low bang, splattering poisonous liquid in all directions. Liam made use of his great agility to swing from the branch, landing a short distance away. Instantly he spotted a shadow swimming before his feet. Liam flourished both his swords, stabbing into the water. But despite the damage numbers plopping up the elite didn¡¯t seem to notice the attack at all. The carp turned its dog-sized body swiftly, its tailfin slamming against Liam¡¯s leg. [-288!] Liam felt a heavy weight pressing against his leg. If he fell here in the viscous swamp, it would be terrible. He did his best to offset the momentum, tumbling a few steps backwards awkwardly. Inwardly cursing the swamp, which slowed down his movements, he watched as the carp turned around. Some of its brown scales decorated with black patterns were revealed on the surface. Liam pulled his feet from the mud, staying in motion. A moment later the carp was upon him. It jumped out of the water, aiming for Liam¡¯s chest. The veteran was prepared. He turned his body, narrowly avoiding the opponent. [Stance -12] With the carp before him Liam quickly made use of the opportunity. A [Cross Slash] ripped open some of the sturdy scales, quickly followed by a [Double Slash]. The holy marks exploded, burning the carp with their magic. The elite was badly wounded. A few brown scales glided on the water surface as the carp dove deeply. The mud began to stir. Low ripples spread in the area. Liam furrowed his brows. He didn¡¯t recall such a situation. Hell difficulty¡­? The veteran wasn¡¯t granted much time to ponder. Suddenly a splash could be heard. Not far away form Liam a small version of the Black-Ringed Carp jumped straight out of the water. More enemies? Liam was alarmed. But when his [Inspect] didn¡¯t return any information, he understood that this was the result off the elite carp¡¯s skill. Feeling a movement right below him, Liam abruptly pulled his foot away, turning his body swiftly. A small carp jumped out next to him, almost gracing his body. But this wasn¡¯t all. More and more attacks appeared. After a while even Liam didn¡¯t manage to dodge all of them anymore. Despite performing a skilled flash step he appeared in the trajectory of two other attacks. [-50!] [-50!] Liam frowned heavily. The damage wasn¡¯t too bad, but the two stacks of poison he received were quite threatening. At least the skill ended. Liam cleared his mind, waiting for the carp¡¯s next attack. But even after a few seconds there was no movement. Apparently, the carp was intelligent enough to wait for the poison to do its job. I can¡¯t waste time like this! Liam knew he needed to get the initiative. He quickly used his skill, sending out a wave of holy magic. It spread through the water. Liam watched it closely, noticing a ripple at a certain spot close to a tree. With a grin on his face Liam dashed towards the side, using [Inspect] on the water. [Black Ringed Swamp Carp Rank: Elite Level: 17 HP: 1299/2500 Status: Holy mark x1; Weakened] Chapter 83: Sentrav’s hut (I) It¡¯s not intelligent, only weakened. Liam chuckled to himself as he made use of the opportunity, ruthlessly stabbing at the large carp. [-250!] [-125!] As luck would have it, the effect on Liam¡¯s sword triggered. A stack of bleed was added on the carp. Liam¡¯s expression stayed calm as he waited a second before he was able to attack again. [-258!] [-129!] [-30!] The carp finally managed to recover as it¡¯s Hp were dwindling at insane speeds. It shook its body in panic before diving deeper into the water. For a moment the swamp fell silent again. Liam gradually got a bad feeling. He let out an exasperated sigh as the water began to ripple again. Looking at his HP affected by the poison Liam didn¡¯t hesitate to use a health potion. With more than 50 gold to his name Liam could already be considered a tycoon. A single health potion didn¡¯t hurt much anymore. Next, small carp jumped out of the water again. With the earlier experience Liam managed to dodge most of them, only getting hit once. However, as his skill was still on cooldown Liam had no way to locate the weakened carp. He randomly checked his surroundings a few times without success. Thus, he could only fall silent. The carp swam through the deeper waters, circling its prey. Blood trailed behind it. It didn¡¯t have any deeper thoughts, only knowing that it had to defeat the nephilim intruding in its territory. Preparing itself the carp slowly approached Liam¡¯s back. When it felt that it was close enough, it suddenly accelerated, aiming for Liam¡¯s thigh with its sharp teeth. Liam felt the movement behind him. He grinned, waiting until the carp was just about to hit him. Suddenly mana raced through his body. Sparks flashed around him as he vanished from the spot. He traveled a minimal distance, just enough for the carp to miss him. Reappearing he instantly activated his skills. His swords flashed through the air. The carp fell back into the water, wounds crisscrossing on his body. A moment later it resurfaced, its belly towards the sky, having lost all signs of life. Liam looked at the dead fish with a hint of excitement in his heart. This fight had turned out more interesting than he expected, mainly because of the muddy ground and the unknown skill. Rubbing his hands he stepped forward, looting the carp¡¯s body. He quickly skipped over the two pieces of green equipment, taking a closer look at three bottles filled with a sour smelling transparent liquid. Antidote? This might come in handy. Glancing at his HP which were still slowly consumed by poison, Liam put the antidote away. It would be a waste to use it now that the fight was already over. Now that the carp was gone, he didn¡¯t need to fear anything as he walked deeper into its territory. Slowly a strange metallic smell mixed into the moldy air. Liam quickened his steps, circling a thick tree. An eerie scene could be seen on the other side. The ubiquitous fog carried a red tinge, wafting around a pile of bones. They stuck out of the mood, encircling a scary bone structure attached to the tree.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. A dead person was hanging from the sharp bones. Their clothes were torn into pieces and streaks of dried blood ran down their body. Liam scrunched his face. This was not a sight for the fainthearted. [Discovered Infernal totem; EXP: 50] [EXP: 1650/2500] Liam ignored the notification as he already knew the meaning of the sight before him. It was the doing of infernals, which was how the people of Crunaboul collectively named the many creatures born in hell. Infernals spent much of their time trying to find ways into the lands of mortals with the aim to cause as much chaos as possible. Serving the devils of hell they were the mortal enemies of godspawn, embroiled in an everlasting war. The totem erected in the swamp could have all kinds of effects but none of them were positive for the locals. If a player found such a totem their actions were usually dictated by the alignment of the faction they belonged to. Liam, however, as an original nephilim had more than one option. But there isn¡¯t much value in keeping this thing as long as the original nephilim aren¡¯t reconnected with hell. The veteran didn¡¯t have to think much about it as he raised his swords and cut down the totem. The bones fell apart, sinking into the water. Meanwhile, the dead human attached to them mysteriously vanished into thin air, a small relief granted by the game. With the corpse gone the eerie bone structure behind it was clearly visible. Liam scanned it for a second before finding a small silver coin attached to it. The coin was engraved with two devilish horns, giving of an evil energy. Despite all the blood running from the corpse, none of it stuck to the coin. Liam ignored the unwell feeling in his stomach as he quickly pocketed this coin. He knew that depending on whom he presented it to, he would receive rewards and potential quests. With nothing more to get from this secret place Liam trudged back to the path. He was glad to leave the muddy water behind. But when the buzzing of mosquitos reached his ears, Liam felt he got out of the frying pan and into the fire. Annoyed, he fought his way through the insects until Sentrav¡¯s hut finally appeared in his vision. Calling it a hut was an understatement, however. The building was a solid wooden house with a nice patio, mostly built on wooden pillars which held it above the water. Broad stairs led to its door which was adorned by artful engravings. However, years of neglect left traces on the house. Plants overgrew from all sides, its roof showing a few obvious holes. Yet a keen observer would notice that no animal dared to get close. Liam naturally knew that the reason for this was Sentrav¡¯s pet which protected its home. He didn¡¯t dare to behave hastily, readying his swords and approaching tentatively, step by step. The tall grass below his feet rustled quietly as Liam advanced, his eyes focused on the water which began on the other side of Sentrav¡¯s hut. A movement could suddenly be seen as Liam got closer. It was extremely covert but couldn¡¯t escape the eyes of an experienced player. Already knowing what to expect Liam quickly dived to the side, seeking shelter behind the hut. Immediately sharp bullets of water shot out of the lake. Wood splintered as branches broke apart. The entire coast got bombarded except for the solitary hut. A moment later an angry roar shook the surroundings as a creature got out of the water. It looked like a large alligator, its skin a faint grey with small but sharp horns growing from its head. The creature was longer than a sportscar and had four thick but surprisingly agile legs ending in dangerous claws. A threatening snap could be heard as it opened and closed its mouth, tantamount of the incredible power its jaws were capable of. Liam took a few steps away from the hut as he checked the monster¡¯s status. [Dorn, Sentrav¡¯s Pet Rank: Lord Level: 18 HP: 3500/3500] Immediately Dorn turned her head, her angry eyes focusing on Liam. The monster let out a low roar, as if telling Liam to get away from its home. Seeing that the intruder didn¡¯t comply the two horns on the alligator¡¯s head began to glow in a bright blue. Two water bullets shot at Liam at incredible speeds. If it weren¡¯t for the signs beforehand even Liam wouldn¡¯t be confident in dodging. [Stance -14] Liam looked at the notification and didn¡¯t hesitate for long. He instantly used his ultimate skill [Holy Tempest]. Because of its long cooldown he refrained from using the skill in the previous fight against the carp but now the time had come. With a light golden shimmer on his skin Liam dashed towards his opponent. His swords landed on the monster¡¯s head. [-81!] [-40!] Dorn fletched her teeth, retaliating by biting towards Liam¡¯s legs. The veteran hastily drew back letting the pet snap at empty air. [Stance -10] Dorn still had her head stretched forward as Liam crossed his swords. A glint flashed along them as Liam¡¯s rapidly used his skills in quick succession. Cross slash, holy wave, and double slash flowed beautifully, stacking holy marks and decimating the enemy¡¯s HP, taking away more than six hundred points. Instantly the anger in Dorn¡¯s eyes intensified. A shimmer ran along her body. Her speed suddenly exploded as she snapped continuously at Liam. Rows and rows of incredibly sharp teeth were revealed. Liam didn¡¯t manage to dodge the first attack, before a hasty flash step brought him out of danger. [-395!] Unfortunately, Liam had extremely limited means of attacking from a distance. He could only approach the opponent again, hacking down with his swords before evading the counterattack. Dorn and Liam exchanged two more rounds of attacks before the player¡¯s skills were off cooldown. Chapter 84: Sentrav’s hut (II) Liam flourished his swords, performing skills in high sequence. Dorn¡¯s body trembled as the holy marks exploded above her head. Her sharp claws dug into the ground as her eyes reddened dangerously. Suddenly the alligator retreated, scurrying back into the water. A faint light could be seen on the surface as Dorn¡¯s small horn began to glow. A moment later a large ball of water close to a meter in diameter separated from the surface. It levitated in the air, flying towards Liam. The veteran knew that there was no use in trying to escape. The water would follow him everywhere and the wooden hut was unfortunately locked up. Thus, he readied himself as the ball of water stopped high above his head. Suddenly it exploded with a loud bang. The fog stirred chaotically, the wind shaking the surrounding trees. Small dots of blue light appeared on the ground, indicating danger. Liam didn¡¯t dare to step on them. Like a dancer he moved smoothly amidst the tall grass, twisting and turning his body to avoid the water filled with magic raining down everywhere. However, it was impossible to avoid all the extremely dense drops. Liam gritted his teeth as he watched his HP being shaved away. [-35!]x5 The situation continued for a few seconds. Liam glanced at the remaining duration of holy tempest, making sure that it didn¡¯t run out prematurely. Luckily Dorn crawled back onto the coast a moment later, eager to rip the pesky intruder apart. Liam took his chance before the boss was completely out of the water to close the distance. His swords cut at the monster¡¯s head to apply two holy marks, which he directly triggered with brutal strike. To his own surprise Dorn suddenly stopped. Brutal strike¡¯s stun had surprisingly affected the enemy despite it being of lord rank and having a much higher level. There wasn¡¯t much Liam could do, though. He only managed to get in two more attacks before Dorn regained her movement, hurrying back on solid ground and snapping at her opponent. Liam watched the alligator¡¯s movement closely. Seeing the first sign of an attack he didn¡¯t doge backwards, instead closing the distance. Dorn¡¯s jaws snapped at empty air once more. Her jaws weren¡¯t dexterous and had difficulties attacking towards her sides. Before she could turn her body, vicious attacks cut into her flank. Liam¡¯s skills came off cooldown, allowing him to deal a huge amount of damage. ¡°Roah!¡± Dorn wailed in pain. Her horns lit up with a blue light which quickly turned to a deep red. Her body pulsed as mana gathered around her, spreading an invisible pressure towards her surroundings. Liam gritted his teeth as he recognized the signs of a berserk state. Dorn¡¯s speed suddenly exploded. She spun her body around with uncanny movements, her large jaw clamping down on Liam¡¯s thigh. [-480!] The veteran decided not to dodge, suffering a large amount of damage. In exchange he was able to retaliate abruptly. [-50!] [-25!] All of Dorn¡¯s attributes were strengthened, decreasing the effects of Liam¡¯s attacks.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The alligator entered a mindless stage, throwing out attack after attack. Liam didn¡¯t dare to receive the next two hits, narrowly dancing around the threatening jaw. A moment later Dorn stopped. She raised her head, producing a gurgling sound, before opening her mouth wide and spraying a green liquid in a wide cone shape. Liam had been waiting for this moment. Instead of defending he jumped right into the attack, arriving before Dorn. The green liquid didn¡¯t deal any damage but quickly stacked poison on the enemy. Liam ignored his status as he sent another wave of skills, taking most of Dorn¡¯s HP. The alligator seemed to feel the threat of death even in its rampaging state. She stopped her skill. Seeking safety she retreated back into the water. Noticing three large spheres of water separating form the surface, Liam felt a drop of sweat run down his neck. Before the skill could arrive, he hastily took out a bottle of antidote from his inventory. Ignoring the burning sensation, he downed it in one gulp, neutralizing the poison stacks. A moment later the surroundings shook. Water rained down on Liam. It was enhanced with powerful magic, visibly blurring the surroundings. The rain was incredibly dense. Liam did his best to avoid getting hit but still lost more than three hundred HP. With only one fourth remaining the veteran didn¡¯t dare to take any risks. He pulled out another health potion, downing it while Dorn crawled back on land. Two pairs of eyes met, electrifying sparks flickering between them. Liam breathed evenly, keeping his attention on Dorn. He planned to wait for her attack before finishing her off. However, the alligator didn¡¯t play by the rules. Her horns were enveloped by a red light, shooting two reddish water bullets at Liam. Cursing inwardly the latter barely managed to dodge. Two holes appeared in the tree trunk behind him. Realizing that it was pointless to wait for Dorn to come closer, Liam had no choice but to dash towards her. A rapid bite awaited him. Liam dug his heels into the ground to stop his momentum, letting Dorn hit empty air. Next, he instantly swung his sword for an attack, followed by a [Brutal Strike]. Dorn suddenly tumbled backwards. The madness in her eyes receded as she lowered her body to the ground. A sound which was supposed to be pitiful came from her mouth. Others might still be caught up in the heat of battle, not comprehending what was happening. But Liam immediately came to a stop. He checked out Dorn¡¯s status, noticing that the opponent had only a single HP left. The tension left Liam¡¯s body as he put his weapons away. The fight ended automatically. In Liam¡¯s vision Dorn¡¯s name changed from red to green as the alligator slowly got up. She looked at Liam with a conflicting expression without moving further. One nephilim and one alligator looked at each other. ¡°Dorn, I¡¯m on my way to find Sentrav. But I need an object which he holds dear. Can you help me?¡± The alligator tilted its head slightly as if pondering. She opened her maw wide. Retching sounds could be heard. Suddenly a small black key fell out covered in slimy salvia. Liam smiled wryly as he picked up the object, only daring to touch it with the tips of two fingers. Dorn watched reluctantly as Liam walked towards the door of Sentrav¡¯s house. She trudged behind him, always keeping a certain distance. As Liam inserted the key Dorn flinched but didn¡¯t try to stop him. Thus, the player could finally open the door, entering a spacious room. Apparently Sentrav know how to live a leisurely life judging from the first look into his house. A spacious living room revealed itself. Although it was dusty and the furniture suffered under the humidity, one could still imagine how Sentrav sat in his comfortable armchair in front of the large fireplace reading one of the old books from a shelve nearby. Parts of multiple powerful creatures were proudly displayed on the walls. Liam scanned the room quickly before stepping through an arc, reaching the kitchen. Immediately a shimmer of light fell into his eyes. It danced around a large pot, obviously marking it as a special item. Liam didn¡¯t hesitate long, picking it up and checking its properties. [Sentrav¡¯s Pot Category: Quest A large iron pot. It isn¡¯t anything special, but many powerful creatures ended up in it thanks to the food-loving Sentrav.] As soon as Liam picked up the pot, his quest updated telling him to return to Alotrs. But the veteran wasn¡¯t quite done yet. To Dorn¡¯s displeasure he searched Sentrav¡¯s house, finding a bronze treasure chest in the bedroom. He received an elegant weapon of blue quality. But unfortunately, it was a spear which no one among his party members used. Thus, he could only begrudgingly put it away, waiting until enough people reached level twelve to sell it at a good price. However, his search wasn¡¯t done yet. Liam went through a door branching off from the living room. He arrived in a spacious room filled with materials from rare and powerful creatures. Even Liam who had seen most of Crunaboul felt impressed as he studied the colorful tailfeathers, sturdy bones, or sharp horns. Unfortunately, all of these treasures were tightly locked away behind extremely study glass which was close to unbreakable for the current players. The time one would waste to get one¡¯s hands on the materials were simply not worth it. Liam was quite certain about it as he knew someone in his past life who did painstakingly steal all the materials here. But in the end, he had neither the skills nor the recipes to make use of them. He could only put the treasures aside until the late game when he finally turned them into profit. However, in one corner of the room there was an inconspicuous object which surprisingly wasn¡¯t locked away. Liam picked it up with a grin on his face. Chapter 85: Sentrav’s location Liam held a grey egg with a greenish hue in his hand. [Egg of the Mutated Grey-skinned Alligator Category: Rare Effect: A young Mutated Grey-skinned Alligator hatches from it which can be tamed as a pet. Restrictions: Class with the ability to tame pets A well-rounded pet which will be of great assistance in battle.] Liam played around with the egg, wishing he could take it for himself. But unfortunately, his class didn¡¯t allow it. Although some ways existed to circumvent the restriction, this was a matter for the future. Right now, the Silent Acacia was the only one with the ability to rear pets amongst Liam¡¯s friends. I guess this will be a pleasant surprise for him¡­ [Nature +1] My nature stat went up? It¡¯s probably for discovering so many materials. Not bad. Nature was an auxiliary stat like Knowledge or Arcana. They could be primarily increased by learning or observing certain things. Their main usage was to advance some quests. However, some extremely rare spells existed which required auxiliary stats to be learned. Liam wasn¡¯t particularly interested in his Nature stat as he put the egg away and left Sentrav¡¯s home. He closed the door and turned around, leaving through the high grass. Rustling noises followed his every step. Liam glanced over his shoulder, chuckling as he watched Dorn carefully following him from a distance. The poor alligator felt a glimmer of hope to see her master again. Liam let her be, wafting through the swamp. At first, he was able to advance quickly but towards the end the pesky mosquitos had already respawned, ready to make his life difficult. Dorn also didn¡¯t deign to help. She stayed far away, watching Liam with a glint in her eyes, almost gloatingly. When Liam left the swamp, poison was still slowly chipping away at his HP. He glanced at Dorn, murmuring under his breath: ¡°Want me to find your master but not lending any help. Damn freeloader.¡± The alligator seemingly didn¡¯t understand, casually following behind Liam. When they returned to busier streets the people avoided Dorn cautiously, intimidated by her appearance. But no one started any trouble as it wasn¡¯t strange for warriors to travel with their pets or mounts. Thus, Liam returned to the temple district unhindered together with the alligator. Alotrs was still tending to some plants when he felt someone come closer. He looked up, his eyes quickly falling on Liam¡¯s companion. ¡°Dorn¡­ Sentrav didn¡¯t even take you with him? What was he thinking?¡± ¡°Raooh.¡± ¡°He said he will be back soon? Hasn¡¯t he been missing for years now?¡± ¡°Roo!¡± ¡°A hunting trip, huh. Well, I hope we will know more soon.¡± Liam stood at the side, watching the priest skeptically. He couldn¡¯t confirm if the human and monster were really conversing with each other. Luckily, Alotrs soon turned to the player. ¡°Adventurer, since you brought Dorn here, I take it that you succeeded?¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Yes, priest. Here is Sentrav¡¯s pot.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­ I can feel the strong sentiment. I knew that Sentrav always loved food but to such an extent¡­¡± Alotrs chuckled faintly as he took the pot from Liam. ¡°Come. Let us hold the ritual.¡± With those words the priest turned around, entering the small chapel. His body barely fitted through the narrow entrance. The few sacrifices and relics placed on the floor forced him to watch his every step. Liam stayed outside, fearing that one wrong step would destroy some sacred bowl, drawing the church¡¯s hatred. Dorn sneaked next to him, watching Alotrs with curiosity and longing. The priest came to a stop before the small statue representing Ternavolae. Knelling on the floor he took out a large variety of fruits, many of them exotic and rare, placing them around the pot. Next, he placed both his palms on the left of his chest while lowering his head. ¡°Ternavolae. Goddess of fertility, benevolent mother. Sacred is thy name, thou who gifts all of creation the means to live. This servant, I, requests humbly your assistance. Please open your benevolent heart and feel the strong sentiments attached to this¡­ vital tool¡­ before me. This servant humbly inquires the location of the person closely connected to it. In thy boundless benevolence.¡± As Alotrs¡¯ pious voice faded out, a moment of silence fell on the chapel. But suddenly a warm light spread from the small statue. It shone on Sentrav¡¯s pot, the sacrificial fruits, and the priest. Slowly the exotic food began to rise, levitating around the pot. Illusionary images overlapped with them depicting the mature states of the plants. Towering trees and lush bushes could be seen. A vast root network spread out, reaching deep into the floor and growing out of the chapel. But most of it concentrated on the pot caressing it like someone attempting to imagine an object with their eyes closed. A few seconds later the illusion receded, gathering in a ball of light which suddenly shot towards Alotrs¡¯ head, disappearing in his brain. Alotrs shook, a blissful smile on his face as if hearing from his mother for the first time after a long absence. The priest remained kneeling for a few more seconds while the light dimmed before standing up and stepping outside. ¡°Priest, did you receive the information?¡± ¡°Yes. Praised be goddess Ternavolae. Here, let me show you.¡± With those words Alotrs took out a map from somewhere. It showed the edge of a vast continent, which was the floating continent Deaviny, birthplace of the godspawn. Next to it was a large ocean, the main focus of the map. Hundreds of islands were depicted withing the large body of water. The further form the continent the smaller those islands became, with many of them uninhabited. Alotrs pointed at one of the small islands. A bit of magic left his finger, painting a yellow dot on the map. ¡°Here, this is the island Sentrav is staying on. Since it is unnamed let¡¯s follow tradition and call it Sentrav¡¯s Island.¡± With this short explanation Alotrs handed the map over to Liam. At this moment his quest updated and even the game¡¯s usually minimalistic map received large additions, revealing the islands which the original nephilim considered their home. ¡°Thank you, priest. I will bring the information to old Gabe.¡± ¡°Yes, do that. And warn him not to create trouble, alright?¡± ¡°I will remember it.¡± Liam politely bade his goodbye, leaving the chapel with Dorn accompanying him faithfully. An excited light could be found in the alligator¡¯s eyes. Obviously, she was delighted to know Sentrav¡¯s location, even showing signs of running ahead of Liam. Unfortunately, Dorn didn¡¯t have money for the teleporter, thus she had to wait for the leisurely nephilim. Liam glanced at Dorn who rushed onto the platform with him before paying and disappearing form Duabalis City. When he arrived in Prento the young man didn¡¯t delay for even a moment, quickly leaving the town. Yet his appearance still caused a commotion. ¡°Look, what up with this monster?¡± ¡°Is it following that man?¡± ¡°Bleary Mirage, I saw you! Wait for me! I want¡­¡± ¡°Is that a boss? Elite? Should we kill it?¡± Liam already expected the players to discuss Dorn. Thus, he ran at his fastest pace, not giving anyone time to react. Surprisingly Dorn easily kept up as the duo soon reached Gabe¡¯s hut. The older man obviously didn¡¯t have the patience to fish right now. He stared at the horizon, his expression constantly changing. When he heard the cracking of wood behind him Gabe rapidly turned around. He only gazed at Liam for a moment before noticing Dorn behind him. ¡°Damn, ungrateful idiot! Sentrav! You even left Dorn behind?! $&¡ì!*%! Curses immediately spewed out of Gabe¡¯s mouth but his face softened. He passed Liam, stopping before Dorn and petting her head kindly. ¡°Rooo!¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m glad to see you too.¡± Dorn and Gabe celebrated their reunion for a few seconds before the nephilim turned to Liam. ¡°Since you have found Dorn, I assume your quest was a success?¡± ¡°Yes. I have found Sentrav¡¯s current location.¡± Liam nodded calmly as he handed over the map given by Alotrs. Gabe scanned it, his forehead filled with deep wrinkles. ¡°Sentrav! Damn! What made you run off to such a godforsaken place?! Did you think no one would remember you?! Just you wait! When I find you¡­¡± A grating noise could be heard from how strong Gabe gritted his teeth. After taking a deep breath he looked at Liam again: ¡°Adventurer, thank you for your help. I don¡¯t have much on me, but you can have this old fishing rod of mine as a thank you. Don¡¯t look down on it. It is quite sturdy.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± [Gabe¡¯s first fishing rod Category: rare Effect 1: Increase your luck when fishing by 50%. Effect 2: Can be used on land to fish items off others. Needs the steal skill. Effect 3: Can be used on land to tie up others. Afflicts a stun of maximal 5 seconds. Effect 4: Ignores barriers to a certain degree. Restriction: Bound to Bleary Mirage A fishing rod used by Gabe during his younger years. He crated a lot of trouble with it, earning him a notorious reputation. Luckily, he calmed down in his older years.] Chapter 86: Elves Several notifications were ringing in Liam¡¯s ears. As the quest ended and he received his reward he finally level up, reaching level 12. He was the fourth among the party to do so. Simultaneously he admired the fishing rod in his hands, his brain automatically coming up with places to use it in. A second later he calmed down as Gabe continued speaking: ¡°That¡¯s it, adventurer. I will find Sentrav and beat that idiot up. I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll come back. Feel free to use this old hut of mine if you need it for anything. You know where to find me. Stop by if you are in the area. Goodbye.¡± With those words Gabe tapped his hat, leaving carefreely without packing anything. Dorn nodded at Liam before scurrying after the older man. Liam watched them vanish into the jungle. He knew that Gabe¡¯s last words were hinting at the continuation of the quest. Technically he could rent a ship in Duabalis Harbor and visit Gabe, Sentrav, and Dorn on their lonely island. But his level wasn¡¯t quite up to par yet. Thus, Liam left calmly, returning to the novice village. Just as he was contemplating about what to do next, a message reached him. [Serena: Liam! Liam!] Liam smiled as he received the message sent from Serena¡¯s phone in the game. Making this possible was indeed a good deed by C, allowing him to chat with his sister while in the game. [Liam: Serena? What¡¯s up!] [Serena: Don¡¯t be like this! You know exactly what¡¯s up!] [Liam: Did you receive a package?] [Serena: Yes! It¡¯s a console! You didn¡¯t tell me you bought one!] [Liam: Surprise!] [Serena: But¡­ isn¡¯t this super expensive? I heard it¡¯s close to impossible to buy at the moment. Do we have so much money?] [Liam: Of course. I received it for achieving first clear!] It took a few seconds for the next message to appear. [Serena: Please be careful.] [Liam: I will.] Liam sighed in understanding. Obviously, his little sister detested Colville Constructions. It proved Serena¡¯s deep trust in her brother that she didn¡¯t try to stop him from dealing with the company. [Liam: Do you want to play now?] [Serena: Yes!] A smile unconsciously found its way on Liam¡¯s face. He chatted with his sister, helping her to get started in the game while traveling to Duabalis. [Liam: Do you prefer any race?] [Serena: I want to be an elf! Everything is so gorgeous there.] [Liam: Ok. Then just choose the picture with an high elf on it.] Liam guided his sister patiently while feeling a headache coming up. High elves didn¡¯t have a good relationship with original nephilim, which prevents Liam from teleporting to their cities directly. From the moment he ordered a console for Serena, he looked forward to playing with his sister. Thus, he racked his brain for any options to reach the elven cities. Soon, Liam came up with something. He took the teleporter to Svebrial, arriving in the important human city once more.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Following the main street Liam quickly reached the high-class district. Beautiful manors with vast gardens could be found here housing the empire¡¯s nobles. Stern-faced guards deterred every commoner from even forming the idea of approaching. A bit further away an incredible castle could be seen, towering over the city, emitting royal authority. Liam advanced in the direction of the castle before taking a turn to the left, approaching a gorgeous gate. Artfully crafted metal roses and butterflies were surrounded by sturdy bars which held all visitors away. The gate was part of a pristinely white wall, enclosing a spacious compound holding multiple gorgeous villas and perfectly trimmed gardens. Even the guards¡¯ armors seemed more like art pieces than tools for battles. The tall soldiers barely moved as Liam approached, their fair, slim faces remaining indifferent. Only when the nephilim got too close did the guards cross their spears, spitting out a single word: ¡°Leave!¡± Liam put on a polite smile, holding himself back form staring at the guards¡¯ pointy ears, which would be considered a grave insult for any elves. ¡°I have something for the Great Archmage to see.¡± The guards showed ripples of ridicule in their eyes, just about to chase Liam away when he took out a small silver coin engraved with two devil horns. Immediately the elves¡¯ bodies stiffened. ¡°Wait here!¡± One of the guards ordered coldly before entering the compound, going straight to a certain villa. A few seconds later he returned, nodding at Liam. ¡°Follow me! Don¡¯t run around and don¡¯t touch anything!¡± The moment Liam passed the gate, a notification appeared in his view. [Discovered Elven Ambassy, Svebrial. EXP: 60] Liam didn¡¯t dare to explore the place, however. Even the simple guards emitted incredible pressure. Some unbelievably strong NPCs resided in this ambassy, none of them especially fond of Nephilim. The strongest of them all now stood before Liam after the guard brought him to a large villa huddled in a corner of the ambassy. Great Archmage Ephnior was more than two meters tall, wearing an uncharacteristic white leather armor which shimmered from the powerful magic embedded in it. A thick, regal blue cape hung from his shoulders, adorned by a fluffy white hem. He looked down on Liam with cold, sharp eyes. Everyone seeing those would understand that this archmage was no scholar but a battle-hardened warrior. ¡°Nephilim, you came here with an infernal coin?¡± ¡°Yes, archmage. Here is it.¡± Liam didn¡¯t dare to delay, handing over the silver coin he dug out of the infernal totem earlier. His eyes glanced at the lifeless head of a greater demon placed within a magic circle in the corner of the spacious, orderly room. Ephnior didn¡¯t care about Liam¡¯s thoughts as he took the coin in his hand. Suddenly it was as if the two devil horns came to life. A red light glimmered on their sharp tops. But Ephnior simply closed his hand, extinguishing any movement. ¡°Thinking of activating your magic in my presence? Naive!¡± Ephnior¡¯s voice dripped with ridicule, but his perfect face and clear, blue eyes remained emotionless. With a flick of his fingers, he threw the coin into the air. A magic circle made from the purest mana appeared on his palm. Even someone without knowledge about magic would feel attracted by the intricately woven runes, recognizing the work of a master. ¡°Deolhee!¡± Suddenly the magic circle spun around its center. A large amount of mana was attracted. It shot upwards, meeting the silver coin in midair. A rage-filled roar mysteriously spread from the coin, reverberating through the entire ambassy. Obviously, this was not an uncommon occurrence as not even the guards came to investigate. At this moment the silver coin was engulfed in a red light, struggling to keep the magic circle at bay. But it only held on for a few moments before shattering audibly. The evil atmosphere surrounding the coin vanished like an illusion. Ephnior caught the object, playing with it in his palm. ¡°One less cursed item. One day I will eradicate them all.¡± A sharp glint flashed past the elf¡¯s eyes before he addressed Liam again: ¡°Nephilim, you approached an infernal totem and didn¡¯t get bewitched. You did the right thing by destroying it and bringing the coin to me.¡± Liam nodded carefully, his back full of sweat. He almost couldn¡¯t breathe from the mana still lingering in the air. At least he didn¡¯t endure for nothing as a notification let him know that his relationship with the high elves increased. Such was the influence of pleasing a mighty archmage. ¡°Here, take this device. It will assist you in finding more infernal coins. Bring them to me!¡± Ephnior didn¡¯t even let Liam answer as he stuffed a small device looking like a compass in Liam¡¯s hands. Afterwards the archmage called a guard to guide Liam out. Only after leaving the ambassy behind did Liam dare to complain, cursing the elf¡¯s stinginess inwardly. However, at least he knew that Ephnior truly offered some great rewards after brining more coins. Liam grumbled all the way back to the teleporters. At least his dissatisfaction lessened as he found a new destination available. With a thought he chose the elven city which now granted him entry, Luphenour. When the light before his eyes receded Liam was immediately welcomed by a fragrant smell which relaxed one¡¯s mind. It emanated from gorgeous red flowers planted along the paths of the city. Maybe thanks to the help of these flowers, Luphenour was an incredibly peaceful city. The few visitors didn¡¯t dare to behave ostentatiously, mingling with the serene elves strolling the city with measured steps. The streets and buildings didn¡¯t appear overly luxurious but were perfectly clean, built from pristine white stone. However, some buildings clearly stood out, all of them having obvious religious characteristics. Liam knew that those were temples dedicated to the goddess of the moon, Lupheya, which most of the high elves worshipped. Liam would¡¯ve liked to take in the sights of this beautiful city but as soon as he appeared an elf in long white robes approached him. Not eager to listen to the priest¡¯s teachings the veteran quickly escaped towards another direction. Chapter 87: Serena joins Luphenour City was positioned at the foot of a mountain range. Looking upwards one could barely spot a few other magnificent cities along the mountain. Elves didn¡¯t like to have their peace disturbed, thus seldom inviting other races. Only Luphenour served as a connection to the rest of world, simultaneously serving the role to spread the faith of the moon goddess. Since Liam was approved by Ephnior other cities reluctantly granted him entry. But the veteran wasn¡¯t here for sightseeing, but to find his sister. Thus, Liam headed towards the east of the city. He had to climb a long set of stairs, reaching an elevated pavilion. Even before his eyes were able look over the edge, cawing noises already reached his ears, sounding majestic and powerful. Soon, the source of the sounds appeared. Huge eagles the size of smaller trees were leisurely perching on comfortable cushions within the pavilion. A few young elves were running between them, feeding the eagles. These beasts had a leisurely life since they began living in a symbiotic relationship with the elves. Only the fact that they were forced to switch to an herbivorous diet took them a while to accept. But after many years the noble Red-Winged Royal Eagles had managed to adjust, becoming an integral part of elvish society. Liam approached a bored-looking elf at the side. After handing over 5 silver one of the young elves carried a saddle, fastening it on one of the eagles¡¯ backs. The eagle swayed its body, cawing a few times, obviously reluctant. It threw an accusatory look at the elf in charge, questioning why it was its turn and not one of the other lazy fellows¡¯. Unfortunately, its complaints fell on deaf ears. After a few seconds it fell silent, lowering his body for Liam to get on. The latter patted the eagle¡¯s wing in thanks while sitting down on the saddle, holding on to the handles. Hoping lazily the eagle approached the edge of the platform. Suddenly it pushed with its legs. An incredible power was set free. With one flap of its wings the eagle raced high into the air. Liam felt exhilarated as the wind swept through his hair. The experience of flying in the game was enjoyable no matter how often one felt it. The city quickly shrank below him, allowing for a grand view of the scenery. An elevated area filled with forests and vast lakes spread from the foot of the mountain. Far away on the horizon the edge of the central plains could barely be made out. Turning around a majestic mountain range blocked Liam¡¯s view, its towering peeks ending in cottony white clouds. A few cities were sprawled along the slopes, some impressive, dreamy buildings clearly discernable from high up in the air. The eagle drew a small circle before turning to the west. It didn¡¯t waste much time, directly carrying Liam to his target. A short while later they landed on a large stone platform. It was at the coast of a peaceful lake, right next to a smaller elven village. When the eagle arrived, throwing its shadow on the village, presenting its majestic wings, it already drew the attention of many players. ¡°Wow, look! A flying mount!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t those NPCs say that the eagles are resting?¡± ¡°Is this in preparation for us reaching level 10, wetting our appetite?¡± ¡°So beautiful, I want one too.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. A crowd gathered, chatting excitedly as they watched the eagle land. But seeing Liam get of no one could make sense of the situation. ¡°Huh, who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Is that a human?¡± ¡°Is this the beginning of some quest?¡± ¡°No, look! The name above his head!¡± ¡°Bleary Mirage?! Damn, what is that guy doing here?¡± ¡°Did he come to taunt us?¡± ¡°Just wait, Star Gazer will overtake you soon enough!¡± The players felt incredibly indignant, accusing Liam of showing off. What business did he have riding their flying mounts and appearing in the novice village? Even Liam found it difficult to ignore all the displeased eyes. He smiled wryly as he tried to make his way through the crowd. Suddenly though a magic attack hit his shoulder. ¡°Square off!¡± A tall mage with an arrogant look in his eyes stared at Liam indignantly. But a moment later he noticed that the atmosphere wasn¡¯t quite right, lowering his wand slowly. ¡°What¡¯s up with all of you, why are you looking at me weirdly?¡± ¡°Brother Star, your name¡­ it turned red¡­¡± ¡°Wha¡­¡± The mage¡¯s voice got stuck in his throat. He trembled as he saw a tall elven hunter pushing through the crowd, coming straight towards him. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, why are you coming for me?! Look! Shouldn¡¯t you chase away the nephilim? Hey!¡± The NPC ignored the player¡¯s struggle as he grabbed his arm and dragged him away. Liam made use of the commotion to disappear between a few houses, letting out a sigh. With the unfortunate mage as example the elves should refrain from attacking him hopefully. However, if he were to leave the novice village it was hard to tell if some stubborn fools might follow him. Liam put the matter at the back of his head as he messaged Serena. Learning her location he circled around the village, reaching a small patch of grass to the east. Liam didn¡¯t quite understand what attracted Serena here. He slowly approached from the back, watching a kind elven woman handing out specially baked fruits to a bunch of children. A faint smile formed on his face as he spotted Serena to the side wearing a mage robe with some leave patterns and staring at the fruits eagerly. Although Serena fit in with the elven children she was in fact most likely a few decades younger than them. Fortunately, this was not something which concerned the NPCs as the elven woman kindly handed a fruit to Serena as well. ¡°Does it taste good?¡± Serena flinched as a voice suddenly sounded from behind her back. She turned around, a smile forming on her face as she recognized her brother. Quickly gulping her food down, she answered happily: ¡°Its great! Here, take a bite.¡± ¡°Keep it for yourself. If I take a bite, none of us will get the effect.¡± ¡°What effect? Its about the taste! Here!¡± As Serena basically stuffed her fruit into Liam¡¯s face, he could only take a big bite. The sweet juice gathered in his mouth, sending a comfortable feeling through his body after being baked together with nourishing herbs. ¡°So?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°Told you!¡± Serena smiled happily, drawing back her arms and taking another big bite. Quickly the fruit disappeared into her belly. ¡°What do you think of the game so far? Do you like it?¡± ¡°Of course. Everyone is so nice. The scenery is beautiful, and the food is super tasty!¡± ¡°Haha, have you been eating the entire time?¡± ¡°Nono, I have first fetched a few things for aunty Ebonora until she rewarded me with some tasty fruits.¡± Liam patted Serena¡¯s head with a chuckle. ¡°Anything you would like to do now? Do you want to join my party and become a top player?¡± To Liam¡¯s surprise his sister immediately showed a repulsive expression. ¡°No chance. I don¡¯t want to fight!¡± ¡°Oh, not at all?¡± ¡°No! That stupid tailor uncle asked me to kill some rabbits. But I couldn¡¯t do it. They look so cute!¡± ¡°Well, what if you were to fight monsters and zombies?¡± ¡°Eww, disgusting. Nonono, I don¡¯t want to do it.¡± ¡°Ok¡­ so what would you like to do?¡± ¡°I want to play the game!¡± Liam looked at Serena¡¯s joyful expression, falling into a dilemma. Its nice to see someone having fun without leveling but how long can this hold on? Wouldn¡¯t Serena get bored quickly? Liam put his hand to his chin as he fell into thought. His eyes wandered from Serena to the elven children to the woman giving out food. Suddenly a light lit up in his mind. ¡°Would you be interested in becoming a chef?¡± ¡°A chef? Like the one cooking food?¡± ¡°Yes. You could travel the world, gather ingredients, make delicious food, and even sell it.¡± With every word Serena¡¯s eyes lit up more and more. When Liam stopped, she nodded her head like a chicken pecking rice. ¡°Well, then why not try it out right now?¡± ¡°Do we need anything?¡± ¡°A workstation and materials. On top of that we can use recipes but it¡¯s not necessary.¡± ¡°Oh, I got a recipe here from aunty Ebonora. It¡¯s baked Berh Fruit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s even better. Should we try right now?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Liam led the eager Serena out of the novice village, keeping his vigilance up in case someone tried to follow them. But he soon relaxed as they reached a large field dotted with the occasional tree. Liam took a glance at the recipe in Serena¡¯s hand. He recognized the ingredients, knowing that they were easy to get, growing around the novice village. He initially planned to gather a few fruits and be done with it, but Serena suggested making it a competition. Thus, the siblings spent a joyful hour gathering fruits and herbs ending with Serena¡¯s win after Liam hid some of his loot in his inventory. Chapter 88: Delightful cooking Their pockets filled with ingredients the siblings returned to the novice village. Serena wore a bright smile, obviously happy to spend time with her brother. Just looking at her right now would brighten anyone¡¯s mood. Apparently, the female NPC Ebonora thought similarly, showing a warm smile as the siblings approached her. ¡°Aunty! I gathered soo many fruits! Can I use your kitchen?¡± ¡°Of course, go ahead.¡± In Fate of Crunaboul most profession needed the suitable workstations. Bigger cities usually offered some for rent. But in the novice village one could only build a good relationship with NPCs like chefs or blacksmiths and ask to use their tools. Fortunately, Ebonora was fond of Serena, generously letting her use her kitchen. Under the elegant elf¡¯s lead Liam and Serena entered a wooden house to the side, finding a spacious kitchen which was obviously built to serve a large number of people. A young male elf was busy with cleaning pots as the trio entered. ¡°That¡¯s Rehan. He helps me out sometimes.¡± ¡°Friends of Ebonora? Welcome.¡± Afterwards the elves went to the side, doing their own thing. Serena looked around at the two fireplaces enclosed in bricks and the many pots and knifes, appearing somewhat lost. ¡°What do we do now?¡± ¡°Since you have a recipe, let¡¯s try and follow it.¡± Serena nodded, taking out the recipe for baked Behr Fruit. ¡°First we need to cut the herbs into pieces.¡± Leaning the recipe against the wall, Serena took out a stalk of the gathered herbs, placing it on an empty spot on the working area made of stone. Liam felt somewhat hesitant as he watched Serena take a large knife and begin slowly cutting the herb. Even if it was only a game, he didn¡¯t want to see his sister cut herself. But after a few seconds he was surprised. Serena worked carefully and precisely. She took off the herb¡¯s leaves, leaving only a few torn pieces on the stem. Next, she compared her work to the recipe before cutting the leaves into tiny bits with deliberate strokes. ¡°You¡¯re doing great Serena!¡± Hearing her brother¡¯s praise the young girl beamed immediately: ¡°I know, right? It¡¯s because I cooked together with Merida!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why the food was so delicious the last few days!¡± ¡°Hehe. But, Liam¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why are you only watching? We have so much work to do!¡± Liam opened his mouth, not knowing how to retort. Chuckling he took out a few stalks of herbs and began to help his sister. But a few seconds later¡­ ¡°Ouh!¡± ¡°Ah! You¡¯re bleeding.¡± Serena abruptly put her knife aside looking worriedly at Liam¡¯s bleeding index finger. The perpetrator however was rather perplexed than worried. How did I manage to cut myself with my agility?This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Luckily Liam¡¯s fans of his past life weren¡¯t able to see the scene, or they would be going crazy. How could Mr. Perfect be clumsy? Liam¡¯s HP ticked down one by one, stopping after he lost five points. His wound quickly disappeared in a few seconds. ¡°Good, you¡¯re fine¡­¡± ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Liam let out a light laugh to hide his embarrassment before continuing, avoiding looking into Serena¡¯s eyes. The latter felt reassured and tended to her own herbs. The siblings worked swiftly, preparing a full ten stalks. Liam glanced at Serena from time to time, noticing that although she moved slower, the result looked better than his own. Fortunately, Serena didn¡¯t comment as she put away her knife and read the recipe. ¡°Next, we need a pot of water. 200ml per stalk of herb. We have ten herbs, so it makes¡­ 2000ml?¡± Liam felt a stab in his heart as he noticed the hesitation in Serena¡¯s voice. The poor girl hadn¡¯t been to school in years, lagging behind her peers in some subjects, especially math. Liam gritted his teeth. He knew his sister was an intelligent child, suffering unfairly from a harsh life. Now that he was earning money it would be time to organize a school for Serena or even a private teacher. Although the United Human Federation prided itself in taking care of all humans, the jurisdiction ultimately laid with the planet¡¯s Governor. And Owen Colville was not known for providing help for the poor. Liam cursed the Colville family in his heart, subtly excluding Silva¡¯s branch, while he helped his sister preparing a pot of water. ¡°Nono, too much.¡±, complained the young girl as she watched Liam fill the pot nonchalantly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry a few milliliters won¡¯t make a difference.¡± ¡°They do! We must adhere to the recipe!¡± Liam wanted to refute but quickly shut up. While he was absentminded, he almost forgot that he was still in the game. Here, the produced food¡¯s quality would be evaluated at the end. Based on the rank its effect would be somewhat stronger. But to achieve a better rank it was important to follow the recipe strictly. Thus, Liam apologized to his sister, carefully pouring out the excess water. ¡°Mhm, that¡¯s more like it.¡± Serena put her hands on her waist, nodding her head. She only needed a tall white cap to look like a head chef. Liam smiled seeing her like this before throwing the herbs into the water. ¡°Now we need to wait¡­ 20 seconds? How does that make sense?¡± ¡°The processes in the game are vastly simplified. The water should boil after around ten seconds.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Serena accepted the explanation, staring carefully at the pot and counting down in her mind. For professions like cooking, blacksmith, alchemist, etc, the game¡¯s assistance was kept to a minimum. The shortest way to advance one¡¯s profession was by producing high-quality products, which required talent and dedication. Thus, players focusing solely on their professions were often comparatively low levels. But their importance in a party or guild could be higher than most fighters, especially when it came to making money. But Liam didn¡¯t think about how much help Serena could be for him. He only wanted his siter to be happy. If she decided tomorrow not to follow the path of a chef, Liam wouldn¡¯t dissuade her. Serena thought even less about the future. She was glad to spend time with her brother without having to worry about the food for the next day. Even something simple like watching the water suddenly became enjoyable. ¡°Now!¡± Serena exclaimed loudly, shooting a glance at Liam, who had two cloths in his hands. With those he quickly grabbed the hot pot and took it off the fire. ¡°It smells good. So sweet and¡­ like herbs.¡±, said Serena. ¡°Well, it would be strange otherwise.¡± Serena rolled her eyes at Liam as she took out five Behr Fruits from her inventory. She poked small holes in their plump red peels before throwing them into the pot. ¡°1, 2, 3, 4, 5!¡± Liam waited for his sister to count the seconds. After the fifth he grabbed a ladle and hastily took out the fruits. ¡°Nonono, you got the order wrong!¡± Liam looked at his sister in confusion. ¡°I put that fruit in first, but you took it out last! Now it had an extra second in the water!¡± ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry, chef!¡± ¡°You should be!¡± The sibling looked at each other. Liam couldn¡¯t hold back a chuckle be he quickly noticed from Serena¡¯s reaction that she was serious. With that attitude she might really do well as a chef in the game¡­ Pressing his lips tightly together Liam took the first fruit, keeping it on the ladle as he held it above the fire. It¡¯s skin visibly turned a deeper shade of red. Serena watched sternly, suddenly giving a signal for Liam to take out the fruit. A soft steam rose, spreading a sweet smell with a hint of sour, indicating that their first Baked Behr Fruit was ready for consumption. A notification popped up before Liam and Serena. [Produced: Baked Behr Fruit Quality: 3,5 Stars Effect: Recover 0,3% HP per second over 35 seconds. Reward: 7,5 EXP; 7,5 EXP for profession chef] ¡°We did it!¡± Serena exclaimed happily. She ignored the other fruits, taking the finished one from Liam. The peel came of easily, revealing a red flesh which had softened through the process of cooking. Taking a big bite, Serena showed a blissful expression. The fruit tasted unbelievably delicious simply because it was made by her and her brother. ¡°Here, you dake a bide doo!¡± Serena spoke with a full mouth, dangling the fruit before Liam¡¯s eyes. The young man smiled brightly as he stuffed a big piece into his mouth, savoring the moment. ¡°Thank you, Liam.¡± Liam was surprised as Serena suddenly spoke in a quiet voice, yet still reaching Liam¡¯s ears. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°For always giving your best.¡± Liam felt a throb in his heart. Old memories and new memories swirled chaotically. He gazed at the young girl next to him, feeling unexplainable emotions. Liam patted Serena¡¯s head, a gratified smile forming on his mouth. A warm atmosphere engulfed the kitchen as the siblings enjoyed their fruits. For the rest of the day they continued cooking, baking more fruits and even coming up with their own creations. Chapter 89: Star Gazer Liam put the large pot back on a shelve, smiling at Serena. ¡°That¡¯s it for the day. The game will turn offline soon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity.¡± Despite her words, Serena¡¯s eyes clearly showed her tiredness. But her gaze looking at the kitchen was reluctant. ¡°Can we¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Sorry. Forget it.¡± Liam stared at Serena, causing the young girl to fidget. ¡°I¡­ I wanted to ask if we can continue tomorrow but its stupid. You need to train so you can earn money.¡± Liam felt his heart sting looking at the pitiable child. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Even if I spend time with you, I will stay the best player in the game. You don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± Serena stayed quiet, looking at Liam skeptically, not sure where he took his confidence from. ¡°How can that be? If others overtake your level, they will have more time in the dungeon. You can¡¯t fall behind!¡± Just as Liam pondered how to convince his sister the siblings left the house. A commotion instantly reached their ears. ¡°Did you hear, Star Gazer cleared the dungeon!¡± ¡°Oh? Did he reach level ten?¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s finally time for us elves to show our might! Let¡¯s push those nephilim out of the leaderboard.¡± ¡°How does this help us? We are still stuck in the novice village.¡± ¡°No, Star Gazer announced that a video of their clear will be uploaded today. After we know the strategy, how could we still not clear the dungeon?¡± ¡°What? Quick, we need to watch it!¡± ¡°Yes. Come to my place, we¡¯ll watch it together.¡± ¡°Great! I didn¡¯t feel like studying anyways.¡± The two elves laughed as they disappeared right in front of Liam and Serena. Liam glanced to the side, receiving an ¡®I told you¡¯ look from his sister. He let out a sigh, seeing the messages of his party members coming in, all of them with a clear urgency. ¡°Maybe I can¡¯t play tomorrow.¡± Serena nodded her head. Despite her earlier encouragement she certainly wasn¡¯t happy hearing this. Since the mood dampened the siblings decided to log off, returning to the real world. Liam was lost in thoughts as he left the training room. He felt somewhat lost as he pondered his future plans. On one hand was his wish to provide a good life for Serena. On the other his obligation towards his new friends and his own desire to have fun in the game. Ultimately everything can only be achieved after building a stable foundation. I need to earn some money first. In three weeks, the exchange opens¡­ But if I rise suddenly, I might enter the eyes of the Colvilles again. I don¡¯t know if they might trouble us. It wouldn¡¯t be bad to have some backup. Maybe I have to join the army after all. Liam was lost in thought as he opened the door leading outside. Immediately his body shivered. A heavy snowfall engulfed the city. Fierce winds blew, pushing the freezing cold beneath Liam¡¯s clothes.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Liam slammed the door shut, taking out his phone, and calling a taxi. While waiting he looked out of a window towards the dojo¡¯s main building. An old man could be seen on the main square. He wore thin martial arts clothes, his body motionless as he stood in a horse stance. Snow gathered atop his head but apparently the cold couldn¡¯t affect him. His breath appeared as white steam, clearly visible before his nose, moving in a mysterious rhythm. Liam was captivated by the special aura surrounding master Baker, unable to avert his eyes. For a few seconds the scene remained in perfect stillness, only the snow falling unceasingly. But suddenly Master Baker¡¯s eyes shot open. ¡°HA!¡± With a forceful shout the old man punched his fist towards the sky. The snow stirred wildly. It strangely disappeared in a line above Master Baker. If one would look closely, one might recognized the silhouette of a winding dragon form the empty area. A subdued shockwave spread around the martial artist, pushing away a huge amount of snow, emptying a circle around him. Liam stared in awe and trepidation. He couldn¡¯t see the power unleashed by Master Baker¡¯s fist, only perceive it with his instincts. A strong danger flooded his mind. This is the power of martial arts? Liam felt the hairs on his neck stand up as Master Baker suddenly looked directly into his eyes. He quickly clasped his fists, bowing lightly. Master Baker didn¡¯t but on airs, bowing as well and walking back into the main building. Liam was left with a profound expression, mulling over what he had seen. I wonder how strong Master Baker is among Starlight Masters. Did he give it his all just now? Probably not. However, even like this¡­ Why do I feel that compared to those top figures in the game these Starlight Master appear kind of¡­ weak? If those consoles can bring this much power to the real world, aren¡¯t Starlight Masters afraid of being replaced? Liam allowed his thoughts to wander as he entered the taxi and drove home. Entering Merida¡¯s appartement, his random thoughts dissolved as he was greeted by a happy Serena. ¡°Look Liam, look outside. I never knew snow could be this beautiful.¡± Serena dragged Liam to a window, prompting him to watch the scenery outside. The cities¡¯ lights reflected of the falling snow, dying it in various colors, creating a surprisingly lively atmosphere. The siblings watched quietly for a while until Merida¡¯s voice drew their attention: ¡°Dinner is ready!¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know if I can eat something¡­¡±, whispered Serena carefully. But Liam could hear the mirth in her voice. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯ve already been eating all day!¡± Liam shook his head with a chuckle, walking towards the table. Serena¡¯s clear laughter followed him. After a hearty meal the trio gathered before the TV. Liam scrolled through his phone looking for a solution for Serena¡¯s education. Liam would prefer to let Serena go to school as it was important for her to find some friends among her peers. However, after years of absence the young girl might lack too much which would cause her difficulties in class. Suddenly an advertisement drew Liam¡¯s attention, prompting him to read through their website. Such a service exists? Liam was surprised as he found a group specialized on taking care of teens in the game. They organized them to play in groups supervised by trained tutors and some fighters for security. They were quite fast to come up with such an idea. I¡¯m not sure if this existed in the past¡­ The existence of such organizations showed the importance people placed on Fate of Crunaboul. There were enough families were both parents turned to playing the game fulltime, needing someone to take care of their children. This would be great for Serena. If I find a private teacher for the morning she can join this group in the afternoon. Liam quickly presented his solution to Serena. Although the young girl wasn¡¯t thrilled about such a large change, she agreed after some coaxing from Liam and Merida. The rest of the evening Liam messaged a few teachers, and the caretaking organization called Crunaboul Discovery Group, expecting results by tomorrow. Thus, he could feel relieved as he entered the game the next day. Since Serena decided to spend the day at Merida¡¯s clinic and only enter the game if she grew bored, Liam directly went to the eagle platform. After a short flight he was back in Luphenour City. Just as he was about to reach the teleporters, Liam noticed a few people who stood out among the quiet street. One of them spotted Liam as well. His eyes opened wide as he gestured to the others, pointing in Liam¡¯s direction. The young man frowned as the group walked towards him. A tall elf in a red mage robe took the lead. His head was raised arrogantly as if Liam couldn¡¯t enter his eyes, but his gaze clearly showed some doubt. Liam sighed as he read the name floating above the man ¨C Star Gazer. ¡°You are Bleary Mirage? Quite brave, coming to our elven city. Are you here to provoke me?¡± ¡°Square off! This is our territory!¡± Star Gazer spoke in an arrogant voice while one of his lackeys immediately lashed out at Liam. Anger crept into the veteran¡¯s mind as he looked at this arrogant face. Obviously, Star Gazer didn¡¯t recognize him but how could Liam forget this guy who stood in the back while his men harassed Liam and Serena? Thinking about how he must¡¯ve been scolded by his family, Liam couldn¡¯t help but show a gloating smile. Of course, Star Gazer¡¯s group interpreted the matter differently. ¡°B*stard! You came here to make fun of us?¡± ¡°Do you really think you are a good player? You¡¯re just lucky! We will soon push you off the ranking!¡± ¡°You better watch your back.¡± Liam wasn¡¯t in the mood to clear the misunderstanding. He didn¡¯t have a single bit of sympathy for the group, feeling that suppressing them might really be the best he could do. Chapter 90: Serious Discussion Star Gazer stared at the person before him. An ordinary face with black hair parted in the middle. Clad in white armor. Bleary Mirage had a faint smile on his lips, his eyes exuding extreme confidence. Star Gazer¡¯s eyes turned frosty. He originally planned to sound out this competitor of his, but apparently that b*stard really came to gloat. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re too ostentatious? Strutting around before us. Do you hold us for fools?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate your importance.¡±, said Bleary Mirage. ¡°Brave!¡±, scoffed Star Gazer. ¡°Don¡¯t get carried away by a single success! It won¡¯t last forever!¡± ¡°Maybe. But it will always be enough to have you guys looking up in admiration.¡± ¡°B*stard!¡± ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Liam was unperturbed as the group yelled at him fiercely watching them all shut up with a wave of Star Gazer¡¯s hand. ¡°You seem quite confident. Why don¡¯t we make a bet?!¡± ¡°A bet? Are you brave enough?¡± ¡°Childish!¡± ¡°State the conditions then.¡± ¡°Easy. The next dungeon is available from level 20 to 25. Whoever get the first clear wins. Loser has to leave the game.¡± Immediately Star Gazer¡¯s lackeys showed some worry on their faces. They didn¡¯t like this idea, but were hesitant to speak up and undermine their boss. However, their eyes lit up upon hearing Liam¡¯s next sentence: ¡°I have another suggestion. If I lose the bet, I will leave the game. If you lose, you pay me five million credits.¡± Star Gazer was taken aback, falling silent. He mulled over it, expecting some catch but not able to find one. Meanwhile, the others were delighted, urgently whispering him to accept. ¡°Fine. If this is what you want.¡± ¡°Great. C, you heard him.¡± Instantly notifications flashed before both parties. C confirmed the conditions. However, Liam sneakily changed the way the money would be processed, inserting Silver Blade as middleman. Or woman. Star Gazer didn¡¯t care as he was eager to accept. The deal was too profitable for him. If the best case, he could get rid of a competitor and in the worst case it only cost him some money. While the rich heir still couldn¡¯t contemplate why Liam would propose such a condition, the latter smiled happily. He received an easy five million and the best part was that it might not be a one-time deal. Should I try to make the outcome close, so he feels like he still has a chance next time? Liam formed some mean plans while leaving under the mocking eyes of Star Gazer¡¯s group. After a quick teleportation he was back in Duabalis City. As soon as he left the building housing the teleporters he was met with a familiar agitated voice. ¡°Mirage! What took you so long?¡± Liam looked his party approaching him with Cyclone in the lead. ¡°Well, morning guys.¡± The others greeted Liam calmly, but it wasn¡¯t only Cyclone who felt a certain pressure. ¡°Ok ok. No time to waste! We need to level up! I¡¯m sure Star Gazer is already working hard to catch up.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. While speaking Cyclone glanced at Silver Blade. The two friends had discussed a lot yesterday. They also figured out that Star Gazer wasn¡¯t taken out of the race. He would definitely try everything to overtake them. This was his only chance to regain the family¡¯s¡¯ respect. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t think Star Gazer is leveling already.¡± ¡°Hm, how would you know?¡± ¡°Because I just met him.¡± ¡°What?¡± Cyclone wasn¡¯t the only one exclaiming in surprise. The whole party was speaking up. ¡°What happened?¡±, asked Silver Blade with concern and curiosity. ¡°We made a bet. Whoever clears the next dungeon first wins.¡± ¡°You¡­ what are the conditions?¡± ¡°If I lose, I have to leave the game.¡± Suddenly the scene felt silent. Everyone looked at Liam with shock. Reluctance could be seen in some eyes. Only Cyclone looked strangely unperturbed. Silver Blade glanced at her friend, asking with a frown: ¡°Weren¡¯t you the most eager to stay at the top? If we lose Mirage, it will be a thousand times more difficult.¡± ¡°Why would we lose Mirage? I¡¯m sure that if the expert says he will get first clear, no one can snatch it away.¡± Cyclone¡¯s confidence left the others stumped. Somehow, they felt she made sense, but they found it difficult to accept the logic. Although Liam was clearly in a league of his own, they only just passed the tutorial. Many of the top players were only beginning their rise. Who could tell how many hidden talents would be discovered soon? Liam scanned the conflicted faces, but he didn¡¯t take the hints of doubt to heart. ¡°However, you could have discussed with us beforehand.¡± A discontent voice suddenly drew everyone¡¯s attention. It was Fortune who looked at Liam with an unhappy frown. The latter was taken aback. His brows furrowed as he mulled over the words. ¡°Maybe you are right. I just didn¡¯t consider this a big matter. But I could¡¯ve informed you. Sorry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± Watching the exchange, Silent Acacia plucked up his courage. He felt now was the right time to speak about some important matters. ¡°Guys, maybe we should have a serious discussion. It might be time to express our goals in the game and plan for the future.¡± Suddenly the atmosphere turned solemn. The party members looked at each other. Everyone subtly felt that this was an important step in their lives. ¡°Acacia is right. Why don¡¯t I begin?¡±, offered Silver Blade. ¡°You all know that I hired you in the name of Colville Constructions. Obviously, I¡¯m from the Colville family. It is no secret that our family head plans to retire in a few years, searching for a successor. I wish to fight for the position, mainly for my parents. The family head places a lot of importance on the game, so here I am.¡± Silver Blade didn¡¯t explain more, causing Silent Acacia to speak up: ¡°Thank you. Since I made the suggestion, I will continue. I have always wanted to be a pro players ever since entering a game for the first time. I have worked hard and finally got a contract for the game RR two years ago. However, despite having the reputation of a ¡®prodigy¡¯, my first split was unfortunately disastrous. The team ruthlessly kicked me out. Luckily, I have Quickstep. Her following me made it somewhat bearable.¡± Silent Acacia almost chocked but continued as Quickstep grabbed his hand. ¡°Now I wish to return to proplay, winning tournaments in Fate of Crunaboul and showing my old team that they made a mistake!¡± The others wore solemn faces hearing the emotions in Silent Acacia¡¯s voice. He might be the most invested among them. Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge didn¡¯t seem surprised, obviously already knowing about the hunter¡¯s story. They looked at each other before Bloody Edge spoke up. ¡°Me and Radiant Shield are in college. There isn¡¯t much to say. We would like to earn money by gaming instead of working a boring office job.¡± Balm puffed up her chest. She took a deep breath, her voice full of conviction: ¡°Me and Cyclone always had a wish to found a guild and rise to the top!¡± Liam looked at the young woman in surprise. Balm usually appeared rather casual, but it was obvious that she took this wish serious. ¡°Exactly! Everyone will look up to us!¡±, echoed Cyclone with a grin. The atmosphere eased up a bit while Fortune spoke with a shrug: ¡°I want to be a top creator. I won¡¯t deny that I enjoy the attention and the lifestyle.¡± ¡°Reasonable. I need to earn some money as well and look forward to some good fights.¡± Almost everyone had spoken, prompting them to turn their eyes to the usually quiet Watchful Eye. ¡°I will follow the young lady.¡± Silver Blade rolled her eyes, feeling embarrassed. Luckily the others thought it was only natural. ¡°And I want to be powerful.¡± Suddenly the party members stared at Watchful Eye. It was surprising as the taciturn man showed a hint of childish longing. But no one ridiculed him, accepting it quietly. ¡°Let me summarize.¡±, said Silent Acacia with a relieved expression. ¡°All of us are profiting from being at the top. Be it for money or otherwise. How can we make sure to meet everyone¡¯s goals?¡± ¡°In my opinion¡­¡±, said Liam. ¡°¡­ is Cyclone¡¯s and Balm¡¯s wish the most difficult. A successful guild needs many parts to work together seamlessly. I suggest you two found your guild and hire us as the core team. You can pay us a salary or give out shares. Silver Blade could become the main sponsor, but she alone probably isn¡¯t enough. For the guild to work well and for Fortune to get good content we as the core team need to stand out, getting first clears and solving difficult quests. Balm is interest in alchemy, right? You should work hard and advance your profession. Alchemy can earn a lot of money which we¡¯ll need for the guild. You can also hire others and make a business out of it. However, we are still missing one important position. A manager.¡± ¡°I might know someone.¡± Feeling all eyes turning towards him Radiant Shield mentioned a familiar name: ¡°Sun¡¯s Knight.¡± Chapter 91: Border of human territory Cyclone felt the pressure while listening to the others discussing the establishment of a guild. Realization slowly settled in. A lot of effort and work would come her way. However, she also felt the anticipation. With the help of her party this dream of hers didn¡¯t sound so unrealistic anymore. The blond woman subconsciously glanced at Liam. She was confident that as long as the expert stayed, all hurdles originating from that game could be overcome. Balm on the other hand felt her legs weaken at this moment. She looked towards Cyclone for reassurance. Seeing the apparent calm on her friend¡¯s face, Balm also felt her spirits lifted. The party discussed some more before they came to a conclusion. They would slowly prepare for now, talk to Sun¡¯s Knight, and invite some friends to join while waiting for the guild system to open. Liam expected the system to be established together with the gold exchange, but he had no confirmation yet. ¡°Ok. We talked long enough. Now it¡¯s time to work.¡± Silent Acacia ended the discussion when there wasn¡¯t much left to say. The others agreed, turning their heads towards Liam one by one. ¡°What do you want to do now?¡± ¡°Well, you are the one who made a bet. Don¡¯t you think we should level up and tackle the dungeon?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Liam already expected this request. Thus, he made some plans yesterday. In his old life many different strategies for power leveling emerged. He only had to pick one which was suitable for the current party. ¡°Let¡¯s go guys. Our next goal will be reaching level 15.¡± ¡°Nice. Let¡¯s leave everyone in the dust!¡± Cyclone smiled, feeling some relief. A glance at the ranking list showed Star Gazer¡¯s team right behind their party. On top of that a few more names appeared one by one on the ranking list. Some players who already carried a reputation from other games gradually showed their prowess. People like Mountain Lord, a famous tank known for his PvP skills or Phoenix Feather, a female mage known as a leveling fanatic, finally entered the public eye. However, Liam remained unperturbed, confident that no one would be able to catch up if he didn¡¯t allow them to. He entered a teleporter, once more arriving in Striking Wood Town, close to the area where the party fought the snake boss. A solemn atmosphere hung in the air. The villagers appeared rather cautious, glancing at the armored soldiers for a hint of security. Liam approached the town¡¯s wall built form thick wooden pegs. Close to the gate was an empty area. The clashing of weapons could be heard accompanied by strained shouts. A few soldiers were training under the watch of a stern-faced female captain. Signaling the party to stop Liam waited patiently for a few seconds until the captain acknowledged them. ¡°Adventurer. Are you here for honor or coin?¡± Other than Liam the others were somewhat puzzled by this greeting. Although they had seen the quest boards placed in cities and towns, they didn¡¯t have time to read those yet. The quest boards were meant to guide players to common quests if they were unable to find some themselves. But why would anyone among the party members read those boards if they had their seemingly all-knowing expert?If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Thus, no one knew that this guard captain handed out common quests. Naturally, it was not difficult to figure out. Guards and other officials often sought the assistance of adventurers. No one was surprised when the captain handed out a quest after a few sentences. ¡°Those dastardly orcs have been coming closer to the border! They let their wargs roam freely. Those bloodthirsty dogs even cross the Great Spirit River, entering the empire and attacking the locals. It¡¯s time to thin out their numbers. But those beasts aren¡¯t stupid. They won¡¯t attack if they aren¡¯t assured of victory. You will need this. Bait them with the meat we prepared. They won¡¯t be able to resist.¡± ¡°You can count on us.¡± The female captain nodded with a neutral expression as she handed over twenty pieces of meat to Liam. ¡°If you need more meat, come to me.¡± Liam grinned slyly as he put the bait away, glancing at the quest notification. [Quest: Thin out the wargs] [Lure wargs with the prepared bait and kill them.] [Wargs killed: 0/20] [Optional: Kill more wargs for extra rewards.] Next, Liam led his party out of the town while explaining the plan. Making sure that everyone understood, he signaled them to begin. Bloody Edge solemnly took a few pieces of meat from Liam before separating from the party. He scurred across the grassy field, soon disappearing behind a hill. Soon, the thief reached an area torn by battles. The dark soil had a bloody scent to it. Many destroyed weapons and armors were half buried into the ground. Bloody Edge noticed that a lot of them didn¡¯t seem fitting for a human body. Suddenly he noticed a sound nearby. Remembering Liam¡¯s instructions he quickly went into stealth, keeping his body close to the ground and his steps light. A man walked out behind some broken wooden structure, wearing a patched leather armor with dirt all over his skin. He cautiously approached one of the broken weapons, constantly looking left and right, fearing that the army might be close by. Not noticing anything the man hastily pulled out the weapon before escaping. Watching his back, Bloody Edge hesitated briefly before using [Inspect]. [Lucky Scavenger Rank: Common Level: 22 HP: 3200/3200] Level 22¡­ Bloody Edge drew a sharp breath, vaguely seeing the scavenger gathering with a small group in the distance. He recalled all the tricks for stealth he had read up on, advancing with utmost caution. He took wide detours, avoiding all the scavenger groups until a village came into his view. It was situated on a narrow creek. Its once clear water now murky and bloody. The village was also past its peak. Its wooden wall was heavily damaged. Even the attempts in patching it up weren¡¯t able to restore it. Many of the houses laid in ruins while the rest of them were now inhabited by groups of scavengers. Bloody Edge advanced slowly, avoiding the men and women in ragged clothes lingering outside, bemoaning the hardships of their lives. He circled the village finding a hole in the wall just as Liam told him. Bloody Edge was once more amazed by the extent and detail of Bleary Mirage¡¯s knowledge. Naturally, all of the party members felt it was strange, but they collectively chose not to question their expert. Thus, Bloody Edge shook of the thought as he robbed through the hole in the wall, entering the village. Keeping his body in the shadows he scurried between broken houses. When he got as close as possible to the gate, Bloody Edge stopped, piling up ten pieces of meat in a hidden location before disappearing in a secret basement nearby. While the thief was working, the rest of the party didn¡¯t stay idle either. They followed Liam towards the south, once more entering Wouliph Forest. But this time they didn¡¯t come for the deserter camp but approached the far-reaching sound of rushing water. It didn¡¯t take long for them to arrive at the coast of a truly broad river. Its water was somewhat greenish, flowing at high speeds. This was the Great Spirit River, originating from the eastern mountains and drawing a natural boarder between the Striving Basilisk Empire and the Red Steppe, which most orc tribes called their home. The Red Steppe was technically still part of the central plains. A long time ago before a group of humans, called Tarraner, arrived form the western ocean, orcs spread from the Red Steppe wandering through the central plains, taking everything they needed. When the Tarraner suddenly arrived and demanded a piece of the pie, it led to fierce wars. The orcs, having profited from the fertile land for a long time, managed to gain the upper hand. However, this was when the usually reclusive wood elves, having suffered from the orcs¡¯ plundering for a long time, suddenly came out of the deep forests and assisted the Tarraner. On top of that even the aloof high elves sent a few powerful mages since the arrogant orcs dared to raid their villages in the past. Faced with this alliance the orcs had no choice but return to their ancestral lands in the Red Steppe, confining their movement to this small and dry land. Afterwards most of the central plain had been taken over by humans, allowing them to strive. This was the ancient history. Since then, relationships had changed more than once. The former unity among humans couldn¡¯t be taken for granted anymore. Each of the different kingdoms and empires had their own ideas, some of them reconciling with orcs and some fighting fiercely. The Striving Basilisk Empire which was closest to the Red Steppe mostly showed an ambiguous attitude, focused on defending. But with some orc tribes daring to raid its territory new conflicts arose. Now it was on the players to influence the fate of the two races. Chapter 92: Cyclone’s time to shine her best to control the chaotic magical attacks. Yet, she still only managed to land five of them, split between the three enemies. [-250!]x5 ¡°Noo!¡± The already badly damaged scout let out an unwilling scream as he dropped to the ground. ¡°One down, two to go!¡± Silent Acacia wasn¡¯t perturbed at all. He immediately switched targets as he used flurry, fighting bow with bow. His eyes lit up brightly as he landed a critical hit, dealing considerable damage. ¡°Well done babe!¡± Quickstep praised happily. She flourished her swords, engulfing an orc in a small whirlwind. Meanwhile Radiant Shield and Silver Blade did their best to defend against the scouts. Arrows stabbed at their chests, dealing large amounts of damage, only slightly dampened by Silver Blade¡¯s aura. Radiant Shield checked his status, watching his dwindling HP with worry.
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Name:You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Radiant Shield
Level: 12
Race: Holy Nephilim
Class: Warrior
Primary Attributes:
STR: 34
INT: 15
AGI: 1
HP: 1713/2812
Fury: 24/73
(show more)
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¡°Friends, we need to fell these monsters.¡± ¡°On it!¡± The party focused on the orc facing Radiant Shield. Fortune and Cyclone were both casting, diminishing their damage output. After two more exchanges Silver Blade and Radiant Shield both were critically low on health. At this moment, Cyclone suddenly let out a comically evil laugh. ¡°Haha, despair under the might of my lighting!¡± Her blond hair levitated under the energizing mana gathered around her. Cyclone swung her wand, pointing it at the sky. Dark clouds gathered immediately in an area above the orcs. A bolt of lightning stroke, shattering the earth with a deafening sound. Cyclone¡¯s lips twitched slightly as she realized how difficult it was to control a powerful spell. She gathered her focus, not wanting to waste any more of her precious ultimate spell, [Raining Thunder]. Subsequently the lightning fell in quick succession. The third bolt finally landed on one of the scouts. [-324!] Electrical currents ran along the orc¡¯s skin, causing his muscles to convulse. This was the sign of Cyclone¡¯s passive skill triggering, paralyzing the enemy. Paralyzed enemies would receive extra damage every time someone was hit by lightning damage. Thus, when the next bolt hit the other orc scout, lightning could be seen jumping between the orcs. [-324!] [-32!] The party members watched in awe as Cyclone poured out enormous damage. Chapter 93: Wargs and scavengers Boom! Radiant Shield¡¯s hair stood on end as he barely managed to jump aside. Only the burned ground remained where he had been standing until a moment ago. ¡°Hey, watch where you aim!¡± Cyclone was too immersed in her attack to acknowledge Radiant Shield¡¯s reprimand. But as both tanks carefully left the area of the mage¡¯s spell, the orc scouts mindlessly followed. Quickly they were about to leave as well. ¡°Nono, hold them back!¡± Cyclone shouted anxiously. She still had four bolts left, which might even be enough to kill one of the orcs. Bang! Another bolt missed the enemy. The two tanks were uncertain about what to do. ¡°Gather all your strength and slam your bodies into the orcs!¡± Liam yelled, barely managing to make himself heard over the loud thunder. Radiant Shield and Silver Blade didn¡¯t hesitate, showing their trust in Bleary Mirage. They did as told, their shields colliding with the orcs¡¯ chests. With a grunt the orc hit by Silver Blade stumbled backwards, entering the lightning area again. Radiant Shield however wasn¡¯t able to move his opponent, his movements not forceful enough. The maneuver Liam told the tanks to perform counted as a normal attack. It was often useful to control the opponents, something good tanks were required to learn. Similar movements could also be applied when defending. Being able to keep one¡¯s body stable allowed one to decrease the loss of stance. Before entering the next dungeon, we need to hold a few training sessions. The mages need to learn flash step as well. Liam allowed himself some idle thoughts as he watched the last bolt of lightning accurately strike the top of an orc¡¯s head. The scout directly turned into ashes as the fierce lightning magic took its last HP. The cloud in the sky shook one last time as if to say goodbye before fading. Cyclone stood with a bright smile and her chest sticking out proudly. ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly the blond woman glared at Balm, who had just elbowed her sides. ¡°What was that for? You ruined my moment!¡± ¡°The fight isn¡¯t over yet!¡± Cyclone closed her mouth awkwardly. She turned her head towards Radiant Shield, who blocked another arrow after Balm had healed him just in time. Having her grand moment destroyed she grumbled inaudibly, casting another [Lightning Strike]. A jolt ran through the orc scout but unfortunately, he didn¡¯t get paralyzed. However, it didn¡¯t matter much. The opponent only managed to attack one last time before falling under the onslaught of skills form the party. Radiant Shield let out a deep breath as he watched the three dead orcs. He only had about 700HP left. Although he still had some skills for protection it was impressive that three common mobs could push them so far. ¡°We made it.¡±, said Silver Blade, similarly relieved. ¡°Only because of my ultimate!¡± Cyclone had regained her proud expression, reminding the party of her contributions. Silver Blade chuckled faintly but nevertheless gave Cyclone some well-deserved praise:This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Yeah only because of you. Your new class is quite impressive.¡± ¡°Indeed, your contributions to this fight can¡¯t be understated.¡± ¡°Maybe we need to train our control, though.¡±, reminded Fortune. Liam nodded, agreeing with the content creator. ¡°Before the next dungeon starts, we have to train quite a few things. Control, flash step¡­ You can look forward to it.¡± ¡°Is the next dungeon difficult?¡±, asked Balm curiously. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Compared to later dungeons¡­¡± Liam¡¯s voice trailed off ominously, sending a shiver down everyone¡¯s spine. ¡°Don¡¯t frighten us! Let¡¯s go leveling, go, go!¡± Cyclone glared at Liam, urging the party forwards. She was even more upset as the orc scouts didn¡¯t drop anything useful. The others agreed quickly. Following Liam¡¯s plan, they returned the way they came from while the veteran alone went deeper into orc territory. Sneaking through the forest he soon heard a rustling, spotting the first group of three wargs. Those beasts reared by orcs looked like large wolfs with an unhealthily bent back. Their deep dark fur and menacing teeth made them look like the terrifying predators that they are. Liam emptied his mind, fully focusing on the task. He took out one of the meat baits he received earlier. Instantly the wargs stopped in their actions. Their sensible snouts twitched, sniffing the air. Drool began to form in their mouths as a hungry gaze filled their eyes. They turned their heads, instantly spotting Liam among the trees. Knowing that he caught the beasts¡¯ attention the veteran didn¡¯t hesitate even a moment. He instantly turned around and sprinted through the forest. ¡°Woo! Wooo!¡± ¡°Wooor!¡± The wargs let out strange dog-like noises as they instantly gave chase. The smell from the meat in Liam¡¯s hand was quickly spread over a large part of the forest. Eager steps could be heard from all directions. Meanwhile, Liam felt a shiver run down his spine. He felt the wargs coming closer steadily. Suddenly the sound of footsteps changed. One of the wargs fell silent. Loud alarm bells rang in Liam¡¯s head. He instinctively threw his body forward. A warg descended on the place Liam was still standing a moment ago, its vicious maw snapping at empty air. Liam felt his stomach sink. Judging from his past life he should¡¯ve barely been able to outrun the wargs. Luckily his strategy already planned for contingencies. He quickly dropped the meat in his hand before distancing himself. Under Liam¡¯s observation, groups of wargs broke out of the surrounding foliage, eagerly battling for the piece of meat just short of injuring each other. After a few seconds one of the beasts ended up winning, proudly raising its head with the trophy in its mouth. Liam estimated the longest distance he could go before pulling out another bait. Instantly thirty pairs of eyes were directed towards him. Even Liam felt the pressure as he turned around and ran. Thirty hungry beasts followed, the sound of their steps hanging over Liam like a guillotine. Before the wargs got into attack distance, Liam reached the wooden bridge. He dropped a piece of meat before balancing over the slippery wood. Reaching the other side of the river Liam had to wait until the wargs were done discussing the ownership of the meat before taking out another one. With their sharp claws the beasts had no difficulties crossing the bridge, which was prepared for them in the first place. Seeing this, Liam didn¡¯t dare to stay and instantly escaped along the river. His breath was heavy, ringing in his own ears. For the next fifteen minutes the same scene repeated itself. Liam ran away until the wargs got close. He bravely dodged one or two attacks before switching to a new bait. Like this he soon reached the war-torn zone. A dilapidated village came into view. At the back of the village was a large gate which was usually open, allowing players to engage the scavengers. Some of the latter lingered in front of the gate, conversing in small groups. Liam quickly scanned the scene. As soon as he arrived within a certain range, two groups of scavengers turned towards him, ready for battle. Ignoring them, Liam dashed between the scavengers before they could obstruct his path, entering the village. The wargs angrily followed behind him, their attention still on the piece of meat in his hands. Like a brutal wave they made use of their agility to climb over the walls and press through the gate. Seeing this, Liam finally let out a sigh of relief. He put away the meat in his hand. Suddenly the wargs lost their target. Their training kicked in, prompting them to stare angrily at the surrounding humans. But only a moment later they perceived a smell in the air. There was even more meat! A whole pile of it! Liam took a deep breath as the wargs ran away without paying him any attention, allowing him to hide among some ruined house. At the other side of the village the wargs found the pile of meat, quickly dividing it among themselves. They consumed it eagerly, not caring about the scavengers who wandered around mindlessly. Most NPCs, especially intelligent ones, usually didn¡¯t attack other NPCs on sight. This was also the case for the scavengers. However, the wargs were different. Trained to attack humans they didn¡¯t differentiate between NPCs, players, soldiers, or others. As soon as they consumed all the meat, they fletched their teeth and focused on the humans surrounding them. Without hesitation they pounced on the groups of scavengers. The latter reacted surprised but instantly retaliated. A fierce brawl ensued between the level 20+ mobs. Liam sneaked carefully thorough the village, catching up with his party hiding in another house. They watched carefully through a window as the HP bars slowly emptied. A few seconds later all the wargs and scavengers were caught up in the fight. The party didn¡¯t need to fear attacks, leaving the house and surrounding the mobs. They watched closely. Suddenly Liam¡¯s eyes lit up as he signaled Cyclone. ¡°Next to you, now!¡± Chapter 94: Chapter 94: A familiar name… A scavenger swung his broken steel sword, aiming to cut the throat of the beast before him. He wasn¡¯t intelligent enough to contemplate why a group of wargs had suddenly appeared in their village. He only reacted to the aggression. His sword landed, cutting deep into flesh. The warg fletched its teeth angrily. It retaliated, sinking its menacing teeth into the scavenger¡¯s leg. The latter¡¯s HP dropped dangerously until only twenty something remained. However, like a fearless warrior the NPC slowly raised his sword again. But before he could attack a sneaky ball of magic slammed into his head. The scavenger¡¯s body froze. He dropped to the ground lifelessly. The warg appeared puzzled for a moment before looking for another target. ¡°Haha! So easy! I got 72EXP!¡± Cyclone exclaimed happily, her joy shared by the others. They threw subtle glances at Liam while picking out near-dead mobs and saving them from their suffering. The strategy worked well for a while. But it quickly grew apparent that the ferocious wargs managed to take the upper hand. ¡°We need to balance the numbers! Here, focus on this one!¡± Liam calmly directed the party. He pointed out one of the wargs. Instantly three attacks landed on it, sending it to the afterlife. At the same time another scavenger fell. His opponent sniffed, scanning its surroundings. Something inevitable happened. The warg didn¡¯t find a scavenger close by, focusing its gaze on Watchful Eye. Fortunately, Liam was on high alert, warning everyone: ¡°Careful! Attach this one immediately! Don¡¯t let it come close!¡± The others were infected by the urgency. Cyclone didn¡¯t hesitate to use her [Lightning Strike] instantly. Under the party¡¯s attacks the warg died quickly, not able to cause trouble. ¡°Keep it up guys!¡± Liam encouraged the party, resuming his meticulous leadership. One by one the scavengers and wargs were killed. Soon the area was completely cleared. ¡°Nice job, expert! We got so much EXP!¡± ¡°Brilliant strategy!¡± ¡°I guess I can¡¯t upload this.¡± The party conversed happily, not forgetting to praise Liam who received it with a calm smile. Inwardly he felt a hint of pride as, contrary to some of his other knowledge, this strategy was indeed devised by him in the past. A couple seconds later the party sneaked out of the village, making their way back to Striking Wood Town. Since they had to wait some time for the mobs to respawn, they didn¡¯t deliberately avoid the scavengers this time, fighting a couple of small groups. Arriving at the training area, they faced the female guard captain. Liam asked for more bait which he generously received, beggining the entire routine anew. For the rest of the day the party did nothing else but repeat the same actions. The joy at the beginning slowly turned into boredom but the party gritted their teeth and pulled through. The leveling spree went mostly without accidents except for the one time where Bloody Edge was discovered and died unwillingly to a mob of scavengers. When the time to log off arrived Liam pulled Silent Acacia aside. He took out the egg of the Mutated Grey-skinned Alligator he received during his last quest. Silent Acacia¡¯s eyes immediately lit up with desire.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. However, pets were incredibly rare, especially this early in the game. Naturally their price wasn¡¯t low. After some discussion Liam and Acacia agreed on a price of ten gold. ¡°But I don¡¯t have so much gold¡­¡±, stated Silent Acacia awkwardly. ¡°I know. You can pay me in credits. I estimate an exchange rate of 1:2000 should be fair.¡± Silent Acacia frowned, contemplating deeply. He compared the prices common in older games, trying to include the fame of Fate of Crunaboul in his calculations. Eventually he slowly shook his head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s correct. Gold, especially at the beginning shouldn¡¯t go for anything less than 3000 credits.¡± Liam mulled over it for a bit. All in all, they didn¡¯t have a real basis for calculation and could only guess. Liam tried to depend on the worth of gold in his old life, but naturally this was a shaky foundation. Not only was Fate of Crunaboul more widespread in the new life, but credits also couldn¡¯t be converted one to one to the currency he was used to. In the end the two friends settled on an exchange rate of 1:2500. Both were satisfied as when they logged of. Liam opened his eyes with a smile. Silent Acacia would come by tomorrow night to bring him 25.000c. Of course, Liam already handed the egg over to him. Every day was a day more for the hunter to rear his pet. *** While Liam was on his way home a middle-aged man was sitting in a limousine. He wore a fine blue suit, glasses enlarging his contemplating eyes, his brown hair orderly gelled back. Sitting silently, he emitted the aura of someone used to holding positions of power. A few minutes later the car stopped. Someone approached immediately, opening the door and bowing deeply. ¡°Good evening, mister Colville.¡± Owen Colville didn¡¯t have the mood to acknowledge the worker. He got out of the car, looking up at the tall building located at the edge of the high-class district. Top architects designed the office building, creating a skillful blend of modern and old-fashioned style. On top of the grand entrance the words ¡®Colville Constructions¡¯ were placed boldly, eliciting awe in everyone who saw them. For the people going in and out of this building everyday it was a great honor to work here. They were responsible for constructing most of the buildings on Falva Star. Since civilization on this planet was still considered juvenile, construction work offered many challenges needing incredible brains to solve them. Thus, Colville Constructions and similar companies enjoyed a good reputation even considering the entire federation. Naturally, Owen Colville, as part of the ownership was also a man of high prestige. The receptionist greeted him with a deferential attitude, putting on her most charming expression. In his youth Owen might have asked her to visit him later but he had matured long ago. Thus, he went straight for his goal, entering the elevator and arriving at the highest floor. A large lounge area with multiple doors appeared before him. Straight ahead was a tall door, artfully designed, with a prominent sign next to it. Owen scoffed as he read ¡®Silva Colville, CEO¡¯. He passed through the door, arriving in a small office. A neat man was seated on a desk, working busily. Hearing someone come in the man looked up. Immediately his face appeared conflicted and apprehensive. Owen ignored the familiar man, who was Silva¡¯s assistant and approached another door leading to his niece¡¯s office. ¡°Sir. The¡­ CEO is not in her office.¡± Owen froze in place, turning his head slowly. Rage shimmered in his chest, but he hid it with a professional smile. ¡°Mr. Ontril. What do you want to say with this?¡± Ontril shuddered under the gaze of Owen. In the past the two men had some shady dealings. But some rumors spread quickly in the company. It seemed that Silva had gained significant favor from the family, which still held the majority shares of the company. And today, when the news arrived that Brayan had to relinquish his position as COO, many workers had to reconsider their behavior. Owen naturally wasn¡¯t oblivious to these considerations. He suppressed his rage as he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. Without a word he slid it on Ontril¡¯s desk. Silva¡¯s assistant felt a shudder running through his body. He stared unwillingly at the piece of paper. However, after having made similar dealings in the past his barriers were already ground down. He grabbed the piece of paper, glanced at the many zeros and left the office. ¡°I¡­ I suddenly need to go to the toilet. I haven¡¯t seen anything.¡± Owen cursed inwardly. Having to go to such lengths within the company, which should¡¯ve been his, only increased his ire. With gritted teeth he entered Silva¡¯s office, scanning it briefly. Soon, he found the black suitcase sitting on a large desk. It must¡¯ve been Ontril who fetched it from Silva¡¯s home. Click! Click! The briefcase sprung open, revealing its contents to Owen. The experienced man was careful, taking out the contracts, not daring to damage them even slightly. He slowly browsed them one by one. This address... a college dorm? Great. Students can be bribed easily. Those two are pro players. Quite the ego for someone I would¡¯ve never heard about without researching beforehand. We should be able to poach them if we present a promising team. These should be Silva¡¯s friends. Difficult¡­ That content creator. Should be poachable as well. And this¡­ Suddenly Owen¡¯s brows furrowed heavily. One of the names appeared strangely familiar. Liam Varsmith¡­ It can¡¯t be a coincidence, right? How did that boy get his hands on a console? I almost forgot about him. Didn¡¯t we drive him into homelessness? And judging from the video he is quite good at the game. How? Did his parents leave behind additional information? Did we miss something? Chapter 95: How to cast magic The next day Liam arrived at the dojo. Master Baker immediately called him over, forcing him to bend in various strange positions. Although he felt some pain, but it was accompanied by a heated feeling streaming through his flesh. Master Baker nodded with an appreciating gaze. ¡°Your martial arts are making good progress. You are not far from reaching the first stage, flesh strengthening. Train diligently for a few more days and eat well. You should soon break through.¡± Liam, performing a handstand, his face beet red could only speak with a strained voice. ¡°Thank you, master.¡± A while later Liam collapsed to the ground, almost out of energy. He dragged his body to the training room, relaxing while pondering over his martial arts. He was too tired to further train the game¡¯s skills today despite knowing the importance of ranking them up. The damage from low level skills simply wouldn¡¯t be enough in the future. Naturally, he had already informed his teammates about this. Silent Acacia told him yesterday that he and Quickstep were taking the advice serious, expecting to rank up their skills soon. However, Cyclone had a valid question. She didn¡¯t understand how she was supposed to train in the real world, leaving Liam stumped. With some time left until the game was about to go online the young man decided to experiment. He sat down cross legged, feeling the VR console resting around his upper body. With a thought he used his only magical skill, [Holy Wave]. With the console as a conduit a strange energy flashed through Liam¡¯s body. Instantly a wave of light spread from him. It emitted a sacred feeling, as if all lies could be uncovered under its illumination. However, crashing against the training room¡¯s walls it dissipated immediately, barely shaking the window. It wasn¡¯t that the skill was too weak. But the training room was constructed to train martial arts. Naturally it was incredibly sturdy. Liam didn¡¯t concentrate on the skill¡¯s power, though. He frowned recalling the fleeting sensation of energy passing through his body. Not able to come to a conclusion he used the skill again. Suddenly a feeling of weakness assaulted his body. Obviously using skills also put a burden on Liam. The young man couldn¡¯t help but yawn. But in his mind was a hint of recognition. He deduced something from his body¡¯s state. The energy used to activate the skill came neither from himself, nor from the console but was absorbed from outside. Liam had a certain guess. He couldn¡¯t confirm it, but the likelihood was high. This energy might just be starlight energy. It is said that starlight masters can produce similar effects as the skills in the game. Naturally other forms of energy like radiation or whatever can¡¯t be excluded but are comparatively more farfetched. However, how could one be able to train magic skills then? Is it necessary to first become a starlight master? Deep wrinkles formed on Liam¡¯s forehead. He took of the console, closing his eyes. He tried to repeat the earlier sensation but came up with nothing. No energy seemed to enter his body. A hint of excitement crept up in Liam¡¯s mind. He didn¡¯t believe that he couldn¡¯t figure it out.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. He didn¡¯t even consider asking C about it. His body seemed to discover extra reserves of energy. Shaking off his tiredness Liam one by one tried the poses described in the Winding Dragon Martial Technique. A few minutes later he stood with both his feet turned outward, his upper body in a strange forty-five degree angle. One of his hands was stretched upwards and one almost touched the ground. Liam held his balance, attempting once again to activate the skill. Suddenly his body jolted. He felt a stream of extremely feeble energy running through his body. When it reached his skin, a faint glow could be seen, which dissipated swiftly. Delight shone from Liam¡¯s eyes. A thud sounded out. Liam fell to the floor, utterly exhausted, not able to move even a finger. But his mind was reeling in excitement. ¡°That¡¯s it! Mana pathways! Haha, it works!¡± A strong feeling of accomplishment welled up in Liam. In the game mana pathways are one of the foundations of magic. Players don¡¯t need to learn them, but NPCs do. Yet, when players cast magic skills, they can still feel these paths. It seems like the same theory can be applied in real life. However, the mana pathways are extremely difficult to sense and require a lot of training. It won¡¯t be easy for mages to improve their skills like this. If Liam were to report his findings to Master Baker, the old man would be surprised. The mana pathways Liam discovered were known to martial artist under various names. Some techniques called them starlight paths, conduits, or meridians. Clearing them was the important last step to finish the basic training and become a real starlight master. Liam, inspired by the console, could be said to have reversed the order of the basic training. This was not an entirely novel approach. However, usually disciples were dissuaded from doing so as they tended to be overconfident, using spells which injured their bodies and might even cut of their paths in the worst case. Liam didn¡¯t think so deeply at this moment. He was enjoying the feeling of solving a problem while his eyes slowly grew heavier. Two hours later Liam woke up with a start. After understanding his situation, he smiled wryly, sitting up and putting on the VR console. The others must already be waiting for me¡­ As soon as Liam entered the game, messages cluttered his vision. Being more than an hour late the other party members were understandingly annoyed. They even tried the leveling strategy without him. Silent Acacia took on Liam¡¯s role, quickly faltering under the pressure. During his second attempt he almost made it to the village but was obstructed by a group of scavengers. Right now, the party was preparing for a third attempt. Liam convened with his friends, apologizing repeatedly. He was just about to take on his role when Silent Acacia stopped him. The hunter was eager to succeed, adamant in his wish to lure the wargs. After managing to convince the party he took the meat and began his third attempt. Listening to the beasts fletching their teeth and howling behind his back, Acacia felt a tremendous pressure. Even the other party members wore tense expressions, praying for the hunter to succeed. With each close shave Silent Acacia felt his stomach sink. However, after a few minutes the village came into view. Silent Acacia nimbly weaved between the scavengers, leaving them in the dust this time, before successfully reaching his target. Noticing his elated expression the others didn¡¯t tease him, praising him genuinely. Only Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge looked somewhat envious as Quickstep welcomed her boyfriend with a kiss. Subsequently however, Liam took over the duty again. Since Silent Acacia already died twice, they didn¡¯t dare to take any more risks. Thus, another day of leveling quickly concluded. A storm was set off in the global chat. ¡°Wow! Look at the ranking list!¡± ¡°Three levels in two days! Can others even compete?¡± ¡°Do others even have time to level? Wouldn¡¯t they be searching for a strong class after reaching level 10?¡± ¡°Yes, other than the top, nothing much changed on the ranking list.¡± ¡°What classes do you think those at the top got?¡± ¡°With how quick they moved, it can¡¯t be anything special right?¡± Liam and his friends didn¡¯t care much for the global chat. However, angry curses could be heard for quite a while from within Brayan¡¯s room in Colville Tower. It took the young man quite a while to get back into his usually calm mental state. He opened the opulent door leading towards his living room. However, he was surprised to see someone seated on the luxurious white couch. Naturally, he recognized the well-dressed man quickly. ¡°Dad? What brings you here?¡± ¡°Sit. Look at this.¡± Brayan was confused. He sat down next to his father, staring at the pieces of paper, which were placed neatly on the black, wooden table designed solely for him. A frown quickly appeared on his face. ¡°It¡¯s one of Silva¡¯s contracts. Why are you showing me this?¡± ¡°It seems you don¡¯t quite remember. Don¡¯t you recognize the name?¡± ¡°Liam Varsmith? I¡­¡± Suddenly Brayan fell quiet. Something came to his mind. ¡°Weren¡¯t there some explorers going by the name Varsmith?¡± ¡°Exactly. A few years back we bought their home¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ bought.¡± ¡°Bought!¡±, stressed Owen sternly. ¡°Anyways, we thought we found everything they extracted from the ancient ruins. But now it seems they were quite cunning. The Varsmiths must¡¯ve hidden some beforehand.¡± ¡°I did think it was strange how someone unknown seemingly anticipated all the boss moves beforehand¡­ But what can we do with this information?¡± ¡°We need to find a way to make him hand over whatever he knows. But be clever about it.¡± Brayan furrowed his brows, obviously thinking deeply. ¡°I will find a way.¡± Chapter 96: Dependence Liam went through his usual morning routine before entering the game. He appeared in Striking Wood Town, waiting for the others. One by one his friends logged in. ¡°Morning.¡± ¡°Hey guys!¡± ¡°Mirage! You¡¯re on time today.¡± The mood was joyful while the party gathered. Soon they were ready to continue leveling. However, Silver Blade soon noticed Liam¡¯s hesitant movements. ¡°Mirage? What¡¯s up with you?¡± ¡°Sorry guys. I think I won¡¯t join you today.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°Expert, are we dragging you down?¡± ¡°My friend, did something happen?¡± Liam frowned faintly as noticed the strong reactions of his friends. Originally, he was hesitant, but maybe it was good to take a break. The party¡¯s reliance on Liam might be going a bit too far. Although Acacia performed well yesterday, he still lost his life twice, which was quite dangerous. One more death and he would¡¯ve forfeit one of his permanent lives. However, Liam might not always be there to take on the most dangerous tasks. With such thoughts going through his mind, Liam resolved himself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just rather dull. I need a short break from leveling.¡± The other didn¡¯t know what to say. Some looked at Liam skeptically. However, he was indeed speaking the truth. Leveling purely for the sake of it didn¡¯t excite Liam. Leaving other players far behind took too much fun out of the game. He would rather have others catch up to pose some challenge. Naturally the other party members couldn¡¯t understand him despite trying their best. ¡°Expert, didn¡¯t we agree to form a successful guild? Shouldn¡¯t we be able to endure some dry leveling?¡± Looking at Cyclone¡¯s disappointment eyes, Liam felt a pang of guilt. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Cyclone. I haven¡¯t forgotten about it. With me here there is no way our guild won¡¯t reach the top. A few levels won¡¯t make much of a difference.¡± Cyclone didn¡¯t know what to answer, pouting and turning her head away. Suddenly Silver Blade frowned. Watching the party members, she got a similar feeling like Liam. ¡°Guys, maybe this is not a bad thing.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡±, asked Fortune. ¡°Maybe we are growing too dependent on Mirage. I think it will be good for us to make our own experiences.¡± Hearing these words the others also began to contemplate. ¡°I agree with the young lady.¡±, said Watchful Eye dryly. The others rolled their eyes. Of course, Watchful Eye would agree, he was paid by Silver Blade after all. However, the others couldn¡¯t help but feel like there was some truth to Silver Blade¡¯s words. The first to nod approvingly were Silent Acacia and Quickstep. The professional players knew that they couldn¡¯t neglect their personal growth. Otherwise, such a leisurely attitude might not cause problems immediately, but when facing other pros their flaws would be revealed.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. After all, no matter how well Liam directed the team, if they couldn¡¯t accomplish their assigned tasks, they would still lose against other teams. With some people agreeing the others couldn¡¯t help it but think deeply as well. Soon they had to admit that Silver Blade had a point. Liam shot the female tank a thankful and appreciating look. Once more Silver Blade proved that she had great talent as a leader, noticing such a flaw before it could grow further. Silver Blade nodded at Mirage before addressing the party: ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. Mirage will do his own thing today. We will continue leveling. Our warriors and thieves should all try to lure the wargs at least once.¡± The people called out by Silver Blade felt the pressure but didn¡¯t refute. A short while later Liam watched the backs of his friends as they left the town. He did feel conflicted, but his mood improved when a message reached him. [Mirage Fan #1: Liam, how long do you need? I¡¯m waiting!] [Bleary Mirage: On my way.] Liam couldn¡¯t help but feel a warmth in his heart whenever he read his sister¡¯s name. At first, he was surprised that this name was still available. However, he quickly admonished himself for this sign of unnecessary vanity. It didn¡¯t take long for Liam to reach the elven novice village. A few players recognized him as he got off the hawk, prompting him to hastily get out of their sights before a crowd could build up. Once again, his urge to find a tool to hide his identity increased. But now was not the time as Liam approached Ebonora¡¯s house, finding a cute elf anxiously scanning her surroundings. As soon as Serena spotted her brother, a smile bloomed on her face, and she waved him over. ¡°Liam, you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°What are we doing today?¡± ¡°I just wanted to ask you the same.¡± Seeing Serena fall into contemplation, Liam couldn¡¯t help but ask: ¡°Don¡¯t you want to cook something?¡± ¡°Yes. But no.¡± ¡°What¡­ does this mean?¡± ¡°It means what it means.¡± Liam blinked his eyes in confusion. He could only regard it as the logic of a child. ¡°So, should we enter the kitchen¡­ or not?¡± ¡°No.¡±, said Serena as if it was the most obvious thing ever. ¡°I want to learn smithing.¡± ¡°Smithing? How come?¡± ¡°Because all those strong people respect the smithing grandpa.¡± ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s because smithing is difficult and exhausting. Are you sure you¡¯re up for it?¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯m really strong now!¡± Liam couldn¡¯t help but chuckle watching Serena presenting her biceps. But nothing could be seen under the wide sleeves of her mage robe. ¡°Ok then. Let¡¯s go.¡± Liam quickly led the way. He was quite interested in smithing himself, having also learned it in his previous life. There was a lot the profession could provide, especially in the later parts of the game. Serena walked in front of Liam happily, leading the way in case her brother would get lost. Soon, the siblings reached the village¡¯s smith. Despite the white hair and slight wrinkles around his eyes the old elven smith still looked dignified, showing little signs of ageing. If it wasn¡¯t for the NPCs calling him old Reanadao the players might not consider the smith a senior at all. When Serena and Liam arrived, he was lazing off behind his counter, not showing any regard for potential customers. ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°Greetings, Smith. Would it be possible to rent your Smithy for a while?¡± The old elf didn¡¯t look happy speaking to Liam. He clearly didn¡¯t have a high opinion of nephilim. But at least he didn¡¯t chase the siblings out. ¡°3 silver per hour.¡± Serena¡¯s eyes opened wide, staring at the smith. ¡°3 silver? Where would we get¡­¡± ¡°Here!¡± As Liam nonchalantly handed over 9 silver, Serena turned towards him with a baffled look. She peeked into her own inventory where a pitiful two silver laid. With this amount of money Serena could already be considered wealthy for her level, having earned it from selling her baked fruits. The smith took Liam¡¯s money, grunted, and nodded with his head towards a door at the side. Taking Serena with him, Liam entered the smithy. An uncomfortable heat welcomed him. The smithy consisted of the typical anvil and furnace. However, the various tools hanging from the walls would immediately surprise an experienced smith. There were many extremely precise chisels, tools to engrave complicated patterns, and solutions to apply the desired sheen to the products. Elves were known for the gorgeous designs of their weapons. Often times blacksmiths spent more time on beautifying than on hardening and sharpening. This was often a point of conflict between the famous dwarven blacksmiths and the elven ones. However, in terms of pure power dwarven products indeed held the upper hand. Comparatively elves stood out when it came to imbuing magic into objects. All of this was far away from Serena and Liam, though. The two siblings took a few seconds to get accustomed to the air in the smithy before approaching the furnace. Serena looked at everything with bright eyes. But she quickly felt awkward, realizing that she understood almost nothing about the work of a blacksmith. A clever idea came to the young girl¡¯s mind. She put on a cute smile, turning to Liam: ¡°We only have one fireplace. Why don¡¯t you start?¡± Liam chuckled upon hearing his sister¡¯s gracious offer. He didn¡¯t expose her. ¡°Sure.¡± Liam took out a recipe which had been waiting in his inventory for a long time. It contained instructions on how to forge a basic dagger. ¡°Here, take a look. First, we need a bar of iron.¡± Liam carefully explained each step. He took out iron from a crate at the side. The necessary 43 copper were automatically deducted. Next, the material was held into the furnace. Serena took the job of counting the seconds. As stated in the recipe they retrieved the iron after 20 seconds, when it burned white hot. Liam held the iron with a pair of tongs. A dot was projected onto the material, telling the player where to hit with his hammer and how much power to use. Following the instructions and drawing from his experience Liam worked quickly, watching the iron take form bit by bit. Chapter 97: Surprising event Serena watched with rapt attention while her brother worked. She was amazed to notice the dagger taking form bit by bit. Sparks sprayed, falling on the perfectly smooth stone floor. Serena would flinch from time to time feeling the heat hitting the back of her hand. Soon Liam heated the iron again. He used different tools to cut off some of the material before continuing to hammer with precise strokes. A short while later a hot, glowing dagger was lying on the anvil. Steam rose with a loud hiss when Liam doused it in a cauldron of cold water. Now as a last step Liam sat down on a large whetstone. Different colors indicated the quality of the dagger¡¯s edge. Liam worked carefully to guarantee a perfect sharpness. It didn¡¯t take long for the dagger to be completed. A notification popped up, asking the veteran if the weapon was ready for evaluation. There was still a lot one could add to the weapon. Imbuing it with magic, beautifying it, or coating it with various substances. But for now, Liam was satisfied with the most basic configuration. Most of the other processes couldn¡¯t be done in this novice smithy anyways. [Produced: Basic Iron Dagger Quality: 4 Stars Bonus: 0 Stars Reward: 8 EXP; 9 EXP for profession blacksmith] Serena¡¯s eyes lit up looking at the ordinary but sharp dagger Liam twirled between his fingers: ¡°You did it! It looks so good. Just like the ones sold by the smith grandpa.¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t let him hear this.¡± ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn!¡± ¡°Go for it.¡± Liam retrieved a piece of iron, handing it over to his sister. Copying her brother¡¯s earlier actions the young girl held the material into the furnace. Twenty seconds quickly passed. She put the iron on the anvil, readying the heavy hammer. Serena felt the strain. Without the stats in the game, it would be difficult for her to build up enough force to deform the iron. But she gritted her teeth, drawing strength from the joy of creating something. Soon, a dagger had been formed. Serena wiped the sweat from her hand, looking somewhat unhappily at the crude weapon. But even when she tried to correct something, she only made it worse. Thus, Serena could only accept it and move on. After spending a few minutes using the whetstone, the result was revealed. [Produced: Basic Iron Dagger Quality: 2 Stars Bonus: 0 Stars Reward: 6 EXP; 5 EXP for profession blacksmith] Serena pouted her lips. ¡°It¡¯s a failure.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged. You did really well for the first time!¡± Liam patted his sister¡¯s head. His words were meant to cheer her up, but it wasn¡¯t a lie. However, Serena looked at him skeptically: ¡°But you were much better.¡± ¡°Of¡­¡± Liam wanted to say something but quickly held himself back as he understood the meaning of Serena¡¯s words. He smiled wryly, changing his words:This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°You¡¯re right. But this isn¡¯t my first time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not?¡± ¡°No, no. I trained before.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Serena¡¯s look softened. She gazed at her dagger, not finding it as ugly anymore. ¡°Then I need to train too. I want to become as good as you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you will become even better!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Serena giggled mischievously. Looking at Liam¡¯s baffled expression she couldn¡¯t help but break out into laughter. Afterwards the siblings stayed in the smithy together, crafting daggers. After a while they even tried to create their own weapons. However, without instructions those turned out in all kinds of weird shapes. When Serena produced a sword crooked like a snake, the siblings¡¯ laughter even startled a few elven players walking by the smithy. After a few hours Serena had an exhausted face, but her eyes were bright. Just as she was about to hold another iron bar into the furnace, a commotion suddenly broke out in the global chat. ¡°A world boss appeared! Everyone! Come, come, come!¡± ¡°What? Where?¡± ¡°A world boss? What level? Can we beat it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t spout baseless rumors here, we demand proof!¡± ¡°What proof?! Either you come or you don¡¯t, why would I care?¡± The global chat was filled with fierce discussions in seconds. Serena didn¡¯t quite understand the significance of a world boss, looking at Liam for answers. But her brother was strangely stunned. Chaotic thoughts whirled in Liam¡¯s mind. He couldn¡¯t calm down. Reading the global chat Liam¡¯s thoughts were in disarray. Simply because¡­ there should be no world boss in this stage of the game! A mix of emotions hit Liam. He was anxious, confused, even nervous. But soon excitement broke the barrier in his mind. He recalled the days when the game was still new and full of secrets to explore. When nothing had been figured out yet. Liam¡¯s expression slowly brightened, turning expectant. Seeing this change, Serena understood that her brother was eager to go. She tapped Liam¡¯s shoulder, which finally brought him out of his stupor. ¡°Oh sorry, Serena. I was distracted.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. Don¡¯t worry about me. Go beat up that world boss!¡± ¡°No¡­ no. I promised to play with you today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already happy to spend time with you. I also understand that this game is like your work. How can you miss such a big event?¡± Liam felt his heart throb looking in Serena¡¯s clear eyes which showed maturity and understanding. He couldn¡¯t help but take a step forward and hug his little sister. ¡°I will make up for it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Aren¡¯t you already doing your best?¡± Liam let go of Serena. The siblings exchanged gentle smiles before Liam waved goodbye and left the smithy. Only after her brother left did Serena¡¯s smile fade. She absentmindedly played with the dagger in her hand, dreaming of a life free of responsibilities and struggle. Liam was unsure how to feel at the moment. On one hand he was excited about facing an unknown world boss. On the other he was indignant as he didn¡¯t have much of a choice. Thus, he only dropped one sentence in the party chat before ignoring it. However, his mind quickly cleared up as he traveled through the sky on the royal hawk. A desirable free and easy feeling filled his heart. It didn¡¯t take long for Liam to arrive back at Luphenour City. He was surprised for a moment seeing the many busy players. However, it was only logical. Over the last few days, a large wave of players finally reached level 10. Not only through clearing the first dungeons but also through pure leveling and quests. Now, the large cities gradually began to fill up. Although holy elves made up the largest part of the player population in Luphenour, some other races could also be seen. A few stout dwarfs, glorious godspawn, and serene wood elves roamed the streets. In all the excitement Liam didn¡¯t draw attention. Or so he thought. A shaking voice filled with obvious admiration suddenly spoke behind his back: ¡°You are Bleary Mirage! Wow! I never expected to find you here!¡± Liam was startled, turning his head and looking over his shoulder. He found a male dwarf with braided grey hair and a prominent beard inlaid with wooden pearls following his every step. The man¡¯s surprisingly youthful face was at the height of Liam¡¯s chest, forcing him to look upwards. The name displayed above his head was Braag the Virtuous. ¡°Nice to meet you, but I¡¯m in a hurry. Sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll follow you.¡± ¡°No thank you.¡± Liam smiled apologetically, turned around, and continued towards the teleportation platform. But a few steps later he stopped, his brow twitching. ¡°Please, could you leave?¡± ¡°No. If I leave who knows when I might find you again.¡± ¡°Why would you want to find me?¡±, questioned Liam with an exasperated expression. ¡°I want to learn from you!¡± ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not in the mood to teach. Maybe Fortune will upload something someday.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t think I could learn much from that. I want to observe you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry you¡¯ll learn a lot from videos. Goodbye.¡± With those words Liam swayed his body. Before Braag could react, he disappeared into the crowd. But the determination in the dwarf¡¯s heart didn¡¯t diminish. [Braag the Virtuous wants to be your friend.] Liam declined with a sigh before stepping into the teleporter. With a flash of light, he appeared in another city. It was a human city called Brobrity but the number of players present drowned out any inhabitants. Only the fierce soldiers, which were obviously highly alarmed, could be made out. Most of them were positioned on the massive city wall, worry apparent on their faces. The city was located in the south of the central plains and was the capital of the Southern Light Kingdom. They had the unfavorable fate of bordering the vast southern wasteland, which had been occupied by the forces of hell. Therefore, Brobrity followed an obviously militaristic style. The houses weren¡¯t fancy and many blacksmiths and workshops for war supplies existed. However, despite all this the city was surprisingly tense at the moment. It was obvious that Brobrity, located in the north of the kingdom, wasn¡¯t used to trouble knocking on its doorsteps. Chapter 98: Players gathering Liam was caught up in a dense crowd. There was no way to spot his friends. Incessant chatter rang in his ears. Hundreds of players were gathered, and new ones continuously arrived. The streets of the city were overflowing. Liam felt uncomfortable. He was never a fan of crowded places. He discussed with his party, agreeing to meet outside the city. However, as more information became known about the boss, players understood that they first had to talk to the guards. Thus, Liam was forced to cramp together with others in an area close to the gate. The crowd moved slowly, approaching a group of five soldiers at the front. The captain constantly tried to calm down the players, but it was a fruitless endeavor. As if all this wasn¡¯t enough a few people around Liam recognized him, unceasingly asking all kinds of questions from how to beat dungeons to what underwear he was wearing. Liam thanked all the gods he could think of when he finally reached the front, grabbing a ring from a soldier and escaping through the gate. Massaging his temples he followed the road for a short minute before taking a turn to the right. He arrived at a large wooden building, with some tables outside and a spacious stable. It was a post station, and his party members were already waiting outside. ¡°Expert! There you are! Quick, we are late!¡± ¡°Greetings, my friend.¡± ¡°Hi Mirage.¡± While the others still had the mind to greet Liam, Cyclone looked incredibly anxious. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. A world boss isn¡¯t so easily killed.¡± ¡°But there are so many people here!¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t consider those many¡­¡± Liam recalled battles against world bosses in his past life. Compared to hundreds of thousands of players braving fire and swords, the current scene was not worth mentioning. However, he could see that Cyclone wasn¡¯t the only one with an urgent expression. Silver Blade looked at everyone as she spoke up: ¡°This is the first world boss! It will certainly give an achievement. If we get it, I will pay everyone 50.000 credits.¡± Immediately a few pairs of eyes lit up. ¡°50.000? What are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go!¡± Bloody Edge appeared eager, but Silver Blade held him back: ¡°Wait! First, we need to know more about the boss.¡± Saying this, the female tank looked at Liam. Seeing all the expectant looks the veteran felt somewhat embarrassed. But he could only shrug his shoulders. ¡°Sorry guys, I don¡¯t know anything.¡± The others were taken aback, exchanging glances amongst themselves. However, it was obvious that they found it hard to believe. Rather, they thought that this was the result of their discussion in the morning. Maybe this was Mirage¡¯s way of reminding them to keep a certain level of independence. Liam noticed the skeptical looks but had nothing to say. Suddenly a message reached Liam. [Silver Blade: Mirage, I understand that you want to train us. But now is not the right time. This is a chance for us to get another achievement under our belt.] Reading this, Bleary Mirage felt an odd stab in his heart.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. [Bleary Mirage: Sorry, Silver. But I REALLY don¡¯t know anything about this world boss.] Silver Blade let out a sigh. Glancing at Liam she knew he was speaking the truth. She felt somewhat guilty for doubting him. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Cyclone looked at the two with confusion: ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Wait, are you writing private messages? What¡¯s the¡­ mhhm.¡± Seeing Cyclone¡¯s eyes getting brighter and brighter from strong curiosity, Balm reacted quickly, shutting her friend¡¯s mouth with her hand. Silver Blade rolled her eyes, ignored Cyclone, and addressed the party: ¡°Since we don¡¯t have much information, we need to move carefully. Let¡¯s observe from a distance first.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we got no information at all. Have you all taken a look at the ring we got from the soldiers?¡± With Quickstep¡¯s reminder everyone quickly scanned the ring. Most of them already did so earlier but were still confused by the item. [Ring of Void Protection Category: Magic Effect: Protects against lingering void energy. Duration: 3 hours This inconspicuous item is the foundation allowing Crunaboul¡¯s inhabitants to fight back against the void.] Liam had not time to check the ring so far. When he did so now, he involuntarily drew a sharp breath, attracting everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Can you explain what this is about, Mirage?¡± ¡°Yes. You guys should know that the void is the greatest threat to Crunaboul as a whole. The void produces void energy, which is incredibly destructive. Lingering void energy surrounds areas corrupted by the void. If a player enters without defensive measures, they will be continuously damaged.¡± The others nodded, fully understanding the importance of the ring. ¡°Our upcoming enemy will be a void-corrupted creature.¡±, concluded Radiant Shield with a surprised face. ¡°Most likely.¡± ¡°What does this mean for us?¡±, asked Cyclone. ¡°We need to be careful of void damage. There are almost no items in the game with void defense. So, it is difficult to defend against.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± When Cyclone heard this, she wasn¡¯t perturbed. As a mage she had no defense to speak of. Whether it was void damage, fire damage, or normal damage, she couldn¡¯t allow herself to get hit anyways. Naturally Silver Blade and Radiant Shield had different feelings about it. ¡°Is there anything else we need to look out for?¡±, questioned Quickstep. ¡°Keep in mind that void opponents always enter a berserk mode. Don¡¯t get caught off guard.¡± ¡°Good. Is that it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Well then, I¡¯d say it¡¯s time to go.¡± The others nodded quickly upon hearing those words from Silver Blade. Everyone felt anxious and excited watching groups of players running on the road not far away. They quickly followed Silver Blade¡¯s lead, traveling in the same direction. Soon, a strange forest came into few. A violet fog hung in the air, giving one a stifling, twisted feeling of pure nothingness. It corroded the surroundings, turning the soil pitch black. The trees were shriveled, twisting and turning, their bark taking on an eerie violet color. The dense foliage close to the ground decomposed, turning into fertile ground for various violet flowers to grow, looking deceptively beautiful. However, the terrifying atmosphere was broken by the many players creating a ruckus, converging towards a point deeper in the forest. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Silver Blade didn¡¯t waste much time in studying the surroundings, following after the crowd. Soon a large number of players could be seen, circling a certain spot while staring ahead. Liam¡¯s party occupied an empty spot somewhere at the side, observing the situation. The players were gathered around a small valley. A towering tree grew within it. Surprisingly it wasn¡¯t entirely corrupted by the lingering void energy yet, green and violet intermixing on its canopy. But what captured the most attention was the huge bird sitting on top of the tree. It resembled an overgrown hawk, angry screeches coming out of its extremely sharp beak. The bird opened its wings wide in an intimidating posture, showing the violet color slowly dyeing its feathers. Even the characteristic white streak running along its back revealed a tinge of violet. A quick check revealed the bird¡¯s identity. [Void-corrupted White-Striped Violent Hawk Rank: World Boss Level: 15 HP: 60.000/60.000] The players were clearly apprehensive to engage the hawk the size of a small house. Thus, they gathered above the valley, waiting for anyone to make the first step. At the same time murmurs could be heard discussing the famous players present. ¡°Look, over there with the black hair, it¡¯s Star Gazer!¡± ¡°So handsome!¡± ¡°He brought so many people, probably more than a hundred. Where did they come from?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal? Those rich guys naturally hired followers.¡± ¡°With so many people they are surely planning to found a guild.¡± ¡°Yes, and Star Gazer isn¡¯t the only one. Look over there!¡± ¡°Damn what a giant! Even for an orc! Is this Earthquake?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s said he publicly challenged Cyclone, the number one on the ranking list, as soon as he reached level 10. But he got no answer.¡± ¡°Wow, isn¡¯t it said that Earthquake is incredibly arrogant? Did someone really out-arrogant him?¡± ¡°He should be pretty angry. Especially since Phoenix Feather made fun of him.¡± ¡°Right, now I remember. Phoenix Feather is a level manic, always at the top of all leaderboards. Earthquake constantly challenges her too.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s only natural that their guilds Nest of Flame and Force of Nature can¡¯t see eye-to-eye.¡± ¡°Damn with so many famous guilds here I don¡¯t know if we can make any waves.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s not getting better. Look over there! It¡¯s Silver Blade and them.¡± ¡°Oh? Hotpot arrived?¡± ¡°What Hotpot?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know? That¡¯s the nickname people gave to the top party right now.¡± ¡°Wow, Silver Blade looks so heroic!¡± ¡°Fortune is my goddess!¡± Liam¡¯s brow twitched listening to the crowd, but he quickly ignored them. His eyes scanned the surroundings, noticing a few prominent figures. A good looking female human mage, Phoenix Feather. A giant male orc with muscles like tree trunks, Earthquake. And a familiar male elven mage¡­ Chapter 99: The fight begins Star Gazer seemingly noticed someone looking at him. He moved his eyes, finding Bleary Mirage. A jolt went through his body. His eyes narrowed as he branded the faces of the ten party members in his mind. Suddenly though a loud shout interrupted him. ¡°Finally, you dare to show your faces! Who among you is Cyclone?! Do you dare to fight me?!¡± Earthquake¡¯s voice was deafening, true to his name. But the content left many players with awkward looks. As a professional shouldn¡¯t he know what the top players looked like? Especially if he wanted to challenge one of them? But the answer left everyone similarly baffled. ¡°Huh? Who are you? Why would I fight you?¡± Cyclone was taken aback as many eyes stared at her with mixed emotions. Balm felt embarrassed, quickly whispering something into her ear. On the other side Earthquake couldn¡¯t believe his own ears. This was the first time someone showed him such disregard! ¡°If you are trying to anger me, you succeeded! Come over here, so I can beat you up!¡± ¡°Stopp hollering over there! If you want a fight, you can have one!¡± After understanding the situation Cyclone didn¡¯t back down. She was fairly confident with her high level and powerful class. On the other hand, Liam felt his stomach sink. He didn¡¯t rate Cyclone¡¯s chances high. Without mastering flash step mages were rather disadvantaged in PvP. Especially those relying on skills with long cast time. Luckily another voice suddenly chimed in: ¡°Gentlemen and -women. Why don¡¯t we put aside out disagreements for now? We have a world boss to deal with.¡± A tall woman stepped out of the crowd, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. She was followed by a group of about thirty people. Wearing an airy black leather armor and a brown head atop her short blond hair she looked free and easy. Her name was openly displayed. ¡®Miss I never miss¡¯. From the various reactions it was obvious that a few players among the crowd recognized her. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me what to do Missmiss!¡± Instantly the newcomer glared angrily at Earthquake, wishing to stuff his mouth so that he would stop spreading this awful nickname of hers. Just as she wanted to retour, movement once again came into the crowd. To everyone¡¯s surprise a group of people straightforwardly walked into the valley. ¡°Haha, everyone talks so much. We will go ahead.¡± Liam squinted his eyes staring at the familiar figures of Fat Tiger and Glorious Sunshine. Still the same move¡­ Liam didn¡¯t believe for a second that Fat Tiger would scout the situation for others. He was surely trying to agitate the crowd. However, the result was lackluster as no one expected that Fat Tiger actually had the ability to take down the world boss. Fat Tiger¡¯s group walked slower and slower. Finally, they stood still. Mocking gazes fell on them. But the chubby guild leader wasn¡¯t discouraged. He sneered inwardly as he nodded at a hunter in his group. The man quickly readied his bow. Liam instantly opened his eyes wide. A bad feeling overcame him.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Retreat!¡± ¡°Fall back!¡± Liam and Silver Blade looked at each other for a moment as they both gave the same order. Next, they moved quickly, pushing through the dense crowd together with the party. ¡°Why are we running away?¡± Cyclone asked in confusion but complied, nevertheless. ¡°You¡¯ll see in a second.¡± Suddenly a hair-raising screech could be heard, sending a shiver down everyone¡¯s spines. In the valley Fat Tiger¡¯s party abruptly dispersed in all directions. The chubby man glanced up, scoffing as he couldn¡¯t find Liam¡¯s group anymore. Suddenly a gust of wind came from behind. The corrupted hawk lifted its body into their air, chasing after those annoying pests. Fat Tiger inwardly apologized to his hunter as he watched him being grabbed by an incredibly sharp claw. ¡°AhhH!¡± The hunter cried as he learned to fly. But it was over as soon as he crashed into the ground. The crowd grew chaotic, dodging in all directions, not daring to catch the falling player. Losing its initial target the hawk¡¯s eyes glinted dangerously, scanning the crowd of players. No one could stay calm under the murderous gaze. The organized players like Star Gazer and Earthquake directly ordered a retreat. The casual players weren¡¯t this united though. While some of them turned to flee, others felt that they had the advantage in numbers. A human warrior stood at the front of the crowd wearing a brilliant white armor and a large shield. His voice was the loudest, rallying players around him: ¡°Don¡¯t give in, brave heroes! If we retreat now this beast will only cause more damage to the lands we live on! Gather your courage and raises your voice! Together we can slay this monster!¡± The man¡¯s long black hair swayed in the wind, giving him an air of confidence and majesty. Many players looked at him with admiring eyes, willing to follow. ¡°He is right! Even if we lose a life here, so be it!¡± ¡°Friends, we didn¡¯t know each other until this day. But I am willing to die for you!¡± ¡°A flame is burning in my heart!¡± ¡°Ehm, friend. That mage over there threw a fireball at you.¡± ¡°What?! Tom, I told you to train you aim! Damn it!¡± Laughter and excitement could be felt from the spontaneously gathered group. Radiant Shield looked at the man called Knight of Honor with reverent eyes. This was the kind of heroic air he wanted to achieve as well. At this point the corrupted hawk let out another deafening screech. Its violet fathers darkened while a strange wind formed around them. A second later a large area was marker on the ground. Knight of Honor felt his scalp growing numb. He instantly waved his sword: ¡°Disperse! Get out of danger!¡± The disorganized players couldn¡¯t react quick enough. Only those close to the edges managed to build up some distance. They turned around and watched in horror as shadowy violet feathers rushed from the sky, shooting into the crowd. ¡°No! Defend, defend!¡± ¡°Dodge!¡± ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t push!¡± ¡°Ahh! Help be up!¡± The scene was miserable to look at. One feather didn¡¯t deal too much damage but in large numbers they quickly began to harvest lives. Thieves and mages fell first but even warriors had to struggle. ¡°Angel of Mercy!¡± A shout rang out. Immediately a bright light spread form Knight of Honor. The image of a benevolent angel appeared above the players. She raised her hands towards the sky, conjuring a barrier of light and blocking the hawk¡¯s attack. After a second Silver Blade frowned and couldn¡¯t help but question: ¡°How can it be so strong?¡± She turned towards Liam, noticing the obvious surprise in his eyes. ¡°I never expected that someone could get this class so fast!¡± ¡°What class?¡± ¡°Herold of Mercy! It is one of the classes leading to the exclusive class of humans, Hero. What you see there is his ultimate skill [Angel of Mercy]. It conjures a barrier which is stronger the more people it protects.¡± ¡°What? That sounds so strong! Do you think we can win him for the guild?¡±, asked Cyclone with an expectant voice. ¡°No idea. But you have to move quickly, before others understand how special he is.¡± ¡°He accepted my friend request. We¡¯ll see how it goes.¡± While Liam and his friends were talking, the hawk¡¯s attack subsided slowly. At the end Knight of Honor¡¯s skill couldn¡¯t hold on the entire time. A few more players died under the sharp feathers. However, the survivors felt even more respect for Knight of Honor. They couldn¡¯t understand how a single skill was enough to block the world boss¡¯s relentless assault. The corrupted hawk swayed in the air. The violet color tinging the white stripe on its back became a bit more prominent. A dizziness assaulted its head, forcing it to land on the ground. ¡°That¡¯s our chance! Attack, everyone!¡± Knight of Honor shouted loudly as he led the assault. ¡°For honor!¡± ¡°Slay the beast!¡± ¡°I will revenge you, Tom!¡± Chaotic yelling accompanied the group of more than a hundred players as they jumped at the hawk. Seeing this scene some others who escaped previously also gritted their teeth and turned around. Even Star Gazer and his peers looked contemplative. ¡°Send a small group to test the damage. Five people should be enough.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± A stern-looking warrior with black armor and dark green skin relayed the order to the guild. He was a trusted confidant of Star Gazer called Spiked Pen. In the real world he was a boring high-ranked manager but in the game, he played an intimidating orc almost entirely made up of muscles. Quickly small teams separated from the players gathered behind Star Gazer, Earthquake, Phoenix Feather, and a few others. Hundreds of attacks rained down on the corrupted hawk. Fire, lightning, poison, sword, spears, or daggers. It was a chaotic scene, but it gave the crowd unprecedented excitement. The world boss screeched angrily perceiving its energy draining at a steady pace. But compared to its 60.000 HP this wave of attacks barely made a dent. Chapter 100: Powerful word boss ¡°Careful, it¡¯s moving!¡° It was impossible to tell who shouted first, but everyone knew that retaliation was bound to arrive. The corrupted hawk snapped its beak angrily. Two warriors stood in its way. Seeing the razor sharp, natural weapon about to close on their heads they froze in fear. An eerie crunch could be heard. The warriors didn¡¯t survive. Luckily the game brought their souls back to the graveyard before their body disappeared into the hawk¡¯s stomach. Letting out an almost mocking noise, the world boss scanned the crowd with its murderous gaze. It raised its head high, gathering energy in its throat. ¡°Tanks be prepared to attack!¡± Many could tell that the enemy was about to unleash another skill. They tried to get some order in the chaotic crowd. It worked to a certain extent as a flawed shield wall formed around the world boss. They tensed their bodies as the hawk¡¯s head lowered, revealing the violet void energy gathered within its maw. Suddenly spheres of energy shot out in straight lines. ¡°Careful!¡± ¡°Defend!¡± ¡°Oh no!¡± The tanks attempted to intercept the attacks. But they were quickly shocked by the amount of stance used up. ¡°Disperse! Quick!¡± The leaders watched the situation with grim faces, urging the players to stand further apart, opening some space for dodging. Soon spheres of void energy passed the tanks, shooting into the crowd. Quickly another batch of people were weeded out, forced to return from the graveyard. Those still watching from the distance quickly took notes. Not only about the boss¡¯s skills but also about outstanding players. There were some thieves who saw the opportunity to deal a lot of damage. Or some tanks who blocked multiple attacks. Or some healers who managed their skills with great efficiency. Silver Blade assisted Cyclone and Balm in filtering out talents and noting down their names. However, they weren¡¯t the only one¡¯s who were looking to establish a guild in the future. Naturally Earthquake, Star Gazer, and them would also fight to recruit these players. Discussing with her friends, Cyclone felt a certain urgency in her heart. She couldn¡¯t offer much to potential guild members other than the reputation of being the strongest party. Thus, she realized that she had to attach more importance to achievements. It would be a great help if her party could take down the world boss. However, looking at the more than a thousand people present and then at her party of ten she couldn¡¯t build much confidence. The world boss didn¡¯t care for anyone¡¯s ambitions. It closed its mouth after taking a few dozen lives more. Attacks continuously landed on its sturdy feathers chipping away at its HP. The corrupted hawk squinted its eyes. A few players suddenly turned sluggish. Knight of Honor was close to the front, quickly realizing what happened. ¡°Don¡¯t look into its eyes! Keep your heads down!¡± Suddenly he felt a sharp pain engulfing his entire left side. The hawk swiped with its claw, hitting a large number of sluggish and distracted players.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Only a few tanks managed to defend at the last second. But the corrupted hawk wasn¡¯t done yet. As soon as it put one claw down, the other one flashed. The close ranged fighters scrambled to escape. But another batch of players died under the hawk¡¯s attack. An eerie sound came out of the hawk¡¯s throat, almost as if laughing at the players. ¡°Stupid bird! See how we will kill you!¡± ¡°Tonight we will have chicken wings!¡± The players noticed that the world boss stood still for a few seconds. Blinding swords, blood lusted daggers and more cut at the big bird. The ranged fighters never stopped attacking, throwing arrows, crossbow bolts, or spheres of magic. But suddenly one of the mages looked strangely at the soil below his feet. A difficult to detect violet circle had appeared on the black ground. The mage tapped the shoulder of a female mage next to him. ¡°Hey, any idea what this is? Has it been here the whole time?¡± Puzzled, the female mage lowered her head. Immediately her eyes widened. She hastily jumped to the side while yelling: ¡°Idiot! That the sign of an attack!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± This was the mage¡¯s last word as violet flames suddenly erupted. The mage¡¯s low HP instantly emptied out. Swiping a drop of sweat from her forehead the female mage moved her eyes away, watching in horror as the same kind of attack appeared all over the battlefield. Now it was mostly the ranged attackers who had to dodge in a hurry, their leisurely attitudes interrupted. Anxious yells could be heard from the back. Knight of Honor turned around, drawing a sharp breath. But he had no way to help. He could only urge the close ranged fighters to put some pressure on the hawk. A few seconds later a frown found its way on his face. ¡°Why isn¡¯t this skill stopping? Isn¡¯t this too unreasonable?¡± Knight of Honor watched the dwindling numbers of mages and healers with a heavy heart. Suddenly someone next to him spoke up. ¡°Look at the bass¡¯s legs. They are surrounded by a bit of energy. Maybe that¡¯s the clue?¡± ¡°You might be right¡­¡± ¡°Everyone! Focus on the legs!¡± Knights of Honor¡¯s loud voice could be heard even in the chaotic situation. The melee players immediately followed his directions, cutting at the hawk¡¯s legs. A sound like glass breaking rang out. The layer of energy surrounding the hawk¡¯s legs shattered. The world boss swayed, falling on its butt. ¡°Attack! Attack!¡± ¡°Payback, stupid bird!¡± The ranged fighters were indignant about being targeted. They instantly turned towards the hawk and brought out their most powerful skills. While many players fell, others still arrived, keeping the numbers barely stable. However, the organized groups still watched from afar. At this moment the world boss flapped its wings heavily. A strong wind pushed everyone back. They could only watch helplessly as the hawk took to the air. A moment later feathers rained down again. On a small hill not far away, Earthquake breathed heavily, getting reckless. ¡°Let¡¯s g¡­¡± ¡°No! Wait!¡± The burly orc turned towards the side, gazing at a female human holding an incredibly sharp spear, watching the situation with intelligent eyes. ¡°What?¡± The woman didn¡¯t care about Earthquake¡¯s rough tone. ¡°I know you want to attack, but now is not the time.¡± ¡°But my hands are itching, Callida! That bird has shown all its skills. It¡¯s time to bring it down.¡± ¡°No. From my estimations even if everyone attacks now, we won¡¯t stand a chance. We need a large group form the begging.¡± ¡°All this planning¡­¡± Earthquake scoffed, obviously not resigned yet. With a wry smile Callida caressed the tall orc¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Patience.¡± ¡°Hmpf.¡± Behind the two husband and wife stood a large group of players. Despite being used to Earthquake¡¯s temper they couldn¡¯t help but snicker. Instantly Earthquake looked over his shoulder, scanning the crowd with a sharp gaze, causing everyone to shut up. ¡°Thought so!¡± Similar scenes played out among the other groups. They contemplated attacking but ultimately decided against it. Knight of Honor let out a sigh seeing more and more players dying to the world boss. Eventually everyone realized that they wouldn¡¯t make it. When the first casual players began to escape, a chain reaction ensued. Soon everyone stopped fighting. Some managed to get away while others fell under the hawk¡¯s attacks. Knight of Honor stayed until the end but eventually even he had to leave. Only the Void-corrupted White-Striped Violent Hawk remained in the valley. It levitated in the air, staring at the players outside with its murderous eyes. But it didn¡¯t leave the valley. It returned to the towering tree, where its HP quickly recovered. More than 20.000 points filled up in no time at all. The atmosphere outside the valley was solemn. Many of the dead players returned, unleashing their anger at the guild players not far away. ¡°F*ck! Why didn¡¯t all of you help? We could¡¯ve made it!¡± ¡°Treating us as cannon fodder. Damn!¡± ¡°You know what? We just won¡¯t fight at all. What can you do?¡± Star Gazer wore an aloof expression. He nodded faintly, speaking up with a smile: ¡°Good. Then you all can just stay behind and watch how the pros do it.¡± ¡°What? You think you don¡¯t n¡­¡± Before the player could finish speaking, Knight of Honor gazed at him. The rowdy player calmed down, looking away indignantly. Star Gazer, Callida and the other guild leaders looked at this with a frown. They didn¡¯t want to see someone with this much prestige among the more casual players. Immediately they had the same ideas, sending invitations to Knight of Honor. But the man blocked them all. Without a change in expression, he addressed everyone present: ¡°Why don¡¯t we all work together? None of us can defeat the world boss alone. And no one wants others staring at their back.¡± ¡°Who says we can¡¯t beat this boss alone?!¡±, countered Earthquake impatiently. ¡°If you all square off I will beat this stupid bird up with my bare fists!¡± Chapter 101: Driven away A heated discussion broke out among the players. Everyone had their own ambitions. It took more than twenty minutes until an agreement could be reached. However, it wasn¡¯t really detailed. The different groups only agreed not to interfere with each other. Whoever lands the last hit gets everything. Just before Earthquake was finally ready to lead the charge, Star Gazer interrupted again: ¡°Everyone, there is one point left to address.¡± ¡°Stop talking!¡±, yelled Earthquake in annoyance. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Earthquake, but this is important. We agreed that whoever lands the last hit gets the loot but can this really be fair?¡± ¡°What do you want to say?¡±, questioned Knight of Honor. ¡°Well, there are some people among us who have quite the advantage. They might be somewhat over leveled.¡± ¡°You!¡± Silver Blade exclaimed angrily as all eyes fell on her party. ¡°What? I¡¯m only saying the truth. You are already level 17. Your damage against the world boss is way higher than everyone else¡¯s.¡± ¡°How is this our mistake?¡± ¡°Yes, just because you are too b¡­ mhhm.¡± Balm quickly shut Cyclone¡¯s mouth before the latter could insult everyone present. Phoenix Feather and Earthquake looked awkward, but they held themselves back. After all no one wanted to see Liam¡¯s party get another achievement. Only Knight of Honor looked at Star Gazer with an unfriendly gaze. ¡°How dishonorable, rallying everyone against a few.¡± ¡°But my words are true. Look around. You¡¯ll only find agreement.¡± Knight of Honor turned around, finding many conflicting opinions. Some players agreed with Star Gazer while others admired Liam¡¯s party, not wanting to exclude them. ¡°Why not do it like this: Whoever thinks Hotpot should be excluded can separate a small team to hold them off? What do you think?¡± Liam and his friends observed the situation with cold eyes. ¡°So, you don¡¯t dare to compete with us? Cowards. Hm, we will go leveling. Let¡¯s go, guys!¡± Liam¡¯s condescending voice echoed through the valley. Earthquake and Phoenix Feather frowned as his words hit their sore spots. However, both of them were leaders of guilds and didn¡¯t act impulsively. Meanwhile Liam turned around leading his party away. [Cyclone: @Mirage, are we really leaving?] [Bleary Mirage: Of course not. We will retreat temporarily.] [Silver Blade: Are you planning to steal the kill?] [Bleary Mirage: Naturally.] [Radiant Shield: They won¡¯t let us approach.] [Bleary Mirage: They underestimate us too much. We will fight our way through.] Silver Blade furrowed her brows as she read the party chat. However, looking at Liam she was somewhat surprised. There was a hint of excitement on his face¡­ ¡°Do you think you can escape this easily?¡± Suddenly Star Gazer¡¯s mocking voice came from behind. As if on cue a dozen players separated from each of the guilds. They directly chased after Liam¡¯s party. ¡°B*stard!¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Silver Blade couldn¡¯t help but curse. The casual players hadn¡¯t even reacted yet when attacks chased after the party. ¡°Ignore them! Just run!¡± Liam quickly yelled an order, prompting his friends to directly escape. A few blackhearted players couldn¡¯t help but laugh looking at their miserable state. Cyclone felt a surge of anger in her heart. [Cyclone: Damn it! Let¡¯s turn around and trash them! Look at Silver Blade¡¯s HP, she doesn¡¯t even take damage!] [Bleary Mirage: No. Stay calm. Let them underestimate us!] [Silent Acacia: I understand your logic but¡­ it¡¯s really too disgraceful!] [Bleary Mirage: Just look forward to our name in the achievement.] [Quickstep: I want to see Star Gazer¡¯s stupid face when we take the kill¡­] The party members couldn¡¯t help but feel indignant as they escaped like beaten dogs. Luckily the others didn¡¯t chase for long. The group of guild players threw a few mocking insults before positioning themselves outside of the valley. One of the warriors felt a strange sensation, though. As if stared at by a greedy beast. He looked around in confusion and spotted some of the players around Knight of Honor gazing at him with undisguised intentions. The warrior sneered: ¡°He! You see my red name and want some loot?! Come here, come here, daddy is waiting!¡± ¡°Quite arrogant!¡± ¡°You think you can take us on?¡± ¡°You mixed lot? Anytime!¡± An argument threatened to erupt at any moment. Star Gazer snorted unhappily. ¡°Shut up! We have more important things to do!¡± ¡°¡­ yes, boss.¡± The warrior shut his mouth but the condescending look in his eyes didn¡¯t change. It was clear to see that there was no real unity among the gathered players. The leaders didn¡¯t want any more arguments. They quickly came up with distractions, discussing the fighting arrangements. A few minutes later everyone knew what to do. Earthquake didn¡¯t want to wait any longer, leading his people into the valley. The others didn¡¯t dare to hesitate and followed right away. On top of the large tree the Void-corrupted White-Striped Violent Hawk squinted its eyes as it watched more than a thousand players intruding into its territory. It let out a thunderous screech before taking to the air. ¡°Get ready!¡± ¡°In position!¡± ¡°Prepare for the feather attack!¡± The various leaders quickly bellowed orders. Varying degrees of discipline could be observed, giving hints about the prowess of the different guilds. The players who arrived with Earthquake, Phoenix Feather, and Star Gazer were clearly the cream of the crop, proving their standing as first-tier guilds. There were also a few smaller groups of similar level like the Sharpshooter Mercenary Group lead by Miss I never miss. However the players gathered around Knight of Honor, who were used to playing casually, showed obvious difficulties when trying to get into formations. They could only make up for it in pure numbers. Furthermore, there were a few scattered players who didn¡¯t belong to any of the large groups. Their presence was even somewhat disruptive, drawing the ire of others. Thus, all the groups showed different reactions when two large violet zones were marked on the ground. ¡°Rember what we talked about! Stay calm!¡± Callida stood close to Earthquake, scanning the surroundings. She was only surprised for a moment observing the zones doubled in number. It must be because more players attacked. Under her leadership no one showed any signs of panic, leaving the danger zone quickly and orderly. The same couldn¡¯t be said about the players on the other side, though. The violet zone appeared in an unfavorable place, circling players from multiple teams. Before those could coordinate, the hawk¡¯s attack already arrived. A storm carried ferocious, sharp feathers, seeking to slice the players into pieces. ¡°Don¡¯t push!¡± ¡°Turn around, turn around!¡± The situation was chaotic. Some groups managed to escape but some involuntarily blocked each other, suffering copious amounts of damage. A few players couldn¡¯t help it, cursing at those who stood in their way. The agreed upon unity already seemed to crumble. A few seconds later the hawk stopped its action. Just like before it swayed and landed on the ground, choosing an empty patch close to the tree. The upcoming arguments faded as everyone looked at the landing bird with fervent eyes. A fascinating scene played out. The variety of attacks landing on the hawk was eye-opening for all the players. However, they were met with a problem. The area wasn¡¯t large enough for all the melee fighters to attack at the same time. The various groups were forced to struggle for space, causing more disagreements. Star Gazer watched coldly as a random player pushed away his tank. [Spiked Pen: Boss, should we do something about it?] Star gazer stayed silent for a few seconds. [Star Gazer: Yes. Tell our melees to hold back. If others want to take the brunt, let them do it.] [Spiked Pen: Understood.] Subsequently it could be seen that a few warriors were pushed towards the back. Although they ¡®struggled hard¡¯ to remain in their positions, it was of no use. The same happened on Phoenix Feather¡¯s side. The only one to not give up even an inch was Earthquake. Swinging a large two-handed sword he personally led his followers to fearlessly attack. Although Callida noticed what others were doing, she didn¡¯t even try to convince Earthquake. She knew that her husband wouldn¡¯t agree with such tactics. But this was after all why so many skilled and battle-hungry players followed him. It was the foundation of their guild. The hawk¡¯s HP dwindled slowly. Some level 10 players found it difficult to deal more than 20 points of damage and could only rely on their skills to feel useful. A moment later the big bird recovered from its dizziness. It glared angrily at the players surrounding it. The hawk¡¯s beak abruptly opened wide and pecked at the crowd. A warrior was too slow and got engulfed. He managed to survive with barely any HP left. When the hawk drew back its head the warrior was frozen in place, slow to recover from the shock. The world boss didn¡¯t care and immediately chose another victim. It pecked at the tall orc ruffling its beautiful feathers. Earthquake only grunted unhappily. With a skillful maneuver he dodged the boss¡¯s attack by a hair¡¯s breadth. For a moment orc and hawk stared into each other¡¯s eyes. Chapter 102: Different styles ¡°Heh!¡± Earthquake scoffed at the bird. His huge sword slammed into the hawk¡¯s head. A tremor ran through the world boss¡¯s body. Fissures spread on the ground, dealing even more damage. Anger clouded the world boss¡¯s mind. It opened its beak and snapped violently at another player. And another and another. The melee fighters felt the pressure. They followed the hawk¡¯s movement with their eyes, trying to anticipate its attacks. The tight encirclement couldn¡¯t help but loosen somewhat. Suddenly the corrupted hawk raised its head, a violet energy brewing in its moth. The players reacted calmly. Orders were relayed. The tanks worked together to build a solid frontline. In front of Earthquake stood a mountain of an orc. He had almost completely black skin which could barely be seen under the armor protecting his body. This was Immortal Boulder, a close friend of Earthquake and hailed as one of the best tanks on Falva Star. He even had some fame in the federation. Many experts agreed that he could fight for number one if his temper grew steadier. However, Earthquake didn¡¯t pressure his friend to change. He was certain that there would be no better fit for their guild. A grin was on the orc¡¯s face as he heard Boulder¡¯s excited shout. ¡°Come, you stupid chicken! See if you can pass me!¡± The corrupted hawk felt challenged by the pesky flies around it. Destructive spheres of violet void energy were released from its beak. A few players secretly breathed in relief when they saw the hawk aiming away from them. Be it coincidence or not Immortal Boulder stood directly in front of the hawk. ¡°Hahaha! Come!¡± The tank laughed happily as the first sphere shot towards him. He stabilized his body, digging his heels into the floor. His upper body leaned forward slightly, his knees bent. A tall shield hid most of his body. It was obvious that Boulder was extremely experienced, his movements almost second nature. Boom! The void sphere crashed into the orc¡¯s shield. At the last second, he tensed his body, slanting his shield slightly to divert the force. [Stance -44!] ¡°Haha! Is this all you got?!¡± Other tanks would be surprised to see the number popping up. Obviously, Boulder¡¯s skilled movements were rewarded by the game. The world boss didn¡¯t seem to particularly care about him. It quickly continued spewing spheres. 1, 3, 5¡­ Suddenly something unforeseen happened. One of the spheres didn¡¯t fly in a straight line. It magically circled the hawk¡¯s body before shooting in a random direction. The targeted player wasn¡¯t prepared at all. He barely managed to raise his shield before the attack crashed into him. His stance was broken in an instant. The void energy struck fiercely, taking away a huge amount of HP. [-1560!] The warrior could only watch in horror as his HP bar emptied out. As soon as the player dropped to the ground someone came forth to take his place. They smirked as a thought came to their mind. The boss surely won¡¯t attack the same spot twice.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. However, a couple seconds later they were also sent back to the graveyard. Others observed the situation and didn¡¯t dare to step forward. An opening formed in the encirclement. The same situation happened at a few other spots. Now, no one believed that the skill chose its targets at random. Callida observed the situation form the back with a frown. Our defense stands but the same can¡¯t be said for those casual players. It remains impossible to unite such a motley crew. She glanced at Knight of Honor who tried his best to coordinate everyone. It was already impressive that under his leadership a few of the holes were actually filled up. While the close-ranged fighters were struggling to defend against the world boss, the ranged classes were unperturbed. They continuously fired everything they got, not daring to take a break. Phoenix Feather stood at the back of her guild among a few other mages. She swung a heavy wooden staff above her head, watching the progress bar before her eyes. Finally, a flame began to burn on the tip of her staff. A huge amount of mana was sucked towards it. The temperature in the surroundings increased together with the flame¡¯s intensity. Finally, the spell was ready. Phoenix Feather focused her mind, targeting the ground below the world boss. With a loud rumble a fierce flame suddenly erupted below the hawk. It held on for a second before fading. Severe damage was inflicted on the hawk. The flame on top of Phoenix Feather¡¯s staff shrunk but it didn¡¯t get extinguished. With another thought from the white-haired woman two more eruptions appeared. ¡°Icespike!¡± A joyful voice could be heard from one of the mages. ¡°Cherry, how often do I have to tell you that you shouldn¡¯t shout when casting spells?!¡± ¡°Sorry big sister¡­¡± ¡°Hah, just try to remember it next time.¡± Phoenix Feather wore an exasperated expression. Her younger sister showed great talent, but she found it difficult to take the game serious enough. At seventeen years Cherry didn¡¯t have the necessary maturity yet. If Fate of Crunaboul could¡¯ve come out in two or three years¡­ Phoenix Feather felt somewhat regretful. As a player she wasn¡¯t especially outstanding. Her fame came from her leveling speed. To achieve this, she had to invest a lot of time and effort, buy information, devise strategies. Although it was definitely impressive to be the highest-level player several times, ultimately this was worth less than outstanding combat skill to the public eye. However, when Cherry asked Phoenix Feather to play together, she quickly proved astounding talent. She had the potential to be the star player their guild needed to finally get widespread recognition. Such a pity¡­ Phoenix Feather shook her head. But a second later she scolded herself. It was wrong to put such high expectations on her sister. If the guild wanted to advance, everyone had to step up. When her thoughts reached such a state Phoenix Feather scanned her mages, urging them sternly: ¡°Don¡¯t let up! We need more damage! Save your ultimate skills for the kill! Scale, don¡¯t interrupt your casting! The skill won¡¯t hit you!¡± The mages took the orders calmly, pushing themselves. They didn¡¯t think their leader was too cold. Everyone was working towards the same goal. Different scenes played out while the hawk finally stopped its skill. The tanks audible let out a collective sigh of relief. They stepped aside, letting the damage dealers through. The speed at which the hawk lost HP quickly increased again. Standing still for a couple of seconds the world boss screeched angrily. A glint flashed past its eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t look into its eyes!¡± A few observant players recognized the hawk¡¯s posture. With their warning not many fell for its skills this time. Even the subsequent claw attacks didn¡¯t contain much danger. Meanwhile not far from the valley a group of about 30 people were gathered. They observed the fight leisurely, joking amongst each other. ¡°Ha, this job is really too easy.¡± ¡°Right. Have you seen them running with their tails between their legs?¡± ¡°Hahaha, number one party? My a*s!¡± ¡°I don¡¯ think they are much stronger than us. Our guild leaders worry for nothing.¡± The players discussed in mocking voices, their chests almost exploding from pride. However, despite their arrogant words they didn¡¯t notice an invisible shadow sticking to a tree not far away. [Bloody Edge: F*ck! I can¡¯t stand it! Let me go and kill a few of those arrogant idiots.] [Bleary Mirage: Calm down, don¡¯t get discovered.] [Balm: @Mirage, will this really work?] [Bleary Mirage: Of course. As long as they underestimate us this much¡­] [Radiant Shield: I still don¡¯t like it. Being chased away feels terrible.] [Cyclone: +1] [Silent Acacia: You¡¯ll get used to it. I have seen all kinds of dirty strategies.] [Quickstep: Life of a pro player¡­] Liam and his friends stopped at a safe distance, looking in the direction of the world boss with indignant minds. [Bleary Mirage: Let¡¯s stop the idle talk and focus. @Edge, how much HP does the world boss have left.] [Bloody Edge: About half.] [Bleary Mirage: How many players died?] [Bloody Edge: Close to three hundred, I guess. But those left standing seem to have found their rhythm. Casualties are reducing noticeably.] [Bleary Mirage: Alright, keep us informed.] Even if others guessed that Liam and his party stayed in the vicinity, they obviously didn¡¯t care. With so many players around the world boss there was no way for them to come close. In the minds of the guild leaders only other guilds posed a threat. Although Knight of Honor also had a considerable following, they lacked the coordination to steal the last kill. Star Gazer glanced at the heroic man gathering the disorganized players. He looked down at him and his futile efforts. How could commoners compete with large families and companies? As early as a few dozen years ago when the federation began constructing the game¡¯s servers did those wealthy organizations begin to train loyal fighters. Information indicating the game¡¯s enormous potential was everywhere in the ancient ruins. This potential had to be realized in his, Brayan Colville¡¯s, hands. Chapter 103: Berserk mode The fight against the world boss went on for quite a while. Most players gradually relaxed, having figured out the rhythm of the Void-corrupted White-Striped Violent Hawk¡¯s skills. Its HP were gradually declining. Tanks with their stance used up calmly changed positions with others waiting behind. Only a few players died as their concentration slipped from exhaustion. Star Gazer stood in the back among the mages. A violet circle lit up below him. No new tricks¡­ A smile showed on his handsome face as he casually jumped to the side. Violet flames erupted, spreading a fierce heat. The resulting wind played through Star Gazer¡¯s black hair. Like most players he chose to hide his head gear, showing his fair face to everyone. Elsewhere Phoenix Feather directed her guild to advance steadily. Continuous attacks chipped away at the haw¡¯s HP. Soon¡­ The tall woman¡¯s mind turned, knowing that the critical moment was not far away. She signaled towards a lanky man in light armor standing at the back of the melee fighters. Her close confidant and vice-guild leader of Nest of Flames, called Smoldering Heat, immediately understood. He relayed premeditated orders to some officer in the guild serving as party leaders. With the guild system not yet established this was their only way to communicate, lacking the crucial guild chat. However, such movements couldn¡¯t escape the eyes of other guilds. Callida scoffed as she watched a similar behavior among Phoenix Feather¡¯s and Star Gazer¡¯s people. They suddenly began conserving their strength. The frequency of big skills slowed down. Want to save everything for one last burst? With both guilds acting like this, Callida knew that their Force of Nature had to follow suit. Else all their efforts would end up benefiting others. Thus, she quickly sent a message to Earthquake. Luckily her husband listened to her. Although he was battle-hungry he wasn¡¯t so stubborn as to be exploited by others. Subsequently the fight took a strange turn. Despite the world boss¡¯s low HP, the fighting players seemingly lost their enthusiasm. They fought carefully, staying vigilant of others. Everyone had a dream in their minds. Being the one to land the last hit, get the loot, the fame¡­ Bloody Edge anxiously messaged his friends. [Bloody Edge: Guys, the fight will soon be over. We need to act now.] [Bleary Mirage: Don¡¯t be hasty. World bosses don¡¯t die easily.] [Silver Blade: We can only listen to Mirage.] [Bleary Mirage: Get ready to run on my signal.] Bloody Edge gritted his teeth, watching the boss¡¯s HP dwindle. 5%, 4%, 3%... Suddenly a violent screech shook the entire void-corrupted forest. The players felt their ears hurt, their minds shaken. No one was able to move as the violent color on the hawk¡¯s feather quickly intensified. It crept up its wings, emitting a violent fog. A silent pressure spread as the fog played around the world boss. The white stripe on its back turned entirely violet. Its face distorted. Its head jerked right and left. A dull look slowly filled its eyes. Another screech echoed through the forest. The lingering void energy stirred, showing signs of expanding towards the surroundings.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. A small village was not far from the forest. The inhabitants watched with worry as the violet energy crept closer. With tears in their eyes, they prepared to give up their homes. The players had disbelieving expressions. Violet energy crept up their legs, preventing them from moving. The changes around the Void-corrupted White-Striped Violent Hawk gradually slowed down. It flapped its wings, taking to the air. Dull eyes looked down on all the players. They appeared almost disinterested as if not recognizing anything before them. A brilliant light flashed on the violet feathers. Immediately a small violet circle appeared on the ground around the towering tree. But it suddenly extended, enveloping the entire valley in seconds. Anxious voiced could be heard from below. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I can¡¯t move!¡± ¡°It¡¯s about to use a skill! How are we supposed to dodge?!¡± ¡°Did we miss something?¡± ¡°Does someone have a quest item?¡± ¡°Boss, what should we do?¡± The players were indignant and helpless. Many turned to curse the game for designing such an unreasonable fight. They closed their eyes as purple feathers began to rain down. But right at this moment a raging voice shook everyone awake: ¡°Who dares to spread void energy in my Southern Light Kingdom?!¡± A middle-aged man suddenly appeared in mid-air. He wore impressive black mage robes with golden highlights. His long black hair billowed in the wind. The man swung a tall wooden staff adorned with fine golden engravings. An enormous amount of mana flowed through his body into the staff. A blinding light spread in all directions. A storm surrounded the valiant newcomer, distorting the air. ¡°Heed my call, light of this world. Eradicate the void!¡± Sizzling sounds came from everywhere. Wherever the blinding light fell on the lingering void energy, violet steam rose and the void energy was pushed back. The villagers at the edge of the forest were forced to avert their eyes but their hearts were filled with admiration. They could hear how the void energy close to their village diminished quickly. Within seconds the edge of the forest was cleansed of the corrupting influence, leaving only distorted trees and black soil behind. Another screech shook the world, obviously more powerful than before. A hint of emotion flashed in the hawk¡¯s eyes as it stared angrily at the mage who had suddenly appeared. Violet energy concentrated on its body, pulsing dangerously. The corrupted hawk glared at the mage. Therim Riverbell, guardian of the Southern Light Kingdom, felt a chill run down his spine. He watched as the hawk spread its wings wide, instantly absorbing all the void energy in the surroundings. Pain flashed in the world boss¡¯s eyes. Its body squirmed. Suddenly dark blood splashed as a pair of dark violet claws, grotesque and bony, sprouted from the hawk¡¯s chest. Flapping its blood-stained wings the world boss abruptly dashed towards Therim. The mage didn¡¯t dare to underestimate it. He stopped his spell, pointing his staff towards the corrupted hawk. ¡°Heed my call, light of this world. Banish this vile beast!¡± A continuous ray of orange light erupted from Therim¡¯s staff. It blasted towards the hawk. A dark claw flashed through the air, meeting the magic head on. A pained scream left the hawk¡¯s throat. Violet steam rose from the claw as it violently got shoved away. The ray of light continued, smashing into the hawk¡¯s chest. The beast tumbled and crashed back towards the ground. Bang! The floor shook. A shockwave spread through the surroundings, bringing dust and dirt with it. The players felt the violent wind tearing at their clothes, forcing them to close their eyes. Therim didn¡¯t let the hawk of. His magic still bore down on the beast. However, the world boss wasn¡¯t defeated just yet. Its entire body pulsed violet as it struggled to stand up under the suppression of the ray of light. Its eyes regained their dullness, staring at Therim. The mage could see his own reflection. He grabbed his staff with two hands before shouting loudly: ¡°Adventurers! On behalf of the Southern Light Kingdom, I beseech you to assist me! Slay this beast and save countless innocent lives!¡± With those words the players suddenly regained the ability to move. But they couldn¡¯t take action just yet. They stared with wide eyes full of awe at the mage standing in the sky, orange-colored clouds as the backdrop, an indescribably mystical image. Suddenly the dark claw coming out of the hawk¡¯s chest moved. It eerily enlarged, reaching twice its size in an instant, grabbing towards the players. ¡°Careful!¡± ¡°The world boss isn¡¯t done yet!¡± ¡°Formation! Formation!¡± Chaotic orders were relayed, finally waking the players up. The earth trembled as the claw slammed down. Some players managed to dodge in time but two warriors and a thief were directly engulfed. They could only let out frightened screams as the hawk raised them up, swung its claw and threw the unlucky players at Therim. ¡°AHHH!¡± ¡°OUAHHH!¡± ¡°AH¡­ well it¡¯s not that bad. The view is quite nice.¡± In the air Therim gritted his teeth. He had pity for the unlucky adventurers but was in no position to help them. He could only dodge to the side. The magical ray suppressing the world boss shook dangerously. Callida drew a sharp breath, urging her guild: ¡°Hurry up! It looks like the mage¡¯s spell can break! We need to kill that hawk!¡± Finally, the gravity of the situation reached most players. With renewed fervor they rushed towards the corrupted hawk. The fight reached its peak. Earthquake swung his great sword like a madman, hacking at the hawk¡¯s feathers. Knight of Honor activated another skill allowing him to borrow strength from his allies. His sword was dressed in a brilliant sheen as it slashed towards the hawk¡¯s head. Only Star Gazer and Phoenix Feather still played the same game, holding back, waiting for the right time to steal the last hit. And further away in the forest Liam finally signaled his party to move. Chapter 104: Fighting through the crowd Star Gazer watched the hundreds of players struggling against the world boss with a calm expression. Screeching shook the sky and earth as the void energy pulsed on the hawk¡¯s body. It fought fiercely against the ray of light holding it in place. The world boss casted skill after skill, each with more power than ever before. The number of players able to hold on dwindled. Fire erupted right next to Star Gazer, tingeing his fair face in a violet hue. It¡¯s almost time¡­ Watching the world boss¡¯s HP, Star Gazer was almost ready to give the signal for his followers to go all out. At this moment, a commotion suddenly broke out at the edge of the valley. [Spiked Pen: Boss, Hotpot are coming back!] [Bleary Mirage: I can see it. Tell our outer team to do their job and hold them back!] Liam narrowed his eyes as he rushed in the direction of the world boss. ¡°Get ready guys! Remember to keep the formation!¡± The party members nodded, focused on the world boss. Their hands shook from excitement and nervousness. Suddenly they saw movement coming in the group of thirty warriors whose job it was to hold the party back. Unfortunately, the void corrupted trees were sparse and couldn¡¯t hide the party from view. Thus, the team could react early and block their way. Mocking gazes locked on the party. ¡°Haha, the beaten dogs return!¡± ¡°What is this? A last-ditch effort?¡± ¡°Here to throw your lives away?¡± The guild players joked with each other showing no fear of Liam¡¯s party. ¡°Truly, the newborn calf is not afraid of the tiger.¡±, murmured Liam. Liam¡¯s competitive pride took a hit, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. When had he ever received such disregard in the game? The veteran raised his swords staring at the team not far away. For some reason the guild players felt chills run down their spines. ¡°H¡­ hey! Get ready, they are close enough!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The team mostly consisted of warriors who were supposed to physically block the path. Only two mages were mixed in. They pointed with their wands, aiming for Liam¡¯s party. ¡°Now!¡± Two [Holy Stike] skill instantly arrived above Liam and Silent Acacia. Brilliant light sought to smite their bodies. But the two professional players didn¡¯t take the attacks seriously. With skillful sidesteps they caused the holy strikes to miss. The skills barely intercepted their advance. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Idiots! Learn to aim!¡± ¡°Shut up! My aim was on point!¡± The guild players argued in annoyance but didn¡¯t take their eyes off Liam¡¯s party. A seconds later the two groups crashed into each other. ¡°Die!¡± The warriors shouted with confidence as they jumped at Liam¡¯s party. The person in the center carried two swords, facing Liam bravely. Two pairs of eyes met. Full of confidence. Sparks ignited in the air. Four swords flashed.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Wha¡­?!¡± The warrior let out a voice full of disbelief. He watched his HP emptying out in a single moment. Throwing an unwilling glance at his opponent he only saw a young man with an ordinary face but eyes full of indifference. Liam didn¡¯t care for the warrior falling at his feet. There was a stark difference in level and equipment. The opponent never stood a chance. At the same time the others focused on their designated opponents. Arrows, magic attacks, and swords slammed into the guild players. Within moments five enemies went down, revealing a gap in the defense. Liam¡¯s party didn¡¯t linger any longer. Radiant Shield and Silver Blade shielded their flanks, allowing them to pass the team of guild players. Dumbfounded eyes stared at the backs of Liam¡¯s party. It took a few seconds for the players to snap out of it. ¡°F*ck! Chase them!¡± ¡°Quick! Don¡¯t let them get closer!¡± ¡°The boss will be furious!¡± Liam and his friends already stepped into the valley before the guild players remembered to give chase. ¡°Haha, that felt great!¡±, laughed Cyclone happily. ¡°Don¡¯t get carried away, this was only the beginning. Get in formation!¡± Liam spoke sternly, his eyes always on the world boss¡¯s HP. The others felt the tension, adhering to the plan made beforehand. The squishy players were protected in the middle, while the rest prepared to clash with the opponents. Silent Acacia stepped to the side strangely, leaving a seemingly empty spot. Moments later they reached the core of the valley. Rows of armored backs were within reach. Liam cleverly chose a spot filled with casual players showing low coordination. Those hadn¡¯t even noticed the danger behind their backs. Only as Liam¡¯s party arrived did the guild players deign to shout some warnings. ¡°Behind you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let them through!¡± ¡°No, focus on the world boss! That¡¯s our priority!¡± The situation was already chaotic beforehand. Now that Liam and his friends were added to the mix, no one could agree on how to behave. Liam used the situation to his advantage. His swords flashed at a woman in black leather armor. She tried to dodge but Liam saw through her movements at a glance. His swords arrived at a tricky angle, quickly taking the first life. The other party members didn¡¯t show any mercy either. With their advanced levels no enemy could endure more than one or two attacks as long as the tanks were focused on the world boss. Cutting into the crowd as if harvesting wheat Liam¡¯s party advanced unhindered. A few seconds later the disorganized players finally showed a reaction. Two warriors turned around with grim faces as they perceived the movement behind them. ¡°It¡¯s not your turn to steal the world boss!¡± The players were understandably angry. They had been working hard for a long time to weaken the world boss. The guild players were already behaving strangely and now another group arrived to compete for the kill. A spear and sword shot through the air, aiming for Liam¡¯s face. The veteran only scoffed. His opponents didn¡¯t even show the most basic coordination, both attacking the same spot. With a swift jerk of his head, Liam dodged the attacks, retaliating in kind. The sword wielding player got hit in the chest, but he survived. His eyes glanced at his HP full of disbelieve. But a moment later realization hit him, and he smirked at Liam. ¡°Ha! You are stuck h¡­¡± The player couldn¡¯t end his sentence as Liam immediately used [Double Slash]. His swords flew skillfully, killing both his opponents. The rest of the party wasn¡¯t idle either. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield focused on defending the squishier classes, allowing those to dish out attacks unhindered. Arrows and magical attacks shot through the air, keeping the surrounding players at bay. Suddenly Cyclone¡¯s body stiffened. A chill ran down her spine. Alarm bells rang in her head. Without thinking she instantly used [Static Domain], a new skill of hers which was transformed from her [Push] skill after changing to an advanced class. Instantly a bluish shimmer spread from her feet, forming a circle around her. Crackling noises came from the air. Cyclone¡¯s hair exploded in all directions from the ubiquitous static. A lightning bolt suddenly flashed. ¡°Ah!¡± Letting out a surprised shout, a thief was hit in the chest, breaking his stealth. His dagger was already taking aim at Cyclone¡¯s neck, but his body froze in shock from the skill. Cyclone sighed inwardly as she hastily kept her distance. Meanwhile her static domain remained active. Lightning bolts stroke at the thief continuously, twice per second. They only delt a single point of damage. However, after the fourth bolt hit the thief, Cyclone¡¯s passive triggered, paralyzing the enemy. The young woman didn¡¯t hesitate to throw attacks, quickly ending the assailant¡¯s life. ¡°Wow! Good job Cyclone!¡± ¡°Way to go Cy!¡± Balm and Fortune, who stood closest to Cyclone, couldn¡¯t help but praise. They were genuinely impressed by Cyclone¡¯s instinctive reaction. Cyclone smiled proudly, her chin raised so high it almost touched the sky. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where are our magic attacks?!¡± Liam¡¯s voice sounded slightly angry, suddenly shaking the mages. ¡°Coming, coming!¡± The three women didn¡¯t dare to delay, throwing out attacks quickly. Liam¡¯s party mowed down players left and right. Seeing their ferocious advance many didn¡¯t dare to get close. Thus, the party even sped up in the middle of the crowd instead of slowing down. Star Gazer gritted his teeth watching the scene. ¡°Those useless players! Unorganized rubbish!¡± The guild leader considered sending someone to black Liam¡¯s way. But with a glance at the world boss, he dismissed the idea. The corrupted hawk only had a sliver of HP left. Now the most important period had arrived. A tense atmosphere engulfed the players. Everyone could see that the world boss was about to fall. Its claws reached out desperately but had no power to change the situation. Earthquake led his powerful warriors to hack at the weak bird. Phoenix Feather and Star Gazer signaled their guild members to stop holding back. Liam and his friends suddenly broke through the tank line, facing the world boss. Chapter 105: Who gets the kill? ¡°Kill it!¡± ¡°Use everything you got!¡± ¡°The bird can¡¯t hold on much longer!¡± Chaotic shouts shook the battlefield. Players desperately shoved to the front, attacking fiercely, dealing as much damage as possible. Mages tried to time their casts perfectly for the low chance of landing the last hit. Sneaky thieves made their way through the crowd praying for that one critical hit to win honor and reputation. In this heated atmosphere Liam¡¯s party reached the frontline. A murderous hawk the size of a house stood below a towering tree. Its violet feathers emitted an ominous air. A powerful, mysterious ray of light held it in place and suppressed its power. ¡°Go!¡± Shouting loudly, Liam¡¯s narrowed eyes focused on the big bird before him. He even ignored his party. His mind entered a special state, knowing only himself and the enemy. Liam felt reminded of the chaotic, difficult battles of his past life. When his fame was its peak and enemy teams brought out all their tricks to deal with him. Countless dangers shot at him, but Liam remained calm with a confident smile on his lips. The veteran let himself go, sinking into this feeling. These were the moments he craved for. When the odds were stacked against him. A shadow darkened the sky. Liam didn¡¯t need to look to know that the hawk¡¯s claw swiped through the players. His body tilted forward. Suddenly he jumped and rolled. A sharp wind hit his back as a black-violet claw passed above him. Keeping the momentum Liam jumped to his feet and dashed towards the corrupted hawk. He was quick as lightning. With movements fluid like a dancer his swords fluttered through the air. Just as one attack landed, the next was already activated. Skills flowed one into the other seamlessly. In no time at all five holy marks were stacked on the bird. And exploded! A bright light erupted from the hawk¡¯s head. Liam¡¯s friends suddenly attacked at the same time. Cyclone activated the skill attached to her boots for the first time. A phantom figure which looked exactly like her appeared, repeating her movements. Two bolts of lightning crackled, slamming into the corrupted hawk. Next to Liam a person suddenly appeared. It was Bloody Edge who stayed invisible until now, only for this moment. The light walker activated his ultimate. Another blinding light erupted, melting the world boss¡¯s armor. Two sharp daggers sprung up like the teeth of a poisonous snake. A sad screech rang through heaven and earth. The hawk raised its head. Anger and despair replaced the dullness in its eyes for a second. High in the air Therim Riverbell took a breath of relieve. He watched as the void energy on the hawk¡¯s body twisted eerily. Suddenly the destructive energy backlashed, eating into the White-Striped Hawk¡¯s feathers and body. Within seconds the hawk disappeared piece by piece. The scene was more fascinating then eerie. Liam frowned, looking over his shoulder. [Bleary Mirage: What are you doing?! Follow the plan!] Suddenly Liam¡¯s friends woke up. Just like most others they were preoccupied with staring at the world boss, almost forgetting their predetermined plan. They carefully closed the remaining distance, coming to a stop right next to the world boss.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. By now only a few tail feathers remained of the once proud predator. A moment later those vanished as well. Only a thick violet cloud hung in the sky. Suddenly it shot into the air, exploding in a deafening rumble. Those standing too close had to avert their faces, feeling a strong force shaking their bodies. Even Liam was caught off guard for a moment before immediately coming back to his senses. A complicated emotion flashed through his mind, but he instantly suppressed it. His full focus had to be on the former world boss. [Bleary Mirage: Ready!] Glittering stars fell from the sky where the violet cloud exploded. They shimmered in green, blue, and even yellow. As soon as those hit the ground Liam¡¯s party reacted, swarming forward. With fast hands they focused on the most conspicuous items. The couple yellow and all the blue lights vanished quickly. The rare scrolls and recipes were pocketed as well. Liam and his friends were like a swarm of locust, taking everything of value. The rest of the players only reacted when the most precious items were already gone. Star Gazer stood at the back of the crowd with his eyes wide open. A fierce shout left his mouth: ¡°STOP, Silver! Pen! Move! F*CK! Move everyone!¡± Callida was hit by surprise as well. Why did the loot drop openly?! It was impossible to be prepared for this situation. After all, so far loot always stayed with the opponent¡¯s corpse until touched. No one could expect the world boss to pop like a pinata. [Callida: Big guy! Quick! Grab everything! You are the closest!] The intelligent woman recovered quickly, messaging her husband. But at this point Liam and his friends had already made a satisfactory harvest. Noticing that movement came in the crowd, Liam didn¡¯t dare to be overly greedy. [Bleary Mirage: We move!] [Cyclone: But there is still this blue item¡­] [Bleary Mirage: MOVE!] Cyclone shook, not daring to argue any longer. Liam¡¯s party got into formation, escaping in the direction of the towering tree not far away. Players began to rush past them. ¡°There! Green, blue! Everything mine!¡± ¡°Keep your hands away!¡± ¡°Who pushed me?!¡± The situation was chaotic. Everyone swarmed towards the center of the valley, eager to get a piece of the pie. Many faces flashed by Liam¡¯s party, ignoring them, blinded by greed. But not everyone lost their rationality. A lot of players had noticed Liam and his friends picking up the majority of the loot. A small team separated from Force of Nature. All of them were burly guys with fierce faces and thick muscles. An orc holding a large red shield showed an ugly grin. ¡°Nothing personal, guys. But how about you stay here?¡± Liam¡¯s face turned serious. Just from their positioning he could already tell that those players opposite him were seasoned fighters. They kept a perfect distance to each other, granting enough space to move but also the ability to quickly help each other out. Liam¡¯s thoughts moved. He glanced around. Before him were the guild players, unmoving, clearly buying time. Right behind him were his party members waiting for directions. And on all sides were scattered players attempting to reach the valley¡¯s center. At this moment they could only go forward. Liam took a deep breath. He rushed towards the opponents. A mocking light flashed in the shield-wielding player¡¯s eyes. He dug his boots into the ground, shielding his body, ready to hold Liam off. A few seconds ae enough¡­ The orc had such thoughts as he readied himself for impact. But strangely it never came. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Careful!¡± The anxious shouts of his team members reached the orc¡¯s ears. But he couldn¡¯t make sense of the situation. Suddenly sword attacks crashed into his back. Damage plopped up continuously, but the orc wasn¡¯t able to move. He was affected by a stun caused by [Brutal Strike]. Liam¡¯s moves were seamless. The moment he arrived behind the opponent with flash step, skills followed immediately. A message was sent to his party simultaneously. [Bleary Mirage: NOW! Blade and shield, open the way!] Attacks shot out immediately, downing the enemy tank. Liam¡¯s friends showed great tacit understanding. All the damage dealers used everything at their disposal, Before anyone was able to react the tank already dropped to the floor, still none the wiser about the method Liam used to appear behind him. Meanwhile Silver Blade and Radiant Shield moved to both sides. They slammed their bodies into the two warriors closest to the party. The enemies were forced back a couple of steps but quickly regained their balance. ¡°They want to attack! Stop them!¡± The guild players showed their qualities at this moment. They weren¡¯t stunned, instantly trying to stand in Liam¡¯s way. They still didn¡¯t intend to clash with the party directly. Their only goal was to delay for time until Earthquake had gathered all the loot in the center. Liam scanned the situation with worried eyes. With the guild players dragging them down it was difficult to find a way for everyone to escape. He didn¡¯t want to sacrifice Silver Blade and Radiant Shield. Everyone in their party had deep red names. Dying here would mean potentially losing multiple items. And everyone carried some of the loot received from the world boss. Just as Liam was ready to take a gamble, Quickstep and Silent Acacia glanced at each other. The hunter raised his hand while his girlfriend dashed towards Radiant Shield. Suddenly a creature appeared out of thin air. It had a long body and thick white skin. Liam naturally recognized the being looking like a smaller version of Dorn. ¡°Go!¡± Silent Acacia had a hint of sadness in his eyes as he sent out his newly acquired pet. The level eight alligator roared before approaching the players facing Silver Blade. Chapter 106: Heated escape Liam and his friends sprinted towards the towering tree not far away. They tried to escape through the gap opened up between the opposing players. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield did their best to hold them back. But the guild players didn¡¯t engage, attempting to overtake Liam¡¯s party from the side and cutting of their escape route. Suddenly a low roar entered everyone¡¯s ears. The opponents stared in surprise at the white alligator which just appeared out of nowhere. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Could it be a pet?¡± [Silent Acacia: @Silver Blade, step back. Let Zorn hold them back.] [Silver Blade: Do you want to sacrifice him?] [Silent Acacia: It¡¯s alright. It will only drop back to level one.] Silver Blade nodded at Silent Acacia, distancing herself from the hostile players. Zorn quickly took her place. Silent Acacia wiped away the unwilling look on his face as he activated one of his new skills. ¡°Rampage!¡± A red light flashed through Zorn¡¯s eyes. The alligator¡¯s face took on a murderous look. A chill ran down the opponent¡¯s spine as they stared into its cold eyes. Opening its maw wide, a waterball brewed in the alligator¡¯s throat. It instantly shot at one of the warriors. Simultaneously the monster dashed towards the other warrior at an unexpected speed. One might be surprised by Zorn¡¯s intelligence if they didn¡¯t know that Silent Acacia ordered it with his thoughts. For players fighting with pets for the first time this was an incredibly weird sensation. Fortunately, Silent Acacia had experience playing VR games before. Although none were as immersive as Fate of Crunaboul, it still allowed the young man to quickly get used to controlling his pet. On the other side Quickstep arrived next to Radiant Shield. Without talking much she immediately activated her ultimate skill [Storm of Blades]. A whirlwind appeared out of nowhere, engulfing Quickstep. Her body however remained perfectly still. The strange contradiction caused a feeling of uneasiness among the enemies. However, it didn¡¯t even last a second. The whirlwind immediately contracted, flowing around Quickstep¡¯s sword before concentrating into a white sphere in the air. One look at the constantly flowing sphere would make one¡¯s eyes sting from pain. When Quickstep swung her sword, the sphere moved according to her thoughts. It only advanced for a short distance, stopping in front of the opponents. All of this sounded long to describe but Quickstep¡¯s movements were quick and precise. She didn¡¯t give the enemies a chance to react before an enormous storm suddenly erupted from the white sphere. Extremely sharp wind blades were mixed in, seeking to cut the enemy into little pieces. The two players let out a startled scream as the storm engulfed them but their voices were drowned out by the roaring winds. They only managed to hold on for a few moments before the storm grabbed them and threw them into the distance, simultaneously cutting away their HP with its sharp blades. Radiant Shield was stunned, looking at the scene in awe. This was the first time he had seen Quickstep using her ultimate skill and the result was incredible. But the valiant woman didn¡¯t care about his thoughts, urging him on:If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°What are you standing there?! We need to leave!¡± On the other side of the valley Star Gazer never stopped observing the situation. When he saw Liam¡¯s party about to escape a murderous gaze appeared in his eyes. ¡°This damn Earthquake! How can he keep such incompetent subordinates?! Useless! Pen! Tell everyone to stop looting and chase after Hotpot!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Liam threw Quickstep and Silent Acacia an appreciative look. He never expected anyone to stand up at this moment and deal with the predicament. Now that the immediate opponents were occupied nothing could stop them from escaping. At this moment a movement came into the crowd not far away. Players started to split of one by one. Liam felt a heavy pressure. He glanced as Star Gazer, Phoenix Feather, and Callida who watched them from different positions. ¡°Guys, we need to go! Now!¡± The others also noticed the change. They didn¡¯t dear to delay, immediately following behind Liam. The area before the tree was already empty. Naturally no one came from behind it in the first place as they wouldn¡¯t have been able to attack the world boss. This was the reason why Liam chose this as their escape path. A moment later they arrived next to the thick tree trunk. Violet void energy still lingered around the half brown, half violet bark. It was rather dense, obscuring the view at the tree. Circling the trunk, Liam got a strange perception. It was as if the void energy didn¡¯t disappear, instead it faintly increased. Liam didn¡¯t think much about it. However, when they reached the other side of the trunk, he noticed something out of the corner of his eyes. At the base of the tree was an extremely dense cloud of void energy. But something stuck out of it at the trunk. It looked like a black tree branch ending in an incredibly sharp tip. Just by glancing at it one would feel an instinctive rejection. Most players at this stage in the game might not waste too many thoughts on it. But Liam¡¯s eyes immediately showed surprise. He glanced over his shoulder before gritting his teeth and taking a few steps towards the tree trunk. ¡°Bleary Mirage?¡± ¡°Expert, what are you doing?¡± ¡°My friend, we need to hurry!¡± ¡°Sorry!¡± Liam apologized for the delay while his hand touched the black branch. With a thought he put it into his inventory. Instantly a quest window appeared before his eyes. [ Quest: A strange creature] [Step one: Bring the strange creature you found to Therim Riverbell!] ¡°Come on!¡± Hearing his party¡¯s anxious shouts Liam didn¡¯t dare to delay longer. With a flash step he arrived next to them, ready to escape. At this moment the lingering void energy slowly began to dissipate. The tree trunk was revealed again. Suddenly a pulse ran through the towering tree. A large amount of mana was attracted to it, greedily absorbed by all its branches and roots. A vital green energy was buried deep in the tree¡¯s core. With the influx of mana, it gradually revived. A lively feeling was birthed from the tree. With it, the void energy corrupting it was quickly pushed back. Violet leaves fell of, replaced by gorgeous green buds. Most of the players chasing after Liam couldn¡¯t help but watch the change in surprise. Even Therim, who had already flown a distance away, looked back. The only ones who weren¡¯t in the position to care were Liam and his friends. They didn¡¯t stop running, using the opportunity to escape the valley. But the chasing players weren¡¯t blind. ¡°Idiots! Don¡¯t stand in my way and stare at a tree! Chase them!¡± ¡°Quick! Our loot escapes!¡± ¡°Move, move, move!¡± Cyclone glanced over her shoulder, her scalp going numb. ¡°Guys, there are so many¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted! We got this!¡± Funny coming from you¡­ Cyclone didn¡¯t say her thoughts out loud. She trusted that Liam had a reason to take the strange thing with him. But nevertheless, this delay didn¡¯t improve their situation. A whistle could be heard. Liam and his party tensed up, recognizing the characteristic sound of arrows traveling through the air. Luckily the distance was still too far making it close to impossible for others to aim correctly. In the tense atmosphere and with angry shouts behind their backs Liam and his friends reached the mouth of the valley, entering the corrupted forest. A few changes could be seen even here as the forest showed some signs of revival. But the party didn¡¯t have the luxury to care. Sprinting through the forest all eyes were on Liam, expecting him to come up with a saving grace. And the veteran indeed had something in mind. He led his party straight out of the forest, arriving on a plane full of large fields providing food for the nearby villages. A few bull-like monsters roamed around, guarding the place against intruders. However, those didn¡¯t dare to step into the fields for fear of destroying anything. Liam used this fact to his advantage, leading his party through the fields. They could only apologize inwardly to the villagers as they trampled the wheat below their feet. Fortunately, the villagers wouldn¡¯t suddenly die of hunger due to their actions. The game wasn¡¯t that vicious. Thus, Liam¡¯s party could escape unhindered. A few moments later a large crowd broke out of the forest behind them. Without thinking much, they quickly rushed after the party. ¡°Mooo!¡± Angry sounds could be heard from the bulls. Their eyes glowed red, staring at the players coming towards them. The next second the players¡¯ miserable shouts could be heard as the bulls rammed their horns into the crowd. Most of the players though ran through the fields instead of the limited paths. They were surprised that nothing happened to them, gloatingly looked at others, before continuing their chase. Chapter 107: Unexpected assistance ¡°Come here little piggies.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run!¡± ¡°Leave the loot behind and we can let you go.¡± Liam and his friends couldn¡¯t help but get annoyed at the mocking shouts coming from behind their backs. But they could only swallow the insults and continue escaping. ¡°Expert, do you have a plan? Else I¡¯ll turn around now and beat those idiots up!¡±, said Cyclone indignantly. However, the others naturally dissuaded her. ¡°Young lady, don¡¯t stoop to the level of these villains.¡± ¡°A tense chase is great for my video! Dear viewers, will we make it out? Or will the flood of thieves drown us?¡± ¡°Hold on guys. We¡¯re not far away.¡± Liam reassured his friends as they left the area of lush fields. A hilly zone appeared before them. Suddenly a loud shout came from the front. ¡°Here, come here! I came to help you!¡± Liam frowned. He stared at the dwarf peeking out behind a boulder. The name floating above his head appeared familiar. It was Braag the Virtuous, who wanted to learn from Liam earlier that day. No one knew if they could trust this person. But he appeared openly despite occupying the path Liam intended to take in the first place, a narrow route between two steep slopes. Confident that a single player wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them, Liam decided not to change directions. ¡°Mirage! Come!¡± Liam dashed towards the hills. But suddenly he dug his heels into the ground stopping abruptly. Just before he wanted to shout a warning to his party, Braag spoke first: ¡°I buried some explosives here! When you pass, I will stop those behind you!¡± Liam gave the dwarf a deep look. He made up his mind instantly. [Bleary Mirage: I will go first.] The party didn¡¯t show anything outwardly but kept a short distance to Liam. The latter knew that they were running out of time. Without hesitation he stepped onto the path, his senses focused on the ground. However, nothing happened until he reached Braag. The dwarf looked at the rest of the party members strangely but didn¡¯t feel offended. ¡°I understand if you don¡¯t trust me. But we don¡¯t have time now!¡± Silver Blade looked at Liam who safely made it past the prepared area. With a nod from her the other party members followed as well. Their hearts were tense with every step. But again, no explosion went off. With a sigh of relieve they arrived next to Liam. ¡°Sorry.¡± Braag didn¡¯t take Liam¡¯s apology to heart. He waved his hand impatiently. ¡°It¡¯s ok. But you need to go now!¡± Excited voices could already be heard coming from the fields. A crowd of players appeared surging towards the hilly zone. Liam and his party immediately continued their escape, this time followed by Braag. ¡°Dwarf, didn¡¯t you say something about explosions?¡±, asked Cyclone confusedly. ¡°Sure, sure. Remote controlled!¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°That¡¯s a thing?¡± ¡°Yes. Cost me a sh*t ton of money.¡± Pain flashed on Braag¡¯s face. Cyclone was taken aback. From his expression one could think the dwarf lost his wife. Fortunately, he quickly calmed his mind, looking over his shoulder. The crowd of players arrived at the entrance of the path. They looked at Liam¡¯s back eagerly. After the short delay the distance shrunk again. At the front of the crowd were teams of guild players. They frowned, looking at the strangely uneven soil below their feet. But with other pushing from behind they couldn¡¯t take the time to scan more thoroughly. Dozens of players streamed into the narrow path, at most six people next to each other. When the front had advanced for about ten meters, a few dozen players had occupied the path. But at this moment¡­ Alarm bells rang in everyone¡¯s minds. Their senses screamed of danger. But it was already too late. Boom! With a deafening sound echoing between the hills multiple explosions went off. The floor and the air shook. Dirt splashed everywhere. Chaotic, frightened shouts were mixed in. Players were thrown away by the incredible force, hit by loose boulders, seared by flames. It was a scene of carnage. The few survivors slowly dragged their bodies up, cursing loudly, looking at the battered ground before them with lingering fear. A scoff could be heard. A chubby player surrounded by others pushed towards the front. ¡°Brainless. Hmpf! Bear, you take the lead!¡± The chubby player going by the name Fat Tiger ridiculed others, but he didn¡¯t dare to probe the path. Fighting Bear wanted to complain but seeing the boss¡¯s stern eyes he swallowed his words. With a reluctant expression he stepped forward. Fat Tiger followed at a safe distance taking the lead among the remaining players. He squinted his eyes as he urged Fighting Bear: ¡°Hurry up! I can barely see them now! Don¡¯t lose Hotpot!¡± Meanwhile Liam turned his head back towards the front. ¡°Wow! What a great scene! This will be the highlight of this video!¡±, exclaimed Fortune happily. Braag squeezed out an ugly smile: ¡°At least I didn¡¯t waste so much money for nothing.¡± Fortune fell back a few steps while talking: ¡°Definitely not! Dear viewers. No one of us expected such timely help. Who is this heroic stranger coming to our aid? Will it be enough to escape? Stay tuned!¡± Silent Acacia rolled his eyes. ¡°Guys, we are not in safety yet!¡± ¡°No, we are almost there.¡± The others looked at Liam in surprise. They were still following a lonely path between vast hills. Where was the safety? Taking one last turn the party arrived at a somewhat large, grassy square. A few sparce, dark green trees grew towards the sky. In the center of the plain an inconspicuous statue could be found. It was only about the height of a human. It depicted a fierce lizard-like creature with broad wings behind its back. Standing on a prominent rock its vivid gaze seemed to look down on the world. Balm drew a sharp breath. ¡°Is this¡­¡± ¡°A dragon!¡± Everyone was startled by the loud shout, looking at the speaker in bewilderment. Watchful Eye didn¡¯t care, approaching the statue with awe in his gaze. He reached out with his hand. Suddenly he stiffened, recalling the current situation. The usually taciturn man turned around with an awkward smile: ¡°Apologies, young lady.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s¡­ ok.¡± Even Silver Blade was confused, having never seen such a side from her loyal bodyguard. However, now was not the time for deep talk. Silent Acacia averted his gaze from Watchful Eye, addressing Liam: ¡°What now? Is there some secret here?¡± ¡°Somehow I feel this place is a bit spooky.¡±, said Balm, subconsciously approaching Radiant Shield. ¡°It¡¯s because of the lack of sound. No insects, no wind. Nothing.¡±, concluded Silver Blade. Meanwhile, Liam didn¡¯t waste any time. He approached the dragon statue, staring into its eyes. ¡°Silver, invite Braag into the party.¡± The dwarf¡¯s eyes lit up with joy upon hearing this sentence from Liam. An invite popped up before his face. He accepted quickly as if afraid that it would disappear if he was even a beat too late. Just as he wanted to speak up and thank Liam, the latter spoke towards the statue. ¡°Si owl n re ot ear or h thig ogar eyal.¡± [Knowledge +5] The other party members looked at Liam in confusion, unable to understand his words. ¡°Are you ok, expert?¡± But Cyclone¡¯s question was left unanswered as the dragon statue¡¯s eyes lit up in a deep, majestic, blue. ¡°There they are!¡± ¡°Haha, it¡¯s a dead end!¡± Mocking shouts could be heard from behind the party. Fat Tiger wore a victorious grin, swaggering towards the party. ¡°Haha, when you incited others to attack our guild last time, did you ever think such a day would come?¡± But a moment later the chubby man frowned perceiving the changes on the stone statue. A strange anxiousness suddenly crept into his mind. His thoughts moved as he shouted loudly towards the players behind him: ¡°There seems to be some secret here! Quick, grab them!¡± ¡°Could it be¡­?¡± ¡°Hurry up! Catch them!¡± ¡°Hotpot, tell us what¡¯s going on here and we might let you live!¡± Players swarmed towards Liam¡¯s party. Some were greedy for loot, others were only in for the fun. Meanwhile Fat Tiger watched while quietly increasing the distance. The horror of the earlier explosion was still vivid in his mind. However, his caution proved unfounded a moment later as Liam and his friends were embraced by a blue light, disappearing into thin air. Only a group of baffled players were left behind. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°There is indeed a secret here!¡± ¡°It got to be that statue!¡± The players discussed animatedly, quickly turning the plain upside down before focusing on the dragon statue. Fat Tiger also pushed through the crowd. He cursed inwardly, his sharp gaze trained on the inconspicuous dragon. ¡°Boss, what should we do now?¡± Fat Tiger glanced at Fighting Bear, sorting out his thoughts. ¡°Two things. One, find out how this statue works. Activate it if possible. If we can¡¯t, we will wait here. I don¡¯t believe they won¡¯t have to come back!¡± Chapter 108: Trial room A light flashed in a solemn, large hall. When it disappeared, eleven people remained, looking at their surroundings in confusion. ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°Is it some kind of temple?¡± Liam¡¯s friends exchange careful whispers when a notification suddenly appeared. [Discovered Dragon Slayer Trial. Reward 400 EXP] [EXP: 1560/4800] The notification solved some of the party¡¯s doubts even though the reward was confusingly generous. However, the atmosphere was still tense. A kind of invisible pressure permeated the air. No one dared to behave presumptuously. Silver Blade looked around, searching the source of the stifling feeling in her chest. She glanced at the enormous stone gate at the front. It was taller than five people, adorned by lifelike images of people riding on majestic dragons. Gems pulsing with magic were inlaid in the gate, illuminating the surroundings. But the paths to the left and right were drowned in eerie darkness. ¡°Mirage, did we come to the right place?¡±, asked Cyclone carefully. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is it.¡± The female mage sighed in relieve, her posture straightening subconsciously. But a moment later she flinched. A loud click echoed between the motley stone walls. Receiving an invisible signal a couple of torches suddenly lit up to the right. Everyone¡¯s attention was immediately attracted by the majestic armors and weapons quietly resting on a few stands as if waiting for their owners. In the back was a solid wall decorated by a tall mosaic. Although many pieces were missing one could still roughly make out the images of battling dragons. But the party didn¡¯t stare for a long time. Suddenly torches also sprang to life on the left side. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened in surprise looking on the low platform carrying six old but comfortable thrones. Five of those were empty, but one was occupied right now. The person on the throne magically gathered all eyes on herself. It was a tall woman with green skin. Wherever her silver plate armor didn¡¯t reach, solid brown bark could be seen growing from her body. Instead of hair the woman had thin branches decorated with gorgeous white flowers. Her fair face seemed peaceful, resting with closed eyes. One of her arms was missing entirely while the other held a valiant spear made from a strange black material. Just by looking at the impressive woman, everyone realized that the pressure filling the room was emitted by her. ¡°What¡­ is she?¡±, asked Cyclone in her most quiet voice. ¡°A dryad.¡±, answered Liam naturally. Suddenly, as if awoken by the noise, the dryad opened her eyes, showing her deep blue irises. The party members felt their souls drawn in as if sinking into the ocean. ¡°Hmm.¡± A melodious, soothing hum came from the dryad. She blinked her eyes seemingly puzzled about the sudden appearance of a group of people. ¡°Rerutvevd?¡± The dryad spoke in a featherlight voice but the pressure accompanying her words instinctively gave them the dignity of an emperor. Liam took a deep breath, bowing calmly. ¡°Bleary Mirage ezigolop o nidurtn.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Tilting her head slowly, the dryad mustered the party. Her eyes cleared up as if awakening slowly. Suddenly she seemed to realize something. With a thought the ubiquitous pressure quickly receded. ¡°You¡­ came¡­ here?¡± The other party members were surprised as the dryad switched to the common language. It appeared to be difficult for her as if she wasn¡¯t used to speaking it. ¡°Answering the master, we arrived through a dragon statue.¡± ¡°How¡­ did you¡­ know?¡± Liam¡¯s chest tightened. He knew that this was the most important question. Usually, this place could only be reached through a quest and a certain item had to be presented. But knowing the code allowed him to arrive without meeting those conditions. But even he wasn¡¯t certain how the dryad would react. ¡°I read about this place in an old book.¡± Immediately the earlier pressure filled the hall again. The dryad¡¯s eyes slowly narrowed. Her voice lost some of its gentleness. ¡°Such a¡­ book. Should¡­ not exist!¡± Liam felt his heart sink. Silver Blade looked at him strangely before stepping forward. ¡°Master, please. We mean no harm. We were chased by our enemies and could only escape here.¡± Swiping her eyes over Silver Blade, the dryad¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but soften. Liam cursed the overpowered charisma stat inwardly. A chuckle echoed in the hall. ¡°Harm? How could¡­ you harm me?¡± Silver Blade¡¯s thoughts turned continuously, trying to figure out the dryad¡¯s mind. She glanced at the floor below the green-skinned woman where an inactive teleportation circle rested. ¡°Master. Please excuse us if our intrusion disturbed you. If you might allow us the use of this teleportation circle, we would leave immediately.¡± ¡°No. The rules¡­ can¡¯t be broken. You¡­ came here. Face the trial!¡± Finishing speaking, the dryad finally showed some movement. She slowly stood up from her throne, each tiny move emitting an unquestionable majesty. With a wave of her hand the gems inlaid in the stone gate suddenly flashed before instantly extinguishing. The entire room began to shake. A gap opened in the heavy gate. It only opened wide enough to allow one person to enter before it stopped as if all its strength was exhausted. Only a mystical blue swirl could be seen behind it. An inexplicable sigh came from the dryad¡¯s lips, unnoticed by anyone. The party was focused on the quest appearing before them. [ Quest: Dragon Slayer Trial] [Overcome the trial of Dragon Slayer.] [Hint: The trial is separated into five stages.] A careful whisper came from Cyclone: ¡°Mirage, why¡­ why is there a skull next to my quest?¡± ¡°Because the quest is impossible with our current level. We are so far away that not even the best strategy could help us.¡± The others could only smile wryly upon hearing Liam¡¯s explanation. ¡°So can we not go in? Or do you have some trick up your sleeve?¡± ¡°No. We will get rid of our red names and then suicide. Our only priority is not losing items.¡± ¡°Great¡­¡± At this moment the dryad¡¯s voice echoed in the room: ¡°Please, brave warriors. Step in.¡± The party members stared at the gate in front of them. Adjusting their mentality they slowly walked forward. As soon as they touched the swirling blue portal, they vanished. When Silver Blade opened her eyes again, she found herself standing on a rocky path. It was uneven, filled with boulders, seemingly going on into infinity. To the left and right only a thick fog could be seen. ¡°Get ready to fight!¡± Liam calmly reminded his party, staring into the distance. At some point opponents had already appeared on the broad path. ¡°My friends, it seems there is no way around it. Let¡¯s bravely face this trial and fight until the end!¡± Radiant Shield shouted loudly as he walked to the front, bracing his shield. Silver Blade stood next to him. The two tanks watched their opponents quickly closing the distance. Soon, they were in range for [Inspect]. [Violent Horned Lizard Rank: Common Level: 20 HP: 2400/2400] [Flaming Horned Lizard Rank: Common Level: 20 HP: 1800/1800] Silver Blade¡¯s expression turned solemn looking at the two huge lizards with dark gray skin and prominent horns on their foreheads. A lightning bolt shot through the air, crashing into the Violent Lizard. [-572!] [-85!] Cyclone grinned proudly, looking at the damage dealt. This was the result of a few days of arduous leveling. Instantly a sphere of arcane magic followed. Together the two mages took about a thousand HP form the lizard. The monster let out an angry hiss. It sped up, about to crash into the two tanks. Meanwhile its companion stopped on a large boulder in the distance. Suddenly a spear made of fierce orange flames erupted from the Flaming Lizard¡¯s horn. It traveled at insane speeds, arriving before the Party. Silver Blade¡¯s eyes opened wide in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s a magic attack!¡± The female tank moved instantly. Sturdy as a wall she blocked the path towards the flame¡¯s target, Cyclone. A heavy impact rocked her body, but the experienced martial artist diffused the force skillfully. [Stance -14] ¡°It¡¯s not that bad, I can block for a while.¡± Just as Silver Blade said so, a loud crash reached her ear. She glanced at Radiant Shield who collided with the huge lizard monster. Immediately the party members swarmed out, attacking the common mob. With Liam¡¯s reminder they used their skills sparingly, just enough to kill the lizard. The Flaming Lizard appeared angered by its companion¡¯s death. It instantly sent out another attack, but Silver Blade blocked skillfully. Immediately the rest of the party surged towards the Flaming Lizard. The beast obviously had low defensive attributes, falling quickly under the rain of attacks. ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult. Maybe we can make it through.¡±, stated Balm with a worry-free smile. Liam only glanced at her, deciding not to comment. Instead, he urged the group to regather, welcoming the next wave of monsters. It didn¡¯t take long for more Lizards to appear. This time they were four. The party was still able to deal with them. But their hearts grew heavy when eight new enemies appeared after the last four were killed. Chapter 109: A thief Liam sighed as he shut his console of. He and his friends barely managed to defeat the wave consisting of eight enemies. But when sixteen lizards appeared they almost gave up. After a short struggle they were wiped and sent back to the trial room. The dryad didn¡¯t try to console them but at least she allowed the party to use the teleporter. Since defeating monsters cleansed one¡¯s red name, the party was good to go, returning to Duabalis. Although it was still somewhat early everyone decided to log of, clearly exhausted. Liam could see that his friends suffered a blow today. They didn¡¯t get the last hit against the world boss and failed in the trial. Only the rich loot resting in their inventories could uplift everyone¡¯s spirits. But at least the world boss didn¡¯t go to one of the guilds. It was claimed by an unknown player called Favored Son of Crunaboul. At least according to the announcement. Liam put the matter at the back of his head. But when he took a drive home, messages were sent through the console. [Cyclone: It feels terrible.] [Silver Blade: I know what you mean.] [Cyclone: Tomorrow we need to level up! Let¡¯s get that dungeon clear!] [Silent Acacia: Sure. But don¡¯t be too discouraged. You can¡¯t expect for everything to go perfect.] [Radiant Shield: Acacia is right. We are still the best party in the game. On top of that we got all the loot.] [Balm: Let¡¯s sort out the loot tomorrow morning to start the day with something happy.] [Fortune: I agree. But guys, I need some new material for videos. Since we agreed that I won¡¯t share our leveling strat¡­] [Cyclone: Well, right now it¡¯s difficult¡­] [Bleary Mirage: Let¡¯s level up first. With our speed we will have a huge advantage. While I need to make some preparations for the dungeon, you guys can go questing. Afterwards it¡¯s time for training!] [Cyclone: Training? *shivering emoji*] [Bleary Mirage: You can look forward to it.] Liam chuckled and stopped paying attention to the conversation as he reached Merida¡¯s clinic. When he went in, the doctor and his sister were still downstairs. Serena was happily assisting Katherin, caring for a young boy who broke his hand. Thus, Liam went upstairs first, approaching Merida¡¯s apartment. Suddenly his ears twitched. The young man froze. A frown appeared on his face. But his expression quickly returned to normal as he took the last step, leaving the stairs. Liam calmly approached the door. His finger reached for the numpad. 4, 4, 9¡­ 4 A red light blinked on the numpad. Liam stopped for a moment, lowering his head slightly. ¡°Hm. Must¡¯ve remembered it wrong. Right! That¡¯s it!¡± 4, 4, 9, 3¡­ With a click the door unlocked. Liam nodded to himself as he entered the apartment. But the second he crossed the door he suddenly turned his body. He slammed the door shut with all his power. ¡°Ah!¡± A thud sounded out, followed by a startled, pained cry. A tremor ran through the door.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Liam shoved it open again, lunging out of the apartment with his knee raised before him. Outside stood a man with a confused face, subconsciously holding his head. He didn¡¯t understand how Liam found him despite his usage of the [Stealth] skill. But how could the veteran fall for something this simple? Although this was the first time someone used skills against him in the real life, his many years of experiences naturally honed his senses. The thief would¡¯ve done better by using traditional martial arts instead of game skills against Liam. Now the thief was in a disadvantaged position. He couldn¡¯t react fast enough as Liam¡¯s knee slammed into his stomach. Seeing his opponent cramping in pain Liam still didn¡¯t let up. He raised his hand above his head, activating [Brutal Strike] with a thought. A mysterious pulse spread from the console through Liam¡¯s body. His hand fell, striking heavily against the thief¡¯s head. A strange sensation hit the latter¡¯s body. His eyes showed horror as he was unable to move. This was the power of game skills in the real world. Without hesitation Liam circled the thief, delivering a precise blow to the back of the latter¡¯s head. Only now did he stop. He noticed the tension in his muscles which slowly receded. But a moment later his eyes opened wide, full of astonishment. Instead of falling unconscious the thief suddenly turned around. Although Liam used the game¡¯s skills skillfully, he forgot one important fact. He wasn¡¯t the only one strengthened by the console. Something flashed in the dim stairway. Liam acted out of instinct. He recognized the thief¡¯s familiar movements subconsciously. It was the [Lacerate] skill. Without thinking he jumped backwards. A knife cut at him. Liam¡¯s body froze. He looked in shock at the red color slowly soaking his white clothes. His heart beat wildly. A moment later a noise brought him back to reality. He watched with chilling eyes as the thief sprinted down the stairs. Bang! ¡°Damn!¡± Liam punched the wall in anger. A mix of frustration and self-blame pressed on his heart. Looking down he stared at the knife wound on his belly. It was only a small cut, but the burning pain spread through his body and mind. Liam felt the adrenaline pump through his body suppressing the pai in his fist. In his old life he took fighting as a sport. The environment was controlled and the injuries never serious. In his new life the fights were more dangerous but even when he got injured by some beasts Liam didn¡¯t feel a threat like this. If he hadn¡¯t reacted fast enough the thief might have given him a life-threatening injury. Thinking about the brawls which could be seen in the city from time to time ever since the game started, Liam couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of dread. ¡°Liam!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Anxious shouts drew Liam¡¯s attention. He turned his head, looking at Merida and Serena. His sister stared at the patch of blood on his body, her face paling, tears welling up in her eyes. Meanwhile Merida reacted with the professionalism of a doctor. She carefully pulled aside Liam¡¯s clothes, inspecting the wound. ¡°A shallow cut. But we need to stitch it. Come!¡± Liam mechanically followed behind the doctor. Serena and Merida could both see that he was affected by shock. The young girl trembled, her face filled with worry. A few minutes later Liam fell asleep in the clinic, his wound skillfully bandaged. Next to him Serena was sitting on a chair, holding Liam¡¯s hand, sleeping with her head on his thighs. About an hour later a commotion awoke the two siblings. Liam¡¯s eyes blinked, opening slowly. His mind had calmed down a lot. ¡°I apologize for disturbing your rest. But we need your testimony, mister¡­¡± Liam looked at the man and woman standing next to his bed. They wore red uniforms strangely similar to leather armor in Fate of Crunaboul. An insignia on their chest identified them as part of the Federation Army. ¡°Varsmith. Liam Varsmith.¡± ¡°Mister Varsmith. We are Detective Sullen and Kolb, Federation Army, Falva Star Division, Inspection Unit. Can you answer a few of our questions?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Naturally Liam had nothing to hide. He retold the earlier happenings truthfully. In this society where martial arts still hold a high position, Liam didn¡¯t need to fear punishment for attacking someone who obviously tried to intrude into his home. The two detectives wrote down his testimony. ¡°Thank you, mister Varsmith. In order to assist our investigation, I would ask you to come to our station within five days. We will create a model of the attacker.¡± ¡°A model?¡± The detective looked somewhat strangely at Liam. ¡°You will see.¡± ¡°Sure. Thank you for your work.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. That¡¯s it for today. We will let you rest now. Goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye.¡± Liam watched the detectives leave with a thoughtful expression. ¡°Liam! I was so worried!¡± Turning his head, Liam looked at Serena¡¯s distressed face. ¡°I know, I know.¡± Liam patted the young girl¡¯s head. But she wouldn¡¯t have it, throwing her body forward and hugging her brother tightly. ¡°Ouh! Careful!¡± Liam felt a light tearing pain coming from his wound. But it was bearable, much better than before. A few minutes later the siblings separated, going back to the apartment. While Merida cooked some food, Liam sat on the couch, playing with a tablet. Out of curiosity he searched up on the inspection unit. It looks like they are similar to the police but only responsible for investigations. The real confrontations are handled by other units. Such departments are also part of the army? Reading such information got Liam thinking. The inspection unit sounded way less dangerous than those units responsible for protecting the city. And if such units exist, what about even less dangerous ones? Maybe I should take a look. If I can join the army, the happenings of today are less likely to repeat. It can be seen from old Ben that even the gangs in the city don¡¯t dare to mess with the army. ¡°Liam! Serena! Dinner!¡± Chapter 110: Level 20 When Liam entered the game the next day, the excitement surrounding the world boss could still be felt. With more players pouring into the city by the day, the scene quickly became lively. His friends arrived one by one. During a casual chat on their way to the leveling spot, Liam talked about what happened to him yesterday. ¡°What?!¡± A warm feeling enveloped Liam¡¯s heart seeing the shock and worry on his friends¡¯ faces. ¡°It¡¯s ok. It was just some thief.¡± ¡°How is this ok?! You could¡¯ve gotten seriously injured!¡±, exclaimed Silver Blade. ¡°No! This can¡¯t be! Let me take care of your security!¡± Liam looked at Silver Blade¡¯s worried eyes with some embarrassment. He already felt indebted to Merida. He was hesitant to add another debt. But Silver Blade seemed to read his face. ¡°We will do it like this: Colville Constructions will hire you into the marketing department. With high enough clearance you are entitled to certain security measures. If I stretch the budget somewhat, I can give you two bodyguards and a security system. Deal?¡± Liam felt overwhelmed. He didn¡¯t understand why Silver Blade showed so much concern. Maybe she is afraid of not being able to clear dungeons without me? Behind Mirage¡¯s back Cyclone couldn¡¯t help but snicker. However, a hand immediately landed on her mouth as if having already foreseen the blond woman¡¯s reaction. Silver Blade and Bleary Mirage didn¡¯t notice those small antics. Liam showed a contemplative expression before slowly shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t this security is of much use. They can¡¯t cope with the game¡¯s skills.¡± Silver Blade opened her mouth but didn¡¯t say anything. A frown was on her face. ¡°You might be right. But at least accept the bodyguards.¡± ¡°Are they players?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Can they keep up?¡± ¡°They will be on rotation.¡± Liam saw that Silver Blade was determined. Finally, he decided not to reject her goodwill. ¡°Great. I will take care of it tonight!¡± Silver Blade had a bright, relieved smile on her face without noticing it herself. In this harmonious atmosphere the party reached Striking Wood Town. But before they left the town, Silent Acacia suddenly stopped in place. The others looked at him strangely. ¡°My friend, is there something you want to tell us?¡± The young hunter shook his head but then changed to a nod. ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t we need to organize our loot?¡± ¡°Oh, I almost forgot.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± Chuckles could be heard. After talking so much the party members almost forgot the loot. Only Cyclone looked around sheepishly: ¡°Loot? What loot?¡± Balm rolled her eyes at her good friend. ¡°Cy, come on, take it out.¡± ¡°Take out what?¡± ¡°We all know that you literally teleported to those rare items.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Cyclone¡¯s eyes moved left and right. Seeing everyone¡¯s eyes on her she let out an awkward laugh. ¡°Haha, oh those items. Right. I almost forgot.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We are here to remind you.¡±, joked Silver Blade. Meanwhile the party members began posting all their looted items in the party chat. Three prominent yellow-rare items garnered most of the attention. Even the blue items were legated to the background. [Robe of the sacred wing Category: Rare Level requirement: 15 Physical Defense: 12 Magical Defense: 15 HP: 400 Effect 1: Increases healing done by 5% up to 200 points. Effect 2: 2% chance to cast [Sacred Wing] on an ally you heal. Sacred Wing: Cleanses the target of all negative status effects. If they aren¡¯t afflicted with negative effects grant a shield of 300 points. Restrictions: Bound upon wearing A robe blessed by Her Holiness Lewriova. It is often worn by the healers belonging to the Winged Vanguard.] [Watcher of the storms helmet Category: rare Level requirement: 15 Physical Defense: 19 Magical Defense: 16 Strength: 14 Effect 1: Increases PDMG by 2% up to 200 points. Effect 2: Whenever wind damage has been dealt around you in the last 30 seconds your movement- and attack speed increases by 40% and the next dodge doesn¡¯t cost stance. Restrictions: Bound upon wearing This helmet was created by Orinould, a hero among wood elves, specifically for fighting close to the storm abyss north of the Central Plains.] [Trousers of the enlightened warrior Category: Rare Level requirement: 15 Physical Defense: 13 Magical Defense: 15 Strength: 13 Intelligence: 12 Effect 1: Elemental damage + 10% Restrictions: Bound upon wearing This pair of light trousers was woven by the famous monks of Eysue and only given to accomplished acolytes.] Reading the properties of those rare items, a few faces showed broad smiles. Although the others were envious there wasn¡¯t much discussion. Balm received the robe of the sacred wing. Watcher of the storms helmet was snatched by Quickstep. And trousers of the enlightened warrior went to Watchful Eye. Even if those three items were everything dropped by the world boss, the party could already be content. However, this was obviously not the case. Liam and his friends managed to snatch four blue items and a few green and white ones. All in all, it was a comprehensive upgrade for the party, preparing them for the upcoming dungeon. On top of that they even received some recipes and consumables. Only after sorting through all the loot did they realize how much they actually stole. Liam roughly calculated the worth, informing his party. Hearing the number, Cyclone wore a big grin which didn¡¯t fade for a long time. The others showed similar emotions. The gloom from not killing the world boss was quietly swiped away. After sorting out the loot the party could finally focus on leveling. The determination to get the first clear was clearly felt in the atmosphere. Even Liam looked forward to it. His competitive side felt challenged just reading a stupid name like ¡®Favored Son of Crunaboul¡¯ in the global announcement. Thus, a few days passed during the boring grind. Silver Blade stayed true to her word. After Liam signed a contract to become Colville Construction¡¯s ¡®Senior VR Marketing Lead for Fate of Crunaboul¡¯, which was an empty position without responsibilities, the company provided him with two bodyguards around the clock. One of them followed Liam while the other stayed with Serena. Meanwhile Liam also found a private teacher for his sister. Now she could catch up on her education during the mornings and enter the game in the afternoons with the Crunaboul Discovery Group. Naturally all of this didn¡¯t come for free. Liam received a salary of 4000 Credits a month from Colville Constructions but had to pay 7500 Credits on Serena. Fortunately, the gold exchange was only a week away. Liam was already planning ahead to earn some credits. However, the real windfall would be the money earned from his bet with Star Gazer. Thus, the dungeon still held priority. Soon it was Daminday, the first day of the new week. ¡°Finally did it!¡± Balm stretched her body. Her face was painted with exhaustion. She had just reached level 20, being the slowest in the party except for Liam who remained at level 19. ¡°Well done my friends. But Mirage, why are you rejecting our assistance?¡±, inquired Radiant Shield. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I still need to prepare for the dungeon. It should be enough to help me reach level 20.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re the expert.¡±, agreed Cyclone. The others nodded or shrugged their shoulders. But Silent Acacia had another question: ¡°So, what should we do in the meantime?¡± ¡°Play the game.¡±, stated Liam with a chuckle. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, have some fun. Don¡¯t get stressed out because of the dungeon.¡± Liam looked around. Over the past few days everyone had given their best, enduring the boring grind. Exhaustion could be seen in many faces. ¡°Fun is nice and all, but we are professionals after all¡­¡±, disagreed Quickstep. ¡°Why not combine both? I need material for my videos. If anyone of you has an interesting quest, we can work together.¡±, suggested Fortune. Silver Blade showed a thoughtful look when she heard this. It was important for the team to satisfy everyone¡¯s needs. Thus, she decided to support Fortune: ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea. What do you guys say?¡± ¡°I lend you my blade.¡± ¡°I will follow the young lady.¡± ¡°I can help you.¡± Balm, Bloody Edge, and Watchful Eye agreed quickly but the others showed some hesitation. ¡°What about you guys?¡±, asked Silver Blade, obviously puzzled. ¡°I would love to join you but¡­ I feel like it¡¯s time to gather some people for our guild. I¡¯ll do some advertising.¡±, explained Cyclone. Quickstep looked at her boyfriend, answering calmly: ¡°We would like to train. Preferably against players.¡± Silver Blade thought it was a pity but she could understand. However, Radiant Shield¡¯s hesitation puzzled her: ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± ¡°This¡­ I¡­¡± The tank stuttered before avoiding the question: ¡°I¡­ have something to do.¡± The others looked at Radiant Shield strangely. But since he didn¡¯t want to say more his friends didn¡¯t dig deeper. After the discussion the group split up. Everyone was happy with the decision. Liam glanced at Silver Blade, admiring her leadership, while stepping into the teleporter. Chapter 111: Duabalis Harbor Two suns hung high over Crunaboul, filling the vast world with vital energy. One of them stood straight above the flying continent Deaviny. The pious godspawn called it ¡®nen r¡¯ouhva¡¯, meaning door to heaven when translated to the common language. It overlooked the tiny creatures busying themselves all over the continent. One of the busiest places was Duabalis Harbor without a doubt. This vast harbor, which was part of Duabalis City, facilitates trade for the entire Deavin Ocean, home of most nephilim. When Silver Blade, Watchful Eye, Fortune, Balm, and Bloody Edge arrived they couldn¡¯t help but open their mouths in astonishment. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Balm whispered, looking at the vast ocean, its shallow waves reflecting the sun. It pushed into a bay area, creating a natural harbor. The nephilim made use of this geography, developing the bay with broad stone piers and tall warehouses. Two main roads allowed the transportation of wares towards Duabalis or even other ships. At the mouth of the bay two massive towers overlooked the ocean, connected to Saltae, the giant wall surrounding the island. Waves brandished against the magical construct, spreading white foam sparkling under the sunlight. ¡°So impressive!¡±, exclaimed Balm. ¡°Yes. Quickstep would have loved it.¡±, agreed Silver Blade. ¡°Do you know the path?¡±, asked Bloody Edge. ¡°According to Mirage we need to go all the way to the left.¡± Standing on the broad main street leading into the harbor the party members searched the piers with their eyes. But before they could find their target, a commotion suddenly drew their attention. Waves rose and water splashed. A painful roar shook the entire harbor. Looking towards the mouth of the bay one could only see a flash of light as a spear shot out of the tower and into the water. Blood dyed the water red. A massive, scaly back broke through the water surface, urgently leaving the harbor area. A few moments later a comparatively small but fast ship departed from the harbor chasing after the foolish creature stalking other ships. The vessel of war was only manned by a few nephilim soldiers but none of them showed even a hint of fear. The few players present felt their legs tremble, discussing amongst themselves. Balm had to gulp heavily. ¡°What¡­ was this?¡± ¡°Looks like some kind of sea monster.¡±, said Silver Blade with a heavy voice. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s dangerous? Should we leave the harbor?¡± ¡°No need to worry.¡±, stated Watchful Eye with a calm face. Balm glanced at him skeptically. ¡°How can you keep calm like this?¡± ¡°As long as the natives don¡¯t panic, why would we?¡± Balm raised her brows, studying the surroundings. Watchful Eye was indeed right. None of the natives showed any fear towards the sea monster. Some more or less drunk sailors sitting in front of a crowded tavern even turned their chairs to watch the show, cheering the soldiers on. After a while the soldiers were out of view and the commotion died down. ¡°Yes!¡± Silver Blade and the others looked at Fortune who balled her fists, an excited smile on her face. They quickly understood.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Did you get a good shot?¡± ¡°You can bet! This will be the opening for my next video! Dear viewers, here we are! Duabalis Harbor! Ready for our next adventure. Will we be able to overcome the monsters lingering at sea? Find out!¡± Bloody Edge¡¯s eyes twinkled. He saw his chance, speaking in a low, growling voice. ¡°Those beasts will flee in terror before my blade.¡± ¡°Good, good.¡±, nodded Fortune happily. Silver Blade couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Ok guys. It¡¯s time to go. Else we will never finish the quest.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The small party followed Silver Blade¡¯s lead, strolling along the main street. Gradually their minds, exhausted from all the leveling, rekindled their spirits. With smiles on their faces, they looked at the surrounding shops offering exotic spices, rare fabric, or exquisite equipment. It took them a while to reach the left side of the U-formed harbor. The piers here where mostly smaller and used by merchants. Nevertheless, the row of ships made for an impressive sight. Rolled up sails swayed in the wind. All sorts of flags were attached to them, showing the ships¡¯ origins, silently documenting long journeys. Silver Blade let her eyes wander, looking for a ship with a purely blue flag. Finally, she stopped close to the harbor¡¯s end. When the others noticed the place Silver Blade led them to, they showed puzzled expressions. ¡°Are you sure this is the right place?¡±, asked Fortune carefully. ¡°Yes. Mirage told me it would be somewhat damaged¡­¡± ¡°Somewhat¡­¡± The five people looked at the ship before them. It was a small vessel made of dark wood. A prominent magical cannon placed on the deck drew most attention. Magic glimmered on its hull, emitting a threatening air. However right now the ship couldn¡¯t make even the smallest shrimp afraid. Its hull was full of holes, its mast showing obvious cracks. The few crew members had various injuries. Some ran around with bandages around their heads. A dwarf with a distressed expression ran up and down on the pier. His face was difficult to see between his large black captain¡¯s hat and his thick, unkempt beard. A black coat hung from his shoulders, torn in various places. Silver Blade hesitated slightly before approaching the dwarf. ¡°Are you Captain Huber?¡± ¡°Hm? What?¡± The dwarf snapped out of his thoughts, looking at Silver Blade. Deep eyes shaped by a tumultuous life studied the newcomers. ¡°Adventurers? Bad timing!¡± ¡°Did something happen to your ship?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s how it always looks! Stupid question!¡± The captain spoke in a rough voice, scoffing at Silver Blade. The female tank was surprised. Watchful Eye frowned heavily, staring at the dwarf. ¡°Watch your mouth when talking to the young lady!¡± ¡°Hm? Got something to say?! Whatever¡­¡± Silver Blade coughed awkwardly, not taking the NPC¡¯s words to heart: ¡°Captain, we need to travel to Red¡¯or Island. Is there a way we can help you with the repair?¡± ¡°You? Hmpf. My men know what they are doing. What could you¡­¡± Suddenly the captain trailed of. An obvious struggle could be seen on his face. Gradually an ugly, strained smile formed, although it was mostly hidden by his beard. ¡°There is indeed something you could do.¡± ¡°Just tell us.¡± ¡°You see, we dwarves are the best craftsman in the world. Repairing this ship is easy as pie to me and my men. But¡­ I¡¯m not the best when it comes to magic.¡± The dwarves voice turned awkward. ¡°You see. Since a few years ago these waters have been infested with sea monsters. Naturally our mighty dwarven fleets could bomb them into pieces in no time at all. But for a small ship like mine, we can only use magic to confuse the beasts¡¯ senses. Unfortunately, we still bumped into a monster, leaving our ship badly damaged. If you could help me engrave a new magic circle to defend the ship, I will drive you wherever you want to go. Deal?¡± [ Quest: Help Captain Huber repair his ship] [Step one: Find the blueprint for a new magic circle.] [Hint: The local army knows how to deal with sea monsters.] ¡°It¡¯s a deal. We will be right back.¡± ¡°Thanks¡­¡± The captain murmured into his beard. He glanced to the side, seeing one of his men measuring a piece of wood. ¡°Sel! What are you doing? All wrong¡­¡± Captain Huber threw his hands into the air, approached Sel, and took matters into his own hands. The party looked at him strangely. ¡°Isn¡¯t he just repeating the same movements?¡±, asked Balm with a confused expression. ¡°Yeah¡­ whatever. Let¡¯s ignore that bad tempered dwarf.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Are you talking about me?¡± A familiar voice suddenly approached from behind. Silver Blade turned around with a welcoming smile. ¡°Braag! Don¡¯t worry. We were talking about your brethren over there.¡± ¡°Hi, Braag.¡± ¡°Welcome.¡± Silver Blade and her friends greeted their new acquaintance. It was no coincidence that he appeared here. Knowing that Cyclone¡¯s guild needed manpower, she invited the dwarf for this quest in an attempt to form a closer bond. Fortunately, Braag was more than happy to accept. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Is this dwarf the quest giver? Is he troubling you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, we already got the quest. Here, let me share it.¡± Silver Blade quickly invited Braag into the party, sharing the quest. Now that everyone was up to speed the party didn¡¯t waste time. Leaving the pier, they took the road towards the other side of the bay. But before they could reach there, a commotion attracted their attention. On an open space to the side a small crowd surrounded a provisional ring. But what was surprising was the mix of bored sailors watching for some excitement and young girls staring with transfixed eyes, letting out anxious yelps from time to time. The party observed for a few seconds before turning away. However, just as they were about to go a scream made Silver Blade stop in place. ¡°AH! Final Fend is so handsome! Villian, how dare you hit his face?!¡± Chapter 112: Final Fend Watchful Eye almost bumped into Silver Blade. Luckily his instincts as an experienced bodyguard kicked in, turning his legs into unbreaking steel before he could slam into his employer. ¡°Young lady, is something the matter?¡± ¡°Did you hear that name just now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, young lady.¡± Watchful Eye looked genuinely upset at himself. But Silver Blade didn¡¯t take it to heart, glancing at the crowd not far away before deciding to walk up. ¡°Thanks. I just wanted to suggest taking a look. My video could use some excitement.¡± Fortune spoke up happily, passing Silver Blade and pushing into the crowd. However, it turned out to be more difficult than expected. Two younger girls, feeling someone approach, glanced at Fortune. Immediately their expressions turned hostile, and they barred her path. ¡°Hey, what are you doing? I need to reach the front. I want to record something.¡± One of the girls scoffed, turning her head away. ¡°Hmpf. Get in line.¡± ¡°Right, don¡¯t try to snatch Final Fend away from us!¡± Fortune looked ahead in puzzlement. However, she recognized a familiar undertone in the girls¡¯ voices. It was a hint of jealousy. As a famous woman regularly ranking high on various beauty rankings, she was no stranger to such reactions. Thus, she decided to try from another direction, making her way past a few sailors who looked weak on their legs from drinking too much. In real life she would stay far away from such people but in the game it was bearable. Reaching the front of the crowd Fortune found out what the excitement was all about. The crowd was encircling two men who fought in a heated brawl. One sailor, tall and with a skin molded from many years at sea faced a young man in middle-weight black armor. The young man was obviously a player. His somewhat pale, but handsome face received the admiration of the many young girls in the crowd. His name was Final Fend or rather¡­ ¡°Felix?!¡± Fortune looked at Silver Blade, who appeared next to her in surprise. But it was not only her. The player in the ring seemingly heard a familiar voice, glancing over his shoulder. ¡°Ha! Don¡¯t get distracted!¡± The sailor laughed in a rough voice, swinging his fist to deliver a powerful blow. Final Fend showed some fighting experience, reacting at the last second. But it was already too late. His head jerked from the direct hit. His vision was filled with stars. His HP drop down to a single point. ¡°Hahaha, better luck next time.¡± With a broad grin the sailor walked towards his friends, taking a few silver coins and showing them off happily. ¡°The next round is on me!¡± While the surrounding sailors cheered, the girls in the crowd reacted differently. ¡°Final Fend! Are you ok? Come, big sister will check you out¡­ ehm, check your injuries.¡± ¡°Stupid sailor! How dare you hurt my idol?!¡± ¡°Final Fend, look at me! Here!¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Ahh, he smiled at me¡­¡± Final Fend waved at the crowd, approaching Silver Blade. ¡°Hey, where did she pop out form?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of my Final Fend!¡± Silver Blade rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m his sister!¡± ¡°So what? All the more reason to stay away from him!¡± Gritting her teeth Silver Blade took a deep breath. She ignored all the remarks while pulling Final Fend away. Luckily, no one chased after them. The young fan girls rather spammed friend requests until Final Fend¡¯s entire vision was clouded. ¡°And I was already thinking what took you so long. Turns out you¡¯re flirting around.¡± ¡°Sorry, sis. But I wasn¡¯t flirting!¡± ¡°Sure, sure.¡± ¡°So you are Silver Blade¡¯s little brother?¡±, asked Fortune from the side, looking Final Fend up and down. ¡°Yes, nice to meet you, Fortune! I heard a lot about you!¡± Final Fend spoke with a bright smile, seeming genuinely excited. Seeing him like this, Fortune furrowed her brows. ¡°Hmm, somehow your face also seems familiar.¡± ¡°Ah, this¡­ well, maybe you have heard of my band Lucky Night. But compared to you we are only upstarts. Not worth mentioning.¡± Fortune thought for a moment, but the name didn¡¯t ring a bell. Maybe the familiar feeling came from the fact that Final Fend was also a member of the Colville family. But seeing the flattered expression on Final Fend¡¯s face, Fortune couldn¡¯t bear to tell him. ¡°Ah, sure. I think I¡¯ve heard about it.¡± ¡°Really? Great! Wh¡­¡± ¡°Hey, who¡¯s this, Silver Blade?¡± Luckily for Fortune, the rest of the party caught up just as Final Fend wanted to ask about Fortune¡¯s favorite song. ¡°Guys, this is Final Fend. He¡¯s my brother. I invited him to join us today. Fend, these are Balm, Watchful Eye, Bloody Edge, and Braag.¡± Final Fend quickly got to know everyone, easily fitting in. Feeling the scrutinizing gazes of a few fan girls still lingering in the vicinity, Silver Blade soon urged the party to move on. After a short while one could feel the change in atmosphere. Not many NPCs visited this part of the bay. And those who did were busy with various tasks, a stark contrast to the sailors enjoying their few off days on land. The party followed these workers, arriving before a half-finished construction site. Muscular workers with bare upper bodies layered large bricks. With some imagination a tall, intimidating gateway could be made out. Two soldiers eyed everyone trying to pass through. At the side stood a human man with a frowning expression. He stared at a wooden board filled with plans, absentmindedly cleaning the glasses in his hands. Silver Blade stopped, scanning the scene. ¡°What¡¯s up sis?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure where to go.¡± ¡°Did Bleary Mirage not tell you?¡±, asked Balm. ¡°No. He only told me to speak to Captain Huber.¡± ¡°Is Bleary Mirage your expert? Liam?¡± Hearing her brother¡¯s question, Silver Blade could only roll her eyes. Final Fend understood a moment later, smiling awkwardly. Luckily the others didn¡¯t make a big deal out of it, pretending not to have heard the name. Only Balm had a mischievous glint flash past her eyes, her heart for gossip sounding an alarm. Final Fend tried to distract the others from his blunder. He signaled them to follow him, approaching the frowning NPC. ¡°Hello Sir. Can I ask you a q¡­¡± ¡°Adventurer?¡±, interrupted the man directly. ¡°Don¡¯t you see I¡¯m busy? I¡¯m really not in the mood to talk.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ ok.¡± Final Fend spoke stiffly, turning around and shrugging his shoulders at the party. But then the man¡¯s voice sounded again. ¡°Ok, ok. Since you are still here, you can help me.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t intend¡­¡± ¡°Listen, my job is it to lead the construction of a gateway here. It is an incredible honor to be hired by the broken council directly! This might be my breakthrough! Soon, everyone will come to me, Fonor Dragonpiss for construction works!¡± ¡°What kind of name¡­¡± Final Fend didn¡¯t even get the time to murmur a full sentence before Fonor continued to talk. ¡°Hah, my dream is about to come true. The name of my work will last throughout history. I will stand shoulder to shoulder with those legends. Saltae, the impenetrable wall, Mohlana, the elven palace, and Fonor¡¯s Dragonfright, the eternal fortress¡­¡± Finally Final Fend couldn¡¯t endure any longer. ¡°SIR!¡± ¡°Hm? Oh, right. Adventurer, I am so close to grasping my dreams, but something stands in my way. It is those lazy workers. Today, three of them didn¡¯t show up! You, go search for them and drag them back here. They should be somewhere around the harbor.¡± [Do you wish to accept the quest ¡®Drag back the missing workers¡¯?] [Yes] [No] Final Fend looked at the notification full of confusion. He only wanted to ask for the way. How did he suddenly receive a quest? He glanced at the other party members: ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°Just accept for now.¡±, suggested Silver Blade. ¡°Ok.¡± When Final Fend accepted the quest, Fonor turned around wordlessly, with an ¡®I didn¡¯t expect anything else¡¯ expression. The young man threw a deprecating gaze at the annoying NPC¡¯s back before distancing himself hastily. Meanwhile Silver Blade read through the quest they just received. [Quest: Drag back the missing workers] [Search the harbor area for the missing workers and bring them to the construction site.] [Workers found: 0/3] The quest was rather simple. Three circles appeared on the map, marking the areas which had to be searched. After a brief discussion the party decided to clear the quest real quick. They took it as an opportunity to sightsee in the harbor area. After about twenty minutes they gathered all the missing workers and brought them back to the construction area. The small interlude allowed for some leisurely and lighthearted conversation, assisting Braag and Final Fend in fitting in with the others. However, they still didn¡¯t advance the original quest. Standing before the gateway they were as clueless as before. Since talking to Fonor didn¡¯t prove helpful, Silver Blade saw only one path forward. She gathered the party, leading them to pass the gateway. The soldiers scanned them closely but didn¡¯t move to block their path. Chapter 113: Master Shipbuilder The dwarf showed a disapproving expression after being interrupted. He admonished Final Fend before turning back towards his subordinate. Balm couldn¡¯t help but snicker, looking at Final Fend. But even worse for the young man was his sister¡¯s expression of genuine confusion. Silver Blade couldn¡¯t understand what Final Fend was doing. Although he liked seeking attention, he was usually not a rude person. Final Fend felt embarrassed, sneaking to the back of the group, and shutting his mouth. Luckily the others didn¡¯t think much about it. They waited a brief minute until the older man left the office, freeing up the master shipbuilder. Silver Blade approached with a polite smile glancing at the name floating above the dwarf¡¯s head.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Nice to meet you, Master Eronson. I¡¯m sorry for taking your time, but me and my friends need you help. You see, the ship we wanted to board has been attacked by sea monsters. Now it has to be repaired and the captain asked us to look for a stronger magic circle.¡± Master Eronson listened to Silver Blade quietly. Eventually he sighed and looked out of the window quietly, his eyes filled with intelligence apparently able to cross the entire bay. ¡°The ship you are talking about, it is Huber¡¯s, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±, answered Silver Blade surprised. ¡°I told him before that stronger sea monsters have shown up. But he didn¡¯t want to listen. Such a stubborn stone! Hah, whatever. Now he learned the hard way. But I can¡¯t help you.¡± Silver Blade was taken aback. She was certain that they finally found the right person. Why would the master now deny them help? ¡°Don¡¯t be so shocked. We are simply too busy. I can¡¯t send you one of my men.¡± ¡°But Huber has skilled men as well¡­¡± ¡°Huber? Skilled?¡± The master shipbuilder scoffed dismissively. Thinking about joining a captain who was obviously not held in high regard by his peers, Silver Blade had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Maybe they could find another ship¡­? Chapter 114: Transfer The party members looked at each other, not quite sure where to go from here. But luckily the master shipbuilder wasn¡¯t done yet. He looked at the people before him with a thoughtful gaze. Eventually he decided to speak up: ¡°Maybe I can still do something for you.¡± Silver Blade¡¯s sighed in relief. Luckily the quest didn¡¯t hit a dead end. ¡°Please tell us, master.¡± ¡°Go over there and bring me the chest at the top. The blue one.¡± The party appeared puzzled but Bloody Edge reacted quickly and did as he was told. He lifted the chest, which had a surprisingly low weight, and put it on the desk. Dust spread, itching his throat. But Master Eronson didn¡¯t care. He opened the chest, rummaged through it and pulled out an old-looking scroll. ¡°These are the blueprints from my private collection. I drew most of them in my spare time. They aren¡¯t as exquisite as those military-grade blueprints, but they do their job. However, most of them have the advantage of being easier to use.¡± The master unfurled the scroll in his hand while talking. ¡°Even a beginner would be able to transfer this one.¡± Eronson threw a meaningful glance at the party. It took them a few moments to understand but eventually their eyes lit up. ¡°Can we learn a new skill here?¡±, asked Final Fend with anticipation. ¡°Looks like it.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Let me do it.¡± Everyone appeared eager, subtly approaching the shipbuilder master. The dwarf swiped his eyes over the group. His expression didn¡¯t appear particularly happy, even when stopping on Silver Blade. ¡°You, adventurer. Do you want to learn the [Transfer] skill?¡± ¡°Hey, why her?¡±, complained Final Fend. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s that charisma stat again.¡± ¡°We need to ask Mirage how to improve our charm!¡±, concluded Fortune. Silver Blade was surprised as well but felt that the other¡¯s made sense. If Liam were here, he¡¯d be able to explain that it wasn¡¯t about the charisma attribute this time. Rather it was Eronson preferring the female tank because of her knowledge stat. But the result was the same. The master watched as Silver Blade nodded calmly. He took out a piece of wood from a drawer. Obvious fluctuations of mana played around it. ¡°The [Transfer] auxiliary skill allows you to transfer magic circles on suitable materials. Watch, I will only demonstrate once.¡± Done explaining, Eronson placed the wood on the desk, putting the scroll on top of it. He pressed his hand against it, closed his eyes and mumbled some incomprehensible words. Suddenly the scroll disintegrated as if aging hundreds of years, turning to dust. Only the piece of wood remained, with a simple magic circle shining on top of it. ¡°Did you see it clearly? Now it¡¯s your turn.¡± The master turned his palm towards the chest on the desk, signaling Silver Blade to take a scroll. Although she couldn¡¯t learn much from a single demonstration, Silver Blade took a scroll and another piece of wood handed over by Eronson. Placing them on top of each other, the [Transfer] auxiliary skill suddenly appeared in her character panel. A simple thought was enough to activate it. A progress bar appeared, filling quickly.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Without needing to perform any incantations the magic circle got transferred and the scroll disappeared. Eronson¡¯s eyes lit up. He stroked his thick beard, speaking happily: ¡°A natural talent. Good job, good job.¡± The other party members rolled their eyes. Every player could¡¯ve done the same. It was just that the NPC favored Silver Blade unfairly. No! I need to ask Liam for the charisma stat¡­ Silver Blade didn¡¯t know her brother¡¯s thoughts, glancing at the notification in front of her eyes. [You learned the auxiliary skill Transfer ¨C Lvl. 1] ¡°Now that you learned the [Transfer] skill, you can help Huber.¡± ¡°Thank you very much, master.¡± Silver Blade voice was extremely polite, but a hint of delight couldn¡¯t be suppressed. So far, she heard no one mention a [Transfer] skill. It was obviously pretty rare. Did he expect this to happen¡­? Liam¡¯s face wearing a confident grin flashed in Silver Blade¡¯s mind. His detailed knowledge remained a mystery to the party. She shook her head realizing another problem. ¡°Master, could you sell me some blueprints?¡± ¡°Help yourself to these scrolls here. They aren¡¯t that precious. And please put it back before you leave.¡± Eronson waved his hand dismissively, going back to his own work. Silver Blade thanked the master for his generosity before taking a closer look at the chest. She quickly noticed that it only contained one kind of scroll. Taking out the three remaining pieces, Silver Blade was just about to go when she noticed a small booklet at the bottom of the chest. Its cover looked weathered by time, but the title was still readable. Tales of Deavin Ocean¡­ Silver Blade¡¯s eyes lit up recognizing the book for what it was, a lorebook. Noticing no reaction from Eronson she took out it of the chest and quickly let it vanish in her inventory. ¡°Are we done here?¡±, asked Fortune with a last glance around the room. ¡°I think so.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious though, where this door leads to.¡±, added Braag, continuing with a whisper: ¡°Should I bribe that soldier?¡± Suddenly the dwarf felt a chill run down his back. He glanced towards the door, finding two angry eyes fixed on him. ¡°Such sharp ears¡­¡± Silver Blade noticed the movement as well. She hastily pushed the party out. ¡°Let¡¯s not get into trouble guys. This door should lead to the shipyard. Obviously, they don¡¯t want us to go there.¡± The others felt compelled to agree while the soldier¡¯s stern gaze was still focused on them. With the blueprint in hand the party could finally clear the quest. They quickly returned to Captain Huber. Stepping on the pier they were surprised to see an entirely new ship. Only a few differently colored wooden planks told about the previous damage. Captain Huber¡¯s men had done a great work. And the captain himself was in a visibly better mood as the party approached even though his speech still sounded rough. ¡°Adventurers. Are you done?¡± ¡°Captain, we got the blueprint. I can transfer it at any time.¡± ¡°Almost forgot the transfer¡­ Go ahead!¡± Silver Blade followed the changing quest, boarding the ship. It was a smaller vessel manned by about a dozen sailors and the captain. The quest led Silver Blade towards the single lower deck. A certain spot shone brightly. Some remains of a magic circle could still be made out. Silver Blade took out one of the scrolls, using her newly learned [Transfer] skill. After a few seconds a new magic circle graced the ship. A white shimmer ran along the wooden surface. Mana was stirred up, coating the exterior. A moment later everything returned to silence as if it was only an illusion. But the wooden ship felt vaguely different. ¡°Good job.¡± Captain Huber appeared on the lower deck, praising the party. A notification popped up. [ Quest: Help Captain Huber repair his ship; Completed!] [Evaluation: C] [Receive 550EXP] [Receive Captain¡¯s hat] [Captain Huber can now be asked to ferry you across Deavin Ocean] [As good as new. Maybe even better!] ¡°Finally. Now we can do the real quest.¡±, joked Fortune. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad. We now have our personal driver.¡± The others nodded upon hearing Balm say that. Sooner or later everyone who wanted to explore Deavin Ocean would have to clear this or similar quests. ¡°So, are we leaving now?¡±, asked Final Fend with an eager voice. Silver Blade thought about it for a moment. ¡°I think we¡¯ve got everything. Anyone want to stock up on consumables?¡± This question was mostly directed at Final Fend and Braag. The rest of the party already went shopping before leaving for the harbor. But the two shook their heads, as did the others. ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s leave for Rod¡¯or Island!¡± While the party was talking, Huber already returned to the upper deck. The party happily followed him. When Silver Blade talked to the captain, a list with possible destinations was revealed. It was rather sparse, consisting of a few larger nephilim cities and places the player had heard about. Naturally, Red¡¯or Island was among them. Setting their destination, the party watched eagerly as movement came into the ship. Captain Huber shouted his orders. Ropes were untied at the pier. The sailors ran around, making last-minute preparations. At some point two smaller boats appeared, starting to drag the ship out of the bay. The smell of fresh seawater filled the air. Waves brandished against the ship¡¯s hull, rocking it gently as the vessel slowly left the harbor. The party watched with bright eyes as the ship slowly left the area protected by Saltae. An enormous ocean opened in their view. The many islands in the ocean could be made out as black dots. A jolt went through the ship. With a thud, the large sail was opened wide. The assistant boats returned to the harbor. And the ship was finally sailing on the open sea. Captain Huber stood at the bow of the ship, an incredibly clear expression on his face. He shouted with a voice sounding like a bird escaping its cage: ¡°Full speed ahead! Destination: Red¡¯or Island!¡±