《A Girl's Life in a Gaming World》


 Chapter 1: Guardians

    January 1 Year 2022 I still remember the day the disasters appeared all over the globe that destroyed countries one after the other whether it''s the weakest country, the richest country, or the strongest country, no one is spared from the disasters. This resulted in the verge of copsing the economy of the world as pandemics, wildfires, Typhoons, Global warming, and many more causing chaos to the world.


    These disasters forced at least 75% of the people all over the world to stay in their homes affecting the daily lives of the people all over the world, businesses all over the world starts to copse one after another, forcing entrepreneurs to close their business and fire their employees, that resulted on having an increase of at least 60% of unemployed people. Students stopped having sses, affecting their education staying at their home doing nothing resulting in students having mental breakdowns as they cannot leave their houses and have to do anything they wanted.As the days passed by, each country in the world encountered random disasters, at least once every week. The scientists worked together to find out what is the thing that causes these random disasters. Religions praying to their gods, seeking answers, forgiveness, and repenting for their sins. The Devil''s believers causing chaos all over the world as they endlessly steal, destroy properties, and doing evil acts.


    But no matter how people seek for an answer, how many, where, and how much people are seeking for an answer, nobody received a single answer...


    As the days go on, people die one after the other from the random disasters, from poverty, hunger, crimes, and many more resulting in humanity''s belief in hope beginning to diminish slowly from their hearts. Humans were thinking that there is no longer the meaning of living their lives has given up and decided to end their sufferings by dying.


    December 1st Year 2022 came 60% of the world''s poption died, from 7.8 billion people to 3.1 billion people left alive as 4.7 billion people died in just 11 months of suffering from the disasters.


    No one expected it, almost everyone no longer hoped for it, everybody can''t believe it, but at the end of the first week of December, something has suddenly appeared that let humanity glimpse the end of their sufferings. An ember out of nowhere has suddenly appeared, as it started to slowly set fire to humanity''s hope once more...


    December 7 Year 2022 came, Archeon corporation the ember that suddenly appeared out of nowhere has given hope to humanity as they released a world announcement.


    "We have received a prophecy.!!!" Archeon Corporation''s owner Nomral said


    "The prophecy, we have received from God has revealed that these disasters we are facing are the result of human greed. Greed that destroyed this beautiful world countless times." Nomral said.


    "Humans will always reap what they sow."


    "Destroy this world and this world shall destroy you."


    "But everyone fear not, as these disasters shall end on thest day of the year ending the sufferings of humanity," Nomral said.


    "God will give humans onest chance to redeem itself from the sins they have done to this world, except for those who believe in Satan, as they shall burn in the fires of hell and turn to ashes on the day the year will end. Those devils will turn into ashes when they see the light of the day. While humans will start the new year, create a new beginning, and start a new era!"


    "God will give humans 4 Heavens decree to this world."


    [1. No one shall destroy the world once more. ] "Only death awaits for those who seek to destroy the world."


    [2. In the span of 3 years, humans are not allowed to leave their homes. ] "Only Archeon Corporation''s workers are allowed to travel the world as they nt seeds to hasten the world''s recovery. And distribute food and necessities to people all over the world."


    [3. Humans shall y a game called Guardian.] "Humanity will y the very first Virtual Reality game in the span of 3 years of lockdown on their homes. Guardian is a game that will let humans experience the feeling of protecting the world they had created from invaders, disasters, and destruction. Guardian is a single yer Virtual Reality Game where humans be gods of their worlds."


    [4. At least one must remain.]


    At least one world must survive in the game in the span of 3 years if all Guardians failed to protect their worlds, then their world will truly end.


    "Let the game begin." Those were thest words of Nomral before turning around and ending the world broadcast. Those words are what made humanities hope to ignite once more. Days passed Archeon corporation''s workers worked all around the round to distribute food, necessity, and most importantly the gaming capsules that everyone will use.


    January 1 Year 2023 came the day that everyone has been preparing for the Official start of Guardian. Everyone entered the game as soon as they have opened the server.


    Everyone felt alive once more when they have seen the world they will be protecting and creating. Alexandria Athena also felt that way as she first entered her world, but never did she thought of how greatly mistaken she was. Because it is the start of her endless fighting against the conquerors of her world for 3 years that changed the normal high school girl into the Strongest Guardian...


    3 years passed in the blink of an eye, the 3 year timeline is close to its end with only 5 hours remaining, but the guardians are decreasing as hundreds of thousands of monsters, Devils, Demons, are invading their worlds try to destroy it. Remembering the 4th Decree of Heaven, everyone struggled to protect their worlds, trying to buy time to survive longer even just for a minute.


    5 hours felt like days for these people who are struggling to survive as they fought waves of monsters after monsters.


    An hour remaining, people are getting kicked off the game as the worlds they created and protected got destroyed one after the other. Everyone is now clueless about who are the people left fighting in the game as they frantically started praying to God. People are starting to get afraid as the time is slowly ticking, not knowing whether they would survive this ordeal or is this finally the end.


    "Why am I fighting so hard alone?" The people who are left fighting mumbled as they lose hope from seeing the endless waves of monsters rushing towards their worlds.


    "I guess I have done enough." Tiredness can be seen in their eyes as they started to give up and stopped fighting the monsters.


    "Surely there are still a lot more people fighting I should take a rest." Everyone who decided to give up, mumbled as they tried tofort themselves by thinking that there are still thousands of people fighting for their worlds.


    30 minutes remaining, but out of everyone''s expectations, only 1 girl remained. She was thest guardian of earth, no one knows that she is thest person ying the game. Even she doesn''t know that she is the only one left in the game as she uses all of her concentration on fighting the remaining monsters.


    The girl looks like a goddess that fought thousands of wars. The girl is d in ck-colored battle armor, wielding herrge Katana that is now all covered with blood, while piles of dead bodies of hundreds of thousands of monsters are behind her. She looks very tired from all the fighting, making her silver-colored hair disheveled, but excitement can be seen through her clear blue eyes. Then her lips revealed a very bright smile as she uses her Katana as support to remain standing still, then turned to look in front of her.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" The girl shouted to the man in front of her.


    In front of the girl was a handsome young man that looks like someone who has the same age as her that man has ck hair, sitting on a throne with a crown on his head, while staring back at her with his crimson eyes.


    "No need to be so nervous I am not here to fight, you wouldn''t evenst 10 seconds with your current power." The man said while sittingfortably on his throne.


    "We wouldn''t know anything about that unless we fight, won''t we?" The girl said, seemingly wanting to fight the man as excitement can be seen in her eyes.


    The man did not answer, instead, he waved his hand in front of the girl and a strong gust of wind came crashing on to the girl.


    The girl wondered what was that for. But she suddenly felt that the air seems cleaner as the smell from the monster corpses of the hundreds of thousands is gone.


    The girl turned around, and she was bbergasted when she can''t see a single corpse or even a single drop of blood behind her. Only a in of grass remained, and it looks like a fight has never urred.


    "If you are not here to fight, then who are you?" The girl turned around again asked the man.


    "Knowing my name wouldn''t even matter to you right now, but I am someone that hates your God." The man answered the girl as he stands up from his throne and suddenly teleported in front of the girl to get closer.


    "What are you?" The girl asked, startled from the man''s unexpected teleportation, stepped back a little, and held her Katana tightly.


    "What am I? Same as you a Guardian, or should I say a Fallen Guardian." The man answered, revealing a mischievous smile to the girl.

 Chapter 2: Alpha Test

    "What do you mean by a fallen guardian?" The girl wondered what the man said.


    "You see, it is a very long story before we continue talking. Do you mind if we drink a cup of tea first?" The man snaps his fingers, and they suddenly teleported in a grandiose room with cups of tea on the table.


    "Take a seat."


    Looking at the timer on the sky with 20 minutes left, the girl then decided to sit on the chair, puzzled by the man''s actions.


    "Hmmm, So where should I start my story? Ahh, right introductions, you do know the story of Adam and Eve, right?"


    "Yes, the first humans made by God?" The girl answered


    The man then started pouring tea on both of their cups as he started telling his story.


    "Well, I am the first man, made by God, The name''s Adam, little one." Adam introduced himself like a celebrity as he reaches his hand to the girl to shake her hands.


    "Ahh, my name''s Alexandria Athena" Alexandria also introduced herself, flustered by Adam''s friendly gestures.


    ...


    Adam then continued his story.


    "As you can see, I am a human just like you. Well, I used to be one." Adam pauses as if trying to remember something as he drinks his tea.


    "Everything started when God introduced this game to us. We are the Alpha tester of this game, the first guardians. Our only task at that time was to protect the world tree that is giving life to the world. Guarding the world tree was easy as we gain power every time we kill monsters, and everyday monsters always appeared trying to attack the world tree. The early years were peaceful and easy. But as the days go by, the monsters seem to be stronger and stronger. We have been protecting the tree for 10 years, but Eve started to get tired of it, so she went to God."


    "Why are we even still ying this game isn''t this just a game for entertainment?" Eve asked.


    "Can''t we end this now?"


    "We''ve been ying this game for 10 years!!" Eve shouted at God angrily


    "Every single day all, we have done was fight all kinds of monsters."


    "Isn''t that enough?" Eve asked God.


    "Hmmm, if you are tired, then why don''t you take a rest?" Eve delighted from God''s answer, she turned to look at me, and seeing the happiness in her eyes, I held her hands then smiled back at her.


    "Forever!!!" But God suddenly continued as God pointed to Eve''s heart


    *Bang!


    A hole suddenly appeared in Eve''s body, obliterating her heart. Both shocked by God''s actions, the smiles on our faces vanished as Eve''s body fell. I caught Eve''s body as I desperately tried to stop the bleeding; I tried to heal her, but I have forgotten that we are no longer in the game. Forgotten that we are just mere mortals.


    "Always remember Adam, I love you." Eve spoke slowly as her face started to get pale and her breathing started to slow down.


    "Runaway to the game live and never give up. Don''t hate mine or your destiny because a day mighte where our destiny would meet."


    *Cough*


    *Cough*


    "I have left a letter for you. The answers to your question lie at the root of Yggdrasil," Eve said as he caresses the tears falling from my face while coughing up tons of blood.


    "No, no, no stay with me, Eve stay with me"


    "Ru¡ªn." Eve smiled at me while saying herst breath.


    "Noooo!!!" Adam screamed in anguish


    "Why? Why did you kill her?" As I turned to God and asked angrily.


    "Alpha testers do not have the right to live in the real world." God answered.


    "You should have stayed in the game and yed silently."


    "Well, I guess this is the end of Alpha Test. Time to move to the next stage Closed Beta." As god suddenly pointed his finger at me aiming for my heart.


    *Bang!


    "What?" God shocked, seeing that nothing has happened to me.


    Looking closely, a transparent yellow barrier was surrounding me, protecting me from God''s power. From the body of Eve, I felt some movements. And when I turned to look at Eve, her body started to disintegrate, leaving only ashes behind.


    *Bang! *Bang! *Bang!


    God kept on trying to destroy the barrier, but to no avail, not even a scratch appeared. God, then watches as Eve''s ashes started slowly covering my whole body.


    "Then I was suddenly teleported out of nowhere. Looking around, I found out that I was inside the game."


    "I didn''t know how Eve teleported me, but her ashes slowly separated away from me."


    "As her ashes fell, the wind blew hard carrying her ashes."


    "Burying her ashes all over the world.''


    "And that was thest time I felt her warm embrace around me." Adam paused for a moment, reminiscing the past.


    ncing at Adam, Alexandria can see a tear has slowly dripped from his eyes as he remembered the death of Eve.


    Feeling the sorrows of Adam, Alexandria felt like wanting to hug Adam. But she decided not to, as she is still wary of Adam being thest boss of the game and trying to deceive her.


    Adam then continued talking after pausing for a bit.


    "Once I am done mourning the death of Eve, I went to the world tree, and there I found the two letters made by Eve."


    "Dear Adam, If you are reading this letter, then that means God has killed me, or should I say a demigod has killed me. That demigod never created Humans. Humans, monsters, demons, and all creatures were born from their worlds Yggdrasil. The demigods are the caretakers of the world trees and those creatures born in their worlds. A demigod is not a god, and right now, there is no such thing as God, because all worlds are still in their alpha testing. Testing their training grounds for the future gods. The demigods are the ones who nurture the creatures born from Yggdrasil to be a God. Demigods can only be a God once they sessfully make a creature born from Yggdrasil God."


    "Is this NPC''s story something like a post-credits of the game?" Alexandria thought in her mind while Adam was still in the middle of telling him the contents of the letter from Eve.


    Looking at the 10-minute timer above, Alexandria was wondering if this is truly the end of the game.


    "Well, no, and yes."


    "I am not an NPC, but yes, we are almost at the end of my story." Adam eximed.


    "What? How can you read my mind?" Alexandria felt scared of Adam reading her mind.


    "Well, as I have said, I am not an NPC of this game, but a fallen guardian who killed monsters for almost 2000 years, that is, why I now had the same power like the demigods. That is the reason why I can tell what you are thinking. So if you are nning on forgetting this old man''s useless story. Don''t even think about it, little one as this story will save your life someday." Adam said.


    "Let me continue because your destiny lies in the 2nd letter Eve has written for you."


    "For me? How can a letter from a game, hold my destiny?" Alexandria asked.


    "How stupid can you be?"


    "I told you, didn''t I."


    "This is no longer a game."

 Chapter 3: Beta Testers

    "This world, this ce, those creatures you have killed, and all the things you have experienced in this world are all real." Adam continued.


    "If this is not a game, then why do I always respawn every time I die in thest 3-years fighting in this world?" Alex wondered.


    Adam used his magic to make a small floating tree on their table, like a hologram.


    "The reason why you can respawn for thest 3-years is that the body you are using in this world is not your real body. What you are using right now is just a vessel for your soul. Once a vessel gets destroyed, Yggdrasil will create a new vessel for your soul to transfer."


    Adam paused for a moment, looking at the small tree in front of him then, continued.


    "If creatures were born from the fruits of Yggdrasil." A fruit has suddenly fallen on the small tree. Then the fruit that has fallen became a small bird.


    "Then your vessels are created from the leaves of Yggdrasil." Adam then looked at one of the tree''s leaves that started falling to the ground.


    "After your old vessel got destroyed. A leaf on the Yggdrasil will fall, then will slowly wither." The leaf that has fallen started to wither. Adam then waved his hand, removing the illusion in front of them.


    Nevertheless, Alexandria is still not sure whether to believe Adam or not asked another question.


    "If what you are truly saying is true then, then what if you are on the same side of Satan and you are just tempting me to revolt to my God?"


    "What?! How can you say that to the young, friendly, and handsome face of mine? A devil''s hideous face is nowhere near my handsome face, little one." Adam eximed while mming the tea he was drinking at the table.


    "Well, you see," Alexandria answered shyly, feeling guilty about what she said.


    "You indeed have a very handsome face, I admit it. But in the story written on Earth of Adam and Eve, Adam and Eve were tempted by the devil. That is why the demigod you were saying punished Adam and Eve. What if you are also tempting me to go against God?"


    "That story has been altered countless times due to it being passed from generation to generation. The true story of that is Eve found out the deception of the demigod from a coward arch dragon she had defeated. The dragon then told her our circumstances in exchange for sparing his life. Eve didn''t believe it at first. That is why she left me a letter first and then went with me to try to confirm her findings to the demigod." Adam defended.


    "And by the way, Satan, the Devil, you were talking about is the demigod of the demon race. demigods don''t even dare get close to another demigod unless they are allies to avoid causing chaos." Adam answered as he poured another tea in his and her cup, seeing that it is already empty.


    Feeling that Adam has calmed down a little, Alexandria asked another question.


    "Then the demigod of Humans what was his/her name?"


    "We also don''t know. It never told us what it''s called, nor have we seen its true face. So Eve and I decided to call him Light because every time we met, we can only see a blinding light in the shape of a human figure."


    "Then, if Satan is from another world, does that mean that there is no such thing as hell and all humans who died goes to heaven?" Alexandria asked another question.


    "You know, for someone who reached the end and does not easily believe in things, you sure ask a lot of questions." Adam eximed.


    Feeling embarrassed by what Adam said, Alexandria looks away, pretending not to hear him.


    "Anyway, Heaven and Hell don''t even exist in the first ce." Adam continued.


    "What!? Then where do the people go the moment they die?" Alexandria asked further, shocked by what Adam said.


    "Think of it this way: if Eve and I were the testers in the alpha test. Whates after the alpha test is the closed beta, and those people who died are the closed beta testers. During the closed beta stage, creatures who lost their lives in their world. Were given a second chance, transferring the fruit that holds their soul to form a new body in the world of Yggdrasil. They were then tasked to protect Yggdrasil. But once they die again, their souls would be gone, never to be seen again. Since their vessels are the fruit of Yggdrasil and each fruit is unique from one another. Unlike leaves that produced almost unlimitedly."


    Even though exhausted from the things she was hearing. Alexandria asked another question to Adam. "Then why did Light kill at least 60% of the human''s total poption for a year."


    "Closed beta has been going for almost two thousand years since the alpha test ended. A lot of humans died in that two thousand years of closed beta testing. They died from wars, pandemics, and natural causes. Humans did not notice anything wrong with it since it is all caused by something man-made or humans found the reason for the disasters, then found ways to prevent it. But Year 2022 is thest year of closed beta to end. So Light then made a scenario, saying that it is God''s punishment so that humans would willingly enter their capsule and focus on the open beta test stage." Adam exined.


    Adam exined further. "So if Eve and I are the alpha testers, the humans who died are the closed beta testers, then that makes you and all the people who used the virtual capsules the open beta testers."


    "Do you have some water?" Dumbfounded Alexandria asked for some water to calm herself down.


    With a snap of his hands, Adam summoned a cup of water in front of them. Giving it to Alexandria. "Here, have some."


    "Thanks." Alexandria thanked Adam for being nice to her.


    "No problem, you also need some time to rest you, fought hard alone for three years. You deserve it, take your time." Adam said as he sees the tiredness in her eyes. Adam can''t hide those things from her since it is important for her to know those things.


    A moment of silence urred in the room as Alexandria collected her thoughts.


    "If the three years of fighting I did is just a test, then does that mean I will face greater challenges and stronger opponents in the near future?" Alexandria asked after collecting her thoughts.


    "Yes, but this time you will no longer be alone, other people might oppose you, but you will probably haverades that will fight with you." Adam answered, shocked by what he sees in her eyes. Fire seems to be burning from Alexandria''s eyes as if it thrilled her thinking about what''s going to happen in the near future.


    Adam thought in his mind "So that is the reason why she managed to survive until the end, I felt doubtful at first since she looks so stupid for asking a lot of questions. She doesn''t know it, but this girl is a monster, a monster with an indomitable fighting spirit and a great instinct of a smart woman."


    "There''s a saying a wise woman asks, while a stupid person ignores," Adam mumbled.


    "What did you say?" Alexandria hearing, Adam''s mumbles, asked.


    "Nothing, let me continue the contents of the 2nd letter. You definitely need to hear what Eve wanted to say to you." Adam said.


    "We are now running out of time. We really must hurry now." Looking above with only 3 minutes'' time left, Adam warned Alexandria.


    "Okay" Alexandria replied, then stopped asking questions, understanding the direness of the situation.

 Chapter 4: Little Guardian

    "Dear Little Guardian," Adam then started narrating the 2nd letter written by Eve.


    ...


    Alexandria eagerly listened to the contents of the 2nd letter.


    The more she listened to Eve''s message, the more she understands how great the future responsibilities she would bear.


    Adam talked for almost two minutes, resulting in having one minute left remaining for the game to end.


    "That is all the things Eve has left for you to hear. Do you have any other questions?" Adam asked after finally finished narrating Eve''s message.


    Adam then stands up from his chair as if he''s preparing to send Alexandria.


    "I forgot to mention. I will erase all of your memories from the moment we have met until you left the game and exit your virtual capsule. So you will forget anything we have talked about, so the questions you have asked are probably very useless." Adamughed, then looked at Alexandria as if mocking her for asking so many questions a moment ago only to know that she will not remember anything.


    "What!?" Stupefied by what Adam said. Alexandria stood up from her chair, then grips her Katana, wanting to smack it to Adam''s mocking face for not telling her earlier.


    But understanding the current circumstances, they are in, with only barely a minute left time remaining. Alexandria chooses to hold off smacking Adam''s mocking face and asked him instead. "Why would you erase my memories? If I needed those pieces of information, We have talked about so that I can have greater chances of bing a God."


    "You won''t be needing that information on the early stage, anyway. You will remember it at the right time and the right moment. Because rather than affecting you positively, this information may affect you negatively. Think of it this way, if you will always think of what will happen in the future when you exit this world. That would result in a situation where you can no longer live your normal life. You''ll burden yourself every single day thinking of ways on how to get stronger. You know, sometimes a monster''s instinct that adapts based on the current situation. Is better than having a piece of information that will affect your decision of what''s going to happen in the always-changing future." Adam said, praising, Alexandria''s instincts.


    "But don''t worry, you may not remember a thing we have talked about. But I will be leaving you a parting gift."


    "What gift?" Alexandria asked curiously about what gift Adam has prepared for her. She thought that maybe it is an overpowered weapon, or an overpowered ability, or even a beastpanion that she can take with him.


    "It is not an overpowered weapon, or an overpowered ability." Adam said while reading Alexandria''s mind. He then opened his hands, and white mes suddenly appeared, floating in his palms. "This gift of mine is nothing special, but giving it to the right person would only then its true worth would show. These white mes increase the person''s instinct." Adam said as he raised his hand and a floating white me appeared in his hand. Adam then slowly pushed the white mes into Alexandria''s chest, right where her heart was located. Adam then stopped an inch before touching Alexandria''s chest. Adam then coated his eyes with magic. Then stared inside Alexandria''s chest to see the state of her heart is.


    Alexandria''s heart now looked like white mes were burning and surrounding it like an aura.


    "It is looking good now." Seeing that the me and her heart arepatible with each other.


    Alexandria blushed and looked away from Adam, as her face became as red as a tomato since Adam''s unexpected actions of touching her chest flustered her.


    "How can increasing one''s instinct help me in the future?" Alexandria asked, pretending to beposed as much as possible.


    "This gift can help you in so many ways. One, your instinct, will not be easily forgotten no matter what the circumstances are. Second, you may not know of it. But your instincts are always telling you to fight stronger enemies. Face greater challenges to get stronger. And the desire to discover new things. Lastly, the stronger your instinct bes, the faster you be stronger."


    "With these instincts of yours, it will help you keep on moving forward to bing stronger, as you wait two years for all the portals to open in every world. That will connect all the worlds of every creature from every Yggdrasil to the world of Parabellum." After exining, Adam looked above again, seeing that the time remaining is now only 20 seconds left.


    "I guess this is a farewell, for now, little Guardian." Adam said as he spread his arms, opening up a portal so that Alexandria can leave this world.


    "I am not little!" Alexandria eximed


    "Hahaha, say that to me when you grow stronger." Adamughed as he sees how cute Alexandria is.


    "Hmmph, you will see. You better not show your face around me in the future. Or I will beat the hell out of your face, old man," Alexandria answered as she hurriedly ran through the exit portal. "Farewell, old man." Alexandria turned around as she says her farewell while waving her hands.


    "You better get stronger than me the next time I see you. Or else I would be the one beating the crap out of you." Adam mumbled, looking, at the moving silhouette.


    ¡­


    Seeing Alexandria has already exited the world, a woman suddenly appeared near Adam. Looking closely at it was actually Eve.


    "Aren''t we giving too much burden for a 16-year-old child Eve??" Adam asked Eve beside her.


    "There''s no other choice Alexandria is the only guardian who persisted right till the end. If only there are others who are strong enough to survive until the end. Then we wouldn''t be forced to give the child a very great burden."


    Eve grimly answered Adam she then reaches her hands to hold Adam''s hands.


    "Those weak people, winning this game, doesn''t even need great strength. Perseverance is the only thing that matters. Because the longer you persevere on thest few minutes, the experience gained from killing the monsters tripled. Letting the yer get stronger every minute to the point where handling the hordes of monsters bearable." Adam said, clearly pissed at himself for giving a child the future of humans.


    "We can''t do anything about it. What''s done is done. Shall we go? We still have lots of work to do."


    "I do hope that Alexandria''s find somerades to fight with her. I am worried since strong people''s path tends to be a lonely one. But both of us know that she alone can''t carry this great burden." Adam said as they started walking to another portal.


    ...


    Meanwhile, earth''s people waited for the oue of the world. The parents of a family in a far-off country. Are looking at their daughter''s capsule carrying their one-year-old daughter and two years old twin boys.


    It is Alexandria, Athena''s family. They went to their daughter''s room to check on her progress on the game only to find out that their daughter hasn''t left the game yet with only 1 minute left on the world''s countdown.


    "Honey, do you think my baby Alex is still fighting for the world inside the game?" Her mother asked her father, worried about their daughter.


    "I think so since she is still inside the capsule." Her father answered, not knowing how to calm down her mother that may affect her pregnancy.


    As time passed, only a second remained. Alexandria''s capsule suddenly opened. Both parents then rushed to their daughter''s capsule worriedly. There they see their daughter sleeping so soundly, like an angel undisturbed by themotion in the world.


    "Honey, she looks tired." Her mother said, caressing, her daughter''s face.


    "I think our daughter just saved the world. We should let her rest for now and talk to herter." Her father also said as they slowly leave her room.

 Chapter 5: Memory Restraining Spell

    A day passed, Humanities life returned to normal once more as they have survived the punishment of God and are now allowed to leave their homes.


    Before rebuilding their countries, humans tried to identify thest guardian first so as to honor him or her. But no one dered that they are the ones who saved humanity. Everyone is wondering why the Hero who just saved the world does not reveal himself/herself to the world. Others also thought that maybe no one has really managed to survive till the end, and God just gave humans a second chance.


    No one also thought of trying to im the title of Hero to gain the glory of saving the world. No one also wants to experience God''s punishment once more because of their greed. Everyone also thought of asking Archeon Corporation. But even they kept silent about it since even they do not know who saved the world and ended the game.


    ...


    While everyone was frantically trying to find who saved the world, Alexandria Athena, the one they are seeking, has finally woken up from her deep slumber.


    "Arghhh" Getting up from her bed, she suddenly felt her head twinge like experiencing a hangover. Alexandria reached for her head to massage it to ease the pain. But a few seconds after, the pain she was experiencing disappeared like a bubble.


    "What just happened?" Alexandria mumbled as a strange feeling of something slowly disappeared inside of her.


    While she was wondering what is the thing that vanished inside her. She suddenly felt her heart getting warmer and pounding faster and faster as if something has been burning her heart. Yet, she did not feel even a single pain despite the heat she felt inside her chest. On the contrary, it feels sofortable and tranquil.


    "It is probably just my imaginations." Not understanding what just happened, Alexandria decided to put the thought in the back of her mind.


    "I am hungry." Hearing the growling of her stomach, Alexandria went downstairs to fetch some food.


    "Good morning, Mom, Good morning, Dad." Alexandria went to the dining table and greeted her father and mother noticing her preparing their breakfast.


    "Good morning honey, did you sleep well?" Her mother, Irene, asked as she serves their breakfast.


    "Yup"


    "By the way, Dad, what happened yesterday?" Alexandria asked.


    Her father, Zach, and Irene turned to look at Alexandria, confused by their daughter''s question.


    "What do you mean by what happened yesterday?" Zach asked Alexandria.


    "Isn''t the world supposed to end yesterday? So if we are still living today, then that means someone has saved the world. So I was wondering who saved the world?" Alexandria asked while slowly eating her breakfast.


    "Aren''t you the one who saved the world?" Irene asked, puzzled by their daughter''s questions.


    "Huh? There''s no way I could have saved the world if I remembered it right when I have finished killing the hordes of monsters. I have 30 minutes left of the time for the game to end. And then....." Alexandria suddenly paused.


    "Then..." Clueless about why she can''t remember what happened after she killed the hordes of monster. Alexandria stopped eating, then tried so hard to recall in his mind the events in the 30 minutes she had left.


    "Why? Why can''t I remember anything?" Alexandria mumbled while trying so hard to remember.


    "The only thing I can remember is the piles of dead bodies of the monsters I have killed behind me. And the only thing I can see in front of me is a very thick fog that is obstructing my memories."


    While looking deeper into the fog, Alexandria noticed a silhouette and a pair of crimson eyes looking back at her.


    Then something suddenly whispered in her ears. "You truly are a monster."


    "Who?" Looking around, Alexandria tried to find the one who whispered to her.


    "I might have underestimated you too much. I never thought your capability would be so great that you''re able to see my silhouette even though you just woke up. I expected something like this to happen, but not this soon. Hmmm, I guess we need to strengthen your memory restraining spell." The silhouette said.


    "Who are you!" Alexandria shouted to the silhouette.


    "This will hurt a little." The silhouette drew three symbols in the air with his magic, then sent it flying in Alexandria''s direction.


    "It''s too early for you to see this ce." The silhouette, then waved its hand, making Alexandria leave the ce.


    "Ahhhhhh!!!" Alexandria screamed as she grabs her head, trying to ease the unbearable pain she''s experiencing.


    "It hurts!!!." Alexandria screamed at the top of her lungs.


    "Alexandria? What''s the problem?" Seeing their daughter screaming in pain. Irene and Zach hurriedly stood up from their seats to check on her. But before they got closer, Alexandria fainted, and her body started falling on the floor.


    Seeing their daughter fainting, Irene panicked and shouted for Zach to hurry. "Dear, hurry!"


    Zach hurriedly runs towards her daughter, barely managing to catch her falling body.


    "Got her."


    "Is she ok?" Irene worriedly asked while checking on her daughter''s condition.


    "She looks fine, don''t worry too much. It might affect our baby in your womb." Zach hurriedly reassured Irene, worried about their child in her womb.


    "Go drink some water first and finish your breakfast. I''ll bring Alexandria to her room first. Then we''ll talk after." Zach carried Alexandria like a princess, then went upstairs to put Alexandria in her bed.


    Slowly putting down Alexandria on her bed, Zach mumbled. "Just what the hell did you experience inside that game for you to suffer this much." ncing at Alexandria onest time, Zach then slowly left the room and went downstairs.


    Seeing Zach walking down stairs, Irene asked, "Is she alright?"


    "Yeah, she''s now sleeping peacefully in her room." Zach answered.


    "What do you think happened to Alexandria?" Irene asked.


    "I also don''t know. She probably lost some memories inside the game. But based on what she said earlier. She probably experienced a lot in the game cause even I onlysted an hour left before I got buried by hordes of monster. How much more Alexandria, who killed those hordes of monster." Zach exined.


    "Dear, I think we probably shouldn''t talk about her saving the world again. I am afraid I don''t want to see her suffer like that once more. I don''t think I will be able to remain calm and might copse if our daughter suffered the same thing again." Irene said while holding her tears back.


    Seeing Irene about to break down, Zach went closer to Irene and hugged her, "It''s alright, It''s alright, we won''t talk about it with Alexandria, okay? You don''t need to worry, okay? Let me handle all of these things, don''t think too much about it. The doctors said that too much stress may affect the baby in your womb."


    Feeling the warm embrace of Zach, Irene finally broke down and started crying. "Sniff, Sniff, but just remembering her screaming in pain at that time is already hurting me. How much more if I see her suffer the same pain again?"


    Irene passed out from crying for about 20 minutes while Zach wasforting her.


    "Sigh, like mother, like daughter. You guys really loved to pass out and being carried like a princess all the time." Zach sighed while struggling to carry Irene to her room.


    After putting down Irene on her bed, Zach left the room while mumbling. "With all this heavy lifting in the house, I think I might need to go to the gym once it is rebuilt. Being holed up in the house for three years weakened some of my muscles."


    ¡­


    Somewhere in the universe, two people were fighting a storm dragon leisurely while talking.


    "Don''t you think you went too far on strengthening the memory restraining spell by five times?" Eve asked Adam.


    "It''s alright. Alexandria can probably endure it. It is just the same, anyway. Enduring an unbearable pain once and enduring a slight pain a lot of times, It is just the same, you experience the pain. The only difference is that it''s more convenient for me since I only need to do it once, instead of doing it a lot of times." Adam exined while covering his sword in an aura of me.


    Adam then gripped his sword tightly, then thrown it like a spear at a speed of sound to the storm dragon.


    "Let''s finish this ce up." Adam said while retrieving his sword from the corpse of the storm dragon''s head.

 Chapter 6: Two Years

    February 1st of the Year 2028, somewhere in the middle of the city, a beautiful girl with silver hair was sleeping in her room soundly. Undisturbed by the sound beside her.


    *Beep! *Beep! *Beep! The girl kept on sleeping, even though her rm clock keeps on ringing so loudly.


    *Beep! *Beep! *Beep!


    The noise from the rm clock kept on ringing to the point where it is heard downstairs.


    The mother of the beautiful girl downstairs noticed that her daughter is still sleeping so soundly upstairs. Despite the annoying sound of the rm clock. So she went to her room and to wake her daughter up.


    *Knock *Knock *Knock


    "Alexandria! Alexandria! honey, wake up!" Her mother shouted outside her room while knocking.


    "You''re going to bete for your first day of face-to-face sses at school." Her mother called out.


    "Sigh, This girl must have yedputer games all night again. Even though I told her to sleep early because her sses are finally starting." Her mother mumbled as she keeps on knocking on Alexandria''s door.


    Her mother realized that it is already pointless to keep knocking on Alexandria''s door because Alexandria is a heavy sleeper. Every time she yed and slept veryte with her friends. Seeing that there is still no movement inside Alexandria''s room, no matter how hard she knocks and calls out. Her mother decided to open the door and wake Alexandria up herself.


    She took the keys in her pocket and opened the door.


    Her mother walked through her room and went to her rm clock to turn it off. Her mother then pulled the nkets away from Alexandria.


    Her mother then sits down on her bed beside her, then gently caressing Alexandria''s face while waking her up.


    "Alex, Alexandria, honey, Alexandria, wake up. Didn''t I tell you and your friendsst night to stop ying and sleep early? It is your first day in school today so, you should properly dress yourself up and look good."


    Feeling someone caressing her face, Alexandria woke up hearing her mother''s rant beside her. Alexandria turned her body so that her back is facing her mother. That way, Alexandria''s mother won''t see that she is already awake. Alexandria keeps on pretending to sleep as she does not want to get up yet.


    "Ahhh, so you want to y that way." Already used to her daughter''s habits, her mother instantly knows that Alexandria is just pretending and is already wide awake.


    Alexandria loves to y with her mother a lot of times, and this time she decided not to get up because of herziness.


    Her mother moved closer to Alexandria and pinched her sides.


    "Ahhhh, ouch, ouch, ouch, mom, I''m awake, I''m awake." Alexandria was startled from her mother''s pinch.


    "You should stop acting like a baby and start behaving like ady. You''re already 18 years old, entering your high school years. Go dress yourself up like ady. Like a dy" do you understand?" Her mother said, emphasizing thedy.


    "Yes~~" Alexandria answeredzily.


    "Then hurry and eat your breakfast downstairs, or you''re going to bete for your sses." Her mother said, scolding Alexandria while fixing her bed.


    Alexandria hugs her mother from behind. "I know you like it when I act like a baby every morning. It''s the only time of the day where we can spend a little time together since you are so busy taking care of my brothers and sisters."


    Touched by her daughter''s gestures, Irene can''t help but smile and faced her.


    "Okay, okay, I admit it. I like it whenever you do this kind of stuff. But at least learn when is the right time to be mature and when to behave like a baby, and this time is clearly not the right time for you to do stuff like this, do you understand?" Irene said to Alexandria while helping her continue to fix her bed.


    "Okay," Alexandria answered while pouting.


    "But why did you guys make four babies in a row, anyway, if it''s hard to even take care of one?"


    Surprised by her daughter''s question, Irene blushed a little and paused what she''s doing.


    "What can I do? It is hard to control your father, especially if we are locked up in our house for three years. We didn''t even know we would have twins." Irene answered.


    "Now enough of this sweet-talking of yours, let''s go down and eat." Irene said after finishing fixing her bed. She then dragged Alexandria downstairs.


    "Good morning, Dad," Alexandria greeted her father,


    "Good morning Ax, good morning El." Greeting her 4-year-old twin brothers.


    "Good morning Serene, good morning Zandra," Greeting her 3-year-old and 2-year-old sisters, respectively.


    "Good morning Alexa," Her father greeted back.


    "Goo¡ªGood Mornin, Sis¡ªSistah," Her two younger sisters and the twins greeted back in unison while stuttering.


    "By the way, Alex, aren''t youte already?" Her father said while looking at his watch.


    "It''s still early, isn''t it?" Alexandria asked.


    "No, it''s already 7:30 you, know." Her mother answered.


    "What!!? Why didn''t you say earlier? My sses start at 7:30. I got to go, I need to go." Alexandria said hurriedly while getting one loaf of bread and her backpack.


    "You are alreadyte, anyway. Ate is still ate no matter what time you arrive, so why don''t you slow down for a bit and take your time instead. You should at least take a shower first and finish your breakfast." Her father said to Alexandria, seeing her rushing through the door already.


    Hearing her father while the door is already half-opened Alexandria, answered. "No worries, I already ate and took a shower at dawn before I slept." After answering Alexandria, rushed outside because she knows that her mother will scold her again. For taking a shower and sleeping at dawn.


    Hearing her daughter''s answer, Irene rushed to the door and shouted at Alexandria outside. "Didn''t I told you not to take a shower then sleep at night because it is bad for your health!!"


    "Goodbye, mom, goodbye dad," Alexandria waved and shouted in reply yfully to her mother.


    "Sigh, this girl never listens to any of my advice," Irene mumbled while going back to her seat.


    "Don''t worry too much about it. Alexandria already has a well-built body, anyway. With all these years going to the gym with me every day and practicing martial arts, she can probably run around all day without getting tired." Zach said.


    "You''re spoiling her too much."


    "You kids, should not follow your sister in the future, do you understand?" Irene turned to her children and said.


    "Okayyyyyyyyyyy!!" The children said in unison.

 Chapter 7: Latecomers

    *Pant! *Pant! *Pant!


    Alexandria arrived near her school with slightly heavy breathing. Because of how fast she had sprinted from her home to her school. Alexandria can only run because the creations of cars or any vehicles that will pollute the surrounding air are banned by the world leader formerly called Archeon Corporation. It is now called Archeon Government.


    The only means of transportation, right now are through walking, running, or by bicycle.


    Arriving outside of her school gate, Alexandria was so shocked because what greeted her was a crowd of students standing outside the closed school gates.


    Alexandria moved closer to the crowd and poked the back of the random student in front of her.


    *Poke! *Poke!


    "Excuse me?"


    *Poke! *Poke!


    The female student turned around and faced Alexandria. The girl has long ck hair and golden eyes as bright as the sun and has almost the same height as Alexandria, only slightly shorter.


    "Excuse me? Can I ask you some questions?" Alexandria asked.


    "Yes?" The female student answered.


    "I am just wondering, it is 8:00 am already. All of us are alreadyte. So why aren''t you guys entering the school and just standing around here?" Alexandria asked.


    "Actually, the principal is the one who told the guards to close the gates at 8:00 am once the general assembly ended. Because the principal is so enraged as only around 20% of the students enrolled attended the general assembly. That is why all of us are just standing around here, waiting for the principal. So all the students you see here, including you and I, areters." The female student exined.


    "What?" Shocked by the female student''s exnation


    Alexandria asked, "How the heck did so many students even arrived veryte?"


    "Why are you even asking me when you also arrived veryte?" The female student replied.


    Alexandria scratched her head in embarrassment.


    "Well, all of us probably have the same reason for beingte. We all got used to an online ss schedule where even if we wake up at 7:30 am. We won''t bete since we only need our gadgets. Others also said that they had a hard time walking from their home to the school." The female student continued.


    "Okay, thank you." Alexandria thanked the female student. She then turned around and went to find some benches to sit on.


    "You''re wee." The female student replied.


    "How long are we going to wait in here, anyway?" Alexandria annoyingly mumbled as she gets her phone and yed some games to pass the time.


    ...


    Some time passed, and 9:00 am came. The school principal finally ordered the guards to open the gates after scolding the students for a couple of minutes, subsiding his anger.


    "Ahhh, finally." Seeing the gates opening up, Alexandria quickly followed the crowd as she still needed to find her ssroom.


    She first went to the school''s office to get the room number of her ssroom.


    Staring at the paper given by the school''s office, Alexandria was disappointed with the number on the piece of paper. It shows room 777, indicating that her room''s location is on the 7th floor of the school building. "I guess the number 777 won''t always be a lucky number." Alexandria mumbled as she started walking towards the stairs.


    Alexandria walked in the hallway of the 7th floor of the school building while carrying the paper with the room number on it.


    Alexandria reads out loud the room number of each room she passes.


    "Room 770, 771, 772... 775,776, Ahhh, here it is, room 777." Alexandria found her ssroom.


    "Wow!! It''s so boisterous inside." Alexandria eximed outside her ssroom as she can hear the boisterous atmosphere inside the room.


    *Knock! *Knock! Alexandria opened the door after knocking. She sees her homeroom teacher that looks like a woman in her mid-30s with short ck hair, brown-eyes while wearing ck-colored eyesses.


    "So who''s the next person introducing?" The teacher asked her students.


    But she then sees someone opening the door. It was Alexandria entering the ssroom.


    The teacher then called her. "Ahh! Perfect timing, you are probably thest student for this ss since there is only one seat left. And since you are already here at the front, and we are in the middle of introducing ourselves, why don''t you introduce yourself." Her teacher said.


    Her ssmates observed Alexandria as she walks beside her teacher.


    "Wow!! She looks like a model." A male student whispered to his seatmate.


    "Look! Look! Her body is so well-built I wonder what she does." A female student also whispered to his female friend.


    "Arghh! Why am I so unlucky today. Misfortunes just kept on happening one after the other?" Alexandria mumbled to herself while recalling the unlucky things that happened to her today.


    "I woke up veryte. I forgot my wallet. I waited for over an hour at the school gate, my ssroom is on the 7th floor without an elevator, and now I get to introduce myself the moment I entered the ssroom." Alexandria thought,ining in her head.


    "Good morning, ssmates, good morning, miss¡ª?" Alexandria greeted while asking for her homeroom teacher''s name.


    "Maria, my name is Maria." Her teacher answered.


    "Good morning, miss Maria. My name is Alexandria Athena D. Arturia. My mother named me Athena, hoping that I be a strong and wise person. 18-years old, living in Dragon Vale street. My hobbies are ying games and going to the gym. I also do many kinds of martial arts. That''s all Miss Maria." Alexandria finished introducing herself.


    "I wonder what games she ys?" A male student whispered to his seatmate.


    "Wow!! A female martial artist, are martial arts that good? For her to have a well-built body? I think I''ll try it out." A female student.


    "Thank you, Alexandria. You may take your seat. So who''s next?" Miss Maria said while finding the next student to introduce himself/herself.


    After ending her introduction, Alexandria looked around the ssroom to find where she would sit. And there she found her childhood friend and gaming buddy Ezekiel in the left-most corner of the room beside the windows second to thest row, of thest column.


    Behind Ezekiel was thest empty seat in the ssroom. Alexandria was shocked because besides the vacant seat is the female student Alexandria asked at the school gates.


    Alexandria moved towards Ezekiel and the female students.


    "Good morning, Ezekiel." Alexandria stopped beside Ezekiel to greet him.


    "Good morning, Alex." Ezekiel greeted back.


    "You arrived veryte I told youst night that we shouldn''t have continued killing that boss since we still have sses, yet you still insisted." Ezekiel scolded Alexandria for beingte.


    "It is because you kept on trollingst night. That is why it took us almost an hour only to kill a boss that is kible in just 15 minutes." Alexandria rebutted.


    "We just wasted an hour just to get a bunch of trash loots." Alexandria continued.


    "Your RNG luck always sucks, hahaha." Ezekiel teased Alexandria''s luck andughed lightly so that the teacher won''t hear it.


    "My luck is---." Before Alexandria can continue, her teacher called out to her. "Miss Alexandria! Why are you still standing there?"


    "Sorry, ma''am." Alexandria apologizes to Miss Maria. She then gave Ezekiel a threatening re before taking a seat.


    "Hi, my name''s Alexandria. I never thought that we would be ssmates." After taking a seat, Alexandria greeted her seatmate.


    "Hello, I also never thought that we would be ssmates at the same time, seatmates." The female student replied.


    "My name is Samantha G. Archeon." Samantha introduced herself.

 Chapter 8: Introductions

    Alexandria grabbed the hand of Samantha and shook them.


    "You know, you look very familiar. Where have I seen or heard about you before?" Alexandria asked as she moved closer to the face of Samantha. To have a closer look while gripping those soft hands of hers, preventing her from escaping.


    "Ummmhhhh, your face is too close, Athena-san." Samantha looked away from Alexandria with her face turning red from embarrassment.


    "Wahhhh!! Do you know Japanese?" Alexandria asked.


    "Only a little. My mother and I loved watching anime. So we learned some stuff together, and it kind of became a habit for me. I hope that it''s not that cringe for you though. " Samantha answered Alexandria while trying to move away from her grasp.


    "Nope, not at all. I think it''s, cute. You must have a very cool mother. My mother, on the other hand, only knows how to scold me every single day. " Alexandria said.


    "Hey Alex, you''re scaring her." noticing the racket behind him, Ezekiel turned around from his seat and smacked Alexandria''s hands away from Samantha.


    "My name is Ezekiel S. Ascle. Nice to meet you and, by the way, don''t stick too close with Alex. She brings trouble with her all the time," Ezekiel handed his hand, introducing himself to Samantha.


    "Nice to meet you too," Samantha replied, shook his hand with a smile.


    "Hey! I don''t bring a lot of trouble with me! The one that probably brings trouble around every time we''re together is you. It''s like trouble is hunting the both of us." Alex argued.


    "And don''t butt in here so suddenly, I don''t want to get scolded by the teacher again because of you. So shut the hell up, I will deal with youter. I''ll make sure you will see the deepest part of hell, so, stay still there for now and mind your own business." Alexandria gave Ezekiel a threatening re.


    Samantha giggled shyly on the side, looking at the two of them.


    "Don''t mind that guy he is, just a nuisance in my life. Oh yeah, don''t call me Athena, you can call me Alex instead." Alex said while rubbing the hand that Ezekiel smacked.


    "I think both of you look cute together. I''m kind of jealous, though. I only get to talk with a few people. Since I only have my parents and some pets to y with at home." Samantha looked down.


    "I rarely got the chance to go out andmunicate with others my age." Samantha said quietly, almost like a whisper.


    Alexandria panicked because Samantha looks like a person that is almost on the brink of crying. Alexandria quickly tried to think of something to cheer her up, but she can''t think of anything no matter how much she looked around her surroundings.


    Ezekiel suddenly turned around again and talked to Samantha." You know what, How about we eat our lunch together?"


    "Yeah, great idea, let''s do that, I am so hungry right now since I only ate at dawn, and all those time waiting under the scorching sun for a couple of hours just made it worse." Alexandria quickly agreed to Ezekiel''s n to cheer up the environment.


    Alexandria then gave Ezekiel a thank you look by saving her the trouble this time.


    "Maybe I should lessen his punishment a bit since he saved me this time. I think a punch to the gut and a kick in the ass will do." Alexandria thought.


    Samantha''s face brightened up a little.


    "Thanks, that would be awesome." Samantha replied.


    Seeing Samantha cheered up, Alex can now rest at ease since she only got a couple of hours of sleep.


    Alexandria lightly smacked the shoulders of Ezekiel.


    "Hey, wake me up when the introductions are over. I''m just gonna take a quick nap." Alexandria said while yawning.


    She then hurriedly put her arms on the table then rested her head on her arms.


    "What? I am also nning on taking a quick nap." Ezekiel said.


    "It is your fault that we slept sote. So you have no right to refuse." Alexandria answered, while still resting on her arms.


    "Hey, it is also your fault for inviting me for a raid sote at night."


    "Hey Alex, Yoohoo Alex, Alexandria~~."


    Seeing that it is already pointless since Alex is no longer replying, Ezekiel then decided to turn around and wait for his turn. But before he could turn around, he sees Samantha eagerly listening to the introductions at the front of the ss. Ezekiel then thought of an idea.


    "Samantha!" Ezekiel called out the attention of Samantha.


    "Yes?" Samantha answered


    "Can I ask you a favor?"


    "Favor?"


    "You see, Alexandria and I are both night owls. And both of us kind of slept veryte today. So can you do me a little favor to wake me up when my turn is up for introduction? In exchange, I will pay for our lunchter. Oh, and don''t worry about Alex, I will wake her up myself. I only want to have a little rest." Ezekiel embarrassedly exined to Samantha.


    "Sure, no worries, I got you guys covered." Samantha replied with a smile.


    "Thanks, you''re a great help." Ezekiel thanked Samantha. Ezekiel then turned around and hurriedly followed Alexandria. Putting his arms on the table and resting his head, and fell asleep.


    "They do look good together." Samantha mumbled to herself while looking at the sleeping figures of Alexandria and Ezekiel.


    ...


    Several minutes have passed, almost all of the students have finished introducing themselves except for thest column.


    ...


    Samantha then decided to wake Ezekiel up. Samantha gently touched the back of Ezekiel then rocked it.


    "Ezekiel, wake up our turn is almost up." Samantha whispered quietly while still rocking his body.


    Ezekiel woke up from the gentle and warm hands of Samantha.


    Ezekiel turned around from his seat. "I''m awake, I''m awake, thanks, Samantha."


    After thanking Samantha, Ezekiel turned to look in front of him to see that only 3 are people left before his turn. Ezekiel then fixes himself up since that nap made him look so messy, and it will be embarrassing to in front with messy hair, messy face and etc.


    ...


    "Do you have any mirror?" Ezekiel asked..


    Samantha grabbed her bag and looked for one.


    "Here"


    Ezekiel grabbed the mirror, then firstly fixed his very messy hair. "Thanks."


    "How do I look?" After a few minutes of fixing his self up, Ezekiel turned to Samantha and asked.


    "You look great," Samantha answered and gave him a thumbs up.


    ...


    "Thank you for that wonderful introduction. Look like only two people haven''t introduced themselves yet. Next person, please." Miss Maria looked at the seat of Ezekiel and Samantha.

 Chapter 9: Son and Daughter of the World Leaders

    Seeing his teacher looking at him, Ezekiel stood up, then walked to the front of the ss.


    "Hey bro look, the new guy looks fit. That guy is probably around 5.8- 6 ft. Do you think he likes to y some sports? But he looks like a nerd with those sses, though." A male ssmate of Ezekiel whispered to his seatmate.


    While on the far end corner of the room. A group of female ssmates of his is discussing Ezekiel''s look.


    "Wahhhh! Look, look, he looks hot, isn''t he?" A female ssmate of Ezekiel asked her friend.


    "I know right, those scarlet eyes of his are so hot, you''ll think your body will burn from those eyes if he stares at you."


    "I don''t like boys who wear sses, though they look like a boring person to be with."


    "But I think his sses look great with his wavy blue hair. It makes him look more mature than others of the same age as him. Plus, he looks quite fit to be a nerd, don''t you think so?"


    "Quiet everyone, please." Miss Maria said.


    "Good morning, everyone." Ezekiel greeted.


    "I know a lot of you probably know me already or familiar with my face since I often follow my father whenever he is working. But for those who do not know me, my name is Ezekiel S. Ascle. My father is the Chief Executive Officer of World Health Organization, and Vice President of the Archeon Government." Ezekiel paused for a moment, seeing his ssmate is causing amotion.


    "Is he famous?" A ssmate of his whispered to his friend.


    "I don''t know." His friend answered.


    "He does look familiar, isn''t he?"


    "Yup, I have probably seen him on the news or somewhere."


    "Is he really the son of the Vice-President?" A male ssmate of his asked his seatmate.


    "I can''t tell. I don''t watch the news that much. But I do hear that the Vice President brings with him his son all day to take care of him. Since his wife died when giving birth to his son." A nerdy ssmate of his answered."


    "Everyone, quiet please, let Mr. Ezekiel finish his introduction." Ms. Maria shouted at the sses seeing as everyone started gossiping about Ezekiel''s life.


    Everyone immediately settled down.


    "Mr. Ezekiel, please continue." Ms. Maria said to Ezekiel.


    "I never thought that no one would know me such an embarrassment." Ezekiel thought.


    "Since you know my name already, I''ll tell the meaning behind it. My father said that before my mother died. She gave me the name Ezekiel from the Hebrew name Yechezqel which means God''s strength or God will strengthen. My mother wished for God to help me in my journey at all times."


    Ezekiel breathed for a moment, then continued.


    "I am eighteen years old. I live in Phoenix valley street with my father. My hobbies are ying games and studying medicine since I want to save people. So that kids like me wouldn''t suffer the same fate I have experienced." Ezekiel breathed for a moment again.


    "Did you know behind those smiles andughter of his hides an endless abyss of sadness and loneliness? He falls onto it once in a while whenever he talks about his mother." Alexandria mumbled to Samantha on the side, woken up by themotion earlier.


    "That''s all, thank you, everyone." Ezekiel then started walking back to his seat.


    "Did you think you were famous just because you appear on the news every now and then?" Alexandria mocked Ezekiel while giggling.


    "Hey, you''re the one who keeps telling me that I am famous." Ezekiel said before sitting.


    "Who would even pay attention to a brat behind the Vice President during his interviews and work." Alexandria said while still giggling.


    "I know you''re the Vice President''s son Ezekiel-san. I see you frequently in the news ying with different chemicals on the background." Samantha eximed wanting, to cheer Ezekiel up.


    "Thanks, Samantha." Ezekiel thanked Samantha.


    ...


    "Thank you for that wonderful introduction. Now may, we move to thest person." Miss Maria said looking, at Samantha.


    "Be right back." Samantha said with a smile to the both of them, then walked in front of the ss.


    "Good morning, everyone. My name is Samantha G. Archeon. My parents once said that the meaning behind my name Samantha is, listener or listens well. I think it suits me well because I am may not be a good speaker, but I listen to everyone very well. I am eighteen years old and living in Sun street with my father, mother, and different kinds of pets. My hobbies are watching anime with my mother and taking care of my beloved pets. That''s all thank yo---." Before Samantha could finish, a ssmate of hers suddenly raised his hand and asked.


    "What is your rtionship with the world, President? Since we already have the son of the Vice President. I think it wouldn''t be weird if we also have the world''s President''s daughter. Don''t you guys think?" His ssmate asked.


    "My mother said that we are just a distant rtive of the world president. We can''t even get close to the world president because of how strict his security is." Samantha answered.


    "Too bad, it would have been cool to have the world''s president daughter and vice president''s son in one ss." His ssmate disappointedly sat down.


    "No more questions?" Miss Maria asked.


    No one answered.


    "Thank you, Samantha. You may take your seat." Seeing as no one is answering, Miss Maria continued.


    "Thank you, Miss Maria, thank you, everyone." Samantha hurriedly returned to her seat shyly.


    "Ok, that''s it for today. See you tomorrow, ss dismissed." Miss Maria said.


    Everyone in the ssroom started packing their things and leaving the ss.


    "Shall we go?" Alexandria said to Ezekiel and Samantha.


    "Let''s go." The both of them said in unison.


    ...


    The three of them started leaving their ssroom and discussed where to eat.


    "Where do you guys want to eat? My treat." Ezekiel asked.


    "It''s the first day of school. Definitely, to the canteen! Let''s see if they serve crap or delicacy." Alexandria grabbed their hands, then dragged them to the canteen.


    The three of them had lunch at the canteen and talk a lot of things. Alexandria and the two of them enjoyed the food at the cafeteria.


    They also had fun talking with each other like the almost 30 different kinds of animals of Samantha at home.


    The three of them then decided to go home.


    "Where is your house located, Samantha?" Ezekiel asked.


    "My house is that way." Alexandria pointed at east.


    "And I go that way." Ezekiel pointed in the opposite direction of where Alexandria is, pointing.


    "My house is that way." Samantha answered while pointing at where Ezekiel''s finger is pointed.


    "Nice, we go the same way." Ezekiel eximed.


    "Bye, Alex." Ezekiel said goodbye then hurriedly dragged Samantha with him.


    But before they could get far, out of nowhere, a punch suddenly flew towards Ezekiel''s gut.


    *Arghhhh! Ezekiel groaned as his vision started to ck out.


    "Sorry, Samantha, this guy got some business with me. I am taking him home with me." Alexandria said while dragging the fainted Ezekiel.


    Samantha giggled on the side, watching the two of them.


    "Bye, bye Alex. Bye, bye Ezekiel, take care. See you tomorrow." Samantha shouted while waving at the two of them.

 Chapter 10 - Prepare For War

    Halfway on the road to Alexandria''s house, Ezekiel woke up grumbling in pain while Alexandria is carrying him on a piggyback ride.


    "Argghh, you did not hold back even a little, didn''t you?" Ezekielined. He''s feeling slight difort in his gut and cramps all over his body, indicating that Alex probably dragged him around while he was unconscious.


    Alex noticed that Ezekiel already woke up because of Ezekiel''s annoying grumbling. So Alex decided to tease him for a bit. Alex threw a very slow punch in the air like a sloth throwing a punch. "I hit you with the lightest punch I could throw. Maybe your body is just too weak. You can''t even handle a frail little girl''s blow."


    The heck, I did not even see a single shadow of her punch when she struck me. Ezekiel can only cry inwardly.


    "How long have I been out?" Ezekiel asked while caressing his stomach using his left hand, still feeling some pain in his gut.


    "Hmmm, not that long, maybe, around fifteen to twenty minutes. Anyway, can you walk? You are kind of heavy." Alex stopped walking, then turned her head sideways to ask.


    "Where near to your house already. Can''t you carry me for a bit longer? You punched me so hard I don''t have that much strength left." Ezekiel knows that Alex is lying about her getting tired of carrying him. It is because a couple of years ago, he sees her carry something twice his weight. So Ezekiel also lied to at least give Alex a hard time.


    "By the way, why are you even forcefully bringing to your home?"


    "I just want to ask you something." Alexandria answered.


    "What the heck!? Just that!? You are some crazy girl, kidnapping a guy only to ask some questions. What would others think if it wasn''t me you just kidnapped? You could have just messaged me and asked me in the chat." Ezekiel shouted directly in Alexandria''s ears, scolding her for her craziness.


    "Shut up!! That hurts my ears." Annoyed by Ezekiel''s scream, Alexandria used her elbow to hit Ezekiel''s gut while still carrying Ezekiel on her back. But this time, it was as light as possible, enough so that he will not faint again since they are already close to her house. She doesn''t want her mother to scold her again, bringing an unconscious Ezekiel.


    *Arggghhh!!!


    Ezekiel wanted to fight back, but feeling the pain in his stomach worsening. Ezekiel withdrew any idea of fighting back. Fighting back at this point would only kill me. Alex might break some of my bones. Ezekiel can only cry inwardly.


    Sensing no movement from Ezekiel, Alex continued exining as if nothing happened. "It is an important question, okay?" And besides, I did not forget your punishment. Lastly, we are going to grind some materials for crafting till we are down tonight since I am not satisfied with what I gotst night."


    "More grinding? I''m already tired of gri~~" Ezekiel paused for a moment, seeing Alex stopped walking and clenching her fist.


    "You''re saying something?" Alexandria asked in a threatening voice.


    "Nothing, nothing, I said, I love grinding all night. You should have said it sooner I could have gone with you willingly, saving you the trouble of carrying me around." Ezekiel can only ept his fate.


    ...


    Several minutes passed Alexandria and Ezekiel arrived at her house.


    Alexandria opened the door, "I''m, home!"


    Ezekiel saw the mother of Alex cooking in the kitchen with the kids. "Hi, Aunt Irene." Ezekiel waved his hand.


    Irene turned around to greet them back. However, seeing her daughter carrying Ezekiel on her back. It instantly made Irene forget to greet them back.


    "What are you guys doing? Walking around like that in broad daylight?" Irene scolded both of them while waving the spat in her right hand and carrying Zandra, her youngest daughter on the other hand.


    "Ezekiel can''t walk around, so I am doing him a favor carrying him around."


    Ezekiel quickly shook his head at Alexandria''s mother.


    Looking at Ezekiel that is frantically shaking his head. Irene raised her eyebrows and put her hand on her hips after putting the spat on the table. "Alex!?"


    Looking at her mother, Alexandria instantly knew she''s busted.


    "I only hit him once." Alexandria said while twiddling her two fingers to look cute as much as possible.


    "Alexandria!?" Her mother raised her voice.


    "Okay, okay, I hit his guts twice, but thest one couldn''t even be called as a hit. I did not even use a quarter of my strength."


    "This girl, Sigh!" When did I ever raise such a savage daughter?


    "I''m sorry, Ezekiel." Irene apologized to Ezekiel.


    "It''s okay, Aunt Irene, I am kind of used to it already." Ezekiel forcefully smiled at aunt Irene.


    "Let me call your dad to tell that you''ll be staying here for the night and apologize to him."


    "Thanks, Aunt Irene." Ezekiel thanked.


    Her mother pointed at her. "And you don''t go around beating up anyone you want. What do you think would others think seeing the Vice President son getting beaten up in public?"


    "Yes, yes, I understand, mom." Alex hurriedly ran to the stairs escaping her mother''s bbering. Because she knew that once it starts, it would take a couple of hours for her mother to end.


    "Come back here!! I am still not finished with you!" Irene shouted.


    "Love you too, mom!!" Alex shouted back to appease her mother''s anger.


    ...


    Once Alexandria and Ezekiel entered her room, she instantly threw Ezekiel on her bed and booted herputer. up


    "Arrggghh!"


    "Can''t you be a little gentler sometimes?" Ezekiel said with the aching all over his body worsening due to the throw she did.


    "Shut up for a moment. I''m busy here." Alexandria said while searching for something on the inte.


    Ezekiel stood up from the bed, then looked at theputer screen. "What are you looking for, anyway?"


    "Samantha G. Archeon? Why are you searching for Samantha on the inte?" Ezekiel asked, puzzled by the actions of Alexandria.


    "I feel that Samantha is an important person and not just a distant rtive of the world president. I think that she is lying to us. And I''m pretty sure I''ve seen or heard of her somewhere. It''s just that I can''t remember exactly where or when." Alexandria said while scrolling through the web looking for any clues about Samantha.


    "You don''t remember?" Ezekiel said, walking back to the bed to rest again.


    "Remember what?" Alexandria turned his chair around wondering, what is Ezekiel talking about.


    "A year ago, you asked me to investigate anything that is rted to Archeon corporation?" Ezekiel said while resting on her bed with closed eyes.


    "A year ago? But you did not discover anything useful at that time, except..." Alex suddenly remembers the discoveries they made in the investigation she asked for Ezekiel to do.


    "Except the name of the world President''s daughter!" Alex eximed, seeing the picture of the whole puzzle now.


    "You get it?" Ezekiel sat right up on the bed.


    "You already know, didn''t you?" Alex said with a fierce re to Ezekiel, showing a don''t you dare mess with me again.


    "Yup, I instantly knew the moment she entered the ssroom." Ezekiel answered fearlessly. Since he is already in her home, he can always call aunt Irene for reinforcement if Alex goes physical. So there is nothing to be afraid of now.


    Alex grabbed the closest thing she could see beside her, then threw it to Ezekiel. "Why didn''t you tell me earlier?"


    Ezekiel ducked to dodge the flying notebook that Alex has thrown at him. "Where''s the element of surprise if I told you?"


    "Do you want to know another surprise?"


    Alex did not answer, and she just gave Ezekiel a threatening re and waited for him to talk.


    Seeing Alex sulking in the chair, Ezekiel realizes that annoying her further would be the end of his life. So Ezekiel stopped ying around and continued what he is talking."Archeon has finally started to make a move again after two years of staying silent...." Ezekiel paused to see Alex''s reaction, but she was still staring at him.


    "ording to my spy, they are preparing for something called Project: Parabellum."


    "Parabellum." Alex looked down, then mumbled silently.


    "It''s a Latin word." Ezekiel eximed.


    "Huh?" Alex was confused about what he is talking.


    "If you search for it then trante Parabellum from Latin to English it would mean..." Ezekiel said while waving his cell phone, showing her that he is searching for the meaning of Parabellum. Ezekiel then turned his phone to Alex and on his cell phone''s screen appears the word "Prepare for War"

 Chapter 11 - Gods Prophets

    On the rooftop of their school, Alexandria was standing and leaning on the railings. nkly staring at the clouds in the sky, Alexandria loved the feeling of the gentle breeze hitting his whole body. Alexandria just wanted this moment tost a little bit longer. But she knew that it would be impossible, seeing the storm brewing in the far distance.


    A week has already passed since the day that she brought Ezekiel into her home. The things that Ezekiel said have been bothering her. As the days passed, her uneasiness grew greater and greater, and this day reached its peak. Because ording to Ezekiel, this day is the day that Archeon will be announcing to the world what Project: Parabellum truly is.


    She tried to immerse herself by doing some training these past few days to distract herself, but it did not calm her down in the slightest.


    She doesn''t even understand what she feels anymore. Alexandria first thought that it was fear of war that might break the peace in this world. A war that will kill billions of innocent people, but training herself this past few days made her realize that it was never fear in the first ce. It was like excitement? Or was it anticipation? Or maybe was it the thrill of chaos? She was not certain herself, yet one thing she was sure of is that she felt something simr, in that game, in that world, and in that war.


    Alexandria''s thoughts ended when she heard the door of the rooftop creaked open. Alexandria turned around to see that it was Ezekiel, who barely got any strength to open the door, trying to catch his breath while sweat dripping down on his face. He was almost crawling to the ground just to open the door.


    "Are you alright?" Alex slowly walked closer beside Ezekiel to check his current condition and open the half-open door for him.


    "Why... the heck... did you even go up in here?" Ezekiel said, gasping his words out while he gave up and justid on the ground and closed his eyes. There is no way he wouldn''t be out of breath. He just climbed a freaking twenty-floored school building through the stairs without any breaks.


    "I like this ce. It''s so quiet in here, and you won''t see anyone that goes up here during ss hours." She squatted beside Ezekiel staring at his tired and sweaty face and his chest pounding. Alex felt pity for him. Ezekiel must have hurriedly run just to go up in here.


    ...


    Ezekiel already knew that Alex loves to stay on the rooftop of their school. Who would even bother going up the twentieth floor to take a rest and think of some things others might as well go to some park.


    "Wait here," Alex stood up and went to the left side corner of the rooftop to where her backpack is. She rummaged inside to look for her water bottle. After grabbing it, she went back to Ezekiel.


    "Here." Alex handed out the water to Ezekiel.


    Ezekiel opened his eyes to see what she''s trying to give him. Seeing that it was her water bottle, he snatched then hastily gulped the all water in just a few seconds.


    "Slow down, so what news do you have for me?" Alex asked because she can no longer wait on what are the Archeon nning.


    Ezekiel sat right up first, then took some deep breaths. "My spy said that Project: Parabellum is not a preparation for war. It is actually the title of a game they are making, and they are nning to release and announce it today. So we don''t need to worry anymore."


    "But why are they even making a game? They are now a government. They are not even a gamingpany in the first ce." Alex was disappointed. She thought that she could experience something simr to what she felt a few years ago in just like in that game if a war will happen.


    "You look disappointed," Ezekiel mumbled, looking at Alex''s eyes


    "Huh?" Alex said in confusion


    Wait, he is right. Why am I disappointed just because they are not nning for war? Why do I think I am getting crazier and crazier these days? What is going on with me? Alexandria thought.


    "Hey, do you think I''m crazy?" Alex eximed out in the blue.


    What is this girl thinking now, asking me that question out of nowhere? Should I answer it honestly or not? But I don''t want to get beaten up again. Ezekiel contemted for a few seconds.


    "Honestly, I think you''ve changed a lot. I have seen you started changing two years ago, one week after the supposed destruction of the world. You suddenly started training yourself as if you are not satisfied with your current strength. The heck, you even started studying the arts of war and strategies. You don''t even like carrying any books around before. I did not even know what entered your mind at that time when you asked me for different materials for studying. It was almost about one hundred different kinds of weapons. From swords, spears, to bows, you did not even let guns pass your craziness. I miss the cute and adorable Alex five years ago." Ezekiel wanted to add more, but when he sees Alexandria''s expression turning grimmer, he stopped talking.


    I should have lied. I just dug my own grave telling her those things and talking too much.


    Alexandria can only sigh. "Maybe I truly have changed." mumbled silently through the air.


    "I mean, it is not that bad of a change. Think about it, with all the training you have done. You can easily defend yourself when you are in trouble. People always change as, long as you have changed for the better, it would not matter what others say. " Ezekiel tried to cheer Alex up.


    "Thanks."


    "And no matter how much you change or what you will be in the future. It doesn''t matter because I will always stay by your side no matter what others would say." Ezekiel thought. Sadly, he can only hide these thoughts from her in his mind.


    *ring! *ring! *ring! *ring!


    Someone''s phone suddenly rang.


    The both of them simultaneously reached for their pockets.


    Seeing that it was not her phone ringing, Alex turned to Ezekiel answering his phone.


    "Yes?"


    "Ok, I got it."


    "Anything else."


    "Ok, I understand. Goodbye." Ezekiel ended the call.


    "Who was that?" Alex asked.


    "It was my spy, she said to open up your news Archeon is live streaming and is now announcing their Project: Parabellum to the world." Ezekiel said.


    Alex hastily opened up his phone, then searched the website of the Archeon Government. This website is where they put their announcements for the whole world to see. She instantly sees the live streaming on the home page with a shing title, Second Virtual Reality Massive Multiyer Online Role-ying Game. Once Alexandria clicked the live stream, she can see the current World President Nomral on the podium, which is already in the middle of his speech.


    "I know all of you are excited just by reading the title of the stream and was wondering if all of it is true. Yes, all of you have read it right this isn''t like the normal PC games you''re ying right now. After the two years of secret research that we did, we have finally sessfully created the 2nd Virtual Reality Game and 1st Virtual Reality Multiyer Game created by humans." The audience gave a round of apuse.


    "You heard it right. We have finally created a world made by god two years ago, and this game is not a single-yer game where you are all alone adventuring in a very vast world. It is a game where you can adventure, fight, build, and learn with everyone. You can do anything you want in this world, be anything, bing a God is even possible in this world. Some people said that it would be impossible with humanity''s current technology. They say that humans can never replicate a god''s work, but one thing that they have forgotten...." Nomral paused and took a deep breath "WE ARE GOD''S PROPHETS!!!"


    Alex grabbed her backpack and started walking downstairs.


    "Where are you going? Aren''t you going to keep watch watching?" Ezekiel asked.


    "Tell me the important detailster. I need some time, alone." Alex said, raising her right hand to say goodbye while her left hand is shaking, holding her backpack.


    Ezekiel closed the live stream. He doesn''t have any reason to continue watching. Then he started walking downstairs, dialing the number of his spy. "The thing that changed you is there, isn''t it?" Ezekiel mumbled,


    *ring! *ring! *ring! *ring!


    "Hello, master?"


    "Hey Ni?a, tell me the important parts of the announcementter." Ezekiel order.


    "As you wish, master."


    Ezekiel ended the call and put his phone back in his pocket. "This time, surely this time, I will make sure to be by your side." Ezekiel whispered to the air.


    ...


    While walking out of their school gates, Alex clenched her hands so hard it almost bled, just to suppress what she''s feeling right now. She is so excited she knows it the adrenaline became harder and harder to hold. All she wanted to do right now is go home and sleep, or she might just beat somebody up. Watching that live stream, Alex felt her heartbeat became faster and faster. This excitement she''s feeling was like a deja vu of what she felt five years ago.


    "I want to fight... Fight... Fight in that world."

 Chapter 12 - A Mothers Love

    Entering her house, Alex sees her mother in the living room watching a noontime show with the kids ying by her side.


    "I''m home..." She greeted sluggishly, thenzily goes to her room.


    Irene turned around to see who it was, seeing that it was Alex, she was about to greet her back when she remembered something."Wait, don''t you still have any sses this afternoon?"


    "Not now mom, I need some rest." Alexzily replied as she continued walking upstairs.


    Hearing her weak response, Irene can''t help but worry. "What is up with your sister now?" Irene unconsciously mumbled in front of the children.


    The twins are both puzzled by what their mother is saying.


    Noticing the confused looks on the twins, Irene did not bother exining anything to them. She just went back on making the crying Zandra in her arms sleep faster by singing her a luby so that she can go and check on her troublesome daughter.


    ...


    A few minutes had passed Zandra has finally fallen asleep after singing her a couple of her favorite lubies and breastfeeding her.


    She then went to the three children ying beside the television.


    "Ax and El, please watch your sister Serene and Zandra for a moment for me, okay? I will go up for a while and check on your troublesome sister." Irene unhurriedly said to the twins for them to clearly understand her.


    The twins replied harmoniously. "Okay~~~"


    "Shhhh, quiet Zandra is sleeping."


    She then ced the sleeping baby in her arms to her crib.


    "Okay~~~" The twins harmoniously replied again, but this time in a much softer voice.


    The twins then went back to ying with their Serene.


    Now that the kids are busy with each other, Irene can now go and check on Alex. "Honestly, what is going on with her?" Irene worriedly mumbled while going to Alex''s room.


    ...


    The moment Alex entered her room, she instantly jumped to her bed.


    It''s been a couple of minutes already since she arrived, and all she is doing right now is justying on her bed and staring at the ceiling absently.


    The silence in the room got broken when she heard her mother knocking on the door.


    "She must be worried I probably looked so pitiful when I got home." Alex mumbled.


    Alex did not bother answering her mother''s call outside of the room. She just continued staring at the ceiling nkly. After a couple of minutes of continuous knocking, her mother stopped and went downstairs.


    Alex got up in bed to unlock the door since there is no point in keeping it locked anyway because her mother has probably gone down to get the keys. She thenzily went back to bed after unlocking the door.


    Alex then heard her mother''s heavy footsteps echoing through their wooden floor right after she got back on the bed.


    Her mother is probably annoyed with her right now, sensing her heavier footsteps than usual. Alex prepared for hering infuriated mother by cowering under her pillow and nket.


    ...


    With the key in her hand, Irene inserted it into the doorknob. As she was turning the key, she realized that the door is already unlocked. Irene let out an exasperated sigh.


    Instead of rushing in to confront her daughter''s awful behaviors, Irene softly pushed the door and slowly walked inside the room.


    Seeing her daughter holed up in her nket, Irene slowly sat down beside her.


    "Are you okay?" Irene softly whispered.


    ...


    Hearing her mother''s soft, warm and caring voice, Alex''s pent-up emotions she''s been holding back all this time started bursting out of her.


    She abruptly removes the nket and plunges towards her mother''s loving arms.


    ...


    Alex''s sudden dived into her arms and wailing startled her, and it pains her to see her daughter like this. Nevertheless, she just silently hugged her back, letting her know that she will always be here whenever she needs her.


    Her daughter may have grown stronger all these years. But still, it was so fast to the point where slowly teaching things to her can''t catch up with her rapid growth. Not to mention the four little children she''s taking care of, resulting in her attention with the kids divided among them.


    "I don''t want to change again." Alex said abruptly and choked out her words in between sniffles from crying.


    With Alex suddenly talks about her changing, Irene can only think of the announcement earlier that made her like this.


    It probably had something to do with the new virtual reality game and the things that happened to her five years ago.


    "Everything will be alright." Gently caressing Alex''s back, she can only utter those words since she isn''t an expert in handling this kind of situation.


    Ever since Alex has been a child, Irene has never seen her daughter cry in any situation. Alex has always been a strong girl since she was born, learning things by herself, not relying on others, solving problems on her own.


    But upon seeing her daughter crying for the first time in her life. Her heart feels like getting ruptured every time she feels a tear falls on her shoulders.


    Regardless of how strong her daughter became, she is still too young to understand her current self. Her daughter probably thinks that she is nowhere near being a normal girl at this point.


    ...


    Alex and her mother continued cuddling for quite some time. Her rough breathing finally started to slow down, and the adrenaline she felt a while ago steadily calmed down each time her mother gently caresses her back.


    Once she calmed down and collected her thoughts. Alex realized that she is most likely afraid that she may no longer recognize herself if she changed once more.


    "I''m scared."


    "Scared of bing someone everyone won''t like."


    Her mother tightly held her shoulders, then pushed her away from her embrace. "Listen here, no matter how much you change, what you be, in the past... Present... Or even the future... Your father and I will always love you unconditionally. That''s because you will always be our beloved daughter." Her mother almost shouted those words to her while staring directly into her eyes.


    That stirred her calmed heart just a moment ago.


    With her vision clouded with tears, she can see her mother''s moistened eyes, rosy nose, and cheeks.


    All this time, her mother is crying silently whileforting her.


    "Mom..." Before she could say anything, her mother embraced her again.


    "Nothing is permanent except change. Even I and your father are twopletely different people fifteen years ago. Your father used to be the youngest five-star general in history and a ferocious, savage, and bloodthirsty general on the battlefields. The battlefield, he loved, therades he treasures, and the title he painstakingly earned he left all of it for his family. Now your father is just apletely normal martial arts instructor. I also used to be an outstanding doctor treating your father and his woundedrades on the battlefield. Now, look at me, a regr housewife taking care of her five children."


    "Did you ever regret changing?" Buried in her mother''s chest, Alex had difficulty saying her words.


    "Regret?"


    "We never had any, we loved our work, but nothing canpare our love for you more than anything in the world." Her mother said while gently patting her head.


    "Life is just a journey we are bound to change someday. That''s why as long as you''re fine with yourself, live your life without worry. No matter how many times you''ll change, your family will always be here for you."


    "Mom?"


    "Hmmm?"


    She looked straight into her mother''s eyes. "I want to see that world." Alex asked for permission now that she''sposed and determined.

 Chapter 13 - Secret Basement

    Seeing the determination in her daughter''s eyes, how can she even dare to reject her. "You''re just like your father. Fine, I''ll let you y."


    Alex poised to hug her. "Thanks, mom."


    Irene stopped her approaching daughter by raising her index finger. "But in one condition."


    Before she could even finish what she''s saying, she sees her daughter''s lips pouting. "Why are you looking so upset? I already agreed to your request."


    "It''s because you don''tpletely agree with me."


    "How can I even unconditionally agree with you after seeing you cry so hard in front of me. Besides, one condition won''t hurt, doesn''t it?" Irene lightly smacked her daughter''s hard head because of how stubborn she was.


    ...


    Alex can only yield to her mother. One condition probably won''t affect her that much, she thought. "Fine, what is the condition?"


    "It''s pretty simple since they said that this is a multiyer game. As long as you can make your father y together with you, then I''ll be at ease letting you go wild in that world."


    "What?? No, I refuse! Think of something else!!" Isn''t daddy''s age already too old to y games? Besides, won''t it be kind of awkward if daddy''s following me around?" Alexined, who would even enjoy having her father stalking around whenever she hang out or y with her friends.


    She can''t just let her daughter y without any protection. While she recalls what happened to her daughter two years ago. "I didn''t say that your father needs to be a stalker. I just need him to y, however he wants. He doesn''t need to follow you. Your father''s presence in there is enough for me to feel at ease. That way, helping you whenever you are in trouble will be easy."


    "But daddy sucks at ying games, he once tried ying with me, but daddy''s skills at ying is simply trash." She will not simply back down. Knowing that having her father around is very embarrassing. Specially her father acts cool despite his age.


    "He sucks at ying PC games, but you know that he''s actually good at ying VR since he managed tost one hour in the first Virtual Reality Game. ording to a survey the Archeon Government did, they only know ny-nine people that persisted on the one-hour mark, and your father is one of them." Her mother had a smile on her face with eyes that seemed to sparkle while convincing her. "Your father might even have hit the thirty-minute mark, if only he didn''t take care of me and my cravings when I was pregnant. He could have spent more time bing stronger in the game...."


    Her mother is so proud of her father, she kept on talking, even mentioning his past achievements. Listening to her mother''s chattering, Alex gives up. Her mother is just too difficult to argue with. The only thing she can do is yield to her mother''s request.


    ...


    Outside of Arturia Famly''s house


    Zach stride to the door in his GI, with ck tops and ck pants with a ck belt bicolored with red stripes, while sweat''s dripping on his face and a mildly rough breathing cause he just finished training by himself.


    He has closed his dojo early today since his dojo is dead silent again.


    "I''m home..." When no one answered Zach, looked around the house and noticed the kids ying with each other in the living room. He then treads towards them.


    "Ahhh, papa." El was the first one to notice him.


    "Have you been good to your mother today?" Zach patted El.


    "Uhnn!!" El nodded.


    Zach noticed someone tugging his uniform on his side. "Papa, papa, mama said... not... noisy, baby sleep." Ax said, stuttering.


    He looked in the direction of the baby''s crib there he sees Zandra sleeping peacefully. "Sorry." Zach apologized with a low voice.


    "Pa... Pa..." He also sees Serene having a hard time walking towards him with open arms.


    Zach lifted his angelic daughter. "Mama, where?" Zach asked while kissing his daughter''s rosy cheeks. His daughter is just too adorable he can''t resist spoiling her.


    "Up... up..." her daughter answered while pointing at the stairs.


    "You guys stay and watch over Zandra, okay." Zach slowly said to the twins.


    "Kayyy....." The twins answered harmoniously in a hushed tone.


    He then started walking upstairs with Serene in his arms.


    ...


    Alex has endured her mother''s bbering for a while now. She can''t find the right time to butt in. While still pondering on when to stop her mother, she notices the door opening.


    "Dad!!!" Alex cried out, seeing a savior in her current predicament.


    Her mother turned around. "Why are you guys so early today."


    Her father walked closer to her mother then smooched her forehead. "I got bored." Her father answered while scratching the back of his head. Her father quickly changed the topic to avoid getting scolded. "You, why are you home so early. You still have sses, right?."


    ...


    "Nevermind that, you have seen the news, right?" Noticing that it''s useless to scold her husband, Irene decided to go directly to the point.


    "The Virtual Reality Game?"


    "Yes."


    "Why??"


    "Will you y with your daughter on that one?" Irene asked.


    "Why?" Zach turned to look at his daughter confusingly.


    Zach sees her daughter''s pleading eyes, seeing that her daughter just looked like she was pleading to tease her.


    "I''m not letting her y the game if you''re not ying."


    "Nahhh, I''m not ying. I still have to watch the dojo." Zach wanted to tease her daughter more. But when he looked in Irene''s direction, he met a very threatening gaze from his wife that looked like she would kill him any second now.


    "I''m joking, joking. I already nned on ying it. It''s too dull in the dojo alone, with Alex attending school."


    "Close that dojo of yours already. There''s no oneing there every day anyway." Irene insulted. It''s her punishment to him for teasing her daughter.


    "Close? No way, I invested a lot in that dojo. Kids these days don''t see the benefits of learning martial arts. They are too focused on their phones." Zach started an argument.


    ...


    Alex left her parents arguing with each other and grab her vibrating phone. It was a chat from Ezekiel.


    -


    IMPORTANT DETAILS


    ~Game starts at 11:59 midnight today


    ~Game can be yed with 1st Generation capsules if you still have one


    ~2nd Generation capsules can be purchased in any Archeon branch department store.


    ~Game-rted announcements will be announced in the game once the servers are up.


    ~We can also use smartphone applications in the game to ess forums, chats, etc. to connect with the real world.


    If you don''t have the 1st Gen capsule call me, I can get the 2nd Gen. Capsule for you since stores are crowded with customers.


    Alex reads Ezekiel''s chat aloud so that her parents can hear her.


    "Dad, can you buy 2nd Gen. Capsules for us??" Alex asked.


    "We don''t need 2nd Gen. I still have the 1st Gen. Capsules."


    "Huh?? Haven''t you thrown those away already?" Alex asked in confusion since she has seen him throw one capsule in the trash.


    "You''ve only seen me throw your mother''s capsule away, since your mother doesn''t like seeing it in the house, and it takes too much space. So I hid ours in my secret basement." Zach uttered.


    "We have a secret basement??" Alex was bewildered, she lived in this house for 18 years. She never thought that they actually have a basement.

 Chapter 14 - Dark Past

    Alex still can''t believe that they have a basement. In the end, their house is just your usual two-story house for middle-ss people. That has a vibrant color on the inside and white paint on the outside.


    By now, her father is already outside her room, waiting for her. "Are youing!?" Zach called out excitedly. Her father is giving the feeling of a kid wanting to show his favorite toys to his friends.


    "Yes!"


    Irene noticed that Serene is still in his husband''s arms. "Give me Serene." Irene got out of the bed and snatched her daughter from Zach. "You can''t bring your daughter in that dusty and hazardous ce."


    Zach scratched the back of his head. "I actually cleaned up that ce one week ago." Zach can''t help but feel apologetic. Ten years ago, he once promised that he would not enter that ce again, yet he broke his promise two years ago to hide the 1st Generation capsules, saying it would be thest time.


    Irene''s warm aura after snatching Serene from Zach became iparably cold. She lowered her voice with a tone like a devil that had crawled out of hell in Zach''s ears. "We both promised to never bring back our dark past. Was it all for naught??"


    Irene''s cold aura gives chills to Alex and Zach''s bodies. Irene can be the gentlest mother and wife in the world. But is the most horrifying woman when angered. Irene and Zach subconsciously thought at the same time.


    "Sorry... I acted without thinking, but I only did it because your daughter can''t stop mentioning something about war every day with a serious face." Zach could only push the me to her daughter. Irene tends to have a soft spot for the kids, so Alex should be fine.


    ...


    Alex was confused about how in the world is she med on this one!


    Alex doesn''t even know that they have a secret basement. Looking at his father''s apologetic face, Alex can''t help but feel more pissed off.


    But when she thinks more about it. She recalled that she did unconsciously mumble a lot during training with her father it must be something about war.


    "Wahhhh!!"


    Out of nowhere, Serene suddenly started wailing. She must have felt the intimidating air around her mother.


    As soon as she heard Serene started crying, Irene''s cold and intimidating aura instantly reverted to her usual soft and warm aura. Irene then began rocking Serene gently.


    "Go, get the game capsules first, but don''t show her too much of that ce. We''ll talkter." Irene said as she concentrated on Serene.


    Zach then dragged Alex out of the room.


    ...


    "Dad?"


    "Yes?"


    Alex asked while following her father walking out of the house. "Where did you hide the basement? I have seen every nook and cranny of the house. I have never seen any ce where you can secretly enter unnoticed." Their house is just too small to hide a secret ce from her. She lived in this ce for 18 years without even discovering it.


    "You''ll see it wouldn''t be weird that you don''t notice it at all."


    Alex was confused because the direction they are heading towards is their neighbor''s abandoned house.


    Without notice, the owner of that house deserted it ten years ago. They even left without moving out any of their stuff inside. They just disappeared out of the blue, and since then no new people moved in.


    Staring outside the gate of the one-story old house full of vines, Alex can''t help but have second thoughts. "Aren''t we trespassing here, dad??"


    Zach did not even falter opening the gates.


    Alex can only follow silently.


    "Don''t worry. The government has made this ce into a restricted area." Zach said as he casually kicked the old door.


    Aren''t we more in trouble now!!!??


    Despite Alex''s worries, she still followed her father. After all, she was curious about her father''s secret basement and her parent''s past.


    The interior of the house is unexpectedly big, enough for five people to live together.


    Once she entered, she immediately smelled the dry, rotted stench. The ce was full of dust, cobwebs, and broken stuff on the floor.


    It was a relief that they went to this ce in the middle of the afternoon. Alex guessed that if they went to this ce during the night, it would be really spooky.


    Alex then sees her father removing the dirty old white carpet in the middle of the room.


    Out of nowhere, Zach stomped the floor thrice. Alex was stunned as a section of the floor started moving, revealing a set of stairs below as lights automatically turned on, illuminating the way.


    "Isn''t that too high tech!??" No one would expect that in this creepy old abandoned house exists a very high-tech basement.


    "Well, this used to be the property of the government used to watch Irene and me in the past. It''s not strange to have high-tech stuff around here." Zach eximed as they casually waited for the slow moving floor to be fully opened.


    Her father''s statement confused Alex. "Why are you guys being watched by the government? Are you guys some kind of criminals? Aren''t you guys in the military before?" Alex rapidly fired question one after the other, curious about her parent''s past. Alex doesn''t really know that much about her parent''s past life. Since they rarely talked about it.


    "We are not criminals... In fact, we had the most contribution in the world... It''s just that when we suddenly decided to retire. The people that we served and trusted have suddenlybeled us as one of the most dangerous people on earth." Zach can''t help but feel dejected, remembering the bastards that they served for a long time. Only to bepensated with unkindness.


    If it''s her father, it wouldn''t be odd for him to be called one of the most dangerous people on earth. What''s shocking is that her mother is one of the most dangerous people on earth." Why is motherbeled as dangerous??"


    "Let''s not talk about our dark past anymore. Your mother might give me a beatingter if I talk too much." Seeing as the floor is now fully opened, Zach started going down the basement, avoiding Alex''s questions.


    Zach turned around to her daughter and said onest time. "We are products of our past, but we don''t have to be prisoners of it."

 Chapter 15 - Gaming Community

    After walking down for a while, Alex and her father arrived in front of a wooden door.


    "Compared to the high-tech entrance before, isn''t this too shabby?" Alex disappointed look at the door. At first she thought that this ce is protected with high-tech steel doors, surrounded by an armored wall, with aplex lock.


    Zach entered without minding what Alex said. "Stop daydreaming in there. I have the good stuff inside. I already destroyed everything that I can''t open easily and renovated it myself." Despite the things that Zach said, the only thing he renovated is the door. Because Zach has been in the military, he knows how to use everything inside. Zach only had a hard time opening the door, so he destroyed it.


    Zach moved to the light switch and turned on the lights showcasing the collection he''s so proud of to her daughter.


    When Alex entered the room, the first thing that caught her eyes was the variety of weapons stuck on the wall. She can see all sorts of knives, pistols, rifles, machine guns, and snipers. Surprisingly, the basement bigger than the house. It is almost as big as a basketball court. Alex can tell that this ce was cleaned recently with no signs of dustpared to the spooky atmosphere earlier.


    "Damn!! Where did you get all of this, dad?" Because she studied all kinds of weapons, and one of them is guns. Alex can tell that every one of his father''s collections is an S-ss weapon. This ss of weapons can''t easily be gained even if you have the money. She once wanted to try one of those when she was studying. Sadly, even with Ezekiel''s connection, he only gave her a measly Magnum Research Big Frame Revolver. It is still rare, but it''s nothingpared to her father''s collection.


    Zach boasted to her daughter about his hard-earned collection. "Almost everything here is stolen from the bastards that betrayed me. It''s my punishment for those bastards. Isn''t your father so cool?"


    Alex feels her father is just joking around whenever he''s talking about the people that betrayed them. It was like her father is just talking about a prank his buddy did.


    Alex walked towards the Barret M95, a manual bolt-action anti-material sniper rifle that she really likes so much, and started stroking it. "These babies are so beautiful. Can I y with them?" Alex pleaded, blinking her eyes rapidly, looking like a little child that found a new toy. "Pretty please...??" Seeing the shooting range in the corner of the room, Alex wanted to fire one of these bad boys so much.


    Zach is not surprised when her daughter likes guns. Alex must have inherited this from him and his wife. "Do you think your mother will let you y with one of those big boys? Your mother will probably kill me if even one of those things steps out of this house. I don''t want to be riddled with holes the next day." Zach said while casually dragging the capsule towards the door. "Stop ying around in there, and let''s bring this virtual capsule out already." Looking at the time on his watch, it is now past 4 p.m.


    Alex walked dejectedly to her father. "Okay..." She won''t give up that easily. She will pester her fatherter.


    "Stop pouting. I will let you y in here once in a while. I''ll try to convince your motherter." Zach missed using everything inside. Now that he thinks about it, it''s already been 15 years since he fired a firearm. Maybe he can use his daughter to negotiate with Irene since they both wanted to use this ce to y around. He can ept a little thrashing from his wife if necessary.


    The capsule''s estimated 300 kg weight is not that heavy for both of them. With that kind of weight, even Alex can easily lift it alone. How much more him, who is much stronger than her daughter. What made it harder to carry alone is the capsule''s 3 meters length and 1-meter height. Without Alex, Zach can only drag the capsule''s one end slowly to the small stairway. With Alex here, it made things a lot easier for him.


    ...


    It was already dinner time when Alex and Zach finished moving the two 1st generation capsules to her room and her father''s room. They took quite a long time moving the second capsule because she insisted on firing a few rounds in the shooting range of the basement.


    "You guys take a shower first. Both of you are full of sweat." Irene reminded after seeing them finish setting up the capsules.


    "Yes!!" Alex happily rushed to her room, firing a few rounds with her father cleared some of her built-up stress.


    Seeing Alex going to her room, Zach dragged his wife to their room. "Let''s talk."


    When she remembered her husband''s halted beating a while ago, Irene''s motherly, warm aura became iparably ice-cold, looking at Zach with a murderous re. Now that the children are not with her, she can finally start beating up her husband unrestrained.


    Seeing the murderous re of his wife, Zach can only cry inwardly. Somebody help!!!


    Zach''s


    ...


    After Alex got out of the shower, her phone started ringing. Seeing that it was Ezekiel, in the caller''s name, Alex answered nonchntly.


    "Hey, Alex?"


    "What''s up?"


    "Let''s create a Discode server!!" Ezekiel suggested excitedly.


    What is this guy thinking now?


    "Why?" Alex asked, while brushing her wet hair.


    "I already talked with Samantha about this, and we both liked the idea that we can easilymunicate inside the game. We are now just waiting for your confirmation."


    Aside from Ezekiel''s voice, Alex can hear a faint sound in the background calling her name.


    "Sis Alex, lets y together!!!" Samantha kept meddling with Ezekiel and Alex''s conversation. Samantha is now always together with Ezekiel every time they go home.


    Alex''s rtionship with Samantha got closer these past few days after Samantha found out that Alex and Ezekiel knew her secret of being the world president''s daughter.


    At first, Alex tried to avoid Samantha after figuring out her identity. Samantha found her behavior weird, so Samantha asked Ezekiel what''s her problem, and with Ezekiel''s being a chatterbox with a treacherous mind, he exposed her to Samantha immediately. Then, all of a sudden, Samantha became more unrestrained with her actions. Since Alex never had a grudge with Samantha''s family. She thinks that there''s really no problem with her being close to Samantha. After seeing Samantha''s unrestrained self, she started loving Samantha''s real self more and more each day.


    Alex now always pampers Samantha whenever she has the chance to.


    "Since both of you are fine with it, let''s create one. By the way, will you mind if I add my father to the server? He will y with me this time, so I''m thinking of making the server a gamingmunity." For most of the games Alex yed, she only has Ezekiel as her partner. Now she has her father, Samantha, together with them having a college course of BS Esports. Their ssmates will surely y this game, so it was a good idea to create amunity.


    It''s good that Alex has now started opening up herself with other people. "Nice idea!! I''ll talk about the details with youter." Ezekiel gave the phone to Samantha as she kept on pestering him.


    Samanthained. "Sis, why did you leave without telling me? You could have brought me together with you to cut sses."


    These guys, talking about cutting sses like a simple matter. Aren''t you guys concerned with your grades!!!?


    When Alex remembered that she just walked past Samantha when she was going home, she felt sorry for her. "Sorry, let me treat you to dinner tomorrow. How about it? I''m quite good at cooking." Alex suggested, even though she mainly trains with her father now. Her mother also taught her a lot of things in the past, and one of the things she likes to do is cooking with her mother.


    "Really??" Samantha happily asked.


    "I promise." Hearing the joyful sound at the other end of the phone, Alex can''t help but smile.


    "You can''t go back on your promise, do you understand?"


    "Yes."


    "We''re here." Ezekiel reminded Samantha that they arrived at the gates of her home.


    "I''ll look forward tomorrow, bye sis..."


    "Byeee..." Alex hung up the call.


    Samantha gave the phone back to Ezekiel. They then exchanged their farewells.

 Chapter 16 - Game Start

    After hanging up the call, Alex heard her mother calling out downstairs. "Alex, dinner''s ready!"


    Alex''s stomach started growling as she smelled the fragrant aroma downstairs. Alex is starving all the heavy lifting and crying earlier exhausted her. With the delicious aroma of food in the air, she can''t help but dash downstairs. Based on the scent alone, Alex can tell that it is her mother that cooked this time. Her mother now rarely cooked, ever since she gave birth to her siblings. Alex and her father''s cooking tasted good, but they still can''tpare to her mother''s godly cooking skills.


    Seeing the delicacies lined up on the table, Alex was itching to eat already. Nevertheless, she controlled her hunger. Then she sat beside her little brother, El, waiting for her mother and father. "El... Where''s mommy and daddy?"


    Facing Alex, El pointed at Zach and Irene''s room. "Mommy, Daddy... y..."


    Following El''s finger, Alex sees her father and mother walking out of the master''s bedroom. "Dad, What happened to your face?" She was bewildered as she saw Zach''s face, full of bruises and minor cuts.


    "This?" Pointing at the bruises on his face. "This is nothing. It will heal up pretty fast." His wife did not even hold back when beating him up, knowing that he heals three times faster than normal humans. "Nevermind that I have good news for you. Your mother agreed to let us y... I mean, train in the basement."


    "Really!?" Alex turned to look at her mother.


    Seeing her daughter''s happy face, Zach nodded satisfactorily. All the beating he received is still worth it in the end. Zach used Alex''s safety to his advantage to force Irene topromise with their request.


    Irene nodded to Alex. "But don''t neglect your studies, ok? If I see your grades failing even once, I''ll forbid you from training in the basement again." Irene doesn''t want her children to know Zach and her past, but if ites to their children''s safety. They would do anything to protect them, even if it means that Zach and her need to teach their children every knowledge and skill they know to survive.


    "I promise, I promise." Alex nodded hastily.


    "Let''s eat, let''s eat first. The food will get cold. I am starving already." with the food being within arms reach, Alex can''t resist the temptation to eat already.


    Seeing the kids'' starving looks, Irene and Zach giggled. They then sat down with Irene, sitting with the two girls and Zach, sitting with the two boys and Alex. Irene then started serving the little children their food.


    The family of seven joyfully eat their dinner, disregarding the dark cloud looming outside.


    ...


    After eating thest grain of rice on her te, Alex suddenly burped. "Excuse me."


    Her mother''s cooking is the best. Sadly, she can only feast on it on rare asions. "Mmm, mom, you should cook more often again. Father''s cooking and mine can''t simplypare to yours." Alex suggested while fondling her bloated stomach. In the end, Alex still has a long way to go before she can surpass her mother in cooking.


    "Instead of me cooking, how about I seriously teach you how to cook?" Irene replied while breastfeeding Zandra in her arms. Maybe it''s time for her to teach Alex the secret cooking technique of their ancestors.


    "Really?? But how about Ax, El, Serene, and Zandra? Who will take care of them." All this time, Alex has been self-learning, watching the things that her mother and father do.


    "Ax and El can now take care of themselves. Then for Serene and Zandra, I''ll let your father take care of them since we will be closing that dead dojo." Irene is not worried about their financial situation even though none of them have any source of ie. Although they live in a middle-ss society, their fortune is actually enormous to the point where it can reach their great-great-grandchildren and still allow them to live leisurely. Risking their lives working for the world has a lot of benefits. One of them is the lovely payments they received after every mission.


    "Your mother''s right. We can close the dojo that ce''s use is for us to train anyway. Now that we can use the basement, we now have a new ce to train." Zach nodded even though his dojo has been insulted.


    "Can we start tomorrow?? I promised a friend to treat her to dinner." Alex asked as she remembers her promise to Samantha.


    "Of course," Irene smiled. She''s happy to see that her daughter now has another friend aside from her childhood friend Ezekiel.


    As Alex remembers her promise to Samantha, she also remembered Ezekiel''s n. "By the way, dad, I''ll add you to our discode serverter so that you can easily contact me in-game." After saying that, Alex started going back to her room.


    "Are you guys fine with me being in there? It might be a little awkward for your friends."


    "It''s just me, Ezekiel, and one friend of ours, so basically, it will just be the four of us, so don''t worry."


    "I got it..."


    ...


    After Alex entered her room, she went to her bed and started meditating in a lotus position.


    It is still ten in the evening. There are still two hours left before the game officially starts.


    Alex wants to be in her top form before ying. Meditation is the best method she knows to eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding her mind and causing stress.


    Time passed in this silent room as the only sound that can be heard is the clock ticking beside Alex.


    ...


    *Beep! *Beep! *Beep! Alex stood from her lotus position and turned off the rm clock.


    The time right now is 11:55, only five minutes left before the game officially starts.


    Alex stood up from her bed and went to the 1st generation capsule beside herputer.


    Alex pushed a button in the middle of the capsule. The lid then started opening up. It was just like five years ago when this thing arrived at their home.


    After the capsule fully opened itself up, Alex entered as she slowlyy down inside. The capsule also automatically closed itself up. The feelingying there inside is just like what she remembered. It is sofortable inside. She doesn''t know what materials they used to create this but sleeping in here is always morefortable than sleeping in her bed.


    As some time passed, a system notification appeared on her eyesight.


    [30 seconds remaining]


    [Do you wish to have a countdown?]


    [Yes/No]


    Alex clicked the Yes.


    [10] It''s finally starting.


    [9]


    [8]


    ...


    [5]


    As she watches the countdown, Alex''s heartbeat kept on pounding faster and faster.


    [4]


    [3]


    [2]


    It''s here!!


    [1]


    [Do you wish to enter Parabellum?]


    [Yes/No]


    Alex clicked the yes again.


    [To enter utter the words, ''syste...."]


    "System start." Before the system notification can finish, Alex already coldly mumbled the words.


    After saying the systemmand, a bright sh of light covered her vision. Then a voice of a child whispered in her ears.


    [Wee to Parabellum...]


    [Please create your character...]

 Chapter 17 - Character Creation

    When Alex connected to Parabellum, the first sound that reached her ears was a feminine voice. Her vision started adjusting from the bright sh of light earlier.


    She looked around her surroundings to see who had spoken to her. Shortly, she sees a blob of light floating in the middle of the white room. Alex moved closer to the ball of light, as she curiously reached out her hand on the thing.


    As her hand was about to touch the blob of light, it suddenly moved and started rotating around her.


    [Wee yer, I am your guide, A.I., please call me Light001.]


    "Wow!! Cool, they have this stuff now?" Alex was amazed as her eyesight interestedly followed the floating light rotating around her.


    In the game Guardian, there''s no such thing as A.I. that guides the yers in creating their characters all of them were just left to figure out things on their own. That''s why other people created trash characters in the past.


    Alex knew one of those people in the past that created a trash character. And Ezekiel is one of them who picked a healer ss in a single-yer game, thinking that there must be a purpose for the game to have a healer ss. He thought that maybe there are strong NPCs that can carry him. Ezekiel''s delusions made him believe that being able to heal himself while others cannot is overpowered. He started pretty well in the game, but in the end, when enemies became stronger, it took him longer to kill each one of them to the point where the apocalypse came. And a horde of monsters surged forth he can''t even kill one.


    Ezekiel was literally crying to her when he told her his story, saying that if only he chose a different ss at that time. His name should have been on the hall of fame for being one of the yers that hit the one-hour mark.


    [Would you like to create your character now?] The A.I blob of light stopped right in front of her face.


    Alex got back to the present as the A.I.''s voice reached her ears again.


    "How?"


    [Please decide on the name of your character.]


    Alex thinks that this A.I. is too polite in its way of talking.


    Alex pondered for a moment. "Alexandria!" She decided to use her name instead of the usual names she uses inputer games, like Hero ughterer, Demon Hunter, and a lot more embarrassing names. It''s fine using it inputer games since no one knows her behind the screen. Alex can''t help but feel embarrassed imagining people calling her those names in front of her.


    [Alexandria will now be set as your permanent avatar name]


    [Parabellum has one hundred races. You may select one race based on your affinity with them. You are required to have above 50% affinity to be able to pick that certain race]


    "They also have affinities now??"


    "Why is it required to have 50% affinity to choose?" Alex asked. She doesn''t understand what''s the point of having affinities.


    "Wouldn''t it be better if everyone can choose a race they like?" Limiting the yer''s choice might incite rage.


    [Certain races have requirements for them to ept a yer in their race. An example of this will be Angel''s race that doesn''t wee evil humans, Elves that don''t take in ugly people in their race. Dwarves that don''t care for people with no talents in crafting, and many more.]


    Isn''t this A.I. pretty smart for it to answer her question instantly. It''s like Alex is talking with a girl on her phone. "Now that you talk about it, it''s all starting to make sense."


    [Of course, the human race is also definite with 100% affinity. While other race that doesn''t have any requirements like the Orc race, Beast, Demon, and others give a 50% to 100% affinity depending on the person simr trait to that race.]


    "Hmmm, I see, I see." She nodded in agreement. Alex thinks that this kind of system is very cool.


    "Then what is the difference between a 50% affinity to a 100% affinity?" Alex asked.


    [With a higher affinity, the yer gets better treatment in that race''s society, while lower affinity gets a lesser opportunity. You can also call affinity a yer''s blood purity. A yer that has a 50% is considered as half-elf while a yer with 100% is a pure elf]


    With the A.I. exnation, Alex can''t help but be amazed that they also thought of these things.


    [Excuse me, but someone''s calling you in discode would you like to answer it]


    Alex is puzzled. "Call?"


    [Yes, a call from God Healer #2882] Hearing the shameless username, Alex suddenly remembers Ezekiel telling her that they can use applications in the game.


    [Do you wish to answer it?]


    "Yes"


    "Hello? Hello, can you hear me??" Alex was astonished hearing Ezekiel''s voice directly in her ears.


    "Yes, why did you call?" Alex asked.


    "I just wanted to ask, what race are you picking?"


    "I''m still about to look at what race I can choose before you called me."


    "Ohhh, go, go and look at it now." She can hear Ezekiel''s excitement in his voice.


    What is this guy thinking now? "What are you so excited about? I am taking it slow I don''t want to make the same mistake as you." Alex is now wary of Ezekiel''s suspicious actions.


    "Hey! No bringing back old wounds, besides I learned my lessons already. Hurry, hurry, check it first."


    Alex became more suspicious of Ezekiel. "Yes, yes, I''ll check now. By the way, call Samantha and my dad here." Alex decided to use her dad as a shield. That way, Ezekiel can''t pull any pranks on her.


    "What''s your dad''s username?" Ezekiel asked, unaware of Alex''s counter to his trap.


    "Retired God of Generals #1315." Alex shyly said.


    "This..." Ezekiel was dumbfounded. Aren''t you too old to be using that!!!


    "I know, I know, Anyway just add him here." Alex knew what Ezekiel''s thinking.


    "Okay, be right back."


    "Lumiere, show me the list of races." Alex decided to call the A.I. Lumiere with its feminine voice. Alex thinks that it''s a waste to call it Light0001


    [My name is Light0001, not Lumiere]


    "Can I call you Lumiere?"


    [Yes...]


    "Then Lumiere show me the list of races." Alex was satisfied with her naming sense not unlike the two guys she knew.


    [Races]


    Human: 100% Affinity


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 18 - Race Selection

    In the next second, Alex is dumbfounded, seeing the floating list in front of her.


    [Races]


    Human: 100% Affinity


    Angel: 0% Affinity


    Demon: 0% Affinity


    Elf: 0% Affinity


    ...


    "This... Why is it like this??" Alex has no words to say, seeing the ny-nine race with 0% affinity.


    "Lumiere...?" Alex turned to Lumiere, floating on her right side. "Did your system have an error?" Alex can''t believe what she''s seeing. Even though she''s not that good of a person, at least she''s not that bad to the point she gets a 0% in Angel.


    She even nned to choose the elf race, if ever she got a 100% affinity. Her mother even always tells her that she is the most beautiful woman she knows.


    Alex can''t ept all of this!!


    [There is no error on the system, everything you see in front of you is urate]


    "Then... Howe I have 0% affinity for everything except Human?" Alex asked sadly, thinking that she can only choose one race out of the one hundred races.


    [I am very sorry if you are not satisfied with this feature. The system was purposely designed for special people like you, who have excelled among everyone. The system decided that the top 100 yers in the beta test will get a hero role on the officialunch. By extracting the data gathered in the beta test, we found 100 people suitable for this feature.]


    "Beta test?? I don''t remember participating in any beta test for this game." Alex became even more confused.


    [The beta test I am talking about is the first virtual reality game, Guardian. With it as the foundation, it made creating Parabellum possible]


    Alex now understood why she got in the top 100. After all, Alex probably is the second-strongest yer in Guardian aside from the one who saved the world. As for how she knows that she''s the second-strongest. Almost everyone in the hall of fame died at the one-hour mark, while she died at the 30-minute-mark.


    "How did the system find out I was one of the top 100? I did not enter the hall of fame like everyone else." Alex''s parents told her to falsify the survey, conducted by the government, to decide who are the yers on the hall of fame.


    Her father is in the top one in the hall of fame right now. If Alex entered the hall of fame with a higher ranking than her father, with the same family name. Her mother is afraid that it might attract too much attention to their peaceful household.


    [The A.I. extracted all the data from the beta test and used it as a reference to guide the yers to create their best character]


    [It was also intentionally designed this way so that all one hundred races will have at least one yer ying it. To help increase the poprity of the race. And to avoid having an unpopr race like the orc race forgotten by the masses. After all, no one wants to choose an ugly orc as their character if they see beautiful elves, angels, and vampires]


    "But Lumiere!! What if I don''t want this feature at all? Or one of those people in the top 100 doesn''t y this game. Wouldn''t that mean that you''ll becking one person?"


    [The next person, the top 101st yer, will instantly rece the missing person]


    "I want toin!! How to contact customer service?" Alex threw a tantrum as she scanned the unique trait of other races.


    Human: 100% Affinity


    Unique trait: can use all kinds of weapons and can choose other races--- view more


    Werewolves: 0% Affinity


    Unique Trait: three times faster regeneration--- view more


    Giants: 0% Affinity


    Unique Trait: three times survivability stats--- view more


    Elf: 0% Affinity


    Unique Trait: three times agility stats--- view more


    "What kind of trash trait is this?" The human race''s unique trait simply can''tpare to other race''s traits. Not to mention the feature where humans can choose any race. It frustrates her more, seeing that trait, like how the heck is it that she doesn''t have the freedom to choose one at all!?


    Then what''s the use in putting it in the description!? They might as well hide it since it''s useless to her seeing it anyway.


    [Are you not satisfied...? I don''t understand... It was precisely calcted by the system a thousand times. To provide the best rmendations to the top 100 people satisfactorily]


    "I see nothing but disappointment!!" Alex sorrowfully answered Lumiere.


    [I am sorry to say this, but there is no customer service. The game ispletely run by the A.I. itself, without any human interventions. It is impossible to change this current feature as almost 80% of the chosen yers have chosen their respective races, and no one isining except you...]


    "Then..." Alex doesn''t know what to say anymore, hearing that it is impossible to make any changes.


    [You might want to check the view more option to fully understand why the system deemed this as the best race for your character]


    Following Lumiere''s suggestion, Alex clicked on the view more option that she neglected earlier.


    Human: 100% Affinity


    Unique trait: can use all kinds of weapons and can choose other races--- In exchange for eliminating the freedom to pick other races for the 100 chosen yers. The 100 yers will receive a hero ss aspensation and receive an additional unique trait solely for them, depending on their rmended race.


    Human Hero ss Trait: two times character experience gain, and two times weapon experience gain


    "Ehhh?? Isn''t this too overpowered??" Seeing the hero ss trait. Alex''s initial sour mood felt better. She doesn''t know what the weapon experience gain use. But seeing the two two-times multiplier in experience gain made her quite happy. Having this trait will allow her to have an advantage against other yers.


    "Is this why no one''sining??" No wonder others are willingly choosing their race fast. They might also have overpowered traits in them.


    [Yes...]

 Chapter 19 - Samanthas Dilemma

    "Unlike you, other yers did not simply ignore the view more options. You are now satisfied, right?? Then this means that the system''s calctions are 100% correct."


    Alex felt quite strange as she kept on talking with Lumiere. It felt like Lumiere was trying to convey some emotions in his speeches. At the same time, it didn''t know how to. Yet the longer they kept on talking, Alex thought that Lumiere was learning.


    It''s learning so fast, it is iprehensible. Just a few minutes ago, it felt like she''s talking to a female robot with a programmed response. But the way how it argued with her, on how it''s correct with its calctions, felt humanlike.


    "Yes, yes, I am now satisfied." Alex surrendered, raising both of her arms in the air.


    "Thank you..."


    Alex looked puzzled, hearing Lumiere''s thanks. The way it said it was like hesitating, simr to how a person saying thanks for the first time in their life.


    ...


    Alex tried to look at the other race''s view more option to see what kind of overpowered hero ss trait they got. However, all she''s seeing is the race''s background stories and some useless information.


    "Why can''t I see the hero ss trait of the other race?" Alex wondered.


    "It is to avoid yers being jealous of the hero ss,"


    Alex nodded in agreement. "Hmmm, you''re right. Everyone will surely feel envious if yers can see the hero ss traits." With Alex''s experience of the usual toxic behavior of most yers in online games. They will likely cause a riot on the forums andmunity if they ever see some yers having an advantage over them.


    Not to mention that they are giving the advantage to the people who are already too strong with their mechanics, considering that these people are already pretty strong on Guardians.


    "Wait..." Alex suddenly realized something.


    "If I got an overpowered trait, then that means that my father will also get one?" Her strengthpared to her father is just like a drop of water in the sea. If her father seriously ys this game, he will probably trash her around, just like in the real world. With her father''s monstrous skills and techniques, there''s no way he will not be the strongest. "Should I start getting scared?"


    "I need to trust myself more."


    "Why did you even give out the hero ss to the top yers in Guardian anyway?" Alex asked.


    [Sorry but that is a ssified question, please ask other question]


    [God Healer #2882 is calling and inviting you to Hideout server] Lumiere suddenly blurted out, reverting to its robotic tone.


    "Speak of the devil."


    [Do you wish to ept?]


    "Yes"


    The moment Alex answered the call. Samantha''s cries echoed right through her ears.


    "Sissss!!!" Samantha wailed.


    "Why are you crying?" Alex was puzzled, hearing Samantha sobbing on the other end.


    "I can only choose one race..." Samantha said sorrowfully.


    "Ehhh? Did you receive a hero ss? Aren''t those things for the hall of famers?" Alex is now confused. If memories serve her right, she has never seen Samantha''s name on the hall of fame list.


    "Yes... I did not enter the hall of fame... I always think that fame is useless and will destroy a person''s peaceful life instead." Samantha stopped sobbing, but there are still slight hups in between her words.


    Alex guessed it right. There are people like her who chose not to enter the hall of fame.


    "Sis Alex... can you pick Fairy race??" Samantha asked.


    "Sorry, Samantha, but I can only choose the Human race. I also chose not to enter the hall of fame just like you."


    "I''m right, with your strength, there''s no way you can''t enter the hall of fame." Samantha said.


    "But I want to y with you guys..."


    Samantha sounded so crestfallen. "Don''t worry about it. I think we can y with each other even if we don''t have the same race." Alex said, at the same time muted her mic hurriedly.


    But she then unmuted her mic again, seeing the two silent usernames on the call. "Hey!! can''t you guys throw at least someforting words?? Help me out here, can''t you? I''ll be right back fast." Alex scolded Ezekiel and her father by staying silent and just listening to them all this time.


    She then muted her mic again without waiting for their replies.


    She then turned to ask Lumiere. "Hey Lumiere, can we y with each other even though we have different races?" Alex just said those words to Samantha to console her. She still wants to confirm if it is possible, topletely soothe Samantha''s downhearted feeling.


    "Yes, yers have the choice to ally with other races in theter part of the game when both worlds are connected. There are also ways to travel other worlds in the early stages." Alex''s worries vanished after Lumiere supported her guess.


    "How?" Alex was quite intrigued when Lumiere mentioned connecting both worlds. What she understood on the thing that Lumiere had said is that this game will probably consist of countless worlds, and they would not start at the same ce if they don''t have the same race.


    "I am sorry, but I cannot answer this question as it is a ssified question. Please discover it on your ownter on."


    "You''re right. I don''t want to be spoiled anyway." Alex just left the matter be her first question has already been answered anyway. She''ll discover it on her own sooner orter.


    Alex then unmuted her mic. "Samie~~ I talked with my A.I., and it said that we could y with each other very soon." Alex cheerfully talked with Samantha to expel the gloomy mood around her. She did not dare mention that there''s a chance that it might take a long time for them to y together.


    "I guess I''ll just work hardter," Alex mumbled to herself.


    "Did you say anything?" Samantha asked, hearing Alex''s inaudible voice.


    "Nothing, nothing, go pick your race now. I''ll figure out how we can y soonter."


    Zach then butted in. "If we can be allies, then I can go ahead and pick my race now." There''s no point in ying the game if he became an obstacle to her daughter.


    "Dad, what race did you get?" Alex curiously asked.


    "Hmmm, it''s very suited for me, the A.I. really gave some thought on this one." Zach answered while looking at the weapon selection list. He did not give much thought to picking the race when Alex said that they can ally with each other to Samantha since he only has one choice anyway.


    "So, what did you get??" Alex asked again, annoyed with her father not answering her question.

 Chapter 20 - Samantha And Zachs Odd Weapon Choice

    "I got the Werewolf race."


    Looking at the unique trait of the werewolf race. Alex nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it''s perfect for you." The three-times regeneration of werewolves is prettypatible with his father''s usual fighting style. Her father''s way of fighting is so annoying, she can''t think of how to beat him even once.


    Alex doesn''t know where his father got his ridiculous natural regeneration, but she once saw how incredible her father''s regeneration was. When she was five years old, her father went home with a severed arm. He arrived so casually as if the severed arm was not bothering him at all. Alex is still an innocent child at that time, so she''s just curious where her father''s arm disappeared. Her mother then severely pummeled her father for showing her that bloody scene without minding his injury at all. What''s even more incredible is that her father''s arm grew back the day after he got back.


    She once tried asking her father, when she got older, why he has an unusual regeneration. But her father only answered that it is a military secret.


    ...


    "Oh yeah, by the way, what hero ss trait did you both get? I got two, two-times experience as my trait." Alex asked once more.


    Ezekiel suddenly butted in. "Hey! Won''t anyone ask me what I got?" Ezekiel has been quite upset for a while being ignored all this time. He feels so out of ce with their topic about heroes and stuff he doesn''t have.


    "You don''t even know what we are talking about!"


    "At least I know that you guys are talking about races. I also have a race to pick!!" Zach has been waiting for so long to brag to Alex about what race he got. He is even more excited to tell Alex, knowing that she can only choose one race out of the one hundred.


    "I am more curious with my father and Samantha''s overpowered hero ss trait than the affinity of your races. Besides I will still force you to pick human in the end, so it doesn''t matter what you got."


    Ezekiel can only sulk in the corner of his room and cry inwardly. Why am I here just to suffer!!


    Samantha''s cute giggles rang in the background.


    Even though they are using a voice call, Alex can tell that Ezekiel is sulking in the corner and will be silent for a minute now. So she then left the broken Ezekiel alone and asked her father and Samantha again. "So what hero ss trait did you guys get??"


    "I think it''s better for you not to know about it," Zach answered.


    "But why!? It won''t harm you telling me what you got."


    "I won''t get hurt... but you will..." Zach said whileughing teasingly.


    Listening to her father''s mockingughter only made Alex more curious about what trait they received. She can''t help but think that her father must have more overpowered hero ss trait than her. "How about you, Samie? what did you get?" Alex went to ask Samantha instead, knowing her father that loves to tease her the most. She curiously wants to see what others received.


    A brief silence then followed the call.


    "Uhmm, I think it''s also better not to tell you my trait right now. But I promise I will tell you when we meet up in the game." Samantha contemted whether to tell Alex her hero ss trait or not after her father did not tell her his trait. But she also decided not to tell Alex what she received.


    The hero ss trait she received is not strong in the early stage. But if she worked hard enough, it will surely be a strong asset for them in the future. She wanted to build up her strength first, then surprise them when they can finally y together in the future.


    "Ehhh?? Samie?? Why??" Alex can''t believe that Samantha chooses not to tell her hero ss trait to her.


    "Sorry... It''s not a strong trait at the beginning like yours. But I want to surprise you with my strength if we y together in the future." She wanted to be someone that can trample any army in the future.


    "Don''t worry too much about it. I think the system gave everyone a trait that will be perfect for our ystyle. Anyway, I''ll be going to leave first. Since I finished my character creation." Zach then eximed to help her daughter''s friend make an excuse.


    "Dad, wait!!"


    "Yes?"


    "What weapon did you pick? At least tell us what weapon you chose, right?" Alex curiously asked.


    "I picked a shield," Zach answered.


    "A shield..? You mean sword and shield?" Alex is now more confused. Everyone seems to be doing unexpected things one after the other. She hasn''t seen the weapon selection yet, but it''s strange for her father to pick a defensive item. With his father''s reckless behavior and regeneration, he always goes for very aggressive weapons.


    "No, just a shield."


    "Ehhh? Why?"


    "I am not here to steal my daughter''s spotlight. I am here to protect my daughter." A smile formed on Zach''s lip as he said those words to his daughter. "I never had a chance to protect my strong daughter, but if ever I will have the opportunity, I''ll do it wlessly."


    "Okay, I gotta go see youter." Before his daughter can even react, Zach immediately left the call and dived into his assigned starting world.


    "What a cool father," Samantha eximed.


    "Uncle is even cooler if you meet him in real life. Despite his age, you can chill out with him just like a friend. He even teaches me a bunch of cool stuff." Ezekiel agreed with Samantha.


    At this moment, Alex''s cheeks turned pink. She never expected her father to say those words to her. And it hit her directly, right through her heart.


    She then asked Samantha what weapon she will be picking to forget her embarrassment. "Samie, what weapon will you choose?" Alex acted unconcerned as much as possible to hide her embarrassment.


    "I think the flute is the perfect weapon for me."


    "Flute? You can use a flute as a weapon!?" Alex doesn''t understand this game anymore. She was just thrown a confusing choice by her father just a moment ago. Now even her friend is throwing another confusing choice.


    "Yes, it is the mostpatible weapon for my hero ss trait. Flute''s use is to tame all kinds of beasts. I am nning on going on the route of a beast tamer."


    "I need to go now, bye Ezekiel, bye, Alex, see youter." Samantha bid her farewell to them, she is excited to explore this game already.


    "Bye, Samantha."


    "Bye, Samie."


    Samantha then left the call.

 Chapter 21 - Sage Candidates

    After Samantha left, Alex kept thinking about many possible traits Samantha could have received just based on her going for a beast-tamer route. "Hey, Ezekiel, what hero ss trait do you think did Samantha received?" Instead of thinking hard by herself, Alex asked for Ezekiel''s help.


    Ezekiel tried to think of any possible trait Samantha and Zach may have received. But he can only think of a few feasible ones. "It''s hard to figure out what Samantha received since I only have your hero ss trait as my reference."


    Ezekiel then realized that there is one more trait he can use as a reference.


    "I can also use mine as a reference, but the trait I received is somewhat different from the trait that you three received." Ezekiel wanted to brag about the special trait he received with Alex. However, he can''t find an opportunity to brag to Alex, with her being so engrossed with Samantha and her uncle''s hero ss traits.


    "Huh?? You also received a hero ss trait?" Alex is dumbfounded.


    Howe everyone around her is getting special traits one after the other. Even Ezekiel received one when it should be impossible for him to have one, unless the people in the hall of fame are not telling the truth about their ranks. "Don''t tell you also lied to me when you said that you did not hit the one-hour mark and weren''t able to enter the hall of fame?"


    "Are you even listening? I said! my trait is somewhat different than your trait." Ezekiel raised his voice a little. He could scold Alex without any problem, since she can''t beat him up right now.


    "Why are you shouting? I can hear you loud and clear!"


    "Sorry, I am just upset being ignored all this time. You don''t need to shout back, don''t you?" Alex''s intimidating demeanor always gets him no matter what kind of situation they are in. "Anyway, my trait is not a one of a kind like yours. ording to my A.I., one out of ten thousand people has received this trait. The people get to be chosen, depending on theirpatibility with all of the races." While exining to Alex, he moved on to the weapon selection already. He casually picked the human race, since Alex can''t choose any other race. He promised to watch her back this time, after all.


    "So, what kind of trait did you receive?" Alex asked. Now that she thinks about it, this game contains a lot of new things she doesn''t know about and hides many secrets from its yers.


    Maybe other yers are also receiving different traits apart from theirs.


    "If you guys received hero ss, mine is called the sage candidate. The requirement to acquire it is quite different from yours. Anyone can get it if they have a 100% affinity on all 100 races, but it is still pretty rare. Anyway, what benefits do you think I received for this one?" Ezekiel asked to make Alex a little annoyed.


    "Stop wasting time and get to the point already. Everyone is surely done creating characters. They most likely started doing tutorials and quests."


    "Calm down, ok? It''s not like wasting a few minutes will make you lose to everyone else. You even received an experience gained multiplier as your advantage. What''s there to be worried about?" Ezekiel felt pleased listening to Alex''s annoyed voice. "Anyway, all sage candidates will receive two times mana regeneration. Everyone will be getting the same trait, but my A.I. said that anyone can upgrade it when someone truly bes a sage."


    "I think that''s a pretty strong trait if you pick a good race and weapon, doesn''t it." Alex thinks that even though Ezekiel''s trait is iparable to hers. It can be a very great trait if paired with races and weapons that require a lot of mana. If Ezekiel paired it with a mage, a summoner, or simr to those. He will be a very great ally since he can use his skill without having any problem with his mana.


    "What a waste if only you can pick other races aside from the human race. I can fully take advantage of the 100% affinity for all races and pick the perfect race for the both of us." Ezekiel only felt pain remembering the perfect races he could have picked.


    "It is such a waste. I look so good on the hologram mirror with the other race when I tried how I look on the other race." He looks so good on others that it is such a shame to pick the human race. Recalling how he looked like as a vampire race, the dragon race, his looks at the angel''s race is the best thing he has seen.


    Ezekiel imagined how Alex would have looked like as an Angel. How beautiful would she have looked like, wearing dazzling white battle armor apanied with a pure light aura, and four captivating wings protruding on her back.


    "Sadly, I can only pick the human race. I think that the unique trait of the human race is toockingpared to other races. It was as if the game itself is asking the yers not to y as a human." Alex can onlyment silently looking at the hologram mirror in front of her on how she would have looked like as a vampire.


    The floating hologram in front of her was wearing a scarlet-colored dress made out ofce. The cut of the dress is perfectly emphasizing her mesmerizing waistline, and the high slit exposing her seductive legs. It was so bewitching she can''t believe that the person she''s looking at is her.


    "What are you evenining about? You already have two experience multiplier as an advantage." Ezekiel can''t believe that Alex is stillining with what she got.


    "Back to what we are talking about earlier if I use your trait and my trait as a reference. I can only think of Samantha''s trait being an experience multiplier for her beast since she''s going for the beast-tamer route." He thought a lot of traits Samantha might have gotten, but that is the closest he can think of. "Anyway, don''t think too much about it. There must be some kind of reasons why they aren''t telling us what they received."


    "I guess you''re right. I know that daddy is just teasing. It''s just that I am a little surprised that Samantha hid her trait from me." Alex muttered.


    "You guys barely know each other for a week, and Samantha just started opening up for us. Just give her some time." Ezekielforted.

 Chapter 22 - Weapon Selection

    "By the way, go pick your weapon already. You are the one wasting our time here. I have finished creating my character, and I can leave this ce now." Ezekiel reminded.


    "Wait!! Don''t leave me here yet. Help me pick out my weapon first." Alex then hurriedly turned to Lumiere beside her to pick her race and move on to the next phase. "Lumiere, I choose Human as my race."


    [Human will now be set as your permanent race]


    [Do you want to continue with your character creation now?]


    [Yes/No]


    "Yes!"


    [Moving to weapon selection phase]


    A long list of weapons suddenly shed in front of her eyes. She doesn''t know how long the list goes, but she can see at least a thousand different kinds of weapons.


    "Why do you even need me to help you pick your weapon in the first ce. Just pick any offensive weapon you like since we already have your father as a tank. Then you have me as your healer, and as for Samantha, let''s think of her as support for now since we don''t have any information on how beast tamers work in this game." Ezekiel wondered.


    With Alex''s knowledge on a lot of weapons, she should have no problem using any weapon.


    "I have no idea what to pick..." Alex embarrassedly said.


    Ezekiel then also realized Alex''s dilemma. "Why not use a katana again? After all, that''s the weapon you used for three years." Ezekiel suggested, Alex''s predicament is a little troublesome. But at the same time, if Alex wanted to, she could easily fix her problem.


    "But there are so many weapons I want to try out." She did not expect that the range of weapons she can use is now bing a problem for her.


    Alex then tried following Ezekiel''s suggestion. "Lumiere, can I try using the katana?" Just looking at the long list in front of her, Alex can tell that searching for the katana alone will take a lot of time, so she asked for Lumiere''s help.


    [Yes]


    Shortly after Lumiere answered, a hilt of a katana suddenly floated out of thin air, then it continued forming the katana.


    [Weapon: Katana]


    *Weapon Variation: 1000


    *Rank Limit: God


    *Weapon Stats: +2 Strength, +2 Agility, +1 Stamina


    *Starting Skill: Weapon proficiency, Rending sh


    After the katana finished forming, Alex then clutched the hilt of the katana that is floating vertically.


    Holding the katana in her hand, Alex then formed a stance, gripping the katana''s hilt with her two hands, and pointing the tip in the empty space in front of her.


    Before long, the lively atmosphere that usually surrounds her suddenly disappeared and was reced with a tranquil atmosphere. As the expression on Alex''s face appeared to be void of any emotion.


    At that moment, Alex swung the katana skillfully. The swing she made moved at a very slow pace. It took her quite some time to finish just that one swing. After the sh reached its endpoint, a strong gust of wind suddenly arose in the room.


    Alex wasn''t able to see it, but Lumiere has seen clearly the dust-size crack of space distortion in the ce she had shed. It was so small no human will ever see it, in addition to the fact that it appeared in mere milliseconds.


    "How... how did you do that??"


    Hearing Lumiere''s confused voice stupefied Alex. "Huh? Do what?"


    "The force you used in your sh should be impossible with your current stats."


    "Ahhh, I realized that my virtual self is too weakpared to my real self. So I need to utilize all the strength I can use in my body just to make that single swing. That''s why the sh I did just now moved like a turtle."


    She doesn''t really know why Lumiere suddenly got surprised with that single sh of hers. "I have swung my katana for three years more than a million times already. Even with a weakened body creating a simple gust of wind is pretty simple, as long as I used everything I have."


    "I think anyone who yed Guardian seriously used their weapons almost the same amount as yours." Ezekiel butted in, hearing Alex''s A.I. being surprised with how Alex used a katana. "Go pick the katana already, since you are still good with it to the point that your A.I. is clearly surprised. That way we can now y the game, we have spent quite some time creating our characters." Ezekiel rmended, seeing that they already spent twenty minutes in character creation.


    "Don''t rush... I don''t even understand some terms showing in this weapon. Let me rify some things with Lumiere first. Besides, there are more than one thousand weapons here. I want to try out at least 30 different weapons." Alex then turned to Lumiere to ask a few questions.


    "Lumiere, what is the meaning of weapon variation?"


    "Just like the name implies, it is the number of variations your weapon can have. An example of a variation of your katana will be upgrading it to fox race''s Silver Furred Katana that will improve your speed and reaction speed. Or a dragon''s race Fire Dragon''s Fangs created using a fire dragon''s fang. This variation will give your strikes fire affinity scorching your enemy with each strike."


    "Isn''t one thousand variations a little too much?" Alex wondered.


    "Parabellum has one hundred races, and each race will have at most eleven different lineages of their race. So one thousand variations are not too much at all."


    "This game even has lineages? Then what about the rank limit?" With every time she discovers a new interesting thing about the game. Alex can''t help but feel excited to y the game sooner.


    "Rank limit is your limit in upgrading your weapon."


    "How to upgrade my weapon?"


    While Lumiere is exining, Alex tried out another weapon. The scythe in her hand felt just like the katana earlier. To the point where the scythe felt like an extension of her body.


    "You need to gather the required materials that are spread all over Parabellum."


    While Lumiere was still in the middle of its exnation, Alex swung the scythe in her hand. The scythe moved as slow as the katana she used earlier, but the atmosphere this time is full of death.


    Alex looked like the grim reaper iming a thousand lives with just that single swing.


    That power of that sh is almost as strong as how she swung the katana earlier. A strong gust of wind appeared, and a millisecond, dust-sized crack of space distortion appeared after she finished the sh.


    "How...."

 Chapter 23 - Luck

    "Just how? How did you do the same thing again with a different weapon? The system cannotprehend this phenomenon at all."


    "Hey, what is happening in there? Why is your A.I. sounds so surprised again?" Hearing the A.I.''s astonished voice again, Ezekiel can''t help but meddle with their conversation. Not being able to see what''s happening at the other end is frustrating him.


    "It''s nothing... I just executed the same action I did earlier with a different weapon and the same aftermath. It''s just a strong gust of wind Lumiere is overreacting."


    "I don''t think your A.I.''s reactions are normal at all." Ezekiel thinks that Alex doesn''t know that her A.I. is acting very strange.


    Comparing both of their A.I., his A.I. doesn''t act the same way as Alex''s A.I. at all. The way her A.I. reacts to anything she does is nowhere near as close as what his A.I. can do. He tried interacting with his A.I. the same way Alex interact with hers. But he never came across the same reactions and oue with Alex''s A.I.


    "I am not overreacting..." Based on the gathered data of the system, Lumiere did not see any other human who can release the same force as hers with their restricted body. "You have said earlier that you are only able to aplish that sh is because you have used a katana for three years. Then how can you recreate the same oue with a different weapon?"


    "My father always says that it''s not about the weapon. It''s how you can use your body to the fullest. No matter what weapon I use, as long as I know how to use it. I can do the same thing again if I want to." That is why she is having a hard time picking a weapon since she can master anything as long as she learns how to use it.


    "Monsters," Ezekiel murmured.


    "What did you say?"


    "Nothing, it''s nothing, hurry up and pick your weapon already, or I''ll leave you here!"


    "Wait!! Lumiere is not done with its exnation. Please continue with weapons stats Lumiere, don''t mind me trying out different weapons and attacking once with it." She is going to try out different weapons while Lumiere is exining so that she can save time picking one if Lumiere finished exining.


    "Yes..."


    "Weapon stats is a bitplicated, so I will start first with character stats. There are a total of six primary stats, Strength, Agility, Stamina, Wisdom, Intellect, and Luck. These six stats can be increased in a lot of ways in the game. But there are two easy ways to increase these stats. And that is character level up and weapon level up."


    While Lumiere kept on exining, Alex already tried out two different weapons in just a short amount of time. She tried a bow and a hammer, and just like the two weapons she used earlier. These new ones also produced the weird phenomenon of creating an instant dust-sized space distortion. But this time, her execution of the attacks is way faster than the turtle-paced she did earlier. It was as if Alex understood her current body more than earlier.


    This time Lumiere decided not to make a fuss and chose to observe Alex for now. "The difference between character level up and weapon level up is the former can increase your stats manually by five points. These five points can be distributed in any of the six stats except the luck stat, with each time your character level up. While thetter increases the five stats automatically depending on the weapon stats."


    In that short amount of time, that Lumiere exined. Alex already tried another five weapons at a very fast rate. Furthermore, all five weapons created space distortions.


    "Can you exin to me each stat?" Alex asked while holding a wooden stick in her hand.


    "Yes, but I can only give you a brief description because there are hidden effects on each stat that you will learn in the game."


    "Sure, I''m fine with it," Alex answered while she changed the wooden stick with a greatsword.


    [ Please click on the + button on what you want to know more in front of you. ]


    Then a floating panel suddenly appeared in front of her that shows her current character status.


    - Name : Alexandria  - Race : Human


    - Weapon: None  - Title : Hero


    - Character Level : 0  - Weapon Level : 0


    - Health : 100   - Mana : 100


    - Strength : 5 +  - Agility : 5 +


    - Stamina: 5 +  - Intellect : 5 +


    - Wisdom: 5 +  - Luck : - 100 +


    - Experience required to Level: 100


    * Strength : increases your physical strength and your body physique


    * Agility : Increases your speed


    * Stamina : Increases your health points, defense and endurance


    * Intellect : Increases your magic power and mana points


    * Wisdom : Increases your mana regeneration and casting speed


    * Luck : Use to determine your chances of picking up good items


    "Hey, what the heck is this negative luck!" Alex can''t believe that she has negative luck.


    Hearing that Alex has negative luck, Ezekiel burst outughing. "That just shows how unlucky you really are."


    "Shut up! I am sure that you also received a very low luck stat." Alex has seen Ezekiel''s luck every time they yedputer games. They almost have the same luck every time they yed. It is not that lucky, but at the same time, it''s not that unlucky.


    "Did you know after I have seen my luck stats earlier, made me wonder. Is these luck stats even real but after hearing your luck stats made me realize that all this time, I am not unlucky at all. It''s just that I am always apanied by someone with terrible luck."


    "What are you talking about? Then tell me, what is your luck stats?"


    "Wait, let me send you a picture in discode for proof." Ezekiel then took a picture of his whole character status.


    [ God Healer #2882 has sent you a message ]


    "Lumiere, please open it up for me."


    [Yes]


    - Name : Ezekiel  - Race : Human


    - Weapon: Staff  - Title : Sage Candidate


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 24 - Finally

    - Name : Ezekiel - Race : Human


    - Weapon: None - Title : Sage Candidate


    - Character Level : 0 - Weapon Level : 0


    - Health : 100 - Mana : 100


    - Strength : 5 - Agility : 5


    - Stamina: 5 - Intellect : 5


    - Wisdom: 5 - Luck : 100


    - Experience required to Level: 100


    "What kind of nonsense is this!? Where did youe up with these numbers?" Alex turned to ask Lumiere.


    "What you see right now is your real luck value that got carried from the real world to this virtual world. But the system thinks your case is also a little weird."


    "It''s weird, isn''t it? There''s no way I am this unlucky. It must be a bug to your system." Alex thought that maybe she also has 100 luck stats, and the negative sign is just a glitch of the game.


    Alex never encountered any life-threatening situations before. The only time she feels unlucky is when she is ying games. Alex never gets the items that she wanted in a short amount of time. It usually requires her a long time of grinding before she can get what she wanted.


    "It isn''t a bug... the thing that is odd with your case is that normally people with negative stats like yours don''t leave this long enough. People with negative 20 luck can have an average lifespan of 40 years, negative 50 can have an average of 20 years in their lifespan, while people with more than negative 70 die at ten years. I don''t know how you were able to live up until this day, but humans with negative 100 luck die before they can even be born along with their parents."


    "That is some serious stuff right there." Ezekiel never expected that Alex having negative luck is a very serious matter. "Anyway, if you never had problems with having bad luck, I don''t think you need to worry too much about it."


    "Your friend is right. Even though the system has somehow given luck a value, the data to fully understand how luck works is still at 10%pleted."


    "But looking at the negative is very disturbing for me," Alexined. Who would even like to look at their character status with negative luck?


    "You don''t need to worry about it. If you are lucky... there are certain magical items that can increase your luck by a significant amount."


    "Ok..." Lumiere can now even throw a joke at her. "I''ll try to find those items if I got the chance to." How the heck can she even find those certain magical items. she is not LUCKY at all!!!


    "Can I continue with thest part?" Lumiere asked.


    "Yes..."


    "Thenstly will be the starting skills. Weapons will get two starting skills, one passive skill and one active. Passive skills increase your weapon effectiveness as the skill level-ups. Then there is the active skill. There are a lot of active skills you can encounter in the game. Such offensive skills, defensive skills, support skills, and a lot more you can discover in the game."


    "Then that is for all you need to know about your weapons. Have you decided on what weapon you''ll use?"


    After Lumiere finished exining, Alex looked at the list in front of her, contemting on what weapon she should choose. Yet the longer she stares at the long list, the impulse of wanting to try everything she sees is getting out of control.


    Noticing that two minutes have already passed, Ezekiel can''t help but get impatient. "Hey, how long will it take for you to pick one weapon? Just pick the katana already, or else we might stay here the whole day." Ezekiel gave Alex his long, loud, and unhappyint.


    "But I want to try this, try that, try those, try everything!!! You are not even helping me out here. Stopining and help me think." Alex howled.


    "How about guns? You love guns, right?" Ezekiel can''t help but worry. Other yers may already have created a huge gap with them if they stayed here longer.


    "I think long-range weapons are too reliant on the front lines in this game. I don''t like staying too much on the backline. The view and actions on the frontline are the best."


    "Ahhh!! I don''t know anymore..." Ezekiel screeched in frustration.


    Ezekiel tried to give rmendations one after the other, but Alex just kept on making excuses. And they kept on doing this for another couple of minutes with Alex not backing down at all. "If I have known that it will take us a long time just for you to finish, I should have left just like Samantha and uncle."


    "Fine, leave!! I don''t need you here to pick my weapon anyway." Alex frowned and pouted in displeasure.


    "Hayst... How about asking for rmendations from your A.I. after all, they rmended your race." Ezekiel said softly, feeling guilty for saying something awful.


    "I''ll try..." Alex can''t really me Ezekiel on this one, because she is also mentally exhausted.


    Alex then turned to Lumiere and asked. "Lumiere, do you have any rmendations on what weapon I should choose?" Alex thinks that they are now out of options.


    "Yes."


    "This rmendation is hidden to almost all yers that the system deemed unworthy. Only one yer was able to bring out the full potential of this weapon. Because of the restrictions imposed, that will greatly limit the user''s strength on the early stages."


    Lumiere''s introduction with its rmendation has piqued Alex''s interest. "What is it?" After Alex asked, the floating weapon status appeared in front of her.


    [Weapon: Weaponless]


    *Weapon Variation: None


    *Rank Limit: None


    *Weapon Stats: +2 Strength, +2 Agility, +2 Stamina, +2 Intellect, +2 Wisdom


    *Starting Skill: None


    *Restriction: 2x increased in character experience requirement for every level up, and 2x increased in weapon experience requirement for every level up.


    "This is..." Alex is bbergasted. "What kind of weapon is this weaponless!?" Alex sent Ezekiel a picture of the weapon''s status window.


    "The weapon that you wanted..."


    "How is this even the weapon that I wanted?? It is literally named weaponless... There''s even a very strict restriction. No wonder only one person was able to bring out this thing''s full potential." How can she even fight others with this? Will she use her fist while other people use their magic skills.


    "I am very sorry, but I can''t divulge much information with this weapon as it involves the Alpha testing of this game. But one thing I can tell you is that you can use all the weapons you like with this one. You also don''t need to upgrade this weapon giving an advantage with your terrible luck,"


    "Go pick it, Alex. That''s what you want, right?" Your hero ss trait can bnce out the restriction anyway. I think it will be perfect for you. Trust your A.I. this time."


    Alex contemted for a moment, but Ezekiel was right, the advantage outweighs the disadvantages of the restriction. But she is scared to make the same mistakes as Ezekiel.


    "Fine, I''ll choose this weaponless Lumiere."


    [Weaponless will now be set as your weapon]


    [Yes/No]


    Alex paused for a moment before answering. "Ahhhh! Damn it, I''ll trust you on this one Lumiere."


    "Yesss!"


    "Finally," Ezekiel''s sigh of relief echoed in her background.

 Chapter 25 - Honey Combed Village

    "Is there anything else to do here?" Alex turned to Lumiere and asked.


    "There is nothing left for you to do here. You can now proceed to the game."


    "Let''s go now, Alex. I''ll keep the call connected so that we can meet up once we are in."


    "There are currently two hundred twenty thousand viges spread across Terran that are used by the yers. The system will transport you to a random vige once you are in the game. Do you want to go now?"


    "I don''t think we can meet up very soon..." Alex was beyond shocked hearing the two hundred twenty thousand viges. "Why are there so many viges in this world? The chance to start at the same point can almost be considered as 0%." Alex thinks that the Earth in this game must be MASSIVE.


    "That is because one vige can only amodate up to one thousand yers. You can use the number of viges used as a reference for the current number of human race''s yer base at the..."


    "Hey, stop asking questions!! are you not done already?" Ezekiel can''t believe this woman. Once she found something that pique''s her, she will immediately sidetrack away from her main objective.


    "I was just amazed by the number of yers ying on the first day. The human race''s yer base alone is around 200 million." Alex defended.


    "Anyway, don''t worry about not starting at the same ce..." Ezekiel is already forcing his self not to click the yes button to leave this ce.


    "If I am lucky, I will meet you at the start. If you are unlucky, you''ll meet me at the start." Ezekiel muffled his voice in the first part of his sentence.


    "What did you say? How many times do I need to tell you that I am not unlucky!"


    "Let''s go! Lumiere, I want to leave this ce now. My friend right here is now suffering and stressed to y the game already." Even Alex now has high expectations of what they will discover in the future.


    [Do you want to enter Parabellum]


    [Yes/No]


    "Yes!"


    "Yes!"


    Ezekiel''s confirmation also resonated with hers.


    "Transporting you now to Terran. Please don''t forget, Parabellum, good luck..."


    At Lumiere''sst words, Alex and Ezekiel suddenly got sucked in by an unknown force. With a sh of light, Alex disappeared into the white room.


    ...


    In the middle of a random vige on Terran, two bright shes of light appeared simultaneously.


    In a blink of an eye, Alex appeared in an unfamiliar ce. Themotion of people''s discussions and chattering rang through her ears. The scene right before her eyes was exactly the same as what you will see in the real world, with busy peopleing and going.


    Alex was shocked, but it was only for a brief moment, she soon calmed down and observed her surroundings.


    yers that passed by her are easily recognizable when everyone is wearing the same old fashion ragged white long-sleeved clothes as well as ragged ck pants.


    Alex was loving the things she was seeing just a moment ago, but the moment she turned to observe the scenery on her left side. Ezekiel''s smug face appeared in her vision.


    "Hi," Ezekiel greeted, waving his right hand in front of her face. With a very long wooden stick as long as her on his other hand.


    "I guess your luck stats really don''t lie." As Ezekiel teased Alex, he spun the weapon in his hand, then swung it a few times in the air. After that, he performed some actions such as jumping, punching, and kicking.


    "It''s not a bad thing that we can y together in the start." When she saw what Ezekiel was doing, she also followed after him.


    As Alex takes a deep breath while gathering all of the strength in her body, she threw out a punch an inch away on Ezekiel''s face.


    Seeing the iing punch going towards him, that is slower and weaker than usual. Ezekiel did not even bother batting an eye.


    The oue that Alex expected to happen did not happen. A strong gust of wind did not appear, and only a sharp sound urred.


    "So weak!! This body is too weak." Alexined, noticing that Ezekiel did not even blink. She then just continued to condition her body on her own in the side.


    They are doing these actions to get ustomed to their current body, as they felt that this body is even weaker than the one they used in the character creation.


    "If you are done warming up, we need to hurry and go to the vige chief to get our starting armor and skills. My A.I. gave me a reminder that we only have 20 more minutes before the tutorial officially starts." Looking at the short time they have. Ezekiel can''t help but think that they really took their time creating their characters.


    "Ehhh? We have our A.I. with us?"


    "Yes, a blob of light should be floating around you right now. You can''t see other yer''s A.I. that''s why you can''t see mine." Ezekiel doesn''t know why Alex did not notice her A.I. when it should be in the yer''s line of sight when they started.


    Alex then looked around once more, but she couldn''t see Lumiere''s blob of light around her, no matter how hard she looked. "I don''t have mine..."


    "Maybe your A.I. malfunctioned, and the system is trying to fix it. Anyway, we need to hurry. We are running out of time." Ezekiel urged Alex.


    "But I like Lumiere the way it was. it doesn''t need any fixing." Even though Lumiere is acting very weird, Alex doesn''t dislike it at all. Alex loves to ponder and asks lots of questions. So having someone around who can answer her immediately is a great help.


    What she doesn''t like is Lumiere''s first time talking with a robotic tone.


    "We will ask for help if it doesn''te back after a few days, okay? Ezekielforted.


    Ezekiel then dragged Alex to the northernmost part of the vige.


    ...


    When Alex and Ezekiel arrived at the ce where the vige chief lived, they saw an old man in ck, dirty clothing watering some nts in front of his house.


    The old man then noticed the two approaching people. "Ahhh, Guardians, wee to my Honey Combed vige."

 Chapter 26 - Ezekiels Delusion And Village Chiefs Gift

    The elder walked towards Alex skillfully, with very light footsteps, even with wooden sandals. "My name is Jin, the vige chief of Honey Combed vige." Jin then reached out his hand to both of them. "The two of you must be here to get your armors and skills." The vige chief asked the two of them.


    "Yes," Alex answered while observing the elder. Jin''s age looks to be in histe 70s, but his movements don''t seem to match his age at all.


    "Wait here for a moment. I''ll grab what''s left in the armory." Jin then entered the house and left the two of them.


    Staring at the elder''s back, Ezekiel can''t help but be amazed at the number of scars. "The elder looks to be even stronger than the guards we''ve met earlier, don''t you think?"


    "Same thoughts," Alex nodded in agreement. The elder''s temperament resembles a veteran on the battlefield that survived hundreds of wars.


    "The NPC in this game is so smart they felt like real people. You wouldn''t even be able to tell whether they are NPC or yers if they wear the same clothing." Even though Jin is the first NPC they had a conversation with. Ezekiel can still tell just by listening to the discussions happening with other yers with different NPCs.


    "Sorry to keep you waiting." Jin came out of the house carrying two leather armors.


    "Here are two leather armor for the both of you. It''s the only decent ones left in our armory since you came veryte. But knowing your strength, I know that this armor won''t be a great help in the future for the two of you." Jin then handed the leather armor to the two of them.


    "You tter us too much, grandpa. We are still kidspared to you."Alex has high respect for elders as well as soldiers that always risks their lives for the people.


    Alex looked at Ezekiel on how to put on the armor, since she doesn''t have her A.I. guide.


    "Equip!" Wearing a piece of equipment in this game is pretty easy. Just like in the game Guardian, where you hold the item and say the word equip.


    The item in her hand then disappeared and reced the cloth armor she''s wearing earlier.


    Name: Leather Armor


    Defense: 3


    Stats Requirement: Strength 5


    Description: this lightweight armor offers basic protection.


    "Grandpa, where are our starting skills?" Ezekiel asked politely.


    "What are your weapons, young ones? So that I can give you the right skills." Jin has a very good impression with these two little guardians,pared to the rude people that came before them. He did not see anyone with good potentials among those kids earlier. Jin guessed that they are likely to be the first ones to die and run in a losing war.


    "Weapon Equip!" The 6-feet-long wooden stick then appeared on Ezekiel''s right hand.


    "By the way, I forgot to ask. You said that you are a healer, didn''t you?" Alex realized that the four of them simrly picked some very odd weapons.


    "I am a healer!" Ezekiel understood Alex''s confusion. After all, he did pick one of the strangest weapon in the healer weapon category.


    "Aren''t a healer''s weapon supposed to be holy staffs, wands, or spellbooks and hide in the backline? Your weapon... It''s more like you''ll charge forward with everyone with that weapon." How can Ezekiel even heal with that weapon? Will he bonk his injured ally using that long wooden stick?


    "That''s what I''m nning... There''s no way I can support you if I stayed on the backline. So I choose to be a healer that can also fight." Knowing how Alex usually fights, where she will be so engrossed in fighting, she''ll forget that she has some allies to protect. If Ezekiel really stayed in the backline alone, he will instantly die without any resistance.


    "Huhhh!!? I thought you said that you will not be making any mistakes in creating your character this time? Now, look at you going back to your delusions." Alex folded her arms and scolded. Ezekiel really did not learn his lesson this time.


    "This game is different."


    "I promise this one will surely work this time." Ezekiel hid the fact that he is only confident because Alex was with him this time. He can just leech off Alex and let her carry him in the early stages of the game. While Ezekiel tries to discover how to make his weapon work out somehow.


    "Don''t worry youngdy, give your friend a chance. I am sure that it will work in the future."


    "See, even grandpa agrees with me."


    "Thanks, grandpa." Ezekiel thanked Jin.


    "Anyway, since you are nning to be a healer. I suggest that you go to Hale and received your starting skills. Hale is the sole healer of this vige, and you can find him in the western part of the vige."


    "As for you, youngdy, what is your weapon?" Jin asked.


    "I am weaponless..." Alex shyly whispered silently to the elder''s ears, since Alex is also guilty of choosing a strange weapon.


    "A weaponless?? Is there even something like that? I don''t remember weaponless recorded in our history.


    "Yes..." Alex was not surprised by Jin''s reactions at all. After all, Lumiere said that only one person was able to properly use this.


    "I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do to help you, youngdy. I don''t have any knowledge of your situation."


    "It''s ok, grandpa. I''ll just figure this thing out on my own." Alex now misses Lumiere that can answer a lot of her questions.


    "I am truly sorry aspensation. I''ll give you 500 silver coins as your starting money for you to buy supplies. Normally, I only give 100 silver coins to everyone." Jin felt sorry for his ipetence to help the young guardian with very great potential and good manners.


    "No, no, that''s too much!! we are fine with the 100 silver coins." Alex rejected.


    "Treat it as my gift." Jin then pushed the 500 silver back to Alex.

 Chapter 27 - Tour

    "This is too much, grandpa." Alex then pushed the money back to the elder.


    She is puzzled as to why the elder is giving her five times the amount of silver a yer can receive.


    "This is too littlepared to what other guardians received."


    "What do you mean, grandpa?" Ezekiel asked.


    "The truth is... the armors you received are the only set left in our armory, and it is the worst ones we have... Normally leather armors provide 15 to 10 defense depending on the quality." The elder then looked down.


    Aren''t their armor considered trash for just having 3 defense?


    "Isn''t the difference a little too much, grandpa?" Ezekiel asked in a kind manner, not wanting to disrespect the elder.


    "I am very sorry, but the armor''s quality are given on a firste, first-served basis. That''s why the two of you received the worst quality armors we have left since you''re thest guardians that arrived." Jin doesn''t know why these strong guardians arrived veryte.


    All vige chiefs are given the instructions to provide the best items to the guardians with good potential they have in their viges.


    If only the two of them had arrived earlier, he could have given them better items. "I am very sorry, not only did I gave you bad armors. I also wasn''t even able to teach you any starting skills that are essential for new guardians. Youngdy, please ept this as my apology." Jin pushed the money back to Alex.


    "If you insist, thank you, grandpa." Alex did not mind receiving a weaker armor at all. It is just an item that is easily receable anytime in the game. But seeing that the elder felt bad, Alex epted his gift to make him feel better.


    "How about mine grandpa, where is mypensation?" Ezekiel asked. After all, he also received armor with the same quality as Alex. Ezekiel wouldn''t mind receiving a smaller amount than Alex. After all, he will be getting his starting skillster, while Alex won''t be receiving one. Receiving skills are ten times better than any armor. In the end, skills are permanent, while armors are temporary.


    "I am sorry young man, but this little amount is the only money I have left." Jin then brought out a 100 silver thest money had on him.


    "This is plenty enough. Thank you, grandpa." Even though 100 silver is smallpared with what Alex received, it is still a great help for the two of them.


    They can buy more supplies on the stores that they saw on the way they took just a while ago. With 100 silver, given by the elder, Ezekiel will have 200 silver, and with Alex''s 500 silver, they will have 700 silver.


    "I won''t hold you guys for long. Go on and get your skills, explore this world and never forget Parabellum."


    "Thanks, grandpa Jin." Alex bowed to the elder, and Ezekiel followed suit. "Thank you, grandpa Jin."


    The elder then walked into his house.


    "I''ve already been told parabellum twice this day. Is it really that important?" Being told not to forget to prepare for war is rather disturbing for her.


    "Maybe it is just their catchphrase. After all, it''s the name of the game. Besides, war is clearly unavoidable in the future."Ezekiel uttered.


    "Shall we go?" Ezekiel then invited Alex.


    "I won''t go with you." Alex answered.


    "Huhhh? Why?" Ezekiel can''t help but cry.


    Why are girls so hard to understand? Just a moment ago, both of them were fine, then without any warning, Alex was going to leave him. Just what the hell did he do wrong this time?


    "I want to tour around the vige alone. I''m not getting any skills anyway. I might as well walk around. Maybe I can find something interesting along the way." Alex then raised the money in her hands. "How to store this?"


    Ezekiel felt relieved, as Alex didn''t look mad this time and just wanted to explore alone. "Storing an item in this game is the same in the Guardian, say "Inventory" then "Store" while holding the item. Then, if you want to retrieve something from your inventory, say "Emerge" while thinking of the item you want to retrieve." Ezekiel then stored his money.


    "I think we really need to ask why I don''t have an A.I. with me as soon as possible," Alex said as she stored the money in her inventory.


    "I''ll try to find out the reason tomorrow, don''t worry." Alex not having a guide is very troublesome for both of them. He won''t always be there with Alex to guide her on what she needs to do, so they need to solve this problem as soon as possible. "By the where do you want to meet up after I get my skills?"


    "Let''s meet up at the ce where we spawned earlier." Alex then turned around and started walking away.


    "I''ll send you a message if I am done!" Ezekiel said as he also turned around and walked to the west part of the vige.


    ...


    After the two of them separated, Alex wandered around the vige. Alex was immersed in the beautiful sight she is seeing. Honey Combed vige was filled with all types of things. She sees a market, a smithy, and the wooden walls that were high enough to cover the sun. It was a beautiful scene that looks very realistic for a game. As merchants shouted their goods, guards patrolled the walls, children ran around, and yers that were busy going to and fro.


    The first thing that caught her eyes is a stall with a cute girl around nine years old selling different kinds of potions. "Little girl, do you sell this?" Alex asked.


    She wanted to know the value of money in this world early on so that they won''t get scammed if they buy some suppliester.


    "Yes, yes, big sister, all of these are the best and cheapest in the vige." The little girl looks delighted to see a customer.


    Seeing how excited the little girl is, Alex resisted the urge to pinch the girl''s rosy cheeks. "What are these potions used for?"


    "The red ones are health potions, then mana potions are the blue ones, resistance potions are grey ones..." The girl named the potions one by one. "All of this is made by my mother. She said that she made it with magic and love for me, so it is the beeessst!!! in the vige." The girl proudly boasts her mother.


    Alex smiled.


    "Then how much is..."


    Before Alex could continue what she''s going to say, a voice suddenly rang in her ears.


    [God Healer #2882 is calling]


    "Do you wish to ept?"

 Chapter 28 - Guardian Spirit

    Alex was dumbstruck.


    "Lumiere...?" Alex looked around to find where the voice came from.


    It was sudden, but she was one hundred percent sure that the voice she heard came from Lumiere.


    "Big sister, are you talking with your guardian spirit?"


    "Guardian spirit? Are you talking about the guide A.I.?" Alex asked while still looking around, as she still can''t see Lumiere''s blob of light.


    "A.I.? I don''t know it. But mommy told me a few days ago that strange people will be arriving in our world this day. Mommy told me that people called guardians are going to appear in the za one after the other. And then, and then, mom also said that guardians are the ones that can protect us from destruction. Then along with the guardian, is the guardian spirit that guides them. Guardian spirits are invisible to everyone except the guardians they have chosen." The little girl talked eagerly with the pretty sister in front of her. She finds the sweet sister in front of her very approachable. Unlike the other guardians that she sees on the road, that is really awful with the people in the vige. Those people are looking at her friends as if they are not humans at all.


    Alex thinks that the little girl is a little bit talkative for her age. It must be the reason why her mother is letting her watch the shop.


    While the little girl is talking about spirit guardians, Alex tried calling out Lumiere''s name in between her talks a couple of times.


    "Lumiere, I want to ept the call!" No matter how much she called, she was not getting any response at all.


    "Big sister, is there a problem with your guardian spirit?" The little girl asked Alex.


    "I don''t have my guardian spirit with me right now, but I am sure I heard its voice just a moment..."


    "Hello, Alexandria, God Healer #2882 is calling. Do you want to ept?"


    Before Alex can''t continue what she''s saying, she suddenly heard Lumiere''s voice again. But this time it was clearer and came behind her.


    Alex then turned around to look.


    Alex was expecting to see Lumiere''s blob of light when she turned around. Yet what met her eyes was a flickering light in a fairy-like figure.


    "God Healer #2882 is calling. Do you want to ept?" Lumiere repeated its question.


    "Uhmm, Lumiere, your form?" Alex did not answer its question and just continued to stare at Lumiere.


    "My form was suddenly upgraded by the system when I was trying to report. That is why it took me some time to return." Lumiere exined.


    "I am sorry for beingte..."


    "It''s ok as long as you''re here. I learned that it is quite troublesome without a guide. But why are you flickering non-stop?"


    "My current form is somewhat rushed by the system as the yer''s first event ising. The system won''t let a yer not have a guide on their first event."


    "Looks like your friend won''t stop calling you. Do you want to answer?" Lumiere reminded Alex the third time.


    "Yes, answer the call." Alex haspletely forgotten about Ezekiel.


    Shortly after, Ezekiel''s loud voice rang through her ears. "Hey! Why are you taking your time in answering!?"


    "It is my A.I. it just got back."


    "Ow.... Ok fine, Anyway, where are you right now?"


    "In the marketce, why?"


    "I am done getting my skills. Come to the za. There are some goodmotions around here that you will like." Ezekiel exined while looking at the ruckus in front of him.


    "I''ll be there in a minute." If it is Ezekiel saying that she will like it, she knows that she will like it if she sees it. After all, Ezekiel is one of the people that knows her best.


    Alex ended the call. She then turned to the little girl to say that she is leaving.


    Listening to the pretty sister''s conversation. The little girl can tell that the pretty sister is going to her friend. "Are you leaving, big sister?" The little girl said softly as she looked down on the ground.


    Seeing the disappointment in the little girl''s eyes, Alex can''t help but feel bad about herself by choosing amotion she hasn''t seen yet instead of the cute bun in front of her. "I am sorry... but I need to go. I wille back and bring my friend hereter. And we will buy any potion we can afford that you rmend to us, okay?" Alex patted the little girl''s head as sheforted her.


    "Promise?" The little girl stared at Alex with her dazzling eyes as she raised her pinky finger for a pinky promise.


    Who can even resist any request when being stared at by those two beautiful eyes of the little girl. "Promise..." Alex then grabbed the little girl''s pinky finger and made a pinky promise.


    "I need to go now, byeeee." Alex then pinched the little girl''s cheek lightly, then ran towards the za.


    "Come back again, pretty sister!!" The little girl shouted as she waved her hands at the rushing girl.


    In the end, Alex wasn''t able to hold her urge to pinch the little girl''s rosy cheeks.


    ...


    It took Alex less than a minute to reach the za, since she ran on the way and the marketce and za are close to each other.


    Ezekiel was right the za is so boisterous when most of the yers in the vige are gathering in the za.


    "Lumiere."


    "Yes?"


    "Please call Ezekiel for me."


    "Who is Ezekiel?" Lumiere asked confusedly.


    When Lumiere asked who''s Ezekiel, Alex almost lost it. "Please call God Healer #2882."


    "As you wish." A ringing sound then echoed through her ears.


    "By the way, Lumiere, can I change my contact list''s nicknames?" Looking at her Ezekiel and her father''s usernames, Alex can''t help but be embarrassed for both of them.


    "Yes... who do you want to change?"


    "Please change God Healer #2882 to Ezekiel and Retired God of General #1315 to Father." Alex also looked at Samantha''s username, and she felt relieved, knowing that she is using her name.


    ...


    In the middle of themotion in the za, Ezekiel''s guardian spirit spoke.


    [Hero yer #2883 is calling]


    [Do you want to answer]

 Chapter 29 - Duel

    "Yes," Ezekiel replied, hearing that it was Alex calling.


    She must have arrived just now.


    "Where are you!" Alex shouted at Ezekiel, afraid that he won''t hear her, with how loud the people are cheering for something in the front.


    Alex is having a hard time finding Ezekiel with the number of people around.


    "Why are you shouting?" Ezekielined while picking his ears that got hurt from Alex''s shouting.


    "Ehhh?" Alex heard Ezekiel''s voice crystal clear, even with the amount of noise the people around her are making.


    "Amazing!!" It''s like she is wearing earphones, even though she isn''t wearing one.


    Hearing Alex''s shocked voice, Ezekiel realizes that Alex must not have known that the voice call is good formunication. It is so good that no matter how chaotic a ce is, they would still hear each other loud and clear.


    "I''m in the front try to squeeze yourself in." Confident with her skills, Ezekiel did not worry that Alex wouldn''t be able to squeeze herself in the center.


    "Okay..." Alex looked at the tightly packed people in front of her.


    First, Alex made a n on where to squeeze herself in with all the people pushing around to the front. After finding the perfect route, Alex then joined in the fun.


    Alex did not follow what everyone was doing of just pushing around and forcing themselves in. Because if she really does that, it will be impossible for her to move to the front.


    Her n is to go with the flow by letting herself get pushed to the front by other people. Alex made her body as light as possible so that other people can push her around. Then, once she sees a tiny gap, she immediately slips herself in.


    In just a matter of seconds, Alex arrived at the center of the za. She then quickly met Ezekiel''s eyes on the other side of the crowd.


    Alex also sees two yers fighting in a circle formed by the yers. It''s like a ring that leaves the two people a space big enough to fight on.


    "Fast..." Ezekiel was shocked seeing Alexe out in the front in just a matter of seconds after answering him. He already expected her to arrive easily but not this fast.


    "What are they doing?" Alex asked while looking at the two people fighting.


    "As you can see, they are doing a duel. The guy with the great axe started all of this. The guy he is fighting right now is his 6th fight already, and he hasn''t lost even once yet. Looking at the moves of the one with the great axe you can tell that he is a decent one. But all of his opponents so far are also decent ones." Ezekiel exined.


    "It looks like the guy with the great axe is getting faster and stronger as the fight goes on. The guy with the dual sword is quite good, but I think he is having a hard time adapting with his low stats in the beginning. " Alex observed.


    Alex then saw the guy with the dual sword, tried to make a big move by jumping with his weapon and shing downwards. "Foolish..." Alex mumbled.


    "What an idiot..." Ezekiel agreed in unison.


    Alex thinks that what the guy used just now is his starting skill. Alex can see that the guy used it desperately at the wrong time. The guy just hastened his death by attacking in mid-air. The enemy is clearly faster and stronger than him. The guy staying in mid-air just made himself defenseless.


    And just as they expected. The guyid on the ground after he was shed in half by the great axe. Unexpectedly, blood did not spurt from the dual-sword guy. Light particles came out on the wound and floated in the air, then disappeared like a bubble in the blink of an eye.


    Alex approves of the game''s decision of changing the blood to light particles to avoid any bloody scene that may scare the hell out of children.


    [yer Akkar has won the duel and gained 100 silver] A robotic announcement echoed throughout the za.


    "Arghhhh!!" The guy with the great axe then raised his weapon in victory and roared at the top of his lungs.


    The crowd then followed suit and cheered on him.


    "So strong!!"


    "Big bro, let''s form a party together!!"


    "Mister, carry me please!!"


    "Wow!! That is now six wins in a row."


    At the same time, the body of a guy with a dual sword disappeared on the ground. Then he suddenly appeared in a sh of light, two meters away on the ce of his death.


    The crowd wasn''t as confused as Alex since they have already seen this scene the sixth time. The guy then walked out of the za with a slumped shoulders.


    "Isn''t that guy already dead? Is respawn time in this game only takes ten seconds?" Alex asked Lumiere, finding the respawn timer too fast.


    "The guy is not dead... The yer fought on an official duel. Official duels will leave 10% of a yer''s health whenever they are defeated. So no matter how much damage your opposing opponent makes, you are still basically alive." Lumiere exined.


    "I see." Alex now understood.


    Having Lumiere by her side is a really great help.


    "Next!?" At the same, Akkar roared with confidence.


    No one is now brave enough to step up and ept the challenge, afraid to lose their money seeing how strong the guy is.


    "How to initiate a duel?" Alex asked.


    "Are you gonna fight?" Lumiere asked.


    "Yes..."


    "Decide a bet with your opponent, and the A.I. will handle the rest. There is no maximum bet and no minimum bets. You can choose to have no bet with your opponent if you want to."


    "So a friendly match is possible."


    "Yes."


    "NO ONE!?" Akkar howled, striking fear on the crowd.


    Alex then decided to step up to fight the arrogant guy. But just when she''s about to move forward, Ezekiel beat her to it.


    "Let''s fight!!" Ezekiel walked forward with his weapon slung on his back.


    "Let me fight this one, I''ll show you what a healer can do..."

 Chapter 30 - Akkar Versus Ezekiel

    Ezekiel wants to show Alex that he did not make any mistake this time.


    "Show off..."


    "Sorry, but I don''t like bullying kids."


    "Anyone else brave enough?" Akkar questioned the crowd, not satisfied with the kid that stepped up just now.


    Akkar is a small streamer in a streaming tform called Maze. And right now, he is streaming the first day of Parabellum. Akkar hoped to grow his fanbase with the duel as his content. So far, Akkar is doing so well by winning six times in a row.


    There are two things that helped Akkar win those six matches in a row. One of them is him getting quite lucky by being the first person to receive armor from the vige chief. His friend told him that the first armor is probably the best in the vige. Having a 15 defense on his armor, while the ones he is fighting have an armor of around 11-14 is a great help to him winning those six matches. The other thing that helped him was his starting skill [Berserker]. It is a passive skill that increases his strength, agility, and defenses by 2% every time he loses 1% of his health.


    With the help of his early advantage against yers, he can see the number of his viewers increasing. And he wanted to continue this streak a little longer, until the first event started. But he doesn''t like the kid that just challenged him right now. He wanted an opponent that could give him a good fight, to produce a good content. If he really epted the kid''s challenge, Akkar is afraid that the duel might end instantly. He was also scared that his viewers might hate him for bullying a kid.


    "Are you scared, mister?" Ezekiel said coldly. "I''ll bet 200 silver. how does that sound?" Ezekiel smiled provokingly.


    If he is going to show off, he will do it big time.


    "Hey, hey, what did I say about betting? Never bet if your chance of winning is not even 80%." Alex hated gambling hard-earned money that doesn''t have a clear chance of winning.


    "I''ll win this one trust me," Ezekiel assured Alex.


    Akkar contemted, tempted by the 200 silver that he can easily win from the kid. But at the same time, he doesn''t want to offend his viewers.


    "Wait..." Akkar decided to ask his viewers'' opinions instead.


    Akkar asked his A.I. to open the streaming panel. When he looked at the number of his viewers, Akkar felt unexinable happiness. The 2773 viewers he is seeing right now are nowhere near his average of 100 viewers. He felt like crying, but he prioritized the current situation first.


    "Hello everyone, wee to my stream for people who are new in my channel. What do you guys think should I fight this guy?" Akkar was d that he first checked for his viewers. With the number of viewers he has right now, Akkar is anxious to watch out for his image.


    Akkar never expected that it would grow this fast. After all, he is just a 28-years-old small-time streamer with very few viewers. He was barely making hismunity survive a few months ago.


    "Teach that kid a lesson, big bro Akkar!!"


    "Beat that arrogant kid, Akkar!!"


    "Let''s go for a 10 win streak, mister!!"


    "I also want to y this game, but getting a capsule on the first day is so hard."


    "Thank you for showing me this wonderful game, big bro Akkar!"


    Akkar felt blessed seeing thements flooding his stream panel.


    Seeing that most of the people wanted him to fight the kid, he felt relieved. "Okay, let''s fight kid, but don''t me me if I make you cry." Akkar nned to end this fight in an instant to move on to the next match, underestimating Ezekiel.


    "What''s your name?"


    "Ezekiel," Ezekiel answered while grabbing his weapon from his back, preparing to fight.


    "Light1049 Initiate a duel, to yer Ezekiel with 200 silver as the bet."


    [Yes]


    Ezekiel''s A.I. then asked for his confirmation.


    [yer Akkar wants to initiate a duel with a bet of 200 silver]


    [Do you want to ept?]


    "Yes!!"


    Then a system announcement rang through the za


    [A duel between yer Akkar, and yer Ezekiel will start in 10 seconds]


    [The duel will end if one yer is left with 10% health points]


    [If no victor has been decided, within one minute and 30 seconds. The duel is considered a draw, and the system will return both yer''s bets]


    [Ready]


    Ezekiel and Akkar moved towards each other, leaving a 10 meters space in between them. Both of them then readied their weapons, facing each other.


    [10, 9, 8, 7... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, FIGHT]


    "10, 9, 8, 7... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, FIGHT!!" The crowd also cheered in unison.


    Akkar observed the kid waiting for him to make a move.


    While Ezekiel also waited for Akkar to make the first move. He can''t afford to take any rash actions with the disadvantage of armor and skills he has.


    Seeing the kid not making a move, Akkar raised his great ax using his two hands. He then charged at Ezekiel with great speed.


    In just a blink of an eye, Akkar''s great ax was already shing towards Ezekiel''s face.


    Seeing the overhead sh, Ezekiel gripped his staff hard. Then positioned the weapon parallel to the floor and raised it above his head.


    Akkar''s great ax then met the middle part of Ezekiel''s staff. As soon as Ezekiel felt the great ax hit his weapon, he immediately softened his grip on his one arm, then left the great ax slid off from his staff to the ground.


    Ezekiel then performed a counterattack by rotating his staff counterclockwise. As the staff rotated, he lowered it and brought it to his left hand, under his armpit. Causing the right end of the staff to strike the right side of Akkar''s head. Executing a basic staff art called reverse strike.


    Not done with his counterattack. Ezekiel connected his next attack by making the striking end of his staff moves towards Akkar''s ankles. Then he quickly pivoted his hips to the right as he swept Akkar''s legs out from underneath him. Making Akkar get knocked down to the ground.


    As a finisher, Ezekiel forcefully thrust the low end of the staff downward at his opponent...

 Chapter 31 - Berserker Versus Healer

    The crowd gasped in shock at how fast the fight escted. Everyone expected that the duel would end instantly with Akkar beating up his opponent one-sidedly. Yet Ezekiel proved them wrong in that one engagement.


    "Wow!! The kid is not bad."


    "How did he do it!?"


    "Does the kid know martial arts?"


    The viewers on the live stream are even more amazed than the crowd in the za.


    "So smooth!"


    "Is that really a kid?"


    "This is even better than watching an action movie!!"


    The people on the live stream have a better viewpoint than the ones on the za. It is because they are watching in a third-person point of view of the live streamer like the ones you''ll see inputer games. The streaming function of Parabellum is even better than they expected because they can change the angle of the point of view of the streamer however they want to by rotating the eye icon they can see in the stream.


    While everyone was amazed by Ezekiel, Akkar, who was still knocked down on the ground, did not stay still, and counterattacked by kicking Ezekiel away from him.


    Seeing the kicking his way, Ezekiel, distanced himself by a wide margin, avoiding the attacks as if the bravery he showed a while ago were just a facade.


    It may have looked like he dominated the sh earlier. Yetparing the amount of damage he inflicted and the damage Akkar dealt with him only shows that he lost that one. The first strike he did on the head only dealt 5 damage, while the sweep he did to knock him down dealt 3 damage. And the final thrust on Akkar''s chest only dealt 2 damage.


    In total, Ezekiel, only dealt 10 damage. Comparing it to Akkar''s one overhead strike that dealt 10 damage. He even managed to deflect the attack, yet it still managed to deal the same amount of damage Ezekiel made with three strikes.


    Even though he lost that first sh, Ezekiel was not worried because he was only testing the waters. He managed to confirm his guess on how the armor works in the game.


    Armor doesn''t reduce the damage taken if it doesn''t cover the part that has been attacked. While attacking a weak part of the body, such as the head, can deal a lot of damage. That is why Ezekiel attacked Akkar in three different ways. Now all he needs to do is attack his opponents vital parts all the time.


    "Not bad, kid." Akkar stood up and grabbed his weapon again. Even he was startled at how his enemy moved. Maybe he can get a good content in this fight. Akkar was not worried that his opponent was skilled in martial arts. After all, his strongest asset right now is his skill [Berserker]. He just lost 10% of his, which means he is now stronger by 20% than earlier.


    "You''re not that bad either. Your armor and skill must be outstanding." Ezekiel alsoplimented in return. He already has guessed what type he has. His skill has an instant effect of increasing his stats once he lost a portion of his health.


    "You must be a berserker type?"


    "How!?"


    "It was quite easy. I have already been here at the start, after all." Ezekiel did not say it, but what really confirmed his guess is Akkar''s counterattack. The kick was slightly stronger than an average kick a yer can do with their current stats. That''s why he did not risk getting hit by it.


    "It doesn''t matter if you know I will still beat you in the end." Akkar raised his great axe on his shoulder, preparing to fight again.


    "You''re right, it doesn''t matter... Then I''ll show you mine."


    Ezekiel then put his right hand on his chest and chanted. "Heal!"


    A light green aura then started to surround Ezekiel as it started to heal him every second.


    Ezekiel''s starting skill is [Weapon Proficiency] and [Rejuvenation]


    [Weapon Proficiency] is a passive skill that increases all of his healing and damage by a small amount every time the skill level up.


    While [Rejuvenation] is an active skill that heals his target by +2 HP every second for 5 seconds. With a cost of 10 mana and a cooldown of 5 seconds.


    [+2 HP]


    "A healer!?"


    [+2 HP]


    "He is a healer!?"


    "How can a healer overwhelm a berserker!?"


    [+2 HP]


    "Can a healer really do that??"


    The crowd voiced out their doubts one after the other.


    In just a few seconds, Ezekiel is back in full health again.


    Seeing the confusion in the crowd, Ezekiel turned to look at Alex''s direction, and the corner of his mouth turned up.


    Seeing Ezekiel''s proud smile, Alex can''t also help but lightly smile. "Show off... beat your enemy first before you brag." Alex scolded, noticing Akkar started charging at Ezekiel again.


    "I''ll show you..." Ezekiel mumbled, then focused on the battle again. After all, he is not as strong as Alex that has a very good battle sense.


    "It still doesn''t change anything." Akkar howled while charging at Ezekiel with faster speed than earlier.


    In just a matter of seconds, Akkar arrived in front of Ezekiel again. This time, Akkar swung his ax in an arc and shed Ezekiel''s side.


    Seeing the attacking from his side, Ezekiel jumped back, then attacked by thrusting his staff at the opening he sees on Akkar''s head.


    Akkar tilted his head, barely dodging Ezekiel''s attack. He then gathered his strength on his feet to spin his body to create greater momentum. And then tried to cleave Ezekiel''s body in half with all his might.


    Ezekiel realizes that he can''t dodge or deflect the attack this time with how fast it''s beening at him. He then positioned his staff on his side to block the attack. As the ax mmed on his staff, Ezekiel''s weapon bent a little and got him slightly catapulted into the air. After a short flight, Ezekiel nted his feet on the ground to stop himself from going farther. Ezekiel then slid off the ground and only stopped 10 meters away from Akkar.


    [- 25 HP]


    "Sh*t!!" Ezekiel cursed inside.

 Chapter 32 - Intense Match

    Ezekiel really overestimated his armor this time. He never expected how trashy his defense really is.


    "Maybe the kid just got lucky earlier. That is why he won the first sh between them." ??


    "I know right, there is no way a healer can fight with a berserker."


    The crowd discussed among each other, seeing Ezekiel flying through the air with Akkar''s direct hit.


    "Heal!"


    As soon as Ezekiel managed to stabilize his footing, he immediately healed himself.


    "What are you doing? Stop ying around and get on with it." Alex can''t believe this guy is still managing to experiment around while betting all of his money.


    "I am gathering some information, okay, information..." Ezekiel is not afraid to lose some health since he is a healer after all. If pushes to shove, Ezekiel can just run around to heal himself up to not lose this battle. He may not be as good as Alex when ites to fighting, but he is definitely on par with her when ites to escaping.


    Seeing that his opponent is trying to heal again, this time, Akkar will not give him a chance to take a break.


    "Oorah!!!" Akkar howled and charged with all his might.


    "Sh*t this guy is not even sparing me a little time to heal myself up." Ezekiel raised his weapon, waiting for Akkar to arrive. Ezekiel can only fight on the defensive since he doesn''t have any strong skills at the start like Akkar.


    "Take this!!" Akkar repeated the same attack he did a while ago. By swinging his great ax in an arc and shing Ezekiel''s side.


    Seeing the same attacking at him, Ezekiel did not jump back this time. Instead, Ezekiel moves closer to Akkar, where the de of his weapon can''t hit him.


    Akkar was startled by Ezekieling closer at him. But he can''t stop the momentum of his great ax, so it just continueding at Ezekiel.


    As soon as Ezekiel saw the handle of the great ax, that was about to hit him. He immediately ducked to avoid the attack. After the weapon passed by his head, Ezekiel immediately counterattacked, using all of his strength on his feet like a spring. Ezekiel rose from his position in a blink of an eye.


    "Eat this!!" Ezekiel then drove his staff to Akkar''s head, hitting Akkar''s chin in that attack.


    "Arghh!" Ezekiel''s attack managed to make Akkar''s feet slightly leave the ground by around one foot. But it was good enough to execute his next attack.


    As Akkar was still in mid-air, Ezekiel immediately chained his next attack by spinning his body horizontally in a circle. It begins as a jump with one leg while kicking with the other on Akkar''s head. Then moves the kicking leg down and the jumping leg up into another kick on Akkar''s head, thennding with the first kicking leg, all while spinning.


    With the double aerial kick, Ezekiel managed to make Akkar stay airborne a little longer. Not wasting the opportunity to attack another one. Ezekiel hurriedly stepped back a few steps just enough for him to gather the momentum he needed. Ezekiel then hurriedly started running. After getting close enough to the still airborne Akkar. Ezekiel jumped and used the power he umted from running just a moment ago. While also using his staff as an aid by nting it in the ground to further strengthen his attack. After reaching the peak of his jump, Ezekiel thennded a kick on Akkar''s chest in mid-air.


    BANG!!!!


    Ezekiel''s flurry of attacks sent Akkar flying through the crowds. He made sure Akkar would be sent far away so that he wouldn''t be able to retaliate.


    "Watch out!!" The onlookers shouted, seeing Akkar''s figure flying through them.


    "Heal!" Then, as soon as Ezekiel''s feetnded on the ground, he immediately healed up the health he lost earlier.


    [+ 2]


    The za turned silent after Akkar and Ezekielnded on the ground at the same time.


    Everyone was baffled, including Akkar. They can''t think of any reason how a healer managed to overwhelm Akkar, a Berserker, to the point that he didn''t even manage to move an inch twice.


    "Tsk, so hard..." Ezekiel clicked his tongue in disappointment as he saw the 30 damage he inflicted.


    Three attacks in the head and one attack on the chest only managed to inflict that small amount.


    "Holy sh*t did I see it right? A healer just sent big bro Akkar flying through the air."


    Even the viewers on Akkar''s stream started increasing at a fast rate. Viewers were seen rushing in after seeing the intense fight their friend just shared with them. If Akkar can see this, he will be pleasantly surprised.


    "Can we really do those thing if we picked a healer?"


    "The guy looks like an expert in martial arts. I don''t think an ordinary human like me can ever do those kinds of things."


    The viewers also startedmenting their discussions on the fight that they were watching.


    Just like thest time Akkar wasn''t able to follow Ezekiel''s movement. But this time, what made it even harder for him to react was Ezekiel was in his blind spot, and he attacked so quickly.


    Akkar was just an ordinary human who managed to get an early advantage with his skill and armor. There is no way he could have reacted to the moves of an expert.


    Akkar slowly got up despite the dizziness and confusion he''s feeling. Because there is a timer for the duel, and his opponent is slowly healing himself.


    Because of the pain reduction function of the game, yers will only feel 30% of the pain they are supposed to feel. That is why Akkar still managed to immediately stand up despite the thrashing he received just a moment ago. It was a countermeasure of the system to prevent yers from receiving trauma if they die miserably. That''s why the guy with the dual sword he sliced in half still managed to move after respawning.


    Even though Akkar can''t see his streaming panel right now, he can tell that he has hit the jackpot with this current fight.


    A healer beating up a berserker twice who won a duel six times in a row.


    This is his peak content right here.


    Akkar then grinned at Ezekiel, then started charging at him again.


    "Oorah!!"

 Chapter 33 - Mad Scientist

    "Can''t you give me a break? Just a few seconds is enough." Ezekielined at his storming opponent.


    "Heal!" Ezekiel only managed to heal his health twice before Akkar showed up at his front again.??


    Since Akkar already lost 40% of his health, he is now 80% stronger than before. That is why this time, Akkar moved even faster than his earlier charge.


    What a troublesome skill his enemy has. The lesser Akkar''s health goes down, the harder he can catch up with him. After thatst sh, Ezekiel finally realized that this is going to be a losing battle.


    "Time out?" Ezekiel uttered in Akkar''s face.


    Akkar can''t believe that his opponent still managed to y around with his current strength.


    "Eat this!!" This time Akkar changed his attack by shing diagonally,ing down from his dominant right arm''s shoulder to his opponent. This way, Ezekiel can''t duck and repeat his counterattacks earlier.


    "Tsk," Ezekiel clicked his tongue in disappointment, seeing Akkar changing his attack pattern every time it fails.


    I guess he is not an ignorant person that doesn''t learn from his mistakes.


    Noticing how fast the ax wasing at him, Ezekiel did not dodge it this time by jumping forward or backward. Instead, Ezekiel used his two hands to tighten the grip on his staff.


    Then he explosively thrust his weapon on Akkar''s chest that made him knocked back a few steps, canceling his iing attack.


    When Ezekiel pushed Akkar away from him, Ezekiel also took a few steps back to increase the distance between them.


    [- 3]


    As soon as Akkar managed to stabilize his footing, he held his great ax on his shoulder, then charged at his opponent again with greater vigor. "Oorah!!"


    "Tsk, what a lively bastard." Ezekiel then positioned his staff by starting with a quick windup over his shoulders, like a batter in baseball waiting for his opponent.


    As soon as Akkar entered the range of his weapon, Ezekiel clenched his staff harder. Then he made a wide arcing swing that utilizes the length and speed of his weaponpared to Akkar''s weapon. Then it goes flying at a very fast rate, directly smashing Akkar''s head.


    Akkar wasn''t able to stop on his tracks to avoid Ezekiel''s attack because of how fast he was going at him.


    BANG!!!!


    Akkar then heard a loud bang on his head that even the surrounding chaotic crowd heard the sound of something breaking echoing through the za.


    At the same time, Akkar started, losing his consciousness and slowly fell to the ground.


    After his weapon hit Akkar''s head, his body followed a spinning hop to flow with the swing''s momentum.


    Ezekiel also noticed the eyes of Akkar losing some life in it. Without wasting the opportunity to finish this match. Ezekiel immediately executed his next attack as soon as his feetnded on the ground.


    He tightened his grasp on his weapon, then smacked diagonally in Akkar''s head once more to hasten the drop of his falling body. Following that, Ezekiel leaped through the air and mmed his staff down towards Akkar''s head once more.


    At the same time that Ezekiel leaped through the air, Akkar''s body also touched the ground. Akkar is barely holding his consciousness with his willpower alone.


    "Watch out!!!"


    "Get up!!!"


    "Dodge!!"


    "Wake up!!"


    The crowd on the za screeched in unison. The za is now going out of control, calling out on Akkar to dodge the iing attack of Ezekiel. Everyone is now literally on the edge of their seat, watching the fight going on in front of them. The six battles they watched a while ago; simply can''tpare to the fight they are watching now.


    Hearing the crowd ttering in his ears, Akkar tried to use all of his strength just to move his body out of the way. Then he realized that his body was not moving the way he wanted to.


    Just when everyone is expecting Akkar to lose this battle in this one strike, including Ezekiel. Akkar suddenly rolled through the ground away from Ezekiel''s weapon, waking up from his half-conscious state using his willpower alone.


    BANG!!!!!!!


    Ezekiel''s staff crashed to the empty ground producing a loud bang and dust flying everywhere.


    Akkar looked at the ground that had left a mark, like a footprint because off how hard Ezekiel smashed the ground. This clearly indicates that Akkar would havepletely lost his consciousness and lose this duel.


    Ezekiel did not continue his assault on Akkar and just gathered his findings in that sh. He was sure that he wouldn''t win even if he continued with his assault. Seeing Akkar recovering at a very fast rate because of how awesome the game''s system works.


    Akkar struggled to stand up as his body wobbled. The dizziness he felt earlier when he was sent flying to the crowd that has somewhat recovered over time is starting to worsen again.


    "What did you do?" Akkar said in difficulty while clenching his head in pain.


    "People are relying too much in the pain reduction. Even if there is a 30% pain reduction in this game, I have guessed that there is no way your brain won''t receive damage if it is hit consecutively. After all, the brain is the most delicate part of the human body." Ezekiel smiled like a creep. He wasn''t afraid that Akkar''s real-life brain will have some damages. Because, based on his observations, the Guardian and Parabellum''s pain reduction function should work the same way.


    And if it does work the same way, then Ezekiel can rest assured, because he tried smashing his head multiple times in Guardian to test his theories. At worst Akkar will throw up a little because of the dizziness he is feeling.


    ...


    "Oi, oi, is this a joke! why does Akkar keep on losing when he has be even stronger and faster than before."


    "It doesn''t even make any sense."


    "The kid is even making big bro look like ab rat."


    "Big bro, Akkar, you can do it!!!"


    Only Alex knew that Ezekiel only lost the earlier fight is because he wanted to test the theories he wants to know. Even now, Alex can tell that he is still trying something she doesn''t know about.


    Mad scientist, a title that Ezekiel''s father once called him when he showed his son to the world.

 Chapter 34 - Run

    Everyone deemed the words of Ezekiel''s father as an exaggeration. How can a 6-year-old kid even be considered as a scientist in the first ce? How much more calling the clueless kid a mad scientist. Everyone just took it as a father''s joke to his son, but only Alex knew that it''s not an exaggeration at all.


    Ezekiel may not be someone who can have perfect scores in exams, remember everything he reads, and learn things instantaneously. Ezekiel even forgets the important things if he isn''t paying attention and doesn''t have an interest in them. But the thing that portrays Ezekiel as a mad scientist by his father. Is that every time he thought of something crazy, he did the craziest things anyone could imagine.??


    Ezekiel will do anything to know if his theory was either right or wrong. It almost reached the point where he was thinking of risking someone''s life. But the good thing is that Alex and Ezekiel''s father were somehow able to stop Ezekiel''s obsession when he became more matured.


    But unfortunately Ezekiel''s wild experiments resurfaced and even got a little worse once the first virtual reality arrived. Ezekiel has rified to Alex and his father that he won''t do anything that risks anyone''s life at all. He still has some self-control. It''s just that there is no way he can resist the opportunity to experiment with things he couldn''t do in the real world.


    ...


    As the fight became more intense as time went by, Akkar''s viewers were also rising rapidly. It went up so fast until Akkar''s number of viewers hit twenty-five thousand.


    Akkar''s older viewersmented among each other that once Akkar got the chance to check his streaming tform, he will surely pass out in shock. He would never have dreamt of having this many viewers in his entire life.


    "Big bro Akkar will surely die in joy with this one."


    "Even if he loses this fight, it is still all worth it."


    "Our brother is now finally going to be a big-time streamer."


    Anyone who has been watching Akkar stream for almost a year will instantly say that he is a very friendly streamer despite having a terrifying appearance for a 28-year-old man. Akkar will treat all of his viewers as his friends and make sure that everyone is enjoying what they are watching.


    The long-time viewers that became Akkar''s friend were so happy that he is finally being noticed. After constantly streaming for almost three years.


    ...


    "Your recovery is faster than I expected. You really do have a good skill right there." Ezekiel eximed, staring at the fiery eyes of Akkar.


    With how hard Ezekiel smacked Akkar''s head, he thought that it would have taken him at least a minute to recover. He once tried smashing his head in a rock a couple of times on Guardian, and it took him a few minutes before he recovered.


    Ezekiel now had thought of another theory. One of them is how defense stats work in the game. Akkar''s faster recovery must be rted to his skill that increases his defense stats. Even though his head is not covered with any armor, defense stats must have reduced the impact and damage he received by a small amount.


    The other one is the recovery function of Parabellum is way more advanced than Guardian. But he still needs to try more things out before he can conclude.


    "How generous of you to let your opponent recover. Sorry, but I cannot be as generous as you." Akkar raised his weapon confidently. He lost 17 health in that sh, but it just gave him the confidence he needs to keep fighting. He is a berserker, a berserker that will stand up and charge with all his strength until hisst breath. Akkar thought that it''s the end for him when he lost consciousness, but when it came to willpower alone, he had persevered a tougher challenge than this one.


    "I think you''ve misunderstood something. I''m still not done studying. I won''t let myb rat die, ending my experiment earlier. After all, it''s quite hard to find a tough guinea pig like you." Ezekiel''s voice flowed out without a hint of stuttering.


    Seeing the damage his opponent was receiving became less, and less, Ezekiel felt envious.


    The crowd immediately let out a heated response.


    "This fucker..."


    "Oi, brat, aren''t you a bit too arrogant!!"


    "Big bro Akkar, end this kid''s life and teach him his lessons."


    Alex then shook his head. Ezekiel''s bad habit of getting carried away in his experiment is now showing.


    "Then don''t mind me if I end this right now," Akkar eximed as he pushed his feet off the ground, charging through his opponent.


    "Fast..." What an amazing skill. Ezekiel then prepared his weapon for his opponent.


    In the blink of an eye, Akkar arrived in front of Ezekiel again. He then swung his weapon in an arc, attacking Ezekiel''s side.


    Seeing the great axing to his side, Ezekiel moved his staff to his side, barely blocking the attack. He wasn''t able to dodge or deflect it this time because of how fast and how strong the attack was.


    BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!


    Akkar used pure brute strength alone to send off Ezekiel, flying through the crowds once more. But this time, the attack was a lot stronger, making Ezekiele crashing through the crowd.


    Coincidentally Ezekiel came crashing on Alex''s ce.


    "Watch out!!"


    Seeing Ezekiel flying through him like a baseball, Alex jumped through the air and caught Ezekiel''s back, stopping him on its track.


    "Are you ok?" Alex asked concernedly after theynded on the ground.


    "Heal!!"


    [- 35]


    "Sh*t, this guy is not joking at all." Ezekiel cursed, seeing the damage he received. He could have killed him in one strike if he wasn''t able to block that attack.


    He thought that the damage increase should have a limit of 100%, but Akkar proved him wrong with that one swing.


    "If you still have the time to curse around like that, then you must be fine." Alex then pushed Ezekiel back to the ring.


    "Run," Before sending him off, Alex whispered him a piece of advice.

 Chapter 35 - Thats Cheating!!!

    "Running is not in my vocabry." Ezekiel arrogantly replied.


    He then turned around to fight once more, but the moment he turned around to face his opponent, he met the eyes of someone hungry for more blood.??


    "Sh*t..." Ezekiel swallowed his words back, then ran in the other direction.


    "Oi, oi, why are you running this way!!"


    "Where did your arrogant attitude disappear to."


    "Do you have any shame? You''re talking so big, yet you are running away for your life in a fair duel?"


    The crowd spread out one after the other, seeing Ezekieling after them, with Akkar on his tail.


    "If you want a fair match that badly, then how about we switch ces instead?" Ezekiel said coldly to thest guy who talked trash at him. He then grabbed the guy''s armor and threw him at Akkar that was rampaging towards him.


    Akkar stepped aside to dodge the poor guy that was thrown at him, barely slowing down his charge. But not enough to stop him on his tracks, as soon as Ezekiel got close enough for his ax to reach him. Akkar instantly leapt through the air, raising his ax in the sky and shing towards Ezekiel''s back.


    BANG!!!!!!!


    The dust in the ground flew around when Akkar''s attack missed its target.


    Ezekiel barely dodged the attack that could have ended his life in an instant.


    "Holy SH*T, that''s deep," Ezekiel eximed in horror when he looked back to the ce where Akkar''s great axnded.


    As Akkar pulled out his great ax, and the dust finally settled, a long gash remained on the ground where his great axnded.


    Ezekiel then continued running away from his opponent. "Mister, how about you let me off this time? I didn''t really mean to say those things earlier."


    "No!!" With a loud shout, Akkar charged at Ezekiel once more. He is so pumped up on winning this fight.


    This is a very good content for his channel, but losing this fight will only make him look weak and worsen his image.


    A berserker, losing to a healer, may gather a lot of views. But who would even watch him in thatme video? Viewers will only be there for his opponent, not for him, curious about how did he lose and who was the person behind it.


    "Tsk... What an unreasonable guy." Ezekiel mumbled as he casually dodged the iing attack. "Mister, I can do this all day, and you wouldn''t even catch a hair of mine." Ezekiel tried topromise to save a little time, seeing the little timer on the sky nearing its end.


    "You wouldn''t understand..." Akkar rejected Ezekiel''s suggestion with a chop of his ax. It wouldn''t look good for his video if he ended the climactic scene in such a lousy way. Even if it is a draw, a loss, or a win, Akkar still wanted to end this fight outstandingly.


    "Up to you," Ezekiel replied as he casually dodged another attack. Even though Akkar is a lot faster than him when ites to running, it will still be hard for Akkar to hit him with his weapon. Due to the fact that every time Akkar attacks with his great ax, he wille to a stop in his tracks for a moment and swing his great ax. And the moment that Akkar was still gathering the momentum for his attack. Ezekiel will instantaneously burst his running speed to its top speed, evading the attack by a hair''s breadth. Besides, Akkar doesn''t have a choice in his attacks with his weapon, as he won''t be able to bring out it''s full power if he doesn''t swing it in a proper way.


    All this time, he has been holding back his speed around 70% of his top speed, barely enough to dodge Akkar''s current speed. If he tried to do one more sh with Akkar and he wasn''t able to end him. The tables will turn, and it will be the end of Ezekiel instead. That is why he is currently running away from his opponent, the moment he learned how fast Akkar moved and how strong his attacks are with his current berserk state.


    ...


    "Arghhhh!!!" Akkar shouted in frustration as he left another cut on the ground after missing Ezekiel by a hair''s breadth, then charged at the running guy once more. He kept on thinking about how the heck are his attacks not hitting his opponent at all. He was clearly a lot of time faster than his opponent. Yet every time he was about to hit Ezekiel, he would instantly disappear in his line of sight and appear a couple of meters away from him.


    If only Ezekiel fights him head-on once more; so he can get stronger. He could have ended this battle with ease.


    Seeing the 20 seconds left on the timer, Akkar shed with fury at Ezekiel''s back. But just as expected, his opponent easily dodged the attack once more. "Arghhh!! Why can''t I hit you!?" Akkar grumbled in frustration.


    Ezekiel noticed that his opponent is now getting frustrated each second, trying so hard just to hit him. Ezekiel''s n of using a psychological attack is finally working. The moment his opponent left his guard down will be the time he will attack with all of his might. He will just hope that it will be enough to take him down. "15 seconds, mister..." Ezekiel said after casually evading another attack from him.


    With Ezekiel''s reminder, Akkar stopped in his tracks as he decided to use the trump card he''s been hiding all this time. "Emerge!" Akkar shouted in annoyance, as he doesn''t want to use this in front of his viewers. Shortly, a small dagger then appeared on Akkar''s palm. It was a dagger that he bought earlier from a walking merchant using the money he got from his first win.


    "What now?" Noticing Akkar stopping on his chase. Ezekiel also stopped in his tracks.


    Without wasting any time, Akkar stabbed his shoulders, inflicting 5 damage. Thinking that it wasn''t enough, he stabbed on the same spot once more, inflicting another 5 damage. With this 10 damage, Akkar has now lost 70% of his health, and basically increasing his strength, agility, and defense by 140%.


    "Oi, oi, isn''t that cheating??" Ezekiel blurted out in disbelief as he hurriedly ran away, far from his opponent. As soon as he realizes that he is basically f*cked up once Akkar caught him.

 Chapter 36 - Duels End

    Akkar noticed that his opponent is now running away from him as fast as possible. He also did not waste any time and continued his pursuit after Ezekiel.


    "Oorah!!" Akkar pushed his feet off the ground and charged at Ezekiel. With each step Akkar took, the ground trembled, disying the strength that he currently possesses. ??


    Ezekiel curiously took a peek at his opponent, but immediately focused on running again in terror. After seeing that, Akkar has closed their distance to four meters in just a second.


    "F*ck, f*ck, this is cheating, cheating!!!" How the hell did his opponent think of buying a dagger in the early stage to damage himself and increase his strength? And how the hell was he able to buy another weapon if they already have a weapon picked in the character creation??


    There are still many things they don''t have any knowledge about, hidden in this world. But it''s a good thing that he encounters these things early on when they are still far from any troubles.


    Ezekiel is still lucky that Akkar only used this method of damaging himself in thest second of the fight. If Akkar used it 20 seconds earlier, he would have died by this moment.


    He doesn''t know why his opponent just used it now, but he was thankful for it.


    "Oorah!!" Hearing the ear-splitting howl of Akkar, Ezekiel immediately reacted, he has been treating this as his signal whenever Akkar attacked him from behind.


    This time, Ezekiel doesn''t have the capability to change his speed instantaneously to dodge the attack, since he''s been running at full speed. Instead, Ezekiel nted his staff on the ground and propelled himself forward to avoid the pounce of Akkar.


    BANG!!! A thundering sound echoed throughout the za as Akkar''s weapon met the ground.


    Having missed his attack once more, Akkar cried inwardly; he then looked at the timer.


    At the same time, Ezekielnded on his feet and also looked at the timer.


    "8 seconds..." Akkar muttered in hopelessness, realizing that it is now or never. He then pulled his great ax out of the ground.


    Afterward, he spun his whole body while gripping his weapon with his two arms. While contracting all of his muscles on his arms, putting everything in this onest strike.


    Akkar then threw his weapon in Ezekiel''s direction.


    BOOOOM!!!!!!!


    A small sonic boom reverberated in the za as his great ax soared towards Ezekiel.


    BANG!!!!!!!


    With how fast the great ax traveled, probably almost reaching the speed of sound. Ezekiel wasn''t able to move even an inch before the great ax hit him directly in the chest. He then got knocked back, sliding off towards the crowd from his earlier position. Ezekiel just hoped that this wasn''t enough to kill him.


    Luckily, it was in Alex''s direction again. She then prepared to stop Ezekiel in his tracks.


    "Watch out!!" The surrounding yers besides Alex, ran away from her.


    BANG!!!!!


    Alex then caught Ezekiel''s back with difficulty. The moment she caught Ezekiel, Alex herself felt the force of that attack, as she has also slid off a few meters away.


    "Still alive?" As soon as she managed to stabilize her footing, Alex then whispered in his ears.


    Hearing Alex''s soft voice in his ears, Ezekiel woke up in his unconscious state with how great the damage he received a moment ago.


    Seeing that he was still alive despite the damage he took, Ezekiel did not waste any time to counterattack at this moment while his enemy doesn''t have any weapon.


    Without replying to Alex, he first pulled out the great ax that was stuck on his chest armor.


    "Arghhhh!!" A loud, resonant metallic sound echoed as he dropped the great ax on the ground. Then his leather armor suddenly disintegrated into thin air as soon as the weapon got removed. Devoid of the time to think about what happened to his armor. Ezekiel clenched his staff and stormed towards his opponent.


    "Lucky bastard..." Alex mumbled while staring at Ezekiel''s running figure. If she did not cushion Ezekiel earlier, he would have received more damage from the crash''s impact. Or if he did not fly off towards her direction, he would surely die.


    "HEAL!!" As he was charging Ezekiel towards his opponent. Ezekiel healed himself up first and looked at the timer. "5 seconds... I hope this is enough..." He then stared at Akkar, that was also charging at him at full speed with a small dagger in his hand.


    ...


    Seeing the 89 damage; he inflicted on his opponent Akkar felt crying inside. It was only 1 health left for him to win, 1 freaking health!!


    Without a moment toment his misfortune, Akkar stormed towards his opponent, seeing him standing up and healing himself.


    As the two approached each other, Akkar howled in fury as he raised his small dagger. With the eyes of someone crazy that wants to stab his opponent''s heart to end his life.


    "DIEEEE!!"


    Akkar''s small dagger swung past Ezekiel''s head, along with an ear-splitting sound.


    Ezekiel did not cower in such a frightening situation, even with how low his current health has. The moment he dodged the attack, he lifted his head up and faced Akkar eye to eye; while the corners of his mouth turned up. Ezekiel then prepared to counterattack onest time.


    Akkar also didn''t take his eyes off Ezekiel watching every move he makes. As he expressed his fury at Ezekiel for managing to live with sliver health.


    Ezekiel then drove his staff up towards his opponent''s head, forcing Akkar to be airborne for a moment. This time Ezekiel added a little spin on his attack, making it a lot stronger than earlier.


    As Akkar was still airborne, Ezekiel repeated an attack he didst time. By chaining his next attack, and spinning his body horizontally in a circle. It begins as a jump with one leg while kicking with the other on Akkar''s head. Then moves the kicking leg down and the jumping leg up into another kick on Akkar''s head, thennding with the first kicking leg, all while spinning.


    Akkar may have gotten stronger and faster, but his reaction speed is still almost the same. He also wasn''t able to react to his attack at all.


    Ezekiel then followed up with a quick windup over his shoulders, like a batter in baseball waiting for his opponent to fall in his range.


    As soon as Akkar''s head fell into the range of his weapon, Ezekiel clenched his staff harder. Then hurriedly made a wide arcing swing that flew at a very fast rate targeting Akkar''s head.


    While in mid-air, Akkar has thought of a counterattacking instead of trying to block or dodge something he couldn''t see. He might as well go on the offensive with how low Ezekiel''s health has.


    Akkar then squeezed all the strength left in his arm as he clenched the small dagger. He then threw it at Ezekiel''s head.


    Everyone watching has been on the edge of their seat as they spectated thest sh happening in front of them.


    But just as his staff was about a few inches away from smashing Akkar''s head, as well as Akkar''s dagger hitting Ezekiel''s head. They were stopped so suddenly by a mysterious force and a robotic sound that echoed throughout the za.


    [DRAW]

 Chapter 37 - My Turn!!

    [yer Akkar and Ezekiel''s duel resulted in a draw, now returning the 200 silver to each yer]


    Shortly after the system announcement finished.??


    Akkar dropped to the ground with a loud bang. The fight was tiring, very tiring. The game restores the yer''s physical conditionpletely after the duel ended. But it has been mentally exhausting even for him, who can handle a 20 hours endurance stream with ease.


    "Darn it!!" Akkar covered his eyes with his arm as he felt like crying in frustration. If only he risked increasing his strength a little more, he could have won.


    At the same time, the dagger floating in Ezekiel''s face also dropped on the floor. He then put away his staff on the back strap that his instructor had given him earlier. Ezekiel understood his instructor''s advice of not storing the weapon in his inventory. That way, he can be more ustomed to using it in the future like he is using his limbs.


    Ezekiel then looked at his opponent lying on the ground. He never expected that a yer could exert that much force in the early stage of the game. If only his opponent had chosen to stab his self one more time, then there''s no way Ezekiel could have survived. Or if he didn''t always make sure to face his back in Alex''s direction after he got knocked away for the first time. Then no one will reduce the impact and damage he''s supposed to receive.


    Ezekiel then reached out his hand to Akkar. "Mister, good fight..." It may have been a draw, but still, it was a satisfying fight enough to please his curiosity. He learned a lot of things before the first event even started.


    Akkar removed his arm and opened his eyes after hearing his opponent talking to him. Seeing the hand in front of him, Akkar grabbed it without hesitation, helping him get up. He doesn''t have the time to stay and grieve for this draw, remembering the almost three thousand viewers he has right now. He must grab this opportunity to keep going and fight more duels and further expand his channel.


    The crowd then started a round of apuse as they cheered for the two fighters on the center of the ring for showing them an exceptional fight.


    The viewers on Akkar''s channel also showed their support as small donations flooded one after the other.


    "Wooohh!! Nice fight!!"


    "It was amazing!!"


    "Don''t mind, don''t mind!!"


    "Nice fight, big bro!!"


    "Not bad, kid!! At least you have something to back your arrogance!! If only you haven''t been arrogant from the start, I could have supported you earlier." An onlooker shouted at Ezekiel.


    Ezekiel can''t help but scratch his head. After all, it''s necessary for him to act arrogantly to challenge Akkar. If he didn''t talk big, Akkar wouldn''t even ept a challenge from a kid.


    Watching Akkar for quite some time, he noticed that after every duel he wins, Akkar talks to the air like crazy. Then he remembered that there was also a streaming application, so he concluded that Akkar must be a streamer. A streamer needs good content, so he must have thought that fighting a kid is not good at all unless he triggers his viewers.


    ...


    "You''re strong... Ezekiel, right?" Akkar called out his opponent''s name in respect. Regardless of age, he will always respect people that are stronger than him. In the end, having a connection with someone strong is beneficial for him in the future.


    "Not at all, not at all, I was just lucky." In the end, luck also yed with Ezekiel by leaving him 1 health point.


    "You can call me brother Akkar or Akkar is fine." Akkar showed his friendly side to Ezekiel. "By the way, I was wondering how did you dodge myst attack when I''m supposed to be faster than you." He was expecting his dagger to hit Ezekiel, but unexpectedly he managed to duck and evade.


    "It was quite simple... I dodge in advance before I entered your range."


    "Simple!? That was not simple at all..." Ducking in advance to dodge an unforeseeable speed is not something normal humans can do or think. "What if I have shed diagonally, then you would have lost..."


    "I know you wouldn''t. That''s how great my trust in my instincts is." Ezekiel lied half of his answer without telling him the real reason. The factor that helped him the most in this duel is still Alex. There''s no way he could have dodged or seen thatst attack if Alex did not tell him to duck in advance in their voice chat. So Ezekiel is still telling the truth of trusting his instincts.


    "You must have excellent instincts."


    ...


    Akkar''s viewers have been listening to the conversations of the two fighters all this time. Hearing Ezekiel''s answer, the viewers then flooded the stream''sment section with amazement.


    "What a monster..."


    "He''s still a teenager, yet he is this strong. He is probably going to be someone great in this game in the future."


    "Watching this stream makes me want to fight my way through tomorrow just to get a 2nd generation capsule."


    ...


    "Hurry up and leave there already. And let me have my turn."


    "Anyway, I''m leaving now. Are you still going to continue to duel other people??" Ezekiel eximed, feeling the chills on his bones from Alex''s threatening re in the distance.


    She must be dying to fight right now.


    "Yes, there is still time before the event starts," Akkar replied.


    If he stops doing the duel, his viewers will leave one after the other because of boredom. It is because there''s nothing to do in the vige that is more interesting than the duel. And yers are forced to stay in the vige before the event starts.


    "Then I can rmend you a fantastic opponent for your next fight."


    "Really? Who?" Akkar was d that he didn''t need to find his next opponent now, and if it was Ezekiel''s rmendation, the guy must also be strong like him.


    "Her..." Ezekiel pointed at Alex''s direction.


    "It''s my turn!!" Alex walked forward in unison.


    "Her???"

 Chapter 38 - Akkar Versus Alexandria

    Finally, it was her turn. Alex, watching Ezekiel having fun all by himself before her, is intolerable. It makes her want to rush there and beat Ezekiel by herself to end the fight.


    "Mister, let me fight, let me fight, please..." Alex hurriedly walked up to the center before anyone could beat her to it. To let the other onlookers know that she will be the next one to fight. ??


    The girl walking in front of Akkar was the same girl who saved Ezekiel every time he got knocked away. She must be Ezekiel''s friend for her to help him or someone he met in the vige earlier and got acquainted with. Since the chances of meeting with an acquaintance at the start are almost impossible.


    Noticing that the girl looked the same age as Ezekiel, Akkar had second thoughts of fighting her. Not only is his next opponent a teenager again, but she is also a woman. It is not that he has any problems with women. In fact, Akkar has very high respect for them because the number one supporter in his streaming life is his mother.


    He was afraid of embarrassing the girl if she lost. Furthermore, he doesn''t want to hold back fighting in the duel. "Are you guys sure about this??"


    "I promise; It is fine. I''ll bet my 200 silvers that both of you will have a good fig..." Before Ezekiel could even finish what he''s saying. He suddenly felt something hard hitting the back of his head. That resulted in him biting his tongue.


    "Who!?" Ezekiel looked back to look for the suspect.


    When Ezekiel turned around, he saw Alex squinting her eyes and staring at him with crossed arms. "What did I say about gambling??"


    Ezekiel did not reply as he cried inside. Why the hell did she even beat him up? When all he had done was to help Alex convince Akkar to fight her.


    Seeing how the two of them interact, Akkar thought that the girl must be Ezekiel''s girlfriend. "Can you wait for a moment? I want to ask my viewers if they will be fine with you as my opponent."


    "Uhn," Alex nodded as she continued scolding Ezekiel for fighting first before her.


    Akkar then hurriedly opened his streaming channel as he can''t wait to see how much his channel grew in a short time.


    The moment Akkar''s eyes hovered to the viewer''s count, his eyes widened as he gasped in shock. He never expected it to grow this big in just a short amount of time.


    He felt like crying right now. What he is currently looking at is unbelievable. The number of viewers in his stream is 300 times greater than his average viewers three days ago.


    "Ahhhh, hello... hello everyone, wee to my stream... Uhhh, thank you for the donations earlier... I won''t be able to read it right now because I''m currently busy. But I''ll have a short super chat readingter to thank you one by one..." Akkar stuttered as he greeted the more than 30 thousand viewers in his channel. Looking at the number of viewers for the first time in his life was nerve-wracking. "Sorry for stuttering everyone, it''s just that... for me to reach this far is unbelievable. To the point that it doesn''t sink in with me yet."


    "Don''t mind, don''t mind."


    "It''s fine, big bro, we understand!!"


    "You have shown us a marvelous fight for the first day of Parabellum. You definitely deserved the support."


    Akkar was overjoyed seeing everyone''s barrage of support in the chatbox. "Anyways, enough drama. What do you guys think should I fight Ezekiel''s girlfriend??"


    "She''s not my girlfriend!!"


    "He''s not my boyfriend!!"


    The both of them growled in unison.


    "Cute!!"


    "Cute!!"


    "Cute!!"


    "Cute!!"


    The viewers flooded the chatbox,pletely neglecting his question. "I mean, friend... girl... friend..." Akkar also found teasing the two of them cute. The two of them must still be in the process of denying their feelings.


    "What do you guys think??" Akkar asked once more, seeing everyone getting sidetracked because of his teasing.


    "Give the girl a chance."


    "Since Ezekiel rmended her, that means she must be strong."


    "Take it easy with the girl, big bro, don''t make her cry."


    "Thank you, everyone I''ll chat with you guyster." Seeing that most of the people agreed to fight her. Akkar thanked his viewers first, then faced the two of them.


    "Let''s fight, miss??" Akkar asked.


    "Alexandria, you can call me Alexandria."


    After knowing Alex''s name, Akkar called for his guide A.I. to initiate the duel. "Light1049 Initiate a duel, to yer Alexandria with 100 silver as the bet."


    "Let''s bet 500 silver!!" Alex eximed, being, 90% sure that she can win this match.


    ...


    "Aren''t these guys rich?"


    "Where did they get all of that money? Aren''t we all supposed to receive 100 silvers from the start"


    "Did they also fought duels like Akkar?"


    "Or maybe they found a hidden quest around the vige..."


    Everyone asked in doubt, hearing of how rich Alex is.


    ...


    Hearing Alex, betting 500 silver, Ezekiel intensely stared at her. But can only keep hisints hidden.


    Where the hell did her rule of not excessively gambling disappear to??


    "If I do it, I''ll get a beating, but if she does it, then I must turn a blind eye." Ezekiel murmured to avoid getting beaten up.


    "What did you say??" Alex turned to look at Ezekiel, hearing him muttering something.


    "Nothing, nothing I said, good luck." Even Alex''s res alone are intimidating enough. He won''t doubt if one of these days he will get killed by Alex. She won''t even think twice about killing him because yers revive after quite some time.


    Why is the world so unfair!!


    "Sorry, but I don''t want to lose all of my hard-earned money in just 1 minute. Besides, kids like you should avoid gambling as much as possible. How about we bet 200 silver, the same amount as Ezekiel?"


    "Ok..." She mostly bets on things she has a high chance of winning. Too bad Akkar did not ept it. Alex could have bought a lot more stuff if she earned a lot of money.


    "Light1049 Initiate a duel, to yer Alexandria with 200 silver as the bet."


    [Yes]


    Lumiere then asked Alex for confirmation.


    [yer Akkar wants to initiate a duel with a bet of 200 silver]


    [Do you want to ept?]


    "Yes!!"


    Then a system announcement rang through the za


    [A duel between yer Akkar, and yer Alexandria will start in 10 seconds]


    [The duel will end if one yer is left with 10% health points]


    [If no victor has been decided, within one minute and 30 seconds. The duel is considered a draw, and the system will return both yer''s bets]


    [Ready]

 Chapter 39 - Weapon Acquired

    "Good luck," Ezekiel patted Alex''s shoulder as he moved out of the ring since the fight is about to start.


    Alex nodded in response. ??


    As he walked out of the ring, Ezekiel couldn''t help but think of how Alex could win this fight. He tried asking her, but Alex answered that she got a little stronger when they separated. But how can Alex grow stronger? When all she said she has done is to tour around the vige alone.


    Yet all of his thoughts look useless. So he focused in front of him again and waited for the oue of this fight.


    ...


    At the same time, Alex and Akkar also walked 10 meters away from each other.


    Akkar pulled out his weapon from his inventory and pointed it to Alex while staring at her with a ferocious re. He is not nning on holding back at all, even if his opponent is a woman.


    He will always treat women equally without underestimating their capability. That is Akkar''s promise to his mother that he will never forget.


    [10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, FIGHT]


    "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, FIGHT!!" The crowd also screamed in unison.


    "Where is your weapon??" Akkar can''t help but notice that his enemy just stood there without doing anything.


    "Weapon?? You are looking at it." Alex continued to stand on her spot, waiting for her opponent''s attack.


    "Huh??" Akkar looked so confused right now. Because no matter how he looked, he can''t seem to find Alex''s weapon. "Is it invisible?" Akkar mumbled.


    "My weapon?? I am the weapon," Alex coldly said, sending chills to everyone near her.


    ...


    "An unarmed?? Is there such a thing?? Don''t you think it''s a kind of unfair in a world of magic?"


    "Maybe her weapon is her fist."


    "A martial artist??"


    "Ezekiel''s friend is also weird..."


    "A healer that can fight a berserker... Then now a character that did not pick a weapon in the weapon selection phase..."


    "How odd can this duo be."


    Everyone stared at Alex with brimming interest, thinking of what they will see in this fight.


    ...


    "If you say so, then here Ie." Akkar then lifted his great ax.


    "Oorah!!"


    She continued standing on her spot. Alex listened to the pattering of Akkar''s nimble feet while staring at the sky. She was thinking of something. Alex stopped her thoughts and faced her enemy. When Akkar shortened their distance to 5 meters, it was enough distance to cover in a single breath.


    As soon as he got close enough, Akkar leaped at her from a distance of about 5 meters.


    "Haaaa!!" Akkar howled as he shed the great ax towards Alex''s head.


    Most people would tremble and be unable to move with how intimidating Akkar''s howl is and at the sight of the enormous weaponing at their face.


    But Alex is different. She encountered more terrifying things in her life. That simple attacks like this don''t even bother her. In terms of battle sense and talent, her father considered it the best in the world.


    Not even flinching an inch, Alex slightly turned his body so that Akkar''s weapon barely passed by her left side. Unlike Ezekiel, Alex did not choose to counterattack the moment Akkar missed. She just continued to stand in her ce without doing anything.


    Akkar continued his onught, noticing that Alex continued to stand still.


    "Haaaa!!" shing diagonally.


    "Haaaaaaa!!" Hacking Alex''s side


    "Haaaaaaaaaaaa!!" Leaping towards Alex with another overhead strike.


    Akkar continued to hack and sh her from all directions. Yet Alex did not counterattack even once. She evaded all attacks with the slightest movement.


    Alex''s action aggravated Akkar further as he continued to miss all of his attacks. "Why aren''t you attacking!?"


    "I am trying to remember something..." Alex savored Akkar''s every strike as she reminisced her past in Guardian. Each time Alex dodges, an attack reminded her of the feeling of not holding back her strength at all.


    In this world, she doesn''t need to restrain herself and go wild without injuring anyone.


    Alex once thought that she wouldn''t be able to use her strength in this lifetime again. But right now, she can finally go all out once more.


    ...


    "Then shall I start?" Alex gently grabbed Akkar''s ears as she softly whispered.


    Alex then moved back as the corners of her mouth turned up.


    Akkar''s body trembled slightly as Alex''s cold voice entered his ears. His body unconsciously cowered in fear as if he encountered death himself. That is quietly waiting in the corner for him.


    Did I awoken something I shouldn''t?? Akkar can''t help but think, noticing Alex''s gentle demeanor disappear to nothingness. The girl in front of him looked like a wild beast that had been starving for a few months. Alex''s eyes looked like she had finally found her prey.


    Why are the kids these days so frightening? Clueless of what Alex will do next, Akkar had no choice but to continue his onught.


    "Oorah!!" He executed another overhead sh towards Alex.


    This time Alex is nning to counterattack. Unlike Ezekiel, she''s nning to end all of this in one engagement so that Akkar will not be able to take advantage of his skill at all.


    She will surprise Akkar with a sudden increase in her strength that only a berserker who lost 50% health can execute in the early stage.


    As the great ax passed her side, Alex raised her arms as she flicked Akkar''s hands away from his weapon, causing Akkar to loosen his grip on his great ax. That caused it to get stuck on the ground, standing diagonally.


    Shortly after, Alex stomped Akkar''s foot to make him unable to escape her grasp. Alex then delivered a flurry of punches on his chest and a couple on his face.


    At the same time, Akkar wouldn''t let Alex beat him up without fighting. So he tried to grab his weapon that was within his hand''s reach.


    Noticing this, Alex''s opened up her fist as she pushed Akkar away with a palm strike.


    "ckkkk!!" Akkar flew away from her for about 15 meters.


    Alex then decided to throw away Akkar''s weapon to the crowd. So that he can''t use it, she got this idea from Ezekiel in theirst sh.


    But the moment her hands gripped the great ax''s handle. A system notification echoed through her ears.


    [Acquired Novice Great Ax]

 Chapter 40 - Death

    [Akkar''s Novice Great Ax]


    *Rank: A??


    *Weapon Stats: +3 Strength, +1 Agility, +1 Stamina


    *Starting Skill: Weapon Proficiency, Berserker


    *Stats Requirement: Strength 20, Agility 15, Stamina 15


    [You have acquired Great Ax''s Weapon Proficiency]


    [Because you don''t have the necessary stats to wield this weapon. It will rightfully return to its owner after 30 seconds]


    "Huh...?" Alex stared at the weapon in her hands.


    "This..." Alex would never expect that she would discover how to acquire a weapon in this duel. With this weapon in her hand, Alex is now 100% in winning this fight.


    Alex chose to think of trivial matterster, seeing the little timer ticking in the middle of the weapon''s handle.


    "How??" Ezekielid his eyes on Alex as she started walking while dragging the great ax on the ground.


    He wondered how the heck did Alex manage to lift and use the great ax.


    When he took out the weapon stuck on his chest earlier, it became so heavy once he detached it from his armor. He wasn''t even able to lift the great ax slightly once it became so heavy. That is why the weapon dropped with a loud ttering noise.


    Without any clue how Alex did such a feat, he continued to stare at Alex so hard as if he was looking at a different person. He already saw her use all kinds of weapons and train seriously and fought her father, which will always result in her changing her aura. Yet the girl he''s looking at right now is nowhere near the scariest state he has seen from her.


    "Death..." That was the only thing Ezekiel can think of looking at Alex.


    Even the onlookers in the za and the ones watching the stream felt the chills on their bones. It was as if death herself descended, preparing to im everyone''s life.


    Akkar was the most affected person of them all, being the target of Alex''s outrageous bloodlust. All the muscles in his body trembled as he stared at death, slowly walking towards him.


    He can''t even move a muscle to run away. He just stood there waiting for the grim reaper to im his life.


    ...


    "Holy sh*t, why do I feel that she is even scarier than watching horror films?"


    "Is that girl still even a human??"


    "My hands... my hands are shaking..."


    "Mommmm!!!"


    Men sweated profusely; women quivered in fear while children ran to their parents. That is how great Alex is affecting everyone watching in the real world.


    ...


    While everyone is already at their wit''s end just from staring at death.


    Alex, the culprit of this all, took her time as she strode towards her opponent.


    It was as if she was walking in a park.


    Alex is currently oblivious of her surroundings as she focused all of her attention on her opponent.


    Move!! Move!! MOVE!!!!!!!!!


    Akkar''s body quivered each time Alex took one step. The 15 meters distance Alex crossed felt like an eternity for Akkar as he felt dying a thousand times each step she took. He was even thinking of killing himself just to leave this current situation.


    When Alex was finally in front of him, his whole body felt relieved. The moment it realized that its suffering is now going to end.


    "Kill me..." Akkar did not even resist as he stood there staring at Alex''s nk eyes.


    Hearing Akkar''s voice in her narrowed vision, Alex lifted the great ax effortlessly with one hand.


    SWISH!!!!


    With a gentle and swift swing, Alex severed Akkar''s head.


    The moment Akkar''s severed head and body dropped to the ground, silence followed the ce as everyone felt a tingling sensation on their necks.


    Light particles then floated out of Akkar''s wounded head.


    [yer Alexandria has won the duel and gained 200 silver] A robotic announcement echoed throughout the za.


    And just like that, the expected intense fight ended in a sh without any resistance. But everyone did notin, as all of them wanted the duel to end as soon as possible. No sane person will want to stay in this kind of atmosphere for even one more second.


    Then suddenly, the great ax in Alex''s hand started disintegrating into nothingness as white particles covered the weapon. Shortly after the weapon disappeared from Alex''s hand, the nk look on her face started returning to her usual bright and heartwarming look.


    Then the body of Akkar disappeared on the ground. At the same time, he appeared in a sh of light, two meters away from the ce of his death.


    The first thing Akkar did after reviving was to look at Alex, but he was toote. Alex''s usual demeanor returned to normal.


    ...


    "What the hell did I just see..."


    "It was not as intense as Ezekiel''s match, but it was the most nerve-wracking thing I have seen today."


    "Are martial artists this strong??"


    "Bro, why didn''t you say that she was that strong..." An onlooker besides Ezekiel asked him.


    Ezekiel did not answer, as he himself did not know how Alex had be that strong.


    ...


    When she felt Akkar''s presence on her back, Alex turned around to immediately apologized for losing control of herself. "Sorry, mister, sorry... I''m really sorry, I didn''t mean to do it... I justpletely lost control of myself." Alex bowed her head a couple of times in embarrassment.


    "It''s okay..." Akkar doesn''t know what to say, so he just patted the girl''s head tofort her.


    "You have won this match fair and square." He never expected that Ezekiel''s friend was this terrifying. But when he looked at Ezekiel, he got even more confused. Because out of everyone else in the za, Ezekiel looked to be the most puzzled.


    "I''m really sorry, but I need to go now." Alex needs to find a ce that is quiet enough to calm herself down. Because right now, her heart kept pounding at a rapid rate.


    Alex then ran towards Ezekiels while he grabbed his arms as they ran out of the crowd.


    Is she really that same person????

 Chapter 41 - Youre Back!!

    The silence in the zasted for a couple of seconds.


    Everyone couldn''t process what happened as they opened a path out of fear. And stare at the girl''s running figure. ??


    Akkar broke the silence as he knocked the handle of his weapon on the ground to gain everyone''s attention. "Who wants to fight me next??" Even though his body is still quivering in fear, Akkar needs to move on and clear the tense atmosphere. After all, he has a job to entertain his viewers.


    "Can I?"


    "I want to fight too."


    "I want to try!"


    After seeing Akkar lost 2 battles in a row. A few confident yers with their skills now see fighting him as winnable.


    Akkar felt relieved seeing a couple of yers stepping up to fight him. Even though he lost, he thinks that it wasn''t that bad at all. Alexandria and Ezekiel helped him more than he could have ever hoped for. Gaining more than 30 thousand viewers and boosting other yers'' morale for him to continue his duel.


    "Wait, everyone, I will let my viewers choose thest 3 yers I will be fighting with." Akkar opened his streaming channel.


    ...


    At the same time, in the far-off distance, Alex is dragging Ezekiel back to the little girl selling potions.


    Ezekiel stopped in his tracks, noticing that the ce now has fewer yers than the za. "Hey!! Can you exin to me what just happened earlier? How did you be that strong in just a few minutes of separating away from me??" The first time they entered the game. Ezekiel already felt and knew how weak is Alex''s current strength, from the way she punched him. And it was nowhere near the strength she disyed earlier.


    "Did I impress you?" Alex felt proud even though it did not go the way she nned it.


    "Stop lying; you even looked confused the moment you held Akkar''s weapon." If he wasn''t paying attention. He wouldn''t even notice the slight change in Alex''s expression.


    "Can''t you even spare me some praises? I won the match without a hitch." Alex pouted, even though it surprised her using Akkar''s weapon.


    "But, now that you''ve mentioned it, I did gain something in that fight."


    "Status!"


    A floating panel appeared in front of her that shows her current character status.


    * Name : Alexandria  * Race : Human


    * Weapon: None    * Title : Hero


    * Character Level : 0  * Weapon Level : 0


    * Health : 200       * Mana : 200


    * Strength : 10      * Agility : 10


    * Stamina: 10       * Intellect : 10


    * Wisdom: 10       * Luck : - 100


    * Experience required to Level: 100


    * Skills: Great Ax''s Weapon Proficiency.


    "Wahhh!! I now have a skill." Alex hopped and cheered in excitement. "Look, look." Alex then shared her status panel with Ezekiel.


    "10 in all stats?? And great ax''s weapon proficiency?" Ezekiel can''t believe what he''s seeing.


    Am I really the lucky one here and not Alex?? "Where the hell did you even get those stats?" Is there some kind of hidden quest in the vige he doesn''t know about?


    "Looks good, right?? Lumiere gave it to me when she returned, saying that it''spensation for not having a starting skill." Alex prefers this rather than getting a starter skill. After all, she feels restrained from having lower stats. With this, it allows her to move her body more freely.


    "Gaining 25 stats out of nowhere... Doesn''t this look like overkill? Is your lucks stats really negative 100?" All yers except weaponless ones gain 5 stats every time they level up, so that means Alex just gained 5 levels worth of stats. "You even received a skill..." The purpose of her gaining that amount of stats in the early stage forpensation lost its meaning.


    "That''s the reason why I look surprised." Alex then clicked on the skill.


    [Great Ax''s Weapon Proficiency]


    Level: 1


    *Increases user''s damage when using a great ax by 0.1%


    *Each level increases the damage by 0.1%


    *Experience required to Level: 100


    *Skill gains experience when a great ax is used


    "How did you get this??" Alex''s choice of choosing weaponless will be terrifying if she can steal unlimited skills.


    "When I held Akkar''s weapon, I automatically received the skill."


    Alex turned to Lumiere. "How did I receive a skill?"


    "I never expected that a weaponless yer can steal a weapon in the early stage... But as you can see, the way to acquire a weapon and a skill for a weaponless is to steal a weapon. Naturally, the soul bounded weapons you have stolen will return to their rightful owner. Therefore there is a duration depending on your stats, and the duration increases with your stats."


    "Does that mean I can have unlimited skills if I steal all kinds of weapons?" Now Alex isn''t regretting her choice.


    "Yes... Stealing a skill is also random, but there''s a cooldown of 24 hours before you can steal another skill. "


    "What are you looking at?" Ezekiel took a step back when Alex suddenly turned to look at him. Even though he can''t hear the exnation of Alex''s A.I. to her, he can tell from Alex''s eyes that she is nning something.


    Ezekiel then saw Alex''s eyes then moving towards the staff on his back. "Inventory!! Store!!" Ezekiel grabbed his weapon and hid it from Alex''s grasp,


    "Hey, why did you hide your weapon!?" She hasn''t even done something yet.


    "No! I know what you''re thinking." There''s no way he will let Alex steal his skills. His purpose of being Alex as a healer will be meaningless.


    "I just want to check if your weapon is good..." Alex pouted as she looked at Ezekiel''s eyes.


    "You are not touching my weapon even once!!" Ezekiel warned. This time he won''t yield to her.


    "Tsk, it''s not like I''m stealing your skills. I''m just adding more to our assets... Besides, I have a 24 hours cooldown before I can even steal a skill again." The 24-hour cooldown is depressing, but she can''t reallyin about it. After all, weaponless yers will be so overpowered if there is no cooldown.


    "Call me selfish, but I won''t let you touch my sta..." Before Ezekiel can finish what he''s saying, he heard a little girl''s voice calling in his direction.


    "Big sister, you''re back!!"

 Chapter 42 - Poison

    Alex ran towards the little girl, and pinched her cute rosy cheeks. "Didn''t I promise that I''ll go back? Ezekiel, this is..." Alex stopped pinching the little girl''s cheeks as she actually forgot to ask for her name.


    "Lili!" The little girl showed a beaming smile saying her name.


    "Lili!! And Lili, this is Ezekiel. She sells a lot of different kinds of potions. What do you think we need right now??" Alex asked Ezekiel since he is better at these kinds of things than her.


    "Hmmm, what do you have there?" When he thinks about it, they really don''t need potions this early in the game. With him being the healer, they can save a lot of money from healing potions.


    "We have healing potions, mana potions, poison potions..." Lili showed all of her stocks


    If Alex let him decide where to use their money. Then he will use it to buy a new armor with better quality. After all, his armor broke in the duel.


    After Ezekiel asked his guide A.I. why his armor got suddenly destroyed from Akkar''s attack. He realized how vital armors are to the yers. It is because objects that aren''t soul-bonded to the yers have hidden durability. And once the durability reaches 0, it will disintegrate into thin air.


    "Little girl, you see... we don''t really need to buy potions with our current situation." Ezekiel bends his knees to match Lili''s height so that he won''t look too intimidating.


    "I see..." Lili murmured as she looked down, avoiding Ezekiel''s eyes.


    Seeing Lili''s teary eyes, Alex wouldn''t let Ezekiel bully this cute bun in front of her. Even though Lili looks even more adorable with her saddened eyes. Alex grabbed Ezekiel''s ears and pulled him away from Lili.


    "What?" Ezekiel muttered.


    "I promised Lili to buy something when I return. Please don''t make this hard for me and make her upset. Do something... Besides, I did not see anything worth buying when I took a stroll earlier." Alex whispered in Ezekiel''s ears.


    "Haystt..." Ezekiel scratched his head.


    "Fine..." Alex was right. With her current stats, there is no way that yers still in level 1 can beat her. That is why the only thing he saw worth buying is armor and probably a dagger for Alex''s weapon.


    Ezekiel bent his knees again to match Lili''s height. "Lili, right? Sorry for what I said earlier, but can you rmend us a potion? No matter how much expensive it is, then we will buy it if it''s good."


    Lili''s face instantly became brighter the moment she heard Ezekiel saying that they will buy anything. "Then big bro, big bro, the most essential potion right now and the cheapest is this..." Lili grabbed a red potion and raised it in front of Ezekiel''s face.


    "Health potion is crucial if you are a group of two or solo when you don''t know any guardian that is a healer."


    "Actually, I am a healer..." Ezekiel scratched his head. That is why they don''t need potions.


    "Ahhhh... Then you need this..." Lili grabbed a blue potion and present it to Ezekiel. "Mama said healers need a lot of mana, so a mana potion is essential for you, big bro."


    Ezekiel scratched his head again. "Sorry, but I also don''t need mana potions..." With his 2x mana regeneration, he regenerates 2 mana every second. And [Rejuvenation] requires 10 mana with 5 seconds cooldown, so he doesn''t even lose 1 mana.


    Seeing Ezekiel reject all of Lili''s suggestions. Alex stared at him and let out a small amount of bloodlust she''s hiding, enough to only affect Ezekiel.


    Ezekiel suddenly felt a chill running on his back. He knew Alex is not satisfied with what he is doing. But they really don''t need any potions. "Do you have any other potions you can rmend??"


    "I have one, but mother said that grandpa chief only gives 100 silver to every guardian. So mother doesn''t want to rmend this. But, but it is definitely an important potion you need to not die..." Lili then grabbed a purple potion and showed it to Ezekiel.


    "This is??"


    "An antidote for weak poisons."


    "But it is worth 500 silver," Lili mumbled softly said.


    "Why an antidote??" It''s not like he and Alex are going to fight poisonous enemies right off the bat. And he should be able to cope up with poison until it the duration ran out. 500 silver sounds like a rip off of their money.


    "Poison is deadly in this world." Lili softly said.


    "Why?" Alex asked and moved closer to Lili as she felt pain in her voice.


    "It''s a long story, but my father died from a poison." Lili suddenly felt her eyes getting wet as tears fell on her eyes.


    The moment Alex saw Lili''s tears fell to the ground, she immediately hugged her and buried Lili''s face on her chest. "It''s alright now... it''s alright." Alex''s heart feels like being stabbed right now. She gently patted her on her back with one broad palm as if she was handling a fragile ss.


    While Ezekiel just stood there staring at the two of them. He knows what Lili felt right now because he also lost his mother, but having Alexfort her is definitely better than him. After all, Alex is also the one who showed him the light in his darkest times.


    It only took a couple of seconds before Alex managed to smooth out her breathing, but she was afraid to startle her, so Alex did not move yet.


    When Lili finally calmed down, she decided to continue her story. "When papa went to a forest for a mission... He unexpectedly got hit by a goblin''s poisonous dart..."


    Alex gently caresses Lili''s back every time she pauses and takes deep breathes. While patiently listened to her story.


    "After they have beaten the goblins with hispanions... Papa drank the only antidote with them... They only have one for the whole group because it takes a long time for mother to create one..."


    Lili took a very deep breathe first before continuing to thest part of her story. "On their, way home papa... unluckily stepped on a poisonous grass-colored snake..."


    "Poisons will alwaysst for at least 24 hours without an antidote. And with papa having only health potions to keep him alive... They were already toote before they arrived in the vige..." Lili''s eyes were red, and her tears wouldn''t stop flowing.


    "There... there... let it all out... it''s alright... it''s alright..." Alex also felt her eyes tearing up, but she tried to stay strong for Lili''s sake.


    Ezekiel watched the little girl as he felt unbearable pain in his heart. Even though she is clearly just an NPC, a game character that is not real. Ezekiel felt her anguish deep in his heart, because he felt that no matter if decades already went by. The feeling of losing someone will always feel the same.


    Ezekiel walked towards Lili and patted her head.


    He knew that patting her is more than enough.


    Because he feels that she is a lot stronger than him...

 Chapter 43 - Goblin Invasion

    Lili cried for quite some time before she stopped, then started to hup. Alex helped her smooth out her breathing with patience. But she was afraid to startle her, so she didn''t dare move her stiff body.


    Lili then pushed Alex''s shoulders away after she calmed down.


    "Are you okay now?" Alex asked as she wiped the tears falling on Lili''s face with tenderness. She looked so pitiful, with her eyes that became a little reddish and her hair became a little messy.


    Lili nodded in response. She doesn''t know why she cried on Alex on the spur of the moment. When she always tries to look strong in front of other people, especially with her mother. Yet when Alex moved closer to her, she couldn''t hold her tears back at all as they started gushing out in her eyes.


    "We will buy the antidote," Ezekiel showed a gentle smile as he eximed while he patted Lili''s head.


    He considered Lili''s suggestion as great. Because poison will be troublesome if the durationsts 24 hours. Losing health every second in a battle is very troubling. Depending on the poison''s damage, his healing might get reduced or negated. And the worst-case scenario will be the damage might be greater than his healing.


    "How much is the poison potion??." Knowing how the poison works in this world. He realized that it is more essential for the two of them than healing potions if it is not that expensive.


    With his and Alex''s current damage output. If they encountered a monster that doesn''t have a weapon. Then Alex has no choice but to brawl with her fist. And fists are not effective in fightingrge monsters, fast monsters, or a boss.


    If they have a poison potion with them, one throw of the potion is the only thing they need. And they can have extra damage to their enemy. Then they can run around and shave away the enemy''s health at a slow pace.


    Lili immediately tried topose herself. Hearing that not only are they buying their only stock of antidote. They are also willing to purchase other potions.


    Lili hurriedly grabbed the green potion in thepartment and showed it to them. "We sell these potions off for 100 silver each. Poison potions are very cheappared to antidotes because of how easy it is to make them. It is because poison nds are sold very cheap in the market." Lili exined while taking her time as she still felt some shortness in her breathing.


    Alex stood at the side and let Ezekiel handle buying things off. Since she doesn''t care for the money as long as she can see Lili''s smile again. She can take part in a duel again and earn it back anyway.


    "How much should we buy?" Ezekiel turned to ask Alex since it is her money.


    Alex raised her 2 fingers to Ezekiel. She has 700 silver from winning the duel, while the rest is Ezekiel''s money. Alex will not threaten Ezekiel this time to spend all their money tofort Lili. Because she thinks that Ezekiel might want to buy something with his money. Like a recement for his broken armor.


    Seeing Alex''s response, Ezekiel nodded then turned to look at Lili again. "We will buy 4 poison potions." It may look like a lot, but when he thinks about it. All he needs to do is drag Alex around to hunt a lot of monsters that is worth a lot in the market. This way, they can earn a lot of money and acquire better quality armor and weapon for Alex and him.


    If he was alone, then he wouldn''t dare to run around without any armor. But with Alex as the bait, his life will be a breeze.


    Alex smiled, hearing Ezekiel is also going to use his own money.


    "Fo...Four?" Lili stuttered as she did not expect that they were carrying a lot of money with them.


    "Yes, four poison and one antidote potion, please."


    "Ahhh, Yes!!" Lili wiped her face and grabbed a basket cheerfully with haste. She then ced the potion inside with care.


    At the same time, Alex took out the money from her inventory and gave it to Ezekiel.


    "The total is 900 silver." Lili passed the basket to Ezekiel.


    Ezekiel grabbed Alex''s money and add it to his own. "Here, 900 sil..." Just when Ezekiel is about to hand over the money.


    DING!! DING!! DING!!


    A high ringing sound of a bell chimed on their ears.


    Ezekiel looked in the direction of the sounding from, noticing that it is not stopping at all.


    "What''s happening??" Alex eximed seeing, the horror on Lili''s face.


    "Big sister Alex, big brother Ezekiel... Sorry, but I need to pack up my things now." Lili then hastily packed up his stall and hid the potions in a box one by one.


    "Here... take this, but can you at least tell us the gist of the situation?" Ezekiel gave the 900 silver to Lili and grabbed the basket of potions on the counter.


    "Mother said that if the small bell rang, women, elderly and children should stay at home. While if therge bell rang, everyone should evacuate the vige as soon as possible. Because the vige is going to be destroyed by an unstoppable threat." Lili spared a meager amount of focus to exin to the both of them because of their kindness. While she keeps on packing up her things. Lili needs to prepare everything that her mother and her need before she arrives to get her.


    "It must be the event!!" Ezekiel eximed as he noticed the timer for the event has already reached 0.


    "What kind of event?" Alex asked while helping Lili pack her things up. It is because she was wasting a lot of time when her hands were trembling so hard. And she also moved at a slow pace with her tiny body while handling fragile potions.


    "I don''t know... My A.I. only said something about the tutorial." Ezekiel also gave a hand.


    "Lili!!" Out of nowhere, a middle-ageddy wearing something like ab coat. Called out to Lili while running towards them.


    "Mama!!" Lili calmed down a little seeing her mother safe.


    "Are you okay!?" Thedy checked Lili''s condition the moment she got closed to them.


    "Uhn, brother and sister helped me." Lili nodded as she dived in her mother''s arms.


    "Thank you, thank you... but we really need to go now." Thedy bowed her head to both of them before carrying her daughter off.


    "If you don''t mind, ma''am, do you have any clue of the current situation right now??" Ezekiel helped them finish packing up.


    "It''s horrible. If you go to the northern gate of the vige, you will see for yourself. Goblins are swarming towards the vige."


    "If you are truly our guardians, please help..." Thedy held Alex''s hand as she stared at him. The instant Alex''s figure reflected in her limpid and despairing eyes. Thedy froze in confusion at first. Then her eyes were misted with tears that becamerge drops, that rolled her face in an endless fall.


    "Please hold off the Goblin Invasion..."

 Chapter 44 - First Quest

    [Your tutorial is now starting]


    [Hold Off Goblin Invasion]


    *Hold off the goblin invasion for 1 hour to allow the vigers have time to evacuate the vige.


    *Quest Failure: Half of Honey Combed viger''s death


    *Reward: Honey Combed viger''s survival


    *Tutorial quest''s benefit: The death penalty is currently reduced to half of the standard death penalty: yers will only drop 25% of the stored items in their inventory. And lose all equipped non-soul bounded equipment.


    "We will do everything we can. I promise," Alex replied, hearing Lumiere saying that it is a life-threatening quest for the vigers.


    [Quest epted]


    Alex pinched Lili''s adorable cheeks onest time for an early reward herself. Because she is nning on going all outter.


    "Thank you, sister Alex, thank you, brother Ezekiel." Lili bowed to both of them in gratitude.


    "I''m sorry, but we really need to go now." Thedy uttered as they brought the things in their stall with them.


    "Follow your mother and take care of yourself, okay?" Alex advised Lili.


    "Take care," Ezekiel muttered as he patted Lili''s head.


    "Uhn, bye, sister Alex, bye, brother Ezekiel." Lili nodded then they started walking away while she waved her hands at them.


    Shortly, the mother and daughter disappear from their sight. Alex turned to Ezekiel for them to n what they are going to do next. "Now what?"


    "Let''s try to check the situation first. It is just a tutorial anyway. This event shouldn''t be that hard." Ezekiel answered as he has bad feelings about what is going to happenter.


    The reason why he''s feeling bad premonition because he has seen the guards patrol the viger earlier. He can tell that they are pretty well-trained for a vige guard. Adding the one thousand yers on the vige. They shouldn''t consider goblins a threat at all.


    "Right... but I hope it''s challenging, though. The warm-up fight I did earlier is still not enough for me." Alex uttered as they started treading towards the north gate.


    Ezekiel wonders what the people on the za would think. If they knew that the frightening scene that they saw was just a warm-up for Alex.


    "Don''t expect too much; it''s just a tutorial. It shouldn''t be that hard. Since the enemy is just short green-skinned unintelligent goblins, we are fighting with. If there are around five thousand goblins, then maybe it will be a little challenging for the yers. But considering that everyone should have an experience of ying virtual reality already. Then fighting five goblins at once for one yer will not pose a problem at all." Ezekiel thinks that this tutorial will be a warm-up for the yers. It is for them to get used to ying virtual reality again. After all, they haven''t tried any other virtual reality for the past 2 years.


    Ezekiel noticed something as they got closer to the north gate of the vige. They now encountered arge number of yers going the same way with them. At the same time, they also encountered vigers that were running for their lives. Going to the south gate of the vige.


    "Five thousand is not enough. I hope there are at most ten thousand goblins." Alex muttered, feeling that the tutorial will end fast, with the number of yers in the vige.


    "It wouldn''t be fun at all if it ends quickly."


    "You shouldn''t let the vigers hear you say that, or else the vigers will not let us enter the vige again in the future. Then we will be forced to live in the wilderness." Ezekiel warned Alex as she is acting weird again whenever she expects to fight something.


    She looked so normal earlier as she promised to hold back the goblins to Lili. And in a few minutes, she wishes to have more enemies to fight.


    "What are you worried about? It''s just five thousand more than your expectations. Everyone should be able to kill at least 10 goblins without a problem each. Besides, I should be able to kill at least one thousand goblins If I''m given the time." Alex defended.


    "Right, I forgot to tell you, as much as possible, kill as many goblins as you can." Ezekiel suddenly remembers the condition of his skill to level up when Alex mentioned killing.


    "Why?"


    "The more you kill, the faster I level up."


    "How does that work??"


    "Healer weapon categories have a different way of leveling uppared to others." Ezekiel exined. Even though the leveling up method of healers is different. Ezekiel actually liked this method.


    "Are you telling me that you are going to leech off meter!? Isn''t that unfair!? I''m going to do all the hard work while you just follow me around." Alex eximed after Ezekiel said that he can gain experience every time she kills a monster.


    "It''s the game''s system. There''s nothing I can do about it. Most of the healers in the game don''t have any way to kill any monster in the early stage. That''s why we gain experience every time we heal an ally that has managed to kill a monster."


    "It''s not experience sharing. You don''t lose even 1% of your experience." Ezekiel exined, he was actually fortunate that he started with Alex. This way, his growth will not get left behind by how fast Alex can grow strong in a game.


    "Let''s just say that I am lucky; After all, I am lucky."


    "Ezekiel leecher!" Alex grumbled as she hastens her footsteps seeing the north gate''s wall in her sight.


    "I don''t have a choice," Ezekiel murmured shortly after Alex gained some distance away from him. If he doesn''t leech off Alex, he''ll probably be eating her dust by how slow he moves. Besides, he still needs to learn how to be an effective healer that can fight beside her.


    "We''re here, hurry!! you need to see this!" Alex shouted to Ezekiel. After she jumped up on the roof of the watchtower in the vige. She was astonished by the scene in front of her. It was horrifying, yet it is making her blood boil looking at the horde.


    Seeing the excited look on Alex''s face. Ezekiel guessed that her expectations have be a reality. There should be more than five thousand goblins on the other side of the wall.


    "What woman would look happy seeing a horde of green-skinned monsters. That kills any human on sight and abuse women as well as children." Ezekiel grumbled as he hastens his footsteps towards Alex.

 Chapter 45 - Goblin Army

    After noticing that the distance is now more than close enough for him to jump. Ezekiel pushed his feet off the ground and runs at full speed towards the watchtower.


    "Move aside!!" Ezekiel shouted at Alex since he does not have the same stats as Alex. Stats that let her jump to a 15 meters watchtower with ease. He needs to gather enough momentum to reach the top. He wasn''t even sure if he can get to the top. Ezekiel then nted his staff on the ground and propel himself up.


    Some of the surrounding yers looked at Ezekiel in surprise, but as soon as they recognize him. They looked away and focused on the scene in front of them. The yers stared at the goblins marching towards the vige with awe. The number is so unbelievable that the goblins looked like an army that can topple even a city in its march.


    Ezekiel was going up fast, but just as he was about to reach the edge of the roof. He started losing speed, and then gravity pulled him downards.


    "Ah, Sh*t help!!" Ezekiel cursed as he reached out his hand, trying to grab on to anything in the watchtower to stop his fall.


    Hearing Ezekiel''s curse behind her, Alex turned around to help him. "Tsk, so weak." Alex bent forward and grabbed hold of Ezekiel''s hand.


    Alex then pulled Ezekiel up with a single pull mustering all her strength to throw him up in the air.


    "F*ck!! Hey!!" Ezekiel cursed at her the moment Alex pulled him up with ruthlessness. That made him flip through the air and lose his bnce.


    BANG!!!


    Ezekielnded on the roof with his butt so hard that it made the watchtower rock a little.


    "What did you do that for!?" Ezekiel asked as he looked up at Alex standing beside him. Even though he feels a little pain because of the pain reduction, he still felt dizziness in her head.


    "You''re so slow... Look in front of you; it''s amazing," Alex uttered, changing the topic immediately. Throwing Ezekiel up in the air was her revenge for him for bragging about his luck all this time.


    "What is so amazing about it..." When Ezekiel turned to look in front. He realized why Alex is excited and the quest to hold off the goblins for an hour and not eliminate them. There is no way they could hold off this wave for more than an hour. How much more eliminating it.


    "It is horrifying, yet it makes my heart pound and blood boil in anticipation. And it is fantastic because I can have fun with the goblins until I am satisfied." She thought that this is going to be a boring battle, but when she saw the army of goblins, Alex can''t wait to fight.


    "Are you really a gir..." Before he can even finish what he is going to say, Alex already smacked his head with her palm.


    "I am not weird!"


    Ezekiel looked at her with doubt. "I did not even say that you are weird..."


    Alex looked away from him and concentrated on the goblins in her sight.


    "How many goblins do you think we will fight?" Alex asked with curiosity.


    She is resisting the urge to jump in there and start the fight already. But Alex kept herposure, because she knew that she can''t handle the number of goblins with her current strength alone.


    "20 thousand goblins, and they will arrive in 10 minutes."


    "Probably around 20 thousand goblins, and based on their distance from us and the speed of their march. It will probably take them 10 minutes before they arrive."


    Ezekiel and Lumiere answered at the same time.


    "Huhhh??"


    "What happened??" Ezekiel asked, noticing Alex''s confused look.


    "Lumiere answered my question the same time you answered."


    "Your guide A.I.?" Ezekiel thinks that Alex''s A.I. is different from his A.I.; it''s like it has a mind of its own.


    "Yes... but I did not ask her; it just answered on its own, and you even have the same answers." She was startled when Lumiere suddenly answered her out of the blue.


    "Your guide A.I. is remarkable. Mine doesn''t even talk if I don''t talk with it first." He doesn''t know why she has a different A.I. than him, but it is still a good thing because Alex''s A.I. seems smarter than his.


    "By the way, did you know people in this world call our A.I. guardian spirits?"


    "Yes, my instructor told me a while ago." Seeing Alex pouting on the side Ezekiel immediately changed the topic. "Anyway, back to our current situation. If I am right, then this battle is going to be hard." Twenty thousand goblins are too much for the one thousand yers in the vige. Even if there are outstanding ones with the same strength as him, then at most, they can kill 100 goblins.


    "It is not fun if it''s easy. Well, hard is also not fun sometimes, but it is challenging though. And oveing challenging things is very satisfying in the end." That is why her father always beat her up whenever they sparred. After she loses to him, he will always ask her if she is frustrated. And of course, Alex is always frustrated her father''s regenerative power is unbeatable.


    Then her father will teach her that it''s good for to feel frustrated. Because frustation can be her drive to be better in the future. ''Frustration from a loss is a sign that you didn''t want to lose'' that''s what her father always teach her.


    That is why her father always gives her the challenge she needs for the past 2 years.


    "Anyway, let''s go down first. It seems that the people are now gathering below us. We need to n out and organize everyone first for this defense to work." Ezekiel suggested to Alex after seeing the goblins marched in an organized manner. This indicates that something must bemanding the goblins in this battle. And suppose they really fight in an unorganized manner. With everyone unfamiliar with the people they are fighting. In that case, they will lose this battle in less than 30 minutes.


    "Someone needs to lead everyone in this battle..."

 Chapter 46 - Commander

    "Okay," Alex then jumped down the watchtower. At the same time, Ezekiel followed. Dust flew everywhere the moment their feetnded on the ground.


    When Alex was about to walk to the ce people are gathering in. she heard someone shouting and calling at them.


    "Hey, you two!! Even though you are guardians, you have no right to do anything you see fit here!!" Seeing the two people making a ruckus in the watchtower go down, a vige guard wanted to reprimand them. He doesn''t like these guardians who suddenly arrive in their world. Saying they are there to protect them. How can they protect them when these people don''t even look at them as humans.


    "I apologize for my friend, sir. She only wanted to see the current situation with the best view." Ezekiel then held Alex''s head and made her bow with him


    "I am very sorry..." Alex really did not think of offending anyone with her actions. If she is in an adrenaline state, she doesn''t notice simple details like this at all.


    Wait why am I the only one getting the me here!! Alex realized that Ezekiel caught her in his trap. But Alex kept on going with the act. "I''ll try to not do this again..." She can only try. She wouldn''t promise not to do it ever again. After all, she knew that she wouldn''t be able to resist doing rash actions most of the time.


    They then heard an elder''s voice behind the vige guard.


    "Now, now, don''t be too harsh on the children''s Von."


    Von turned around, hearing the familiar voice.


    "Chief!? Why are you still here? You should hurry and evacuate with everyone." Von eximed with worry for the elder''s safety.


    "Young man... I have built this ce from the start. I have watched it grow into a beautiful town. Watched the people grow with happiness... And if this vige returns to dust, then as a creator of this ce I will defend it right till the end." Jin said as he brings out a short wooden bow in his back. "Besides, I''m too old to run away. If I can help kill at least a few goblins, then it will at least give the people fleeing a little more time."


    "We will do everything we can, I promise." Alex said as she notices the determination to die on the battlefield in the eyes of the elder. She knew that it is inevitable to prevent anyone from dying in this fight. Still, she will do everything to save as many people as possible.


    Other yers may think of the people in this world as game characters or NPCs. Still, for Alex, that values life no matter how small or insignificant these people are. She considers everyone as living humans with the emotions she had seen when she toured around the vige.


    "Ahhhh, I really envy you, young guardian. With your great strength, you will surely be someone with the ability to reach the top of this world. Unlike me, who was already deprived to even try..." The elder muttered silently. "Anyway, are all the guards ready?"


    "Yes, we are all ready to defend this ce with all we have."


    "Then go to the others first. I still need to talk to these young guardians."


    "If you need something from me, just call me anytime, grandpa."


    "Uhn." Elder jin nodded.


    The vige guard then left the three of them alone.


    Elder Jin then faced the two of them. "Young man... can I ask you a favor??"


    "Huh? Me??" Ezekiel pointed to himself in confusion. "Grandpa, are you really sure that you''re not asking her for a favor?" Ezekiel then pointed to Alex.


    "No, I am sure that you are better for this job than her."


    Alex thought of things that Ezekiel is better than her. But there are only quite a few she could think of. "What is it??"


    "Can you lead all the guardians in this fight?? Because I think Von doesn''t have the capability to lead guardians because hate can clearly be seen in his eyes. And amander who hates his soldiers will only receive disobedience in the end." Jin doesn''t have any choice but to ask Ezekiel a favor. Because if both sides don''t work together, it will only lead to their downfall.


    "I think it''s not a good idea for me to lead..."


    "Why? I heard that you have fought a berserker and resulted in a draw. You are clearly intelligent and strong enough for others to listen to you." Jin can''t just let unknown people lead the other guardians because he might regret it. But he can''t also let the guardians fight without someone to lead them. It was a troublesome problem, and he can only think of Ezekiel as themander.


    "That''s not the problem... You see, whenever Alex fights, she will always go deep on the enemy''s backline. And wherever she goes, I go. Whatever she fights, I follow."


    Alex looked away when Ezekiel looked at her. After all, Ezekiel was right. Her n was to go deep in the enemies and have fun.


    "Even if I have the capability to lead everyone. I have my priorities to not leave this girl deep in the enemy forces alone." He would love to lead everyone to increase their chance at winning. But he can''t with Alex that will surely fight the enemies alone.


    Elder Jin weakened after hearing Ezekiel''s exnation. It almost felt like his age increased a few years. "Then sorry to trouble you..." As he turned around, the elder''s voice was soft, almost fragile as if it and his heart would break any minute. Perhaps his heart was already broken as he sees no hope for his vige to survive.


    "Grandpa, wait!! I thought of someone better than me." Ezekiel held Elder Jin''s shoulders as soon as he saw a familiar figure in the distance.


    "Really?? If you''re only telling me this tofort me, please don''t... I don''t want the ones who are escaping to lose their life because we aren''t able to defend this ce." Even if Jin is desperate to have someone lead the guardians. He can''t just let anyone get the job without knowing them.


    Alex also saw where Ezekiel''s eyes are looking at. And she agrees that the person should be better than them at leading.


    "Wait for me here. This guy is good, I promise."


    Ezekiel then ran to the familiar figure he saw.

 Chapter 47 - Walked Right Into The Trap

    "Oiii!!! Akkar!" Ezekiel shouted.


    Akkar got surprised when he turned around to see who is calling for him. "Ezekiel??"


    "Can you go with me for a moment?" Ezekiel immediately asked without wasting any second. "It''s important..."


    Akkar doesn''t understand what''s going on, but Ezekiel has helped him so much earlier. And he needs to somehow pay it back. "Wait, let me tell my friend first."


    Akkar then turned to an elegant woman in herte-20s with a cross pendant as her weapon entwined in her hands. Akkar got acquainted with her earlier after he finished fighting hisst duel. He got to know her because she is actually one of the few people who supported him for a very long time. She even has proof of how long she watched him with her membership status. The membership shows the exact time she bought his membership and supported him. "Can you go on without me? I''ll find youter."


    "Uhnn, I''ll wait for you at the gate. Don''t make me wait, okay??" The woman softly muttered as if she was seducing Akkar as she started walking away from them.


    "You''re quite lucky yourself huh, you have found a sweet woman." Ezekiel mumbled as he turned around to return to Alex.


    "Aren''t you also lucky with Alexandria?? She is so strong no man can probably get close to her beside you." Akkar retorted, feeling some envy in Ezekiel''s voice.


    "Trust me, bro, all I ever received from her is beating..."


    "But you still follow her..."


    "Well I kind of... got used to her beating..." Ezekiel did not mention that his day is somehow notplete if he does not receive her beating.


    "Are you a masochist or something?" Akkarughed at his answer. He thought that they are really are a cute couple. Even though Ezekiel knew his feelings for her, Alexandria, on the other hand, has no clue what he felt for her.


    "What masochist??" Alex asked with curiosity after hearing Akkar mentioning something about masochists.


    "It''s nothing, nothing." Ezekiel brushed off Alex''s question. He did not realize that they have actually got close enough for Alex to hear them.


    "Sorry..." Akkar whispered at Ezekiel''s ears. He felt sorry that Alex almost discovered that he likes getting beaten up.


    "Anyway, Granpa Jin... This guy right here will be an excellentmander for the other guardians." Ezekiel immediately changed the topic as he presented Akkar to the elder.


    "Commander!?" Akkar looked at Ezekiel as if he tricked him.


    "Him?" Elder Jin remembered Akkar. After all, he was the first guardian he met and received the strongest armor in the vige.


    Elder Jin and Akkar spoke with confusion at the same time.


    "I agree with Ezekiel. I think you will be a greatmander." Alex eximed supporting Ezekiel''s suggestion. She thinks that Ezekiel must have the same thoughts as her on why Akkar is going to be a goodmander.


    The first reason she thinks Akkar will be an excellentmander is that he is famous in the vige. Almost everyone in here is familiar with him already because of the duel he did earlier. So trust won''t be a problem with the other yers because of his formidable strength. The following reason is that Akkar is an experienced streamer. So he should have at least some experience ying with his viewers. And she can see, based on his interactions with his viewers, how great of a person he is when she fought him. And Ezekiel must have also seen it.


    "Trust me; he is going to be excellent," Ezekiel reassured Elder Jin. This way, they won''t waste any more time finding other yers that can lead very well. And they will still have some time to n out the defense.


    At the same time, Alex moved closer to Akkar to reassure him. "Your viewers will be delighted if you lead," She whispered to his ears like a devil trying to tempt Akkar to lead them.


    Alex''s temptation did work. Akkar is very tempted right now to instantly ept their offer. But he is not confident about his ability to lead one thousand people in fighting a goblin army. Even though he experienced leading his viewers in a war on other games, he ys. He only experienced leading one hundred yers against one hundred yers. His experience can''tpare to the one thousand yers against a twenty thousand army of goblins they will fight soon.


    "Streamers who have the opportunity to be amander first day of a virtual reality game. You can probably only count it with two hands." Alex continued to tempt Akkar as she softly whispers in his ears." It will definitely boost your viewer''s count by an unimaginable number.


    On the other hand, while Alex tempts Akkar, Ezekiel is also doing his job to convince elder Jin. "Grandpa, you have heard of my fight earlier, right? He is better than me at this kind of thing, I promise."


    "If you say so, then I don''t have a choice. We don''t have enough time to find other recements." Elder Jin finally gave in to their suggestion.


    "Then, young man... Will you be kind enough to guide the other guardians on this battle??" Elder Jin faced Akkar and requested from the bottom of his heart.


    Noticing the determined eyes of the elder to trust a stranger. It gave Akkar the courage not to disappoint the elder with his expectations. "I promise... I will not let you down." Akkar thumped his chest in respect for the elder.


    Akkar felt deep gratitude to both of them for giving him the opportunity to be famous in this game. All he needs to do is not to waste this opportunity and give his everything. He also thought of paying back Alexandria, and Ezekiel tenfoldter. They have given him too much already that he never imagined he could achieve.


    ...


    Akkar''s viewers flooded the chatbox with amazement and congrattingments.


    "Congrattions, big bro!!"


    "Congrattions, you deserved all of this!!"


    "Wow!! A direct perspective ofmander in the first game and the first war of the game!!"


    "This is going to be great."


    "I''ll call my friends that are watching other streamers who are only cannon fooders in the battle. They need to see this!!"


    ....


    "Thank you... but we need to go now. We still need to n how to defend this ce." Elder Jin grabbed Akkar''s hand in a rush as he dragged him to a house where Von, the vige guard, earlier entered.


    "Thank you!! I really mean it thank you..." Before Akkar gotpletely dragged off. He bowed his head to Alex and Ezekiel in gratitude. Then the two men entered the house.


    After Akkar and Elder Jin, the house, Alex raised her hand.


    Ezekiel also raised his hand.


    Then both of them high-fived each other as they uttered. "Sess!!"


    They were both happy as they have sessfully made Akkar walk right into their trap.

 Chapter 48 - Commander Akkar

    Although Alex calls this a trap, in the end, the one they are trapping will gain a lot of benefits. It is just that she and Ezekiel don''t want to carry the burden of everyone in the vige.


    Besides, Ezekiel only has a mediocre talent in strategizing wars. Inparison, she is even worse than Ezekiel.


    She did try to study the arts of war and how to strategize. It''s just that she doesn''t understand a single thing once she studied past the basics of the arts of war.


    That is why she prefers to fight on the frontline. She doesn''t need to overthink. All she needs to do on the frontline is to y the enemy in front of her.


    "Here, your potion." Ezekiel gave Alex her two healing potions and one antidote potion.


    "Thanks, also thanks for what you did tofort Lili earlier." Alex did not forget to give thanks to Ezekiel, even though he is also one of the reasons why Lili cried.


    "No worries, I know that your heart can''t handle to see kids crying in front of you. But I noticed that you have also changed in that aspect. You are now stronger... In the past, if you see a kid cry, you will also suddenly join them in crying." Ezekiel chuckled as he remembered Alex''s innocent past.


    "I almost cried... but I managed to hold it in somehow." Ezekiel is right, though. She also changed on that aspect, but this kind of change is okay with her. It is a change that she knows and intentionally trying to change.


    Alex wanted to change how she thinks. That is why she is trying to learn how to think more maturely. She is no longer an innocent child that has no clue of how the world works.


    "Anyway, there is still quite some time. Let''s n out how we are going to fightter." Ezekiel wanted to at least survive in this battle. If he doesn''t warn her now, Alex will not be able to hear anything he says to herter. Once she is on the loose, no one will be able to stop her. He is afraid that Alex might leave him all alone and rush through the enemy like there''s no tomorrow.


    "Aren''t we just going to rush through the enemies??" Alex tilted her head as she questioned Ezekiel. She is confident that she can survive the battle for an hour even if she is all alone deep in the enemy''s backline.


    "Sigh... Why did I even ask..." Ezekiel sighed in exhaustion. "You can''t do that. I will be left behind if you charge through the sea of goblins..."


    "But there is no fun staying close with everyone. I see a lot of capable people who can easily steal a kill from me..." Alex eximed as she noticed that a lot of yers she sees carry a long-range weapon. She saw a variety of long-range weapons from guns, to bows, to magic wands and staffs.


    Alex thought that if she stayed too close to the vige gates, she would get hardly any kills. yers with a long-range weapon will kill her target before she can even get close to them.


    "Don''t forget the requirement for me to heal you. I need to stay very close to you so that I can touch you with my palm. And remember that I need to heal you so that I can also gain experience from your kills... How can I level up if you leave me alone..." Ezekiel imagined himself chasing Alex through the battlefield as she forces her way through the sea of goblins as if they are nothing.


    "But It is not fun staying with everyone... And I don''t like it..."


    Alex kept arguing with Ezekiel about this for about a minute, as she keeps on insisting that they storm their way through the enemy.


    In the end, they reached apromise for her to slow down her pace a little. It is so that Ezekiel has a little time to somehow stay at her back and catch up if he''ll get left behind.


    A minute after they reached apromise, Elder Jin, Akkar, and a couple of vige guards emerged from the house they had a meeting.


    Akkar, apanied by Elder Jin, climbed to a high pedestal that everyone can easily see.


    "Aren''t they a little too fast at nning things out??" Alex asked, doubting that they were even able toe up with a n on how to defend the goblin army effectively. Akkar doesn''t even look worried at all.


    "I don''t know what n theye up with, but it''s definitely very fast. Maybe Akkar is a greatmander that already knows how to beat the goblin army. Or they weren''t able toe up with one, so we will all just be fighting aimlessly..." Ezekiel mumbled as he stared at Akkar with curiosity.


    "Everyone!!" Akkar roared at the top of his lungs. His voice traveled throughout the vige, gathering everyone''s attention at him.


    "I know some of you knows me already, while a lot of you probably thinks who the hell is this man that is shouting out of nowhere... Let me introduce myself first. I am Akkar The Berserker Guardian."


    "All of us may not have faced any trials together!!"


    "However, outside this gates awaits a threat to this vige that we barely even know!! But will you be so heartless!? To let its beauty be covered in mes as we taste helplessness and defeat!!"


    "The enemy is far too strong for the vigers to defend this ce alone... But with the help of everyone here, nothing is impossible!!"


    "We shall use our swords to pierce through the enemy!!"


    "With our shield that fears not the might of goblin army!!"


    "I know that we will never falter..."


    "We won''t just hide ourselves away from danger!!"


    "We will defend this ce with our own hands!!"


    "As themander of Honey Combed Vige!!"


    "I... Akkar, The Berserker Guardian, give this order..." Akkar slowly lifted his hands as he pointed at the direction of the Goblin Army.


    "Guardians of Honey Combed Vige advance!!"


    "Defend ournd!"


    "y our enemies!!"


    "Bring us VICTORY!!"

 Chapter 49 - Time To Kick Those Invaders!

    Akkar proudly raised his weapon after he finished his speech.


    Everyone also followed suit as they howled with all their might lifted their weapons in the sky.


    "Ohhhhh!!!!!!!"


    "Let''s gooooo!!!"


    "Commander Akkar!!"


    "Let''s win this!!"


    "Let''s f*cking kill those mother f*cker!!"


    The people watching Akkar''s stream also felt the hype. As they also flooded the chatbox with support.


    "An outstanding speech!!"


    "Give us a great battle!!"


    "Can''t wait for this!!"


    At the same time, Akkar''s viewers are also increasing at an unimaginable speed.


    Meanwhile, Alex raised her fist while Ezekiel raised his staff. As they also got caught up with the momentum. Akkar''s speech just made everyone''s blood boil in suspense.


    "He''s good..." Alex mumbled. As she noticed how almost everyone''s eyes looked more enthusiastic. They looked more willing to defend this vige than before. Earlier, their eyes looked like they lost all hope. And the only goal in their minds is to survive the one-hour duration. Yet, in just a short amount of time, Akkar changed all of it.


    "He is too good..." Ezekiel nodded, agreeing with Alex. "He increased our chance at winning in just a small amount of time." What Akkar did at the moment is so astounding that he has no words to say.


    "I don''t think we can even do that... Raising an army''s morale with a speech that he probably just came up with within a minute." Alex knows that one of the most crucial things in war is the morale of your soldiers. Morale can determine how the flow of the battle goes once your soldiers lose even an ounce of the will to fight. Your enemy can end the fight in a blink of an eye.


    Morale is also one of the lessons she doesn''t understand when she studied the arts of war. She doesn''t understand how to raise a person''s morale in a short amount of time at all. She thought that she wasn''t mature enough to know how it works. Yet observing Akkar, she noticed that shecks the charisma that Akkar is radiating right now.


    His charisma is so great that even if you don''t know him, you will still trust him your back. Or you will still follow him, believing that everything will be fine as long as he guides you. On the other hand, Alex is having a hard time for people she knows to trust her. It is because she always prefers to solve problems with brute force.


    "I think we have a chance tost more than an hour..." Ezekiel mumbled as he evaluates Akkar as a greatmander. Amander who can turn the tides of a battle with his presence alone.


    "We will win this," Alex eximed with confidence. Akkar''s speech is so great that it also affected her morale.


    Meanwhile, immediately after the crowd settled down a bit. Akkar took this chance toy out the ns they have talked about earlier. As he urged Elder Jin to speak up after he finished gathering the yer''s attention. "Everyone listen!! The vige chief has something to say!!" Akkar then moved backward while Elder Jin moved forward.


    "I know everyone already knows me, so I''ll keep it short... If we win this fight, a massive amount of rewards awaits our victory. For every goblin you kill, you will receive five silvers. Your guardian spirits will record your kill count to avoid deceptions. And that reward is just a small part of the huge reward waiting for you in the end."


    "So please... please... save our vige..." Elder Jin eximed as he kneeled on the ground.


    Elder Jin''s speech may not be as great as Akkar''s, but his pleading gained the sympathy of everyone. Alex thinks that a lot of people will feel empathy towards older people as they see their parents in them. Elder Jin''s pleading even further increased the morale of everyone.


    "Don''t worry, chief. We will y those ugly green-skinned monsters!!"


    "We will protect the vige with all we got!!"


    "For the vige!!" A yer chanted as he raised his weapon while everyone followed suit.


    "For the vige!"


    "For the vige!"


    At the same time, two vige guards immediately helped Elder Jin stand up. Then Akkar switched with Elder Jin''s position once more. As he deemed the moment as the right time to unveil what they will do from now on.


    Seeing Akkar moving forward again. Everyone slowly settled down on their own while they waited for Akkar to speak up.


    "This is going to be a hard battle..."


    "But nothing we can''t handle... The first thing we need to do is to know what is our different roles." Akkar needs to form a formation first to avoid being unorganizedter. He doesn''t want his soldier die from a friendly fire.


    "Tanks move to the front!! Melee fighters move to the back!! Range users move to the right!! Healers and support move to the left!!" Akkar shouted with a little intimidation in his voice so that everyone will move faster. "Faster!! We are running out of time!!" Akkar pped his hand as he urged everyone.


    Alex walked backward, but unexpectedly she notices Ezekiel following him. "Why are you going here? Healers are on the left side..."


    "They will probably make an analysis base on how many healers tanks and range yers we have. And if I stay there, it will only confuse them with their formation since I will be following." Ezekiel answered as he guessed Akkar''s intention.


    "Hmmm, make sense, Alex nodded."


    After everyone settled on their corresponding ces. Alex can''t help but notice the unbnced ratio of roles. Around 5% are supports and healers, which is one of the worst-case scenarios in a war if there are only a few. Healers and supports are the ones that will help them sustain andst longer. Inparison, around 20% are tanks which is good because they will be their walls in the battle. They can''t stay inside the walls. Because their main force is the melee fighters that have 25% of their numbers. And the range users with 50% of their forces.


    Akkar was also disappointed, seeing that the healers and supports are very few in numbers. He already expected that there would be very few healers and supports. After all, not too many people like to be weak support. A lot will always prefer to be in the limelight with a lot of kills.


    Yet Akkar hid his disappointment. Because it will also affect everyone if themander loses some hope.


    "We will all be fighting in the ins. Because we need to make the goblins focus on us alone. It is to avoid chaos inside the vige that may endanger the viger!"


    "Our walls will be our 200 tanks and the 200 vige guards. Trust them that they can brace through the impact of the rampaging enemies. Then we will let our range attackers freely hit the enemy in the back. At the same time, the melee attackers can freely fight as they please. As long as they don''t go too far in the formation to protect the range attackers."


    "That''s all, let''s do our best and bring VICTORY!!" Akkar chose the most basic formation. Because they don''t have the time and familiarity with each other to have a veryplicated n.


    "VICTORY!!"


    "VICTORY!!"


    "VICTORY!!"


    Alex smiled as she started walking towards the gates. "Let''s go, time to kick those invaders back to where they came from!!"

 Chapter 50 - Let Them Die

    "Move!! Move!! Everybody move!!" The tanks and the vige guards started going outside of the gates. Half of the vige guards were positioned on the very front. As they lined up their kite-shaped wooden shields. Their shields wererge enough to cover their whole bodies. While the other half of the vige guards aimed their spears at the gaps in the shields. These spears now formed a spike on the shield wall. And it will kill any goblins that will charge thoughtlessly.


    While the tank yers covered the gap that the vige guards couldn''t cover. It is because they weren''t as organized as the vigers supporting them is better.


    Ezekiel evaluates this formation as a simple formation but a very effective one.


    "They really were able toe up with a n in that short amount of time... And the vige guards look like they are even well experienced in wars like this..." Phnx formation that was used in ancient times is easy to make. But, its effectiveness is in it being impervious to a frontal assault by either infantry, cavalry, or archers. The downside of this formation is that it is vulnerable in the rear and the nks of the phnx due to it being a forward focus employed in this method of warfare. A weakness that they don''t have is because half of their force is in the backline. And the goblins are unintelligent monsters. They will not even think of nking their enemy.


    The moment Alex stepped out of the gates, she realized that everyone needed to hurry right now. Based on the goblin army''s speed, they will probably arrive around three to four minutes.


    After the tanks were able to stabilize their formation. Alex, Ezekiel, and the melee fighters followed after them. Inparison with the frontline, the melee fighters are somewhat unorganized and chaotic. They stood everywhere in the backside of the tanks.


    Alex already expected this kind of scenario. Due to the fact, less than ten minutes of war nning is not enough to organize arge group of people.


    Still, Akkar''s n is good because the backlines don''t need to form any formation. With the small amount of time they have and how a lot of yers have a different weapon. Creating a squad for each weapon will take a lot of time. Yet, as long as the tanks in the frontline can solidify their formation. The goblins won''t be able to breach the backline easily.


    Alex has confidence with great strength in their backline. She is sure that any goblins that enter their range will fall without a hint of resistance. She even has more trust in the vige guards on the frontline. As she sees how fast they were able to form a formidable wall for everyone. She can see how they look very well experienced with how their eyes don''t even have a hint of fear of the enemy.


    "Everyone hurry!! Faster!! Faster!! The enemy will not wait for you!!" Akkar keeps on shouting to make everyone hear his voice. Alex can feel Akkar''s voice that carries the quality of a leader. Anyone will follow any of his orders with obedience.


    After the melee fighters got in, the healers and support followed. They positioned themselves in the middle of everyone. So that all of theirrades were inside their range. They are almost as organized as the tanks on the frontline because of their very few numberspared to everyone.


    After the healers and support got in their positions. The ranged attackers followed suit. Unexpectedly Alex notices that the ranged attackers are somewhat organized. When they got close enough. She discovered that a few people acted like a captain for the ranged attackers. These people are separating the ranged attackers from bows to magicians to guns and a mixture of all range attackers with a unique weapon.


    "It seems like melee fighters don''t have any good quality leaders. All brawn no brains at all, tsk, tsk..." Ezekiel uttered. As he also noticed that their backline was looking greatpared to the people beside him.


    "You are speaking as if you are not a melee fighter..." Alex rebutted, but she knew that if Ezekiel wanted to do the job, then he could definitely do it.


    "Troublesome matters like these are better off left with people who have a lot of free time." Ezekiel defended. "Besides, I have my hands full just taking care of you alone..." Ezekiel countered with a finisher.


    "Hmph... I can take of myself..." Alex blurted as she looked away from him and focused on the iing goblins instead.


    Observing how great the range attackers look, Alex feels threatened. She thinks that the enemy won''t even be able to get close to her. Their backline is even more formidable than she expected earlier.


    "I''m going to the front," Alex eximed to Ezekiel as she started walking towards the shield wall. She isn''t nning on staying in the backline anyway.


    "Wait, you can''t just break their formation!!" Ezekiel was caught off guard. Which resulted in him being toote to grab Alex''s shoulders as she already went past many people. "Sigh... You''re only proving that I am right..." Ezekiel followed Alex as he thought that he shouldn''t have talked a lot again. Yet, it''s a habit that he can''t resist whenever he is with Alex.


    "Excuse me..." Alex slowly pushed off the people in front of him.


    "Captain, look." A vige guard beside Von noticed Alex pushing off the shield wall as she stood in front of everyone else. While the vige guards on the shield wall is trying to convince her to go back on the backline.


    "Excuse me... That''s my friend." At the same time, Ezekiel also pushed off the vige guards as he stood beside Alex. He did not try to convince her since there was no point anyway.


    When Von noticed who are the people causing trouble right now. Were the same people who had caused a ruckus in the watchtower earlier. Von looked away as he focused on the battlefield. "Let them die..." Von mumbled, hating Alex and Ezekiel as he felt that he wouldn''t be able to control them at all. "We will have fewer troubles if they die earlier."

 Chapter 51 - Time To Slaughter

    "So, what is the n??" Ezekiel whispered to Alex''s ears. While watched the wave of green-skinned goblinsing closer and closer to them. He feels like he will be buried alive if he doesn''t hide behind the shield wall. "How can we survive the enemy''s charge??" Ezekiel followed Alex without any n at all as he couldn''t think of any.


    "I need a weapon... Just stay behind and follow me... I''ll handle everything." Alex replied as she bent her knees, intending to charge forward when the enemy got close enough.


    Alex peered for any good weapons that the goblins were holding. Alex has a tiny selection of weapons. She only sees the goblins carrying a few hand axes, daggers, short bows, short swords, and shields.


    These weapons aren''t perfect for arge-scale battle because of their attack range. But it was the ideal weapon for the goblins. It perfectly utilizes their small stature. Where they could take advantage of their half the size of a human.


    She doesn''t see any good weapons because the goblin''s weapons can only kill one enemy in one attack. She prefers having a weapon like Akkar, where one strike of the great ax can quickly kill a lot of goblins


    "GUARDIANS!!


    "The enemy is right in front of you!!"


    "But with our strength..."


    "Even the goblin army is nothing to fear!!"


    "I believe in all of you..." Akkar whispered hisst words through the air. But even though no one heard what he said, everyone gleamed with radiance as they waited for the enemy toe.


    "Hold your shields with all you''ve got. Yours and yourrade''s lives will depend on it!!" Von also gave his words to the people beside him as he gripped his shield harder than ever in his life. "As long as we are here, they won''t get through!!"


    "Ready?" Alex mumbled as she turned around to look at Ezekiel, who was now clenching his staff.


    "Always..." Ezekiel replied as he returned the smile at her. He can tell that she is very excited and delighted.


    "RANGE ATTACKERS!!"


    "ON MY SIGNAL!! Throw everything you have to the enemy!!" Akkarmanded as the goblins were now almost in the range of their attacks. The attack will be wasted if everyone fires at the same time. The range attacker needs to coordinate for a better oue.


    "WAIT..." Akkar ordered as he raised his palm to the range attackers. He is waiting for the fourth wave of the goblins to enter their range. So that they can to take advantage of their magic attacks that can hit multiple enemies at once.


    "WAIT..." The second wave of the goblins passes their range.


    "Commander, the goblins are closing on our shield wall." A vige guard cautioned with worry.


    "A little more..." Because of his strong trust with the people on the frontline. He isn''t worried of a few goblins reaching their shield wall at all.


    "MAGIC DIVISION FIREEEEE!!!!" Akkar howled at the top of his lungs seeing the right time to engage.


    "NOW!!" At the same time Alex pushed of his feet off the ground as she started charging.


    A barrage of small-scale magics devastated the fourth wave. The fourth wave mainly consist of goblins that are carrying small rounded shields. Goblins fell one after the other as they ate fireballs, ice shards, as well rock bullets.


    Akkar made sure to destroy the ones carrying a shield with magic first. So that they wouldn''t be able to reduce the fatality rate of their bow users with their shields.


    "GUNS DIVISION FIRE!!!" As for the cannon fodders on the first to the third wave of the goblin army. He will let the yers using guns handle it.


    "BOWS DIVISION FIRE!!" Then as soon as the fifth and sixth wave of the goblin army entered their range. Akkar instantly gave the order to execute them.


    "While others FIRE AT WILL!!" Akkar then slow


    While this horrifying yet breathtaking scene of magic, arrows, and bullets is happening.


    Alex and Ezekiel are storming through the battlefield like it is nothing. Luckily the yers behind them are not idiots as no bullets areing straight their way.


    Alex leaped as the first goblin arrived on her face. She then stepped on the goblin''s head as she traveled one head after the other. She wouldn''t waste her time on this cannon fodder that doesn''t have any weapons. Her goal was the goblins on the 9th wave that carries a short sword.


    Ezekiel followed Alex''s footsteps. Even though Ezekiel doesn''t move as smoothly as Alex. Since she is purposely slowing down her pace, He can still somewhat copy what she''s doing.


    Yet currently, Ezekiel feels like he is a heavy burden for Alex with how weak his current self ispared to hers.


    "Hurry!! The second wave of attack ising." Although Alex looks like she is just charging ahead. She is actually making sure that Ezekiel is able to keep up with her.


    At the same time, Alex passed by the third wave of the goblins.


    The remnant goblins that were able to survive the onught of their range attackers. Has died in the hands of the vige guard''s spears.


    And just as Alex expected, the melee fighters were not able to help much at all. It will take quite some time before the melee fighters will have their fun. Until the range attackers deplete all of their mana. The melee fighters can onlyze around behind the tanks.


    "Commander, two people are running across the range of our attackers. What should we do?" A vige guard said as he saw Alex and Ezekiel charging on their own.


    "Everyone, hold your fire for 3 seconds!!" Akkar ordered.


    "But sir... the enemy will get close to our line of defense."


    "Trust me... Trust our frontlines... And trust them..." Akkar mumbled as he counted three seconds in his head. He doesn''t know why Ezekiel and Alexandria are rushing on their own. However, Akkar owned them big time, so he needed to somewhat help them to the best of his ability. Akkar guesses that three seconds should be good enough for them to be out of their range.


    "EVERYONE, FIREEEE!!" Without wasting any second, Akkar roared as soon as the 3 seconds were up


    Alex and Ezekiel smiled as they realized that the barrage of attacks had stopped for a few seconds. It gave them enough time to run through outside the range of their allies. "I did not pick a badmander this time..." Ezekiel mumbled as he followed behind Alex.


    Alex licked her lips as her target was now in front of her face. "Time to ughter..."

 Chapter 52 - Two Monsters

    "They areing!! Try to keep up!" Alex shouted to Ezekiel as the sound from the magic attacks, the guns, and the growling of the goblins were too loud. She forgot to use the discode''s voice chat earlier as she''s too focused on the goblin army.


    "You need to be a little faster!!" Ezekiel eximed. He doesn''t want to hold her back. If Alex''s strength is at its strongest. He wouldn''t need to worry that enemies around them could touch him.


    "Then I won''t hold back." Alex grabbed the neck of a goblin closest to her and crushed it like a sponge. She then stole the short sword it was carrying.


    [Goblin in]


    [Acquired Goblin''s worn-out short sword]


    [+2 Experience Points Gained]


    [ 2/100 to level up]


    Lumiere''s notified.


    "Sh*t I forgot to heal..." Ezekiel then hastens his footsteps as he sees Alex kill one goblin in the distance. He only needs to heal Alex once, and he can gain all the experience from Alex''s kill for an hour.


    "Don''t run..." Alex grinned the moment she held the weapon in her hands. The goblins received a stare of a predator cornering her prey.


    Compared to when she fought Akkar, where everyone can''t move a muscle. Alex''s aura this time is not as petrifying. But the goblins still felt chills on their back. As they looked at the prey in front of them, turning into a predator.


    Goblins around Alex trembled as they hesitated to attack her. However, these goblins don''t have any choice. Since the goblins behind them kept on charging, this made them move forward.


    "Catch your friend!" To avoid the situation of them being buried by the sea of goblins. Alex threw the goblin she was holding towards them. This made the goblins in front stumble on their feet.


    Before Alex can rush forward once more. A gentle and warm hand caressed her back. And a rxing and warm feeling spread, starting from her back running all over her body.


    "Don''t mind me here..." Ezekiel uttered as he struck the goblin that leaped from a distance like nothing. He did not gain any experience points since the goblin did not die. His damage is not as great as Alex where she can kill the enemy in one attack.


    After hearing Ezekiel''s voice, Alex did not look back as she charged towards the goblins. It was her opportunity to kill a few goblins that stopped in their tracks.


    [6/100 to level up]


    [Acquired a Goblin''s worn-out short sword] Alex used the ones that got knocked down as her stepping stone. As she slit the throats of one goblin after the other. She did not forget to steal another weapon.


    With two weapons at her hand, Alex''s killing spree became faster. She is now looking like a psychopath as she keeps on going for the goblin''s throat.


    Alex''s whole body would have been covered by blood by now. If the game did not have the feature of changing the blood into light particles.


    [Ally Alexandria has in a goblin +1 Experience points gained]


    Ezekiel is having the best time of his life in the back as Alex delivers him experience points one after the other.


    Even though they are deep in the enemy''s line. They are not having any problems handling the enemy at all. It is because this is arge-scale battle. The goblins can''t waste their time in just two prey when countless preys are behind the walls. That is why only a few goblins can attack them simultaneously. With Alex handling the front and 2 sides, all he needs to take care of is watching her back and kill any goblins leaping towards them.


    [Goblin in]


    [+1 Experience Points Gained]


    [ 6/100 to level up]


    While Alex and Ezekiel ughter the goblins like it was nothing. Everyone who was waiting for the two reckless people to die did not expect that not only did they not die. They were ughtering the goblins like pigs. They watched as the woman dodged the goblin''s attacks without any difficulty.


    Looking at her massacring the goblins. It was supposed to be a horrifying scene. As the goblin''s head flew one after the other each time the woman slit''s a goblin''s throat. Yet everyone looked in dazed. As the horrifying scene turned into a fantastic spectacle. The light particles flew out of the cut off heads of the goblins as it floated through the air like bubbles.


    "Are those guys even human!!!"


    "How are they still alive and moving when there are more than a thousand enemies beside them..."


    "Good thing that they are our ally..."


    "I will probably p*ss my pants if I am the one in there..."


    "Hmph, I guess they can back their arrogance..." Von uttered as he saw them killing a lot of goblins on their own.


    "These people are even stronger than I expected..." Elder Jin mumbled as his old bones trembled looking at them.


    Ezekiel also looked at her in a daze resulting in him getting hit once. It was because the light particles that is flowing through the sky surrounded Alex. Since he is the closest person beside her. He sees these light particles made Alex even more beautiful each second. As she kept on killing one goblin after the other.


    It was a side of her that he saw for the first time. A side of her where she is so focused to something she loved doing. She''s looking so gorgeous that Ezekiel secretly took pictures of her. Once he saw a perfect angle showing almost all her beauty that he never knew.


    He was d that this game has a lot of useful applications that they can use anytime. While doing this, he did not forget to heal up and kill those goblins that hit him.


    "Everyone, keep those attacksing!!"


    "You can''t just let two teenagers beat you..." Akkar looked at the two of them with envy. He also wants to charge in there and have fun, but he has a job to do.


    Besides, even though he isn''t killing any goblins. He is actually gaining experience points. It is becausemanders receive 20% of the experience gained from everyone''s kills. Right now, he is gaining +.02 experience every time someone kills a goblin.


    "You see them as teenagers?? I see them as monsters... Two monsters..." Elder Jin muttered as he nocks an arrow and kills 3 goblins in one shot in the head.

 Chapter 53 - Friends

    "What did they even experience to get this strong at such a young age..." Akkar mostly sees people their agezing around, without a care for the world.


    Even in his teenage years, he only knows how toze around. It is because the problems he encountered were always solved by his mother with ease.


    Yet as he grew older, he saw how harsh reality is. Problems came one after the other. While his mother, who always solves his problem, became weaker as she also grew older. "Not everyone can do what they''re doing."


    "Everyone??" Everyone... If you are like everyone else, then you can''t be a God''s candidate. A God''s candidate has to tread on a path that no one else travels."


    Akkar feels that Elder Jin regretted something when he said those wise words. Though, Akkar did not know about the god''s candidate at all. He thinks that it must be something like the plot of the game that they will discover as they explore the game.


    Although Elder Jin is already old. Akkar thinks that there is no doubt Elder Jin is even better at his peak. Every time he nocks an arrow, it will kill 3 goblins like it was nothing. His outstanding skills can be seen as clear as the sky.


    "If you want to fight, you can go down there and ughter those goblins. You have done more than enough already." Elder Jin suggested as he saw Akkar staring at the two people with envy. The morale he has given and the quick thinking of strategy he suggested. It was all effective. Everything can all be seen clearly as no goblin still manages to make a budge in their shield wall.


    "I''ll stay for now..." He won''t be much of a help if he goes down right now. Goblins die instantly as soon as they get close to their shield wall''s spears. Arrows punctured the goblin''s whole body one after the other. Magician''s magic fell in the middle of enemies. And bullets obliterated the goblin''s body.


    "Besides, I''m not that strong as those two..." Even though he wanted to go down and fight. He needs to satisfy his viewer''s eyes with a bird''s eye view of the whole battlefield. The ce he is standing has the perfect view of the battlefield.


    Thanks to the two of them. His viewer''s count increased once more to almost reaching one hundred thousand now. He knows that they are only there because he became themander. A lot of them may not even stay and watch him after this. But there will be a few who will continue to watch him. He wouldn''t waste the opportunity given to him to increase his subscribers count.


    At the same time, Alex and Ezekiel have been in the spotlight for everyone to see is fighting the goblins with ease. Even though the goblins charged at them endlessly.


    "Tsk, these guys are endless... Heal!" Ezekielined as he pulled out an arrow stuck on his shoulders. He is not like Alex that probably has an eye on her back. As she dodges any attacksing at her in any direction.


    "Having a hard time?"


    She is unbelievable; Alex even had some time to tease him as she killed two goblins simultaneously


    "This is easy... Haaaaaaa!!" Ezekiel growled as he knocked three goblins away from them.


    "Okay fine this is tiring..." After fighting intensely for a few minutes. Ezekiel is now panting lightly. He finds it weird because he knows his physique more than anyone else. And his stamina should not be this bad even if he sparred with Alex for an hour in the real world.


    His only thought on this problem is that it must have something to do with the stamina stat. Alex still has stable breathing. Even though she moves at an incredible speed without taking any breaks. But he is still not sure about this theory. Because theparison between their stamina stat is not that big. Being a healer his stamina stats is naturally lower than everyone else.


    "How are you not getting tired at all!?" Ezekiel asked as he dodged an arrow that grazed his shoulders a little. "These goblin archers are annoying as hell!!" He wanted to kill them, but he couldn''t get too far away from Alex because he wouldn''t evenst 5 minutes alone.


    "Breathing techniques works!!" Alex briefly answered as she kicked off a goblin with a shield. She used it as a stepping stone as she flipped through the air. While being upside down in the air, Alex scanned the battlefield. The moment she two the goblin archers in the distance. Her body rotated like a gymnast as she threw the two short swords she was using. The instant the two short swords hit their target, the weapon crumbled to pieces as if it was abused to the end.


    "Tsk, cheap swords break so easily," Alex whined once shended and crashed on a goblin''s head. She then changed her weapon as she grabbed the dead goblin''s hand ax. That is almost the same size as her arms.


    [Acquired Goblin''s worn-out hand ax]


    "Using a weapon carefully doesn''t suit you..." Ezekiel eximed as she saw Alex obliterating a goblin''s head using the hand ax. A true definition of just using brute force...


    "It''s a cheap sword; what can I do!?" Unlike the short sword where she just slits the goblin''s throat. Alex used the hand ax with great strength topletely chop off a goblin''s head. It was a weapon that brought more damage than the short sword in exchange for more flexibility in its use.


    "Anyway, thanks..." Ezekiel uttered as he touched her back to heal her. It was his thanks to her for killing the two goblin archers that have been pestering him.


    Alex''s lips formed into a smile as she felt the warm feeling creeping all over her body.


    This feeling...


    Brings back memories...


    She was so used to fighting alone for three years. She already got used to only focus on what was in front of her.


    This feeling is something new to her...


    Not worrying about her back. She realizes that having someone fights beside her is actually more fun than fighting alone.


    Friends huh...

 Chapter 54 - Level Up

    BANG!!!!


    Alex pushed Ezekiel away as a shaman''s fireball suddenly flew and fell in the middle of them.


    "Who?" Ezekiel tried to follow the remnant of the fireball''s trail of sparks. Yet, there was only a few left that could give him a clue of where it hade from.


    "An enemy?" Alex''s eyes swept through the battlefield. She knew that the magic came from the goblin''s direction. Among all the goblins that aren''t wearing any armors. She discovered a goblin wearing a robe and carrying a staff.


    Alex and the goblin shaman''s eyes met across the long distance. She can see his hatred directing to her from his dark green eyes.


    ...


    "Cold winds gather to my hand, prate my enemy as I offer their blood to our ancestors. ''Ice Shard''!!" A cold gust of air amassed on the goblin shaman''s hand as a huge chunk of ice formed as big as a person''s arms.


    The goblin shaman pointed in the direction of the two insolent humans. That is ughtering his kin like pigs.


    It was supposed to be an easy battle with their numbers alone; they could even topple a small vige like this. They even appeared too close to the vige without the enemy noticing. They wouldn''t have made such a feat if they did not use a billion goblins as a sacrifice. To make a portal to all the viges in the whole universe. Yet, the enemy managed to make a n on how to defend the vige on short notice.


    They want a home...


    They need a home...


    They were all trapped in a void that demigods created for a very long time. The void''s ck barrier somehow increases its size every month. It is to give his kin more space to multiply further.


    They were given resources once a month. But it is only enough to survive with the current poption at the start of that month. His kin''s reproduction rate is so fast that they are reaching almost one hundred billion. The void that the demigods have trapped them in has be too cramped up. That they need to reduce their number by killing a lot of their kin every month.


    But then, out of nowhere, an opportunity to be free has arrived... The demigod of death has unexpectedly plotted behind the scenes. He has given them a chance to escape the void in exchange for the death of one hundred billion goblins.


    They don''t know why he did it. But they wanted the freedom they were deprived of.


    They want to live a life in a beautiful world...


    "Kill those insolent humans!!" The goblin shaman ordered as the woman easily dodged his magic.


    ...


    "We need to kill it first!" Ezekiel eximed as he saw the enemy chanting another magic spell.


    Shamans are always a dangerous enemy. It''s hard to fight an enemy with unpredictable attacks. In their first attack, they will throw a slow-moving fireball. Then the second will be a high-speed cial shard or a curse that slows you down. You just never knew what they would throw, and dealing with it it''s too annoying.


    Furthermore, by the looks of it, the goblin shaman is the onemanding the goblin army. And killing an army''smander will boost the ally''s morale as well as lowering enemy''s morale.


    "I''ll try." She isn''t confident that she can kill the goblin shaman in one try. The distance between them is so far apart. That the chances of hitting the target are close to none without any proper long-range weapon. The goblin shaman is even surrounded by muscr hobgoblins that look like his bodyguards.


    Alex scanned for any goblins carrying a shield that she could use.


    "Ahhh, perfect timing!" Alex eximed as she saw a goblin with a shield charging at the back.


    "Excuse me!" She passed by Ezekiel then flipped through the air using the goblin''s shield.


    Alex aimed at his dark green eyes. Her eyes and the shaman''s met across the long distance. She can feel his hatred growing stronger and stronger.


    Alex''s hands let go of the hand ax. Two hand ax flew side by side, slicing through the air towards the enemy''s head.


    Seeing the woman leaping through the air that she did to kill a goblin archer. The goblin shaman waved his staff once as he chanted defensive magic.


    The two-hand ax stopped in front of the shaman''s face. Then the hand ax''s de pointed at her before following its earlier trajectory as it traveled at a faster speed.


    Alex, who is still being upside down in the air, focused on the two hand axing her way. The moment the hand ax got close enough for her. Alex stretched out her hand as she grabbed the rotating hand ax''s handle. Her actions then led to her spinning through the air like a spin top because of the hand ax''s great momentum.


    Not done with one weapon, Alex stretched out her hand once more as she caught the other hand ax. Using the second-hand ax, made her spinning speed faster.


    "Eat this!!" The two hand ax''s left her fingertips as they traveled faster than before.


    [Hobgoblin in]


    [+ 10 Experience gained]


    [90/100 to level up]


    Before the hand ax could even hit its target. The goblin shaman dragged a hobgoblin as he used them as his meatshields. Her attack was so fast that the goblin shaman didn''t have time to chant. The hobgoblins'' heads exploded as the hand ax pierced their skull. The weapon continued until the hand ax was nted deep on the ground.


    "It''s hard to kill the shaman!!" Alex eximed once shended on the ground. She searched for a weapon first as she had thrown her weapon away.


    "We need to get closer to it!!" If she can close the distance between them. Then maybe she can finally kill the goblin shaman. Alex then grabbed a short sword as she continued to ughter the goblins.


    Every time Alex''s swung her sword, more goblins died. She was like strolling behind the enemy''s line, taking down all the goblins.


    When another goblin has fallen in her hands, Lumiere utters the system notification. [Level up]

 Chapter 55 - Hobgoblins Hunt

    "I have added 2 weapons stats on your Strength, Agility, Stamina, Intellect, and Wisdom."


    Alex felt some of her energying back r when her stamina stats increased. She also felt that her attacks growing stronger as her strength also increased. And her movement became smoother and faster as Alex''s agility increased.


    "You have unused 5 character stats. Do you want to distribute it now?"


    Alex slew another goblin as she turned to Lumiere. "Now!?" She got startled when Lumiere suddenly spoke out of nowhere. She stared at Lumiere for asking her deep in the middle of the enemy''s backline.


    "With your current situation that you can still manage the enemy. I suggest that you increase your stats now to survive longerter. I can add the stats on your behalf as long as you tell me where you want for it to be distributed." Lumiere reasoned out as she saw that Alexandria was able to handle the sheer number of goblins with ease.


    Lumiere is right now is the right time for her to add those stats. "Hey, where should I put my 5 character stats?" Alex turned to Ezekiel. She is nning to put the 5 stats in Strength, Agility, and Stamina. But it will be better if she asks Ezekiel first. Perhaps he has the same thoughts as her.


    "You have leveled up already!?" Ezekiel kicked a goblin''s head as he turned around in shock. He doesn''t know what Alex killed in the distance earlier, but it gave him 10 experience points. It must have given her 20 experience points that led to her leveling up faster.


    Alex nodded as she casually threw the short sword to a goblin archer close to them.


    He looked at his experience required to level up, and he is still halfway. He felt envious of Alex''s 2 times experience gained. "Since you currently don''t have any skills raising your wisdom and intellect is useless. I suggest that you put 2 in strength and agility, then 1 on stamina." If Alex bes faster and stronger, the speed of his experience leeching from her will also be faster.


    "Got i... Stop disturbing me!!" Alex grabbed a goblin''s head that suddenly attacked her from the side and crushed it on the ground.


    "I want to put my character stats with 2 in strength and agility, then 1 on stamina."


    [Distributing character stats]


    Alex felt herself growing stronger in just a short amount of time. Yet, her current strength is still far from her full power in the real world. But she knows that she will grow stronger in this world.


    "Here is your current stats."


    A faded floating panel appeared in front of her. Faded enough to not disrupt her battle and let her see what''sing at her. Lumiere must have done it for her.


    * Name : Alexandria * Race : Human


    * Weapon: None * Title : Hero


    * Character Level : 1 * Weapon Level : 1


    * Health : 260 * Mana : 240


    * Strength : 14 * Agility : 14


    * Stamina: 13 * Intellect : 12


    * Wisdom: 12 * Luck : - 100


    * Experience required to Level: 200


    * Skills: Great Ax''s Weapon Proficiency.


    "Let''s go deeper!!" Alex looked at Ezekiel with a grin on her face. These goblins are so weak that they can''t even touch her. Knowing that there are stronger enemies ahead. There is no way she''ll stick around with these lousy goblins.


    When Ezekiel saw her expression, he instantly knew what she was thinking, and he liked her idea.


    "Let''s go!!" Ezekiel agreed. They needed to kill all of those hobgoblins by themselves and hog all of the experience points.


    After seeing Alex looked like walking in a park in the middle of the battlefield. While ughtering the goblins like cleaning up <em>some</em> garbages. Ezekiel is confident that they can handle going deeper by themselves.


    If Alex managed to kill two hobgoblins effortlessly. Then they won''t have that much of a problem going too deep in the enemy''s line at all. As long as there are no longer unknown enemies hiding deep inside the enemy. Besides, they still need to go closer to kill the goblin shaman so that their allies will have an easier battle.


    The moment Ezekiel agreed with her request. She stole two hand axes in an instant from the enemy. "Then I''ll increase my pace, try to keep." Compared to swords, hand axes are better at opening a path using brute force. Because if she uses a sword once she kills two goblins, another goblin will rece its ce in a matter of seconds. With hand axes, she can just force her way in.


    "Remember, we are doing this to help our allies... We are not going there to hog all the experience points alone." Ezekiel uttered so that she could use it as an excuseter. If they were questioned on why did they push further to the enemy.


    They need to wipe out all the hobgoblins before anyone discovers that they give a lot of experience points.


    Alex turned and stared at him with contempt. "I am not there for the experience points. I am there to fight a stronger enemy." The experience points she gains are just a bonus for her.


    "What!? I need experience points to grow stronger..." It''s not like he has an overpowered trait.


    "Anyway, I am going..." Alex clenched her two hand ax as she pushed off her feet on the ground. Four goblin heads flew through the air simultaneously after her charge.


    This time she wasn''t able to control her movement because of the sudden increase in her strength. She needs to do some warm-up first before she fights the hobgoblins and the goblin shaman. "Come!! It''s time to hunt some hobgoblins..."


    In the distance, the goblin shaman suddenly felt a chill running all over his body. When he looked at the girl ughtering his kins. His fear grew stronger as he saw the woman looking at him as prey. He felt like running away from the battlefield when he saw the woman going his way.


    "Everyone kill those insolent humans."

 Chapter 56 - Assimilation

    A lot of people noticed that. Alex and Ezekiel''s silhouette seemed to be getting smaller and smaller.


    "Oi, oi, are they crazy!?"


    "Do they think that they can fight this whole army alone!?"


    "We are even having a hard time in here..."


    "Howe they are still not dead!?"


    "Their killing spree now even seems to be faster..."


    Akkar''s viewers are also feeling the intense fight happening on the battlefield. However, a lot is also feeling envious as they can only watch all of this happening."


    "If only I have known..."


    "If only I did not hesitate..."


    "I should have made sure that I was able to get a capsule on the first day..."


    "It''s the first day of the game, and there''s a war already!!"


    "No other streamers have a better battle than what is happening in here."


    Once his viewer count increased to an unimaginable level. Akkar had difficulty adjusting and responding to everyone''sments. So he chose to leave them be with discussing with their selves first as he focused on the battlefield. He can''t let his viewers see him lose this battle.


    "Why are they going farther?" Akkar mumbled as he saw Alex and Ezekiel moving farther and farther away from them. Even though he thinks that they were fighting in a perfect position earlier. At first, both of them fought in the middle of their frontline and the enemy. Where they are close enough to their frontline. That they can have enough time to save them if troublees. Yet as they moved farther away from them, then it will be impossible to help them.


    "Kids their age tend to get overconfident sometimes. But with the young man beside her. I don''t think that they will make an unreasonable decision that will make them lose their lives. Let''s put our trust in them and fortify our defense to survive this battle." Elder Jin eximed as he saw Alex killing a hobgoblin with ease using his eagle eyes skill. It lets him see further than an average human can. He was even surprised that she did not die from the counter attack of the goblin shaman.


    Elder Jin already knew that they were nning on killing themander of the goblin army. However, he isn''t confident enough that they can do it with just the two of them. They can''t see what he is seeing, but the sheer number of hobgoblins alone is terrifying. He estimated that there are more than one thousand hobgoblins on the enemy''s backline.


    "Hopefully, they are doing the right thing." Akkar can tell that their frontline is already having a hard time moving forward from their current position. Their shield wall looked like a sandcastle about to be destroyed by an army of ants.


    Even though the shield wall created by the vige guards is standing firm. He knew that the weakest link in their shield wall were the yers who had no experience fighting arge-scale war. But the yers are also crucial because the vige guards are not enough to cover all the gaps in the shield wall.


    Goblins were constantly beating at their frontline. The gaps covered by the yers in the shield wall shown some cracks. As some goblins can enter by stepping on the dead bodies of theirrades. Thankfully their melee fighters are strong enough. That a few goblins prating their shield wall doesn''t pose enough trouble in their formation yet.


    However, Alex and Ezekiel will be fighting all alone from now on. And there is nothing he can do to help them.


    "We won''t simply lose to them!! Attack like crazy!! Fire those bows and guns like there''s no tomorrow!! Rain down all your magic spells." Akkar returned his focus onmanding his army. Alex''s job is to be a model for his army, and it is his job to use her to his advantage. They need to hold on as they haven''t even shed with half of the enemy forces yet.


    Rain of arrows and magic enveloped the sky as goblins fell down like dominoes. Goblin''s dead bodies piled up one after the other. As everyone''s attack intensified when they saw how strong both of them were. Alex and Ezekiel increased everyone''s morale even without delivering any speeches.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Alex and Ezekiel got deeper into the enemy. That she could no longer see any silhouette of their allies when she looked back. However, the breeze blowing in the air pushed at her. Alex naturally followed the soft touch of the flow f the breeze as she raised her two hand axes.


    She strode towards the goblins as if the swords, axes, spears, and bows were nothing to her.


    While Ezekiel is staying close to Alex. He suddenly notices that Alex is getting faster and faster. He is now having a hard time catching up to her. "Slow down a little!!"


    Ezekiel did not receive an answer as Alex continued to get faster and faster. "Hey!!"


    Alex hears a faint sound echoing through her ears, but she chooses to ignore it. She concentrated on what was happening with her. While she was so engrossed in fighting the goblins. She did not realize as she unexpectedly felt a strange yetfortable feeling of something burning beside her heart.


    Then the world suddenly slowed down, and the air vibrated. The light particles of the world stopped in mid of the air like bubbles. At the same time, Alex''s arms moved on their own as she brandished her weapons that eliminated the goblins heading towards them.


    Ezekiel stared at her as he saw her attack splitting the world. Half of the bodies of the goblins fell to the ground one after the other. The light particles sttered out.


    Alex continued moving as she cut the enemy''s throat without a sound. In order to be more efficient, all attacks she has done are always deadly attacks. She doesn''t even attack twice to check if the enemy has died from her attack.


    "Hey!! Are you listening?? Slow down!!"


    Ezekiel received no answer from her once more. So he continued to stare at her as he saw another side of her.


    "Assimtion..." Lumiere looked at Alex in disbelief.

 Chapter 57 - Goblins Forbidden Magic

    The yer she was assigned to really is fascinating to watch. Alex is showing her things that she wasn''t able to predict. The way she moved may look like assimtion. But Lumiere is certain that it is only close to how real assimtion works.


    Lumiere needed to observe her more to know what she''s currently manifesting. And how she is doing it.


    Hence Alex''s massacre continued.


    "What are you all doing?? Kill that insolent woman right now!!" The goblin shaman red at Alex with bloodshot eyes. He pointed his staff at her as he saw the goblins trembling and avoiding her at all cost.


    "Stop cowering and kill the woman!!" The weak goblins did not listen to any of his orders as fear took over their whole body. Alex''s overwhelming aura alone can make her enemies, as well as allies, tremble in fear right now.


    Having left without any choices. Akkar uses forbidden magic that will reap the lives of the goblins he used it to. And since these weak goblins are dying without fighting anyway. He might as well squeeze their strength to thest drop.


    "Chaos, heed my call... Bound my servants in the cage of madness... Blind my servant''s eyes with your chaos... Mist of Madness."


    A red-purple mist gathered in the goblin shaman''s hands. And with a gentle breeze, the purple mist scattered all over the battlefield. The weak goblins did not even notice the faint purple mist they breathed in. In just a matter of seconds, the goblin''s dark green eyes have turned red and bloodshot. The goblin growled at Alex and the countless enemy in the vige.


    The goblins stormed towards them at a crazy rate. It was like a dam broke as the goblins pushed towards their frontline. The goblins are blinded by chaos as they even push theirpanions forward. And stepping on the weak ones that stumbled on the ground. They all rushed like a tidal wave towards their shield wall.


    "Commander, this is bad!!"


    "What is happening with the goblins!?"


    "Holy sh*t, the goblins are getting crazy!!"


    "Is this even a tutorial..."


    Their frontline is being pushed back one step at a time. The goblins smashed their bodies on their shields without any fear of death.


    Akkar took a deep breath as he gathered air in his lungs. The air condensed deep inside his steel-like body. He then blew the air out as his voice thundered across the battlefield. "Everyone, hold your ground!!!!"


    "There is no way they can stay in this state for a long time!!"


    "As long as we can survive a few minutes, we can win this battle!!" Akkar tried to calm everyone down as he also didn''t know why the goblins were suddenly fuming with anger.


    "Elder Jin do you have any idea why are the goblins acting this way??" Elder Jin is a native of this world. So Akkar thought that he should know or have some clue about their current situation.


    "It is because of Alexandria..." He did not expect that she could make the goblin shaman use a forbidden magic of the goblins in fear of just one person. He thought that the goblin shaman would only use it as hisst resort. If ever the goblins are on the verge of losing.


    "Alexandria?? Just what the hell did she do deep inside the enemy. To make all the goblins lose their minds."


    "The goblin''smander felt threatened with Alexandria. To the point that he used a forbidden magic that increases the strength of all the normal goblins in the vicinity for an hour. But in exchange, all the affected goblins will die after the effect ends."


    "Then that means almost all the goblins will die after an hour..." Yet can they even survive longer than an hour? Akkar stared at the cracks on their shield wall that opened up. As the goblins were now entering their interior like an angry wave.


    "Will we evenst an hour..." Elder Jin loses hope...


    Yet he drew back his bowstring once again. It is his job as the vige chief to protect his vige. Elder Jin continuously pulled the bowstring andunched projectiles. As soon as an arrow flew and pierced an enemy head. He would fire a new arrow providing his vige the possibility ofsting a little longer. "We can kill the enemy''smander to end the forbidden magic, but we can''t even move forward..."


    "Alexandria and Ezekiel are still alive in the distance, right??" Akkar asked as he saw a small hope of surviving this one.


    "I can no longer see them, but arge number of goblins are squeezing in one ce..." Elder Jin can''t see how they can survive being surrounded on all sides.


    "They''ll survive... They need to..." Since Alex started all of this, it is her responsibility to save everyone now.


    Akkar grabbed his great ax and carried it on his soldiers. "I''m going down... I''ll leave our long-range attackers to you." Someone needed to spearhead the melee fighters to support their frontline. Thus their shield wall won''t be breached by the goblins. And their long-range attackers will be safe in the backline.


    He also needs to restore everyone''s morale.


    Akkar went down from the watchtower. With his great ax shining under the hot sun while carrying it on his soldiers.


    He encountered five goblins that entered their line of defense, despite being in a berserk state. The goblin felt a horrified chill at the sight of human handling such a heavy object. At that moment, the great ax cleaved the space horizontally. The five goblins were split in half, and their bodies flew into the air. Light particles scattered all over the air by a single sh of his.


    Everyone who has seen it has their mouth dropped open.


    Akkar stepped through the horror everyone feared. And approached the goblins attacking their shield wall.


    "Oooorahhhh!!" Akkar ran and leaped out of the shield wall as he lifted his great ax in the air.


    A goblin''s body was obliterated once hended on the ground. Every swing of his great ax in goblins left and right. The goblins did not care about what was in front of them as they attacked anything without any thought.


    Akkar''s lips gradually changed into a smile. In the end, the battlefield is still his homepared to staying in the backlines.

 Chapter 58 - Cavalry

    Akkar took a deep breath as he gathered air in his lungs. The air condensed deep inside his steel-like body. His body then blew the air out as his voice echoed across the battlefield. "30 minutes!! Hold on for 30 minutes, and we will win this fight!!" Akkar lied... He didn''t even know if Alex and Ezekiel were still alive. But what can he do? They need hope in desperate times. Even if it''s a false hope.


    He needed everyone to give their all to buy more time. Enough time for him to think of something or for Alex to kill the enemy''smander.


    Akkar crushes every goblin that rushes towards him. Light particles flew in the air every time life was taken. "All melee fighters, with me!! We can''t let the goblins breach our walls."


    "Stop hiding and show everyone what you can do!! It is your time to shine!!" Akkar turned around and faced them with a smile at the end of his sentence. This time he is the one that needed to be a role model.


    "Incredible!!" The melee fighter''s shoulders trembled as theyughed. "Ourmander is incredible." Then a guy with a dual sword stepped out of the shield wall and stood by Akkar''s left side. It was then followed by all the other melee fighters. They killed the few goblins first who managed to enter their defenses.


    "Good." Akkar nodded, seeing that at least 90% of the melee fighters stepped up.


    "What are we going to do,mander!?" A yer questioned as he struggled to kill a goblin with his sword.


    As soon as they left the cover of their shield walls. A lot of yers are having a hard time coping with the goblin''s rampage. They are now experiencing what their frontline has been enduring all this time.


    The melee fighters start to doubt Akkar''s decision to fight on the frontline. All of them felt that they couldn''t evenst for a minute in the frontline.


    After contemting what to call his n, Akkar uttered. "Cavalry... We will be the cavalry!!" It was the only n he could think of in just a short amount of time. He believes that it should be enough to ease the burden on their shield wall.


    "Cavalry?"


    "Cavalry???"


    "How can we be a cavalry without a horse???" Everyone looked at Akkar as if he had be insane.


    "We''re going to run around the battlefield!!" Akkar answered as he stormed through the goblins. He called it cavalry because he couldn''t think of a better term. He thought that they should have understood it. Since they are going to do the same thing. What a cavalry does on a battlefield.


    "Follow me!!" He just needs everyone to trust him for now. He isn''t even sure if they''ll follow him. But if they do, he will definitely make it worth it for everyone.


    Everyone looked at each other first before following their bravemander charging alone to the army of goblins.


    It''s just a game; no one dies, so everyone trusted Akkar and followed him without any hint of fear.


    Besides, what Akkar is going to do looks fun. Everyone did not realize it, but they felt envious of Alex and Ezekiel. They both looked like they were having fun when they fought the goblin army.


    "Follow themander!!"


    "For themander!!"


    "For the vige!!"


    Akkar smiled when he heard everyone''s battle cry. He suddenly remembers a fun memory he had with his viewers a long time ago. It is the same situation, All of them gave him blind trust in a war, but it is all he needs. "Ooooorahhhh!!" The melee fighters started there


    The first thing he needs to do in his n is to have everyone gather behind him. So they can keep moving to avoid being surrounded.


    Akkar knows they can''t stay in one ce. Because they will be surrounded by the goblins in a few seconds without their frontline''s support.


    However, they can''t move their shield wall. Because their main forces the long-range attackers will be in danger of a wipeout. If they leave them defenseless.


    As they marched with him. Everyone swung their weapons left and right, shing against the goblin''s rampage. They were like awnmower exterminating the goblins to create more space to move in.


    There are unfortunate ones who got left behind and died, but everyone needs to keep on moving.


    "Keep going!! Keep going!!" Akkar said as he cleaves 2 goblins in half.


    "In my signal, I want everyone to throw their skill in front of you at the same time!! And push all the way!!"


    It is now time for Akkar''s next n seeing that everyone is now sticking close with him.


    "In 3!! 2!! 1!! Pushhhhhh!!! Northeast now!! Northeast!! Throw your SH*T at our northeast!!" Akkar''s ordered echoed throughout the battlefield. As he leaped in the middle of the goblins.


    Everyone who had an active skill poured everything they had on their northeast. While everyone who didn''t have an active skill followed Akkar as they attacked their own ways.


    At the same time, Elder Jin also followed themand Akkar had given to him before he left. Themand of the long-range attackers has been given him.


    "Magic Division!! Fireeeee!!! Support them and fire at southeast!!" The magic division fired simultaneously as all kinds of magic rained upon the goblins on the southeast side of the melee fighters.


    He first did not know why Akkar told him to use the magic division''s skills in a coordinated manner. But when he saw their stampeding direction. Elder Jin understood that he needed to create a space to retreat in. Once all of their abilities were on cooldown. The magic division is perfect for this job creating a space by obliterating all the goblins in one area.


    "Now retreat to our south!!"


    "SOUTH!!"


    "SOUTHHHH!!"


    "DON''T GET LEFT BEHIND!!" Akkar was shouting and repeating hismands with all his might. For everyone to hear him with all the noises on the battlefield.


    A few yers were slow to react got drowned by the sea of goblins. While those who were able to follow him felt the adrenaline in their body as their heart pounded faster and faster.

 Chapter 59 - Come Back...

    Akkar''s n of stampeding on the battlefield killing a clump of goblins in one area. Resulted in the death of a few melee fighters on that one sh.


    Akkar had expected that there would be a lot of deaths. Yet, everyone thrown him off guard as only a few melee fighters died.


    Death is unavoidable since everyone doesn''t have the capability to follow an order. He gave them an order in an instant without practice. And executing it with almost perfection on their first try is good enough for him.


    Who would have thought that the n Akkar came up with moved smoothly? It was a n that everyone didn''t know what to do. Yet, they all followed him.


    "Don''t use your skill alone!! We need everyone to use it at the same time for it to be effective! We need to move as ONE!!" Akkarmanded. He understood that there are bound to be yers who will get nervous, upon seeing the sheer number of goblins in close to them. Regardless the group needs to keep on moving. He can''t save one person that will risk a hundred.


    They killed the goblins that managed to survive, from the magic division''s barrage.


    "1... 2... 3..." Akkar counted on his mind.


    The time is for him to know when will everyone''s skills be avable. When he read the descriptions of weapons in the character creation. He realized that all starting skills have a cooldown of 10 seconds. With this timer, he can know when to attack and when to retreat.


    "4... 5..."


    "Now I want everyone to turn on your NORTHWEST!! NORTHWEST!! NORTHWEST!!" Akkar ran towards the northwest first.


    He would have loved it if everyone were in one discode server. All the shouting he''s doing right now is damaging his vocal cords. A discode server is vital for games that have wars. One voice call, and everyone can hear his orders easily without damaging his vocal cords.


    "Now I want everyone to use all your SH*T to these mother f*ckers."


    "In 3!!!!!!!!"


    "2!!!!!!!"


    "1!!!!!!!"


    "NOW PUSHHHHH!!! PUSH ALL THE WAY IN!!!!


    "NORTHWEST NOW!!!! NORTHWEST!!!! DELETE THESE MOTHERF*CKERS!!!!!"


    Akkar stormed in. Goblins flew through the sky as his great ax broke through all obstacles in hi his way. Goblin fleshes scattered across the battlefield.


    "MAGIC DIVISION FIRE!!!!!!! FIRE AT SOUTHWEST!!!" Elder Jinmanded as he killed a goblin that managed to enter their wall.


    "Don''t get carried away!! Retreat to our SOUTH NOW!!!" "SOUTHHHHHHHH!! Akkar ordered as five goblins lost their heads to his great ax and fell down.


    Everyone stepped on dead bodies in their retreat.


    Akkar felt relieved now that yers who were left behind could be counted with one hand.


    "Those two people, are they dead??" The guy with dual sword walked up to Akkar and asked him.


    "They won''t die..." Akkar said with a smile. "If they survive..." Akkar gazed in the direction of Alex and Ezekiel. He could see the brilliant lights floating in the distance. Indicating that they were still fighting..


    Akkar trembled as he thought of how they still manage to survive despite being buried by the sea of goblins. "I will be a wingman in their rtionship," Akkar uttered whileughing.


    "Now I want everyone to turn on your NORTHEAST!! NORTHEAST!! NORTHEAST!!" For the time being, they can repeat this process a lot of times. But more or less, they can only keep doing this for 30 more minutes. "I''ll leave the rest to you two..."


    ...


    "Alex, wake up!!!" On the other side of the battlefield. Ezekiel is still struggling to make Alex return to her senses. However, even though Alex looked like she lost all of her senses. She is still managing to protect him whenever his life is in danger.


    On the other hand, they were not struggling to fight the mad goblins. Alex alone is massacring the enemies left and right. With every swing of her sword, a goblin loses its head. She stepped on the dead bodies as she sought her next victim.


    It was her versus an army, there were many problems as enemies surrounded her on all sides. Yet, it was the army that was dying one after the other. What they are doing isn''t enough to surround her on all sides.


    The ground trembled under her feet. Every movement of her body was designed to kill the enemies. It was an efficient ughter.


    Akkar took a deep breath and squeezed his muscles as he pushed away a goblin. He doesn''t have time to rest just because he is exhausted.


    "Heal!!" Ezekiel only needed to heal her once in a while. As the enemy can barely touch her. When a weapon was swung at her. Without needing to block or escape. She would sh her sword and split the enemy apart.


    The goblin shaman orders his goblin archer to kill her. But she always picks up an ax at her feet and throws it, splitting the goblin archer''s skull apart.


    The goblin shaman also targeted his spells at her. However, Alex dodges his magic without difficulty. And due to this, goblins around her were caught up in the magic that took their life away. Once the magic subsided, Alex stomped her foot into the heads of the goblins squirming on the ground.


    Alex kept on moving closer towards the goblin shaman while ughtering the goblins. Yet, they must not fight the goblin shaman with her current condition. Even though she looked a lot stronger than her usual self. The current her is actually more troublesome. As she was like the goblin who only knows how to charge forward.


    "Darn it Alex!! Wake up the f*ck up already!!" He doesn''t know the reason why she suddenly lost all of her senses. But he doesn''t want her to be something she doesn''t want her to be. Noticing that she is still not responding, Ezekiel ns to change his way of waking her up.


    Although they were surrounded on all sides, Ezekiel grabbed both of her shoulders. And pulled her in his embrace.


    "Come back..." He softly whispered in her ears.

 Chapter 60 - Youre Next!!

    "Wake the f*ck up already!! Or we won''tst a minute longer!!" Ezekiel shouted as he felt Alex trembling in his arms as she tried to escape his grasp. But he only pulled him closer. Even though Alex lost her sense. It looked like she still has some awareness within her that stops her from hurting him.


    He doesn''t care if they die from the goblins. Due to the fact that Alex gave him the order to stop her no matter what she did.


    Before they entered the game, she told him a lot of things. And one of those things is that he should stop her. If she is acting weird all of a sudden. She doesn''t care if she dies, as long as he can stop her.


    A lot of those things she told him don''t make any sense. But it was Alex he''s talking about. She has done way many things that don''t make any sense already.


    "What are you IDIOTS!! waiting for!? Kill that woman!!" The goblin shaman can''t believe that the goblins are standing there in fear to the woman. Even though they are in a berserk state that removes their sanity and fear of death.


    The goblins, standing still rushed towards Alex and Ezekiel like a hungry wolf. Noticing that the human ugthering them stood in ce.


    At the same time, the goblin shaman used a spell that he could use in an instant. "Cold winds gather to my hand, prate my enemy as I offer their blood to our ancestors. ''Ice Shard''!!" A cold gust of air amassed on the goblin shaman''s hand as a huge chunk of ice formed as big as a person''s arms.


    He doesn''t know why the man stopped her, out of nowhere. But he can''t waste the chance to kill the troublesome woman.


    "I guess this is going to be our first death..." Ezekiel mumbled as the goblins creep in closer to them. He thought of letting her go to survive, but he threw the idea at the back of his mind.


    Just at the moment, a goblin''s sword is going to pierce Alex''s back. A soft and gentle voice reverberated through his ears. "Thanks..."


    Thanks to Ezekiel, she managed to leave that dark and lonely ce. A ce where she always imprisons her weak self. Every time she fights seriously in the game Guardian. It was a persona of hers that doesn''t care about anything but killing. One of the things in her dark past that she fears of resurfacing in the present. And she doesn''t return to her usual self unless she dies or all of her enemies perish.


    Alex did not expect that her past self would reappear on the first day of the game. She thought that it would take quite some time before it resurfaces. But she was clearly underestimating herself too much. All it took was a thousand enemies surrounding her.


    The instant Ezekiel confirmed that Alex was back to normal, he loosened up his grasp.


    As soon as Ezekiel let her go, Alex changed her grip on her sword into a reverse grip. She then rotated her body as she swung her sword straight into the goblin''s head.


    "Duck!!" Alex shouted as she threw the hand ax on her right arm to a goblin archer about to attack Ezekiel.


    Ezekiel ducked out of reflex. Then as he turned around, he saw a goblin archer with its skull split apart. And 2 more behind it falling down to the ground with obliterated head.


    "Only this much!?" Alex smirked at the goblin shaman as she dodged his magic.


    The goblin shaman trembled at her roar. Alex treads forward closer to him. "KILL HER!!" The goblin shaman pointed his staff at her in anger. The entire army of hobgoblins burst forward.


    "Damn, what happened to you??" Ezekiel couldn''t believe that the minute that they were about to be buried in the sea of goblins. Alex ughtered all of the goblins around them in just a minute. Their weapons can''t even touch her now.


    The speed she currently showed him was even faster than when she lost her senses earlier. She''s even provoking the enemy''smander now as if she didn''t lose her senses earlier. The time it took for her to change to her usual self took less than a second. It was as if nothing happened to her earlier.


    "I''ll tell youter, now is not the right time for storytelling. But long story short, it was a force of habit." Alex exined as she stabbed a goblin''s neck and grabbed its spear. On Alex''s other hand, she spun her ax around once, creating a space for her. In the gap that she made, the spear she stole rushed towards the goblin shaman. The spear tore through the air, piercing two hobgoblins that blocked the spear for the goblin shaman. Nevertheless, the spear headed towards the goblin shaman''s head without losing strength.


    The goblin shaman used defensive magic in a hurried manner that weakened the barrier. It was then destroyed by the spear and grazed the goblin shaman''s ears.


    "Arghhh!!" The goblin shaman screamed in pain as he held his bleeding ears.


    Ezekiel can''t wait for her to tell her story. After all, she doesn''t talk about her past with him. Something he wished she would open up more.


    Alex turned at Ezekiel without waiting for the result. Since the goblins shaman would probably live since the trajectory changed. Because of the hobgoblins that blocked the attack. "Anyway, we need to keep going!! There are still hobgoblins we need to hunt."


    Alex concentrated on the hobgoblin that finally started to move towards her. She then crossed swords with a hobgoblin that has almost the same height as her. The hobgoblins are a lot stronger than the normal goblins. Since hobgoblin manages to live more than a second from her. Nevertheless, Alex used her other weapon to cut the hobgoblin''s throat.


    She kicked the hobgoblin away. As she aimed her sword at the goblin shaman in the distance that was healing his wounded ears. "You''re next."

 Chapter 61 - Leveled Up Healer

    The goblin shaman trembled as he felt his deathing closer and closer to him. The goblin shaman''s face was visible to her. His eyelids fluttered as sweat fell down and his lips trembled.


    The goblin shaman gritted his teeth and gave a signal to the goblin archers. Arrows poured out towards them. Alex grabbed a goblin near near her and used it as a shield. While Ezekiel hid behind Alex. The goblins body was filled with arrows, and riddled with holes like a beehive.


    "Only this much??" Alex soft giggle echoed as she hurled the body. She was d that the goblin shaman is now incapable ofmanding his army to attack the vige.


    "I''m going all out!!" Alex warned Ezekiel. Now that she''s getting used to her current strength after she ran wild earlier. After her body''s done warming up, her senses are now sharper than ever.


    "Don''t worry about me. I can take care of myself." Ezekiel replied as he followed behind her. A little more experience point and he will level up. This should at least help him catch up to her speed.


    Hearing Ezekiel''s confirmation. Alex strode at a greater speed as she felt the excitement in her body.


    She can feel everything around her. From the feeling of the flesh of his enemies being torn apart. To their trembling bodies clenching their weapons.


    Her body is starting to remember the feeling without holding anything back. And she always enjoyed this feeling of being unrestrained as long as she was in control of her current self.


    "You should worry about yourself more. Aren''t you afraid that you will lose control of yourself again??" Ezekiel asked as he healed Alex even though she can dodge a lot of attacks. There are still times where she''s cornered.


    "Overpowered skills tend to have a long cooldown." Alex wheezed as she answered Ezekiel. She is not afraid of losing control at this moment. Because when Alex loses control in Guardian in the past. Somehow she doesn''t lose control twice a day. If it did not change then it should be the same in the present since it''s not as worst as in the past. Since she managed to quickly return to her usual self.


    Besides she has apanion this time, Unlike her lonely past. Fighting alone made her stronger, but it also made her lose sanity.


    "Bullsh*t!!" Ezekiel eximed as heughed at Alex''s joke. But he is d that she is now back to her usual self.


    Alex shook her head, noticing that Ezekiel didn''t believe her. Since she doesn''t have any proof, Alex focuses on the hobgoblin she is fighting instead.


    Alex prefers fighting this hobgoblin instead of the goblins. Because unlike the goblins in a berserk state, where she can only feel a small amount of fear. The hobgoblins are clearly trembling every time her sword shes with theirs. The hobgoblins are terrified. And the enemy''s fear is her friend.


    Hobgoblins in front of her were fighting in such a poor state. That a few of them were even too scared to move forward.


    "Come!!!!!!" Alex called out to the hobgoblins. If they wouldn''t attack her, then she would go directly to them. Alex wielded two swords as she pushed forward. The hobgoblins who stood in her way got crushed, stabbed, cut, and split apart. She repeated these actions as she steadily opened up a path towards the goblins shaman. The hobgoblins covered the gap of those who died instantly. Yet they were crushed, stabbed, cut, and split apart. [Level up]


    "Leveled up finally!!" While Alex is so focused on killing the hobgoblins. Ezekiel leveled up as he handled the berserked goblins behind them.


    "A.I 1049 add 2 on strength, agility, and 1 on stamina." Without looking at his character stats panel. Ezekiel hurriedly added the character stats since he''s too busy holding back the berserk goblins. He already made a n before he chose the weapon on where to distribute all of his stats.


    Ezekiel felt some of his strengthing back when his stamina stats increased. He also felt that her attacks growing stronger as her strength also increased. And her speed became faster and faster as his agility increased. He also felt some kind of energy increasing inside of him as wisdom and intellect increased. He thought that it must be his mana growing.


    - Name : Ezekiel - Race : Human


    - Weapon: Wooden Staff - Title : Sage Candidate


    - Character Level : 1 - Weapon Level : 1


    - Health : 140 - Mana : 140


    - Strength : 7 - Agility : 7


    - Stamina: 7 - Intellect : 7


    - Wisdom: 7 - Luck : 100


    Ezekiel has an image in his mind of what his character stats should look at now. He knows everything except the required experience points to level up. He doesn''t know how the game increases the required experience points every time a yer levels up.


    But his decision to put his character stats on strength, agility, and stamina. Is because his weapon stats add 1 on stamina then 2 on intellect and wisdom. He doesn''t need these two stats right now because of his unique trait that makes him not lose any mana. So instead of wasting his character stats on intellect and wisdom. He chose to distribute it on his strength and agility instead, to bnce out everything.


    With these stats, he should be able to keep up with Alex and be more helpful.


    "Come! Let me see if I made the right choice." Ezekiel''s body elerated. He swung his staff towards a goblin charging towards him. His staff tore the goblin''s face in half, making the upper jaw and lower jaw separate, killing the goblin in one hit. He then kicked the goblin''s body towards the goblins behind it. He swung his weapon left and right, hitting the heads of the disoriented goblins.


    Ezekiel kept killing and killing.


    This is what he envisioned when he chose to be a healer that can fight.


    Ezekielughed as his body rushed towards the goblinsing at them. "This is what I''m talking about!!"

 Chapter 62 - Round Two!!!!

    "He is enjoying it..." Alex mumbled as she looked at Ezekielughing like a weird guy. While smashing the goblins with his staff left and right.


    She can''t let him have all the fun. Alex clenched her weapon as she ran forward. The hobgoblins shed their swords with hers once more.


    The enemy''s formation is now a mess, with her and Ezekiel deep through their formation. As she stood in the middle of her enemy. She can feel the wildly beating heart of her enemies.


    "Your breath stinks!!" Alex eximed as she stabbed her sword on a hobgoblin''s head that was sticking close to her face.


    They didn''t stop charging at her like a wild beast. As they trampled on their dead allies to attack her. Every time she shes with a hobgoblin. She always hear their growling that is very annoying in her ears as they get closer to her face.


    "It''s is just one woman!!! Why can''t you all kill her!? Elite hobgoblins attack her!!"


    As she got deeper and deeper towards the enemy''s backline. She can hear the agitated shouts of the goblin shaman to his soldiers. s she couldn''t understand what he was shouting at the hobgoblins. All she could perceive was grunts from the goblin shaman''s goblinnguage.


    She thought there should be an auto-trante function on this game. Since there was one when she yed Guardian. She could talk with monsters that have intelligence in Guardian.


    But, she only experienced the auto-trante function when talking with other yers here. That was why yers managed tomunicate to each other. Despite having differentnguages in the real world. If there''s no auto-transalte function then Akkar won''t be able tomand the army.


    "Fire, fire, fire!!! Don''t stop and keep firing!!" A volley of arrows rained upon Alex and Ezekiel. However, it was only consumed by the hobgoblins beside them.


    "Heal!" A few arrows that managed to hit Ezekiel and Alex were quickly healed by him.


    [+2.4 HP] His healing has now increased from the initial 10 hp in 5 seconds to 12 HP. It is because every 1 increase in his intellect stats also increases Rejuvenation''s heal by 1 hp.


    The des and axes of the hobgoblins crept besieged towards Ezekiel through the gaps caused by the berserk goblins dying. He can tell the difference between the normal goblins against the hobgoblins. Because he needs to pummel them down a couple of times before they die in his hands.


    However, when he saw how Alex ughtered the hobgoblins like normal goblins. She showed her the difference between the huge gap he needs to catch up to her.


    "Alex, watch out!!" During the same time that Ezekiel blocked a hobgoblin''s spearing at him. A group ofrger size hobgoblins entered his eyes, storming at Alex at great speed.


    When Ezekiel''s shout echoed through her ears. Alex also heard a loud rumbling close to her. The sound waspletely different from the hobgoblin''s growling.


    When she looked towards where the sound wasing from. She saw a group of red-skinned goblins twice the size of a human.


    These red-skinned were different from the regr hobgoblins. They looked like they were the elite of the goblin army. The red-skinned hobgoblins formed a circle surrounding her. The hobgoblins separated her and Ezekiel.


    Anticipation filled her. She felt that her enemies were in apletely different realm. Compared to the berserk goblins and regr hobgoblins.


    There was no ce to escape as they isted her. They made a ratherrge size ring for her. A stage where Alex will survive if she kills and die if she doesn''t.


    Alex''s body elerated first before they could even make a move. She moved so fast that the hobgoblin didn''t realize that a sword was already aiming at his neck.


    CLANG!!


    However, her sword was stopped by a red-skinned hobgoblin beside her target. The hobgoblin managed to endure the pressure she was emitting on her sword. It managed to counter and exchanged several blows with Alex.


    The other hobgoblins reacted only after several blows had been exchanged between them. Since Alex wasn''t able to kill the hobgoblin. The other hobgoblins attacks flooded her from all sides.


    She couldn''t avoid all of them. At that moment, Alex panicked and twisted her body to dodge their attacks. However, she couldn''t escape all of their barrages.


    She was cut, pierced, and hit on all sides they did not let her escape their grasp. Her life was now hanging on a hair''s breadth.


    But she survived. Alex threw one of her swords towards one of the hobgoblin''s eyes.


    "EMERGE!!" Alex hastily brought out a red sk in her hand and immediately gulped it.


    [+100 HP] Her health restored by a small amount. But it was not enough.


    While blocking and dodging the enemy''s barrage, Alex brought out another healing potion. "EMERGE!!"


    [+100 HP]


    [210/300] With the healing potion, her health has now stabilized.


    "Round two!!" Alex took a very deep breath and held it in her body. Pushing her breathing technique to its limits enhancing her speed and reflexes. Then on the corner of her eyes, a spear is heading towards her eyes.


    It was supposed to pierce her, but Alex deflected the spear and punctured a hole in its ally''s chest instead.


    Alex rapidly struck the hobgoblin that lost its concentration when his weapon killed its ally. The hobgoblin''s head rolled to the ground as he couldn''t respond to her barrage.


    Alex kicked the hobgoblin''s body and pulled the spear out from the other hobgoblin. The space of the dead hobgoblin was immediately filled up by other hobgoblins.


    Alex tightened the grip on the spear and spun it around. It was easily dodged by the enemy. However, it was enough space to give her a little breather.


    The hobgoblins retreated, spreading out as they watched her intensely. The absurd difference in numbers, against the limits of an individual started to be unveiled. Alex licked her lips and clenched her weapon tighter.. Her mind and spirit cleared up as her body elerated. "COME!!"

 Chapter 63 - Mana

    On the other side of the battlefield, the ones in the vige are on the verge of falling. Berserk goblins knocked endlessly against the shield wall.


    "Young guardian, it''s not the right time to take a break. Fire those arrows like your life depends on it." Elder Jin drew back his bowstring once more.


    As long as he has the strength to pull the bowstring andunch arrows. He will do his job without a break until the walls of the vige copse.


    "Yes!!" A woman in her mid-20s responded as she nocked an arrow once more. As soon as she pierces an enemy with an arrow, she fires a new arrow. Her desire to survive longer pushes her to do her best and fight as long as possible.


    She doesn''t know why she''s trying so hard on a game''s tutorial. She doesn''t even care that an NPC is scolding her. But seeing everyone in high spirit has affected her. She has forgotten the mask she wears in the real world as she feels that nothing is restraining her here.


    "Elder Jin!! Everyone is running short of their mana to cast spells!!" A yer in the magic division reported.


    "Our division is also running out of mana to produce more arrows!!" A yer in the archer''s division ryed.


    "Our mana is running low to produce more bullets!!"


    Each of the division leaders ryed the situation to Elder Jin.


    Elder Jin''s hands keep on pulling his bowstring while thinking of a solution to their current predicament.


    The mana problem will be a huge dilemma if their main force loses the capability to attack. Their frontline won''t be able to hold off the goblins onught without the fire support of the backline.


    Mana is used in a lot of things in the universe. New guardians like them can produce regr arrows at the cost of 2 mana for each shot. Bullets need 3 mana for each shot because its power. While magics have a minimum of 10 mana for each cast for low level magic and even greater for high-level magic.


    While the mana regeneration of new guardians will be at 1 per second. However, suppose they leveled up and increased their wisdom stats. In that case, the mana regeneration will increase to .2 mana per second for every 1 wisdom added. Without mana, their frontline will be a sitting duck without any protection.


    After a couple of seconds of pondering, Elder Jin remembered an important in the vige.


    "You!!" Elder Jin pointed to a young vige guard.


    "Yes, chief!?"


    "I want you to go to Lili''s house in the southeast corner of the vige. After you entered the house, there should be a table in the center. Move it, and you will see a hidden door towards their basement."


    "Chief, why do you know this!?" The young viger stared at him with suspicion.


    "Stop asking!! Our vige is in danger!!" Elder Jin shouted at the young viger for not taking the direness of the situation.


    "Sorry, chief..." The young viger faced the ground.


    "Anyway, after you enter their hidden basement, you will see hundreds of mana potions concocted by the vige''s potion maker. Take all of it and bring it here."


    "Yes, Chief!!" The young man ran with haste.


    "You and you follow him, take all of the potions you can find there, and bring it here. Your inventory will help us greatly." Elder Jin pointed to 2 mage guardians that were recuperating their mana in the side. Inventory is one of the things that the natives of this world are deprived of. A gift from God that anyone will wish they''d have.


    "Hopefully, I won''t go bankrupt after stealing her potions..." He mumbled as he nocked the arrow on his bow once more.


    "It''s for the vige she will understand... She will understand... Hopefully..." Elder Jin kept on mumbling as he reassured his self. It was her life and death creations. He is prepared to exchange his life for stealing her without permission. As long as his vige survives, nothing else matters.


    He knows that Lili''s mother crafts potions endlessly when her husband perished, and she values it greatly.


    When he visited her, he saw how she crafted potion her potions once. And it was crazy how she could craft a potion with her current state. Her eyes are devoid of life while she stares at the void. Yet her hands are skillfully moving to brew the potions. When he tried to touch the potion to check its quality, he was beaten to a pulp as if he didn''t know him.


    "I want everyone to use their mana sparingly until the supply of mana potions arrive. And I need someone to tellmander Akkar that they need to retreat to the backline for now to recuperate." Elder Jin ordered as he shot an arrow at a goblin that was about to attack Akkar''s side. His strategy to run around the battlefield is effective. However, without the magic division''s attack to create a space for them to retreat. The melee fighters will be defenseless and can quickly be surrounded.


    "I''ll call him!!" A woman with silky long ck hair and dark blue eyes eximed. While casting healing magic to the vige guards on the frontline with her cross pendant entwined on her hands.


    "Please, thanks." Elder Jin bowed his head to the woman.


    The roars of Akkar echoed throughout the battlefield as he led the melee fighters.


    "FACE YOUR NORTHWEST IN 3!!!!!!!!"


    "2!!!!!!!"


    "1!!!!!!!"


    "GOOOOOOOO"


    "PUSHHHHH!!! PUSH ALL THE WAY IN!!!!


    "DELETE THEIR NORTHWEST!!!! NORTHWEST!!!! F*CK THESE MOTHERF*CKERS!!!!!"


    Everyone brandished their weapons as they broke through all the obstacles in their way. Goblin heads flew through the sky, and light particles scattered across the battlefield.


    "Orahhhh!!" Akkar roared and swung his great ax. The goblins standing in his way were split apart. But just as he was about to swing his ax once more. A gentle yet seductive voice echoed through his ears.


    "You need to retreat. The backline is running out of mana, and the magic division can no longer support you further." The woman reported to Akkar through the call they''ve been doing all this time. From the start of the battle, she''s been giving reports to Akkar on what she sees around her. Offering some suggestions through the call.


    "Got it, thanks, Elise."


    "WE ARE RETREATING, BOYS AND GIRLS!!!"


    ''GO TO SOUTH NOW!!!"


    "SOUTHHHHHHHH!!"


    "DON''T GET LEFT BEHIND!!

 Chapter 64 - Reunite

    Akkar looked around, and he saw that quite a few melee fighters died in the middle of the battlefield. He guessed that there were around less than 190 or more that survived. A pretty good number considering that it''s the first time they have done it. And they have fought for more than 10 minutes.


    "Heal!!" Elise healed Akkar after they retreated behind the shield wall.


    "What''s the situation??" Akkar asked while his low health points stabilized.


    "Bad, very bad, the mana potions need to arrive in the next 3 minutes, or else the goblins will break through our shields. It will only be a matter of time before we lose without the melee fighters on the battlefield." Elise answered as she wiped the sweat on Akkar''s forehead.


    "Thanks, I''ll do what I can." Akkar started walking away from her as he stepped out of the shield wall.


    "Take care," Elise stared at Akkar as he walked away from her. She felt happy now that she had the opportunity to get close and know the person she admired. And he did not disappoint her as she saw the current him, the same person she admired on the screen for a very long time. He still never gives up, no matter how bad the situation is. Standing tall and gant against his enemies.


    "ALL MELEE FIGHTERS GO IN FRONT OF THE SHIELD WALL!!"


    "WE NEED TO HOLD THE LINE!!


    "15 MINUTES!!"


    "HOLD ON FOR 15 MINUTES!!"


    "IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO DYING, GO INSIDE AND HEAL UP!!" Akkar roared as he split a goblin in half close to him. He held his ax as he looked at the battlefield in front of him. No matter how many enemies were present. There is nothing to be afraid of.


    Akkar''s chest swelled up. His breath was sealed. And the pressure in his abdomen rose.


    Then he roared


    "I AM AKKARRRRR!!!!!!"


    The earth trembled, and the ground shook like an earthquake was urring. For a moment, all the troops on the battlefield stumbled.


    "MY NAME IS AKKARRR!!!


    "I''LL STAND MY GROUND AND DEFEND THIS VILLAGE AT ALL COST!!!!!"


    Akkar roared and swung his great ax. Goblins rushing at him were split apart.


    "FOR THE COMMANDER!!!!"


    "FOR THE VILLAGE!!!!"


    "DELETE THESE MOTHERF*CKERS!!!!!"


    "OORRAAHHHHHHHH!!!!" All melee fighters followed their gantmander once more.


    Dead bodies piled up on the battlefield as sword and shield shed one after the other. The goblins had overwhelming numbers, but the strength of the guardians dominated. Akkar''s strategy of standing at the forefront was effective. The enemy''s power was crushed by their vanguard. While the scattered goblin remnants were swallowed by their shield wall''s spears.


    "This is myst stand. Do your best, the two of you." Akkar mumbled with a hoarse voice from all the shouting he was doing. While wielding his great ax at the very front, as he stared in the direction of Alex and Ezekiel.


    While on the distance. Ezekiel is having difficulty reuniting with Alex as handling 1 red hobgoblin is already giving him a hard time. He needs to reunite with him as soon as possible because he has already seen Alex used her 2 potions. Even though she is doing better than him at fighting the elite hobgoblins, she still receives damage every second.


    "Haaaa!!" Alex breathed out the air she held inside her after she trampled a hobgoblin on the ground.


    "Hufffff!!" Alex took a very deep breath and will hold it in till she kills a group of goblins. And create space to have a breather.


    Alex''s trembling hands ripped apart her enemies. She mmed her sword into the faces of those who were annoying her and broke their skulls to pieces. Focusing on those who have unpleasant smells and loud growling noises.


    Her heart isn''t calming down at all. Each time her heart beats, her entire body trembles. Every time her pulse jumped, the craving for more rocked her body.


    Alex''s weapon changes every time she kills a hobgoblin. From swords to axes to spears and a lot more. She held every weapon with mastery as if it was fit for her. Her weapons pierced, cut, and smashed her enemies. She was never satisfied with just one life. If one was killed, it would prate through the body and kill one more. She kills two to three each strike she does.


    Countless enemies flocked towards her, but just like sheeps were unable to deal with wolves. Alex struck the elite hobgoblins and broke apart their formation. However, it was filled up by hobgoblins in an instant.


    "Haaaa!!" Alex breathed out the air she held inside her once more. "They are a lot stronger than I thought..." Her number one priority right now is to reunite with Ezekiel. As she sees, her health plummets each minute.


    "Huffff!!" Alex took a very deep breath. Her breath was sealed, and the pressure in his abdomen rose. Since it is pointless staying on the defensive as they''ll just slowly kill her. All of her strikes were focused on the offensive. Her double ax looked like they were dancing. Following a rhythm as she moves between the enemy''s gaps in their defense.


    Her dual ax shook like flowers. The hobgoblin tried to block her attacks with its spears. However, the ax was right in front of their nose instead. The tremendous pressure pushed the hobgoblin towards the ground.


    Alex clenched her dual ax once more. Each of her attacks stirred her opponent''s formation. She did not bother defending or dodging. She keeps moving forward in Ezekiel''s direction.


    "STOP HER!!!" The goblin shaman shouted, seeing her getting closer and closer to herpanion. He threw all kinds of spells at her just to slow her down. He isn''t confident that his elite goblins can kill her if she reunites with herpanion.


    "Come!!" Ezekiel reached out his hand to her.


    Now that the distance between Ezekiel and her is close enough. Alex pushed her feet off the ground. It was an explosive eleration that seemed to leap across space.


    "HEAL!!" Ezekiel howled as soon as he grabbed a hold of Alex''s hand.

 Chapter 65 - Round Three??

    [+2.8 HP]


    "Sh*t that was close..." Alex mumbled as she gazed at her health going up.


    [20/300] If she stayed there a little longer, her life would have ended on their hands.


    "ARRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"


    "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU IDIOTS!"


    "WHY CAN''T YOU ALL KILL A SINGLE WOMAN!!!!!"


    He was so sure that the woman was close to dying. He felt her life force dwindling as she got closer and closer to herpanion. Yet, the elite goblins weren''t able to get the job done.


    Now the woman''s life force is starting to restore to normal as she reunites with herpanion.


    "KILL HER ALREADY!!!"


    "DIEE!!!" A fireball flew across the battlefield.


    "DIEEEE!!!" A huge chunk of ice followed.


    "DIEEEEEEEE!!!!" The goblin shaman went crazy as he used his two hands to throw all kinds of magic at her one after the other. He wanted her to die, that he now resorted to using the dual casting technique.


    He doesn''t want to use this technique as it uses all of his concentration to use it. And it makes him incapable ofmanding his army. But she doesn''t kill this woman he will lose his life and all of the goblins affected by the forbidden magic will die.


    "Crazy bastard..." Alex sidestepped as she dodged the magic thrown at her. She felt that the magic thrown at her started to get faster and faster. Alex prioritized dodging for now as she must not take any more damage until Ezekiel fully healed her up.


    When she looked in the direction of where the magic came from. She saw the goblin shaman not even bothering atmanding his army at all.


    "Idiot," Alex smirked. The goblin shaman is just asking to lose. An army without amander in a war will move aimlessly. The army won''t be able to react to critical situations. And will result in them losing the war.


    "These guys aren''t messing around at all." Ezekiel eximed as he blocked a hammering at him. He then used his staff to push the hobgoblin away from him.


    "Emerge!!" A red sk appeared on Ezekiel''s hand.


    "Take this!!" Ezekiel threw the health potion at her. He needs to make sure Alex survives, or else it will be the end of him.


    Alex kicked the abdomen of a hobgoblin as she caught the healing potion.


    "Thanks." Alex immediately drank the potion.


    "Hide this!!" Ezekiel threw another health potion at her.


    "Use it for an emergency. And don''t go too far!" Ezekiel reminded the hard headed Alex. There are still a lot of red-skinned hobgoblins around them. And her health is still not good enough for her to run around the battlefield alone.


    "Store!!" Alex caught the potion and hid it in her inventory.


    "Round three??" Alex grinned, now that her health is good to go, she can go all out on the offensive once more.


    "Hayst..." Ezekiel sighed at her as if he regreted giving her the healing potion.


    Alex stared at the heinous face before her. The hobgoblin''s eyes shone even more fiercely at her as they stared back.


    "Hufff!!" Alex stepped back first and took some deep breaths. The dual ax in her hands shook as she clenched it harder. She needs to find a better rhythm. And maintain the flow to shake the enemy''s flow.


    Hobgoblins are simple and only know about pushing with brute force. She needs to overwhelm them using her techniques.


    Alex gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on her dual ax. She kept her left shoulder down and struck using her right.


    She confused her enemies. Then used attacks on their blindspots that couldn''t be disrupted. With this, she will hit her enemy three to four times.


    Hobgoblins withrge weapons like great ax, hammers, or greatswords was an annoying obstacle for her. If she tried to stab through the gaps, her attacks would be blocked by theirrge weapons.


    "Faster, faster, faster!!" Alex stomped her feet once, twice, and thrice. As her body gradually elerated beyond the limits of her current body.


    She pierced through, cut, and smashed her enemies. Alex arrived in a world that never stopped moving. She felt like she was all alone as she moved into it.


    Her movements became unmatched. While the pair of axes shed towards the neck of her enemies.


    She used the dual ax like it was another limb and would cut her enemy''s neck before they even realized they died.


    All kinds of weapons hacked at her armor several times as she repeatedly came closer and closer to death. But there is a slight smile on Alex''s focused face. Adrenaline filled her body like a drug.


    "MONSTER!!" The goblin shaman eximed as he doubted who is the real monster between them. Her movements were so fast andplicated it was so hard to follow with his eyes. It was still in vain, even if he used dual casting.


    "WHY IS THIS MONSTER HERE!!!"


    "FIRE THOSE ARROWS!!"


    "I DON''T CARE IF THE ELITE GOBLINS ARE IN THERE!!!"


    "SHE MUST DIE!!!"


    "DIEEE!!!!!


    "DIEEEEE!!!!"


    "DIEEEEEEEE ALREADY!!!"


    "ENHANCE ARROW!!"


    "POISON!!"


    "ACCURACY UP!!" The goblin shaman added all kinds of buffs on the goblin archers. To make sure that the woman dies.


    "FIREBALL!!"


    "ICE SHARD!!" He also casted his own magic at her.


    Arrows flew in a straight line towards Alex, and the rest flooding towards Ezekiel. It was fired indiscriminately without thinking about its allies.


    Alex turned her body like a spin top and struck the arrows aimed at her in all directions with her dual ax. The hobgoblins did not miss the opportunity that was exposed. The hobgoblin''s sword and axes descended towards Alex.


    Alex crossed her dual ax and blocked the strike. However, her posture was unstable that made her stagger. The attacks keeping to her.


    "Tsk," Alex gritted her teeth as she sloppily moved to the side and evaded a hammer. The hobgoblins continued to pursue her. The tide was gradually shifting towards the hobgoblins.


    "FIRE!!"


    "FIRE!!"


    "KEEP FIRING!!" The goblin shaman saw this and ordered the goblin archers to fire again. The goblin archers pulled their bowstring as they fired at her once more.


    The goblin archers pushed her on the defensive. While the hobgoblins focused on the offensive. However, at that moment, Ezekiel stood in front of her and rotated his staff.


    "I told you to take care of yourself!!"

 Chapter 66 - Cooperate

    On Ezekiel''s vision a red-skinned hobgoblin smashed a war hammer at him. He tried to block it with his staff, but he was thrown away from the shock.


    Alex somewhat felt ufortable as she looked at Ezekiel on the ground.


    "Thanks, but I can take care of myself." Alex uttered as she stood up and kicked the face of a hobgoblin storming at Ezekiel''s side.


    "I think you''re the one who should take care of yourself." Alex eximed as she saw Ezekiel having a hard time against the red-skinned hobgoblins. The muscles on her shoulders trembled before she threw her two axes.


    Ezekiel saw an ax hitting the head of a hobgoblin in front of him. "Can you please stop acting on your own?" Ezekiel looks at her as he deflects the arrowsing at them. At the same time, he let Alex handle the red-skinned goblins. And he focused on deflecting the arrowsing at them instead.


    Since Ezekiel can''t fight a group of red-skinned hobgoblins. He is on par with at most two red-skinned hobgoblins. It will be the end of him if it is three or more hobgoblins.


    "I told you you''re too slow, I can''t go all out..." Alex argued at the same time she avoided a flying axing at her and cut down an enemy down.


    She isn''t confident that she can keep up with the enemies if she slows down for Ezekiel.


    "This game is not Guardian where you charge all alone towards the enemy!!" Ezekiel thrusts his staff to a hobgoblin on Alex''s back almost hitting her.


    "I know!!" Alex shoved Ezekiel to the side as she thrusts her spear at a hobgoblin on Ezekiel''s back.


    "Or a PC game where I can heal you on the backline safely!!" Ezekiel patted with a little force on Alex''s back to heal her and deflected an ice sharding their way.


    "I know!!" Alex answered as she shoved Ezekiel''s again and switched her target.


    "If you know, then why are you not cooperating with me!!" Ezekiel scolded as he tried to match his movement with Alex''s movement.


    "Stupid, that''s what I''m doing right now!!" Alex defended as the ax, in her other hand, fell over the enemy''s head.


    Ezekiel did not notice it, but the way she moves right now is her slowing down and matching her movements with his. She is trying to cooperate with him to see if it is a good idea.


    "Switch!!" Alex kept on switching ces with Ezekiel. It was because dozens of weapons were locked on to her, she needed to constantly move around. However, she can''t leave Ezekiel all alone because she needs more healing. That was why she came up with the idea of switching ces with him. It was also to ease his burden in fighting the red-skinned hobgoblins. And focus on blocking the enemy''s long-range bombardment.


    She switches positions with Ezekiel every now and then. Because the red-skinned hobgoblins are running after her. Their spears, swords, and axes are aimed at her. The bows of the goblin archers aimed at her in the rear. Even the goblin shaman only aimed his bombardment of magic at her.


    When Ezekiel heard Alex''s answer, he realized in an instant what she has been doing all this time. She changed her way of fighting from being too aggressive on her offensives. To staying with him on the defensive and protecting him while waiting for the enemy toe at her. He finally understood the way she shoved him out of the way and killed his opponent instead.


    "I got it." Ezekiel eximed as he swung his staff with great strength to deflect the rain of arrows.


    "If you got it, then focus on your job!!" Alexined when an arrow almost hit her shoulders. She then concentrated on killing the red-skinned hobgoblins.


    "WHY ARE THEY STILL NOT DYING!!" The goblin shaman''s eyes widened as he saw the hobgoblins being pushed back once more. They were losing despite having the numerical advantage. Every step forward they made, the hobgoblins needed to step back.


    In his eyes he doesn''t see a woman and a man any more. They became a pair of terrifying monsters that kills a soldier every time they move. The goblin shaman felt like they were flying through the battlefield. It was as if their stamina wasn''t exhausted.


    Limbs flew through the air as her weapon split the enemy''s flesh asunder. Causing a fountain of light particles to erupt with every sh of her weapon.


    No matter how many arrows rained down upon them. The goblin army''s defenses were gradually being shaken by the pair''s offensive.


    "Isn''t this working out better than we expected??" Alex did not expect the situation to reverse due to her cooperating with Ezekiel. The speed that they were moving right now was even faster than her charging alone.


    The hobgoblins surrounding Alex and Ezekiel started to slowly thin out. It was as if they were swallowed by a beast.


    The goblin shaman watching from afar gulped in fear. He was running out of ideas on how to stop the both of them. But he was relieved when he looked at the vige in the distance.


    The goblin shaman saw the berserk goblins slowly breaching the shield wall created by the humans.


    Noticing the goblins started breaching the wall. Akkar took a deep breath as air condensed inside his body. He put strength to his abdomen, and his diaphragm became as hard as steel.


    "KILL THE MOTHERF*CKERS INSIDE THE WALL!!" Akkar''s roar rattled the battlefield.


    "KILL!!!"


    "KILL!!!!!"


    "DEFEND THE VILLAGE!!!"


    The goblins and the guardians got mixed together. Akkar swung his great ax with great strength among them, making 5 goblin heads fly through the sky.


    Humans and goblins were killing each other and dying. Both sides were engulfed in their own madness and didn''t hesitate to attack. They wielded their weapons until they stopped breathing.


    It was pandemonium.


    "HOLD ON FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES!!"

 Chapter 67 - Little Shaman

    "Use the explosive potions and the slow potions now!!" Elder Jin sprang up and fired his arrow on the high ground. He has attached an explosive potion to the arrowhead to maximize the damage he can inflict. He also only aimed at the ces where the enemies are crammed.


    The arrow pierced through the enemies. An explosion urred when the arrow skewered two goblins together. The single arrow prated, and crushed a lot of goblins. They were in with pure force from the explosive potion alone.


    "I don''t know why she brewed a lot of explosive potions. But they sure are effective..." Elder Jin mumbled as he saw every arrow he shot felt like the battlefield had been hit by a huge hammer.


    The open ins with no obstacles blocking his field of view were a huge advantage for him. The goblins that were concentrated in one ce died without knowing who killed them.


    "Just a little more!!" Elder Jin''s voice thundered across the battlefield. At the same time, he fired several arrows. The arrows tore through the battlefield. Everywhere the arrow passes, a huge damage is dealt to the goblin army. Only dead bodies remained and the wailing of those who lose their limbs as they crawl on the ground.


    "Chief, do we really have a chance to win this battle!?" The young viger who gathered the potions asked him.


    Elder Jin gazed in the distance.


    "There is..." His voice trembled as he saw the hope he believed in breaking through the obstacles in front of them.


    "EVERYONE, JUST HANG ON A LITTLE LONGER!!"


    "THE ENEMY''S COMMANDER WILL DIE IN A FEW MORE MINUTES!!" Elder Jin''s old yet firm voice echoed through the ears of every fighter on the battlefield.


    His vigor restored as he pulled the bowstring all the way back, using his muscles to the fullest. When the string was released¡­ It was like the dew falling off on the leaves. Or the feathers falling from the wings or cotton dangling on the ground.


    Some were doubtful, some were relieved, and some kept on what they were doing.


    "Is it really possible!?"


    "We are already struggling here. How can we win??"


    "How can the enemymander die when we haven''t even move an inch???"


    Doubts circted among the long-range attackers and supports. As they saw the goblins breaching their shield wall. A brawl has been happening in front of them as the berserk goblins and the melee fighters mixed together.


    Among them was theirmander Akkar, randomly wielding his great ax and screaming. "DIE!! DIE!! DIE!!! DIE!!!"


    When Akkar heard Elder Jin, he instantly knew what he was talking about. His strength regained as his ax swung faster and faster with his low health. His onught continued, however, Elise called him. "You need to fix something in the back." Akkar stomped a goblin on the ground to pieces. Then he turned to the dual sword man to ask him a favor. Because of a little problem in the backline.


    "Hey, Hal!! I''ll be right back. Command everyone for me and hold on for a few seconds." Akkar trusted Hal tomand the melee fighters since he had been following him all this time.


    Before Hal could even react, he took a step back from the battlefield.


    "The elder is telling the truth!!" He stared at the few long-range attackers who were infecting the others to lose morale.


    "Do you guys remember the two people who ran ahead!?" Akkar pointed in the direction of Alex and Ezekiel.


    "They are there... Fighting the huge numbers of goblins alone. Without any walls to hide!!! Without any reinforcements to help them!!! Yet they still survived, when here we are barely surviving. Even though they don''t have shield walls on their front. A lot of healers and supports, or a ton of long-range attackers. " He doesn''t know what Alex and Ezekiel''s situation is, but he trusts his instincts, Elder Jin, and both of them.


    "I did not tell them to fight in there. Yet they are there!!! Fighting the enemy''smander when all odds are against them!!! They are our only hope!! So if you have the time to doubt our chance of winning, then use that time to draw your bows and kill more enemies!!"


    Those who doubted their chances of winning looked down. As they met Akkar''s overbearing gaze.


    "If you trusted me, then trust them. Because I trusted them right from the start. And they are our only hope." Akkar uttered onest time before he turned around to the battlefield once more.


    "Thanks, good work!!" Akkar patted Hal''s back as he took over themand once more.


    "Everyone is already influenced by you. I did not even need to do anything." Hal uttered as he saw how amazing Akkarmanded the melee fighters. In just an hour-long of battle, he made everyone a cooperate like they fought with each other.


    "Everyone is just too good." Akkar agreed with Hal. He never expected that his usual way ofmanding his viewers when he yed with them would work on everyone.


    After he returned to the frontline. Akkar took a deep breath as air condensed inside his body. And roared as hard as he could.


    "OKAY, BOYS AND GIRLS!!!


    "ARE YOU READY!!??" Akkar lifted his weapon in the air.


    "READY!!!!"


    "WE ARE GOING TO RUN WILD ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR THE LAST MINUTE!!!"


    "OOORAHHHHHHH!!!!!" Akkar raised his weapon as he charged straight into the middle of the goblin army.


    "OOOORAHHHHHHH!!!!" Everyone followed blindly as they trusted theirmander.


    While Akkar kept swinging his great ax left and right, he kept staring in the distance.


    On the other side of the battlefield, Alex and Ezekiel finally killed off all the hobgoblins. While they faced off the goblin shaman. "Your bodyguards are all dead.." Alex muttered as she threw a severed head of thest red-skinned hobgoblin on the feet of the goblin shaman. "What are you gonna do now, Little shaman??"

 Chapter 68 - Chaoss Curse

    "Don''t you dare underestimate me!!!" The goblin shaman kicked the head back in Alex''s direction. "I don''t need these useless goblins to guard me!!"


    "I don''t know what he''s saying, but those eyes are raring to kill us." Ezekiel mumbled as he saw a dark red aura leaking out of the goblin shaman as he chanted a magic spell.


    "Anyway, we can''t let him finish whatever he''s casting. You go left, and I will go to the right." Alex suggested to split up as she pushed her feet off the ground.


    "Copy," Ezekiel agreed as he pushed his feet off the ground. Since they are going to fight a magician, it''s better to split up and confuse the enemy. If the goblin shaman will have a hard time picking who he is going to attack. Then they will be close enough to kill him thanks to the time he hesitates who he is going to attack.


    "Chaos, heed my call.... Bestow me your power as I bestow my life upon you... Blind my eyes with madness... Fill my heart and soul with chaos... Chaos''s Curse!!" The dark red aura intensified and engulfed the goblin shaman.


    Alex hastened as she saw the goblin shaman''s dark red aura engulfing him like mes.


    "Five minutes before I''ll get engulfed entirely by chaos... Before that, I will make sure you die, insolent humans!! Fireball!!" The goblin shaman raised his hands as ten fireballs the size of a ball appeared around him. The fireballs then split up and flew when he pointed in Alex and Ezekiel''s direction.


    "Ice shard!!" The moment the fireballs flew, he cast another magic as huge chunks of ice floated around him.


    "Oi, oi, oi, are you kidding me!!" Ezekiel hastened his footsteps to dodge the five fireballsing his way. He never expected that the goblin shaman was still hiding something dangerous.


    "This goblin has gone crazy," Alex eximed as she dodged the fireballs with ease. A tremendous amount of magic spells areing her way as she tries running closer to the goblin shaman. Who would have thought that the goblin shaman would go berserk when they aren''t even close enough yet.


    "Sh*t this is harder than I thought!! Heal!!" Ezekiel uttered as he got hit by one rock shard on his sides. The closer he got to the goblin shaman, the more strenuous it got to dodge. Just when he was about to continue charging after recuperating his health. An explosion thundered on his ears in the direction of Alex.


    When he checked Alex, he saw a purple smoke leaking out on the ground in front of her.


    "Be careful!! There are poisonousndmines all over the ce!!" Alex warned Ezekiel as she saw her health decreasing every second.


    Even though she was able to move out of the way before the explosion happened. She still inhaled a whiff of the poison cloud. Because of the wind from the st caused the smoke to reach her.


    [Goblin''s Intermediate Poison]


    - Decreases the affected target''s health by two health points every second.


    - Poisonsts for one day unless cured by an antidote


    Alex listened to Lumiere''s exnation about the status effect she received. While twisting her body with no trouble to dodge the magics thrown at her.


    [-2]


    [628/640]


    When Alex''s eyes hovered at her current health, she stared at it with surprise. When Ezekiel and her started cooperating, She never looked at her health even once as she got hit less and less. And she always trusts Ezekiel''s healing as long as he is serious and not messing around.


    Based on the amount of health she currently has. She must have leveled up at least seven times after killing the more than a thousand hobgoblins. And Lumiere must not have notified her since the battle was so intense earlier.


    Thanks to the increase in her current health. Alex can keep on going without drinking the antidote. And she will still be safe for about three more minutes. Unless the goblin shaman has other tricks on his sleeves


    "Tsk, what a troublesome attack..." Alex mumbled as she continued her charge regardless of the hiddenndmines in the surrounding. Since she already has a poison status, then she doesn''t need to mind the poison clouds from the explosion. All she needs to focus on is dodging the st from the explosionof thendmines. And the barrage of magics thrown at her.


    "The two of them are crazy!!??" Ezekiel uttered as he saw Alex forcing her way through thendmines. And disregarding the poisonous cloud in her surroundings. Inparison, he kept his guard up as he carefully traversed the ground. At the same time, moving left and right awkwardly to avoid the magic thrown at him.


    "Your tricks don''t work against me." In just a short amount of time, Alex arrived in front of the goblin shaman''s face. She then pulled her left arm, carrying a spear back. Then pushed it to the goblin shaman''s face as hard as she could.


    Seeing the woman''s casual smile in front of him made the fury inside of him grew stronger and stronger.


    "Magic Shield!!" Alex''s spear was stopped mid-air when a red yet transparent bubble appeared around the goblin shaman.


    "This won''t save you for long!!" Alex uttered as she tried to pull her spear back. "Teleport!!" Before Alex could even retract her spear inside the bubble. The goblin shaman suddenly disappeared and appeared away from her. Then he immediately casts another spell away from her.


    "Chaos Vortex!!" The space around Alex warps open, creating a raging vortex that is impossible to escape as it sucks her in the center.


    Followed after that, the goblin shaman raised his hands in the sky and roared. "Thunderstorm!!!"


    "Sh*t!!" Alex looked up as she saw dark clouds gathering above her. Without the ability to dodge or move to a ce to cover. All she can do is braced herself for impact.


    Thunderbolts rained upon her with madness.

 Chapter 69 - Dont Run, Little Shaman

    "Alex!!!!" Ezekiel cried out as he saw Alex in a tight situation. The vortex kept pulling her to the center while lightning endlessly struck her.


    BANGG!!!!!!!


    "F*ck!!" Ezekiel got knocked off the ground as a poisonous cloud emerged. Out of carelessness and worry for Alex, he lost focus for a moment and stepped on andmine.


    [Goblin''s Intermediate Poison]


    - Decreases the affected target''s health by two health points every second.


    - Poisonsts for one day unless cured by an antidote


    Ezekiel listened to his guardian spirit''s exnation about the status effect he received.


    [-2]


    [488/500].


    [+6]


    "Heal!!" Ezekiel healed his self. Thanks to him leveling up a lot earlier, his [Rejuvenation] healing has been increased.


    He made sure to distribute his stats every time he levels up so that he could catch up with Alex.


    - Name : Ezekiel - Race : Human


    - Weapon: Wooden Staff - Title : Sage Candidate


    - Character Level : 10 - Weapon Level : 10


    - Health : 500 - Mana : 500


    - Strength : 25 - Agility : 25


    - Stamina: 25 - Intellect : 25


    - Wisdom: 25 - Luck : 100


    - Experience required to Level: 1969 / 5766


    Though he is still nowhere near close to her strength since she also levels up. And with her ridiculous 15 stats increase every level, the gap between them in the early stage keeps getting further and further. However, she will reach a limit soon with the x2 additional to her experience required. She will need a huge amount of experience points to level up in the future.


    Even though his required experience points increases by 50% every time, he levels up. It is still betterpared to the increase by twice of Alex.


    Ezekiel gazed in Alex''s direction seeing the lightning strikes starting to subside. However, he still can''t see Alex''s silhouette with all the dust around her.


    "Darn it, she better thank me for saving her ass a lot of times today!!" Ezekiel grumbled as he pushed his feet off the ground as he copied Alex''s way of disregarding the hiddenndmines. Even if he isn''t sure if Alex is still alive or not. He needs to make sure he will be there if he lives to protect and heal her in an instant. "I should have done this earlier..." With Ezekiel''s healing, the poison can''t even affect his health. The fear of having only one antidote stopped him from taking any risk. While running, he heard the goblin shaman''s hoarseughter in the distance as if he had already won the battle.


    "How''s that woman!?? Wind de!!" The goblin shaman used wind de to clear off the dust around the woman.


    "IMPOSSIBLE!!!" The goblin shaman expected to see the woman''s body lying on the ground. However, what met his eyes was theplete opposite. The woman looked unscathed except for her gone armor and the spear and shield.


    "Now you''ve done it!!" Alex gave the goblin shaman a death re for pissing her off big time. Because of the goblin shaman''s attack, her stats distribution n has been messed up.


    It was all thanks to Lumiere that she survived the goblin shaman''s barrage of magic. She would have died if Lumiere had asked her to distribute all of her stats first. When she finished her battle with the hobgoblins.


    Lumiere is also the one who helped here up with a solution on how to survive. If It wasn''t for her suggestion to put all of her undistributed character points to stamina. If Lumiere hadn''t told her of that idea, her health wouldn''t have been enough to endure the lightning strikes.


    "IMPOSSIBLE!!! IMPOSSIBLE!!! IMPOSSIBLE!!!" The goblin shaman stepped back in fear as he met the deadly re of the woman before her. "THAT WAS MY STRONGEST ATTACK!!! JUST WHAT ARE YOU!!!?"


    "I don''t know what you''re saying, but I''m really pissed right now. Don''t you dare run away..." Alex muttered with an icy-cold voice as she stared at her status panel.


    * Name : Alexandria * Race : Human


    * Weapon: None * Title : Hero


    * Character Level : 8 * Weapon Level : 8


    * Health : 1340 * Mana : 620


    * Strength : 28 * Agility : 28


    * Stamina: 62 * Intellect : 26


    * Wisdom: 26 * Luck : - 100


    * Experience required to Level: 5555 / 25600


    "Emerge!!" Thest remaining health potion they have appeared on Alex''s hand.


    [+100]


    [666/1340]


    "Ezekiel weapon!!" Alex uttered as she saw all the weapons around her had disintegrated into dust. A simr fate with her armor and the spear and shield.


    Ezekiel turned around to look for a weapon for her. However, he did not see anything close to him.


    "Hurry!!" Ezekiel nced at Alex as he heard her cold voice. She was having a hard time dodging the barrage of magic. When the goblin shaman only focused his magic on her. Ezekiel then stared at the weapon in his hand.


    "Arghhhh! F*ck it!! Here!!!" Ezekiel clenched his staff then threw it in Alex''s direction. He hesitated only for a moment but seeing her getting hit once made up his mind. "Once, I''ll let her use it once..." Ezekiel mumbled as he stared at his weapon flying towards Alex.


    Alex twisted her body as she dodged an ice sharding her way at the same time, grabbing the wooden staff of Ezekiel. "Thanks..." Alex mumbled as she clenched the weapon and red at the goblin shaman.


    [Ezekiel''s Novice Wooden Staff]


    *Rank: A


    *Weapon Stats: +2 Intellect, +2 Wisdom, +1 Stamina


    *Starting Skill: Weapon Proficiency, Berserker


    *Stats Requirement: Intellect 20, Wisdom 20, Stamina 15


    [Since you have met the stats requirement to wield this weapon. It will rightfully return to its owner after 30 minutes]


    "Don''t run, little shaman..." Alex mumbled as her lips turned up. She then pushed her feet forward.


    "YOU MONSTER!!!


    "ROCK SHARD!!!!"


    "ICE SHARD!!!!"


    "FIREBALL!!!!"


    The goblin shaman used magics that were weak and low on mana first to wait for the cooldown of his strongest attack again.


    The goblin shaman threw all of the magic spells he knew at her desperately as he felt the chills on his bone. While the woman crept in closer and closer to him.


    "WHYYY!!!???"


    "WHYYYY!!!!???"


    "WWWHHHYYY!!!!!???"

 Chapter 70 - Stamina

    Alex spun the staff, deflecting the magicing at her to the sides. Explosions and huge clouds of dust surrounded her as the magics thrown at her hit the ground.


    "I am a genius of my n!!! An apostle of chaos!!! Don''t get in our way, human!!! The goblin shaman shouted as he threw his spell, yet he saw that not a single magic of his manage to touch her.


    "Are you afraid!?" Alex muttered softly as she marched towards the goblin shaman. She took her time as she wanted to torture his mental state. Once someone pissed her off, she will hunt that person down until she has her revenge.


    "How can a human like you exist!! Why!! Why!! Why!!" The goblin shaman''s legs trembled as he felt the coldness in her voice. It was as if chaos was not enough to blind him from her bloodlust. He can see his death as he retreated every time the woman took a step forward.


    "So noisy!!" Alex deflected a rock shard back towards its owner. Damaging the magic shield that surrounds him.. She doesn''t understand what the goblin shaman is saying. But with all those growling noises it''s making, paired with its small stature as small as a 5-year-old kid. It''s like she was watching a child crying who got his toy stolen.


    "Arghhh!!" The goblin shaman stumbled on as he tasted his own magic. The magic shield negated the damage but could not cancel out the impact of the attack.


    "I should ask her father to teach me those moves..." Ezekiel mumbled as he saw Alex used his weapon with expertise and even better than him. If he learns how to be better at deflecting the enemy''s attack. Then even if he can''t move and dodge as well as Alex, he can attack the enemy from afar and survive longer.


    "But I can''t let her hold on to my weapon a lot more longer..." He can''t bear to see Alex crush the enemy with his own weapon. While Alex kept the goblin shaman busy. Ezekiel has gone to the nearest weapon he could find and grabbed it.


    "This should be good enough for her." Ezekiel hurriedly grabbed a ck hammer a bit bigger than Alex''s height that was used by a hobgoblin earlier. He did not think much of what he grabbed since Alex could pretty much use all of the weapons on the battlefield.


    "CURSE YOU HUMAN!!" The goblin shaman growled as he crawled to the ground running away from her.


    "FLAME STRIKE!!!!"


    "WATER ORB!!!!"


    "ICE ORB!!!!"


    "DIE!!!"


    "DIIEEEE!!!"


    "DIIEEEEEEE!!!!!"


    The goblin shaman aimed his hand at Alex as he casted all kinds of magic like crazy at her.


    "There''s nowhere to run in these vast in, little shaman..." Alex deflected all of the magics thrown at her with ease. Alex felt her body changing every step she took. It was like her current body was getting stronger and stronger. However, this change is different than usual whenever she levels up, and her agility and strength increases. The difference this time is that only her stamina increased. But her body seemed to improve a lot more than usual when her agility and strength stats increased.


    The change was gradual, but her current body is getting more ustomed to her strength that was pushed beyond the limits of her current body little by little.


    Since the durability of her current body has increased. She can now also push the limit of her strength more without breaking her current body.


    "Hi..." Alex looked down on the goblin shaman, like an ant. That was struggling to crawl on the ground to run from her.


    "You monster!!! Demon!!! Magic shield!!!" The goblin shaman''s body trembled as the monster he feared has arrived right in front of his face.


    "This bubble won''t protect you for long." Alex mumbled as she raised her staff in the air. And swung it to the goblin shaman''s magic shield.


    BANGGGG!!!


    The staff bounced off away from the magic shield. Like she was hitting a rubber. Alex clenched her staff as she raised it into the air once more.


    The magic shaman stared at his magic shield in fright as he saw ripples in the shield.


    "TELEPORT!!!" Just as Alex''s weapon was about to hit the goblin shaman''s magic shield once more. He was able to use teleportation to escape from her grasp.


    "CHAOS VORTEX!!!!" The space around Alex warps open, creating a raging vortex that keeps on drawing her in the center.


    Followed after that, the goblin shaman raised his hands in the sky and roared. "THUNDERSTORM!!!" Dark clouds started gathering above her.


    "Tsk, what a troublesome opponent." Alex tried jumping out of the raging vortex. However, the suction from the vortex is so strong that Alex stumbled on the ground while trying to escape.


    "DIE HUMAN, DIE!!!!!!!"


    "ROCK SHARD!!!!"


    "ICE SHARD!!!!"


    "FIREBALL!!!!" The goblin shamanughed as he saw the woman''s life force earlier, hanging by a thread. There is no way she could survive his attack this time.


    "Huffff!!!" With nowhere to escape to Alex closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She examined the state of her body to determine how far can she push it to the limit.


    Alex gently exhaled after she grasped the change in her body. She lifted her fingers to the base of her skull and softly pressed her fingers. Her breathing started to slow down, making her whole body rx and sense everything around her. Starting with the swaying of the grass to the crackles of the thunderstorm and the total chaos happening in the vige gates. She can sense all of it.


    BANNNNNGGGGG!!!! The first lightning strike hit her without being able to react at all.


    Alex grits her teeth from the attack. The speed of light is so fast that even if she can sense it, she can do anything to dodge it. "Not enough..." The staff on Alex''s hands fell to the ground as her hands hung to her side. It was as if it suddenly lost all of its strength.


    BANNNNNGGGGG!!!! The second and third lighting struck.


    She managed to move an inch, but she was still struck by it. "Tsk, this is impossible!!" Alex uttered as she dodged a fireballing at her with ease.


    BANNGGGGG!!!


    Alex heard Lumiere''s gentle voice the exact moment she was hit by another lightning strike. "Endure and trust your stamina."

 Chapter 71 - Deaths Door

    "Let''s see what I got!!" Alex chose to trust Lumiere since she saved her earlier. She then grabbed Ezekiel''s weapon on the ground and faced the goblin shaman. Since it is impossible to dodge the lightning. She will focus on the ones she can avoid instead.


    "HAHAHAHA!!!!" The goblin shaman continued to bombard his enemy to make sure that she wouldn''t survive this time.


    "DIE ALREADY, WOMAN!!!!!!"


    "DIEEEEEEE!!!!!!"


    "DIEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!"


    Ezekiel rushed towards the goblin shaman seeing that he had gone crazy just to kill Alex. He needs to stop him from attacking to increase the chance of Alex surviving.


    BANGGGGG!!!


    BANGGGGG!!! .


    BANGGGGG!!!


    "You''ll pay for this..." Alex grits her teeth as she endures the fire, ice, water, rock, and all kinds of magic that are thrown at her without a break. She was able to dodge and deflect some of the magics to the goblin shaman. But the lightning strikes she couldn''t avoid ruined her physical state. She can feel the jolting and excruciating pain all over her body when she is struck by lightning.


    The lightning strikes are also affecting her mental state. She can feel the jolting sensation more on her brainpared to the other parts of her body. Her brain felt like it was being stimted, making it work faster than usual. But, the stimtion was too much for her brain. It felt like it would explode any second now from being overburdened.


    BANGGGGG!!!


    BANGGGGG!!!


    BANGGGGG!!!


    *Pant! *Pant! *Pant!


    Alex clenched her staff as she struck an ice shard changing its trajectory back to the goblin shaman. Even though she was moving using minimal strength, she was still having a hard time breathing. Her enemy is not giving her a chance to take a break at all. The attacks kept oning one after the other.


    Each second she stays inside the vortex, her body is getting worse and worse. She felt that the lightning strikes were also affecting her internal organs. Making her movements be slower and slower.


    Her body couldn''t handle being pushed to the limits for almost an hour. And being struck by lightning a lot of times at the same time.


    Even if she can only feel 30% of the pain. There''s no way her body can endure being hit by multiple lightning strikes twice in a row. After all, one lightning strike can even kill a person in real life. And 30% of that pain, as well as getting hit multiple times by it, is nothing to scoff at. Besides her father, she can''t think of any other person who can stay alive by getting hit by a lightning strike multiple times.


    BANGGGGG!!!! Alex turned her body to the side as she barely dodged a huge boulder that grazed her right arm.


    Alex nted her staff to the ground to assist her legs. She started feeling that her legs were now losing strength. However, the moment she lost focus on her surroundings. She was hit by a lightning strike and a fireball at the same time.


    Her body started to fall down as she lost all the strength she had left. "Is this how far I can go..." Alex pondered.


    She was so confident that she would dominate this game with how much she had improved these past two years. She thought that it would be a walk in the park. She expected some defeats along the way. But she would have never thought that her first defeat would be in the tutorial.


    "First time losing for real in two years..." Alex mumbled for thest time as her eyes started to lose consciousness. While her body was slowly falling to the ground.


    It frustrates her to lose this time. But she knew she needed it. After all, she reached a bottleneck a year ago. She became numb fighting and losing to her father again and again that she stopped growing. She just can''t seem to see a day where she can beat her father fair and square. However, this time it''s different. She can see herself growing more in the future. This is what she needs right now, a frustration that can be used as a motivation.


    "HEAL!!!" When Alex was about to finally lose her consciousness. A worried voice echoed through her ears. Then a gentle and warm hand caught her body, stopping her fall. Then a rxing and warm feeling spread all over her body. The headache she was feeling just a moment ago disappeared and was reced withfort.


    "Hey, are you alright!?" Ezekiel grabbed his weapon first and carried Alex over his shoulders. He then ran away from the goblin shaman. He needs to make sure Alex doesn''t get hit by any attack since she is now barely alive. He was d that Alex managed to survive the goblin shaman''s barrage of magic. As soon as he saw the clouds around Alex clear up. He immediately changed his n from attacking the goblin shaman to saving Alex first.


    "Uhmmm..." Alex grunts as her head is still disoriented. Ezekiel''s healing is not instant. But it is still effective as she feels her strengthing back slowly.


    When the goblin shaman saw the man running out of the cloud of dust carrying the woman. He can see that the woman is still alive despite how terrible she looks with burnt clothes, burnt skin, and messy burnt hair.


    "IMPOSSIBLE!!!!"


    "IMPOSSIBLE!!!!"


    "IMPOSSIBLE!!!!"


    "HOW CAN YOU STILL BE ALIVE!!!!!!" The goblin shaman is losing his mind right now with how hard it is to kill a single woman in a death''s door. He is running out of time before chaos takes his life.


    "DIE ALREADY HUMAN!!!!!!!!!!!"


    "FLAME STRIKE!!!!"


    "WATER ORB!!!!"


    "ICE ORB!!!!"


    "AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!"


    "DON''T YOU DARE RUN AWAY!!!!!"


    The goblin shaman chased seeing that the distance between them is getting farther and farther.


    "Let''s keep a distance for now and heal you up since we don''t have any potions left with us." Ezekiel uttered as he dodged the goblin shaman''s magic with ease. He is confident that the goblin shaman won''t be able to touch them with how good he is at escaping. "Don''t push yourself too hard. I''ll take care of this for now."


    "Uhmmmm... Thanks..." Alex muttered to his ears. She was grateful that Ezekiel was here. She thought that it was the end for her... a thing that she always experienced in Guardian losing alone and fighting alone.


    "Treat me to a mealter," Ezekiel uttered as he tapped her back to heal her again. He just needed to heal her health back to a normal level before he would let her fight again.


    She owes him a lot of things today, and she will definitely pay him back. "Uhmmm...." Alex answered before she lost consciousness.

 Chapter 72 - Last Stand

    "Oi, oi, oi, Alex, it''s not the time to joke around!!" Ezekiel eximed as he noticed Alex''s body getting heavier. He doesn''t know why she fainted, but she is slowing him down.


    He tried to peek behind them. "Ahhhh, sh*t!!!" But that only made him run faster as he saw a huge boulder the size of a caring their way. He had no choice but to drop the hammer since it''s weight was in the way.


    "For a monster with a small stature, this guy sure chase fast..." Even thoug he he had a head start, he is still in the range of the goblin shaman.


    He kept on healing her, trying to wake her up faster. But there are still no signs of her waking up. "Hey, wake up! It''s not the time to take a break!!".


    BAAANNNGGGG!!!!


    "F*ck this guy''s throwing some serious sh*ts at us!!!" Ezekiel eximed as he got almost hit a huge fireball that was aimed in front of him. It left a huge burning crater on the ground in front of it was as big as the boulder before. He realized that being the sole target of the goblin shaman is not aughing matter at all. A single mistake and his life will be the payment.


    He ran to a nearby forest he saw to obstruct the aim of the goblin shaman and hide her in a safer ce. He can''t carry her around while the goblin shaman is chasing them. Because sooner orter he will surely make a mistake that will cost both of their lives.


    And he knows that he can''t beat the goblin shaman alone that''s why he needs to confront the goblin shaman alone. To give Alex some time to rest because probably she overstrained her body.


    "You better wake up the f*ck up before I die. Or you will be the one getting some scoldingter." Ezekiel uttered as he hid in a tree to block a fast-moving ice shard.


    "ARRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!" The goblin shaman screeched as he saw the pair entering the forest. The woman is giving him problems even at her death''s door. He will do anything just to kill that woman.


    "I''m running out of time..."


    "Teleport!!" The goblin shaman hardened his will and teleported a few meters behind the tree that they were hiding in. All this time, he is using teleport as an escape skill. But if he doesn''t kill them fast, it will be toote to remove Chaos''s curse, and he won''t have the chance to escape anymore.


    He wanted to see her suffer and die in his own hands. Because once Chaos takes over his life. It will wreak havoc, and everything in the vicinity will turn into ruins.


    "Sh*t!!!" Ezekiel pushed his feet off the ground the moment he saw the goblin shaman teleporting close to them. He wouldn''t have thought that the coward goblin shaman would be so crazy to use his teleport skill as a way to approach them.


    BAAAANGGGG!!!! A huge fireball engulfed the tree they were hiding on.


    "F*CK!! F*CK!! F*CK!! Why does it look like my enemies always have some kind of anger issue when fighting me!!!??" Ezekiel eximed as he saw the embers spread the fire to the nearby trees.


    "SH*T!! this is getting worse and worse..." He ran faster because sooner orter, the whole forest would be engulfed in mes. And the forest isn''t safe to hide Alex anymore.


    He tried to scan his surrounding to find an escape route, but all he could see was trees and more trees. And the goblin shaman chasing and throwing his magics after them isn''t helping him at all.


    Ezekiel ran deeper towards the forest to find a solution to their problem and buy more time.


    "Hey Alex!! Wake up, or we''re dead!!!" On Ezekiel''s persistent calls Alex''s eyes fluttered once.


    On the other side of the battle. During the same time that Alex and Ezekiel were running for their lives.


    Akkar has ordered everyone to retreat inside the walls of the vige. Because all of the vigers have evacuated the vige already. There won''t be any problems of any innocent vigers dying if the goblins manage to breach the gates.


    He had regretted that he had only thought of retreating at thest moment. When a lot of goblin''s managed to infiltrate their backline and kill a lot of their range attackers. He was overwhelmed with his emotions to look cool for his viewers. And focused more on raising everyone''s morale on the frontline. That he has forgotten to strategized and minimized the deaths of his soldiers. If only he hadn''t charged on the frontline. And focused onmanding the army instead he could have thought of this n earlier.


    However, there is no point in regretting it right now because there are still enemies ahead of them. And this is a battlefield, life and death were just fleeting moments. Besides, he still has more lives to save.


    "Archers, climb on top of the wall and fire at your own will!!"


    "Mages climb on the roofs of the houses, regenerate your mana, and wait for my signal!! I want you to pour all your magics in the gates once the goblins breached through the gates!!!"


    "All other range attackers stand around 30 meters in front of the gates and wait for my signal!! I also want you to give me everything you have!!!"


    "Healers and supports help everyone recuperate their strength for this few minutes of break!!"


    "Frontliners, be ready for an all-out brawl once the goblins breach through the gates."


    Akkar''smand echoed through everyone''s ears. And everyone follows hismands in an instant. However the gates shook violently time each Akkar gave his orders a sign that the wooden gates are on the verge of breaking. And now that the enemies are near. Everyone''s tension is getting stronger and stronger.


    Akkar''s chest swelled up. His breath was sealed. And the pressure in his abdomen rose. Then he howled on the top of his lungs.


    "THIS WILL BE OUR LAST STAND!!!"


    Akkar mumbled to his self. "Goodluck..."

 Chapter 73 - Fun

    "The gates won''t hold long..." Elise uttered as she rested her arms on Akkar''s back to heal him to full health.


    "Do you think we can win??" Akkar questioned while sitting on the ground to rest. For thest fight, he needs to restore some of his energy. Fighting on the frontline for almost an hour without any breaks drained his energy. The only thing that kept him moving was his willpower.


    When he surveyed earlier he found out that out of 1000 yers. He estimated that there''s around 400 to 600 yers alive. And they are at a huge disadvantage. Everyone on their side is too worn out to fight, and yetyet the goblins are still moving strong. They were smashing the gates non-stop as if they were craving for more. The humans they tasted earlier are clearly not enough to satisfy their hunger. Their current numbers are not enough to defend for a much longer time. A lot of their tanks and melee fighters have died already. Once the goblins break through the remaining tanks, and fighters. All hell will break loose. The supports and the range attackers can only run for their lives.


    "You don''t need to stress yourself too much. Win or loss, I''m sure everyone had fun. Even those two people fighting the enemy''smander are probably having fun themselves." Elise answered as she healed Hal, who was also resting beside Akkar. He may not have known it but today is one of the happiest days in her life.


    "Sister is right, isn''t that why we are ying? To have fun, besides, I hadn''t had this much fun in years while doing my best." Hal, who has been cleaning his swords with a cloth, reiterated. "You know, being a college student... There are barely any days that I enjoy. School life only gave me more stress no matter how good I did. But ying with you guys made me forget all the stress, depression, and all the sh*ty problems I had in real life. That is why win or lose. I still had fun, but I will still do my best till the end. So don''t you dare lose your morale to fight right now."


    "Fun, huh... then let''s have more funter." Akkar muttered as he closed his eyes to rest. They were right. He was so engrossed being themander of the army to the point that he almost forgot that he was ying a game.


    He realized that a lot of the game tutorials these days are unbeatable. So if the tutorial in this game was designed to be unbeatable. Then it wouldn''t matter what they do because the fate of the vige is to be destroyed.


    "There, you''re all healed up. Don''t disturb me okay? I also need some rest." Elise uttered as she stood up and sat beside Akkar. She then rested her head on his shoulders and closed her eyes.


    Akkar''s eyes were wide open, and his heart almost stopped beating when he felt Elise so close to him. Her silky smooth hair smelt great, and her head feels light and cozy.


    He would have never expected that Elise would be so bold to make the first move. And here he is, thinking of what he will do to get closer to her after they finish the battle.


    "By the way, I was just wondering why are you cleaning your sword? Although, the weapons that we chose couldn''t be damaged or dirtied." Akkar asked Hal to calm his heart that was beating faster and faster. Elise''s slow yet seductive breathing. At the same time, he moved his body closer to Elise and adjusted her head for her to feel morefortable.


    F*ck even in the game, I am a third wheel?? Hal red at the two of them for flirting right in front of him. There is not even a single consideration for a single person like him.


    Noticing Hal''s deadly re at him, he can only cast an apologetic look at him.


    "Hayst, anyway, earlier my instructor told me that cleaning my sword is a must. If I wanted to be stronger as a swordsman. It''s even more vital for me since I use two swords. I need to familiarize myself with my sword, its weight, length, every inch, and every edge. I need to know everything about my sword to get stronger. That''s what my instructor said. And I want to get stronger on this game to beat you the next time we fight." Hal answered as he grabbed his other sword to clean it.


    "My instructor also told me that it''s always better to carry your weapon to get more ustomed to it." Elise muttered as she enjoyed this moment.


    "It seems that our instructors rmended everyone to familiarize with our weapo..."


    Before Akkar could even finish what he was going to say, a vige guard came to them and reported. "Commander, it seems that the gates will break any second now!!!"


    Elise''s lips pouted, hearing the report of the vige guard. She hasn''t even thoroughly enjoyed the moment yet, and here they are, ruining their moment.


    However, she immediately changed her mindset. All she needed to do was to be his lover, and she could cherish these moments forever any time she wanted.


    "Let''s go?" Elise stood up and reached her hand out to him.


    Uh...


    He was stumped.


    He did not know what to do.


    Elise''s smile is super charming!!


    My heart is... beating so hard my chest hurts. My face is burning too... I''m sure I''m blushing hard.


    "Sister, seriously!? You guys are flirting right in front of me twice??" Hal stood up and walked to the gates. He couldn''t stand staying with the two love birds any longer.


    "Sorry..." Elise giggled as she apologized. She never expected that she would see a cute side of Akkar.


    Akkar managed to pull himself together as he held Elise''s hand and stood up. "Let''s go...."

 Chapter 74 - Last Minute

    The tension was rising as they peered at the gates. The goblins are knocking non-stop against the gate. Cracks appeared on the walls and gate as the vige seems to shook violently.


    They gripped their weapons as they were armed to fire as soon as Akkar gave them the signal.


    BAAANNNG!!!!


    The gate broke with a thud. Goblins started to get sucked at the entrance like a flood. The remaining tanks and vige guards formed a barricade, and blocked the goblins with their spears and shields. After fighting for a while with the vigers. The tank yers got better in coordinating with them. But the goblin''s charge was like stopping a massive tide. The goblins were entering the interior like an angry wave. They just stepped on the dead bodies and swung their weapons at them. It was total chaos in the area around the gate. The ce was brimming with floating light particles from the dead goblins and humans.


    "Block them!! Don''t let them move further!!!" Hal ordered. He clenched his weapon and jumped on top of the wall to the middle of the enemy. He needs to take charge of the melee fighters. Since Akkar will focus onmanding their backline to attack at the right time.


    The goblins in front of him were burning with a desire to kill him. But he didn''t feel afraid. He experienced more terifying things in real life than this crazy goblins. And he prefers this excitement over listening to boring lectures every day.


    "Aren''t we going to attack yet?? If we don''t attack now, we might die!!"


    "Butmander hasn''t given the signal yet!!"


    "Be patient!! Let''s trust ourmander!!" The range attackers on the roof did not move an inch yet. Even though their hands were itching to fire. Because they know that a single person''s magic cannot change the tides of the battle. However, they were reaching the limits of their patience. Seeing theirrade dying one after the other, they are the ones who are dying next if they don''t stop them now. Some were watching at the frontlines, and some were waiting for Akkar.


    "A goblin has breached our front line kill it!!!" A panicking yer shouted.


    At that moment, the signal they were waiting for came. A tremendous roar was heard thundering across the vige. The goblins turned towards the source of the sounds. It was an overwhelming sound that made them forget the enemy in front of them.


    "FIREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!"


    "FIRE!!!!!!!"


    "FIRE!!!!!!!!!!"


    "FIRE LIKE THERE''S NO TOMORROW!!!"


    The moment the signal they were waiting for thundered in their ears. A second was not even wasted as magics flew towards the goblins one after the other.


    "Don''t let them move further!!!" Kill them!!! Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire like crazy!!!"


    "Take cover!!!" Hal ordered as he grabbed a goblin''s dead body and carried it over his head. They were already told beforehand that they would be sacrificed. Because someone needed to stop the goblin''s charge, even for a few seconds. And they knew that they were the only ones who could do it.


    Akkar did not force anyone to do it. They could have backed out if they wanted. But everyone around him chose to fight. Death is nothing to be afraid of since it''s just a game. And they already havee this far. They won''t ept losing against some goblins in a tutorial. They will do anything to win.


    "Let''s go out of the gates and run wild!!" Hal ordered as he saw a few of hisrades die from friendly fires. He never expected that focusing everyone''s attack in one area will inflict so much damage. So instead of dying in the hands of their allies, they might as well die fighting against the goblins.


    "LET"S GOOOOO!!!"


    "FOR VICTORY!!!!


    "OOORRRAAAAAHHHH!!!!" The melee fighters raised their weapons, and shed with the goblins outside the gate.


    "Don''t stop firing. Kill all of them!!" Elder Jin uttered as he drew back his bowstring. Goblins kept crawling in the gate, even though their kin were dying in the front. They didn''t retreat and kept charging at them like ants. The moment one goblin died, another followed behind without a change of expression.


    Elder Jin was fast. He loaded arrows one after the other without taking any break. They killed and killed for the survival of the vige. Everyone repeated the same task like they were toys. But there was no such thing as repeated failures.


    A rain of magics and arrows enveloped the sky. Soon a ck light covered the earth, making the goblins fall down like dominoes.


    "Will he be okay??" Elise uttered as she healed a vige guard who managed to retreat before the gate was bombarded with attacks. She was worried about how Hal jumped in the middle of the enemy without any hesitations. Even though she had just known him earlier. He seems to be a charming and courageous kid resembling her brother, he just needs more time to grow.


    "He won''t... it''s thest minute... at this point, they can''t retreat... our attack can''t stop for even a single second, or it will be the end for all of us." Akkar answered as he threw a dagger with an explosive potion in it. So that he can at least help kill some goblins even if he ismanding in the backline.


    He could see the brilliant light of his swords moving between the goblins. The enemy went flying all over the ce. He uttered in aughing tone. "If he dies, I''ll teach him a lesson. But if he survives, I''ll give him a reward. I did give him my armor, so he shouldst a little longer if he does not do anything reckless." He gave his armor to Hal when he saw that he didn''t have any armor on him when they rested. And since his armor is also on the verge of breaking, he decided to give it to him. He''s not going to fight on the frontline anyway.


    Her dagger flew through the airand barely grazed the head of his target. Hitting the goblin behind it instead, her aim sucks but it doesn''t matter with how clumped up the goblins are.. She took another dagger on her inventory and chuckled as she said. "Should I also teach him something??"

 Chapter 75 - One Fighter

    "Five goblins breached on the left!!" Elise eximed as she threw a dagger to kill one of them. Time passed, the numbers of arrows and magic flying from the sky were gradually dwindling. Yet there are still plenty of goblins charging at them. It was as if they weren''t dying.


    "There''s no end for them..." Akkar muttered as he cleaves the space in half, splitting the goblin''s bodies that breached their frontline.


    "Commander, our attacks can''t keep up!!!" The tanks on the front are on the verge of copsing. While their main force is short on mana.


    He knows... He can see it... But there is nothing left he can do. He already used everything he could think of just to survive this long.


    And things got even worse when Elder Jin has told him that they may or may not win this fight any longer. Since Elder Jin''s perspective is hampered by the forest fire. They can no longer determine the situation of Alex and Ezekiel.


    He has told him that it''s fine if everyone leaves the vige when the gates haven''t fallen yet. While the vige guards will hold the goblins off so that they can have enough time to evacuate.


    Elder Jin asking him to retreat must be the sign that the tutorial has ended. And it should be fine to leave the vige since the vigers who evacuated first are already safe. So he thought that the battle they are fighting right now is no longer a tutorial. They must have triggered something like the goblins going berserk. That changed the flow of the game. It might be a hidden quest or a special scenario. Yet they will only know when the fight ends.


    "Commander, what do we do!!??" A tank getting pushed back cried out for help.


    Akkar did not answer and just lifted his great ax from his shoulders. He is exhausted, everyone is... his voice is already hoarse from all the shouting he is doing. But after all they have done, how can he tell everyone to give up and run.


    He hasn''t even lost his faith on Alex and everyone around him. So he chose to gamble everyone''s lives instead. A lot has already been sacrificed and died. The people left in here probably wouldn''t mind dying once.


    That''s why Akkar stood behind their, frontline stopping all the goblins that entered. It will be a race of time; can they kill themander first. Or will their tanks break first? And right now, he is theirst line of defense. Once he falls, it will be a feast of ughter.


    "I''ll take care of it. Tell them to keep attacking. But if I die, tell everyone to retreat and leave the vige in an instant. I''m bringing 500 explosive potions with me. It should be enough to hold them for a while." Akkar muttered to Elise as he pushed her back to the rear. He then strode towards the rampaging goblins alone.


    All this time, he''s been keeping his health at 50% in case he gets careless and dies. But this time, it doesn''t matter; he can go all out. He''ll show them what a berserker in death''s bed can do.


    The strength he will show this time will be different from the strength he showed on the duel. He did level up quite a lot in this battle.


    While marching Akkar''s gaze hovered deep inside the enemy. He shouted. "Hey, you''re still alive!!??" Unexpectedly he could see Hal''s sword dancing between the goblins. Hal''s armor was already broken and his clothes was in tatters. There were no uninjured spots on his body. Cuts, stab wounds, and broken arrows were all over his body. If this wasn''t a game he won''t be moving an inch by now.


    Hal was so focused on fighting the goblins that he did not even notice Akkar calling for him.


    He is using all resources he has just to survive this long. The wounds all over his body made it harder for him to stand. However, he can endure it!! He can still keep going!! He will fight till the end!!!


    In just a short amount of time, Hal has already grown stronger. Heughed as he brandished his great ax. He did not hold back as his great ax crushed the goblin''s body like a bug on the ground. Deadly blows after deadly blows were dealt against the goblins as he slowly strode towards Hal.


    "Hey, not ba..." Akkar arrived behind Hal, but before he could even pat his shoulders. Hal''s sword came flying at him shing with his weapon.


    "Calm down, it''s me!!" Akkar uttered as he brought Hal''s weapon to the ground with his strength. And lifted his ax up to kill a goblining behind him.


    Hal eximed as he continued fighting the goblins "F*ck, don''t scare me like that!! I thought I was done for." He suddenly got goosebumps when he felt something tall appear behind him.


    "I couldn''t stand watching you alone." Heughed as he kicked a goblin to the side.


    "But not, bad... How did you survive??" He asked as he stood shoulder to shoulder with Hal.


    "Sister Elise grabbed a lot of healing potions and mana potions and gave them to me. If it weren''t for those, I would have died already." Amongst the melee fighters that charged ahead, he was the only one remaining. Sucking up to someone strong has never failed him yet. That''s why he''s trying to be on the good side of Akkar.


    "How many did she give??" Akkar asked. With Hal on his side, he isn''t having that much of a hard time as he thought. They were still being hit from time to time on all sides. But having someone watching his back has lessened the burden of fighting on all sides.


    "100..." Hal mumbled as he moved a little further away from him.


    BANGGGG!!!!


    A poor goblin was crushed to the ground with a vertical sh from his great ax. "Huh!? Isn''t that too much!!? They only gave me 20 healing potions and 100 explosive potions." It felt like they were expecting him to die and kill as many as he could.


    Hal was suddenly covered in cold sweats as he killed goblins around them. It was as if he was caught cheating with Elise.


    "I''ll give you half I only have aroun..."


    BOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!


    "What?" Hal almost stumbled to the ground. When he was suddenly interrupted by an ear-splitting explosion like a loud p of thunder in the distance.


    Their heads simultaneously turned to where the sound came from. But what met their eyes was a bright sh of light. Apanied by a rush of heat and was followed by a huge pressure wave and the rumbling sound of the explosion.


    Hal''s leg shook and came to a stop as he stared at the iing explosion. It was like a nuclear bomb that no matter how fast you run, you''ll still get hit by it.


    "F*CK!!! WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR!!! RUN!!!" Akkar sped Hal''s clothes and ran with all his might.

 Chapter 76 - Blast Wave

    "What happened!??"


    "I don''t know. I just heard an explosion."


    "I think it''s from themander''s sacrifice."


    "It''s themander!!" A yer pointed at Akkar running while carrying a man in his arms.


    "EVERYONE RUN!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!" Akkar shouted as loud as he could, even with his hoarse voice. While carrying Hal, who was scared shitless in his arms. He did not block or dodge the strikes thrown at him. So that his berserk skill will make him run faster.


    "What is themander shouting!? I can''t hear a thing." Akkar''s voice was buried from the fighting and explosion from the magic attacks in his surrounding.


    "RUN!!!" Those archers who were on top of the wall jumped down when they saw the explosion''s st waveing at the vige. Those who jumped in panic have stumbled on the ground, wasting a few seconds of a head start.


    The tanks and vige guards that are still alive left the goblins and ran for their lives.


    "Oi!! The goblins are entering!!" The goblins stormed inside like mad the moment the obstacle stopping them disappeared.


    "Why are they running!?"


    "I don''t know why but f*ck it!! I''m running!!" The support and mages who were far off the wall were confused. But seeing them running in panic with solemn expressions made them drop everything they were doing and run.


    Akkar realized that it was already toote. Sweat started dripping on his forehead, and his surrounding had gotten hotter. "Emerge!!"


    He turned around and saw a horrifying sight of a massive burning cloud of dusting to the vige. "Take cover behind me!" He dropped Hal and drank the healing potion regenerating back to full health.


    "Emerge!!" Akkar brought out another healing potion to use in case of an emergency. He doesn''t know how strong the st will be, but it''s better to be safe than sorry.


    He nted his feet on the ground as deep as he could. And lifted his ax to his front to act as a shield.


    Hal stood up andy his arm on Akkar''s back, and nted his feet off the ground. "I''ll support from behind." He knows that it''s not the time for him to be a deadweight. His survival will depend on whether Akkar survives or dies. "Emerge!!!" He also brought out a healing potion.


    "Here ites!!" In just a matter of seconds, they were engulfed by the burning cloud of dust. His clothes ignited, and he could feel his skin burning. The pressure from the st wave was so intense that his body felt like being crushed each second.


    The st wave''s heat was so hot that it started hundreds of fires simultaneously. Nothing was spared from the wooden walls, houses, goblins, yers, and the heat, charred corpses beyond recognition. Even those who were far enough have felt the heat on their skin. As far away as those who were on the south gate of the vige.


    "HAAAAA!!!" Hal pushed Akkar as hard as he could so that they wouldn''t get pushed back by the st wave.


    "SH*T!!! Arrggggggghhhhh!!" He tried to hold his ground as much as possible. But in the end, the structure of his weapon isn''t designed for it to be a shield.


    "Heal up!!!" Akkar drank the healing potion while they went flying off the ground. "Emerge!!!" He brought out another healing potion to use, seeing his health dropping at a very fast rate.


    "Ughhhhh!!!" Hal''s back went flying to a burning two-story wooden house. Because of the intense pressure from the st wave. His back hit the house''s wall so hard that he dropped the healing potion he was about to drink and almost lost consciousness. But thanks to the pain reduction, he managed to recover his consciousness.


    Hal grits his teeth and endures the pain. While bringing out another healing potion. "Emerge!!" He drank the potion in a hurry seeing his health hitting rock bottom.


    Both of them were stuck on the wall of the burning house while drinking potions one after the other. They were doing everything they could just to survive.


    "When will this end!!??" Hal eximed as he tried to move out of the burning wall. However, it was pointless. He can''t even move an inch with how strong the pressure pushing them off.


    "Stop talking and keep healing!! We can''t stay conscious for much longer!!" Akkar shouted as he kept healing. Even with the pain reduction from the game. The pain from his body being crushed every second is so painful. It felt like he was being tortured every second. Their body is already beyond He can feel that his consciousness is already fading slowly.


    "F*ck I''m done..." Hal''sst words before he fainted.


    Akkar turned his head to his side when he heard another bottle of healing potion break on the ground.


    "Hey!! Wake up!!! Hey!!"


    "F*ck this!! Store!! Emerge!!" The weapon in his hands disappeared and was reced by two healing potions. He drank one and threw the other one to Hal. The vige guard informed him earlier that healing potions don''t necessarily need to be consumed directly to take effect. The liquid can still heal when applied to wounds. However, the healing effect is half since it is more effective when you drink it.


    It''s a waste to use healing potion this way since he has a limited supply of it. But he will do everything he can for the both of them to survive.


    "Emerge!!"


    "Emerge!!"


    "Emerge!!" Akkar''s eyes were closed as he kept repeating the same actions again and again. He did not think of anything and just focused on healing both of them. Just staying conscious is already hard enough. Monitoring both of their health is making it even harder.


    "Emerge... Emerge... Emer..." Akkar uttered inaudibly, but no potions wereing out of his hand. "Sh*t..." Then he realized that he ran out of potions.


    He tried to open his eyes to see the current situation. "Ahhhh..." He only caught a glimpse of the end of the st wave before his eyes gave up. His body and mind immediately gave in, realizing that it could finally rest.. In just a matter of seconds, he lost his strength, and he fell to the ground with Hal at the same time.

 Chapter 77 - Void Portal

    "What the hell just happened!?" Elise uttered while sitting on the ground. Almost all of them were sitting or lying down on the ground.


    She examined the devastated vige in front of her. The wooden walls protecting the vige turned to dust as if it was not there from the start. And there are no longer traces of the houses near the walls.


    She can''t see goblins and yers on the battlefield. She can''t even see one intact corpse. It was like everyone caught in the st wave were mass cremated in a single sh.


    "A void portal!? How can there be two void portals in one ce!?" Elder Jin suddenly eximed beside her as he examined something in the distance.


    "A void portal? Elise muttered as she tried to look at what he was looking at in the distance. Without the walls obstructing her vision, the scenery outside the vige is now in in sight. However, the forest she expected to see is nowhere to be found. What remains from the lush green forest is a huge crater on the ground. And in the center of it is a massive gate that''s fully covered with bones on its border, surrounded by a pitch-ck aura. Since the gate was as big as a two-story house, she instantly saw an identical pitch ck gate in the west. The two portal is about 3 to 5 kilometers apart. "What''s a void portal?"


    "Legend says that it is a portal created by sacrificing numerous lives to the demigod of death. Its purpose is to connect a floor in the void tower all over the universe. And creatures on that floor will keep entering the portal until the portal''s duration ends.


    She is worried, noticing that the elder looked scared and anxious. His body shook every time he looked at the two portals. She reached her hand out to his back and healed the elder to calm him down since he also took some damage from the st wave earlier.


    "But how can there be two portals in the same ce... Double portal means double the trouble for a month..."


    "This is bad... We can worry about that thingter. We need to put out the fire first. It''s spreading fast." Elise eximed as she stood up.


    The once chaotic and boisterous battlefield disappeared. Silence reced it, apanied by the popping and crackling sound from the woods of the houses burning.


    "Everyone, we need to stop the fire before it spreads further!!" Even though the st wave ended, the fires in the wooden houses spread in the other house. And the fire spreads fast. "Move it, people, move it, stop pacing out and move it!! Don''t let our efforts saving the vige go to waste!!" Even though she is tired, she needs to lead everyone temporarily. And the elder doesn''t seem to be in a stable condition to order the people around.


    Since there are no longer goblins in sight there number one priority right now is to put out the fire. She doesn''t want the vige to get destroyed further.


    "You''re right. We need to handle our current problem. We still need to salvage the vige as much as we can." Elder Jin grabbed Elise''s hand, helping him stand up. He regained hisposure as soon as he saw the fire growing bigger and bigger.


    "Those who cannot use ice magic, water magic, or anything that can put out a fire, find a bucket and get water. There is a river in the southeast of the vige." Elder Jin ordered as he went to a random house and found a bucket.


    "Let''s go, everyone!!"


    "Go!! Go!! Go!!"


    "Let''s save the vige!!"


    Even though they had one of the hardest and tiring role in the battle. And even with fewer numbers, the melee fighters are still full of energy as they were the first ones to take action.


    "If you see any survivor bring them to a healer as soon as possible!!" She reminded as she roamed around the area to heal those who were unable to move. While everyone was trying to put out the fire,


    "Akkar? Are you alive??" She tried calling out to Akkar to see if he was still alive. However, after calling him several times without any response. She gave up as she stared at the area around the gate with very low visibility. The smoke from the fire grew bigger, making it harder for her to find Akkar.


    Instead of worrying about Akkar and Hal, Elise focused heal those who were currently unconscious on the ground.


    After a few minutes, the fire almost covered all the area near the gates. It is now contained in the area and was slowly dying.


    "I foundmander!! Commander is alive!!"


    "It''s themander!!!"


    "We need help here!!"


    "Commander!! Commander!!"


    Hearing that, they finally found Akkar. Elise left the unconscious mage yer on the ground after she healed her and rushed to their location.


    "Move!!" Elise pushed the crowding yers. Akkar and Hal are both in a sorry state. Their skins were burned to the point that they were barely recognizable. But surprisingly, even though their upper garments were burned to crisp. Their lower garments were not even damaged, as if it wasn''t even touched.


    "Damn, how did they survive?"


    "I know, right. You can''t even see one yer or goblin that survived other than the two of them."


    "Commander is the best!!"


    "Commander is the best!!!!"


    "Commander is the best!!!!!!!"


    Elise smiled with everyone''s cheer around her. She reached her hands out to Hal first to heal him, seeing that his health was already at rock bottom and was still going down.


    "Stop gathering in here and move. The fire is not fully out yet!!" She scolded as she red at them. She noticed that a lot of them were gathering in their area because of the loud chants from the people around her. She knows that they were also worried about them. But it''s pointless to stand there and watch her heal them. They might as well clean the vige.


    The people who understood her dragged off theirpanion and left the area.. "Let''s go."

 Chapter 78 - Villages Savior

    When Elise finished healing Hal and was about to heal Akkar. She noticed a slight movement of his fingers. He appeared to have just woken up and was absentmindedly lying on the ground. His expression was wooden and nk as if he had just recently woken up in aa. Anyone who saw it would feel their heart hurt and make them helplessly want to embrace him.


    Akkar didn''t know how long his slumbersted. But when he tried to open his eyes, his body felt light, as if it was floating. His state of mind was in shambles as though a lifetime had already passed.


    "Who..." In the next second, Akkar opened his eyespletely. He froze in confusion at first the instant a woman''s figure reflected in his blurry vision. He tried to reach his hand out to her face but dropped them halfway when he heard the woman''s voice.


    "Take a rest. Both of you worked hard." Elise softly whispered as shey her hand to his chest and casted healing magic. She took her time and let Akkar regain hisposure first.


    Heplied and closed his eyes as he lowered his guard down. His body is begging him to take a rest. His body is so worn out he can hardly feel and move it.


    Being burned to death countless times doesn''t feel good at all. The pain and difort still lingered all over his body. It feels like needles were stabbing him every second.


    It was only thanks to Elise''s healing magic that he could rest a little.


    "What the hell happened earlier?? Did we win??" Akkar mumbled as he let the warm energy spread across his body.


    "I also don''t know, but it seems that the explosion has stopped the goblin invasion for now. But how did you guys survive??" It still baffles her how they managed to survive. When she hasn''t seen anyone who also survived other than them.


    "I don''t know how... the explosion must have affected my memories. I can barely remember what I did earlier. All I can see are fuzzy images."


    "It''s fine. Don''t force yourself." Elise moved one of her hands to his head and gently massaged it.


    "Commander, we''ve put out the fires!!" After they put out the fire, the yers crowded on Akkar''s ce once more to see his current state. They squatted quietly around them in a circle to rest. Some had their eyes closed; some were casually chatting with the person beside them. And some were just sitting on the side observing.


    She can see the fatigued in their eyes, but the happiness she sees around her is evident. Who wouldn''t be happy? They won the battle after giving everything they had.


    "Arghhh..." While still healing Akkar, she suddenly heard a grunt on the side. She looked over and saw Hal getting up and clenching his head.


    "Stay down. You look way worse than Akkar." Elise uttered as she easily pushed Hal''s weak body to the ground. Hal looked more absentminded than Akkar when he woke up. So she used her other hand to massage his head. While her other hand is still healing Akkar.


    "Hey, you owe me one!" Akkar turned his head and eximed.


    "I think he is still unconscious." Elise uttered, seeing Hal not responding.


    "He did experience something horrible. The pain in this game is not something to scoff at even with the pain reductions." Akkar uttered as he slowly stood up after recovering some of his strength. He needs to finish his job as themander.


    "Did you recover your strength??" Elder Jin, who was also waiting on the side, asked.


    "It''s enough; everyone''s waiting." The sooner he finishes it the sooner he can rest with ease.


    Elder Jin nodded and stood up.


    Akkar looked around first, then he uttered. "First of all, I want to thank all of you... for believing in me. I have no power of my own, but with your strength, but we''ve won this hard battle!!!" He stepped back for a moment to let the elder talk. He overestimated his current state. Even though he only talked for a few seconds, he is already panting a little.


    "From the bottom of my heart, thank you..." Elder Jin bowed his head. "Even though half of the vige is destroyed from the aftermath of the explosion. The life of our vigers you have risked your life to protect is still here. And with that, I''m going to keep on counting on you, our guardians, to help us rebuild a new Honey Combed vige. With your help we can create a vige that is more beautiful than what you have seen before. And as a reward for all the things you have done. All guardians in here will receive a 30% discount on all transactions with Honey Combed vigers permanently.


    The elder then lifted his bow to the sky as he shouted as loud as he could. "This battle... Is our victory!!!"


    On the elder''s shout. The guardian spirits of the yers also announced their questpletion to them.


    A lot who lost hope earlier couldn''t believe that they won not until they heard their guardian spirits.


    [Congrattion onpleting the tutorial. You may now explore the world of Parabellum as you please. Enjoy...]


    [Hold off Goblin Invasion]


    *Status: Sess


    *Reward: Honey Combed viger''s survival


    [Hidden Quest: Save Honey Combed Vige]


    *Status: Sess


    *Reward: Title (Vige''s Savior)


    "Was that it!?"


    "Did we really win!!??"


    "We won, didn''t we!??"


    "We won!!!!!!"


    Akkar also raised his weapon to the sky and cheered with everyone else.


    "That was one heck of a tutorial. I can''t help but anticipate what challenges we will encounter next." Akkar eximed as he squatted on the ground once more. Giving a speech and cheering with everyone has already drained all of the energy he has recovered.


    A lot were too upied celebrating their victory that they hadn''t noticed the hidden quest. "You were right. It really is a hidden quest." Elise muttered as she looked at her stats.


    * Name : Elise * Race : Human


    * Weapon: Rosary * Title : Vige''s Savior


    * Character Level : 4 * Weapon Level : 4


    * Health : 200 * Mana : 300


    * Strength : 5 * Agility : 5


    * Stamina: 10 * Intellect : 15


    * Wisdom: 15 * Luck : 25


    * Experience required to Level: 296/338


    * Skills: Healing Proficiency, Heal.


    Her hand hovered over the vige''s savior title that was blinking non-stop, highlighting that it was new.


    * Vige''s Savior - 30% discount on all transactions with Honey Combed vigers.

 Chapter 79 - Town Upgrade

    After quite some time had passed, everyone gradually settled down. Elder Jinid his tired body in a quiet corner after he ordered the vige guards to clean the debris in the vige and call back the vigers who evacuated. Even though there is still the danger of the void portals, he chose to trust the information from the books he read.


    Void portals tend to take one to three days before monsters start appearing from the portals again. A day is enough for them to n what they would do. And there are still things to pack that was left behind by the vigers when they evacuated in panic.


    It pains him to leave the vige, but the trouble that the two void portals will bring cannot be underestimated even with the help of the guardians.


    Elder Jin sighed as he stared at the guardians walking out of the vige in the distance. Guardians are like a foreigner in their world. It is not their responsibility to protect the vige, nor do they have a reason to stay. Without any reward, very few will stay and protect them.


    "In the end, the fate of the vige is to be destroyed. Is it really all for nothing?" He looked up in the sky and closed his eyes as he reminisced the vige''s past.


    ...


    At the same time, the yers did their own things. Some traveled to the next town that the vige chief rmended to join the Adventurer''s guild and explore the game as soon as possible. Some continued to rest, while some who had work and sses logged out first since they still don''t know how the time works in the game and the real world.


    Meanwhile, Akkar and Elise continued to rest and pass the time with his viewers waiting for Hal to wake up. He had fun meeting and introducing himself to his new viewers while Elise supported him on the side.


    Although he had lots of viewers during the battle, a lot of those people left as soon as the battle concluded. Out of the more than 100,000 viewers, only 8,000 of them remained, but he already expected it since they had just met him. His priorities will be making these people who stayed continue watching him. It''s sad to see a huge number of viewers leaving. However, he did manage to get a lot of video clips that have a high chance of going viral if he uploaded them fast. One of them is his battle with Ezekiel, the fight with the goblin army, and even Alexandria''s mysterious strength will garner the interest of the masses.


    They didn''t wait too long before Hal finally woke up, after confirming that he waspletely fine the three of them decided to look at the void portal up close to satisfy their curiosity.


    Akkar turned off his stream first as a precaution of leaking any information they might find in their investigations. They decided to check the portal closer to the vige first before they check the battlefield Alexandria and Ezekiel fought.


    "There''s nothing left in here." Elise eximed as she walked closer to the void portal. Now that she had a closer look, she could feel the ominous aura around the portal crawling through her skin. "Ahhhh!!"


    "What happened!? Akkar''s attention, who was walking around the ce, was interrupted by Elise''s screech. When he turned around, he saw Elise holding her right hand with burn marks on them.


    "It''s nothing. I did not get hurt; I was just startled when the portal suddenly shocked me when I touched it." Elise uttered, noticing Akkar''s worried look on her fingers.


    Hal also tried touching the portal out of curiosity, only to suffer the same fate. "This thing stings!!"


    "..."


    "Move aside, let me try something," Akkar uttered as he walked towards the portal while dragging his great ax on the ground. His entire arm thickened and tightened, with his muscle slowly bulging out.


    Elise and Hal hurriedly moved aside, seeing Akkar lifting his weapon in the air.


    With a soft shout, he struck his weapon down on the portal in front of him.


    BANG!!!


    A rather resounding explosion rang out. Even the ground seemed to tremble after that. However, the explosion didn''te from the portal breaking. It came from the retaliation of the portal as if it had a mind of its own. Not only did Akkar suffer the same fate as the two of them. It was a lot stronger than he expected.


    "Arghhh!!" Akkar grits his teeth as he pushes his great ax with all his might. s, no matter how hard he clenched his great ax. The portal is emitting an unknown force that is repelling his great ax, coupled with the portal''s shocks running across his body. In the end, his grip loosened up.


    "Watch out!!" Elise shouted to Hal, seeing Akkar''s weapon flying in his direction.


    Hal leaned to one side to avoid the raging great ax. "F*ck, what did you do that for?? Are you trying to kill me!?" He eximed, staring at the great ax buried deep in the ground. Good thing he was paying attention, or else he couldn''t have dodged it.


    "It seems that destroying it is not an option." Akkar was in a dazed state for a short while, before he strode to his weapon and pulled it off the ground. "Don''t worry, it will only sting."


    "Does it hurt?" Elise uttered. She took a closer look at his two arms, seeing that it was full of burn marks. She instantly held his arms and casted healing magic.


    Hal looked at his burned hands, then at Elise''s hands holding Akkar''s hands. "Let''s go there''s nothing to see here." He felt a little lonely that he thought of finding a girlfriend in a moment.


    Akkar and Elise nodded to each other before following Hal.


    "What the hell happened in here!?" Hal eximed, After arriving the three of them were astounded by the scene in front of them. The crater created from the explosion is bigger than they thought it is almost as big as ake.


    "What are these?" Elise uttered. Once they got close enough, the sight of items scattered on the ground in front of the void portal immediately caught her attention. Among these, the item that caught her attention is a scroll, a key, and a staff, while different kinds of potions were scattered around them.


    The first thing her hand grabbed is the scroll. She thought that it might be a scroll to learn a new skill. But her guess was so far from the truth.


    [Acquired Scroll of Town Upgrade]

 Chapter 80 - Sealed Weapon

    "Town Upgrade?" Elise muttered as she read the scroll. On the top right corner of the scroll, she saw a logo of a ck sword and a white shield in front of it. There is nothing much to read in the scroll, seeing that it is straightforward in its instructions on using it.


    [Scroll of Town Upgrade]


    *Rank: E


    - Giving this scroll to the adventurer''s guild can develop a chosen vige into a town and receive the role of the town''s vice mayor.


    "What did you find?" Elise found the scroll quite interesting, but she closed it for now. Then she faced Akkar and Hal to discuss how they''ll use it. Besides, she also wanted to see the things that they picked up.


    "Nothing much a mysterious key, poison potions, and an antidote." Hal passed everything to Elise for her to see, then he curiously looked at the staff at Akkar''s hands.


    "I think this staff is the weapon of the enemy''smander. But this weapon... I find it weird."


    "Weird?"


    "I can''s see any information about it," Akkar answered Elise as he passed the goblin shaman''s staff to her.


    The information of the items appeared in front of her the instant her hands touched the items.


    [Floor One''s Key]


    - Rank: C


    - Open the door of the tower''s first floor.


    [Poison Potion]


    - Rank: A


    - Quality: High


    - Decreases the affected target''s health by 10 health points every second.


    - Poisonsts for 24 hours unless cured by an antidote.


    [Antidote Potion]


    - Rank: A


    - Quality: High


    - Cures high-quality Rank: A poisons and lower.


    [Chaos Staff] (Sealed)


    *Rank: B


    "..."


    "Sealed? And rank B??" Elise muttered while holding the items in her hand.


    Akkar was right; she found the weapon more mysterious than the key they found. Because of all the items, she found in the vige, the item''s simple information will always appear in front of her no matter what it is. Yet this weapon only shows the name, and what''s more, it being Rank: B means that it is better than the weapons currently used by the yers that are Rank: A. But as for how to unseal and use it, they have no idea.


    After pondering for a few moments, Elise tried asking her A.I. for any clue. However, her A.I. did not give any information, so their only option right now is to ask elder Jin.


    "ording to my A.I., aside from the potions, these things here are the reward from killing the enemy''smander. I can guess where to use the key since Elder Jin mentioned something about a tower connected to the void portal. But I am not certain that it is only one tower in this world. As for the town upgrade scroll and weapon, I suggest that we wait for the two of them since these items are their reward." Elise suggested while she temporarily stored the items in her inventory.


    Even though she wanted to develop the Honey Combed vige into a town, thinking that it might help them with the void portal''s predicament. However, she doesn''t have the right to use the item since it doesn''t belong to her. She can only hope that Alexandria agrees to her suggestion for the vigers. "Let''s go back; there''s nothing left in here," Elise muttered as she pulled the two men back to the vige.


    Akkar and Hal agreed since those items aren''t their reward, to begin with. They are already satisfied that they have managed to survive the battle thanks to their efforts in fighting the enemy''smander.


    Hal sighed as he looked back at the aftermath of the battle as they got farther and farther. "What a shame... We are still in the tutorial yet; we are already eating someone''s dust." He can''t help but imagine how intense the fight against the enemy''smander was when they themselves were already having a hard time defending the vige. He wanted to get stronger fast and fight stronger opponents.


    Akkar shook his head, then swung his arms over Hal''s shoulders and eximed. "It''s pointlessparing yourself to them. Unless you have strong willpower to chase them, you will only feel inferior. You''re still young. I think it''s better if you focus on yourself first. After all, we have different paths to take; take it slow and try to discover what path you''ll take in this game."


    "As for them?? They will have a long journey ahead of them. We still have a lot of time to catch up." Elise shared her own thoughts as she stared at the crater in the distance. She can''t help but think of how hard the challenges the two of them will face in the future if they keep charging on this path.


    Hal only nodded as they entered the vige, still deep in his thoughts.


    ...


    Turning back the clock before the explosion happened.


    Ezekiel, who was running for his life earlier with Alex, is now backed in a corner. He was stopped in his tracks because of a burning tree toppled by the goblin shaman with a fast ice shard. This resulted in him getting knocked by a massive fireball separating him and Alex. With the burning tree behind them, he no longer had any choice but to confront the goblin shaman and defend the unconscious Alex on the ground that the goblin shaman''s target.


    Eyes narrowing together, the goblin shaman saw the woman defenseless on the ground. He raised his staff and angrily shot a ten-meterrge tornado ahead. "DIE!!!!"


    But at the same time, a long wooden staff came forth from the area along with a person holding into it!


    Ezekiel bravely charged ahead of the tornado to protect Alex behind him.


    "Heal!" The tornado shot was already upon him as he emerged from the ck smokeing from the burning trees around him. Without slowing down in speed, Ezekiel''s entire body suddenly shed in green light as he braced against the tornado.


    The tornado collided against Ezekiel''s body mercilessly, but he withstood the pain and continued to storm forward.


    The goblin shaman narrowed his eyes as he regarded Ezekiel''s approach coldly. The temperature around him dropped as ten ice spears formed around the goblin shaman. The spears shivered slightly before it shot forward.


    Facing off against the spears, Ezekiel didn''t falter. Choosing not to dodge nor block the spears, he clenched his spear tightly and swung outwards with it.


    Then under the terrified eyes of the goblin shaman, he watched as five of his eyes spears started to crack underneath the might of Ezekiel''s staff.


    However, Ezekiel is not as strong as Alex. The remaining ice spears traveled to his arms and fractured them. He can only grit his teeth and heal his arms. As long as he protected his heart, head, and other vital parts of his body, getting hit was not a problem. So no matter how much he got hit Ezekiel, continued to charge forward and finally broke through the tornado.


    As soon as he had a clear sight of the goblin shaman, he clenched his staff tighter then threw it towards the goblin shaman as a distraction. He followed close behind his staff and got closer towards the goblin shaman.


    Furious, the goblin shaman''s body lit up as he manifested a dark red aura around him, protecting him from any form of attack.


    And just like Ezekiel expected, his attack had done nothing to the goblin shaman at all, let alone create a ripple in his barrier. His staff only bounced away from the barrier. However, it has already served its purpose to distract the goblin shaman.


    The moment his weapon hit the goblin shaman''s barrier, Ezekiel leaped through the opening, much to the goblin shaman''s shock and despair.. The moment Ezekiel leapt through the air, Alex who was hiding behind his shadow from the start pushed her feet off the ground and struck her fist towards the goblin shaman''s barrier.

 Chapter 81 - Dragons Art

    Alex has long woken up from the feeling of her skin burning from the fire and ck smoke choking her throat. She tapped Ezekiel''s shoulders countless of times, giving him a sign that she was awake.


    However she noticed that her body was not in its optimal state to fight, so she decided to continue pretending to be unconscious. She wanted to catch the enemy off guard, and since both of them learned morse code with their family''s military background, she told him her n while she continued her act.


    The fire around them continues to drop her health to rock bottom. It was only thanks to Ezekiel''s healing that she took her time to creating a n. But after running for so long they are now running out of time. They need to move fast or else Ezekiel''s health will also hit rock bottom soon, and he can''t heal the both of them simultaneously. They only have one try of catching the enemy off guard, and if they fail, it will truly be the end of them.


    And soon, the opportunity came with them being separated from the fireball''s st. Thanks to the advantage of having low visibility due to the smoke rising from the area. The goblin shaman now has to focus his attention on one of them. And just as they expected, the goblin shaman focused his attention on her.


    Perhaps she angered the enemy so much that even though she was defenseless on the ground, he still usedrge-scale magic to kill her. Or maybe he runs out of magic to use; she''ll never know. But it was thanks to the tornado he casted that her n ran smoothly.


    The raging tornado converged the fire and the ck smoke in the area around it, lowering the visibility around them more. And with this, she managed to go move unnoticed, leading to their sessful surprise attack.


    "..."


    The moment Alexandria suddenly appeared behind Ezekiel. The goblin shaman was surprised for a moment; he thought that the magic he used was enough to engulf her whole. But seeing her awkward movements, he can tell that she is almost at her death''s door.


    Facing Alexandria''s fist, the goblin shaman''s eyes shed with a hint of disdain. In his eyes, her fist can''t do a thing against his barrier when she hasn''t even broken the barrier when he used his friend''s staff. How can her mere fist break his barrier?


    Neglecting her attack, he conjured ice spears to finish them off once and for all. However, just when the sixth ice spear is about to be conjured. The wooden staff that had bounced off from the barrier earlier came flying back right at him, aimed at his throat with greater speed and momentum. And just as he expected, the attack did nothing to his barrier at all.


    On the other hand, before the staffpletely bounced off from his barrier, Alexandria finally arrived in front of him. The goblin shaman let out a cold snort, the killing intent in his eyes intensified. He stopped casting his magic midway as various strands of cold air were spreading out around him, sending a shudder through anyone who would take a look at it. Heunched the eight ice spears at her. Even with the burning forest around them, the coldness was still intense!


    Frowning slightly, Alex had no choice but to give up charging forward. With a step of her right foot, she dashed to one side and leaned backward at the same time. Since she is at a point-nk range, the tip of a spear almost grazed her chin.


    Seeing that the staff was halfway from bouncing off the barrier, Alex hurriedly pushed backwards with her right feet, returning her body to an upright position. At the same time, she reached out the right arm she was hiding from the goblin shaman''s eyes with bulging muscles and popping veins in front of him.


    "Dragon''s Art," Taking a deep breath, Alex whispered in the air as she focused all of her energy on her clenched fingers, then thrust it at the wooden staff.


    "Dragon''s Ovepping Fist, Tenfold!!" Alex roared as her fist connected with the staff. While the staff collided with the barrier, unexpectedly creating a resounding explosion. Afterwards, Alex was sent flying backwards, while in midair, a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. Clenching her teeth, she managed to do a flip. Afternding on the ground, she had to take five steps backwards in a shaky manner before she can stabilize her footing. She had already pushed her body to its limits three times in a row, with each time leaving her in a more difficult situation.


    An unbearable pain spread up from her fist, which was eventually stopped by her on the shoulder by pressing an acupoint. Her entire right arm was now ghastly pale as it hung on the side. She could not even feel it at all.


    However, she didn''t have the time to examine her body as she noticed the cracks in the goblin shaman''s barrier. She is unwilling to give her enemy a chance to take a breather. So with her crippled right arm and tattered body, she raised her left fist, her eyes glittered with ferocity. Then she forcefully pushed her feet off the ground and charged at the goblin shaman.


    The goblin shaman''s eyes were filled with horror and disbelief, and there was even a trace of... bafflement. He watched as his barrier trembled from their attack. However, his nightmare had just started; the entire barrier started trembling nonstop. Afraid that his barrier would break, he raised his staff and channeled more mana in it to further strengthen its defense.


    He is clueless of what she did with his barrier. At first, the force of impact had not been powerful. But in a matter of seconds, wave after wave of pressure suddenly exploded, just like how a nail was driven into a wall. When hit continuously, these waves of pressure spread out nonstop from the tip of the staff and surged straight up through all over his barrier. The wooded staff slowly continued to prate as a force of impact pushed the staff in the same spot again and again. Three or four times would have been nothing at all. Five or six times would have been bearable. But, when attacked by more than eight times, even if he poured in all his mana in the barrier, it could not withstand it!


    The barrier trembled so hard as if they were about to snap, and it seemed to be giving off light crackles. Ayer of fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead as he poured more mana on his barrier. Yet, his effort seems to be wasted as the tenth wave of Alex''s fist strike came pierced the goblin shaman''s barrier.


    "Noooo!!!" The goblin shaman screeched in panic as he watched his barrier disappear in thin air.

 Chapter 82 - Too Late

    "Impossible!!! Impossible!!!" Flustered, the goblin shaman took half a step backward. Even more, what scared him was that, even though the wooden staff had broken his barrier, it''s still flying at him.


    Facing the wooden staff which was aimed at his heart. He had no choice but to lean his body to one side in haste. He couldn''t even react before a strong force hit his left shoulder. His entire body was sent flying like a disconnected kite creating a blur in his flight. He screeched in pain as he saw his left arm flying in the air. The wooden staff was then buried deep on the ground along with his arm.


    "I''ll kill you!!! I''ll kill you!!" The longer they fought, the more agitated he became. His eyes were blood red, and his face was full of ferocity. However, under the look of hatred in his eyes was a trace of... sorrow.


    Just when he wanted to retaliate as soon as hended on the ground, a streak of blood flowed out from the corner of his mouth. The goblin shaman had an urge to spout a mouthful of blood, but he suppressed it. However, just when he raised his head, he suddenly stood still. The expression on his face stiffened then turned into one of disbelief, as Alexandria appeared right in front of him.


    ...


    Alex ran with full speed as she saw her health dropping lower and lower because of the fire and the poison earlier. As soon as she reached her opponent, she curled her fingers to form a w and thrust it at the goblin shaman''s throat. Alex carried this attack extremely fast, bringing her hand to the goblin shaman''s throat almost in the blink of an eye. Then she made a grab with force! Yet she was only able to grab a trace of a blur!


    Alex scanned the area then located the goblin shaman being teleported 15 steps in front of her. A trace of smile appeared on the corners of her lips. Even though she missed her attack, everything was going all ording to the n. "Fool, the same trick won''t work on me thrice."


    "Now!!"


    Just when the goblin shaman''s about to cast arge-scale magic. Alex''s shout alerted him, but his pupils dted when he tried to turn his head around. He was already toote a green sk came flying right in front of his face, followed by a flying kick aimed for his head.


    ...


    Ezekiel had hidden in the thick billowing smoke after throwing his weapon. The smoke is so thick that he can''t even see his hands. Even though he feels as if he is being strangled by the smoke. He trusted Alex to catch the enemy off guard, so he waited and waited even though his skin started to burn.


    And soon, the signal he was waiting for came. He clenched the poison potion in his hands, then stormed out of the smoke''s cover. As soon as he saw the goblin shaman eight steps away from him, he immediately threw the poison potion and followed after it.


    With the goblin shaman''s barrier and teleport on cooldown, he was put in a difficult situation. He no longer has any defense magic he can use, so he clenched his teeth then pushed his feet against the ground. He had to avoid the kick aimed at his head at all costs, as long as he stays conscious he can still retaliate. Since he had jumped up, the kick originally aimed at his head was redirected at his chest instead. The backward jump helped him dodge the poison potion and create a distance of about an inch between him and the kick. But it was all pointless Ezekiel''s kick hit him squarely in the chest. "Catch!!"


    The goblin shaman''s body was once again sent flying in again flying in Alex''s direction. In his flight, a flush rushed up to his face, which looked a bit pale at first. In the end, he could no longer endure it and spouted out a mouthful of blood.


    "Let me see you run away now." At the same time, Alex''s w caught the goblin shaman''s head.


    Without a second thought, she pummeled his head on the ground as hard as she could. "This is for the stats that was wasted on my stamina!!"


    Bang!!!


    Rattled by their relentless onught. He felt simr to being a piece of paper flowing in the wind with just how useless he had been in front of them. Another spray of blood flew out from the goblin shaman''s mouth.


    Previously he had been so sure that he was so close to killing the two of them. Yet now the tables had turned, and the chaos curse is also running out of time.


    The anger in his eyes disappeared and was reced by the growing fear each time she mmed him on the ground.


    Ezekiel healed himself as he watched Alex brutally pummeled the goblin shaman''s body on the ground countless times.


    "..."


    Bang!!


    "This is for all the damage I received!!" Alex pulled the goblin shaman''s head off the ground, then mmed it again in the next second.


    The feeling of powerlessness grew heavier and heavier, and in time the goblin shaman felt himself being unable to move.


    "..."


    Bang!!


    "This is for my right arm!!"


    "..."


    Bang!!


    "This is for the vigers!!" The sounds of bones cracking apanied the goblin shaman''s body, hitting the ground for the 4th time.


    After feeling satisfied, Alex pulled him out off the ground again, but she threw him lightly in the air this time. After her hand left the goblin shaman''s head, her fingers curled into a w and thrust it in his throat.


    "Hi," Alex greeted the goblin shaman with a smile as she tightened the grip of her arms.


    Meeting face to face with Alex, the goblin shaman can''t help but look hatefully at her. Still looking unwell, the goblin shaman gritted his teeth and struggled to break free from her clutches. It was with great fear as her hands wrapped around his neck and made him even weaker and weaker.


    "Anyst words?" Alex asked coldly, even if she couldn''t understand him anyway. She only asked him as a respect to a strong opponent like him. She decided to end his suffering, seeing that the forest fire grew stronger.


    However, instead of the goblin shaman''s cry as a reply. A burst of evilughter echoed through her ear, then she suddenly understood the words he said. "Toote, human.... Chaos will devour EVERYTHING!!"

 Chapter 83 - Corpse Explosion

    Alex felt a chill of foreboding running down her spine as hisughter echoed through her ears. She immediately tightened the grip in her arms. The veins in her arms are popping and her muscles bulging in front of him.


    "kkkk!" The goblin shaman squirmed and tried to wiggle free of her grip. His nails dug deep in her arms, and he tried to kick her away. But his small and weak stature couldn''tpare to Alex''s strength.


    In a matter of seconds, his resistance started to weaken. But when her eyes met his bloodshot eyes, she didn''t see the eyes of someone dying. He smiled at her, then raised his head to the sky and screamed at the top of his lungs. "COMEEEE!!!!!!!"


    Alex suddenly felt her life in danger, seeing that strangling him was not enough. She rushed to a burning tree and smashed his body in it. However, he continued to scream as loud as he could. And soon Alex''s fingers were slowly being pushed back by the growing dark red aura around him.


    Even though she poured every ounce of strength in her every attack with the intent to kill him. It seems that The sense of danger she felt in him grew stronger and stronger each second.


    "Tsk," Alex pushed her feet off the ground. However, after retreating a couple of steps, she suddenly lost her bnce. It was because her right leg copsed out of nowhere. It was only thanks to her fast reaction that she recovered her bnce. And stayed in a half-kneeling position.


    "Did I force it too much??" Alex mumbled while panting heavily as she felt the exhaustion she suppressed with acupuncture earlier is taking a toll on her body. The pain she umted burst forth and started to attack all over her body.


    "Alex!!" Ezekiel cried in panic. He wanted to go to her side and heal her. However, his feet are frozen by an unknown force.


    "How weak... One Dragon''s Art, and I''m at my limit." Alex muttered as she tried to stabilize her breathing first. She overestimated her current body, thinking that she could finish the fight in a short amount of time. As a result, she used her family''s Dragon''s Art which significantly took a toll on her body, mind, and spirit.


    She once experienced doing the same thing on Guardian, so she thought the side effects would be minuscule.


    Alex doesn''t understand where she miscalcted when her current body is almost the same as the one she used in Guardian''s early days. The only difference was that she could exert more power in this game as she felt her spirit stronger.


    "You should have killed him when you had a chance." The goblin shaman uttered in a man''s deep, cold voice as he remained floating in the air.


    Alex raised her furrowed brows as she stared at him. She felt as if the enemy in front of her was no longer the same one she was fighting. No... the first time she felt something different was when she finallynded an attack on him.


    The strangest thing was blood. It was those drops of blood trickling all over his body. She only missed noticing the small details because she was annoyed. The goblins she slew did not drop even an ounce of blood. She even thought that it was a very nice feature of the game. Yet the drops of blood in front of her evaporating into thin air. And starting to merge with the dark red aura thickening it is the proof that blood does exist in the game.


    "Who are you??" Alex asked as she gritted her teeth and tried to stand up. However, she no longer feels even an ounce of strength in her right arm and leg. She still wanted to fight, but every second the blood merged with his aura, Alex felt the air around her getting thicker and thicker, slowly suffocating her. The gap between her strength and his feels as if it''s getting farther and farther.


    After the dark red aura absorbed all the blood in the goblin shaman''s body. He gentlynded on the ground and stared at Alex''s eyes, then at Ezekiel, who was behind. "I am Chaos; my enemies call me Conqueror, my allies call me Void''s Guardian. You can call me anything you like."


    "What an interesting duo, a hero and a sage?? And you have grown stronger in just a short amount. But in the eyes of those who reached the pinnacle of your race. Your strength is nothing but those of an ant."


    Alex tried observing her enemy while he was talking, but the more she watched, the deeper she fell into his abysmal prowess.


    Even Ezekiel, who was a few meters away from them, took a step back when he met his eyes. Even though his appearance is that of a small goblin. The fear he felt is almostparable to his experience when he was once at his death''s door.


    He was waiting for an opportunity to attack, but he felt as if he was just an ant in front of him. He wanted to go to Alex''s side to heal her. However, it felt as if the moment he moved, he would die instantly.


    Seeing that fighting him was pointless, Alex gazed at Ezekiel to give him a signal that it was time to run and leave her. With her current state of having her right arm and leg crippled, running and fighting are not their options. She can only ept her fate of death.


    "Run! I''ll buy you some time." Alex pressed some acupoints in her body once more to force her body to stand even with just one leg. They are already used to dying in games; she will just remember this defeat and take revenge in the future. As long as one of them lives, the sacrifice is worth it.


    However, the moment Ezekiel turned his body around to run, he was stopped in his tracks by Chaos''s words.


    "There''s no point in running. You''re quite unlucky for me to roll arge scale magic on my first roll of the day."


    "I wish to talk with you a little longer, but it seems everyone hase to greet me." Chaos uttered as he gazed at the cracks in space in the sky.


    "Stop spacing out and run!!" Alex eximed as she raised her fist and pushed her foot off the ground to charge at him.


    Woken up by Alex''s shout, Ezekiel ran with all his might.


    Using his hands, Chaos pierced his chest and grabbed his heart out in just a second. "It''s too early to meet everyone. Take your time to get stronger; we will be waiting."


    Chaos crushed the heart in his hand then chanted. "CORPSE EXPLOSION!!!"


    "Till we meet again, hero...."

 Chapter 84 - Void Realm

    Alex epted her fate when she caught a glimpse of his smile. She was perplexed with his innocent smile that made her stop in her tracks; it was as if he bore no ill intent against her.


    In the end, she wasn''t able to stop him. A dark me rose in his palm that engulfed his crushed heart. Then there, an earth-shaking explosion erupted. The pir of mes grew, devouring him and her in its path.


    However, she did not feel the pain she expected to experience. Rather the mes around her felt warm and pleasant. It was as if the mes started to be a part of her.


    Unbeknownst to her, an ember of a white me inside her that has dwindled in the past years suddenly reignited!


    The dark mes drew in close to the ember of white me as if being summoned. Or rather, the white me sucked in the dark mes with great fervor as if it finally found the fuel it needed.


    The dark mes appeared to resist the white me but only for a short amount of time. The two mes spiraled around her heart before shrinking to be absorbed in it. The introduction of the dark mes reinvigorates the ember of the white me. Then a heart-pounding throb ran through her body as if the white me in her heart wanted more.


    With renewed vigor, her heart sensed that there are more fuel outside her body. Soon enough, a whirlpool of mes was created. And at the center of it all was Alex.


    The whirlpool of mes glowed brilliantly with light. Alex, who was in the middle of it all, let out a slight grunt as she felt excruciating pain. She was taken aback when the warm feeling she felt earlier changed in just a matter of seconds. Now her entire body felt as if it was being burned alive.


    Alex tried to endure the pain as she watched the dark mes enter every pore in her body. She wanted to scream, but somehow the howls of pain died in her throat.


    The pain that was stabbing at Alex''s heart was almost enough to make her faint. The pain is so unbearable that she forgot that pain reduction in the game exists.


    However, Alex, whose health point was already below 10% when she confronted the goblin shaman, did notst a minute. Her agony in this hellfire did notst long before her vision darkened. She raised her head to the sky onest time before she lost consciousness to etch the beings that appeared in the sky in her heart.


    Then the chaotic battlefield she was in fell silent as though she was the only person left in the world. Then Lumiere''s soft voice echoed in her mind as if tofort her that she was beside her.


    [You Died]


    [Transporting yer Alexandria''s Soul to Void Realm for Body''s Reconstruction]


    ...


    After Alex died, the pirs of mes continued to grow stronger, devouring everything in its path. And as if she triggered a chain reaction in Alex''s burnt corpse, a dark me ignited in her heart and floated out of her body. Then there, an earth-shaking explosion erupted once more in a simr way that the goblin shaman''s heart exploded.


    Ezekiel, who ran as far as he could, suddenly heard a second explosion. He was lucky to escape the first explosion even though he rante. But this time, he wasn''t as lucky as he thought he was.


    "F*ck!!" He tried to look back only to realize that the mes were already right in front of his face.


    In just a matter of seconds, he was engulfed by the dark mes. His clothes burned to ashes, and his skin burned. The pressure from the explosion was so powerful that he felt like his body was being crushed each second. The explosion sent his body flying off the ground. However, unlike Alex, the pain he is experiencing is still bearable, thanks to the pain reduction of the game.


    And since Ezekiel also has very low health, to begin with. He onlysted a few seconds longer than Alex before he, too, perished.


    Then he realized that they lost the moment he heard his A.I.''s voice.


    [You Died]


    [Transporting yer Ezekiel''s Soul to Void Realm for Body''s Reconstruction]


    Then the chain reaction continued; his corpse suffered the same fate as Alex''s corpse. In Ezekiel''s burnt corpse, a dark me ignited in his heart and floated out of his body. Then there, the third earth-shaking explosion erupted once more. While the explosion swept through the battlefield.


    The corpses of the goblins they killed caught in the explosion also experienced the same fate. A dark me ignited in the hearts of the goblin''s corpses and floated out of their body.


    And each second passed a floating dark me exploded. But even though the explosion is not as powerful as Alex or Ezekiel''s explosion. The sheer number of goblin corpses alone made up for the explosion''s power.


    Each time a goblin''s corpse explodes, the corpse beside it follows suit. Until the explosion reached the mad goblins charging at the vige. Impervious to the things around them, the berserk goblin continued to charge ahead. Then the first casualty of a berserk goblin caught in the explosion died. The berserk goblin''s corpse had the same fate as those caught in the explosion.


    Then each berserk goblin that died from the explosion only added to its power. Then as if the domino effect had just started, the explosion continued to move forward without signs of stopping. With this, all the goblins died spectacrly.


    After killing everyst bit of goblins and yers, the battlefield turned to a still. And those beings in the sky who watched this spectacle slowly retreated to the crack in space behind them. The beings appeared and disappeared in a sh as if they did not appear in there to begin with.


    A woman with long ears that of an elf and golden blonde hair wearing a beautiful champagne colored sleeveless dress with a delicately embroidered pattern gives the dress an exquisitely gorgeous look. Before stepping on her portal, the woman gave a final look at the destroyed battlefield. She let out a sigh with a hint of sadness.. "War has started."

 Chapter 85 - Loophole?

    Alex saw a bright sh of light before she felt herself moving to another dimension. It took a moment before Lumiere''s voice echoed through her ears. "Wee to void''s realm."


    "Huh..." When Alex opened her eyes, she lost her footing and fell to the ground. Lying on the ground, Alex feels light-headed as she feels her strength leaving her body.


    "This..." Lumiere stared at her bbergasted when she tripped. Lumiere doesn''t understand why she lost her strength when usually dying once will not damage a yer''s soul or affect it at all. However, her current state looks like she died more than 7 times in a row.


    Dying once or thrice a day is not a problem since the void realm''s purpose is to ce the soul in a temporary vessel then rehabilitate it.


    But dying more than that, a yer''s soul can''t heal by simply resting for an hour in the void''s realm. yers who experience death multiple times in a row will naturally build up trauma that will affect the yer''s day-to-day life.


    A yer who has a damaged soul may experience unpredictable emotions, shbacks, strained rtionships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. It isn''t life-threatening since it onlysts a few days and, worse, a few weeks. But it is one of the guardian spirit''s jobs to monitor a yer''s soul from being damaged.


    "For now I think that you should log out and rest. I don''t know why but your soul seems to be exhausted." Lumiere suggested exining her current state and the consequence if she didn''t listen. Lumiere also exined to her that as an A.I. she was given by the system the ability to stop the yer from ying the game. But Lumiere can only use it if something risks the yer''s life inside and outside the game.


    "Your current state is not normal, please rest for now. That''s all, any questions??" Lumiere ended.


    Alex can tell that Lumiere is genuinely concerned about her safety. So listened to Lumiere''s in earnest since problems with the soul can''t be taken lightly. However, she never thought that the game''s A.I. is this amazing they even monitor the yer''s safety.


    "Don''t worry I will be fine with a few minutes of meditation," Alex eximed at her as she rxed her body. She did not panic because she had already guessed why she had lost her strength. Since talking with Lumiere while lying down is awkward, she struggled to squat crossed legs then positioned her hands on herp.


    "But..." Lumiere reminded her of the dangers but seeing her calm expression, she decided to observe her and take fast actionter.


    "If you see any problem you can do as what you have been programmed." Alex smiled at Lumiere, then closed her eyes as she slowly breathed in and out. Focusing her attention on the sensation of the air moving in and out of her body. It took her quite some time since she hadn''t done this for years before reaching a refreshing state of natural rity and concentration.


    The meditating technique that Zac taught to her to reduce the burden of using dragon''s art with her untrained body, mind, and spirit in the past is actually helping her recover. With this, she slowly felt her strength recovering.


    Lumiere, who was monitoring her, saw the results of her meditation as Alex''s paleplexion started getting better and better.


    ...


    Then after almost 30 minutes of meditation, Alex breathed out then opened her eyes to start scanning her surroundings. "Haaa, that tutorial was fun," Alex eximed as she reminisced the things she had done earlier while meditating.


    "So, where am I??" Alex asked as she couldn''t help but notice the enormous stone tower in front of her. She doesn''t understand why but it felt as if she had already seen or heard about this tower.


    The tower is as massive as the tallest skyscraper in the world. She almost thought that it looked like a giant stone pir. It was only thanks to the stairs and doors around it that made it resembled a dungeon tower in video games.


    Alex turned her gaze at the top of the tower as she felt something observing her. Then she suddenly had this urge of wanting to reach the top as if something or someone strong was waiting for her up there.


    She tried to look around, but everything around her and the tower was nothing. It is just pitch ck everywhere. It was as if she had fallen deep into the abyss. The only light source she has is Lumiere, who is floating around her.


    "This is void''s realm, a ce where you rest your soul until Yggdrasil repaired your vessel. Aside from that, you can also recover from the experience you lost in your death. In front of you is the void tower."


    "Void...?" Alex mumbled in her mind when she heard the name of the ce.


    Meditation helped her clear her mind and get a clearer memory of what happened before her death. She remembered Chaos talking something about him being the void''s guardian; she couldn''t help but connect everything with him. Especially those beings who appeared in the sky are definitely there because of Chaos. It''s like every leader of the races in the game is there to hunt amon foe. For her, every one of those beings who appeared in the sky from the dragon, angel, vampire, and even the fairy she saw exuded an aura of ast bosses in the game.


    Their strength may be miles and miles better than her current strength. Yet Alex can''t help but tremble in excitement as she thinks of fighting against them in the future.


    "Since you''ve meditated for 30 minutes already. You will now only need 30 more minutes before your vessel gets repaired by Yggdrasil. So you have the choice to log out, or gain back the experience points you have lost in your death."


    "You can gain experience here?? How!!?" Alex pushed her current thoughts of the future as soon as she heard Lumiere talking about gaining experience points. Her current strength is merely an ant against the beings in this game, so she needs to level up fast and get stronger.


    "It is easy all you need to do is kill monsters that the void''s tower releases. The number of monsters you will fight will correspond with the amount of experience you have lost."


    "Can you borate?" Alex asked as she only understood half of Lumiere''s exnation.


    "Let me give you an example. Let us say you have died with 20/100 experience points. Dying means losing all those 20 points but in the void''s realm, you can recover it by killing the monsters in the void tower. And 20 experience points will be equal to 20 monsters from the void tower''s first floor. But higher floors gives higher experience points so you''ll fight stronger but lesser enemies." Lumiere borated.


    Listening to Lumiere''s exnation, Alex suddenly thought of a crazy idea. "Lumiere... Am I cheating?? Or are there loopholes in the game??"


    "What do you mean??" Lumiere asked in confusion.


    Alex then asked with excitement. If it works, it is definitely going to be a shortcut for her. "With my hero trait of times two experience points, if I lost 20 experience points won''t I earn 40 experience points in here??"


    "...."

 Chapter 86 - ??? Chaos

    "Hey, does it work??" Alex asked once more.


    "..."


    If it does really work, then dying once or twice a day won''t be a problem. She doesn''t even need to hunt monsters to level up. She just needs to die, and experience points will being her way. Her issue of leveling up at a slow pace in the future looks to be solved.


    Lumiere''s silence only proves that her theory will probably work. "Anyway, so how much experience did I lose??" If she remembers it right, she has more or less 5500 before the fight with Chaos.


    Lumiere, who has been silent all this time, has finally given her the answer she wanted. "ording to the system, the theory you thought of works. But it is undoubtedly not a loophole and cheating.


    "Hmm??" Alex thought there must be more to it if the system does not consider it cheating.


    There are probably some restrictions to it, just like the two times increase in required experience or the 24 hours cooldown before she can steal other yers'' skills.


    "It is because it isn''t certain whether you can kill all the monsters summoned in an hour. Might I remind you that, you lost 9555 experience points. Since killing a chaos apostle usually give at least 2000 experience points. Do you really think you can kill 9555 goblins alone in under an hour without healing potions and healing magic?? You will be surrounded on all sides without a break. And once your health reaches 10% everything will reset. You will start all over again every time you''re about to die."


    "So, do you think you can take advantage of it? Your experience will continue to rise every time you level up. More experience points mean more enemies. Higher floors may have lesser enemies since they give more experience but they are a lot strongerpared to lower floors."


    Alex''s delusion of taking shortcuts was pped by Lumiere''s exnation.


    * Name : Alexandria * Race : Human


    * Weapon: None * Title : Hero +


    * Character Level : 8 * Weapon Level : 8


    * Health : 1340 * Mana : 620


    * Strength : 28 * Agility : 28


    * Stamina: 62 * Intellect : 26


    * Wisdom: 26 * Luck : - 100


    * Experience required to Level: 0 / 25600


    * Skills: Great Ax''s Weapon Proficiency.


    "I can''t, but I''ll do it in the future." Alex smiled at her. It''s not like she never fought being outnumbered. If she can do it in Guardian, she can also do it here. Healing magic? She can steal Ezekiel''s magic, and if he doesn''t let her, she''ll just find other healers. As for being outnumbered, it''s not like she can''t findrge-scale magic in the future. Her potential is limitless, and it is still the game''s first day. There is no point in worrying about the experience she lost that she can quickly gain back in the future. Besides, she is already level 8; based on that alone, she is already ahead of everyone.


    "Now then, summon those monsters. Let me see their strength." Alex uttered as she stood up. However, she hadn''t even walked a few steps before she staggered to her feet, swaying a little.


    "Tsk," Alex clicked her tongue in annoyance. Even though the meditation was effective, it doesn''t mean that she recovered all her strength, just enough for her to walk around. Damage to the soul can''t easily be fixed by meditating for 30 minutes. Meditating only helps her temporarily move around and prevents it from getting worse. She still needed a real rest, like sleeping or hours of meditation.


    "You still want to fight when you can''t even walk a few steps!!" Lumiere can''t believe her.


    "It''s fine, it''s fine, I won''t die in here right?? I just want to try." Alex pleaded. Even after meditating, there are still traces of adrenaline from her fight with Chaos. "Besides I know my body more than you do."


    Lumiere can only let out a sigh and relent to her stubbornness. As soon as she finishes early then, she can rest earlier.


    [Summoning Void Tower''s 1st Floor Goblins]


    Then four huge ck doors to the size of a fortress'' gate forming a cross appeared a hundred meters away from her. Then not even a second passed before goblins came charging forth at her on all sides. It was as if they couldn''t wait to tear her apart.


    She breathed out and rxed her whole body forming a drunken stance. She can''t fight all out with her current state, so she decided to take it easy.


    "Do they hate me??" Alex mumbled. The goblins she''s facing look even way worse than those berserk goblins she fought. Soon hundreds of goblins arrived in front of her. She quickly dodged their strike, weaving in between in their attacks. Then counterattacking by knocking her enemies down with her palm stikes.


    However, with how weak her physical strength she did not evenst a minute being surrounded on all sides. She was buried by the sea of goblinsing at her without any resistance. But just as she was about to die, Lumiere intervened.


    [You Failed] It was then followed by the goblins disappearing in the blink of an eye. It was as if they weren''t there, to begin with.


    "Satisfied??" Lumiere enquired at Alex, who was lying on the ground.


    "So weak!!" Alex mumbled with frustration. First day and she is already reduced to such a state. But despite the frustration, she felt, a broad smile was stered on her face. She was extremely satisfied she hadn''t felt this in a long time.


    Alex closed her eyes; she wanted to sleep.


    That short fight drained all the energy she had just recovered. However, she hadn''t even rested for more than a minute before Lumiere interrupted her.


    "Sorry for interrupting your rest but your friend Ezekiel is calling you. Do you want to answer?"


    "Hmmm," Alexzily answered without opening her eyes.


    "Where are you? I''m in the vige chief''s house!?" Alex was tired; however, Ezekiel woke her up when she found out that he was already in the vige finding her.


    She was confused about why is Ezekiel in the vige already. Then she found out that except her, everyone who died had revived 30 minutes after the tutorial finished.


    It was thanks to the tutorial''s quest to reduce the death penalty to half. But her case is an exception because of Chaos''s direct attack on her, which broke all the rules of the tutorial. While Ezekiel and those who got caught in the aftermath of the explosion only dropped all their items.


    [Hold Off Goblin Invasion]


    *Hold off the goblin invasion for 1 hour to allow the vigers have time to evacuate the vige.


    *Quest Failure: Half of Honey Combed viger''s death


    *Reward: Honey Combed viger''s survival


    *Tutorial quest''s benefit: The death penalty is currently reduced to half of the standard death penalty: yers will only drop 25% of the stored items in their inventory. And lose all equipped non-soul bounded equipment.


    She also heard from him that everyone received a title as a reward forpleting a hidden quest. She wasn''t paying attention much when she checked her stats earlier, so Lumiere reminded her of the plus sign.


    After pressing the plus sign, she saw two new titles blinking non-stop in her stats.


    * Vige''s Hero - 50% discount on all transactions with Honey Combed vigers.


    * ??? Chaos - Reduce skill''s cooldown by 10%

 Chapter 87 - Mourn

    When she saw the titles, Alex guessed that there must be more rewards waiting for them to im after beating the enemy''smander. But she refrained from asking Ezekiel for more as she felt herself getting weaker and weaker. "Hey Ezekiel, let''s talk about this when I respawn."


    "What??" He barely heard what she said with how faint her voice was.


    "I need rest," Alex whispered before disconnecting the call. Even though she is curious about the rewards they received, her soul seems too tired that she can''t even hold a conversation.


    And if she wanted to y the game a little longerter. She needed this rest, or she''d copse when she fights someone. But she knew that even an hour of rest would not be enough. "Lumiere, wake me up when it''s time to respawn." Alex said before closing her eyes.


    The ground she is lying on isn''t suited for sleeping at all. But the difort she felt disappeared as soon as the fatigue hit her.


    "What a troublesome master..." Lumiere sighed. Alexandria floated in the air with a wave of her tiny hand then a bed was summoned for her to lie on. With how fast Alexandria''s actions were, Lumiere wasn''t able to tell her that she could control or summon anything in this realm as she fits.


    ...


    Time passed, on the huge, soft bed, the girl was sleeping soundly with her flushed cheeks and silver-white hair strewn across the white pillow under her head...


    Lumiere lightly sat on the bedside to continue watching her. Then she heard Alex mumbling in her sleep. "I''ming, I''ming..." Lumiere, who doesn''t have any experience with dreams, moved closer to observe her.


    Meanwhile, Alex saw a woman chained up in a dark prison deep in her dreams. The woman was very tall. She had long silver-white hair just like hers. Even though she was chained up, she still looked elegant donned in her gold silk dress.


    As if noticing Alex''s presence, the woman raised her head at her. Alex can now clearly see her tall nose, defined facial features, and extremely good figure. Then Alex''s eyes and her scarlet phoenix eyes met with a smile on her face.


    Seeing her pitiful fate, Alex wanted to rush by her side and save her. However, no matter how much she pushed her feet off the ground, she didn''t feel herself moving an inch at all.


    Seeing Alex struggling, the woman shook her head as if telling her that what she was doing was pointless. The woman opened her mouth. However, no words came out. She stared at her in sadness, resigning to her fate.


    "Hold on, I''ming!! Arggghhhh" Alex grits her teeth, giving everything she can to move her body. Nheless, before she was able to make any progress, a female''s soft voice interrupted her.


    Then she felt her whole body being drawn in by a huge ck hole. "Noooo!!" Alex was able to read the woman''s lips saying ''Goodbye'' before she waspletely sucked in by the ck hole.


    "Alexandria!! Alexandria wake up!!" Lumiere shook Alex''s body, thinking that it was no longer just a normal dream.


    "Noooo!!!" Lumiere jumped in fright when Alex screamed when she woke up.


    Alex sat up in bed, clenching her chest while gasping for air. Alex slowlyposed herself by breathing in and out deeply.


    After getting ahold of herself, Alex looked around her when she felt the unfamiliar bed. Then she saw the huge tower that reminded her where she was so she rxed. As for the bed, she can guess that it probably came from Lumiere.


    "A dream??" Alex mumbled as she thought of the woman she saw. However, no matter how much she thought, she did not find any clue. So instead of worrying about an unknown dream, she focused on the present instead. "Why did you wake me up??" Alex turned to Lumiere.


    "You said to wake you up when you can respawn. You can now respawn, so I woke you up," Lumiere defended.


    "That fast??" It didn''t feel like she slept for about 30 minutes. It felt like a nap of 10 minutes as she scanned her body. And just as Alex expected, an hour of rest is clearly not enough to restore a significant amount of her stamina.


    "Do you want to respawn now??"


    "Yes," Although Alex still needed more rest, she couldn''t wait to explore the game as soon as possible. As long as she doesn''t fight arge-scale fight she can probably hold a candle for a few minutes against people as strong as Ezekiel.


    "Please wait."


    [Transporting yer Alexandria''s Soul to Yggdrasil]


    With a sh of light, Alex disappeared from the void''s realm.


    Meanwhile, a bright sh of light appeared in the middle of Honey Combed Vige. Ezekiel, who was close by, noticed it; as soon as he saw the silhouette, he instantly recognized the person behind it.


    "You''re here."


    "Ezekiel!" Alex was quite surprised by his sudden in front of her face.


    "Shhhh... There''s a funeral" Ezekiel hushed her noisy lips with his finger.


    "Funeral?"


    "The vigers are mourning the death of the vige guards, who sacrificed themselves to protect the viges." Ezekiel uttered as he pointed at the huge campfire in the middle of the vige.


    Suddenly, the faint sound of a flute could be heard in the distance. At that moment, the entire Honey Combed vige became quiet.


    "This...?"


    All the people were silent. The flute rang out slowly in the midst of this silence. Everyone looked at the center of the vige. The campfire appeared to be an altar made of bricks with a few belongings from their loved ones of those who died on top of the firewood.


    Everyone then started humming, the entire vige was filled with the beat of the funeral procession. Some people behind the campfire started to slowly beat the drums. The sound of the vigers'' flute, drumming and humming mixed together. The belongings of the vigers caught on fire, the mes then consumed the viger''s belongings.


    The humming of the vigers was grand and noble. Alex couldn''t take her eyes off the burning campfire. Their families mournful cries wandered throughout the vige.


    The vigers held a ceremony in remembrance of their loved ones. She didn''t know the name of those who died since they were just a character in the game. However, it is clear to her that all of them were great and deserved her respect.


    She did not cry, but her heart and mind were overflowing with hot and sad emotions.

 Chapter 88 - {Devour}

    "How annoying they should have done this when we log out. They should mourn in their own homes quickly and quietly."


    Alex''s mind snapped back when she heard a group of young men who passed behind her grumbling.


    She looked at them nkly.


    Did they really feel no emotions when seeing this scene? In a world that feels like reality. How could they disrespect theirrades who recently fought with them on the battlefield? Who gave them the right to insult the dead just because it is a game?


    "It seems that the NPC''s here don''t give any quest. Let''s go and meet with my brother on the road ahead. He said that he found a nice spot to earn a lot of money and level." She watched as the group of young men left the gate.


    "They are just kids, no need to look at them as if you''re dying to kill them right here. And you can''t change the fact that everyone only treats this as a game." Ezekiel knows why she''s angry. As a doctor''s son, even he hates those kinds of people the most.


    Alex shook her head. "Haven''t I done something way worst than them? I left those vige guards to fend for themselves. If only we hadn''t provoked the goblin shaman that forced him to put the goblins in a berserk state. Or if I stayed on the frontline with everyone would there be lesser casualties?" Alex regretted it. She knew that it was no use thinking about what had already happened since she couldn''t change anything. But it doesn''t mean that she can''t learn from those mistakes and do better in the future.


    "You''ll never know. But I think it was the best thing we could have done. If you think about it, their formation would have been broken if those hobgoblins coupled with those red-skinned hobgoblins fought them. The battlefield would be in chaos if we haven''t in the hobgoblins."


    "As for that guy who calls himself Chaos, the damage you see right now is nothingpared to the damage he would do if we fought near the vige. Heck, you will not even see a vige when you revive if we fought near the vige." Ezekiel thought that the viger was lucky when he found out the damage the explosion dealt with the vige. If he hadn''t lured him deep into the woods, then the vige would have been a goner.


    "Besides we are just doing, what we are good at. I know you more than anyone else, if we really fought normally just like everyone else then you can''t go all out. It is like you are restricted by the people around you. Earlier when I haven''t asked you to cooperate I''m slowing you down right? If you are even having a hard time with me alone, how much more if you protected hundreds." He doesn''t want to admit it, but he won''t be much of a help with Alex without his healing. He still has a long road ahead before he can be of help.


    "I know, I want to protect everyone it''s just that... It''s the first time someone relying on me. Maybe I have been fighting alone for a long time that protecting someone is something new for me. Seeing the vigers crying for their loved ones made me remember horrible things in the past."


    Ezekiel gazed at her eyes in silence. He wanted her to continue sharing. Yet, he doesn''t want to see her in pain at the same time.


    Alex contemted for a moment before she let out a sigh. "Let''s go its looks like they are done." She still doesn''t have the courage to talk about her past.


    She turned her gaze to the burning campfire, then strode towards Lili, the girl selling potions, when she saw her helping the elders.


    Ezekiel looked up at the sky as raindrops fell on his hands, then he followed after her. Right now, she may not be able to talk about her past, but maybe she''ll have the courage to open up more in the future.


    Slowly the weather began to cool down after the downpour extinguished the campfire...


    During this time, Ezekiel told Alex his n to go to the nearby town to im their rewards of killing the goblins in the adventurer''s guild. And since it will be a long ride, they need to apany the vigers. They don''t want to leave, but they don''t have a choice because of the void portals. As the vige men forced them to leave the vige, the atmosphere was spiritless.


    "Are you guys ready??" The young man coachman of the horse carriage asked the people on the cart.


    "Uhuh," Lili nodded, answering for her group.


    With the rope stick in his hand, the coachman started the carriage.


    The group consists of 5 people, including the coachman with Ezekiel and Alex on the right side. While Lili and her mother are on the left side. Following behind them are four more horse carriages with the same number of people. Most of them are followed by elders and young coachmen as guards since the roads ahead are usually safe to traverse.


    Alex and Ezekiel are the only yers apanying the vigers since many yers left the vige to explore the game as soon as possible.


    Ezekiel told her that the ride would be 3 hours long so she could take it easy and rest in the cart. Meanwhile, Ezekiel can tell her what he found while she was in the void realm. Lili, who doesn''t understand a thing they were talking about, slept in her mother''sp.


    The first thing Ezekiel talked about were the titles she received. "You have earned two titles, right??"


    "Uhuh," Alex answered. She had her eyes closed, listening to him while her head rested on his shoulders. At first, she wanted toin when Ezekiely her head on his shoulders. But she was just too tired to argue, so sheplied.


    "Did you know that only those who died from the explosion received the two titles? Those who died received [Vige''s Hero] and [??? Chaos] which gives a 40% discount on all transactions with Honey Combed vigers and a 5% skill''s cooldown reduction. But those who didn''t die only received a 30% discount. And worse of all Akkar and his friend who was supposed to die survived." Ezekielughed as he told her of how Hal med Akkar for saving him from the explosion. The 5% may look minuscule, but it will make a difference in battle.


    "Huh?? Mine is different." Alex muttered then showed him the title she received.


    "It must be because you are the one who fought Chaos directly. But that 10% is a great help, does it work when you steal skills??" Alex''s stealing skill is so overpowered, with its only downside being the 24-hour cooldown.


    "I asked Lumiere about it and it works, now I only need 21 hours and 36 minutes," Alex answered sluggishly.


    "Great! Now check this thing out." Ezekiel then pulled out a wooden staff from his inventory.


    [Chaos Staff] (Sealed)


    * Rank: B


    * Weapon Stats: +3 Intellect, +2 Wisdom


    * Skills: Staff''s Weapon Proficiency (Sealed), Fireball (Sealed), Ice Shard (Sealed)


    {Devour} Randomly acquire one skill of the weapon.

 Chapter 89 - Soul Armaments

    Alexzily opened her eyes and held the other end of the wooden staff.


    However, she was stunned when she saw a lot of new information on the staff.


    ....


    [Chaos Staff] (100% Sealed)


    * Level: 5


    * Soul Compatibility: 30%


    * Quality: Low


    * Rank: B


    * Physical Damage: 8


    * Magic Damage: 42


    * Weapon Stats: +3 Intellect, +2 Wisdom


    * Skills: Staff''s Weapon Proficiency {Sealed}, Fireball (Sealed), Ice Shard (Sealed)


    {Unseal} Unlocks the soul armament''s potential.


    {Devour} Randomly acquire one skill of the weapon.


    "Huh?? What happened?" Ezekiel looks confused. He was just holding the other end of the wooden staff when he saw the changes that urred on the stats. "What did you do?"


    Alex shook her head, clueless about what had happened. "I don''t know. I also saw the new stats added to the list as well as the {Unseal} option. I think I''ll ask Lumiere about this first." She is too tired to figure out the use of the new stats. Of course, she could have let Ezekiel''s A.I. exin it to them. But Alex thinks Lumiere is smarter at exining things and simpler, so she pushes it all to her.


    There are times that Lumiere is programmed to let her figure things out and give out clues instead. But having clues is still better than thinking mindlessly with no direction. Besides, she likes figuring things out on her own. And it''s no fun if Lumiere fed her with all this information all at once. It''s just that she too tired right now.


    Lumiere, who was flying right beside Alex, swiftly exined the new stats in the Chaos''s Staff.


    After Lumiere exined to her all the new information. Alex then shared the information with Ezekiel. Alex started off by telling him why the status panel changed when she held it. "Lumiere said that new pieces of information will appear asionally when criteria are met. As for the criteria of unsealing the chaos staff is me being weaponless."


    "While the {Devour} option''s criteria is to have the same type of weapon. Your weapon is also staff so you can see {Devour}. You didn''t know that did you?" Alex asked.


    Ezekiel shook his head. "I only checked the item''s stats after I separated with Akkar and his friends."


    "So ording to Lumiere, the Chaos Staff is a sealed soul armament. Soul armaments are weapons and armors that are bounded to a soul and they can be found all over the world. But once a soul-bounded weapon or armor loses its master, it will get sealed until it finds a new master. But there are also soul armaments that can be looted from monsters. However, those aren''t sealed since they don''t have masters in the first ce."


    "Does that mean we can get new weapons??"


    Alex shook her head. "That is the reason why you only have the {Devour}. But maybe in the future, we will know what other criteria we need to unseal a soul armament. But armors are different because you can have countless soul bounded armors." Even though Lumiere did not give her an answer, Alex can guess that other yers can unseal a sealed soul armament. One guy who she thought of who has a chance to unseal a soul armament is her father. He only has a shield right now, but what if he finds something that he can pair with his shield?


    "Moving on, soulpatibility determines how fast I can unseal the soul armament. Then quality and rank, determine how rare and how strong or weak the item is. Currently quality has four categories from low, normal, high to superior. As for how many ranks there are we will find out more in the future."


    "How strong exactly??" Ezekiel asked, curious about how the quality and rank of the item affects the damage.


    "I''ll give you a detailed exnation. There are lots of numbers here, so listen carefully. "I don''t want to repeat the same thing; it''s hurting my head. Understand??" Alex uttered while rubbing her forehead.


    Ezekiel wanted to stop her for now. They can still talk about itter anyway. "Should we..."


    Alex ced her finger in his pursed lips. "Shhh, look at the primary damage or magic damage of the Chaos staff it is 42 right?? Rank: B items have a minimum of 40 primary damage to a maximum of 149 based on its quality. Rank: B low-quality item''s damage ranges from 40-59, Normal is from 60-79, high is from 80-99, andstly superior is from 100- 149. As aparison a Rank: A superior quality item''s damage ranges from 20-39. As you can see there''s a big difference in damage depending on the rank and quality. As for Rank: C''s we will find out in the future."


    "As for the secondary damage or physical damage, it is 20% of the main damage. You can still use a sword, daggers, hammers to cast magics, but the damage will clearly be smallerpared to using a magic weapon and vice versa.


    Alex took a deep breath first then continued. "Then {Unseal} will just basically unlocks the item''s sealed skills. But it takes time to unseal the item depending on the soulpatibility. So no need to think too much about it since only I, can use it for now."


    Alex then continued to thest one to finish faster. "As for {Devour} you should already know about it right??"


    Ezekiel nodded since he already asked his A.I. earlier. "{Devour} destroys the item but I gain one skill. If I already have that skill then the level increases instead. In addition, my weapon''s rank and quality have a chance to increase or decrease." With his luck, there is no way his weapon''s rank and quality decrease. As long as he uses {Devour} when Alex is not around.


    Alex nodded. "Good." can help but wonder as she looks at the first skill she stole, whether she can increase her skills level faster or normal yer''s {Devour} is faster. "Looks like stealing other yer''s weapon isn''t the only way I can obtain skills."


    [Great Ax''s Weapon Proficiency]


    Level: 1


    *Increases user''s damage when using a great ax by 0.1%


    *Each level increases the damage by 0.1%


    *Experience required to Level up: 0/100


    *Skill gains experience when a great ax is used


    She doesn''t know why her way of levelling up skills is different from normal yers. But if yers can easily loot soul armaments from monsters, then levelling up their skills will be a breeze depending on their luck.


    Even though the description says that she needed to kill monsters to level up her skills with the weapon mentioned. It is actually harder than she thought because the weapon that she needed to use was a soul armament. She managed to steal a great ax from the hobgoblins and killed a lot of them, but her skill did not gain a single experience.


    Ezekiel let go of the staff after seeing Alex staring at it. "You want it?"

 Chapter 90 - Trash

    Alex contemted for a moment before she shook her head. "I am not in a hurry to find a weapon. Besides, magic doesn''t really suit me well. However, I still want to see what happens if I unseal it. But I think it is better if you {Devour} it when I''m not online." Alex reminded him, she didn''t want her luck to affect him.


    Alex then pressed the {Unseal}.


    [Unsealing Chaos Staff]


    ...


    [Chaos Staff] (70% Sealed)


    * Level: 5


    * Soul Compatibility: 30%


    * Quality: Low


    * Rank: B


    * Physical Damage: 8


    * Magic Damage: 42


    * Weapon Stats: +3 Intellect, +2 Wisdom


    * Skills: Staff''s Weapon Proficiency (5), Fireball (Sealed), Ice Shard (Sealed)


    {Unseal}: y Rank: B opponents 0/70000


    {Devour} Randomly acquire one skill of the weapon.


    [Staff''s Weapon Proficiency]


    Level: 5


    *Each level increases the magic damage when using a staff by 0.1%


    *Each level increases healing from skills by 0.1%


    Alex checked the unsealed skill, but she realized that the required experience to level up the skill was missing.


    If it isn''t there, then that means she can''t increase the weapon''s level. However, when she thought about it, she does not own the weapon yet. So unless she fully unsealed the weapon or used {Devour}, the skill''s level will be stuck forever.


    Where will she even find seventy thousand Rank: B monsters! If she doesn''t have 30%patibility, does that mean she needs to kill 100,000? She can probably find a better weapon before she can kill the seventy thousand monsters. She doesn''t even know how to ssify them.


    "What happened?" Ezekiel asked, seeing her disappointed face.


    "Unsealing is a huge disappointment. Unless it''s a very strong weapon it will be a waste of time unsealing a trash weapon like this in the early stage. From now on, you take all the items we find that you can use {Devour} on. While I {Devour} those items you can''t." Alex will be at ease the stronger he gets. She doesn''t want anyone close to her to get life behind. She then told him the unsealing requirements and what she unsealed.


    "That bad?" Ezekiel eximed as he grabbed the staff from her hands.


    [Chaos Staff] (Sealed)


    * Level: 5


    * Quality: Low


    * Rank: B


    * Weapon Stats: +3 Intellect, +2 Wisdom


    * Skills: Staff''s Weapon Proficiency (5), Fireball (Sealed), Ice Shard (Sealed)


    {Devour} Randomly acquire one skill of the weapon.


    Without Alex holding the weapon, Ezekiel can only see a portion of the stats. But if she says that it is trash, then it is trash.


    Ezekiel can''t wait to {Devour} the item, but he is scared of getting the weapon proficiency with Alex beside him.


    He is thinking of getting the fireball or ice shard since it is such a waste for his high mana regeneration when he can only use 1 skill. Besides, the increase of 0.1% from weapon proficiency is negligible since he currently doesn''t have high healing and damage numbers.


    "So what other things you found?" Alex yawned,id her head on Ezekiel''s shoulder, and closed her eyes. Looking at too many numbers made her feel a little dizzy.


    "We are also rewarded with a [Scroll of Town Upgrade] but I already gave it to Akkar." Knowing Alex, she doesn''t like managing troublesome things. Both of them does, so he threw the responsibility to Akkar once more. And Akkar was willing, after all, to build a town is good content. It can also serve as a base for his viewers if they want to y together.


    "Uhmm," Alex responded with a grunt.


    "Andstly is this." Ezekiel pulled out a key from his inventory.


    [Floor One''s Key]


    - Rank: C


    - Open the door of the tower''s first floor.


    "I still don''t know how to use it. But the vige chief said that there should be a record on how to use it in the town''s library." Ezekiel exined.


    "Hey, are you listening?" Ezekiel looked at her face as she did not respond. But her stable breathing says it all. Before he knew it, Alex was already sleeping soundly with her flushed cheeks and silver-white hair strewn across his shoulder.


    She must have been so tired.


    He gently held her chin andid her head morefortably.


    Lili''s mother, who was watching the two of them, couldn''t help but smile. "You look good together."


    "Are we? Sadly, she''s too busy fighting, and can''t see it." He knows that they are still young, he has a lot of time to show her his feelings. He is not in a hurry, but he can show his feelings if there are chances. The problem is Alex is too dense.


    "She must have fought hard, she looks tired. I heard that you guys fought on the enemy''s backline alone. Everyone in the vige is very thankful, if it weren''t for you two they wouldn''t be able to see their loved ones once more." Lili''s mother uttered while gently stroking her daughter''s hair. She can''t help but think of her husband.


    Ezekiel shook his head and sighed. "She did all the work, even if I''m not around she will still do the same thing. But she''s pushing herself way too hard this time." He doesn''t know why she''s fighting so hard even though she knows the consequences. Yet no matter what are her reason, he will always be there to support her.


    "We all know that she won''tst long if you aren''t there to help her. And for that, we are all thankful to both of you and all the guardians who defended the vige. Our homes may be in ruins but as long as we the people live we can build it once more."


    "You should also rest; taking care of her seems too taxing." Lili''s mother eximed, seeing his paleplexion. "It is a long ride, don''t worry it''s a safe road ahead."


    It seems he wasn''t able to hide it.


    He fought so hard in the void tower as a healer to recover the experience he lost. And he has been running around the vige gathering information as soon as he revived. He can''t help it the gap of their strength is too wide. He needs to work harder for him to not get left behind.


    "Thanks." Ezekiel gently moved Alex to hisp first, afraid that she might fall on his shoulder.. He made sure that her position wasfortable enough before resting his head on the cart and closing his eyes.


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