Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part One]

CHAPTER 106: Freedom & The Rewards of Virtue

[Name: Haxks

Species: Human

Level: 32 | EXP: 29,804/160,000 (18.62%)

Class: Dual Blader

Affiliation: Adventurers' Guild | Merchants' Guild

Title: Lone Wolf, Pathfinder, Unwavering Spirit, Congenial Denizen, Master of Divine Beast, Devoted Hunter, The Liberator of Races

HP: 4516/4516 | MP: 553/553

Strength: 83 (+21) | Stamina: 129 (+22) | Agility: 155 (+35) | Intelligence: 42 (+10) | Dexterity: 35 (+75) | Composure: 24 | Indomitable: 14 | Perception: 5

Stat Points: 0]

Currently, I'm gaining an additional 5% HP from the Stygian Abyss, and another 5% from the new title—bringing it to a total of 4516, Daisuke mused, his thoughts racing ahead to the possibilities. So, how much can I expect with an extra 20%?

Instead of attempting the math, Daisuke shifted his focus to the Agate Magic Bag that, if he recalled correctly, cost a whopping 50,000 gold at the General Store. He was already in a daze at the thought of the resale value, but when he peeked inside and saw the contents, his mouth hung open in abject shock.

[Mana crystals (3,904lb, 11oz)]

[Covered Carriage x4]

[Lumber x2500]

[156,000 Gold]

No way! He thought while gawking at the holographic window. Forget the mana crystals! Is that... really 150k?! T-This has to be some kind of glitch!

"My daughter... has anyone seen my daughter?"

The frantic cries of a woman searching for her child caught Daisuke's attention. Closing the translucent window, he scanned the surroundings, but he couldn't recall seeing a single child in any of the holding cells.

Reeza, who seemed to know something, bit her lip as she listened to the woman's desperate cries. Watching her shuffle through the crowd, Reeza couldn't help but recall her own ordeal with her mother when their village was raided and pillaged by their captors.

Her fists trembled and her eyes burned with conviction as she observed the despairing woman.

***

Daisuke felt a wave of déjà vu wash over him. It hadn't been long since he'd escaped the stifling confines of the dungeon, and now, as he emerged from the underground stronghold, a familiar sense of intense relief surged through him once again.

On the rolling hills just beyond Wonderelle's towering walls, beneath the outstretched arms of a large tree, a handful of horses, graciously provided by Daisuke's patronage, indulged in peaceful grazing. Their noble forms swayed gently in the breeze, their flowing manes catching the soft sunlight.

Tethered securely to the creatures were the four wagons pulled from the depths of the magic bag. Within their confines, the Florians savored their newfound freedom, indulging in the simple pleasure of a meal. However, amidst the chatter and the clanking of utensils, many were without an appetite, their hearts heavy with worry and longing for their missing loved ones, or for those who had perished.

Petula and her husband were among their ranks, their faces etched with the weight of recent events. The trials they endured in Wonderelle had left scars too deep to ignore. Now they found themselves unable to contemplate rebuilding their lives in the city that held such painful memories.

"What's your next move?" Daisuke inquired with genuine empathy as Reeza reverently laid a flower at her mother's grave. "Will you seek revenge?"

At his inquiry, the taunting image of Fynch resurfaced in Reeza's mind, mocking and relentless. She shook her head vigorously, trying to banish the unwelcome thought—yet, in its wake, another unsettling memory began to stir.

The night was devoid of the moon's guiding light, shrouding the small village of Ghouldsboro in an eerie darkness.

Without warning, chaos erupted, sweeping through the tranquil streets like a tempest. In an instant, the tranquility was shattered by the blaze of hellfire, casting the village into a nightmarish glow of destruction.

There was no slow progression to the anarchy. The hunters came on the backs of black stallions like the breath of death, their faithful Bearhounds by their side.

Without a moment's pause or shred of mercy, the men of the village were slaughtered, their lives extinguished for sheer sport. Meanwhile, adult females suffered a fate worse than death, torn from their homes and destined for the dehumanizing confines of brothels. The children, in turn, would be fed to concentration camps to be groomed into courtesans, laborers, or submissive pawns in the service of dignitaries.

As the barbaric invasion unfolded, a young Reeza found herself frozen in the center of her living room, hands pressed firmly over her ears in a futile attempt to block out the harrowing screams of her neighbors.

Simultaneously, her parents worked feverishly to fortify the feeble defenses of their modest home, hastily barricading the doors in a desperate bid for a few precious seconds of reprieve.

BAM-BAM-BAM!

The hammer repeatedly drove nails into a length of plywood to reinforce the front door. While her father was busy securing the windows, her mother opened a small trapdoor revealing a hidden compartment beneath the floorboards. Then she turned to daughter with a wan smile.

"Reeza, honey, I need you to stay here and be completely quiet. Do you think you can do that for mommy?"

Reeza nodded her head meekly; she wasn't so much of a child that she didn't know what was happening. "What about Hatice and her mom?" She asked wistfully, tears welling up in her eyes.

The woman pressed her lips to a thin line, searching for the right words to say. But when a loud crash came at the front door followed by callous demands and amused cackling, she knew they were out of time.

"Bridgette!" the father called demandingly, then he cast his daughter a warm but fleeting glance.

"Mommy has to go now," Bridgette said with urgency, "remember to stay still and not make a sound. Mommy and Daddy loves you very much, sweetheart."

Reeza reached out desperately, the words that were reminiscent of an ominous goodbye fueling the motion. But before her fingers could reach, she was shrouded in pitch-black darkness.

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Depending on the time zone you're in, I may be a day early or late, but I just want to say Happy New Year! Wishing you happiness, health, strength, and boundless prosperity going into this new adventure! Thanks again for all your support!