Putting a saddle on his horse and checking the stirrup if his feet were properly positioned with it and was comfortable, Bahamut took flight. Staying a few meters ahead as he rides into the darkness of the night. He cants Nightvision in his head, temporarily giving him the ability to see at night. After a while, he is surprised the beautiful luscious forest was turning withered and gray. As if even the Soil was dead and he was walking into the aftermath of a nuclear explosion.
Riding into the darkness of the night, Bahamut was so happy to be alone with her Master. Performing stunts like barrel rolls and twists.
"Ahahahaha, keep your eyes out Bahamut. I know you're excited but we gotta be safe."
"Of course Master, but this reminds me of when we'd go out into the world together and fight alongside one another."
"Indeed, it's been very long. Just keep your eyes peeled. We have to watch out."
On the back of his head, Paul was still feeling guilty about what he did. Though it wasn't his first time killing actual creatures. He was still unused to having to do it with melee weaponry. After a while, he got even more concerned as the landscape changed, it was hostile and deathly.
"Master, I smell them. The High Elves!"
"Alright, I'll stop a few meters ahead and start walking to them. Cover my back."
"Of course."
Stopping, he could see through the dead forest a shine of light. He crouches down and starts sneaking through the withered bushes with weak branches easily turning to dust as his heavy armor steps on it. As he gets nearer, he unsheathes his greatsword from his back. Dragging it through the gray dirt on the ground. Getting closer, he takes a peek at their outpost.
It was no ordinary Outpost, it was a staging ground for the Operations in the area. It was crawling with High Elves, with their long pointy ears. To his surprise, the lowly Grunts were wearing a full set of armor and at first glance, he thought it was Bronze but one walking past the perimeter, he saw that it was actually Composites and there was one Elf with an annoying snobbish voice in an Ornate Robe in the middle of the camp, directing orders as they herd Cattle and Pigs around. He sees why they did this. Whatever happened to the soil also made their Crops die out.
"Divide the Rations! Brass already told us that they won't be sending any supplies due to the environment shifting and the high amount of beasts moving into our sector!"
They spoke like a modern army, and acted more professional than anything he'd seen before. Paul already knew they were big trouble. "No wonder people are afraid of them. Well armed and well trained." moving around to see any holes or mistakes in their cover that were deployable steel walls, every nook and cranny was properly guarded and maintained. Thinking of a way, he waits for Bahamut to return to him.
"Master, there's no proper opening."
"I know, so we'll do this instead. You see that flat patch of land on the other side? I want you to burn it. Do you have a Passive Skill Keeper of Fire?" Bahamut nods, affirming his suspicion that she holds a repertoire of spells. Keep it controlled but just make it big enough to gain everyone's attention."
"Hm hm hm."
Nodding and agreeing, the little Dragon flies high into the night sky and shoots a tiny fireball which then turns into a giant controlled fire. Even though the soil was dead and the trees would collapse the moment a sniff of wind hit it, Bahamut's authority over fire caused it to still spread. A Bell rings and the guards rush to the fire to contain it. Bringing over what water they could find in the barren outpost. Seeing the opportunity, Paul rushed into the Outpost as they stared at the spreading wildfire, looking for where the air was going.
Looking around, he sees the large cattle wagon they used to transport the animals. It was shabbily assembled and seemed to formerly be a troop transport carriage. He removes his helmet, holding it with its horn and whistles for his horse to come to him. Meanwhile the High Elves started using magic to snuff out the fire. Using Wind and Water magic to at least weaken it. But Bahamut could just spread it to any size of her desire, making their efforts useless. Hooking up his Undead Horse to the wagon, he backs it up to the gates and using his enchanted greatsword Hellraiser, absolutely annihilates the large metal lock.
Loading in the animals, he looked around and could see that everyone was still gone, he used this opportunity to head into the Officer's Tent and look for any information. He finds a giant map of Geraldia and a leather journal. Seeing the chance, he steals anything he could. Throwing it into the passenger seat of the large carriage. He checks if all the Pigs and Cows have boarded and could see that it doesn't fit. Panicking a little as the High Elves were slowly getting tired of fighting the fire, he goes around into the pen and uses his greatsword with a mixture of magic.
He slashes the air and uses some basic Control Wind Magic, using the air to stack the animals inside the cattle carriage. Seeing his hasty plan work, he holds his hands up and celebrates like a Tusken Raider. His celebrations are stopped with the High Elves planning to return to their Outpost to get more water.
"HEY! WHO ARE YOU?!"
"Uh oh."
He dashes into the driver seat and sends the horse flying down the dirt path. Seeing their food getting away, the High Elves hopped into their armored horses and started chasing him down. A few hundred meters down the line, Bahamut lands in the middle of the road in her larger form. Paul passes by underneath her, lifting her tail to let him through but then when the Elven chasers were about to pass her, she makes multiple balls of fire to reveal her insane size that towers over the dead trees. This made the High Elves piss their pants while on the horizon as Morning rises, the Death Knight could be heard laughing and mocking them as he rides off to the rising Sun. An hour later, he arrives back at the Orc Village.
As the door opens with him hauling their cattle back, two village beauties stand with their arms crossed. Looking into them, it's Alana and Elizabeth. Bahamut without a sound crawls behind him, hiding underneath his black leather cape. "Oy you little lizard. You'll be here to explain with me!" He tries to grab the dragon, but due to being as small a kitten and him in a bulky and spiky armor, he is unable to grab support as the carriage arrives and stops in front of the two angry Vampires.
"Oh uhh... Hi girls."
"Grrrrrr..." the two women weren't having any of it. Elizabeth drags the Knight out of the driver seat while one of the guards hopped on and started redistributing their livestock to those taken from. Alana takes off his horned helmet, revealing his frightened face.
"Hey girls... How was your sleep?"
"YOU MORON! Do you know what you might've just started?!"
"D-don't worry, we scared them off and uh uh bought back the food!"
Elizabeth grabs him by the ear, like a Mother scolding an unruly child.
"And what if they return with a Legion or a Troop?! Would you be there to stop them?!"
"M'Lord, did you not think of what this'll do to the High Elves?!"
As the two nagged at him, the Chief just sighs and walks up to the trio.
"Alright, alright. May we please all calm down? I've been the one responsible for hiring your Lord. Do not worry about the High Elves, they're way too busy looking into something else. They won't be returning here for some time."
Elizabeth lets go of Paul's ear. Letting him plop to the ground.
"Are you sure? The High Elves are not the one to be forgiving, more if it's those whom they see as lesser creatures."
"We can handle this. Don't worry, now that we have time. We may prepare, our Ancestors have roamed these forests far longer than they have."
After a sigh, Elizabeth drags Paul into their carriage while Alana bows politely. After a while, his horse is returned to him and they hitch it back to his wagon. Ready to exit out, the Chief stops them before leaving. Bringing some food from his Wife and advice.
"Look, be careful. If you're headed to where the source of the dead is coming from, it's assured to be full of dangers. Demon beasts are attracted to any form of Dark Magic. So beware."
"No worries. Wouldn't be my first rodeo." Paul gets flashbacks when he was mining for the steel for his armor in the very depths of Hell in Dark World.
"If you can, talk to the Townsfolk. They should be near its source... given they're still alive. They are good humans, and treat us Orcs like normal people too."
"I hope, I wish you all the best."
"Hm. Take good care of those two Vampires with you. They dearly treasure you. Hah, more than my wife treasures me!"
"Well, I am a human. To them, I'm as fragile as a glass vase but with a set lifespan."
"The thing we Orcs and Humans share, a short and quick life."
"Alrighty, I'm headed off now. Thank you for the help and food! Gotta scout a weird place in the forest!"
After a strong hand to hand between the two, Paul starts making the carriage move. They all look behind, watching as the walls of the village disappear from their sight. Slowly, the beautiful forest turned dark once again, but it wasn't from the rising Sun on the horizon. The smell of the air became pale and the color turned blue. The straight trees were slowly becoming rare, replaced with twisted and dead ones with their roots protruding from the grayish soil.
"And here we are... it gets weirder and weirder."
Alana, who was on the back, leans down and takes a patch of soil. Holding it, the color was gray and dead and the dirt seemed as if it was sand.
"M'Lord, I recommend we take a step back."
"No, we can't. We're already here. We might as well see through this."
The Countess could see a different part of him, boosted with confidence and with a puffed up chest. She smiles at seeing her Lord in such a state.
"What?"
"Nothing, it feels... different. When we first met, you were a fearful mess. Look at you now, willing to walk into danger with valiantness in your heart."
"One thing Alana, I can't forever be scared of this world and with you three with me, I've been becoming more and more bold and it's all thanks to you all."
Alana comes up to the front and pinches his cheek while she blushes.
"Your Majesty, did you do something to this man?"
"Nay, but fighting me seems to have changed you My Lord."
"Well, just like you Elizabeth. I just kinda saw that I can't be hiding behind fear forever or the past. I gotta walk forward like I always have when back in my world. Things might be different but I am still the same, and I can't be having fear in my heart when almost everything here can brutally kill me and please stop pinching my cheek."
Elizabeth then joins in and pinches his left cheek. Both the Vampires laugh as Paul looks at them with empty eyes. An hour later, the Moon and its brown rocky satellite could be seen from the skies, far away, he could see what could be a giant sword embedded on the ground. Not even the mountains could hide its sheer size.
"Holy... Alana, what in the world is that..."
"Hmmm? Oh that. That's the sword for the first Hero."
"What?! That giant white silvery sword that's literally towering over the Mountains on the horizon is used by a Hero?!"
"Mhm, I think the Majesty should know more about it."
Elizabeth crosses her arms while patting her head.
"I kinda do remember that story... though when I was alive, the first Hero had already finished his adventure and lived in a quiet town."
She plays with her side swept bangs, her eyes looking above the beautiful night sky. She looked absolutely stunning without even knowing it.
"Wait, what region did you come from anyways?"
"Oh me? I came from the Province of Aktash."
"Woah, so how're things then? Is it different than before?"
"I haven't visited the Village for a thousand years."
"And your husband?"
"My Husband hailed from Dragovh. From the Noble Knight family of Fortitudo, the family he came from is one of the original Knights of this world and I think are still active."
"What did he look like? Blonde handsome Knight with an elegant and gentlemanly flair?"
"He did have a gentlemanly flair, but other than that. He was a normal man, like you."
"Like me?"
"Mhm. Black hair, likes to keep it short, though a bit more handsome, he was like any other man. Enjoyed normal things and everyday mundane tasks."
"Wow, I thought you'd be more into the flamboyant types."
"Bleh. I prefer men that can handle dirt."
"Then that ain't me because I don't like dirt. Bwahahahaha."
After a while, the air got visibly heavier, with visible dust particles littering the surroundings, the two Vampires were visibly on high alert, while Bahamut's head was only facing the North. With her nose lifting up and down as she smells something from afar. The birds on the skies were gone and living beings are nowhere in sight. Paul on the other hand has never seen anything like this before, it was as if life was sucked out of the land, a sight worse than that of a Nuclear bombs aftermath as rather than burnt trees, it was instead these dangerous looking ones, twisted by something unknown. The Undead horse also slowed a bit as the path turned muddy, all of the sudden, there were no longer any sounds from the forest. Giving Paul a trembling he never felt before.
"My Lord, you said it was bad, but I never knew it was this bad."
"Didn't I tell you Elizabeth? Something is super wrong with the forest and goddammit, mud."
"Mhm, its life energy is being sucked. Like a Vampire drawing blood from a human. Whomever is doing this is taking life from Nature itself."
Alana looks around and is astonished at the lack of life in all directions.
"M'Lord. Be careful, this magic. It's darker than the ones being used by the Demons."
In his entire life, there was always some sort of a sound going, but here, it was all their carriages moving parts and the controlled breaths of the Vampires. His senses are absolutely wrecked by the silence, and he remembers an old saying that if the Forest has gone silent, then there must be something extremely dangerous lurking nearby.
Elizabeth takes the reins and tugs it hard on the right, making the carriage turn sharply and it stops right in front of a closed wooden gate. She hops down and could see a dilapidated town. She tries smelling for anyone alive but finds nothing, she then tries to manipulate the air to see any disturbances, nothing. Paul, Bahamut and Alana then join her and could only stare at the worn out town. Not a single light was visible and the only thing lighting it was the full moon above and the reflection of the massive silver sword tens of miles away.
Though able to control his fear, the General couldn't help feel like they're all being watched by something they cannot see. Though the Vampire Queen wasn't impressed, squinting as if she knew someone was there. Bahamut on the other hand was like a statue on his shoulder. Staring at one thing. The Holy Tower in the middle of town, all of its stained glass was broken apart from the one on the top floor.
Paul slowly opens the gate, creaking and parts of it falling off. Midway through his push, the Town sign in Dragonian Language falls on him. But before it makes contact with his head, Alana punches it into oblivion. Her eyes fixed stare could show her sharp looks at the environment, scanning it endlessly for anything unusual. The General on the other hand looks at the torn sign she punched.
"What did this say?"
"White Flower, M'Lord."
"Huh, pretty ironic seeing this place."
"Shush M'Lord, now is not the time for jokes. Something very strange and creepy is lurking within this soil."
"So much for scouting for strange activities."
"M'Lord, Are you sure you do not wish to wear your armor?"
"I do not want to scare any of the villagers. He did say they are good people."
"I applaud your consideration M'Lord, but looking at that village. I highly doubt anyone is alive."
"Yea... c'mon. If needed, I'll just teleport it. I feel like if I wear that and enter a house, the floor would crumble."
The Vampire Queen leads the group to the tip of the dead town. Though not that large, it was big enough to have a cattle pen and two dead farm fields in front of it. But before stepping another foot into the main town, she closes her eyes and her pointy human ears twitch. Alana on the other hand scans the dark fields while Paul casts Night Vision on himself. His eyes widened, their surroundings were full of dark thick sadowy fog and Queen Elizabeth was staring down at something that was in it. He unholsters his revolver while Bahamut hasn't looked away from the Tower.
"Bahamut, fly now. We'll take care of this."
The small Dragon merely nods and takes off. Climbing once again to change her size. Back below, Queen Elizabeth slowly unsheathes her Rapier. The heavy looking ornamental sword points into the darkness, and out of thin air, a noise is heard. Paul shook at the sight, it wasn't feet moving through the muddy field but instead something that was slithering and writhing in an unusual inhuman manner. Slowly, it shapeshifts into a humanoid-like being made of a Mercury-like substance with dark aura coming out of its surroundings. It then bends over to take a closer look, towering over the trio.
"Holy... shit."
After finishing this sentence, he also unsheathes his sword, but this time it was his Arming Sword. Alana notices this and tilts her head.
"What's that? Your Arming Sword M'Lord?"
"It's named the Sword of King Paimon... it's my general sword and the most powerful one I have. But it's very damaged, hence why I used Hellraiser last night."
"You must feel its powerful presence. Be prepared, that thing is beyond Demonic." Alana wasn't even looking at it but instead on the field on the right. The strange creature changes its shape, showing a distorted man with a spiky Crown. Two red eyes shine on them and a slow and low voice comes out of the air.
"Why... have you... come..."
None of the three answered.
"Hmmmm... I shall take... you... all..."
It distorts and changes its head into a portal.
"Hell......"
Seeing the threat, Paul immediately shoots at it with a burst of Lightning Mana, the strange creature quickly disappears with the fog on the fields revealing piles of corpses slowly reanimating. Bahamut on the other hand was diving straight into the Tower before the dark armored Dragon God is met with corpses of dead Dragons flying right at her. Though her immense weight kept her diving, the thing that stopped her was a green beam of curses coming from a window on the top floor. The amount of curses being thrown at her was so much it stopped the big Dragon from completely destroying the tower. In return, she opens her mouth and lets go of an intense fire.
The trio on the ground was completely surrounded by thousands of undead Knights, Villagers, Beasts and even Butcher Birds, armored vulture-like creatures with skin made out of spikes and teeth double that of a great white shark. Paul instantly notices this and lets out a sentence.
"It's another player! The person doing this is a high level Necromancer! We must get to him! Fighting his spawns won't do us any good!"
Queen Elizabeth and Alana try to plow their way into the tower but are overwhelmed by piles and piles of corpses mounting on top of each other, even after using a mixture of fire, wind and terrain magic, the bodies just keep coming. Bahamut on the other hand is slowly overpowering the unknown magic user and hears a demonic laugh from within the window.
"AH YES! A DRAGON GOD! I'LL TAKE YOU ALL ON MY OWN AND GO BACK TO MY WORLD! TEN MILLION HP? I DON'T CARE! BRING ALL THE WORLD BOSSES TO ME!"
Hearing this deranged cry, she disengages and goes from below, flattening some derelict wooden houses. As soon as the Dragon landed, zombies started climbing onto her legs and tail, trying to pile into her. But her fire breath burns them into a crisp.
"Ilh Year'ouhcu kreiteh. Wizard of the Dead, thou's end has cometh. Heed thee of the Dragon of the Void!"
"I DON'T CARE! SPEAK ALL YOU WANT! I'VE BEEN LOST AND ALONE FOR ALMOST A GODDAM YEAR IN THIS STRANGE FUCKING PLACE! I'LL SURVIVE!"
" Kreiteh! One's senses have left. Thyself shall giveth a fast end."
She lowers her armored head, rushing to the base of the tower, flattening houses while the Undead Dragons dive to intercept her. Midway through her push, she squints her eyes and reduces her size multiple times, effectively dodging the undead Dragons. In retaliation, she grew behind them, she swiftly took one bite, cobbling them all up like food on the plate. While chewing, she spits them out.
"Urgh, Dost might need to brush thine teeth after that. Not tasty."
The large Dragon then proceeded to whip the base of the tower with her tail. It collapses immediately. Paul cheers as he notices it go down while violently shooting at Zombies and beasts with his magic and guns. All of the sudden, the strange creature that's made out of some dark mercury appears once again. It targets the Death Knight as the two Vampires were too busy trying not to get overwhelmed.
It grabs his Tunic's collar, dragging him into the middle of the town. Being pushed into thousands of zombies, he had to materialize his armor to protect his spine and neck from getting destroyed as he was dragged by the collar. The two Vampires wanted to save him but they're hands were all tied as Undead Skeleton Knights started to attack them with Bows and Swords. In the middle of the town, giant dark skeletal arms rose from the ground and grabbed Bahamut, she tried to fly away but one of the hands grabbed her leg and pulled her down with immense strength. She started breathing into the bones, melting it but was grabbed by even more hands.
Now in front of the collapsed tower Paul stands up and starts swinging his sword at the zombies slowly overrunning him, a hand rose from the remains with a Demonic Staff. Slowly, the stranger revealed himself. An undead player with Elder Demon Wizard Robes, one look at him, Paul knows he is a Veteran and just like him, knows how to use his gear. Without even speaking a word, the man summons an Undead Paragon, a tall Demon Knight that is willing to do anything its Master wishes.
He tries to make a run and just kill it with his revolver, but the Mercury like creature returns, pinning his legs and shoulders, unable to move as he is held down by the Unseen Hands of the strange creature and his arms locked by the Paragons, the General materializes his armor before the hilt of the damaged Longsword hits his helmet. The shock from it renders him unconscious.
He awakens and to his surprise, he's at Zero Point. The place where players first enter the game after finishing the lengthy Tutorial stage. He is with two other people, all Caucasian males, one with parted hair on the left like him and another one with an anime style spiky hairdo.
"C'mon Paul, I'll show you this place."
The strange skinny man in Red Leather Armor and Assassin Hood leads him to a stable where he is given a Mule. Fixing his anime style hair.
"What the fuck?"
"What? It's free so just take it."
He looks at himself, his Avatar doesn't even have proper fighting clothing yet and so does his friend.
"Harper, are you seeing this shit?"
"Dude, we're in full dive."
"I know but are you seeing this shit?"
He looks at Paul and laughs.
"What?"
"Dude you look like a Hobo or something."
"Hey, you also have the same starter outfit I do."
The man in the Assassin hood then interdicts.
"C'mon bros, I'll take you two to my island."
Both simultaneously say "Nice." with a thumbs up. "Does it have food? I wanna try Full Dive Food here, is it as good as they say?"
Going through the forest of the game, the two newbies couldn't help but be at awe at the pinnacle of gaming technology. Everything was right, they felt the body, the air, the heat of their saddle seat and the smell. Though the graphics were like a high budget anime, they did understand that it's better that way than a realistic one where they'd see people brutally die inhuman ways with magic and monsters. They then reach another port where a boat teleports them to a private Island. There, the hooded man gives them the basics and how to survive properly in the game. Telling them what the Tutorial hadn't. After that, he immediately goes one on one against them.
"Now, fight me!"
"FEEL MY SWORD! REEEEEE!~"
It didn't even last a second and Paul is dead. His body was cut in half and he immediately respawns on the teleport point of the Island.
"HOLY SHIT THAT WAS SCARY. NOPE, NOPE, NOPE."
Harper on the other hand was shaking but says "Fuck it!" and squares up with the Veteran. It also ended with the same result. The man's Holy War Bow was on another level, and the two couldn't help but feel surreal from experiencing magic for the first time. They completely forgot it was a game and started farming for Coins and Materials. Within the next few weeks, the two climbed the stairs of the game and Paul proudly buys his first set of Steel Armor. After working for so long and training to master a Sword, he couldn't be anymore happier with his achievement. Donning it took him a good hour of figuring out the straps and where each piece is set. The player-made manual weren't really specific as the armor was meant to be modifiable.
"Alright good, keep practicing with that Short Sword and maybe one day, I'll take us to the Dead Continent where we'll get Demonic items and get you Paul that Eldritch Knight look you've been trying to achieve."
"Can't wait bro. You also said that there are players that melt and create armor right? So does that mean I can get one that looks like it came from Skyrim or Dark Souls?"
"The Daedric Armor? Man, what're we? Boomers? If you're gonna get something custom made, might as well make it something you personally want. Not from an old ass ancient game."
"Seeing how we're thirty odd year old working men in Full Dive. Yea, I guess so. I'd want a Symmetrical Version of that armor."
"Damn, don't say that and really? That's all you wanted?"
"I mean, look at us. We pass our primes and have a lot of money to spare. I might as well live my teenage years again and this time, wear a real version of that armor. Or maybe Praise the Sun but I'm actually wearing armor."
"Just-just... yes. There are, the ones I know are on the Deadlands, and if you want to get Swords for free, go to Devil Peaks. Many players have tried to kill Wyverns solo and died. You might get high level gear for free."
"I'll take that into account. So, guess it's time to do some more Dungeon crawling?"
"Yep. Let's go."
With his Steel Armor, he couldn't feel any safer. Back before, all he had was a second hand Leather Armor and now, capable of tanking swords and sharp objects, he gains more confidence. Slowly trying out more moves with his sword and mastering the use of Magic to buff himself and as a secondary weapon.
"Watch out! Heretic Knight on the left!"
"Got it Josh!"
He first casts Slowness, a Common spell that'll debuff the target by ten percent. Now visibly seeing the enemy's swipe, he counters it and badly wounds the NPC.
"Good!"
Harper on the other hand throws his hatchet at the enemy, then casting Speedbird. Giving him a twenty percent increase in overall speed, making him pull the weapon he threw at the enemy, tearing the wound it already made while using the other hatchet on his left hand to cut the neck of the other enemy. The two Heretic Cultists drop dead in an instant.
"What the fuck Josh, why didn't you do anything?"
"Well, I can't keep carrying the two of you all the time."
"Says the man in Legendary Rank. C'mon, I need to farm more Materials and Renown! I'll become Legendary before you know it."
After that Dungeon run, the two newbies were no longer ranked as Commoners but as Adventurers. He makes a small cross, opening his Player Tab and confirms that he has a new title now and his Mana and Health capacity has increased greatly.
"Just gotta level up another Twenty Five levels and its Knight rank!"
On their way back, now with a brown Horse, the trio try to keep up with Josh who's on a giant Wolf. While going through the stone path that leads to a nearby Town to sell their loot, they encounter a convoy of Caravans escorted by Knights in Green and Brown.
"Guys, keep your heads down. It's Breznick. Looks like they're at war again."
"Aye."
Five Caravans of packed Carriages each pulled by four heavily armored horses rush past them, not giving a care to their presence. The escorts were fully kitted out in Knight armor, their armored horses flying flags of their Guild.
Going back to their Island, Josh plans their next move. Which is to visit the Dead Continent. So far, due to the large number of players, no one is able to commit crime unless through proper planning. There were patrols and guards from player Kingdoms. Keeping guard at known spawn places of Dungeons and Labyrinths to assure the everyday players that no one would disturb their time inside or jump them upon exiting. But this only forced those players who wanted to cause trouble to move to a place that is very hard to Govern, the Continent of Mars.
The continent was dangerous, everything wanted to kill the players even from the plants, making it so that only late game players would be able to stay long enough to survive for a day or two. But it had good Renown, enough to make a Commoner rank player a Master in a few weeks or a Month. It was a risk and reward but having a Legendary user with them, their adventures to the damned land was particularly easy apart from occasional high level raiding parties that would appear and forced Josh to use late game AoE magic in tandem with his Holy War Bow. Causing large explosions and gaining the attention of other criminals. Because of this, the group would always be on the move.
As the two got more accustomed to the land, they also started roaming it alone. Paul in particular tried doing some Dungeon runs there just to die brutally and respawn back to the starter Continent and having to make the hours-long trip back to their safe house. It came to the point he bought his full dive gear at work and played it at his off times, grinding and trying to Master his swordsmanship till one day, while Dungeon crawling, another player gets involved. The man's armor rattles and creates an echo he immediately hears. The boots the man was wearing were heavy and bulky. Panicking, knowing this is probably a high level player, he takes cover behind a Coffin. This man then appears in the room he is in. His bottom was that of a Silver Knight while his top is an imbued Great Leather armor, all enchanted. He had a shortsword and is carrying something on his back which has the length of a short Lance.
The Veteran player immediately notices that the Dungeon enemies are still there beyond the room he's in and starts scanning around for any evidence of life. He then notices a smirk of blood on the Coffin Paul's hiding behind. Trembling, he prepares his plan of attack and before he could execute it, a loud bang of a rifle is heard and his character starts bleeding profusely. With his remaining energy, he looks at the man with an M200 Anti Materiel Rifle. The bullet went through the Coffin and even through the Stone wall of the Dungeon. His Royal Knight armor was useless against the weapon and he plops dead.
He respawns back at the first continent, with his eyes full of anger and his soul in great spite. Immediately chatting Josh about what the fuck that was about. His face is visibly sad, with tears visible in his eyes. The other players on the spawn couldn't help but look at him.
>I GOT SHOT BY A FUCKING .50 RIFLE
>Oh, well players in the Dead Continent don't really follow the rules. So some of them might have modern arms crafted by enthusiasts or gun nuts.
>What? That's possible?!
>Of course, if this game lets you bang hot Elves, why not make guns and tanks?
>When are you going online?
>Later tonight, why?
>I need a revolver or better yet a Glock or a Beretta.
>I might know someone in the Black Market. Prepare your Gold coins though.
>Don't care, I need one. Better than a sword.
>Just don't use it when you're in the original Continent. It's a secret rule that weapons like that are banned. Don't follow it, everyone will make sure the only thing you can do after respawning is returning to the Dead Continent.
>As I said, I need a gun.
>Gotchu' fam.
After this, he grinded mid level Dungeons instead. Josh finally comes online and the two meet up at the nearest safe zone.
"So, why aren't guns widely used yet?"
"You need someone who knows their thing and has a machine for it too. You can make electronics in this virtual world but it requires real life skill and talent. Many people don't have that. Let alone the calibration of weapons and attachments."
"Then I'm just a walking stick of bad luck then?"
"Yes. You met one guy ballsy enough to hit you with a big ass rifle to hunt down unsuspecting players."
"I want a gun, I literally have only two spare Royal Knight sets."
"I thought you were going to get a Demon Armor crafted?"
"I WAS. Till I got jumped on. That Dungeon had the last Black Steel Ore I needed to finally get my first Demon Knight Armor. Fuck. You said I need Dark Steel for the End game one right? Then at this pace, I'd be fifty years old when I get everything sorted!"
They head off to a known location. The Capital City of the player Kingdom Libertus. Using Great Teleportation Circles, the two men instantly travel hundreds of kilometers to the city. It was a magnificent Medieval city, and unlike in real life, all of the buildings had Stained Glass and were properly insulated and built with modern methods. Josh leads Paul into a sewer and knocks at a door with a closing window. "Password?" "Twin Peaks is a great place to farm."
The door opens and a man in a Thief outfit bows and lets the two in. Crossing through multiple decrepit hallways made out of stone with leaking ceilings and full of Spider webs. They pass through a Victorian style door with two ruffians guarding it. Seeing Josh, they open the door without question. Revealing a labyrinth that's been turned into an underground marketplace. Most of its visitors were players of the hybrid human Lizard, Werewolf, and Fox Species. There were also the occasional Vampire and Demon player, loitering around and buying usually banned items like Blood and Cursed Items that would make Divine symbols react.
Christmas lights were strewn on the ceiling and the tents, all of it are shabbily put up. There were no lifelike NPCs. Just players roleplaying as underground traders, selling forbidden goods and information. There were also stands for Assassin Guilds who were willing to perform any dirty jobs as long as the customer was willing to pay.
"Exactly where are we headed? This place doesn't seem that nice nor has a good smell."
"Yea, we're near. On the corner of this Labyrinth is where the more... specialized stores are located."
Criss crossing the halls and gates, they arrive at an interestingly modern composite barricade with a Browning M2 manned by a man wearing what seems to be a modern kevlar vest and guarded by well armed guards using M4s. They raise their hands and stop the two.
"Whoa there. What're you two doing here?"
"Me and my friend here, Paul wants to buy some guns."
"You know guns are mostly banned by the majority of the community."
"I know, but my good friend here whom I've been through a lot wants one."
The guard looks at the man wearing Divine Armor and wielding a steel Claymore.
"Do you even know how to use a gun?"
"Funnily enough, me and my friend here and with another buddy are actually into MilSim."
"What game? And not a Desktop one. I need one that is Full Dive, I can't have morons shooting themselves or pointing it at someone and then giving out our location."
"Armaverse."
"Well, well, well. What's your job there? You in a Clan?"
"Me and my friends. We have a small group where we mostly host Ops on the weekends. I actually Host as the DM of our Operations, though mine are mostly outlandish ones while Josh here makes more realistic ones."
"Uh huh, any photos?"
He makes a small cross and goes into the Misc tab. Going into Socials and opening his games tab and into the Photos. He then spins the small floating hologram and shows off that he has more than three thousand hours on the MilSim game and has photos of him operating Aircraft and Tanks.
"These are mostly Apaches, Abrams and Hinds. I think you might have to go to Mars and visit the Mall where we sell stuff like this."
"Woah wait, you guys are selling fucking Main Battle Tanks in a Fantasy game?"
The guard, now calm, puts his assault rifle down and uses it as a crutch.
"Hell yea, remember. Dark World VR is basically a fantasy world where you can do anything you want and be anything you want. Of course with some good people in the Enthusiast community, you can basically build any modern tech you want and it's not like these stuff are top secret. The Apache and the Abrams for example have been out of service for almost a decade now."
"Don't remind me, I feel old."
"You in your thirties or forties? Two thousands kid?"
"Yea... man. I still remember when those two were always the jazz in the Military Community."
"Heh, so if you want. Go to the Mall, East of Mars. We sell the good shit there. Here, it's mostly basic ass rifles you'd give to some moron who wants vengeance."
"I... I actually came here for that reason."
"What gun?"
"Assault rifle maybe? Since that's the one I know how to use."
"Sure but do you have the knowledge to maintain it?"
"Of course I do. Didn't you see my hours?"
"Alright."
He bangs on the barricade and it opens. Revealing a medium sized shack with a wall aligned with AR-15s, JW-2000 coach guns, Glocks and mostly open carry weapons that is nowhere near what he is looking for. But still, Paul heads in with Josh on his tail. The burly bearded player on the desk politely smiles at them while tightening his fingerless gloves.
"What'cha need?"
"One o Five or a Seventy Four. All Metal please."
"Kalashnikov guy ehy?"
"Well, do you have M-Fours?"
"We do. But they are only restricted to MilSim players which you are eligible for."
He goes down below the desk and opens some wide cabinets. Bringing out an all metal AK-74M and a M4A1.
"Hot dang... you guys really made this? What Guild are you from?"
"We call ourselves the Men of the Wood because we're located in the dangerous Forest of Mars. Wahahahah..."
"How effective are these against Necromancers?"
"Pretty damn effective. Remember, they're main weapon is the ability to Raise Thralls and Corpses. Though of course, an AoE spell or enchanted weapon can do the same, it takes Mana. But with these bad boys, put'er in Auto and have it riddle the poor bastard."
"Huh, yea. I might buy the M-Four." the player pushes it forward to him. Giving him the all go to touch it. Grabbing it and pointing it at the ground next to him, he is surprised at how realistic it feels.
"Where you come from? That's some proper trigger and muzzle discipline. Seeing how you're aiming, your time in Armaverse really paid off huh?"
"Southeast Asia."
"An Asian? Playing as a handsome six foot something middle aged Caucasian man who looks like a noble?"
"Can't be worse. I'm sure you've heard of the rumors of the Prostitute players."
"We all know since the dawn of time that those with hot female characters tend to be overweight thirty something year old men."
"Hah, but what about ammo?"
"Do you have a Spell for Minor Creation?"
"I do. But as a low level Knight, that's as far as I can go."
"Well, with some practice. You should be able to create ammo out of thin air. As long as it's below Point Fifty, it shouldn't really dent your Mana unless you're wielding a Minigun. Wahahahah."
"Oh yea... so that means I basically have infinite ammo as long as... I can keep my Mana balanced."
"Exacto my good man. But since you're a Knight, I'm sure your Enchanted Swords are pretty much Mana guzzlers right?"
"I might need to change my fighting style. Combine the two."
"That bad boy is five hundred gold coins. But since you're fellow MilSimmers, I'll give you a discount and only make it three hundred and fifty."
"You make a good deal. How much are revolvers though? And can you enchant these?"
"Revolvers go from one hundred to ten thousand. And yes, you can enchant them as they're made of Plastic which you can only enchant through very specific means, but the barrel and other parts are Metal. The Kalashnikov for example has an all metal frame, enchant it and it'll enchant everything. If it has a wooden finish, Environmental Enchantments will get a boost like a Magical Staff made out of bark."
"Oh my... I can do damage with these. I've always seen players with muskets and those Flintlocks pirates use as it's more accepted... but dang... I can't believe I'm holding a Colt."
Within the next few months, the two Reputable Adventurer rank players rose to the next level. Grandmaster, but as time flew by, so did their schedules. Becoming more and more busy as life went on. Paul had to continue alone now, but with his enchanted Demon Armor and now using a low level cursed Demon Horse, he was able to stand on his own on the Dead Continent. He then continually mastered his Swordsmanship and with his already built skill of using guns, was able to switch between the two without a problem. After a year and a half, he was finally a Legendary ranked player. Level Two Hundred with maxed out gear and he now shelved his old Greatsword Hellraiser for the enchanted Arming Sword of King Paimon. One of the most notable and rarest swords a player could attain. Giving its user a boost of 40% in Energy and 20% in Speed while having the ability to render Divine Attacks useless. It's only enemy was the Holy Sword of God Zerech wielded by a female player who's also a known Streamer.
One thing he only found out later about the sword of King Paimon was its ability to give its user a passive increase in overall Damage and resistance in tandem with its wielder's anger, hatred, depression, and sadness. He discovered this ability in a beautiful forest as he was trying to hunt down a certain Vampire player that ambushed him and took one of his items when he encountered a beautiful maiden collecting flowers on a scenic field full of Roses. She was wearing a white silky dress with a golden Crown. Her long blonde hair touched the ground and her pale skin and petite body could be seen a hundred meters away. Curious if it's a Smart AI or a player, he approaches her. Disembarking his Armored Undead Demonic horse. The lady stops as she hears the clanking of his armor getting closer.
"Stop."
Her voice was angelic, soft and kind. It brought him calmness and was instantly in love.
"Are... are you a player?"
"Yes."
"May I ask what you're doing here? This place is dangerous if you aren't wearing armor."
The woman looks at the man wearing a horned helmet decorated with small silver chains, intricate and ornamental designs on the boots, lower torso and gauntlets and spiked armored shoulders. She merely crosses her arms and looks back at what she was doing.
"It's none of your concern, Death Knight."
Hearing him call her a Death Knight makes him smile inside the helmet. Feeling that he's finally reached his goal and deserved being called as one.
"Just saying ma'am. I know this Continent is full of high level goods like the Cristy Roses you're collecting, but a few meters from that treeline lies a Bandit party and on the other side, my head was nearly taken out by a Giant."
"They won't try anything. Even if they do, I'll swiftly bring them justice."
"Uh huh, well I'll leave it to you then."
As he walks to his horse, he notices from a far a familiar green and gray hue. It was the Elven player Prince Thomas of Keyneth who is after him for taking on one of their Castles all by himself. Slaughtering Mid level players without mercy as they confiscated his guns. He sees that with him are the Elite green and gold Royal Elven Knight Guards, so he makes a dash to his armored horse. All of the sudden he feels an object was about to be thrown at him, forcing him to turn around and unsheathe his sword. It came from the beautiful maiden who has her palm facing him.
"Bullet of Jericho."
Small golden portals open behind her, shooting the Death Knight with thousands of Divine shards. After the shooting, he is gone. Appearing behind her where the two's weapons meet. Her sword immediately makes him teleport away.
"The Sword of God Zerech!"
"And the Sword of King Paimon."
After a small staredown, the two dash towards one another, with their swords hitting with such speed and intensity the flowers below them were getting cut and shaken, each blow to one another's weapon was violent and powerful. ElvenBroThomas12 arrives at the scene but is unable to do anything as the two continually battle.
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Superchat me ten and I'll tell you."
His eyes widened. Realizing who he is up against.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
With an intense amount of rage and anger at his desperate situation which he keeps finding himself in, he notices that the Sword of Paimon started emitting a red glow just like his gauntlet and cuirass. He quickly checks his stats and could see his overall Damage and Resistance was up by almost 50%. This moment was disturbed the Sword Saint attempted to thrust her weapon into his chest. It hits but his armor resists it and he teleports once again this time having his Revolver out with his eyes inside the red lenses of his helmet's eye sockets showing nothing but pure will to live. He knows it'll take him months to replace his armor and his unique weapon will be lost to Breznick or Keyneth and the very guns he just took back will be lost again. Something he absolutely cannot allow.
He rearranges his stance and grips his sword harder. Its red glow turns into a fiery crimson red. The two once again butt heads and this time, he had an obvious advantage, visibly tearing up the Sword Saints beautiful dress and even scratching her in her arm and chest. Though her return was precise and coordinated, like someone on a ballet. Even in her high heels she was able to run around him and even flank and dodge. Paul on the other hand starts firing his Revolver, dodges all of his shots, forcing him to materialize his large Kite Shield. The two's battle was magnificent and with each blow, Paul gained more and more over her. Little did he know that the secret of God Zerech's sword was its ability to increase the Divinity of its user the lower its health became and the more motivation the user had to survive.
This slowly churns his sword's sharpness. Having to clash with Divinity of that of Ancient Gods for so many times turned it dull, he quickly changes to the Longsword of the Lost King Belial. He was about to face her again when a towering black death Knight appeared with a character skin of an Eldritch Skeletor.
"Knight of the Damned, let thee face this harlot. Run now."
Elizabeth was stunned by what's in front of her. The two point five meter tall Death Knight was looking down on her with its two red glowing eyes from its horned skull. Thomas immediately tells her to run for it, but she is determined to stand her ground. Facing the Knightly Purgatorial Beast in her beautiful white dress.
"You're the rumored Reaper of the Dead Continent, the one who rides the Pale horse and all those who appear before him die."
"That is true. Your kind do not belong here Saint."
He materializes a dilapidated Greatsword, using it as a crutch as he continues conversing with the Sword Saint.
"Any last words oh Maiden of the Light?"
"Bring it on."
The two's sword clash, but the Death Knight was faster. Teleporting behind her and swifty beheading the pretty lady. This terrifies the Elven Prince, making him perform a deep breath instinctively as to how ruthless, efficient and fast her defeat was. But nevertheless after gaining his senses, he tells his men to charge with him leading the pack. Without a hint of mercy, the Reaper teleports in and out, cutting the legs of their horses then the rider. Thomas the last and with his horse in agony, he starts to look around for any signs of the player. All that appeared was a deep voice of an Elder from the air that surrounds him.
"When you respawn, tell your Kings and Queens that the Demon Continent won't falter. They can try and try to invade, but you're all too feeble and righteous to set foot on this damned land. Such pity for you to make Mid Leveled players guard a castle here, of all places. Look at them all, killed by merely one player. I hope this will open your eyes."
The Reaper embedded his Greatsword through his armor, cutting through it like it wasn't even there leaving a large gaping slice in his stomach. He quickly disappears before reinforcements arrive and the mixture of Human and Elven soldiers that came could only vomit at the sight as their bodies slowly disappear, bringing their morale to even a lower place as they collect the Sword Saints equipment from the bloody scene. It didn't even look like a battle but instead a murder scene with the culprit an unseen Death Knight of Divine status.
Paul then wakes up back at the derelict town, hearing the clash behind him as the two Vampires try their best to control the horde and get to him, now even more determined than ever to survive. He fully completes materializing his armor and using his anger and will to survive, powers the sword of King Paimon. The strange creature changes shape, trying to engulf him fully to prevent him from escaping but it was too late.
Using his Eldritch Armor's powers, a black halo spawns on top of his helmet and the horns grow in length, with the buffs now activated, he overpowers the grip of the Mercuric hands and slices them clean with his dull sword shining with its crimson red glow. He pulls out his revolver and shoots more of the spawning hands of the creature, he then switches to his M4A1 and drops the newly spawned Skeleton Knights.
He teleports behind the Necromancer who sees this and teleports away while summoning more Skeletal Paragons. He casts spells on himself and parries the two undead Demon Knights, swiftly killing them. His armored boots were suddenly stopped by a black shadowy mist. He just teleports out of it and continues his chase, midway through his run he slices the giant skeletal hands holding down Bahamut's head. Freeing her and giving her the ability to finally shoot her fire breath which she does.
"GIVE 'EM HELL BAHAMUT!"
"My pleasure Mii'Trov!"
The Black Armored Dragon burns a crater through the middle of the town, stopping the Necromancer at his escape. The boney mage then uses telekinesis to use the mountains of bodies he has to block the Dragons breath which takes away most of the hordes the two Vampires was facing, using this opportunity, they rush towards the fire, using the wall of zombies as cover to strike down the Necromancer. Behind the rouge player was Paul running towards him. He summons the creature once again, forcing him to stop his dash and parry it. To his surprise, it was able to change the shape of its hands faster, it floats around him while striking him with differing types of Swords, Lances and Spears. Not taking any of it, he fires a Red beam off the tip of his sword, cutting it wide open. It wasn't able to reshape from such an attack and slowly melted out of the scene.
With it gone, Paul pours all his anger, depression and sadness, remembering his employees and the life he once had and thrusts his sword into the player and as he did this, the zombie wall blocked Bahamut's fire breath and Queen Elizabeth's Rapier and Alana's Ancient Vampiric Sword all strikes the Undead Wizard in unison. He screams in great agony, and his extremely skinny body glows in an intense green before bursting into a pile of bones.
Everything then suddenly dies, the Skeletons, the Zombies, and Undead Dragons all plop back to the ground. Lifeless, Paul who was still under the influence of his adrenaline falls on his feet.
"H-holy shit."
Elizabeth and Alana gently sit down on the dirt. Though not tired, they're mentally extinguished.
"My Lord... where will he come back?"
"Probably some Cemetery... that's where Werewolves, Vampires, Demons and Undead respawn at."
"Then... it will be long."
"Just leave it be, Jesus. That was wreckoning... Without the cap, High Level Necromancer players are just shitting thralls like there's no tomorrow. Of course, nothing stops them now..."