In a room with several monitors mounted on the wall, a man in a black jacket, white shirt, and green necktie was sitting in his rotating chair as a man wearing a grey shirt entered the room and asked, “So, Mr. White, how are the two boys?”

“They’ve managed to defeat several [Mad Jackals] and [Wild Wolves] in the as well a few other native monsters that ambushed them during their trek. I guess Mr. Palmer wasn’t exaggerating about his boys’ ability to grow and adapt to any situation,” Mr. White commented as he wrote in his clipboard while watching the two players fight more monsters on one of the monitors.

“I agree. While other players had to spend some several weeks gaining experience on crafting and battling, these two have only had to rely on extra help for their armor and only trained in the beginning area for just two weeks. Not to mention they spent several more weeks in the city selling some of their hand-crafted items for a few hours.”

“Well, you can’t blame them. They’re still students and their educations are their biggest priority. But despite that, the younger player, seems to be unique out of the two. Are you sure he’s not one of your kids, Mr. Spears?”

“I wish he was. Not only did he manage to figure out how to craft [Magecrafting] items without the aid of the guide system, but he managed to get in contact with a special NPC and obtain one of the required special items for our planned event. From what we observed so far, most other players haven’t managed to talk to the Seer in the library or even get a glance of him.”

“Yeah. And I worked so hard to help our story writers and programmers with adding NPCs related to the game’s lore and programming extra conditions within them,” Mr. White muttered as he scratched the back of his head. “Although, I think that being Mr. Palmer’s kid wasn’t the only reason he got that book. The only way to increase the odds of obtaining that book would have to be that his avatar was a part of the [Insignis] race and that he needed to treat the NPCs as more than just their guides and shopkeepers in the virtual world. Just because young Kazu is the son of an AI developer doesn’t mean he obtained it through nepotism, and that goes for his brother too.”

“Speaking of his brother, he’s quite the daredevil himself lately as well. Using the winds from an offensive spell as a tailwind to land a finishing blow was a risky move, but he managed to succeed in killing those monsters with a few swipes and impressive skill. He doesn’t have any martial arts training in real life, but I have to admit, he is very skilled with a sword.”

Mr. White put his hands behind his back as he watched the boys walk through the forest while chatting with each other about their recent battles. “We did make this game accessible to all players who don’t have any kind of training in real life. And these two are great examples as to what we’re aiming for in this game.”

Mr. Spears then sat down next to White as he picked up another clipboard on the table. “The real question here is regarding that area’s boss. It is intended for players who have their combat [Mastery] level up to 10-15, but defeating them is another story. Creativity is the key to the players’ victory. Otherwise, they could end up in similar fates as the other players who have fallen in the .”

Suddenly, White began to chuckle as Spears turned around and frowned at this sight. “You know, you may be a serious guy in the office, but you can be a bit over-dramatic when it comes to describing this stuff. It’s like you’re some kind of a mysterious mentor commentating on their journey like a narrator.”

Spears responded with a small smile.

“I’m guessing that’s the reason I’m all aboard for this project in the first place. Though I don’t recommend mentioning that to the others. It’s already embarrassing enough that they know about my love of fantasy novels.”

“Don’t worry. This conversation won’t leave this room. But you do have a point. Will they able to combat the boss of the forest or will it consume them?”

The man in the black jacket sighed and looked at the monitors. “Let’s find out, shall we?”

I take a deep breath as I sat down near the trees.

“Man! Talk about an exhausting day. This is the first time we’ve actually had to battle so many monsters non-stop. I can’t even imagine how we’re even able to catch our breath after so many ambushes.”

“I agree.” Hayate then sits down next to me as he puts his weapons down on his left. “If this were real life, we probably even wouldn’t able to move. Worse, we might die at the hands of those wild animals. I don’t even know if we could reach into the deeper parts of this forest.”

I’m worried about our stamina so far. But we haven’t come this far here just to give up now. Our main goal for this trek is to see what was at the end of this forest and I’m not aiming to leave here until we reach our destination! We were gonna keep going and...

“You’re not thinking of us forging on ahead without any breaks?”

Uh oh... I was hoping he hadn’t guessed that part of my goal.

“You know, Kaz. Moving forward is good, but taking a break is more important than trekking through the forest without any. We have to conserve our strength if we want to survive the . So for now, just focus on recovering your [MP], and rest for now.”

I want to continue on our trek, but Wind has never been wrong with his advice. So I relent and sit back down on the floor as I sigh in defeat. "Okay, if you say so. But since we're taking a break, how about we'll go over our current equipment and stats for now? I’m not sensing anything in the area right now.”

Considering how long we’ve had been fighting, it seems like a good idea for us to check for any new skills and stat bonuses from our [Masteries] so far. I, however, nervous about my stats. I’ve rarely used my [Thunder] skills during our trek thus far and I’m a bit worried that it hasn't gotten any experience from our latest battles. Plus, it seems that most of the powers of my [Plasma Staff] haven’t been activated yet other than a couple of magical attack bonuses and other things. I wonder if there was a condition or a trigger that would activate its true potential. In any case, I decided to open up my [Mastery] window first to see if I’ve made any kind of progress with my combat [Masteries].

[Arcana] Level 11

[Thunder] Level 11

[Wind] Level 8

[Alchemy] Level 12

[Magecrafting] Level 10

[Magical Affinity] Level 11

[Scribe] Level 4

As expected, my [Thunder Mastery] has only gone up by one level. I figure that maybe I should start using it more often so it won't lag behind my other [Masteries]... But as for the others, I’m surprised at how my [Arcana] and [Wind] [Masteries] had gone up by several more levels. Not only that, I've managed to obtain some new spells.

[Arcana Blade] Level 13

[An [Arcana] spell that creates a blade of mana that deals medium damage to their target.]

[Slip Gate] Level 15

[An [Arcana] spell that creates a small gate below the user and their allies that can teleport them back to the dungeon entrance.]

[Bluster Speed] Level 12

[A [Wind] spell that imbues the user in a gust of wind. It temporarily doubles the user’s [Speed] for 5 minutes.]

These might come in handy in case Wind needs to get some distance to use his bow and arrows and in case those monsters got too close to us. However, what’s most interesting is that my [Magical Affinity] has also gone up a few levels. It must be because I’ve used so many spells lately and because I’ve used [Mana Sense] so many times to see if any other monsters in this area might try to ambush us like those [Mad Jackals] and [Wild Wolves] before. And because of how much I have used it during our trek, it has managed to progress into a stronger version of my passive skill.

[Aura Perception] Level 13

[Evolved from [Aura Sight]. A [Magical Affinity] basic skill that lets you see any mana-filled items around the area as well as detecting any abnormalities to a location’s [Mana Field].]

If what the description said was correct, then I can probably detect other monsters and maybe even some cool items hiding right under our noses more easily! This will make our gathering quests even easier than before! And more importantly, I’ve also achieved a new passive skill from the same [Mastery]!

[Intermediate Spellcasting] Level 15 Passive

[Evolved from [Minor Spellcasting]. A [Magical Affinity] passive skill that lets you master any intermediate spells without any restrictions. It grants you a +11 bonus [MATK] and access to stronger magical-based weaponry.]

With this, I can master stronger spells sooner as well as use stronger magical items. Maybe I can create an even stronger [Plasma Staff] if Wind allows me to.

Speaking of my brother, what about his skill and mastery levels? I turn to him and notice that he seems very surprised when he looks at his own [Mastery] window. I’m curious about it, so I decide to check up on him.

"So how many levels did you earn on your [Masteries], Wind? Did you get any awesome new skills for your [Swordsmanship] and [Archery]?" I asked with a smile.

"Well, besides those, I also gained some several levels on my [Physical Enhancement]. I didn't know how to level up properly since I only got a passive ability from that, but I never figured that it would manage to earn experience on its own."

"Of course it can level up like the other skills, Wind. It's just that you don't know how. Besides, you already know how to use a sword and both attack and defend, right?"

[Physical Enhancement] is just like my [Magical Affinity]. But rather than focusing on increasing magic, it focuses more on increasing the user’s physical strength and endurance. And since Wind mostly uses a bow and arrows as well as his sword, I figure this [Mastery] is better suited for him to complement his fighting style. Of course, the real problem for Wind is was the "leveling up" part, since most of his skills are passive skills, and the only way to gain experience for them was to continue using his physical attacks and skills. But then again, he already has that covered.

"Okay... But still, these skills are very useful in the long run. I mean, enhanced speed and defense? I could get on board with these abilities in my arsenal. Guess you really did choose the right [Masteries] just for my character."

"Yeah. Besides, you prefer to do physical activities during our vacations, especially whenever we go to the beach. So I had to give you a [Mastery] that would aid your fighting-style just like my [Magical Affinity] would aid mine. I just hope we can gain our skills and gain spells that can help us in any battle in the long run. I really want to master my craft as a mage in this game."

"Same here. But as long we're together, we can conquer any monster we encounter in this forest. And as we do, I bet we’ll able to survive any stronger threats that we run into outside ."

"I hope so..."

I smile at what Wind’s words. I want to see more of the world that Dad helped to create and I want to learn more about it, no matter what kind of monster or player we would come across.

"So... should we get going now? There might be a monster lurking around here."

Wind just responds by ruffling my hair and saying, "Nice try, little bro."

----

After a few more minutes of rest, we continue our trek into the , fighting off more monsters who try to ambush us. During those battles, I notice that Wind is starting to move faster than before with his sword, dodging left and right while countering attack with flurries of offensive slashes. Also, he has managed to one-shot KO a few weaker monsters with his [Archery], which I figure comes from one of his new skills.

As for me, I seem to be getting stronger too, as I’ve managed to greatly injure many of the [Wild Wolves] with a single [Wind] spell. It must be because of my [Wind Mastery] since it has granted me some stronger spells such as [Tempest Blow] and [Gale Force]. However, I’m also a little sad at this since I still haven’t found the time to use my [Thunder] spell. At this rate, it will be too weak to even damage a monster.

Eventually, we continue walking down the path of the forest, during which I smile for almost an hour due to the pride of our recent battles and all the experience we gained for our skills. And of course, Wind notices and has to warn me about being too overconfident with myself, or else I could slip up and die in the next battle. However, before I can respond, I notice something in front of me as I stop walking, at which I then feel Wind bumping into my back.

"Kazu? Hey, what's the matter? Why'd you stop?"

I don’t say anything. I’m too stunned at what I’m seeing: the trees and bushes on the path are wilting into shriveling into black husks of falling dark leaves. They’re also covered in dark purple vines, and a purple fog had enveloped most of the other trees around us. Because of this, all I can do is to point this out to my brother, at which he gasps at the sight.

“W-What the hell? Are those trees... dead?”

“Looks like it,” I mutter as I frown at the scene. I’m surprised at both the number of dead trees all around us and the fact we have found this area halfway into the forest. However, there’s one more question on my mind right now: what the heck had happened in here anyway?

In any case, I decide not to wait any longer and use my evolved [Aura Sight] skill to see what was causing all of this. But instead of seeing blue auras in those trees, I saw a red aura in them, as well in that strange fog. Strange... does that mean the mana in that fog was responsible for killing those trees? Just the sight of it alone makes me shiver in fear. However, when I take a closer look, I notice that the vines wrapped around the dead trees seem to emit the same red aura. They seem to be the same color as the fog, so I guess that they must be connected to it somehow. Just to be sure, I try to approach the dead trees cautiously manner. But all of a sudden, a strange wave of uneasiness overwhelms me to the point that I collapse to my knees in horror.

"Kaz, are you okay?"

That's what I asking myself. What the heck was all that anyway?

[NOTICE]

[Your [Aura Perception] has detected a large amount of malicious mana in the area. Your [HP] will be decreased if you stepped into the fog-filled area.]

Malicious mana? Does that mean...

"Wind, don't get any closer to those trees!"

I know he’s not actually going near there, but I have to warn him for his own sake.

"Huh, what about them?"

"I-I don't know what happened to the trees, but I know that fog and those vines might be responsible for poisoning them. We have to stay away from that area or else, we might end up dead just like them!"

I’m a bit jumpy after seeing the notice, but I know we can’t risk ourselves going through that poisonous area without some kind of protection or resistance to it. Luckily, Wind understands my warnings as he gently drags me away from the trees.

"You don't have to tell me twice. I'm just glad you're okay. Thanks for the warning."

I smile when he thanks me. He didn't even question why the area was poisoned or even ask how I even knew this. All he cares about is my safety and in return, I have to keep him safe as well. However...

"But I am worried about that fog," I speak up as Wind helps me to my feet. "We're only halfway through the wilds and the fog is already all over this area. Not to mention it's starting to affect the other plants and trees in the vicinity."

I see Wind's expression turn grim as he looked around the area. "Did the other players in the forums mention anything about the poisonous area in this forest?"

"I'm afraid not," I respond as I shake my head no. I only see the threads regarding their varying experiences in the and some advice threads on how to beat the area's monsters. "I'm guessing none of them have made it this far yet. But still, I'm worried. There has to be some way we can get rid of whatever's poisoning this area."

According to the game's site, the game's world of is a persistent world, which according to Dad, can grow and develop even without any real-life players' interactions and choices. If that's true, there's a chance the poison might kill the whole forest if we leave it like it is.

"I doubt we can do anything about it right now, though. And even if we tried, are we even strong enough to destroy its source and survive?"

Wind is right. Even with our new weapons, we might not able to survive long enough to destroy it. But I really don’t want this forest to disappear! If there's a way to heal the area... I just...

[Why...]

Huh?

[My home... My land... Why?!]

Is someone there?

[I don't want to leave this place! This is my home! But why?! Why am I not strong enough to stop this plague?!]

Plague? So that's what this fog is? But who was that just now?

"Kaz?"

From the tone of the voice, they seem very troubled at this fog and its vines just like me. But where is it coming from?

"Kaz, hello... Earth to Kazu!"

Huh? I quickly turn around and see Wind shaking my shoulder.

"O-Oh, sorry about that. But I think I just heard a voice. I think they’re who upset about this forest's fog."

"A voice?" Wind then looks around the area and said, " I didn’t hear anything. You sure it’s not just your imagination?"

I wish it had been, but I can clearly hear the voice. I know I’m not imagining it, but where did it come from anyway? I scan the area to see if I could find someone, but all I see was a pathway to another area. Maybe I can find someone there.

"It's not, and I know that voice, whoever it is, needs our help. And we're going to answer their call no matter what!"

“Answer their what? Kaz, don’t tell me you...”

I don’t wait for Wind to finish his sentence. Rather, I just grab his wrist and drag him away as we head down the pathway to a new area. If what that voice was saying is true, then I can’t just sit around and speculate about the situation anymore! I can’t think of anything else right now as I just focus on our destination at hand.

----

Eventually, after a few minutes, we find ourselves in an open field surrounded by healthy trees, which reminds me of a lot of the same place where we found that [Wild Bear] a month before. However, the atmosphere here is very different from that area. For one thing, my [Aura Perception] has detected a large amount of mana in here, and even if my [Minor Mana Sense] can’t detect on the same level as the former, something tells me we’re up against a strong monster.

“Kaz, seriously...”

I turn around as Wind approaches me with a worried expression on his face.

“How many times do I have to tell you, you can’t run off on your own? You said it yourself that this forest is teeming with...”

I quickly shush him and cover his mouth as I pull out my staff. “Hang on, I sensed some kind of a monster’s mana in here. And I have a feeling that it’s much stronger than the ones we fought earlier.”

“A monster?! Here?! Are you sure?!”

I nod “yes”. Ever since I obtained [Minor Mana Sense] and [Minor Mana Detection] skill, I’m the only one who can locate a monster if either ability detects one nearby. Although I can’t say that these skills are all that accurate because one, [Minor Mana Sense] can only detect the mana of low-leveled monsters, and two, the [Minor Mana Detection] has a 60-second cooldown period after being used and it can only detect monsters that could use mana-based attacks, so detecting attacks from monsters such as [Wild Wolves] and [Ambush Eagles] is out of the question. Though that last flaw isn’t too much of a problem for me thanks to Wind’s [Hunting] skills, so we have to work together to detect and find an opening to counterattack any incoming ambushes. However...

“I’m sure of it. But to be honest, I never felt this kind of mana before. It’s like a god has headed this way or something.”

“A-A god? Are you serious?”

It’s a bit of an exaggeration when I explain this, but there’s no other way to describe this strong aura I’m detecting. Before I can explain any further, a roar echoes in the fields.

I can feel it getting closer and closer behind us. And when we turn around, we find ourselves face-to-face with a large white and blue tiger.

Wind's Masteries

[Archery] Level 14

[Woodcrafting] Level 7

[Swordsmanship] Level 14

[Cooking] Level 4

[Wind] Level 10

[Physical Enhancement] Level 8

[Hunting] Level 12

Kazu's Masteries

[Arcana] Level 16

[Thunder] Level 12

[Wind] Level 13

[Alchemy] Level 12

[Magecrafting] Level 10

[Magical Affinity] Level 15

[Scribe] Level 4