//** Continuation of chapter 15. (From 15.3) **//

Arata started reading the message that appeared some time ago.

-hey Arata what is with that name?

Zen stopped laughing and asked.

-well it’s not real creative but at least it’s simple, the challenge description is even better. ‘Defeat the boss’ is what it says.

-simple is the best but it doesn’t seem like anyone is in the mood so I can solo it if you want me to.

-I see. Good luck then.

-hey Zen don’t forget that it’s a boss monster after all. Remember the guild test.

Odin reminded him.

-… .

Zen somehow stopped smiling.

-Odin he said that he will be okay on his own, so let him do it.

Arata followed up.

-you know. I think that I left an iron switched on. So guys, help me out. We need to finish it quickly, right?…

Zen changed his mind immediately.

The cage reached the top and they appeared on some arena. There were many bodies lying everywhere even though Arena was at least 60 meters radius.

-ah we fought here in the first challenge. But there was nothing like that standing there.

Odin pointed at huge ten meters in height monster. Although it had a tail it was standing on two feet. His whole body was covered in brown scales. He also had a pretty long face.

-what do you guys think?

Arata asked.

-well lizard humanoid. Does it make any difference what he is? Anyway look at his weapon.

-I wonder if he drops that hammer as a loot.

Zen and Odin weren’t really bothered by its size.

“Why big monsters always must have hammer as their weapons?”

-hey what is he doing.

Monster was holding hammer in one hand and he moved to the wall of Arena. Minute later he started to march into direction of the cage equipped with huge tower shield which was as big as he was.

-looks like he picked it up, there are some gigantic weapons hanging on the wall over there.

Odin stated the fact.

-it must be that depending on the stone we get different combination, anyway wonder what is his level.

-100.

Kotori voice came from behind. Level was the last thing that Arata would be bothered with.

-well bosses are always like that. Not only they have all those abilities but they also have to over level you so much. Hey Odin. He will get here soon come over here. So how do we get out from the cage? You did it once right?

Zen asked.

-last time we didn’t appeared in the cage so I don’t know.

Odin answered.

-but we need to get out from here somehow right. Arata any ideas?

-well, there is no door so we just have to make one.

-my thoughts exactly…

Zen soon fired out a fireball at the cage. It looked powerful but there was no effect. He tried again with different spell but it also didn’t bring any effect.

-hey! Help me out there.

After that he asked for help.

Arata swing his black sword at cage bars but his attack also just bounced off without making any damage.

-it doesn’t work.

-its iron cage after all.

Arata stated the obvious fact.

-hey does that mean that we can’t get out?

-looks like it.

“There should be something that opens the cage. It should open on its own.”

-hahaha, looks like third challenge will be really easy.

But then Zen made a strange comment.

-ha?

-look, we can’t get out right. But boss also can’t go in, so all we need to do is to attack it with range spells. It’s seems, I will solo it after all.

-there is no way that it will work.

Arata did not see it happen.

-haha, there is, it can be some kind of bug. Also games always have some kind of exploits to use right? Anyway the boss is close enough so I start firing.

-LOOK OUT!…

Odin shouted as the boss started a swing with his hammer. Upon contact the Iron cage was destroyed in seconds. The hammer was about to crush them as they had nowhere to run but at that moment Odin jumped up and blocked the hammer with his shield. In laws of physics a small object should bounce off from huge object but it was the hammer that bounced off.

-Zen!

Odin shouted, Zen without any more words understood what he meant.

-Odin will stop him for now. Cage is not here anymore. We are getting out from here. Everyone is okay?

-yes.

-okay spread out. Arata take Yuki somewhere safe first. Then we will focus on the boss.

Already out from cage Zen shouted that. He took care of early chaos and now everyone knew what to do. Arata picked up Yuki and started to run away from boss. Kotori catch up to him.

-Arata we can’t just leave her like that. Put her here and I will also stays here. This distance is good for healer.

-are you sure? It may be better to just put her as far as possible.

-there may be other monsters coming out from somewhere and we just don’t see them yet. In challenge one, they were coming from all over the place.

-okay I am leaving her here. But what will we do if boss come this way?

-if that happens I will manage somehow but if healer take the agro from the boss you guys all sucks.

With those words, Arata reassured ran back to the boss.

When he got in range his first thoughts were.

“A moving wall.”

When Arata reached the boss all he could see was his shield which he held with left hand. With second hand boss was swinging his hammer at Odin. Odin was mostly avoiding the strikes dodging but also sometimes blocked them. Even if he tried to get close he couldn’t as he had to dodge other strikes. His damage on boss was no existing. Still it was not his job to do it.

There were magic bolts coming from the left and the right. Although the one that Zen fired were blocked by the shield. He tried to get pass it was running around but he didn’t go on the other side where there was no shield. On that side Anari was firing from her spells which landed and did some damage. Still, the boss didn’t look like he cared too much about those shots. Arata couldn’t see his health point but it didn’t go down too much.

Lizard wasn’t only swinging his hammer but also sometimes just moved forward or jumped left or right to land on someone. It made it even harder for Arata to get close.

“Again, how I am supposed to do anything here? Who come up with this design, the scale is just too big.”

As melee dps Arata had to stay close to the boss and attack him with his weapon although he would only reach boss’s feet and his swords looked like needles to the boss.

-Arata, don’t slack off and go and attack!

Zen shouted to Arata when he was trying to come up with something.

-I’m on it. It’s not that easy as attacking from save distance. Anyway why are your attacks hits mostly the shield?

-I was trying to get around but it didn’t work, anyway at least I am keeping the shield here so Anari can shoot without problem, she will do more damage thanks to it.

-it will take some time.

-that’s why you should do something as well, if you have problems deal with them.

“I already fought with boss who was way bigger than me and as far as I know, getting under his feet and attacking from there is bad idea. I should have come up with something in case that I have fight like this again. Well, there are no better ideas then this for now I will go for the back.”

Arata started to run to the boss. He couldn’t go just straight as he had ‘a wall’ right before him. He turned right to the back of boss but when he passed the shield another problem appeared. Boss sweep with his tail the moment Arata came in range of it.

[Leap]

Arata instantly jumped up and flight over it, but when he landed the tail started to sweep back once again from other direction. Arata once again leaped over it. When he barely avoided it right above the tail and landed on the ground he came up with idea.

“It’s not like you do things like that in MMO, but as far as melee fighting against colossal enemies goes in games, this should work, although I have one try left as my stamina is low.”

Arata’s stamina was drained out when he was getting out from swamp and all that regenerated was pretty much already used, although he had stamina for one more skill. Arata took out the swords and prepared for incoming tail sweep.

[Leap]

Arata once again jumped up and was barely above the tail similar to previous dodges but this time the moment he was above the tail he thrust his swords at the tail and holding them strongly he stuck to the tail and fly with it, moment after.

The tail was moving left and right and Arata was trying his best to stay on it, he even made few attack when he was stable enough but there was no much of it.

“With this, I can at least do some damage, but I can’t rush as if I do, I will soon fall down. Getting away from the tail climbing on the main body should be my priority. With more stable ground I should be able to do more.”

Arata started to move forward. He was climbing a mountain. Well the mountain was a ‘moving giant lizard’ and his climbing equipment was swords rather than pickaxes. But details were not important.

“He keeps swinging it around. It’s not like I will fall after being here for so long.”

At his thought the lizard stopped to swing his tail.

“Lucky.”

Although, the lizard still wanted to get rid of pest and in rather extreme way. This time he tried to do this with his hammer. With awkward movements he managed to lunch a strike on his body where Arata was.

Seeing this Arata gave up slow and save climbing and started to run forward up the wall. That allowed him to avoid the attack. Then the moment when hammer landed on Lizard body, Lizard jumped up in pain.

“You don’t use hammers to get rid of a fly do you?”

Though Arata when he flied up with Lizard. When they landed back on the ground, Arata finally had rather good footing on Lizard’s scales. Now he could attack all he wanted.

Lizard learned his lesson and this time he tried to attack with his hands. He still swung down the hammer at Odin but he let go of his shield.

The shield started to fall down. It also was an attack in a way. Ten meters high iron wall landing on the surface was not something that you want to get hit by.

With his had free lizard tried to get rid of Arata.

To dodge his first palm Arata had to jump down fast as it was way faster than climbing up.

“It’s dangerous here.”

With this thought Arata made his way to a place where giant shouldn’t be able to reach him with his hand.

Lizard’s hp was going down stably now and it looked like the end was near. At least, it felt like it as Arata couldn’t see his hp. That was because having nothing else to do but just swinging swords at Boss’s body, Arata dps was enormous.

“That’s how you do it. It finally feels like MMO’s boss fight.”

At one moment boss left out his hammer. It looked like he was going to fall on the ground that moment. Well, he did fall and his hp was no more but he didn’t do it in a normal way. With his last dying breath the lizard jumped backwards and tried to land on his back. That way he could at least kill Arata who was attacking from that spot.

Arata already though that something like that may happen so he planned escape route to get to Lizard’s belly. He managed to get there without any problems and the Lizard fall to the ground without killing anyone.

“Is it dead yet?”

Arata couldn’t see boss hp, he already knew a reason for that. As Gerald told them that pass level 100 many things changes. One of them was that you can’t see your or yours enemy HP anymore. At the moment Arata still could see his HP which was 100% ever since Kotori healed him up before challenge two.

“He looks dead to me, or at least soon be.”

-HEY! Is there some kind of message like we won or something?

Arata shouted from the top of the boss

-no! We also didn’t get experience for him so he must be still alive, but just few more attacks and he will be dead, keep attacking.

He got response from Zen. Arata was going to attack once more but then he spotted a change.

“What’s that?”

A black dot appeared right underneath him at Lizard belly. Arata didn’t even think about it but instantly based on experience he moved away from it.

“Don’t stay in weird circles is a golden rule of MMO.”

It looks like there were many golden rules that Arata had.

This weird circle wouldn’t be dangerous to him but from it a body emerged.

-waahr’s mohr dar…

This time it was three meter in high monster with two head. He was rather fat creature.

“Now what? Some kind of pig?”

Arata was going to attack but first he had to dodge incoming magic attacks as the boss was not wasting any minute.

-nah norteh!

Barrage of magic bolts came his way. Arata quickly rolled on the ground so he could somehow dodge this but just after that and electric strike came his way. Arata didn’t get up fast enough to avoid it but he didn’t get hit by it as in last second it was blocked by magical golden shield that appeared to defend him.

“As always, good to have her on my back.”

He didn’t see where Kotori was right now but she could probably see what was happening here. It was not only Kotori who was helping. Odin appeared out from nowhere and rushed to the boss.

Boss had two heads so surprise attack wouldn’t work on him. He could see Odin very easily. He stopped attacking Arata and was going to start attacking Odin. When Odin was three meters away, fat boss started to cast a spell but Odin speeded up with shield at his front. Spell bounced out from his shield and Odin got to the boss and second later the boss was sent flying five meters up to the sky. There he instantly got hit by a lighting attack that came out from a ground below Lizard’s body.

-one more!

Zen lunched lighting strike but this time, boss was prepared and summoned a magic shield similar to this of Kotori but his was brown. Zen’s magic attack didn’t break through it.

-counter incoming!

Arata shouted as he saw boss who while falling down was preparing something. A dark red light was gathering around him so it was probably something big but he didn’t manage to finish it. Anari appeared right above him by using teleport skill. She had some kind of huge white magical circle emanating from her hand. A massive magic pillar of energy was released from it. It covered whole body of boss who was falling down to the ground.

After Odin made him fly, the boss was no longer above Lizard body.

Anari on the other hand fly up by about two additional meters as she was still realizing massive amount of energy.

“Eh, mages and their overpowered spells.”

Though Arata seeing boss’s body crashing into the ground. Zen come managed to climb up as well and commented.

-uuuu, she grows up fast, doesn’t she?

-so Zen, why don’t you try something like that as well?

-I don’t like flashy things like this.

-just answer, you can’t do it.

-well I don’t have spell like that, our classes must be a little different. But I have something similar, I also have the teleport. Adding to that I even thought about combo like that before. But I found one big problem while trying it out.

-to me it looks effective.

To Arata’s remark Zen started explaining.

-it may but you see Anari will soon fall down from that height and it will hurt badly. Well we have healer so I guess it’s not a problem right now. Still I will not try to use that combo until I get some kind of ‘slow fall’ spell.

Zen pointed at Anari who was falling down.

-she is an idiot.

Arata quickly commented. Zen continued.

-at least thanks to that we are done with another boss already, there shouldn’t be any more coming, right? Hey where are you going?

Arata started to run in direction that Anari was falling down.

“Good I have at least enough for this.”

[Lighting speed activated]

The speed wasn’t something that normal human could achieve anymore. Leaving only dust behind Arata soon get to the spot where Anari was going to land on. Arata thought that he wouldn’t make it but Anari didn’t fall as fast as he thought she would. Thanks to it, he managed to catch her, and it was rather suppressing that he could do that. She should have more impact by falling from that height. But Arata didn’t have time to think about it as he saw magic bolt coming his way. With Anari still in his arms he kept running and dodged incoming attack shoot out by the boss with two heads.

-waa, he is still alive?

-it’s a boss after all, anyway why are you doing attacks like that?

-emm… what’s the problem?

-you falling from the sky is the problem.

-haha, Arata you can’t cheat on Kotori.

-I not trying to use any cheap texts, I mean you could die or at least take huge damage from the fall. It would at least hurt a lot.

-I landed perfectly fine you know I am very good at levitating now, so I can slow down the fall. I still can’t control my position though but I would just land on the butt, thanks for catching me.

“Now that’s explaining one thing.”

-anyway we still have boss to deal with.

Arata looked in direction of boss. He was already occupied with Zen and Odin, although their attacks didn’t work as Boss was completely surrounded by brown shields. They were floating around him and all he was doing was sending out magical attacks from inside of it.

“It will be hard to deal with. I don’t have stamina or mana to use anything else than simple attacks and they won’t be enough to break through that bubble.”

-Anari do you have any good spell that would break it?

-em, about that. I wasted most of my mana already so I won’t be of much use anymore for the time being. I thought that boss will die after last attack.

-…

Arata put her down as there wasn’t even on attack coming their way anymore as boss completely focused on other two. Although for a moment he wanted to drop her down.

-didn’t you learn not to waste mana?

-but Arata it looks like Zen is also not so good on mana so it’s not only me. Anyway what are we doing right now?

“Both of them were firing out without a care and now we have a problem. Well I also don’t have any resources so I can’t say a thing. But I didn’t waste it at least!”

-just wait here, you are useless now anyway.

-wait I’m not!

Arata didn’t waste more time and started to move in boss direction. He decided to try out enemy shields. As boss was focused in completely other way even with two heads Arata without much trouble managed to sneak to his shields at the back.

The shields were making a defensive capsule around the fat boss.

“If I destroy just one shield I can get inside and attack him without care.”

Arata tried to swing a sword at it but it just bounced off Arata also took some damage from it.

“That won’t work. Now, the only thing that I can use is Sword enchant, so let’s go with it.”

[Sword enchant: fire]

He tried once again but that didn’t give much effect. His hp went down once again although it was healed back right away. But with this attack the boss stopped ignoring Arata. He sent a fireball at him. Arata didn’t saw it right until it left protective field so it was impossible for him to dodge it.

-aaa.

Arata on reflect tried to slash it with his sword and surprising it worked. The fireball got sliced in half and fell down on both left and right side of Arata.

“Ha? I can do something like that?”

Soon enough another magical bolt came up. It was ice attack this time. Arata could dodge it with no problems as he saw it clearly but he decided to parry it again to test if he can really cut through the spells. Sadly, it didn’t work and Arata got hit and fall to the ground. Soon a barrage of magic attacks came at him but this time they were blocked by golden shield that appeared in front of him.

“It’s not the best time to try things like that. Anyway we still have boss to deal with.”

At the moment there wasn’t much progress. Zen and Odin stopped attacking at all and focused on dodging. Anari was still standing in a distance, she couldn’t do much anyway, that’s why Arata left her be.

Arata get up and moved to the place where Odin and Zen were. They also keep a good distance in which they could defend against incoming attack. Arata joined a game of dodge ball.

-guys what are you doing now?

He asked.

-we thought that you have some kind of idea so we distracted the boss but you came here so it seems like you don’t have any.

-I don’t have mana for ideas.

-same as me.

Zen confirmed Arata’s worry. Then Odin said.

-I do have some, but it won’t help to break through his shield as I tried everything already.

-as far as I know Anari also shouldn’t have anything left, leaving no one with ability to attack break through.

Zen summed situation up.

-so are we going to play ‘dodge the spell’ until we die?

Arata asked.

-we can also survive long enough until some of my mana regenerate, although with speed that it regenerate in combat we won’t last long enough for a good spell. Still that game, I’m in, the one who survives until the end is a winner!

-… .

Arata once again got irritated. But there really was nothing else.

-Arata, he is just joking, for now our plan is to dodge until boss run out of mana and his shield goes down. Then we will manage.

Odin told him their plan.

-it may take some time, I don’t think that we will survive long enough. Boss can also have unlimited supplies of mana.

-if it’s the second then we can’t do anything in the first place, but if it’s the first one we will survive somehow. Boss doesn’t use any big spells anymore, must be because he is inside that shield barrier.

-even so we have to dodge it for hours,

-even if we get hit here and there we still have her on our back so there is no problem.

Odin pointed in direction of Kotori.

“Well as long as she is healing we don’t have to worry about dying. Well as long as she won’t decide that dying is the better choice.”

Arata knew Kotori was joking at that time so he didn’t worry about it too much.

-won’t she run out from mana?

Zen asked.

-I don’t think so. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was 100% all the time, I only fought with her on first challenge but I saw all I needed so see.

-if you say so. Not that I plan on getting hit.

“Wait, maybe she has some spell that would help.”

-I go ask her if she had any ideas.

-Arata if you are going there, tell her that she destroying our fun with those heals. Our game won’t end if she heals everyone like that.

Arata ignored last comment and run to Kotori. Lizard’s huge shield was lying next to her but apart from that she was the same as the moment he left her. Yuki was also lying nearby.

-Arata, when are you guys stops playing dodge the ball? End it already!

Kotori asked when Arata got in hearing distance.

-does it really looks like it?

-well, it does. Look at them.

In a distance Zen and Odin keep dodging incoming attacks. They were all small attacks nothing too great.

-well you are right still it’s because we just can’t do anything right now.

-really? I thought that there were no problems, you know with this combo that you pulled at the start. Boss also looked weaken to me, he doesn’t use any strong spells anymore. One or two hits and he will be dead.

-the problem is that we can’t break through his defense as everyone is out of steam.

-you too?

-well I was out of it even before fight began. Anyway how are you on mana?

-well, I over 70%, apart from healing Odin when he was blocking hammer I didn’t have much work. I started the fight with 50% so it went up. But one question, if Zen is out of steam why is he playing dodge ball as well? If he is useless now, he should just sit down somewhere like Anari.

-he wanted to play a game or something. Or rather two targets boss will lose his mana faster.

-well it’s not like he got hit so far. So our tactic right now is playing dodge ball until boss run out of mana?

-well they came up with it but I somehow don’t see it.

-boss can just have good mana regeneration and he stopped using any good spells. We might wait here forever.

-that’s why I came here, do you have better ideas?

-sure, go and break through shield somehow. You can do it Arata.

-somehow hmm?

-you will think of something.

-well, I thought that you may have some kind of spell that would break through it.

-well I could try my new spell but should healer really doing it? And even if I break through the shield, it won’t damage boss too much after it.

-if you break shield for long enough and I enter there, I should be able to finish him.

-so you want to solo it up from that point. Didn’t you lose all your stamina and mana already?

-I also thought that you can help with that.

-I don’t have spell that is as useful as that.

-then I will manage without it, but what about you know, that pillar of light?

-well that regenerate stamina at least, but you know how much mana its eats.

-but you won’t need mana afterwards.

-what if there is a third boss coming after this one?

-that rather pessimistic.

-no it’s rather given, who normally have two different bosses coming one after another. If it goes like that, it’s always three.

-it’s not a rule, anyway your skill will cost?

-half, and I need to use this if I were to get through the shield of 100 level monster.

-see you will still have 20% left.

-it may also not break through it, or you can also die inside there.

-I will manage somehow.

Arata didn’t even think about losing for a second.

-knowing you, you probably will easily win. Even if you don’t, it won’t be that bad either. We should all just die right now after all.

-you talking about our meeting.

-exactly that. Well I just joking again. Also I have even better idea for this boss.

-oh, what is it?

-if you had stamina you would break somehow on your own, right? So if we are going to gamble let’s gamble big. Remember when you fought against white wolf and I healed you up?

-many things happened that day.

-well you should remember every inch of them, its important day after all. Anyway you got buffed up and managed to defeat the withe wolf with no problem.

-well there were some problems and I would die many times without your heals but sure I did win.

-so, I will just buff you up this time and you just have to do the same again.

-well with that buff I could probably even take another boss if he came out. But wasn’t it working only at night or something? Look it’s bright outside here.

-it’s not normal sun, the whole instance is strange in the first place, anyway timer says that it’s night right now, so it will work.

-okay we go with this. Wait till I get closer to the boss so we won’t waste any time.

-if it’s like that I will come as well, it will be more effective if I am closer while casting it.

-and Yuki?

-it’s not like she will die if I leave her alone for a second and no minions have appeared so far and I don’t think they will.

-and even if they do you could just defend her from afar.

-exactly that, let’s go.

Arata and Kotori ran back to where boss was. The scenery didn’t change here at all. Zen welcomed them.

-you finally decided to play as well. We are winning by 20 minutes over you, but we can start from scratch if you ask nicely. Anyway did you come up with a plan?

-we did, anyway Kotori you can start.

-… .

It was time to cast the spell but then Kotori became quiet all of sudden.

-hey Kotori.

-Arata, I said that the closer we are the better right?

-well sure, so how far should I stand?

-I don’t know.

“Hmm?”

-read spell again, we have time.

-it’s says the closer the better.

-then what? You want me to hug you? That would be the closest distance I guess.

-… .

“What is she embarrassed or something, her face became red.”

-what with you again? We were hugging many times already.

-it was mostly me hugging you, you never took initiate.

It was the first time he heard her complaining about it. Also her voice was different than usual.

-but you said that you know me better than I do, so is there a problem?

-saying is one thing, but real actions are what’s important! Anyway forget it let’s just get started!

“Wasn’t it she who always said to be honest about your feelings. ehh.”

Arata came closer knelt down, buried his face in Kotori’s chest and catch her around with arms. Soon enough light surrounded them and they stayed like this for a minute. Spell ended Arata had a buff called Song of Stars which increased his stats by 25%.

-hey Kotori, it worked. Last time it was only 15% and now…

Arata stopped as he looked at Kotori’s face. First time he saw her smile, he already developed some feelings for her. Some may call it love at first sight. For Arata her smile was brighter than light emanated by ten thousand suns and he would never get tired of it. This time it was different however. There was same pure smiling face, but the difference was her eyes from which tears started to pour out. They also weren’t the same tears that he already saw, they were different. Kotori said in small voice.

-one more.

She already started to cast another spell. Arata however didn’t go back to his previous position. He stood up on one leg and moved to Kotori’s face. Without moment of hesitation he kissed her.

Yellow light surrounded them. The spell as to answer their feelings became different from previous one. They were standing there together in this shining golden light. That was their first kiss.

Soon enough the light ended and Arata moved away. The buff changed its name it was now called ‘Song of universe’ and increased Arata’s stats by 100%.

-Kotori…

Said Arata her name but Kotori didn’t answer. In fact she still had her eyes closed. It also felt as she was leaning on him.

-hey.

She was still not responding.

-you two are done?

Odin asked after he blocked another attack.

-well we are although it looks like she fell asleep or something.

Arata did not understand the situation either.

-asleep? What are you talking about?

-hahahaha.

Odin asked seriously but Zen laughed out loud.

-hey what is it?

-Arata, you showed us a good scene, you are so bold.

“It’s not that I forgotten about them. But I got caught off guard. The plan was only on hugging.”

-and what I am supposed to do right now with her like this?

-it’s your fault that she feinted.

-she feinted? And why is it my fault?

-you know if you suddenly do something like that to a pure girl like her it’s rather given. She even cried out from happiness when you hugged her, but you just went with another step right away…

Zen explained how it looked to him.

“That’s crying face was the problem, my thinking stopped at that moment. Instincts took over. But I didn’t do anything wrong, I had no idea it will feel like this.”

Arata found his answer and focused on the present.

-anyway you can leave her here. We will hide her somewhere so you won’t have to worry.

Odin said to him.

-we still have the boss to defeat, after all.

Arata went back to his mission after putting down Kotori carefully to the ground

-hey Arata. I hope your plan is something better than defeat the boss with a power of love.

Zen asked with amused voice.

-well it was different but it looks like I will have to go with this one.

-hey, I was just joking.

-well, but I didn’t.

Arata rushed in enemy’s direction. His movements right now, were on a pair with those which he could use when lighting speed was activated. In three seconds he was already near the shields of the boss but he didn’t stop even for a moment. With his black sword he made a slash and easily broke through the shield. With that he got inside.

The fat boss spotted him but couldn’t react at all to Arata’s movements. Arata already passed him on right while making two long parallel wound. When boss tried to look back around he got another two symmetrical wounds on the other side. Arata wasn’t wasting any time and now he was slashing from the back.

“Who needs skills with buffs like that?”

Arata was nearly as fast as like with lighting speed and his attack were nearly as fast as 12 strike combo. Also his opponent was a huge fat two-headed mage. He had no chance at close combat in a first place. Soon enough, the fat boss landed on his knees, Arata just to be sure chop of one of its head with last attack. The shields that were so far making the protective bubble also disappeared.

“Hmm… that went rather fast.”

But it was not over. Boss’s body upon collapsing started to shine with red light. Arata quickly get away from the boss. It was a good call as the boss soon exploded.

-good job.

Odin said that when Arata run back.

-what are you saying it’s obvious that he defeated him only because of my earlier attacks.

Zen quickly commented.

-rather Anari’s one. Still killing blow goes for Arata. Don’t be jealous.

-fine! You might have won today but soon… .

-we still didn’t get experience.

Arata interrupted Zen from continuing and stayed the fact. All look in a way where boss was before. His body was gone but at the place a small round golden ball surrounded by red flames was floating in the air.

“So there is one more after all, I guess it can’t be just two bosses in the row.”

-wait here, I will finish it up.

-wait up it’s another…- .

Odin didn’t finish as Arata right away moved to face new enemy.

When Arata got close enough, the golden ball started to fly in his direction and it was moving quite fast. In moment of confrontation the ball crushed with Arata’s right sword and fly to the right, Arata was bounced a little to the left. But soon enough he once again started to run in ball direction and ball fly at him as well. The clashed again and again and again. At some point Arata stopped taking the impact of orb. He dodged it and countered from the back. It was more effective. Flame ball’s maximum speed was a little faster than Arata despite the buff he had but not that much and it didn’t give much advantage as Arata was fast as well and his moves were much more effective. The only problem was that orb was surrounded by fire which got bigger and bigger throughout battle. But it didn’t stop Arata at all and he simply ignored it. He even started to attack more intense.

After five minutes of fight. Well some may not call it a fight as it was

Arata massacring poor ball. Some may even pity the ball as it was trying its best and it was all in vain. Arata and ball crashed again but it was only a ball that bounced off. Before it got speed again Arata was already next to it.

[Stream of night]

Twelve strikes struck the ball and it landed on the ground. It managed to float up one again and then something unexpected happened. Ball started to fly away from Arata as far as possible. As if it was running.

“Looks like, there is some intelligence in it.”

Arata gave a chase. It looked like orb changed its target as it flight in direction of Odin, Zen and Kotori who no longer sleep and was standing there. Odin was already ready to block incoming ball but Arata was catching up to the ball. At first the ball was faster than him but now it was slower as it got beaten up. Arata hit the ball as he catch up and it changed it crushed to the right before it could even reach Odin’s shield. Given a chance as he was close enough Arata said.

-hey Kotori, this buff is awesome. We definitely need to do it more often.

-aaa…

Kotori got red in instant and tried to say something but Arata didn’t stop long enough to hear the answer. He moved after the ball. It was now moving in direction of Anari who was sitting in shadow of the wall. She was just looking how the fight was going. Arata catch up to orb around 15 meters before her and with his swing he made it crush into the wall.

-waaa, Arata.

-hey, how is it going?

-I thought that I was on a way to become good player but how I can call myself such if I see something like that.

Presentation of Arata’s skills in full glory had this effect.

-I got buffed up a little.

-well it’s Arata after all, anyway what is with that ball?

-it looks like it started to attack other players although now it’s going in random direction. I think it simply running away.

-waa, poor little ball. Why are you bulling it?

-you do understand that it’s an enemy right?

-ah right, but in that case shouldn’t you chase it?

-chasing it doesn’t work as good as open combat so I might just wait until it’s get bored and come back.

-hey Arata someone is walking there…

Anari pointed in direction that ball was going. Some meters away one could see white-black colored someone moving around.

-hey Arata isn’t it Yuki.

Arata didn’t hear an obvious fact as he already started running after the orb.

“I won’t make it like this and shouting might only confuse her. It’s time to use this skill, although I didn’t want to as I don’t know how it will end up combining with this buff… ah, whom I kidding of course I wanted to use it.”

[Lighting speed]

If Arata was moving fast with just a buff, his movements right now could only be described as teleporting. From afar once could see him only once every five meters. Arata catch up to ball right before it reached Yuki. He got right between her and the ball. With his sword he sent the ball flying.

But that was not the only thing that he sent flying.

It looked like Yuki was ready to parry out the attack but Arata appeared out from nowhere and the white sword was going at him, with his instant movement Arata parried it out, sending it into the air.

-Onii-chan?

-give me a second…

[Leap]

Arata jumped up after the orb and in air he slashed it once again. This time it finally got cut in half. When Arata landed, two other parts also fall on the ground.

-well that should do it. Yuki you sure you are okay to move, now?…

He didn’t get an answer as Yuki started to run in his direction. She passed right next to him and jumped up. Arata looked behind after her. He saw a large flame there coming at him. Yuki jumped right into it.

-hey…!

Arata didn’t continue when he saw that in place of flame that Yuki passed through was now a solid ice, few second later all of it was completely frozen Yuki was standing at other side of a large ice ball.

-Yuki what was that?

-Onii-chan got careless at last second. That flame followed you, after you landed. That’s why I helped.

-I got careless? Well maybe. Anyway how did you froze that up?

-… .

Yuki didn’t answered and stay silent.

“Ah yes, I shouldn’t ask that.”

-anyway Yuki are you okay?

-yes although, I have no idea what is happening right now. Last time thing I remember was some dark place and I fall down there. I thought that I will soon wake up in my room but that didn’t happened. I am sorry that I had such hard time on first challenge when everyone believed in me.

-don’t be so hard on yourself.

-Onii-chan can you tell me what happened after that?

-wait I until it gets safe. There always may come out something again.

Arata was worry that soon next boss came up. His buff was still some time away from running out so he would deal with anything that may come. Still if another boss came up this was not the time to talk. Although a message appeared that cleaned his worries.

[You have leveled up by 500%]

[You have gained a level, Current level 78]

[You have complete challenge three: boss fight]

[You have leveled up by 700%]

[You have gained a level, Current level 85]

[In two minutes you will be teleported to reward chamber]

-Onii-chan how did it happen that I am at level 77 right now?

“She must be rather surprised that it went up like that. She was at thirty something before? I should at least tell her what happened.”

-so Yuki, long story short. You fainted after challenge one and was about to die but Kotori saved you.

-Onee-chan did?

-yes, when you were resting, we cleaned rest of the dungeon and there was really good experience reward so you dinged to 77.

-… .

-what is it?

-I used everyone for my personal good, and when everyone were working hard I just slept. I did nothing to help and got the same reward as everyone else.

Yuki didn’t feel good with it. Arata tried to cheer her up.

-that’s a bad way to put it. Also you took the hard job in challenge one and you helped me a second ago so you did good.

-but my mother always said that you can’t use other people work for your personal gain.

-that’s true. But we are not just some other people but your guild mates. When someone is in trouble, others help that person and don’t leave them behind. We are also your friends, aren’t we?

Yuki looked at him with big eyes. It looked like she wanted to say something but they disappeared in a flash before she could do it.

Secret dungeon ‘Stonecell’. In the beginning all dungeons in EOA were hidden. So all dungeons were once a secret dungeon. Still as the time passed people found most places that they start calling dungeons. That was because those places felt familiar to them as they did experienced it in games. In most MMOs when people entered dungeon in party, they got completely different place for themselves. It meant that only people from this party can be found in this dungeon should somebody else come as well, they would be send to a different place which would be the same in nearly all aspects except of players that were inside. In those places players could without worry focus on the challenge before them. In EOA however there wasn’t a mechanism like that. Everyone entered the same place. Sometimes only one party could enter some place and no one else would bother them but something like a copy of the same place for every group didn’t exist. So in truth in EOA there weren’t places like dungeons. Those were just places filled with monsters and that wasn’t exactly MMO’s definition of dungeon. Still when people found those places, they called it just that as it was easy to understand for everyone.

Secret dungeons however were a little different in that regard. Searching for them was impossible and the one that somehow found it must have had an incredible luck. If one sold information about the location of secret dungeon, he could earn a lot of money as it was commonly known that those dungeons had great rewards within them. Not only more experience but also unique items that couldn’t be found anywhere else. Some items couldn’t drop more than one time that was why secret dungeons were so precious.

After finally completing three challenges members of guild Refrain stood before a really hard decision. They were in a hall. It was a beautiful hall. With paintings and hangings all over the walls. Everyone appeared in the middle of it a second ago. Before them, on three pedestals were three chests. Each pedestal had a description underneath it and it was that which created this hard decision.

-so, which do we chose?

Zen asked as he couldn’t wait anymore. They already read the description few times. Each description was describing what reward can be found in which chest. First one simply said ‘gold’. Second description said ‘six items, one for each challenger’. Then last one was described as ‘unknown’.

Everyone already pondered about it for some time now but it didn’t bear any fruits. After all they wanted best reward. Arata finally said.

-I would definitely take unknown.

-right! It’s more funny that way.

Zen was also on this opinion.

-what will we do if we got nothing from it. It’s says unknown. And knowing this game it may be empty.

Odin was up for a save choice.

-I like to gamble. Everything or nothing!

Zen didn’t see any other option that unknown though.

-shouldn’t we take items for everyone or gold so we can divine it equally.

-Anari, we know that you don’t have experience so leave it to us.

-but.

-tell her Arata.

-the term unknown, in games it stays for super unique rare item. Also we definitely won’t take gold. It also doesn’t mention how much of it is inside so it can be just one coin.

-exactly that!

It was one of rare cases when Arata and Zen had same opinion.

-but wouldn’t it be fair for everyone to get something?

Anari still wanted to be fair to everyone. Even if it was one great item it would still go only to one person.

-it’s better to have one great item than few which would end up on sale right away…

Arata explained. Then he asked the one that stayed silent through all the discussion so far.

-Kotori you are okay with it? You didn’t say anything.

-… .

-hey Kotori!

Arata moved closer to her and waved his hand before Kotori’s eyes.

-aaa. Arata. Wha…? What is it?

-the loot, what should we choose?

-the loot? What loot?

It seemed like she wasn’t listening.

-forget about the loot for a moment. Kotori, is something wrong?

-wrong? With me? No, no, no everything is okay. Definitely okay! Everything is normal. Yes, yes normal.

“Somehow it’s not normal. First time I see her like that. Is it because of that?”

-so what about the loot?

Arata went back to the topic.

-loot? Ah yes, we finally finished a dungeon after all. So something dropped form the last boss?

-did you pay attention for the last ten minutes?

-of course I did!…

Kotori somewhat regain her usual self run up to Anari and in low voice asked her something. After two minutes Kotori was on the topic.

-well that’s difficult. But I agree that we definitely shouldn’t take gold.

She stated her opinion.

-okay so we have two choices left.

Arata answered.

-what are you saying, it’s given that we take the third one.

Zen didn’t plan to let that up.

-some have different opinion. Let’s just do a voting.

-if you want? Okay I will count. First Anari.

Arata proposed the idea and Zen started the voting.

-if not the gold then I think that we should choose second option.

Anari was still on ‘everyone should receive something’ thought.

-boring, next Arata!

-third one.

Arata didn’t wonder about this one much. Even if he doesn’t get an item he just like Zen simply wanted to see what was inside and find out what unknown is. Zen continued.

-now me. I am of course voting for third as well. Now, two votes for third and one for second option. Now Odin, you won’t betray me right?

-second vote for second.

Odin also didn’t think much about this one. Gambling on unknown was not something he would do. Zen didn’t get dishearten.

-… never mind, you were always like that. Kotori?

-either way is fine. I hold back my vote, if something happen it’s on you guys.

Kotori took the best option and didn’t vote for anything. With this she can complain no matter the results.

-eh so we have draw?

-there is still Yuki.

Kotori reminded him of her.

-so Yuki you will vote on… no wait a second. Arata, here, here…

Arata and Zen started to murmur to each other. Zen was the first.

-there is no way that we choose a second option right?

-well it’s doesn’t depend on us anymore.

-well not on us. But it can depend on you. Just tell Yuki that you want third one and she will do what you say.

-isn’t it cheating?

-as long as we win it’s not. The winners are justice.

-okay I want unknown as well so I will do it.

-great, I knew you would understand.

And so they come up with an evil plan.

-okay, Yuki before you answer listen to Arata for a minute.

-hey, Yuki can you vote for third one?

-sure.

It went fast.

-and with that we chose the third one which is unknown. Hip, hip, hurray!

The plan worked perfectly.

-isn’t it cheating?

-person who was afking for ten minutes and didn’t even vote have no right to complain.

Zen was not bothered by method as long as he gets what he wants.

-I wasn’t afking. Anyway just open that chest already!

Although she didn’t vote Kotori was also up for unknown.

-so who will do the honors?

Zen said that but Arata didn’t wait for another useless dispute and opened the chest.

-hey!

-we definitely don’t want another meaningless dispute about who is opening the chest.

-fine but I am opening next chest when there will be occasion. So what is inside?

-well, looks like unknown was a good way to describe it.

-hey what is it?

-look at it by yourself.

Arata took out something in a shape of a yellow wheel. Everyone came closer and looked at description.

[Angel’s halo.

??????????????

?????

?????????]

-does this game has some kind of identification mechanics? Like you need to use some scroll on it?

Zen asked.

-I don’t think so.

Arata asked and Kotori followed after him.

-I also never heard of it.

-okay so what do we do with this item? From where I see it, it is bugged.

Arata stated

-it’s not like we can do with it anything. There are no GMs in this game…

Zen explained and in the end their great reward after the secret dungeon turned out to be a useless junk. Or did it? Only time will tell.

-aaa, an here I was thinking that I will get some legendary staff or something but we got bugged item.

Zen complained.

-that’s about it. Well it’s better to just leave it and go.

-my thoughts exactly. Let’s get out from here!

Arata and Zen were once again in sync but.

-wait a minute you two!…

“eh didn’t work.”

Kotori stopped them.

-say, what punishment you want for wasting our reward like that?

-we didn’t waste it.

-exactly matter was put to vote. You also said that it’s fine either way.

-I did that because I thought something like that can happen. Well I didn’t expect bugged loot. Still you two are banned from loot.

-hey it’s not our fault that we got bugged item!

Kotori and Zen started fighting.

-Arata what does it mean to be banned from loot?

-well it’s simple Anari. When some item drops few people may want that item. For example if item with stats for magician were to drop. You, Zen and Kotori would want it right?

-then, how normally you decide who takes loot?

-in random groups there is mechanics called roll. People get a random number from game system. The one who got the highest wins…

As long as it is not quantic computer those numbers are not truly random but Arata left the technical details and continued.

-I don’t know if there is something like that in EOA. Still normally guilds won’t use that system in guild.

-so what do they do?

-most guilds use something called DKP system. You gather points and spend them on items. You can get points for your contribution to a guild. But there is no need for that system in good guilds. Good guilds decide on spot who should take the item that dropped. Criteria are who needs it the most or who will make the best use of it. That system only works in good guilds because they are focused on their strength as a whole not on individual player for himself.

-good, I thought that we will have to argue about it. I wouldn’t want that.

-we will easily come to understanding if something drops so don’t worry.

-you really think that it will work here?

Anari pointed in direction of Zen and Kotori who were arguing about an item that didn’t even dropped.

-of course I would take item, I am healer after all!

-you must have been in some newbies guild that depended on healers. DPS is most important! Enrage timers, hard part of encounter, everything can be much easier when dps is high!

-healing is most important. When people die they can’t dps anymore so where is your logic coming from?

-from experience.

-what experience? In my experience it is completely different.

-that is because you were in some newbie guild that didn’t know left from right.

-no matter what you say, you are banned for next 10 items that drop.

-10 items? There is no way that I can agree to that.

Arata decided to not take part in that dispute.

-so Anari, if magic items were to drop, just ignore those two and take it for yourself.

-hey, Arata who made you a master looter here?

Zen heard that.

-no, no, no I definitely don’t want to be master looter when I have pair of ninjas in party.

-… .

-… .

With single word ‘ninja’ he silenced them down. Being called one was a blow to pride for any gamer that played the games on descend level. Arata with simile said.

-glad you understand.

-it’s her fault she started with that banning thing.

-but who decided to open an empty chest?

“They didn’t understand after all.”

-you really want to argue about the loot. Is it your first time in dungeon or something?

-… .

-sorry Arata. Anyway it’s your fault that I am not myself now.

Kotori answered to him.

-yes, yes, my fault. Anyway the chest isn’t empty, there was something, right?

-but that something bugged item.

Kotori couldn’t leave this one alone. After all they wasted a chance for some items which were rather hard to get in EOA. Arata was not disheartened.

-I don’t think that it’s bugged item. It must be usable for something.

-still we have no idea what can we use it for.

-we don’t, but we have a walking encyclopedia of this game waiting for us right outside.

-oh right, let’s go ask him.

They walked out from the hall through only door and appeared back in near the rock where they first teleported from. Gerald wasn’t there so they couldn’t ask him about the item. Instead Kelly was waiting.

-took you long enough.

She welcomed them when they all appeared.

-hello, Kelly. Can you tell me where is Gerald? Shouldn’t he be waiting for us?

Arata wanted to know what to do with the item right away so his choice was not wrong anymore. Kelly answered.

-he and Loki went ahead. He said that if we are going to be fighting another guild we need to find out something about them. So they went for something they called a ‘scouting mission’.

-scouting mission?

-don’t let the name deceive you. From the way they talked they will kill off every player that they find without second thought. I don’t think they will wait for us.

-so we are going with ‘boring plan’ after all.

Arata recalled what the boring plan was. Gerald kills everything with single skill.

-boring plan? Yes, Gerald said something about it. Anyway I was to wait here for you so you don’t get lost. We are going for the Triangle, right away. Gerald said that we should hurry so people won’t respawn after two days and he doesn’t want to kill innocent players twice.

“Yes that is definitely scouting mission.”

-there is no reason for us to go if we are going with this pattern.

-no, you guys still have to participate and take down the leader. Gerald mentioned that they are just going for scouting mission around the city so the inside is still left to you.

-they want to take all the fun from us! And how I am supposed to win in number of people killed now? They started too early.

Zen was worried about other things. Kelly somehow tried to somehow explain their behavior.

-well for some time now, all they were doing was recruiting and journeying around so they probably want to stretch a little. Anyway hurry up or you won’t have anything left.

-I don’t care anymore. Arata let’s take break we are after dungeon after all.

-fine by me.

Kotori lost her interest in whole thing and didn’t want to go for finished fight. Arata didn’t care from the beginning.

-what break? Action awaits! I want to do some PVP! I didn’t do any PVP yet in this game!

Zen on the other hand wanted to take part even if he had to finish of those who were lying on the ground.

-what about all those dead players that you attacked just because you were bored?

-they died too fast, we can’t call it PVP.

-if you say so it’s still better than lazing around in a cart.

-you still will have to do that for two days.

Kelly reminded them about brutal reality.

-there is no use to talk about it now. Kelly do you know something about this item?

Arata showed the item that they just got as a reward from the dungeon.

-you got this from this dungeon right?

-yes.

-well I never seen item like that before but I heard about it.

-is it bugged?

-even if it looks like that it’s not. Although you might as well consider it bugged. You won’t have use for it. You see this item is really rare.

-shouldn’t that be good?

-no, it’s rare to the point where people who finds it can’t do anything with it. Simply put it. It’s a quest item to a quest which you don’t have so you can’t read its description. In this game you can loot quest’s item even if you don’t have quest for it. If item is like that, then quest doesn’t specifically tell where that item can be found. It’s a lottery. You go around the world and maybe one day you will find that item. Still, most of those quests are simply abandoned as who would have thought that you have to find this item in secret dungeon for low levels.

-well it’s true but if we got the item already we should be able to complete the quest.

-did you forget that finding quest itself is as hard as finding an item. In the end without good information network it’s just impossible to complete those quests.

-see guys, it’s your fault. Ban for loot!

Arata ignored Kotori’s comment and continued before Zen starts to argue again.

-so you say that we should just throw it away?

-I didn’t say that. You can sell it to someone who needs it, you will get huge price for it if you find a buyer.

-I think finding person who wants to buy it can be as hard as finding quest itself.

-I didn’t tell you to look for them. There is a place called black marked. Well you can’t use it now but later you will.

-what is a black market?

-if you want to know that badly, listen. In most big cities there is at least one person from that group. They sell informations and goods but also buy them from others. All people from this group work together so their information is the best you can find. If you ever need to look for specific item that would be the best way to start. But as I said you can’t use it as they won’t appear in any low level towns. Maybe after you pass 100 you may find someone from them. But you don’t know how to look for them so it’s meaning less. They also don’t work with small flies. For now just keep this item in inventory and worry about it later. Also I will say it right away. Even if its looks like big promise of something great, it is not that big of a deal. Anyway, we should go to Triangle now so get on the cart.

“Then we really got useless item after all.”

Unknown reward. It sounds great to those who like to stake on small odds but in this evil game, those who try to gamble can pay a heavy price. Still even if item like ‘Angel’s halo’ was useless in Arata’s hands it might by the priceless thing for someone else in this world. Still, should someone in this world need that item, their chances of finding this item now would be close to zero.

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