Chapter 25 “Harsh Reality”

South of Karma city there is a forest and within that forest, there is the tomb of Edward Third the Great. Apart from that there is nothing special about that forest. People usually avoid that place as it is of little interest, but they avoiding it especially at night. It’s not because there were some high level monsters there, that would kill you the moment you step in there, although you can be easily killed if your timing is bad, that is because there was maybe not that high leveled but definitely dangerous a ‘vicious ghost’ who appeared there from time to time. There are no records of someone who survived the meeting with that ghost, especially when that ghost was in bad mood. Trying to communicate with it would immediately put a curse at on you. That’s curse symptom was death.

Everyone who spent more than week or two in Karma knew that and avoided meeting that ghost, but what about someone who just arrived there and didn’t believe in those stories. What if that someone for example, took a nap few meters away from that ghost and didn’t worry about anything?

In fact there was a person like that and his name was Arata.

-aaaaaaaa!

Arata yawned while stretching his back. Although he was not plan to do so, he somehow ended up falling asleep. First he stopped moving and started to think about something and then before he knew it, he entered the dream world.

It wasn’t a long sleep. It was hard to have it in a place where he was. Still it was not a short sleep either as the sun has already started to appear behind the horizon.

Arata started confirming where he is. Normally you sleep in the same bed every day so after waking up you don’t have problems like that but when playing EOA you often end up sleeping in random places so after waking up you need a minute to remember what happened last time. Just like when you visit someone and don’t sleep in your own bed, you don’t know right away where you are. It was not that uncommon after all. Just some people won’t start working normally until they reach the bathroom and put some water on their face to wake up.

Arata was already used to this phantom so he didn’t need much time to recognize the position he was in did surprise him after all the moment he sit straight, a red sword appeared right before his throat, ready to pierce deeper.

-hmm?

-don’t move if you want to live…

Arata completely ignored the threat that was made at him and started rubbing his eyes.

-I said don’t move!

Arata felt a light prick as the sword moved a little. Still it was not a killing blow. It didn’t even wake him completely.

Arata stop rubbing his eyes.

“Strange it didn’t go away.”

For a moment he thought that it was some illusion but it turned out to be true that the girl he saved yesterday was now ready to kill him any moment. Arata did not know why it turned out like that but he at least knew that if he tries to do anything or even say anything he will be killed in instant.

“You sure she is not criminal, Levi?”

What was happening before him was definitely not a just act, and not just that he was going to be killed for the second time by that person.

Although he knew he can be killed if he do anything right now it was not in his nature to just sit and ask for mercy.

“How should I start, I guess anything will bring the same effect.”

-hi there I am Arata.

The girl was taken aback by his carefree attitude but in the end she only repeated once again.

-I said don’t move if you don’t want to die.

-no I sure that you said that I shouldn’t move if I want to live. I guess I am not hearing properly right away after waking up. Anyway you said that I shouldn’t move, but speaking is not included, is it?...

The girl already had no idea what was happening. The sword somehow got away from Arata’s throat by few centimeters. It was not girl’s doing. Arata moved a little back without her noticing.

“Now just a small push.”

-now that I think about it speaking is also moving right? I mean look, my jaw is moving right now. In that case go ahead and kill me, you said that you will if I move, didn’t you?...

After saying all those words there could be only one result and it was the girl’s killing him right away. But Arata could see through it or rather, he was the one that made her do it.

The sword went for Arata’s throat but he had enough time to avoid it. He moved his body little to the right and the ruby sword cut through the air. After that it went was. Arata caught the girl’s hand and throw her over his shoulder to the ground. Then he got at top of her and locked all of her movements completely. She would not be able to slip away from it as the lockdown that Arata used was a legitimate technique thought to him by his grandfather.

-now then, where should I start…

Arata said to the girl who was underneath him. Although she didn’t try to resist right now but he could clearly feel the killing intent emanating from her blue eyes.

-first of all tell me your name.

-… .

He did not receive the answer he was looking for and the girl stayed quiet.

-well unlike you I don’t plan on threatening you so I guess you can ignore me…

And the girl did just that.

-really, how did I end up in situation like this? Why is’ Little Red Riding Hood’ trying to kill the hunter that saved her from wolf’s belly?...

Arata use metaphor to ease the tension. In fact he succeeded as the girl giggled for a second. But she stopped that right away and once again was just looking at Arata. Although, this time it was look that lacked killing intent. Arata went to the main subject.

-so ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ can you tell me what I did to you that you want to kill me for the second time I might add? I mean I don’t even remember meeting you and I definitely didn’t do anything to you.

It looked like the fact that he was calling her ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ amused her but that didn’t stop her from saying her next words.

-you have five seconds to let go of me.

-as I said I don’t plan to do anything to you, still you realize in what situation you are now.

-it’s you who don’t realize it. Look around before saying another word.

Arata checked the surrounding. There were about ten different shaped red weapons floating around him. They were all pointed at him.

“I thought that she needs to summon that gold thing first to use that skill. Really, why does she want to kill me so much?”

[Leap]

Without a moment of hesitation Arata let go of the girl and jumped away from that spot. He flew over the weapons as there were none above his head.

The girl stood up and after she did that, all of the weapons floated behind her and started to point in Arata’s direction. Because of what he saw in her fight against the red knight yesterday, he knew that those weapons can fire out any second and a lot more can appear after them. In fact he was expecting them to fire at him when he was surrounded by them, that’s why he moved out from that circle right away.

-you should have attack me rather than backing of. In that lockdown I couldn’t move, you would be easily able to kill me if you tried or did you know that you would get killed as well and you didn’t do that? Now your plan is probably to escape, if that so then go ahead, I don’t plan to stop you.

-oh you finally start talking.

Arata completely ignored what she said and carefree stated the fact.

-you!

Arata ignored the killing intent that appeared in her eyes once again and continued.

-anyway I finally realized why you tried to kill me. You thought that I wanted to take revenge on you or something because you already killed me once. But as I said I don’t plan to do anything to you, and if I wanted you to die I wouldn’t rescue you from that red knight, would I?

-…

-anyway you said that you don’t want to kill me anymore so I fine with that. But I am waiting for someone here so I don’t plan to move away from here either.

-you better start running now before I change my mind.

-eh, here we are again. Anyway say what you want but I don’t plan to. I know that you have some interesting skill but the girl who is barely standing on her feet isn’t really that threatening.

Although she tried to hide it Arata could see that she was not in best condition. In few moments he could even see her legs trembling.

-hmm, you are lucky that I am not in the mood.

The girl answered but it was obvious that it was not the reason.

If the situation ended like this, it wouldn’t be that bad but Arata couldn’t just shut up at that point.

-right before you go I have an advice to you…

Although uninterested the girl looked back at him.

-you should change those clothes of yours when you are trying on threatening someone…

That would be enough but he had to continue. In the meantime it looked like the girl only now realized what she was wearing as she looked over her clothes with huge eyes then she started to get red.

-also I think that even though in real it’s still summer, here it is going to be a winter soon. If you go around exposing everything you will catch a cold in no time. I don’t know if you knew but in fact, you can catch a cold in this game and it’s not laughable matter. I understand that girls wants to look cute and all but you should consider what I said. Also, I think you would be cute enough without them.

Although she was going to leave, out of sudden the swords that she summoned earlier started to come all in Arata’s direction.

Seeing it Arata quickly unsheathed his sword and started reflecting weapons as they come. None of them managed to hit him as Arata parried all of them away.

-hey, why did you do that!?

He asked but the girl was no longer in a place where she once was. The ruby weapons that were scattered around him started to disappear one by one with a sound of broken glass.

“Really? What was wrong with her?”

Arata just wanted to help her avoid getting sick. He knew how bad it could get when someone get sick in this game. And what he got for that help? He got attacked right away. Still he knew that the world was not fair and tried not to let it bother him.

About half an hour later Levi returned.

-yo.

He welcomed him with a smile.

-took you long enough.

-I am on time, two hours didn’t pass yet. Don’t tell me you have been waiting all this time here?

-I had to wait till ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ wakes up after all.

“Now that I think about it, there was no need for it. I thought that there will be some monsters attacking but there was nothing of that sort. Also, I myself slept through most of the time.”

-I see that she is gone now. How was it? Did you get anything for a trouble?

-yes but it was only more trouble. If next time I will want to do something similar to what I did yesterday, hit me.

-was it that bad?

-let’s not return to it. For now, I am hungry so let’s go eat something first.

Arata stood up and they started to walk to the city by road.

-right Arata, during a break I found out a good place for exping around here.

-how did you find it?

-I asked on Silver Hand order forum and got an answer.

-well if we don’t have to look for ourselves it will be much faster.

-finding best spots ourselves would also be not that easy. Anyway what do you want to focus on? Experience, gold?

-experience I guess. I don’t want to spend too much time on 100 level. Also I got quite a sum lately and I don’t really need gold right now.

-you know that even if we focus on experience it will still take some time before we ding any levels. You didn’t experience how much experience you need from now on. Also just to be clear, I am broke right now so.

-I get it. Anyway don’t you have a place that would be good for both experience and gold?

-I do.

-then why didn’t you say from the start.

-if you wanted to focus on gold there is some other place in which you could earn a lot quite fast.

-and it is?

-Karma’s coliseum. I heard that because there not that many interesting things around this area compared to other cities Karma’s coliseum is quite well developed. Surprising thing is that you can earn a lot without even moving a finger. As long as you know the fighters you can earn a lot by beating on them.

-we don’t know the fighters so we can’t use this method.

-we don’t know other fighters but what about one of us joining and other staking. We would just have to win and because we would be completely new to the stadium other people would stake on other players.

-you won’t play me into being the fighting one while you just sit and earn money.

-no, no. Both of us would be doing both. By the way, you can’t do it yourself as there is a rule where you can’t stake on your own battles but if we would switch and steak on each other it will work out greatly.

-in that case we can do it but we will do it later. You said you are broke and I don’t plan on leading you any money.

-I just talked about the possibility but as we just chose for now it’s both gold and experience.

-so what we will be doing?

-I heard that in Karma there is quite profitable job we can take. In short it involves killing iron golems, looting them and bringing back what we looted.

-that’s not very complicated.

-I didn’t say it’s complicated. But there is something that makes it different from other jobs we could take. The job is actually telling us to gather iron. The way you normally do it is by mining profession. Of course, none of us do have mining and even if we did, gathering the ore this way wouldn’t give us much experience. But iron golems drop this ore and that’s the trick to it.

-sounds good. So how many levels we ding that way?

-how many? Eh, you really need to see how fast the experience bar is moving from this point forward.

-it can’t be that bad. If let’s say, I spend a whole day killing those golems nonstop how many levels would I ding.

-after a whole day you would probably manage to ding one I guess, if you didn’t slack of that is.

-one!? Are you sure it’s a good exping spot?

-that’s why I said you need to see it for yourself, you are too optimistic.

-in that case, ignore the golems and go for a dungeon. It would be faster there.

-that’s how it should be but it’s not. In dungeon you would arrive at half of that speed at best and dying in dungeon is much easier. Well we wouldn’t probably die but we would need to take a lot of break, especially if you are talking about going with only two people.

-then let’s find more people and it will be faster. All we really need is a healer.

-yea with more people we would be faster at killing monsters but we wouldn’t be faster at exping as the more people in party the less each of us would get. Normally when people are going to a dungeon their goal is not experience but the items.

-then the best way to level up is going to some place and grinding mobs for days?

-more or less. There are special situation on which you can get few extra levels in short time but those doesn’t happen too often. Still, you are mistaking one thing Arata. EOA doesn’t require players to level up to maximum level. Having no maximum level is just a proof of it. The game is made that no matter which level you have you can enjoy it fully. Right now you can do all the things you could do at level 150.

-what if I wanted to go for 150 level dungeon?

-how will you recognize that it’s 150 level dungeon?

-well monsters inside it will have 150th level.

-but you can’t tell their level. After level 100 it doesn’t show anymore.

-in that case how people know if this or that dungeon is a place where they should go?

-how you ask? Well they go there and if they got easily overwhelmed then they don’t go there again.

-that’s not really solid method.

-at least it something. Anyway we are not going for dungeons but for exping right?

-you wouldn’t choose a wrong place just to annoy me, right?

-I going to do the same thing as you so why would I?

-in that case let’s go for those golems.

-okay then first we will look for the NPC that gives that job. On a way we should find something to eat. Did I forgot about something?

-I want to visit some shops as well.

Not long after they reached the Karma and followed the plan. First they found the NPC that was giving out the job [Miner Life]. Just like Levi said. The dwarf NPC did not even mention killing anything but instead pointed them to the mine where they could mine the ore. When asked if they know how to mine they right away answered.

-yes.

-in that case I see no obstacles.

[Miner’s life.

Dwarves are always in need of iron how else they would forge their weapons and armor. Work in the mines is not an easy work but for a miner like you it’s everyday bread. Go to mentioned mine and gather as much as you can. The more you bring the more you earn.]

[You have accepted the job.]

After that they looked for a good place to eat something. They didn’t have any problems with finding one the restaurant. Rather they had a problem in choosing one. In the end they entered the restaurant that specialized in spaghetti.

Having filled their bellies, Arata and Levi moved to the last part of their plan which was visiting the shops. What Arata was looking for were cooking material as well as items that could be used in special circumstances. There was a problem as they had no idea where to look for those things but with help of guards, other NPCs and sometimes even players they found few good shops. The variety of things that there was easily outstand other shops that Arata visited so far. That would be Loris as in Triangle he didn’t spend much time going through the shops because most of them were destroyed. And at that time Arata didn’t have any money.

Although they stick to the plan and didn’t go sightseeing it still took them about eight hours before they left the city by the eastern gate.

-finally we are out. Arata I am not going on shopping with you anymore.

Levi stated with tired voice.

-it’s not my fault that the price were that high.

-sure, but you didn’t have to look around every store in the city just to compare.

-still, thanks to that I saved extra 10 gold.

-you still spent 50 though. In the first place what do you need those things for? I understand cooking materials as I traveled once with someone who had good cooking skill level but other things?

-you don’t know when you will need them.

-exactly, I really don’t know in what time you could need half of those things?

-still when the time comes I will be prepared. Better be safe than sorry.

-I don’t think that you will ever need ten blankets each in different color.

-I also don’t know but the time will come.

-yea, for sure.

Because Arata spent 50 gold which was quite a sum and actually didn’t bought anything that would be useful in combat, Levi could not understand him. Still, right now Arata didn’t need new equipment and they were going to exp and earn money right now so he thought that he will just buy anything that catches his interest.

-anyway, how long will it take to get where those golems are?

-four to five hours if we go at this pace.

-time to start running then!

-Arata, remember when I tell you once how stupid it is to run from one place to another?

-I do, but as I remember in the end we were running anyway.

-and as I remember thanks to that we ended up dead.

-happens. It’s not like we could do anything about it.

-you can die at any time, that’s a beauty of life they say. But in EOA it’s really any time. Still, it was my first death since quite long time so it’s not something I can’t easily accept. In difference to you I lost 14 levels at that time and you will soon know how hard it is to get back those 14 levels on my level.

-14 levels then you have 140 level?

-I had 140 level back then, now I am at 113 coz I happen to die once more in the meantime.

-I see you are slacking quite a lot lately.

-the worst thing is that I couldn’t do much to change the outcome in both cases. Well, I guess I could somehow prevent the second death but it was also just too sudden.

-weren’t you the one who said that level doesn’t change much.

-yeas but if I happen to die once again I will go to your level which would be humiliating. Also it’s not like level have no usage. For example there are items with level requirement. Because I have lost so many levels I had to change my gear to the old one.

-try not to die and you won’t have to do that.

-those two deaths were just too sudden. Before that I don’t even remember the last time I died. Actually ever since I joined silver hand order and had the training there I didn’t die up until now.

-and how long was it since you joined?

-little more than four months. Before that I also didn’t die for quite some time.

-yea, yea, you don’t have to brag about it.

-then Arata what is your death count by now? Seeing how suicidal you are it is probably high.

“How many times I died? There was one time in city of beginners but since then I didn’t die till triangle. Although there were many time at which I was at literally 1%. But those don’t count. Right there is also recent kill by Little Red Riding Hood. I got catch by potion aftereffect so it shouldn’t count but I did die there after all.”

-I died three times.

-only three? Not bad.

-and you?

-well, firstly I must say that I was not always as great as I am right now.

-yea, dying twice and losing 27 levels definitely shows how great you are.

-shut up! Anyway it would be hard to count all those time I died. Especially when I started. You said you have three deaths so far right. I already had three deaths after leaving the forest trial.

-don’t tell me that you ended up killing bunnies.

-it was not that bad. I come up with good idea. Instead of attacking monsters I should focus on players that also tried to complete the test. You probably didn’t know but each of them gave 10 points and killing newbies was much easier.

-said the newbie who couldn’t complete the trial in normal way. But wait aren’t you in police now? How could they invite someone like you in their ranks?

-killing other players itself is not a crime, so where is the problem?

“Really who was coming up with laws in this world?”

-anyway let’s start running already.

Arata started to speed up. Levi caught up to him few seconds later.

-hey, didn’t I say that running is-

-faster.

-no it was-

-more fun.

Arata kept interrupting him.

-you are doing it on purpose, aren’t you.

-don’t complain. Don’t you have 27 levels to recover?

-fine if you want that much we can run…

Levi gave up as he understood that Arata was not going to change his mind.

-still you think that recovering 27 level is that easy?

-well if you plan to walk for five hours just to arrive at the location then I guess it will take you some time before you actually manage to do it.

-truth to be told I never really focused on gaining levels. They were just coming to me as I played. I don’t really know what is the best way to level up fast.

-just kill everything that stands on your way.

-ha?

-that’s the best way, as long as you will be killing monsters you will get experience and when you get enough experience you will get level.

-as if I didn’t know that. It’s like explanation of how to get levels to someone who never played RPG.

-still this single information is the key. I already learned that EOA is a type of MMO that rather than encouraging players to gain levels it encourage them to do other things. Well there are probably many things you can do but still, if you get drifted away by them too much your level will never increase, especially with a system where you can lose levels. That’s why if you focus just on killing monsters your level will go much faster than if you do anything else.

-you have a point here. I happened to stay at the same level for a month just because I was traveling from one place to another. If I just stayed and kept killing monsters I would be able to gain few levels with it.

-see, still even though I said that, I don’t plan on focusing on getting levels either.

-why?

-common, how long could you just kill monsters one after another.

-and here I thought that you have some good ideas. So Arata what were you planning on doing?

-well if you didn’t invite me to party then I would probably slack off somewhere.

-slack off?

-yea, you may not know but I was rushing with my level so far and I don’t want to do it anymore. I wanted to lie on the grass and look at the clouds.

-look at the clouds?

-yea, you should try it once as well. You will get how awesome it is.

-really, first you want to run just to be faster by an hour or two but then you start talking about looking at the clouds.

-if you are doing something you shouldn’t do it half hearty right?

-you are strange fellow Arata, but I like people like you.

-thanks, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with me, to call me strange.

-there are too many wrong things to count so I won’t list them.

-if you say so, anyway I am speeding up, try not to fall behind.

-as I if I would let someone who just left land of newbies to overtake me.

In the end they run all the way up to the place where golems where.

It was a large canyon, at there were small caves here and there. Arata and Levi were now standing before large rocks and couldn’t pass them through.

-so where are the golems?

Arata asked.

-we need to find the entrance to the canyon first, then there will be plenty of them.

-you sure it’s not some kind of dungeon because it looks like one.

-from what I heard, there are no bosses there and the space is quite open as well so I wouldn’t categorize it as dungeon. If you want some lore then this place was once a secret base of goblins. They were making machines, iron golems for whatever reason. But those machines went rampart, wipe out the goblins and ended up with nothing else to do than killing anyone who comes here.

-that’s some sport for them.

-as for entrance we have to find it ourselves.

-then let’s follow the wall…

Finding the entrance did not turned out to be a problem after ten minutes of walk they found a large slit in the wall.

-you think it this one?

Arata asked.

-look like entrance to me. If it’s not the entrance we just have to look further.

Levi started to enter the slit. There was no light at the other end of it. But just like he did that, Arata stopped him.

-wait. I think I heard something.

They started to hear to sound of footsteps. They were getting lauder and lauder with any each second. The rhythm signalized that it was someone running. Then there were other sounds like something smashing on the ground.

-guess we found the entrance.

Levi stated.

-why do you think so.

-just wait…

Twenty seconds later they saw a group of three people suddenly appearing out of the slit. They were running as if something was chasing them and in fact something was chasing them. Five seconds later from the same corner two golems appeared. They were over two meters high and also quite wide. Although their build was quite similar one was in color of red and second in color of black.

-it’s definitely the entrance. You can usually easily recognize dungeons and monsters hub by players who are running out from there chasing by the monsters. After all, where else would you run than the outside.

Levi explained the common occurrence.

-let’s go then.

-hey, don’t tell me you want to help them?

-I had my lesson, still this is the entrance and those golems block our way, aren’t they?

-in the end, we came here to kill golems after all.

-I take the black one.

They both start running at the same time. Although they called it an entrance the slit was at least three meters wide. After all beyond it there would be a large canyon.

They passed by the running party of three without even having a closer look at them and jumped before the golems.

Without delay Arata started attacking at black golem body. After three hits golem stopped running after the team and focused on Arata.

“Slow but durable.”

Arata had absolutely no problems in avoiding the golem’s punches while doing so he also countered at them. Still his attacks were bouncing of the iron body.

“I can’t cut through solid iron after all.”

Arata started focusing his attacks at joints of the golem and elements that looked weaker. Because of this, number of his attack decreased but there were visible damage to the golem.

After golem strike with the right hand, Arata dodged to the left and positioned himself at the right hand of golem. From there he struck with both swords at the element that was connecting the right leg to the torso. The swords went through it and the connection was broken. The black golem started to fall and crushed into nearby wall.

[You have received items.]

“There is no information about exp.”

It was not the first time that happened. When the amount of experience you received is low, there is no message about it. Arata looked if it was not because the other golem was still alive but it was not this as Levi also finished his golem already.

-now Arata, we killed our first two golems, how much experience did you get?

Levi asked with sarcastic tone. Arata checked the menu and experience bar. It still was saying 0%. Even if there was a small amount he earned for those golems because experience bar was displayed in percentage without decimals after it, it did not change.

-I get it.

-well if we kill ten more maybe you will see the change, you are still on 100th level after all. It’s easy for you.

-you are 13 levels higher so don’t say like it’s that big of a difference.

-guess you are right. There is no difference as both of us need enormous amount of exp.

-less slacking more killing then.

And so they followed to the inside completely ignoring the group of three that just run out. After all, it was nothing uncommon.

-quite a sight…

They found the way through the slit and entered the canyon. Well not completely they were about in the middle of its height. They could go either upstairs or downstairs. Well there were no stairs to talk about so it is a wrong saying. But there were not only rocks. There were wood bridges which were connecting separate pillars and caves. It looked like anywhere you want to go you can go. The way down was about 15 meters, the way up was about 10 meters. The canyon itself was really large. Each and every way was filled with mechanical golems or their remains. It signalized that there were other players that were exping here. Still there were many ways and many golems left for Arata and Levi.

-which way we go?

Levi asked.

-from the number corpses I can tell that there were few parties that went the way up but there are should be fewer on the way down.

-in that case lets go down, that way there will be less people to whom you will want to do suicidal help.

-when did I ever do that?

-yesterday for example, and we just helped other people as well.

-aren’t you from police? You should be the one doing it.

-stop saying that it’s police and because it’s not police I don’t have to do it. Also right now, I am in civilian so I don’t have to do anything.

-still if you get surrounded by monsters you would want help right.

-depending on the monsters.

-ones that you can’t deal with.

-in that case, sure, who would want to die.

-it’s the same for others, that why you should help others when you can.

-I didn’t take you for such prude. You really want to play a hero.

-nah, it’s just.

-yes?

-never mind, it’s the killing time.

Arata unsheathed his sword and took one of the ways that leaded downward.

They walked through the wooden bridge to which leaded to sole rock. It was 4 meter wide and had two other bridges one leaded left and one leaded right. Still on that rock there were four golems waiting for slaughter.

-how do you want to do this, want me to tank it or we are going for free style?

Levi asked while they still walked on the bridge.

-aren’t we just take two each?

-what would be the meaning of parting if we didn’t fight them together? We are not making two teams of one but one team of two.

-but I think that we will just get in each other way.

-we will but because we are going to make party we should play a little together so we don’t do it in future.

-hey for how long do you want to have this party?

-what you don’t like me?

Levi joke around.

-don’t ask in that way.

-haha, anyway I thought that we would at least do some dungeons together later on so we are not only here for golems.

-I am up for that.

-even if we didn’t go we would still benefit from fighting as a group. Two of us will kill two golems faster than each of us kill one alone each.

-okay expert, so what do you want to do?

-I will give you a present and today I will take the tank position. You can go ahead and have fun with unleashing maximum damage and don’t worry about the defense.

-your class is a tank?

-I often ended up tanking in dungeons because there was no one else who could do it, although for raids I would not be the best main tank. My class is a half tank half dps.

-hybrid class?

-you can call it that, anyway it’s been a while since I actually tanked something so give me two seconds for agro in first few pulls.

Levi speeded up and left the wooded bridge and jumped at the rock platform. The iron golems have spotted him and started to walk in his direction. Levi’s shield started to shine in yellow light, then that light started to fire out from that shield. There were four shieldlike bullets which went at golems one for each. Although it didn’t look that strong upon the hit each strike made a large noise and golem’s bodies had dents on where the strikes fall. The dents were in shape of the shield.

“Well I will not get impressed with spells.”

Arata didn’t wait two seconds and jumped in right away. He started running at the golem that was at the most right. All of the golems started to run in Levi’s direction already. Using the occasion Arata stroke at the golem with both of swords as he went pass him. Golem went ahead and continued to go in Levi’s direction ignoring Arata completely.

“Damn you.”

Arata started to run after him frustrated that he was completely ignored. Still one can’t be called a tank if he can’t keep the agro from the mobs, it was his job after all so dps could attack without worry.

“I will overagro you!”

Arata decided to do the most childish thing he could which was overgrowing the tank. In MMOs there was only one reason for doing that and that was, so you can tell the tank later that he sucks and laugh at him.

In this case, there was that sure but Arata also wanted to see how far, can he go with dpsing.

From behind, he started attacking only single golem at his joints. One strike after another and two after that.

“This fells a little strange.”

Arata was continuing to attack one slash after another without stop. Right now he was at 15 strike combo with each strike clearly switching to the next. Normally he wouldn’t need to go that far or rather he wouldn’t be able to just strike at something without care.

Actually he was quite unfamiliar with this type of fighting. To him it was more like swinging at the wall. After twentieth strike the first golem lay died.

-wow, Arata you don’t have to try so hard and make endless combos like that, I saw that you nearly fell down at the end.

Although attacked by three still living golems, Levi made the comment. It was true that Arata nearly fell, from 12 hit onward it was him improvising. You could say that most of the players just improvised while fighting but for Arata it was different. He was always fighting using skills he learned before. Well, apart when he did rope actions or fought crazy big ass bosses.

-focus on the fight!

-I don’t have to be focused. those guys are too slow for me.

Although attacked by three golems, four before, Levi was without problems dodging their attacks and counterattacking. Although he had a shield he didn’t even try to block. Right now it was just on his arm like some extra piece of armor. In the first place it was not that big of a shield. Levi was holding his sword in two hands and striking with it to make more damage.

-shouldn’t you use shield, what tank you are!

-who said that a tank must use shield! Anyway shouldn’t you do your job as dps? If you slack off I will kill them myself.

[Sword enchant: wind]

[Sword slash]

Arata released an arc from his black sword in line where golems were. Each of them get sliced in half and fall to the ground.

[You have received items.]

-it’s a shame we don’t have any damage meter. I wonder who would be on top.

-nice skill, but you shouldn’t waste mana like that.

-it will start regenerating and I can still use this skill four more times.

-you have this effect and it’s only costs 20% of your mana? Bug report! Someone is cheating here!

Arata’s sword slash skill was enchanted after he finished trial of adventure thanks to that the cost was lowered from all mana to 20% mana. Still Arata didn’t bother to explain the detail.

-as if you didn’t have overpowered spells.

-they were gained through hard work though. Anyway I was joking and I wouldn’t call it overpowered.

-what would you call overpowered then if not that clock spell of yours.

-you know how many defects it has. The biggest would be, if I die I can’t use it so I need it right before dying. Mostly in cases I would want to use it it’s already too late.

-if it was resurrection it would be even more overpowered.

-still, I saw some spells that truly are overpowered. You also did. For example thing that blow up the triangle, or I would say that that girl spell is quite too good to be true as well.

-still she got powned by that knight.

-it was her third hour of fight after all. Also each overpowered spell can be overpowered by other overpowered spell, that’s how it goes until we arrive at the point of biggest overpowered abilities there are.

-and those would be?

-how would I know, anyway let’s go back to killing golems. Night is close and I don’t know how you but I usually pass on fighting during the night.

-sleep is more important.

-yea, while we fight we also should look for someplace to rest at night as we won’t be leaving outside just to rest.

-we can take turns and it will be fine even if we are in middle of spawning position.

For next four hour Arata and Levi continued to hunt for iron golems. Arata started counting at first but after passing 100th number of killed golems he stopped. And it was only a half way there. Still although they were hunting for golems nonstop and the distance between each group was not that large the experience they received was still small.

-30% of experience yeee!

Arata said sarcastically after checking the experience bar.

-I think I have enough for today.

-yea me too, still you are sure that this is good spot for exping.

-we don’t run out from monsters to kill so it is. No matter what would we end up killing the amount we get is still the same.

-you should lie. I would feel better with it.

-lies are better than harsh reality true, but you would see through it in no time. Anyway it’s finally the time you show me your cooking skills. I think that previous cave is not that bad of a sleeping place.

-there weren’t any golems there so maybe we won’t have to take turns. Let’s go there.

Arata agreed to Levi’s proposition and they went by wooden bridge to the cave they just left from. It was a small cave which was rather a connection between two rock platforms. Right now, Arata and Levi ventured quite deep down the ground. It more than ten meters compared to their starting position.

Arata started to set everything up using his new tools. When previously he was making something on the field it was mostly one pot putted on fire. Right now one could compare his equipment to a small camping kitchen. Not only that, as for sleeping he had a large sleeping bad, and also few blankets. It was no longer sleeping on the ground. As for the meal, Arata as always used Marco’s recipe book, but this time he could finally switch from ‘low cost ingredients’ to ‘no low cost ingredients’.

-you weren’t kidding when you said that you know the cooking.

-even though you say that, I just follow a good recipe that all.

-still this aroma. Arata you sure I can eat it, I don’t have money to pay you.

-take it as thanks for taking the forward for those few hours. Here.

Arata passed him the blow.

-mmmmm, it tastes as good as it smells. If you make something like that every day I don’t mind being a tank in our group.

-we can make a bargain.

-still there is something I wanted to do tomorrow and that is making a combo play.

-combo play?

-well simply put it we would get in synchronization and execute attacks that require two people to perform.

-sounds good but do we need something like that?

-we don’t need it here but it’s better to be prepared.

-in short you are talking about fighting alongside someone.

-exactly as you mentioned at the start when two people who never played with each other start to fight together they can end up getting in a way. It does more harm than good. Still if two people are used to fight together it’s become scary. Still what I rather want to do is some crazy combo play, well we will come up with ideas on a fly and probably fail few times but it will be awesome.

-in short you want to play around as simple killing monsters gets boring.

Arata interpreted it at that.

-you could say it. After all, even if we spend another day fighting those golems we won’t get more than one level max.

-really, I never thought it will go this slow.

-it’s like this for everyone, so there is nothing you can do about it.

-well I didn’t plan to focus on level in the first place.

-yes, you were planning on looking at the clouds right?

-there is this but I also planned to start learning trading skills.

-trading skills? Well it has its advantage but this is the thing you want to do after finally arriving at lands of fighters? Don’t you want to explore the world and feel the adventure?

-well, there is one place that I would want to go, or rather where I will definitely go but I will do it later.

-what place is it?

-have you heard about city called Drastria?

-Drastria, Drastria, isn’t it like on opposite end of the world. You want to go there, do you have an idea how long would it take to actually get there from here.

-I don’t and don’t you dare to tell me because I don’t want to know.

-anyway I never been there myself so I don’t know much about it. So, why do you want to go there Arata?

-I won’t tell you.

-haha, now I am interested. I have to look up some information about that place.

-well even if you do you won’t find out the real reason.

-well given it’s you it’s not probably because scenery there is better although the clouds are the same everywhere. Ah, I got it.

-what you got?

-your reason for wanting to go there. That’s understandable. Your second half is there, right?

-… .

-bull’s eye? Haha, I see it on your face.

Levi understood Arata’s reason without a miss.

The reason Arata wanted to get to Drastria is because Kotori ended up there after passing the trial of adventure. They talked about it on the phone.

-it’s not funny! Why on earth did we end up that far from each other? It is even farther than in real world!

-wow. It’s the first time I see you complaining. Still don’t let it get you. How they say it, the longer they are separate the more emotional their reunion is. Best thing you can do is not think about it or just go right now and stop complaining. Still we were going to do some dungeons so maybe after that.

-I not disappearing anywhere. We decided that we will play at our locations for some time and later on get back in the capital.

-just tell me before you go there.

-you think we will be in the party that long?

-well after what you served me today I planning to make you my personal cook.

-okay I will take the position of the cook and you will do the fighting and while I watch the clouds.

Words can be used against you and Arata was master in doing so.

-you would get bored from it.

-well, not right away though. Anyway I think that instead of sleeping here I will logout.

-after setting you bed here?

-it was just few clicks in a menu. I am not that sleepy to tell you the truth so I don’t need to sleep through the whole night.

-in that case I will log out as well. Have a nice talk with your girlfriend.

-I am not logging out because… .

-yea, yea sure. Anyway I will also log out in this case. I will be back on 9 am game time tomorrow, see ya.

Levi with a grin disappeared in a flash. After gathering everything Arata did the same.

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