Author's Note;

Sorry for a not proofread chapter. It's getting into a habit -.-' I'll try to find time to proofread it as soon as I can but it won't be today sadly. Hope you enjoy the chapter anyway.

Edit: Proofread

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Night had fallen. There was no light coming from the outside and the room turned dark. Light switch was within the reach of the boy’s hand but he didn’t raise it. His arms were beneath his head as he watched the ceiling.

There was a simple white web like ceramic pattern. It’s main body was at the centre, from where it spread in all directions. Tiny little threads reaching for the corners, their tips descending to the walls.

Bright light flashed on the other side of the room. Kirin grumbled, covering his eyes from the sudden light. Some beeps sounded to make sure he heard the arrival of the message.

“Fine,” he muttered, yawning and pushing himself off the bed. ‘When had it turned so dark?’ he wondered. ‘I remember it being morning when I left the cabin.’

He dragged himself to the desk and looked at the monitor. There was a flashing message that he got an email from his parents. ‘What do they want now?’

*Hey Kirin!

Winter is starting and we hope you won’t be too lonely. Veronica won’t pester you more so try to get along with others, ‘kay?

On a lighter note, we have been transferred to the island with an unpronounceable name. You know the one, we’ve always tried to get here ;D So don’t worry about us. We’re fine.

Better than fine even. It’s a paradise here. Well, we’re going to enjoy it for the month as much as we can!

We truly hope you’ll be enjoying your winter as much as we will. It’s hard to say whether we’ll be going home after the month or not but you’ll be okay either way, right? You’re old enough for us to trust you with that.

However, if anything goes wrong, be sure to tell us. We’ll come on the first flight possible. Work is important but not as much as family.

Your Loving Parents,

Robert and Julie*

Kirin chuckled. He clicked the reply button and typed in a swift answer. His wasn’t as high-worded and just said he was fine and they should take their time. It wasn’t like their presence here would change anything.

He yawned again and rubbed his eyes. What was he to do now? The game wasn’t tempting and there wasn’t much else. His stomach rumbled and decided it for him.

Kitchen was full of shadows but Kirin didn’t pull the light switch. He rummaged through a few shelves and located last apples that someone had brought to him. Was that the aunt or a neighbour? He couldn’t remember.

Not that it mattered. An apple was an apple. It filled his stomach the same way. Three should be enough. He bit into one and took the others with him to the dining room.

History channel was on and he made himself comfortable on the couch.

“What happened?” asked L in a barely controlled voice. He was sitting in his official study room, glaring at Monthu on the other side of the desk. “What are you doing here?”

Monthu stood rigid, hands in a forced relaxed manner by his sides. “We were ambushed. I was killed when trying to protect the leader of Draugar.”

“Jackal?”

“No, the elf.”

L’s eyes narrowed more. “That useless piece of garbage?”

“He’s n-”

“Yes, he is!” L shouted out, standing up, his fisted hands slamming into the desk. “He’s only the real leader, not even the official one! Most players don’t even know him! He’s a nobody! Hear me? N-O-B-O-D-Y! Nobody!”

His whole body shook as he continued. “And what are you? Only the freaking commander of the whole army! Hear me? You’re a fucking commander! You’re the most important man, not some random elf!”

Monthu flinched at the outburst but didn’t move from his place. He breathed deep through his nose and just wished for this to end. It reminded too much of childhood, though, from there he knew better not to say anything. It never helped.

“Are you even listening to me?”

“Yes,” Monthu answered, eyes on L.

The city lord sighed and fell back in his chair, covering his face with a hand. For a moment he stayed like that, controlling his breathing. Then he turned to Monthu again. “You know, it’s easy to find an idiot to play a hero. Sacrifice his life for another, especially when that death is so short lived. That’s why I need you to stay behind and control the situation, not rush head first like another idiot.”

The fact that Monthu never asked for this passed through his mind but didn’t stay. It was rare that anyone found themselves in favourable situations in life. One just had to tough up and face it head on. That was all there was. Making mistakes and learning from them was just a part of it.

“I did not think it through.”

“Really?” L asked with a glare, his annoyance resurfacing. “Whatever. What’s the situation now? Have you let my whole army die?”

“A lot of players have died but some are still alive. I have heard from Hawk that they found a hidden cave, some natives and are exploring to find out more about the place”

“How many of them are left and who?”

“Forty three. Hawk is in acting in my stead while Dark is the only rogue left. From Draugar Jackal, Michael, Deedara and Nein have survived.”

L stayed silent for a moment, clearly calculating something in his mind. “Fine. Tell them to continue.” He looked at Monthu then, eyes in slits. “You, however, are going to get a new job. Collect the players that spawned back and train them. In two weeks I need the best army in Mora kingdom. Understood?”

“May I ask one question?”

“Hurry up then. I need to change all of my plans because of someone.” He already had his head down, lifting papers on his table and glancing at their contents with a scowl.

“Why are you giving me such an important task right after I failed you?” Monthu asked the question burning in his mind. If it was him, he’d never trust the guy again. In a real world, second chances were a rare thing.

L raised his head, getting a good look at Monthu. Then he sighed and returned to his papers. “I wish I had the choice. You’re the best I have.” He shook his head without looking up. “There’s nothing I can do but hope you’ve learned.”

It wasn’t what Monthu would have liked to hear but he nodded and left the room. Outside he saw the empty hallway and remembered Par. His heart retched at the memory of his brother crying himself to sleep.

There had never before been a problem he couldn’t solve and it made him feel even worse. Especially when he couldn’t fault the guy that brought this on.

Ace was damaged. It was clear from the moment they met and Monthu hadn’t stopped him from becoming friends with Par. There was no other way this could have ended in.

If anyone was at fault, it was his own self. He could have prevented this and didn’t. Though, who was the true victim here was still up for question. Ace seemed to be in as bad shape as Par, if not worse, from the sounds of it. He needed help too.

Most obvious reason being that he was offline. The guy lived in the game. Him being off was like a loud siren, a flashing red sign that something wasn’t normal.

But there was nothing Monthu could do for either of the boys. One had to learn that not all the friendships worked out. Sometimes people just left.

While the other that there was a limit to how much people could take. No one is going to stay by you forever if you treat them like strangers, keeping everything to yourself.

So well even that Par’s parents had never found him, no matter how much they looked. It was as if he didn’t exist in any database.

The hundreds of detectives looked into people matching Ace’s description and not at all alike. People that shared his traits or had traits attributed to his real personalty. But nothing helped. None of the thousands of people investigated had anything to do with the real Ace.

It wasn’t that surprising in Monthu’s mind, not that he liked it. Ace was just so all over the place. One moment he was playing a calming flute, another sticking daggers into a defenceless prisoner. Defending a caravan and massacring one. There was no consistency in his actions.

Then how was one to understand him?

A simple answer came to his mind. One didn’t. And that’s why Ace was always alone. In their group but not fully part of it, not sharing his mind, doing everything on his own.

/There’s an opening/ Dark wrote. It wasn’t much of news but every little thing mattered to them. One mistake and this whole mission would come to an end.

“It won’t,” he whispered to himself, taking a good look of the open space.

There was no ceiling. Sunlight was shining on snow. It glistened and made it hard for Dark to see. Someone could hide in the corners and he would never notice them.

With careful steps he entered the clearing, moving by the wall. The snow around didn’t seem disturbed but it could lie. He didn’t know when was the last time it snowed. It could have been two years ago or this morning. The climate was too cold for it to melt.

On the other side he saw a footprint on the snow. He listened for a moment but hearing nothing moved closer. His eyes caught onto the steps leaving the cave entrance. They were large and ones he’d seen before. Yeti.

But something strange happened with the later footsteps. The snow was trampled there as if the yeti stomped on a spot, even going down on all fours. In places the steps were deep on the ground.

Most obvious explanation would be that the yeti was attacked. But the problem was the opponent. Who would leave no marks? And who won?

There was nothing to give away the result. Not a single patch of fur or drop of blood. No steps went backwards or forward from where Dark had come. It was as if the two just disappeared after their scuffle.

Dangerous. If Dark had a choice, he would have told everyone to turn back and find another way. But there was nowhere else to go. He had scouted all the directions and most of the tunnels had fallen in. At one point they had to waste three days cleaning one up because there just weren’t anywhere else to go.

All he could do was hope that he had chosen the right path to clear. It was the only choice he’d made and it was still impossible to say whether it’d been the right one. But there was nothing to do now.

/Care about the clearing. Something had happened there./

/You need to be more specific/ the archer replied.

/There was a struggle in here. Not enough clues to say what truly transpired/ he answered, deleting his own tracks. A soft brush was all it required since the players were going to come here soon enough.

He made his way into the tunnel. It had low ceiling, forcing him to bend his head. What was a yeti doing in here? They were almost three meters tall. One would have to walk on all fours to move through here.

On top of that it was narrow. It was fine for a human but pieces of white fur were stuck to the walls. Dark picked one patch and examined. There was no mistaking it. This was yeti fur.

So his conclusions had been right. That was a good sign. But that still left the mystery of what had happened. And no matter how deep he went, this tunnel had no answers.

On the other hand questions were only growing. This was a long tunnel. Dark was walking for twenty minutes now and there was no end in sight. What could force a yeti to enter such a thing? No creature went into closed spaces without a very good reason.

A message came from Hawk. /Come back. We are settling here for the day./

/In the clearing? I told you its dangerous!/

/I know but what do you suggest? Is there another wider space up ahead?/

Dark looked around. He took a few forward steps. /No. I will return./ The way back was faster and soon he was out. His back clicked as he straightened out, feeling a slight pain.

The clearing had transformed while he was gone. Tents had been set up and fires made. Players and natives alike sat around them, boiling pots. A smell of potatoes rose from most as they had stumbled upon a cache of them.

He moved by the side of the wall until he noticed Hawk. The archer was sitting against his backpack, laughing at something the priestess had said. Jackal was leaning over the pot next to them, tasting the brew.

Dark approached, sitting farther from the fire. It wasn’t that cold.

“It’s ready,” Jackal announced and they all took out their bowls. Each received a couple full ladles and returned to their places.

Most of the camp calmed down around that time. Endless hours of walking made people hungry. They scooped food with a vigour that left no time to talk. For a moment.

Soon the sounds would return so Dark finished his brew and went into a tent. There was still a few moments of what could constitute as quietness. His head touched the ground and in a moment he was asleep.

He was standing on a balcony, watching down from the 100th floor. A shining evening city lay beneath his feet but all he could think about was jumping off. He knew he didn’t have the courage but it was nice to dream.

What would his parents think? Would they wonder why? Or would they forget about him like another asset that showed up to be less useful than expected?

“Asakura! Where are you?” a voice shouted from the room and he turned his head. From his place he could see his family’s maid standing in a well lit room. She was shifting right and left, not sure where to start looking. “Asakura! The meeting is about to start!”

But he was standing in the dark. If he didn’t answer, she won’t be able to find him for some minutes. The meeting might start by then and he would get to stay behind.

“Master Asakura! You’re the spokesperson, the crowd is already getting restless!” she said, moving to his room. It was empty and she shouted again. “Master Asakura! Your parents are getting worried about you!”

As if. The only thing they ever worried about was their career. Oh, and their legacy. He was supposed to inherit everything, continuing the family’s rule over the southern continent.

He turned back to the city, leaning against the bar. It was so pretty outside. All those shining lights like thousands of candles lit on a king’s grave. As he raised his eyes to the sky, a star fell. It was for a second and he had his doubts about its authenticity but it still looked like one.

So he closed his eyes and wished for a different life. A place where he could become someone else. One that he and others could respect. One that ins-

“Master, you’re here! Why are you staying in the dark? It’s dangerous! And you’re late! Let’s hurry up!”

She dragged him out of the balcony, through the sitting room, corridor and behind the scene. “You’re late,” his mother hissed with a scowl on her face.

“Calm down. Your make up will go out of place,” father said, keeping his blank expression. Asakura couldn’t remember seeing anything on that face in his life. Today, his coming out ceremony, didn’t seem to be any exception.

Congratulations, smiles or hugs, he wasn’t sure he knew what they were. He heard about them from other students but that was all. Whenever he tried to smile a disgusted look from his parents made him wipe it off in an instant.

“Go,” mother said, pointing to him. “And don’t embarrass us!”

“Yes, mother,” he whispered back, taking a breath. It caught in his throat and he coughed a few times, his cheeks reddening. He didn’t look to his parents, knowing it would only make it worse.

Few steps towards the stage and his stomach turned into a snake pit. The reptiles slithered all over his insides, making him want to puke. It was good he hadn’t eaten anything since morning. An old practise.

“Move,” father said, pushing him in.

Asakura stumbled onto the stage, almost falling on his nose. No one was looking yet so he trudged to the microphone. Each step was a trial, he was sure he was going to fall over his own feet at any moment.

But no, he reached the other side. An assistant passed him the microphone and he was about to raise it to his mouth when his hand grabbed air. He glanced downward and in slow motion saw the thing fall. The assistant snatched at it but his hand was too slow.

The microphone fell to the ground.

A shrill sound went out the speakers, making people wince and turn their eyes to the stage. Asakura watched them with horror taking over his mind. Somewhere beside him he heard the assistant speaking but his words made no sense.

All Asakura could do was stand and watch. In a moment, he saw what he was expecting. People’s faces twisted into mocking smiles, whispers rose like a wave.

His parents came out from the backstage, he heard their voices from somewhere close.

“Failure,” mother shouted in his ear as he was ushered out by someone.

“Useless little shit. Fucking failure,” father added.

Asakura fell on his knees when he was out, seeing their faces and hearing their voices echoing in his mind. “Failure. Failure. Failure.”

It became a chant, like a spell being cast on his mind. “Failure. Failure. Failure.” He tried to shut them up, grabbing onto his head but it didn’t help. The world had turned black and the faces of his parents circled around him, shouting “Failure!”

He closed his eyes but still saw them. And more faces were coming. His teachers, classmates, assistants. Even the maid. “Failure, failure, failure.”

‘No!’ he wanted to shout but he had no voice. Tears left his eyes but the voices didn’t care. They were growing louder and louder, more and more adding up into the choir.

Soon he could no longer hear his own mind. There was only the chant and the faces. Smiling, sneering at him. They were all twisted with mockery or anger, fury at his incompetence.

“Failure!” came a shout in unison and Dark found himself looking at the top of a tent. His breathing was heavy, heart beating in an unsteady rhythm. He waited for a moment, reasserting his senses.

It had been only a nightmare. Realistic, painful and similar to truth but just a bad dream. This wasn’t real world. It was his other life, one he’d wished for since childhood. Here he didn’t have to make any speeches. He was just another player, nothing special.

Those thoughts calmed him down and carefully he sneaked out. Sweat froze on his body but fresh cold air was nice. Sky full of stars, open space and soundless night even better.

No one was up so he could roam the camp without needing to use any skills. He listened to soft breaths coming from the tents, someone mumbling in his sleep, another turning on the other side. Not fully put out flame crackling. Dark went and snuffed it, making sure no embers were alight.

He found an empty corner and sat on the ground. It was pretty cold so he took out a blanket Hawk had given him. The man carried three on his person but Dark hadn’t asked why. It didn’t have anything to do with him.

After some time Hawk found him He stood watching for a moment then sat down. “Did anything happen?”

“No,” Dark answered, the dream returning to his mind. He looked away from the archer. “I didn’t want to sleep so decided to stay guard.”

“You know I set up a watch, right?”

Dark didn’t reply. He hadn’t thought about it. Not that it would have changed anything. He wasn’t going back to sleep.

The archer gave him a look which Dark couldn’t read and then turned away. He wrapped himself into his own blanket and leaned against the wall, eyes half-lidded.

At first Dark glanced at him every other second but Hawk paid him no attention. The archer had his eyes focused on the distance, unseeing. His breath was coming out steadily but not enough to suggest he was asleep.

This indifference calmed Dark and he rested his eyes on the tents. Memories of the past tugged at his mind, trying to get inside. They were things better left forgotten so Dark did his best to think of anything but them.

Silver Wing was a good choice. He was a person worth respecting, someone who didn’t shy from anything. All tasks were within his power. Or he made them be.

And Dark had met him. Even become his student. The first time in his life he felt lucky. It was the greatest of honours.

“Do you hear that?” the archer asked, startling Dark from his thoughts. It took him a moment to understand what was being asked and he listened in.

People breathing. There were a lot of them but it wasn’t anything surprising. They had been sleeping here all along.

Dark tried to hear something more but nothing seemed out of place. People were just rolling in their blankets, shifting positions and kissing? There was a slight sucking sound coming from somewhere in the left.

“It’s noth-” he started saying but something was wrong. That noise, it didn’t sound natural. Was there painful sounding groans coming from that direction? They were muffled but Dark could have sworn came from the same place. “I’ll check.”

Hawk nodded and Dark stood up. He left the blanket in place and on light feet made his way. Tents passed him and in a moment he was in the place.

A sight unlike anything he’d seen before met his eyes.

See-through creature was floating, a fallen player underneath. They were connected by a greyish line that was pulsing with energy. One going towards the ghost.

Dark dashed forward, trying to hit the creature but his dagger went right through. He stumbled, turned and went again. Without different results. And the sucking sound continued.

There was nothing Dark could do so he rushed back to Hawk. The archer came with him then and after seeing blew a horn. It woke the whole camp in an instant and players encircled the scene with sleepy eyes.

Soon, though, they woke up. The sight being on a disturbing side.

Some attacked but all went through the target. “What is this thing?” a warrior asked. No one answered him.

“Ghost Part,” Nein said after a while. All eyes turned to see him leaning against a tent, yawning widely. Noticing the looks he rolled his eyes and elaborated. “The ones released some time ago? That planet wide quest everyone received about the end of the world?”

Dark saw Hawk wince at the words.

“How do we fight them?” the archer asked, eyes unmoving from the spirit sucking the life of the player. He was turning paler by the moment, hands twitching but unable to do anything.

Nein shrugged. “It’s written that they’re of evil origin. Clerics should be able to do something.”

Dark looked over the crowd. Clerics. How many did they have? He could remember seeing a female from the guild but not more.

Two chants rose from the crowd.

“Heavens hear my cry and let the fallen rest, return them to their graves, Purification!”

“Goddess hear my prayer and sing the hymn for the fallen, those who sought to save the world but fell short, unable to fulfil their dreams and now are forced to wander the world with blackened hearts, lost to the temptation, Cleanse!”

White light washed over the creature and it released a deep groan. It sounded as if it had come from worlds away. But it didn’t stop the energy drain. The player was still losing his life force. Pace having only quickened after the attack on the creature.

“You had two seconds,” Nein said from his place.

“Had?” Hawk asked, turning to face him. “What do you know?”

Nein yawned. “Ghost part turned material for two seconds after being showered in light energy. Plenty of time to kill it.”

The clerics started their chants again after this news and players readied their weapons. Dark fell into a position too, eyes focused on the spirit. Two seconds weren’t much so he would have to dash before the time came to increase his damage output.

One of the chants was reaching an end, white light reaching for the spirit. It blanched, moving farther but not enough to break the drain. Dark jumped forward, his daggers reflecting the moonlight.

First hit, digging into the creature’s flesh. It wasn’t human like and the blade went deeper in, throwing Dark off. He moved his other hand to balance out and stabbed while shifting the other dagger to deepen the wound.

Other blades went past him. They struck the spirit, bringing a deep groan. It sounded as if it had come from a hole kilometres deep. But that was all. The time ran out and the spirit continued its draining.

Clerics didn’t need to be told and started their spells again. Melee classes surrounded the spirit, swords, daggers and axes raised for a strike. Even mages had started their chants, the last words waiting on their lips to be released.

Five times they had to repeat it before the spirit fell. It raised its clawed hands, ghost tail whooping and hollered into the air. Blinding light flashed, making players close their eyes and when they opened them it was gone. There was nothing left.

No items or a dead body. Only the victim lying half-dead on the ground. The priestess healed him but the man continued to shiver. He raised his head to look around and everyone saw the whiteness in them.

“I-It w-was-s-s,” he tried saying but his voice broke, unable to continue. Hawk squatted down next to him, taking him by the shoulder. Yet before he could ask anything the person de-materialised.

“He logged out,” someone stated the obvious.

“No, shit,” another answered in a whisper, the voice filled with venom.

“I don’t like this,” a female voice came from the back, one of their few wizards remaining. “What happened to him?”

Hawk stood up, a frown on his face. He looked over the circle of players and forced a smile. It didn’t make him feel encouraging or sure of himself. “He was exhausted. I’m sure he’ll return in a few days.”

Murmurs rose, no one believing what was said.

“Go to sleep,” the archer said. “It is over. The monster was killed.” When none moved, he added. “Stay in groups for safety’s sake. There are no signs of any more creatures like this but it doesn’t hurt to be careful.”

“No signs? It means you knew that this might happen?” a wizard in a green robe shouted out. He came towards Hawk, pointing a staff at his chest.

Fear. Even Dark could sense it from the crowd. They were terrified of such a creature. It wasn’t often that one met monsters that attacked without a sound and prevented you from doing anything. It turned you powerless, at the mercy of your team.

No one liked relying too much on others. What if they decided to bail?

“I knew,” Dark said, taking up the blame. “I didn’t think it was worth reporting.” They had to stay as a group and that meant trusting the leader. If Dark had to sacrifice himself for that, then whatever. It wasn’t like he was part of any group anyway.

The mage turned to him, eyes ablaze. “You didn’t think it was worth telling us?”

Dark shook his head. No one would listen that staying here was the only choice they had. Humans were stupid creatures. Especially when under the influence of emotions.

“You fucking bastard! We almost all died because of you!”

“You didn’t,” Dark said, turning away. He dodged an acid arrow cast his way and went to the entrance of the next tunnel. “I’ll scout ahead.”

Hawk watched him leave, new respect being born in his chest. He hadn’t expected the rogue to do this. It was the most efficient way to calm the crowd but he had turned everyone against himself.

No one was ever going to believe in him again. His reputation was damaged for a long while since it was going to spread through the forums. Or would it? As he thought more, he wasn’t sure anyone knew the rogue’s name. And many of them dressed in dark colours, it wasn’t a defining characteristic. At least not enough of a one.

“And you’re going to just let him go like that?” the green mage hissed, turning back to glare at Hawk.

“What am I supposed to do?” he asked. “That guy is our only surviving rogue. I can’t force him out.”

The mage spit on the ground. “He’s a fucking liar.”

“Do you want to go in an unchecked cave? If you want to take up his position, I won’t refuse you.”

Green robed guy cursed under his breath, hit the ground with the end of his staff but didn’t argue. No one who had any brains would want to scout. Even half of the rogues tended to hate such missions.

One mistake could get you killed. Monsters, traps and environment itself were against you. Just waiting for a single wrong step.

“If that is solved, return to your tents. Try to stay at least by groups of three. Have something to signal at hand in case something happens.”

There were a few nods, some rumbles but the crowd dispersed. Hawk took a lighter breath and went to check on his scouts. The players had come at the sound of warning but now were returning to their posts.

When asked, neither one said he’d seen anything. It was as if the ghost had descended from the sky, or moved with invisibility.

He made his way to Nein’s place. If anyone knew a buff he wanted, it was this guy. He probably knew every spell in existence that strengthened others. A strange thing when the guy was an absolute loner.

Though not as strange as the fact he was here. No matter how much he thought, Hawk couldn’t find a reason for his presence. He hated being here. The look of disgust and annoyance was ever present on his face.

“Hey.”

“What now?” Nein asked, lounging on a thousand pillows. The whole tent was filled to the brim with them, not a single space free.

Hawk didn’t enter and just stood outside, squatting down to see in better. “Do you have a spell that allows to see invisible creatures?”

The mage thought for a moment, his eyes never leaving Hawk’s. “Maybe I do. But what’s in it for me?”

“We get to finish the quest?”

“You sure that will be enough?” the mage asked, a look of disbelief on his face. He threw a cherry into his mouth, spitting the bone into a bowl. “I see your struggle as quite futile.”

“When why are you still with us? I think you could have left any number of times now if you believed we had no chance.”

Nein breathed a heavy sigh, putting another cherry down. “Voices that whisper in the dark, hear my voice and tell your secrets to this useless lot, Hidden Truth.”

It was as if a veil has been lifted. Hawk could hear three times as good. Every breath, every sigh or turn in the camp reached his ears. Even someone’s stomach growling. “That’s amazing,” he whispered, levelling a respectful glance towards Nein. “But I don’t think that was what I wanted.”

“If I gave it to you, then it is,” Nein said, a yawn escaping his mouth. “You’ll never see that ghost part coming. It has no presence but when it feeds. So hearing is what you need.” He pointed to the tents flaps. “Now get out and let me sleep.”

Hawk nodded and closed the tent. It was then that he wondered at the incantation. It was a very unusual one and as if it had been created on the spot. Yet it couldn’t be so, could it?

He didn’t dare to say with that guy. Nein was an entity of his own. Normal player rules didn’t apply to him.

As he thought that he remembered the time he’d seen his true potential and the creature’s release. He opened his quest log.

*Beast from the Greater Realm

Young adventurers looking for hidden treasures and unsolved mysteries had stumbled upon one. Without knowing better they allowed the circle of summoning to work its magic, releasing an evil from another plane of existence. The creature called upon was too strong to get through so it separated itself into smaller forms which flew out into the four directions.

Now they travel the world, hunting and gaining power to reach the state where they could combine into one again. You have four months while they hunt and a week more till they find each other. If they manage to combine, you should start praying as the world will become a much darker place.

Participants are all that live in this world, no matter the kingdom or land.

Quest Difficulty: S+++

Quest Reward: The continent continues to exist under the rightful rule of all the races and doesn’t get overrun by monsters from other realms

Ghost Parts eradicated: 76/666

Time Left: 2 months*

This wasn’t looking good.