Ryu and Shizuka continued their hunt, with Ryu playing bait and Shizuka doing everything else. Ryu didn’t exactly fancy getting carried, but when it was a cute kouhai how could he complain?

“Wew I leveled up!” said Shizuka, jumping up and down.

They’d been hunting for almost an hour by the time Shizuka got her first level up, Ryu on other hand had been gaining XP at a much greater rate due to the level difference. Now he was level 32, and halfway to level 33.

“Nice, any skill ups?” said Ryu, taking a seat on the ground.

Shizuka took a seat as well.

“Let’s see… charm and devil’s touch both went up. Nothing special though.”

Ryu felt a tad envious that Shizuka had already chosen a class. He still hadn’t, partly because he hadn’t found anything he was sure he’d like, and also because he didn’t like the idea of locking himself into something he might later regret.

A class brought with it pros and cons. The ability to use special abilities specific to that class was the biggest reason people specialised, but at the same time classes came with restrictions on what kinds of abilities could be used.

“How about you?” said Shizuka.

“Got an offer to learn the taunt skill, which I declined. Otherwise no increases. Just base stats for me.”

Shizuka stretched her legs, which made no sense to Ryu since he was the one doing all the running.

“Anyway my quest is done. Wanna head back?” said Shizuka.

Once the two had returned to Sanctuary Shizuka logged off, leaving Ryu to do whatever he did. Which was usually nothing. So he just strolled around idling looking for something to do.

In the Plaza he spotted a pack of people crowding around a stand, and above them all he spotted an NPC wearing a funny striped hat. Ryu approached, already having an idea of what might be happening.

“... they are coming! Lock your doors and hide your children!”

“What the fuck is he on about?” said a player in the crowd.

The NPC stomped on the ground. “The east! The east has fallen to those heretics and their abominable automatons! We must smite them down and show them the wrath of our holy mistress!”

Whispers spread throughout the crowd.

“Can he just give us our quest already?” whispered someone in front of Ryu.

“Shutup! Who will join us in this crusade?”

[A time-limited quest is available. If you accept you will be unable to progress in other quests until it is over]

The crowd began to move, most people heading in the same direction to tackle the quest. Ryu quickly accepted and followed along.

[Quest log updated: DOOM!]

[Quest update: Exit Sanctuary]

Outside of Sanctuary were several circles of white robed mages chanting in unison. Within each circle was a glowing pentagram, with sigils and other strange shapes between the lines.

Rows of soldiers stepped into the circles, weapons ready as they were warped to some distant location. Ryu’s attention was brought back to the crowd which stopped in front of a tall and broad man, armored from top to bottom with a helmet held at his side.

[Commander Vessicle - Lvl 54]

“Ready your arms travellers, the battle has already begun! Once you step through there is no going back!”

The crowd drew their weapons and stepped forward, rows of people vanishing as they stepped into the portals.

“May Freyja watch over you!”