Screams, pain, agony, despair, all of these were heard and felt by Elaria Kinsi. Her kin caged, her friends chained, her parents killed. These images and scenes kept repeating inside her head. They screamed at her.

“HELP!”

“DON’T LEAVE!”

“SAVE ME!”

“DON’T RUN AWAY!”

Her friend’s voice, her parents, her neighbors, all of them continues to echoe within her mind. Unable to escape. Unable to turn. Unable to block their voices from reaching her ears.

Hot tears flows down her cheeks as she couldn’t shut her eyes off from the scene. They all looked at Elaria Kinsi for help. Their eyes accusing her why she didn’t save them.

Of course, this is just what she believes she ,herself, is seeing. In reality, her kin and especially her close ones, would never treat her as an outcast. If anything, they would understand and empathize why she had such actions and ran away. If she were to stay there, the same fate will fall upon her just like her beloved ones.

However, Elaria Kinsi wanted to feel guilty. No, she needs to feel guilty.

She wanted to save them, yet she couldn’t. Her powerlessness haunts her. She couldn’t do anything. If only if she had power. If only if she was stronger. Her heart aches from the despair she felt at that time.

‘If only if I was stronger.’

She repeated that same line over and over again.

‘.......Why?... Why couldn’t I do anything…..’

At that moment, Elaria could hear 2 voices talking to each other.

“Hmmm….what exactly should I do with her?”

“Master, I believe it is appropriate to wait for her to wake and then ask her whether she requires supplies from us. Only after we could leave her alone.”

“Hmmm….well, I guess that’s the only option we really have, don’t we.”

Elaria thought, ‘Who are these 2 voices? I don’t recognize them at all.’

The two voices continued to converse with each other and each second it continues to get louder and louder, until Elaria’s eyelids shot up and bringing herself back to reality from her depressing dream.

In her field of vision, she sees a dark, starry sky. Numerous stars filled the night sky. The full moon lighting up the world in substitution for the sun. The chilly wind blows itself onto her face as she was laying down. It reminded her of the time she had slept outside in the forest while star gazing with her childhood friends.

She then heard a deep voice.

“Oh? She is finally awake. That took quite a bit of time.”

“Yes, she did have to experience a strong backlash for a certain period of time. Luckily for her, Master was there.”

The second voice was a bit cold, yet soft and sweet at the same time.

“...I guess that is true. I wanted to test out that potion I made recently and it was also the perfect opportunity to do it. Since it seems to work out very well, I think I will just make a couple more for the sake of it.”

After that was said, a black haired, emerald eyed girl appears in Elaria’s vision.

“Do you feel any discomfort right now, Miss? Although you shouldn’t be as Master’s Elixir should be perfect.”

Elaria was still in a daze as the strong backlash from her potion still affected her mentally. As for physically, she felt as if she was in perfect condition. No, it is better to say she felt even better than normal. Her body felt full of energy and vitality even when she was lying down. It’s almost like the side-effects from her imperfect potion didn’t take place at all.

The white blanket covering her dropped down as she slowly got up from her lying posture. Elaria looked at the 2 people who were sitting cross legged besides her. One is a the black-haired woman who was just described, and the other is a black robed masked man. His attire looked out of the norm. Especially when wearing a mask.

‘Is he part of a certain group?.....Why do they look so familiar?.......’

‘!’

Memories began surging forward inside her mind. Her running away, her pursuers, the two who were in front of her when she nearly fainted from fatigue.

Elaria immediately stood up, kicked the ground to create some distance from the 2 figures and got into her fighting stance, the Leaf Varant which specializes in defense and manipulating the enemies attack trajectory, as she looks around, observing her surroundings while being cautious to the 2 in front of her. She doesn’t understand what exactly is going on here.

‘Where were the 6 pursuers? I was sure they were following me…...Did those 2 perhaps got rid of them?’

As she was in a defence stance, the black haired girl’s eyes sharpens and her eyebrows into a scowl as she looks at Elaria.

“Is this how you repay Master for his benevolence, elf? If it wasn’t for him, you might as well have either died or have gotten capture by your chasers. At least show your gratitude to Master as he went out of his way to aid you in your time of need.”

Her voice and emerald eyes were cold, looking at Elaria with contempt.

In response to that, she foolishly replied, “..It's not like I asked you two for help.”

Immediately, Elaria regretted her decision. She was still not thinking clearly enough from the fact just a couple of hours ago, she lost her family.

Hearing this, the black haired girl begins to emit killing intent. It was very strong and the pressure from it suddenly pushes down Elaria, causing her to lose focus and broke her stance, and kneeled onto the floor with her right knee.

“That is enough Slyphia, her mind must be in disorder as of right now. Give her some time to rest first.”

The mask man saying in a relaxed manner as if it didn’t particularly offend him, made all the killing intent emitted from the girl called Slyphia, to disappear in an instant.

He then turns to Elaria, “I am called Alduin Vul,” he then gestures to girl next to him, “and here is my companion, Slyphia. We both encountered you when we were heading towards the Kingdom of Kloara and coincidentally spotted your chasers behind you as you were running away from them. It looks to us you seem to be in a very difficult spot and decided to help.”

“Oh, yes, I almost forgot. May you tell me your name?”

Asking with a gentle tone, Elaria begins to slightly believe that the two in front didn’t have any ill intentions for her. “My name’s Elaria Kinsi. I came from the elven village inside the Forest of Yur.” She bows down slightly, “I apologize for my behavior just earlier. As you just said, I was a bit in a panic.”

Alduin nods and asks.

“May you tell us the reason for you to run so desperately away from those men?”

Hearing the question, Elaria quickly felt her heart ache. Her hands and legs began trembling and shaking as she was once again, reminded of that incident.

Alduin notices this.

“....Never mind, if you do not want to say it, you don’t have too. Slyphia and I will be resuming our way towards our destination. I want to know whether you need some supplies before we leave. It wouldn’t do if the person I personally save would die soon after I left her.”

“ …...I……..”

Elaria pauses.

‘What am I going to do now?’

After leaving the village, she didn’t have much thought what she would be doing right after she successfully fled.

‘Where?... I don’t know. My kin were just captured a couple of hours ago, and I need to save them. However...it isn’t a task I can do myself.’

She completely doesn’t know what to do currently. She thought maybe she could save her kin and free them, but considering the number disadvantage and the individual skill of each enemy, her chances of success were very low.

‘Wait, didn’t these two save me from my pursuers. If that is true, then they must be able to deal with many of them at once! They definitely must be strong enough to help me!’

Coming up with that idea, she immediately asks her saviors, Alduin and Slyphia, as she lowers herself to the ground and bows down deeply and shouted.

“Lord Alduin... Lady Slyphia...please listen to my request!”

Lord and Lady is commonly used in a name when addressing a person with respect. Usually used for a noble or King. As for how Elaria used it, it is addressing both Alduin and Slyphia with respect and flattery. This shows the desperation she is feeling and also acknowledging the people before her from their abilities, even though she didn’t see it for herself, she believes it must be significant.

Alduin was startled when being called Lord and as for Slyphia, there was barely any reaction. No, she is pleased with Elary, but not for the fact she was called Lady, but for Alduin, her God, being recognized by another person and being called Lord. Elaria didn’t see it since she was bowing down, but Slyphia could be seen with a slight smile on her gorgeous face.

Alduin looks at her expectantly, awaiting what sort of request she wanted to make.

"Please, save my kin! We were attacked just a few moments ago! We were outnumbered and overwhelmed by our attackers. Please! I beg of you…. save them!"

Her desperate plea for aid reached to Alduin. Normally a person with high morals and ethics would of course decide to help this young girl out of their free will. However, Alduin is not the sort of person to do things just because it was asked of him to. He is a bit different.

"Hmmm, even if you say that...."

He began scratching his head from this situation.

"You can't just expect me to do as you just said. I mean... There is nothing in it for me."

".........."

Knowing what she said was a bit unreasonable. Asking her saviors to do such a task, which instead the saved one should be expressing her gratitude, even more when asking them to do something for her without any sort of compensation despite her life being saved.

Elaria stays silent. She couldn’t come up with anything that may have of equal value to risking the two figures their lives for such a bothersome task.

Alduin sees Elaria coming up with nothing, brought his right hand to his chin as he thinks. Taking a moment, he then sighs and looks at the elf, and the words coming out his mouth surprised her.

“.....Well, I’m not quite in a rush to see that Kingdom anyway... I guess this could be a good time killer…. It might even possibly be fun.”

As Elaria hears this, both confusion and gratitude was felt in her heart. Confusion for why did this stranger who she met just a while ago, agreed to help her when she had nothing to give in return, and gratitude for accepting her unreasonable request.

Her eyes begins to blur.

“....Thank you……….Thank you so much.”

----------------------------------------------

After that strange conversation and agreement, despite feeling full of energy, Elaria felt her stomach growling with hunger. Much less to say, Alduin once again helped her, which makes her feel guilty, and gave her a strange and unusual food.

It has a flatbread formed in a triangle and top of it was a white-yellowish substance with red meat ,while under it was a sauce colored red. Elaria wanted to say something, but considering that they even gave her free food, it would be rude to ask questions and be suspicious of the something they gave her.

Taking a bite of the warm food, the moment it enters her mouth, Elaria’s eyes shot up, her taste buds on her tongue took in all the flavors containing in that unusual food.

Looking at this food with shock, she couldn’t believe such delicious food exist.

“Lord Alduin, what is this?”

Alduin, who’s still wearing his mask, was eating the pizza which was absurdly passing through it replied.

“Are you talking about the Pizza you are eating?”

“Pizza?”

Never in her life did she heard such a name.

“Yes, that is what you are eating called. I believe you’ve never heard of this before or tasted anything like it, but I will tell you you probably can’t find this anywhere else in the world. No, maybe it could be made, but I have yet to see how people here make their food.”

The way Alduin says it confused Elaria.

‘Here?’

She then asks Alduin and Slyphia.

“Are you two perhaps, foreigners?”

Alduin finishes his pizza the moment she inquires him and gave a short response.

“Well, you could say that I guess.”

“...How was the place where you came from?”

Alduin looks into the night sky as if he was looking to somewhere far away.

“You could say that place wasn’t very entertaining nor fun. I do have to say the food there was really good though. Although it wasn’t very enjoyable for me, it had other ways that appeals me.”

Elaria didn’t understand what he was saying as it was a very vague answer. Finishing the so called pizza, she then turns towards the two in front of her.

“....May I ask when is a good time for Lord Alduin and Lady Slyphia to begin?”

It is obvious that when being helped, one should be grateful they were helping in the first place.

He gets up and following that, Slyphia also did so.

“...How about….now?”

----------------------

In a huge tent within a huge camp somewhat near Elaria’s village, there were several people sitting on wooden stools while in a form of a circle. Each of them were very well built and their skills in combat were also higher than above average. They were all very skilled and had their fair well of experience. Their ranking in their organization were also pretty high. The objective was to attack and capture as many elves as possible. The slave market’s demand for them were extremely high, so Floradial had sent out some of their best and strongest individuals.

Right now, the mood in the huge tent was very tense. This is mostly because after sending out their C-squad, none for never ever failing in a mission, has been MIA ever since a couple of hours ago. Normally it wouldn’t be strange if they were gone that long as sometimes they were either having their own fun or the target was more troublesome than expected. However, it was heard that specific elf who was marked S, had drank a purple potion and quickly ran away with breakneck speed out of the village and forest. Such a humongous boost suring should have a side-effect or backlash. That elf was also very exhausted in the beginning when she drank it.

Therefore, it shouldn’t be that difficult to capture her sooner or later, but it didn’t go as they expected. The C-squad members were nowhere to be located. Usually each member could be located by using a special map which was imbued with a part of every member’s life force and can locate that specific person at anytime and anywhere. All they had to do is send their thoughts on what person they want to find and done. The map was very expensive and very vital to any organization that wants to keep track of their members.

For Floradial, they wanted to keep as many skilled people as much as possible. Keeping capable people is always a must.

However, right now, the famous C-squad was nowhere to be located. Despite using the map, they were nowhere to be found. Either they all died, or a 3rd person was somehow blocking the effects of the map with a sort of barrier, or maybe even both.

“...Shit...where are they?! We are about to leave!”

“Settle down. We need to think about this calmly and the possible reasons they are missing.”

“What the hell do you mean calm down?! They are one of the best members within the organization! If HQ were to know of this, we would be reprimanded even though we successfully taken the elfs. HQ wouldn't be pleased with this!"

"Like I said, calm down. We need to first investigate this occurrence and report it to the authorities. Our organization has been losing many of our trackers. It is very difficult to find capable people specializing in that while being competent in combat."

It is possible to recruit a skilled tracker; however, if they are not capable of defending themselves, they would soon die as the work Floradial do isn't safe at all times. Especially when the Demi-humans who specializes in body and physical magic are competent in killing their foes swiftly. Highly skilled trackers are also hard to come by as even though the basics of it can be covered by anyone, a spell caster can counter those skills and cover their tracks with the usage of magic. Those trackers who can follow their targets despite either being too fast or have been erasing their tracks were highly sought for. Even more if they could do sufficient combat. The C-squad was as such, but a lot more capable.

As the other subordinates began to get involved with the argument, a man with a short brown beard and hair with a body of a large frame, emitted pressure to everyone inside the large tent in which they were all occupying. It was no weak pressure. It was strong enough to to stiffen all the members still and also cause moderate dizziness. In response to this pressure, every member knew they had to shut up. In the organization, no one was permitted to kill each other; however, there was nothing about harming one.

The man who released such pressure is named Krox Jaybon. Nicknamed, The Brutal Demon. Formerly a person of the slums who caused much terror to the ones living near him for his ruthless and heartless behavior. He was discovered to have a strong talent on one of the most fearsome class, the Demonic Berserker. A stronger variation of the Berserker class. Usually known for their display of their crazy battleborn abilities. The most known about them were how insane they get after receiving damage. There rage will increase; therefore, their physical abilities, strength, agility, dexterity, will increase exponentially.

However, they will temporarily lose their sanity and control of their body. The Demonic Berserker was much worse than the normal one. The reasons to this is first; the physical increase is 3 times more than the norm, second; the lower their health or vitality becomes, the stronger their [defence] grows, making them even harder to defeat, much less kill. Lastly, the third reason; the Permanent Power increase. This is very fearsome as the stronger the enemy the Demonic Berserker is against, the stronger it also becomes, but permanently. So when encountering a Demonic Berserker, it was best to either kill him, or avoid him as they can be very troublesome depending on the decisions made around one. Korx Jaybon is one such person, and not only did he had a fearsome class, he also has large amounts of self-control and high intelligence, giving him even more advantages and less weaknesses than a Demonic Berserker should be. Maining control would lead to less aggressive attacks, but more clever ones, which is always not welcomed by the enemy.

Korx Jaybon scans everyone slowly as he turned his head. “ I shall make this clear… First, as we all know, the C-squad who has never once failed their mission, are Missing In Action. Since the map isn’t displaying their current location, it means someone interfered with them…. the chances of them dead is fairly high. Everyone can forget about them being still alive.”

The reason this is said because hypothetically and logically, if someone did interfered with the C-squad for a particular reason, there was usually only one path that someone can take. It is to kill them. If that someone were to let the C-squad members go, not only would that person risk his or her identity being discovered, but also their lives.The influence of Floradial is no small thing. Because of their wealth and talented members of their organization, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration if they could go head to head with another Kingdom.

Korx Jaybon continues, “Since there is no intel where they are, it is best to report this to HQ. Even though the penalty for losing such valuable and gifted members is [sparing] with the 10, it is the only thing we can do.”

Finishing he sighs. The others also can’t help but also sigh as a gloomy atmosphere spreads inside.

The 10 Korx Jaybon is talking about were the top 10 individuals of Floradial. Not only were they the executives with high authority, but also because they are actually the 10 top strongest of them. In addition, the spar isn’t actually considered a spar. It is a one-sided beating. If any expedition group were to lose a significantly large amount of their members or strong member, they would be forced to enter this spar with one of the top 10 for the sake of “substituting for lost strength,” in other words, making the members becoming stronger to cover up the losses they had. Korx Jaybon may be fearsome, especially his class, but he is ranked 44 out of the hundred thousands. Even though he is a genius, there were still a lot more people even stronger. And it isn’t fun to be a punching bag.

The meeting was adjourned soon after and everyone began to go into their respective tents while some were dragging along some crying elves towards their tents.

Everyone in Floradial went to sleep while some were on guard duty, unaware a calamity was closing by.

------

Alduin

After saving Elaria from her chasers and discussing about the future actions they are taking after she woke up, currently Alduin was designing himself some other equipments such wristbands with physical enhancements and health upgrade while running at the same time. The reason why he making as such was when he looked into Slyphia’s status on a whim through his companion icon next to his inventory one.

Name: Slyphia

TItle: Assassin Saint, Alduin’s faithful servant

Job: Assasin

Class Level: 7

Strength: 5050

Intelligence: 2478

Agility: 5938

Vitality: 6004

Dexterity: 7643

When comparing it with his, Slyphia’s stats except for Class level and intelligence, were all much higher than his.

Thus he made the wristbands with the effect of increasing his physical abilities and health(Vitality). However, he didn’t particularly thought of how much it would increase it. Alduin didn’t know of this until equipping the black wristbands and opening up his status.

Currently, he was looking at his status with his eyes wide open, but couldn’t be seen when the mask covers it.

Name: Alduin Vul

Title: God of Creation

Job: Technomancer

Class Level: X

Strength: 356

Intelligence: X

Agility: 308

Vitality: 556

Dexterity: 341

Unique Skills: Super High Health and Mana Regeneration (Passive), Analyzing Sight (Activation), Max Class Level(Passive), Time-Slower(5 seconds) {3 uses per day}

This was how it previously looked like, but when he imbued those wristbands with the enchantment, his status took a major hit.

Name: Alduin Vul

Title: God of Creation

Job: Technomancer

Class Level: X

Strength: 10235

Intelligence: X

Agility: 8794

Vitality: 9865

Dexterity: 341

Unique Skills: Super High Health and Mana Regeneration (Passive), Analyzing Sight (Activation), Max Class Level(Passive), Time-Slower(5 seconds) {3 uses per day}

The reason Alduin’s dexterity stat didn’t increase is because it was more of a skill as you perform tasks with your hands and how quick and nimble you are.

Alduin looks into his stats and then closes it. He glanced at both Slyphia and Elaria. The reason why is because Slyphia before had a lot more Agility stats than him before equipping the wristbands; however, if that is true, then she is holding herself quite a bit to match his speed. As for Elaria, he wonders what her stats were and whether or not she was also holding back for him as the 3 were running. If they both did, then all he could do is sigh to himself with a bit of shame.

‘I do not know what are the standards of each stat in this world is, but maybe these are good enough after wearing the wristbands. Going overboard isn’t always good though...Now that I think about it…’

“Hey, Elarsia”

The elf turns towards him as she was running.

“What are the standards of each stat if I may ask?”

Elaria lifts up an eyebrow as if Alduin asks an unusual question.

“Lord Alduin, I do not understand your question.”

“...Huh? I mean...wait...do you know what stats are?”

“No..I do not?”

Alduin forms a thought.

‘Does this mean, people in this world do not have access to their status? Meaning, only I am capable of this?’

“I apologize, please forget that question.”

Elaria gave him an odd look, but he was always odd to begin with when she met him so it isn’t at all that strange to her.

‘To think I would unintentionally learn something about this world. But I need to confirm once more.’

“Slyphia.”

His servant looks at him knowing what he wanted to ask, shook her head.

“This is quite intriguing. Am I possibly the only one who had this VR like setting?,” Alduin mutters quietly to himself.

After that, the 3 continues running towards Elaria’s home village, Alduin was unaware it would be one of the most annoying battles he would face when all he wanted to do is waste some time.

------------------------

Sorry for the cliffhanger, but the chapter was getting a bit too long.

Please tell me any complaints in this chapter. Kind of want to know how to make this chapter better when I didn’t feel (in it) as much as the others. Thanks!