☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Jake was struggling to find the strength to stand up in order to remove himself from the pod.

“I overdid it.” He immediately blamed himself.

He was crawling on his belly like a mudskipper with not much of any strength left.

This was what ‘tired’ plus ‘hungry’ would look like--- a human-crawling-mudskipper!

Rewinding the moments back in the game, after that embarrassing episode with the Silver Fox, he made sure to distract himself to forcefully not remember the incident.

Every time he would remember that he had alchemized a spoon, or a chair or a bowl in front of the fox, he would hack and bash a poor carnivorous clown fish.

“I was such a dork!”

“What was I thinking ?!”

The sound of his embarrassment was echoing all throughout every nooks and crannies of the cave. He was shouting every word out with a painful scream.

Right then he was a boy. Throwing tantrums as he pleased. He was not a 42 year old grown man which was just fine since this is a role-playing game anyway.

So what exactly was he thinking back then?

Well, to be frank, the girl was not much of a talker. Jake can get more reaction talking to a plant than with his fox visitor.

She was always so reserved and had that cold expression written all over her face.

Jake wondered if she was just shy or aloof. She could be both?

It could be something deeper too. Like somehow the Silver Fox was holding something back. Like a secret.

At that point in time he wouldnt know anymore since the fox teleported back to somewhere.

He saw her first when he was trying take a sneak peek at the Hellwolves roaming patterns, as well as its territory scope. He was meaning to escape the cave soon so Jake wanted to take down notes and be prepared. It was just a freak coincidence that he saw her there and was running away from the baddies.

And we knew the history after that. Jake led the Silver Fox to the hidden cavern and they were just there inside, sitting still, while having a very awkward silence between them like an invisible wall.

In his quest to cut the air clear, Jake thought of something to break the ice.

And so he came up with that ‘Magic Show’.

“F-U-C-K-I-N-G E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S-S-I-N-G!”

With every letter and syllable, he would hammer a fish to pieces.

That was his sole way to temporarily get rid of the embarrassing flashbacks.

He was so lazer focused that he wouldn’t even pick up the loots from his fish kill anymore.

It was such a waste.

He was doing it for countless hours already and didnt even noticed it. Jake had completely lost his sense of time.

Not until---

Ding!

You have leveled up!

Surprise was written all over his face.

Jake was shocked to know that he was actually level 10 now while absentmindedly committing genocide to the entire carnivorous clown fish population.

And then slowly, after the adrenaline rush, hunger had finally caught up to him. His satiety has gone down significantly low. He was almost running on empty.

Jake wiped the sweat from his forehead. His sweat was mixed in along with the blood of the fish, together with the spring water.

He was about to take out an Aquafaba from his stash when he noticed the time.

“Damn it!” he cursed.

The time on the clock was 2:08am.

He missed lunch time and dinner.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The town of Mabua was situated a couple of hundred kilometers away from the main City of Sugao. Through the north side, the town was being shielded by the big mountains of Kanduli. Through the east, the open beach was found. The coastline stretches far and wide into a sort of a half-moon shape.

Aside from its crystal blue waters and white powdery sand, Mabua was also known as the regions rice granary. There are more rice fields here than houses. The population was small but the people are always warm and friendly.

Recycling was also a way of life here.

Apart from having a zero waste policy, crime was almost non-existent too. The town was so quiet you can even cut the air with a knife.

People had the confidence here to walk alone even in the wee hours of the evening without fear of getting stabbed in the neck.

It was just that peaceful.

It was Summer now and there were a lot of holiday makers visiting the town. It was for this reason that there were plenty of midnight pop-up tents in the central plaza selling different kind of stuff. Food, beverages, alcohols and some acoustic entertainment.

Holiday makers loved midnight markets. It is what keeps them busy.

Clyde was no exception. He was busy too.

He just started his shift at Fresh Bytes two hours ago. He’s working as a check out counter personnel for a year now, and he liked the graveyard shift for its laid back atmosphere.

Fresh Bytes was a convenience store that doubles as a coffee shop and an internet hub.

It was almost 3am and Clyde knew that the holiday merry makers would start flocking the shop any minute now.

The majority would grab some coffee to wash down the alcohol from all the partying they did.

He heard the familiar wind chime from the main door of the shop.

A customer.

“Welcome!”

The man who just entered the door looked like hell and was walking like a zombie. He was slow while almost dragging his feet.

“Can I interest you with anything? Coffee perhaps?

Clyde politely suggested while looking at the person or 'thing' in front of him.

'He could really use a shot or two of black coffee. '

The man didn’t respond to Clyde's goodwill. Instead, the man looked up way past his head and straight towards the digital menu board behind him. Its pupil was moving eerily from right to left as it read the options on the wall above.

“I will have 3 vegetable spring rolls and 2 cups of garlic rice”

The man’s mouth opened and closed like a guppies.

“Is the water free?”

Clyde smiled and added “Yes we serve clean alkalized water for free. Do you want it ice cold?”

The 'zombie' man’s attention transferred from him to the big flat screen tv on the wall, paying Clyde no mind.

The news being played was part of an online broadcast regarding a virtual reality game coverage.

“Ah Cefiro Online. Pretty cool game. I played that myself and I was lucky enough to roll an Elf. I’m sort of a full agility archer. Right now though, I’m sort of contemplating of either going full physical damage build or I will add some magic damage.” Clyde started a small talk “Do you play too?"

The 'zombie' paid him no mind however. Its focus was still glued to the tv screen.

Clyde chose to clear his throat.

"That would be 90 pesos for the entire meal"

The 'zombie' instinctively drew a 100 peso bill from his back pocket.

With a twisted arm, it placed the money on top of the counter and went on to still view the screen without looking at him.

While pushing the change and food towards the customer, Clyde commented about what was happening on the television screen.

"So the Humans were the first one to finish a mini-raid huh? As expected."

He was about to continue with his commentary but then something stopped him.

The 'zombie' was already eating its meal right on top of the counter.

Clydes forehead was all wrinkled.

"Sir there are plenty of empty tables and chairs where you can eat comfortably while finishing your meal"

He thought the 'zombie' was paying him no mind again but Clyde got startled him when the 'zombie' suddenly turned to face him.

"Can I have some ice cold water please" Jake said with teary eyes. His face was of a person who was about to choke.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Fresh from an 8 hour sleep.

With tofu scramble and mixed vegetable fried rice for breakfast, Jake was once again ready to assume the role of Seitan with renewed spirit.

He was taking inspiration from last nights televised raid.

The Human race were indeed very serious about not being outshined despite being the most common race in Cefiro.

The raid took place in Castle Puksain. They were up against the hordes of Minotaurs.

It was a beautiful but very tense battle against the giant bison like beasts.

Thanks to the steadfast leadership of the Guardian, he led the mini-raid party composed of 12 people to victory.

Four casualties, but overall it was a great success.

The loots were no joke either.

He heard that the Minotaur Boss Bakamu dropped an epic rate shield.

Talk about lucky!

'Right. I shouldnt be taking it easy too.'

Now level 10, Seitan finally had the guts to explore the center of the cavern.

He was thinking about this last night. He was not sure, but he thinks that there's really a story behind the red glowing tree at the center of the cavern.

It really screamed 'quest' all over it from the first time he stumbled upon it in this cave

If there was infact a mystery, then Seitan wanted to solve the puzzle of the ominous red glowing tree.

The hint came to him yesterday.

That was the time when he was busy purging carnivorous fishes.

He saw something.

He thought that he actually saw a bat swooping down from the ceiling of the cave.

The bat was not the surprising part since there was a huge possibility that they do inhabit this area. Afterall, this was a cave.

The real surprise was, if his eyes were not mistaken, several roots from the red tree suddenly snatched the bat like a whip.

Immediately the bat got dragged down to ground until it was no more.

'I know theres a quest here. I can really feel it. The force is strong on this one!'

If his hunch was right, he might actually hit the jackpot.

Seitan carefully approached the tree.

Inch by inch, he progressed.

He was holding a live carnivorous clown fish as he inched closer to the center.

First, Seitan wanted to know the boundary of defense of the red tree.

He threw the fish into the air.

Immediately without warning, about five root tentacles sprung up from the ground. It clasped the fish mid air and then tore the fish apart like paper.

Whoa!

Bad tree! Bad bad tree!

Seitan placed his left foot forward, about one feet closer.

Then it triggered

Ding!

"I am Makiling. Diety of the forest"

The voice spoke directly to his mind.

Jake immediately knew.

He smiled.

"Adventurer, please help me free my children!"

A quest has been uncovered.

Would you like to partake in the adventure?

Yes/No

"Well well well Mister Freeman. I've been waiting for you to say that this whole time!"

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆