Meilfour.

2 nd Ryzul, 1092.

A few days passed since the discovery of the underground laboratory , and Kashi had spent the entire time confined to the lab, eagerly exploring its secrets. Not even Miote could pull him out with treasure and gold found in another room.

No, it appeared the daeben had been sucked into one of those moods which haunt craftsmen of every ilk, and until he satisfied his yearnings, nothing would tear him from his work. Luckily, though consumed by his work, Kashi still had enough of his own mind to issue out requests, some of which were very strange.

Miote, upon the daeben's request, traveled to Meilfour to meet - and if they did not have one, set up - its trading council. The Chesch did as asked, pleased with the change of pace. He obtained from each of them a list of materials they needed for their respective trades as the church had taken anything that might have furthered the arts, and the monsters that roamed the land were too powerful for men who had not fought a real battle in quite some time.

Miote promised the Hopeful Maggots ’ assistance in obtaining these items, but in return, volunteers had to join in the hunt. They readily agreed as they had many young men and women eager to brave the wilds, and it seemed most had been trained directly or indirectly by the good old bartender.

As per Kashi's request (and much to the merchant's chagrin), he also provided them with capital procured from the now christened 'Deserun' meaning 'Rune of the desert' (Kashi named it himself, a fact Miote made sure to point out whenever someone asked after the peculiar name.) Being the merchant he was, he negotiated a deal for the capital.

In return for their investment, the Hopeful Maggots would own a 15% stake in the shops . Secondly, no external investors could buy into their enterprises without the guild's knowledge . Finally, and most importantly, the Hopeful Maggots would permanently hold the second-highest stake.

The council eagerly agreed. They could not fathom a situation where any other person would want into their enterprises anyhow. However, credit must not be taken from the golden merchant. Not all were so easily fooled. Some in the council were incredibly long-sighted and challenged the chesch's proposal. But Miote, well versed in the art of negotiations, blessed with a silver tongue reminiscent of the dwarves, and possessing high charisma and charm was able to win even the most bull-headed of them all.

Miote was also charged with negotiating a deal in which the merchants would help mass-produce then sell some of the merchandise the daeben would provide in the coming weeks. This was where Miote realized a dreadful fact. Kashi, wise as he was, and always viewing a larger picture than the rest, was quite simply... a terrible merchant. Imagine, he dared to ask for a 70-30 split... in favor of the merchants!

The daeben failed to realize how much of a dangerous precedent that was.

Miote almost asked for an 80-20 split in the guild's favor, but then understood that the daeben was trying to earn goodwill and not money per se from these people. But, before all, he was a merchant, and profit always comes first to a merchant. So, he switched to a 60-40 split in favor of the guild, and they were accountable for their own materials (meaning any the guild brought would be bought as per the market price - with a partnership discount, of course). This way, he gained the goodwill of the merchants of Meilfour but maintained the guild's economic superiority.

Miote could not help but laugh at his own vehemence. This was supposed to be a spy job, but he was thoroughly enjoying himself parading as a merchant. Well, it wasn't like Kashi was really doing anything of real interest for now, and as long as he was here, Suzuki, the other assignment and the most difficult one wasn't.

Miote’s days were not spent alone, either. Sometimes Kira would accompany him, somewhat intrigued by the Chesch's skill (though admittedly very few times). In contrast, the majority of her time was spent with the hunting party, tasked with a mission that seemed quite deplorable at the time.

Kashi had asked them to not only procure the ingredients from Miote's list but also to hunt down the local wildlife to the brink of extinction, bringing back as many alive as possible. For this, he gave them poison he brewed, which would knock out the beasts once they were within 10% of their maximum HP, and keep them sleeping for weeks.

If, for any reason, the hunting party ran out of poisons before they could renew their supplies , they did not have to worry as Lunette, augmented by Suvron's mark , could produce the same effect with her voice or flute even at 35% HP. This was because Suvron, a goddess of beauty and music, was far more compatible with her than with the warring daeben.

As part of their pact, Lunette received some new abilities, but her favorite was [ One ] written in English. This was a double-layered skill. Its first boon was to give her the knowledge and expertise to play any instrument she touched, but Lunette could already play every instrument currently known to man, so that didn't change much. The second allowed her highest proficiency to be applied to whatever instrument she used.

Now, that was the killer part. Even if she could sing play perfectly, this was still a game, and games had stats. No matter how rich and enrapturing her voice, someone who relied on the system, leveling up his/her voice or instrumental skill to learn, would be preferred in a functioning party.

Because while Lunette’s voice was perfect for a show or an audience, in the field, stats from enhanced skills ruled the day. Monsters, after all, don't really care for music.

Hence, the fact that any instrument Lunette touched automatically gained an equal level to her highest proficiency, which happened to be singing, was a real steal. She'd begun using the flute and lute she never used from then on, as they just fit the battle atmosphere more than her voice.

Thanks to Lunette’s various skills, she was respected by all in the party as a highly valued and much-needed member even if she was not gouging out eyes with the rest of them.

Returning to the hunting party’s task , it mattered not if the party killed or tranquilized the beasts, they obtained EXP either way because the game recorded wins and not kills. This was why a duel between two players would give EXP even if neither player was killed, as long as one admitted defeat.

The difference with monsters was that after tranquilization and transportation from its zone, the system or no, should we call it the spirits recorded it as a death, a loss of life, and strove to restore the balance. To do this, they hastened the breeding process between the survivors and babies that would usually take four to five days to reach adulthood (Kira was an exception because of her divine status) would only take a day or two.

This was the 'Respawn' nature of Live No Evil . T he designers inten ded to keep things as natural as possible - well, as far as nature and gaming could mesh at least. 9 - months pregnancies and years of maturation did not cut it in a world where thousands of players were hacking down beasts left and right daily. An RPG without monsters to kill? Laughable.

The Respawn spirits acted in tandem with Mera, goddess of the earth, to keep life at an equilibrium. So, in a land like Merriheim , where monsters were rarely hunted, the Respawn rate had dropped to an almost natural level with full 6-month pregnancies and weeks to months of maturation.

Kashi, however, knew that would not do at all. If all went to plan and Meilfour became the powerhouse he hoped it to be, then there would be a rapid influx of players uncaring of the fragile ecosystem. They would hunt these high-level creatures to the last of them, and the way this world worked, if there were no mammy and pappy to birth babies, then suck it, no monsters would appear anymore.

Hence, Extinction!

The hunting party, which Syel had also joined, began to see the Respawn effect when the monsters started multiplying faster than they could kill them. It was at this point that Kashi allowed them to rest, saying there was no longer any need to hunt the beasts so wildly. Now, they could kill for fun, or for materials as they desired.

One day after a challenging hunt, the party huddled around brilliant fires in the last whispers of the evening, the weather having begun its warning of the winter. Kira, having struck an unlikely bond with the assassin, lay by his side while the party of close to fifty chatted amicably about their loot and fights.

"When was the last time you saw him?" Shadow asked, softly strumming a guitar the daeben had repaired. A ways off, the triplets matched his solemn rhythm, filling the camp with peaceful tranquility , alien to these times.

"I don't remember," Lunette replied. "Don't think I've seen him since -"

"Since he stole your first kiss and disappeared?" Shadow teased.

"No, "Lunette replied deadpan. "That wasn't a kiss. It barely even counts as CPR, don't you think?"

Shadow searched his sister's features. As he thought, not even a hint of an embarrassed blush. "This sister of mine, beautiful but not cute at all. Your brother is worried for you, you know?"

"Ho, ho," Lunette mock-laughed, eyes scarier than the Bakut they just fought. "Someone's all big and strong now, eh Assassin-kun?" Her voice was so sweet, yet carried a menacing threat underneath, and her thin smile drew shivers up the poor boy's spine.

Shadow’s hands screeched the guitar strings , and he quickly ra is ed them in surrender. "Eh, C'mon sis, you can take a joke, right? Joke, Joke ."

"Of course," she happily replied. "This Onee-san can take a joke well. She just thinks it's been a while since she showed her brother some love, wouldn't you agree!" With that, she pounced on him faster than Belrug and wrestled him to the ground, where she proceeded to torture him. "Ara ara, what happened? Weren't you all worried about your sister? Keep talking, and I'll show you something to really be worried ab-"

"Eh, Lunette-san?" one of the volunteers called.

Lunette released her victim, who was sprawled in pained laughter. "Yes?" she replied warmly.

"We were wondering if you would sing for us. Like, not the type on the battlefield, a real heartfelt song," he realized with horror what he had just said. "N-n-not to say those are not heartfelt. We just um-"

"Do not fret," Lunette appeased, holding his hand. "I fully understand what you mean."

Elated, the volunteer called the rest of the hunting party to gather around for the show. Once all were present and s ea ted comfortably, beneath the silent moon, warmed by the light of a warm flame, a solitary song blessed the badlands of Merriheim, all who heard, instantly spelled by its haunting beauty. The songstress sang of heroes past and present, of their sad valor, and the humanity they were forced to give up for the sake of those they wished to protect.

All of nature played a backdrop to this song. The wind seemed to pick up and die down along with her pace, brushing the grass such that it produced sweet shimmers, enticing its listeners to relax.

“ In this world of hate, these times of discord,

When rage, our natures be,

Rise up men of great, the world your accord,

And slay, the monsters we .

Stand strong, Shield!

Oh Pierce through, o Sword!

Let my brave warriors be .

Stain their hearts,

With darkness blood,

But bring them back to me.

For in this world , this broken world

My home, my heart, they be... ”

The maiden's sad song carried across the winds far and wide, over rivers of blood and bone to a broken king in fitful sleep, every whip of his magnificent tail a crater in its wake. As the maiden's song reached his ears, the thrashing ceased, his heaving dropping to a soft mellow as he dreamt of a time far gone - an age he would never reclaim.

In his dream, he saw her, proud, strong, defiant as she approached reins in hand. Purple hair and eyes danced under the watchful moon as she raced towards him, only to suffer yet another defeat.

"Why do you suffer yourself these defeats?" he asked, amused, as he had lost count of how many times they had experienced this never-ending waltz.

"Hmph!" She declared as she rose to her feet and dusted herself. "Tis only a matter of time! I was closer today, wasn't I?"

"Perhaps," he countered, "or perhaps I allowed it." He watched her turn beet red with embarrassed anger and couldn't help but chuckle to himself. In this mundane reality, she was his sole source of entertainment .

But alas, such peaceful dreams were not to be, for nestled within the king's aching breast was a force of malice so thick, so repugnant, it allowed no space for such happiness. A loud roar tore across the realm s as he was tormented with images of her death , a fate she had taken in his stead . He recalled her death at the hands of a man he had once called his Durkin*.

Poignant veins bulged across the proud beast's frame, cursing him with the pain of a thousand blades, tormenting him with a thousand deaths. The creature forced itself to rise, and strove to ascend the mountain it resided on. Each claw that stabbed the rock caused pain that no mortal and even the proudest of immortals could endure, but he persisted in his rise.

As it so happens, he was impossibly large, so with but a few strides, he made it past the ashen clouds to the top of the mountain where a beautiful garden was nestled within a basin of rocks. He could scarcely believe his eyes. Neither the Calamity nor the ravages of time had been able to spoil the beauty of this sacred ground.

The king's magnificent form dissipated, and a man fell in his place into the waters of the garden. He arose moments later, his injuries healed, and bulging veins relaxed. As he'd hoped, the waters still retained their healing properties. Perhaps with this, he could st-

GRAAAA!

His scream tore through the serene picture as he clutched as his chest, eyes wide with fear at the pulsating gem. Without regard for his own life, he attempted to pierce his own chest and tear it out, heart and all, but fate was not so kind. The gem, seemingly with a mind of its own, strengthened the skin around itself, and his claws could but bounce off with nary a scratch.

As if in retaliation, a black miasma shot out of his chest and engulfed the entire basin. There was a strained pause as if fate was deciding what to do next.

Panting heavily, the king realized what the miasma was. It could do a being like him no ill-effect, but, "Please stop!" he begged desperately. "I shall surrender my will and body if it is thy will!"

What a truly pathetic sight it was. To see a King so proud, so powerful, plead to a being not even living, to a little gem. N ature itself seemed to decide this was a scene none should bear witness to. T he winds stopped, and the moon hid its light behind the clouds.

“ I can no longer hear the song." With those words, Skyrm made one final defiance of fate. With a roar so loud, so painfully wretched, he invoked [ Martyr's Bridge ] . Portals appeared around the continent as rifts between worlds were torn open. "My brothers and sisters!" he cried out in a foreign language. "The time has come to fulfill your oath! Restore Order, and save this Realm from Cha-"

"So predictable," a voice interrupted.

The miasma was sucked into a ball in the hands of a fox-man. His fur, white as snow possessed an ephemeral glow, holy, yet terrifying, his eyes resembled ice brands, as frightening and cold. "Remember me, King of Dragons?" he asked, and his reply was a strained growl. "My bad, where are my manners?" He bowed ever so gracefully. "It is my honor to meet you again, Great One. Your servant Cathek maketh himself known once more."

"I could not forget you if I tried," Skyrm replied. "I would like to know how you are still alive, then rip out your beating heart, but alas, you have interrupted me at an inopportune time. So I suppose I would have to let you live."

"My, my, such mercy I cannot fathom," Cathek said. "In return, I cannot let you pursue your current line of action. What would this world be without a presence like yours?"

"Do not presume too much!" Skyrm bellowed. "Though weakened, I can still easily slay one such as you."

"Of that, I have no doubt," Cathek agreed. "However, do you believe you can slay me before I destroy that maiden that sleeps eternally in those waters?"

Skyrm gave no indication of surprise, though he did ask, "How did you come to know of her?"

"I know everything that concerns our Lord."

Skyrm shook his head. "Still you serve him, even after a millennium. He will never answer your cries. He is no god concerned with the affairs of mortals."

A sad smile crept up Cathek's face. "And yet we serve . F or his glory, and power surpasses those lesser gods that claim to care for us, yet destroy and toy with our lives at their whim. A true god should be unreachable, unattainable, something we aspire to, but can never be. Do you not agree?"

"I serve no one," was the dragon's only reply.

"I suppose so. After all, in all the realms, you are the only one our lord would consider a challenge."

Skyrm snorted. "Speak your mind prime. I grow weary of this."

"As I am sure you have," Cathek agreed as he looked to the silent spring. "After all, you had wasted enough time to transport her to the free realm." He paused. "However," he said as he snapped his fingers. A woman encased in ice appeared by his side. Dark purple hair covered a face so serene in sleep it drew even Cathek's eyes. "I must admit. She is beautiful."

"Get away fr-"

"Now great king, drown in despair and let Chaos rule you." With a snap of his fingers , the woman melted from the inside out, till there was naught but blood encased in ice. Cathek let the ice explode, and the scent carried over to the king.

It was her. It was her. It was her. No mistake, no mistake, no - Urgh! Curse you! Damn you! Damn you all! She never deserved this. She did not!!!

The dragon lord struggled to control his rage, the despair, but his mind addled by grief, and weakened by a cursed millennium could not stop the corruption that spread from the gemstone.

The Lord of Dragons exploded in fury.

Skyrm’s visage, corrupted beyond recognition cursed Cathek, Razznik, and all of creation to eternal damnation.

"Such as is decreed, Such shall it be," Cathek muttered as he looked to the heavens where runal markings corrupted and distorted the portals.

The portals spread across the lands, appearing even in the holiest of places, and from them rushed out all of hell, mangled and disfigured, rage their blood and their reason. Twisted souls and Undead rose from the earth. Wyverns, drakes, Meytrites, several ancient beings were awoken from their slumber. The world trembled as colossal giants and monsters rose from beneath the surface and headed to the nearest villages, their aim its destruction.

But more than all this, what drew the world's attention and fear was the moon. For the ever-watchful guardian had been eclipsed by a portal so large the entire continent bore witness to it.

Cathek bowed solemnly, eyes closed

All of creation fell into despair as a gloved hand protruded from the portal, followed by a mask white as snow, with a crack in its middle …