Emperor's Destiny forum, where everyone discussed everything, from forming up a party, selling items, quest information, or even fanfics about the NPC in there. The hottest thread in there was about the emperor's candidate ranking. Where the players that had the qualifications to unite the whole world were ranked based on their territories and influence.

"Did you see the new ranking?"

"No. It's not going to change anyway. And, you know me, I always rooted for our goddess of victory, Lillian."

"Oi! Stay away from my Lillian."

"Who are you huh? Did you even knew how she's looked like?"

"I've partied up with her before."

"You're just a grunt."

"At least I met her, you fck."

"You're wrong it's changing right now. The sigma guild led by Holster were rising rapidly."

"Aren't they already wiped when DangerNDangerous guild raid them?"

"I don't know the exact details but they're going strong now, they got a new member that was skillful enough to challenge the heaven's ranking."

"YEET!"

Like any forum, the discussion didn't have any some sort of structure and a mess in general, even with moderators, it didn't change the fact that the majority in there were trolls. But, if some were meticulous enough, they can get some sort of useful information there.

----

The group finally back to the entrance of Jared's Cave, the giant door shut tight behind them, blocking the black liquid from entering the entrance hall.

The stone tablet in the middle of the entrance hall lit up and the words written on it float in the air, shimmering with blue light.

"Congratulations, you have cleared Jared's Cave." Yuri muttered.

Felix and So-Hee also saw the floating words, but they were too exhausted to even take a look at it.

Yuri took a glimpse of the duo, his body was torn and tattered by all the fighting he's done in the dungeon. His equipment's durability had gone to its critical state as he checked along the way.

"What time is it?" Felix asked.

"It's three in the morning, you can see it in your menu by the way." So-Hee answered.

"Well, I'm going off first then. Bye." Felix logged out.

Yuri heard what Felix said, and wanted to say something but it was already too late, because Felix already got his avatar logged out from the game.

'I haven't shared out the loot yet...'

So-Hee approached him, finally, the two have some time alone together she thought in her mind. 'Don't ruin this, this is your first time to get to know each other! So-Hee fighting!' She chanted encouraging spell inside her mind.

Yuri saw her coming and turned his head, "What are we going to do with the loot?"

So-Hee didn't expect this type of question, she didn't know a lot about men in general but, when a man and a girl are together aren't they supposed to flirt with each other? This is what supposed to be happening, especially in the Korean drama that she watched all the time.

"Huh, eh," She was startled and shook her head, getting rid of her romantic thought, "You can sell it, or, I don't know? Is there anything useful in there?"

"I got the book and the ring that Nebelstein dropped." Yuri took out the item into his hand.

"Hmm...You keep the book, as for the ring...I don't really know what it does?"

Yuri gripped the ring and muttered, "Item Status."

===

Ring of Lesser Despair

The ring that Nebelstein had to become a lich, caution, the despair aura is suffocating.

Rare | +1 INT, +1 WIS, Active Lesser Despair Aura.

===

"What is it? Is it good? You can flick the description towards me to let me see it too." So-Hee questioned.

Following So-Hee suggestions, Yuri flicked his finger towards her and let her see the item description.

"It's a great item. I don't know that you're this lucky." Her eyes glimmered.

"Shall I give it to Felix then? It's got +1 INT and +1 WIS."

"No. Although it looked goods on a priest, the despair aura will only damage him, because of his innate holy property."

"I-I see...You take it then."

So-Hee was startled, by the sudden proposal. She has been given so many great equipments and also if she would take the offer, it would make her somewhat like a greedy woman, this is what she thinks in her minds, but Yuri didn't think too much of it.

"N-No. I can't take any more stuff from you..." So-Hee declined.

"Just take it. Consider it...A gift...Yes. A gift for playing with us." Yuri smiled.

So-Hee faced got red all of the sudden, "D-Don't say it like its our last goodbye..."

The two chatted for a while, until So-Hee decided to log out and get some sleep. It's been thirteen hours since they logged in into the game, besides the sense of achievements that they got from clearing the dungeon, they also felt exhausted by the fact they were fighting non-stop.

So-Hee said her goodbye, and leaving Yuri alone in the dimly lit hall. Yuri seemed to still have some energy left and decided to take a stroll along the Stonehelm Forest.

Its night again, he was wondering why everytime he logged in or coming out from a place its always night time. It's not like he's some sort of a vampire, that came out only when the moon was out. But, he didn't think it too much because it doesn't bother him anyway.

The chilling wind shook the trees, he was wandering along just to calm his mind. Also, he was curious about the old man, and the book he got inside his inventory. He kept walking into the depth of the forest, until he found a plateau in the middle of it.

The moonlight shone brightly, one or two wolves howl were echoing through the forest. He found himself a place to sit, a big flat rock that looked like it was shining with blue ambiance. He laid his back facing the moon.

'It's beautiful...'

His thought wanders through, staring at the starry skies, it was a blissful moment for him. A moment of peace, away from his busy daily life.

'Is this the same sky that Lillie always see...I miss her...'

His thought always ended up with his little sister, if only he played this game sooner. He closed his jade colored eyes, the wind and the sound of moving grass were just like a lullaby, caressing him and putting him into a sleep.

Minutes passed, Yuri opened his eyes once again, he was greeted once again by the starry skies and the tranquil white moon.

"You're awake young man?"

Yuri turned his head, and saw the mysterious old man once again, he wasn't that startled, because he already anticipated that at any moment he will meet him sooner or later.

"Ah. I'm awake now."

"Did you find the night peaceful?"

"Yes, it's quite beautiful looking at the starry skies."

"Yes. Yes, it is. But, did you find it depressing?"

"No..." Yuri was puzzled.

"I see, then, what do you think about this world?"

He was aware that the mysterious old man always asked a random question, because So-Hee told him before she logged out. He racked his brain, but, knowing that there is no right answer to this, he just goes with his own gut feelings.

"I find it quite interesting."

"Interesting...Yes, indeed...Do you want to be the emperor young man?"

"No. I didn't have that big of an ambition."

"Then what do you want to be?"

"...." Yuri paused, and looked towards the skies, "I just want to be a good brother..."

"A good brother...Is...A good answer..." The old man smiled, "Give me the book inside your inventory young man."

"H-huh!" He was startled, why did the old man know what's inside his inventory, isn't he just an NPC. He stared at the old man for a while, trying to read what's inside his mind.

The old man chuckled, "Don't stare at me like that young man, I knew everything inside your inventory and even your body potential. So give me the book already."

Yuri was still in a state of disbelief, but he complied anyway, he took out the old book inside his inventory and gave it to the old man.

"Ah...How many times already I saw this damn book...*Sigh*...Rhevil...You've been fooled by fate..." The old man muttered under his breath while holding the old book in his hand. Seconds after he turned his face towards Yuri and smiled, "I hope you didn't make the same mistake as Rhevil did. Now, give me your hand young man."

Yuri took a breath trying to bring back his rational minds, he heard what the old man said, and looked at him, "Why? I must know the reason for your action first."

The old man eyes glimmered and laughed, "That's right! That's what you're supposed to do. To fight against fate you must question everything. Think for yourself, and make your own decisions!"

Yuri was baffled by the old man response, but he just stayed quiet and keep staring at him.

"I never laughed this hard in a long time." The old man wiped the tears in his wrinkled eyes, "Now, give me your hand's young man!" The old man demanded.

The winds were raging and the skies were darkened with dark clouds. The sounds of thunder and lightning reverberated across the continents, as if it was angry at something. Yuri noticed the sudden changes in the weather, 'Is the weather system in this game is so drastic that it changes instantly?' He questioned inside his minds.

"Hurry young man! The heavens are watching!" The old man urged.

Yuri was puzzled by the old man remarks, 'The heavens are watching? What's that supposed to mean?'.

"I can't do this without your own volition young man. You better make the decisions now, or else, we're both going to die in this place."

BANG!

Lightning struck the nearby trees as if giving a warning for both of them. Yuri was startled, it was so close to him, he can even smell the burning timber inside his nose. His hair was raised, cold sweat rolled down to his back and fear crept up to his minds.

'What is this! This suffocating feeling inside my heart'

"Hurry up!" The old man yelled.

Overwhelmed by the fear inside his minds, he gritted his teeth and complied to the old man request by handing over his right hand.

The old man grabbed his hands as fast as he could, he yanked it closer towards himself, and chanted some strange language.

Yuri felt his hands were burning, it's like a million ants were gnawing at his hands, nibbling at it pieces by pieces. The fear inside his minds was no more, replaced by the feelings of agony and pain.

He roared, "WHAT DID YOU DO OLD MAN!!"

The old man turned a deaf ear towards Yuri. The clouds were rolling accompanied by the sounds of lightning and thunder, the winds blew stronger, and the grounds were trembling furiously.

"HIASDK SJADIQ JSADLA"

A strange voice echoed throughout the air, and traveled across the whole world. Not only Yuri and the old man, but even the players that were still online also heard it, no matter where they are, be it inside the dungeon, inside their private house, or even different dimension, they can still hear it.

It was divine, and mystical at the same time.

"Huh! What is that?"

"Do you guys hear that?"

"Is there an event or what?"

The players were all puzzled. Even the NPC was puzzled by it, panic and distress spread all over Fantasia, especially the religious sects that worship the gods, they were furiously praying for their safety, and asking for forgiveness.

"O' MIGHTY GODS HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOULS" The head priest prayed with all of his faith, followed with thousands upon thousands of their members.

The players who saw all of that was baffled and even shocked by the sight.

----

Yuri and the old man was still standing in their spots, the winds were ravaging their bodies and even lightning and thunder struck down near them.

The old man finally opened his wrinkled eyes. His eyes were glowing red. It was horrifying and magical at the same time. Yuri, on the other hand, gritted his teeth tight, holding out his pain, even though it was just a game, the feelings of the pain he felt was as real as it can get.

"YOU CAST ME OUT AND ROBBED ME OF MY POWER! BUT NOW! I SHALL HAVE MY REVENGE! YOU TRAITOROUS HEAVENS! SHALL TASTE DESPAIR!" The old man roared.

BANG!

Lightning struck upon their heads, luckily the old man blocked it with his red magical barrier. He laughed maniacally. Yuri took a glimpse of what happened while still gritting his teeth.

"O...LD...MAN!!" Yuri stared at the old man with fury in his eyes.

"HAHAHA!! YOUNG MAN!! FROM THIS MOMENT ONWARDS YOU HAVE NO FATE!! YOU BROKE YOUR OWN CYCLE OF DESTINY!! THE HEAVENS CAN'T CONTROL YOU NOW!! BUT THEY WILL HUNT YOU DOWN!!! SO KILL THEM FOR ME!! HAHAHA!!"

Tring

Tring

Tring

Amidst his agonizing feeling, Yuri also heard the notifications sound ringing inside his ears. His level rose up rapidly, and his status was increased exponentially, while at the same time the logs he got were updating at a rapid pace. But, there's one thing that was out of the ordinary, his luck was also decreasing rapidly, further going downwards towards the minus state.

The burning sensation in his hands was also reaching its critical points, the small fire burned his hands in a strange manner, drilling it and making the blood in his hands gushed out while at the same constantly being burned, and as a result making an intricate design that looked like a sigil.

Yuri roared towards the sky, "O...LD..M..A..N!! Y..OU..B..E.TTER...P..R..A...Y..T..HE...HE...AVE..NS..KI..LL...ME!! IF...NOT!! YO...UR'E..GO...ING..TO...DIE...FIRST!!"