"To belong is to understand the tacit codes of the people you live with." -Michael Ignatieff 'Blood and Belonging'

Morning greeted Demeter Forest. The trio of Player and monsters said their farewells to the soldiers of Millshore. Irina, Carther and three other soldiers escorted them a short ways before departing.

“If your travels ever lead you back here, know that you have friends,” Irina had said.

The trip to Sarkast dragged longer than anticipated. The corrupted ground of the deadlands crept further south than Leilan recalled. Much further south. The undead could not venture outside the blighted land, but it also meant that it was drawing closer to Millshore's north side. The three warriors would have to travel further east rather than taking a straight path to Mercury Lake. Wrapping around cost them the last bit of light on the first day.

Ray had suggested stopping in Millshore since they were only a few miles from its west gate. Under cover of night with less activity, they might encounter less prying eyes from the populace.

Leilan was about to agree when Verche informed them of a rocky alcove near the deadlands that would provide enough shelter. It was also hidden from travelers and provided high ground if demons appeared.

The weather on the second day was less than favorable. A storm had driven in from over Mercury Lake and prevented the trio from moving for the better part of morning. They set out early afternoon and reached the southwestern edge of the lake by late evening well after the sun vanished below the horizon. The decision to continue during the night was risky, but the group encountered no hostile monsters.

A hill overlooking the lake amidst a copse of trees provided plenty of cover. The height advantage also ensured that the group would notice any enemies well before they saw them in the trees.

After much debate, Ray had decided to leave the virtual world briefly after an alert on his database informed him that he'd been in the game for nearly seven hours of real world time. His body still needed nourishment despite eating and sleeping in the virtual one.

He logged out when they finished establishing camp. Exiting the game was a bit jarring at first. His vision went fuzzy as if he'd been staring at a computer monitor for too long. He did a few quick stretches, ran in place and washed his face. Emily Tanner ran a quick cognition test as he went about this routine to see if any adverse effects resulted from the headgear's link.

He devoured his meal at the cafeteria and wasn't surprised when his friends Keiichi and Lucy were absent. It made sense. Everyone in the virtual world had unique interactions. Nothing was scripted. The window for a surprise reunion was too small given the time difference. Still, he couldn't help but feel disappointed about not being able to exchange stories. Not that they really had the time to do so anyway. Two other Players in the cafeteria kept to themselves and ate with similar urgency.

He jumped into his seat to log back in with the help of his supervisor. Thirty minutes in his own world was a half day in the virtual one. There was no time to waste, and he didn't want to keep his monster companions waiting.

The faster they reached Sarkast, the sooner he would get to his home. There, Leilan and Verche could safely tell him what the hell was going on in this world.

Pirugan Continent

Mercury Lake

Ray and his monster team hid behind the lip of the hill that they used to set up camp. Below was a small expanse of low, squatting trees that halted a few feet from the edge of Mercury Lake. A group of chubby monsters with sapphire-colored scales roamed along the shore and waded into the shallow water in search of something. The ones in the water took random opportunities to drive their tridents through the surface and skewer the fish that swam nearby. The fins on the sides of their heads flapped back and forth as they strained their ears to listen for sounds in the forest that might be worthy of note.

Ray opened his database and began a scan of the creatures.

After a few seconds the analysis read: Marine Goblin/Type-Attacker/Attribute-Water/Attack-60/Defense-0/Active Skill-Guard Stance Water/Active Skill-Triwater Defense (3)

Weaklings. But their numbers made up for it.

It seemed best to avoid a conflict if at all possible. Sure, defeating enemies would provide a good chunk of experience for increasing a level, but the allied demons near Millshore's outpost suggested too many possible variables. There might be other enemies lying in wait. Plus, Verche was still in a weakened state from the mental toll of the dungeon (which was another concern Ray wanted to address). But waiting too long might cost them another day to reach Sarkast. They had already wasted time circumventing the deadlands. Another day was unacceptable.

Ray closed the database and turned to his companions. “So, any suggestions?”

Verche crouched off further to the side and eyed the area advancing to the east.

Leilan observed the land west towards Sarkast where another group of marine goblins were hard at work pushing a wagon towards the lake filled with wooden boxes and canvas bags.

Leilan and Verche simultaneously returned to Ray's position on the hill.

“Flying is still out of the question,” Verche said. “Gliding is one thing, but ascending with Ray as extra weight will put too much strain on our wings.”

“I would also prefer not to backtrack,” Leilan added.

“Why don't we take them out?” Ray asked.

Leilan looked over her shoulder and watched the goblins as they began to unload the wagon and scavenged through the crates like a pack of vultures assaulting prey. The wagon obviously wasn't theirs - probably a trophy after successfully ambushing a caravan. Marine goblins were not always hostile, and this edge of the lake was known for being relatively passive as long as outsiders didn't intrude on their territory. Leilan wondered what had prompted the goblins to venture out to the road so far from the lake.

“I'm curious to see what it is that these goblins managed to get a hold of,” Verche said. “They either went out of their way to take this wagon, or those who commandeered it went terribly off course. I'm more inclined to lean towards the former.”

Leilan nodded. “Agreed. It looks like their strength is concentrated more towards the wagon. The weaker unit is closest to us, so we won't have to reposition. More are breaking off from this group and are entering the water. Let's give it another few minutes.”

The trio waited patiently until another dozen or so of the blue goblins strayed away from their group as curiosity got the better of them. The unknown loot from the wagon drew them, and they watched with interest as their companions tore open the crates and ripped some of the gray bags that now appeared to be filled with an assortment of vegetables.

A box fell to the ground and the lid snapped open. A pair of hand crossbows spilled out and the goblins dove on them greedily.

Verche grunted. "Well, that answers my question. Now, who or what informed them about weapons under the guise of produce? Interesting."

"We may find out soon." Leilan made a motion with her hand.

Before she waved them forward, a terrifying roar erupted from somewhere in the woods to the west. The goblins dropped their spoils in surprise and scrambled around for their weapons. Another roar, this one louder, seemed to echo from further south. Many of the goblins moved inland and stood at the ready but kept their feet in the shallow water. They moved together in tight groups of three. An eerie silence followed.

Ray's team on the hill sat unmoving and observed. They were better coordinated than Ray anticipated from such a weak race of monsters. The disquieting battle cry had rattled them, but they seemed to collect themselves. Some of the groups in the water initiated their active skill and conjured a shield of water.

Another roar boomed as if it was right on top of them. Just as Ray was about to look over his shoulder, a white mass leaped out of the forest and pounced upon the nearest trio of goblins. Its claws dug deep into the first and its jaw latched onto the leg of a second. With a quick whip of its head the goblin was flung to the side and collided with a few of its comrades. The slashed goblin went limp as the stream of data particles from its body signaled death. The last of the goblin trio backed up to rejoin the main force that skirted along the water.

The beast that attacked the goblins was a tiger. Judging from the white fur and black stripes, Ray guessed it was a white bengal tiger. An absolutely massive white bengal tiger.

It stalked the goblin group on its heavy paws. One courageous goblin stepped forward and made a mocking gesture with its trident. The tiger's striped tail swung back and forth, eagerly anticipating the real attack that would hopefully follow. It revealed its sharp teeth in a menacing grin.

The goblins decided against moving in on the tiger in favor of throwing some of their tridents at the beast. The tiger lowered itself and the plate armor attached to the side of its legs deflected all of the thrown weapons. It continued with its long, even strides waiting for an opening in the enemy force's defenses.

A sharp hiss emitted somewhere from the forest near where the white tiger had emerged. A short streak of yellow light burst from the foliage and drove clean through the head of a goblin. It embedded into the shoulder of another that stood behind. A pair of sharp streaks drove through the chests of two more enemies. The massive cat held them back towards the edge of the lake while the unknown assailant continued to fire mercilessly into the packed monsters. They lacked competent leadership and moved to gain better position in a clumsy manner. The poor communication caused the group to split. The tiger took advantage of this and moved in on the goblins to its right.

Ray tore his eyes away from the battle. “Should we move in on this?”

Leilan eyed the tiger thoughtfully and was about to answer when she saw a rustling in the forest to the east. From the depths of the trees came a large group of massive humanoid creatures that towered well above any ordinary human. Their jaws consisted of sharpened teeth with two from the lower jaw overlapping the upper lip in a hideous snarl. One half of their bodies was cerulean with what appeared to be an icicle shard protruding from the shoulder, while the other side was covered in a mossy green.

They halted at the edge of the forest to allow another ogre to step forward. It was similar to the others with its barreled chest and stood slightly taller. Spiked armor covered most of its dark frame. While the other ogres held clubs, this one wielded a flanged mace. Spikes dotted the bottom end with edges digging into its hands.

“Those are Ice Armor Ogres,” Verche said.

Leilan rose from the ground. “Looks like a Dark-Armored Ogre is leading them. I don't know who is fighting the goblins, but we can find out afterward.”

She rushed down the hill to intercept. Ray and Verche followed. They would have to hold off the ogres and keep them from joining the main force of goblins. If both sides met, it would be even more difficult for the tiger to maneuver. The larger monsters positioning themselves in front of the goblins would complicate matters for the sniper in the trees.

The ogres let out their battle cries and eagerly charged the newcomers. Both sides were only a few yards from each other when a familiar streak of light whizzed past the first monster's shoulder and drove into the head of the ogre behind it. The line of energy pierced deep enough to fracture part of the ogre's skull. It reeled around and swung its club in a frenzy, nearly hitting its fellows. Its disorientation forced the others to break formation.

Ray and his team took advantage and lashed out at the nearest behemoth, striking it down in a hail of blows before it had a chance to retaliate. It collapsed backward as Leilan jumped forward. She landed on its chest as it fell and used it as a platform to leap and drive the blade of her weapon into the head of a second ogre. Its eyes rolled to the back of its head as it grasped frantically. Leilan beat her wings and slid her grip down the end of the pole of her weapon to stay out of reach.

Verche moved off to the right and sliced along the abdomen of another enemy. This one ignored the pain and swung its club in a savage, downward ark. Verche spun out of harm's way and punched the ogre in the laceration along its belly. He stepped back as a club drove into the ground from the side, splashing up dirt like a small geyser. The knight thrust forward with his sword and cut through the ogre's forearm, rendering it useless.

Both of the god monsters felt a burst of energy as Ray completed a board of orbs.

More bursts of light continued to distract the ogres and provided openings for Ray and his team.

The ranged attacks ceased for a time, and he began to wonder what was amiss. Perhaps more enemies were in the forest and found their ally's position?

He discarded the thought as an armored female leaped out of the forest. The familiar blasts flew past her with renewed force. She was upon the ogres before they even had a chance to notice her. She sliced at an ogre's jugular with her katana and a satisfying fountain of blood sprayed from the wound. The monster clutched at its neck as its body fragmented.

The Dark-Armored Ogre blocked her path while a second flanked from behind.

An enraged growl prompted the female to spare a glance behind her. Ray sliced along the leg of the ogre to her rear with his own katana. It spat and drove its club into the dirt next to Ray in an uncontrolled strike. He flicked the switch that revealed his hidden blade and stabbed deep into the ogre's wrist. Blood spurted as Ray pierced a vital artery and sliced all the way up the forearm. For good measure he retracted the blade and spun to stab his katana through the exposed stomach.

The other dark ogre watched as its comrade collapsed to its knees. It roared and swung its mace in a diagonal swipe intent on crushing the girl with one blow. The reckless attack was obvious, but the second strike redirected course faster than anticipated as if undeterred by momentum. She back-stepped and the mace scraped along her chestplate. It also sliced through the strap that held the scabbard for her weapon. The scabbard fell to the ground. She nudged her foot underneath it and kicked it up into her free hand. She readied it along with her katana in a dual-wielding stance.

Before the black ogre could strike again, it lurched forward as a blast of light collided with its back. The female warrior wasted no time and batted aside a clumsy attack with her scabbard. She aimed her slice at the neck, but it tucked its chin at the last second to avoid fatal injury. The katana cut along the ogre's jaw and rebounded off its shoulder plates. She recovered from the reverberations crawling up her arm.

The female warrior leaped away just as a mass of white drove the behemoth to the ground. The ogre fell face-first into the dirt and the tiger on its back went to work at the exposed flesh.

A small girl wielding a magnificent, gold trident sat upon the tiger's back and continued firing the lines of light from her weapon to disorient the remaining enemies.

The cloth of the girl's outfit tore as the dark ogre underneath the weight of her tiger lashed out with its mace. This did not go unnoticed by the white tiger. It went into a rage and struck out even more fiercely upon seeing the thin cut marring its master's fair skin.

The female Player turned to Ray and gave him a quick nod before moving off to take on another adversary.

Ray returned the motion and followed her.

With the fall of the lead dark ogre, the marine goblins retreated into the forest and abandoned their precious cargo. The remaining ogres had a different mentality. Each one fought to the death. No retreat. They all fell and vanished in a cloud of data at the hands and claws of their foes.

Ray reunited with Leilan and Verche at the battle's conclusion, their weapons still pulsing with the leftover energy from the matched orbs Ray provided. Verche gasped from the power's density that streamed through his body.

“That was unlike anything I anticipated,” Verche finally said after a few heavy breaths.

Leilan smiled. “You get used to it.”

Ray approached them and stared at Verche, but Leilan waved to assure him everything was fine.

She gestured to the girl riding the tiger who rejoined her Player partner a short distance away. “Any idea who that monster is, Verche?”

He shook his head and straightened himself. “No idea.”

Ray, Verche, and Leilan waited until the two females and the tiger approached them. Both sides analyzed the other. Their gazes didn't seem to hold hostility - merely curiosity.

The red-haired female Player stepped forward and eyed Ray up and down.

“Not bad,” she said in a neutral tone.

Ray expected her to say more, but she simply stared at him expectantly.

“Not so bad yourself,” he said.

The girl on the tiger leaped gracefully from the beast's back and slid her trident into a holster attached to its side. She held her hands up innocently in a sign of friendship. The assortment of jewelry on her person rattled with every movement as she approached. A hint of embarrassment was clear on her face as she held her torn silk dress to keep it from falling too far down. She bowed and her sky blue hair nearly brushed the ground.

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” the girl said politely in a cute voice. “My name is Parvati. And this is my companion, Yukiko.”

The red-haired girl nodded.

Parvati then extended her hand to the tiger, head still down. “And this is my beloved friend, Somanandi.”

The tiger growled a greeting as it latched its paws into the dirt and arched its back in a stretch. It kicked the disappearing body of a dead ogre with an irritated snarl.

"Ray Andylon. These are my comrades, Leilan and Verche."

“A pleasure to meet you,” Verche and Leilan said in unison.

The female Player, Yukiko, raised an eyebrow.

“You were of great help,” Parvati continued when she saw that no one else made any indication of speaking. “That dark ogre had a sizable bounty on its head and has been harassing the humans passing through here as of late. Now the roads will be much safer.”

“Bounty?” Ray asked.

“That's right,” Yukiko said with the same passive expression. “And now we must head back to the city to collect the reward.”

Without another word, she turned on her heels and walked back to the forest. Parvati remained behind and scratched her head awkwardly. The tiger let out a derisive snort and turned its head in the other direction as the stern female past him.

Parvati laughed nervously. “I'm sorry. Yukiko isn't one for conversation. She really is a good person though.”

The tiger huffed behind her and rested its head on the ground.

“Could've fooled me,” Leilan commented. “Your tiger friend doesn't seem fond of her either.”

The tiger let out a low rumble to confirm this and started licking the blood off one of its paws.

“She said the city. Did she mean Sarkast?” Ray asked.

“Yes, that is correct,” Parvati answered.

The god monster seemed like a sweetheart. Yukiko on the other hand, well, Ray didn't know what to think. He sensed some edgy vibes emanating from her. They didn't seem like bad sorts though.

“Well, I was thinking. Why don't we, y'know, travel there together? Since we're heading the same way and all.”

Parvati's face beamed at the suggestion and she clasped her hands together. “Oh, that would be wonderful! We would love some company!”

Somanandi took a break from licking its paws and let out a loud snort.

“Oh hush,” Parvati scolded.

The tiger seemed to roll its eyes and rose on all fours.

They started making their way to the forest. Parvati was unable to contain her curiosity for long.

“I would love to hear the perspective of another Player," Parvati said. "It's fascinating how you all managed to arrive in this world. But what's even more intriguing is your ability to acclimate and provide assistance to god monsters. Oh, I suppose you are aware that we aren't actually gods, correct?"

"Yeah, but in our world your names actually refer to deities," Ray said.

Parvati stared up at the sky as she considered this. "Many gods with our names, huh. Yes, Yukiko mentioned that as well. How strange..."

Normally, the idea wouldn't have been so strange if Ray hadn't already come to the conclusion that this supposed virtual world was real. Names of deities were used in tons of video games. But coupled with this world being real...he didn't know what to think.

As they were about to break the line of trees Leilan froze in her tracks. Ray noticed this and felt a twinge in his senses that he couldn't ignore. He gazed around to find what caused the disturbance.

“You feel it too?” Leilan asked.

“Only because you did first.” Ray realized that Verche stood next to him. Parvati rested a comforting hand on the restless Somanandi.

“I don't think it's looking for a fight,” Leilan said. “But we should move all the same.”

A dark mystic knight crouched down and hid behind a row of bushes as the female monster with the polearm turned her head in its direction. After a brief moment the female, with a bit of hesitation, returned to her comrades. The mystic knight breathed a sigh of relief.

It recognized the female. She was the one from Caramoc Cove who fought against Satan. She had also embarrassed the mystic knights with the active skill used to freeze them in place during the fight. But now she and most of the other god monsters lacked these active skills. There might be an opportunity for revenge.

It glanced to the opposite side of the lake where the main force made preparations out of sight. There was no way to make a report and catch up to the group of god monsters. Three god monsters and two Players might be too much to handle even in their weakened state anyway.

The mystic knights had other methods.

Patience.

The knight abandoned its cover as the enemy disappeared into the trees.