Chapter 10

The Ghost Town

I did not ask any more questions to Ishul, Chieftain of Forma tribe, for he may suspect me that I hadn’t really met her daughter. I left the Forma tribe yesterday with nothing but only my bag, sword and armor.

I had no idea where to start my search, so I asked Yunjee if there are villages or towns south of Birek Mountain Range. She told me there is a village called Murika and it is located at the southern end of the mountain range. I traveled for almost two days straight and still no sign of the village.

Ishul told me her daughter was missing and they couldn't find her. I don’t know if she was kidnapped or left on her own accord. But being kidnapped is highly unlikely, because these tribesman had spent their entire lives living in the wild and they were probably the best trackers in whole UAN territory. The fact that this people couldn’t find her tells me that she doesn't want to be found.

I wondered how I am going to convince her to return home. If she was as close as frightening and as big as her father, urgh, I shudder at the thought, I felt my hair tinges when I pictured a female version of the chieftain. Twice as tall as me, gigantic biceps and legs, rock hard abdomens, long hair, blood lust eyes and massive breasts.

If I failed this quest, it would be very impossible for Chieftain Ishul to trust me again. If that happens, I might as well bid goodbye to the special quest. No matter how she looks or even if I have to tie and dragged her back to her tribe, I must bring her back at all costs.

On my way deeper to the southern part of the mountain range- still not seeing Muriko village or any traces of it- I found footprints and by the looks of it, there could be at least two sets of them. The prints were not that big but it was longer than normal and the mark can only be made by a three-fingered foot.

The scent of meat being roasted stab my nose and made my stomach growl. I followed the footprints and the scent was getting stronger. I drew my sword and hide in one of the bushes. When I looked past the bushes, I saw a fire and it was surrounded by two figures.

I slowly moved closer and finally got a good look on them. They were rats, or at least that’s what their head looks like. They were busy eating their food, and incredibly fast too. They were so fast, that their two yellowish long teeth were creating after images and bits of meats were flying around their neck.

They were facing each other and they looked thinner than me and on their side was two giant bags. They wore a faded and a bit loose leather armor. If you think about, those leather armors was not heavy enough to leave a footprint, then those bags must have a weight a lot.

I wanted to leave them be since they haven’t discovered me yet, but I was so tempted to know what was in their bags. I searched for any object lying beside me. I grabbed rock, big enough to be held on one hand, and found another, a bit smaller than the first one.

I threw the smaller rock and aimed it high. High enough to go across the two busy rats without them noticing. I picked the other rock and waited for the other rock to land. When it landed, the two rats immediately turned to see what they heard.

I then charged at them. When they turned their head to look at me, I had already closed the distance. They both stood and I threw the rock towards to the rat at my left side. I didn’t bothered to throw it hard since it was only meant as a distraction rather than to hurt. The rat raised its hand to block the incoming rock. I leveled my sword across my chest and continued my charge to the other rat.

The rat swing the piece of meat, the one it’s holding on its tiny right hand, to block my sword. But with all the momentum I garnered from running, my brand new sword went through the piece of meat into its leather armor and to the other side, and we both fell on the ground.

The other rat was now able to grasp what was happening and attacked me with its tail. Its tail coiled around my neck and it prevented me from breathing. The game was so realistic that it was able to tricked the brain that I was actually choking. But if one realized that breathing in Lost Earth was more like a formality rather than necessity, then they would be able to deal this situation calmly.

I stood up and extracted my sword impaled on the rat’s body. I twisted my body to face it and I saw it was picking up its weapon from the ground. I swung my sword coming from below to cut the tail. It shrieked and bare his two front teeth at me.

I removed the remaining hairy tail around my neck. “Oh, so gross.”

It charged at me, but before it could get near me, it tripped itself. The loss of its tail must've messed up its sense of balance. I ran towards it and quickly placed my left foot at its back to stop it from standing up again. I raised my sword while pointing the tip at its head. When my sword went down, it pierced through on its neck.

You have leveled up.

I checked the contents of the bags. It contained Silver chalices, silver plates, cooking utensils, spoons and forks, candleholder, bread knifes and a bunch of silver wares. These rats were lvl 20 and they were called Rattails and it seems they were in the business of theft. The stolen stuffs must have come from a church or a respectable household. That would mean there was a nearby village here. I could return some of the stolen goods and earn some fame and reputation, a good investment in the future, and sell the others when I got back to the city.

I checked the contents of the other bag and it was almost the same, however, a certain gauntlet caught my eyes. The gauntlet was covered in black, it was so light that you couldn’t believe it was made of metal. It has an intricate design of layers and layers of black metal placed in between each other. It was long, it could easily covered my entire hand, from my elbow to fingertips.

It looked sleek and dangerous but when I tried to identify it, I failed. Its rarity must be rare or higher. My dad may be able to identify this for me. I placed the gauntlet and other stuffs to my bag. All of it wasn't able to fit in my bag so I took one of the Rattail’s bag and placed the remaining goods on it.

Of course, I couldn’t carry all of them. Instead, I dig a hole near the fire using the silver chalices and plates. When the hole gets bigger and deeper enough, I slid the bag in it and covered it again. I moved the burning wood one by one on top of the spot where I just buried the bag. I placed more woods on it and the fire grew bigger. The ashes from the fire, hopefully would mask the signs of a freshly dug ground.

Satiety rate: 12%

I picked the meat dropped by one of the Rattails that I skewered and ate it.

You are hungry. Satiety increased by 3%

Only 3%, huh. Well, what do you expect from a rat's cooking,

After my scuffle with the burglar rats. I decided to continue my search of Murika Village. The weight of my bag was steadily decreasing my satiety rate, thus, I was forced to stopped for a while to cook some food. Apparently, everyone in Lost Earth can cook, even those damn rats can, but the effect varies greatly depending on one’s skill in real world. However, a chef in Lost Earth with Lvl 1 Basic Cooking Mastery could easily defeat a five star hotel chef with a combat class, in terms of food effects and bonuses.

The council did not only restarted the game, they also did a massive revamp of the game. Like for example, they had increased the pain threshold to 20%, changed the entire continent to fit the needs of the four remaining factions, and each of them were given a starting territory, they made the game more balanced, systematic and realistic, one cannot learn anymore skills that overlap to other classes, for example, a tailor couldn’t learn Cooking Mastery Skill, but they could still learn stuff like Horseback Riding Mastery and etc., but only after they graduated from being a Novice. That is why the existence of hidden classes does not make sense in Lost Earth, hence the gravity of my quest.

I roasted the meat I stole from the Rattails that they probably stole from someone else. I grin and thought Isn’t kind of ironic to steal from a thief, anyways, all of those meat only managed to increase my satiety at a meager rate of 10%. I brought out some of the food my mother gave me thru Lt. Kino, and my satiety increased by almost 50%. Now, that’s real food, I thought.

Satiety rate increased by 46%

Strength +7

Vitality+7

Agility +7

Dexterity +7

HP regeneration increased by 1%

MP regeneration increased by 0.4%

Effects and bonuses lasts for a day

Now that I am stuffed. I continued traveling south and finally found a man-made pathway, I followed it and it directly led me straight to Murika Village. The village has a rustic and abandoned look and it gives off a gloomy vibe. The gate was open and riddled with splintered woods, and there seems to be no one guarding it.

I saw four users coming out. They kept walking away from the village.

“Tough luck, boy. No one’s here, this town is deserted.” Said one of them.

I didn’t say anything and they continued to walk towards me, until they passed me. I entered the village but only a cold wind and a weird silence greeted me, there were no NPCS or other users. I looked around and the houses looked old or rather dull, a sign that no one has lived in the villages for a long time. I reached the town square and found only trash lying around and the merchant carts were out of places.

Oh, a dead end. I thought.

It was a ghost town and the place gives me the creeps, not that I believed in paranormal stuffs, but in lost earth, I am not a cripple, so what do I know. I walked to a certain house and kicked down the door. The door should have been given in but instead I was thrown off and landed on my butt. If someone saw me, they would have already burst into a laughter. Damn, that’s one sturdy door. I checked the windows and it was barricaded from the inside.

Something’s not right. Could be monsters raid or some internal discord from the town. I drew my sword and hit the window with the hilt of my sword. I hacked the wood planks that blocked the window. After a few hacking, I managed to make an opening small enough for me to fit through. I entered the house and it was empty. No decorations, food, or anything that you would expect from a simple household.

I looked around and the house was in a mess. It seems like the one who previously lives here left in a hurry. Now, I am curious to what had happened to this town. I went out in the house via the window. As I stepped outside, I saw a figure standing few blocks away from me. When it had noticed me, it suddenly took off and ran to a corner.

Only an idiot will rushed and follow it, I went around the block instead. I drew my sword and went to where it could possibly had gone. I found it waiting in the corner with its knife, probably waiting for me, I could have been stabbed if I followed it. Though, looking closely, it was a human NPC, a fat one at that and bald too.

I sneaked behind him.

“Are you planning to kill me with that?” I asked while pointing my sword at his back.

He dropped his knife and raised both of his hands as if to block an incoming punch.

“Please don’t kill me.” He said. His hands were shivering like a jackhammer.

“Of course not.” I said.

He slowly lowered his hands. “Then can you withdrew your sword?”

“Depends on whether you still want to kill me.” I said while looking to the knife in the ground.

“I am not. I was just scared and all.” He regained his confidence and stood straight.

He was taller than me by an inch. Yet, I don’t find him intimidating but rather a timid one.

“They why did you run when you saw me?” I asked still not dropping the sword.

“I am merchant Kren. What’s your name young man?” he asked.

Deflecting my question, huh. Classic response when someone has something to hide.

“I am a nobody, but most people call me Cripple. And you, haven’t answered my question.”

“Follow me.” He looked to the sky. “The night is falling, trust me, we don’t want to stay here.

I sheathed my sword. He seems to be nervous about something. Its best to follow him for a while, instead of finding out what could happen during the night.

He led the way and I followed. We stopped at the front of a house near the town square. The door opened easily and he looked around before we enter. His sweat was pouring down at his temple. What is he afraid of?

“Help me.” He said as he was pulling a chair towards the door. We placed chairs, cabinets and tables to block the door. “Let’s go.” He said when we were finished.

I was surprised when he opened a door at the floor. There was a stairway going down at the basement, or so I thought. But it was not a basement, it was a tunnel.

My eyes took a moment to adjust in this pitch black tunnel. It was warm and moist and this merchant has no plan of lighting any fire.

He knocked twice in the wall. “Touch this wall with your right hand and you won’t get lost.”

I reoriented myself on the sound of the knocking and held out my right hand to find the wall. I felt a rough and a cold surface in my fingertips. If I kept touching the wall while walking, I will always turn right in any forks.

I moved forward and wasn’t able to see anything, my heart was thumping like a drum. I guess, I was afraid of the abyss, not for the reason of terrifying monsters or any horrible creatures that lurk there. It was the nothingness that scared me, the helplessness, the realization that everything we do, will amount to nothing, a zero sum game.

The sound of the merchant’s footsteps tells me he was close and but to me, it was a rhythm that was soothing my frightened soul. We walked for a while and I saw a lit torch ahead. Honestly, I felt relieved. It was quite an experience walking blind like that. For the first time, I was grateful that I am a cripple instead of being blind.

“Here.” He said as he walked upstairs.

When he opened the door, a bright yellow light almost blinded me. When my eyes adjusted, I saw grey stone walls, marble flooring, and a statue.

You have witnessed the statue of the god of mountain, Birek.

Health regeneration increased by 3%

Mana regeneration increased by 1.5%

Vitality increased by 10

Strenght increased by 5

Magic resistance against lightning increased by 75%

It was a church. The fat bald merchant led me to a church. If he thinks were safe here, why did we used the tunnels instead of the front door? Was he afraid someone might follow us?

“Who is he, Kren?” asked a mysterious guy. He was tall and skinny and wore a farmer’s clothing.

“I saw him outside when I went to get some of my goods in my house.” Kren replied.

The other guy stared at me and said nothing, then left.

Kren turned to me. “Come.”

I followed them. They were both NPC’s and I can only assume that the town is under some sort of attack. From who or what? I have no idea.

When we reached the room. There were two more NPC’s, one of them is a middle age man, and signs of old age in his face were visible. But the way he stand, I think he can still outrun anyone in the room. The other was a young woman, a bit shorter and leaner than me. She wore a white tunic with brown laces on its long sleeves. She has caramel-like skin and dark wide eyes with unbelievably long lushes. Her golden brown wavy hair brush along her shoulder blades.

The old man looked at me. “Who’re ya? Boy”

“They call me Cripple.” I answered.

“Are you a cripple?”

I swallowed. “No, it’s my name.”

“I am Borin, The mayor of this town.” Said the old man. He pointed to the figure beside me. “That’s merchant Kren. And that old geezer there is Threbo.”

I looked to the young woman and she looked back at me. Her hair was parted in the middle and extended along her ears. She looked exquisite and different. Her skin color somehow matches the people of the Forma Tribe.

“She is Isshan. A seeker.” Borin said.

Isshan? A Seeker? Her name is strikingly close to Ishul, there’s a high chance she was the one I was looking for, and if she was a Seeker, then it’s my lucky day, it’s like hitting two birds with a single stone. Jackpot.

I took a gamble. I bowed. “Milady, your father is worried sick about you.”

They all looked to Isshan, wondering what the hell I am talking about.

“My father would not trust a weak looking human like you to find me.” She said.

It was really her.

I am still bowing with my right hand across my stomach and other at my back. “Be that as it may. Would you reconsider coming back home?”

“I am not coming back. Tell that to my stubborn father.” She said sternly.

I can tell she was getting uncomfortable in all the formality I was showing, she was fidgeting whenever I mentioned, Milady.

I stopped with my right knee. “Then, milady Isshan. What could I possibly do to urge you to return home?"

Its best to irritate her and make her uncomfortable enough that she would want to get rid of me.

“Stop it. Don’t call me lady and such. And for Daneto’s sake, please do get up.” She ordered.

I did not stand nor budge.

“Alright, fine. This town is under some curse. Help me remove it, and I’ll follow you.” She said.

I stood up and scuffed the dust in my knee. Got you.

Ting!

Quest: Murika Town’s Curse.

Murika Town is a small town located south of Birek Mountain ranges. People from Murika were farmers and hunters. They worshiped, Birek, the god of mountains. The town was blessed with bountiful resources like fish, lumber, plants and animals.

Unravel the curse that is haunting the people of Murika Town.

Difficulty: D

Rewards: Isshan intimacy would increased

“Gladly, my lady.” I said.

You have accepted the quest.

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Here it is, I hope I didn't made too much mistakes. Btw, I am currently making a map of the Continent of Pangaea, and the UAN territory. I made some already but they sucked, I wasn't able to follow some of the steps. The cartographersguild website offers stunning tutorials and now I am kinda enjoying making maps. Hopefully, If I am successful in making a decent one, I will post it here.