I dreamt again. But this time it wasn’t a nightmare. It was a dream that everyone has at some point of his live. I dreamt of Failarièl. Of the most beautiful existence there is in all RoyalRoad.

We were on horse and galloped over a vast green field with countless flowers - small little insects flew around us. The powder from the flowers whirled all around. It was magnificent.

Our black stallions were driven by an incentive to get faster and faster. Speed alone was enough for them. The world around us vanished into a blur and we rode side by side into the eternity of time. I was content. Not really content, more than that. Happy?

But then it took a turn to the worst. I. Woke. Up.

A message appeared before me.

You are well rested.

Temporary buff activated

Health/Mana regeneration + 1/sec

You can learn things faster or have a higher possibility to achieve something

Luck + 3

I was still inside the game. My body didn’t hurt anymore and I was grateful about that.

The sun was already at it’s zenith. High above beyond the ceiling it would be.

I remembered that I hadn’t written to Failarièl since I came here so I wrote her right away.

My body wasn’t stiff like it was last time. The airlock opened up easily and my feet found their way to the kitchen. I made myself a healthy meal and ate happily. Weird thing was that I wasn’t even that hungry after playing for so long. The plate before me emptied nonetheless fast enough to call it a new world record. I stretched. I called off work. I actually quit. I needed the time for the game. I went home and packed all the things which I would need. Nothing happened on the way. Went through telephone numbers to get the one for our landlord. I called him and said that we are moving out.

He was surprised that it was so short termed. But he agreed afterwards. I persuaded him by saying that my mother was moving away and that we would need the money.

After packing my seven things, which were clothes and some magazines, I stuffed the other things into boxes and searched for a purchase store in the net. I found one which was right around the corner. I called the number and waited for an answer.

A feminine voice answered after some time.

“Purchase store Emptio. How may we help you?”

“Hello. Here’s Jason Walker. I wanted to ask if you make house visits? I wanted to sell all the stuff inside my apartment.”

“Yeah, we make house visits. When do you have time?”

“As fast as possible.”

“Which street was it again?”

“Frettring 7. The big house. Walker.”

“Okay. I am on the way.”

Now I was surprised. She accepted so fast? Maybe she doesn’t have to do much over there.

I waited patiently. After 10 minutes the bell rang.

It was a blonde woman around 19.

“You from the purchase shop?” I asked warily.

“Yeah.” The voice fit perfectly to the woman at the phone.

“So, you want to sell all this stuff here?” She pointed out into the apartment.

“Yeah, that would be great. I need money and this stuff belongs to my mother which passed away some weeks ago. I quit the apartment some hours ago and I want to get this stuff out of here as fast as possible with as much profit as possible. As possible in such a short time.”

She nodded.

“May I come in?” She asked shyly.

“Oh. Sorry I forgot to invite you in. Just come in. You can even wear your shoes inside. No need to dise- ehm I mean to take them off. No one cares anyways anymore.”

She laughed.

“It seems like you play too much video games. Well, nowadays everyone plays this games.

You play RoyalRoad as well?”

I eyed her suspiciously. She looked okay to talk with.

“Just started some days ago. In my opinion it is amazing how the game is made. Like a second reality.”

“Your right. Truly fascinating.”

We went in.

She looked around and stared at some things for a small time. She checked the quality of some things and asked me some questions in between on which I couldn’t really answer.

“So, what do you want to get for all this things?”

“I didn’t think about that beforehand.” I scratched my back head. Tick-tock the clock made.

“Hmm... it’s much and there is some stuff with a high quality so what about 1.500 €?”

“1000.”

“1400.”

We negotiated. At the end she gave me 1300, with the agreement that I help her carry all this things to her truck which stood outside. We small talked a bit. Well, we questioned each other out. I began to like her.

“Well to be honest with you I wanted to give you more than 2000. For all that but you began with such a small price so.” She giggled.

“No problem. I am happy that I don’t have to worry about that stuff anymore.”

As the truck was fully loaded I asked her where she played in RoyalRoad.

“I am actually playing at the Citadel of Serabourg. It’s a big cit-”

“Really? I am playing there as well.” I was astonished.

“For real? We could meet up sometime.”

“Yeah, that would be great.” We exchanged our mobile numbers.

“Well, I have to go. Work and stuff you know. Nice to make acquaintance with you.”

She bowed. I laughed. She got red.

She drove away after giving me best wishes.

My bag still lay in the apartment. I got it and went to school. Somehow I could carry the boxes with much more ease than I thought. The boxes weren’t as heavy as they normally would be. It just came to my mind and I didn’t know why. Maybe it has to do something with the capsule? Who knows.

If time comes up I have to talk with Mr. Humble about that. The bag hang over my shoulders. The way seemed long because I was full of expectations. I wanted to play again.

The secret entrance to the school was easy to find and after some time I could lay down into the capsule again. I made sure to lock the door behind me and turned the light off.

I logged in.

The instructor was already waiting for me.

“Toilet time?” he laughed as if he had made an oscar worthy joke.

“Yeah. I really had to shit hardcore style. Ah, well you know what I mean.”

He laughed again. A humourful man.

“No wonder. You ate so much yesterday that I wouldn’t have thought otherwise. It may taste like a dream but the aftereffects should not be overlooked.”

“Let’s start training right away.” His steps were huge and I had to jog to even hold the speed.

The hall was just as big as I remembered. So it wasn’t a dream.

Somehow I could endure the weight of the vest better today and the difficulty of the course seemed to me easier as well.

“What happened over the night? He asked me. “You exercise like another person. in just one day you can’t make such a progress normally.”

“It must be the food from your wife. It has an amazing effect.”

“Hmm. Yeah, I think you are right. My wife really cooks well.”

------------

Failariél walked down the mainstreet of the CItadel as she received the message from Jawal.

Hey Failariél,

sry that I didnt write ;)

I got a new quest in town and am busy so could you close your eyes this time?

:P I know that I said we do something but not now >.>

Jawal

She was disappointed. The meeting was something she really enjoyed and she wanted to feel that feeling right away again but it seems like she has to wait.

She herself had a quest which she laid aside for the time being when she met Jawal but now that he’s busy she could do it. It was a D-rank quest where she had to go out of city to annihilate some bandits not far from town.

She went over to some new food shop which was run by a player. She knew she could buy food for her journey for less than a silver. And she needed money just as much as every other player.

“Hey, cook. Could you make something for me? Like a chicken or something? And put some provisions to it as well, I am going on a long journey.”

The cook had broad shoulders. He looked like a asian.

“No problem Miss. I even give you some extras for such a beauty as you.”

He twinkled.

“Thanks. I really appreciate it. How much is it?”

“90 coppers.”

“80.”

“I already gave you a disc-Ah, well who cares. 80.”

They shaked hands.

“Have a good trip.”

She went out of the shop and couldn’t believe it. ‘What a nut. 80 coppers for all this stuff? A bigger nut than the idiot which sold me everything from his apartment. Well, not entirely.

Hot he was, that I have to admit. And he even plays RoyalRoad. ‘

Failariél hurried out of town. Nothing held her here if Jawal wasn’t here so she decided to ran as fast as she could and feel the wind on her skin, the impact of her muscles and her overall awesomeness. While she ran she took out her bow, fiddled some arrows out of her quiver and spanned the bow wide. Her arrows hit her targets. And the targets fell to the ground like a chinese rice sack would when nothing happens. The only remains of an attack were arrows stuck inside heads, out of eye sockets or other vital organs. She didn’t bother to gather all the things she would have obtained. Looting stuff like this did she leave for the beginners.

‘So, if I run with this speed straight for 3 hours I should reach my destination’

Her evaluated time didn’t disappoint her. On the way she encountered a player killer group of 4 players. They wanted to rob her of all possessions. And more!

Failariél couldn’t stand them so she draw her big warhammer which is really not fitting for such a cute girl and smashed their faces in. The cracks of their heads could be heard some hundred meter wide. Her battle roar skill decided the fight within seconds before it had even begun. The enemies were so intimidated that she only had to take careful measure with her swing radius to get a clean hit.

She even looted them. “What do we have here? Wow!” Failarièl was really astonished by what she just found. It was an expensive gem. Maybe it’s not such a bad day at all.

-------

Huahh Huahh Huahh

I couldn’t take it anymore. It was the last day of physical training. The capsule wasn’t opened at all overall this days and I used the well rested boost effectively. But I couldn’t bear this weight anymore. It was already at horrendous 100 pounds. That’s just hilarious if you think about it.

This much was where I was going to stop. I couldn#t even read over the last few days.

The instructor was sweating all over either. That had to mean something.

“Ahh. I didn’t feel this feeling for years. This extreme adrenalin-rush through your body. The pumping of your heart. How someone can feel everything and nothing at all. I love it. I totally forgot about it.”

As he said that, it came to me as well, this indescribable feeling. It felt like I could start off like a rocket right away. Into the universe and beyond.

“I am finished.”

“You truly are amazing!” He said as he looked at me. “You finished the first part of the training! Congratulations. I personally didn’t think that you would accomplish it. Now the real training can begin.”

---------------

You finished the first exercise of the secret training

Strength + 10 Dexterity + 10

Sustenance + 5

Vitality +10

New skill: Adrenaline Rush

MP: 20+5/s

If activated you will enter the “Adrenaline Mode”

Adrenaline Mode gives you a boost in honing your skills

and evolving your stats

5% Learning Speed

Your five senses get enhanced and you are tolerant to pain

5% Damage Reduction

-----------

Sneaking was her speciality, just as killing her enemies with the bow. Failarièl mastered every weapon she ever possessed so far and was a skilled in sneaking just as well. The bandits didn’t see her coming out of the shadows of the tree. No sound was made as she balanced her toes over the open space between the trees. She held her hand in front of the first bandit who sat lonely around a table as she slit through his throat. He gurgled shortly but no one noticed it.

It was night. Darkness had already spread through the forest and most bandits were either sleeping or drunk on alcohol.

It was too easy for her to kill her prey and finish the quest. Bandits fall one by one in her hands and nobody would have thought that such a thing was possible for one person. But Failariél knew why she accepted the quest. It was inside the forest where elves have a bonus to their stats.

That’s not everything. They achieve unbelievable achievements in forests because their skills get boosted as well.

She looted the stuff and picked up the head of the bandit leader. Or that’s what she thought. All at once pandemonium broke out. Arrows flew through the air, bandits jumped out from behind the trees, knifes and swords were brandished which made a clunking sound and a huge guy stepped out to confront her.

She defended herself against the arrows, either avoided them or parried them with her sword.

Some bandits who were too fast on her were hit by deflected arrows. They made high-pitched screams.

“So, you were the one who killed our brothers.”

The huge guy, brown hair falling down his shoulders, huge masculine hands, indications of big muscles under the armor were seen, said it. She only now realized that they were not normal enemies, it were players, all of them.

She was in great danger. At first she thought it were mere low level enemies but now the situation had changed. The quadruplet from before were their allies?

“What do you want from me? Which brothers? And who the hell are you? You are hindering me at fulfilling my quest.”

Failariél didn’t notice that the difficulty grade of the quest just rose by once to difficulty C.

Unknowingly she had accepted a quest to eliminate players and their leader, but in the description was only explained that she had to hunt bandits.

She wouldn’t have dreamed that with bandits real players were meant.

They laughed. A deep steady sound. It grew louder and louder.

“We are a hindrance for your quest? Do you think this is a joke? After we are done with you the sole thought of doing quests will make you shiver in fear. We are a player killing guild and you killed our players, so we are going to torture you!”

Now she laughed while saying,”Torture me? You don’t realize who I am. I am a veteran of the warrior guild.”

A load boing went through the lines.

“So? A veteran? We all are veterans of war. We have killed countless times so far and you!- you won’t make a difference to the numbers. We only want to keep our name. How shameful would it be to lose good members of our guild on a 4 on 1 fight against a woman. A woman!”

So that was what it all was about. Failariél was angry. Always this guys and their pride. A woman has a pride as well. She hated it to be discriminated by men. All of them are the same. Weak, little, arrogant bastards who only think of honor and fame. Not one of them had to go through something like her.

“All about man and their pride.” She mumbled into her black mouth cover. “You guys never learn anything. You are men! Be happy about that, but don’t force woman to kneel under you. We can be strong as well. We can fight for ourselves! You always have to run around in groups to feel strong and mighty. I alone can take on all of you! Come and get me, filthy bastards! You don’T deserve any more words from me.”

Another time the crowd laughed. Some were angry as well, the mere thought of a woman beating them all up made them so.

“Boss, give us the order and allow us-”

The man was hacked in half by the big waraxe the leader was carrying. “I am no finished with talking. So, shut the fuck up! I give the commands. Not. You.” As he said that he pointed into the crowd.

“You are full of yourself aren’t you little miss? A small girl talking so high and mighty makes me feel ashamed of our race. Man are born to rule and woman are born to kneel! Come on, do it. Kneel in front of me and beg me for forgiveness. This is your last chance. I don’t know what will happen to otherwise. My guys didn’t have a woman in a long time and logging out won’t be a option for you. This area is specially made for that. Either you kneel or you will be the main actor today in our program.” As if he had said a command, two bandits, one with a big scar across his face, brought forth two naked woman. They were hung up on a big branch. They looked miserable. Bruises all over the body, blood soaking out of some wounds. This is what happens to woman like you.”

“As if I care. Guys like you are always the same, big mouth and nothing behind it. You are only bunch of idiots.” She looked to all of them. One after another. She looked into all of their eyes.

“Don’t you see what’s happening? You are being controlled by this ugly, brainless nothing good who is still living at home in the real world. “

Some looked around and got nervous.

“Do you believe her? I am the boss around here. Terox! That is my name.”

“Terox! Terox! Terox!”

The group shouted out at the same time. The morale was high now and Failariél didn’t had a chance to split their group. Her plan failed.

“I won’t kneel no matter what! If you want come and force me to but I swear I will kill every single one of you!”

“it’s time to finish this. Useless talk goes on my nerves a lot if it’s said by someone like you. Come on guys, get her. Do what you want with her! I don’t care anymore. Your time ran out, little girl!”

The bandits screamed in unison and came at her.

For a little moment she crumbled into a little corner inside herself but that moment wasn’t even longer than a slash of an eyelid.

She took the initiative of their common charge and jumped into the fray. She sliced high, she sliced low. Blood flew all around her. Her sword draw blood behind it and bandits fell all around her. “That bitch is fast! Don’t fall back. She can’t keep this on for long.”

But she kept on. One after another was forced to kneel. Actually to kiss her feet but what does that matter in such a huge escalation.

She threw small, pointed knives while swirling around. One hand threw them the other slew bandits on the other side of her body. She leveled up and was happy about it. Finally some experience showing through. I haven’t reached a level in ages. And this begins to make fun.

She was full of herself. She didn’t think of defeat at a time like this. This were only lowbobs following some strange guy.

The moonlight let the blood flash up in red and the spectacle was amazing. Unfortunately no one of the here present people could admire the beauty of it. Blood rained down and sparkled like red rubies which filled the forest with new beauty. The old branches shone bright, the boring treebark

All of the weak folk were dead or either dying on the ground.

“So you defeated all of them. I am proud of you. But will you come past me? These were only weak guys summoned by me!

The guy turned black and mist spread out under him. It seemed to encloak him.

“I am your the nightmare you didn’t even dare to dream about. Imagine something like this and you are beyond the level of a genius. I am an Artificial Intelligence. I will change the course of the world. And you will be important for it.”

“Like I would fall to someone like you.” Her sound wasn’t as she wanted it to be. She didn’t know what was happening and trembled all over the body. The words came out brokenly.

She draw her sword high above her body and got ready to strike.

But before she could react the shadow was behind her, the mist covered her vision and she lost her conscious. Everything went black. But she didn’t got a message like game over or anything. She didn’t die and neither logged out.