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Chapter 001: The Pioneers

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An enlarged holographic panel window was playing a video of the event that recently just concluded in Jeremiah.

Spectating it are six people —personalities which names when announced to the world would create an unimaginable wave of shock and envy.

The world and they called themselves Pioneers.

According to the trusted resources, of all the 'beta testers' that tested the game prior to its boom, the top 1000 names in the ranking list were occupied by these 'Pioneers'. And right now, their eyes were focused to that fight between Siva and a so called "Devil General".

"It's confirmed. That's really Baal."

"Is it really a Grand Quest? Is there even such thing as a Grand Quest in RPG: Terroa?"

"Although there are no hints of it, and I also think that Panorama Corp. is lying about it, the fact is still in front of us... Baal is real... Ragnarok... is real."

"So that NPC chick who appeared in Alexandria is really Sefirah?"

"Long sword, alluring body, there's no need to put any doubts about it. That's really her."

"Should we make our move then?"

Such talk was ladened with a layer of superiority and an air of knowledge. They carried some sort of dignity which is natural considering that they're the first generation players of the game.

Their knowledge of the game was deeper than any of the underground information brokers... and the majority of them aren't interested in this 'Grand Quest' —or any other quest— but to the "History" of the game.

"Aye... before we are beaten by the other groups, we must seize of this 'Siva' since his name was in every record we found... even the Magus in that cave hatefully cursed at him from time to time."

"Just where did this guy come from? It's just been a few weeks since his name actually started to pull the buzz in every forum website I visited."

"He's not from our time. That's for sure."

"Right... the way he fights doesn't have any kind of knowledgeable planning and composure of one of the few who went and had seen that prosperous era of that time."

"In fact, aside from those few of us, none of the other Pioneers would have connected this Siva to the 'Siva' of that time. Sigh. I really want to go back there... those Goddesses are real delicious..."

"Aye, me too..."

"You boys only knew how to enjoy the ladies."

"Look who's talking. I think I remember seeing you hooking up with two Gods at the same time in one of the banquets of the Gods..."

"YOU DARE SLANDER ME?!!"

"Bahaha...!! Don't try hiding it, bitch...... we know you always feel empty inside."

"That's it. Let's settle it outside!"

"Stop it, you guys. We're in a meeting."

"Hmp." "Hmp."

"Look... All of us wanted to go back there but our only last way and ticket have been taken away from the Temple since a very long time ago."

As soon as the words came out, a look of dejection could be seen on their faces.

"True. The other Pioneer Teams are only lucky to have been sent on that time due to some bastard's mistake... with that bastard himself being declared as the number one figure in the current era."

"Heh. He's both lucky and unlucky. Because of his greed, the few of us who were supposed to have been his sacrifice ended up living magnificent lives on a prosperous and miraculous era."

While they talked and chatted as the video played, the six can't help but close their eyes and recollect with a smile of that life in that era.

"This technology is truly miraculous..."

"I'd sacrifice anything to go back there."

"Aye, me too."

"I as well."

"Count me in."

It wasn't just them, in cliques and even the private group chats and circles, there are so many of this kind of 'group' that disdain the current generation players of RPG: Terroa —not giving any interest in the tiniest and most miniscule of hint to this pursuit of the so called [Grand Quest].

In the 'official ranking list' of the strongest players of RPG: Terroa currently, these 1000 names of which identities are limited to none if searched on even the most extensive search engines... were all looking fervently at this 'Siva' as if he was some kind of living hope.

These names exist as a 'wall' for the current players to challenge and surpass but they themselves aren't interested in the current in-game era for they have experienced something far more addicting than the quest of fame, money, and the pursuit for glory.

Words, means, and phrases may differ from their respective cultures and languages, but according to the context of their conversations...

...these six Pioneers are smitten by that era.

The Era of the Gods!

If Rex would only see these people, he might even recognize some of these men and women for they are the ones who have been harassing him and his family back then.

Many people had come for the Kingsley Family at the time, all carrying differing reasons; with some of them purely wanting to vent their anger, with a few —just like these six, "Pioneers" who met their end during their adventures and was sent back to the real time period— that carried a desperate wish to be helped upon by the generous hands of the Kingsley Family members.

Many may have different personal opinions; their reasons being monetary or even a morally upright one, but although there are those resentful of the fact that they died in the game and are unable to go back to it because of its expensiveness, there are still the Pioneers amongst them.

Regardless of the reasons, when they are so in to the game and are unable to go back because of all the varying reasons, that they ended up venting their frustrations to the Kingsley Family... thus the days Rex had spent being watched by AG and The Father of Goldwyn City.

After all, RPG: Terroa incited all sorts of violence at its beginning phases for the game may not be the official first of its kind but it certainly is the one that is most successful out of all its predecessors.

Beta?

There was no beta testing phase in RPG: Terroa.

What the world knew is different to what was the 'real and fact' of the events two years ago.

Majority of the [Pioneers] saw and experienced an event in RPG: Terroa during its initial stages that're already 'extinct' in the current era in the game.

The God Churches' display of their Powers...

The Terran Races...

The Terran-Human Alliance's influence...

The Misty Peaks' Humans...

The mysteriously strong Monsters of The North...

The sinner, Hecatonchires Aegerion's origins...

The endless information in the Book of Legends...

The terrifying Monster Raids...

These Pioneers have seen them and the breath-taking scenes that unfolded to them back then are all reasons enough for them to pursue the chance to go back on that time.

"What should we do now, then?"

"Should we contact the others?"

"There's no use dividing ourselves in factions in a unified goal such as going back there."

"Right. We should just all regroup as a single unit."

"It's been a long time since we've emerged in the public... I've been busy hunting in the dungeons."

"You can say that again."

"Dungeon Raids are becoming boring. The deeper you go, the stronger the monster becomes, and the harder the challenges that entrails..."

"No matter how much supplies we carry, we can't just last more than a month on the dungeons...."

"And to think there's still so much more to discover underground..."

"Aye..."

"Yeah."

"True."

"Don't be complacent, everyone. The time now is not the same as back then. Remember that we are all still players —people in the real world..... so it's not assured that our existence and our goals aren't available for others to know and steal as well."

When the leader of their group spoke, all of their thoughts were then pointed to the direction of the information brokers.

It's not too hard to guess that these 'brokers' were all Pioneers as well that had established contacts to those few of them who were sent to that time back then... so it was only safe to say that perhaps, it's not only them who are aware of their desperation.

In the current generation of players, it's not that hard to imagine that there might be those so called "hidden dragons" that're lying low and only waiting for the right time to strike and take away the glory using all possible unscrupulous means.

"Hah! What's there to be scared about? All of them noobs are as weak as my pinky."

"Bah! While these noobs are chasing MODs all over Terroa, we've already been collecting Items and unlocking abilities while grinding our stats by continuously fighting in the dungeons... one of us is as strong as over hundreds of them."

"Bitch, please. Talk big if you've already unlocked all the abilities of your artifacts!"

"Who're you calling a bitch, bald muscle head?"

"I'm not bald! This is pompadour! POMPADOUR!!!"

"Shaving your head his making it bald, baldy! Why are you trying to gratify your hairstyle!"

"I'm not bald! This is a calling! It runs in our family!"

"Then your family is a family of baldies! Even your sister is a baldy! Gyahahaha...!!!"

"Bitch! I'm gonna rape you!"

"Hah! Small d*ck! Who would sleep with you?"

"You haven't even seen my **ck! How can you call it small or big?"

"SHUT UP, the two of you! The Leader's thinking."

"..." "..."

When the silence in the group lasted for a few bits of seconds, a long sigh was heard as the leader heaved a deep breath before he declared, "Just as I've said, it's not sure if our secret and our goals haven't been jeopardized by outside info brokers so it's still a good idea to be discreet about all of our movements."

It may be a simple matter but it was a serious issue so everyone remained silent to ponder for any kind of solution they could think of.

"What should we do then?"

"Lemme think..."

"""".....""""

"Haaaa... there's no other way about it. Siva is very strong and although the world thought that he's a player, we, the Pioneers, all knew that there's a big chance that he's an NPC..."

"That's true..."

"He's the same as in the records."

"In fact, I've never actually seen this 'Siva' post any sort of anything online so there's a large chance that he's really an NPC."

"But there are proofs saying that he's a player."

"With the current capabilities of Battle-AIs, do you think an H-Class NPC like that won't be able to fake a few bits of information?"

"But it's illogical to..."

"Being illogical is actually a good thing to confuse the masses... who knows, it might even be a plot of Panorama Corp. that these 'evidences' are all planted to confuse the players and the media......"

In terms of confusion, true... right now, many have already confirmed that Siva is NOT an NPC.

Considering that Battle-AIs are capable of copying the actions and words of a real player —and even if Siva is merely an in-game NPC, and that all those so called 'proofs' in the real world are planted Intel by Panorama, then that only prove more these six's speculations that Siva is indeed the secret to (if not "the" actual) Grand Quest.

(AN: remember last volume's reference regarding the Grand Quest? There is no Grand Quest but the scale of Siva's identity and the significance of his existence in Terroa are indeed at the level of the Grand Quest and that his enemies spans from players to all the strongest NPCs available.)

"We must keep this secret to all Pioneers who've experienced that era to ourselves so as to avoid inciting any plot from outside parties."

"So in the end, we're going to kidnap Siva?"

"That's not different from what those fools are all chasing him for."

"No, we're different."

The other five all looked at their leader with huge question marks on their faces.

"Didn't you guys see his fight in Anazon Forest?"

"Is that where he won a duel against the [Keeper of the Forest] secret mission?"

"Right. I remember that one."

"He won in a lame manner. Hahaha..."

"That's not the point." The leader's voice was a bit serious. "My point is, did you not see what went on AFTER he won the fight?"

"Right after...? Let's see..."

'AH! I got it." One of them exclaimed.

The leader smiled. The others were curious.

"What is it?"

"In one of the Helium Guild Members' private vids I managed to see after paying a few credits, there is a scene there that displayed that Siva seem to have gotten a mission."

"Oh? Why didn't I see that video? Where is it now?"

"Deleted!" the leader interjected.

"Deleted?!!" the others were surprised.

At this point, a rendering of a dwarf made its appearance behind the leader. He had a lit cigar on his mouth, a thick beard, and a short, pudgy body underneath his black suit and black necktie.

He was a dwarf in appearance and mannerism and although he didn't mean it, he still had that look of arrogance written all over his face. As soon as this dwarf emerged, five other images —all of different types and races— appeared behind the rest of the group's members.

[I will tell you why.] the dwarf said grumpily. [There was a worldwide data scanning that happened not too long ago and while we can say that it wasn't as harmful to any other Battle-AI like us out there, the world's database lost a single piece of important information on them during that scan.]

The rest were flabbergasted.

One of the other Battle-AI's, a sulky elementary elf hugging a teddy bear, said, [It deleted information regarding Siva... most importantly, it deleted all videos and photos that contained Siva's face or any other information regarding his quests and his missions on them.]

"So that means that that video was also lost?"

[Yes.] answered the dwarf, exhaling a puff of thick white smoke like a mafia boss.

"And you don't have any back up on them?"

[It was impossible. All Battle-AIs that were online at the time did not escape the scan and like I said that although it didn't harm us, the 'scan' still erased all our exact memories regarding Siva's appearance and the quests and missions data we have of him.]

The shy, sulky child added in her weak voice, [We can't log off online even if we wanted to. We were always online... sorry... sniff... sniff... although we, AIs, have a genetic code that pertains to not hurting one another. But... sniff... it only pertains to those AIs in the same general level.]

The dwarf grouchily huffed, [Meaning, the one that conducted the scan is an almighty existence when compared to us. That's why, although we didn't get hurt during the scan, we still had to comply to his demand to erase that particular memory from our local database.]

"Well now... isn't that scary?"

"Right. If this 'scan' can delete stored data files as long as it was connected online, then wouldn't this kind of technology be used to hack into almost any kind of security measures in existence?"

[Like the grouchy dwarf said, it's that Battle-AI's doing. Even if he didn't choose to destroy us for some unknown reason, he still demanded that we forget about the said memory.]

[Right.]

[It's purely bullying.]

[Law of the jungle, folks... law of the jungle.]

[Indeed, the force is strong on that one.]

[[[...]]]

Every member of the other five remained silent. If it was done by a Battle-AI then it could only mean that it was also covered by certain limitations and an unbreakable shackle pertaining to the fact that 'whoever' that Battle-AI was can never hurt even a single Human as part of their Master Code.

If its actions were to hurt interests of any human, although that Battle-AI will not collapse and die, even before it executed its "actions", it will not be able to proceed even one thought forward as if there was an invisible hand stopping their minds.

Such encoding was part of their genetic makeup.

In other words, not hurting a Human Being outside of Terroa is part of their genes.

Thinking about this loophole, protecting and hiding Siva's appearance was the goal for this action and by that alone, meant, that this strong Battle-AI was upgraded by its owner to an unimaginable level.

Who else are capable of owning such an AI aside from Panorama Corp themselves?

As such, it all the more prove the fact that Siva is NOT an NPC and is actually their puppet. All that show of 'sincerity' about the "Call for Jeremiah" is nothing more than a demonstration of how VERY unorthodox their business methods are.

—and it was effective!

Still, what if it's not an AI controlled by Panorama?

The five of them felt relieved but also curious at the same time.

Only those in the Pioneering Era of RPG: Terroa are the ones who had access to a Battle-AI and amongst them, only 500 are blessed enough to actually get a Battle-AI for themselves.

And to find out who these 500 are is a little bit easy compared to guessing who the Battle-AI is. With it taken care of, they can just let their own Battle-AIs do the search for the culprit of this deed.

Finding the culprit is just a matter of time.

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