Chapter 463

“Thanks again, for everything.” The player bowed his head, and then instantly teleported away. They were still at the entrance to the town, but the group around Rue and James had grown quite a bit since they’d first arrived. This was in one part, due to their status as developers, and players on the fifth floor coming out to see what the excitement was about. The other reason, was that Steve had apparently been getting help from a rather…famous group of adventurers.

“Nothing to thank us for.” Z said, his elven face smiling cheerfully. The leader of the Knights Who Go Ni was level 76, showing just how much he and his friends had been grinding. And it wasn’t just the Knights. They’d apparently teamed up with the Boss Slayerz, and Steve, to go on a merry experience gathering adventure that saw them endlessly slaughtering mobs on the fourth, and fifth floor. In fact, they’d only been waiting around in town, because they were grabbing a quick bite, before heading off to adventure more. So when James and the others had arrived, they happily accepted the reason to go back for the others.

While Alex and Fel weren’t leveled enough to go back and save the two fallen players, with Z and the Boss Slayerz joining up for the rescue mission, it had been a walk in the park. One that had also gained Rue and James a whopping three levels, purely from the mobs the party had been working on clearing out during their rescue mission. That, of course, meant James and Rue were past level 50, and on their way to the 60s. Ideally, with a few hours to go before the Siege Event began, they could hit at least 60, if not 70, by then. They’d gotten this far thanks mostly due to their extra experience gain, but with a proper group power leveling them along the fourth and fifth floor, it would actually be doable. Especially if that group was as efficient as The Knights Who Go No.

“What took ya’ll so long?” Steve said softly, as he watched Z and Skar chat with Alex. James couldn’t quite pick up what they were saying, but if he had to guess, they were discussing leveling up the two. James knew Z felt for Alex, especially after the Dwight situation. The kindhearted adventurer blamed himself, and the other adults, for not preventing such pointless violence. And while James knew Z felt powerless in the real world, here, the adventurer at the top of the game, would do all he could, to help others out. It was just the type of guy Z was. And it was part of why everyone, and James meant everyone, in their DCO instance, respected Z.

“Just getting everything lined up.” James replied, his voice quiet. “Not only is the siege set up now, but the git gud floor is set as well.” At that, Steve’s mouth creeped up slightly in amusement.

“Oh really now.” The spanker stroked his nonexistent facial hair. “May have to find some suckers, I mean, adventurers, to dive into that with. Considering I’m not really going to benefit much from power leveling anymore.” Steve chuckled as he glanced between Rue and James. “Don’t tell me anymore. I can guess, already, what you may have done with the floor. But I wanna see it for myself.”

Then, without warning, Steve raised his voice. “I’ll be going then.” He said loudly. “You guys make sure you take good care of my friends, yeah? Can’t have them lagging behind me so much. Looks bad on us devs, you know.” Then, with a chuckle and a wink, Steve was gone. Damnit Steve.

“He’s a strange one.” Z said with a chuckle as he walked over to James and Rue. As of yet, they’d not formally been introduced. “Names Z, though I’m sure you already know that.” He held out a hand, a warm smile on his face.

“Nyx.” James said after a momentary pause. He felt a slight built of guilt as he shook Z’s hand. In the real world, Z was taller than James. Here, James’s Archon avatar actually stood a good six inches above Z, meaning James was looking down at the man. However, somehow, the way Z held himself, everything about him, still made him seem the bigger of the two.

“Good name.” Z nodded, released the handshake, and looked towards Rue. “And you?” He held out his hand, an eyebrow raised.

“Rue.” She said quickly, taking his hand in a firm grip. “It’s short for Ruby.” It was slight, but for a split second, James heard something different on Rue’s voice. A slight quiver. He made a mental note, to ask about that later.

“Beautiful name,” Steve said as he shook her hand, “and fitting, given your class choice.” He stepped back and offered the two of them a genuine smile, as his party fanned out behind him. “These are my friends, my clan, and my family.” He motioned to each of them, naming them, and their class, as he did. Behind him, James noticed Alex and Fel wave goodbye, as they partied up with the Boss Slayerz. It seemed they were going to team up for a little, and gain some levels. Something that James knew would be extremely important, for the siege to come.

“Pleasure to meet you all finally.” James said once the introductions were finished. “We’ve been watching you guys since the first day. Really, I never thought we get to play alongside you guys.”

Z chuckled, the warmth of the sound washing over James. In the real world, Z put on a façade, but James could see the weight in his eyes, the weariness in his voice. Here though, at this moment, Z was completely relaxed, and free. Here, where he could help people, where he could save those he cared about, and keep those close to him safe, Z was free. James would do all he could, to protect this man, within DCO.

“We’re nothing special.” Z said after a moment. “Just a bunch of old gamers who’ve played way too many games in our time. Once you’re levels catch up, I’m sure you’ll be much more formidable than us.” He looked at James, looking about. “And, I’d be lying if I wasn’t a little bit interested in seeing what your class can do. Steve’s Spanker class, while unorthodox, was amazing to see. Kind of wish Oak had gone spanker, honestly.”

“Hey.” Oak grumbled. The heavily armored tank of the team was ridiculously powerful, and was the first player James had ever seen get a God orientated class. However, James also knew Oak had never wanted to be the team’s tank. “You should be happy I went tank at all. You owe me.”

“You set yourself up for that.” Elm quipped. “None of the rest of us started with classes that could go a tank route.”

“I don’t know.” Oak continued to grumble, as he looked at Faust. “That ShieldMage guy seems to do a pretty good job as a Shield Hero, and his starting class was definitely mage.”

James remembered that guy. ShieldMage had been a part of Alex’s group that had humiliated him in the Coliseum Battle.

“He took a risk. I wasn’t about to.” Faust replied calmly. “We were racing for the top. Besides, none of us could actually fathom initially how expansive the class system was in DCO. If we had,” Faust motioned around at the group, “I’m sure we would have all been more unorthodox.”

James laughed, the sound drawing attention back to himself. All eyes turned on him.

“What’s so funny?” Oak asked, his voice trying to sound intimidating, but failing. James could tell Oak was legitimately curious.

“It’s just,” James looked at the group, his eyes taking in their gear, the levels, and their classes. “None of you are really orthodox anymore, are you?” He looked at Med Ic. The last of the group to do something a little different. The now level 74 healer was listed as Ethereal Bishop. What he’d selected at level 70 as his class, was uncertain, but it was definitely not the next stage of Cleric of Light. At level 70, had he chosen that path, he would have changed from Grand Bishop of Light, to Cardinal of Light.

Z laughed as he stepped forward, clapping a hand on James’s shoulder as he did. At the same time, a party invite popped up in James’s vision, which he accepted, merging he and Rue’s party, with Z and the Knights Who Go No.

“He’s got us there.” Z said. “Now, how about we show you, in person, just how unorthodox we are?” He looked at the others, grinning from ear to ear. “Who’s ready for some more power leveling?”