I teleported to a circle of light on Floor 3, surrounded by a seemingly endless expanse of towering trees. The teleportation circle was bathed in bright sunlight, starkly contrasting with the deep shadows of the forest ahead. Even though I could see faintly, the darkness of the trees made it difficult to discern much.
I quickly noticed that I was the only player in the immediate area. However, groups of parties were scattered around, setting up plans and gathering fruits from trees near the edge of the circle. The trees here bore a variety of fruits.
Apples, cherries, lemons and other fruits.
Each group wanted to be the first to venture into the forest.
I walked onto the platform, still unable to get G2 out of my mind. How did she get a gun? Was it magic? Did they make it? The Create spell shouldn't be able to make something like that… or should it? Maybe it's possible ... maybe they have so much mana that she was able to craft one with the materials of this world.
Looking back at the gun, it looked different from any of the pens I had seen on Earth. Though it was based on one, it was made of a white material, maybe a gem.
I grabbed an apple from a nearby tree, determined to enter the forest. I wandered for a while, seeing no signs of life. No wolves, no goblins. It give my eyes time to adjust to the dimness. By channeling mana into my eyes, I improved my vision significantly.
Just as I was about to head back I heard the sound of running footsteps approaching. I quickly ducked into a nearby bush. A group of five goblins came into view. Two of them carried crude daggers. Another two had a chest adorned with gold and glowing green and red gems. The fifth was a goblin archer wearing a red leather bandana.
The goblins headed down the path, guarding the chest.
I waited for the right moment, scrutinizing the chest. Its ornate design and the glowing gems made me wonder where they had obtained such a valuable item.
Once the final goblin passed by, I seized the opportunity to strike. Using my dagger, I plunged it into the archer goblin's back. Again and again, I stabbed, each thrust punctuated by the goblin's escalating screams. The cries grew fainter and more desperate until, finally, the goblin died. Green blood pooled beneath it.
The remaining goblins watched in terror as they dropped their weapons and the chest, fleeing from the scene.
I considered teleporting over to them but decided against it. I stripped the goblin of his bandana and took about 50 arrows and his bow, placing the bandana in my pouch.
I opened the chest, revealing a mound of silver, maybe worth 1-2 gold. I hid the chest in a bush and decided to keep moving. Since there were so many people around, I thought it would be a good idea to face the boss with a group. We could split any treasures found.
I headed in the direction of the survivors who had been watching me earlier. The forest, though dark and foreboding, had a certain eerie beauty. Without the threat of goblin or wolf attacks, it would be a nice place to explore or have a picnic with friends.
I wondered about that for longer than I needed to. These goblins won't simply respawn like they do in a game. I wonder what'll happen. Will they go extinct? Will they flee deeper into the dungeon?
Will our appearance here cause the dungeon to become more hectic? I'm sure not even one percent of the players have explored the entire dungeon. What happens then? Will the NPCs struggle?
They don't seem like mobs or AI. They seem like real people. The ones I've met seem to have lives of their own. They've leveled up, learned, and adapted just like we have.
I decided to remove my bandana. Instantly, a wolf charged toward me as if it had been tracking me all along.
The wolf lunged through the air, sinking its teeth into my arm. The sharp, searing pain was intense, like a hot iron burning into my flesh. I managed to stab it with my dagger, pushing it away, and delivered a final strike. The wolf fell to my side.
I washed the wound with a healing potion, watching as the liquid absorbed into my skin. The wound slowly healed.
Dozens more arrived, drawn by the smell of the blood I had dropped. I wasn't sure how many there were. At least twelve or fifteen wolves.
I ran faster than I ever had before. I put my bandana over my face, but even still, they kept tracking me.
Was it the blood on the ground?
I ran and ran until I saw a lake. My back was cornered. They surrounded me on all sides, with the lake at my back.
"Dying to wolves."
I laugh to myself.
"If anything, at least it'd be a flashback. Not even worth writing down."
I prepare myself and grip my weapon. I know I can teleport away if needed, so why am I nervous?
I've killed goblins. I've killed fantasy monsters. So why?
My hands tremble more than they should. They recall a moment. They're drawn back to that girl.
To Seraphina.
"Maybe this is my penance."
But in moments like this, when your life is on the line and your hands are trembling, it's uncertain what you truly value.
I grit my teeth and tighten my grip on my kunai.
"Alright, wolves. Bring it on!"
The wolves seem to sense the magic. Or perhaps they sense my determination.
For the first time, I see my own mana.
It's thick and black. It reeks of desperation, like the World Tree itself is mocking me.
I rush forward, but before I reach the wolves, a powerful gust of wind pushes between us.
A cloud of dust rises, separating me from the fifteen or so wolves.
A girl dashes next to me.
A girl dashes up beside me.
She has gray hair and crimson-red eyes. She looks slightly younger than me. She wears dark leather armor similar to mine, with a guild insignia sewn into the chest. The insignia is a small silver snowflake.
I don't remember seeing a guild like that in the game.
An odachi rests across her back.
"Is she a Player?" I wonder.
Definitely not an NPC.
She sighs.
"You're the third person I've had to save this week."
"I can handle myself," I say.
"You sure?" the girl asks. "You look scared."
The dust wall surrounding us hasn't fallen yet, and I return to a simple stance.
Is that a dust wall spell?
"No. Similar to wind barrier magic."
"So you're a wind mage?"
"I didn't say I was," the girl replies. "I'm just too proud to use any other magic."
"What do you mean?"
"I hate this world," she says. "And one day, I'll break it. I'll become the strongest person in this tower."
"Sure, kid." I laugh. "What's the magic called?"
"I haven't named it yet."
"Really?" I laugh. "No ideas?"
"Yeah," she says. "I've been naming things since I started using it."
"A magic that forms a barrier of wind?"
"That's not the only thing it does."
"What else does it do?"
"It causes slashes to appear within a ten-meter radius."
"Maybe call it Wind Severance."
"I like that," Sho says. "But it's not fantastical enough."
She thinks for a moment.
"Maybe... Current Severance?" I offer.
"Current Severance?"
"Yeah."
"I like it," Sho says.
"Thanks for the assist."
I look over at her.
"What's your name?"
"My name?" The girl says. "My name is Sho."
"Sho..." I say aloud. "Where have I heard that name?"
"You're the one with the five-platinum bounty, right?"
"Heya," she says. "Don't call me a kid."
I place a hand on her head.
"Thanks for the help, kid. Let's kill these things."
"I already did," she smiles.
"What?"
The barrier begins to fade. The dust settles.
All fifteen wolves lie on the ground.
Hundreds of cuts cover their bodies.
"The barrier was more to protect you," she says.
She retracts the barrier completely.
"Do you want me to take you out of the forest?" Sho asks. "I can help you."
"I'll be fine," I say. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Sho turns her head as if looking toward the forest.
"If you say so..."
She turns back and stretches out her hand.
"Come with me," she says, almost pleading.
I shake my head.
"I need to forge my own path."
"Try not to die so soon."
Sho and I split paths, each going our separate ways.
I hear a flash.
A red streak crosses my vision.
When I look again, Sho is gone.
I kept walking for hours, seeing nothing.
A giant green hand grabbed me, it threw me further into the forest.
I was dragged into a clearing. A wooden wall surrounded it, resembling a small village. Goblins hammered away, fortifying the structure.
The Goblin Chief was the one who threw me. He threw me toward the city, his grip like iron. As we neared the gates.
I threw my kunai, and it landed just outside the gate.
"Teleport_To_Ancor."
The goblin chief walks back to his throne.
The goblins around us watched, their eyes narrowed. The Goblin Chief was a formidable figure, standing atop a makeshift throne fashioned from weaponry looted from past adventurers. He grabbed a battle-worn great ax and a club that emanated a yellow aura.