Back in Ulteria, Una and Ghun walked back to the group after having their private discussion.

The Bomber picked up his artillery-packed bag while the Spearwoman stood still in her place. Una tormented her thumb in indecision. Everyone else kept waiting for her to speak up, as there was something she was holding back.

Una turned towards Christian and finally said, “Listen up if you think what Karo did wasn’t right. Then we should go back to the city. My whole plan to raid Articores was due to your presence.”

She wanted to say your “low-level presence”. She would have picked anyone else in the plaza if not him. But she held back this info for obvious reasons considering the seriousness of the situation.

“What do you mean?” Christian’s expression crumpled in utter confusion. All this while, he had thought he was out of place, given his weak presence between these high-level players.

“Once Ghun, I, and Damien formed a strategy to hunt Articores; Fearsink. It exploits an Immortal’s inability to die and Articores’ tendency to get attracted toward the fear in their prey.” Una explained, giving only superficial info. Hoping he would choose to stay.

Although Christian felt he had stepped in a quagmire long before when he saw Ghun’s head chopped off, only after Una explained the strategy he realized he was neck deep in it.

“I don’t wanna do it.” Christian hastily said, then he turned towards Karo and requested, “Can you please send me back?” His deep blue eyes reflected terror. While waiting for Karo to cast his spell, Christia turned towards the deep hell holes in that Cavetree.

Karo didn’t react or say anything, giving the situation time to resolve itself.

“Are you sure you don’t wanna stay and explore? This is a rare opportunity.” It was Yu who urged, not wanting to let go of the fortuitous encounter himself. After witnessing Karo’s feat, he was sure Karo would lose interest and wouldn’t continue the hunt anymore if they had nothing to show him. This level of raid would be straight-out boring for him.

Christian didn’t say anything. He just kept looking around towards the various openings in the Cavetree.

“So you are not the same as other players who invade our world only for pillaging and think of wanton violence as fun,” Una said in genuine admiration, but there was a bit of resignation in her voice as well.

“It’s enough guys. It was his choice, and he has decided.” Isha butted in. After observing Damien’s weird behavior, she had some understanding of the graveness of the ordeal Christian might have to face if they were to continue.

Damien may act timid around Isha or complain non-stop about the game’s difficulty. But he was still one of the top high-level players in the game. Yet the mere mention of this Monster’s name solicited visceral fear from him.

While Isha acted in his defense, Christian remembered why he entered the game in the first place. Anne had pushed him to play, No. Because it was his work environment. He gave a short glance towards the party while Karo was preparing the teleport spell.

Ghun, Isha, Damien, Yu, and Una all had higher levels than Anne, who was only at level 68 yet still considered an expert. If he chose to withdraw, he would give up on his chances of making essential connections with strong people. In a moment of realization, a no-brainer question turned into an unanswerable conundrum for him.

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A lot of things flashed in his rationale. High-level players, CRC, the scoreboard, their recent network merger, the future of Rearth, and lastly, Anne’s face that would be more terrifying than any Articore could ever look like.

“Wait…” The newbie abruptly spoke up.

“Mind changed?” Karo asked in genuine confusion, his tone portraying him as the most clueless person in Ulteria.

Everyone turned towards Christian, and Karo canceled his spell-casting. Conveniently, he chose a different spell than he had used the last time, which took more time to complete. As if Karo knew Christian would change his mind.

“Yes. Though I don’t want to be the most powerful player in this world. But I have my own gains if I continue with you guys.” Christian said to Una.

He then turned towards Damien and Ghun, “Whatever has triggered it, but your honesty is one of the reasons I am trusting my immortality with you guys.” There was blithesomeness that returned to Christian's behavior remembering Anne, but Damien and Ghun turned their heads down in shame. Yu was happy, and his previous worries had left him knowing that Karo was akin to an omnipotent being in this level field. It was the same for Ghun.

Isha wanted Christian to reconsider his choice, but she didn’t feel like going back on her words about his freedom of choice. She just sighed.

“Are you sure about this, though? It’s a horrible experience. You can ask Damien.” Una still felt guilty for Damien and wanted Christian to reconsider carefully.

Before Christian could ask, Damien took the lead and explained, “It’s horribly painful, hopeless, claustrophobic. And if you are really determined to go through with it, take it as a hell-level difficulty training. You will get lots of stats in mental fortitude.”

Christian clenched his teeth, tightened his fists, and agreed, “I am ready. What would I need to do?”

Una nodded and then explained, “Articores usually roam in a bunch of 5 or more. They seldom leave assigned jobs. We will lure a bunch away in an isolated place. You as bait.” She paused, and Christian gestured to continue.

“Once they attacked you. Your work will be complete.” There was a “you won’t be able to do anything after that” looming in her undertone, but everyone ignored it.

Una continued, “Then we will isolate and kill one Articore at a time. The others would be too consumed as you their Fearsink point to notice what’s happening around them.”

Christian had his doubts, which Damine explained giving a much cruder explanation.

“In simpler terms. You are a comrade who will get captured by a bunch of Articores, and we will try to save you by killing one of them at a time. Usually, in such scenarios, saving isn’t needed since the player will resurrect at their pre-locked destination(city)," Damien skipped the part explaining where Christian needed to die in order to resurrect.

"It’s a feature of most games to save progress. But you being lv0 with no progress to save for, won’t need that,” It summed up what Damien had experienced.

There were some doubts raised at the start of the game for this lv0 continuous resurrection bug, but the later whole player base collectively agreed to accept it as there was no response from Eight-Gen about it.

“I understand.” Christina nodded.

But Yu and Isha, they were completely slacked jawed at Damien who explained it as if it was nothing to scoff at.

“Okay, we need to define the roles.” Una unclutched her silvery sphere from her back.

“I opt out of offensive roles and will be responsible for scouting and healing.” If Karo participated, he could slaughter the bunch all by himself.

“Sure. Then, Ghun, Isha, me, and Damien will be the main damage dealers. While Yu will be our Tanker who will force out one Articore at a time and Christian, you will hold the aggro,” Una said, but according to what was going to happen she should have as well said, “Host the feast”.