Vin logged into the game first thing in the morning. Those who played from Dusk to Dawn had already been logged out automatically, meaning the next twelve hours belonged to the guilds of the Hallowed. He checked the system logs from the previous day. He was too engrossed and focused to notice the timer steadily ticking down before he got logged off. One entry drew his attention.

[Your soul has been touched by Araesh, the god of Curses]

Had that happened while he was unconscious? Still, he’d never seen that effect before, nor heard of any god named Araesh. He checked his status and found a debuff that still applied, outlined in red.

[The touch of a powerful Cursewright has left a mark on your body. The effects are unknown. Cannot be removed by normal means.]

Even the description the system provided was weird. Was it a bug? Nothing felt off at first glance, and the more he thought about it the more anxious he got. He made a mental note to check the forums when he logged off and shifted his attention to the guild hall instead. Grand and imposing architecture had always been a weakness of his, to the point where he’d spend his own funds in the reconstruction of the guild hall. Back then, before Sophia got sick, he could afford the luxury. Tommy, who was in charge of the treasury, would have fainted if he knew the amount of wealth Vin had invested. Arched pathways, stone pillars and an impossibly vaulted ceiling gave the hall an archaic and regal feel. Paintings of battles lined the walls, depicting Vin and the guild in combat.

“Your level is the same. You weren’t lying.” Cecilia’s voice came from his side. She had the guild list open in a window and was staring at the number next to Vin’s name intently.

“Told you.” Vin smiled. “I’m not that rusty. I can still take some hits.”

“Make sure to remember that while you tank the raid boss, Leader.” Toshimir’s avatar materialised before them. He had made his character quite attractive, even Vin could tell. Non-human races were exclusive to NPCs, but Toshimir’s character was as close to an elf as one could get.

“Eager for your first day of PvE I see.” Vin poked back and Toshimir chortled.

“Shill is already waiting for you at the western extremities,” Cecilia interjected, never one for banter. Part of the reason why Vin liked her. “Don’t keep him waiting.”

“Right.” Vin grabbed Toshimir by the shoulder and dragged him over to their exclusive portal room. Doorways of shimmering radiance led to every part of the world the guild had explored. Others were void of light, only golden arcs yet to be unlocked. Vin planned to one day light them all up.

The elderly representative of the explorer’s association sat slumped against his chair, face buried between his beard and leather armour. Vin poked him a few times, and the man jumped up to a standing position.

“Ah, my apologies.” His voice was deep and scratchy, and his smile made his wrinkles deepen. “The wait can get tiring.”

“We’re here to accept the quest to explore the west,” Vin said as he scanned the man over. He had never appreciated how NPCs were programmed to act. Realism was great until it felt like you were killing real people or losing real friends.

“Of course.” The man opened one of his desk’s drawers and handed Vin a sealed letter.

Exploration Guild Quest : Western Grand Barrier Description: The Explorer’s Association wants to hire members of your guild as mercenaries. Clear the area of monsters and ensure that there is no danger, so that the scientists and mages of the association can safely set up camp. Difficulty : A+

Quest Clear Conditions :

Clear the specified area of all danger.

Linked Quest :

Help the association set up a camp in the west! (1)

Quest time limit :

None.

Quest acceptance conditions :

Guild Leader, High affinity with the Explorer’s Association.

Rewards :

50 gold to each player participating.

It was a respectable amount, but Vin was more interested in the linked quest. Improving the guild’s relationship with the explorer’s association could be invaluable. Vin whispered, “I accept,” and the letter crumbled to dust.

“I hope you’ll succeed without much trouble. Even though you are blessed by the stars and can’t truly die, isn’t it still painful if you get injured?”

“It's tolerable.” Vin gave the man a smile and turned around. He had to constantly remind himself that no matter how human NPCs looked, they were just code. They thought players were simply blessed by the stars to come back to life whenever they died. Meddling with NPCs too much was a great way to lose track of himself. Besides, the other members were already waiting for him.

Vin found the portal he needed and braced himself for the dizziness that came with teleportation. His vision shifted from grey to green as the surroundings changed into a forest of flying trees. The barks were anchored to the ground only by thin nets of roots, and the foliage reached high into the air and swayed in the wind. Magic, Vin had found, escalated every battle. Even those fought for simple sunlight.

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Shill’s force waited in a nearby clearing. They were more than five thousand strong and already in formation. He observed for a moment. Many chatted spiritedly. The anxiousness of yesterday’s battle had been replaced with expectation. Most of the guild’s high rankers had gathered for the raid. The promise of loot and experience could be seen in the glint of their eyes. Even though PvP granted more experience, today’s force was thrice the size of Vin’s attack squad. In fact, very few people risked their lives the way Vin and Toshimir did by pushing the frontline. Not that he blamed them. The experience penalties for dying in PvE were still severe and crippling, but at least their items were safe, unlike in PvP.

They cut their way through the ranks, making soldiers stand a bit straighter and dousing conversations as they passed. Shill was conversing with another officer when Vin reached him.

“Leader.” The other man acknowledged Vin and backed off, giving him space. He tried to recall the name. Keith maybe? He wasn't that familiar with the PvE force. Shill shifted in place uncomfortably, running a hand through his sweaty black hair. Getting the players battle ready was always a draining task. Coupled with the heat of the western extremities and it was enough to drive anyone weary before a battle.

“What’s the situation?” Vin crossed his arms and gazed past the wilderness. A wall of stone and marble extended far into the heavens, stopping the forest’s growth both above and below. It covered the horizon and reached as far as the eye could see in both directions. Even after years of playing the game, Vin couldn’t help but marvel at its splendor.

“We’ve found the guardian’s location, but there's no way to scout further without aggroing. We're ready to advance.”

"About the reward distribution…" Vin hated having to discuss money. If he didn't have Sophia to care for he would use his earnings to support the guild.

Shill seemed oddly annoyed for a moment, then smiled. "We've talked about this. You can divide it as you deem fair."

"Thank you." Vin clapped him on the back. He was quite lucky to have such understanding guild mates. "It might be a bit less from now, but I'll pay you back eventually."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Shill surveyed the wall covering the horizon. "There won't be any rewards unless we defeat the guardian."

Vin breathed in and let the wind press against his chest as he followed Shill's gaze. Barriers are there to be broken, his father had once said. Words Vin had lived by. The stone wall that blocked players from advancing westward, massive though it was, felt tiny in his mind.

He could hear the clanking of armor behind him as the soldiers fidgeted. His own heart beat in anticipation of the fight. To cleanse the humiliation and desperation of yesterday’s battle, he’d give his all.

The system responded to his will and an inventory window appeared in front of him. A white sword the length of his arm materialised into his waiting palm, as if from mist. A gemstone connected the hilt to the blade, and runic script ran across its surface. The envy it drew from the other guild members was almost palpable. Vin checked its options.

Name : Sword of Dirina Description: Sword forged by a sea nymph. The power of the moon is reflected on the blade's surface. Rating : Epic Durability : 300/300

Attack Power :

505-630

Light Element Resistance :

+15%

Dark Element Resistance :

+15%

Passive effects:

The power of light based skills increases by 10% when wielded.

There is a 5% chance of blinding the target hit.

There is a 1% chance of burning the target hit.

In his other hand, a Kite shield took shape, adorned with the guild crest in front. Vin thought it a courtesy to let his enemies know who took their lives. He cracked his knuckles and straightened his back. It was time to don his armor.

Name : Dongardan Plate Rating : Rare Durability : 500/500

Defence :

350

Maximum Hit Points :

+500

Light Element Resistance

: +20%

Passive effects:

There is a 35% chance of blocking a fixed amount of damage from piercing attacks against the user.

There is a 20% chance of blocking a fixed amount of damage from slashing attacks against the user.

There is a 2% chance of blocking a fixed amount of damage from bludgeoning attacks against the user.

The armor glistened as it formed on his body, one metal plate at a time. They shifted and locked together with intricate precision, leaving no leather or mail visible at the joints. The design was beautiful, the white inlaid with golden bands around the edges of each piece of plate.

Showing off proved efficient sometimes. Glory and the heat of battle were enough to drive Vin, but the guild members needed something more tangible. The promise of loot, in particular, was irresistible.

“I think we’re ready.”

Shill gave some last minute orders to the players and then off they were. Vin let him lead the attack force and act as the coordinator. Truth be told, he had the most experience in PvE out of everyone in the guild.

The army advanced through the foliage. As they got closer to the edge of the known world, the sheer size of the wall became evident. Each part of its surface was covered in murals of the past. Vin saw humanoid figures, dragons, demons and other mythical creatures of his imagination, depicted with spine-chilling detail.

Half-hidden behind vines and bushes was the mural of a giant, many times the size of a man, holding a weapon that resembled a polearm. Two red gemstones shone with a dim light where his eyes should be.

The guardian. Vin swallowed back his fear and readied his shield.

Shill approached cautiously, alone, step after step until Vin’s breath caught in his chest. The giant’s eyes lit up, an unseen fire burning deep within the stone. A deep, rough voice came from above.

“You intrude upon the domain of the lava god. Turn back now, or be reduced to ashes.”

Shill glanced back and nodded. He stepped forward.