A spacious room with carpets blooming red. A washroom clad in marble. Windows which faced the streets. A sofa, filled with the finest feathers, for three. Lights. Not powered by flame but by electricity. Three single beds- each with their own side table. Its wood, spotless and smooth. The beds were empty. The bed was empty. Biim and Buum appeared, laying flat on two of the beds. Biim shot up. Buum remained resting, and Boom stomped around.

"I'm impressed you didn't run after them." Biim remarked

"Shut it. If you didn't talk to that loser, we wouldn't be here." Boom retorted.

"You're right. I made a mistake." Biim admitted.

Boom, further annoyed, stopped in his tracks and swung his body to face Buum. He clenched his fists. He released them. Clenched. Released. The room felt hotter with every passing second. Boom fingers itched to grab Biims's neck. "AGH!" He released his arms and faced the other way.

Buum, having fought a fierce battle with gravity, sat up. "Biim." He looked at him. "Why were you trying to get that guy on our side?"

Biim sighed. " Like I said before. That guy. The cat. Ano..dos? Anodos- was level 7. He didn't go to Aria either." Biim bent his knee and rested his arm on it. "Only older players who reset or morons with gods gift for the game would do that. I just thought he was a moron with a gift. Not a lot of veterans would just up and delete their character after all. There's only been a few instances, me included, and even they wouldn't go through all that trouble. You guys know I didn't. That's why I wanted to recruit him to the guild. Cy is always looking for new members after all."

"Too many words."

"Me think he good at game. Me want recruit. But he just veteran. Really good veteran."

"Don't patronisis me!" Boom pointed at him.

"Yeah! Don't patronise him!" Buum agreed.

"Patronise!" Boom pointed harder, somehow.

"Boom, what did you lose? Buum, you check too. Open inventory."

"Ah! That's right!" Boom held his fists. "My slime studded gloves!" He exclaimed. "I'm gonna kill you! Step outside right now I'm gonna kill you!"

"That's why you invest in luck bird brain. Don't blame me for your shitfortune." Biim shrugged. "I only lost a mana potion."

"I lost a red gem."

"See?"

ARGH! "I'm gonna kill you!" Boom dove him. Biim kept him at bay with his feet. "Before you do that, did you two lose exp?" He planted his foot on Boom's face. "No! Now show me your head." Boom grabbed his foot and moved it aside, only for another to plant its roots.

"Yeah, me neither." Buum replied, watching from the sidelines.

"Okay…Great…" Biim struggled "Agh, Boom get off me!" With all his strength, he pushed the stocky man off him. Boom stanced himself. Ready to jump. "We can salvage this. We just got to do a couple things. First, we call Cy and let him know what's up, cause honestly, I see no point in going after them. Second-"

"You coward!" Boom interrupted. "I'm gonna go there right now! I'll kill them myself. Then you." Boom stormed to the door.

"Boom, listen to me, you're just gonna get yourself killed again."

"But, what if they didn't beat the slime?"

"No. They did." Biim spoke, unwavering. "We lose exp whether the battle is ongoing or not. Death leads to loss. We just levelled up too, so, if they failed, we'd be back to 12. In fact, I think we gained more than we lost. Listen, just trust me on this, do not chase after-"

"Shut it. I'm going." Boom kicked the door open. "Buum!"

"I'm coming!" Buum replied, eyes pleading to a Buum who sat in silence.

"Fine. I'll come. Let's get revenge."

"We'll kill them!" Boom shouted from outside.

"Kill them!" Buum slapped the bed, jumping to his feet.

The trio set out for Aria Forest. Destination: Goblin cave.

***

Zein and Jejj arrived at the cave, partying up. After distributing their points, Jejj had 250 health, 150 mana, and 200 stamina. Zein had 110 health, 210 mana, and 150 stamina. He held the spear in his right and the axe in his left.

"You ready?"

"Hell yeah." Jejj punched their palm. "Let's getit."

"Cave of Goblins. Recommended level 13. Begin?"

"Begin." their voices overlapped.

The two walked in. Upon entry, Zein received a glossy white stone called an escape stone. The dungeon's first level was cavern-like with its wide and flat base. Stalactites hung from the ceiling and sunlight danced in from the entrance. Goblins, level 9 and indifferentiable from each other, roamed the cave, wielding their axe. They began their assault. Zein effortlessly switched between the axe and spear, and Jejj stung like a bee. Sweat was a term unheard of to them as they left a trail of leather and red gems. They were nice enough to clean up, splitting the gems and leather equally. Zein and Jejj headed for the staircase at the end of the cavern, descending.

"Which level did you reach by the way?"

"Wanna guess?"

"2?"

"Made it to 3 baby." Jejj puffed their chest. "Also why I only had 1 health potion. Bought 7 too." Jejj deflated their chest.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The second cave had stalagmites emerging from the ground and torches lining its walls The cave was wide like the first, yet longer. Wandering the cave in groups of three were level 10 goblins who held shields, bows, and swords. Each classified as Tank Goblins, Warrior Goblins, and Archer Goblins

"Question."

Zein tilted his head towards them.

"Why Anodos?"

"Why? Is it weird?"

"Naw, it's just interesting. Very Greek."

"Ohh." Zein stood silent, watching the goblins. "Well, before I answer that, let's deal with these guys." he said.

"Bet."

The two charged the first group of goblins. Noticing their intent, the goblin archer ran to a stalagmite. The tank raised their shield and the warrior drew their sword. Zein "dash"ed past them, beeling for the archer. Zein sliced the archer's ankles before they could reach cover. "Stab." his spear pierced the goblin's neck, criting. Zein rushed to help Jejj. "Slash." the warrior's back bled, disintegrating. "Strike." Jejj destroyed the shield, finishing the goblin with a left hook. Zein checked in on the archer. 3 Red Celestial Gems and a piece of leather waved hello. He collected them. Jejj collected the rest.

"My name comes from a character in a book my dad used to read me."

"That it?" Jejj walked over to the stalagmite.

"Yeah, pretty much."

Huh. "Which book?"

"Hmm." Zein wracked his brain. "I…don't remember. I'd check if I had it, but it's with my mother."

Eugh. "I ain't gonna press no more my bad. But, cool name."

Zein smiled while pointing to the next group of goblins who wanted to take the fight to them. Rinse and Repeat. Zein went for the archer; Jejj kept the other two interested in them. The archer went down. He charged the warrior next. His endeavours were unnecessary. "Impressive.".The warrior and the tank fell to dust. Zein watched the continued struggle of the archer, making his way towards them. The goblin looked at him, malice in their eyes. He grabbed their bow and quiver with five arrows in them. Ding. He levelled up. Jejj joined him by the pile of gems and leather. "Nice stuff back there." Jejj took a bow. Zein slung the bow and quiver on his shoulder.

"The bow too?"

"I love watching You-be videos."

"Crazy if this works."

"Learn Skill: Mark."

"Mark? What's it do?"

"It deals 15% extra damage to a marked target when you use a bow and arrow. It used to work by calling out the target's name but they patched it so you only need to look in the specified direction. If it marks the wrong target, you can just cancel it and it'll return half the required mana which is 10 at the start."

"Not bad, that skill. Make sure you don't miss."

"I'll try." He chuckled, retrieving his spear.

"What about you by the way? Where'd you get your name from."

"Excellent question, Anodos. Glad you asked. You see, Je is I in French and my name's initials are JJ. Jj is also pronounced as an emphasised J…kinda… in Korean as compared to the singular J pronounced as ch. Je reads as J too so JJ. I jj and JJ! Clever right?"

Another set of goblins appeared.

"Yeah, very much so." Zein chuckled. "You know Korean and French?"

"Hell yeah! Tryna learn wherever I can. Wanna try?"

"Is that right." Zein chuckled. "I'll take you up on that offer one day! For now, watch the shield."

The tank swung their shield. Jejj ducked, letting it zip past their head. Jejj threw an uppercut, hitting the tank in the jaw. They staggered while gripping their jaw. The warrior drew their sword, rushing to help. The archer positioned themselves behind a pair of stalagmites.

"Shield me from those two for a second. Let me show you the power of a bow. Open Inventory." Zein stored his spear and axe.

"Aight big guy let's see whatchu got."

"Mark."

Zein loaded his arrow, the archer let fly theirs. Jejj grabbed the tank, using them as a meat shield. GRAAAH. The arrows stuck out of him. Zein's turn. He aimed his arrow. Steady. Steady. Thwip. The arrow flew, it flew, and it flew through a gap in stalagmites, hitting the archer in the head. It's a crit. "God bless the luck stat." The goblin fell over, writhing in pain until it disintegrated.

"Impressive. Send me these videos."

"Gracias." … "Did I say that right?"

"Close enough. Let's finish up."

"Before that, could we disarm them?"

"What?" Jejj side-stepped the warrior's sword and kicked them in the ribs.

"We get to keep their weapons then!"

"Askin some hard shit. Fine! I'll do it."

"We'll do it." Zein aimed his bow at the warrior and shot, hitting them in the chest. Jejj grabbed the sword and slashed at the tank. Parrying awkwardly, the shield slipped off their hand. "Strike." Jejj whipped their fist at the tank, another to the jaw- another disintegrating. Ding. Jejj levelled up.

"Do you want the shield? I'll take the sword."

Hmmmmm. "Think I should?"

"If you don't want it, I'll take both!"

"Hell no! I ain't gonna let you hog all of 'em no way! I'm taking it."

"It's all yours." Zein laughed. "Shall we head down?"

A minute and 6 points of distribution later, they made it to cave three. A circular room with torches all around. Not a crack or crevice in sight; the floor littered with pebbles and 4 goblins levelled 13. A tank, a warrior, an archer, and a goblin with mage's wand. A Mage Goblin.

"Anodos."

"Yeah?"

"We crush them."

Zein smiled. "Maybe I should get my escape stone ready."

"You dead if you do. If I go down, you go down with me. Understood?"

"Aye aye." Zein saluted with his bow.

The mage started chanting. The archer aimed. The tank rushed. The warrior followed behind. Zein stepped back. Another step. Another step. Another step.

Jejj raised their brows in confusion. "The hell you-"

"Launch me."

Zein ran. Jejj, jittering in place between the charging goblins and the charging Zein. Coming to a decision, Jejj kneeled, holding their shield to their head. Slanting it.

"On god if this don't work."

"Trust me." Jejj slammed his foot on the shield. "I leave them to you! Mark." He jumped; they pushed. Zein soared over the goblins as an arrow zipped past him. He drew his bow. A purple mark hovered over the mage. Zein unleashed an arrow at their head, hitting, cancelling, and stunning. He landed on their head, pushing the arrow deeper. The archer, startled, locked on to Zein, letting it rip. Zein squatted, letting go of his bow and pulling his spear from blue pixels.

"Stab"

Zein impaled the archer. Blood streamed down the goblin's head and neck like a waterfall. The mage got up, blood-smeared arrow in hand. Blood-smeared face enraged. Zein sowed his spear, goblin hanging off it, and retrieved his axe. The mage chanted faster. A fireball shot from their wand. Zein dropped his shoulder, shifting himself, letting it hit the archer. "Dash. Slash." The mage could not react. Zein slashed at the gaping hole in the mage's head. He crit. GRAAAAAH. The goblins screeched. One went out in a fiery flame, the other with an axe lodged in their brain. His spear reaped, standing tall- burn marks unseen. "I just got that too."

Zein gathered his spear and axe, shifting his focus to Jejj who kept pace with the remaining two. They used their shield to deflect the sword and footwork to dodge the tank's shield. If an opening was seen, a punch was thrown. Zein stored his weapons and picked the bow off the ground. He loaded it and drew.

"Aim for their neck, Jejj."

"Strike." The warrior's neck snaps. They stuttered. They stopped. They fell with an arrow in their head, becoming gems and leather.

"This what they call kill stealing?"

"Teamwork makes the dream work as they say. We sharing the exp after all."

"Boy." they rolled their eyes, turning their attention to the goblin who stood frozen. "Dash." they close the distance, slashing with their shield, and forcing them to block awkwardly. Jejj struck the tank's abdomen; its impact felt all over. The tank staggered- bent and clutching their abdomen, exposing their neck. Jejj slipped the shield off their arm and slammed it down on the barren connector, turning them into loot.

The two collected their winning as a hidden door on the floor spun open, revealing the last cave in the system and rope. Jejj, curious, rappeled.

"Are you for real?"

A long, narrow tunnel stuffed with tanks, warriors, archers, and mages, all level 11, awaited them.

They ascended in terror. "The hell we gonna do about that!"

"Ohhh them...Right that's next..." Zein rearranged his inventory. "How's your health looking?"

"I'm at half. Mana is low. Stamina too." Jejj plonked themselves down.

"I'm low on mana and stamina too." Zein threw a health potion to Jejj. "Let's rest up before we head down.

Jejj examined the potion. "I still have one-" they stopped themselves. "Alright, but what do we do about those guys?" they downed the potion.

Zein left his bow and quiver in his inventory. "I do have a plan." He extracted the Goblin Sword. A sword which dealt 21 damage per hit. "Some may call it cowardly, however." Zein grinned.

Jejj watched the madman baffled.