[ You are invited to join the guild: BLACKDOGS ]

The fierce-looking guy named Nergal passed me a panel, "Tap yes and you're in. We can proceed to do a practice match right afterwards."

I stared at the panel which included an image I assumed to be the logo of their guild. I noticed a similar figure in the coats they are wearing.

Should I join the guild?

"You're fine for a practice match right?" Nergal poked my arm prompting me to nod in response.

I made up my mind then tapped the panel to accept the invitation.

[ Welcome to guild: BLACKDOGS ]

"Great!" Nergal made a wide smile.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Eckes interjected, "the guild requires a small tribute to every new member: a hundred quints. Like a surety bond, if you understand the term."

"A hundred?" I felt worried knowing I only have two hundred essence.

"You'll earn them back mate, the guild provides free quints every week. Free source of quints, remember?"

"I see," I replied then put up a panel to trade half of my quints to Eckes.

"Now for the practice match, where's the Etherium?" Nergal rolled his eyes around the tavern.

"What Etherium?" I asked, I felt like I heard the word once.

"The Etherium is where we can conduct battles. They physically look like red crystals and are somehow similar to quints," Eckes explained as we stood from the table.

In the corner of the tavern was a huge red stone about the size of a wooden stool floating slightly above the ground. It was being held by chains tightly fastened in the floor.

"Five quints per person plus the drinks you took," the barmaid said as she came. Eckes gave her a small bag from his pocket. The girl checked the contents, nodded and walked off.

"Game on!" Eckes said as he reach his hand to the Etherium. "By the way, this stings a little but you'll get used to it." All of a sudden he vanished from when he stood.

I looked at Nergal whom gestured for me to go first. I then held my hand in the cold surface of the stone wondering what would happen but by the next moment I was standing in another place.

I recognized the weird feeling as I stood on the stone platform which somehow emitted light. The rest of the space was dark but there were no walls or ceiling that bound it.

"Five quints for a barren place? Boo," Eckes commented then he sat on the wooden table that stood at the center.

Specks of light flickered from which Nergal appeared. It was obviously dark but he looked around as if expecting to see some other thing then asked, "Are we the only guest?"

"There's another group but it seems they don't want to be disturbed," Eckes replied operating a panel.

"Good, now we're up for a practice match. You ready rookie?" Nergal asked me as he went towards the opposite side of the table.

I nodded in response feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement. I struggled winning the test and I am guessing this time would be similar except that an Ethereal would be fighting for the other team. Would I be able to win this? I wondered but I reminded myself that this is only a practice match.

[ Nergal is asking for a Duel, accept? ]

"You need ten quints for a duel," Eckes explained, "if you win, you will earn thirty but if you lose, you will loose another twenty."

I nodded and tapped into the panel which prompted it to turn into another panel showing four square icons.

[ CAVALIER ] [ SHIKAREE ] [ MAGICIAN ] [ CHAPLAIN ]

The four avatars that the lady gave me. I had no time trying out all of them but she have told me basic information that I need to know.

"So what role are you gonna use?" Eckes asked peeking on my side.

Avatars are classified into different roles depending on how they operate in the battlefield.

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The term is used for melee attackers that have a decent balance in health, defense and mobility. They are known for being straight, simple and aggressive.

The ones capable of attacking from afar are under . They are relatively weaker than the Raider but can completely overpower anyone with their advantage on range.

The is a little bit similar to the Raider but is more focused on defense and protection. Their ability to keep their allies safe while controlling the battlefield makes them favorable in team fights.

The avatar with the highest mobility is classified as . Being known for their swiftness, cloak-and-dagger tactics and the ability to seek the weakness of their foes.

Magic is where the excel. Technically the weakest in other aspects but with an array of devastating spells they can turn any enemy into a pile of dust.

Lastly, is the best in controlling the battle and supporting their allies. Less favors in using them due to their complexity but there's no doubt that they are an important asset for any team to secure the victory.

"I'm only familiar with Cavalier so I guess I'll go with it," I said as I tapped the indicated icon.

"Raider eh? Not a bad choice," Eckes commented.

Another square icon then appeared in another panel.

[ SHIKAREE ]

"Boss picked Ranger. Goodluck in that match," Eckes patted my shoulder.

4

3

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1 >

Everything shattered into cubes and the surrounding was replaced with a familiar scenery. I quickly recognized the massive golden arch, the pool, the white pillars and the huge stone golem guarding in front of it.

I'm now back in the battlefield. I took my sword as I spotted the pawns rising from the ghastly waters of the pool and joined them as they charged forward.

=====

Dumb kid, he picked first. Ofcourse I'll choose what's good against his. Well, not his fault, he must have no knowledge about it yet. Good for him though I didn't chose my main avatar.

"Shikaree, huh?" I muttered fixing the tightness of the bracer I was wearing on my arm. My black coat was replaced by a red leather vest topped with a dark green cloak.

The Shikaree is a long-ranged combatant equipped with a bow; not an ordinary looking bow. A small concentrated shaft of light flickers in the middle portion of the weapon which expands into a projectile when drawn.

The fight between pawns have begun when I came and the rookie was already there doing his share. From what I percieve in his equipment, I believe he didn't purchase an item yet, saving the points given to us upon the start.

This would be easy.

I flipped my bow and knocked an arrow on him. "Mind your distance rookie, I'm a Ranger," I told him as I grinned.

"Right," he replied moving back but continued on taking down my pawns.

I shot another arrow on him which made him move further back but I shot another one to gave him no choice but to move away from the crowd.

=====

I did not expect this, I planned to defeat most of his pawns before he takes down all of mine but he went shooting his arrows to pull me away from the fight.

I understand the avatar he was using has advantage on range. Being able to attack opponents while staying safe from a distance. I thought he would use it to take down pawns faster than I could.

Another arrow suddenly pierced my shoulder.

[ Health 88% ]

"Mind your distance," he said again.

I moved further towards the golem's boundary leaving him free to shoot my allies. In a short moment, the rest of my pawns are defeated and so his team headed into the golem.

Ack! He shot another arrow.

[ Health 84% ]

Nergal kept me from helping the golem worse is that I'm gaining less points. I have to atleast do the killing blow on his pawns.

[ Health 80% ]

He knocked another arrow when I tried to move closer. I noticed the damage he does is minimal but if he keeps on doing this my health bar would eventually run out.

I can try dodging him or blocking the projectiles with my sword. I can also try to determine how far he can shoot and how fast he can draw his arrows and use it to form a strategy but I doubt it would be simple.

My actual concern right now is my points. Points are used to gain both skills and items. If he gains more points early on, I'll have less chance in winning.

I took out the interface to unlock the skill EMPHASIS so I can secure more kills and gain more points. Operating an interface while in combat was a hassle but I have to get used to it since there was no butterfly that can do it for me.

As I moved towards the enemies my sword flashed taking down two enemies at once. I figured that if I could force my targets to move closer to each other, I can strike them both with my skill in just a single swing.

I kept using this method not minding my distance from Nergal so he continued shooting arrows and I struggled dodging them.

[ Health 65% ]

The last of his pawns fell down while three remained from my side. Nergal was forced to move towards their golem as my allies ran to him. He then pointed his bow on me as he turned so

I stopped and rolled on the ground to dodge his attack.

Not being able to support the pawns inside the enemy golem's boundary, the golem easily swept them in a couple of strikes.

Nergal smirked from a distance as if mocking my inexperience. I clenched my fist. This may be a practice match but I felt like I need to win it.

=====

[ Health 72% ]

Gah!

I saw a trace of light as it suddenly passed me. The rookie slashed my arm! Must be mad with all the shots I casually landed on him.

Well, this is just a petty trick. The combination of LINE DRIVE and EMPHASIS is a common move for the Cavalier. With him closing the distance, I bet he'll use the opportunity to further harass me but I'm not gonna fall for that.

I hurriedly moved into the golem's boundary line but the rookie didn't gave chase. I gazed around and saw the him returned in fighting the pawns.

Are you for real?

With just one arm I won't be able to attack. I won't be able to shoot him and his pawns and he'll have time to secure some points.

Attacking me should have been the better option.

I walked under our golem and took a potion to replenish my health bar. By the time it reached ninety percent, I watched my arm formed back as cubes appeared from the wound.

"Alright, playtime's over," I whispered with a grin as I navigated on the interface to unlock a skill.