Dungeon Hunter Guild Hall Alkronia

"Any talents among them?"

Kimchi, Dungeon Hunter Guild Master, was sitting while looking at some papers on his desk. He was skimming paper by paper.

"There's at least 10 players who show some potentials. I'm not sure about the others yet. But, they always train within the dungeon regularly."

A male sleethar with dark brown leather armor was sitting in front of him.

Ramyeon Dungeon Hunter Vice Guild Master

"Good. Keep following the schedule. We need to raise our stats quickly."

Silence was ruled the room for a moment. Then Ramyeon hesitantly asked a question.

"Do you really plan to defense?"

Hearing Ramyeon's question, Kimchi put the paper down.

"No." Kimchi answered. "First rule of war, you have to know about your enemy. We need to confirm their stats and what they can do. So, we will plan an ambush in Baradran Mountain Range after our training ends."

"I see. Even if we lose, it will take days for them to reach Ghaldaran or Alkronia. But we can respawn back in town immediately after a few minutes. The debuff will be gone as well even before they come here. Therefore, we can also participate in defense."

"You're clever than I thought." Kimchi smiled.

"Aish this guy... Looking down on me. I always this smart, y'know!"

"If we win, it will be our advantage too. We will be moving forward and see where they come from."

"Hmm... As expected of you." The tip of Ramyeon lips went up. "Well then, it's almost time for me to grind. You should do it as well."

"What? Do you think I'm not grinding all this time?"

"Heh... This guy. Hahaha... Alright, I can't wait to duel you later."

"Me too..."

・・・

New Titans Guild Hall Ghaldaran

"Hmph. 220 average stats isn't that high. Our guild members mostly have around 230 points. The event will be a piece of cake."

Blackfist, New Titans Guild Master, was sitting in his desk while watching Grand Meeting video he had recorded.

"Blackfist, do you know that the one Aradun defeated just a scout, right? The main army would be a lot powerful than that."

In front of him, a male elf with black feathered robe was watching the recording as well.

Crowe New Titans Vice Guild Master

"Tsk." Blackfist clicked his tongue. "Wether it's a scout, knight, warrior or even mage, monster is still a monster. There's nothing to worry about. They are all brainless AI, programmed with patterns."

"... I see." Crowe let out a little sigh.

"What we need to do is searching for their base. We have to be the first, so we can claim all the rewards by ourselves. This is a race. And we have to be faster." Blackfist turned off the video. "How's our guys doing?"

"Everyone is still looking for NPCs who have deep understanding of the Dark Army."

"That will take a lot of time." Blackfist deeply sighed. "Send one or two teams to explore Baradran Mountain Range. We will catch up once everything is prepared."

"...U-understood."

・・・

Skythrone Guild Hall Juvaldo

"How is it?"

A man with vermilion leather armor was standing straight with his thumb.

Zhūlóng Skythrone Guild Master

"It seems most of them decided to explore Baradran Mountain Range."

A lady in white was standing in front of the door, holding a stack of papers in her hands.

Yuè Jiàn Skythrone Vice Guild Master

"So... They are trying to win the race, huh?" Zhūlóng jumped with his thumb and landed smoothly with his feet.

"Yes, Brother Zhū."

"Let's follow them. And we will steal the golden egg once the opportunity comes." Zhūlóng sat down as he wiped his sweat off his forehead. "Anyway, how about Liúxīng?"

"He has been doing well. Soon, he will advance by leaps and bounds. Just be patient."

"Great then. Let's do our best Sister Yuè."

"Yes. I will prepare everything for our victory."

・・・

Mongol Guild Hall Alkronia

"Everyone seemed calm and collected. But I know they have been hiding something. Especially Skythrone."

JassJuss, Mongol Guild Master, was standing in front of a wide window in her room.

"Zhūlóng?"

A heavy armored elf was sitting on a couch while sipping a cup of coffee.

Prospects Mongol Vice Guild Master

"Yeah. He didn't talk much during the meeting."

"I guess they're all hiding their progress. They probably gave false information too."

"Probably. They're all just basic stuff. Though it's still baffled me, no one mentioned about the dark army which Aradun defeated was just a scout. They were really cautious to not spill up any crucial information."

"Perhaps, one of them already knows where the dark army base is, so they want everyone to defense while they are secretly move forward to the frontline. They are waiting the opportunity for the the Dark Army to send all their forces, then they will rush toward the empty base, confronting the defenseless leader."

"Hmph... You're thinking too much." JassJuss scoffed and chuckled. "But I guess, it's still a possibility though. And it's actually a good strategy. Fighting them all wouldn't be so bad since it will raise our stats and skills, but it will also become a problem if we lose shamelessly."

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"I hate politics, man." Prospects deeply sighed. "We don't know if we would be fighting the other guilds if we attack."

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it will be chaotic between the guilds. Attacking is just too risky. Our best bet would be helping Alkronia's defense."

"I guess so."

"Well then, please prepare everything."

Prospects stood and walked toward the door, but then he stopped midway and faced JassJuss again.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. We're kind of short of 'that' item."

"Are we? Ahh, alright then. I'll contact Minyak Bekas later. Keep our plan safe."

"Got it!"

・・・

Halmanir Mountain

A party of five players were stood within forest clearing. Two of them just went back from patrolling nearby area. They were reporting about what they found to their party members.

"I think this place is safe." Said a light armored human to the party. He was one of the patrols.

"I just found a shallow cave over there. It's totally clear. No monsters around." Said a heavy armored gigant, the other patrol.

"Alright. All of you, prepare the camp there. I will scout one more time."

"Okay."

Time passed quickly as they prepared the camp. When the night came, they made fire in front of the cave. Then, they were just chilling, talking and joking around while sitting in front of the fire.

"This job is exhausting. Where exactly is this NPC? We've already explored this whole mountain! Aish... My feet hurt..." The robed female elf was whining as she massaged her thighs.

"Still, this game is really great. The map is beyond my expectation. It's not like any VR games I've ever played." A light armored female dwarf was amazed.

"Zagard, do you remember the game we've played before this?" The light armored human asked as his gaze turned to the heavy armored gigant.

"Hero's Descendants? Yeah, I remember. Why?" The gigant named Zagard asked back.

"Yeah, that one. I heard the game is closed because there's a problem with the game's capsule."

"Oh really? I didn't know that. Do you know the full story?"

“Yeah. I was there five years ago.”

Everyone became silent and sucked into the atmosphere. However, the man did not continue and his gaze just stared blankly toward the campfire. They had waited long and froze in awkward manner. Impatient, the elven woman asked him.

“What?”

“What?” The man asked her back with the same question.

“Oppa! We are waiting for you to tell the story!” The female dwarf also grew impatient.

“What? Did you all not see my memory? It's a cue for a flashback when I said that.”

The elven woman immediately kicked the man down onto the ground. She kicked him continuously.

“How could we see your memory dumbass!?!” The elven woman said in anger while still kicking him. “You read too many manhwa!”

Everyone sighed.

"Didn't she say that her feet hurt?" Zagard said in disbelieve.

"MiniMin, I'm glad that you're not like Byul noona." A light armored male sleethar said to the light armored female dwarf.

"Kekekeke... Bemmy, are you charmed by my cuteness?" MiniMin teased the sleethar.

"Shorty in game, shorty in real life. No thanks." Bemmy immediately declined the idea.

"Byul eonnie! Bemmy just called you an old hag!" Feeling insulted, MiniMin turned against him.

"Whaaaa... No! she's lying!" Bemmy was surprised and panicked.

"How dare you..."

Byul eyes were glowing, and she immediately swung her staff on Bemmy.

"Aaaaggghhh..."

MiniMin stuck her tongue out and winked as she was looking at the torture.

Seeing his troublesome party members, Zagard left and went into the cave. He immediately laid down and tried to sleep, while sighing in regret.

'What am I doing in this game?'

He sighed again.

'Kimchi-nim. I want a new party member after I clear this quest.'

He kept sighing and having miserable thoughts until he fell asleep.

・・・

Within a dark apartment room, a woman was sitting in front of her laptop. The light from the screen illuminated her messy figure.

Her eyes were tired, yet she kept gazing the screen without a wink. She put a pizza slice inside her mouth, chomping it whole.

"Hmmmpphh... Igh de amy mews?"

She drank a can of cola beside the laptop, and then swiftly moved her fingers to surf the internet. She searched for some news about Heallance.

[Top 10 Guilds Open Recruitment!]

The Top 10 Guilds just announced that they are opening recruitment for new members to prepare the upcoming war against the Dark Army. They...(Read More)

[The First Main Event - The Dark Army]

The very first main event scenario is going to happen in Heallance. The famous Ice Magician Aradun from the Northern Star Guild...(Read More)

[Guilds meeting will be held soon]

There is a rumor that some guilds are having a meeting to prepare the upcoming war against the Dark Army. Top 10 Guilds...(Read More)

Gulp!

"Umyuu... The first main event!" Her eyes were sparkling as she read the article. "It's settled. I'll travel north once I get the result from that old man! I wanna experience a real war! Ehehehe..."

After she turned off her laptop, she immediately closed it and then hummed excitedly as she got inside the VL-Pod.

"Let's go! Enter!"

She logged in and spawned in Eldan as pink haired bunny girl.

"Ugyaaaaaa~" Bonnie screamed joyfully. "Time to go!"

She hopped forward left and right in a good mood, galloping towards the southern part of the town. Her tiny character were slipping the crowded street. Even though Eldan was the beginning village, it was still busy as ever. Players often came back there, and many new players joined the game made Eldan became one of the busiest town in Heallance. Especially because of the first main event. New players filled Eldan every in game day for the past few real days.

When Bonnie was near to the town's gate, she noticed a female bard who was playing a song with her lute.

"Umyu... What is this?" Bonnie came closer curiously. "Whoa... Isn't it the game theme?"

The female bard swiftly moved her fingers, picking the strings eloquently. The song was cheerful yet turned into ballad sometimes.

Charmed, Bonnie listened to the song intently with a smile on her face. However, the song ended quickly.

And then, a new song was played. The melody changed from cheerful and ballad to slow and mysterious.

"..."

Bonnie was speechless by her talent, and she immediately got sucked into the new atmosphere.

"Deep within the forest,

A mist spread with a conquest.

As a song of angel dawned,

Everyone froze and terrified..."

The female bard sang with a beautiful voice. Some players and NPCs nearby became interested as well.

"Trembling in horror,

They were all petrified by unbelievable scene.

Shivering in terror,

As the ghastly being was seen."

The female bard then stopped. After a moment of silence, she began to pick the strings again. She changed the tempo, and the song became suspenseful. It made everyone who listened felt anxious and uncomfortable.

"A shadow was coming.

A shadow was coming.

He loomed through veil of mist,

Bring punishment they couldn't desist."

At that moment, the song made Bonnie lost into her imagination, picturing the scene of the song within her mind.

"The blood arose, flying in the air.

Without remorse, they were in despair.

The bones were instruments, crackling high and low.

The merciless phantom spared the innocents, pulling them from sorrow.

As the deed was done, to the mist the phantom gone.

A being with no face, vanished without a trace.

And that is the end of the story...

The Horror of Faceless Phantom."

Eventually, the bard's song was ended. Everyone was clapping, and some of them were throwing coins into a leather pouch which placed in front of the bard. The bard thanked them and bowed.

As everyone was going back to their business, the bard was leaving as well. However, Bonnie was still standing there unconsciously.

"Faceless Phantom?" She mumbled.

It was then her consciousness came back. Then Bonnie wanted to ask the bard about the song. However, the bard was nowhere to be seen.

She was sad, but it didn't bother her because she was excited about something else.

It was the day of her graduation.

Thus, she immediately went to Mel'Jarrad's house to get the result of her training.

Mel'Jarrad's House

"Now there's nothing I can teach you anymore." Mel'Jarrad's stroke his beard. "You've improved your own talent all by yourself, advancing beyond mystic class. It is quite incredible to see your unique traits. I am truly amazed."

Your result has exceeded Mel'Jarrad's expectation

"I remember, there was a tribe of magicians who used the same kind of magic like your dazzling spells. What were they called again?"

Mel'Jarrad's Grimoire floated in front of him, and then it opened.

Amazing Achievement! A new hidden class has been unlocked!

"Ah yes... They're called Stardust Mage. I think that name fits you pretty well. How is it, lass? Do you want to be one?"

Bonnie's eyes were sparkling in excitement. One could see her ears were stood and her fluffy little round tail was wagging cutely. She was smiling joyfully as she looked at the Job Change window in front of her.

Job Change

Stardust Mage is a magician who uses ancient stardust-like spells. Their source of power are believed being granted by the stars. Furthermore, their charming aura can attract fairies which make it easier to form a pact with spirits. It is unknown as to why their tribe has vanished from Heallance.

An unknown star has blessed you with its light. Do you want to absorb the power of the unknown star?

"Yes! Thank you very very much!" Bonnie answered without hesitation. "I kindly accept the name of Stardust Mage!"

Light particles could be seen swirling around Bonnie, slowly being absorbed into her little body. Then suddenly it was dispersed away, and the stardust-like particles slowly faded and dissolved.

Job Changed! You have become Stardust Mage!