Gem didn't know what to do, but the harpy wasn't leaving. She looked over to the other person, and he had somehow disappeared.

'Where did he go?!' She never expected an online game to be so intense. Now she was stuck here with a human eating bird-thing while the the other person mysteriously vaporized.

'Oppa...'

All at once, Gem began to hear distant flares and the high screeches of the harpies. The disturbance in the air drew the attention of the harpy at the door as the explosions multiplied. Gem felt slight vibrations under her feet, and she realized the harpy has retracted her claw and flew off.

'Why is the ground shaking??' The quaking quickly intensified and Gem clung desperately at the wall for balance. Her survival instincts told her not to go out, but curiosity told her to take a look, so she clumsily tumbled along the walls to the door.

Gem held tightly to the doorframe and looked up. The harpies were being hit by fire arrows and what seemed like streams of fireball. Most of them continue to burn in midair while a few crashed horribly to the ground. The attacks were coming over the city walls from the outside.

Although Gem did not understand the situation, she stormed out in frustration.

'I should find Oppa. He is so fragile. If he gets hurt, I'll never forgive these people!' She hurriedly examined her surroundings, 'The biggest building...'

She was in a wide open street. Most buildings were stone-built and one or two stories high and arraigned in a grid. The tallest construct was a tower opposite from the city gate and four stories high. The exterior was white stone and she could make out a bunch of moving figures looking out from the tower top.

'Maybe there.' With the tower as her destination, Gem soon navigated the alleyways in between the buildings, while noticing none were open. It was a ghost town, and if this was the future of Seoul, she thought it's better to live in the real world. Her breath became heavy and her body was sluggish. 'It's so hard to breathe...' The effects from the harpy was still in place.

Gem stopped running. Since awhile ago, the sounds of explosions had stopped but the cries of the harpies continued. She went to the end of the alleyway and discretely took a peek. Coming over the southern city walls were numerous humans charging on flying mounts. Most wielded swords, some held something Gem couldn't discern.

'Wow, a-are those unicorns? ...Maybe not.' The mounts had beautiful white wings which shone even from a distance.

Even though Gem liked horses with wings, something else had caught her attention. From the rest of the three directions flocked in groups which were distinct from the initial. They held different weapons, it was more mix-and-match even with the mounts. One looked like a bird on fire.

'No way… A pig with wings?' Unprepared, Gem clumsily crouched with hands overhead as the humans and mounts zoomed past above the alley. She decided she couldn't keep hiding and continued her way to the tower.

On the way, Gem noticed the dead harpies on the ground were slowly fading away and in replacement left unknown objects. She went closer for an inspection and prayed the harpies were actually dead. There were two objects on the ground – Gem reluctantly picked it up.

Stolen novel; please report.

Harpy Feather

A dull bird feather from an anguished harpy. Due to the flames of magic, the feather has lost all magical properties.

Harpy Talon

A sharp, poisonous nail from a harpy. Advised to be handle with care.

“Eek!” At once, Gem threw the talon away. 'Wait, maybe I can save it and make someone I don't like eat it.'

Gem examined her person. She was wearing a homely and dull green knee-length dress with two pockets at the side, and a pair of worn-out brown boots.

'That'll do.' Retrieving and pocketing the feather and talon, Gem searched the harpies along the way for more items.

Nearing the tower, Gem took a glance to the sky. She found the harpies had largely decreased and her mood brightened at the thought of soon meeting her oppa.

The tower loomed over Gem and casted a long shadow. She searched two times about the tower, but there was not an entrance.

Gem stepped away and threw her head back, trying to catch a glimpse of the tower top. Numerous heads poked out from the tower windows and looked down curiously.

'Don't tell me...' It was an ridiculous idea but she yelled as politely as she could, “Excuse me! Is there someone who could let their hair down?”

Immediately everyone started laughing, to which Gem became mad. A chirpy young man bent out the second floor window, teasing, “Hey pretty lady! Aw, don't frown! It ruins your nice face... Well, you look cute angry, too!” His fellow mates all began laughing comically, while a leering expression adorned their faces.

Heated, Gem quickly covered her body defensively but no sooner had she done that, her hands went to loosen her boots. While the young man was unaware, Gem pitched her boots at his face. He fell from her sight.

'Score!' Gem grinned proudly until a message popped up.

You have dealt a player 11 damage.

You have suffered repercussions for attacking a player in the city.

Fined 200 coppers

Infamy +2

Strength +1

Maybe she had a certain affinity for losing money.

Leaving to find another way of entry, Gem heard a wait from the tower. There was no entryway previously, but a portion of stones were slowly sliding back and then it moved to the side. A pair of hands waved Gem inside.

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