As the powerful man turned his gaze in Eidos's direction, a paralyzing fear gripped him even tighter. His trembling body somehow managed to take a faltering step backward, a desperate attempt to distance himself from the looming threat. Every fiber of his being screamed for survival, and the instinct to flee surged within him.

Just as Eidos was about to turn and make a desperate run for it, the massive figure extended his colossal hand, gesturing toward him with a commanding, "Come here."

Eidos felt his body freeze, as if an invisible force had seized control, compelling him to move toward the ominous giant. In a trance-like state of fear and resignation, he obediently obeyed, his feet carrying him to sit beside the imposing stranger.

In that moment, as he sat beside the intimidating chubby man, Eidos couldn't help but feel a chilling certainty that his fate had taken a dire turn.

**

This powerful man moves his left hand towards Eidos, and all he can do now is sit and wait for his death.

Eidos's world had narrowed to a point of no return. The looming presence of the colossal man had him on the brink of despair, the fear of impending doom consuming his every thought. With no escape in sight, he braced himself for the inevitable.

Then, in a twist of fate, the man's massive hand descended gently upon Eidos's head. The touch, initially feared to be the harbinger of destruction, turned out to be a gentle pat. In that moment, as the colossal hand enveloped his head, it was as if the weight of the world had lifted.

The overwhelming dread and anxiety that had consumed him just moments before melted away, replaced by an unexpected sense of warmth and reassurance. It was as if the colossal man's touch had the power to dispel the darkest of shadows that loomed over Eidos's soul.

"AHAHAHA, I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable; it has been a scary experience, right? I hope you forgive this old man," the giant chuckled heartily, his laughter carrying a sense of familiarity that Eidos couldn't have anticipated.

The booming laughter that followed took Eidos by surprise, a stark contrast to the intimidating presence the man had initially exuded. The apology, laced with genuine warmth, echoed through the air, and Eidos found himself struggling to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions that had swept over him.

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A profound sense of security enveloped me, reminiscent of the days of my youth. I harked back to a time when I was just a boy in my hometown. In those simpler days, the strongest guard in our town had been a towering figure of strength and protection.

I recalled how he used to pat my head in a reassuring manner, just like this giant's hand resting on me now. It was a gesture filled with silent promises of safety and hope, a reminder that the world beyond our small community was a realm of wonder and adventure rather than a place of fear and uncertainty. As he regaled me with tales of valor and exploration, I'd listen with rapt attention, feeling cocooned from the harsh realities of life by his presence.

"Since you are different than humans, you might have sensed my strength much more than a regular human," He mused with a knowing twinkle in his eyes.

"You know I'm not human?" I stammered, taken aback by his insight.

"HAHAHA, young man you don't even try to hide your unusual presence. Or maybe you can't?" He teased, delivering a friendly slap to my back that almost knocked me off my feet. His laughter, deep and hearty, resonated through the surroundings. "Well, you will learn it in no time."

"Ah, uh, what's your name, sir?" I asked, still trying to catch my breath from his jovial gesture.

"HAHA, I haven't introduced myself, have I?" He chuckled, his voice taking on the spirited tone of a seasoned storyteller. His massive belly swayed as he laughed. "My name is Atnas, and you can say that I'm the core of this place."

"Core?" I inquired again, my curiosity burning brightly now.

Atnas looked at Eidos with a face that said, "So I'm going to start with that."

I was about to apologize but Atnas, however, seemed to read my thoughts and waved off my unspoken apology with a hearty laugh. "AHAHA, it's fine, it's fine," he reassured me.

Atnas continued our conversation with a seriousness that contrasted with his earlier joviality. "You see, young one, every town has a single person who serves as its core. As long as that person is alive and well, no players or monsters can use any attack-type skills within the town's boundaries. It's a safeguard to keep our towns peaceful and free from destructive conflicts."

I listened intently, my curiosity piqued. "That sounds like a powerful defense mechanism."

"It is, indeed," Atnas nodded, his expression growing somber. "But it's also unfortunate that some players, driven by their own greed and selfish desires, try to take advantage of this fact. They harm the core individuals or threaten them to gain control over a town."

my thoughts drifted to my own tragic past. It was all starting to make sense. The players who had attacked my town must have taken the same ruthless approach: targeting the human core first and then wreaking havoc.

I couldn't help but clench my fists at the memory of that fateful day. The loss of my friends and family still weighed heavily on my heart. The anger and pain resurfaced as I realized that they, too, had been victims of those who sought to exploit this mechanics for their own gain.

As I contemplated this word "core", I couldn't help but wonder about the cores of other abandoned towns that I came across before arriving here. Were they safe?, or had they, too, fallen victim to the greed and cruelty of some players?.

"So what town are you from, young one?"

"Ah, I'm sorry, sir, for my late introduction. My name is Eidos, and I'm from the town of Beginnings."

"!!"