“Longtime. Crypto!”

From the portal, a Knight donned in black-plated armour emerged. Around his arm were 3 feathers wrapped in a band. Under his helmet visor, Red eyes pierced through.

The battle of the Tradesmen and the Unveiled Crypto was quick. After his transformation, he dismantled them in an instant. He even took no damage.

The raiding party began to run upon Crypto with Jeen's lead once again, but the players were hesitant. They had just seen the imminent power of Crypto. Crypto turned and faced them. One lone archer in the back range shot an arrow. It travelled undetected and hit Crypto on the forehead. He took 1 dmg. When his HP fell 1 HP, a gold coin dropped from Crypto’s body. Everyone in the White Market noticed this as if it was slow motion. The coin fell to the floor. Bounced. The mouths of all the players dropped. Then it bounced again, again and again until it began to spin and fall flat on the floor. With each drop, the players' mouths followed. They realized.

Jeens raised his hand. “We have found Jackpot!”

Another player yelled, “Is this the end of a rainbow?” Players didn’t completely understand but were becoming privy to the fact that Crypto’s HP converted into gold.

“Does that mean that he's like a gold mine!” one player said.

“He's Like a Piñata,” Madder whispered to Jun. “And I think his cover is blown. Seismic made the Piñata skill to be a gratuitous area event where a player can hit an object that drops loot. Crypto being the Genius made himself that item because he is a Pirate. Because we can be targeted it works similarly.”

Jun nodded as if he understood.

It was then that Jeens gave a speech like no other. “Players, we are here. Together as one. Not as enemies but as players who want one thing. We want Billions of gold. Imagine everything you could buy with that gold. Feel it in your bones. I want you to raise your arms, high! And follow me. Even if we die, we can always come back and just keep attacking him. Even if we chip 1 damage, that is 1 gold.” Then each player in the raid party received a notification. Raid Party Loot type changed - One by One. “Now each time you loot a gold, it will be given to a player that hasn't received gold yet, which means that we have an equal distribution of gold!”

The raiding party cheered and roared in excitement.

“Jeens! You are the best leader ever!”

“Please like and subscribe to my Parties!” He yelled back to them. Finally, some players got the courage to rush Crypto. Mages were firing spells from the backlines as well as archers. As melee characters rushed in. Rogues who were faster were the first to meet near Crypto's body. Then some players who were on mounts joined the frontlines. A player in the back even summoned a Trebuchet. “Is that a Siege weapon?” Jun asked.

“I guess anything goes in this fight,” Madder whispered to Jun. But the latter remained. Jun’s conquest was to become the richest player and get his voucher. How was this supposed to happen like this? “So do you plan on joining the fray?”

“This seems like a cop-out,” Jun said while shrugging. “I wanted an easy route but not this easy of a Route.”

It was words enough to make Madder smirk in his shadow. Although he couldn't tell what expressions or movements she was making. “Stand back and watch then.”

As they did, at first it seemed that Crypto was getting damaged and losing HP, but he still had a large sum of HP. As players hit him, he wasn’t taking any more than 1 damage at a time, which meant. “We’ve done 100,000 hits, we need to do…” Jeens was calculating the math. “I guess we have to do 5 billion hits on him unless we can do more than 1 damage…” Technically the players were 100,000 gold richer, but at this rate, they would never defeat him.

A player nearby then noticed something strange. He saw a staff on the floor. “Wait, isn't this Chest’s staff, why is it still here?” As the player picked it up, a voice spoke to her. “UGU UGU.”

The brief chant made her drop the staff. The staff then rose and entered her inventory. “Wandering Altruist.” The staff seemed to have a mind of its own. She looked at the level requirement. Level 200. “Can any player wield this level 200 Staff.”

Many of the Mages turned back but one player raised their hand. It was a player by the name of Heimlicker. “Pass that over here.” When it went to his inventory he equipped the staff. “Amazing. I feel the power!”

A sudden burst of energy filled him as he learned new skills. The staff was an event weapon given to players years ago, but it still holds as one of the best staves in the game for level 200 players. The player read the abilities. This staff casts max-level versions of all healing and buff skills to players. Julia, who was in range, regained her health and rose. When the player wielding this staff dies, they can never wield this item again and it drops. “An Excalibur Staff huh.” The player had only a couple of buffs, but with them being improved he cast them all. “Party Strength Up!” He yelled. This skill had 10 levels and his basic skill was level 5. It became a level 10 buff. With it, the raid party’s attacks grew significantly stronger. That they were now doing 5 damage each.

“Who did that?” Jeens asked.

The player raised his hands.

“Everyone says thanks to Heimlick!”

“Thanks! Heimlick!” The raiding party yelled.

The buff was enough to start giving Crypto some thought, but he wasn't worried.

“The reason why the Piñatas skill works for Crypto so well is because…”

Just then Crypto scouted the battleground. It seems the players are well coordinated. In his expertise on the other server, he and Borealis had been through countless battles. Something like this though wouldn't take much effort to deal with, but he was losing health and players were looting his gold. In doing so he was also getting weaker.

“Hmmm, I can only let this go on for so long.” He then dropped to the ground and the frontline fighters were surprised. Crypto then summoned 2 daggers from the air into his hands and crossed them in front of him.

“Oh, here we go!” Madder whispered to Jun. She sounded excited.

Crypto then began throwing the knives to nearby players and instantly these players exploded into digital dust. The daggers flew away and never seemed to return but each time Crypto would do a throw animation the player would take damage. The daggers though in actuality weren’t even doing damage on impact but doing something else.

“What the heck is going on?” Jeens wondered. As players began to disappear he noticed. “Everyone stand 100 meters away. One hundred meters is the furthest distance a player could target you!"Jeens could recognize that Crypto was targeting players in some way. As the last person who realized the message would fizzle in his last breath, he yelled. “He is pickpocketing us!”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“pickpocketing?” Jun whispered. “How?”

“That’s not quite it.” Madder exclaimed, “But close.”

Jeens then ordered all the mages and archers to continue firing from this distance. Then he told all rogues to switch to ranged weapons and do the same. Crypto embraced the bombardment of attacks. He wasn’t impressed but he saw it was a nice strategy.

Crypto then approached the players. He was able to move 20 meters in a second. And it wasn’t enough time for most players to move away. The players instantly fizzed and Jeens turned to his side. “Huh!” He jumped back.

“Is there no way to defeat this world boss?”

Crypto then began charging up. Energy from all the fallen players seemed to connect back to him.

‘What is he doing…?” Jeens wondered. Each player that had fallen left a loot bag of things, similar to the Tradesmen. These things included…

“Gold,” Madder exclaimed, shaking her head.

Crypto began regaining max hp. He began to grow and doing so, made him stronger.

“There is no beating this.”

As Crypto would charge his next attack, Jeens would cover his eyes. After a flash of light, the Spawn of Elleon was filled with all the players who were defeated in the White Market, even the Tradesmen. “That son of a…” Mimic yelled. He was complaining and getting on with his crew.

All of the other players were simply opening their portals but something was wrong.

Jeens noticed it as well. They no longer had access to the White Market which meant they no longer could participate in the event. “UGH!” Jeens yelled. “But wait.” He then checked his inventory for the gold he should’ve gained. Not only was it not there, but all the gold in his inventory was gone.

Back in the White Market, Crypto stood tall, laughing. “These guys put up a gold fight, eh Madder!”

Not too long did his parody last. Lo and behold, a single portal would open with a black knight walking through. "Longtime Crypto."

His red eye pierced. “Did you say...Madder?" He looked around. "Crypto, You’ve grown.”

The player inspected Crypto. “Level 555! You unveiled! I don’t think that would be enough.” He said while brushing his shoulder.

Crypto knew exactly who this player was and even as a boss monster himself, felt fear. “Madder run!”

“Who is that?” Jun whispered to Madder but Madder seemed still in his shadow. Was she frightened? Jun thought

After a long silence, the black knight spoke.

“Where is my wife? It's dinner. Our parents are coming over! If you don’t tell me where she is I will defeat you once and for all. You know I don’t like what you Borealis guys are making my wife play for hours on end! Her family misses her!”

“His Wife?” Jun then turned and faced his shadow. “You’re Married!”

The shadow was silent, but a single heart with a ring emote spawned out of it. “It’s a long story…”

“I know I can sense her in here, and of course, I would find you with her Crypto.”

Crypto then summoned his two daggers. “You know the gist. Over my dead body.”

“That's what you Borealis guys always say. But there is no honour among thieves.”

Jun tried to inspect the player but he seemed to have question marks for levels.

“Unveil!” the player yelled. It was then that Jun could finally see his name and level.

Blackfeather, Level 603. “He’s stronger than Crypto?” Jun read.

“I know,” Madder said awkwardly.

Blackfeather drew his sword and waved it towards the floor. It didn’t seem like much but Cryptos received 1 dmg and a gold coin dropped.

Crypto rushed towards Blackfeather but he jumped in the air dodging his advance. ‘I know all your tricks Crypto. How are you gonna beat me with everything I taught you!” Blackfeather ended up behind Crypto. He pushed the blade towards Crypto but didn't graze him. “Dead.”

Crypto would turn around and attack and Blackfeather would end up again behind Crypto. “Dead.” Again. “Dead," and again. “Dead.” This instance occurred over and over before finally Crypto jumped back. “This damn brat. Why’d you marry such a brat.”

“Since Madder is here. Honey, you’re going to have to log out, okay.” He then began charging his sword. Crypto began to guard but it was too late. Whatever hit Crypto did enough damage to leave him blinking with 1HP. “Your Piñata skill is no match for my PBE Skill.”

“There’s no honour among thieves? Says you! That’s why you quit Borealis!” Crypto exclaimed.

Madder then had to explain some things to Jun, as Julia and Aethera were very much out of the loop. "The way Crypto's PBE Skill Piñata works is that Each gold he acquires makes him stronger, but Crypto as a player can pickpocket and interact with many items at a time, meaning that he can always survive as long as there is a source of gold. Although he is taking damage, Blackfeather’s PBE skill could easily surpass this. Seismic called his skill..."

“Mercy. That is what Seismic called it.” Blackfeather yelled out calmly with resolve.

Blackfeather nodded. “The ability to attack anything and leave it with 1 HP without being defeated. That is indeed what Mercy's skill is but, go ahead heal up. I will show you my true strength.”

Crypto did just that. Every coin that dropped was instantly put back into Crypto's inventory and he emerged with a full 5 billion HP once again.

“Do your worst!” Crypto yelled.

Finally, Blackfeather would notice the remaining players. He looked at Aethera and Julia. He then looked at Jun. “That player is casting a shadow.”

“Hey, have you ever heard of never looking away in a fight!” Crypto throws a strike with immense power at Blackfeather, but Blackfeather holds his arm. “Ugh!” Crypto grunted.

“How is he doing that?” Jun asked.

“Pure Strength,” Madder said slowly. “Blackfeather is a Veil 6 player like me but he has put every stat into Strength.”

Blackfeather then waved Crypto's hand back, like a parry in a Souls-like Game, and charged energy in his fist, but Crypto wasn’t able to move. Crypto then noticed a dark feather on his arms. He wondered what it was but then noticed many dark feathers raining in the sky. Blackfeather began to explain. “When a knight first chooses his path it is through darkness or light. Wielding the light of a paladin or the darkness of a Crusader. And class changes after class changes, those Lawful good classes are tempted by darkness. Finally when they taste a bit of darkness. They begin to realize that maybe, this was the way all along. From scales to feathers my friend.”

He then pulled his hand back. “The featherknight gives away his weapon and takes on the role of the vanquisher but not from the whims of deity, but of his fist. My feathers grant me a guaranteed Critical hit depending on the number of feathers on the object. It only occurs when I interact with something. So technically I can give you Mercy right now. But I just wish for you to know that I do not need Mercy to defeat you. Right now that feather’s level is equal to my own and I use the rarity of my weapon as a damage modifier. “

“I didn’t think there was a PBE skill that matched mine until I saw yours!”

Blackfeather then punched Crypto in the stomach, patching a hole right through him dealing 6,432,214,532 damage.

‘Madder run!” Crypto yelled, Crypto began to fizzle, raining coins from the sky from where his body was.

“I guess I just cleared Crypto's bounty. “Aw, not enough experience to level. Bummer. Black said grimly.

Blackfeather then shifted right to Jun. “Oh yes, Madder is here. It must be this kid.” Blackfeather presumed. “There is no light source in here but you cast a shadow. Isn’t that odd?”

“Jun we're getting out of here.” Jun was terrified.

“Wait?” Blackfeather said slowly. “Honey?”

Jun didn’t wish to be in whatever domestic feud this was but knew something was wrong. He then received a message. It was from Crypto. “How are you still alive…?” Jun asked.

Crypto explained that before he died, he pickpocketed him, and gave him one Crypto coin item." but he continued. "Just trust me. You have to get Madder out of there. That man is not what you think. But I ask one favour...”

“And what is that?” Jun replied.

“Please just take me with you.”

“Can’t you just heal yourself?” That was probably the most common sense thing to Jun as he just saw everything, but Crypto explained. “I haven't respawned. and still have my death timer to respawn. I no longer have a bounty. I am a blank slate. If I am captured entirely, I will go to in-game jail and have to be away-from-keys for a year before playing again with my Infamy.”

Jun was shocked. He didn't know the repercussions of playing as a Pirate. But it hit him. “The reason Blackfeather wished to find Madder was to defeat her and get her off this game for a long time. With her Infamy she must have more than a year at least..."

“Three years idle.” He said to Jun. “Three years, I can take her off this game, and back to real life. We can raise a family together and…”

“No…” Madder said solemnly. This time Blackfeather could hear her "That is not the man I love. Not anymore. He is only a copy."

“There you are.”

Jun didn’t understand but he knew one thing, and one thing only. He didn't come all this way to not become a Tradesman.

“Hey Crypto, if you give me the Tradesmen Certificate, I will protect you and Madder!”

He immediately received a Tradesmen Certificate in his inventory. In the same moment, Blackfeather went to grab Jun but it was too late. Jun had class changed into a Tradesmen and because he had inspected the skill prior he knew exactly which skill he needed right now.

It would be then that Julia, Aethera, Madder and Crypto would receive an invitation to a Caravan. “I thought you’d never ask,” Madder yelled. With 5 players accepting, Jun summoned his caravan and all players emerged inside. “He then activated a skill. “Emergency escape!” The caravan then halted for a second and then instantly phased out of the White Market.

Meanwhile, Blackfeather in the White Market looked at all of Crypto's gold and looted it. ‘There is no honour among thieves. Honey, I am coming for you!” The White Market would then fizzle and Blackfeather was in Elleon. There laid a single staff, floating. "What do we have here?"

Our players on the other hand were in a place they did not expect. “Where are we?” Julia asked.

Aethera also was confused. “This is an unusual space.”

Jun looked at the cooldown of the skill. It was on a 168-hour cooldown!

“Good Move Yggsalad.” Madder says to him. She was no longer in his Shadow and appeared in front of him. The players were in awe. Her armour was simple yet emitting immense power. Crypto too appeared but his form was not like his Boss Monster form, but still exalting power.

“A Caravan! Well done!” She said, “And what is this Caravan called?

Jun looked towards the group. “I didn't have much time but something just wandered off the top of my head.”

They then read the name above their heads.

‘Aurora.”