A woman running from a cloud of dust was getting nearer to R. it was none other than Ailani the one he was looking for.
Her face was showing her desperateness and fear. Multiple eyes of predators were gleaming behind her. The monster of the cave was probably chasing her due to her mishaps.
R draws his bow and release flurry of arrows as fast as he could. One arrow two arrows three arrows four arrows, all of it hit its target with the disappearance of the shining eyes of the creature which was chasing the poor girl. But still they were a lot which was alive, R has no other way than to go for melee combat.
But before he could reach for his dagger, a silhouette passes through him. With lightning speed, the silhouette that he saw reach the behind Ailani facing a direct encounter with the monsters. It was none other than Kasumi. Surprised by the sudden capabilities of the young miss, he underestimate the shop owner’s daughter, never in his thought that the sentence she could handle it means the thing that was happening in front of him.
As she unsheathed her two daggers from the back of her waist, blinding streak of light came out of from the darkness of the cave. With her pseudo ninja like movement, her attacks was sharp and fatal, one by one the monster drop to the ground and loots were flourishing on cave’s ground.
The numbers of monster was around 8 to 10, is this what the old man meant by she can handle a few monsters. More like she was dominating the whole fight. A tingling sense creep up to his spine. He wouldn’t want to mess with this girl until he was strong enough.
From the back he could see she was panting heavily, R guess was 10 monsters must be the limit of her fighting capability, more than that must be fatal to her. but no matter it will act as future reference if she turns up to be nuisance to him.
Turning back to the opening of the cave there he saw Ailani dropping to her knees with little bits of tear at the end of her eyes waiting for it to drop to her cheeks. Ignoring the killer girl that catching her breath, R makes his moves to secure his free equipment. A little trick to capture a girl’s heart was by first comforting her in time of needs.
From the back, R carefully wraps her body with his arms. With words of encouragement, he said to her
‘there there Ailani do not cry I’m here, I will always stay by your side’
As he comfort her, the girl cry to her heart content. Bawling in front of the cave she gave in to her need to cry. She mumbles gibberish as it was hard to understand while she was crying her heart out.
‘im…. Sob…sob…was…sob…sob…looking….waaaaa’
Irritated by the unfinished sentences, R keeps his calm and comfort Ailani to spoke her words clearly
‘do not cry Ailani, I will always be here come tell me what’s wrong? I was worry sicked since I couldn’t find you back in the guild building’
Said R with a definite motive behind his soft spoken words.
Kasumi the pseudo ninja girl emerge from the cave with an annoyed face, seeing both of this people being lovey dovey make her anger tick, but she shrugged it off seeming that she had a task on her with this dubious guy that she was currently tag along.
‘I found the gem but…..but….’
In R’s mind, he was hoping for Ailani to get over it but no matter he would stil wait for it.
‘I found the gem but the place was filled with monsters and I thought about sneaking around then the mother start noticing me and chased me up till now uhuk uhuk’
‘I see’
Now he knows the where about of the gem, it would be smooth sailing after this. Find the gem, find the secret ingredients and reap the reward. He was already having a blissful heart thinking of all the reward but he had to make a plan for him to succeed.
‘by the way Ailani how many monster in this place you said?’
Ailani after calming her nerves down she then spoke much clearer
‘around 400 to 500, im not sure’
‘eh that not muc- WHAT!!! 400 to 500 are you sure?’
R shown a shocked face, surprised hearing the amount of monsters, he could not hide his true feelings upon hearing that. Even for him 500 was too much, hearing it he then decide to change his plan abandonment was an option that came to his mind. Until he heard this from someone
‘ahh that place, still crawling with monsters eh. Hey we’re supposed to get the ingredients there seems to be still impossible huh’
Said Kasumi instill with a sense of hopelessness.
Now his mind went blank, he could not afford to miss another reward. A reward that guarantees him a surplus amount of gold in the next future, a reward he could not skip on as the potential it carry was infinite.
He had no other choice; he has to overcome the wall called 500 monsters. Being an archer made it much more difficult for him to tackle this problem. If he had been a melee combat based class it would be much more easier. Nevertheless a challenge was still a challenge, he could not help it that some tiny part of his heart was getting boil up hearing about this obstacle.
While brainstorming for a plan, he asks Kasumi on what their level were for those 500 excluding the other part of the cave.
‘hmm I think its more or less around the range of 40 I suppose’
‘I see and did the one you fight just now was level 40?’
‘yeah … why?’
‘nothing just to clarify things’
R’s monolog
Hmm if the monster just now were level 40 but how come the monster that I kill didn’t level me up? Or they weren’t dead to begin with. hmm it seems to be logical as how could a mere level 8 archer kill a level 40 monster. Anyway this task seems to be a bit daunting but I think its still manageable if I could manage to raise my level a bit and gain the way to kill multiple enemies at once would be a good bargain. Sheesh much hard work needs to be done.
‘Anyway Ailani how many monster could you kill in that specific place?’
‘around two I guess’
R’s monolog
I guess that was predictable, but to defeat those monster seems to be admirable in a way. Brushing up her skills and minimizing her klutzness would make her a dependable ally.
‘Since they enemy is too much for us, I have enact a plan but you girls both need to listen to me understand?’
Both of them nod in agreement but a little bit reluctance can be seen on the face of Kasumi
‘So here’s the plan…’
Huddle up together R then gave out the instruction for them to prepare their 500 encounter.
For the next two days, they explore the outer region of the cave following the outer tunnel of the cave. On this tunnel that could only fit at most 4 people in diameter was a troubling path for R. He do not like the pre tense of sharing an enclosed place with too many people. No matter to him right now result was at the most importance.
The cramps tunnel where he undergoes his training. Letting Ailani acting as vanguard, Kasumi stay behind R for reassurance of the back security but the center was where R was located. It was the safest position for R to stay being that he was an archer.
This formation was perfect for him to explore the cave. With each encounter with monsters, that was at most 2 to 3 in numbers Ailani fend them off with her shield and sword, while R shoot them down with his bow accurately hitting them in different spots. This was of course for R to search for their vital spots, one thing that he notice during his in game play was each monster have their own weak spot, most would be the eyes but other location could also pose a more critical hit. Finding their weak spots would let him exterminate the monsters much more easier.
Kasumi was irritated at the back not having a piece of the action. Instructed by R, she could only move when both of them are peril danger.
This of course was made for him to gain the most experience in the party, with Ailani defending the front slowly depleting the monsters health points, R at the back ready his arrow releasing it at when its at death’s door. Reaping the exorbitant amount of experience.
For three days straight, they run around in the cave. Meeting different types of monster that inhabit the darkness of the cave. R take notes of their behavior pattern, attack pattern, movement pattern and memorizes it all in his head. they only went for break every now and then, the ruthless training regime was unbearable for Ailani as at one time she even broke down to tears. The fatigue was piling up for her as she was the one who bear the most burden.
Kasumi disgruntled as seem that she wasn’t approved of R’s method. If he had let Kasumi do half of the killing it would be more relaxed for Ailani. But to contrary her believe, R’s training will come to fruition at upcoming encounter. Even R was fatigued with all the intense moment in training, he once had a close call of having his head chop off by the monster claws. Avoiding all those dangerous attack wore him down in a certain way.
Ending their training they camp out at the entrance of the cave around the campfire. They all were silent sitting in their own place, Ailani was still sniffing after crying out through the whole journey of going back. R was too tired to comfort the teary Ailani and let her cry her tears out.
Around the campfire, he open up the inventory observing the loot that he had gather after three days of grinding. A lot of equipments have been gather most are at the range of level 25 to 30. He was planning to equip both Ailani and Kasumi with the gathered equipment if it was proved to be useful to them.
He then ask Ailani
‘Ailani can you show me your status please?’
‘eh ok sure’
Taking out of her pocket was a silver plate, she touch it and gave it to me after pronouncing
‘appareo’
He watch the surface of the plate as engraving surface. Then a blue window appears in front of R.
————————————————————————————————
Would you like to enlarge?
Yes/No
————————————————————————————————
R press yes and a more detailed table open up those that was the same as his.
[center][table][tr4]
Health point +1000 (item effect)
[/tr4]
Status WindowNameAilaniAllignmentNeutralLevel38ClassWarriorTitleHead Guild of Kolo IslandFame70Infamy0Health3500/3500Mana840/840Strength110Agility40Vitality65Stamina2035/2035Intelligence10Wisdom10Leadership3Luck2Attack130Defense333Elemental ResistanceNone
‘wow’
Exclaim R as he saw her status up close, her attack and defense was quite remarkable no wonder she can kill at least one or two monster from before. But the things that bug him was do NPC distribute their own status or does it rise by its own, he then ask her
‘Ailani, how come you have high strength?’
‘ooo you know since I was all alone in the guild house I practice hitting the wooden dummy plus lifting some weight at the gym, did I do something wrong R?’
‘no no you have done well’
Now he was sure regarding their status, it will only raise if they correspond to certain activities, since she was doing physical activities her strength vitality and agility rise up in a balance manner. Her health point was quite a lot to begin with, it said here it was due to item effect must have been her skimpy clothing didn’t know it would provide that much of a benefit except for those expose cleavage.
R then decided not to change her armor as it would be more the disadvantages, he gave out a sword that certainly would be better than the beginner sword that she uses plus a shield that would make it worthwhile rather than the old wooden shield that she wield. Ailani seems delighted getting new pairs of equipment, well R didn’t mind to begin with as long as they complete the quest.
He then turn his sight on Kasumi that was silent throughout the whole journey, she only spoke when she was displeased with something. R quite easily knows how to handle this kind of girl you play push and pull and by a moment later they will fall for you completely. He ask
‘Kasumi, may I see you status?’
‘no you cannot’
A reply fill with discontent, seeing her behavior R play along
‘ok but if something happen…’
He stops short of his sentences trying to make her feeling agitated and it seems to be working
‘what? What would happen?’
‘nothing’
‘hey! You better tell me or..’
‘or what Kasumi, Im here to help your father didn’t i? and from the beginning I was trying to but I need you to help me too for us to help each other’
He spoke those words with his eyes showing sincerity in it, to attain her heart one must not coerce but appeal in an attentive manner.
After a moment of staring to each other eyes, she then change her sight with a little red tint of embarrassment flushes on her face.
‘fine, here is my plate’
He grabs a hold of it while smiling to the bashful Kasumi. The same thing happen like Ailani’s plate, an option to open in a detailed manner, he presses yes.
[center][table]
Status WindowNameKasumiAllignmentNeutralLevel43ClassKunoichiTitleExile heir of Shiroe clanFame0Infamy100Health4200/4200Mana2990/2990Stamina1360/1360Strength40Agility100Vitality10Dexterity40Intelligence60Wisdom10Leadership0Luck25Attack1256Defense478Elemental ResistanceNoneIncrease health point by 2000+ (by item effect)
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Increase mana point by 2000+ (by item effect)
Seeing it he was silent, froze in his spot. Now he knows where her strength come from, even the equipments were those in the higher with amazing effects. But what caught his attention was the class that she has and the title that was bestow on her. so she wasn’t a pseudo ninja but a real one to be exact and the title explain more than R need to ask. An heir of a clan could possibly meant she has inner talent in herself and the old man at the tea shop must probably be the excommunicated leader of the clan. They must have done something bad or probably an internal revolt. But nevermind that, right now she was a force that would be a major contribution to the near battle.
R then return her plate,
‘so everything’s fine?’
Said Kasumi with a worried tone, R feign ignorance while saying
‘its fine you are pretty amazing you know’
Kasumi blushes as she heard his compliment. Seeing his companion undeniably strong status made him deep in thought. Currently his level was 29 and by the looks of it, his attack was far below the other two. He had no choice than to raise his dexterity through the hard way. but to raise it in a short moment wasn’t really applicable to right now so he had to do some research first.
‘girls, lets get some sleep, we got a lot of things to do for tomorrow’
As they slept into the night, R log out from the game for research to be done.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
With the pod releasing its gas all over the room, a sound of unlocking can be heard. There a naked man came out of the pod with his expression showing a determined look. But his looks right now wasn’t really suitable for his current state of being un cloth. At the same time that he was coming out of the pod, his apartment door bell rang multiple times. Mera notice it after a while and annoy that someone was messing with his door bell.
As he was oblivious by the fact that he was not wearing anything, he casually open the door expecting a salesman or some kid but contrary to that, it was a gorgeous mature woman and it was none other than, Miss Aki Chibana. Surprised by her showing up in front of his door step, he stood there in silence without words between them, her expression at the moment was with her eyes wide open until her words came out of her mouth.
‘ara ara, Mera-san aren’t you a bit to provocative in inviting me in’
She chuckled as her eye was scanning down on Mera’s body from top to bottom, a lecherous intention leaks into the atmosphere indicating that her lust was increasing by the second. He then notice something a breeze was felt at his lower bottom and it can only be felt when he was not wearing anything. That’s when it hit him that he was not wearing anything, with steel of nerves he gave out a feign smile to Miss Aki while saying
‘Miss Aki-san, I just woken up, how about you come in first’
He was calm and collected but nonetheless cold sweats were dripping at the back of his body. Miss Aki on other hand had a smile on her face, and walk in to his room. Mera has caught Miss Aki was taking a glance at his body as she walks in, he acts as usual not wanting to escalated the situation.
‘make yourself comfortable Aki-san, I will go wear something first’
‘huhu I wouldn’t mind you know huhu’
Chuckled the divorced woman with her motive all out in the open. As Mera goes into his bedroom changing or more precisely wearing something. Miss Aki was curious about the white pod laying in his living room. Interested by it he could not take her eyes of it beside the thing that was dangling between Mera’s crotch.
In his bedroom, Mera was continuously cursing his luck for today, appearing naked in front of a woman nonetheless a woman in heat. He would better of stay in the game, but as situation has become what it is, he had no other choice but to wing it.
Dressed with a simple t-shirt and a short cotton pant, he then came out to the living room.
‘can I get you anyth…’
There she was standing in front his white pod with her sweater taken off revealing a one piece alluring dress showing explicit content of her well amorous body. Mera gulps his saliva down his throat, he was expecting that she would behave like this but to be happening in front of him right now make him flustered a bit. Then she asks out of curiosity;
‘Mera-san what is this?’
R’s monolog
Thank god I thought she was asking when the action is starting, never thought my unwavering heart would suddenly waver seeing a gorgeous sexy woman in my room. huh~ it would be good if her cooking was the same as her beauty then I wouldn’t mind doing naughty things with her. but for the moment I should stay off to protect my stomach’s dignity.
‘ouh that’s a pod’
‘pod?’
‘yes its design for people to enter the virtual reality game’
‘virtual reality?’
‘yeah its like a whole new world but in a game. its not real but it have the realism of the real world close to 99.99%’
‘wow that seems amazing, huh~ it seems im becoming an outdated Oba-san how time travels’
‘eh don’t say it like that Aki-san you are still beautiful like 20 year old, you should give yourself some credit you know’
‘huhu thank you Mera-san, it was kind of you to praise an old woman like me’
R’monolog
Damn it now I cant help it, this woman is making it harder for me to forget about her bad cooking.
He walks and stands behind Aki, giving her a back hug he get closer to the side of her ear whispering
‘don’t be down of yourself Aki-san, you are a beautiful and smart lady’
‘do you want me Mera-san~’
Ask Aki-san with a sensual tone
‘of coure I do’
She turns her body and presses her chest to Mera’s body with her eyes full of hope for something that Mera knows about, now the situation was getting out of hands. Mera thought of a way to lead her into something else beside the important human instinct, then he saw the pod;
‘Aki-san would you like to play the game with me?’
‘of course~ wait game?’
‘hehe yes the game Legend of Eterna’
Bewildered by the unexpected response from Mera, she was again caught off guard by this young man character. Mera then explain to her about the game about the overall mechanics, the fee for the game and the interesting things that she can do in the game. excited after hearing his explanation, her eye was now glimmered with another sense of feeling, the erotic feeling that she exude just now was gone and Mera is in the clear.
‘now where were we’
Opening up his laptop, he then accesses the game website and purchases an account for Miss Aki. It seems that she do not mind about the monthly price and the exorbitant amount of the pod. This lonely woman must have a lot of spare money. After registration and the purchase of her account, she was now ready with new sense of excitement in her eyes.
Before she could begin, Mera explain about the requirement for her to strip naked for the biometric registration for first time user.
‘ouh I see’
She then nonchalantly undressed herself in front of Mera. Revealing her amorous curves. Like he was in a trance, he could not take his eyes of her. he then caught red handed
‘Mera-san you didn’t need to stare that intently huhu’
She turns her gaze away, with her face flushes in red out of embarrassment.
‘ouh yeah sorry Aki-san’
‘huhu don’t mind now we are even right Mera-san’
R’s monolog
Huh~ this woman, now she got me, im perfectly caught in her trap right now.
She was now inside the pod in an unconscious state waiting for the biometric registration. Mera was hooking up a monitor and a microphone to communicate with Aki in the game. The pod was made available for interaction between outsider and player through a microphone. He can also watch over her movements through the monitor with wide varieties of angle camera.
Right now in the screen was showing Aki in the character creation section and again it was that brunette A.I again. The woman who guide R of making his character. By the look of it she seem to be a little bit excited looking at the unclothe Aki different from the reaction of looking at R previously. Is she really an A.I or a human worker in disguise, R could never know the truth.
‘hmm Mera-san so what should I do she ask me what is my name should I tell her my real name?’
‘its up to you, it would be fun if you used your nickname or something’
‘ouh I see okay then’
He then heard the name that she register as her in game name
‘LadyAutumn’
That make sense in a way, her name was Aki and it meant autumn in Japanese. It then went on with her constant complains and babbling about different races different body parts that she afraid off after trying to take a look of how she look in different race and more constant question about why this race had long ear and some that look ugly and some that look unrealistic. This goes on for about two hour until she was done creating her character. Its was a hassle for him at the point he was annoyed by her even with her amorous naked body on the screen. Woman do have a thing in making time flow only by choosing stuff.
She then ask of him of where he was, a dark foreboding cloud his mind, he didn’t want to babysit another one. Then he heard her voice again
‘Mera-san so where are you’
‘how about you choose to your own liking first then after a while we meet up. How does that sound?’
‘you said you want to play with me’
On the screen he saw her face pouting, it surely was meant for him.
He then said to her,
‘of course I want to play with you but for now I want you to enjoy yourself first get the feel of it first then we play together, hows does that sound’
‘nooo, I want to go same place also’
He had no other choice; this woman seems to be the persistent type. It would be a bother if she relentlessly disturbs him in an uncomfortable way. Better to use it as leverage for him to create a useful slav- I mean ally.
‘ok fine, im at Kolo island go to the beginner’s town not the port one, got it’
‘ok thank you’ *smooch*
Supposedly a flying kiss to Mera, shivers run down his spine. He hopes that doesn’t mean anything else other than a sign of good friendship.
As he let her play the game to her content, he then search the web for ways to increased his dexterity.
‘let see here’
Numerous results were in front of him, too many to begin with. Most of them are to train your fingers in doing delicate movement and mastering fine arts to skillfully increase your hand dexterity. He’s at end meet, there’s only one way to increase it in a short time. but its not dexterity that he had in mind but something else something far more potent to increase his overall power. It was training he had done in the past that he do not want to remember.
‘Huh~ no choice then, this is why I’m against doing difficult stuff it takes a lot of hard work’
After a while Miss Aki came out of the pod looking delighted on her face. Mera wrap her with a piece of towel. Seeing more of her naked would leave him quite guilty of it.
‘ah thank you Mera-san’
‘so how is it? fun?’
‘huhu it would be more exciting if you were there’
‘then you have to wait until your pod come then’
‘I sure will’
After putting her cloth on, she then return back to her apartment 303. Before going out of the door a light peck was deliver to his cheek. He gladly accept it but wary of its intention.
‘now then lets start’
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Entering the game, it was in the morning the girls were only getting up from their sleep.
‘hmm R?’
‘girls for three days, its personal training time’
‘personal training?’
‘yeah, just do whatever you want and after three days we will meet up at this place first thing in the morning, so be prepared by then’
‘ok but what will you do?’
‘me?’
He stretch his hand and crackle his knuckles
‘huh~ traning’
a deep sigh came from the man facing the rising sun