There was nothing on the other side of the gate. Only the trail continuing through the forest. Sora hoped there would be more NPC bandits to crush, but all she could do now was move on.
After resting under a big tree, the morning sun rose over a nearby mountain. There were fewer trees in the woods, probably designed to give players enough room to fight mods.
Sora rose and yawned while stretching her arms up. Garan and Maxor were still lying around the campfire spot on the grass, snoring peacefully.
Sora wished there was something to eat for breakfast. Like pop-tarts and coffee.
Those food groups were her usual breakfast each day before work. And nobody could tell him what not to eat at his apartment.
Sora looked around and observed the perimeter until her NPC companions wake up. If there were mobs to kill close by, Sora could gain some experience percentages immediately. She was still at level one, feeling weak about it.
Between two trees, Sora pushed through a green brush of bushes outside her camping area. She won’t go too far so her friends won’t lose track of her.
After she stepped out from the bushes, she approached a clear blue spring, surrounded by bushes and tall trees. Sunlight gleamed over it, making the surface glow like a heavenly fountain.
Sora has drunk nothing since she left the village after the players turned into a mob. And walking with a dry throat won’t be good for traveling.
After she scanned around the spring, she kneeled toward the water and licked it. She couldn’t drink like a normal human because of her long snort. But nobody was around to make fun of her.
Her eyes closed, tasting the fresh smooth milky minerals within the artificial water. She thought about her human male body in the real world. If she died, there was no point in returning to the real world. But she could still help the players by defeating the Lich King. Nobody else should have the same fate as her.
Her eyes opened after she heard a bush shook from the other side of the spring. From the bush, a pig’s face popped out and stared at Sora.
The foxgirl dropped her mouth. What the hell?
“Are you alone?” the pig whispered.
Sora placed her hand on the handle of her sword. I thought this place is safe!
Before she pulled her sword out, she felt a blade touched her neck.
“Don’t move!” a deep voice shouted behind her.
Sora glanced up to a large black bull, wearing a leather vest and a loincloth.
Boram
Bull
Barbarian
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Male
Level: 20
HP: 200/200
PC
A player? Sora expected bandits would wander in the forest. Apparently Sora and her NPCs weren't alone, far from a town.
Two more players rose from behind the bushes and approached her. A black cat in a purple robe, and a deer in a green jacket, pointing an arrow at Sora.
Virran
Cat
Mage
Male
Level: 20
HP: 200/200
PC
Leguess
Deer
Archer
Male
Level: 20
HP: 200/200
PC
Even the pig rose and walked around the spring to join his party, holding up an ax while wearing an armor suit and chain mail over his head as a green cape hung on his back.
Dorar
Pig
Rogue
Male
Level: 20
HP: 200/200
PC
All four were at level twenty, making them more advance than Sora. Without touching her sword, Sora’s attack power won't inflict a lot of damage. If she makes one move, the bull could slit her throat, instantly killing her. She has to remain calm and patient.
"You shouldn't be drinking alone, foxy," said Boram. "That water could have parasites in it."
"Yeah," the pig laughed.
Sora growled. "Are you bastards going to rape me?”
The bull widened his eyes. "Rape you?"
Sora nodded with glaring eyes.
The cat shook his head. "No! We're not going to rape you! That's barbaric!"
"We are going to kill you so we can level up," the deer explained.
"That is still worse!" Sora shouted. "If you kill me, I'll die!"
The players laughed.
"We don't care," said the bull. "All our lives depend on beating the Lich King. It's either kill or be killed!"
"We killed enough of players to learn that," the pig added. "The fewer enemies we have, the easier the competition."
Sora couldn't believe her ears. They were Player Killers, bullies who preferred to gain levels by defeating other players instead of mobs. But in this situation, they were murdering people for their selfish gain. "You assholes! We should be working together to fight the Lich King. Not kill each other!"
The cat pointed his staff at her. "We have no choice! Killing other players is easy. If we don't, someone else will kill us."
Those murderers had lost their minds. After getting trapped in the game for one day, they decided killing others would make them stronger. Or they became so paranoid, they took no chances to avoid death. Anyone can go insane if they stay inside a game for too long. At least Sora kept her sanity for a while.
"We know killing is wrong, but we have no choice," said the pig. "Think of this as a sacrifice for the greater good."
“But I am only level one!” Sora exclaimed.
“That will make it easy for us to kill you,” the bull chuckled.
The player killers held out their weapons, ready to attack. How will Sora get out of this situation?