Chapter 15 and A new meeting

Bright. Brighter than the early sunrise reflected on the fresh snow, yet it didn't hurt your eyes.

Warm. Warmer than the bonfire yet it feels great.

Calming. Calmer than the breeze of the wind in the summer, easing the weary soul.

Overwhelming beauty.  Greater than the sculpture created by the master artist. Teasing the desire to protect instead of envy.

That is my impression on the person who stands in front of me now. Gulping the little air that stuck in my throat, I asked her, " Who are you? and where am I?"

She chuckled for a moment while and winked, " You can guess who I am, as for where we are, well we are inside your dream."

Her graceful smile and wink make me blush for a while.

"A goddess...", as I mumbled.

"Yay! You are right.",

A goddess? Is it the same as the GM?

"Are you are GM?", I inquired.

"Nope, instead of GM, I'm more of a developer."

"If you are the developer. does a GM exist? What  do they do?"

" Well, the answer to that is up to you."

"What do you mean?",

" In this world, the so called GM are those who bend the law of the world by themselves. A player who achieve greatness all by themselves."

Player. Does that mean there are more like me? Dragged into this world.

"How many are the player and GM in the world?"

"Well, there are 13 players altogether, and there's always been 13 no less no more. Well, unless..."

"Unless what?"

The Goddess ignored my question and proceed to answer the next question, the number of GM, " as for the GM, there is one."

I know how strong I've become and what I can be, but what about a GM. I might as well become a flea in front of the overwhelming strength. But still why me? Why do I become one of the players.?

"Why me? And what in the world are TND?",impatience escape from my voice. Feeling betrayed and used but I also want to know the truth.

"We the Godly Being need to balance our world order. Originally, this world only has 12 players, but when one becomes a GM the balance topples and the world is in danger."

"But the world has nothing to do with me, for all I care it can go to hell."

"True, but that world contained our believers, and the believers are our source of strength. When they are gone, we the Godly Being will be erased as if we never exist in the first place." , she looks at me first before continuing, "We need someone to maintain order and balance in the world. But we cannot just take anyone to this world, so we created a medium to select the Balancer. The Balancer must complete the trials and prove their worth. In your world, we created the TND and by completing it, you have completed the trial."

"Why didn't you tell me about this before you dumped me into the world?"

"I did, usually before you enter the world, you need orientation first from me, but you are too drunk. So I just dropped you into the world and cast recovery magic on you. Well, at least the drunk you is not an asshole that will choose a stupid new game advantage."

"What do you mean? Did you say the advantages that I have now is my own selection?

"Exactly. So here the list of advantages and customization for you to see. With this, you might know who the other player is.", The goddess handed me a Tablet.

"Why tablet? It's kind of weird to see a goddess using a tablet.", I retorted.

" Efficiency. Because you are much more familiar with the tablet than another device, or would you like an endless scroll ?" A large scroll appears and hovered next to me.

"No thank you."

The light weight silver Tablet screen lightens up and a welcoming text invited me.

The following is the advantages that are available to you. You have 10 customization point to use. Please spend with care.

- Holy Weapon: 5 point

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

-Divine Armament: 10 point

- Immortality: 6 point

- Invincibility: 2 point

- 3x experience point: 5 point

- Extra Point ( 50,100,200,400) : ( 2,4,6,8) [penalty; extra point after level up will not be  gain after level 50]

- Fast Reflex: 1 point

- Talented: 2 points [ Ability to learn almost all thing without a  having difficulty ]

-more......

Look like I chose quite a good advantages. So how about the NPC?

"Hey, so how about NPC? Are they real?"

" They are real, a living being just like you and the other except they are not the Balancer. But sure they can defeat or kill one but never become one. Oh, let me tell you something, in 10 years time if the player can't achieve balance, the world will be gone."

" What do you mean balance actually? As in good and evil?"

Yes, she said as she nods affirmatively.

" Now wake up"

The brightness suddenly becomes duller and blacken before I finally wake up again.

I was lying down on the training ground with Fiona and Silver sleeping on my stomach. Seeing that I finally woke up, Alnor greeted me.

"Yo boy, ya finally wake up eh?"

Hearing that Alnor greeted, both Fiona and Silver woken up and proceed to hug me. One of them keeps scream " welcome back welcome back", while the other bashing me because I'm too reckless.

" I see, we lose right?", I said as I looked at Alnor for confirmation.

"Nah, it's my lose, you got a hit on me just before you blacked out. To think that you can use that weapon. A promise is a promise, that weapon is yours."

I see, but how did I use it? Injecting mana into it is not enough.

" Hey Old man, what happened before I black out?"

"There's a loud bang."

A bang. So that's how it is. The reason why people of this world cannot use it and magic are related. First, they didn't know how the firearm works, merely inserting mana in it are not enough.

Second, imagination. They need to imagine how the firearm work.

From the squeeze of the trigger to the hammer hitting the fuse and the gunpowder exploded propelling the bullet out of the barrel.

I need to test the theory. Standing up and aiming at the ground in front of me. Mana, 1 point injected. Image ready. Squeeze. BANG.

Reload.Mana.Image.Squeeze.BANG.Repeat

Every subsequent bang gathers more onlooker to the point that everyone stopped working and observing us.

The firepower increase with the amount of mana, so the damage is sufficient enough to kill even the large monsters. But there's a drawback, the recoil increasing the amount mana injected. I also need a huge concentration to use it. The time to reload to shoot time is too long, part of it might be caused by I'm not that familiar with this.Well, I can use it as a trump card.

I remember that the Goddess says, maintain balance or the world will end. For now, I am a resident of this world, I might've gone with the train of thought that I'm the permanent resident of this world.

For now, lets tell Alnor about the situation.

"Hey old man, there's something I need to tell you."

The discussion between me and Alnor goes on. The amount of monster surrounding the city. Both of us agree that the bandits have something to do with the enemy movement. Alnor agreed to report to the local guild branch and local guardsmen. As my claim need verification from the guild.

"You guys will handle it right Alnor? Because we need to get out from this place"

"Yeah, I know."

" Harris!? what do you mean, we can't just leave them here, we need to help them! You got your magic.! You can do something right."

"No. Because I need to protect you not them. That's how our agreement is."

" Then I'll stay!", the determination showed in her eyes, unshaken, unmoveable.