"You want to learn from me?"
The figure nodded energetically, "You seem to know how to fight!"
Akiol kept a straight face, but was seriously considering what the meaning behind their words meant.
They had just attacked him, and is now bowing their head to learn from him? The thought process behind that had to be skewed.
"You do realize what had just happened, right?"
"Yes! I am sorry! It was misunderstanding!"
Akiol crossed his arms, "Aren't you plenty strong yourself?"
The figure scratched their head embarrassedly, "Ah. But I don't know how to fight!"
"Regardless, you did just attack us."
Givale nodded, "I nearly got cleaved in two!"
The figure bowed lower, "I am sorry!"
Akiol watched the figure, it seemed like an honest mistake. They truly did not know how to swing a weapon properly, but they did have experience fighting.
The quick reactions to their missed attacks. The creative way to obtain a makeshift weapon. It came from experience, that was for sure.
So Akiol asked, "You fight here often?"
"Yes! Sometimes people come to hunt those who live here. I stop them most of the time."
"You did say they usually ran. So why are you in this forest?"
"Well, I used to live in my village. One day it was destroyed, and I can't find anyone who was there."
A figure who seemed to rarely speak. The odd way they formed their words was obvious to Akiol, but it made sense now. By the look of their clothes it could've happened a handful of years ago. Which would line up to the experience they had shown in combat.
"You know your way through this jungle?"
"Lived here most my life! I know this place very well."
"Then I can provide you with some tips in combat. In exchange lead us out of here."
The figure jumped with joy, "Thank you!"
Akiol smiled faintly, "My name's Akiol, what's yours?"
"Uhh, Mira. . . I think?"
"Alright then Mira, how long until we get out of here?"
"Two weeks."
Givale immediately started questioning the statement, "Huh?! How can a forest be that big?! Two weeks walking would be forever!"
"Walking? That would take months."
Akiol suddenly felt like the place he was dumped was more troublesome than anticipated, "How large is this forest?"
"Very big, outsiders call it Void Forest."
"How fast would we have to go to leave within two weeks?"
"I jump from tree, fastest way to travel."
Akiol recalled their previous movements, he could manage that speed as well, but to think at that speed it would take them two weeks to leave. . .
Mira pointed towards a location, "Forest has only one entrance, and we are not on the side of the entrance. Trying to leave through other way would send you back to middle."
Akiol frowned, "Then why do people come in here?"
"Not many dangerous monsters, only peaceful creatures. They have. . . direction to entrance. Come to hunt the peaceful creatures."
Akiol could piece together what it meant. They had some sort of compass to direct them to the entrance, without the dangers of aggressive monsters, most likely hunters would enter to make some quick money.
Givale tilted her head slightly, "Not many? I mean we didn't get attacked at all, but is there danger around here?"
"At night they like to come out. Very strong."
Akiol asked, "Can you fight them?"
Mira held up his finger and thumb, leaving a little space between them, "I can fight some this much."
"So how do you stay safe?"
"Monsters can't climb trees."
"A safe haven with its own dangers then. Can you escape fast enough?"
"Escape is easy."
"Then I might have an idea."
~ ~ ~
"Ah! So this is our savior! Please, make yourself comfortable!"
Wrock sat in a chair, after the monster horde he was lead to their Guild House. A group of people sat around an oval shaped table.
They held looks of confidence and importance. These were the 'upper echelons' Wrock had heard about.
Despite their authoritative selves, they put on good expressions and humbled themselves in front of Wrock. No doubt to curry favor with him.
One of them spoke, "You have truly saved us, although the damage is high, we can repair that with some time and effort. You gave us this chance, and for that we thank you."
Wrock played it down, "It wasn't a big deal, just lending a helping hand where needed."
They tossed looks at each other before someone else continued, "We would like to repay this. So please, state your wishes."
"Hmm."
Wrock was put in a troublesome position. Currently they thought Wrock was some hidden expert, either with some background support, or someone who flew under the radar.
As long as he didn't ask for something insane, they most likely would accept. Not to reward him, but to give Wrock a reason to keep in touch. This would give them an opportunity to dip their fingers into a realm of new strength. Either from borrowing his, or by trying to contact his 'background supporter'.
Wrock didn't actually need much, and he could very well decline the offer. Yet something told him they would insist upon it, and he would be titled rude if he continued to refuse.
He couldn't just ask for what he needed currently either, despite how small it is. What he needed was knowledge about the new continent. Knowledge that would most likely be commonly found. For that he would need to give away the fact he was a foreigner, which may just bring some trouble.
So he quickly chose an option, "Ah well, there isn't much I'm looking for right now."
"That would make sense, but we can perhaps provide you with something you aren't aware you want?"
They insisted on the reward like he had assumed. Now for his plan, "In that case, could I postpone the reward? Give me some time to think about it."
"Of course! We can do that much."
He gave them part of their goal, keep in touch with him. Doing this would buy him some time before he could get a grasp on how the place worked.
"Many thanks, I'll be sure to contact you when I have my mind set. Is there anything else?"
"No, we simply wanted to show our thanks. We won't hold you any longer."
"Then I'll take my leave."
They watched as Wrock left the room swiftly. A moment later someone sighed, "There's no way they're alone."
"What's the results?"
"Most of it was question marks, I could barely glimpse at their strength."
"Even your appraisal was beat? How intriguing."
Someone else spoke, "They must be some hidden expert from one of those Guilds, to be able to fight so well soon after the update. . ."
"Aye, although we had a few in-game weeks to practice, barely a tenth of our players actually can fight well."
"However, isn't it too soon for someone to show off their strength?"
"That's what puzzles me the most. Especially during these times."
~ ~ ~
Currently the party was all sitting in the living room. They had temporarily logged off to share info before they continued.
Akiol had marked it all on a whiteboard they had got not so long ago. The party had long since committed it to memory, but Akiol was pondering something.
He spoke out his thoughts, "These events seem connected somehow."
Kan'na agreed, "The issue with Tilia's village, the lack of player strength. In fact the lack of player interference is what's the most confusing."
"I originally thought it was the Catastrophe mentioned by the King. But Yielya's information changed that."
Yielya added, "The ruins I was in wasn't that far from a nearby city. About a day's worth of travel according to Pennily."
Akiol connected some of the information via a written line, "So the lack of player interference could mean they aren't exploring. Perhaps limited to some activities. This would also explain their lack of strength. However what's stopping them? Could it be the Catastrophe?"
Wrock shook his head, "No, if the Catastrophe was an Origin Monster, that would only incite players to hunt it. Regardless of how much players seem levelheaded, there's always a suicidal bunch willing to jump headfirst into everything."
"So we're left with more questions then. Alright, for now we continue with learning what we can. Tilia if you can help that village, go for it. While we should try to stay low, we can't just abandon those in need."
Tilia smiled, "Already planning on it."
"In that case, I assume everyone already has an idea on where to go from here?"
Everyone nodded.
Akiol closed the cap on his marker, "Then let's keep going!"
~ ~ ~
"Man. . ."
Erina looked over, "Something the matter?"
Desk Guy sighed, "My team got a quest to go to another continent."
The office froze upon hearing that. Erina then spoke excitedly, "Already? That's great news!"
"Not to me! I can't access the other continents!"
"You'll be fine! Think of it as a timeskip or something."
Desk Guy coughed, "Timeskip? It's a tad surprising you know that term."
Erina refused to elaborate and continued working.
Slowly the office followed suit and the sounds of keyboard clicks filled the room.