"Support gear set, equip!"
An enveloping glow encapsulates Fargil's entire stature of 6-foot height, just like his real measurement back on Earth. The surrounding soldiers, knights, and spellcasters were driven a few steps behind by the blinding light, further evaluating the situation in order to find the perfect strike.
They were proven cautious and skilled based on their dignified stance despite facing the unknown; overpowering the Alfahim Kingdom's forces by strategy and mastery independently.
As their ringing bloodlust in their hearts pumped a recoil of adrenaline, resounding stronger than before. They hear the voice of the drifting wind, discerning each falling leaf that if ever Fargil displayed even a grain of hostility; they'd pull the trigger and shoot him head-shot point-blank.
However, the soldiers, especially Akeela, the Zinonian Commander had their chance earlier. Now that Fargil equipped his gears, especially the five rings usually attached to his right hand; none should be able to stand in his way.
"I have no idea if this is the game or I really reincarnated here... Let me try a test run then."
What emerged from the light was a man clothed in verdant mage robes. His silver-ashen hair danced along with the cool breeze, his green eyes matching his getup and costume gleams in his conviction to move forward into the unknown.
And to put the cherry on top, Fargil placed his favorite cloak over his shoulders so he would look cool. He felt the cold fabric woven from the highest grade of material seep under his garment; a passive effect of his cloak that reverse and balance temperature based on the surrounding of the bearer.
It was then Fargil swiped the air with his hand, displaying his gear sheet, checking his equipment interface if they are intact and effective now that he had equipped them physically.
»»————- ★ ————-««
Gears >>
– Gaia's Robe
– Ereshkigal's Cloak
– Stave of Illusion
– Lighting Boots
Accessories >>
– Ring of Immortality: Ring finger.
– Ring of Gaia: Index finger.
– Ring of Versatility: Middle finger
– Ring of Entropy: Thumb finger.
– Ring of Deception: Pinky finger.
– Limit Bracelet
»»————- ★ ————-««
Having the support-type equipment that allowed him to reach the rank of a Sovereign under his arsenal was probably the best gift he received upon reincarnation.
The flavor text and information of his gears showing in the system interface in his line of vision was proof that his speculation was right; the world he inhabits really is Arkmeria no doubt.
There was no mistake that the power of the system is still retained under Fargil's grasp. He can tap into his previous gains and status distribution, but for what reason was the least of his worries in that moment of enlightenment.
Nevertheless, Fargil, as always, impulsively lifted his right hand tightly shut that contains the rings, raising his pinky finger that which he mainly used to defeat Sariel, the Overlord of Flames.
The silver ring glowing in dim light, Akeela noticed the stiff atmosphere around them magically evaporated. It was as if she felt Fargil was no longer a threat, questioning her ability to assess an enemy to a point of existential crisis.
However, it was merely one of Fargil's main tactics called masking. His Ring of Deception alters mostly his status and rank, though the main usage of his Deception is to hide his aura and real ability so that his enemies will think lightly of him, providing him an opportunity of finding weak spots before his adversary realizes his real power.
Back in the days of Arkmeria Conquer Online, Fargil only uses his Ring of Deception on exceptional foes since they underestimate him for his role as a support. Regardless, an exact copy of Arkmeria which became his reality should be astronomically different; calibrating his familiarity and understanding of how his 'new' world works knowing it was no longer the same Arkmeria he knew.
"Now you're dressed nicely, I see. Aside from your pretty face, it's a shame if we put a hole in your garments, really..." Akeela shook her head, dispelling all hesitation; her right hand signaling the rest of the soldiers.
"Everyone, open fire!"
Even during Fargil's adventures in the Goldendusk Republic, it was true that NPC Zinonian soldiers are ruthless, bombarding anyone on sight. Now that the cascading gunshots fired from magical firearms raining down on him in all directions, Fargil can't blame Akeela for eliminating an entity they are unable to control.
"Come at me and I–"
Bullets formed from pure mana and lead met Fargil's avatar, piercing right inside his organs and limbs. Akeela and the rest of the soldiers, as well as the mages, fired a barrage of long-range shots and spells, incessantly blasting Fargil in an attempt to erase a potential adversary they can't overcome.
Each bullet penetrates Fargil's garments and skin. And amidst the storm of an open fire, Fargil dances like a ballerina pirouetting beneath the scorching sun, accepting their hostile embrace as if it was his gratitude for them telling him the truth in the new world he had no choice but to swallow down his throat.
"Halt everyone!" Akeela ceased firing, and the rest follows her command. "He's already..."
"...'
Fargil stood proud with both his arms spread out, covering the elven lady behind him to assure her safety. Even though he had nowhere to run, Fargil still chose to sacrifice himself for someone he wasn't sure if it was the same person he met back in the days of his adventures in ACO.
"Why...? Why are you..." The elven lady weeps to see the man that saved her suffer. She could clearly witness his blood gushing like a river, returning to the soil where it once dwelled within.
"You are a fool... You could have just left that lady and saved your own life. It's a shame you had to die with a handsome face like yours." Akeela had a distinct melancholy in her voice, her crimson hair glistening under the sun's kiss.
A wise was once a fool, they said. Bullets and magic bore all over his body Fargil eventually knelt on the weathered floor where he once stood as an Ancient Tree. And for the result of his test; he learned the truth of the world in the harshest way he could possibly visualize.
In Arkmeria Conquer Online, the Oracle Headgear connected to the user or player simulates the seven senses to create an environment close to reality. This means the number of senses a user can feel and experience can be mitigated. And for ACO to be published as a virtual game, the pain tolerance required should be zero.
Even the World Health Organization banned virtual worlds that stimulate the sense of pain. Recent metaverse legislation includes that a user should never feel threatened while under the effect of a simulated world.
In a nutshell, Fargil never felt the pain of death. He would always use the strategy of letting himself die for the sake of his allies to fulfill his role as the Top Support Player.
However, the Arkmeria he inhabits now is no longer a simulated world.
It has become real.
No simulation, no system mitigation.
He breathes the same earth where he found himself alive.
And it just turns out the proof of the living is the equivalent of suffering a person can endure.
Even so, at the crescendo of the accumulated limit that Fargil felt came to a burst of emotion; he stood tall on his own feet, his dislocated arms waving in a direction that shouldn't be possible spread out as he howls the anguish of his own mortality.
"ARGHHH!" Fargil screamed from the edge of his soul; outstretching his howling enlightenment that reverberated beneath the heavens.
As his Health Points depletes to zero, Fargil touched the excruciating agony of death that utterly became his greatest pleasure for the moment his eyes had been opened to the reality of his new world.
"So this is called pain...? I'm glad to be alive..." A meager word sifts through the mouth of a fallen, Fargil gently fell on the dirt as if the wind guided his timely demise. The silver rings on his ring and middle finger gleamed quite silent, and thus, the undying support has revived again.
"Just what is he?" Akeela held her chest tight. She gasps facing a formidable man she believed to have potential if they never did see each other as a foe. "Whatever he was, we should resume our mission. As a tribute to his bravery, capture the maiden and don't hurt her. She would serve as a valuable asset now that I think about it."
"Yes ma'am!" The soldiers assumed Akeela's command and tied the elven lady's wrists.
"N-No! I don't want to..." She weeps not because she knew she'd get tortured so they can extract what they need from her. Instead, she wails bearing the guilt that someone had to die for her sake.
Except, she would soon thank her mind buried in anxiety that she was wrong.
"Alright. Alpha and delta will capture the rest of the borders. The rest follow me; we'll hunt the rest of their forces and guarantee they can no longer regroup somewhere outside the northern Alfura..."
As Akeela and her squadron were about to leave the scene, she thought she was hearing things from the rustling noise behind her, and once she turns around; she beheld an inconceivable truth she never thought was probable in the thousand wars she triumphed herself.
"Come on, why leave me so suddenly? We're just getting started, Commander Akeela."
"What in the hell..." Akeela spat on her hands and rubbed them on her eyes. She cleared her vision tirelessly but regardless of what she can see; she can't ignore the reality that the man she personally killed and disposed of was standing before her again unscathed.
The holes all over his limbs and body were gone. Heck, his tattered clothes were mysteriously repaired he looked like he just got out of a clothing outlet fresh and new; ready to mingle now that he'd gotten his leash out of his neck.
At the realization of a formidable adversary showing against them, Akeela pulled a firearm that kinda resembles a revolver.
She rummages in her bag attached to her waist belt, yanking a bag of crimson crystals and stuffed them inside the barrel of her gun, to which pointed above pulling the trigger, and a red smoke of fire flared over the clear blue skies.
Akeela calibrated a few settings on the magitech device wrapped in her wrist, sending a message to her allies currently invading the Arasyal, the Capital of Alfahim Kingdom.
"Code red! A Sovereign-level entity has been found! Requesting back up at once. I repeat, a Sovereign-level entity has been found!" Akeela sweat buckets. She met eyes with Fargil once more but this time, the merciless touch of death kissed her soul to the core; telling herself to retreat or else she'd meet her end.
"A signal flare I see... Requesting backup now? And that magitech device is interesting... I'll take you with me and perform an interrogation. Don't worry, I never hurt women..."
In truth, Fargil was just uncomfortable talking with them. Needless to say, his sudden death and revival thanks to his transmigrated ability answered a few of his questions away.
And now, Fargil thought the best way to extract information about Arkmeria was to capture an enemy commander wagging her tail right in front of his face.