[Town of Niphia]
A town that served as a gateway to the underground cave leading to the center of the sprawling city. It was a place he had little choice but to traverse. The town's architecture, with its cobblestone buildings and bustling people, was a stark contrast to the wilderness he had traversed on his path here. Niphia appeared to be a thriving hub of player activity, and it was clear that he needed to tread carefully to avoid drawing attention to himself.
Eidos's steps grew cautious as he entered the town of Niphia. The looming sense of dread settled over him like a heavy shroud. He couldn't help but notice a peculiar shift in his abilities as he ventured deeper into this cobblestone-laden town. It was as if the very essence of the place restricted his powers.
Frowning beneath his hood, Eidos realized that he couldn't access all of his attack-based skills, a critical part of his arsenal. Panic threatened to claw its way into his mind. In a world where players held dominion, losing access to his combat abilities was akin to losing a lifeline.
Eidos even had to change his KingsWolf armor set to a beginner's set as a disguise. He had a feeling that the KingsWolf set had become too recognizable to the players after his previous confrontations, and he needed to blend in and keep a low profile, especially considering he couldn't use most of his skills.
As he continued to explore the town, Eidos felt the restrictions more keenly. The lack of attack-type skills was a crippling disadvantage. Perhaps this was a deliberate design by the gods to level the playing field within the town's confines. It made sense, he thought, to prevent players from unleashing their destructive power within the safety of a populated area.
"hm?"
Eidos crouched low in the shadows in an instant, two players suddenly appeared out of nowhere, his heart pounding in his chest as he listened to the exchange between the two players. He dared not make a sound, for their presence was dangerously close to uncovering his hidden existence.
The player in the formidable armor, a towering figure clad in gleaming metal, seemed to have sensed something amiss. Eidos held his breath, knowing that his life depended on remaining undetected. The anxiety clawed at him as he realized how perilously close he had come to being discovered.
"What's wrong?" The other player inquired, a hint of concern in their voice.
"I thought I sensed a monster nearby," the armored player replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "but it's probably my imagination."
The relief washed over Eidos like a cool breeze, but it was short-lived. The other player reassured their companion, "Yeah, and monsters won't be brave enough to enter a town full of strong players."
Eidos bit his lip to stifle the sigh of relief that threatened to escape. He knew that a moment's lapse in concentration could spell disaster for him. With their attention diverted, he decided to make his move cautiously.
Silently, Eidos began to inch away, sticking to the shadowed alleys formed by the cobblestone houses. The conversation of the players grew fainter as he put more distance between them, and he felt a fleeting sense of relief. But as he finally emerged from the alleyway into the dimly lit street, an unexpected collision sent shockwaves through his already tense body.
"CRUSSH*
"Kya!"
Eidos had bumped into someone, and his immediate reaction was to offer a polite apology. He extended his hand in a gentlemanly gesture, ready to mend any inadvertent offense. However, as soon as his eyes met the face of the person he had collided with, time seemed to freeze.
She was unmistakably one of the players, a fact that hit Eidos like a sudden gale. His face, which had been composed just moments before, now betrayed a mixture of fear and dread. He couldn't believe his ill luck and the dangerous situation he had stumbled into. A torrent of thoughts raced through his mind, knowing that any wrong move could expose him.
The female player regarded him with a puzzled expression, her eyes narrowing as if trying to place his face.
"You look familiar," she remarked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Eidos felt the color drain from his face, and his heart pounded in his chest. He swiftly took a step back, putting some distance between them. "I don't know you," he stammered, his voice betraying his unease. Without waiting for a response, he turned and hurried away.
Eidos's heart raced as he sprinted through the town of Niphia, his every step weighed down by anxiety and the haunting fear of being recognized by the players who had altered his life's course. The mere possibility that the female player he had encountered might know him from somewhere gnawed at him. Was she one of the players responsible for the devastating destruction of his cherished town? Anger swelled within him, but he forced the emotion aside, understanding that escape was his immediate priority.
"I can't let them catch me now," he muttered to himself, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
With renewed determination, Eidos abandoned all pretense of sneaking and sprinted straight toward the cave entrance. This underground pathway was his lifeline—a treacherous route that would lead him closer to his next destination.
As he ran, the cobblestone streets of Niphia blurred around him, the town's eerie atmosphere fading into obscurity. All that mattered now was the darkness of the cave ahead—a potential sanctuary from the players who had disrupted his life.
**
In the dimly lit room, the female player stood, her brows furrowed in deep thought. The memories danced on the edge of her consciousness, just out of reach. The encounter with the mysterious figure in Niphia had triggered something within her, a nagging feeling that she couldn't ignore.
Then, like a sudden burst of clarity, it all fell into place. She gasped, her eyes widening as the puzzle pieces of her memory snapped together. "AH!" she exclaimed, the revelation washing over her.
Without wasting another moment, she reached into her virtual inventory, her fingers tapping the interface with urgency. A connection was made, and a woman's voice answered on the other end, a note of curiosity in her tone.
"Hello," the woman said.
"Hey," the player responded, her voice brimming with excitement and haste, "the guy you were talking about before! I just saw him!"
The woman on the other end of the line was immediately intrigued. "WAIT REALLY? WHERE?"
"In Niphia town," the player answered, her words pouring out in a rush. "We bumped into each other, and he ran away as fast as he could."
The woman's curiosity deepened, and she pressed further, "Who is he anyway?"
But before the player could finish her sentence, the call abruptly cut off, leaving her hanging in suspense. The mysterious figure remained shrouded in enigma, and the player was left with a growing sense of urgency to uncover the truth behind his identity and actions.