'Where am I?'
Beside her, an old woman said, "You're in a village."
Seven looked at the woman, she wore all black sackcloth, and had white and black hair with tattoos on her face with dark blue eyes.
Seven was prepared to fight, "You're a witch.."
"I am. But I am not the one you think of me as."
"What's the difference?"
"The witches years ago caused havoc and harvested from the living, but since they are all in hiding now after the apocalypse has started, no one dares to try anything."
"What are you doing here?"
"I am here to help the Grentlock village. I protect it from the visibility of outsiders. Which makes me wonder how you and your boyfriend were able to come here."
Seven got flustered, "Klade is NOT my boyfriend. And we had a map of Claw. To locate this village."
"It must've been tainted with his blood. Those who were a part of the village before I put a veil over it can see the village. You killed him."
"We had to."
"You had to, or you chose to?"
"….Chose to, to survive."
"Then it couldn't be helped then I suppose. You even came back with the head of a royal family member."
"Why are you pestering me? There's a reason you're here."
"I sensed that you had trouble sleeping. Nightmares, right? Witches are in tune with the spirit world also, and astral projection, which is a rare ability to have that even demigods yearn for. I want to help you get rid of them."
"Why?"
"I can feel the pain in your heart, and the sorrow."
"…I don't need a therapy session." Seven stood up, about to leave, but the witch sighed.
"I can help you."
"With what?"
"The nightmares, I can get rid of them for you."
"You must want something from me."
"I really need your help. In my younger years it would've been no issue for me to do this by myself."
"Hm?"
"Using your astral projection, I need you to go inside my head and wander through my memories."
"That's dangerous for me. And I didn't master astral projection fully. I could die if I stay long enough. At my current level, I can't even possess people for long. At max is 10 minutes. But my father reached that limit."
"I'll hold you in for 5 minutes a day."
"And in exchange, you'll get rid of my nightmares?"
"I have to target certain aspects of trauma that are present in your dreams to get rid of it fully. So I have to do it while you're asleep."
Seven thought, 'The dreams start off beautifully, seeing my mom, I love it. But then the nightmare comes and ruins it all. Makes me wake up and I have to force myself back to sleep by using my astral projection on myself and turn my body off. I don't trust witches, but reading her emotions, she's genuine. A genuine witch…that's new.'
Seven asked, folding her arms, "What do I need to do? And when do we start?"
"During the war against the demigods and the royal family of Rothgar, there was a coven of witches. A group of women were dispersed during the fight because it was so catastrophic. I have memories of them running in different directions, but I want to know EXACTLY where they are. With Astral projection, you can travel through memories and even wander around there, like time travel of sorts but time isn't moving, you're just in my memories."
"And you want me to find the witches?"
"Yes. It would mean a lot."
"Why do you need to find them?"
"One of them actually helped one of the Hero Lances kill one of the royal family members of Rothgar, wielding dark magic from the deity of darkness, who apparently wasn't killed by the Rothgar family."
Seven gasped, thinking, 'The Hero Lances…the witches….the deity of darkness…'
Seven continued, "The witches helped the hero lances?"
"One of them did, it was just a word that was brought back to me. But if we can bring all the witches together, and commune with the deity of darkness and awaken him, we can kill off the Rothgar family by using our darkness affinity to merge the deity with the Ember Tree with darkness. Dark magic from one witch won't be enough to corrupt the Ember Tree. If we can fill it with darkness, we can take away their immortality."
"But then that leaves them still as powerful as the gods and demigods they consumed."
"But we have a better chance of winning. You and your boyfriend beheaded a royal, right?"
Seven blushed again, "HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!"
"You said his name in your sleep. I just thought.."
Seven covered her mouth, backing away, "Oh my goodness…I did?!"
"Yes."
"Fuck. Why were you watching me?"
"I heard it as I walked by."
"Creep."
"But on a serious note, you have a good partner with you. He seems strong."
"Klade is strong, but weak. He's dependable. I won't trade him for anyone."
"See that's something a girlfriend would say."
"NO IT'S NOT, OLD HAG! What's your name anyway?"
"Dee. Just call me Dee."
"Okay..anything else I should know?"
"In my time wandering these lands, I came across someone hunting the witches. A witch hunter. I've come across witches beheaded, all lined up in rivers of blood."
"Other witches, huh. Members of the coven?"
"Yes. But there's more out there."
"You want me to try and see if I can find the witch hunter as well?"
"Just get their face, I wanna know who it actually is."
"Ever met him?"
"I have, but he was masked up…"
(5 months ago)
(FLASHBACK)
Dee emerged from the shadows of the crumbling doorway into the vast arena of the abandoned coliseum, her dark sackcloth robe billowing slightly in the cold, damp air. Her footsteps echoed softly on the ancient stone as she entered, staff in hand, the orb atop it pulsating with an ominous deep red hue. Surrounding her in the ghostly stands were the mounted heads of fallen witches, their silent screams set in perpetual agony—a grim reminder of her potential fate.
'A trail of witch heads led me here…he wants me.'
Opposite her, the figure known as "???" The Witch Hunter. crouched, a nightmarish silhouette against the gray backdrop of the arena. Clad entirely in a black outfit reminiscent of a bygone era—a high collared coat with intricate, archaic patterns stitched in somber threads, tightly strapped at the torso yet flaring into tattered coattails. His black trousers were tucked into knee-high leather boots, worn and scuffed from countless battles. His face, partly obscured by a shadowy hood, was an emotionless mask. He was on all fours, with a black spectral shadow sword in his mouth.
"You've come…" ??? remarked.
"Why are you hunting us?"
"Why not…?" Drool dropped from ??? mouth. "Seems you're deity of darkness isn't coming to save them…at all…even when you draw power from that bastard…or that woman, that woman who is the avatar of the moon…she's using you all to kill the royals. That…that can't happen…isn't she supposed to be protecting you as well…"
"No matter. She's gone enough to help us. I'll kill you here."
"I'll find more of you…and lay their heads here for you to watch…".
Dee looked around, seeing the heads of the witches in the stands. She took a deep breath, and got ready.
With a lightning-fast motion, "???" sprung from his four-legged stance, daggers gleaming with a sinister light. He closed the distance with supernatural agility, blades sweeping in a deadly arc towards Dee. Anticipating his attack, Dee raised her scepter, dark energy swirling around it, and deflected the strike with a clang of metal against arcane power.
The impact reverberated through the coliseum, and Dee countered with a surge of blood magic. A torrent of crimson shot from her staff, forming sharp tendrils that aimed directly at her foe. "???" twisted, his body contorting unnaturally as black spikes protruded from his back, forming a protective barrier that splintered the blood tendrils upon contact.
Undeterred, "???" retaliated by launching himself forward again, daggers poised for a deadly thrust. Dee spun, her sackcloth whipping around her as she evoked shadows to engulf her, momentarily blinding him. Within the shroud of darkness, she unleashed a concentrated blast of energy directly at him when he least expected it, sending him crashing against the ancient stone of a spectator's seat.
Wasting no time, "???" recovered, the spectral sword in his mouth gleaming wickedly as he lung streamers of shadow in its wake. He charged, moving unpredictably like a creature possessed, swiping at Dee's midsection. She deflected with her scepter, sparks flying as darkness clashed with darkness, each blow resonant with the power to annihilate.
In a quick maneuver, Dee conjured a pillar of blood from the ground, attempting to ensnare ??? in its viscous grasp. However, ??? used his shadow daggers to slice through the trap, splattering the blood in a macabre display around him. He then extended a long, jagged spike towards Dee, which she narrowly avoided by leaping back, her own shadows cushioning her landing.
The dance of death between them continued, both fighters exchanging blow after brutal blow, neither yielding. ???'s daggers found their mark, slicing through Dee's robe and drawing dark, magical blood. With each droplet spilled, the coliseum seemed to pulse, the air thickening with the power of unleashed magics.
Dee, snarling in rage and pain, retaliated by swinging her scepter in a wide, devastating arc, unleashing a wave of dark energy that scoured the ground and battered ???'s protective spikes. The force of the attack left visible cracks in the stone where ??? dodged just in time.
Finally, sensing a fleeting opportunity, Dee channeled all her remaining power into a cataclysmic explosion of blood and shadow. The coliseum trembled, the eerie light of her spell illuminating the gruesome trophies of the stands. "???" propelled himself forward, spectral sword aimed straight at her heart.
As they collided, the explosion enveloped them in a maelstrom of darkness and light, blood and shadow merging in an apocalyptic display of their brutal powers. The outcome remained uncertain, the coliseum echoing with the remnants of their ferocious battle, leaving only the whispering wind to speak of the victors and the vanquished….
(FLASHBACK END)
Dee continued, "He ran after. When he could've beaten me, but he didn't risk it."
"Avatar of the moon?"
Seven thought about her dream last night, remembering following her mother, and right above them, was a full moon that was bright and beautiful.
'It can't be her, right? Not my mother. She hated witches. And my father..he can't be the Witch Hunter…'
Seven asked Dee, "So—."
Dee was gone, and Seven looked around, and sighed, "Dammit. That's annoying."
At that moment, some children ran in their, saying:
"She's awake!"
"The pretty girl is awake!"
"Our mothers wanna meet you!"
Seven gasped, "Huh?!"
At that moment, the women of the village walked in, tugging her face and brushing her hair, admiring her:
"She's so gorgeous!"
"That boy she came with is lucky!"
"A beautiful girl like you beheaded a royal? Outstanding!"
"Let's put her in some new clothes!"
"I have many clothes she can try on!"
"Me first!"
"Back off!"
The women started pulling out their clothes they knitted, and Seven exclaimed, "Gross! I don't wanna try random clothes! Where's Klade? I need to see him!"
One of the children said, "He's in a meeting with the village elders!"
"What?! I need to be there!"
(Village Meeting Tent)
Klade stood at the center, surrounded by the village's three elders, each as imposing and distinctive as the roles they held within the community.
'I'm actually meeting with them. Against my will. Should I just walk out? Since I know that they want something from me? No, stay. I might need to use certain information.'
Jarsun, the first elder, was a man in his late thirties with icy blue eyes and black hair that cascaded down his shoulders in silver waves. He wore a robe intertwined with threads of dawnlight, which shimmered with every movement. Maralia, the second elder, was a stern-faced woman, her skin adorned with tattoos that told tales of her battles. Her sharp, hawk-like gaze was both unnerving and captivating. She had silver hair that was braided long on her back, and dark red eyes with an eyepatch on her left eye. The youngest, Toven, sported a braided beard interwoven with tiny, glinting stones, and his earth-toned robe spoke of his connection to the land and its secrets. He had light brown eyes and a crown of roses in his short brown hair.
Kanemi leaned against a wooden tent pole, his body language relaxed to the point of indifference, a stark contrast to the tense air that filled the space.
"Can we get this started then?"
Toven replied, "Why are you always impatient? Patience is key."
"Womp womp. Save the wisdom for yourself. You need it."
Jarsun's voice broke the silence, his tone mixed with surprise and apprehension, "It is astounding, Klade, that you and Seven managed to behead Aethereal, a royal member of the Rothgar family. We have secured her head in a location safe from prying eyes and dark intentions."
Maralia continued, her voice firm, "The world is vast and torn. Places like Flesthaven and Durkwood serve as refuges and battlegrounds. Flesthaven was once known for its bountiful harvests, now it's a fortress against the Royals' wrath. Durkwood, known for its ancient libraries, now holds secrets and shadows."
'Where are they going with this?' Klade thought.
Toven added, his deep voice resonating with a somber tone, "We need to discuss the 7 Orphans of Rue. They are the sons of the demigod Rue, tasked with gathering powerful weapons from the Lances to empower their father. Basically hunting the Lances and stuff. Rue, a figure worshiped by the brutalists and their followers, controls a vital passageway needed by many to move safely in these turbulent times."
Klade, his expression one of mixed curiosity and concern, listened intently, a frown forming as the gravity of the situation sank in.
'So….that's the bastard demigod Halgrim wants dead. The one who serves the brutalists. The ones blocking an unknown path.'
Maralia explained further, "Rue is the progeny of a Chaos Demigod, slain by the Rothgars during the war. This bloodline makes him and his actions unpredictable and dangerous. His followers have been constructing a hidden path to the main castle of the Rothgar family, as part of a larger, more sinister plan."
Klade said, "So that's why they've been blocking that area..?"
"Yes. And their blockade expands for miles upon miles, and they have brutalists walking around areas acting as guards as well."
Jarsun interjected, "The 7 Orphans are gathering at the shadow of Mount Draegon, a place cursed by the fallen gods. Each holds a weapon of devastating power, meant not just to strengthen Rue, but to potentially usher in an era of darkness that could end what little stability remains. If they merge those weapons with Rue's body, he'll be unstoppable. For us anyway. And we can't go in and move him out of the way when he's in that state."
Toven, his eyes dark with concern, concluded, "We want you, Klade, to hunt down and assassinate the 7 Orphans of Rue. Stop them before they complete their ritual and empower Rue into a cataclysmic being. This is a task of immense danger, but also of great necessity."
'Kill them? Am I even strong enough? And at the same time, they're trying to kill Rue In his current state before he goes cataclysmic? There's gotta be more to it? They didn't mention they want to kill Rue, so there's gotta be more to it. They have something else in mind.'
Jarsun squinted his eyes, "Seems you're having second thoughts."
"I'm not. But I wanna know what else you have in mind, and I want something in return for helping you."
"We will get to that."
Kanemi sighed, "This is boring."
Toven scoffed, "Silence."
Klade's brow furrowed in puzzlement, his voice finding strength despite the uneasy weight of his new mission. "How do you come by such precise information? Surely, the movements and intentions of demigods and their children aren't so easily tracked."
Jarsun responded with a solemn nod. "We have consulted the Celestial Librarian, a deity revered across realms for his vast repository of knowledge. But this wisdom comes at a steep price—a sacrifice that echoes the value of over a million lives! It was not a decision we took lightly."
Klade gasped silently, 'The Librarian! Aethereal mentioned him! She learned how to help the Rothgars during the war by taking their power and essence! So that Librarian helps everyone for a price? And they basically said the sacrifice they had to pay was worth more than a million lives. What was their sacrifice?'
Maralia's eyes darkened with the gravity of their decision. "The sacrifice made was immense, damaging even to our community, but necessary to ensure the survival of many more."
As Klade absorbed the weight of their revelation, Toven interjected, signifying a slight shift in the atmosphere, "But you will not face this task alone, Klade. Alongside the strongest fighters of our village, you will be joined by Kanemi, and—"
Just then, the tent flap rustled, signaling another's arrival. A young man walked in, exuding a casual yet imposing presence. Klade's eyes widened in shock as he took in the new figure's appearance—black and white long sleeve shirt, a backward black baseball cap, dark red hair, black hand wraps, black skinny jeans, and white shoes. His system window flickered open:
"Damn it's hot outside." He said, picking his ear.
Klade was shocked once he saw him, his system window popping up.
[Player name: Gunjo]
[Occupation: Chaotic Brawer]
[Level: 50]
[Age: 21]
Klade gasped audibly. "Gunjo? I thought no players were left alive..." His voice trailed off, mixed feelings of relief and incredulity washing over him.
'And he's a chaotic brawer class! Those bastards are annoying due to their move sets, they are forbidden from using weapons, their body is one. Many players in Shadow Lance spammed that class because it was broken. And he's already level 50? How did he survive?!'
Jarsun chuckled, "You two seem to know each other."
Maralia added, "They seem to be enemies. This isn't good."
Gunjo said, "I don't like him. He's so weak now, where's that level 999 at? What's he even doing here? I thought I was the only one that survived?"
Klade said to Gunjo, "You should've died back there anyway. Would've saved me the trouble."
"Oh yeah? You wanna fight?"
"I don't care."
Kanemi asked, "How do you know this guy, Klade?"
Klade said, "He's just annoying."
'Yes. He is. He was one of those players who always followed me and always messaged me wanting to 1v1. He would literally log on when I logged on, always wanting to beat me and post it. He's beaten high level players in Shadow Lance, and posted the videos online for thousands of views, but he never beat me. And I never gave him the time of day. Why? Because I didn't want to acknowledge his existence and give him popularity. Even if he lost, he would post it, all he wanted was MY GAME FAME. I couldn't let him have it.'
Gunjo merely smirked, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "Surprise, Klade. Looks like we both got dragged into this mess."
"How are you even here?"
"Maybe I don't wanna explain it in front of a bunch of NPC's."
"Even after everything that's happen, you still think this is a game?"
"Tch. What else could it be? It's just too immersive that's all."
"And you haven't even tried to log out or go to the pause menu?"
"That's where the immersion comes in. It must be a hidden mechanic to log out. But I don't wanna leave yet. I have all weekend to play."
"You're so slow."
"Shhh. Let's listen to the NPC dialogue."
Klade thought, 'I wish I had his confidence that this is a game. But I don't. I woke up to reality.'
Regaining his composure, Klade turned back to the elders, his mind racing with questions about alliances and past rivalries.
Klade asked Jarsun, "So you know Gunjo? For how long?"
Jarsun continued, "Yes, Gunjo has been with us for some time, proving his worth and loyalty. Together, you are our best chance."
Gunjo asked, "So what's the other plan then? Since you guys are super wise and all."
Maralia then delved deeper into the strategy, "Our plan hinges not just on stopping Rue's children but in framing these actions on the Royals. If Rue believes the Rothgars have turned against him, he will hasten his revenge, leaving his guarded path to the castle vulnerable. This confusion will grant us the opportunity to cross over to safer territories."
Klade confined, "So he and his brutalists will leave their post and head straight to the castle?"
Gunjo said, "The same castle we came from at the beginning of the game huh? Sweet. I need to go back and kill those bastards anyway."
Toven concluded, "This deception is risky, but it's a gambit that could shift the balance in our favor, ensuring Rue moves against the Rothgar castle sooner. It's our only chance to clear the path for our people's safety."
Klade nodded, understanding the layers of intrigue and warfare that they were engaging with. The mission was fraught with danger, politically intricate, and morally murky, but it was clear that the stakes were higher than any personal reservations he might have had.
As the group solidified their plan, Klade felt the gravity of the truth that had led him to this moment. He, alongside Kanemi and Gunjo, was about to embark on a dangerous journey—not just to assassinate the 7 Orphans of Rue but to navigate a perilous landscape of divine politics and warfare. The road ahead was uncertain, but the weight of destiny was unmistakable.
Jarsun said to Klade, "So what was it you wanted in return?"
Klade gulped, and stepped forward, "If I do this for you, I want to meet the Librarian."
The elders were surprised at that answer.
Maralia replied, "We cannot just take you there, young warrior. But we can lead you in the right direction of what you will need to offer to him at his altar so you can enter his library. But we'll tell you after you succeed in the assassination mission. But you can only ask one question."
"Fine. Thank you."
'Find something to sacrifice that's worth more than 1 million lives. I don't want to kill anyone. What could it possibly be? What would I ask the Librarian? Maybe the history of the Rothgar family? How to kill them maybe? Why didn't the elders ask how to kill them? They have to be planning their own goals, why are they so focused on Rue?'
Everyone left, and Klade and Gunjo walked out together.
Maralia said, "I sure hope those two get along."
Toven folded his arms, "Better hope so. We only have one shot at this."
Jarsun stated, "Kanemi, go reforge the head, and plant it In the garden."
"Ew, that woman is annoying."
In the blink of an eye, Jarsun appeared in front of Kanemi, saying, "I said plant the head in the garden."
Kanemi's heart pounded, but his facial expression hid under his helmet mask.
"Tch, fine."
"Good boy."
Leaving the tent, Klade said to Gunjo, "Here's the deal. Stay away from me, and I stay away from—."
Gunjo laughed like a maniac, "Die!" Throwing a fist covered in red aura at Klade.