We spawned on a stone platform in the center of a room. Engraved into the platform was a message that read "Runic Teleport." We were the first to arrive, with only NPCs wandering around and guards blocking all the pathways leading in every direction.
Leo covered his mouth, looking like he might be sick, his eyes almost popping out of his head.
"What's wrong?" I asked, concerned.
He replied flatly, "Check World Chat."
In the World Chat, players were discussing the situation, and a commotion was starting, led by a guild named 'G2.'
—------------------------------------------------
World Chat:
…
(G2) Seraphina: We saw someone die.
(Sho) Sho: What happened? Where?
(G2) Seraphina: Once their health hit zero, they turned into a mass of red pixels and were replaced by a tombstone.
Alinta: That's intense. What floor was this on?
(G2) Seraphina: Floor 3, near the Goblin Stronghold.
Frostbite: Wait, what? The Goblin Stronghold? That's where a lot of players go for farming.
Riku: Why didn't you help them?
(G2) Viri: We tried to help, but he slammed the potion out of our hands.
(G2) Viri: His name was Wan.
Jester: So he died, hahaha?
Sho: Did he have any chance ?
(G2) Viri: It happened too fast. He was overwhelmed.
Archer: Was he alone or did he have a party with him?
(G2) Viri: He was alone, I think.
Riku: Monsters seem more aggressive than in the beta.
Scribe: Should we be worried about this?
Alinta: That's unsettling. We should prepare for tougher encounters.
(G2) Seraphina: The bosses seem more powerful.
Frostbite: We need to be on our toes.
Archer: Stay sharp out there, everyone.
(G2) Viri: Exactly. We can't afford to be caught off guard.
(G2) Seraphina: Remember, it's not just about skill but also about teamwork.
Frostbite: Absolutely. Stay safe, everyone.
(Crusaders) Adrian Kundra: We need to stay vigilant.
….
—--------------------------------------------------------
Wan might not have been the first player to die in the tower, but for those who had survived this far, it was a stark reminder of the chaos that awaited. One wrong move could lead to death. Later, Wan's tombstone became a memorial, visited by players as a grim reminder of the tower's dangers and the perils of being alone.
Hundreds had already died; what was one more, I thought to myself.
When Leo snapped out of his trance, he explained that in the game, tombstones would disappear after one year of in-game time to prevent server congestion.
"Alright, I need to go get the item," he said resolutely. "Stay here."
"No, we're going with you," Lia said, pulling on his undershirt.
"No, it'd be faster if I go alone. I'll be right back, I promise. Then we'll go straight for the boss," he said, running into the forest. After Leo left, Mia and Lia began to pace around the platform anxiously. As time passed, they decided to follow the path he had taken.
"He told us to stay," I said, trying to reason with them.
"Shut up, Husk," Mia yelled, not slowing her pace. "We're higher level. We'll be fine."
Lia spoke up, her concern evident. "Aren't you worried about Leo?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about him. However, he told us to stay. I'm sure he's done this hundreds, if not thousands, of times in the beta." I replied monotonously.
"Then you're a bad girlfriend," Mia shot back quickly.
"What should I do?" I thought to myself.
Mia led the way into the swamp, followed by Lia, and then me. Mia summoned a sword and shield from her inventory. The shield bore a mirror emblem, its surface glinting in the dim light. Lia conjured a staff with a white crystal at its end. The staff's crystal shimmered with a soft, ethereal glow, casting faint reflections in the murky water. I summoned my sword, its hilt adorned with a lion emblem, similar to the one on Leo's armor.
The swamp water was deep, reaching up to our knees, with only occasional patches of solid ground visible. The area felt unsettling, as if we were being watched from every direction. The water was thick with an earthy smell, and the occasional ripple.
As we moved cautiously through the water, I suddenly heard a rushing sound approaching us. From the murky depths emerged a lizard man. His form was nearly human, but his face and body bore the distinct features of a dragon—scales, sharp eyes, and a snout-like nose. He carried a green spear, weathered and worn from frequent use, and he moved through the water with surprising grace, almost as if he were a fish.
Without hesitation, I drew my sword. The lizard man charged at us, his spear aimed directly at Mia.
Slam!
His spear struck Mia's shield with such force that it cracked and shattered. The blow was so intense that Mia had to use her arm to absorb the impact, flinching as the force hit her. Despite the damage, Mia grinned deviously and pushed the lizard man back, causing him to lose his balance and stumble.
"Now!" Mia yelled.
"Light Bind," Lia said, raising her staff, and a rope of pure white light materialized from its tip. The rope, glowing with a soft white as it coiled around the lizard man, binding him tightly. It was as if the rope were woven from strands of light. The lizard man fought against the rope, but it held tight, restricting his movements and leaving him ensnared. His eyes widened.
"Just kill it and let's get going," I sighed.
"No," Mia and Lia said in unison.
"You need to kill it," Mia laughed. "Why should we?"
"You're the lowest level," Lia said quietly. "You need the XP."
Reluctantly, I unsheathed my sword again and struck the lizard man. Killing a lizard man was a lot different from killing slimes; I could feel my sword twisting and contorting inside him. The pain and cries as he yelled for his life were almost palpable. Since the lizard man was level 5, it took a while for me to finish him off. He pleaded, promising to leave and not call for backup, but I didn't listen. As he slumped to the ground motionlessly, his final scream echoed throughout the entire floor. After a few seconds, his body disintegrated into green and red pixels. Checking my inventory, I saw that I had received his spear, a few scales, and some teeth.
"You truly are an emotionless husk," Mia laughed.
I sighed, my hands shaking. I tried to hide my discomfort from them..
"We need to get moving," Lia said softly. "He called for backup."
"We didn't need to kill him, we could have let him go," I said.
"He would have called for backup regardless," Mia said plainly. "After all, they're only monsters."
We continued through the swamp for a bit longer until the water level decreased and we reached a grassland. I took this opportunity to change into a new set of armor since mine was soaked. The system made this simple—just a couple of clicks. While Mia and Lia stood watch, I knew we were in the right location because Leo had told me the relic was in a grassland.
Once we had changed and were dressed in dry clothes, we moved forward. The grassland was dotted with a few trees and bushes, and there was a well-trodden brown path. Footprints with three claw marks could be seen, indicating lizard men frequently traveled this way.
After a few minutes of walking in silence, Lia spoke up. "I'm sensing a monster headed this way with magic."
We quickly dove into a bush, hoping to avoid the lizardman troops. However, what appeared in front of us was not a group of lizardmen but a single lizard woman dressed in a light green dress. She carried a basket of herbs and other items, with a metal sickle attached to her belt. Her name, LV 2 Xal'Nia, floated above her.
Seeing her name, I glanced at Mia. Her face was a mask of fury.
"Husk, go over there and draw its attention," Mia ordered, her voice sharp. I sighed and followed her command.
I stepped out of the bush, causing Xal'Nia to drop her basket. She began to shake uncontrollably and reached for her sickle, but her trembling hands caused her to drop it immediately.
"Listen, I only want to talk," I said. As I spoke, I noticed Mia and Lia moving stealthily through the darkness, concealed by the foliage. Xal'Nia seemed to notice their approach and began to cry, her tears glistening as they reflected off her scales.
"Light Bind," Lia commanded, her voice filled with a confidence I had never heard from her before. She sounded like a true force to be reckoned with.
"Kill it," Mia's voice was cold.
Xal'Nia pleaded, her voice breaking through her sobs. "No, please, I have a family. Please don't—my child... I haven't seen my child since the fracture."
"Husk, kill it…" Mia's command was unwavering.
"Please," Xal'Nia sobbed, falling to her knees. "If you don't, they will come… please…"
"If you don't, we will," Lia said softly.
"Monsters," Xal'Nia's whisper was barely audible, meant only for me to hear.
I unsheathed my sword, my arm heavy. I approached Xal'Nia, placing my sword on her shoulder. In one swift motion, I ended her life. She dissolved into pixels, her sobs echoing in my mind. I had to do it—if I didn't, they would have subjected her to a far worse fate. This way, her death was quicker and less agonizing. I fell to the ground, my heart heavy with the burden of what I had done.
===========================
You have leveled up to Level 3
+1 skill point
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"We didn't have to kill her." I said quietly.
"She looked and talked like a human," I added, trying to make sense of it.
"They're far from human," Mia snapped, her anger clear in her eyes.
"They're only monsters," Lia agreed, her voice cold. "Let's go back."
Unable to bear being behind Mia and Lia any longer, I ran ahead. As we retraced our steps, I couldn't shake the sense of unease. Mia and Lia had every right to be angry about their friend's death, but that didn't excuse taking out their anger on everything we came across. We could have spared Xal'Nia and continued on, but their desire for revenge drove them to act. It made me question humanity's actions.
Are we the real monsters? We came to this world, and all we've done is steal, kill, and destroy. It sounds more demonic and destructive than anything the monsters have done. Xal'Nia was merely living her life, gathering resources for her family, and I ended it all in an instant.
Snap
The sharp snap of a breaking branch pulled me from my thoughts. I glanced up to find a clearing framed by trees, where sunlight streamed through the canopy and highlighted a bear munching on berries. Above the bear, the name "Grim" hovered in an orange hue, marking it as a mini-boss. Its coat gleamed a rich brown under the sunlight. I looked around for Mia and Lia, but they were nowhere to be found.
The bear's head swung toward me, its bright brown eyes burning with fury as it began to charge.