Amidst the chaos and trembling ground, Lasiv, the purple-haired girl sprinted towards me with astonishing speed. In a matter of seconds, she was already close to where I lay powerlessly.
The other two men swiftly hoisted the two unconscious men and women onto their backs and followed closely behind her. As they raced forward, a remarkable sight unfolded before my eyes.
Erebus, a tall man with long dark hair carrying the woman on his back, suddenly submerged into his own shadow, disappearing beneath the surface. The shadow then swiftly traversed through the ground with incredible velocity, only to resurface next to Lasiv in an instant. It was a display of power and ability that defied any known archetypes or ranks within the game.
Baffled by their extraordinary capabilities, I couldn't help but wonder who these mysterious people were. They seemed to appear out of thin air, exhibiting skills far beyond what any regular ranker could possess.
Not to mention In the world of Dawn, cheating and hacking were strictly prohibited. Even the most skilled hackers in the Solar system couldn't manipulate the game without severe consequences, one of the most well-known hackers died due to the immediate self-destruction program of the VR headsets, upon detection of any program changes it would immediately blow up.
The risks were simply not worth it. Therefore, the fact that Lasiv and her friends possessed such exceptional skills meant that they were someone special.
Then the white-haired, dark brown-skinned man, Amandus also leaped with great distance using his raw physical strength and arrived beside Lasiv and his other companion as well. When they arrived at where I lay down in a fragile state, Lasiv swiftly knelt down beside me, her left knee gently touching the ground.
With a focused expression, she summoned a mystical healing elixir, her concerned expression etched on her face. Lifting my chin, she offered me the potion, urging me to take a sip, radiating a sense of compassion toward me.
With the last remnants of my energy, I mustered the strength to voice my question. "Who are you guys? and Is this even a game I know?"
She responded with a teasing tone, evading my question. "Oh, just a passing-by hero here to save the day and yes to the people of your timeline, this is nothing more than a game." she quipped, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "But enough about that. Drink this," she insisted, redirecting my focus to the healing potion in her hand.
"Don't lie to me, there is no way a game feels so real right now. Moreover, who am I? Why the demon lord wants to kill me?" I said in a slightly angry tone as I coughed a blue blood.
With an icy gaze and expressionless face, Lasiv said with a cold voice "Einsamer, you don't need to know anything for now. After all you are a nobody in this moment, that mean you can chose to become anybody from now on. So for now just shut up and drink the healing elixir."
Her immediate changed of expression from a teasing to emotionless one seemed very scary...
With my body unable to endure the pain any longer, I hastily consumed the water from the bottle before me. Instantly, I felt a surge of revitalizing energy coursing through my veins. However, even with the restoration, I couldn't ignore the fact that my avatar still lacked an arm. To reclaim what was lost, I would need to log out and log back in after a 12-hour interval.
But given the dire life-and-death situation we were currently facing in the game, such an action was impossible.
A wave of unease washed over me as I contemplated the fate of those who had fallen in battle against the Demon lord. Was it possible that their virtual deaths had real-life consequences? The intense pain I experienced made me fear that my speculation might hold some truth.
Within moments, Amandus and Erebus gently lowered the unconscious people they had carried on their backs. The cowboy man and the woman with the shield were carefully laid their back against a pillar made of shattered debris, situated beside me. It seems like they hadn't awake yet as well.
Returning to the present, my eyes widened in alarm as I witnessed the red energy emitted by the Orc demon lord intensify, expanding with each passing moment. It shot out from its form like deadly laser blasts, obliterating everything in its path.
The surrounding structures, already weakened by the previous onslaught, crumbled under the destructive force of the energy. Dust from the ceiling rained down upon us, adding to the sense of impending destruction as the very foundation beneath my feet quivered with each tremor
Realization dawned upon me, and I spoke with a sense of urgency, "At this rate, the 10th floor is going to be completely destroyed."
She turned her gaze towards me, her expression devoid of emotion as she spoke with a calm resolve, "Indeed, at this stage, complete avoidance of destruction may be unavoidable. However, we can still strive to minimize the extent of the devastation."
A frown creased my brow in response to her answer, the rising temperature in the air adding to my growing unease. The intensity of the shockwaves emanating from the demon lord's glowing body only served to exacerbate the situation.
Frustration welled up inside me as the realization sank in. "So there's truly nothing we can do in this situation?" I muttered, a sense of powerlessness enveloping me. It was a bitter taste, experiencing firsthand the helplessness that comes with being unable to alter the course of events.
In that very moment of despair, a remarkable sight unfolded before our eyes. Several figures, resembling beings from another world, descended from the ceiling, bathed in a radiant beam of light.
The arrival of the Sylvanus race brought forth a mesmerizing spectacle. Their hair, resembling delicate leaves, flowed gracefully around their heads, while their four slender arms possessed a unique blend of smooth white skin texture akin to an octopus. Their attire, fashioned from a combination of wood and fabric, wrapped around their bodies from toe to neck, with hints of exposed chest and cleavage. With synchronized grace, they formed a circle around the glowing body of the demon lord
According to my recollection from researching the alien races in TWOD, the Sylvanus's dress functioned as their protective armor, seamlessly growing from their own skin. This unique armor displayed stunning patterns, each one distinct and captivating from one Sylvanus to another. It was not a separate creation or an accessory added later, but an inherent part of their being and how they recognize each other.
With their primary eye colors being green, the Sylvanus exhibited a mesmerizing array of shades on their armored-skin, including red, pink, black, white, and even gold. These captivating hues added to the uniqueness and diversity of their appearance. Notably, many Sylvanus individuals found themselves serving the Eternia's council, a governing body assigned to oversee and prevent corruption within the Eternia government.
In the world of Dawn, the Sylvanus stood as one of the three dominant primary races in Midgard, alongside the Avian, a humanoid eagle race. Together, they shared a significant presence in the realm, each contributing their unique strengths and characteristics.
Meanwhile, below Midgard, in a realm known as the Aerosea, resided the Lumidrakes, a hybrid dragon race. The Aerosea resembled a vast, floating ocean, devoid of a tangible surface. Instead, it consisted of an endless expanse of blue and golden particles, forming magical islands that scattered throughout this realm. Some referred to these islands as the -Ever shifting surface-, an interconnected network of small magical islands floating above the Aerosea.
It was possible that the floating island that support the Eternia city was formed through the convergence of the particles from the Aerosea. However, interestingly enough, the Eternia government chose not to classify this domain as a part of the Aerosea itself. Instead, they referred to the colossal floating island, which spanned the size of a continent or country, as Midgard.
In the world of Dawn, Midgard served as the designated realm for players from the western and southern server regions upon their arrival. This realm was chosen due to its expansive landmass, diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and thriving civilizations, making it easily accessible to new players.
Midgard provided a welcoming and immersive starting point, allowing players to explore a vast and varied world without the complexities of the Aerosea or the Ever-shifting surface. It offered a familiar and exciting entryway into the virtual realm of Dawn.
In the present moment, the Sylvanus each wielded a box-shaped device, their taps causing a radiant red light to emanate and activate its power. These devices floated gracefully, forming a protective circle around the radiant body of the demon lord. With a surge of energy, the devices projected a magical shield adorned with mesmerizing patterns and ancient runes.
As the shield enveloped the area surrounding the corpse of the demon lord, it intercepted the blasting laser beam emitted by the red orb hovering above the demon lord's lifeless form. The laser, unable to escape, rebounded within the confines of the shield, bouncing back and forth in a mesmerizing display of contained power.
Then a beam of magical energy shot from the center of the circle, completing a creation of the protective shield in a shape of dome that enveloped the demon lord's body.
As the heat gradually subsided, a welcome relief washed over me, allowing my strength to return. I rose to my feet, determined to contribute to the battle. However, when I attempted to summon my battle armor, I realized that it was still in the midst of its cooldown period.
While the surrounding atmosphere grew calmer under the influence of Sylvanus's actions, a look of concern crossed Lasiv's face, and she spoke with a worried tone. "This won't be enough to withstand the power of the Sourceron blast. The efforts of the Sylvanus will be in vain. Not only will the 10th floor be destroyed, but half of the tower might face devastation."
Lasiv's words caught the attention of everyone, causing them to furrow their brows in concern. Even the previously unconscious man and woman regained consciousness, their eyes filled with confusion as they tried to comprehend the gravity of the situation. As for me, my heart beating fast at the idea of my avatar's deletion if I caught up in the explosion.
An immediate voice broke the tense silence, capturing the attention of those present. It was the woman who had just regained consciousness, her emotions evident on her face. With a mix of disbelief and sorrow, she spoke, "So you managed to defeat the demon lord, and now I wake up only to learn about the impending destruction of the tower? Damn it, I hope I wouldn't die in real life if the explosion got me, I have a daughter to look after."
The cowboy's voice joined the conversation, his tone filled with a heavy sigh. "Now that you've mentioned it, the pain I felt during the battle felt so incredibly real. I can only hope that my physical body in the real world remains unharmed. If I am able to log out, I won't log in again. It's time for me to prioritize and spend my time with my children instead, I only play this game to grind coins as a part time job to support my family."
His words carried a sense of resignation and a newfound perspective on the importance of real-life connections and responsibilities that I felt relatable to as I only played this game to gain coins to further my education in order to become a judge one day.
Lasiv's response came in a low, solemn voice, indicating a resolute decision within her to open up about bad news "To be honest, if your avatar is destroyed here, your physical body will be left in an vegetative state. You will be in an unconscious state, your spirit will roam the world of dream and nightmare."
The weight of Lasiv's words didn't come as a surprise to me. Having encountered numerous bizarre and unbelievable events within the game, such as experiencing real pain, I had grown accustomed to the unexpected in such a short time.
However, for the two elder rankers lying beside me, the impact of her words was profound. Disbelief and concern rippled through their minds as they grappled with the notion that those who met their end in the game would be forever trapped in an eternal state of unconsciousness, devoid of any experiences in the real world.
"My friend! why does she have to endure such a fate?" The woman's voice quivered with grief and disbelief. "She was always so kind-hearted, generously donating to the church of divine light and Yatia." Overwhelmed by emotions, she disassembled the shield on her left arm, its blue particles dispersing into the air. With both hands now covering her face, tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered through her sobs.
It was a heartbreaking sight, witnessing the anguish and sorrow that consumed her as she struggled to comprehend the harsh reality.
I recalled that her friend was a magician woman who possessed great power with her staff. The thought of losing a dear friend weighed heavily on my heart, and I could empathize with the woman's immense pain. However, at that moment, I chose to remain silent. Sometimes, silence could speak volumes, allowing us to process our own emotions while acknowledging the gravity of the present circumstances.
The cowboy man extended a gentle hand, offering solace to the grieving woman. With a reassuring touch on her shoulder, he turned his attention to the entire group, his voice brimming with confidence and determination.
"To the one with the purple hair," he spoke, his eyes locked on her. "I have complete faith in your abilities. If you can find a way for us to safely log out of this game, I will be eternally grateful to you."
Lasiv instructed the group, her voice firm and commanding. "Remain in this spot," she stated, emphasizing the importance of their position. Her gaze then shifted to the dark-skinned man standing beside her.
"Amandus, it's time to utilize your Divine shield," she directed, her tone filled with confidence.
The black skin man, Amandus, seemed slightly shocked but quickly maintained a neutral expression and replied "If I used the narrative ene---" He suddenly briefly paused and resumed his talk again as if he realized he had made a mistake with his choice of words "No, I mean if I use true magic now, the celestial of this realm will no longer allow us to enter this world again."
Lasiv said with a stern tone "Just do it now."
Amandus smiled excitedly "Well then, whatever happens, don't blame me."
At that moment, Amandus stepped forward revealing his muscular back to everyone who stood behind him. Next, he snatched his golden necklace that he wore and turned to look at me and everyone else, he said with a confident tone "Close your eyes, if you don't want to be blind."
Subsequently, everyone closed their eyes, including me since it was better to follow his instructions rather than childishly refusing to do it which might lead to more problems. I didn't know if Lasiv and Erebus closed their eyes or not but they probably wouldn't do it since their power was already beyond rankers.