{ Player: L-309 (TreeHart)
LVL: 15
Race: Human
HP: 1,100/1,100
STR: 532/532
DEX: 499/499
LUK: 10/10
Mana: 200/200
Value: #1523
Aestrol Coins: æ19,888
Location: Red Town
Companions: Lex1, G3NESIS
Weapons: 3 Section Obsidian Nunchaku (B-rank)
Items: N/A
Abilities: Jab Blade (D-rank) }
Lindsey looked at her status screen and sighed. She was impressed with how much she had gotten stronger, but for 8 months' worth of work, it didn't seem like much. Sure, she was safe from other players because she worked for Genesis, but she was restricted greatly, her potential slumped simply because she didn't have enough combat experience.
She sighed and looked at her elder sister, Laura, who was also looking at her status screen, but with a much more focused and slightly calm expression.
{ Player: L-473 (Lex1)
LVL: 21
Race: Half-orc, Half-human
HP: 2,000/2,000
STR: 670/670
DEX: 510/510
LUK: 10/10
Mana: 200/200
Value: #1489
Aestrol Coins: æ27,564
Location: Red Town
Companions: G3NESIS, TreeHart
Weapons: Carnage Gauntlets (B-rank)
Items: N/A
Abilities: Jab Blade (C-rank), Gatling Shot (C-rank) }
Unlike Lindsey, Laura was a whole lot more powerful. She directly took on her enemies, always went on dangerous missions and didn't hesitate to do whatever Genesis told her to do.
She was also way smarter than Lindsey, something, that her little sister had always been insecure about, even before getting transported into the video game world. Laura noticed Lindsey looking at her, her facial expression unreadable, and a bit disgruntled.
"What's up?" Laura asked.
"Nothing," Lindsey pouted as she looked away. "Let's get this over with."
"Yeah," Laura nodded as she stood up. "Can't believe Big G sent the two of us to kill this mini-boss. Usually, he'd only send me."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lindsey asked as she crossed her arms.
"I'm just teasing," said Laura as she smiled gently. "Come on. Let's go kill this beast and turn in our weekly quota."
"... I don't have enough..."
"Hence why we went the extra mile and killed off those monsters, remember? The mini-boss will cover the remaining æ30,000."
Lindsey nodded. "Let's do it."
***
At almost the same time, Nico looked at the floating text in front of him while his AutoSiphers relayed the message.
{ New Mission Added!
- Keogan, the Cyclops General, has been causing havoc on West Red Town. Kill him.
Reward: æ15,000
Time limit: None }
Nico smirked and accepted the mission. 'Cyclops' aren't easy to deal with, but their weakness is their single eye. Just temporarily blind it and get as many hits in as you can.'
He then dropped the man he had finished beating to a pulp to the ground and stepped over him, walking past many more unconscious lads as he did. Not only had Nico gotten better at fighting, he began learning to do so without relying on the synchronisation with Vortex.
At times, the synchronisation would randomly take over, in an attempt to prevent Nico from getting hit. But, once he learns how to counter that, he's going to become a better player and better survivor.
After travelling for 30 minutes, Nico got to the location where the cyclops was apparently located. But, what he found was nothing. At least, he thought so, until he decided to investigate.
Around the area were torn pieces of clothing, a single ankle boot and two weapons; a 3 section nunchaku and spiked gauntlets. These obviously belonged to players. He could tell because these are the type of items a player would receive when they awaken, special and specifically accustomed to the player.
'I wasn't the only one who took on this mission... The other players could still be here... But, where-'
Suddenly, the buildings behind Nico came falling down, a roar following the falling debris. He ran in the opposite direction and avoided any falling pieces of the building. Then, he instinctively pulled out his Voided Xiphos, taking an attack stance.
Moving frantically and smashing buildings was the cyclops, his health bar 70% full and red. Nico lifted an eyebrow in confusion. "How's he already that low?"
Then, he saw two girls running and evading the cyclops' punches and stomps, their bodies bruised and bloodied. After looking closer, he realised who the girls were.
'It's those girls from before... I think they're called Laura and Lindsey... What are they doing fighting a whole cyclops without their weapons?'
He then looked at the weapons on the ground and sighed. 'Of course.' Nico stretched and dashed for the cyclops, picking up the 3 sectioned nunchaku and holding them with his free hand.
Then, as the cyclops threw a punch at Laura, who was exhausted from all the moving, stared in horror as the punch closed in on her. Lindsey wore a terrified expression on her face, her eyes tearing up.
The punch landed, sending piles of rock flying. The cyclops lifted his hand and inspected Laura, discovering that she had disappeared. He grunted and looked around until he found Nico carrying Laura over his shoulder, her panties revealed and shaping around her plump and round butt.
"Jeez, who knew I'd end up becoming 'Mr Save a Hoe?'" Nico said as he spanked Laura and roughly dropped her on the ground, making her groan as she landed. After hitting her backside, he felt that they were now even since she slapped Melissa.
He then showed her the nunchaku and asked, "Yours?"
Laura hesitantly shook her head and looked at Lindsey. Nico looked at her and nodded. The cyclops roared once more and almost punched Nico. But, before it could move, he used [Dancing Fire] and cut it through the air, the attack whizzing and slicing the monster's eye.
The cyclops cried out in agony and closed its eyes before staggering back.
"Hey!" Nico called out as he chugged the nunchaku towards Lindsey, who caught it and immediately readied herself for battle.
'Laura almost died... Because of me... Because I'm weak... While this rando saved her, I could only stare in fear... I'm weak... I'm fucking weak... But, I'll at least protect my sister, right here, right now!'
With renewed confidence, Lindsey narrowed her eyes and spun her nunchaku, a feint, pink aura following the movement. Nico charged in for the cyclops and began cleaving through its tough skin, drawing blue blood in the process.
Before the cyclops could cry out from the first attack, Lindsey smacked the wound Nico opened 3 times in a second flat, causing it to become wider. The cyclops roared and stomped around randomly.
Nico used his [Dancing Fire] once more and cleaved through the cyclops' left leg, cutting it clean off and causing it to fall on its remaining knee. The cyclops smacked the air around him randomly, hoping he could grab hold of one of the attackers.
Nico evaded the swipes and spun in the air before tossing his Voided Xiphos towards the monster's back, using his extending chains to punt it further. The blade stuck into the cyclops' back, making him scream in agony.
Nico whipped his chain, a spark similar to gunpowder being lit and led to a box of TNT following suit, then caused his Voided Xiphos to ignite, burning a large hole into the cyclops' back.
The monster released a final cry and fell to the ground, a loud thud and splashing rain puddles following right after. Lindsey watched in awe as Nico pulled out his blade and casually hung it over his shoulder.
{ Keogan, the Cyclops General, has been felled! }
{ +5 Value has been added! }
Her eyes sparkled in admiration, her troubles forgotten for a moment as she looked at Nico, his face completely calm despite the situation.
He jumped off the cyclops and walked away, ignoring the girls as he did. Lindsey hesitated, but then followed behind him, shocking Laura.
"Um!" she called out. "Thanks for saving us!"
Nico stopped walking, looked at Lindsey, and then raised a single eyebrow. "'Saving you?' I don't recall doing that."
"Huh?"
"I just came here to slay the cyclops. You guys just got lucky because I was here."
Lindsey clenched her fists. "Either way... Thank you..."
"...You know, you're extremely pathetic for a player."
Lindsey felt her heartbreak when she heard Nico say that.
"You let your friend over there get hurt, and she almost got killed. All you did was stand there like a statue, only moving when a random stranger gave you the opening. Honestly, even I could do better, and I'm weak as shit."
Lindsey slowly dropped her head and faced the ground.
"But," Nico continued as he tossed 2 vials of healing potions at Lindsey, who quickly caught them and widened her eyes. "You can become stronger. I can see it," he said, smiling softly.
Lindsey looked at Nico, her eyes glassy, and smiled faintly. Then, Nico walked away, putting his hands inside his pockets as he did. Laura dashed for Lindsey and hugged her.
"Are you okay?!" she asked.
Lindsey clenched her fists tighter and said, "No, I'm not."
Puzzled, Laura looked at her younger sister with a raised eyebrow. "Lin?"
"... I think... Big G is holding us back..."
"What?"
"Laura... I want to get stronger. Being with that man... won't allow me to protect you... Not at this rate..."