In Zerensha Village
Meanwhile, west of Moonscape, Ichio and Livia arrived in Zerensha, a quaint village nestled between rolling hills and dense forests. The village was alive with the faint hum of daily activities, though its inhabitants moved mechanically, their faces blank—a stark reminder that these "NPCs" were now real people who had never played the game.
Livia walked beside Ichio, her tone light but laced with frustration. "I need a new weapon," she said. "The Goblin Slayer is powerful, but it's too specific. I need something versatile, a weapon that can take on any monster. Do you mind if we stop somewhere for a while?"
Ichio didn't respond. He kept walking, his gaze fixed ahead, ignoring her entirely.
Livia's brows furrowed. "Seriously? You haven't talked to me since we got here."
Still, no response.
"At least say something!" she demanded.
Ichio came to a halt in front of a weapons shop, the faint creak of its wooden sign swinging in the wind breaking the silence.
Livia blinked, surprised. "Oh, so you do care."
Inside the shop, the scent of steel and oiled leather hung in the air. The shelves were lined with swords, axes, and other weapons, but none seemed extraordinary. Livia picked up a sword, testing its weight before grimacing. "Ah, it's too weak. Maybe this place doesn't have anything powerful."
The shopkeeper, an older man with weathered features, chuckled. "Well, there's one sword in the village that might interest you. But it's not for sale."
Livia raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
The shopkeeper gestured toward the village square. "It's a sacred sword, passed down by the village chief. It's said to protect Zerensha, and it can't be given to just anyone."
Livia clicked her tongue in disappointment. "Figures."
As Livia examined the weapons, Nyx's voice echoed in Ichio's mind, calm and deliberate.
"Master, I can smell your former allies. They're not far from here."
Ichio's lips curled into a faint smirk. "And why should I care? And don't call them my allies."
Nyx hesitated before continuing. "It seems they've met up with two others."
Ichio shrugged dismissively. "Good for them. Maybe they've finally found someone who isn't useless. Unlike me."
Nyx's tone shifted, trying to emphasize something. "Master, about those two—"
"Enough, Nyx." Ichio cut him off, his voice cold. "Actually, I have an idea. Nyx, follow them."
Nyx paused. "Master, what do you mean? I need to stay here to protect you."
Ichio's gaze hardened. "I don't need your protection. Keep an eye on them and report back to me. I want to know everything they're doing."
Nyx lowered his voice, submitting. "As you wish, Master. Your orders are absolute."
With that, Nyx dissolved into the shadows, moving silently toward the Elohim Avdi party.
---
As Ichio and Livia lingered in the shop, a voice boomed across the entire floor, reverberating through the air like a thunderclap:
Livia's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Someone already found the Darseren? That was fast!"
Ichio remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Livia glanced at him, frowning. "Aren't you even the slightest bit surprised?"
Ichio turned to leave the shop, his voice low but laced with a subtle edge. "Curiosity gets you killed."
As Livia followed him out, her mind raced with questions.
Ichio walked briskly through the village, ignoring Livia's persistent complaints.
"Maybe we should head to Floor 2," Livia suggested, trying to keep up. "I can find a weapon that actually suits me there."
Ichio didn't respond, his focus fixed ahead.
Frustrated, she threw up her hands. "Seriously, this new you sucks. I don't like this cold, quiet look you're always giving me. It's unsettling."
They suddenly hears cries of villagers.
Ichio stopped abruptly, his status board appearing before him.
He sighed, his voice heavy with exasperation. "Seriously? Do I really have to do this?"
As if on cue, another message appeared:
Ichio's shoulders sagged slightly. "Unbelievable," he muttered. Then, turning to Livia, he smirked faintly. "Well, looks like you've got more goblins to slay."
Livia grinned, unsheathing her sword. "Finally, some action."
---
They made their way to the outskirts of Zerensha, where a swarm of goblins had already breached the forest line. Ten goblins charged toward them, armed with bows, daggers, swords, and axes, while another ten emerged from the rear, led by a hulking Goblin Lord.
The Goblin Lord stood out with its jagged armor and menacing stature, barking orders in guttural tones.
Livia dashed forward, a blur of motion. "Leave the small fries to me," she called out, her voice laced with excitement.
The first goblin raised its axe, but before it could strike, Livia's blade flashed. The axe fell to the ground, followed by the goblin's severed arm. Her sword arced again, slicing the creature cleanly in half.
Another goblin loosed an arrow, but Livia spun, her sword severing the projectile mid-air. She closed the distance in seconds, cutting through the goblin's bow and driving her blade through its chest.
A group of dagger-wielding goblins surrounded her, lunging in unison. Livia leaped into the air, her sword descending in a brutal slash that cleaved two of them at once. She landed gracefully, pivoting to decapitate another with a single stroke.
"Too weak," she muttered, her movements fluid and relentless.
---
Meanwhile, Ichio faced the Goblin Lord, standing calmly amidst the chaos.
The Goblin Lord growled, its sharp teeth glinting as it raised its sword. "Human! Leave now, or face my wrath!"
Ichio's expression remained indifferent. "Seriously, I really didn't want to do this." He pointed at the Goblin Lord. "If you leave now, you'll survive."
The Goblin Lord roared with laughter. "You dare command me? You're nothing but a pathetic human!"
Ichio sighed, his Eclipsight activating. A faint glow surrounded his eyes as a detailed status display appeared:
Goblin Lord | Level: 10
Mystique: Gamma
Highest Stat: Strength
Lowest Stat: Intelligence.
Ichio chuckled softly. "Low level," he remarked.
Raising his hand, he invoked: "Arbeul Dal Garm: Black Hole."
A swirling void of darkness materialized before the Goblin Lord, its gravitational pull instantly dragging the creature forward.
"What is this?!" the Goblin Lord bellowed, struggling against the force.
Ichio Invokes a rule. *Rules: Absorb all nearby goblins.*
The black hole obeyed, its pull intensifying as it consumed not only the Goblin Lord but the remaining goblins in its vicinity. Their screams were brief, snuffed out as they vanished into the void.
The battlefield fell silent.
Livia wiped her blade clean, glancing around at the carnage she had left behind. "All clear on my end," she said, grinning.
Ichio's status board appeared once more:
The board vanished, and moments later, the village chief emerged from the shadows, cradling a gleaming sword.
He approached Ichio silently, his eyes filled with gratitude. Without a word, he handed over the sword.
Ichio accepted it, studying the weapon briefly before nodding. "Thanks."
The chief bowed slightly and retreated without another word, leaving Ichio and Livia to prepare for their next move.
CHAPTER END.