As I traversed the desolate plains, where slimes, horses, and cows were the only signs of life, I stumbled upon a city —the 23rd. An important number that had come up multiple times.
The 23rd was situated near a river and had a reputation for being nearly deserted due to frequent monster attacks originating from the lake. During the game, the few residents who remained had somber dialogue options, often speaking of their families being killed by monsters that emerged from the lake.
Upon entering the city gate, I was greeted by an unexpected sight. The once desolate town had transformed into a vibrant hub of activity. Banners in a spectrum of colors decorated the streets, and NPCs were gathered, sharing drinks and celebrating with a sense of camaraderie and joy. The lively atmosphere was a striking contrast to the bustling but orderly environment of 63rd.
Adding to the festive mood, many NPCs were adorned with red and white masks, each featuring unique patterns. The masks lent a mystical and somewhat eerie charm to the celebrations.
Curious about the sudden change in the city's dynamics, I approached one of the NPCs and asked about the events unfolding in the city.
"A few days ago our city was bought by a guild," the NPC said eagerly, a hint of pride in their voice.
I was surprised. Why would anyone purchase a city like this, especially given the ongoing costs and the city's history of destruction during the game? It was a place players typically avoided.
"What guild bought this city?" I asked, trying to understand their decision.
"The guild is called... G2," the NPC replied after a brief pause.
I was puzzled. I hadn't heard of a guild named G2 during the game. Trust me, I would know. Their choice to buy this city was intriguing. Either they were people from Earth who had no idea what was going on, but if that were the case, how did they get the money to buy a city? I mulled over their decision for a moment, and the NPC must have noticed my curiosity.
"Why don't you enjoy the festivities?" they suggested, handing me a white mask with a red mark across the center.
I took the mask, appreciating its design, and I tied it to my belt. The festive atmosphere of the city seemed to envelop me as I joined in the celebrations.
I put on the mask, noting that it had no special effects or debuffs, and began to explore the city. The 23rd was primarily a storage hub, featuring several large warehouses designed to house items and armor. With the recent purchase of the city, the new owners had the power to regulate who could enter and exit.
As I wandered through the town, the cheerful NPCs and festive atmosphere were a stark contrast to the somber mood of the game. However, it was clear that this city was not without its issues. I decided to stay until nightfall to investigate the warehouses more thoroughly. As I walked through the city, I encountered several NPCs carrying boxes. It was clear that the guild who had purchased the city had displaced the existing NPCs.
"This place was always busy, with shipments and trades. Now it's just empty warehouses and storage units."
"I know," replied the second worker, shaking their head. "We used to manage all the trades and supplies here. Now we're just being pushed out because some High Humans want to turn this city into their personal storage facility."
"This city was never perfect," the first worker continued, "but it had its role. Now that the guild's bought it for storage, we're left without any purpose."
"And the worst part is that we have to find new jobs elsewhere," the second worker added. "Who knows how long it will take to find work there or if we'll even get any."
These high humans, one said, "They've only been here for two days and are already messing everything up."
There weren't many soldiers, I thought, and the ones that were here seemed to be sorting through the rest. I came to the conclusion that I had arrived at an opportune moment. With the girls most likely being tired from the day's activities, I could discover what this mysterious guild was sorting out.
Determined to uncover more about what the guild was storing, I decided to stay in the city overnight. Given its relatively small size, if G2 had been a larger guild, they might have had the resources to acquire a more substantial location quickly.
To ensure I could escape quickly if needed, I thought, I should be able to do this now. Let's see if I can add an effect.
"Enchant_Kunai(Effect: Anchor)," I whispered, enchanting both of the kunai.
I watched as the NPCs continued their work, unpacking boxes, while I tested my kunai.
I threw one of the kunai high into the air.
"Teleport_to_Anchor," I said softly.
After a few seconds, I teleported, and the kunai was back in my hand as I got an aerial view.
"Teleport_to_Anchor," I said again.
This time, I teleported back to the one on the ground and placed a spar outside the city.
The Anchor effect teleports me to the farthest one in range. At higher ranks, I can make it so that I teleport to a specific one at a specific time or duration, but for now, this was enough.
I walked back into the city, noticing the acreage throwing papers into the air. At first, I thought it was part of a celebration. But then, I saw an emblem on the side of the carriage—a detailed compass with a prominent east point. Each point ended with a diamond, all colorless except for the one pointing east, which glowed with a golden hue.
"Guild [Crusaders] has successfully cleared Floor 1," the paper read.
"High humans, use the Floor_ command followed by the number 2 to go to the capital, Asenada." the paper continued.
I wondered why we couldn't just teleport all the way to the end. If it's just a magic command, maybe it's simplified and has conditions.
Either way, in under three days, humanity had managed to clear Floor 1.