It had been a month in this world and everybody was working hard to clear the levels. I had met a new friend named ryuujin and he didn't tick me off so I kept him around. The third floor boss had been tough but together with the help of an info broker and his party we defeated him. Now I wonder among the streets with ryuujin and look at all the shops. I wasn't really in the market for anything special but I had gained a level or two after the boss and was looking around for some good stat boosters. Ryuujin stopped at a store selling some high grade enhancements on weapons and was browsing the stocks when I got a call from mako. I sighed and pressed the answer button.
"Hey mako what's up? not in any trouble are you?" While I talked I did a search and found he was in a forest just south of town.
"Haha naw just calling to see if you wanted to come and battle with us, the monsters out here are super wicked! They make some seriously good drops, I just got a ring that boost my attack power by +40!" He sounded out of breath and kind of hinting on being in trouble. Most likely he was deep in the forest without any teleportation crystals on him again. I roll my eyes and and reply,
"Yea, sure me and ryuujin will head over there now." He makes kind of a weird noise and I frown, "What wrong?"
"Nothing… really.. but do you have to bring ryuujin? He scares me…" I laugh at his remark and look over at ryuujin who's now bartering with the merchant.
"Yea he does have a 'I'll kick your ass if you cross me' kind look about him." I smiles when he looks over and nod. "okay so Ryuujin can stay what about you is there someone else with you?" He sighs and chuckles softly,
"I knew you would catch that. Yea there is I have a girl with me and I was helping her level up, had to save her but quite a few times though…" I smile and nod.
"All right I'll be there shortly just sit tight and don't get in anymore fight's." I hit the end button just as ryuujin walks over empty handed. I smile and look at him questioningly "No luck?" He scowls at he and nods. "Man you really gotta work on your people skills." I laugh and pat his shoulder in pity and understanding. "Well hey, I gotta go save mako's arse from yet another pillage of unprepared bravado and I'll meet you later at the inn for dinner later okay?" I smile and wave as I start to walk away. he wave back until I'm out of sight and then turns around going back to browsing the many shops and stand thrown about the square. I check my inventory and see I have just enough crystals to get both them and me out of the forest safely. I smiles and talk off at a run equipping my light boots and increasing my speed heading out of the town and into the danger zone. It didn't take me all that long to reach the forest and I didn't get any call's of urgency so I take my time and check out the forest before entering. The monsters her weren't all that strong levels 5 and 8 mostly which only proved my point that the drops here weren't really all the impressive. My obvious higher level lead most of the monsters to leave me alone as I walked deeper into the forest. An eerie fog started to creep over the air and I could soon see why mako's voice had such a hint of terror to his voice I sped up my pace heading in their direction as I looked around I discovered it was getting increasingly harder to see and unfortunately I had to resort to calling his name not only alerting them to my presence but any monsters nearby. I heard a small cry of my name in response over to my right and turned heading for it but soon stopped as i heard an even bigger cry come from the monsters surrounding them. as I cleared the tree's the fog suddenly stopped and I could see I had walked into an ambush. I could feintly see glimpses of mako and the other girl through the ring of rather giant wolf surrounding my friends. I sighed and quickly switched all my gear upping my defence and attack power and sacrificing my agility and speed.
"You better be lucky I'm a higher level then these monsters or I would send you into data fragments myself!" I joke and simultaneously alert all the wolf's of my presence. They all turn and set their sights on me. I don't really bother being nervous because this many monsters is like eating cake bad for me but still not life threatening. I pull out my katana's and charge the wolf's taking out the first on easily with my multi-slash double katana skill and turn to block the next attack the comes at me. Luckily with them only being level 10 they were limited on attack's to slash and bite. I blocked the large paw that came at me and spun around rather quickly and slashed at his neck cutting his health bar in half and using my other katana I stabbed at his chest turning him into data fragments. I look up and study the scene. Mako and the girl are watching me rather wide eyed and envious. I roll my eyes at them and focus back on my opponents 6 of the 8 are left. I sigh and charge again activating my special skill, 6 deadly strikes and attack them. One two and six I deal the last blow and land out of breath as each one of the wolfs disappear into data fragments. A little note shows up on my menu telling me what I earned and how I finally reached level 12. I smirk at some of the drops and accept them.
"WOW! Ki that was so totally cool! I knew you were a professional but it is so cool to see it up close!" He is on me in second showering me with his praise now in total fan-boy mode. I sigh and nod waving off his compliments,
"Yea yea I'm the best blah blah blah… Look can we skip this and just head back into town?" I pull up my inventory and select the crystals. Mako snaps out of his moment and nods embarrassed as he takes a crystal and so does the girl. We all activate our crystals and are teleported back into the town. The crystals disappear and I smile now that we're back in the safe zone. I look over at them glaring,
"Are you guy's idiots!" I yell finally turning on them. "That forest was dangerous! you're only a level 8 and you went in that far! you know the farther you stray into the forest the stronger the monsters get!" I lecture them thoroughly and then send them off to the inn for rest. Still on edge from the lecture and fight I walk back into the town and over to the town pub walking in I take a seat at the bar and order a mug of beer. In this world the beer really doesn't do anything but it does mess with your view so you can't see straight stimulating that your "drunk". I wasn't here to get drunk I just like the beer here and I wasn't yet ready for socializing. I smiles politely and thank the bar man when he serves me taking the mug and sipping slowly on it. I look around until a guy comes over and sits next to me.
"now I know only one reason a cute girl like you is in a bar drinking…" He smiles at her and orders a drink. I turn to him questioningly,
"Oh? And what would that be?" I ask him wondering what his answer will be.
"You have a stupid friend who needed your help and you had to save his ass." I smiles and winks at me. I laugh outright,
"Not the usual pick up line." I reply
"Haha Yea well I must confess I saw you take out those wolfs and you caught my interest so I followed you…" He smiles and scratches the back of his head softly.
"And what could a girl like me possibly catch your interest just by killing a few low leveled monsters?" He smiles at my question.
"The fact that I know you beat the third floor boss and I'm kind of a recruiter for the front lines…" I look at him doubtfully.
"So? Let me guess you want me to join them?" I lounge on my stool and drink off my beer.
"Nah, nothing like that," He smiles copying me, "I know you a solo player but I came to offer you a place in my guild." I laugh and look at him.
"So I know you knew I was a solo player which mean you wouldn't come up to me without a 'you can't refuse after you hear' speech" I look at him waiting.
"I can tell this isn't the first time you've had this offer~" He chuckles and takes a drink off his beer before continuing "well it makes my job easy all I'm really here for is to give you an offer to join and then tell you the good thing's about joining. First you could still remain a solo player most of the time, the only time you would have to have a party is when we take on the floor bosses, I would make you the highest rank and give you the option to stay on the front lines or leave. Solo missions would be all we need you for if you should wish for more we can arrange it." He pauses drinking again and I sip on mine listening quietly. "Most of the time you could continue as normal just with a slight change." He turns and smiles at me. "this would conclude my you can't refuse speech." I smiles and nod thoughtfully.
"And you name is?" I look at him questioningly.
"Heathcliff." he smiles and hold out his hand for me.
"I'm Ki.. but you probably know that by now…" I smile and shake his hand.
"So what do you say to my offer" he asks urgingly.
"I'll have to think about it." I smiles and he nod's inclining his beer to me.
"I look forward to your yes." I giggle and roll my eyes continuing to drink.
