The body of a knight, sown in two along with the armor, flew into the air, making contact with the ground soon after, staining it with scattered flesh, organs and deep red blood.
It appearing focused everyone's attention; a dark, horned skeleton wearing a black torn up cape, armour in some places, its size proportional to smaller houses, it was carrying a shield higher than itself, and a polished wavy sword, stained crimson.
Its roar reverberated through everything within the village, civilians talking amongst themselves in terrified whispers, me with Naela among them, I was observing it, ready to disappear with her into a Dungeon at a moment's notice. The knights surrounding us were frozen in shock, some looking at the body, and some at the beast.
I have no idea what that is, only guessing it's a random encounter, though I really doubt it.
If it gets too close, I'll have to reveal my power of 'teleportation', to enter a dungeon.
As the monster took a step foward, a few people shouted, it was difficult to discern if they were villagers, or the attackers.
One of the knights closer to the undead, as what other type of monster could it be, started fleeing, almost stumbling away from it in a primal fear of death. The skeleton faded into a dark mist, reappearing before him, slicing through his armor like it was nothing, blood immediately sprouting out everywhere.
Then the body split in two in the middle, it almost seemed like a delayed reaction.
One foolish attacker swung his sword at the back of the beast, it bouncing off the cape, not even changing its flow. The monster, as it turned, bashed him with its shield, sending the man flying away.
Another knight attempted running, only to be rushed by the undead, it slicing him in three parts.
"It's only killing the men in armor, and it's enjoying it!" one of the attackers exclaimed, staring at the carnage.
It's fortunate that it's here for the knights, there was a probability they were after me, don't know it for sure, but it certainly wasn't impossible.
Others added desperate comments akin to "gods help us all" and "we're doomed".
"You idiots! Hurry up, and bring down that monster!" The one I assumed to be the leader cried out, "this can't be happening, I'm too rich to die in a hell hole like this!" he added, in a voice a tone quieter, saying it more to himself than the others.
"Men, get over here now, be my shield so I can escape!" Truly a brave warrior, I thought.
Then I realized my mindset is going to become similar in a few years, only less idiotic in the way of being used.
At least I have Naela, who's a person I deem a great friend, as thinking less of any other human through path to evil, except her. Hoping it stays that way, if it does, she'll become the string I hold onto, keeping me from wholly becoming a despicable being.
"Stand your ground, Belius." someone responded to the pleas of the corrupted idiot.
At that moment, the monster turned to the assumed noble, who tried to scream, only a pathetic whimper getting out, being frozen in fear.
"Protect me!" He repeated,
"I'll give you two hundered gold pieces!"
The beast getting closer,
"No, make it five hundered gold!"
Money was of no value in such a situation.
"Screw it, I'll pay a thousand!"
But he did not realize it.
Then, he tripped over a corpse, the undead impaling him in the stomach as he tried to get up, making his death slower, and much more painful. It was as if the monster knew what kind of person that knight was.
But, who is actually the monster in this situation...?
He was screaming something at the other knights, but his voice was rendered intelligible by all the blood in his throat, his cries faded out as the skeleton repeatedly stabbed him, flesh flying out everywhere.
All but one knew that no kind of wealth can recompensate death.
"No, go away! I can't do this!"
Other attackers started coming to their senses, knowing there is nothing they can do to be saved.
"Hold steady! Stand strong, we'll stand our ground, and defend our brothers!" An almost respectable fellow shouted. "Let's give the archers time to retreat. Prepare for battle!"
His words had an effect on the men, they held up their shields high, swords drawn once again, in battle ready positions.
They charged, only for three to get sliced with one swipe, the undead continued the slaughter.
The almost respectable fellow ran at it as well, knowing full well it was going to be his death, but yet still persisting.
He died by decapitation, almost a shame that he did.
Then, a strong voice was heard across.
"Stop, Death Knight. You've served me well."
The skeleton froze.
A silence fell on the battlefield, as I looked in the direction where it came from.
Two figures were seen floating in the sky, a large being adorned in black robes and gold lines, a dark purple robe was visible underneath. It had metallic shoulder armour, with giant crimson gems on each side. A red/green mask covered its face.
The other figure was of a distinctively feminine shape, dark grey armour covering her form entirely, save for a visor. She was carrying a large waraxe.
They descended before the monster, everyone present watching in a mixture of fear and anticipation.
"My name is Ainz Ooal Gown, it is a pleasure to meet all of you. Don't worry about my death knight, no harm will come to you now." The larger unknown said.
"Tell your supervis- I mean owner of my kindness." My eyes widened, this is a Yggdrasil player. A high level one for sure, maybe even maxed, that game's been on for a long time. Possible his partner is a player as well, though uncertain.
Should I say anything? No, best not focus his attention on me, there are many things he may do if he comes to find out I'm sort of one of his kind, best not risk it. That undead was his summon most likely, and it slaughtered the knights terrifyingly easily, I've got to be really careful of garnering unwanted attention.
Really hoping the noble after me was within those knights, that'd solve my problem so conveniently...
"However, the next time you commit such heinous acts in this area I will bring death to your entire kingdom. Leave, make sure you speak my name to everyone." Yep, definitely a larper, just as Indess described those. As well it's quite possible he really is maxed, to make those kinda statements, and with such conviction.
The attackers all scurried away, getting to their horses, and leaving as fast as they can.
"U-uh, pardon me sir, why did you come here?" asked the village chief.
"I could not stand by and watch innocent people be murdered. Call it a ...moral obligation." a pause, "Be at ease, this village is under my protection. You no longer need to be scared." He walked up to the group of people, still together from the knights forcing them.
At the stares of the villagers, he continued,
"I don't do this kind of work for free though, I expect to be compensated for my efforts" Why would... Ah, I get it, smart.
The player was conversing with the chief, as the group scattered, some people remaining, curious of the mage.
I took Naela by hand, and started walking slowly, but firmly away from the two beings. She looked at me curiously, "Not now." I sharply muttered.
It's possible the player would recognize me as someone not of this world, I need to distance myself from them as quickly as possible, and as far as possible. The only reason we weren't already in a dungeon is that they may be able to sense it, know who the energy signature belonged to, and in the absoulte worst case, enter it as well.
This may be a bit paranoid, but I was getting a choking feeling that this ...person, or whatever the avatar actually is, is absolutely the most dangerous being on this world, within this universe.
I was trying for our march to come out as a carefree stroll, a casual walk that will end maximum in a few hundered meters distance.
As soon as we were out of the village, and certain they couldn't see us, we sprinted as quickly as Naela could, my maximum speed was a tad above the level of olympics, while hers was slightly higher than a civilian's.
I was still ready to Dungeon us in a moment's notice, they could've seen us running, and decided it was suspicious, or something else.
I believe it was a decent distance away when we stopped. Naela had less stamina than me, but it's still been some time, we should be safe. Though it'll be for the best if we continue going.
"What was that about?" She caught her breath, we can continue on. She didn't ask questions earlier, there was no time for that.
"That being, whatever it was, is the complete opposite of life. I sensed it. And its power is unmatched by even gods." I was talking out of my ass here, though the second part is probably correct. The first part of the sentence meaning to dump my reaction to the players onto the 'dryad' part of me.
"So you're saying that such a being needs compensation from a random village?" She sceptically asked, her confidence being higher from the time we've spent together on this journey.
"It was to keep people from being suspicious of them, at least that's my guess."
We resumed, this time walking at a pace just slow enough that it isn't noted by the stamina bar, a quick march.
-x-
We stopped near a fallen tree for the night.
"Hey, Naela, yesterday, I've found an alternative to dematerializing when the sun goes down. It's travelling to a different dimension, a dungeon. It contains dangerous monsters, but not nearly as deadly as the possibilities now with the entities that've visited the village." Making her do dungeons along with me would be a terrible idea at any other time, the zombies being buffed up to my level, but now with the threat of actual players looming over us, along with the predictability of when the undead appear, it should be much safer than the alternative. It could serve as training for her as well. I'll refrain from battling bosses, slowing down my progress, but making the dungeons safer until Naela reaches my level.
She agreed with my reasoning, although reluctantly.
In the dungeon, I was weakening the zombies, and she killing them. Seemed as she didn't feel any sympathy for the monsters, as her disgust was purely from their rotting forms. At least she told me so, all I can do is believe her.
She leveled up twice, probably because the exp gain was scaled to me.
All around a productive night.
There is one problem, though not one related to this training session directly, I feel like leveling isn't scaled correctly.
I know, it's only been a month, but I don't know, am feeling like there won't be 'universe-spanning battles' in two hundered years if all Gamers are getting stronger at a similar rate as me. I'm only 14% into the first level of runecrafting, and only nearing peak human in some aspects after a month of training, my magic being only capable of chaining the starter spell. Yeah, about that, the starter spell, the rune of Magic Missile, why aren't I getting more active runes? Why are there so little runes alltogether?
[Once you reach level 50, it will get easier to level, specifically the Starter Debuff will be lifted. Everything will become two times easier, with time becoming even more and more, and you'll start getting weak runes from Boss loot.]
A starter debuff.
What?
I heard of the starter bonus, but the opposite? I have no fucking clue as to why that would be implemented.
And why isn't it visible in any of the menus?
[Vingnish wanted the battles to span universes, not multiverses, omniverses, or worse, for all Gamers to reach his realm of power. After the debuff is removed, it will slowly proceed to make everything easier in the span of the next hundered and fifty years.]
Kinda annoying.
However, this is a setback I didn't know existed, it feels more like I'll be getting a buff once I reach level 50.
-x-
We stayed in the dungeon after clearing out the undead, for safety. I've got the in-game clock, so there was no need to worry about getting out too late or too early. We passed the time reading.
Wait, could we live in the dungeon forever? Stop caring about the outside world, having this city to ourselves... Technically no-one should be able to get in, right?
[You can do that, but only for a limited time; if the universe you were in gets destroyed in the battle, you won't be able to ever get out, the Void is unforgiving. The IDs were designed for training, not for living in, one will decay within a few millenia of existing. Your choice - a few thousand years of happy life with your partner on a simulated planet, then nothingness for eternity, or a chance at becoming the true god of this omniverse, and living forever, free of the curses of immortality through Gamer's Mind.]
Eh, doesn't sound that appealing anymore.
But now I know what my plan will be when failure is imminent during the battle, millenia of life away from the ruling of some tyrannical Gamer is much better than getting killed by them, or becoming their slave.
Wait, you said 'planet', a 'simulated planet'? There's more to this dungeon than just the city? I thought it was an infinite scape of ruins...? Every time I've been here, looking for zombies for hours at a time, never did I notice a change in the environment.
[It is scaled up thirty-two hundered octodecillion times, or made into the size of the observable universe in your old world, Vingnish didn't want to have yet another infinite dimension to tend to, they're apparently difficult to maintain, there are forests, oceans, mountains, and ruins from ages past, all filled with different types of monsters, scaled down to your level. To reach the places, you will have to travel there. There are hidden portals that will take you from ten thousand light years, to ten billion light years in a safe direction, always near a boss room, or some other attraction, like a tomb filled with gold and deadly traps. You may return to the zombie city if you 'enter' the dungeon from within itself, doing so does not restart it. There is one such portal for every five square kilometers, they're well hidden.]
...And why didn't you tell me this before?
[Can you imagine dragons so weak a human can kill them? No, do not think of baby dragons, those are still too powerful. What I am saying is you are now strong enough that I can scale down the power of most the monsters in this 'universe' to your level and keep it believable, except the gods at Olympus, and other places.]
Olympus? An Earthly name?
[The Dungeon is your world, just much larger. You are now in Algiers, an African city, it large enough to engulf multiple galaxy clusters.]
Are there only the greek gods, or...?
[All pantheons are here, bound to their areas, some may be able to reach you otherwise. I will not be scaling down gods, you must reach their strength.]
Thanks for all the information, I'll be looking for the portals from now on. Though, why'd you tell me this? Thought you said 'no more answers to indirect questions' some time ago?
[Vingnish had me tell it to all Gamers. He made it to be part of the tutorial.]
Tutorial? A month in?
[In my personal opinion I believe he created this feature just now, having noticed the dullness of dungeons.]
He seems oddly human.
No matter.
During the time between killing the last zombie, and getting out of the dungeon at sunrise, I've looked through the items of the Yggdrasil player that appeared at that village, Carne village. Through the item searching addon I found out some interesting things, mainly that the one is undoubtedly ridiculously over-powered, and that he is an undead, so my excuse for running was on point with the Dryad persona.
I wondered for a time if there was a way for me to get some of the items on him. It would make sense, he's not a Gamer gamer, but rather someone isekaied in a different manner, it was impossible for our kind to meet before the Battle, we all have different multiverses - so putting items from his person into my inventory should be technically possible, his ten rings, making him capable of wiping out mountains, wishing for almost anything, resurrecting the dead, and so, so many more great fucking feats I've read about on this damned addon, and that is only a small part of his equipment... Ooh, how I would love to get my hands on his 'world class' item, the red orb, such juicy multipliers, and those effects...
Then I rejected the idea, slapping myself in the face. Steal from the arguably most powerful entity in the world? The Sin of Greed will get me killed one day. I must focus on first getting the Gem, then after that a few more ultra-long quests. Then, and only then will I start seriously considering stealing from such a powerful and hacky entity.
Damn it, even though I knew of the trait ever since being transported to this world, this is the first time I actually acknowledged it as something that may truly be problematic.
I used to view it as more of a perk, that it'll 'make me motivated to gain more power', and that's true, it's just... That is the downside as well, and a large one, based on the ridiculous thoughts I've been having.
[Major Greed Sin]
The desire to obtain power and wealth.
This sin will dissipate upon completing either of those two conditions:
Give your loved ones 200 unique valuable possessions and share 80% of your stat points with 5000 people each.
OR
Obtain infinite wealth and gain infinite HP+SP+MP
I need to work towards breaking free of this curse, maybe make an utterly devoted sect, and do the first condition on them?
It'll be difficult to make 200 loved ones though...
But what actually classifies as a 'loved one'? I'll have to experiment once I have free time and resources. Hopefully it's not an actual one, like with me and Naela.
A part of me is firmly against the idea of getting rid of the cursed sin.
But is it really me?
This is...
Problematic.
-x-
Only a few hours after dawn, we've reached yet another village, only this one was bordering on being a small town. It's got a few fancy two story buildings in its heart, one even reaching the height of the buildings within the city. Though it still is a village, at least by modern day standards. Most of the houses are much smaller and wooden, there are no barricades to set its borders.
I don't feel comfortable being in such a place, leaving the city was for a purpose; pursuers.
It is a fact that I left in a hurry, and in neither of the two settlements I've come across during the journey buying was really an option. Now it is, this the largest gathering of humans since the city - there may be some good gear somewhere around these parts. Not that there's no equipment me and Naela have, we've still got the armour, money and swords of the bandits from days ago,
I noticed all locations have their own atmosphere, the city, E-Rantel, is busy and has a quiet night life with many intriguing stories being created every day, the small river village has a homely feel to it, Carne being more collected, but otherwise similar to the smaller village, and this little town a mix of the city's stories with the slow countryside life.
If there weren't threats looming over the horizon, I'd say this kind of moving life was adequately enjoyable, especially with the differing cultures, the books to read, and the exp it grants.
Really, it was shocking to level up so quickly. It may be greed influencing my thoughts, but seeing numbers go up is...
...Pleasurable.
"Hey, Su, could we get something to eat? I know there's no need to... We can do it just because..." Naela's definitely looking at a nearby open air bar where many kinds of meat are getting roasted.
"Yeah, sure, don't see why not."
We walked up to the bar, sat down, and ordered beef shashlicks, they weren't that expensive and looked delicious.
I noticed an old guy, wearing a ragged, uncolored robe looking closely at a small pile of bacon he ordered.
Older people usually have the best tales to tell, I've noticed so in the time of my journey.
"Hey, you there, have you heard of the Gem?" Yeah, that's a perfect conversation starter.
"Gem? A yes! The gem, so a round, as a the circle, a wheel, the Color Wheel, it a plays part as the logic of the color wheel!" He started rambling, "Everything's connected, my a spiral, the wheel, the a golden ratio... The end is a withing the beginning! And the beginning is withing a the end! Everything that moves is alive. The all-world is alive! Good withing evil, and evil withing good! Monkeys wearing the hats of famous commanders, and a smoking! The higher the mountain the less people want to climb it! A you, girl, please take this! Find out the truth of the a logic of the color wheel! You can, your's a power, immortal! Not? My a truth is not even known by me." He handed me a drawing of a color wheel, with some seemingly random markings on it, several circles, lines, a spiral and equations I don't recognize on the other side of the worn down paper.
"Careful, this a is important! It is my a life's work! You will find it! You have the light of a being unknown!" He took a deep breath, then whispered "From yellow to red. You will solve." staring uncomfortably close at me, his eyes as wide as they could go.
"Uhh, sure...?" I responded, he started laughing, and ran down the street, out of my view. That was interesting. Some might say this is just some old delusional fool, but it is possible his person to be a genius, unable to express the revolutionary knowledge he holds, there've been a lot of people like him on the old Earth, my granddad was even one. I put the drawing in my pocket, and then into my inventory.
As well there's now a quest.
[New quest] -
[Objective] -
Complete the Magnum Opus of the Horned Hedgehog.
[Reward] -
INT and WIS multiplied by three, permanently.
Five Gacha tokens, possible loot - items guaranteed to be at least worth 50,000,000 dollars of your old world, and no traits, nor negative status effects.
The Essence of Infinity.
The rune of balance.
One appetizing quest. Though it'll likely take a while to complete if those are the rewards.
Searching 'Essence of Infinity' in the addon, there are way too many 'essences' to be able to tell what it is exactly.
Though I have a feeling it plays a role with making my stats infinite, maybe there'll be a chained quest regarding that, if I finish this one. I bet it'll be ultra long, going far beyond the Battle, at least thousands of years. And maybe my interpretation's wrong.
The old man was talking of yin and yang - 'Good withing evil, and evil withing good!', and judging where yellow and red colors are on the wheel, maybe he meant reincarnation, the life cycle, from yellow to red through all the colors, and absolute contrast existing, balance is visible from every point of view, an infinite amount of those on a wheel.
'Everything that moves is alive. The all-world is alive!' Is this 'all-world' the universe? The universe is alive? So the yellow and red cycle applies to everything that moves.
And the spiral, a three dimensional one, if one would imagine it spinning, it means infinity as well, you cannot see the spin at the beginning nor the end, a similar view on infinity as that one philosopher with the running paradox, you run halfway to the end, then half of that, half of that, for eternity slowing down, but never reaching the finish line.
Don't know if my guesses are correct, but damn. This may be something truly big...
My greed is for knowledge as well, even ignoring the quest rewards, I'd try to take on this challenge.
Thank you, Hedgehog, or whatever your name really is.
"You there?" Naela was looking expectantly.
"I ...was lost in thought."
"Yeah, you sure were, will you eat your shashlik?" She asked, her gaze focused on the food in front of me.
"...No, you can have it. I'm not hungry." my mind still wandering around the color wheel, and my new quest.
"We never are...?" she mumbled.
-x-
To get to the town square quicker, we entered an alley.
There were some barrels here and there, stone walls from either side, patches of grass here and there sprouting from cracks.
As we're walking, it feels like we're being watched.
Tense.
I heard a sound, coming from behind me.
A loud thump.
Something grabbed my arms.
Two men, two strong men.
They struggled to keep me in place, as I used all my strength. Almost olympic level. I would've broken free if not for a third brute to smash me in the head with an iron club, momentarily dazing my senses.
I almost took out a chained rune, almost, because I got hit a second time.
I almost fled to a dungeon, almost, because I got hit a third time.
And a fourth, and fifth.
And then blank.
-x-
I woke up to see nothing, as in a complete darkness. Yet, my recent memories and the sensations around me are obvious hints to where I am at this point in time.
The continuous shaking of the hard surface I was laying on, wood, based on the texture, was the first thing to give me an idea of my location, the floor of a carriage.
A carriage drawn by horses, as per the somewhat rythmic patter of hooves.
I was bound in chains, suggesting the captors' knowledge of at least my unusual strength.
Damn it. I got too careless.
What about Naela, is she here?
Dematerializing the bindings, and the rough blindfold they put on my eyes, and taking out a rune as fast as possible, I look around for any enemies. There are none, though I hear two voices talking on the outside, behind a door to the carriage's dickey box.
"I'm still mad we didn't take the weaker one, I'd love to have some fun with her."
"Shut it, we only getting paid for this scarred bitch, and no touching the wares."
Well that certainly wasn't nice. Well, at least now I know Naela wasn't taken.
I need to get back.
Let me enter a dungeon, that'll get rid of my captive status.
And I did so, stretching as my surroundings changed. Heh, it's nice to have such a trump card, escaping to a different dimension.
After killing all the zombies and the boss I returned to the real world at most four hours later, not waiting within as I usually do, yet it was already night.
I was dropped from half a meter to the ground after leaving, landing on my feet.
I have no idea in which direction the cart was going, so there's a fifty-fifty chance of me going the opposite direction to Naela.
I may have lost her, just because of carelessnes, of not being on guard, of not caring for an undoubtedly real threat that was my pursuers.
They probably already know I escaped, having likely set camp for the night, opening the door to the carriage, not finding me inside.
Wait. Fuck. This may make them think I have the ability to teleport. If they learn, they may have me drugged next time they catch me.
I have Gamer's Mind, doesn't it negate drugs?
[It does, for ones that influence the mind. Ones that lock the muscles themselves, no longer. Though the body drugs aren't nearly as common.]
But wouldn't that then be negated by Gamer's Body?
[Yes, it would.]
Then why didn't you say so in the first place?
[You did not ask.]
And why did striking me in the head work?
[It is something entirely different.]
Entirely different? Why did it render me unconscious, when you're saying drugs don't have the ability to?
[Blunt damage has this effect, same way slicing gives a bleeding debuff.]
I decide not to ask further.
...Returning to my previous train of thought, there's the minimap I could use to locate the village. I believe.
Tapping at the map at the top right of my vision, it does nothing. Is it really only this thing? Damn it, I've ignored it for so long, now having rediscovered this feature, having thought I'd found gold, this is useless.
Screw this.
Screw it all, the pursuers, bandits, path to evil, greed, this world, what the fuck am I even doing here? What am I trying to achieve?
It's like the answer is obvious, to win the Battle, and rule the omniverse as a benevolent tyrant. My greed won't affect everyone in an infinite expanse, the people will continue their daily lives...
But is the answer really that? That is the goal of my greed. What would I want, if there was no traits?
Live happily with Naela, travelling from town to town, until my demise at the hands of a Player?
Still try to beat the Game, win the Battle, this time just to have a peaceful life?
Or do it from the idiotic need to help people without asking for anything in return?
Maybe something entirely different?
It's night, I'm standing on a random dirt road, and having an inner monologue.
It does sometimes happen.
-x- Naela's POV
I woke to a black cat smelling my face, as it noticed my opened eyes staring right at its large yellow irises, it scurried into darkness. Confused as to what happened, I sat up, processing the situation.
Walking with Suisei, a short pain, and then nothing.
"Su?" I asked, nobody replying, except for the silence of the apparent night.
That was when I launched up to my feet, having realised what has occured. We were in an alley, this was a kidnapping.
Starting to think of possible ways to save her, I stop myself. She's capable of escaping, with all those abilities she has.
I'll wait for her here for the next week, if she doesn't show up in that timespan, it will be a sign for me to start looking. It is a lengthy amount of time, but one I am capable of tolerating to be certain she won't be returning to this place.
Damn it.
This is the nature of 'adventuring', isn't it? The adventures aren't always gonna be pleasant. Hell, they almost never are, now that I think about it.
Why would anyone do this? Not like she was being pursued...
Right?
Suisei told me she left the city to experience more, and later to evolve her dryad abilities.
But is it really true?
Then why would she lie?
Maybe I'm interpreting it all wrong, maybe the people just wanted her for her body, having noticed her minutes earlier?
But how would they catch her, with all of her abilities?
And why didn't they take me as well?
It is much more possible they wanted Suisei exclusively. Mercenaries? Yeah, that's quite probable.
Walking out of the alley, I am greeted with a large owl hooting ominously on top of a wooden house, a clouded, starless sky, and no awake human.
It must be past midnight, no person isn't sleeping. E-Rantel might've had a subtle night life, but this town is bordering on the size of a large village, so that kind of thing isn't what would normally occur.
With no place to sleep at, no books to read, no magical light to help me do so, no Suisei to take me to another dimension for training, what I do at this time is wander through the dark roads, thinking of many great and terrible things.
I gazed into the darkness.
Suisei, I'm waiting for you.
[A/N]
If anyone's feeling generous and wants to support my writing, life, dreams and work in general, I've got a P - word this site despises;
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