Capítulo 4: The Nordam Forest Quest 2.0
Boss raids or battles are an important aspect in MMORPG games. Bosses are a large monster or a powerful enemy that has a lot of HP and Defense. They are commonly found in Dungeons or in Quests. Today, our brave adventurers head off to Nordam Forest, the northern part in the realm of EO. Runrark's Castle (Main Lobby) is surrounded by 4 landmarks. The northern part is Nordam Forest, the southern part is Sodam Isle, the eastern part is Edam Castle, and the western part is Wesdam Crater. Before reaching these landmarks, our players must journey across multiple terrains. And defeat monsters as they go. The farther they are from the main lobby, the more corrupted the monsters are. Will our brave adventurers be able to conquer the brutal journey ahead of them?
–Chapter 4
Save Points are a must have in this realm. In the real world, Save Points are utterly useless because players can just use a revive token which are cheap but in this realm, revive tokens do not exist. Me and Aiko are embarking on a journey to go to this place called Nordam Forest. The level recommendation is about 23 for the quest, but we are still going to do it. No time to grind, we are on a race to whoever gets the First Kill bonus.
"Alright Aiko, let's step in the portal." I said as I hopped into it.
We then popped into Fryrard Plains, the area surrounding the castle. We then followed a path pointing towards North and our journey begins here. Who knows how far this forest is, and how big is it? I'm guessing Holy Knights Party already know the fastest way to get there huh? Damn it, they have an advantage against us.
"Say Hitoshi, how far are we going to walk?" asked Aiko.
"Hmm I'm not sure, but don't worry we'll get there in no time."
Come to think of it, it's been nearly a week since we started out and I barely know anything about her. Maybe it's too weird to ask something personal? Today is an important day since it's going to be the first boss encounter. I'm a little worried about the real world.
"Hey Hitoshi, if you don't mind, I want to ask you how you found this game?" Aiko said.
She was probably thinking the same thing I was. Hmm how I found this game huh?
"My friend recommended it to me, and I thought I might as well give it a try." I said while shrugging.
"How about you? I mean, your brother. If I'm correct you just borrowed his game right?"
I asked.
"Yes, he found in on an online RPG forum and played it nonstop. I was interested so he let me play it but then once he left the room, this situation happened. I'm a little worried in the real world since the Grandmaster said we have to either defeat the final boss or keep killing monsters." She replied.
She was looking kinda sad and down. She said a lot of things, unusual for her. When I first met her she was shy and cannot approach people, I mean, even now she still can't talk to others. But now I feel like she's comfortable around me and I'm glad since trust is important between party members.
"Don't worry, we'll defeat the final boss and get that wish. Then we can go back to our old lives so cheer up!" I said while smiling.
She then smiled back and nodded.
"So if we do win, what will your wish b--"
Before I could even finish my sentence, we saw a figure in the middle of the path. I approached it and to my surprise it was a...
"W-WHO ARE YOU? Leave me alone! Don't hurt me!" A girl said.
"Are you okay? What happened." Aiko asked.
"My party kicked me out because I was a useless archer. They took all my stuff and armor and left me with nothing. I just want to go back to the real world." She said.
This poor girl. Those bastards! Leaving a person behind, this is not a game and she's an actual person.
"Those idiots, here drink some healing potions. Why don't you join us? We'll invite you to our party once the party cooldown is out." I said.
(Note: When a player gets a kicked out of a party, they must wait 24 hours until they can receive invites again)
"You sure? Even if I'm useless?" She replied.
"Of course you're welcome to join us!" Aiko replied.
"T-thank you!" The girl then bursted out in tears as she hugged me. Poor girl, being left behind by people just because she's weak.
"My name is Yuri, nice to meet you!"
"I'm Hitoshi and that is Aiko-- huh?" I then saw Aiko with a face as if she's suspecting Yuri.
"H-hi there." She replied.
"I see, okay I get it now." Yuri replied in a serious voice.
"Get what?"
"Oh nothing! Let's go shall we?" She said with the cheerful voice from earlier.
[Aiko's Perspective]
What!? S-she hugged Hitoshi even though they just m-met What the hell is s-she thinking! She's suspicious, very suspicious.
"H-hi there." I said.
"I get it now." She replied.
Then for a split second I saw a face with evil content. No doubt, she's plotting something.
I must tell Hitoshi about this, despite her appearance and lack of weapons, she might try something dangerous later when we lower our guard down.
"Alright, we reached the end of Fryrard Plains, I'll look around for monsters before crossing, stay here with Aiko okay?" Hitoshi said to Yuri.
He then ran around circling the border that leads to North Wind Fields. Then Yuri approached me.
"I can't help but notice you suspecting me." She said.
"S-so what?"
"Well if you're thinking that I might plot something later you're right then." She said with a serious voice.
"I knew it, y-you stay away from u-us right n--"
"But, I'm not going to kill you. No, I'll just simply steal your party member away." She said.
"W-w-what!?"
"Hmm? So you do care about him. I see, well then it'll be more fun to see your face."
She said while having an annoying grin on her face.
"It's not t-that I l-like him or so--"
"But for your information, when I meant steal, I really mean to kill him and take all of his stuff, skill points, items and everything." She said.
Then wings popped out of her disappeared again. What the hell was that.
"Whoops, I let my true self exposed again. If you try to interfere with me, you might get killed as well." She then turned around and greeted Hitoshi with her cheerful voice. This girl...
"Welcome back! So can we cross the border now?"
"Yeah, let's go Yuri. Aiko come now." Hitoshi said.
I must tell him, or else he'll be in danger. What the hell is she even? This is bad, we're about to cross to the North Wind Fields and the sun is getting low. She might make her move later at night. I must stop her, but if I tell Hitoshi about it she might kill him now so I must stop her without r--
"Ouch!"
[Hitoshi's Perspective]
"Oi oi oi, you're spacing out again." I said as I smacked her head with my hand.
She never spaces out. This is weird, something must be wrong. I'll talk to her later after we finish setting up camp in the fields. It's getting dark now and moving at night is risky.
"Hitoshi..."
"Huh?"
Aiko then grabbed the sleeve of my shirt and said,
"Let's s-set up camp here i-instead. It's open and no tall grass is in the area for p-potential ambushes." Aiko said.
"Woah you're right. Nice call Aiko."
That's right, I nearly made a mistake there and set up camp in the fields where a lot of monsters can hide in the tall grass and attack us. Smart thinking as usual Aiko.
"Okay, I'll set up the portable tent and checkpoint for our Save Points in any case. Yuri and Aiko stay here and prepare the campfire." I said.
"Okay!"
"O-okay..."
I then went to the fields and grabbed some tall grass to craft some rope. This is gonna be the first time we'll sleep outside. It sure is exciting and scary knowing that monsters are nearby. But that's what makes it more fun.
[Aiko's Perspective]
Alright, I managed to reduce Yuri's possible hiding spots now that we are in the open.
"Smart move Aiko, but this won't help you out a bit. It was smart not telling him about me because that would result to me killing him instantly, I plan to savour this moment and look at your face as I kill him, and did I mention? I MIGHT ACTUALLY KILL HIM IN REAL LIFE BY SHOCK."
I then grabbed my staff and was about to cast Hydro Blades on her but Hitoshi returned and I couldn't make my move on her yet.
"I don't know what you are but I will end you here. The only face you'll ever see is me laughing over your failed attempt." I replied.
"Ooooo so s-s-serious. You didn't stutter. I'm impressed but offended. What am I? I am the embodiment of— AGH!" Yuri then began to scream as if she was being burned.
"Yuri!? Aiko what happened?" Hitoshi said.
"I-I-I don't know!"
Her wings then popped out and she flew into the air.
"My time limit is out, the moonlight is already shining and I couldn't keep control of my anger. Aiko, you do know that when I said I'll steal everything from him means to literally kill him right? I'm a Virus, a Moon Succubus. Able to absorb the player souls that dwell inside your shitty avatars. If he's lucky he'll only end up with a week long respawn timer, but if not... HIS BODY WILL DIE IN THE REAL WORLD BY SHOCK." She then grabbed Hitoshi using an arm that seems to look like magic.
(Note: Player Soul - the soul is connected to the real body in the real world and the avatar or the temporary body in this world. Player Souls are data compacted together into a small space. They consist of stats, skills, feelings or sensations and memories.)
"Hitoshi! I'll save you." I said as I grabbed my staff.
"USELESS."
She then used another arm to hold me down. I, I can't m-move. Her grip is to strong. But when I looked up, I saw her grinning face. Her whole face changed as she, as she... k-k-kiss Hitoshi?! Wait no, his HP bar is going down. No this is bad, really bad. She's draining him. Hitoshi's level is going down as well, she really is draining his player soul.
"Stop, please stop. No. Stop it. You'll kill him. Why, WHY!"
Suddenly, my menu popped up. A skill was learned but it looks advanced? What the hell is happening. I'm glowing? Yuri's magic arms are burning. Is this...
"What the hell!? Light Magic?! How did you learn it without any magic book items! Are you really that powerful?" Yuri said as she hang Hitoshi over a tree.
"Tch, well you interrupted my dinner. How can a level 18 like you learn advance Light Magic able to deal damage to a level 99 Virus like me?"
"I don't care what level you are, you tried to kill him and try to kill me as well after. You deserve to die! Light Magic: Blade Blessing!"
Suddenly, blades made out of shining light appeared and sliced Yuri in half, she then screamed in pain and after a while of struggling, she reduced to ash. Then something glowing returned to Hitoshi, it must be part of his player soul. He then woke up and fell down the tree.
[Hitoshi's Perspective]
What happened? Last thing I remember was crafting some rope for the tent.
"Hitoshi are you alright? I managed to kill Yuri and--"
"Yuri? Who's that?" I asked.
I don't recall meeting a girl named Yuri, but why did I fell down from this tree?
"Aiko, I seem to forget some things, what the hell happened?"
Aiko then explained about a Moon Succubus who can actually kill you in real life. It's a good thing we ended her or else she'll cause trouble to other parties. So there are Viruses out there that can harm your Player Soul huh?
"I see, thanks Aiko. Thank you for saving me, I owe you big ti-- WOAH! Check it out! I leveled up to 25! And you're at 27!" I said while looking at my player menu.
"You're right Hitoshi! She was a level 99 after all."
"EH? How did you kill her?" I asked.
"I managed to learn a new skill called Blade Blessing, it's Light Magic but she said it was advanced and required Magic Books."
"Amazing, so you learned it by waking up your soul perhaps? It's like in those animes where something awakens inside of you or something." I said while pumping my fist out of excitement.
"Eh? I-it's not l-like that. I'm not that p-powerful." Aiko said while hiding her face with her big ass hat.
She's back to normal now, compared to earlier she was sad and down. I'm glad.
"Alright, let me finish setting up your tent and mine and let's call it a day okay?"
Aiko nodded as she picked up some sticks for the campfire. Tomorrow we will be crossing to the North Wind Fields, filled with monsters. We should keep our guard up because another Virus might show up. What will be our pla--
"What the HELL?"
My skill menu is glowing black? What the heck is this sensation, I feel pleasure and agony at the same time. What is happening to me!?
New Skill Tree Acquired
-Dark Magic Necromancy-
—To Be Continued in Chapter 5
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder