8. Zuiro

He didn't take the same route before; instead, Liu Han obediently followed Mei Li's footsteps. The plantation turned out to be much larger than they had imagined, not just inhabited by Marietta Farm but more extensive than they had ever thought.

"Wow, it's incredibly beautiful here!" The black hair girl was enchanted, her gaze wandering in every direction.

No wonder Mei Li wasn't impressed; this time, they strolled through the midst of a blooming flower garden. The blossoms, in shades of blue and crimson, swayed gracefully in the breeze, creating a captivating sight.

Liu Han couldn't deny it. He was now lost in the soothing atmosphere, especially after the triumphant completion of their challenging mission. He might have barely made it through without Mei Li's assistance

"By the way, Liu Han, may I ask you something?" The woman turned around, walking backward while hiding her both hands behind her back.

Liu Han, who had been admiring the scenery beside him, didn't nod or speak; instead, he remained silent in confusion. Mei Li then continues.

"How is it possible that you don't have an MP?" She tilted her head slightly, genuinely puzzled, as she kept her gaze fixed on Liu Han. "Almost all classes I know have that."

Liu Han glanced downwards, his expression changing drastically. With each step he took, he looked at his black boots mixed with dirt, contemplating the right response while stealing a glance at Mei Li.

"I don't know either," he almost whispered. "Perhaps it's because of my class."

Mei Li turned around again, walking normally but slowing down. "Based on your skills, you seem like an Assassin class, so it's no wonder the system assigned you to that role when it comes to the team."

"Yeah, but it makes sense though that my class doesn't need an MP," Liu Han stated, now walking alongside Mei Li. "That's because I'm a Martial Artist."

Mei Li was taken aback, "Oh, I see." She began to realize that all the skills Liu Han had shown indeed had a common theme. "Is that why you run out of stamina faster?"

Liu Han nodded, confirming the girl's speculation. "Exactly, almost all of my skills depend on it."

"That's unusual," Mei Li commented, folding her left hand in front of her chest while her right hand rested on her chin – as if deep in thought. "It's the first time I've come across a Martial Artist class."

"Moreover," Liu Han offered his insight. "If my personality traits aligned closely with the Assassin class, why didn't I just get that class instead?"

The woman fell silent, processing all the information Liu Han had shared. "You have a point. Could there be a problem with the system in this case?"

"But that seems unlikely, considering you're might the only one experiencing this issue among millions of players," Mei Li added, giving up on exploring numerous possibilities. "Well, on the bright side, maybe you've obtained a rare class that no one else has? Who knows."

Liu Han was filled with uneasiness. If Mei Li's words held the truth, his class might have been a complete disaster. Being devoid of MP in the magical realm of Axian only strengthened the belief that Liu Han was a system mistake, possibly due to his cheap device that no longer met the standards of Xaindan Cooperation.

But he didn't allow himself to dwell on these thoughts, realizing that Mei Li was still by his side. "Anyway, Mei Li, congratulations on your level 10," he said.

Mei Li appeared taken aback by his words, blushing slightly as she looked down. "Thank you... have you leveled up too?"

Avoiding direct eye contact, Liu Han quickly shifted his gaze forward. "Ah, not yet. But I might level up after a few more missions."

"Keep pushing, Liu Han!" Mei Li said and moved her focus to the beautiful hills ahead and ended the view of enchanting plantations that adorned the landscape.

Perplexed, Liu Han furrowed his brow and directed his full attention to Mei Li. "Why's that?"

"Because there is more feature ahead, like Buff Skills and Passive Skills that I've unlocked," she replied confidently, leaping and flipping gracefully until she landed atop a hill with remarkable agility. "All of that would definitely make you stronger!"

Liu Han was left utterly speechless, frozen in awe as he watched Mei Li's impressive acrobatics. Her tight, brown leather attire emphasized her athletic figure, and he couldn't help but admit, "Impressive, it's intriguing. I'm curious about my own potential in the future."

"Come on, let's hurry! We're almost reaching Baturia!" Mei Li called out, disappearing behind the hill.

As Liu Han reached the summit, his hazel eyes were welcomed by the sight of the city of Baturia from the other side. Both of them were captivated by the magical magnificence of the city, unable to take another step forward due to its enchantment.

"Isn't it amazing?" Mei Li said softly. "If only I could live here forever and forget all the troubles of real life."

Those words struck deep into Liu Han's heart. His thoughts intertwined with Mei Li's expression, yearning to escape from the onslaught of real-world despair.

At that moment, a strong wind blew, causing leaves to fall from the tall trees beside them. The realization dawned on Liu Han that the Realm of Axian wasn't just for those seeking new hobbies and pleasures, but it also offered a solution for people like him — like Elan, who wished to flee the real world and have a second chance at a peaceful life.

Even though he knew in the first place that misery will still hunt him down, Elan believes he will find his new home in Axian.

They made their way back to the city, where they noticed an unusual gathering of people in the corners of the streets. The group stood out, wearing silver armor that indicated their high levels and prowess in the game. Liu Han squinted, focusing on their names, which bore the same emblem.

There was no doubt about it; they were members of a guild actively recruiting players.

Before they reached the inn to pick up a Bounty Mission, a tall and graceful figure in leather armor approached, accompanied by four others. "Excuse me, miss. May I have a moment of your time?" he asked politely.

Mei Li felt somewhat bothered by their presence but stopped to hear what they had to say. Liu Han kept a watchful eye on them as they examined Mei Li. One of the heavily armored individuals even chuckled and whispered something to his comrade when they saw him.

"Allow me to introduce ourselves," said the handsome and tall man with a slight bow. "We are from the White Raven Guild, and we are currently seeking a player with impressive skills as a damage dealer. At first glance, I believe you fit the role perfectly."

And he was right to make that assumption. Anyone could figure it out from the "Archer Silver Badge" displayed next to Mei Li's name. Not only was she talented at acrobatics, but her archery skills surpassed those of the average archer in the game.

"A guild? What do you want from me?" Mei Li seemed hesitant, taking a step around.

"Wait," the pointy-eared man quickly interjected, attempting to persuade Mei Li. "Tomorrow, we have a raid in the treacherous Dark Hill of Dunheir, with rewards that are truly exceptional."

"Furthermore, our guild offers several facilities that will undoubtedly benefit you in the long run," the Elf continued, speaking eagerly to recruit Mei Li. "Including double EXP gain and increased chances of getting better rewards."

For some reason, Mei Li fell silent for a moment, looking at the leader of the White Raven Guild with a mixture of disbelief and disgust. "I'm not interested, I'm sorry."

As she took a few steps forward, the Elf's words stopped her in her tracks once again. "Rest assured, we will make sure you don't fail on the first floor."

"How could you—"

"Oh, I know," Vinaris, the man's ID name, grinned slyly as he approached Mei Li. "Everyone knows your friend is the one who brings bad luck, don't they?"

"I'm surprised that he's still with you," Vinaris added, walking toward Mei Li who is frozen. "But with him, you will not get anywhere beyond that desert."

He said the truth. If stage two of that Dungeon Boss required magic or spells to complete, what supposed Liu Han do?

"This is getting ridiculous. In a magical world like this, there's someone like you," jeered one of the White Raven members, covered in heavy steel armor. "How do you expect to survive, Zuiro?"

Laughter echoed around Liu Han as it turned out they had been eavesdropping the whole time. The young man was utterly humiliated, publicly shamed for the second time, and this time, it was much worse.

"You should just quit; you'll always be a burden!"

"There's no place for non-mana classes here!"

"Go back to your pathetic real life!"

"Why does someone like you still wander around?"

"Worthless deadweight!"

"If you feel weak, just look at him."

Mei Li couldn't stand the sound of their voices, unable to do anything for the moment, although she felt overwhelmingly guilty. Liu Han, who appeared to be lost in deep thought, slowly glanced at Mei Li from a distance.

A forced smile, perhaps a smile tinged with sadness, emerged on Liu Han's face.

[Liu Han left the team]

[Team was disbanded]

Seeing the notifications in front of her, Mei Li felt the urge to run toward the young man. However, her feet were unable to move, and tears began to stream down her red eyes.

Her heart broke as she watched Liu Han turn away, his steps feeble amidst the relentless tide of mockery.