RUMBLE AT RANZAC VALLEY
Aildrin's screen turned black.
[Transporting players to Ranzac Valley...]
After a few seconds, he appeared in a lush green valley. Around him players spawned: humans, dwarfs, elves, orcs, and there were those with white wings as broad as their back—the divines. There were five of them clad in blue, but Aildrin did not pay them much attention.
He continued to survey the surroundings. Behind him and to his sides, a mountain loomed. Gloomy clouds hid its peak.
Up ahead was a leather tent with an oak stump in front of it. Further ahead was a stand of trees, veiling the other side of the valley. Beneath him, bones of different creatures littered the green floor. It felt like he stood in an abandoned graveyard. His hairs stood.
Aildrin tried to inch forward, but he could not move his feet. No matter how hard he willed them. Then a figure spawned beside him, and from it, a voice immediately boomed and said, "Hey!"
A seven-footer, blue-skinned orc with braided black hair smiled at him. He was covered in snowy white leather breastplate matched with ornaments made from tusks and wielded a blue crystalline war hammer.
Aildrin glanced at him, and a rectangular white label hovered above the orc and displayed a series of details.
[Papa Bear, Level 1, Rookie Rank—Tier V, Orc Charger.]
"First time?" Papa Bear said. "Don't worry; I'll protect you. Papa Bear is the strongest MVP!" He then pounded his chest twice.
Aildrin was about to reply when a trumpet resounded. Everyone's attention turned towards the direction of its source—the leather tent. A dwarf in a silver breastplate came out of it and hopped on the oak stump. He carried a flagon, and a silver axe hung at his back.
A hovering bronze box displayed his details.
[Rabor, Level 23, Bronze Rank—Tier II, Dwarf Shieldbreaker (NPC).]
"Lads and ladies, hear, hear! Our alliance stands here today at Ranzac Valley to quell the evil goblin, Rancor! And his Concord of Darkness! I'm Rabor, and I will be your last line of defense in this battle."
"Now slay those fiends that reek with darkness! Bathe your blades and hands in their blood and screams! But beware of the beasts that roam this land!" Rabor said with a grin. He then emptied the mead inside the flagon to his heart's content.
"Let's go, Ilidran! Papa Bear wants to smash some skulls!" the orc said.
Aildrin looked around. Everyone could now move their feet. By his rough estimate, there should be at least a hundred players on the field. "This is gonna be a messy war," he thought.
"No. We stay low, Papa Bear. Follow my lead and watch my back," Aildrin said. He then pulled the braided hair of the orc who was just about to charge out like a madman.
Meanwhile, most of the players, especially the new ones, were still lost on what to do. They chattered and searched with excitement for friends, ignorant of the looming war before them. It was then that three humans came out of their rough formation and marched towards the tent.
They were all at level ten and First-tier Rookie Rank. Also, they wore leather breastplates.
"Rooks, listen!" the tallest of the three said. His deep voice caught everyone's attention, and they turned towards him. "If you don't want to die early, you'll follow our lead. Understand? We're about to be promoted to Bronze rank, so we have more experiences in these types of war compared to you. We'll wait for the enemies to come out from the other side of the trees, and we'll meet them here! Is that clear?"
"Aye! We'll slaughter them!" an orc from the crowd said. Cheers then followed.
Rabor chuckled. "You call that a plan? You're no better than brainless rats! If you stay here, the King of the Valley will slaughter you all!"
"We fear no wrath," said the tall man.
Meanwhile, five figures already started charging out of the throng—the ones clad in blue. Their levels and ranks were the same as the three humans. And their wings fluttered against the wind as they moved out.
The one leading them wore a blue penguin coat and a top hat.
"It's God Zaito from Burning Orient!" someone from the crowd said. "Let's follow them! Charge! Death to the enemies!"
The three men could only scratch their heads at their attempt to control the group.
"Let Papa Bear go! Papa Bear wants to smash skulls!" the orc said.
"No! You'll only die there! I need your help! I'll help you become this war's MVP in return. Deal?" Aildrin said. He gritted his teeth while tightening his grip on Papa Bear's braids.
Papa Bear stopped. "Alright. Papa Bear needs no help. But Papa Bear helps friends."
"Good. You're way smarter than I had expected. Follow me!" Aildrin said.
"Hey, you two! Why don't you join us hunting monsters? Let those fools fight the war! And let's enjoy the uncontested rare items! What you say, rooks?" the tallest man said.
Aildrin checked his details.
[Elerion, Level 10, Rookie Rank—Tier I, Human Swordsman.]
"We can fend for ourselves, thanks!" Aildrin said. "Let's go, Papa Bear!"
Aildrin led the way and walked past them. But his instinct told him to duck, and so he did. A broadsword passed just where his head was previously. "These fools!" Aildrin cursed while rolling forward. He then unsheathed his flamberge.
"I seldom offer my generosity to newbies like you! How dare you decline it, rook! Know your place and die!" Elerion said. He then chased after Aildrin with his sword.
Papa Bear growled. "No one hurts my friend! Rodeo Drive!"
Blue electricity crackled around Papa Bear's body. Like a bull about to charge, he pawed the ground and then darted towards Elerion.
The other human, the one with a pair of kite shield, blocked Papa Bear's path. He did not even attempt to form a defensive stance. He raised one shield and said, "You can't even make me move an inch, rook!"
Meanwhile, the remaining one drew an arrow. He targeted Papa Bear, but his eyes wandered towards Aildrin. And he regretted that single glance because when he retracted his gaze, the shield-man was already flying towards him.
Elerion enjoyed playing with Aildrin. He did not use any skill and continued his flurry of basic attacks, showing off his swordsmanship.
Aildrin continued to dodge the quick lunges and wild slashes. Fatigue kicked in. "Should I risk parrying?" he thought. Then the thunderous explosion happened—an opening!
"Sword Dance!" But Aildrin did not use it to counter-attack. Instead, he turned into a fiery trail of light and returned to Papa Bear's side, who was about to activate another skill.
"You useless fools! How can a level one orc make fun out of you two!" Elerion said.
Donma, the shield-man had one of his shields bent in an ugly shape, and he lost grip of the other one. He sprawled on the ground, defenseless and charred.
Meanwhile, Lustro, the ranger, struggled beneath Donma's body who had pinned him on the ground.
Screams and swords echoed from the distant trees. The clash between the two teams had finally started.
And from above the mountains, a beast screeched. Everyone then halted.
"Oh, the King's sleep has been disturbed. This is gonna be fun!" Rabor said. His face was red as an apple after chugging the mead in his third flagon.