6 Sword Master Wannabe Lily
"I'm Lily," she said, breaking the silence to introduce herself.
"Kevin," he responded with a casual nod.
Lily turned to the last man, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm and a hidden emotion. "And you?"
"Lucius," he replied. Curiosity about her appearance got the best of him, and he couldn't help but ask, "Why are you following us?"
Lily froze for a second but then shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "Well, you guys didn't flinch when you saw me running towards you with a sword, so I figured it was okay to tag along."
Kevin, still bewildered, tilted his head, a barrage of question marks seemingly floating above it.
Lucius simply nodded, accepting Lily's explanation. He didn't particularly mind her company and was primarily focused on exploring the district.
Lily, noticing the silence, chimed in, "You see, that's why he's the boss," nodding in understanding as if she had figured out the dynamics of their group. Kevin remained speechless, going along with it for now.
While walking, they came across an empty shop. When Lucius tried to touch it, a panel popped up, indicating a cost of 100 gold.
Lucius understood that these shops had to be purchased, which seemed odd compared to the free room he had gotten earlier. However, as he peered into the shop through the glass window, he noticed various crafting equipment suitable for crafting armor and weapons.
Lily, eager to engage in conversation, turned to Kevin and asked, "So, Kevin, how long did it take you to kill the goblin?"
Kevin thought for a moment and answered honestly, "Maybe about two minutes. Lucius was already there when I teleported." Hoping to deter Lily's interest, the man in question nodded without paying particular attention.
Lily's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Wow, Lucius, you must be powerful." Then, glancing at him, she asked, "You use the sword, right?"
Lucius paused for a moment, surprised that she had guessed correctly. "Yes, for now. I've had training in kendo in the past, so it felt like the best option."
Lily then turned to Kevin. "And you must use a shield and sword, right? Wait, no need to answer. I guessed correctly." Kevin, still speechless, simply nodded in response.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Kevin brought the subject back and asked. "How long did it take you to kill the goblin?" Lily didn't reply for a bit and increased her steps, trying to overtake them.
Lucius and Kevin exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond. Lily continued walking, her hands clasped behind her back, before coming to a stop in front of them. She then took a deep breath.
"As the system teleported me, I laid my eyes upon the sword," she recounted, her voice filled with a profound sense of purpose and time as if it had been years.
''At that moment, I knew it was fate—the destiny I had been waiting for since the day I was born. When the system held me in place, I found myself already with my sword raised, prepared to defy the shackles of fate and embrace the path that was meant for me."
Lucius's eye twitched, sensing a peculiar vibe from her.
Unaware of their reaction, Lily continued, "Once the timer ran out, I stood in place with my eyes closed, chanting my hidden skill. When the goblin approached, I opened my eyes and performed a 'Moonlight Slash', cleanly severing its head. It wasn't a worthy opponent, and I'm saddened that I used my skill on it," she added with a touch of sorrow in her voice.
Kevin was left speechless, unable to process the ease with which she dispatched the goblin.
Lily, walking ahead with a confident stride, exuded an aura that was a unique blend of self-assurance and sorrow, creating an intriguing contrast within the current circumstances.
Her steps carried a sense of purpose, while her posture reflected unwavering determination. Yet, underlying her confident bearing, there was also a subtle touch of sadness, casting a mysterious air around her.
Both Lucius and Kevin stared at her, wanting to comment, but their mouths opened and closed without uttering a word.
Finally, Kevin managed to voice his thoughts once she was a bit further away. "I think that person is a monster."
Without responding to Kevin, they continued walking, passing others who stopped them and asked if they had any information. Unfortunately, all they could do was shake their heads and move forward.
["Ding! You got a friend request."]
On the way, Lucius glanced at his panel and noticed that Lily had sent him a friend request. As he observed her body language and found no compelling reasons to decline, he accepted her request. Strangely, a feeling of familiarity washed over him, as if they had crossed paths in the distant past.
'Maybe it's what will help you survive. Still, I should be careful around her. I can judge her based on her actions,' he thought. Deep down, he knew that her unusual mentality was what might help her survive in this new world.
As Lucius, Lily, and Kevin ventured deeper into the heart of the Commercial District, their attention was captivated by a scene that sent a shiver down their spines.
Amidst the chaos of the bustling district, a foreboding door stood tall, emanating a sinister and malevolent aura. Its very presence seemed to corrupt the air around it, casting an eerie darkness that contrasted sharply with the surrounding environment.
Curious about the significance of the symbols and runes, Lucius approached the door, his gaze locked onto the mesmerizing display.
The symbols seemed to exude a hint of energy, suggesting the presence of a mysterious power within.
As he reached the door's threshold, a subtle tingling sensation coursed through his fingertips, as if the door acknowledged his presence. It was a moment filled with anticipation and uncertainty, leaving him to wonder what lay beyond.
With a deep breath, Lucius extended his hand and touched the door, his fingertips connecting with the ancient symbols. The system prompt appeared before him, displaying the following message:
["Level 10 Boss Ogre: Defeat the boss and be rewarded depending on contribution. Maximum party members: 5 (optional). 'Yes' or 'No'?"]
The options 'Yes' and 'No' blinked ominously, creating a sense of urgency. Instinctively, he withdrew his hand, fearing the consequences of making a hasty mistake by accidentally selecting 'Yes.'
Caution filled his mind as he contemplated the weighty decision before him. The task of facing a Level 10 Boss Ogre was not one to be taken lightly. The potential dangers and consequences loomed large in his thoughts.
As Lucius contemplated the impending encounter with a level 10 Ogre, his mind conjured vivid images of this formidable creature.
Drawing upon the descriptions from the books he had read and the experiences of countless adventurers in the games he had played, he knew that Ogres were towering giants with immense physical strength. What made them even more challenging foes were their regeneration abilities and tough, nearly impenetrable skin that could potentially render ordinary blades ineffective.
Lucius recognized that his assumptions might not align with the actual scenario. He considered the possibility that the Ogre could be even stronger than anticipated or possess the ability to wield mana, which would present an even greater challenge.
Looking next to him, he noticed the grave expressions on the faces of the others gathered. It was evident that they too recognized the magnitude of the decision before them. He understood that nobody would be foolish enough to click "Yes."
"I need some time to think," Lucius said, leaving the other two with thoughtful expressions as they wondered about their boss.
Announcing his intention to return to his room and contemplate his next move, he left the group and walked toward the Sector 1 portal. He paid little attention to the conversations happening around him, his thoughts consumed by the weight of the situation.
Filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty, he opened his friend list and began sending friend requests to his uncle and a few other coworkers with whom he had maintained relationships. This was the main reason for leaving, as he started wondering if they had encountered any other, stronger creatures.
In the aftermath of the goblin encounter, he couldn't be certain of their fate, unsure if they were still alive or had died to the perils of this world.
His steps guided him back to his room, where he could find comfort in solitude. Closing the door behind him, he let the weight of the decision settle. He understood the need for careful consideration, aware that the next move might make him stronger or even dead.
As he lay in bed, the gravity of the upcoming challenges weighed heavily on his mind. He thought about what lay outside this city and whether he should deal with it alone. Thankfully, Kevin sent him a message.
[Kevin: Tomorrow, me and Lily will head out to explore the outskirts. Would you join us?]
After thinking for a moment and checking that none of his familiar contacts had replied, his eyes went to the name Lily.
''Kevin can act like a tank using the shield, while... she certainly is strong,'' he muttered, trying to imagine her power. In the end, he didn't feel threatened by any of them and decided to go along with it.
[Lucius: Okay, let's meet in the morning.]
Tomorrow, he would venture beyond the safety of the zone and embark on his hunt, facing unknown dangers and unpredictable encounters. With a mix of anticipation and determination, he prepared himself mentally and drifted off to sleep.
---
Next morning...
Waking up the next morning, he sent them a message to gather outside the room before they set off.
"Did you find any food?" Lucius asked.
"Nothing, only water from the sink," Kevin replied, also expressing his hunger.
"We can just go kill stuff outside," Lily casually remarked.
Seeing it was time for them to check the surroundings, they headed to the northern gate. The gates were massive and black, opening wide as if welcoming people.
Crowds of people were all over the place, asking if it was safe outside. They saw a party of three members returning from nearby and passing through the gates.
Covered in blood and limping, one of them was missing a hand and had scars on the legs.
''What have you guys seen out there?'' one of them rushed to ask.
The leader of the trio looked around and said with a heavy voice, ''We ran into some goblins, five of them, and we struggled to get away.''
Lucius eavesdropped on the ongoing conversation, feeling a bit strange hearing about five goblins. He was confident that if they were the same goblins he had killed, he could now handle three of them without getting injured much, especially with his increased strength.
Noticing a silver-haired girl blocking his way, the wounded man stopped and asked what she wanted, his tone noticeably less guarded.
"Sorry to bother you, but could you please tell me exactly what happened?" Lily asked in a sweet voice, and the rest of the onlookers focused on the man.
Seeing that there was no point in holding back, the man shared what he knew.
"There were five of them in total. Four of them were green, much like the one we killed before entering this city, but one of them was stronger and more muscular. The system identified him as a 'Strong' Goblin at level 3."
"The rest were normal level 1 ones." Taking a deep breath, he continued, "We struggled because of that one, and we had to escape after killing one of them, displaying a visibly distressed expression while glancing down at his friend who was still bleeding, then hurried to leave.
Lucius rolled his eyes as they departed but acknowledged the importance of the information provided and made a small nod of appreciation to Lily, who simply smiled.
The fact that the system identified the goblin as 'strong,' while the one he encountered earlier didn't have any title in front, made him realize that the goblin he killed earlier was considered a trash mob in game terms.
The 'stronger' goblin belonged to a higher tier. This indicated that the Ogre boss, bearing that title in its name, was many times stronger. The realization sent a shiver down his spine.
Realizing they didn't have enough information yet, he gestured for the others to follow him as they passed through the gates and walked into the plains.
