Leon clenched his fists as he watched the news about the events unfolding in Deadbay City. Freya gently asked, “Leon, are you currently under Time Penalty?”
Leon nodded, a sigh escaping his lips. “Yes… but Fokil, Ivana, and the knights are there. I can’t just stand by and let the city be destroyed…”
Maylon spoke up softly, “I will log in.”
Freya quickly interjected, “Maylon, I’m sure your wife needs you more right now, don’t you think?”
Maylon hesitated for a moment before replying, “But Elincia and the others also need me.”
Leon slowly nodded, understanding the inner conflict Maylon was grappling with. It had to be an incredibly difficult situation for him. Maylon was deeply committed to the Ass Guild, but at the same time, he was also a husband and father. His wife was in critical condition, and his daughter needed him now more than ever with her mother unable to be there for her.
Just then, Maylon’s phone rang. He answered it, and after a brief conversation, he said, “I need to go. Let me know if you need anything here. If you require any capsule devices, I’ll make sure to provide them.”
Leon nodded again, this time with a reassuring smile. “We don’t want to impose on you. Just focus on your wife.”
Maylon then walked over to Maylene and lifted the five-year-old girl into his arms. “Thanks for coming by.”
“Bye, everyone…” Maylene waved.
“Bye, Maylene!” Lily replied enthusiastically, waving back with a bright smile.
After Maylon had walked away, Freya shook her head slowly. “No matter how brilliant Maylon is, he’s still just a regular person dealing with his own struggles.”
Leon nodded quietly. “Yes, and I’m sure this situation is incredibly tough for him. He feels responsible, both for his wife and the guild.”
“I can understand that, but I think he should prioritize his wife, don’t you?” Freya said softly. “Yes, that should be his priority,” Leon agreed. But even as he said it, he knew the dire situation in Deadbay meant that any help, no matter how small, would be desperately needed. “Freya. You can log in, can’t you?”
“Yes, but I’m not in Deadbay, dumbass.”
Freya pulled out her cell phone and started scrolling through her messages.
“I just got word from Golden Age that they’re trying to make an important decision about whether to lift the Time Penalty restriction and allow players to log in.”
“So, they really do see this as a crucial issue. But where can we find capsule devices to access the game? Is there any Game Center nearby?”
Freya paused, thinking it over. “Wait…” she began. “There are a lot of game centers around here, but none of them are open 24 hours. They all close at 10 PM because of local regulations. But… I think I might have an idea to work around this.”
“I guess we came at the wrong time,” Leon said quietly. “I just hope Maylon won’t be overwhelmed by all this news.”
He sighed, then continued, “I need to be more disciplined with my time in the game to avoid this kind of situation in the future. Damn, I got too caught up in upgrading my weapons, and it ate up all my play time.”
He knew he wouldn’t be able to log in because they were visiting Maylon, and his next chance would only come after the reset. So he’d spent all his online time that day before their trip, anticipating this.
“Why don’t you go online and check things out, Freya?” Lily said softly, echoing Leon’s earlier suggestion. “I mean, just to make sure everything’s okay?”
“I can’t, Lily,” Freya replied, shaking her head. “My character is in Slumdon because I’ve been handling all his responsibilities there… And even if I were in Deadbay, I wouldn’t be able to help. I’m useless when it comes to combat.”
**
Hundreds of monsters were rapidly advancing, while thousands of players stood ready, bracing themselves for the imminent battle.
“Everyone is ready!” Max shouted. “I’m sure they’ll give it everything they’ve got!”
“Oh, you can just feel the excitement in the air,” Tora added. “If only I were as brave as they are, I’d be right there on the front lines too.”
“But, Tora, what do you think the outcome of this battle will be?” Max asked. “Do you think they’ll be able to hold off the monster attack?”
Tora paused, then smiled. “Seeing their enthusiasm, I’m sure they can pull through. After all, in times like this, all we can do is hope for the best, right?”
A roar of cheers erupted from the players as they surged forward, charging toward the
monsters in unison.
“Let’s attack them!”
“Take out those monsters!”
“Yohoho, I’m gonna level up like crazy!”
“I’m gonna get a super rare drop!”
But then, the ground beneath the players began to tremble violently, and countless vines suddenly burst from the earth. The vines spread rapidly across the battlefield, snaring and tripping up most of the advancing players.
Before they could regain their footing, thousands of deep red flowers sprouted, and in an instant, they bloomed, detonating in multiple areas.
Explosions rippled across the field, one after another, reducing hundreds of players to pixels that disappeared from sight in a flash.
“Damn! I can’t believe it!” Max exclaimed. “Hundreds of players, gone just like that?”
“I’m sure there are still many high-level players left,” Tora said, trying to sound hopeful. “We still have a chance.”
Meanwhile, the internet was buzzing with reactions as viewers commented on the unfolding
chaos.
“What a bunch of idiots, those low-level players!”
“I was laughing so hard watching hundreds of those fools get wiped out before the fight even
began!”
“But if the number of players keeps dropping, will anyone be able to stand against those
monsters?”
“I’m sure the low-level players won’t be much help anyway.”
“Will the remaining players really be able to take on so many monsters?”
“Who cares? I just want to see an epic battle!”
“So, who are the high-level players still there?”
“I’m not sure, but I heard there were members of the Ass Guild. The only ones I recognized were Kingsley and Melliandra.”
Melliandra, perched atop a sleek black panther, leaped off and sprinted toward the battlefield. Kingsley, still in his panther form, followed close behind. As the two of them charged ahead, the cameras quickly zoomed in, making them the center of attention, with countless pairs of eyes fixed on their every move.
Melliandra spun around, her expression fierce, and shouted, “You foolish players! Do you not know what to do when faced with monsters like these? Watch and learn!” She gestured to the camera, signaling that she was ready to show them how it’s done. ƒrēewebnovel.com
She thrust her sniper rifle into the ground, took aim, and fired a shot that streaked across the battlefield.
A tremendous explosion followed, shaking the ground and sending a shockwave through the air. The blast obliterated a huge swath of monsters, leaving nothing but a trail of destruction. Melliandra had managed to take out a large number of monsters in a single, devastating blow. “See?!” Melliandra shouted, glancing back at the camera with a smirk. “Take that into your
thick skulls!”
Kingsley then dashed onto the battlefield, and as he got closer, he transformed into a massive black bear. With a powerful roar, he slammed his body into the horde, crushing the monsters beneath his weight, and used his massive claws to tear them apart.
Kingsley’s loud roar echoed across the battlefield, instantly boosting the morale of the
players around him.
“Attack!”
“Destroy them!”
“Rake in as many experience points as you can!”