A New World, an immersive game experience

Chapter 384: Meeting an old opponent

Eldrian smiled as he realized that for once he was not the one asking the questions. Yet, he did not know how to answer the questions. He knew that he was a candidate for becoming a legend, which itself is but a legend, a myth. People thought of it as stories that held no truth.

'Should I reveal my hidden class? It is not like it is as big a secret as the system first made it out to be. Or-' Eldrian pondered his options and methods, relieved when Vivian actually brought something up that he could throw the reason onto. For now.

"Is it... Because of how fast you reacted?"

"Yes. No... Almost." Eldrian felt like facepalming from his hasty reply. Instead, he took a deep breath and decided how to explain it. "Sorry, I don't really know how to explain it. It is going to sound crazy."

"Try me," Vivian said with full confidence. Heck, until a few days ago she thought that Devil Princes were also just myths. That they were glorified as these horrible monsters. After their close call however she had realized that they really were as strong as those stories said.

Taking another deep breath and trying to work up the courage, Eldrian explained how he had a hidden class and two auras. As well as how sometimes, in extreme cases where people he cared about are in danger, the world around him would slow down.

It took some time to explain what this all meant and how he was still trying to figure it all out. By the time he finally finished they had been standing and talking before the camp for nearly an hour.

"Why did you never tell me any of this?" Vivian asked, shocked to find that there was so much that Eldrian had kept from her. His having another name was nothing compared to this.

"Because I don't really understand it myself. What use is there in talking about it?"

Vivian didn't like the answer, yet she had to accept that she had no advice. The hidden class was a common myth among soldiers, yet that was all it was to her. A rumor that helped people stay motivated. Hearing it actually existed was shocking, hearing that Eldrian had one left her flabbergasted.

Then adding onto it Eldrian had not just one aura, but two. All that Vivian knew of auras was that beasts had them. Like the Alpha they had faced so long ago, who had had a healing aura. Or like Omega's who according to the stories had multiple aura's but were harder to find than a dragon.

"Is that, oh that makes sense." Vivian suddenly connected Eldrian's impressive feats in combat and the last thing he had mentioned. "And what happened with the vampire-"

Nodding, Eldrian tried to explain what had happened and how he had lost himself. Vivian left again shocked to her core as she listened and connected the dots.

"Then... Did you kill the centaur?"

"Centaur? What centaur?" Eldrian asked to Vivian's relief. Yet, a part of her told her that him not knowing about it did not mean he didn't do it.

'It doesn't matter.' Vivian thought as she looked at Eldrian's confusion, 'He already explained that he lost himself in rage and can't remember much. What he explained sounds like the stories of berserkers. Their actions... They can't be held accountable.'

"Nevermind." Vivian forced a smile and looked towards the camp, "Why don't we go in? Or is there something more you aren't telling me?"

'A bunch...' Eldrian said mentally while shaking his head no. Lying like this didn't feel good, but there were things he simply couldn't share with her. The biggest naturally being that she lived in a simulation.

...

"Who were those dwarves? How did we miss them?" Joren asked as yet another thing had slipped past him. He did not look forward to reporting this to Micaela.

"According to their armor, they should be part of the abyssal guards. A special unit of elite soldiers. We don't know much about them, but we are near certain that their leader is a legend."

"Goddamit! Are you telling me we have missed the fact that there is a fucking legend close to our players?"

Joren's shout caused those around him to quickly scout the area, the answer coming in just a few minutes.

"You have to be kidding me!" Joren cursed as they realized not only had they missed that there was one in the Ganalin mountains, they had even fought. The ruins of their battle were far too clear, luckily the battle was far enough to not have endangered the players.

"How did we miss this?" Joren asked after taking a moment to calm down, the reply he received causing him to nearly double over from shock.

"Is that seriously all it takes. He just had to allow our monitoring systems to get near to him? Are you serious?" Instead of waiting for a reply Joren hoped onto a vacant desk and confirmed this himself.

Cursing a slew of curses, he wondered just how many times they had failed in monitoring the most dangerous people on Gaia due to such a simple thing.

'Normally they try to keep us at least a few kilometers from them, forcing us to abandon the monitoring or risk destroying our equipment. The gods only know how they do it.'

'Now we realize that if they don't do that, then we can't freaking detect them unless they make themselves clear to be there!'

Joren did not like this development. They had found Amnur's location only because there was something stopping them from moving closer to the area.

'This won't due, is this another of the system's, of the AI's rebellion?' Joren thought and was resolute to find an answer. Heading to his office he sent an emergency mail to the other heads of IT from all the other departments, calling for help.

This was something they could not risk staying as is.

...

Eldrian took the day easy at the camp, not even diving into training. He had another individual match the following day and then their team would have theirs the day after.

'That was one thing I forgot to consider.' Eldrian thought as he played with Floga, Fos, and Nidia. Controlling the tree spells at the same time was quite draining, mostly because they were made of different elements and thus required completely different streams of mana and focus.

He would have added Skia too, however, he needed to keep some focus so he could think of things. 'I have to decide if I am going to wait for the tourney to end, or not...'

Turning to look at Vivian who was diligently going through her training routine Eldrian smiled. 'As long as she stays here and I can log off in case of danger it will be fine. I also need to remember I can suicide should I be unable to log out.'

'Then. There is no reason to delay, it will just lead to more death and more undead.' Eldrian nodded and said goodnight before logging off.

Going for a run, some meditation, and then breakfast. Eldrian returned to his room and also got two hours of sleep before his match, logging in fully prepared.

"It's you!" Eldrian shouted in shock as he saw his opponent. An elderly man with a long gray beard and silver hair tied in a ponytail. He had a few more scars compared to the first time but Eldrian was certain it was the same guy.

Laughing at the surprise the man smiled warmly as he returned the favor, "I am surprised you remember me, you have a far more memorable appearance. Though I can't recall your name."

"Eldrian,"

"That isn't what you said last time, right... Zylric, I am sure you forgot."

"I did, I see you received some armor upgrades."

Laughing again the man patted his chestplate, "What this, it isn't really an upgrade."

Eldrian raised an eyebrow in questioning, dropping it and asking the question he had burning in him. "Are you still in Inglas?"

"Yup," Zylric replied with a nod, "You wouldn't believe the amount of combat experience you can get there, as well as special quests."

"So, have your Tier and level improved then?"

"Tier, yes. Level, no." The man laughed as he shared that he was just level 4 in the game. His daily routine would have him jumping between 15 and 1. A single kill often giving him multiple levels, but nearly always followed by multiple deaths.

"That's crazy-" Their conversation was interrupted when a female voice belonging to the system echoes through their arena.

"Players, please start the fight."

Both of them laughed at the announcement, and as if understanding each other they both took out their weapon. Zylric's no longer a full metal spear, but instead a very normal-looking one. A wooden shaft with a broad spearhead with two large wings. A spear typically used for boar hunting.

"Are you ready?" Zylric asked with confidence, lunging as he did.

Eldrian was immediately put on the back foot. His speed with his weapon left Eldrian wondering if they really had the same stats. He could barely follow as the spear moved through the air like a snake. With Zylric quickly closing in and then attacking with fists and kicks.

"Still doing the same tactics?" Eldrian asked with a smile as he countered with his own technique. Dipping past the spearhead he spun around and grabbed behind the spearhead's wings. Using it for a grip Eldrian janked it while thrusting Aoidos with a high grip.

"You improved," Zylric replied as he let go of his spear and jumped back, Eldrian losing his balance as another spear appeared in Zylric's hands. "But so have I!"

The thrust came fast and Eldrian just barely managed to move his head to the side. The wing of the blade cutting his cheek as suddenly another spear came at him.

Pushing Aoidos up, Eldrian managed to block the attack. However, he failed to get out of the path from the first spear. Pulling it back whilst also pushing down, Zylric cut into Eldrian's shoulder as he retreated and reform his stance with two short spears.

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