A New World, an immersive game experience

An elf in an a light cyan robe walked alongside a dwarf covered in flames which illuminated the cave system they were in. They both turned to one another and then looked in the same direction. Sighing.

"It's that kid again..." The dwarf grumbled, they were too far to make it over in a short amount of time. Nor could they pinpoint the location to teleport to since the disturbance this time occupies a massive area. Besides, they couldn't leave at this moment.

"He should still be around Kynigo." Athtar mumbled, "I suspect he is finally breaking through to Tier 5."

Amnur nodded. "But this will attract far too much attention."

Athtar did not reply, considering their current mission the two couldn't head over.

Their side was simply too outnumbered, if the subterranean decided to join the fray then in all likelihood they would stand no chance in defending the kingdoms. Their only choice would be to fall back to the empires.

Unlike the kingdoms, they had a way to defend themselves even against figures as mighty as them. Even if a group of legends attacked an empire, the empire would be able to hold out until help arrives.

This choice however meant abandoning over 90% of the people. The number of races was varied and there was no kinship between most. Nonetheless, the two could not accept leaving so many to die. While they might not be close to mortals, they could not accept the slaughter of billions that would ensue if they did so.

"Tovack should be nearby. I'll ask him to go over and confirm the details." Amnur said. Taking out a brilliant Mov crystal enclosed in Divine Mithril, Tovack's beggar-like appeared above it.

"My lord do you want me to investigate this mana disturbance?" The dwarf in rags asked, his eyes covered in cloth.

"Mmm, it is most likely Eldrian's doing. We aren't able to move at the moment."

"Should I intervene or only shadow?" Tovack asked.

"Shadow and intervene if the situation turns beyond his control."

***

An old man stared at the golden dust in his hand, his heart gripped in a vice. Long-distance communication was not easy, most had a rather short range. This was exactly why communication between cities was so difficult.

However, there were a few ways to negate the distance. The dust in his hand was one of these ways, by separating a lightstone through a certain method, it was possible to keep the two as one. Whatever happened to the one would also happen to the other.

Sadly, one could not convey any words in crushing it. However, thanks to the properties of the crystal the two parts would want to unite after being broken. Naturally, this would immediately lead the old centaur to his daughter.

However, could he move at this critical time?

His heart was torn, feeling his wife's gentle touch he turned to her. His concern was great.

"I believe it is time to bring her home." They were both currently in their human forms having enjoyed the wonderful sights of their gardens until this moment. "She's been quite a naughty child not coming to visit us for years. Even when she was so close just a few weeks ago."

Resolved, the man nodded and quickly turned into his true form. Much like Talastos, his hair was graying, Myropsis was not their only child. She was their second youngest, sadly their youngest child was the first to have died.

Both remembered that pain greatly, neither wanted to experience it again.

In a flash, the centaur disappeared into their palace from which he teleported to Kynigo without delay.

***

"What do you think is going on?" One of the players from Phoenix asked a group as he joined them at the mansion. The first to have arrived had quickly informed Aspen that Eldrian had requested help. After which the two had disappeared to the city mayor's mansion.

Their group was a mix of random races, they now numbered six and only two were humans. One was a dwarf, two were demi-humans and the last was a dryad like Erik. Only, she was a female and the nature patterns looked quite alluring on her. Especially since she dressed to accentuate them.

"I have no idea, I heard Eldrian went on a mission to clear one of the mining towns. Do you think they ran into something they couldn't handle?"

"I mean it is almost certain after that message. Besides, missions often do not go as planned. This isn't like other games."

"Are you still calling this just a game?"

"What else can it be? Don't tell me you think it that this is like those stories..."

The group chuckled and teased each other while waiting for news. None of them minded that they would be stuck here for a day. While they would be losing some XP and income from not being able to continue their missions, they felt helping another guild member was more important. Especially since Eldrian, while almost never part of the guild, was treated as an integral part of it.

Average players like them didn't really understand why, however, the respect that the captains held for him was true. Neither Therdul, Judith, Zyviss, nor Ilmadia thought they could put up a decent fight against him. Not even if they joined forces.

This truly meant a lot to the players, as to them, these four were the strongest players in the guild. Their prowess was displayed each day during the siege. All of them had no problem facing Tier 4 enemies, often capable of taking on multiple enemies with ease.

If they worked together, they could even stall the weaker Tier 5 enemies.

***

"Got you now." Axel licked his lips and immediately ordered the special force to enter the game. They had no idea where Eldrian was here in real life, but seeing as he was in trouble in the game. It felt just right to capture him there.

This might not be the same as capturing him physically. Regardless, they would be able to hold him for questioning. And while he could log out to escape, it meant he would no longer be able to run free inside ANW.

Of course, Joren frowned. Looking at Constantine, the two nodded imperceptibly.

Axel believed that the AI would not interfere, while he still did not understand why they couldn't order them to capture Eldrian. As long as they did not move it was just as well.

Of course, he would never expect the truth.

***

Eldrian grit his teeth, it took all he had to bear this pain. He could feel that the mana was wreaking havoc in his body. As it destroyed, it also restored.

It was not the destruction that brought him the most pain, but rather the restoration. As his flesh and organs reformed from charred ash, the pain was unimaginable.

Even Two was not spared, the mana not only burned and rebuilt their physical body. The body of this avatar, it did the same to their soul.

Even in this terrible pain, Eldrian realized what this meant. Luckily, they had decided to stay in the mountains. Else, who knew what catastrophe would be happening now. This, however, was still extremely worrying.

The last time Eldrian had formed his mana network Miracle had found him. It could very well happen again.

"Two!" Eldrian shouted, unable to feel their connection. "You need to return now!"

Eldrian's shout was drowned out by the rumbling thundered produced from within. And while Two did not want to abandon Eldrian, and while the pain made returning extremely difficult, he did not hesitate.

Feeling Two's presence leave it felt like the weight of a mountain suddenly was added to Eldrian. He collapsed to the ground, the white vortexes that were his mana networks spinning faster than ever. Even Eldrian's head was not saved this torment. He had no idea how he was still alive.

As Eldrian fought on, the surrounding area of catastrophe kept expanding with him as the center. Monsters too slow to react were instantly turned to dust. Most turned and fled into the wilds seeing this, overcome by fear.

Only a few remained, looking on curiously and contemplating if they could still claim this tasty piece of meat.

As Eldrian was struggling and the lightning raged through him, he realized something. Of all the forces he had come into contact with. Lightning was by far the strongest, the most ruthless element. In the aspect of elements, it was the aspect of destruction.

He also recalled that as the world started collapsing it would be filled with thunder, the creator and destroyer of worlds.

'Creation...' Eldrian was barely able to stay awake, yet once this thought entered his mind, it swept through him and gave him hope.

Heart, shoulders, pelvis, wrists, feet, head. Nine locations in total.

'Treat the wrist and feet as one.' Eldrian got this idea almost immediately and without a single doubt he did just that. In this regard, there would then be seven, perfect for the base elements.

While bearing the pressure as these atoms kept on absorbing mana at an insane rate, Eldrian turned his focus to one. Using all he had he wrestled control from nature, from magic. He fought tooth and nail, taking control and immediately turning the entire ball into a single element.

The strain was massive, and as he struggled he thought of all his friends here. He recalled the little time they had spent together, lamenting that he was always in such a rush. That he did not make more time to get to know them better.

He thought of his sister, hardly able to imagine what she must be going through stuck in the middle. He was filled with guilt and anger. He would not let them consume him, yet he would also not suppress them.

Instead, Eldrian used the power these emotions gave him to fight on. Made it his fuel to stand strong, to never give up.

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