Arka turned her attention towards the shrub and flowers on the rich soil of the mountain, as she began to pick and pluck the required items she needs for her quest and supplies. The quest reward was worth 20 Fels; a hefty amount in the game world with its current economy.

Then again, she has only just started the game for a short time. Maybe there was more content to be seen as she continues playing, and it would alleviate the difficulty of equipment, money, and the game’s current economy.

It has been two weeks and three days since the alpha test, and anyone has yet to cross continents and pass city borders because of the overwhelming amount of monsters outside their current playing field. They've proven to be too difficult. People already tried a commonly used run and evade tactic, popular on a certain popular game trilogy, and still, all these players have perished without a care for their lost equipment and money they have earned.

It was true what they say, that not all heroes wear capes.

The silence and the sounds of soil and foliage being dug up, and placed in their bags became a bit awkward for Arka. The unreasonable, uncomfortable feeling that begins to well up inside her has urged her that something has to be done about it for some reason. She thought it might be best if she tried to start a conversation.

"So, wh—"

"You know, you're like, the second person who's come up here," Mikrim initiated the conversation, not knowing that she interrupted her. "I'm the first one up here, of course." She stated.

Arka can't help but feel it was her way of saying she was the most experienced and most familiar of the mountain better than anyone else.

Arka’s hunch proved to be correct.

"There's a lot of good mats for crafting new equipment, and quick healing supplies on these mountains,"

She used the term "mats" which is slang for materials.

"So, you're saying... you've been the only one up here all this time...?" Arka asked.

"Yep. A few days in, since the Alpha test," Mikrim said. "I can't exactly recall," She said as she shrugged.

Over two weeks of gathering mats... this thought shot through Arka. She turned her head in reflex to Mikrim.

As Mikrim saw Arka's head turn, she understood this as a way of expressing her confusion underneath her thick, darkened, steel helmet.

"I prefer exploring, and maxing professions in MMOs, you see, Mikrim clarified to Arka.

Arka did understand her way of playing the game. In many MMOs, some players prefer maxing professions and exploration... rare individuals where specific guilds are made, focused on their type.

These types of players can plot unique maps and discover content in video games that any regular player thought possible. They are usually called the Explorer types of players.

"Oh, I know... your way of playing," Arka said. "It's just rare... to see players like you," She said in her usual speech.

"Is that so." Mikrim said. And then, she turned her attention to the plants she was gathering. "Then, I suppose you've played a lot of video games too, huh?"

"Uh, yeah, like... since I was a kid." Arka said, feeling as if she was easing into talking with the person near her. She also turned her attention back to gathering flora.

"Is that so..." Mikrim said.

"Mhmm..." Arka agreed with a hum. "I know all about the grind and the usual dailies, and whatnot," She said.

"I see... so like, you're saying you're already well-experienced about this genre," Mikrim said

"Yup," Arka said. "I guess... pretty much," She said.

"Interesting..." Mikrim said. "When I started this game, I was surprised about the open-world... how do I put it...? It's like a dream come true for explorers like me. It's pretty amazing," she said. "I can definitely just say I'm glad to be born in this day and age," Mikrim said with passion as she smiled at her words while looking at Arka.

I couldn't agree with you more! Arka felt the same, also cracking a smile within her helmet.

"Did you just start exploring the world when you came?" Arka asked.

"Nope. I first wanted to try doing the typical grind like most, but when I saw the kinds of monsters this game had and finding about the difficulty... well, I changed my mind," Mikrim said. "So, I went exploring instead. And I get to see how beautiful and ugly this VRMMO world can be. It's a godsend to roam this kind of world if you ask me,"

"I'm glad to hear that. I feel the same way about this game," Arka said being a bit surprised she didn't do her usual stutter. She was happy about it.

Their time together soon, started talking about other things from there.

"I love the Dragon Age Series." Arka said to Mikrim.

"I don't know that one," Mikrim said. "What's it like?"

"It's an RPG," Arka said. "Lots of fun fights, lots of exploring, lots of choices..." Arka could go on. "Oh, I think you'd like that too if it's your kinda game..." She said.

"Sounds like, a nerdy game..." Mikrim said, with a teasing tone.

Arka felt discouraged. "O-oh... I just t-thought—"

"I'm joking, I love RPGs." She immediately said to Arka, as she smiled on teasing her. "Also, J-RPGs!" She exclaimed. "I'll try Dragon Age later. Thanks for the suggestion!" Mikrim said.

Arka thought she wanted to get mad at the person next to her for teasing her like that. She thought that maybe she should get back at her in some way. She'll think of something... other than that, it's been so long since she has had another companion whom she can talk with about video games. Arka felt happy about this.

Soon Arka finished one part of her quest, with her bag almost full of plants. Mikrim stayed to chat with Arka, waiting for her to finish her herb gathering.

All that remains, was to mine mountain ores.

Arka asked Mikrim. "I'm gonna go mine some mountain ores next. Do you wanna come?"

Mikrim placed a hand on her chin. "Actually, I do... this is good timing," Mikrim said. "I've been wanting to gather some ores for a long time, but the cavern's overrun by those monsters. I can't deal with them on my own," Mikrim said.

"I see," Arka said as she went ahead. "Let's check it out," Arka told Mikrim, as she followed in suit.

Soon, they arrived in front of a narrow gap, between split mountain ridges. A crevice.

"The monster nest is on the other side of here," Mikrim told Arka. "I've lost count how many there were."

"I'll go take a peek," Arka said, as she began to enter the crevice.

Half-way in, she stopped in the middle of the crevice. She saw the other side.

There was a monster group who were quadrupedal beings, with fat legs like elephants; possessing the body and torso of a mythical centaur; half-man, and half-horse. Six, big, tendrils swayed behind their backs, where each end of these tendrils possess their eyes. They have arms with big, demonic-like hands with claws and a head of a bald human where sharp teeth protrude out their mouths and cover their whole face. Each creature stands at approximately 5'3" to 5’8”

Arka counted how many of these creatures there were, discreetly. Summing it up, there are around twenty of them in all.

Next, she inspected the surrounding area to know the environment she expected to fight in.

It was a small, rocky area, with a ledge, keeping the creatures trapped in place. They go in and out of a cavern with the ores she needs to get. It seems to be their nest.

An open area. Arka concluded.

Arka began to head back out of the crevice to Mikrim.

As Arka returned to Mimrim and closed their distance, Mikrim asked her. "So, how does it look over there, Master, Arakar?" She jested.

"Well..." Arka said. "Those monsters? They're called Plainruiners. They're rather slow, so they'll have trouble keeping up with you. However, they have giant, murderous claws that can tear you apart if you get too close, and you can't catch them by surprise because they have six eyes that can see both in front, and behind their backs." She said.

Arka's knowledgeable about this monster because she fought them once already during her mob hunt with Banelfsing.

"Your only best choice of fighting them is up-front." She said all this to Mikrim, without a stutter or her slow tone. She was secretly happy about this smooth description she was able to deliver.

"Is that so..." Mikrim said. "Then, what do you propose we should do?" She asked.

Arka looked at Mikrim. Suddenly, a party window appeared in front of Mikrim.

Would you like to join Arakar's party?

Yes • No

"First, we party up," Arka said.

Mikrim accepted her party invitation. "I see... I'm not sure, though. I don't know how to fight these monsters yet," She said.

"No, don't worry. I'll take care of them." Arka said. "We can just keep each other in check in case one of us needs help.” She said as she began to walk back to the crevice.

Mikrim was baffled at Arka's answer, as she raised an eyebrow.

"Are you nuts?" Mikrim exclaimed and Arka stopped in her tracks. "I know I said I don't know how to fight monsters yet, but I feel like if we're together, we can handle fighting them," She said.

Arka understood Mikrim being worried about her new friend. But she was also worried about her too. "No, it's too risky since you don't have any experience fighting these monsters yet. You'll die." Arka raised a hand as a gesture to signal Mikrim not to worry. "Just watch for now... You'll see what I mean," She said as she entered the narrow gap.

Mikrim, with a worried expression, followed Arka towards the crevice.

As Arka exits to the other side of the crevice, she dropped her leather satchel, unsheathed her Kampilan, and walked straight toward the horde of Plainruiners, with her blade in hand.

Mikrim followed behind, in the same fashion as Arka, small steps sideways. While she did so, sounds of tearing flesh, clashing metal, and shrieks from the Plainruiners could be heard already.

As she exits near the cracked rock, she leaned on it and witnessed Arka facing off against the creatures.

Arka's long sword sliced off some of the Plainruiners' eyed tendrils. For each tendril, blood sprayed on the rocky ground, as she finishes them off with a lethal slice to the neck, further painting the brown soil with a tint of red.

Some of these creatures’ legs were severed as they lay on the ground helplessly bleeding to death.

Arka cleaved one of the Plainruiners' demonic arms. She rapidly pushed one of these creatures towards a ledge in the area as she pushed her sword down towards its neck. The Plainruiner tried to push her sword away with its remaining arm.

Suddenly, another one of these monstrosities eventually got closer while doing her business. As it was about to grab her, she quickly slammed the creature's face with the back of her darkened, steel fists. The impact was enough to break its teeth instantaneously, and knocking the beast away from her. She turned her focus back on the Plainruiner she was pushing against, and it wasn't long until she drew blood on its arms and neck. This quadrupedal being immediately collapsed, as its corpse bled, down to its fat legs.

As Mikrim watched the scene unfold in front of her in rapid succession, she couldn't believe it, nor could she take her eyes off Arka, slowly dwindling the number of these monsters one by one. She was finding it hard to draw a comparison that this darkened, steel swordsman fighting right now, was the same person.

Only a few words echoed in her mind, as she witnessed the events.

She was strong.

However, it wasn't long until her flawless movements took a turn for the worse.

As Arka dodged, stabbed, and took down one of these creatures with the weight of her armor, another one mauled her from behind. After a forceful slam thundered her darkened steel plate. A large chunk of her HP was taken away, leaving 62% left after such an ordeal.

Mikrim cried in terror of her friend possibly dying. "Arakar!" She yelled.

Arka almost lost her balance and posture after the deafening attack, as she moved a safe distance against these beasts.

Immediately, one of the Plainruiners charged at Arka. Seeing this, she moved away in the nick of time, exploiting the beast's slow movement and reflexes. She quickly brought her sword in a forward lunge, chopping off some its eyed tendrils, then a slice in the neck on its blind side followed afterward. It can be said that Arka has a consistent method of killing these creatures.

After Arka slew the tenth creature, she then rushed forward and yelled her battle cry— determined and resolute for the kill.

Mikrim continued watching the remaining struggles of combat. Shadows of the battlefield loomed over her avatar, as the sun struck the battle-hardened swordsman, emphasizing her strength.

Not soon after, a desolate field riddled with monster corpses was all that remained as Arka, stood at the center of it all. Her long sword dripped steadily of blood of the slain Plainruiners. There was blood that also leaked out of her armor. 24% of her HP remained. Mikrim sees this on Arka's status window.

Arka then turned to Mikrim, saying that the cavern was all clear. She said this, as the sun started to set on the mountain they were on.

Mikrim felt a tinge of inspiration.