Chapter 6: Information Gathering (Part 2)

Sethia’s Crowded Bar – Alt & Damon

The lively bar was packed with players, the air thick with chatter, the clinking of mugs, and the occasional rowdy laughter that echoed through the crowded room. It exuded a vibrant atmosphere of camaraderie and excitement.

Damon leaned casually against the counter, his eyes scanning the room with practiced ease. He took in the sights, his attention flickering over the boisterous crowd, before settling on Alt standing beside him.

Damon gave a small grunt of displeasure. “Hmph… it’s pretty crowded in here.”

Alt simply nodded silently, her sharp gaze sweeping over the room without comment. She wasn’t bothered by the noise, though the scene around her didn’t seem to register much on her face.

Their attention shifted to a loud group sitting around a large wooden table in the corner. They were boasting about their victory against the Forest Demon, their voices rising above the background noise as they recounted every thrilling detail, punctuated with bursts of laughter and the clinking of tankards.

Damon raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with Alt. Without a word, they both began making their way toward the group.

Damon, his voice smooth as always, called out to the group. “Hey, guys! I heard you defeated some kind of demon.”

A woman at the center of the group perked up immediately at the mention of the battle, her eyes gleaming with pride. She was draped in regal, barely-covered skin armor that accentuated her confident demeanor. A smirk played on her lips as she twirled a strand of hair between her fingers.

The woman leaned forward, her voice dripping with charm. “Oh yes, we did, handsome.” She giggled softly, clearly enjoying the attention.

Damon flashed his signature smirk, leaning in slightly, intrigued. “Care to elaborate? I’d love to hear about such an amazing feat!”

The woman’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with self-importance. “Hoho! If you insist!”

She launched into a long-winded explanation, her voice growing louder as she recounted the battle in excruciating detail. Every unnecessary moment, every dramatic pause, from her glorious poses to her self-proclaimed heroic speeches, was covered.

Damon’s eyes glazed over as she continued, his internal struggle growing. ("Sweet lord, make it stop.")

He blinked rapidly to stay awake, his focus wavering as she went on and on, recounting every trivial detail of the fight. By the time she was halfway through her tale, Damon felt like he was sinking into a stupor, his patience thinning.

After what felt like an eternity, Damon couldn’t take it anymore. He cut in, his voice sharp as he interrupted her monologue. “So! Was the monster any different from before?”

The woman dramatically sighed, placing a hand over her chest as if recounting a tragic memory. “Oh, tons! It was so much stronger than before! Fifteen of my men died trying to protect me!”

Damon blinked, the absurdity of her statement catching him off guard. “...Fifteen?”

She waved a hand dismissively, her smile unphased. “I was left with ten, but don’t worry, I’ll rebuild my followers.”

Damon’s expression shifted from disbelief to mild disgust, but it was the next part that really caught him off guard. The woman leaned in close, her lips curling into a sly grin as she placed her fingers lightly against Damon’s chin, whispering in his ear.

“Would you like to join your queen?”

A cold chill ran down Damon’s spine, every instinct in his body screaming NOPE.

Absolute NOPE.

Without thinking, Damon bolted upright, stiff as a board, his face going pale as he scrambled to get away from her. His voice was high-pitched as he stammered. “Not yet! I need to, uh- run an errand! Catch ya later, lady!”

Without another word, he grabbed Alt by the arm and, with a swift and awkward tug, made a hasty exit from the table, practically dragging Alt behind him.

Back Alley Escape

Damon and Alt stepped into the back alley, away from the suffocating noise and oppressive atmosphere of the bar. The air was cooler here, a brief reprieve from the warmth and clamor that had surrounded them moments ago. The alley was narrow, the cobblestones slick with a light sheen of dew from the evening air.

Damon stopped, his chest heaving as he leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. His heart was still racing, and the memory of the overly forward woman lingered in his mind like a bad taste.

Damon groaned, his voice full of exaggerated distress. “Ugh… I feel violated.”

Alt stood a few paces away, her arms crossed, her expression as unreadable as ever. “You did good.”

Damon let out a dry chuckle, still catching his breath. “Hahah… Thanks… Since I did all the work there, I deserve some reward.” He wiggled his eyebrows, a playful grin spreading across his face.

Alt’s expression didn’t change. She raised an eyebrow and said flatly, “Yes. I’ll let Axel know.”

Damon’s eyes widened in disbelief as he sputtered, “Huh?! No! From you, dummy!”

Alt simply blinked, her voice calm and unbothered. “Oh… What do you want me to do?”

Damon pretended to think deeply for a moment, tapping his chin in mock contemplation. Then, with a dramatic sigh, he put his hands on his hips. “Hmm… A hug. I need to cleanse my body and soul.”

Alt, unfazed, nodded once, as if the request were completely normal. “Okay.” She spread her arms wide in a gesture that was almost too casual.

Damon blinked, caught off guard by how quickly she agreed. “...Oh, we’re doing this? Okay, cool.” He stepped forward, his heart beating a little faster as he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

Alt remained still for a moment, her expression neutral as ever. “...Are we good?”

Damon squeezed a little tighter, his voice muffled by the embrace. “...Just… a little bit more…”

Alt let out a sigh, her body stiffening momentarily before she allowed it, her arms staying loose at her sides. It was clear she was going along with this more out of a sense of obligation than anything else.

Damon mentally high-fived himself, a smirk creeping onto his face as he whispered under his breath, “Worth it.”

Sethia Market – Kane & Madden’s Intel Gathering

Kane leaned forward, his eyes wide in disbelief as he listened to the seasoned player’s warnings. The bustling market around them seemed to fade as he focused on the man’s words.

Kane’s voice was laced with concern. “Holy! Really?! That strong?! Oh no…”

The player, a middle-aged adventurer with a deep Scottish accent, nodded grimly, his face etched with caution. “Oh yah! The deadly spin is one to look out for! It’ll end your life before you even know what hit ya.”

Kane’s stomach twisted with anxiety as he imagined the devastating move.

Madden stood by silently, his arms crossed as he nodded respectfully at the player. “Thank you for sharing this information. We’ll keep that in mind. We appreciate your help.”

The seasoned player gave a quick wave, his gruff voice softening slightly. “No problem! Anytime.” With that, he turned and walked off, disappearing into the crowd.

Kane remained rooted to the spot, his hands trembling slightly. His mind raced, and the weight of the upcoming battle began to settle heavily in his chest.

Kane, almost panicked, turned to Madden. “Gah! I’m scared, Max! What if we all die?!”

Madden, calm and collected, glanced at Kane with a reassuring look. His expression was unflinching. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Kane’s frustration flared, and he waved his arms dramatically, his voice rising in worry. “This demon literally wiped out 20 players in one fell swoop! We’re doomed! There are only six of us! Maybe we should get more people?!”

Madden sighed, his posture unshaken as he shook his head. “You’re missing something.”

Kane blinked, unsure of where this was going. “What?”

Madden smirked, his confidence unwavering. “We’re all skilled players. You think a mere level 30 boss is gonna take us down when we’ve defeated the Sky Final Boss on Hard Mode?”

Kane froze, his mind slowly processing Madden’s words. The realization hit him like a wave, and he straightened, his eyes widening with new understanding.

Kane’s face lit up as his fears began to fade. “…Yeah… you’re right! We’re powerful!”

With a triumphant grin, he threw a fist into the air, his energy and confidence returning. “Especially with Alt on our side! We can be anything!”

Madden let out a small chuckle, his smirk widening as he gave Kane an approving look. “That’s the spirit.”

The two of them walked away from the shop, their steps lighter now, their confidence restored. The sounds of the bustling market filled the air once more, but this time, Kane’s worry had been replaced with a renewed sense of determination.

Axel’s House – Mission Debriefing

The warm glow of the fireplace flickered against the walls. As usual, the shadows danced across the room. The team sat around the sturdy wooden table in Axel’s humble home, their faces illuminated by the soft light. The crackling of the fire provided a comforting backdrop to the otherwise tense atmosphere.

Axel clasped his hands together, his eyes scanning the room as he looked around at his team. The weight of the mission ahead was beginning to settle on everyone.

Axel’s voice broke the silence, steady and serious. “Welcome back, everyone! Time to discuss what we’ve gathered today.”

Kane gulped, his nerves already kicking in. His hands were clammy, and his gaze flicked nervously between his teammates.

Axel took a deep breath, his expression serious. “I’ll go first… Ken and I went to Sethia Square, where we found a group of players who had just fought the Forest Demon.”

The room fell silent, the atmosphere growing heavier with each word Axel spoke. Everyone knew the stakes.

Axel continued, his voice unwavering but the gravity of the information weighing on him. “They said it was faster and stronger than before. Twenty-five of them fought it… but only five made it out alive.”

Kane couldn’t help but tense up, his stomach turning at the thought of that brutal outcome. He whispered under his breath, barely audible. “Ughhh…”

Axel exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “The Demon still wields a giant spiky log. If it lands a hit, it’s enough to wipe us out in two moves max.”

A quiet murmur of agreement passed through the group as the severity of the situation settled over them. They all knew how dangerous this fight was going to be.

Axel leaned forward, his eyes scanning each of their faces. “That’s all the information I got. You all can add to that.”

Kane quickly sat up, eager to contribute his own findings. His voice was more energized but still tense. “Okay! Madden and I went around the shops and heard that it has a move that kills you instantly.”

Axel’s frown deepened as he processed this new information. “Instantly?”

Madden nodded gravely. “Yes. It spins around at high speed and attacks the nearest opponent. If you’re caught in it, you’re dead before you can react.”

The room went quiet again as everyone digested this new piece of information. The stakes had just been raised, and the team understood the deadly nature of the monster they would face. They nodded grimly, each of them imagining the possibility of falling victim to such an attack.

Damon, who had been leaning back in his chair, arms crossed and expression thoughtful, finally spoke up. His voice was smooth but serious.

“We got the same information. But we also found out that completing the level for the first time grants high-level rewards.”

The group paused for a moment, processing this new tidbit of information. 

Everyone nodded slowly, understanding the implications of this. The rewards would be crucial, but the risk of failure loomed large. 

Alt crossed her arms, her voice calm but serious as she surveyed the room. The flickering light of the fire reflected in her piercing eyes, adding a sharp edge to her words.

“One thing that stands out the most from all of our reports…” she began, her gaze shifting between each member of the team. “Every player group that fought the demon had over twenty people. Yet only a few survived.”

The weight of her statement hung in the air. The room grew heavy, the realization sinking in for each of them. 

Alt’s gaze sharpened, her eyes scanning each of them as if measuring their resolve. “That means we cannot afford to make mistakes. If we screw up, there’s no coming back.”

The room fell into an almost tangible silence, each person digesting the gravity of what she was saying. 

Alt paused for a moment, letting the tension build before she spoke again, her tone softer but no less intense. “…I want us all to walk out of there alive. Understood?”

A wave of determination swept over the group. They sat up straighter, the weight of her words sinking in.

“Yes, ma’am!” they responded in unison, the unity and resolve clear in their voices.

Alt nodded, her posture still poised and commanding. She was satisfied. “Good.”

Battle Training Proposal

With the seriousness of their mission settled, Alt’s focus shifted to preparation. She uncrossed her arms, her expression unchanged but her intent clear.

“I suggest we battle each other to point out weaknesses and improve them,” Alt proposed, her voice steady but commanding.

Axel perked up immediately, his usual energy returning. “Oh! Yes! I agree! Any objections?”

The team exchanged looks, but no one said a word. There was no complaint, no disagreement, only the shared understanding and fear that they needed to prepare as much as possible.

Axel clapped his hands together, grinning like a child. “None?! Great! When do you want us to start, Alt?” He asks.

Alt locked eyes with him, her expression as neutral as ever, unphased by his enthusiasm. She let the moment stretch for a brief second before responding, her tone still calm but with a sense of finality.

“Right now.”

The room fell into stunned silence for a brief moment before realization hit them all. They weren’t going to waste any time. The sweat on their brows, the nervous excitement, and the sudden shift in atmosphere made it clear.

Alt was serious. And the training would begin immediately.