[Chapter 11:]

Though it was night, the world fell into an even deeper darkness as if the very shadows themselves were afraid.

The players could only look up in absolute awe and terror, their legs buckling and their backs drenched as they gawked up at the horror above them.

A serpent that towered over 600ft (182 meters) high, it was thicker than 10 cars stacked together, with its slick black scales soaking seemlessly into the night.

The only thing that made its existence quite noticeable was its massive size that even blocked out the orbs in the sky, and most intimidating of all, its golden yellow eyes that seemed to hold not only animalistic fury, yet archaic wisdom.

All was quiet, as the party of players and the serpent who had now risen remained still.

No player dared to move, despite it being a game; death felt too real.

Sweat rolled down the bodies of all those players, and it couldn't be known whose sweat it was, yet as it rolled off their skin, dripped down their face, and slowly hung off their chin before plopping down.

It was as if that final sweat drop was the gunshot that reawakened the world.

SPLASH!

WHOOOOOOOSHHH!!

Without warning, the snake lunged forward, sending bodies flying into the air amongst the powder of blood sprinkled speckled throughout.

The unlucky few who didn't die on impact fell from over hundreds of feet high before crumpling onto the ground and disappearing into gold mist.

The snake continued to weave and slice its way through the grasslands with each party member shouting out, many trying to organize the players into a formation of sorts to battle against it.

Crow, by now, had risen from his spot.

With there being no time for players to pay attention to him, he quickly ran up to a female Human player and whacked her in the neck, knocking her unconscious, and pulled her along as he ran from the group, leaving the players to scramble and fumble around in terror.

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[Moments Later...]

At the gate of the Beginner village, 2 guards were on high alert.

As they saw the shadow of a figure approach through the nighttime grasslands, both raised their weapons, "Who goes there?"

A young boy covered in blood, with his head hung slowly, limped along as he supported an unconscious girl on his side, "Please, sir, we tried to take the bounty. We need to rest."

The guard's eyes widened, "One criminal is so dangerous?" 

They cast a subtle glance at each other before speaking, "Show your identification!"

The boy, otherwise known as Crow, inwardly creased his brows at this, yet remained silent, causing the guards to speak once more, "Show your identification this instant! All who left the gate today should have received one."

Crow inwardly smiled at this, 'Sometimes silence is the best tool.' 

He kept his head low and spoke in a pitiful tone, "Sir, me and my team left yesterday. We camped out near the rabbits and never expected him to be so domineering. Please, I just want to get my party member to the infirmary safely.

The guards paused and glanced at the unconscious girl before giving each other glances.

The guards closed their eyes and exhaled as they put down their weapons, 'Maybe we are being a big tight over one nobody, but it's our ass on the line.'

The guard pushed away his thoughts, "Fine, but stay out of trouble."

"Yessir," Crow quickly nodded while keeping his head hidden from the illumination of the midnight torches as he pulled his "teammate" inside past the guards.

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Crow found an inconspicuous alleyway and slit the girl's throat, leaving the cleanup to his little black boxes.

He then peeked his head out to make sure the coast was clear.

By this time, the sky was near pitch dark if not for the torches that sparsely lit the streets and the multicolored orbs that hung overhead.

The boy made his way back to the smithy, though it was risky to sleep in a town where he was so wanted; it was even more so to sleep in the wilderness where both players and high-level monsters were trying to kill him.

As he took the key from around his neck and unlocked the door, he lumbered into the pitch-black shop exhaustively, ready to slump into his bed.

As he shuffled his foot past the counter, a hammer of flames lit up, illuminating the room and causing Crow to jump back and nearly yelp out in fright.

From behind the counter, the robed figure gazed at the boy, the shadows from the flame casting a mysterious air about him as he spoke, "Come with me, boy."

With that, the his Sensei turned and went into the back of the smithy.

Crow pondered and looked back over at the front door before slumping his shoulders and following behind, 'I've seen him do enough to know I wouldn't even be able to take a step out if he wanted to kill me...'

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[A Short Time Later...]

The 2 sat in the smithing room that was now fully illuminated by the torches all around.

The robed figure wasted no time, "So you killed the Blessed?"

Crow's eyes widened before he lowered his head and slowly nodded.

The cat was out of the bag, so Crow saw no reason to lie.

With how intelligent NPCs are and with how fast news spreads, it'd be more surprising if the robed figure didn't know, yet the boy's expectations were surprised.

"Good, that's your goal checked off. What comes next?"

Crow's eyes widened, before his expression softened and he nodded before slowly opening his mouth to speak, "But... I killed a Knight Trainee?"

The robed figure looked at him deeply, "The locals know what happened. You're not the 1st to try and fight back against the Blessed, though yours is perhaps the sloppiest."

Crow nodded as he furrowed his brows at these words, glancing at smouldering smithy as he pondered, 'So why am I still being chased? Were the Blessed truly that important, or was this all just a formality?'

"Boy." The robed figure finally spoke, grabbing Crow's attention from the dancing flames.

"Yes?" Crow responded nervously.

"You know you can't stay here," his Sensei spoke flatly.

Crow felt as if a heavy weight pressed down onto his chest as he lowered his head, his lips tilted downwards, slowly nodding, "I-I know."

The robed figure stood up and walked over before slowly patting Crow's shoulder, "Now, it's not cause I don't want ye here, but it'd be doing you a disservice."

Crow looked up and raised an eyebrow at him.

The robed figure's massive height cast a deep shadow onto the boy as he stood before him.

"Come with me," the old shopkeeper said as they both walked up the stairs and into the robed figure's personal bedroom.

It was a simple layout similar to the one Crow stayed in, yet in the corner was a treasure chest gilded with reflective gold and oakwood that smelled of the forest.

The blacksmith walked up and opened the chest after placing his fiery hand on it, and reached in what seemed to be an infinitely dark pit.

The figure continued to rummage through pulling out various weapons and armors that shone and gave off powerful auras.

"Woahhh!" Crow exclaimed, with one weapon in particular catching his eye.

It was a sword that's blade was arond 3ft (91CM) wide, with a long hilt and an orange flame pattern intracetaely carved alongside the base of the blade.

If anything, it was less like a blade and more like a giant slab of sharpened metal, yet Crow couldn't hep but force down a gulp upon imagining himself wielding such a weapon.

Crow inwardly gulped, 'Is one of the best blacksmiths around really giving me a weapon?'

Finally, the boy's Sensei stopped rummaging through the box, yet kept his hand in as he turned to face Crow, "These past days, I've been watching you. Your crafting's been getting better, but it's still not enough for the long road ahead of you..."

The robed figure's eyes creased at the boy, the torches reflecting off his weary eyes, "...So I figured I'd give you this here."

With that, the figure pulled out his hand to reveal a red cube that was about the size of a large apple.

The cube had a glowing red light similar to a lava lamp.

"Stay still," the robed figure instructed as he softly pressed it against Crow's forehead, causing a warm red light to spill out through the entire room.

The figure instructed as the light continued to spill outwards, "Focus your Tempor into the cube, boy."

Crow slightly nodded and closed his eyes, allowing that warm feeling to pass through his stomach and out through his forehead.

Time felt as if it slowed down as Crow slowly opened his eyes to see himself surrounded by multiple small orbs of different colors hovering around him, 'Woahh... It's just as breathtaking the 2nd time.'

Yet as the boy took in the sight, a strong suction suddenly came from the box, sucking in all the orbs around him, and letting out a flash of white, nearly blinding Crow as he closed his eyes in surprise.

As the Crow's eyes recovered, he saw the box was gone, and he felt a strange feeling inside him, 'I feel like... something's missing.'

Crow looked around in confusion, then disappointment as he glanced over at the greatsword in the corner of the room, 'So no weapon?'

The robed figure, seeing the boy's expression, spoke up with a scoff, "If you knew what I just gave you, I don't think you'd be making that face; it's more valuable than most weapons I've ever made combined."

Crow's eyes widened at this, 'What did he just give me?'

Even so, he couldn't help but sneak a reluctant glance at the great sword.

The blacksmith, noticing his pupiil's gaze, looked back at the greatsword in the corner of the room, "Ahh, so Alhukm caught your eye?"

Crow tilted his head as he tried to pronounce the word, "Al~ hooo~ mooom~?"

The blacksmith shook his head at this as his eyes creased, "Close enough. It's a fine weapon indeed, but it hasn't found a worthy user."

Crow puffed his chest out and put his hands on his sides, as if proclaiming, "What about me?"

Yet, the Blacksmith scoffed and shook his head, "No, I won't be giving it to you. You wouldn't be able to wield it. Plus..."

His eyes glimmered with a mysterious red light, "It'd be better if you a weapon of your own. One better this."

Crow pouted at this, 'Crafting a weapon better than dude who's age I don't even know??'

Yet the robed figure paid no mind as he he continued to rummage through the box and pulled out a wooden ball, "Here, and take good care of Ramus, or 'Rammy' as you like to call him."

Crow's eyes widened at this as he took the ball with both hands before scrutinizing it, "This is Rammy?! So he has a smaller portable mode too?"

Raz didn't respond; he just stood up and walked out the door, "Follow me."

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The pair were now in the hallway and in front of a metallic door.

'This door,' the boy thought to himself.

The robed figure placed both hands on the door and closed his eyes as a red light and a warm heat began emitting from his palms.

CLICK

The door slowly swung open without a sound.

Upon the pair entering the room, Raz immediately closed the door, and the sound of a locking mechanism went off behind him.

Crow looked around as he entered the room.

It was very small, even smaller than his bedroom.

If Crow and the robed figure both put their hands out and stood next to one another, they wouldn't be able to fit in this room.

Besides the size, the only thing peculiar about the room was the scent of an unfamiliar herb and the chalky material of the floor.

Crow questioned as he looked around, "What-"

WOOOOOSH!

A glowing circle appeared on the floor with a white light emanating from it.

The robed figure spoke up as he patted the boy's shoulder, "The trip this far into the Wood Region would normally be about a 2-week journey, but you're far too weak for that."

Crow stared at the circle in front of him in disbelief; alas, his mentor continued, "Even those Blessed won't be able to make that journey for some time."

Crow was trying hard to listen, yet too many thoughts were going through his mind, 'No way. Is what I'm seeing real?? Players were saying there's no "Fast Travel" or teleporting in this game, having to go everywhere manually, yet this old man...'

He cast a confused gaze at his mentor, who simply held his gaze back at him, speaking as if reading his Crow's mind, "Everyone has their secrets."

He patted the boy's shoulder, "I know you'll accomplish great things."

Crow barely let out a nod as he waddled forward and looked at the circle of light in front of him.

He made his final preparations before stepping inside the circle.

He was now adorned in a fresh black cloak from the robed figure, possessed a bag of spare clothes, dried jerky for a few days, water, and an alluring flower.

The robed figure's voice played in Crow's ear one more time as he felt his consciousness fade, "Remember her name is N0r, the head of the Chapel, located in the center of Discendi City."

However, his Sensei's voice then took a more serious tone, one with a deeper, almost ancient aura, "Let her know you're Raz's student, but you mustn't reveal your true identity, and remember, you must do 2 things. Become a working student at the smithy and learn Alchemy."

Crow's eyes widened in shock as he whipped his head around to look at his mentor, but by then, walls of white light arose all around him, as he asked, "You never told me. Why are you helping me?" Crow asked as the white light filled his vision.

Even as Crow tried to see his mentor's status, all that came up was:

[Raz]

[Race: ???]

[Occupation/ Class: ???]

[Realm: ???]

[Stage: ???]

[Source: ???]

Raz's voice came faintly from the other side of the circle, "It was that fire in your eyes, one not so different... Yet a fire without timber goes out, and so I pushed you to see if you had what it takes, and here you are. So, remember.... never stop, boy.”

With that, everything went white.

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END OF ARC 1

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