you are correct. that's my mistake.
A Day in the Life of a ____
Chapter 2 World 2: The Consequences of Being Blessed.
"Hello! Young adventurers!" Village Chief of Astoria shouted to all the players near his home. "Something strange has plagued the creatures inside Astoria Forest! Please find out the cause and help solve it; otherwise, the strange, mutated monsters might wipe out our village!" He pleaded.
All of the players inside Astoria Village received the sudden raid quest and jumped for joy. Most players immediately headed into the forest without any preparations whatsoever. This was the first known raid of the new hit game, World of Eternia! Some players even checked the forums to see if the other areas received this quest and found out that this raid quest was only available to those that spawned around Astoria Forest.
The city of Aipolis, Astoria Village, Heung, and Turda were the only places that bordered Astoria Forest. This meant that only those who were in those cities received the raid quest. Once people spread the news of the raid quest, hundreds of thousands of players rushed to those four areas as soon as possible. After all, this was the first-ever raid quest. No one wanted to miss out on the mysterious rewards as they charged into Astoria's Forest.
"Hello, young adventurer. I'm surprised you aren't rushing into the forest like the others." Blacksmith Ed chucked.
"I can't go deal with mutated monsters without proper gear." Christian smiled.
"That's right! You'd only be running to your death without your equipment in proper shape!" Ed smashed his fist on the counter. "Tell ya what, lad, I heard of a very strange little monster in the forest. Its body was made of nothing but solid metal. If you can bring back some of the metal on that creature for me, I'll make a weapon custom-made just for you." Ed offered a quest!
"I'll see what I can do, but first, can you repair my equipment?"
"No problem, lad! Good luck on the hunting!" Ed repaired his equipment in a second.
"Thanks, Ed!"
Christian didn't immediately head out to the forest just yet either. He went inside the potion shop and chatted up the store owner. "Hello, miss! I'd like some potions, please." He asked. The woman dressed in tightly fitted purple magician robes looked down on him. Christian kept his composure even if he had to look up at the very tall woman.
"What kind?" She asked.
"Health, mana, and stamina." He answered
"Here you go." She handed him some bottles.
"Thank you! Ed wanted me to tell you hi before I came over. Bye!" Christian waved goodbye.
"Wait." She suddenly called out. "Before you head into the forest, I'd been hearing of the hunters talk about strange mushrooms. If you can, I'd like you to retrieve some of these unusual mushrooms for me."
"For free?" Christian asked.
"I suppose a reward will be waiting for you if you perform a satisfactory job." She added.
"I'll be back as soon as I can!" Christian rushed out of the store.
He then continued to visit the known quest givers of Astoria Village to stack up on quests before heading out into Astoria Forest. Christian held his two-handed sword in one hand as he ventured out into Astoria Forest, completely maxed out on quests. Alongside him were surprisingly few other players. He figured that the entrance to the forest would be completely congested with players because of the raid quest. Christian shrugged as he guessed he got lucky.
As the newbie adventurer started blindly wandering through the forest, it took a few minutes until he encountered his first mutated monster. It had a red nametag along with a question mark in front of its name. Red meant hostile monster, as everyone knew, but Christian looked at the white bunny rabbit with a gold streak across its back and thought, how dangerous could it really be? Rabbits were fodder monsters that even a complete noob could take down!
Christian prepared to use his warrior skill, Pommel Bash, to stun the creature and then wail on it with his sword until it died. He ran forward to get a closer distance to land his skill. Shouting the skill's name to activate it, the pommel of his sword glowed with a silver light as he brought it down toward the surprisingly stationary monster. Christian's eyes lit up in excitement when his pommel neared the rabbit's skull.
The rabbit dashed out of the way when the sword was mere inches away from its eyes. The words dodged came up from the spot where Christian missed his skill. He looked at the rabbit. His eyes glazed back to where the rabbit was previously. Then he looked back at the rabbit. It smirked at him before rushing straight at him. Christian couldn't even react as the rabbit landed a critical strike on his throat and forced him into a bleeding state.
He dropped to his knee as he saw fluids shooting out of his throat. Christian dropped his sword and clutched his throat. He was dying? His body wasn't moving the way he wanted it to. What was going on? Wasn't this just a video game? How was he suddenly...? Then the rabbit dashed at him once more, and everything went dark.
[Sudden Raid Quest!]
[Most monsters inside Astoria Forest have been affected by an unknown affliction! Find out what is causing these changes and calm those who are negatively affected by this! Brave forth, Adventurers!]
[Rewards: Varies based on contribution to Raid Quest.]
[Most monsters inside Astoria Forest have been affected by an unknown affliction! Find out what is causing these changes and calm those who are negatively affected by this! Brave forth, Adventurers!]
[Rewards: Varies based on contribution to Raid Quest.]
All of the players inside Astoria Village received the sudden raid quest and jumped for joy. Most players immediately headed into the forest without any preparations whatsoever. This was the first known raid of the new hit game, World of Eternia! Some players even checked the forums to see if the other areas received this quest and found out that this raid quest was only available to those that spawned around Astoria Forest.
The city of Aipolis, Astoria Village, Heung, and Turda were the only places that bordered Astoria Forest. This meant that only those who were in those cities received the raid quest. Once people spread the news of the raid quest, hundreds of thousands of players rushed to those four areas as soon as possible. After all, this was the first-ever raid quest. No one wanted to miss out on the mysterious rewards as they charged into Astoria's Forest.
"Hello, young adventurer. I'm surprised you aren't rushing into the forest like the others." Blacksmith Ed chucked.
"I can't go deal with mutated monsters without proper gear." Christian smiled.
"That's right! You'd only be running to your death without your equipment in proper shape!" Ed smashed his fist on the counter. "Tell ya what, lad, I heard of a very strange little monster in the forest. Its body was made of nothing but solid metal. If you can bring back some of the metal on that creature for me, I'll make a weapon custom-made just for you." Ed offered a quest!
"I'll see what I can do, but first, can you repair my equipment?"
"No problem, lad! Good luck on the hunting!" Ed repaired his equipment in a second.
"Thanks, Ed!"
Christian didn't immediately head out to the forest just yet either. He went inside the potion shop and chatted up the store owner. "Hello, miss! I'd like some potions, please." He asked. The woman dressed in tightly fitted purple magician robes looked down on him. Christian kept his composure even if he had to look up at the very tall woman.
"What kind?" She asked.
"Health, mana, and stamina." He answered
"Here you go." She handed him some bottles.
"Thank you! Ed wanted me to tell you hi before I came over. Bye!" Christian waved goodbye.
"Wait." She suddenly called out. "Before you head into the forest, I'd been hearing of the hunters talk about strange mushrooms. If you can, I'd like you to retrieve some of these unusual mushrooms for me."
"For free?" Christian asked.
"I suppose a reward will be waiting for you if you perform a satisfactory job." She added.
"I'll be back as soon as I can!" Christian rushed out of the store.
He then continued to visit the known quest givers of Astoria Village to stack up on quests before heading out into Astoria Forest. Christian held his two-handed sword in one hand as he ventured out into Astoria Forest, completely maxed out on quests. Alongside him were surprisingly few other players. He figured that the entrance to the forest would be completely congested with players because of the raid quest. Christian shrugged as he guessed he got lucky.
As the newbie adventurer started blindly wandering through the forest, it took a few minutes until he encountered his first mutated monster. It had a red nametag along with a question mark in front of its name. Red meant hostile monster, as everyone knew, but Christian looked at the white bunny rabbit with a gold streak across its back and thought, how dangerous could it really be? Rabbits were fodder monsters that even a complete noob could take down!
Christian prepared to use his warrior skill, Pommel Bash, to stun the creature and then wail on it with his sword until it died. He ran forward to get a closer distance to land his skill. Shouting the skill's name to activate it, the pommel of his sword glowed with a silver light as he brought it down toward the surprisingly stationary monster. Christian's eyes lit up in excitement when his pommel neared the rabbit's skull.
The rabbit dashed out of the way when the sword was mere inches away from its eyes. The words dodged came up from the spot where Christian missed his skill. He looked at the rabbit. His eyes glazed back to where the rabbit was previously. Then he looked back at the rabbit. It smirked at him before rushing straight at him. Christian couldn't even react as the rabbit landed a critical strike on his throat and forced him into a bleeding state.
He dropped to his knee as he saw fluids shooting out of his throat. Christian dropped his sword and clutched his throat. He was dying? His body wasn't moving the way he wanted it to. What was going on? Wasn't this just a video game? How was he suddenly...? Then the rabbit dashed at him once more, and everything went dark.
YOU ARE DEAD.
Chapter 3 World 2: World of Eternia!
"It's over here!" Someone shouted.
"Yeah, no shit. Like we could miss the giant fucking deer in this forest." Another player snorted.
"I was just saying..."
"Alright, every one group up on me." YumtheBOSS gathered his guild members. "DPS players, I want you all to strike with all of your strongest skills at the start. Tanks, once all the DPS run through their skills, you need to taunt either one by one or all together. I'm not sure if you guys can cycle through your taunts to infinitely keep the giant's focus on you. I'd say we should test it, but if we fuck up, another guild will try to steal our claim to this boss. Anyway, Healers! Keep people alive! That's your only job. We're going in here blind folks, and we aren't getting a second chance if we get wiped. Let's do this." YumtheBOSS let the DPS go forward to the boss eating trees.
The giant young doe that would give dinosaurs a run for their money ignored the ants below in favor of eating the delicious trees. Its mother also consumed a strange mushroom days after its child grew to gargantuan size. When it saw these groups of humans coming toward its child, it reacted the way any mother would when something dangerous was heading their offspring. Mother Doe utilized the new energy within her body. A blue spiraling vortex circled around her body as she snorted and stomped the ground with her hooves before rushing at the incoming group of humans.
"Tanks, deal with that sub-boss! DPS, focus on targeting the boss! Healers, buff the DPS!" YumtheBOSS ordered.
The tanks rushed and taunted Mother Doe one by one. Mother Doe was not immune to their taunts and forced her way over to them. Although her attention was focused on them, it was also focused on all of them. Her eyes watched as the humans appeared to be sending something toward her child! Utilizing the power given to her by the strange mushroom she mindlessly ate, the vortex surrounding her body expanded in size as several projectiles were sent flying at her child. The projectiles altered direction and focused on Mother Doe.
The Yummy Guild was speechless as all of their strongest attacks were absorbed and nullified by the boss's minion. No, wait, sub-boss?! That wasn't just a regular monster but also another mutated monster! They watched as the question marks in the two monsters' names were finally revealed. Absorbing Mother Doe & Giant Young Doe were their names. If it wasn't bad enough that the Mother Doe ruined the first step of their strategy, the giant doe was staring right at them with its hooves raised.
"Don't give up just yet!" YumtheBOSS shouted. "Ranged DPS! Fall back and focus on the giant boss. Melee DPS help the tanks take out that small one! Healers try to keep everyone alive!"
"This bitch is tougher than she looks." A tank was kicked in the mouth by Mother Doe.
"We're all going to die!!!" Someone screamed.
"Guys, can you at least try to dodge? That's a feature in this game..." A healer complained.
A seismic stomp from the giant doe stunned, knocked down, or killed members of the Yummy Guild. Mother Doe hopped into the air just before her child unleashed her skill, dodging the negative effects of it. As the Yummy Guild lay stunned, Mother Doe went on a rampage against the humans trying to harm her child. The few remaining members of the Yummy Guild tried to flee once more than half of their guild members were wiped out. Unfortunately, running away from a creature more than four times their own size was impossible. Not to mention that normally deer can run 35 to 40 miles per hour. The fleeing humans could only die running or fighting.
It didn't take long for news to spread of the Yummy Guild being wiped out by the dual boss, Absorbing Mother Doe & Giant Young Doe. The Yummy Guild is a known top-ranked guild in many other massively multiplayer online games. It could be seen from their failure that this boss wasn't an easy boss that any random guild could deal with unprepared. With their death, the roaming dual boss that shared a health bar was free game to all players. Unknown to the players, monsters also leveled up by killing others. Absorbing Mother Doe & Giant Young Doe received quite the exp boost thanks to the Yummy Guild.
When players from all over tried rushing it without any plans whatsoever, just throwing their bodies at it, the dual boss continued to grow in strength. The players didn't care or notice this, as it was their first time fighting a giant boss in such a realistic game. It was way more fun climbing up the legs of a giant monster while doing everything in their power to hurt it. Hell, some players climbed on top of the doe's head or back just for the sake of boasting that they did it!
In fact, the game's internal AI even rewarded these death-seeking players with achievements. Achievements in World of Eternia could grant skills, stat boosts, and experience. The players that achieved the Riding a Giant achievement, they got the taming skill and extra points to their body stat. Unfortunately, once news of this achievement spread players were far more interested in claiming this achievement than actually trying to kill the boss. In simple terms, it was pure chaos and mayhem. An absolute delight for a majority of gamers who played for fun rather than to progress the plot.
"Yeah, no shit. Like we could miss the giant fucking deer in this forest." Another player snorted.
"I was just saying..."
"Alright, every one group up on me." YumtheBOSS gathered his guild members. "DPS players, I want you all to strike with all of your strongest skills at the start. Tanks, once all the DPS run through their skills, you need to taunt either one by one or all together. I'm not sure if you guys can cycle through your taunts to infinitely keep the giant's focus on you. I'd say we should test it, but if we fuck up, another guild will try to steal our claim to this boss. Anyway, Healers! Keep people alive! That's your only job. We're going in here blind folks, and we aren't getting a second chance if we get wiped. Let's do this." YumtheBOSS let the DPS go forward to the boss eating trees.
The giant young doe that would give dinosaurs a run for their money ignored the ants below in favor of eating the delicious trees. Its mother also consumed a strange mushroom days after its child grew to gargantuan size. When it saw these groups of humans coming toward its child, it reacted the way any mother would when something dangerous was heading their offspring. Mother Doe utilized the new energy within her body. A blue spiraling vortex circled around her body as she snorted and stomped the ground with her hooves before rushing at the incoming group of humans.
"Tanks, deal with that sub-boss! DPS, focus on targeting the boss! Healers, buff the DPS!" YumtheBOSS ordered.
The tanks rushed and taunted Mother Doe one by one. Mother Doe was not immune to their taunts and forced her way over to them. Although her attention was focused on them, it was also focused on all of them. Her eyes watched as the humans appeared to be sending something toward her child! Utilizing the power given to her by the strange mushroom she mindlessly ate, the vortex surrounding her body expanded in size as several projectiles were sent flying at her child. The projectiles altered direction and focused on Mother Doe.
The Yummy Guild was speechless as all of their strongest attacks were absorbed and nullified by the boss's minion. No, wait, sub-boss?! That wasn't just a regular monster but also another mutated monster! They watched as the question marks in the two monsters' names were finally revealed. Absorbing Mother Doe & Giant Young Doe were their names. If it wasn't bad enough that the Mother Doe ruined the first step of their strategy, the giant doe was staring right at them with its hooves raised.
"Don't give up just yet!" YumtheBOSS shouted. "Ranged DPS! Fall back and focus on the giant boss. Melee DPS help the tanks take out that small one! Healers try to keep everyone alive!"
"This bitch is tougher than she looks." A tank was kicked in the mouth by Mother Doe.
"We're all going to die!!!" Someone screamed.
"Guys, can you at least try to dodge? That's a feature in this game..." A healer complained.
A seismic stomp from the giant doe stunned, knocked down, or killed members of the Yummy Guild. Mother Doe hopped into the air just before her child unleashed her skill, dodging the negative effects of it. As the Yummy Guild lay stunned, Mother Doe went on a rampage against the humans trying to harm her child. The few remaining members of the Yummy Guild tried to flee once more than half of their guild members were wiped out. Unfortunately, running away from a creature more than four times their own size was impossible. Not to mention that normally deer can run 35 to 40 miles per hour. The fleeing humans could only die running or fighting.
It didn't take long for news to spread of the Yummy Guild being wiped out by the dual boss, Absorbing Mother Doe & Giant Young Doe. The Yummy Guild is a known top-ranked guild in many other massively multiplayer online games. It could be seen from their failure that this boss wasn't an easy boss that any random guild could deal with unprepared. With their death, the roaming dual boss that shared a health bar was free game to all players. Unknown to the players, monsters also leveled up by killing others. Absorbing Mother Doe & Giant Young Doe received quite the exp boost thanks to the Yummy Guild.
When players from all over tried rushing it without any plans whatsoever, just throwing their bodies at it, the dual boss continued to grow in strength. The players didn't care or notice this, as it was their first time fighting a giant boss in such a realistic game. It was way more fun climbing up the legs of a giant monster while doing everything in their power to hurt it. Hell, some players climbed on top of the doe's head or back just for the sake of boasting that they did it!
In fact, the game's internal AI even rewarded these death-seeking players with achievements. Achievements in World of Eternia could grant skills, stat boosts, and experience. The players that achieved the Riding a Giant achievement, they got the taming skill and extra points to their body stat. Unfortunately, once news of this achievement spread players were far more interested in claiming this achievement than actually trying to kill the boss. In simple terms, it was pure chaos and mayhem. An absolute delight for a majority of gamers who played for fun rather than to progress the plot.
Chapter 4 World 2: Sudden Quest?!
Metal Mushroom bounced into the chest of a Wild Frenzied Bear. The bear cried out in pain as it fell to the ground in defeat. Its corpse disappeared as it dropped multiple items that also disappeared soon after. The Metal Mushroom felt an unstoppable rise of energy welling up inside him and felt that he had a choice to make. There were three choices for him to head down—one that specialized in Body, the second specializing in Mind, and the last specializing in Magic.
As a monster that prided itself on its newly founded toughness, there was only one option for Metal Mushroom. He focused that unstoppable energy on improving his tough metallic body. His body began to physically change in the blink of an eye. What was previously a small monster that could barely reach the ankles of any humanoid was now shinier than any humanoid around! Four stub-like appendages extended out from its torso that mimicked arms and legs. Its mushroom cap was twice as large as its new body. For the finish, its previous shiny silver body was now a pristine shiny black.
Metal Mushroom turned into Black Metal Mushroom Fighter. If its pride in its strength reached the sky before, it was now piercing past the clouds. Metal Mushroom turned his head in a certain direction and began to walk. If one could watch from the skies above, they would realize that the newly evolved monster was heading straight toward Aipolis!
"Aren't you glad that all these adventurers suddenly fell from the skies to make our job easier?" Aipolis Guard, Max, chatted while leaning on the wall.
"If you relax too much, they'll take your job." Aipolis Guard, Richard, responded with a straight posture.
"They're like little chicks! How could that ever happen?" Max laughed.
"They grow quickly for chicks. I wouldn't be so relaxed." Richard advised.
"I could grow quickly, too, if I wasn't punished with guard duty!" Max complained. "I should be protecting nobles, training with the army, or getting drunk. Not wasting my time at this wall being bothered by little chicks at all hours of the day."
"..." Richard realized Max just wanted to vent and stopped indulging him. They weren't friends, just co-workers.
"Sir Guard! Do you have a quest for me!?" A player asked.
"No! Stop asking me if I have a task or quest for you, little annoying brats!" Max yelled.
"Tch. Like a trash guard could have a useful quest in the first place." The player replied as he went off to hunt monsters.
Max let out a breath of annoyance as the adventurer rushed out of the city gates and into the forest. It was only when a few seconds later that the adventurer's body returned right next to Max and Richard. The two guards saw as the adventurer's body came flying past them straight into the city. Max turned his head to look at the corpse of the adventurer being taken into their goddess's embrace before his eyes while Richard got into a fighting stance with his spear. Richard's eyes locked on the distant figure slowly walking toward the entrance of the city.
"A monster..." Richard identified. "Go get back up while I distract it. This is the only job I need you to do." Richard told Max as he rushed at the monster.
"What? Why don't you..." Max's words fell on empty ears as Richard was already gone.
Max grumbled at being forced to run for backup. Did that bastard think he was a weakling or something? The two of them could handle any monster, couldn't they? There wasn't any monster strong enough willing to come near the city. It was most likely just some lost monster that smelt opportunity from those adventurers. Max sighed as he dragged his feet.
"Guh!" Richard came flying past Max just like the previous adventurer.
Max turned his head to see the monster grinning at him with Richard's blood staining its body. Max would never admit that Richard was his better in any capacity. He's seen the bastard fight multiple knights in succession and come out on top and still refused to admit Richard was better than him. This time though... Maybe, just maybe, he should put away his stubbornness.
Max turned to rush into the city to call for backup. The monster struck when it saw an opportunity. As soon as Max turned his back on it, the monster bounced forward and struck him in his back with its fist. Max crashed into a store building and didn't get up afterward.
The citizens of Aipolis were speechless as they saw the Black Metal Mushroom Fighter enter the city. When it looked at them with a mad grin, they shrieked in terror as they began to panic and flee. The players of Aipolis were met with a sudden raid quest and reacted to this disastrous situation with joy and eagerness. They rushed toward the source of trouble without hesitation to hoard the rewards for themselves.
As a monster that prided itself on its newly founded toughness, there was only one option for Metal Mushroom. He focused that unstoppable energy on improving his tough metallic body. His body began to physically change in the blink of an eye. What was previously a small monster that could barely reach the ankles of any humanoid was now shinier than any humanoid around! Four stub-like appendages extended out from its torso that mimicked arms and legs. Its mushroom cap was twice as large as its new body. For the finish, its previous shiny silver body was now a pristine shiny black.
Metal Mushroom turned into Black Metal Mushroom Fighter. If its pride in its strength reached the sky before, it was now piercing past the clouds. Metal Mushroom turned his head in a certain direction and began to walk. If one could watch from the skies above, they would realize that the newly evolved monster was heading straight toward Aipolis!
"Aren't you glad that all these adventurers suddenly fell from the skies to make our job easier?" Aipolis Guard, Max, chatted while leaning on the wall.
"If you relax too much, they'll take your job." Aipolis Guard, Richard, responded with a straight posture.
"They're like little chicks! How could that ever happen?" Max laughed.
"They grow quickly for chicks. I wouldn't be so relaxed." Richard advised.
"I could grow quickly, too, if I wasn't punished with guard duty!" Max complained. "I should be protecting nobles, training with the army, or getting drunk. Not wasting my time at this wall being bothered by little chicks at all hours of the day."
"..." Richard realized Max just wanted to vent and stopped indulging him. They weren't friends, just co-workers.
"Sir Guard! Do you have a quest for me!?" A player asked.
"No! Stop asking me if I have a task or quest for you, little annoying brats!" Max yelled.
"Tch. Like a trash guard could have a useful quest in the first place." The player replied as he went off to hunt monsters.
Max let out a breath of annoyance as the adventurer rushed out of the city gates and into the forest. It was only when a few seconds later that the adventurer's body returned right next to Max and Richard. The two guards saw as the adventurer's body came flying past them straight into the city. Max turned his head to look at the corpse of the adventurer being taken into their goddess's embrace before his eyes while Richard got into a fighting stance with his spear. Richard's eyes locked on the distant figure slowly walking toward the entrance of the city.
"A monster..." Richard identified. "Go get back up while I distract it. This is the only job I need you to do." Richard told Max as he rushed at the monster.
"What? Why don't you..." Max's words fell on empty ears as Richard was already gone.
Max grumbled at being forced to run for backup. Did that bastard think he was a weakling or something? The two of them could handle any monster, couldn't they? There wasn't any monster strong enough willing to come near the city. It was most likely just some lost monster that smelt opportunity from those adventurers. Max sighed as he dragged his feet.
"Guh!" Richard came flying past Max just like the previous adventurer.
Max turned his head to see the monster grinning at him with Richard's blood staining its body. Max would never admit that Richard was his better in any capacity. He's seen the bastard fight multiple knights in succession and come out on top and still refused to admit Richard was better than him. This time though... Maybe, just maybe, he should put away his stubbornness.
Max turned to rush into the city to call for backup. The monster struck when it saw an opportunity. As soon as Max turned his back on it, the monster bounced forward and struck him in his back with its fist. Max crashed into a store building and didn't get up afterward.
The citizens of Aipolis were speechless as they saw the Black Metal Mushroom Fighter enter the city. When it looked at them with a mad grin, they shrieked in terror as they began to panic and flee. The players of Aipolis were met with a sudden raid quest and reacted to this disastrous situation with joy and eagerness. They rushed toward the source of trouble without hesitation to hoard the rewards for themselves.
[Sudden Raid Quest!]
[Aipolis City is under attack by a mutated monster! It has a craving for fighting and skin harder than the densest steel! Do your best to thwart this threat before it deals unrepairable damage to the city!]
[Rewards: Potentially Squiredom, Potentially Knighthood, Potentially Nobility, increased reputation, gold, and experience]
[Aipolis City is under attack by a mutated monster! It has a craving for fighting and skin harder than the densest steel! Do your best to thwart this threat before it deals unrepairable damage to the city!]
[Rewards: Potentially Squiredom, Potentially Knighthood, Potentially Nobility, increased reputation, gold, and experience]
Chapter 5 World 2: Saved by Selfish Greed.
[Sudden Quest!]
[You've found the source of the strange mutations plaguing Astoria Forest!]
[Reward: Class-related Mythic weapon, Achievement: You found me! Now what?]
[You've found the source of the strange mutations plaguing Astoria Forest!]
[Reward: Class-related Mythic weapon, Achievement: You found me! Now what?]
Brandon looked at the peacefully resting tiny mushroom constantly expelling mushrooms. His staff was pointed at the head of the creature with a spell ready to fire. He thought to himself, what does he really get by killing this thing? Sure, there were the raid quest rewards, but he could get those even if he didn't kill the monster. The raid quest specifically said to find the cause of it and help those negatively affected by it. Not kill the source of it.
"Why don't I just take advantage of this little cutie for myself?" Brandon muttered to himself.
Brandon put away his staff and began filling his inventory with the mushrooms popping off from the monster's body. For such a cute creature, it had such a terrifying name, Harbinger of Doom Infant Mushroom. Brandon guessed the name wasn't inaccurate since it did severely increase the difficulty level of Astoria Forest. Players were now forced to travel in parties of three players and up, thankfully the experience was also boosted.
As Brandon was throwing out equipment and potions to fill his inventory to the absolute limit with the strange mushrooms, he noticed that each of the mushrooms had a question mark. This meant he had to test each different type of mushroom to learn what they did. Brandon planned to test each of these mushrooms one by one on a creature that wasn't himself, as the penalty for death wasn't so kind. Depending on how you died would result in different outcomes.
Death from a player randomly dropped loot and gold. Death from a monster dropped gold and reduced health on respawn. Death from environmental factors randomly dropped loot and gold at your place of death. Dying from mushroom poisoning would count as an environmental factor or monster. He wasn't sure which one this counted as since it was an item spawned from a monster. As a new player, Brandon didn't have that much gold on him. If he wanted gold, he'd need to solve quests. Quests that would need two or three other players for him to complete if they involved hunting monsters, thanks to this little mushroom.
Sometime after Brandon left, Doom continued her days in a peaceful manner. Hiding out in tight places, releasing mushrooms without her control, and eating whatever she could find. It wasn't until the creatures that ate her mushrooms began to go wild with their newfound abilities that things changed significantly for Doom. It turns out that Doom received a portion of experience from the creatures that were enhanced by her mushrooms.
Name: Harbinger of Doom
Level: 20
Race: Infant Mushroom
Job: None
Health: 1,900/1,900
Magic: 0/0
Stamina 100/100
Skills: Budding* (X100), Bounce* (X100), Tackle I
Body: 19
Mind: 100
Magic: 0
SP: 19
Level: 20
Race: Infant Mushroom
Job: None
Health: 1,900/1,900
Magic: 0/0
Stamina 100/100
Skills: Budding* (X100), Bounce* (X100), Tackle I
Body: 19
Mind: 100
Magic: 0
SP: 19
So, one morning when she was waking up from her beauty sleep. Doom felt herself filled with an uncontrollable energy. It startled her so much that she nearly cried. She didn't know which path to head down for evolution since she didn't know which one would help her survive better. So, she left it up to fate, and a bright light engulfed her body.
Doom evolved from Harbinger of Doom Infant Mushroom to Princess of Doom Overlord Mushroom. Evolving into the second stage of her species gave Doom several boosts along with her divine boon.
Name: Princess of Doom
Level: 20
Race: Overlord Mushroom
Job: Royalty
Health: 2,000/2,000 (X100)
Magic: 1,000/1,000 (X100)
Stamina 100/100 (X100)
Skills: Budding* (X100), Bounce* (X100), Tackle I, Control I (X100), Ruling I (X100),
Body: 20 (X100)
Mind: 105 (X100)
Magic: 10 (X100)
SP: 19
Level: 20
Race: Overlord Mushroom
Job: Royalty
Health: 2,000/2,000 (X100)
Magic: 1,000/1,000 (X100)
Stamina 100/100 (X100)
Skills: Budding* (X100), Bounce* (X100), Tackle I, Control I (X100), Ruling I (X100),
Body: 20 (X100)
Mind: 105 (X100)
Magic: 10 (X100)
SP: 19
With Doom's evolution, she transformed into an entirely new being thanks to the x100 Feedback System. Doom grew arms and legs, her mushroom cap transformed into the shape of a crown, and her body grew to the size and shape of a young woman. Her first thought when thinking of her new body was how difficult it was going to be to hide at this size. The good news was that she had complete control over her budding skill now. It didn't hurt anymore when she squeezed to stop it.
The biggest change was that she could see through the eyes of those who ate her mushrooms and directly influence their actions. She could switch viewpoints in an instant. The willpower of those who benefited from her mushrooms was powerless when faced up against her Mind stat. It didn't matter what type of monster they were. Her orders were absolute. A smile slowly appeared on Doom's face as she swapped to the viewpoints of the most interesting creatures...
Chapter 6 World 2: Doom's Absurd Growth.
"Duke Gaul. We have acquired the item that you have sought for..." Assassins dressed in all black entered the duke's office.
"It's been a pleasure doing business with the Dark Guild..." Gaul eagerly looked at the energetic mushroom tightly held within the assassin's palms.
Duke Gaul wasted no time in consuming the white mushroom in front of the Dark Guild and his most trusted knights. A booming laughter came from his large physique as an unexplainable energy radiated from his body. The large noble's body slowly floated into the air without the use of magic. As he was feeling the changes going through his body, he suddenly stared at the Dark Guild.
"You may leave." He told them as he floated back to the ground.
"It has been our pleasure to do business with you as well..." The Dark Guild assassins left without a trace as Duke Gaul began to plan his rise to more power.
Time passed with the duke secretly expanding his power base through the usage of his new power. It wasn't until one day that the duke's plans suddenly took a change in nature and direction. Out of the blue, Duke Gaul heard an unfamiliar feminine voice in his head. That voice startled him and innately invoked a reaction of rejection within him. Unfortunately, it wasn't his choice to reject or accept. His every action was now under her control.
And she wanted him to help expand her control throughout the world. Initially, Duke Gaul held massive reservations about having his body and mind invaded like this by some filthy monster, but as time went on, he realized that he could still accomplish his ambitions even if he was forced to become a traitor to humanity. The alluring temptress of a monster that appeared in his dreams at night had him collect several mushrooms in a strange impenetrable fortress deep within Astoria's Forest.
It was a fortress made entirely of living mushrooms that was defended by ferocious, deadly monsters. On each visit, he witnessed the extensive growth of the budding kingdom. More and more creatures inhabited the fortress. It frightened him just how quickly this monster had grown. Maybe it was the right choice to turn against humanity...
"How could we defeat a monster of such proportions?" Duke Gaul felt sorry for humanity.
It granted power at the cost of freedom. It granted safety at the cost of freedom. It even unlocked the natural limits of those under its rule. Only the mentally ill or insanely privileged would turn down such an offer. Most of those under her control didn't even get the choice to turn down her offer, not that they would if they knew of the benefits that it granted.
Duke Gaul may have played a small part in that, after all. He may or may not have invertedly fed those in his territory some of the Overlord's more harmless mushrooms. They may or may not have known he was doing such a thing. It also could be a possibility that his land has significantly grown in strength and prosperity compared to other nobles around him. All suspicions and whatnot. Nothing that anybody could prove anyway. Detecting the Overlord's control was impossible through magic or any other means, but that didn't mean it was impossible to notice. If, one day, a small starving boy living in the slums suddenly becomes taller, fuller, and capable of accomplishing impressive feats of strength or magic. It's likely that he's eaten a magic mushroom.
"No more mushrooms!" King Avery announced to all corners of his nation.
"Destroy every mushroom and those that eat them." Lord Deathmaw commanded to his undead army.
"The Mushroom Queen and her ilk must be exterminated." Elf Queen Sylvia ordered.
"We are at war with all those that are of Mushroom kind!" Dwarf King Bodak shouted.
"Let the drums of war drown out the whispering spores! Crush the fungi underfoot, my orc brethren! Mushroom expansion ends here – in a sea of orcish strength!" Orc Warchief Gromrak the Slayer yelled.
"Burn the mushrooms, dismantle their machines! Goblins, unleash your chaos upon the fungus-infested lands. Mushroom Queen's tendrils shall wither in the wake of goblin ingenuity!" Goblin Overlord Sprocket screamed.
"Fungi, meet your doom! Let the trolls trample and tear through the stupid plants. Grothak commands, and the mushroom menace crumbles!" Troll Warlord Grothak bellowed.
"Arrows shall blot out the sun, centaurs! Aim true and pierce the heart of the fungal blight. Our hooves thunder against the creeping menace – The Mushroom Queen's grasp loosens!" Centaur Chieftain Swiftwind harrumphed.
"Rise from the depths, my merfolk! Let our waters cleanse the world of this fungal corruption. With magic and tridents, we drown the mushrooms in the abyss!" Merfolk Queen Serenia bubbled.
"From dragonfire, let the fungus be purged! Draconians, soar with flames and scorch the tainted earth. Doom's spores shall find no sanctuary!" Draconian Sovereign Pyraxia roared.
"Flutter on wings of justice, fairies! Our magic shall unravel the fungal threads. Fae rise against the mushroom tide, and with nature's wrath, we prevail!" Fae Monarch Thistledown Wildfire screeched.
Doom's expansion to spread herself all over the world was far too quick and invasive for those in power to take it lightly. King Avery's rule over the nation Salona was forced to split between two kingdoms. Humanity and Mushroom kind fought for control over Salona. King Avery wasn't the only ruler having troubles because of Doom. Doom fought openly and secretly with those under her control.
She formed armies that actively attacked and sought to take land from their enemies while at the same time weakening them from the inside with those under her control before the world knew of her existence. All except the undead army, who were immune to the effects of her mushroom on the account of them being dead. It was their cold, barren lands that she focused a majority of her forces. They required no sustenance and could fight till their bodies decayed in several decades. It was Lord Deathmaw's army that posed the second biggest threat to Doom. But just because they were a threat didn't mean that Doom was worried. Dead things were nothing but a feast to mushrooms like herself.
As long as life was living on this planet, so would she.
"It's been a pleasure doing business with the Dark Guild..." Gaul eagerly looked at the energetic mushroom tightly held within the assassin's palms.
Duke Gaul wasted no time in consuming the white mushroom in front of the Dark Guild and his most trusted knights. A booming laughter came from his large physique as an unexplainable energy radiated from his body. The large noble's body slowly floated into the air without the use of magic. As he was feeling the changes going through his body, he suddenly stared at the Dark Guild.
"You may leave." He told them as he floated back to the ground.
"It has been our pleasure to do business with you as well..." The Dark Guild assassins left without a trace as Duke Gaul began to plan his rise to more power.
Time passed with the duke secretly expanding his power base through the usage of his new power. It wasn't until one day that the duke's plans suddenly took a change in nature and direction. Out of the blue, Duke Gaul heard an unfamiliar feminine voice in his head. That voice startled him and innately invoked a reaction of rejection within him. Unfortunately, it wasn't his choice to reject or accept. His every action was now under her control.
And she wanted him to help expand her control throughout the world. Initially, Duke Gaul held massive reservations about having his body and mind invaded like this by some filthy monster, but as time went on, he realized that he could still accomplish his ambitions even if he was forced to become a traitor to humanity. The alluring temptress of a monster that appeared in his dreams at night had him collect several mushrooms in a strange impenetrable fortress deep within Astoria's Forest.
It was a fortress made entirely of living mushrooms that was defended by ferocious, deadly monsters. On each visit, he witnessed the extensive growth of the budding kingdom. More and more creatures inhabited the fortress. It frightened him just how quickly this monster had grown. Maybe it was the right choice to turn against humanity...
"How could we defeat a monster of such proportions?" Duke Gaul felt sorry for humanity.
It granted power at the cost of freedom. It granted safety at the cost of freedom. It even unlocked the natural limits of those under its rule. Only the mentally ill or insanely privileged would turn down such an offer. Most of those under her control didn't even get the choice to turn down her offer, not that they would if they knew of the benefits that it granted.
Duke Gaul may have played a small part in that, after all. He may or may not have invertedly fed those in his territory some of the Overlord's more harmless mushrooms. They may or may not have known he was doing such a thing. It also could be a possibility that his land has significantly grown in strength and prosperity compared to other nobles around him. All suspicions and whatnot. Nothing that anybody could prove anyway. Detecting the Overlord's control was impossible through magic or any other means, but that didn't mean it was impossible to notice. If, one day, a small starving boy living in the slums suddenly becomes taller, fuller, and capable of accomplishing impressive feats of strength or magic. It's likely that he's eaten a magic mushroom.
"No more mushrooms!" King Avery announced to all corners of his nation.
"Destroy every mushroom and those that eat them." Lord Deathmaw commanded to his undead army.
"The Mushroom Queen and her ilk must be exterminated." Elf Queen Sylvia ordered.
"We are at war with all those that are of Mushroom kind!" Dwarf King Bodak shouted.
"Let the drums of war drown out the whispering spores! Crush the fungi underfoot, my orc brethren! Mushroom expansion ends here – in a sea of orcish strength!" Orc Warchief Gromrak the Slayer yelled.
"Burn the mushrooms, dismantle their machines! Goblins, unleash your chaos upon the fungus-infested lands. Mushroom Queen's tendrils shall wither in the wake of goblin ingenuity!" Goblin Overlord Sprocket screamed.
"Fungi, meet your doom! Let the trolls trample and tear through the stupid plants. Grothak commands, and the mushroom menace crumbles!" Troll Warlord Grothak bellowed.
"Arrows shall blot out the sun, centaurs! Aim true and pierce the heart of the fungal blight. Our hooves thunder against the creeping menace – The Mushroom Queen's grasp loosens!" Centaur Chieftain Swiftwind harrumphed.
"Rise from the depths, my merfolk! Let our waters cleanse the world of this fungal corruption. With magic and tridents, we drown the mushrooms in the abyss!" Merfolk Queen Serenia bubbled.
"From dragonfire, let the fungus be purged! Draconians, soar with flames and scorch the tainted earth. Doom's spores shall find no sanctuary!" Draconian Sovereign Pyraxia roared.
"Flutter on wings of justice, fairies! Our magic shall unravel the fungal threads. Fae rise against the mushroom tide, and with nature's wrath, we prevail!" Fae Monarch Thistledown Wildfire screeched.
Doom's expansion to spread herself all over the world was far too quick and invasive for those in power to take it lightly. King Avery's rule over the nation Salona was forced to split between two kingdoms. Humanity and Mushroom kind fought for control over Salona. King Avery wasn't the only ruler having troubles because of Doom. Doom fought openly and secretly with those under her control.
She formed armies that actively attacked and sought to take land from their enemies while at the same time weakening them from the inside with those under her control before the world knew of her existence. All except the undead army, who were immune to the effects of her mushroom on the account of them being dead. It was their cold, barren lands that she focused a majority of her forces. They required no sustenance and could fight till their bodies decayed in several decades. It was Lord Deathmaw's army that posed the second biggest threat to Doom. But just because they were a threat didn't mean that Doom was worried. Dead things were nothing but a feast to mushrooms like herself.
As long as life was living on this planet, so would she.
Chapter 7 World 2: A Warfront in the World of Eternia.
"Hey guys! Welcome to the st-" The livestreamer's words were cut off as a massive explosion appeared behind them. "Welcome to the stream!!!" He began running a little bit further away.
[Look out!]
[Can you imagine if he died just as the stream started?]
[All praise the Mushroom Queen!]
The viewers could see all around the streamer. Magical explosions rang out every few seconds, the sounds of fighting were present throughout, and creatures of all races participated in this war. An axe-wielding orc could be seen fighting an earth-controlling dwarf. As the orc brought his heavy axe down on the head of the dwarf, the dwarf swung his warhammer upward to block it. Their weapons fought for dominance, but then the dwarf suddenly smirked as the ground beneath them began to swallow up the orc feet first. This dwarf consumed a mushroom that allowed him to control the earth! With the orc trapped within a rocky cocoon, the dwarf finished him with a leaping smash to the head with his warhammer.
"As you can see, we're really in the thick of it! This is just one of the many war fronts between the Kingdom of Mushrooms and the other kingdoms! Right now, we're in between the Kingdom of Mushrooms and Humanity somewhere in the central continent. I was just in the middle of a fetch quest when suddenly I realized I found myself in the middle of a warzone! So, while the opportunity was present for me, I decided to start up the stream!"
[Did you get a sudden quest, Damage?]
[are you risking your gaming time just for us?]
[FOR HUMANITY!!!]
"I, uh, did get a hidden quest, but it doesn't mean anything unless I survive long enough." Whatsyourdamage somewhat answered as he pitifully hid behind a boulder on the battlefield.
He spotted a dangerous fight nearby. A giant mushroom with an equally as large mushroom rod facing off against a warrior who got a job advancement into a grand knight. In Eternia, there were five classes. Warrior, Mage, Rouge, Healer, and Ranger. Of those five classes, there were two job advancements for those classes and three unique paths to take for each job advancement. This meant that one class had the potential to have six different gameplay styles while leveling through the game.
The grand knight was one of the three final advancement paths for the warrior class. The perfect balance between offense and defense that could always fit into any party. This grand knight took the first move as he rushed toward the giant mushroom. It lifted its rod into the air to bring down on top of the head of the warrior.
The grand knight raised his shield and shouted something to activate a skill. With the activation of this skill, everyone could see how he somehow deflected the blow of the giant's weapon away. This left the monster completely open for the grand knight's second skill. A giant magical sword formed from the grand knight's blade and slashed the big mushroom in half from the waist.
"HUZZAH!!! This righteous hero shall not fall!" Player GarbageJuice shouted as he ran off to look for the next monster to cut down.
[A roleplayer... embarassedemoji]
[I don't think its embarrassing. I mean Eternia is actually an entirely different world. What's wrong with living a second life that's in line with the world?]
[Lord Deathmaw shall devour the souls of all living beings!]
[STREAMER LOOK OUT!]
Whatsyourdamage turned around to see a massive cluster of explosions heading in his direction. Instead of pointlessly trying to outrun it as a humble healer, he drank a speed potion and ran horizontally. It didn't matter if the direction he was running in was filled with monsters that held no reservations about trying to kill him. The Mushrooms had less of a chance of killing him in one hit compared to the magic carpet bomb!
The streamer barely made it out of the way of the explosions but not far enough that he wasn't blown off his feet and into the air from the force of it. He lay on the blood-soaked battlefield, dazed, low on health, and surrounded by vicious monsters that looked more than happy to tear into his innocent healer's body. Whatsyourdamage audibly prayed, healing himself while reducing his mana to zero. He inwardly cursed at himself for only delaying the inevitable as the monsters came rushing to devour him.
[Game Over.]
[GG]
[hahaha! Kill him! Eat him! Tear him to pieces!]
Whatsyourdamage closed his eyes and accepted his fate with his hands clasped together in prayer. He felt claws and teeth pierce his body, but with his virtual senses on very low, they just felt like little aches. Just before he was about to die, he screamed out that he was sorry that he was such a noob to his viewers. Only to realize moments later that he didn't die at all? What was that sound like something was getting sucked up into something?
"Eat this." Whatsyourdamage felt someone feed him something and recover all of his health.
"Dear merciful goddess, you've really came to me in my time of need..." Whatsyourdamage muttered as something popped up on his screen.
"I don't think I'm a goddess, dude." Brandon laughed as he helped the guy up. "You might wanna deny that choice that just popped up on your screen. I'll have to kill ya if you join the Mushroom Kingdom." Brandon explained.
"I think there are enough streamers recording the situation in the Mushroom Kingdom..." Whatsyourdamage resisted the incredibly great rewards.
"Good on you, man. Too many simps these days."
"Agreed."
[MUSHROOM QUEEN IS THE GREATEST!!!]
[BLASMEPHOMY!!!!]
[ONE OF US! ONE OF US!]
[Look out!]
[Can you imagine if he died just as the stream started?]
[All praise the Mushroom Queen!]
The viewers could see all around the streamer. Magical explosions rang out every few seconds, the sounds of fighting were present throughout, and creatures of all races participated in this war. An axe-wielding orc could be seen fighting an earth-controlling dwarf. As the orc brought his heavy axe down on the head of the dwarf, the dwarf swung his warhammer upward to block it. Their weapons fought for dominance, but then the dwarf suddenly smirked as the ground beneath them began to swallow up the orc feet first. This dwarf consumed a mushroom that allowed him to control the earth! With the orc trapped within a rocky cocoon, the dwarf finished him with a leaping smash to the head with his warhammer.
"As you can see, we're really in the thick of it! This is just one of the many war fronts between the Kingdom of Mushrooms and the other kingdoms! Right now, we're in between the Kingdom of Mushrooms and Humanity somewhere in the central continent. I was just in the middle of a fetch quest when suddenly I realized I found myself in the middle of a warzone! So, while the opportunity was present for me, I decided to start up the stream!"
[Did you get a sudden quest, Damage?]
[are you risking your gaming time just for us?]
[FOR HUMANITY!!!]
"I, uh, did get a hidden quest, but it doesn't mean anything unless I survive long enough." Whatsyourdamage somewhat answered as he pitifully hid behind a boulder on the battlefield.
He spotted a dangerous fight nearby. A giant mushroom with an equally as large mushroom rod facing off against a warrior who got a job advancement into a grand knight. In Eternia, there were five classes. Warrior, Mage, Rouge, Healer, and Ranger. Of those five classes, there were two job advancements for those classes and three unique paths to take for each job advancement. This meant that one class had the potential to have six different gameplay styles while leveling through the game.
The grand knight was one of the three final advancement paths for the warrior class. The perfect balance between offense and defense that could always fit into any party. This grand knight took the first move as he rushed toward the giant mushroom. It lifted its rod into the air to bring down on top of the head of the warrior.
The grand knight raised his shield and shouted something to activate a skill. With the activation of this skill, everyone could see how he somehow deflected the blow of the giant's weapon away. This left the monster completely open for the grand knight's second skill. A giant magical sword formed from the grand knight's blade and slashed the big mushroom in half from the waist.
"HUZZAH!!! This righteous hero shall not fall!" Player GarbageJuice shouted as he ran off to look for the next monster to cut down.
[A roleplayer... embarassedemoji]
[I don't think its embarrassing. I mean Eternia is actually an entirely different world. What's wrong with living a second life that's in line with the world?]
[Lord Deathmaw shall devour the souls of all living beings!]
[STREAMER LOOK OUT!]
Whatsyourdamage turned around to see a massive cluster of explosions heading in his direction. Instead of pointlessly trying to outrun it as a humble healer, he drank a speed potion and ran horizontally. It didn't matter if the direction he was running in was filled with monsters that held no reservations about trying to kill him. The Mushrooms had less of a chance of killing him in one hit compared to the magic carpet bomb!
The streamer barely made it out of the way of the explosions but not far enough that he wasn't blown off his feet and into the air from the force of it. He lay on the blood-soaked battlefield, dazed, low on health, and surrounded by vicious monsters that looked more than happy to tear into his innocent healer's body. Whatsyourdamage audibly prayed, healing himself while reducing his mana to zero. He inwardly cursed at himself for only delaying the inevitable as the monsters came rushing to devour him.
[Game Over.]
[GG]
[hahaha! Kill him! Eat him! Tear him to pieces!]
Whatsyourdamage closed his eyes and accepted his fate with his hands clasped together in prayer. He felt claws and teeth pierce his body, but with his virtual senses on very low, they just felt like little aches. Just before he was about to die, he screamed out that he was sorry that he was such a noob to his viewers. Only to realize moments later that he didn't die at all? What was that sound like something was getting sucked up into something?
"Eat this." Whatsyourdamage felt someone feed him something and recover all of his health.
"Dear merciful goddess, you've really came to me in my time of need..." Whatsyourdamage muttered as something popped up on his screen.
"I don't think I'm a goddess, dude." Brandon laughed as he helped the guy up. "You might wanna deny that choice that just popped up on your screen. I'll have to kill ya if you join the Mushroom Kingdom." Brandon explained.
[Sudden Quest!]
[You've eaten one of the Mushroom Queen's mushrooms! Do you resist her control or do you fall under her rule?]
[Rewards: Removed level limit, increased skill experience, forced quests, servitude for the rest of your life, random skill]
[You've eaten one of the Mushroom Queen's mushrooms! Do you resist her control or do you fall under her rule?]
[Rewards: Removed level limit, increased skill experience, forced quests, servitude for the rest of your life, random skill]
"I think there are enough streamers recording the situation in the Mushroom Kingdom..." Whatsyourdamage resisted the incredibly great rewards.
"Good on you, man. Too many simps these days."
"Agreed."
[MUSHROOM QUEEN IS THE GREATEST!!!]
[BLASMEPHOMY!!!!]
[ONE OF US! ONE OF US!]
Chapter 8 World 2: Doom's Thief.
"Heroic Cursed One Brandon, I have heard of your many courageous and amazing exploits on the battlefield." Duke Gaul complimented the young adventurer.
"Thank you, Lord Gaul. It is surely exaggerated." Brandon bowed to the disguised traitor of humanity.
"Ha! A humble hero as well! Good. Good." Duke Gaul laughed. "Hero Brandon, I have a need for your skills. Lately, there have been rumors of undead popping up around Turda, and I'd like you to investigate for the safety of Turda's citizens. If you'd like, I can send my men to aid you in this task. They surely aren't doing any good for me just sitting around here." He laughed even harder.
Brandon took a quick look at the status of the Duke's men and noticed that they, too, were a part of the Mushroom Human race. Their levels were impressive as well. They varied between level 50 and level 75. Humanity was really in a tight spot if a man with as much power as Duke Gaul was able to hide in plain sight like this. Duke Gaul was a core component in Humanity's defense against the Mushroom Kingdom. Was he attempting to weaken Humanity's strength by sending him on this quest?
"I thank you for the offer, Lord Gaul but I have no experience in commanding an army or operating within one. If I fail to find out the cause of the undead appearing near Turda, I'd surely take you up on your offer and allow your well-trained men to investigate." Brandon brown-nosed his ass off.
"Such great manners with this adventurer! Even while rejecting my good wishes, he's still so polite about it! Haha!" Duke Gaul smiled. "Very well then. If you manage to succeed, a hefty reward will await you adventurer. You may leave."
"Thank you for this opportunity. I will not disappoint you, Lord Gaul." Brandon bowed as he made his way out of the castle.
Brandon felt a little overwhelmed as he observed the statuses of the people in Duke Gaul's land. This entire place was basically a territory of Mushroom Humans. An entire little offshoot of the Mushroom Kingdom was just hiding in Salona! Things were looking very grim for Humanity. The Mushroom Kingdom basically controlled two-thirds of Salona.
It would be different if Players could openly attack or out Mushroom Humans, but unless they were revealing known mushroom abilities, currently eating one in front of your face, or admitting to eating one. Players could not attack them without being punished. Although, it was free game between players due to the massive war between kingdoms. Players seen attacking NPCs with no proof would be jailed and have their reputation within the town, and their factions lowered, making the game experience harder for that player for some time.
As Brandon traveled to Turda through Astoria's Forest, he used the chance to kill some monsters and level up on the way there. After stuffing his inventory full of the Mushroom Queen's mushrooms, he's basically been playing the game on easy mode. Since he could reject joining her faction as a Player each time he ate a mushroom, he could abuse the temporary power-ups given by the mushrooms! They were temporary for the players if they refused but permanent if they joined the Mushroom Kingdom. NPCs also got a permanent power-up if they ate one of the mushrooms.
It was the top reason why Brandon was one of the top rankers of the game so far despite being a solo player and a healer class. He was the only solo player ranked on the leaderboard. Everyone else was a part of the top guilds. Another reason why he was a top ranker was because he was unemployed! After abusing the Mushroom Queen's infinite mushroom glitch or whatever, he could farm valuable drops and sell off the ones he didn't need for cash! Real hard, cold money, moolah! The World of Eternia had an exchange system in place where you could exchange earned virtual currency for real-life money.
Because of this amazing economy-changing feature, Brandon has single-handedly stepped out of the struggling middle class and is now living an upper-class elite life with his family. World of Eternia had over two million players in the world playing on average. A game that was essentially a whole new world that could perfectly stimulate the senses? If not for the fact that it has only been out for barely a month, Brandon could see this game being played by over billions of people in the world. All of those juicy cash cows willing to pay for his rightfully gotten loot, all thanks to the Mushroom Queen granting him those mushrooms.
"Hahaha! The life of the 1%, here I come!" Brandon madly laughed as he easily slaughtered the monsters in his way.
"Thank you, Lord Gaul. It is surely exaggerated." Brandon bowed to the disguised traitor of humanity.
Name: Henry Gaul
Level: 100
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Duke
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Level: 100
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Duke
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
"Ha! A humble hero as well! Good. Good." Duke Gaul laughed. "Hero Brandon, I have a need for your skills. Lately, there have been rumors of undead popping up around Turda, and I'd like you to investigate for the safety of Turda's citizens. If you'd like, I can send my men to aid you in this task. They surely aren't doing any good for me just sitting around here." He laughed even harder.
Brandon took a quick look at the status of the Duke's men and noticed that they, too, were a part of the Mushroom Human race. Their levels were impressive as well. They varied between level 50 and level 75. Humanity was really in a tight spot if a man with as much power as Duke Gaul was able to hide in plain sight like this. Duke Gaul was a core component in Humanity's defense against the Mushroom Kingdom. Was he attempting to weaken Humanity's strength by sending him on this quest?
"I thank you for the offer, Lord Gaul but I have no experience in commanding an army or operating within one. If I fail to find out the cause of the undead appearing near Turda, I'd surely take you up on your offer and allow your well-trained men to investigate." Brandon brown-nosed his ass off.
"Such great manners with this adventurer! Even while rejecting my good wishes, he's still so polite about it! Haha!" Duke Gaul smiled. "Very well then. If you manage to succeed, a hefty reward will await you adventurer. You may leave."
"Thank you for this opportunity. I will not disappoint you, Lord Gaul." Brandon bowed as he made his way out of the castle.
Brandon felt a little overwhelmed as he observed the statuses of the people in Duke Gaul's land. This entire place was basically a territory of Mushroom Humans. An entire little offshoot of the Mushroom Kingdom was just hiding in Salona! Things were looking very grim for Humanity. The Mushroom Kingdom basically controlled two-thirds of Salona.
It would be different if Players could openly attack or out Mushroom Humans, but unless they were revealing known mushroom abilities, currently eating one in front of your face, or admitting to eating one. Players could not attack them without being punished. Although, it was free game between players due to the massive war between kingdoms. Players seen attacking NPCs with no proof would be jailed and have their reputation within the town, and their factions lowered, making the game experience harder for that player for some time.
As Brandon traveled to Turda through Astoria's Forest, he used the chance to kill some monsters and level up on the way there. After stuffing his inventory full of the Mushroom Queen's mushrooms, he's basically been playing the game on easy mode. Since he could reject joining her faction as a Player each time he ate a mushroom, he could abuse the temporary power-ups given by the mushrooms! They were temporary for the players if they refused but permanent if they joined the Mushroom Kingdom. NPCs also got a permanent power-up if they ate one of the mushrooms.
It was the top reason why Brandon was one of the top rankers of the game so far despite being a solo player and a healer class. He was the only solo player ranked on the leaderboard. Everyone else was a part of the top guilds. Another reason why he was a top ranker was because he was unemployed! After abusing the Mushroom Queen's infinite mushroom glitch or whatever, he could farm valuable drops and sell off the ones he didn't need for cash! Real hard, cold money, moolah! The World of Eternia had an exchange system in place where you could exchange earned virtual currency for real-life money.
Because of this amazing economy-changing feature, Brandon has single-handedly stepped out of the struggling middle class and is now living an upper-class elite life with his family. World of Eternia had over two million players in the world playing on average. A game that was essentially a whole new world that could perfectly stimulate the senses? If not for the fact that it has only been out for barely a month, Brandon could see this game being played by over billions of people in the world. All of those juicy cash cows willing to pay for his rightfully gotten loot, all thanks to the Mushroom Queen granting him those mushrooms.
"Hahaha! The life of the 1%, here I come!" Brandon madly laughed as he easily slaughtered the monsters in his way.
Chapter 9 World 2: The Start of a Fun Boss Battle!
Brandon madly grinned as he found himself surrounded by dozens of zombies from the undead race within Turda's part of Astoria's Forest. They pulled themselves out of the ground with all the features that made a zombie a zombie. Rotting, stinky, slow, and starving for human flesh! With only their hunger for life pushing them forward, they slowly made their way over to Brandon. He was completely surrounded, but he didn't look worried in the slightest.
He pulled out a Life Mushroom from his inventory while holding his voodoo doll in his other hand. The mushroom was eaten quickly. It tasted strangely meaty and temporarily tripled his health. "Friends on the Other Side!" Numerous dark shadows fled like a pack of rats from Brandon's shadow.
They raced toward all of the zombies within the vicinity and hid within their shadows. "Cursed Fatal Strike!" Brandon took out a curved dagger and stabbed the straw doll. In an instant, the zombies collapsed to the ground deader than before, while Brandon lost half of his health. All of their experience flowed into him, and he leveled up.
"Haha! This is so fun! In what other game could a healer solo a group of monsters on their own!? World of Eternia, I love you!" Brandon crazily laughed.
Friends on the Other Side affected both allies and enemies with the unique status effect, cursed. Cursed Fatal Strike was an active skill that halved Brandon's own health at the cost of doing multiplied damage to enemies debuffed with cursed. It multiplied his mind and magic stat together for an outrageous amount of damage. This skill would be considered broken if it wasn't for the long cooldown of the skill itself, the cooldown on health/recovery potions, and most bosses had high resistance to the cursed debuff. Brandon took it as a balancing thing since it did do outrageous damage, even at the first skill level.
Brandon's fighting style relied on cursing his enemies first before spamming his skills. Cursed One was an advancement path focused on debuffing the enemy to support your allies. Of course, he could still give buffs and heals to his teammates, but most of the Cursed One's skills were around debuffs and taking advantage of debuffed enemies. Brandon particularly loved weakening his enemies till they were putty in his hands.
"You must be the annoying fly that has been messing with my belongings..." A robed figure sat within a cave with their back turned to Brandon.
"Necromancer, for what reason are you causing trouble in Salona? This is Humanity's territory!" Brandon righteously shouted.
"Humanity?" It chuckled. "The Mushroom Queen has already conquered humanity. I'm simply sowing seeds on behalf of my lord for our eventual battle to the death with the Mushroom Kingdom. Only one race will be able to rule over Eternia, and I'm not sorry to say that Humanity will be the first to fall." It stood up and laughed as purple magic gathered around its body.
Brandon placed his arm in front of his eyes and blocked the flying dust and stones blowing. He thought that this necromancer had such a cool boss animation! As the boss battle began inside some dark but spacious cave, several zombies started rising from underneath the ground. The necromancer stared at him, floating in the air with a purple barrier around him.
Just to test it, Brandon tossed one of his sacrificial knives at the shield. It bounced off without a single point of damage as the word Invulnerable popped up above its head. It was a sort of gaming knowledge 101 thing where if the boss was unable to be hurt and there were a bunch of minions around. You had to kill the minions first before you could damage the boss.
"Friends on the Other Side!"
"Spirit Possession!"
When Brandon had all the zombies cursed, they suddenly started to attack each other from the skill Spirit Possession. Now that Brandon had a second to breathe, he took out a mushroom without shame. Sure, he wasn't struggling yet in the boss fight, but Brandon didn't care at all about having a challenging gaming experience. Brandon cared about having a fun gaming experience! And what he considered fun was absolutely obliterating the enemies! Brandon ate the mushroom and quickly wiped out the zombies, and the necromancer boss dropped his shield.
"So, the rumor was true that Adventurers could resist the Mushroom Queen's control... I suppose Humanity might have a place after Lord Deathmaw conquers Eternia after all." The Necromancer rubbed its bony jaw. Brandon also thought it was hella cool that the NPCs responded to unique actions the players took. "I suppose we might find out what makes adventurers so different from other humans by performing a few experiments. I hope you all don't mind." It chuckled.
"Sorry to tell you, but you won't be leaving this cave dead or alive, necromancer!" Brandon righteously shouted. "Ritual of Blood!"
He pulled out a Life Mushroom from his inventory while holding his voodoo doll in his other hand. The mushroom was eaten quickly. It tasted strangely meaty and temporarily tripled his health. "Friends on the Other Side!" Numerous dark shadows fled like a pack of rats from Brandon's shadow.
They raced toward all of the zombies within the vicinity and hid within their shadows. "Cursed Fatal Strike!" Brandon took out a curved dagger and stabbed the straw doll. In an instant, the zombies collapsed to the ground deader than before, while Brandon lost half of his health. All of their experience flowed into him, and he leveled up.
"Haha! This is so fun! In what other game could a healer solo a group of monsters on their own!? World of Eternia, I love you!" Brandon crazily laughed.
Friends on the Other Side affected both allies and enemies with the unique status effect, cursed. Cursed Fatal Strike was an active skill that halved Brandon's own health at the cost of doing multiplied damage to enemies debuffed with cursed. It multiplied his mind and magic stat together for an outrageous amount of damage. This skill would be considered broken if it wasn't for the long cooldown of the skill itself, the cooldown on health/recovery potions, and most bosses had high resistance to the cursed debuff. Brandon took it as a balancing thing since it did do outrageous damage, even at the first skill level.
Brandon's fighting style relied on cursing his enemies first before spamming his skills. Cursed One was an advancement path focused on debuffing the enemy to support your allies. Of course, he could still give buffs and heals to his teammates, but most of the Cursed One's skills were around debuffs and taking advantage of debuffed enemies. Brandon particularly loved weakening his enemies till they were putty in his hands.
"You must be the annoying fly that has been messing with my belongings..." A robed figure sat within a cave with their back turned to Brandon.
"Necromancer, for what reason are you causing trouble in Salona? This is Humanity's territory!" Brandon righteously shouted.
"Humanity?" It chuckled. "The Mushroom Queen has already conquered humanity. I'm simply sowing seeds on behalf of my lord for our eventual battle to the death with the Mushroom Kingdom. Only one race will be able to rule over Eternia, and I'm not sorry to say that Humanity will be the first to fall." It stood up and laughed as purple magic gathered around its body.
Brandon placed his arm in front of his eyes and blocked the flying dust and stones blowing. He thought that this necromancer had such a cool boss animation! As the boss battle began inside some dark but spacious cave, several zombies started rising from underneath the ground. The necromancer stared at him, floating in the air with a purple barrier around him.
Just to test it, Brandon tossed one of his sacrificial knives at the shield. It bounced off without a single point of damage as the word Invulnerable popped up above its head. It was a sort of gaming knowledge 101 thing where if the boss was unable to be hurt and there were a bunch of minions around. You had to kill the minions first before you could damage the boss.
"Friends on the Other Side!"
"Spirit Possession!"
When Brandon had all the zombies cursed, they suddenly started to attack each other from the skill Spirit Possession. Now that Brandon had a second to breathe, he took out a mushroom without shame. Sure, he wasn't struggling yet in the boss fight, but Brandon didn't care at all about having a challenging gaming experience. Brandon cared about having a fun gaming experience! And what he considered fun was absolutely obliterating the enemies! Brandon ate the mushroom and quickly wiped out the zombies, and the necromancer boss dropped his shield.
"So, the rumor was true that Adventurers could resist the Mushroom Queen's control... I suppose Humanity might have a place after Lord Deathmaw conquers Eternia after all." The Necromancer rubbed its bony jaw. Brandon also thought it was hella cool that the NPCs responded to unique actions the players took. "I suppose we might find out what makes adventurers so different from other humans by performing a few experiments. I hope you all don't mind." It chuckled.
"Sorry to tell you, but you won't be leaving this cave dead or alive, necromancer!" Brandon righteously shouted. "Ritual of Blood!"
Chapter 10 World 2: Brandon's Worries.
Brandon stabbed himself across the chest with his dagger with a mad look on his face. A dull ache spread from the visceral wound. His blood magically flowed into the ground underneath him, forming a complex ritual circle made of blood. Friends on the Other Side would give him and any allies a buff, but it would come at the cost of his health. Depending on the rank of his skill and how much health he chooses to sacrifice will determine how big a buff will be given.
Brandon sacrificed 75% of his health for a massive damage buff. Physical damage, magical damage, critical damage, and skill damage. There wasn't a single attack of his that wouldn't do a crazy amount of damage right now! Although, if he took a hit or two, it would be game over right here and now.
"Forbidden Curse!" Brandon refused to let that happen, though.
A black spiraling mass of cursed spells formed into a ball in front of Brandon's hand. With a flex of his hand, the spell shot forward and landed directly on the necromancer's body. An eruption of curses exploded when it made contact with the necromancer's body. It shrieked in horrific pain as its body was wracked with a multitude of debuffs. The effects would be worse if it weren't an undead that had a natural resistance to most debuffs.
Before the boss could enter its berserk form or start fighting for its life like they usually do when they're low on health, Brandon spammed more spells. Curses and skills flowed out of him as if he had infinite mana, but he was actually stealing the necromancer's health and mana through one of his skills combined with downing potions. Rather than describing this as a boss fight, it was easier to say it was one-sided bullying.
Brandon ate the Ultra Mushroom before starting the boss fight. Despite its name, its effects were more normal than it sounded. The Ultra Mushroom simply gave him an overall buff in all stats. His Mind, Body, and Magic stats were doubled. This power-up, combined with the skill Ritual of Blood, grew his strength to crazy numbers. Because of that, Brandon only took a few moments to decimate the quest's boss and loot his goodies.
The loot wasn't the only thing he gained, though. Brandon also leveled up and received another achievement. Boss Slayer II was the name of the achievement and was given to him for defeating ten bosses all by himself. Boss Slayer I gave him a skill that increased his damage to boss entities by 25%. The second advancement ranked up that initial skill and allowed him to do a 50% increase in damage to all bosses.
Outside of that, they divided the drops into two piles, one for usage and one for selling. There was a staff that would make any other Cursed One smile with glee and dance around like a little girl but was useless to him on the account of his mythic voodoo doll. It was a growth weapon that was suited perfectly for him. He was really thankful to the Mushroom Queen. If he could help it, he would never destroy her for drastically improving his life both inside and outside the gaming world. Brandon didn't care if she was just a bunch of ones and zeroes in a video game. He was just a bunch of cells stuffed into a fleshy bag of meat and liquids. They weren't so different in his mind.
Brandon left the boss's cave decked out in scary black robes that boosted his skills, Magic stat, and Mind stat. As he made his way back to the duke's castle, he started to think. Was it possible that the duke sent him out on this quest to kill him? While Brandon knew he had a great reputation among NPCs for completing seemingly impossible quests and surviving where others have died, did that paint a bounty on his head? There was no way an important boss like the Duke would try to kill him, was there?
Brandon was a little worried. Were they about to reach the finale of the first expansion so soon? There was even a time limit of half a year for this quest! He didn't even know where to start to begin looking for evidence of the duke's crimes! He needed help and knew the best person to find when he was lost. Instead of returning to the Duke, Brandon made his way to the capital, where King Avery's army was stationed.
Brandon sacrificed 75% of his health for a massive damage buff. Physical damage, magical damage, critical damage, and skill damage. There wasn't a single attack of his that wouldn't do a crazy amount of damage right now! Although, if he took a hit or two, it would be game over right here and now.
"Forbidden Curse!" Brandon refused to let that happen, though.
A black spiraling mass of cursed spells formed into a ball in front of Brandon's hand. With a flex of his hand, the spell shot forward and landed directly on the necromancer's body. An eruption of curses exploded when it made contact with the necromancer's body. It shrieked in horrific pain as its body was wracked with a multitude of debuffs. The effects would be worse if it weren't an undead that had a natural resistance to most debuffs.
Before the boss could enter its berserk form or start fighting for its life like they usually do when they're low on health, Brandon spammed more spells. Curses and skills flowed out of him as if he had infinite mana, but he was actually stealing the necromancer's health and mana through one of his skills combined with downing potions. Rather than describing this as a boss fight, it was easier to say it was one-sided bullying.
Brandon ate the Ultra Mushroom before starting the boss fight. Despite its name, its effects were more normal than it sounded. The Ultra Mushroom simply gave him an overall buff in all stats. His Mind, Body, and Magic stats were doubled. This power-up, combined with the skill Ritual of Blood, grew his strength to crazy numbers. Because of that, Brandon only took a few moments to decimate the quest's boss and loot his goodies.
The loot wasn't the only thing he gained, though. Brandon also leveled up and received another achievement. Boss Slayer II was the name of the achievement and was given to him for defeating ten bosses all by himself. Boss Slayer I gave him a skill that increased his damage to boss entities by 25%. The second advancement ranked up that initial skill and allowed him to do a 50% increase in damage to all bosses.
Outside of that, they divided the drops into two piles, one for usage and one for selling. There was a staff that would make any other Cursed One smile with glee and dance around like a little girl but was useless to him on the account of his mythic voodoo doll. It was a growth weapon that was suited perfectly for him. He was really thankful to the Mushroom Queen. If he could help it, he would never destroy her for drastically improving his life both inside and outside the gaming world. Brandon didn't care if she was just a bunch of ones and zeroes in a video game. He was just a bunch of cells stuffed into a fleshy bag of meat and liquids. They weren't so different in his mind.
Brandon left the boss's cave decked out in scary black robes that boosted his skills, Magic stat, and Mind stat. As he made his way back to the duke's castle, he started to think. Was it possible that the duke sent him out on this quest to kill him? While Brandon knew he had a great reputation among NPCs for completing seemingly impossible quests and surviving where others have died, did that paint a bounty on his head? There was no way an important boss like the Duke would try to kill him, was there?
[Quest Updated!]
[You've found out the true reason Duke Gaul sent you out on this impossible task! Duke Gaul considered you a significant threat regarding your future potential. The Mushroom Queen tasked him to weaken Humanity's forces from the inside! Cursed Hero! It is up to you to find evidence of the Duke's traitorous actions and report it to the King! Quickly! It's up to you to quickly find evidence of the Duke's traitorous actions, or all might be lost for Humanity!]
[Rewards: Dukedom, massive experience points, massive reputation points, and the achievement: Hero of Humanity!]
[Failure: Slavery, Torture, Death, or Experimentation.]
[You've found out the true reason Duke Gaul sent you out on this impossible task! Duke Gaul considered you a significant threat regarding your future potential. The Mushroom Queen tasked him to weaken Humanity's forces from the inside! Cursed Hero! It is up to you to find evidence of the Duke's traitorous actions and report it to the King! Quickly! It's up to you to quickly find evidence of the Duke's traitorous actions, or all might be lost for Humanity!]
[Rewards: Dukedom, massive experience points, massive reputation points, and the achievement: Hero of Humanity!]
[Failure: Slavery, Torture, Death, or Experimentation.]
Brandon was a little worried. Were they about to reach the finale of the first expansion so soon? There was even a time limit of half a year for this quest! He didn't even know where to start to begin looking for evidence of the duke's crimes! He needed help and knew the best person to find when he was lost. Instead of returning to the Duke, Brandon made his way to the capital, where King Avery's army was stationed.
Chapter 11 World 2: A Casual Player's Fun.
Myena looked up at the tower of giantized fungi and lush vegetation as she made her way to the Mushroom Kingdom. Myena adjusted her cosmetic glasses when she made it to the mushroom gate guarded by two giant mushroom golems. Not golems made of mushrooms, but golems covered in various mushrooms. They could squish her with just their pinkies if they chose to. Monsters that were over level 100 would be a devastating enemy for any players or NPCs to face.
Mushroom Golems had no weakness. All of their points were put into the Body stat, which meant it took forever to kill them, and usually, their enemies died in one hit. However, the trade-off for no weaknesses and being nearly unkillable was that they were mindless creatures and incredibly slow for the most part. They could follow very simple orders from those they recognized as superior or ordered to obey. Although it would've been a huge secret about the mindless nature of the mushroom golems, Players couldn't help but blab about everything they found in-game.
Myena was no different, as the mushroom golems allowed her into the Mushroom Kingdom. She was a player who chose to join the Mushroom Queen after eating her mushroom. Her eyes still lit up in wonder as she looked around in this enchanting, wondrous city. Modern-like buildings made out of mushrooms, creatures of all shapes and sizes happily socializing with one another, and surprisingly enough. Plenty of restaurants and food places that weren't serving mushrooms!
It turns out that even after eating the mushroom and gaining immense buffs from it, the mushroom people still need to eat. Myena looked up to see a group of flying pixies sprinkling about, showering the people and buildings in magic dust. Those pixies were employed to do that to keep the mushrooms around the kingdom healthy and fed. When coming in contact with Players, they receive a temporary 24-hour buff. It was why several Players were following the pixies like a group of drug addicts hunting for their next fix. They jumped on buildings, ran at full speed, and used skills, all just to receive a minor buff to stats. 1% increase to their Body, Mind, and Magic stat. After getting the buff, people began traveling to the Kingdom's Square in order to look for parties to hunt with or were on their way to leave to start hunting.
Although one of the debuffs to becoming part of the Mushroom faction was eternal servitude to the queen and forced missions, that didn't mean all of their time was taken up by the Mushroom Queen. Players were exceptional creatures who learned to adapt. While they couldn't hunt any mushroom monsters or monsters controlled by the Mushroom Queen, they certainly could hunt beings from the other factions with no problems. This included humans and players who weren't part of the mushroom faction, those from the undead faction, regular monsters, the elf faction, the dwarf faction, etc.
Players that racked up enough achievements in weakening other races would be given special missions from the Mushroom Queen or one of her Three War Generals. Flash the Bunny, Mother-Daughter Doe, and Combat God. Myena wasn't a serious player who focused all of her time leveling up and hunting monsters. She was more of a casual gamer who simply loved to experience all of that which was World of Eternia. If the regular player was the type to have fun killing monsters and acting like a hero in a world of fantasy. Myena was the type who had more fun interacting with the NPCs, exploring the fantastical landscape of the world, and mastering her current job. A small smile appeared on her face as she headed into the Queen's mushroom palace.
It was the largest and most defended structure in the game! Myena was absolutely confident that the Mushroom Queen was the final boss of World of Eternia. Although it was a huge, luxurious place perfectly fitting for someone who calls themselves a queen, it wasn't Myena's first time in the palace. She traveled through the complicated corridors like a veteran and eventually made her way outside of a metallic door.
As she neared the door to open it, it suddenly opened inward for her to step in. Myena retracted her outstretched hand and walked in while adjusting her glasses. She looked down at the tiny monster behind the desk looking up at her. He gave her a stern look as he gestured with his hand. Myena controlled herself to prevent herself from screaming about how cute he was.
"Yes, sir. Here are the results of my investigation after acting as a spy in Salona." Myena handed her boss the results of her spy work.
He flipped through the journal patiently without a change in expression on his face. Myena stood there quietly as her boss appraised her work. She worked for the Combat God. A monster who, surprisingly enough, came to recruit her after seeing how she did such a good job working as a flower shop apprentice in the city. He frequently visited the flower shop for reasons unknown to Myena, but she suspected he had a crush on the shop owner, a female monster that looked like a humanoid snail.
After several minutes of uncomfortable silence, Myena finally got judged for her work. "Well done, Myena." He told her in his super cute, high-pitched voice. Myena inwardly gushed in pleasure as she was rewarded with levels and an achievement. She was already recording when she walked in because she could never have enough videos of Combat God, and hearing him directly call her in-game name was a whole nother thing entirely! "To think those stupid humans believe they have a chance against us by making an alliance with the Elves and Dwarfs. It may be pointless in the end, but at least this way, they prevented themselves from being wiped out in the war first." He chuckled. Myena kept quiet as she recorded all of this for later.
"Spy. You've done something that I thought was impossible for you, but against all odds, you've succeeded with your ability to blend in with those around you flawlessly. To think you could gather all of this information by simply working as a flower shop owner... I'm amazed at your talent or amazed by Humanity's stupidity. My pride wouldn't allow me to let you leave without a reward so, what do you want? Name anything, and I'll grant it to you."
"Sir, my only wish is to continue serving you for the rest of my life." Myena honestly told him.
To say Combat God was flabbergasted was an understatement. The toddler-sized mushroom monster fell out of his chair in shock before quickly hopping back up and staring at her in suspicion. "Nothing at all?" His gaze was piercing, but Myena only felt flustered by his stare. "Serving you is one of my greatest joys in life." Myena wasn't lying.
"..." He tried to get her to break under his stare, but only her cheeks reddened further.
Myena nearly fainted out of pure ecstasy when she learned the Combat God's name was Shroomy. Myena received another achievement called Shroomy's Most Trusted Human. She got a large boost to her stats. A passive skill called Loyalty that increased all of her stats when working alongside comrades in the same faction as her and a boost to experience gained when with those comrades. And a tiny silver mushroom cap that was the exact same as the top of Shroomy's head. A rare cosmetic that gave stat boosts to Body and increased the rank of her Body skills by two. Most cosmetics didn't give any boosts at all since they were purely for looks. Not even by dumping real-life money could someone buy cosmetics with stats or effects.
"Take this." Shroomy ripped off the top of his head and tossed it at her. It should give you a small portion of my power." He no longer made eye contact with her as his cap grew back in seconds. It was like liquid metal.
"Thank you, my Lord." Myena bowed as she would treasure this hat for the rest of her life.
"You may leave. I'll contact you again when I have another task for you. For now, rest. You've done the kingdom good work."
"It's my duty." Myena left with a huge smile on her face.
Mushroom Golems had no weakness. All of their points were put into the Body stat, which meant it took forever to kill them, and usually, their enemies died in one hit. However, the trade-off for no weaknesses and being nearly unkillable was that they were mindless creatures and incredibly slow for the most part. They could follow very simple orders from those they recognized as superior or ordered to obey. Although it would've been a huge secret about the mindless nature of the mushroom golems, Players couldn't help but blab about everything they found in-game.
Myena was no different, as the mushroom golems allowed her into the Mushroom Kingdom. She was a player who chose to join the Mushroom Queen after eating her mushroom. Her eyes still lit up in wonder as she looked around in this enchanting, wondrous city. Modern-like buildings made out of mushrooms, creatures of all shapes and sizes happily socializing with one another, and surprisingly enough. Plenty of restaurants and food places that weren't serving mushrooms!
It turns out that even after eating the mushroom and gaining immense buffs from it, the mushroom people still need to eat. Myena looked up to see a group of flying pixies sprinkling about, showering the people and buildings in magic dust. Those pixies were employed to do that to keep the mushrooms around the kingdom healthy and fed. When coming in contact with Players, they receive a temporary 24-hour buff. It was why several Players were following the pixies like a group of drug addicts hunting for their next fix. They jumped on buildings, ran at full speed, and used skills, all just to receive a minor buff to stats. 1% increase to their Body, Mind, and Magic stat. After getting the buff, people began traveling to the Kingdom's Square in order to look for parties to hunt with or were on their way to leave to start hunting.
Although one of the debuffs to becoming part of the Mushroom faction was eternal servitude to the queen and forced missions, that didn't mean all of their time was taken up by the Mushroom Queen. Players were exceptional creatures who learned to adapt. While they couldn't hunt any mushroom monsters or monsters controlled by the Mushroom Queen, they certainly could hunt beings from the other factions with no problems. This included humans and players who weren't part of the mushroom faction, those from the undead faction, regular monsters, the elf faction, the dwarf faction, etc.
Players that racked up enough achievements in weakening other races would be given special missions from the Mushroom Queen or one of her Three War Generals. Flash the Bunny, Mother-Daughter Doe, and Combat God. Myena wasn't a serious player who focused all of her time leveling up and hunting monsters. She was more of a casual gamer who simply loved to experience all of that which was World of Eternia. If the regular player was the type to have fun killing monsters and acting like a hero in a world of fantasy. Myena was the type who had more fun interacting with the NPCs, exploring the fantastical landscape of the world, and mastering her current job. A small smile appeared on her face as she headed into the Queen's mushroom palace.
It was the largest and most defended structure in the game! Myena was absolutely confident that the Mushroom Queen was the final boss of World of Eternia. Although it was a huge, luxurious place perfectly fitting for someone who calls themselves a queen, it wasn't Myena's first time in the palace. She traveled through the complicated corridors like a veteran and eventually made her way outside of a metallic door.
As she neared the door to open it, it suddenly opened inward for her to step in. Myena retracted her outstretched hand and walked in while adjusting her glasses. She looked down at the tiny monster behind the desk looking up at her. He gave her a stern look as he gestured with his hand. Myena controlled herself to prevent herself from screaming about how cute he was.
"Yes, sir. Here are the results of my investigation after acting as a spy in Salona." Myena handed her boss the results of her spy work.
He flipped through the journal patiently without a change in expression on his face. Myena stood there quietly as her boss appraised her work. She worked for the Combat God. A monster who, surprisingly enough, came to recruit her after seeing how she did such a good job working as a flower shop apprentice in the city. He frequently visited the flower shop for reasons unknown to Myena, but she suspected he had a crush on the shop owner, a female monster that looked like a humanoid snail.
After several minutes of uncomfortable silence, Myena finally got judged for her work. "Well done, Myena." He told her in his super cute, high-pitched voice. Myena inwardly gushed in pleasure as she was rewarded with levels and an achievement. She was already recording when she walked in because she could never have enough videos of Combat God, and hearing him directly call her in-game name was a whole nother thing entirely! "To think those stupid humans believe they have a chance against us by making an alliance with the Elves and Dwarfs. It may be pointless in the end, but at least this way, they prevented themselves from being wiped out in the war first." He chuckled. Myena kept quiet as she recorded all of this for later.
"Spy. You've done something that I thought was impossible for you, but against all odds, you've succeeded with your ability to blend in with those around you flawlessly. To think you could gather all of this information by simply working as a flower shop owner... I'm amazed at your talent or amazed by Humanity's stupidity. My pride wouldn't allow me to let you leave without a reward so, what do you want? Name anything, and I'll grant it to you."
"Sir, my only wish is to continue serving you for the rest of my life." Myena honestly told him.
To say Combat God was flabbergasted was an understatement. The toddler-sized mushroom monster fell out of his chair in shock before quickly hopping back up and staring at her in suspicion. "Nothing at all?" His gaze was piercing, but Myena only felt flustered by his stare. "Serving you is one of my greatest joys in life." Myena wasn't lying.
"..." He tried to get her to break under his stare, but only her cheeks reddened further.
Myena nearly fainted out of pure ecstasy when she learned the Combat God's name was Shroomy. Myena received another achievement called Shroomy's Most Trusted Human. She got a large boost to her stats. A passive skill called Loyalty that increased all of her stats when working alongside comrades in the same faction as her and a boost to experience gained when with those comrades. And a tiny silver mushroom cap that was the exact same as the top of Shroomy's head. A rare cosmetic that gave stat boosts to Body and increased the rank of her Body skills by two. Most cosmetics didn't give any boosts at all since they were purely for looks. Not even by dumping real-life money could someone buy cosmetics with stats or effects.
"Take this." Shroomy ripped off the top of his head and tossed it at her. It should give you a small portion of my power." He no longer made eye contact with her as his cap grew back in seconds. It was like liquid metal.
"Thank you, my Lord." Myena bowed as she would treasure this hat for the rest of her life.
"You may leave. I'll contact you again when I have another task for you. For now, rest. You've done the kingdom good work."
"It's my duty." Myena left with a huge smile on her face.
Chapter 12 World 2: Ambush?!
As Brandon made his way toward Humanity's capital, he couldn't help but wish he had some sort of mount or fast travel system. He didn't really wanna waste a mushroom just to get somewhere quicker. There were multiple travel systems in the game, but he couldn't access any of them out in the middle of nowhere. While he gathered a lot of the Mushroom Queen's mushrooms, he still didn't want to waste them just because. He had zero chance of gathering any more from her like he did when she was harmless. If he tried that shit now, she'd destroy him in an instant.
He's seen videos of players in the mushroom faction being killed in one hit by her when acting out in her presence. It didn't matter what class they were, what level they were, what skills they used, or what kind of equipment they had. Death in one hit, no exception. And when they died from the Mushroom Queen personally, they were evicted from the Mushroom Faction entirely when they could respawn. Completely factionless, excluding the natural faction of the race they're playing as. There was no natural mushroom race. So, if someone died from the Mushroom Queen and if they wanted to rejoin the faction, they would need to find another mushroom to eat to get the prompt to join her faction once again. An easy task, considering it was the Mushroom Queen's goal to rule the world or something. If you showed up at her kingdom, you would be offered to join or die.
So, yeah, getting a crazy amount of mushrooms from the Mushroom Queen was not an avenue he could explore. Which meant it was the thrifty life for this Cursed Hero. Save, save, save! He decided that he should only be using mushrooms for boss fights or when he was about to die. As Brandon stepped into the lush greenery, the air seemed to have shifted. The first sign of trouble came as a hail of arrows rained down from the trees. Swiftly, Brandon rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly projectiles. Bandits, wearing full masks, emerged from their concealed positions while laughing and giggling. Brandon looked at their statuses with a quick glance.
Before Brandon could even get the chance to process the statuses of these guys, the ground erupted underneath him. He leaped into the air to prevent himself from being trapped underneath the earth, only for Bandit 2 to sprout wings and a large dangerous bee stinger from behind him. When the alleged bandit flew up to meet him, he turned around to stab him front to back with that sharp, long stinger of his. It also allowed Brandon to see that it formed above the anus and not between the cheeks. Do not ask him why he was looking at another man's ass. Any real gamer would analyze their enemies closely.
Brandon used his dagger with high rarity to block the stinger. Its durability was directly damaged, but he managed to escape unharmed from the attack as he came crashing back down to the ground below. Just in time for a high-quality sword to swing at him from behind. Brandon couldn't help but smile as he swiftly turned and blocked with his dagger, lowering its durability even more. Bandit 4 kicked him away, chipping at his health.
He didn't understand what the hell was going on, but this was fun as hell! A sudden quest to take out some suspiciously skilled bandits using abilities known to be granted by eating the Mushroom Queen's mushrooms. He definitely had to complete this quest and capture these guys! They might even help with his quest with Duke Gaul! "Friends on the Other Side!" Brandon's voice echoed through the forest, carrying an eerie resonance. As the incantation left his lips, the atmosphere shifted, and shadows detached themselves from his silhouette. The darkness coalesced into a swirling mass. The dark entities, reminiscent of restless spirits, emerged like a chaotic congregation. They skittered and slithered, their movements unpredictable and unnerving. Some resembled ghostly figures, while others took the form of amorphous shadows with malevolent glints in their nonexistent eyes.
These otherworldly specters obeyed Brandon's call. They sought out their designated targets. The shadows darted toward the bandits. As they merged with the bandits' shadows, they were now able to be affected by Brandon's more class-specific skills. Yet, to activate this crucial skill, Brandon had to reveal an opening. An opening that these well-trained bandit knights were more than smart enough to take advantage of. Bandit 3 transformed into a spring human, rocketing toward Brandon and sinking his fist into Brandon's gut. As a squishy sub-healer class, Brandon lost a lot of health with that one punch.
A bandit made out of pure gold stood over Brandon's prone figure. "Why are you grinning?" Bandit 5 questioned. At this question, Brandon couldn't help but bust out laughing. "God, I love World of Eternia. I really do…" Brandon looked up at the bright sun as he was surrounded on all sides by the bandits with the knight job and were part of the mushroom faction. "Before I subdue you all, do you mind telling me who put you up to this?" Brandon asked.
"He's gone mad." Bandit 1 scoffed.
"Quiet." Bandit 4 ordered. "We know you Adventurers don't fear death. However, the Queen has taken this information into account. You may not fear death, but you do fear imprisonment." He grinned.
"That's right. Nothing kills an Adventurer faster than boredom." Brandon had to admit, the NPCs in this game were pretty damn smart.
But then again, when players willingly did suicidal things in front of NPCs all the time, they would eventually catch on to how to deal with them.
"I hope you had your fun, Cursed Hero. You shall not be the hope on which the human race relies on to survive." Bandit 5 and the others moved in to put him in restraints.
"My fun has only just started." Brandon raised his voodoo doll as he channeled his dark magic. "Spirit Possession!"
He's seen videos of players in the mushroom faction being killed in one hit by her when acting out in her presence. It didn't matter what class they were, what level they were, what skills they used, or what kind of equipment they had. Death in one hit, no exception. And when they died from the Mushroom Queen personally, they were evicted from the Mushroom Faction entirely when they could respawn. Completely factionless, excluding the natural faction of the race they're playing as. There was no natural mushroom race. So, if someone died from the Mushroom Queen and if they wanted to rejoin the faction, they would need to find another mushroom to eat to get the prompt to join her faction once again. An easy task, considering it was the Mushroom Queen's goal to rule the world or something. If you showed up at her kingdom, you would be offered to join or die.
So, yeah, getting a crazy amount of mushrooms from the Mushroom Queen was not an avenue he could explore. Which meant it was the thrifty life for this Cursed Hero. Save, save, save! He decided that he should only be using mushrooms for boss fights or when he was about to die. As Brandon stepped into the lush greenery, the air seemed to have shifted. The first sign of trouble came as a hail of arrows rained down from the trees. Swiftly, Brandon rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly projectiles. Bandits, wearing full masks, emerged from their concealed positions while laughing and giggling. Brandon looked at their statuses with a quick glance.
Name: Bandit 1
Level: 50
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Knight
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Name: Bandit 2
Level: 55
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Knight
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Name: Bandit 3
Level: 60
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Knight
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Name: Bandit 4
Level: 75
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Knight
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Name: Bandit 5
Level: 70
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Knight
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Level: 50
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Knight
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Name: Bandit 2
Level: 55
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Knight
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Name: Bandit 3
Level: 60
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Knight
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Name: Bandit 4
Level: 75
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Knight
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Name: Bandit 5
Level: 70
Race: Mushroom Human
Job: Knight
Health: ???
Magic: ???
Stamina 100/100
Skills: ???
Before Brandon could even get the chance to process the statuses of these guys, the ground erupted underneath him. He leaped into the air to prevent himself from being trapped underneath the earth, only for Bandit 2 to sprout wings and a large dangerous bee stinger from behind him. When the alleged bandit flew up to meet him, he turned around to stab him front to back with that sharp, long stinger of his. It also allowed Brandon to see that it formed above the anus and not between the cheeks. Do not ask him why he was looking at another man's ass. Any real gamer would analyze their enemies closely.
Brandon used his dagger with high rarity to block the stinger. Its durability was directly damaged, but he managed to escape unharmed from the attack as he came crashing back down to the ground below. Just in time for a high-quality sword to swing at him from behind. Brandon couldn't help but smile as he swiftly turned and blocked with his dagger, lowering its durability even more. Bandit 4 kicked him away, chipping at his health.
He didn't understand what the hell was going on, but this was fun as hell! A sudden quest to take out some suspiciously skilled bandits using abilities known to be granted by eating the Mushroom Queen's mushrooms. He definitely had to complete this quest and capture these guys! They might even help with his quest with Duke Gaul! "Friends on the Other Side!" Brandon's voice echoed through the forest, carrying an eerie resonance. As the incantation left his lips, the atmosphere shifted, and shadows detached themselves from his silhouette. The darkness coalesced into a swirling mass. The dark entities, reminiscent of restless spirits, emerged like a chaotic congregation. They skittered and slithered, their movements unpredictable and unnerving. Some resembled ghostly figures, while others took the form of amorphous shadows with malevolent glints in their nonexistent eyes.
These otherworldly specters obeyed Brandon's call. They sought out their designated targets. The shadows darted toward the bandits. As they merged with the bandits' shadows, they were now able to be affected by Brandon's more class-specific skills. Yet, to activate this crucial skill, Brandon had to reveal an opening. An opening that these well-trained bandit knights were more than smart enough to take advantage of. Bandit 3 transformed into a spring human, rocketing toward Brandon and sinking his fist into Brandon's gut. As a squishy sub-healer class, Brandon lost a lot of health with that one punch.
A bandit made out of pure gold stood over Brandon's prone figure. "Why are you grinning?" Bandit 5 questioned. At this question, Brandon couldn't help but bust out laughing. "God, I love World of Eternia. I really do…" Brandon looked up at the bright sun as he was surrounded on all sides by the bandits with the knight job and were part of the mushroom faction. "Before I subdue you all, do you mind telling me who put you up to this?" Brandon asked.
"He's gone mad." Bandit 1 scoffed.
"Quiet." Bandit 4 ordered. "We know you Adventurers don't fear death. However, the Queen has taken this information into account. You may not fear death, but you do fear imprisonment." He grinned.
"That's right. Nothing kills an Adventurer faster than boredom." Brandon had to admit, the NPCs in this game were pretty damn smart.
But then again, when players willingly did suicidal things in front of NPCs all the time, they would eventually catch on to how to deal with them.
"I hope you had your fun, Cursed Hero. You shall not be the hope on which the human race relies on to survive." Bandit 5 and the others moved in to put him in restraints.
"My fun has only just started." Brandon raised his voodoo doll as he channeled his dark magic. "Spirit Possession!"
Chapter 13 World 2: A Gamer Gaming!
The bandits found themselves under the confused debuff with the dark magic of Spirit Possession weaving through their bodies. The ethereal influence cast a veil of disorientation over their senses, turning allies into adversaries. The once-coordinated band of Mushroom Human bandits now attacked each other as the person in front of them was Brandon. Seizing the opportune moment, Brandon lazily reached into his inventory and retrieved a mushroom. He bit into the savory fungi with practiced ease, savoring its taste as the unique blend of flavors cascaded over his senses. As he munched down on the mushroom, a surge of power coursed through him, sharpening his focus and increasing his speed.
Meanwhile, the bandits, entrapped in the confusion status buff, unwittingly turned on each other. A chaotic melee erupted as Mushroom Human bandit knights clashed in a frenzy. Swords clashed against shields, and bewildered allies grappled with one another. The forest echoed with the sounds of combat, punctuated by confused shouts and the clattering of weaponry. Amidst the melee, Brandon, now boosted by the mushroom's effects, observed the pandemonium he had created. The bandits, once a formidable united force, were now entangled in their own internal battle. It was a strategic advantage he intended to exploit.
As the bandits battled each other, Brandon moved with calculated precision, weaving through the chaotic skirmish. He exploited the openings created by their skirmish, landing precise critical strikes with his dagger and utilizing his dark magic to weaken them further. The forest became a stage for dark magic and chaos, and Brandon, the Cursed Hero, had trouble holding himself back.
It was his first time actively attempting to capture an enemy in the game. With all of his skills that focused around debuffing the enemy, you'd think it'd be easier to subdue these enemies, but these guys weren't no joke. After the confused debuff wore off, they formed up into a formation that made it incredibly difficult for Brandon to land a hit without suffering a blow in return. Even after eating the Golden Super Mushroom, which increased his speed greatly, they just turtled up!
Brandon nearly lost his mind when he saw them downing potions to recover their health and mana. NPCs weren't supposed to use items! What the hell is this?! They even grinned at him when they saw his dumbfounded expression. "The Queen has shared with us tactics to help survive against Adventurers like you. She is aware that Adventurers are capable of resisting her mushrooms even after eating them. But we know more about our abilities than you Adventurers ever will! So, come on, Brandon, the Cursed Hero! We prepared greatly for this ambush. You shall fall here."
The battle restarted, and Brandon took on the five mushroom humans with a mad grin on his face. Adaptive hostile enemies, it was truly amazing. They were learning as they fought against Brandon. As he showed off all of the skills in his arsenal, they learned and strategized against it. They protected each other and followed up on each other's attacks, giving Brandon little to no room at all to defend or react.
"Hahahaha! This is so much fun!" Brandon couldn't believe it.
World of Eternia was the greatest game in the world, and he loved it. He loved every aspect of it. Even as he was pushed to his absolute limit inside his gaming pod, he never felt more alive than he did right now. In this second life of his as a hero for humanity. Everything was so realistic but, at the same time, so fantastical and magical. The sweat running down his face that sometimes forced him to blink in the heat of this battle, the way that the enemy NPCs realistically responded to wounds targeting their body by gripping that part after being hit, and just the way they were changing their tactics and learning by watching him play!
"God, I love it!!! This is heaven!" Brandon brandished his knife before stabbing it into his heart.
Five bodies fell to the ground. Brandon and Bandit 1-4. Brandon's health points reached zero. The game over screen briefly popped up but just as it was about to appear in the center of his screen, a purple shadow hand tightly gripped it and crushed it to pieces. "You haven't repaid your debt to me. You cannot die." Brandon's soul was tossed back into his body by the one who gave him his dark magic.
He slowly rose from the ground, staring at the golden bandit. "I heard rumors of Cursed Ones being able to return from the dead, but to think that those legends were true…" Bandit 5 was stunned. "It is all the more imperative that I capture you. The Mushroom Queen shall rule all and conquer all!" He charged.
"Humanity's will to survive shall never die!" Brandon couldn't help but retort as he downed a Life Mushroom, tripling his health.
Meanwhile, the bandits, entrapped in the confusion status buff, unwittingly turned on each other. A chaotic melee erupted as Mushroom Human bandit knights clashed in a frenzy. Swords clashed against shields, and bewildered allies grappled with one another. The forest echoed with the sounds of combat, punctuated by confused shouts and the clattering of weaponry. Amidst the melee, Brandon, now boosted by the mushroom's effects, observed the pandemonium he had created. The bandits, once a formidable united force, were now entangled in their own internal battle. It was a strategic advantage he intended to exploit.
As the bandits battled each other, Brandon moved with calculated precision, weaving through the chaotic skirmish. He exploited the openings created by their skirmish, landing precise critical strikes with his dagger and utilizing his dark magic to weaken them further. The forest became a stage for dark magic and chaos, and Brandon, the Cursed Hero, had trouble holding himself back.
It was his first time actively attempting to capture an enemy in the game. With all of his skills that focused around debuffing the enemy, you'd think it'd be easier to subdue these enemies, but these guys weren't no joke. After the confused debuff wore off, they formed up into a formation that made it incredibly difficult for Brandon to land a hit without suffering a blow in return. Even after eating the Golden Super Mushroom, which increased his speed greatly, they just turtled up!
Brandon nearly lost his mind when he saw them downing potions to recover their health and mana. NPCs weren't supposed to use items! What the hell is this?! They even grinned at him when they saw his dumbfounded expression. "The Queen has shared with us tactics to help survive against Adventurers like you. She is aware that Adventurers are capable of resisting her mushrooms even after eating them. But we know more about our abilities than you Adventurers ever will! So, come on, Brandon, the Cursed Hero! We prepared greatly for this ambush. You shall fall here."
The battle restarted, and Brandon took on the five mushroom humans with a mad grin on his face. Adaptive hostile enemies, it was truly amazing. They were learning as they fought against Brandon. As he showed off all of the skills in his arsenal, they learned and strategized against it. They protected each other and followed up on each other's attacks, giving Brandon little to no room at all to defend or react.
"Hahahaha! This is so much fun!" Brandon couldn't believe it.
World of Eternia was the greatest game in the world, and he loved it. He loved every aspect of it. Even as he was pushed to his absolute limit inside his gaming pod, he never felt more alive than he did right now. In this second life of his as a hero for humanity. Everything was so realistic but, at the same time, so fantastical and magical. The sweat running down his face that sometimes forced him to blink in the heat of this battle, the way that the enemy NPCs realistically responded to wounds targeting their body by gripping that part after being hit, and just the way they were changing their tactics and learning by watching him play!
"God, I love it!!! This is heaven!" Brandon brandished his knife before stabbing it into his heart.
Five bodies fell to the ground. Brandon and Bandit 1-4. Brandon's health points reached zero. The game over screen briefly popped up but just as it was about to appear in the center of his screen, a purple shadow hand tightly gripped it and crushed it to pieces. "You haven't repaid your debt to me. You cannot die." Brandon's soul was tossed back into his body by the one who gave him his dark magic.
He slowly rose from the ground, staring at the golden bandit. "I heard rumors of Cursed Ones being able to return from the dead, but to think that those legends were true…" Bandit 5 was stunned. "It is all the more imperative that I capture you. The Mushroom Queen shall rule all and conquer all!" He charged.
"Humanity's will to survive shall never die!" Brandon couldn't help but retort as he downed a Life Mushroom, tripling his health.
Chapter 14 World 2: A Global War!
Name: Doom
Level: Max
Race: Goddess Mushroom
Job: Royalty
Health: ??? (X100)
Magic: ??? (X100)
Stamina ??? (X100)
Skills: Budding* (X100), Bounce* (X100), Tackle* (X100), Control* (X100), Ruling* (X100), Fungal Magic* (X100), Spores* (X100), Tactics* (X100), Finance* (X100), Elegance* (X100), Eloquence* (X100), Warfare* (X100)
Body: ??? (X100)
Mind: ??? (X100)
Magic: ??? (X100)
SP: 999
Level: Max
Race: Goddess Mushroom
Job: Royalty
Health: ??? (X100)
Magic: ??? (X100)
Stamina ??? (X100)
Skills: Budding* (X100), Bounce* (X100), Tackle* (X100), Control* (X100), Ruling* (X100), Fungal Magic* (X100), Spores* (X100), Tactics* (X100), Finance* (X100), Elegance* (X100), Eloquence* (X100), Warfare* (X100)
Body: ??? (X100)
Mind: ??? (X100)
Magic: ??? (X100)
SP: 999
Doom had never left the comfort of her own birthplace after evolving into a higher-tier monster. After all, with the thousands of creatures that ate her mushrooms, there was no need to put herself at risk when she could have others do it for her. By watching them and learning from them, she grew to where she is now: an unstoppable being superior to anything on the planet- well, anything she's seen so far.
And Doom has seen a lot through the eyes of her beloved subjects. She saw the development of the secret weapon being crafted specifically to destroy her and those under the influence of her spores through the eyes of her dwarven children. Dwarven smiths, hidden away in the depths of their mountain strongholds, toiled tirelessly, crafting the ultimate weapon to their success. Being forged with ancient runes and infused with the essence of fire and ice, a weapon promised to be a formidable force against her kind. Through the ears of her human children, she knew of the whispers surrounding a secret alliance between the Elves, Dwarves, and Humans. The secret pact aimed to combine the unique strengths of each race – human adaptability, elven magic, and dwarven craftsmanship – into a formidable force capable of standing against the mushroom onslaught. Through the touch of her elven children, she could feel them mustering as many wildlife within forests all over Eternia. Gathering armies of magical creatures to help aid in the war effort.
Elves, attuned to nature in ways few could comprehend, sought the aid of the creatures dwelling in their ancient forests. Birds, beasts, and magical beings were rallied to join the war effort, harnessing their natural prowess to counteract the spread of spores. Under the leadership of the Elven Queen, the forests became a vast network of defenders, ready to repel the fungal incursion. However, the Elf Queen got too greedy. She sent birds as scouts to watch over Doom's ever-expanding kingdom.
Her children could identify those who were a part of her mycelial network by sense. It didn't take any investigation work. Simply being close enough to one another was good enough. When her soldiers spotted signs of life that weren't a part of their network, they swiftly sought to convert them or eliminate them with extreme prejudice. Considering the distance at which the birds usually watched over her kingdom, they shot them down with ranged weaponry. Doom wanted to capture and convert them to send back to add more eyes on the Elven Kingdom, but Sylvia refused to send any more birds to act as her eyes after the first group was eliminated.
The orcish war drums pounded in the distance, carrying the message of Warchief Gromrak the Slayer's determination to crush out the fungal invasion. Orcs, normally indifferent to the subtleties of alliances, forged a pact with humans who brought knowledge of the mushroom threat. Orc shamans delved into ancient rituals, seeking guidance from primal spirits to empower their warriors against the impending fungal invasion. Gromrak envisioned a sea of orcish strength that would trample the fungus underfoot.
Goblin Overlord Sprocket devised plans among plans to unleash goblin chaos upon the fungus-infested lands. Goblin inventors worked tirelessly in laboratories, constructing bizarre contraptions and war machines designed to exploit the weaknesses of the mushroom forces. The chaos, orchestrated by Sprocket, aimed to dismantle the mushrooms and any trace of their influence. Most of what Doom witnessed in these laboratories were not things that she understood, even with some of the goblins she controlled. She doubted, with the goblins' insanity, that they understood even half of what they were attempting to make.
Troll Warlord Grothak, with a roar that shook the mountains, commanded the trolls to smash and tear through the stupid mushrooms. Trolls, known for their raw strength and absurd regeneration, were strategically positioned to advance through fungal-infested territories. Grothak's plan involved coordinated strikes, exploiting the trolls' natural resilience to the spores and their brute force to crush the fungal blight. It was difficult for Doom's mushrooms to bypass the Troll's natural defenses. Not impossible, but certainly difficult.
Centaur Chieftain Swiftwind, leading his hooved warriors, aimed to blot out the sun with arrows of justice. Centaurs, with their unparalleled speed and archery skills, engaged in a series of hit-and-run tactics to disrupt the Mushroom Queen's forces. Swiftwind orchestrated a coordinated effort to pierce the heart of the fungal blight, ensuring that their arrows found their mark. The centaurs were certainly annoying but not enough of a threat that Doom considered them anything more than a nuisance.
Merfolk Queen Serenia, sensing the encroaching fungal corruption in her watery domain, marshaled her underwater forces. Merfolk warriors and powerful mages patrolled the depths and cleaned the seas of spore-infested creatures. According to Serenia's plan, the abyss would become a grave for Doom's spores, drowned beneath the might of the merfolk. For Doom, the merfolk were a pain. A small few of Doom's children could breathe underwater. Only a special few groups of her own race, those that did not need to breathe like the golems, and the small few merfolk she managed to get under her control. Doom chose to halt her expansion into the ocean. As of now, she would only be putting herself at a loss by diverting her forces there. So, for now, she decided to stealthily build her forces by converting magical aquatic creatures into her subjects.
Draconian Sovereign Pyraxia, commanding the draconian forces, sought to purge her children with dragonfire. Draconians, with their fiery breath and aerial prowess, embarked on a campaign of scorching the tainted earth. Pyraxia's strategy involved aerial strikes, ensuring that no corner of the land remained untouched by dragonfire. Doom's spores found no sanctuary in the face of such flames. The draconians were Doom's biggest threat in this global war so far. They were tough, strong, and fire hurt really badly. They could eradicate all traces of her mushroom influences without a problem. While they were just as vulnerable as anyone else when directly ingesting her mushrooms, getting to that point was nearly impossible unless they willingly consumed it.
Fae Monarch Thistledown Wildfire devised a plan to unravel the fungal threads with fae magic. Fairies, attuned to nature's wrath, engaged in intricate spellwork to disrupt the Doom's influence. Thistledown orchestrated the fae to rise against the mushroom tide, ensuring that their magic prevailed in the ensuing conflict. However, the Fae were no real threat to Doom. Their magic was less threatening compared to the long-lived elves and more suited for support and trickery. However, their small size was rather useful for intelligence gathering.
All in all, there was almost nothing that Doom did not know about and nowhere that she did not have her forces located. She will rule all that there is, and there is nothing that can stop it. Whether it's a war of attrition, numbers, intelligence, resources, logistics, tactics, or equipment, Doom will not lose in any field! It isn't a matter of if, but a matter of when discussing her control of all of Eternia.
Chapter 15 World 2: Gamers Gaming!
At one of the borders of Salona, Player GobbleNuts was fighting his undead heart out against the Mushroom Queen's army defending the border. He received a sudden quest from an NPC high up within Lord Deathmaw's army. If he survived and did well enough in this battle, there was a high chance he would be on his way to better quests and a higher position in the undead faction. But god damn, were these missions tough. They couldn't die once, and most of the time, they were facing higher-level enemies that could one-shot them if they were unlucky.
GobbleNuts screamed as he swung his mighty holy mace with skull-crushing brutality. An undead skeleton paladin with a deathly fear of being killed. Who knew how long it would take him to get an awesome quest like this again? Dying would totally freaking suck! Just because he was an undead didn't give him any fewer penalties or benefits for dying!
The battlefield was a mess of metal clashing on metal and dying screams, a gruesome battle to the death between the mushrooms and the undead. Undulating mushroom spires loomed over the landscape, casting eerie shadows on the skeletal warriors clashing against the fungal onslaught. The undead magicians recited their spells together as they sought to bring down the giant structures buffing the mushroom soldiers. GobbleNuts watched in absolute awe as a gigantic blue fireball soared through the air over his head. He felt like he had to shield his eyes as the spell burned right through the giant mushroom, catching ablaze and weakening the mushroom soldiers. The graphics, the realism, just everything about this game was too damn amazing!
GobbleNuts, empowered by that awesome scene, which felt like a cut scene but in real-time, charged forward. His holy mace swung in wide arcs, crushing skulls and breaking through armor. A nearby undead skeleton crumpled to pieces with a haunting groan, succumbing to the relentless assault of mushroom soldiers. GobbleNuts rushed to his allies, afraid to get overwhelmed like that poor NPC. He deflected blows with his mace and unleashed a burst of holy magic to repel the attackers. Although holy magic didn't do greater damage to the mushroom race, it did give him room to breathe in this chaotic war!
The battlefield was littered with the remnants of fallen undead and mushroom soldiers, creating a sea of corpses. For some reason, bodies didn't disappear when in a large-scale battle. Lucky for players, it allowed them to loot creatures or enemies they normally wouldn't stand a chance against. This turned some players into loot goblins on the battlefield, like GobbleNuts, who immediately stopped fighting as he looted corpses that looked similar to his own class.
He could feel the disdain and disgust from his fellow undead, along with some loss of reputation, but he didn't give a hoot! If he survived with all this loot and finished his quest, Gobblenuts would be living the sweet life! The rumbling of the ground beneath his bony toes captured his attention. He turned in the direction of the footsteps and could hear his bones shaking from fright. Giant mushroom trolls lumbered forward, crushing everything in their path. Mages from the mushroom faction unleashed volatile spells, their spells blowing away several undead.
Even worse, a towering mushroom behemoth emerged in the distance, its grotesque form casting a shadow over the battlefield. GobbleNuts ran for his life as undead archers fired volleys of cursed arrows, aiming for the creature's vulnerable spots, while rotting warriors engaged in a relentless assault on its colossal legs.
The battle seemed to last forever. Gobblenuts didn't know when it started and when it was over. When it was, he couldn't believe it was actually over. Running around the battlefield trying to survive was a lot easier when you were an undead that didn't have a stamina limit. He was ordered to retreat as they left with more undead than they started with. Gobblenuts didn't understand why they were leaving when they had more numbers than the enemy side until he turned back to look.
"Oh, they had reinforcements…" Several more giant creatures were heading toward the border.
While the undead were rather lucky, they didn't need to rely on logistics and stuff like that while warring. They weren't all that strong most of the time. In the domain of the dead, there were few NPCs that were strong enough to lead armies. While it seemed the Mushroom Queen was able to produce strong and capable armies without a problem at all. She was such an unfair final boss, but if Gobblenuts was being honest, he absolutely loved this challenging game! The struggle was completely real! How could a game so accurately portray what it feels like to be on the losing side in a hopeless war? And Gobblenuts's faction was probably the third strongest faction in the game. He couldn't imagine what the guys who were playing as humans felt like. They literally have to share half of their kingdom with the Mushroom Queen.
Zizzle admired the desert temperature as he rode on his hand-crafted mount.
Zizzle's hot ride was a marvel of technology, a fusion of modern engineering and magic that defied anything ever seen before in the world of Eternia. Crafted with meticulous detail and months of research in the real world to reproduce something resembling a motorcycle. The frame of the motorcycle was forged from a rare alloy, shining with a blinding shimmer. Elaborate engravings adorned the baby, depicting flowing flames. The handlebars, fashioned from the horns of a high-level monster, curved gracefully, providing both a functional grip and a badass look. Rather than traditional rubber, the wheels were encased in slime residue that functioned similarly to rubber after some magical enchantments. As the motorcycle moved, it left a trace of slime in its wake. The engine emitted a low, rhythmic hum. Twin exhaust pipes, shaped like a dragon's mouth, spewed magical flames as the motorcycle accelerated. The saddle, crafted from the hide of a Tyrant Bear, provided a comfortable yet regal seat for its rider.
An ornate crystal held a swirling maelstrom of magical energy in place of a traditional fuel tank. This crystal powered the motorcycle and served as a conduit for Zizzle to channel his magic into the vehicle, enhancing its performance in times of need.
The desert's heat enveloped Zizzle as he cruised on his hand-crafted mount. He wiped his forehead while riding through the sand, the sweat sticking to the back of his hand. The heat wrapped around him like the buns of a hotdog. The sun hung high in the sky, casting an intense radiance that made the grains of virtual sand shimmer like gold. Zizzle could feel the blazing heat seeping through the motorcycle's frame. As the motorcycle's wheels glided over the terrain, he could feel the uneven desert surface. The temperature rose and fell with the changing landscape, making it harder to feel the difference between reality and the game world.
The distant mirage of a virtual oasis teased his senses, the illusion so convincing that he could almost taste the cool, refreshing water. The VRMMO's advanced technology allowed for a multi-sensory experience, and Zizzle reveled in the authenticity of the digital world around him. The thrill of exploration, coupled with the true-to-life sensations, made his quest for the ultimate vehicle even more exhilarating. In this second world, the desert was not just a backdrop; it was a tangible, immersive experience that heightened the excitement of Zizzle's journey.
Zizzle was out here in this scorching desert for one reason and one reason only: to find more rare materials needed to enhance his already incredible motorcycle. The heat, while oppressive, was a mere inconvenience compared to the thrill of the hunt for the perfect materials.
Some people played video games for the sake of reaching the highest level. Becoming the strongest in the game, having fun with friends, or killing monsters or other players. Zizzle wasn't like those players. He didn't care about raising his level, raising his skills, or any of that stuff. When he heard about World of Eternia's unlimited freedom ads. He knew there was one thing he wanted to do no matter what. Build the greatest vehicle in the game and drive all over the world until there is no place he hasn't been.
His eyes scanned the horizon as he revved the magical engine, eager to face the challenges that lay ahead. His personal quest for the mythic-ranked mount demanded not only a good reputation with NPCs but also a proactive attitude. The mythic-ranked mount wouldn't land itself in Zizzle's lap. Good video games didn't work like that. Zizzle had to put in the effort himself if he wanted to accomplish his dream of creating the sweetest ride in the world. Zizzle embraced the sweltering conditions of this desert, knowing that the harsh environment held a piece to unlocking his motorcycle's full potential.
The motorcycle surged forward like a bolt of lightning, leaving a rising trail of dust in its wake. The golems, slow and lumbering, turned their stony heads towards the approaching goblin. Zizzle grinned, his adrenaline pumping as he maneuvered the motorcycle with expert precision. The Boost skill propelled him into the heart of the golem cluster. With a swift motion, he triggered his Dismantle skill, targeting a specific area on one of the golems. A skill that only worked on materials considered ingredients for crafting.
Golems were not living creatures which made them fully vulnerable to the Dismantle skill! The golem's rocky exterior shattered, revealing the vulnerable core beneath the mushroom-infested surface. Zizzle's motorcycle danced around the golems, avoiding their lumbering strikes with blazing speed. He circled the creatures, each rotation dismantling their exterior. The goblin seamlessly switched to his crossbow, firing specially crafted arrows imbued with different magical enchantments at the exposed cores of the golems. The sand beneath his wheels became a battleground, with the motorcycle serving as both his chariot and weapon. Sometimes, he just leaped and shattered their core with the wheels of his ride.
The temperature rose as the heat of battle intensified. Zizzle's eyes remained focused, his mind sharp and calculating. Boosting once again, he targeted another golem, repeating the destructive cycle. The desert became his playground. Slow, unthinking enemies like golems were the easiest opponents for a trapmaster, regardless if he was a goblin or had his hot ride. Just using your brain was enough to beat these guys, even if they were a little tough.
As the last golem crumbled under the onslaught, Zizzle let out a triumphant shout. The scent of victory mingled with the lingering aroma of burning mushrooms. He surveyed the battlefield, noticing the large cave opening that they were protecting. Zizzle grinned as he realized there must be some goodies down there. With a rev of his ride, he leisurely made his way into the cave, looking forward to whatever minerals he could harvest from this place being protected by the Mushroom Queen. A boss that he previously didn't give any thought or care to. She was a plant boss. He didn't see how she would have anything that could help him build the greatest ride in the game. So, he didn't usually mess with quest lines involving her.
In the rugged lands of Orcish dominion, where clans carved their paths through untamed wilderness, a lone Orc named Grunk embraced the spirit of adventure for its own sake. With a hefty axe slung over his broad shoulder and a heart pulsating with wanderlust, Grunk set forth into the unknown, leaving behind the familiar territories of his tribe. No tyrannical kingdom sought to oppress his people, no grand overarching plot weighed on Grunk's shoulders. His journey had no predefined purpose other than the pursuit of the unknown and the thrill of discovery. The open road called to him, promising untold tales and unexplored landscapes.
For this reason, he ignored anything to do with the Mushroom Queen. All of the players knew exactly where the Mushroom Queen's kingdom was located. What kind of adventure was there when he knew everything there was to do with the Mushroom Queen and her kind? No! He would venture where the Mushroom Queen has yet to lay her fungi paws and have some unique fun as Grunk the Heroic Orc!
Grunk's adventurous spirit led him to the bustling town of Durak's Rest, nestled at the edge of orcish territory. The town buzzed with activity, merchants peddling wares, warriors shouting to form parties, and NPCs offering quests to eager adventurers. Grunk liked the feel of this place. This is what he decided to play this game for. This type of stuff!
Grunk strolled through the lively streets of Durak's Rest, his eyes scanning the faces of the NPCs bustling about their daily routines. Among the crowd, he spotted a farmer who seemed to be shouldering the weight of the world on his shoulders. The orc farmer, with furrowed brows and a dusty apron, looked like he had a quest ripe for Grunk to take. Approaching the stressed-looking farmer, Grunk couldn't help but walk over to him. "Trouble?" he asked.
The farmer let out a weary sigh, acknowledging Grunk's presence with a nod. "Ah, adventurer, you come at a dire time. Cursed creatures from the nearby grove plague my fields. They're wreaking havoc on my crops and killing my livestock. I've tried everything but am at my wit's end." Grunk scratched his head, understanding the farmer's plight. "Point creatures." The farmer's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "You'd do that? Oh, bless your adventurous heart! The cursed grove is just beyond the fields, to the west. Be careful, though. Those creatures are no pushovers."
As Grunk ventured into the dense forest, the air grew thick with a sudden hazy fog. Indiscernible sounds echoed through the twisted trees, and the ground crunched beneath his feet. He encountered an old orc NPC, Bentok, who seemed distressed on his way inside. "Watch out, adventurer. The grove is cursed, and strange creatures lurk within. Be on your guard," Bentok warned.
Grunk nodded a silent thanks as he continued deeper into the grove. His sharp eyes caught sight of shadowy figures among the trees. A quick scan of their status he saw that these might be the monsters he was supposed to deal with for the farmer's quest. The cursed spirits hungered for his presence, flying their way toward him. With a mighty roar, he charged into battle, his axe cleaving through the spectral foes.
It might not have made much sense to him for a Knight to have magic, but who was he to question the lore of this world? Due to this magic, he could slash through these ghostly monsters with ease. It made Grunk wonder if he didn't advance to the next class, would he be helpless against these monsters? A question for later.
Grunk's axe easily ripped through the spectre monsters who seemed to be better against magical classes than physical ones. After the last of the ghostly echoes faded away in the foggy forest, Grunk found himself standing in a small clearing, the mist swirling around him. In the eerie stillness, his sharp eyes caught sight of a shadowy figure, draped in tattered robes, standing at the center of the glade. The Spirit Binder, a creature of ethereal existence, regarded him with glowing eerie lights for eyes.
"Orc, you have done well to dispel the cursed spirits that haunted this grove," the Spirit Binder intoned. Grunk nodded in acknowledgment. The Spirit Binder, sensing Grunk's curiosity, began to reveal the true source of the curse. It spoke of an ancient artifact hidden deep within the heart of the grove, its dark influence tainting their very surroundings. Grunk listened intently as the creature unveiled the tale of a malevolent power that sought to bind the spirits to its will.
Determined to see this adventure to the end, Grunk accepted the Spirit Binder's quest. With a directive to destroy the cursed artifact, he set forth into the dense foliage, the mist clinging to the foliage. Grunk navigated through twisted paths and tangled vines, the dense vegetation obscuring his view. On his quest to reach the heart of the grove, Grunk encountered challenges that tested not only his physical strength but also his wits. Enigmatic puzzles, set in the midst of the ancient trees, demanded his attention and problem-solving skills. The Finally, after overcoming each obstacle, Grunk emerged into a sacred glade bathed in an ethereal glow. At the center stood the cursed artifact, a foreboding crystal pulsating with dark energy. The air hummed with malevolence, and the presence of the artifact weighed heavily on Grunk's senses.
With determination etched on his face, Grunk raised his mighty axe. The gleaming blade descended with a resounding crash, striking the cursed crystal. A burst of energy erupted, dispersing the mist and shattering the artifact into a myriad of fragments. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, and the grove seemed to sigh in relief. Grunk stood amidst the dissipating darkness, the Spirit Binder watching silently. The curse had been broken, and the once-haunted grove now exuded an aura of tranquility, greenery, and peace. As Grunk returned to Brogar's farm, he was greeted with a grateful nod. The farmer handed him a sack of gold and said, "You've done us a great service, adventurer. Durak's Rest is safer thanks to you." Grunk grinned, his chest swelling with satisfaction. "Welcome."
In the expansive world of Eternia, where the global war was taking a terrible toll, a young centaur player named Stardust embarked on a journey fueled by the belief that friendship could be a beacon of light even in the darkest of times. With a heart as pure as can be, Stardust roamed across war-torn lands, determined to make a difference.
As the global war raged on, its impact reverberated far beyond the battlefield. Villages lay in ruins, their once-thriving communities reduced to shadows of their former selves. Non-combatants, the innocent people caught in the crossfire, faced unimaginable hardships. Homes were destroyed, crops razed, and the echoes of conflict disrupted the peaceful rhythms of their daily lives. Stardust witnessed the suffering of those who had no part in the war, and his compassionate heart spurred him to action. The centaur traversed the scarred landscapes, his hooves echoing a rhythm of hope as he sought to alleviate the burdens carried by the war's unintended victims.
His first stop was a quaint hamlet nestled between rolling hills, its once-vibrant fields now marred by the destructive aftermath of battles. As Stardust approached, his keen eyes surveyed the scene, taking in the devastation that gripped the once-thriving village. The cries of distressed villagers filled the air, and the centaur's heart swelled with empathy. Determined to bring solace to those in need, Stardust, adorned in his cleric's attire, approached the distressed villagers.
His bright eyes reflected not only the sunlight filtering through the surrounding trees but also a genuine compassion for the suffering of the villagers. Stardust's class as a Cleric, coupled with his strong Centaur body, positioned him in a good position in this time of despair. The soft thud of his hooves echoed a rhythm of reassurance as he made his way through the worn paths of the village. Villagers, with wearied expressions and downtrodden spirits, turned their attention to the approaching centaur. Stardust, with a warm and reassuring smile, offered words of comfort to those he encountered. His cleric abilities came to the forefront as he extended healing hands to those in pain, mending wounds and providing a sense of relief.
The power of his magic calmed and comforted those nearby. Stardust's strong Centaur physique allowed him to lend a helping hand in rebuilding. Stardust's actions were not just those of a cleric performing duties; they were the embodiment of empathy and kindness. He listened to the tales of hardship, offered a compassionate ear to those burdened by loss, and worked tirelessly to restore a semblance of normalcy to the shattered lives of the villagers. Through his presence over the course of several days, Stardust became a symbol of hope in the midst of despair. The once-distressed villagers now found solace in the compassion of the young centaur cleric who, with his unique blend of magical prowess and physical strength, brought a healing touch to both the land and its people. As he journeyed further, Stardust encountered displaced families seeking refuge from the front lines. He helped them out in any way he could before directing them to the nearest settlement for additional aid. Stardust would continue to do his part in helping those negatively affected by this stupid war.
In the expansive realm of Eternia, bathed in the warm glow of sunlight, a vast clearing stretched out before the eyes of four players. Standing in a circle, each clad in the simplest of attire—mere leather that hinted at the humble beginnings of their adventures—were four distinct avatars: a sturdy dwarf, an elegant elf, a hulking troll, and a delicate, flying fae.
The dwarf, with a small, robust frame and a beard that matched the color of the earth itself, bore the title of CEOofBlacks. His gaze was sharp and mean at default. Beside the dwarf stood 4lineclear, a tall elf of large assets adorned in flowing garments that seemed to sway with an unseen breeze. The elven avatar had a permanent blush on her face and long, light-silver hair. DaSmartestEva, the tallest out of the four, dominated the scene with sheer physical presence. His massive stature and muscular build were all he needed. Completing the quartet was RubytheWitch, a fae of cuteness and adorableness. Her wings fluttered rapidly to keep her in the air.
"Since this is our world and we can do anything we want. I elect myself as the leader. Okay?" CEOofBlacks spoke up.
4lineclear scoffed as she began walking off on her own. "Hey Line! LINE! LINE!" CEOofBlacks yelled in a commanding tone. It was only when he called her name the third time that she turned around to face him, already some distance away from the group. "What, dude?" Her eyebrows shot up in exasperation, and she crossed her arms tightly over her chest.
"Bring yo ass back over here when I'm talking, bro." He announced.
She rolled her eyes. "You elected yourself the leader of your group. Thing is… I'm making my group!" 4lineclear made herself clear. "Which means you can't be the leader of my group!"
"This world is only big enough for one group! So we gone respect me and my authority!" CEOofBlacks made himself clear as well.
"To hell with you!" 4lineclear yelled, walking away once more.
"It's either you get with it, or you get lost, boy!" CEOofBlacks shouted at her, departing back.
But he wasn't finished just yet, he walked after her. "Aye, Line." but his tone was a lot more softer. 4lineclear stopped in her tracks. CEOofBlacks licked his lips as he tried to find the right words to say. Maybe he was too harsh on his friend or maybe he was trying to find a better sort of words to insult her with. DaSmartestEva and RubytheWitch just silently looked at the two of them.
Before bursting out in laughter at the sight of them. "What type of movie ass scene is this?" DaSmartestEva questioned while holding his stomach. Both CEOofBlacks and 4lineclear started laughing alongside the other two. "You leave this land, consider ourselves enemies." CEOofBlacks decided to continue with the bit.
"It's too late! That's already been done a long time ago." 4lineclear continued walking off in the distance before stopping again. "Was that a cool line, Ruby?" She asked.
"Shut up bitch, and let's fucking play the game already!" Ruby laughed as she floated next to 4lineclear.
GobbleNuts screamed as he swung his mighty holy mace with skull-crushing brutality. An undead skeleton paladin with a deathly fear of being killed. Who knew how long it would take him to get an awesome quest like this again? Dying would totally freaking suck! Just because he was an undead didn't give him any fewer penalties or benefits for dying!
The battlefield was a mess of metal clashing on metal and dying screams, a gruesome battle to the death between the mushrooms and the undead. Undulating mushroom spires loomed over the landscape, casting eerie shadows on the skeletal warriors clashing against the fungal onslaught. The undead magicians recited their spells together as they sought to bring down the giant structures buffing the mushroom soldiers. GobbleNuts watched in absolute awe as a gigantic blue fireball soared through the air over his head. He felt like he had to shield his eyes as the spell burned right through the giant mushroom, catching ablaze and weakening the mushroom soldiers. The graphics, the realism, just everything about this game was too damn amazing!
GobbleNuts, empowered by that awesome scene, which felt like a cut scene but in real-time, charged forward. His holy mace swung in wide arcs, crushing skulls and breaking through armor. A nearby undead skeleton crumpled to pieces with a haunting groan, succumbing to the relentless assault of mushroom soldiers. GobbleNuts rushed to his allies, afraid to get overwhelmed like that poor NPC. He deflected blows with his mace and unleashed a burst of holy magic to repel the attackers. Although holy magic didn't do greater damage to the mushroom race, it did give him room to breathe in this chaotic war!
The battlefield was littered with the remnants of fallen undead and mushroom soldiers, creating a sea of corpses. For some reason, bodies didn't disappear when in a large-scale battle. Lucky for players, it allowed them to loot creatures or enemies they normally wouldn't stand a chance against. This turned some players into loot goblins on the battlefield, like GobbleNuts, who immediately stopped fighting as he looted corpses that looked similar to his own class.
He could feel the disdain and disgust from his fellow undead, along with some loss of reputation, but he didn't give a hoot! If he survived with all this loot and finished his quest, Gobblenuts would be living the sweet life! The rumbling of the ground beneath his bony toes captured his attention. He turned in the direction of the footsteps and could hear his bones shaking from fright. Giant mushroom trolls lumbered forward, crushing everything in their path. Mages from the mushroom faction unleashed volatile spells, their spells blowing away several undead.
Even worse, a towering mushroom behemoth emerged in the distance, its grotesque form casting a shadow over the battlefield. GobbleNuts ran for his life as undead archers fired volleys of cursed arrows, aiming for the creature's vulnerable spots, while rotting warriors engaged in a relentless assault on its colossal legs.
The battle seemed to last forever. Gobblenuts didn't know when it started and when it was over. When it was, he couldn't believe it was actually over. Running around the battlefield trying to survive was a lot easier when you were an undead that didn't have a stamina limit. He was ordered to retreat as they left with more undead than they started with. Gobblenuts didn't understand why they were leaving when they had more numbers than the enemy side until he turned back to look.
"Oh, they had reinforcements…" Several more giant creatures were heading toward the border.
While the undead were rather lucky, they didn't need to rely on logistics and stuff like that while warring. They weren't all that strong most of the time. In the domain of the dead, there were few NPCs that were strong enough to lead armies. While it seemed the Mushroom Queen was able to produce strong and capable armies without a problem at all. She was such an unfair final boss, but if Gobblenuts was being honest, he absolutely loved this challenging game! The struggle was completely real! How could a game so accurately portray what it feels like to be on the losing side in a hopeless war? And Gobblenuts's faction was probably the third strongest faction in the game. He couldn't imagine what the guys who were playing as humans felt like. They literally have to share half of their kingdom with the Mushroom Queen.
Name: Zizzle
Level: 55
Race: Goblin
Job: Trapmaster
Health: 1,800/1,800
Magic: 2,100/2,100
Stamina: 100/100
Skills: Crafting, Archery, Riding, Accuracy, Power Shot, Triple Shot, Boost, Dismantle, Identify, Blueprint, Explosive Trap, Poison Trap, Hunter's Instinct, Arrow Trap, Fatal Trap, Flame Trap, Ice Trap, Fatality
Body: 180
Mind: 210
Magic: 80
SP: 0
Level: 55
Race: Goblin
Job: Trapmaster
Health: 1,800/1,800
Magic: 2,100/2,100
Stamina: 100/100
Skills: Crafting, Archery, Riding, Accuracy, Power Shot, Triple Shot, Boost, Dismantle, Identify, Blueprint, Explosive Trap, Poison Trap, Hunter's Instinct, Arrow Trap, Fatal Trap, Flame Trap, Ice Trap, Fatality
Body: 180
Mind: 210
Magic: 80
SP: 0
Zizzle admired the desert temperature as he rode on his hand-crafted mount.
Zizzle's hot ride was a marvel of technology, a fusion of modern engineering and magic that defied anything ever seen before in the world of Eternia. Crafted with meticulous detail and months of research in the real world to reproduce something resembling a motorcycle. The frame of the motorcycle was forged from a rare alloy, shining with a blinding shimmer. Elaborate engravings adorned the baby, depicting flowing flames. The handlebars, fashioned from the horns of a high-level monster, curved gracefully, providing both a functional grip and a badass look. Rather than traditional rubber, the wheels were encased in slime residue that functioned similarly to rubber after some magical enchantments. As the motorcycle moved, it left a trace of slime in its wake. The engine emitted a low, rhythmic hum. Twin exhaust pipes, shaped like a dragon's mouth, spewed magical flames as the motorcycle accelerated. The saddle, crafted from the hide of a Tyrant Bear, provided a comfortable yet regal seat for its rider.
An ornate crystal held a swirling maelstrom of magical energy in place of a traditional fuel tank. This crystal powered the motorcycle and served as a conduit for Zizzle to channel his magic into the vehicle, enhancing its performance in times of need.
The desert's heat enveloped Zizzle as he cruised on his hand-crafted mount. He wiped his forehead while riding through the sand, the sweat sticking to the back of his hand. The heat wrapped around him like the buns of a hotdog. The sun hung high in the sky, casting an intense radiance that made the grains of virtual sand shimmer like gold. Zizzle could feel the blazing heat seeping through the motorcycle's frame. As the motorcycle's wheels glided over the terrain, he could feel the uneven desert surface. The temperature rose and fell with the changing landscape, making it harder to feel the difference between reality and the game world.
The distant mirage of a virtual oasis teased his senses, the illusion so convincing that he could almost taste the cool, refreshing water. The VRMMO's advanced technology allowed for a multi-sensory experience, and Zizzle reveled in the authenticity of the digital world around him. The thrill of exploration, coupled with the true-to-life sensations, made his quest for the ultimate vehicle even more exhilarating. In this second world, the desert was not just a backdrop; it was a tangible, immersive experience that heightened the excitement of Zizzle's journey.
Zizzle was out here in this scorching desert for one reason and one reason only: to find more rare materials needed to enhance his already incredible motorcycle. The heat, while oppressive, was a mere inconvenience compared to the thrill of the hunt for the perfect materials.
Some people played video games for the sake of reaching the highest level. Becoming the strongest in the game, having fun with friends, or killing monsters or other players. Zizzle wasn't like those players. He didn't care about raising his level, raising his skills, or any of that stuff. When he heard about World of Eternia's unlimited freedom ads. He knew there was one thing he wanted to do no matter what. Build the greatest vehicle in the game and drive all over the world until there is no place he hasn't been.
His eyes scanned the horizon as he revved the magical engine, eager to face the challenges that lay ahead. His personal quest for the mythic-ranked mount demanded not only a good reputation with NPCs but also a proactive attitude. The mythic-ranked mount wouldn't land itself in Zizzle's lap. Good video games didn't work like that. Zizzle had to put in the effort himself if he wanted to accomplish his dream of creating the sweetest ride in the world. Zizzle embraced the sweltering conditions of this desert, knowing that the harsh environment held a piece to unlocking his motorcycle's full potential.
The motorcycle surged forward like a bolt of lightning, leaving a rising trail of dust in its wake. The golems, slow and lumbering, turned their stony heads towards the approaching goblin. Zizzle grinned, his adrenaline pumping as he maneuvered the motorcycle with expert precision. The Boost skill propelled him into the heart of the golem cluster. With a swift motion, he triggered his Dismantle skill, targeting a specific area on one of the golems. A skill that only worked on materials considered ingredients for crafting.
Golems were not living creatures which made them fully vulnerable to the Dismantle skill! The golem's rocky exterior shattered, revealing the vulnerable core beneath the mushroom-infested surface. Zizzle's motorcycle danced around the golems, avoiding their lumbering strikes with blazing speed. He circled the creatures, each rotation dismantling their exterior. The goblin seamlessly switched to his crossbow, firing specially crafted arrows imbued with different magical enchantments at the exposed cores of the golems. The sand beneath his wheels became a battleground, with the motorcycle serving as both his chariot and weapon. Sometimes, he just leaped and shattered their core with the wheels of his ride.
The temperature rose as the heat of battle intensified. Zizzle's eyes remained focused, his mind sharp and calculating. Boosting once again, he targeted another golem, repeating the destructive cycle. The desert became his playground. Slow, unthinking enemies like golems were the easiest opponents for a trapmaster, regardless if he was a goblin or had his hot ride. Just using your brain was enough to beat these guys, even if they were a little tough.
As the last golem crumbled under the onslaught, Zizzle let out a triumphant shout. The scent of victory mingled with the lingering aroma of burning mushrooms. He surveyed the battlefield, noticing the large cave opening that they were protecting. Zizzle grinned as he realized there must be some goodies down there. With a rev of his ride, he leisurely made his way into the cave, looking forward to whatever minerals he could harvest from this place being protected by the Mushroom Queen. A boss that he previously didn't give any thought or care to. She was a plant boss. He didn't see how she would have anything that could help him build the greatest ride in the game. So, he didn't usually mess with quest lines involving her.
In the rugged lands of Orcish dominion, where clans carved their paths through untamed wilderness, a lone Orc named Grunk embraced the spirit of adventure for its own sake. With a hefty axe slung over his broad shoulder and a heart pulsating with wanderlust, Grunk set forth into the unknown, leaving behind the familiar territories of his tribe. No tyrannical kingdom sought to oppress his people, no grand overarching plot weighed on Grunk's shoulders. His journey had no predefined purpose other than the pursuit of the unknown and the thrill of discovery. The open road called to him, promising untold tales and unexplored landscapes.
For this reason, he ignored anything to do with the Mushroom Queen. All of the players knew exactly where the Mushroom Queen's kingdom was located. What kind of adventure was there when he knew everything there was to do with the Mushroom Queen and her kind? No! He would venture where the Mushroom Queen has yet to lay her fungi paws and have some unique fun as Grunk the Heroic Orc!
Grunk's adventurous spirit led him to the bustling town of Durak's Rest, nestled at the edge of orcish territory. The town buzzed with activity, merchants peddling wares, warriors shouting to form parties, and NPCs offering quests to eager adventurers. Grunk liked the feel of this place. This is what he decided to play this game for. This type of stuff!
Grunk strolled through the lively streets of Durak's Rest, his eyes scanning the faces of the NPCs bustling about their daily routines. Among the crowd, he spotted a farmer who seemed to be shouldering the weight of the world on his shoulders. The orc farmer, with furrowed brows and a dusty apron, looked like he had a quest ripe for Grunk to take. Approaching the stressed-looking farmer, Grunk couldn't help but walk over to him. "Trouble?" he asked.
The farmer let out a weary sigh, acknowledging Grunk's presence with a nod. "Ah, adventurer, you come at a dire time. Cursed creatures from the nearby grove plague my fields. They're wreaking havoc on my crops and killing my livestock. I've tried everything but am at my wit's end." Grunk scratched his head, understanding the farmer's plight. "Point creatures." The farmer's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "You'd do that? Oh, bless your adventurous heart! The cursed grove is just beyond the fields, to the west. Be careful, though. Those creatures are no pushovers."
As Grunk ventured into the dense forest, the air grew thick with a sudden hazy fog. Indiscernible sounds echoed through the twisted trees, and the ground crunched beneath his feet. He encountered an old orc NPC, Bentok, who seemed distressed on his way inside. "Watch out, adventurer. The grove is cursed, and strange creatures lurk within. Be on your guard," Bentok warned.
Grunk nodded a silent thanks as he continued deeper into the grove. His sharp eyes caught sight of shadowy figures among the trees. A quick scan of their status he saw that these might be the monsters he was supposed to deal with for the farmer's quest. The cursed spirits hungered for his presence, flying their way toward him. With a mighty roar, he charged into battle, his axe cleaving through the spectral foes.
It might not have made much sense to him for a Knight to have magic, but who was he to question the lore of this world? Due to this magic, he could slash through these ghostly monsters with ease. It made Grunk wonder if he didn't advance to the next class, would he be helpless against these monsters? A question for later.
Grunk's axe easily ripped through the spectre monsters who seemed to be better against magical classes than physical ones. After the last of the ghostly echoes faded away in the foggy forest, Grunk found himself standing in a small clearing, the mist swirling around him. In the eerie stillness, his sharp eyes caught sight of a shadowy figure, draped in tattered robes, standing at the center of the glade. The Spirit Binder, a creature of ethereal existence, regarded him with glowing eerie lights for eyes.
"Orc, you have done well to dispel the cursed spirits that haunted this grove," the Spirit Binder intoned. Grunk nodded in acknowledgment. The Spirit Binder, sensing Grunk's curiosity, began to reveal the true source of the curse. It spoke of an ancient artifact hidden deep within the heart of the grove, its dark influence tainting their very surroundings. Grunk listened intently as the creature unveiled the tale of a malevolent power that sought to bind the spirits to its will.
Determined to see this adventure to the end, Grunk accepted the Spirit Binder's quest. With a directive to destroy the cursed artifact, he set forth into the dense foliage, the mist clinging to the foliage. Grunk navigated through twisted paths and tangled vines, the dense vegetation obscuring his view. On his quest to reach the heart of the grove, Grunk encountered challenges that tested not only his physical strength but also his wits. Enigmatic puzzles, set in the midst of the ancient trees, demanded his attention and problem-solving skills. The Finally, after overcoming each obstacle, Grunk emerged into a sacred glade bathed in an ethereal glow. At the center stood the cursed artifact, a foreboding crystal pulsating with dark energy. The air hummed with malevolence, and the presence of the artifact weighed heavily on Grunk's senses.
With determination etched on his face, Grunk raised his mighty axe. The gleaming blade descended with a resounding crash, striking the cursed crystal. A burst of energy erupted, dispersing the mist and shattering the artifact into a myriad of fragments. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, and the grove seemed to sigh in relief. Grunk stood amidst the dissipating darkness, the Spirit Binder watching silently. The curse had been broken, and the once-haunted grove now exuded an aura of tranquility, greenery, and peace. As Grunk returned to Brogar's farm, he was greeted with a grateful nod. The farmer handed him a sack of gold and said, "You've done us a great service, adventurer. Durak's Rest is safer thanks to you." Grunk grinned, his chest swelling with satisfaction. "Welcome."
In the expansive world of Eternia, where the global war was taking a terrible toll, a young centaur player named Stardust embarked on a journey fueled by the belief that friendship could be a beacon of light even in the darkest of times. With a heart as pure as can be, Stardust roamed across war-torn lands, determined to make a difference.
As the global war raged on, its impact reverberated far beyond the battlefield. Villages lay in ruins, their once-thriving communities reduced to shadows of their former selves. Non-combatants, the innocent people caught in the crossfire, faced unimaginable hardships. Homes were destroyed, crops razed, and the echoes of conflict disrupted the peaceful rhythms of their daily lives. Stardust witnessed the suffering of those who had no part in the war, and his compassionate heart spurred him to action. The centaur traversed the scarred landscapes, his hooves echoing a rhythm of hope as he sought to alleviate the burdens carried by the war's unintended victims.
His first stop was a quaint hamlet nestled between rolling hills, its once-vibrant fields now marred by the destructive aftermath of battles. As Stardust approached, his keen eyes surveyed the scene, taking in the devastation that gripped the once-thriving village. The cries of distressed villagers filled the air, and the centaur's heart swelled with empathy. Determined to bring solace to those in need, Stardust, adorned in his cleric's attire, approached the distressed villagers.
His bright eyes reflected not only the sunlight filtering through the surrounding trees but also a genuine compassion for the suffering of the villagers. Stardust's class as a Cleric, coupled with his strong Centaur body, positioned him in a good position in this time of despair. The soft thud of his hooves echoed a rhythm of reassurance as he made his way through the worn paths of the village. Villagers, with wearied expressions and downtrodden spirits, turned their attention to the approaching centaur. Stardust, with a warm and reassuring smile, offered words of comfort to those he encountered. His cleric abilities came to the forefront as he extended healing hands to those in pain, mending wounds and providing a sense of relief.
The power of his magic calmed and comforted those nearby. Stardust's strong Centaur physique allowed him to lend a helping hand in rebuilding. Stardust's actions were not just those of a cleric performing duties; they were the embodiment of empathy and kindness. He listened to the tales of hardship, offered a compassionate ear to those burdened by loss, and worked tirelessly to restore a semblance of normalcy to the shattered lives of the villagers. Through his presence over the course of several days, Stardust became a symbol of hope in the midst of despair. The once-distressed villagers now found solace in the compassion of the young centaur cleric who, with his unique blend of magical prowess and physical strength, brought a healing touch to both the land and its people. As he journeyed further, Stardust encountered displaced families seeking refuge from the front lines. He helped them out in any way he could before directing them to the nearest settlement for additional aid. Stardust would continue to do his part in helping those negatively affected by this stupid war.
In the expansive realm of Eternia, bathed in the warm glow of sunlight, a vast clearing stretched out before the eyes of four players. Standing in a circle, each clad in the simplest of attire—mere leather that hinted at the humble beginnings of their adventures—were four distinct avatars: a sturdy dwarf, an elegant elf, a hulking troll, and a delicate, flying fae.
The dwarf, with a small, robust frame and a beard that matched the color of the earth itself, bore the title of CEOofBlacks. His gaze was sharp and mean at default. Beside the dwarf stood 4lineclear, a tall elf of large assets adorned in flowing garments that seemed to sway with an unseen breeze. The elven avatar had a permanent blush on her face and long, light-silver hair. DaSmartestEva, the tallest out of the four, dominated the scene with sheer physical presence. His massive stature and muscular build were all he needed. Completing the quartet was RubytheWitch, a fae of cuteness and adorableness. Her wings fluttered rapidly to keep her in the air.
"Since this is our world and we can do anything we want. I elect myself as the leader. Okay?" CEOofBlacks spoke up.
4lineclear scoffed as she began walking off on her own. "Hey Line! LINE! LINE!" CEOofBlacks yelled in a commanding tone. It was only when he called her name the third time that she turned around to face him, already some distance away from the group. "What, dude?" Her eyebrows shot up in exasperation, and she crossed her arms tightly over her chest.
"Bring yo ass back over here when I'm talking, bro." He announced.
She rolled her eyes. "You elected yourself the leader of your group. Thing is… I'm making my group!" 4lineclear made herself clear. "Which means you can't be the leader of my group!"
"This world is only big enough for one group! So we gone respect me and my authority!" CEOofBlacks made himself clear as well.
"To hell with you!" 4lineclear yelled, walking away once more.
"It's either you get with it, or you get lost, boy!" CEOofBlacks shouted at her, departing back.
But he wasn't finished just yet, he walked after her. "Aye, Line." but his tone was a lot more softer. 4lineclear stopped in her tracks. CEOofBlacks licked his lips as he tried to find the right words to say. Maybe he was too harsh on his friend or maybe he was trying to find a better sort of words to insult her with. DaSmartestEva and RubytheWitch just silently looked at the two of them.
Before bursting out in laughter at the sight of them. "What type of movie ass scene is this?" DaSmartestEva questioned while holding his stomach. Both CEOofBlacks and 4lineclear started laughing alongside the other two. "You leave this land, consider ourselves enemies." CEOofBlacks decided to continue with the bit.
"It's too late! That's already been done a long time ago." 4lineclear continued walking off in the distance before stopping again. "Was that a cool line, Ruby?" She asked.
"Shut up bitch, and let's fucking play the game already!" Ruby laughed as she floated next to 4lineclear.
Chapter 16 World 2: Humanity's Decisive Actions!
"This… is quite the conundrum…" King Avery stroked his beard.
King Avery looked down at the Cursed Hero, Brandon, and the tied-up knights disguised as bandits. The conflicted look on his face varied between appreciation and irritation. He wasn't irritated at the adventurer but simply at what his dire news meant for their kingdom. News like this needed to be acted on immediately. It also added far more grey hairs to his head and beard than he was comfortable with.
"Reward the Cursed Hero for his righteous actions taken to protect this kingdom and the human race. Chancellor! Marshal! Follow me." King Avery rose from his throne.
"Your Majesty, I am grateful for your benevolence." Brandon rose from his kneeling position as he fought to keep the maniacal smile from forming on his face.
When Brandon successfully made it outside of the castle, he could no longer keep himself in check. He thrust his hips and fists into the air while whooping and hollering. Being rewarded by the King himself was better than anything else he's ever been rewarded within the game so far. A legendary achievement, a crazy amount of experience, a stupid amount of reputation increase, and a quest to become an actual Duke!
The first part of the quest was to raise an army strong enough to go to war with Duke Gaul and his territory. The important part of this quest was because of the wording, he didn't have to rely on NPCs specifically. This meant he could make a post on the game's forums about this quest and build an army of players to raid Duke Gaul's territory without even lifting a finger! This game had an active player base with over two million players on the daily.
Logging out after being given weird looks by the guards at the entrance of the palace. Brandon swiftly exited from his gaming pod and went to his computer. His impressive sky-view loft from the middle of a bustling city was still taking some time to get used to, but right now, he had something more important than the beautiful sights outside his glass windows. Logging onto the forums, Brandon didn't even need to make his post elaborate, detailed, or long. All he needed to say was, "big war. duke gaul territory. Salona." And he left his computer to go work on his hygiene and body.
Unlike other gamers, Brandon wasn't just any old gamer now that he got rich from World of Eternia. Befitting his status, Brandon made sure to avoid being seen or known as a stereotypical gamer. Bad hygiene, unhealthy body, and horrible eating habits. While he had all this money from selling high rarity loot that was useless for his class to other gamers, and could certainly afford to neglect his health. Why should he?! He was rich now! That meant he was better than a lot of people in society. What better way to embrace his newfound status in life than absolutely living it up!?
No longer did Brandon have to live the life of a useless, mediocre leech of society with an obsession with games. Now, video games were his job and source of income! It was a symbol of pride to him now after years of mockery and ridicule. After making the post, he started his daily regimen of exercising for thirty minutes. Then, he took a shower, cooked up a well-balanced meal, looked at the news for World of Eternia and other famous streamers who play it, and then brushed his teeth after eating. When he came back to his high-end gaming desktop, there were already dozens of posts on his war thread.
"Warwarwarwarwarwarwarwarwarwarwar." EpicGamer69 repeated before getting temporarily banned for spamming.
"Can you imagine the type of loot I can get from knights? I'm in, baby." LootGoblinSupreme liked the post.
"When should we be there?" TacticalGeniusBaby asked.
"Count me in as a healer! Every war needs support roles, too! I'll keep the army alive and kicking. Looking forward to seeing some dramatic and painful deaths. Let's make this a legendary war!" RoleplayEnthusiast added.
"Hey OP, I'm a low-level noob, but I'm eager to join the war! Do we need to be a specific level to join?" NoobSlayer99 questioned.
"I'll be there selling wares for anyone who needs stuff!" LegHumper liked the post.
"HUMANITY SHALL NEVER DIE!!!" ChampionAte liked the post.
"You fleshy bastards! You leave our traitorous Duke alone! The mushroom faction is aware of this post, and we shall be heading to Duke Gaul's territory to defend our noble!" MushroomLover9999 shared.
"Death to the mushroom spies! We'll eradicate you all until there's not a single mushroom left in World of Eternia!" JayRock responded to MushromLover9999
"Is the war going to start when we see the mushroom faction or when we meet up in front of Duke Gaul's territory?" Salamdaner questioned.
King Avery looked down at the Cursed Hero, Brandon, and the tied-up knights disguised as bandits. The conflicted look on his face varied between appreciation and irritation. He wasn't irritated at the adventurer but simply at what his dire news meant for their kingdom. News like this needed to be acted on immediately. It also added far more grey hairs to his head and beard than he was comfortable with.
"Reward the Cursed Hero for his righteous actions taken to protect this kingdom and the human race. Chancellor! Marshal! Follow me." King Avery rose from his throne.
"Your Majesty, I am grateful for your benevolence." Brandon rose from his kneeling position as he fought to keep the maniacal smile from forming on his face.
When Brandon successfully made it outside of the castle, he could no longer keep himself in check. He thrust his hips and fists into the air while whooping and hollering. Being rewarded by the King himself was better than anything else he's ever been rewarded within the game so far. A legendary achievement, a crazy amount of experience, a stupid amount of reputation increase, and a quest to become an actual Duke!
The first part of the quest was to raise an army strong enough to go to war with Duke Gaul and his territory. The important part of this quest was because of the wording, he didn't have to rely on NPCs specifically. This meant he could make a post on the game's forums about this quest and build an army of players to raid Duke Gaul's territory without even lifting a finger! This game had an active player base with over two million players on the daily.
Logging out after being given weird looks by the guards at the entrance of the palace. Brandon swiftly exited from his gaming pod and went to his computer. His impressive sky-view loft from the middle of a bustling city was still taking some time to get used to, but right now, he had something more important than the beautiful sights outside his glass windows. Logging onto the forums, Brandon didn't even need to make his post elaborate, detailed, or long. All he needed to say was, "big war. duke gaul territory. Salona." And he left his computer to go work on his hygiene and body.
Unlike other gamers, Brandon wasn't just any old gamer now that he got rich from World of Eternia. Befitting his status, Brandon made sure to avoid being seen or known as a stereotypical gamer. Bad hygiene, unhealthy body, and horrible eating habits. While he had all this money from selling high rarity loot that was useless for his class to other gamers, and could certainly afford to neglect his health. Why should he?! He was rich now! That meant he was better than a lot of people in society. What better way to embrace his newfound status in life than absolutely living it up!?
No longer did Brandon have to live the life of a useless, mediocre leech of society with an obsession with games. Now, video games were his job and source of income! It was a symbol of pride to him now after years of mockery and ridicule. After making the post, he started his daily regimen of exercising for thirty minutes. Then, he took a shower, cooked up a well-balanced meal, looked at the news for World of Eternia and other famous streamers who play it, and then brushed his teeth after eating. When he came back to his high-end gaming desktop, there were already dozens of posts on his war thread.
"Warwarwarwarwarwarwarwarwarwarwar." EpicGamer69 repeated before getting temporarily banned for spamming.
"Can you imagine the type of loot I can get from knights? I'm in, baby." LootGoblinSupreme liked the post.
"When should we be there?" TacticalGeniusBaby asked.
"Count me in as a healer! Every war needs support roles, too! I'll keep the army alive and kicking. Looking forward to seeing some dramatic and painful deaths. Let's make this a legendary war!" RoleplayEnthusiast added.
"Hey OP, I'm a low-level noob, but I'm eager to join the war! Do we need to be a specific level to join?" NoobSlayer99 questioned.
"I'll be there selling wares for anyone who needs stuff!" LegHumper liked the post.
"HUMANITY SHALL NEVER DIE!!!" ChampionAte liked the post.
"You fleshy bastards! You leave our traitorous Duke alone! The mushroom faction is aware of this post, and we shall be heading to Duke Gaul's territory to defend our noble!" MushroomLover9999 shared.
"Death to the mushroom spies! We'll eradicate you all until there's not a single mushroom left in World of Eternia!" JayRock responded to MushromLover9999
"Is the war going to start when we see the mushroom faction or when we meet up in front of Duke Gaul's territory?" Salamdaner questioned.
Chapter 17 World 2: First Players' War!
The setting sun painted the battlefield in warm hues as thousands of players gathered in front of Duke Gaul's looming territory. The air was thick with leisurely activities as the players chatted, purchased equipment from players and NPCs who were selling for the upcoming war, and formulated strategies.
Players were aware that NPCs in World of Eternia were incredibly realistic, but it still surprised them to see how realistic they were sometimes. Like this upcoming war between Humanity and the Mushrooms was a player-only thing. There was no quest or anything related to the NPCs in this war. Players just wanted to fight for their faction. If the storyline was going according to its original path, Brandon would be training an army of NPC soldiers from the capital, preparing to descend on Duke Gaul's territory.
However, due to his decision to inform the other players about his quest, it led to this player-only battle. Apparently, this mass migration of adventurers was not difficult for merchants and the like to miss. They traveled in droves as the smell of sweet, sweet money assaulted their nostrils. Now, they were selling their wares to both sides of the upcoming war until they were sold out! Most merchants had enough of a conscience to sell only to those from the human race, but there were a few unscrupulous merchants who only cared for the coinage and sold to both sides.
Eventually, once everyone was logged in and ready to go, both sides got into formation as the war was about to begin. While the average player had no real war training or knowledge, that wouldn't stop them from acting like they did as they formed up like actual soldiers going to war. And then, like it always happens when it involved player-formed large skirmishes, it started with mass ear-deafening screaming as they rushed toward each other. Most of the hastily made formations that players emulated from different forms of media broke down at this stage.
The war was slowly transitioning from an actual battle to a different scene of reality. Enemies on the other side of the battle began to turn into nothing but incoming experience points. They were no longer humans, but the humanoid personification of exp that would make them stronger. In no time, the corner of their lips widened as the fun was mere moments from the beginning.
Then, the two sides collided with dozens of players being knocked high into the sky, impaled, slashed, decapitated, trampled, or fighting. The war has truly begun as the mass of digital characters fully embraced bloodshed, combat, and one of the most important things in a video game: having fun.
"Someone, please explain why there are thousands of adventurers fighting outside my territory…" Duke Gaul's hand ran down his face in exasperation.
"We are not completely sure yet, my Lord." One of Duke Gaul's knights responded. "None of them seem to be entirely coherent, and both sides are fighting to the death. When one of our scouts went forward to question one of the wounded, he was stabbed in the chest by the human with a crazed smile on his face before he screamed. 'I got one of the traitors! Yes!'"
"Traitors? Does King Avery perhaps suspect something?" Duke Gaul scratched his double chin. "No, that's impossible... He wouldn't rely on mere Adventurers to deal with me. The royal army would be outside rather than those adventurers." Duke Gaul stood up.
"No matter. Prepare the army, just in case. I'm not afraid of some adventurers, but I'd rather their squabble not involve my people." Duke Gaul ordered.
"Should we gather the citizens for their safety and inform them that there might be something to be worried about, my Lord?" A knight questioned.
"No, that isn't necessary." Duke Gaul's eyebrow rose when the knight asked this question.
Those who have eaten the Queen's mushroom should already be informed after he's received the news. Duke Gaul has long converted all of his citizens to becoming his Queen's children. This knight must have been converted recently if he wasn't aware of how the system worked between them and their Queen.
"Now be gone, all of you. Hasten your preparations, ensuring not a single error befalls. Keep vigilant watch over the battle and promptly relay to me the victor's name and their subsequent actions. I cannot fathom that these adventurers have engaged in an abrupt conflict within my domain without apparent cause."
"Yes, my Lord!" Multiple knights ran out to do their duties.
Players were aware that NPCs in World of Eternia were incredibly realistic, but it still surprised them to see how realistic they were sometimes. Like this upcoming war between Humanity and the Mushrooms was a player-only thing. There was no quest or anything related to the NPCs in this war. Players just wanted to fight for their faction. If the storyline was going according to its original path, Brandon would be training an army of NPC soldiers from the capital, preparing to descend on Duke Gaul's territory.
However, due to his decision to inform the other players about his quest, it led to this player-only battle. Apparently, this mass migration of adventurers was not difficult for merchants and the like to miss. They traveled in droves as the smell of sweet, sweet money assaulted their nostrils. Now, they were selling their wares to both sides of the upcoming war until they were sold out! Most merchants had enough of a conscience to sell only to those from the human race, but there were a few unscrupulous merchants who only cared for the coinage and sold to both sides.
Eventually, once everyone was logged in and ready to go, both sides got into formation as the war was about to begin. While the average player had no real war training or knowledge, that wouldn't stop them from acting like they did as they formed up like actual soldiers going to war. And then, like it always happens when it involved player-formed large skirmishes, it started with mass ear-deafening screaming as they rushed toward each other. Most of the hastily made formations that players emulated from different forms of media broke down at this stage.
The war was slowly transitioning from an actual battle to a different scene of reality. Enemies on the other side of the battle began to turn into nothing but incoming experience points. They were no longer humans, but the humanoid personification of exp that would make them stronger. In no time, the corner of their lips widened as the fun was mere moments from the beginning.
Then, the two sides collided with dozens of players being knocked high into the sky, impaled, slashed, decapitated, trampled, or fighting. The war has truly begun as the mass of digital characters fully embraced bloodshed, combat, and one of the most important things in a video game: having fun.
"Someone, please explain why there are thousands of adventurers fighting outside my territory…" Duke Gaul's hand ran down his face in exasperation.
"We are not completely sure yet, my Lord." One of Duke Gaul's knights responded. "None of them seem to be entirely coherent, and both sides are fighting to the death. When one of our scouts went forward to question one of the wounded, he was stabbed in the chest by the human with a crazed smile on his face before he screamed. 'I got one of the traitors! Yes!'"
"Traitors? Does King Avery perhaps suspect something?" Duke Gaul scratched his double chin. "No, that's impossible... He wouldn't rely on mere Adventurers to deal with me. The royal army would be outside rather than those adventurers." Duke Gaul stood up.
"No matter. Prepare the army, just in case. I'm not afraid of some adventurers, but I'd rather their squabble not involve my people." Duke Gaul ordered.
"Should we gather the citizens for their safety and inform them that there might be something to be worried about, my Lord?" A knight questioned.
"No, that isn't necessary." Duke Gaul's eyebrow rose when the knight asked this question.
Those who have eaten the Queen's mushroom should already be informed after he's received the news. Duke Gaul has long converted all of his citizens to becoming his Queen's children. This knight must have been converted recently if he wasn't aware of how the system worked between them and their Queen.
"Now be gone, all of you. Hasten your preparations, ensuring not a single error befalls. Keep vigilant watch over the battle and promptly relay to me the victor's name and their subsequent actions. I cannot fathom that these adventurers have engaged in an abrupt conflict within my domain without apparent cause."
"Yes, my Lord!" Multiple knights ran out to do their duties.
Chapter 18 World 2: The Funnest War!
"Yee doggy! I ain't have me no fun like this a long ass time!" A loud twang came from OneArrowMan's Greatbow.
He stamped his four hooves in excitement after seeing his arrow gouge out 75% of a man's head. A scene only visible to those who were 18 and older. OneArrowMan was a centaur Ranger who took the advancement quest into a Sniper. "You know, I was having trouble thinking of something good 'nuff to help me level up quickly. Who would've thought that something like this would just plop itself into our laps?" He chuckled.
"I'm leveling my Merchant profession like crazy! By the time this war is over, I'll be a level 5 Merchant when I came here as a level 2!" GoldBlood laughed as he sold another set of arrows to OneArrowMan.
OneArrowMan continued to let out thick, sharp arrows onto the battlefield until he ran out and had to buy more from his merchant buddy. Instead of targeting classes with high body stats, OneArrowMan just fired at any squishy classes out of position. Mages, Rogues, Healers, and other Rangers. The only time he would waste an arrow on a class with a high body stat was if they were just standing still for some reason, and he could land an easy headshot.
But they would have to cut through an entire army of other players just to reach OneArrowMan, who was safely shooting from the rear position of Humanity's army. OneArrowMan wasn't the only one safely firing from the back. There were other Rangers, Mages, and Healers back in this position, too. He was one of many.
"We should have wars like this more often. You think I can make a forum post just telling people to come to a random location, and they'll do it?" OneArrowMan asked.
"It worked for the guy who got us here." GoldBlood shrugged.
"We're gonna be max level in no time." OneArrowMan deviously cackled.
"RAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" HammerTimeBaby roared while he swung his warhammer like a cyclone.
Multiple players died directly from this blow or were sent flying from the knockback done by this skill. HammerTimeBaby madly laughed as he brought his hammer down on the skull of one of the players downed by his Lethal Whirlwind skill. Several players rushed toward him with their weapons after recovering. His skin glowed with a shiny silver sheen. Their attacks did little against his metallic skin while his Body stat directly increased! "Fucking bullshit mushroom abilities." A Rogue angrily swore. "Mushroom Race Supremacy!!!" HammerTimeBaby crazily swung his hammer around. Not a sign of skill could be seen in the way he wielded it.
This player part of the Troll race was on the side of the Mushroom faction. He devoured a Metal Mushroom, which gave him the ability to turn himself into metal! This allowed him to increase his body stat greatly but at a heavy cost to his Magic stat and Mind Stat. His speed was also affected when using his mushroom abilities.
"Get his ass!" Despite his tough body and brutal attacks, HammerTimeBaby was not invincible.
"NOOOOO!!! MY LEGACY!!!" He screamed in death as several weapons whacked him to death.
As strong and tough as he was, that didn't mean he could just eat everything thrown at him. There were weapons, skills, and items that did damage based on percentage health, armor penetration, and true damage. Eventually, something was going to take him down. Not to mention the fact that he just rushed in by himself to take on a group of them. "Mushroom bastard." The rogue spat on the Troll's corpse.
"So, how's the war going for you guys?" pickmetoes asked.
"I can't wait to go back home and see my mom." supercoolgamer342 responded.
"Hey, what's that?" A Duelist, an advancement path of Ranger, heard something.
"A bunch of idiots just standing around in the middle of a battlefield?! HEEHEE HOOHOO! TIME FOR A COLLATORAL BABY!" Goblin player, ImAPickle!!!, pulled down on the lever for some gigantic contraption of metallic hell.
It didn't take long before this device showed what it was capable of. A thunderous explosion boomed as the artillery activated, firing a molten heap of sharp scrap over toward the battlefield. ImAPickle!!! received several debuffs from being so close to the loud device, but there was nothing but a diabolic fit of giggles as he saw his experience bar being filled and leveling up. "IT WORKED! HEHEHEHAHAHA!" This hellish cannon of his was actually a device he personally built, unsure if it would work or not. He thought, what better place to test it than on the battlefield?! And it seemed his gambit worked out well…
"NOOOOOO!!!" pickmetoes let out a bloodcurdling scream as all of his party was wiped out in an instant from a cannonball.
He heard a snicker behind him. "What the hell? Is this a war movie or something?" A Shadow Fae appeared behind him, slipping a knife into pickmetoes's back. Shadow was one of the job advancements for Rogues. Pickmetoes perished alongside his allies as the Shadow Fae vanished to gain some more experience.
He stamped his four hooves in excitement after seeing his arrow gouge out 75% of a man's head. A scene only visible to those who were 18 and older. OneArrowMan was a centaur Ranger who took the advancement quest into a Sniper. "You know, I was having trouble thinking of something good 'nuff to help me level up quickly. Who would've thought that something like this would just plop itself into our laps?" He chuckled.
"I'm leveling my Merchant profession like crazy! By the time this war is over, I'll be a level 5 Merchant when I came here as a level 2!" GoldBlood laughed as he sold another set of arrows to OneArrowMan.
OneArrowMan continued to let out thick, sharp arrows onto the battlefield until he ran out and had to buy more from his merchant buddy. Instead of targeting classes with high body stats, OneArrowMan just fired at any squishy classes out of position. Mages, Rogues, Healers, and other Rangers. The only time he would waste an arrow on a class with a high body stat was if they were just standing still for some reason, and he could land an easy headshot.
But they would have to cut through an entire army of other players just to reach OneArrowMan, who was safely shooting from the rear position of Humanity's army. OneArrowMan wasn't the only one safely firing from the back. There were other Rangers, Mages, and Healers back in this position, too. He was one of many.
"We should have wars like this more often. You think I can make a forum post just telling people to come to a random location, and they'll do it?" OneArrowMan asked.
"It worked for the guy who got us here." GoldBlood shrugged.
"We're gonna be max level in no time." OneArrowMan deviously cackled.
"RAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" HammerTimeBaby roared while he swung his warhammer like a cyclone.
Multiple players died directly from this blow or were sent flying from the knockback done by this skill. HammerTimeBaby madly laughed as he brought his hammer down on the skull of one of the players downed by his Lethal Whirlwind skill. Several players rushed toward him with their weapons after recovering. His skin glowed with a shiny silver sheen. Their attacks did little against his metallic skin while his Body stat directly increased! "Fucking bullshit mushroom abilities." A Rogue angrily swore. "Mushroom Race Supremacy!!!" HammerTimeBaby crazily swung his hammer around. Not a sign of skill could be seen in the way he wielded it.
This player part of the Troll race was on the side of the Mushroom faction. He devoured a Metal Mushroom, which gave him the ability to turn himself into metal! This allowed him to increase his body stat greatly but at a heavy cost to his Magic stat and Mind Stat. His speed was also affected when using his mushroom abilities.
"Get his ass!" Despite his tough body and brutal attacks, HammerTimeBaby was not invincible.
"NOOOOO!!! MY LEGACY!!!" He screamed in death as several weapons whacked him to death.
As strong and tough as he was, that didn't mean he could just eat everything thrown at him. There were weapons, skills, and items that did damage based on percentage health, armor penetration, and true damage. Eventually, something was going to take him down. Not to mention the fact that he just rushed in by himself to take on a group of them. "Mushroom bastard." The rogue spat on the Troll's corpse.
"So, how's the war going for you guys?" pickmetoes asked.
"I can't wait to go back home and see my mom." supercoolgamer342 responded.
"Hey, what's that?" A Duelist, an advancement path of Ranger, heard something.
"A bunch of idiots just standing around in the middle of a battlefield?! HEEHEE HOOHOO! TIME FOR A COLLATORAL BABY!" Goblin player, ImAPickle!!!, pulled down on the lever for some gigantic contraption of metallic hell.
It didn't take long before this device showed what it was capable of. A thunderous explosion boomed as the artillery activated, firing a molten heap of sharp scrap over toward the battlefield. ImAPickle!!! received several debuffs from being so close to the loud device, but there was nothing but a diabolic fit of giggles as he saw his experience bar being filled and leveling up. "IT WORKED! HEHEHEHAHAHA!" This hellish cannon of his was actually a device he personally built, unsure if it would work or not. He thought, what better place to test it than on the battlefield?! And it seemed his gambit worked out well…
"NOOOOOO!!!" pickmetoes let out a bloodcurdling scream as all of his party was wiped out in an instant from a cannonball.
He heard a snicker behind him. "What the hell? Is this a war movie or something?" A Shadow Fae appeared behind him, slipping a knife into pickmetoes's back. Shadow was one of the job advancements for Rogues. Pickmetoes perished alongside his allies as the Shadow Fae vanished to gain some more experience.
Chapter 19 World 2: The Mushies Lost?!
As much fun as the players were having killing each other in this incredibly realistic fantasy world, they couldn't just war with each other non-stop. Despite the amazing diverse abilities wielded by the Mushrooms, they didn't have the manpower to effectively win the war between Humanity and its alliance with numerous other races. Humanity's combined army outnumbered those of the Mushrooms. And since this was a player-only war, the Mushrooms couldn't utilize their greatest advantage when warring with other races.
Forcefully converting their defeated foes into allies by feeding them mushrooms. If they tried force-feeding one of the players from the opposing army, they'd only be giving them a temporary boost since players could refuse the Mushroom Queen's influence and still gain the abilities of the mushrooms. It was a sad day for Mushroom players when the game's system officially announced that they lost the player-made war. If the combined forces of Humanity and the other races could defeat them here, did that mean their global war against the world was a lost cause as well?
Title: Are the Mushrooms Doomed?
"Hey guys, I wanted to share some post-battle discussing the first player-only war between Humanity and the Mushrooms. Despite the outcome not being in our favor, there's always room for learning and strategizing. So, let's dive into it:
"I do wonder about that last question. While we are immune to the influences of the Mushroom Queen's mushrooms if we choose, I wonder what happens to us if the Mushroom Queen wins." ElaborateMerchant questioned.
"Maybe we'll be slaves." footballboy guessed.
"Oh yeah, there will be no more NPC's except the Mushrooms. Do you think we could takeover the kingdoms, villages, and towns and stuff?" Brapboy liked the post.
"The Mushroom Queen ain't losing. I don't know if you guys know or not, but she's like overpowered? The definition of overpowered. Just the strength of one of the Generals is enough to fart on any of the top guilds right now. We need a lot more time to level up before anyone is ready to take on the Mushroom Queen and her army." Kubo shared his opinion.
"Everyone knows a global war is an automatic loss. The Mushroom Queen don't got no allies. Once we find a way to neutralize her mind control mushrooms, it's a wrap." Manro boasted.
"You guys are all our allies, hehe. If we're running out of resources, we'll just feed a couple important NPCs some mushrooms and change the war around. I mean can you imagine if we manage to takeover one of the faction leaders with a mushroom? Huge turnaround for the warfront." Ventilation explained.
"I think we should stick to warring with NPCs. The mushroom conversion strategy is too overpowered. We're at a major loss fighting against players as the Mushrooms. We don't got the numbers to be fighting against them when our strongest tactic is neutralized by them." Nesty liked the post.
In the end, the Mushrooms called it quits against fighting players in a player-only war. As fun as it was, attempting to rematch when they knew for sure it would be a lost didn't sound too enjoyable for most people.
Forcefully converting their defeated foes into allies by feeding them mushrooms. If they tried force-feeding one of the players from the opposing army, they'd only be giving them a temporary boost since players could refuse the Mushroom Queen's influence and still gain the abilities of the mushrooms. It was a sad day for Mushroom players when the game's system officially announced that they lost the player-made war. If the combined forces of Humanity and the other races could defeat them here, did that mean their global war against the world was a lost cause as well?
Title: Are the Mushrooms Doomed?
"Hey guys, I wanted to share some post-battle discussing the first player-only war between Humanity and the Mushrooms. Despite the outcome not being in our favor, there's always room for learning and strategizing. So, let's dive into it:
- It's crucial to understand the reasons behind our loss. Was it purely due to the numerical advantage of Humanity and its allies, or were there other factors at play? Let's discuss below.
- Our ability to transform others into Mushrooms is a negative when it comes to fighting against players. What are some advantages besides the abilities they give us that you think we can use to get the upper hand over them?
- Our defeat doesn't mean we're out of the game.
- The power of numbers should not be underestimated. Let's discuss the possibility of bringing along NPCs to the war to help bolster our numbers.
- The outcome of the player-made war against Humanity has broader implications for our ongoing fight against the world within the game. Let's delve into the consequences of our defeat and how it might affect our overall struggle. Share your thoughts on the challenges we might face and potential strategies to overcome them. Do you think that the Mushroom Queen's global domination is doomed for failure after our loss?" MushyBaby posted.
"I do wonder about that last question. While we are immune to the influences of the Mushroom Queen's mushrooms if we choose, I wonder what happens to us if the Mushroom Queen wins." ElaborateMerchant questioned.
"Maybe we'll be slaves." footballboy guessed.
"Oh yeah, there will be no more NPC's except the Mushrooms. Do you think we could takeover the kingdoms, villages, and towns and stuff?" Brapboy liked the post.
"The Mushroom Queen ain't losing. I don't know if you guys know or not, but she's like overpowered? The definition of overpowered. Just the strength of one of the Generals is enough to fart on any of the top guilds right now. We need a lot more time to level up before anyone is ready to take on the Mushroom Queen and her army." Kubo shared his opinion.
"Everyone knows a global war is an automatic loss. The Mushroom Queen don't got no allies. Once we find a way to neutralize her mind control mushrooms, it's a wrap." Manro boasted.
"You guys are all our allies, hehe. If we're running out of resources, we'll just feed a couple important NPCs some mushrooms and change the war around. I mean can you imagine if we manage to takeover one of the faction leaders with a mushroom? Huge turnaround for the warfront." Ventilation explained.
"I think we should stick to warring with NPCs. The mushroom conversion strategy is too overpowered. We're at a major loss fighting against players as the Mushrooms. We don't got the numbers to be fighting against them when our strongest tactic is neutralized by them." Nesty liked the post.
In the end, the Mushrooms called it quits against fighting players in a player-only war. As fun as it was, attempting to rematch when they knew for sure it would be a lost didn't sound too enjoyable for most people.
Chapter 20 World 2: Humanity's Bloodthirsty Offensive.
After Humanity's victory over the mushroom players attempting to defend their traitorous important NPC, they didn't schedule another date to attack Duke Gaul's territory. After the game's internal AI announced that they were the winners, players ran out like unsupervised toddlers across the sea of corpses into Duke Gaul's territory. For the first time ever, they were able to raid, pillage, and siege multiple times without penalties! In fact, they were rewarded with experience points when slaying the Mushroom people living like innocent humans, gifted achievements for reclaiming Humanity's territory, and gaining so much reputation points for ridding the world of the disgusting fungi invasion.
TheGrimActualReaper couldn't hide his sinister grin as he stepped into the innocent village within Duke Gaul's territory. Two wicked, serrated blades materialized in his hand, pulsating with an ominous bloody glow. He was a Dual Swordsman. The Dual Swordsman was the third job advancement for Knights. It focused heavily on fast attacks and crits but without forgetting the toughness of a knight.
The villagers looked at him with smiles and greetings, thinking of him as nothing more than just another adventurer. Unfortunately for them, he's just been given a damn good quest by the game. A damn good quest that has him looking at them less like people and more like experience points.
"Excuse me, Mr. Adventurer! Can you help me find my doggy? I last saw him-" The poor little girl didn't get to finish her words.
With a burst of maniacal laughter, TheGrimActualReaper swung his malevolent blade with a sadistic fervor. The child's head went flying into the air, and TheGrimActualReaper couldn't help but whistle at the realism. It felt like he really just killed a little girl! When decapitating the head of an innocent child, TheGrimActualReaper expected all the villagers to suddenly go crazy and charge him together in one massive mob. But something strange happened.
They started screaming and running away… Now, a person with a little bit more morals and humanity would've questioned this for more than a mere second. However, TheGrimActualReaper was one, a gamer, and two, part of humanity. So the terrified screams and frantic running in his eyes were nothing more than the game telling him it was perfectly acceptable for him to go on a rampage and slaughter these Mushrooms!
The grotesque joy of raiding and pillaging escalated into a blood-soaked frenzy forTheGrimActualReaper. "WHERE ARE YOU MUSHIES RUNNING?! YOUR EXPERIENCE IS MINE!!!" He screamed as he dashed forward. Limbs were severed, blood sprayed across the desecrated village, and agonized wails filled the air. TheGrimActualReaper noticed that he truly wasn't taking any sort of penalties for his actions, even as he pierced through the body of a mother attempting to protect her son. Well, except for his massively plummeting reputation with the Mushroom Faction. But that was in the negatives to begin with, so it didn't matter how low that got.
In the midst of the chaos, TheGrimActualReaper reveled in the visceral satisfaction of his righteous purge. The previous Mushroom village became a disturbing mess of corpses. His scarred face, illuminated by the glow of his blades, remained eternally contorted in a grotesque grin as he continued his merciless rampage. After it was all over, there was a single man laughing to the heavens as experience points, and an achievement was granted to him.
In the heart of a medieval town owned by Duke Gaul, chaos reigned supreme as a party of four happily joined the ongoing pillaging with an appetite for experience and peak gaming freedom. The once-peaceful Mushroom settlement now bore witness to an unspeakable atrocity. ICan'tBeStopped, a Shieldmaster, towered over the Mushroom villagers with an imposing presence. His greatshield, designed with humanity's logo, became a tool of offense as he mercilessly bashed through buildings and Mushroom residents. Shieldmasters were one of the three job advance paths for Knights, but with a heavy focus on health, defense, and CC (Crowd Control).
Like a rampaging bull, he used his shield like a battering ram as he rushed through the city being raided by multiple players. He even received an achievement for knocking down so many buildings eventually which helped him destroy even more! Of course, if he saw any hiding or fleeing Mushroom people, he would trample them or brutally beat them until they became experience points.
IAloneAmTheHonoredOne, a Dark Mage, was a bit more focused on leveling her skills and self than wrecking through the city like a certain dumbass. She focused on searching for those hiding, fighting, or fleeing in an attempt to escape their siege on the town. As a Dark Mage, her skills were more focused on causing as much damage as possible along with debuffs attached to those destructive spells. As she strolled through the ruined city, she noticed a strange sound. It kind of sounded like muffled crying?
With a flick of her staff, she unleashed a ball of dark magic toward the source of the sound. When the magic spell reached the inn, it violently exploded. She heard multiple anguished screams harmonized with the crackling of evil magic. A satisfied smile appeared on her face as she got her first collateral kill with that spell. IAloneAmTheHonoredOne even leveled up from it. Geez, how many monsters did she kill?
OneStrikeOneKill, a Protector, moved with predatory grace, seamlessly blending into the shadows. Protectors were one of the three job advancement classes for Rogues, a Robin Hood type path. Doing good while engaging in acts of infamy. In the cover of the burning buildings and dark alleyways, she struck with deadly precision, her daggers slicing through the Mushroom people with swift, silent efficiency.
CallMeDaddy, a Time Witch, unleashed temporal distortions that plunged anyone in his eyesight, to certain death. Time Witches were the third job advancement for Mages. A support-focused class with a focus on debuffs and buffs. Mushroom villagers, caught in the warped flow of time, experienced a nightmarish reality where seconds felt like hours. Their movements were completely slowed, allowing others to easily kill them in their slowed state.
As the quartet continued their merciless onslaught, the background showcased an even grimmer spectacle—a horde of other players ruthlessly pillaging and slaughtering the Mushroom people. Weapons clashed, spells erupted, and the town square became a battlefield of war where morality was cast aside. Horrific deaths unfolded as ICan'tBeStopped shield-bashed an entire group of knights, sending them sprawling in a domino effect. IAloneAmTheHonoredOne, with a faint smile, summoned a dark vortex that consumed the disorientated knights, their bodies disintegrating into nothingness. OneStrikeOneKill attacked any vulnerable enemies, leaving the tough enemies to her allies. CallmeDaddy, embracing the fun and engaging gameplay, manipulated time to increase the speed, of his allies.
All in all, Humanity players were finally getting their revenge for being pushed so far by the Mushroom Faction. And they were living it up to their absolute best.
TheGrimActualReaper couldn't hide his sinister grin as he stepped into the innocent village within Duke Gaul's territory. Two wicked, serrated blades materialized in his hand, pulsating with an ominous bloody glow. He was a Dual Swordsman. The Dual Swordsman was the third job advancement for Knights. It focused heavily on fast attacks and crits but without forgetting the toughness of a knight.
The villagers looked at him with smiles and greetings, thinking of him as nothing more than just another adventurer. Unfortunately for them, he's just been given a damn good quest by the game. A damn good quest that has him looking at them less like people and more like experience points.
"Excuse me, Mr. Adventurer! Can you help me find my doggy? I last saw him-" The poor little girl didn't get to finish her words.
With a burst of maniacal laughter, TheGrimActualReaper swung his malevolent blade with a sadistic fervor. The child's head went flying into the air, and TheGrimActualReaper couldn't help but whistle at the realism. It felt like he really just killed a little girl! When decapitating the head of an innocent child, TheGrimActualReaper expected all the villagers to suddenly go crazy and charge him together in one massive mob. But something strange happened.
They started screaming and running away… Now, a person with a little bit more morals and humanity would've questioned this for more than a mere second. However, TheGrimActualReaper was one, a gamer, and two, part of humanity. So the terrified screams and frantic running in his eyes were nothing more than the game telling him it was perfectly acceptable for him to go on a rampage and slaughter these Mushrooms!
The grotesque joy of raiding and pillaging escalated into a blood-soaked frenzy forTheGrimActualReaper. "WHERE ARE YOU MUSHIES RUNNING?! YOUR EXPERIENCE IS MINE!!!" He screamed as he dashed forward. Limbs were severed, blood sprayed across the desecrated village, and agonized wails filled the air. TheGrimActualReaper noticed that he truly wasn't taking any sort of penalties for his actions, even as he pierced through the body of a mother attempting to protect her son. Well, except for his massively plummeting reputation with the Mushroom Faction. But that was in the negatives to begin with, so it didn't matter how low that got.
In the midst of the chaos, TheGrimActualReaper reveled in the visceral satisfaction of his righteous purge. The previous Mushroom village became a disturbing mess of corpses. His scarred face, illuminated by the glow of his blades, remained eternally contorted in a grotesque grin as he continued his merciless rampage. After it was all over, there was a single man laughing to the heavens as experience points, and an achievement was granted to him.
Humanity's Most Righteous Slaughterer
In the heart of a medieval town owned by Duke Gaul, chaos reigned supreme as a party of four happily joined the ongoing pillaging with an appetite for experience and peak gaming freedom. The once-peaceful Mushroom settlement now bore witness to an unspeakable atrocity. ICan'tBeStopped, a Shieldmaster, towered over the Mushroom villagers with an imposing presence. His greatshield, designed with humanity's logo, became a tool of offense as he mercilessly bashed through buildings and Mushroom residents. Shieldmasters were one of the three job advance paths for Knights, but with a heavy focus on health, defense, and CC (Crowd Control).
Like a rampaging bull, he used his shield like a battering ram as he rushed through the city being raided by multiple players. He even received an achievement for knocking down so many buildings eventually which helped him destroy even more! Of course, if he saw any hiding or fleeing Mushroom people, he would trample them or brutally beat them until they became experience points.
IAloneAmTheHonoredOne, a Dark Mage, was a bit more focused on leveling her skills and self than wrecking through the city like a certain dumbass. She focused on searching for those hiding, fighting, or fleeing in an attempt to escape their siege on the town. As a Dark Mage, her skills were more focused on causing as much damage as possible along with debuffs attached to those destructive spells. As she strolled through the ruined city, she noticed a strange sound. It kind of sounded like muffled crying?
With a flick of her staff, she unleashed a ball of dark magic toward the source of the sound. When the magic spell reached the inn, it violently exploded. She heard multiple anguished screams harmonized with the crackling of evil magic. A satisfied smile appeared on her face as she got her first collateral kill with that spell. IAloneAmTheHonoredOne even leveled up from it. Geez, how many monsters did she kill?
OneStrikeOneKill, a Protector, moved with predatory grace, seamlessly blending into the shadows. Protectors were one of the three job advancement classes for Rogues, a Robin Hood type path. Doing good while engaging in acts of infamy. In the cover of the burning buildings and dark alleyways, she struck with deadly precision, her daggers slicing through the Mushroom people with swift, silent efficiency.
CallMeDaddy, a Time Witch, unleashed temporal distortions that plunged anyone in his eyesight, to certain death. Time Witches were the third job advancement for Mages. A support-focused class with a focus on debuffs and buffs. Mushroom villagers, caught in the warped flow of time, experienced a nightmarish reality where seconds felt like hours. Their movements were completely slowed, allowing others to easily kill them in their slowed state.
As the quartet continued their merciless onslaught, the background showcased an even grimmer spectacle—a horde of other players ruthlessly pillaging and slaughtering the Mushroom people. Weapons clashed, spells erupted, and the town square became a battlefield of war where morality was cast aside. Horrific deaths unfolded as ICan'tBeStopped shield-bashed an entire group of knights, sending them sprawling in a domino effect. IAloneAmTheHonoredOne, with a faint smile, summoned a dark vortex that consumed the disorientated knights, their bodies disintegrating into nothingness. OneStrikeOneKill attacked any vulnerable enemies, leaving the tough enemies to her allies. CallmeDaddy, embracing the fun and engaging gameplay, manipulated time to increase the speed, of his allies.
All in all, Humanity players were finally getting their revenge for being pushed so far by the Mushroom Faction. And they were living it up to their absolute best.
Bad News...
Hey guys, it's been a while and unfortunately, i do not have good news for you all.
I lost access to all of my stories and my notes. My main email was compromised and a majority of my writing and chapters were in my google drive. Because my account is compromised, i am unable to take anything out of my account. Putting it plainly, i'm starting all over from the beginning with nothing but my imagination and inspiration. Years of hard work and notes and stories and ideas all kind of gone.
It sucks but nothing much i can really do but start over. For now, i'm gonna take a break from writing. Step away and clear my mind and that sort of stuff. I do plan to return eventually. Writing is in my soul, I believe.
When i return, I'll be fast tracking toward the completion of Life Isn't So Simple Anymore and I'm a Proud Member of the Frieza Force. Then i'll focus on A Day in the Life and perhaps another story.
P.S. Do not use Google Drive as your sole storage for things. Spread them out across multiple databases.
And I want to thank everyone who's supported me so far, it means a lot. I hope my stories brought some joy and entertainment into your lives even if only just a tiny bit. I started writing for myself but it is still nice to see that my stories affect people positively.
I lost access to all of my stories and my notes. My main email was compromised and a majority of my writing and chapters were in my google drive. Because my account is compromised, i am unable to take anything out of my account. Putting it plainly, i'm starting all over from the beginning with nothing but my imagination and inspiration. Years of hard work and notes and stories and ideas all kind of gone.
It sucks but nothing much i can really do but start over. For now, i'm gonna take a break from writing. Step away and clear my mind and that sort of stuff. I do plan to return eventually. Writing is in my soul, I believe.
When i return, I'll be fast tracking toward the completion of Life Isn't So Simple Anymore and I'm a Proud Member of the Frieza Force. Then i'll focus on A Day in the Life and perhaps another story.
P.S. Do not use Google Drive as your sole storage for things. Spread them out across multiple databases.
And I want to thank everyone who's supported me so far, it means a lot. I hope my stories brought some joy and entertainment into your lives even if only just a tiny bit. I started writing for myself but it is still nice to see that my stories affect people positively.