4. Mistral Forest Grand Welcome
The only thing I can describe it as is a ghastly-looking, ugly-faced giant. I run to meet the girl. Upon a closer look, she looks like an elf, though her ears aren't as pointy as mine. Her green eyes are filled with terror as she runs toward my direction. I grab her by the waist, her long silky blonde hair fluttering in the wind.
"Don't worry, I got you. You are safe now." I stare deep into her eyes.
"Look out!" she is shouting at me? Well, I guess she's just worried. The moment the giant monstrosity enters into the 10-meter radius, its mana starts to go haywire. It will soon burst, but I need to put up a show.
"Shadow manipulation," I chant in my mind, creating a sword made out of shadow energy. A single cut to the distressed giant and it scatters into pieces, green blood surging from its body.
"You took a B-rank Apocalyptia out with just one strike!" Oh, is that what they are called? Never mind, she seems impressed.
I will take this chance to ask her about the Mistral Forest.
"Do you perhaps know of the Mistral Forest?" I ask her.
"Yes, I do, for that is my homeland, almighty high elf. I am Startia Nue Vuncaim, an elven noble of the House of Vuncaim. May I ask for your name, my lord?"
She kneels before me? I didn't expect this, but I guess I should play along. I mean, how bad can it get?
"I am Havert, a wandering high elf who seeks out his homeland of Mistriel." Judging from the look on her face, she bought it. I guess those poetry classes I took for fun are finally paying off.
[Attention to all players. Now that 10 players have killed an Army Boss, the Ranking Board has now been created.]
A huge wide screen appears before me. The names of players fill it. And at the very top was me — Savage Mallet, Level 15.
[All the players in the Top 20 will now receive equipment suitable for their circuits. The rank of the equipment will vary based on placement. Rank 11–20 will receive B-rank equipment. Rank 6–10 will receive C-rank weapons. Rank 1–5 will receive S-rank equipment.]
[Rank 5 and above will now be known as "The Bakodang Pentagon." Any player with this title has the authority to create colonies on any land of their choice, with restrictions, which other players can join.]
[Every player has been given the right to create just one colony.]
[The rankings are gauged by level and colony development points. Losing one rank means losing the privileges that came with it.]
[Rank One has the right to ask one question and receive an immediate answer.]
This is a lot to process. A crest shaped like the logo of the game appears on the left side of my neck immediately after the announcement ceases. That wasn't all — a necklace appears around my neck from nowhere.
[You have successfully equipped the S-rank equipment, Lukmain's Emblem.]
[Due to the effects of the emblem, you have gained the B-rank skill: Appraisal.]
"My lord, what are you staring at?" she calls back my attention.
"Nothing… nothing at all. How did you end up in this place?" I ask her.
"I departed from Mistriel on a mission from the High Priestess to find elixir that could boost one's mana. But my carriage was attacked by a very strong Apocalyptia. I escaped at the expense of my soldiers' lives. Upon escaping, I lost my way and ended up here." It's a firm story. I can't detect any lies in her words.
"So how do you intend to find your way back to the Mistriel Forest?" It's important information that I really need. If she doesn't have it, then she's simply useless.
"I possess a teleportation skill, but it is quite draining. I need to focus, and I can only use it once a month." Teleportation! That's a very useful ability. I kind of wish I had it myself. Finding my little sister would be way easier. Wait, but the fact that it can only be used once a month makes it almost useless.
"Don't worry about danger. I will protect you, so take all your time." I place my hand on her shoulder, reassuring her that she is in safe hands.
"Thank you so much, my lord." I should be the one thanking her, but either way. While she is casting, let me check the info on this colony stuff and Lukmain's Emblem.
According to the info, a colony is like a kingdom or rather a stronghold created by players by colonizing regions and races. Only high-ranking players can create multiple colonies and colonize any region of their choice. The average player is limited to one low-class region. Players can form alliances with other colonies. I can't find anything on the necklace. I guess I'll check the description on my status window.
Now! This is super brokenly OP. What do you mean it allows me to form skill chains — as in I can place the effects of my skills on one another — and also cloak my status window from detection, hide my ranker crest, and grant me the B-rank skill Appraisal, which allows me to check the status windows of the citizens of this world and players?
This is awesome!
"My lord, I am ready." It is finally time for her to begin her teleportation ritual.
"Call upon the pier of the great god of gateways, open a path to where I desire." The sky grows darker. I can feel the increasing density of mana in this area. Another Apocalyptia — I'll deal with you with some shadow arrows. I throw the arrows at it. Hmph! Another one-shot kill.
"Hetican's Gateway." She places both her hands together, raising them upwards. A gateway appears. She looks back — she couldn't believe the sight she was seeing: a pile of about 30 dead Apocalyptias.
[+5 EXP ×20]
[EXP doubled]
[You have leveled up.]
It's finally time to leave this blood-soaked beach. Beaches are meant to be relaxing, not war zones. "Let's get going, shall we?" We enter into the portal. Whoa! The Mistriel Forest looks amazing. I was expecting something fantastical, but I wasn't expecting it to look this good. Fresh-scented air envelops the environment, a calm breeze blowing on my blood-soaked skin. It feels refreshing.
"Lady Startia, we have long awaited your return—"
Startia immediately interrupts the elven guard. "Don't you have any manners? Didn't you see the high elf who stands before you?" Her nice and innocent character switches immediately in front of the guard. This is really shocking.
"Forgive me for my incompetence, great high elf. I greet thee." They're treating me as if I'm already royalty or something. I nod my head, not uttering a single word.
"My lord's words are too precious for me to receive. I concur." That's not what I meant, but anyhow.
Startia pulls me by my shoulder toward a huge, whimsically designed palace. Just by merely looking at them, the guards open the tall, large gate without her uttering a single word. I guess she's quite the prominent figure. I pull back my arm from her grasp.
"I don't remember giving you the right to hold me in such a way." I didn't want to destroy my facade.
"Sorry, please forgive me, my lord."
"I never thought I would live to see the day the almighty Lady Startia apologizes to someone apart from your father, Startia." A male elf steps out of the castle doors toward us.
"Because you refused to die, you old maggot." So she had been pretending all along, but then again, I had a feeling.
The ears of this elf are as pointy as mine. It is quite obvious that he's a high elf.
"Venamurd, head of the Elven Council." From what he was saying, it feels like he was the highest authority amongst the elves, and from the aura emitting from his body, he is quite strong.
"Appraisal." He is an SS-class Archmage. My guess was right — he is actually very strong.
"I am Havert, just a wandering high elf." He looks at me, trying to ascertain whether I was lying or not.
"Please, please, a guest like you shouldn't stand outside. Come in." He invites me into the palace.
[Would you like to make the Mistriel Forest your colony?]
If I answer yes, what could be the worst that will happen?
"Yes."
I didn't see any changes. Then suddenly, Startia and Venamurd kneel before me.
"I didn't realize you were one of them."
Huh? One of what exactly?