ried out, gazing in horror at the sea of flames

es stranded, their carts and horses brought to a su

Qizir," remarked one traveler, perched atop his c

?" scoffed an arrogant traveler, h

now. Who knows what happened?" the man replied, finally r

gh the forest and reach Hagram Base," o

we arrive late," the man muttered, swiftly

d the forest!" he declar

men promptly lined up,

t get caught near the Western Fortress," one of

r," the man asserted, urging his horse forw

behind it, followed by a long line of men dressed inc

~

r excitement palpable as she caught si

fought off the monster, everything

, and as the moonlight cascaded upon

ion's head, causing him to

t were caught off guard

ards the monster headfirst,

reached out to cut the web, preventing himself from cra

hed to Larion's aid. However, the monst

above, attempting to thru

anaged to cleave one of its legs in half, causing i

pe, Larion swiftly made hi

er tried to chase after him, but

ed smoke bomb, engulfing

to see clearly, falling victim to th

d to slash at Larion, but it

he smoke still lingered, Gilmore launche

before it could make contac

he smoke, which left it momentarily dizzy a

as Hubert delivered a powerful shield bash from the left,

zzier, causing it to fall forward

to give up. It swiftly retreated

ent's respite, despite their exhaustion from

ow to the Qizir, Larion had dashed around Gilmore, a

njured three spears made of pure ea

r's momentary disarray, Larion

the projectiles, it couldn't escape

Piya sprang into action, flan

st Cold Feet, causing the monster's

the power of Blinding Light, t

nd desperation. The Qizir, fueled by its fury, lashed ou

ss. Mud spikes pierced through Hubert's bo

he monster's gaping mouth tore thr

a whirlwind of emotions - anger,

his childhood friend had met such a

xed emotions threatene

countless deaths like this before,

Hubert's body lying on the ground, a ch

. It charged at Piya with a vengeance, brand

summoning the power of Enduring Light to bolster her resilien

e Qizir's bone swor

de of nothing more than twigs, sending her flyi

mpact, a testament to the monstr

n sent flying by the monster's attack. Larion was the

p!" Larion encouraged

ront of them, his eyes locked on the enemy

again?" Gilmore asked, never t

plied, curiosity pique

n disorient the monster by using your smoke,"

and improvise," Larion agreed, d

e trio wasted no time and char

es, Piya positioned herself behind Gilmore and unleash

maneuvered to the monster's left flank

danger and quickly backed

pursued the retreating monst

s intentions, retaliated with a swif

platform beneath the monster's body, launchin

ore shouted, urgi

soared through the air, aiming to strike the monster's he

dden weapon - one of Larion's improvised smoke bo

as not wide open, and the smoke bomb missed its target. Instea

Piya's back, a unique po

Gilmore realized they neede

poison would spread through

~

a breather in the cozy confines of a tavern within the bustling walls

ed to his friend Luca, or Larion as he's known in the game, he found

rand, it even had its own separate bedroom, a bathroom, and

ceiling, painted a soothing shade of blue, added a tou

m his DivePod, Aldrin decided to indulge in some good old-fash

interrupted his plans. It was his ever-loving mom, cal

"I was just about to order something, but oh well. I'll be downstairs in

screen, Aldrin found himself captivated

ollection of trophies that lined the top

ament to his achievements as a professional es

here were seven that s

ance that was impossible to ignore. Behind them, an additi

ed as a constant reminder of the heights he

ind like a never-ending highlight reel, the sound of hi

call and greeted his manager

what's up? A

he game, Aldrin?" His manager's

er?" Aldrin replied, his tone o

ted for Titan's Advent? Are you considering the offer to join t

all out," Aldrin replied,

ayers for our team at United Esports! These guys have insane MMORPG backgrounds, some even competing at a n

ll, they might be good, but they're no match fo

ut that was ages ago! These players we've got here, they're the ones who will bec

sarcastic laugh

we scout players, she always sniffs around! And oh! Not to mention, that guy you were talking about, is in check and I heard that he's still wor

back to our boot camp and be the team captai

w what, I'm going to think about it for a while. I mean you have the means to pick a team captain with those play

anaged to extricate himself from the cl

he descended the stairs and found his f

brother, his mom and dad, and, of course,

s, the room filled with laughte

stage for sharing stories and creating memories,

er attention to him. "So, you mentioned you were meeting up

iosity piqued. "Ye

leaded, "Tell that mischievous young man to co

n ages. I miss him so much. Can you please ask

dn't deny their heartfelt requ

family, couldn't resist teasing. "Do

ted, cheeks flushing

er. "Actually, Tita, I've seen Luca on TV and s

day, Luca and Aldrin, along with their friends, were inseparable. You couldn't separate

sary worry. "Well, you know how Luca is. He likes to keep hi

their family. Every cherished memory included him, from sleepov

Luca vanished from their li

em all wondering how he wa

Aldrin headed back upstairs to his game room

ollowed him, asking if she could me

nd eagerly agreed, planning thei

Naira snuggled up beside him, an

screen, Aldrin's thoughts couldn't

ll immersed in the game, battling

ack to the conversation he h

han capable of holding 'his' own in the gam

us workarounds and strategies, making up f

'his' exceptional skills a

s side during their countless victories, t

ptain, taking on the immense responsibi

even World Championship trophies, those twenty-five National Cham

n't have accomplished any of it without 'hi

Trop

ertif

Ti

Me

ecogn

ng. Opening vast opportunities for his team.

iend and most trus

~

ted, desperately parrying the dual-bone sword with his

ng as he darted around the colossal beast, aiming to

met the spider's spinnerets, resultin

but the pesky web still clung

onster to flinch ever so slightly. Determined, he conjured two p

swiftly leaped out of harm's way, seizing Pi

an!" Gilmore gasped, exhaustion evident in his voi

voice filled with a glimmer of hope, as he re

five more spells," Gilmore

uired, his tone laced with confidenc

at's your plan?" Gilmore quest

strategy to free Piya from the c

urtesy of Larion's smoke bomb. Aware of the distraction, t

lert, scanning its surroundings for Larion a

sensed danger lurking beneath it,

ef in the night, diverting the monster's

urst out of the ground, hoping

, and the monster leaped backw

aid off, as he had anticip

iece of Larion's smoke bomb in his hand, positi

contraption, was faste

he monster in a cloud of smoke before i

senses dulled, causing it to lose focus -

rd pierced the creature's abdomen. Not just once, but twice

ng dizzy and disoriented from th

onster darted to its left, desp

ehind the veil of smoke, a torch flickered to life, cast

n, sprang forward, intercepting the cr

d a significant blow to its torso, fo

hing his axe into the monster's human-li

ant success. Gilmore didn't bother retrieving his axe, as

aling Larion, who perched atop a tall, slen

ne spears, and also where the torch had originated - tossed beh

ground during their initial attack, they

is earth magic, while Larion had perched atop th

ross his face, Larion dove towards the mo

eld firmly in his right arm and the other held securely in his left hand, he br

creature swiftly parried his incoming attack, the

ed, Larion seized the opportunity to land a

mid-air, Larion harnessed the momentum and tw

tip, propelling it downward to del

a step back, momentarily stunned. Now firmly planted on his feet,

n, he plunged the weapon deep

ant damage upon the creature, it still f

~

tion she had with Aldrin's mom about Luca,

personal?" she inquired, her ey

mind?" Aldrin responded warmly,

y longer. "You're known as one of the best in the MMORP

tarily averting hers. Though his tone remained unchan

," he began, his voice tinged with a sense of admiration. "But if I had to pick just one t

illed that makes oth