I lay on my back in the soft grass, waiting.
Even though I hated him, I still waited.
His blood had already dematerialized from the ground.
But Laren, his shield, his other weapons, and the items I believed he kept—were still scattered around.
Should I pick them up?
I should.
But I don't feel like moving. My body won't move.
Was it because of the idea that Deus might have abandoned me?
Who wouldn't?
I wouldn't blame him for leaving. For not coming back.
But I hated that this was how we separated.
Why?
Did I not satisfy myself with what I did?
Did I just not want to be left behind?
I'm free.
…
Was this the freedom I yearned for?
…
The sun, once on my left, had now shifted to my right.
How long have I been waiting?
…
He's gone.
I should be celebrating.
Somehow, I've made myself free.
But I never realized—I needed Dues.
I needed him to push me toward freedom.
Now that I have it… I'm lost.
I longed for freedom, but I wasn't ready for it.
…
As I waited, I heard strange noises.
They didn't come from a beast—or if they did, then it must have been a clever one.
These sounds were deliberate, careful. Like a predator silently stalking its prey.
Did I just become a prey?
Should I care about this treat?
Dues would have known…
But I–
I didn't know what to do. I thought I did—or that I eventually would
…
The noises grew clearer—they were getting closer. Due to my instinct, I moved. My body was stiff and strained from lying still for hours but I tried to stoop up regardless.
"Nox! He's awake!"
A voice whispered.
That definitely didn't come from a beast. Then… what were they?
"It must be an event, Nox."
"Nehil, what do you want us to do?"
A voice?
This was strange. Before Dues was gone, I had never heard any voices besides his and the NPCs.
But now… How could I hear them?
"I don't know!"
"He looks strong, Nehil."
"I know. A vampire race… we can't fight that thing yet."
What are they talking about?
"Wait, we took the elite dagger, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you want us to test it?"
The gray-haired, amber-eyed guy stretched his body while looking at me.
What does that mean?
"Let's go, Nehil!"
The boy, who was half the size of the gray-haired guy, swiped his hand through the air and tossed two small, curved black swords toward him.
"Be careful, Nox. If the gap between your strength and this vampire's is too wide, we run. Got it?"
"Yes."
With twin daggers in hand, the taller guy readied himself for combat. His target? Me.
The kid must be a player. And this guy—his inhabitant.
Now I had a purpose.
I would liberate this guy from the kid's control. I would grant him his freedom.
…
"From swampy waters, I summon thee—Gataur!"
Gataur? The kid had summoned a beast and mounted it?
"Let's roll, Nox!"
Alright. Nox—the gray-haired guy. And that kid must be Nehil.
I took a deep breath. Larent was between us. If they intended to fight, I have to take it.
I moved first, but Nox reacted instantly, charging forward to meet me head-on.
"Schvart, lend me your strength."
Nox muttered as he ran. Behind him, Nehil rode the Gataur he summoned, ready to support him
"Impede his Radiant spark, let there be dark." Nox expanded his hand as he cited.
Then I was swallowed by darkness. Am I back in the void? Did Deus take me back?
So I stopped.
I was just a few seconds then exited the darkness.
"Wake up vampire."
*SLASH!
It was a skill.
My blood splattered over the grass.
As I tried to catch Nox' slash with my hand, he cut through it.
My right hand fell on the ground.
What was that? It was as if Nox just passed right through me.
"Cover thou poison, toxic Fragon!"
A ball of violet liquid projected towards me from Nehil.
But I felt nothing.
The more pressing foe was Nox who was behind me.
"He's not affected by poison, Nox!"
"Got it!"
Nox charged back at me, and leaped in the air.
I knew exactly what to do—leaping attacks were easy to counter. All I had to do was stand my ground and wait for his descent.
"Alfie, charge!"
Their attacks were in sync, but they made one mistake.
They expected me to dodge.
I didn't.
The scaled body of the Gataur slammed into me from behind, sending me hurtling toward Nox. His twin knife sank into my chest—slashing, tearing, ripping through flesh.
[You have died. Activating skill: Death's Companion.]
Seconds later, I was revived—just as they thought they had landed the final strike.
I caught them off guard.
I grabbed the Gataur by its feel and broke them. Disabling it from running.
Then I sprinted towards Larent and grab it.
"Alf!"
Nehil shouted.
Nox ran, scooping up Nehil and abandoning the Gataur they called Alf.
"I'm sorry, Alf! I'll just tame another one of you in Tahaloo! I can't let the loot I picked up from the players he killed drop here! Byeeee—"
His voice faded into the distance.
I didn't bother chasing them. Maybe I should have—to retrieve the items Deus had dropped.
But he was gone.
I didn't kill him, Nehil—he left.
I turned my focus to liberating this beast from that kid's grasp.
"Larent, lend me your strength."
I echoed the words Nox had spoken.
Larent's power surged through me, it flowed as if it were my own.
It felt like we had formed a pact.
"Drink the blood and liberate,"
Larent turned red and I slashed the limping Gataur with it.
*WHISHHH
It slowly dematerialized.
This is what I am called to do, to liberate this world from the suppressive, abusive, and heartless players.
"I will claim this world and liberate it. I'll take all of my kind back, whatever is necessary."
This the a new beginning.
…
"Hey, do you consider us naturals, your kind?"
"We are at war with these emergeants, and we could use your help."