
Floor 3
Forest of Wavering Mist
558Please respect copyright.PENANANGL4zXeakM
~~~~
558Please respect copyright.PENANAqmS7JCA7wK
Two white and black blobs, shot through the forest like bullets, banging against the thick trees of Floor 3’s famous misty expanse.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAkjbupkne5A
They screeched an inhumane screech, and on closer look, they would reveal to be mobs.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAXMHgYzQr5N
Not just any mobs either.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAj5mHQ9CaL0
The holographic names floating above their heads would give away their statuses.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAqIAdsHqMqF
These were twin field bosses.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAgIBNqGHikx
Rabbid Ragus to be exact. 558Please respect copyright.PENANA1zd9MbjEJF
558Please respect copyright.PENANAVPU96zdQ2Q
Apparently reuniting a lost bunny with another bunny meant both bunnies turned into hideous creatures and tried to chomp your head off.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAb7bsG7Pld4
That, and they hated carrots.
558Please respect copyright.PENANApQ4s8esxon
Saito rolled his eyes at the thought, currently descending from the treetops he was waiting in. If his plan was correct then they’d converge at the same spot, around-
558Please respect copyright.PENANAtWs9jWOuVC
‘Now!’
558Please respect copyright.PENANAZNmxndL1So
Saito glanced forward as time seemed to slow down.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAAM9sRyAI9C
Falling, right across from him, a black-haired boy, equipped with a shortsword and a dagger readied himself.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAZvaZguwwzx
He caught Saito’s look, and as the two Ragus converged into the same spot, tongues, and fangs gnashing every which way, the players activated their skills.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAXOov1MYAtS
Falling Sword 558Please respect copyright.PENANAuXi8bqTzzO
Fell Crescent
558Please respect copyright.PENANAetgSQyf5L9
Saito’s body seemed to elongate as he covered the final 4-meter distance within the span of 0.4 seconds. His eyes glinted wide as he swiftly plunged his luminescent, curved blade right into the White Ragu’s skull.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAv02FxHL9qp
Jyun was a tad later, however, he made his presence clear, whipping his sword arm through the air and slicing right through the spinal apex of the mob’s back.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAFtXAf8k0SH
WR: 43% (-10%)
BR: 56% (-5) (+5% B)
558Please respect copyright.PENANAKPDFkhFIdL
Saito grunted as he pulled for his weapon, now messily riding atop the White Ragu. Its skull felt like steel gnashing against Saito’s blade, and the curly-haired player growled with frustration.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAZoL69WzOlJ
“How the hell was that not a kill shot?! I stabbed you in the flipping head! Are you just not anatomically corr- Wo-Woah!!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAT9qgykN3He
As if over Saito’s antics, The White Ragu crashed into a nearby tree and fell straight through, sending the player and a bunch of forestries every which way.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAe4JVysK9Kv
“Cugh! Ack!” Saito coughed as his body skipped across the ground. He threw his free hand down to slow himself and forced his legs to stretch out and gain traction.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAGsihKYBxMU
Thankfully they’d now found a clearing in the misty forest.
558Please respect copyright.PENANArZZIcN4uuM
‘All the space they could ever need. Is this why they were running away from us?’ Saito thought tiredly, scanning the battlefield.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAK22UwT5jkG
The Black Ragu rushed into the clearing right after its buddy, and Saito saw no Jyun. His Searching skill confirmed it. His eyes returned to their regular brown, the green glow fading, along with his patience.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAzKVwSyC1Ln
However, he would barely get to express his annoyance as the White Ragu roared again, like the monster it was.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAimKH2Gcbts
The lovely sound deafened Saito and left him frozen. He grunted, yet still could not move. Eyes wide, he spied his health bar, and indeed, his worst nightmares were true.
558Please respect copyright.PENANApyiFcuQX2r
He’d been Stunned. The ten-second timer was already on 8, but it wouldn’t be fast enough, Saito was a goner, and it seemed the Ragu knew it too, a sickly smile coming to life on its hideous face.
558Please respect copyright.PENANALCKuTNxuDv
Saito grinned morbidly.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAEpzFr2PtVN
“You’re one nasty bunny.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANA1a379jpu0y
The Ragu raised its serrated claws, priming them for the slaughter.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAWhMsTjCBU9
And with a final swipe, Saito thought he was a goner.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAtAlaPGJ8hW
CLANG!
558Please respect copyright.PENANARohKbbCgvR
Saito’s eyes slowly widened as flecks of blonde flowed into his view. Slamming her pentagonal metal against those wicked claws, Kirie appeared out of nowhere.
558Please respect copyright.PENANALPOyenaAUC
The green light emanating off her guard sputtered and burst through every moment of the clash and Kirie’s scarlet eyes bored daggers at the killer bunny.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAXAA8CoT2MY
Suddenly her shield exploded in a furious flash of white and Kirie threw her arms up.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAwpTVePCGY4
“Ragh!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAclRoIXXtmY
Like magic, the Ragu’s claws were instantly thrown back as if ricocheted by an unknown force. This was thanks to her skill, Push, and it had been heavily upgraded since her first use of it back on Floor 1.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAyITOvXyFl1
“Ren, pad! Go!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAC4d49raJB9
Saito looked back just in time to see a flash of red fly by. His head cocked back as his eyes took in the sight.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAQp1ezZgkOp
Ren, the redhead Hellcat herself, rushed forward like an experienced javelin thrower, pumping her arms up and down as she swiftly neared Kirie.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAIKBDwNectZ
The blonde lowered her hands from her previous parry and hunkered down keeping her shield above her. Another skill began to load up as Ren launched herself at the glowing metal.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAXmyLcauIfF
As soon as Kirie felt Ren land, she flexed her muscles and ground her teeth, thrusting her body upward and throwing her arms into the air with, subsequently, Ren herself.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAwkEJcPpRnm
Red locks flying through the wind, Ren struggled to aim herself right where she wanted, but with a downward angle of her liking, she was ready.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAEbz7WnpQQT
“HEY FLUFFLES!” She screamed.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAd3f1H75JL0
The white bunny reared its head upward, red eyes glinting with glee.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ96XsuiiC
New prey had been acquired, and Ren grinned like the madwoman she was, reeling her arm back. Her spear suddenly ignited with a blue flare and she sucked in as much air into her lungs as possible.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAiEilXSwK60
“COME AND GET IT!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAxQVjVa1GvP
The White Ragu catapulted into the air, aggroed to Ren and her alone. What would follow Ren’s banshee-like screech would be an animalistic show of strength, as the redhead chucked her spear with reckless abandon.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAHvZV7yXekX
The polearm jettisoned through the air like a shooting star and when it impacted with the tip of the Ragu’s cranium, an azure, four-pointed shockwave blasted out from every which way.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAwMesCfh1QM
VWEEE!
558Please respect copyright.PENANAk0TnpuSGi9
The spear spun at such a high velocity that Javelin Toss completely bored through the mob, blasting out the back of the boss and flying straight into the ground.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAuAlCbHe0iY
WHOOM!
558Please respect copyright.PENANAAnwCz46atS
Another shockwave ensued from the impact and Saito was left mouth ajar as all that remained were lightly sprinkled remnants of data.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAVDD92ZfMnd
‘What the absolute-’
558Please respect copyright.PENANA18M8SJ80Dw
“Saito get your ass up!” Kirie yelled running over and extending her hand. “We still got one more.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANASS8loY71UF
Saito blinked as the Black Ragu raged right behind them, now tussling with the newest members of the group, Tamashi, Jyun, and Irene.
558Please respect copyright.PENANABBAI5gQxNd
Saito flourished his curved sword as Ren landed in a roll next to them, and Calder jogged up on the opposite side. With Kirie leading the charge, the four would join their compatriots in taking down what was essentially indistinguishable from a homeless person’s fever dream.
558Please respect copyright.PENANA4BBOKDGCuZ
20 Minutes Later
558Please respect copyright.PENANAmN1m6E0ygZ
558Please respect copyright.PENANAFKu9fTt46u
“Are you who they say you are…? The keeper of allyships and the crowning grace of u-unity? If so open your old heart to us, so that we can prove our worth as your… saplings? What the hell.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANASn0xboEEW9
.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAuBGX5xnzYi
..
558Please respect copyright.PENANAUraYxZZ77g
…
558Please respect copyright.PENANA9iMSOwfO3M
“Okay is that really what it says on there?” Ren asked, red hair swaying as she walked up next to Saito. She squinted, looking over his shoulder.
558Please respect copyright.PENANA78GyA4JpPq
“You really think I’d come up with that extravagant mess on my own? Psha.” Saito snorted.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAEsEdhmBXyV
“Exactly,” Trinity agreed, inspecting her nails, her other arm resting against the hilt of her slender rapier.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAAcLCVf4KPj
The violet-haired teen smirked smugly.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAVXfQ1HjWAX
“Saito doesn’t have words like “allyship” in his vocabulary.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAPX841J60n6
Irene, Tamashi, Calder, and Jyun all failed miserably at hiding their laughter and Saito’s subsequential glare aimed to pierce right through Trinity, who confidently smiled back.
558Please respect copyright.PENANA1t96sAfYUp
“Alright, alright,” Kirie said, clapping her hands twice. “Let’s focus up, people. This is the quest we’ve been waiting for.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAe8nzn7Jcl2
“Exactly,” Tamashi agreed with a wry grin. “The guild formation quest!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAfbHGwn7017
Calder rubbed his chin with his free hand, his other crossed in his arms. “No one that we’ve talked to about the guild formation quest has ever given us the same answer.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAhQcNSBksMQ
Holi nodded. “That is true, the DDA said they had to secure a baby dragon, the ALS is rumored to have fought against a tribe of Blood Orcs, and the KOB won’t even release what they had to go through to complete the quest.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAQHXEkkoEDQ
“Which means, either someone’s lying,” Saito said, staring right at the tree bark in front of him.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAMKvmt9bd8l
“Or every quest is different.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAGRHxCcN4Rs
Jyun nodded.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAlz8CItNMaN
“Argo herself stated that guilds never had matched up stories. Accessing the quest was different, as well as completing it. Which means our experience will be completely original. Finding the smallest tree bark in the Wavering Forest was our first clue from the quest giver, but others may have had different beginnings.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAoDoCWLpOBR
“I like that.” Ren popped her fist into the palm of her other hand. “Gunning down our own path from the start. I can definitely get behind that. Let’s hurry this up, Saito, I wanna get a move on!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANACX1Gv7hcc4
Saito threw his hands in the air, parchment and all.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAfDy9nL2BUW
“I would if I knew how it worked! I said the line, nothing happened.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAo6J4LzKjxt
“Well, maybe it needs someone else to say it. Gimme.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANANowLWMDnga
“Wait what? No, I'm the leader, I’m saying it!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAj65RmdODfe
“Saito we don’t have time for this, gimme the paper!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAS7FcwmwLl2
“Ren stop! We agreed! Guild leader gets to say it!!! WE AGREED!!!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANA1HBmC22Snf
“AGREEING DOESN’T HELP US START THE QUEST!!!!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7aQnJ3Tfm
FWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
558Please respect copyright.PENANAPyEOllCQHV
Kirie’s deafening whistle would put a screeching stop to their antics, and Ren and Saito froze where they were. Kirie frowned and Irene covered her ears out of habit.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAYnwybT5D4l
They were about to get scolded.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1kjifm5yd
And boy did they, Kirie spent the next 30 seconds ripping them a new one, it was so bad even Trinity winced for them.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAz7QodqCuEk
However, she soon calmed down.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAW91JRZx59z
“Come on you guys, let’s be serious about this. Saito try one more time, and if it doesn’t work, you give it to Ren.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAsd8uTX3q3T
The two looked at Kirie, then each other, before pulling themselves away and straightening out.
558Please respect copyright.PENANA3M0BDnwgbw
“Mhm.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAwMZBIujc8D
“Got it, Kirie.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAxZmmOx8BQA
Taking a deep breath, Saito was about to speak, before Trinity chimed in.
558Please respect copyright.PENANA5SSWVxY2lp
“Saito.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANALpJXFAKQqW
“What?” He deadpanned, waiting for the telltale jab.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAhuJBbFaLmA
Trinity paused for a moment, then spoke up.
558Please respect copyright.PENANA6lNvNr1rkv
“How you phrased the statement last time sounded like a question. This time, say it like you believe it. Maybe it needs more conviction in the words, like those old Lord of the Rings characters do.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAP2lMIxYG8T
Saito looked at her oddly for a moment or two, then blinked back to reality.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAwQ4AyEDaJh
‘Wow, actual advice.’
558Please respect copyright.PENANAm9TTGKL4fr
“Right… okay.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAAJIfubGJMn
He then began again, this time, with a more deliberate tone.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAA8MNz0IZYR
“Are you who they say you are?”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAsDzMSTr7eW
That first line, spoken with confidence that time, sent a gust of wind breezing through the group, warm and inviting.
558Please respect copyright.PENANABqIqESDoLd
“ The keeper of allyships and the crowning grace of unity?”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAvEXd9TuMSD
Ren took a step back, staring weirdly at the tree trunk in front of them. It began to crack, little by little, and she could’ve sworn little specks of light were shining through.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAVpt0cdMCdf
“Uhhh…”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAH9KrTAXBq1
“If so open your old heart to us…”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6HliwKaRF
The winds picked up, and the light became brighter from inside the tree trunk. Calder and Jyun reached for their weapons, while Tamashi and Irene lowered their stances, Holi went to stand by Kirie who was now staring crazily at the shining tree.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAISB7d13Nbp
Saito spoke the end of the sentence…
558Please respect copyright.PENANAf7xiHhsZgP
“...so that we can prove our worth as your saplings.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAm8eoGTrJ4z
...and everything went quiet.
558Please respect copyright.PENANA5HOsCVv81L
The winds stopped.
558Please respect copyright.PENANANcIQo47ZVH
The light dimmed.
558Please respect copyright.PENANASPcBWWObjW
The trees halted their rustle.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAAt4BtoXj66
No one in the group made a sound or a movement. They wouldn’t dare let a breath loose, for they could all sense this was the calm before whatever was going to-
558Please respect copyright.PENANAGC432d7TwU
Phoosh!
558Please respect copyright.PENANAdKwno7mKY4
The tree suddenly split in half as a light beamed from within, then expanded. Saito and his friends were assaulted with a brilliant light, covering their faces and shrinking away from the marvelous shine.
558Please respect copyright.PENANApl1VKCELBq
Saito tried to reach out with his other senses, relying on his Listening skill to hear anything outside of the curses and yelps of his group mates.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAx5b8DHPWtM
Then he heard it, something very telltale to his ears. He’d played enough MMOs and heard enough corridor crystals break to remember that noise, and remember it well.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAEh6FTkDHEJ
“Is that-”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAdAzKhJtDuL
“Woah, guys,” Ren spoke up over the others, prompting them to slowly lower their guards. When Saito dropped his arms and dared his eyes open, he would see Ren gazing forward, her brown orbs focused on something they couldn’t pry away from.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAOs9ZZ6DsGm
So he decided to look too.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAIF33uDOKvg
And boy, did he empathize.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAnoLabBSj3d
There, encompassed within the circular construction of the old tree, a mass of golden energy swirled within itself, the humming of kinetic power tickled against Saito’s eardrums, and his mouth split into a big grin.
558Please respect copyright.PENANArEIlv9nJaD
Tamashi shot both fists into the air and roared.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAEfAZJfVeN3
“WHOO!! GUILD QUEEESST!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAz6T99ZgwSp
“Let's goooo!!!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANABFtqcq4ku6
“Yayyy!!!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANA9bTjOWGXK1
The group erupted into a cluster of cheers, hugs, and very weird dance moves.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAWZtEqbiQ3L
Seriously, Calder’s robot was horrible.
558Please respect copyright.PENANANgHwyDLPgS
However, the information was correct. The good Argo delivered once again. Before Saito could speak, Ren strode forward ahead of him and turned to the group.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAThb8KS1xj5
At that moment, the portal glistened behind her, its golden light accentuating the highlights of red in her hair, like the deepest flame you’d ever seen.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAVdrTD6RwOD
Ren clapped her hands twice. “Alright team, this is where we do the thing!” She grinned.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAH7jlXOflRq
“I’ll take one group, and Saito will take another. Since we’re more than 6 we can’t all be in the same party, so we’ll work together in two groups.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAg6kauT4Iqw
She opened her menu with a downward swipe of her hand and began to equip her Labyrinth armor, as did everyone else. They were down on Floor 3 so they didn’t really need much protection from mobs.
558Please respect copyright.PENANA7meEG2tiEl
Saito saw the clear absence of talking as a chance and immediately stepped up next to her, turning to their group.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAdx90gVKZFu
“Okay, you guys remember the groups, right?”
558Please respect copyright.PENANA7NZAh5feak
“Yes,” Jyun spoke up. “Holi, Tamashi, Inori, and I team up with you.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANA8n68DZpu88
The tall assassin nodded his head of dark hair over to Ren. “And Ren teams up with Kirie, Trinity, and Calder.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANA1T3UHI45LC
Saito nodded as everyone naturally buddied up with those on their respective teams. “Correct. The-”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAoBdMZfIa3n
“We’re only doing this for precaution. Considering this is a guild quest, the system may try us all as one party for this special occasion.” Ren interjected.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAIXvV3GXiKo
Before Saito could utter a word, Kirie spoke up right after.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAqvuFU3h15O
“Remember, every guild has given us different answers about the quest. Assume nothing about this and stick to your groups, but beyond that, stay together.”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAftn9MmuxBH
She said seriously, staring each member of her party in the eyes.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAnypDAhtjc7
“Don’t worry about your backs, I got them. Just move forward.” She said, slipping her brand new heater shield to her arm, and tightening the strap, its surface hissing with forlorn. She then unsheathed her broadsword.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAGsz9EE2sSK
She’d gotten it from defeating a Marauder Captain boss on Floor 5.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAuaByCJfm4V
Her blonde hair was done up in a ponytail and her scarlet eyes backed all the truth behind the words she’d spoken.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAOGsaRBMxKa
“Aaaahhh!! Mama Kirie’s so cool!!!”
558Please respect copyright.PENANAHfZ9mVoUeW
“Yes ma’am’s!” Trinity saluted playfully, as everyone energized themselves off of their words, earnestly readying up.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAXaJHfiRy8C
Saito gulped hard.
558Please respect copyright.PENANATNNEAKudr1
With that swallow went his retort, his add-ons, and any facial hint of disagreement or qualm. He sucked it up and breathed it out, expending it slowly and surely from his system.
558Please respect copyright.PENANAqEcI8RGgU3
When he opened his eyes again they were half-lidded, calm, and calculating. As Ren and Kirie continued with instructions and words of encouragement, Saito inspected his team silently. Said eyes flitted through the various members of this little group and his mind’s engine flipped on.558Please respect copyright.PENANAThXpr8YlHM