A New World, an immersive game experience

'Fuck it, I can always just disconnect if it comes to it..' Eldrian thought, this was also a large part of why he wanted to go alone. If he went with NPCs then he would feel obligated to stay and help them fight. Alone, he could just log out if things headed south.

"As long as you manage to react, you just need to break this crystal. We have linked it with another we will be carrying. We will maintain a distance of a kilometer from you, Kydone will be following 200 meters behind."

"Once you crush it, we will be there in around a minute. You have to survive until Kydone can reach you. She will just take five to ten seconds."

Nodding, Eldrian wondered again if this was worth the risk. However, thinking of the centaur who was writhing in pain, he resolved to go through with this.

"Wait, how do I crush this?" Eldrian asked, having tried just now and failed miserably. 

Looking over Thesolis chuckled, "It's a quartz crystal, you won't be able to break it that easily. Do you know how magic items work?"

Shaking his head in denial Eldrian asked, "Is it like a magic weapon?"

"Yes," Thesolis nodded, "You have to connect with it, and then much like you would use the magic weapon's abilities, you activate its."

Eldrian did just that, the crystal turning into fine dust with ease. The feeling was similar to using his dimensional storage. Only instead of seeing the inside, the crystal burst apart into dust. 

"That makes it far easier." He said, comfortable with the feeling and method of its activation. 

Looking up he saw a shocked Thesolis who seemed to have nearly stumbled.  "You do know they aren't free?"

"So? I have to make sure I can do it, and how much attention it will take. Me failing in using it when we are actually trying will just be a terribly idiotic move." Eldrian said, shaking the sand from his hand, "Plus they can't be that expensive. You won't use something expensive as such a simple message system."

"It is still around 20 silver each," Thesolis countered, given Eldrian another, reluctantly. The one in her pocket having sent a jolt through her body when he activated it. It was designed to be effective even if someone was sleeping.

She certainly did not appreciate the shock for a simple test. Had he warned her, she would have removed it from her person first. Her pocket was also filled with quartz dust now. So fine a dust that there will always be some left behind.

"And it is one of my good sets too," Thesolis complained as she left the tent, having told Eldrian to not destruct this one until it was time. They would meet at the crack of dawn in the same tent tomorrow. 

"Now what?" Eldrian mumbled, studying the crystal as he moved to his usual spot. His body had recovered quite a bit by now, and taking a look, he found his fatigue was no longer at level 6. It had moved down to level 5. 

'Strange, normally I have to sleep or log off.' Eldrian mumbled, feeling that he could do a few repetitions of basic spear techniques.

After working up a good sweat, he got himself something to eat and then started some reading. Logging off a few hours later and joining the others for their PVP matches. 

...

Back in the game, Eldrian was a few hours early. He used that time to train, reading when he was taking a break. Currently, he just did basic movements and he was becoming truly good with them. Being able to handle the spear-like it was a part of him. 

It no longer happened that he would get stuck in a move. The back end of the spear nearly cutting him or blocked by his improper movement. Something that has taken quite some time to get right, especially when trying to do twirls and good-looking moves. Moves he mostly did not practice since they generally had worse effects than simple ones.

'Hope I can ask for some advanced spear techniques, and some skills.' Eldrian mumbled, hoping the unknown reward would be up to his asking. 

A few hours later, Eldrian met up with the others at the tent where Thesolis had explained the situation to him. He had made sure to not push himself too far in his practice, which was also why he did not dare meditate. 

"Are we seriously doing this?" A familiar voice asked, Eldrian entering the tent and seeing Evules, Evale, Kydone, and Pelaros arguing over the table. Kydone sitting on the edge and looking up towards the entrance of the tent. Kicking her legs as she ignored the conversation.

"Yes, he was the one who placed this condition," Pelaros replied, turning to Eldrian who made it to the table. Kydone's change having alerted everyone that Eldrian was here.

"Ah, I forgot my barrel," Eldrian said upon seeing his stand from the day before still where he had placed it. He quickly stored it, his action leaving everyone in the room without words. 

"Aren't you worried?" Kydone asked, looking at Eldrian in confusion. Her voice just barely heard of the cracking of the torches lighting the tent in the early morning.

"Of course I am," Eldrian replied, turning to reassure her with a smile. Then turning to face Pelaros, "I would like to ask if I can get a bomb or something."

"A what?" Pelaros asked, intrigued by the name. 

"An item that will cause an explosion. I am sure you must have something like that, considering the array covering the camp. Something like White Hell."

Turning to Evale, Pelaros reached out his hand, "Give him your other sword."

"Butttt..." Evale started complaining, however, she did as commanded. Taking out the twin of the sword she had used to kill the revenant. 

"This should do. Haru, all you need to do is get it in or close to the ghoul and activate it. The explosion will likely kill you too, but I assume you are already ready to die."

Nodding, Eldrian took the blade. Other than the hilt, which had a mithril guard and some type of red leather over the hilt, the blade was pure white. Eldrian had no idea what metal the blade was made from, it certainly looked fantastical.

[Magical Longsword, Maiden's Purity]

[Tier 6]

[Damage: 78 <110>]

[Attack speed: 1.3 <2.3>]

[Durability: 67K/113K]

[Attribute requirements:]

[Strength: 360 ; Agility: 345 ; Intelligence: 300]

[Abilities: ???] (User does not meet requirements)

[Passive Abilities: ???] (User does not meet requirements)

[Activiation Spell: Send a burst of mana into the sword, starting at 200 mana up to 1000 mana. The amount of mana determines the total damage, from 400 up to 20K holy damage.]

[Current max damage: 1734 Holy Damage]

{Holy damage does massive damage to unholy creatures. 10x damage to the undead, 2x to demons, and 1,5x to devils}

'That damage!' Eldrian stared at the stat for a long time. He only had 160HP. Even the strongest undead he had seen only had between 1K and 2K health. The damage was enough even without their weakness to the divinity. Eldrian had a hard time imagining what kind of creatures would have that much health.

In comparison, the normal damage of the blade was a letdown. Eldrian had truly thought it would be far higher, considering Aoidos had a damage value of 36 as a Tier 3 weapon. A Tier 6 having only double that was surely a letdown. 

Not meeting the requirements and thus not even being able to see the abilities was another letdown. Eldrian comforted himself by thinking about the fact that when they found the cause of the corruption he could get a Tier 5 weapon of his own. Though getting 3 Tier 4's might be a better choice.

Taking a deep breath, Eldrian told himself, 'Right, that is also why this is important. We have to make sure we can finish that quest.'

"Also, Haru, there is no need to worry. While holy damage destroyed the souls of the undead, it does nothing to normal souls." Pelaros added, Eldrian not at all having thought of it. Though he was glad that it would not be a problem now that he knew of the possible danger.

"Right, with that sorted..." Pelaros started, Kydone suddenly interrupting. 

"Wait, are we sure about this? I-I..." Kydone quickly jumped off the table and hid behind Eldrian. An action that caused everyone even more confusion.

"Kydone..." Evale said, sitting down and looking at the little cat girl who was shivering in fear. "What's wrong?"

Kydone moved further from Evale's and stayed behind Eldrian. Shaking her head, "I-I... I can't do this."

"Do what?" 

"I won't do this."

"What happened to the one who wounded you?" Eldrian asked, grabbing her arm before she could make any more space. If she ran away, they would not find her unless she wanted to be found. 

"No! No no-no-no. I can't do this." Kydone said, scratching at Eldrian's hand. However, she did not form her claws, making the scratch marks shallow and only burn slightly. 

"What happened last time?" Eldrian asked again, not moving in closer to show her that he did not mean her harm. However, he kept a firm grip. Naturally, she could easily break away, but she was afraid she might hurt Eldrian if she did.

Shaking her head, Kydone whispered that she had escaped. Not the other way around, making it clear that the ghoul who had hurt and nearly killed her was still out and about. Possibly even the one they were going after.

"Don't you want revenge?" Eldrian asked, Kydone shaking her head in denial. Trying to escape from Eldrian's grasp again. 

"I get it," Eldrian whispered, "I know what it felt like. It... It is not a pleasant feeling."

Kydone nodded, tears slowly forming as her fur started covering more and more of her body. Slowly turning her cute face even cuter, somehow. Suddenly she changed from trying to escape to diving into Eldrian's arms. 

Letting loose the tears she had been keeping at bay.

"What happened?" Evale asked, Eldrian informing them as he comforted Kydone. His instincts quickly turning to that of a brother, a role he was used to. Having comforted his sister more than just a few times. 

"Why did she not tell me any of this?" Evale asked, truly hurt by the fact that Kydone had kept this hidden. 

"She did not tell anyone. She did not even stay after being healed." Eldrian said, everyone quickly understanding that she had run away from the pain and problems. As she often did when things became hard.

"S-s-sor-sorry." Kydone mumbled into Eldrian's chest. Embarrassed that she had never even thanked him, and even more embarrassed that she had hurt one of her rescuers while escaping from his home.