New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

Seeing his overblown reaction, Astaroth knew he was on to something. He promptly pulled out the fruit from his inventory, showing the beast-man.

Leon’s eyes bulged when he saw the fruit.

“I take it you know what this is.”

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“I got it as a reward for clearing this place. Why?”

“This is the reason I took possession of this place. This fruit drew me here.”

“Did you get it?”

Astaroth grew curious. If Leon took hold of the Bastion for this fruit, then why did he stay after?

“I never could. The smell of the fruit drew me here, but I searched everywhere and never found it. I stayed in the hopes another would grow before too long. It never did.”

Still holding the fruit out, Astaroth became pensive. Had the fruit disappeared, or did something take it away before he could have it?

Moreover, why did it appear now as a quest reward? Was the system trying to guide his hand for something?

Astaroth could feel Leon’s eyes boring through the fruit. The greed in his eyes was boundless, and he knew only the prospect of breaking guild rules did he hold back.

Astaroth didn’t know what joining a guild entailed to NPCs, but he could guess by how little it happened that it had significance.

Astaroth also noticed another thing. The fruit he was holding seemed–light, for lack of a better description.

He thought a fruit that could evolve a creature was bound to be chock full of energy. But after scrutinizing it with his perfect mana senses, he failed to see that much mana or Aether in it.

It was like the fruit was lifeless.

But given how Leon wanted it, he could surmise it would still break him through to legendary rank. But what if it was full?

What would happen to Leon if the fruit contained the energy it should have? It gave him an idea.

“I can assume this fruit would push you to legendary, Leon, right?”

Leon nodded his head twice, rapidly.

“Then I want to try something out. The fruit seems empty in my senses. If you let me fill it with Aether, I think it can benefit you more.”

“Can you do that? I mean, I know you can tap into Aether. I felt it earlier. But can you fill the fruit up?”

“I can try. I have an idea in mind to give me a chance at it.”

“Would you still give me the fruit, then?”

Leon looked like an excited child, looking at the prospect of candy if he behaved.

“I have a condition.”

“Anything!”

Astaroth laughed at Leon’s reaction. In the meantime, most of the players had gone to explore the new headquarters they now owned.

Gulnur had extended a guild invitation to Death The Gnome, which the latter had promptly accepted. What player in his right mind would decline to join a guild with such good fortune, after all?

Silent had extended the same courtesy to Morticia, but she declined his invitation. She had told him, “I will only accept it if it comes from Phoenix.”

Silent had been confused at first, but he quickly understood her underlying meaning. With how Phoenix looked at his sister, he understood it was better if Phoenix made the move, so they would at least set some boundaries.

It hadn’t taken Phoenix long to send one of her own. Morticia knew where the base was, which was a risk factor. But she was also a very experienced pro player.

Having her in Paragons would not be a loss.

Now, the two of them were observing how Astaroth interacted with their new NPC guild member with curiosity.

Phoenix already knew Astaroth treated the NPCs like people, and knew a part of the reason. But for Morticia, this was news.

She had treated the NPCs with respect up to now, but she always treated them like what she thought they were; lines of code.

Seeing Astaroth treat Leon like he was an actual person was a tad odd. But she let it happen, and only observed from the side, her psychologist’s interest piqued.

“My condition is simple. I believe the Bastion was once the location of a great city, most likely Elven in nature.”

“That’s not a condition.” Leon interrupted.

“I’m getting to it. What if it is still qualified as one?”

“I don’t understand what you are trying to say…”

Phoenix was the one to interject next.

“Wait… You don’t mean to say we could start a nation, right?”

“That was indeed what I was thinking. As for my condition, Leon, it is quite simple. If what I think is valid, then we will need Kingdom Spirit, or Guardian, in this case.”

Phoenix became excited. But her pragmatic side still showed.

“But we would need so much more than just guild members for that. And that would entail opening the city to everyone and exposing its location.”

“I know. But if what I think I can achieve works, and Leon accepts my condition, we wouldn’t have to worry.”

Even Leon was curious now.

“What do you think you can do with the fruit?”

“I think I can ask another person to help me fill it with the required Aether to make it strong enough to make you skip a grade. I think I can make you a mythical grade with it.”

Leon’s eyes shone as his mind took in the prospect.

Phoenix and Morticia looked at Astaroth with amazement. The idea itself was outlandish, but somehow, he made it sound like it was not just a possibility, but also a certainty.

“I accept!” Leon exclaimed.

He kneeled, lowering his head.

“I accept your terms. If you can make me a mythical being, I will gladly devote my life to protecting this land in your name. May the gods be my witnesses.”

As he said this, a loud thunderclap echoed in the skies, surprising everyone in and near the bastion. The skies were blue and clear of any cloud, and yet, thunder had boomed.

This told Astaroth that Leon’s words had been received and noted by the gods. He knew next to nothing about this world’s gods, but he knew this.

No one could renege a promise made in their name.

“Good. Then let me begin this.” Astaroth replied, his grin widening.