Riyo Takahashi.
That's my real name, by the way. However, my current in-game name is Zanthrix. I don't know what motivated me to select something out of the blue, but it does have a cool impression. It's funny how a few players struggled to pronounce the name. Should I have chosen something easier instead?
In any case, I, Zanthrix, have a serious problem with my current circumstances.
The thing is—not bragging though, I'm an insanely pro player regardless of the games. Yet I always preferred to indulge myself in playing BR particularly. Whether it's FPP Shooting or TPP Survival—they are my favorite any time. I cannot express just how much I love them.
Ahem!
Well that's not the point here. The point is, a certain someone had been persuading me to play a Virtual World MMORPG for almost a year now. It's called 'Arcana Dynasty Chronicles'.
While I was busy preparing for the upcoming IGC-S6 tournament, this game went overhyped and became unimaginably popular after NxGEN Engine bought the rights to run the game on their own servers. After major modification, they proved even a smashed soda-can thrown in the dustbin can be used as priceless ornament.
Of course, they had to make major changes and add some additional features. Even so, I wasn't particularly a fan of this MMORPG called ADC (for short).
After that certain person nagged me so much and bragged about ADC this, ADC that, what option did I have left? She even bought me the whole setup. I couldn't possibly hurt her feelings by turning her down. Perhaps that was a mistake that changed my entire life…
I've been playing this MMORPG since then. I guess a month has already passed or so. Yet I was still incapable of logging out of this damn game!!
Yup! You heard me right. I've been trapped inside this Virtual World of ADC—the MMORPG I never intended to play in the first place. I wasn't certain what caused this scene, but as it had appeared I was the only player who was trapped. Other players are still capable of logging out though.
At the beginning, things were worse, and felt eerie thinking why it only happened to me. However, in due time I've overcome the eerie sensation I used to get all the time. I had to prioritize a few things. And I did.
'Getting stronger in every opportunity I'll get.'
'Dying isn't an option anymore.'
'Finding her and figuring out how to log out of this misery.'
While I was doing my best on the first two—in fact, I've already ascended to Rank D from Rank H and upgraded every attribute I was able to, the last one depended on her.
Of course, it wasn't as easy as it might look since I don't even know her in-game name. But I'll figure it out nevertheless. Considering her achievements so far—which she used to brag about all the time—she was certainly beyond the Ninetieth Heaven.
Heaven?
It's a metaphor actually. In ADC, there are hundred floors in total; each represented as a Heaven. In order to conquer all the heavens, one must defeat all the boss mobs guarding each heaven.
Come to think of it, a player had informed me a few days ago. The game already had its latest 2.7 patch update, and the developers added ten additional heavens, referring to the 'Main Chronicle' of ADC—an absolute event only a few exclusive players could participate.
Speaking of which, the update was on the same day I logged in for the first time. Was it a coincidence or am I overthinking it?
Well in any case…
[Zanthrix has been warned not to waste too much time on unnecessary descriptions]
"HUH!?" I shouted at the system panel that appeared suddenly, "What do you mean unnecessary description? They are important. It's crucial to know what's been going on, isn't it?"
[Zanthrix has been warned again to conclude everything and get to the point ASAP!]
'Seems like I took long to explain, eh.' I thought, patting my head embarrassedly, 'Well, sorry about that. I'm almost at the conclusion anyway.'
In any case, I had to find out her ASAP. And I was on it.
Oh! By the way, there's still one thing left that helped me a lot to keep myself alive. It's an avatar-exclusive skill that I got along with this new in-game character. While it was an unfair disadvantage against other players, the cheat skill seemed a complementary amend for my circumstances—or to put it that way.
And the skill is…
*****
After defeating the tenth Heaven Guardian: Silver Serpent of Entroma, I decided something strange. Of course, I could easily advance to the next heaven since I obtained the 'Entry Permit' by defeating the boss mob. Yet, I decided to loiter around the forest surrounding the floor boss spawning area instead.
It wasn't sightseeing. Back when I was in the main town of Heaven Entroma, there were rumors of a high-ranked monster lurking in the same forest.
If they were true, I'd have an opportunity to obtain a high-grade item or two by taking it down. It might not be easy and necessary for me to hunt it. However, I needed a high-grade item—considering the future battles against the other heaven guardians. They'd be a lot tougher and formidable than the ones I've faced so far.
While I was walking, thinking about all the possibilities, it happened…
I heard something. My senses grew sharper. My instinct became amplified. I didn't know what exactly caused it. However, one thing was certain…
"A scream?"
I whispered to myself, halting and looking in the direction where the sudden noise came from.
I wasn't a hero who'd throw himself to protect others. But if there was someone who was having trouble facing off a monster, I might help them out only to get my benefits. If I got lucky, it might be the same monster I was looking for. So I rushed towards the source without delay.