Beyond M-Eclipse: Easy Mode LIVE

———Kenni———

“How the hell should I know where she’s going? It’s not like she’s going to another country or something.” I dismissively said before continuing to eat the cheesesteak. “If you’re gonna ask anyone, ask Jass.”

“I already did, and he said nothing, much like you do.” Useph replied. Of course that’s the case. And since she’s not a loudmouth like I am, they just accept it without any further questioning. “You sure you don’t have a clue?”

“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t.” I said, despite already figuring out where she is at. She’s where Wiina is, and Wiina is at that LAN tournament. “Here’s a question for you, Useph. What does a reptile as-

*Smack*

“That is unbecoming. Have some class.” Before I could finish my sentence Emmie suddenly smacked me. Jeez, can’t I have some fun around here!? “A more important question would be if I am allowed to piggyback you to the floating island, or any other place you know of with stronger monsters. It’s starting to get monotonous with the local dungeon.”

I don’t think I’m even allowed to do the former option anymore. With the second option… I mean, am I even allowed to bring her along? I thought it was just for Karra and I, and that’s about it. It’s not like we even have an easy way to go there, not without catching everyone’s attention. We need Wiina to teleport us around for that.

“Of course you would say that…” Qyunda remarked. All of us have already gone past the twenty floor threshold by this point, be it in a party or otherwise. For Emmie she has already gone past forty. Maybe she already went past fifty and I didn’t know. “So. Kenni. Did you seriously get your left arm ripped off?”

“Yep. It got blasted right off. The monsters in there were much stronger than I thought, and I didn’t even go that far in.” I casually said. It was a weird experience having only one arm, and definitely not a positive one. “Obviously I have to retreat right after that. Even if I stop the bleeding the loss of an arm was too big of a loss in firepower.”

“Aren’t you a magic specialist? Not to sound… cruel, but surely that wasn’t as big of a loss as you think.” Useph foolishly stated. It looks like someone forgot to take their magic lesson seriously.

“Did you forget how magic works? It needs some sort of medium to channel its effects. Be it a staff, a sword, or a body part. Without all of my limbs my magic output is less than ideal.” I have to explain it clearly to him so he understands how stupid he’s being right now. “Things like your arms, legs, mouth, eyes, and any part you could reasonably move around and utilize act as a conductor for mana. My wings and Qyunda’s tail for example also count.”

“I… Huh.” Looks like he seriously didn’t know about that.

“It’s easy to forget since losing one’s limb isn’t exactly a common occurrence, so I won’t go off about it anymore.” I’m not one to lecture anyway, so let’s drop this topic for now and actually talk about something a bit more fun. “So, Qyunda, how is your rivalry with Malk going?”

“Huh? Well I think it’s a lot more even now. So there’s some progress.” She dismissively said. I felt like she would’ve been more enthusiastic to boast about that before. How odd.

“Considering your regen ability and demi-human traits I would’ve thought you’d be a bit ahead. Yet you’re still neck-and-neck.” I pointed out. She should be the one who is winning more often, and here she said it’s simply even? Is she slacking or something?

“Shut it. I’m not an overachiever like you are. Why are you so keen on doing the more dangerous shit? Just because you can with those flimsy wings of yours?” She snapped back. Did I touch a nerve?

“I do think most of you haven’t been utilizing your full potential. Bunch of born winners that we are, but many of us lack the drive.” Emmie suddenly spoke up. “It’s a bit of a shame, but I suppose not everyone is going to see it the same way as I do.”

“I do think you got a bit more of those than we do, ultimately.” I chimed in. I don’t actually care if these guys are slacking or not. I don’t think most people in general have the desire to gain power. It’s a bit excessive, and probably doesn’t seem that important. What people care about is living to see another day, and power doesn’t come without risk.

“Are we really that big of a genetic lottery?” Useph asked, clearly skeptical of that fact. “I know all of us are stronger and smarter than all the students in the school, but it’s not like that fact is particularly impressive. It’s not like Jeff is smarter than the resident nerd from the other classes.”

“The fact that such an idiot like him is even on par is concerning in itself.” I pointed out. Obviously he doesn’t have the proclivity towards it, and he doesn’t act like he is smart, but he isn’t really an idiot in the grand scheme of things. “And while he got overshadowed by many of you in terms of athleticism, he still blows everyone else from other classes out of the water.”

“It feels kinda weird to talk about this ourselves. Usually we simply hear it in the background or something.” Qyunda remarked. It is no doubt weird to talk about ourselves in such a way, even if it’s true. Probably not the most entertaining of a topic for us to discuss anyhow. Let’s shift our gears.

“What about EX-VR? Have any of you been playing it lately? I basically only go in to plan things with the mind-acceleration or whatever the mechanism actually is.” It’s very clearly magical in nature and something that I don’t fully figure out just yet. No one ever really knows who created it. There is no lead at all. It’s like they came in from a different world altogether and blessed us with a game with such a complex and immersive system. You’d think you have literally been transported into a new world… Well. It’s very likely, but I don’t even know if they really care to talk about this topic just yet.

“Nah. I’d rather not spend my time there. I always feel lethargic when I get out.” Qyunda replied. I don’t really get that feeling myself, but whatever.

“I joined in with Orrel a few times to discuss certain topics and want some ideas on what our fighting style should be like.” Useph replied.

“I only go in there to read.” Emmie said. Is she talking about all those lore books that don’t really do anything in-game but give a bunch of clues on how to train yourself in the real world? I think we have talked about that at some point.

“I haven’t been doing much either. I think they held an event not too long ago. It’s more like a lottery than anything.” Just putting it out there. It’s free to enter as long as you have the game, so there’s that.

“That gaudy golden sword? Honestly, even if I got it I probably wouldn’t use it.” Qyunda said. Considering the words said in that event, it looks like it is an actual weapon in the real world. From the sounds of it it is quite a powerful artifact. Wouldn’t it upset the balance quite a bit if it were to be sent to someone… less than savory?

“Not really my cup of tea either.” Useph chimed in.

“It doesn’t look like any of us care about a weapon like that in the first place. The only one with a special-looking weapon is…” I take a glance at Emmie. She doesn’t have her custom-made scythe with her. “Emmie and Karra. Even then they’re plenty capable even without it.”

All of us are probably good enough to defend ourselves with just spells alone. It’s the other schmucks who need it to even be in the same conversation as us. Who knows if that’ll change in the future. For now the difference in strength between us and other students is too much.

“Speaking of weapons. What do you do with all those leftover loot anyway? I just sold it immediately for quick cash.” Qyunda is the one to ask this time around.

“Same on my end. I don’t even use a staff, usually.” Aside from Wiina giving me a healing staff that one time for… stuff. “So all of you should cherish your body parts more. You know how valuable natural weapons are, right? Like, Qyunda, why do you have a sharp spike hidden in the tip of your rattlesnake tail?”

“How the hell should I know?” She dismissively said. It doesn’t have any venom, but it could take someone by surprise. I don’t think any of us really have anything beyond tails. Now with Wiina she is a completely different beast, but they don’t really know her like Karra and I do.

“I don’t even want to think about planning how to use one’s extra appendage.” Useph said as the only normal human in our group of four. Emmie’s ears and tail are more like decoration than anything. Her raw power completely carries her. While the ability to channel mana into my wings allows me to fly very easily compared to others.

“I never bother to think about it. Fundamentals are more important, in my honest opinion.” Emmie said before drinking soda. She is definitely not the type to think about esoteric ability. She opts to punch right through it for the most part, and if that doesn’t work her battle-addicted brain will come up with a solution eventually.

*Ring* *Ring* *Beep*

“Hey, what’s up?” I quickly took the call, not bothering to move elsewhere. I didn’t even check who it was.

“” The voice of an angel. Angel with a capital A. I didn’t actually expect to be called by this person. And that news, certainly quite convenient.

“Oh! That’s nice. Can you maybe…” I said before looking at the other people here. “Maybe bring… up to three more people with me today?”

“” The voice that sounds feminine said.

“That can work. Wait a bit.” I said before putting the phone down for a moment. “Say, any of you got anything to do today?”

“Aside from perhaps going into a dungeon later today, not really.” Emmie replied first.

“Same on my end.” Useph is the next to say so.

“Yeah. Maybe exercise? I don’t have any plans today.” Qyunda also has nothing else to do. Maybe that’s why we’re even here, having early lunch and doing nothing else.

“How does going to a new dungeon this afternoon sound? We were talking about it earlier.” I said with a slight grin on me.

“Interesting. Are we going to travel for a long time?” Emmie asked for details immediately.

“Nah. We can go there in a flash.” I said before putting the call back on. “How does one in the afternoon sound?”

“” The voice on the other side of the call said. Meanwhile the three nodded in agreement. “”

“Hm. That should work. You guys can come to the local dungeon at that time, right?” I said to the three.

“Yeah. That’ll be fine with me.” Qyunda said while the other two nodded along.

“Guess that’s settled.” I said to no one in particular. “Alright then, come pick us up by that time. You will act as a guide, right?”

“” The caller said. “”

*Beep*

And with that, it looks like we have our afternoon plan. Hope everyone brings their A game. This shit is gonna tear us into shreds if we’re not careful.