Child of Destiny

“A rumored portal toward another realm?” mumbled Arthur after reading through the information that he had gotten from their channels.

He was originally planning to do his pending quests right after exiting that troublesome dungeon of the Dark King, but it seemed like he needed to delay it once again.

He had to admit that he was quite curious about these other realms as well, especially watching the most recent trailer about the ‘Decent of the Thousand Worlds’ patch.

However, after putting more thought into it, he decided to pursue his current quest at the moment, feeling that it was more important than exploring this ‘other realm’.

After all, he still had other chances to explore more realms in the future. He could even find a portal of his own, which would make him the pioneer of that realm.

Even if this was the first other realm that the players could explore, it was not much of a big deal when compared to what the Empyrean Talons were chasing.

Even if not everyone within the group was aware of the secrets hidden within the game, their goals still aligned with one another.

Aside from getting stronger and becoming the best within the game, Arthur still had other goals that he needed to achieve. He was no longer that kid who would be chasing after his idols.

“You are not going?” asked Leonard, surprised. After all, Arthur was the type who would love to join such a lively place, where he could show off in front of everyone.

“Nah~! I am not going this time. I have been delaying all these quests for quite a while now. I think it is better to focus on these for now and enhance my strength rather than join that ‘gathering’,” Arthur shook his head, finalizing his decision.

“Then I guess I will also pass as well,” Leonard nodded. “The clues that I have gotten from Senior Laurent and the others are quite detailed. There is a high chance that I will be able to track one of those mythical beasts.”

Hearing this, Arthur could not help but frown a little and ask. “Do you need some help? Based on our information, these monsters are most likely World Bosses. And they should be on Awakened Continent’s standards. They are not something that we can hunt with our current strength.”

Leonard’s clues for his Divine Armor were quite different from Arthur’s. Both were gathering-type quests, but the former needed to hunt extremely powerful boss monsters while the latter only needed to look for the scattered fragments of his Divine Armor.

Hunting either one of those three World Bosses was way beyond the level that the players could hunt based on the current ceiling that everyone could reach.

“Well, hunting them is indeed quite beyond my current abilities,” Leonard nodded before adding. “However, it will be a different chase if a quest scenario is triggered during the hunt, which is most likely to happen.”

“After all, the system will not give us any quest that is impossible to clear. Even if it is almighty within the game, it still has to follow its rules,” he chuckled, shrugging off the main issue.

Seeing his friend’s positive response, Arthur could only shrug his shoulders and agree.

“However, we still can’t ignore such a good opportunity. How about we send the others to join that ‘event’ on our behalf?” asked Arthur, feeling that this was the ideal scenario.

“We have just finished a commission and somewhat benefited from it,” he added before nodding his head. “Aside from Chaotic Luck and Huahua, who have come with us, who among our members is willing to represent our team for this one?”

“The girls are busy with the quest that Jilian has. I think only the other guys are available right now,” said Leonard, thinking about the available members that they had at the moment.

They were in the Empyrean Talons’ virtual space, doing their regular training.

The other had just left after their training and went to do their respective business within the game.

Aside from Diablo, who had been offline for quite some time due to the arrangement of the academy, and Alucard, who seemed to be missing recently, the others had already gone to play the game.

While the two were thinking about who to entrust this information to and let them handle the rest, someone suddenly logged into their virtual space and approached them.

“Then, let me handle this internal commission,” said a voice that swiftly attracted the attention of the two.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

They then saw Diablo, who seemed to be quite different compared to the last time they had met him, standing behind them.

“Oh! It’s you! You have come back, huh?” greeted Arthur before asking. “How’s your situation? Is everything fine?”

Diablo nodded his head as he answered. “Don’t worry, Professor Henry has handled everything. I have also recovered from that ‘soul shock’ that I received during that encounter.”

He then paused for a moment, seemingly hesitating about something, before continuing. “If I must say how I am feeling right now, then I must admit that it is much better than what I have expected.”

“That incident can also be considered as a blessing in disguise since it has helped me stabilize the unbalanced state that my mind and body are suffering due to the desynchronization that I am suffering between the virtual world and reality.”

“These last few days that I have been offline, aside from recovering from that shock, I am also busy stabilizing the current state that I’m in and consolidating all the other gains that I have gotten during the incident.”

Hearing this, Arthur and Leonard could not help but exchange glances with each other, seemingly finding the situation quite interesting.

“No wonder. The atmosphere surrounding is completely different,” said Arthur with interest, seemingly itching to spar with Diablo.

“This scent. The scent of the silent death,” mumbled Leonard while locking his gaze at Diablo.

These two had been training under their elders for quite some time and had become extremely familiar with the unique skills of certain individuals, particularly those who could give them immense threat.

From their current perspective, Diablo felt like a hidden blade that was completely unseen by his targets.

Just like true death that was looming in the darkness and only revealed itself when it was the right time to strike.

Sensing the intense fighting intent coming from the two, Diablo could not help but become somewhat affected by them, wanting to try his current state.

This time, Professor Henry had let him enter the game because the state of his mind had already reached a decent level of synchronization with his body. Engaging in an intense activity, such as fighting monsters like these two, was the ideal way to digest everything he had just learned from the recent incident.

However, before they could even engage in battle, another newcomer suddenly logged into the virtual space and interrupted them.

“What’s this? I’ve just returned, and you guys are planning to welcome me with such an interesting sight.”

Alucard, who had been missing recently, seemed to have returned as well.

“How about you let me join the fun as well?” he asked after seeing that a big fight was about to erupt between the three.

“Oh! It’s you! What have you been up to these last few days? We rarely see you online, too,” said Arthur, greeting the newcomer.

Alucard just shrugged his shoulders when he heard this before saying. “I have been conscripted by the military due to the recent events that are happening in the real world.”

Seemingly recalling something, he could not help but ask. “Aren’t you from the military as well? Given your talent and martial prowess, despite being young, you guys have most likely been conscripted too.”

Arthur seemed to have realized something and answered. “Ah! About that, we have joined some special operations, but we are a bit ‘freer’ than others, given our age,” vaguely stating their situation.

Alucard knew that Arthur was just trying to brush the subject off, so he did not delve into this topic. After all, given his background, he was also aware of the confidentiality of operations at such a level.

Changing the topic, he suddenly asked. “What about the thing that you guys are discussing just now? Mind letting me join in it?”

“Ah-… about that? It is about a rumored portal that will lead to another realm. But it is still not confirmed yet,” answered Arthur before quickly adding. “However, given the hype that it is gaining recently, quite a lot of people are gathering at the said site.”

“We are thinking of sending a few people to see if it is worth exploring as well, so we are considering our choices on who to send there,” he added.

“I think so?” mumbled Alucard before turning to Diablo. “Are you going?”

Diablo shrugged his shoulders and answered. “It is not like I have anything better to do.”

“Moreover, I am quite itching for some action as well. If it turns out that the rumors are true, then quite a lot of strong people will be gathering there.”

“I want to test quite a few things after my recent breakthrough. This can be a good chance to test them out,” he added along with a cold smirk.

Alucard thought for a moment before answering. “Then count me in as well. After all, I also do not have any urgent things to do. This can be a good warm-up for me.”

“Do you need more people?” asked Arthur after seeing that the two were going.

Diablo and Alucard exchanged glances with each other before grinning quite widely.

“There is no need for that. The two of us should be enough,” said Diablo.

“Just send us the materials about this so-called portal and the other information that we need to take note of,” added Alucard.

Arthur then nodded. “Alright. Then the two of you can go. I will also send you the details of our contacts present on site. You can just communicate with them for more detailed information.”

…