Second World

”I want to ask another thing about this game you created,” Jack said.

”What?” Wilted asked.

”Why the hell did you make it so we lose everything and go back to level 1 when we died in the wilderness? Traditional RPG always has us only losing some exp points or a maximum of one level. Why go such a roguelike version for this game? I doubt many people will play Second World if they risk losing all their progressions with just one death.”

”We originally didnʼt intend for it. It was Apollyonʼs request. My partner and I fought hard against this. We donʼt understand then why this scientist wants to interfere with the game style. Now, I know. If everyone loses only a little exp, the threat he poses will be less. Even if he is God-like, he is just one person. Players can just run away from him. In the unfortunate time when they encountered him, all they will lose will just be one level, there is not much menace in that. He originally wanted even permanent death for the players, not just reverting to level 1 and losing all possessions. In the end, the owner made us compromise by creating two versions of the same game. The normal one and the hardcore with roguelike version. But even for the hardcore version, no permanent death.”

”Let me guess. When he activated his machine, Apollyon used the hardcore version as the basis.”

Wilted nodded.

”Well, I actually prefer it this way, adds more realism, considering this is now the real world. By the way, are we immortal here then? Will we ever die? I mean, the permanent death one, ceasing to exist that sort of things, not the go back to level one things.”

”I think so, but we will not die from illness or accidents as in our past world. I think we will still die from old age.”

”Old age? Then wonʼt those that have gotten the Vampire and Elf races benefit a lot? Those races live for a really long time, right?”

”The native ones do, but I donʼt think players of vampire or elf races share the same trait. They are still basically human simply being rewritten into another race. They will still have the same lifetime as normal humans. I am an elf player, I feel myself still age normally.”

Horatio said the same thing about vampire players.

”Anyway, if we are immune to illness, I guess those with a terminal illness would going to be very grateful to Apollyon when they found themselves in this world and fully healthy,” Jack said.

”Not only those,” Wilted said. ”Iʼve also met some players who used to be cripple, blind, deaf, or the sort in the previous world. Even ones who had those complications since birth. They were fully complete and healthy once the world changed.”

”Hm… I bet they will not want to change this world back if somehow given the option. Hey, Wilted, when we beat Apollyon and if we somehow discover his machine and it can change the world back. Would you want to?”

Wilted paused upon the question. They looked at each other. Leavemealone looked away when Jack and Wilted turned to him.

”Why the hell are you looking away for? Itʼs not like we are going to force you to answer,” Jack said.

”We can ponder about that if we did manage to beat Apollyon,” Wilted Tree said and stood up.

”We will!” Jack announced. ”Right?” He asked Leavemealone, who again looked away.

#@$*

Wilted Tree took two things out and gave them to Jack. ”I have no use for these. As I said, make your guild stronger, these should help.”

Eagle Rider Hunter Insignia (Unique Insignia, for guild purpose only)

Allow the training of Eagle Rider Hunter

Ice Cannon Tank Blueprint (Unique blueprint, for guild purpose only)

Allow blacksmith workshop to construct Ice Cannon Tank

”Lady, I thought I have many unique items. Considering you threw two away without even batting an eye, I admit defeat,” Jack uttered while admiring the two unique-grade items.

”I donʼt think you can use them now, though. That insignia can only be used once your guild reaches level 3. While for the Ice Cannon Tank, your blacksmith workshop will need to be level 4, and your blacksmith should be at least Basic Master.”

”What about the Time Pearl?” Jack asked.

”The Time Chamber you can build immediately regardless of the guild level,” Wilted answered. ”I will leave now. You two better have a good talk with those high fairies. They are special even for their kind. Iʼm surprised to find all the knowledge implanted inside them, even I will not be able to secretly apply the modifications on them, not to say Apollyon. I canʼt picture anyone who has been able to do that. Well, there is one actually, but he was already dead before he can do anything.”

Wiltedʼs sad expression returned.

”Your partner?” Jack asked.

Wilted nodded. ”He was the only one who had complete control of the core system. However, after his death, I see the irregularities in the system were still there. Apollyon should have found out about my partnerʼs snooping while my partner was still studying the irregularities. If my partner had the time to implement these changes with your fairies and growth weapons, he could have a more easy time simply erasing all the irregularities caused by Apollyon.”

Wilted stood up, ”anyway, I canʼt stay any longer. I still have a lot to do. I will be going into a place where I canʼt come out or be contacted for some time, Iʼm not sure how long. The Liguritudum Realm will continue to be in much turmoil. My friends will try to halt World Makerʼs progress as best as they can, but I think it is only a matter of time before the country is theirs. You need to strengthen yourself and the forces in your country in the meantime, prepare them for the sure-to-come invasion.”

Jack nodded.

Wilted activated a tool. A silvery portal appeared.

”Hey, what if we tell everyone this truth? I bet many will rally with us to fight against Apollyon,” Jack asked before Wilted stepped into the portal.

”I advise you against it. How are you sure they will be noble enough to fight against him. For all we know, it will instead cause those weak-willed ones to look for Apollyon and offer him aids, requesting protection in exchange once he came into power. That is how his cult came to be. Only share this truth with the ones you can trust!”

”All right, I understand,” Jack said. ”By the way, my real name is Jack Fei. Now that you have shared with us the truth of this world. Let us share our real names.”

Jack turned to Leavemealone, who again, looked away.

ʼBloody hell, whatʼs the deal with this guy? I intentionally asked for real names because I donʼt want to keep calling him by his ugly alias,ʼ Jack said in his mind.

”Well, I suppose I can tell you mine,” Wilted Tree said. ”You can call me Mae, my name is Mae Ligna.”

With that, she stepped into the portal and it vanished soon after.

”Hm, what an unusual name… But why does it sound so familiar…?” Jack mumbled.

Leavemealone took out something. It was a small gem-like stone. Upon seeing the stone, Jack remembered something. He took an exact same stone out.

Chris Memory Stone (Common item, cannot be discarded)

Please give this to Mae Ligna

”Mae Ligna! No wonder I find the name familiar!” Jack uttered. ”Why do you have this stone as well?” Jack asked Leavemealone while at the same time sending a message to Wilted Tree. He received a notification reply that Wilted was unable to receive a message.

ʼShit! She did mention that she would be going to a place where she canʼt be contacted.ʼ

Seeing there was nothing he could do, Jack just sent a message telling her to meet once she had spare time. She didnʼt tell her about the stone nor that it was urgent, because how could he know if it was urgent? For all he knew, the stone was a simple prank from one of her colleagues, hidden inside loots. If she was busy with something important and she had to leave and come to him just to find out it was a prank, Jack would feel truly bad about it.

”How did you come by this stone?” Jack asked Leavemealone.

”It got it from a gold treasure chest,” Leavemealone replied.

”Hey, me too!”

”You didnʼt send her a message to ask her to come back?”

”I did. She canʼt be contacted,” Jack answered. ”Did you not try contacting her as well?”

”I canʼt. She is not on my friend list.”

Jack thought for a moment before asking, ”how many players do you have on your friend list?”

Leavemealone didnʼt answer.

”Man… you truly should learn to socialize more. You must be that kind of martial artist who spent his time alone in the mountain or something to hone your skills. That ancient lone-warrior shit is all good and cool, but we are on the same ship now. You already see what that World Maker is capable of. Hell, you canʼt even beat that Wong guy. He has captured you all by himself, hasnʼt he?”

”I will be stronger the next time I meet him!” Leavemealone declared.

”Good determination! But what if he comes with his friends? You heard what that Master said, he still had another four enforcers who I surmise are not weaker than Wong. Hell, what if Master comes with him?”

”What if they come for you?” Leavemealone returned Jackʼs question.

”This time? I will run as fast as I can back to my Guild Headquarters. I have friends there I can depend on. If they dare come there, we will fight them on our turfs.”

Leavemealone was silent.

”I bet you are not the type who runs away, eh?” Jack said. ”Why donʼt you…”

”My name is Haon,” Leavemealone said.

”Huh?”

”Haon Shaw, thatʼs my real name!”

Jack received a friend request notification at the same time, from Leavemealone.

😉