Julian watched Maria who started dancing.
A moment later, her dance created small motes of water around her body, constantly flickering with a faint, luminous light.
’It’s quite alluring and beautiful to see in person.’
The faint twist of her hips, before a pivot and turn, the snap of her right leg kicking the air, revealing a racy sight as she twirled in a circle, crushing the grass beneath her.
Nora hovered about Maria’s avatar in a bright blue font.
She continued her dance, alternating the speed and tempo several times as a warm, comforting aura seeped into Julian’s body.
[◊ Nora, the tempest Siren used: Performance! ◊]
• All party attributes increased by 2
Duration: 2 hours
[◊Nora, the tempest Siren used: Race Performance! ◊]
• All party members will recover 2 Health every five seconds during combat.
Duration: 2 hours
The warmth spread through Julian’s body, like slipping into a warm bath.
He closed his eyes while sensing the sudden improvements.
"H-How does it feel?" Maria huffed slightly after dancing twice, her eyes shimmering in the darkness, while the water orbs hovering around her body constantly changed form.
"Amazing…"
Julian couldn’t stop himself from behind honestly, answering her with a straight answer. Maria’s eyes widened before she covered her lips and turned away.
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"I’m thrilled you enjoyed the dance." Her lips curved into a smirk, while she wrapped around his back and stepped closer, sliding her hands along Julian’s arms. "Maybe I can give you another one later tonight."
The neural link allowed him to feel everything, as if she touched him in real life. Maria’s pod seemed even more authentic.
"Focus on the game, we cannot afford to die."
"Yes~ Yes~ I will obey you, my prince."
’I don’t like her tone when calling me that…’
The orbs flickered and transformed at each moment. Occasionally, they formed beautiful orbs, and other times, they morphed into sharp, watery blades and shields.
’It’s almost like they respond to her emotions.’
"Then~ shall we go to the village?"
Julian glanced at his information panel, wondering what attributes he should prioritise as time ran out and the fusion of worlds became imminent. Although the game elements were important, things became complicated once the two worlds merged.
People’s classes and evolutions would remain the same, but an Evoker who didn’t invest any points in defence, attack, or speed would die on the first day the monsters invaded reality. They stopped being limited by the goddess and the game system.
And to make matters worse, even if an Evoker increased their attack. The Evoker couldn’t overpower a guardian or attacker with the same attack value because they lacked the proper melee and physical combative skills.
’Humans would learn after a few months that people could gain any basic skill.’
’For now, I will improve my defence and magic, but maybe increasing Attack with my current class might help to when the world goes to shit.’
"Let’s go then."
"So, can your little shadows talk?"
Maria’s speed allowed her to dance around Julian while maintaining her balance and pace. She sometimes leaned close to Nocta and Umbra with a cheeky smile.
’Mystics are so broken and overpowered.’ Julian flicked his gaze towards the lover’s information panel, showing her current status. He then realised Mystics might seem powerful... However, the low defence would mean instant death in the long run.
’I should warn her...’
Nora (Maria Sinclair) • Dancer (S)
Tempest Siren
• Level: 12 (11,500/40,000)
• HP: 120
• MP: 100
• Attack: 6
• Defence: 4
• Speed: 22
• Magic: 12
• Total: 41 (+8)
• Water Orbs: 10
• Bonus Attribute Points: 0
• Bonus Talent Points: 0
[Performance!]
10% Mana
2 Second Dance
Maria performs an uplifting dance that charges the element of water to empower her allies. For two hours, this increases all attributes by 2.
[Soothing Performance!]
10% Mana
5 Second Dance
Maria performs a slightly alluring and risky dance that boosts the body’s regenerative powers, allowing all party members to recover 2 HP every five seconds for two hours.
[Tempest!]
1 Mana Orb
Channelled Dance
Maria performs an aggressive dance, converting her mana into blades of icy water that automatically block, parry, and attack her enemies for 10 water damage.
Last until another dance or action is performed.
[Squall!]
10% Mana per second
Channelled Dance
Maria channels her emotions, and the desire to heal her comrades, constantly healing allies by 10 HP each second and with a final burst of cooling water that restores double.
Last until another dance or action is performed.
—
"Phew... the path isn’t so long but keep your guard up, Umbra, Nocta,"
Julian warned the two warriors who served as his shields. Umbra’s eyes flickered with a red glow before what seemed to be her huffing and turning away. Nocta just nodded and hovered behind him like a ghost.
Maria’s eyes widened at their sudden disappearance. "I-I guess they are not very talkative."
"They cannot speak, well... I can somewhat understand them."
Julian’s lips curled into a bitter smirk.
He could sense the strange feelings of jealousy and angst from Umbra, while Nocta’s link remained a little weaker, and he only felt her pride and desire to fight.
"Let’s go... I don’t think we can waste time here, tonight there’s a place I want to go."
Maria’s long leg extended as she turned to face him with a mischievous smile. "Oh? are you going to take me into a dark place? Fufu." She giggled.
Julian sighed, ignoring her words. "Well technically..."
"Oh my?" Maria tilted her head with shining eyes. "Really?"
He couldn’t help but smirk at her sudden change in tone, a lovely sound to hear. "Yes, I am taking you somewhere dark, dangerous and very wet."
Maria’s cheeky words stopped, and she twisted away, hopping across the broken stones leading to the village, avoiding the wet mud beneath her feet.
The village was empty, with no signs of life or movement.
It was eerie to see such a lively place devoid of its usual hustle and bustle.
’Where could Fran be... I hope she’s fine, I brought some special arrows for her.’
Because of the Auction house opening in less than 24 hours, he planned to visit a dungeon in the nightmare world, hoping that the loot would be unique and different from the normal one.
While they walked along the village path, Julian noticed Maria’s glance several times, but she turned away when he looked back.
’What is she thinking about?’
He wondered, noticing her fidgeting and restless behaviour. ’Maybe she wants to ask something?’ His thoughts raced as they continued walking through the village.
"They’re not back to the same tricks right?"
Julian sighed when he noticed the same chest in the item store, and nobody from the village in sight.
At first, he wondered if monsters attacked them, but they wouldn’t respawn quickly in this nightmare world because the game rules had deteriorated.
He could only doubt them while approaching Fran’s home. The door now repaired, and the windows blocked off.
"It’s only been two days, shouldn’t there be enough food?"
"Julian... this place is so dirty and strange. The game is so weird~ why is everything destroyed?"
"You only ask that now?!" Julian slapped his forehead, wondering what went through her head.
"I mean, it’s a game, right? Why make it look so bad and scary? It’s like a horror movie."
Julian glanced at her, realising she probably never played games before, and especially not VRMMO games. However, what about Eleanor? Wouldn’t she know this isn’t true...?
He couldn’t help but bite his lower lip, frustrated that she didn’t show him a simple answer.
’I hate mind games.’
Shaking his head, Julian ignored it for now because it wasn’t important enough. The game and growing stronger meant more to Julian than learning about Maria’s true origins.
A soft knock on the door echoed through the silent night air. "Fran! Are you there? It’s me, Julian!"
No answer came, but he heard a faint shuffling noise from inside the house. "Fran?" He called out again, knocking harder this time.
The door creaked open slowly, revealing a dishevelled Fran.
Her hair was messy, her clothes rumpled, revealing her smooth breasts and fuzzy pink hair, with drool at the corner of her lips.
"J-Julian... You’re finally back?"
She rubbed her eyes sleepily, looking up at him with tired eyes.
"Yes, I promised to bring you better arrows, and meat, remember?" She looked at him with a strange gaze, her eyes sparkling as she tapped her chin, before gasping.
"Oh yes, I remember. Come in, come in. I have made some improvements to the house."
Julian stepped inside, followed by Maria, who hesitated before entering.
"Who is she, Julian?!"
"Huh? An Ally?"
"..." Maria’s eyes narrowed, watching the half-dressed Sakurapaw female, her ears swishing side to side.
"She’s cute... Is she your lover?" Maria whispered, leaning closer to Julian.
"No, she’s just a friend."
"Heeeeh~ with a rack like that, and that ass?"
Maria’s eyes glowed with curiosity, making Julian sigh.
"Yours are just as pleasing to the eye."
His sudden response seemed shocking to Maria, or maybe it was just what she had never expected.
Her cheeks flushed red, and she turned away, muttering something under her breath.
Julian looked around the room, noticing the new furniture and decorations. The place looked cleaner and more organised than before.
"Did you hunt alone, Fran?"
He couldn’t help but notice the extra pelts used to create quilts and other items in the house. In a few days, she seemed to have greatly improved it.