"Anya, my lovely daughter... You should remember that when it comes to additional gains or one's life, it is always the right decision to choose the latter. The Player Industry is such a terrifying place that sometimes you could get stabbed in the back by someone you are close to. But, at the same time, if you correctly judge the character of the people you are with, and make them your companion, that would be priceless on your journey as a Player in the future.
"You are strong, perhaps will be stronger than me within the next few years. Treat your prospect companions as friends, and consider their conditions during or after raiding a dungeon... Do you know what's the best companion for you?
"It is someone who will NOT always obey you just because of your name, and just because I am your father.
"Why is 'his' last name like that?? You should not be curious about such a thing for now, haha! But that's a great observation. You're really my daughter!
"Anya, my dear... do you know one of the most terrifying things about raiding a dungeon??
"Haha, you're so cute, that's probably why you're my daughter! The Boss Monster is given to be a terrifying thing...
"But, it is the behavior of the environment that is closest to it."
Anya, who was sitting near Elizabeth, Rumia, and seats away from Leon, as well as her group members from her early battle, recalled his father, Makoto Amasawa's words randomly from a few months ago before the start of her Obelisk Academy journey.
'To think that I'd apply some of those pieces of advice during an activity, virtual reality at that...'
But, one thing she quickly understood from what was shown on the holographic screen just now was the environmental behavior that was closest or as terrifying as the Boss Monster.
A woman with red hair and yellowish eyes from Han Jiho's group suddenly turned Illusory, and death came after.
'If my eyes don't deceive me, it seems like Han Jiho baited her into reading what was on that gravestone.'
The man named Han Jiho that aroused Anya's curiosity was a very weird individual from her perspective as he seemed to lack some common sense or humor in this society.
'It is his looks that garnered the attention of other women, what a troublesome thing. And that behavior... It was like that 'man'...'
Although Anya's facial features were considered one of the top beauty, ordinary people, even aristocratic ones hesitate to approach her because of her last name, as well as her 'obvious' doting father.
Just as Anya thought of that, she heard the sound of a capsule lid opening where the woman with red hair and yellowish eyes came out with a crystal clear disgruntled expression on her face.
After that, Anya heard another woman's voice near her which contained laughter and words such as 'what a b*tch'.
...
For some inexplicable reason, the atmosphere turned colder, and the night seemed to become more haunting as the Fog representing Oblivion slightly dissipated, causing the whole group to be more exposed to the unknowns as if a pair of eyes were watching them somewhere. This caused shivers on everyone's back as if the fear of being forgotten was plucked out of their subconscious to resurface.
"Don't look up."
Samantha Hall said succinctly, but her tone contained an atmosphere that made one unconsciously comply with her words, washing away the instinct and curiosity to look up at the night sky where moonlight illuminated the ground.
It was just a few minutes since they arrived in the virtual world and with their leader's words, they instinctively understood that something must have happened. Although they didn't know what exactly.
"Conjure your weapons and armor if you desire so."
Due to Samantha's previous words, her group members seemed to enter a state of stupor that made them forget to conjure their weapons and armor.
Upon hearing those words, they felt embarrassed as if they couldn't do anything without their leader's command at the moment.
One by one, Freya, Celine, Ethera, and Markin conjured their weapons and armor from their subconscious.
Freya conjured a weapon she was most familiar with.
It was the first Rare Weapon she held a few years ago after the financial situation of their family, as well as their living environment, has been resolved. It was a shortsword with a simple half-moon design engraved on its cross-guard.
Ethera conjured an antique-looking book that has black color and strange patterns, it contained a Closed-Eye on its cover. One of its notable characteristics was that it was floating beside her as if it has a life on its own.
The weapons and armor they conjured in the virtual world were a product of their subconscious, something that left a very deep impression on them that it would be the first thing to come into their minds.
Freya, who saw it, as well as the other group members except for Samantha, had a curious look on their faces.
'Where in the world have you seen such a bizarre thing?'
Freya lampooned as she saw the floating black notebook beside Ethera.
Markin didn't conjure any weapon, just a simple-looking brown platemail without a helmet.
It was for two reasons, on the one hand, as a Sand Tanker, the focus of his skills was sand manipulation where he could create a shield made from sand, or any kind of soil as long as it didn't have something on them that would make him unable to do so. On the other hand, though it was possible to conjure a shield, it needs to possess the Earth element, but he didn't do so to practice his skills of manipulating sand because a weapon could be taken away at any time, but the skills were deep within one's soul.
After a minute of tidying themselves up, Freya looked at Celine wearing an embarrassed expression.
"Why haven't you conjured a weapon yet?"
Freya asked in wonder, Samantha who heard her answered in Celine's stead.
"She has a production class. Alchemist, right?"
Celine, who heard Samantha's words nodded her head before she looked at the ground, not daring to make eye contact with her teammates.
Virtual sweat seemed to appear on her forehead due to anxiousness.
"Maybe you can try to conjure potions so we won't need to find them anymore."
Ethera from the side of the group said, prompting others to slightly nod their heads.
"Ye-yes!"
Celine said timidly.
'Are all alchemists timid at the start of their career as a Player?'
Freya lampooned inwardly.
After ten seconds to fifteen seconds, Celine looked at Samantha before saying with an invigorated voice.
"I-it says I c-can't conjure potions t-that have recovery effects..."
She looked at the Virtual System Message in front of her, then she heard her leader's voice.
"What potions you can conjure, then?"
"Ah... Uhmm... Agility, S-strength, D-dexterity! It also says I-i can only conjure eight potions..."
Celine said as she scratched her right cheek.
'You're like my Oppa when he was younger.'
Freya restrained herself from saying as she heard the stuttering Celine that resembled her older brother a few years ago as if interacting with others was a disease.
Without a sliver of doubt, Samantha spoke as if she knew what was needed in the upcoming situation.
"Conjure four Agility potions, two Strength potions, and two Dexterity potions. I will take one Agility potion, and give one to Freya here along with a Dexterity potion and a Strength potion.
Then, one Agility potion for Ethera with another Dexterity potion, and you use the remaining Agility potion. And the last one will be a Strength potion for Markin."
Celine who heard that quickly conjured the potions according to Samantha's instruction.
After twenty to thirty seconds, round-bottom flasks floated in the air.
Four of them have whitish liquid as if the wind was whirling in them.
It was the Agility potions, while the Strength has yellowish liquid that has a yellow luster similar to glitters shimmering in one's hand, and Dexterity has a mix of colors like a rainbow.
The floating flasks landed on everyone's hands according to Samantha's instruction.
Celine roughly understood why she was asked to take an Agility potion.
It's to aid her in running faster!
"Should we consume them now? Or later?"
It was Markin who asked as he was holding a Strength potion with his right hand.
"It's better to consume them now, we might not be able to have a chance to do it later."
Without any objections, all of them proceeded to consume the potions given to them.
[You have consumed, 'Low-Grade Agility Potion in its Pure Form'.]
[You have consumed, 'Low-Grade Strength Potion in its Pure Form'.]
[You have consumed, 'Low-Grade Dexterity Potion in its Pure Form'.]
[You have received an additional 100 Agility.]
[You have received an additional 100 Strength.]
[You have received an additional 100 Dexterity.]
Freya who consumed the potions given to her had her expression turned into shock. As she looked around, she notice that it wasn't just her, even Samantha has a slight change in her expression while Celine was looking into the ground, showcasing her timid personality.
Just as Samantha would point something out regarding the Virtual System message about the potion, they heard a subsequent sound, indicating another message from the Virtual System.
[Group Notification
Due to the death of someone in this Cemetery of Oblivion, the main quest was forwarded ahead of time!]
[Group Notification
Quest Title: Moon's Embrace
Type: Main Quest
Description:
The Strayed Dungeon called Cemetery of Oblivion had erased the existence of countless Players due to ignorance and recklessness from its early days.
With thousands of graves buried under the trees of this forest, the Fog of Oblivion was born.
And with the death of someone due to one of the reasons mentioned above, the underlying mystery in this virtual world has been triggered, causing the Sleeping Moon to awaken.
Clear Condition:
1. Among the scattered gravestones 1000 meters across from your spot, find the one that would complete the Poem of Remembrance.
After finding it, have someone recite it without vanishing.
Warning:
Reciting the Poem of Remembrance when the Eyes of the Moon above the sky were opened would result in oblivion.
Oblivion means death.
2. Find and kill the one who controls the moon.
Warning:
This being is in a state of slumber, and has a rank equivalent to A-.
Rewards:
1. Data Copy of the Dungeon Map, 'Cemetery of Oblivion'.
2. ???
3. ???
Failure:
- The opposing team would automatically win.
Virtual System Note:
1. There are two gravestones that have the same poem, each meant for your group and the opposing one.
2. The original clear condition of killing the opposing leader or stealing the Obelisk Token and running for ten minutes will still be applied in this situation! But by choosing this route, the winner wouldn't receive the Data Copy of this Dungeon Map.]
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