Mimou
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Chapter 199: Norj and Abbott Nel
🕑 Added 2025-02-07 13:56:32 +0000 UTC« Chapter-198 | Index | Chapter-200 »
Sora looked around as he absorbed the remnants of his opponent’s Soul Power.
‘I should have learned from Alius how to decode the memories stored in Soul Power... With the Puzzle Solver effect from his [Soul Dominion], he can do some amazing things...’
Sora’s control over Soul Power had skyrocketed during the update, but his growth had taken a different direction from his alter ego’s. While he could now create dungeons, barriers, seals, and countless other items, his abilities were limited to refined Soul Power instead of raw Soul Power.
‘It would have been extremely helpful to understand the bigger picture behind each invading race,’ he thought, frustration creeping into his mind.
Dismissing his thoughts, he surveyed the battlefield. The floor was littered with hundreds of items dropped by players. The three werewolf players had killed the first wave of invaders trying to reach Seoul.
‘We arrived just in time to save many players,’ Sora noted.
More players were rushing toward the city from all directions, but the strange, lingering feeling in the air hadn’t disappeared.
‘I don’t think Klunor or Kro Nel warned me about these werewolves... There’s something bigger going on.’
He thought of Salim, still out in the wilderness, and sent a quick message.
[Ralph Eden: Are you in Seoul?]
[Salim Msakni: It’s not that easy to move millions of people back to the kingdom... I’ll be done in a minute.]
Sora frowned. ‘A minute is too long.’
As he considered his next move, Kara appeared beside him, activating [Time-Acceleration] on him. His body, now in his normal form, were affected by her abilities again.
“I released everyone in Seoul,” Kara said. “Except Sarsha.”
Sora was taken aback. “She can’t stay in Seoul on her own?”
Kara shook her head. “No... She needs to stay near you, her anchor.” She paused, then sighed. “She wants to leave the [Time-Space]. Should I let her out?”
After Sora nodded, Sarsha materialized beside them. Her expression was urgent, her words spilling out in a rush. “Ralph, Kara! You need to return to the city! I don’t know why it came so early, but every second update, the same thing happens!”
She glanced around, as if searching for something, then added, “The world outside could watch everything happening in this world through the streaming platforms. They know exactly who the most promising and strongest players of each race are! That means every new player entering the game during the second update knows about the two of you...”
Kara’s eyes widened in shock. “They—they know about my innate ability?!”
Sarsha nodded grimly. “If you had viewers on your stream, then yes! And considering your performances inside the Ascension Tower, you had viewers—thousands, at least!”
She took a deep breath, her voice growing more urgent. “The first thing strong players do after the second update is hunt down these top players as soon as the update ends!” She paused, then added, “We need to return to the city. Right now!”
Sora’s mind raced. ‘Salim and his millions of followers are still in the wilderness. If what Sarsha says is true, he’s in danger.’ He quickly sent another message.
[Ralph Eden: Salim, you’re in danger. Get to Seoul immediately.]
Sarsha, who had met Salim a few times, shook her head. “It’s been too long since the update. If he doesn’t join us soon, your friend is as good as dead.”
Kara’s expression hardened. “Don’t say that! Salim is sheltering millions of innocents. If he’s in danger, we have to do something.”
She turned to Sora, her eyes pleading. He didn’t need her to say more; he nodded in agreement.
Sarsha threw up her hands in frustration. “No, no, no, no!! This isn’t a good idea!!”
Ignoring her warnings, Sora sighed. “We’re no saints, and we won’t go out of our way to save everyone... But Salim is a true friend, Sarsha. We can’t leave him behind. No matter the cost.” He glanced at Kara, then added, “And don’t worry—we’re not so weak that anyone can bully us.”
Pointing at Kara, he said, “And we can make that minute much shorter.”
Sarsha seemed frustrated, and Sora sent her back to the [Time-Space]. Kara took his hand, and together, they vanished into a [Void Tunnel].
Appearing above Salim’s encampment, Sora wasted no time. He released a wisp of his mental power, and in an instant, hundreds of thousands of players waiting in line to be summoned by their king collapsed, unconscious.
[You have attacked a player who has not initiated a fight with you.] x492,999 [Killing an ally will result in a penalty.] x492,999
Sora immediately turned off the notifications, the endless ringing noise grating on his nerves.
Kara nodded and began storing the fallen players in her [Time-Space], her movements trained, by now.
Salim, who had been frozen in terror as his subjects fell simultaneously, relaxed when he spotted Sora and Kara floating above him. He teleported to their side, his voice a mix of relief and awe. “That was savage, but thanks for the help.”
Sora nodded curtly. “Let’s leave.” He paused, then added, “Grab my hand.”
Salim complied, and Sora enveloped the group in a [Veil], masking their presence. He prepared to leave, but as they entered the [Void Tunnel] and began flying at extreme speed, something felt off.
The tunnel shuddered, then collapsed. Sora’s eyes narrowed as he realized the truth.
‘Damn it...’
Sora felt it instantly. Something had severed the space ahead, cutting them off.
Kara tensed beside him. “Sor-Ralph…”
Salim’s voice was shaky. “Is it what I think it is?”
Sora didn’t respond. His [Mana Eyes] activated, and the world changed around him.
At first, there was only emptiness. Then, as if stepping out from behind a thin veil, figures began emerging, hidden behind veils similar to his own.
One by one.
Two. Four. Eight. Dozens.
Sora’s vision flicked from one to the next, sensing the threats and scanning the levels floating above their heads.
Level 180. Level 180. Level 180.
It wasn’t just one race.
Dark elves. Demons. Spirits. Werewolves. Dwarves.
They surrounded them completely. Leaving no gaps or openings.
Sora exhaled slowly, readying himself for the inevitable.
Kara’s voice was quiet. “They were waiting for us.”
Sora's eyes moved past the level 180 players, stopping on the players behind them.
Players that came after the update. Each group had a few.
'A Level 240 Dark Elf. Five level 230 Werewolf. Six level 230 Dwarves.'
And then, standing apart, floated two figures.
[Norj - Level 260]
His skin was a light purple and smooth. His dark hair was cut just above his shoulders and his dark purple eyes were captivating.
A pair of long swords rested on his back, their hilts wrapped in leather.
Even Sora couldn't help but think the dark elf was… beautiful. He shook his head at the thought.
'Why does he… look familiar?'
Sora turned his attention to the other player.
[Abbott Nel - Level 260]
He was massive dark skinned demon, towering over the Dark Elf beside him, his upper body bare, revealing a muscular body covered in tattoos.
Thick, golden hair cascaded down his back, shining bright against his dark furred arms. His eyes were blue with yellow pupils and his legs weren't human. From the knees down, his feet were hooved, like a goat’s. Two curved black horns grew from his forehead.
Sora’s frown deepened at the feeling he got from the duo. 'We're doomed.'
Abbott Nel was the first to speak.
“Ralph Eden. Kara Spirine. Salim Msakni.” His voice was smooth, carrying a casual amusement. “Number 1, 3, and 8 on the Global Threats Ranking. Wow, what a catch.”
He stretched, rolling his shoulders like he had all the time in the world.
“It was worth waiting in ambush.” His gaze lingered on Kara for a moment longer. “With the three of you out of the picture, we’ll have removed three top-rated threats users at once.”
His smirk widened, fangs flashing. “And this little alliance of ours… makes things much simpler.”
Sora’s grip tightened around his sword.
'Thirty-eight level 180 players. They shouldn’t be a threat to me or Kara. But I don’t know how strong Salim has become since we left the tower, so I shouldn't count on him. The real danger comes from the twelve players around level 230. And the duo of level 260 players.
'Our odds of survival are slim... But we don’t need to fight to the death. I just need to get Kara and Salim back to Seoul.’
Without looking at his teammates, he transmitted his plan to them in secret. Simultaneously he looked towards Abbott and spoke casually.
“Oh? Where can we see this ranking? You’ve got me curious.”
Abbott chuckled, seemingly entertained. He gestured lazily.
“Sora Hashino—that’s your real name, right?”
Sora stiffened. He hated the feeling of being seen through.
Abbott continued, unconcerned. “While the little newbies played with dirt, we've been watching the world through streaming platforms. And some analysts of World 69 have crafted rankings." Pausing, he explained, "You’re ranked third because of your three Supreme Skills and that absurdly high talent level.”
Then, his eyes moved to Salim.
“That one over there,” he said, “is wasting his potential by dragging along useless people. But his Supreme Skill and Innate Ability, combined with a little persuasion, make him one of the biggest threats in the Ten Kingdoms. His ranking skyrocketed the moment he recruited you and your friends.”
Salim’s expression darkened. His Supreme Skill. Something he had never revealed. Yet here it was, casually thrown into the open by someone he had never even met.
Abbott’s smirk faded, his voice turning cold. “And last but not least—Kara.”
He exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing. “You’re the main problem.”
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What will happen next? Would you please give me your feedback about what you would think / feel if a major character died inside of the game? It's just out of curiosity, and not foreshadowing.
It's my first book, and I want to know about the readers' feelings.
I remember that for some stories I've read, it was good that some characters died, despite how heartbreaking it was. And in others, I just felt that it was a bad move by the author.
Here, if anyone dies, it'd be in the game first. And it would be used for character development.
I want to know if you have like rules, or principles regarding deaths you can accept, and deaths you can't accept.
