Chapter 10: Prison
"Hey, Huna. You suck, don't you?" Reylin asked from the side.
He was looking at the bandit boss and his underlings' fight. Those were going against players with less level than them, but they somehow struggled. However, the answer to their struggle was simple.
Reylin!
The players weren't giving their all because the player with a unique class was next to them.
And Huna was thinking about Reylin's words. It was the first time he faced the players, and though he didn't believe in his loss, the difference was clear. The players were eager to try fighting, and they were also immortal.
The latter made them more reckless than other 'humans', and Huna believed it wouldn't be too long before those players came with the same levels. If their whole purpose was to level up, wouldn't players soon bully the weak residents?
Huna was conflicted, but as Reylin's voice rang out, he used his skill, "Thievery Knife!" The player leader suffered a heavy blow, and he struggled to keep his back straight! Huna didn't miss any chance, and he quickly dealt with the player.
Reylin clapped and looked at other underlings.
Their boss' victory pushed them forth, and their knives tasted more blood until the players turned into particles.
"This game is the hardest game for the majority of Earthlings. How would you rate their swordsmanship?" Reylin asked.
Huna glanced at him and said, "Their swordsmanship sucks. Only their skills hurt me."
"And that's what makes this game the hardest for us." Reylin faintly laughed, "But at some point, they will learn. Even if they don't learn proper swordsmanship, they will still get rid of you through level gaps. Unless you level up, that is. I wonder, how is the leveling up for you guys?"
"We can't... level up as easily..." Huna replied, knowing the gravity of the situation. "That is unless we taste the dark matter."
"Dark Matter?" Reylin repeated, and then his system flashed.
Ding!
[You have learned about dark matter.]
Ding!
[The Main World Quest - Chapter 1.]
[Chapter 1 - Dark Matter's Investigation.]
[You have learned about the dark matter that had brought the Dark Age onto the Faynom World! What are exactly the dark matter and its origins? By getting five unique dark matters, you should learn more about it!]
[You can get the dark matter by killing monsters across the whole world.]
"Who gives a crap about dark matter?" Reylin said.
"Uh... Dark matter is dangerous, but I think we can get stronger by eating it." Huna explained.
"On what basis do you believe in it?" Reylin asked.
"Before players arrived, the royalty tried to find a way to stand on their own. They investigated those dark matters... It began with animals... Many animals had died, but a few succeeded. They became monsters that could level up easier than others! Humans... also changed, but I heard there were some more serious consequences about it..." Huna closed his eyes and didn't say anything else.
"In every game, players come out on top. Players end up the strongest, and you can do nothing about it," Reylin's reaction angered Huna's underlings.
They couldn't take this much discrimination!
Huna opened his eyes and stared at Reylin.
"If you no longer can level up and your level is currently your peak, you can break the curse by interacting with the players. Contracts or some other shit might help you. Besides, you can always give up on your bandit life and become rightful people. Unless you face some crazy player, you should keep your little lives here." Reylin said.
Then, he joined his hands behind his back and pushed his chest out, "Mana potions and money. Or we can always fight if that's what you want. Which one will it be?"
Huna looked at the flames and the man who was the cause, then said, "We comply."
-
[You have unlocked the Jolni Province Map.]
"Oh, that's it?" Reylin chuckled.
The minimap unlocked the beginner city's province. It was called Jolni, and Reylin's quest was actually at the very end of it. He would need some time to get here without any carriage or whatsoever, so Layla did give him a really exhausting and time-consuming quest.
However, Reylin didn't mind it, and he used his journey to collect enough thoughts and level up.
[You have used the Fireball Skill.]
[You have killed the Lv. 8 Red Wildbear.]
Reylin received a lot of potions and money, then information about the Northern Rivers Bank. He knew that levels here ranged from twenty to thirty, so Reylin focused more on leveling up.
After he killed the Red Wildbear, Reylin received a new system notification.
[Red Wildbear has dropped Red Leather Armor(Common). Would you like to get it or turn it into EXP?]
"Hmm..." Reylin pondered, then chose to keep the armor.
[Red Leather Armor(Common)]
[Durability: 100/100]
[Strength +10, HP +50.]
[Physical Defense: +25]
Reylin put the armor on himself, and he noticed that it was pretty heavy. It lowered his agility and increased his stamina consumption! He felt a little annoyed about it, but more strength would allow him to have more fun with fireball punches.
He kept the armor on and adventured across the forest.
Reylin's level rose up to ten, but that was sole because of his pyromania skill. He lit up the forest and used those flames to replenish his mana. If monsters disappeared too far away, he would chase them as much as possible, then use his mana potions in the battle.
However, Reylin's journey stopped at some point.
"I am the knight of the Blue Rose Royal Family! If you willingly surrender yourself and let us catch you, your punishment will be shorter!" The female knight announced.
Reylin turned around and titled his head, "Don't you guys have some nature mages? Just fix those trees, and we're good."
"That's too much work and resources, you pyromaniac!" She was pretty mad, considering her loud voice and thorny tone.
Reylin raised his arms, "I beg your forgiveness then. It's my bad since I overestimated this world. I will be careful next time." He smiled and bowed.
The female knight didn't soften at all, "You must be sentenced."
[Alyona, The Knight Of Blue Rose Royal Family. Lv. 30 HP:??? MP:???]
"Eh..." Reylin sighed, "Well then. Let's play hide and seek then."
Reylin threw himself into the flames, causing Alyona and her knights' eyes to widen in a stupor.
But seeing Reylin casually running away with his clothes and HP intact, Alyona shouted, "After him!"
Her knight set off, and as the leader, Alyona was prepared to sacrifice herself for her mission! Thus, the road she took was the one Reylin did.
Therefore, the female knight threw herself into the flames!
"You are the first crazy woman I've seen in this world! Sweet!" Reylin laughed, then soaked his hand in the flames! "Fireball for my dear friend!"
"Who is your dear friend?!" Alyona shouted, cut through the fireball, and utterly negated its damage!
Reylin narrowed his eyes, "Don't be so mean to my flames! Those are pretty cozy... What about this one?" He hid behind the tree, then clenched his hand.
The unruly flames billowed, and Reylin punched the knight woman!
His mana gathered around his fist, and the air shivered, so Alyona was well prepared and careful against that punch!
She didn't stop, though, and her sword thrust forth!
"Victory is not an option for me. I know this very well, Alyona," Reylin whispered, and before the punch connected with the sword, he did a 180 spin to the side. He avoided the blow and extended his punch from the side.
Before Alyona's face, Reylin unfolded his fingers, and the flames spat like the fire dragon's breath!
[You have changed your Fireball into the Flamethrower!]
[The Flamethrower Skill has been learned!]
[The Flamethrower(A)(D)]
That new skill was strong, but even though Reylin aimed at Alyona's face, her face just got a little redder, and it actually accentuated her beauty.
She remained unfazed and hacked at Reylin's arm.
[You have lost -48 HP!]
"And you also lost an arm," Alyona said seriously, her voice emotionless. Of course, her focus contorted her face and made her look valiant.
Reylin glanced at his lost arm, "Well. Are you that special, or those knights are that weak? Perhaps, you don't fear flames?"
"It was a risky move, and it could have cost my life, but I do not care," Alyona replied, "I will never fail any mission."
"Oh, what a poor knight. Who has twisted you this badly?"
Alyona didn't answer! She took Reylin's hand and threw him out of the flames. After leaving the flame world, Alyona healed herself through the potions, and her knights tended to her flames.
They wiped the flames off her armor, then checked her status.
"We are sorry for being so useless."
"It's not your fault. This man knew he had no way of escaping me, so he decided to fight," Alyona responded, but no smile appeared on her face.
Reylin saw it and commented, "My dear friend. They are really sorry."
"Don't call me dear friend!" Alyona snapped and pointed her sword at him.
"At least you didn't swing it. If you did, I would have been freed. Let's see, you seem a little crazy, but also under someone's control. It can't be like this, my dear friend." Reylin attacked again.
If she killed him, he would respawn in the city and just escape.
They didn't know his identity beforehand, so that would be a smooth escape.
However, Alyona controlled herself and didn't do anything else other than glaring at him.
Reylin smiled, "Don't ogle me so much."
"..."
In the end, Alyona didn't do anything rash and succeeded in her mission by throwing Reylin into prison.
Due to his player's status, his punishment was short.
Just a month.
Would Reylin allow himself to stay in prison for such a long time, though?