Reliving The Past ~ Mage Of The Abyss 55 Chapter 48 ~ Some People Are Just Haven't Realized It Ye

Sounds of drums and trumpets in the distance. Kurira sighed, she can't stomach the sound of it, "Good lord, can we please have the option to turn off the music."

Siola tapped her shoulder and pointed into the people behind a large building, "See that? It's no longer a soundtrack anymore."

"… d.a.m.n."

The group has entered the kingdom, and as expected, back when they played the normal mode… they can still remember just how bad the situations in this place are. The poverty, especially for them, they can relate to it… and it hurts.

People walking around with shoes made of gra.s.s, their skin charred underneath the sun. The party is like a three white dot moving on a black canvas. Rakuri tries to transfer some real dollars money and exchanged them to coins, but that no longer works now. Exchanging from coins to dollars still works, but the opposite is no longer available.

Siola really wants to help them, but they too are not really in good condition right now.

Because of Realism Mode being integrated into Normal Mode, the survival mechanics are on. It's active. Well, they already expected this before.

Hunger, Hygiene, Fatigue, they are all important as they always are. And in this game, ignorance will result in fatal consequences.

Not many buildings are around, so most people stuck in one place and then sharing them with each other. Not only that, but they are also scattering around all over the place.

The worst part… is the players that are inhabiting this area.

Shoving the citizen away with his feet, "Bah, you can't even ma.s.saged them properly, and yet, you want my money? Dream on!" the person was hurt, his throat dried out because of thirst. The least that player do was just give him a copper coin to buy himself purified water.

People could go to a river and take some waters there, but they need to filter it first, you can't grab yourself some seawater and just drank it with no second thought. Regret always comes later when you realized it that you did it wrong.

Siola felt really bad seeing that guy, tingling all over as if she wants to kill him and crush his tongue out. She then mumbled to Kurira who is leading the direction they walk, "Uhm, that guy is…"

"Leave them be. It ain't our business."

Her expression hardened, since she can only see Kurira from the back, she doesn't know what to expect from her. Glancing at Rakuri, she glanced back and said, "Our own is more important, Siola. We need to get geared as soon as possible."

"…" She glanced down. Both of her comrades thinking others' life as trivial matters conflicted with her heart. When she sees that man being shoved away like that… it induced her rage. Sadden when she can't do anything about it is one thing, but if she can and she didn't do it, that's when Siola started contradicting her motto in life.

All she cares about is Fame and Glory, most part of it is true, but when she sees something like this… "Hah! You're still trying to do it? Let's see what you can do, if you can't satisfy my feet, don't expect any payments."

The man is so skinny to the point where you can see his bone. As merciless as she can be towards her enemies and random pedestrians, even she can't swallow such stupidity to be in place. A scene of many possible ways to kill that player... plays in her mind, and yet all of it... are something that she cannot do.

She realized... there really is nothing she can do. Siola clenched her fist, but Rakuri quickly put it out. "Dola, Bursoli got surveillance all around. You can't get out of this place if you get caught."

Rakuri has always been so calculating and careful, to the point if something isn't giving her any benefits, she would even abandon people without a second thought.

Gritting her teeth, she knows what Rakuri said was right, but even so… glancing at the man. "Where is it??!!! I can't feel a thing!"

Holding to her last hope, she mumbled her companion's name with trembling lips, "… Kurira…"

"…" Clenching her fist tight, Kurira welled up something in her stomach, making her bend straight up as if she was just suffocated just now, sighing, "G.o.dd.a.m.n it."

Siola's eyes instantly light up like a kid being given their Christmas present while Rakuri let out a sigh with a palm on her face.

…

The man is being kicked again and again right on his shoulder. The people in the surrounding just stand and watch, some even ignored him, even the players.

"You piece of s.h.i.t, how dare you! That was too hard dammit."

The guy is wearing a bulky white crusader armor with a falcon at the center of his chest. There are many reasons why players trying to avoid someone like that. It is either they're rich and from a powerful family, or they are the professionals. Which the former being the most troublesome.

*Bam*

He kicked him away across the field, "Heh, piece of—"

*Brooomph*

"Huh?" the stone ground has molded into a wall two times the size as him.

*BAKS*

His eyes widened as his vision went closer to the wall, his nose broken, and his handsomely white face scratched with his own blood. Shifting his eyes around, she saw the woman that did this, she hummed, "A tip, hon. Wear a f.u.c.king helmet."

It was none other than Kurira.

The man quickly shouted, "Light FLASH!!"

As his hands shining like the scorching sun, Kurira bashed his head again with a kick and repelled herself to join her team in the back.

*Swiiiiiinnnnngghh*

She mumbled, "Blinding Light"

The man's [Light Flash] has been countered with Kurira's [Blinding Light]. However, because of how wide the range [Light Flash] has, the people around were affected by it. They stumbled all around because of how bright it was.

Kurira noticed it, and she doesn't like where this is going at all. If she continues to push mindlessly, "Collateral Damage" would be unavoidable. And it wouldn't be cool if she messed up in front of the woman that she... cares about.

The man chuckled as he fixed his jaw and drink a potion within an instant, "Heh, interesting. So, you can do it that way, huh. Show me more, hero."

Him acting so smugly, making her filled with disgust, but she knows that she has to remain calm to handle this situation. Especially since the guard from the kingdom is started gathering.

With a grin on her face, she stepped forward with the light following her, bursting out a laughter and said, "Hahaha, my good crusader. Holy s.h.i.t, can't believe I met a pro 5 minutes in the game, hot d.a.m.n!"

The man started frowning, "Yeah? Well, do you know what you just did then? You should've been able to tell from this armor, right? Yet, you still attacked me."

Siola is about to vomit after hearing the guy speaking, thinking, 'Oh G.o.d, I can't stand his cringy way to talk.'

Kurira then took another step, "Then, may I ask you, good sir. To give guidance towards me… I'm quite new here and it looks like we evenly match, cla.s.s-wise."

Lowering his eyes down to a slit, "You want a spar?"

Kurira formed that annoying smirk and bowed deeply. The man quickly got triggered, thinking, 'Who the h.e.l.l did she think she is. You're not even level 20 yet. From your clothes alone, I can tell you've just escaped the starter camp.'

He then responded, "Fine, but don't cry when you lose."

Her grin grew even wider, "Of course, good sir."

Waving his hand in the air, navigating through his status, he opened up a menu and then invite Kurira to a PVP match. "There, you can see a menu on your left, just click accept."

'Heh, this guy.'

After accepting his invitation, she quickly went to use an exploit that is very well known among the pro players. Peeking. A very simple way to sneak a peek at your opponent's status, it only works in PVP, but it is what it meant to be used for. There is already [Appraisal] to do the job when in PVE.

[x.x.xBlasterb.u.t.tholex.x.x lv. 168]

Health: 12.350 / Mana: 3.400 / Stamina: 14.500

There are not many that's being shown, but this already tells a lot. 'Where the h.e.l.l did you get that much stamina, my man? Mama's credit card was stacked, huh. Ah well, guess I shouldn't judge since Dola also the same. Well, she's not as douce as you thought.'

[Kurira lv. 25]

Health: 1800 / Mana: 100 / Stamina: 1200

'Holy s.h.i.t, I'm going to be rich after this.' She then went to prepare herself, getting into a stance and wait for her opponent to draw his giant Greatsword.

Looking at her gear, the man laughs, "Hah, you're going to fight me with that?"

*Pfft*

The other players start getting around, and snickered at her. Mumbling amongst themselves, "What the h.e.l.l is she doing, lol."

"Crazy I tell ya. There's a limit to how much of a noob you can be."

"This is going to be interesting."

Kurira ignored them. Combining her hands together, she raised her club high and summoned a light, "Holy Blade."

*Fwooosh*

Her wooden club radiates a warm energy.

"Bwahaha, congrats, you've activated your skill. At least, you know how to. All right, since you insist. I'll let you attack me three times. Don't want you to say 'Oh, it's unfair since you don't even give me a chance to fight' Hahaha."

"Bwahahaha" the crowd laughs.

With a grin in her face still sitting there, she said, "You sure?"

"Yeah, come on, come at me. The bell already rang years ago. Here, I've put on the helmet just like you suggested."

"Bwahahaha"

"…"

"All right then."

*Fwoosh*

The man didn't expect this coming. Kurira throws her weapon right at him, but it was slow, and he can dodge it right away.

'Heh, fool.' Kurira dashed as she mumbled, "Nimble Movement." Her DEX has reached enough points for that skill to have its maximum potency. She rushed toward him and when he dodged the club, Kurira is there, right in front of him, ready to attack.

*TAKS*

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" he screamed in pain as the two of his eyeb.a.l.l.s being pinned inside his head. "Heh, I just had this hunch that you won't give me those three attacks now."

"You,,, b.i.t.c.h!"

He reached out for her and tried to unsheathed his blade, but then… he felt nothing there, and he can't see anything. Kurira burst out a laughter, "Bwahaha, holy s.h.i.t. This thing is even cooler inside, you shouldn't use a scabbard for it, you know."

He quickly understood what she means, Kurira has taken away his sword, but how can that be possible. Even a rogue or a thief skill cannot do something like that.

The crowd gasped full of confusion and shocked. A few of them have the ability to appraise and they saw the crusader's health dropped to 3/4 of his original health.

Gritting his teeth, "Fine, if you want to play like that, then I won't show you any mercy. GREAT HEAL!!" shining light shone toward the man's body, "Hehehe, you think you can—"

*BAM*

"Nghf"

Using the back of the sword, she throws off his footings and sends him away.

*Thud*

"What the—Nngh" without any delay, she removed his helmet. "My good crusader, that spell took 10 seconds to activate."

His eyes widened, he quickly realized that the woman she's fighting with is not an actual newbie, "Y-You, a sm—Mmphf"

Smashing his head again with the back of the blade, Kurira continues to smash him again and again. Crushing it to the ground.

*BAK *BAKK *BAK

The atmosphere… suddenly turned heavy.

"Dude, what the h.e.l.l am I watching right now."

"What the f.u.c.k…"

The crowd went speechless at the sight of the scene that is right in front of them. Kurira has ditched the sword a long time ago and now beating the crusader's head over and over again with her fist imbued in the light aura, that is… none other than [Healing Hands].

*Bak *BAKK *Bak … *Bam *Bam *BANG

Continuing again and again, the blood that spills out of that man's head has already flooded the area in red, yet Kurira is still doing it. Even more question comes, and that is… why is that man not doing anything or fight back?

The answer is simple, that is because he can't.

The pains that transmitted into his head are 100% real. He heard his jaw cracked, his nose broken, his teeth fallen off, all of that hurts him all over to the point of him not being able to think up anything or doing anything. It's one thing if it happens one time, but if it kept repeatedly happens all the time...

[Healing Hands] is tier 1 light magic, it slowly heals minor wounds at an extremely low rate. However, in this one, Kurira is not using it for that purpose. Each time, she punched him, he heals, making his wound trying to regenerate, but when her fists leaves his face… the wound reverts back, sending an even greater pain once more.

"Hey, what are you guys standing around for, she's killing him!!" yelled the woman in the back.

The guys just stand there and glanced at her, but they too don't know what to do. The guards of the kingdom are also not making their move.

*BAKK *BAKK … *BAM

[x.x.xBlasterb.u.t.tholex.x.x lv. 168]

Health: 80 / Mana: 1.800 / Stamina: 12.500

After a crack of grin, she saw the man's face completely butchered in red. Leaning into his ears, she whispers something to him, and then he responded in an unrecognizable pattern.

Kurira then stood, grabbing the Greatsword again, she raised it up in the sky. The crowd's eyes widened as they follow it.

*TAKS*

And just as quickly as it went down, their eyes turned around. The flood of blood seeping through the cracks of the stone, and it went underneath their feet.

"Hiiiiiieeeeeee"

They went to a state of panic and scattered around, leaving the area in terror.

The crusader's head has been split vertically, completely exposing his head's content to them. Shortly after, his body disintegrated and formed into a will of the wisp. Flying across the area to find the place for resurrection.

There is nothing to be gain when you do a PVP duel like this, but you can bet for something from the opponent before the duel. Kurira did it whilst in the battle though, and it is still acceptable as long as both parties agreed.

With a new weapon in her hands, she formed a smile once a more and then pocketed it in her personal inventory.

The two companions join her soon after, "Good work" said Rakuri. Siola on the other hand, is gleaming in sparkles. It's as if she has seen something truly amazing in that fight. Kurira has been doing it for a while, but it is a new experience for Siola to see it, and she was glad that she did it. 'Heh, look at her. Like the first time a kid seeing a magic trick.'

She patted her head and then continue to kiss her in the lips.

*Slap*

Well, what did she expect? Of course, her guardian would send her face away. Suddenly she grabbed Siola's neck and kiss her forcefully. "You,,," Rakuri tried hard to separate them, but her strength falls below her. After leaving that thin delicate lips with the face of satisfaction, her head was forcefully turned once again.

Shifting her eyes to Siola, she saw her looking at something, so she turned around to see it and she saw that man again. The frail-looking man that was being kicked around by that crusader. He's approaching them like a small troll walking in wounds.

"Hrrmmph…" Kurira sighed. Taking out a pouch of coins, she gave the man a few silver and copper coins. "Here, don't waste it in one place."

It was subtle, but they can hear the man's gasp. He humbly kneels in front of Kurira as he accepts the money in her hands. Nothing was needed to say. He then went back somewhere, there are many others that are like him, and from the looks of it… an adult woman and three young kids.

He… shared the money with them.

The feelings come back to the three, they are not happy at all. They are without a doubt, was glad that they could help, but this was merely a temporary solution. Soon that money will burn faster than the day pa.s.ses by.

Kurira noticed Siola, must be thinking about that.

Tapping her head with a chop, "Hey, we've got things to do."

"…" with air so low and tense at the same time, she then nodded.

The event that happened just now must have triggered something that is unnecessary for them. Rakuri and Kurira, they might be right to just leave the man alone. That way, the progress of their journey will come back even smoother.

But Siola always thinks the other way that is different from them, and it always makes the whole party shook like an earthquake when that happens. Making a good swift decision is not something Siola was and still is, capable to do.

It is the same when she tried to kill that thief back in the Desolated Sector, she always invites trouble regardless of whether her decision is wrong or not.

Kurira and Rakuri also have different ways of thinking, but they support each other out to find out the best way to handle the situation. Siola did not have that. Her mind to comprehend their teachings... is still undeveloped. And for sure, Siola herself, might not fully understand what she just did.

~~~~~

Aftermath.

Kurira's fight against the crusader was being recorded by someone and uploaded into the forums. They garnered almost a 0 to no views for hours on end, but then when the view counts goes up, it quickly skyrocketed.

From 500 to 18.000 views. Next hour past by, it went to a whopping 340.000 views. And it kept going up and up again without rest.

The dislike b.u.t.ton being smashed into bits with only 5% of it likes the video. The comments too are ruthless, but the video views keep going even further because here, there is no s.h.i.tty algorithm that forces liked videos to be on the front page of people's recommendation.

"Oof, poor guy got himself fingering with a hot chick… should be the t.i.tle of the video."

"I get that PVP duel gets people heated up, but that just straight up messed... up, dude."

"2:54 … When someone peeked me in the bathroom."

"That girl should get banned, where are you, Aris! We need this girl out of the game ASAP!"

"My G.o.d, bro. Since when you can chop meat like that."

"Aris: Guys, good news. You can now play with your kids… =_= I don't think I'm going to bring them here."

"Update 6.0 sucks."

The community was split in many ways. One truly hating on the girl, the other making fun of the guy, but one also mentioning Aris. One of the head developers in the game.

She is very active and engaging with the community. Very attractive and kind, so many people love her. But ever since Update 6.0 came out, she's gone.

This event might lead to something troublesome for the party involved in the video. Low-level players fighting against people stronger than them and then winning... can lead to something... ugly for sure.