Hey, journal—I'm back! It's Day 2 of my quest to conquer this game, and it's already been a rocky start. I've recruited a new party member, Yuli. He's ridiculously powerful, but also a brutally honest idiot—and a wanted criminal to boot. The fact that he keeps preaching about "Secrets breaking parties" yet refuses to explain why there's a one‑million bounty on his head drives me up the wall. We've been grinding non‑stop, but every time we think we're about to find an enemy, our hopes get snapped away—there just aren't any around. That's it for today; I'll write back as soon as something happens.
The jungle pressed in around them, vines draping like emerald curtains. Every footstep sank into damp undergrowth, the air thick with insects and the distant howl of unseen beasts. Velt wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and glanced at Yuli trudging beside him.
"I'm going to say it now," Velt admitted, voice low, "you've probably scared off every other player from this area."
Yuli scoffed, boots crunching leaves. "There has to be some kind of enemy nearby."
Velt shook his head. "We've searched for hours. I'm starting to think there really isn't."
"Maybe we're looking in the wrong spots," Yuli muttered, eyes scanning the shadowy foliage.
"Fair point," Velt admitted with a shrug.
Yuli gave a half-smile. "But sticking with it won't hurt—if we keep digging through this place, we're bound to find something."
Velt couldn't help the sardonic thought that twisted in his mind: It's a little hard to trust you when you're the guy with a million-gold bounty. He kept it to himself and answered instead.
Yuli glanced over with a casual tone, "Have you figured out what that scroll does yet?"
"Oh, yeah… kind of." Velt held out his palm. A sleek black arrow materialized, humming with potential. "It's called Arrow Smith. It lets me craft arrows on the fly."
Yuli raised an eyebrow. "Neat."
Velt frowned. "I don't know its full power yet."
"Then we'll test it on the next enemy," Yuli said with a grin.
"Right," Velt replied, a hint of determination in his tone. "So where to next?"
"I say we head to the Level 5 zone—the forest just beyond this jungle."
"A forest next to a jungle?" Yuli blinked, then shrugged. "I guess the biome lines are weird. At least the trees will look different."
A stick snapped somewhere to their left, but both shrugged and continued forward.
"What's our ultimate goal, anyway?" Yuli asked, stretching one arm above his head.
"To reach the final area and slay the Final Boss," Velt answered, voice steady.
Yuli whistled. "There's a Final Boss?"
Velt rolled his eyes. "Do you know nothing about this world?"
Yuli shrugged. "I never bothered to find out."
"Well, here's the crash course," Velt began, marching onward. "There are ten areas, each one three times harder and larger than the last. Every area splits into two zones and ends with an Area Boss. Defeat the boss, move on. The Final Area is home to the Final Boss—five times stronger than a level 100 enemy."
"If the pattern holds, that makes it level 505," Yuli mused.
"Exactly."
"And it's a dragon, right?"
"That was the first iteration," Velt explained. "Every time a party falls, the boss changes. It went from dragon to wyvern and is now on its seventh form—a…" He faltered.
"A knight?" Yuli supplied.
Velt frowned. "I don't actually know. Only those who face it learn its true form. Thousands of players die to it every day—"
A knife whistled through the air and buried itself between the shoulder blades in Velt's back. In an instant, his form shattered into gleaming shards.
"What the—!" Yuli barked, whirling around just as a knight in battered armor charged from a thicket. The knight's blade swung in a lethal arc, but Yuli sidestepped with feline grace.
"Dodged." He swung his war-hammer upward, smashing it into the knight with a powerful blow. A shockwave burst out from the impact, tearing through the bushes around them. The knight's armor shattered completely as his eyes rolled back, and his body was launched high into the sky.
From the shadows, a frog monk, a lithe goblin thief, and a wizened wizard emerged, crouching in battle stance. Velt reformed beside Yuli, his eyes flicking between the newcomers.
"Who are these guys?" Velt asked.
"My guess—bounty hunters," Yuli replied, voice tight.
Velt's gaze landed on Yuli's back. "Oh, right. You're wanted."
"Help me finish them," Yuli said, raising his hammer.
Finish them…? Velt's stomach twisted.
The wizard rasped, "In… the name… of… Her." A faint glow surrounded him.
Yuli's eyes darkened, a vein pulsing at his temple. He vaulted forward, hammer swirling in a gust that hurled the group backward. The wizard threw up a shimmering barrier—it shattered like glass under the gale.
"Never mind," Yuli snarled. "Knock 'em out!" He lunged again.
He's… intense, Velt thought, falling in step behind him just as the frog monk launched himself skyward.
"I cast… Fireball." The wizard thrust his staff forward. A fiery orb streaked toward Yuli, who spun his hammer like a bat and struck it—deflecting the blaze back with explosive force. The goblin thief tackled the wizard out of harm's way; the redirected fireball tore into the jungle behind them, felling trees in a fiery wake.
The frog monk dropped before Velt, staff whirling. Velt sidestepped and landed a solid punch.
"Parry." The frog blocked and countered. "One ki point." His fist glowed yellow as it crashed into Velt's face, shattering him into pieces again. A breath later, Velt reformed a few meters away, battered but whole.
Arrow Smith, go! he thought. An arrow formed between his fingers and flew toward the frog.
"Deflect Missile." The frog's staff redirected the arrow; Velt ducked under its flight, then leapt back into the fray, jabbing twice. Both strikes were met with swift parries—then the frog smashed Velt's head off with an uppercut, sending pieces clattering to the ground. Velt reassembled in mid‑air and drove an elbow into the monk's ribs.
The frog caught Velt's arm and hurled him into a tree. Velt splintered on impact but popped back together, determination blazing in his eyes.
This Arrow Smith thing's supposed to be some mythical art… Why does it feel so underwhelming?
The frog lunged at Velt with blinding speed, its foot snapping toward him like a coiled spring. Velt met the kick with a forearm block—only to feel his form shatter under the force, shards clattering to the mossy ground. In a heartbeat, he reassembled and launched two quick jabs. The frog's staff lashed out, parrying each strike, then its pink-glowing palm slammed into Velt's chest. Velt splintered again, then reformed several paces back, breathing hard.
I can't land a solid hit without this guy deflecting everything… Velt thought.
A bolt of crackling energy streaked from the wizard's staff toward Yuli—who twisted aside just in time.
"You're definitely under some kind of mind control," Yuli observed coolly.
The wizard narrowed his eyes. "I cast… Magic Bolt." He unleashed another bolt, but Yuli sidestepped it, only to be slashed across the thigh by the goblin thief.
"And I'm going down…" Yuli muttered, collapsing face-first.
Within an instant, hot energy surged through Yuli's veins. He sprang upright, lurching toward the goblin—who vanished in a puff of smoke.
"He got away…" Yuli growled.
The wizard lifted his staff. "I cast—" But Yuli dropped his war-hammer, dove through the haze, and clamped his hand over the wizard's mouth. With a single, earth-shaking slam, he drove the wizard's head into the dirt, carving a crater wide enough to bury a carriage. He straightened, dusting his hand.
"Now, where's that goblin?"
Above, on a thick branch, the goblin prepared to rain knives down. Yuli rolled backward, snatching up his hammer to block the hail of blades. Feinting a strike to his right, he shifted his weight and summoned every ounce of strength into a downward swing. The resulting shockwave sheared the branch in two—the goblin leapt clear and vanished once more.
"You're fast, I'll give you that." Yuli's eyes narrowed, body coiled like a spring.
In an instant, the goblin reappeared behind Yuli and flung a dagger. Yuli pivoted, caught the knife between his fingers, and flung it back with double the force. It nicked the goblin's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. Before the goblin could react, Yuli vaulted through the air and drove a punch down with seismic force. Trees rattled as the goblin crumpled into a smoking crater, knocked unconscious.
Yuli touched his chin, where a faint ribbon of pink mist drifted from the goblin's lips. "So it really is you…"
Meanwhile, Velt was raining arrows at the frog, each one deflected with nonchalance.
How do these arrows even work? Velt muttered.
"Ki point," the frog croaked, its left hand flaring yellow as it charged.
Velt dodged the punch. "Nimble Flip!" He somersaulted backward, creating distance.
This Arrow Smith is supposed to be legendary… but it's acting like a common trick. Velt clenched his jaw. What if I—
He thrust his palm forward like drawing a bow. A massive, razor-thin black arrow shot out, slicing a tree clean in half.
"Oh." Velt blinked. "I have to shoot it from my hand like a bow."
The frog charged, spinning its staff in a blur.
Got it! Velt flung another huge arrow. The frog ducked under, so Velt leapt high and released two more from above, pinning the monk on both sides.
These aren't missiles—he can't deflect them! he realized, and began to descend.
Focus… Velt closed his eyes as he fell.
The frog lunged upward with perfect timing. Velt accelerated, meeting the monk mid-air. The frog swung its fist; Velt ducked and countered.
"Critical Hit!" Velt's punch rocketed the frog backward. He landed and, still charged with momentum, kicked the monk squarely in the chest. The frog slammed into a nearby tree and collapsed, motionless.
Yuli and Velt regrouped under the dappled moonlight. The knight they'd blasted into the sky finally tumbled down, armor clattering.
"That should be all of them," Yuli said, wiping sweat from his brow.
Velt surveyed the silent jungle. "What was wrong with them? They fought nothing like normal players."
Yuli's gaze hardened. "I think I know…" The knight groaned and clutched Yuli's leg.
"Help us… the contract…" the knight rasped, pink smoke hissing from his mouth.
Yuli's eyes widened as if recognizing the horror behind those words. Then the knight, the frog, the goblin, and the wizard—all exploded into drifting motes of dust. Yuli's face darkened.
"They vanished! What happened to them?" Velt demanded.
"They're dead," Yuli said flatly.
Velt staggered. "What?!"
Yuli's expression turned steely. "Velt, we might be in trouble."
"Just tell me what the hell is going on!"
"Let's move as we talk." Yuli strode forward, Velt close behind.
Yuli exhaled. "Your goal is simple: beat the Final Boss. Mine is different—I'm looking for the Shooting Shard. They grant a single wish."
Velt frowned. "And what's your wish?"
"To have happiness."
Velt blinked. "You can't just wish for happiness… that's… unusual."
Yuli's lips curved in a sad smile. "It's the only way someone like me can ever be happy."
Velt opened his mouth to question what happened to the bounty hunters, but Yuli cut him off. "They were bound by a contract—mind-controlled, then destroyed for failing. They weren't after your gold. They're after me."
Velt's heart thudded. "Not your bounty?"
"Wrong reason." Yuli's tone was final. "Just stick with me."
He's so serious… there's a side of him I never knew existed, Velt thought as darkness settled over their campsite.
Night enveloped them. Two small tents glowed by a crackling fire. Velt sat inside his, peering out at Yuli, who stared into the flames as if searching for answers in their flicker.
He's zoned out, Velt mused, watching Yuli's reflection dance on the embers.
Velt peered out of his tent into the flickering firelight. "Yuli, you going to sleep anytime soon?"
"I'll stay awake to keep watch," Yuli replied, eyes never leaving the flames.
Velt sat up, rubbing his neck. "You'll get tired eventually—you fought hard against those bounty hunters."
Yuli's gaze tightened. "I didn't fight hard enough. I'll rest in the morning. For now, you should sleep. Nights are dangerous."
Dangerous? He could one-shot anything… what's he worried about? Velt thought, but he nodded. "Okay, then—stay safe, man." He crawled back into his tent and zipped it closed.
A few hours later, Velt stirred to the sound of snoring outside his canvas. Peering out, he found Yuli still upright, asleep in a seated position. Velt shook his head and eased himself out of the tent—only to freeze at the sight of a massive shadow sweeping overhead.
"What the—?!" Velt gasped, tilting his head skyward. Before he could react, a colossal bird descended in a silent glide and snatched him off his feet.
"Let go of me!" he screamed, thrashing as talons carried him high above the camp. With brutal force, the creature hurled him to the earth. Velt shattered on impact, then reformed, rising to face his assailant.
It was an owl the size of a cottage, four spindly legs ending in wicked claws. Its mottled feathers bristled as it turned, beak gaping.
"Why me?" Velt demanded. He thrust both palms forward. Two vast, razor-thin arrows shot forth, tearing through the air. The owl flapped its massive wings, evading one arrow, but the second gouged its chest with a screech of agony.
"I can already tell this is going to be annoying," Velt muttered as the wounded beast dove again.
In a flash, a figure dropped between them. A towering woman, rippling with muscle, landed lightly. Her wild orange hair whipped around her shoulders; in her hands she wielded a battle-axe that dwarfed even her broad frame. Without hesitation, she raised the ax high and brought it down through the owl's midsection. The creature split in two, lifeless.
The woman stepped forward, brushing a stray lock from her face. "Were you really going to let yourself die that easily?"
Velt staggered back, awe and relief mingling in his eyes. "Who… who are you?"
She extended a massive hand with a confident grin. "Name's Post. Wanna join my guild?"