kscans

Chapter 444 - Stormy Encounter

—A massive, official, optional event for all players.

While big and small incidents and commotions were a dime a dozen day in and day out, a 'real' one prepared by the game itself was a different story.

Events like the Four Pillar War or 'Colored Monster' raids, the game's grandest festivals where the celestial combatants gathered, were more than enjoyable enough even for spectators, thanks to the spirit of the renowned title holders—but… but still.

Deep down, they, too, wanted to be on the participating side. They didn't just want to watch and get excited about a festival they couldn't enter; they wanted to throw themselves into the fray.

There must have been many players who longed for a more relaxed stage, one that wasn't focused solely on high-difficulty combat and could be enjoyed by a wider range of people.

That's precisely why the number of people who, without a moment's hesitation, snatched up the invitation to this 'special stage,' offered with no strings attached, was enormous.

Without hesitation, with glee… and for some, without a second thought.

To put it more bluntly, they had unknowingly underestimated the virtual world they thought they were so familiar with, Arcadia.

Even though one could sense the 'difficulty setting for the general public,' a necessity for an event that opened its gates to all players—

"Gyaaaaaaaah! Someone, help meeeeeee!!"

"So loud… Just… run…!"

A pair consisting of two non-combatants was, in every sense of the word, far too careless—

In a forest closely resembling the 'Great Forest' near the city, where they had been dropped by the teleport, they had been able to whoop and holler for about an hour while her unusually taciturn and aloof partner remained silent.

Whether they had attracted them by spreading too much excitement, or whether the 'one hour' was a safety period right after the start… it was unclear, but it had been several minutes since they had encountered a large swarm of eerie, black-spotted monkeys.

They had never seen or heard of them before, but they didn't seem to be high-level enemies. Even a production class player, unless they were a complete shut-in in their workshop, had the minimum stats for an 'outing,' and they were managing to play catch-up—but,

"Hey, are we even pulling away!? Isn't the rustling behind us getting louder!?"

"I told you to just run! There's nothing we can do but run!!"

It was a game of tag where they were, at best, maintaining the same speed. It was doubtful whether they were even making a proper escape, and shaking off their pursuers was a pipe dream. The situation was disastrous.

Compared to combat players, the difference was night and day, but they were still veteran, max-level players.

On flat, easy-to-run ground, they might have been able to use their numerically stacked agility to escape. Or if the opponents were few, they might have been able to force a pseudo-battle using their level difference as a shield.

However, there was no way they could face a swarm of over a dozen in a forest with unstable footing. On top of that, it was obvious that this forest was the enemy's home ground; it wasn't a metaphor to say that being surrounded and beaten to a pulp was the predetermined outcome.

Therefore, no matter how many times her partner told her to be quiet, in the end—

"Nooooooo…! Anyone who can fight, anyone at all!! There are people in need of rescue here, we're going to be eaten by weird monkeys, help uuuuuus!!!"

With a voice on the verge of breaking, she had no choice but to cast aside all shame and desperately cry for help. Hopefully, her plea would reach someone in her 'group,' which was supposedly gathered within a certain range.

Hopefully, it would reach someone she was fated to meet in this event.

—And then, the wind blew.

"Wha-!?"

"…What the—"

A figure with pure white hair suddenly burst out from the shade of the trees ahead and rushed past them. Surprised, she almost stopped… but was pulled along by her partner, continuing their escape.

Her calm friend must have judged that they still needed to put some distance between them. Following her friend's lead, she kept moving her feet for a while longer—and when she looked back, the scene that met her eyes was far beyond her imagination.

"…I said anyone, but…"

"…"

Standing next to her partner, who for once was showing a genuinely surprised expression, she—Nonomi—thought of her own consistently terrible luck and a strained smile appeared on her face.

"I didn't expect a top-tier player of that level to show up, you know…?"

In her large, orange eyes was a storm of dancing crimson blades. And like the eye of a typhoon, at its center, commanding the raging blades, was—a breathtakingly beautiful, unfamiliar girl.

And, as a bonus.

"—Whoa, it really is Nonomi-chan. Hey there, how's it goin'?"

"Huh…!? H-Hey, Nia-chan!?"

Next to her friend, who was greatly surprised by the person who had suddenly appeared at her side,

"…That's a familiar weapon."

Her 'partner' gazed at the flying crimson blades and let out a calm murmur, catching her breath.