As the boney figure before him died, Liam turned around with a smooth motion, attag the skeletons outside with a [Double Ssh].

  His sword moved forcefully, cutting at dry bones.

  [-110!]

  [-180!]

  But the oppos weren’t intimidated, retaliating fiercely.

  Meanwhile Silver Bde furrowed her brows, signaling Radiant Shield:

  “Let’s ge positions.”

  “Alright!”

  The tanks showed their tacit uanding, perf the maneuver without letting any skeletons reach the mages.

  Radiant Shield attacked, drawing the elite’s attention and f a stable blockade.

  A couple of seds ter, Watchful Eye mao return to his old position. The party was fident. Having already dealt with two elites before, they didn’t sider this fight difficult.

  The oons died uhe fierce assault, their numbers dwindling quickly.

  “Friends, let’s grant these undead rest.”

  “To the afterlife!”

  “Die, stupid skeletons.”

  Just as the mood among the party reached a high, unforeseen ge occurred.

  A crisp sound echoed in the hallway as holes opened in the ceiling.

  Cye looked up, opening her mouth without words ing out.

  “More skeletons?”, asked Balm uneasily.

  A momehe answer arrived as fmes suddeed. With a hiss they traveled through the air, the hallway immediately resembling hell.

  “Unfair!”

  Unfortunately, the fmes didn’t care for Balm’s pints as her HP emptied out.

  The fmes didn’t stop, soon sending the party back to the entrance.

  Cye looked around in disbelief.

  “Why…?”

  “The fight might have a time limit.”, analyzed Silver Bde.

  “The difficulty is not low…”

  Silver Bde g Bleary Mirage, finding eveeran frowning.

  Liam was indeed surprised. He knew about the time limit, but expected his party to easily finish early. But obviously the game increased the difficulty.

  Luckily, there was a strategy only employed by groups who couldhe battle fast enough. Now Liam was pting if he should inform his team.

  But at this moment Balm surprisingly spoke up with a smile:

  “We made it further than st time!”

  “Ihis is the joy of improvement.”, chuckled Radiant Shield.

  “The party f an unbreakable spirit to overe the obstacles in their way. The viewers will love it.”

  “You guys have some potential.”, plimented Silent Acacia.

  Liam was delighted to see the development, deg to give the party time to figure out the way forward.

  With their improved mihe group didn’t need a lo before they dived into the dungeon once more.

  They quickly reached the wall of fmes, engaging in battle.

  With renewed vigor they gave it their all, sying the skeletons quickly.

  But unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough as the fmes sent them back to the entrance again.

  The party gave it two more tries, stantly honing their teamwork but never managing to overe the elite skeleton.

  Somewhat exhausted they called it a day.

  Outside the duhey said their goodbyes, logging off one by one.

  Liam found himself ba the training room. A pting expression was on his face as he walked towards the dojo’s exit.

  But suddenly a voiterrupted him.

  “Haha, Liam, right? Fancey meeting you.”

  Liam was surprised to find a brightly smilianding before him.

  “Evening. Did you just leave as well?”

  “Ahh, yes. I had to chee iory.”

  “You seem to be w all day. Impressive.”

  “It’s alright. I’m not as diligent as you.”

  “Haha, I’m just pying games. Hardly worthy of mention.”

  “Well, who isn’t, these days?

  Now that you mention it, why don’t we py together sometime?”

  “Oh I don’t know, I don’t want to hold you back.”

  The young men appeared to verse amicably, bright smiles of their faces. But their real thoughts remained hidden.

  Liam remained nonittal until Ken finally left.

  So exhausting.

  Sighing, Liam left the dojo. He didn’t enjoy making tact with people like Ken. He was forced to uphold too many of these fake retionships in his old life.

  ***

  At the same time in another city on Fva Star. A young ma his hotel room, his eyes flicted.

  He walked on a fortable red carpet, soon reag a spacious restaurant. A valiant looking otted him, waving her hand.

  The young man smiled, feeling a warmth in his heart as he sat down oable.

  “Babe, don’t show such a sad look. I’m here for you.”

  “I know, Quiana. Thank you.”

  “Don’t worry. We will show them!”

  Adria out a sigh, looking at his girlfriend’s encing eyes.

  “But we do it? With this team?”

  “I think they have potential. Silver Bde looks like a natural talent and Bleary Mirage impresses even me.

  The others will get there.”

  “I hope so. If we o look for a eam halfway, we might as well give up.”

  “Well, we o find out if they are ied in tours.”

  “Right.”

  Adrian’s face turned uncharacteristically grim, some unpleasant memories appearing in his mind at the mention of tours.

  “We will prove to them that letting us go was a mistake!”

  Quiana silently held Adrian’s hand, supp him.

  ***

  Later that evening Liam sat on the coach, Serena leaning against his shoulder.

  The young girl watched as Liam scrolled through various interviews.

  With the first pyer reag level 5, a small craze had broken out in the media. Every news outlet outdid each other to get first hand news from pyers.

  Gradually a few names gained popurity, building up a fan base.

  Star Gazer was at the forefront, enjoying the limelight at the moment. But even Fat Tiger was among them, busily giving interviews with a bright smile.

  “Liam, are you jealous?”

  Liam chuckled, looking at Serena’s rge eyes.

  “Why would I be jealous? I’m looking up free information.”

  “Those guys are about to get famous, yet they haven’t pyed the game any lohan you.”

  “And what good is that fame?”

  “Well, fame is… hmm…”

  Watg Serena’s thoughtful expression, Liam couldn’t help but pat her head.

  “You see. I think it’s those guys who should be jealous of me!”

  “Why?”

  “Because I have the cutest sister in the world!”

  Serena’s ears immediately turned red from embarrassment. She lightly punched Liam’s shoulder before running out of the room.

  “Idiot!”

  Liam shook his head with a chuckle as he focused on reading some ents.

  “Star Gazer is the best! Already at the third chamber!”

  “What third chamber? We don’t even know how much chambers there are.”

  “Fat Tiger embarrassed himself today. He shouldn’t have tried blog the dungeon.”

  “It’s said that Fat Tiger was stumped by Fortune! I’m looking forward to the video.”

  “Did Fortune find a team?”

  “Why talk about some me tent creators? You all should foountain Lord! I tell you, he’s a dark horse.”

  “That old dwarf? No way!”

  “Guys, I heard rumors that Silent Acacia is pying on our server.”

  “Acacia? But he’s not from Falva Star, right?”

  “It’s said that he was on vacation. He must’ve been caught off guard.”

  “Damn. ’t he ge the server?”

  “I don’t think anyone has tried yet, we don’t know.”

  “Maybe it’s good for Silent Acacia. I phoned my cousin on Traar yesterday. The petitiohere is fierce. The first pyer reached level 5 yesterday in the m.”

  “Phoning across ps? Damn, we have a bigshot here.”

  “Begging for donation!”

  “+1”

  “+1”

  Liam tinued reading for a while, cheg oher pyers. But from what he saw, his first clear shouldn’t be in danger.

  We o make it through both wings tomorrow.

  Liam went to bed with his thoughts revolving around the game, a faint smile unsciously on his face.

  The day the party met again in front of the dungeon. A siderable crowd gathered as more and more pyers reached level 5.

  Feeling a bit cramped, the party directly ehe dungeon.

  “So many people. we really get first clear?

  Expert, it’s time for you to do something!”

  Cye looked somewhat anxious as she addressed Liam.

  “Don’t worry. I checked up on our petitioerday. We are in the clear.”

  “Let’s take it oep at a time. I thought about some ideas on how to pass the hallway.”

  Everyone nodded when Silver Bde mentiohe hallway.

  “Same.”

  “Me too.”

  “I’m gd you guys are so ied. Who wants to go first?”

  Radiant Shield was just about to speak up when he saw Balm raise her hand. He smiled as he signaled her to speak her mind.

  “Maybe we could push the skeletons into the fire.”

  “Maybe fog the elite first is the way to go.”

  “We o draw the skeletons outside.”

  Ideas were thrown around the room. All of them had their merit and Silver Bde found it difficult to decide.

  “Bleary Mirage, what do you think?”

  “All your ideas are good, but they won’t work as soon as there is more than oe.

  Therefore, let’s go with Acacia’s suggestion.”

  “There is more than oe, expert?”, asked Cye.

  “Who knows…”

  Cye rolled her eyes at Liam, but his words were close to a firmation anyways. Everyone prepared themselves mentally as they started a tempt.