5 Chapter 5 ~ Prison Realm (1/2)

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Located Underground, although no one knows where it truly is, this place is known as the Starter Camp.

It is called as such because this place served as a Tutorial, it was designed to help new players get started into the game.

Getting them familiar with the system, ability and all that.

That's how and what it is for Players. However, for these NPCs, this place is hell.

Controlled by many Greater Demons.

And I'm here locked in this prison along with these old peeps.

We're sitting in a circle, discussing a strategy to break out. It should take but a moment, no rush. Players hardly talk at all during the Tutorial

'I should take it easy' I thought

The leader of the group, I call him Baldy. Don't know who his name is…

He spoke, ”Hmm, there are too many demons over there” pointing at the drawing on the ground. ”What about that route? The west is in disarray, we might be able to get through there”

”No, Ludtleth is guarding the Entranceway, it's impossible!” said the beardy old man.

”Hmm...”

The Baldy suddenly glancing up to me, ”What do you think, lass?”

”Huh?”

'Did he just ask me? Wait, he is!'

It was surprising, because if I remember it correctly… this guy would wrap this up quickly and just break out right away.

'Well, if he is asking me... I should give an appropriate answer, can't just blurt out nonsense'

I pondered about it…

The West is being guarded by Ludtleth, he is a unique being, an Ethereal-Type monster which ranked 4th as the highest difficulty of a monster or as a 'Creature/Being' can become.

Maybe he's not a monster but a demon, or maybe he's another type of creature.

I never really met him before, I'm kind of interested.

But, it's just impossible for a level 0 character to even try and fight him, I would be obliterated in a matter of second.

It looks like the north is the better option.

However, curiosity spark inside of me, it's telling me to explore the other route. The idea is coming to my mind like a trail of blazing fire, I want to see what's on the other side.

I spoke, ”We'll go to through the west”

Upon hearing that, most of the old man stood up and not long after it becomes rowdy...

”That's crazy!”

”Yeah, didn't you hear what we said before!?”

”We can't just go in there and—”

*Bam!

the Baldy punched the ground, that shut them up. Soon after, the other spoke and trying to calm them down, it calms them down a little but still with a hardened expression on their face, they went to sit again.

'Well, most of them wouldn't be alive if they go to the other route, not that I can tell them that anyway. I think it's worth a shot to go through the west gate.'

Baldy frowned as he spoke, ”Lass, are you serious about this?”

I nodded ”Yes”

Another old man with long beard slams the ground with his fist, ”Nonsense, Ludtleth is there, what makes you think we can go against him, Huh!?”

The others nod in agreement.

'Let's try to convince them more'

Gesturing my hand as I speak, ”The North is true without a doubt a safer option but that will lead to some of us getting killed. Our goal is to get out of this place safely... all of us.”

Their expression still conflicted

'Not enough, huh' I thought. 'All right, let's gamble on this'

Looking back at Baldy, I spoke ”I will distract Ludtleth, while the rest of you go around and make a run for it”

His eyes widened, ”That's suicide, lass”

Indeed, one couldn't imagine a level 0 could kill an Ethereal, who knows how high his level is.

Fidgeting my finger anxiously, 'Since I play in Realism Mode, if I die, it's going to be so painful'

But...

I want to know

Just what is on that side

I stopped fidgeting and look back at him

With a stern look, I said, ”It's worth a shot”

— Then out of nowhere —

*Boom*

An explosion has blown out the prison door

'Geh, it's starting already!? Too Soon!'

Some of the old men hide me on their back, luckily nothing happened.

”We don't have much time”

I look back at the Baldy

We are staring at each other for a moment, but he quickly shifted his gaze to everyone else and now back to me, ”Alright, lass. We'll go with your plan!”

He stood up and shout, ”Everyone, with me!”

The others have a conflicted expression on their face

However, for me… it's exciting.

Baldy looks back and forth outside of the door, he pulled out a knife.

”You need a weapon, lass. Here, take this” the Baldy handed a dagger to me, a rusted old dagger.

Usually, when we're getting out of the prison, Baldy would give a weapon that corresponds with the Player's Occupation.

I don't have an Appraisal Skills so I can't view its status, well it doesn't matter what weapon I use since I don't have a spell yet.

”Let's go!” commands the Baldy.

We left the room and head outside of the cell.

Many people are running around, with undead chasing after them.

We tried to help as much as possible but our goal demands us to hurry.

'Damnit, I forgot to practice my incantation for [Wind Creation]'

”Kruoooh”

A grunting sound

My eyes widened, ”Shit” I cursed.

An Armored Skeleton suddenly popping out of nowhere and swinging its weapon at me

*Bak*

Baldy appeared, blocking its attack

*Bam *Bam

*Dasth!

He pushed and punch it to death

Looking back to me, he said, ”You alright, lass?”

I was in awe for a moment, then I nodded

We move onward

Much more undead keep popping up

I can't kill any of these things, so I just push them to the side and whenever I'm in a pinch, Baldy would rush in and help me, do more of this and I might fall for him.

Normally, we just go on our own way, this place doesn't give Players any assistance and just left them to figure it out themselves, which is a pretty cool design.

But this is not so bad... I feel like I have a team... a team.

A lip tilted, forming a smile.

We fight our way through the place.

And so, we arrive at the West Gate.

Even with so many people running around, Ludtleth stood there without doing anything. Maybe he is the Lich king or something, not that it has anything to do with... anything.

'He looks like an undead, but…'

Standing along with his two follower Avarice \u0026 Malice, their voluptuous body truly second to none, but don't let their appearance fool you.

They are a high ranked Arch-Demon, Vicious and Deadly.

'I should've read more about their lore back then, no wait, nobody has it! The info on them is still incomplete and immature'

The Lore is self-created by the Players, there is a rating system to judge its legitimacy but even with that, there is not much info when it comes to the Starter Camp or anything in it.

”Lass, I don't think this will going to work. Those things will rip us apart like a thin paper”

The Beardy Old Man spoke, ”How about we go back and go through the North Gate? It is still not too late”

'These guys can be annoying sometimes, but they're right'

But…

I stick on the side and hide near the wall, moving through and getting closer to them.

”You're a madman”

The others followed me, ”We should go back” they said

Ignoring their suggestion, I scan around the place, I think it's possible if I can distract them for a minute or two.

Now looking at the two guardians, they're tits— no, I mean their abilities are quite a problem. I'm sure it would take thousands of High-Level players to take them down.

'How do I distract them though? I feel like I'm the one who is getting distracted instead'

— All of a sudden —

Avarice unexpectedly turned her head this way