A Peak Into The Past

"Oh Wrock, what was that thing you wanted to show us?"

Wrock's eye brightened as he remembered, "That's right! Take some of these, did you know there are portable dungeons?"

Kan'na frowned, "Portable dungeons?"

"They aren't really portable... instead we get teleported to a dungeon 'instance'. Thing is, it isn't like a normal dungeon." Wrock explained as he passed around a strange looking slab of stone.

Wrock tossed one in his hand, "It's more like a story mission, getting your hands on one is slightly difficult. I just got lucky."

Yielya inspected the slab, "And what is this story mission?"

"No idea! I thought it would be fun to do while we wait for our next match."

Akiol asked, "So how do we activate them?"

Wrock caught his slab and lifted it in front of him, "Just touch them together."

The party did so and a light flashed in front of them. They vanished into thin air...

Meanwhile outside the castle:

Raron looked around, he had to log off soon. However he could not find Akiol anywhere! What was taking them so long?!

He decided to wait a little longer...

———————————————————————-

Travis looked at the skill description.

[Mana Control

The mana flows throughout you, every living being feels it in their bones. But you reached your grasp further, and learned to control the mana outside of your being.

Level:

Entry

-Due to your unique entry Efficiency gain is increased 3x

Effect:

-5% Increase in damage in all skills

-5% reduced MP cost in all skills

-1% boost to effects in all skills

Efficiency:

25%

(Increase in efficiency will boost skill effects.)]

He could not past 25% efficiency no matter how hard he tried. This was his limit in his past timeline as well. After making a rueful sigh he checked the time. It was late at night so he decided to log off.

As Travis stood he ruffled his matted hair. His body felt stiff as he moved.

A sigh escaped his lips. Looking out the window he stared at the night sky. Few stars were able to be seen.

To think he turned his life around. It had been almost a year since he found himself back in time, yet he already achieved far beyond what he did before.

He checked the date, soon the official competition will take place. The update will cause a fluctuation in player skill, and the true experts will show.

As Travis immersed himself with memories he suddenly thought of a silver haired player. They were an anomaly, a stranger invading on what he knew as truth.

He wondered what they were currently doing…

———————————————————————-

BOOM-!

A shockwave from an explosion hit Akiol. He grit his teeth and shouted, "Wrock what is this?!"

Wrock shouted back, "I have no idea!"

After using the strange stone slabs the party found themselves… in the middle of a war zone!

A soldier shouted, "Get back! We have orders to retreat! Head into the walls!"

Akiol followed orders and headed towards the general direction the army was sprinting towards. He wondered what could make an army run so eagerly once receiving the orders to retreat. Normally only a certain percent of the total army would be so joyful, but it seemed like the whole army was making a break for it.

The party made it into the walls, and once the soldiers entered the gates slammed shut. Akiol examined the expressions on the soldiers' faces. A mix between fear and gratitude was evident.

A voice shouted across the streets, "Rest and eat! We have a cease fire until dawn!"

The soldiers gathered themselves and walked into various homes, where they were fed by strangers and family.

The voice came from a captain, at least that was what Akiol assumed them to be by their outfit. They walked up to the party and inspected them with suspicion in their eye, "You don't look like my soldiers... Did backup finally arrive?"

"If they have, we are all there is."

They spat onto the stone road, "So we are left to die then? My men fought valiantly, many died, for no reason?"

"Perhaps we can be of more use than you think."

They sighed, "Forgive me, if it's just you as our backup then you most likely feel worse than us. I am Captain Aurilius."

The party introduced themselves. Aurilius gave a short nod and began to explain, "We have been fighting the undead horde for... Sorry, I lost track of the time. We are surrounded, unable to provide an escape route for the civilians. They outnumber us beyond ten to one. They are untiring and unyielding, creating a damper on morale."

"Is there anything we can do to help?"

Aurilius massaged the bridge of his nose, "Anything that can turn the tide of battle is near impossible."

"Then allow us to be miracle workers."

"You have my gratitude. The undead have obtained some curse of some kind. From some strange magic object... It's empowering them, it's overpowering my men. Perhaps if they are destroyed..."

"We understand, tell use the locations of it."

Kan'na suddenly interjected, "The undead are unyielding right? So why the cease fire? Rather, how?"

A dark expression flashed across Aurilius' face, "General Turion had sacrificed himself in a last ditch effort to win this pointless war."

Akiol looked at the sky, "Until dawn correct?"

"Yes, that is what I have been informed on."

"Are you aware of what time it is Captain Aurilius?"

"The sun should be setting."

"When is the last time you have seen the sky?"

"We haven't due to the smoke, but the light should be..."

Aurilius' expression turned into one of shock, "This was their plan?!"

Indeed, the sun wasn't setting at all. Instead it was rising! The few hour break suddenly turned into a mere fifteen minute one.

It might seem obvious, on how one could confuse the times. However the soldiers have gone through countless battles, the leading officials under stress keeping their men alive. The families inside shuddering in fear for their lives. What time it was would certainly not be on their list of concerns. Thus this plan of the undead was able to go unnoticed.

Aurilius was about to sprint down the streets to get his men ready, but Akiol caught him by the shoulder, "Tell us where these magic objects are, we shall take care of them."

"They are in the four cardinal directions, you'll be able to notice them easily. They give off purple pillars of light."

Akiol freed him and watched as he took off. Yielya massaged her neck, "This gives some faint memories of a certain event."

"Let's not repeat the same mistake."

...

A collective sigh formed in the party's house.

What had happened? Where was the fight?

In short there was a struggle, they were significantly out leveled. The undead guarding the crystals beat them more than the original generals from the undead event. Even with their trump cards used it was a one sided slaughter.

Wrock chuckled nervously, "Well... it was certainly an eye opening experience."

Electricity crackled through him. Yielya nodded in satisfaction, "Thank you Kan'na."

Jarvis calmly stated, "Had any of my tames died, you certainly would not get away with this."

Wrock nodded, "I understand!"

Akiol leaned back, "What level were they?"

Tilia answered this, "Around the five-hundreds."

"And you all?"

Their collective levels averaged around 275. With this information Akiol frowned, "So double the level again, yet this was far more difficult."

Kan'na experimented with a magic circle as she stated, "Levels are becoming more irrelevant you know."

"How?"

"Stages, it's all about Stages now. Apparently the gap between them is just about impossible to cross. Many top level players died without realizing against Second Stage combatants. Moreover it's safe to say we fought the peak of Second Stage."

"Second Stage... but how come we aren't there? I think you all understand me when I say we are stronger than average purely in stats. Our mana control probably tops just about every player. Moreover we aren't lacking in titles. Is it just not enough?"

Kan'na waved her hand and the magic circle faded, "Perhaps we are looking at it wrong. Or perhaps it isn't enough as you said. However I do believe we shouldn't concern ourselves with it just yet. Also we should get some sleep, our match is tomorrow remember?"

The party agreed and logged off one after another. Except for Akiol who simply stared at the roof.

'What's on your mind?' -Stars

"What am I missing?"

Stars was unsure how to respond. Instead he silently pulled Akiol into his own space. Akiol raised an eyebrow, "What's this?"

He saw Stars tugging Givale, "Just for a bit!"

"No! There's nothing to do out there!"

"Fine! You're forcing me!"

Givale suddenly disappeared. Akiol soon started to hear shouts through the link.

'You kicked me out! You actually kicked me out! Me!'

'Just stay silent for a moment will you? I'm not trying to argue.'

Givale seemed momentarily taken aback by the seriousness in Stars voice. She decided to quite down, although somewhat unwillingly.

Stars then turned to Akiol, "I... was unwilling to show you this at first. I never really wanted to show any of this. But if it can help you slightly-!"

"I don't want you to force yourself to do something you are unwilling to do Stars." Akiol said seriously.

"N-No, that's not the case. I just don't like this part of my existence. But I already made my decision! You cannot do anything about it!"

Stars hopped back and vanished. A few moments after Akiol's surroundings began to warp and change.

An unknown figure stood on a hill, a battle robe similarly to what the Crimson Immortal wear clad around their body. Long hair flowing in the wind.

Stars said only one thing through the link:

'It's my previous wielder.'