6.

"Fire! Fire's ablaze in the woods!" a traveler cried out, gazing in horror at the sea of flames engulfing the forest under the starry night sky.

On the other side, a group of people found themselves stranded, their carts and horses brought to a sudden halt, as they made their way from Sudbury City.

"Those adventurers seem to be struggling with that Qizir," remarked one traveler, perched atop his carriage, his voice tinged with a hint of disbelief.

"All this chaos for a measly spawn?" scoffed an arrogant traveler, his tone dripping with condescension.

"That Qizir has been causing trouble for quite some time now. Who knows what happened?" the man replied, finally revealing his face as he kept a watchful eye on the forest.

"Now what? We can't possibly pass through the forest and reach Hagram Base," one of the travelers anxiously questioned.

"Oh, damn it. Milandre will have my head if we arrive late," the man muttered, swiftly turning his horse away from the dirt road.

"We're going to go around the forest!" he declared in a commanding tone.

Hearing his shout, his men promptly lined up, ready to follow his lead.

"But Durin, we can't afford any delays! We might get caught near the Western Fortress," one of the travelers protested, voicing their concerns.

"That's precisely why we need to move faster," the man asserted, urging his horse forward as they circumvented the burning forest.

As the cart started its motion, ten more carts trailed behind it, followed by a long line of men dressed inconspicuously, their civilian attire raising suspicion.

~~~

"We're almost there!" Piya shouted, her excitement palpable as she caught sight of the open area not too far ahead.

As Larion, Piya, Hubert, and Gilmore fought off the monster, everything seemed to be going according to plan.

Finally, they reached the open space, and as the moonlight cascaded upon them, something unexpected happened.

A web suddenly covered Larion's head, causing him to lunge towards the monster.

Piya, Gilmore, and Hubert were caught off guard by this twist of events.

Now, Larion was hurtling towards the monster headfirst, but his skills proved worthy.

Swiftly, he pulled out his twin swords from his back and reached out to cut the web, preventing himself from crashing into the beast. He rolled to safety halfway through.

Reacting quickly, Piya and the rest rushed to Larion's aid. However, the monster was not one to waste an opportunity.

It leaped onto Larion from above, attempting to thrust its pointy legs at him.

Fortunately, while underneath the monster, Larion managed to cleave one of its legs in half, causing it to kneel in front of him due to the loss of a limb.

Seizing the chance to escape, Larion swiftly made his way to the monster's back.

Even with a broken leg, the monster tried to chase after him, but Larion had something up his sleeve.

He pulled out an improvised smoke bomb, engulfing the area in a hazy cloud.

The spider-like creature was unable to see clearly, falling victim to the disorientation caused by the smoke.

Confused, the Qizir attempted to slash at Larion, but its attack hit nothing but air.

But the group didn't stop there. While the smoke still lingered, Gilmore launched a barrage of mud spikes into the cloud.

The spider sensed the attack before it could make contact, sidestepping just in time.

However, it underestimated the effects of the smoke, which left it momentarily dizzy and disoriented, causing its senses to falter.

Emerging from the smoke, the Qizir was taken by surprise as Hubert delivered a powerful shield bash from the left, followed by Piya striking its head with a mace from above.

The impact left the beast even dizzier, causing it to fall forward and land its head on the ground.

However, the monster wasn't about to give up. It swiftly retreated, trying to regain its composure.

But the group didn't allow the creature a moment's respite, despite their exhaustion from the relentless pursuit, attacks, and defense.

Earlier, while Piya and Hubert had dealt a strong blow to the Qizir, Larion had dashed around Gilmore, asking if he could fashion spears from his earth magic.

With a nod of agreement, Gilmore conjured three spears made of pure earth magic and handed them to Larion.

Taking advantage of the monster's momentary disarray, Larion hurled two of the spears at it.

Although the Qizir managed to dodge the projectiles, it couldn't escape the incoming onslaught from Gilmore above.

Seizing the moment, Hubert and Piya sprang into action, flanking the beast from both sides.

With a flick of his wrist, Hubert cast Cold Feet, causing the monster's legs to freeze, rendering it immobile.

At the same time, Piya summoned the power of Blinding Light, temporarily blinding the creature.

But what they saw next filled them with a mix of anger and desperation. The Qizir, fueled by its fury, lashed out, catching Hubert in its web and using him as a shield.

The monster's attack was swift and merciless. Mud spikes pierced through Hubert's body, one finding its way through his skull.

Blood spewed from every wound as the monster's gaping mouth tore through his torso, severing him in two.

Piya's heart was overwhelmed with a whirlwind of emotions - anger, sadness, and despair all at once.

Gilmore, too, couldn't believe that his childhood friend had met such a gruesome fate at the hands of a Qizir.

The weight of their mixed emotions threatened to consume them both.

Meanwhile, Larion, who had witnessed countless deaths like this before, couldn't help but pause in his tracks.

His gaze locked onto the severed half of Hubert's body lying on the ground, a chilling reminder of the danger they faced.

Now it was the monster's turn to strike back. It charged at Piya with a vengeance, brandishing its two bone swords, ready for a fight.

Without a second thought, Piya called upon her inner strength, summoning the power of Enduring Light to bolster her resilience. She braced herself, facing the oncoming onslaught head-on.

But the force of the Qizir's bone swords was overwhelming.

Piya's wooden shield shattered as if it were made of nothing more than twigs, sending her flying backward from the sheer strength of the blow.

Her left arm trembled from the impact, a testament to the monstrous power possessed by the Qizir.

Larion and Gilmore sprinted towards Piya, who had been sent flying by the monster's attack. Larion was the first to reach her, extending his hand to help her up.

"Come on, Piya, get up!" Larion encouraged, lending his support.

Meanwhile, Gilmore positioned himself in front of them, his eyes locked on the enemy, ready to defend his friends at any cost.

"Larion, can you use your smoke again?" Gilmore asked, never taking his gaze off the monster.

"Of course," Larion replied, curiosity piqued. "What's your plan?"

"I'm still figuring it out, but I think we can disorient the monster by using your smoke," Gilmore explained, gripping his axe tightly.

"Alright, count me in. I'll follow your lead and improvise," Larion agreed, determination evident in his voice.

With Piya back on her feet, the trio wasted no time and charged at the motionless monster.

Just as Gilmore and the Qizir were about to clash blades, Piya positioned herself behind Gilmore and unleashed a blinding light, temporarily blinding the creature.

Seizing the opportunity, Larion swiftly maneuvered to the monster's left flank, attempting to slash at one of its legs.

However, the monster sensed danger and quickly backed up, evading Larion's attack.

In that split second, Gilmore pursued the retreating monster, his every move calculated.

The Qizir, acutely aware of Gilmore's intentions, retaliated with a swift slash aimed at Gilmore's direction.

But Gilmore was prepared. He summoned an earth platform beneath the monster's body, launching it into the air and disrupting its momentum.

"Now, Piya!" Gilmore shouted, urging her into action.

With Gilmore's earth pillar propelling her forward, Piya soared through the air, aiming to strike the monster's head. However, the creature had already anticipated her move.

Feigning her attack, Piya swiftly revealed her hidden weapon - one of Larion's improvised smoke bombs. She hurled it towards the Qizir's open mouth.

Unfortunately, luck was not on her side. The monster's mouth was not wide open, and the smoke bomb missed its target. Instead, Piya found herself ensnared by the monster's sharp pedipalps.

As the pedipalps dug into Piya's back, a unique poison surged into her body.

Caught off guard, Larion and Gilmore realized they needed to act quickly to save Piya.

Time was running out, as the poison would spread throughout her body in just three minutes.

~~~

As Aldrin, or Leo as he's known in the world of Titan's Advent, took a breather in the cozy confines of a tavern within the bustling walls of Watchingham, he decided it was time to take a break from the game.

Stepping out of his trusty DivePod XFinal, the same unit he had gifted to his friend Luca, or Larion as he's known in the game, he found himself in a game room that was practically a house within a house.

This game room of his was a sight to behold - spacious and grand, it even had its own separate bedroom, a bathroom, and a mini kitchen equipped with a small fridge to store snacks.

The room was designed with a modern touch, and the drop ceiling, painted a soothing shade of blue, added a touch of elegance to the otherwise cool and inviting space.

Taking a seat on the plush couch just a stone's throw away from his DivePod, Aldrin decided to indulge in some good old-fashioned television while he ordered some food to sate his hunger.

Just as he was getting comfortable, a knock on the door interrupted his plans. It was his ever-loving mom, calling out from the other side, "Aldrin! Dinner's ready!"

Aldrin sighed, realizing he had been about to order a meal for himself. "I was just about to order something, but oh well. I'll be downstairs in a bit, Mom! Thank you!" he called back, canceling his order on his phone.

Returning his attention to the television screen, Aldrin found himself captivated by the images flickering before his eyes.

However, his gaze soon wandered to the collection of trophies that lined the top of a long shelf positioned above the TV.

Each trophy, medal, and certificate was a testament to his achievements as a professional esports player, proudly displayed for all to see.

Of all the trophies, there were seven that stood out from the rest.

Encased in clear glass boxes, they held a special significance that was impossible to ignore. Behind them, an additional twenty-five trophies added to the impressive display.

Positioned on the very top shelf, they served as a constant reminder of the heights he had reached and the glory he had attained.

As memories of his glorious gaming days played in his mind like a never-ending highlight reel, the sound of his phone ringing abruptly snapped Aldrin back to reality.

With a sigh, he picked up the call and greeted his manager in his usual casual manner.

"Hey there, what's up? Aldrin here."

"Are you already knee-deep in the game, Aldrin?" His manager's voice held a curious undertone.

"Nah, still on vacation, remember?" Aldrin replied, his tone oozing with a touch of cockiness.

"Did you even take a look at my email about the players we scouted for Titan's Advent? Are you considering the offer to join the team?" His manager's voice now carried a hint of irritation.

"Yeah, yeah, I checked it all out," Aldrin replied, sounding thoroughly bored.

"So, what's the verdict? Are you itching to get back into the game? We've found some seriously top-notch players for our team at United Esports! These guys have insane MMORPG backgrounds, some even competing at a national level! It's going to be a wild ride, Aldrin!" His manager's voice was filled with excitement and joy.

Aldrin couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Well, they might be good, but they're no match for him," he said, a sly smirk forming on his face.

"Oh, you mean that guy? Come on, who needs him? Sure, his record is impressive, but that was ages ago! These players we've got here, they're the ones who will become the legends of the MMORPG Esports scene, and you'll be the one leading them."

Aldrin let out a sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, right."

"Good thing we got them contracted first or else they would be going to Dark Esports. Oh, that bitch, Ella, really gets on my nerves every time we scout players, she always sniffs around! And oh! Not to mention, that guy you were talking about, is in check and I heard that he's still working under them. Ha! What could go wrong, right?! With you in United, no one can stand against us." His manager said with an overconfident voice.

"So, maybe I was thinking of asking you to go back to our boot camp and be a team captain again?" His manager adds asking him nicely.

Aldrin just washed his face with his palm and he couldn't believe how cocky his manager could be. "Ugh... You know what, I'm going to think about it for a while. I mean you have the means to select a team captain with those players you got. But man, I really need to get this vacation. So ugh... Good luck!" Aldrin said then dropped the call.

With a sigh of relief, Aldrin finally managed to extricate himself from the clutches of his overly persuasive manager.

Breathing in the fresh air of freedom, he descended the stairs and found his family gathered around the dinner table.

The familiar faces of his two sisters, his brother, his mom and dad, and, of course, his fiancée Naira, greeted him with warmth.

As they settled into their seats, the room filled with laughter and the buzz of conversation.

The long rectangular marble table served as their stage for sharing stories and creating memories, while the aroma of delicious food filled the air.

In the midst of the jovial atmosphere, Aldrin's mom turned her attention to him. "So, you mentioned you were meeting up with Luca this weekend? Have you seen him in person, Naira?"

Aldrin nodded, curiosity piqued. "Yeah, Mom. What's up?"

A longing look crossed his mom's face as she pleaded, "Tell that mischievous young man to come and visit us again. It's been far too long!"

"Yeah, Kuya Aldrin! We haven't seen Kuya Luca in ages. I miss him so much. Can you please ask him to come over?" chimed in one of his sisters.

Aldrin sighed, knowing he couldn't deny their heartfelt request. "Fine, I'll talk to him."

His father, always the joker of the family, couldn't resist teasing. "Don't you miss your partner-in-crime?"

"Dad!" Aldrin protested, cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Naira, seated next to him, chuckled at the banter. "Actually, Tita, I've seen Luca on TV and social media, but we haven't met in person yet."

Aldrin's mom interjected, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "You know, Naira, back in the day, Luca and Larion, along with their friends, were inseparable. You couldn't separate them even if you tried! By the way, have you heard anything about Luca's new job, Aldrin?"

Aldrin hesitated, choosing to shield his mother from unnecessary worry. "Well, you know how Luca is. He likes to keep his work life under wraps. But I'm sure he's doing just fine."

In their hearts, Luca was more than a friend; he was a part of their family. Every cherished memory included him, from sleepovers to vacations, and lazy days spent hanging out at their house.

But then, without warning, Luca vanished from their lives, leaving no trace behind.

The sudden absence left them all wondering how he was faring in his new journey.

After a long chat and a belly-filling meal, Aldrin headed back upstairs to his game room, ready to dive back into the virtual world.

To his surprise, his fiance Naira followed him, asking if she could meet his gaming buddy, Luca, in person.

Aldrin grinned from ear to ear and eagerly agreed, planning their little meet-up for the weekend.

As Aldrin settled on the couch, Naira snuggled up beside him, and together, they turned on the TV.

But even with the distractions on screen, Aldrin's thoughts couldn't help but drift back to his friend.

He wondered if his friend was still immersed in the game, battling monsters and exploring new realms.

His mind wandered, harking back to the conversation he had with his manager earlier.

Deep down, Aldrin knew that 'he' was more than capable of holding 'his' own in the game, even without any fancy elemental powers.

His friend had a knack for finding ingenious workarounds and strategies, making up for any shortcomings in brute strength.

Aldrin firmly believed in 'his' exceptional skills and unwavering determination.

After all, it was 'him' who had been by his side during their countless victories, triumphs, and even the toughest challenges.

It was 'him' who stepped up as their captain, taking on the immense responsibility of leading their team to greatness.

Aldrin couldn't help but reflect on his own achievements: those seven World Championship trophies, those twenty-five National Championship titles, countless medals and certificates of recognition.

But he knew deep in his heart that he couldn't have accomplished any of it without 'his' unwavering determination and leadership.

The Trophies.

The Certificates.

The Titles.

The Medals.

The Recognition.

It was 'his' friend who led them to everything. Opening vast opportunities for his team. Victory and triumph were all there for them.

And that is his friend and most trusted companion, Luca.

~~~

"We're running out of time, mate! Arghh!" Gilmore grunted, desperately parrying the dual-bone sword with his trusty axe, the clash of metal ringing through the air.

"Keep it busy!" Larion shouted, his adrenaline pumping as he darted around the colossal beast, aiming to strike its vulnerable abdomen with his sharp blades.

With a swift thrust, Larion's swords met the spider's spinnerets, resulting in a sticky web coating his left arm.

He managed to evade most of it, but the pesky web still clung to him, impeding his movements.

Undeterred, Gilmore pushed forward, his mighty axe causing the monster to flinch ever so slightly. Determined, he conjured two pillars of earth, hoping to crush the creature under their weight.

But luck was not on their side. The spider swiftly leaped out of harm's way, seizing Piya in its sharp pedipalps and now its fangs.

"She's losing too much blood, Larion. We need a plan!" Gilmore gasped, exhaustion evident in his voice, while Larion stood beside him, his mind racing.

"Do you have any mana left?" Larion asked, his voice filled with a glimmer of hope, as he retrieved one of his three improvised smoke bombs.

"I can pull off four, maybe five more spells," Gilmore replied, his breath labored.

"Can you create burrows?" Larion inquired, his tone laced with confidence, his plan beginning to take shape.

"What on earth do you mean? What's your plan?" Gilmore questioned, his confusion palpable.

Together, they devised a clever strategy to free Piya from the clutches of the monstrous arachnid.

Moments later, smoke billowed in front of the creature, courtesy of Larion's smoke bomb. Aware of the distraction, the spider cautiously avoided the smoke, taking a step back.

As the haze cleared, the monster grew more alert, scanning its surroundings for Larion and Gilmore. But they were nowhere to be seen.

In the blink of an eye, the Spider sensed danger lurking beneath it, but it was too close for comfort.

Thankfully, Gilmore swooped in like a thief in the night, diverting the monster's attention and giving them the upper hand.

With lightning speed, Gilmore burst out of the ground, hoping to land a lucky hit on the beast.

Alas, luck was not on his side, and the monster leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the blow.

But Gilmore's prediction paid off, as he had anticipated the monster's retreat.

With a mischievous grin, he revealed a single piece of Larion's smoke bomb in his hand, positioning it precisely where the monster would land.

The bomb, a tiny wooden contraption, was faster than the massive Qizir.

It landed right on target, enveloping the monster in a cloud of smoke before it even had a chance to touch the ground.

As the smoke filled the air, the monster's senses dulled, causing it to lose focus - just what Gilmore and Larion had hoped for.

Then, in the blink of an eye, something heavy, warm, and hard pierced the creature's abdomen. Not just once, but twice - two stone spears pierced through that came out of nowhere.

The monster grew agitated, feeling dizzy and disoriented from the unpleasant smell of the smoke.

Without wasting a second, the monster darted to its left, desperate to escape the smokescreen.

Little did it know, this would be its gravest mistake. Behind the veil of smoke, a torch flickered to life, casting an eerie glow and revealing the monster's silhouette.

Gilmore, prepared and poised for action, sprang forward, intercepting the creature's attempt to evade to his right.

Caught off guard, the monster received a significant blow to its torso, forcing it to release Piya from its jaws.

Gilmore swiftly snatched Piya after smashing his axe into the monster's human-like torso, just above its menacing mouth.

Blood gushed from the monster's wound, marking a significant success. Gilmore didn't bother retrieving his axe, as he had already achieved his primary goal of rescuing Piya.

"Larion! Now!" Gilmore's voice boomed, signaling Larion, who perched atop a tall, slender pillar sturdy enough to bear his weight.

It was from this vantage point that Larion had launched the stone spears, and also where the torch had originated - tossed behind the smokescreen to guide Gilmore before he struck the blow.

Before Gilmore had even emerged from the ground during their initial attack, they had used the smoke to conceal themselves.

Gilmore had burrowed towards the monster using his earth magic, while Larion had perched atop the tall pillar, overseeing the entire battlefield.

Now, with a triumphant smile plastered across his face, Larion dove towards the monster, still reeling from Gilmore's blow.

Larion soared through the air, his body nimble and determined. With one spear held firmly in his right arm and the other held securely in his left hand, he braced himself as the distance between him and the fearsome monster closed rapidly.

Just as Larion prepared to strike, the monstrous creature swiftly parried his incoming attack, their clash of metal and stone echoing through the air.

The stone spear shattered upon impact. Undeterred, Larion seized the opportunity to land a powerful blow on the monster's right chest.

With the broken tip of his spear spinning in mid-air, Larion harnessed the momentum and twirled his body, executing a graceful backflip.

His foot connected with the spear's tip, propelling it downward to deliver a swift strike to the monster.

The force of Larion's attack forced the monstrous creature to take a step back, momentarily stunned. Now firmly planted on his feet, Larion brandished his second spear, clutching it with both hands.

With a swift, determined motion, he plunged the weapon deep into the monster's gaping maw.

Though his strike had inflicted significant damage upon the creature, it still fought on, refusing to yield to its wounds.

~~~

Naira, her curiosity piqued by the conversation she had with Aldrin's mom about Luca, couldn't help but ask him a burning question.

"Babe, can I ask you something personal?" she inquired, her eyes shining with genuine interest.

"Of course, babe. What's on your mind?" Aldrin responded warmly, his voice laced with affection.

Leaning closer, Naira couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "You're known as one of the best in the MMORPG Esport scene, what makes Luca stand out from the rest?"

Aldrin's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes momentarily averting hers. Though his tone remained unchanged, there was a hint of seriousness lacing his words.

"Well, we've been teammates and friends for years, so there's definitely a lot to consider," he began, his voice tinged with a sense of admiration. "But if I had to pick just one thing that sets Luca apart, is that..." Aldrin paused for a bit to think of the right words.

"...he's tricky and crazy."