Chapter 22: Wesmar’s Warriors

Chapter 22: Wesmar's Warriors

When Odin returned to Satisfy World, he first noticed the early dawn breaking over the dark skies of Fullbaz Marquisate. Sometimes forgetting how quickly time flew in this Fantasy World, the progression he left behind had a sour taste in his mouth since he wanted to watch as things got completed.

Nonetheless, who could blame it on him or the other players, this World was constantly moving forward toward an uncertain future.

The once desolate atmosphere had lightened slightly, signaling the end of a long night and the beginning of a new day. Even though it was still early in the morning, the contrast between the previous darkness and the gentle light filtering through the clouds was stark.

Impressive enough, Odin's team of noobs managed to rescue all of the started villagers, amounting to a total of 24 inhabitants, and in the meantime, he was off, Corporal Austen brought the Madelaire villagers with him after Elyse transmitted his message over the long distance like the good relay she could always be.

He might encounter some challenges on his way since the forested path could hide in ambush all sorts of monsters, but mainly hiding goblins.

As he made his way toward the center of Ording, he could see the villagers from Madelaire huddled together with those from Ording, sharing their own experiences and bounding over this tragedy that struck them from nowhere. 

The Villages were neighboring, so it wasn't strange to find people who intermingled with their neighbors to form alliances, be it in marital unions or sharing their surplus goods when the harsh winters would strike the whole region.

Odin saw many of those villagers embracing, tears flowing freely among the eyes of the simple women, while the men recounted their 'bravery' on how they bravely faced the Wild Beasts or Dire Beasts, but their bullshit could be smelled from a mile away from the first lie.

What about the children? They managed to stay detached from the loom and gloom that hit the adults and just focus on their plays. 

'Hahh, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Children will always be children regardless of the Era or World.'

Players were still fighting against the Wild Beasts and Dire Beasts, but the rate had decreased significantly from the Monster Horde that took over the region. 

Maybe it was because he and Eve cleared a large chunk of them, and there was a specific number of respawns each 30 minutes. With the reorganized players, they could quickly make good work of them and not end up overwhelmed like at the start of the Event.

This thought made Odin ponder deeper, but before he could fully absorb the scene, Odin's team approached him once they saw his logging notification in the Party Interface and Guild Interface. 

Noah, Malfurion, and Alysha led the way, with Purphoros trailing behind, trying to look like he belonged among the leaders. Alysha's face was stern as if she stepped on a dump of a Wild Beasts, clearly annoyed about something. Her usual bright, almost fiery demeanor got tempered because she couldn't just lash at the Tank when being in front of Odin.

"Welcome back, Odin," Alysha greeted him, her voice clipped as she began her report. "While you were away, we managed to bring in all the stranded villagers. Corporal Austen arrived not too long ago with the group from Madelaire. Elyse mentioned that some Goblins tried to ambush them, but she managed to take them out easily along with the soldiers, well, mainly Austen."

"No casualties from the peasants?"

"None from what I'm aware, you might get more details from Elyse or Austen."

Odin nodded, his eyes briefly meeting Alysha's before he scanned the surroundings, noting the progress made. "Good work," he said, acknowledging the team's efforts.

Alysha continued, her tone softening as she recounted the events. "There were no major incidents on the way here, but the villagers were exhausted. Some of them are injured, though nothing life-threatening. Malfurion managed to heal them to a state that didn't place them at risk."

"Overall, we've done what we could with the supplies we had, but they'll need proper medical attention once we get them to Fullbaz."

As she spoke, Noah remained quiet, his hands tucked into his pockets as he leaned back, looking like he'd rather be doing anything other than debriefing. 

Odin noticed the subtle exchange between the two. Alysha showed her professionalism, which contrasted with Noah's relaxed, almost lazy demeanor. 

Watching her as she reported made him wonder about Alysha's IRL job. At the interview for joining the Guild, each player had to offer at least their past or current occupation. This made it easier for the leadership to be resourceful with the guild members when it came to negotiating business deals with the Empire's nobles or other Kingdoms.

Or for those who should be guided in taking a hands-on occupation such as Blacksmiths, Leatherworkers, Tailors, Jewelers, and so on. It made sense that a large guild such as Leviathan would have a decent HR, considering Eve was the HR Team Leader of a South Korean Conglomerate.

Heck, Satisfy World was popular even for those enjoying fishing, synergizing perfectly with the cooks, who could grant various buffs to their food, from temporary to permanent, when their craft reached the pinnacle.

There had yet to be a 'Legendary' Cook or Fisher among the many players of Leviathan. Still, those mythical players taking on the challenge of becoming legends in their craft existed.

'Alysha… Welp, let me open the file instead of frying my brain cells remembering so many people. Let me see, let me see…'

'Allie Wilson. Resident Doctor. Dermatologist tree. I see, this explains why her log entries are so jumbled.'

'She enters inside Satisfy whenever she has time, and I'll give it to her, she's quite active unlike others, but I'm not going to kick out anyone who didn't log for who knows how long.'

'People with strenuous lives and jobs barely have time to squeeze some extra hours for Satisfy, commendable. I wish you good luck in your life and career, young doctor.'

After the general report, Malfurion stepped forward, his expression more serious as he began recounting his progress over his Hidden Quest. "Odin, about my quest… We've made some progress, but I encountered some obstacles… and it might be a risk for the completion."

"Go on."

"The Fullbaz Farmlands have been cleansed to a state of 53.4 percent, but my second objective is untouched since we didn't get the chance to venture deeper in the forest or the hilly region adjacent to Fullbaz."

As Odin listened to Malfurion's report about the quest, his mind began to process the implications of what the Druid had discovered.

'He might experience a progression decline from that percentage of clearance. Interesting, never encountered such an experience where I would lose progression.'

'Might be a race against time for Malfurion's quest.'

"Seems like you made good use of the free time to conduct your quest," Odin remarked, his tone neutral but impressed. "I assume you cleansed Madelaire and Ording?"

Malfurion nodded, though his expression remained serious. "To the best extent of my abilities. The progression still is declining for some reason. My guess is it was caused by the Tainted Water Source, it might have spilled into the aquifer?"

Odin's brows furrowed as he considered this. "I'm not a tree hugger, but I heard it takes a lot of potent contaminants to pollute the aquifer. Groundwater can also cleanse itself, tho, I don't know how quick it is in Satisfy." (A/N: Tree Hugger, sarcastic way of calling himself an environmentalist)

"But you might be right. If the corruption is strong enough, or if the contamination is coming from one of the nearby springs, it could be flowing into the Fioncavin River. We'll need to investigate further."

"As a precaution for me, how quickly is the progression decreasing?"

"About 0.05 every ten minutes," Malfurion repeated. "It's not a lot yet, but I fear it'll start accelerating if we don't address the source of the corruption."

"Boss, you can't let me fail this quest, I'll get my character screwed into oblivion with the permanent debuff."

"Relax," Odin said, his voice steady and reassuring. "You're not going to fail this quest. Just warn me when the timer starts ticking down faster. If it gets bad, I'll pull in reinforcements. I can drag half the Aesir in this region if necessary."

Malfurion visibly relaxed, though the weight of the situation hadn't left his shoulders entirely. "Thanks, Boss. That definitely helps. I just don't want to be the reason our progress stalls."

Odin placed a hand on Malfurion's shoulder, a rare gesture of camaraderie. "You won't be. We'll handle it. We've come this far, and we're not stopping now. Keep monitoring the progression, and I'll coordinate the next steps."

With that reassurance, Malfurion gave a nod, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Alright. I'll keep you updated if anything changes."

Odin walked away, moving toward the center of Ording, where Austen was tending to the villagers.

The players and soldiers, too, were hard at work, coordinating the rescued villagers and managing supplies. 

Everyone had stayed logged in, pushing through despite the exhaustion that likely came with balancing their real lives. He admired their dedication, especially considering many were newer players with obligations outside of the game, unlike 'professional' Satisfy World players like himself, who could fully immerse themselves.

Yet even Odin had responsibilities that went beyond the virtual world. His goals were ambitious, and some might laugh at his aspirations to dominate the VR industry, but he knew better. 

This new age could make or crumble people based on how high their dreams could reach. In a way, since it was the peak of the 5.0 Industrial Revolution, where one might consider it the start of the Virtual Reality Age with the appearance of Satisfy World, one could only assume that new opportunities would be gained.

Odin stood in the center of Ording, surveying the village as the early morning light filtered through the trees. 

The air was still tense with the remnants of the recent battle, but the villagers were slowly beginning to calm down as they gathered together in small groups, tending to wounds and exchanging hushed words. 

His gaze swept over them, lingering for a moment on their exhausted faces. Some relief mingled with the fear that still clung to them. Unfortunately, he would have to break this small-lived peace by moving to his next objective.

It was time to move to the next village requiring assistance.

With a sharp breath, Odin turned to Austen, his voice cutting through the quiet hum of activity. "Austen," he called, his tone decisive. "Prepare your soldiers and gather the villagers. We'll be leaving in 30 minutes."

Austen, who had been helping distribute supplies among the villagers, quickly looked up. His face hardened with focus as he moved toward Odin, feeling himself more committed, knowing he was trusted by an individual such as him. 

"Understood, sir," he replied. He shifted into action immediately, calling to the soldiers under his command. Many of them were still tending to the villagers or standing guard at the perimeter of the village, allowing the groups of players to handle the brunt of the fights.

After all, it was in their interest to gain EXP, so why bother risking your life while the undead zombies didn't fear death and were willing to give away their bodies for an Epic Equipment piece?

Odin glanced around, assessing the state of their forces. "Let the villagers know we're heading toward Wesmar," he continued, his eyes briefly locking with Austen's. "Make sure they're ready since you folks have only one life. Those who can't walk should be placed on the carts. We can't afford to slow down."

Austen nodded, his voice firm as he called out to his men. "Private, gather the troops! We're moving out in 30 minutes. Inform the villagers to pack only the essentials."

There was a visible shift in the atmosphere as Austen's men snapped to attention, shaking off their fatigue as they began to rally the villagers. The soldiers, many of whom had fought hard during the monster attack, now moved along with their movements practiced by their extensive drills, their armor clinking softly as they formed small units to assist the villagers.

Odin watched as Austen's soldiers approached the villagers, guiding them with a mix of authority and compassion. Some elderly men and women, mothers with children clinging to their legs, looked weary, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion from the sleepless nights they didn't know about their fates. 

Nonetheless, there was also a sense of quiet resilience among them, especially after they saw how hard Austen and his soldiers worked to keep them safe, but not least, the effect of the 'Chosen Ones' who they didn't think much about since they would just go past their villages without interacting with them.

There would be some 'Chosen Ones' who would stop randomly to ask the Elders if they had any 'Quests', but they were self-sufficient, everyone in the community had their own roles, and for this reason, those strangers stopped coming into their community.

Of course, for the opportunistic and greedy players, if the village didn't have any Quests for them, they wouldn't stick around when there were hundreds of unexplored locations that might be a gold mine in terms of Quests.

"Please gather your things," one of Austen's sergeants instructed a group of villagers. "Only what you can carry. We need to move quickly."

A young mother, her child cradled in her arms, nodded silently and began packing what few belongings she had left. An older man, who had sat on a nearby rock, struggled to stand as a soldier approached him, offering support.

Odin observed, satisfied with the soldiers' handling of the situation. 

Despite their initial weariness from before, the soldiers had adapted quickly to the chaos, managing both the villagers' safety and their own morale. It was something he admired about Austen, he was a reliant man. 

So what if he was just a Blue-named NPC? From Odin's perspective, the way this middle-aged veteran was conducting himself made him above the Purple-named Nobles or other snobbish and arrogant Nights with 'Roles' to be played in the Worldbuilding.

Austen returned to Odin's side, his expression serious but calm. "The villagers are being informed. Some are still shaken up, but they'll be ready in time. We've arranged the weaker ones to be placed on carts, like you said."

Odin gave a nod of approval. "Good. The journey to Wesmar should be similar to what we faced coming here, but we can't take any chances. Beasts are still prowling around, and we don't know what condition Wesmar is in."

"Whatsmore, the news might have reached the goblins that there is a group slaying them, they might retaliate, so stay sharp, Austen."

Austen's face darkened at the mention of the Goblins and Wesmar, even though he recounted to Odin what happened on their way to Ording and how they had to fight goblins that were stronger than the usual lowly subrace rats. "I hope they're holding up better than Ording."

Odin folded his arms, his gaze hardening as he looked toward the path that would take them to Wesmar. "We'll find out soon enough."

As the half-hour mark approached, the soldiers stood at the ready, weapons drawn, while the villagers clung to what little they could carry. 

The carts lined up in a row near the village entrance, were ready to be set in motion.

Odin, who in the eyes of the soldiers and villagers seemed grander than the Marquis they had never seen in their lives, walked through the assembled crowd, his captivating crimson aura enveloping him into an veil, offered them a peace of mind that no tragedy and mishap will happen to them with the 'Great Knight' paving the path forward.

The villagers, many of whom had begun to look up to him as a figure of hope, watched as he moved with purpose, checking on the soldiers, the supplies, and the condition of the villagers. Despite the weight of responsibility pressing down on him, he showed no sign of strain.

Finally, Odin paused near the lead cart where Austen stood. "It's time," he said, his voice low but commanding.

Austen gave a final look around, his eyes scanning the caravan. "We're ready."

Without another word, Odin signaled the group to begin their journey. 

As they left the boundaries of Ording behind, Odin fell into step beside Austen while Purphoros was two steps behind him, acting like his shadow. Similarly, the Leviathan Team, who learned from Elyse that Level 100 Goblins might attack them, remained alert.

The travel time between Ording and Wesmar could be considered similar, taking the group around 30-40 minutes to reach the boundaries of the neighboring village, Wesmar. 

Without suffering any ambush on their way to Wesmar, with the leading cause that it might be because of Odin's presence, they scurried away the cowardly Goblins who were opportunistic as Race or because it was already morning by the time of departure. 

Odin couldn't be bothered to ponder much on such a pathetic race such as the Goblins. He knew deep down that handling the Hobgoblin Quest, be it taking down a Hobgoblin Boss or whatever was in store for him, was just a formality.

When his caravan arrived at Wesmar, to the shock of many, including Odin's, the scene was far different from what they had encountered in Ording and Madelaire.

Instead of finding ruins overrun by beasts and villagers hiding in fear, there was organized resistance. 

He could see some NPC soldiers, led by a middle-aged man with a rough appearance, his armor stained by dirt marks and some dried green blood, were holding their ground against the Wild Beasts and Dire Beasts. 

These soldiers fought valiantly as if they were giving off their final stand against the Monster Hordes, but lucky for them, they were backed by a large group of players, about 8 of them, assisting in the defense.

Yet this wasn't all that surprised Odin, it was the sight of the villagers, their faces streaked with dirt and blood, handing out water and supplies to the 'Chosen Ones' who rested between battles to recover their draining Stamina. 

As they moved closer, Austen suddenly tensed, his eyes narrowing as he focused on a squad of soldiers fighting at the front. The soldiers wore the same armor as those stationed in Ording but fought with a coordinated ferocity different from the desperate scrambles Odin had seen in other villages.

"A familiar face?" inquired Odin noticing the subtle changes in Austen's body.

"That's Edvard," Austen said, his voice filled with surprise and relief. He turned to Odin, his expression grim but hopeful. "He's one of the few soldiers left from Fullbaz Marquisate's defensive forces. We trained together back in the early days of our service, both Corporals now."

"I heard he was stationed near Wesmar when the monsters began attacking the region. I thought he died like those from Ording."

Odin raised an eyebrow, curious about this middle-aged veteran, and out of nowhere, Austen and the players in his party saw his crimson eyes glowing once more with their life-draining red.

'Sovereign Insight'

[You have consumed (5) Red Energy]

[You have penetrated the essence of things!]

Before his eyes, a variety of information was displayed on specific windows that could be overwhelming at first glance. All of them were interesting to read, but what he was more interested in apart from the weaknesses and strong points in his stance and body imbalances, the one he was interested in regarding NPCs was their Status Window.

Edvard was close to Austen in levels, growing a couple of levels from his battles with the Wild Beasts and Dire Beast. The same could be said for his Squad of Soldiers, who survived to tell the story of their exploits.

[Name: Edvard]

[Age: 36 | Gender: Male]

[Occupation: Corporal of Fullbaz 11th Regiment.]

[Level: 101]

[Strength: 818/1,480 | Stamina: 431/808]

[Agility: 154/330 Intelligence: 181/230]

[Skills: Tactical Command (C), Trap Installation (C+), Empire's Swordsmanship (B-), Cool-headed (B), Counterstrike Mastery (B+)]

--

'Not bad, quite balanced for a Blue Named NPC, unlike Aldric Valens who truly has some interesting skills and stats.'

'Then Edvard is focused on a counter playstyle while Austen is the straightforward fighter. His Swordsmanship is a bit weaker than Austen's since Austen has it at (B) which I assume is perfectly mastered.' 

'I'll have to check the stats of the Black Knights when I return to Titan.'

In the midst of the battle, the man in question was shouting orders at his men but also at the player, showing his experience as a battle-hardened warrior, cutting down beasts in a ruthless manner after countering their blows. 

Edvard was taller than Austen, but not by much. His armor was battered from the constant clashing against the monsters, while his sword was a bit chipped from all the hacking they had done thus far facing the Beasts.

"He's tough," Austen continued, watching his old comrade fend off a Dire Wolf. "His Counterstrike don't work so well against brainless monsters since he can't predict their blows."

"If Edvard's still holding this place, then Wesmar has a fighting chance."

Odin nodded, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the battlefield. The defenders, both NPC soldiers and players, were giving it their all, but it was clear that the battle was wearing on them. The relentless waves of monsters showed no signs of stopping, and their numbers were thinning.

"We won't let them fall," Odin said, his voice low but resolute. "It's time to even the odds."

The players in Odin's were bracing themselves for another battle since approaching the new hunting ground and quickly moved into action after their Guildmaster's orders.

They drew their weapons, shields raised, and spells at the ready, forming a cohesive unit behind Odin. However, after giving his orders, he transformed into a phantom haunting the monsters' souls.

'Blessing of Wind'

[You have consumed 25 RE. The user has received the 'Zephyr's Swiftness' Buff.]

[The user experiences enhanced agility and speed for the next 5 minutes. Movement speed is increased by 100%, attack speed is increased by 50%, critical hit chance is increased by 25% and there's a 20% chance to evade incoming attacks. Ranged attacks deal 50% more damage during this period.]

His body blurred with unnatural speed, a result of the powerful blessing of Zephyr's Swiftness, allowing him to outmaneuver the Wild Beasts and Dire Beasts with ease. 

The buff's timer counted down from five minutes, but Odin's sharp focus meant each second would be used to its fullest potential.

The first Wild Beast he encountered was a hulking wolf, its bloodshot eyes glowing with primal fury as it charged at him. Odin sidestepped the beast in a single fluid motion, his Soulrend Blade whistling through the air before cleaving cleanly through the creature's neck. 

The wolf's massive body crumpled to the ground, lifeless, as Odin didn't even break stride.

He moved from one enemy to the next like a shadow, striking with precision. Two dire beasts, a boar, and a bear, lunged at him simultaneously, their roars shaking the earth. Odin, unfazed, crouched low and dashed between them, his blade leaving trails of ethereal energy as it cut through flesh and bone.

The boar fell first, its side pierced by a lethal stab to its heart, followed by the bear's deathly growl as its throat was torn open in a wide arc.

Odin's crimson eyes glowed ominously beneath the mask, giving him an almost supernatural presence that sent shivers down the spines of both allies and foes, especially for Edvard's soldiers, who were 'rescued' by this mysterious person.

The Zephyr's Swiftness made him untouchable akin to Susanoo's Incarnation. 

As beasts tried to land blows, they found themselves slicing through nothing but air as Odin zipped around them, his movements too fast for their simple minds to comprehend.

Another wave of Wild Beasts stormed the battlefield, trying to overwhelm him with numbers. 

Three wolves surrounded him, each growling menacingly. Odin grinned beneath his mask. 

'That's amusing. They still think they have a chance against me because of my lower level?'

'Braindead mutts.'

He spun in place, his Soulrend Blade flashing in a deadly whirlwind as he activated one of his AoE skills, 'Whirling Blade' grabbing all of the monster into a cyclone of blade slashes, but this wasn't all as the damage wasn't enough to One-Shot them, so instead he carved at their flesh.

His Attack Speed reached a superhuman stage, making him capable of double-hitting each half-second.

Such that in a matter of seconds, the three wolves collapsed, their bodies hitting the ground in synchronized thuds.

"Four down…" Odin muttered under his breath, the battlefield echoing with the screams of beasts and the clashing of steel of the combatants.

A dire beast, a massive lion-like creature with thick, matted fur, came barreling toward him, its eyes wild with hunger. 

Odin didn't flinch at this sight. Some inexperienced players would backtrack because of the visual impact of what they were seeing, but he was already indifferent to all the gore he saw inside Satisfy World.

He could compartmentalize what was going inside his mind, and fighting to the death the monsters, was a feature of the RPG adventure, while the slice-of-life interactions with the NPCs were a part of the happiness of being an RP player.

Regardless of how realistic a VR game could be, one should be aware that they were experiencing a 'simulation', those battles could be rationalized as lucid dreams to avoid catching PTSD from all the grueling and traumatic sights built into Satisfy World. (A/N: Satisfy World is a +16 Rated Game for this reason)

As the beast lunged, he kicked off the ground, flipping over its hulking form with effortless grace. The Soulrend Blade carved through the creature's spine with a sickening crack, and it collapsed into a lifeless heap as Odin landed nimbly on his feet.

The other players and NPC soldiers watched in awe as Odin continued his relentless assault, especially those who assisted Edvard before the Leviathan team arrived. 

One Dire Beast almost murked their leader for spacing out just from watching the masked man fight. His skill level and control over his actions made him wonder what such a player was doing in a low-level hunting ground.

⤷ Rohan, who is this freak? Can you see him, or is it just me having a lag? Or am I going blind from playing 16 hours per day?

⤷ Is this a High-Ranker? But it doesn't make sense, if he was a ranker his attacks would be one-shots to those beasts.

⤷ I have no idea who this individual is, but after this battle, we should try not antagonize him, or we'll be sent to an early death to the graveyard. 

⤷ Yeah, that would for sure suck. I don't want to get logged out for dying a 2nd time for today.

⤷ Wait, wait. Just now, I checked the news related to Fullbaz. The 'Masked Ranker' who created waves in the low-level hunting grounds is… Odin. It's the Aesir God!

⤷ Ohh, fuck me, a celebrity. Wait a minute, but how? Wasn't he close to level 200 or some shit? How come he's redoing his playthrough?

⤷ Dumbass, watch the News Feed of the Global Forum instead of the Japanese one.

⤷ My English is trash, and I'm not bothering to use the translate features. Are you sure this masked guy is Odin?

⤷ 100% there's even a Highlight with them in Madelaire, the village Edvard mentioned that his friend is stationed. And in that one he's unmasked and even is with Eve.

⤷ Shit, I should put more work into killing those mobs so I can impress Odin. I may get scouted for Leviathan Guild. 

⤷ Hahaha, are you ready to be interviewed? You might be super lucky to be interviewed by Demacia and get a full-on pass.

⤷ Guys, please focus. We can't project a bad image, and I want to ensure that no NPC suffers from our distraction.

⤷ As you say, Rohan.

The group, united by this beginner player with Western features called Rohan, snapped back and regathered his focus to face the monsters. There were still many monsters attacking Wesmar, but their number dwindled with each couple of seconds.

Even Edvard, a hardened veteran, was taken aback by the sheer ferocity and precision of the masked warrior. 

Meanwhile, Austen fought his way toward Edvard, cutting down a Wild Beast clawing at one of the village's barricades. When he reached Edvard, the two men locked eyes, and for a brief moment, despite the chaos, there was a flicker of relief on both their faces.

"Austen! Is it you, asshole?" Edvard's voice boomed, filled with disbelief and joy. "By the Goddess, you're alive!"

Austen grinned, wiping sweat from his brow as he parried a strike from a Dire Wolf. "Go fuck yourself, Edvard. I thought Wesmar was overrun for sure and you would be turned into Monster shit."

"You wish, old friend. We've been holding on just fine. Well, maybe a bit by a thread, but you get me." Edvard admitted, slashing through another beast. "I would be fine dying with a smile on my face if all the monsters in Wesmar were dead."

"I didn't think help would come, since Sir Gremory is an incompetent fuck."

"Well, you've got it now," Austen said, motioning toward Odin, to which Edvard paused as he breathed. 

"Brother, who's the masked one? Smells like one of those 'Chosen Ones' who don't die even after you crucify them."

"The fuck have you done while we got our missions? Anyway, I don't want to know. That man is Odin. Trust me, he's on a whole different level. We're nothing but ants to him when it comes to sword skills and talent."

"Go on, how good could a 'Chosen One' be? You see those kids handling those beasts, they aren't that impressive.

"Can't you feel it from his movements and sword technique? Isn't his movements similar to teacher Dante's?

"You're right, it feels similar. So he's a Knight? That's impressive coming from a 'Chosen One'."

"No, friend, he's above them. Sir Odin is a Black Knight."

Edvard spared a glance toward Odin, who was effortlessly dispatching monsters left and right with a grace that belied his brute strength. The sight of him alone inspired confidence. "A Black Knight, huh?" Edvard muttered in awe. "I've heard of their power, but seeing it in action…"

Before he could finish his sentence, Odin's voice cut through the noise, calm but commanding. "Edvard, fall back with your men. We'll take care of this wave."

The veteran turned to look at his friend, who simply shrugged with a childish smile that reminded him of their youthful ignorance. Their only pursuit and dream were of becoming Red Knights, akin to their old teacher, but their talent wasn't up there with the Geniuses of the Empire.

"Now I get why you look at him as if you're a woman looking at some Prince."

"Fuck you, Edvard."

Edvard didn't argue with Odin's commands, picking quickly the difference in their status and skills. He nodded sharply, demanding his remaining troops to regroup and tend to the wounded. 

Now facing a massive bull-like creature, Odin slashed upward with Soulrend Blade, severing the bull's horns before plunging the blade deep into the beast's skull.

In the same motion, he twisted around and drove the blade into the bear's chest, ending its life in a single, decisive blow.

"Ten down…"

As the timer ticked down, Odin continued reaping souls. There was no challenge for him, not even when taking on six Dire Beasts. Nonetheless, the experience of being on top left him grinning behind his mask. The thrill of battle and all of the adrenaline was a true drug for the mind.

With one minute left on the buff, Odin charged at the final wave of beasts. Twelve Wild Beasts, a mix of wolves and boars, rushed at him. 

The beasts fell rapidly, their bodies crumpling to the ground as Odin continued his relentless assault.

"Twenty-four down…"

The timer on Zephyr's Swiftness hit zero as the final beast fell. Odin stood amidst the carnage, his breath steady as if nothing impressive was achieved in Wesmar. Still, everyone around him, especially the villagers barricaded to safety, watched with dread at this masked 'Specter'.

His Soulrend Blade was continuously dripping with the blood of his enemies. 

By now, the battlefield was eerily quiet, but once the shock of what they spectated was absorbed in, the players and NPCs soldiers let out a collective breath of relief, some cheering, others simply collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.

Edvard approached Odin while he was arranging his inventory, the junk collected could amount to at least 200 gold coins or more, but the veteran didn't know this, just assumed that he was deep in contemplation.

After this battle, Edvard got his confirmation of everything that Austen had shared with him, from his battles in Madelaire to Ording. 

Now it explained why the masked individual was so strong, he was one of the 300s Black Knights of the Empire, already a great achievement for any warrior in the Empire. 

"You've saved us," he said, his voice hoarse but grateful. "Wesmar would've fallen if not for your intervention."

Odin, still wearing his elven mask, simply nodded. "It's nothing worth mentioning. Instead, you should be proud of yourself for standing your ground against so many monsters."

"No, no, it wasn't only me and my boys, instead, it was that young lad, Rohan who gave us a hand when things turned for the worse."

Hearing Edvard giving credit to where it was due made him take a liking to the simple-minded veteran. 

Odin shifted his attention on the player group, where he could see a young guy, maybe still in high school, surrounded by the rest, holding a Halberd while celebrating the victory. 

They stopped whatever they were talking about when feeling the crimson eyes peer into them, and some pushed Rohan to go talk with him and introduce their group to the Legend.

Before he made it there, Edward was telling Odin how the situation was in Wesmar, what interested him mainly was if the population of peasants got evacuated safely and what casualties there were on their end.

Edvard recounts the events that led Wesmar to this point. 

"Most of the villagers here had already fled, but those who stayed couldn't leave without risking their lives. As for casualties, thank the Goddess none of my men was lost in battle, but the Chosen Ones had some casualties."

"It will pass. No good deed goes unrewarded," Odin said that calmly, but Edvard couldn't tell if he was sarcastic or genuine, he wouldn't want the young 'Chosen One' to suffer any mishap against the Black Knight.

So far, Odin listened quietly to Edvard, his crimson eyes beneath the mask never wavering from the warrior. 

With Rohan's approaching, Odin's attention shifted toward the young halberd-wielder

Rohan, still catching his breath, bowed his head slightly in deference. "Thank you for what you did back there. I don't think we'd have made it without you."

Odin studied him for a moment, assessing the sincerity in his voice. "You fought well. I heard you helped hold the line when things were at their worst. That's commendable." His tone, though neutral, held a note of respect that wasn't lost on Rohan.

Rohan smiled, his grip tightening on his halberd. "I just… I couldn't leave the villagers to fend for themselves. It wasn't right."

Odin's eyes softened for a brief moment behind the mask. "That's why you'll go far in this world. Just continue playing with this mentality, and I promise you, you'll become a Star in the future. But, you should also not grow arrogant and forget about the friends you make along the journey."

Rohan's expression was initially nervous, but after hearing Odin's encouraging words, he was excited and relieved that he hadn't made the wrong choice by helping the NPCs.

Watching the tall masked man, all the legends he had heard on SkyNet about the enigmatic person behind this character shaped for him. His mere charismatic presence was enough to inspire both fear and awe.

'Should I ask him, or not? I fear he might get annoyed and destroy the impression I've created, but… I can't just back away.'

'Yolo.'

When Rohan finally made up his mind, he hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Hmm, excuse me if I'm offending you, but… are you… are you really Odin? Odin of the Leviathan Guild?"

'No point in hiding my information with the mask. There's no hostility in this group.'

With a slight nod, he reached up to his face, his fingers gripping the edges of the Elven Mask, and slowly pulled it away.

As the mask was removed, his once obscured face stood out in the light. His medium-length black hair fell loosely over his forehead, framing his angular and handsome features. 

His sharp and piercing crimson eyes held an intensity that was only slightly softened by his calm demeanor. But the aura surrounding him, the faint glow of the Red Energy that clung to his body, truly captured the attention of those around him.

Rohan never experienced such feelings and sensations just from looking at an 'Idol', but he would lie if he denied that standing in the face of this almost otherworldly presence gave him goosebumps all over his body.

It was like standing in the presence of a ruler or a deity. 

Rohan's breath caught in his throat, and even the surrounding players, who had been celebrating moments ago, quieted as they witnessed Odin's full presence.

"Yes," Odin said, his voice low and steady. "I am Odin."

Rohan stared, eyes wide, clearly trying to process the reality of standing before one of the most popular figures in Satisfy World. "I… I didn't believe it at first," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But now, seeing you… there's no doubt."

Odin's lips curved ever so slightly into a faint smile, though his eyes remained sharp. "There's no need for disbelief. Hah, you kids make me feel like some Hollywood 'Diva'. Relax, I'm just a guy like you, Rohan. We both share the same love for Satisfy World."

On the other hand, Rohan's friends broke into an excited scramble, rushing toward Odin. Their faces lit up with disbelief and awe, their voices tripping over one another in a chaotic chorus.

"Odin! Can we get an autograph?"

"You're really him, right? Can we take a screenshot together?"

"I can't believe we just fought alongside Odin!"

Rohan felt a flush of embarrassment creeping up his neck as he watched his friends, now reduced to overzealous fanboys, swarming around Odin like they were in the presence of a celebrity. 

He grimaced, feeling secondhand shame at how they acted, especially after the serious battle they'd just been through. It was one thing to admire someone, but this felt a little too much, even for him.

"Ugh, guys, seriously? Calm down, you're acting like we're at a fan convention," Rohan muttered, shaking his head as his friends continued to fawn over Odin.

Despite the commotion, Odin remained unfazed, a small, amused smile playing on his lips. He seemed used to this kind of attention, and instead of acting annoyed or brushing them off, he chuckled. His relaxed, friendly demeanor was completely at odds with the fierce, ruthless warrior they had just witnessed on the battlefield.

"Alright, alright," Odin said with a chuckle, holding up his hands as if to calm them down. "There's no need to swarm me. I'm not going anywhere."

He took a moment to sign for each of them a piece of paper that they could hold in their inventory, his movements fluid and practiced, and his signature left them with a sweet taste in their mouth. Odin's calligraphy was smooth, nothing like someone who spent 6 years taking university-level course notes at lightning-fast speed for fear the board would be wiped clean.

One by one, he humored them, posing for a quick photo here and there. His manner was never arrogant but casual, like indulging old friends.

Watching all of this unfold, Rohan felt a mixture of relief and jealousy. His friends were making a spectacle, yet… he couldn't help but feel a twinge of desire. Despite his earlier embarrassment, his admiration for Odin had only grown since the battle. 

He could understand why people admired Odin so much on SkyNet and the Community Forums. Overall, he was someone you could approach and talk to without fearing rejection or worse.

Finally, unable to resist, he stepped forward, clearing his throat awkwardly.

"Uh… can I get one too?" he asked sheepishly, feeling slightly ridiculous.

Odin turned toward him, his crimson eyes softening as he chuckled again. "Of course. Want a photo, too?" he said, scribbling his signature on another piece of paper before giving it to Rohan.

"Don't worry, you're not the first nor the last one. To make you feel better, I even got some important folks IRL to ask for my autograph."

Before the group could disperse, Odin's demeanor shifted slightly, his tone becoming more serious. 

"Again, as I told your leader, I appreciate your help defending Wesmar. You all did a great job out there, for this I think you deserve a reward if the soldiers can't give you one."

 His gaze moved between Rohan and his friends, then to Edvard and the nearby soldiers.

With a flick of his hand, Odin pulled up the system menu, navigated through the quest logs, and then shared the [The Forgotten Villages(B)] with Rohan and the rest of his group.

"I've shared the villager rescue quest with you. Make sure that no one is left behind before we depart for Fullbaz."

"Thanks, Odin," Rohan said, his earlier embarrassment forgotten as excitement bubbled up inside him. "We won't let you down."

Rohan couldn't stop smiling. Not only had he just met one of his gaming idols, but he had also had the opportunity to travel with him. One might say he was dreaming in these moments, but all was reality… no, a virtual reality.

_______=====_______=====

(Author Corner: I'll give an exercise to you readers. I want you to come up with a Status Window for Austen in a similar fashion I've done it for Edvar, but mainly, I want you to come up with some Skills for Austen. The requirements? 2 Skills at (C=C+) rating, 3-5 Skills at (B=B+) rating and 1 Skill at (A) rating. Good luck.