SMO Chapter 6.3 : Traveling

LacX looked into the Cage, finding 2 things.

There was something bound by Chains.

There was a Ball of Fluff that seemed to be sitting still.

Before he could Appraise the Fluff Ball, the Dog Goblin he was facing decided to take it's chances.

Luckily, the Goblin tripped on a Broken Weel thay fell off of the Carriage, causing LacX to refocus on the fight.

"Oh, right. I should finish this first."

Before the Goblin could get up, LacX goes in for the kill.

He also trips, this time on a Rock.

"Well, there goes my luck."

The Goblin stands, and is instantly taken out by Mana.

'You really need to focus. If it weren't for me, you would have been hurt, or even dead.'

"Yes, yes. Thank you. Did you finish with your side?" Looking in the direction of her fight, there were no living Goblins left.

'I took care of them. But this one seems to still be alive.' Looking at the last Goblin, it seemed to be slightly breathing.

"Should I... finish it off?"

'That would be wise.'

Taking his dagger, he kills the last Goblin.

[Rewards]

[Exp +41]

[Drops : Goblin Tooth]

Releasing his Water Daggers, they rest for a few seconds, until LacX remembered the Fluff Ball in the Cage.

"There was something in one of the Cages. Should I go check it out?"

'If you must, then do so carefully.'

Walking to the Cage, the Fluff Ball seemed to be Shivering now.

[Appraisal]

[Name : Laril]

[Race : Beast-Kin (Puff-Goat)]

[Guild Rank : None]

[Level : 3]

{Status : Fear, Weak, Hungry, Slave}

{HP : 37/100}

[Unique Clan Skill]

<Bounce Off : Makes one target bounce off of any surface. 5 SP Consumed>

[Cannot Copy]

"Beast-Kin? What are those?"

As if to answer his question, the Fluff Ball seemed to unfold, revealing a little girl with small Horns, who seemed to be unconscious.

'She is very weak. We must bring her to the Town, or she will perish.'

"I'm on it. First, this Cage."

Looking around, a set of Keys could be seen under a bush.

As he grabs them, someone called out.

"Hey you! Over here!"

Looking around, he saw another Cage, who had another person in it.

This time, it was a Feline Beast-Kin.

[Appraisal]

[Name : Nia]

[Race : Beast-Kin (Shock Tiger)]

[Guild Rank : E]

[Level : 15]

{Status : Hungry, Slave}

[Unique Clan Skill]

<Buzz Flash : Move with a Trail of Lightning behind you that paralyzes anything nearby. 5 SP and 5 MP Consumed>

'Two Slaves? Why are there Slaves in this Game?'

Before he could think any further, he was interrupted by the Beast-Kin.

"Hey buddy! Help me out here! Get the Keys and open this Cage for me. I'll repay the favor in kind, so please release me."

With a Sigh, LacX takes the Keys and heads over to her Cage.

Before he continued, he gave a warning.

"If you try anything, then there will be no helping you for what comes next."

She put her hand on her heart, as if to indicate that she wouldn't try anything.

Going in to open the Cage, he is immediately hit by her "Buzz Flash", and stunned.

{Paralysis : 30 Seconds}

"Ha! You fool. Did you think I would play nice?"

As she reaches for the Keys, LacX uses "Short Range Teleport" and moves a few feet back.

"What?! No fair! Get back here!"

As she continued to reach for the Keys, the Paralysis wore off.

Without a word, he walks away.

"Wait! I'm Sorry! Please!"

As he walked away, she yelled one last thing.

"Contract!"

A Window appeared in front of LacX.

To his surprise, the Contract was very one sided.

[Contract]

[Name : Nia]

{Condition : Release Nia from the Cage}

[To : LacX]

{Reward : [Nia (Slave)]}

Looking back, he sees tears forming in her eyes.

Looking over the Contract, he could see an "Add Condition" option.

{Additional Condition : Nia cannot activate "Skills" or "Magic"}

Reluctant, she agreed to the terms.

Walking back, LacX unlocks the Cage, and gets another Message.

[Contract Fulfilled]

{Reward : [Nia (Slave)]}

Nia's Collar seemed to glow, and a final message appeared.

[Slave "Nia" Registered Successfully]

Looking at Nia, she seemed to be very angry, as well as Sad, considering the angry look and tears that she was trying to hold back.

"If you wanted help, then at least do it After the cage is open."

Surprised, Nia just looks at the ground.

Moving to the other Cage, LacX unlocks it, and takes the Girl out.

"We need to get to town, but we might not make it."

Trying to figure out what to do, he comes up with a solution.

"Mana, I'm gonna run ahead to Town at full speed. Take care of Nia."

Looking at Nia, he walks up to her.

"Nia, I will give you three rules. Follow them, and I won't use a Forced Command. First, don't hurt any Creatures or People that are not hostile. Second, If I tell you to follow Mana, then do so, and follow her commands. Lastly, Don't put yourself into any danger, especially not on purpose. Are we clear?"

Not knowing what to say, she just looks down and nods.

"Okay, I'm off. Take care."

Activating "Booster" and "Sprint", he bolts at top speed.

. . .

It only took a few minutes, but he made it to town.

Looking around, he quickly looks for a building that could help the girl in his hands.

'Maybe the Guild can help. I need to be quick.'

Finding the Guild, he bursts in, making almost everybody divert their attention.

"Is there a room where I can take the injured?" He says to the receptionist.

"There is. We only have one room left, but you can use it. It's on the second floor at the end of the hall to your right."

Thanking him, LacX runs upstairs, and locates the room.

Going in, he lays the Girl onto the bed, and looks through his storage.

Taking some herbs he found, he finds the one he was looking for.

"I'm pretty sure these had restorative properties. Just to make sure..."

[Appraisal]

[Name : Pop Leaflet]

[Rank : E]

<Description : Has a Regenerative Effect when mixed with Water. +1 HP/Sec for 10 Seconds>

Taking some Water from his Storage, he takes a bowl and a rock and turns the Leaflet into Paste, then mixed it with the Water.

Suddenly, it begins to glow, and becomes a clearer, pink color.

"What the... wait."

Looking at the Water, he realized that it was Water from the Mana Pool.

"Nevermind that. Healing her comes first."

Taking the Pink Mixture, he slowly lets the girl drink.

Looking at her HP, it seemed to have a better effect than it was supposed to.

{HP : 37 -> 42/100}

'So instead of One HP per Second, it's Five. This is good.'

After a few seconds, her HP made it to 87/100.

She seemed to still be sleepy, so while she rested, LacX went back downstairs to speak with the Receptionist.

"Thanks again. And sorry for the trouble."

"No problem. Anyways, you seem to have a weapon on you. Got a Guild Card on you?"

Handing over his Guild Card, LacX registers into the Mardeal Guild.

"Now, care to give me a simple explanation for the little ruckus and the girl from earlier?"

. . .

Mana and Mia were resting, since they have been running for some time.

"Hey, why do you follow that guy?" Nia was resting on a flat rock.

'He saved me from a pack of Silverwind Wolves once. Besides that, I can see a large amount of potential within him, considering his Skills and Speed. He is also surprisingly proficient in Magic.'

Thinking about what to do next, Nia lays down.

"Is it okay for me to stay with him? Will he... do anything?"

'I have not been with him long, but I trust him more than most people. If I had to say, then he was more concerned for the Injured Beast-Kin than the fact that you became his Slave. He will not do anything, and he will never throw anybody under, even if it meant that he would be injured.'

Taking it in Nia decides to take a nap.

"I'm gonna sleep for a bit. I have been running for a long time, and I was just released from captivity."

'That is fine, but we should move soon. If it get's dark, then we will be attacked by things worse than wolves.'

And as if her words were nothing but a curse, a massive amount of pressure filled the surroundings.

"What is th-" Mana ran to Nia and quickly shut her up.

Slowly, a dark figure was moving forwards, barely off the Main Road.

The Figure had no single shape, no single mind, and no single target.

It moved, and moved, until the pressure finally dissipated into nothing, along with the creature.

Finally being released from the pressure, Mana and Nia both gasped for air.

"What... what was that?"

'I, have only seen it once before. That was a very lucky, yet unlucky encounter. If we were seen, then we would have been dead.'

Before she continued, Mana made sure that their surroundings were clear.

"What was it?"

'... A Unique Rank Creature, the most dangerouse of any creature since the beginning of this world.'

'The No-Name.'

. . .