Chapter 4: Just a game

'I knew I shouldn't have come back.' Troy thought regretting his choice. 'What the hell is this reassessment crap?' the cloud was still floating with the words on it.

[Plyer has been assigned a new status]

[Would you like to confirm your status?]

Troy groaned. "Yes." A golden interface appeared in front of him.

[Status Window]

Name: Langreve

Level: 9

Races: Human, Phoenix

Classes: Mage, Berserker

Attribute: Fire, Ice

Strength: 125

Perception: 120

Essence: 130

Agility: 115

Stamina: 118

Active skills: Ice manipulation level 6, Absolute zero level 1, Fire resistance level 5,

Higher poisoning level 1, Pure flame level 5, Reverse sealing (sealed)

Passive skills: Regeneration level 1, Flame bird sensitivity level 1, Out of ashes (sealed)

Ultimate skills: Ice army level 1, Phoenix transformation level 1

All stats have increased, Levels of skills have increased, new skills have been acquired, new names have been assigned to skills which have…

Troy gaped at his status window. There was actually a scroll down icon. He pressed it and more information revealed itself.

…levelled up beyond limit

Freezing point – Absolute zero

Minor poisoning – Higher poisoning

Self-healing – Regeneration

Ice golems – Ice army

Attribute conflict has caused unproportioned increase in all stats.

Summary Status will be provided from now on.

"Is this some sort of glitch or am I dreaming?" Troy looked blankly at the information on his Status window.

He had two races now, two classes now and even a new tab for attributes. Furthermore, his stats and skills were no joke. The game worked in a way where information on the use of skills were automatic transferred to the player's memory and from what Troy had gotten, every skill he possessed was way beyond a legendary grade skill. This was just too nonsensical to be true.

'Putting aside all that, why is there an attribute tab now?' He thought. From what was shown his attributes were fire and ice; two polar opposites. It was just too cliché and yet so mesmerizing.

He had gotten mostly abilities relating to ice when he started playing but nothing relating to fire. "Also, where did this reversed sealing skill come from?" His new race 'phoenix' seemed to be the reason for the fire attribute and fire related skills. From the fantasy books he read, a phoenix was a bird born out of a pure flame. He had never really payed attention to them as dragons were more used but it didn't seem like a bad race.

Troy heard the distinct sound of footsteps and perked his ears up. There was someone coming and that someone was very close. Troy felt goosebumps on his skin. The person was trying to conceal their presence. But Troy still felt the strong presence. It didn't weigh him down like last time but it was still a strong presence. Wait a minute. Could it be? His eyes opened wide. He could feel two presences now. He took a battle stance by raising his fists up since he didn't have time to prepare a weapon so he had to dwell on his strength now. He wasn't going to allow for anyone to push him around again.

A tall man appeared accompanied by a shorter older man. Troy rushed forward at an incredible speed immediately after seeing them both. As he was just about to land a punch on the shorter man his hand was blocked by the taller man by him just holding it. The guy Troy intended on punching was the same person who killed him last time.

Although he was burning with anger he actually wanted to run away but this bastard just wouldn't let go of his hand. The other guy was completely unfazed even though his fist was just a few centimeters in front of his face. The taller man spoke in a polite voice. "Excuse me but could you postpone whatever you want to do till after we are done talking to you?' His grip tightened and Troy's arm began to hurt. He hesitantly released his fist and the man let go of his hand. Troy stepped back a bit. No matter how strong he thought he had gotten he would run away as soon as any of them showed the slightest ting of killing intent.

The other guy was crazy strong but this guy was the real deal. "So tell me, what do you want to talk about?" Troy asked cautiously. The man smiled and spoke. "First of all my name is Daron and this is my brother, Derek."

*Players have revealed their names to you.

[You have encountered player 'Druid Alphonse']

[You have encountered player 'Druid Alphorn']

Their in-game names were floating on each of their heads. Troy was surprised. They had revealed their actual names and their in-game names to him.

Troy still didn't let his guard down. "You still haven't told me what you want to talk about."

"Tch, you're quite impatient aren't you?" Derek said stepping forward. His brother muttered something to him and he stepped back again with a sullen face. 'Which of them is supposed to be the elder brother?' Troy thought.

"Sorry for that," Daron said still smiling,

"We are here to help you get stronger.

Troy furrowed his eyebrows. "What the hell are you saying?!" he shouted. "Do you even know what I went through because of him?" He continued pointing to Derek.

"I know what happened must have been terrible but it was necessary at the time." Daron spoke looking apologetic.

"Terrible, do you...?" Troy was about to burst out again but suddenly remembered something. After he had logged in all his abilities had increased dramatically. Was it because of what had happened? He stared at Derek who was looking down. That was beside the point. A game was still a game even if there was some cheat for higher stats. "But this is just a game." Troy said. "Was is it really necessary?" Daron slowly shook his head. "Do you really think this is just a game?"

His mind became cloudy. He had not really taken things seriously but he felt something was really off about everything. About how even though VR games were known to be realistic this one was just off the charts. About how everything that seemed so casual about the game also seemed to present some hidden agenda. About how little he cared about specific details which didn't seem to mean anything then but looking at it now, he wasn't so sure.

"I won't say your life is a lie." Derek said looking at Troy. This time Daron didn't try to stop him. His expression was no longer rough or annoyed. "All I can say is that your life exists beyond what you know." It sounded genuine and yet Troy still didn't know what to make of it. "But this is still just a game." Troy paused for a bit and continued. "Right?" His voice was now very low. He couldn't tell why he felt emotional all of a sudden. As if something really sad had happened.

Daron stepped in. "The truth will become clear soon enough." His smile had disappeared and was with a serious face. "So for now please trust us and let us help you."

Troy shook his head. "Why should I?"

"Because we need you." Daron retorted.

Troy had come back because of his co-worker not for any other reason but to think this would happen.

"In a world such as ours you are the one perfect existence."

Troy stared at the person who said this.

Derek looked back at Troy. Right now, all that mattered to him was whatever this idiot decided to say next.