Guiding Voices?

 

As Tongqiu went on to walk and slaughter on his way to all low-level harvesting areas, there were rumors of a hidden Legendary or even Universal class player roaming around at Azure Dragon main city in the forums! Of course, none really managed to get a complete film of the mysterious player nor a clear picture of them. The game wouldn't allow you to have a recorder all the time. If they were to do so then, how many disgusting kinds of trades would be made outside the game once (a) or (b) happened? They would use the game as a mean for anything possible, from blackmailing to force any kind of contract, deal or even simply straight up threat someone else. So, the only way to be recording in game was to have both of your hands touching your temples and to maintain them in such position for a few seconds before is started recording. Of course, one also had to keep their hands there to keep on recording.

As for streamers, they would basically 'wear' a halo above their heads, except it wasn't holy, it was instead a couple of words rotating without stop 'live streaming'.

This was so that all the people in the same event wouldn't just brainlessly use the same images to post it at the forums but with any kind of clickbait. Or to reduce it, at least. As well as not allowing to any player the easy way to just make money either by fighting or killing a BOSS 'alone' or by 'battling' against other players in the most close-combat possible kind of battle. Or at least, to reduce it.

So, every time when they saw an eccentric man that was running around without stopping towards low-level areas, how could they know it was that famous figure in forums? They simply ignored it and went about to their own gaming matters. As for why there wasn't any person near those low-level areas, it's just as simply as having the same level of 15-19 mobs but in much, much lesser quantity so it obviously wasn't a good place to level up. 

Besides, there were dungeons already and many people would easily level up to LV20 after a few days in there. The player had to either had connections, pay to get carried or just be a hot girl. Actually, if one was a hot girl and a 'willing' one at that,  you may actually even get to the best carry ever possible all the way to LV30! Though the highest 'Journeyer''s current max LV was LV22.

...

*PING*... you've successfully killed a Lord graded BOSS, Mutated Fox Zombie, LV23, as a reward: SP+230, Fame+230.

...

*PING*... you've successfully killed a Lord graded BOSS, Maddened Monk, LV26, as a reward: SP+260, Fame+260.

...

*PING*... you've successfully killed a Lord graded BOSS...

*PING*... you've successfully killed a Lord graded BOSS...

*PING*...

*PING*...

***

After a couple hours of Tongqiu travelling around and 'meeting' new friends, the forums and players were already quite numbed to it. what started as a crazy man looking for Lord graded BOSSES to kill around as a hidden class became boring after they finally understood he didn't care about fame or others viewing him as a celebrity.

In fact, however, different to that train of thought... our dear Tongqiu was once again completely ignoring the forums not even having idea that he was already a black horse in any people's hearts. He'd probably be more annoyed about it, but he'd surely feel as dumb as hell for thinking no one would've see him, ah the ignorance.

That was when:

*PING*... incoming call from 'Mommy Heals You', would you like to accept?

"Yep." Tongqiu stopped rushing for a couple seconds, once he heard the call being connected between each player he resumed his rushing around.

"Oh! Tongqiu!! I'm finally here, so, what do you wanna do?" The sound of a smooth, gentle and warm voice went to Tongqiu's ears as she heartily asked him out... on a virtual date? Maybe feeling a little bit weird about it, he simply answered with: "Mmm, let me see. Right now I'm killing some mobs, wanna come?"

"Uhm, alright. Pick me up at the south entrance of Azure Dragon main city, I spent a lot of time and money on the transport so you better pay me up, huh?!" With her little intention to intimidate or guilt trip Tongqiu from making her travel from another Sub-Division to his', Natalia used a somewhat of a coquettish and anger feigned- voice. Which cheered Tongqiu up in a couple of ways.

After some time passed, Tongqiu was finally arriving to the meeting location. As he was closer to the main city, many players started soaring up to discussion and alarmed cries. Taking note of this, Tongqiu decided to give Natalia a little message, just advising her of putting on a mask if she could as soon as possible.

A minute later, he arrived before the south gate of the main city. Since he couldn't find her, he called her again: "I'm here already, did you hide?" 

When asking such, Tongqiu's eyes became unpredictable as his eyes scanned his surroundings a little. Then, he heard a shy and somewhat reproachful voice answer him: "Ah, you're here? You took a little much time, hmph."

As he heard her voice, his eyes caught sight of a grown woman with a mask of a bear sticking its tongue out in a silly way come out from the city's wall. She looked around for a little until she spot a weird look man wearing an eccentric wolf-like mask. She doubtfully said: "Ah... don't tell me that weirdo... is you? Hehehe."

As she closed her eyes and 'felt' her tummy while giggling, not only did she made it obvious who she was to Tongqiu, even the people around her took notice of the heavenly sounds of her giggles. Tongqiu hurriedly walked towards this silly looking woman in an imposing manner, which alerted some male players who were about to stand up 'for her', the silly looking woman.

When just a couple of them were already standing in front of Tongqiu, however, all players around hear the crude and shrieking sound of a bow's string being pulled a couple times. 

B-PAM!, B-PAM!

As the out-of-this-world explosion sounded out, about more than a dozen players were easily killed with numbers from -8,900 to -9,300 with some being critical hits.

'Ugh, too little MP and Stamina refund.' As Tongqiu was disgustingly praising the obliterated players, a dumbfounded Natalia stopped holding her belly as her eyes widened at the sight of many white knights falling at the instant they stood up. Then she saw an imposing and full of manliness body in front of her, he lacked a few pieces of cloths but that was okay. In fact, that was really okay.

As Tongqiu saw how stupid her eyes turned out of nowhere, he simply grabbed her waist and carried her princess-style as he began moving towards the remaining last low-level harvesting area. Once he was done with it, he then had nothing to do and could properly go date this devilish woman in peace.

"Oh, so did you see me kill them? How was that, did you like it, eh?" Asked a bragging Tongqiu towards the scared bunny-like face of Natalia, ever since he took her out from the southern entrance she'd been looking at him, or rather at his mask.

"Eyy, could you take that off? I haven't seen your face for a long time, pleaaaase?" If an adversary uses their ultimate move, if one is not prepared one can easily be put down. And so, Tongqiu didn't even hesitate as he deactivated his mask for her.

Natalia's eyes could only go wild as they grew big, and then narrowed, only to grow big again and then once again narrow. 

"Are you trying to provoke me?" Once Tongqiu noticed that she wasn't answering, he lowered his head to see her completely space out, her eyes would either try to take the best picture in her head, hence she would open her eyes to see clearly. Or they would just narrow quite a lot, Tongqiu only had a certain thought towards that: 'She must reaaaally like me.'

"So, your nickname. I'm surprised nobody took it before you." Tongqiu commented on something that made Natalia instantly sober up as well as blush profusely. She closed her eyes with force as she responded him: "Yaaa! Don't speak, don't speak about it! I'm also surprised, I didn't expect to actually be available, what was I supposed to do?"

"Pffft." With both of them falling in a little giggle together after a few seconds of silence, they went on in their little journey in a calm and relaxing silence.

***

 

They finally arrived at the last harvesting area for Tongqiu, he didn't expect however, that Natalia would ask him: "Oh, I already know about this. You take all the herbs and then a big bad monster appears, right?!"

As she was talking, she began harvesting some of the plants and herbs around. Tongqiu was surprised, he didn't thought of getting her help he only wanted to brag around since he knew his class was completely out of the ordinary. But then he asked: "Hey Naty, what's your class and also, what are your sub-classes, eh?"

Hearing his endearment calling for her, she blushed while picking up a few plants as she shyly answered: "U-uh, ehem, I'm a cleric of course, and I only have one sub-class. I didn't care about any other and only went for selecting a Gardener. You know, I really like the ability to heal, the only reason I work as a nurse is because the feeling of helping somebody recover is somewhat similar towards that of being actually capable of healing someone directly. It... I feel nice when I heal someone, specially if that someone... would be you."

Though she did her best to appear calm and serene at the beginning of her little speech, Tongqiu quickly moved towards her, which she didn't notice. He slowly saw an embarrassed yet uniquely adorable smile form at her lips as she continued on talking. By the time her last sentence was being spoken out of her mouth, she was already impersonating a little tomato as her smile grew even more resplendent. Her last three words managed to rob Tongqiu of his thoughts as he immediately cupped her delicate face as soon as she finished speaking.

He looked straight at her with his gaze a little lower than usually, Tongqiu was half a head taller than her being of the same age. Then suddenly, Natalia's eyes narrowed into a watery expression as she then closed her eyes, not before salivating her lips a little bit, just in case this pervert suddenly turned dense or something.

Which she found wasn't necessary, as the next half second after she salivated her mouth, the mouth of the one she'd been waiting for finally reached hers, as they entangled in a slow passionate long kiss with the sun barely setting down.

At that moment...

"Oh, young warrior you seem to be somewhat better than other Journeyers, from now on you'd receive my commands, obey and be rewarded." A brute, commanding, cold and detached voice sounded out for Tongqiu to hear. It was in his head. He was about to deal with whatever little shit it was when suddenly...

He also heard one aiming at Natalia: "Oh cleric, you seem to have  strong heart and an inclining disposition for good. From now on you'll become my servant, each and ev-" 

"PISS OFF!!" Tongqiu couldn't hold it any longer, and as he kept listening to the voice in Natalia's head, he simply snapped off as he flung his arms to what his consciousness thought to be 'links' towards such voices.

Instantly, both voices in their heads went off.

"Natalia, are you okay?!" Tongqiu held the somewhat dumbfounded and clearly shaken Natalia as his hands very panicky, took her shoulders.

"I-I-I am fine... did... did you hear what I heard? I-I- I thought it was in my head, I..." Tongqiu simply held her head on his chest as he answered in a comforting and dotting voice: "It's okay, I did, I did. It's fine."

Then he thought to himself: 'She didn't hear 'my' voice? Ah! It must be the Mind Power stat... those motherfuckers, whoever they are...'

Then his eyes brightened, as he asked Natalia: "Naty, tell me, has there been any news on the forums about... voices?"

"Hu- y,yes. Ehem, there were a couple hidden class players who initiated it all. Claiming to be 'chosen' from the gods, players merely brushed it off. Oh! But then, after a month or so, when players started to flood into the main cities of Sub-Divisions on all cities, more and more such cases started appearing. It's the first time that happens to me though..." Said a teary eyes Natalia, silently asking for more cuddling from Tongqiu.

Still in embracing her, Tongqiu moved his head downwards once again and as he made some subtle movements to tilt Natalia's head a little to the left with his own head, he then immediately positioned his head to his left and gave her some extra tender kisses on her bright-red crimson mouth. 

Natalia could only calmly receive Tongqiu's affection as she tender followed his every movement of his lips and tongue, never letting go.

After a little while of comforting a big adult in the best way he could, he took her hand and simply picked up the harvesting flora around, together. And once they picked everything up, the excited Natalia was so ready and anxious to see her darling fight, that by the time it appeared and then was mercilessly put down only about 10 seconds went by. Leaving an excited Natalia flabbergasted which incited the pure battle lusting Tongqiu to steal more of her bright-red crimson mouth some more.

*PING*... a presence has been alerted by your contributions of destruction in its own territory. The presence seems to challenge you, would you accept? Not accepting this 'trial' could trigger a destruction even should it happen more often.

This was a special quest given by the system to facilitate the road. So as instead of when one day players realize they could've have  gone somewhere when it was too late, the system would simply just give them the information and possibilities from their actions.

"Oh, Tongqiu! You must accept, you are not allowed for other to suffer from your own selfish actions you hear me?! It's fine if they're players but... there's still NPCs that die for real, you know? You can't let that happen!" There was the wild Natalia once again, Tongqiu never actually realized how devoted she was to his path of life nor how she was so adamant on clearing one's own heart and mind. She was really thoughtful.

"Alright, alright. I won't let this big missy over here down, I'll go kill that thing. Are you coming? It may be really dangerous and actually die in the middle of the battle, what say you crimson darling?" Tongqiu answered her with sincere affection, but in the middle of his answer he couldn't help turning playful, deeply trying to let her cool off from the previous shock. As he held her head's cheek with his right hand grazing over it over and over again, deeply enjoying the soft and delicate feeling it brought him. She merely looked at him with narrowed glassy eyes while pouting as she nodded somewhat as if saying 'I'll die so others can live'!

Of course, Tongqiu wouldn't let that happen, not even in a game.

"I accept." Tongqiu finally gave his answer to the system.

*PING*... coordinates have been marked in the world. Please head towards the destination before it's too late.

As Tongqiu and Natalia were in the same party, she only received the coordinates a few seconds after he accepted the special quest. Looking towards the 'marking' area, which was merely a huge green colored translucent pillar soaring without an end towards the skies. After briefly looking at each other, Natalia jumped towards Tongqiu as he caught her then carried his big princess all the way towards the south from Azure Dragon's main City.

...

What Tongqiu didn't know was, guiding voices weren't really trying to harm players. In fact, they were somewhat similar to an 'always there' quest giver. It would talk to them in a very cold, detached, disdainful way; but it at least gave them advises on how to grow stronger by reaching the correct areas to LV and where to get certain important items from specific monster. Sure they were tyrannical-like voices intruding your mind, but at least the players benefited from such. And as more and more players -around that of 40% of total player base- reached beyond LV10, some of the even LV20 or more, the voices in their head would keep on appearing more and more. Right now, all players who had a voice were treated with utter importance and care. So much that some high-levelled associations even pay them to join their own guild or just promise them a position, easily attracting anyone.

The voice was confirmed by all players to be two of them, one was very somber and rough, coming from a male. The other one was also from a male voice though, but this one was softer, albeit incredible more creepy and somewhat disgusting. They targeted anyone who seemed to level up fast enough or just had certain potential. Some individuals like Miss Sylda from the Imperishable Guild, a notorious hidden class with the classification of Legendary, or so she says claimed to have heard one. However, when she heard it the first time she didn't liked it at all for some reason which made it so she brushed it away. She also claimed that players  shouldn't just trust anyone because it's supposed to be given by the system. Which they had not mentioned at all in any way. And that free lunch wasn't real, even in a virtual game. 

All of which was brutally brushed off and ignored, giving Sylda and the Imperishable Guild some hate and lowering the prestige from having a hidden class among their ranks. Leaving the Imperishable Guild as an outcast as well as an easy target to bully. But still, no one heard her out. 

After all, power is power, right?

 

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