NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: Tutorial..?
The Archangel was shocked to see the massive explosion that a single arrow caused.
The whole area was covered with dark smoke which had emerged from the blast.
She thought that the newbie must have been somehow signed a minor contract with the demon lord but after seeing the sheer power behind a mere arrow she was not able to comprehend it.
'How-how is that possible for a beginner to do? No..he can't be. He must be someone sent by Asmodeus. But why? I must stop him here by any means.'
At that instant another arrow streaked with dark energy pierced the after-explosion smoke, aimed right at her.
In one swift motion, the archangel's divine sword materialised in front of her, as tall as she was, deflecting the arrow to the side with ease.
The blade itself was engraved with intricate, celestial runes that pulsed gently, as if alive with holy energy.
Holding the majestic sword in her hands, she parried another arrow but Ray swiftly fired another, and then another, each one a blur of shadow and speed emerging from the thick smoke.
Thinking of finishing the battle quickly, she soared above the smoke-filled area. With her wings spread wide, she dived into the smoke holding the sword in one hand within a blink to the other side.
On passing the smoke she was confused as there was no sign of Ray there, only the demonic energy-infused arrows hovering above the ground and the remains of a disintegrated bow lying on the ground
Suddenly the arrow started accelerating towards her and reached her in less than a second. She dodged the arrow and being caught off guard, the arrow grazed past her arm gashing a deep cut in her arm.
"Where is he? Was he controlling the arrows from somewhere else? Was that blast just to create a distraction? I can't sense him"
Then suddenly her senses started ringing, sensing intense demonic energy from above where she least expected him to be, as if the death himself had come for her.
"You were not the only one who could fly"
Ray's back was adorned with two jet black wings originating from pure demonic energy which seemed as if trapping the very light in them. He dived towards her, his hands glowing black with demonic energy.
Ray jumped onto her back with unimaginable speed bringing her to the ground with sheer momentum. Dark tendrils of demonic energy started seeping into the archangel's body destroying her celestial mana from within.
He grabbed both of her wings in his hands and in one swing he tore her wings from her back staining him entirely in blood.
The archangel fell onto the ground lifelessly through the heavy smoke with blood gushing out of her back. Ray swiftly landed beside her sensing the heavy amount of celestial energy emanating from her sword lying on the ground.
Ray grabbed her sword and put it in his inventory with his mere thought and with a massive outburst of demonic energy he disintegrated the wings into mere dust.
Glancing at his inventory he looked at the small icon in shape of sword and focused on it-
Forged by Aelric, a mortal craftsman, the blade hums with unspoken love and sacrifice.
Rank: ??
Level requirement: 300+
???
???
*Can only be wielded by light faction members*
'What the- In my previous life, this shitty old man blacklisted me from all the blacksmiths in the continent and here he is pulling frickin archangels' Ray amused.
In his previous life, Ray defeated and killed many archangel and angles alike. One thing he got to know then was they had no idea of players existing even when they themselves welcomed the players in the tutorial area.
That time he thought that it must be to maintain the role-playing factor in the game, but now he was sure that there must have been a reason because this world proved to be certainly more than a mere game.
He crouched near the archangel's bloodied form, his voice cold and mocking-
"Okay then Zephyriel, tell me who sent you to welcome the otherworlders" he asked getting a gist of her story from the sword's description.
The archangel Zephyriel lying on her deathbed with blood gushing out from all over her body still refused to comply and rebuked -
"How do you know my name? Were you sent here by someone to kill me? Who sent you?"
"Asking reverse questions, are we? Fine" Ray said with a smirk.
"I'll just ask 'Aelric'. That old man will for sure have something to say."
Zephyriel face lost all its colours all of a sudden - "No!..No..No- don't do anything to him. He doesn't know anything. I… I will answer"
Ray's smirk widened. "Go on, then"
"We were told that-
***********
Etherea Online- Technical Department
Elliot Carter was among the hundreds of people currently sitting in front of hovering screens displaying all the performance and reports sent by Celestia, the AI of the game to them.
The workplace was very futuristic and modern which was never seen before. With personal cubicles that were no less cozy than one's own place. There were no signs of congestion even when the office was filled with hundreds of people.
"ANY ISSUE?" The manager's voice boomed through the hall
"NO SIR! " The team replied in unison
'This Mr. Unknown must have a lot of free money to give out such a high-paying job for doing basically nothing. Everything is being done by this damn AI, What's the use of my skills?'
Elliot thought sitting almost at the back of the office staring boringly at the screen in front of him.
He was looking at his phone under the desk watching livestreams of gamers entering Etherea online for the first time. He was very 'fascinated' by the different races of furry NPCs in the game when a booming voice rattled him
'WHY THE HELL ARE YOU WATCHING FURRIES ON WOR-
*beeeep*
The manager was interrupted by a red sign appearing on Elliot's desk.
"Wha- What is happening?'"
Thanking his lucky stars, Elliot quickly started checking and diagnosing the issue.
"Sir, It seems one player in 9998AB67 server has lost contact with the AI while transitioning from the tutorial to mainland. We won't able to track his movements."
"What how is this possible? Ask Celestia to contact with the tutorial NPC"
"That's the problem, sir, the AI is refusing to give any details of his last conversation with the NPCs along with any details as to what happened"
"Must be some malfunctioning of this frickin AI. Leave it be, it's just one player. And they say AI gonna take over the world..Hmphh"