At the dead of night under the dim moon, the sound of metal striking against metal echoed across the village as women and children hid inside their homes in fear, while the brave warriors fought hard against the dirty green-skinned, long-eared creatures.
Hee-hee-hee!
The grotesque laughter of the goblins drifted across the battlefield, jumping up and down in excitement as they pushed forward in their ruthless attacks, forcing the unwilling warriors back step by step.
The upper hand was turning in the goblins favor because of their greater numbers.
Suddenly, the darkness was temporarily overcome by a bright arc of light that cut through the night.
Unable to withstand the sharp light, everyone shutted their eyes and only to everyone to see a young man wielding a large axe standing there when they finally opened them.
There came the dreadful sight: beneath him were the scattered pieces of the ugly green creatures strewn across the cold ground like butchered meat.
Everybody, both humans and goblins, was stunned by the scene.
"A single strike has made me feel weak," he sighed, a crooked smile on his face.
GRAAHK!
SKREE!
At the back, a muscular goblin appearing as their chieftain raised his spear, summoning the horde into a battle charge with a war cry.
Before the goblins could come closer again, the young man took a step and in a second struck down with the heavy axe, slaying dozens of them in a single strike.
"What a joke? A mere goblin acting almighty before me? Even with my eyes closed, I am still capable of crushing you effortlessly."
The warriors watched as the young man brandished his axe, fighting the many goblins and their chieftain alone without any iota of panic on his face.
"Draven, our savior! Draven, gift of the gods! Draven!"
They began to praise his name, hitting their weapons together to create a beat. Soon, the women and children joined in, echoing the same rhythm and filling the night with his name.
—————
Who was that young man?
'Oh sorry, my bad, that was me, Draven Cross. The player with countless awards attached to my name, now respawned in the real world of Kingdom Evolution Online.
After years of immersive play, I was able to conquer the final boss and now? Now, I have to restart everything with my real and weak body, back to square one in a world where I reigned supreme.
Let's go back to the last moment of why I ended up here.'
<<<<<<<
A few days ago—
"The rangers just confirmed that the Black Queen's armies will soon arrive here."
A broad man in white armor reported as he stood beside the tall, masked youth who had twin axes strapped to his back.
The masked figure only nodded, standing on the kingdom walls with his eyes fixed on the distance in a way that suggested he was expecting the arrival of a person.
This was the leader of the Eterna Guild which was made up of different players. Most of these players joined the Guild because of the leader's influence.
The players stared at the leader, feeling a supreme aura of confidence radiating from him. There was admiration in their eyes, a sign of respect for the legend who had never lost a battle, able to make the impossible become possible.
Kingdom Evolution Online was the first VRMMO to seize the attention of every player on Earth from day one of its release.
On that first day, downloads swelled into the millions and over the years they climbed toward a billion. The reason was simple yet powerful. Players didn't just play, they lived inside it to experience this world that looked so real.
Kingdom building, brutal war, strategy, and honor, all experienced not on a screen but through their bodies with the magical game helmet.
"Are all the preparations completed?"
He finally asked, his voice so shocking young.
Everybody around was not shocked, for the name Deathcleaver was known by all. He was an orphan who began gaming at age five and rose to fame, shaking the gaming world with talent none could rival.
When Kingdom Evolution Online was launched, he was thirteen. From that day, he devoted his life to the game. Now, at nineteen, his name became more popular.
"All preparations are already complete and each player in their respective positions," answered the white-armored man, the second in command and most powerful mage in the guild.
In the distance, a thick cloud of dust surged forward as the ground shook with the heavy sound of countless marching feet, resembling an earthquake about to break forth.
The Black Queen's army had arrived.
When the dust finally settled, an endless sea of monsters stretched outside the kingdom's gate. Lizardmen, Cyclopes, Wargs, Manticores, Goblins… countless breeds gathered as one, their presence creating a suffocating tension in the air.
Draven stood at the top with a calm expression, his eyes still looking into the distance as the monsters before him were not even worth his attention.
In the blink of an eye, thick clouds started to cover the sky as darkness took over and began to permeated through.
Then, large shadows swept across the sky as winged beasts rushed forward with thunderous cries.
"Everyone get ready!"
Draven's voice rang out across the place.
"So this is the undefeatable Deathcleaver, guardian of the Eterna Kingdom."
"I will spare your life if you surrender and become my subordinate."
Suddenly a feminine figure appeared above the sky of the kingdom.
Her beauty was breathtaking and striking, with dark eyes shining like polished stone and long black hair flowing behind her.
A red slit dress hugged her pale skin so tight, showing her graceful curves. Her lips were pink and tempting, carrying a dangerous smile that could stir the greedy desire of countless men at a single look.
The players couldn't resist her beauty and were immediately captivated, with an irresistible urge rising in their hearts that could not be hidden.
Draven was the only one unaffected, as he already knew the trick of the famous witch, Elandra Moirae, the nightmare of every kingdom.
"I can see the lust in your heart, you want to touch me, feel my skin and lavish every part of me... Surrender to me and give in to the emotions in your heart and I will become yours forever to tease," her charming words echoed in the hearts of all the players.
Not knowing what they were doing, as if absent-minded, some of them began to drop their guard, their eyes roaming over her tempting body.
An axe roared through the sky. The witch dodged to the side and turned to Draven, losing her concentration on the players.
"Resist her charm with your will and steel your heart from listening to her voice," Draven shouted, his voice reaching their ears.
They broke free from her bondage in an instant, regaining their will to fight.
"What are you standing for? Come with me and crush these pathetic fools," the second-in-command instructed as he launched the first attack, casting fireballs into the midst of the monsters.
The players charged into the endless tide of monsters.
Draven moved to face the true threat, Elandra Moirae.
The air grew heavy, crackling with dark magic as the witch prepared to destroy him.
However, Draven remained calm. He was an unstoppable force as the fate of the kingdom rested on his shoulders.
He and the witch clashed head-on for two yours, exchanging hundreds of attacks within seconds.
There were serious injuries on his body, but he still stayed composed, now taking the enemy seriously. As expected, she was overpowered.
The witch wasn't in any better state than him; the sharp marks of his axe were imprinted on her.
"Your resistance is charming," Elandra laughed. "The more you fight, the more I want to make you my eternal servant. Come, let me see how you break."
A chilling gust of wind swept across the battlefield as Elandra waved her hand and from the black mists surrounding her, a dracolich with glowing red eyes and skeletal wings emerged, its roar shaking the land like an earthquake.
Draven was forced back by the impact, skeletal wings wrapping around him and blocking his escape routes, trying to crush his body.
Cleave of light!
He didn't flinch as a deep experienced gamer who have fought and win numerous battles, a colossal shadow descended from his axe, tearing through the bone and flesh of the monstrous creature.
The dracolich was afterward consumed by his axe art of light.
"Staff of destruction!"
The witch conjured a black staff, runes glowing around it as destructive qi filled the sky, causing the whole place to tremble.
Draven did not give her the chance to complete whatever she was doing and closed the distance between them.
His axe flared with killing intent, surging like a raging storm.
Before the staff's power could erupt, he stepped forward as the axe cut through.
Boom!
The strike shattered the dark energy, splitting the mist apart. The body staggered under the crushing force while blood flowed down the shoulder as the overwhelming cleaver intent slammed into her.
Just as the finishing strike was about to land, the Staff of Destruction created a shield and protected her within.
A surge of black energy erupted around her, shielding and halting the blow that should have ended her life.
Draven swung his axe again and again, but his attacks could not break through the dark barrier.
The witch started chanting in a low voice.
"...Now, hear my call and let the curse begin."
The witch began to glow, a dark shield forming around her as she planned to escape.
"Let me see how you survive this ultimate 'Cursebloom' of mine."
But Draven was faster as his axe flashed and sliced through the air.
There was no sound as it cleaved through her skull.
Elandra's eyes were wide open in shock and terror as her lifeless form fell from the sky.
[Player Deathcleaver has become the first-ever player to defend and defeat the world's most terrifying nightmare witch, Elandra Moirae, from his territory! Congratulations!]
"Finally," Draven couldn't help but smile.
Just then, a wave of dark energy erupted from the witch's fallen body, her ultimate 'Cursebloom' finally taking root and slammed into him before he could react.
[Player Deathcleaver has fallen to the final strike of the witch, Elandra Moirae.]