Freya stepped inside Leon’s apartment, her outfit simple yet smart: blue jeans and a thin purple T-shirt that left her shoulders bare. Her cheerful face radiated readiness as she made her way to the private game room. Two capsules were present, one of which held Leon as he worked through the final challenge of the Trial Domain.
“Here we go again,” Freya chuckled to herself as she approached her own capsule device. “Time to catch up with Goddess Akidia’s Spoiled Baby…”
A quiet whisper escaped her lips as she pondered what lay ahead once Leon passed the trial.
“I can’t imagine what Mr. Marco’s reaction will be when he finds out how quickly Leon has progressed,” she mused softly. “Especially since he’s on the brink of completing a level 150 Trial Domain! I have a feeling this ties into the major plot of Immortal Legacy.”
***
Freya stepped into the dense, untamed forest. She had barely taken a few paces when sudden movement from every direction caught her attention and made her blood run cold.
“Monster?” she whispered, her voice tinged with anxiety.
Before she could react, a large figure loomed behind her. Startled, she spun around and found herself face-to-face with a massive bear. She looked up, her eyes tracing its towering form that easily exceeded 3 meters or 10 feet and its colossal body. The bear quickly seized Freya, its grip immobilizing her. She struggled with all her might against its immense strength, but it was to no avail.
“Kingsley!” she called out internally, realizing that she was in deep trouble. If Kingsley had located her, it was likely that Melliandra was nearby as well.
“Ms. Red-Hair Archer, please don’t resist. I promise I won’t hurt you,” Kingsley said in a calm voice.
Freya felt a chill run through her as another figure materialized. She immediately noticed the long blonde hair of the teenage girl and the sniper rifle she held confidently.
“Red-Hair Archer,” Melliandra said coolly, a smile playing on her lips. “I have some business with you.”
Freya’s voice softened as she replied, “Oh… I didn’t see it wrong, right? Oh really, you’re my idol, Melliandra…”
Melliandra’s expression quickly shifted to one of anger. “Don’t act like you’re close to me!” she spat out, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she leaned forward. “Where is your friend? Broken?!”
Freya reacted almost too quickly. “N-No… Hahaha, there is nothing broken with me, I’m all right,” she stammered out with forced laughter, smiling broadly in an attempt to distract Melliandra and the bear from their true intentions.
Despite her racing heart, Freya held her composure, trying to keep these two occupied before Broken managed to exit the Domain. She knew she had to buy time, and every second counted. Freya’s stomach knotted up as she took in the state Melliandra was in. Her usually pristine clothing was now torn and tattered, marked with long scratches that looked like they had been made by dangerous claws.
They must have fought some incredibly strong monsters, Freya guessed. A chill of fear ran down her spine as she pondered how close she and Broken must have been to similar dangers on their own journey. They were in a forest teeming with high-level monsters. If Melliandra and Kingsley, experienced as they were, ended up in such rough shape, Freya and Broken would likely not survive even a second in a confrontation.
Melliandra slowly turned to the side, a scowl on her face. “Trial Domain?” she muttered, almost to herself.
“I just realized there’s a Trial Domain here,” Freya chimed in a lighthearted tone. “Shouldn’t it be mine, considering I was here before you?”
Melliandra whipped around, pointing the sniper rifle at Freya. “I told you to shut up!” she spat through clenched teeth. “If you say another word-I swear on my life-I will send you straight back to the Temple of Resurrection.” Her rage boiled over into a high-pitched scream as she waved the sniper rifle menacingly. “Don’t you dare try me!”
Melliandra cautiously stepped towards the shimmering energy field of the Trial Domain.
“You only need to stay quiet, Ms. Freya,” Kingsley, the giant bear behind her, said in a soothing tone. “I swear on my life, nothing will happen to you.”
“Then, could you let me go?”
Kingsley nodded and released his grip. “Sorry…”
Melliandra’s face instantly contorted into a deeper frown when she realized that the Trial Domain was Lv. 150. “That Broken guy is inside,” she muttered.
Freya’s heart pounded in her chest as she tried to maintain her composure. Every second counted now, and she had to keep Melliandra and Kingsley occupied until Broken could exit the Domain.
[Melliandra (Crackshot Sniper): I found her, the red-hair archer.]
[Elincia (Mage Marauder): Oh really? Finally! Send us the location. Did you find Broken, too?] [Melliandra (Crackshot Sniper): Nope, but I found a Trial Domain Lv. 150. There is someone inside. It was him, Broken.]
[Maylock (Arcane Arrow): Woah, interesting. It turns out this person we’re searching for is more intriguing than we thought. Only a select group of people willingly challenge a Trial Domain, knowing the risks involved.]
[Skywarden (Iron Titan): It could be brave or super stupid!]
[Maylock (Arcane Arrow): Oh yeah? So my guess is correct that this Broken guy is really over level 150, or even higher.]
[Skywarden (Iron Titan): A Level 150 but easily killed by Elincia’s spell! Hah, so useless!]
[Goldrich (Sage Sorcerer): Khi, khi, khi. He probably hid his stats and purposely didn’t register his name on the ranking. If he dares to enter a Trial Domain Level 150, he should be at least
level 180.]
[Skywarden (Iron Titan): I still doubt that guy. I’m sure he’s just a stupid player who chases levels without paying attention to his equipment or stats. Let’s see if my words are wrong,
but I bet he’s mediocre.]
[Elincia (Mage Marauder): Alright, enough chit-chat. Everyone rushes towards their location. Make sure to do everything correctly before I arrive.]
Near the Trial Domain, where Freya and the others were gathered, a blur of movement was visible amidst the dense foliage and branches. As their eyes focused, they saw a man in
swordsman armor riding a wyvern, darting skillfully among the trees.
When he got close enough, the man jumped to the ground and raised his sword. Both Kingsley and Melliandra recognized the figure as Booba.
His voice was intense and resolute as he commanded them, “Melliandra! Kingsley! Leave her alone! She has nothing to do with your hunt; she is my friend.”
Melliandra’s face contorted with rage, and she snarled, “Booba, you stupid asshole, god damn it!” She stormed towards him, clutching her sniper rifle. “Can you please give me some room to breathe, you idiotic imbecile?! Why must you interfere in our mission? You’re always
such a pain in the neck!”
Booba stood his ground and replied indignantly, “How can I remain silent when you are trying to hunt down my friend? Don’t you have any self-respect? You’re a bunch of high-level players hunting weak rookies!”
Melliandra barked back, “Weak?! You stupid fool! The person inside that Trial Domain is at Level 150! Sure, he might be a bit stronger, but he is much more powerful than you! He has a
higher level than you!”
Booba stumbled back in disbelief at her words. Level 150? How is that even possible? Broken
is only Level 30! He racked his brain, trying to make sense of it all. Or the person inside isn’t Broken? If that’s the case, he can save Freya and get out of here before they find out! Maybe it’s not too late after all.
Booba’s eyes lit up with sudden realization. “Then let me take this archer with me,” he
continued. “I’ll leave everything here to you. Wait for the person inside to come out, and you
can capture him then. Hahaha.”
With his words still echoing in the air, Booba walked over to Freya and roughly grabbed her
wrist.
“Leave her alone, Kingsley! Aren’t you ashamed, given your size?” he said sternly.
“Forgive my rudeness, Miss…” he said before stepping back.
Booba met Freya’s gaze and said, “Follow me. You’re coming with me. Don’t worry, I’ve got it
all figured out.”
Freya, forced to comply, couldn’t disclose that it was indeed Broken inside the Trial Domain.
As she was dragged away, she glanced back at Kingsley and Melliandra, feeling a mix of frustration and disbelief.
“How can Broken possibly befriend someone this stupid?” she thought to herself.