Broken and Freya searched for an alternative route to escape the village, trying to avoid any chance encounters with Trison or Optimus, two members of The Ass Guild who were also present in the town. They were stealthily maneuvering through narrow alleyways and passing by humble residents’ homes when suddenly, an older man wielding a gnarled walking stick came stumbling after them, each step an evident struggle.
“Hey, you two, wait, wait!” the old man called out, his voice punctuated by labored breaths.
Broken glanced over his shoulder while Freya, equally wary, tightened her hold on his arm. The concern etched deeply into her face as the approaching NPC tried to catch up to them. “Wait… both of you… please,” the elderly man managed to rasp out between breaths.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Broken inquired.
The older man’s lips stretched into a broad smile, his eyes sparkling with joy. “I am absolutely delighted to see players who revere the Goddess Akidia as well. Truly, your hearts have been opened to the magnificence of the Goddess Akidia, recognizing her as a figure worthy of the utmost veneration,” he expressed gently, his face exuding genuine cheerfulness.
“Listen, old man, we really need to…” Freya began to speak, but Broken subtly restrained her with a firm but gentle grip.
“Is there something specific you wish to convey? We are in a bit of a hurry,” Broken said with urgency in his tone.
The older man nodded slowly. “There are two players, both brimming with aggression and apparent strength, and they seem to be on the lookout for you two…”
It dawned on Broken and Freya with an unsettling clarity that they were, indeed, being pursued. The older man’s words painted a clear picture.
“They are seeking a black-haired man accompanied by a red-haired archer woman,” he continued, his gaze resting meaningfully upon Broken and Freya, affirming their suspicions.
“But fear not, for I know a safer passage out of this village. I can guide you, as one of the individuals searching for you is currently stationed at the main gate, waiting for the carriage you arrived in.”
Broken exchanged a questioning glance with Freya, who discreetly sent him a message.
“I think we can trust this man. If he betrays us, we can eliminate him.”
Broken couldn’t help but arch an eyebrow in surprise at her candid message.
The two then hurriedly followed the older man, winding through the labyrinthine village paths. However, because the older man moved slowly, Broken then carried the older man on his back. And they were eventually emerging from a lesser-known exit.
“May the blessings of Goddess Akidia always be with you, and may you be protected. It would help if you took refuge in the nearby forest for a while until they left the village. I’ve also instructed other faithful followers of Goddess Akidia to divert their attention, so you are safe for now. I hope we meet again under the protection of Goddess Akidia,” the man explained, his voice filled with earnest concern. Yet, before he could finish his lengthy and deliberate speech, Broken and Freya had already hastened away from him.
As they quickened their pace, Broken received a notification from Booba. He paused momentarily to read the message.
[Booba: I tried my best to stop them, but it seems they know where you are. It was Kingsley and Melliandra, members of the Ass Guild. You should find another route soon, or you could be in trouble. They are headed your way, and possibly with other guild members. I’m also on my way to your location to help if you run into trouble.]
[Broken: Thanks for the info. I’ll get back to you soon.]
He shared the contents of Booba’s message with Freya. She skimmed through the text, a wry smile spreading across her face.
“I guess your friend Booba is quite reliable, huh?” she remarked with a light chuckle. Broken let out a small sigh. “I’d say he’s more of a troublemaker than a helping hand, but I can’t deny that he’s the only friend in my game friend list, even before I became a Divine Champion.”
He added, “So, what do you think we should do?”
Freya nodded slowly, thoughtfully chewing on her lower lip.
“I have some ideas, but I’d like to hear your thoughts first.”
“I’m not entirely sure what their motives were, but I once had an encounter with Elincia, their guild master. Out of nowhere, she cast a high-level magic skill on me. That’s the most memorable interaction I’ve had with the Ass Guild, and since then, they’ve been on my trail, hunting me down or something-I really don’t know what they’re after.”
Freya nodded slowly. “And here we are right now, tangled in this mess.”
Broken continued. “They’re one of the most formidable guilds in Immortal Legacy, and I’ve been trying to steer clear of them for now. At least until I’ve built up enough power to face them head-on.”
“I think that’s the wisest choice for the moment.”
“But do you have any idea what they want from me? Why are they chasing me so relentlessly?”
Freya shook her head slowly. “Guilds, whether small or large, always strive for dominance, aiming to conquer everything in sight. They achieve this by recruiting skillful players, crushing their enemies, engaging in attacks, or outright wars with each other. They also plant spies within rival guilds to wreak havoc from the inside. This is just the way things are in Immortal Legacy.”
“I see,” Broken replied. “It sounds complicated, but also kinda fascinating what these big guilds do to maintain their power.”
“It’s anticipated that the Dissidia Kingdom will soon be plunged into a civil war.”
“Is this related to Princess Alora’s ascension to the throne?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve met her before.”
Freya nodded with a knowing smile and teased, “And what do you think? Isn’t she wonderful without clothes?”
Broken’s face grew serious, “She is indeed beautiful. I must be the luckiest player in this game!”
Freya chuckled lightly, “Just kidding. But more seriously, the Ass Guild is one of the factions supporting her. I believe they’re currently amassing their power to secure a strong position for the impending conflict.”
“So, they’re strategists in some grand scheme,” Broken mused, beginning to understand the depth of their involvement.
“Exactly. They’re playing a long game, trying to ensure they come out on top when the kingdom is thrown into chaos.”
“Given the current situation, it looks like we can’t head towards Clario City right away,” he said, pausing to think through their options. “I need to find a way to boost my stats rapidly.” He turned to Freya. “Do you have any ideas on how I could do that, Ms. Super Assistant?”
“I think I have a plan,” she replied, pointing towards the dense forest that stretched up into the towering mountains to their right. “If we head that way, we can lose ourselves in the wilderness. It might be risky, but it’s far safer than confronting the Kingsley and Melliandra duo from the Ass Guild or even Trison and Optimus. We might also encounter spirits, wild monsters, or perhaps even raid bosses in that area.”
“Spirits?” Broken pondered the thought for a moment. “Is it possible we could find a Unique- freewebnvel.coɱ
grade spirit there?”
“Master…” Polly, who emerged suddenly between them, chimed in instantly. “You might indeed find a Unique-grade spirit in such a place. But be warned, the monsters you encounter will likely be of high levels as well.”
Broken nodded with enthusiasm. “That sounds like our best bet,” he said, lifting the small fox creature. “Polly, is this plan okay with you?”
Polly nodded decisively. “I can handle it. Carrying the two of you on my back is no problem,
Master,” she assured.
“Good, thanks, Polly.”
In a swift transformation, Polly enlarged her form, her three majestic tails fanning out wide
as she roared to announce her readiness.
Broken leaped onto Polly’s back, extending his hand to Freya. “Shall we?”
“Can I sit in front this time, Mr. Prince?” Freya asked playfully, a teasing glint in her eye.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea…” Broken mused, stroking his chin as if in deep thought. “Maybe I’d say yes if you were two years younger, Ms. Assistant.”
“Oh, come on now. You do realize mentioning a woman’s age is a bit impolite, right? Especially when I’m not that much older than you, Goddess Akidia’s Spoiled Baby!” “Don’t worry,” Broken said with a reassuring smile. “Age is just a number. It’s not really an issue for us. Let’s take this one step at a time,” he quipped, his voice teasing yet comforting.
Freya smiled back, and with a graceful leap, she settled onto Polly behind him.
“Are you ready for the ride of a lifetime?”
“You bet I am!” Freya replied, laughing with exhilaration.
With that, they set off on their adventure.