The party followed the swaying Fregdo out of the tavern. After making their way through a few more winding alleys they reached a small house in a quiet district.

  A narrow river ran not far away, f the city to build dozens es big and small.

  Fregdo fished out an old key from his pocket, opening a greying wooden door with unsteady fingers.

  He pushed it open, revealing a dark room. The goblin still seemed grumpy, not inviting the party in, but Liam sighem to enter anyways.

  “Ahh where is it…”

  Fregdo talked with a heavy tongue as he touched the wall up and down. Finally, he found a small button, hitting it with his palm.

  A light turned on in the ceiling.

  “hat’s that? Electricity?”, marveled Balm.

  “It’s simir. Goblins are well known for their meical prowess. Mixed with a hint of magic they build some of the world’s most impressive maeries.”

  “Hmpf. At least you know how to talk.”, grumbled Fregdo as he overheard Liam’s expnation.

  Meanwhile the party looked around the room. They found disorderly shelves and racks, filled with all kinds of items.

  Everything from small bombs to kit equipment could be found.

  Fregdo didn’t bother stepping behind the ter as he turned around and focused on Silver Bde.

  “So what do you need from me?”

  The young woman g Liam.

  “Rope dders.”

  Silver Bde blinked, her gaze turning strange.

  The others wore puzzled expressions as well.

  “Expert, are you sure? What would we use rope dders for?”

  “To save someone.”, replied Liam with a grin.

  Silver Bde had enough trust in Liam. She turdo and asked him for rope dders.

  The goblin washusiastic, but he rummaged through his shelves, pulling out rope dders aallic hooks.

  Liam signaled Silver Bde to pay.

  Afterwards the party left the shop, quickly followed by Fregdo who tumbled ba the dire of the tavern.

  With the odd equipment in hand Liam brought the party to freshen up on potions before finally leaving the city through an impressively rge gate.

  They found themselves on a broad dirt road. A lot of people could be seen traveliween cities on foot or horse, an indication of the road’s safety.

  Life iriving Basilisk Empire rosperous and save. The empire id within the boundless tral pins, filled with lively rivers and sprawling forests.

  However, dangers still lurked when leaving the safe roads, waiting for the pyers to explore them.

  Liam and his friends traveled along the main road for a while before reag a crossing leading them to a small bridge over a river.

  [Discovered Wouliph Forest. Reward: 50EXP]

  “Guys, from now o’s advance carefully. The monsters here aren’t week.”

  “Heh. With our new csses, what is there to fear?”

  Silent Acacia was full of fidence as he began to scout the forest. Running ahead of the party he soon found groups of deer snag calmly on the foliage.

  Let’s go. The first prey for our party after level 10.

  The young man wore a grin, ready to pull all the deer. Fortunately, his habits as a professional pyer came through, making him check the oppo’s status first.

  [Red-Tailed deerRank: on

  Level: 17

  HP: 1900/1900]

  Silent Acacia’s body stiffened. Although these deer couldn’t be sidered powerful, the level difference was not easy to overe.

  Relutly the hunter readied his arrow, choosing his angle carefully and fired. He didn’t dare to overdo it, drawing the attention of three deer.

  A momehe party spotted Silent Acacia again.

  “Hey, what’s those three deer? Weren’t there more monsters?”

  Fortu a bit displeased, knowing that a few deer wouldn’t grab her viewer’s attention.

  “Win this fight first before talking about others!

  Guys, formation and attack!”

  Liam was annoyed as no oook the oppos seriously. Only with his order did the party move, the mages beginning their attacks.

  [-99!]

  [-76!]

  Iingly Fortuill dealt less damage than Cye despite having already switched csses.

  This was the case because Liam reended her the are mage css which focused e, destructive spells which would look good in a video.

  But seeing the damage he rest of the party grew armed.

  “Careful guys, they are level 17.”

  Silent Acacia warned loudly, finally waking the party up.

  “My friends, time to focus!”

  Radiant Shield spoke grimly as he weled the first deer with his shield.

  [Stance -12]

  “Don’t worry I block for a while.”

  Radiant Shield felt fident. With his new css he didn’t fear a few attacks.

  The two tanks quickly secured aggro, allowing the others to attack.

  Quickstep was the most eager to show off her new css. Simirly to Liam she fought with two swords, her damage relying on strength and agility.

  The young woman danced around the three deer duritacks. Her movement built up a special resource called Storm which was able to boost her attacks and skills.

  [Storm: 19/99… 20/99]

  Quickstep grinned as she accumuted 20 points. She swung both her swords through the air, activating a skill called [Whirlwind Ssh].

  A small whirlwind suddenly formed, engulfing the three oppos. As it turned quicker and quicker, the wind became razor sharp, stantly dealing damage.

  A single bde of wi a solid 30 points of damage. sidering all three deer, the whirlwind hit twenty-seven times, instantly shaving off a rge amount of HP.

  Cye looked on with a gaping mouth, grumbling unhappily.

  “Stupid magic defense! Just wait until I get my css! I will show you what damage is!”

  Balm was the only one hearing her, smiling wryly. After going dowh of a healer her damage couldn’t be sidered impressive. But she was tent with her standing in the group.

  Liam fought calmly, watg how his party trolled their new csses. Although he spotted some spaprovement he was satisfied overall.

  Uhe bined firepower of the party those three deer soon fell.

  Silver Bde and Radiant Shield had taken some damage, but it wasn’t threatening.

  Thus, the party recovered for a while before moving on.

  Luckily there was o fight all the deer. They only o open a path deeper into the forest.

  Silent Acacia though pulled a few more oppos than necessary, aiming for the party to advan level quickly.

  The others were ed as well. The feeling of being on the ranking list was novel for most of the party members.

  Even now their names were still occasionally discussed in the global chat.

  This was a feeling most of them didn’t want to miss.

  However, under Liam’s urging the party soon advanced rather swiftly, arriving below a short cliff.

  All kinds of pnts stubbornly g to the stone. Following them with one’s eyes, one would notice the foliage growing thin towards the top as white steam rose towards the air.

  “Mirage, that’s a dead end.”

  Cye snickered, amused as even Mirage could get lost sometimes.

  But Liam didn’t show a ge in expression.

  “Remember what we bought earlier?”

  Cye looked puzzled for a seds before the color drained from her face.

  But the young woman wasn’t the only one. Radiant Shield suddenly shivered as well.

  “Mirage… you don’t expect us to climb up there?”

  “Of course. Don’t worry, it’s not difficult.”

  “Oh nonono… isn’t this way too high?”

  The others were surprised by Radiant Shield’s stroion.

  “Could it be that you’re afraid of heights?”, asked Silent Acacia curiously.

  “Of course!”

  Radiant Shield didn’t feel embarrassed. In his mind others were crazy for not respeg heights. Wasn’t it normal to be afraid of something which would kill you with a single slip up?

  Suddenly Radiant Shield flinched. He was staring at the cliff ily, not even realizing when Liam approached him and patted his shoulder.

  Radiant Shield felt a warmth going through his body, thinking that Mirage came to back him up. But the words threw him in an icy celr:

  “Don’t worry. The game is the perfect pce to get rid of a fear of heights.”

  Liam smiled encingly while the others had to hold back their ughter.

  , he turned around, not wanting to dey the matter unnecessarily.

  Liam got the bought equipment from Silver Bde before taking out a small sphere.

  It was Refresnim’s orb of flight. With a thought from Liam the item activated. Resple wings appeared behind his back.

  With a heavy swing the veteran swiftly shot into the air, traveling along the cliff face.

  He tried his best to estimate the distance before taking out a rope tter and a few metal hooks. Assisted by the game he attached them to a gap between boulders, creating a path up the cliff.

  The others stood on the solid ground, looking at the swaying ropes with trepidation. No one made fun of Radiant Shield anymore as they imagihemselves climbing up the dder.

  “Ehm, Mirage? Do you even need us up there. Otherwise…”

  Up in the air Liam barely uood the voices. He nodded with a reassuring smile:

  “Yes, the rope is safe. Don’t worry!”