Leave The Forest

{A New Chapter}

{Leave the Main Camp, Take the road to Linia, it is somewhere in the forest. There, this questline will continue.}

"So we need everyone, but mostly the scouts to try and find this path. Then we will all leave as one to ensure everyone makes it to Linia alive. As most of you know, it's best to follow the system quests as they grant us EXP and loot. This world is pretty dangerous, we'll need to all become as strong as possible."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Alright, when someone finds the path, I'll call everyone back and we'll set off immideatly."

An unnamed scout found the path the next day, meaning the group was set to leave immideatly. After all, resources from the forest had been running dry.

"Everyone say goodbye to the main camp!"

"Goodbye!"

Everyone waved off the main camp cheerfully, if only they knew what waited ahead of them.

The city was a vast, sprawling settlement surrounded by tall wooden walls reinforced with iron, resembling an ancient fortress. The streets were paved with smooth stone, though cracks and overgrowth showed signs of age.

Towering pagoda-style buildings with curved rooftops lined the main road, their intricate wooden carvings depicting dragons, celestial beings, and great battles of the past. Red and gold lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, casting a soft glow over the city.

People bustled about, dressed in traditional robes of fine silk and flowing hanfu, while others wore more rugged attire fit for warriors. Samurai-like warriors, clad in lacquered armor with swords at their hips, patrolled the streets with measured steps, their watchful eyes ensuring order.

In contrast, wandering monks, dressed in simple robes, carried wooden staffs and prayer beads, offering blessings to those in need. Street vendors called out to passersby, selling steaming bowls of noodles, spiced meats, and exotic fruits, their stalls decorated with banners of mythical beasts.

Despite its grandeur, Linia had seen better days. Some buildings were in disrepair, their once vibrant paint now faded and peeling. The people, though graceful in their movements, carried a weight of hardship in their expressions. This was not a city of prosperity, but one of survival.

As Julius and the group made their way deeper into the city, a group of armored individuals approached them. Unlike the samurai warriors, these figures wore pristine white and gold armor, adorned with angelic sigils. Their helmets bore wing-like engravings, and their presence alone commanded respect.

"Newcomers?" one of them asked, his voice calm yet authoritative.

Julius and the rest nodded cautiously.

"You've been summoned by the Angelicist."

{New Quest}

{Follow the Angelists}

The name sent a shiver down his spine. They had been told the Angelists were renowed here—a powerful faction that claimed to serve God Himself. They were neither kings nor emperors, yet their influence surpassed that of any ruler. They maintained order, delivering both divine justice and divine punishment as they saw fit.

With no room for argument, Julius and his group were escorted through the streets toward a grand temple-like structure at the heart of the city. Towering pillars lined the entrance, each engraved with celestial symbols. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of incense, and hooded figures in white robes knelt in prayer before an enormous golden statue of a divine being with radiant wings.

An official-looking man, his long silver hair tied neatly, greeted them with a knowing smile. "Welcome to Linia. You are now under the protection of the Angelicist. Housing will be provided for you—but understand, nothing is free."

"To remain here, you must complete the tasks assigned to you. Fail to do so, and you will lose your place among us and recieve no rewards. You don't want to live in this realm without strength."

Julius took the scroll, feeling the weight of his new reality settle on his shoulders. Survival in Linia meant working for God.

"There is a ranking, from 1-100, if you rank higher God will grant you more rewards. Good luck, do as many quests as you can. The rankings will update every month."

{New Quest}

{Do Missions set by the Angelist quest board, Rank Highly for better rewards}

{Time limit: 1 Month}

Each of the people in the 100 man group was given an option, a person took a poll in the building which was mandatory to obtain a living space.

{Would you like to live in a single person room, or with others?}

Julius ticked the {Single-Room} Box. It had been made clear over the past few days the group wasn't exactly loving him.

Even Yara had become a little distant, not even staying near him anymore.

Julius decided he would look at the quest-board tomorrow, first he would take a look at his room and get a good night's room.

Julius followed an Angelicist attendant down a long hallway of the dormitory, expecting at least a decent place to stay. After all, this was a divine organization, right? Surely, they had good standards.

The attendant finally stopped in front of a wooden door with a rusted number '243' barely hanging onto the frame. He pushed it open, revealing…

Julius' new home—a room so tiny it could barely fit him and his disappointment.

The walls were plain, cracked, and slightly damp in the corners. The floor? Uneven wooden planks that creaked with every step. The bed? More like a wooden board with what might have been a mattress once upon a time. It looked so thin that Julius wasn't sure if he'd wake up with back pain or just straight-up dead.

"Ahh?"

There was one window—tiny, positioned so high up the wall that it was practically useless. He could barely see the sky, just a sliver of dim light slipping through.

He took a deep breath, holding onto hope.

"Maybe the food will be good."

Just as he thought that, a small slot near the door creaked open, and a tray was shoved through. It clattered onto the floor.

Julius looked down.

A single bowl of mystery stew sat on the tray. The liquid was murky, a dull grayish-brown, and the chunks floating inside were… concerning. Was that meat? Or an overgrown mushroom? Possibly both? A single spoon lay next to it, but it was bent like someone had already tried to escape this nightmare by eating it.

He hesitantly poked the stew with the spoon. It jiggled.

"It. Jiggled."

Julius set the spoon down.

He turned to the empty room.

He turned back to the abomination in the bowl.

Then he slowly exhaled.

"Yeah, no."

That was it. That was the final straw.

He whipped open the scroll of assigned quests and scanned through the options.

Tomorrow he would do some, because he wasn't content with his living conditions. This had all clearly been set up to incentivise working for the organisation, and therefor for God.

He felt lonely sleeping in his tiny room, it reminded him of the days after his parents had passed away and he had to live on his own, working for scraps to pay off the debt.

Julius clenched his fists, eyes blazing with newfound determination. He was not going to live in this broom closet and eat… whatever that stew was. He was going to change for the better, and he was going to rank highly on the leaderboard for quests.