Missing Patrol

"Shu Tu," the woman introduced herself. "Level 4 Ranger."

"Yu," she replied, "Level 4 Spellcaster."

Shu Tu studied her.

Yu Yu handed over the silver coins and tooth knives. "Payment."

Shu Tu took them. "Follow me."

As they walked, Yu Yu felt a twinge of surprise. While she'd been stirring up trouble in town, Shu Tu had already ventured this far?

What were the top-tier players from their batch up to?

Had they all joined the game?

Were they avoiding the forums?

Pine Cyan, the rising guild, had staked a claim in Eternal Darkness. With those players' foresight, they wouldn't miss a game like this…

Yu Yu's guard went up, her urge to level up intensifying. She didn't care about reclaiming a Hall of Fame spot this time, but she refused to lag too far behind Shu Tu and her ilk. Beyond the rocky terrain lay a woodland, bisected by a dilapidated road leading to parts unknown.

Yu Yu couldn't hold back any longer, tugging her hood. "What monsters are out here?"

"Forest wraiths," Shu Tu said.

"What are those?"

"You can't beat them," Shu Tu added, unusually talkative. "No talking from now on."

They entered the woods.

Yu Yu grumbled inwardly. Can't beat them? Then how are you here? I don't buy it.

Shu Tu was a Hall of Fame player, ranked sky-high. If she'd been in town, the forums would've exploded. Her absence meant she'd been out here, rarely returning. What monsters were worth a ranger solo-grinding for high experience?

After trekking through the woods for hours, a glint caught her eye. Yu Yu looked up, spotting a massive chasm splitting the forest floor. Peering down, it was bottomless. The gap was about three meters wide—jumpable with a running start. But the other side was significantly higher, posing a problem. Shu Tu suddenly yanked her behind a large boulder. Yu Yu peeked out, spotting an NPC in black leather armor scanning the area from across the chasm.

Shu Tu tugged her back, whispering, "Don't look. His Perception's high."

Yu Yu noticed the NPC's gaze shift toward them and quickly averted her eyes.

After a long pause, Shu Tu said, "He's gone."

Yu Yu asked, "Any guess on their level?"

Shu Tu glanced at her. "Level 5 or higher."

Yu Yu's eyelids twitched. Shu Tu reacted faster, releasing a spotted tiger. Before Yu Yu could blink, she was hoisted onto its back, and they bolted from behind the rock. The moment they moved, the ground near the boulder froze, jagged ice spikes glinting with chilling menace.

Yu Yu gasped. "They spotted us?"

Shu Tu veered sharply. "This game's monsters are scarily smart."

Maybe Yu Yu's staring last time had tipped the NPC off. When she looked again, he'd grown suspicious, returning with allies to search.

Shu Tu sighed softly.

Players might not outsmart these NPCs.

Yu Yu glanced back, spotting leather-clad figures in pursuit, one an archer nocking an arrow.

"Looks like a rogue and a ranger," Yu Yu said. "That rogue's fast!"

She racked her brain, settling on a spell she'd never used—Summon Raindrop.

The cantrip was simple, but the tiger's bounding made it tricky. Clinging to its neck to avoid falling, Yu Yu chanted softly. Dark clouds gathered, and tiny raindrops fell. They had no effect on the rogue.

A second later, Yu Yu cast Gust. Notably, her Gust had leveled up, becoming instant-cast with a cost of just 1 Spirit. Wind and rain swirled. The archer's arrow flew. Yu Yu timed it, casting Gust again. The arrow veered off, but the rogue was now inches from the tiger's tail, close enough to grab it.

Shu Tu, somehow atop a tree, nocked an arrow—Impact Shot.

The rogue, face drenched in wind-driven rain and distracted by nearly catching Yu Yu, faltered. The arrow struck, sending him flying back two meters, his health bar dropping by half. He hit the ground, carving a shallow pit. Rain pooled in it, barely visible through the downpour. Yu Yu's eyes lit up, but then she saw the chestplate-wearing NPC and a robed NPC approaching from behind. The rain soaked the woodland, the drizzle thickening into a curtain.

Yu Yu whispered, "Buy me five seconds."

Shu Tu said nothing, switching arrows. The wooden tip glowed deep blue—Slowing Shot.

The armored warrior was nearing 25 meters. Within 20, a Charge would close the gap instantly, and a spellcaster like Yu Yu wouldn't survive a single swing. The warrior, watching Shu Tu, was ready. He deflected her arrow. The arrow went wide, but Yu Yu's spell was complete.

"Lightning Arrow."

A deep purple bolt, thick as a bottle cap, materialized and shot forth in a flash. The rogue, just scrambling to his feet, took the bolt head-on, paralyzed instantly. The rain fell in sheets, and the warrior, grinning wickedly, stepped into the shallow puddle with his iron boots…

A tingling shock coursed through him, his hair standing on end. He and the rogue froze, rooted in place. The rain continued, but the tiger never stopped running, its broad paws dodging puddles on the slick mud. Shu Tu had vanished from the tree.

Yu Yu had only 1 Spirit left but clung to the tiger, gripping an imaginary spell as if ready to unleash another. The two paralyzed melee fighters stood stiffly. The archer, lagging behind, hesitated in the dense rain and thick foliage, loosening her bowstring after a few pulls.

She stayed outside the downpour, wary of wetting her string. The spellcaster, slowest of all without a warrior to carry her, arrived late. They watched as the tiger carried Yu Yu out of sight.

"That was close."

Yu Yu finally relaxed, patting the tiger and pinching its furry, rain-soaked face. Drenched, it looked slimmer, almost comical.

"Rawr…" it growled softly.

Yu Yu stopped pinching, looking around.

Where was Shu Tu?

"Xiao Yu?" a voice called from above.

Yu Yu nearly answered but caught herself, keeping her head down. "We're not that close."

Shu Tu fell silent. Moments later, the tiger stopped, and Yu Yu slid off slowly.

So jealous. Rangers get to raise big cats.

Shu Tu leaned against a tree, stroking the tiger's head. Her tone softened inexplicably. "What's your next move?"

Yu Yu: "Report to the city. What else?"

Shu Tu's eyes glinted. "If we grabbed a few teammates, we might take down those humanoid monsters."

She sounded earnest. "I know some strong players, but no spellcasters."

Yu Yu's tone cooled. "No need. Once spellcasters hit 1st-circle spells, their versatility is unmatched. Without a team to protect us, even ten players wouldn't help in a straight fight."

"Besides, we didn't even engage them. The fastest rogue couldn't touch us," she added. "Apprentice classes might not stand a chance against full-fledged ones."

Shu Tu sighed. "Fine, your call."

Yu Yu: "…" Don't give me that look. It's annoying.

She regretted chasing this quest with Shu Tu.

"You're slow," Shu Tu said. "Let Banban carry you."

Yu Yu opened her mouth to refuse, then heard, "These monsters are clever. If we don't hurry, they might relocate."

Yu Yu climbed onto the tiger without hesitation, pulling her hood tight. "Let's go."

Shu Tu eyed her frame, thoughtful. Likely high in Agility, Shu Tu wasn't slowed by Yu Yu, returning twice as fast as they'd come. Banban was adorable, tireless despite the sprint. Only now did Yu Yu realize the tiger was larger than real-world ones, possibly taller than her when standing.

At the city gate, the same guard from before stepped forward sternly. "No animal companions inside!"

Yu Yu waved. "I found humanoids—er, a group of shady professionals!"

The guard blinked. "Huh?"

Yu Yu hopped off. "Quick, quick, grab some men and go!"

Dazed, the guard led her to his captain before he'd fully processed it.

He stammered, "Miss… Yu says she spotted troublemakers."

Lady Keya, already stressed, was struggling to wrangle the Academy's elites. Her lips were blistered from the ordeal.

"Oh? Where?" She turned to Yu Yu, her tone softening. "Spellcaster? Thanks again for last time."

"No problem," Yu Yu said. "I saw four of them, four classes. We need to move fast before they relocate…"

Kya didn't seem rushed. "Where?"

"In the woods past the rocks, near a big chasm…" Yu Yu tried to describe.

Keya paused. "The rift again? It's him, isn't it? The Magic Circle keeps causing trouble, and when my men go missing, they ignore me…"

She launched into a tirade Yu Yu didn't follow, but she memorized it. Keya hefted her sword and charged out. Yu Yu scrambled after her. This game! Why do NPCs keep stealing quests?!

She'd fall behind at this rate. The guards produced a herd of black-armored horses from somewhere, and Yu Yu stomped in frustration. The guard, recognizing her, tossed her a reins. "Lead the way."

Yu Yu clambered up, then realized she'd never ridden a horse.

Whatever, probably like riding a tiger. Bracing herself, she mimicked the guards, smacking the horse's flank. "Go!"

Shu Tu silently followed on Banban. Yu Yu's riding was, to put it kindly, a disaster. She ended up hugging the horse's neck, tying herself on. Luckily, the horse was smart, running wherever she pointed. They soon reached the woods.

"Right here. A rogue was chasing us."

A guard picked up a stray arrow and handed it over. Yu Yu led them to the cliff, where a few leather-clad guards leaped across like monkeys.

"Captain, they're gone."

Yu Yu: "…" They actually ran? Damn it!

Keya: "Search. They can't have gone far."

She looked at Yu Yu kindly. "They had a spellcaster?"

"Yup."

"Then I'll need you to cast Detect Magic," Keya said. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you're rewarded. The Academy's fond of spellcasters."

Yu Yu had been waiting for those words. "Leave it to me, Captain."

Passing their camp, Yu Yu eyed the abandoned gear—bottles, cans, weapons, crates, sleeping bags…

Please don't take the loot, guards.jpg