Creation Online

HELEN'S POV

There were four species in the nest each working together to hound me. Whether they aimed to halt my progress to the center of the room and reach that glowing stuff or they just saw food and went ballistic, none of the options was acceptable to me.

The first species was truly the most annoying of the lot. Weak yet the most deadly. Body-wise it looked just like the original Unknown, yet the similarities ended there. With one eye below its jaws, this thing could somehow sense my location at all times.

Its mouth opening was honestly the worst since getting away was next to impossible. A banshee scream was usually portrayed to create waves in one direction flinging its victim away while still harming their hearing.

For the Unknown Wailer, a lesser variant of the Original Unknown its scream was different. The sound came from all directions like a strong vibration in the air rattling my bones and mind.

While it barely chipped at my health it put me in status conditions like the one I was in now.

[Internal damage ]

[-2 health]

[Stun for 3 seconds]

Ichor leaked from my ears while I grimaced at the ringing in my head The stun effect kept me dazed for just that three seconds. Surrounded by a nest of Unknown variants three seconds was a lot.

The second species was quick to appear and slice at my thigh drawing blood before attempting to scamper off. I was dazed not paralyzed.

Its head was gone even before it made its first step to retreat.

[Unknown Little Rutter slain ]

[+17 exp ]

The goblin lookalike gave me even less experience than the others. Its black skin and equally six greenish eyes make it even less pretty.

The third species was what I figured to be the defenders. The main reason there was more of them still alive now. Their skin was made of thick scales. No not covered in thick scales, they were scales. Thick four-legged, red-scale beasts with no eyes and mouth. Just claws and scale. Their shape was reminiscent of a bear's.

[Unknown Blood scale slain ]

[+25 exp ]

They gave more exp but were harder to kill. Slicing didn't work as the blade slid right off their body with a spark. I had to resort to bludgeoning with my foot and even that was risky since the rest wouldn't stand around watching me just finish off one of their own.

Finally was the Necro Ton. The fact that it lacked Unknown in its name showed how deadly the thing was. Unlike Blood Scale which was hard Necro Ton was soft, very soft like the slimes in other games.

Unlike slimes, though, they didn't ingest things to be broken down. Throwing themselves at their victims again and again while exploding in a splash of necrotic liquid. Enough to burn the skin off my bones.

The splashed-off parts would crawl back together to reform.

Five minutes into the fight I was battered into retreat.

With stun crippling me, necrotic damage burning my flesh through the gears, how, I didn't know. The Rutter performed suicidal attacks every chance it got and finally, those scales keeping me away and attacking too if need be, I was severely outnumbered and outmaneuvered.

Pain from the burns and the blows of those things, and aches within me from the vibrating cry of the Wailer worsened my situation as I fled back into the cavernous exit.

Using my divinity the sensation flooding my body with the warmth of divinity was welcomed. A sigh escaped me at the relaxing buzz. A thought registers in my head. I could kite these things as best as possible, return to heal once I accrued over fifty percent damage, and continue.

A look into the nest which for some reason the creatures refused to leave had me pausing.

"There goes that plan. " I watched as these things would walk about for a bit and then halt. Each one that stopped would then vibrate for a moment before another one split from its body.

"I don't even know why I thought this would work. Trust the Devs to foil any simple plans. Hopefully, this only applies to outside a fight. If they keep splitting even during the fight, then it's gonna be tricky". Shaking my head I dragged my body off the ground.

" I'm taking a good nap once I complete this mission". My muttering went unheard as my attention focused on the contents of my inventory and my equipped gear.

My upfront pattern of fighting wasn't working here. While the Original Unknown was more powerful than these groups it was obvious that the Nest had a disadvantage to me.

The top had a lot of maneuvering space but here was compact. Then there was the host of attacks. The wails were the worst which put me in a bad spot.

Next was the Necro Tons. Then the Rutters. The Blood scales while thick and durable could break so they were less of a threat, especially with my higher strength stat from Belt of Atlas. Attacking them though while the other three were present was a no-no.

This brought me to the fact that for each one I needed a different tactic. My eyes were already on what I needed but it wasn't enough.

Perusing my gears both the ones on me and in my inventory, I finally found the combo I needed for those wailers.

Sword of Murre vanished being returned to my inventory. In my left hand, I gripped the wooden bow tightly. Its string a thick coil of soul thread.

[Harbinger - WEAPON

A culler. A weapon forged by a lazy death for death.

(Requirements - +150 Phy,+210 Abstract)

Effect 1 - Soul absorption

Effect 2 - Deal soul damage.

Effect 3 - Unshattered.

Note - When lacking soul energy, the weapon draws from the user's soul]

With my current level already a bit closer to eleven plus Belt of Atlas, Str stat was way beyond the required number. Even if I unequipped the belt I would still be strong enough to use the bow.

It was the Abstract stat that had me bothered. Having only 196 points in it brought me short by 14 points.

Mentally adding +20 from my unallocated stat points boosted my main points to 196. Adding the gear points brought me to the needed requirements.

Holding the bow now after putting the points, a feel of how to use it washed into me. Unlike Sword of Murre which could just be swung Harbinger was different.

For now, I checked my other stuff.

[Cloak of The One - ATTIRE

The symbol of authority or honor. Eye-catching yet erases all presence of its wearer.

+10 to defense.

Effects - Shadow blend.

Hide in the night as long as shadows are present]

While it gave good defense points which helped to keep me standing till now it was the effect I was more interested in. Unlike the bow though, there wasn't any feeling of how to use the effect.

"Maybe..." Once I tried it the space around me dimmed. It wasn't quite noticeable to me but the feeling that my presence was gone struck me. It felt like losing a part of me yet still having it. Confusing. The effect was activated by abstract just like the bow.

Why it didn't inform me on how to use it was something I didn't know.

The last gear I had in mind to use was the Crown of the Supreme. But its task would be the first of my last options. A fail-safe of sorts.

Standing at the edge of the cavernous maw where my retreat had gotten me, bow in hand a deep exhale escaped my parted lips.

One would question my idea of using Harbinger when I could use the Bane of Heroes. The thing was, I needed more stealth than power here. I needed to take down a lot of these creatures while staying hidden to avoid getting swarmed. For a bow with soul damage, I hoped it would be just what I needed. Silent.

Marching forward right fingers already gripping the string of soul thread my body came out given the nest. Shrouded in the shadows of the dimly lit cavern exit my presence was nullified. As long as I kept away from the light of course.

A smile stretched my cheek to the side just as my arm pulled the string back. From the wood of the bow, a sliver of energy ran, like a stream it flowed, pouring into the soul string. Then a pale blue arrow was formed, constructed inch by inch the farther I pulled till all the energy in the string was used up. All this took as much time as one would need to draw the string.

My Focus helped in making the arrow seeing it as what I wanted with the kind of arrowhead I preferred the thickness of the shaft and the feel of the feather. It was a hard but not impossible task.

'Well, it didn't need a 210 mind stat to use'.

My sights set on the one species, my smile blossoming into a full sadistic smirk as I tried something.

[General Skill - Nothingness Saturation]

Unlike all other uses of nothingness, users merge and instill mana not just over an item or weapon but within and around it. Affecting the very structural, and effective capabilities of the item.

I let the arrow loose. Harbinger was called a culler for a good reason. It couldn't miss, wouldn't miss. The once blue arrow now a pulsing purple light was made of the soul energy that I realized to be a sort of trapped soul power due to the mental knowledge that appeared telling me I had just enough for nine arrows left. The arrow, soul energy seeking a soul beelined straight for my target.

The Wailer resting with the others while basking in the light of the wrong divinity without care stiffened up instantly. A chill spread up its body its greenish eyes turning as blue as ice till its entire body turned into a deathly purple statue of ice. A statue that then shattered into various fine crystals so tiny that once they hit the ground became nothing.

Literally. The crystals exploded into mists of nothingness that flowed straight back to me.

The counter in my mind popped up by two refilling the arrow with the newly harvested soul energy. The nest barely noticing their gone comrade could only loiter as I began a harvest. But it wasn't just my bow counter that changed.

****

The last of the Unknown variants finally fell. Its head shattered on the hard ground as I made a final slam of its skull to the ground. The pieces of blood scale scattering about on the floor.

I stood in the center of a slaughter both admiring and grossed out by the scene of battle around me.

The wailers had barely realized what was going on till they all fell. Then things went mad, in a smooth way though. From slaughtering the Necro Ton with Harbinger to engaging the Blood scales with sword and fist.

Finally, it was over and the glowing sickly green thing was before me.

"Now what?"

The sickly green thing looked like a stone. A large stone. It stood tall up to my hips with little wierd runes on its surface. Mesmerizing to look upon yet revolting in a sense it gave off a cold, vile energy. It felt like taking a man's core ideas and twisting them into something unacceptable.

Which was what it had done to my divinity. It was wrong in ways that I could feel.

I had to ignore the feeling as my fingers moved of their own accord running over the runes. They reacted, lighting up with a deep azure glow. Then flickered off and back on but with a golden light instead.

[QUEST UPDATE] -

[The Drop]

Coals of burned-out fire. Ever jealous of its elder's heat. Warmth eluding it. The last touch of heat was only but a long time ago.

[Rank - S]

[Rewards - Unascertained]

[Failure - Destruction ]

[Truth]

Umvit watched as Parvita played ever so carelessly near the Ozuni python. Its large fangs longer than the babe were enough to kill a full grown. So Umvit bore fear. To steer Parvita from dangers.

But Parvita showed something unexpected. Can you?.

[RANK - S]

[Rewards - Unascertained]

[Failure - Destruction

- 1 Level]

[Green Nest]

Molliwag wasn't always above. His blood and sufferings, a macabre memory to dine with.

Hell isn't always a place.

[Rank - S]

[Rewards - Ring of the Lost]

[Failure - Death

- 1 Level ]

[YOU HAVE CLEARED QUEST - TRUTH]

[RECEIVE REWARDS]

[Y/N]

[QUEST COMPLETED]

The golden weaves reappeared intertwining and sewing together to form two things in my palms. One a ring of pure silver the other a crystal. The crystal was a key. Unlike the first key, I had gotten from the Void Wolf. This one was crystallized and about as long as my arm with a handle on its end. It weighed a lot straining my left arm enough to make me use both arms to hold it up while I sent the ring into my inventory to access later. This crystal felt more important.

After all, it had been unmentioned in the rewards.

The length of the thing ended with a needle-like point and the center glowed a bit of azure making it seem ancient.

[KEY OF WILL - ITEM]

That was all the description it had to it.

Fortunately enough the system either decided to give my mind a rest or this part was something I needed help with.

The stone glowed brightly the runes on it changing back to the former azure.

The key broke down into a mist of varied colors. Sparkling lights were visible within it as it spread out to encompass both I and the stone.

[CREATOR HILDELITH HAS BROUGHT THE CORE OF A LOST WORLD]

[GRANTING ACCESS TO THE WORLD FORGE]

The mist shrunk till I was uncovered. It rapidly reeled itself in until it was a ball of beautiful colors. I stared in amazement at its varied colors while gripping it tightly.

'Tightly'

I looked down to see a miniature stone in my palm.

It was the same stone that had stood in the center of the Nest. The stone with runes that had been as long as my hips. This one too had runes. Yet in my palm, it was small almost like a pebble.

"Welcome to the world forge Creator" a voice startled me out of my mind and I looked up to see .. a male.

*****

THIRD PERSON POV

Helen stood frozen her eyes locked on the six-foot male figure in front of her. His black neck-length hair shifted and fluttered like a curtain carried by the wind. His streamlined jaw was an appealing trait while his eye was a calm gray like the storm. A perfect thin lip and well-structured body.

But, Hilde didn't care.

While it seemed she was ogling the perfect male Helen was simply trying her best to fight a reaction that was ingrained in her. But she already knew it was useless.

It started with her fingers, spasming like a taser shock victim. Then her lips quivered even as her left leg subconsciously moved a step back. Helen in her defense tried. Her mind screamed it's just a game repeatedly. Yet her body refused to listen. Her heart was pounding like the guitarist had gone mad in a concert, or was it the drummer?

A barely audible pleading left her lips as she staggered back again. Then her legs gave. The room disappeared instantly reforming like pixels in a game into one that she hated its familiarity.

Voices jeering and laughing sounded out around her. Her head whipped about as one possessed.

The room in her mind vanished showing her the forge once more the male still standing right where he had been but with a very obvious frown etched on his beautiful face.

"Player" Her mutter was loud enough to be heard making the male frown even more. He took a step forward his lips parting to speak.

Helen's last hold on her fright broke.

"Logout" The male visibly frowned at her command yet Helen had eyes locked on something in front of her yelling out with a cry.

"F*cking log me out".

She collapsed to the ground with her head in her hands as she trembled while the male stood confused beyond anything. Though he must have realized something was wrong he backed away while still watching with a bewildered expression.

Then before his eyes, the creator player's avatar slumped, its controller gone.

The male stood there for quite a while blinking in astonishment as he gazed upon the now-empty husk while he scratched his head.

Finally, he sighed and shook his head before gazing into nothing as his lips moved.

"What just happened?".

His eyes moved about like one reading something while his head tilted around like a lost child. At last, his head snapped up, his gaze dimming while his lips contorted into a frown.

"That's.. unexpected".the last words were said with a tone of both fatigue and annoyance.

*****

The blare of a beeping pod filled the room and loud bangs echoed from within. The pod hissed releasing steam as a hand shot out and pulled the still-moving lid out of the way faster while the body slipped out.

Helen landed on the ground with a thump ignoring the flare of pain in her side from the contact before she raced for her bedside body shaking as she curled into a fetal position while her eyes shut.

Carmella a lovely almost stay-at-home mum for reasons that were not very good to mention looked up from her laptop while seated on her couch. A cup of steaming morning coffee on the table by the laptop.

It was barely 7 am. Carmella had skipped making breakfast yet since her nineteen-year-old daughter was still locked in her room probably in-game and decided instead to try selling some things online.

She frowned at the noise of the beeping from a game pod up the stairs. Creator Online as the very first VRMMORPG with full dive immersion was still a bit of a test run. Of course, no one knew that there was only the initial test for problems with no other Players entering. This was to keep the game as fresh as possible though for some reason the game company had assured people of its safety.

With only a few brief tests and modifications each pod came with an alarm system that would warn the household if there was ever an issue with the player due to health or mental problems.

This feature was why the game A.I had listened and forcibly ejected her from the game the moment it detected her mental state.

Carmella was up the stairs in minutes and banging on Helen's door. Various name-calling to open up went unanswered while the pod kept beeping.

After a quick run to her room for the master keys and back, the door flew open with a bang like a SWAT raid. Carmella ignored the beeping pod as she beelined for her daughter grabbing and squeezing the girl into her chest while petting her head.

"It's okay now. It's okay. I'm here now. You'll be fine. Listen to me. It's just a bad fright. It can't harm you. Mother knows best". repeatedly saying short lines of encouragement mother and daughter stayed seated on the floor one kissing the top of the other's head while the other held on tightly for dear life.

The beeping droned on till it finally stopped both females ignorant to its wailing.

Carmella could only frown in her mind cursing whatever it was that triggered this.

'I just hope this doesn't extend to Keller. He's gotten a bit of hope after yesterday and this will just be bad' It took everything for her to repress her sigh while she looked to the pod unsure now if it was good or bad.

'It feels like she managed to almost reach the surface only to get a huge drawback'. Still petting the girl she made a mental note to get Keller to hide off. The last thing she needed was for either side to strain this slight regression.

'I'll find a way to handle it myself'.