Dimm and Minxx have arrived at what seems to be the housing estate of the village. Unlike the streets they passed across, where Dimm only saw shops or buildings only retained to do work purposes, here, he figured out this might be their places of abode.
It was unlikely on Earth though. There was no specific expanse for building houses, shops, or factories. As far as you get to own a land, it's up to you to develop it the way it pleases you.
The only limitations were given to factories and industries, to help curb any form of environmental pollution.
At this moment, he began to visualize the structures that are erected in earth. The rich buildings, the factories he got the chance to come across during his expedition for food. He began to wish he had belonged. 'Only God knows what my capability will be, if I had.'
Minxx cut him short of his retrospection.
"Here, you will rest here in a while."
"Rest? This looks like a sort of preparation, or is it what I'm thinking?" Dimm asked, nervous about the fact.
Minxx ignored him and whirled the knob at the door, pushing it open.
Dimm's eyes widened.
'Elves are indeed extremely beautiful. Good time it seems I will be having.'
Minxx had opened the door to reveal three elfin girls, whose hands seemed to be on deck as they tried to gather the room into one piece. On seeing Minxx, they all assembled in a horizontal line and bowed forward.
"It's okay for this act up," Dimm said, closing his eyes as he felt himself being honored, thinking the bow was made for him. "This makes me feel shy."
Opening his eyes after getting no reaction, he saw Minxx already tapping the shoulders of the girls as each raised their head after getting tapped.
"That's a job well done," Minxx said as she tapped each of them on their shoulders.
Dimm was puzzled and, at the same time felt foolish. He wondered how he looked after acting as though he was honored. But, in front of him, still existed a bigger puzzle.
On their way into this village, Minxx was either greeted with reverence or saluted. Now, bowed unto? The only funny sight about the situation in his presence now, is that the elfin girls had bowed so low to enable Minxx to be able to tap them easily on their shoulders.
Not that she was too short...but, she was short.
Minxx gave the elfin girls some instructions and turned to Dimm.
"If you wish to have something as a meal before rest, they can help out," she said with a serious tone, suddenly acting unlike her, he knew and left.
"I'm not hungry though," Dimm said, mimicking Minxx's pitched voice in her serious tone.
The elfin girls blushed, with their hands clapped unto their lips.
Ignoring their actions, Dimm said. "Oh, I didn't tell her. Won't it be necessary to get permission from the ruler of the place? Like, won't it be risky if I'm found out?"
Instead of a response, the elves only giggled and left through the door one after the other. The last among them, closed the door softly behind her.
Dimm was merely astonished by their behavior. "Was I failing to convey any meaning? Oh, I get it. Girls do feel the same way when they meet a handsome boy," he said, brushing his hands against his jaw.
Not letting it bother him, he remarked, "It's been an age since I enjoyed a restful slumber," then sank into the bed.
***
As Dimm was having a good time for himself, the other Players were out in the forest intently and seriously searching for what could possibly be the route.
The first person to find something strange was [213].
The short sword he held on his hands had fallen, on the ground with its clanging noise. In an attempt to pick it up, he found a small crystal circular object, in the shape of a ball, that was transparent on the outside. But inside, there seemed to be a constellation of energies whirling in it.
'Could this be the route?' the player thought to himself. The urge to touch it grew intensely in him.
Finally, he touched the crystal object and immediately, white bubbles burst from it into enlargement. Trapping him in a vast world with unseen features, completely void.
Then, he saw the announcement wavering in its atmosphere.
[Welcome! 213]
[Route Test—Eternal Duel Domain.]
[Instruction: Defeat your enemy.]
The young boy stood affixed to a spot. He rubbed his nose with his left hand and stared continuously at the announcement before it disappeared.
"We were never told of this kind of encounter. I thought it should have just been to find the object and connect with it."
His speech was suddenly distracted by a figure that stood in front of him, handling a short sword just like him. Worse still, the figure resembled him in all his features.
"What!" the boy screamed.
Don't tell me you are screaming because you are weak already. That will be a disappointment.
The figure said, showing a pitiful face. Then, as if it remembered something, it pointed at the atmosphere.
Of course, you didn't read that, did you?
The boy's eyes followed the fingers of the figure up, and he saw the announcement that sounded like a real threat to him.
[WARNING! Upon refusal to participate, the player will face death!]
[Surrendering to the Opponent will cause death as well!]
The boy's eyes flickered as he rubbed them to be sure of what he was seeing.
Yeah, you saw it right. Let's go then.
213 suddenly got the resolve to fight whatever this likable might be. As far as it was not him, at least.
With a heavy diagonal slash, the boy strokes his sword downward...allowing ripples of air energies to shoot toward the figure before him.
The boy had decided to use this high-level combat strike method he learned as a noble.
Good first attempt for a noble.
The figure said, easily pushing away the ripples of energy that gushed forth to it.
It had told of the boy's origin through his appearance. He wore a Tunic with embroideries on it. Then, there was the cloak worn unfashionably upon the tunic, unto a high-fitting trousers.
The figure didn't take note of what the boy wore on its legs but it was probably be boots, as that's accustomed to nobles.
It sidestepped easily to avoid one of the boy's rapid attacks, hitting the boy hard on his back.
Subsequently, the fight continued becoming tougher for the boy. Each new attack he unleashed on this figure, was always countered with that giving the figure a chance to hit him.
After countering one of his attacks, the figure plunged its elbow into his side, sending him halting a short distance away.
'Not only does it counter my moves, it seems to have my every move in mind.'
Your mind should stop acting weaker than your physical. Do not plunder with your thoughts, prove yourself with your might. Or are you reclaiming my fact that you're weak?
The boy sighed. He was not going to fall for its words this time. 'Wait, why didn't I think about it?'
Because you are numb.
'So, it reads minds too. Meaning, this is merely an illusion of myself,' the boy realized.
No, that's not true. I am who I am. I am my own self.
The figure said, against the boy's thought, but the boy was no longer paying attention to the blabbings of the figure.
'So, it means I have been engulfed into a world of illusion. But, if that object was the Route—no way. It is the route. The fact that the announcements had shown in the sky proves it.'
'What possible solution can I use to break out of this eternal domain? Surrendering is not an option, now that I have started.'
However, the figure was still persistent with its advice.
The only way out is through fighting. Fight your way out, don't be a weakling, you gan...
It seemed the boy had sworn not to listen to any sound coming out from his illusion, the figure. The question ringing in his mind was "How do I get out?"
'I only wish my pair would survive his or her own ordeal,' he prayed. Knowing full well that being able to connect with a fellow survivor through this route was not solely dependable on both of them.
If one can make it, the other will surely be alive.
The boy began to hit himself steadily, while his short sword slipped off his hand falling to the ground.
Nooo!!!
His illusion screamed, and at that point, the announcement appeared again.
[Connection Succeeded.]
Congrats!
Then, in a hush, the wind blew a breeze that was otherworldly. Lifting the boy off his feet, into the air until he vanished.
***
Just like other players were struggling to find their ways out, [01] was also in the same shoes.
He wanted to stop, but he couldn't. So, he kept running, panting heavily this time.
"..."