I sat on the battlefield tired and wounded, breathing deeply and surveying the results of the chaotic battle. I looked at the three corpses of Generated Artificial Players lying on the ground. Once their leader fell, the other two followed so quickly after. Barbara had ran to Scotty's aid and was killed before I could blink. Dorothy had drained her MP while raging against the Troll and lost her life as well. This was by far the strongest monster we had faced, paired with the highest casualties. We needed to get stronger. We needed to be smarter. While thinking about getting stronger I remembered the notifications during the Troll fight. I spawned my PAC:

You have reached level 6!

Your HP/ST/MP have increased. Gained one stat point.

You have reached level 7!

Your HP/ST/MP have increased. Gained one stat point.

"Holy shit! I gained 2 levels." I smiled, while reading the screen.

"Wow! I only got one, but I was far from leveling before the fight." Casey remarked.

"Same here." Ned added.

"Yo whycome you get two,.. n' we only get one. Dats bullshit!" Randy griped.

"Well I was close to leveling, before the fight. Guess I just barely got two." I replied.

"You best not be eatin' my EXP fatty, stop being greedy!" Randy teased.

"That doesn't even make sense, what kind of game would have us eating souls of monsters?!" I exclaimed.

"Best cut 'dat shit out, Fathead. We'll put-cha on an EXP diet. 'Mana' salads only mutha fucker!" Randy grinned.

We all laughed, but I began to think of all the more powerful players I have encountered. Including the two PvP Faerykins and the NPC party we lost in that battle. The smile quickly fell from my face.

"Yo fool, what's that look for?" Randy solicited, while appraising my expression.

"Just fatigue, no worries man." I responded.

"That was a close call." Ned grimaced at the three corpses, "Way too close."

"Hey Dwarf! Can I get a heal over here?" Casey shouted while sitting on something pulled from her inventory.

"I got-chu, but I got's a name yo!" Randy protested as he casually strolled over.

"So what now?" Ned asked, "There's no way we can make it out of the forest before it gets dark."

"I imagine most creatures are still avoiding this area because of the Troll, so this is probably the safest place besides Greenthorn. I also plan to bury the Genie's since they don't seem to be despawning right away. So lets camp in this clearing, just for tonight." I replied.

"Genie's?" Ned inquired.

"The Generated Artificial Players, Its between Genie's or PC's... Player Clones." I confessed.

"Oh! I like PC's way better." Ned proposed.

"I thought it would be kinda confusing with NPC's. Ok, PC it is. So once I bury the PC's and set up camp, I'd like to take a quick look in that mine." I said, gesturing towards the mine shaft.

"You think there's anything good in it?" Ned looked at the old mine, with doubt.

"I would be pissed at myself, if I didn't at least look. It's a shame that Trolls eat their prey bones and all, I was hoping for some freebies." I chuckled.

"That's grim dude." Ned commented, "Real grim."

"Hey Randy!" I shouted to the arguing Dwarf and Nightkin. "Wanna toss that Troll corpse in your inventory? The meat and hide's useless, but we can use the rest for oil and bone char."

"Nah bro, You grab it. When we get to a town I gotta bounce. Shit to do, ya know." Randy announced.

"Oh you're loggin out, huh? Guess I forgot about IRL, maybe we should all take a day." I confessed.

"Yeah I was actually thinking the same, we been here a few days after all." Ned admitted.

"I don't really need to log, but I guess I can find sumthin' to do IRL." Casey added.

"Ok, well we're closer to the Glowing plains than Greenthorn. I say we find the next town, so we have the Travel Point. "I suggested, while eyeing my map on my PAC. "Plus I gotta check on Hobo before I log."

"Oh! I wanna say goodbye to him too." Casey added, in a slightly higher pitch than normal.

"Ok, but first things first..." My expression flattened as I spawned the Fine shovel from my inventory.

"If you have another shovel, I'll help." Ned offered.

"Ey! take this one." Randy shouted and produced his own shovel, "I aint burying no programs, but if y'all fools will, I aint stoppin ya."

Ned silently walked over, and picked up the shovel.

"I get your logic bro, but I also wouldn't feel right leavin' em like that. I'm still gonna do it. They fought with us, ya know." I declared.

"Yeah and 'dem' magical girls thought you was a creeper!" Argued the Dwarf.

"Uh..." Ned went to correct him, but decided to choose his battles more wisely.

"Look I said I understand your opinion, I just don't share it. So chill." I replied.

"What ever Fathead. I jus' said I wont stop you. So go 'head." Randy conceded, and began to place his tent.

-----

It always surprised me, how rich and realistic the textures of the ground were. I was fully aware the dirt was all just digital code being processed by a machine then stimulating my central nervous system respectively. But for all intents and purposes, In this digital world I could stick my hand in the soil and actually feel the texture of the dirt. The wood of the shovels handle rubbed my leather gloves and agitated my palms. The air filling my lungs was digital... A simulation of breathing, but it sure didn't feel that way. Ned and I were now setting up our tents around a large camp fire Randy had made.

"I actually forget we're in a VR game sometimes. It's difficult to actually remember that while I'm here. I still catch myself calling this place Earth." I confessed to Ned.

"Yeah. I think we all catch ourselves doing that, every once in a while." Ned agreed.

I looked to the Dwarf, who was inspecting his gear and placing it in his inventory.

"You wanna come with me to check the mine?" I offered.

"Yup yup. You know tha deal. I help you get stuff, you make me shit." Randy responded.

"Such an eloquent composer of words, I do hope to read your magnum opus some day." I sarcastically mocked.

"Huh? The fuck do condoms have to do with words?!" Randy exclaimed.

"No. Magnum opus is like a master work. A crowning achievement." I scoffed, while Ned and Casey were already beside themselves with laughter.

"Well how da' fuck am I 'spose to know that?! I speak English mutha fucker!" He replied in frustration.

"I know, Im just playin around bro. Chill bro, its all good." I consoled my frustrated older brother, "Now lets go find some diamonds or sum shit!"

Randy and I stepped into the mine, while Ned and Casey remained outside to guard our camp. We carried torches that cast flickering light on the rocky walls. The gravel and dust stirred around our feet as we walked along the cart track.

"This mine stank! ...Like a dead camels ass, in'da dumpster ... After it sat in'da sun for three weeks!" Randy whined, when we were about half a mile deeper in the tunnel.

"I know, like used kitty litter... packed in a hobo's sock. My eyes are watering. It smells like that Trolls breath." I griped.

"This place is foul, lets get outta here, Fathead." Randy pleaded.

"Not yet. Just a little further. can you hear that?" I asked.

"Hear what fool? Ey! how do you hear anything? You don't have ears." Randy observed, as he brought his torch closer to me.

"Well I don't know about Dragons, but Lizards don't have earflaps like mammals do. Instead, most have visible ear openings to catch sound." I informed.

"Hmmm... Mhmm..." Randy was looking uncomfortably close at the side of my Dragonkin head.

"Hssst!" I hissed loudly, and the Dwarf jumped. We both laughed for a second, then went silent.

"Is that... running water?" Randy guessed, as the sound got closer the further we progressed down the dark tunnel.

"Maybe it's an underground stream or something?" I surmised.

We walked further, for ten to fifteen minutes, then found a small stream cutting down a forking tunnel in our path. There was a silvery glimmer in the water, reflecting our torch light. As soon as I noticed it my AVA displayed a notification:

You have learned a new skill! Search (General/active) (Novice)

"Hey! I just learned a skill called Search. I guess finding this Silverite triggered it?" I surmised.

"Yo.. you notice skills are kinda fickle? Like I get 'dat I won't get a sword skill by using a bow or whatever. But why'd I need to shoot several things, before I got Quickshot?" Randy asked.

"Or one large thing.." I suggested, "I thought you learned it while fighting that Condensed Slime?"

"Yeah. I guess we jus' get one when we get one." Randy concluded.

"If this wasn't a beta, I bet we could get a list of requirements or something." I joked.

"Right. Or one of those strategy books, from the game store." Randy laughed.

I looked at the forked path and changed the subject.

"I guess the water has been cutting a sub-path for many years now. It seems to have surfaced that small Silverite vein. Shame there's so little here." I observed.

"Le's just grab it, and git da fuck outta here. I cant take the stank." Randy pleaded.

"Yeah, lets get this over with." I sighed, while spawning picks from my inventory.

"I fuckin' hate this part, but deep down, Its like I'm hyped for it too, Da fuck is that about?" Randy admitted.

"I don't know, I just try to make a little game out of it. Like how many swings can I do in 30 seconds. Then try to beat the number." I confessed.

"Who da fuck makes a game outta mining, and crafting shit wit' tha stuff you mine?! Whole damn thing sounds like back breaking labor... Who'd be dumb 'nuff to do this shit for fun?!" Randy criticized.

"I don't know, I love crafting. But the work does kinda suck in VR. If we didn't have gloves on, I bet we'd get blisters." I admitted.

"I'm sure we would. For real for real 'do... This game is kinda tight, all things considered." Randy grinned.

We continued to work until we had received roughly 12lbs of unrefined Silverite. I estimated we would have a large ingot once smelted. We then wasted no time returning to camp. It had been dark for awhile, when we stepped out of the old abandoned mine shaft. We walked into the warm light cast out by the roaring campfire. A cool night breeze swept over us and chased the mine's stench away. It was definitely good to be back on the surface. I sat at my tent and received a serving of boar meat I had left with the Undead and Nightkin lookout. Ned had few vegetables left in his inventory, so I also gave him some bread and cheese to round out the meal. The meat was delicious and I had an incredible appetite after my work in the mine. Randy also seemed famished, as he ravaged the food he was given. His magnificent beard caught the juices and stray pieces as he chewed. After eating we decided take guard in pairs. Two would stay awake as the other two slept, then switch halfway through the night. Ned and Randy volunteered for first watch, since they had saved some energy by being ranged support in the troll fight. Casey and I were too tired to argue, as we soon retreated to our respective tents. After a few hours of deep sleep I awoke to find Casey sitting on a medium sized barrel, next to the fire. It appeared she had already sent Ned and Randy to bed.

"What happened to us keeping watch in pairs?" I asked.

"They were exhausted, so I told them to turn in. You looked like you needed the rest anyway." She explained.

"I did sleep well, so thanks I guess." I smiled.

"So, what's the first thing you're gonna do IRL?" Casey asked.

"Well.. probably quit smoking." I answered.

"Really? That's great, but why is that first?" She wondered.

"Because the nicotine withdraw, seems to be making my reflexes sharper in-game." I informed.

"Nuh-uh... You're lying." She laughed quietly.

"Its just a theory, but I think my tense and anxious body IRL has my mind feeling alert and my avatar feels a little more agile. I don't know. I do know diving for days at a time also feels like a great way to quit." I grinned.

"I'm gonna call my mom." She said. "I don't want her to worry."

"You live in Maryland, right?" I recalled. "You're diving near Baltimore?"

"Yes. Ned says all three of you dive at Wilmington?" She inquired.

"Yep. Wilmington Delaware. Visit for the pollution, stay 'cause someone stole your car." I teased.

"I know, I used to live in Wilmington, before my mom got remarried." She smiled.

"Oh no shit! Glad you got out safe. Randy and I eventually got out. It was difficult, besides other circumstances.. we was poor. Like 'shoelace for a belt poor.' We use to have a small working TV, on top of a larger non-working TV." I chuckled.

"Oh I been there, I use to record my ringtone's off the radio, and fill the ketchup bottle with the packet's from Wacdonalds." She laughed.

"You ever walk through the drive-thru?" I inquired.

"No you didn't!" She insisted.

"Yup, they eventually put up the 'walk-thru' sign, because of Randy and I." I confessed.

We talked on for hours. Laughing and scanning the woods between jokes and stories. I relied on her Nightvision skill, so I did most of the talking. Seemed like it only took minutes for the sun to come up. I guess time really does fly when your having fun. There was a thought in the back of my mind, accompanied by a familiar feeling. As the sun rose in the sky that beautiful morning, the light trickled through the trees. Casey and I woke the others and prepared a simple oatmeal breakfast. We were ready to set out for the Glowing plain's.