Two figures emerged from the forest, South of the town of Lancendai around noon. A guard wearing a full leather armor set holding a spear upright stared at the two, then greeted them, "Hail Travelers."

Both of the figures were wearing leather armors, although one of them seems to be in rough shape. She was holding a bow with her head drooped in exhaustion, her pink twin tails almost touching the ground. With her posture, something impressive seemed to peak from the collar of her leather armor and shirt, causing the guard to gulp. The other figure sighed as she tidied her disheveled silver hair, then seeming to notice the guard's line of sight, glared at him with her red eyes. They were Raylight and Pristine.

"May I ask what your business is in Lancendai?" The guard stood upright and asked the two attractive ladies in front of him.

"We're here to rest and trade," Pristine answered.

"Then, just walk straight after entering the gate and you'll reach the plaza. Merchants and adventurers have set their stalls and are selling their wares there," the guard answered promptly. He then quickly added, "To the east of the plaza, you can find the inn, a cafe, and the bar. To the west are some specialty shops selling armors, clothings, and weapons."

"Thanks." The two then entered the town gates.

"I think he likes me," Raylight said as they walked towards the town plaza.

'The state of your armor is just too risqué,' Pristine thought as she remembered the guard's reaction to Raylight's appearance. It was very realistic. Her mind has been preoccupied lately with the excitement of battles and stuff related to the club. It has been a while since she observed the aesthetics of the game without distraction.

'What if this was actually another world?' She had that thought, and then laughed at herself. 'Yeah, right. With the amount of people playing in this game for ten years, someone was bound to notice, but no one has mentioned that yet.'

They sold their unneeded junk to the merchants in the plaza, then proceeded to the cafe for lunch. After the meal, Pristine accompanied Raylight to the tailor shop, where she rented equipment to craft new leather equipments from the leather they looted from monsters they killed on their way from Alfao to Lancendai.

As she waited for Raylight to finish, Pristine checked her status and skills.

Name: Pristine Void

Class: War Chanter

[ Stats ]

Strength: Apprentice ( 47% )

Agility: Apprentice ( 31% )

Dexterity: Apprentice ( 82% )

Endurance: Apprentice ( 30% )

Intelligence: Apprentice ( 29% )

Wisdom: Apprentice ( 28% )

[ Unique Skills ]

War Chant: Apprentice ( 23% )

Impetu Parvu: Apprentice ( 23% )

Munio Parvu: Apprentice ( 20% )

Icio Ruo: Beginner ( 3% )

[ Non-unique Skills ]

Combat Mastery: Apprentice ( 85% )

Unarmed Combat: Apprentice ( 79% )

Holy Elemental Mastery: Beginner ( 52% )

Heal Minor Wounds: Beginner ( 52% )

Lightning Elemental Mastery: Apprentice ( 2% )

Shock Grasp: Apprentice ( 2% )

Light Armor Mastery: Beginner ( 98% )

Butchery: Apprentice ( 11% )

Beast Anatomy: Beginner ( 23% )

Knife Mastery: Beginner ( 31% )

On their way to Lancendai, they killed a lot of beast-type monsters that are lootable with leather and meat. This quickly raised the rank of her 'Butchery', and allowed her to automatically learn the sub-skill 'Beast Anatomy.' The sub-skill improved the quality of the meat she dissected from the beast's corpses. 'Butchery' also improved her Dexterity.

With her Wisdom and Intelligence gaining a rank each, she gained two slots for her skills. As soon as the slots were available, she quickly equipped 'Butchery' as swapping skills after and before combat was somewhat annoying.

She balanced between dodging and taking hits to improve both her agility and endurance, as well as allowing her to cast Munio Parvu. Raylight also gave her the killing blows, improving Impetu Parvu.

To her surprise, when her 'Shock Grasp' skill raised a rank, she learned a new War Chant.

[ Icio Ruo ]

[ Consume the electricity coursing through the opponent's body to provide yourself with a huge momentary movement boost. ]

The skill requires the opponent to be paralyzed due to a lightning spell effect. She tried it once after gaining the skill. The result was... devastating. The movement boost was too huge in addition to her already quick movements, causing her to run out of control. She tried dashing to the side and hit a tree about 10 yards away. Once she learns to control the effects of Icio Ruo, it would be a very useful skill in group combat.

In addition to the new skills, she also discovered that both Impetu Parvu and Munio Parvu gained an aura of about five yards, probably due to the rank up, providing similar effects to allies within range. She found out after Raylight complained about a buff suddenly appearing and disappearing whenever Pristine got close to her during combat.

* * *

"It's done!" Raylight said as she dashed towards Pristine, carrying a bunch of leather equipments. She then grabbed Pristine and dragged her to a changing room within the shop.

"Put these on!" she said, then forced the equipments to her, and closed the curtains.

"What's this about?" Pristine asked while putting them on. After a while, she went out wearing the full set, including Iness's Armor.

"It's perfect!" Raylight exclaimed, attracting the attention of the other customers in the shop.

Pristine was now wearing a full set of leather armor. The shoulder-pads were loose enough to allow flexibility of movement, but not too lose to disrupt her actions. There were also thin elbow and knee pads. The pair of bracers had metal plates on the top side. The gloves had open fingers, allowing her to wear the chain gloves underneath. The leather pants fit her perfectly with enough tightness, but still soft and flexible. The leather boots had metal toe protectors and even cleats! Apart from its functionality, the design was streamlined to look elegant.

"It's a job well done," Raylight said proudly, blowing air from her nose. Even the other customers were mesmerized!

'It's leather armor, not a dress!' Pristine retorted in her mind. "It's nice, thanks," she said. It was true that the set was well done. When Pristine moved, she didn't feel anything out of place.

"Now there's only one thing left!" as she said that, Raylight dragged Pristine to the section selling cloaks. Raylight chose a light blue one with a hood and reached up to her waist while saying, "Scouts must have hoods." Pristine got a muffler looking cloth instead of a cloak.

"Why didn't you get a cloak?" Raylight asked with a pouting expression.

"A cloak might hinder me during combat," Pristine answered promptly. "With a muffler, I can tuck it in my armor in case it becomes annoying."

* * *

The duo left Lancendai through the West gate.

"I'm halfway through the Expert rank in 'Leather Crafting', so help me farm leather!" After saying that, they sent Rhinestone an e-mail asking where to farm leather near Lancendai. After a few minutes, a reply came saying that the Guildmaster told her about an unexplored dungeon to the West of Lancendai along with the map data.

After 30 minutes of walking, they finally found the dungeon. Raylight made a prelimanry scouting of the dungeon and reported that the monsters inside were reptilian creatures as big as a bear. They were called Buzzards, and they give high quality leather. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement while murmuring, "Expert Rank, almost there, wait for me."

They entered the dungeon with Pristine as the vanguard, and Raylight the rearguard. They found a lone Buzzard near the entrance. Its skin was covered with yellow scales. It crawled on four legs and had a tail with its covered with spikes. It rubbed its lizard like head on the walls of the cave.

"Why is it doing that?" Raylight asked.

"I don't know, why don't you ask it?" Pristine answered in a joking tone.

"Yeah, I'll do that," Raylight said as she posed to attack, "with my arrow!"

As soon as she let the arrow fly, Pristine dashed while casting Shock Grasp on her right hand. The arrow hit the reptilian beast's body, but it didn't penetrate. The scales were too thick, causing the arrow to glance off to the side. In a moment, a lightning clad fist hit the Buzzards head as it turned to glare at Raylight who disturbed it from what it was doing. It's head was pushed back, and the lightning current that transferred over to it disappeared. As Pristine wondered what happened, the Buzzard looked at them with menacing eyes, and opened its mouth. From its throat, a bolt of lightning shot out!

"Watch out!" Pristine shouted as she dodged. She heard a groan and turned around to see Raylight on the ground, traces of electric currents appearing here and there over her body. It was the paralysis effect due to lightning damage.

'This seems bad,' Pristine thought as she moved around the Buzzard, dodging its attacks with agile movements. She tried hitting the Buzzard with punches, but the scales were tough. She then tried using the Multi-purpose Knife, only for it to break. Looking over her shoulders to check if Raylight was still paralyzed, Pristine suddenly had a thought.

With a dash, she headed straight for Raylight and touched her body. The pink-head girl let out a sexy moan totally out of place in this situation, making Pristine notice what part of her body she was touching.

'It's just too huge,' she retorted in her mind then cast the spell she haven't mastered yet.

"Icio Ruo!" Pristine's figure disappeared and the Buzzard which was approaching them widened its eyes. It then flew backwards and crashed on the walls of the cave as something hit it with tremendous speed. It was none other than Pristine.

"Once more, Icio Ruo!" The reptilian beast which was pinned by Pristine against the wall once more was pushed against it. Struggling to escape from her, the Buzzard opened its mouth towards Pristine. As she noticed this, Pristine grabbed its jaws forcing its mouth shut. She felt the lightning energy collecting in its throat.

"Icio Ruo!" With her hand grabbing the Buzzard's head, she smashed its head against the hard stone wall of the cave using the tremendous speed boost given by the War Chant. The beast finally died.

"I took damage from ramming myself against it." She walked towards Raylight while casting Heal Minor Wounds to the limit of its abilities, took a potion from her own pouch, sat down and drank it in front of her. Heal Minor Wounds can only cure injuries like grazes and light surface wounds. It can't replenish the blood lost from the wounds, so taking a potion was necessary.

"That was scary," Raylight said as she also took out a potion and guzzled it down. "Being hit by lightning is scary." Then she sat up and stared at Pristine. "But you're way way scarier."

"I can't help it. I couldn't think of a way to take it down at that situation."

The two girls then approached the Buzzard's corpse, skinned it and butchered it. Pristine had to borrow a knife from Raylight. The sight of two pretty girls covered in blood and digging through the corpse of a beast bigger than them was actually the most terrifying sight at the moment. They didn't realize it though, as they continued to loot the corpse with smiles on their faces.

* * *

After three hours, they finally reached the boss area. They killed over a hundred Buzzards, and obtained a bunch of leather and meat. Pristine checked her stats and skills before proceeding.

Name: Pristine Void

Class: War Chanter

[ Stats ]

Strength: Expert ( 4% )

Agility: Expert ( 2% )

Dexterity: Expert ( 8% )

Endurance: Expert ( 3% )

Intelligence: Expert ( 2% )

Wisdom: Expert ( 2% )

[ Unique Skills ]

War Chant: Expert ( 2% )

Impetu Parvu: Expert ( 2% )

Munio Parvu: Expert ( 2% )

Icio Ruo: Apprentice ( 19% )

Impetu: Beginner ( 7% )

[ Non-unique Skills ]

Combat Mastery: Expert ( 29% )

Unarmed Combat: Expert ( 15% )

Holy Elemental Mastery: Apprentice ( 7% )

Heal Minor Wounds: Apprentice ( 7% )

Lightning Elemental Mastery: Apprentice ( 91% )

Shock Grasp: Apprentice ( 91% )

Light Armor Mastery: Apprentice ( 72% )

Butchery: Expert ( 2% )

Beast Anatomy: Apprentice ( 33% )

Knife Mastery: Apprentice ( 19% )

Sword Mastery: Beginner ( 55% )

One-hand Sword Mastery: Beginner ( 55% )

All her stats has increased to Expert Rank. She was then able to equip Dewin's Longsword, gaining the One-hand Sword Mastery skill. She was able to equip the Sword Mastery skill after gaining new skill slots after gaining Intelligence and Wisdom Rank ups. She also gained a new War Chant.

[ Impetu ]

[ Consume all Impetu Parvu buffs except the bonus buff to deal a very powerful attack. ]

She tried using it and found that it consumes all her remaining mana to cast.

The longsword's enchanted skill 'Foresight' allowed her to see faint outlines of the predicted movement of the enemy. She also tested the Armor's other enchanted skills, 'Sharpen Blade' and 'Increase Reflex'. With Sharpen Blade, the cutting power of any blade weapons she used were increased slightly. Increase Reflex, when activated, consumes mana in a steady rate. During that time, she perceives everything around her in a slowed state, increasing her reaction time.

"I'm already at 100% Expert Dexterity," Raylight said while fiddling with her status screen.

"I'm done," Pristine said as she readied her equipment. She held the longsword on her right hand, and clenched her left fist.

"Raring to go, aren't we?" The pink twin tail girl knocked an arrow and stood beside her. "Let's go."

The duo entered the boss area and were greeted by a strange sight.

[ Crystal Buzzard ]

[ The effects of the magic distortion that happened 20 years ago were unpredictable. The Crystal Buzzard is a victim of that event. It was once originally a Buzzard, but magic distorted its skin turning it into crystal. It's ability to produce lightning was also changed and now it breathes rays of light. ]

Ignoring the description the two stared at the creature. It had clear transparent crystal for skin, revealing the muscles and organs beneath.

"Gross," Raylight said taking a deep breath.

"Let's end this quickly."

Pristine made a dash for the Crystal Buzzard. The beast, seeing her, opened it's mouth and released a beam of light. She dodge to the side, and made another attempt to approach. When she was close enough to strike with the sword, the Buzzard used its tail covered with sharp crystals to swipe at her. Raylight provided covering fire, but the arrows only bounced off the crystal skin.

"Doesn't this seem impossible?" Raylight asked as she watched Pristine fall back while dodging the Crystal Buzzard's tail swipes and beams of light.

"I just need to get close enough," Pristine said as she made another attempt to dash towards it.

After a dozen failed attempts, Pristine was down to 20% Vitality. Her left arm was broken, and there were burns and wounds all over her body. Her mana was almost empty casting Munio Parvu and Heal Minor Wounds.

'If only I can cast Icio Ruo,' she thought. There were no enemies to take the absorb the lightning from. Suddenly, she remembered absorbing the lightning from Raylight when she was paralyzed. 'Does that mean I can absorb it from anyone aside from enemies?'

She made a gamble. After sheathing the sword, she made another dash towards the Crystal Buzzard. The beast opened its mouth and shot a beam of light at her. She dodged to the right, then casted a spell with her right hand. The spell was Shock Grasp. As the lightning covered her hand, she used another spell, the War Chant Icio Ruo. The lightning consumed was small, and thus the movement boost was not very high, but it was enough.

Pristine opened her eyes wide as she activated Increase Reflex while drawing the longsword. The world moved slowly, and she dodge the incoming tail swipe. Activating Foresight, she saw the outline of the beast preparing to cast another beam of light. She crouched as low as she could, the beam grazing her hair.

"Die!" she shouted as the blade swung through the beast's neck. With Sharpen Blade and extra effort, it cut through the crystal, decapitating the beast.

Raylight watching the scene from behind, breathed a sigh of relief. When she saw that final beam, she thought that Pristine was a goner.

'It's a miracle she dodged that,' she thought as she approached the amazing girl who was just a beginner not so long ago.