Fantasy Realm [One Piece] [Harry Potter] [Naruto] - [Progression] [LitRPG]

Chapter 45: Over the Hills - Emerging Evil

Alex and the group move slowly away from the Evil Forest, which now resembles a ghostly, gray petrified forest. Zidane suggested they try their luck with a cave that might lead them above the mist, and Alex knows he's right. It's the only realistic route. The only other option would involve forcing their way through the North Gate, which would mean fighting countless soldiers and sparking a conflict not just with Alexandria but with Burmecia as well.

Alex, with his game-related OCD and natural inclination toward min-maxing, despises the idea of skipping over things. "If something is there, the developer intended people to find it," he firmly believes. He recalls his times playing FF9, a seemingly wide-open world at this point in the story, though it essentially leads straight toward the Ice Cavern, which is exactly where Zidane suggested.

But he remembers that there's one optional stop they could make: the Alexandrian side of the North Gate, Melda Arch. In the game, you could buy medicine there and even find a few hidden chests.
There's also that quirky side character, Ragtime Mouse, who appears randomly in forests to quiz players on the game's lore, though Alex doubts he'd actually encounter something that random here. But with nothing to lose, Alex turns to the others and suggests, "You sure it's not worth at least checking out North Gate? Melda Arch might even have some extra supplies we could use."

To his surprise, Steiner immediately nods and agrees. "Yes, let's go there! There are soldiers stationed there who could lead us right back to the castle. Perhaps they can call an airship or, even better..."

"Steiner!" Garnet interrupts, "I'm not going back."

Steiner's face twists in confusion. "Why, Princess?"

"I'm going to Lindblum," she states firmly. "You can go back, but I won't."

Zidane smirks. "You heard her, Rusty. You can leave if you want. We'll do fine without you."

Steiner clenches his fists, glaring at Zidane. "Damn monkey thug! One day, I swear I'll strangle him with his own tail."

As the group navigates toward their destination marked on the map, the journey proves more challenging than expected. Detours are frequent, as they avoid clusters of monsters, small forest patches, and steep hills.

For Alex, though, this rough terrain is nothing he can't handle. His stats, putting him roughly 40% above the average human in every physical aspect, combined with the enhancements from his high-quality gear and basic skills make the hike feel effortless. In fact, Alex is starting to feel a bit bored, as Garnet and Vivi slow the group down, Garnet, unused to walking anywhere outside the castle grounds, is clearly experiencing her first hike, while Vivi's small legs struggle with the pace.

Yet Alex's boredom vanishes as they encounter the first wave of monsters. Surprisingly, he finds himself smiling. With his [Sword of Pluto] and [Shield of Pluto] in hand, he feels every bit the knight he's trained to be. With each clash, his Alexandrian Royal Swordsmanship lvl 0, despite only being at level 0, makes him feel like he's wielded a sword and shield his whole life. Dispatching a few goblins, Alex moves with a natural agility, skillfully dodging, parrying, or blocking their attacks. As he bashes his shield against one goblin's head, stunning it, and then executes a powerful slash that beheads it, a surge of adrenaline rushes through him. The savage thrill of battle is something new, a feeling he hasn't known for long.