The MagiArtist Collection

Crossing the Horizon (XxProtoxX x Reader)

Seeing the Level Up screen filled you with such joy and wonderment. Finally! You're now getting stronger! You wondered why you never hired a mercenary to help you level grind before. Pay was pretty high, but after using your lumber and wood crafting skills to turn a quick buck, you were able to hire such help.

She wasn't what you had hoped when you first hired her, however. Named with such a pretentious username of XxProtoxX, she was pretty chubby, very tall, and had obviously spent some Cor to get hair dye and even eye color changes. Any other user would have laughed her off, especially after seeing her tired face, but you found her to be the cheapest out of all the mercs.

"Alright, it's getting late..." She groaned as she looked at the setting sun. "Let's head back before some red player finds us." With that, she walked away, with you following her. You sighed. You're only level 15 now. It's gonna take a lot more leveling before you could be even considered a good player.

-_-_-_-

You approached an inn as people were engaging in a huge party with drinks and tons of singing.

"The hell's going on?" XxProtoxX asked.

"Didn't you hear?! Floor 74 got cleared!" One of the partiers said.

"W-what!? Already?" You asked.

"Yeah! Who knows? Maybe we'll be able to clear the game by the end of the year!" Another one said.

"Crap!" You began to sweat. XxProtoxX went up to you and patted you on the back.

"Chill." She sighed.

"W-who was the guild? What guild cleared it?" You asked.

"Erm... I think the Army cleared it..." One of them said.

"Yeah! With only twelve people!" The other person said.

"... Wow..." You were blown away with that boast. You then looked around to find any member of the Army. Fortunately, the members of the Aincrad Liberation Force were easy to find given why they were named The Army. You were able to find two guys in heavy dark gray armor and helmets that obscured their eyes. You went over to them and told them your desires to join their guild. XxProtoxX just facepalmed.

"Hey, check it out! The stream of the boss fight's about to play!" One of the celebrators got out a screen and it began to play the events that unfolded in The Gleam Eyes' room. Soon, the reaction changed from cheering on the ALF to talking about one person, unaffiliated with the guild, who completely soloed the monster. As soon as XxProtoxX saw this, she bolted to the door that you exited to.

-_-_-_-

"Alright, you wanna be part of our guild? Well, there's a user who hasn't paid her taxes. We want you to... persuade her." One of the men in armor said to you in a back alley. Up until he spoke in the 'gangster tone', you were all ready to do whatever it takes to join the ALF... However, afterwards...

"Wait... Y-you want me to extort someone? B-but I don't want to..." You couldn't say anything else as you were punched in the gut.

"If you wanna join our guild, then that's what you gotta do! Got it, punk?" He asked you. You clutched your gut in pain.

"Hey! Leave the kid alone!" You heard XxProtoxX's voice ring across the alley. The two guards looked towards her and drew their weapons.

"Back away! We're on official business here!" One of them said.

"Sure you are... Let my client go and I won't consider going from green to red." She said.

"You can't even if you tried! This is a safe zone!" The other said.