Chapter 52
[Welcome back to Eternity]
[You are fully rested]
Ben was surprised to see that he did not appear in the last place he had been when he logged out of Eternity.
Instead of the boss’s ritual room, Ben found himself in a familiar space. The tent of the White Fang clan. He climbed out of bed and looked around with interest. He was alone.
A knock rattled outside the tent. Ben raised a brow.
“The White Fang elder didn’t knock last time,” he thought.
He moved to the tent entrance and slid open the flap. The moment it parted, he was engulfed by a feminine figure.
Eve threw herself at him, wrapping him in a desperate hug. Ben was caught off guard by the sudden affection.
“Oh, Eve. Good morning.”
She did not respond right away. Instead, she leaned into the hug, wrapping her arms tightly around him and resting the side of her head against his chest. He felt her inhale deeply.
Ben’s first instinct was to hug her back. Something stopped him.
Traumatic memories threatened to resurface. Only for a moment. When he looked down at her, something else overrode his usual trauma response.
The image of Eve helplessly clinging to him when she had been blinded and deafened rose unbidden in his mind. The memory was still fresh. His eyes widened in realization.
“She must still be reeling from that experience. She couldn’t even log out of the game. She’s probably still a bit shaken,” he thought.
That realization shifted his mindset. His trauma was overridden by his protective instinct. At least, that was what he told himself to justify his next action.
He finally embraced her, wrapping his arms around her in a careful but protective hold.
“Still shaken up from yesterday?”
Eve hesitated for a moment before nodding. Ben’s gaze softened.
“You don’t have to play today if you don’t want to. If you need time off, I can power-level you later.”
Eve looked up at him with a pout. She typed with one hand so she could keep clinging to him with the other.
“You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Ben chuckled.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Eve smiled contentedly and rested her head against his chest again. Ben was surprised by how comfortable he felt holding her.
He told himself he was only doing his duty. Comforting a traumatized ally.
Their intimacy was interrupted by a familiar tall figure.
“Ah, great warrior. You honor us again with your presence.”
The White Fang elder stepped into view.
Eve finally pulled away and bowed her head, her face burning bright red.
Ben smiled warmly at her before turning his attention to the elder. As he did, he immediately noticed something strange.
They were not in the White Fang encampment. At least, not the one he was used to.
They stood in a smaller forest camp, no longer within the military city. A handful of orcs moved about, performing various tasks, but nowhere near the numbers he remembered.
“Where are we?” Ben asked.
The elder nodded.
“Ah, yes. Straight to the point. We are in a scout camp.”
Ben raised a brow and glanced back at the tent where he had logged in. The elder anticipated his question.
“Your soul anchor was moved to us, thankfully. The new commander removed it from the throne room of his predecessor once reinforcements arrived.”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Ben’s eyes widened in realization.
“I see,” he said.
Eve looked up at Ben, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“Before you head off, there is one final parting gift we wish to impart. Please follow me.”
The elder turned without waiting for a response. Ben and Eve followed. Eve began to type.
“I still don’t get how we ended up here when we logged out in the boss room. I woke up in a different tent.”
Ben nodded and typed back.
“It’s the dungeon reset mechanic. Another raid group must have attempted the dungeon while we were logged out, so a new instance was generated. Everything reset so others could fight the bosses.
Our spawn point was moved to the nearest friendly location. Normally we would be sent back to the starter village, but since we have good reputation with the White Fang clan, we spawned here. That also means we can continue questing in this higher-level zone without wasting time traveling back.”
By the time Ben finished explaining, the trio arrived at the center of the encampment.
They received many respectful greetings as they passed. Most of the orcs offered formal salutes. A few of the children waved instead. Eve smiled and waved back.
“Still so cute,” she thought.
At the center of the camp was a massive bonfire that warmed the snowy clearing. Beside it sat a giant treasure chest. The elder produced a key and unlocked it. Golden light spilled out.
He reached inside and withdrew a basketball-sized golden orb.
Ben’s eyes widened. Even Eve was stunned.
[Major Attribute Crystal]
“You must have departed the boss chamber too quickly and missed the treasure that was yours by right. Our people laid claim to it on your behalf.”
Ben and Eve exchanged amazed glances. Ben stepped forward and accepted it.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” Ben said.
The elder waved a dismissive hand.
“As I said, it is yours by right. No thanks are necessary.”
Ben nodded and looked at Eve. She gave him a knowing look.
“Don’t even think about giving that to me,” she typed.
Ben chuckled.
“It would only be fair. I got the first one.”
Eve started to type, then paused. She bit her lower lip in thought. Her wolf mask hid most of the subtle, devious expression on her face.
“Then you’ll just have to find a good way to pay me back,” she typed.
Ben raised a brow.
“Oh? Like how?”
Eve placed her hands behind her back and swayed in her patented Eve way.
“I’ll tell you when the time is right.”
Ben noted her playful confidence.
“She’s getting bolder,” he thought.
A surprising sense of comfort settled over him. Her presence was refreshing, and he did not try to fight it.
“Just be reasonable later,” he said.
“No promises.”
Ben sighed.
“What did I just get myself into?”
He decided not to dwell on it. Instead, he focused on the attribute crystal. Anticipation built as he inhaled deeply and activated it.
Radiant white light engulfed his body. Nearby orcs shielded their eyes as they witnessed the transformation.
He shone like a star. When the light faded, he looked unchanged, but his attributes told a different story.
[Name: Benaiah]
[Level: 11]
[Class: Caller of Angels]
[Rank: God Tier]
[Rarity: Hidden Exclusive]
[Attributes]
[Strength: 68]
[Dexterity: 68]
[Agility: 68]
[Constitution: 68]
[Intelligence: 68]
[Wisdom: 68]
[Faith: 136]
Eve stared in awe at his stat sheet, then compared it to her own.
[Name: Eve]
[Level: 11]
[Class: Soul Warden]
[Rank: God Tier]
[Rarity: Hidden Exclusive]
[Attributes]
[Strength: 19]
[Dexterity: 19]
[Agility: 19]
[Constitution: 19]
[Intelligence: 33]
[Wisdom: 33]
[Faith: 55]
His Faith was nearly three times hers. His healing would be vastly stronger. His faith-based attacks would be devastating. Even his lowest stats exceeded those of most elite players.
The thought resurfaced.
He didn’t need her in combat.
Eve forced herself to accept it.
“He said I’m doing enough. I have to believe that,” she thought.
Still, she fidgeted as she looked at him. Ben noticed the shift in her mood but said nothing.
“Truly, you are a great warrior. I can practically feel your power. It is extraordinary,” the elder said.
Ben looked around at the wide-eyed orcs staring at him. They were clearly shaken.
Though he appeared unchanged, his presence now carried weight. It affected the NPCs around him.
“Is this what Master-tier Faith feels like?” Ben thought.
He looked around at all the awestruck faces.
“Don’t forget where this power truly comes from,” Ben declared.
“Jesus Christ!”
The innocent voice of an orc child rang out through the encampment. Ben smiled at the child and made the sign of the cross. A few of the children mimicked the gesture in innocent wonder.
“Exactly. All glory to Him.”
“Speaking of which, you will be happy to know that, with great enthusiasm from a few of our clan, I have written to the northern kingdom to invite their missionaries back to our camp as guests. Not all our brethren will be receptive, but I cannot deny the will of those who want to hear more about this Jesus.”
Ben nodded in satisfaction.
“You lead your people well. The next time I see you, I hope it is as a brother in Christ.”
The elder held up a hand defensively.
“Just temper your expectations. Our traditions are a core part of who we are. We will listen. That is all we can promise.”
Ben smiled warmly.
“That’s plenty.”
Satisfied, Ben whistled. White Fang burst from the trees and bowed before him. Ben smiled at the massive wolf and extended a hand toward Eve.
“My lady.”
Eve snapped out of her thoughts, smiling as she took his hand. Ben helped her onto White Fang’s back before mounting in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his back.
“So,” she typed, “where to next?”
Ben pulled up his map interface to scan nearby zones. Before he could decide, a notification appeared.
[Marcus and his party from Zone 21 on the American Server are the first to defeat the Bog Serpent Dungeon Boss. Rewards: 200 Gold, 1 Platinum Chest, 1 Platinum Key, and 200,000 Experience.]
Ben’s eyes widened.
“Someone already cleared a level 10 raid dungeon? Did they really catch up in the single day I was logged off? I thought I had more time.”
Eve sensed the tension immediately.
“Ben?” she typed.
He turned to her, his expression sharp and focused.
“Strap in. We’ve got work to do.”
Eve blinked, then straightened. She adjusted her grip on his shoulders and nodded.
White Fang took off at full speed. This time, Eve did not scream. The raid had honed her riding proficiency, boosted her confidence, and prepared her to follow him wherever his path would lead.
Together, Ben and Eve surged forward with renewed determination, ready to face whatever came next.
