Chapter 268 - Episode 268: An Empire.

*Ding Dong*

I'm in my room when I hear the doorbell ring, I look outside the window and see two delivery guys are standing in front of the lawn. I jolt from my seat and I almost trample on the headset cable, I run down the stairs with a huge smile on my face, my mom is getting out of her room and looks at me running down the stairs hurriedly, she looks so confused but she still can warn me to be careful and not running down the stairs.

I open the door and the delivery guys are smiling at me and I look at the huge box behind them laying on the ground, I'm clenching my fists while grinning happily and walking down the stairs and giving them my sign. One of the delivery guys is looking at me while pointing at the package.

"Where do you want us to put this?"

I'm pointing at my house while I'm still smiling in excitement.

"Follow me!"

The delivery guys nod and carry the package into my house, my mom is looking at me from the stairs.

"What's that, Allen? That thing is huge! Where are you going to put that thing?"

I look at my mom while grinning happily.

"This is it, mom! The gaming pod for the game that has been trending in the world! I finally have the money to buy this pod!"

My mom walks down and looks at it with disbelief.

"Wait, how much money did you spend on this?! I heard this thing is super expensive!"

I'm grinning while rubbing the bottom of my nose.

"Well, I got it cheap because it was on sale during Christmas. I paid half of the price while dad paid the rest, we both are going to play this game tonight but since dad is still at work, I'm going to use this first until evening!"

My mom is sighing while crossing her arms.

"My goodness... anyway, just hurry up and put that thing somewhere and don't make a mess!"

I salute my mom while grinning.

"Yes, Ma'am!"

After I'm done installing the pod into our gaming room, I look at how beautiful and shiny this pod is. I'm just sitting next to it and mesmerizing it for a moment, but then my older sister comes in and looks at the pod, she looks uninterested with the pod and just staring at me at the door while eating her ice cream.

"Are you just going to stare at it like a creep? Just go and play it already."

I look at my sister and click my tongue.

"Oh shut up, Leah! Why are you here anyway? What do you want? You never step your foot in this room before. Wait, don't tell me you want to try it as well? But unfortunately, you can't because you didn't pay for it!"

Leah is snorting and giggling at me.

"LOL! Shut up, nerd. I just want to see the pod, that's all. By the way, don't forget to drive me to Jesse's house tonight!"

I raise my eyebrow.

"Will I get paid?"

Leah sighs while rolling her eyes.

"Fine, I will buy you a cheeseburger on our way to Jesse's house. So don't forget! Or I will do something horrible to that pod."

I smile and nod.

"Alright, that's a deal. Now leave!"

Leah chuckles and leaves the room and closes the door behind her.

I take a deep breath and put myself inside the pod and look at the ceiling while putting the helmet on.

"Alright, it's time to play!"

(A few hours laters in-real time)

I'm sitting on the bench in Sarkh Village, I still can't believe that this is a game world. This feels so unreal and too good to be true, not to mention the NPCs are like real human beings and I can start a conversation with them with any topics and they seem to know what I'm talking about. The tutorial was fun as well, but I heard the tutorial NPCs were different back then compared to now because the two NPCs got replaced and the tutorial quests are totally different from what I heard when the game launched almost a year ago. I remember the reason why they did that is to make everything looks new and the new players can experience something new and I'm totally agreed with that.

I stand up and stretch my body and arms then I clench my fists.

"Alright! I'm the Second Generation player and it's time for me to make name for myself!"

I leave the Sarkh Village through the south gate, I look at the plain field and the farm in front of me. I close my eyes and take a deep breath because the smell of this place is somehow very relaxing.

"What the hell were you doing in there that took you so long, Allen?"

A dark purple-haired guy is crossing his arms with a two-handed sword on his waist. I look at him and I'm surprised to see Aven is wearing high-quality armor and not just him but Chris, Ilvia, and Ian as well.

"What the hell, Aven! You're already this strong?! Not just you, but all of you as well! How long have you guys been playing?!"

Aven is chuckling while smiling at me.

"We have been playing for 4 months now, by the way, which faction are you going to apply to?"

I look at them and raise my eyebrows.

"Which faction are you guys in? I want to follow you guys."

Ilvia crosses her arms and points at the east.

"We are in the Alliance Kingdoms faction, Ven. Right now the Alliance Kingdoms is the strongest faction compared to the Aarus Empire and the Eluna Empire. You can get rare equipment by just doing raids in the Tombs of Kings, don't worry all the players are willing to help now so you will get the equipment you needed for now and once you reach our level then we can do raids together maybe we can try the Maelstrom of Abyss and the Lost Dynasty, Mauron Empire."

Ian is shaking his head with disagreement.

"No, there's no way we can clear the Lost Dynasty, our level is too low even back then when the Ophiuchus cleared it for the first time they lost more than 90% of their raid members. We are talking the best players here and they barely made it."

I look at them and raise my eyebrows.

"Wait, what's your level?"

Chris looks at me and raises his eyebrows.

"We are level 311 and to be honest it's really hard to gain a level from now on and you can catch up with us easily since the monster's EXP is like a waterfall for you."

I'm shocked and look at them with disbelief.

"What?! You guys already level 311?!"

I remember that they told me a story when they met Trevor and Ivonna in a Pit of Hell dungeon and they both killed the boss monster like nothing. I don't believe it at first but then I saw one of Grisell's videos on Utube and when I saw how they massacred World Boss Queen Arachne a month ago, I immediately believe them.

Ilvia then snaps her finger while looking at me.

"Oh by the way, since you're online at the right time, you should come to the event."

I look at Ilvia with confusion.

"Event? What event? I haven't heard any event that's ongoing right now."

Aven is wrapping his arms around my neck.

"Just follow us, you will see what kind of event we are talking about."

Chris opens a portal for us and then we enter the portal, I have no idea where are they taking me to, but I believe they're going to give show me something unbelievable."

I get out from the portal and the sun is blinding me so I put my hand over my eyes so I can see, but then as soon as my eyes are adjusted with the brightness I see a massive wall and a castle so tall that I can see from beyond the wall. My jaw is dropping and look around, I'm standing in front of a fancy stone bridge with players are coming in and out from the place. I look at Aven and the others with confusion.

"Holy sh*t! What's this place? I have never seen this in the forum?!"

Aven and the others are just chuckling at me and then Ilvia grabs my hand and pulls me while she's walking onto the bridge.

"Just follow us, you will be amazed when you see what's beyond the wall."

I'm so excited that I start running ahead of them, I look around me then I look at the sea below the bridge and it's so beautiful, Aven and the others start running as well to catch up with me. I'm standing in front of the huge steel gate and then the ground is shaking because the gate is opening so the players can enter. I can wait to see what's behind the gate while trying to take a peek, and as soon as the gate is totally opened, I see the castle in the middle above the hill and it's so huge that I need to turn my head around to see it.

Aven taps my shoulder and then he spreads his arms open.

"Welcome! To the Ophiuchus Empire!"