Chapter 421 - The Cathedral For Players

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~~~(POV: Hailey Adamo)~~~

~~~(Location: The City of Godfrey, Esis Kingdom)~~~

~~~(Time: 1:43 PM)~~~

We stand in front of the massive structure, and it's a beautifully designed building. It's something straight out of the Victorian Era on Earth. It stands tall into the sky and has several floors, almost an amount that shouldn't be possible with a design such as this. "This place is... Different..." Jasmine uses the best description she has.

The Ancients World, Or Gaia, hasn't experienced something like this. A style of building in a manner that Player Cathedrals are built. "Since the Player Cathedrals were made by the System. It's based on buildings from our world. A very long time ago, this was known as Victorian Era building." She hardly recognizes my words, and she lowers her head to look at the massive doors.

They're open, and we can see Players and NPCs alike. NPCs and Players have become friends, the ones before all this are here helping each other. Players give their friends all the help they can give them. It's nice to see the resentment for Players slowly disappearing. "Well... I'm as ready as I'm ever going to be..." She is nervous, and rightfully so. 

Jasmine slowly walks towards the massive opening into the Cathedral, and I follow right behind her. I don't know how long this will take for Jasmine to do, but she knows that we can take as much time as she needs, but not as much as she wants. There is a difference, and taking too much time on one thing when it can be done sooner is a burden on a lot of people.

My eyes look towards the many glowing gates that have NPCs going into, and a large platform in the back of the main hall where they're transporting back. Some look like they've seen hell, and others have a victorious smile on their faces as they open their player interfaces for the first time. Jasmine has a challenge ahead of her, but she can do it.

She doesn't waste any time and heads straight for a gate that will lead her to her trial. She stops in front of it to wait for me. As I stand next to her, there is a magical energy that comes from the gate. I know instinctively that I'm not allowed inside. "Just pray that whatever I'm about to face doesn't scare me into a vegetative state." She shouldn't make jokes like that.

I look at her, and I see that it's not actually a joke. She's being serious, and that does worry me. She steps forward and places her hand through the gate, and looks back at me as she holds it there. "It's a weird jelly that feels warm..." She takes another step, and she passes through the gate. It closes off behind her. I make my way over to one of the pews and take a seat.

My eyes are locked on the platform, and I know that she's likely facing her past as a slave in these trials. It's the only way for her to become a Player. To overcome and let go of the past, something that Sally did, and something that Jasmine has yet to do. "I wish you were here right now, Cera... You'd know how to help..." He would know how to help. He always knows...

I'm worried about my little brother and how he'll handle telling mom and dad what he knows. I handled it like shit, and mom and dad won't be different than me. "This seat taken?" A male voice comes from my left, and I see a man and woman. I wave in a motion saying it's open, and they take a seat. "I can tell you're waiting for an NPC." Genius this one.

He looks at the girl he's with, and they share a happy look. They're definitely in a relationship. "We're waiting for our NPC friend too. We've been traveling with her for a while, but she's struggled since she was an ex-slave." Small world for women here... It's sad that so many have been exploited and used in a way like that.

I let out a long sigh and finally decide to talk. I might as well entertain a conversation for the time being. "My friend has gone through the same thing as yours. All I can do is be here for when she fails cause she will. But I'll build her back up and get her to keep trying. Cause we're not leaving here until she's a Player." Jasmine will resent me for how hard I'll push her, but she needs it.

~~~(POV: Jasmine)~~~

~~~(Location: Trials to become a Player, Unknown Realm)~~~

~~~(Time: 1:53 PM)~~~

I know these walls... I know this stench... This fucking hellhole... The City of James and the source of all my pain and misery since I could remember. Being a slave is a fate worse than death, and loving after it is nothing but a bane. Being treated as a taboo to society and an outcast for things out of my control. My hand is resting on the handle of my blade.

The door up ahead leads to the chambers that fill my nightmares and the last stop for many women that were in the same situation as me. "Jasmine... My little pig... Where are you..." My body becomes rigid, and my breathing becomes labored. "Come service your masters..." I don't know what comes over me next, but all I can do is scream and unleash all my attacks.

The halls, the doors, the rooms... Everything is destroyed as I lay waste to everything in sight, and my bloodlust and fear mix into a chaotic emotion that I don't know what to call. "I'M NOT YOUR LITTLE PIG ANYMORE!!! I'M A FREE WOMAN, YOU MONSTERS!!!" I scream at the top of my lungs as I carve through bodies and faces I don't recognize.

Maybe I do. I don't know right now. All I see is red, and all I feel is fear and bloodlust. I don't know how much time passes, but it doesn't take long before everything in this mysterious place is destroyed. As I fall on my back, a floating translucent window appears in front of me... This is the screen Hailey would tell me about.

[Congratulations!]

[You have passed your trials, and you are now a Player!]

[To see your information, stats, weapons, gear, friends tab, and everything else! Just think or say System!]

My mind is in a haze as I read this... All the energy I have mentally is gone. The next thing I know, I'm being transported in bright light, and I see the ceiling of the Cathedral. In the next second, Hailey is looking at me from above, and she has a concerned look. "Did you do it? Are you a Player?" I give a single nod, and she beams a smile down at me. Picking me up in her arms.

~~~(POV: Cera Adamo)~~~

~~~(Location: The Palace in Greshina, Elven Kingdom)~~~

~~~(Time: 2:22 PM)~~~

I read the messages I've just received from Hailey, and Jasmine has become a Player. "Wow... She did it way faster than I thought she would..." That's amazing. It's a truly impressive feat that should be celebrated. Hailey is informing me that she and Jasmine will meet up in the capital of The Kingdom of Avalon. The City of Avalon.

I'm jealous that she gets to be there before I do, which means she gets to start on her tier-up quests before I can. Talk about a bummer. I am happy for her, though. She's done a lot to earn this. I'll also say it's great to have messaging back between Players and have our Friends lists restored. It makes things so much more convenient.

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A/N: Below this line, I'll be keeping Cera's player information. That way, I won't have to place it into the story above anymore. It takes about 180 words up.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.211]

[Exp: 40/100%]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden)]

[Stats] [Strength - 7095][Endurance - 7045][Dexterity - 7215][Speed - 8240][Focus - 19,660]

[Mana aura control: 6/100%]

[Health: 76,560,000,000/76,560,000,000] [Mana: 216,600,000,000/216,600,000,000]

[Stat Points: 200] [Armor rating: 500]

[Inventory] [Dice of Wayland (Divine)] [Hardened Tree sap Armor (Very Rare)] [The Witness (Legendary Sword)] [Fenrir's Whistle (Divine)] [Sally's Dresses 5x] [Camping gear] [Food Rations 3x] [Dried meat 3x] [Fishing poles 2x] [Fish 8x] [Festival Garbs 2x] [4x EXP Boosts]

[Passive Perks]

[Inheritor of the Sword] [Son of Heaven] [Slayer of Evil] [Holy Willow Trees Savior] [Finder of Legends] [The Divine who has Legend] [Destined for Greatness] [Dungeon Diver] [An Overachiever]

[Active Skills]

[Heavens light Lvl.74 325/7400] [Protected by Heaven Lvl.74 225/7400] [Slash Lvl..92 4600/21000] [Parry Lvl.68 80/6800] [Double Strike N/A] [Kingslayer N/A] [Raging Machine N/A] [Winged Glory] [Angelic Flight] [Divine Pressure Exertion] [Divinity Pulse] [Controled Fun]