Chapter 96: A priority change

{Mark any spelling errors like you always do. I really like the help. I hope this chapter doesn't feel like a filler to you guys, but I want to develop characters thoughts and opinions on the change. As well as what they are going through. In my eyes its more character and world building, I hope its the same for you guys!!}

I've been walking in these new lands and I've come across no one. It doesn't help that I'm thoroughly lost as well. The more hours that pass the hungrier and thirstier I become, I guess that confirms the theory that food and water is now needed. I'm also feeling drained and unfocused, my body isn't working to the design of the game. That means other fundamental things that I cant see have changed. One of those being a heartbeat, when I put my hand on my chest I can feel my heart pumping. This is very strange to feel in Ancients World, despite how incredibly accurate the game world is all players lacked a heartbeat, why that is can only be explained by JX. 

While my mana aura quest is important, finding my family is more crucial to me. If my assumptions are correct then they made it to Ancients World too. Problem is I have no idea where they are, for all I know they could be a couple miles away or thousands. With the removal of the friends list players cant communicate with their friends and family anymore. The only way is to get into contact through other players, spreading by word of mouth. I can only guess how many made it to Ancients World, and how many of the ones that made it are lost. Its safe to say there will be missing persons, but no one will care.

I hate the fact this comes down to luck, and I hate that I have no way of finding out the status of other players. The only thing I can think of is using my lore tablet to see if it can provide an answer, but this situation is brand new and it will have no answers for it. Walking around has proved useless, but now I need to find food and water. I don't want to know what happens when someone goes to long without them now. Its early afternoon so I do have daylight left, best to stop looking for other players and find some food. While having a delicious meal sounds good, I'll settle for worms and slugs. As Cera begins to search and hunt for food others are having struggles of there own. One of these people being Wilted Rose.

This is pure and absolute chaos, I don't know what's happened and I find myself surrounded by players that were walking down the street when I was. The majority of the city was moved along with us, and to say that I'm alone right now is a fact. I don't know where any of my guildmates are or the status of the guild its self. I'm watching people with gear and robes walk out of the buildings, more and more keep showing up and I see no familiar faces. I think it would be best to lay low for now, if people found out I was a guild leader they would want me to lead. I don't have time to baby a bunch of casual players, I need to find out about my guild.

I walk away from the loud crowd of players talking and yelling. I need a quiet place to think, I find an old looking empty restaurant and sit down in one of the chairs. The environment is unlike anything I've ever scene, all of our modern buildings and businesses look old. Covered in foliage and grass, it looks like a literal concrete jungle. I have many thoughts that I need to sort through, but the first I need to address is communication. The player interface isn't showing anyway to communicate with fellow players, and from the crazy events that took place I can assume anyone without a character for Ancients World turned to ash.

How that happened is beyond powerful, turning billions to dust isn't a power that J&X has. So that means whatever happened wasn't J&X's doing, at least not purposefully. In the end they only know so much, and I doubt its enough to make a difference. So with billions dead, and no way to contact anyone you could call it a restart for humanity. Not in the traditional extinction, but its close enough. I wonder what happened to the players that were on when the change happened, did they also get sent to these new lands. Maybe they stayed right where they were when the change happened. The best way for me to get into contact with my guild would be to head to a familiar place, and that means finding a way out of these lands. While Wilted Rose makes plans, many NPC's of Ancients World are in chaos. One of these people being the new king of Zenith.

I cant believe what's happening, the reports that are coming in are almost unbelievable. Massive cathedrals appearing, one even tore its way up from under Zenith. Many of my best soldiers and mages are working to find out what it really is. It has proved invulnerable to all attacks, both physical and magical. There are also report of new people walking out of them, investigation has lead to the information that when new people die they resurrect at the cathedrals. Another reason to be wary of them now, I'm glad that none have appeared in my city yet. My country on the other hand is where I got these reports.

Another problem I have is the disappearance of Zern, Tieer has discovered that Zern left the location he teleported to. He might be involved with all this chaos, but jumping to conclusions isn't something I do. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with all these new changes, or how others are doing. I'm also convinced this is just the beginning of the changes as well. I should get into contact with the coalition soon, we will be sharing information about what's happened. All the people of Ancients World be them NPC's or players will find out the changes, but it will be a long process. The Adamo family is having a little crisis, and that's because they are missing one. Violet is in a particular mood right now.

Chris doesn't even know where Cera is so how can he be so calm right now, we watched him get sucked into the sky before anyone else did. We have no idea where he could be or what condition he's in. He could he be.... I'm overwhelmed with tears and a sense of doom. "He could be dead Alex... My baby boy can be dead..." I just drown out his voice as I think about the possibility. I cant lose Cera, he is my sweet pumpkin pie. My first son, he is the one that showed me that being a parent isn't horrible. I just cover my eyes as Alex continues to talk, in my sorrow I feel a little hand grasp mine.

I lift my head to see my youngest Marcus. "Its okay mommy, we'll find him!" I don't know why, but his words help me. I just grasp him and bring him into a hug, after a couple of seconds I feel my husband hug me while I hold Marcus. I look out from his grasp and I see Hailey, she looks reluctant to join. I just wave my arm at her to come over and she does. Soon we are all in a big family hug, and my panic dissipates. I didn't know how much I need this. I hear my youngest ask me a question I don't know how to answer. "Mommy, where are we. What happened to Uncle Marty?" My heart rips at the thought of Marty turning to dust.

I turn and see the pained expression on my husbands face, soon he toughens up like he always does. "I don't know Marcus, I just don't know..." We have been walking and searching for hours. We have come across other people too, but they are looking for their loved ones as well. "We should just rest for now. Its a good thing we had food on our characters before we logged off." We all take a seat under a big tree, we all start pulling food and water out. I don't know why, but after working so hard trying to find Cera I realize how hungry I really am. We eat and fill up, I really do hope Cera is okay. I don't know what I'd do if I lost him. As all of this is happening, Cera is also busy eating.

I was able to get a deer which is nice. Doing the dirty work to clean it wasn't fun though. I look as the meat cooks over the fire, the sun is just starting to set. I have everything I need for now, food and water wont be a problem for a couple day. I still haven't found any other players yet, either I'm really isolated or I'm not looking hard enough. I'm sure leaders rose up and have started leading the players to new areas, leaving all these streets and buildings empty. Kind of weird having dinner in the middle of the road. There is a first time for everything. Tomorrow I'm going to start flying, I'll move fast enough so others cant see me. For now I should just enjoy the silence I have now.