Chapter 106 11: Bloodpine Forest Raid - Phase 1 [Preparation]

Twisted, gnarled trunks of blackened wood loomed overhead as the grey leaves rustled ominously in the wind. The forest's dance was hypnotic, branches reaching out like clutching fingers. The whispering leaves spoke secrets in a language known only to the twisted trees.

Zell stood with the group of ladies, split into two no longer near the centre where players were starting to gather, waiting for the raid to open.

Someone had discovered a clue after killing the monsters in Bloodpine forest, then shared the riddle to find out what it meant.

His post gained huge traction and went viral as millions of players wanted to get any advantage possible as the game's developers confirmed the real money trade system; thus, a few days ago, the raid's time, date and difficulty were already approximated by the leading guilds.

'It's just like the scene's from my memories, but once that portal opens...'

"Anya, Cryska, Griselda and Veronica, I want you four to stand in this spot and never move forward, no matter what. Only deal with the small goblins and monsters that will spawn from a portal a few steps to your right. Attack without mercy, don't wait for any command."

The four girls looked towards him, but none doubted his words, two being his battle pets, one bound to him as the same type of race with a strong link, feeling his worry and seriousness and the other one of the few that remembered their deaths in this place, as she nodded.

Tessa, Nora, Anya and Alizée waited for what he wanted to say to them.

Alizée felt amused by this boy that stole her daughter's heart; despite Tessa not admitting it, seeing her response earlier, she confirmed her daughter's feelings; although they might not be fully developed, she would watch this boy since, like him, she knew the truth behind this game.

"Okay, I will be back in a moment. We still have an hour before everything begins; Tessa, Nora, Anya Alizée, can you follow me?" His voice was deep and assertive before his body spun around and headed to the opposite side of the castle entrance, ignoring the villagers and players as they passed by."

"Wow, look at that party! It's all hot chicks with massive tits!" One raider whistled out before a gust of wind almost cut his health bar in half; Alizée then sheathed her sword, with left the hilt a few centimetres.

"Heh, idiot! You got rekt by a middle-aged woman! Haha!" His raid member mocked him after Zell's party moved to the overside of the strange horseshoe-type hills that wrapped around the village.

"They all had massive, juicy butts, though..." A younger male in the raid added he seemed to be named Lemon_Pope, a man who seemed to have car troubles in real life and quickly logged out when Zell's fierce eyes matched his.

Suddenly, he must have had "Overtime" work thanks to his bro saving his life.

Ignoring the idiots with a focused gaze and slightly fierce face, Zell marched forward, ignoring all the leering at the women behind them.

However, he made sure to remember each person and guild that seemed to say things that went too far; these were women he now identified as his and would not tolerate these bumbling fools leering at them.

'It looks like my Karma will suffer tonight...'

He didn't say this just because of his plan to slaughter them in the future; it was the fact Zell was going to use them to take the brunt of the assault while he dealt with the reinforcements that were weak but managed to surround the raid teams and eventually wiped them.

'It's a shame they don't realise this raid... If you die. There is no second chance of logging out. We die for real.'

[Zell keep secret, no tell?]

This forest was deep and dark, the canopy blocking most of the light, save for two blood moons hanging in the sky like baleful eyes.

The first, high in the sky, casting its rosy light upon the small village below, seemed to watch with a cold and unyielding gaze.

The second, rising over the horizon, its light casting a red glow upon the forest floor, seemed to beckon and draw the villagers deeper into the twisted woods.

'I won't tell them, Yanfra; you and the other girls are far too important to let these cowards flee in terror. Let them play their favourite game and experience a death game. Nobody can endanger my women, not even myself.'

A blood-red light illuminated Zell's face as he responded to her in his mind, causing his face to look more sinister and demonic while remaining regal and proud like a dragon.

[Z-Zell... You are a little different... Is this because we died... Has my failure changed you?] Yinfra asked herself.

[Don't blame sister, we both failed... This is how things must be... For Zell... For all of us.] Yanfra whispered.

Zell didn't hear their exchange as he walked forward; a powerful, commanding aura seemed to naturally ooze from every pore of his body while embers of crimson flames flickered from his eyes and body, adding to his majestic, muscular frame.

'Why is my daughter's crush so fucking attractive? I am not some stupid girl... Yet his presence seems to make my mind falter... my body seeks him... Even though I'm part demon now...'

Alizée tried to hold back her slightly increased heartbeat and feelings, taking slower breaths to calm her mind, yet deep inside her, the changes were unstoppable; slowly but surely, his demonic charm would bring her demonic blood under him, and what that would lead to only the pair will know in the future.

'Ah, his flames are so warm, hehe~ Zell... You are so charismatic; what should Anya do if you leave her one day? Maybe Anya should become a goddess... then she can watch you all the time and never let you escape her... even Mother changed because of you...!'

A slightly sinister plot, borne from her honest desire to remain by his side, began to form only in its early stages, but Anya was a fearsome woman...

Nora was a good girl, not thinking of anything unrelated, only clutching her staff and preparing herself to fight in this raid, her avatar the same as her form in Asteria's real world.

However, her neck was wrapped in black and white fur that grew from her body. Along with a lot more hair down there, she felt embarrassed but decided to ignore it, enjoying the cute white priestess dress that made her look pretty, accenting her lovely ass and perky breasts as she walked behind Tessa.

'Tessa seems to be worried right now... I hope she's okay.' her face keeps staring at Zell, alternating between an enchanted face filled with affection and a bitter, sorrowful look with sadness and pain...

As the party stopped close to the symmetrical side of the other group, Zell turned to look over to Veronica, whose eyes had never left his body since the moment they returned, her eyes filled with warmth and determination.

He nodded to her with a faint smile that caused him to look beautifully evil and charming as the girls turned away to avoid the excess charm of an incubus that he no longer withheld or restrained.

"I want you to perform the same as Veronica's group, hold off the reinforcements, wipe them out before they even touch the floor. You can handle it, right?"

His words were cold; narrowing his eyes and looked towards Tessa, Alizée and the others, a little sterner than before. Yet Tessa nodded, her eyes burning with resolve.

'I won't let you suffer! Let me prove to you how strong I can be... Never again will that scene happens!'

Tessa didn't know if he, too, returned, only finding it strange that they didn't join the main raid teams like last time; she wondered if it was a result of her returning to the past as she gripped her eastern sword tight because of the past error, now two katana were strapped to her left side, ready to draw the second should she lose her first.

'Zell... I want to know more about you; let's talk more after this raid... This time you won't die for me!' Tessa hyped herself as they looked down towards the small village in the centre of the woods, where everything would begin and end.

The village, built of gothic stone, its architecture twisted and bent like the surrounding trees, was small, consisting of only a few houses, a church and a market square. Narrow, winding streets and tall, ominous houses; the players went about their business waiting for the raid to start.

Still, they couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, the eyes of the forest upon them and the gaze of the blood moons following them wherever they went.

"I'm going now; good luck, girls. Remember, don't treat this as a game." He looked back towards them, and suddenly, the harsh cold face vanished; a warm and gentle face, the usual Zell, appeared. "Please, I beg you... Fight as if you would die in reality if you fall in the game."

Because he spoke in their private raid chat, the other group also heard his soft and slightly trembling voice, the girls linked to him via the system or through their exchange of passion and bodies could feel his severity. Thankfully Alizée learned just as much from the goddess who helped her grasp the fate of her daughter and Astra; nodding at the girl's solid response, his body leapt from the small hill, landing on the courtyards stone floor with a thud, cracking a few of them slightly.

Zell looked down to the hand that began to fill with black metal-like scales with a crimson tinge forming a large clawed gauntlet; in his left hand, a smaller Zweihander only around 140cm, much smaller than the past, while in his other, an axe with equal weight and slightly shorter length of 100cm with a broad head and thick blade, which looked brutal and fearsome, as the shimmering black scales covered his face, now looking like a demon with sharp white teeth and glowing red eyes, four horns splitting from the helmet where it's wings used to be.

Two dragon horns, tall and proud, pointing backwards and towards the sky in defiance.

Two Incubus horns, curled and pristine, both alluring and filled with charm to show his elegance.

A long, scaled tail, more than 200cm long, wrapped around his waist like a belt with a sharp, spiked tip. It could be a spear itself if extended against enemies.

His feet made loud clangs thanks to his black high-steel boots that marched towards the centre; only minutes remained before his second.. no.

His final chance began.

Quiet filled the area, most excited for the raid. Some tried to ask where he got that gear, but Zell set himself to "DND" do not disturb, which meant none of their messages or voices reached him, as he took deep breaths loosening his grip and tightening, preparing to fight against his "Brethren."

The village courtyard lay beneath the ominous blood moons,

A small island of light in the darkness.

Only a small bonfire in the centre provided little warmth and light as the twisted forest swayed and beckoned the players with its deceitful winds.

Players felt the eerie atmosphere; some were scared and overjoyed.

As the light of the blood moon flickered, the lock on the castle gate began to open with a loud bang.

The raid's first phase was about to begin.