God's Avatar

Filthy Presence

Two months later.

The night descended on an isolated forest yet the extravagant lights of the Estate are still shining brightly in the center of the clearance. In a certain location within the estate -

The office of the Captain is located on the second floor of the Estate, seated there was obviously the captain. Sipping his coffee as he read the contents of the paper he has on his right hand. He looked in front of him where a man in traditional wuxia Chinese clothing was sitting in front of him. It was Jasper Ramos.

Wearing a tense expression on his face, he recalled everything all the things that the teams did in the past two months.

Incidentally, the reason he is having a tense face is that he is appointed to be an observer of the team’s practice. His job is not to overlook and report if any discovery within the usage of skills is found among them.

Many seconds had passed, beads of sweat started to trickle down on his face. He is confident of his reports. There should be no mistake as he was working diligently on the task. But why is he feeling so tense as if Ethan is going to eat him?

He took a simple glance and saw Ethan’s furrowed expression. He keeps glancing at Jasper and returning it at the paper.

“Is this all?” Ethan simply asked.

“Yes captain, all of them were to use their skills and abilities. Most of them are destructive and off the scale. We don’t know what’s causing it but I reckon it’s from our high stats. Also, we found out that we can use other class items without restriction. We were able to wield it and use it without penalty. But-”

“It’s not powerful? Am I right?” Ethan interjected. Jasper slowly nodded his head in affirmation.

Judging from the information they had on the past two months. All of their skills can be used. Passive skills, buff skills, and debuff skills. The term off-the-scale is the only word that can describe the powers of the Battle Gods. They were able to flatten out the forest with just one stroke of a sword, vaporize mountains, evaporating lakes, and so on.

Meanwhile, weapons from different classes can be used without restrictions. In the game, there is a restriction that even if you acquired a divine item, if it’s from another class, it will be marked locked and therefore unable to use. The only thing that you can benefit from it is to sell it to the players in need of that item. However, even if you can wield weapons from another class, its power is significantly reduced. So it’s useless anyway.

But that’s not the end of the report.

“Tell me about these ‘additional abilities’” Ethan asked.

“Those additional abilities are abilities that are not included in the skill tree. For example, Matthew was able to conjure fire on his hand even though it was not in the original skill tree, Jericho was able to manipulate waters due to his innate class. The most interesting discovery is that Jericho’s trident is custom made and its flavor text has taken into effect.”

“Flavor text?” Ethan knitted his brows, keenly interested as he leaned over to hear more.

“Jericho’s trident is custom made right? We passed it on to the devs of the game and they will build it and ingrain the flavor text that we wrote. Jericho’s trident name is called ‘Trident of Neptune’ its flavor text is ‘Created from the holy materials of God’s, A trident that will grant the user dominion over sea and those who live on it’.”

“So, it made Jericho the God of the Seas?”

“Yes,”

“Sh*t, I shouldn't have trolled the flavor text of my weapon huhuhu.”

Ethan can only place his hands onto his face, crying jokingly. If he only had known the importance of flavor text. If he only knew then maybe he would not put nonsense in his divine greatswords.

He wiped his non-existential tears and returned back to the discussion. There is one content on the page that intrigues him, rousing his interest.

“According to your report, there is a town roughly 100 kilometers away from us. Can you tell me more about it?”

“The town is located 100 kilometers east from our location. The town name is called Poeta village, Though we didn’t interact with the dwellers yet, Angelica and Ian were able to tell that the town is clean and lively. They were scouting the village from a safe distance as we speak.”

Ethan contemplated for a second, in this typical scenario, their main goal is to gather information about this world. But before that, they must train themselves first in order to combat external threats. He ordered Angelica and Ian, whose class is suitable for scouting to find any human settlers located near them. This Poeta village is the only village that they found within 100 kilometers radius.

The town has lush green land and is filled with wildlife and plants. However, there is something disturbing that is threatening the idyllic atmosphere of the town.

“Captain, during their reconnaissance, they discovered monsters like goblins, ogres, and kobolds. They were active at night and tended to attack the town at midnight. They also found out that the human settlers here can use magic that does not exist in the game. The town is filled with soldiers from medieval ages and magicians capable of fending off the attack.”

“...”

Ethan took a sip of his coffee. He finished it before asking more questions about this monster. Coincidentally, those monsters exist in the game, though they are low-ranked mobs that can be killed by a level 1 player. He wonders how strong the monsters here in this world are.

If they miscalculate, even the slightest, it will affect their life in this world. They don’t even know who’s the strongest in this world, who’s the strongest mobs. And without them to compare their abilities and to their abilities, they are in a pinch here.

He placed the mug on his desk and glanced once more to Jasper.

“Do you think we’re ready to venture into this world?” He asked with a serious tone, interlacing his hands as if he were to decide on the spot accordingly to Jasper’s answer.

“I think we’re ready. Captain, as long as we use our divine class items, we will be able to survive in this world at ease. Of course with precaution.” Jasper said in confidence.

He curled up his lips at the bold answer of Jasper. In fact, he is expecting that answer. They waited patiently for two months to practice their skills and abilities, adapt to their body, and recuperate to their new surroundings. They’ve grown bored in this Estate, they were just eating and living here comfortably but they are losing the essence of the avatars they were donning.

The avatars are made to fight, to compete with other players, go on an adventure, and give players an immersive experience of the new world.

But what did they do? They stayed for two months so that they can prepare themselves to face the reality they are in right now.

“I think we should make contact with the humans here don’t you think? If I were to send someone I shou—.”

Shudder.

A mysterious presence crept within their bodies as Ethan and Jasper reactively look at the source. It was behind the office. They were looking towards the window but it was blocked by a curtain. But the curtain didn’t stop their senses, it was not a clear view that they are demanding, it’s the uneasiness that they are feeling and sensing in the direction where they were looking.

It is filthy and disgusting feelings that made them uncomfortable. They stood up and opened the curtain and looked at the horizon.

They were nothing but dark. But they were sure that there was something in the middle of the pitch-black forest.

“It’s 63 kilometers from here…”

Jasper said as he stared dumbfoundedly at the window. Ethan turned his head back and tilted his head questioningly.

“Yeah, I can sense it. But how did you know the distance?” He asked.

“If you focus on that feeling, you will be able to know where it was coming from. It gives off a white light with the distance overlaid on top.”

With his explanation, Ethan looked once more and focused on that creepy feeling. Until then, he can feel the disgusting and filthy energy that he is feeling, and then…

There was a light in a forest. It was not a light created by man nor by a natural environment. It was just a light that can only be seen in their sights.

“Should we investigate? Jasper suggested.

“Yes, but who…”

In the middle of an uncertain situation, the door of the office was roughly flung open.

“Ah, what the f*ck is that noise? If I were to find out who’s causing it. I will punish them severely...hm?”

Standing in the doorway was a tall and dignified man and wearing a golden armor. He is a young man with golden hair standing up like a blazing flame, handsome with an elegant face. His eyes, crimson like blood, visibly not those of a human, and whoever is stared at cannot but wither in front of mysterious radiance.

That man who rudely entered the office without saying beforehand is Jon. He saw two people wearing their surprised expressions. It seems like they were experiencing the same troubles, however…

“What do you mean by noise? And also, are you somewhat feeling tense by something indescribable?” Ethan threw a sudden question upon entering suddenly in the room.

“Yeah, and they are also noise.” He answered quickly, looking impatient, eager to find out who’s causing this.

“Well, you’re in luck. We can sense the source and it’s 63 kilometers away from here. We will investigate it immediately and take necessary—”

“No need. I’ll check it myself!” He declared, raising his voice boldly at the revered captain.

“Well, if you insist. I can let you...but if you were to face an enemy and you think you can’t defeat it...contact us through the menu…” Ethan ordered, unfazed at Jon’s intimidating aura exuding out from him.

“Is everyone feeling the same?” Jasper asked Jon who is about to turn his heels.

“I think so...but the perpetrator of this disgusting feeling will not be forgiven. Even if they are one of us. They should be punished relentlessly. I will show them my wrath for disturbing my peaceful sleep.”

Adamant and committed, Jon left the office and exited the Estate. A cool gentle breeze of the forest can be felt, the soft rustling of leaves, and the clicking noise from a variety of insects.

He looked in the direction of filth and stared at it as if he was thinking something.

“63 kilometers huh? I shall personally know the cause of this filth…” He said to himself while lowering his body slowly and then—

The earth trembles at the force, dust fly off and is scattered everywhere as Jon jumps with his might in the direction of filth.

He eyed his designated landing spot whilst in the air. He jumped so high that he could see the trees turning into the size of a grain of sand. He should have arrived at his designated place where the filth is being originated.

To Jon, it was filth that is making him uncomfortable, wanting to puke. Seconds later, he saw who’s causing it. He swung his right hand downwards and an empty space above dropped a thirty meters long cross-shaped relic to the ground, causing the earth to tremble, dust flew off in every direction.

Jon, splendidly landed at the top of the [ Holy Cross ] it was a level 16 offensive skill whose purpose is to crush its enemies.

But Jon didn’t use it to crush someone, he used the skill so that he won’t share the same ground of where the filth was.

“So it was the both of you who were responsible for releasing filth throughout the forest. I shall take your lives for causing troubles to the Gods!”