The Earth After Rebirth

'Is she insane? if she's that close and attacking with mana arrow, she'll get the full effects of the explosion too!'

He could sense the power and danger that resided within the arrow. His every muscle screamed at him 'danger'. But there was absolutely nothing he could do to avoid that.

Just as it was about to reach him, he managed just another tiny step backwards hoping that would slow down its impact and be favourable to him. All he needed at that moment was for lady luck to be on his side.

The vibrational attack he'd sent arrived at the heart just in the nick of time. Though he doubted that would change much, since he could already feel the attack on his very skin. Find adventures at m_v l|e'm-p| y r

He first felt a warm sensation that he thought he could welcome if that was all there was to it. Then a sharp pain wove itself between his flesh and bones. It felt a tiny thousand needles were actively prodding at his skin and bones.

'Ah f*ck. What's this robe good for, if it can't even protect me from attacks like these. Ancient my ass.' He complained as he blasted through the air and onto the rocks, which broke on impact.

Ding!

[Congratulations. You've discovered the heart which Prometheus uses to toy with unsustainable travellers. You've absolutely destroyed it, hence angering him. Any hopes of striking a harmonious relationship with him have been squandered. Good luck guardians, and you.]

Kiro coughed from the distance, attempting to get up without using his very numb hands. While everyone seemed as if a veil was lifted, they still couldn't forget the words they've heard.

"There was such an option? To make him our buddy? This system is atrocious!" He cried, he couldn't believe they were robbed off that good option because the system purposely failed to mention it.

Even with his cries, none of his comrades turned to look and enquire what he was complaining about. They were no longer attacking each other, but the animosity for each other in the air couldn't be denied.

Isla too looked at him strange, he tried to shrug it off by giving her his best smile which didn't seem to work. He sighed deeply, not believing that his hard work didn't achieve much.

He immediately understood why the god of this mountain used such tactics, playing on people's insecurities, even if it was an illusion, the lingering feelings will still remain. It was absolutely unfair, according to Kiro anyway.

And even now that they were no longer under the illusions clutches, they were more aware of their feelings which they buried deep, not wanting to deal with them. To make matters worse, the poisonous words were said by some of the most people they trusted or liked.

It seemed the game's mental gymnastics were far from over. The challenges in this game weren't only physical but also mental, which Kiro thought was strange, it wasn't this extreme in his past life. The only one he remembered vividly was the passage from beginner's village to the capital.

Not unless players chose to hide it. Hell, there were no guardians, or even harbingers and there were even less true bloods in his past life, no gods either.

While the changes set him on edge, he appreciated the deep rich lore they've given the game. The Hubris storyline was also quite something special.

'Hubris, are you a good king? I wonder.' This whole ordeal, the uncertainty of it all reminded him of the Underworld.

He managed to stand, his arms were still numb from taking the blast. His energy was cut in half, he realised that the moment the heart was destroyed, Isla managed to minimise the damage but barely. Even though she did that, she was still eyeing him different.

"Okay, everyone, drop your guards. You've just experienced a nasty mindf*ck but I managed to break it. I'd appreciate it if we didn't let this deter us, as we have a mountain to clear." His words didn't seem to pierce through their hard exterior they managed to quickly shield themselves with.

Being a leader was starting to wear him down. Especially when he didn't ask for four more additions for this particular quest.

"I can't stop you from glaring at each other, but I swear, I'll level down anyone who attacks another. I know what you heard, but instead of blaming the person you're facing, look within. The game is messed up, no doubt. But it forced all of us to face things we wanted to keep at bay. Be guardians for f*cks sake.

Take pride in that and let's topple this mountain." He was exasperated by the end, as he didn't mean to give them a speech.

Their eyes were starting to light up when a wave of heat hit them. Then it sounded like the sky itself was speaking to them, there was no sun just crimson clouds with occasional lightning bolts roaming around.

That coupled with a thunderous voice from the skies, made it seem like the mountain itself was a being and the sky was its mind, while the earth was its body. It was a new experience, one Kiro wasn't sure they were ready for.

'I have a feeling, I'm going to regret dragging them over here!'

"Topple this mountain?" The voice with an invisible body echoed throughout, it laughed as it said.

They couldn't help themselves, they all took their eyes off each other and looked at the sky directly. There was something charming about it, almost hypnotic. In a way that didn't calm them, it only served to terrorise their minds a little more.

"I'd like to see you try, genuinely. You're very amusing, and I smell that stupid monkey from you, no doubt you will be entertaining. If you make it to my throne room, I'll spare you. But don't think traversing this mountain will be easy."

Kiro loved a good challenge, his lips were already quivering. He wanted to smile but he was stopping himself at the same time, which gave him a crazed look.

He wasn't the only one who accepted the challenge in their heart, Felix was buzzing with excitement. Kiro could feel him, despite the distance between them.

It couldn't be said that what they've went through had disappeared but it was well in the back of their minds. They had a clearer goal, which was reaching the throne room, wherever that was.