VIP System

The forest was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird calls as Leo and Ai reviewed the progress of their weekly quest. The dappled sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting a serene glow over their surroundings. Leo glanced at the floating holographic screen, which displayed their quest log.

"Alright," Leo said, his voice steady, "we've completed the first two items in the VIP dungeon. We killed 1000 slimes and 1000 wolves. Now we only need to submit our guild quests and clear one more non-VIP dungeon to finish the weekly quest."

Ai nodded, her eyes scanning the screen. "According to the log, you've already cleared one non-VIP dungeon after defeating the Orc Lord. We just need to find another one."

Roxanne, who had been quietly observing their discussion, stepped forward, "When I was taking shelter in a cave near Brokrun village, I sensed a dungeon to the north. It felt like a place filled with strong magic and creatures. It might be what you need for your quest."

Her eyes flickered with unease as she recalled the dungeon. "It’s not like any dungeon I’ve sensed before," she murmured, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "There’s something… wrong about it. The magic there felt ancient, like it had been sleeping for centuries, waiting for someone to disturb it." She hesitated, glancing at Leo. "I don’t know what’s inside, but whatever it is, it’s powerful. We need to be prepared."

She paused, then added with a whimsical tone, "You know, that cave reminded me of the time when I found a lost puppy there. Poor thing was shivering and scared, just like how I felt when I first sensed that dungeon."

Leo's forehead furrowed. "Alright..." He glanced at Ai, who simply shrugged. Turning back to Roxanne, he decided to press on. "So, how far is this dungeon from here?"

"It's about a four-hour walk to Brokrun village," Roxanne replied, her mind seeming to wander. "And from there, another two hours to the dungeon. It's quite a trek. We should start walking now if we want to make it before dark. It's funny, really, how time flies. It feels just like yesterday when I was hiding and found myself in that cave. Such a peaceful place, despite everything."

Leo, still puzzled by Roxanne's antics but pleased that she was opening up—an entirely different image from what she was just a moment ago. He looked thoughtful for a moment before turning to Ai. "Can you take us to that village like you did with the Dragon Lord's mansion?"

Roxanne's eyes widened in confusion. "What do you mean 'take us'?"

Ai smiled reassuringly. "I can teleport us there using Leo's system." She gestured with her hand, and the map appeared mid-air on a transparent screen. Then a keyboard-like screen floated below the map. She typed quickly, and as she hit enter, a pin icon appeared on the map. Ai tapped the icon, and a message popped up:

Move to Brokrun Village?

She tapped okay.

A brilliant magic circle appeared beneath them, glowing with a radiant light. The surrounding forest began to blur and dissolve, replaced by a sensation of weightlessness. In an instant, they were lifted off the ground, the scenery shifting rapidly. Roxanne's eyes widened, and she clutched at her dress as the ground seemed to vanish beneath her feet. Her breath hitched, and she glanced around, trying to understand what was happening.

They landed gently in the center of the village. The heart of the village was bustling with activity. Stalls lined the streets, vendors calling out their wares, and children playing around a large central fountain. The village exuded a warm, welcoming atmosphere despite its evident hardships.

Brokrun village, located north-east of the capital was reachable by carriages in about two hours. The village's main source of income was its animal byproduct processing industry, which included everything from various meat products to leather clothing. However, Leo observed the stalls closely, noting how they were virtually empty. The scent of smoked meat and spices that should have filled the air was faint, and many stalls had little more than scraps to offer. The villagers seemed to be managing with low stocks, but they maintained a hopeful demeanor.

"They seem happy despite the shortage," Ai remarked, observing the cheerful interactions around them.

Leo overheard a conversation between two villagers nearby. "I heard the monster that was slaying and eating our livestock has been defeated," one of them said, relief evident in his voice. "We can finally hope for our usual product flow to normalize."

"That's great news," the other replied, smiling. "Maybe we can start processing at full capacity again soon."

Leo turned to Ai and Roxanne. "Looks like things are turning around for them. Let's head north and find that dungeon."

Roxanne, her eyes still wide with lingering amazement from the teleportation, nodded slowly. "It's not far from here. We should have a good time. It's funny how life twists and turns. Just like when I first sensed that dungeon. It was a dark, stormy night, and I thought I'd never see the light of day again. But here we are, on another adventure."

Leo blinked in slow motion, his brow furrowing slightly as he tried to keep up with her sudden tangent. After a moment's pause, he tilted his head and asked, "How far did you say the dungeon was from the village?" His voice carried a mix of curiosity and subtle confusion, as if trying to anchor himself back to the original topic.

Roxanne refocused, her expression thoughtful. "From here, it's another two hours north. The path isn't too difficult, but it can get a bit dense."

They set off through the village, weaving through the narrow streets bustling with activity. The scent of meat and leather, although faint, hinted at the village's specialties. As they reached the northern edge of Brokrun, the path ahead led into a dense forest, the same one Roxanne had mentioned.

She was telling them about the village as they walked through it.

They were about to get out of the village when Leo suddenly felt lightheaded. His vision blurred, and he swayed on his feet. A notification flashed before his eyes:

Forced system update has been initiated.

Entering system update mode in 3 seconds.

Panic flickered through his mind as he struggled to stay conscious. "Ai, what's happening?" he tried to ask, but his voice came out as a mere whisper.

Before Leo's consciousness faded completely, Ai turned towards him. Her eyes were wide and unblinking, her face a mask devoid of emotion. As the countdown reached zero, his legs buckled, and he crumpled to the ground.

Roxanne knelt beside Leo, her hands trembling as she reached out to touch his shoulder. "Leo, wake up!" she called, her voice rising in desperation. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. Ai's sudden disappearance only deepened her fear. The cats meowed urgently, nuzzling Leo’s face, and Roxanne's heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

"I can’t lose him now," she whispered, the thought sending a wave of fear crashing over her.

The village around them seemed to blur and fade as Roxanne's heart pounded in her chest, trying to understand what had just happened.