Day 6, Arthos looked around the large central training room and noticed distinct changes in the avatars. Some avatars looked taller and more muscular, others looked curvier and more agile. Arthos' own avatar started to resemble him closer with short golden color hair and golden color eyes.
"Looking good! Looking good!" Wain said as he approached Arthos with a bright smile. The two were excited to reach the end of the training sessions and start their careers as heroes.
"Your avatar is really starting to look like you." Arthos replied with a smile.
In truth, Wain's avatar looked almost identical to the real person except for the fact that the avatar's skin and height were an improvement.
!ALERT!
[New Quest - "Trial by Fire, part 6" has arrived]
[Trial by Fire, part 6 - please line-up by door 21]
"What door are you assigned to?" Arthos asked.
"21 and you?"
"21 as well…is it just me, or is our number decreasing? I think yesterday it was 38 and the day before it was 51," Arthos replied.
"Perhaps the number assignment is not random, perhaps the better your performance the lower your door number." Wain said as he thought about the implications of such assessment.
As the two boys approached the door, they spotted a familiar figure.
"Is that…is that Kristan?" Arthos whispered.
No response came from Wain.
Arthos glanced over at this companion only to see him blushing profusely while gawking like a love-struck teenager.
Kristan was also an orphan living at the Last Stop Orphanage (the girl's wing). She and Arthos had been together in the same orphanages from years. In fact, she was perhaps the one person he knew the longest. Memories of transferring from orphanage to orphanage sprung to his mind. Most of these transfers were done in groups in which he and Kristan were always part of. It was always the same story at every orphanage they went…the boys always gawked or whistled at her…followed by Kristan beating up a string of boys brazen enough to try something funny.
The best way to describe Kristan is a "16-17 year-old version of Wonder Woman." She was tall and lean but with a well- defined and curvy figure. At first glance, what impressed the most about her was the way her dark hair contrasted with her blue eyes and pale skin…it gave her an exotic beauty look. The second thing that stood out about Kristan were here blue eyes…aside from their beauty, her eyes held a defiant spark that gave her a fierce countenance.
People (specially men) were immediately drawn to her because of her striking and beautiful form and appearance…this magnetic attraction did not last long. Within minutes, most people felt a ense of fear or danger…as if standing next to a caged tiger capable of untold ferocity. As a result, she too was a loner. Over the years Kristan and Arthos developed a familiarity similar to a brother and sister.
Door 21 opened, and the group silently walked in mentally prepared for the combat simulation.
!ALERT!
[Quest - "Trial by Fire, part 6" updated]
[Trial by Fire, part 6 – work in teams to defeat the training robots]
Thirty training robots appeared from the ground…far more than the previous days. The other eight students rushed eagerly into combat with mostly swords and proceeded to engage the robots.
Arthos and Wain teamed-up and defeated 3 robots quickly and easily with their well-coordinated combinations. Mid-battle they spotted Kristan charging at a group of 3 robots clustered together. She jumped straight at the group of robots, smashing her shield (taken from a defeated robot) against them. It was an impressive sight, like watching a Viking berserker…with her left hand she blocked sword strikes while simultaneously shield smashing opponents throwing them off balance. This was followed up by powerful one-handed sword chops with her right hand.
Kristan managed to defeat two of the three robots clustered together. As she engaged the third one, another two robots closed in from her blind spot. Caught off guard, she clumsily blocked an attack causing her to drop her shield and stumble…surrounded and with no shield, the robots closed in for the kill.
Without exchanging words, Wain unleashed consecutive powerful fireballs while Arthos dashed forward piercing the nearest robot straight through the chest. The attack succeeded in defeating the robot but caused his sword to get stuck inside of it. Arthos abandoned his sword and grabbed another sword dropped by a defeated robot. To his amazement the robot's sword seemed lighter and sturdier than his own. He swung hard at the next opponent, defeating it in one strike.
"I don't need your help…I can take care of myself." Kristan said pointedly.
"Yeah, we know…just trying to level-up…can't let you take all the experience points." Arthos replied mildly.
"Hey guys! We have a big problem!" Wain interrupted.
"Reinforcements? It looks like there are 30 more robots coming this way…" Arthos said as he scanned the room. Surprisingly, additional robots were appearing…however, these new ones appeared thicker and heavier than the previous ones.
"EVERYONE! WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER!" Arthos shouted.
Two other trainees ignored him and attacked independently...they were quickly overwhelmed by the large enemy numbers and defeated.
"STAND TOGETHER OR WE DIE! THERE IS NO TIME! TOGETHER!" Arthos kept shouting.
Hesitantly, the remaining trainees huddled next to Arthos and Wain.
"These robots look heavier…probably higher defense. We need to work as a team to beat them. Kristan you take the front…focus on shielding…you will be the tank." Arthos said as he improvised a plan.
"You three guard her right and left flank…when you see an opening attack fast and hard. Thrusts work better against these robots…archer attack from the rear. Wain, provide buffs and attack from rear…light up those tin-cans."
No one argued with the plan…there were too many robots and not enough time. Despite being thrown together at the last minute, the team performed well. Kristan excelled at tanking with her ferrous strength and savage shield smashes. The archer and Wain unleashed nonstop attacks which weakened the enemies allowing Arthos and the three other attackers to finish them easily.
!ALERT!
[Quest - "Trial by Fire, part 6" updated]
[Trial by Fire, part 6 – completed]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
"It looks like the XP was divided evenly among us…seems fair." Wain said as he examined the system notifications.
Without a word, the other party members exited the room.
"You are welcome…stupid metas." Kristan said sarcastically.