Unlucky?Player

Chapter 215: Intense

[Player Night logged in]

"!!!!!He's here!!!!" Reed spat out the coffee from his mouth. After a week of waiting and hair pulling, he finally saw the notification he was waiting for. "SIR! He's here! Oh wait, Sir isn't here. I have to call him," Reed said to himself as he spoke to his phone. 

Meanwhile, in some other room, Kenny Smith was in a very important meeting that discussed the global event that would occur in a few months. Of course, this was the Linto raid, however, once again, it was only The Primordials guild that was privy to this information. After all, it was a quest they triggered fair and square.

"Sir, I understand that this Mocha character has earned it fair and square, but the public won't take this kindly. The Primordials were already the only squad to take part in the defense of Vraun, if such an event were to repeat, it would be hard to convince the others that we have no hand in any of this," 

"I agree as well sir. I understand that our most important policy is the fact that we do not interfere or change anything in the game. However, considering what this could do to our image, we might just have to bypass this policy,"

"Hmmmm," Kenny thought about everything that was said. It wasn't just these two. The majority of the marketing and sales division felt this way. "I take it you lot think I'm biased towards Night?" Kenny asked curious to see how his subordinates would answer.

"Nonsense sir!"

"We never suspected such a thing, pfftt"

"Who is this Night?"

"You are the embodiment of justice and equality sir!"

"I see, good, good. Anyway, we don't have to make any decisions immediately. It would be ideal to make such choices when Reed was here as well," Before he could continue any further, he could feel a buzzing feeling from his pocket. "I apologize for this, one second,"

"Reed, I told youthis is an important meeting," Kenny whispered into the phone. However, the very next second he stood up from his chair, "WHAT?! GIVE ME ONE MINUTE," he cut the call and took a few steps forward. It was only then he realized that he had to tell the others what had happened.

"Ahem. I apologize gentlemen. It seems there's an emergency. I understand that there's nothing else to discuss?" Kenny asked as he walked towards the exit.

"Of course sir."

"We understand sir, after all, a genius such as yourself has a lot to tend to,"

As soon as Kenny left, the others in the room looked at each other and nodded.

"Night logged back in?"

"Probably,"

"Yep has to be,"

Kenny rushed to his room where Reed tidied up the place and got the snacks ready. However, when he entered, he noticed something that was missing.

"Reed, where's the beer.." Kenny said in a dragged-out manner.

"Sir. There is no beer today," Reed gulped. The tension in the air was at an all-time high. However, before Kenny broke down, Reed showed him something else, "This calls for a special occasion" 

"I-isthat Code." Kenny's hands trembled as they slowly moved towards the bottle that Reed held. "Thi-thisis the most exquisite scotch..it's nickname is the fountain of youth..b-buthow did you get your hands on ttthis.?" Kenny's eyes teared up.

"Sir. What matters is that we have it. Not how we got it. Now let us commence the spying- ahem, I mean spectating." Reed said as he handed the bottle over to Kenny. Who was now kneeling and presenting the bottle to the sky.

Inside the game, Night was right outside the entrance to the Phantom Trials. As soon as he logged in, Shade was already kneeling right next to him. And on his face, blocking his vision was his cute little owl-dragon pet.

*KYYUYUU KRRURUYUUU*

Noctis licked his face without any mercy. Night was glad that his pet was doing okay. After all, after Blade's death, the small chaotic beast had been reluctant on doing anything. "Alright, alright I missed you too buddy," Night slowly petted his head. He looked over and noticed Shade quietly kneeling while looking down. "I missed you as well Shade," he patted the young Guardians head. "Get up now please, everyone's looking,"

"Of course, My Lord," Shade said as he got up. By now everyone there already figured that Night had some kind of an NPC following him around. Players who were often training in the sacred ground noticed that Shade was always there with Noctis on his head.

The dark-haired boy hadn't flinched even once, he calmly sat down and meditated, waiting for his Lord. It was weird but understandable that a player would and could do such a thing. However, once it crossed day three, people were concerned. Rumors about a player who died in the capsule but was still connected spread around. However, such a rumor was instantly broken when a courageous player decided to poke Shade on his shoulder.

It was only then that the people there had realized that Shade might just be an NPC. Although it was baffling, it wasn't impossible. After all, in the world's view, Night was the main character of Genesis, at least at the moment. And it wouldn't make sense that the MC didn't have an NPC following him.

"Ahem" Sketch cleared his throat. As soon as he was alerted that Night was there, he left for the sacred grounds. "It seems you are back. If you remember the wager, you have only one more chance," Sketch held out his hand, lying in the center of his palm was a red crystal, much like the one Night had once used to escape the trials.

"I won't be needing that," Night smiled after looking at the crystal. He made up his mind. If he had to set his heart to give it his all, then the stakes should be higher. "I'll be using my final attempt now,"

"Wait what?!!" Sketch was confused. Nobody in their right mind would even want to do such a thing. Failure meant the individual would be stuck there forever, there was absolutely no other way to escape. Of course, the only other way to escape would be to clear the trial, even in the case of ascenders or players. Players who attempt the trials and perish inside are respawned back inside the trial. 

"Please reconsider, it makes no sense for you to go to such lengths. Even Grand elder Taka would advise you against such a thing," Sketch tried his best to make sure Night wouldn't do such a foolish thing.

"Tell me, if I were to die inside, I would be stuck there until I clear the trials right?" Night asked as he looked up at the entrance. Shade, on the other hand, gulped after what His Lord had just said, even Noctis who was on his shoulder seemed to think that it was a bad idea.

"Ye-yes.but the dangers of doing that are far worse. The strain of dying or failing so many times would slowly impact your soul, and if it gets worse then there's no saying what could happen." Sketch said in a concerned tone.

"My Lord.." Shade looked down and gripped his hands. He wanted to ask Night to stay back, but at the same time, he could understand why Night wanted this power. He knew everything that had happened so far. "Good luck," Shade smiled. He trusted Night, and up until this moment, there was never a moment that Night had failed him or his expectations. Seeing Shade, Noctis calmed down as well, the beast knew exactly what to do and hopped onto Shade's head.

"Oy.why isn't Night taking the crystal"

"Don't tell me!! He's attempting to clear the trials without a return crystal???"

"Haiiijust why must he be so impulsive and daring" 

At this point, nobody there disrespected him. After all, it would be a waste of time to undermine him. Instead, it was better to disagree with his choice in a neutral fashion.

"Didn't he leave the trial mid-way before?"

"Yeahhe didand he didn't log in back for a week"

"You think he was depressed after failing or something?"

"If that's the case, then attempting to clear it without a crystal is the worst choice ever."

Night smiled and entered. As soon as he entered, he was welcomed by a familiar sound. However, there was something different about it this time, he felt that he had heard it somewhere before, although it wasn't exactly the same as the voice in his head.

[No return crystal detected!]

[Hardcore mode enabled]

[Intensity multiplied by two times]

[Number of possible mobs multiplied by two times]

[Damage dealt by opponents multiplied by two times]

[Trial intensity increased!]

[Trial intensity increased!]

[New challenge: Analyze and find the answer behind the previously attempted trial!

Condition 2: Clear the first condition to unlock]

[Rewards given at the end of the Phantom Trials multiplied by two times]