It was 2 am. The night sky's jewels danced to the rhythm of the moon's shine. It was a time. A time to admire, a time to ponder, a time to retrospect. Something Zein wanted to do. Oh, he wanted to do it oh so badly. To just sit by the exit of the Serpent's den and feel. God knows he couldn't do it on Earth for its artificial lights never dimmed. God knows he can't do it on Nedline, for Johnny wanted to keep the party going.
"Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Johnny ran in place, knees reaching his chest. A man unchained; his fear disappated.
Zein stared at the revitalised ball of energy, knowing he had no choice in the matter. He dragged his fingers along the sand; its fine grains slipped through like hair. Zein, ensuring Wu didn't wake to his movement, stood. He held his little pal in his scarf while he dusted the and off his paws.
"You ready?" Zein asked.
"I'm super ready!" Johnny punched the air.
"I don't think you're ready, though." Zein teased.
"I am! I am for sure! I swear on… Um... Ren!"
"Alright, alright, I like the confidence! Let's keep that up for Ren's sake."
They ventured back into the desert, following the scent of adventure. Zein checked an online map every other minute, ensuring they weren't lost in the sands infinity. Johnny, anxiety rising the longer they wandered, followed Zein without a word.
They felled cacti and scorpions on their way, gaining exp and, finally, a level. Wu's progression slowed down dramatically once he reached the 20s, but his itch to fight only grew.
"Oogie! Oogie Oogie!" Wu complained.
"You'll get your turn, Wu. But not yet, okay?" Zein soothed.
***
Babel was buzzing with the news of the former number 1's return. There was excitement, there was speculation, there was anxiety, and then, there was Himmel. A man who had woken up to his guild being quieter than normal. Every step he took felt louder as the stares of his guildmates intensified. "What's he going to do?" Their eyes spoke to him. And it drove him insane.
Himmel charged through his door like a bull seeing red. Inside, Sita awaited, scrolling through her tablet.
"Good morning, Himmel."
"Sita." Himmel raised his hand. "Care to explain why I am being looked at like I am on trial?"
"Probably 'cause of this." Sita left her tablet on the table with a video from a newly created You'be channel.
Himmel snatched the tablet while making his way over to his seat. He watched a gang of thirty people surround 7 adventurers. All were familiar faces apart from 3 of them. He watched them declare war. He watched them get dismembered. One by one by one. And one name rang clear. Zeizei.
Himmel understood then. The stares. The silence. He didn't know how to feel. To express anger at Kalel for lying through his teeth. To express disgust at himself for gloating to the man he stole from. To express guilt for the actions of their past.
Himmel sank into his seat, tablet still in hand. He replayed Kalel calling out to Zein over and over and over again. Sita, attempting to tune out the audio, stood by patiently.
"Am I a bad person?" Himmel asked.
"Will you be asking me this question every day?" Sita returned.
"Maybe." Himmel answered.
Sita thought for a moment, studying her boss's face. She knew the answer he wanted. Yet-
"That's something only you can answer. I am just your secretary."
Himmel nodded, understanding. He stared at his purple ring; Its gold was blinding under the sunlight. It was his salvation. It was his shame.
***
On a dune miles away from the Serpents Den, Zein scanned the peripherary in search of what Johhny presumed to be their target. Meanwhile, the cowboy and the monkey laid on the sand, watching the moon with a pout.
"Where is this thing!? I wanna fight it already!" Johnny thrashed in the sand.
"Oogie oogie!" Wu copied the cowboy.
"Aren't you pumped? We'll be fighting her in a bit." Zein assured.
"A bit!? It's been 10 minutes! I'm getting sleepy!" Johnny whined.
"Why don't you go to bed then? It is getting late."
"No! I don't wanna sleep!"
"Are you sure you won't fall asleep during the battle?"
"No! I promise! On my mom-" Johnny paused. "No, on Ren's life I promise!"
"Poor Ren, you're stacking a lot of promises on him." Zein chuckled.
"He-he'll be fine. He'll be fine."
"Oogie oogie!" Wu climbed onto Zein's back.
While adjusting Wu, Zein's eyes narrowed, locking onto a moving robe. The being
was hooded and dragged their feet along the sand, leaving a trail.
"We've found our man, let's get going!"
"Finally!" Johnny pushed himself to his feet and dusted the sand from his shirt.
"Oogie!" Wu said excitedly. The little monkey climbed some more and perched on Zein's shoulder.
The trio ran towards the mysterious being. A run which lasted exactly 10 seconds as Johnny tripped over his feet and rolled down the dune.
Sliding down behind, Zein lifted the embarrassed, hat-clutching cowboy to his feet, and they continued their chase.
The being never got closer. No matter how hard they tried, the being never got closer. The trio ran as fast as they could, and the being never got closer. How odd. Zein thought. This little ring-a-round led them further and further away from the Serpent's Den. Zein expected the lack of enemies but not a trailing mission. The starry night didn't make their journey any easier.
Zein dug through the folders in his head, looking for any information on the Nedline Traveller. Rumors, stories, lore, glitches, anything. But he kept coming up empty. This was his forte, and he was failing. He tried scanning the forums for answers, and he got nothing. This was new to him, just like Babel. He hated how he felt, unlike Babel.
"You think this guy's leading us to the big monster thing?" Johnny wondered.
Click!
"They updated it... They updated it!" Zein laughed, uncontrolled and free. A situation which puzzled the young boy. Zein began to love the experience, just like Babel.
The trio climbed and slid down a dozen dunes, with each pile of sand becoming more recognisable to the cat. Zein grinned the closer they got to their final destination, a destination they reached 5 minutes later.
The mysterious man came to a stop. He stood within a wide open space surrounded by a wall of sand. The traveller turned to the trio, gesturing them to come closer. They happily obliged, running over faster than they ever had.
Reaching the traveller, Johnny didn't expect the tattered, desaturated blue robe to tower over him; their hnuched and hidden physique made his spine tingle. Even their face was enveloped in shadow.
"You have followed me for quite some time. Tell me, adventurers, how can this humble servant of Nedline help you?" the being spoke, his voice monotonous and ethereal. A voice not of this universe.
"Where's the big monster!?" Johnny bounced, giddy with excitement.
"There are many beings here in Nedline who fit the description, adventurer."
Zein kept his hand on Johnny's shoulder, bringing him to a stop. "We would like to see your wares."
"Ahh, my collection. Since you've come so far, it is only right I allow you to have a look."
The traveller swung his robe open, revealing a decrepit old body and dusty denim overalls that barely held together. Their arms were sickly, muscles, whatever was left of it, sagging. The traveller's feet, toes ashy and nails cracked, graced the cold sand. Johnny could only imagine what their face looked like underneath the hood.
"Are we sure he's the right guy?" Johnny whispered in Zein's ear.
Zein's ears flapped. "They do seem a bit frail. But, look at their items." he directed the cowboy's attention to the items.
The robe was lined with an assortment of weapons, potions and jewellry. Spider eye goggles for 10 gold. A Serpent tooth dagger for 15 gold. Serpent poison for 5 gold. Rock Golem Shield for 30 gold. Zein knew he couldn't afford any of the items held within the man's robe, no matter how good they were, however, there was but one item within his budget.
"I'll take the rock ingot." Zein decided.
"The rock ingot… quite the oxymoronic item." The traveller let out an empty snicker. "Here you are, strange adventurer. It will be 10 silver coins."
Zein handed the money to the traveller, dropping it in his shrivelled palms. The otherworldly merchant swept the coins into his robe and disappeared into the night, leaving the rock ingot behind.
Johnny rushed over and examined the ingot-shaped rock. A cracked and crumbling piece made of god knows what from god knows where. He knocked on the exterior, expecting something, anything. It was nothing. Nothing but more cracks were added to its body.
"You paid 10 silver for this!? It's garbage! It's just a rock! We travelled all this way, talking to that creepy guy, all for a rock!" Johnny stomped around.
"Oogie! Oogie oogie!" Wu complained from Zein's shoulder, swinging his arms.
"You're right, it is just a rock. For now." Zein smiled, devilish. " Give it to me. Let me show you a magic trick."
Johnny passed the rock to Zein with annoyance. He sat on the ground with a huff and stared into the distance. Zein smiled at the cowboy's little act. He knelt beside him and laid the rock on the sand. Digging through his inventory, he retrieved a copper water bottle and broke its cap open.
"Watch this."
Zein poured the bottle's content onto the rock ingot. A second passed. 2 seconds passed. 3 seconds passed.
"Wow, a wet rock! How cool! I'm going to-"
Before Johnny could finish, the rock began to glow a brilliant white, like a star had been born. Light poured out of the rock, blinding the trio for the next 30 seconds. Once Johnny could feel the light fade, he took a peek at the rock. Or, what was a rock. To his shock, the rock had turned into solid gold- no blemishes, no cracks, no oddities. It was perfect. And it was gone.
"The bar! The gold bar! It's gone!" Johnny put his arms on his head. "It's gone! What do we do! Mr. Cat, what do we do! That was our bar!" he repeatedly pointed to the sand.
"Oogie oogie!" Wu shook Zein's scarf.
Johnny started to dig with his hands. Wu joined him.
"You wanted to see the large monster, right?"
"Who cares about the monster! There was a gold bar." Johnny didn't stop digging.
"Good news then, Johnny. The monster was the one who took the bar."
"Wait, really! So if we beat the monster-" Johnny's eyes met Zein's, sparkling.
"That's right, cowboy. Now, let's get out of here, otherwise, we will be waking up in Old Rocky Town."
Zein grabbed Wu and ran. Johnny followed close behind. As the trio headed for the peak of the dune, the sand rose. It rose, and rose, and rose, almost claiming Johnny's life. At its peak, the sand dripped down the sides of a creature as large as the dunes surrounding it. The beast had 16 eyes, glowing a crimson red, on its head with fangs protruding from its mouth. Its body was divided into two and held 8 legs. Its violet sheen reflected the moonlight, making the monster unmissable.
"What…"
"The Spider Queen of Nedline. The big monster we were looking for."
"We… We're fighting that!?"
"Let's go, cowboy. This is what you wanted; don't back down now!"
Zein jumped into the colosseum with Wu stationed on his shoulder. Johnny, begrudgingly, slid behind.