Fate Online: Shadow

Ten minutes later.

Solitary Tempest and Jenny, or also known by her in-game name as Jen, are standing there with a blank look on their faces while watching the ongoing skirmish taking place before their very eyes.

How did it start?

Well, it all started when a member of the War Temple Guild was the one who managed to acquire the Ancient Gear during the dice roll among the players who participated in the raid, causing a heated commotion that turned into full on mass PK.

"They could have killed another boss with the amount of time they wasted fighting amongst each other, and It's just an Ancient Grade item, it's not like it's that hard to get" Jen said to Solitary Tempest while watching the players fighting. In her eyes, they're just like kids throwing a tantrum after not getting what they want.

On top of that, she doesn't really understand the importance of Ancient Gears that they would go as far as killing each other.

"They should just buy some at the auction site like I did"

Solitary Tempest chuckled and looked at her friend and started explaining things, "It's not like that. Right now, Ancient Grade items are incredibly rare and they're the game's current top grade items in the market. They're a must have item if they want to stand above the other players or guilds. You were just lucky to be able to buy yours at the Auction. I really don't know what that person who auctioned it was thinking when he listed it"

'Though in almost utter secrecy, Michael and I, and probably a few players in the upper ranks must all have at least one Legendary Gears with them. Though I won't tell her as she'll probably just get jealous and nag me how to get one'

"Really now?"

"Yeah, so it's understandable that they are fighting over it. Though it's a waste of time as we're really not lacking any bosses right now while the Undead Event is still ongoing. Sigh, if only the others were here then we wouldn't need to do boss raids with them"

Solitary Tempest can only let out a sigh as she and Jen made sure to keep their distance from the fight that constantly moves around in the dying forest that they're located.

"Anyway, it's late and I'm feeling a little tired now. So I'm planning to leave the game soon. What about you? Are you still staying up?"

A couple of minutes passed by, Jen finally got bored watching them and decided to head to bed as she had become mentally tired with their earlier boss raid.

"Sure, but log off at the army camp near here so you can prevent players from camping you out. We don't want you getting killed now and dropping your items, do we?" replied Solitary Tempest.

"So you're not coming with me then?" asked Jen.

"Well, I'll go with you to the army camp first, then we'll part ways there as I plan to look around area for a while and see if I can discover some ores" Solitary Tempest said.

"..."

There was a brief moment of silence between them while watching the spectacle of the variety of skills flying everywhere.

"What?"

Solitary Tempest felt something and when she turned to look, she saw her friend staring at her.

"Nothing, It's just.. I still can't wrap my head around that the super popular player, Solitary Tempest is actually you of all people'' replied Jen with a quick shrug of her shoulders.

"Well now you know, I've been telling you that for years already" Solitary Tempest gave her an eyeroll.

"How would I know that you're actually that good of a player!? And you don't look like someone who would be good at playing games, so you can't blame me for not actually believing you during those times"

"Says the one who had been playing this game behind my back. I thought you hated it?"

Jen released a snort, but when she heard what Solitary Tempest said, she felt a mixed emotions of annoyance and guilt.

Leaving the area, the two friends walked as they talked while they navigated through the forested area and towards the direction of the nearest army camp.

Along the way, they would occasionally meet players either by themselves or in groups.

Moments later, the two women arrived at a large clearing or more accurately a grassy plain.

Before them, are rows of military tents which have a striking resemblance with the tents that the nomadic people of the plains used.

The place is surrounded by a wooden fence with soldiers and a watch tower each guarding the two entry points of the army compound.

If one were to look closely, they would notice a couple of wooden buildings that are built or under construction all over the area around the military compound, and it's a no brainer that it wouldn't be long before it turns into a small village.

Additionally, players can be seen moving to and fro inside the camp, some selling their wares vice versa. The place is also packed with NPC merchants that have converged to the battlefront to take advantage of the war and earn some profit, mostly targeted towards the players that are considered one of their largest consumers and "producers" of profitable goods.

"This place is getting bigger and more crowded by the day" said Jen while the two girls are walking towards the camp.

"I heard they're planning to turn this place into another border town facing the Forest of Despair" Solitary Tempest said as the two of them arrived and waited in line for their turn to go in.

"Well, it's going to be a gold mine for whoever manages to get this place under them"

"Those newly erected territories would certainly cause the very first large scale guild war among the major guilds"

"Do you think that mysterious Revenant Guild would join the fray if it ever happens?"

"I don't think so. After all, they wouldn't be mysterious now, would they?"

"Well I'm sorry for stating the obvious"

As the two women talked as they walked, they arrived at the location where there are loads of players standing before a large board moderately covered in papers filled with informations, or more accurately, limited missions that every player can get as long as they are qualified.

"I guess we'll part ways here then?"

"Yep, I'll follow suit in an hour"

Shua!

Moments later, Jen disappeared in a pixelated flash of light.