As the timer neared its end, most panicked, but some had already cleared the main quest.
Beside their floating code name, a green check mark appeared, noting that they'd completed the main quest.
They were teleported, along with their players, to a far corner of the battlefield where a translucent barrier separated them from the fight.
They could see the others fighting, and could move freely around the space but couldn't go past the barrier.
"Is this to stop us from helping them?" One of them asked, examining the barrier.
Just as he said that, an interface popped up in front of them all.
[Congratulations on clearing the main quest. Rewards shall be summed up at the end of the round]
With a soft chiming ding, the pad lock beside the subquest opened.
[Sub quest unlocked. Reveal sub quest to complete?]
Some of the Chosen glanced at one another, skepticism rising. They knew not to play a joke or half ass anything that had to do with this.
If they revealed it and it turned out impossible, there'd be no going back.
And if they couldn't complete it, what was the punishment?
They worried.
But among them, a Chosen whose eyes had been glued to the system with no change of demeanor, spoke.
His voice was quiet, calm to the point of indifference.
"Do I just click on the sub quest to reveal it?" His tone carried genuine curiosity, totally oblivious to the thick tension in the air.
It was Zero.
Even when there was not much time left on the clock anymore, he wasn't bothered. He had always loved to give everything a try if the opportunity gave way.
The other Chosen exchanged a look mixed with confusion and disbelief. Their worry wasn't cowardice, it was reasonable.
But in the face of Zero who brushed off every sense of concern for how dangerous and risky things might turn out, they were speechless.
Zero clicked on the sub quest without much going on in his head and it was revealed.
Sub Quest: Defeat one mighty Orc King and retrieve their core.
Orc king…? Zero narrowed his eyes.
"I-I don't think it'll be that dangerous though," one of the Chosen said.
"I mean, it's a sub quest which isn't compulsory like the main one. Even if we can't complete it, I don't think the consequences will be severe."
"I think so too," another chipped in. "Thinking about the designs and how there are rewards, we might hit it big with this sub quest. Just look at our skills for example."
"True. And it's not like we can't figure something out since there are five of us— no, four..." he cast a glance at Zero.
"Mehn, let's just do it. How much worse can it get?"
Those convinced clicked and revealed the sub quests, while those still skeptical reluctantly clicked it.
The others completely turned their faces away, shutting out any attempts.
They were contended with what they already had and didn't want to risk their lives for the unknown that wasn't even forced on them.
"Hmm? Orc king? There are orc kings?"
They looked around, searching.
"How many could they be?" One of them whispered in worry.
Ding!
[Start Sub Quest?]
Without hesitation, Zero clicked yes.
Although the others hesitated, they eventually clicked yes.
Tiny particles of blue light started rising from the ground around their legs, levitating up.
The next moment, they stood beyond the thick wall of fog that was still standing tall at the very far end of the vast expanse.
The one that refused to give way when the first thick fog collapsed.
Beyond it laid another vast expanse of greenery. Although not as big as the other one that was still raging with battle cries, it was wide.
Under normal circumstances, the Chosen would've been surprised that this was what laid beyond the fog. And they might have even been amazed just like before.
But what stood before them had seized their ability to do that.
Seated before them—
were three massive orcs.
Larger. Broader. Heavier than anything they had faced.
—Elite Red Orc [King] • Level 25
—Elite Red Orc [King] • Level 25
—Elite Red Orc [King] • Level 25
The seats beneath them were massive, yet looked ordinarily carved from gray wood. It was tall as the orc kings when seated, perfectly accommodating their size.
Seeing the Chosen before them, the Orc Kings growled lowly.
Each of them radiated a crushing pressure that had some of the Chosen trembling in their boots.
The force from their energy seemed to press down on the Chosen, making them fight to withstand it.
They were clad in thick armors and hides, well reinforced.
Each bore a different weapon.
One held a massive, wide-bladed sword.
Another stood with a long, heavy spear.
The last wore spiked gauntlets, his fists alone enough to kill.
The three rose.
The one with the sword planted it into the ground... slowly pulling it free, as if testing its weight.
The spear wielder spun his weapon once, the air slicing with a sharp hiss before it stilled perfectly in his grip.
The last cracked his neck, then his knuckles... the spikes grinding together with a sickening scrape.
Zero's eyes moved across them.
Sword.
Spear.
Fists.
"...Interesting."
"But they are just three," he muttered, noting the sub quest was limited only to three Chosen.
The reward must be quite good then.
Under normal circumstances they would have rushed in already. But they were quaking in their boots.
The sub quest being limited to only three people had said it all about a good reward coming out of it.
Calmly, Zero darted his eyes left and right.
They didn't bring our players with us….
His eyes lingered on the wall of fog that divided them from the others still clearing the main quest.
"H-How do we go about this?" One of them asked, clearly fretting and regretting his decision.
"They're huge for sure, but they're just three and we are five. If we fight together, then we might have a chance."
"Ok, but should we go in first or should we allow them?" One asked.
"Are they the ones clearing the quest or are you?" Another shot back.
While they chattered—
Zero had already started walking.
His footsteps caught their ears.
"Hey! What are you doing? We have to fight together otherwise we won't stand a chance!" A chosen bellowed in panic.
Zero's steps didn't falter.
"Thanks, but I won't need it."
Planting a foot behind, he dug in and launched.
The ground cracked beneath the force.
His black hair whipped in the wind as he shot forward, appearing at the side of an orc's head mid-air.
His eyes were wide.
Not with fear, but with cold, cutting intent as his blade came down.