Chapter 5: Obstacle and Encounter

The trees whipped past in a blur as the forse galloped, Henry leaning low over its back, cloak flapping behind him. Its strange foxlike face was fixed ahead, unbothered by the speed. Behind them, the carriage rattled violently. Tayo gripped the reins tight, now serving as the makeshift coachman, urging the horses to keep up, though this was difficult because there were only two horses driving not four.

But the carriage was falling behind.

Henry glanced over his shoulder. He slowed the forse just enough for Tayo to catch up. His eyes scanning the shadows pressed tight between the trees.

“Stay close,” he said, his voice clipped.

Then, from the trees, a sound sliced through the forest—shrill and unnatural, like bone whistling through wind. The hair on the back of Tayo’s neck stood.

Without warning, two massive birds, malformed and grotesque, burst from the canopy in a blur of wings and shrieks. Their feathers were tattered, faces all wrong, with beaks cracked open too wide.

Henry and Tayo reacted instantly, swords drawn with fluid precision. Steel slashed and feathers flew. The birds screeched in unison and began deteriorating into clouds of fine brown particles.

Both riders barely had time to catch their breath before something else came into view.

A splintered carriage wreck, half-tilted and crushed at the side of the road. Wheels broken. Blood staining the grass.

Henry’s expression sharpened. He spurred the forse forward, faster now, surging toward the wreck. Tayo slowed the carriage, wary.

Then came the sound again.

But not from above.

This time it was low—a guttural, scraping growl—and beneath it, footsteps. Heavy. Measured. Wrong.

Something moved behind the wreckage.

Then it stepped into view.

Tayo’s eyes widened. Henry realized he was wrong.

It wasn’t a gorilla.

Towering at nearly three meters, the creature was a grotesque hybrid—part bear, part primate. Its torso was bloated with muscle, arms too long, legs bowing outward like a boomerang’s. Patches of dark fur covered its body, and its face—if it could be called that—was a flattened mix of simian and canine, with eyes that glowed with a dull, reddish hue.

It was a Kilobon.

Henry, though filled with fear, didn't hesitate. He let out a shout and charged.

The forse surged forward. Henry slashed upward with his sword, the blade biting into the beast’s shoulder. The Kilobon roared, swiping back with a clawed arm, but the forse twisted mid-gallop, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow. Henry successful forced the kilobon off the road.

Tayo seized the moment. With the Kilobon momentarily distracted, he lashed the reins and drove the horses hard, pushing the carriage past the monster and the fight.

But the Kilobon was fast.

It lunged.

One massive arm lashed out and grazed the forse, drawing a sharp, pained yelp from the creature. Henry pulled back, giving it space.

The beast turned its full attention toward the carriage.

The Kilobon bent low—then leapt.

It landed on the horses, slamming both of them into the ground in one horrific, crushing strike. Bone cracked. Blood sprayed. The carriage was flung sideways, wheels lifting from the ground as it spun, twisted—

—and crashed.

Tayo dove just before the impact, rolling into the dirt as the carriage smashed against a tree, wood splintering around him.

Then silence, save for the Kilobon snarling behind them, dragging the horses away.

“Tayo!” Henry’s voice cut through the stillness. He dismounted and ran to him, heaving him up.

Tayo winced, covered in dirt and blood that wasn’t his. “I’m good,” he muttered, voice hoarse.

Henry helped him onto the forse.

They didn’t look back. Together, they rode away, the sound of the Kilobon fading behind them like a monster swallowed by mist.

The forest gave way to open road, and sunlight broke through, painting the bridge ahead in warm gold.

Hiro and Haruto shared a horse, watching the treeline. Guy and the coachman sat on their own mounts, all waiting in tense silence.

Then—movement. From the shadows, Henry and Tayo rode out, battered but alive. Relief swept through the group.

Tayo dismounted stiffly, dust-covered and sore. He met the coachman’s eyes with regret.

“Sorry,” he said. “We couldn’t get your carriage across.”

The coachman gave a small nod. No blame—just understanding.

Tayo joined Guy on his horse. Henry looked ahead to the bridge.

“We move,” he said simply.

The group turned their mounts and began forward together.

Behind them, the forest loomed. Ahead, the road waited. And somewhere deep within, each of them, doubts began to spring:

Was this world too real?

They had barely crossed the bridge when the road narrowed, winding sharply along a slope. Without warning, Tayo and Guy’s horse skidded to a halt—dirt crumbling beneath its hooves—at the edge of a cliff. The rest also stop.

Below, in the valley, the party viewed something. A horse was being torn to pieces.

Guy gagged and Tayo covered his eyes. Hiro clutched Haruto’s arm. And then they all saw the real horror—Kilobons. Dozens of them, not less than fifty, swarming in a loose circle around something larger. At the center stood an even more monstrous version of the others, thick with muscle, nearly four meters tall.

Then it lifted its head and locked eyes with them.

Tayo’s blood went cold.

“Everyone...” he said, his voice dry. “Be ready to logout.”

The massive Kilobon leapt.

It landed with a thunderous crunch just ahead of them, the trees and underbrush shuddering around it. Branches broke under its bulk, half-shrouding it in shadow.

Haruto, Hiro, and Henry immediately brought up their dashboards. Guy fumbles his and Tayo has to help him, then Tayo reached for his—

The creature spoke.

“Are you... gamers?” Its voice was deep and broken, like stones grinding against each other.

No one answered. No one moved.

“Are you lost?”

Tayo inhaled slowly. “We are gamers,” he said, careful to keep his voice steady. “Headed to Remoni.”

There was a long pause. Then the Kilobon grinned, revealing rows of razor sharp teeth, visible through the trees.

“Let me show you the way.”

“Thank you. But we have a map. And a guide. We’ll be fine.” Tayo replied.

The creature replied, “Okay. You may pass.” Then, without another word, it took a step back into the trees.

The party urged their horses forward, keeping their eyes straight ahead, their breaths held. No one except Tayo looked back.

Behind them, hidden among the leaves, the Kilobon still watched—growling low and gnashing its teeth.

“Holy hell,” Haruto muttered, his voice shaking. “That was crazy.”

“I hope I didn't pee myself, in the real world”, Hiro replied. “It doesn’t work that way” Tayo cut into their exchange. “The head gear severs that kind of signal.” The couple glance at each other. Tayo then realized how awkward this was. He then rode further away from them before things got even more so.

“Is it going to be this scary all the time?”, Haruto asked Hiro. “It should be fine from now on.” Hiro replied, sounding unsure.

The dark shadows of the forest gave way to golden light as the party emerged into the open countryside. The air was warmer here and was filled with friendly sounds. In the distance, the city of Remoni shimmered like something out of a painting. Its walls reflected the sun with a faint pink hue. It looked tranquil and inviting, especially after the harrowing trial they'd just survived.

The party rode in silence, letting the calm settle over them.

The streets of Remoni buzzed with life. Stalls lined the cobbled road, bursting with exotic wares—glittering gems, fragrant spices, gleaming weapons. Children laughed as they ran past beast men selling roasted fruit, and somewhere in the distance, music echoed in the wind.

Guy led his forse by the reins, marveling at the sheer variety of people. Humans, elves with silver hair, dwarves with braided beards, and even feline-faced merchants hawking their wares. But what caught his attention most were the neck tattoos.

Only a few bore them, only elves, the mark of a player. Each tattoo was different, different and beautiful. He stared in fascination until something above pulled his gaze upward.

A Pegasus soared, wings wide against the blue sky. Someone rode it, arms spread like they were the ones flying.

“Whoa…” Guy whispered.

Ahead, Henry had veered off, waving to two men near a tavern entrance. They embraced him like old friends.

“Henry!” a burly man named Jim said. “Thought you wouldn’t make it!”

“Almost didn’t,” Henry replied. “Met a group on the road and we ran into a boss.”

“A boss?” the other, Brando, raised a brow. “Already?”

Henry grinned. “Yeah, and we beat it.”

Jim snorted. “Sure, you did.” 

Nearby, Hiro and Haruto chatted animatedly with a shopkeeper displaying glimmering potions and scrolls. Tayo stood by the coachman, pressing a several coins into his hand.

“You can have my horse,” Tayo said. “But keep the forse with you. He’ll still need it.”

He turned to Guy. “Right?”

Guy nodded. “Yeah.”

The coachman gave a short bow. “I know the owner of a stable nearby. He’ll hold it for you.”

“Thanks,” Guy said, handing the reins over reluctantly.

As the coachman disappeared into the crowd with the steeds. Tayo tapped Guy on the back. “Time to find you a guide.”

“Okay!” Guy said, smiling.

They wove through the market—past singing bards, jugglers, and booths full of brightly colored fabrics. Tayo questioned stall owners and traders, but each time the answer was the same: they had no idea where to find the guides.

One old vendor pointed them toward a tall sandstone building with stained-glass windows.

Tayo sighed. “Already checked. Nothing there either.”

The stable bustled with activity. Riders dismounted and others saddled up.

Guy sat cross-legged by his forse, feeding it bits of dried fruit and stroking its soft fur. The creature nuzzled him affectionately. Nearby, Tayo was in conversation with a pair of travelers, still trying to find a guide for Guy.

No luck.

Time had passed. Guy sat on a stone ledge in front of the guild hall, chin resting on his palms, legs swinging. In the distance, the Pegasus descended again, its feathers catching the sunset light like fire.

Tayo emerged from the building, squinting at the setting sun.

“Let’s try the opening ceremony,” he said. “We might find a tester there, even if there are no proper guides.”

“I’m bored,” Guy groaned.

“Come on,” Tayo said, trying to sound upbeat. “It won’t take long.”

“I don’t want to go to a boring meeting.”

Tayo raised a brow. “We’ll leave once we find—or you could hang with that girl we met—Hiro?”

“I want to ride my forse”, Guy replied.

And before Tayo could protest, Guy was already heading toward the stable.

“The ceremony’s starting soon!” Tayo called after him.

“You’ll find me at the stable,” Guy shouted back, waving. “Make sure my guide is awesome!”

Tayo is too tired to object. “Just remember—if anything weird happens, logout.”

Guy didn’t reply. He just lifted a hand in farewell.

“I’ll come get you soon!” Tayo called one last time. “Be careful!”

Guy vanished into the crowd, a wide grin on his face, while Tayo turned towards a massive structure in the distance, the amphitheater.