Adventure World Online (AWO)

"Ah!"

Chang Long exclaimed as she stepped back into the snowy landscape.

"What is it, master?"

Kitsune asked, turning to see Chang Long scratching her head and glancing around in confusion.

"How do we get out of here? I can't remember the way back,"

Chang Long replied, seemingly unbothered by the situation.

"Why not call Devi-chan to guide us? It would be much easier,"

Kitsune suggested. Chang Long's eyes widened like saucers as she suddenly remembered she had more companions than just Kitsune. She had completely forgotten about Hulu, who needed to eat and drink, along with the four spirits in her possession.

"Unseal Hulu. Spirit Summoning!"

Chang Long commanded. Hulu materialized and flopped onto the snowy ground, looking weak. Chang Long quickly fed him several elemental gems, restoring his energy. Then, she noticed her backpack moving as if something inside was struggling inside.

"W-what's that?"

Chang Long looked at her bag nervously, afraid it might contain something she did not want to face. The bag wriggled more and more until Hulu, fed up, gave it a hard kick.

"Ouch!"

Came a muffled voice from within. Everyone stared at the bag in confusion.

"That voice sounds familiar,"

Devi-chan mused, furrowing his brow.

"Yeah, I think I've heard it before too,"

Hisa-chan agreed.

"Come to think of it, where's the little lion?"

Alice-chan asked, triggering a realization in Chang Long. She hurriedly opened the bag and found Fluffy Head-chan struggling to get out. Apologizing for completely forgetting about him, Chang Long pulled the little lion out.

"I wouldn't mind so much if you just forgot me, but stuffing me in that messy bag is just too much!"

Fluffy Head-chan complained.

"Quit whining. I went days without food and didn't complain,"

Hulu retorted, glaring at Fluffy Head-chan before giving it another swift kick.

"What did you say? You wanna fight, weird horse!"

Fluffy Head-chan shot up, ready for a confrontation.

"Who are you calling a weird horse, you pint-sized lion? Come at me, I'll kick you flying!"

Hulu shouted back, equally provoked. The three spirits, watching the escalating argument, could not figure out why Hulu and Fluffy Head-chan were always on the verge of fighting, but they could tell a brawl was imminent.

"Enough!"

A small but stern voice interrupted, causing both Hulu and Fluffy Head-chan to freeze and turn their heads. Even Devi-chan, Hisa-chan, and Alice-chan were caught off guard by the tone.

"Big bro!/Kitsune!"

They all exclaimed in unison. Although Kitsune was smaller and his voice sounded more childlike, his (commanding) tone was unmistakable. Instead of trying to find a way out, the pets and spirits insisted on celebrating. Chang Long rolled her eyes and laughed, giving in to their request. After all, what happened to Kitsune was definitely a cause for celebration.

White smoke was visible from afar, drawing the group of friends who had been searching for Chang Long since morning. When they arrived at the source of the smoke, they saw the familiar face of the player they were searching for, sitting there. They quickly approached her and joined in the celebration with Chang Long's spirits. By the time everyone figured out what they were celebrating, they were already feeling a bit tipsy.

"Who's that fox sitting on Master Chang's lap?"

Peach Blossom asked curiously when she noticed the cute, small, majestic, orange-gold fox resting on Chang Long's lap, refusing to leave.

"Hmm? It's Kitsune. Don't you remember him, Peach Blossom?"

Chang Long raised an eyebrow, surprised that Peach Blossom did not recognize Kitsune, despite having seen him before his evolution.

"Huh!"

Everyone exclaimed in unison, their eyes all fixed on the little fox on Chang Long's lap. While he looked regal, he did not seem much like a divine beast.

"Chang Long, uh… Did you really manage to make Kitsune a fully-fledged pure-blood sacred beast?"

Siegfried asked, eyeing Kitsune, who had changed just slightly from how he remembered it.

"Uh-huh, I met Inari and had him officially recognize Kitsune's status,"

Chang Long replied, happily stroking Kitsune's head.

"That's amazing. Congratulations, Kitsune!"

Oliang congratulated, and Kitsune nodded in acknowledgment. Even though he now had the status of a divine beast, he still remained polite as ever.

"Hey, something feels off,"

Devi-chan commented while sitting with the group. Hisa-chan, Alice-chan, and Fluffy Head-chan also seemed to sense something unsettling. Hulu and Kitsune perked up their ears, listening intently, while Devi-chan floated up and disappeared into the darkness.

"What's going on? They looked serious,"

Cat-Faced Angel remarked, her face tense. She knew that when pets reacted this way, something was definitely wrong.

"I feel like the atmosphere around here is getting chillier,"

Kimhant said, scanning the surroundings nervously. Wet Trash Can had already jumped onto Oliang's arm, clinging tightly, oblivious to how silly it might have looked. He knew that this kind of atmosphere was perfect for encountering ghosts.

"There's a strange mansion that just appeared on the empty plain over there. It looks suspicious to me,"

Devi-chan said as he reappeared from the darkness, making Wet Trash Can jump in fright. He pointed behind him to a location where Chang Long's friends confirmed there had been nothing but an empty field during the day—and even at night.

"Another strange occurrence,"

Oliang muttered. First, they encountered a ghost ship that took them to the Land of the Dead. Now, there was a mysterious mansion that could very well be haunted. He was not particularly scared, but the person clinging to him definitely made him feel more involved in the fear.

"Shall we check it out?"

Chang Long asked, clearly excited, but everyone else just stared at her in shock.

"A-a-a-are you seriously going, Chang Long?!"

Wet Trash Can was utterly horrified.

"Uh-huh. But if no one wants to come along, that's fine. I've got plenty of followers with me anyway."

Chang Long set Kitsune down from her lap and stood up. She was the only one who had not been drinking alcohol with the others, but despite that, no one seemed to have a hangover anymore.

Without waiting for her friends to reply, Chang Long followed Devi-chan, who had volunteered to lead the way, accompanied by her pets and spirits. As they approached the mansion, it became clear that it was a large Japanese-style wooden mansion standing tall before them. The entrance had a single dim, orange lantern that cast an eerie glow.

"The atmosphere screams haunted,"

Chang Long commented.

"But you're not scared, are you? I mean, you've got four ghosts under your command,"

Devi-chan said confidently.

"There's definitely more inside,"

Hisa-chan frowned, and Alice-chan nodded in agreement.

"Depends on what form the ones inside will take,"

Chang Long said with a grin as she walked toward the open area where the mysterious mansion stood. The place was outside the pine forest, rather desolate. During the day, many monsters would normally be around, but right now, there was not a single one in sight.

Chang Long walked up to the mansion's door and reached out to open it but paused when she heard her friends calling out. Turning, she saw them running toward her, some looking as if they would rather be anywhere else. They grouped up and walked through the door, which creaked loudly as it swung open by itself.

Whoosh!

A pale blue flame appeared before them as soon as they all entered the mansion, but the door remained wide open. Wet Trash Can had to bite his own hand to stop himself from humiliating himself by screaming in front of the girls. Behind the blue flame, a faint figure of a woman in a white kimono stood with her head bowed, softly crying.

"You've come to free me, haven't you?"

Came a slow, drawling voice from the woman. She slowly lifted her head to reveal a beautiful but sorrowful face, with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Free you?"

Chang Long echoed, confused, while the others stood frozen in fear, gulping audibly. No one dared step forward to stand beside Chang Long, except Siegfried, who did not seem too afraid.

"Please find the golden chest bound in chains and covered in talismans. Break the chains and destroy the talismans to release my soul!"

"Player Chang Long has received the secret quest: Free the Bride's Spirit. Player Chang Long has until 5 AM today to complete the quest,"

the system announced as soon as the woman finished speaking. Chang Long's friends all heard it, and their jaws dropped in shock, especially Cat-Faced Angel and Destiny, the leader of Immortal Guild, who had never received a secret quest like this before.

Chang Long glanced at her friends, as if asking if they wanted to accept the quest. Everyone except for Wet Trash Can eagerly agreed, despite having a vague idea of what they might encounter inside this mansion. Once Chang Long, as the group leader, accepted the quest, the mansion's doors closed silently. Candles mounted on the walls flickered to life, casting dim light on the many paths inside.

"Should we split up?"

Chang Long asked. Siegfried summoned Lycanth for reassurance, while Kimhant called forth Felon, though it did not do much to comfort him. Cat-Faced Angel summoned her largest white otter, while Draco could not unseal Firetail from his ring due to its massive size, as big as the path. If released, Firetail would cause more chaos than create an opportunity for escape.

"I'll take my crew and head down that path. You guys figure out who's going with whom. Bye,"

Chang Long said, then immediately set off down the path in front of her. Naturally, no one dared to object, given that she was accompanied by her intimidating crew: Fluffy Head-chan, the spirit of the lion from the savannah; Devi-chan, the spirit of a former pirate king; Hisa-chan, the spirit of a legendary samurai; Alice-chan, the bloodthirsty beauty; and her two powerful, pure-blooded sacred beasts.

Of the three remaining paths, Siegfried, Peach Blossom, Draco, and Lycanth agreed to take the parallel path. The left path was chosen by Destiny, Kimhant, Cat-Faced Angel, and Jane, a lively group with two pets. The right path was taken by the duo Oliang and Wet Trash Can, and Hero, who had no pets to accompany them. Wet Trash Can clung so tightly to Oliang, that the latter was certain that if a monster appeared, he would be the first to meet his demise.

"My lord,"

Cedric and Murik suddenly called out, startling Chang Long.

"Cedric? Murik?"

Chang Long whispered, seeing the two Reaper Guardians materialize before her. Both nodded, their expressions serious, before Cedric spoke.

"I can sense it, my lord. The last of the Four Reaper Guardians is here."

"You're serious!"

Chang Long asked, immediately excited. If she could find the fourth of the Four Reaper Guardians, she would be one step closer to the Reaper King's throne, which meant unlocking all the skills related to her profession as the King of Death. From there, her next goal would be to annihilate the Doom Star Guild.

"Yes, my lord. We're sure of it. His aura is strong—somewhere in this mansion, Henrik lies dormant, waiting for you to awaken him,"

Murik said with conviction. Chang Long nodded and resumed walking. The path stretched ahead, a long, dark tunnel seemingly without end.

Chang Long had already dismissed thoughts of the golden chest and the trapped bride's spirit, leaving that task to her friends. Her sole focus was now on finding Henrik, the final Reaper Guardian, and unlocking the full potential of her King of Death abilities.

Thud!

Rumble...

A sound like the movement of some hidden mechanism echoed. Chang Long, walking down the only visible path, noticed that a new route had materialized. She stood there, contemplating the newly-formed path, unsure whether to follow it. Cedric and Murik, her spectral companions, could not pinpoint Henrik's exact location. While she considered her options, a chilling, blood-curdling scream echoed in the distance—it was either someone or something screaming...

Ahhhh!

Startled, Chang Long jumped, glancing around. Her pets were instantly on alert, ready to face whatever creature might be responsible for the eerie scream. Even the Thieving Field Mouse, who had been peacefully sleeping in the folds of her cloak, jolted awake, peeking out in fear.

"What was that? What a creepy sound!"

The Thieving Field Mouse squeaked, anxiously looking around for the source of the noise.

"What is this?"

Hulu turned to the mouse, confused.

"Oh, you're still around? I thought you'd left a long time ago,"

Chang Long muttered in surprise. She had assumed the Thieving Field Mouse had taken off once they had entered the domain of the Flame Foxes.

"Where could I go? The snow's freezing, and those foxes were eyeing me like I was a piece of candy. I think I'll stick with you until I find a place that suits me,"

the Thieving Field Mouse replied.

"You have no manners. How dare you call our master you, huh!"

Hulu and Fluffy Head-chan blurted out in unison, clearly offended. Even as mighty beings—one a divine beast and the other a beast king—they still showed respect by addressing Chang Long as their master. For a common, low-level creature like the Thieving Field Mouse to be so casual with her as to call her "you" was utterly unacceptable to them.

"Uh..."

The Thieving Field Mouse froze in fear. It was the first time it had come face to face with both a beast king and a divine beast at once, and judging by their menacing glares, it seemed like they wanted to devour it (for some reason).

"Ahhhhhh. Ghostttt!"

Another loud scream rang out, causing Chang Long and her group to jump again. This time, however, the voice was so familiar that they knew who it was, so nobody panicked quite as much.

"That's definitely Wet Trash Can's voice..."

Chang Long barely held back a laugh. Of course, in her group, there was only one person afraid of ghosts to this extreme. If anyone would scream like that upon encountering a ghost, it could only be Lidded Wet Trash Can.

"Looks like they've encountered some of the mansion's beasts,"

Fluffy Head-chan observed. By now, it was not just Wet Trash Can's screams. The voices of their other friends were beginning to echo faintly through the mansion as well.

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