Lord Of The Lost

William glanced around at the group and asked, "Why are you all here?"

Metatron, with his usual calm demeanor, closed his eyes and answered, "Big changes are coming on the night of the full moon."

He wasn't speaking casually. His ability, 'God's Perspective', allowed him to observe possible futures. The thing about this power was that while it could offer glimpses of what might come, it had its limits. When the future involved powerful supernatural forces, the vision would be distorted.

God's Perspective wasn't like seeing a clear snapshot of the future. It was more like watching a movie that constantly rewrote itself. Every observation of the future was different, dynamic and fluid. But as long as Metatron's "future self" didn't bump into anything too powerful, the knowledge he gained was usually spot-on. He'd see a complete and detailed glimpse of what could happen.

On the flip side, if there was a major supernatural presence, his observations would become vague and fragmented. Sometimes, all he'd get were a few cryptic words or scattered hints that left him guessing. That's why, when they escaped Shadow Castle, Metatron had been able to guide them safely through dangerous paths. None of the creatures chasing them were powerful enough to distort his vision.

But recently, Metatron had been noticing something disturbing. No matter how many times he tried, every time he looked ahead to after the full moon night, the future would go dark. A 50% chance of a "black screen," as he called it.

The gambler raised an eyebrow. "A 50% chance of a black screen? What does that even mean?"

"I don't know," Metatron replied, shaking his head. "But it's serious. Every time I look, there's no feedback. It's like the future just... disappears. It's like a sudden destruction that I can't see or understand."

Metatron's power typically let him "know the world without leaving his room," but this was different. Normally, even if he died in a place like Shadow Castle, he would still gain some insight. But now, every attempt to peer into the future after the full moon was met with complete blankness.

The realization hit hard.

"Werewolves threaten the safety of Border Town," Metatron concluded, though he wasn't sure where the threat was coming from, whether it was the full moon night itself, the werewolves, or something deeper in the Black Forest.

The gambler, still processing, frowned. "Why would players be hanging around with werewolves? I don't get it."

The Forum Master, who had been listening quietly, sighed. "Even when players are given the same main quest, each one interprets it differently. It's like the forest, there are all kinds of creatures."

He paused, thinking carefully. "Most players are conservative, especially when the main quest affects their lives directly. They know they only get one shot. They can't afford to fail. Sure, they can be resurrected if they die, but if the mission fails? That's something else entirely."

William absorbed the conversation, sensing the gravity of what was at stake. The unknowns ahead were only multiplying.

Players couldn't treat this like just another casual game. The stakes were much higher in Border Town, and the situation was growing increasingly desperate.

The Forum Master knew that some small groups of players were already looking for ways to save the town, but their options were limited. For years, Border Town had been draining its resources, offering constant support to the kingdom's front-line wars. The result? The town had been weakened, and now, even finding a transcendent being to help defend it seemed impossible.

The town's theocracy and monarchy had all but abandoned it. The king's guards had suffered devastating losses in the Black Forest ten years ago, and since then, no military reinforcements had been sent to Border Town.

This abandonment left many players frustrated. They weren't content with waiting around for a slow death. Some of them turned to the thieves, seeing it as a way to get by, while others looked to the Elf Forest just outside the town.

The Elf Forest held its own secrets, according to legends, it was home to a race of elves with a rich, ancient history. Some players hoped to find job advancement paths there, like "Ranger," "Shooter," or "Priest." Metatron had even mentioned the "Druid" path on the forum, which was connected to the elves. However, the residents of the Elf Forest weren't purebred elves, they were humans with elven bloodlines, and the true elven race had long since disappeared.

In a way, this made sense. Players were desperate, and if they had to dance with wolves to survive, who could blame them?

The players discussed these options heavily in the forum. Many chose to side with Border Town, despite its struggles. Joining the thieves could bring quick rewards, but if they turned on the town, who knew what would happen? The thieves were after the power of the Black Forest, but their loyalty to Border Town was questionable at best. After they gained what they wanted, they were just as likely to abandon the town.

On the other hand, the people of Border Town, though weak, were loyal to the land they lived on. They were the true natives, and that loyalty gave them an edge.

This created a zero-sum game: if the thieves gained power, Border Town would lose. If the town gained, the thieves would suffer. The two sides couldn't coexist for long.

Neither William nor Metatron took the thieves seriously. They were just one more complication to deal with in an already complicated situation.

The Forum Master was using the crusade against the bandits as a strategic way to recruit elite soldiers and generals by testing their combat skills. But the truth was, if they were to really deal with the bandits, they'd have to wait until the main force of the bandits showed up at Border Town.

The struggle between the werewolves and Border Town was a classic zero-sum game. But unlike the bandits, the consequences of the werewolves' actions would be far more catastrophic.

Metatron could no longer sit back and wait. Half of the futures he observed had turned black, meaning there was a 50% chance that Border Town would be destroyed. And most likely, the cause would be the werewolves.

Upon hearing this, the Forum Master was seething with anger, but kept his composure. "Fine, you asked for it. I'll do my best to uncover the butcher's real identity."

The gambler had no doubts about this and quickly added, "But the player named Butcher must have received some kind of reward from the werewolves. He'll be tough to deal with."

Alex, ever calm and deadly, spoke up, "Give me his real-world address. I'll take care of it."

Everyone knew Alex's strength was unmatched. No one questioned his ability to handle the situation.

William clenched his fists, his expression cold and intense. "He won't stay offline for long. Once he logs in, he'll notify the other players. Keep me posted if you find anything."

The Forum Master nodded. "I'll handle it."

Then, with a slight hesitation, he added, "By the way, Qingfeng, we need to exchange real-world contact information. The forum is too slow for urgent matters."

William agreed and shared his contact details and home address. As long as he didn't have any extraordinary powers, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to catch him. His heightened instincts, especially his ability to sense danger, made him nearly untouchable. Even if a country's military tried to catch him, he'd be able to sense it and escape any ambush or trap.

He wasn't worried about revealing this information to the group. He trusted them to succeed.

The gambler, clearly surprised, grinned. "Wait, you're from Newyork too, Wallace? I'm from Newyork as well!"

William raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "So?"

Newyork was a coastal city with millions of people. It was a coincidence, but William didn't feel any particular excitement about meeting someone from his city.

The gambler chuckled. "Oh, nothing. It's just that I've been away for years, and I've been thinking about going back to visit..."

William gave him a sharp look. "You're not in Newyork now?"

"No, I'm in Las Vegas. I can't go back yet. But, hey, Wallace, maybe you could help me out...?"

William cut him off, his tone dismissive. "Shut it. I don't care about helping you visit family."

In the real world, William had only one interest, Gloria. Helping the gambler with his personal matters was the last thing on his mind. Instead, he'd rather focus on eating well and sharpening his skills.