Lord Of The Lost

William had never been one for ghost stories or spooky legends. His interests were more grounded, but today, the chatter during dinner had drifted into the bizarre world of online games.

"Sequence Game Lord of the Lost! Let's fire it up!" someone said. The excitement in the room was palpable, but William was only half-listening, waiting for the right time to log in.

----

As soon as William connected, a familiar voice boomed through his headset, both ecstatic and full of pent-up frustration.

"Oh my God! You're finally online!" cried Cat Car, his tone a mix of relief, excitement, and a bit of playful resentment.

During the hours that William was offline, Cat Car had been enduring the torment of anticipation, logging in and out, wondering if their paths would cross. Fortunately, they managed to meet up in-game after all, avoiding another day of missed connections.

William chuckled softly, "Yeah, it's about time. Couldn't do anything about it."

Cat Car, whom William had deduced was likely a player from the U.S. or Europe based on his username, derived from the game 'Monster Hunter', was as enthusiastic as ever. He'd been waiting, thanks to the varying in-game health system refreshes that differed across global regions.

Some dedicated players had even compiled data on this quirky system difference, but William wasn't that deep into the details. After all, every player only had a fixed login time of eight hours, so patience was part of the grind.

"If I hadn't logged on now, you'd have probably given up on waiting, huh?" William teased lightly.

"Maybe... probably," Cat Car admitted, not quite hiding the eagerness in his voice. "So, what's the forum URL? I've been trying to look it up."

William shared the URL of the Sequence Forum, the hub where players gathered to discuss strategies, form alliances, and, occasionally, gripe about the game mechanics.

Cat Car shifted gears quickly. "Are we still leveling up at Crow Ridge?" he asked, clearly eager to dive back into action.

William raised an eyebrow as he learned that Cat Car had made it to level 3 and had already defeated several low-level monsters, one level ahead of their mutual friend Yo-yo. While not exactly blazing fast progress, it was respectable. Still, for someone as talented as Cat Car, it felt like he could've done better.

"The thing is," William began, "there really isn't a great spot to level up in Moonlight Village right now. Crow Ridge is a mess. It's chaotic out there; hunters, beasts, you name it. Anyone who goes there is basically asking to get wiped out."

Cat Car sighed, embarrassed. "The wild monsters there are way too strong. I've died so many times already. I keep trying to trigger the knife bounce and shield counter, but it's just not happening."

William tried to hide his smirk. Ah, the frustrations of hardcore gamers.

"In a game this realistic," Cat Car continued, "where you can't just roll around to dodge attacks, it's pretty much trash."

William shook his head, a little amused. "So that's your definition of a hardcore game? Come on, man. You think you can pull off invincible frames with a real physics engine? In front of real-time combat?"

What made William's amusement even stronger was knowing that Cat Car had the unique talent of resurrection, something not many players possessed. Anyone else would've probably thrown their keyboard through the screen after suffering the game's death penalties.

"Listen," William said, "forget Crow Ridge for now. Let's head over to the Misty Forest to level up. There are tons of players there, and it's a bit more forgiving."

Cat Car looked confused. "Where's the Misty Forest?"

William couldn't help but stare at him in disbelief for a moment. "You really don't know?" he asked, incredulous. Then, with a sigh and a slight shake of his head, he added, "I'll take you there."

Cat Car practically bounced with excitement. "Alright, let's go!"

But William wasn't quite finished teasing. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he grabbed Cat Car by the collar, slung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and sprinted off towards Iron Mine Village.

"Hold on tight!" William called out with a grin as they sped off, leaving behind the chaos of Crow Ridge.

The cat car soon realized, much to his surprise, that William was faster than he could ever hope to be. William's swift movements seemed almost effortless, leaving the cat car struggling to keep up.

"What level are you?" the cat car asked, panting a little.

"Level 8," William replied, his pace unwavering.

"Oh, that's pretty high," the cat car remarked, though his tone suggested he didn't quite grasp the significance of it yet.

As they continued along the path, the two fell into a conversation. William, ever patient, explained some of the basics about the game's mechanics and player strategies. Although both were from the same batch of internal test players, the cat car was still a rookie, unaware of the complexities and hidden challenges of the game.

"You've got potential," William noted, giving the cat car a glance. "Especially with a talent like [Resurrection from the Dead]. That's a top-tier ability."

The cat car's ears perked up at the praise. "Really?"

"Yeah," William said confidently. "Other players constantly have to worry about battle damage, but you? You gain an extra life every day. It's a massive advantage. Once you stop treating combat like a keyboard warrior and start thinking tactically, your leveling speed will skyrocket."

The cat car grinned, encouraged by William's optimism. He never really thought of it that way, but William's words lit a fire in him.

They reached the iron ore village quickly, William's rapid strides bringing them to the entrance where a crowd of players lingered. Many were waiting for the priest's group blessing, recovering from recent battles. It was a common sight, some players leveled up, while others paid the price with death penalties.

"Big brother! Is that... William?"

At first, the group seemed taken aback, then recognition sparked excitement among the players. They waved, eyes wide with admiration. William, known for his cool demeanor and reputation, gave them a friendly wave back.

Without a word, he threw the cat car over his shoulder in one smooth motion, his actions swift and deliberate. The cat car, confused and somewhat embarrassed, was suddenly surrounded by other players clamoring with questions. Meanwhile, William turned and left the iron ore village with fluid grace, disappearing into the wild lands without so much as a backward glance.

He moved deeper into the wilderness, navigating it with ease until he arrived at a familiar site; the magic house. As he approached, the oak door swung open on its own, a quiet welcome.

Inside, Calcifer wasn't sitting on the balcony like last time. This time, he was positioned behind the curved counter, shrouded in shadow. His high, deep cloak obscured his golden hair, which usually shone brightly, and his whole form seemed darker, as though he was hiding from the light.

William's eyes narrowed as he approached. Something was off; Calcifer felt different.

"You've stripped away the demonic power," William said, his voice filled with both curiosity and concern.

Calcifer's response came out raspy, his voice no longer as smooth as before. "Yes... I had to."

A sudden realization hit William. He had heard rumors, whispers really, about Calcifer being cursed by a demon from the abyss. Could it be true? Was this curse similar to his own?

"But you're a top-tier magic master," William said, frowning. "Can't you just strip the curse away? Why keep it?"

Calcifer gave a low chuckle, though it lacked the warmth it once had. "It's not so simple. The curse... it's not something you can easily rid yourself of. Not everyone can resist the temptation of demons. They are the true rulers of the dark world."

William stood there, absorbing the gravity of his words. Calcifer's tone was filled with a kind of resigned understanding. William knew the darkness all too well, he had battled it within himself. Still, the sight of someone as powerful as Calcifer struggling with the same burden gave him pause.

"Is it worth it?" William asked quietly. "Keeping that power, even at the cost of yourself?"

Calcifer's smile was thin, almost bitter. "That's the question we all have to ask ourselves, isn't it?"

William nodded, his mind churning. He had come here for magic props, but now he was walking away with something much heavier on his heart; a deeper understanding of the true weight of power and the ever-present shadow that came with it.

Even though his face was hidden deep within the folds of his cloak, William still radiated an air of quiet confidence, his every movement graceful, as if unaffected by the weight of the world. His cool composure belied the intensity of his recent experiences.

Shaking his head slightly, William spoke in a calm, yet firm tone. "There's nothing glorious about being on top. It's not about becoming a devil. The devil's path needs me more than I need it."

Calcifer, seated across the counter, let out a long sigh. "You know, the werewolf's path could suit you just as well... I envy you, William. Someone as adaptable as you can choose whichever path you want. You've got so much potential, so much room to grow. No chains holding you back."

William blinked in surprise, unsure if that was truly a compliment. The comparison felt odd, like hearing a billionaire reminisce about how the happiest time in life was making a few dollars a day. The irony wasn't lost on him. He said nothing in return, simply reaching into his pouch and unloading a pile of glimmering magical feathers onto the counter in front of Calcifer.

"How about these?" William asked, his voice carrying a note of expectation. "Can you use them all?"

Calcifer leaned in, inspecting the vibrant feathers with an approving nod. "Yep, this will work. Come back in two days, and your magic props will be ready."

William raised an eyebrow. "Two days? Seems like a long time."

Before Calcifer could respond, Hall, the grizzled shopkeeper who had been lurking nearby, barked out, "Two days? You should be grateful! Calcifer's not exactly in tip-top shape. If you went to any other magician, you'd be waiting for months. Don't push your luck, kid."

Calcifer chuckled softly, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, William. I'll make sure you're happy with the result."

William muttered under his breath, "You better. I went through hell for these... I was even hunted by the Black Crow King."

At that, Calcifer's eyes gleamed with interest. "The Black Crow King? If you could bring me 'its' feathers, I could craft you something truly extraordinary."

William grimaced, his memory flashing back to his encounter with the monstrous bird. "Yeah, about that... It didn't go so well."

The Black Crow King was no ordinary creature. Its feathers were like enchanted armor, dense and impenetrable, and its wingspan stretched four to five meters, as wide as a Hippogriff. William had tried, really tried; to take down the beast, but he hadn't even gotten close. Getting a feather from the Black Crow King was about as easy as pulling a tooth from a lion.

Changing the subject, William rummaged through his remaining coins and placed five silver coins on the counter. "I'll take five blood bottles."

He could still feel the sting of his last battle. The Black Crow King had nearly torn him apart, leaving him with serious wounds. His physical strength had dropped to a dangerously low level, hovering just under 3 points. Even after bandaging, he'd only recovered to around 5 points, and some wounds were still bleeding.

The blood bottles, or energy potions as they were officially called, were more effective than bandages but came at a steep price.

[Energy Potion: A magical potion made from enchanted herbs that restores one unit of energy.]

At one silver coin each, the potions weren't cheap, but they were necessary. William was running low on funds, with just over twenty silver coins left after his purchase. It was hard to believe how much he had already spent on magic rituals and materials, items that, had he sold them, could have netted him at least a dozen silver coins.

Magic rituals were a relentless drain on resources, a costly but necessary investment.

Reaching into his pouch once more, William pulled out a twisted devil's horn, the last remnant of a demon dog he had killed during one of his recent battles. He placed it on the counter.

"Do you guys take this?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked between Calcifer and Hall.

Calcifer leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he inspected the horn. "Hmm... devil's horn, eh? Not bad. It's got potential. Let's see what we can make of it."

William waited, hoping that his remaining resources would be enough to give him the edge he needed for what lay ahead. The Black Crow King was still out there, and his mission was far from over.