Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

[You have killed a Grimmjaw. You have gained +10000 XP].

[Congratulations! You have just reached level 102!]

Kaizen was surprised to hear the voice in his head. He had been so focused on staying alive that he hadn't even counted how many Grimmjaws he had already killed, nor how many levels he was gaining.

Grimmjaws were unique creatures from a region near the capital of Vrikhodour, and they used to have bulky, muscular bodies covered in scaly skin that was dark as night. Their sharp claws were long and curved, capable of tearing through the flesh of their prey with ease. But a Grimjaw's head was their most fearsome aspect, for they possessed elongated skulls with wide jaws and sharp, jagged teeth. Their eyes glowed with an intense red light that emanated a sinister, supernatural glow, and sharp spikes sprouted from the top of their heads, forming a spiky ridge that extended to the back of their necks.

The Grimmjaws' backs were adorned with serpentine spikes that extended down their spines, giving them an intimidating appearance.

Certainly, the Grimmjaws were very strong monsters, as even Kaizen had a hard time taking on a large horde of them.

"This region is quite dangerous. Now I understand why these people are so strong." Kaizen says, thinking about Teshi and Ryeis, the strongest players he faced in the tournament. "Well, it should be dark soon. I'd better get to the cities before then."

From where Kaizen stood, in the middle of a desert and mountainous region, he could see the capital of Vrikhodour in the distance, for like the capital of Tretidian, the city had a large monument that stood out, and not like Tretidian, which had two pillars and a large statue. In fact, in Vrikhodour, the capital itself was the monument, for it was a city that stood on a large floating island.

As he walked towards it, Kaizen admired the impressive sight of the capital of Vrikhodour.

The floating city hovered majestically above the clouds, illuminated until the last moment by the golden rays of the setting sun. At the foot of the island was a great encirclement of colossal chains forged by dwarves and giants long, long ago, giving it a mysterious and mystical appearance. This capital was definitely as imposing a metropolis as real cities, for it had beautiful architecture and several districts in the city. Moreover, the buildings were magnificent, with towers made of crystal and glittering metal that reflected the sunlight in a dazzling way so that the city was not too hot. And the presence of metal in the architecture conveyed a mix of styles, combining modern and fantasy elements to create a unique and fascinating atmosphere.

As Kaizen surveyed the city, he noticed the constant movement of airships and people riding winged creatures indistinguishable from where Kaizen was standing.

Kaizen knew that this city probably offered countless opportunities to hone his skills and find new adventures. There were renowned guilds, battle arenas, markets filled with rare and valuable items, and even libraries that housed ancient knowledge, so he had a smile on his face as he looked around excitedly.

As night approached, Kaizen decided to speed up his pace and head into the city. He had a feeling of excitement mixed with a hint of fear. As he ran through the arid and mountainous terrain towards the floating city, he felt the pulsating energy of the city, but he also did not waver, for he understood that the reason the city was floating was because the entire surrounding region was dangerous.

Soon, Kaizen arrived at a large camp near the base of the floating island. There he found a group of adventurers who were about to board an airship to the capital of Vrikhodour, and since payment was required, he thought it would be better to split the fee with someone, so he approached the group.

"Hello, good evening! I want to go up as well. I wonder if I can join you in the airship?" asked Kaizen hopefully.

One of the adventurers, a burly warrior in shining armor, turned to him and smiled. "Sure thing, buddy! No problem. We'll be boarding soon. We're just waiting for the pilot to return from his last trip. My name is Duran, and these are my group mates, Sylva and Rothgar," he introduced himself.

Sylva was an archer with a shy disposition, and Rothgar was a lancer with a serious countenance.

Kaizen greeted Duran, Sylva, and Rothgar. Then Duran looked at him curiously and asked:

"You're not from around here, are you?"

The Psyker raised his eyebrows in surprise. "No, I'm actually from Tretidian. How did you find out?"

Everyone was a little surprised by Kaizen's answer. After all, it was not very common for players to cross from one realm to another, as it was time-consuming and, for most people, an almost suicidal journey.

"Ow! Tretidian, right? You must be amazing, and that explains why your armor is so worn. And here I thought you were just from another city in Vrikhodour, because I've never seen you around here before."

Kaizen laughed, a little shy of the praise as always. "Well, I wish I had spawned here. There's a lot of confusion and guilds to deal with in Tretidian."

Rothgar, the spearman, snorted at this. "You will soon find that it is not much different here. It seems that the strong players here have even bigger egos than the king."

A short time later, an imposing airship approached, the sound of its propellers cutting through the air. The airship was majestic, with a silver hull and long hot air balloons supporting it. It was adorned with gold details and a prominent crest of the city of Vrikhodour, a blue griffin. The boarding ladder was lowered, inviting passengers to board.

At that moment, Kaizen took a moment to look at the floating island from below for the first and last time. It was vast and mysterious. Steep rocks and lush vegetation adorned its cliffs, while waterfalls cascaded down to near the camp where he now stood. The island had an aura of enchantment, shrouded in a subtle mist of clouds that made it seem even more distant and mysterious.