Black Online

It was the dawn of a new morning.

On the 6th floor, the tournament had already concluded in both the Amateur League and the Professional League.

Yesterday, they held the finals of the Professional League.

The winner was Carl York, who was, without a doubt, the undisputed greatest of all time at General’s Game.

There had been two world championships held of General’s Game so far, and he had won both of them—with no real difficulty either.

Incognito, a member of Anna’s guild, came sixth. Not the result he wanted, but the level was really high.

Meanwhile, Sun Festival was still happening with locals and players partying from the first light to the last drop of daylight.

Currently.

At the backyard of Rock’s cottage.

Swoosh~ Swoosh~!

"Huff... Huff..."

Fang Raon swung his sword, his shirtless body glistening with sweat.

He had little trouble sleeping, as he was nervous for the upcoming training camp, so he logged in as early as five in the morning.

He was just doing some light training before Rock and the rest logged in.

"Whoo..."

Fang Raon lowered his shield and sword and just started taking deep breaths with his chest heaving.

"Huff... Whoo... Whoo..."

"What’re you doing?"

At that moment, a voice came, and he turned to see Rock standing over at the door, just watching him.

"Ah... I was just doing a little training."

Fang Raon said.

He didn’t hear him arrive at all, even though Rock’s footsteps used to be very loud and easily noticeable.

’I guess I breathed louder than I expected to not hear him.’

He thought to himself.

"...You’ll regret that."

Rock said with a chilly smile.

Fang Raon tilted his head, wondering what he meant by that, as he didn’t like the sound of that at all.

"You must’ve thought that we were going to take today lightly, but you’re mistaken. As soon as we arrive in the training camp, the training will start."

Rock said.

"...I am prepared."

Fang Raon said.

He then stored the weapons inside his inventory, took out a towel, and wiped off the sweat before he put on a shirt.

"We’ll wait for Della to log on, and then we’ll start heading over. Is everything okay on the other side?"

Rock asked.

"Yeah, it’s okay."

Fang Raon said.

He didn’t want to reveal much of his real-life business, as it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine, but it could be much worse.

At least he could still keep playing Black Online and be part of Rose Records.

He was afraid that his father would take both of those away from him, but he didn’t.

"I’d suggest you take it lightly now. You’ll be wanting that rest now or you’ll be in tears before you know it."

Rock said, and he went back inside to prepare himself some morning coffee to wake himself up properly.

Fang Raon gulped and entered the cottage with him, and from the window, he was able to see the village locals going about their business as usual.

"You’ve talked with Lady Diana at all?"

He asked curiously.

"...Strange question. No, I haven’t. Why?"

Rock asked.

"I don’t want my master distracted during the training camp. I don’t need Read to see how you feel about her.

"If you think about her constantly during the training camp, regretting something, etc., it will hinder my training."

Fang Raon said, and then he looked over his shoulder at Rock, who was silently staring at the coffee brewing machine.

"Don’t leave any regrets, Master."

Swoosh~ At that moment, the wind picked up as a figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the cottage.

She was Della.

"Ah!"

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Fang Raon, and her smile could brighten up the entire room.

But then...

She calmed herself down and lowered her smile as she remembered that he wasn’t a single young man anymore.

"Raon, you’re back."

She said with a casual smile now instead.

"Della..."

Fang Raon nodded.

"Is everything alright with your family? Did they say anything about Rose Records at all?"

Della asked with a worry.

"...No, the Black Online stuff stays separate from my real life, so no need to worry. I’m not going anywhere."

Fang Raon said.

Della nodded with a smile, and she then looked at her grandfather, who finished brewing coffee, and put a few sugar cubes into his cup.

"Grandfather, do you have Raon’s Tower Pearl with you?"

Della asked.

Rock reached out to his inventory, took out one Tower Pearl, and hurled it across the room towards Raon.

Fang Raon caught it effortlessly and looked at the item with a smile.

’With Tower Pearls, it is possible to travel to floors that we’ve already cleared. We can go to the 12th floor anytime we want now.’

"We will appear in the 12th floor’s spawn point, which is in its Safe Zone. We’ll start hiking from there all the way to the training camp.

"The training camp is not located inside the Safe Zone."

Rock informed them.

"...Okay."

Fang Raon nodded.

Since the training camp was out in the wilderness, it meant that it wasn’t a safe location, and they could be attacked at any point.

Not by a player, necessarily, but ferocious mountain beasts that roam the 12th floor of the tower.

’I didn’t stay in 12th floor that long when I cleared it with Machary, Poppy, Abigail and Ragnar, but I do remember it’s harsh terrain.

’Hills, valleys, and sharp cliffs were everywhere. Scattered trees everywhere, a lot of climbs and descents to navigate through.

’Safe Zone was right at the center, at the lowest point of the terrain, and since the terrain rose all around the Safe Zone, it felt like there were mountains all around.

’And somewhere out there exists the training camp.

’I guess it makes sense that Rock chose that place. It is a rather low floor. The training camp is, after all, for those that are only starting.

’If it was any higher, then it wouldn’t be for those that are starting, but those who are already seasoned climbers.’

Fang Raon thought to himself.

He also thought that 6th floor could’ve been excellent place for the training camp in one of those many islands that were scattered across its sea.

However.

He had a feeling that he’d rather minimize his time on the 6th floor because of Lady Diana.

"Ah..."

Rock looked at the finished coffee cup, and he then washed it and put it inside the cupboard.

"Alright, let’s get going!"

He shouted.

"...You sure?"

Fang Raon asked.

"Of course, you brat!"

Rock scoffed, and he took out his Tower Pearl, and so did Della while Fang Raon was already holding it.

"12th floor!"

Rock shouted first.

"12th floor!"

Della shouted next.

"12th floor."

Fang Raon said last.

At that moment.

Purple mist enveloped the three figures, and they were swept away, and just like that, they were gone from the 6th floor.

...

Swoosh~!

"...The newspaper of yesternight. The ongoings of the 22nd floor have become the talk of the tower residents!"

A newspaper boy waved the latest edition in the air, trying to catch the attention of any passersby.

In that moment.

Three figures spawned from empty air, and it took them a moment to adjust back to their new surroundings.

"...Newspaper! Newspaper! Newspaper!"

"I’ll get one."

Rock tossed a square coin to the newspaper boy, who smiled happily, and handed him one of those newspapers.

"..."

He opened the newspaper and frowned at the sight of the news.

"Is something wrong, Grandfather?"

Della asked.

"Ever heard of the Twelve Elder Council?"

Rock asked.

"Of course. Twelve Elder Council members are selected members of the Black Online Company to decide on special matters."

Della said.

"Yes. They’re basically event creators. To spice things up and make the game even more interesting for the players.

"I personally don’t understand why the Black Online Company chose twelve geezers to make such decisions. This is a young man’s game, not a bunch of old men’s."

Rock said.

"Did they decide on something?"

Fang Raon asked curiously.

"Yes. A special event. In three months’ time, there will be a race, a run through the first 50 floors of the tower.

"Whoever is participating in the race can freely go through those towers, even if you haven’t already cleared them."

Rock said.

"Oh, that’s pretty cool, I think. What’s the problem then?"

Fang Raon asked curiously.

"There is always a but. During the run, if you stop running even once, you’ll be executed on the spot."

Rock said.

"What the heck? Why is that a thing?"

Della asked in surprise.

"Like I said, to spice things up. Whoever reaches the 50th floor first wins a great prize. If you come second or third, you won’t win a thing, but at least you don’t get executed."

Rock said.

"50 floors... That sounds exhausting."

Fang Raon said.

He already felt his feet ache when he thought about it, as he could barely run the small course on the 15th floor.

He doubted he could even make 10 floors, let alone 50!