an obstacle for such a brave squad as ours?
Then we came out onto the plain. In the distance was the beautiful fortified city of Parkwell. We got there only at sunset. We asked for the guards, and we were taken straight to Melisa.
– Oh, my friends, what have you forgotten in these parts?
«King Gerber sent us to you to convey important news,» I said. – Dirk, the head of the conquests, broke free.
Melissa’s eyes filled with horror.
«Now everything will change,» she said. «I’m wondering why our enemies are so self-confident lately.»
Melissa came closer to me and whispered in my ear:
– Parkwell is filled with conquests. They captured me. Tell Gerber about it. They are dressed as simple peasants, but they have wands hidden under their peasant clothes. Be careful, but be sure to tell the king about it. We must not allow this plague to spread throughout the kingdom. I can’t handle such a huge number of villains alone. But if they gain power throughout the kingdom, it will be too late to fight. Tell it to Gerber while you still have time!
– KISHI! – there was a scream from behind, and Melisa, enveloped in green flame, fell to the ground. An unpleasant man stood behind him with an outstretched staff.
«But I thought it was that Melisa really came over to our side.» And she decided to be a spy and report everything to the enemy. For the sake of order, I suggest you come to us. Let’s conquer the world together.
The inscription hung in the air: «Change faction.» Refuse.
Sienna readied her staff for an attack.
– DEPRESSION! – said the conquest, and Sienna stood, shrouded in purple threads. – Not so fast. I know what you did with the ghosts, but there’s no point in waving a staff around.
We didn’t even notice when more people appeared behind us. Now the six of us stood, wrapped in threads of submission.
– I forgot to introduce myself – Count Mallon, an old friend of Countess Melissa. I’m very sorry, but the ideas of conquest are closer to me than the peaceful life that the Frieds propagate. The world is collapsing much faster than people can build it. Now the head of the conquests is free again, and we can go on the offensive. I have already prepared one army.
Behind Mallon, ghost knights appeared from the void
– But how were you able to subdue the ghosts? – Bran was surprised. – Depresis can make slaves of one or two, but you have a whole army!
– Once upon a time, they swore an oath to King Charles, which they did not fulfill during their lifetime, but after death they are obliged to obey it.
A half-decomposed corpse walked into the center of the hall. He smelled of death. He walked with his arms outstretched and chattering his teeth.
– Meet Karl. I’ve been interested in necromancy for a long time. I awakened many wights. Some of you have even fought with my warriors in the Elsky Burial Grounds.
Then I remembered the terrible sight I saw while looking for Gran. Hundreds of restless people wandered back and forth, without a shadow of a thought. Their only desire was death and revenge. So was Charles, the long-dead king who cursed many infidels.
– Tomorrow morning we will set off to merge with the main detachment of conquests. And you will come with us. Dirk will be delighted to have guests. Please throw the staffs on the floor. You won’t need them anytime soon.
I could not disobey the order. After all, purple spells completely deprive you of willpower. But as soon as the weapon was thrown to the ground, the multi-colored lines of magic spells suddenly disappeared. The world has become ordinary. I looked back at my friends, and their pupils now took on a normal, human shape, although a few seconds ago we were looking at everyone with cat eyes.
«Now lock them,» Mallon commanded.
We were thrown into a large hall and the doors were tightly locked. We ran to the windows, but there were bars on them, and it was also impossible to knock down the doors or cause them any harm.
– OK! «I think I’ll leave the game for now,» said Bran, and his body suddenly became translucent, and the inscription «Not in the game» appeared above him.
Other players followed his example. It’s just me and Sienna left.
– You know, I’ve wanted to try this for so long. But, you know, in reality this cannot be done.
She came up to me and kissed me. But the game fully conveyed all the smallest sensations. I could feel her smooth skin and every crack in it. I could smell her intoxicating scent. When she began to unbutton the buttons on my shirt, I looked at her in surprise.
– It’s OK! It’s possible here. This is the game world.
Although it was a game world, everything was real.
***
– Get up, Ilya! – Svetka still woke me up at the wrong time. That’s a damn car! Well, does he really not understand at all when he can wake him up and when he can’t? But I couldn’t be offended by her for a long time. After all, I fell in love! You could say this was the first time. Well, love for the teacher in the children’s home does not count.
I looked at myself in the mirror and tensed the «muscles» that were hanging and jiggling like jelly. I stroked my plump belly. The double chin has long been overgrown with stubble.
– Light, I want to weigh myself! – I commanded.
– Your excess weight is thirty kilograms.
I was stunned. Will I be able to please her if we can ever meet in the real world? She is so slender and beautiful, and I only have a beautiful drawn character.
– Lights, treadmill. And a barbell!
I ran hard and then did some barbell squats.
Level 4. Captured.
– Get up, why are you lying down? – someone shouted over my ear. I opened my eyes and almost screamed in horror. It was one of the walking skeletons.
Oh, yes, we were captured last night. We were taken to the main hall. Mallon was dressed in travel uniform, surrounded by an entire army of loyal conquestists.
– Let’s hit the road.
They tied our hands and put chains on our feet. It wasn’t just us who were prisoners; there was a whole line of them.
– Why are you delaying?! – one of the conquestists shouted, and the skeleton hit his shoulders with a whip.
So we set off on the road. And we were kept company by an army consisting of people, ghosts and wights. We went west from the Cursed Forest, further and further from the capital of the Freeds. A couple of hours passed and we found ourselves in the desert. There is only sand around, which has no end or edge. Somewhere in the distance behind
