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  The screams of men mixed with the smell of iron as blood covered the earth.

  Lead was very familiar with such a scene. How often had he been at the very front of armies in other VR games? Far too many times and he freaking hated it!

  He wasn't especially courageous, but he wasn't a coward either. But he was fucking tired of dying for others' sakes! He wouldn't be cannon fodder anymore!

  He wanted the excitement of the battlefield. He wanted to brave all odds with allies, and he wanted glory!— but his timing was always bad.

  Every time he invested himself early in an MMO that he found promising, it would somehow inevitably flop. Yes, all the fucking time!

  He had always been that one low-level noob that wanted to large-scale PVP even if he wasn't strong enough. He'd just get used and die without making a ripple.

  But this time, it would be different!

  Many still looked down on Infinite since the game was just too…different. Even he had a bad feeling about it, but that's why he started playing it!

  Good Feeling—> Flop?

  Bad Feeling —> Great Success, right?

  This time, he would be betting on the right horse! He had even joined a faction that was impossible to take down because the game itself backed it!

  He had joined the mighty I.R.L. faction!!!

  While the acronym was questionable, it was led by the Village Chief himself! The NPC was a great guy that would be very friendly as long as people kissed his ass.

  Not to brag, but Lead freaking knew how to kiss ass like a pro!

  His own "Lead" name was as ironic as he had never led anyone. He had always been a follower. Yet, somehow, people looked up to him in I.R.L.!

  There were many noobs, and he just happened to have lots of experience in VR games. He never talked about his past since it was pretty shameful, but they all assumed that he was being modest.

  Hence they followed him.

  That's how he had brought them to stop the devilish summon and face the D.L. bastards! But quickly, he had realized that leading wasn't as easy as it looked.

  He had managed to rile them up. He had even played the righteous leader that they had expected of him.

  He had managed to send them charging in the right direction.

  But now, everything was chaotic.

  Lead sighed as he sidestepped an axe to the face. It kept going strong, cleaving an ally behind him in half. Damn!

  The more they fought, the more he realized how freaking incredible their enemies were. In their eyes, he saw the same desire to fight he had.

  Blood kept splashing around, brain matter exploded everywhere, and flesh got cut into tiny pieces.

  Many in I.R.L. were grimacing in disgust. They were already calling out for the system to turn off the gore settings in tears.

  Yet Lead found himself at peace. As attacks rained on him from time to time, he would relaxedly evade.

  Many of the D.L. members were trying to assassinate him, but he did not mind it. He would navigate the battlefield to dodge their assault.

  But sometimes, he'd also counterattack. He'd swing the long polearm he had found in the village chief's armory. It didn't cause severe damage, but he loved the reach.

  Trying to kill me? Can you even come close enough?

  Can you even handle the tip?!

  He was fighting, and he was still alive past the first minute! This was an incredible achievement for him! After all, for once, he was part of the high-level players.

  At this moment, he completely forgot about leading. He completely forgot about the stakes of the fight. He simply lost himself in the moment.

  He didn't feel rage, his blood wasn't boiling either, and he somehow felt at peace. He had the feeling this was the place he belonged. At that moment, he wouldn't have minded for there to be no victor.

  He'd be content with this fight going on forever.

  But it didn't change a thing, and he would fight with his full power.

  He got serious, and soon Lead became a nightmare for the enemy.

  D.L. did not fear, but they sure cursed that one spearman a lot.

  "Coward! Stop hiding behind your allies!"

  "Come fight me close range if you dare, bastard!"

  "I bet that's all you do all day: play with your stick!!"

  They badmouthed him, hoping to make him angry. As long as he broke formation, they'd have a chance to kill him.

  Lead chuckled. Nice try, but he was used to battlefields— very used to them!

  "Yes, I really like playing with my spear. That's why I polish it diligently!" He calmly answered back, not even flustered.

  His mere presence slowly but surely emboldened his allies. In the beginning, they had been so eager to charge. They had run ahead of him only to get stomped.

  The first exchange had been a tie because the I.R.L. peeps had been fearful.

  But now Lead's calm slowly reminded them that they had the advantage in number. Unknowingly, even as he acted as a foot soldier, he led them.

  Players on both sides were perishing as bodies fell and disappeared in colorful blue glows.

  Lead took a profound inspiration. At this moment, he was so glad that he had joined I.R.L.! This was the kind of gameplay he had wanted all this time!

  Even as they died, he glanced at the noobs at his side with a warm gaze. They would get better with time, and they'd all have fun together in Infinite! For sure!

  How would they have reacted if they had known his thoughts? Many of them had lots of experience in VR. They just weren't used to Infinite just yet. They hadn't been game hopping like Lead.

  The man kept thrusting his spear as if an extension of his arm. He had a bright smile as he pictured their glorious future.

  This puny D.L. would be their stepping stone, and they would spread to the vast world!

  Some thought that I.R.L. would be nothing but a temporary faction forever stuck in the beginner village, but he knew better.

  The village chief had connections back in the Empire. That one level 34 messenger bird they had seen wasn't even a special one. It was disposable!

  How many more marvelous things would await them? Either way, he would face them with his faction.

  He gave the noobs an encouraging shout as he kept dancing across the battlefield:

  "Don't worry, everyone! It's normal to be nervous during your first battle! Just focus on not getting hit and on hitting the opponent!"

  His voice was benevolent and composed. It was strange considering that he was running across the place. This came with experience. When you die quickly, you learn to scold your killer like a boss to at least leave an impression!

  Yet, the allies reacted strangely to his good intentions:

  "First battle, are you calling us noobs?!"

  "Fuck you, man! I played thousands of hours of Eldritch Scrolls Online!!"

  "Goddammit! Stop freaking hiding behind us! They all want to kill you on the other side!!"

  Lead sighed. What was the point of lying about their playtime? This wasn't a contest. As for him staying away, it was the whole point of a spear!

  Just as he was sighing, his eyes suddenly fell on the NPCs a distance away. Why did that potato sack sound familiar?

  [Generating New Super Secret Mission!]

  [Rescue The Captive Village Chief!]

  [Will You Accept? Y/N ?]

  "What…."

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  [A/N] Hype! Feb Mass Release Time! ??

  Day 3: Drinking Stone Cold Coffee ? (2/4)