"Peach Blossom!!"

    All the male players in the group exclaimed in unison.

    "Oh no, has anyone seen Peach Blossom?"

    Rafael asked anxiously, sweat starting to break out despite not being hot.

    "We're in trouble. We're going to be deaf for a month for sure!"

    Draco's face turned pale, just thinking about what they would have to endure after this made him almost want to log off from the game right then.

    "I haven't seen her at all, bro. What do we do if Guild Leader Siegfried found out? We're so dead!!"

    One of the players said with a trembling voice.

    "Everyone, start searching for Peach Blossom throughout the town, quick, before the guild leader logs on. As for me, I'll try calling Peach Blossom. Hurry up, split up now!!"

    Rafael commanded quickly. Everyone immediately followed his orders strictly, knowing well the guild leader's protective nature towards his sister. Thus, the operation to find the beautiful lady to avert disaster began at that moment.

    The next morning, Chang Long and Kitsune were jolted awake by the sound of a woman's groaning. The two looked at each other before cautiously setting out to find the source of the sound.

    "I hope it's not a ghost, Kitsune,"

    Chang Long said, making a spooked gesture.

    "I don't think it's likely, master. Remember, we still haven't found the source of the screaming we heard yesterday. It could be the same person,"

    Kitsune reminded its master.

    "Hmm... makes sense. Let's quickly find the owner of that voice then. They might be in danger."

    "Yes, master,"

    Kitsune complied, and they both continued their search for the source of the haunting cries. Soon, Chang Long found a female player lying in a pool of blood, but still alive, on the other side of the rock where Chang Long found the sword. She twitched weakly, her body flickering red, indicating that she was nearly death. Chang Long quickly took out three blood crystals and put them into the mouth of the female player, one by one, until finished. Then, she awkwardly carried the fading woman back to her last dwelling.

    "She was so small. How could she be this heavy?"

    Chang Long complained while staggering under the weight of the female player on her way to the shelter.

    "Let me carry her, master.”

    Kitsune offered to help after seeing his master’s struggle. He thought that her actions were more harmful than helpful. Stumbling here, tripping over rocks there. They were barely halfway there, but almost a jar of blood crystals was depleted.

    "It’s fine, Kitsune. I'll carry her. So that she could inhale the scent of Buppha garland, which would help her recover quickly. Kitsune, you better watch out for any beasts that might attack us."

    Chang Long turned to Kitsune, who looked concerned.

    "...Alright master,"

    Kitsune agreed, then apologetically watched the unfamiliar young woman before setting off to keep watch from a distance. Finally, they safely reached their lodging, using up almost two jars of blood crystals!

    Chang Long laid the female player down on the ground and started setting up the tent, which had a special function, simply placing it on the ground was enough for it to set itself up. Then, she dragged the victim into the tent to rest before coming out to have breakfast with Kitsune from the Horn of Abundance, not forgetting to save some food in a storage box in case the female player woke up.

    After breakfast, they immediately resumed the work they had left the day before. Chang Long tried to have Kitsune breathe fire on it, but the orb with the blazing flame inside seemed to absorb all the fire Kitsune breathed into it.

    What the heck is this thing! Can't dig it out normally, can't burn it with fire. I'm getting angry now, just you wait, I'll smash you into jelly with bare hands!"

    Chang Long shouted out in frustration when she could not find a way to extract the beautiful sword.

    "Calm down, master. Smashing it would only hurt yourself for nothing. Let's think of another way, master."

    Kitsune hurried to stop Chang Long, who was about to smash the rock into dust in anger.

    "Ah..."

    Chang Long exclaimed and stopped dead in her tracks, causing Kitsune, who hurried after her, to almost bump into her.

    "What is it, master?"

    "Kitsune... Can you use your transformation skill on something else other than yourself?"

    Chang Long turned to ask hopefully, the look in her eyes told Kitsune that his master was having some bizarre ideas again.

    "Yes, master. I can transform objects that are the same size as me within my line of sight. If my level is higher, I can transform an even larger objects progressively, master"

    Kitsune answered his master's question with curiosity.

    "Great, this rock is about as tall as us. Kitsune, try using your transformation skill to turn it into jelly,"

    Chang Long's words cleared Kitsune's confusion but only left a small question.

    "What's a jelly, master?"

    Kitsune tilted his head to the side asking with curiosity. He had never seen this so-called 'jelly' thing. Chang Long was dumbfounded. Then she took out the Horn of Abundance and ordered a lump of clear jelly.

    "This is jelly. Try poking it with your finger,"

    Chang Long held a plate of jelly in front of the young fox. Kitsune tried as instructed, his sharp nail easily pierced through the jelly.

    "Oh, this is!!"

    As if discovering a new world, Kitsune never imagined that something called jelly could be so soft, squishy, and resilient to touch.

    "Got it. I'll try, master!"

    After poking, squeezing, and kneading the jelly to his heart's content, Kitsune approached the rock with a determined look.

    "Secret Technique, Transformation!"

    Kitsune stood in meditation for a half-second before using the skill, pointing three fingers towards the rock.

    "Turn into jelly!"

    As Kitsune's voice faded, the rock that was pointed at, flashed brightly and then dimmed quickly.

    "Huh?"

    Chang Long and Kitsune looked at the rock, which was somewhat shinier as if it had been polished.

    "Forgive me, master, my skills are inadequate.... What are you doing, master!"

    Kitsune spoke sadly, believing it had failed to fulfill its master's wish. But when it turned around, it saw Chang Long leaping beautifully with both legs towards the rock.

    Swoosh!

    Both of Chang Long's legs sunk deep into the rock up to her waist. She immediately turned to smile at Kitsune.

    "M... Master, that's!!"

    Kitsune exclaimed, looking at Chang Long, whose body was deeply embedded in the rock, in astonishment.

    "It worked, Kitsune. This rock has turned into jelly,"

    Chang Long cheerfully told Kitsune. Then she proceeded to cut the jelly rock into small pieces effortlessly.

    At last, the silver sword, a meter and a half long with a skull-shaped guard with bird wings spreading wide on both sides ready to fly, embedded with an orb resembling a flame burning inside all the time near the guard in the middle of the blade, ended up in Chang Long's hands.

    "Player Chang Long has acquired the Sovereign Sword along with the Eye of Fire, enabling Fire Fortress Skill, Sea of Flames Skill, and Flaming Burst Skill. The Sovereign Sword is a personal treasure and cannot be sold or exchanged. The player must form a blood contract before the sword can be used."

    As the system announced, the Sovereign Sword, which had been shining brightly, quickly dimmed, becoming ancient startlingly fast.

    "What! I have to hurt myself for it?"

    Chang Long complained, looking at the transformed Sovereign Sword.

    "It seems like a fine item, master."

    Kitsune commented, also astonished by the sword in Chang Long's hands.

    "Hope it's as good as you say!"

    Chang Long responded, pulling out a python fang sword and carefully cutting her palm. She was curious about the sword's quality and decided to form a blood contract, as she would not be able to check the sword's status otherwise.

    After cutting herself and bleeding, Chang Long clenched her fist, covering the sword with her blood. Then, holding the sword with the wounded hand, she raised it in what she imagined to be the coolest pose. Kitsune watched his master's actions with admiring eyes, and then the system announced,

    "Player Chang Long has successfully formed a contract with the divine weapon, the Sovereign Sword. Player Chang Long will no longer be able to use any other weapon."

    "Wow~ A divine weapon will surely have tremendous attack power."

    Chang Long exclaimed joyfully and immediately checked the sword's status happily.

    "Divine weapon, the Sovereign Sword, level 0, attack power... huh... one!!"

    Chang Long was shocked and pale when she saw the attack power of the Sovereign Sword which was incredibly low. Considering the effort she had put into obtaining this sword, she felt faint right there. Kitsune, seeing his master freeze, rushed to check on her.

    "Master, what's wrong. Master?!"

    The young fox shook her, trying to snap her out of her stupor.

    "...Attack power one... Attack power one..."

    Chang Long muttered to herself, lost in thought. Kitsune tried to shake her back to reality, but it seemed futile as Chang Long's mind had drifted far away.

    "I'm going to have to use this one-attack-power sword for the rest of my life. Just one attack power..."

    "Master, please calm down. High-level swords like this usually require experience to level up. As it levels up, its attack power will increase. I guarantee this sword will become stronger. Master just needs to battle a bit more. I will help master to the best of my abilities!"

    Kitsune hurriedly comforted her, trying to bring back her spirits, and it seemed to work.

    "Really!?"

    "Really, master."

    "Are you sure?"

    "Absolutely, master."

    "You're not fooling me?"

    "How could I fool you, master!"

    "Ugh... let's go rest and gather our strength. I'm so tired from cutting jelly all day."

    Chang Long sighed, somewhat reassured by Kitsune's predictable words but still shocked. She hugged Kitsune's neck in his human form and let him drag her back to their tent.

    Since there was nothing else to do in the afternoon, Chang Long laid out a mat near her tent to relax. The mysterious female player was still asleep. For some unknown reason, various beasts began to converge near Chang Long's camp, even though there had been no sign of beasts in the area the day before. Kitsune speculated that this might be because the Sovereign Sword, which had been embedded in the stone, had been removed. It went out to fight these beasts enthusiastically, while Chang Long was still upset that her sword could only deal one damage at a time, so she rolled around on the mat, bored.

    Beep beep, beep beep

    A sound like a digital alarm clock came from inside the tent. When Chang Long looked towards the sound, it stopped. Chang Long looked at the tent, hearing murmurs. She was curious but did not plan to check because she assumed the female player must has awoken. Soon, the female player came out of the tent, impeccably dressed. She had fair skin and long, wavy golden blonde hair.

    "Who are you?"

    The first words out of the female player's mouth were sharp and harsh. She looked at Chang Long with cold and disdainful eyes.

    "And who are you? Why are you lounging around here?"

    Chang Long responded tersely, her intention to be polite evaporated as she saw the female player's attitude.

    "Rude! Who said I was lounging around here? With a mouth like that, you must have never died before!"

    She snapped at Chang Long, her entitled demeanor made it clear to Chang Long that she was used to being pampered.

    "Uh... never. But you have terrible manners, you know? Do you always speak like this to someone who saved your life?"

    Chang Long retorted sarcastically. The girl’s face went red with anger. She no longer cared about the attitude of the person in front of her.

    "Forget my manners. I'm leaving!"

    She spoke sharply and began to rummage through her bag.

    "What are you looking for?"

    Chang Long could not help but ask when she saw the female player searching through her bag for a long time without leaving.

    "... A teleportation scroll back to the city ... Do you have one? I’ll pay for it."

    The young woman reluctantly answered Chang Long's question, but before Chang Long could respond, Kitsune ran in and hugged Chang Long right in front of her.

    "Master, there's a beach up ahead. I've checked, that it's safe. No beasts to bother us at all, sir. I think we should move our tent to the beach, master."

    Kitsune said while still hugging Chang Long. They did not think much of it, but the young woman who witnessed this scene was strongly offended by the sweet display of a male-male relationship right before her eyes.

    "Uh huh... Sounds good. Then let's pack up."

    Chang Long said while patting Kitsune affectionately on the head, further upsetting the onlooker.

    "But Kitsune, did you use magic to fight the beast?"

    Chang Long asked, noticing the flames in the distance.

    "Yes, master. I breathed fire on them because I wanted to come back to tell you about the beach as soon as I can."

    Kitsune answered with a cheerful smile, then walked over to help Chang Long pack up their few belongings, ignoring the third person there entirely.

    "Hey! What about my question? Don't ignore me like this."

    The young woman hurried after Chang Long and Kitsune, who walked away without inviting her.

    "Hey, I asked if you have a teleportation scroll back to the city. I’ll pay for it. hey!"

    Chang Long's party had to stop suddenly when a group of horned fire lizards blocked their path. Chang Long and Kitsune were exasperated upon realizing that every one of the monsters in front of them ranged from level 48 to 52.

    "Seriously! Where did they all come from?"

    Kitsune complained, looking at the horned fire lizards with concern.

    "It will be difficult to get pass them, but staying here isn't an option either," Chang Long furrowed her brows.

    "Just use a teleport scroll then, and don’t forget to sell one to me while you're at it!"

     The girl persisted.

    "Who are you to speak so rudely to my master?!"

    Kitsune spoke to the young woman who was following them, clearly displeased.

    "Let her be, Kitsune. Some people are rude because they lack proper upbringing. Let's not stoop to her level," Chang Long said nonchalantly, which infuriated the young woman even more.

    "I think I'll give it a try,"

    Chang Long said, then took the Sovereign Sword in hand.

    "But its attack power is..."

    "I'm not planning to rush in and fight them head-on. Sea of Flames!"

    After speaking to Kitsune, Chang Long immediately invoked a skill that came with the sword.

    Flames burst forth from the Eye of Fire, streaming out like a bright red cloud directly to where Chang Long pointed. The fire spread rapidly across the area. The Sea of Flames expanded and even threatened to engulf them as well.

    "Great, just great! You should have told me that you planned to roast us alive to teleport back to the town!"

    The young woman behind them said sarcastically.

    "Maybe this will work?"

    Chang Long sheathed the sword at her waist and turned towards the raging sea of flames in front of her. Then, she invoked the second skill that came with the sword.

    "Fire Fortress."

Nothing happened after Chang Long used the skill. The young woman looked at Chang Long mockingly after she had created a water shield around them.