"And what about my master? Is she alright?" she asked again, trying to make sure her master is fine.

"She.." Oya hesitated, and didn't continue her words, as she knew how hard it would be for Ela. "Don't tell me, is she.. dead?" Ela finally said it, while her face turned ashen white from shock and pain.

Oya didn't have anything to help but to hug and pat on her. She knew how difficult it was to lose someone dear to your heart, as she was feeling such immense pain from losing Ibro, and she knew one day they would meet again.

However, Pnro was dead, and she didn't meet her in person, but she suddenly was reminded by the intense reaction of Ibro at that time.

'And I thought he lost a lover that day, sigh,' she thought to herself, blaming her bad wronged thoughts towards Ibro, as she now realized how unique this Pnro was.

It took half an hour from her to calm Ela down, and when they resumed walking again, Ela was so depressed, lowering her head all the path until they ended up meeting Salsola and the other players, waiting for her at the main city centre.

"Oh, our little princess has finally showed up!"

One of the players, who went by the name Avada, said welcoming her. She smiled at him, and then to the others who stopped what they were doing and came to greet her.

"Sorry everyone, I had something to do which made me quite delayed."

She glanced at all of their faces, faces of players she used to play with at previous VRMMORPG games. However she knew this time was different, as they wouldn't be playing, they would be fighting for their lives.

"I heard you want to make an alliance, have you ever asked about the conditions of establishing one? They are really unrealistic, can't be achieved at all at this stage of the game!"

It was Mila, the dark Mila gardner, the famous magician with her all black outfit. She was someone strong enough to make any player fear crossing her path wrongly or stirring her anger accidentally.

"Don't worry, we got these conditions covered by us," Ela suddenly said, as she attracted everyone's attention towards her. The moment they realized her presence, they stared with wide eyes towards her, while Salsola whispered to Oya:

"Is she.. an NPC? A grand magician NPC? Level one hundred grand magician NPC?"

Her whisper attracted everyone's attention, as they all realized how high this NPC in level and rank was!

"She is my friend," Oya hesitated before finally finding this peaceful way out of their inquiries. She never thought about how weird it might seem for Ela to be following her, or even the other NPCs who would join them later on.

"Don't be shy, I'm an easy going person," Ela finally regained her previous friendly self as she smiled at all of them, while introducing herself like that.

However they were all looking weirdly towards Oya, while Doom, one of the group, asked:

"Is this possible in the game to befriend such high and mighty NPCs?"

His question was exactly what was inside their minds. Oya just looked at him and smiled, wryly, as she knew if she said yes then she would be battered by many questions from her friends, about how to befriend NPCs.

But if she said no, she would have to find another excuse for the presence of Ela here.

"Oya is our benefactor, no one can do the things she did to us, so we all are her friends, and she is our master," Ela's words didn't help at all, on contrary she caused more stir, as they all whispered among themselves.

"Wait a minute, you aren't the only NPC that Oya knows?" Salsola suddenly blurted out, asking this question out loud. Her question had lightened over an area they never thought of before!

"Yes, we are many, hundreds by far, and thousands in the future," Ela's reply was swift, as if she was speaking about usual stuff, everyday matters. Her words made everyone glance with veneration and even envy towards Oya, while Avada hurried to pay his tribute to her, jokingly, as he kneeled while saying:

"Hail o'mighty and powerful Oya."

Everyone else mimicked him, driving the smile finally one Oya's tense face. She feared she would be interrogated, but instead her friends celebrated this grand achievement, feeling how lucky they were to come here and see this with their own eyes before anyone else.

Just in the middle of this, Oya was surrounded with a bright light, indicating she had just risen in level! This happening just attracted everyone's attention, making them all stop what they were talking about, and look in doubt towards her.

And then, Salsola as well had the same light, as she also gained another level.

"Oh, guys, c'mon, someone tell us what is going on here?" Disky, one of the group, asked, as he was bewildered by what just happened.

As for Oya and Salsola, they just exchanged glances, and realized the fact that the skeleton army was still killing monsters back there. they both totally forgot about it, and they now had gained one level without even needing to be present there!

How awesome was that!

As for Oya and Salsola, they just exchanged glances, and realized the fact that the skeleton army was still killing monsters back there. they both totally forgot about it, and they now had gained one level without even needing to be present there!

How awesome was that!

Oya just giggled and said nothing, while Salsola just raised her chin high as she said:

"This is just a mere part of the advantage you will all get when joining Oya. She can help all of you to level up, even if we are all away from the leveling grounds, like what just happened now."

"Are you sure that's what really happened?" Disky asked, feeling somehow skeptical to that, "I didn't know what you just two did, but I never heard of something like this in any game I played before."

Everyone just nodded, agreeing with him on this remark, but Salsola didn't feel any insult, as she kept her chin raised up as she said:

"This is the special thing about this game, Oya can let her minions work at the leveling grounds, killing monsters, and in return she and players in her team, like myself, would get the fruits of that."

"Are you saying she is a summoner?" Roka, a magician known as the white witch between the top players here asked.

"No, she isn't a summoner, she is a necromancer," Salsola finally said it, "she had a huge skeleton army killing monsters right now, while she was here playing with her quests, gathering this formidable NPC to her army," she added, as she felt proud in Oya's achievements, making even Oya laugh on her words.

"Enough, let's talk seriously for now," Oya suddenly said, before looking at Ela as she added, "Ela and her friends will carry us onto a very high leveled map, the Ihnasia rift. Anyone interested in joining?"

Her words startled even Salsola, who never thought her friend would pull out such a grand hand. She, like others, went silent at first, before a storm of agreement and even pleading erupted all of sudden, making Oya feel like returning home again.

This wild natured play was the type she usually enjoyed back before the Rioneed game kicked in, and living inside that atmosphere again made her feel much content and happy.

Only if Ibro was here, her happy moment would be rather perfect!

"Just be calm, we won't move anytime now," she added, trying to control the storm she just created, "we will wait for others to be ready and then we will move out," she added.

"Then add us to your team, we want to gain some of that blessing of yours," Mila asked, with a greedy look in her eyes.

"Hahaha, ok, I will send an invitation now," Oya laughed as she sent invitations to all of them. they all accepted, and went silent for a couple of minutes, as they closely observed their Xp, waiting for its value to rise.

Their number was huge, so distributing the Xp over them meant each would take a minimal amount of Xp per minute, not like what Salsola had before, as she only shared this amount with Oya alone.

Suddenly a wave of shocking exclamation erupted, as all of them screamed out of joy and surprise when they realized they were gaining Xp!

"We are gaining Xp! I gained Xp!"

"this is the first time in my entire gaming life to gain Xp while doing nothing at all!"

"This is a blessing, a great blessing, miss Oya you are an angel, a real angel!"

All of them showed extreme emotions and reactions which made Oya laugh while silently observing them. for her, this was nothing, as she knew her skeletons were now standing in their places, not actively hunting monsters down.