The group offered their farewells to Benamoth, who excused himself with a vague mention of prior engagements. With their initial task completed, they retraced their steps back to the familiar comfort of Valley Village. It wasn't long before their adventurous spirits stirred once more, leading them to accept a new quest – an exploration mission focused on an area bordering a settlement known as Avolvido.
Their journey on foot took them several hours, the landscape gradually shifting as they approached their destination. However, the scene that greeted them upon arrival was far from what they had anticipated. Avolvido was a ruin, a desolate expanse where structures had been reduced to mere rubble. The telltale signs of destruction were everywhere, and there wasn't a single player avatar in sight. The very ground seemed scorched, a testament to some unseen devastation.
Yet, amidst this scene of utter ruin, Saland's keen eyes spotted an anomaly. At the heart of the destroyed village, atop several mounds of blackened debris, stood a solitary figure. His attire was strikingly out of place – an elegant black suit, complete with a black tie over a crisp white shirt and matching black trousers. The man's hair was a stark white, cut in a neat bob, and a sheathed sword rested against his back. He appeared to be meticulously scanning the surroundings with a device attached to his right arm, some sort of advanced analyzer.
As if sensing their presence, the man's gaze turned towards the group. He approached them with a measured stride, his expression serious. "What are you doing here?" he inquired, his voice carrying a hint of authority. "This is a dangerous area for ordinary players. Haven't you been informed about what happened here?"
Haytham stepped forward, a puzzled frown creasing his brow. "No, we haven't received any such message. And besides," he added, his curiosity piqued, "who exactly are you?"
With a swift movement, the man reached into his suit pocket and produced a small, virtual badge. A holographic image of his face accompanied the name displayed on it: "Paul Creast." He held it up for the group to see. "My name is Paul," he stated, his tone matter-of-fact. "I'm a low-class admin, and I'm currently investigating an anomalous mid-class glitch. It hasn't been reported by any other admin and is causing significant disruption in the VR WORLD. This glitch, in a single night, razed this entire village and drained the energy of all players who were traveling through. My task is to locate it and report it to my superiors. What, on the other hand, brings you here?"
Saland exchanged a glance with his companions before answering. "We accepted a quest that directed us to this village," he explained, his voice tinged with disbelief. "We never imagined we'd find anything like this. And… perhaps we might know who this glitch is."
Paul's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. "And how would you know about this glitch?" he asked, his curiosity now fully engaged.
Haytham took over the explanation. "We were exploring a dungeon, and when we reached the treasure room, I unknowingly opened a chest from which that… entity emerged. We tried to fight it, but it defeated all of us effortlessly and then escaped."
As Haytham recounted their encounter, Marty's hands clenched into tight fists, his face etched with frustration. Christa, ever the supportive one, gently placed a hand on his shoulder, offering silent comfort.
Paul's gaze softened slightly as he absorbed their story. "What you did was a serious offense against the VR WORLD," he stated, his voice now carrying a note of gravity. "Releasing such a dangerous glitch was an enormous risk. However, it seems you didn't do it intentionally, and you did attempt to stop it. To atone for your actions, how about you help me find it?"
Without hesitation, the group agreed. Paul then reached into another pocket and produced four sleek, metallic bracelets. He handed one to each of them. "These bracelets will continuously broadcast my location to you," he explained. "And when you see the blue stone on the bracelet illuminate, my current coordinates will be directly imprinted into your minds, allowing you to come to me. In the unfortunate event of my… departure, the bracelets will automatically self-destruct. Now, I must be going. Until soon, everyone."
With those words, Paul turned and strode towards the desolate outskirts of the ravaged village, soon disappearing from their sight. The group, left to process this unexpected turn of events, decided to return to the relative safety of Valley Village. They sought out Benamoth, whom they found holding court in the local establishment, attended by four elven waitresses clad in bunny outfits. The companions settled down with him and recounted the extraordinary encounter with the admin and the revelation about the escaped glitch.
Benamoth listened intently, his expression shifting from surprise to thoughtful consideration. When they finished, a slow smile spread across his face. "Perhaps it's a stroke of luck that you encountered that admin," he mused. "Thanks to him, we might just find Bruhsuperdoom much faster and finally eliminate him once and for all."