Races: Online (VR Smartphone App)

'Welcome to the Veiled Continent, Demon Lord Mursiel. You are currently in the Enchanted Forest, Territory of the Wood Elf Hazelleaf.'

A pillar of hellfire and brimstone came down from the heavens. It burned. An endless tornado of raging and merciless flames that turned the part of the forest where he landed into ash and dust, everything was consumed—

"Can you stop the firestorm, Jilanya?" A Wood Elf sighed as he leaned back against one of the tree trunks. Their long hair was currently pulled up in a man-bun, and his green eyes looked at the figure that came out from the inferno. 

It was the Demon Lord.

A brooding figure of a tall man with sharp and cold features. The man was garbed in the darkest of armours that would have made a NightShadow weep in shame. Menacing, and the bane of the existence of every Undine Elementals and the general populace from their Universal Chat in Races—this was truly the Demon Lord.

It had been so long since the two of them last met.

"If you call me by that name one more time, I'll burn your only territory, Wood Elf." The voice that came out was deep and biting, a masculine tone that a male Siren would have loved to steal for themselves. If the gods had a voice, it was this one.

The Wood Elf rolled your eyes, "Demon Lord Mursiel, are you happy now?"

"Yes. Some of us have other names and would like to be referred to as such." The Demon Lord's eyes burned as he eyed the Wood Elf standing. They stormed up to him, their boots trodding through the soil as they jabbed a finger at the androgynous person. "I believe you do not wish me to share it to the new Players that the name you've chosen is Hazelleaf."

The Wood Elf waved a hand, "Please, it sounds cute. It's just a na—" The man stopped himself from speaking once they felt the dark aura emerge from around the Demon Lord. He felt the killing intent in the aura and his spine tingled. He didn't need to have any Skill like [ Danger Sense ] to tell that Mursiel was upset.

Countless battle experiences were enough to notice the slightest hint. Compared to the Wood Elf who simply took the 'Races: Online' as a menagerie of delightful experiences, of a luscious and wonderful Otherworld… The Demon in front of him was more attached, treated it like it was some Eden, Avalon or Valhalla.

They've built an entire reputation in this Illusory Realm and would stand by it.

It was a little hypocritical for the Wood Elf to say it, he coughed and backed off the tree. "So what brought you here in this part of the Continent?" The man already had a clue or two, based on their battle-garbed appearance, but they were willing to draw this situation out. 

"...that Human."

Hazelleaf came to a full-stop and glanced back at the Demon Lord Mursiel. "You're not going to attack the Rockfall Village, are you? The Human Player isn't there… and it's kind of my territory now." The two of them had an Alliance so it kind of counted in a way.

"You've made an Alliance with them, haven't you?" Mursiel eyed them, his tone dripping with vindictiveness.

The Wood Elf scratched the back of his neck, "Seems like the next part in gaining more influence again. They have potential you know? Besides, I already mentioned it in the Universal Chat—wait, did the Moderator forget to unmute you? Pfft..." 

"Potential that's good to be trampled upon." The Demon Lord scoffed. "Bugs."

"Hey, hey! Don't drag the bugs into this, you shouldn't compare them to the Human." The Wood Elf wagged a finger at them. "I guess they're both weak and easy to squish—but at least they're kind of cute."

"Cute." Mursiel sneered at him. "Pathetic traits to have."contemporary romance

The Wood Elf raised a brow, he didn't point out that it meant that the Demon Lord agreed with him that the Human was cute. He instead said, "Why? Do you value sexiness more than cuteness?" A smirk formed on his lips, "You don't know what you're missing."

"I value power. Power and Authority. Beauty is superficial and fleeting, but Power is eternal."

"Okay, fair enough." The Wood Elf continued down the forest, "But I'm serious about you not attacking the Rockfall Village, it'll be troublesome." The memory of his cowardly time while facing the Colossal Wyvern, but it was his territory now. 

A harrumphed escaped the Demon Lord's throat, "Are you going to attack me?"

"Yes."

"Fair enough." Mursiel eyed Hazelleaf, "But I'll only do it to draw the Human back into his home and that's when I'll kill him. I have no interest in the land so you can have the scraps."

The Wood Elf rubbed his face, "You know, the Goblin is in the Oaken Ashwoods Territory, and I can probably scout where the Halfling Player is hiding—but you're so insistent on killing the Human. And these three Youngest Races came around the same time, sounds to me like you've got a personal vendetta going on."

"So what if I was?" Mursiel frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "Does it matter? I'll do what I want."

"...You might end up having to pay for a hefty price, the [ Newbie Protection ] is still valid on them."

"What?!" The Demon Lord's eyes widened as flames erupted across their armour's shoulders. "It's still there? What a pathetic Race indeed, that thing should have already been removed." Mursiel shook his head. "Goes to show how weak they truly are, hiding behind and cowering under that Creators' benefit."

"It's been less than six days in this realm, you can't expect them to suddenly reach Level 100, do you?"

"Yes."

"Ah, you're unbelievable." The Wood Elf rubbed his face. But at least the Creators' Protection managed to be a good deterrent in a way. But as soon as the Human reaches at least Level 50, goodbye to that. Wait… their lifespan was limited wasn't it?

Mursiel grunted, "If you don't grow up quickly, you're good as dead in the Abyss—well, not dead, but you'll suffer and you'd wish that death was possible." It wasn't exactly prohibited to talk about their own worlds, but it still wasn't discussed widely. 

Anonymity was valued.

At least until the Creators' desire for peace was achieved—one can't have that happening if you can't even tell who the Players you've interacted with are. However, it didn't stop other Races from figuring out one another's identity if they could. The Wood Elf coughed, "The disintegration of the Soul hurts, you know?"

"Fine. If I can't deal with them here, then I'll visit Earth."

The Wood Elf should prepare some tea snacks maybe, the broiled leaf was always good too. "Oh sure do what—wait, what?!" He turned back to the Demon Lord and furrowed his brows. The two of them had already become close after spending at least a century or so playing together, but it was the first time that they've shown any interest in meeting up in person.

The Wood Elf had already met the Light Elf, he knew her father—but this was different. He'd met with other Races before, but it didn't mean that the Demon Lord himself, or herself had gone through befriending others either. It would be weird to have a Succubus knocking down on your treehouse and explaining it to the neighbours.

...And he kind of doubted that Jilanya was planning to have a sexy time with the Human.

Or maybe he was wrong. The Wood Elf didn't know, but now his attention was captured. He crossed his arms and raised a brow. "Are you now? There's a lot of restrictions on visiting Earth? Are you going there in the flesh or the regular Demon Spirit kind thing? I mean, you guys still possess Humans now and then?" 

"I'm strong enough to go there in my true form and when I get there—"

"...Let's hope that there are no Exorcists there."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing~" He chuckled and shrugged. "The Elves already moved away from Earth such a long time ago that I don't even remember what it's like, I mean, I visited there to see the Elementals a few decades ago? I have a long-distant relative who's Half Elf and Half Gnome… don't ask." A loud sigh escaped their lips and continued. "They're the ones keeping the air, ocean, earth and fire going on. I'm just waiting for the day they're finally done with the Human shit and just go up and leave."

"I didn't come here to listen to your sob story or family issues, Hazelleaf." The Demon Lord gave them a look.

"You can just call me, Wood Elf."

A snicker escaped the Demon Lord's lips, "So you DO hate and regret putting that name as your alias here."

"It sounds patronizing when you say it." The Wood Elf frowned and motioned to them. The Demon Lord really did manage to get a good-looking form, didn't he? The Wood Elf was tempted to change his. He continued, "Anyhow, I guess you've wasted gathering resources for this Portal Magic huh? Coming all the way here and then not even getting your Human to attack you."

"I now remember why I despise you."

"All the best people do, it takes a certain amount of talent." Hazelleaf stretched and summoned wooden tree trunks and a table, "But since you're here, I'll let you enjoy some of my hospitality."

"I'd prefer to dine with a Witch than you."

"I guess she does know how to make a good brew."

"...you don't happen to know the Human's True Name, do you?"

done.co