Martial Online.

Chapter 23: Steel Vs. Wood

The two reached the entrance of the Crow Forest. The last time both of them visited, there weren't as many players.

Waves after waves of players flocked into the forest, and they were all looking for a good grinding place where they wouldn't get disturbed by others. However, it was nigh impossible to find one unless they were strong enough to traverse further away.

"You shall take the lead now." Prince said. "I will follow behind, eyeing our surroundings so that no one is following us."

"Okay." Ambrose replied simply. He looked into the forest and hoped that he knew the route. Last night was dark, and he only walked aimlessly until he found the cave.

'I should know the way. When I walked back, I remember vividly going past a river, then there was some crooked tree, and a field of dead plants.'

Ambrose nodded and decided to try his luck. He cursed himself for not first ensuring the path, but it was too late for that. He stepped forward and entered the forest, closely followed by Prince.

They didn't have to walk even a hundred meters until they came across a clearing, where players fought madly.

"Haaa!" A player swung his wooden sword and smashed into a female player's shoulder. She dropped her sword and fell to the ground. The player didn't show mercy and finished her off with another slash into her abdomen.

The player was about to pick up the fallen items when he was suddenly ambushed by another player. This time, in the name of justice.

"What has she ever done to you?!" The justice warrior shouted and smashed his wooden sword rapidly into the player's block. "You mustn't hurt women!"

"Dude, it is a fucking game!" The player shouted and dodged the incoming slash. He then ran around the justice warrior and smashed the wooden sword into his unguarded back.

The justice warrior groaned in pain and fell to the ground.

"Let's move on." Prince said while eyeing the surroundings.

Ambrose nodded, avoided the clearing, and continued heading in a specific direction. The further they walked, the fewer players there were. However, with their keen hearing, they still heard the sounds of fighting.

After a long walk through the forest, Ambrose stopped walking and perked up his ears. He heard the river's powerful current winding through the forest.

"We are nearing the place." He turned around and said to Prince. The handsome, blond-haired young man nodded casually while looking around in case of an ambush.

After walking slightly further, Ambrose came across the familiar river. There was a fallen tree trunk going over the river, acting as a bridge. He even used that last night, and since it was slippery, he was very close to falling and drenching himself in the cold night river.

Ambrose took the lead and carefully balanced himself on top of the tree trunk until he reached the other end of the river. He then turned around to see how Prince was doing.

Prince hopped on top of the fallen tree trunk without any care in the world and walked over it like he was taking a stroll on a sidewalk. Without any trouble, he reached the other end.

'Is his Dexterity also insanely high?' Ambrose had even more questions. "We should be very close."

"Lead the way," Prince said casually.

'He is surely a leader of some kind.' Ambrose thought as he started walking down a narrow path. 'Maybe he is some rich young master in real life or has some experience in VR games.'

Ambrose, filled with questions, soon came across a crooked tree. It looked very flexible, as if it were made from rubber.

And then, a hundred meters after that, they came across a field of dead plants. For some reason, all the plants were dead, while trees were proudly standing under the sunlight.

At that moment, both of them heard laughter. They turned their heads towards the noise and saw two players walking side-by-side from the left side of the forest. They also entered the field of dead plants and looked around in wonder.

'Players? Here? Shit!' Ambrose cursed inwardly. Those two players were very close to the entrance of Crow Cave.

"Did they come from the direction of the Crow Cave?" Prince asked over his shoulder.

"No, but they are very close." Ambrose replied.

"Alright." Prince walked past Ambrose and pulled out his steel longsword. His majestic aura was instantly amplified.

'Steel longsword? If I remember correctly, that costs 150 silvers!' Ambrose rubbed his neck. If Prince had the intention of robbing him, he wasn't sure whether he could escape anymore.

"What happened to these plants?" A player named Rufus asked as he crouched on the ground. He tried taking one of the plants from the ground, but his hand turned numb instantly.

"No idea." His friend, a player named Nurbur, looked at the plants without much interest. At that moment, he happened to look right and saw a player approaching them with a steel longsword.

"Rufus, attack!" Nurbur shouted in panic and pulled out a wooden sword. It paled in comparison to the steel sword of Prince.

Rufus pulled out his wooden spear hastily and pointed it towards Prince, the tip of the spear shaking. He clearly lacked the strength to hold it steadily.

"W-What do you want?" Nurbur asked while holding the wooden sword with both hands. He was shaking in his boots as his face's frightened expression was reflected off the steel blade.

"Your experience points." Prince raised the steel sword high and casually swung it down.

Nurbur ducked the blade by a narrow margin and rushed forward with the wooden sword's blade rushing towards Prince's abdomen.

Rufus, on the other hand, backed further away and put the spear into a thrusting stance, waiting for the opportunity to strike.

Prince slowly lowered his gaze and swung the steel sword casually to deflect the wooden sword. Nurbur almost tripped on his own legs, and after his sword got deflected, his balance was a mess.

"Haa!" Rufus rushed forward and shouted. "Basic Stab!"

Prince sighed and bent his body to the side to dodge the spear. He then locked the spear under his armpit and rushed forward with the steel longsword.

Rufus' eyes panicked, and he wanted to remove the spear from the hold but lacked the strength to do that.

Prince raised the sword high and slashed through Rufus like he was cutting a piece of bread. Rufus turned into a cluster of floating pixels and disappeared immediately afterwards.

He then turned towards the frightened Nurbur, who had lost his desire to fight.

Nurbur looked at the steel longsword in frustration. 'If only I had one, I could win this fight!'

Without any fighting intent left, he turned around to escape.

Prince didn't chase after the player, as he saw a black-haired youth standing on the path of Nurbur.

Nurbur soon saw another player and gritted his teeth. "Get out of my way!"

The black-haired youth was a young man with pale skin and a dull gaze.

He slowly pulled out a steel shortsword from his inventory.

"Eeek!" Nurbur screamed and wanted to change directions, but he was already too close.

"Basic Slash." Ambrose raised the sword above his head, bent his knees, and rushed forward. The steel shortsword went through Nurbur's body effortlessly, but it didn't go entirely through.

'Prince's strength is above mine, or is it because of the longsword?' He thought as he saw Prince's slash do far more damage. However, it was still a night and day difference when comparing a wooden sword with a steel one.

Nurbur saw everything turning dark, and he soon disappeared from the forest.

[You assisted in killing a Player!]

[5 XP Earned!]

[You killed a Player!]

[5 XP Earned!]