Apocalypse Cheater

[: Daniel POV :]

After spending nearly an hour immersed with his wife and daughter, Liam bid goodbye and left the room, allowing them to finally rest in a peaceful slumber.

The weight of the world seemed to have lifted as a sense of tranquillity settled upon him.

With a deep sense of gratitude, Liam expressed his heartfelt thanks to both Princess Bella and myself for saving his beloved family.

He made a solemn promise, vowing that his faction, the Wilberts, would forever pledge their unwavering loyalty to the Princess.

In a small ceremony, Liam knelt on one knee, his fist placed gently against his chest as a symbol of devotion.

"I accept your loyalty, Liam Wilbert,"

Bella affirmed, her voice carrying the weight of responsibility and honour.

"Now that I have achieved my goal, spend precious time with your family,"

Bella addressed Liam, her voice filled with warmth and understanding.

She bid him farewell, looking forward to meeting and witnessing the reunion of his cherished family.

"Yes, Princess,"

Liam replied with a radiant smile, his heart filled with gratitude.

He accompanied us outside, watching as we departed from his sight.

With a newfound goal, he began attending to the needs of his family.

Making phone calls, he arranged for the best nutritious foods and sought out a reputable physician to oversee the well-being of his loved ones.

The tasks that lay ahead seemed daunting, the workload overwhelming, but Liam faced it all with a smile on his face.

There was no room for negativity or despair.

He embraced his responsibilities gladly, knowing that every effort was worth it to ensure the well-being of his family.

It felt as if all his lifetimes had converged into this moment, intertwining with an unshakable resolve to bring happiness and security to his beloved wife and daughter.

Well, I hope this time around, you'll have a different ending Liam. 

I wish you all the best. 

Meanwhile, Bella the way and as we walked, her footsteps were graceful and purposeful.

Suddenly, she turned around, her gaze fixed upon me, and posed a question, interrupting the silence that enveloped us.

"Daniel, if I were to fall into a dire state, would you help me?"

I felt her gaze penetrating my being, searching for every nuance of my reaction.

"What do you mean?"

Confusion clouded my thoughts as I struggled to comprehend her question.

Her behaviour seemed odd, especially the intensity in her eyes.

"Would you ever choose to save me if I were in need of help?" She questioned further. 

"Not as a request, but as a friend. Would you do it?"

Bella's inquiry hung in the air, weighted with a sense of vulnerability.

A sigh escaped my lips as I tried to understand the depth of her question.

"What are you talking about?"

"Of course, I would"

"Just because we've only known each other for less than a week doesn't mean I would abandon you so easily,"

I assured her, my voice filled with sincerity.

Our friendship held value and I would never forget it, even after our journey came to an end.

As we walked, I matched her pace, not daring to look back.

If I did, I feared I would regret my words.

After all, there was something unsettling about Bella's laughter.

An eerie undertone in her chuckles, accompanied by the darkness that seemed to consume her eyes.

"So, where is our next destination?"

I inquired, my eyes fixed on Bella.

She smiled softly before responding, "The North District, to meet with the Bronzo Faction."

"The North, huh? It sounds like it will be quite a journey. How about we make it there swiftly?"

I suggested, a glimmer of excitement dancing in my eyes.

Without any hesitation, I gently gathered Bella into my arms, cradling her against my chest, and we took to the skies, soaring towards our next destination.

The wind brushed against our faces as we embarked on this journey together.

As we flew, I couldn't help but notice the gentle blush gracing Bella's cheeks.

Her eyes were locked onto mine, filled with a mixture of trust and adoration.

The intensity of her gaze enveloped me, making my heart flutter with warmth and affection.

Eventually, Bella and I arrived at our third destination, nestled within the North District.

This was where we hoped to meet with the Bronzo Faction and garner their support for our cause.

As expected, we were initially stopped by the vigilant guard stationed at the entrance.

However, their expressions quickly transitioned from suspicion to sheer panic the moment they recognized Bella's regal identity.

They hastily guided us to the guest room, ensuring our comfort before the arrival of the Head of the Faction.

In a surprisingly swift turn of events, John Bronzo, the revered leader of the Bronzo Faction, appeared before us.

"This is an unexpected visit, but I offer you a warm welcome to my abode, Princess Bella"

"To what pleasure do I owe this honour?"

His presence exuded both authority and genuine curiosity.

Understanding the significance of this moment, Bella and I stood before him, ready to present our case.

"I understand that our visit may have caught you off guard"

"However, considering the urgency of our situation, I humbly seek your support in my claim to the throne"

"Both the Wilbert and Viston factions have pledged their allegiance to our cause,"

Bella articulated, her voice laced with determination and a tinge of urgency.

Time seemed to press upon us, with four more destinations awaiting our arrival.

Bella was driven by a sense of urgency, feeling that the hands of the clock were slipping away.

Each passing moment was a reminder of the limited time we had left before Jake ascended the throne.

"Oh, I see. It seems that the battle for the throne has already commenced," 

He remarked, his mind grappling with the weight of the situation.

"Given that I had to choose between the two candidates, how about we make it into a way where both of us would benefit from this?"

John presented an intriguing proposition, offering his loyalty if Bella could fulfil a request.

Curiosity flickered in Bella's eyes as she inquired, "What is it? I'm intrigued to know what kind of request would be necessary to earn your loyalty."

With a contemplative expression, John proceeded to share his request.

"Recently, I have come across a forest near my territory that I am eager to explore"

"However, the presence of formidable monsters within the forest has hindered my progress, resulting in the needless loss of many of my troops."

He paused momentarily before continuing, "I wonder if the Princess would be willing to lend me her assistance in this matter?"

Bella listened attentively, mulling over John's words and considering the potential implications.

The request carried a weighty responsibility, but it also held the possibility of forging a stronger alliance.

There lay a forest, unknown to many, that John yearned to explore and claim as his own.

I know exactly what he was talking about. 

It's a forest stretched over a vast expanse, equivalent in size to ten cities.

It holds a wealth of resources and according to what I know, John had been wanting to expand his territory.

For years, John had been aware of its existence, but it remained untouched.

Why it had remained untouched was because of its reputation, a reputation that sent shivers down the spines of all who knew of it.

A place so perilous that it had earned the ominous title of the Forest of Death.

No soul had ever emerged alive after venturing into its depths, not even a seasoned hunter boasting a formidable level of 600.

John had once sent high-level hunters to the forest, but they met their demise.

Eventually, he reluctantly resigned himself to abandoning any attempts at conquering the forest.

He couldn't bear the weight of further loss and he had accepted his defeat, leaving the forest untouched, yearning for exploration.

But it seems that after seeing me, his hope lightened up once more.

Perhaps because of the news that began to circulate, sparking a frenzy across the media and internet.

The continent was abuzz with the revelation of Bella and my feats of daring deeds.

Perhaps, it had reached his ears.

'Since he's with Bella, then, it would mean there's a chance of them visiting my territory' was something that he would think. 

Looking at the way he scratched his chin and pondered, it was obvious as to what he was thinking. 

[: You have been offered an Ex-rank Quest: Forest Of Death. Reward: 1 Unique Class Selection Ticket. Time Limit: None :]

[: Forest Of Death :]

- Clear and take over the land of the forest -

- Number of Monsters Alive: 13,485,673 -

Another Ticket?

Now that I've been offered another coupon, my theory has been proven.

A surge of excitement coursed through me. 

I was eager to complete the quest and I had even yet to utilise all of the rewards from all of the previous quests.

It felt as though the timing was not quite right, and I questioned whether it was essential at this moment.

My current stats seemed sufficient at least for now. 

Besides, there was still more work to be done. I had yet to advance all of my classes to the superior stage.