MMORPG: Rise of the Peerless Pumpkinmancer

~ And this is what you get for underestimating me!

The creature's vengeful voice echoed as it wrapped its shadowy tentacles around Jack, dragging it with it just as it was getting banished.

"Nooo!"

"General!"

But before anyone could react, he was already gone, the portal closing forever. Despair filled the troops' hearts as they slumped to the ground despondent.

"Woo…"

"General…"

"T-this can't be…."

"He'll be back, right?!…."

In the heavy silence, all that remained was emptiness where he once stood...emptiness and wails of Ephials in the background!

"I don't know. I freaking don't know, but we have to survive for his sake!" The Chief urged, coming back to his senses.

"Just survive? No goddamn way! We have to obliterate those bastards!"

"Hell yeah! Just not now…. Survive first!"

They all solemnly nodded, their eyes suddenly shining with renewed determination. They would carry Jack's legacy, even if he wasn't there anymore!

"Troops, move out! Just treat it as training!" The Chief energetically yet sorrowfully bellowed, just as he would have done.

— Woosh! —

They burst out of the temple like one entity akin or perhaps war chariots of doom. The place was laden with confused Ephials, but there was no stopping now!

— BAM!!! —

Ephials were sent flying all over, but their instinct was already kicking in, pushing them to fight back. Even without a leader, their sheer number was enough to defeat the Centaurs.

"PUSH!!!"

"AHHHH!!!"

They charged their way out of Tribe-gather, the wind moist with their blood and manly tears. They were pushing through with sheer will and the techniques he had shown them…

After what felt like an instant and an eternity at once, the bloodied Centaurs emerged out of Tribe-Gather, giving it one last look. They would be back!

The return path was silent, the troops akin to sheeted blades as they contemplated their next revenge plan.

It didn't take them long to reach the Centaur village, and they were even quicker to gather for one last assault.

Children, women, men previously left behind to ensure the village's safety, and even the elders; all were there!

The Centaur Chief stood before them, getting emotional as he spoke of Jack's heroic deeds:

"He gave his life to save us all. Now we'll crush the bastards that murdered him! Are you ready!!"

"KILLL!"

"WOO!"

That's when, unbeknown to most of Infinite, something truly crazy happened, a single earth mage player witnessing it.

Even from another world, quite possibly his grave, Jack was completing a world-level Quest!...All under the supervision of a little wolf.

"Woo! Woo!"

"Yes, Boss, understood!"

Moon Moon became the new army leader, giving orders as its master once did. It had no idea what it was doing, but it was a smart wolf and quickly realized two things.

1. Its master wasn't coming back, perhaps because the "event" wasn't over yet.

2. It was up to its furry self to bring him back!

That's how a tiny orange wolf led a pack of Centaurs as if a shepherd from hell , driving them to death's door with insane training.

Lacking commander? They'd double down on the training instead! Before, they had been on a time limit, but now the Ephials had stopped respawning. This time they'd wipe them all!

.

.

.

While the NPCs trained, the players went wild.

They had long respawned and were doing their best to loot the once glorious Tribe-Gather.

Clear the City? No way! Dying to Ephials had too high of an XP loss: it simply wasn't worth it!

As for helping the Centaurs? No way either since the NPCs were stingy as hell! The "bastards" wouldn't even let them plunder the City for the players' "just" reward.

All except that one earth mage had basically become leeching scavengers. They understood that they'd be able to leave the place once the Centaurs cleared the Ephials: they had no reason to stress!

Thus continued an endless cycle of Braves Looting X NPC training. It took so much time that the players had long become rich.

The forums had since been filled with the tales of their conquest.

< Found a new artifact! + Speed! >

- SupersonicNinja: Gaze upon this baby! OP.png

- BuyingDumplings: Bro, stop posting that shit! Imma die of jealousy here! 😭

- CruelWorld: 59% speed increase active?!! WTF!!! That brooch's better than a car!

< Ephial-land ($$$) Centaur Slaying Halberd! >

- TyrannicLeaf: I found the armory! With this, I can legit 1 v 1 a Centaur! Stronk.png

- ChadMaster31: Yes, but can you fight all the buddies of that 1 Centaur? Lol 😆

- AverageAdvice. Do it, just do it! 😈

There were so many threads like those that people were regretting not diving into the sky portal faster.

Luckily for the ones watching on the sideline, after about a week of training, temporary general Moon Moon was finally done!

It addressed its troops in front of Tribe-Gather right before the final battle, aka the most awe-inspiring string of "Woo"s ever.

Then the final charge began, the entire realm rumbling in response. It was so mighty that it almost made the enemies seem puny.

The collision was world-shattering, the Centaurs cutting through the enemy lines like butter.

The random players watched it happen, shellshocked. How were they so strong?! Also...why the fuck were they obeying the wolf?!

The actual battle was over in an instant since they had over-prepared for it. Just like that, the ancestral City was back to its rightful owners.

As the last Ephial fell...

[Centaur vs. Ephial event has ended!]

[Rewards given based on participation!]

[*PS: All scavengers will only receive XP rewards!]

A collective sigh escaped the players. No reward?! But then they all glanced at that one earth mage still with the Centaurs. What did he get?!

They wouldn't to know since the man himself didn't care. He rushed toward the Wind God's temple with the other Centaurs.

After a week, it was finally time to bring Jack back, right? He couldn't wait to ask what had happened to him!

An eager wolf and Brave reached the temple and got busy under the watchful gaze of the Centaurs.

But then...

"Woo?! Woo! Woo!"

Tearjerking sad howls echoed in the temple, a distressed wolf pacing around anxiously. Why?! Why wasn't he back yet?!

"Let's be patient. He's a Brave after all..." The Chief reassured, but he himself didn't have much hope.

The Centaurs returned to their village, the players left the realm for now, and all was well that ended well...besides for Jack still missing.

Lots of time passed, that one Centaur kid eventually resurfaced from his hiding place, and Moon Moon obtained that one item they had come to this realm for. But even then, it felt empty…

The emptiness would slightly fade away when its family passed by...

...When the pink-haired lady came to pet it, sharing her warmth as she gazed at Jack's last sighted location.

...When the rough-looking man came to bow at empty air like a madman.

...When a drunk cult leader showed up with offerings.

...There were so many, and yet they couldn't drive the emptiness away.

They'd often leave carved pumpkins behind, and soon the shrine became a touristic attraction.

NPCs or players would visit the wind god temple to pray to the white headless Centaur statue.

"Eternal Galloping Father, bless me with your godlike speed!" They'd utter as they'd glance at the little wolf on the side in shock.

The NPCs would exclaim at the deep sorrowful yet noble aura it carried while the players cried at the name tag.

< Moon Moon: Wind God's Divine Guarding Beast (Temp) >

This little wolf would remain there for as long as time still flowed, awaiting its master's return.

All would leave the temple, their hearts heavy yet moved by such dedication. Then they'd softly mumble to themselves. "Little wolf..."

"....Your master's already dead..."

".....Your master already gave up his account..."

As far as the world was concerned, the Demon King was gone for good...