I Can Extract Game Items

Just as August turned a corner, a group of players clad in dark crimson armor with dragon emblems emblazoned on their chests came into view.

They moved together, laughing loudly as their clanking weapons drew attention.

One of them stopped suddenly, squinting in August's direction. His eyes lit up with recognition, and he pointed.

"Wait a minute… isn't that Aleman?"

The others turned to look.

"Yeah, that's him!"

"Didn't he steal loot from us in the Ogre's Dungeon?"

"Independent player or not, that guy's dead meat. Let's get him!"

Before August could even process what was happening, the group charged toward him with weapons drawn.

---

[ System Notification: Warning! Hostile Dragon Fang Guild Members Approaching ]

---

"Oh, come on," August muttered as he broke into a sprint.

The narrow street erupted in chaos as people scrambled to get out of the way. August's Dash skill activated, sending him surging forward with a burst of speed, leaving a streak of shadowy afterimages behind.

---

[ System Notification: Dash Activated. Cooldown: 10 seconds. ]

---

The Dragon Fang members yelled in frustration as some of them used movement skills to close the gap. One of them, a Level 30 Berserker, smashed through a fruit stall to cut across the street, roaring.

August darted into an alley, glancing back over his shoulder. "Great. They're faster than I thought."

Just as he exited the alley into another bustling street, his bad luck struck again. A familiar, arrogant voice rang out above the noise.

"There you are, Aleman!"

August's head snapped to the right, and sure enough, there was Xyron, striding forward with his group of lackeys.

His golden armor gleamed in the sunlight, and his oversized broadsword rested on his shoulder.

"Let's settle this! You and me, one-on-one!" Xyron yelled while grinning viciously.

August groaned. "Seriously?! I've got enough problems already!"

With Dragon Fang behind him and Xyron ahead, August had no choice but to activate Stealth.

---

[ System Notification:Stealth Activated. Cooldown: 30 seconds. ]

---

His figure turned nearly invisible, making it look as though he had vanished from sight just as both groups began converging on his location.

"He's using stealth! Spread out!" one of the Dragon Fang players barked.

Xyron waved his sword dramatically. "You can run, but you can't hide forever, Aleman!"

August used the brief respite to slip into another side street. His Stealth wore off, and he broke into another sprint, activating Dash again to create more distance.

---

[ System Notification: Dash Activated. Cooldown: 10 seconds. ]

---

He began crossing more than forty paces with each stride.

The chase continued for several minutes, weaving through streets, alleys, and even rooftops. August's stamina was draining rapidly, and he was beginning to feel cornered.

Suddenly, a voice called out to him from a side street.

"Aleman! Over here!"

He turned to see a figure in a purplish cloak waving him over. As the figure stepped into the light, he recognized her.

"Aria?"

The Phoenix Celestial mage from the Ogre Dungeon smiled mischievously as her fiery red hair peeked out from under her hood.

"Get in here!" she urged.

August hesitated. "You're not here to settle a score with me too, are you?"

Aria chuckled as a faint glow formed beneath her feet. "You're cute when you're paranoid. Now hurry up, or they'll catch you!"

Reluctantly, August darted toward her. Just as he reached her, she grabbed his arm and pulled him into her cloak.

A glowing magic circle flared to life around them, creating intricate runes that spun in a clockwise motion.

"There he is!"

Both Dragon Fang and Xyron's groups spotted them at the same time, charging in from opposite ends of the street.

"No time to chat," Aria said with a light tone as her focus turned razor-sharp.

The magic circle pulsed, and in an instant, August and Aria vanished in a flash of light, leaving the two groups to collide with each other in confusion.

...

August blinked upon finding himself in an entirely different location.

"Safe for now," Aria said with a smirk. Find adventures at empire

"Care to explain what just happened?" he asked while catching his breath.

"Let's just say you owe me one," her grin widened.

The terrain that stretched endlessly before them, was a barren expanse of cracked earth and uneven rock formations.

The sky overhead was a muted gray, and gusts of dry wind swept across the desolate plain, kicking up small clouds of dust. It was a place most players avoided—dangerous, unrewarding, and eerily silent... No Man's Wasteland.

However, today was different.

Scattered across the wasteland, pockets of players huddled together, talking in hushed tones or preparing their gear.

A variety of classes were present: heavily armored knights adjusting their shields, nimble rangers inspecting their arrows, and robed mages murmuring incantations. Each group eyed the others with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, all aware of the potential competition.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

As August and Aria materialized in the wasteland, the desolation was interrupted by the faint murmur of voices.

---

[ System Notification: You have entered No Man's Wasteland. EXP gain reduced by 30%. ]

---

August scanned the surroundings once more as his brows furrowed. "Where are we?"

"This," Aria began with a mischievous grin, "is No Man's Wasteland. Welcome to the middle of nowhere."

August raised an eyebrow. "No offense, but this doesn't look like prime grinding territory. What's the deal?"

Before Aria could answer, a group of four players approached them.

They looked every bit like seasoned veterans. Their gear was polished and bristling with magical enhancements.

"Aria!" a tall warrior in gleaming silver armor called out with his massive sword slung over his back. "You're late."

"Relax, Gareth," Aria replied while waving a hand dismissively.

One of the others, a ranger with a red bow strapped across his chest, narrowed his eyes at August. "And who's this?"

August stepped forward, but before he could speak, the ranger scoffed. "Wait, don't tell me. You brought a newbie? He's not even Level 30!"

August's expression tightened, but he said nothing.

Aria smirked. "This 'newbie' is Aleman. You might've heard of him?"

The group exchanged glances.

"Aleman? The one from the Ogre Dungeon?" the cleric, a petite woman with flowing white robes, asked with a skeptical tone.

"Yeah, that one," Aria said confidently. "He's with us."

The ranger rolled his eyes. "Sure, let's bring the under-leveled guy. Great idea, Aria."

August crossed his arms. "Look, I don't know what this is about, but if I'm such a problem, I'll leave."

Aria turned to him with a soft smile. "You're staying. Trust me."

---

[ System Notification: You have been invited to Aria's party. Do you wish to accept? ]

[Yes] × [No]

---

August sighed and selected [Yes].

---

[ System Notification: Party Members ]

- Aria (Level 33 Mage)

- Gareth (Level 34 Warrior)

- Viora (Level 31 Cleric)

- Torin (Level 32 Ranger)

- Drask (Level 34 Berserker)

- Aleman (Level 26 Assassin)

---

Gareth spoke up with a begrudging tone. "Fine. But if he screws this up, it's on you, Aria."

Aria rolled her eyes. "Noted. Now, let's get to business."

August frowned. "Business? Care to explain why I'm here?"

Aria turned to him with a playful grin. "Oh, right. I guess I should fill you in." She gestured to the wasteland. "There's a rumor about an unawakened dungeon here. It's called the Ancient Swordking Dungeon. The catch? It only activates when forty players are present on No Man's Wasteland at the same time."

"And we're the forty?" August asked while glancing at the other players scattered across the area.

"Exactly," Aria said. "The dungeon's supposed to have insane loot, and there's a rumor…"

Her voice trailed off dramatically.

"A rumor about what?"

"That the Fruit of Sin might be on the lowest floor."

August's eyes widened. "The Fruit of Sin?"

Viora nodded. "It's one of the most sought-after items in the game. It unlocks a dark interface for players, allowing them to use cursed magic both in-game and in real life."

Torin added with a cynical tone. "Assuming it's not just a myth."

August frowned. "And why'd you pick me for this? Don't you have an extra teammate from Phoenix Celestial?"

Aria shrugged. "I was supposed to bring someone else, but he had a quest to finish. Then I stumbled on you running for your life and figured you'd do."

Gareth groaned. "So, we're stuck with the assassin who moonlights as a runner."

Before August could retort, the ground beneath them rumbled.

"Finally," Drask growled while gripping his massive axe.

From the center of the wasteland, a massive monolith-like structure erupted from the ground, sending debris flying.

It rose higher and higher, eventually towering over the landscape at over two hundred feet. The monolith shimmered with ancient runes, glowing faintly with an ominous light.

---

[ System Notification: You have discovered the Ancient Swordking Dungeon. ]

[ Dungeon Activation: 24 hours until fully accessible. ]

---

August stared at the monolith with a perturbed expression. If the rumors of the fruit of sin spread, this place was bound to be a hot zone soon.

"Great," he muttered. "Now what?"

Aria patted him on the shoulder. "Now, we wait."

Torin smirked. "And hope we don't kill each other before the timer runs out."