TRAPPED IN GREAT HERO ONLINE

CHAPTER 03

When Eldric and Rylan first arrived at Aldora City, the initial hub for GHO players, they were stunned by the desolate, ruinous appearance of the city, as if it had become a ghost town. Without wasting time panicking, they decided to take their first steps into this strange world from there.

Walking through the city, both were astonished to see it bustling—not with humans, but with bizarre, lizard-like creatures. They glanced around in disbelief, struggling to comprehend their surroundings.

“Rylan, are we really in the world of GHO? The atmosphere feels eerie,” Eldric whispered.

“Yes. I’m sure we’re in GHO. Just look at all the lizard-like beings around us,” Rylan replied, pointing ahead.

“Also, our appearances have changed, haven’t they? I’m wearing a black cloak, and my hair is a bright white,” Eldric said, running his fingers through his hair.

“It’s likely the result of GHO’s character design. We’ve become characters customized to our personalities. I have a red cloak, but my hair remains black. It seems our bodies have been modified according to GHO’s data,” Rylan responded seriously.

“You’re right. I checked my status, and while I have several high-level [Skills], I lack any [Magic Skill]. It seems we’ve been given additional [Skills] to fulfill the role of [Hero],” Eldric noted, inspecting his stats.

“Probably. My stats are likely similar to yours. As Humans, we seem unable to use magic here. Oh, and...”

“The currency is different here too. [Ald]? Is that GHO’s currency?” Eldric asked, his voice lowered.

“We’ve only been given 1000 Ald as new players. We’ll need to earn more money and gather information in this world,” Rylan stated firmly.

The two continued walking through the city, eventually stopping in front of a massive stone monument towering ten meters high, etched with ancient writing. They approached, assuming it was a symbol of Aldora City. Despite being overgrown with large plants, the monument retained its grandeur, and the bustling atmosphere confirmed it was well-maintained for the players.

“Are you two... new here?” a voice asked from behind them.

“Ah, yes. We just arrived and decided to take a look around,” Eldric replied with a polite smile.

“I see. My name is Voth. I’m a long-time resident here and know much about the city’s history,” the man said warmly.

“Nice to meet you, Voth. My name is Eldric, and this is my companion, Rylan,” Eldric introduced.

“Eldric and Rylan? Interesting names. What race are you?” Voth inquired slowly.

“We’re Human. Do you know where we might find others like us?” Rylan asked in turn.

“Human? I’ve never heard of that race here. Even the [Ligrd Monument] holds no record of it,” Voth replied, shaking his head.

“The [Ligrd Monument]? Is that the large stone over there?” Eldric asked, pointing to the towering monument.

“Yes. Follow me, and I’ll show you,” Voth said, leading the way.

Eldric and Rylan followed, still perplexed by the absence of Humans in GHO. They continued to observe quietly, hoping to gather more information.

“Eldric, are you sure it’s safe to introduce ourselves to other races with our real names?” Rylan whispered.

“Sorry, it just slipped out. For now, let’s go with it. We’ll use our [Hero] names when the time is right,” Eldric responded.

Voth stopped near one side of the massive monument, pointing upwards with his claw. Eldric and Rylan looked up to see where he pointed.

“Look at the inscriptions. They record all 198 races of this world, including my kind, the Red Lizard Race. But there’s no mention of Humans,” Voth explained, detailing some aspects of the world’s races.

“Is there a Demon Race in this world?” Rylan asked, curious.

“They no longer exist. The Demon Race was declared extinct after the [Fillia War] 5,000 years ago. It was the largest war in history, uniting all races against the countless armies of the Demon Race. However, the detailed records of that war aren’t kept in this city,” Voth replied, his tone growing somber.

“So, the Demon Race was erased from history?” Eldric inquired, seeking confirmation.

“Yes. The [Ligrd Monument] recorded the existence of 199 races until the Demon Race’s extinction, all thanks to the [Great Hero],” Voth confirmed.

“[Great Hero]? Did they really exist?” Rylan asked, still intrigued.

“Yes. They were the saviors of all races in this world. The heroes wielding sacred weapons to eradicate the Demons were, ironically, Demons themselves. This led to their eventual assassination by other races, and the whereabouts of the [7 Sacred Weapons] remain unknown,” Voth explained at length.

“So, the [Great Hero] was an enemy to the other 198 races?”

“I cannot deny it,” Voth replied, sounding disappointed.

Listening to the history from the Red Lizard, Eldric felt a deepening understanding of the world. Heroism, he realized, was not as glorious as he once thought. In a world where heroes were enemies to the entire realm, the task would be insurmountable, especially for just two new arrivals.

His attention shifted from the monument to a peculiar stone placed on a table before it. Eldric’s curiosity sparked as he examined the stone’s unusual form.

“You’re interested in the [Stone Arrow], aren’t you?” Voth asked, noticing Eldric’s gaze.

“[Stone Arrow]? Is it one of the [7 Sacred Weapons]?” Eldric asked.

“Not quite. It’s a failed relic crafted by our ancestors who hoped to create weapons for peace and protection. This prototype was meant to surpass the [Great Hero’s] weapons but was ultimately unsuccessful,” Voth answered calmly.

“May I touch it?” Eldric asked.

“Go ahead. It won’t respond to any magic,” Voth replied, giving his consent.

Eldric eagerly approached the [Stone Arrow], captivated by its bow-like shape. Ignoring Rylan and Voth, who trailed behind him, he continued forward.

Finally reaching the [Stone Arrow], Eldric felt an intense pull. Suddenly, his hand stuck to the stone, and he felt as if something was drawing him in. His surroundings spun rapidly until his vision darkened entirely.

His body succumbed to the pull, leaving him unconscious within the mysterious stone. The [Stone Arrow] had absorbed him like prey caught in a trap, leaving Eldric numb and drifting into darkness.