I Can Extract Game Items

Author's Note: Do Not Unlock Yet

----------------

August didn't waste time. After learning about the Sylvalis Kingdom's recent announcement, he decided to investigate. He had to know if he was truly still a wanted man.

The Journey to Sylvalis

The journey was long, but he didn't mind. He rode his Hellhorn Charger across the kingdom borders, the beast's hooves creating bursts of pinkish energy as it galloped. The closer he got to Sylvalis, the denser the atmosphere became, as if the trees themselves were watching him.

The elven kingdom was **as breathtaking as ever—**tall crystalline trees stretched into the skies, their luminescent leaves glowing in various hues of blue and violet. The very air shimmered with magic.

When he arrived at the outer settlements, he noticed something peculiar.

No one was hostile toward him.

No guards patrolling, searching for a human intruder. No wanted posters.

No one even recognized him.

It didn't make any sense.

If they were hunting him before, why was he suddenly forgotten?

"Excuse me, miss." August approached a female elf tending to a fruit stand.

She turned, blinking at him curiously. "Yes, traveler? How may I help you?"

August played it cool. "I've heard rumors that someone broke into the Sylvalis Kingdom recently and released a dangerous criminal from the Hollow Dusk. Do you know anything about it?"

The elf frowned, her delicate features scrunching in thought. "No, I haven't heard anything like that. That sounds terrifying, but no such thing has happened here. Perhaps it was a baseless rumor?"

August nodded slowly. "Right… Thanks for your time."

He walked away, his mind reeling.

"So it really did reset..."

The time travel from the dimensional rift had erased the consequences of his actions. It had changed everything.

Except…

That monarch was still out there.

---

The Hollow Dusk—A Trail of Shadows

August ventured deep into the Hollow Dusk, the notorious underground prison that once held the dark elven monarch, Melanthis.

It was just as eerie as he remembered. The air was thick with a sense of suffering, as if the walls themselves whispered the tormented cries of those who had perished here.

Yet despite the reset, signs of her escape still existed.

Burn marks scorched the walls. Deep claw marks marred the stone. A lingering, sinister energy pulsed faintly in the air.

August crouched, running his fingers over a long, jagged gash carved into the stone floor. It was fresh.

"She's still out there…" he muttered under his breath.

It defied all logic. If time had reset, Melanthis should have been sealed away again. Yet somehow, she had remained untouched by the paradox.

"How the hell does that work?"

He clenched his fists. If she was still roaming free, it was only a matter of time before she wreaked havoc on the world.

---

The Hunt Begins

The elven kingdom had already placed a bounty on her head.

Adventurers, mercenaries, and powerful players were all flocking to find the escaped monarch for a grand reward.

The problem?

Finding her was one thing. Stopping her was another.

August knew firsthand just how powerful she was.

She wasn't just some high-level monster—she was a calamity.

And at level 45, he was nowhere near strong enough to face her.

So instead of looking for a fight, he focused on tracking her movements.

---

Signs of the Monarch

As he ventured through forgotten ruins and abandoned strongholds, he found clues.

Bloodstains on the grass. Crushed bones. A trail of distorted magic energy.

And then…

A broken Elven insignia.

It was fresh.

She had recently killed someone from Sylvalis.

August's instincts screamed danger.

If she was still killing elves, that meant she was likely building power—regaining her full strength.

He needed to alert the elven kingdom.

---

Reporting to Sylvalis

August returned to Sylvalis and immediately sought out the high-ranking officials.

At the royal citadel, he stood before a gathering of elven commanders.

A tall, muscular elf with dark green hair and silver armor—**General Vaelis—**stepped forward.

"You claim to have found traces of the Monarch?" Vaelis asked, his voice stern.

August nodded. "Yes. She's still out there. Your bounty hunters and mercenaries are looking in the wrong places. If you want to catch her, you need to set up watchers near the ruins southeast of the Hollow Dusk. That's where she's moving."

The elves exchanged wary glances.

One of the female commanders, a scarred elven warrior named Sylwen, narrowed her eyes.

"Why would a human be so interested in this? What do you gain from it?"

August shrugged. "I don't care about the bounty. I care about keeping the world from being torn apart. And trust me, if she regains full power, she'll do just that."

Vaelis stroked his chin. "If what you say is true, then we must act quickly. We will set up new watchpoints as you suggested. But what of you? Will you continue the hunt?"

August shook his head. "I have other matters to tend to. The Tournament of Kingdoms is still ongoing, and I have a team depending on me."

Vaelis nodded. "Very well. We will take it from here. But if you find anything else… you must report it to us immediately."

"Understood," August replied.

---

A Race Against Time

As August left Sylvalis and prepared to return to the tournament, a deep unease settled in his gut.

Even with a whole kingdom on high alert, something told him that Melanthis wouldn't be found so easily.

And if she was anything like before…

By the time someone did find her, it would already be too late.

With a final glance at the elven lands, August spurred his Hellhorn Charger forward.

It was time to return to the Tournament of Kingdoms.

But deep down, he knew—

This wouldn't be the last time he crossed paths with the dark elven monarch.

Not by a long shot.

---

----ss

The buzz about AM Coven soon spread across specific parts of the city. The name Aleman was once again on people's lips, sparking conversations and debates.

---

In a crowded café, a group of gamers hunched over their phones, watching the promotional video Aleman had released a few days prior.

"Wait a second," one of them said while pointing at the screen. "Did he say his name is Aleman? As in *the* Aleman?"

Another leaned in, squinting at the figure in the futuristic helmet and suit. "You mean the guy who was selling extracted game items months ago? I thought he disappeared."

"Apparently not," the first one replied. "He's probably been busy building this place, AM Coven. Makes sense now. He's always been ahead of the curve."

A third chimed in, grinning. "I heard he's the same Aleman from *Enders Light*. You know, the guy who helped take down Malrik in Tagharium."

"Wait, *that* Aleman? The one who destroyed the monolith and blasted through Malrik's barrier?"

"Could be. Or it could be someone else just using the name for clout. Either way, I'm checking this place out. They're saying it's got items from the Swordking Dungeon on display."

"Count me in," another added. "If it's legit, I'm not missing out."

---

Elsewhere, in a brightly lit office space, a woman scrolled through her phone during her break. Her eyes widened as she saw Aleman's video trending online.

"This can't be real," she muttered. "The Miracle Man?"

Her colleague looked over her shoulder. "Miracle Man?"

"Yeah, don't you remember? A few weeks ago, someone dressed exactly like this helped save a patient during surgery at Faith Specialist Hospital. He somehow worked with the police to also save a college student and caught two Oni terrorists. Everyone called him a hero back then."

Her colleague frowned, leaning closer. "You think it's the same guy?"

"He's dressed exactly the same. AM Coven is definitely worth checking out."

---

Meanwhile, in the slums, a group of teenagers crowded around a beat-up laptop in a makeshift gaming den. They had stumbled upon the promotional video by chance and were now thoroughly intrigued.

"Yo, this place looks insane!" one of them exclaimed.

"Yeah, but Aleman? That's the guy from *Enders Light*, right?"

"Maybe. Or maybe someone's trying to cash in on the name. Either way, I'm saving up to go there. Imagine getting my hands on some of that gear."

---

In the heart of the city's underground, a lavish private office buzzed with activity.

Sir Flookz, a dangerous looking man with a sharp suit and a sharper mind, sat in a high-backed chair as one of his underlings placed a tablet on the desk before him.

The screen displayed Aleman's video, the helmeted figure standing confidently in the interiors of AM Coven.

"Boss, you're going to want to see this," the underling voiced while stepping back respectfully.

Sir Flookz leaned forward while narrowing his beady eyes as he watched the video. When it finished, he let out a low chuckle.

"So, that's where he's been," Flookz's voice with a deep and gravelly tone. "I haven't heard from Aleman in over a month. I thought he'd run out of tricks. But no—he was building this."

The underling nodded. "Looks like he's upgraded. New gear, new look, new business. What do you want us to do?"