Trapped In Elysium: A Virtual Reality Nightmare-Chapter 32: Buying Weapons.

After they were done eating, the group finally decided it was time to head back home. The night air was crisp, and the streets of the town were still alive with activity. Lanterns swayed gently from wooden posts, casting flickering golden hues over cobblestone paths. Street vendors were packing up for the night, and the chatter of travelers filled the air.

Marcus and Jason, however, were not in the best condition. After consuming far too much ale, they were both staggering, their speech slurred and their steps uneven. Marcus was grinning foolishly, while Jason kept muttering nonsense about being the smartest man alive.

Sophia glanced at Liam as they walked. "Why didn’t we get the next mission from the system yet? Aren’t we strong enough now?"

Liam thought for a moment before responding, "Maybe we still need to keep improving our stats. The system probably wants us to reach a certain level first."

"That or it’s just toying with us," Eleanor added, rolling her eyes.

As they continued down the street, Marcus suddenly stopped. His eyes locked onto a beautiful woman standing by a stall, carefully packing her things, preparing to head home. She had long, wavy brown hair and soft hazel eyes that reflected the lantern light. Without thinking twice, Marcus straightened his posture—at least as much as his drunken state allowed—and strutted over to her.

"Hey there, gorgeous," he slurred, flashing what he believed to be his most charming smile. "You must be tired, ’cause you’ve been running through my mind all night."

The woman blinked, then let out a soft laugh, blushing slightly at his boldness. "Oh, is that so?"

Eleanor sighed and rubbed her temples. "Not again..."

Marcus leaned on the stall, trying to appear suave, but in his drunken state, he misjudged his balance and nearly toppled over. "I was just thinking, a beautiful lady like yourself shouldn’t be walking home alone at night. Maybe I could—"

Before he could finish, Eleanor grabbed him by the back of his collar and yanked him away. "Alright, that’s enough, Romeo. We’re going home."

"Hey! I was making progress!" Marcus whined, his arms flailing as Eleanor dragged him away. "I needed some fun!"

Sophia couldn’t contain her laughter. "You? Progress? Please, Marcus, she was humoring you."

Liam smirked, shaking his head in amusement. "Come on, we need to get you two idiots home before you embarrass yourselves any further."

Jason, meanwhile, had disappeared from the group. A moment later, they spotted him in a dimly lit alley, standing against a wall, relieving himself.

"Oh, for the love of—" Liam groaned.

Suddenly, an angry voice shouted, "Hey, you fucker! Get lost!"

A burly man stormed toward Jason, waving his arms in frustration. Jason, still half-drunk and barely registering what was happening, zipped up and stumbled away just in time for Liam to grab him by the arm.

"You’re done for the night," Liam muttered as Jason chuckled to himself, oblivious to the trouble he had just avoided.

With Eleanor dragging Marcus and Liam supporting Jason, they finally made their way home, laughter and drunken grumbles filling the cool night air.

The next morning, the group made their way back to the guild, sunlight creeping over the rooftops as the city slowly came to life. Merchants were setting up their stalls, the aroma of fresh bread and roasted meat filling the air, but none of that distracted Sophia from her mission—reminding Jason and Marcus of their foolishness from the previous night.

As they stepped into the guild hall, she crossed her arms and smirked. "You two were a mess last night," she said, shaking her head. "Jason, you got chased out of an alley for peeing in the wrong place, and Marcus, you were busy sweet-talking some poor girl until Eleanor had to drag you away."

Marcus groaned, rubbing his temples. "Come on, I wasn’t that bad."

Eleanor scoffed. "You were slurring your words so much, I doubt she even understood what you were saying."

Liam chuckled, glancing at Jason. "And you? Pretty sure that guy was ready to kick your ass for pissing near his shop."

Jason shrugged. "Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go."

Sophia rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable. And Marcus, you were practically begging Eleanor to let you have some fun."

Marcus stretched, grinning. "Can you blame me? The girl was cute."

Eleanor gave him a deadpan stare. "She was ignoring you the whole time."

Liam shook his head, still amused. "Alright, enough. Let’s focus on why we’re here."

They walked over to the mission board, scanning the list of available tasks. Some were crossed out, others were new, freshly posted. The guild receptionist gave them a quick glance as they browsed.

"Looking for another mission?" she asked, not even looking up as she flipped through some paperwork.

"Yeah," Liam replied. "Something that pays well, but preferably nothing with flying beasts this time."

Marcus groaned, rolling his shoulders. "I still say that last mission was unfair. That damn bird nearly broke my leg."

Sophia ignored him, still focused on the board. "We should take something that helps us improve. The system hasn’t given us our next mission yet, which probably means we’re still not strong enough."

Eleanor nodded. "That, or it’s waiting for a specific trigger."

Jason rubbed his chin. "Either way, more training wouldn’t hurt. The stronger we get, the easier the next mission will be."

Liam scanned the parchment sheets before his eyes landed on one. He pulled it from the board.

Mission: Escort a Merchant Caravan

Details: A merchant is transporting valuable goods to the next city. Bandit attacks are likely.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Reward: 30 bronze coins per person + potential bonus from the merchant

Marcus grinned. "Finally, a mission where we get to fight people instead of overgrown birds."

Sophia arched a brow. "You’re saying that like bandits are easier to deal with."

Jason smirked. "At least they don’t have iron feathers."

Liam handed the request to the receptionist. "We’ll take this one."

She nodded, stamping the parchment. "The merchant is waiting at the eastern gate. You should leave soon if you want to reach him in time."

Liam turned to the group. "Alright, let’s move out. Hopefully, this one’s more straightforward than the last mission."

Eleanor smirked. "Knowing our luck? Probably not."

With that, they left the guild.

As they made their way toward the eastern gate, the city bustled around them. Merchants shouted their prices, hawking everything from fresh produce to exotic spices. The streets were alive with the sounds of horses trotting, carts rolling, and blacksmiths hammering away in the distance.

Liam’s eyes wandered as they walked, scanning the various shops lining the streets. That was when something caught his attention—a well-kept store with weapons and armor displayed proudly at the front. Swords, daggers, axes, and bows hung on racks, while gleaming breastplates and sturdy leather armor were arranged neatly inside. The faint scent of oiled leather and metal filled the air.

Liam slowed his pace, then stopped. "Hold on," he said, nodding toward the shop. "We should check this place out. We could use better weapons and some protection."

Marcus groaned. "We just got paid, and you already want us to spend our money?"

Sophia rolled her eyes. "Would you rather get stabbed in the gut because your armor is trash?"

Marcus opened his mouth, then shut it, grumbling under his breath as he followed the group inside.

The shopkeeper, an older man with a thick gray beard and a broad chest, looked up from behind the counter. He was sharpening a sword when they entered, but he set it aside, giving them a welcoming smile.

"Ah, welcome, travelers! You’ve come to the right place if you seek quality arms and armor." His voice was deep and confident. "I don’t sell cheap junk here—everything in my shop is made to last."

Liam stepped forward, his eyes scanning the merchandise. "We’ve been taking on tougher missions, so we need better gear."

The shopkeeper nodded approvingly. "Smart thinking. You don’t want to go out there underprepared." He gestured toward the rows of weapons. "Swords, daggers, axes, bows—you name it, I’ve got it. And if you’re looking for protection, I’ve got leather, chainmail, and even a few enchanted pieces... if you’ve got the coin."

Jason adjusted his glasses, his curiosity piqued. "Enchanted gear, huh? What kind of enchantments are we talking about?"

The shopkeeper chuckled. "Ah, the good stuff. I’ve got weapons that never dull, armor that resists flames, and even a cloak that lets you blend into the shadows." He leaned on the counter. "But let’s start with what you can afford before we get to the fancy stuff."

Liam picked up a sturdy longsword, testing its weight in his hand. It felt well-balanced, far better than the standard blade he had been using. "How much for this?"

The shopkeeper stroked his beard. "That one? Fifteen bronze. Good craftsmanship, won’t break on you in a fight."

Sophia, meanwhile, was examining the bows on display. She ran her fingers along the string of a finely crafted longbow, her expert eye assessing its quality. "This one’s nice," she muttered.

"That’s a fine choice," the shopkeeper said. "Twelve bronze. Shoots straighter and farther than the average bow."

Eleanor was looking at a pair of lightweight daggers, flipping them between her fingers. She tested their balance and nodded in approval.

Jason, on the other hand, was eyeing a small but intricate-looking crossbow. "This could be useful," he murmured.

Marcus, of course, gravitated toward the biggest weapon in the shop—a massive battle-axe. He hoisted it over his shoulder with a grin. "Now this is what I’m talking about."

The shopkeeper smirked. "That one’s twenty bronze, but it’ll split a man in half if you’ve got the strength for it."

Marcus grinned. "Oh, I’ve got the strength."

As they browsed, Sophia’s eyes landed on a set of leather gauntlets reinforced with metal plates along the knuckles and forearm. She picked them up, feeling their weight. "These look useful," she said, sliding them on.

"Those are reinforced striker gauntlets," the shopkeeper said. "Good for blocking, and if you punch something, it’ll hurt a lot more than just your bare fist."

Eleanor picked up a similar pair, though hers had a sleeker design, the metal plating thinner and more flexible. "I’ll take these," she said.

"Good choices, ladies," the shopkeeper nodded. "Five bronze each."

Liam glanced at the others. "Alright, let’s figure out what we can afford and get what we need. We don’t know what’s waiting for us on this escort mission, so we better be ready."

With that, they began negotiating their purchases, each picking out the gear that would best help them survive whatever lay ahead.