ShipTeaser

  Mason the survivalist was alreparing for the end of the world. He just didn’t expect a god-like AI to transform it into a damn video game.

  Now he has to pick a ‘css’, survive a ‘tutorial’ (filled with monstrous creatures trying to murder him), and somehow find his brother Bke before the idiot gets himself killed. OK. Bke’s no idiot. He’s a charming, incredibly lucky, ambitious world-beater. But he was destined for corporate boardrooms, not monster filled forests, and Mason knows he o reach him before it’s too te.

  But as he cws his way through this new, dangerous world, gaining superhuman abilities aing a beautiful woman who desperately needs his help, he begins to realize: it just might be the best thing that’s ever happeo him.

  The First Great Game is aing Litrpg with a slow-burn Harem plot.

  So yeah, it's not like I do shoutouts often, but I've actually been reading and enjoying this one, and it's going to have legs, I tell, being as it's already on front page rising stars on Royal Road lol. I wouldn't reend anything I haven't read, so what I will say is, the prose is , and professionally written, the system is well-expined and has a logical reason to do what it does, which is a plus, a of all... it's a two for ohe tws are VERY different, as is their tutorial so far, so it's fasating seeing what different csses would do under a simir system. I admit, I'm a Mason guy so far, but hey, Bke has his charms *wink*

  Anyway, it's not a big itment so far (there's a bit over 20 chapters out at the moment, though his Patreon has aen I believe, if you really enjoy it) so I'd reeing in on the ground floor, as you know me, I think the world needs more slow-burn Harems. *wink* To be fair, I already see a fair few of you in his ents anyway, but hopefully a few more of you will check this out. I think it's a fun read with a LOT of potential going forwards.

  Anyway, now onto my chapter lol. POV ges from Akio to Daiyu at the **********

  As I raced towards Haru-san’s Territory, I started notig the presenore soul lights f in my Kin Bonding aoration, the numbers growing steadily. Before, I had just the two lights remaining, Ginneka, that cat Yokai who had saved Eri, who I was actively w to return to life, and her brother Kinneka, who I was allowing a trickle of energy to reaow. I owe her, not him. So we’ll restore her, and then see… but anyway, Shaeu is going to be enraged…

  Pushing out my senses I could see a tide of hideous undead flooding towards the Territory, as well as several tanks and other human vehicles. Even as we watched, a great surge of fme was f into a fiery elemental-type creature, t an impressive teres tall. That’s not all…

  A giant fiery chariot was rag towards Haru-san’s Territory, but it then ged dire, heading towards me faster than a car. Moments ter it arrived, and I looked up to see that Tan was riding it, Shiro’s hair a bzing red, her one eye glittering brilliantly, a bright scarlet. On seeing me she smiled. Behind her was a girl I reised, aving at me, her dress and hair dishevelled and dirty, a ary lollipop in her mouth, and some that I didn’t.

  “Oh hey there, boyfriend of the boss!” Suzu-san giggled. “We meet again in Kyoto, must be fate! I don’t suppose you’re keeping Red and White hidden anywhere, I’d love to meet them again?”

  “Be silent Suzanne-san. We haven’t the time for this.” The stunni somehhtening woman behind her said. I didn’t watch much TV, so I didn’t reise her, but this must have been Arisu, the actress Shiro was so fond of. Behind them cowered a smaller man, who looked away as our eyes met. Bunta-san then?

  “Sorry, don’t be mad! We’re old acquaintanow!” Suzu-san pined.

  “No, we really don’t have time for this…” Shiro said, as her hair was turning silver once more, her eye darkening. “... besides, stop flirting with Aki, as an idol, that’s a no-nht?” I found her slightly jealous pout adorable, but we had no time for pleasantries. Shiro khat too, as she leapt down off the fming wheels. I winced, but she nded properly, even if her face did look a little pained for a moment.

  “Aki, I have so much I want to tell you, but…” her gaze took in the distant fire elemental. It had reached out a hand and was trying to burn the defenders, as bolts of aether flew bad struck it, only to e up against a stru of water, steam scattering, obsg the battlefield like a fog. Wait, is that… Moonlight Mist Realm?

  “… looks like it’s all going to shit. Well, it’s been easy up to here, right?” She wi me. “We got three.”

  “Not bad.” I approved. “So, what did you want?”

  Shiro fidgeted restlessly for a moment, before swallowing and steeling herself. “Damn, I’m so not a blushing tsundere. Shit, I wish we had longer for this reveal, but… Aki, I’m like you now. Properly. Not just Tan helpi. Here!”

  She stretched her hand aher and adherence shimmered. I felt it entering me, a temporary surge of power, and my Eye responded.

  You have been affected by Anesidora’s Blessing of Many Gifts. All skills and statistics will be strengtheemporarily, gaining up to a maximum of one Rank.

  Surprised, I let out a dull whistle. Cheg my status I could see that several skills had temporarily increased in Rank, and I was humming with new power. Before I could speak, Shiro kissed me greedily, face flushed. Behind us, Suzu-san whistled, while Arisu-san looked at us stone-faced, eyes glittering darkly. It was only a fleeting kiss, as time was of the essence, but it assionate, our tongues swirling together. As we parted, damply, Shiro grinned. “See, now I stand beside you and the others properly. I mean, I never saw myself as a buffer, I always thought I’d be DPS, right? But Tan saw through my heart, and knew I just wao be loved, needed.”

  I wao ask her how she had gained a true didacy, but there wasn’t time, and I had my suspicious anyway. Tan. If I do it, she surely too. The two loose Favours I was holding weighed heavy on me as I felt my rength. “Well, I’m happy for you, but we’ll celebrate afterwards. For now…”

  “Yeah, I know. But I’m not done. Anyway, hop on.” She grinned. “We’ll talk as we give you a lift!” Shiro turhen, before realising it was several metres up to the fiery wagon-bed. With a smirk, I grabbed her in a princess carry a up. When we nded, she pounded oh her fist, and her eye turned red again, Tan urging her fiery chariot forwards towards the enemy.

  “So, uh, Arisu, this is Aki. The guy I love. I wanted you to meet ier circumstances. But…”

  “Yes.” She said frostily, looking at me with those judging eyes. “These are… trying… times indeed. I was not expeg to be dragged into a war. I expect we shall have much to discuss, such as pensation for our efforts.”

  “Arisu!” Shiro gasped, shocked, but I shook my head, calming her.

  “No, it’s only fair. After all, this is my fight.” My gaze went to the battle again as we closed in, fming wheels eating up the terrain. Arrows ed in wind were flying from the Territory, and oank was disabled, the main on pierced by several exploding arrows. Light was fshing too, brilliant ser beams, and I knew everyone was fighting hard. I guess Shaeraggo and Selensha came through the Gate. If so, the situation is dire… “I too wao meet somewhere nicer. A cosy, secluded restaurant maybe. As a friend of Shiro’s, I hope we be friends too. Allies as well. We o stick together.” I gestured. “This mess proves that, right?”

  “Well, that’s for ter.” Shiro said, though Tan was now in trol. “Aki, I have a sed ability too. Anesidora’s box tains all gifts, right? Well, that’s a lie, it isn’t like I give you an ability you don’t have, even temporarily. But strengthening one… in addition to the general buff, I give you a specifie, if one skill o be stronger for this mess, what would you pick?”

  That’s easy. “My Eight Moons Chakra work. It’s the foundation of all of my abilities.”

  “Your wish… is my and. Hey, Tan, Ta me move. I’m supposed to be kissing him right now!”

  Yht Moons Chakra work has been temporarily strengthened by Anesidora’s Blessing From The Box. Yht Moons Chakra work has temporarily been strengtheo Rank 8, surpassing another wall. All of your abilities have been strengtheemporarily, and you gee more aether and elemental energies.

  As the fresh sensation of power boiled through me, the twin-stacked buffs massively enhang my powers, Tan snorted. “You ot steer the wheels of fire, princess. We would crash. Besides, I have no wish to share the sensation of your kiss.” Tan looked at me, her eye serious. “I see you bear several Favours, torn from those who would oppose you. So you hardly objey thirst, you? I want that.” She o the fire elemental. Light, wind arrows and more desperate attacks were pelting it, but any damage doo the colossus simply reformed. “With that, my stomach shall be full, my thirst quenched, for now.”

  “No, you do what you must.” I agreed sadly. “Besides, I cost you one Favour, saving Shiro, so… well, these people came here to kill, so they should have no pints about dying.” The fiery wheels were grinding enemies underfoot, ahen rammed into the disabled tank, having arrived. Leaping off, I nded, Cutting Twilight slig through the tank chassis, severing it in half. Whoa, with this much aether and throughput, everything is so much stronger… my base stats had all gone up by around five huemporarily, and Body Enha pushed it even further. I feel pretty badass right now…

  “Good luck, Aki.” Shiro said softly. “Don’t worry, Tan’s strong, as are the others, although…” she eyed Suzu-san sourly. “Some of us aren’t trying hard enough.”

  “Aww, e on boss. I spent ages colleg them, I don’t mind risking my life, but what idol would risk her group?”

  “Enough, Suzanne-san.” Arisu-san decred. A sudden beam of darkhat was flying our way, sug out the very light around us, was swallowed by a ssh opening in space, violet energies scattering. “We have no time for your childish ceits.”

  “Oh no, I’m being scolded! Well, I still fight, especially after the boss buffed us all up.” She reached out, grabbing Bunta-san by the arm. “e oo it, Bunta! If you don’t impress in front of the boyfriend… no, fiancé of the boss, then she’ll be super mad! Later!” They hopped down, and she used her ragged parasol to start smashing the surrounding undead, making a sour face as debris and stale blood stained her already soiled dress.

  “Fmes of Thirst and Famian decred, and the fire elemental was assailed by a tide of burning energy, only for a shimmering shield made from a glowing light to appear, blog the attack. Tan scowled, twisting Shiro’s scarred fato a grimace. “Annoying. My Fmes will not devour that… perhaps as they are of the same pantheon.” She clicked her tongue, befring at me. “Now, should you not have somewhere to be?” she asked, and I nodded.

  “Shiro, stay safe. You too, Tan. And Arisu-san, we’ll talk ter. Uh, Suzu-san, ter. You too, Bunta-san!” As I raced off, wind, fme, earth and water cutting a swathe through the seemingly eide of monstrous undead, I gnced back, to see Tan surrounded in fmes, burning her way towards the shield and fme elemental. Beside her was Arisu-san, looking imperious in her red dress, sending dangerous attacks elsewhere with a stream of violet energies.

  There. I could see an enemy, the one casting the beams of light-drinking darkness. He was fixated on taking out Tan on her fiery veyance, as she was defihe most attention-grabbing of us. More darkness was being gathered, but against my new speed, I on him in mere moments. His eyes went wide, looking into mine, a mixture of anger, hatred and fright visible, before darkness suddenly shimmered around us like a dev cloak, and his ha for his bone bde. Nope. Cutting Twilight spun, severing his arm, and Foehn surged. The bone bde was ied, uo resist the Foehn that had been buffed by Shiro’s new abilities, and though the darkness starting to y skin painfully roblem, with my stronger work aher Healing, I could resist it. Shiro’s a true didate now, huh? That’s… reassuring. Though I don’t know if she’ll think so when she hears the new grinding pn I’ll be putting together for her. Might as well leverage that ck of level cap…

  “Sorry, but I don’t have time for pleasantries.” My Eye fred, giving me more precise information than ever before, and time seemed to slow. Multiple tendrils of aether and adherened around me, and with great precision I drove out the slime iing him, before a fsh of Foehn burned him and it to ashes.

  You have gained in strength, Your level has…

  No time to worry about such small boosts in power. At least I took the be, not the golden-eyed devourer, thankfully I had time for that. And with another enemy down…

  Rag into the Territory, I could see Ixitt, Haru-san, Shaeraggo and his exhausted wife, amongst others. Ratkin and weaselkin were operating ons of mortal engineering, holding their own, but the numbers of the dead were simply too massive to hold off indefinitely. On seeing me, Haru-san floated over, followed by Shaeraggo, both looking terribly weary.

  “Akio-san, you made it back!” Haru-san gasped, trembling. “It’s a disaster, you have to hurry!” she decred.

  “A disaster? Yeah, it looks bad, but you seem to be holding. I’ve killed one didate, and reinforts are here, I think ull this off!” I argued, only for her to shake her head.

  “Maybe. I wouldn’t be so sure, Akio-kun.” She poio the remaining tank, which was shielded by the mysterious energy from before, a cowled figure on top radiating dark malice. Even looking at him made Haru-san shudder. “That man there, he’s dangerous. Very. All of these corpses obey his orders, and even if we damage them, they rise again, unless we pletely destroy them.”

  The Judge of Death, I’m guessing. The girl warned me of him… he’s probably the most dangerous didate left out of our enemies… “Well, even so, with me here now I …”

  “No!” she shouted, surprising me, as Haru-san was always mild and meek, if sometimes pyful now, in a bitter, gallows-humour sort of fashion. “It isn’t just here! Somehow the enemy has breached the Territory and is waging war on Tsukuyomi-jinja, but we ’t spare any more support with that… that demon here.” She spat, cursing the cloaked figure, surprisi again.

  So it came to that, did it? I felt doused in cold water. It seemed that Tsukiko-san was right, her fag danger was iable. It was then Shaeraggo spoke.

  “Akio. Where is my sister?” he asked. “We received word that there was terrible-terrible danger here, so I came through immediately. These… these dead things are of the worst sort. It is like fighting Unseelie filth.” He spat a gobbet of phlegm, his tired wife Selensha leaning on her ornate, crystal-topped staff chiding him gently.

  “Shaeu’s out there. I know she’s safe.” I could feel that through the bond, as well as something else, something crag and powerful. “She should be here any minute, seeing the fireworks.”

  “Master Ulfuric leads the defehere are others too. That ese girl came back all beat up and headed over there too, before we got word of the invasion.” Haru-saed, though not fetting to sweep light over the oning hordes of the dead, melting them to ashes, the stro attayone was using against them. “You o go. Matsumuro-san… she needs you!”

  “You need me, too!” I said, notig her unease, and she shook her head.

  “No. I… I sympathise with her. She must be so terribly afraid right now. With Shaeu’s brother here, and the reinforts yht…” she gestured towards where Tan and the others were trying to breach the shield, and had at least drawention of the fire giant. “… we do this.”

  “I am here merely-merely for my sister…” Shaeraggo sniffed, loosing several more arrows into the crowd, winds tearing undead apart.

  “No, Haru-san is Shaeu’s friend.” I warned him. “You think she’ll five you if you let her e to harm?”

  He s that unhappily, but he was still fighting, so I guessed he was fih staying, and just being tsundere, like his sister used to be. But male tsundere are no good. Nobody likes them. I was torn oher to stay o, and time was wasting. Tsukiko-san, and Daiyu, Ulfurid the rest, they were in danger, but if I left here, Shiro, Ixitt, Haru-san…

  My ption was shattered by a great roar and a brilliant fre of lightning, thunder booming. I saw undead bodies being tossed in the air, the armour-cd Grulgor smashing through them like a living siege engine, followed by his trolls. A fiery hand from the elemental tried to swat him, but he darted aside, ughing. Behind him reading a tidal wave of deg corpses, fungus blooming as the undead rotted, returning to dust, and above…

  A figure was leaping across the sky on footholds of wind, a difficult teique, but as pinwheels swirled around her, darting and twitg, the beautiful girl raised a hand, and lightning forked down once more, smming into the shield, which held, but was noticeably weakened. As thunder cpped, she leapt down from the sky, nding near us, a broad grin on her face, amber eyes satisfied by the shock she saw in her brother’s eyes.

  “Brother Shaeraggo, it is most-most heartening to see you here, helping Akio. But you seem… surprised? Has the moon stolen your tongue?” Her grin was viciously self-satisfied.

  “Sister, is that…” he began, only for her to cut him off, another spray of brilliant lightning leaving her hands, striking at the elemental once more, leaving a trail of brilliant afterimages and the boom of thunder behind it.

  “Of course it is-is.” Shaeu ughed. “There was a kind enemy who was throwing about so much-much lightning element that scooping it up and making it my own was simplicity itself. I have-have always said I would be a Royal someday, did I not-not?” she paused. “Brother Shaeraggo, sister-in-w Selensha, you are falling quite behind. Dear sister Anna too. Likely my other brothers and father as well. How disappointing. When this is done… I believe we need a training camp.” Behind us Hyath had powered through, her vines sadly useless against the fire elemental, as they just burned up, her spores too.

  “You should transd your limits and learn at least-least a sed element. If I , Hyath , Ixitt … well, you do no-no less?” She turo me then, her happy, satisfied expression giving way to deep anger and rage. “Akio, I am most wroth. I feel the dying of my kin, their spirits returning to me. But… not all have returo me. I fear some few have beeinguished forever.”

  “I know. The golden-eyed eater, the bone swords.” I agreed, reag out to fort her, but surprisingly she knocked my hand away.

  “I shall be fine-fine, I promise. We have no time. Tsukiko, she needs-needs your aid.”

  “But the situation here…” she stopped my words with one delicate hand.

  “Here? You have me, Shiro, Hyath… three of your lovers w together. How we lose? We have Haru too!”

  “Please leave me out of it. I’m not involved.” Haru-san said, and Shaeu merely snickered.

  “Well, even if you are not-not eo Akio, your powers are great. I know you feel-feel you are weak, but…” she watched as more light melted a swathe of the invaders. “… for this, your powers are quite-quite likely the best of all. Now, Akio, go!” she ordered me. “Save Tsukiko, save our kin from this dreadful fate. A our ehey have done many cruelties. A true-true ruler repays evil unto evil, while remaining kind to the good.” She raised one hand, beautiful jade energies swirling around her. "May the winds of fortune blow with you in this battle."

  As the fortunate winds settled around me, I orn, but resolute. With a st g my battling allies, I sprinted westwards, towards Tsukuyomi-jinja…

  ********

  “Old Luo Jiahao…” Daiyu exhaled in shooment she was resting in Tsukuyomi-jinja, her wounds slowly healing, helped along by the power of Bintara, the Yokai healer. The , the Territory barrier had suddenly wailed, like breaking gss, and a rge hole had simply been bitten out of it from below. The ground had exploded, and out from a rippling underground mess of liquid earth had appeared a solid stone sphere, which had shattered to reveal a number of enemy didates, as well as a group of spiritual beings from ese myth, and a number of Cultivators, first among them, someone she knew well, the Patriarountain Fang.

  “Well, if it isn’t the beautiful daughter of Patriarch Zhao.” He said sadly, the horrific blob of transparent flesh in his arms twitg, tongues lolling out of many mouths drooling happily, a thick purple mist rising from it, endless corrupted Qi, no, aether, as Akio called it, p into the didates, fuelling their powers. “I hardly expected to see you here.”

  Around them battle was ensuing. Prince Shōtoku, the other kami she didn’t know the name of, a number of didates from Kyoto, as well as the great badger Ulfurid his forces, all were plunged into a fierce battle. Ulfuric was fag a number of the spiritual beings, and they were strong and fast, clearly above humans, but he wielded a great axe, hewing them down, fishy blue blood scattering as the handsome men and women were cut. He bellowed for ruo be dispatched, and some were able to flee, but others fell, cut down by Cultivators or other attacks. One was horrifically swallowed by the fleshy mass Lou Jiahao was holding, a number of tongues snaking out t in the squealing weaselkin, before it vanished in a spray of purple.

  “Protect Tsukiko-sama while she retreats!” Prince Shōtoku shouted, but moments ter a shimmering, transparent dome had beeed around the battlefield, and Daiyu felt the oppression. I… I ot return to the Earthly Realm. This barrier traps us here…

  Another didate had transformed into a six-armed golden giant three metres tall, wielding an assortment of s, tridents and other ons, while a third was vanishing into a strange fog, and then Ulfuric staggered, blood scattering from a savage wound in his thigh, rock armour shattered.

  “Why… why would you do this?” Daiyu asked, taking up a fighting stariving to protect the healer behind her, knowing that as she had pledged to serve Akio, this healer was integral to his future pns.

  “You think I had a choice?” he shook his head. “You should know my pain, Bck Jade.” He sighed. “After all… your Sect is gone. Every. Last. One.” He punctuated the words harshly, but his face did show some sympathy. A Cultivator from another sect, Diamond Mountain, by the robes, did run at her, bde raised, but Daiyu moved swiftly, and with an open-palmed strike she broke his neck, bde falling from his hands, which she kicked away, disgusted by how it squirmed for her. The Patriarountain Fang merely watched, holding onto the hideous creature he chaperoned.

  “Well, you will not grieve alone. After all, this has not gone as our new master pnned.” He looked down at the salivating blob, as tongues shed out, and Ulfuric lost his rock armour, the stone devoured. Spears struck at him then from the spiritual beings he was fighting, and blood scattered. He roared, his eyes turning dark and muscles bulging, drawing on all his strength.

  “No, we had three targets that it wished to devour. It seems we shall only manage one. And most of us were supposed to be food as well, in the end. Well, I suppose you know that.” He looked sad. “I wao protect what was left of my Sect. Our Prodigy, the twins Mei’er and Mihey died. You failed. And so my son, my daughter, my wife… so many perished. But I do not bme you anymore. We have instigated our reve will not be stopped now, not after what we have done here. Yes, you failed, but you lost as much as I did. And noill both lose… everything!”

  Tongues darted at her from the creature, and she barely evaded, a few drips of the saliva falling ohe corrupted aether and spatial element in tained searing into her half-healed flesh, causing immediate dizziness. She stumbled, only to scream in pain as her flesh was gouged out, her healing starting to work, fortified by a gentle power. She half-turo see the horned head of Bintara looking at her, exudiher.

  “That corruption ot be allowed to spread. Only death awaits those so tainted.” She pronounced, gring at the creature and its bearer. “A fragment of what Lord Nurarihyon fears. So powerful for a merest proxy. I see why he sought aid. Disgusting.”

  As the battle raged around them, a chaotic melee filled with strange powers aating attacks, Daiyu trated her Qi, ready to strike a fatal blow, shattering all the meridians of the long-time friend of her father. Who is gone, as I feared. He has no reason to lie to me. So… I am the Incorruptible Jade now. I ot fall here. No, I will rebuild. As Matriarch. I will find a suitable Dao panion, and new disciples, and teach them the old ways, the scraps we received from Kunlun…

  “We didn’t fail. We were misled. The Department pig who was sniffing us out was already dead whe there, devoured…” she trailed off, and Luo Jiahao ughed as the tongues shot out towards her again. A volley of fmes from a mortal engineer drove it back, only for said eo perish, a giaal hand desding from above and squashing him with a siing squelg noise, blood spraying her.

  “Yes, you uand. The creature we are ed to, it got there first. A ce, most likely, but on dev he who finds those with Heaven’s Blessing, he could too. And those of us the Party believes were responsible for the attack, us remnants, beaten dogs… well, it sought us out, ensved us. Servitude or be ed. What choice did we have? You have not seen it, felt it. Everue rulers of Kunlun would have yielded, I believe this to be true, evee the many injuries it still suffers, we had no other choice.”

  “There is always a choice!” Daiyu yelled, tears streaking her face, for what reason she did not know. “You could have fought, or died with honour, for our Sects! Even thrown yourself on the dubious mercy of the Party! There is always another path!” The Dao… one abandons it, it ever be recimed. These cowards, they… they broke. I… I will stand, even if it es me, even if I never agaier reination. I have my pride still, my Dao!

  “There is no point.” Bintara said, once more hewing free her soiled flesh. She herself was covered in wounds now, open, bleeding sores where she had been forced to sever her own injuries. The shivering jelly was happier now, tongues lolling, but all of a sudden it let out a dull howl.

  “Another o did not get to eat.” Luo Jiahao chuckled bitterly. “Our only sotion, it seems others are as hungry as this little beast.”

  “There is no point in words.” Bintara repeated, one horn snapped off by her own hand, leaking a shimmering fluid full of powerful healing energies. “This ant will tra filth and hunt for prey because it is an ant, it knows er, only self-preservation. Su i. Even so…”

  “Even so?” Daiyu shivered as she was showered in the glowing fluid, her gift from g’e suddenly accelerating, repairing her many injuries, reinvigorating her. Her muscles swelled, tearing and repairing themselves stantly, ae the pain she felt a boiling strength, as every part of her body endured destru to exceed its limits. Soaked by her own fluid , Bintara growled.

  “Even so, these ants do a great deal of damage in their mindless parade. The Boundary here is thinning. Without care… well, no matter. We will not let it shatter.”

  “No.” Daiyu agreed. Another Cultivator rushed her, but she easily dodged and her Qi entered him, exploding his meridians and lower Dantian fatally, silvery blood scattering. “No we will not. This Jade… it is Incorruptible. You ants will not soil it! Besides…” she grinned, as the barrier around them bzed with fme, a small gap opening momentarily. “We are not alone here…”

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