A mansion, rivalling the auction house in size, encompassed half the street, forcing it to curve like unlike others. Its blockish nature with a low-lying tiled roof spilling out the side, was painted black and white- a contrarian in a city filled with pastel yellows and brick reds. Beside the walnut-finish door, a gold nameplate read "Skull Kidds Guildhouse."

Inside, sixty adventurers ranging from elves to dwarves to orcs littered the red and brown decor. They all fell within a level range of 10-40. Anticipation lingered. Wild tapping. Tongue clicking. Muttering. Legs shaking. Frustration took the wheel. Frustration took Boom.

"Where are they!? It's been 30 minutes!" Boom yelled.

"Yeah! 30 minutes!" Buum followed.

"Calm down!" Biim punched Buum's arm. "You're gonna make my ears bleed." Biim's leg shook as Buum soothed his arm.

'Only when I get my hands on that stupid cat and elf!"

"This is stupid." Biim's leg shook faster.

Shhh shhh sHHhhh. The room fell silent as noise wafted through the walls. Noise which grew louder and louder with every second. Noise which resembled conversation?

"So, whatcha do with ya free time? Got any hobbies ey big guy?"

A voice giggled. "Oh jeez I don't do very much outside the game. I do like playing with my sister though! She's so cute."

"Is that right. Is it not getting late for you?"

"Oh nonono. It is past my bedtime cause i have school tomorrow, but my mom won't find out." he said confidently.

The doors open, revealing a shy skullcracker, an elbow-nudging Clark, a smiling Zein, and a sleeping Wu in Skullcracker's arms. Everyone inside whispered about the scene unfolding before them. Boom broke the silence.

"Skullcracker! What are you doing!?" a question which permeated everyone's mind.

The sudden sharpness of Boom's question caught Skullcracker off guard. "Ah! Boom! Um." Skullcracker turned to the two. They gave him a knowing nod. "I was escorting them here seriously."

"Don't lie to me! We all saw you getting real close to those two. And what's with the monkey!? Get out!"

"I-I'm sorry!"

Disgust and apathy filled Skull Kidds as Skullcracker ran out the door whimpering.

"Aw man you made him cry! Aren'tcha a mean one."

"Shut it! No one wants to hear your onion!"

"Yeah! No one wants to hear your opinion."

Hah. "Zeizei he said onion, these guys are funny."

"Who's funny you loser bitch."

"Oooooooh." The crowd simultaneously let out. They hooted and hollered over their newfound position of power. Zein looked away with a heavy exhale and a concerned look.

"Well, if it isn't my guests of honour." a gravelly voice came through.

Clark's eyes followed the spiralling stairs, leading him to a half-orcen man dressed in black. Black leather chestpiece. Black pants. Black boots. No undershirt. He leaned on the rails, hair in a mohawk and tusks curled unevenly. 60 Cyanide SKG.

"So, you're the guild leader of Skull Kidds. Very impressive." Clark commented.

"Who the hell do you think you're talking to like-"

Clark shifted his gaze, piercing Boom's soul through pixels. "Ahhh, yes. You. I have a question for you, Guild Leader Cyanide. Are my people viewed as losers here?"

Boom froze, sweat sliding down his face. And he wasn't alone. Fight or flight and a choice was made for them by one the strongest men in the universe. A man who led more than 500 people. Every impulse screamed to run, but they were at his mercy. At the mercy of a shark. Biim could barely keep his wits on him and Buum hid behind him. Red. They all saw red.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Clap

"Kalel. Do forgive my guild member's poor showing." Cyanide asked. "He's new after all."

Clark let the Skull Kidds come back to their senses. Boom staggered, using a chair to stop himself from falling.

"Thank you. Let's chat in my office, shall we? Biim- Buum- Boom. Guide them." Cyanide released his weight from the rails, standing straight and walking away.

"Brother-"

"Boom." Biim interrupted. "Just shut it. Before it gets worse."

Buum shuffled towards Clark and Zein, approaching cautiously. "U-Um, p-please follow me." he forced the words out.

"Oooh aren'tcha kind. Thank you! Let's go Zeizei!"

"I can see that. Lead the way, Buum."

"Y-y-yes.

Zein, Clark, and Buum climbed the stairway and paced the hallway adorned with paintings of knights in armour baring Aria City's sigil. Biim and Buum trailed them. Anxiousness trailed them.

Buum creaked the door, peeking inside. A room plastered in gold. The walls, the roof, any hint of metal, nothing was safe from the lustrous metal. It'd be blinding if it weren't for the furniture and flooring being black. Cyanide propped his legs on an empty desk, holding his stomach and leaning back on his leather-like chair.

"Biim! Come in."

"I-I'm actually Buum, sir."

"What am I an old man?" Cyanide cackled. "Now bring them in, Buum."

"Y-yes."

Buum opened the door, leading Cyanide's guests inside.

"Ooh, gaudy."

"Ain't it beautiful? I'm sure you understand."

"Oh it's fit for a king."

Cyanide let out a boisterous laugh, exhaling, slow and relaxed. "Do you smoke, Kalel?" A lighter was heard.

Clark didn't respond. Cyanide shrugged.

Biim and Buum made their way in. They stood by the door, keeping their distance from Clark.

"Good. Everyone's here." Cyanide coughed. "Now, let's get down to business. Anodos, hand over everything you got from the dungeon."

'Zein stuck his arm out, stopping Clark from jumping. "No."

"Woah ho. Slow down there, Kalel." tap tap tap. "I thought you were an amicable man."

"I'd say I'm amicable to those I like." Clark gripped his chair, hovering low over it.

"You don't like me? That makes me sad, Kalel. We should get along after all." Cyanide breathed deep.

"And why should I ever consider that." Clark gripped the chair harder.

"Why shouldn't we!?" Cyanide exhaled. "Cause the other option would be to go against us, which I don't believe you'd want, Kalel." He drummed his stomach, snickering as bloodlust leaked from Clark's eyes. Zein held on to Clark's shoulder guard, acting like a gate.

"And if I had another reason," hmmmmmmm, Cyanide raised his head, watching the chandelier sparkle. " Zeizei. You know, that name, it rings a bell." he snapped his fingers repeatedly. "I was told of a man who lost it all. A man you were allegedly close with." he stopped. "Strange coincidence maybe?" Cyanide pouted.

A lightbulb flickered. Biim started to piece it together. Surviving without Aria City. Summoning a Monarch Slime. Clearing a dungeon with two people. Flying a spacecraft without a map. Zei. Zei-

Biim, Boom, and Buum fell to their knees, eyes growing wide. Fear consumed them. Run. Run. Run. Their bodies screamed to run for Clark couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Kal. That's enough."

"You should listen to him, Kalel." Cyanide inhaled. "After all, I have an offer to make." Cyanide coughed, hitting his chest.

Clark shut his eyes, mouth wavering. He allowed the downed trio to breathe once more, releasing his grip on his chair and sitting down. Clark leaned forward, arms on thighs, fist in hand.

"It seems like you're willing to listen." Cyanide howled. "You see those three over there?" he pointed to Biim, Boom, and Buum, still on the floor. "They're gonna be our guild's aces in the future. So, would you kindly finish the vulture raid with them?"

"Brother! Why should we-" Biim slammed his hand over Boom's mouth. Clark smiled, twitching.

"What do you gain from this?" Clark asked.

"Who wouldn't want to foster a relationship with the great Kalel and "Zeizei"." Cyanide air quoted. "Two icons of the game helping my guild? It's a dream come true." he grinned.

Zein bobbed his head, processing. Clark slumped over.

"So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?"

Zein's eyes narrowed. "I have one condition."

***

Zein and Clark exited the mansion, meeting a kneeled-over Skullcracker and an awake Wu.

"Oogie!" Wu jumped from Skullcracker's arms, hanging on Zein's shoulder who scratched his chin.

"Hello…" Skullcraqcker dug his head into his folded arms. Clark stepped forward; Zein blocked him.

"Thank you for taking care of Wu, Skullcracker. I appreciate it."

"Oogie! Oogie!"

"Really?" Skullcracker asked with hope.

"Of course I am. Wu seems happy too."

"Oogie." Wu nodded.

"I'm so glad!" Skullcracker shot to his feet. Skullcracker shrunk into his coat, unable to meet their eyes. "I'm sorry I ran away with Wu. And also for how everyone treated you. They aren't very nice people."

"That's alright. Thank you, Skullcracker, for keeping Wu safe."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Zein smiled with warmth. "Would you like to be friends?"

"Okay!"

"Hell yeah. Send Friend Request: Skullcracker."

Ding.

"Accept Friend Request: Anodos."

"Ooh ooh me too!" Clark chimed. "Send Friend Request: Skullcracker."

Ding.

"Uh-um, are you sure?" Skullcracker emphasised his words.

"Yeah! You're a good person, big man, so why don'tcha be this lil' guy's friend too?"

"O-okay. Accept Friend Request: Kalel."

"Alright, let's gooooo."

"I'm going to be logging off now, Skullcracker." Zein let Wu down. "Take care of yourself, okay? Don't go to bed too late." he laughed. "Wu, you're free to go wherever you please."

"Oogies." Wu saluted.

"I'll see you around too, Kal."

"You ain't got a choice buddy ol' pal."

'Yeah, yeah. Log out."

A blue flash. A blue disappearance.

Zein removed his helmet, glasses sliding down his nose from sweat. The whirring of his fan greeted him. Whiz. Whiz. Whiz. It echoed, filling the noiseless room as sombre blues painted his walls.

"Ah… I remember why I played Age."