The rumbling sound of sea waves hitting against the quay fought its way through the rowdy noise of those who had gathered to watch the members of the Raiding Division set off from the Isle of Man’s sea terminal in Douglas. Sam was among those who were chosen, or rather, he had forced his way in.

It had not been easy convincing Jim to vouch for him to join. And it was for two very big reasons. One was that he had no experience engaging in such things—he had only just woken up from his coma after all. The second was that those going on the expedition were set to leave soon.

At the time, which was immediately after his breakfast, that had shocked Sam. He had not been expecting the expedition to begin so soon. It had just been yesterday, during the arrival of sunset that the news of a Glade appearing had gotten to the faction leader’s ears, so his shock was justified.

It was Richie who had quelled his confusion in place of Jim who gulped down his whiskey directly from its bottle. He said, “Glades have 48 hours before they initiate a cooldown.” The boy of little words had stopped there, so Sam had no choice but to force more words out of him. “Cooldown is when the Glade shuts down and disappears until it spawns again.”

Richie had to learn now to expatiate on certain things; this infuriated Sam so much that he had to take in a deep breath to calm himself. As he did that, Jim decided to entertain him.

“After a Glade spawns randomly and a batch of Players activate it and enter, it changes its location…”

Sam already knew the reason why that happened. Well, not exactly. What he knew was that walking into a Glade in one location did not equal walking out back to that location. A Low Level Glade changes its location between cities or villages in close proximity. An Intermediate Glade changes between countries. And a Supreme Glade was between continents.

“...The Glade remains in the new location, barring its access to anyone else until the batch of Players inside come out, either after clearing the Glade or running away, or they’re locked inside, as Richie said… Cooldown.” Jim paused and gulped down hard on his whiskey. Sam decided to wait. The alcoholic took his breaks, but when he talked, he made more things known than Richie ever could. “The Glade spawned in Bull bay. That’s on the northern coast of Wales. Close to Amlwch. It takes at least 20 hours on the ferry to get there. You can imagine why departure is set for noon now, don’t you?”

Sam still didn’t understand a few things about the Glades, especially how they were going to access the one they were going on this expedition for, considering everything that had been said, but he realized that this wasn’t the time to start asking questions about it. In fact, he would possibly learn better at Bull bay. Visuals were greater than words, after all. His priority for now was hurrying to be added to the Raiding Division.

He rose up from his chair as Richie packed up the dishes and headed to the kitchen.

“I have to go on this expedition.” There was a fierce look on his face. “Recommend me. The faction leader will listen to you.”

Jim eyed him. “He would. But I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

Jim looked at his empty whisky bottle, tsked, then stood up and went to lie down on a couch in the sitting room. “Because you don’t have any training. You trying to kill yourself?”

“The world has gone to shit!” Sam flared. “What do you mean training? If I’m to survive I can’t just sit down here where everything is cozy, I have to see what exactly is going on for myself. Recommend me.”

Jim was still not having it. He pointed at Sam. “No one will have the chance to be looking after you there, boy. They won’t care. I saved you, I have the right to choose how you die.”

Fucker! Sam’s chin stiffened for a moment. “I don’t intend to die.”

“Well, if you go on this expedition the way you are without any protection, you will.”

Without any protection? Sam had an idea.

“Richie can come with me.”

Instantly, Richie looked out of the kitchen and shook his head. “I don’t wanna go.”

Sam glared at Jim. “I don’t see this as some sort of child’s play if that’s what you think. Like I said, I don’t intend to die. This is my way of surviving. No one knows what the future holds, the faster I can learn to be independent, the better.” Jim was silent. “It’s either Richie comes with me, or I find a way to go on my own.”

“Go on your own, goddammit.”

“Fine,” Jim said, then rose from the couch. “Leave the dishes, Richie. Pack up, both of you. Let’s go meet Luca.”

It had been four hours since then, but the bloodlust flowing out of Richie had not calmed down one bit. At this rate maybe Richie would be the one to kill him once they had arrived at Bull bay.

Sam sighed and lowered his head. “Don’t hate me.”

“Too late.” This was the first time Richie spoke so quickly.

“If I could have convinced him to let me go alone, I would have. You witnessed it yourself.”

Richie was silent for a second. “I ain’t gonna die just because I’m looking after you. Letting you know now.”

“Don’t you worry,” Sam said. “Look after yourself and I’ll look after me.”

He was already gearing himself up for that. A weapon would have been nice, but the faction leader, under Jim’s instruction, had strictly ordered him to only observe and not engage. Depending how things went, maybe he would do that. But he still had to be ready.

That was why he was somewhat hurt as he stared at the words hovering before his eyes.

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[Attributes]

Strength: 005.

Speed: 020 (Boosted).

Agility: 008.

Perception: 007.

Durability: 007.

Stamina: 007.

Experience Points: 00.

I knew I was weak, but this looks abysmally bad. Sam chuckled self-deprecatingly within himself. Speed, huh? Well, I’ve seen the Attribute I should take the most advantage of.

That and…

His focus shifted from his Attributes Interface to the thick black smoke swirling out of his shadow and the shadows of everyone around.

Ever since he’d chosen his Division and Skill, he had begun to see this smoke. He knew it was related to his Skill, the problem lay in how to use the supposed ability he was granted.

Was he to just dip his hands into the visible smoke and think about what he wanted? His ability was manipulating shadows, after all.

His gaze turned towards Richie who was seated with his eyes closed on the same low platform as he—precisely, his shadow and the smoke swirling out of it.

Can I manipulate those of others too?

Gah! He really wanted to test his abilities out, but this wasn’t the time. The faction leader and Jim, even Richie, had not asked him what he’d chosen, so he preferred to keep it a secret for now, unless a dire situation called for it.

When he was alone, he would practice. Until then…

“¿Y quién es este guapo aquí?” That voice—those words—stood out in the sea of the many filling the area. And what’s more, it was a tad too close. Sam turned his head to the direction it came from, the Plexus disappearing from his sight.

It was a lady who had spoken. She had black hair—which was tied into a ponytail—with bangs that fell over her forehead like a waterfall. Her eyes were arctic blue, and her attire, though not in any way exposing, was a rather sultry one. Pressing tightly to her lithe body was a black turtleneck, which was complemented by black leather gloves and leggings of the same color, as well as a pink pleated mini skirt. Her feet were covered in high boots, and a double-gun holster rested on her shoulders; they were also not empty.

Spanish? Sam was not sure, his memories were fuzzy, but that was the first language that entered his mind, so he instinctively felt correct. Also… Was she talking to him?

With a flirtatious smile embedded on her face, the lady approached and squatted before Sam. He narrowed his eyes at her, but before he could say a word she raised his chin upward with a finger.

“Eh. Nice neck muscles you have, guapo.”

Sam forced himself away from the lady. Was that a neck fetish?

“Who are you? What do you want?”

The lady simply smiled and shifted her gaze to Richie. “Hello, Ri-Ri.” Richie opened his eyes and stared at the lady for a while as though he did not recognize her. She pouted in a teasing manner. “What’s wrong?”

“Diva?” Richie said. “Diva.”

Say it once, damn it. Sam took a breath in.

“Who’s this guapo, Ri-Ri?” She pointed a thumb at Sam. “Doesn’t seem very jovial.”

I’m right here. Sam frowned.

“He’s right here,” said Richie, like he’d read Sam’s mind. Then he closed his eyes once again.

Diva turned back to Sam with a smile while jerking a thumb at Richie. “Doesn’t seem very jovial.”

Why are you telling me that?

“The name’s Sam,” he replied after sighing. “What do you want?”

“Nothing. I just like cute guys. I see one, I approach.” Sam tilted his head sideways with an incredulous look. “Where’d you come from? Never seen you before.”

“I’m new,” he answered.

“New?” Diva fell into her thoughts for a moment. “Ah! The comatosed one, eh?” Sam shrugged. “I’m Diva. Pleasure meeting you, guapo.”

Guapo? What’s the meaning of that?

Sam was about to ask when a whistle diverted his attention; it was more of a coquettish one than a call-to-attention one.

“Is that Mamacita Senorita I see?” It was the familiar voice of an even familiar person. Sam’s face squeezed when he saw the bald wiry man’s approach. He’d come to find out the man went by the name Douglas, but he had a nickname he hated being called: Dougy. “¿Cuándo me llamarás papi, Senorita?” Unlike Diva, his Spanish was crude, just like his tongue. But that did not stop the men behind him from chortling. Sam was hating this man more by the day. Thankfully, it seemed he was not the only one.

“Te voy a arrancar las pelotas muy pronto, puta.” Her middle finger was raised at Douglas and his men who were mocking her. She then smiled at Sam and said before standing up and walking away, “See you on the ferry, guapo.” There was a wink too.

Unfortunately, her leaving exposed him to his newfound enemy.

“Coma-boy,” Douglas hooted as he approached. “And Richie-boy. Where’s ya greetings both of ya?”

Sam closed his eyes with an exhale. It was no good causing trouble here. “Hello.” He then nudged Richie at his elbow causing him to do the same, though hesitantly.

Douglas smiled. “Shouldn’t ya be on the other side, coma-boy? What’d ya think ya doing here, and talking to Diva for that matter?”

She came to me, not the other way around.

Sam answered, “I’m a member of the Raiding division.”

Douglas guffawed. “You?” He’d first seriously thought it to be a joke, but soon his expression changed once he realized that it wasn’t. He became repulsed. “What’s ya plan, huh? Whatch’ ya say to the faction leader?”

Plan? Sam was a bit confused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Douglas leaned in closer for a brief moment, his voice turning into a whisper. “Ya trying to run away, aren’t ya?” Sam’s face squeezed. “Ya try that nonsense and I’m gonna behead ya myself.” He looked at Richie. “And ya rude friend that’ll help ya.”

Sam watched Douglas leave after those words and slowly felt more and more strange. It was almost like…

“We stay away from him. He won’t hesitate to kill us,” Richie said it first. And he was right. But the fact that he had not received any animosity message meant that Douglas was suppressing his killing intent—at least, for now.

I wonder, the Rogue Division’s schtick is stealth and trickery, does that mean any animosity I bear towards someone will be kept a secret from them?

“Is he very strong?” Sam asked, putting his thoughts on hold. Richie nodded. “How strong?”

“He’s the head of the guards.”

“Hmmm…” Sam said nothing more. The rest remained as thoughts as he turned his gaze back to the smoke swirling out of his shadow.

Then I don’t have much time, and no room for error. I’ll kill him before he kills me.

An hour later they met the raid leader, Emine, a tall and muscular lady with green eyes and extremely short white hair. She was an engineer, who had modified the ferry transporting them to run on batteries charged by solar energy. What’s more, she was the elder sister of Hande.

It was not until after her speech and warnings did the members of the Raid division board the ferry and depart from the Isle of Man, heading for Bull bay. She’d said there were dangers at sea, Sam was about to find out.