“What about your story card?” Winver asked in a confused tone

“Your domain is at least narrative grade, right? My story card would have already been written earlier. You just need to show it to me”

Winver started laughing as he heard Ark’s request. “Very Well…I do have a request, however…do not disturb me till the Third scenario is over…yes?”

“Yes of course!”

The Giant Administrator nodded his head and notifications started to appear in front of Ark.

[Calculations have finished…]

[Your story has been greatly enriched due to your feats!]

[The Rating of your story is: Fabled]

[You have obtained the story: “Journey of a Man in a lonely world”]

Ark had first obtained a legendary story card and now he had got himself a Fabled story card too. This was simply awesome. The Journey of a Man in a lonely world seemed to describe Ark’s second scenario quite well. He had defeated every single monster by himself. Only during his fight with the Magma Wyrm, had he required some help. That anomaly must have been covered up by his earlier achievements.

Ark had worked so hard in the second scenario. This was the sole reason. Fabled Story cards were a rank higher than legendary story cards. Ark thought his legendary card was already heaps better than most. What would happen if he got a Fabled story card on top of that? For the first time, after Ark had come to the original timeline, he was on top of the World. In his previous life, Ark had got a Fabled Card only after he had cleared a hell-difficulty dungeon solo. He was planning on doing it again but this time, he would have the help of his cards as well.

Ark opened up his status screen to see what effects his fabled story card was bringing to Ark’s repertoire

[STORY][5 SLOTS][2 CARDS]

‘Journey of a man in a lonely world’: You who have persevered through thick and thin and did something deemed impossible. This is your story…Killing monsters at first glance is no easy feat nor is the protection of humanity from vile monsters. You have done so, fighting monsters stronger than you. May you continue to do so. The Tower wishes you the very best of luck

Active Effect: When the user is not in a party and is fighting an opponent much stronger than himself, all stats increase by ten percent every ten minutes. Stacks up to seven times

Cool down period: None

Type: Fabled Passive Type

This was a damn good ability. Ark had guessed that he would get some type of growth ability while he was fighting the monsters. The Tower acknowledged that the tasks Ark completed were not an easy feat. Which was why he got this story card. This would make his future endeavors. That was the meaning of “May you continue to do so” that was written on the card. The Card itself was beautiful. It had the same golden engravings and black arch that was present in every other card.

The resemblance ended there. The tarot card contained the picture of a black silhouette facing off against a great beast. At first glance, it was not apparent what the beast was supposed to be but as Ark looked closer, he found out that the beast was indeed a Magma Wyrm which was being ridden by a Holy Knight of Arcadia. Ark grinned as he saw the card. This was exactly what he had been expecting when he asked the Administrator for the card.

After his inspection was finished, The Administrator bade Ark farewell and Ark was left alone in between the two trains. Something was distinctly different from earlier though. Ark couldn’t put his finger on it but as Ark walked towards the people who were gathered around Adam, he finally understood what exactly was missing.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The gloomy atmosphere that had been permeating the air, the entire time the second scenario was ongoing had completely faded. Ark was pretty sure that it had something to do with the death of Coscos. The Jackal had hated humans to such an extent that he had put in this specific element unknown to all of them. Ark was sure that Adam had managed to figure it out too. Someone along the Group of people caught Ark’s attention.

It was Anthony and his pals. Ark did not want to look at them the slightest and yet he looked. The three young men visibly flinched when they noticed Ark staring at them. Ark averted his gaze. Those three people had constantly been badmouthing him ever since they got to the subway station. Hopefully, they would stop sometime soon.

The doors to the train which were once locked tight were open now and the people were asked to get on the train. Most people understandably did not want to get involved in the mess. That was what Ark surmised from the conversation Adam was having with the people. Ark did not worry too much. Either they would go by train or they would be dragged there by some other means. Earth was completely barren by now. Nobody could live there.

Even if they wanted to, the people couldn’t just stay there. Ark did not delay too much, and got into the train and took the best spot he possibly could. The early bird gets the worm and all that.

Ark did wonder though who was going to drive the train. The Jackal Coscos was dead and the Administrator wouldn’t be able to find a replacement on time. Ark thought it would be funny if the giant himself was driving the train.

Soon after Ark had got onto the train, the rest of the people followed. They must have had the same thought. Ark had saved all of them and if Ark himself thought that the train was safe, who were they to argue? Despite people following Ark, no one sat close to him. There were plenty of places where people could sit comfortably. No one wanted to sit next to a person who could kill in a single heartbeat.

The Exception seemed to be Adam though, as he happily trudged towards Ark, backpack in hand. He offered Ark a chocolate bar as he sat down and began to nibble on his own. Adam was particularly happy. This was probably because the second scenario had finished and the gloomy atmosphere had faded away. This was probably Adam’s true form when he was not focused on leading his group.

Ark took a bite out of his own chocolate bar. It was sweet…too sweet. Ark was just about to throw it away when Adam warned him.

“This was given to you by Eliza.” Adam looked at him asking whether Ark would be that cruel to a little child. Ark did not have the heart to reject a young girl’s offering and so he finished up his chocolate bar as best as he could. Truth was, Ark didn’t particularly like sweet things. He could eat them in moderation but that was not his forte. Sweet things seemed too much sometimes. Ark much preferred foods which were spicier.

The train lights which were glowing red started to glow green. With a ding and the sound of starting engine, the train started to move. The doors were automatically closed and the seats were reclined to give everyone the best comfort. Ark made himself comfortable as he sighed. He had been long waiting for this exact moment. A moment of normalcy where Ark didn’t have to fight anymore. He could just relax and not worry about things to come. This was only going to be the norm for the train ride though.

Ark had finished his chocolate bar by now and was nibbling on some cinnamon-coated poppers when suddenly, he was asked a question by Adam.

“Do you think I will betray you?” Adam asked in a conspiratory tone. It was almost a whisper like someone could hear him

“Not Particularly…” Ark replied in kind. He had no doubt in his mind about that fact. If Adam was to somehow betray him, what was Ark supposed to do? He would take the complication as they came.

“I had thought of the same thing and then I realized that I have to do it someday…”

“Why do you think so?” Ark was intrigued

“Well my story card’s origin was like that…so I thought…”

“Do you mean the mountain one?” Ark asked

Adam was flustered when the topic of Adam being Ark’s rival came up, “Err…yes!”

Ark could somewhat guess what was going through Ark’s mind. Just as Adam had a particular sixth sense, Ark too had one for sussing out stories. He was fairly certain what the rival of an unreachable mountain meant

“Is your story card about the golden knight and the reserve warrior?” Ark asked just to be sure

“How did you know? I didn’t even show you my card…” Adam had a surprised expression on his face

“Well…the story seemed familiar…Wasn’t it the one where a reserve warrior wanted to be like the hero, golden knight and someone granted him his wish…”

“Do you know what happened after that?” Adam asked, his tone sullen

“Yeah, the reserve warrior became a great hero too, and eventually went mad. I think he recited a quote…”

“If you are an unreachable mountain…I can just cut you down until you aren’t?”

“That was it! Are you worried about that happening, Adam?”

“Now that you mention it…do you think it would be possible?”

“I think…a story is whatever you make it out to be…no story is set in stone and every story can be told in some other way. No story is clear cut after all”

Ark immediately went to sleep after giving Adam the cryptic advice. It was up to Adam now to figure out what Ark meant by that. Adam sighed as he looked at the scenery passing by. After the dark and miserable days, he had been through, the sun rising in the distance seemed really beautiful all of a sudden