Chapter 24
The Haunting
Just as soon as he finished the dinner dishes, he lied in the bed and kept on staring at the ceiling. Headache was still there but not as agonizingly painful as the one from two days ago. And if he had to put it simply, it was better to slurp down a full icy shake than feel that same pain that lasted for a whole day.
He even went so far as to bang his head on the wall just so he could abate minding the pain.
Now, the pain was bearable, but the memories of the battle was still clear to him. He hasn’t logged in since then because he was psychologically still accepting the fact that he just killed that many people. He felt awful for some reason because being aroused on that storm of violence wasn’t actually human to his principles.
He felt like he was just a masked murderer, worst than the rumors of the Masked Organization members who kill for money. At least they had a reason to do so.
But him, he felt like a mass killer…even if it was also part of the game.
578 kills.
2265 loot items.
One Legendary MOD.
Good thing loot inventory is a separate space for this amount was already far exceeded his weight limits.
His plan now: ask someone he can trust with the MOD. And actually, the only people he could think of were Volt and the gang, and also the old man, Janus.
But the MOD…even though he said that he was going to sell them, it seems that he was already in the verge of breaking his oath. He realized what the big flow in his plans were. He was too weak. In any world, money can take you heights you should be traveling. A single man who doesn’t have money can’t go to places without it. And to have money, you have to fight monsters and fighting monsters itself also needed lots of money.
Weapons needed maintenance, players needed items to heal themselves, going to good hunting spots costs money, expenditures, living, survival, upkeep, and even the act of earning money by selling game, it all need lots of money as some kind of investment.
To earn more money to go to better places and become strong enough that he can do his job well, he do needed that MOD.
Transcendence, that ability sure is going to be handy at some point.
—No.
It will be of good use, indeed, at all times.
Ah can’t sleep!
Now that he thinks about it, sleep may become his main problem until tomorrow. And so to pass the time and earn his drowsiness, he went back downstairs and opened up the TV, tuned to Terroa Day Today, and sat down on the soft sofa.
Kathleen Brew was the first face she saw and she had been receiving praises, awards, and even gifts from all directions, even from other network channels and game companies.
Her highlight broadcast was when she decided to ignore protocol and formal reporting, and actually had risked her life to capture everything that happened to the war, until the last unexpected end.
Rex recalled the events after he had released Raijin.
That ability…it wasn’t even a formal ability. He only used the name Raijin since he can’t think of anything else to name it. Actually, it wasn’t a cheap ability at that and its conditions for activation is really difficult to set up, especially if one is pressed for time.
It was a good thing it was a battlefield.
The carbon emissions, smog, heat of war, and all the hot elemental spells, burning warships, and everything else in that war helped a lot in shortening the required conditions for the Raijin. That’s how he defeated him, Cramer, the strongest player he knows by far.
[Now we go to the postwar negotiations between the Titans and the Sylphs.]
Rex almost smiled, but frowned and blushed, when he saw what was on TV. Kathleen Brew now speak of the things that happened after the war.
A video of Reynolds and Elsass shaking hands were on TV and the two had an understanding expression in their faces. Then, the comments and reports started to sound in the speakers about the anger that Elsass felt.
He spoke: [I was blinded and did not see the signs. I was warned countless times but I was full of vengeance that I did not heed his warnings. So, it resulted to this.]
After his sad speech, hands from the PRESS players were raised but one hand in particular was selected by Elsass himself. That hand was Kathleen Brew and she asked: [What would happen now that you know who the real enemy is?]
The one who answered was Reynolds.
[As we have planned, we will help each other to find and make that bastard responsible for everything that had happened between us. We will rebuild our guilds and hopes that this partnership will lead to the most powerful alliance in Terran history.]
Kathleen had a follow up question, [So do you have any plans on recruiting The Destroyer to your guilds?]
This is the part that Rex hated the most.
She never had to blurt it out like that. But due to this one question, the name The Destroyer had become a global sensation and not one game related E-channel, magazine, newspaper, and even billboards do not know of this name.
And also because of this, his movements would have to be low profile from now on. Good thing his face was hidden in all of the images of his exploits.
Because fame wouldn’t help him at any rate. If there is one thing that might do, then that would actually be the fact that it may cause a ripple on his plans, most especially to his plans on completing his job. He had to repay the debt, give Ag what he wanted, and get his brother back to his care.
Until he wasn’t sure how this job will end, he had no other choice but to abide by his rules and become a low profile player the entire time.
[He won’t join any guilds. That’s a fact.] This line surprised the audience as Reynolds had this unfaltering expression.
[Yes.] Elsass continued. [We already understood his intentions since the very beginning. He is not and will not join any guild. No one can force him, no one will know who he is, and no one will be able to bend his will. He’s like the wind, he’s everywhere yet nowhere.]
Reynolds and Elsass had this timid but contented smile as they nodded at each other and to the PRESS.
Though questions about him were still raised, what these two people said had been the main grounds for all their answers. They did not disclose anything about the whereabouts of The Destroyer, nor told them that they know him personally too. They just repeated what they just said earlier, continuing on with the announcement of their alliance and the hunt for the real culprit of the start of that war.
The Destroyer is a free spirit.
No one can control him.
He is like the wind, he is everywhere.
These words may have been a product of Rafaela and he honestly felt gratification on that fact.
Still, one cannot deny that whoever that person they were facing had a grand scheme that can change that world. No. He might even be planning on destroying that world. Plus, it was even clear that he might be sided with the aliens. That person, that player, the black warrior, bringer of death, the walking disaster, Rogue.
If one thing, he is more dangerous and sinister than The Destroyer himself. He knows it. Siva, Rex…knows it well. He would never do such thing with the reason of fun.
“Why I do this? For fun! What else there is?”
Rex didn’t realize as he closed his eyes, thinking of that short encounter at the last moments of the war, that Rogue was a player who inherited the supposed to be embodiment of cruelty that is the Pride of the Type-1 Aliens, the Maleficent Alien Race. The race that stands at the top of their chain of command.
He had confirmed it.
“So your name was The Destroyer? Clever. Since as far as my understanding of your name goes, shouldn’t you be destroying things, or worlds, not actually try to stop it? Isn’t that what you and your name should be?”
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“Who are you? What are you planning to do?”
“Hmm…I should be the one asking you that. What are you going to do next?”
That was power.
In Terroa, he might actually be the strongest player alive. Having that much power even inside a game is frightening that the sight of him destroying the Mooran Fortress alone makes him shiver.
And for every gamer who understands how the world of Terroa works inside, they understood the fact that if they don’t stop him, he will destroy Terroa…he will destroy the only place they could have a solace. It was unthinkable, just what kind of villain is he?
So, Rex was left with that question.
What am I gonna do next?
He thought for a moment and opened his eyes, turn off the TV, and went upstairs.
“That’s not my problem anyways.”
…but it will be yours if you stand in my way.
***
The beeping sounds of the life support machines is the only sound in the quiet, dim, room. In this private hospital room with the highest priority with the entire facility, Doctor Faust couldn’t help but feel anxious.
It’s been over a few months already and there was still no change on Baron’s brain status.
All of the advanced medical techniques, therapies, operations, and recovery methods have been used but he was still to show any signs of reactions to all of it.
Looking at the papers in the table, Doctor Faust took off his coat from the rack and wore it, not forgetting the VIP Doctor ID tag on his white coat. He was greeted by the nurses and hospital staffs on his way to his office and it was there that he met with Augustus, sitting on his office chair.
“What do you want?” Faust nonchalantly asked.
“Is that the way you treat your friends, Faust?” A casual business smile was on Augustus’s lips as he put a hand on the armrest of the chair and caressed it. “I was worried about you and the kid so I gave you a visit in this far away place.”
“Oh, far away alright.” He snug the papers on the desk’s drawer. “But I know why you’re here. And as usual, he’s not reacting to any kinds of treatment.”
The report was something that snatched Augustus’s smile. Faust sat down on the other chair near the right side window and he looked outside, watching the night sky of the beach with a solemn face.
“So he really is further than I imagined.”
Faust glanced at the man in his white tux and then brought it back to the beach outside, “It’s surprising, really. To find you caring for him to this extent…It’s as if I was wrong about you all these time.”
“Ohoho…actually, you were right about me, but in the wrong impression on the wrong side of society. I’m merely a businessman who cares for a lot of things that I had my investments on.”
Faust felt heat coming from his chest and it was making his breathing short. He sighed heavily, trying to calm his pulses and he put a glance on the papers on the desk to ease his anger. It did not escape Augustus’s gaze and Faust had no intention of hiding his anger at all.
“You really didn’t have to come here. Does sending you his everyday analyses aren’t enough? What are you trying to pull here?”
“Nothing, really. I just wanted to hear the words in the paper directly form you. Well? How is he?”
Faust paused for a moment to study Augustus’s expression but as per usual, he was a man who’s impossible to decipher. And so he just put a hand on his head and swiped a hologram panel to Augustus.
“As you can see, and as I’ve told you earlier. He’s still to react to anything. It’s not that he was rejecting all the therapies and medication but with this pace, I’m afraid that we will have to run out of options for him. I personally have to say that using many methods to heal him isn’t gonna help either. We just need the one, real, potent enough therapy to reconnect all of the damaged nerve tissues in his head. If we can do at least that much, then he’s sure to recover in no time.”
“And do you have any idea what that potent enough therapy is?”
Faust shook his head with a heavy expression. “No. I’m already in fumes here. But I’m still…” As Faust wasn’t done talking, he saw the look on Augustus who seemed to have something in his mind while reading the contents of the graph and tables in his hologram panel. And looking at that face, he paused involuntarily and met the man’s serious gaze.
“Well, I do have one last option left in my sleeve. This technique will surely help the brain tissues recover faster but the risk is…”
Faust glared at him. He was actually expecting his casual confident smile but he was taken to silence as Augustus was displaying a rather more serious and concerned expression. And it was then that Faust noticed a box on the side of the table.
“What is it?” He asked curiously.
“DNIT. Familiar?”
“Direct Nerve Impulse Therapy.”
This made Faust frown and he put a hand on his face as he gazed out the window with a pained, long breath while rolling his eyes.
The loud exhale sounded as if he was disappointed but then there was a layer of choice as he actually know what the therapy was. And basing on that alone, he had already guessed what was inside that box beside his office table.
“Yes. Yes, I know.” Augustus’s voice sounded very concerned. “But this is just a last option if we really do want to have results.”
“DNI Therapy. It hasn’t even been that long since it was discovered and there’s really no assurance that we can perform the therapy well. If we messed up, then we no longer can save him.” Speaking in a low, solemn tone, Faust looked at Augustus who remained his usual firm and uncaring face. “Plus there is also the matter concerning Rex approval with this.”
“About that. I will talk to him. You don’t have to be worried about him disagreeing.”
Faust did answer back as he just kept on looking at the man in white tux. His image and his usual uncaring expression was one thing that bade an unpredictable direction on every conversation he has with anybody.
This is also one of the reasons why Faust was never comfortable whenever a dealing is connected with this man. No one can know whether he had stick his hand on that business, one way or another, and whenever he does, there’s always something that is bound to happen.
And maybe in this case, it already happened.
“No. Don’t do it. I will find another way. I still haven’t fully read the test results we have conducted today. If there’s one thing I found as a strand of hope, I will contact you through your assistant in this hospital.”
Augustus smiled as he stood up from the chair. “If that is what the doctor said, then I will have to wait for the advice.”
“Why does it look like you’re happy with this?”
“Oh I’m not happy at all, my friend. I’m just wearing my usual face, that’s all. Well then, I will bid my leave for now. Au Revoir.”
Faust could only glance away from the man as his two bodyguards appeared from out of nowhere, like a pair of towering hulks covering his white clad front and back. He couldn’t help but feel sick and sad at the same time when he heard his plan for Baron.
DNI Therapy, he knew the hidden history before that therapy was completed and it wasn’t a pretty one.
It was Sir Alfred Pegasus who had developed it through countless trials and errors. He’s also the person in charged for the security system of the Neurolink Device before it was released as a game console.
Actually, the Neurolink Device was first announced as a medical equipment for the said therapy before it was sniffed out by Panorama Corporation.
Thus the events that led for the development of the Neurolink Device as it is now.
But for him to actually propose that therapy as the last option, he couldn’t help but to really feel worried for Baron, and also for Rex. And now that he think about it, it’s been three days since he last called.
“What’s he up to now?”