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Volume 4

Chapter 10: The Horror of a Potato Peeler

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When the commotion died, four people remained in the fountain square, gathered in a depressing formation, their backs facing the fountain that's supposed to be the sign of the cheerful gameplay.

"Looking for Mages! We're departing soon!"

"Archer here! Tier 2 skills available for party!"

"Selling Organics! 10% discounted price!"

"Elves here! Let's go hunting at Kowloon Mountain!"

"We're hunting down a Griffith! We need Wizards!"

"B-Predator Scales for 300K Zentra! Negotiable!"

"I'm a strong Sword Mage! I can serve as your tank!" 

"Fresh pelt from a Fire Wolf, 500 thousand only!"

"Buying Gun Blueprint! Buying Gun Blueprint!"

"Special wares! Available for bargain!"

Shouting players, looking for parties and people to go on adventures with were yelling nonstop. All with their colorful outfits, weapons on display, adorable monster pets playing by their side, crafters with their wares, merchants with their items, the fountain square where both citizens and players, hunters, and NPC guards all passed by painted the warm scene behind them.

The busy atmosphere was as enticing as it would ever be in any normal day. But despite its lively atmosphere, an area of the square remained in gloom.

With their bags on the side, the group of four seated in a bench while the archer was on the edge of the fountain, playing with water, all had sorry faces.

They were pondering on the realization that they were ditched for good by their friend.

But what's even more depressing is that they knew the reason why their friend did so. It was in order to keep them from being deeply involved in the dangerous pit that his world revolved.

Dex didn't do it out of hate or whatever bad reason he can use, he did it out of concern.

Because they're his friends.

"He really..." Agatha was sobbing on Samara's lap. 

Samara was brushing her shoulder, to where the large wound that almost killed her avatar was once been carved.

The memories of their escape from Anazon is still fresh to their minds that all fires they once had inside the forest couldn't be extinguished with whatever kind of mood is around them.

"Are you alright?" 

Just then, a lovely, soothing voice, warmer than spring morning, cooler than summer breeze, very consoling to the ears, placating to the skin, and had a delicate taste to it, came from a person whose shadow was cast in front of them.

She was like an angel from above whose light was one with nature, whose aura and the warmness of her voice was like no other. 

This girl was, in that moment, a genuine entity who felt like a messenger from a god's good grace.

And yet she was no Goddess but a fairy who happens to just be strolling the streets looking for things to buy so that they can depart soon.

"Are you alright?"

By the second time that she had asked Agatha, the girl with silver dangling forelocks on her face leaned down to put a hand on Agatha's shoulder.

"It's a weird thing to see crying people in the square."

A familiar voice from their left side rang.

Just then, Volt's and Samara's eyes wandered off to the miss' companion on her right shoulder and they both froze as they recognized the celebrity their eyes see.

"Here we go again," These words came from the other side of the kind girl's shoulder, a girl with black hair tied neatly at the back like an Elf from the City of Ravendel, frowningly snorted, "The Fairy with a large heart for crying girls does it again."

"You can't blame her for being who she is, Alice."

"Whatever."

As the two girls bickered, the frozen expressions of the Engineer and the Shank was converted into disbelief.

Volt and Samara gulped at the same time as they both looked at each other in unison while the gloomy and sad face of the Hawk, upon seeing the girl on their right side, was inverted into a look as if she just saw a God.

No. Perhaps it was actually what happened as she jump out of her neat sitting position and came like a cat to the black haired Elf's side with sparkling eyes.

Agatha, however, was staring at the face of the girl who just put a gentle hand on her arm.

"You look troubled, are you alright?" She asked her again wearing a warm smile.

Couldn't find the right words to say, Agatha blinked as she studied her face. She was beautiful beyond any kind of comparison, even to her standards, and she was emitting this profound big sister feeling.

"I... I..." Agatha rattled as she was star-struck.

"You know," the girl with the silver forelocks made another smiling gesture, "I can't help but approach you when I saw your group earlier. When you came here like you were escaping, I saw you bleeding and looking around as if waiting for someone." 

"Ah, that..." Agatha's awe-struck look came back to her earlier mourning. Slow falling tears formed at her eyes. 

And with the mention, aside from the far away Hawk who just began to cling on to FlowerLord like a living glue with arms and legs, the two other members of the group cast down their eyes in gloom.

Samara was the one who answered.

"One of our friend... didn't make it."

And after he said that, the other girls gasped and had a sad expression of sympathy.

"I'm sorry to hear that." the silver haired girl said.

"No," Volt tried to correct her. "What she meant is that he teleported himself to another place after being a bait to lure the monsters and give us time to escape."

"Oh." a surprised reaction came out from the girl and it was soon converted into a smile. "Isn't that a good thing? I mean he's alive... right?"

"He's alive but..."

The three fell silent, bowing their heads in gloom while the fourth member of their party spoke from behind the kind silver haired player.

"He ditched us, said the mission is ours to complete."

"Mission?" Kathleen turned to her. "I don't understand why you should cry over that matter. Shouldn't you be happy that he was that kind of person? Although what I find rather difficult to perceive is why he isn't with you after all that trouble?"

"That's what's actually..."

"Hawk." 

A halting call came from the purple witch in a purple witch hat. It wasn't as rebuking nor it was harsh in any form but it was just enough as an interruption to spill what beans should be kept in the basket.

"Sorry." the girl gloomed and bit her lips.

It was there that the other girl, the one Hawk clinging on to formally, smoothly, kindly removed her anchored arms and spoke up sternly.

"Well, that's just enough of your meddling into their business, Scion. We should go. Loni's going to look for us if we stayed out too long."

"Wait, Loni? Loni Lockshire?"

And that's where Volt stood up from his seat and took a step at FlowerLord.

"Yes. You know her?" Kathleen mingled.

"I'm sorry, but this is not the best time for us to be meeting."

"Small world."

The moment Volt stood and pulled Agatha to her feet, a voice came from their general left side that caught their eyes. The silver haired girl's face expressed plain guilt, like the way a daughter who sneaked out for a party shows to a mother the next morning, but Volt's and Samara's faces showed hostility at the sight of the new group.

"Nice to see you here, Volt."

"Good to see you're well, Loni."

"Awkwaaaaaard."

Kathleen Brew slowly made her way to FlowerLord's side while Hawkeye joined in with her brother, pulling out her bow equipped with the MOD.

The bluish aura that surrounded her body looked very threatening, as the way Loni's group and she herself had prepared her own.

Volt and Samara also prepared for an impending brawl as Agatha and the silver haired girl remained puzzled and confused with the situation.

Still, this made Kathleen very interested. She was with FlowerLord, giggling beside her.

It was an awkward five seconds before Loni's eyes just went towards the silver haired girl.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Arch Mage, I thought I told you about the dangers of you walking around the streets without an escort? But if you haven't gone for a walk, you wouldn't have met these people. It's a blessing in disguise."

"You in for the score?" Volt pulled his sword and it bid a bluish glow, different from the usual orange one, a sign that a different enchantment was cast to it.

But Loni's smile on him was rather delightful. Like a losing gambler suddenly seeing the cards on the table turn for her favor. 

"No." And she cast her gaze on Scion. "But I really do think it is fate that the two of you met in this city."

"What do you mean?"

"Rather than answering that now, I would like to ask a question at you first. Where were you this week? I am pretty sure there was a video of your newest friend in the battle against the ancient evil."

Agatha gasp and the sound was audible on Volt's ears.

He himself felt the surprise on the news. It was just last night that Siva faced the Ancient Evil in Anazon and yet the news had already spread in Maria.

Although, this turn of conversation left the two girls in league with the one named Scion puzzled and lost.

"How did you know that?" he asked warily.

Loni laughed. "You are underestimating the fame of your friend, Volt. He is far more famous than you or any player —especially NPCs, could know."

"Humor me." He said acidly, lowering his hips for a dash and slash. As the threatening pose made Loni's men behind her prepare, it was where the silver haired girl in their midst cast a spell to stop them.

There was no invocation, no cast time, no delay time, not even a sign that she was about to use magic.

It was cast in a blink of an eye.

A bluish ice that felt hot on the skin was cast in the ground, snatching pedestrians' attention and making a commotion out of the blue.

She was frowning —angry, more like, and she had an expression that intimidated some weak hearted souls in the eavesdropping crowd.

"I don't know what's happening here, Loni, but I don't like it when you pick a fight with them." Then she faced Volt's team and bowed in apology "I'm sorry if I had put you in a disadvantageous position. Forgive my rude behavior earlier and please, if I had inconvenienced you, you can go on your way."

But before Volt could actually reply, "Arch Mage." the call for restraint of action, as indicated by her tone, had put a stop to the bidding antagonism existing on their midst. 

More like, it sounded a request for Volt to refrain from ever escaping the scene. She even cast down her gaze as a sincere act of her intention.

"It is indeed my fault. Our Guild and his party is in a sour standing with one another but please, it is most disadvantageous for us, especially for you, if you allow them to leave. At least not yet before we talk."

Volt and Scion looked puzzled as Loni motioned for her men to stand down as she unequipped her bow.

She even took a non-threatening pose to give an open palm to Volt who was dumbstruck, unable to process the change in character on Loni.

Knowing her, Volt thought, if what she said is true, then indeed, Siva's involvement with them may have meant more than he had initially thought. His instincts told him, however, that this doesn't spell normal like any of the circumstances that they have faced thus far.

On the back ranks, FlowerLord was frowning at the disappointed expression on the pouting cat on her side. 

The cat was really looking forward to the action.

Scion stepped forward. "Loni, I don't understand why you are acting this way but we have already caused them enough disturbance. Let them go."

"No." But Loni was firm. "Because they're a lot more important to you than they are to me."

Volt immediately took the chance to turn around.

"Come on, let's get out of here." he said and pulled Agatha by the arms immediately. 

"Wait!" 

Loni shouted Samara pointed her cannon at her face. 

Although fights in safe zones won't hurt a player at all, there was still the impact sensation on hits and the force on certain powerful attacks can still knock off anyone to the ground —which actually does hurt.

Still, Loni's firm expression remained unwavering and she even looked pleading as she made Hawkeye lower her bow.

"Please, before you go, at least tell us where The Destroyer is."

GASP!

FlowerLord, Kathleen, Agatha, Samara, and especially the one named Scion held their breath upon the words.

Volt looked guilty for a moment, but only for a very short moment that he forced to bite his lips and pulled Agatha away.

But then, Agatha pulled her arm and faced Loni.

"He's gone! We don't know where he is."

"Agatha, it's enough." Volt tried to argue.

"He ditched us." she insisted and shoved off the hand that tried to hold her arm back. "He was protecting us!"

"Protecting?" Scion escaped from the shock. "Are you talking about... them? You also know him in the real world?"

Surprise dawned on Volt's group. Scion's eyes began to tear up and FlowerLord behind her immediately took a step to support her friend.

"You know him?" she asked, "The Destroyer? Do you know him?"

"We..." Agatha wasn't able to answer as she too was taken aback by the sudden shift of the tension. There is this strikingly beautiful girl who just wanted to console her earlier, and now she emitted that feeling that she knew Dex better than any of them had.

"You know him?" Samara asked Scion and the latter faced her with trembling lips. Her almost to cry look is so painfully real that even Samara's resolve earlier was shaken.

"I've been looking for him for the past three months."

"Three months?" Volt repeated. "In the real world?"

"We know him personally." Said the black haired girl beside her. "He's still injured and he had a baby brother that forced him to work here."

Another unified sounds of inhaled air was heard.

There was the commotion of the snoopers but they are being barred by the members of the TOS Guild. And as the fans of the Fairy of the Lake realized the situation, they too acted to protect the privacy of their fairy.

But those small words was enough to form a worry on Volt's mind. They knew him alright, but they haven't revealed yet that they also knew him in real life.

At least they are yet to confirm it so there's still chance for them to escape this scene.

"I don't know..." he tried to nail down this side of their connection to him but Agatha beat him to it as she had entered one of her unstoppable fits.

"You know Dex personally?"

The name almost made Loni jolt but she just curled her brows as she clearly heard the name. It was close, but not the name she had marked on her list of worries.

But then, FlowerLord replied, "Dex? Who is that?"

"It's his..."

"Agatha!" This time, a shout to stop her from spilling more beans came from Samara and she held her back and pulled her arms. "We've wasted enough time here and the time is ticking for us."

Volt also snapped out of his surprise almost instantly and he stepped forth to block their way with his sword.

"Please, we've had enough problems on our hands. We don't know what you're talking about but the Destroyer is no longer with us."

"But you said he did that to protect you!" Shouted the girl named Scion. "Please! Tell us where he's been, at least that! Please!"

She sounded desperate and her teary expression almost broke his heart. He don't know how deep their connection with each other is but he can clearly tell that this girl is more related to Dex than them to him.

He confirmed it when she said she's been looking for him for the last three months. 

It was at the same time that they had met Dex. 

But he can't reveal the fact that he ditched them in order to protect them. Because he understood now that Dex is in a world where no one can get him out except him and him alone.

And if what he heard is true, all this is possible because of the fact that he's doing this for his brother.

Such degree of trouble wasn't something that a 17 year old Matthew in real world could handle, much less his counter persona named Volt who only knows how to play this adventure game.

"Please tell us. I beg you." Scion cried but Volt had remained firm so he gave them the assurance that it's a really dangerous information to give away.

"I'm sorry. But we really have no idea where he is. We were escaping from Anazon forest, he served as a bait and let us escape. We made it here first but he didn't follow us. We really don't know where he is. Sorry."

He turned his back and followed Samara and Hawkeye.

And just when he was about six meters away, "He is the target of a terrorist group."

Loni's words made him stop. Volt, most especially, shuddered and turned his face aside in grim expression.

"What did you say?"

"An unknown group of individuals related to the international terrorists Al-Querieda plans to abduct or recruit him. I think you know why."

Volt raised his head, realizing it, and closed his eyes.

He inhaled and exhaled. A long exhale.

"Such a troublesome fellow."

What he thought was that equipment that allowed him to use a certain ability that was too good to be true inside the game. In fact, it was even so unique that the most talented and devoted magic researchers cannot remake such profound ability.

An ability that was too powerful, too easy to use, too possible to make, and yet too complicated to fully understand and imitate.

«Call of Thunder» as Siva called it.

An ability to call lightning. 

In the game, it may just be an ability that can defeat strong enemies but its technological medium, the weapon called «Dragunov», is a design possible thanks to the Nanotech Weapons Technology.

The technological aspect of the «Call of Thunder» can be remade with the help of its original concept design.

But if that technology is to be brought to the wrong hands with personal greedy plans, such horror could be taken to the real world and the first person to use it will be subjected to the prejudice of the current society.

Meaning, as The Destroyer is already a widely known player, he will be hunted down in and out of the game and branded as an International Terrorists.

This will endanger them and their family's lives.

He shuddered not because he knew that their families in the real world will be caught up in it. No. He felt the cold hand of truth slap him in the nape because Siva is not aware of this yet. Because all he is thinking now is the money/price that could save his brother.

His brother was kidnapped, or at least that's how their impression of his stories came to be, and the people that have his brother may, perhaps, be the only ones who knew this too.

Dex is in trouble. He is in the dark side of the truth.

"Volt! Come on!" Samara called and she ran to him, leaving Agatha with Hawkeye. "What are you..."

"Dex is our friend." He told her, biting his lips as he knew what he was about to say will make her angry. 

"What are you talking about?"

"Dex he..." 

But he couldn't say it. He lowered his gaze and the pace was stolen by Loni from behind.

"The Destroyer had an invention that allows him to call a lightning strike powerful enough to render anything to crisp."

"Yeah, so?" Samara frowned at her.

It was here that Scion approached her and held her hands to her chest. "Please, help us find him." 

Loni continued. "The blueprint of that invention is still protected by his copyright. The name of his invention is still unknown that's why no one is yet to discover it in the database. That's also why the terrorists are aiming to make contact with him."

"Whoa! Terrorists?" Samara saw this as ridiculous so Volt had to intervene. He whispered to her:

"Samara, Siva's Dragunov is an Invention. And every invention in this game can be recreated by Nanotech."

GASP!

"Then... then..." Samara covered her mouth with her hands to stop herself from squealing a cry. That's how the girl named Scion intervened and her teary eyes had made her heart soft.

"Please, help us find him." She said softly.

There was an awkward silence that came after and they didn't realize that a priestess took a step forth.

With a clenched hand on her chest, she faced Loni with a firm expression. "I will help!" and she turned to Volt and nodded.

"Tsk." Volt couldn't say a word but she knew that he already decided to help. It was all to protect their friend even though he already pushed them away. 

As friends, isn't it just normal that you keep on helping him even if he doesn't ask for it?

Even if he gets mad at them for it?

It was Volt's inner thoughts. Such a troublesome guy.

The mood seemed to have lightened up and the one with the frowning expression and an elven-style hair looked beside her, seeing a cat brushing her whiskers.

"Oh this is exciting!" Kathleen giggled.

And just then, as if another blessing in disguise, a loud yell of annoyance stole the spotlight from their crowd.

It came from behind them, 20 meters away at the other side of the fountain. There, a certain familiar face, a face that belonged to the girl with a lot of male fans at her tail, broke the peaceful stillness of the crowd.

"Why?! I don't want to go back!"

The loud woman's voice was high, alluring, pitched. A device to her right ear gave the impression that she was in a conversation from someone far away. They all turned to her direction and saw her leading a group of men carrying shopping bags and a cart train with more shopped items pushed around by more men. They were on their way to the Hotel District. 

"Cassiopeia." Volt whispered, or tried to, but the name seemed to be carried by the wind into her ears as she turned to face them.

She stopped and everything froze. The wind whispered 'wheeeew', audible enough for everyone to hear.

"Wait for me. I'm coming." She said hurriedly.

Her beautiful face turned pale and sweat formed on her forehead. The men behind her also felt the same as they all performed one unified act. 

They obviously recognized Volt. So if he's here then...

With just a tiny spark of a moment, an item appeared on their hands. They pressed it and yelled in unison.

"""Loire!"""

After 3 seconds, they were gone.

It only took them a few moments before FlowerLord let her violent aura exploded on all directions. It wasn't an aura generated by the system but it was an aura that any man in the vicinity would feel.

"I think I know where to find him."

Volt gulped. Although FlowerLord's tone was calm, there was no sign of being calm on her face. More like, it was the look of a housewife who's ready to hunt her husband's mistress while holding a potato peeler.

Such is the level of her intent. 

With all honesty, Samara's highest level of anger was not a match with that kind of threat.

Volt's group may perhaps be famous adventurers in the game but they were still teenagers compared to these past-teen women who had, more or less, something to do with Dex.

Volt deeply wished to himself that he doesn't have anything to do with them anymore.

Sadly, Agatha seemed to think otherwise.

""Where?""

She and Scion asked together at the same tone and the same time. It added more daggers to Volt's heart. The thought of women, now, frightened her.

"The Illuminati." She said and noticed an excited cat.

"Oh this is exciting indeed."

"..."