Guys, please send me your reactions on the comment box below and tell me what you think about the chapter. Oh, and don’t forget to also leave me a VOTE so that we can push for our story to be #1 in the genre list in this Volume.
We’re currently #12 as of this post's writing.
Enjoy the read and please, again, do not forget to leave me that small little VOTE and also comment to tell me how you think about this week’s update.
================================
Volume 5
Chapter 51: Until I Kill Everyone
================================
BOOM!
An explosion in the very center of the City rattled the core of the defense forces.
Buildings were immediately demolished. Players and NPCs flew in the air, all dead falling on the ground.
While flesh and gore were blown off in every direction, with some even hitting the faces and bodies of those who had set their rendering to the extreme nearby, the surprised and shocked expressions of the defending forces kept on changing.
City Lord Billion… is fighting a two-pronged attack.
“Don’t let them get inside! Defend the citizens!” It may be noble in one angle, but their investments are also on the line.
The Union is a multinational conglomerate empire so of course before they care for the artificial people of this virtual world, they would first care for the investments they have staked on developing the city.
Gritting his teeth, Billion stomped his feet on the floor.
“I can’t believe our intelligence network didn’t detect anything until today… if this goes on, they wouldn’t even take 15 days before they conquer this city. My job and my income hang on the line!”
After another batch of explosion, he ordered another batch of warriors to reinforce the defense of those wanting to get inside the Shelter Zone.
“I can’t let them get inside the Shelter Zone. If they get their hands on the sword, then everything will fall in shambles.”
Billion wasn’t a hard core adventurer.
He was a professional recruited by The Union to be a Grand Manager for Alexandria’s defenses.
Since The Union had invested in this large city, aside from catering to the needs and demands of the players, the main purpose of The Union for developing Alexandria is to promote it as a City Resort –a recreational megalopolis inside the Virtual Space created by NLD and Real@D systems!
It was a business venture unlike no other.
Not only they can exploit the free environment that’s been provided by Terroa, but they can also exploit the competition’s very own product. As such, they will never let this city, a large money machine for real-world tourists wanting a vacation, go off their palms.
Looking beside him, Billion bellowed, “How much further before they come?”
“They’re still 10days away sir!” The assistant answered.
Billion stomped his foot again and stared back at the dome shield of the city. Countless high-level magicians in the distance were casting magic while the high-level bladers and swordsmen were throwing skills and abilities towards the shield dome.
Dazzling lights flashed and vanished, the dome kept on shaking and trembling along with the rumbling sounds of explosions as they hit the invisible wall. With every wave of attack, the dome dimmed its light and every time it happened, the Shield Mages and Support Mages would all scream in panic and reinforce the spell.
The sounds of explosions were muffled but even Billion could tell that given enough time, the multiple layers of the defense dome will collapse and no manner of top-drawing personnel management will save them from the fact that Alexandria will be invaded in a few days.
“I can’t let it happen.” Billion hissed and then looked back at the city, telling the assistant. “Summon all the knights and hunters. Reinforce the Shelter Zone. Trace out and eradicate all those who had slipped inside the city’s defensive network.”
“Yes sir.”
After that, Billion also gave orders to the support division to fortify the supply of the Support Mages that buffed up the Shield Mages’ spell.
Items, talismans, potions, nanocubes, and people… in times of war, they are all expendables.
The surprise attack had definitely put The Union Branch in Alexandria into a tight spot. Their enemies had definitely achieved their goal to surprise The Union and with only the short given time of a few days, they didn’t expect that with a simple answer of ‘no’ to their negotiations effort would result into this attempt of a grand invasion.
It was this very reason itself that Billion was both burning in fury and fear at the moment.
“They sure planned this for a very long time. Them wanting the other half of The Providence is just an excuse to actually take over Alexandria.” Billion gritted his teeth and clench his fists, looking at the sky, at the dome. “And even if they have no plans to take over the city, destroying the main facilities would also bring about enough catastrophic problems for us in the near future. With these attacks, the dome shield wouldn’t even last for 15 days. Hell, it wouldn’t even last for 6-7 days with how things are looking.”
Billion has been online for an extended amount of time now and although he was feeling the fatigue because of this problem, he also had no choice but to endure for his future and his job was on the line.
“Lord.” A voice called from behind Billion.
When Billion turned around, he saw the Shelter Zone vice-prefect with a grave expression looking apologetic at him. Billion wasn’t stupid. He knew immediately that something might have happened albeit his mind still tried to deny that fact.
“What’s the problem?” he dared, asking to know.
“Very big.” Huffing, the vice-prefect, an NPC, said with tears and fear radiating in his eyes. Billion’s brows creased and his breathing ragged as he thought of a bad premonition.
“Don’t tell me they’ve entered the Shelter Zone?”
“Graver, My Lord.”
Billion’s chest rose and fell greatly. “How grave?”
“The floating platform of the underground tower has been destroyed and… and an entire battalion’s worth of enemy forces had escaped the Shelter Zone.”
“What––?!” Billion’s eyes widened as he jumped in the air to float above the wall, looking at the direction of the center plaza. “They were already inside?!”
He could feel his feet burning. He could feel his soul being twisted as he thought of his job.
“I’m doomed. I’m doomed!”
Billion saw, the forces he had ordered to gather and defend the invasion from the outside to the Shelter Zone earlier is now fighting a two-sided attack. One force is the ones from inside while the other was the force that came from inside the underground tower.
“One force wanted to enter while the other wanted to escape… just what’s going on?”
Just as he asked that, an NPC Hunter flew over to him and saluted before speaking, “Reporting to City Lord.”
“Speak.”
“Hai! We’ve confirmed that Commander Jack is within the forces trapped between the enemy forces that came from inside the Shelter Zone and the ones coming from within the city.”
“Aaahh! God damn it!” Billion punched his palm and then looked at the NPC. “Pull up all the reserved men and help them escape the city activate my ship and tell them to escape. We can’t wait for the reinforcements to come and save us. We have to make heads our own ways! What about the citizens and the other Shelter Zones?”
“Sir! All Shelter Zones’ magical doors surrounding 96 had all been demolished sir! The reinforcing barriers of the walls have been infused with dispel magic!”
Billion looked over the far center area of the city and although they were a good distance away, there were still the explosions coming from that direction, clearly indicating the severity of the situation over there.
“We can’t wait any longer.” He murmured and bit his lips, just in time when he saw another NPC personnel coming for him.
“City Lord a call from an unknown number has…”
But before the NPC could even continue, Billion turned his gaze at the NPC that made the NPC shut his mouth midsentence.
“I don’t have time to entertain any call from an unknown number. Just tell them that I am busy and that I will attend to them once the crisis in my city had been quelled.”
The NPC personnel had a complicated helpless face as he opened his mouth to say but before the second word could even escape him, Billion had already put the distance between them close to a three inches as his collar was lifted with a single hand.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
“Did you not hear what I just said?”
“I-I-I heard… sir. Loud and Clear.”
“Good so don’t waste my time and scram.”
“Hai!”
When Billion let go of the NPC, he turned around and pulled tens of people from the wall with him. They flew towards the center of the city, towards the Shelter Zone, to help his priority [subject] to escape the razing of The Legion.
Looking helplessly at his back, the NPC personnel pressed a hand on his ear as he wore an apologetic expression, telling the person on the other line what Billion had just said.
.
*****
.
“That’s what the City Lord said. I’m really sorry.” Said the person in the call and the line was cut without hearing any kind of reply.
“No wait! Just––” with the blink of a light, the call was ended and Thorn and Volt’s faces paled as Siva immediately roared in rage.
“Aaaaaaahhh!!”
Ren could only sigh. He tried his best to make contact with the City lord of Alexandria, Billion, through his own contacts and the three saw just how many people they had to connect to just so they could establish that contact with Billion.
––only to be pushed away because of the situation in his city…
“No. No! NO!!” Siva was panicking and he was throwing cries of rage and anger here and there. None of the three men inside the clear sphere could do anything since they are still around 6 to 7 days away.
Siva raged on and these actions were also portrayed to the seemingly relaxed appearance of the human floating island which is the Akhenaton.
He was afraid and he was showing it. Ren couldn’t imagine why he was so enraged right now but with the way he’s acting right now, Ren thought that it was something that weighed a lot to him.
The three could even see tears forming on Siva’s eyes and this sight surprised Ren the most.
He didn’t say anything but his mind was reeling as he imagine just what kind of scenario was enough to even make the renowned Siva “The Destroyer” to actually tear up like this.
Ren glanced over at Volt and Thorn and he saw the two wanting to comfort Siva but is unable to because they too couldn’t think of anything else to help them at the moment aside from rushing to get there as fast as they could.
On the video call with the crew of the Archangel, FlowerLord said, “Stop it, Rex. It’s not going to help a bit.”
Siva, who has been stomping, punching, wrecking the air and the invisible wall of the inner sphere of the Akhenaton, stopped and put both hands on the invisible wall and lowered his head to chase his breath.
“I swear…” his voice trailed. There was wrath, pain, and murderous desire in his voice that made Rentaw frown and take these words seriously. It felt, to him, that these words were spoken with implications not just inside the game but also in real life. “…if something happens to Baron, I will chase them all to the ends of the world. I will not stop until I find them. I will not stop no matter who stands in my way… I will kill them all. I will kill their parents, I will kill their children. I will kill their loved ones in front of them! If something happens to Baron–”
At this point, Siva raised his head and his bloodshot eyes stared back at the people on the video call from the Archangel.
“–if something happens to him, I swear, I will destroy the world to get my revenge.”
“Rex!” yelled FlowerLord. “Don’t spout nonsense! You are cursing everyone! Baron… this is… Terroa is… no matter what, you can’t speak as if everything is set! And we’re not even sure if he’s really in Alexandria or not…”
She can’t speak totally.
Everyone knew what she wanted to say. Yes. This world is just a game for them but to the ones like the NPC representatives of the Circle of Magi behind them, not only they are not allowed to speak of this world as being a mere game world, they are also not allowed to speak of the natives as being NPCs.
“What do you know?!” Siva raged at her. “You don’t know anything! You don’t know my pain! You don’t know how I feel inside this world, in this… in this god forsaken reality!” Siva’s eyes were laden with tears and although everyone in the video call couldn’t help but berate him for his declaration, they do have no idea of what he was feeling.
Pain? Aren’t the NLD blocking 70% of the pain index?
Knowing anything… yeah, they don’t know anything but it doesn’t mean that they don’t care at all.
Everyone in the Archangel had their own reasons why they are chasing Rex Kingsley, A.K.A. ‘Siva’, inside the game, but despite these different reasons, it still is a fact that they gathered here in one location all for the sake of either helping Siva on his goals or getting their own goals accomplished with his presence.
–no one in the Archangel spoke, not even Cassiopeia who had devoted herself as his servant…
–not even Kathleen Brew who’s been watching everything transpire as a third eye in the crowd…
–not even Loni Lockshire… who had promised herself that she will make her grandfather recognize her strengths by helping him succeed on his Project Salvation…
–not even the only NPCs in the command bridge…
–not even Samara, Agatha, and Hawkeye…
–and most definitely not even FlowerLord who could only look at Rex and meet his rage with her own rage for dragging her best friend into his personal mess... all because Amanda was helplessly in love with him…
“Destroy the world?” FlowerLord scoffed. “Hah! What boldness. A puny little you… and here we are, trying to reason out priorities with you but all you’re doing is raging on aimlessly! Yeah… we don’t really know what you’re feeling but don’t forget that because we are trying to understand your pains that we have come all the way here to help you out. Hmp. If not for Amanda being kidnapped, I wouldn't even waste my time on you.”
Rentaw was silent. Just like Kathleen Brew, he was an outsider on this situation. But… no matter how much he wanted to escape, he couldn't and that’s why he only remained silent and continued to observe.
Thorn stepped in between them. “Everyone, please, this is not the time to be fighting amongst ourselves. I, personally, think that focusing on priorities is the right thing to do…”
Siva, wearing his white imperial robe, used his left hand to grab his chest. When he spoke, his voice was filled pain and suffering as his raging eyes had tears of pain and fear on them.
“You people have no idea… ever since I started this god damned game, I have always felt pain! You all felt this pain as well and yet you still go out here for adventures! I, time and time again, have endured everything! Every gash on my body, every rip of every monstrous claws… every ear-deafening roar of every monster, every biting fangs, every poisonous stings, every confrontation against my enemies, every monster’s tackle attack, every thrown rock, arrows, and even bullets that hits me… I endured… all for the sake of saving Baron! Do you think I’m here to play this game? No! I never wanted to be here but I am left with no choice! This world stinks of the filth of society! People exploit people. Killing innocents, robbing the pathetic ones, stepping at those who are weak… the greedy becomes strong for the sake of greed, the lustful gathers slaves for the sake of fulfilling their desires, those who already have plenty are still hungry for more and in order to get what they want, they obstruct me… they get on my way, time and time again! They block my path each and every time! This world, the other side, nothing is different. I wouldn't even care for them if they don’t get in my way but they, again and again, try to hinder me from saving Baron…!! I never cared for anything in this world. I never even cared if they destroy themselves. I only care for Baron and he’s here. His mind is in a sensitive state. One single life-threatening wound will scar my baby brother for life! HE IS JUST A THREE YEAR OLD BOY! So you tell me, Alice, why shouldn't I threaten the world if something happens to my brother? Why shouldn't I burn your world if my brother lost his?”
With a simple gesture of opening his hand, he took a step and a large Golden Hammer appeared in his hand.
Everyone… was silent.
They were digesting the painful reality that struck them from Siva’s painful announcement.
Indeed. If they were on his shoes, would they not rage on?
Those who were not in the know was utterly shocked as well. Cassiopeia, Kathleen, Rentaw, the NPCs, Loni... they were all shocked.
As it turns out, Baron, Siva's sole and only mission, was just a three year old boy. And for those who had at least heard the news regarding Rex Kingsley, they are all aware that his parents had died in the accident and the only family he had left was his baby brother.
Siva's words echoed in their minds, "Why shouldn't I burn your world if my brother lost his?"
His strength was superb, no one can deny that, and yet the price and the responsibility he carried was something that not any player could even imagine.
Right.
While others play the game to enjoy it and release their stress from the real world’s pyramid society, the victim of this society, him, Siva… Rex Kingsley… was fighting inside the game for a very different reason.
Cassiopeia, who had experienced this wrath before, now understood the reason why she feared him so much back then... his wrath... is real. If this was not the game world then all of them would've really almost died back then.
Rex Kingsley pursues strength not for self-benefit but for the sake of a life, his family’s life, that somehow, in one way or another, hangs at the very fact that this game world of Terroa is a very violent game.
Siva pointed the hammer like a sword towards the video call, voice hoarse from anger and pain, “What do you know?” He said and his eyes partly closed into a slit with a menacing wrathful tone. “This world had tormented me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I have long regarded everyone who stands in my way as my nemesis. If you don’t help me then don’t stand in my way or else, even if you had saved my life once… I will still kill you. I've already cursed this world. I have already cursed this life! If something happens to Baron, I swear against all your Gods… I will trample every life in every world until I kill everyone who had hurt my brother.”
As soon as he finished, Thorn sighed heavily and said with sincere sadness in his tone, “Everyone, we’ll talk to you later.”
FlowerLord and the rest of the Archangel crew, including Rentaw, could all feel the emotions existing on every word Siva had said.
Despite the building feeling of animosity on his harsh promise of revenge, they couldn't find it to themselves to actually hate him. After all, there was the feeling of urgency and truth on his tone that as a fellow human, they could also taste the bitter emotions lingering on every syllable of his every word.
The call ended, but everyone still had the lingering sense of dread upon Siva’s dreadful declaration.
Volt went up to Siva, speaking gently, “Even if you have the ability to do what you've just said, the fact remains that we are more than a week away from Alexandria… do you have a way to speed us up?”
“I don’t.” Siva shook his head. “But I have a sure way to shorten the path we have to take.”
With a serious look in his eyes, Siva lowered his center of gravity as his body floated slightly inside the sphere.
Outside, the relaxedly stepping Akhenaton, roared to the sky as a gigantic hammer weapon morphed into reality from the gold staff it was carrying.
The gold staff became a giant hammer and the shape alone could send anyone reeling in fear as it emitted a bright golden glimmer while reflecting daylight.
Akhenaton’s roar resounded into the horizons, the birds flew distracted. The weak monsters covered their ears and dug holes to hide from their fear. The giant golden figure towering like a mountain lowered its body like a runner and suddenly doubled its pacing as it leaped on hundreds upon hundreds of meters with every bounce.
Leaving behind sonic booms that rattled the surroundings, despite its maximum levitating height of almost 6km high, the Akhenaton is like an unstoppable humanoid hurricane ravaging any hill, cliff, or mountain in a straight line.
Just a straight line, it was the nature-destroying practical application of the law of traveling from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ equation.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosion after explosion, the mountain was traversed through and even though the momentum was sometimes broken by a really tall mountain or a very thick layer of a rock wall, it was still broken through by Siva and their overall travel is indeed lessened by at least a day or two as they rushed.
Inside the Akhenaton, Siva was huffing. Physically doing the job was taxing and not to mention that he hadn't even eaten anything yet, he wasn't even planning to rest until he get to Alexandria.
.
.
===================
His pains and suffering had been sent across…
Siva had decided.
The world will burn if they hurt his brother.
===================
.
.
Next chapter: The Magnificent Karim.
.
.
For latest updates and news regarding my releases, please follow me on Facebook @www.facebook.com/JEReddcliffe, and/or on twitter @www.twitter.com/jereddcliffe; and finally at my blog as well @jereddcliffe.wordpress.com where I will be posting exclusive chapters for some of my stories in the future, including the Mortal King.
Please visit me on my Patreon account @www.patreon.com/reddcliffe for a little help on easing up the expenses or directly send your donation to my Paypal account @[email protected].
There are at least 25 advanced chapters available for your reading there. Every inch of help is much appreciated and will speed up and help the stability of the release of our story since as you may know, hehehe, I have rather embarrassing circumstances. Anyways, thank you so much in return.