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Stage/Dream
Chapter 16 - Hide & Seek Professional Help (Part 3)

Chapter 16 - Hide & Seek Professional Help (Part 3)

Zero stepped outside the mercenary guild, R close at his side.

The market stalls were shuttered, citizens having taken cover from the chaos erupting between mercenaries and guards.

Trees, soil, and even the concrete beneath their feet were summoned and manipulated with ease, each combatant bending the elements to their will in the desperate bid to win their battles.

Conflicts like this were commonplace in this world, bound by an unspoken rule: never destroy private property—or else.

“Wait, are you seriously going to use that ability here yeah?” one mercenary said, facing off against a guard.

The guard’s hands glowed an intense green, his aura thickening with every passing second.

“You rotten mercs.” the guard snarled. “This whole chaotic events is your doing, and now you’ll pay.”

His voice rose as he readied his move: “Log Blaster!”

A massive log erupted from his hands, growing larger by the second as it surged toward the mercenary with terrifying speed.

The mercenary, unfazed, let his eyes gleam an unnatural green, cracks spreading across his skin like veins of jade.

Zero watched the scene, stunned. “Run!” he shouted, fear gripping him as the enormous log barreled toward its target.

The log struck with devastating force, sending the mercenary hurtling into a nearby house. The structure crumbled under the impact, reduced to rubble.

“Take that!” the guard shouted triumphantly, watching as the colossal log began to dissolve.

But the mercenary’s body was nowhere to be seen. Only green leaves floated lazily to the ground.

“What?!” the guard gasped, his triumph faltering.

From the earth, a thick root emerged, twisting and growing until it formed into the mercenary, fully intact.

“Well, that was a bit much, don’t you think?” the mercenary said with a smirk, mocking the guard.

He glanced at Zero, giving him a quick gesture of reassurance.

“You dirty—” the guard began, but his words caught in his throat as the mercenary interrupted, smirking even wider.

“If I were you, I’d stop worrying about me and look behind you.”

The guard hesitated, then turned slowly.

Standing behind him was a man and his wife, their fingers cracking with sharp, deliberate pops. Fury radiated from their expressions.

“Why don’t you take your childish fight somewhere else?” they said in unison, their voices heavy with menace.

The guard’s bravado crumbled. He stood frozen, realizing just how badly he’d messed up. Destroying a citizen’s home was the ultimate misstep.

“It’s not my fault!” he stammered, scrambling for an excuse. “It’s the mercenary! It’s his doing!” He pointed toward where his opponent had stood moments ago.

But the mercenary was gone. The guard’s finger hovered over empty air.

The citizens wasted no time. With clenched fists, they struck the guard, knocking him to the ground before stomping on him like he was nothing more than garbage.

“That kind of scene isn’t common.” R said to Zero, his tone calm as ever. “But in case like this? Justified.”

Zero stared, dumbfounded, still trying to process what had just unfolded.

“Come on, let’s go,” R urged, already moving.

As Zero followed, a thought crossed his mind—a lesson learned the hard way from watching the guard’s fate. ‘Maybe it’s a good idea to never get caught stealing or looting.’

* * *

Fights between mercenaries and guards raged across the city, chaos spilling into every corner. Some citizens, furious over the destruction of their homes and businesses, had joined the fray, escalating the violence.

Zero and R rushed through the streets, their destination clear: the inn where Zero and Lia were staying.

As they approached the inn’s entrance, a voice boomed from above.

“Zero!”

They looked up to see a figure soaring in the sky. It was Tommy, standing atop a blazing fire sword that glowed like a comet streaking toward the city.

“Eh? Tommy?!” Zero shouted, his surprise evident. “How did you know I was here?”

Tommy descended gracefully, the fire sword vanishing as his feet touched the ground. His white robe billowed around him, his staff clutched firmly in one hand, the appearance of his seer class transformation was unmistakable.

“Did you forget already?” Tommy said, his tone tinged with mock reproach.

“Hehe…” Zero chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head.

Tommy smirked. “You even forgot about me, huh?” he teased, referring to when Zero had left him behind at the river.

“I do remember the shadow training, though!” Zero protested weakly.

As the two exchanged words, R observed Tommy with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. The precision and control with which Tommy had ridden the fire sword were far from ordinary.

Tommy caught R’s gaze and tilted his head slightly. “A new friend?” he asked Zero.

“Yeah! We’re going to save some kidnapped children.” Zero explained excitedly. “You should join us, Tommy.”

“That fire sword… and with such precise control... Just who are you?” R asked, his voice edged with intrigue.

Tommy turned to R and smiled faintly. “Just call me Tommy. And you? I’d assume you’re a player too.”

“R.” he replied simply.

Tommy’s expression shifted as he scanned the area, his face clouded with subtle conflict.

“What’s wrong, Tommy?” Zero asked, noticing the change in his demeanor.

“I-It’s nothing.” Tommy stammered, though his hesitation betrayed him. “Where’s that… you know?”

“You mean Lia?” Zero said.

Tommy nodded.

“We’re just on our way to meet her. Come on, let’s go!” Zero said, leading the charge into the inn and toward the treescender.

Tommy followed, his gaze wandering across the lavish interior of the inn. “This seems like one expensive place to stay.” he remarked, his tone impressed but skeptical.

“So, you have problems with that girl too?” R asked, breaking the momentary silence.

“You too?” Tommy replied, raising an eyebrow.

The two exchanged a knowing glance, nodding in silent agreement, an unspoken bond forming between them as if they had found common ground in their shared frustrations.

Without missing a beat, they trailed after Zero.

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* * *

“What’s he doing here?!” Lia exclaimed, her tone laced with disbelief as she glared at R. “And how the heck is he here?!” she added, jabbing her finger toward Tommy.

“Well… come on, Lia.” Zero began, trying to diffuse the tension. “I know you and the two of them don’t exactly have any chemistry, but with their help, we can save the kidnapped child much easier.”

Lia’s scowl didn’t soften, so Zero pressed on. “And besides, I’m both classless and colorless. They’re way more useful than me, especially since we don’t know what kind of dangers we’re walking into.”

Lia hesitated, her gaze locking onto Zero’s. In his eyes, she saw a fierce determination—a conviction she couldn’t ignore.

“Ugh… fine.” she said begrudgingly, throwing her hands up in surrender.

“Well, that was easy.” Tommy muttered under his breath.

“Can’t beat a literal kid when talking to a girl, huh?” R added in a low voice.

Lia’s eyes flickered white, glowing faintly with irritation. She reached into her dimensional space, pulling out a piece of paper and an ink pen. Without another word, she began sketching, the scratch of the pen filling the silence as she drew a crude map.

“This is the underground passageway beneath the noble’s manor.” Lia said, holding up her handiwork.

Zero stared at the map.

R examined it with a raised eyebrow.

Tommy opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it and stayed silent.

“What?!” Lia snapped, her tone sharp. “Do you have a problem with my map?”

That’s the most kindergarten-level map I’ve ever seen, R thought to himself but wisely kept quiet.

“Where should we start?” Zero asked quickly, hoping to redirect the conversation.

“Here.” Lia said, pointing to a section of the map. “This is where I last scanned the guards transporting the kidnapped child. But the area beyond that keeps changing.”

“So they’re using color abilities to manipulate the route.” R concluded, his expression serious.

“Isn’t this like a dungeon in a game?” Zero asked, his curiosity piqued.

“That’s right.” Lia said with a nod. “And not just that—the underground passages are crawling with dangerous monsters and traps. When they transport the child, they manipulate the route to avoid the worst of it.”

“Couldn’t you just teleport us to the end of the route and avoid all the unnecessary dangers?” Tommy asked, his tone practical.

“Well, no shit sherlock.” Lia shot back sarcastically. “Why don’t you do that instead?”

She sighed. “It’s impossible with my current capabilities. The best I can manage is teleporting you with me.” Lia look at Zero and explained. “And even then, there are so many variables to consider…”

She tapped her pen against a crude drawing on the map—a comically villainous figures at the end.

The trio stared at it in stunned silence.

“…”

“There are two lancer-class knights stationed here.” Lia said, her expression growing grim. “Have any of you ever died in this world?”

The question hung heavy in the air.

“What do you think would happen if you die here?” Lia asked, her voice low. “Every bit of pain you feel is real. Every wound, every moment of suffering—it doesn’t disappear just because this place isn’t real to you.”

Her words sank deep, and the three began contemplating the possibilities.

Will I return?

Will it be just another death?

Will I lose my chance?

“Zero, I’m sorry, but I don’t think we should go through with this plan.” Lia said suddenly.

Zero’s eyes widened in shock. Her abrupt change of heart was unlike her, and he could sense there was more to it. Lia was hiding something—something she didn’t want to admit.

Her earlier muttered word, revive, echoed in Zero’s mind. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but it lingered like a haunting whisper.

Still, if his suspicion was correct, it only strengthened his resolve. He had to save the kidnapped child.

Lia looked at Zero again, hoping he’d listen to her. But instead of fear, she saw determination in his face—a quiet, unshakable resolve.

Zero smiled. “What kind of gamer would I be if I backed away from a challenge? You know me better than that, Lia.”

Lia sighed inwardly. She’d known it would come to this. If she tried to stop him now, it would only mean forcing her ideals onto him.

She remembered when Zero played that one game at the cybercafe.

“What’s so fun about playing games where you can get one-shotted so easily?” Lia asked, leaning against the screen as she watched Zero’s intense focus with the VR gear on.

In the game, Zero’s character frantically dodged attacks from a towering boss monster. His movements were desperate but deliberate. Then, with a sickening crunch, the boss landed a blow. The screen turned crimson, signaling another death.

“Darn it!” Zero muttered, but his frustration was brief. “I understand now!” he exclaimed, determination lighting up his face as he restarted the battle.

Lia sighed but didn’t look away. The boy never gave up.

The fight dragged on for hours. Each attempt showed small but steady improvements—he dodged more attacks, lasted longer, struck more calculated blows. Until finally, Zero’s strategy aligned perfectly with his execution. The boss let out a deafening roar, collapsed to the ground, and disintegrated into victory particles.

“Oh yeah!!! Take that! Easy, first try!” Zero yelled triumphantly, punching the air.

“Finally.” Lia muttered. Despite her teasing, she had been captivated. Each attempt revealed Zero’s growth—his resilience and his unrelenting spirit. It was… beautiful, she thought.

The memory pulled her back to the present.

“What are our chances of winning against two lancers?” Zero asked, breaking her reverie.

“I can’t say.” R replied, folding his arms. “It honestly depends on their color abilities.”

“I can beat them.” Tommy said with confidence. His words lit up Zero’s face. “I’ve already seen it with my seer-class ability.”

“But it won’t be that simple.” R said, his tone skeptical. “Seer’s vision isn’t absolute. For it to work perfectly, you need to be part of the scenario you’re predicting. If they have their own seer, they might already know you’ve seen this and prepare accordingly.”

“You’re right.” Tommy admitted, his earlier confidence dimming. “Plus, I can only see the futures of NPCs and myself. Player’s futures however… they don’t show up in my visions.”

“Wait, then how did you know Lia and I were in this city?” Zero asked, his curiosity piqued.

“This city will soon fall—raided by enemies from another nation.” Tommy said grimly. “I came here to stop it. I didn’t know the two of you were here—it was just a hunch.”

“What?!” R exclaimed, startled by the sudden revelation.

“I guess it’s fate.” Tommy said, his expression distant. “All of these events are interconnected somehow.”

Zero’s face turned grim. If this city falls, what could I do to help? he thought. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on him.

A long silence settled over the group as they each sank into their thoughts.

Finally, Zero spoke. “What if I act as bait?”

“No way!” Lia immediately protested, her voice sharp.

“What do you mean?” R asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I wouldn’t agree to that either,” Tommy added firmly.

“Didn’t they take routes that avoid monsters and traps? We could use that to our advantage.” Zero explained. “The kidnapped kids are our age. If the guards in the underground passage see a child wandering alone during this chaotic moment, what do you think they’d do?”

“But that’s way too dangerous for you!” Lia objected, her voice rising in concern.

“I agree.” Tommy said, shaking his head. “Even with my visions, I can’t predict anything that could happen to you.”

“We can work with that.” R said suddenly. His eyes glowed with a faint violet aura before he disappeared into thin air.

“With my invisibility skill, I’ll stay by his side and keep him safe.” R’s disembodied voice announced.

“Won’t they notice that?” Lia said mockingly. “Should I remind you of how easily I spotted—and kicked—you before?”

“You!” R growled but quickly calmed himself. “You only managed that because you used an ability to detect me. And that was just the lowest stage of my skill.”

“Oh, really?” Lia said with a mocking smirk.

“Anyway.” R continued, ignoring her jab, “This time I’ll use Stage Three.” He said, as his presence became much more fainter and causing others to be dizzy.

“Then that settles it.” Zero said confidently while holding his head.

“Hey! It’s not settled yet!” Lia snapped, her irritation flaring. “And you stop that annoying ability.” Pointing towards an empty space.

“How about you be the bait too, if you’re so worried?” R said as he reappeared on the opposite location, smirking. “I’m sure you could just teleport both of you out if things get dangerous. Or you have brain issues to even think of that?”

Lia’s eyes blazed with fury.

“What about me?” Tommy interjected, defusing the tension.

“It’s fine.” R replied smoothly. “I’ll turn you invisible too. With your precise fire control, I’m sure you’re an experienced and strong person in real life too.”

Tommy considered it and nodded. “Okay.”

“Well he is Grandpa Tommy!” Zero teased affirming R’s words.

“Hey!” Tommy interjected.

Lia was hesitant at first, her face reflecting deep uncertainty, but after Zero pressed her with his determined reasoning, she finally relented with a sigh.

“The kidnappers I killed had white abilities.” R began, his voice calm but laced with grim undertones. “We can expect their kind to use teleportation and telepathic techniques. Upon closer examination of their corpses…” He paused, his expression darkening. “…they might not be from this kingdom. Each of their bodies had been experimented on—enhanced with monster parts.”

“Is it from an opposing nation?” Tommy asked, his brow furrowing as he considered the implications.

“I’m not sure.” R replied, his voice grave. “But at the end of the underground passage will likely lead us to the truth.”

As the four players huddled together, planning their next move, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

* * *

At the noble’s manor, the situation was escalating rapidly.

“What is the meaning of this, Gaius?” a sharp voice called out from the balcony of the grand manor.

A nobleman, clad in ornate robes with an air of entitlement, glared down at the figure standing below. At the front gate, Gaius stood in full battle attire, his broad shoulders draped with a heavy cloak. He offered a wide, dangerous grin.

“Hello there, Duxe.” Gaius called out, his tone mocking as he raised a hand in a casual wave. “We’re just here on official business. Need your permission to investigate the sewer paths near your manor yeah. Your men said we couldn’t proceed without your say-so.”

His tone was light, but the menace in his grin hinted at something far more serious.

“What need do you have to investigate there?” Duxe asked, his words measured, but a flicker of unease passed through his expression.

“Lots of kids have gone missing.” Gaius replied, his grin turning sharper, his aura shifting into something predatory. “Some witnesses say they saw the children being transported through that area.” His eyes narrowed as an aura of killing intent spreading off him, palpable even at a distance.

“I see.” The nobleman said coolly, though his jaw tightened. “You could have just informed me earlier. However…” He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping an octave. “…seeing how disrespectful you’ve been, I’d assume you have a death wish. Wouldn’t you agree, Gaius?” His lips curved into a mirthless smile, but his eyes burned with hostility.

“Indeed.” Gaius said with a low chuckle. “Hah! It’d be so easy to settle this the straightforward way.” He hefted his massive hammer, its head gleaming ominously in the fading light.

With a sudden burst of movement, Gaius swung the hammer at the gate, the impact sending a resounding boom through the air. The heavy wooden gate groaned under the force.

“Knock, knock!” Gaius bellowed, his voice brimming with grim amusement.

Before anyone could react, he charged, his hammer raised high.

“It’s just your ol’ trusty mercs coming to investigate!” he shouted as he launched himself towards the nobleman, the hammer arcing down toward the balcony with devastating force.

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