================================

Volume 4

Chapter 11 Surprise Connections

================================

After he got out of the room, he felt something cold touch his nape and he swore it felt like being trimmed by something sharp and thin. His spider sense is telling him, danger is on its way.

But just after he opened the door to the lounge and had all his Disguise Gear equipped, a familiar scenario took place that made his eyes flat.

“You!” one of the strong looking players walked on his direction, kicking the floor as if it was an enemy. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

There were three strong-looking players there, each with their own four guards and two attendants. So the total number of antagonistic forces were 21, excluding the two servant NPCs who looked frightened by the impending trouble in the lounge.

A second strong-looking leader approached, two of his guards drawing staff while the other two crossed their arms in ridicule.

With the third just calmly looking at them, Siva started to mentally count the people around him.

“Four.” he whispered.

“Huuuuh?” the upper lips of the first leader curled up, displaying an ugly smug. He was a Sword Mage, by the look of his double edged sword. And by his ‘huh’ that seemed like a signal, all his men stood up and drew all their swords.

He reassessed. “Nine.”

“What the fuck does that suppose to mean?” the second leader with an even more ugly smug face, summoned a scepter with a pointed tip and poked it to his chest. “I fuckin’ hate people who act high and mighty like that with Señor Dante!”

“I wouldn’t do that again if I were you.” Siva’s voice, in the mask that impeded his mouth, sounded like one certain ‘Vader’ from a country far away.

He meant that as a warning and to a calm tone at that as to not ruin his good mood but it seems that wherever he go, he actually attracts more trouble than he wanted.

Under his cloak, he slowly moved his hands to his guns but this made the two cross armed guards behind the second pull their staffs and shouted.

“Watch out!”

Spell lights were cast, but not released.

“Eleven against one.” Siva whispered in a sigh.

“So what?” Said the first leader in a haughty way. “The guy you just made to look like a servant is a respectable leader to us. You mess with his image, you mess with all of us.”

“But I didn’t do anything.” He calmly replied. “He was the one who led me to the VIP Room. I was just there to follow his lead.”

“And you dare to let that happen!”

“You scumbag of a newbie! Who do you thin you are!”

The lights on the scepter, the staffs, the Manna Blades, the Swords, and the arrows pointed at him all had reached maximum charge and so Siva prepared to feel impacts any second.

But as arrogant as they are, these players are still those with the thirst for glory, the first leader giving him time to put up a defense.

“Fights in Safe Zones won’t kill you but there is still an impact and the recoil does hurt. Three seconds, you put up a guard. Three…”

On the second count, Siva summoned Dragunov, used its function, and moved so fluidly swift and charged it.

The second count paused halfway as black aura started to revolved around Siva. There was a static escaping the further most tips of the aura and the black smoke, in the dead air, moved aimlessly in all directions.

His dark grey cloak and the void under the hood looked more intimidating with the addition of the black aura.

“Continue the count.” Siva said and pulled the guns.

Unable to hide the fact that they were caught off guard and was actually intimidated by the unknown ability, the second leader continued, “Two!” but stopped as the door to the lounge burst open with a swearing girl.

“God damn it! Of all places!” and when he noticed the commotion in front of the VIP room and the men’s eyes on her direction, “What the fuck are you…”

“Ah, Cassiopeia…” a delighted hissing voice, a voice that sounded like it came from the depths of a grave that was long forgotten, echoed in the abrupt lull.

And just then, a prompt appeared on everyone’s eyes.

[You are inside the Killing Zone. Your defenses are down by 70%.]

Eyes bulged, weapons were cast down, with some even dropping on the floor with a clang. The whole room was bade in a silence as the leaders’ lips trembled as they gave way to the man.

The girl, Cassiopeia, looked like an old cat whose skin wrinkled in age and was trembling in front of a lion.

“The… The… The… The…”

Her trembling lips couldn’t say the words. Her men all stopped and froze. Everyone in the room became silent as they watched what was happening on the target of the man’s slow approach.

“Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.”

“G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G…”

“Garin.” Siva looked around. “He’s not here?”

And all the more it made Cassiopeia smaller. Despite her elegant features and beautiful, seductive posture and dresses, she looked so frightened at the dark being in front of her that her trembling body was so weak, she fell on Siva’s arm when he tried to reach out to her.

Cassiopeia nodded.

“Too bad, I want to talk to him with an important matter. That’s why I wanted you to come back here as soon as possible. Well, you as her partner would do.”

“Why?”

“Don’t ask why. Just follow me.”

Siva completely ignored the people in the room and only gave them a glance. But they all shuddered, taking a step back, some even fell on the floor.

Cassiopeia also gave them a glance, asking for help, but they were all shaken by The Destroyer that they all looked like pathetic weaklings. Not even a single one of them tried to give her a hand just now. Such level of camaraderie.

When they escaped the room, the two leaders sat back to the sofa, a despairing silence surrounded the lounge.

The third leader chuckled. “You guys are still noobs on measuring one’s strength. Couldn’t you feel his presence just by a single glance?”

“Shut up, Gats!” exclaimed the first leader.

Gats, considered the strongest player in Terroa today, just remained smiling as he imbed in his mind the sight of The Destroyer and his impression.

He dreamed of a match between them and he chuckled.

The chuckle turned to laughter until it was almost as much as the heavy pressure, at the same level, or perhaps even higher, than The Destroyer, that made all the leaders holding their heads sigh.

************************

It was a few minutes later that another group entered the lounge. Led by FlowerLord followed by Scion and Kathleen Brew, the famous Volt and his group, then finally Loni and Cramer.

They saw three leaders of factions inside the Illuminati HQ, but their eyes all bid to the direction of Gats.

Upon meeting eye to eye, he laughed hard hysterically, finding their appearance as funny as the funniest comedy scene.

“You just missed the action!” He yelled and burst into laughter. “He just left with Cassiopeia!”

“The Destroyer?” FlowerLord asked him and the man, Gats, paused and laughed again.

“This is really fascinating. Why would the FlowerLord look for that destroyer? I mean, I thought you were a lesbian that…”

SHING!

Gats wasn’t able to stop his babbling as a blue colored fire engulfed his body and froze his movement. Only his eyes moved at the direction where it came from and he wore a shock like nothing anyone had ever seen.

Volt was shocked as well as Samara, while the other two from their group remained puzzled.

Of course, high level players could recognize the magic used once it’s been cast. But what frightened the both of them was the speed at which it was cast.

They remembered the title Loni called her and the level of respect she showed on her presence.

Arch Mage.

It was a title bestowed only by the most legitimate and the strongest order of Mages in the Game. The Circle of Magi. The title of Arch Mage is only given to the strongest and most worthy Wizard in the game.

So far, only a very select few have that title, and it was already a rare feat that they get to meet one of them.

Volt thought bitterly, just what kind of people did Siva had gotten himself involved with?

“I’ve had enough of you all!” Said an angry Scion and three brave men tried to take a stand.

They cast their staff and pointed it to her, confident that they were faster than her. But then, as the light in their staffs took a second to complete, they were already in a bluish frozen state, much like the arrogant man.

Blue flames dancing on their skin, they weren’t burning but they were unable to move.

The look of shock were drawn on their faces.

Volt was convinced, that’s «Freezing Fire»! Tier-4 fire spell! As rare as it was and as hard as it is to formulate, it was a very strong Fire Magic that can be used to Freeze an opponent in a set amount of time depending to its accessories.

Considering the speed of her cast, it can only be assumed that she maxed her «Half Count» Accessories in her equipment settings.

Not only that, there was also the fact that it’s a high Manna consuming Ability Spell that had a big amount of cool down period. So it means that her «Half Down» Accessories were also maxed.

But to cast it twice in succession is impossible.

The first cast should have consumed more than half of her manna reserves. It’s just too impossible since the game system is fair… not unless…

“Are there more?” She challenged.

It was obvious that she was angry because from the moment they entered the establishment, a lot of the bar patrons with foul mouths and rude behaviors welcomed them with nasty arrogance.

Volt remembered that she’s been looking for Dex for the past three months. Anyone who had diligently been doing that will someday, eventually, reach boiling point enough to make them explode.

This is that day. So no one is stopping her.

“Who do you think you are?!” More men stood and a gallery of weapons were drawn pointing at them. Their numbers reached an immediate 8 so Volt, as a reaction, pulled his sword while Samara and Hawkeye also went to follow his lead.

But before anyone could actually put up their poses, the bluish flame was cast four times that froze them all in the place where they stood.

An impossible phenomena, according to the game rule.

Not unless…

A certain realization entered Volt’s mind. She’s worthy of the title indeed because she is the same as Siva. Both of them are Unique Skill holders. He just doesn’t know what skill it is yet.

But she wasn’t contented, she cast the spell another round to the frozen men, so FlowerLord is the one who did the asking.

“Where is he?”

The subject of the question was the few men, one at which was still seated, who raised his hand in surrender to her gaze.

“He’s gone!” He exclaimed nervously. “He went out with Cassiopeia to somewhere. Said he wanted to ask her something regarding Garin.”

“Who is this Garin?” FlowerLord stepped forth and bid her Ceres to his throat.

“Garin is one of Cassiopeia’s men.” Said Volt behind her. “He was the one responsible for teleporting us to Anazon Forest. But we found out about the place a bit too late. Garin’s duel with The Destroyer forced him to abandon his safety limits and almost died.”

“Almost died?!” Scion gasped beside him.

Though Volt chosen his words carefully, hiding Siva’s name, it was still a mistake on his side that he spoke too much of his circumstances.

Now, he’s even seeing her broke down to her almost crying state which is very painful to see.

Even Agatha.

As she knew of her feelings, couldn’t help but give her a sympathizing look. She still could not bring herself to approach her competition.

“What do you mean he almost died?” Scion asked Volt but a hand from Kathleen stopped her.

FlowerLord turned her head towards him. “We’ll have to talk about that later, hm?” Volt quaffed and nodded nervously. Her glaring eyes just can make him, a man, feel that sharpness. He could only imagine Dex being subjected to that hate… “And you, where did they go?”

“I don’t know!”

“Talk or I swear, this is going to hurt you.”

“No please, I really don’t know!”

And just then, the VIP Room’s door opened and Dante saw the scene that made him surprised. He recognized the faces, but stopped at FlowerLord and the subject of her blade.

“Good grief, Eiffel.”

“Senior, forgive my insolence, but these men started to insult us and so my friend snapped out.”

“Hmm? Oh? Tier-4 Freezing Fire. What a rare sight. In what degree is it able to be cast?”

“Highest.”

“Ho… interesting. And what is the reason for the visit that you even brought along Loni and Volt?”

The mention of the name surprised the two. They got the impression that such a knowledgeable man is one that is not good to mess up with.

But then, Scion stepped forth, holding her hands in front of her chest in a pleading manner.

“Sir, I am the one who cast the spell….”

“Arch Mage, please…”

At the call of the title, a smile beamed out of Dante’s lips, his eyes were cast admiringly at Scion.

“Arch Mage, is it?”

“My name is Scion.”

“Scion… where have I… Ah! The Fairy of the Lake?”

Scion blushed on the mention of the unofficial title but at this time, she did not mind being called by that.

“Yes.” and she insisted. “I am merely looking for a man named The Destroyer. Please sir, if you have any information to his whereabouts, I would do anything in my power to pay you in exchange for it.”

Again, another meaningful, businessman-like smile had escaped Dante’s lips. It wasn’t evil nor it was loathly, but it was enough to cause a shiver down FlowerLord’s spine. Knowing Dante’s info junkie side, there’s just no stopping him once he had started to like something.

She tried to stop her but Dante motioned a hand to her, or more like, to the leaders of their group.

That’s where he saw Kathleen Brew and raised a brow.

“This is quite a cast.”

“Huh?” Kathleen felt the awkward eye reference.

“I would like to tell you his whereabouts, in exchange of a simple favor.”

They all exchanged glances and all weapons were all hid in their inventory in respect.

“Anything.” Said Scion. “I will try my best to pay you.”

“It’s not much.” Prompted Dante and he lent an open palm as he opened the door to the VIP Room. “I would like to invite the leaders of your group inside to discuss the matter concerning The Destroyer. In return, I would like to hear the story about your connection to him and how your little group was made.”

“Can I also come in?” Kathleen asked mischievously.

“Of course, darling.”

Kathleen shuddered at the familiarity. She leaned close and took a step back in shock.

She gasped. “Dad?! But you…”

“Too slow. Too slow. Why don’t you all come in and let’s share some stories?”

To the surprised people, especially to Kathleen, they all exchanged glances and entered the room. What’s left there were Samara, Agatha, Hawkeye, FlowerLord, and Cramer as they all glanced over at the men who was just then in a mood for revenge.

But before they could take a pose…

“You’re Gats, right?” Cramer grinned.

“Yeah, so? Who’re you?”

“I’m just someone who likes to dance. Can we just go somewhere wider? We might destroy this place.”

“I’ll come too.” FlowerLord said, eyeing Cramer. “I’m really about to explode and I need to cool down a bit so I can think straight.”

“Do you need help?” Cramer teased.

She pulled his collar down and met his eyes in the same level. “Like I’d need help from you.” And with the grinning Cramer, the anger on the ignored Gats was drawn on his face.

“Mads, teleport us all to Binonten.”

“Yes sir.”

“Ah no wait, we’re not—”

Signs of protest escaped from Samara but she and them were already gone before she could even begin.