Book 2 Prologue.

5 Years have gone by in the blink of an eye. The game went on without any major incidents. People were slowly becoming more and more powerful. One major thing that changed was the reason people played.

It was a slow process. Most games would have the top rankings determined within just a year. But with so many participants and many of them wanting to remain anonymous, having a ranking seemed unlikely.

But that changed when certain people started making names for themselves. They have become heroes, a household name that everyone knows. They were the role models, the figureheads, and the face of the game itself.

Slowly, more and more people began to realize, that staying anonymous doesn’t help you prosper. In an economy as competitive as this, having a brand is critical. Making your name well-known helped many budding new participants to rise to stardom.

There were many types of players. Those who play for fun, those who play for sport, and those who play for a living.

All three of those require one to make a name for themselves. Those who play for fun, want their achievements to be known. Those who play for sport, are highly competitive, thus they want to fight stronger people. Those who play for a living, want to make a name for themselves so they could receive commissions by large companies more often.

Crule listened to Ming explain what he missed during the years.

“So a few of us made a name for ourselves.”

“I see.”

“Shin and Kate became known as the Serpentine Duo.”

“Is it because of their armor?”

“I guess,” Ming shrugged her shoulders.

“Chun Qin became known as the White Knight. He goes around healing people with his medical knowledge.”

“Brigid kind of took off with the ship and lock herself up in her lab.”

“So she’s the only one who didn’t make a name for herself?”

“Na, her inventions are coveted by Metallurgy INC. They give her commissions all the time.”

“And she’s actually helping them?

“Well, since you left for such a long time, she needed funding somehow.”

“I see…”

Crule nodded. His plans for revenge was something he put far back in the reaches of his mind. He had more important things to deal with right now. His target has changed. When he came back, he needed to sabotage Grimly’s plan to give Chaos all of his missing parts that are were sealed. Now, with Chaos incapacitated and Grimly seemingly clueless about it, he can focus on the damn old man who sent him here.

But he shouldn’t tell anyone his plans. He still isn’t sure who’s under Sage’s control. He knows for sure that Maximus is. His master told him all about it. He knew from the horseman of death that his teacher Shin is still clean. He worried about Kate though. The Sage could control her to have a trump card against Shin when things go down under.

But first things first, he had to check his wife. And he must use the only method he knew.

He channeled some energy into the golden tooth.

“Hey, horseman, how do I check whether someone is under control or not?” Crule asked the horseman of death whose still in the memory world.

“You teacher made a deal with me,” The horseman sighed. “Just kill them, I will let them revive without any trace of mind control left.”

“Kill them?”

“It’s the safest way. The Sage has no control over death, not like I do.” The Horseman bragged.

Crule nodded solemnly. He knew what he must do, but he can’t. He could never kill Ming.

The horseman sensed the hesitation. “Don’t worry, she will be fine, although she’ll be a bit annoyed.”

Crule still didn’t move. The horseman sighed.

“Coward,” The horseman then went silent.

Crule clenched his fist. Ming was still explaining to him the stuff he missed during the years.

“We found the seal at the bottom of the lake but we didn’t release it yet. It seemed the Sage has also been moving around trying to find the seals,” Ming sighed. “Since you left, we really haven’t been moving on with our goals at all.”

Crule looked at Ming. All his thoughts were centered on her right now. Should he? Could he?

“Kid, your relationship really is sickening. You don’t love her in normal ways. You are completely dependent on her. I begin to wonder if you could function properly if you two were away for a longer period of time,” The Horseman sighed.

“W-what?”

“You need to stop. Can’t you see you’re suffocating her? Can’t you see how refresh she is after you left for 5 years? She misses you but not as much as you do.”

“I-I…”

“You’re pathetic, a parasite, you leech off her good will and love like a worm who grew up not knowing it.”

“B-but…”

“I know, I know. You have a tragic past. But isn’t it about time you grow up? Stop living in the past. You aren’t a fucken kid anymore. Man up.”

The horseman became quiet again after his rant. Crule was stunned, but he knew every word was true.

“Trust me, kid, don’t be so clingy.”

Crule finally nodded. He wondered why he trusted the words of that man. He felt that the horseman’s words had a lot of emotion as if he himself had gone through it.

“Do it, kid, cleanse her.”

Crule stared at Ming’s beautiful face. He was entranced with her very being. It was his addiction, his vice, and his one true weakness. If the Sage were to take her, he couldn’t know what to do.

“Ming?” Crule finally asked.

“Yes, dear?”

Crule embraced her.

“C-Crule? Wait till we are back in our room…” Ming blushed.

A single tear fell from his face.

The new Energy swirled inside his body. It was channeled through his arms into his palms. Crule kissed Ming, then stabbed his hands through her back into her heart. He gripped her heart and squeezed.

Ming tried to say something but Crule kept kissing her. She didn’t fight back. Perhaps it was the sheer shock of what was happening that stunned her. Her body slowly limped down into his arms. Her eyes became dim.

“I’ll see you later, Ming,” Crule cried. It felt like he had crushed his own heart. It truly pained him both physically and emotionally.

“Good,” The horseman appeared next to Crule. He placed his hands on Ming’s head and pulled out a small ball of light.

“It seems I was right, Maximus did leave her a trial as well,” the horseman smiled.

“H-how long will it take?” Crule asked.

“Don’t know. Her trial will be different from yours.”

“....” Crule remained silent.

“I’ll send her to you when she’s done.”

“Thanks.”

Ming’s body vanished into particles of light. It will be used to remake her new body.

Crule now sat alone on the bench in the guildhall. It was still extremely empty and the guild receptionist seemed to be out getting coffee.

“I’m all alone now,” Crule sighed deeply. He felt incomplete, just a part of him was now missing. But time waits for no one, he has to move on. “Let’s go,” He said to himself, as there was no one left by his side to listen.

“Wait, did I just take relationship advice from a dead guy?”