Author's Note: That last author's note was a joke. I guess I'm the only one that gets my twisted sense of humor. I've been in such a good mood lately. I'll put out as many chapters as I can before it ends.

---------------

Null is very tired. It has been around three months since he last left Gnosia. The first part of the trek wasn't so bad. However, the plains that Gnosia was situated on slowly started turning rocky. Since he was heading towards the Verdonic Mountains, the changing geography made it harder and harder to grow food and find fresh water.

'I hope I find some fresh water soon.' Null thinks in his mind.

Null had to rely on hunting to get his nourishment, but the monsters that were edible were getting to be less and less.

After a long time, he finally makes it to the Verdonic Mountains. He doesn't know where to start to look when he gets here. Null tries to use Ingredient Finder, but remembers that it only works for objects not being interfered with anything. Since the objects he's looking for are mostly underground, it won't help him.

There Null finds a herds of mountain deer. They're mostly in the level 200s. Null had the new armor Aldan had made him destroyed, so he has the same problem as before. He has so much mana, that it takes too long to turn them into stat boosts.

Even though he had lost around 34 levels using that second MEMP bomb, he had gained levels from using the first MEMP bomb and taking out all those robots and from taking out Winford, so his level remained around the same. He had also grown an additional 2 levels from leveling up over the past 3 months.

Leveling up becomes a lot harder as time goes on, and he wasn't actively hunting.

Null soon finds a place with water. He also sees that there is life here. What's even better is that there are no people. He decides he will settle down here. Null then takes out his pickax, finds a cave, and starts mining.

He mines for around 5 minutes before he finds his first ore.

'Coal. I'm off to a good start. When I was in Holdendale, it took me around 20 minutes to find my first ore.' Null thinks with a smile.

Ever since he came here, he has been in a good mood. He hasn't seen nor heard a person ever since he arrived here. Null starts to mine again.

*********

Another two months pass. Null's good mood had evaporated. He knew from the get go that finding materials to build and experiment for his new armor would be hard, but he had underestimated how hard it would be.

During this time, he had only found a small chunk of mithril. Mithril is a major component for the circuits he needs for the armor. He had also found no black iron. Black iron is needed for his improved weaponry. Null calculates it would probably take him around 20 years in order to get the materials needed just to make even one armored suit.

Don't forget that he has to experiment, and recycling could only recover so much materials. He would probably need materials for hundreds of suits before he could make one good enough for him.

'I really did not think this through.' Null says with a frown. 'This is so boring. I think I'll just log off for a bit before I go insane.'

Null logs out.

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

Null is in the middle of watching a movie. He's watching it on his AR glasses. This detective just used his 100% can't miss abilities with his pistols to take out all of the henchmen who hadn't even managed to scratch him with their AK-47s even at point blank range.

“I figured it out!” A detective says with shades and a don't care attitude.

“You figured out that villain's plot?” His plucky sidekick with a can do attitude asks.

“No. This generator that's supposed to power up this orphanage isn't a generator. It's a bomb!”

Those two run for their lives. The building they are in explodes. Later, after an epic shootout, the villain dies by falling into a vat of his own creation.

They are then awarded by the city despite costing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the surrounding areas and multiple violations of policies.

Later on, the detectives wife is in labor and is about to give birth. He gets in his car and drives the maximum speed the car will allow at 130 miles per hour. Strangely, there are no police there to stop his reckless driving.

When he nears the hospital, a ticking sound is heard.

“Honey, what is that?” The wife asks curious.

“This car is a bomb!” That detective yells out.

“What!?” The wife said surprised.

He abruptly stops the car and grabs his wife. The guy runs with his wife in a princess carry while running in slow motion. The car then explodes. The detective makes in the nick of time by diving through the automatic hospital door someone else had triggered with his wife in his hands.

Later on, the detective is present when his wife gives birth.

“Waaaah!” A baby's cry is heard.

“Congratulations! It's a boy!” The nurse says giving the boy to the mother.

A ticking sound is soon heard. The detective runs into the room.

“That isn't a boy! It's a bomb!”

The detective throws the bomb disguised as a baby out the window.

Boom!

A massive explosion is heard.

“Oh my god!” The mother says not sure what is going on.

Some more ticking is heard. The detective looks at his wife.

“This isn't my wife! It's a bomb!” The detective throws the bomb disguised as his wife out the window.

Boom!

Another massive explosion is heard.

Soon, more ticking is heard. The detective looks and can't find what he's looking for. It's then that he realizes something.

“I... Was a bomb the whole time!” He jumps out the window and explodes.

The movie ends. The credits start rolling.

“Directed by Michael Bay III” is listed in the credits.

**********

Null takes off his AR glasses and frowns.

He thinks, 'Wait. So does that mean that there's a real detective that wasn't a bomb? I don't get it.'

He watches other movies until he goes to sleep. The next day, Null heads to school. He arrives in homeroom. What's different is this time, the homeroom teacher is saying something to the class.

After she gets her introductions out the way, she has this to say.

“It's almost Thanksgiving. That means that you all will only be coming to school Monday and Tuesday next week.”

The class is happy and whooping it up.

“What will you all do? You are seniors now. This time should be the best times of your lives.”

David listens to this in horror. 'Oh god.'

“Every year, the school holds a small play.” The teacher tells them. “Make sure you head to the meeting tomorrow night. Since every year, no one wants to play any parts, we'll have a vote on who gets to play what.”

'And the good news just keeps on coming.' David thinks in his mind.

David thinks about whether or not he will go to the meeting. It took him around 0.3 seconds to determine a decision in his mind.

'Won't go.' David thinks in his mind.

While he is walking he notices that Cecile is chatting with her friends walking by. When she notices David, she stops and tells her friends that she has something to do. She then runs away. Her friends notice David and frown. They walk towards him.

“What did you do to Cecile?” One of the friends asks. “Ever since around a month ago, whenever she sees you, she avoids you.”

“Did you touch her inappropriately? Do I have to go to the police?” Another one of the friends asks.

“Maybe you're jealous that she likes someone and you decided to get revenge on her.” That first friend says.

David frowns. 'What the hell is their problem? Cecile has been avoiding me lately, which has been heaven for me, but now her friends think I did something to her. Even when she leaves me alone, she's still an annoyance. Why can't people just leave me alone?'

David then says, “I haven't done anything to her. Leave me alone.”

He then walks away. Those two discuss trying to find out what David has to do with Cecile's mood.

“Every time I ask Cecile what's wrong, she just puts her hands on her face and shakes her head.”

“...You don't think she likes him do you?”

“That's totally impossible. Look at him. He's so gross. Always wearing oversized, dinky clothes and is always so cold to everyone. Cecile is beautiful, smart, and kind. Of all the people, why would she choose to like a loser like him?”

“I know it seems unlikely, but I don't know what else to think. I asked Cecile if we should report David to the police and she got angry at me.”

“I think I know what's going on.”

“What?”

“You know that they have a rivalry when it comes to academics right?”

“Um, more like she has a rivalry. I don't think David cares.” The second friend says.

“She must have been discouraged and has given up!”

“Oh! That makes perfect sense! Cecile has lost her confidence going up against David!”

“We have to regain her confidence somehow!”

“Hmmm... How about that play?”

“The play?” The girl looks at her friend confused.

“Think about it. Have you ever seen David be in anything that requires other people?”

The other friend furrows her brows trying to think. “He's just so unnoticeable that I don't really pay attention to him.”

“Exactly! He doesn't like attention! If we vote for him in the play, he will make a fool of himself! Seeing David acting like a bumbling idiot on stage, Cecile will regain her confidence!”

“Oh you're such a genius!”

They then flesh out the details of their plan.

**********

The next day, David heads to school. He walks to school as if he's about to be executed as usual.

When David makes it to his desk, the homeroom teacher says, “Okay! The roles have been decided! I'm passing out to everyone who will be in the play. Remember, to those that will be in, it's mandatory!”

David takes the pamphlet from the teacher. He plans on skimming through the pamphlet, then throwing it away, but to his dismay, he sees his name on the form. David is strangely very calm. He clothes the pamphlet, then opens it back up.

'I kinda had a light breakfast today. I must be seeing things.' David reasons. He looks at the same page again and sees his name.

David raises his hand.

“Yes, do you have a question?”

“There must be some sort of mistake. Someone must have accidentally put my name on here.” David says.

Denial is the first stage of grief.

“No, there's no mistake.” The teacher says.

“Maybe it's someone who has the same name as me.” David reasons.

“No, it's you. Your picture is next to your name and everything. See?” The teacher says to David pointing at his picture.

“How was it my name that ended up here!? I want nothing to do with this stupid play!” David lashes out in anger.

Anger is the second stage of grief.

“There's no need to be mad. Some people suggested you and people voted. I just recorded down who voted for who.”

It actually wasn't that hard for Cecile's friends to get them to vote for David in the play. One of them said, “Wouldn't it be hilarious if this guy was in the play?”

Everyone then agreed and voted.

“If I can do something for the school, and I be excused from the play? Maybe if I pay you, you can just replace me with someone else? Please? Just please don't let me be in the play.” David says pleading to his homeroom teacher.

Bargaining is the third stage of grief.

“Well I'm sorry...” She looks at the pamphlet. “...David. But this is final. Maybe you could have made your case if you had actually went to the meeting.”

“Uuuuugh.” 'She's right. Why didn't I go to the meeting? I didn't actually think I would be chosen. Hardly anyone even knows about me. Maybe I deserve this punishment. I wish I were dead.'

Depression is the fourth stage of grief.

'You know what? Maybe this won't be so bad. Maybe I can think of another way.' David thinks in his mind.

Acceptance is the fifth stage of grief.

David gets out of his chair and walks towards the door.

“Where are you going? Homeroom isn't over and I haven't excused you!” The teacher says to David.

“Oh? I'm dropping out of school.” David says nonchalantly.

This throws the people in the class off guard. David's reaction to this play may be a tad too extreme.

“David, it's not that serious! It's just a play! Anyway, you aren't even allowed to drop out while you are in school.”

“Oh?” That didn't stop David in the least. He still heads towards the door.

“Seriously David! You're only background tree number 2! You won't have any lines and no one will pay attention to you!” The teacher pleads.

This makes David pause.

“Background tree number 2?” David asks.

“Yes!”

“This is acceptable to me.” David says.

He then returns to his seat.

“Sheesh!” The teacher thought.

**********

Let's fast forward to the time of the play. Happy parents waiting to see their kids in the play are in the audience. Kids whose friends are in the play also populate the audience.

This play is about Thanksgiving, about settlers coming to meet the native Americans and coming together.

David makes it here a bit late. He had never shown up to any rehearsals. He had never even met any of the people who will be in the play. This is his first time coming here.

There's a student who is in charge of getting the play together named Janet. She looks at David coming in with a fed up expression.

“Why didn't you show up to any rehearsals!?” She yells at David angrily.

“Because I didn't want to.” David says to her apathetically.

“*sigh* Just stay in that corner with this tree costume and don't say a thing. Just follow the motions of what other people are doing.”

“That's fine with me.” David says.

It's then time for the play to begin.

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

Cecile is in the audience with her friends. She just had to show up when she heard David was going to be in the play. It's not even about having a crush on him. Just the sight of David being on stage amuses her greatly.

The curtain opens. David stands there stoically holding some branches. However, as promised, he remained unnoticed by all the others on stage. He half-heartedly went through the motions on everything.

The play was about the Native Americans giving the pilgrims a feast to eat, and everyone was all happy and grand.

Everything went fine, until that event happened. Unknown to Janet who is a studious artist type of person, the person cast for one of the pilgrims is a notorious class clown. He only lives to ruin everything around him as hilariously as possible.

His name is Andrew Ross. Some say he was born under a bridge. Some say he's the incarnation of Murphy's Law.

Andrew in his pilgrim clothes talks to one of the Native Americans and says, “Thank you for the food we received. As thanks, would you like some blankets?”

Janet notices something's wrong.

“Blankets? That's not in the script.” She said flipping through it. Little did she know, that was the only warning she was going to get.

The people playing the Native Americans were confused. However, they had no choice but to go with the flow. They took the blankets and thanked him.

Andrew then had the most trollish smile on him. He took out a magic wand from his sleeve and then said, “Alakazam! Tadaa! You now have smallpox!”

“What?”

He runs to all the pretend Native Americans.

“You get smallpox! You get smallpox! Everybody here gets smallpox!” He runs from stage end to stage end like a fairy granting wishes.

“What is he doing!?” Janet thinks in dismay. “He's ruining everything!”

The audience murmurs. They're not sure what's happening.

“Now that that's done, let's play a game!”

“A game?” One of the pretend Native Americans asks.

“Yes! We are going on a little hike! You see the trail in front of you?”

“Trail?”

The pretend Native Americans pretend to see a trail.

“Oh is this the friendship trail that we do to celebrate the wonderful friendship we have?” One of the pretend Native Americans says to salvage the situation.

“No! I'm stealing your land, but do not fret! We built some shabby houses on land we don't want!”

“What?”

“Walk faster! HAHAHA! Oh I'm so glad to mark this wonderful Thanksgiving Day of friendship! Huh? Why are you crying over there? Why are you putting tears on my trail?”

It's at this point that the audience starts murmuring loudly. They had probably guessed that this wasn't supposed to happen. They start to boo and throw tomatoes at Andrew.

“Tomatoes?! Why!? Why am I being pelted with tomatoes!? I'm just here trying to act my best, and some hecklers wanna pelt tomatoes at me! I just want peace in the world!”

He then starts trying to dodge the tomatoes as dance moves.

David thinks seeing the tomatoes, 'Where the hell are these people getting these tomatoes?'

“Tree #2? Aren't you glad that those pesky Native Americans aren't around?”

“...” David looks at Andrew angrily.

“Fear not, as I will chop you and all your people down!” He grabs an ax and starts swinging towards David. Luckily, David is wearing a big tree costume and it is thick. He just doesn't appreciate Andrew drawing attention to him. David pushes him away.”

“Tree number two, what are you doing!? Trees don't move! Nothing in the world makes sense anymore! Why tree!? Why must you go against the natural order!?”

David is pretty fed up with Andrew. Thanks to him, he's also getting pelted by tomatoes that miss Andrew.

“Tch.”

David makes like a tree and leaves. Janet is even more in dismay. The audience is in pandemonium from what's going on.

“Why Andrew!? Why David!? My dreams! Ruined!” Janet thinks in dismay.

*********

David starts to head back home. It was then that he saw Cecile standing at the door blocking his way.

Cecile says clumsily, “Um, h-hey David. I thought you looked... Really cool in the play.” She says with a blush.

David is pretty upset from that play and he isn't in the mood.

“Thanks.” David says walking past her.

“David!” Cecile calls out to him.

David stops and turns around.

“Do you want to go to a movie... Or something?” She mustered all her courage saying this.

David frowns even more.

“Why?” David asks.

“Huh?”

“Why are you always bothering me? First you annoyed me, then you were nice to me, then you ran away from me. Why are you always bothering me?”

Cecile looks down sad.

She thinks and says, “I only... Want to be your friend.”

David then remembers. He remembered when Cecile told David that she feels guilty for what Keimi did to him. Everything is starting to become clear to him. She pities him! She feels guilty for what her former friend did so she's trying to make it up to him with her friendship! David doesn't care if you look down on him or if you ignore him.

However, David hates it when people pity him. He feels that he has made it this far on his own, so he doesn't need anyone to pity him.

David looks at Cecile with an understanding look and says, “Look Cecile. I appreciate the fact that you are trying make amends for what Keimi did.”

“What?” Cecile is confused.

“However, I don't need your pity. I've been alone from the start and alone I will stay. If you honestly and truly want to do something for me, then stay away from me! While we're at it, tell your friends to stay away from me too!”

“But...”

“I am a loner. I am a misanthrope. We could never be friends, because I could never trust you. Maybe things would be different if I had had you as a friend first instead of Keimi, but things are different now. I'm different. I don't want any friends. Any aspect of friendship died when Keimi left. Do you understand?”

Cecile is quiet for a long time. Tears then start dripping down her face.

'I feel, so stupid.' Cecile says to her self.

David is surprised from seeing tears fall down Cecile's face.

“Yes David, I understand. I'll leave you alone from now on.”

She slowly walks past David. David then heads home.

'Build walls. Burn bridges. That's the path I had already chosen. I have no regrets.' David thinks in his mind.

***********

Null makes it back to New Reality. He still feels upset from the play, so he's mining extra hard. Suddenly Null hears something.

'These are sounds of battle.' Null thinks in his mind.

Now normally a protagonist would go, “Well gee whiz! I wonder what's over there!” and get himself involved in some sort of troublesome situation.

Not Null, he gathers his things, and goes in the opposite direction of the battle sounds.

'Nothing to do with me.' Null thinks.

Suddenly he hears the sound of running coming towards him. David panics and starts to run himself.

'No! My solitude will not end here!' Null yells out in his mind.

Suddenly Null is surprised. There's a person that runs past him. He's very short, but he's wearing the same mask and cloak he's wearing. It seems the other person is also surprised from what Null is wearing, but he soon runs past him.

Since Null's new armor broke, he once again has trouble turning his mana into stat boosts. Soon, men in black cloaks surround Null.

“We finally caught up with you.” One of the people in the black cloaks says.

'Dammit! Is it too much to ask to just be left the hell alone!?' Null thinks aggravated.

--------------

Author's Note: New ark starting! Oh, and to all the people who will complain for what I did and did not do and Cecile and whatever, I already have something planned. I listen to you guys when I have some grammar errors, spelling errors, or plot holes, but anything like trying to tell me how my story should go, I end up ignoring. There's a reason I have never done any polls.