Chapter 20: Meeting in Space

Glacier, a new superhero who made her debut 2 years ago, was currently confused.

The reason, it was naturally because of the kid she met a while ago.

The origin of Glacier was quite simple.

Her name is Alexia Harvey. She was a normal university student when she found an OStone 2 years ago that was scattered during the incident.

She was 21 years old that time, nearing the peak of her beauty and was naturally adored and sought after by a lot of suitors.

However, she wasn’t lured by those rich playboy types and instead fell in love with someone else who was rather timid.

You’d think that because of that, he would get bullied a lot. But these days, the majority of the young people are rather sensible.

Especially, students from a good university. Since there was no chance in wooing Alexia, why go through all the trouble of messing someone up? Besides, even though Alexia is a beauty, she’s not too beautiful that people would start to kill each other like in some novels.

Like that, the two spent their time peacefully.

While strolling in their date in a nice beach, they found a snowflake shaped object buried lightly in the sand. Alexia liked it and her boyfriend did the natural thing of pleasing their girlfriends, he made it even more beautiful and turned it into a necklace.

The next day, while washing her face in the sink, Alexia, to her surprise, saw the water froze upon her touch.

She wasn’t an idiot. She naturally knew that she had no such powers before and the powers only appeared now, so that means something has changed since yesterday.

It wasn’t too long that she managed to figure out that the strange object they saw yesterday was the reason of her powers appearing.

Being a huge fan of Nightmare, she went ahead and asked her boyfriend to help her make her costume and started being a superhero.

Arthur and the rest found her immediately and took her in.

And now, back to the present.

“Strange...where did that kid go?” (Alexia)

She just got out of the elevator to chase that kid only to find that he’s missing.

She tried asking around but it would seem that no one came out before her.

So what just happened? Was she hallucinating?

Did her fascination of Nightmare actually made her hallucinate a kid claiming to be Nightmare???

“No no no, that’s impossible. Even if I did hallucinate, then I would imagine someone a bit more older and not a kid!” (Alexia)

“Say, Alexia, you seem rather disturbed. What happened?” (Martin)

Martin Freed, AKA Speed, saw her standing there stupidly while talking to herself and asked.

“Speed-senpai! There’s trouble! I think an intruder got in somehow!” (Alexia)

Being influenced by animes since young, Alexia would often be heard saying things like senpai or add sama to other people’s names.

They tried to fix her behavior but to no avail so they just let it be.

Martin himself has already grown used to her antics so he didn’t give much reaction.

“Intruder?” (Martin)

“Yeah yeah! I met a kid earlier, he also got in the hidden entrance!” (Alexia)

“We didn’t see anyone though? We already have someone here who had the invisibility OStone. The OStones are unique, there would be no similarities in powers so I doubt there would be someone who infiltrated the base while staying invisible. Not to mention Arthur made a lot of tech here that would immediately identify an intruder.” (Martin)

What Martin said was true.

Only, Max had already known about it way before him and already had a way to bypass it.

“Mmm...then I’ll go talk to the boss!” (Alexia)

Alexia pouted and ran towards the boss’ room, still believing that the base was compromised.

Martin just sighed and shook his head.

“The new ones are always the more energetic ones.” (Martin)

* * *

“Boss! We have an intru-...ah! The intruder!” (Alexia)

Suddenly, that Glacier girl from before came charging to the room and pointed at me.

How rude, pointing at people like that.

“Oh, why if it isn’t my greatest fan?” (Max)

“Alexia, don’t worry, he’s no intruder.” (Arthur)

“Right, right. Rather, I made this place to begin with.” (Max)

I nodded like a good kid and said a bunch of nonsense like a good kid.

Un, I’m a really good kid.

“Eh? Eh? Boss...is he really Nightmare?” (Alexia)

“...So it would seem...” (Arthur)

“...Teehee?” (Max)

Laughing lightly, I stuck my tongue out and striked a pose.

Arthur just stood there laughing dryly at the absurdity of the situation while Ellen was still dumbstruck.

Being the newcomer, Glacier was the one who had the richest expression.

Her mouth opened and closed, as if she can’t decide what to say or retort first.

“Well, that’s all in the past now. To the world, Nightmare’s dead and it should stay that way. I have other things to do.” (Max)

“...Other things? Are you going to start recruiting again? But the OStones are scattered...” (Arthur)

“Oh, those things? Don’t worry, I made those so I can make new ones again.” (Max)

“...” (Everyone)

I just shrugged and laughed at everyone’s reaction.

“Anyway, call in everyone else, I have some things to say. Ah, right. I should also reconfigure the identifications of your OStones and the base’s so other people who would find the lost OStones won’t be able to see the base.” (Max)

Since when I made the OStones before, it was also made to have a magic circle that would allow them to see and access the base so others won’t be able to. But when I scattered them, I actually forgot about this matter so now, if an enemy held an OStone, they too would be able to see the headquarters.

“...Alright, I’ll call them all in. They’ll all arrive in about 30 mins. Some are outside after all.” (Arthur)

“Too long. There’s no need for that.” (Max)

Just as Arthur was about to pull some kind of communication device, I snapped my fingers and conjured three magics.

Tracking, time stop, dream lobby.

The first was naturally to track each of the heroes holding an OStone. I already know which is the heroes and which are the villains so it was easy to sort them out.

Time stop was to...well...stop time.

Dream lobby magic is kinda like a chat room in an illusory world or something.

This will bring them all in a single place without needing to leave at all.

“Eh? Where is this?”

“Huh? You guys are here too?”

“Wait, are we under attack now?”

“What happened? Where’s my wife!?”

All sorts of confusion arose upon seeing them suddenly appearing in a foreign world.

The scene was a white blank room at first. It was too plain so I switched it to somewhere in space instead.

Beneath us is the planet Earth.

Above us is the vast space.

The sun shone in our faces, the stars glittered around us, the space dust floating about.

It was surely a breathtaking scenery. Even I was momentarily at lost as I watch the universe around me.

“Is that...is that Nightmare?”

“No way...that’s him...that’s really him!”

“This place...I think only Nightmare is capable of this!”

“Look at him. He really gives off an unworldly feeling!”

Right, I didn’t appear before them as Max Connors. But as Nightmare instead.

Arthur, Ellen, and Glacier looked at me with weird expressions. Unable to believe how that playful kid suddenly changed the air about him, giving a mysterious feeling.

Hah, they’re expressions are really interesting.

I didn’t really fear anymore of having my identity known. Well, to be precise, I never did. It’s just that it was interesting that way and I’m still acting based on that.

It was interesting for them to know who I am and it’s also interesting to see the expressions of others not knowing who I am.

Basically, it doesn’t really matter if people knew who I am or not. I just wanted to see interesting faces.

I could suddenly turn into a kid now but let’s save it for later. It would be more interesting that way.

“You all look surprised. You must be. After all, the world thinks I’m dead.” (Max)

I spoke in a deep and muffled tone, which only added to my mysterious-ness points to them.

They should know that I am already dead and don’t speak at all, yet here I am. Alive and speaking.

Hehe, it’s really amusing seeing their expressions.

Those confused, excited, reverence, expressions all merged into one.

“I am not dead. Yet I am also not alive.” (Max)

I looked back to the blue planet with a nostalgic expression...not like they can see it but they should definitely feel the nostalgic and reminiscing air I am giving out.

In their eyes, I am like a man who can only look at his own house, yet unable to get in.

Arthur and the other two are still having that conflicted look. Haha. Truly interesting!

I can only wonder what it feels like to know the truth, yet unable to say anything!

“I don’t wish for you all to be able to understand my...circumstances. Right now your real bodies are still in earth. This is but a shared dream to call you all in. I had also stopped time temporarily so you don’t need to worry.” (Max)

By leaving the explanation of my circumstance to be rather vague and contradicting, it would also add to my mysteriousness.

If this was a game, maybe a window will appear in front of me saying something like [Mysterious Points +100] or something.

“You may be wondering if I can still use my powers while in this...state. Yes, I can. But it drains me too much so don’t expect me to help you all in the future. I still need time to...piece myself back together.” (Max)

I added a bit more information, yet remained vague. Totally mysterious.

“That’s why this meeting will be very brief. In about a year, Connors Technologies will release a new technology. A virtual reality dreaming equipment that would send your dreams to experience life in another world. A virtual reality mass multiplayer online role playing game.” (Max)

Everyone was quietly discussing as I explained.

“At least, that is what the public will know. However, the truth is that the virtual world in the game is real world that exist far off in the universe.” (Max)

I moved around the scenery and the surroundings changed.

It was still the vast universe around us, but the planet below us was no longer Earth, but The-ar. My previous world.

“This is The-ar. A world of magic, and swords.” (Max)

The-ar’s atmosphere is completely different from Earth.

In Earth, you’ll only see a normal blue planet.

But in The-ar, you’ll see the thick magic air flowing around the planet. Forming rings and curves. The magic air appears as a glowing dust-like particles when viewed from space so it enhance the beauty of The-ar.

A couple of gulping sounds could be heard from the heroes.

“The reason why I am telling you this is because I don’t want you to lose sight of your mission. This world is very much real. And the people of this world also needs help.” (Max)

I looked at the heroes calmly.

“This world had experience countless wars. However, in the most recent one, they managed to achieve piece. It was truly a war that ended all wars. The humans, elves, dwarves, and demons now live amongst each other peacefully. Sp when you travel to this world, be sure not discriminate according to their race.” (Max)

This is true.

When I finally appeared in this world again in the recent years, I helped old Demon King achieve the peace we both wanted in the past.

As for how the Humans were able to stop discriminating demons, it was through the help of the new Queen.

Her father, the previous King, and the generations before that were the ones who had been biased towards the demons to begin with.

The new Queen though, had a different thought.

It was that simple.

When I realized that she was the key to stop the wars, I helped her take care of her father for her to take the throne.

After that, she spent a year to convince the people to stop their discrimination. And they did.

Even I was greatly impressed.

Only, I still don’t understand how she did it.

I saw her stand tall amongst the people everyday. Earnestly giving her speech all day long, everyday, for a year.

Somehow, the people were moved and was able to put down their discriminations…

...Like I thought, I still can’t understand it.

Maybe she used magic?

Anyway, it doesn’t matter for now.

“What I want you to do, is to watch over the people from Earth. The players so to say. Make sure they don’t incite another war and such.” (Max)

They all looked at each other confused, then nodded in the end.

“Also, your OStones will be sent to your game bodies’ inventory as well. Consider it a bonus for you. You also don’t need to buy the device. You can get it directly through Arthur.” (Max)

Everyone then looked to Arthur who suddenly shivered upon suddenly being the point of attraction.

“That will be all. Happy gaming everyone. And make sure to enjoy.” (Max)

With another snap of my fingers, the surroundings returned to normal and everyone awoke.

In the room, Arthur, Ellen, and Glacier looked at me with another weird expression.

“...” (Everyone)

The awkward silence continued.

They must be expecting me to be the one to break it, but I never did. Which only made them more awkward and unable to know what to do.

Bryan was still there playing by himself. He was also brought in the meeting just a while ago but didn’t think much of it. Guess it was all too complicated for him.

“Arthur!” (Martin)

Suddenly, Martin came barging in.

Without noticing the awkward silence, he began asking.

“Arthur! What was that just now!? Was that all real!?” (Martin)

“...Yes. I would seem so...” (Arthur)

Arthur’s face twitched as he continued to glare at me. Demanding me to explain.

I just shrugged and laughed.

“Seems like you’ll be pretty busy for a while haha. Well then. I need to go. After all, I need to start making a few things. Oh, and I’ll send you a few things to work on too. I’m too lazy to make them all by myself. Laterzz~” (Max)

I winked and disappeared.

Hehehe, as I thought. Things will start to become more interesting!