7 minutes before Alan and

company left The Drinking Banshee…

Marissa came out of a bathroom stall, holding a smirk on her face. “That’s what I call a good make-out session!” she beamed, glancing back at Matthew sitting in the toilet, bleeding from his slit throat.

“W-h-w-h-y?” he barely said, as she grinned innocently at him.

“Because you dumped me first, silly, by choosing that prick of Marco instead of me. Whatever, you’re not worth my time anymore. See ya!” She waved goodbye as his ex-boyfriend’s body turned into pixels.

Humming, Marissa walked to the sinks and examined her reflection. This desperately needs a change of look. She opened her User Interface, but before choosing the customization tab, she realized that Alan had shut down the communications minutes ago.

I wonder if he’s doing well… She checked her Friend List, confirming that he was still online. At least Marco hasn’t killed him yet… So that’s good.

She browsed through different Hairstyles options that would change her appearance with a push of a button, until a Party Chat notification interrupted her, this time from one of her guild partners.

She sighed before answering the call.

“Marshrissa!” Helen’s joyful voice was heard inside her head. “How’s my favorite ‘jumpy’ person in all The Novus? Ribbit, ribbit!”

“I’m not in the mood Rosbif… Unless you brought me something from Iregorn.”

“I bought you a box of those twisty lollies you like. How about that, buttercup?”

“Oh, I really need one of those right now,” Marissa said while trying out new hairstyles. She watched how she looked in a high ponytail before shaking her head. Long hair is more of Amelia’s thing. She sighed. “Have you received the news yet?”

“Yep. Marco turned out to be a complete blighter.”

Marissa took a second to frown. A what now? Whatever… Damn Brit and her slangs.

“I know, right? What does Astrid think about all this? Does this mean that we’re now disqualified from the Iregorn’s tournament?”

“She was talking with the organizer, so she might make things work out. Tell me… are you still in the Drinking Banshee?”

“Yes. Why?” Marissa answered absently, opting to wear a pixie haircut. This will do for a… Wait, what did she say?

She opened her Friend List and checked Helen’s current location: ‘Londorus - Shooting Star’s HQ’. Her Guild Master’s location was: ‘West Londorus - The Drinking Banshee’.

Marissa then heard an explosion from outside that shook the entire room. That must be Astrid. She surely honors her ‘Comet’ surname.

“Have you received the other news yet?” Helen asked teasingly.

“What ‘other’ news?”

“I just checked the guild’s vault. It seems that Jason stole it all before quitting.”

“W-what?! Is that even possible? I mean, isn’t it a failsafe so that a single User can’t…?”

“Sweetie, you’re asking too much for a game that encourages you to gain all the money you can get… Whatever means necessary.”

“That bastard…” Marissa made her best to remain calm, forming fists and walking in circles in that short space. “This must have been Marco’s plan all along. After all, he was the one that selected Jason as the Guild’s Treasurer. ”

“Maybe,” Helen said. “But what can we do about it? That place is full of Max-Levelers.”

Did Amelia know about this? That question lingered in her mind until she started tapping on her User Interface with more force than necessary.

“You’re suddenly too silent, Marshrissa.”

“Where are you now?”

“I’m on my way to pick you all up.”

“I’ll stay…” Marissa said, making a white ceramic mask appear out of her inventory.

“Someone sounds ballsy! If you’re planning on doing something risky, I’m in!”

“No. I’ll do it alone. Just don’t tell Astrid any of this.”

Marissa hung up, wore the mask, and recited: “Now you see me, look again. You think you know me? Try again. Another I am, malice I have.”

The artifact transformed her whole body into a shadowed silhouette, which she could customize with the press of buttons and sliders.

She made herself shorter, turned her hair golden blonde, enlarged her breasts and buttocks, and her facial structure changed beyond what the regular avatar customization should allow.

To finish her disguise, she wore a strapless dress, and makeup, inspired by her big sister. “This will be fun…” she spoke in a deeper tone of voice.

Minutes later, when she made sure that everyone had returned to their seats to continue feasting and drinking, she walked confidently among them while searching for her prey. It’s a good thing that not everyone here is a guilder.

She glanced at some of her male ex-guild partners being accompanied by ever-nodding, easily excitable level-forty girls. Those women wore skimpy dresses, knew how to handle alcohol well, and had enormous boobs that would make her sister shake her head.

Diggers. Girls that have quitted fighting, and now rely on others’ pockets. I despise them with all my heart, but for tonight only, I’ll thank their pitiful existence. Hu-hu…

Marissa glanced at her new boobs and grimaced. Even though I’m copying Amelia’s boob size, I can’t believe she’s comfortable having these things all--

She bumped against someone that snarled at her. “Look where you’re going, you bimbo!”

“S-sorry!” Marissa stuttered, being face to face with her sister, who quickly examined her clothes with a dirty look.

“Pitiful…” Amelia hissed after reading the number 42 above Marissa’s head and walked away.

Well, I never doubted my disguise, but it’s always reassuring to know that it’s working as intended. Although it’s kind of painful to be at the other end of Amelia’s trademarked mean look… She exhaled.

Finding Jason Foreman turned out to be a simple task, for he was shouting at the top of his lungs: “Watching the Golden Bitch make a fool of herself in front of everyone was the funniest shit I’ve seen in a long time!”

There you are…

Marissa stole a cup from one of the nearby tables, unnoticed, and strolled towards him.

Jason continued laughing out loud, to the distress of his companion, Faiza Khalil, who was grimacing. Don’t worry, girl, I’ll take him out of your hands.

Marissa intentionally tripped, spilling the drink on Jason’s pants. “Oh, how stupid of me. So embarrassing,” she mumbled.

“Are you okay?” Jason asked, helping her stand up.

“No, it’s not. I was about to toast with my friends, but wet your pants instead…” She looked him in the eye and giggled. “Wait, that sounded kinda dirty, tee-hee.”

“I can fix this in a second,” Jason said, tapping his User interface to change his clothes for an orange full suit. “See? Why were you toasting again?”

“Because you all got rid of that dreaded bitch, of course.”

He nodded, smirking. “I like you. I’m Jason Foreman. What’s your name, beautiful?”

“Brittany! Are you a Death Bringer?”

“I will, after tomorrow’s ceremony. Where are your friends? Maybe you could introduce them to me.”

“I was looking for them, but it seems that every single one of them has company. Everyone except for me. I hate that. I’m always the last one to get a date, or don’t get one at all!”

“Well, why don’t you come with us then? My friend Faiza here…” He turned around, but she was nowhere to be found. “And she’s gone. Whatever,” he smiled.

Just as planned.

Marissa smirked as he examined her cleavage.

* * *

An hour later, back in the Shooting Stars headquarters, someone knocked at Alan’s door.

“The Guild Master asked me to deliver this to you, sir,” a male NPC said, as Alan stared at the clothes being offered to him. “Is the color or the design not of your liking?”

Alan shook his head vigorously. “N-no, it’s not that! Thank you. And thank Astrid too.”

“You're welcome,” the NPC said, bowing slightly. “Astrid Bradford has also instructed me to tell you she’ll be waiting for you at the main building’s entrance at nine o’clock.”

“Understood. I’ll be there.”

After closing the door, Alan sat at the edge of his bed and continued to do what he was doing before: Stare absently at his User Interface and the current list of guild members. What a freaking mess…

He then glanced at his new clothes, folded over the bed. I should take a shower first.

Regulating the water temperature was easier than in the Santa María, it had way more space, and he could say it felt more pleasurable, but his mind was still in perpetual chaos. Not only Marco’s words, but Amelia’s comments tormented him, too.

After the longest shower of his life, he returned to his bed, lied naked, and refused to dress up for half an hour.

It’s 8:35 pm… Almost time… But… I’m scared to get out of this room.

I’m scared of seeing Astrid’s face… I’m scared of not being able to find Ashley when I return… I’m scared of this freaking mission Isabella assigned me… I’m fucking scared of what Marco said…

I don’t want to leave this bed.

Please, everyone, forget about me and leave me alone.

But at 8:41 pm he stood up and examined the clothes: A red shirt, black formal pants, and black leather shoes.

I don’t think red really suits me, Astrid, but it would be rude if I didn’t try them on at least once.

He put them on in the traditional way and stared at his reflection. He looked taller and more robust than usual, which made him chuckle. He wanted nothing more than to break that mirror, but it was the property of the guild, not his.

On his way to the promised place, he walked as if his legs were made of gum and that his arms were as big as a gorilla’s. Ignoring the gazes of other guild members was even more difficult than before, due to what had happened earlier.

I don’t think that going out is a good idea, he thought, while looking at the street. I should tell Astrid that we should stay instead. She should assemble an emergency meeting with the remaining guild members and discuss what Shooting Stars should do next.

He shut his eyes tight. And most important of all… I should…

“Kept you waiting?” someone said behind him after tapping his shoulder. Alan turned around to find a girl wearing a light-blue sleeveless sweater dress, thigh-high white stockings, and blue high heels. A long side-braid rested over her left shoulder, adorned with a blue ribbon.

Alan gasped as if he had seen an unearthly being. “My goodness, Astrid! You look amazing!”

“Thanks! You look handsome, too.” She got closer to pick the helm of his shirt. “Red really suits you.”

“B-but of course it does! Or maybe…” He turned his voice deeper and stroked a simple model pose, putting one hand on his chin, “I’m the one that makes this look good.”

“Look at you!” She giggled. “Let me get my camera!”

“No photos, please, or I’ll have to charge you.”

“Is giving you these clothes not enough?” she asked, turning serious. At a loss of words, Alan stuttered until she grinned. “I’m kidding, silly! You should have seen your face!”

“I’ll pay for them, though. Once I get some gold.”

“No, Alan,” she said, putting a palm on his chest. “I gifted you all this because I knew that the day you came back, you’d only have your Bronze armor.” She smiled at him. “They are a gift.”

Alan glanced back at the guild building. He knew that from one of its many windows, someone was peeking at the two. Judging and cursing them.

“Astrid…”

“Come, Alan. We have reservations in a nice place downtown. We can’t keep them waiting.”

I can’t say no to you.

He walked alongside her, promising to leave his gloomy attitude once they left the guild’s property. But he was not able to.

Do we really deserve a single moment of peace?

“Hey, Novus to Alaaan! Are you listening to what I’m saying?”

He blinked repeatedly. “Sorry for zoning out, Astrid. It won’t happen again. Were you saying?”

She squinted at him. “Um, Déjà vu… Anyway, I was asking you, what do you think about this city?”

He looked at his surroundings. Despite being the same road he had already traversed alongside Tamara and Marissa, the lights of the city rendered the streets in a more gothic way. As if this place was now inhabited by creatures of the night… And yet, I feel like nothing bad is lurking in every corner or alley.

There were still vehicles and mounts passing through, but once they disappeared into the distance, a bubble filled with quietness formed around them. Only the sound of her heels kept them company.

A reassuring sound. Confident, firm steps.

“I like this place…” he finally responded.

“Glad to hear that. This will be your new hometown, after all.”

Ashley’s face flashed in his mind.

One thing at a time, Alan.

While crossing a bridge, Astrid stopped halfway through and pointed at the other side of the lake in front of them. They could see Londorus extending on the horizon. “Look at it, Alan,” she said, leaning on the railway. “Isn’t it beautiful? It’s modeled after the greatest city ever built by my fellow countrymen, the British! Supposedly…” She muttered the last bit. “I’m pretty sure the developers took some liberties about certain landmarks…”

“I’d like to explore it all someday.”

“Count with me. I know Londorus like the back of my hand! This place has everything. It has a stadium, theaters, talent studios, and in all modesty, the best coffee shop in all The Novus!”

While she puffed out her chest in pride, Alan stared at a giant animated billboard, where the pink-haired pop-star promoted a new soft drink brand. ‘Forget your troubles drinking something cosmic!’

“I wouldn’t mind a sip of that,” he said before Astrid pulled him from the wrist.

“We’ll drink something better, I promise."

I'd forgotten how soft her hand was, he thought, while staring at the back of her neck. Wait… Huh?!

Astrid’s sweater dress had an open back, displaying her white, soft skin, all the way to her waist.

This view is way more beautiful than admiring the city! He shut his eyes, feeling guilty for staring, and an unexpected calmness filled his heart. He continued walking blindly while Astrid led the way.

Like back then...

She could walk him through the deepest layers of hell, and he would feel safe.

Yes… Although her hand is just a simulation of the real thing, I still feel that this is the place I belong to.

Alan took a deep breath, noticing a surge of noise nearby. We must have arrived at Londorus downtown.

He returned his attention to the world surrounding him, meeting the gaze of people reading his current level. He then noticed that he could not see Astrid's.

The realization caused him to feel a piercing pain in his chest.

“Here it is,” she beamed, as he read the place’s name: ‘New Londorus Café’.

“But, Astrid, it says it’s closed.”

“It’s okay,” she said, pulling him inside.

The sound of a bell signaled their entrance, and the small size of the place perplexed him, which could only accommodate five tables. At that moment, it was empty.

I thought she’d bring me to a fancier place. But… this place is not bad at all.

He filled his lungs with the smell of something being prepared with butter. It smells of coffee too, the real one, unlike that black liquid Isabella fed me.

It… reminds me of my father.

A tall woman with dark skin greeted them from the counter. “Hi, fellas! Table for two?”

“Correct!” Astrid beamed. “We’re here for your nicest table, please.”

“Right this way, sugar,” the woman nodded, pointing at the stairs leading to the first floor. A male NPC also stepped out of the kitchen to welcome them.

Upstairs, the place looked like an apartment, but she did not stop there, pointing to another staircase to get to the rooftop. The establishment was at the edge of the lake they were admiring minutes ago. Alan stepped forward to look at it. The Novus moon and the lights of the city on the other side were being reflected on it.

It’s like seeing a sea of darkness, trying to engulf the forces of light…

“Alan,” Astrid called, standing beside a table and two seats. A vase with a flower and a lighted candle waited for them at the center.

He strolled to his chair, mouth ajar. “You… prepared all this?”

“Yes! Well, Mona did, but I told her to do it.”

“Wait, do you own this place?”

“What gave me away?” she chuckled. “Do you like it? My dad used to bring me to a café just like this when I was little, and I recreated it to be as close as possible from memory.”

Astrid caressed the black table, making Alan wonder if the texture of its wood was also engraved in her brain. There she was, smiling with pink-painted lips. Her crystalline, ice-blue eyes seemed lost in thought, and her sulky expression looked like something worthy of immortalizing in a painting.

“Thanks for sharing this with me,” he said.

“Why are you thanking me? You haven’t tasted the food yet. Please, take a seat, and don’t let this place fool you. You can order whatever you want, and Mona will prepare it for you.”

Alan found a button on his right side of the table and skimmed through a menu. "Okay then! If you insist… Hey, pancakes. It’s been so long since I tasted them."

"Good idea! Let's have that."

“Wait, no, it’s too late to eat that. Besides, it was a very childish choice.”

“I already told you to order whatever you want. And who decides if having pancakes for dinner it’s childish?” Hearing Astrid’s sudden serious tone made him question if she was joking again, but as the seconds passed, she did not giggle. “I’ll order strawberry pancakes. You?”

“The same.”

“Coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

Astrid placed the orders in silence, while Alan formed fists under the table. Earlier this morning, I envisioned this to be a mature dinner with steak and wine, and I’ve already thrown it out of the window with painful ease.

"When did you get back?" she asked.

"Yesterday."

"If you had messaged me, I could have traveled to Unus Town to pick you up."

He cleared his throat. "What you said last night is true? Were you part of the Somnium Project? You never mentioned it. That's cool. Do you mind if I ask you—?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh! S-sorry."

“I’m not trying to be rude, it’s just that… It’s not a good story to share while dining. For the same reason, I’d rather not talk about what’s happening with the guild right now.” She pursed her lips. "Although there is something I should address immediately. I'm so sorry for the way the guild treated you.”

"It's okay. They’re not around any--"

"No, it's not okay!" she cried, rising from her seat. She then kneeled in front of him in a knightly fashion. Seeing her act like that while wearing such a cute outfit was bizarrely contrasting. “Although you’re the original founder, those imbeciles knew nothing about respect, so I take full responsibility for it. They mocked you, they tortured you, and--!”

“Astrid, please, stand up!”

What’s the meaning of this?! I'm nobody. She’s the Guild Master. This shouldn’t be like this!

“I swear that I’ll make them pay,” Astrid said with closed teeth, showing a gleam in her eyes that resembled Amelia Laflamme’s killing intent.

He rushed to take her by the arms. “What happened last night was not your fault! Even though you were their leader, you can’t control how people think or what they decide to do!”

She opened her eyes wide. “But they listened to Marco, didn’t they?” she said, frowning. “If only I was a stronger leader…”

I don’t want to even imagine how much weight you’ve carried under your shoulders all these years…

He gritted his teeth and grabbed her by the shoulders. “How can you say all that?! You made it possible for Shooting Stars to reach the top! I’ve seen what you’ve built. That HQ is amazing, and you’re surrounded by strong and skillful people like Tamara and Marissa. Besides… You said it yourself, remember, in front of Kathleen? You got rid of the bad weed. In a year, Shooting Stars will be stronger and better than ever!”

“Do you really think so?” Astrid looked up at him with watery eyes.

“I believe in you!”

“Oh, Alan! I’m so glad that you came back!” She embraced him tight.

Although Marco told me that Astrid is the seventh most powerful User in all The Novus, her arms are so skinny and fragile!

If he hugged her back, his hands would touch her exposed back, and trying to hold his breath was impossible, for her lavender aroma was alluringly intoxicating.

Don’t do this Astrid… I’m not used to being near a woman just yet! If you hold me like this… I’ll…

“Everything’s going to be alright now that you’re here,” she continued. “I just know it!”

W-what is she implying?!

‘Prove that you can be a strong-willed co-leader…’ Those were Marissa’s words, right? But no, no way…

‘Aaand… Marco used to date her half a year ago…’

That other sentence hit him like a brick.

Oh… right… I wish… I could just forget that…

“Here are your orders, ma’am,” the male NPC with koala ears said, approaching them.

Red-faced, Astrid stepped back and wiped what seemed to be tears. "Let’s dig in, Alan."

“Yes,” he replied quietly.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Drinking Banshee, Marissa Laflamme, disguised as Britanny, had encountered her first challenge.

This freaking pig!

“Just like Kathleen says, more people, more fun!” Jason Foreman said, laughing out loud, surrounded by three other girls.

Although I’m not really trying to seduce him for real, it really stinks that he didn’t settle just with me. But it’s alright. I have an ace under my sleeve.

She pulled out three pills from her inventory and waited for the other gals to leave their cups on the table. And now, thanks to my ‘Sharpshooting’ Passive Skill, I should be able to… Using her thumb, she shot each pill inside her targets’ cups, 5 feet away, and smiled when the first girl sipped.

Perfect.