MINUS ZERO

Reason and weapon for Black eyed Ruby

"Oh no!" exclaimed Mi Hao in stunned sitting among six players in a corner and staring at the screen. The players didn't move "He's bleeding" said his friend.

Cecil opened his eyes in terror and got startled to see a long Javelin's end been stabbed in Red cape's waist and drops of blood were dripping. He looked up at the owner of the weapon holding from the other end and staring with cold eyes straight at the suffering Red cape.

A tag got shown in Juray 's glass which wrote:

Your partner Silver

Lost -10 EXP

"You.....you how did you?" asked Ted cape breathing heavily, "How did you get here in such a short time?... It was a matter of...(pant) only a matter of minutes and seconds I could kill that mage...you were miles away..."

Without a word, Silver pulled out the Javelin with a splash of blood and Red Cape dropped to the ground holding his wound. His HP begin to drop 5 percent randomly, it had to be acted fast. Mi Hao was terrified, he quickly opened the item list to use a tonic when before his move, Red Cape's HP stopped dropping, surprisingly.

"What the...who? he saw the tag saying Tonic used by Cecil. He saved his life.

Cecil smiled at the wounded soldier and said, " You must have been hurt bad. Here I used thus on ya"

Suddenly, he got a hard kick on his chest and he flew away, sliding on the ground, "Been recused by a weakling!." roared the soldier getting back on his feet, he filled in rage "What an insult!"

He caught his halt again but, a hard palm stopped him at the spot not getting a chance to make another move. He started to get boiled, looking straight into the fighter's cold eyes, "Why are you INTERRUPTING?" he lost his control.

"You are getting blinded by your rage" answered Silver "Stay calm and leave" he left him and the man stepped back, he continued "You were so despite to get that ruby that even if it was someone else other than Cecil, like your own men, you won't hesitate to finish him off and get your hands on it. However... Let me remind you this stuff doesn't belong to you. What I will I get..." he turned and repeated, "Now leave..."

More hatred any fighter could get from the other, there created a good example, Red Cape from Silver. He wanted to create a fight till the end of the line but, he knew any moves or action would kill him by that Javelin. He had to admit he was experiencing in seeing battles and creating plans before any start, fortunately, he hated to admit that his opponent was an expert and if he pushed him he would be no match near him.

There was a risk of losing points too.

All he could say was, "...Retreat..." and all the seven members glowed and vanished from the stage.

If a player still attacked or used any skill after the stage is cleared, it will lose him his EXP and plus, the risk of losing Ultimate point. All they could do was take what they received and leave.

Cecil stood up, dusting away his clothes, and walked to his partner, giving the Ruby, saying "Here you go. The Ruby you were looking for..."

As it landed on his hand, Silver smiled a cold one looking at it with eagerness. Cecil could understand what he was feeling in that smile however, the precaution from the ruby was needed. He was about to speak but, got replied

"The black-eyed Ruby is what I need. I want to make a weapon out of it which can and will be a great hand to improve my skills and get stronger. I want to be worth it." he looked at him "I am fully aware of the danger behind using it however, I will use it and get stronger. That will show me the value of struggling for the top"

The mage smiled and suggested, "Why don't I help you in creating it for you?" Silver got surprised

"I make things well, never tired a weapon but, I have my best for it. Since you struggled for getting it I wanna give a hand in achieving what you achieved from it."

"Then, I say the request isn't over," said Silver with a smile "I invite you to the Autumn leaf Kingdom, come to the stem town. I will be waiting there. So long" he happed his friend's shoulder and vanished away.

On the screen, a tag appeared:

Received an invitation to the Autumn Kingdom.

Request: Ongoing.

Juray went offline, offed the game, and said, taking off the headphone "It's getting late night. Gotta get some time for studying."

He stood up, left his seat, ejected his card, and walked away.

"HEY! he heard and saw a boing calling him from the left side. He walked to him and asked, "Yes, how may I help you?"

"My name is Mi Hao" introduce the boy "I think you are Cecil's account owner, right?"

"Yes, I am" he replied.

"May I know who was that Javelin's owner?. I suppose his name was Silver" he asked "Do you know his player?"

"Am, No" replied Juray in surprise, "I didn't recognize whether he was a citizen or a player"

Mi Hao giggle and said, "Thank you so much, you may leave".

Juray turned away thinking, "I wonder why he asked this? Was he available at that stage? If so then who was his?"

Keeping these questions aside, he returned to help s room, sat in front of his study table, and opened up his books.

In the next afternoon, the station was still corded with players. They kept entering and leaving. The first week after the anniversary would always be a market for the station and arrangements were held the same.

Juray was on his duty, after the university, helping the players from all the floors. He gave hand in setting the game before opening, getting water or coffee for some while they were relaxing, fixed the headphones, and did the arranging after the player left the seat.

While he was done on the second floor and climbed up to the third, there to his surprise the same boy was available. He wasn't playing this time but, just standing by leaning on the balcony with his arms and watching the lower halls. He even had a book in his palm which was hanging.

"I thought he only plays...." surprised Juray looking at him from the stairs. Coming up he wanted to have some chit chats with him but, he had his job on his head to help around.

When he was done, he took the opportunity, walked to him, and asked, "Do you need something?"

The boy looked at him with a little surprise in his eyes, "I thought you only play but, it's shocking to see you are holding a book in your hand and are away from the computer." The dead silent boy only lightly nodded and turned straight.

Just then, two players interrupted them calling, "There you are!" both looked back, finding them with smiles on their lips.

"We were looking for you," said the second one, "Come and challenge us"

"You always play in the corner" explained the first one "So, we thought why don't we ask for a duel. We were always watching you and you play quite remarkably. How about it?"

The boy only stared.

"If you wish to run, you can" tease the second one, "My friend won't hesitate in nose-diving you. After all, you don't have a fixed player in the game which will be easy for you to fall."

The boy stood straight and walked in front. The thin hands gave his book to Juray and all three passed by him, going downstairs where group selection was available. Juray checked the book and his mind blew in confusion.

A guidebook of Dimensional Gate?!

"Wait a minute?. What's going on here?" thought Juray "If he is a professional player like I was hoping he to be then why does he need a guide" his mind begins to eat up with thoughts.

His expectations weren't right?. Is he a professional player or a normal player?. His hands showed he's quite good at the keyboard but, the book in his hands.......?

How come a professional player needs it?.

That's impossible, he can't be a simple player.

Thoughts and puzzlements filled his brain by just taking a glimpse of the book the dead silent player was reading. What kind of player is he?"

His eagerness filled him to know more about this player who only plays on the third floor. He went to the computer of the last section, pulled opened the drawer of the computer table, where kinds of stuff like guide books of Minus Zero and Dimensional gate were placed, a set of stationery, a new note pad, and a spare headphone, things that a player would importantly need. He arranged the book among it and closed it.

The moment he turned, his heart skip a beat to see the boy standing behind him. Losing control of his lips, "DONE?!" he asked. The boy nodded and took his seat in front of the computer.

Juray was willing a lot to ask questions but, he didn't intend to disturb someone he never heard a voice from him and left in silence.

In the evening, when duties shifted, Juray before turning to play, had to complete the report for the station. With a pen and a book, he roamed around the station writing down. He went to every corner wrote its definitions. Drew a neat diagram of the computer setting with the seat numbers and wrote the timings.

As he was sitting on the side bench noting down all he gathered in a tablet using a touch pen, seven boys came in front of him and one spoke, "Excuse me"

"Yes," he looked up to see all were high school students. One among them named Etawen said, "Sorry for disturbing you but, you must be the owner of Cecil's account, right?"

"Yes, I am. May I help you with something?" asked the boy.

"You see" spoke Shaw Li "we need help from you. We have a request in Minus Zero.....for Cecil. His mind is very helpful."

"I will be glad to help, but" replied Juray, sitting straight, "I haven't finished one request, yet. It will take a while."

"Is it necessary?" asked Etawen frustrated.

"Don't worry. I am almost at the end of it. When I will complete it. I will let you guys know"

"That's a relief," said Shin another player, in a relaxed mood "We will be waiting for ya. We will leave a message in your inbox to let us contact you in a free moment."

"Thanks," said Juray with a smile.

As they were getting away in distance, discussing among themselves, Juray watched them from behind and thought to himself, "Strange..... this year many new kinds of stuff are happening with me. One request isn't over the other came on its own feet.

I should level up Cecil more and fast, making him stronger. Who knows I might get stuck in an unfair battle" he continued writing, "I haven't even entered any of the Arenas yet, and don't have much information about it. I need to check on it before accepting the next request. There's a lot to do...

Whatever happens, I will do it and reach my goal....."

................................

"Do you wish to move to Autumn leaf Kingdom?" asked the system of Map.

"Yes," passed enter and Juray wore on the headphones sitting up straight.

In the entrance gate, besides the teleport checkpoint, a character arrives and gets down. He entered the marvelous gate of the kingdom and walked through a long path. Soon after crossing the plains, houses stepped by, and finally, the kingdom was seen.

With Autumn leaves flowing in the air, a world if fantasy was around to be seen. Knights, Nobles, Musketeers, soldiers, fairies, witches, wizards, magicians, princes, fighting princesses all sort of characters were roaming around. The area is orange and 'golden in color with lovely sunlight with large houses and a beautiful cold atmosphere. Characters were all wondering around exiting and entering, leveling up and signing up their records into the huge building of NPC's.

The game had five places that any player could use as a homeland.

The Snowflakes kingdom.

Autumn leaf kingdom.

Summer wind kingdom.

Spring blossom city

Monsoon large Town.

Hundreds to thousands of players used these lands to represent their nationality. They would return to it after finishing stages, mission or request, or buy staffs, rest, and many other things. Characters were allowed or even invited to each other places to make parties, trade, or buy goods if their suitable prices. Everyone could be anywhere as long as they had a home and didn't cause trouble.

Pacing in the street, Cecil was amazed to see all the Characters passing by and found out that he was the only mage available among them. It felt awkward to him however, no one paid attention.

Reaching the central square, a huge fantasy palace could be seen right ahead where characters were rushing in and walking out after receiving missions.

"Maybe I could find him here?" he asked himself looking around and entering a nearby garden hoping to get a glimpse of the person.

Juray was using the volume disc, Searching among people, and said inwards, "Where is he?. He isn't having any job so it shouldn't be difficult."

Cecil turned out of the garden and entered Trade Area, where Characters were buying and selling their weapons, looking was cheap herbs, and exchanging goods. He checked the herb stall, which was usually his favorite, and found unseen herbs.

"There doesn't grow in my hometown," he said with a smile "Quite a lot of things can be mended with them. I will buy these when I am done"

A hand rested upon him from behind. He turned and exclaimed in surprise, "SILVER!"

He overstepped back and asked, "Are you done buying the kinds of stuff you need?"

"I wasn't planning until I am done with you" replied the mage with a relief smile to finally meet up with him.

"Come then, follow me" both walked away from the Trade Area, back into the town, and entered a dark alley.