After taking more than thirty minutes taking different routes and making sure he wasn't tailed, Alex arrived back at the house.Walking in, he saw Emma who was still logged in as at the time he left the house.Seeing Alex walk in, Emma felt remorseful, she felt she was also part of the problem he was facing at this moment.She had regrets about introducing Alex to the job. If she hadn't, he would still be living a quiet and peaceful life. Now, his mother had been taken away to be used as leverage against him. Walking up to him with teary eyes she said apologetically “I'm sorry Alex, I really am, it's all my fault, if I had never suggested the job to you, if I had never convinced you to take the job, you wouldn't be in this mess right now”Alex was baffled at Emma's statement, his shock came mostly from the fact that she blamed herself for a decision he made." Em, this” waving his hands "all this is not your fault, not even a si
The sleek silver exterior of the Living Hounds Casino towered like a modern fortress amongst the glitzy highrises in Metropolis' most exclusive downtown district. Only the wealthy and connected could access the ultra high security zone guarded by armies of suited men with hidden weapons. Camera drones constantly surveyed the spotless boulevards lined with imported tropical trees and abstract sculptures glowing under stylish street lamps.Any crimes or confrontations were swiftly intercepted by security forces, keeping the neighborhood virtually violence-free. Fresh air perfumed by delicate flower arrangements wafted into limousines that purred past luxury retail flagships. Emma emerged gracefully from the polished Rolls Royce, placing a bejeweled hand in Alex's gentlemanly offered one. As she rose fully upright, the soft lighting danced across the elegant features of her beautiful face and cascaded over her exquisitely coutured figure in shimmering ripples.Her sleeveless floor-lengt
Emma simply laughed at the comment of the dealer. Nexus had already briefed her on the tactics and tricks that dealers would employ when they want to draw in gamblers to lose more money.Emma really played the role of a spoiled brat while at the table. “Wells, I need more chips,” she said to Alex with a slight smile plastered over her face.Alex simply nodded as he left and returned with six bags each holding $5,000 worth of purple chip which totalled $30,000.“All in on 32” Emma called the same number again as soon as the chips came.Another wave of surprise hit the others at the table. This time the dealer had a little bit of fear. But it was normal for some rich people to lose a few hundred thousand dollars in one night and it seems like this young lady was one who wanted to splash some money.The plan was working exactly the same way they had planned. Zane who was playing on another table noticed the ravishing young lady who was splas
Alex finally returned with chip word $500,000 and placed them in front of Emma.She could hear whispers from behind her, some said she was not crazy enough to place all of it at once, others said she must be the daughter of some rich mogul so she was just spending daddy's money.“Place your bids ladies and gentlemen, please be aware that this would be the last bid for the night and this table would be no longer open for any bids”It wasn't anything new to the bidders, if the jackpot kept getting bigger, the loss would be on the house and no casino would want to lose that much in a single night.“All in on 32" Emma announced as she pushed the bags of chips worth $500,000 forward.The sound of gulping could be heard loudly as many observers gathered around the table. To watch the game.Zane also smiled as he placed his bid of $200,00 also. He was going all in“Bids have been placed,” the dealer called. A hush fel
Zane smiled as he stepped out of the Casino with Emma. His plan was actually working better than he had expected. He was previously thinking of a way to convince Belle’s bodyguard but she wanted to ditch him so it made things easier for him.All he needed to do now was to take her to the club where he and a friend of his would swipe everything off the card.The Rolls Royce Emma came in pulled up at the front of the Casino and the passenger automatically opened. Zane gave Emma in hand in getting in and he got into the car. Zane complimented the car lightly before he said “I know of a club not too far, roughly twenty minutes drive, it's going to be a good place to have a nice drink to celebrate your victory. What do you think about it?” Zane turned to look at Emma who now sat at the right side. “I think we have a different plan for tonight's party. Why don't you relax and enjoy the ride there?” Emma smiled back"Relax?" Zane was confused
After they had driven for a little while, Nexus stopped the car and conducted a search on Zane for trackers or anything of that sort.After searching him, they tossed his phones and every other electronic device on him before Nexus corrected their route and they drove back to the house.Arriving at the house, Nexus carried the immobilized Zane down to the basement to a room he had prepared earlier.As Alex and Emma follow Nexus into the basement, their eyes struggle to adjust to the inky blackness within. With a snap of metal fingers, Nexus commands the overhead lights to activate, though they emit only a pale sickly glow leaving the windowless concrete walls still shrouded in shadow.Along the cracking floor, Emma spots ominous dark stains surrounding a single rusted metal chair outfitted with straps and wired cables. The chair faces a basic table holding simple tools - pliers, knife, vials of liquid. Shackles dangle from the ceiling pipes running above. The entire macabre scene look
Calculating the total amount of Copper he had received. Left Alex stunned.A heep of copper was roughly two thousand copper pieces then two heeps would total about four thousand pieces.This was more than enough for the quest he was currently on, A Dimensional Gate. If he gave these to Nexus, he would still have more than enough to craft some weapons and equipment. To make use of later.Looking up, Alex still had 5 more boxes to open. Just from the first two he received rewards worth more than he had expected. He couldn't imagine what was in the remaining boxes.Tapping the third box, it opened revealing an armor. Its appearance had Jagged icy plates edged in pale blue and frosty vapor trails came from the spines and edges.Tapping on the information about the armor. A pop-up appeared:Armor Name: Drakaina Hail GuardRarity: MythicArmor Type: PlateDescription: Forged from the impervious scales of an a
Six reward boxes opened, the final one remained.Tapping on the seventh box, a pale frosty light brought into view a gun. “Finally, a weapon" Alex rejoiced. Weapons received from reward boxes were often better than those crafted or bought from the market. And this one was a gun, a weapon he had full experience using.“Glacier Frost CryoblasterGun Type: Submachine GunRarity: Epic”The gun had Sleek angular lines with glowing icy blue accents converging on the rear cooling core that generates perpetual frost mist. The liquid nitrogen cartridge contains arctic gasses visible through frosted glass.“Stats:Extreme cold damage over time35 rounds per second rate of fire80 round capacity magazinesEffective Range: 200 metersCryo Shot consumes 3 ammo per trigger pullEffects:Standard shots slow enemies by 30% on impact.Cryo Shot (consumes extra ammo): Encases the target in ice for 4 seconds stunning them plus increases all cold damage taken by 50% for the freeze duration.The cutting-e
Despite the dozens of armed militants encircling him, weapons aimed squarely at his center of mass, Alex refused to be cowed. His expression hardened into a mask of determination."Enough of these games!" he shouted, voice reverberating off the warehouse's steel rafters. "I want to see the one who set me on this merry chase. The so-called 'Agent Three' who's been jerking me around from the start."His words hung heavier in the air than their seeming bravado might imply. The combat-garbed soldiers shifted uneasily, tightening their firing grips in response to his overt demand.Then, that same electronically distorted voice crackled over the PA system once more."Stand down." The words may as well have been etched in permafrost for the glacial chill of authority they carried.Instantly, the agitated perimeter detail froze, their aim wavering fractionally. Alex didn't flinch, eyes locked dead ahead as a solitary figure detached from the shad
The next two days passed in a frenetic blur for Alex as he poured over every permutation and variable surrounding their imminent infiltration of the Crypt Keeper's inner sanctum. Scouring the sisters' reconnaissance data, he meticulously mapped out contingencies for any obstacles or hostilities they may encounter.Infiltration vectors, aerial approach trajectories, fallback rendezvous points in case they were split up - Alex left no contingency unaccounted for in his operational plan. He would allow for no untamed variables that could jeopardize their chances of success and survival.Only once he was satisfied with the tactical framework did he finally turn his focus to the long game - the delicate situation involving their other...competitors angling for possession of the mythical Crown of Asteria.Leaning back in his chair with a weary sigh, Alex picked up the phone which Agent Three had initially given him and dialed the only number on it. It took a few
Kalthia's bold declaration rang with an edge of thinly veiled menace that sent a subtle thrill down Alex's spine. He couldn't help but allow a confident smile to spread across his features. With these two ancient draconic powerhouses united alongside him, mustering the unstoppable force necessary to overcome any obstacles suddenly seemed well within their grasp. All the pieces were falling into place."Good, I'm counting on that." Alex glanced between the sisters meaningfully. "Because after reviewing these reconnaissance reports, I'll need to implement the next phase of my stratagem sooner than expected."Extending his senses inward, he focused on a data connection he had carefully constructed to code manipulated data concerning a certain interested party. A few complex subroutine commands later, and an encrypted packet of randomized reports and map imagery began generating.With this, the data for the Seekers operatives was prepared and with this they would think they were getting a
Alex looked between Kalthia and Kelthia, seeing their attentions fully locked on him now in anticipation of his plan to infiltrate the Crypt Keeper's Mountain Temple and steal the legendary Healing Crown of Asteria.He took a deep breath before laying out the initial stages. "First thing's first - I need for us to do is pinpoint the exact location of this temple for me. Provide any details you can about its defenses, the terrain around it, everything."The sisters exchanged a look. Kelthia gave a slight nod. "That much I can readily supply. The Crypt Keeper's domain is a treacherous region, wreathed in obscuring mistrals and guarded by wards most foul.""But for dragons such as ourselves, piercing its veil of secrecy is well within our abilities," Kalthia added, a note of confidence edging her tone.Alex nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Once I have that locational data and mapping, I can start planning out the safest route for approach and infiltration."He fixed them both with a resolu
Kalthia seemed to seethe silently at Alex's boldness in the face of the dragonslayer threat. He seemed to undermine the abilities. The dark shadows writhed more intensely around her human form."You dismiss their danger far too lightly, boy," she said in a low, dangerous tone. "These are not mere obstacles to overcome, but an extinction-level peril to everything we are. Don't you understand that?"Alex held her smoldering gaze, undeterred. "Then we'd better be prepared to face them when the time comes. Because they won't be the ones to stop us from our quest - and I repeat, not if I have any say about it."An icy pause lingered in the grand hall after Alex's defiant declaration. Kalthia stared at him like she was looking at a totally deaf fool seemingly dumbstruck that he would still push forward with their plans after learning about the dragonslayers and the other dangers it posses to them."You cannot be serious," the Umbra Dragon said at last,
“Now that we have taken care of the in-house fighting, there are some things we need to get done.”Alex looked the sisters deep in the eye. He needed to know if they were ready for what he was going to say next.“I would need you both to help me out with something and once this is done, we would start our journey, it's going to be a very long road but I have this hope we would get there" Alex couldn't just tell them that he had almost all the information from millions of dragons who had lived and died. He was like a walking data bank for dragons and the system made it far easier for him to process things.“Leave?" Kalthia asked, “We just can't do that," she said with a dull expression.Alex was surprised, “We just agreed that we were going to go on a journey that would change our lives and you say you can't leave this area? Then why bother agreeing in the first place?"" Don't get agitated” Kelthia stepped in "I would explain in a rather
"It's about your longevity," Alex began. "I realize even as powerful dragons, you can only live so long naturally."This piqued Kalthia's interest as well. She leaned forward slightly in her shadowy chair. "Are you implying you know of a way for us to extend our lifespans beyond what is possible?"Kelthia's expression was more guarded, but she gave a slight nod. "The strongest of dragonkind may only endure ten to fifteen thousand years before our essence fades. Kalthia and I have already experienced over six millennia.""Which leaves perhaps two or three thousand more years, if we're fortunate enough to live in peace," Kalthia added, somewhat wistfully.Alex nodded seriously. "I understand. But what if I told you there's a way to naturally and safely prolong your life spans much further - without any detrimental backlash?"The two sisters exchanged a startled look. Even for beings as ancient as them, the prospect of cheating their impending demise piqued their curiosity intensely.“No
“Can't you just go see her alone? Whatever you both discuss you can let me know about it later" Kalthia came up with an excuse.Alex paused and looked at her with a side eye. “If I remember clearly, you proudly said there was nothing impossible for you to do, so why are you scared of meeting up with your sister? Moreover, you promised that there was no request you would not answer to and here you are already trying to jump bail over my first request. Tell me how I can trust a word you say in the future?"The words Alex spoke hit Kalthia's pride so hard that her pale skin showed signs of redness in response to his provocation.“You think I'm scared of that Icy lump? If it comes to a fight, I would pin her down over and over again" Kelthia expressed her anger, “In fact, let's get going, even if she has grudges higher than the universe itself, there is no need to be afraid of her”.“Perfect, then I would open up a portal right now" Alex smiled.Seeing Kalthia's reluctance to involve her
Kalthia's booming voice washed over Alex, but he paid it little mind. His eyes were wide, hands patting over his body in disbelief. The dragon's remarks about being flesh and blood barely registered."Legs? Check. Arms? Check. Head? Still attached," Alex muttered under his breath, wiggling his fingers and toes. A broad grin spread across his face as the tingling warmth of draconic essence flowed through him. He could feel every muscle, every hair on his skin. He was here - truly present in this fantastical world in a corporeal form."I...I made it. My actual self is in Elysium!" he exclaimed, clenching his fists in excitement. Kalthia watched him bemusedly as Alex stretched and bent, testing his physical mobility and sensations. Her prodigy seemed utterly absorbed in marveling at his own tangible existence here."This is amazing! If I can travel between realms like this..." Alex's voice trailed off as the implications dawned on him. He looked up at the dragon determinedly."I just n