Gabbie let her anger dissipate and averted her eyes to Jason "Don't apologize In his stead, to me he's still the one at fault" she pouted and mumbled under her breath "douche bag"
Eiden recollected Jason's words, 'People might still be after us'. Eiden had thought of a way to prove that they were still in the game but he couldn't bring himself to decide. Whenever a person, be it a player or an NPC, dies in a game, their bodies disappear, leaving behind colored fragments. If he were to stab a person to death now, will they disappear as such or will they bleed to death? He wanted to share his thoughts with the others but wasn't it too ridiculous? "Eiden!" Gabbie called for the fourth time. His mind snapped back to reality, he looked at them, their faces filled with worry. "What's the matter?" Jason asked "Yeah, you've been seeming lost lately," Derrick added; the same thing happened minutes ago at the market. Running his hand through his hair, Eiden sighed. "It's just...I don't….think we're in the game right now," he said reluctantly. He anticipated criticism and lots of questions. They stared at him, unsure of what to say. Their faces edged with unasked questions. Gabbie was the first to speak, "What do you mean, Eiden?" He paused, looked up to the seemingly real sky, and then at them again. "Think about it, relate all our encounters here with all that was said about the game back at home. Nothing adds up". His statement struck inquisitiveness in the atmosphere. "But if we're not in the game, where are we?" Derrick asked, "Wait," Gabbie said, "how did we survive the stampede?" She forgot to ask earlier because of the commotion. She didn't think they would be able to survive it. "A man saved us" Jason replied "A player?" She inquired "He's not" Though she was still confused she didn't have any more questions. Eiden's explanation hung in the air like a challenge. "If we're not in the game, then….where the hell are we!" Derrick asked again, his eyes searching the surroundings as if looking for an answer. Jason looked at Eiden, his expression thoughtful. "You know, I was kinda feeling the same way but it sounded way too ridiculous to bring up. So far, this isn't like any of the games we've played" What confused him most was the people who were meant to be NPCs; their interactions and behaviors didn't seem like they were programmed at all. Gabbie's eyes narrowed, "what are you guys talking about? Of course, we're in the game. Where else could we be?" Eiden was reluctant, his eyes darted around the alley as if fearful of being overheard. "I don't know, but think about it. We've been in this 'game' for like hours now and not a single gamer in sight, plus everywhere seems overpopulated" Derrick snorted, "You're saying we're stuck in some kind of ancient simulation or something?" Eiden shrugged, "donno what it is but I know this isn't the game we signed up for" As they sat there, the sounds of the market grew fainter, replaced by an eerie silence. It was as if the alley had become a pocket of stillness, cut off from the rest of the world. They all had different thoughts on the matter. The silence was suffocating; everyone had questions, but to whom do they refer them? "I've got it!" Jason's sudden jerk caused a startle. Their attention was drawn to him so he continued. "I just thought about it now; our systems should have a logout icon." Eiden's face illuminated, "Jason, you're right! Why didn't I think of that? If it has a logout icon, even if we aren't in the game right now, we can still get out" "Right. All we need to do now is test it" said Jason. Derrick cut in, "Okay, okay, hold on, just hold on a minute there." he looked at Jason, "You used the keyword 'system'. Why hasn't it appeared yet?" He asked. Derrick, even though a total jackass with a brazen attitude and a reputation for terrible grades, was sharp-eyed, and his ability to notice subtle details never lacked. Jason just said the word system, but nothing happened; it incited his inquisitive side. "...." Unable to answer why, he threw a look at Eiden. Gabbie responded instead, "Perhaps 'system' was the keyword for activating it for the first time only." She paused before saying "See, I just said system, and nothing happened" Their weary sighs indicated tiredness; they were hungry, exhausted from all the running, and now faced with the uncertainty of whether or not they were still in Wisher's Death game. Jason's eyes widened as his system suddenly appeared before him, the transparent blue icons and tabs flashing into existence without him saying a word. The sudden appearance was so unexpected that he leaned back, his eyes fixed on the status screen in shock. "Ah, you did it!" Derrick exclaimed, his eyes fixed on Jason's system in disbelief. Eiden's eyes lit up in excitement, "Jason, do you see the stats? Or a logout icon? Are we still in the game?" he asked hastily. Gabbie narrowed her eyes, her gaze laced with curiosity and uncertainty, "how did you do it, Jason?" She asked Jason was reluctant, she was asking him like he knew how it happened. He merely just thought about the system and it appeared before him. He wasn't sure how it happened..... "Quit spacing out and tell us how you did it," said Derrick impatiently. Jason stuttered, "I...I""I don't know how I did it; I only thought of my system, and it just appeared. Maybe we're able to summon it voluntarily through our will instead of speaking". What he said made quite the sense. "Let me try," said Derrick. They watched him. He closed his eyes and centered his mind on calling forth his system. Afterward, he opened his eyes to peek, "Did it work?" He asked and opened his eyes fully. To his satisfaction, it did. Which meant Jason was right. "Wait, Derrick, you have a quest," said Gabbie, her eyes searching all over the status screen. "Oh, this?" He let out a dry chuckle. "It popped up as soon as that Crystal thingy took you," he explained, though it sounded shabby. Her brows creased. "Why didn't you perform the quest?" She asked "My limitation, remember?" Derrick recalled, She sighed and leaned back on the wall. She was still quite lost, and the fact that they escaped the stampede didn't make much sense, but she trusted them. Back to Jason, "Is there a logout i
They spread out to different parts of the broken temple and minutes later, met back at the front yard."Couldn't find anything" Gabbie reported"Me neither," said Eiden, and the same with Jason and Derrick. The place was a total mess, debris here and there, almost like a nuclear energy was released there."What's going on here?" Someone spoke.The gang turned to face the voice, and a hint of familiarity and annoyance flashed in Derrick's eyes. "You guys again?" He sneered.The ones who bumped into him and blamed him. There were four then but now they're missing a member."You must have not learned your lesson before; this place belongs to us; it's our territory, and I'll forgive you if you apologize and leave," said the guy who stood at the front."That's a whole load of crap—" Derrick moved forward but Eiden blocked his path. Derrick must have forgotten, these weren't NPCs but actual people. People who threatened to have them hanged."We're not here to cause trouble, we'll leave calm
What are you planning to do?" Jason asked with furrowed brows.Gabbie gave him a sideways glance, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "You know exactly what I'm planning to do," she said, a sly smile spreading across her face.Jason's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "You can't be serious! You're going to use your special skill, aren't you?"She smirked. Her system wanted her to bruise three people….almost like it knew their current situation. She just happened to have a skill, one where she could take control of people's minds and turn them into her puppets…how convenient."You know it. I'm going to teach these knuckleheads some lessons."Eiden's eyes narrowed. "Gabbie, that's not a good idea. You haven't even mastered it yet, how are you sure it'll work?."Gabbie was undeterred. She had a score to settle with these guys for embarrassing Eiden, and she was going to enjoy every moment of it."You can't!" Jason objected, "w..what about your limitation?"Gabbie's eyes t
With one thought, her system disappeared. She faced the three and pouted, "Alright, alright, I'll let them off this time easily."She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and exhaled slowly. A fist hung right above Zhiheng's face, they stopped fighting and the glow in their eyes vanished. Disoriented and in excruciating pain, they tried to recollect themselves. They couldn't remember anything right after Gabbie took a position in front.She couldn't have done this, they reassured themselves; she was just a woman, after all. Women had no right to stand before men, more or less beat up three.They stared at her with fright. The mischievous look that lingered in her eyes spoke of her evil nature and cruelty. They were fine minutes ago, how did they end up in bruises?Without being told, they ran away frightened.Gabbie waved them off while grinning, "Bye-bye, little piggies." She had fun, yes but she never forgot her skill limit."This might not end well" Eiden sighed."Derrick", Gabbie
"Um…who are you?" Gabbie asked.The girl stood gracefully, adorned in traditional Chinese maiden attire that betoned her delicate features. Her long brown hair was braided and swept to one side, revealing a porcelain complexion and striking crimson-red eyes that showed excitement.Her slender figure and calm demeanor evoked a sense of vulnerability, yet, those eyes carried a hint of wisdom and hidden potential.She bowed slightly, "Pardon me, my name is Kora, Kora DoHyun".Gabbie exchanged glances with the other before looking at DoHyun. "Nice name," she said. "What do you mean by 'I'm just like you', I don't get it"DoHyun smiled widely. "You and I, we are products of the goddess's compassion. Just as the goddess gave me the power to control fire at will, she gave you the power of mind control. You and I are the same, do you get it?" "Uh-huh…" Gabbie nodded while squinting, she understood nothing."What do you mean by that?" Jason asked, Gabbie's mind manipulation was a special play
They glanced at each other, "a flower maiden?" Gabbie repeated her words. 'Is that why she keeps emitting flower scents?' Eiden asked inwardly. DoHyun nodded "Flower maidens aren't supposed to leave the night bloom garden for whatever reason but I can't train inside so I created this secret passway" "Creative", Derrick nodded with an acknowledging smirk. "Outsiders apart from nobles and the imperial family are not allowed in" she added "And if we get caught?" Jason asked She stopped smiling "If we get caught, I'll be hanged, and you four will be decapitated for encroachment." Her words changed their expressions, but she assured them, "But that won't happen; I'll make sure it doesn't." Still feeling uneasy, Derrick forced a smile. "Haha, we trust you, flame princess." the rest nodded in agreement…. the rest except Jason. One at a time, they went through the secret passage. DoHyun kept her word, although they kept running into guards and other maidens of the garden.
Minutes later….. "May we come in now?" Asked DoHyun as she stood outside of her dressing space. Gabbie was beside her, beaming with excitement. She couldn't wait to see them. There weren't any males in the night bloom garden; the flower maidens were all females, and they had to wear pretty dresses if they valued their lives. Leaving them unattended in DoHyun's chambers wasn't an option, servants who clean up every now and then might come in and find them. Pretending they're maidens was the only way. The door creaked open slowly; once it opened, there was a short silence before Gabbie snorted….."HA!" Gabbie pointed and laughed out loudly upon seeing them. Their faces turned red as she laughed uncontrollably, holding her stomach and pointing. "HAHAHA…!" "Gosh, Gabbie," Jason folded his arms. Jason in a blue bob wig, Derrick wearing long wavy red hair, and Eiden in shoulder-length yellow hair, the three of them stood in shame; their red faces were covered in a way only their eyes
In the underbelly of a bustling city while the sunset. A squad of teenagers sat while rummaging through their bags in an alley between two tall apartment buildings.They were what society often referred to as rebels, though they weren't. One could tell from their distressed looks that things weren't going the way they planned.“I hope it's enough this time,” Jason, a tall blonde-haired guy with blue-hue eyes, groaned.The rest shared his thoughts. They've been involved in different and extreme part-time jobs to save enough money for something they deemed crucial. It was really important to them. Gabbie, the only girl in their group, dropped the stack of money she was counting. Her expression spoke the very thing the rest didn't want to hear.“We've already gathered so many, it's just remaining one-third” she assured them, trying to sound hopeful.Derrick sighed into the cold air, cursing “This is so damn overwhelming, I can't even