"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 icon?" Eiden repeated his words. Jason threw him an uneasy look. "Hey" Gabbie called out to Jason "if it turns out there's a logout icon and we're still in the game, then—" Jason cut in "I'll be out. Don't worry about me" She felt slightly inflicted by his words but remained silent. Jason faced his system. He was well determined to try it out. Whether or not they're still in the game relies on Jason's sacrifice. If he logs out then that means the others can come out when they feel like it. "system logout," he said and paused. [Invalid command], the system showed a warning with a light buzz sound. Jason furrowed his brows and uneasiness spread through to the rest of them. He repeated, "System, log.out." he said slowly this time. Same warning sign and buzz sound [invalid command]. Pissed, Derrick went closer. "HE SAID SYSTEM LOGOUT! GODDAMMIT!" but nothing happened, the system didn't respond to his voice. Unsure of his next move, he sat back down and chuckled wearily "I was right," he said, "we're stuck here". The words felt like a dead weight on everyone's shoulders, how did they get here? Why? Was it fate? They all sat in silence, lamenting. The words Derrick spoke, though they were plain, meant a whole lot more to the situation they were in. "No, I can't be stuck here" Gabbie's voice broke in a whisper. Gabbie Kains, daughter of a renowned lawyer and a famous journalist. Her parents wanted her to aspire to these two fields, but Gabbie wasn't interested in either. She hated that her parents tried to force their ambitions on her for the reason "they're afraid she would disgrace the family's name." She wanted to be the best gamer out there, so instead of studying, she would sit behind her computer almost every day. Luckily for her, she found people who had similar interests to hers. She couldn't afford to be stuck there, she didn't even inform her parents about her short trip to Stripe's VR store. She planned to return late and make up an excuse, but now, How was she supposed to do that? Eiden's burden was far heavier; his mind kept drifting to his mom, to whom he promised that he would be back to join her for dinner. What if she starts thinking that he ran away, abandoning her just like her family and relatives did? They just had to crave the game so badly and now they can't escape this labyrinth. Eiden's mind snapped, if this is all real, does it mean that if they hadn't been saved by that man, would they have died actual deaths? The thought of it was terrifying. Now what? Derrick stood up; all eyes were now on him except Eiden, who kept his head hung low. "What are we going to do now?" He asked, "Are we just going to sit here and do nothing?" He asked again, he clenched his fists. "Is there anything we can do?" Jason asked "I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting out of here." Derrick's newfound hope was a bit edged. Eiden looked up at him, his clenched jaw and his dark gaze. The seriousness in his eyes was completely in contrast with his normal, playful look. He continued, "I just bought tickets to see the live concert of my favorite band which is happening next week, I don't know what all this is about but I'm leaving this place and attending that concert" Funny enough, his little speech was just enough to get the gang up in spirit again. The atmosphere lightened a little. "You little douchebag, we're in a serious situation, and you're talking about a concert," Gabbie hissed. Derrick turned to her, "You want to leave here too, right?" She nodded at his question. "Then you better find your motivation," said Derrick. Eiden let out a dry laugh, "to think you'd be the one telling us this." he stood up, smiling. He just found his motivation, he must make it just in time to join his mother for dinner. Their spirits were up again; Derrick swore to attend the concert, Gabbie desired to make it home in one piece, and Eiden wanted to see his mother again; as for Jason? He just wanted to make it out and survive with his friends. They stood up with fresh zeal. One of the doors on the alley wall suddenly creaked open. A chubby woman holding a trash bag walked out. She was dressed in a formal maiden attire made of fine silk and vibrant colors; she looked beautiful, and her big eyes spoke innocence. Once her gaze landed on the four, she scrunched up her face in disgust and spite. Without a word, she dumped her trash in the alley where they stood and walked back in. They didn't hear any sounds before, but a woman spoke loudly, "Darling, you must chase the beggars away, they might tear the rubbish bag and leave dirt all over the place." It was most likely the chubby woman who saw them. She spoke loudly as if to make sure they heard her. What Eiden and his friends were oblivious of is that ornate accessories and silk fabric were evidence of living a high-status life. She must have thought them to be beggars seeing as their clothes weren't as flashy. Eiden dressed in an old gray hoodie worn-out jeans, and used-to-be white sneakers. Gabbie, on a green crop top, brown mini skirt, and black boots. Jason, wearing a blue sleeve shirt, plain black trousers and wristband, and lastly Derrick, short sleeve blue T-shirt, and blue jeans. Casual from where they originated from but considered beggars' clothing here. "I think we'd better leave here," Jason suggested and they nodded in agreement. They feared going out of the alley; thankfully, the dead end of the alley had a broken exit that they could squeeze through. "Shitty ass woman" Derrick cursed while he crawled through. She looked so cute and innocent, but her face changed immediately when she saw them. Such a superficial individual. Their broken exit was an entrance, an entrance to the front yard of an old abandoned temple. The entrance was blocked with huge rocks, and the place was downright wrecked; it could have been a great equipment hub if it were a game. "What do you guys think, do we search the place?" Jason asked. Gabbie shrugged, "I don't see any harm". 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.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
Eiden met his friends on a long line leading out of Stripe's VR store. At the beginning of the year, it was just like any normal game store, but when The Wisher's Death became available there, its popularity sprung up. The owner, being greedy, decided to increase the price of the game every four weeks.The people at the back of the line were already setting up camp, everyone wanted a chance.“Eiden!” Jason called out to his attention. Of all of them, Jason was the closest to Eiden.“You made it” Derrick punched his shoulder in a friendly gesture.“Wouldn't miss it for the world,” Eiden said.Derrick and Gabbie were the first to arrive, followed by Jason. They got into the line and kept a waiting space for Eiden.The line kept moving and the four engaged in trivial chatter.“I'm still bothered about when we took..you know what..from..you know who,” said Gabbie, her voice laced with guilt.Derrick smiled, “the saying i