Late Night Talk About the Past

(Denzel's POV):

I woke up and saw the roof of my bedroom with shining moonlight...

"A dream huh. Where's Rika?"

I noticed that Rika wasn't in my bed for some reason. I checked my surroundings and saw the lights in the restroom were lit up. She's in the rest room I guess.

I stood up and opened the closet where I had prepared all of my materials. Multiple mobile magic storage rings were lined up with different colors to organize the food and other needs for the search on Lester. I yawned once and noticed that the moon just started rising up. I reorganized the necessity level of each ring and lined them up in order from left to right. The five rings that hold a separate magic storage contained food and refreshments, Ashley's potions, our tools, some materials, and extra weapons respectively.

I then returned to my bed while yawning and entered deep thought.

I wonder about my real body right now... It's been a year since we first entered this world. We lived our lives with bountiful progress, gone through thick and thin, survived the wars, and invading monsters. Michael has gone through the crimson biome and has looted the deep hearts of the biome filled with nothing but blood and tissues. Seymour checked the corruption biome and fought against a small army of more than two hundred people. After that, he fought the underground monster of the biome. A giant worm called: Eater of Worlds. While me, I got immersed in creating this Crystal Palace.

I didn't really make much progress into our journey of completing this entire game. It's like I'm the useless one here. But then, I think I have to become useful sooner or later. Michael, Robin, and Seymour are working hard to finish the game as fast as we can without messing up. Michael specially, he's currently inside the jungle with his new friends to make some progress. And then here, I'm worrying about other affairs such as saving other people. Seymour doesn't seem to mind my actions but I feel guilty of being not helpful for our progression in the game.

All I can say is that, the dungeon will give us some hints to further push into the game. Facing the guardian alone may be suicide, but I think I can do it alone. But I am definitely going to doubt that. I would be joining Seymour, Robin, Mitch, Karl, and Ross in this expedition. I'll ask him if I could bring Malech and William at least. I'm a little guilty of straining these two most of the time. But then, everyone's amazing.

Some time had passed since I started having doubts over myself. I raised my body to a sitting position, and it's only now I heard a voice.

"Can't sleep Zel?" - Rika

I turned my head to the owner of the familiar voice. Rika was sitting beside me who seems to be looking for an opportunity to say something.

"Ah! Well, I saw a dream about the world outside this one."

"You mean, the world where we used to live in?" - Rika

"Yeah, it was just my past that's not exactly a good place."

"It's the first time I heard this." - Rika

Rika was confused about the new story I just mentioned, but she was still interested nonetheless. I looked towards the moon that shined brightly and became reminiscent.

"At a very young age, I became an orphan surviving in my own home. I had no one to talk to, nor anyone that will support me."

"Wh-what about your relatives?!" - Rika

"They left me too, they were somewhat scared of my behavior or so."

"W-what are they scared of?" - Rika

Rika continued to probe in further but I more or less hid my current past for the time being.

"Well, the reason why I was abandoned was because I am showing behaviors of psychopathy."

"Psychopathy?" - Rika

"Ah, basically have a huge personality disorder that doesn't really fit into the society as it involves bloodthirst or so."

"Really? Then what happened to you?" - Rika

"Ah, well... I just tried to live alone, everything was disorganized and I was slowly going insane. Thankfully, Bella's group just arrives to the place sometimes to keep me in check and clean up the house at times."

"But what happens when you're all alone?" - Rika

"Well, of course I'd slowly spiral down into insanity."

"That is-!" - Rika

"Horrible? I know that, I've been surviving for more than a decade all alone at my house. Later down the line I met Seymour and got introduced as a powerful member so I think I'm alright for good."

"I see... I don't particularly understand how you managed to stay alive despite everything being against you." - Rika

"True, until then I sustained various kinds of injuries throughout my entire body. Always bleeding myself down without even caring about myself. Wishing to die and continuously cursing over my misfortune. After meeting Seymour's group, I somewhat reformed so I don't really have much to complain. My life was fixed and now I'm pretty much a loyalist?"

"So, what happened during your reformation?" - Rika

"Nothing big, I got myself trained or so, getting beaten around everyday."

"Why?! Was he doing something bad?!" - Rika

"Calm down, calm down, it wasn't something big! It's just some sparring!"

"Really? Phew... I was honestly worried that he was just torturing you daily..." - Rika

"Torturing? Not a chance! Jeez... You're such a worrywart at times."

I pinched Rika's cheek while laughing off the absurd scene in her mind. Honestly, it does sound like me getting beaten up by Seymour every single day but I have to train to learn defense at the very least.

"Say, I honestly thought he was just using you for his own gain..." - Rika

"Huh?"

"Seriously, last time he said something like experiment being a success..." - Rika

"Ah, those experiments that we can't really understand what he meant? Yeah, those are for preparation and I'm the best subject that volunteered for him."

"You, really are tough." - Rika

"Yep, which is why I can survive something like fighting against Chrominus with his clones alone. Or maybe survive a sparring session with Seymour who would use at least half his power."

"You say it like he's weaker than Seymour." - Rika

Rika looks at me with suspicious eyes and seems to doubt the strength of Seymour.

"Look here, I did almost die against Chrominus but against Seymour? I lost half my health just to deal around a tenth of his. I seriously don't stand a chance."

"Ahahaha, that's right I guess. Anyways, you're quite an impressive person to survive a living hell like that." - Rika

"Really? Thank the heavens I met a person like you who could be this open and worried about me. I don't regret anything in regards to my past anymore."

"So how did you enter this virtual space?" - Rika

"Well, in all honesty Seymour just holds an entire company into his arms. So we didn't really have much of an issue when it comes to the money. Right now though, I pretty much miss the outside world where I could just watch tv and go out for some nice french cuisine restaurant."

"You miss it that much huh? I wanted to be able to head for such an expensive restaurant with you soon but I'm not so sure how my parents would react if I get someone who was formerly suicidal turning into a high-income person." - Rika

"If that's the case wanna join? There might be some light talk with your parents but I don't really have an issue about it. I'll just ensure that they'll be fine with leaving you to me."

Rika turns towards me with interest and shock. She seems to be up for it.

"I'll think about it, let's sleep for now. You have some mission to complete." - Rika

"Right, I should go with enough sleep."

The two of us slept and hugged each other while sleeping. While immersing myself with her soft body, I suddenly gained an ominous feeling that it will be the last. I shrugged it off and went to sleep.

=============================================

Me and Rika woke up a little bit earlier before the sunrise, Rika helped me prepare myself as I change and prepare all the things I needed for the rescue mission.

We then moved down to the ground floor and waited for everyone else. One by one they arrive to the ground floor with Seymour being the last.

"Alright Denz, leave this place to me. I'll be sure nothing bad will happen inside this palace while you're out." - Seymour

"Got it, I'll leave this to you..."

Seymour returned the blue coin yesterday so I can officially pass it to him as proof of handing over the palace to him.

I flicked the coin over to him which he caught easily.

"Be careful on your mission, Denzel." - Seymour

"Take care Zel!" - Rika

"Take care everyone!" - Jilean

"Take care!" - Angel

"Good luck Denz." - Bella

"Keep safe bros." - Jerald

I turned to my left where Malech, William, and Isaac are standing. They smiled at me as if determined. I then turned towards my right where Gayle, Thrish, Ashley and Lilith are standing. They smiled in a similar manner as I turn back towards the people who will be waiting for our return.

"We'll be back!"

We then set off on an emergency journey which I have a bad feeling about.