Encounter

//LEVEL PASSED//

The marks on my arm and neck were dissolving into my sword tattoo 'The devil king.....human blood and master?' these words kept replaying in my head, something didn't make any sense.

"Ace! You're alive!" Akemi exclaimed, "Haha yeah," I said while ruffling my hair, "What happened to the figure that opened the portal?" I asked, "He vanished," Akemi said.

//PLAYERS TAKE SOME REST//

//REST AREA WILL BE SHARED WITH OTHER PLAYERS. TO PROCEED FOLLOW THE ARROW//

'Other players that means...….Felix....' I thought, ever since we were trapped in this game I was worried about him, I don't know what happened to him I just hope he's alive.

Akemi looked at me with cute doe eyes, "Can we rest please?" "Sure," I said. Both of us followed the arrow out of the forest, the arrow led us to a mansion.

The mansion was huge, there were two large and heavy gates guarded by two foxes, "Akemi, long time no see....." one fox said, "Hey" Akemi said bitterly, "Last time you were here with a completely different person....oh wait he died!" The other sniggered.

I could see Akemi's eyes were filled with tears, I knew he was uncomfortable with these two, "Shut up," I said, "Oh god! You must get away from Akemi, he manages to kill every single person who becomes his master, HE'S A MURDERER!" One fox exclaimed while the other laughed, Akemi hid himself behind me.

"I said SHUT UP!" I yelled, Both of them instantly zipped their mouths and let us through.

As we entered I noticed Akemi becoming uncomfortable and distant, "You know you don't have to worry about me believing them also don't keep any secrets from me, we're friends," I said trying to lighten the intense atmosphere, "Ace, it's true...…..every single one of my masters have died," "Well to be fair, I've only had one master...….he was...…just like you in a way," I tilted my head in confusion.

"Me?" "Yeah, his strategic ability, the way he fought and he also wielded the Blade Of Shadows," "So were there any other wielders except him and me?" "No...in fact you're the second wielder."

We both walked inside the huge mansion, 'Felix.....' I thought I was worried for him. I had no idea where he was or if he was even alive.

As soon as we walked in there were hundreds and hundreds of players with their creatures. There were more players than I thought but none of them were Felix...….

Suddenly I felt someone's hand on my shoulder, "Hey Ace!" A familiar voice said, "Felix?" "Yeah you dummy," I turned around and I saw Felix smiling.

I sighed in relief, "You made it past level 2 huh," he said, I hummed in response.

I looked around the room and I thought I saw a black hooded figure, "Felix!" A voice called out, "Yeah?" "Who is he?" A guy said while pointing a finger at me 'Rude,' I thought, "Oh Suho this is Ace and Ace this is Suho," I smiled but he just scoffed.

I could see Akemi glaring at him and then me trying to give me a signal that something wasn't right.

"We aren't here to make friends you know," Suho said, "Well aware...." Felix replied, "Well, I guess I'm off," Felix said, "Bye...." I mumbled.

"Looks like we have competition," Akemi said, "Huh what?" "While you were having your little chit-chat I took the liberty to figure out what awaits us on level three," "Go on," "We need to get two potions and if we do we can directly advance to level ten and if we don't we have to face a punishment level," "Right so we have to find two potions?" "Mhm," "Then let's go!" I exclaimed.

Akemi shook his head, "Not so fast," he said, "Why not?" "Was it just me or did you also see a black hooded figure?" "I thought I saw one," I replied, "The figure's scent, it was just like the devil king's scent and Felix's scent seemed to match," Akemi said, "I don't understand what are you trying to say?" "The person you were just talking to wasn't Felix."

"Then who is he?" "I have a feeling the figure and the devil king are connected," Akemi said, "Wait a minute, how do you know the devil king's scent?" "My previous master and I fought the devil king....at that time I couldn't come out of the void," Akemi said, "And what does the figure's scent and the devil king's scent have to do with this level?" I asked.

"They're after you...…." "Because I have the blade of shadows?" "No, because of your power," "My power? What do you mean by that?" "You'll figure it out later, but for now....don't interact with anyone." "But I slayed the devil king...." "There was someone in the void...they were watching you kill the devil king. They would've been doing an analysis on your powers....to eliminate you in this round."

//PLAYERS WILL PROCEED TO THE EMERALD REALM TO PLAY THIS LEVEL, THERE ARE TWO POTIONS, RUBY AND CRYSTAL. THERE ARE TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX PLAYERS IN ALL, THE NUMBER OF RUBY POTIONS=100 AND CRYSTAL POTIONS=116.....EACH PLAYER WILL GET ONE RANDOM POTION AND THE OTHER PLAYERS WON'T KNOW WHICH PLAYER HAS WHICH POTION. GOOD LUCK!!//

**Meanwhile**

A man was tied to a chair and there were two people in front of him, "Master he's here, our lead assassin" "Found him," XXXXX said "Good..." "Get rid of this man for me XXXXX he knows too much," XXXXX sniggered, 'So now he's killing innocent people huh...…I wonder what happens if I make a move on him now?' XXXXX raised his blade and killed the man.

Blood was on the floor and on XXXXX's blade, 'Interesting....dragon blood,' XXXXX thought.

XXXXX smirked, "I found Ace," he said while letting out a dark chuckle, "Then you know what to do, we'll stick to the plan....also I want to see Ace's death," "Sure thing..." 'If you're even alive,' XXXXX thought. "Level three is about to start," "Well then, you may go and ensure you kill him," "Oh I will," XXXXX said.