CHAPTER 12

The battle started and the girl called Heloise had for a weapon a spear. Alan wasn't very worried about Ashley because he knew that she was stronger than Heloise. However he couldn't avoid knitting his brows. Heloise definitely had trouble keeping up with Ashley but she was fighting with the intention to kill Ashley.

The black eyes of Alan turned cold and Dustin who was beside him swallowed nervously. Heloise was someone that they met in the real world. She was a talented worker so Alan maintained her beside him even though he realized that Heloise was in love with him. She never did something to hurt Alan. But this time Alan can see clearly that she wants to hurt Ashley. Alan can't allow it. He had already warned all the team that everyone had to be respectful with Ashley. But Heloise ignored his order.

Heloise was very angry at this moment. She wants to destroy the beautiful face of this bitch but this woman is stronger than she imagined. She can feel the angry look of Alan too. Why? Why couldn't he look at her with a soft gaze like this woman? What does she have that I don't have? Heloise's heart filled with hate and rancour. This woman has to die. She must die.

The attack of Heloise turned vicious. She aimed at the heart, head, eyes, legs of Ashley. Ashley noticed that Heloise is careless in her defense so Ashley attacks quickly with her sword. Her succession of attacks couldn't be stopped by Heloise so Ashley manages to disarm her and aimed at Heloise's neck. The place was silent for a moment, before it broke into cheers.

Heloise's eyes trembled with incredulity when the arbitrator announced.

—The winner is Miss Ashley!! — Ashley sheathed her sword and turns around.

—No...this isn't possible...— Ashley ignored the murmuring of Heloise and walked towards Alan and Leila.

—No!! — The suddenly screaming catch by surprise Ashley. She looks at Heloise and sees her running towards her with a dagger.

Ashley didn't think that this woman could be so mad to attack her after a fair battle in front of all those people. Ashley put her hand on the hilt of her sword but she stopped her movements when she realized that a liquid dripped by the edge of the dagger.

—That is...— Ashley was astonished and she didn't take out her sword on time. Ashley saw that she wasn't in time to use her sword so she was going to use her magic. But another person intervened before Ashley can do something.

A man of gold hair was standing in front of Ashley with a long black sword in his hand. The dagger of Heloise broke in pieces after he waved his sword. Alan seemed very angry at this moment and Heloise shivered with fear after she sees Alan's eyes angry.

—How dare you? Heloise — Alan's cold eyes cut Heloise like a knife —You know who she is and even though you still dare to try to hurt her — Heloise trembled as she remembers the true identity of Ashley.

—...I'm sorry….— Heloise started to cry. She really doesn't understand what happened to her. She knew who this girl was. She is the daughter of the person who helped her in the past. She was very similar to the deceased Mrs. She knew this but she cannot control her hate.

—...I'm sorry...— It was the only thing she could say. Alan looked at her coldly.

—From this moment on you will be expelled from the team —Heloise saw Alan with incredulity.

—Please...not…— Alan ignored her plea.

—I don't need a person like you — Heloise sobbed harder at Alan's words.

—Alan...— Ashley calls him carefully. Alan looks at her and Heloise too. Heloise still feels hostility by her. But she asked himself too. Why didn't I control my feelings? I had promised to help find this girl. She was someone important for the Mrs.

Ashley opened her mouth to say something but at that moment. Heloise began to disappear from the site. She was using a parchment of teleportation. It was so expensive but it can save lives in a bad situation. But Ashley noticed something strange. Why does she seem so scared? It seems that she had been teleporting to hell. Heloise disappeared and the tournament finished with a strange event.

***

Ashley was sitting on a small hill enjoying the breeze. A person walked close to her and sat next to her.

—Alan...— Ashley doesn't look at him and continues seeing the landscape while she talks.

—Do you want to say something? —Alan took a sigh.

—Yes...I need to tell you something— Ashley nodded.

—Tell me…

—Ashley...I...I...— It is the first time Ashley sees Alan nervous.

—I know who your parents are...— Ashley freezed with the unexpected information.

—What...? — Ashley said to Alan in shock. Alan avoids Ashley's eyes and says.

—Your mother was the descendant of a big family. They controlled much of the technology industry. She never had a good relationship with her husband and his family. So they only had one child. You —Ashley's eyes trembling while she listened.

—However, on the day of your birth, someone kidnapped you and disappeared. Your mother had suspicion of her husband but she can't do anything because she was still too weak. After she recovered a bit she searched for you but she never can find you. Everyone believed that you are already dead. But your mother didn't surrender. Even though she saved me from the streets she continued to look for you. Unfortunately, her health wasn't good and she falled ill. She knew that she didn't have more time, so she gave me the control of the family with only one condition. Find you. I have been searching for you for a long time, however I can only find you here. In the dungeon I recognized you immediately because you were very similar to your mother —Alan took a lock of her platinum hair saying —It's the reason because I saved you. You were a child loved by your mother...Ash— The tears falling from the blue eyes of Ashley by listening to the words she always wished to hear.

Ashley grabbed the clothes of Alan meanwhile she cried inconsolably. Alan caresses her hair gently while he makes a promise. I found Ashley, it was my promise to Johanne. It was only a way to return the generosity of her. But now I want to do one on my own. I'm going to protect this girl. Because she became someone important to me.

***

Two months had passed after the tournament. Ashley, Leila and Alan had been searching for the creator of the poison that Heloise used against Ashley. There was something strange with it because it's true that other players had created poison but each one has their personal style. But the poisonous liquid that Heloise used was almost the same that Ashley had created. It has only one difference: it was made to kill. Alan didn't find trails of Heloise either. It is as if she had vanished.

On the other hand there isn't too much to do with this case since the attacks in the cities by monsters have increased. The people were in panic. The guilds were contracted to eliminate those monsters and protect the cities but no one can find who was the people that had been doing this.

Today Dustin and I are monitoring the security in the region of Ivar. The both guilds had been working together sometimes after the tournament. I made a group with Dustin for this operation. The rest went to the cities that have more chances to be attacked. According to the trajectory of the attacks until now. One of the cities that Alan, Leila and Bennet are monitoring is more likely to be attacked. The next is this. Ivar.The attacks took place mostly at night.

But Midnight fell and we still don't have news. At that moment one device of communication rang Dustin answered relaxed but a moment after he listened the message his face turned pale and He went out running in search of Ashley.

—Ashley! — She was making a round when she saw Dustin arrive without breath.

—What happened? —Ashley got nervous. If Dustin seems too agitated it only means one thing. Troubles.

—I have news of the other cities… —Dustin took a deep sigh and said with trembling eyes —All of them are being attacked at the same time —Ashley could see worry in his eyes in this moment. She closes her eyes while she clenches her fists.

—And… — Is there another thing? — The monster will also attack here — Bastards! Ashley is very annoyed at this moment.

—We need to prepare for the attack. We are alone for this battle — Dustin said with a trembling voice.