Chapter 20

AXEL

I scanned myself hopefully it will work. I planted myself a small microchip to see if it would be detected.

"Okay," I muttered and started scanning myself. When it was near already in the part where I have planted the microchip it beep.

"It works," I muttered and smiled. I pulled out the microchip and put it aside. Now I have to find if there's something in me.

I started scanning myself from the bottom to the top. No beep at all. Should I trust my guts? Should I be trusting my father? I'll skip the medicines for now and if he ever suspected me not taking it then my plan didn't work out. I have to find another way around. With the second life I have, I want to live. I want to breath. I want to get out of here. I am aware of what's happening around me and I am sure that Kousuke knows it too. He is not dumb not to know it. But I have to obey my father's order and to focus on myself.

Outside of these walls are freedom. Yes, we have the most high technology in the world but this city is like a prison cell that is broadcast around the world. Pays money and everything just to see us the players play. And most likely they bet on us. Aside from the god game there is more game that players can play and they can see. Outside also has this things of ours. They also have VR headset to get into the game and play. Casino, racing, sex, drugs, black market and many more that includes money.

And maybe it is just I the one who knew it for now. My dad didn't told me this before but it was not my intention to hear it. I want to live. I badly want to live and get out of here. I have this second chance, I want to experience everything that I haven't done. I want to love, I want to be loved. I want to have a family, daughter or a son. I want to have a wife. I want to live a simple life. I want to experience life. Life that I haven't experience from the beginning of my existence.

'Axel, don't worry...don't worry I will not let you go. Just keep on holding on, you don't deserve this. You don't deserve this ill, this is not the end my son. I will let you live, okay? Can you hear me? Just hold on even though it takes many years. Promise me to hold on. Me and your mom will be here waiting for you. I will do everything to make you come back. There is this thing that will make you alive. I told your mom about this and told me that she'll be waiting. Rest now okay? Remember what I have told you. Have a deep sleep and condition yourself out there my son. I love you my son.'

Are you the same dad I know before dad? I feel like I can't reach you anymore. After I got reincarnated, I didn't know what happened to mom. He just told me the she was gone. What did really happen? I want to know and maybe in that abandoned portal I can see the answers.

I saw the next level of the game. The honour rise and it was like a replica game of the Killer G69 when I was fifteen. It was my favorite game of all and as I take a look at the graphics and everything I can't help but to get excited. But my objective here is not to have fun but to open the second vault. I guess my father arranged me already to have a partner and that is Kousuke. I feel like I was being compared to him.

The honour rise is nothing like the first level. It has these levels until the opponents are all wipe out and you are the only survivor. I guess I have to work with Kousuke.

The honour rise will be played tomorrow. I sighed and walk near to my window. When was the last time I saw real stars? Why is the sky so lifeless?

"Lifeless," I bitterly laughed as those word slip my tongue. It was just like me, lifeless.

I was cut out of my thoughts when someone knock.

"Who's that?" I asked and I was surprised to hear who it was.

"Kyoya"

I walked and opened the door for him. It was Kyoya, what is he doing here by the way? He was a silent guy and I have never talk to him since.

"Oh, why?" I straight to the point asking him not bothering to let him in or what.

He look at me in a bored look that irritates me. "The next game I want to be in your squad," he simply stated and started walking away.

"If you want to be in my squad do the quack dance now," I merely shouted to him. How dare he walk away from me. Do that you shit head, I don't know if you'll accept that dumb challenge and I bet you never will. I was smiling all the way as he stop at his tracks and look at me in ridiculous way. I was about to enter my room and shut the door when he immediately clap his hands and did the quack dance like a fool.

"You shit," I muttered and shut the door.

What the hell did I expect? So desparate to be in my squad. What are you planning Kyoya?

I glance at the time and it's already seven in the evening. Later the food will be delivered to us.

"The portal," I whispered and started to get nervous. Why the heck I am nervous?

My hands were cold.

I want to sneak out.

I want to go too at the abandoned portal.

I was startled when I heard a bell. It was our food.

I look at the time and maybe thirty minutes is not a bad idea. I took my contact lenses and took a pill of teleportation. It had me near in trouble upon purchasing it. One of the securities of my dad nearly caught me. I totally forgot that I was being watch all the time. My father literally don't trust me.

***

KOUSUKE

We are now in the base of Honour Rise game and just waiting for everything to be ready. We are now group into four squads. I was group with Axel and Kyoya while the other player named Kazehaya. Kazehaya is a rookie one but when I saw his stats he's a well player to be with. A smart one and at the same time a lively one. He's the only one that keeps talking and talking even though no one is listening. But I pay attention to him though.

I also notice that Axel was in a deep thought or maybe I am just making a judgement or what. He seems to be thinking something causing him not to focus in the game. I just hope he would not crack us up.

"Kazehaya?" I called and he instantly look at me with a smile on his face. I signaled him to come near me and he obliged.

"Uhm can you cheer him up?" I asked referring to Axel and when I look at Kazehaya. His expression changed into a grim one.

He look at me with his lifeless eyes and rolled his eyes. "I love my life, Kousuke. If you don't love your life anymore then do that suicidal," he answered and I can't help but to laugh a little. This guy has a humor inside of him.

Just today vice president Sebastian approached me and ask for the copy of the scroll. He said he also has the right to ask for it because it was the goal of the Olympus and that was just my task as a player. He didn't wait for my reply instead he search it immediately into my files. I was right, they have an access to us players. They can freely access into our files. I look at where he is searching and our eyes meet. I hope he was not suspecting me. Because just below on where he is now clicking is the folder where I hid the true scroll. It has atleast 10 blank folders before you can get into the firewall. Hopefully he didn't suspect anything and found the folder where the fake was. He opened and scanned it.

Honour Rise game base is nothing you could ever imagine as a player. The walls were painted in brown. Each squad has a cubicle and each player there have a VR wire headset. It was not wireless and that was I wonder why.

I was about to talk to Axel when we heard an announcement. It was the virtual female announcer.

"Hello players, I hope you are all doing well. As you can see or wonder the VR you will use right now is not wireless. It also includes a gamer helmet and glasses. As you enter here in the base you have observe that you were check-up base in your mentality and physically. Each squad are compose of four players. Once you put the gamer helmet your minds will merge. You will be able to connect with each other inside the game. So better to have a perfect team. Trust each other, talk to each other and help each other. The ultimate objective here is to unlock the second vault. Honour Rise has lots of levels before you can unlock the second vault. Do not underestimate this game. The next level will be as hard unlike the first level. If however you players fail this game, we will try again." The virtual female stated and I was surprised.

I didn't know this thing. I didn't come prepared. Our minds will merge? We will freely learn each others mind? No...no way.

They will know my secret. I look at my device to find a solution when our eyes meet.

He was smiling at me in a hideous way. What are you thinking Axel?

***

SEBASTIAN

I was looking at them and I can't help not to laugh.

"What are you thinking now, Kousuke?" I muttered as I took a sip of my liqour. I just can't help not to smile, this feeling that I have right now is great.

Kousuke Hayate, is it possible that you are his son? I can't wait for the answer. And in this game I will finally know the truth.

"Did you get the scroll?" I was cut out of my thoughts when Draco appeared out of nowhere.

I walk to where my device is and wipe the screen. Draco immediately grab and opened it.

"Save," he whispered and look at me.

"That's all I got." I shrugged my shoulders. I don't know what are we searching for from the start. I don't even know what's waiting for us.

What will happen after we open the last vault? Even Draco don't bother telling me but I have my rights, right? It doesn't hurt if I asked, right?

"I'll tell you when the time is right, Sebastian." I went numb and immediately look at him. There was a wicked smile written on his face that went me shudder.

"Y-yes, I'll wait," I answered and I hated myself from stuttering. I should be use to his aura but it seems to me that I don't really know him at all.

"How are they going?" he asked as he walk through the tinted glass window. He look at the players and his eyes were fixed at the left corner, the corner where Axel and Kousuke is.

"Everything goes to the plan, Draco," I answered and he just nodded his head.

He tap the glass and smiled wickedly.

"Kousuke Hayate," he muttered as he tapped the glass window.

What are you hiding Draco? I have given you all of me. All what I've got and yet I still can't reach you. We were best friends since we were kids but why does it seems like I just know you.

We were best if friends, his father and my father were best of friends too. Until one day Valdemort's family migrated to United States and after five years Draco came back. His father and mother died and he was sent back here in Japan and take cared by his grandmother the side of his father. I was so happy by that news and go immediately into their house but the lively Draco that I knew changed. He still smiles and play with me but in my young age I can feel that he changed.