Fate or Choice (III)

Real World Hidden Quest: Alpha Division individual quest The player's portion has been completed.

The door has been closed with all the team members completing their tasks. Unexpected blood has been spilled, tainting the soil of the school. With the death of two, it is possible to reopen the door with specific requirements. It is best to leave the door closed and never be found again. Be wary of your surroundings.

Total Individual Quest that needs to be completed 3333 worldwide. 2353/3333 completed at this time.

Quest Level: B

Reward: Prize money has been sent to your bank account of $200 and is a rare accessory for your character.

The message that appeared before him turned staticky as an error message appeared.

Error! Error! All recordings of the Real World Hidden Quest: Alpha Division individual quest have been corrupted. An unknown Devil's Virus has been sent to your device. All personal details and files are being downloaded.

Kiyro was in complete shock. He didn't know what to do at this time. He didn't know how where the Virus even came from. A large downloading screen could be seen before him, downloading all his information. "What the hell's going on?" He was in a panic. Whatever was happening at this moment was making him sweat with fear.

This was a moment in life; he could do nothing. He wasn't a computer genius to be able to hack into his Alive gear. He only knew the basics of computer coding and hacking.

The downloading bar got dangerously closer and closer to completion, scrambling his Alive gear into chaos. Then, another message appeared before him, overwritten on top of all this chaos.

Angel's Quest has been completed.

Reward activation of the first stage of the Seed and Angel's blessing has interfered with the Virus. Vaccination of the Virus against your Alive gear has been created. All data download has been halted and destroyed. You have acquired a Soul stone. Be wary of the stone, for it is tainted by evil.

A seed has been activated.

The first growth period of the Seed Sprout has been released. In addition, the seed skill of Telepathy has been learned.

Telepathy

Beginner level.

There are two parts to this ability. The first ability is that you can read the opponent's mind for three seconds. Only the basic surface thoughts could be read in real life and in-game life. Mental energy is needed to activate your ability. Train in meditation to work on increasing your mental power.

Second skill in-game, you can see the basic information window of your opponents. The chance of success is 50%

Kiyro felt a sharp migraine in his head. He stumbled around, trying to get a grip. He brought up his hands to quell the stinging pain. Then, just as it appeared, the pain disappeared in seconds. Looking around, he noticed he had arrived at the entrance of the college building.

He was alone at the entrance, confused about how he got there. Not a single sight of students roamed the campus ground.

"Young man!" A man yelled at him.

Kiyro whipped around to see who was calling him. He noticed that it was the janitor that he had helped clean up the mess on the floor.

"Old man, what are you doing out here? I was looking for you when you disappeared."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave in such a hurry. I had something of

importance to take care of. I knew you would finish the job." The old man smiled.

"You used me." Kiyro frowned. He didn't mind helping the old man, but he felt like he was tricked.

"No. No. I really did have a back problem. I wanted to say thank you and searched for you, but you weren't there when I returned."

"For real?" Kiyro looked at him skeptically.

"Yes. I didn't mean to leave so abruptly. I'm sorry, and thank you." The old man bowed. He came forward and shook his hands, leaving behind something in his hands. "You are the seeded child. I'm glad that she picked you."

"Seeded child? Excuse me?"

"Don't worry. You'll know later on but before that. I suggest you throw that stone in a river." The old man pointed toward Kiyro's pocket. Kiyro stared at him, baffled at how the old man knew. Then, rummaging it out, he showed him the stone he had stolen from the masked man and handed it to him.

"No. No. I will not touch it, for the few who can touch it and not be contaminated by its evil presence are people like you." The old man pushed the stone towards Kiyro and folded it in Kiyro's hands.

"What are you talking about? It's just a stone."

"Kuhuhu. A stone, he said." The old man chuckled. "It is no ordinary stone."

"What are you talking about? Are you saying it's some kind of magical stone?"

"You could say something like that, but…."

"Come on. That sounds so unbelievable."

"If the world were truly unbelievable, then such a thing would not have been made."

"Okay. If you say, it is a magical stone. What can it do? Grant wishes?" said Kiyro sarcastically. He just couldn't believe a stone could be magical.

"No, nothing like that." The old man burst out laughing." It captures souls of the dead."

"What?!" Kiyro almost dropped the stone to the ground. He felt uneasy that the stone had a dead person's soul harboring in it. "You jest right?"

"You saw what had happened to a dead soul with the two students. I know you can see."

"How?" Kiyro stepped back. He was shocked to be found out so quickly and unexpectedly. How could such an old man know such an ability that he had? "W-what are you talking about?"

"You know what I mean. You can see the dead. It seems you have had this ability since birth."

"How did you know?" gasped Kiyro.

"There are usually three ways a person can be gifted or, as some people see it, a curse. The first is that they are born with it, the second, someone or something helps awaken it, or third, a fatal accident happens that forces it open. For me, I was in a fatal accident that allowed me to be able to sense the truth that not many people can. You can say gut instincts, or should I say clairsentience. Either way, something that awakens is not easily taken. It's either forced back or blocked. Don't worry. Everything has a reason."

"Wait. Wait. What if I want a normal life? Isn't this something that was forced upon me? Can't whoever take this back?"

The old man laughed, "Everything has a reason. One day you will know why."

"This is crazy talk. I don't believe you."

"Denial is always the first reaction to hearing something they don't want. Later it becomes accepted. Why don't you try your new ability if you don't believe me? What was it...ah yes. Telepathy."

Kiyro was baffled. "How?"

The old man smiled. "I just know. Come on. All it takes is concentration, relaxation, and belief."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I am."

"Ask me a question."

Kiyro was having trouble believing, but he was still curious about what he could do. "How old are you?"

The old man grinned mischievously, "I have the answer in my head. Don't guess. All it takes is a peek into this old mind."

"I'm not sure I could do this."

"Don't worry. You'll be able to."

"How are you so sure?"

"Quit asking and just do it." The old man crossed his arms, waiting impatiently at his denial.

"Fine." Kiyro sighed. His hands were nervously rubbing against each other, wondering if what the old man had said was true. He stared straight into the old man's eyes and waited patiently. His mind at first ran wild with hundreds of different numbers until a loud voice-like sound echoed continuously in his head. 349. 349. 349. 349. 349.

349? Is that really his age? Kiyro couldn't believe he was that old. Nowadays, the average man's lifespan is around 100 years old.

"I can tell you have found your answer," the old man cut his concentration like a sword. "Go ahead. Tell me. I'm all ears."

Kiyro was hesitant about speaking what he had to say. 349 years old was a farfetched answer at this time, but today's ordeal was strange. Closing gates, a murder that they stumbled onto, a soul-sucking stone, and now an old man who was 349 years old. What's wrong with one more crazy thing that happened today?

\

"349?"

"Why do you say it like that? Come on. Be more confident."

"349."

The old man slapped his hands against his head and sighed.

"What? I told you I couldn't do it. Telepathy. What kind of nonsense are we spouting?"