Phantom of the Rave

Where's Lucy? Where has she gone? She was right behind me this whole time. I sober up a little as I search through the crowds but I can't find her. There are millions of people here. It's impossible to find her. I can't call for her name or anything because of the loud music. I know, I can search from above. With the help of Shadowclutch, I lift myself to a higher view and scan the faces of the people.

Lucy's face. . . What's her face again? I can't picture it. I feel I'll know when I see her. This doesn't work at all, not to mention I can't focus my eyes on one spot, say, on the face of a person. Ugh. . . I don't wanna drink again.

"Hey!" a guy says, wrapping me around his left arm. His other hand is holding a vape. He sips so deep then exhales on my face as he says, "I don't care if you're the Queen's husband," His breath is horrible even for my demon nose. "but ya gotta follow the rules, man. Using Shadowclutch to go over the crowd is prohibited unless permitted." He sips and exhales on my face again. "Come with me."

"I can't, sir. I have to find my friend!"

"Nah, your friend must've been taken away by the Phantom of the Rave."

Then orchestra music plays so clearly in my head although I'm very dizzy. A notification appears in my vision.

It says, Then the description goes,

"What is this?" I mutter. I stir and ask the officer, "Who is this Phantom? Where can I—"

"It's just an expression, good sir. Not only you but other folks lost some of their friends in the Rave too. Millions of faces—millions of people caught up in this magical moment! It's no wonder that you could get separated from your friends before you even realize it. So, they just made up that saying, 'They must've been taken by the Phantom of the Rave.' The Phantom which I think is this:" He gestures his hand, referring to the atmosphere in this humongous stadium.

Indeed, it would make sense to lose someone in this chaotically populated place.

I reason, "But I have a quest that says—"

"Shh, shh, shh!" he hushes me. "I will escort you to the Queen herself. You should be grateful that you're part of her harem otherwise you'll end up in the dungeon for a whole day."

Harem? I've never heard about this yet. Anyway, it's a good idea to get this to Alice as soon as possible. She's the most powerful person in this place and Lucy is her closest aid. I'm sure she'll do something.

Before I even know it, I'm looking at a ceiling and seeing the view under someone's chin. My vision clears and I realize that it's Alice. Her boobs are dangerously close to my nose. I feel her legs on the back of my neck! *Swallow* They're so soft and warm. . . Whoops, no. Snap out of it!

"Oh, you're awake," she smiles.

Acting like it's not a big deal, I sit up on the sofa. She's watching a different movie this time. I don't know what it is but what I can see from it are moving dolls with button eyes. I look around, making sure that what I see isn't an illusion and yup, this is real. I'm back in her room. I almost forgot how relaxing this room of hers was. Hmm. . . I'm kind of forgetting something. . .

That's right! "Alice!" I yell. "Lucy needs your help!"

Just now, I don't have a clue why she's biting her lips and narrowing her eyes at me. Then. . . how did my hands end up grabbing her shoulders so tight as she lies on the sofa and I'm on top of her?!!!

"Easy there, boy," she says flirtatiously.

"Ugh!" I jolt away from her and the sofa. Gosh, I got carried away because of my worry! I gotta explain to her. "I'm sorry, I—"

"No need to be sorry," she says, pulling the left strap of her sleeveless shirt back on her shoulder. "I understand that you have your urges as a man but please keep it in check."

"It's not that!" I protest.

Her scaly leather bras are showing a bit. Ugh! My eyes are acting on their own! Stop it, eyes!

She giggles for a second and I figure out that she's just messing with me. After clearing her throat while unwrapping a candy from the table, she inquires, "What seems to be the problem? I heard that you used Shadowclutch in the Rave earlier. That's why they arrested you." She puts the candy she just unwrapped in her mouth.

"All for a good reason, Al— I mean, Zaori." She nods, allowing me to continue. "I don't remember much but a couple of hours earlier, I was drunk and dancing with Lucy. Then she just disappeared and I got this side quest called, ."

"Oh, that's interesting!" she reacts, her eyes widening while licking the candy in her mouth.

"It's horrible!" I redefine. "I don't know much but I think this Phantom might've abducted hundreds of thousands of people already."

"Well, that's where you're wrong, my hubby." She stands up and walks to the dark glass panels. I join her there just as the dark glass becomes transparent, showing us the whole stadium and the never-ending Rave. "You see, this was already happening way before I became the Queen. We're talking about millions of missing people."

"Then why didn't you do something about it?! They're your people. You're supposed to keep them safe!"

"I know, I know, but it's not simpler than you think."

"Why?"

"The Phantom of the Rave is a quest, as you already know. In all my years ruling the Underworld, I haven't triggered the quest to start on my end. However, you were chosen to complete it."

"Then help me."

"No, this quest is for you to do alone—as other quests are. It's a single-player quest to be precise. Only one player can start and finish it. You won't be able to proceed if there are other players near you. Likewise, players cannot intervene once you start."

"So, you're useless to me then?"

"Oh!" she moans. "Being mean to me now, are ya?"

"Stop acting like that. It's irritating."

"What do you mean? Men love to hear moaning women." Her smile is accompanied by a bit of lip bite.

But I won't fall victim to that! "Well, except for me."

"Or perhaps, you're g—"

"Don't fret. I'm a straight man as I always have been and I'm not a simp. Now, back to the what we're talking about!"

"Alright, alright. . . you're no fun to flirt with," she grumbles. "I can help you, however, in helping you prepare."

I bet she's going to give me overpowered weapons! Maybe a powerful Angelus Frame. Yup, I will definitely need that. Instead, what I got is a regular, NPC-like Angelus. I have small angel wings. They will not be enough to lift me.

"What is this?" I ask.

"An Angelus Frame."

"I know but why this? Give me a more powerful Frame."

"No, can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Haven't you read the tutorial I sent you? You cannot use Frames that are beyond your level."

"So, you're expecting me to fight a Phantom that is probably more powerful than Lucy using a Frame that looks like a street sweeper?"

"Kind of," she says seriously but cracks up laughing a second later.

"Ugh!" I groan in frustration. "That's it, I'm gonna die!"

"Have a positive mindset, you."

"How can I be positive about this? Tell me! Convince me!"

"I will not because you're not the first one I brought here to complete the quest."

"You mean. . . you brought people here before me?"

"Yup, and they all died."

They all. . . died? So, she brought me here to die? "You're sick!"

"I know, I am. Anyway, because of that, I don't have much knowledge about the Phantom that can help you. All I could do is wish you good luck."

I'm gonna deal with a freak so, "That won't help."

"Oh, I know!" With one eyebrow raised, she produces an idea. "As a way for me to boost your motivation, if you complete this quest, I'll let you have me for one whole night."

*Swallow* "No, thanks."

"Quit playing hard-to-get. It's not cute."

I ignore her nonsense and wrap things up. "So, is that all I need?"

Looking to the side and pouting her lips, she checks if she forgot to tell me something. "Hmm. . . I almost forgot to mention the funny thing you said."

"What?"

"You said that a couple of hours earlier, you were drunk and dancing with Lucy."

"What about it?"

"You were out for two months, sweetie."