CHAPTER 12: Log in part 1

In Lumina's mansion, a small party had been prepared by David for everyone to enjoy. Everyone was in the dining room. A large table with a variety of different types of food can be seen. They were dishes from Ethan as well as those from the blood lands. Abigail, David, and Marko have surrounded Lumina. All of them have serious expressions. Lumina stares at the others with cold eyes. David takes a deep breath and places a dish in front of Lumina. " Today is my lucky day. I have beaten you once. Now I will defeat you with my cooking" After saying this Lumina look's at the dish on the plate.

It was a burger. But not an ordinary one. David had learned and surpassed the chefs of this mansion in cooking magical ingredients. Lumina elegantly picks up the burger. She takes a bit. Everyone waits with anticipation. Marko especially wants to see her fail. David's burger had already conquered him. He didn't want to suffer the shame alone. Lumina swallows the food in her mouth and takes a deep breath. " It is very pleasant," her statement lacked all emotions. "Thud!" David falls to the ground. " I have failed," David says with sadness.

Abigail comes and pats his shoulder. " I think your burger is delicious," Abigail says gently. David raises his head and looks at Abigail like she is his hero. Lumina watches this scene with pride. She may seem calm on the outside. But right now all she wants to do is devour that burger. She knows they all want to see her fail again. She is ready this time and won't fail. Over the time they have spent together David's cooking has become dangerous. " Okay everyone it's time for me to give miss Abigail her present for finishing her basic training in less than a month.

When I was your age it took me a month and a half," Marko says with a proud smile on his face. He felt like he is watching his sister grow into adulthood. Abigail's eyes begin to moisten. " I would not have made it this far without all of you," She says humbly. She looks at David wanting to tell him how grateful she is for all the support he has given her. They were days that she didn't want to go train. But whenever that happened. David would come and drag her out of bed. When she thought of ending her training early she would look at David being tortured... cough, cough I mean being trained by Lumina.

David turns towards her noticing her gaze. He smiles at her and says. " Don't say such. It's not like somebody else took your body and trained it for you. It's all your effort and hard work. I'm proud of you, " Lumina nods at David's words. Abigail's face turns red as she sees David smile. She turns to face Marko before David notices anything. Lumina on the other hand saw all of her reactions. ' Why does she like this pervert, I will never understand her, ' Lumina thinks to herself. Marko pulls out the compass looking device. David now knows it's called a Way compass. " Buzz!" a portal opens in the room. " Everyone follow me. " Marko says and he walks into the portal. Everyone follows him with curiosity.

----- PLANET ETHAN, CONTINENT F, BLACK STEEL COUNTRY

31st December 2022, Friday, 10:15 am, South Park City, Albert town

In the backyard of a large villa, a portal suddenly opens. Abigail, Marko, Lumina and David exit the portal and find themselves staring at a beautiful villa. It was quite large and the yard they are on is large enough for one of their usual training fields. " Wow Marko this is a cool villa, but why are we here?" David asks in confusion. Marko smiles and hands a bunch of keys to Abigail. Seeing his actions David and Abigail finally understand the situation. " This is my gift to you miss Abigail. You have worked hard and you deserve it" Marko says with a smile. Abigail and David are stunned. Lumina is impressed by the architecture of the villa.

" Isn't this too much and how did you even get the money to buy this?" Abigail asks in shock. " I'll explain as we tour the villa," Marko says and begins walking. Everyone follows Marko for the tour and the explanation. The explanation went like this. Marko realized that David's house was too inconvenient for them to do their operations. David didn't want his family to know about cultivators and magic yet. So Marko would go all around Black Steel country to meet cultivators and make some money. He would sell them some low-grade herbs and items.

Once he had the money he needed he bought this villa for Abigail and to also be a second base of operation for them. David and the group reach the garage. " Oh my god, those cars are the latest models. They are worth 1.5 million" David explains. Marko gives Abigail a bracelet looking device. " I believe this is the best communication devise available in this world," Marko says. Abigail didn't even have to touch it to activate it. The wristwatch[that's what it's called] would respond to the thoughts of the user. " God please kill me now. I can't handle all this. I will die of envy" David says in a pained tone.

"There is still the last gift, " Marko says as he leads them to a certain room. As they approach the room David guesses what the last gift might be. Marko opens the door. They all enter and David's fears are proven right. In the middle of the room, a capsule pod can be seen. The logo of AKO is on its surface. " Since your world will go through the incursion. I decided to buy you the best quality gaming equipment in this world, " Marko says with some pride. This pod was 1 million GD[ Global Dollars]. Abigail is left speechless by everything all she can say is. " Thank you, sir Marko," Abigail says and hugs Marko.

David turns his head and stares at Lumina. He puts on his best puppy dog eyes. Seeing him looking at her like this makes Lumina's cheeks gain a slight pinkish color. " Why are you looking at me like that?" Lumina says coldly. " Oh, great mistress Lumina. The greatest mentor in the universe. Please bless this lowly one with a gaming helmet. I can survive without the pod all I need is the helmet" David asks in the most gentle tone he has ever used in his life. " Do I look like I have as much free time as Marko? The training you has already taken time out of my own training.

I have been using my time to train why would I waste such precious time for you? Get lost, before I beat you," Lumina says with clear irritation. David gives up. He didn't really expect her to have anything for him. " Amarok! please I request a mentor change. Give me one like Marko, " David says out loud. Lumina is shocked by his words. " What is it, boy? I hope you didn't do anything to my daughter," Amarok's voice resounds in David's head. ' Shit I fucked up' David thinks to himself and replies to Amarok. " Hahaha! I'm just messing with you. Please ignore me" David says and cold sweat runs down his forehead.

" You stupid boy I'm busy with my wif... I mean I'm busy training. Don't disturb me again" Amaroks says and his voice disappears. ' Damn I almost forgot this woman is his daughter,' David thinks to himself. He suddenly realizes that everyone went silent. He looks around and sees Lumina's cold eyes. For some reason, David got the feeling that she is really pissed. More than ever before. Lumina stares at him for 3 seconds. But she does nothing and turns around. She activates her Way compass and opens a portal. She enters the portal and leaves. David stares at where the portal was.

Honestly, he expected to be beaten up. It's not that he likes getting beaten. It's just that Lumina is way stronger than him so he can't do anything. David looks at the others and says. " Did I do something wrong?" David asks in confusion. He doesn't know what's happening. Marko and Abigail look at him like he is an idiot. " What?" David asks in confusion. " Have you ever had a girlfriend?" Marko asks him. David doesn't know why Marko is asking him such a question but he answers. " No, I have never had one," hearing this Marko shakes his head and says.

" Women are vengeful creatures. You better watch your back" Marko says. Hearing his words David begins to feel that something is not right. " She can't be that angry over what I said...right?" David asks them. They all look at him with pity. Even Abigail felt that he was really in the wrong this time. David realizes that he had really fucked up. " David, help Abigail make her account, I do believe you have your own account. David is still worried about Lumina but He tries to ignore her for now. He goes to the high-tech computer on the other side of the room.

David sit's on the chair and goes to the Starry Moon website. Starry Moon is the name of the company that created AKO. He quickly made an account for Abigail. After Abigail memorizes all her account information David decides to log into his account. Once his account opens the first thing he sees is a notification. [Congratulations account owner ******** you are the lucky person to receive a free Starry Moon max gaming pod]. As David stares at this notification his brain freezes. ' Can the universe be so kind' David had already been fooled by a notification before. David begins his research into this free reward. Abigail looks at him in surprise.

She never thought that David was so careful on the internet. " David you've already confirmed from different sources that the gift is real and not a fraud. David hesitates for a few seconds before accepting the reward. Another notification appears telling him that the package will arrive at his house in 2 hours. David's heart is full of joy. With this, all his plans can be done perfectly. He can log into the game the moment it releases tomorrow at 8:00 pm. Abigail is happy for him. Unfortunately, Marko had used all his money to pay for the villa and all its bills for the next 5 years. So he couldn't buy one for David.

Suddenly David realizes something. " Does that mean you aren't going to be staying with me and my family anymore?" David asks Abigail. She also realizes this. " I guess so. But this is for the best. This way we won't have to hide anything when you visit me in the villa," Abigail says. " You better come and visit or else my mom will get mad at you. The house will be a little boring without you," David says with slight sadness in his voice. " Of course, I will visit and we will see each other every day at training. " I guess we will change the training schedule," Marko says.

-----

1st January 2023, Saturday, 7:55 pm, South Park City, Albert town

On the 31st David and his family had a party like they usually do every year. But this time the party was much grander. It was to say goodbye to Abigail as that night was her last night in the house. Everyone was invited. Even Marko came, but he introduced himself as Abigail's cousin. David told his family that Abigail is going to go live with her cousin. Unfortunately, Lumina did not come even after Marko went to the mansion to get her. In the morning Abigail left around 9:00 am. Sandra cried like she had lost a part of herself forever. She blamed David and said it was his fault that she lost her sister. Abigail moved into her new place. But she was not lonely. Marko was there with her to keep her company.

David's gift package had arrived the previous day. David and Samuel had a battle trying to set up the pod. But they eventually finished it properly. David had told his parents a long time ago that he was planning on taking a gap year. To just enjoy life before he goes back to school the next year. Although he had to argue a lot. He eventually was able to convince them. By telling them with this gap year they can save money to send him to university in 2024. It is now 7:55 pm. Arcane kings online is about to open its public bata and change this world forever. David is in his room with Samuel. They both stare at the pod.

" David please let me play for 1 hour and then I'll go sleep in peace, " Samuel bags David. " Sorry bro, not today," David says with an evil smile as he enters the pod. David had given his brother his bed and Samuel's bed was taken to the storage room. The pod itself was created to act as a bed. So David didn't need his old bed. " Oh, this feels nice," David taunts Samuel. " I hate you," Samuel says with gritted teeth and goes to his bed. " Hey Samuel, when I make an elf girlfriend in the game. I'll introduce you to her sister," David says and closes the pod.

Samuel can only look at the closed pod with envy. A desire to go kick the pod raises in him. But he changes his mind. David would kill him. David makes himself comfortable inside the pod. Soon a holographic notification appears accompanied by an electronic voice. [ Do you wish to commence dive]. David replies instantly. " Commence Dive" with that order his consciousness goes black. Little did our hero David know that the original mc Shang Bai Fan had also entered the game at the same time.