《The White Wolf》 The Wolfs Departure A heavy sword fluttered across the group of opponents. The sword curved beautifully, elegantly, producing a hissing sound, followed by blood curdling screams of the opponents. Even though their screams were a symphony of terrors, it was melody to the swordsman''s ears. Seeing his opponents tumbling away in fear, swordsman grinned. He raised one hand and cast a sign; surrounding flashed with a bright light and dozens of heads went flying, spraying red blood all over the snow covered ground. Swordsman puffed his cigarette, and shot up cloud of smoke in the air. "Tch! Tch!" He clicked his tongue and said, "I warned you guys couple of times before but NO! You just had to invade this world and for what exactly? You guys are already immortals for god''s sakes! Can''t you just be content with that already?" No one replied to the swordsman''s questions, As few lucky opponents who survived from his spell are occupied with running for their life, and the other are just lying dead with their heads missing, so they naturally couldn''t answer his question. "Why are you guys running now after starting the fight?" Grumbled swordsman, "Your lives are precious and what about other''s lives? Do you guys think their lives are cabbage from wholesale market?" Realising that he''s just talking to himself, swordsman flicked his cigarette and chased after the fleeing opponents. His long white hair, tied in a ponytail, elegantly floated in the air behind him. Swordsman wasn''t least bit distracted by the river of blood and mountains of corspes around him, and continued his work, brandishing his swords and striking his opponents again. From a bird eye view, he looked like a painter, using the snowy field as a white canvas and opponent''s red blood for the paint. Swordsman was leisurely strolling across the battlefield. Whenever he popped up in the center of the opponents, heads flew and blood spattered on the ground, leaving an abstract painting behind in his wake. He seemed like trying to create an work of art; An artwork to warn the world that this was his territory, and those who dare to enter his territory will be used as substitute for a paint bottle without mercy! After hours of battle, which can only be discribed as an one sided slaughter, he finally reached the person who looked like the leader of opposing army. Leader was wearing a full white robe just like all of other opponents, but had an air of dignity around him. Even if he hadn''t released his spirit force, the mana compressed around him showed his mastery over magic manipulation. Obviously, he was no small fry like the rest of the opponents. Unlike others, he didn''t trembled in fear, and looked straight into swordsman''s golden eyes. Atleast, he didn''t showed fear on his face, but as he was drenched in cold sweat from head to toe, which made his white robe clung to his body, he looked somewhat pathetic! Swordsman smiled amiably at him and raised his hand to cast a spell sign. Seeing this the leader roared furiously "White Wolf! You''re a god yourself and yet you dare to kill other gods. Are you working for devil''s now? Supreme gods will not let you off for this!" The leader was partly furious because of his crushing defeat but mostly because of swordman''s amiable smile. If your going to kill me them kill me! What''s the point of smiling amiably? He thought. But more importantly, the nameless leader was actually a god! And not only him but his entire army was consist of gods. It was a literally a godly army! "If you''re talking about those horned idiots who came here couple of days ago then I''ve already killed them all. I''m lone wolf you know? I only work for myself!" Said swordsman casually like it wasn''t any big of a deal. "Impos.. !" Just when leader was about to refute, he swallowed back his words, as he remembered how easily swordman had defeated his army. If situation was to be any different and someone have told him such a absurd thing that one person had killed the whole army of devils, which is even difficult for high ranked gods to accomplish, he would have called him a liar and a lunatic and proceed to beat the shit out of him! But then his vision swept across the battlefield, and his blood began to boil again in rage! All across the battlefield, various creatures of different races that even gods classify as mythical monsters, were rampaging amid the gods like a hungry tiger in flock of helpless sheeps! God''s were being tossed around like a bunch of ragdoll! "Just what kind of lone wolf keep army of mythical monsters around him!" Leader screamed at top of his lung. His face looked like if he doesn''t get explanation for this, he would really burst into tears at any moment. Swordman didn''t turn his head, as though he had already knew what''s happening around him. He just shrugged "To tell you the truth, I didn''t bring any of them. They just followed me when I was on my way here, and It''s not like they are fighting for me. This world is thiers so it''s given that they will defend it. I''m just a travler here." Listing to swordsman''s explanation, leader trembled in fury and belowed "Then why does it looks like you''re the one leading them? If you are just a travler then act like one. Why are you meddling with this world''s affairs. You think just because you''re a travler you can do anything you want?" Swordman didn''t said anything and kept walking leisurely toward him. After seeing swordmans carefree expression, god was about to flair in rage again, but then his lips twisted in an evil smile. "There''s no doubt that you''ll die wolf. But even if you don''t fear death, what about that little Witch of yours?" Swordman stopped dead his track and stared at leader with cold face. Seemingly satisfy with swordsman''s reaction, leader unleashed all of his soul force at once, and got into battle stance. Magical power gushed out in torrential wave from his body, twisting space around him. Six hand emerged from his back; Each one holding a divine weapon. Slowly even law of this plane started to bend according to his will. Space and time seems to stagnant around his body. It was the power of a high ranked god! Those who were defeated before were just some lesser ranked gods. He knows he can''t win against the white wolf but so what? Even if he was defeated today, with high rank god''s ability to reincarnate, he will come back with bigger army next time! Seeing that swordman stood motionless with his head lowered, leader''s confidence shot up into his head and he laughed in hysteria "You know what wolf? That Witch of yours have found a clue to the [Amrit]! Who does she thinks she is? A supreme god? She will die wolf, her days are already numbered and I gaurantee you that she''ll die more horrible death than you can ever imag..." Suddently he choked on his words as his body shuddered voilently. With terrified face, he looked at the white haired swordsman, who''s golden pupils had turned red, almost into vertical slit. They were eye of a predator looking at its prey! Leader was so high on his horse that he forgot about the constant warnings, he received from other gods. When he was about to set on expedition into this world in search of [Amrit], Other gods caution him about the white wolf. Stories they had told him sounded like some bedtime stories that parents tell to frighten their childrens. He was a high rank god! Why should he fear anyone? But now it seems like he was sorely mistaken! Swordsman grinned wide from ear to ear but that smile wasn''t like his previous carefree smile. He leisurely started walking toward leader "I don''t care about you greedy gods or those dancing devlis or about that deceving witch!" Leader suddently realised that all of his magic power, his divine spirit force, even his soul force was locked by an invisible power. Just what is this socery?This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. He had participated in both first and second great war against demon but even those supreme devil, The Mahakaal''s, aren''t as frightening as this person. NO! This wasn''t a person anymore. He wasn''t even wolf that everyone calls him! Leader couldn''t do anything but only helplessly watch as swordsman slowly lifted his sword and gently pressed into his chest. Leader felt every inch of the cold sword slowly pierce his chest and went out from his back. "Go and tell everyone in god realm" Swordsman leaned his head forward and wishper into leader''s ear,"If anyone threatened my loved ones, even if they are supreme gods, I''ll butcher them all!" Leader''s eyes went wide, not believing his own ears for what they''ve just heard! As his body started turning into particle and slowly dissipate into air, He mustered all the courage he could gather and barely managed to utter "Lunatic!" Before disappearing with terror plastered on his face. "What the..?" Swordsman staggered a little, then he yelled at direction where god vanished, "You''re the last person I want to hear this from, You Jackass!" Swordsman found it ironic after being called lunatic by someone who was about to turn this world upside down for the artifact called [Amrit]. Swordsman looked at the heavy sword in his hand, which was completely covered in blood. When he jerked it, all the blood on it splashed to the ground and revealed its pitch black body, which was covered with strange and mysterious ruins, starting from top, down to the hilt. Sword''s hilt was a white wolf''s head, and its two red ruby eyes glowed occasionally. "Well partner! This is it, I guess?" Swordsman gently caressed the sword like it was his lover. Sword hummed in response; only swordman understood what it was trying to convey. His eyes flashed with countless memories. Some fresh memories of this life, which seemed like just happened yesterday, while some faded memories of a distant past, which seemed decayed illusion of a rusty dream. While he was lost in his thoughts someone called out to him "Your excellency! Please we implore you to reconsider your decision." Said a 10 foot tall, orange-skinned humanoid creature. Even if creature was kneeling down with its head lowered, its 2 long fangs were sticking out from lower teeths upto his nose. He was wearing neckless of purple beads, which was partly hidden behind his bushy brown beard. A divine spear laying front of his legs perfectly matched his deep and dignified voice. He is the ultimate spearman, Juggernaut The Destroyer! Not only jugguernaut, but behind him were countless creature were kneeling and bowing there heads: Rikimaru, The Ultimate Assassin! Barathum, The Indomitable Vanguard! Monarch of night, The Balanar! And many others. All were mythical creatures of this world! "No" said Swordsman shaking his head. "It''s not my fight because its not my world anymore. I''m just a travler in this world. My world is different." No other creature responded to him. They had had this conversation before. They knew once swordsman made his decision, he never changes his mind. Swordman pulled out a box and called Rikimaru "My dear friend, I''m giving this heavy burden to you. With your innate permanent invisibility, it will be safe in your keep." A 6 feet tall, blue furred humonide creature stood up and took box from swordsman hand. He looked at the swordman through his yellow eyes and nodded. "As you command my lord!" His body slowly started to fade away until it''s completely vanished from the spot. Even supreme gods would have difficulty finding him without a clue of his position. "Well! Goodbye my dear godly monster! I wish you peace and prosperity! But I also wish I never have to see your ugly faces again. Hey! drangon knight stop crying. Your ruining reputation of all the dragons around the world!" Dispite being 7 foot tall, completely clad in golden armor from head to toe, she looked funny as he continued her sobbing. Her childish voice rang from golden helmet, which completely covered her head. "Your excellency promised that he would marry me when he accidentally saw my face! Now your excellency is running away without fulfilling that promise. Please! Take responsibility!" Hearing her everyone broked into laughter. Somewhat heavy atmosphere ease a bit. "That''s because if I hadn''t then you would''ve drowned entire Jeju island with your tears." Muttered swordsman as he decided to ignored her. Then he opened his status window and said "Now it your turn you shitty goddess! Fullfill your end of the deal." A status screen popped up in the air. This status screen was unique to travlers (players). According to people of this land, this status screen is blessing from supreme goddess, who guides them toward the right path. But unlike other travlers status screen, this particular status screen was emitting radiance, which can only be discribed as Divine glow. Usually colourless status screen was glowing in green brilliance. "Do you real have to do this?" A voice resounded from the stats screen. It was a voice that can make any mortal forget his own existing, and make them wish to listen to this voice for rest of their life. Each word was like a supreme mantra, woven with ethernal melody. It was voice of the supreme goddess of life herself! "Yes." Said the swordsman with serious face. "Unless I throughly erase my existence from this world, I can''t possibly spend my life peacefully back on earth." There was no response from stats screen for some time. Then suddently, the surrounding shone brightly with golden radiance and a piece of golden parchment appeared, fluttering before his eyes, hanging in the air. It was an absolute contract! Swordman smile, glanced through its contents and ask in confusion,"What''s up with this 10 second bullshit?" Stats screen shone again and voice came from it, "Once a living being reaches godhood, its soul goes through qualitative changes and became a divine soul. This divine soul is also a reason why, after their death, gods reincarnate in gods realm. I can''t completely erase your divinity without killing you." Swordman though for while and said "And if a day was to come when gods of this world invade into to my world then...." The voice cut him of, "No. As per our contract, I will do everything within my power so that day won''t come." Swordman sighed with emotion,"Thanks..... You shitty goddess!" Even if his memories are sealed and he only remembers bits and pieces of the past, he always had feeling that he can trust her regarding anything, even with his very own life. And she''s one of the few who won''t betray him no matter what. Swordman bit his finger and with blood, wrote his name in contract. After which, contract shone brightly and flew straight into swordman body. Some moments later, deep blue fire slowly started wrapping his body. Even though fire looked seren and gentle, this fire was capable of burning anything in this world. It''s origins was unknown, but since ancient times it''s known as the absolute fire of begining! As per the contract, the absolute fire started burning his divine soul. All those mythical monster kneeling around the swordsman held their breaths. Even if they lived for thousands of years and fought in countless war, they couldn''t imagine pain of soul being burned by the absolute fire of begining. Swordman looked at the kneeling creatures around him and complicated emotions rose within his heart. If he was to describe these creatures in few words, He would say, They are a band of misfits! Members of this band are from different nations, classes, even from different races and all of them, throughout the ages, had a secret understanding between them when they meet. They represent true hope not only of the humanity, but of all living creatures of this world. They represent one permanent victory of our feeble races over cruelty and chaos; Victory against gods and demons! Thousands of them perish in obscurity, a few are great names. They are sensitive for others as well as for themselves, they are considerate towards each other regardless of thier race. They have power to fight and they have power to endure, and more importantly, they can take a joke! Swordsman heaved a hearty sigh, "I really hope one day, The sacrifices you guys did for this world bore its fruits and people of this world realise the creatures they called monster and throw stones at are actually their saviour and guardians." He smiled, "Farewell brothers!" "Farewell your excellency!" Said every creatures in in unison. At this point, the absolute fire had throughly burned swordsman soul and he''s body started turning particles, slowly scattering in the wind. He looked at the colourless status screen, which has lost its previous eternal glow. Again he couldn''t help but heave a hearty sigh. Even if he always calls her shitty goddess but in truth he really admire and respect her. Even if she sometimes spout nonsense, in the end she''s the goddess of life, who''s struggling to protect all the living being of this world and only few knew how much she has sacrifice for mortals, the same mortals who even forgotten her name and stop remembering her in their prayers. Even he himself is abandoning her despite having ability to lower her burden and yet she''s not blaming him for anything. Countless memories of the past started emerging but he was suddently attacked by a splitting headache. His face grimance in pain but quickly recovered. Swordsman body had already vanished upto his chest and remaining is still slowly fading away, turning into particles. With guilt ridden heart swordsman smiled at the stats screen, "Goodbye.... Aleria." Finally his body vanished from this world along with his soul. Snowflakes floated in the air; wind became exceptionally cold. Creatures remained kneeling in silence until juggernaut stood up, picked his spear and headed towards east. After him, one by one, all of the creatures stood and each went in different directions. They all have duties and responsibilities towards this world. Only the dim looking stats screen remained hanging in the air. No one know how long has it been, the dim, colourless stats screen shone briefly and and a melancholy voice came, "Goodbye.... My little wolf." And the screen too, just like rest of the creatures, left this place. On This day, a strong cultivator and a skilled travler(player), vanished from this world. He fought for the people, Bled for the people. He suffered pain and agony for the people but received scorn from the very people. He was a human who thought like a wolf and fought like a wolf until one day he himself turned himself into a wolf. He protected the weak; some called him a shield wolf. He helped the poor; some called him a noble wolf. When he killed; people called him a savage wolf. When he traveled alone; people called him a lone wolf. Enemy trembled hearing his name; they called him a hunter wolf; for haters he was just a wild wolf. Only few who really know him knew that he was a kind wolf. Who love to smoke his so-called medicine; they called him a smoking wolf. He was a moron who refused to admit but had a good heart and cared for people, A Knight Wolf; and those who respected this white haired moron called him ''The White Wolf!'' The wolf and his shabby mailbox Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Someone is tapping a keyboard so rapidly that one might thing person is playing Super Mario game on easiest difficulty! The sound was coming from a house, which, dispite being a wooden house, looked classy due to its well designed exterior. A single shabby looking mailbox in its front lawn was the only thing house had, apart from trees surrounding it as far as eye could see. The source of this loud tapping sound was a boy sitting inside this house. The boy is burning some midnight oil for a very important writing project, which he had to submit before tomorrow''s deadline. The boy''s name is lycan. An 18 years old, white haired, black-eyed boy, who is home-school for various reasons, which will become apparent as the story goes on. Maybe because he strained his eyes too much, or he was just bored out of his mind, but he noticed that words on screen started to blur, and kept multiplying by itself as the time passed by. Seeing this his heart lept in joy! Not because he gained some mysterious powers, but it was time for a short coffee break! It could had been any break: game, TV, internet, fast food. But he decided to go with a coffee. Anything is fine as long a it can keep him away from this dreadful writing project! As he was happily enjoying a sweet and warm cup of coffee, filled with guilt and bitterness of not completing project for the past whole month, he heard a loud breaking sound, which came from outside of the house. The wind was particularly strong that night, making the white curtains of his window flutter voilently. He peeked through the window and immediately lamented ignoring his mother''s reminder of changing a new light bulb after seeing the pitch black darkness outside. Although, it was a night of the full moon, even moon himself was hidden behind the dark cloud, like he was hiding from something. He got up from chair, grabbed a jacket and a torch, as he headed outside. Standing outside, when he lit up the torch and pointed to location of the sound, corner of his mouth twitched a little. That shabby looking mailbox was knocked over on ground, and all the letters from within were scattered around everywhere. Then his gaze fell upon the culprit, and his mouth started twitching uncontrollably! Culprit was wearing a rosewood coloured one piece that wrapped thightly against her slim and tall figure. A white pearl necklace around her neck looked pale compared to her jade like skin. Looking at her diamond bracelet in one hand and grace with which she carried herself, she looked perfect definition of an high class lady! Lycan controlled his twitching mouth and asked, "Is it because you didn''t liked the way my mailbox looked and knocked it over in fit of anger, or you''re in habit of going around and breaking people''s property in middle of the night?" Lady bowed her head, "I apologise for the intruding at such an hour but you see, my car''s engine suddently died without any warning and I walked for a mile until I finally saw your house and as for your mailbox..." She showed somewhat embarrassed face, "After seeing that your house''s lights were on, I was so thrilled and relieved that I started running blindly and accidentally knocked your mailbox down. Oh! sorry for the mailbox by the way! I''ll compensated you for that and I was also wondering if you''d help me out a little. I''ll pay for your troubles, of course." Lycan glanced at her shining golden high heels. Even though they have been allegedly used for a mile long walk, they hadn''t had a single speck of dust on them. Lycan looked at her with irritated face and asked, "So, what do you expect me to do? Go and fix your car for you?" "I was hoping that mister would be kind enough to give me shelter for a night." Said the lady as she clasped her both hand behind her back and swayed her body side to side in playful manner "You see, I''m not an heartless fellow who won''t help person in their times of need, but I''m also helpless here. My house is small one, and we only have two beds. One bed is of my mother so its out of the question, and other one, which is mine, is also small one. Its too small for you." Said Lycan as he placed the torch on the ground in such way that its light shone on the lady. Then he picked cigarette tucked behind his ear, placed it at corner of his mouth and started patting his pockets in search for the lighter. The lady found Lycan''s action of placing the torch on the ground little strange, but she didn''t thought of it much. "Hehe! mister sure is very cunning. What can I do? I''ll manage somehow." Said the lady as she smiled seductively, "Even if we had to sleep on the same bed!" "Aha! Found ya sucker!" Lycan pulled a lighter out of his pocket, and yelled at it like he had found a lost treasure. He wasn''t even looking at the lady as she keeps twisting her body seductively. He lit up the cigarette, shot up couple of smoke in air and only then looked at the lady and said, "As much as your offer sounds tempting, I have to politely declined you offer, because I don''t have such a weird fetish. And I''m also sorry for not making this clear before. When I said our bed''s are small, what I actually meant was that our entire house is tiny compared to true body of yours. Your true form should be as same size as of my house, isn''t it?" The lady''s seductive expressions crumbled like it was an illusion, and revealed a spine chilling expressionless face. Lycan wasn''t much surprised by the lady''s sudden change. He leisurely shot up smoke, which merged with silver-white cloud hanging in the air. After couple of puffs he asked, "Did you killed her? The one who''s body you are using? Or is it a transformation magic? It do look like a transformation magic though!" The lady lowered her head and said nothing. Lycan also said nothing and kept smoking his cigarettes. Suddently a voice, which can be only discribed as the voice of terror itself, came form lady. Her mouth was closed, which made this voice even more terrifying. "The wheels of fate have began to spun. The third great war is approaching. Chaos and destruction will follow. Gods will die and mortals will mourne. The ancient prophecy written with elder''s blood will be fulfilled. No one can elude their fate, for the fate is imminent!" "No, you''re wrong." Said Lycan nonchalantly, "We seal our own fate with the choices we make. We spin our own fate when we choose good or evil, and we ourself are responsible for the end result. Our fate''s not decided by the ancient prophecies, but by our very own hands. But then again, I''m a moron! What do I know?" "I don''t know, I''m only here to deliver the message." At this point, the lady was looking at the Lycan with dumbfounded expression, but her voice was still terrifying as ever. It sounded like someone''s chewing on raw flesh with bare teeths. "And you''ve heard my answer!" Said lycan with somewhat irritated tone, "Now pay for my broken mailbox and bug out of my property!" "I''m also here for [The Five-Headed Snake] artifact you carry within your soul." Lycan showed somewhat embarrassed face, "If I told you that I''ve left the artifact in other world, and my soul is not a carry bag to casually put something in it, would you just say ''Oh! Is that so? Sorry, my bad, Teehee!'' and left me in peace?" "If you don''t hand over the artifact, then I''m afraid I''ll have to show you why our pudge race is called the butchers." Threatened the lady by making her already terrifying voice more heavy. "Sigh.... Alright! Alright! You win! You want artifact? Fine! Just wait a sec!" Lycan started patting his pockets with serious expression, like he was focused on finding something, "Aha! Found it!" He said, with estatic expression, but just kept his hand inside the pocket without pulling it out. The lady was watching his every move intensively. She has received instructions to deliver a message and retrieve an artifact from this person. She don''t know how strong this person is, but as orders came from her majesty herself, she expected a big battle with this person. "Now hand over the artifact!" Said the lady. Lady kept watching intensively as Lycan pulled his right hand out of his pant''s pocket and she almost spurted blood after seeing his hand! What she saw wasn''t an ancient artifact of [The Five Headed Snake] but what greeted her was a single finger. It was middle finger, standing tall and proud, risen above the rest of the four finger, heartlessly mocking her. She asked for the ancient artifact and Lycan is showing her middle finger!Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. You!" This caused her to flair up in rage and her left eye popped right out of the socket! But this was just the beginning! A suffocating menacing aura swept the surroundings. Her right eye also popped up form the socket as her body kept visibility expanding slowly. Body kept expanding until it torn apart her rosewood colored one piece and broke apart the white pearl necklace, causing pearls to scatter on the ground. Sound of flesh tearing and bones being twisted kept coming from lady''s continusly expanding body. Then, suddently, a menacing aura, five times stronger than before, sweapt the surroundings like a gust of strong wind, which flung the torch to god know where and shattered the house''s windows into hundreds of pieces. Finally, the moon peeked from the dark clouds and moonlight revealed true form of the creature. The creature was fifteen foot in height and was about the same width as the house. It had a pale white skin, which looked like a rotting flesh upon a closer look. Its body was stitched at random places; some part were stitched skillfully like a craftsman''s work, while other parts looked like stitched by a blind man, because those part were barely hanging from the body, as blood dripped from wound and showed flesh from within. Its left eye, which was as big as a football, and seemed will pop out from the socket at any moment, and it''s crooked saliva dripping mouth with disfigured teeths, wasn''t as disgusting as its stomach with a huge gaping hole in it, showing various types of creepy looking intestines hanging not only inside but some came dangling outside too! And as if it wasn''t disguting enough, some flies came fluttering from inside of the creature''s stomach, and started chowing down its intestines! This creature is from race called Pudge. "You''re a beatuty indeed!" Lycan exclaimed in surprise, "I wasn''t aware that this planet had female pudge living on it. Did you perhaps also run a butcher shop as side business here. I''m sure people would admire your craft." He looked at 2 foot Butcher''s blade in Pudge''s hand. I''m afraid, I have to show my skills on your body." Said The Pudge, as she started rotating a terrifying looking hook in her left hand. Hook''s chain was coiled around its forearms and continued all the way inside of gaping stomach. It seems to attached to one of the intestine! "Hey! wait! wait! Don''t throw that damned thing or my house will..." Before Lycan could finish his sentence, Pudge launched the hook at frightening speed. This innate ability of Pudge is called The Bloody Hook. [Bloody Hook: Launches a magical hook toward an enemy, dragging enemy back to Pudge as well as dealing massive amount of damage to an enemy.] The bloody hook impaled right between Lycan''s chest and produced a shockwave, which blown the entire house to smitten, as its rubbles went flying in the air. "I said WAIT dammit! How the hell am I suppose to explain this to my mom?" Surprising, not only Lycan was still alive even after spraying around bucket of blood, but he also had energy to shout at The Pudge! Pudge didn''t stop and pulled the hook back to herself, dragging Lycan along with it. Just as Lycan came within Pudge''s close range, five terrifying tentacles rushed out of its mouth and impaled Laycan''s both arms, legs and stomach. Then tentacles suddently grew teeths and started chowing him down. Resulting in excruciating pain. This is Pudge''s ultimate ability, The Dismeber! [DISMEBER: Pudge chows down on an enemy, disabling him and dealing damage over time. Pudge gets healed by sucking life force of enemy as she deals damage. Pudge''s can''t move for 5 second when this ability is cast.] But pudge didn''t stop there. Suddenly, her body started emmiting green toxic gas which started corroding everything around her. It sucked lifeforce from grass, trees, flowers, around The Pudge, turning them into ashen dust and slowly creeped on Laycan''s body! This was no ordinary toxic gas, but all the diseases and filth which precide in Pudge''s body. This ability is called Rot! [ROT: A foul odor precedes a toxic, choking gas, emanating from Pudge''s body. A toxic cloud deals intense damage and slows enemies movement.] This was the ultimate combo of the Pudge race. After casting a Meat Hook and dragging their opponents towards them, they cast the Dismember, a bloody bite of death, followed by releasing Rot, toxic green gas to slow down to cut off each and every retreat path of the enemies. Such cruel and surefire way of killing an opponent nicknamed Pudge race, Pudge The Butchers! Pudge watched slowly rotting flesh of Lycan and couldn''t help but show look of disbelief. She came here prepared to have life and death battle, but wasn''t expecting such an easy win. Her majesty cautioned her about this boy and instructed to go all out from the start. She wasn''t expecting he''ll be killed just from that. Just as her mind was in turmoil, a nonchalant voice came from behind her back, which made her involuntary shudder in fear! "What are you surprising for? Were you expecting a huge fight or something when you attacked me?" As she had just cast the Dismember, she couldn''t move from the spot for atleast 5 more second. But more than thinking about drawback of the spell, she was horrified by this silent pressure coming from her back. Even her majesty didn''t frightened her this much! "After seeing how quickly you cast spells in succession, I have to admit you do have some skills, but let me show you how a god class Pudge cast a True Bloody Hook!" Suddenly, the ground beneath her feet rumbled and a massive Bloody Hook, at least 5 times more larger than hers, came torning the ground apart. Front of her eye was the same innate ability of her race, the Bloody Hook, but instead of one hook, it had 3 claw like hook, looking like head of a snake. But not only hook, but the chain attached to the hook also had both corroding green smoke of Rot and her ultimate spell Dismember''s tentacles! All of her innate abilities combined into one spell! Even The chain was slithering like a real snake''s body! She couldn''t imagine the amount of concentration and control over magic is required to perform such feat. Even just thinking about it made her head spin! The hook kept glaring at Pudge, like a venomous snake glaring at a small rabbit before devouring it in one gulp. But surprisingly, even after facing such a terrifying pressure, Pudge didn''t showed any fear! instead, her eyes were somewhat.... Dull? See her expression, everything around her vanished like it was an illusion. The hook, the terrifying pressure, even the Lycan, who was caught inside of her trap, gave her gentle smile and turned into smoke with poof! "A Shadow Clone!" Pudge involuntary muttered. "Ohh! So you know about this spell?" Asked Lycan but no reply came. He walked front of the pudge and got taken aback for a moment. Pudge, with its scary big eyes wide opened, seems to have passed out while standing! "Hey, wake up!" He slap Pudge''s cheek couple of time upon which, pudge recovered and yelled "Ah! Monster!" Now, when such a creepy, wierd, disguting looking monster call you a Monster! Then even stone''s feelings will get hurt. Lycan bitterly smiled "Yeah! Yeah! I''m a monster and you''re a saint! Happy? Now turn back to human form and answer my some questions." Pudge slowly recovered from shock and started reverting back to her human form. If before in that tight rosewood one piece she looked like a high class lady, now when gentle moonlight illuminated her naked curvy figure with two tall mountains sticking out, she looked like a high class hooker! Capable of driving anyone mad with lust from just one look of her body! Lycan already had jacket in hand, which he throwed at her, indicating to cover her body, "I get it that you came here to deliver the message about some bullshit prophecy, wheels of fate, third great war and whatnot but..." He stared at her, "Why the hell did you attacked me?" When she first attacked him with the Bloody Hook, there was no killing intent in her eyes. And when he saw her surprised face when hook actually pierced his shadow clone, he know something was not right. He had a hunch! But only that hunch was enough to make his blood boil in rage! "Her majesty instructed me to do so." She said, blushing sweetly. After hearing her reason for attacking him and turning his lovely house into ruins of forgotten, Lycan mind went blank! He just stood rooted on spot like a dumb wooden chicken without saying anything. Just as lady was wondering what happened to him, Lycan, who''s eyes went hollow and was staring at the empty sky, suddently cursed loudly, "That Fucking Witch!" Which made her jumped in fright! Then Lycan fished out cellphone from his pocket and throwed at her. Lady hurriedly catched the cellphone, and looked at him in confusion. Now its Laycan''s turn to almost spurt blood from anger. But he controlled himself. These creatures of other world have different views from people of the earth. Its common for them to destroy someones house and walk away like its no big deal! He also remembered why he should stay away from that other world. Further the better! He will never go back to that world. EVER! He clamed down his emotions and said, "I know I might sound like a cliche villan from a rundown television drama, but let me say this nonetheless!" Then he made a leechrus smile, "Call your so called her majesty and tell her if she want you back alive, then build me a new house before the sunrise." The girl was still looking at him with confused expression, but he didn''t cared about it and kept walking toward his house, or atleast what''s left of his before somewhat classy looking due to having well designed exterior, now turned into heap of rubble with having interior mixed within its exterior, wooden house. He hadn''t thought his short coffee break will turn into one hell of a mess. He haven''t even completed his writing project! When he was lost in thought, The Lady asked "Why are you not killing me?" Lycan staggered in his tracks and almost fell flat on his face after being suddenly asked such question. He turned and asked "You.... Just what did you heard about me?" The lady thought for a while and said with serious expression "Her majesty said that you are a monster! A demon that enjoy human flesh! A ghost who killed thousands of gods! A wicked slaughterer who..." Just as she was about to continue her gaze fell upon Lycan''s face. Since coming here, he only had nonchalant expression even after she destroyed his house and tried to kill him. But suddently, his expression showed a melancholy, which even made her heart felt like being pricked by thousands of needles. Before she could say anything, Lycan resumed his usual carefree expression and laughed, "Haha! who know? I really might be a monster!" And continued heading towards his ruined house. The lady watched his wide back, which dispite being upright, looked somewhat weak and lonely at same time. She continued watching him, as he found a half torn futon in pile of rubble, lazily stretched his body from side to side and got ready to fell asleep without any care of mess around him. As if remembering something, he looked at her at said "Oh, and don''t forget to add mailbox in list of compensation! You don''t want a monster like me hunting you down to end of the earth over a broken mailbox, do you?" He laughed, and fell asleep on futon. The lady just stood there for some time, lost in her own though. After some time, when she looked at his defenceless sleeping face, her eyes softened, "But her majesty also said that if people call the white wolf a monster," A sweet smile appeared on her face, "Then there are no angels in this world." The lady sighed as she looked at the cell phone in her hand. She don''t know how to use this damned thing! But her majesty have given her an communication artifact, which is more easy to use than this cell phone. If she remembers correctly its called walky talky! She cast a sign and a black, milatery style, walky talky appeared in her hand. She slowly pulled its antenna up, and carefully pressed green button, which signal the communication. She had to inform her majesty about white wolf''s answer, along with the house that have to be rebuilt before sunrise and more importantly about the mailbox! How could she possibly forget about the importance of mailbox? When her very own life is depends on whether wolf gets a new mailbox or not! The Tragedy Of The Gamer The day was as beautiful as it can be! The sun is shining brightly and birds are chirping merrily. A blazing red Ferrari is standing on the street and waiting for the traffic light to turn green. Such a high-end luxury car naturally attracted the attention of everyone nearby. The driver of the Ferrari, noticing everyone''s eyes full of admiration and envy, pressed on the gas couple of times. The car''s exhaust produced a loud revving sound, like a beast''s muffled roar! When the signal turned green and Ferrari''s driver was about to make a dashing exit, A big yellow dumper came speeding out of nowhere and crashed straight into his car with BANG! Due to smoke surrounding two vehicles in accident after crash, people couldn''t make out the situation of the drivers, but when the smoke did cleared out, and people looked, they got stunned by the situation unfolding before their eye. Both drivers ran towards each other and started beating the shit out of each other! They kept punching each other with so much vigour, and without stopping for single breath. Looking at their punching skills, someone might mistaken them for professional boxers in their championship match! However, this wasn''t the middle of the ring but the middle of the road, so their accident, followed by their punching match lead to a traffic jam. Other vehicles started honking their horns and drivers started cursing at them, but those two kept punching each other face without stopping! Even the loud, upbeat music coming from the advertising billboards, hanging everywhere around the streets, seems to pump both of them even more to keep punching each other harder and harder! It didn''t took long before this beautiful day turned into one hell of a mess! "I just love peaceful days like these!" Laughed a boy loudly, looking at this choatic surroundings. He had white hair and black eyes, and was carrying a plastic bag filled with nothing but ramen noodles in one hand and was eating vanilla ice-cream with other hand. He looked perfectly normal guy, but If anyone heard him discribe this fish market like surroundings as ''peaceful'', and specially with such a happy face, they would definitely call him a lunatic! He is Lycan, who came in the city market to buy some food. When he woke up today, there was already a newly build house standing next to his destroyed house, along with a brand new mailbox too! But as the newly house only had furniture but hadn''t had any food, he came to refill his stacks of ramen in city market. And he also needed some fresh air to sort out his thoughts. He knows that when The Witch send a warning, things are bound to go haywire soon! Since waking up this morning, his mind ran through countless possiblities, but he just hoped none of them happens. Best case scenario would be those other world''s idiots solve their matter among themselves, and in worse case, they''ll drag this world''s people too in their problems, and destroy earth too while at it! While he''s strolling and enjoy his sweet vanilla ice-cream, his gaze fell upon a large advertising billboards, and sweet ice-cream suddently tasted bitter to him. It was a large LED screen, displaying mythical war between gods and demon, located right at the center building of the city square. ''First immersive world! Experience Reality unlike any other virtual game! Enjoy 100% lifelike world!'' Was their slogans. "They are still brazenly luring people in and yet no one''s stopping them!" Said Lycan. Suddently, he thought of something, and his face started turning cold as he kept thinking of this possibility. But what can he do to prevent it? "If only I wasn''t bound by an oath!" For a brief moment, a mysterious golden glow flashed across his black pupil, but it quickly vanished, like it was an illusion. He was glaring at the advertisement with a serious expression, like someone who''s staring down his mortal enemy. But at the same time, he was sucking on the vanilla ice-cream, so he didn''t looked that much threatening! After some time, when he finished eating the whole ice cream, he flicked it''s stick, which landed perfectly into the trash can. Surprisingly, that trash can was at great distance from him, on the opposite side of the street! But no one seems to notice this, and Lycan also resumed his strolling along the sidewalk without turning back. The sidewalks in this city turns into marketplace in the evenings. The sellers are shouting at top of their lungs to attract buyer, and attracted buyers are bargaining like their life''s depends on it over the handful of tomatoes. Little kids, who just came out from their schools, are throwing tantrums at their parents for plastic toys. Couples are walking slowly, holding each others hand, lost in their own pink world. His heart filled with inexplicable emotions, when he looked at the bustling crowd around him. Even if people called him a lunatic, he would still say that not only this clattering marketplace and that choatic traffic jam is peaceful, but this whole world is peaceful. In fact, he thinks it''s hundred times more peaceful than the other world he know of. Lycan sighed in his heart. Then he lifted his head and looked at the sky. Orange light of dusk had just settled in across the horizon. When he narrowed his eyes, they seemed like able to penetrate anything and reveal their true nature. He seemed looking at a certain, distant place. A place not visible to the naked eyes. Suddently, he revealed a mischievous smile. "If there''s god in this world too and I''m sure there are one or who else could''ve created this world? So pretending you don''t exist won''t work on me!" Then, with plastic bag dangling from one hand, he brought together his both hand, getting into a prayer pose, and made the most sincere face and produced the most earnest voice humanly possible, "Please hear my one prayer, and don''t be like those other world''s god''s and mess up this peaceful world!" Not surprisingly, he didn''t got any response towards his heartfelt prayer! Lycan just smiled and headed towards direction of his home. Suddenly, an ear piercing loud announcement rang everywhere. It came from all those large billboards screens. They are mostly used for advertising purposes, but they also used to alert civilian if it''s state wide emergency and notifying people as soon as possible is paramount! "This is state wide emergency order! Civilians are to stay away from virtual reality games and other virtual technology until further notice!" Lycan was happily whistling when this sudden announcement rang, and he almost spewed mouthful of blood through his whistle! ''Is this a fucking joke? What''s up with this perfectly matched timing?'' He thought. All the noises coming from the market and from the vehicles in traffic-jam down instantly. Only sound of a news reporter shouting through the screens filled the surroundings. After hearing about the tragedy that had occurred, everyone held their breaths. Some people broked into tears while some collapsed from shock. It was earth shattering news for all of them! But surprisingly, those two, who were punching each other in the middle of the road, still kept punching each other face! It''s just that their heads were turned toward the screen and they were listening to news with solemn expression, but refused to stop and kept punching each other without stopping!This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Lycan, after hearing some content of the news, didn''t even turned around to watch anything and kept walking toward home. He had expression of someone who had already expected something like this to happen one day. Looking at his carefree attitude, One person asked him "Why are you not shocked by this news? Don''t you care about those people''s lives? Don''t you feel any sympathy towards them?" Lycan just shrugged and said. "I tried to warn peoples but no one listened. So now cry me a river but I don''t care." And continued walking on his way. That person got so dumbstruck by Lycan''s response, that his jaw dropped on the floor as he kept looking at Lycan leisurely walking away from him. By the time he recovered from shock, Lycan was already far away from him. He angrily shouted at top of his lungs "Lunatic!" Because he thought Lycan was joking with him even times of tragedy. How could he had warned people even before tragedy. He didn''t got the warning! So he concluded lycan was lying and him a lunatic. "Well, your not the first one to call me that." Lycan mumbled, as he kept walking towards his home. He''s already used to people calling him names. But in fact, what Lycan said just now wasn''t a lie. He did tried to convince people that it was not just a game. He tried to warn them about danger behind that game, but they just called him lunatic in return; Just like the person who called him lunatic earlier. Lycan is one of the few who knew reality of that game, for it was not a just a mere game but a real world. The world of Sword and Magic. The world of Monsters and Faires. The world of dungeon and dragons, myths and legends. The world of gods and demons. The world, where living is free but death comes at a price! Most of the public transportation was shut of for the moment. Luckily, Lycan found a bus after walking one hour. Although bus was nearly empty, with only few passenger, those passenger were in heated among themselves. They were debating about use of games. After all, culprit behind today''s tragedy was non other than the game! "Yes. I do agree with you. I also feel bad for those poor kids" Sympathised a middle aged lady, "But you can''t deny that games are also good for children metal health, games challenge them to think creatively in problem solving. It also help them make like minded friends." "Yes! Yes!" Chimed in a slightly old aged lady. "You can''t blame all games because there''s one game company did something. There were already rumors going around about that company. I think you shouldn''t blame game companies working down to their bone to provide kids entertainment. They''ve origins are also clear. Unlike that shady game company!" "I call this a bullshit!" Declared a middle aged man in formal working cloths, "I''ve always known games were bad for children''s mental health. Games not only make kids voilent but also increase crime rate due to their encouragement to use gun! And these facts are all backed up by scientific research! I say not only virtual game but every game should be banned from the face of the earth!" Middle aged man kept getting fired up in his speech. Then his vision fell upon Lycan, who was sitting alone on far back seat and shooting smoke through a window. The man thought, This guy must be one of those gamer, I''ll make example out of him! "Hey you, white haired boy! What do you think about games?" The man was gloating inside his mind. If this white-haired boy try to defend games, then he''ll bury him underneath all the researched based facts that he have read up on the internet just now! If it''s on internet, and it say, ''Scientist have said that..'' then it must be true, Right? Lycan didn''t said anything. He flicked his cigarettes out of the window and got up from his seat, because his stop have already arrived. When Lycan reached the man, he said with serious face, "Yes, you''re right. I also think what happened today can''t be forgiven," Just as man about to start gloating, Lycan interjected, "But I also think people like you should be banned from face of the earth!" And left the bus. He didn''t care about two ladies along with some other passengers who bursts into laughter, or about the man who was trying to decide whether or not he should jumped out of bus window and commit suicide out of shame! After arriving at home, Lycan cooked himself nice warm dinner(ramen), and turned on the TV as he sat on bed while merrily munching on noodles. Pressing on the TV''s remote and he changed the anime channel to new channel. News reporter was shouting out so loudly that his whole face turned red, and his bulging veins of neck looked like they would burst open at any moment, spraying blood all over the camera! Lycan looked at the bright red headline, "When Games Start To Kill Peoples!" He thought headline is pretty accurate considering the situation: concise and precise. In few words, it discribed the whole essence of the tragedy. Then he switched to the next channel and almost spurted mouthful of ramen on TV screen, "Are YOU The One Playing Games OR The Games Are Playing With YOU!" Was the headline. He choked and started coughing as he reached for the glass of water. He hurriedly switched channel in fear of dying while eating ramen! If headline is so awesome, enough to make him choke. He couldn''t risk hearing further contents! He kept pressing remote, shuffling through channels; most of them were showing same content. But looking at the politicians performance, he had an urge to give them standing ovation! Politicians were one step ahead of those reporters. Most of them kept shedding crocodile tears for public sympathy. But in fact, none of them did anything when they had chance to save those same innocent public. They are also responsible for this tragedy, but only handful of people know about this truth, and Lycan was one of them. He kept shuffling channels until he got gist of the situation. Summary of the news was as follows: "The company behind the game mysteriously vanished overnight without leaving single trace!" "More than 1 million players are stuck inside the game world which is suspected to be a different dimension." "Players who was logged in at the time remain in extended coma state without showing any indication of waking up ! Their fate Remains unknown...." Shaking his head Lycan turned off the TV, finished his dinner and after doing dishes, slowly started pacing back and forth in room. He knew a day would arrive and eventually people will learn truth about this game. No matter what, truths can''t be hidden forever! But he hadn''t thought people would learn the truth in such brutal way. "Did someone found [The Amrit] already Or did someone found Rickimaru?" His mind ran through countless possiblities. Before he left that world, he had given [The Five-Headed Snake] to Rikimaru for safekeeping. Even if, by chance, someone manage to trace him dispite his permanent invisibility and managed to defeat him and took the artifact; it''s less likely it will lead to such a huge event. And if it''s about [The Amrit] and someone, by miracle of luck, had found it already, probably that Witch, then its already late to worry about those things. That dimension will already be in state of The Third Great War! Lycan released a sigh after a while. Whatever happened in that world, it didn''t have anything to do with him. And whatever is happening in other side now, better stay there for good! Lycan turned on the TV again, and kept shuffling through all news channel until he the found one, which made his hands frozen in place. The News channel was showing a live broadcast of a location. The location was a gaming cafe. Lively gaming cafe, which is usually filled with laughters and upbeat sound, was deadly silent as a mourge filled with dead people. Only cries of people could be heard. Players were connected with gaming helmets and some were lying in full body gaming capsules. Looking at those players, one just instinctively knew, they are not going to wake up anytime soon! Security kept relatives of the player at distance so any accident didn''t occur. But one father, who''s unable to bear any longer, pushed aside 2 guards, and dashed towards his son lying in the gaming capsule. He opened the latch and pulled off helmet from his son''s head, hoping that it would wake him up, however, result was not something he was ready for. The kid, after being released from father''s grip, collapsed back into gaming capsule, just like puppet cut from its string. A heart rate monitor on kid''s gaming capsule showed his breathing stopped. After being disconnected from the game, the kid died... Lycan watched that father cry and faint from shock of his loss, but he didn''t feel anything. He really hoped to feel something: Guilt, sadness, anger, pain, anything! Then he thought about how everyone keeps calling him names and said self-mockingly, "I really might be a Lunatic." At that time, someone gently hugged him from behind. Although, hand that hugged him were trembling, but they still kept clinging to him, like they were afraid to let go even for moment, for something precious to them might disappeare from this world. Even if the room was dark, Lycan didn''t need to turn around to see who it was. It was his mother. Lycan''s mother always blamed herself for introducing him to that game. Lycan''s father passed away in active line of duty, when Lycan was twelve year old. At that time, she had to work two jobs to run the house, and as she couldn''t properly give her time to her son, she bought him expensive virtual gaming hamlet, so it will keep him entertainment when she has gone for jobs. But never in her dreams, she thought that game would change her son''s life so much. At first, when Lycan told her about being a reincarnate individual, that he has some memories of past and he learned all this when he was playing this game; she just laughed it off as joke. But as the time pass by, she realised it was not just a child''s make believe story but he was indeed reincarnate individual. But regardless of these things, she still loves him and cared for him. Nothing can make her stop loving her son! She knew all about what happened to Lycan in that game world, he always told her everything. But she also knows that Lycan only told her half of the things, and left other half which might hurt her. But this used to hurt her even more, because she can only look at her son in pain, and couldn''t do anything to reduce his pain. Hearing her mother''s low muffled sobs, Lycan asked "What happened, I''m here" then pointed at TV, at the players lying unconscious, and said, "Not there. Why are you crying?" "Because you''re hurt." Her mother said in gentle voice. "Ehh! what are you talking about?" Asked Lycan. "Then why are you smiling?" Lycan touched his face and realised; he had been grinning widely from ear to ear this whole time. "Whenever you''re sad or angry, or when you feel guilt or pain, you just hide them behind a smile." She gently patted his head, "My son''s not a lunatic. He just don''t know his own emotions." "If other heard such lousy excuse for my behaviour, They might think you''re crazy too." Joked Lycan. This habit of grinning at bad timings seems to deeply rooted into his soul. The only clue he have about this habit are his dreams, which are usually nightmares. During those nightmares, when things get unbearable, a person always says to him, "When things gets though, Just grin and bear with it!" So grin he did, and got himself nicknamed a lunatic! His mother knew he won''t listen to a reason so she also didn''t said anything further and just kept hugging him the whole time while Lycan kept sighing at the TV news reporter and their baseless conclusions. One more absurd than another! The Mad Gods 1 month later..... Lycan was sitting on a chair, had a cola in one hand and was smoking something with other hand. If one looked closely at what he was smoking, it wasn''t a cigarette but was some kind of rolled paper joint. When he blow out blue smoke into the air, its smell was almost buried underneath heavy smell of chemical and medicines coming form a facility in front of him. The facility was colored in white paint and had huge green cross logo''s on each of its ward. Although facility looked same as an hospital, facilitie''s atmosphere was much gloomier dispite having crowded surroundings. This was the facility where viticims of the tragedy are being kept. In fact, same facilities can be seen all over the world from past one month. Main purpose of this facility was to preserve life of those who got their concisioness stuck within the game. Government took the full responsibility of victim''s life preservance, until someone manage to discover the solution to bring them back. Since the day tragedy struck, government from all over the world began investigating the perpetrators behind this tragedy. After whole month of continues efforts, some employees from that game company were caught and questioned. Finally, they revealed the truth, which shocked the whole world! They confessed that their company''s gaming equipment were, in reality, were machines designed to transport people''s concisioness into different dimensions. Existence of different dimensions was enough to shock the whole world up. Then, new information was released about existence of planet same as earth, in different dimension, plus intellectual being just like us living on that planets. Each day, new earth shattering fact were revealed one after another, but no one seems to realise that they kept forgetting about one million gamers, stuck inside that world, barely hanging for their life, when earth''s people are busy fascinating over each new discoveries. Then one day, strange thing happened. Those employees caught by secret service, kept in state of the art maximum security prison, vanished suddently from their cells! And just like that, whole world went into frenzy! Each country began pointing finger at other countrie''s secret agents. Politicians mixed truth with lies and stretched their hands to spin half of the earth and media done the rest of their jobs. Public remained the same, none wiser than yesterday! When Lycan heard about disappearance of the employees, and whole charade which followed after that disappearance, he almost laughed his head off! Someone let the cannon fodder take a fall. Let employees reveal truth but only half of the truth. Then, got rid of them. Classic trick to divert attention of people at distance smoke when fire is being lit up under their very own feet! Why wasn''t there any mention about how they lured people in the game? Who supported them? What was their motive? "I hadn''t thought those people have such a deep root into this world. To make whole world dance at their fingertips." Lycan sighed, as he shot up cloud of smoke into air, "But then again, who am I to point fingers at people. I''m just a lunatic!" Those behind all this are none other than people of this world. But they must have received something which make them betray their own people. But ultimate master-mind of this tragedy is definitely someone from other world! Lycan is bound by an oath, therefore he can''t use his powers on people of this world. The one who ochrested all this events was very well aware of this and kept lurking in shadow without showing himself. If it wasn''t for a certain shitty goddess, forcing him to take such an absurd oath, he would have flip over that entire game company upside down and drowned their gaming equipment into deepest part of the sea! Lycan is sitting at the outer waiting room of the facility. From where he was sitting, he can see whole wards from A to E. Although, he felt bad for the those gamers stuck within, he hadn''t had any thoughts about going inside that game to save them of anything. But since the tragedy stuck, he had a feeling that someone''s watching him from the shadows. Because of this bad feeling, he hadn''t left his mother''s side even for second during past whole month. He even accompanied her to her job and stood outside her office whole time. If you love someone more than your own life, then inevitably they became your biggest weak point. Now that war might be starting in other world, someone might try to use his mother as his weaknesses and force him to choose side. He can''t take risk of someone hurting his mother or forgive anything that even remotely try to harm her. This was his bottom line! But today, however, he left her alone for couple of hours to visit this facility, because he learnt that his best friend is also one of the victims involved. He hadn''t thought this would happen because his friend was one of the few who knew the reality behind the game. However, he didn''t come here without making sure of his mother''s safety. To bypass that monster in charge of her security, a high ranked god himself have to come into this world. In this facility, just like how Lycan came to see his friend. People like him are all over the places. They are: fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers of different victims. They came here to see their loved one. They would talk to bodies laying in the capsules, after which, some would kept rambling for hours, some would laugh, some would get angry, but silence from those gaming capsules always left all of them into nothing but tears. One father would come here each day, bringing favourite food of the boy laying in the capsule. Each day, he would say. "Look, I brought your favourite sweet! You always said mother makes more tastier than shops. She said she''ll make you as much as you want. She''ll never lecture you again. So please... Come back... Son..." At end, he too, would burst into tears. This person is father of Lycan''s bestfriend. In past, Lycan told his friend truth of that dimension, and his friend was also one of the few who believed him without calling him a lunatic! Lycan though his friend had stopped playing this game, but looked like he lied to him. Lycan can understand his reason for even though that world is cruel, its allures cannot be denied! "You fucking rat! Why didn''t you stopped playing?" Lycan groaned, as he shot up another cloud of smoke into air, but a suddently someome call out to him. "Your excellency, can I have moment of your time?" Asked a man in deep, monotones voice. Lycan glanced at the person to side with one eye. Apart from his white shirt; his suite, coat, shoes, shades even his hair was full back. Under that person''s sleeve Lycan noticed a black mic, and in left ear was a white earpiece for communication. The man in black suite looked like an agent or a bodyguard and smelled like a bad news! "Who are you?" Asked Lycan with slight irritation. When someone call him your excellency, it means he knows his real identity. In that case, either he''s a friend or a foe, but both are have one thing in common. They just want to make his peaceful life choatic!Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "I''m nobody, who''s going to make you an offer you can''t refuse." Said the man in black. "Sorry... I don''t want to buy drugs. If you want my kidney then I''m afraid you''re out of luck. I already sold one yesterday, and other one day before that! Now what? Don''t tell me!" Lycan Gasped, "You swing that way and want my sexy body!" The man in black flinched, looking at Lycan, who got into defensive postion and covering his chest with both arms like scared teenage girl! But the man in black is a veteran in his field. He quickly resumed his robotic expressions, "You''re to login into that game. After that, find and protect a certain someone. Of course, it''s only until we find a way bring her back." Lycan''s mind went into turmoil, because he had a hunch about how this conversation is going to end. A very, very premonition rose in his heart! Lycan flicked his cigarette, put down the can of cola, and placing hands into jean''s pockets, he said as he headed towards the exit. "Thank you for your kind offer that''ll get me stuck and potentially get killed into that other world, and as much as this sound tempting, I have to decline your wonderful offer!" Anyone who played the game before the tragedy had their unique signature left in that world. When tragedy struck, the other dimension suddenly got its connection with earth got cut off. Resulting in no way to come out and go in for new players. Since then, some players who had once played that game in past got abducted and force into that world. Most of the players who got abducted were those, who have been considered as Pro players in that game. When such things began to happen all over world, government quickly took extreme measures to prevent such people, even if it''s meant to shoot such a kidnapper on sight! But this was part of the reason why Lycan''s mind was in turmoil. Since this man in black knew his identity and still dares to come here with such confidence then it can only one thing... "If you refuse to accept this job request, then some powerful people might get angry. Think about how much it''ll worry your mother." Sure enough, the man in black balantly threatened his mother! Lycan stopped dead in his track and slowly turn around, unable to hide a wide grin plastered on his face, "Oh, is that so? Then please, by all means, DO enlightenment me just who is this powerful person who likes to get angry so much. I''m directly going to meet him and let him know how much I think about my mother." After seeing Lycan''s grin, the man in black shuddered involuntary, however, he quickly recovered and wiped sweat from his forehead, "I knew you''re excellency won''t make any foolish mistake in haste." As the man in black said that, he pulled a mobile from his pocket. On mobile screen showed a live streaming of a women, working on computer, but she doesn''t seemed noticed anyone filming her. The woman was none other than Laycan''s mother in her office. "I don''t know who is behind all this but he made a huge mistake." As Lycan said that, his black pupils turned golden and air particles around him began trembling, "I swear if as much as strand of her hair got hurt, I''ll hunt him down, but I won''t kill him immediately. I''ll make him watch as I butcher down his entire bloodline. His mother, his father, his son and daughter; I''ll butcher his pets, even if it''s a cat!" The man in black was drenched in cold sweat all over the body. Sweat dripping from his forehead made his matt black shades blurred. He is a veteran of war who saw countless deaths in battlefield and thought nothing in this world can shake him up. He knew this white-haired boy is supernatural being and came here full prepared with artifacts to defend himself. But those golden eyes of predator and space around him which keeps bending and twisting like a plastic bottles didn''t scare him as much as his foolish wide grin. Specially when that grin widen when he was talking about killing a cat! He had a feeling this white-haired boy going to do everything as he said. But why is he acting like that. Isn''t his mother suppose to be his weak point! Just as he was about to black out from fear his earpiece rang. Then, he somehow managed to say, "The Warlock you''ve sent to guard you mother is not there anymore. Your excellency don''t have any choice but comply to this job request." Even if he didn''t told him that Lycan already know Warlock had betrayed him. Or more specifically, The Witch have betrayed him! It was the witch to whom he requested to send The Warlock to protect his mother. Although, Lycan knew The Witch is a liar, a cheater, and would decive anyone in an heartbeat, but he is sure she won''t touch his bottom line and threaten his mother. So whoever the one behind all this have planned ahead everything. Lycan wasn''t sure how far he had planned and because of this sudden situation his mind was in turmoil. Did that Witch really betrayed him? But nonetheless, if he was to be really sent into that world, how can he protect someone, when he won''t be able to properly protect himself? Lycan looked at the man in the black and asked, "If you know about me this much then you should''ve known that I erased my body from that world. I''m not strong as I used to be. How the hell I''m going to survive when all my enemies find out that wolf have returned and became an helpless lamp to be slaughtered. I''ll be killed even before able to reach someone who i was supposed to protect!" "I''m sure your excellency will manage somehow." Said the man in black. Lycan sighed, this was really checkmate for him. He don''t know if his mother would be safe of not but he know she''ll definitely will be killed if he don''t complie, "How much time do I have?" "Now!" Said the man in black. "Ehh? What now?" "There''s one empty capsule prepare here. Your excellency are to get in now. We will handle what to tell your mother. Please, Follow me!" Giving up, Lycan followed him to E- Section where one empty capsule was prepared for him. As Lycan went inside the capsule, put on the helmet, and started calibrating all the settings, the man in black handed him a file, "You have to protect this person." Lycan head was already spinning because of some unknown opponent had defeated him in each step and checkmated him when he hadn''t even had chance to move one soldier. But when he thought there are no more surprises left for the day, he almost had vertigo when he opened the file! The person he have to protect is none other than Witch? Then who was the person he met yesterd... But halfway through his mind froze. He remembered why that Witch is feared by the gods and devils alike. She''s famous for her illusions so they nicknamed her The Witch Of Illusions! Now it all make senses why would she send pudge to attack him. Even that pudge wouldn''t know she received order by an illusion. That Witch knew his bestfriend, The Rat, was going to be stuck inside and I''m going leave my mother to see him. Then she''ll send Warlock but that was just illusion of safety. Warlock left at crucial moment. Leaving hanging him dry like a fish on the hook! Suddenly, he remembered what god spoke about Witch finding a clue to [The Amrit]. And this man in black.... FUCK! This guy tricked me by acting scared! Sadly, by the time Lycan mind began to clear, the count down to log in has already began. If he pulled helmet now, either he''ll die or will be still sent to other words nonetheless! At this point, Lycan mind became serene again. His deep black eyes, which was cloudy since he saw his mother was in danger, suddently became crystal clear and shone like a starlight radiance! Just because he destroyed his body in that world, erased his divine soul, and left that world to live peacefully here on earth; He made a huge slip which lead to unforgivable blunder. He stopped baring his fang, and people took the wolf as a roadside dog and start kicking him up and down! Lycan looked at the man in black, who seems to realise something from Lycan''s eye and started grinning, wide from ear to ear. The man pulled white earpiece out of his ear. There was no one on other side of the communication to begin with! Lycan grinned back at him, as wide as humanly possible, like refuse to lose in grinning competition with man in black! In that moment, Lycan''s gaming capsule made a ''Ding Dong'' sound. It was signal of countdown to login and also start of Lycan''s and the man in black''s staring contest! 10! "The white wolf with starlights in his eyes and the whisper of the ancient winds in his fur will bath the world in blood and usher new beginning of an era!" Man grinned widely. 9! "You''re one of those Mad God aren''t you? Who believed in prophecy?" Lycan too, stretched his grin. 8! "One to be a murderer. One to be a Martyr. One to be a Monarch. One to be a Mad God!" 7! "Among all forms of mistakes, that prophecy is the the most dumbest mistakes!" Lycan laughed. 6! "Gambling is an act of faith of gamblers! Prophecy is an act of faith of the saints!" 5! "Sigh.... I don''t know how you Mad Gods make these prophecies sound so grandiose!" 4! "Prophecy is not in practice anymore and nor new prophet will come, but Devil has not stopped. The evil still lurks behind the shadows. For they still fear The White Wolf." 3! "I told you mad gods hundred times that I''m not the white wolf you guys speak of. I''m sure he was the great guy in past but his gone now!" Then he looked at the documents "And forget about protecting, if I saw her, she''s dead!" 2! "The Wolf and The Witch can never be separated. You won''t kill her!" 1! "Oh! You seems to be pretty sure about that! Wanna bet on it?" 0! "You won''t kill her" The Man grinned widely, "For she''s you fianc¨¦." Laycan''s grin crumbled as his eyes went wide. He just kept staring at the man like dumb wooden chicken! "What the Fuc...." But before he could finish, he blacked out! Only notification rang inside his concisioness. Identifications Confirmed ! Log In Successful ! Welcome To Bramhand !