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The man released his hands after pulling me into his side. He shot a glance at me with an unexpectedly intimidating eyes.
"Cancel the skill first or do you want your body to crumble away slowly?" He said while shifting his gaze to the monsters in front of him.
I hurriedly cancel my skill and when I saw him again, he had walked away while pulling out his weapon—a black sword with some red marks. I knew immediately, that is a SSS-Class blade.
[Crimson Lunar Eclipse]
The initial background of that item that it was Crimson Lunar Eclipse once owned by a corrupted someone from a parallel world of earth. His journey was surviving and saving people with stained souls.
He was fighting the sky, trying his best to defend the earth though it became this two other realm battleground. Fighting against the greedy Heaven that wanted to conquer the whole life beside them and for the darkest Hell who wanted revenge over the Heaven for their long-term eternal war.
So he was the one, defender of earth. But unfortunately, earth wasn't so kind to him and later, he became an object of possession for heaven and hell.
Corrupted in power, he fell into the blind path and slaughtered part of heaven and hell also took thousands of souls on earth..
The calamity was so big that the eclipse moon even witnessed the tragedy, as its light reflected the bloody red coloured earth. In the end, with the remaining of his sanity, he sealed himself inside the sword and years later, this sword was silently taken away by the system.
Such a dark story for single weapon...
Anyway, if I knew that I'm going to get a Greatsword, I won't give him with just a mere sword. Seriously with that build of him, lifting my Infinite Sky won't be harder than holding a chopstick.
Ace started to run toward the monsters, narrowing his eyes. His looks was so calm and steady and by surprise, he disappeared from the sight. Less than two seconds later, he already standing behind one of the monster hanging his sword from the right then swung it to the left with one horizontal trajectory.
Whoosh—
The monster's body immediately cut into two parts. Thick dark blood splashed from its lower part of the body. Not wasting any seconds, Ace once again disappeared and showed up in front of the next Amos.
He put his sword high to the sky and slash it down. This time, not only with vertical trajectory, he also put one other horizontal line. Just as quick as the eyes can see, the unfortunate Amos slashed into four parts.
I stood there like a dumbfounded person. Moreover, after seeing Ace also slaughtered the other two Amos that just joined the party easily.
Such a quick movement...
I wonder just how high his level was. I knew that he was the protagonist and basically an awesome OP typical of character, but come on, the game had just started.
"...Hm?"
I saw him panted and his movements slowed down after slaughtered four monsters. I guess he finally reached his limit for early-game level player. I wish I could see his information but without his game code, it's impossible to do so.
I decided to approach him and gave my hand to him. He looked tired, so I can't silently stood there like a fool beside, this was also a good opportunity to talk to him.
He firstly wiped the sweat on his face then reached my hand.
"Hup–!"
He–
He was heavy. Well, not a surprise for someone with that body build, especially he was probably few cm taller than me—
....no, I took that back. He was way taller than me.
I looked at Ace who was keeping his sword back. Right, he was the one, the person I was looking for. What a luck, I would immediately encounter him like this, thanks to those common grade monsters.
Ace looked at me. Maybe it was just my imagination or something, but his eyes looked like they were... wondering about something?
"...Do you hurt anywhere?" I snapped as Ace asked me the question.
This fool, shouldn't it be me the one who asking that??
"No, thanks to your help I'm able to escape those common grade monsters."
I smiled to add at least an appreciation so I didn't look like some cocky bastard.
However the sudden next question stunned me on place. I didn't know whether should I cry or laugh.
"Why didn't you pull your weapon out?" He asked me, and there I was wondering on how in milky way should I explain it.
I knew that the original players of this story already got explained by the system regarding of how using their weapons, so the excuse of 'I don't know how to use them' or 'where's the weapon? why didn't I carry one?' would make me seemed down-to-earth way too stupid.
I hesitated for moment before making up my excuse, "I got panicked, so I simply forgot my weapon and picked up any nearby things i could use as weapon instead. You know... just as you still not getting to something new."
He was silent for a whole goddamn minute before showing me his response.
He nodded and turned away, "Then, I'll be going." As he started to walk, I pulled his arm. He averted his gaze on me with a confused manner. A slight wrinkle can be seen on his eyebrows. Now that I had pulled him like this, the words I wanted to say didn't came out from my mouth.
What if he got suspicious over my next question?
What if he knew I was the one who created him and knowing he was actually a fictional being?
The one who gave him such life and pain...
"What's wrong actually?" He asked and again, it snapped me back to reality. Right, it was weird for a guy suddenly pulling over another guy's arm like this.
I looked like a clingy girl who was begging for company after something bad happened to them aren't i... Damn it!
"You– form a team with me, I need you on my side."
..
He was silent by my words. Haha of course! It came out more awkward than I expected, I lose my cool at this point, especially seeing how his expression just getting more and more confused than before.
I had thrown away my dignity at this rate. I swear I was going to beat him up to pulp if he decline- right. I couldn't even lift my Infinite Sky.
"Why should I?" Ace spoke in low tone.
"Because.."
Because you were this world's protagonist and I could lead you to the right path. I knew exactly what would happen next.
Rather wasn't it better? even though I didn't know the end just yet, I could guarantee 100% that you were the only one who could destroy that system core.
Thus, I also can't let you die in those blank story near the end. Those parts which I wasn't yet to put any story in. That's why by doing this only could i feel reassured, because you'd be in my sight length.
However I answered simply,
"Because your skill of fighting will be much of a help for me, I know a lot of information better than you about this world so that will be a win-win solution if you form a team together with me."
If I say I knew how was the future would be without having any prophecy ability, the system would got suspicious over me. Cause I didn't know if there would be people who had the prophecy ability yet. Did I hesitated about my own story? yes, because I just saw some monsters and scene which I remembered I never made before.
I guess there would be some new details mixed in.
Ace snorted and say "Really? Just how much do you know? I would accept it if you caught my interest."
My eyes widened, I didn't expect him to say that, I cannot say the future event but I knew his background which is something he never reveal to anyone.
"I know your background, you were an orphan who was abandoned by-" I cut my self halfway as I thought it wasn't appropriate to say such thing so bluntly...
His eyes widened and then narrowed with an intimidating gaze toward me. "Is that all?"
He stayed silent as I continued "You also hate this woman
Ace's hand grabbed his sword as if he was about to aim it to me and cut me in half at any moment. I tried to kept my calm, as I wonder about something,
...Ran, his girlfriend's closest friend. Their friendship was somewhat ridiculous yet amusing. They often break into fight over Ace's girlfriend on 'who's the one deserves of being with the lady today'. I guess this girlfriend was just too precious for them. Also, he didn't really like Ran because her cruel personality. However, their 'friendship' ended soon after Ace's girlfriend died in a traffic accident.
But why did ace seemed to be so loathful toward her?
"That's enough."
I blinked few times. Well, anyway if that was a response of agreement, that was fast. I never knew such a tiny information would made him believed me.
"Now that you had believed me, form a team with me, made me your companion, simple." I spoke in a serious tone, he looked at me with hesitation in his eyes.
He scoffed, "Have some confidence huh? What do you know about someone's past."
Well, wasn't it exactly like that?
Though I knew why he was hesitating–that he used to be betrayed by lot of people around him. Ace, you may not trust me now just yet, but I would show you that I was someone that you could fully trust to heart.
"...And I didn't agree with you just yet. I'll give you time to prove me about what you've said before, about knowing about this catastrophe. But if you ever trying to backstab me, I'll kill you on the spot."
"Sure sure." I waved my hand in front of my face as to show him he could lay low. "My name is Kaz Verlice, nice to meet you."
At first he didn't say anything, but as expected, the answer still came out.
"Ace. just Ace."
He spoke while looking at me with cold gaze.
He maybe scary right now, but few more step ahead and I'd gain his trust, that way I hope he'd be open up to me and showing me more emotion.
Was it guilty feelings? I don't know. Or to be exact, I didn't know just yet.
Not long after, a notification window popped up in front of our face.
[ !Announcement! ]
I immediately looked at the notification window that popped up in front me. Just like me, Ace also got the notification.
Followed by another.
---
-survive the 1st wave of catastrophe and kill at least 4 common grade monster.
-reward : 500 crystal, Black diamonds x3, Code x2.
-Failing punishment : Unfortunate lost of Esper's parts.
Quest duration : 2 hours.
Friendly tips :
-you can joining hands with other Esper!
-For those who managed to kill more than 6 common grade monster, will receive additional reward!
---
After done reading it, I looked at Ace with a smirk. "Well then Ace, it's time for us to work together on this quest."
He glanced at me and then throw his eyes away. "Do as you please."