"Let's get out of this dungeon", I said breaking the silence which was on for a while. This occurred after I told them everything again leaving the fact that I'm from another world and I received a heritage. As usual,their reaction was off the charts when they knew the rank of my Superior Physique. They also were surprised to know that the principal and vice principal were my backers. The group became quiet again as we proceeded to leave the Rookie's dungeon.
"How are we going to fool the guards".Kofi asked as we moved along."They'll notice the increase in your rank. Normally, it shouldn't pose a problem but yours is a significant increase in a short time".
"I got that covered",I replied him causing the whole group to stop their movement.
"Oh yes you do",Kofi laughed putting a hand on his forehead. "Why am I so stupid".
"What was that supposed to mean",I asked.
"It felt like you used us",Kwami said taking the lead as he walk futher. The others followed him as well leaving me behind.
"I didn't...", I said quite taken aback by what he said. I rushed to catch up with them. "I'm sorry y'all if you I think I used you but truly I didn't".
"Indeed", Kofi said as he continued walking. The group became silent again and We finally reached the exit of the dungeon. I quickly wore the bracelet that the Gladys gave me and it worked perfectly as the guards at the entrance didn't even notice anything different. We reached our mid rank hotel in silence as well. I guess everyone had a traumatic experience in that dungeon or they felt betrayed. I did that to protect them. The more secret you know,the more danger you are in right?
"Let's just rest for two hours before leaving Vokma", Kwami announced to us all . Though our payment still allow us to stay for a whole day but I think we should still leave early.
"You are right",Kofi replied breaking from the group. Some of us need rest. They group dispersed, leaving me behind. Come to think of it,Aluna and Annika were quiet through the journey back here. I guess they had a rough time too. I entered the boys room afterwards only to find Kofi and Kwami waiting for me.
"How could you keep that from us", Kofi said. His words indicating betrayal. "We are friends you know".
"I wasn't going to put you guys in danger",I answered taking a seat on the lower bunk. "I had everything covered".
"You really had everything covered",Kofi replied mimicking my voice.
"We were really scared you know", Kwami added pacing about. "How can you expect we, F rankers to be cool in front of a S ranked monster. I still have the chills till now".
"I understand and if you hate me for that",I said with both my hands raised a bit. "it's quite understandable. I can leave if you want me to".
"That's your solution",Kofi replied almost shouting before looking at Kwami. "Kwami,why aren't you saying anything? He thinks he can run away".
"Apologize to Aluna",Kwami said turning his back at me. "In all my years with her, I haven't seen the bold Aluna freak out like that. After that,then we can talk".
"Yeah right", Kofi nodded calming down a little. "She was the one affected the most by what happened".
"Ok", I said standing up. "I'd do just that".
I left the room and headed to the girls room which was just the next room after ours.
"Hey",I called knocking. "Anyone in?"
"Femi", I heard Annika voice from where I stood. "If you are looking for Aluna, she's not here. I'm sure you can find her".
Wait,I thought. How did she know that I'm looking for her.
"Okay thanks",I said as I hurriedly left.
Map, I processed those words in my head. My treasure is Aluna. Locate her.
Immediately,a dot was over the map shown before me and it pointed out where she was. I followed the map and found her. She was outside the hotel in a small secluded garden. I didn't even know it was there.
"What are you doing here",I said startling her. She turned to see who was speaking before turning back to her former position. "I came to check up on you and to apologize again. I'm really sorry for my selfishness and not being truthful. Please forgive me".
"Come sit", she said tapping the chair beside her. "Let me tell you a story.
I went ahead and sat beside her. She began staring at the sky.
"My village was attacked by snake monsters when I was a kid and it was a disaster. People died a lot trying to escape or trying to kill them. The village was almost destroyed as they had covered almost all of the area. Trying to escape with my family, I was caught by a big snake, not the size of the Titanoboa but it was big in its own way".
She paused, clearing her throat before continuing.
"I tried fighting for my freedom but it was all futile as it coiled round me trying to crush me. My parents couldn't do anything but to watch their daughter get crushed as they were also fighting off hordes of snacks who attacked the same time I was caught around them. I felt my very life flash before my eyes as I was being crushed and I passed out. Later, I woke up with bandages all over. I couldn't talk or move as most of my bones were broken. It was so bad that they thought I wouldn't survive the night but I did because I'm a strong girl. Since that day, I told myself that I would train myself not to be helpless ever again. Seeing that snake again made me recollect that incident and I was really scared.I thought I was really going to die. I'm too weak".
This time, she was already weeping. Her words were getting muddled up and I didn't know what to say, I instinctively placed her head on my shoulder and said
"There's no one here so you can cry out loud without worry. Also, know this Aluna. You are strong. Don't tell yourself otherwise. So,cry all you want and forget that feeling. I'm so sorry for placing you in that situation".
I stayed with her as she cried her eyes out before falling asleep on my shoulders. Noticing this, I carried her to her room. Annika was a great help and we moved her to the lower bunk, allowing her to rest there. I then headed back to the guys who were packing their weapons and a few clothes.
"Did you talk to her",Kwami asked as he packed.
"Yeah I did",I answered.
"So",Kwami stopped looking at me. "Were you using us so you could dump us later".
"That was never my intention",I answered almost immediately.
"Then what was your real intention?", He asked again. "I clearly don't know why you'd keep the real information from us".
If I had told them the real situation at that time,I pondered. Maybe they won't have gone with me. Maybe ... Or maybe I was really wrong. I don't really know. Do you?
"You are right",I said lowering my head. "It's my fault and my mistake. I thought it was safe and I didn't know it was just safe for me. Forgive me".
"Were you restricting your strength all this while",Kofi asked curiously.
"Yeah",I answered. Since I had negligible mana,I didn't want to cause my body harm".
"So we won't last long if he really fights with his all",Kwami chuckled strangely.
"You will defeat me if you fight the real me",I replied wondering why he thought of that. I won't want to use my strength now since I'm still inexperienced. If I use it while fighting against you, it's just for show off and that doesn't seem cool to me".
"Hmm", Kwami hummed as he returned to what he was doing before. "Let's pack up ,we have an hour left"
We suddenly heard a knock on the door as Kwami said those words. I opened it and saw Annika walk in.
"Can I speak with Kofi and Kwami alone please", She requested, looking at me.
"Ok",I nodded." No problem".
I left, giving them their privacy. I went to the diner ordering a light menu. After a while, Annika came to me as I was eating my meal.
"Still sulking?", Annika said as she saw my face. "Were you offended I asked you to leave the room".
"A bit",I said truthfully.
"Haha sorry", She apologized giggling. "I had to do that without you. I had to make them see another perspective of what happened in the dungeon. We shouldn't be broken or bitter as you did what you thought best, though it could have been done in a better way. Besides, you gave your all to protect us from that huge snake and I'm grateful. Truly I am. Just promise me something will you? don't keep that kind of information from us again. Our mindset and preparation depends on the information given and it will be bad if we broke down again like we did today. That experience wasn't nice to me personally so you promise?"
"I do",I said with a smile
"Good",she replied. "So do we as well. Now, you are clear".
"You mean...",I said widening my eyes.
Yeah, Annika replied crossing bed arms. I defended you and you are ok now.
"Really!",I exclaimed,my eyes being grateful. "Thank you".
"Hmm", she smiled before continuing. "Anyways, I extended the time we are to leave. There's a place I wanted to visit with Kofi. I.."
"About that",I asked, interrupting her. "I have being meaning to ask. How did you and Kofi become a couple".
"Oh", She smiled widely. It was a smile of someone in love. "It was before Elian's incident, he came up to me confessing his love and I accepted after a while. He's really a good guy".
"I know right",I said in support.
"Anyways", Annika said with her hands clapped together. "You are coming".
"I thought it was only you and Kofi",I said totally surprised at her words.
"You didn't let me finish my statement",She said, rising up on her feet. "Now, take a bath and dress up. You stink a bit".
Why did it skip my mind, I asked myself as Annika left. I'm still smelly from the stress of awakening and Aluna tears. That remains me, I hope Aluna is feeling better.
Immediately, I went back to the room to have a nice bath. After that,I wore another dress I brought just in case.
"So what's your plan",Kofi asked as I had fully dressed up for whatever place we were going to. "Surely you are leaving us or something".
"I'm staying",I stressed out again. "That's final".
"Well", Kwami sighed. "Action speak better than words besides how can we trust you again?"
"That is for me to work on",I said placing my hand on my chest. "I will make sure I earn your trust back".
"Let's go", Kofi said after receiving a message from his watch which halted our conversation. "The girls are waiting for us".
We quickly left the room to meet up with the girls.
"Everything", Annika said shaking her head in disappointment. "Everytime, we get to our meeting point before you all. You should cover your eyes in shame"
"Sorry we made you wait",Kofi apologized. Shall we go to my secret bunker then?
"Bunker?" I asked pointing downwards. "Like underground?"
"Yeah", Annika answered checking her watch. "That place has just the thing we need. We will be back by 4pm to meet up with the train by 4:30pm
We agreed on the time and ordered for a car to take us to the secret bunker. The car arrived and we all boarded the car and we alighted at the outskirts of Vokma city
"Follow me",Kofi said as he led us to his secret bunker. We went on for a while passing through some vegetations before reaching a house. We could have brought the car here but it's called secret for a reason.
"Let's go in", Kofi said as he unlocked the front door. As I was about entered, I felt a nudge. Looking back, I saw Aluna who had moved to the right, waiting for me. I guess she had something to discuss with me.
"What happened today",She said as I came near to her. "Do not tell a soul. If you do,then I'm be sure to find a way to exert my revenge".
With that, she left. Whatever she meant with revenge an all but it's nice to see her back as her usual self. I entered the house as well and met them waiting for me. It seems Aluna had given an excuse as to why we were late since nobody asked. Kofi then led us to his secret bunker. It was a large one at that. There was the weapons section on the right, a gaming hall,a karaoke station and lots more. Basically, one could live a life here.
"I didn't know you were a very rich kid", I said in awe.
"Basically it's my dad's", Kofi said proudly. "He had this built as his safe haven and this is not the only one. He gave me permission to use this one when I told him I'd come here. Also, he made mention not to touch any of the weapons so steer clear of that area".
With that,Kofi left with Annika to the gaming hall. I on the other hand went to the food store. I don't know why but I feel hunger all of a sudden. Maybe it's due to my awakening. I picked whatever I could find to eat. I was really hungry. After eating, I went to display room. The room basically had different computers and a wall of art all around. There was a large tv in the center so I switched it on. The news came up and they were discussing about an overseer of some sort. It wasn't really mentioned in the novel to my knowledge.
"Femi"I heard Annika's voice."We need you here".
I switched off the tv and headed to where she was. Following her voice,I saw the whole group in the karaoke room seated.
"So I kinda told the group you'd sing",She whispered to my ear as I entered the room. " Think of it as an act of reconcilation".
"Thanks",I said as I walked to the stage. Picking a song form another artist I knew,I sang beautifully again. They were all captivated by the song and not too long, I finished the song.
"Wow",Aluna said as they all clapped. "You are really good. If you were in combat minor class, you'd be at the peak easily".
"Ah that reminds me" I said moving closer to them. "I forgot to hand this over to you guys".
I brought the four portions from my watch. Turns out, they are ranking potions
"These are the ranking potions from the dungeon" I explained. " It helps raise your rank to the next level and it has a white colour on my treasure map which 11 indicates that it's a good treasure without defect".
"Are you using this to bribe us?",Kwami asked giving me a weird look.
"No", I answered truthful. "It's just not usable to me and the awakening potion was what I was after. Surprisingly, the potions are enough to go round and it would be nice if you break into F+ rank or E- rank before the break ends.
"It isn't a bad deal",Aluna said taking one of the potions from my hand. "With this, I can have a proper fight with Ife"
The others took it from my hand and they all drank the potion. Immediately, I felt mana surging from their bodies. It felt pure and strong. Taking a step back due to the strong mana fluctuation coming them, i could feel their rank increasing at a surprising pace before stopping.
This rank,I said as I had a deja Vu when I sensed their rank. This is the rank I felt when I was fighting the Titanoboa. No, if not stronger. Don't tell me the ranking potion increased their rank to S rank? Oh crap".
*******************************
In the ocean, far from the border of America stood large war ship sailing wide open in the ocean.
"Sergeant Barry reporting sir",A white man with a medium height saluted as he faced the commender of the squad" The signal is gone".
"At ease sergeant",The female commander who had a dreadful demeanor asked while facing the ocean from the deck's railing."Why is the signal gone sergeant?"
"We don't know what happened ma'am", The sergeant said standing at ease. "We are trying our best to find the signal".
"Find it quick",The commander said facing him. "The overseer must not slip from our very hands".
"Roger sir", Sergeant Barry saluted as he left
"We are coming for you, overseer", the commander said as she turned back to the ocean.
...........
...........
"Thanks for coming on short notice".
"No harm done".
"So tell me. Why is there a war ship on the ocean far from the borders of America".
"As you already know the overseer is alive and somewhere hidden around earth. Luckily for us, we created a device capable of tracing the overseer down. Presently, the signal has disappeared and we are trying to bring get it back. Hopefully the signal will be recovered".
"Are you the only one partaking this wild chase?".
"No, I heard different countries, secret organization and even well renowned families are on the hunt as well".
"Wow, this is really surprising. Thank you for your time".
"The pleasure is mine".