A man stood before him, exuding an air of maturity with his stubble beard. Despite being fifty-three years old, he possessed a commanding presence and rugged handsomeness. A loose cigarette dangled from his mouth, emitting trails of smoke as he locked eyes with Lee, his gaze filled with profound sadness.
Lee was taken aback, for the man standing before him was none other than his coach—the person he considered a second father, someone he held in the highest regard.
"Why?" Lee managed to utter, his voice laced with confusion and disbelief. The coach reached into his pocket and produced a piece of paper, which he presented to Lee. As Lee began to read its contents, an overwhelming surge of anger coursed through his veins.
"Character Deletion? Never returning to the game?" Lee exclaimed, his world crumbling before his eyes. The coach kneeled beside him, his face buried in his hands.
"I never revealed this to you all, but we've been facing financial ruin for nearly a year. Our sponsors withdrew their support at the last moment, and I was forced to sell the team to another company."
"The deal was simple: Win this year's tournament or face disbandment. They're taking over, and I couldn't stop it. I signed away our fate," the coach confessed, his voice breaking. Overwhelmed by his love for the team, he had made a devastating decision.
"Lee, take your teammates and run. There are rumors of a new game emerging, one that transcends Legends. Sign this agreement and disappear. I'll handle things here, even if it means sacrificing myself. Just ensure their safety," he pleaded, his voice laden with desperation.
"Do you hear me?"
Lee, shocked and moved by his coach's self-sacrificing resolve, nodded. A number of baseball bats emerged from the darkness, catching his attention. Turning his gaze, he witnessed his coach's hands tremble slightly as he clutched the paper tightly. Stepping in front of Lee, his coach fixed his gaze on the newcomers.
"I said I'd get them to quit. Why are you doing this? Four of my children are already broken. He's my last remaining child. Let him go!" he cried out, his voice filled with anguish and determination.
Touched by his coach's unwavering support, Lee decided to protect the last fragment of his shattered world. Retrieving a steel pipe lying on the ground, he spun it skillfully in his hands, sensing its lightness.
"I'll offer you two choices. Option one: Back away from my coach, and we will leave peacefully, granting you your desires. Option two: Decide to fight us, and witness the consequences," Lee declared in a menacing tone, tightening his grip on the steel pipe.
The intruders smirked, and one of them stepped forward, ready to engage in combat. With clenched fists and bent knees, Lee poised himself for an immediate confrontation.
"One more step forward, and I swear I'll kill—" Lee's threat was abruptly interrupted as the man materialized right in front of him. The man skillfully evaded the swing of the steel pipe, toying with Lee.
"What's the matter, boy? Can't seem to land a hit?" he taunted. Suddenly, sparks flickered along the pipe, striking the man. Startled by the unexpected blow, the man decided he had had enough.
The events that unfolded afterward became a blur for Lee. He found himself struck in the chest, collapsing to the ground. Yet, he felt a gentle hand on his back, carefully easing him down, and his consciousness waned.
"Lee! Sign it!" his coach's voice resounded, accompanied by the sound of a pen and paper being tossed his way. Lee struggled to comprehend his coach's unprecedented fury, a sentiment foreign to them all. He watched his coach move skillfully between his opponents, dodging their strikes and making his counters efficiently.
Groans surrounded them, and Lee handed the papers back to his coach immediately after he returned. Anger was evident all over his face, subtly snatching the papers from Lee's grip.
Taking the papers, his coach approached the black car, and Lee strained to catch a glimpse of the person responsible for the turmoil. All he discerned was a vague shadow as a light drizzle began to fall, shrouding their identity.
"Lee! There's something you need to know! Find me in Quantum Nexus!" his coach bellowed before departing in the opposite direction, drawing the pursuers away. Lee rose to his feet and slowly helped his teammates up, grateful that they were all relatively unscathed. An ambulance arrived shortly after.
As the black sedan departed, leaving him pondering the coach's cryptic message, Lee wondered about the truth behind the unfolding events and what awaited him in Nexus. First aid was administered, and all five teammates, bruised but intact, were attended to.
(Inside the black sedan)
Studying the papers in her possession, a sense of satisfaction washed over her. Smoke billowed from the man sitting across from her as he gazed at the papers, a hint of contentment in his expression.
"Everything is falling into place as anticipated. The Virtual World is evolving at an astonishing pace, and we must be prepared to quell any emerging threats," the man stated, exhaling another plume of smoke, his figure veiled by the car's dim interior.
She wore a shocked expression, peering out the window, consumed by curiosity about the impending danger he alluded to.