Snow White, Alice, and I sat at a park and chatted with one another for a bit, getting to know each other better. I began to learn interesting facts about Alice and Snow White as well as what kind of world Wonderland truly was.
"So you're actually one of the creators of Wonderland huh..? How did you lose ownership of the world?" I asked.
"We played a game...I lost the game. My friends. Everything. She trapped me. I became Bound to this world. I used to have my Cheshire Cat, March Hare, and Mad Hatter at my side...no longer are those days as they belong to the Goddess of Wonderland now.." Alice answered.
"And you?" I asked to Snow White.
"I died a tragic death in my home world. Poisoned by an Apple...I was never saved. My prince never came. My heart seeked Justice. The Goddess of Wonderland brought me here to execute my justice... Protecting the people of the Heart Region to prevent others from trickery. My goal is to kill the Joker of our Region to prevent them from corrupting this land with his Chaos." Snow White explained.
I looked at the two and closed my eyes nodding. "I understand."
"What about you? What was your life like before coming here?" Snow White asked.
I looked at the picnic table and frowned a bit. "I used to be a huge business owner. I was intelligent, strong willed, I didn't care about the risks. Whatever I needed to do to be the top, I did it. I never stopped using those that had no worth as assets for success. Once I made it to the top, my rival killed me after we played a game of chess." I said.
Alice and Snow White looked at each other then back at me.
"What is your rank?" Snow White asked.
"I never checked." I said then took out my phone and checked my rank.
[Rank: Joker]
...
...
"Jokers are the Aces natural enemy..."
"Lie to Live or Truth for Death..?"
"Your game isn't over yet..."
"You are the Joker!"
"I'm Unranked." I said and put my phone away.
"Liar..."
"Liar...."
"Liar....."
Snow White crossed her arms and closed her eyes with a smile. "Well, we have our first Unranked being. Maybe the Goddess doesn't see his worth just yet. What is your Wonder Guardian and Ability?"
"My Wonder Ability is called Preflex and my Guardian is called Royal Core." I answered.
"Royal Core?" Snow White asked.
"Pawns, Rooks, Knights, Bishops, Queens, and Kings. I have the power of every chess piece, but I start as a Pawn and I can only promote one time." I said and looked at the Pawn Symbol on my hand.
"You know, I thought that your ability was something to deal with chess. You can only create seven clones, you use chess strategies in your combat style, the promotions you use. It all makes sense now...plus the way you're always so calm...it is a bit scary." Snow White said and smiled at me.
"It is unsettling...but when I look at your face you seem to always have something on your mind. Like some Tactical Genius." Alice said and crossed her arms.
All three of us heard our bracelets beeping.
[Due to the Completion of the last Challenge, you have been rewarded.]
[Reward: Ten of Hearts]
[Life Force: 10,400]
[Challenge: City Escape]
[Distance From Goal: 10000]
"City Escape..?" I asked and stood up then heard a creepy laugh. I noticed a black cloaked figure walking toward us.
Alice stood up and backed away then ran off. Snow White ran off as well and both of them left me to myself.
"This is starting to get annoying." I said and ran off as well.
The cloaked figure laughed as they walked toward us. They hummed a creepy melody that echoed across the skies. They stopped walking then crouched down and propelled themselves toward me.
I looked back and created a clone of myself then threw him at the figure. The figure crashed into the clone and continued toward me. I dodged the figure and blocked their next attack. I ducked under their right hook. A clone of me appeared behind the figure and grappled the figure.
"Joker..." The figure creepily said and laughed.
I glared at the figure then ran off. As I ran I could hear their creepy laugh then noticed the figure appear in front of me. I used my Preflex to dodge every one of their attacks then kicked them away. I rushed forward and created seven clones of myself then shuffled around them.
The figure tried to look for the real me but noticed I had split my life force evenly between the clones so they couldn't sense me. "Where are you..?~"
Alice and Snow White kept running and Snow White looked back to see if the figure was following but noticed they weren't.
"Do you think we should've left Leo like that? So far he's been the main target for all of the King's Units." Snow White said as she skated on the ice she generated.
"He's fine. He survived the King's Gunman and the Snow Killer, killing them both. The King's Phantom shouldn't be any different." Alice said.
"We should at least help him. His intelligence can be of use to us especially since we don't have Aladdin or Dorothy with us! Alice, come on! Why won't you help Leo?" Snow White asked and looked at her.
Alice glared and kept looking ahead. 'Be bound to no one...Keep moving forward no matter what. The weak can not be saved...'
[Promotion Gauge: 90%]
[Distance From Goal: 6000]
I dodged the Phantom's attacks then used a woman to take a strike for me then threw a rock at one of the cars, breaking through the windshield and killing the driver. I ran to the car to get in, but the Phantom blew up the car and the explosion knocked me away.
"You're mine now..." The Phantom laughed and pointed their sword at me.
I stood up and ran off once again. Annoyed that Alice and Snow White left me, I knew in this world it was every man for themselves at this point. Teamwork is earned...
"It is lonely at the top..."
"Strength in numbers mean nothing..."
"One asset is needed..."
"You don't need them!"
[Promotion Possible!]
I bellowed and Promoted myself to a Knight. I whistled and a loud neigh was heard. An armored horse galloped toward me and I mounted them then the horse raced off.
"You can not escape!" The Phantom roared then launched themselves at me.
I looked back and commanded my horse to gallop faster. The horse's body shined and used a burst of speed to rush forward.
Alice heard a neigh and looked back then her eyes widened as she noticed I had sped past her and Snow White. Snow White watched me then heard the Phantom's laugh. The Phantom struck both Alice and Snow White with a lariat, blowing them away.
"Alice! Snow White! Time for you two to die!" The Phantom laughed.
I looked back and noticed the Phantom had shifted targets. I looked ahead and groaned as my head began throbbing.
"You can not leave them..."
"They are needed for survival.."
"They are your keys.."
"Death be upon you for abandoning your assets!"
I panted and commanded my horse to stop. I dismounted my horse and looked back. "I can't leave them...but they can leave me. I have to earn their respect...but they don't have to earn mine..? Bullshit. That's all bullshit! Fine...you won't let me leave them? I'll force them to respect me.."
Alice grunted as she summoned her scissors and slashed at the Phantom, but they dodged the attack and countered with a punch to her stomach. They grabbed her neck and raised her off the ground. Alice groaned as The Phantom began taking her Life Force.
Snow White appeared behind The Phantom and slashed at them, but noticed her sword had phased through their body. "What..?"
The Phantom laughed then grabbed Snow White's neck and raised her off the ground. She grunted and tried to break free from their hold. She groaned as The Phantom drained their Life Force as well.
"Death for the traitors of Wonderland..." The Phantom laughed.
The Phantom noticed a spear flying their way and made their body intangible then noticed I appeared in front of them then kicked them away. They groaned and dropped Alice and Snow White.
Alice coughed and held her neck, looking up at me. Snow White grunted softly and looked up at me as well.
"I didn't come save you out the goodness of my heart. I came back... because I want to kill The Phantom." I said and summoned six lances then dashed toward The Phantom.
The Phantom looked at me and smirked. They threw off their cloak and was revealed to being a woman. She summoned her sword and laughed. "You...are one interesting being!"
I slashed at The Phantom and clashed with her. I twirled my lances to try and strike her rapidly, but she blocked each strike swiftly then used her aura to push me away. I fired my lances at The Phantom and she dodged each one as she ran toward me. She turned invisible and laughed.
I used my Preflex to dodge each one of her attacks then used bursts of speed to move around The Phantom. 'Knights are swift and powerful pieces. They lack the strength and defense of a Rook, and the magic ability of a Bishop...but the Knight is the fastest piece in the game second to the Queen. If I move fast enough...'
The Phantom tried to track my steps but began to see afterimages form. She looked surprised and couldn't track me anymore. 'He's moving too fast..! What is this power..?!'
I began striking The Phantom with attacks as I moved around her, making it impossible for her to counter. The Phantom groaned in pain as she was getting cut then I appeared in front of her and kicked her stomach, launching her away then appeared in front of her with a spinning kick. She groaned as I kicked her neck and crashed to the ground.
Snow White was impressed and stood up. "It is like he knows the ins and outs of his power. For an Unranked...he surely has the power of that of an Ace."
Alice watched me and stood up. She walked as I walked away from The Phantom. "He did kill her...no remorse lives in his body.."
"Monster or Savior..?"
"Life or Death..?"
"Survival or Stability..?"
"Do not be Bound to Wonderland...Express your Justice upon those who oppose you..."
"Wonderland needs CHAOS."
I took The Phantom's cloak and sword then put it on then walked past Alice and Snow White. "Let us leave. We are finished with this City..."
Alice watched me and looked at Snow White. She decided to follow me and Snow White followed.
'Respect isn't given. It is earned...If they won't give me respect, I'll take it. I tried to escape my old mannerisms yesterday, but three times is enough.' I thought to myself.
I stopped at the goal and looked at it. "You know... It's only been two days and we've ran into all these problems already..."
"That's how it goes. These challenges happen all the time...all day from morning to night, but each time we win...we get Life Force." Snow White said.
"I'm aware..." I said and turned to look at Alice and Snow White then pointed my sword at them.
They were surprised by my actions and stared at me.
"From now on...Since I'm always doing the heavy lifting, you two listen to me. I don't care how you feel about it. This will be the last time you leave me. You are now Bound to me. My Justice is absolute." I said sternly. I walked past the goal and walked forward.
[Challenge Complete: City Escape]
[Award: Wonder EXP +200]
"Life at the top...is always cold and lonely..."