Karl wakes up with an annoying headache. "Ugh." He groans in pain as he spots few dried blood stains on the mattress. 'Not again.' He gets up from the bed and hops straight into the open bathroom. Cold water leaves a stinging sensation on Karl's bleeding hand.
15 minutes later, Karl buttons his shirt and puts on the uniform coat. WHOMM! The watch vibrates loudly in his hands. It's a call from Ian. "Hello?"
"Good morning. I see that you woke up on time today. If you didn't picked my call, I was going to spam you with bot calls."
"Yeah sure. Where are you?"
"In the suite. Come quickly, I got some valuable information that I think you should listen."
"On my way." Karl hangs up the call.
[6:34 AM]
'Damn, I woke up too early.'
With one last look in the mirror, Karl leaves his room and makes his way towards the elevator. Just as he is about to press the button, distorted images of Yelm flashes in his mind. Brushing off such negative thoughts with a long sigh Karl pressed the button. Few minutes later, Karl is sitting infront Ian.
"Again?"
"Yes."
"Dude. Getting attacked for a weapon seems plausible but you just got confessed by a vampyer." Ian chuckles at his own words. "I mean how many people even got this opportunity?"
Karl makes an awkward smile as he remembered the names of the dark fantasy novels he saw in one of his goth ex-girlfriend's room.
"We can look into those blood suckers later. Until then, just avoid going to isolated places alone."
Karl nods at Ian's words.
"Now onto more serious matter, how much do you know about the third phase?"
"To be honest, nothing."
"Third phase is bit different from earlier phases. Teamwork is the key of this phase." Ian explains.
"Teamwork? You mean tag team matches against other teams?"
"No. 4 random people will be placed together as a team and will be given an tower to protect."
'Tower?'
"The designed team need to protect the tower against hordes of beasts. If one person gets any serious injury, he/she will be escorted outside and disqualified from the tournament. Destruction of the tower will result in the entire team getting disqualified."
"Then we just have to protect the tower and survive right?"
"It's not that simple. Even though it is a team required phase but your individual ranking will depend on the entire team's performance and your contribution. It takes in factors such as number of enemies slain, how much time was taken to clear a single wave and so on."
'Reminds of that one pc game I used play when I was little.'
"Okay so who are my teammates?" Karl asks.
"That's where the problem comes in. At first, using my family's influence we were going to put in a team of some trusted people who will have your back."
"You can do that?"
"Yes, being a noble has its certain...perks. However someone already has assigned you in a team. Also, in a team with the leader being a member of Dandelion family." Ian spoke the last few words in a different tone.
By hearing Dandelion family's name a series of memories flushed into Karl's name. "Gea! That bastard really did it."
Ian raises his eyebrow in question as Karl explains his first party experience.
"He will definitely try to eliminate you. Don't trust any of them." Ian advises as he leans back.
"I know that." Karl observes Ian sulking silently. "Hey. How is that old man doing?"
"Father? He is good." Ian answers without looking at Karl, he looks clearly upset that Karl made a team with someone from Dandelion family.
'Ugh. Kids.'
Just as Karl is about say something, his watch rings loudly. It's a call from an unknown number. Before answering he glances at Ian who is looking at him. "Hello?"
"Greetings. Smart brother! I hope you remember our fated meeting yesterday!" Gea asks in enthuastic voice.
"Brother? Fated meeting?" Ian asks as his eye twitches in anger.
Karl tries to shush Ian. "Yes. Yes. Brother, how could I forget it?"
"Good. Now, I am gathering few like-minded individuals who will help me in my revenge against that whore, my fiancée. For that purpose, brother would lend me strength?"
Karl looks at Ian who turns his face away. "O-Of course. What do I need to do?"
"I made a team including you for the third phase. Before we fight let us meet up. Come to the address that I texted you."
"Yes. I see you there." Karl hangs up.
"Uh. I need to-" Karl makes some weird gestures which points at the door.
"Sure go on." Ian pouts.
'Cute. Looks like I have make it up to him somehow.'
Karl leaves the suite and goes straight to the given address. It is a private restaurant on 19th floor. As soon as Karl enters the restaurant and sees Gea in a distance aggressively waving at him. He walks up to a table which is already occupied by 3 other people. Karl grabs a chair and sits down comfortably.
"Meet my team. Rakhil, Kol this is Leonard." The guy wearing glasses gets up from his seat and shakes his hand with me. He has a skinny build with a nerdy face. His hair is also styled into a bowlcut which looks quite funny. He is wearing a casual set of polo on a pair of comfy pajama like pants. Other than this he doesn't really has any remarkable features. "Let's do our best."
"Likewise."
Meanwhile the girl only smiles at me once before getting lost in her watch. The girl has a rather good build as she is wearing track clothes which shows her well defined abs. Her face is quite prominent with well defined cheek bones. She has straight shoulder length hair. The only bad factor about her are those black circles.
"Rakhil and Kol are talented individuals handpicked by me alone." Gea gets up from his seats and wraps his hand around Rakhil's shoulder. "This guy here has the element of fire and he is quite good in close quarter combat."
Rakhil takes out a large machete from his back pocket and puts it on the table. The machete looks quite beautiful with the black leather handle.
'Can he even swing it at full force?' Karl wonders as he observes Rakhil's thin figure.
"Kol, on the other hand, controls earth element. She can create various projectiles to fight beasts. She will watch our back and fight long range while providing support." The girl doesn't even look at Gea as he is giving her an introduction. She is glued to her screen.
"Ahem! There is one more member of our team. She couldn't come here but she will come later." Gea explains in a flustered tone.
"Don't worry. We can manage it, right Kol?" Rakhil asks Kol.
"Hmm? Yes. Yes."
"Good! We have the motivation then we just need to execute it. Our team will be called on stage after 11am. Currently, It's 9:12 am. Till then, go on order anything you want, it's my treat."
Suddenly Kol who was watching a video looks up and snatches the menu which was on the table. "Here, I want this." She casually picked the most expensive dish on the menu. Rakhil also points at a dish without any hesitation.
"Leonard. Brother, do you want something?" Gea asks.
'This team is fucked.'
Karl finishes his third coffee Latte and glances around. Kol is still stuck on her watch while Gea and Rakhil are talking non-stop since the start. In boredom, Karl too opens his watch's terminal. A text from Ian and Andressa comes. He taps on Ian's name.
[It is going to start soon. Try to keep a distance from that pig.]
'Hehe. He is still thinking about Gea.'
Then, Karl opens Andressa's text. It was a simple message.
[Do your best.]
Despite being so simple it carried countless complex emotions and one sincere desire. With a smile Karl replies with a thumbs up emoji.
"Now!" Gea suddenly stomps his hand on the table. "The moment has arrived. We are going to the stage."
A maid wearing Victorian era maid dress has appeared behind Gea. 'I didn't even notice her coming this close.' The maid emotionless eyes met with Karl. The maid's solid unmoving expression left a familiar feeling in Karl's mind. 'She looks Sera's doll. Is she one?'
Gea points at his maid. "This is my maid Linela."
The maid bows and introduces herself. "Pleased to be your acquaintance. This one's name is Linela." The maid moves with elegance and beauty.
"Alright, everyone. We will meet at the 31st floor with our weapons and stuff. Disperse now."
Everyone got up from their seats and went silently. Gea was staring at Karl's back when he asked. "Is everything ready?"
"Yes master." Gea smiles wickedly at the maid's response.
Karl goes back to his room and puts on the armour. As he stares in the mirror, he tries to suck mana. His nostrils sting a little but it is bearable. 'Should be fine as long as I don't overdo myself.'
He opens his void storage '3 bottles of mana recovering. Hmm. I should atleast save 2 for the final phase.' Karl closes the storage and steps outside. Once inside the elevator, he presses 31st floor.
TING! The door opens up to a long corriorder. At the end of the corriorder, there are 3 people waiting for him. Rakhil waves his hand Karl. Rakhil is wearing an orange heavy plate armour with the machete strapped to his side both looks very heavy.
"Nice armour." Rakhil compliments.
"Thank you." Rakhil steps towards Karl to touch his armour.
THUD! His foot leaves a foot print on the solid concrete floor.
"What the-"
"Wow. This is made from dilithium right? Light but very durable. Where did you buy this?"
"Ah! This was a gift. Nevermind that! How can you walk in that?" Karl points at the broken floor.
"What are you talking about? This is normal for a heavy knight." Rakhil answers with a straight face.
"Is-Is that so?"
"Stay quiet for a moment. I can't hear the referee's voice." Gea steps in between Karl and Rakhil. In that moment a loud announcement was heard.
"Team Bell has completed their run. Next team which is team Gea please come up on the stage."
"Where is the 5th member?" Kol who was leaning against a wall in front of us asks.
"S-She said she will be here." Gea quickly answers.
Kol is wearing an armour which is similar to Karl's armour in a sense. Light, made for swift movements. Her armour only protects her vital areas such as abdomen while majority of the body is covered in hardened leather.
"Ara! Were you guys talking about me?" Everyone quickly looks behind and sees a woman wearing gothic dress. Gea and Rakhil are immediately captivated in her red jewel like eyes. On the other hand, Karl takes a few steps back in instinct.
"Hello everyone. I apologize for my behaviour but I had some personal matters to attend."
"Is that so?" Kol asks while crossing her arms together.
"Enough with the talk. Follow me." Gea quickly runs ahead followed by everyone.