Chapter 1 Part 3
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdxWna3xqM
Erik: "That's Drearygeist. His real name is Damian, but he prefers to go by that alias, for reasons known only to him."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBrSNJXBMQ
Ava (Concerned): "But why? Did something happen to make him so somber?"
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAvVInDEoq
Erik: "Unfortunately, I don't have any insight into his history. Nobody does. His motives and past are shrouded in mystery."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrZhGZ9bz0
As Damian soared away towards his destination, Ava couldn't shake her curiosity. She glanced toward her teammates, who were engaged in a discussion about their next course of action. Lena's gaze met Ava's, and she responded with a reassuring smile and nod. Ava reciprocated the gesture, her determination evident, as she picked up her rifle and set off in pursuit of Damian, seeking answers.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXbb3IVsG7
Erik, noticing Ava's departure, became increasingly concerned.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUVUxFEbMM
Erik (Concerned): "Whoa! Whoa! Where is she going?"
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZdu7VxVpp
Lena: "She's on a quest for answers. You could say curiosity got the better of her." She added a smirk to her words.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMhmyKMCCa
Erik (Worried): "You don't mean she's going after Damian, do you?"
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaa3zTvX6x
Lena nodded, her expression conveying determination.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6h85fWkha
Lena (Determined): "Indeed. So, let's not waste any more time. She might need some backup."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPetTIJFMa
With that resolve, Lena readied her weapon, and the two of them prepared to follow Ava into the unknown.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTljEVuKsfh
Meanwhile, Damian had reached his destination, an apartment complex on the city's outskirts, nestled alongside a freeway and the picturesque beach. Landing gracefully on the balcony, he made his way inside through the door. Damian entered the living room, taking a seat and placing the object he had acquired from the vault on a small coffee table. With a mere thought, his attire transformed into a simple t-shirt paired with gray sweatpants, and he slipped on a pair of crocs for comfort. Leaning back, he took a few deep breaths, contemplating the need for a new costume.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhGrnur6je
Damian's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of the front door being forcefully pushed open, revealing Ava, who had entered with her laser rifle trained on him. Despite the tense standoff, Damian met her gaze with an unflinching expression, seemingly unafraid of her weapon.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvmTsOErlw
Ava (Determined): "Alright, Damian! I want answers."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz0n72AgHt
Damian (Annoyed): "You could have knocked..."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKwub1wJ6I
Ava remained unamused by his casual response but took note of his remark.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuK1n7dyMI
Damian (Annoyed): "What is it that you want answers about? And you'd better be planning to replace that door..."
Ava remained determined, her grip on the rifle unwavering.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg6Xmnjbbq
Ava: "I want to know your backstory, and I'm not leaving until you tell me!" She clutched the rifle tighter.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBS9OOXLEf
In response, Damian rose to his feet, his gaze unwavering as he pointed toward a wall, sending Ava crashing through it. Despite the shock of the sudden impact, Ava quickly regained her composure and attempted to stand. When she looked up, she found Damian standing over her, his presence imposing.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3Q98GWRkX
Damian knelt down to her level, locking eyes with her as he spoke.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBrusXzjLJ
Damian: "That... was for breaking my wall."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQE2DaY6RB
With a display of telekinesis, Damian lifted Ava by her neck, choking her in a show of aggression.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTPv1q1AKb
Damian (Aggressive): "And this is for aiming an illegally modified rifle at me and trying to force me to divulge personal information!"
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5xQ66hCkS
Moments later, Damian released his grip, allowing Ava to drop to the ground. He took a few deep breaths to regain his composure, extending a hand and helping Ava to her feet.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoNyxzHSxW
Damian (Calm): "And finally, my apologies for getting aggressive..."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9rDLqC5pv
Damian guided Ava back into the living room and gently seated her in a chair. Picking up her dropped rifle, he examined it with a mixture of interest and indifference.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTux8D143tk
Damian: "An Aimbot 1022 Z-tech Laser Rifle... quite fascinating. I would inquire about how you came to possess this, but that's not my concern."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqg1R2s9ev
Placing the rifle next to the chair where Ava was seated, Damian made his way over to the couch and took a seat.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFuOHw9YHk
Ava (Injured): "W-what...? I thought you were going to kill me..."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZHPZGg9zy
Damian: "No, Ava. While you did intrude into my home and attempt to coerce me into sharing information, and your friends are strategically positioned to ambush me at any moment..."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSB2GGLBqT
Ava's eyes widened in shock at his revelation.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3qXF6E3fC
Ava (Shocked): "They are...?"
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUZp8LS3w3
Damian nodded, and with a snap of his fingers, Erik, Lena, and Jasper materialized inside the apartment instantaneously. They landed unceremoniously on the floor, quickly assuming defensive stances, ready to engage. However, Damian exerted his telekinetic control, restraining them in mid-air, preventing any immediate action.
Ava was taken aback by Damian's responses, but she sensed an opportunity to connect with him.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7wTwB6dCw
Ava (Trying not to sound nervous): "H-How old are you, Damian?"
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJUORJ0VRL
Damian (Unhesitant): "16."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrU7WNttDy
Ava glanced over at her restrained teammates, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOSKfVz4Gw
Ava (Clearly Nervous): "I-I'm 18... Do you have any parents?"
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ud0L16fb8
Damian (Unhesitant): "No, I was created as an experiment by multiple individuals. I don't have specific parents."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62FjUACDlS
Ava (Still Nervous): "D-do you have any f-friends?"
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkLMI5BHSV
Damian (Unhesitant): "No."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUALW6juIcK
Ava's concern grew, and she began to empathize with Damian's isolation.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbGLLqQDK7
Ava (Concerned): "That's so sad... It must feel pretty lonely."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n8RZ6VubT
Damian (Hesitant): "Y-yeah... It gets lonely."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZhfcMFViz
Ava pressed on, her curiosity and empathy driving her to seek more answers.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVdmnmoumV
Ava: "So... why? Why are you called Drearygeist? What happened?"
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHt8AVE0Zz
Damian opened up, his voice tinged with a sense of melancholy as he recounted the events of the past year.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy92mO3cs7
Damian: "I... Well, a year ago, this place wasn't the hellscape you see today. It was peaceful, safe. There were no wars, no violence—just a sanctuary for those who wanted to escape reality, to evade the chaos of the world. But, as is often the case, human nature took over. Someone had to be in power, someone had to impose their 'order' on everything. The metaverse succumbed to chaos, and now every day is a constant battle."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUm8JuRVEtt
He paused for a moment before continuing, his voice filled with determination.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLLRwjB8Zj
Damian: "I couldn't stand by and watch this place, with its limitless potential, crumble in the never-ending struggle for power. I decided to act, to reclaim its lost peace by any means necessary. I wanted to make them feel the pain—the pain I felt when I witnessed this utopia's destruction. So, I do to them what they did to this place. I dismantle everything they built, making them experience the anguish of loss. And I'll eliminate anyone who stands in my way."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCm21JBsI2
Ava and her restrained team remained silent for a prolonged moment, absorbing Damian's words. Eventually, Ava broke the silence.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJFWwXK8k5
Ava: "So, you were here before any of us... You witnessed the creation of this place and its inevitable downfall."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3elUa3hUP
Damian: "That's right. This place was a virtual paradise with a few cybernetic enhancements. It was incredible... until people like you arrived, craving power and control. When I tried to stop it and restore its former glory, they labeled me as crazy. No one understands... No one has experienced what I have. In just a year, this utopia turned into a dystopia."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiZsa5TIey
Ava had absorbed Damian's words and, despite the complex situation, began to empathize with his plight. She recognized the need to find a way to reason with him.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPiew2VPbQ
Ava (Sympathetic): "Listen... I understand how painful it must have been to witness this place descend into chaos. But this isn't the answer... I'm not here to stop you."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yfJff0CZ4
With a struggle, Ava managed to stand up from the chair.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomq2TgBZSI
Ava: "But please... just reconsider."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamATPuDoDU
Damian shook his head, his resolve unwavering.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFUIcnPKTr
Damian: "While I understand your perspective, I know that if I don't take action, this place will continue to deteriorate rapidly. I have to do this... I need to impart a harsh lesson that they won't forget for generations. Peace won't come without them first experiencing pain, whether it's physical or mental."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHxODZrChc
Damian lowered his hand, releasing Ava's teammates from their telekinetic restraints. He then stood up and retrieved the item he had taken from the coffee table.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFMrZFBtOx
Damian: "And this right here... This will help me achieve that. This is the system's source code file. It was being held by the system's moderators in a highly secure building, quite some distance away from the city."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqj51woqFEw
Erik, being the experienced hacker he was, was visibly shocked. His eyes widened, and he began to tremble.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9k0dCzPQQ
Erik (Terrified): "H-How did you get that?! That building is the most secure one in the metaverse! There are guards literally everywhere! There's no way in, and sure as hell no way out!"
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBEaVrmCT1
Damian remained unwavering in his determination.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoIL22AIyu
Damian: "I easily eliminated the guards... and I haven't encountered any moderators. But even if I did, they wouldn't be able to stop me either."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDUIKca0T1
Ava attempted to reason with him, her voice filled with concern.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78l3AFD6lI
Ava: "I don't know what he's talking about... but that doesn't sound good. Listen, Damian, please don't do anything irrational. Just think about this."
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMp1s8xyCj
Suspense filled the air as a heavy silence settled. Damian tightened his grip on the file. In a sudden and tense turn of events, Erik swiftly drew his laser pistol and fired a shot at Damian. Damian reacted with incredible speed, materializing his katana and expertly deflecting the blast. At the same moment, Lena, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, attempted to strike Damian from behind with her own blade, but Damian quickly spun around and blocked her attack, all while maintaining his hold on the file. Their blades clashed, Damian effortlessly fending off their combined assault.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGunCP62pd
Damian continued to skillfully defend himself against Lena's attacks. With a swift and precise movement, he slashed through her blade, cutting it in half. However, Lena was not deterred and quickly drew another blade, retaliating by slashing Damian's katana in half. Damian tossed the broken katana to the ground and, with a burst of energy, his hand became enveloped in electricity, forming a blade-like weapon around it. The intense duel between Damian and Lena persisted, their strikes and parries a blur of motion.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUOojik5e1
Meanwhile, Erik and Jasper recognized the urgency of the situation. They quickly gathered the injured Ava and her rifle, then rushed out of the complex to ensure her safety.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFPTLR8oep
Damian exerted his strength, gradually pushing Lena back, but she showed remarkable resilience, refusing to yield. The intense battle raged on until Damian decided to disperse his electricity blade. With a swift motion, he pointed toward the window, propelling Lena through it with force, causing her to crash and land outside.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUOWj4DdEB
Damian followed suit, leaping gracefully through the window and landing on his feet in front of Lena. As Lena swiftly drew a butterfly knife and attempted a rapid upward slash, Damian's lightning-fast reflexes allowed him to evade her attack. In retaliation, Damian executed a slashing motion, leaving a cut across Lena's face, leaving her momentarily stunned.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZpNYGR4qv
Lena, however, was not one to stay down for long. She quickly regained her footing with a graceful backflip and, upon landing, released several smoke bombs, shrouding the area in thick smoke.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaniA4CCt0
With little effort, Damian swatted through the thick smoke, his movements fluid and precise. He materialized another katana, poised for a lethal strike. Lena, despite her injuries, acted quickly. She caught the blade with her bare hands, her determination overcoming the pain and making her palms bleed.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyJUPV5LIZ
In a split second, Lena disappeared and reappeared behind Damian, launching what appeared to be a deadly punch. However, Damian was not to be outdone. He spun around swiftly, retaliating with a powerful punch of his own. Their fists clashed in a fierce battle for dominance. Ultimately, Damian's strength prevailed, and with a rapid roundhouse kick to Lena's face, she was knocked unconscious, collapsing to the ground.
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SWWI7O3t7
To Be Continued..
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7NwkXk4kQ
