Chapter 1 Part 3
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYTpyPXBAK
Erik: "That's Drearygeist. His real name is Damian, but he prefers to go by that alias, for reasons known only to him."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1M5lydgio
Ava (Concerned): "But why? Did something happen to make him so somber?"
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWPb0YExMK
Erik: "Unfortunately, I don't have any insight into his history. Nobody does. His motives and past are shrouded in mystery."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzKHU6tXLU
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc4OXUtIzM
Erik, noticing Ava's departure, became increasingly concerned.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsRxHoUleq
Erik (Concerned): "Whoa! Whoa! Where is she going?"
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6qYSp0lpG
Lena: "She's on a quest for answers. You could say curiosity got the better of her." She added a smirk to her words.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQqKw6WjfN
Erik (Worried): "You don't mean she's going after Damian, do you?"
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIhVE0OKxM
Lena nodded, her expression conveying determination.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EsuGmLHTW
Lena (Determined): "Indeed. So, let's not waste any more time. She might need some backup."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWyCQlRIkH
With that resolve, Lena readied her weapon, and the two of them prepared to follow Ava into the unknown.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF1MhCxU3X
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYTbpkJSe2
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dG3XRukcc
Ava (Determined): "Alright, Damian! I want answers."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVkfeFvFH9
Damian (Annoyed): "You could have knocked..."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J5oTqrF58
Ava remained unamused by his casual response but took note of his remark.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn6OnX8z6B
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s3YALu4zw
Ava: "I want to know your backstory, and I'm not leaving until you tell me!" She clutched the rifle tighter.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaksPRCR7R
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoXVN8LTGf
Damian knelt down to her level, locking eyes with her as he spoke.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxzqLIdWfo
Damian: "That... was for breaking my wall."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkqVFkKUWf
With a display of telekinesis, Damian lifted Ava by her neck, choking her in a show of aggression.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQLo4N9Nt6
Damian (Aggressive): "And this is for aiming an illegally modified rifle at me and trying to force me to divulge personal information!"
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlxqUFWdlE
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH4bzDE8vS
Damian (Calm): "And finally, my apologies for getting aggressive..."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeupyiYYYcS
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPhfo3fiqy
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."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuunKHFWFsj
Placing the rifle next to the chair where Ava was seated, Damian made his way over to the couch and took a seat.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIbF5N3OXS
Ava (Injured): "W-what...? I thought you were going to kill me..."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ26jtFGEFT
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..."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfKYKzyyRH
Ava's eyes widened in shock at his revelation.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaMXwxNXmp
Ava (Shocked): "They are...?"
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkMdnf5pT9
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhb2SRwSbu
Ava (Trying not to sound nervous): "H-How old are you, Damian?"
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZi6zdtIEkM
Damian (Unhesitant): "16."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed4u6tuh5l
Ava glanced over at her restrained teammates, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHI3f1J8IY
Ava (Clearly Nervous): "I-I'm 18... Do you have any parents?"
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ39TANob0v
Damian (Unhesitant): "No, I was created as an experiment by multiple individuals. I don't have specific parents."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrUKVN0wH0
Ava (Still Nervous): "D-do you have any f-friends?"
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWyQ7iFeFr
Damian (Unhesitant): "No."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Dp9feMyXm
Ava's concern grew, and she began to empathize with Damian's isolation.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkik07F6rVY
Ava (Concerned): "That's so sad... It must feel pretty lonely."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDfjJg7AYf
Damian (Hesitant): "Y-yeah... It gets lonely."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJjY5C6wIM
Ava pressed on, her curiosity and empathy driving her to seek more answers.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm99D7Ojjv
Ava: "So... why? Why are you called Drearygeist? What happened?"
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6axRBamjM
Damian opened up, his voice tinged with a sense of melancholy as he recounted the events of the past year.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hQ6RNTwDZ
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."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEryHeG6cna
He paused for a moment before continuing, his voice filled with determination.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXygQFCay5M
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."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwqbtWIoCu
Ava and her restrained team remained silent for a prolonged moment, absorbing Damian's words. Eventually, Ava broke the silence.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfP4qWJqJ6
Ava: "So, you were here before any of us... You witnessed the creation of this place and its inevitable downfall."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6XpuT72TV
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."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhi0r03s2ks
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TrksK6NUn
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."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefRumQyqeJ
With a struggle, Ava managed to stand up from the chair.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmolf7jhluo
Ava: "But please... just reconsider."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8oNyyL8np
Damian shook his head, his resolve unwavering.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVUVi1RPeN
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."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pjCMMNVQL
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPZqYGsUSB
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."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UZkQJMjdE
Erik, being the experienced hacker he was, was visibly shocked. His eyes widened, and he began to tremble.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jTAgJaPZp
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!"
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa50cXPPXm
Damian remained unwavering in his determination.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMdIVwHOuA
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."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCvSJdHAZ2
Ava attempted to reason with him, her voice filled with concern.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v01H3dbGX
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."
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqZ0LNgF2a
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡac3GoAF81I
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyKLz42j5u
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBszNtYwtO
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMIV9nwn00
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzDwpZEsjM
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7w1qCrs35
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFtU1JxuDq
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.
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn2xzYGM7g
To Be Continued..
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIbdMARxsd
