A short-haired, frowning, bulky man strolled toward Alan. His lustrous full armor appeared indestructible. This guy sure is big, Alan thought, and for a moment, he wondered if he was going to speak to a knight of old.

  "Who were those?" the man asked demandingly, his spear resting on his shoulder. "What did they want from you?"

  "What's with that attitude, you big jerk? Did you forget your manners just now?" the only woman of the group interjected, looking at Alan with a smirk on her face. A black low-cut catsuit could be seen beneath her cape. "Sorry about that, Gho--I mean, Alan! Allow me to introduce ourselves. I'm Marissa. This hulk over here is Oscar. And that lovely handsome man over there is Matthew." She pointed at a tired-looking brunette teenager frowning at Alan. His robes looked like they were of the finest quality.

  "Now, can you tell us what was the deal with those shadow clones?" Oscar took the word again, acting like a severe cop.

  Shadow Clones?

  Alan shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I know nothing. I don't know why they attacked me or what they wanted."

  "Whatever." Oscar sighed heavily before gazing at his partner. "What are you waiting for, Matt? Heal him!"

  The aforementioned young man sucked his teeth and stood in front of Alan. "Hold still, okay?"

  Seeing those three in action had made Alan forget all about the pain the shadows had inflicted on him. Suddenly, his damaged left eye was burning hot, but Matthew's healing spell eased the agony in mere seconds. Once the eye was reconstructed, Alan could see the group more clearly. Full names were visibly beside the dangerous skull emblem that indicated they were way beyond his level.

  "Matthew Berstein," Alan read aloud, and the named young man frowned and curled his lips in disgust. Alan turned to the others and read, "Oscar Fuentes and Marissa Laflamme."

  "That's me! What's up?" the girl beamed and formed a 'v' sign with her hand.

  This is the first time someone else's name is displayed for me. Not even Ashley's--wait!

  "Y-You're Shooting Stars! Am I right?" Alan gasped as he finally noticed another emblem on the displayed info: A golden star scarred by three diagonal swipes. "Did Astrid send you?" He grinned.

  Marissa and Oscar looked at each other for a couple of seconds before Matthew responded, "We are here to escort you, but you got something wrong. We're here on behalf of our true and only First Officer, Marco Souza." The young man spoke in a condescending way that made Alan's smile disappear.

  Marissa interjected, hugging Matthew by the neck. "Not now, little bear. Leave that to be solved by the grown-ups, okay?" she said lovingly, kissing his cheek, and he replied with a groan. Marissa then crossed eyes with Alan. "Anyway, let's not waste any more time and go."

  "Go? W-Where to?"

  "To Londorus, of course!"

  Yes! That's perfect! But...

  "Before anything else, could you help me save my partner, please?" Alan started saying with urgency. "We were aboard that train," he pointed toward the rails. "Then those things showed up and attacked us. Please! I can't leave without her."

  An awkward silence followed, and Alan could feel its unmistakable weight, so much in fact that he literally felt it would bend his spine. But before he could plead again, Marissa sighed and stepped aside from Matthew. She then put a hand on her hip as her bangs covered her left eye. "Fine."

  "Marissa, we have to go," Oscar said through clenched teeth.

  "I know. Be on your way and I'll catch up in a moment. Your cat is super slow after all." The girl then turned to Alan. "I just have to follow the train tracks, right? Who should I be looking for?"

  Alan swallowed hard, wondering if it was a good idea to involve them in their mission.

  But what else can I do in this situation?

  "Her name is Ashley. She's a petite girl with two pigtails. Brunette hair and green eyes."

  "Noted." Marissa turned her back and from thin air summoned a huge black feline with white wings. Before Alan could marvel at it, both rider and beast took off at tremendous speed. He could even hear how the animal broke the sound barrier with amazing ease.

  "Let's get moving then," Oscar said gruffly and reached out his hand, making the exact same motion Marissa had done before.

  People can ride cool beasts like this anytime they want? They must be pretty expensive if trains still exist for low-level users like me. Oh, I wonder what this big guy rides every day!

  When a giant, chubby cat manifested in front of their eyes and began licking its paws, the stoic Oscar seemed to drop his shoulders while scratching his right cheek. "It's... not much, but it'll be the comfiest ride you'll ever have. Trust me."

  Alan crossed eyes with him and spoke in a serious tone, "You guys rock..."

  Minutes later, when Marissa's black lynx finally reached them midair, she made her report. "I found the train, fully halted fifteen miles from where we found you, and it was empty. Even the driver was gone."

  Alan heard exactly what he feared. The moment Ashley shoved him off the train car seemed to signal her impending doom. 'Smudock', the name of the Slime Chief, echoed in his ears.

  A part of me expects her to have escaped, but why tell me to reunite with her in the Slime village if she knew she could get away safely?

  "What's the average waiting time for a user to respawn?" Alan asked softly, and the group of three showed their disconcert in unison.

  "What was her level?" Marissa asked, and Alan shook his head.

  "I don't know, but she could one-shot one of those level-30 shadow things."

  "What do you mean by 'you don't know'? Aren't you--?" Matthew asked exasperatedly, but Oscar cut him off by grabbing him by the shoulder.

  Marissa, still distilling patience, answered while shrugging, "A level 50 onwards could do that. And that means waiting in the Limbo from 12 hours to a full day."

  With that in mind, Alan turned in the direction he thought Unus Town and the Renovatio Caves were and sighed. "All right then. Let's go."

  ***

  **

  *

  Oscar’s giant winged cat was the most comfortable seat--and potential bed--Alan had ever sat on. Although the fat feline was a slug compared to Marissa’s lynx, Alan quickly realized why they all loved hanging out on it. Marissa and Matthew were lying on the orange, fluffy fur without a care in the world while Oscar was taking the reins, gaze in the horizon.

  “We’ll get there in no time, don’t worry,” Marissa said after crossing eyes with Alan. She then pointed at a tray beside her, with a bowl full of nachos and soft drinks on it. “Why don’t you grab a snack?”

  “I’m okay, thanks,” Alan said quietly while sitting with crossed legs. His back arched forward.

  They look undisturbed despite having fought an army of shadows. He stared at the slim girl, no different from Ashley’s age, and wondered if she was as strong as the high-level users he watched on the Dragon’s Belly live streaming. Ashely’s arrows sounded as strong as gunshots and were able to make an enemy explode literally. Could this girl be able to tear a building down by herself?

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Alan’s gaze traveled from her flat abdomen clearly outlined by the catsuit, wondering where all that strength may be hiding, until his eyes reached her low-cut cleavage that showed a very generous view. Alan then felt Matthew’s glare and jerked his head away. S-Sorry pal, I didn’t mean to ogle your girlfriend.

  Marissa sat up and giggled. “Something in your mind, Alan?”

  Alan met her eyes, and something about her smirk seemed to say, ‘Oh, come on. Don’t be shy and just say it out loud. I know I’m a stunner! Just remember I have a boyfriend~!’

  Alan was enticed to stare into her striking features while trying to point up what was so attractive about the gal. Could it be her perfectly applied makeup? Her youthful and almost angelic attributes? Her glossy, honey-blonde bob?

  That hairstyle reminds me of Astrid, Alan thought, focusing on what was different: The long bangs that covered Marissa’s left eye, which she sometimes tucked behind her ear.

  Alan glanced at Matthew for a moment, who was busy munching on nachos and trying miserably to look as serene as possible. He was good-looking too, even Alan could admit that, but in a cringy ‘boys band’ kind of way.

  The Novus does its best to render our avatars as the most flattering version of ourselves, and it seems that everyone has taken full advantage of it, he thought, remembering the townsfolk of Unus. All the women presented themselves wearing skimpy clothes to accentuate their perfect curves, while the men loved wearing vests and tank tops to showcase their muscular physiques.

  I never saw people like that when we left Earth. So this virtual environment is creating a new dilemma… What will be of those who build intimate relationships while living here? Here, they will engage with the most beautiful woman or the most gallant man, but wow will they react once their forced slumber ends and realize that their real-life counterparts are nothing alike? Will they feel disappointed and cheated once remembering that real life is full of imperfections?

  Marissa crawled close to Alan enough to feel his breath and he just flinched in surprise.

  “You’re not looking down at us, are you?” she asked, narrowing her amber eyes.

  Whoa, this girl sure is sharp.

  “Nothing like that, I swear.”

  She looked unconvinced but backed off anyway. “Whatever,” she muttered and sighed. Her lost in thought expression said that she had tons of questions, but due to the circumstances, she could only choose one. “Hey, I was just wondering… You… Mentioned Astrid earlier, right?”

  “Yes. I thought she had sent you to pick me up.”

  His words only caused her to be more intrigued, Alan could see it in her eyes, but she suddenly shut them tight while shaking her head. “Never mind,” she whispered and returned to her dear boyfriend’s side where she started discussing what should they dine later that night. “Or would you prefer to dine me?” she blurted out, grinning at Matthew’s shy reaction.

  Alan giggled and for a brief moment felt at ease. If young people like those two had no other worries in the world besides what to choose for dinner, that meant that The Novus had remained safe for the last three and a half years. But then, what were those things?

  The sight of Ashley getting stabbed flashed before his eyes. And I’m sure that pain must be something new to Isabella… so why did she smile at me?

  His chest ached as he leaned his head down, his forehead inches from the ride’s fur.

  Was she pretending to look strong so I couldn’t worry? Why? When did you learn such human concepts, Isabella?

  A soft, warm hand patted his back. “We’re here, Alan. This is Eurola's capital city. The biggest Safe Zone on the entire island."

  An enormous virtual window appeared inside his line of vision that read:

  Alan turned around and his jaw dropped. A city stretched as far as his eyes could see, its countless buildings illuminated against the night sky.

  Glistening rivers ran through the city like veins, contrasting with the darkness of its paved streets. From his high view, he could easily make out different districts scattered across the landscape.

  Holy shit, this place is huge.

  The distant sound of the city reached him. A mix of voices, vehicles, and life itself that made Unus Town feel like a lonely village in comparison. But what caught his attention was the massive structure rising from the heart of the city: A clock tower the size of a city block. Its design triggered a memory he could not quite place.

  Pretty sure I've seen something like it in some British movie. New Londorus no longer has it since… well, since the Dawnless War happened. Does recreating here at the Novus, mean some kind of reclamation of mankind?

  The sight should have filled him with wonder. Hell, eight months ago he would have been jumping with excitement. But right now, all he felt was the bitter taste of advancing his mission without his partner.

  He shot the city a cold glare, one that Marissa caught for a split second. But she could not know he was staring at something far beyond the city’s grandeur.

  I'm back, Astrid, he thought, clenching his fists. And I might be bringing bad news.

  * * *

  * *

  *

  *

  * *

  * * *

  Alan couldn't believe the sheer size of the place they were landing in. Back on Earth—before the lockdowns—he had only seen a couple of locations this massive. One was the Henry Ford Hospital, which he, unfortunately, knew like the back of his hand, and the other was the Alvearium Enterprises Headquarters. Yet this place was something else entirely.

  He began counting: four main buildings, an Olympic-sized pool, and two playing fields. A virtual message popped up in his field of view just as Oscar's giant cat entered the area.

  "I can't believe it! This is really where you guys hang out? Tell me it’s not a joke!"

  "Why would it be a joke? Are you that impressed by this pigpen?" Marissa sneered, catching Oscar's glare in the process. She cleared her throat. "I mean... yeah! Cool place, right?"

  Oscar’s cat landed softly in an open courtyard surrounded by neatly trimmed square hedges and black, curved lampposts. Alan hopped down, his eyes drawn to the salmon-colored paving stones leading to the smallest of the four buildings, a hundred feet ahead. He squinted at its simple, pristine design, a sudden sense of familiarity washing over him.

  Wait... this looks just like Unus’ Town Hall. Does that mean...?

  He found himself rushing toward the entrance without thinking, ignoring Marissa's comments. The double doors then opened, and for a brief moment, he hoped Astrid would appear with her warm, radiant smile. Instead, three unfamiliar figures emerged.

  The first was a hulking, muscular man whose sheer size made Oscar Fuentes seem diminutive. His shaved head gleamed under the lights, and his expression was one of clear disapproval as he sized Alan up.

  The second was a striking woman whose exaggerated curves seemed almost unreal. Her perfectly proportioned frame was accentuated by a sleek, crimson sleeveless gown with a daring slit, making her look like a pageant queen. Her long, spiky crimson hair varied in length, the longest strands grazing her thighs. She folded her arms and scanned Alan from head to toe, frowning.

  Finally, a sharply dressed man in a tailored black suit stepped forward. Alan could discern glossy scale-like accents on his collar that glinted subtly.

  "Welcome, Alan Warden," the man said smoothly, extending his arms. "It’s an honor to finally have you with us after... what, three years?"

  "Three years and four months," Alan replied, meeting the man’s calm gaze. "Thanks for the warm welcome. Um…"

  "My name is Marco Souza," the man said with a modest smile, offering a handshake. "And it’s an honor to meet the founder of Shooting Stars."

  Founder? Alan blinked, glancing back at his escort. Though the group of three helped him, none of them seemed quite as eager to meet him as this gentleman. Well, Marissa seemed curious about me though.

  "It’s a pleasure." Alan took Marco’s hand. He then noticed that the handshake was curiously light, prompting him to grip tightly first. Marco hesitated, then returned the pressure, though only faintly.

  "There’s much to discuss, and the night is young." Marco beamed. "Why don’t you freshen up before joining me in my office? I’d like to have a word with you before you rest from your… hectic trip."

  Alan glanced at his torn clothes. "Oh, a warm shower would be amazing. Thanks."

  "Amelia, escort Mr. Warden to his room," Marco instructed the red-haired woman. He then turned to the others. "Good job, everyone. You’re dismissed. Except you, Matthew. Come with me."

  "This way," Amelia said curtly as she passed Alan. He hesitated only briefly, turning to Marissa, who leaned casually against a nearby wall.

  I guess she’s waiting for her boyfriend.

  Marissa smirked at Alan. "See ya later, ‘Mr. Warden’."

  "Come on, slowpoke," Amelia called over her shoulder. Her brisk pace forced Alan into a light jog to keep up.

  "Sorry!" Alan mumbled, lowering his head. His gaze inevitably focused on her imposing long hair. "So… your name’s Amelia, right? Nice to meet you. I’m--"

  She spun on her heel without warning, her piercing amber eyes freezing him mid-sentence. "This is your stop," she said flatly, snapping her fingers.

  A male NPC with dog-like ears stepped forward, who was waiting at a nearby door. "Good evening, Mr. Warden. We’ve been expecting you. Please, this way."

  Alan glanced around, realizing they were at an adjacent two-story building with red brick walls. He turned to thank Amelia, but she tossed a plastic-wrapped package at him first.

  "Put this on," she instructed before stepping away. "And don’t keep Marco waiting."

  Before Alan could say a word, she was gone. He stared at the package: A clean set of clothes sealed inside.

  I wanted to ask her about Astrid.

  He sighed, then addressed the waiting NPC. "Hey, buddy, quick question. Is Astrid Bradford here? At the headquarters, I mean."

  "I’m sorry, Mr. Warden," the NPC replied politely. "Ms. Bradford has been away all day, and I’m unsure when she’ll return. Anything else I can assist you with, sir?"

  "No, thanks," Alan muttered, stepping inside.