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A New World Awaits

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Episode 7

As the footsteps grew closer, we got ready to attack, our weapons in hand.

*rustle*

Then suddenly, a grown man appeared out of the bushes.

"Who are you? This is a restricted area! " He shouted, pointing his pistol straight at me.

"Why do you care..? We'd like to know who YOU are." I replied as I held my sickle.

"Heh. Takes real guts to say that to the Crescent Guards!" He yelled as he took out a badge from his pocket.

"Wait, you're the Crescent Guards of Lunalia?!" Nagi shrieked.

"Hehehe. So what are you kids doing here? I need answers!" He asked, still pointing the pistol at us.

"Fine...! We're players and we have a mission we need to accomplish..." I told him.

I know I shouldn't tell him that we're part of the game since no one really knows about it. And since only a selected few could actually see us.

"Tokiya, why would you-" Momoi spoke but I cut her mid-sentence.

"Momoi. I know what I'm doing..."

"Players, huh? I've heard about you people. You get to play in a game to get 'reborn' or something? Haha, you kids crack me up! Players...!" The man snickered with a mocking smile.

I knew he wouldn't believe it. That's how most people's reactions would probably be like if they find out who we are.

"Even if you don't believe it, would you leave us alone? We told you who we are. It's not our fault you don't believe us now is it?" I said as I glared at him.

"No, it won't be your fault. Your fault over here is the fact for lying to me!" He shouted, finally pulling the trigger.

I just simply dodged the incoming golden bullet.

"You've done it now...!" I muttered and then rushed to him with my sickle.

"Aahhhh!" I yelled.

With my sickle in my right hand, I managed to cut through his body.

"Ngh!"

"Hey! Are you okay man?!" A male shouted from the other side of the bushes.

"Run!" I instructed as I left the man and ran away.

Momoi and Nagi followed behind.

"They must be following our tracks right now. They've obviously found that injured guy..." I concluded while glancing behind us.

Soon, I came to a halt.

"Obviously! We gotta hide or run away, why'd we stop?!" Nagi exclaimed.

I tried thinking of what to do but nothing came to my mind.

"We've gotta think of something fast! Should we just run out of this place?!" He questioned impatiently.

"Nagi! Be quiet! I can't think with you shouting like this!" I yelled back in rage.

"...!"

"Tokiya, why'd you shout like that?" Momoi asked while glaring at me with a serious expression.

"It's not my fault we're in a situation here. If you guys would just be helpful for once and actually help me, I wouldn't have shouted like that! This is why I hate friends! They always drag you down!" I shouted with anger.

"Huh...Well, I guess you really do hate us..."

Nagi remarked in a low voice. He then continued with a lowered head - his bangs covering his face, "Momoi, c' mon let's go..."

"Nagi..." Momoi whispered but followed him anyway.

Before leaving, she stared at me with disappointment. I really didn't care. I could complete this mission without their help. They can't even do anything right.

"So annoying..." I muttered to myself.

"Hey! I see someone!" a man shouted.

"Urghh...! They're faster than I thought..." That sudden voice made me start running again.

I could hear them shouting and telling me to stop, but I didn't. I've already had enough fighting for a day.

"I guess I've finally lost them..." I stopped, trying to catch my breath.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here! A little toy to play with." I heard a voice from above my head.

In front of me stood a really familiar figure. I remember that ugly face anywhere, without me even trying to wrack my brain for it.

"...! Ray...!" I spoke in a low voice.

It was Ray. The man who tore my life apart was standing right in front of me now.

"Tokiya, if I do remember correctly... Heh, you sure we're an annoying little fellow. You probably haven't changed a bit, am I right?" He said in a mocking manner.

"Why you-" Just as I was about to rush to him with my sickle, he cut me mid-sentence.

"Hold your horses. You do know I'm still way stronger than you in rank, and this time, in power too. I could seriously rip you in half if I want to right now." He grabbed me by my collar and spoke under his breath.

"But, I won't. I can't let you die too quickly again. That won't be any fun, now would it?" He squeezed my neck as he threw me onto the ground.

"Ngh..."

It annoys me so bad that I'm so useless against him. He makes me look so weak every single time!

"Heh, so pathetic. I could almost feel sorry for an idiot like you..." He sneered under his breath as he started laughing maniacally.

I was filled with rage but, I wasn't able to do anything since the difference between our strengths was huge right now. After that, he left but something was wrong. I tried getting up but my body wouldn't respond. It was aching, badly. And that's when I realized something.

(He drained my energy!)

"How could I be so stupid?!"

"Hey, I see someone up ahead!"

(Seriously! This the worst possible timing!)

Then, two figures came out of the darkness and approached me.

"Hey, so you're the weasel who killed Kagesa... How dare you?" One of the men spoke while pointing his pistol at me.

"So? He was going to kill me first...!" I replied as I tried my best to hold my sickle and stand up.

"What are you going to do, huh? You're just a kid." He asked with a sarcastic face.

He then grabbed me by the arm and tied me up.

"Let me go!" I shouted, struggling to break free.

"Settle down kid. You have no idea what the general of the Crescent Guards could do to you!"

They both took me with them to meet the general.