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STAGE SIXTEEN >> Challenge Accepted

This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this story are all products of the author's imagination used in fictitious manner. Any resemblance to an actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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"Hirano, Yuki!"

The sudden exclamation made him cringed as he awoke from his reverie and now looking at his friends who were laughing boisterously. Back in UTokyo, there was a professor who loves to call her students that way and they all thought she was always mad. Remembering that mentor and his time back at the university didn't alleviate the frustration, it just made it worst.

"You're so serious," Hikaru who started it could only comment after not getting any reaction from Yuki. "Are you still thinking about it?"

He frowned. "Of course, I'm thinking about it! He wants to involve me in the project too."

Hikaru shrugged, "So what if he is the Wanderer? You're the infamous Blood Princess in the game! I would love to take a picture of his face if he finds that out."

Masami looked at Yuki, who decided to remain tightlipped about the subject, and noticed that he was more upset than anxious. "What's going on with you?"

Yuki blinked when he heard Masami's voice. If there was anyone in the group who knew him better than he knows himself, that will be Masami. He quickly rearranged his expression and put on the headset (reverie) on top of his head.

"I'm fine," he answered nevertheless. "I'm still not joining his team and he can't force me anyway!"

Both Aoi and Hikaru followed through and also put on the reverie while Masami continues to observe.

"So, are you telling us that you intend to pretend that you didn't know Wanderer is Akihiro in the game?"

Yuki was scowling as he reply, "Let's just play the game. At least in Nether Earth, I can forget him and all his bullshits!"

"Oh really?" Masami taunted, "How are you supposed to forget him and all his bullshits when he's, in fact, part of the game?"

Instead of answering, Yuki decided to close his eyes and lay himself down to sleep. Perhaps, he wouldn't see him today. After all, everyone in the Dark Cloud Alliance was busy working on the partnership with Gryphon and his team. Playing should be the least of the great Mori Akihiro's priority.

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For the first time since they started playing the game, they were transported straight to their headquarters with Eiko waiting patiently for their arrival. She looks rather enthusiastic today, wearing a maid outfit in periwinkle blue and her hair in braids on both sides.

"I'm happy to see my favorite team today!" she quips, her eyes glistening with delight making the others grimace.

Isilynor was the first to complain, "Can you please? What's up with you? Why are you so excited?"

She clapped her hands together (an unfortunate habit of hers) and announced, "Because today you guys are on Level 50, which means you can now evolve your characters plus create a guild!"

Due to their last mission, killing an MVP boss monster helped boost their levels, not to mention that they get to take home some valuable prizes.

"Guild huh?" Princess remarked she wasn't so keen on creating one at the moment since this wasn't her priority, to begin with. However, this was part of the questline that will unlock at a certain point whether they like it or not. "Alright, just tell us the mechanics."