As they exited the restaurant, the sun had already disappeared beyond the horizon of the Beginner’s Area. Alan was striding with clenching fists, frustration boiling inside him. “I can’t believe I lost all that gold,” he muttered, shaking his head.

  The petite girl walking beside him reached out and grabbed his shoulder. "But we made it out of that situation without compromising our mission. Consider the lost money as just a setback.”

  “Just a setback?” He shot back before shutting his eyes and exhaling, his shoulders drooping. “You’re right. Getting this worked up won’t help.”

  They walked in silence for a moment, the weight of everything that had happened that day pressing down on them.

  The streets of Novus were still busy. Colorful signs called them to dine and have a great time, but he just had enough of the town. Of the bustling sound of the people, of the NPCs advertising their establishments, and of the furtive glances of the locals.

  I don't know what's causing my level to show incorrectly, but at least it’s helping me avoid any more problems. It seems as if everyone is trying to stay out of our way.

  “What is our next objective?" Ashley asked, and for a moment, Alan wished she could forget about their mission for the rest of the day.

  She’s not in the same situation as me. Her high level is the real deal. The memory of her, easily taking the Weasenox down in seconds came to mind.

  “Londorus,” he replied roughly, his hands inside his pockets. “That’s what my Guild menu says the Shooting Stars HQ is located at… Londorus, eh. Sounds quite similar to ‘London’, don’t you think? And why isn't it named New Londorus anyway? If the Devs were inspired by the real thing, they should do it right.”

  “Should we find a place to stay the night before going there?”

  Alan huffed loudly. “No. Let's keep moving. The night is still young and we have our bellies full. Besides, I won’t be able to rest until we get there.”

  “If you're okay with continuing, it is fine with me too.”

  Hearing her kind words made him get self-conscious of his bitter mood. She’s your ally, Alan. It may not be a real human, but treat her well.

  “Thanks, Ashley.”

  “What for?”

  “For being here with me. I appreciate--” When he glanced at her, he got speechless for a moment, realizing she now moved in a graceful, feminine way. That caused him to smile ear to ear. "Ashley, look at you! You're blending in perfectly with the other users now!"

  "Thank you, Alan. Did observing and learning from the waitresses' movements, mannerisms, and manner of speaking prove beneficial?"

  "Yes, it definitely did! Great job!"

  Is it wrong that I taught an advanced AI how to catwalk? Nah! Just look at her! It suits her perfectly!

  Alan's grin gradually faded as he recognized the surroundings. Although Unus Town had grown considerably, the path to downtown remained the same as when he used to traverse it with Astrid. The gray, paved ground, the green lamp posts, the red benches, and the sound of water falling from a nearby fountain, all felt familiar.

  Inadvertently, he hurried his steps, leaving Ashley behind until he stood in front of the Town Hall, the last place he had been seen a long time ago.

  "What did you expect, stupid?" he murmured to himself, shutting his eyes. "Did you actually believe Astrid would be casually sitting here, waiting for you after all this time?"

  "Alan?" Ashley called softly, catching up to him. "Are you okay?"

  "J-Just give me a moment, please?"

  Ashley nodded and stepped back, as he stared at the building in solemn silence, before nodding to herself. “Wait for me here, Alan. I will be right back.”

  It was only after he saw her stride away that Alan realized that he gained nothing from holding too much unto the past. Even if I can't ever see Astrid again, I should focus on the present, for my new mission is more important than anything right now.

  He wiped his face with the back of his hand and waited for Ashley's return. Although from time to time, he consulted his User Interface in case he received a new notification. The message he had sent to Astrid hours ago now showed a ‘Read’ icon, but nothing else.

  That only made his chest ache, followed by an overwhelming feeling of falling down into a cold pit.

  Ashley came back five minutes later, something that felt like an eternity, and grasped Alan’s hand tight. “Come. I had found a way to go to Londorus.”

  * * * * *

  * * * *

  * * *

  * *

  *

  The pair officially left Unus Town as the green hills filled the horizon. From his window, Alan watched in awe, taking in the countryside he had not been able to explore eight months ago. White windmills gradually gave way to ruined castles in the distance. Probably dungeons.

  The train car shook intermittently, and it took Alan some time to get used to the constant rattling, but it did not dull his wonder. I can't believe a vehicle like this connects the Beginner's Town to the rest of the world. Another sign that the Novus I left behind is long gone.

  "Have you ever ridden a train before, Alan?" Ashley suddenly asked, and he could not tell if she was genuinely interested or just programmed to make small talk while in standby mode.

  When I struggled with The Santa María's many tasks or hit a stress peak, she'd start random conversations. Forgetting for a moment that she monitored me 24/7, the fact that she looked after me all the time was kind of endearing, actually.

  "Isabella..."

  "Please, Alan, remember to call me Ashley in public."

  Alan glanced around. The only three other passengers in the car had moved to a different section after glancing at his supposed high level.

  "If I ever forget about the mission..."

  "You will not," she responded immediately. "After watching you for eight straight months, I trust you."

  "Whoa, didn't expect that. But thanks—I mean, hear me out. If that ever happens... Knock some sense into me, okay?"

  "That is why I'm here," she said softly, meeting his eyes. "You will not escape so easily, Mr. Warden."

  Alan stared at her mild smile before gulping. IAs like her don't joke. Don't forget that.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  He grinned back as an NPC in a navy-blue uniform announced, "We'll be arriving in Flymouth in thirty minutes. Thank you for riding with us tonight."

  "Huh? Flymouth? Is that a station or something?"

  "Sorry, Alan. I did not explain myself properly. There is no direct way to reach Londorus from Unus Town, so we will arrive at Flymouth and take a blimp first thing in the morning."

  “Ah, I see. Gotcha.”

  The train entered a tunnel, plunging everything into pitch-black darkness for a solid minute before Ashley blurted out, "A Dark Element spell has been cast."

  Alan never imagined those words coming from her. "W-What does that mean?"

  He glanced at her but could not even make out her silhouette. When the train finally emerged from the tunnel, Alan spotted the NPC from earlier, standing by the car's door with his hands raised, holding something. Next to him was a figure of the same height that dissolved into fading pixels. The NPC then turned, staring blankly at them.

  The man, once an NPC with horse ears, had lost all distinguishable features. Even the colors of his clothing looked as if they had permanently absorbed the darkness of that tunnel.

  Ashley rose slowly, keeping a hand near her belt. "Hi. Do you need something?" she asked aloud. The NPC did not respond but began walking toward them with heavy, dragging steps.

  "Ashley?" Alan's voice wavered.

  "Be on guard, Alan," she said a second before the former train employee lunged. She sidestepped, drew her dagger, and severed the NPC's right hand with a swift motion before stabbing him in the chest.

  "Ashley! What are you doing?!"

  "The System has identified him as an enemy," she replied calmly. The NPC, still alive, tried to grab her throat with his remaining hand, but she kicked him away. "Go to the next car, now."

  Alan, noticing there was no blood on Ashley's dagger or the floor, nodded and rushed to the back. But as he entered the adjacent car, he witnessed a scene of carnage. Three shadowy figures were attacking what appeared to be their originals. One user was stabbed with a copy of his own knife, another was suffocated to death, and the third had his head crushed under a pitch-black foot. The victims' bodies disintegrated into pixels, leaving only their sinister copies behind.

  "No way," Alan muttered as level numbers, 32, 35, and 37, appeared above their heads. They turned toward him with faceless heads.

  What the HELL is going--No! Never mind that! Arm yourself, you idiot!

  "E-Equip Set A!" Alan shouted. The system quickly equipped him with his basic armor and his sword materialized in his hand, which he gripped tightly. "Why are you doing this?!"

  He got no answer as the closest shadow lunged at him. Alan barely dodged, and the wooden door behind him got splintered. Suddenly, a deafening gunshot-like sound rang out. Alan watched in slow motion as the top half of his enemy exploded. What remained fell back, turning into a black liquid.

  Ashley entered the car, bow drawn, loading another arrow. "Stay down, Alan."

  "N-No way! I can fight too!"

  "Their levels are way higher than yours," she said, trying to sound urgent, but her voice still sounded flat.

  Alan stood anyway, sword in hand. "Should I just cower in fear, then?!"

  Ashley, still focused on their enemies, nodded slightly. "Understood. Cover my back, plea—"

  Her words cut off as a shadowy figure stabbed her from behind. Crimson drops quickly fell onto the dirty carpet. Gripping his sword, Alan was about to cry out her name and spring into action, but Ashley turned to him and smiled.

  Time seemed to stretch out as Alan watched her form a single word with her lips. "Smudock."

  She then shoved him toward the window with the strength of ten men. The glass behind him offered no resistance and Alan found himself flying out of the train car. The image of her smile still lingered as gravity had yet to take effect.

  No. Why?

  His only concern at the moment was to protect himself in any way he could, so he tucked his head and hoped for the best.

  The initial impact took his breath away. A sharp pain shot through his spine as he did his best to roll with the momentum, but he ended up feeling as if a giant was dragging him across the ground. When his body finally stopped, he felt thankful about being able to move his neck, until the slightest motion caused him to curse and clench his teeth.

  I can't move my left arm.

  As he did his best not to scream, dozens of questions overwhelmed his mind. Why would she do that? Was this the only option? They were inside a simulation where everyone could revive and start anew. Death was nothing but a nuisance inside the Novus, right? So why go that far? And who were those guys?

  It seemed as if every passenger inside that train had been replaced by those... things. Everyone except us. Before hell broke loose, Ashley mentioned something about a Dark Spell, and we don't possess some kind of passive immunity to that kind of magic... Does that mean we were targets? But what's the benefit in killing us? That would only send us back to the Renovatio Caves. Unless...

  His mind quickly filled in the details, recalling the exact moment one of the shadowed figures lunged at him. That one was unarmed. Was it trying to... capture me?

  As soon as the realization hit him, his whole body reminded him of the excruciating agony it was going through. The train could no longer be heard in the distance, and only the sound of insects and the rustling of grass and trees pushed by the wind kept him company. He needed to get up. For Ashley. But the slightest movement threatened to make him black out.

  A flashing memory eased him just in time. He could remember Astrid rushing to an Item Shop and buying two Red Potions the day he disappeared. 'You may never know. Isn't that right?' she'd said, holding the two bottles aloft and gifting him with the brightest of smiles.

  "I-Item--Red P-Potion!" he managed to say between groans, and his User Interface understood the voice command. The item appeared in his right palm.

  He got rid of the cork stopper with his thumb and, with a shaky hand, lifted the bottle to his mouth. Some of the liquid spilled on his chin, but he managed to drink most of it. The results were immediate, easing the pain and, most importantly, healing the broken bones. Although he shrieked when his loose shoulder got reattached by an invisible force, he was able to get up in an instant.

  Oh, I wish medicine like this existed in the real world.

  Looking into the distance, he could no longer discern the train. The track in front of him seemed to mock him for having abandoned the vehicle. 'You'll have to walk on foot, stupid,' it seemed to say. But Ashley was his only concern. Will she be alright? She one-shotted one of them with an arrow, but they outnumbered her.

  With a sigh, he started thinking of his options until he heard the sound of someone rushing toward him. His first instinct was to pull out his sword from his inventory and be on guard. Seconds later, silence returned to that desolate place. The moon illuminated the grass field, but the woods to his left were engulfed in darkness. Then he heard it again and turned back.

  Why am I hearing?! I can't see shit!

  It took him a whole minute to realize what was happening. Silhouettes from all directions had surrounded him, strolling toward him with eerie calmness. Even the moonlight could not reveal their faces. As if they were made of nothing but blackness!

  "What the hell do you want?!" he yelled but received no response.

  He started counting: 5, 10, 15... He tried his best to swallow his fear while holding his Beginner's Sword tightly. He then realized that none of them produced footsteps. That's how one of them took Ashley by surprise. What I'm hearing is the sound of their feet moving through the grass.

  When they were close enough for Alan to read their levels, he was reminded of their method of 'reproduction' and wondered if whatever was behind it had used the innocent NPCs and users from around the area as a basis.

  "I'm not going down without a fight," he said to himself, but deep down he hoped that they only wanted to chat, so he waited.

  When the first one lunged violently forward, he cried, "Screw you!" and pierced it right in the chest. The shadowy figure kept moving for several seconds, trying to choke Alan, before he pushed it aside and defended against a second enemy with tremendous strength.

  Alan then soon realized that every single one of them could easily rip his limbs apart if he gave them the chance.

  I can't do this! They're too many, and this freaking weapon lacks power!

  He screamed as a thumb pressed hard on his right eye and saw white for a moment. Blood ran down his cheek. He lost his footing and fell backward as a dozen sets of hands started to pull at his clothes before their touch suddenly became cold and gradually lost any semblance of palpable humanity. I can't feel 'fingers' anymore... What is this? Looking down, he watched as some of them had turned into a heavy black mass. A substance that felt sandy and moist at the same time. As if they were made of quicksand...

  "This is it?" he muttered, truly convinced that whatever was happening was not normal and that the Novus' Respawning System would not take him back to the security of the Renovatio Caves.

  It seems that my mission ended before it could even begin, huh? Oh, Isabella. What a mistake you made by choosing… huh?

  Alan trailed off as another silhouette seemed to come from the moon. Then, the air was cut by a silver trail of light that took the shadow trying to sink Alan into oblivion.

  Is that...?

  A blinding light followed, making the humanoid creatures recoil. A moment later, Alan felt the familiar feeling of earth on his hands. Whatever was trying to engulf me is gone, he noticed, watching his hands buried in the ground. As soon as he got freed, he watched an agile figure beheading and tearing limbs left and right with the grace of a ballet dancer. It's not Ashley, he realized right away.

  A tremor followed, and Alan found a large man donned in full-plate armor piercing everything with a spear. His attacks were firm, powerful, and even an amateur like Alan could tell he wasted no movements. Finally, the source of the light: A young man wearing a cape who shooed the living shadows away with a flick of his luminescent magic staff.

  It only took that group of strangers less than a minute to either defeat or scare away every single shadowed figure in the area. Seconds later, silence returned to that part of the countryside. If it wasn't for those three, no one would believe what happened here.