Chapter 174: Older

The Crimson Moon hung in the void of a sky illuminating the world below in a blood red color.

Under the sinister gaze of this celestial observer, Ishiki stood silently in a cemetery that existed in a pocket of silence that felt separate from the outside world.

White marble headstones stood in neat rows amongst the crimson-tinted grass, casting long shadows that stretched like grasping fingers.

Most were ancient and belonged to the high class nobles or the people who served as the Inner guards in Aethelburg.

Among them there were a myriad of fresh graves which looked much less fancier.

Ishiki stood before one such grave with his hands thrust deep into his pockets. He was wearing a white linen shirt and a black trousers he had found in one of the houses in Inner Ring.

It was not a house, according to Ishiki it would be called a villa.

He studied the simple granite that stood like a marker at the grave’s head. It only had a name carved on it…

“DOCTOR KAORI”

There was nothing else… the only thing he knew about her was that Kaori was a doctor before the Neural Matrix system descended.

After another moments silence he simply whispered. “I am Sorry.”

The grave offered no response. Only the distant sound of wind filled his ears.

’And thank you… Your Scenario is complete. Rest well.’

Ishiki exhaled slowly, then turned and walked away from the cemetery. There was nothing more to say. No words that would change what happened or bring her back.

He walked out of the gate and continued on the cobblestone path, hands still in his pockets, gaze fixed on nothing in particular.

The cobblestone here wasn’t normal, it was built of gold. Unlike what he remembered about the Inner Ring from what he saw during the illusion back in the clearing.

The cobblestone back then were simple.

’Maybe they were changed in the time between the Illusion and when everyone seemingly disappeared from here.’

Without thinking much about such things he continued walking.

The Inner Ring stretched before him—pristine avenues lined with marble villas, flowering gardens, artificial lakes. Beautiful and empty, like a museum preserved in amber.

Its been three days since the Dragon announced that ’He’ is now the Emperor of Aethelburg.

Following that a lot of things had happened in the past days… the first and foremost was the rule that the dragon had created. It stated that anyone who will bow before the dragon and serve him would be allowed to live inside the Inner ring, under its protection.

The rest were free to live in the Secondary Ring. The problem was that the gates of the Secondary Ring would not hold on for much longer.

After the news spread… most players were either hiding in whatever shelter they had claimed in the Secondary Ring or traveling toward the palace to pledge loyalty to the Dragon Emperor.

The reason was simple. The majority of players had taken a great shock after the revelation that the Throne was empty and there was no Emperor of Aethelburg.

That alone had broken spirits of many people. And it was justified too… after all, they have been fighting this long just to defeat the Emperor and return back home.

But the system was playing impossible games with them. It was as if it had never wanted them to leave.

That problem was solved now… the Aethelburg Empire had an Emperor. But it had brought an even bigger predicament with it… No one was willing to fight the dragon.

And even if they did… they were just weak humans. There was no way they could kill the Dragon Emperor now that he was back in his full strength.

Ishiki had joined the dragon too… for now that is. But he had no plans to keep it that way. He knew more than anyone else if we talk about Aethelburg’s history.

And the recent events had raised a few very dire and important questions that he could not find answers to.

Ishiki was halfway down the main avenue when he noticed a figure approaching from the opposite direction.

A woman with slender build, moving with careful steps as if nursing an injury. Shoulder-length brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. Face gaunt with recent hardship but recognizable.

Sarah.

Ishiki stopped walking, surprise flickering across his features. She had been part of his squad back when he was a shoulder in the Units of the Outer ring’s army.

Sarah was the girl with her crossbow and piercing vision.

He hadn’t seen her in weeks. Well he hadn’t seen anyone since he got entangled with the mess of that cell and from there… life has been coming down continuously.

“Sarah?” He asked slowly.

She looked up, green eyes widening with recognition. “Ishiki? I… didn’t expect to see you here.”

They stood facing each other on the crimson-lit avenue.

“Where are you headed?” Ishiki asked, though he already suspected the answer.

Sarah’s hand drifted unconsciously to her stomach, resting there briefly before dropping back to her side. “The palace. I’m going to surrender and swear loyalty to the dragon.”

Ishiki’s eyes tracked the gesture… hand to stomach and he frowned.

“Sarah… do you have stomachache?”

She met his gaze and blinked a couple of times. Then she smiled… and suddenly her expression drowned. “I am pregnant Idiot.”

“What!!” Ishiki looked at for a long moment with his mouth agape. Slight blush surfaced his cheeks when he coughed and brought himself back. “I mean when? how?”

The girl’s eyes settled on the ground as she explained. “I think its been a month… Its Korg’s baby by the way.”

The words hit like a physical blow. Korg. The massive man who had held the line with his tower shield.

“Where is he now?” Ishiki enquired.

“He is dead.” Sarah replied solemnly.

Ishiki’s mouth opened and closed. He was silent for a moment and then he simply said. “I’m sorry,”

“Yeah. Me too.” Sarah’s hand returned to her stomach, more deliberately this time. “But I’m done fighting, Ishiki. I can’t risk it anymore. Not with this child. This is all I have left and I will keep it safe, even if that means bowing to a monster.”

Ishiki understood the logic. He didn’t like it, but he understood.

“Go straight to the Castle and tell the guards.” Ishiki said quietly. “You’ll probably be safe if you swear loyalty willingly.”

“Good.” Sarah’s voice was flat. “Then that’s what I’ll do.”

She started to walk past him, then paused.

“What about you?”

Ishiki looked back toward her, he remembered Kaori’s death and felt something harden in his chest.

“I have already accepted,” he admitted. “But we will see.”

Sarah nodded as if she had expected that answer and then continued walking, one hand pressed protectively to her stomach.

Ishiki watched her disappear down the avenue before turning and walking in a different direction—away from both the cemetery and the palace.

He needed to think and figure out what was even possible anymore. The answers to the questions would be crucial now.

His feet carried him through empty streets until he found himself approaching a bridge that spanned an artificial lake. Elegant white marble with ornate railings, the water beneath was perfectly still.

The crimson light painted everything red and made the lake water look like red Wine.

Ishiki stopped halfway across and leaned against the railing, staring down at his reflection.

The face that looked back was both familiar and strange.

His features had sharpened. His hair had grown long, falling almost to his chest in dark waves. And his face bore the shadow of a growing beard.

’I look older,’ he realized.

The water reflected his image with eerie clarity under the Crimson Moon’s light, showing every detail in shades of red and black.

“Big Brother Ishiki?”

The voice came from behind him—young, tentative and barely above a whisper.

Ishiki turned to see Nina standing ten meters back on the bridge, looking small and uncertain in the crimson light.

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