Chapter 37: Cat, Mouse, and Owner – Part 1

Ten minutes before Draquinox explodes.

Alan could do nothing but watch.

“Get back, Ghost! You’re in my way!” Amelia Laflamme yelled, shoving him aside with the strength of ten people.

As he tumbled six feet away, he saw a giant black tentacle crash down where he had just stood.

Goddammit, that was close!

The last thing he saw before scrambling to find cover was an enormous black blob creeping toward the female pyromancer.

Are we fighting the night itself? Alan wondered, glancing into the distance, unable to see the street they had come from, as if the entire neighborhood had been swallowed by darkness.

Amelia did not pay more attention to him, and focused on conjuring the largest flame possible, which quickly took the shape of a fire dragon. Amelia’s attacks seemed to damage the black entity chasing them, but it was like watching a lit match trying to illuminate a pitch-black room.

If a high-level User is no match for this, what can I do? Alan thought as he ran down the next street without looking back.

I knew I could do nothing… I knew it from the moment that strange girl summoned that dragon in front of me… But WHY?! How did it come to this?! My mind is telling me this is all my fault, but another part of me is shouting that it doesn’t make sense!

I’m nobody! I just arrived in this Utopian world. Right now, my existence is practically lower than an NPC’s. I can do nothing but run!

So why are Amelia’s words haunting me?

His chaotic thoughts vanished after stumbling upon a very ludicrous scene. What the hell am I seeing? Dumbfounded, he walked toward a crumbling building, where an NPC could be seen sweeping off debris.

As Alan stepped inside, he observed the dust-coated tables, a broken cash register on a dirty bar, and multiple signs promoting different coffee beverages. When he stepped on the broken pieces of a porcelain mug, the NPC’s horse ears twitched.

“Welcome to The Queen’s Coffee, sir,” the artificial human said, kindly smiling. “Unfortunately, we’re temporarily closed until further notice.”

“It’s okay, I’m not here as a customer,” Alan replied in a quiet voice. “Sorry for intruding and sticking my nose into your business, but, what are you doing here?”

“I’m just cleaning, sir,” the male NPC said plainly. “I’m an employee of this fine establishment, and I’m just doing my job.”

“Yes, I can see that, but aren’t you aware of the danger that’s out there? There’s a dragon that could make this place disappear in an instant.”

“I’m fully aware of what’s currently attacking the city,” the NPC replied while continuing to sweep. “But this place has to be perfect before my boss returns from her trip, so we can rebuild as soon as possible.”

Hearing that humanoid say all that while maintaining a serene expression on his face made Alan’s chest tighten. Are you that faithful to your boss and this place, or is it because she ordered you to do it?

A sudden noise jolted Alan from his thoughts. Something punched a hole through the wall and crashed against the café’s bar with a bang.

A quiet female voice then moaned from behind a curtain of dust. “Why do I even bother?—Cough—I could be tasting paella in Espaniel right now, instead of babysitting this–”

“A-Amelia?!” Alan cried out, rushing to her aid. “Are you all right?”

With a grunt, Amelia swiftly backhanded Alan’s reaching hand. “Don’t touch me, conard! This is all your damn fault after all!”

Alan stepped back, watching her eyes blaze with the ferocity of a tiger. Blood adorned her forehead and seemed to blend perfectly with her hair.

The woman that tortured me is now injured in front of me… And I don’t enjoy seeing her like this.

“Do you really believe that?” he asked, looking her in the eyes. “That this is my fault.”

“What is it, Little Mouse?” another female voice intoned behind him. “Can’t wrap your head around my actions? I think I made myself clear while we were at that park, enjoying a drink.”

“Oh, great. Your other yandere girlfriend is here,” Amelia hissed, standing up.

He stood bewildered as Amelia positioned herself in front of him. Though her white exposed shoulders looked fragile and small, her posture was undeniably tireless and dauntless. And now, the woman that made me suffer is shielding me…

“Why are you helping me?” he asked her quietly. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“I’ve already told you,” she replied, annoyed. “I spied on your conversation with Marco. So use your brain for a moment and think.”

“Oh, you two are adorable! Like a couple of lovebirds.” The black-dressed girl giggled from the café’s destroyed entrance. “Just don’t exclude me from your conversation again, okay? Because that’d make me really, really mad.”

“Welcome to the Queen’s Café, miss,” the NPC said to her. “Unfortunately, we’re closed at the–”

Without glancing at him, the girl conjured a shadow tentacle from something lurking behind her and whipped him, an action so fast that Alan only saw the result: The NPC was sent flying against the dining tables in the same way Amelia accidentally got there.

The strenuous sound of the NPC’s body hitting the furniture made Alan shut his eyes.

“What was I saying?” the mysterious girl said, poking her chin with her index finger. “Ah, yes! Tell me, Alan. Are you enjoying the Eclipse Festival?”

“Festival?! If you’re referring to this act of terrorism against the city, then NO! Why are you doing all this in the first place?!”

The girl hiding her identity seemed to glance in Amelia’s direction. “Sorry, Alan, I’d love to answer, but I’d rather not say a word in front of this meddling bitch here.”

“Why? I know all about it anyway,” Amelia said aloud, smirking. “All of this has to do with this guy having logged out three years ago, isn’t it? Are you trying to silence him, or something?”

The enemy took a short but pronounced pause while grimacing. “Oh! Have you been opening your trap, Alan? What a nuisance…”

I have a bad feeling about this…

Alan noticed the entire place rapidly getting dark. He looked at the establishment’s windows and observed a black mass crawling and obstructing them. The café’s interior became pitch black soon after.

“Quick-Flarelight,” Amelia cast, creating a luminescent orb of fire, and a third of a second later, something long and sharp tried to stab her head. She dodged it and retaliated with a flamethrower attack. “Quick-Dragonbreath!”

The unknown girl laughed as she used the shadows behind her as a shield. “There seems to be a little misunderstanding, so listen up, you two! It’s true that I did my best to meet Alan today, but that was just for fun! Our true goal was to make an example out of this city so that the entire Novus could see that nothing is for granted! Safe Zones? What a joke!”

From the windows sprouted more shadowy living spikes, prompting Alan to duck and cover his head, but after a moment, he noticed that the black appendages were only targeting Amelia.

He glanced at her, wielding a shield in her left hand and a short sword in her right one. Their metal was as red and shiny as her hair.

Although Amelia successfully cut and protected herself from many attacks, the sharp tentacles gradually cut through her dress and flesh. In a matter of seconds, she could be seen bleeding from thirty different parts of her body, yet she did not wince nor cried once.

Is the enemy toying with her? Alan thought, watching the unknown girl’s grin.

“Do you know the Solar Flare spell, miss pyromancer?” the enemy asked, sneering. “Of course you do! Look at your level. You could easily get rid of my attacks by casting it, but I suppose this Little Mouse would end up charred. Is that what you’re avoiding?”

Hearing that made Alan jolt from his spot. “Do it, Amelia! Don’t worry about me and save yourself–!”

“SHUT UP!” the redhead yelled back. “Who do you think I am?! I’ve already decided that I’d repay you for torturing you the other night, so I’ll give you this bitch’s head as a present! Just watch, as I, Amelia Laflamme, The Hell’s Princess, kick this woman’s–!”

“You bore me…” the girl in black whispered.

It happened in a second. The pointy end of a skewer came out of Amelia’s chest. She coughed blood, a huge portion of her HP bar was taken, and her weapons disappeared like an extinguished fire.

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