NPC into Player: Let's Wreck This Game

"We all did," Antoan smiled helplessly as he added, "now the entire forum had nothing to speak about but how to turn into a dark player. Thanks to you they now know of the importance of them," he said while glancing in a meaningful way towards the sword wielder.

"Don't speak like that here," the youth warned, "those shade sons can easily infiltrate our lines and prey on our conversation anywhere."

"Don't worry about that," Antoan smiled in confidence as he took out a scroll before adding, "I just used one like this before you appeared here. It blocks any stealth player or NPC from getting near us for a hundred meters."

He handed the scroll to his master who just checked its information before grinning, "good one," he returned it to Antoan, "from where did you get this precious toy?"

"From black market," he simply said, "keep it, I'll transfer a dozen more to you to use in the future."

"Thanks."

"Can you answer my question then?"

Antoan glanced at the man standing before him before asking in seriousness, "how can someone escape such a deadly car accident without a scratch?!! You were there, I saw you… you were inside when the car exploded. This…"

"What?" Bloom smiled as he added, "are you disappointed in my return to the living?"

"I'm just afraid this will be an illusion… a mind trick or a dream I might wake up from one day."

"You won't," Bloom laughed before adding, "and this isn't a dream my dear friend… it's a nightmare, especially for Dockrey and his organization."

"You didn't answer my question."

"And I don't have to," Bloom shrugged, "all you need to know is that killing me out there is nearly impossible."

Antoan glanced in doubt towards his old master while his mind recalled that mind blowing visit he had while he was at the hospital. "When I first saw you there… I couldn't believe myself. I was totally wrecked by your loss, pledging to get better, gather up everyone and go full force over that bastard."

"This isn't wise," Bloom sighed, "you saw it yourself… that man is hiding inside a real fortress. You will be long dead with everyone before even laying a glance over him."

"I know," Antoan helplessly sighed, "that coward…"

"Any news on the assassin?" Bloom asked while his face turned serious.

"All we know is that he was killed a few blocks away from the location of the accident. Whoever did this wanted to clear all the trails he left behind."

"Expected," Bloom nodded, "but you know, in the dark world there is always a footprint here or there."

"I know," Antoan said, "I promise I won't rest until I find it!"

"I depend on you for that," Bloom smiled before patting over his butler's shoulder, "we will have our revenge here in the game and out there in the real world."

"Speaking of that," Antoan's face changed slightly before adding, "she is… very devastated by your loss. Shouldn't you try to approach her and give her some hope?"

"No, too risky for me and her," Bloom shook his head.

"Even in the game?"

"Anywhere is simply dangerous," Bloom sighed, "you saw how things turned out inside her camp. Her trusted subordinates already betrayed her. I don't know whom we can trust anymore from her side."

"Sigh," Antoan bitterly smiled, "we also lost our only trusted man inside."

"Yeah… that was quite a loss."

Before everything crumbled over their heads, they tried to contact their supporter inside Nara's camp. After Antoan got better and exited the hospital a few days later he investigated and got the bad news.

He was found dead inside his summer mansion on the coast. It looked like Dockrey was trying to punish and get rid of anyone that helped Bloom. Also Bloom believed this was a strict threat to everyone else… a simple and direct message for everyone.

Either you would stand beside me or be my enemy; that was what Dockrey tried to convey. From the face of things in the past week he succeeded in delivering this message and got the best results out of it.

"Gather up the boys," he suddenly said before Antoan gave him a meaningful glance, "we are going up to a hunt."

"Finally," Antoan laughed in excitement, "against Dockrey?"

"Nah, that man… he is just too deeply hidden for me to easily find him," Bloom sighed, "we are going after his henchmen first. We need to cut down the long arms of this octopus before bringing him out."

"Are we going to destroy another quest?" Antoan knew how his master used to work before.

"No, this was a thing from the past," Antoan simply shook his head, "from now on it's personal. We are going after his men, killing them back up to zero."

"Oh, that's more I like it," Antoan laughed before adding, "are we going after Panty then? Or that jerk called Derrick? Both created a party after the news of your death was confirmed in the forums."

"Both are at the village of Nara," Bloom shook his head, "we can't go after them for now. But this fish is something you would love to hunt."

"Who is he?"

"Gerard," Bloom said in an evil grin, "we are going after his butler himself."

"Yeah, I like that," Antoan couldn't control himself from excitement, "but do you have any lead on him?"

"What do you think I was doing the past days?" Bloom laughed, "it's a good thing to have a new identity that no one knows about. As a privilege I could move freely and spot anyone without arousing their suspicion."

"But this won't last for long," Antoan laughed, "they will have to watch over their shoulders and safeguard against you from miles away."

"They better be," Bloom wasn't fazed by this, "I like it best when the prey tried to resist and fight back. It gives the hunt a better taste."

"Right indeed," Antoan was already in a good mood, "let me convey the message to the boys. Do we need to buy anything from the village?"

"No, I took charge of everything," Bloom said before sending many items to Antoan, "distribute these over the boys."

"What the hell…?!! Twenty taming bows!!! That's…"

"Hahaha, your master wasn't only stalking Dockrey's slaves. Y'know I'm far better than this."

"Hahaha, yeah, I can't imagine the face of that bastard when he knew what happened to his right hand man inside the game."

"Stop playing then," Bloom motioned to him before Antoan hesitated. "What?"

"What should I tell the boys?" he asked.

"The same thing we agreed upon inside the ward of the hospital," Bloom grinned, "for them I'm their new master, Henry, the one who inherited everything by the mysterious will I sent to the lawyer."

"Alright."

"Antoan… no one else should know about my existence," Bloom stressed, "only this way we can have our revenge."

"I understand," Antoan nodded after a moment of pause. He wanted to say that he trusted those men, could guarantee them with his neck if needed but he refrained from saying these words.

He knew Bloom was dead fixed on keeping his identity hidden from the entire world, even from his beloved one.

Bloom watched his back while softly whispering: "Alright Dockrey, let round two between us begin and I swear this one will be my overwhelming victory."