Take Down Chapter 82: Everyone Wants A Piece

“I’ve been in game a lot,” you replied, confidence boosted by O/N’s comment.

“How far back are they?” Migata asked you.

You glanced back from the corner of your eye and judged the distance that they were following behind. 

“About 7 meters,” you replied, “I don’t think any of my attacks can go back that far. Actually… it might if I extend it with my fans?”

“No, let’s just wait,” Migata said, “wait till they make the first move then, if they do, we can retaliate.”

“Wait,” you whispered again, glancing back again, “one of them has gone, “keep an eye out he could be coming around the front to—,”

Just then a blinding light attack happened from the front and your visibility cloak was removed.

Without a second thought, you jumped to the foreground of the group, alongside Butterfli3, and yelled for ‘ha’ then ‘cool down’ and used your fans to push the sonic attack waves further, their ripples being so powerful it made your red coated attacker stumble back.

He was a little surprised to be honest. He hadn’t heard the rumours that has surrounded you. He just thought you were a slave to the high level mage- Migata.

As he stumbled back, his eyes searched for the slave emblem but he couldn’t see one on your skin. 

In his pause, you stomped your foot down and called for ‘spin’ dancing delicately around as the purple haze rose up around him.

“What?!” he exclaimed, looking around with confusion when the haze thickened and blocked his vision completely.

As the haze cleared he suddenly found himself detained by Butterfli3, who had a knife to his throat and was standing behind him, with Migata standing in front of him looking very unimpressed.

“Care to explain?” Migata asked cooly with a slight scowl on his face.

“Your slave…” the red coated player wheezed.

“Slave?!” Migata said with surprise, “do you mean our companion – U/N?” 

“She’s your slave though, isn’t she?” he asked, catching his breath.

“No. Not at all. What did you want with her?” Migata asked pointedly.

You felt a presence behind you and looked back just in time to see the red coated player’s companion try and sneak up behind you.

“Move,” you called quickly, using one of the whips to snake past you and snap the tip just in front of his face, “don’t try anything funny,” you said in a calm dark voice and the player immediately turned and fled, leaving his friend still held by Butterfli3.

“Well, looks like your friend has the right idea,” Migata commented, jerking his thumb over his shoulder to where the other fellow was running down the street.

The red coat player immediately raised his hands in surrender and Butterfli3 let him go.

“If I catch you lurking around again you won’t be on this level anymore,” Migata promised, his muted blue eyes watching the player until he had completely disappeared.

“I’m so sorry,” you said again as you all stood in the middle of the small town street, “I just keep bringing trouble on you all.”

You hung your head sadly. 

“No. This is what happens in game when you start to become somebody. All of a sudden everyone wants to fight you or slave you. It’s a mark of a good player… unfortunately,” Migata said as he walked over and hugged you.

“It’s true, unfortunately,” Butterfli3 added.

“Yep. I’ll forever be known as the rat merchant because when I started to be well known I had a rat onesie on and the name just stuck … unfortunately,” O/N sighed.

You smiled a little, comforted by their words.

“Thank you guys, you don’t have to be so nice to me though…”

“Just being honest,” O/N replied with a smile, “come on. We should head back to the inn and get out of the game. We’ll be at the spiders cave tomorrow so we need to rest.”

A suddenly silence fell over everyone as they walked backroads the inn. Everything had kinda led up to this point and although you all had been discussing plans for how to deal with the spider when you got there it hadn’t really sunk in that it was tomorrow… until just now.

Once back in the inn room, you all sat down and said your goodbyes before logging out.

And then, once back in the lab, you sat up, looking across at Mirio then glancing at Hansu, who was there working on the computer.

“Well… tomorrow it is,” you said into the room.

“Big day,” Mirio said as he stretched then got off the table.

“Mmmm,” Hansu hummed, “well… if you two don’t mind. I have some more work to do…”

You looked at Hansu, then Mirio , and nodded. “Ok, see you tomorrow, Hansu,” you said, then got up and followed your man out of the room. 

“Is Hansu ok?” Mirio asked as you left.

You shrugged.

“Mmmm, we kinda had a bit of a falling out but then we both apologized as I dove in today… but he still seems distant. I dunno. Like I said, we’re not the same as we used to be.”

Mirio smiled softly. “It’s ok… people change and you can’t help that. Just focus on you and be the best version of you that you can be.”

You smiled gratefully at him.

“Thank you. You always know what to say.”

He grinned happily and bent his head down to kiss your cheek.

“I don’t really. But I’m just glad you’re doing well and I’m so impressed with your growth in game.”

You beamed at him as you walked to the bus stop. “It’s really fun to be able to fight now. I didn’t know how fun it would be!”

“Right?” Mirio said, “it is fun, isn’t it?” 

You both continued on and got on the bus, when it arrived, then said goodbye when Mirio got off at his stop.

It has been a big day and you were looking forward to resting when you got home.

“Free didn’t turn up which was good. I don’t think she knows we left yet. We’ll probably have the mission completed before she even finds out.”

You prepared for bed, and then flopped down and pulled your covers up over you – your heavy eyelids fluttering closed. 

“Final day tomorrow!” 

And with that final thought, you drifted off to sleep, your mind going over everything that had happened, as well as practicing your moves. 

Throughout your dreams you thought you kept seeing Free hiding in different places. Behind rocks along the way there, dressed as a waitress at the bistro… but maybe that was just dreamland…

<<< Take Down Chapter 81: U/N Is Amazing

Take Down Chapter 83: Not Nice Surprise >>>