Simulation 3ND 20 Uneasy Alliance

We lay low on the capital city of Paris, in the dark slums were the miserable people were working tirelessly to give food to their family. The dark streets smelled of sweat and metal. The fiery coals burned with power as the sound of metal banged from the crafting tables. It was a busy place, where most traders will come and go to buy forbidden goods. Or adventurers who want to buy weapons and armors to continue their journey throughout Casthynia.

Through the corner of a dead end street, we cornered two Blue Chevaliers who acted suspicious on us. Indeed, they continued to scout and ask questions regarding the Night Demon. Although it is clear they have no idea of what happened on Bordeaux, they kept asking questions about the recent murders in Bordeaux. I however, antic.i.p.ated this. And I was glad they pursued us here. The Blue Chevaliers were no match for Alexandros. I sighed with relief as I checked their HP as I sensed they were breathing.

Alexandros and I took out their weapons and their armor as the ingredient for the plan. We quickly dressed their stolen blue armor and helmet, posing our swords in our belts. As for the bodies, we hid them near a mountain of wooden boxes, where they will remain sleeping for the time been.

"Can you sense where they are?" I asked while fixing the left gauntlet.

"No. But it is safe to say there must be numerous enemies there. I can also feel some familiar mana, but I can't quite know who it is."

"I see. Then we are heading blind, then?" I sighed.

He nodded. "Indeed. Are you sure you want to do this?"

I locked eyes on him, studying me completely. And I nodded without hesitation.

The central city of Paris was flocked with traders, commoners and n.o.bility. It was a crowded place where echoes of numerous chats invited more people to speak. Groups of the Blue Chevaliers observed with caution, looking for anything suspicious. The palace of Justice was nearby, in a direct road with horse carriages and the military barracks. The next checkpoint will be to pa.s.s the barracks and cross the bridge toward the palace.

Through the barracks, the knights were outside, training with their lances and their swords. They were strong and brave, valiantly training to increase their levels. Such is the way of an NPC. Programmed to work continuously, like a scratching record. We stopped at one of their station to ask permission to pa.s.s to the bridge as a giant gate blocked our path.

"Names?" The station guard said as he opened a book.

"My name is Leville Orleais. And this is my partner," And Alexandros interrupted me, with a sense that he didn't want me to say a ridiculous name other than Leville Orleais. In fact, it was really a stupid name, to be honest. "My name is Alex, sir."

"His Highness, Napoleon, has ordered no other knights to be stationed on the palace. All Blue Chevaliers are ordered to scout the city for any suspicious activity."

"Yes, sir. Understood. However," I balled my fists. "I believe my partner and I have found the Night Demon. I request an audience to the king to inform this immediately."

The station guard looked at me quizzically. "What're you mumbling about, monsieur?"

"Sir, the king must learn this. It is imperative if we wish to end this horror once and for all."

"My partner is telling the truth. We know the ident.i.ty of the Night Demon. If we Blue Chevaliers want to end this nightmare, then I suggest you give us the audience we need to the king…monsieur." Alexandros argued.

But the man didn't buy it. Instead, he laughed it off like a little kid. His eyes bursts with tears as he ridiculed us with jokes about the Night Demon. I saw Alexandros swallowing his pride as he tried to hold on his twitching hand on the hilt of his sword. If he do this, then I have to reset. That's why I came up with a backup plan when things go sour. The ring on my index finger. It is a device I crafted on Bordeaux that will instantly snap a tiny blade that will cut anything it touches. Fueled with magic, it will be brutal to somebody else. But I intend to use it on myself if every falls apart. Alexandros protested on that, saying 'it was something a mad man will do'. Indeed, a mad man can only this to himself. But I have died previously, with a curse to go back again to the moment before my death, changing the scenario to my will. If I have to do it, I'll have to.

"Monsieur, go back to the city and continue your job as watchers of the city. King Napoleon doesn't want anyone entering the place without a permission."

"But…" I gritted my teeth. I was ready to reset and come up with another plan, but suddenly a man came from behind and spoke.

"How unfortunate that you are not allowing these gentlemen to pa.s.s to the palace, Station Guard Louis." My eyes opened up as I saw the green coated man before me. The man at the bar.

"You…! How the h.e.l.l do you know my name, sc.u.m?"

Suddenly, the green coat man waved his hand and muttered the words 'Dominate Subject' and light tethers bursts from his hand and into the man's head. His eyes turned white as the snow and he lifted himself from his chair and walked toward the pedestal that opens the gate.

The grand gate opened with a crunching sound. Alexandros and I exchanged looks and approached the man.

"Sir…do you remember me? How did you..?"

He scratched his hidden head. "Have we met, boy? Perhaps I can take a look at my book…"

Alexandros crossed his arms. "Do you know this man?"

I explained to him that I met him when I crossed the Safe Zone.It's strange that this guy came up out of nowhere…and he doesn't remember me at all.

Alexandros grabbed my shoulder, hurrying me to continue forward before the knights find out what happened. The green coat man stood there with his book without moving, waiting for the knights to come by. Who is he? How does he gained this power of controlling people with a single thought? And why did he helped us? Nevertheless, I looked away at the lonely man and ran toward the bridge.

The Palace of Justice lay before us. As soon as we arrived, there were guards on the watch. We have to be careful in approaching this infiltration more carefully. Alexandros pointed out that the source of power that he mentioned before was coming through the left tower of the palace. We asked toward the central garden, where the entrance inside was located. But that will prove too risky. A few knights came by and said h.e.l.lo to us as we waved back. But after they left toward the right garden area, we sneak by into the left garden area, where we can see the left tower more closely.

I turned my head to the sky as the tower loomed at us. I saw an open balcony with gargoyles gazing at us. Who has gargoyles on balconies?

"Ok. Alexandros, I want you to lift me up and throw me into the balcony."

He raised an eyebrow. "I think you lost your mind."

"Can you do it?" I insisted.

"If I do, you will be seeing the G.o.ds above."

"For the love of G.o.d, just do it, d.a.m.n it."

With all my insistence, Alexandros poised himself to use his full strength for me to fly high into the balcony. And so, I was holding my own laugh inside because it was a ridiculous idea for me to do this. Indeed, I still going to regret ever doing this.

WHIZZ! And I flew away into the sky, as the wind brushed my whole body. It was an awesome sensation to be honest. I felt like some kind of human rocket flying into the air. But, as expected, I flew way high than antic.i.p.ated. My heart stopped. Fear grabbed my chest as my body slowly reduced it's speed and slowly pulled me into the ground like a meteor. I closed my eyes, antic.i.p.ating my near death experience. But I felt something that made me safer to look. Didn't expect to see Alexandros saving me after his fuzz about throwing me into the sky.

"Let's not do that again, yes?" I said with a forced smile.

On the corner of the tower, I saw something unexpected. There was a black dog, whimpering in a nearby wall. Curiously, I approached it as it caught my look. It started to wag his tail and approached me with such jolly gesture.

"h.e.l.lo, little doggie. What's your name?" I instantly summoned the Status menu and scan the dog. The dog's name is Shadow, and the previously owner was James. And now the new owner is called…'Joan'. I stared at his eyes and saw that he was looking for her. Could it be that…?

"Hey, Alexandros. Check this out." The dog was sniffing to a nearby cellar window. Inside was an old cellar block with lots of wine. This could be our infiltration place.

As I opened the window, Shadow swooped in inside like a wolf. Alexandros nodded to me and together we joined up inside.

The palace was super guarded. Numerous soldiers and knights were stationed around the East Wing and the Center Hall. While we sneak inside, Shadow started to sniff around. And then it sprinted outside the dusty cellar into the hallway. Thanks to our disguise, no one began to suspect anything. But, Shadow ran off quickly, probably smelling Joan's scent. So we made petty excuses that a stupid dog got inside and we were trying to capture it. To be frank, they didn't say a word of protest nor they questioned our names.

That sneaky dog got inside the West Tower stairs, so we hurried up toward the stone stairs and into a huge balcony. White marble pillars sustained the statue of an eagle, poised with the imperial flag of France. A glinting fountain sprayed the numerous flowers that decorated the balcony.

"Where did that dog went?" I asked. But suddenly I heard it barking near the end of the grand balcony. Alexandros and I quickly sprinted toward the sound of Shadow's bark until we stood still when we discovered who was barking.

Alexandros draws his sword faster than lightning. "So we meet again, Jason."

Jason and Nightshade stood there like a statue as Shadow were barking at them with a warning. Nightshade just smiled a cruel smile as she sneaks her blade to her right hand. But Jason's expression was calm and relief, which was odd. I placed my hand on the hilt as Jason walked slowly toward us. His scar on his cheek was more gruesome than last time and his muddy eyes were tired somehow.

"I request a truce…" He plainly said. Nightshade looked at him with a surprised expression. Our enemy is now requesting a truce.

"Don't make me laugh, Jason. We have a score to settled. I must say, I can't believe you are still alive. That blow must had cut you in half."

He sighed. "Sorry for disappointing you. However, I do not intend to fight you. Instead, I like a truce…if you hear me out." He sounded serious. Nightshade protested as she punched him in the arm, but Jason remained unchanged.

I removed my hand from the hilt. "What is it that you want to tell us?" Alexandros's pupils locked on me.

Jason made a small smile. "I have discovered the demon who killed the citizens of Oceana and turned them into undead. This parasite is here, in this palace. We fought it once, and somehow it didn't do any damage. His HP was unbreakable. It tried to take me and Nightshade to this place."

I nodded. "We also fought the demon at Bordeaux. We know it's here. But, it isn't the man you are looking for. It's the Night Demon, not Barry."

"Barry? Is that someone you know?" Jason asked.

I nodded. "He's…a cla.s.smate from my world. From the human world. He told me he was responsible for the attack at Oceana. His confession was…twisted." Nightshade blinked when I said 'human world'. She must have some kind of flash back or something in her mind.

His face darkened. "Then I'm afraid it's true. The one you call 'Barry' is the Night Demon. Like I said, the Night Demon has been orchestrating these attacks on numerous cities, including Oceana. He was responsible for kidnapping citizens to twist their souls and make them their puppets. But, I believe he isn't capable of corrupting Players or Masters."

The thought of Barry being that monster…what happened to him? Why has he become like this?

"His Master is someone who holds this 'hacking' power. I believe his Master pa.s.sed on a part of his power to him so he can continue kidnapping people and lock them here. But it's gets worse." Jason stared at Alexandros. "You know there are others like us. I know you can feel them. Their mana twisted into evil. That's the result of this madness."

Alexandros remained silent. Jason continued. "All I ask, is that we make a pact, an alliance. If we can kill the Night Demon's Master, we can eliminate the threat of this war. And, more importantly, cutting out the Night Demon's role in the game. A win-win for all. What say you?"

I gritted my teeth. How can I be so blind? Why didn't I realize that Barry was the Night Demon all along? Jason cannot be lying. It's true that Barry got rid off the citizens. But, did he really? No. It must be true. He went inside the Safe Zone at the Golden Castle. He had the power to do it.

Looking at Alexandros, he was thinking deep. I believe he must be vulnerable right now. Thinking that Barry could have killed Agatha in the first place. He could have taken her toward here, to 'convert' her to the enemy. And that could be Alexandros' Achilles heel. He cannot afford to lose her.

"Very well…" Alexandros gave up. "An alliance it shall be."

Jason made a small smile and nodded. "Great choice. Now, I believe this tower holds many prisoners on the top floor. I expect the enemy will be waiting for us there. Including your friends." Jason looked at me and I nodded. I sighed with relief that we manage to make this alliance. Now, we have to think of a strategy and find out who is Barry's Master. Could it be Napoleon?

"Well well, look what we have here…" A malevolent voice said behind us. There was a guy with a blue monk robes, floating in the air. His hair was jet black, with crystal blue eyes and thin lips. He was holding a spell book on his right hand. And the other was a golden haired woman with a pointy nose and lips red as the rose, holding a golden lance. She was wearing a silver armor with numerous badges of honor. Their eyes were fueled with hungry for blood.

"Napoleon sends his regards." The woman said as she laughs hysterically.