"Quit the act."
I looked at the person in front of me with unease. Of course I had to put on an act… isn't quite obvious?
Who the hell would be able to stay calm at a sight like this? I'm literally standing and talking to myself… future self, at least.
I don't even know if I should be calling the man in front of me. I sighed, looking at he smirked at my confused expression.
I clenched my fists, he didn't seem like a bad person or at least he wasn't in the mood to fight me.
Though, just based on that, I might as wellgive myself to him. I can't let my guard down just yet. He might be me but it's not like the future is something I've already experienced.
"What was the purple gas about?"
The future version of me stood still for a few seconds as if he was thinking before he started talking.
"Just a little something to wake you up."
"Wake me up? I am already awake."
The man in front of me looked behind him, into a void of nothing for a few seconds before looking back at me and smirked.
I could feel myself tensing up as he smirked. This was me? The future version of me? Why am I acting like that?
There's no way that the person in front of me really id my future self, right? I sighed, looking at the man in front of me.
Now that he's a bit quieter and still, I could actually see what he somewhat look like a bit clearer.
Yes, his appearance was exaxtly the same as mine but something about him seemed different. There's no way I could possess that amount of energy…
He was definitely working under something stronger. Maybe if I get him to tell me some things, I might be able to prepare for the future.
"Gyungho, you're still asleep."
"Are you not real then?"
The guy laughed at me, his voice glitchy like a broken computer. In that very moment, I was able to sense an overpowering amount of life force surrounded around him.
The power he held was no ordinary thing I could've bought in the shop nor in stats. I definitely did something in the future to obtain this energy.
Just then, things finally came together. The clues seemed so clear now. The way he laugjed, the glitchy voice and the ability to speak to me mentally.
I might not be a detective nor will I ever be a good one but there was one thing I'm pretty sure about.
I looked up at my future self who was somehow towering over me. I swear I hit puberty years ago but standing next to him feels like I'm still in elementary.
I shook my head and took a deep breath. My eyes glaring at him before speaking.
"You're a spectator. The anonymous user that followed the game."
He looked at me, a bit surprised. I'm pretty sure that the Gyungho in front of me somehow ended up becoming a spectator.
That's the only explanation I could think of based on the abilities he held. He was capable of interfering with the game, giving life to me and fix it however he wanted.
Even after making that conclusion about who he was, something still felt strange. Even after putting him under the lable of a Spectator, it didn't feel right.
So far I've only met two powerful beings that weren't human, the spectators and the dokkaebis.
If he wasn't in either category then could there be other forces that I haven't met during the first and the current second game?
For now, I guess I'll just have to gather more clues before rethinking decisions. I clenched my fists, looking up at the Gyungho in front of me.
"Good guess…"
I looked as he smiled and answered. He answered indirectly, was this something I had to find out by myself? He then flicked his fingers, creating the same purple mist I saw. My eyes widened as the didtance us grew further apart.
I tried screaming, reaching out my hand. I needed answers to my questions and he looked like the only choice I had.
He's running away just because I jumped to conclusions. Damn it, I need answers.
I can't let him go just yet! I looked at him desperately as I drifted away, my mouth trying to make sounds but all that came out was silence.
From afar, I could see a sly smile waving at me and spoke.
"Get stronger, Gyungho."
After the future version of me finished his sentence, a thick purple cloud then form around him and me, creating a barrier and seperated us.
I closed my eyes, falling into the pit of what felt like nothing. After what seemed like an eternity of nothing, I could feel my body hitting the bottom of something and stayed there for a while.
A few seconds passed, I opened my eyes again. This time, I was sitting on the same seat I was before the lost soul attacked me.
I looked over to see Aiko snacking on some weird looking food. I then let out a sigh of relief as well as confusion.
Was all that about the head of the train a dream? Even so, how long have I been out…?
I looked at the girl then back at the seat in front of me. I held onto my head, trying to remember as much things as possible.
How did I turn into a spectator? And why did I decide to help myself? Was he really me? I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.
As I sat there in silence, listening to the other people on the train and the weird crunching that was coming frim Aiko's snacks, a suddenly shake snapped me awake.
I looked over Aiko who was way too calm then sighed. Something happened? Did we arrived at our stop? What is this energy I'm feeling?
I could feel a pure energy as well as an unknown source of energy coming from the same place.
I looked around to see if anyone felt it too but all I saw were creatures chatting with each others. What was I feeling?
"Hey old man, we're here."
I tried shaking the feeling off, nodded and followed Aiko off the train. I looked as the train arrived back at the main game. Finally, I can continue with this.
As the train came to a stop, I went down along with Aiko, arriving at an abandoned tunnel near the main game. As I got down, my eyes widened at the people I saw who were also there.
"Mary? Chin-hae? What are you two doing here?"
"I could say the same to you."
Mary replied. I let out an awkward laugh then looked at the passed out Chin-hae on Mary's shoulder. The both of them looked beaten up… what the hell happened while I was gone?
"The time in the station here and the connecting station times are different. An hour there equals to a minute here."
I listened to aiko before looking back at Mary who was a bit annoyed. I couldn't blame her either, something must've happened for this woman to react this way.
I'd never be able to see this expression if it was just a few wolves she fought with. I looked back over to Aiko then the train that zoomed away in a blink of an eye.
I don't feel like I've been away from the station for that long… what could've happened for this part of the station to look so wrecked?
As I was about to say something, that energy I felt on the train came again. I stood still, looking at everyone.
Aside from me, there was only one other person that reacted to the energy, Mary. This power was no joke for sure, it was quiet enough to slip past everyone and cause a stir
"You felt it too, didn't you?"
I looked at Mary who was grabbing her chest. Seems like even her can't stand the energy. Though why is it that only us two are able to feel it?
After a few seconds of standing there in silence, gritting my teeth and enduring the pain from the overwhelming amount of power, Aiko finally spoke up and broke the silence
"What are we waiting for?"
I looked at Aiko then back at Mary. Something definitely broke her, something she battled with, maybe? If nothing happened then she wouldn't be hiding these things
As she finished speaking, Chin-hae suddenly woke up, his eyes widened, his finger pointing at her then looked at Mary.
As soon as Mary saw the man woke up, she let go of him, making him fall down on to the ground.
The man stood up, looking annoyed. Before he could say anything towards Mary, he turned towards Aiko once more and spoke.
"What the hell is she doing here?!"
I scratched my head, a bit conflicted about what I should be saying. I don't think he'd ever see Aiko apart from the time where I got dragged away by her and when she held a speech with her brother.
I can't blame him for being suspicious. As I was about to speak, a system notification suddenly popped up and silenced me.
I look at the blue system screen in front of me then back at the others who are also checking the notification.
[SYSTEM: malfunction
Due to a small glitch, the system was shut down for a short amount of time!
Thanks to your cooperation, we were able to repair the glitch and brought things back to normal!]
I took a deep breath, my eyes scrolling through the message.
With every new sentences, I feel like I've just entered a whole new world again. What the hell happened when I was gone?!
It's not like the message was that shocking, though what could possibly take down the system?
It wasn't a long amount of time or was it permanent but to think someone would even try interfering with the system is just straight up ridiculous.
After reading the message, I then looked back at the others to see their expression.
Just like me, Aiko was new to the information and I was able to feel a small amount of shock that she felt.
I then looked over to Mary and Chin-hae. Seems like they were involved in this weren't they?
Or maybe I was just overthinking. Everyone in the station must've recieved the notificiation as well.
I sighed, not only did the whole station still stuck in confusion and not able to find the wolf, now we're facing something so strong it was able to break through the system. These threats won't be treated that easily I know for sure.
I serioulsy need to get out if this place quick. If I stay any longer. the wolf will attack again. The game needs to come to an end, I can't risk the number of sheeps continued decreasing again.
I then began walking with Mary, Chin-hae and Aiko back to the station where the main events were happening.
From what I could see as well as the little informations I've been given, it's smarter to get to the bigger problem later. Right now, I need to focus on leveling up everyone.
I know Mary and Aiko were already strong, probably capable of carrying me and Chin-har to the answers for my questions but I still can't risk them getting hurt.
If they even weaken by a tad bit, I won't be able to handle things on my own. Either ways, I'm still just an average office worker who have no talents whatsoever.
The thing that caused a problem to the system must've been extrememly strong to even try and succeed. I'll need everyone to be stronger if I want anything to work.
"Oi, old man."
I looked over to see Aiko crossing her arms together, looking at me with a smug face. What kind of ideas does she got this time?
"Yes, Aiko?"
I stopped in my tracks, letting Mary and Chin-hae goes first so I could chat with Aiko. Lately, she has been striking up conversations quite often…
"I can make the people listen to you for the voting round."
I smirked, I've somewhat predicted she might do something like this. But, it's probably true, she had control over quite a lot of people after all.
"What's the plan?"