I realize that I don't have to go slow with this story. It's a fanfic and I can literally jump right into it. :")

~~~~Chpter Twa (intended)~~~~ :")

"So what exactly is it that you saw, Puzzle?" The Elder asked, staring at Puzzle and Daniel. Dawn, Lexus and Jay stood in the background. All three were quiet but listening intently.

Dawn was nervous. What Puzzle had explained earlier had been vague and blunt, but still terrifying. She wasn't sure if she should absolutely trust Puzzle's word. Lexus had said that they trusted Puzzle and his word, so she had to put her faith in the both of them. Besides, she wasn't sure that Puzzle would lie about something like this. The guy was definitely an asshole, but he didn't seem like much of a liar.

"A few plans, a virus, and a bounty," Puzzle stated simply. Daniel glared at him, silently demanding him to explain. Puzzle sighed, but began to do just that.

"I still can't explain it all right now, because everything is still a bit blurry. There was a lot to take in. I figured out some more of what I saw earlier though, so that's a thing," Puzzle scratched the back of his head, trailing off. He didn't want to explain what he saw. Daniel sighed irritatedly, and hit the back of Puzzle's, earning a surprised and slightly pained yelp.

"Just get on with it," He grumbled, crossing his arms. Puzzle glared at him, but didn't retort. He rubbed his head as he began to talk again.

"Someone put a bounty on Daniel. I don't know why, but people are going to start coming soon. They want him alive only, so there's your good point. But with how high that bounty is, you'll get some strong people coming. No weaklings involved, though I saw a really scrawny looking loser trying to fight for Daniel, but man, they were just so bad, it was pretty pitiful-" Puzzle started. Jay grinned slightly, snickering lightly at Puzzle's humour or just general description. Daniel raised an unimpressed eyebrow while Dawn and Lexus just stared, silently feeling sorry for whoever Puzzle was talking about.

"Puzzle," Daniel sighed.

"They were so ugly. What a horrible personality too," He continued.

"Stop," Daniel ordered, annoyed.

"It was Dawn," Puzzle finished in horror. Immediately, Dawn bristled and glared at him with as much hatred as she could muster, letting out an undignified screech. The elder continued to watch, looking unimpressed himself, but secretly amused despite the situation. Jay burst out into laughter and tried to stuffle his snickers by covering his mouth, but to no avail. Lexus frowned.

"Don't be so mean," Lexus said disapprovingly, still frowning at Puzzle.

"You-" Dawn started.

"Oh man, and the voice was so annoying too, I swear I can still hear that pest-"

"PUZZLE!" Daniel boomed, now glaring at Puzzle. "That's enough," After a few seconds, he added; "Apologize." Puzzle gaped at him, as if Daniel had just given him the most impossible order possible.

"You guys are the one who wanted details, and I'm telling you what I saw-" Puzzle snorted, attempting to reason his way out of his current situation. As Daniel and Puzzle argued, Dawn found herself slipping back into her own thoughts. While Puzzle's words had been both insulting and embarrassing, Dawn found herself thinking them over. Puzzle had said that she had attempted to stand up for Daniel, and even if he had been condescending as he did so, Puzzle had intended to get the point across that Dawn was unable to fight. She was unable to fight, and thus; unable to help Daniel. She hadn't been of much use, had she?

Dawn recalls all her training, trying to remember a time where she had actually managed to do something right without failing and immediately messing up. To her disappointment and own self-hatred, she found nothing. Everyone had said she was improving but honestly; Dawn herself couldn't see it when she looked back at all her training. Puzzle had been blunt as absolute possible and didn't hesitate to tell her how absolutely shitty she had been doing and honestly, Dawn couldn't disagree with him anymore. Her shoulders sagged, her confidence practically breaking. She wouldn't be able to improve. She wouldn't be able to help. She wouldn't be able to stop this war.

Puzzle's grey eyes drifted over to her from behind the shades and he had to hide a smirk at her despair. He knew what would activate her Trait now, and if she wanted to be able to start training with it soon, she'd have to fall a bit. He knew he was playing in dangerous waters, but he didn't care.

'Our world is the true bitch compared to Earth.'

Puzzle looked back to Daniel and shoved his hands in his pockets, smiling; satisfied. He shrugged at whatever Daniel had said, having not been paying any attention. The elder sighed.

"That's enough you two," he ordered. "Puzzle, please continue with what you were saying," As Puzzle grinned and opened his mouth to continue insulting Dawn, the elder quickly added; "Without the quips at Dawn please. I would appreciate it if you stopped it with your shenanigans."

Puzzle huffed, his smile falling. "Fine," he mumbled. Daniel gave him one last glare before crossing his arms again and impatiently waiting for him to continue. Puzzle went to continue with his story but forgot what he should be explaining.

"...Uh..." He mumbled, completely lost. Jay grinned at his friend, still snickering slightly.

"Daniel's bounty," Lexus stated, impatient themself.

"Oh, right. I don't think you'll have to worry. The first bounty hunter that'll be sent usually marks their target with a red skull of sorts. I already checked Daniel's arms; he doesn't have the mark. When Daniel has the mark on his arm, we'll know they're here. We could have a few hours, ranging to a few days, depending on what the bounty hunter thinks," Puzzle explained. Daniel frowned at that, not exactly liking the thought.

"But wouldn't Daniel notice when his arm is marked?" Dawn asked, confused. Surely Daniel would be able to notice when someone had placed something on his arm? Puzzle shook his head.

"Ever had a mini cut that you have no fucking clue where you got it from?" Puzzle asked. "It's a bit like that. You don't notice it until either something makes you actually notice it. Most times you'll notice it because of the pain, but I don't think that'll be an option since it's not a cut. Well, it'll hurt eventually. Like, really hurt. It'll most likely paralyze Daniel if we don't find it in time," Puzzle then awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Though I don't know of a way to get the mark off... I think it's a part of someone's Trait, so I honestly have no clue."

"Great," Daniel deadpanned. He looked annoyed but not worried. "I don't really care about my bounty, but what about the village?" He completely brushed away the thought of being targeted. Puzzle frowned at him but complied.

"The bounty is the trigger, by the way. It brings attention to the village. But of course, the virus' attention was already here," Puzzle simply stated. The elder frowned.

"Why?" He asked simply, his mind already going through possible plans and scenarios. Puzzle turned to look at Dawn.

"Why'd you think?" He asked, staring directly at her. All attention switched to Dawn and she found herself becoming nervous.

"M-me?" She asked nervously, fiddling with her hands. Please don't tell me this is all because I'm here. Her heart wouldn't be able to handle the guilt. She didn't want anyone to get hurt because of her. If need be, she'd leave if that meant the village could be left alone.

"He knew she was here the second I found her. Seems pretty pissed about it too. I don't know why, but he was already keeping a close eye on the village for something. Can't figure out what though," Puzzle shrugged. Daniel frowned while the Elder kept his face neutral, not allowing anything to show. They both already had a pretty good idea as to why the virus was watching the village. Daniel looked to the elder who nodded back at him,  silently confirming their thoughts. They were sure they knew the reason. Puzzle decided to ignore their "secret" conversation. He would ask later. This village kept a lot of secrets, that was for sure. He knew the secrets that this village held could bring some light into various situations, but it also had the possibility of bringing about the end.

"Anyways, he's pretty pissed. If things get bad enough, then he'll probably come here himself. But... He's not a normal virus. There's something different about him to the other virus'."

"Different?" The elder asked, confused. Puzzle shrugged again. He had been doing that a lot recently. He may as well be exercising his shoulders or something. Gross.

"He's just... Different. He's a virus and in a way, he's like the others. But there's something off about him. He's a lot more powerful. It may just be his position though. I think he's the general or something. General Glitch or some shit," Puzzle explained. The name itself brought up no  memories, but as Puzzle recalled the virus he had seen, his vision blurred and he stumbled, his mind turning hazy. He was sure he had seen that virus before. He was sure. Somewhere, at some time, they had met? Even if it was just in a raid or something, Puzzle couldn’t erase the familiarity that virus held. He recalls power. Whether from himself or the virus or something entirely different, he just recalls power. He doesn’t know why.

Daniel’s hand shot out, grabbing Puzzle’s forearm to help steady him as he almost fell over.

“Puzzle?” He asked, growing worried. Puzzle didn’t regain his balance and instead, his legs gave out entirely under him, the only thing keeping him up being Daniel’s arm. “Puzzle?!” Daniel asked again, this time the worry in his voice evident. Puzzle quietly groaned, his other hand going to his head.

The Elder’s eyes widened as Puzzle collapsed, unsure of what had caused the sudden change. Jay and Lexus rushed forward to Puzzle’s side, but stood back enough not to crowd him as they tried to get Puzzle to respond. Dawn stood there, completely frozen and unsure of what to do. Her feet felt glued to the spot as confusion and fear struck her. What was happening?

Puzzle blinked slowly, trying to keep himself awake but to no avail. The virus kept flashing in his mind, as if haunting him, as if trying to get him to do something. To remember something. There was a flash in his mind and he saw fire, a building crumpling. He could taste blood in his mouth and he could smell it in the air too. The smell of burning flesh and fresh blood, echoed out by screaming. Puzzle choked as bile rose in his throat, feeling sick.

What the fuck?

Puzzle blinked and suddenly a black mass was spiralling towards him, practically radiating power and destruction. His ears hurt, the taste of blood in his mouth so damn strong and his body shook from the vibrations from the floor as the large creature bulldozed its way towards him-

Dawn jumped a mile into the air as Puzzle screamed, clawing at his face so hard he instantly drew blood. Daniel cursed, quickly moving to restrain Puzzle. The elder stood up, startled, but kept his distance. There was no use in crowding him.

“Restrain him thoroughly,” the Elder ordered firmly. Daniel nodded, already having every intention to do so. Jay grabbed Puzzle’s other arm and yanked it away from his face and kept it away, using as much strength as he could without hurting Puzzle further. Dawn remained glued to the spot, her heart beating frantically at the sight before her. Oh god, she had no idea what the hell was happening and she didn’t know what to do-.

Dawn took a deep breath, calming herself down. It would only make the situation worse if she ended up panicking. Daniel forced Puzzle to the floor, taking ahold of both of Puzzle’s wrists and forcing them behind his back. Puzzle struggled, but it didn’t seem like he was actually fighting Daniel, but rather himself. Dawn cringed. She couldn’t exactly see his face, but she could see the blood from when he clawed at himself.

“Puzzle, calm down!” Daniel yelled, barely straining from restraining him. Puzzle had began to hyperventilate. Dawn stared at him with wide eyes, desperately trying to think of something she could do. Her mind ran through things she could remember in her world, things she had learnt.

‘Call the hospital,’ Was the only thing that came back her. Dawn was getting frustrated. She couldn’t call a hospital, there wasn’t one here. But they should have some medical staff, right? And they would be close! Relief surged through Dawn, the panic lessening. All she had to do was find someone with medical knowledge and they’d be able to help- The hope in her ignited a fire within her and for those brief few seconds, her eyes turned gold, a gold aura erupting from her body.

The sudden change and spike in power went unnoticed by no one but Puzzle, who was still struggling. The gold aura suddenly spread, and a bright gold light shot out towards Puzzle, his body absorbing the light like a sponge. Almost immediately, Puzzle calmed down, his body relaxing, muscles untensing and he regained himself, composing completely but his eyes were slowly fluttering shut.

Before he completely passed out, he muttered one last thing; “They’re almost here,” He mumbled sleepily, now completely passed out. Dawn stared blankly ahead, her eyes returning to their bright red. The elder stared at Dawn in shock, the same with everyone else. Daniel’s gaze switched from Puzzle to Dawn and back again, confused. Slowly, seeing as Puzzle was no longer unconscious, he released Puzzle. Puzzle made no movements, except from the occasional movement around his chest from his breathing as he snored softly.

Dawn blinked, the blank look in her eyes disappearing. She stared at all the shocked and confused faces staring back at her before her own legs gave out and black spots appeared in his vision. Jay shot forward, catching Dawn before she could crash to the floor. Dawn passed out shortly after, her head exploding in pain.

~idefk what I'm  doing anymore; ")*

The end of the chapter was supposed to to entirely different but then I just got carried away. ;")
rip. I meant to update this after the ask book was updated but never got to it. I cri. But I'm somewhat happy with this.

~ Lilly

And uh. Goodbye, Percy. ;-;