-chapter one-hundred-eight-
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"Don't look for a person who doesn't want to be found." 

"WHAT DO you know about our father?!" singhal ni River. "He's probably worried for us too if we vanish like he did."

Nagtitigan ang dalawa. Both had fiery determination in their eyes. Solace flickers her gaze between the two, anxious of the growing tension.

"Probably." tipid na sagot ng Demon King at ngumiti. "I just have this feeling that you'll waste your time finding him. So isn't it better if you focus on your ultimate goal?"

River glares at the man. Ano ba ang akala nito sa sarili niya? Gusto niya itong pagsigawan at galitan pero may pumipigil sa kaniya. Kaya iniwas niya na lang ang tingin.

"You don't care, demon-wannabe." River gives Solace a final glance. "Aalis na ako. I'm going to show everyone that I'll find our father. So, do your best."

Ngumiti si Solace at tumango. The Demon King watches River leave, feet looking sure on a path. Hindi na ito muling tumingin sa kaniya. At mukhang hindi din nito napansin na siya ay isang Demon King at hindi isang demon-wannabe. He's the real deal, for goodness sake.

Kids, nowadays. He sighs and moves his gaze back to the girl who's still standing. A strange silence falls between the slayer and the demon king.

The Demon King turns around and walks to the cave's entrance. Solace watches the black coat with red linings that he wears. Kumunot ang noo niya. Napakaweird talaga ng NPC na 'to. Since they first met, he didn't act like what the stories made him to be. A being who will kill any human he sees.

Kaya siguro hindi siya napaghinalaan ni River na demon king. Is this part of the glitch, she wonders. Kagaya siguro ito kay Aaron noon kung saan nakakabehave sila like humans.

"Just ask."

Nagulat si Solace nang bigla itong magsalita. Hindi na pala siya nakatingin sa likod nito! She spaced out and was caught staring at him. Nakakahiya!

Bumukas at sumara ang bibig niya. The demon king tries to copy it for teasing, and Solace can't help but glare playfully.

"What?" tanong muli ng demon king. "You've been staring. May itatanong ka ba?"

Solace hesitated. "Bakit mo sinabi 'yon? Na hindi namin makikita si Papa?"

The demon king stiffens at the word. Nagtitigan sila ng ilang sandali. Naghintay si Solace sa isasagot nito. Baka kagaya ng demon king ang magician na nakakakita. But now, maybe the demon king will tell her kung ano ang rason.

Pero tinalikuran lamang siya ng demon king. "As I said, I just have this feeling. You should go and finish your goal, player. Like your twin does."

Solace wants to talk back but she opted not. Bumuntong-hinga siya at nagsimula na ring umalis. From where she stands, nakikita niya ang anim na pigura ng mga kaibigan niya.

Unknown to her, the demon king stops and looks back. Tiningnan niyang umalis ang babae na taas ang noo at balikat, exuding confidence and regal in her very own way. Both of them does. Rio walks confidently, filled with a princely pride, while Solace walks gracefully, filled with queenly aura.

"Reverie." he calls. "I'm sure your father is very proud of how much you've grown."

Mabilis na lumingon si Solace. Ngunit wala na ang demon king sa likuran. Only the door to the dungeon lies eerily, and the wind hums her disappointment.

"Sol? Aalis na tayo, bakit ang tagal mo? Nakita na namin si Irusu na sinamahan si River." tanong ni Feyre na bumalik.

Umiling si Solace. "N-Nothing. Just..."

A tear falls. Biglang umagos ang luha niya habang naglalakad paalis. She desperately wipes it off, ignoring Feyre's concerned glances. Hindi niya alam kung bakit at anong nangyari, but something about the voice and the words makes her heart breaks.

It all feels like goodbye.

DARKNESS LOOMS over the dungeon, day or night. It's ironic how the darkness feels so familiar to him dahil iyon na ang nararamdaman niya for the past years. A never-ending black void that eats him away.

Ang special powers ng character niya ay nakakatulong. Parang bahay niya na rin ang dungeon, he knows all the ins and outs. Scratch that, parang bahay niya na ang buong Arth Online. A map that he can visualize and know the whereabouts.

However, he's chained inside the dungeon. Never allowed to go five meters away from it. Or he will die.

A demon general falls in the common room, all scratches and wounds. Galit itong umupo sa isang upuan na nasa mahabang mesa.

"Fucking humans! When did they get so powerful? That stupid king is out of his mind!" galit na sigaw nito.

Following the story of Arth Online, the king lost all his inhibitions and asked for the demon king to aid him in killing all of the possible knights in the city. But the demons understood it as killing all the humans and destorying cities. Kaya ngayon ay umaatake ang mga demon generals.

From these destructions, a hero will rise up against the greedy king.

"Hindi ba't it's a good story. A king of demons who delves in deaths and a king of humans greedy for his power. Along them, a hero will rise to take it all. To restore peace."

Natapos na ang pagdedesign sa isang lalaki na may gintong buhok at gintong mata. Beside him is a sword burning in golden flames.

"Arthur." sambit ng taong kaharap niya. "Isn't it a good name, Ren?"

The king of demons leaves the room and walks towards his hall. Bigla siyang natigilan nang may maramdaman. Itinaas niya ang kamay at pinanood ang dahan-dahan nitong paglaho. It flickers for a while before it appears normal again.

Isang mapait na ngiti ang namutawi sa mukha niya. Why would he even think of getting himself found when their reunion won't be celebration but farewell?

Dahil kahit anong pagdasal niya at kahit anong hirap nila, matagal na siyang wala sa mundong ito.

It's the price he paid for following a twisted dream.

One of the computers crashed down. Nahatak nito ang mga cables kaya pati ang ibang routers at modems ay nadamay.

"I know you're grieving, Alas! We all are. My daughter is in the hospital. Your son is in a critical condition and your other son needs his father! Hindi ka dapat nagpapakulong dito. They've lost their mother, they can't lose you too."

Hawak-hawak ng lalaki ang kaniyang ulo, and he's rocking back and forth in the floor. Tumingala siya para titigan ang sumisigaw, eyes bloodshot and bags heavy. Makikitang hindi pa siya umiinom ng tubig dahil sa bibig niya.

"I can't. I have to make a world where we can all be happy. Where no one dies and no one is gone forever."

"That's not possible. We're humans. We're not holy beings who can live eternally, we can't. We're only tenants who use our life to pay the rent."

"Ayoko. Ayoko. Ayoko. Ayoko Ayoko, Ayoko. Ayoko!"

Paulit-ulit na sambit ng lalaki hanggang sa mahagip niya ang isang cable. Mula doon ay nakita niya ang isang open screen kung saan pinapakita ang isang alternate world. He immediately scrambled up and towards it, holding the monitor like a lifeline.

"I must make a world where everyone is happy."

⁠—

Nanghina siya ng makita ang pamilyar na mga lalaking nakablack suits sa labas ng bahay nila. Agad siyang lumapit sa mga ito at inutusan si Venecia na pumasok sa loob kasama si Reverie at River.

"Anong kailangan niyo?" tanong niya.

A man stepped out of the vehicle, brown hair falls on his shoulders and a glass is perched in his nose. Gero, Alas right hand and butler.

"Hindi pa tapos ang kontrata mo kay Sir Alas. He wants you to return and finish the game in order to create the perfect and happiest world." masaya nitong tugon.

He looked at him in deep fear. Alas had succumb into something unfamiliar after his declaration of a goal. Nababaliw na ang mga ito! Lalo na si Gero na sunod ng sunod sa inuutos ng amo.

"I don't want to-"

"If you don't go, we'll take the little testing pet and make her the first tester of the game. Let's see if her fragile mind can handle the pain and hardships inside the game." a wickedly evil smile bloomed in Gero's face. "All because his father is a wimp who can't make do of his promises."

He clenched his fist and looked at the man in pure hate and distaste. Gustong-gusto niya itong patayin.

⁠—

"We can't do this, Alas. The game can't be finished." aniya. "We're short on funds to stabilize the game."

The Life company have cut him off his rights and that includes the financial operations. Dahil ito sa galit na nadama ng mga Von Caspar because Hera's husband didn't take part in the funeral nor has gone out of his room the whole wake.

Alas is also on the process of being stripped out of the Von Caspar name. Since he's not a pure descendant and has only married into the family.

"That damn Harold." tukoy niya sa kapatid ni Hera na ngayon ay President na ng kompanya. "Calling me a fucking brother and keeping me out of the funds. Can you link us into the company's database?"

"Yes. Bakit?"

He has a bad feeling about this.

"Rius will never abandon the house, kaya siguradong pwedeng dito lang tayo. We need to link into the company's database so that we can start the game."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Start the game."

"Yes, Ren." he smiled and took out a gun. "The game may be unstable for now, but it will be alright once we're inside."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin na inside? At bakit may baril ka?"

"What better way to learn and fix the game than be inside to see it for ourselves?" the gun kissed Alas' temple. "This is to make the perfect world."

⁠—

Nakaupo siya sa may lawa at tinitingnan ang iba't ibang players na nagsisimulang maglaro. Gero told him a stupid lie, ang sabi daw ni Alas ay hindi dapat siya tumapak sa labas ng dungeon. As a Demon King, he should abide by my character. When he fought for his options, they gave him the lake as an exemption.

Bumuntong-hinga siya. He swiped the different screens that showed the players until his fingers stopped. His whole body went rigid when he saw a girl looking around the forest. Kakatapos lang nitong mamatay ng baby wolves na umatake sa kaniya, at ngayon ay nawawala siya. The Demon King paled when he fully saw her face, the familiar features inherited from her mother. His daughter. Is here.

Pinanood niya ito na hinahanap ang exit. He tried to give her some clues but she just ignored them. Sinubukan niya itong ilayo sa direksiyon ng anak ni Alas dahil baka makita siya ng lalaki, but it was to his shock when the two just met. Rae who never wanders off his territory went out to find the disturbing presence, and Rie who avoided all the clues got lost towards a familiar person. Napangiti siya, parang isa lang ito sa mga laro nila noon. They always find each other.

However, this time is different. Dahil hindi nila kilala ang isa't isa.

Nag-usap ang dalawa. Hindi nagtagal ay mukhang naiinis na si Hiraeth at nagpalabas ng isang transporting box. It's the magic power that comes with his cards, he's able to transport or cage someone inside a blue square. Pwedeng ang square na 'to ay magcompress to crush the person inside or become a shield against attacks outside.

Mabilis na gumalaw ang kamay niya nang makitang paalis na si Reverie. She arrives in the city-side, beside the forest path. He places the sword on her feet and gave the right to her. The hero. The rightful king.

The Demon King watches. He goes out and stays by the lake. He manipulates the system and gives River, Nirvana. Pinanood niya ang paglead ng lalaking anak sa mga kasama. How his cheerful and unfazing personality charms people into following him. How he gets the title of being the Anima, the greatest tamer, a player that can tame any pets and monsters after him.

The Demon King watches. He goes out and stays by the lake. He smiles when he sees Reverie smiling, laughing and teasing along her members. Pinanood niya itong lumaban sa paraan na nakakabighani sa mga manonood. Kung paano ito naging isang guild leader, filled with loyalty and braveness to lead her team to the ultimate quest. How she gets the title of being the Slayer, the greatest fighter, a player who can slay any monster and challenges with her sharp sword.

The Demon King goes out of the dungeon, stays by the lake, and watches the twins grow. He watches as they enter his home. He watches as she enters his room. He watches as she fights in his tower. The Demon King watches.

Because that's the only thing he can do.

Because he can't go home anymore. Body lost in the real world, and body trapped in an alternate reality.

The Demon King watches and prays that his twins will win it all.

Pinanood niya ang kamay na nagsisimula muling lumaho. Maybe it's better to suffer no goodbyes than leave them with an inescapable reality.

He summons a screen and watches a male mage in the heat of finding someone. Kasama nito ang isang assassin na lalaki na panay ang tanong sa taong nadadaanan. Napangiti siya.

RIVER CURSES when another city is emptied from his list. Mula pa siya sa unang araw na naghahanap. Kaya nga rin siya um-oo kay Acrasia para makatapak siya sa Northern Continent habang hindi pa available ang portals.

He sighs and looks at the sky. Natigilan lamang siya nang isang kakaibang pakiramdam ang pumasok sa katawan niya. He stills and his eyes widen when a voice starts to whisper in his ears.

"Thank you, son. But I can't be saved anymore. I am trapped here, whatever happens. So please, just destroy the game that chains your father."

River falls on the ground. He sobs. Solace's name appears and a call connects.

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-chapter end-

[NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW]:

Espesyal chapter ni Hiraeth at Solace. Nawawala si Solace (ULIT) at nahanap siya ni Hiraeth (ULIT)!

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sampu.