(Carina's Pov)
I had planned everything.
Finally…
The world was still revolving around me.
Each beat of my heart pounded against my skull like a hammer.
I lay there for a few seconds on the cold stone, wanting to hide there, unable to understand what had just happened.
For what ?
Why hadn't it worked?
I closed my eyes as tightly as possible.
My fingers were trembling.
I had bought the camouflage.
The directions, the shortcuts, the bonuses and the protections.
Everything that Elisabeth had guaranteed me.
So why...
Why were we in this situation?
BOOM!!
Another explosion rang out in the distance.
The sun vibrates.
Pieces of stone fell from the ceiling.
I jumped.
–.... DAD… HAAAAAAA AAAAA
I slowly turned my head, tears were starting to flow but I could clearly see that Ki-Moon was still standing.
His silhouette stood out against the darkness.
A metal bar in his hands.
Facing something he couldn't even see.
And yet...
He continued to move forward.
I felt my throat tighten; I just wanted to help her.
I wanted to show him that I was useful.
That I could stay by his side.
That I wasn't just a burden.
But in the end…
I am being protected.
A bitter laugh rose in my chest.
I hated that feeling.
I hated her so much.
But the watch vibrates.
Again.
I deleted the message immediately.
[ CARINA ]
Deleted.
[LISTEN TO ME]
Deleted.
My teeth were grinding.
I didn't need him.
I quickly scanned the catalogue.
Hundreds of objects were passing by.
Then thousands.
My gaze stopped abruptly.
SWORD OF THE UNCROWNED KING
UNIQUE ITEM
The price was absurd.
Completely absurd.
I stared at the screen, then at Ki-Moon, then back at the screen.
Then Ki-Moon.
My heart was beating faster and faster.
I confirmed the purchase and requested a personal transfer through my father.
The money disappeared.
I felt a pinch. Then a light appeared before me.
Silent.
I plunged my hand in and pulled out a long black sword.
Silver engravings ran along its blade.
Like luminous veins.
She was perfect.
– Ki-Moon!
He turned his head.
I threw the weapon at him.
For a second...
I was scared.
Afraid she would fall, but her hand closed on the handle.
And everything changed.
La lame s'illumina.
I blinked.
The sword vibrated.
Even Ki-Moon seemed surprised.
He stared at the blade, forgetting that he was in the middle of a fight.
CLACK !
The sound of the stick rang out again.
The hunter.
The two luminous eyes reappeared.
Closer.
I could finally make out his silhouette.
Immense.
A creature… shrouded in shadow but with a very attractive physique.
His staff traced arcs of light in the darkness.
Then he charged.
The explosion happened immediately.
But this time...
Ki-Moon bougea.
The ground shattered under the shockwave, I lost my footing.
I felt several players recoil in surprise.
Ki-Moon fell under the attack; he seemed to possess the whole blow.
A white light crossed the corridor.
The black blade replied.
Only once.
A silver flash.
Then silence.
Absolute.
The hunter's arm fell to the ground.
CLACK.
My body is wavering.
The two luminous eyes went out.
Like two dying stars.
Then the creature collapsed.
The entire dungeon seemed to hold its breath.
Nobody moved.
Especially me.
No one understood what had just happened.
A notification appeared in front of us all.
REFEREE Eliminated, END OF CHALLENGE BY ELIMINATION OF THE HUNTER.
Silence.
The torches in the dungeon were lit.
One by one.
Like a chain of light traversing the corridors.
The darkness receded.
Finally.
I put a hand to my forehead.
Still dizzy and trembling.
I am alive.
I could breathe without fear.
Ki-Moon remained motionless in the center of the corridor.
The sword was still in his hand.
The blade had ceased to shine.
As if nothing had happened.
A new notification appeared.
ZONE 1 COMPLETED
ACCESS TO ZONE 2 ALLOWED
A huge stone door began to open.
An icy blast escaped from the opening.
And behind that door…