The moment Kai left the dark room someone put their arm around his shoulder.
"Little bro! What took you so long?" Ryker asked, genuine concern in his voice.
"I passed out," Kai said casually.
"Oh? Anyways..." Ryker raised an eyebrow but didn't care to ask more about it.
It's not that he isn't a caring brother. It's just that he's sure Kai did something insane that would lead to that outcome.
"You should check your profile. It's the main reason I was able to tell you didn't ditch me," he said.
Kai, curious, didn't take long to open his profile.
Kai Fleming | ZenZero
Traits: Coolheaded, coldhearted, introverted, tactless, extremely insane.
Handler: Diamonds | Spades
Suit: Two of Diamonds: Scientist | Two of Spades: Daredevil
Status: King of Diamonds | King of Spades
Unique Ability: Parallel Madness, Chained Twins
"What..." Kai was shocked by what he saw.
He wasn't shocked by the fact that Ryker joined the Spades Faction.
After all, it was something his hotheaded personality would do.
But...
Two different suits? Baffled, he thought, unable to hide his surprise.
Suddenly, information about the Spades card flashed in his head alongside a voice that sent shivers down his spine.
Cosmos as black as ink,
time created by the brush,
fate made by the white card.
As the painter holds the karma together,
black sketches the white to form a Spade!
The voice carried some kind of magic that forced others to bow down to it.
It was as if the voice represented a power above law and order!
That voice... I cannot comprehend the meaning behind its words. Kai said to himself.
All he could make out was the uniqueness that the Ace of Spades probably controlled.
Cosmos, time, fate, karma...
He muttered, then reviewed the Spades card.
Daredevil... all physical prowess is improved to that of the best athletes from your world, and you gain a passive ability called Fearless.
You do not know fear. In fact, fear fears you. Kai finished and was once again overcome with disappointment.
"These cards are garbage." He clicked his tongue.
"Yeah," Ryker agreed before continuing, "but look at the bright side. We are both kings! Doesn't that mean we are basically rulers of the games just below the aces?"
Kai looked at him with clear disdain in his eyes.
"You revealed your position as a king?"
"Yep, what about you?"
"I declined. I don't want to live a 'king's' life." Kai shook his head.
"It will make the games boring. Just imagine having players follow you around with the intention of 'protecting me.' It is infuriating."
"I didn't think about that..." Ryker whispered, a bit of regret in his eyes.
"But if I am a king shouldn't there be Spades players flocking around me by now?" he suddenly asked.
Kai thought about it too and recalled what Officer#9373 said.
"Maybe there really aren't any Spades players in the game..."
"No way! Then what about that old man I saw in the test?"
"Old man?" Kai raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, that old man! During the entire test all he did was stare at me for five minutes, so I looked at him back... it was kinda creepy too. It was as if he was looking at me inside-out," he muttered, still feeling weirded out by the test.
Kai was surprised other players could test potential handlers and inquired, "did he say anything to you?"
"Yeah, he asked me what does strength mean to me?"
"And what did you say..." Kai asked, his eyes losing interest.
"I said the ability to beat up whoever I like!"
"Typical Ryker answer." Kai sighed.
"So, what happened next?"
"He just left..."
"Hm. Anyways, we should log out," Kai exclaimed.
"What? No! Let's do another game!" Still not satisfied, Ryker shouted.
"My decision is final." Kai, as if expecting him to react that way, didn't give in.
"Besides, I have an exam tomorrow. I need some rest," he stated while comparing the time they spent in the games and came to conclude that about 6 hours passed on Earth.
"Should be enough time to get some sleep," he concluded, remembering he joined the games around two hours after leaving school.
"Tsk, then I will just play by myself then." Crossing his arms, Ryker snorted.
"Suit yourself, but don't go dying without my help," Kai said before logging out of the game just like a video game.
"Who the hell needs your—" Before Ryker could finish, the world around Kai became red tiny particles.
When they disappeared he was back in his room.
So entering the games creates black particles and leaving makes red ones... He noted when an annoyed expression showed on his face.
What am I doing back in here?! Ryker yelled in Kai's subconsciousness.
"So we are still connected." Kai shook his head, not liking this one bit.
"I was hoping I could be rid of you for a while..." He sighed.
Damn you little bro! Ryker cursed but there was nothing he could do when he couldn't control Kai's body while he's awake.
Kai knew this too and forced a smile.
"I guess this is a good thing. We can brainstorm what to do next before bed."
"You may be dumb but unfortunately you are the only person I got."
Of course, I am your big bro after all. Who else would look after you like I do? Ryker confidently said.
"Hm, there's that girl Abigail Lee." Kai brought up, recalling the girl at school who is always trying to woo him.
Oh, that girl. Listen little bro you really need to wake up. A beautiful girl like that and you keep rejecting her?
Kai suddenly felt a strange sense of deja vu as Ryker continue.
Are you stupid or just not attracted to the opposite sex?
To think you'd love your big bro more...!
"Say that again and I will permanently kill you," Kai muttered with a calm yet murderous tone.
Haha! I was just joking little bro don't take it too serious... Ryker shivered at Kai's tone.
Kai snorted, seeing Ryker fall back before going on his laptop.
He typed Pack Games, trying to see if he could find anything on the web, and got nothing.
He then went even deeper on the web and still couldn't find anything. Even the game he played to join the games disappeared from his browser history.
The games are that mysterious, huh? Ryker voiced.
"Or maybe there really aren't any other humans in the games," Kai stated before giving up with a sigh.
He then recalled, "Do you remember what Officer#9373 said?"
The fact that you two are the first of your species to join the games means you are in extreme danger.
Ryker remembered and nodded. His comment made him wonder what he truly meant about it, but seeing Kai never brought it up he didn't bother giving it a lot of thought.
"I think now that we joined the games Earth is practically considered a part of it now," Kai stated with a serious look.
"If the universe could be considered a map then Earth would be on the undiscovered section. Now that we joined, it's likely now discovered for all to see and come."
So what you're saying is that we are at risk of being invaded? Ryker said in a serious tone.
Kai nodded and Ryker laughed.
Isn't that good then? It's about time something like that happened to boring old Earth! Ryker said a bit too excited.
Kai also laughed. "If that does really happen we will just beat up any invaders isn't that right?"
Damn right! Ryker laughed louder.
Alright, I've had my fun. Ryker suddenly said with a yawn.
It's best you go to bed early for that exam. You look pretty hyped up now after joining the Diamond Faction.
Do anything with the intention of getting 100% huh? He smiled before going quiet.
Kai also smiled as he turned off the lights and got ready to go to bed.
Before doing so, he took out the King of Diamonds card and stared hard at himself sitting on a throne.
"So the cards really work in the real world." He muttered, feeling the strength he gain from Daredevil and his processing ability from Scientist.
"How dangerous..."
He played around with the king's card for a while before his eyes flashed with clear disdain.
"Kings in a game? We aren't even worthy of the title." He laughed while mocking himself and Ryker who he believed would agree.
"We only just became Two of Diamonds and Spades. What right do we have to be 'kings' when there are veterans out there stronger than us?"
"Officer#9373 was able to control the laws of the games with just his words and yet he isn't a King."
"I doubt he is even a Jack." Kai shook his head as he put the card away and tucked himself in bed.
"Well, with Ryker it won't take long before we truly meet the qualifications to be Kings." He stated before closing his eyes.
Just like that they completed their first game in The Pack Games.