SYSTEM ASCENSION

The sun had been to rise in the sky when the people of Yuta managed to wipe out all the creatures in sight. Left behind was the stench of burning flesh and dismembered pieces, produced by Rolarza and Zeal.

As soon as the fight was over, the residents made haste to were the gate stood, or at least where it once stood. When they arrived, it was clear as a day. No gate. No creatures. No sign of what has been plaguing them for two years.

Instead, they saw Elias standing in it’s spot, staring into an empty space, like he had entered a trance.

It was all too odd, so they stood and observed him for an hour. When he didn’t move, panic began to set in.

”Is he alright?”

”It’s been an hour.”

”What happened to him.”

Zeal stared at him from the top of a building. Infact, he had been staring since the break of dawn, awaiting Elias’s awakening himself.

However, panic was settling in too quickly.

”Aah... Such an headache.”

He leaped into the air, aiming a kick straight at Elias.

”Wake up you idiot!”

Rolarza dashed out at the same time, hoping to shake him awake. They both ended up colliding into Elias at the same time. A shove to the side, and a kick in the face.

The crowd gasped in union.

Elias staggered back, barely blinking back to reality before he fell.

”Urgh! What the hell...”

”He’s alive!” Cheering erupted. The street was fill with cheering.

Elias blinked, his foggy mind trying to understand why he had been wacked so hard in the face. He lay flat, and stared at the duo.

”What was that for?”

”Are you trying to take a trip to the afterlife?” Zeal folded his arms against his chest.

”You were not waking up.” Rolarza muttered. She streched out her hand to him.

He took it, and raised. As soon as he was on his feets, her hand went around his waist, hugging him immediately.

”Thank you.”

The crowd stopped to watch.

”We were saved thanks to you.”

He narrowed his eyes, and looked down at her pretty high.

”Saved? ...Aah,” he turned. ”The gate...”

”Thank you for closing it.” She muttered against his chest.

”He really did it!” Someone exclaimed. ”How did you get in?”

Murmurs in awe arose.

His eyes remained on the empty space. Although his expression show nothing, one thing was obvious to the sharp minded. He was as confused as they are.

”We should celebrate!”

”Yeah!”

Rolarza detached from him and grasp his hand.

”Let’s have a feast.”

His eyes travelled down to their entwined hands and back her face.

”We need to return home.”

”We’ll make it a send off party!” She announced.

The others cheered in approval. The crowd slowly began to disperse, murmuring on how they are going to caught up on the things they had miss.

Rolarza went to join her grandmother, and soon, only the duo chosen by the system were standing.

The wind tugged at their clothing in silence. Non said a thing.

Then, Zeal leaned into Elias’s view.

”What happened?”

Elias’s hand came up, and rested on his forehead. He breath into his palm.

”I blacked out before I could do anything.”

”Hmm?” Zeal looked up, hands tucked in his pocket. ”That’s odd...”

He titled his head again.

”Well! There’s no need to worry about it right?”

Elias’s reaction was pure shock.

”Huh?”

”If you don’t understand, then don’t bother.” Zeal smacked his shoulder, and stepped ahead. ”C’mon, let’s go.”

Even as he took several steps, Elias only stared at him. The one person who had blended into his life without restraint.

He ran forward to catch up.

___

”Cheers!” Rolarza raised a cup. ”To Elias!”

”Cheers to Elias.” The people chorused.

Cups clank together. They all drank and eat in the yard.

”It’s been long I felt this happy.” Someone sighed peacefully.

”Who knew that Salvador empire and the Black empire would offer to help us, sending two experts.” Rolarza’s grandmother shrugged.

Zeal choked on his drink.

”We were not sent.”

All activities paused for half a second.

”What?”

”We just kinda end of up. We don’t even know how we got here.” He coughed.

They all burst into laughter.

”Blessing in disguise right Elias?” Rolarza muttered. She glanced at her side, only to see him staring into the air.

”Elias?”

”Elias?”

Although it looked like he spaced out, he was staring at the screen right before him.

[User: Elias Morail]

[Mission Type: Duo]

[Location: Quora empire]

[Objective: Close S rank gate : Complete✓]

[Number of mission: 1/10]

’Nine? If I complete nine more mission, will all this end? Or it’s just the start. Zeal did say I’ll leave the rank of a chosen. But to what? I should have asked him...but, there is plenty of time...’

”He seem to be deep in thought.” Grandma Cho interrupted Rolarza who was hell bent on getting his attention.

”Why don’t you live him be?”

”Oh...” She withdrew her hand.

”By the way,” the elderly woman turned to Zeal. ”Why is this child outside Black-eyed empire? Moreover, with a Salvador?”

Zeal sighed.

”It’s a long story.”

”Are the two empires going to war?”

Zeal glanced at Elias.

”We might, and might not. He is to decide that.”

He drank the last from his cup, and stood up.

”We need to hit the road.”

”What?!”

Elias popped back into reality. He put both hands on his knee and pushed himself up.

Rolarza sprang up.

”You’re leaving?!”

”Yes.”

”But...” She glanced around. The sudden solemn eyes. ”Wait a little bit or... oh, right! People will come from the capital to see who closed the gate. It’s too soon to leave!”

He walked to a wooden bench and grabbed his hood and mask.

”I’m leaving.”

”But...”

”Rolarza.” Grandma Cho called. ”They have done enough for us.”

She clenched her fist, head bowed as he walk past her to Zeal.

He wore back his hood, and mask.

”Thank you!” A woman stood up. She bowed and yelled. ”Come back anytime!”

They all rose up chorused in union.

”Thank you! Come back anytime.”

Zeal waved.

Rolarza couldn’t let him go like that.

The crowd’s cheers were still ringing, but to her it sounded distant.

So she moved.

She pushed past the people and before anyone could stop her, her hand shot forward and caught his.

”I’ll... see you in Ringoff... right?”

Her voice was quiet. He turned around to her, but gave no reply. He just stood there, the mask hiding whatever flicker crossed his eyes. Zeal stopped walking too, but said nothing.

Rolarza’s grip tightened, head bowed.

Then—

The hand she held flared with light.

A soft, silver glow spilled from Elias’s palm, spilling up his wrist and winding around his forearm.

The crowd gasped in awe, coming closer to have a better look.

From the light, a pendant, took shape. Small and silver, with a shard of blue crystal set into its center. It settled against Elias’s arm, the chain weaving itself around his forearm.

”It will light up your way,” Rolarza whispered. ”So you don’t get lost in the dark. So I can find you.”

She finally let go and stepped back.

Elias stared at the pendant for a long moment. His fingers brushed it once, almost unconsciously.

She turned around to leave.

”See you...in Ringoff.”

She stopped dead on track. He had said the one thing she wanted to hear.

She turned around only to see a bright light enveloping them, half of them already gone.

She waved.

”See you...in Ringoff.”