SL Chapter 6 Darkside


    Eric hadn''t come to this place without a goal, or a plan. Before his subscription had expired, he had researched ways in which he could awaken without having his freedom being taken away by having to subjugate himself to a faction, or bankrupting himself.


    And that research had paid off, because he was now standing right infront of the monolith that acted as the location for his goal. Just like every other before it, it was grey, with multiple green plant matter colonizing its stony outer surface. Windows, or you could even call them, holes, whether rectangular, square, circular, or any other manner of abstract shapes, littered its surface, from the ground, all the way to its summit. People could be glimpsed through them wherever his eye sight could reach. The entrance before him, through which a somewhat small crowd was gathered, was massive, and dark inside, not giving a glimpse to the interior, akin to the maw of a beast.


    With a thought, a dark hooded robe materialized over his form, reaching all the way to his feet, before he made his way into the maw.


    Upon entering, everything shifted, not just subtly, but blatantly. The inside was a hubbub of technology, from the lights, to the holograms, to every single piece of technology that existed publicly outside. This didn''t surprise him, though, it made him wonder why the Spirit Lord rumored to be the true owner of this virtual space, had left the slums in such a state.


    Even the clothing had changed, except for his hood. Within, his modest linen shirt and pants had undergone a transition into a full body dark suit with white bands at the neck and the ankles, ones which were luminescent.


    The dagger''s hilt remained the same, but he knew that it''s blade had turned into a solid light construct.


    He kept moving. His dark robe didn''t stand out in this place as there were many who had opted for the same configuration as him. After all, this monolith housed something within its depths, a place that any righteous citizen wouldn''t deign to step within in their lifetime.


    He took an elevator, one that was especially catered to people that were heading towards the same destination as him, because he could see that almost everyone within had taken measure to mask their physical appearances. And unless you took the initiative to divulge your identity, no one could link it on the outside world. That was one of the things that made this world so desirable. So far, ever since its appearance, he had never heard of anyone succeeding in any endeavor to hack it.


    When the doors of the elevator next opened, Eric''s eyes fell upon something that astonished him immensely. This was the first time he had come to this kind of place, but his surprise didn''t last long, less than two seconds. This wasn''t the place to lose his faculties.


    He walked away from the elevator terminal, taking in the sight before his eyes. It was a massive cavern, with stalactites, growing out of the ceiling. And they weren''t normal ones, instead, each and every single one was glowing with a green color, acting as the light provider for this massive place.


    His attraction didn''t last long though, before something drew his attention, a fighting ring, one which was crowded with people, preventing him from viewing the battle within. But what made him wince was the massive hologram floating above it, explaining the rules.


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    First of all, no weapons were allowed, yet the opponent was a beast, a native creature. And it appeared that you could only fight something at your level. There was even a disclaimer that said that the battle was at your own risk. Plus the fact that the challenge didn''t end until the death of one of the participants, with any suicidal actions and thoughts entirely prohibited, meaning that unless, you gave it your all, you couldn''t even choose your death!


    He passed by it, finding even other unsavory establishments, with some even engaged in slave trade. At a point, he even developed rage upon seeing a young child being treated as merchandise, yet he couldn''t even do anything to stop it. And her price had even surpassed what he had saved in his 9 years of work!


    He huffed and puffed before ultimately walking away, feeling a sense of shame within him. If he had been stronger, or maybe richer, he would have done something! It took all his willpower and the gritting of his teeth to stop himself from turning back and doing something he was certain he would regret, if he didn''t die first.


    Finally, he reached his destination. Yet, he felt as if his soul had been sucked out. Noveltly had worn off, instead replaced by disgust and repulsiveness. This was a place that shouldn''t have existed. But what power did he have? There was nothing he could do at the moment to change anything. He was too weak, too poor.


    He pushed open the wooden door. It appeared this place wasn''t one that embraced technology as his outfit reverted back to when he had been outside the monolith. Yellow light from the crude oil lamps hanging off the walls lit up the place, which was composed of a dance floor, a seating area, and a bar, which appeared to be fully stocked with all manner of beverage. Behind the counter stood a woman, one who had a mole right below her right eye, with crimson pupils, a red dress that advertised the valley of her bosom, with dark hair that cascaded all the way below her back. She was in the middle of mixing an unknown beverage. But the moment they made eye contact, he paused before walking over and taking over one of the high stools. Thankfully, the rest of the stools on the counter were empty, meaning that they could atleast have some privacy. This woman was his target.


    "For a moment, I had thought you a vampire." She spoke while Eric wallowed within his emotions, though the words partially jolted him.


    "I have never heard of anyone who could see through disguises." he tried to make his voice calm. Could she really see through this hood''s features?


    "Of course I can''t. Your posture indicates that you have just suffered a major emotional blow. Just by extrapolating the fact that this place isn''t exactly palatable to newcomers, I deduced that your face must have turned pale. And I have seen plenty like you." She nonchalantly revealed.


    "It looks like you have plenty of free time if you can pay attention to such things." he almost winced at his comeback. Antagonising the woman he was about to ask for something wasn''t exactly something someone in their right mind would do.


    "Heh! Young man... It seems like this place has rattled you more than I expected!" There was no amusement within her eyes even as she said that. Instead, she turned around and started browsing the wine and beer collection behind her.


    Eric on the other hand, was lamenting his poor handling of the situation. He should have restrained himself. A sigh escaped his lips even as a tune entered his ears, one that was soothing and ethereal. He swiveled upon his stool and gazed towards the dance floor, specifically towards the stage upon it, where a woman with long blonde hair, long ears, and a pair of the most beautiful emerald eyes, was holding a peculiar instrument, stringing it, while her mouth was releasing a tune that had managed to captivate his heart.


    For a moment, he was drawn in, just like the sparse occupants of the bar, falling into its soothing embrace all the way to its end, whereupon he joined the revelers in unleashing applause.


    "Merier is a talent, even among fellow elves." spoke a voice behind him, reminding him of what he had temporarily forgotten.


    "An elf?! How can she be here?!" He asked in bewilderment. He had of course entertained the idea, but it''s absurdity had led him to think that maybe, she was a half elf. Elves prized elegance to an unnatural degree. Not to mention the fact that they didn''t exactly love to interact with the ''brutish races''.


    "Oh! She is a slave." As if commenting about the weather, the crimson eyed woman answered. Then, a glass, half filled with a crimson liquid slid his way.


    "How did that happen?!"


    "Trade secret."


    A sigh escaped his lips, even as he raised the glass to his lips, first taking a whiff, before taking a sip.


    "So, I heard you are the one to speak to, if I wanted to awaken." Eric said with a lowered voice. He had decided to kick everything about the elf to the curb in favor of his business. He had already delayed it long enough. Plus, if he delved any deeper, he was certain that he would lose his chance at awakening.