Solo Cultivation in The Apocalypse

Hitori's next step was to wait till it was evening. When everybody would be getting ready for celebrating New Year, the Vr-cade will still have its lights on, and that will be Hitori's chance to find out the truth.

Whilst Hitori had logged in through his own console station, others were already in the courtyard, waiting for him.

Reon lifted her eyes from the control panel. "He is here," she shouted, "Hitori-san has logged in."

Everyone did receive the message but yet Reon shouted. Senso the old man and Mono the young monster zoologist turned around at once.

Mono closed his Monster Dex which marked the monsters he had encountered in the game and the rest were blank.

Senso Guntai sighed as he walked towards Reon's throne. "What has happened to this trio? I did not join the guild for this."

Senso's aim was to share his strategy with Kamiya and conquer his dungeons first then storm through the kingdoms of the Emperor of the Apocalypse. But after seeing the current situation of their team, Senso started to doubt his decision.

Hitori appeared in the middle of the courtyard. From where he strode to his chair with his chest out and shoulders lifted-- walking like a king-- his arms by his side, within a distance of a foot from his torso.

Hitori's shoulders heaved with every step he took. Hitori dropped his head as he walked with urgency.

Reon paused and her anger faded when she saw Hitori walk furiously towards her-- she had never seen him walk that proudly, that confidently, and that royally.

Hitori walked past Senso and Mono and took a seat on his throne.

"Where were you?" Senso asked as he pulled out his fingers from the side of his pulled-down Kimono.

Hitori looked at Senso and asked, "Do not you feel cold in that? Walking bare skin even when you are not smithing."

"I am a Blacksmith."

"Well, pull it up." Hitori gestured, he moved his fingers up. Senso frowned.

"What are you saying, kid?"

"Could you please put that Kimono?"

Mono glanced at Reon, she glanced at Hitori. Mono and Reon both were confused just as Senso was.

"I can not. I am a Blacksmith and this is how we live."

"And I am Hitori, I can go wherever I want. You can not force me to put on my Kimono." Hitori kept looking at Senso before turning to Reon.

"I never asked you to put on your Kimono, I just asked you why did you pull down your Kimono?"

Hitori turned again to Senso and took a breath. "Because I am Saibai Hitori. And that is how I live."

"H-Hitori-san..." Reon was worried Hitori might end up arguing with Senso too, but Senso was a cool man, he quietly turned away.

"Alright. Would you tell us what happened though?" Senso asked. "What was this team once and now look at it, what it has become. I really had hoped from this team, you know."

"Why? What hopes? To get your dungeons back? See, sir, you joined this, you will have to go according to our pace. If you are in a hurry, well, join someone else or do it alone."

Senso sighed. "Nah, I will keep up with your pace, kid. If I have to conquer my dungeons back, I want it to be with you. So calm down, I will wait till you are fine."

"Oh, I would not. This game is not the only thing that I have got behind me." Hitori pointed his finger in the air. "There are people out there who want to take my life. Both in the game and in the real life."

Mono gasped and Senso frowned widely at Hitori. Both of them were unaware of the struggles and threats to Hitori's life.

"Some other time." Hitori threw his hand and turned to Reon. "Now, Reon-san, did Kamiya ever log in?"

"N-no." She gulped.

"Any possibilities that he has already been killed?"

Reon choked on her words. "We need to check the first place he would have headed to after leaving the house."

"I can not." Hitori leaned back. "I can not and I do not want to." He shook his head.

Senso was not aware but when Hitori said 'kill' he decided to volunteer. If there was a threat to their lives, then Senso, a war specialist, would be able to handle the murderers.

"I will check on him," he said, as he stepped forward, "you can trust me. I am a teacher at the academy and a war specialist. I care for my students and I can handle a few people myself."

Hitori glanced at Senso. There was not a strong reason for Senso as to why he would want to volunteer but Hitori did not see any problem with Senso's proposal.

"If I can trust you, sir, then please," Hitori said. "With an experienced like you, it would help us win this war."

"Any idea who is going to kill him?"

Hitori nodded and exhaled. "Onogi. Onogi Masao, scientist---"

"One of the best scientists. Son of one of the strongest guild masters." Senso clenched his jaw. "What did you two do to mess with them?"

Hitori opened his mouth to answer but then realized he still does not know why Onogi wants to kill Kamiya, except for the battle, of course.

"Ah..." Hitori tilted his head and Senso frowned. "Well, if you found Kamiya alive, try asking him. Even I would like to know why."

Senso dug his hand into his Kimono's side. "I will take my leave then." Senso logged out.

Senso had no reason to involve himself with the lives of two teenagers, they would just get help from the ministry if they have any proof. But if there was going to be a death, and that too of one of his biggest fans, he would better stop it. Both as a teacher and as a friend of theirs.

Hitori noticed Mono standing idly, scared a little to hear about killings. "And Mono. You may leave if you want."

"Y-yes, yes." Mono logged out.

Then Hitori turned back to Reon. "This was supposed to be the part of my plan. Disappear for two and a half days, and see if the counter lady makes any move. They did not. Kamiya has not logged in either. All that is left is to see her reaction when I walk into the Vr-cade two hours before the first of January."

"Ah... I... how can I help?"

Hitori looked at her, right into her eyes, and said, "Come to this side. Stay here. Maybe talk with Kamiya and..." Hitori paused, he turned his eyes. "Tonight is New Year's eve. They would not stop the entrance, it might be your chance to come on this side."

Reon hesitated. "I-I can not stay there, Hitori-san."

"I know. Just thought it would be safe here. You live in the Science prefecture, the place where Onogi lives. You are an easy target."

"And so are you. What makes the difference? Kuzu and Onogi can come to that side whenever they want-- just as easy as killing me on this side-- if they can not, then they have their men on your side, the counter lady for example."

"Fair enough." Hitori looked to the side where Kamiya's throne once stood.

"What are you going to do tonight?"

Hitori turned to Reon. "Wait in the Vr-cade. Things have changed, nothing stays the same forever."

"And are you sure the Vr-cade would not be close tonight?"

"That is what I will wait for," Hitori said. "That lady had no intentions of keeping the Vr-cade close on Christmas either. If it is open today too, all I will need will be some proof to… end this."

Reon's eyes widened in fear, and she gasped. "K-Kill… will you?" she stuttered, "this is not a game where you will kill anyone who wants to kill you."

"Life is nothing less than a game for God and for the powerful people."

"And you are neither God nor... as powerful as Onogi."

Hitori took a deep breath and turned his eyes to his hands. "Not yet." he agreed. "But I will become either of them after I take down Onogi."

Reon could not say anything else. She leaned back into her throne and sighed.

"Just be safe, Hitori-san. We have spent a lot of time together-- half a month, to be precise." It made her chuckle. "So... it would make me cry if either one of you die."

Hitori hesitantly turned his eyes to Reon, she nodded to him, saying she is serious. "Someone has to die. But if it is us, then take care of the territory and feed Fierce for me."

"Do not say that, Hitori-san."

"And if my parents do come back, let them know what happened-- in detail-- while they were gone on a holiday."

Reon sighed. "Sure..."

Hitori nodded and opened his menu screen.

"Are you staying?" she asked.

"Yep. You may go and celebrate New Year with your brother. He must be waiting for his little sister. Go on, Reon-san."

Reon got up and opened her menu screen. "I thought we would meet again for New Year," she said.

Hitori lifted his eyes. Reon was disappointed, she lowered her brows, there was a hint of fear in her eyes, and her usual smile was a sad smile now.

"I kind of enjoyed, you know. No... I enjoyed it, a lot. After the time I spend studying for the finals, the time I spent with two of you on Christmas was the best."

And she disappeared.

Hitori dropped his head. And scoffed. "Even I was looking forward to my black hoodie."

The Vr-cade was rather not crowded today. Only the ones who had no home were sitting there and a few people who love gaming but do not have money to buy a console.

Many of them were wondering why the Vr-cade was open even on New Year's eve, but no one cared as long as they got to sit inside the Vr-cade and pass their times.

Inside the Vr-cade, Eya was moving around in circles in the staff room the Vr-cade.

The only question she had been wondering and asking Kakashi was: Where is Hitori-san?

Right now, she was nervously waiting for Kakashi to contact her. And at that exact moment, she heard something in her ear.

"Eya-nee, I have searched his house, he is there, safely inside his room, playing the game, he is there, do you hear me? He is safe!"

"Oh, god!" Eya sighed in relief. "Right, of course, he has a console in his house. Why would he come to the Vr-cade when Kamiya is not. Makes sense."

"It does. I told you, you were being extra anxious. I am coming back, we need to celebrate New Year too."

"A-a-are we?" Eya stammered.

"I will do the bookings, you lock up and meet me outside at ten."

"S-sure! I will do it! Ah, thanks, Kakashi..."

"So I am not a Himbo now, am I?"

"N-no, of course, not. You are my dear little brother."

"Alright. Stop it RIGHT there. I want you ready, do not be late or our reservations will be for nothing."

"Sure, sure, bye~"

And she hung up. Eya let out a deep breath and a smile spread on her face. "Hitori-san is safe, Onogi has not made a move yet, and Kamiya must be with his sister. And... we are going out! Everything is perfect for tonight!"

She ran out of the staff room and waited till it was nine, to make the people leave for tonight.