Chapter 486 Exhausting

Villain Ch 486. Exhausting

Allen extended his hand towards the wall, creating a glowing portal. The swirling vortex of energy opened up before them, a gateway leading them back to their headquarters, the Cursed Crypts. One by one, they stepped through the portal, leaving the eerie and dangerous depths of the dungeon behind.

The group spent the rest of the day gathered in a dimly lit chamber within the Cursed Crypts, their heads together as they discussed the upcoming events.

As they sipped on mana potions, their conversation revolved around which of the team members would infiltrate different enemy guilds and the tactics they would employ. In the midst of the discussion, there was a unanimous decision that Allen would once again take on the responsibility of infiltrating the Order of Valiance.

The meeting room within the Cursed Crypts was filled with a sense of camaraderie as the group gathered once again to strategize for their next moves. The stone walls of the room seemed to absorb their whispered plans and the clinking of potion vials.

Amid the discussions and tactical talks, Allen sat back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest. He wore an expression of mild exasperation as he looked at his companions. "Seriously? Why do you guys love to clash me up with the Order of Valiance? I don't mind taking on Celestial Vanguard or Phoenix Reborn, you know?" He raised an eyebrow, a hint of frustration in his voice.

The group's gaze shifted among themselves as they exchanged glances. They understood that the girls often saw Elio and Allen as arch-enemies, both in-game and sometimes beyond. But for Allen, the distinctions between their in-game rivalry and the real world were clear.

Bella, with a nonchalant shrug and a hint of annoyance in her tone, responded first. "Because we really, really don't want to deal with that b*tch," she declared, her lips curling into a half-hearted smirk. A faint huff followed, emphasizing her point.

"Hey, Bella. Watch your mouth," Alice reminded her, her voice a mixture of concern and disapproval.

Shea took on the role of clarifying their reservations. She leaned forward, her words deliberate. "Simply put, we're just not sure we can face the Order of Valiance as a mere guild in this game. Especially after everything that's happened," Shea explained. "Most likely, we'll confuse what's in our minds with what we need to do for the mission, and we'll mess up for sure," she continued.

Allen furrowed his brow and regarded each of them individually. "She hasn't done anything to you guys, right?" he sought confirmation, genuine curiosity in his eyes. Then he turned to Larissa. "Unless she signed up at the gym," he suggested. "Liam and Darren happened to visit your shop," he continued, focusing on Alice. "Oh right, and she did try to dig up information about me at the agency, didn't she?" he added, now looking at Vivian.

"So, you already know. Did you eavesdropping on us?" she inquired, her memory taking her back to their previous encounter in the hall.

Allen shook his head, attempting to clarify. "I overheard it," he explained.

The tension in the room persisted as the discussion continued. She bit her lower lip in thought before sharing her concerns. "Well, without that, I don't want anything to do with her. We have to infiltrate and hide, right? If the event requires killing and slaughtering the guild I'm in, I'm all for it. But if it's just playing hide and seek and confusing them, that sounds boring," Shea stated with a hint of disappointment. Shea voiced her reluctance regarding the upcoming mission.

"I get your concerns, Shea," he admitted, "and you're not alone in this. We all have our reasons for wanting or not wanting to engage with certain guilds. But remember, this mission isn't just about confronting Elio or the Order of Valiance. It's about securing our dominance in this game."

The rest of the group listened intently, knowing that Allen had a point. Larissa chimed in, her voice reflective. "Indeed, we can't let personal issues get in the way of our success. It's about strategy and outwitting the other guilds."

Zoe nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and this event could be an opportunity for us to gather more information or make unexpected moves."

"Still, I think Allen is the most suitable opponent for them," Bella replied. "Besides, you could stumble upon important information about their cunning plan about you," she added.

"Hmm..." Allen hummed as he couldn't deny she had a valid point.

Vivian offered a solution, a compromise of sorts. "How about this? Let's assess the situation when the mission details are revealed. If it's a direct confrontation, we'll plan accordingly. If it's more about subterfuge, we can adapt."

Allen smiled, appreciating the pragmatism of his companions. "That sounds reasonable. We'll be prepared for anything. After all, flexibility is one of our strengths."

Larissa spoke up, her voice confident. "Yep! We'll adapt to the situation as needed."

Jane added with a grin, "Besides, it's more fun to outsmart them and prove our strength."

"Good." Allen took a deep breath, trying to shake off the fatigue that had settled upon him. "Since we have settled everything," he began. "I'll log off and hit the bed. I didn't sleep well last night."

He turned his attention to Bella and Alice, who were still in their virtual forms, their avatars mirroring their real-world movements. "I'll send you the romantic place list tonight or tomorrow morning," he promised.

"Okay," Bella responded with a smile.

With that, Allen logged out of the game, disconnecting from the virtual realm. As he removed his VR set, he couldn't shake the strange sensation of weakness that coursed through his body. It was as if the exhausting battles had seeped into the real world, leaving him more drained than usual. He briefly rubbed his tired eyes, the real-world room coming into focus after the virtual world.nove.lb-In

'Okay... this is clearly not normal...' he thought as he could feel his heavy head.