Chapter 604 Hidden Plotline?
?Villain Ch 604. Hidden Plotline?
Father^Alex materialized at the gate of Ront City, the familiar hustle and bustle of the busy surroundings a stark contrast to the turmoil he had just experienced. Thera, the NPC gatekeeper, greeted him with her usual warm smile. "Welcome back, adventurer!"
However, Father^Alex, in an uncharacteristic manner, remained silent. Ignoring Thera's cheerful welcome, he instinctively activated his Healing skill to mend the wounds inflicted by the devil emperor's attack, filling his HP.
Seeking solace, he located the nearest bench and settled down. The city's usual liveliness seemed surreal against the whirlwind of emotions within him. Father^Alex's typically composed demeanor wavered, and an air of perplexity replaced his usual calmness. His mind was undoubtedly grappling with the unanticipated encounter.
Father^Alex sat on the bench in deep contemplation. His mind swirled with a cascade of unanswered questions. 'Why are the villains suddenly targeting me? What grand plan do they speak of?' The perplexing queries danced in his thoughts, each demanding attention.
Yearning to share his bewildering experience with his main team, he scrolled through his friend list, only to find none of them currently online. A sense of patience washed over him as he reassured himself, 'They should be online soon.' Despite the inexplicable events, Father^Alex remained composed. There was no tinge of sadness or frustration; his emotions were replaced by an overwhelming curiosity about the morsel of information the devil emperor had cryptically presented.
His anticipation of his main team's return was unexpectedly interrupted. Instead of the familiar faces of his main companions, a group of players emerged at the gate. It was his former team, the ones he had hunted with just before the encounter with the devil emperor. Adding to the mix, some players from The Mystic Forest also arrived.
A quick glance at their HP numbers brought clarity; it wasn't a return from the dead due to the emperor's onslaught. Instead, they had used the Home Crystal to teleport back. Father^Alex's confusion deepened, and he stood up, eyeing them with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Father^Alex couldn't help but wonder if these players had also encountered the devil emperor or if they were merely here by coincidence.
The group of concerned players approached Father^Alex. A mixture of anxiety and relief was etched across their faces. The mage, dual dagger user, swordsman, and archer circled him, their worry palpable.
"Hey, are you alright?" questioned the dual dagger user, his brows furrowed with genuine concern.
Father^Alex cracked a reassuring smile, albeit a bit awkwardly. "Yeah, I'm fine, just a respawn. You know how it goes."
The archer chimed in, "We were worried."
The swordsman, his eyes reflecting a blend of curiosity and concern, spoke up next. "You looked pretty shaken."
Father^Alex chuckled, "Not exactly."
The mage sighed with relief. "Do you need any potions or something?"
Father^Alex playfully raised an eyebrow, "Potions? Come on, guys, I'm a healer. I don't need potions. But I appreciate the concern."
Curiosity rippled through the crowd, attracting more bypassers. A knight stepped closer, "Did you say devil emperor? What happened?"
Soon there was a cluster of players eager to understand the unexpected event. The gathered players exchanged whispers and theories, their attention fully captured by the unfolding revelation. The unexpected encounter with the devil emperor had not only shaken Father^Alex but had set in motion a chain of events that rippled through the entire player community in Hell's Gate.
The buzz reached Arcana, the Ironclad Legion guild leader. He noticed the unusual gathering and, with a frown, approached the scene.
"What's happening here? Father^Alex surrounded by a crowd? This isn't Yora's usual spotlight. What's the story?" Arcana questioned as he neared the group.
The mage stepped forward to brief Arcana, "Devil emperor attacked Father^Alex, and it's odd. We've got it recorded, and you won't believe what he said."
Arcana's eyes widened, and a hint of concern crossed his face. "Devil emperor targeting Father^Alex? Show me that recording."
"I will post it on the gaming forum and tag you," the mage agreed.
As the crowd buzzed with speculation and theories about the devil emperor's unexpected encounter with Father^Alex, the atmosphere shifted when Father^Alex's main team, Red_King and Mastercraft, logged in. They moved through the crowd, parting players to create a space around Father^Alex.
Red_King addressed the onlookers, "Alright, that's enough, folks. Give him some space. Whatever happened, he doesn't need a crowd."
Mastercraft nodded in agreement. "He is a shy healer. His HP will deplete if you guys surround him for too long," he said playfully.
The crowd, recognizing Father^Alex's anxiety, began to disperse, allowing some breathing room for the perplexed healer.
"Why are you still here?" Red_King asked, glancing at Arcana.
"It's about the Devil Emperor. So I need to know," Arcana said confidently. A smirk on his face.
Replying Arcana with a simple "Tsk!", Red_King approached Father^Alex, a knowing expression on his face. "Hey, Alex. What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Father^Alex, visibly relieved as the crowd dissipated, replied, "I ran into the devil emperor. He targeted me, and it was... strange. He said something about me being a threat to their plans."
Red_King furrowed his brow, exchanging a glance with Mastercraft. "Devil emperor targeting a healer? That's unusual. Care to share what he said exactly?"
Before Father^Alex could respond, Mastercraft interjected, "Let's not discuss it here. We should head to a quieter place and figure out what happened."
Acknowledging the truth in Mastercraft's suggestion, Red_King nodded, "Agreed. Let's regroup and get the details."
"I will come with you. Just count me as additional member," Arcana said.