"How is the plan going?" asked a middle-aged man with speared beards.
A few players, along with him making it six players, had landed on the Red Gate Island. All around level 20.
"Well, it's balanced somehow. I can't say for sure, Thor. You guys have to hurry," said the voice over the phone. A mix of fear reeked from his voice.
Thor slid his phone back in his pocket. According to the description, this was Red Gate, Aiden's kingdom.
They had anticipated Aiden would bring the fight to them and cooked a plan for when that happens.
Six players smiled at Thor. Their job was pretty straight: while Aiden is busy fighting the hunters, they'll enter his gate and find the source of his powers.
Or whatever it is they need to destroy to stop the apocalypse. As of now, the players were heading towards the narrow path with trees on both sides of the road.
"We don't have much time," said Thor.
"What do you mean? How are they doing over there?"
Having heard the question, Thor kept quiet as if thinking of the word that could describe the man's voice earlier.
"Terrified," said Thor.
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The players couldn't believe what was going on. They could feel an ocean of power running through them, and the notification proved them right.
"He maxed us out?" Perplexed, Julius muttered, looking at his teammates. What did Doomsday do that for?
Max them out, then break them, just to prove they mean nothing—even at their highest point of powers.
"Oh, you're gonna regret doing that," Goliath growled.
Immediately he said that, he began charging at Aiden on all fours like a beast. His paws left cracks and marks on the ground.
And the sight of Aiden just standing made his mouth water. As he closed the gap, Aiden grinned and dashed at him.
Boom.
Their collision caused the glasses around the buildings to shatter. At the same time, they locked themselves in a test of strength.
However—boom—Goliath won over Aiden and tossed him, slamming him against a building like a weightless doll.
"Nice," said Julius. He was about to join Goliath, but his teammate roared at him.
"No... he's mine! Anyone interferes and I'll kill you," yelled Goliath.
Aiden was hit so hard he felt his spine crack. As he stood up, he saw Goliath rushing towards him and—boom—he dashed at Goliath as well.
His neck and palm erupted with fat veins. Before Goliath could know what had hit him, Aiden face-slammed him towards the building far from them.
Julius and Sally looked at each other, knowing that wasn't good.
Unlike Aiden, a rumble of the building's blocks fell on Goliath, and before he could stand up—
"You're dead," Aiden growled.
He landed on top of Goliath and began punching the life out of him, every punch drawing out a mouthful of blood. Goliath tried holding the punch, but Aiden only ended up twisting his wrist.
Bam. Bam.
"Jesus, he's going to kill that guy."
"Why are the rest of the players just looking?"
"This fight suddenly became a one-sided thing."
Those watching through the live broadcast could only feel pity for Goliath. He had himself to blame for saying no one should interfere.
"I guess his friends are respecting his wishes."
As of now, Aiden's fist was covered in blood, and Goliath's beast form was beginning to wear off his body.
Woosh.
Sally projected an ice shard heading for Aiden's head, but he saw it behind him and moved, giving him a little scratch on the cheek.
"That's enough." Accompanying Julius' words, he was already running towards Aiden.
"Why do you have to do any of this? Aren't you human?" asked Julius.
Aiden said nothing and stood looking at Sally. The scratch he got was starting to freeze a portion of his face.
Even his breathing was cold, as if locked in ice for many months. But they wouldn't know that because of the mask Aiden wore.
Now cracked at the cheek, thanks to Sally.
"You led your friends to their deaths," Aiden muttered.
"What?" Perplexed, Julius didn't know what that meant, but Sally did.
"Thor."
In the next second, the environment's temperature was dropping very fast. The buildings were getting frozen by the moment.
"Where is Thor?!" yelled Sally, a mix of tears and emotions.
Instead of Aiden answering her statement, he dashed towards her. However, Julius blocked his way. But as he turned on his sword flames, they were unable to form.
Aiden grinned. He knew facing off fire and ice at the same time was disastrous, but with one overpowering the other, he had a fine chance.
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Meanwhile...
Thor led the group of players down the narrow path, which led them in front of a red-gold metallic gate.
At first, the players hesitated, looking at themselves. However, after taking a deep breath, Thor pushed the door open.
"Woah, it's pretty dark in there."
"Hmph," a player scoffed, and a ball of flame appeared on his palm, letting him be the first to walk in.
"Tsk."
But the rest didn't go with him immediately—until he said it was pretty dark in here.
As the rest of them brought out their smartphones to aid them, walking in, the door closed.
"That's not a good sign in most comic books."
Accompanying the player's voice, the room lit up with purple flames etched around the walls and pillars.
Right in front of them, they saw Belle, the succubus witch, sitting on the throne, and the loyal ant monster standing at her side.
"That's the monster in Doomsday's broadcast."
"The guy must have a wife."
Having heard the word wife, Thor growled. "Then it's a good thing I return the favor. He killed my wife, and I'll do the same. She's mine," he growled.