Micheal's eyes widened as the hazy image was revealed inside of him.
It started slowly and due to how long he awakened his weapon, he was expecting something awesome?
Something cool.
But as he saw what was revealed, he kind of wished that he didn't waste all those time here and instead, slept the whole day off in the real world.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"No, no, no...this can't be right?" Micheal whispered to himself.
Micheal was really speechless, his face twitched.
God please let this not be what I'm thinking.
It was as if he was pleading with a higher power to change the outcome.
The image was done solidifying and it was as he thought.
A mask!
A f**king damn black mask.
It was plain and unassuming.
Micheal couldn't even see how this mask could be used as a weapon.
Others had awakened powerful weapons - swords, bows, spears - but him? A mask? It seemed so...funny.
Micheal's mind was blank for a long time.
He really needed the cash prize to take care of himself and his sister.
Awakening a mask, was the same as not awakening anything at all and that means no cash prize.
Was this some kind of joke? Had he somehow failed the awakening process?
He couldn't shake off the feeling that maybe somehow, he hadn't actually awakened his weapon.
But deep down, he knew, he knew that this was his weapon.
He slowly opened his eyes, everywhere was pitched dark as it was midnight in Elyrial already.
Surprisingly Kaida and Aina were still beside him, they seemed to be the only ones there.
"Finally, we almost left" Aina noticing Micheal opening his eyes said.
"Let's find a teleportation portal and log out"
Kaida said immediately, it seemed like they guarded him during his awakening process.
Despite Kaida's coldness, Micheal was grateful that they waited for him.
"Next time you can see his weapon Aina."
Kaida knew her sister too well, she will want to see what Micheal awakened weapon and it will keep them here for a longer time.
"Tsk" Aina clicked her tongue.
They left the ground of awakening and logged out.
Micheal slowly opened his eyes.
It was surprisingly day time in the real world.
Micheal laid on the couch while staring at the ceiling.
Awakening a mask was quite a blow to him.
But despite the long ours he spent in ELYRIA he still felt energic, which was odd considering he hadn't eaten in what felt like an eternity.
As he sat up, his gaze fell upon his sister, who had been sitting beside him since he woke up.
But the expression on her face didn't look good.
"What's wrong?" Micheal asked, his voice laced with a mix of confusion and concern.
He was bothered that maybe something might have occured that left his sister with this expression.
Maya's expression turned incredulous.
"You've been out cold for almost 12 hours, and you're asking me what's wrong? I was worried sick about you!"
Micheal's eyes widened in surprise. "12 hours? I even thought I spent a day in there" He rubbed his temples.
His time in Elyria had felt distorted, but he had no idea it was that severe.
Elyria is slower than the real world?
He was pretty sure that he spent a day in Elyria.
Maya stomped her feet, "You don't even care, you even thought it was a day!"
"Sorry, I lost track of time" Micheal replied.
"By the way, where is Alex?" Micheal asked, looking around the room.
"He went out to deal with some personal stuff," Maya replied. "He seemed really happy this morning, actually. He was humming to himself."
"Are you not hungry?" Maya asked, changing the topic, "I made something for you."
Maya went inside and brought some homemade food. "Where did you get the money?" Micheal asked, eyeing the spread.
"Your savings," Maya replied with a shrug.
Micheal rolled his eyes at her, he forgot that he told her to break his savings.
After eating, he prepared to log back into the game.
Just then Alex came in.
Alex walked in, a big smile on his face. "Hey, man, you're finally up! So, did you unlock your weapon in Elyria?" Diving straight into Elyria's topic.
Micheal face twitched, this question was the least question he wanted to hear now.
Micheal's expression faltered for a moment before he looked away, trying to play it cool. "Nah, didn't happen."
Alex didn't seem to notice Micheal's discomfort. "Whoa, I did."
"What did u awaken?" Micheal was curious.
"A shield, the hardest part is sensing the spirit qi, like bro, it took me close to two hours to sense it."
Alex chuckled, clearly hyped about his progress.
Micheal felt his heart tighten as he heard the word "shield "
"Let's find each other in Elyria first."
*************
In Elyria
Boom! Boom!! Boom!!!
Just as Micheal appeared in Elyria, the space felt like it was crumbling apart.
Before Michael could understand what was happening, something that felt like chain flung him away.
What the fuck?!
Micheal was smashed heavily on the wall.
Micheal face changed immediately.
He felt pain he'd never felt before.
He laid on the floor, wincing in pain.
He saw his life force being drained away.
He didn't know how, but he did, it wasn't not a hp bar like most games but he felt his life force being drained.
What the hell was that?
He looked up, then he saw it clearly, it was a werewolf creature again, only this time, this one had 3 tails.
Rooooooar
The monster roared loudly.
"Fall back! Draw it out of the hall, now!" a man with golden hair shouted, He wielded a spear, and wore an armored. He looked heroic.
But but despite his valiant efforts, the creature seemed to sense his strength and deliberately targeted his people who just came out from the portal.
It's fast!
Micheal was shocked by the beast speed.
It vanished and killed in one swipe.
It seemed unstoppable in this teleportation portal.
"Noah, we need to retreat, now!" a stout, axe-wielding youth yelled.
"This thing is more powerful than we thought! Only the City Guard can handle it!"
Noah's men seemed to agree with the youth as they also voiced their opinions.
Three of their men were already dead.
Micheal watched in horror, and the worst part of all these was that his body was unable to do anything.
He couldn't even get up and run for his life.
Just then Michael's information popped out in his face.
Name: Ageless
Age: 16
Level: 1
Abilities: Unknown
Weapons: Sword
Health : Dying
Tsk, your father is the one dying.
Wait sword? what sword?
He quickly looked inside him and still couldn't see any sword, it was still the same shitty mask.
Micheal stood up shakily.
Let's see what this thing can do. He had to wear the mask, who knew if it had the power to heal him.
Micheal felt stupid for thinking this but he still summoned the mask and wore it.
The mask seemed to dissolve into his face.
Then something astonishing happened.
His short black hair lengthened and whitened.
His black hair was now white and reached his waist.
Claws burst forth from his fingertips.
A chain with deadly spikes materialized on his left hand.
It had spikes yes, but there was this faint lightening that coursed around the chain.
Micheal's injuries began to close at an alarming rate.
Then he felt power surge into him, and the nearby spirit qi rushed in his direction.
It happened so quickly, Micheal looked at himself with shock.
Excitement boiled in him.
He looked at the fight going on and then at himself.
This mask? Stupid weapon?
All ill thoughts he had towards his mask were no more.
You are the best mask in the world.
If the mask wasn't on his face, he would have kissed it now.