"Ooh, it's you."
The voice came from behind, light and curious, carrying none of the caution most players showed after surviving a battlefield. Reever turned slightly as the legacy kid walked closer, his steps unhurried, eyes bright as if the place were nothing more than a training ground.
"You are the guy who took out the whole army of those monsters all alone. You are strong."
Before Reever could respond, the kid reached out and grabbed his hand, shaking it with an enthusiasm that felt almost out of place in a mission zone still littered with broken bodies and fading remains. Reever raised a brow, his grip stiffening out of instinct, but he did not pull away. He studied the boy instead, measuring him the same way he would a blade before a fight.
"My name is Conner. Nice to meet you." The kid smiled, wide and unguarded. "I hope that you took the little gift I left underneath the monster king. I knew that it would help you, so I left it as a token of friendship. I am sorry if I took your kill, but I was thrilled when I saw you taking on the beasts, so I decided to kill the king to vent my thrill."
As he spoke, a faint tint of red crept up his cheeks, as though he were embarrassed by his own excitement. It was a strange thing to witness. Most players hid their emotions behind caution or greed. This one wore his openly.
Reever did not respond immediately. His eyes moved over Conner slowly, deliberately. Up close, the legacy kid looked young, far younger than his strength suggested. Eighteen at most. Dark, silky hair framed his face, falling just slightly over sharp green eyes that carried more excitement than fear. A faint mustache rested above his lip, barely visible, as if trying too hard to announce that he was no longer a child. He was almost as tall as Reever, his posture relaxed but ready, like someone who had never doubted his place in battle.
"Thanks for that," Reever finally said. His voice was calm, even, stripped of emotion. "You helped me save much of my time, and I completed my mission. I am bot 067. I know the name is a bit off, but I like it."
With that, he stepped forward, already turning away. His body moved before his mind finished weighing the decision. His instincts, or whatever still passed for them inside his body, tightened like a warning bell. Associating with this kid felt dangerous in a way he could not immediately define. And more importantly, he still had a mission to complete.
"Please do not leave."
The plea came fast, rushed, the words tumbling out as soon as Conner noticed the shift in Reever's intent.
"Let's team up. I know that I may lack battle experience like you, but I am powerful enough to be a baggage for you."
Reever stopped.
He stood there for a moment, silent, his back half turned, eyes unfocused as he reconsidered. His first instinct was to reject the offer outright. He worked better alone. Fewer variables. Fewer risks. But logic crept in where instinct faltered. He had yet to form a team. Working alone meant slower progress, slower accumulation of points. And Conner had proven his strength already. Taking down the cockrupine king with a single move was not something just anyone could do.
The kid was useful.
"Okay then," Reever said at last, turning back. "I hope you will not drag my mission down. You will have to listen to my commands if you want to leave this mission alive and rank up."
He leaned back against one of the massive containers lining the room, its cold surface pressing into his shoulders. He crossed his arms and waited while Conner pulled up his mission details. The legacy kid's expression shifted as he read, excitement settling into focus. When he finished, he looked up and nodded once, serious now.
"Bye bye. Come back safely."
Daisy's voice echoed across the space as the two of them exited the huge room. She stood far behind, waving with a brightness that felt almost fragile against the scale of the mission ahead. Neither of them replied, but Reever acknowledged it with a brief glance before turning forward again.
"I am sure that you have read the details of the mission," Reever said as they moved. "We have to get as much points as possible, so we go for the kings, rooks, or bishops. But we need to consider one thing. Many people will do this as well, so we have to monitor them and see how they fare against the spiderants."
Conner listened closely, nodding as he walked, his gaze scanning the surroundings.
"But for now, we first look for the lair," Reever continued. "Ants and spiders like building nests, so there must be one somewhere. We find that first before anything else. Let the chaos guide us."
He paused, slowing slightly.
"Remember this. The enemy controls some players. Do not trust anyone apart from me. If you see any player, do not engage unless they attack first."
Conner nodded again, the weight of the words settling in.
"Players that are controlled have good points too," Reever added. "Freeing them earns more. But this mission is sensitive about saving players. For the final boss, we need numbers. Avoid killing players."
"How would we know if a player is affected?" Conner asked. "We have no clues."
"For now," Reever said, "most players focus on grinding points and avoid frontal clashes with other players. Anyone who attacks you, impale them."
His tone remained flat, as if stating a simple rule.
"There is likely a way to cut their connection to the queen. Spiders use webs. Something similar may be attached to their heads. Aim there. We reduce bloodshed and gain allies."
They moved in silence after that, the environment growing heavier as they advanced. The air thickened with the smell of earth and decay. Then they saw them.
Numerous brown spiderants crawled across the ground, their movements synchronized, methodical. At the center stood ten green spiderants, larger, sturdier. Above them hovered a single yellow one, wings buzzing as it surveyed the area like a commander.
Reever summoned his weapon. Spector Edge formed in his hand, its presence familiar and steady. Beside him, Conner drew a pair of silver blades, his stance shifting naturally into readiness.
"Try to keep up," Reever shouted, thrill flickering through his voice as he rushed toward the army of spiderants.