A strange aura starts to emit from one of the shadows. But why does it feel so familiar?

The two shadows merge into one. The dark aura surrounds the whole room, and the shadows dissappear. No they didn't! I immediately turn back to see two figures behind me. One above the other, they smile as they look towards us.

The one on the top was a girl who was short, brown haired with large brown eyes, and wore a pink spacesuit. And the one who was carrying her was someone who's aura felt so familiar since the shadows appeared. A bear sized man holding a katana, It was none other than Zack!

Then, something astonishing comes into my view. Everything around me started to float! Furthermore, the room stopped to tear apart. Baffled, Ashley, I and the others stare at each other.

The girl on Zack's back shouts, "Hurry! We've got twenty seconds to escape."

We quickly, dash towards the entrance and escape through the stairway. While we keep climbing down, Ashley excitedly exclaims, "Wow! Susu is so amazing. And with Zack's agility, and Susu's quirk, they sure can make a great team!"

Susu, who was now running down the stairs along with us remarks, "Well, it isn't true. My ability has an effect only over inanimate objects. And, I can make them float for twenty seconds only. So, I don't think it's that great."

"Yet, you made the best out of it. If it wasn't you, we would have been doomed" Preston praises her.

Once we were finally out, I stop and grasp for breath. I realize that I was really at my limit. Upon noticing, everybody stop as well.

"Ashlee, you shouldn't push yourself too much, especially cause you're new the virtual world" Susu scolds.

"Yeah, sorry" I apologize.

"You've never played a virtual game before? Why haven't you told me that!" Ashley squeals.

"Anyways, what do we do now?" Preston asks, helping me to escape Ashley's countless questionnaire.

"Parting again wouldn't do any good now ,would it?" I say.

"Well, sticking together may be an option, but the search would just get harder" Jake replies.

"Hmm there are six members, so why don't we divide into a group of three?" Ashley remarks.

That's a great idea! It may slow us down while searching for bombs , but it would be easier to get through enemy bots.

Ashley, Jake and I were chosen to be in a team, while Zack, Susu and Preston in the other. After that, we part.

Our team was perfect! Jake took down drones in the air, while Ashley and I destroyed the bots on the ground.

But, I had to step back during most of the battles. My stamina kept reducing every time I engage in a fight. My body started to feel heavier, and I kept grasping for breath frequently. My strength started to decrease rapidly, and I started to feel dizzy. I keep following the others, as I lose my balance all of a sudden. Ashley stops as she pulls me back, before my fave lands on the ground.

"Ashlee you look pale. Shall we take a break?" She asks, worried.

I dont want to be the one to lag them, but we didn't have any other choice. I nod and then, rest for a while.

I slowly start to recover, as energy starts to flow through my body slowly and steadily. But being underleveled wouldn't drain a person's stamina that much! It felt really strange.

After twenty minutes or so, we start moving again. Remaining conscious of our surroundings, we kept avoiding places which looked familiar, and dodged unwanted enemy battles.

"So, what kind of a person is your leader?" Ashley asks, while we keep searching.

"Alex?" Jake asks as he turns towards Ashley.

"Yup" Ashley says.

"Err.." I utter.

Jake covers me up as he answers, "I think he's a good guy. His IQ is in a whole different level though. His plans and statistics have always gone for a 100% win. He may be a bit harsh, but it has always led us to victory."

"Oh, he seems like a really great team leader" Ashley remarks.

"But, he has a dark side too. To win, he can do anything, and that includes leaving his own teammate behind." Jake adds.

"How could he do that?!" Ashley asks, shocked.

"Well, that's him. He only choses teammates who have the potential to get the best of his team." Jake says.

"So, he can do anything to get to the top, huh" Ashley murmurs as she bites her own lips.

Suddenly, a missile approaches from above. "Crouch! It's a helicopter!'

A missile hits the ground, throwing us off our feet. "Watch out for the chopper's machine gun!" Jake shrieks. I immediately roll behind a wrecked car, before it could shoot me down. The others do the same, hiding behind obstacles. Five bots drop from the sky. One of them, was carrying a grenade launcher. We're trapped!

If I stay here, they would explode me. If I step out, I would be shot. While I keep thinking, I hear the sound of a mini gun, followed by an explosion. I look up as the chopper crashes. Suddenly, the air starts to thicken as a strange purplish aura surrounds the whole area.

A bot turns towards its own kind and shoots them down. What just happened?!! It shoots down all the bots, and then it turns back towards us. Jake jumps and smashes through it using his tentacles. Two people show up. One was huge and looked quite familiar. It was Jovi! And the other, was a girl. She was short, red pupils, with a hat and robe which made her appear like a witch. She was also holding an old wooden staff.

Jake and Ashley wave at them shouting, "Jovi and Vivien!!"

Vivien sneers at us as she says, "Look who've we found. "

Jovi and Ashley cross their weapons as he greets her, "Hey leader! How have you been"

Ashley smiles as she says, "Thanks for saving us, Jovi"

"Anytime" he replies.

"Uhh, the defence seems to be high around here" I comment.

"Could it be that there's another dimension bomb nearby?" Jake conspires

"Yup, but it doesn't seem to be on the radar" Jovi further adds

"Could it be an open ground?" Ashley asks.

Yup, that could be it! That could even be the reason for the helecopter to show up. But where is it?

Suddenly, illusionary glowing spherical objects start to surround us. What the hell's that?!

Everyone startle. "Guys calm down! It's one of Alex's spiritual magic" Jake alerts. Could they be spirits?

The spirits keep encircling us, and then slowly move away from us. We follow it.

It takes us into a building, as it leads through a corridor and then, into a room. Upon entering, two men await us. One with light brown hair, a military uniform, and a formidable look in his eyes. The other, had violet hair, with a royal appearance and smirky smile. Without a doubt, he must be 'The Brazen Eagles' team leader, Alex. A sudden chill starts to creep through my spine. His aura felt so different from the others. Is it because of the spirits surrounding us?

He greets us as we gather infront, "Welcome back everyone! It seems you guys have been doing well. Now that we have made a lot of progress, you guys must have already known why have I called you guys here."

"You've spotted another dimension bomb?" Jake answers.

He pauses for a while, as he walks towards a window. He points outside as he speaks again, "Yup you're right. But this time, the battlefield's an open ground, and the bomb's located right at it's centre."

Ashley walks forward and peeks through the window, "It looks tightly guarded. We need to make an effective strategy"

"And I've already decided on that. The absolute strategy I behold right now, needs only the people I'm gonna call out." Alex says, unsurprised.

"What?! Not everyone's gonna participate. But wouldn't be easier if all of us coordinate together?" Ashley asks, confused.

Alex ignores Ashley's question. He points towards the man who was with him earlier. "Brandon, you're in" Brandon walks towards him. He then points towards Jovi, Vivien and me?!

But why would he choose me, when I would just slow down the team. The only ones left were Jake and Ashley. I look at her once, before I put a step forward. Before I could take another, she stops me as she glares at Alex.

"Could you please leave her?" Alex asks

"And why should I?" Ashley mocks.

"Cause she plays an important role in my plan" Alex answers undoubtedly.

"Please may I know how can a fragile girl like her play an important role in your plan?" Ashley asks, enraged.

Alex raises his voice as he speaks,"You dare not question me!"

"Why can't I?! Even I'm a leader. And further more, what kind of a leader are you who doesn't bother about their own teammates condition" Ashley shouts back

"You say you're better than me?" Alex says, declaring a war.

"Right now, I have the every right to say that" Ashley cries out.

"None can reject the decision I make. I'm the absolute! And if they aren't up for it, they are just incompetent" Alex struts.

"And what about those who have the potential yet lack the strength?" Ashley asks with her eyes now red.

"If it's about Ashlee's role in my plan, I very well assigned her a job that would drain much of her stamina nor her health" He says, shutting her down

He walks towards me, as he lends his hand. I do the same, as he holds it firmly and takes me along with him.

"Very well then. Jake and I would guard the entrance, and bring in reinforcements." Ashley adds, before we leave.

"Do as you wish, leader of the red dragons" Alex says with his quirky smile.

With that, we step outside, facing a vast construction site with around five choppers encircling the bomb. Twenty Bots now alerted, face us with their weapons reloaded and well armed.

Alex stands ahead of us, with his fearsome smile portraying confidence in the others.

"Another bomb has been disarmed" says Brandon with a sparkle in his eyes.

Jovi reloads his mini gun as he replies, "It must be Carl's team. They have been going according their own accord lately."

Alex takes a step forward. "Team, let the battle begin!"