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."
The assassin and the craftsman, additional players who had just returned from The Mystic Forest, intrigued by the mysterious encounter with the devil emperor. They stepped forward, their eyes filled with questions.
The assassin inquired, "What was that all about? The devil emperor seemed to be targeting you specifically. What plans were you guys talking about?"
Father^Alex, still wearing his signature awkward smile, scratched his head as he began to explain. "Well, you see, I was just bluffing. Trying to fish out some information from them. I don't really have any plans, let alone being dangerous."
The craftsman raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Bluffing? But why would the devil emperor say you're a threat? There has to be something more to this."
The crowd of players leaned in, their collective curiosity palpable. Father^Alex sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Look, it might be connected to the hidden plotline of the game. Maybe a questline related to dealing with the devil emperor himself. There's always more beneath the surface in Hell's Gate."
A petite mage, a towering paladin, and a nimble rogue were among the other players gathered, each one expressing a mixture of concern and intrigue. The rogue, with an impish grin, remarked, "Dealing with the devil emperor, huh? That sounds like one epic quest."
The paladin nodded in agreement, a determined glint in his eyes. "If there's something brewing that involves that devil emperor, we should be prepared. Let's find out what we can do."
Amidst the gathering of players, the conversation flowed as each member shared their insights into the devil emperor's cryptic motives. The assassin leaned against a wall as he began the analysis.
"Well, from what I witnessed, the devil emperor seems to think Father^Alex is a threat to some grand plan of theirs. Why they're singling out a healer, I can't fathom. Healers aren't exactly known for being formidable adversaries," the assassin mused.
The craftsman chimed in, "Perhaps it's not about combat prowess. Maybe there's something unique about Father^Alex's skills or abilities that poses a risk to the villains."
The mage nodded thoughtfully. "It could be related to specific healing abilities that could disrupt their plans. Healing is often underestimated, but it's a crucial aspect of many strategies."
The dual dagger user, swordsman, and archer exchanged glances, each contemplating the unfolding mystery. The dual dagger user spoke up, "This is getting weirder. Has anyone heard of other healers being targeted like this?"
The assassin pondered for a moment before sharing, "There was talk about Yora from the Order of Valiance guild. She got targeted by villains at some events, but not in unannounced event like this. Also, her name wasn't explicitly mentioned like Father^Alex's."
The swordsman scratched his head. "So, it's not a random attack on healers. There's something about Father^Alex that they find threatening."
The archer smirked. "Maybe he's got secret healing powers or something."
The group surrounding Father^Alex grew and it caught bypasser's attention. The Magic Scholar was the first to halt in his tracks and furrowed his brows, wondering what could be amiss. With a few inquisitive steps, he approached the crowd.
"Hey, what's going on here? Why the gathering?" the Magic Scholar inquired, eyes flickering between the assembled players. The mage, the dual dagger user, and the swordsman exchanged glances before launching into an explanation.
"Just had a run-in with the devil emperor, and it was bizarre. Father^Alex here got targeted," the mage explained, glancing over to the healer.
The Magic Scholar's eyes widened in disbelief, "The devil emperor? Seriously?"
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.
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