Leaving Nova

"Hey, Kalea. You know how I was meant to collect Ulrich?" Leonie asked, an innocent finger placed on her temple.

"Yeah." Kalea sighed. "What, boss asked me to get him?"

"Pretty much." Leonie sighed. Wow, not even asking for proof. This girl was defeated.

Kalea started mumbling as she put on her hoodie Monika gave her. Lot of swear words, more than she ever heard her say, even when she was drunk.

And now Leonie was alone. Perfect.

She instantly got to her watch, typing with the most frantic energy she could muster.

'Your next challenge. Capture Kalea. Whoever succeeds chooses the next elimination.'

A message to both Amber and Valentina. She'll send it in a few minutes, when Kalea is in the hallway with Ulrich, which should hopefully be around three or four minutes. After what seemed like an eternity, she sent the message.

Kalea knocked on Ulrich's door, and he opened it, looking ready to take everyone else in the game.

"We going now?" Ulrich asked quickly.

"Yes, Ulrich. We are. Congratulations." Kalea nodded.

Amber was woken up by her watch buzzing. A message about capturing…Kalea? Was this the next challenge? At night? Damn, what were these hosts even doing? But if someone besides her captured Kalea, then either her or Micah would probably be killed. With everything to lose, she let out a heavy sigh, put her clothes on, and stepped out the door.

The first thing she saw Kalea in the hallway, walking alongside Ulrich. But besides them, the only other person in the room was Valentina.

"Hello? What are you two doing here?" Kalea asked, her eyes darting to the two of them.

Amber didn't say anything, just letting her shadows try to hit her. Kalea shoved Ulrich aside and locked onto the wall to avoid them. She then locked onto Amber, but she predicted it, raising a wall of shadows next to her to fall into, which she promptly did. What she didn't expect was Ulrich, who landed a solid punch to her face, causing her to lose her grip on the shadows. Kalea locked onto her head, with the impact throwing her against the wall, knocking her out. Valentina melted her arm into a hammer which she swung into Kalea, who ducked it effortlessly. Ulrich infused his hands with flames, landing a fist on the end of the hammer, with Ulrich delivering a quick kick to the shins into Valentina, who stepped back. Kalea locked onto her head, slamming her against the wall. She fell to the ground, knocked out.

Kalea turned to Ulrich, glowering at him.

"Show me your watch. Now."

Ulrich did as she asked, and Kalea checked the messages he sent to Amber and Valentina. Nothing to Valentina, and nothing sent to Amber in a few days.

"Okay, you didn't tell them." Kalea said, checking their pulses. "Still alive, anyway. I'll deal with them in the morning."

Ulrich stepped outside of the district building, taking one last look at the building, it's final eleven contestants still trapped inside. Good luck, people.

"We're taking the helicopter." Kalea said casually. "You ever fly in one?"

"One time, yeah. I was asleep for most of it, though." Ulrich sighed, walking to the helicopter.

"Arioch city, please." Kalea asked politely.

The two of them flew over the rest of Level 5, a few extravagant buildings and hotels with their lights almost blinding Ulrich. Eventually, the helicopter landed next to what looked to be a crater with a pure black orb in the middle.

"We're here." Kalea said emotionlessly as she stepped out of the helicopter, with Ulrich following.

"Do…do gods hatch from giant eggs?" He asked.

"If they do, this is unrelated." Kalea replied, looking for the door inside. "Also, take these."

Kalea took two pairs of sunglasses out of her hoodie pocket, handing a pair to Ulrich. He did as instructed, and the two entered Arioch city. Even with the sunglasses, the level of light everywhere was hurting Ulrich's eyes, while Kalea calmly took his hand and walked in the direction of the giant building in the middle.

Once the two got to the interior and in the elevator, Kalea tried sparking one last conversation.

"What's it like back home for you?"

"Where I'm from?" Ulrich asked. "Well, it's…less constrained, I guess. We aren't trapped in one building. Actually, are there like, other buildings?"

"Not to my knowledge, anyway." Kalea replied. "But outside, what's it like?"

"Uhh, depends on the place." Ulrich answered slowly. "Where I come from it's pretty hot and not much happens. Friend of mine lives in a pretty cold and grey place called England, and another lives near basically the outdoor version of this on a hillside. It's called Tokyo, it's part of a bigger place called Japan."

"Wow, that sounds like a lot of places."

"It is, yeah." Ulrich nodded. "It's only three places, too. There's like two hundred others, probably. Not as big as what I mentioned, but I guess they're still there."

"So, the people living there…are they strong? Like, strong enough to kill a god?"

"Maybe?" Ulrich replied warily. "There are only like, five other people with powers. So I don't think the six of us could kill a god, no."

"Oh…right." Kalea replied coolly as the elevator doors opened.

Ulrich immediately felt a pair of arms on his back, and a body on his front.

"You survived. You…you did it." Zeb cried.

"Yes, you did. Congratulations." The sound of clapping was heard from behind the black leather couch, and a man with crimson skin, a black suit, and black ink splotch tattoos from his eyes to his ears. "Good to see you too, Kalea. As unexpected as the visit is."

"I'm guessing you're the boss?" Ulrich asked, his legs shaking slightly.

"Relax, child. Actually, can I say my goodbyes to you in private?"

"What? No!" Ulrich yelled. "You torture people for entertainment!"

"May I, Zeb?" He asked her politely. "I assure nothing but his safe return."

"You have ten minutes." Zeb replied coldly.

The crimson man nodded, calmly escorting Ulrich into another room. One with a gigantic screen and another black felt couch.

"So…is this where you watch everything happen?" Ulrich asked.

"It would be, yes." The man nodded. "Now, did you accept my gift?"

"What, being alive?" Ulrich asked, glancing at the door. He was standing opposite it, so if Ulrich wanted to escape, he definitely could.

"No, the ring. I'm not seeing you wear it, anyway." The man said, his assured smile wilting into a short frown.

"W-why are you giving me a ring, exactly? Sorry, but I'm not into guys."

"Oh no, it's nothing like that." The man responded calmly. "It wasn't even mine. It might have belonged to you."

"Excuse me?" Ulrich asked, completely confused. He never bought a ring here. Or ever met this guy to give it to him. So what gives?

"Well, not you. I stole it from the corpse of the man I owe my life to. The action I took all those centuries ago haunts me to this day. You just so happen to remind me of that man, so you accepting the ring would clear my mind a little."

"Yeah, I'm not accepting it." Ulrich replied. "I'm going now."

"Understood, sir." The man nodded. "One more thing, Ulrich. Does the name Laslow ring any bells to you?"

"Nope." Ulrich sighed, opening the door.

"Are you done?" Zeb asked politely.

"Very much so." The man nodded. "Well, goodbye Ulrich, and Zeb. And remember, three years. I'll be waiting."

"Got it." Zeb replied, opening a purple portal in front of her.

"Wait, Ulrich!" Kalea yelled. "Your world! You can fit more people there, right? I can come too, can't I?"

"Now now, Kalea." Mersache sighed, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Free travel between dimensions isn't permitted by the higher authorities."

"But Ulrich-"

"Is only here because of a freak accident." Mersache replied. "Now come, Kalea. You have duties to return to."

Kalea elbowed him in the stomach, and attempted to run into the portal, only for Zeb to place a hand on her stomach and release a shockwave, stunning her and letting the portal close.

"Hm. Unconscious." Mersache noted calmly. "Maybe you can participate in three years."