Chapter 31: Can’t Ignore This

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Can’t Ignore This

Victor grabbed his chest. Even after all that happened that day, his heart still remembered the way she looked at him like he was nothing while dumping him, and in the same moment, run into the arms of another.

He remembered it all, like it was yesterday.

Victor suddenly felt the urge to slam his phone against the wall, but he refrained from doing it. Not because he liked it that much, but because he was too dead broke to afford another one.

His shaky thumb hovered over the screen. He did not want to, but something in him pushed.

Milkshake22: Hi

That one word made his heart beat even harder.

He closed his eyes. Maybe she won’t respond.

Nadia: It’s so nice to finally meet the famous top player of Dungeon Conquest. I’m sure you have seen my profile picture. I am Nadia, the famous fashion style model and D-ranker. One and only 💅.

Victor read the chat. Now he remembered. At this time, she still chatted properly, like an actual person.

But later on, her conversations became dry one worded replies.

Victor swallowed. Then he replied.

Milkshake22: It’s nice to meet you too.

Nadia:😊I just so happen to check. But I don’t see a person on your profile picture. Do you mind sending little o’me a picture, I’d like to see your handsome face.🤭

Victor’s gaze landed on his profile picture. It was a milk carton with ’2.2’ written on it.

The last milk carton his mother bought. She had marked it 2.2 as a reminder for him, not to take beyond two cups in the morning and at night.

Back then Victor was a bit lactose intolerant, but could not just stay away from enjoying milk. This was his mothers’s compromise, as she tried to figure out another way to make him give it up.

He had kept it as his profile picture for ten years.

Victor also remembered the first time Nadia had said these words. Back then, he was so over the moon that he quickly sent his picture, desperate for attention and validation.

But now, things were different.

Milkshake22: No.

Victor froze. He could not believe he had said such a thing to Nadia of all people. In fact, it was probably the first time in his life he was telling another person ’No’.

He felt his body feel up with excitement at the thought.

The three horizontal icons to show she was typing popped up again.

Nadia: How about a meeting for dinner at Star Cafe tomorrow? Are you up for that?

This reply surprised Victor. Back then, after he sent his picture over, she did not text nor reply him for another two weeks, the stocks climbing even higher, before asking to meet.

But now, she was asking him to meet immediately.

Did she actually think he was dashing?

Victor laughed at the thought. Who was he fooling?

Still, he replied.

Milkshake22: See you there. 8:00pm.

He turned off his phone, then lay back on his bed. He could not believe it. Everything had gone back to the beginning of the same year.

But because of his relationship with Nadia and wanting to see her so much back then, he had kept up with the news, searching for any opportunity for a photo shoot or a red carpet event.

Which also meant that he knew the gates that would appear from that world, and when they would appear.

He was also aware of the different otherworldly treasures that were successfully brought into this world.

Victor could not help but chuckle at the thought.

But then a realization hit him.

I can’t hunt for those otherworldly treasures by myself. Only Rankers are allowed to enter the gates.

He sighed pitifully. It still did not mean that he should shelf what he knew.

Oh shit! If everything is happening as it did back then. Does that mean that would happen too?

Victor remembered what happened after that truck hit and ran.

He remembered looking up into the sky, and seeing as the artificial sun that sustained their city fell, killing millions of people.

If things kept happening the way he remembered, then the artificial sun would also fall.

The thought sent a dread down his spine. He hurried for the window. But then he remembered that he and his father had been too broke to pay for a windowed apartment.

However, this was something he had to see for himself.

He dug through the mess in his room for something to wear. All his clothes were just too big. Most were also dirty.

But he finally found one. An old T–shirt his father bought for him, back when he was still seeking Victor’s forgiveness because of what happened to his mother.

He hurried out of his room again. This time, out of the apartment building.

He stepped out, and he looked up

Thousands of feet in the sky, was a slow revolving golden ball of light.

It got brighter with the morning. This thing still puzzled the greatest scientifical minds of the world. To be precise everything from the gate was puzzling.

"Boy, are you sick?" A grunting voice came from behind.

Victor turned. It was the ragged old beggar that always stayed in house made of milk cartons in front of the apartment building. He had two front teeth missing, the rest were yellowed, and even by Victor’s room standard, he was a smelly man.

But he had always been nice to everyone. Rumors had it that he used to be a ranker, but the madness of the gates got to him, and he could never return.

Now, he begs for Pennies. Most people ignore him, but everyone called him Smelly Joe.

"You look like you are not eating enough. Where did the rest of you go?." He raised a brow at him, "...and I see what you eat. I see everything."

Victor gave a dry chuckle. Smelly joe was one of those rare few that treated Victor like he was human being regardless of his size.

He would joke around with him and tease him from time to time, or steal his a slice from his pizza order when he was not looking.

But Victor did not mind that. Smelly Joe was too good to him.

He suddenly remembered something and frowned.

Smelly Joe never made it to the end of the year.

He died in the streets, in the filth of his own dismembered body.

If it was true that the year began again, then did that also mean that Smelly Joe would die?

Victor caught himself. Then he chuckled.

"I am fasting is all."

"Fasting? Did you become religious or something."

Victor scratched the back of his head.

There was no way he could explain that he just became a Barbarian in a video game and it essentially changed his physiology.

Victor suddenly felt the hair at the back of his neck stand, and without thinking, he leaped backwards, taking a ready stance for a battle.

"Ahhh... nice reflexes you have there. I was just about to smack you out of the fucking way."