[PVP COMMENCING IN 3... 2...]
Just as Dex was sure he would crap himself right there and then, the countdown froze. And then- CLINK,. . . .POOF! A grenade clinked between them. Not explosive—smoke, thick and glitching.
A figure yanked Dex backward by his collar. "Run, idiot. Unless you want to respawn at Level 0!"
The figure speaks in a gravelly tone, swiftly running towards a random direction and turning straight towards another alleyway. 'When will i ever enjoy the feel of the streets? whats with the alleys?' He ponders to himself, and yet Dex stumbled after the figure, boots skidding on neon-lit pavement. While he chases after the figure, his eyes were soley focused on the figure and figure alone, but after some time, he felt a sharp pain in his head and then the figure suddenly disappears from view.
Dex stops abruptly and looks around him, he was alone in the dark alley and there was no one around, only him and his fears. "Uh, Hello? mysterious saviour? I dont think you finished your job..." He calls out to this mysterious figure, his breathing laboured as he gulps and turns around, planning to go back from wence he came, as a matter of fact logging off was the best idea.
But then, his ears picked off a sound and he looks to his right only to find the worn out Neon poster which was glued to the rough walls of the Alley had disappeared, replaced by a door, and this door was opened, and standing infront of this door was the same Hooded mysterious figure in the mask, though he caught a glimpse of dark braids, a cybernetic right eye flickering with code which strangely looked mesmerising and kinda cool..
A soft scoff snaps him back into reality as the girl,..yes he wasnt dumb. It was quite obvious. The girl sizes him up from head to toe and shes her head, lettin out a soft sigh of disappointment as she grumbles, feeling a bit annoyed. "Ugh, why do I keep saving noobs?"
Dex stands there for a moment, not really knowing what to say since she was actually right. . "Be that as it may, still may it be as it may be" He replied.
The girls head snaps upwards as she stares at him with confusion lingering in her eyes. "What??". Surely his attempt to lighten the mood had failed miserably, or she lacked a sense of humour. No matter the case he blamed it on her.
"So what a-" Seems like the girl have had enough of little convos because she simply grabs him by the collar and pulls him through the door. A moment later the sound of the door shutting was heard and they were now in a hidden basement club, walls plastered with "NULL THE SYSTEM" graffiti.
"Name's Spectre," she said, kicking her feet onto a hacked server stack. "And you? Oh right—Dex_MX. The dumbass who pissed off the Lucianos." Spectre sneered, her eyes staring at him with mild amusement.
Dex did not share her amusement at all, his expression wasnt a pleasant one at the moment. "How the hell do you know my name?"
Spectre tossed Dex a glitching energy drink, which fizzed violently in his hands.
"Drink up, noob. It'll boost your HP. Or give you digital diarrhea. Fifty-fifty."
'Question ignored,' then again he used his real name in the game, player info could be seen on his profile.Dex scowled but chugged it—immediately gagging as his HUD flashed:
[BUFF ADDED: +20% HP | SIDE EFFECT: 'RAINBOW VOMIT' (5 MIN DURATION)]
"Oh, come on—" His avatar's mouth dripped neon colors. Certainly wasnt a pleasant experience.
Spectre smirked, leaning against a flickering server rack. "First rule of Dreamscape: Never trust free loot." She flicked a braid over her shoulder. "Second rule? Stick with me if you wanna live past Level 5."
Dex wiped his mouth, grumbling. "I'd rather get chancla'd by my mom."
"Cute." She stepped closer, her cybernetic eye scanning his stats. "But your 'Stealth' is negative, your 'Hack' skill is a joke, and your face is way too punchable for a million-credit bounty."
"Wow. Flirting already?"
Her grin was razor-sharp. "I'd flirt if you weren't a walking XP pinata."
A beat. Dex's rainbow puddle glitched between them.
Then—her smirk softened. Just a fraction. "Meet me at the Neon Junkyard tomorrow. Don't be late, or I'll sell your coordinates to Valentina."
She logged out, leaving Dex alone with three things:
A new quest blinking on his HUD: [LEARN OR DIE (RECOMMENDED LEVEL: 2)]
The lingering scent of burnt ozone and something sweet—her perfume?
The unsettling realization: She hadn't told him her real name.