Chapter 13

[You have leveled up]

[You have leveled up]

[You have leveled up]

The familiar notification appeared in front of him as a faint smile appeared on Michael's face when he saw it before he pulled up his stats.

[Player: Michael Wilson]

[Lvl: 23]

[HP: 302/302]

[MP: 222/222]

[STR: 115]

[DEF: 102]

[AGI: 112]

[Skill: Ten Rings of Shen (lvl 5)]

"I managed to level up." Michael said with a smile.

"Yeah. But it looks like I didn't get any exp." Lakshmi said with a sad smile.

"What? Why?" Michael asked surprised at her reply.

"I guess I didn't deal as much damage needed. It is known that you need to deal a good amount of damage to an enemy to get their exp and mine was practically nonexistent." Lakshmi said sadly.

"Hey, don't say that. You reached level 22 didn't you? You can get stronger." Michael said to her as he turned to her.

"Maybe, but I have been piggybacking from your efforts. You are strong enough to even challenge a 3* Gate. I know that if it weren't for me you would've been able to defeat that snake boss much more quickly." Lakshmi said to him sadly as she clenched her fists.

"I may be a Silver Rank but still I..." Michael said but stopped as he looked behind Lakshmi.

She was confused at his behaviour before she saw light coming from behind her as she looked behind and her eyes widened when she saw a Silver Door now in front of her.

"It's a second door." Michael said surprised and in shock.

"So that means you reached a high enough level to get a second skill." Lakshmi said surprised.

It is known that once you get a Skill and become a Player, you can get new Skills by completing doors that appear when a Player reaches a level.

"When did you get your second door?" Michael asked her when he saw it.

"I got mine when I reached level 15. When I got my first skill which is my whip, it could only burn and be used as a flaming whip. It was only after I got my second door that I got the skill to increase the length of my whip. But since you are a Silver Rank I think you would need a higher level to get your second door." Lakshmi said to him as she remembered her experience.

"I see. Guess it's my turn to get a new skill." Michael said with a smile as he cracked his knuckles.

"Yeah, you deserve it." Lakshmi said with a smile.

He looked at her before turning to the door. He decided to take her out and have some fun instead of just completing Gates. He walked to the door and grabbed the handle but his eyes widened as his instincts flared up as he jumped back as the door burst open as golden energy in the form of claws appeared out of it and destroyed the ground.

He immediately jumped out of the way but his eyes widened when he saw that Lakshmi is in the way of it.

"Lakshmi!" Michael shouted as he skidded to a stop.

His shout brought her out of her trance as she jumped away from the attack as Michael was slightly relieved when he saw it. But his eyes widened again when he saw that she isn't going to make it.

*Tear*

The sound of flesh being torn is heard as his eyes widened.

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" Lakshmi screamed in pain when her left leg was torn off of her body.

Michael's eyes widened as her blood spilled out of the wound. He immediately dashed to her and reached her and cradled her in his arms as he looked at the part where her leg was.

"Michael... My leg..." Lakshmi called out in tears and in pain as she grabbed his hand.

"Damn it." Michael said as he gripped her body.

"It looks like your friend doesn't know when to follow her instincts." Shen said as he walked out of the door.

"Shen?!" Michael said shocked at seeing him..

"You managed to level up quite fast. I must commend you for that. However, it appears that this weakling is holding you back from getting more stronger." Shen said to him without remorse.

Lakshmi flinched a bit when she heard him but the pain from the wound on her leg caused her to focus on that.

"If you want to help her then you will have to defeat me, quickly. Since my door appeared inside a Gate you can't get out until you defeat me. But if you want to save your friends life then you should complete it quickly." Shen said as he walked inside the Gate.

"Bastard." Michael said in anger as he heard her.

"Michael... please... my leg." Lakshmi cried from the pain.

"Hold on Lakshmi." Michael said to her as he tore a piece of his shirt and tied it around her leg wound to hold off the bleeding.

He then laid her down on the floor slowly before standing up. He looked at the door with determination and anger as he summoned the Rings and looked at them before he took a deep breath and then walked inside the door.

At the same time in the HQ of the Indian Player Association which is in Delhi, Aravind Patel and the other Gold Players are currently in a meeting. Arun is also amongst the Players as he was called to the meeting. In the room, all 17 Players are gathered around a large table sitting in their respective seats as tablets were in front of them. At the helm is Aravind while Arun and the others were at their seats.

"So, why did you call me all the way here?" Arun asked the others.

"The amount of Gates that are appearing has started to increase Arun. I believe that we have to hold a discussion over it." Hari Singh, a fair skinned with greenish eyes, man of 24 who is wearing a dhoti and turban.

"So? We can just clear them and even it." Arun said nonchalantly.

"I don't think you understand Arun. There are only 17 of us, and we can't always be there to complete a Gate. We need to make new plans." Arun Nair, a man who is 28, has brown hair and eyes alongside medium brown skin. He is wearing a suit as he has a serious face.

"So what, are you saying that we should be on the move and not stay in one place?" Arun asked them a bit irritated.

"Listen here dickhead, I don't like your attitude. Don't think that you're some hot stuff just because you're a Gold Player like us." Another Player, Shiva Chopra, a Player who is just one year older than Arun, wearing punk type clothes and glasses, said to him.

"Tch! Just tell me what you want to do and get this over with." Arun said as he clicked his tongue in distaste.

"Calm down. We are here to discuss the issue of the Gates, we shouldn't be fighting like this." Aravind Patel said calmly.

And while the others Players hadn't spoken yet, they also agreed with him. Aravind is the most respected Player in India and is also the face of the Indian Players. So the others followed his lead, even Arun as he stopped his aggressiveness for the time being.

"So, what is the plan?" Arun asked him after calming down.

"We are thinking of enlisting the help of high leveled and skilled Silver Rank Players to help clear the Gates that appear. Mostly in a group so as to not lose more Players." Aravind said to him as the group heard him.

"Do you have a list of the people you want to choose?" Ali Ahmed, another Gold Player, who has fair skin, blue eyes and grey hair wearing a red shirt and black pants asked him.

"Yes, they should be appearing on your respective tablets right now." Aravind said before he tapped his tablet.

Then the list appeared on the tablets of the Gold Players as they looked at the list. Arun looked at the list with a bored look before a name caught his attention as he looked at it shocked.

"The fuck." Arun said shocked as he saw the name Michael Wilson on the amount of Players chosen.