Parting Away
Lee and his teammates, having received first aid, were finally able to comprehend the gravity of the situation. Curren, overcome with anger, immediately grabbed Lee by the collar, forcefully pushing him against the wall. His booming voice echoed through the room as he bellowed, "What have you done?"
Lee, his ears ringing from the outburst, lowered his head, looking Curren and the rest of his teammates in the eye. The weight of his actions began to sink in, and a wave of realization washed over him. "I read through the conditions. Only I was at a disadvantage. You guys weren't," he sighed, the weight of the consequences evident in his voice.
"According to the terms on the paper, I had to leave the game, never to return. Extremists will no longer exist, and my account will either be sold or taken over. My biometrics have been recorded, and should I try to log into Legends ever again, I was to be executed."
A moment of silence hung in the air as the impact of Lee's words settled upon his teammates. They were now safe to continue playing the game under a different team, while Lee was forced to confront an uncertain future.
Lee felt a deep emotional connection to his teammates, considering them not just his comrades but his family. It was heart-wrenching for him to realize that he had to separate from them and move forward in his life.
Placing his hands on Curren's strong shoulders, Lee locked eyes with him. A whirlwind of emotions passed between them as Lee ran his hands through Curren's blonde hair, playfully ruffling it as he had done many times before. "Take care of yourself out there, bro," he said, his voice catching with a slight choke.
Curren, with his robust build and muscular arms, enveloped Lee in a tight embrace, patting his shoulder reassuringly. He understood Lee better than anyone else since they shared a dormitory room together.
Lee then turned his attention to Noah, the youngest member of the group, whose tear-filled eyes looked up at him. Noah desperately tried to reach Lee's height, standing on his tiptoes, but could only manage to reach his chest. Lee chuckled, his eyes filled with affection for the emotional Noah.
"Don't go!" Noah cried out, his voice breaking with sorrow. Being around the team for so long, he had grown attached to them, even opting to spend holidays with them instead of going home.
Lee gently comforted Noah, wondering if he would ever be able to handle their parting. He adopted a stern tone and scolded him, "You're all grown up now! What do you think you're doing? Crying over me leaving the team? I am not dead, YOU HEAR ME?"
Sniffles filled the room as Noah pulled away from Lee, meeting his gaze. With determination, Noah saluted, placing his fist over his heart. "I, Noah Allen, solemnly vow to become the best of the best, and nothing less!"
A smile played on Lee's face as he turned his attention to Isabella, the only girl on the team. She had transformed from a street kid into a beautiful woman, captivating everyone who laid eyes on her. "Miss Isabella Laurel, I regretfully inform you that I might have to leave..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Isabella delivered a punch to his stomach. Her face was flushed with anger, and her hazel eyes burned with intensity. The other three winced at the sight of Lee being hit, but they knew better than to interfere with Isabella, who was known for her fiery temper.
"NEVER, EVER, CALL ME THAT! YOU HEAR ME, LEONARD SMITH?" Isabella's voice reverberated with fury. Lee doubled over in pain, wondering if he had taken the joke too far. Uncertain of how to proceed, he looked at her, trying to gauge her mood. Isabella stood with her arms crossed, her nose slightly in the air, refusing to meet his gaze. Her brown complexion and hazel eyes made her alluring.
Lee, breaking free from his admiration, apologized to Isabella. "I won't say I'm sorry, but you shouldn't have done that to someone who was just making a little joke." Isabella turned her head, ready to punch him once more, but she halted when she noticed the smirk on his face. Laughter erupted from both of them as Lee extended his hand for a high five, moving on to the next member of the team.
He gazed at the guy standing in front of him, the scar running across his face from below his left eye to his right cheek over his nose. However, the mischievous smile on his face erased any trace of menace, and with his glasses on, he appeared more like a nerd.
Samuel, fidgeting with his hands, found himself at a loss for words. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a watch, motioning for Lee to wear it. Lee strapped it on, and then Samuel handed him a small steel capsule with a pin on the top.
Confusion washed over Lee as he received these unusual gifts, but he played along. Sam then pulled out a gun and aimed it at the watch, firing a shot. To Lee's surprise, the watch remained intact, but a circular metal shield emerged from it. Intrigued, he pulled the pin, instantly transforming the small capsule into a sturdy staff capable of fending off multiple enemies.
"Thank you, Sam. I will cherish these gifts forever," Lee expressed, bowing in gratitude. Sam was unable to speak, so he signed the words which he wanted to say. Realizing the weight of his friend's regret, Lee signed every word back to him, tears streaming down Sam's face, revealing his deepest apologies. Unbeknownst to Lee, tears began to well up in his own eyes as he wrapped his arms around Sam.
"You know... you could just text me," Lee choked out, the realization dawning on Sam. Sam quickly pulled out his phone, typing with urgency. Lee didn't want to be present when he read Sam's the text, so he raised his arm into the air.
"One last time. We are the Extremists. WE ALWAYS..." he began, his voice trailing off.
"PUSH PAST OUR LIMITS!" the team exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with determination. With those final words, Lee left the place, bidding farewell to his four teammates, leaving them behind to face their own challenges.