End of the First Stage

"I saw him stab her shoulders with his sword, and she fell without even uttering a word."

"That's what I could recall, but I guess he killed her because she didn't make a vocal reaction even though her shoulders were brutally Injured," James explained.

Tyler had met him at the hospital where he was and had asked him some questions concerning how the swordsman saved him, but unfortunately, only a few scenes of their battle were what James saw.

He was in pain at that moment and couldn't fully notice what had happened.

Tyler nodded positively. "I hope you are feeling better now?" He asked.

"Uh, yeah. Thank you, sir," James replied.

The lightning attack only affected his chest region mostly, so it was bandaged. With the way he was struck, Tyler noticed that Venus didn't attempt to kill James. Although he wondered why an assassin wouldn't kill its traitor, but he just couldn't get a clue of the reason.

"The doctor said you must be on hospital treatment for the rest of the week, so you just have to stay here and get better, okay?" Tyler advised.

James nodded in agreement.

Tyler then left the hospital and went back to the office. He wondered if Venus had been killed or had just been left brutally Injured in her base.

He tried using the Location Map Glasses to see if she was outta her base but unfortunately got no sign of her.

"She must be in her base... And shamefully, I don't even know this place," Tyler said in dismay.

"Wait Tyler, are you stupid?! What are you trying to do? Are you trying to help someone who has just attempted to kill you lately?" The Hangman questioned his confused self, shrugging.

He tried to erase everything that had to do with Molly, but it seemed as though her image had been trapped inside his brain, threatening to stay forever.

Tyler only wanted to focus on his aim to be among the Top 5 Players, and not to care about emotional things again. Yeah, Ciara just dumped him, and he had unfinished business with that. He was still considering going to her or accepting the fact that she left him...

Literally, his head is sick.

Tyler was confused about everything... Now, he only needs to relax and forget about everything. His past, his present, and maybe try to think of the future.

Because...

After today, the First Stage of the First Realm of ApexRise Online will come to an end.

It's been thirty-one days.

And the next day shall be the opening day of the Second Stage of the First Realm.

Tyler knew this, so this was why he had to get himself prepared. It was known that difficulty and danger increases in every Stage, and being distracted by emotional affairs might hinder one's success.

Tyler didn't want this. He didn't want to fail.

[6:26 PM].

"It's almost time," Tyler commented while looking at his wristwatch.

Sigh...

Tyler entered the ApexRise Online social media platforms and began reading posts made by Players.

Unlike other days, today seemed to be totally different. Almost all Players posted about their experience in the First Stage, while others only just posted about the impression made by their fans.

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[WhiteMan (P): I'm so happy to end #360 in the Super Ranking. This actually means I'm entering the next Stage, hehe. Cheers to success!]

(Comments)

[Pilgrim (P): Congratulations man. But the first Stage isn't over yet. You can still down-rank or even up-rank].

[Demonic (P): Whoa I'm ending #361].

[Matt_Stones (V): Congrats].

---

[Six-winged Hippo (P): Next Stage, here we come! I'm ending #7 in style, huhu!]

(Comments)

[Pilgrim (P): Hehehehe].

[Baylor (P): Congrats. Unfortunately, I'm going to die (crying sticker)].

----------

(See 9M more posts...)

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Tyler read a lot before closing the posts section and looked at the rankings.

Surprisingly, most Players' ranking dropped, giving more Players room to move to the top. Only the top three: Pilgrim, Jet, and Matter remained in their position. And even Venus who recently moved from #6 to #21 had moved to #56, making Tyler a little disappointed.

However, it didn't matter at all since as many as 10 million Players are needed to enter the next Stage.

Tyler also down-ranked to #1,568,970, but he was happy that he was still qualified, at least.

"It doesn't matter now," he muttered, trying to console his sorry ass.

After checking the rankings, Tyler had dinner and returned to duty. Today, he would stay awake until the very first minute of the next month, the next Stage.

He inspected the next case and sighed.

[Ultra Square in the Northern Villages demands service against SS+-ranked Beasts].

"SS+-ranked Beasts. Uh, that's gonna be tough," The Hangman commented with a serious expression.

He marked the case papers and decided to fix these tomorrow.

"I don't know if I might still be in New Claraville tomorrow. But if I do, then I'll slay those things, no matter how deadly it might be."

Tyler declared.

[10:00 PM].

At exactly this time, the Invisible Information NPC came up with a message for both Players and Viewers.

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[It's Charlotte, your Invisible Information NPC.]

[Let me go straight to the point.

It's two hours away to enter the next Stage. Congratulations to the top 10 million Players who are about to make it to the second Stage.

Note that there is a probability that the setting might change in the next Stage, or, it might remain the same.

However, The Super and Fame Ranking will reset, and Players will have to start afresh with ranking up. The second Stage will surely be more dangerous and deadlier, so please be ready.

5 million Players would be needed to enter the Third Stage, and just like the way the failures of the first Stage would be killed and erased, the failures of the second Stage would be treated the same way.

More harm would be caused, more Class Duties would be assigned. Remember, only hard work can save, GOOD LUCK PLAYERS.

This is my message for now, till we meet again!

----------

Tyler felt the hot breeze of chaos in the incoming progressions.

"Mehn, I guess this is just the beginning of chaos," he said, scratching the back of his head.

After getting the messages, Tyler tried doing more research about Venus. Out of all the posts made by Players, Venus's wasn't among them.

She posted nothing.

"Maybe her situation is very severe... I can try to find her base."

Tyler did this until the time drew very near. The sad part was that he found nothing associated with her location, and decided to give up. He lay on his bed in his office room and waited for the time for elevation, wondering how things would be in the next Stage.

"I know, things had been hell in the first Stage. There is no doubt that the second Stage would be a world of commotion."

"By then, I should be ready to get fired as the head of the Striders."

"Thus, maybe, The Sables can be my next option."

"Just MAYBE."