Maids VS Apocalypse

Author note:

Extra Chapter for reaching the 3rd goal of 200 Power Stones!

I never thought we would go this far and I’m starting to regret going this challenge.

You like to torture me that much? Ok. Get me 300 Power Stones or 70 Golden Tickers and I will release a 4th extra Chapter!

=============================================

Lara came out of the bathroom and Mark went in to take a quick shower, or so it looked to everyone else. Once the door closed behind him, he pulled his pants down, sat on the toilet opened his inventory, and looked at the listed item. After a moment of hesitation, he selected two items and took them out, one in each hand.

’.... How...?’

In his right hand, Mark held his phone. The device survived the disaster Malarak and his spawn had caused, but that left it in a terrible state. In his left hand, he was holding the same device. An exact copy down to the tiniest of cracks on the screen protector.

He pressed the power button on both devices and the screens lit up. Both had the same default lock-screen wallpaper. The only difference between the two was that the original was empty while the copy had a single notification.

[Friend: Hide it]

The message arrived seconds after the device dropped inside the earbud box and Mark made the split-second decision to store it in his inventory. Even though he had no idea what the purpose behind it was, just knowing that there was one made him adamant about learning what it was.

[

Would you like to store this item?

>YES NO

]

He returned the original to his Inventory and stared at the notification on the copy. Swiping on the screen unlocked it right away. There was no password or pattern lock, which was a little surprising, but not as much as the complete lack of applications on the home screen.

’A messenger app?’

The icon was blue in color with a small white envelope at the center. That pointed to it being a messaging app, but it wasn’t one he was familiar with. Mark checked the notification and saw that it came from that app, which should’ve been obvious since it was the only one on the phone.

After coming this far there was no point in waiting so he tapped the icon and opened the app. As expected, there was only one contact, with the only message sent and received being the one from the notification telling him to hide it.

The name of the contact was "Friend".

’Yeah, as if anyone would believe that...’

Mark didn’t even contemplate sending a reply when a bubble with three dots appeared on the left side of the screen, alerting him that whoever sent the message was typing a new one.

[

Friend: That was quick.

I didn’t expect you to take it out so soon.

]

Mark stared at the words for a long two seconds before typing a reply.

[Mark: What do you want?]

For a moment there he wondered if the whole thing was just an elaborate prank played by his new squadmates. Careful consideration made him reconsider, however. There was no need for them to go to such length just for a prank when they could’ve gone for something simpler with twice the impact.

[Friend: Let’s not worry about that for now.

What matters right now is what YOU want.]

Mark’s brow twitched and the corners of his mouth curled up.

[Mark: What?

Are you going to offer me three wishes or something?

Friend: (Laughing face emoji)

Since you’re wearing their uniform, I’m guessing you joined the PKs?

Mark: Someone has eyes.

And a brain as well.

]

Mark wasn’t exceptionally good at math but he could count to three at the very least. This was the third time in a single week that he learned about someone spying on him, which was far less disturbing than the first one. It became something he expected at this point. Even now he wasn’t too sure if he was being monitored or not.

’I feel sorry for whoever is watching me now...’

He was starting to lean toward the possibility that whoever sent him the phone was one of the invaders Ramsay mentioned before. The image of a woman in a red cloak flashed in his mind and his smile turned into a frown.

[Friend: Do you want out?]

Even though he was waiting for it, Mark was still taken aback when the message arrived.

[Mark: What makes you think that?]

There was a short pause before a reply was sent.

[Friend: Because you and I both know you wouldn’t have joined them if given the choice.

Let’s set some things straight before you give me your answer.

I can help you escape from the PKs.

But that’s not what I’m offering. Not right now, at last.

]

The last message raised an eyebrow.

[Mark: Are you sure about that?

Friend: You being with the PKs works for both of us.

We can have them guard you.

It’s a lot less stressful.

]

Mark was a little confused so he put that in a message and pressed send.

[Mark: Then what are you offering?]

He waited patiently for the message to arrive, and this time it didn’t take long.

[Friend: I’m offering you what the PKs aren’t telling you.]

Before he could ask, "Friend" sent another message.

[Friend: ■■■■■]

Mark’s eyes narrowed.

[Friend: You can’t read it, can you?]

A layer of mosaic appeared above one of the messages, completely masking it from view. Mark stared at the screen for some time then closed it and rubbed his eyes. After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and opened the app again. The mosaic was still there, hiding whatever word the other person had sent.

[Friend: The message is a perfectly readable word.

If you’re unable to see it

That would mean you don’t meet the system’s requirements.

]

Mark recalled the first System screen he ever saw, and after staring at the censored message for a while the same one appeared in front of him.

[You do not meet the requirements to access this information.]

The message should have been on his mind ever since it first appeared, but for some inexplicable reason, he had forgotten all about it until now. He even asked the PK leader if she knew what Lara was yet it never even occurred to him to mention it in the same conversation.

[Friend: So this isn’t your first time going through this...]

Snapping back to his senses, Mark stared at the cracked screen of the phone. His thumbs moved a second later.