Souls Online: Mythic Ascension
Chapter 135: Crystal’s Username

Chapter 135: Crystal’s Username

Leo wanted to run away but his heart told him that if he did, this would probably be the last time he ever saw her and he truly did not want that.

"Crystal. I know that what I did was cowardly and I would totally understand if you would never want to see me again...?!"

Tears started streaming down her face as she glared at him with a mixture of rage, sorrow and indignation

"You jerk. I have always wanted to see you. All of you. Even if you looked like a walking anime character. Even more so if I knew you were sick!"

She wiped at her eyes furiously as she tried to stop the tears from falling

"You think I wouldn’t have shown up every damn day if I knew you were still alive? You think I wouldn’t have camped out at your hospital bed with a dumb DVD player and some chocolate?!"

A weak laugh escaped Leo’s lips.

"Honestly...? That sounds exactly like you."

Crystal sniffled, then gave a half-hearted punch to his arm.

"You owe me,"

she softly growled with a pout.

"I know."

"Like, big time. I want snacks. A full explanation. And I want to touch the ears~!"

He smiled, soft and small. Even now, she was going at her own pace

"I can do the snacks and the explanation. The ears though... We will have to negotiate on that."

They stood there in the fading sunlight, the tension finally giving way to something warmer. Crystal took a deep breath and stepped forward, this time not to interrogate or accuse—but just to be close.

"I missed you, Leo."

’I missed you too.’

Leo couldn’t say the words but Crystal could see it in his eyes. Even with the ears, he was still the serious but awkward boy that she had fallen for all those years ago.

After a long silence, she asked gently,

"So what now? What happens next?"

He exhaled slowly.

"Now... things get weirder."

"Weirder than you growing cat ears?"

"And a tail. Yes. You would be surprised."

Crystal’s eyes widened in shock at the casual reveal.

"You have a tail too?! I wanna see! Show me!"

Leo glanced around before replying

"Not here. Too many people could see. How about you visit me at my place? I am sure Sis would be happy to see you too?"

"Let’s go now then. I have a bone to pick with Luna. I have seen her a couple times but she could never be bothered to tell me about your situation!"

"About that..."

Leo scratched his head awkwardly, averting his gaze. Crystal noticed this and narrowed her eyes, staring daggers at him.

"You told her not to tell me. Didn’t you?!"

"...Maybe?"

"Ooh I can’t believe you! That’s it! I demand double the ear petting. Also you said a tail yeah? I wanna pet that too!"

Leo was aghast at the demands she was putting forth as she bared her teeth in anger.

"When you get back, you better get that new game Ascension of Souls so I can kick your butt without having to worry about breaking you!"

Leo’s expression froze into one of shock as he reached out and grabbed Crystal by her shoulders.

’You’re playing that game?!"

Confused as to why he was acting like that, Crystal had a sense of foreboding as she replied

"Yeah...?"

"You need to be careful, Crys. That game is the reason why I am like this now. Yeah it saved my life but it is affecting people in various ways. It may affect you soon!"

Crystal blinked in stunned silence, not really comprehending what he had just said.

"Affect me...how?"

Leo narrowed his eyes into a glare

"You know exactly how. Whoever made that game has it mutating people here in the real world."

"That’s ridiculous! There is no way–"

"My sister’s hair has turned white and her eyes are now red. I have a buddy who can regenerate almost instantaneously from getting stabbed, his blood is purple and highly corrosive."

"Whoa... But that’s just like two people not including you."

"Well there’s a girl at my place sent by the government who now has monkey ears and a tail."

"Oh man...."

She looked like she was about to pass out for a second but then her brow twitched and with renewed anger in her voice

"Wait a second. A girl is at your house that is not your sister? Did you get a girlfriend?! Like what kinda guy gets a girlfriend while on their deathbed and ditching their best friend!"

Leo flinched, holding his hands up defensively.

"She’s not my girlfriend! She’s more like... a handler Or a liaison of sorts. More often than not she is an unhinged agent of utter chaos ."

Crystal narrowed her eyes, clearly not buying it. "Uh-huh. So that’s what they’re calling it these days."

He groaned.

"Crys, I swear.

She was sent by the government to monitor and protect me.

Apparently, I’m a real hot commodity for people with less than ’savory’ intentions. She reports everything back to the higher-ups and annoys me constantly. Honestly, if she wasn’t cute, I’d be so annoyed!."

Crystal blinked.

"So she is cute?!"

Leo immediately realized his mistake and backpedaled. "No—I mean, yes—I mean—that’s not the point!"

She folded her arms and huffed.

"You’ve changed."

He gave her a deadpan look.

"You’re literally talking to a guy with cat ears and a tail who’s alive because of a fucked up video game. Of course I’ve changed."

There was a tense beat of silence before Crystal sighed and muttered under her breath,

"...Still better be single."

"Anyways, why did you bring up the game"

Leo asked, finally bringing them back to the topic at hand after that brief derailment.

It was Crystal’s turn to avoid his gaze this time as she felt his stare drilling into the side of her head.

"I may have started playing the game a bit already."

"Define ’a bit’"

"Well I am in the top 10 in various aspects. My username is Empress!"