Avatar Online

Avi wasn't intimidated at all. Her arms were bonded together above her head and Liu Ye stared at her emotionlessly but she simply smiled at him as if she found it funny.

"Cut it off," Liu Ye ordered firmly. "Just because the contract is flexible doesn't mean I will let you do whatever you want. I'm only doing the bare minimum so that your stalker doesn't find out the truth. I am doing my part of the deal. You should focus on your part as well." 

His one act of killing the Gang Member caused a snowball effect on everything else, forcing him into this situation. Now Liu Ye had to keep Avi by his side or else he would face all the hunters on his own. It wasn't a future he wanted to see. 

His only choice was getting the control back in his hands but Avi didn't make it easy. 

"Should I also do the bare minimum then?" Avi questioned as she leaned closer to his face. "Should I only stick to helping you with your training and escape when Marvin attacks us? Are you planning on fighting him alone?" 

She pursed her lips before blowing water vapor at his chest. He couldn't react when his whole torso began stiffening and eventually turned him into an ice sculpture from neck to his feet. 

"What do you want then?" Liu Ye questioned calmly despite being restricted. He was still a blue NPC which meant she wasn't hostile to him. 

Liu Ye was actually impressed by the intelligence of the NPCs in this game. He hoped she wouldn't notice his bad situation yet she figured it out in a blink. 

"What do I want?" Avi repeated as she freed herself from his frozen grasp and wrapped her arms around his head. "I don't know yet. I'm just having fun and you seem interesting." 

She uncovered his hood to take a better look at him and muttered, "You know, I actually thought of voiding our contract since I don't need you anymore but after I learned you have the potential to become an Avatar, I decided to stay with you for a little longer. Our boyfriend contract came in handy for me." 

"Can you release me?" Liu Ye asked without any comment. 

"Will you be a good boy?" Avi asked back as she scratched his head before whispering, "Actually, I prefer when you are a bad boy. I was excited when you pinned me to the wall." 

She giggled at his speechless expression and tapped on his shoulder. The ice began to crack before splitting apart and falling on the ground. 

"I don't really need you anymore but you need me. Let's change the contract into something more convenient," Avi suggested as she released him and walked out of the alley. She seemed to know he would follow her with his gaze as she smacked her butt while looking back.

'Excuse me? Game? What is going on?' Liu Ye thought confused, already finding it weird. Either the game developers were drunk while programming the game or the Game AI was simply playing with him. 

Liu Ye wiped his body from leftover ice and followed after her. Just as he reached her though, he received a new notification. 

[Ding! The Quest: Contract Boyfriend has been voided. Contact Avi for more details.] 

"I was thinking that maybe we should become partners. There is no need to set any contracts," Avi began casually as she finally kept her hands to herself. "If I need help, you will help me. If you need help, I will help you. Simple, right?"

"This sounds too good to be true," Liu Ye pointed out suspiciously. "If you plan to stay professional then I will of course agree." 

Her proposal heavily favored him greatly but it was obviously unfair since he didn't have anything to give her. 

"Heh, don't worry, I just want to be friends with you," Avi assured with a playful giggle and led him inside one of the buildings. "We can't do anything too naughty anyway. It's just a game." 

Huh?

Liu Ye froze in front of the row of Teleportation Platforms and watched her back while questioning if he heard her right. Could it be that she wasn't an NPC but a player instead?

His mind began analyzing everything she said so far when she confused him further with another sentence. 

"I can only play games with you since I'm planning on saving myself for my future husband," Avi informed while looking back at him. "I'm down for anything aside from that though. Kissing is my favorite."

"Well, I hope you will find the right man to do all that," Liu Ye wished as he caught up to her. "Anyway, let's begin our training then." 

For a second he thought she was just like Katherine but then why would she be active in the game together with all other NPCs? She even gave him a quest which an admin wouldn't do. 

"Sure, partner," Avi nodded with a mysterious smile and led him alongside the platforms. "It is already afternoon so not many students can be found here." 

They only spotted a few other students but they quickly disappeared one by one after stepping on the platforms. 

[Highland Forest - Lvl. 20] [Locked] 

[Lizard Beach - Lvl. 25] [Locked] 

[Love Island - Lvl 35] [Locked] 

[Skylands - Lvl. 60] [Locked] 

"This…" Liu Ye scanned all the available platforms and realized all of them were red. 

The platforms seemed to be named based on the destination location and the required level to enter them but even the lowest required level was 20. At this point, he couldn't use the Teleportation Platform at all. 

"Come. Since you are a Waterbender, we will start easy and go to Icefields," Avi proposed as she pointed at one of the Platforms. "Get inside. We will send you first." 

[Icefields - Lvl. 40] [Locked] 

"I don't think I can enter it…" Liu Ye muttered.

"What do you mean?" Avi questioned confused and pushed him on the platform. "Stop wasting time. I will come right after you." 

She gave him an encouraging smile and activated the panel for him. Despite being locked, the Platform activated and he disappeared. He was already gone when Avi's smile vanished and she rubbed her forehead embarrassed. 

"Damn, I almost blew my cover. I need to be more careful..."