New Game+

"Oh? Am I doing that?" The adult laughed.

"I thought I sealed your emotions and separated it from my own." Seeker frowned.

"It would have been possible. But I'm still you. So regardless of how mysterious the sensations of having that memory dump, my memories will still affect you. Besides, what you feel now should be a mixture of curiosity and hatred, right? After all… if it wasn't for Zera, Lynd and Meryl would still be alive."

"Then it's good that it's not her. That way I can just ignore her." Seeker then turned and attempted to walk away but found that he couldn't.

"Why the sudden stop?"

"Regardless if it's her or not… having a relationship with an Aragarian will be beneficial. I could find out more things about them."

"Well… Remember that the probability of that girl being her is still high. Just because her cells weren't as I remembered it, it doesn't rule out the possibility that she's Zera."

Seeker maintained a blank expression but turned around to face Zera.

"Wouldn't it be better if you kept my distance from her?"

"I won't be like you. I won't fall in love. At least in this timeline, if that girl turns out to be Zera then I already have my guard up."

"Oh? I think that's just part of the reason. Curiosity killed the cat, right? As a teen, you've always had a crush on Kristine Sythia… But my memories of Zera is just so powerful, that even now, you cannot resist attempting to communicate to her. Poor Kristine. If she realized the cruel destiny you've placed on her with your immature actions…" The adult did not continue speaking but his head continued to shake in great disappointment.

"You underestimate me. I'm an Overcomer now. Something you weren't in your prime."

"Ah… but love conquers all. Come on, my lifetime's memories have memorized hundreds of Eagle's Sermon. The greatest of these is love… Love covers a multitude of sins… Shall I go on?"

"I'm not in love with her. You are. You are right. I am curious. But knowing who she is and what she did… I'm sure I can resist her."

"We shall see then…" The Adult merely laughed.

"Still. You are bound to her because if anything, you will have to Overcome her to get stronger."

"Why? I'm already an Overcomer. I'll soon reach the World Champion stage if things go smoothly."

"Yes. But what goes beyond that? The problem with the terminology we've used in the Unlocking is that we've ended the limit by naming it according to that old sci-fi theme. The 10% of brain capacity thing. Only in our terms, we refer to it as the extent or the amount of power we apply to our brain. But is 100 really the limit? You know as much as I do that that isn't true. There is something more than that. I've seen it on the last moments of my previous life."

Seeker was silent.

"What goes beyond the World Champion stage? Or rather, what must you become to be more than an Overcomer?" The Adult Seeker gazed off the distance and stared at the laughing Lara.

"You mean that if I want to go beyond an Overcomer, I'd still need her?" Seeker frowned.

"Zera was your ticket then… Your road to reaching the Overcomer stage only became successful thanks to me… We already know of it right? How disgusting it is to actually become an Overcomer? You had to go through two lifetimes and actually die in order to awaken their Will. As such, it's almost impossible to attain a will and build one. It's as if only those born with that will become Overcomers. Right now, the safest bet you can make is to use the strongest and most painful emotions that may break you to go beyond an Overcomer. That helped you reach Ranked Hero and it was that that awakened your Will. But remember, that Will of yours, is a combination of both of ours. So just use her instead."

"Why does it have to be her? Can't I use someone else as my trigger?"

"You could. But only those at the same level of the emotions I felt to Zera would count. In your timeline, you'd have to lose Lynd, Meryl, and your parents again to meet the same level of anger that I felt. So, it's better if it is her." The adult smiled.

"How cruel of you. You are sending the only person you really loved in that future to die in this timeline to break my heart."

"A broken and contrite spirit the Lord will not reject. Only then can the Lord change your heart from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh. That's what that Eagle made us believe right? He used that verse to convince the Unlocks of our time to not lose hope and we've managed to create several squads of Unbecomings because of that. You believe it too. I know that because I believed in it. Then choose. Either you use someone else to die to strengthen your heart, or you use Zera, who is an Aragarian."

Seeker was silent.

"Besides… it would be interesting if you do fall in love with Zera as I did. Because either you cross the boundaries of an Overcomer through her death… or through her life. Regardless… She is important."

Seeker continued to stare blankly at Lara.

"How do I know that you're just saying that because you're still in love with her. And you want me to go to that girl at the small chance that she is Zera."

The Adult Seeker only smiled but remained silent.

"Anyways… Get out of here." Seeker ordered the adult.

"The fact remains that I will talk to her because we need information. I want to know more things about the Pioneers, Presiders or if there's a Principal. Not to mention the mystery of that Lost Primordial that Lennox discovered in your timeline."

"Oh? How do you plan to do that? If she really is Zera, you know that's an impossible chore. Zera chose to kill herself than to betray her own kind. My love conquered her and she chose to die not picking any sides."

"Regardless of who she is… it's clear that she likes me. I'll use that to my advantage. If she is Zera, then it's easier. Zera probably never liked you or were attracted to you in your timeline but only fell in love later. This time… I have that advantage."

"The advantage that she has a huge crush on you? I see. It is possible." The adult realized Seeker's advantage.

"I have to say, I'm jealous. I wonder. With this advantage… it is possible Even if the odds are extremely minute, its greater than the odds of making her betray her kind." The adult spoke with a dazed expression and even turned to the girl Lara.

Suddenly, the adult realized something and laughed.

"Ah… I see now. You're such a kid. You also want to try 'that' aren't you?"

Seeker almost had an irritated expression.

"It should prove effective."

"What a kid. Still after such childish romances. Whatever… I won't deny that that strategy is effective. So I guess I'll let you live out that fantasy. The legendary Fishermans' Farmer build? And you will be using the Natural's strategy, right?" The Adult Seeker laughed.

Seeker was slightly turning red containing the anger and embarrassment from the Adult's mockery.

"Whatever. Live out your childhood fantasy. I'm curious if this will even work. So childish. The pride, the confidence, the naivety…"

"Oh shut up. I'm not the only one urging myself to talk to her. You're dying to talk to her as well. Now get out." Seeker began to walk.

The Adult Seeker sneered.

"Let me tell you my opinion about that earlier feeling of frustration. I'm talking about the one you felt when you realized that she's not Zera… That wasn't from me, you know? That was all you." The Adult Seeker suddenly vanished. His loud laugh echoed loudly in Seeker's head.

Seeker's march had stopped. And Seeker gripped his fist tightly.

"I won't fall in love with her." Seeker vowed to himself.

Seeker then continued to walk casually. Because he had a disguise on, no one could recognize him.

He walked towards the seat directly behind the seats of Lara and Charm. Seeker sat down and called for a waiter who went to his seat to take his order.

Behind him, the pair of ladies continued to converse.

"So what exactly do you like about Seeker?" Charm wondered.

"Of all the people Miss Lara Diamon could have, she chooses a streamer."

"What's wrong with Seeker?"

"He's like a taboo for someone like you. He's a Pangean with sketchy backgrounds that are connected to the Americas. We can't even tell if he's a Pangean native. For all, we know he could be a spy from the Americas."

"Oh? But we from the EAA love such love stories. How many movies have we made that romanticized those taboo love stories?" Lara laughed.

"Ugh. I hate those EA dramas. That will be the end of your nation. If most of your girls' dream of getting swept off their feet by spies from other countries then your nation will end up with a lot of betrayals."

Lara simply laughed at Charm's comments.

"You're quick to judge… But isn't your love story more likely to become similar to those EA dramas you hate?"

"What do you mean?" Charm asked.

"Cliff! That man is a mystery too! He's being experimented on! You surely must have suspected things to be more than that! He should be some spy in training but now you've even managed to steal his heart! Oh, I bet millions of girls in my country would gladly trade positions with you!"

"What are you talking about? Cliff a victim of illegal operations!"

"You can't be that thick! Or maybe love has already blinded you." Lara giggled.

"Listen… As a third party observing your situation… Cliff's story has a lot of loopholes! I can't even begin to point them out!"

"Loopholes?"

"Yes. He isn't a victim! He probably willingly took those experiments to become stronger!"

"No way! Cliff is a victim! You weren't there when he cried! The experiments he's been going through-"

"Are far more powerful than what he made it out to be. He should be at least three or four times stronger than a normal human being! That operation he had wasn't just something that would make his adrenaline more active. His physique is far stronger than a normal human being."

"What? "

"Look. Don't ask how I know. I just do. Don't underestimate the technology that the EAA has. Don't be fooled by our façade in being a country that specializes in cosmetic surgery. Truth is, we can easily determine enhanced humans." Lara spoke seriously.

Charm wanted to argue back but Lara signaled for her to stop.

"I won't explain myself as it has to do with our Technological Possibilities. But I'm telling you the truth."

Charm was stunned at Lara's declaration.

The fact that Lara brought up the technological possibilities of her country made Charm hesitate.

She was silent for a few seconds then gazed at Lara once more.

"Let's say you're right. Why is he doing it then? Why has he been constantly talking to me?"

Lara shrugged.

"I don't know. I was thinking about it these days. I mean… with General Harker, there's really nothing much your family can offer for him. I didn't say anything until now because… I feel that although Cliff is lying to you… his actions don't make sense."

"He is courting you. It's the oldest trick in the book." Seeker then sat down right next to them carrying his plate.

The two were surprised at the sudden appearance of a strange man.

Seeker was wearing a costume that hid his true face.

Lara immediately noticed.

"Who are you and why are you wearing that fake face?" Lara frowned.

"That man's wearing a fake face?" Charm was stunned. He gave the man a closer look and noticed that the face wasn't real. But it was so well-made that unless people took the time to look closer they wouldn't have noticed.

"Huh. I thought you were a fan of mine. I mean, you figured out where I'm staying despite how hard that info is to get… Yet you couldn't tell by my voice?"

"Seeker Carlean!?" The two shouted.

"SHHHH! What are you doing?!" Seeker whispered angrily.

The crowd around them started to give the group a strange look. Others were even trying to stand to see where the voice came from.

"Exactly! Seeker Carlean is playing again! Let's watch that stream together!" Seeker spoke with a weird voice that was obviously hiding his real tone.

The pair immediately realized what Seeker was trying to do and played along.

"Right! We can watch it at my place! I've got the coolest VR that will make it look like we are in the game itself!" Lara added.

The crowd's attention disappeared as many fans of Seeker thought that these Casuals were talking about Seeker's next stream.

"Nice save." Seeker complimented.

Lara, however, was gripping Charm's hand tightly.

THE Seeker Carlean was right in front of her.