New Game+

The city was on high alert.

The death of three youths and the loss of their Tech Bands created a commotion and even the company that created the tech band was working with the military to find out where the three tech bands were.

Scans and searches were made at the border with such strict protocols, that many illegal tech bands were discovered on the borders of the city.

Seeker saw numerous arrests of people with fake bands that made them appear to be Pioneers.

On the news channels, it was explained just how critical the issue was.

Seeker and his companions were all watching the news as it became an emergency display.

"The murders of these three Pioneer hikers have been identified as three members of the Oshwick family. Each member had a Level One band of different Classes. Skinder Oshwick, the eldest member had a Class Seven band, Thievos and Merkry had a Class Four band. The corporation who developed these bands, Infini-Band claimed that the device had never been marked as 'Destroyed' but had vanished from their networks. This means, that a Tech Band thief has once more surfaced, Two years ago, a total of ten bands had disappeared in a series of thefts which we all learned to be caused by the criminal mastermind, Ben 10."

Seeker did his best to not close his eyes and facepalm himself.

"This mysterious killer, Ben 10, who caused several massacres leading to the death of four Pioneer family lines was found to be Class Four Pioneer Gorvefield! He was attempting to murder Presider Fortgleam and nearly succeeded had it not been for the aid of Presiders Westbernt and Presider Mehkaelos. However, the technology that Ben 10 used was never found and lost in an archive. It is believed that Ben 10 isolated the component of the band that allowed him to steal, hijack, and even assimilate the bands into his own bypassing all security and detectable protocols. Presider Fortgleam is on high alert and everyone will be asked to go through a Band check every day." The report explained.

"Another Ben 10... Who would have thought that he would return!" The driver exclaimed.

"I've always thought that he would return. With the tech gone, it was only a matter of time. My family even created specific protocols to ensure that we won't ever get killed. Especially since my family has a lot of vagrant wanderers." Seeker held out his band and suddenly was coated in a faint white energy creating vibrating pulses.

The three girls that Seeker kept talking to huddled up close to him to see the band. The two that sat next to Seeker had practically been hugging him the entire trip, much to the anger of the third girl.

The other two were now constantly talking with the two males. Seeker had of course been helping the men how to talk to the girl and was guiding them via a secret chat. At that point, though Seeker had three girls, the two men had now connected with their respective crushes and didn't even see Seeker as a threat, but as the perfect wingman.

"Do you think that... whoever this new Band Thief is... Would he also make an attempt to kill the Presider?" One of the girls hugging Seeker asked.

"Who knows?" The driver sighed.

"Of course, he would. We all desire power. We all desire to be Presiders, don't we? Even these bands rank and identify us to levels. You guys wouldn't have let me ride if I was just a Level One Class One guy, would you have rode with me?"

The car became quiet.

"Aren't we all moving to this desire? Isn't that why the Presiders all set limits, At least we would be killing each other? But for those who became mad, what else is there to pursue in this world? Being a Presider, or rather, surpassing a Presider would be the goal."

"Do you desire to be a Presider?" One of the girls asked.

"Anyone who cannot say that upfront, and out loud, can never be a Presider. After all, those that are, have conquered many. I see myself as that. A Conqueror. And honestly, I desire to be more than that." Seeker winked.

The girls all swooned at how manly Seeker was.

BOOOM!

"You are under arrest!"

"No! I'm not the band thief! I swear! This...! This...!"

A shootout occurred on another side of the city as the checks continued.

"Ugh... To think another Band Thief would appear. I wonder when the Presider Overlords would return? It's been nearly two weeks since his departure to the Godlands!" The driver sighed as he drove past the commotion.

The car finally stopped at a parking lot of a very tall building.

"Pioneer Vackeron Leedon tower . Here's your stop, Finder." The driver spoke.

"Thanks! I'll be there to make my final arrangements. I probably will be staying here in the city for a while. I'll message you guys if you're free again tonight."

"Who would think that your little novel would already be so lucrative? To think an app to read stories would be so popular and entertaining! I mean, you're practically earning what Class Nines earn! I mean... these stories are wild!" One of the girls read through Finder Golderon's profile in the web novel application, Verdant Stories.

"Love and Deduction. What an amazing story. I'm even more intrigued with the world-building you made around it! And that Veil Cruz. He really sounds like a very smart and sexy man. Sort of like you, Finder." One of the girls blushed.

"Thanks, Marjie. I just have to attend this meeting. They are planning to switch from stories to begin able to produce movies..." Seeker laughed.

"Call us when you're free!" The girls called out together as Seeker left.

Seeker passed through the security of the building.

His identity was treated as a VIP as Verdant Stories was a top contributor of wealth to the Vackeron Leedon Group of Companies.

Seeker managed to reach the floor with numerous deceitful tricks and managed to reach the top passing through security, but never going through the scanners to detect the make and model of his Tech Band.

The doors to Low Hark's room opened and was greeted by a dozen employees who were all busy with calls and clearing out many white papers.

Many hopeful applicants and start-up authors were also in the room.

"Can I help you?" A young man asked.

"Finder Golderon."

"Finder Golderon! Author of Love and Deduction! Great to finally meet you! It's amazing how a legend like you would finally grace our paths."

Seeker only smiled and followed the man.

"The office of Pioneer Lovengrit and Harker." The youth used his Tech Band to unlock the doors to the room.

Seeker saw his two companions at their desks.

"Finder, my boy!" Eric, give us some privacy will you?" Harker smiled.

The youth walked away and left the three to speak.

"It's been a while, Seeker." Harker smiled.

"I see you guys have enjoyed yourself here. Look at you, enjoying peace and quiet for two years!" Seeker smiled.

"It hasn't been exactly two years. And I'm sure, as you have seen in the news, we've been going through a lot of battles and subterfuge to reach where we are today."

"Two years in here in such a short time. A year here, is 300 days right?" Seeker asked.

"Yes. The calendar here is different. How long has it been outside? Lennox estimated that twenty-one or so days in here would be just one day outside."

"That's about right. It's nearly a month since you went in here. It's chaos outside."

"The battle on Earth has started, huh? How are we fairing?"

"Good enough. But there is a portal that will soon open. Principal Dormin has plans to open a portal that could bring a tide of Presiders in here."

"A portal?!" Lowengren and Harker exclaimed.

"Yes. Right now, Marrho is facing Pridgeon and Lanterk. Our forces are helping the battle. Has Marrho turned up here? And who Presider Overlord?" Seeker asked.

"Marrho has never appeared here. At least, not in the way of manifesting a physical body. And as for Presider Overlords, there are three of them. Each managing one continent in this massive place. Right now, they must have been called to battle giving us the perfect opportunity to raise all hell here, and find the source of Marrho's power."

"And Lennox? Where is that Thought Process now?"

"He had to become 'One with the Force' to save us. That's how we were able to alter history. He already prepared one knowing you would soon enter this place. When you came in and gave the name, that's how the Golderon's history was stored within the data. Also, Lennox was trying to figure out where the source of Marrho's power was. After all, everything has a source. This whole virtual reality should have a source if it links to actual reality."

"So then you found it? The source of Marrho's power?"

"Yes. The Data Center is here, but is also not here."

"So it's a device that exists in this dimension and in our three-dimensional world...?"

"Exactly. The source of Marrho's power that creates this virtual world is also the source of his lightning energy. And Lennox has made contact with it and thanks to Eagle he could guess what it is. It isn't lightning."

"It isn't lightning?" Seeker frowned.

"Yes. Marrho's heritage, and perhaps the heritage of the Prime that birthed Marrho, is not lightning. At least, not the lightning that God makes."

Seeker thought a bit and knew that the bible decrees and lists many verses of how he controls and commands lightning. And then he realized, there was one lightning that rebelled against God."

"I saw Satan fell down-"

"-Like lightning." Seeker and Lowengren spoke together.