Cultivation Online: Trapped In A New World

"You must be hungry right?" Annie asked as she led him into an area full of people. It looked like a Market square. They had spent the night in a cottage that looked like it was made of puzzles. Rohan noticed the sky was only dark red at night, not much difference with the day, only the distinct two moons that hung over the sky, one taking a crescent shape. They glowed in the red sky.

"Not really, but I'll eat something," Rohan replied, "There are so many people here" He was surprised to see everyone making good use of the universe's resources.

"Yeah, too bad most of them the best thing their system could do is just questions and answers," Annie said handing over a brown fruit to Rohan. "You have two weapons and a companion already, I think you're all set for the academy," She said digging her teeth into the fruit, "Would you like to go there?"

"Seriously Annie, the academy? It is run by the man who wanted to kill us back in the E O S I S" He looked around the market, "He subjected these people into workers only because they have low systems."

"Don't sweat yourself, Rohan, you can't do anything about it, besides no one will recognize you. And we will need reinforcements when we have to go against the wildlings." Annie remarked.

"Thanks but no," Rohan said. As he was eating he started to recollect everything that had happened. If what Jenna said was true, that means his father had been here, but who killed him? He didn't get the chance to ask her. One exciting thought jumped into his head, it was about his mother. She must be in this universe, he thought. And if she had a good system, she'd be free from slavery. Rohan concealed his happy thoughts. "Do you happen to know where Jenna, Leon, and Allison are?" He asked Annie

"Jenna is back with her Aunt and the Captain, so much for the play she kept up. I don't know about Allison, but Leon just made it into the academy recently with a metal system" Annie said her eyes drifting toward the commotion that was unfolding. Two uniformly dressed men harassing a middle-aged woman. They must have enforcement systems, Annie thought.

"What are they doing? Annie stop them, you're from the academy right?" Rohan asked with concern.

"Rohan, we might just want to back up, I'm only a wildling patroller, I have nothing to do with this," Annie said.

Rohan was surprised at her response, he marched forward to save the woman from the beating. "Rohan!" Annie called back on him.

"Excuse me, but what did she do to deserve this?" Rohan asked as he approached the men. The woman was weeping, she had a swollen face already.

"And who are you?" One of the men asked placing his hands on his hip.

"Who I am doesn't have anything to do with why you're beating up a helpless woman," Rohan said gesturing to the lady.

The first man who spoke started laughing, he turned away from Rohan and faced the woman, "Joe, please cuff that jerk up." He raised his baton to smack the woman again but Rohan held it mid-air. The other man quickly materialized a handcuff from his system and cuffed it on Rohan's lifted hand. The 1st officer hit Rohan's midsection with the baton flinging him to the ground.

Rohan called on Quad and he materialized. The officer controlling the cuffs, jumped in fear as the four-eyed wolf attacked him, as his partner came to his aid, the cuffs binding Rohan's hands, dematerialized. Rohan helped the lady up and she thanked him before scrambling away.

He turned to meet a feminine face with brown hair.

"Is that your companion?" The brown haired woman asked referring to his wolf. Rohan didn't know why but she looked familiar.

"Yes ma'am." He answered, that there were six men behind her, so he thought she must be powerful.

The lady uttered no other word to him, she turned to her men, "Bring him in". And with that, Rohan felt a heavy blow to his head and he blacked out.

Rohan woke up and found himself lying down in a series of bunks. He sat up and watched through the open door as everyone was running helter-skelter.

Annie entered the room, "Uh! Great" she heaved in relief, "You're awake, come on we need to get to the arena, they're gathering everyone there. They're gonna drop a veil."

Rohan didn't have time to ask her what was going on, he just followed her. He saw many others, they were all looking sleek. The academy must be very good at fishing out those with good systems, he thought. Everyone was startled at the sound of a loud horn. Rohan looked through the transparent windows, he could see a purple forcefield covering the academy and its exterior lands.

What's happening? Rohan thought. Why are they protecting the academy with a veil? He followed Annie into a large arena with bright lights. Everyone was gathered there.

The horn blared once more. Rohan climbed to a top window and peeked out, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Beyond the veil, he could see many people banging on the forcefield as wildlings were gobbling them up. What was this inhumanity? Why wouldn't they let them in?

A few academics were gasping at the horrific sight. The screams were so loud and painful. After a while, it was all quiet outside the veil. Rohan held back enraged tears.

"We would be seeing more of that in a few weeks to come" Lirk's commanding voice drew everyone's attention to him. "That's why we're here" He flashed a cunning smile. "We're all here to prevent that from happening again!" He proclaimed raising his arms into the air.

Rohan stared in anger at him. How dare he murder so many people and feel casual about it?

Lirk's face turned serious, "We will be having strict training and practice from now onwards. And the next time there's a wildling mob, You all will be out there battling, not crouching in here."