Chapter 128: Entering the Dome
Of course, creating such a commotion in a public park would obviously attract the eyes of many people; and so all those that were present nearby stopped to look at whatever was happening.
Many were terrified to see a giant fist attack two people, but unable to do anything as they just used their phones to film the event.
Stark was wearing the bunny mask, so people couldn't recognize him as he entered the dome and closed the door behind.
And so just like that, people began to speculate more and more on the fact this was possibly the real 'bunny-masked man', and what he was doing here.
These simple videos from the people who witnessed what Stark had done would result in the popularity of the 'bunny-masked man' to grow even more than it already was.
…
'Hm…' after Stark closed the door, he turned around and found himself… in a completely black space?
I mean, literally, it was completely dark, with no way to identify the walls, floor or even ceiling, he couldn't see anything, and so navigating inside of this building seemed somewhat impossible.
Maybe this was made on purpose to stop any intruders.
But…
[Welcome, participant, to the Fellarburg ClassiTop Meeting of 2024!]
Suddenly, as soon as he took a step forward, making sure not to hit a wall, a blue panel appeared before him.
[Please follow the arrows to reach the 'Meeting Place'!]
And suddenly, white arrows began to flicker on the ground, leading him through the darkness.
It felt weird, why would they have such an elaborate setting for such an event, couldn't they just make a normal building and ask people to head toward a specific room?
'No… this feels weird…' Stark shook his head.
He still decided to follow the arrows as they were his only way to navigate this place without hitting a dozen walls.
And as he walked deeper into the darkness… he found himself in front of a circular elevator.
[Please select the lowest floor, and enjoy your stay!]
The elevator was illuminated, meaning that he could see it from afar, entering it without much issues.
'No ambush…' he mumbled, otherwise [Focus] would have warned him.
And so he did as he was told and clicked on the lowest floor, which was named 'Omega'.
~VROOUUUU~
The giant circular elevator closed and began to descend.
But te closer Stark got to these people and their meeting place, the more some sort of feeling inside of his heart grew.
Was he scared?
No, he wasn't.
Then was it stress? Anxiousness? Doubt?
'No… none of those either,' he smiled.
Frankly, he didn't know why he was doing any of this, he could just go out to the 'Moonless' mansion and meet the 'Archer King' there.
It was needless risks that he was taking.
Maybe it was his pride…?
[You are reaching your destination in 30 seconds!]
Another blue panel appeared while Stark was thinking.
But it was once Stark looked down and thought really deeply about why he was doing this, his eyes yet again transforming into a vortex of aura, that he figured it out…
[THEY ARE MAKING FUN OF US!]
[DO YOU THINK THEY CARE?!]
[They probably LAUGHED about our death!]
These were such panels that appeared in his dreams, and they were what pushed him to do that.
'Alright… I get it now…' his face turned cold as the elevator suddenly stopped, and the sound of machinery ended.
[You have arrived!]
The elevator doors slid open, revealing a massive wooden door adorned with intricate carvings. It exuded luxury, complete with two golden ring handles for anyone who wanted to enter.
'…'
Even from his stand point, Stark could feel the immense amount of aura coming out from behind this door, there were waves of all sorts of colors escaping from the gaps or the sides.
~STEP~
The tension was at all-time high for him, but strangely, Stark kept a pretty calm and cold face, the ground beneath his feet leaving a crimson mark.
After evry step of his, an image or video of his previous battles appeared all over his surroundings in dozens upon dozens of panels.
Was it his own body's way to dissuade him of doing what he was about to do?
It didn't matter.
Because even with all these images… another panel would appear on top of them to keep him going, it was his determination responding.
[Keep going] were the words that replaced these panels.
The battle against Malakar?
[Keep going]
The fight against Judicator?
[Keep going!]
His last encounter with Sierra?
[KEEP GOING!]
All these things were replaced, and so Stark smiled as he reached the door.
Meeting up with the 100 most powerful people in this country and making them know of your presence would make anyone happy under normal circumstances, but in this very context, it was overwhelming.
Whatever would happen beyond this door, it would surely change Stark's life, maybe for the better? Maabe for the worse?
'It doesn't matter…'
He placed both of his hands on the ring handles, then got ready to pressure into it.
But as he tried to do that…
[Stop.]
A crimson panel appeared before him and interupted him again.
~FWISH, VIOUUU~
He heard sounds behind him, and as he turned… he saw himself.
Well… not really himself, but a replica of himself created from aura.
[Are you really ready?]
It asked, looks like it couldn't speak either, so it used panels.
Not removing his hands from the handles, Stark looked back and spoke, "Were you the one who informed of this event?"
[…], the other Stark nodded.
"Then I can guess you aren't here to stop me, right?" Stark finally removed his hands from the rings and faced the other him.
[…], this time, it nodded its head and smiled, [No, I am quite happy about what we're about to do.]
"Then why stop?"
[I just wanted to say… well… that you should be more confident…]
"…" Stark looked at his hands, traces of aura still visible on them.
[Confidence is key, do not go in there thinking that it will be easy, you are me, and I am you, so just…], the other Stark momentarilly stopped before pointing at the door and smiling, [Prove to the world that we shouldn't be messed with…]
And just like that, it vanished, no… it didn't vanish, instead it went back into Stark.
The moment it did, he felt a surge of energy, and his aura became much stronger than before.
'…'
Stark then turned back toward the door.
He could hear the sounds of laughter, talking, and even some music, coming out from there.
[They are LAUGHING about our death!]
He remembered that panel, and closed his eyes while smirking, and once he opened them back up, they were shining with an aura so powerful it almost seemed like it was burning his pupils.
And so instead of opening the door the easy way like he wanted to do before…
~FWISH… BAM~
He focused his aura into his legs and absolutely smashed the door, destroying it in the process and revealing the interior of that meeting room to him.
Immediately… all eyes fell on Stark, and the music stopped.