Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player



The lurker, apparently aware of Klaus' pursuit, moved deftly among the trees, always maintaining a safe distance. Klaus was determined to catch up and discover his intentions, but the rough terrain made his progress difficult. He struggled to keep his balance as he leapt over logs and dodged obstacles, his muscles tensed and ready to react to any sudden movement.

The sound of snapping branches and quick footsteps echoed through the forest, fueling Klaus' adrenaline. He could feel the excitement and urgency of the chase growing inside him, so much so that he didn't stop running even when he almost ran into a boy carrying several sticks, causing him to knock them over.

The distance between Klaus and whoever was spying on him gradually decreased, and Klaus got closer and closer to the lurker, whose figure became clearer as they approached an open clearing.

Klaus' heart soared when he finally caught a clear glimpse of the spy in front of him. He was a tall man, dressed in his gym uniform like all the others, which indicated that he was a student, and he had a frightened expression on his face. Their eyes met for a brief moment, conveying tension. Then, without hesitation, Klaus quickened his pace and charged at the man. His feet pounded the ground with determination, his mind focused on the goal of reaching him.

The Peeper, on the other hand, did not stand still for a second. At a certain moment, he made an agile leap to the side, avoiding a direct confrontation and diving back into the vegetation, trying to confuse Klaus, who redoubled his efforts, running faster and intensifying his pursuit.

The uneven terrain and dense vegetation made it difficult to see, but Klaus trusted his instincts and the adrenaline that fueled every move he made.

The chase was a game of cat and mouse, with Klaus closing in and the lurker narrowly escaping. They zigzagged between trees, dodged natural obstacles, and jumped over fallen logs, and when the pursuer finally looked back and saw no one else, he slowed his pace a bit, thinking he had somehow managed to throw Klaus off, but at that moment he received a jolt that shook his entire body.

Klaus managed to catch up to the lurker after confusing him with his movement and knocked him down with a powerful push. They both fell to the ground, rolling and struggling to recover from the impact. Heavy breathing echoed between the two as they stared at each other, Klaus' eyes gleaming with determination and the lurker's revealing a mixture of surprise and fear.

Wasting no time, Klaus grabbed the Peeper by the arm, immobilizing him and preventing any attempt at escape. He was determined to discover the truth behind this pursuit and ensure the safety of his group.

"Who are you? Why did you follow us?" Klaus asked, his voice firm and demanding.

The boy, breathing heavily, looked into Klaus' eyes before finally answering. His voice trembled slightly, revealing his nervousness.

"I... I wasn't spying on you... I was just... I was just lost in the woods and saw you running, so... so I ran too, thinking you were a crazy..."

Klaus frowned, suspicious of the lurker's words. He couldn't interrogate him, nor could he punch the boy in the face without a good reason, but nothing could stop him from threatening with a gesture. That being the case, Klaus raised a fist and shaded the boy's face.

"M-my name is Mark. I was sent by a human to watch over you, Klaus! That's all! I wouldn't do anything against you, I swear!" said Mark, turning his face and closing his eyes slightly, as if preparing for a punch.

"A person?" Klaus pushed his fist away.

Mark opened one of his eyes first and noticed that Klaus didn't seem to be so tempted to hit him anymore, so he decided to talk more. "This person believes that you have unique abilities that can be useful in defeating other competitors in this game. She asked me to keep an eye on you and try to set up encounters with her other enemies so that you can get rid of them for her."

Klaus was stunned by Mark's revelation. His mind quickly tried to process the new information. He looked into Mark's eyes, searching for any sign of deception.

"Why would someone do this? Why use me like this?" Klaus asked with a mixture of outrage and curiosity in his voice.

Mark sighed, knowing that his words could deeply affect the trust between them.

"It is clear that the person who sent me has her own agenda. She is willing to use any means necessary to achieve them. She believes that you could be a key piece to winning the ultimate prize."

"She? So it's a girl?" Kaizen wondered mentally. "If all this is true, why did you decide to tell me this now?" Klaus asked, curious to understand Mark's motivation.

Mark looked at Klaus' fist and the situation they were in, fallen in the middle of the forest. "Maybe because you almost hit me?"

Klaus stared at Mark for a few moments, not even paying attention to his answer, realizing that there was a chance to turn the game around.

"I'll give you a chance," Klaus said, his voice firm.

"A chance?"

"Yes, just a chance to redeem yourself with me, but know that I will not hesitate to take drastic measures to protect my group if there is any attempt at treason."

Mark nodded, a little tense because he had gotten involved in something bigger than he had intended.

Klaus stared at Mark with determination and decided it was time to confront the person who had sent Mark to spy on him.

"Take me to this girl. I want to confront her personally and get some clear answers," Klaus said, his voice firm and authoritative.

Mark swallowed dryly, feeling the intensity of Klaus' order. He knew that there was no room for hesitation.