Absolute Craft-Chapter 105: Before The Storm (5)

Chapter 105: Before The Storm (5)

It’s said that volleyball is a sport where you always look up.

And that’s true.

But in Blake and Kyria’s case, they often looked into each other’s eyes before rotating on the field and continuing their game. As their match progressed, their competitiveness rose to the next level, with each of them exploiting their advantages.

Blake used his experience and keen instincts to gain the upper hand, while Kyria relied on more elaborate strategies—even taking two breaks to explain her next moves and how to proceed.

Her plan was simple—wear Blake down until he couldn’t jump or spike properly. He was the weakest of the group, having neglected himself for so long, so it was a straightforward, effective strategy.

It worked... sort of.

Once Blake realized what the other team was planning, he pushed himself to the limit on sheer willpower alone. Yet that still wasn’t enough. As the match wore on, he grew noticeably weaker and slower.

His team lost.

Even so, it was a lot closer than anyone had expected. Kyria herself was shocked by how well Blake played despite everything weighing him down.

You could see just how intense the match had been. Blake’s already pale skin turned ashen, and he was drenched in sweat. He staggered toward the bench, his stomach twisting uneasily. Then he felt something rise in his throat.

His last scraps of energy let him dash to the bathroom. Once there, he clung to the toilet, his face hovering over it as a rainbow-colored stream poured out of his mouth. He might have emptied everything he’d eaten today—or maybe even this whole week.

"Ugh..." Blake panted, staring at the mess.

Behind him, Joel watched anxiously, and Wolfang stood nearby, equally worried.

Before Blake could speak, another wave surged up his throat, puffing out his cheeks. He released a bestial, guttural retch that splattered the toilet and his own face with more rainbow vomit.

"He needs to drink water," Wolfang said. "And eat something."

"Ughhh!" Blake groaned at the mention of food.

Joel nodded. "I’ll get some water. I saw a vending machine on our way here."

Blake raised his hand. "Don’t... can’t afford that."

They had each brought a bottle of water to the sports park, but both were used up during the long volleyball match. They didn’t have any cheap drinks left, and everyone knew how places like this sports park jacked up the price of even a small bottle of water.

Wolfang looked at Blake and Joel. Joel just stared sadly at the floor, and Wolfang realized these two were short on money. It explained their worn-out clothes and, most of all, Blake’s condition.

Smiling, Wolfang pulled out a black credit card. "Go get water for him. Grab one for yourself, too, Joel."

"Eh, really?" Joel said, eyes widening at the sight of the sleek metal card. It looked far more expensive than his own basic one, and he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of fees Wolfang paid to have something that fancy.

Wolfang nodded. "Yes. We won fair and square, but we did push Blake to his limit. Since we’re the victors, let us treat you."

Typically, the losing team would treat the winners, but Wolfang reversed that logic and told Joel to hurry to the vending machine. He also mentioned owning multiple cards, making Joel even more curious about who Wolfang really was.

It seemed rude to ask too many questions, so Joel went ahead and sprinted off.

’I don’t want that kind of talent to go to waste in a poor environment,’ Wolfang thought. At first, he’d wanted Blake around to help Kyria open up and lead a more normal life, free from her family’s burdens.

He had been her friend for years, but their age difference made him more of a mentor figure than an equal. That kind of dynamic often creates a barrier to genuine friendship. Now that they were both adults, Wolfang saw Kyria more like a younger sister than a potential partner.

So his initial plan was to use Blake to help Kyria. But now, he genuinely wanted to support Blake for reasons beyond that.

"I doubt the food here is bad, but I know a place where we can get even better meals for less money. It’s all on me. I really enjoyed our match, and I’d like to get to know both of you better," Wolfang said.

Blake wasn’t the type to be cheap or paranoid. If anything, he wanted both himself and Joel to have a solid meal after that hard-fought match. He appreciated Wolfang’s kindness but couldn’t bring himself to dip into his bank account—where the savings from his beta testing days still sat.

"Thanks..." Blake said.

"I’ll take that as a yes," Wolfang replied with a grin. "Just take your time."

He patted Blake on the back.

Immediately, Blake threw up again.

Wolfang apologized awkwardly.

–

Some time later, Joel found himself standing in front of a fancy restaurant. He had no idea how restaurants got their star ratings—five, six, or maybe more—but this one looked like it could be a seven-star establishment, if that existed.

Everyone walking in wore fashionable, high-end outfits. The women looked so stunning in their elegant dresses that Joel, normally quite lustful, felt no urge toward them. He just admired their beauty. He knew someone like him was way below their standards, anyway.

A few wealthy patrons eyed Joel and Blake with outright disgust. To them, these two obviously didn’t belong here. Some even whispered about reporting them to the restaurant’s manager.

"No one here likes us much," Joel muttered, "but they’re about to be surprised when they find out we were invited!" He kept his usual positive spin on things.

Blake nodded. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Adrian would never ditch us!" Joel said, using Wolfang’s real name—he had shared it despite hiding most of his face. Joel figured Wolfang’s acne must be genuine. "He also gave us some good advice: a wealthy man has a bunch of bank accounts! That’s why he’s got all those cards!"

But Wolfang and Kyria were nowhere in sight. They’d said they needed to change into more casual clothes than the ones they wore at the sports park. Joel hadn’t gotten a chance to ask anything about where they lived or their relationship.

The truth was simpler: both of them had booked hotel rooms nearby and went to change.

"Who’s letting these beggars hang around here?" one of the well-dressed patrons snapped.

As expected of such an upscale place, bodyguards in crisp black suits and red ties stood vigil at the grand doors. They glanced at Blake and Joel but made no move—maybe they were too professional to act without cause.

The rude customer grew impatient.

He strode up to Blake and Joel, a woman clinging to his arm in a revealing dress. Her perfume was so strong Joel could practically follow it through the air. He didn’t care about her condescending glare; he didn’t want to be near her anyway.

She approached, her scornful gaze fixed on them.

"You’re sullying our place. Get lost."

"What makes it your place?" Blake asked. "Are you the owner?"

The man scoffed. "This is a place for people like us, not for the likes of you. Just crossing paths with such dogs has already spoiled my evening. I’m doing everyone a favor by telling you to leave. You can’t even afford a bottle of water here, can you?"

Blake narrowed his eyes.

He was angry at the disrespect—and at the thought of Joel facing this sort of treatment. Part of him wanted to shut this man up.

So he took out his phone, tapped on it a few times, and showed the screen to the snob.

The man’s eyes widened briefly, then he scoffed and turned away, leading his date toward the restaurant. She glanced back, clearly confused by what Blake had shown him.

Just then, a woman’s voice called out, "Don’t let him in."

Instantly, the two bodyguards stepped forward, blocking the snob’s path. They stood like an impenetrable wall.

Blake, Joel, and the startled couple turned toward the voice and saw a black-haired woman approaching. She wore a red shirt and a black jacket, along with denim shorts and black knee socks—all clearly more expensive than anything the snob or his companion was wearing.

Blake and Joel recognized her at once.

Joel clutched his head. "She owns this restaurant!"

"I don’t," Kyria answered, making her real name obvious to Blake and Joel. "I just have connections."

"Who the hell are you?!" the man snapped.

"You’re too poor to know that," she replied.

On cue, the bodyguards shoved the snob and his date aside, barring their entrance.

Blake and Joel watched silently.

"I think we’re in the wrong world," Blake murmured.

Joel nodded. "Yeah, I’d rather be in Ashen World Online."

They both felt powerless. It was a rare moment of shared frustration and confusion over everything that had happened that day.