I Can Extract Game Items-Chapter 203: We Need To Talk
For the first time, three rival players found themselves forming an unspoken truce.
Kael laughed as he saw them closing in. "Oh? The rats are teaming up now?"
He swung his axe overhead.
[ Rageburst – Collapsing Horizon! ]
The weapon came down with the force of a meteor, shattering half the arena and sending mana waves in all directions.
Aleman teleported through the explosion, Saphira dashed low using tempest step while Taro appeared behind Kael mid-swing with his twin daggers forming a cross-slash
[ Phantom Divide! ]
Just as Kael spun around to intercept Taro, Aleman reappeared from his blind spot and swung his dagger forward.
A length gash appeared from Kael shoulders down to the middle of his back, propelling him forward.
Taro’s attack connected as well, sending Kael spiralling backwards across the air.
Then, Saphira appeared out of nowhere with her sword hacking forward diagonally.
As the three attacks struck in succession, a blinding explosion of light filled the air, followed by dust exploding across the surroundings.
For several seconds, no one could see anything through the glowing dust.
When the light faded, Kael stood frozen in place on one knee with his armor cracked and smoldering. His HP dropped rapidly... until finally, it hit zero.
The announcer’s voice thundered:
> "Kael Nightbane — ELIMINATED!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
But the celebration didn’t last. The moment Kael’s body faded into light, Taro spun, already slashing at Aleman. "Truce over."
Aleman blocked with one dagger and twisted his other wrist, releasing a point-blank Mana Burst. "Knew that was coming!"
Taro dodged backward, barely avoiding a follow-up spell.
Saphira, panting, glanced between them. "So it’s down to three, huh? Then let’s finish this."
Saphira’s blade danced like flowing water. Taro’s daggers flashed like serpent fangs. Aleman moved between them like a phantom, weaving spells and movement steps in perfect rhythm.
"You’re not half bad, Aleman," Saphira said between parries. "Too bad you’re low on mana."
"Who said I need mana?" Aleman grinned — and threw a smoke vial at her feet.
It burst, filling the area with thick, purple haze.
"Damn it!" she coughed while backing up. "You think smoke—"
Then she stopped.
Because through the haze, several silhouettes moved.
"Found you," Taro’s voice whispered — but it wasn’t her he’d found. It was another afterimage.
The real Aleman emerged behind him, silent as death.
He deactivated Shadow Veil which was an advance stealth skill and drove his blade straight through Taro’s chest.
> "Taro the Phantom Blade — ELIMINATED!"
Saphira gasped as the smoke cleared and only Aleman stood with his cloak fluttering in the residual mana wind.
Their eyes met across the last fragment of stone.
"Looks like it’s you and me," she said softly.
"Wouldn’t have it any other way," Aleman replied.
The arena fell silent for a moment.
And then, Saphira suddenly charged forward with her sword emitting a bright glow as she prepared to use one of her most powerful sword skills.
"Sorry but I’m ending this right away..." Aleman voiced before activating Telekinetic Grip.
[ Opponent Is Trying To Use Telekinesis Against You ]
"Tch I’m levels above you, that will never work..." Saphira chuckled mildly as she raised her blade to deal a powerful blow.
However, her entire figure suddenly came to a pause.
[ Their Will Surpasses Yours... Telekinetic Grip Successfully ]
Her eyes shifted towards the notification and she instantly understood why.
Aleman twirled his fingers forward and her entire being was pulled forward uncontrollably.
Before she could say Jack, a dagger had been plunged into her chest.
Her HP rapidly declined since it was already low.
> "WINNER OF BATCH 1 — ALEMAN!"
As the crowd roared, Aleman sheathed his daggers and exhaled. His HP flickered at barely ten percent.
"That was a little tough..."
As the battles raged on, the number of players dwindled.
One by one, weaker opponents fell.
Soon, the final top 25 players in each batch remained.
A loud gong echoed across all arenas.
---
[ ROUND FOUR COMPLETE! ONLY 125 PLAYERS REMAIN. ]
---
Aleman stood amidst the ruins of his battlefield with his daggers sheathed.
Ezran, Boris, Lilo, and Greg all materialized back in the central Colosseum, panting but victorious.
Reiner stood nearby, arms crossed, clearly still pissed that Aleman had performed better than him.
Gregarious collapsed. "I can’t believe I survived."
Lilo smirked. "You’re getting better at this, Greg."
Ezran nodded. "But things are only going to get harder."
Above them, the holographic screen flickered once more.
---
[ ROUND FIVE: THE KING’S GAMBIT BEGINS SOON. ]
---
Aleman exhaled.
"This tournament just keeps getting crazier."
Boris grinned. "And we’re still here."
The crowd erupted into cheers, signaling the end of yet another brutal round.
The deafening cheers of the Colosseum finally settled into a low murmur as the holographic screen flashed a new message.
---
[ ROUND FIVE – THE KING’S GAMBIT BEGINS IN THREE HOURS ]
[ All Competitors May Use This Time to Rest and Prepare ]
---
A wave of relief washed over the remaining 125 players.
They had survived four brutal rounds, but there was still more to come.
Many of them were still in shock at their own survival especially after the intense free-for-all battles.
For Aleman’s group, the break was well needed.
---
Aleman rolled his shoulders as the last remnants of battle tension faded from his body.
Boris let out a deep exhale. "Holy shit, we actually made it through that mess."
Lilo stretched, adjusting her bowstring. "It was closer than I liked, but yeah. We did it."
Ezran sat down, rubbing his temples. "I swear, that lightning mage in my batch wanted me dead. I barely made it past him."
Gregarious flopped onto the ground with his arms sprawled out.
"I cheated death today. Twice. I deserve a reward. Like... a vacation. Or maybe a lifetime supply of food."
Aleman chuckled, kneeling down next to him. "You didn’t die, Greg. That’s your reward."
"No, that’s the bare minimum." Greg groaned. "A reward is something extra. I almost got eaten by a giant snake. I should at least get cake or something."
Reiner, standing off to the side, scowled. "You’re all acting like this is over. The hardest rounds are still ahead."
Lilo rolled her eyes. "And we’ll deal with them when they come. Right now? We rest."
Boris clapped Aleman on the back. "You really cleaned house out there, man. That telekinetic move? Sent half your batch flying. Bet the audience loved that."
Ezran nodded. "You’re making a name for yourself, Aleman. Even more than before."
Aleman smirked slightly. "Let’s hope that doesn’t make us a bigger target."
---
After the initial debrief, the team headed towards the tournament’s resting area, a massive open-air lounge filled with tables, recovery stations, and food stalls.
Players mingled, recovered, and strategized for the rounds to come.
Aleman scanned the area, spotting various high-ranking players.
"A lot of eyes on us," Lilo muttered as they walked.
Boris smirked. "Of course. We’re a problem now."
Ezran nodded. "The fact that we made it this far as a full squad? That means something."
Aleman, however, wasn’t thinking about the next round just yet.
He had real-world issues to handle.
"You guys settle in," he said suddenly. "I need to log out for a bit."
Greg sat up from where he was sprawled on a bench. "Oh right, you have a life outside this game. What’s that like?"
Aleman smirked. "Complicated."
Lilo raised a brow. "You sure you’ll be back in time?"
Aleman nodded. "Yeah. I won’t be gone long."
Ezran studied him. "This is about AM Coven, isn’t it?"
Aleman didn’t confirm or deny it. "Just gotta handle some things."
Boris punched his shoulder lightly. "Go take care of business, man. We got this handled."
Lilo crossed her arms. "Just don’t get yourself into trouble."
Aleman smirked. "No promises."
---
As soon as he activated the logout sequence, the game world faded.
His body became weightless, and then—
He was back in the real world.
The lid of his gaming pod slid open, and the dim glow of his apartment lights greeted him. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
He sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Alright, let’s see what’s on fire today."
Pulling out his phone, he quickly checked his notifications.
Derrick: "Hope you’re alive. Everything’s fine on my end."
Tara: "Thank you again for saving him. I owe you."
Rachel (Lilo): "Your real-life self better be alive because if you miss the next round, I’m going to be PISSED."
Aleman smirked at the last message.
Then—his phone vibrated with an incoming call.
It was Detective Wright.
Aleman’s smirk faded.
"Never a dull moment, huh?"
He answered the call.
"What now, Wright?"
The detective’s voice was tense.
"We need to talk. Now."
Aleman leaned back. "This about Oni again? Or something worse?"
"Both. Get to AM Coven. You’re going to want to hear this in person."
Aleman exhaled.
The tournament could wait.
For now, the real world needed him.
...
...
The night air was cool, but the weight of what Detective Wright had just said made it feel suffocating.
Aleman sat across from him in a secluded office within AM Coven, with the dim lightd above casting shadows across the room.
Wright, dressed in his usual dark suit and loosened tie, leaned back in his chair with arms crossed as he studied Aleman’s reaction.
"You seem tense."
Aleman’s voice was calm, but underneath, his mind was racing.
"I don’t like when things stop making sense."
Wright smirked, pulling out a cigarette, twirling it between his fingers. He didn’t light it. He just needed something to do with his hands.
"You tell me, Aleman. How rare is that little fruit of yours? The one that gives people abilities?"
Aleman tilted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes beneath his futuristic helmet.
"You mean the Fruit of Corruption? Or the other legendary fruits?"
