It was a little over seven pm with barely five minutes left till the event started.
I checked my status screen, expecting the familiar invite to the constellation lobby.
As expected, it was there.
Within my inventory, besides the weapon ticket and the character skin, I saw a letter alongside a customized tuxedo ticket.
It didn't come as a surprise to me, since this was a familiar event, one every Echoes player was familiar with.
I lingered for a while letting my body rest on the hospital's mattress.
The doctor had informed me that I could be discharged at any given moment if I wished it while mumbling something about my recovery speed being a bit abnormal to be human.
I could only guess the tower's mana had begun altering players. At least, that's how I saw it.
Still despite the doctor's words, I decided to remain here.
I had no doubt Ryu-Min would be waiting for me. And to enter the constellation stream event, I had to equip my character skin.
There was no way I was doing so in front of him, I didn't want anyone to know that I was Alistar, not even my own brother.
No one could know that and I was sure the others shared the same sentiment, a character's identity wasn't something anyone was supposed to know, especially now that the Echoes Of Ruins had become a reality.
Some of your foes might trace you in reality and then… I'll leave the rest to your imagination.
Needless to say the outcomes were never pretty.
Pushing those unnecessary thoughts aside, my eyes wandered to the status screen once again then I equipped my character skin alongside the customized tuxedo ticket.
The changes were swift, one moment I was average in height and the next I was over six feet tall with a lean athletic physique and black hair styled into a wolf cut.
The patient gown felt shorter and uncomfortable as its fabric strained against my body as Alistar.
I almost laughed. Almost.
Staring at the time remaining until the event, I tore the customized tuxedo ticket.
The item dissolved in sparks of light and the next thing I knew I was out of the patient's gown and into a luxurious tuxedo I wasn't sure many had the privilege of obtaining in their lifetime.
I mean the quality of the tuxedo was enough to make me doubt whether my own wealth was enough to even get me one.
It didn't feel like something anyone on earth could design.
My hands fiddled around the tie as I loosened it a bit then unclasped a single button from the neck area.
"Everything's in place." I muttered while my eyes gazed blankly at the wall in the hospital ward.
The remaining time was down to ten seconds and I watched it flow by.
When the countdown hit one it felt like the air had stilled.
The ward was silent but that silence was quickly broken by the sound of my voice.
"Use Invitation ticket."
The system followed my words and almost that instant I felt my body being carried across space, at the same time it also felt like I wasn't the one moving but the surroundings around me.
It was a strange feeling.
My surroundings were being replaced; however, I didn't dwell on it.
'If all goes well, I should be able to obtain my lightning abilities once again.'
If all goes well…
Back then, I didn't know how messed up things were going to be.
****
The hall shimmered as though winter itself had been captured and draped in an otherworldly elegance.
From the vaulted ceiling, a grand chandelier spilled a vibrant blue light across the room with a cascading glow like pale fire through a curtain of crystal strands.
Each crystal caught the light, scattering it into a thousand fragments of stars that danced across the polished floor below.
At the heart of it lay a perfect circle of luminous glass flickering with constellations disguised as stars beneath the feet of its occupants.
The women wore gowns sewn from a deep black fabric and pale stardust while the men were clad in a black tuxedo which seemed to devour any light that touched it.
Around them, tables adorned with ivory clothes and candlelight formed a careful perimeter while each flame trembled gently.
Towering white trees stretched upward like marble pillars, their branches bare yet radiant.
Then there was the snowfall.
It was soft, subtle enough not to be noticed at first glance but it kept the room cool, drifting in delicate flurries while each flame vanished the moment it touched the crystalline floor.
The moment I arrived, the hall stilled save for the lingering sound in the background.
It wasn't music, it was something close but at the same time it didn't seem to be produced by any instrument, it just blended into the background like something that was always meant to be there.
Murmurs and chatters spread across the crowd the moment they saw me.
"Isn't that Alistar?"
"Wait you mean the global rank three?"
"That maniac… it's him."
'Oofff… wasn't maniac a bit too much, I'm not that bad, am I?'
There was no one to answer that since it was something I questioned within my mind but the silence spoke enough, and I knew it.
I was that bad.
I had mentioned it before but my character trait didn't exactly make me a likable person.
But on the bright side, I didn't shy away from fights if anything I welcomed them.
I mean that's something.
I wasn't even as bad as the top one player, that guy was truly worthy of the title, maniac.
His average playtime was twice the amount of a normal player and when he was being extreme he would almost exceed the recommended time which the developers strictly cautioned not to.
The stares still hadn't stopped, in fact there were more people looking my way now.
I licked my lips slowly then grinned at them.
Watching them recoil under my gaze I felt a sense of satisfaction.
Fear… it was such a wonderful thing wasn't it? I mean, if you had enough infamy people avoided you like a plague and if you approached them, they'd basically do anything you wanted.
Well, most of the time, it's not like I haven't come across an exception or two.'
"Damned tyrant…"
Ouch, wasn't that too harsh.
'How bad was my infamy to warrant such a title.'
Ignoring the stares, I walked toward a masked waiter then took a glass of wine.
I didn't take a sip, no… the wine had a very important role to play in getting me my abilities, instead I took a seat in a far corner in the hall.
From this spot in the room, I could see a lot of acquaintances I'd had both the pleasure of destroying and teaming up with.
My lips absentmindedly curled up but the smile died as easily as it came because that creeping sensation of being watched by someone with malicious intent, surfaced, sending a cold chill up my spine.
My gaze narrowed behind the curtain of dark hair until I found a pair of eyes staring openly at me with mockery and hate.
The person's lips were pulled into a thin smile making his appearance even more infuriating.
A strange sensation coursed through my veins as I gulped.
Not with fear, but the familiar feeling of tearing a pompous opponent down.
"Ah… this fucker, I'll remember that face."