Code Collector

Allen was testing the credibility of the Drake and Drafara that he talked to in his dream. They said that they were the real deal, but he still had to confirm the information that they gave him.

After all, he himself had mental problems that he can't possibly deny he had. Maybe he was getting caught up with his diseases that he's imagining things, and if he does believe them, it will hurt him in the long run because of the mistakes he actually believed on.

Now, Lin was in front of him. She was a woman who has a Primordial Beast Code, and has fully mastered it to its core. She had reached the highest world of all the Hunters and is currently being looked as the next chairman of the Hunters.

She can answer the dreaded question.

"I assumed you already knew about this," Lin chuckled awkwardly. "You have your information from somewhere and that information is too credible. I just knew it."

"So," Allen spoke. "Which Bearer has the weakest Code and which as the strongest?"

Lin smirked, "I have no choice but to answer you, so here goes. Listen well to all the things I'll say to you because if you're going to want to catch up to us, you have to look out for these clues."

Allen nodded, "Okay."

"Tiger and Dragon has the first generation Code, while the Dog, Rabbit, and Ox has all third generation Codes. The rest have second generation," Lin said. "Only Drake and I have the full raw power of the Primordial Beasts, but I'm not a combatant, so I had less power than him."

"Second generation," Allen whispered. "So, that means Louis is also a second generation? The one whom agrees with you that I'm not behind the attacks?"

"Yes," Lin nodded. "Louis is just like me who believes that you're just a weak Hunter now. You can't possibly create all the things that they point that you did."

"Okay," Allen sighed. "At least I know now that I have people on my side."

Lin suddenly offered her hand, "Take my hand and receive all the Codes here. I'll give you more instructions when we're transferring."

Allen wasn't himself when he took the woman's hand and received the Codes she was giving. Their numbers were so many that he was thinking of throwing some of them. His slots couldn't possibly accomodate all of these Codes."

"You then go to the camps that are near here. There are approximately seven," Lin instructed. "Card."

On her hand was a glowing light that morphed into a card. This was the same Inventory feature that Allen had with his Snake Code. Lin also had one since she was also a Bearer.

"Show this card to the guards and they will know what to do," Lin said. "While you, you go to the Skill Altar and burn these Codes so you could level up. I gave you sixteen Grand grade Codes. That should be enough to reach Eternity."

"No," Allen said, making Lin tilt her head in confusion. "I'm not going there alone. I need more people with me."

Lin sighed, "I guess that is the case." She offered her hand again. "Good thing I'm a future thinker."

Lin gave Allen a total of fourty Sacred grade Codes along with the initial Grand grade Codes after their meeting. With this much Codes, Allen could reach Eternity and bring three of his friends with him in a blink of an eye.

After the woman gave these to Allen, she nodded and left. This made Allen wonder what her true intentions were. He was still wary of the fact that this could lead to a trap. When he said this, Lin gave him something that he would barely believe that the woman would do.

Allen was in a rooftop of the camps where he was laying on the ground as he watched the photo. It was a photo of Lin and Drake, smiling at the camera while they were on top of a dead giant beast.

Photos in the otherworlds were hard enough to capture because they said that the Otherworlds have different frequencies of light. Cameras are barely accurate in terms of color and polaroid cameras were rarer than the Primordial Beast Codes.

There were only three captured photos and this was one of them. Someone who has a very rare item and then they gave it to you because of the deal you're going to make, that was an act that made Allen believed Lin.

This photo wasn't just any photo. In any way, shape, or form, this can't be duplicated. When taken to Earth, the light would be different and this would permanently distort and damage the polaroid.

When taken a picture on their Otherworlds phone, the light would also be different. And they can't possibly retake the photo because one of the people in the photo was already dead. These were the points that Allen reconsidered in trusting Lin.

The boy sighed and after a couple of minutes of reflection, Allen finally took his phone out. "Hello? We need to talk."

–

There was a deafening silence in the room as the boy paced back and forth in front of the couch. The people in the couch looked at each other in worry, thinking that Allen did something wrong.

"Did you get a girl pregnant?" Gary finally spoke and broke the silence. Allen looked at him in shock, then shaking his head no. "Then did you get a boy pregnant?"

"Gary, what the hell," Allen grunted. "I called the three of you here because I have something very important to say to you."

Jeremy was smirking the entire time. He thought he knew everything there is to it about Allen, so he was confident that he wouldn't get shocked when he heard the news Allen was going to tell them.

"Do you think he got someone pregnant?" Gary asked to which Gwen answered with a shrug and pursing of her lips.

Meanwhile, Gwen and Gary were still confused. They were still looking at Allen and then at each other in hopes that they could at least get a hint of what he was going to say.

Allen was sweating and he was thinking that he was going to make a very wrong decision, but after all that they've been through, he felt like he could trust them.

"I'm actually not Dante," Allen said, making the three look at him in shock, even Jeremy did not know about this. "No, I mean I'm Dante, but Dante is not my real name. Jeremy, I think you'll hate me for this, but I'm Allen Nightshade."

"Y-You're who?" Jeremy stood and looked at Allen in the eyes. "Why do you know that name?"

"Three months ago, when Chen split me from the group, I found the Primordial Snake. I killed it and got its Code. The next day, I was transformed into this body and here I am now," Allen said. "But I had little to no memories about my past. I didn't even know who I really am until now."

"So, you don't remember me?" Jeremy asked. "Allen–"

Allen shook his head, "I'm sorry, but I don't remember you. For soen reason, my memories were distorted and I believed lies up until now."

"Wait, why does your name sound familiar?" Gary asked. "You're–"

"The crying boy when the Fire Dragon Incident happened," Allen said. "I suspect that after that incident, I mistakenly and unconsciously buried my memories. I don't know what happened after, or what really happened at that time."

"If you're really Allen, then why are you telling us this now?" Gwen asked. "Why choose to speak now of all times? Dante– or Allen, we've been friends for months. Why are you just telling us this now?"

"Because I need your help," Allen said calmly. Even when there was an intense amount of pressure in the room, he maintained his calmness as he spoke. "You know there is a killer on the loose, right? This person or these group of people are hunting the Primordial Beast Bearers. And if they get successful, they will rule the world."

"What does this have to do with us?" Gary asked. "Let the Primordial Beast Bearers handle this. They're strong already."

"But they're actually not," Allen said. "Not all of them has the same capabilities of the other, and I can be the strongest possible Bearer if you could help me. Please, I can't do this alone."

Gary and Gwen suddenly stood, making Allen lose his head for a bit. He looked at the two who were approaching the door, the tension getting even more intense as the seconds passed. Allen looked at them who were facing behind him.

Gary placed his hand on the doorknob. When Allen thought he was going to twist it to go out, Gary suddenly pressed the lock while Gwen locked the other lock that Allen installed.

The two turned around and smirked with Gary speaking, "Were all in this together now. So, what's the plan?"