New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

***Outside the game, close to Montreal***

David was staring at a large dug-out pit. It was several stories deep, and all the way at the bottom, there were still machines digging deeper.

"Are your men able to dig any faster? We are weeks behind schedule."

"Young man, you are making me work with two other excavation companies already, so we can go faster. Do you know how hard it is to coordinate a worksite of this size?"

The man responding to David was an older fellow, with a white security helmet on his head and a dirty jacket.

"With how much I pay all of you, just to dig a hole, this should already be done. I had to push back my other projects because you keep asking me for more money!"

"Then you should have thought about this more. You pay me to dig, and I dig. It's not my problem if you ask for an unreasonable schedule."

David turned to face the man with rage in his eyes. The man was unfazed, having worked with hardasses all his life.

"Don't give me that look, kid. I've dealt with bigger fish. You can't intimidate me."

"Oh, really?"

David started walking toward the man, keeping their eyes locked, his steps reverberating around them. For a moment, his eyes went from their normal white sclera and blue irises to black sclera with green irises.

The foreman stepped back; the change taking him off guard.

Some shadows were extending behind David as he kept stepping toward the foreman.

"Tell me again how I can't intimidate you."

"What kind of dark magic is this?! How are you doing that?! Stop! Don't come near me!"

David stopped when he was standing a mere foot away from the now terrified man.

"You don't know what a real 'Big Fish' is, yet. Now get your men working faster. Before I cut the cash supply and force you to work for free."

"You can't do that. That's slav—"

David had grabbed the man by the throat and was currently lifting him off the ground with one hand.

"I can do whatever I want. Understood?"

The foreman nodded, having a hard time breathing. David released him, dropping him to the ground, gasping.

"Get your men and the other contractors moving faster. I want that pit done by the end of the week."

"Yes, sir." *cough*

David walked away before disappearing into the forest surrounding the place. Once he was out of view, he dropped to his knees.

He started gasping for air, suddenly sweating buckets.

"This world still isn't ready for any feat involving mana… I should refrain from using it for now."

The trick he had just used was an alteration of mana control, something that should only be doable inside New Eden. But David knew something no one else did.

The world had already started changing. The place he lived at was one of the hotspots, where mana had already started leaking into this world.

That's why he had picked that spot in the first place. So he could be the first one to use mana and strengthen his body with it.

His little hiding place wasn't far from there either, since he wanted to limit his movement and exposure to the rest of the world.

He quickly went back there, to rest and regather the mana he had just consumed.

"Soon… I will soon be able to use it freely here. Which reminds me. The day is coming fast. I'll have to call him so we can do what is needed."

David lay down on his bed, and he began slowly absorbing what little ambient mana he could.

***Inside New Eden, Sunpeak City***

Astaroth opened his eyes, looking at the nice wooden ceiling of the inn room he rented. He got up, before stretching a bit.

When he walked out of the room, both Violette and Phoenix were talking in the corridor next to his door.

"Took you long enough. Were you contemplating my vulnerable body?"

"Ew ew ew ew!" Violette screamed, slapping her hands on her ears and running down the stairs.

*Sigh*

"I was laying in my pod, thinking. Not that I wouldn't be tempted… but we are not there yet."

"Prude," Phoenix replied, giggling and walking away too.

Astaroth sighed again.

'Why is this woman so outgoing? Is it wrong to be a little reserved?'

After checking out, the trio parted ways in front of the inn. Phoenix had prior engagements she had to honour, so she couldn't play with them for now.

Violette felt a little downtrodden about it, but Phoenix consoled her.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll play with you soon. Plus, I'm laying just a few meters away from you. When we wake up, we can go and have some fun in the city. What do you think about that?"

Violette perked up.

"Promise?!"

"Yes, I promise," Phoenix answered, ruffling the girl's hair.

"Hihihi!"

"Then I guess I'll see you when we log out. Uh… take care, I guess?" Astaroth said, unsure what to tell her.

She looked at him, slightly disappointed, as did Violette, but they both said nothing. Just as Astaroth was turning around to leave, a hand swiftly grabbed his butt, making him jump.

When he turned around, Phoenix winked and hurriedly walked away.

"Bye!" Violette shouted.

Phoenix waved her hand in response as she disappeared into the crowd. Astaroth suddenly felt some hostile stares land on him.

When he turned to look at where he felt them from, he noticed a few male players looking at him with murderous glares. He even heard some whispers.

'Why is such a woman giving attention to a simpleton like him?'

'Yeah, I would treat her way better.'

'You? Try me, instead. I'm so much more manly.'

Astaroth felt a tinge of rage climb up his chest. He walked over to the men, who were looking at him with contempt.

When he got near, he leaned into them.

"What are you fucking looking at?" he asked, as he melded with White, fully exerting the presence of the alpha on them.

All three men started sweating profusely, suddenly trying to scamper away.

'Heh! Pussies!' Astaroth thought, smirking.

He didn't know why he felt proud of scaring them away, but he did. Words rarely affected him, but something about the way they talked about Phoenix irked him into action.

'Is this jealousy?' he wondered.

He turned around, cancelling his meld, and walked back toward Violette, who watched the scene with a grin.

'Serves those weaklings right. You should have beat one up, to assert your dominance!' came White's voice in his head.

Astaroth chuckled without answering.