Mark loaded the last of the suitcases into the car. After which, he walked around to the driver and pulled out his wallet. Paying the driver, he straightened up to face his ex-girlfriend. Her eyes were teary, but she approached him and hugged him. His heart felt heavy as he hugged her back. He hated that he'd hurt her, and she was trying to remain strong and unaffected. Kissing his cheek, she whispered to him. "I love you, Mark. I want you to know that. I forgive you." Tears brimmed his eyes, but he kept himself just as strong. He hated that Sean's ex had sent her the footage from the game of him and Sean. He wasn't ready to come out. He didn't want to break it to her so... heartlessly. By the time he'd gotten back from Europe, she had known and had taken it... rather well.

It hurt worse that she didn't hate him. Kissing his cheek, she whispered to him. "I wish you happiness, Mark. You deserve it. Find him. Fight for him as hard as you tried to push him away." Stepping back from his arms, she touched his cheek, then slipped into the uber. He stood in the yard and watched the uber drive away with a twisted gut. It plagued him that he would miss her... but that he didn't feel the urge to stop her. They'd said everything they could, but the damage had been done. He couldn't force himself to love her, when he was worried about Sean. Heading back inside, he fed his dogs and played with them for a bit, until his alarm went off. The game had finished its download. Walking to the office, he pushed the door open to look at his new virtual set up.

Stepping up onto the large square platform, he hooked his waist up to the safety lines and picked up the glasses with the earpieces. Strapping on the light breathable joint wraps, socks, and gloves. He flexed his fingers and limbs to see his avatar on the wall screen do the same. He jumped and dashed to test the running rig platform, then stood up straight as he commanded aloud. "Game. Start." The glasses kicked on and took the data of his height, weight, and more into the game's setup. As the game booted up, a cheerful human sized fairy woman stopped before him as Mark stood by a wall in a tunnel with shackles on his wrists. He could feel them through the sensors in the gloves and winched at how they pinched. The fairy woman crossed her arms, shrugging out to him. "I like the look of this one. I will sponsor him. What's your name, stranger? What's your skill?"

The menu screen popped up before him and he went through the list before picking a human knight. He picked heavy armor skills and two-handed weapons. He felt comfortable with those. He always liked tanking in games and dealing close combat damage. Out of the races that he could have been... he just chose to be human. His knight skill stats were boosted with a human. Allowing him to have more punch at the start than other races. When he finished, the woman stepped closer and asked curtly. "Sexual orientation? I wanna know what reward will motivate you to win." Another screen popped up and he had to verify age and other consenting details on adult content before entering his gender. However, his fingers hesitated over straight, bisexual, or gay. Clenching his jaw, he pressed bisexual.

She nodded, then lifted his chin with her finger, asking sweetly. "Single? Or someone else?" Mark wanted to bypass it but stiffened when he saw the options. Pressing 'It's complicated' took him to a list that asked for a user tag for co-op relationship, or to only allow specific requests to be sent to you. However, the third option stated; 'I'm out to prove myself to the Fairy King and win his hand.' Raising his eyebrow with concern that that was in the game, he pressed that. The fairy woman grinned, telling him charmingly. "How romantic but so ill-fated. As if the likes of you could win his hand. You will die trying." Mark showed no emotion and said nothing into the mic. Smirking, she added softly. "You doubt me, sir knight? Very well. Prove me wrong. Win." Stepping back from him, she told a guard seriously. "Unshackle him and get him dressed. I will get him in the queue."

The guard unshackled him and led him through the training tunnels to an armory. Inside was everything that his character specifically could use. Walking among the racks to check out the stats, he picked up a set of heavy steel armor with a dragon lightly etched across the back. He picked up a steel two handed blade to match it that had a pommel made of diamond with a small red dragon inside it. He left off the helmet since it blocked his view but stashed it in his inventory. Walking up to a mirror, he changed his username from a prisoner number to 'Markiplier.' He thought about keeping himself covert, but what if Sean managed to see him? He wanted him to know that he was here. That he was going to be the first player to save him. He wasn't going to leave him to rot. He was going to make things right.

When he finished, he was led out to the training area where new players were gathered. A few players spotted him, but they didn't appear to know who he was. Something he was thankful for. Walking up to a dummy, he took a few swings at it to get a feeling for the game. When Bob called out to him in the game. "Mark! You finally made it! I was getting worried." Mark smirked, telling Bob coolly. "Ya. I... I had to say goodbye and finish the download." Bob winced, telling him gently. "Ya. I heard about that... I'm sorry, man." Mark shrugged, taking more swings at the dummy. Stepping into view, Mark smirked at the sight of Bob as a humanoid owl race. It was a race known for its wisdom and nocturnal stealth. His greyish purple feathers were beautiful against his blue eyes.

He was dressed in mage robes and held onto a staff with his owl foot-like hand. While his wings were tucked behind him. Giving him a smile through his beak, Bob told him happily. "I'm gonna be a healer and stealthy-boy this time. I don't do well as other tank characters." Chuckling, Mark asked softly. "Where is Wade?" Bob shrugged, telling him honestly. "He was on earlier but had to eat. He'll be back later." Pointing to the iron gates, Mark asked curiously. "Are you going through there too?" Bob shook his head, telling him happily. "Nope. I'm passed the tutorial fight. It's not hard. I enjoyed it. When you beat it, you get a gladiator name and a rank." Twirling his sword with one hand, he asked. "And then what?" Bob pointed to the doors leading out as he said. "Your sponsor takes you through there to 'show you off.' We have to win so many fights and then she'll give us freedom to explore the open world. Or get this..."

Stepping closer, Bob whispered to him. "Or you can choose to stay on as her champion gladiator and she calls you back from exploring the open world to fight your way up to preform for the fairy kings." Mark's breath caught in his throat upon whispering back. "Sean?" Bob nodded, telling him seriously. "Felix saw him yesterday while in a random gladiator event. He tried to talk to him... but Glade is in here. No one can get close to Sean. He makes sure of it." Exhaling, Mark blurted out. "Surely Sean saw Felix. He must have reacted or-" Bob's expression faltered as he said reluctantly. "Felix doesn't think Sean recognized him. He was..." Mark tensed, asking firmly. "He's what? Just tell me..." Licking his lips, Bob sighed out. "He was draped over Glade's lap like lifeless arm candy. Felix's words..."

Inhaling deeply, Mark gripped his sword tight, growling under his breath. "Not for long. I'll play all goddamn night if I have to. I will reach him." Bob snorted, telling him coolly. "Felix has been playing for days. He only just saw him at a random event. Mark... If Glade sees your gamertag... He's never gonna let you near him." Shaking his head, Mark blurted out stone faced. "He won't have a choice. I'm gonna win this game. No matter how long it takes. I'm gonna fight for him. I've given up YouTube to dedicate myself to saving him." Bob shrugged, telling him distantly. "He doesn't know that..." Feeling his heart weigh heavy again, he told Bob over his shoulder. "It's not about me. I failed him, Bob... I hurt him... I've got to get him back. Whatever it takes."

When his name was called, Mark walked up the ramp and passed awaiting players to the iron gate. Just beyond the iron gate was a dusty colosseum. NPCs and players sat in the stands. They placed bets and were enjoying the playful carnage. The player out in the colosseum was trying to fight a pack of wolves with a bow. The player was doing well, until the wolves closed in and tore the player to bits! Mark flinched, feeling a little PTSD from his last gaming experience. Blood splattered the arena and the fairy noble in the biggest booth announced. "Game over, young ranger." Beneath the player's name briefly showed a respawn timer before fading away to allow the fairy noble to announce. "Bring in our next contender! A young knight! Picked off the outlands and here to prove his worth in the arena!"

The gate went up and Mark slowly walked out. The crowd exploded in gasps and loud cheers. Startling the NPC announcer. These players recognized him and began to bet like crazy. The announcer rubbed his temples as the bets came in on a flood to his board behind him. Processing the bets and votes, the announcer grinned before saying aloud. "A challenger choice has been made by the crowd! Contender's opponent shall be... Warlord! Challenge rating... 10/10! Good luck, knight! Stay alive!" Mark raised an eyebrow, then saw gate number ten slowly rise. Mark's shoulders slumped at the sight of four large hooves that pawed the ground. As the door rose higher, Mark's heart stopped.

The creature was half horse and half minotaur. It snapped a chain of flaming hot metal across the ground like a whip. While in its other hand, it wielded an axe. The Warlord snorted at him like an angry bull about to charge him. Taking a moment to look at the players in the crowd, he muttered out to himself. "Of course they'd pick the hardest one for me... Great."  To Be Continued...