1 Into Wonderland

I moved my queen forward and closed my eyes. "Check."

The man sitting across from me fixed his tie and smirked. He chuckled softly and looked at me, noticing that I was staring at the chess board. "You're quite good at this game...Each round I have tried to best you, but never even came close. How do you do it?"

"Your moves are easy to read. Predictable." I said and kept staring at the board.

"What will you do when you're met with an unpredictable situation? Like this one.." He said and moved his bishop into an attacking position. "You've played into my hands. If you move your queen, my rook takes it. If you don't move your queen, my bishop takes it..."

I stared at the board then moved my rook only far enough to block the bishop. "I find my own way to success. I can see your every move, Mr. Rose. I can tell you're trying to understand my mindset, but you can't."

Mr. Rose laughed and clapped his hands. He stared at me and moved his rook down into attacking position to take my queen. "Now what?"

I moved my last pawn up to protect the queen. "You realize you can't move your King anywhere therefore your attempts of trapping me becomes apparent...more clear. All you have to work with is your last rook and bishop...Strength in numbers mean nothing to me. One asset is all I need to clear the board. As they always say...It is lonely at the top. Check."

Mr. Rose chuckled and stood up. "Is that how you've beaten the allegations and how you rose to the top? Staying ten steps ahead of your targets? Of the law? Even rivals can't compete with you when it comes down to overthrowing you."

"For a man like me who has many enemies, it is important for me to stay on the top no matter what." I said and stood up.

"Well I certainly agree with that logic, Mr. Reigns! I certainly do.." Mr. Rose said and walked toward the window and stared out the window. "However..."

I looked back and groaned as Mr. Rose fired a bullet at me, hitting me in the chest then three more bullets hit me. I fell back on the table and grunted in pain, watching Mr. Rose walk toward me.

"It is quite lonely at the top... Don't worry...I will take care of your business. I won't let it go to waste." He said then fired a bullet through my head.

...

...

...

I felt like I was dead, but I could still feel my heart beating. I still could breathe. I opened my eyes and noticed I was still in the same room I supposedly died in. I sat up and held my head then stood up. I walked over to the window and looked outside.

The buildings were more...advanced. It felt more...modern. I could see strange people who didn't look normal behave like normal people. The cars even looked strange and futuristic.

"The fact you're here means the Goddess of Wonderland has chosen you to endure endless torture in this world." A voice said behind me.

I looked back and noticed a woman standing behind me. She stared at me and held a giant pair of black and white scissors in her hands.

She had fair skin, long golden hair, fiery red eyes, and a curvaceous figure. She wore a black and blue dress, black stockings, and shoes to match her outfit. She had a symbol on her cheek...it was an Ace Symbol.

"Who are you..?" I asked and stared at the woman.

"My name is Alice...and you don't belong here. This is a world you don't want to stay in. This world is full of unruly torture for every being in Wonderland. I, along with my allies, want to escape Wonderland. We can not stay here." Alice said and walked toward me.

I watched as she put a bracelet on my wrist. I grunted as I heard voices in my head.

"Escape.."

"You can not be bound to this world.."

"She can help you.."

"Do not become enticed by the temptations of Wonderland.."

"Refuse the feeling of despair..."

[All Systems check...]

[Wonder System... activated.]

"This will protect you from losing yourself in this world. If you lose this bracelet, you are basically alone in this world and I can not help you neither can my allies. Now let's move! We have to reach the Kingsland City and kill the King of Hearts!" Alice said and walked off in a hurry.

I hurried after her and had even more questions. "Wait, wait—"

"No time to wait! The first challenge is starting and we have no time to waste! She's already on the move now that she knows you're awake!" Alice said and hurried down the stairs.

"This Wonder System? What does it do?" I asked as I hurried after Alice.

"It's a System that tracks your Life Force, your sanity, your rank, your condition, and your Wonder Ability. All of it is tracked via your soul. That's all I can really tell you for right now." Alice said and walked outside in a hurry.

I walked outside and noticed the streets were completely filled with people wandering around. I looked around and heard beeping from my Wonder Bracelet.

[Enemy Spotted: 3 Meters Away]

"Get down!" Alice yelled and tackled me to the ground, evading a bullet and looked back. She stood up and helped me up.

[Challenge: Kill the King's Gunman]

"Kill..."

"Kill to Survive.."

"Kill the King's Units..."

"Awaken your Soul Bound Weapon...Your Wonder Guardian..."

I held my head and grunted. I shook my head to get the voices out of my head. I looked around, noticing Alice had left me. I searched around for her and noticed her turn a corner. I thought about chasing after her, but didn't and ran a different way.

'Going after her will only make it easier for the Gunsman to kill us. She had the right idea while I'm still adjusting to the situation...however I believe she underestimates me.' I thought to myself.

[Awakening Wonder Guardian...]

A Pawn Symbol appeared in front of me and entered my body. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath then exhaled.

[Wonder Guardian Awakened.]

[Wonder Guardian: Royal Core]

[Activating Wonder Ability...]

The Gunman took aim at me, keeping himself hidden within the crowd. He fired the bullet the moment an opening came then noticed I had dodged his bullet.

[Wonder Ability Activated: (P)Reflex]

"Use your environments...do not be bound by morals..."

"These people are tools...morals don't exist in Wonderland.."

"Survive.."

I held my head and grunted softly. I looked up and ran off. The Gunman walked along the crowd and disappeared within the crowd. I knew for now I was a Pawn, but because of that I had abilities of a Pawn. I decided to test out my Wonder Guardian.

The Gunman took aim at me once he spotted me then fired bullets at me, only managing to hit one of my clones. He was confused and noticed six more clones of me around the area.

[Promotion Gauge: 9%]

[Promotion Limit: 1]

[Promotions Available: Rook, Knight, Bishop]

[Locked: Queen, King]

'Just like the game...I could promote and only promote one time. This time Queen and King were locked behind some unknown requirements. I need to buy myself more time..' I thought to myself and ran off.

The Gunman shot the clones and looked around for me. He ran through the crowd and vanished.

Alice watched from a distance and noticed how cluelessly the Gunman was running around to find me. "This guy has the King's Gunman clueless...Who exactly is that man..?"

I got a vision of the Gunman and grabbed a random woman then threw her in front of the bullet. She died upon impact, but she bought me enough time to escape.

The Gunman grew angered and a white cloak appeared around his body then he dashed toward me directly. He vanished and appeared on the top a building, taking aim at me. "Locking on.."

I left another clone and disappeared into the crowd. I heard the gunshot and heard my clone groan.

[Promotion Gauge: 50%]

'Just a bit more...Just a bit more and I'll finally be able to kill this Gunman!'

I created seven clones of myself and they scattered about. The Gunman took aim and fired six bullets within one shot then took out my clones. I looked back and switched places with my clone then noticed the clone get shot.

[Promotion Gauge: 100%]

[Promotion Possible!]

The Gunman took aim at me and fired another bullet at me. I dodged the bullet and my eyes shined. I summoned a spear and seven more appeared around me. I fired a spear at the Gunman, but he dodged it and jumped down the building.

I dashed toward the Gunman and dodged his bullets then slashed at him. He used his sniper to block the strike then twirled around me and aimed a rifle at my face, pulling the trigger. I performed a burst of speed and moved out of the way of the bullet. The Gunman rapidly fired shots at me, but I twirled my lance to deflect the bullets.

'Those Color Guard lessons really to help out with shit like this...'

I thrusted my lance at the Gunman, but he dodged it and grabbed my lance. He pulled me toward him and kicked my stomach then twirled around, striking me with a roundhouse kick. I grunted as I was knocked back. I bumped into a group of people and fell to the ground with them.

The Gunman fired a bullet and heard a clang then noticed a pair of giant scissors fly across. Alice caught the scissors and dashed toward the Gunman.

"Alice.." The Gunman said and glared. "You dare to betray the King of Hearts and Wonderland?!"

"No longer will I be bound by your games!" Alice bellowed and slashed at the Gunman then noticed he had vanished. She looked behind herself and her eyes shined as she dodged his counterstrike.

I dashed toward the Gunman and summoned a sword then slashed at the Gunman, but he dodged it once more then kicked me back and summoned a railgun with a Heart Symbol on it. He bellowed and gathered Wonder Energy from the people around us then fired a massive beam of energy at Alice.

"Save her..."

"She's your key..."

"Don't let her die..."

The Knight Symbol shined brightly and I dashed toward Alice. Alice prepared to block the beam, but noticed I had appeared in front of her and constructed a shield to block the beam. I grunted and glared then let out a battle cry and my shield began to shine brightly. An explosion happened and Alice grunted as the high winds pushed her backwards.

The Gunman lowered his railgun then panted then his eyes widened as he noticed a spear fly his way. He tried to dodge but I was already behind him then impaled him from behind through his chest with my sword. He groaned and coughed blood. I took my sword out of him and let him fall to the ground.

The Gunman's body disintegrated into black particles.

[Challenge Complete: Killed the King's Gunman.]

[Award: Wonder EXP +100]

Alice looked at me and stared. 'This guy is a natural in combat...Maybe we will finally have a chance at freedom..'

I sighed and looked at Alice. "Let's go."

Alice watched as I walked off and followed behind.

"Escape...Wonderland.."