Founding the Future
(BGM: Kingdom Hearts II – Dive into the Heart –Destati-)
Blackness. Blackness surrounded him. Blackness and the sound of bubbling. A bubbling sea of black. He floated in an abyss of darkness.
"Why do you fight?"
"To become stronger. It is the unwritten law of Role-Playing Games; you fight creatures, gain experience, and grow stronger, unlocking new skills and powers, as well as possible paths."
"Is that the goal of all humans? To become stronger?"
"I…can't say. Survival, honestly, is the subconscious goal of humans, no…all living creatures. To survive is our way of life, to live through the trials of existence."
"But humans kill other humans…they kill themselves…is life not precious?"
"That…is difficult to explain. Death is the answer to Life. All things that are created eventually die, be it through the means of an outside force, or their own forms eventually failing over the course of time. Humans…we started by killing only other animals, to survive. Then, the hunters instinct became suppressed by modern times…humans…have a larger range of mentality than most other life forms on this planet, therefore we can contemplate killing another human, just for the sake of doing it. Few do. As for killing ourselves…because the mind of a human is so vast, compared to other lives on this planet…we sometimes overlook things, or overreact to things. Our own brains are very susceptible to corruption from within and without, not just through events, but through being born at all. Life…it is valuable…but at the same time, Death claims all, thus removing its value. It's a question that is difficult to answer BECAUSE we are human, because death exists for all things."
"What about games like The World? Why do humans undergo such activities? One would think the stress of one life would be more than enough…"
"While it is true that online games, or games at all seem to be a 'second life' for most people, it is generally a life where they can release their stresses, a realm where we can undergo the activities we cannot in reality. In our primary human lives, we cannot summon flame from thin air, we cannot move objects by thinking of it…and we cannot fly, or move at any true accelerated pace without assistance. In games like this, we can do the things we cannot do in reality, be who we wish to truly be in reality. In fact, it is sometimes because of this second life that we can succeed in our originating life, because it relives us of stress and worry, because it guides us to have ideas for the future, or leads us to people who will become our future. Of course like all things it can do the opposite, but for most…"
"And what of you? Where do you fit in all this?"
"I…don't understand…"
"Why do you play? Why do you fight? Why do you live?"
"I play…because I feel at home here. I fight because it is the unwritten law of this world…and because it lets me do things I cannot do in my normal human body…and I Live…because I choose to."
"You…choose…life?"
"Many do. Some don't have that choice, and are stuck either alive or dead. But most…choose to live…because they are afraid."
"Afraid?"
"They fear death. Humans…most living things…fear what they don't understand. Therefore they shun what they fear. People treat life like some amazingly beautiful thing. It has its moments, but overall it's just existing in a world filled with unusual things and creatures for a few decades, maybe a century if you're lucky or if you view it that way, unlucky enough. But death claims whoever it chooses, when it chooses. Some humans, hell some animals are born, and die moments later due to any number of possible conditions. Life is fickle, it is random, and its true length is undeterminable. But humans don't like a lack of knowledge, they fear it, they hate it…and what they hate they destroy."
"How…sad."
"You would think that. But that's how humans are. That's how this world is. It seems pointless…but through all the destruction…really, new life can come. Be it the destruction of a small park to make way for a hospital, where humans can save the lives of other humans, and safely give birth to other humans, or the destruction of a country, to keep its leaders from waging war on their neighbors and killing countless beings that just didn't need to die. It's the problem with war; it's the problem with battle. More often than not, no matter what, innocent lives are going to be lost."
"Then why fight?"
"Sometimes there is no choice. Diplomacy, speech it doesn't always work. People lie, they cheat, they omit, they contort things in their own way. Those in power tend to be corrupted by it, the knowledge that with a single command, an entire city can be put on lockdown because they wish it, they can increase taxes to further their own income…Humans are easily corrupted…and at the same time, that corruption is easily reversed. Sometimes it takes a single event, sometimes a series of small or large events, for people to understand something they refused to see before. That is the good thing about humans, we can change, we can adapt, we can survive."
"It is…difficult…to understand."
"Trust me, humans, no; life itself is almost impossible to understand. There are so many factors, so many differences…so many possibilities…"
"And what of you? What is your goal? What is your purpose for being here?"
"I…don't really know. Originally I played because it was fun…and eventually I became paid for it. I met people, I made…I guess friends…I don't know anymore. Right now though, I'm stuck, and I don't know why."
"Indeed, it is how you came to us. We sense you are no longer nervous in our presence."
"Adaptation. After a while of being surrounded by something, we get used to it. I realize this is not part of the game, this is…something more. What, I don't know…but it's something more."
"You are like no other player we have ever seen, and we have seen many players. The World seems to bend to your will, even before your imprisonment. You seem to flow naturally with the currents of The World, more so than even some AI we have seen."
"A friend of mine told me this game seems to be played with your mind, rather than the controller. 'If you're afraid…' he said 'you will find your character paralyzed in place, shaking in fear. If you're angry, your character will reflect it. I don't understand it, but this game…it knows you…it knows your mind, and shows it…as if you were wearing a second skin.' I guess…I wear that second skin a lot closer than most."
"We have seen you battle…we have seen you do many things…you do not blatantly rend the rules like cheaters do, but the rules seem to bend for you. We have watched you do things that even we, if we had a form, could not do. This…interests us."
"I can tell, every time I end up here you've been pelting me with questions. Not sure how I end up here though…"
"We bring you here when we are uncertain. We apologize if this has interrupted any of your quests."
"Ehh…no big deal. I've been solo mostly since I woke up from…whatever that was. Weird item I got too…"
"We have seen the past…we have seen the future…and we have seen a time that should have been. Much of it we do not understand…but what we do understand, is that it revolves around you. …We are not natural to this world. We should not exist, but We do. Each of our attempts to understand…has only lead to destruction…the corruption of beings in this world…and this world falling unstable. But…We believe you are different than the others. We believe you can lead Us to the answers We seek."
"I'm not sure I understand what you're saying…"
"We wish for you to take Our power. Whether you use it or not is up to you, but if you need it, it will be there. There are beings in this world who seek you. One to become one with you, for It once was in a time different from now. The other wishes to be loved by you, for It once was in a different time. They know the Truth of your situation, as do We, but though We wish to tell you…it is something best learned by yourself."
"Oh poo. It would have been nice to know what's going on here."
"We understand, and We are sorry."
"Do you at least know why I keep randomly seeing lines everywhere?"
"That We may be able to explain. It would seem that when you encountered the Staff, and you re-awoke after, you were given the ability to see The World's lifelines. These lines appear on every non-human thing in The World. Meaning you cannot at this point see the lines on players, for they are different from The World. Anything born within or from The World, you can see lines on. These lines represent breaks, pauses in the code. You have the ability now, to patch or sever these breaks."
"So basically my character just entered 'Debug Mode,' right?"
"Something similar to that, yes. Creatures are affected by these lines as well…however, to see them on some stronger or specially made monsters, you will have to weaken them before their fault lines become present to your sight."
"Sounds good to me…would have been too easy to be able to just make one swing and win a fight instantly."
"Consider it, rather, a more accurate version of a 'critical hit'. Without further enhancement, you won't be able to instantly erase what you sever on these lines, only greatly disrupt it. We implore you to be careful when using this power, for use on certain objects may have unforeseen consequences."
"Much like anything else in this life…alright. Thanks for the help."
"In another time, We would not be allies. But We have seen that time, and We have learned much from it. Go now, Player Xenmaru. Go with our blessing, and worry not about what is to come. Enjoy your time here, enjoy your new ability in this world…and remember, there is always reason."
The bubbling got louder until it was all he could hear. There was a bright flare of light…and when it cleared, he was on his back on one of the roofs in Mac Anu.
Xenmaru shook his head.
"I can never tell if I've been warped to these places, or if I just…fell asleep here…alright, what changed this time…"
Over the past few meetings with the strange Voice, when he returned, something about his character would be different. After the second meeting, he noted that it was looking more and more like his real life body, only in The World. Bounding across the roofs of buildings like a Naruto clone, he made his way to the pier, where he took a look at his reflection. His eyes had changed. Originally silver, now they were his true body's brown.
Damn…I can't help but wonder what this means…ever since I grabbed that damn staff things have been weird around me. And what the hell was it talking about…Two who seek me?
"Um…excuse me…"
He turned his head. Behind him stood a rather well endowed, slightly tanned girl with short red hair. A big fan was opened behind her, and a belt looking like a fox tail was wrapped around her waist.
"You're…" His mind showed images of a female player battling aside him in the Arena. Another memory image showed the same female on the Arena view screens as Xenmaru stood with a grin of mirth on his face, chuckling to himself.
"Former Demon Palace Emperor Alkaid…right?"
"I guess I'm still famous."
"Well for a lower level Arena, it's a pretty amazing feat."
"Well, we almost had it that one time, right?"
"Yeah, too bad. Lucky bastards had one of those weapons with that massive health draining critical skill on it. So, I doubt someone of your stature came to chat. What do you need?"
"I…um…I've been looking for somebody. An old friend of mine. I lost track of him after he graduated a while back…and I just recently found out he plays The World."
"I don't see how I could help. I mean, there's millions of people playing this game."
"I know…but his name was all over the news about a week ago."
"Ah…" Dammit that's around the time I woke up. "I uhh…haven't been following the news lately…"
"Oh…well…I just wondered…maybe you knew him…"
"Why do you say that?"
"Because your character…I know for a fact you looked different back then, when we partied together…but…I can't help but notice…it looks a lot like him now…"
I look…like her old friend? His eyes narrowed at her. "What…was his name?"
"Shinzaki…Shinzaki Zero."
Xenmaru's eyes widened.
"You…can't be serious."
"I am! He's in a coma right now, just like I was! He was playing and something happened and-
"Wait what?! I'm in a coma?!"
"What do you mean 'I'm?!' Unless…" She gasped. "Zero-kun?"
"Look, I don't know how you know me-
"Zero-kun it's me! Chika! Chika Kuramoto!"
"Chika…wait…timid little Chika is the Badass Empress Alkaid?!" He couldn't help but laugh. "Ain't that some shit?! C'mere you."
Alkaid smiled and hugged Xenmaru tightly.
"I've missed you so much Zero-kun! I got really lonely after you graduated so I started playing The World. I never would have guessed the legendary Shinigami was my senpai!"
As she pulled away…her form began to flicker in Xenmaru's eyes. The body of Alkaid became transparent…and within…he saw the smiling face of his old friend.
"Wow…you've gotten pretty."
Alkaid was confused. "What do you mean? Hey, you better not be lusting after my character!"
"No…I mean…you, you. I…your character is…basically transparent right now…"
She looked at herself. "I'm not…transparent. Zero-kun what are you talking about?"
He shook his head. "I…don't know…it's like…all of a sudden 'Alkaid' began disappearing, and I could see the person behind her…" Suddenly her words from earlier returned to his mind. "What do you mean…I'm in a coma?"
Alkaid frowned. "Come with me…we'll go to an area and talk about this. I don't want anyone overhearing." Xenmaru nodded, and the two walked off. Unseen by either, a small bubbling mass had appeared where he once stood.
"Others seek him too…he is surrounded by those who wish him well, yet he remains unaware of how important he is to them. That may change in time. But the events to come, though most likely, can change as well. We must prepare…for the Goddess wishes to make her move…as the Hidden One seeks his presence…"
And there it is. What chapter is this? What's going on? You'll have to figure that out for yourself. So far, all we know is Zero's in a coma, Alkaid is going to talk to him…and Zero was in some weird area talking to someone. Who that someone is…well…maybe you'll find out…maybe you won't.
Yamimaru: good to see you again. Never saw either of those, though I am a fan of the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Hope you enjoy the rest of this…it's going to be…interesting.
Well then…I wonder what will come next…?