Hey everyone. Glad to see you all back again for the second chapter of the series. I've made the chapter a bit longer this time. Hope you don't mind more plot, because this is the approximate length the upcoming chapters going to have. Future chapters might get bigger, but I'm not sure yet.
I've noticed that it's a bit hard to read some of 'the figure's ' lines so I'll be changing how they look.
-"From now on, the figure's lines look like this."
-"Uni's lines still look like this."
I'll no longer keep you from the story. Enjoy!
Chapter 2: They begin
Entry number 18.1
Lastation, Rebeat Resort
POV: Lilith
After I got out of the water, I took a moment to look around. Wherever that light brought me, it wasn't a place on earth. I've never seen an island like that on the map. The cities also looked far too futuristic.
Looking around, I found myself on a metal platform near the coast. The platform was round and connected to other similar platforms by metal walkways. On one of the other platforms, I could see… uhm… Is that a skeleton whale swimming on air?
"That's so cool." I adored. "But how does it work? Why does it work?"
Questions would have to come later. First of all, I have find someone that can tell me where the heck I am.
Suddenly, there was someone (or something) making a croaking noise.
"Ribbit"
"Eh?" I mumbled while turning around staring down on a frog under a box. A rather strange-looking frog at that.
"Oh… uhm… Hello there little guy." I said with a forced smile on my face. What a creepy little thing.
The frog however was a little less talkative and instead decided to tackle me in the stomach.
"OW! Hey! What was that for?" I angrily asked, while getting surrounded by more similar frogs with boxes on their head. Uh oh.
I checked my pocket for the gun I tried to use before, only to find out that it wasn't there and instead laid on the opposite side of the platform... How'd it even get there?
"Dang it… Alright. I might be able to just jump over them and quickly grab it." I said under my breath while getting ready to make a run for it.
The four frogs were starting to close in. It was now or never. "Alright. Here I go!" I shouted while trying to jump over one of the frogs. Unfortunately, it got spooked of me running towards it suddenly, so it took a few steps back, resulting in me jumping on it rather than over it.
"Whoa!" I cried while trying to keep my balance. Strange enough, the frog was getting flatter… and flatter…. And I crushed it…. Oh… eventually, the remains started to shine turned into binary, fading as quickly as it appeared.
"…"
What just happened? I simply stood there for a few seconds, looking at the other frogs, which seemed as equally shocked. Probably because I killed one of their comrades so easily. I on the other hand want to know why a frog exploded in a bunch of 0's and 1's after getting crushed.
"… Well I guess I can get rid of these guys plumber style." I said jokingly, while regaining my composure. "Then again… Why would I need something like a gun when they're all the size of a football?"
After crushing the three remaining frogs, I picked up my gun and started to walk in no direction in particular. This place is like a maze. How am I even supposed to get to the main land?
All things aside, this place looks pretty nice. The water is deep blue, the sky is as clear as can be and the creatures around here give it a kind of weird JRPG feeling. Too bad they're all trying to kill me. On the plus side, none of them really stood a chance, with the exception of a non-skeletal whale, which I had to run from.
Now that I think about it, the layout of this place would make it a perfect dungeon for a random JRPG.
After killing a handful of those creatures, I finally could make out the route to the main land.
"Alright. One step closer to getting out of this mess. Now to-" My train of thought was interrupted by distant gun fire, making me jump.
I quickly looked around me to see where the shots were coming from.
"Gah! Just die already!" an unknown voice cried.
Looking towards the source of voice, I could see a black-haired girl fighting a crab monster thing in the distance.
"Don't see that every day." I thought. "Well, it's better than just standing around doing nothing."
-"Mind if I take over here? I think I can narrate this part way better."
-"Well if you insist, go ahead."
POV: Uni
Taking aim at the King crab, I took a few pod shots at it, while trying to keep my distance. I've been trying to take this thing down for the last ten minutes now. How is it still alive? Maybe I should start being serious and go HDD.
The Crab suddenly charged forward taking me by surprise.
Dodging out of the way last second, I quickly recovered and opened fire once more.
"This guy really is resilient."
Without warning, the Crab charged forward once again. I easily avoided the attack by sliding right under it, getting a few good shots on its weak spot. For a crab, he sure liked to charge into his opponents rather than pincer them.
Taking a few extra shots at the monster, it finally started to weaken. "This is it!"
With the final shot, the Crab dispersed into data.
"Whew. I think that's enough for today. Time to turn these quests in and get some more shares for Lastation." I thought to myself.
Out of nowhere, a lone Delinquent Cat charged at me while I was taking some healing items out of my pocket.
"What the-!?"
However, before it could hit me, it was shot down by someone else.
Turning to the shooter, I saw a woman holding a very outdated model. I think it's a Glock 17. The Lastation police force used those things about thirty years ago.
"Heya." Then woman greeted. "You okay?"
"Oh. Uhm… yeah, I'm alright." I said while approaching her. "Thanks for the cover. I probably should've paid more attention back there."
The woman looked a bit older than me. Probably around her mid-twenties. She has long brown hair and blue eyes and wears a green jacket over a black tank top with a pair of jeans. She also wears a pair of white sneakers. I don't recognize the brands on her jacket or shoes though.
"You think? You looked like you were handling yourself pretty well against that Crab." She said with a kind smile on her face. "My name's Lilith. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Uni. Hmm…" I looked Lilith over once more. She was certainly dressed herself… Different. "I like your clothes. Did you design them yourself?"
This seemed to take her by surprise.
"Oh. Uhm… No, I didn't. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I just don't recognize any of the brands on them, so I thought you're one of those people that designs their own clothing."
Lilith took a moment to think before responding.
"I-… I'm not really from around here, you see. I was wondering if you could tell me where I am."
"Huh? You mean you came from another nation? Well… The dungeon you're currently in is Rebeat Resort. It's at the border of Lastation." I explained.
Lilith seemed even more confused now. "Las-… Lastation?" She must come from far to not know about Lastation.
"You don't know about Lastation?" I asked.
"Well, like I said, I'm not really from around here. I kinda just got here in a rather strange way."
I scanned Lilith over again. The brands on some of her clothes certainly weren't any of those that Gamindustri has. Maybe she came from overseas. I know there's some other landmasses out there that have CPU's, but they're pretty far away.
"I see…" I continued the conversation as a walked towards the dungeon's exit and gestured Lilith to follow me. "Do you at least have a place to stay?"
"I don't actually… Wait, what kind of currency do you use here?" She asked while grabbing her wallet.
"You're worried more worried about being able to spend money than having a place to sleep?" I said in surprise. "You have some strange priorities. Well, anyway, we use credits."
"…"
Lilith simply stared at me.
"… what?"
"You know… I don't know what I was expecting. Why did I take 500 pounds with me anyway?" She asked no one in particular while pocketing her now worthless money. "I was hoping I could perhaps book a hotel for the time being. Don't really feel like sleeping on the street."
"Well, you can come over to Lastation's bassilicom… uhm, you do know what a bassilicom is right?"
Lilith simply shook her head. Does she not have CPU's where she's from? "Basically, it's the place where CPU of a nation resides."
"Alright, but what's a CPU? You'll have to explain all this stuff along the way." Lilith said with her index finger on her chin. I agreed and we both made our way to Lastation's bassilicom.
-Lilith has joined Uni's party
Entry Number 18.2
Lastation's bassilicom, Uni's room
POV: Lilith
"Okay I think I got everything down. So in a nutshell, CPU's are the goddesses of Gamindustri . They protect the people of their nation in trade of their loyalty and faith, which gives them strength and makes them stronger" I summed up after Uni's long explanation about each of the four nations, Gamindustri, dungeons, quests, shares, CPU's and their transformations.
"That's right." Uni happily said. "Any more questions?"
Somehow I doubt any of this is really happening. It all seemed so… strange. Maybe the JRPG idea I got earlier really does apply to this world.
"No. not really… well, one, perhaps." I started. "If this is the bassilicom, then the CPU?... Wait, don't tell me you are the CPU, Uni!" I concluded. Wouldn't that be too convenient if she indeed was the CPU of this nation. Maybe she could help me get out of this mess with her godly powers.
"What? N-no, I'm not. Well, actually. I'm this nation's CPU candidate. But please, keep referring to me by my normal name." She added with an awkward laugh while rubbing the back of her head. "I've never liked it when my… uhm… M-my friends called me things like lady Uni."
I noticed how she slightly shuddered at the word 'friends'… hum.
"As of where my sister, the CPU of this nation is." Uni switched to a more serious mood as she started to explain the situation.
"A few years ago, my sister and the other CPU's went to a place called the Gamindustri Graveyard. They were on their way to stop the evil organisation of ASIC."
Uni sat down on her bed, collecting her memories of what happened.
"We…. We're not quite sure what happened to them. We assume she's still alive, but ASIC has taken control of most of Gamindustri in her absence. Nowadays, kids see piracy as a common thing. We can't a do a thing about it without them."
I still find it strange how the CPU of a nation gains faith through games, of all things.
Uni put her hands on her lap, looking down at the floor.
"If only I could've gone with them. If only I were stronger. I could've saved them, I could've saved her."
Oh dear, she'll probably get pretty depressed if I don't step in.
I crouched down to her eye level and grabbed her by the shoulders. She looked up in surprise, staring me directly in my eyes.
"Hey now. No need to get all down like that. We all made mistakes in the past, things we've come to regret. But if we only look back, we'll never see what we may bump into ahead of us."
I let go of Uni's shoulders. I had her full attention at this point.
"Wherever your sister is or whatever she's doing, I'm sure she wouldn't want her little sister to feel down like this. Tell me. If she were here right now, what would she tell you to do?"
"She… She'd tell me to get stronger and…"
She paused, probably imagining about what her sister would want her to do right now.
After a while, I could see smile returning to her face. Guess it worked…
"You're right. Noire would never want me to feel bad about the past. She'd want me to improve so I won't make the same mistakes again."
"That's the spirit." I added. "With that attitude, you'll get stronger in no time. Beside, you don't have to do this alone."
Uni gave me a confused look.
"Hm? What do you mean by that?"
"Well, I'm not really fighter like you, but I'll support you in any way I can."
"Wait. You can't fight?" She asked, visibly shocked. "Everyone in Gamindustri knows how to defend themselves. Don't you have a weapon or…"
"Well, I do have this gun, but what I mean is… Unlike you, I can't really take the hits that well."
"I see… Hang on." She said, while pulling out some kind of device… a phone?
"What's that?" I asked.
"Oh this? I suppose you don't have these back in… uhm… where'd you say you came from again?"
"I haven't told you yet, but I'm from England."
Uni looked dumbfounded at me.
"In Europe."
"…"
"On Earth?"
"…"
"I may have travelled from one dimension to another." I concluded.
I couldn't see any other explanation for what was happening. The strange creatures bursting into data, the CPU's, gaining faith through games… This has to be some kind of different dimension.
"That's… Are you serious?" Uni asked. "I mean, you're awfully calm about this."
"I only just figured it out myself. I… Well, I don't know what to say."
I grabbed a chair from the desk next to me and took a seat.
Just how did I get here? What was that stone?
A few minutes of silence passed before Uni spoke up again.
"Lilith? Are you okay?"
Snapping out of my train of thought, I turned to Uni and smiled at her.
"I'm fine, really. It's just… I'll probably have to find a way back. I think I left the stove on back home." I joked.
"That's your biggest concern?" Uni asked, completely oblivious it was a joke.
"Huh? N-,no… I was just kidding. Eheh. But I'll tell you about my world and all later. You still haven't told me whatever that thing is you are holding."
She somehow completely forgot she was even holding something, I guess.
"Oh, right. Well, this is a phone."
…ah. It just looks a bit different.
"You can call people with it, text them, send e-mails and check your party's level and lily rank."
And it sounds like they even have better apps in this dimension. Great. Gotta look into the lily rank app.
"Wait. Level? Lily rank? What's that?"
"A level is… Well, your combat level. When you fight monsters, you get stronger and your level goes up. If you sit around and do nothing, it goes down after a while." She explained.
This world really is like a game.
"As for lily ranks, they're basically a parameter that tells you how close you are with your party members."
"Really now?" I asked. "So what's our lily rank? What's our level?."
"I was already going to check your level. Let's see…" Uni said while navigating through a few menu's, suddenly freezing up.
"Uni?" I asked with light concern.
"Your level…It's…" She mumbled.
I got up from the chair and looked over her should at the phone's screen. It displayed two windows, one for the both of us. I don't know how, but my window has a pretty good portrait of me.
Next to the portrait was a number with the letters 'lvl' before it. Guess that's the level.
Uni: lvl 16
Lilith: lvl 21
"… Why am I five levels up on you?"
"I… I don't know." Uni stammered.
I really hope this doesn't hit her confidence. Last thing I'd want is her getting depressed.
I quickly glanced at Uni's face. Contrary to what I expected to happen, she instead was… laughing?
"That's so cool!" She said a bit out of character. "You're this strong without ever fighting. Imagine how much stronger you can get if you did fight alongside me!"
"Well… I still don't really have a weapon. I don't think I'm good enough with this gun alone to-"
"Then we're gonna go shopping right now." She interrupted while pulling me along.
"H-hold on. I don't even have any money." I tried to argue
My comment fell on deaf ears… I hope she's the one paying… Actually, I don't, because then I'd probably have to pay her back.
Entry Number 18.3
Lastation mall
POV: Uni
Walking down the main street of Lastation, we entered the mall. You'll find all the basic shops here. Supermarkets, restaurants, clothing stores, arms stores, you name it.
-"How is an arms store a basic shop?"
-"It is in Gamindustri. We've come to consider weapons like guns to be as normal as bread."
Half way here, I had stopped pulling Lilith along. Maybe I got a little too excited. But this is the first time I'm going shopping with a friend.
"So what's your preferred kind of weapon?" I asked. "I'll have to know, because there's a lot of different specialised stores around here."
"Well..." Lilith said while thinking. It's weird to imagine someone of her age never having fought against a monster before.
"I guess I could use something like a blade or a shield. That way I can deal with things from afar and up close."
"I see. Alright then. I think I have a rough idea about what you'd like"
I gestured her to follow me once more to the second floor. Here, we entered weapon store that is specialised in melee weapons.
"Blades, shields, maces, axes, you name it. They've all got it here."
Lilith looked a bit hesitant. It must be weird for her to just go to the mall to buy a weapon or two.
"I don't know if I'm the kind of person that would go around slashing monsters and all." She said. "Do I really have to do this?"
"Don't be such a let-down." I scolded. "Look, if I want to become stronger, I'm going to need someone to help me. That's what you've told me, remember? You even told me you would support me in any way you could."
"I didn't really say that and I probably didn't mean it like that if I did." She responded, rubbing her temple with her finger.
"I am fairly certain you something among those lines."
"Alright, I give up. But can you pay up front for me? I don't exactly have a lot (or any) money at the moment."
"Don't worry, I've got you covered. Just don't pick anything too expensive."
We took a few moments to browse around and try different kinds of weapons. If she was going to dual wield her gun along her weapon, she wouldn't be able to use any two-handed weapons, obviously. She also had trouble lifting some of the heavier weapons like the axes or the maces. A shield was also kind of out of the count, because it would require her to be close to her opponent. It would be better to use something like a blade or a one-handed spear to keep monsters at a distance.
"I could probably just bash them with my shield, right?" She said, trying to convince me.
"It wouldn't do a whole lot of damage though." I countered. "We can, however, get you a small shield that you can strap to your lower arm. They're light and provide you with some protection."
"If you're okay with buying two things instead of one, then fine by me."
It was then that Lilith seemed to go quiet for a second. I think she something among the lines "How could I forget about it?".
"Did you find something you like?"
"Yeah." She answered, picking a rapier while giving it a few swings. "I used to go fencing when I was young. It's been ages since I've held one of these."
"Why did you stop?"
"I just got bored. It wasn't really that much of a challenge anymore."
"So I take it you're pretty good with one, then?"
"It's been some time, but I suppose I can give it a shot."
I took a quick look at the price tag.
"Hmm… I don't think I'll be able to afford both this and the shield. This and the shield are both pretty expensive. Aren't there any cheaper ones?"
"Well, they're the all same, actually." Lilith blandly stated.
"I guess they're not that popular then." I sighed. "Alright. It'll have to do."
With that I paid for the rapier and two holsters. One for her gun and one for her new blade.
Walking out of the store, Lilith seemed a lot happier than before. Looks like I made the right call to take her to the mall.
"Want to get some ice cream?" I suggested. "I still have some left over credits."
"You sure about it? I already feel bad for making you pay for all the other things."
"It's fine. You'll just have to treat me next time. Also, I kind of want to hear where you come from. Like… How is it back in England?"
"And what better way to listen to a story than with ice cream?"
She let out a small laugh, while giving me a pat on the back.
"I like the way you think, girl. Dibs on all the strawberry flavoured stuff."
She certainly seems to be in high spirit.
"Chocolate for me." I replied
After we both got our cups of ice cream, she started to tell me about her old life.
"… And we have a queen instead of CPU's. We pay outrageous taxes instead of buying their games."
"We also have taxes in Lastation, but they're pretty low."
"Well I think I've got another reason to stay in Lastation."
"But what about how you came here… I mean, you didn't just go to bed and wake up in Gamindustri, right?"
"Not really… I can't really explain it either. I mean, Geo-" Lilith stopped mid-sentence, as if remembering something important.
"Hm? What's the matter?"
Lilith was silent for a good minute.
"I just realised something." She finally said. "When I that portal opened… I was with someone else. An old 'friend'."
"Someone else? But you said you got here alone."
"That's exactly my point. I got here alone, but I left with someone else. Whatever happened to Geoffrey?"
Entry 19.2
Planeptune bassilicom
POV: Nepgear
*Achoo*
"What's the matter Geoffrey?" I asked. "Did you catch a cold?"
"No, I just… Never mind. carry on with your explanation, IF."
Hey everyone. Thanks for reading this chapter all the way through. I had a pretty hard time determining how I should've portrayed Uni in this situation. I didn't want to make her too tsundere, because she mostly acts that way around people that are younger or about her age. When she's around Noire, she acts pretty different. Mostly because she's her sister, but also because (obviously) is older than her. Same goes for Vert, Blanc and Neptune.
Feel free to let me know whether you enjoyed this chapter or not.
-Porpol
