(Floor 13: Forest Field, 7:00 p.m)
Today I was walking through a forest field on floor 11 to try and find some good hunting areas when I came across a small group of five having some serious trouble against a miniature hoard of walkers, about 10 or so.
I thought that they'd be fine so I let them fight on their own a little longer.
After 6 minutes so I jumped into the fray.
"Hey! Move out of the way!" I screamed to them then they all moved.
I started to use a weapon skill by pulling my bat over my head then slamming it into a zombies head destroying it.
"Aaaaaaah!" I screamed as I smashed another walkers head into a tree.
After two minutes of of using my bat I switched to my bow then I used a tri-shot weapon skill twice and I finished off every last zombie. I looked back at the group I saved and they looked like a simple bunch.
"Wow. That was fucking awesome!" one of the players yelled.
The one that yelled was dressed in simple look of a white t-shirt, baggy blue jeans, black combat boots, a red baseball cap and a katana strapped to his waist. He had blond hair, blue eyes, white skin and was an inch or so shorter than I was.
"Who are you?" another player asked.
The one who asked my name seemed to be the leader. He wore a sleeveless, forest green, jean jacket, red t-shirt, black jeans, grey converse and held a scythe over his shoulders. He had brown eyes and hair, light tan skin and was average height.
I removed my hood and introduced myself. "The names Takamuro. What're your names?" I asked in return.
"I'm Keita, the leader of this guild. These are my friends Tetsuo, Ducker, Sasamaru and Shina." Keita said.
I looked over the rest of the group. Tetsuo was around my height, brown hair, white skin, his eyes were the kind that were closed but he could still see and he had twin pistols in holsters, one on each side of his waist. He wore a thin purple hoodie, grey pants and black boots.
Shina had a very simple outfit, it was that of high school girls uniform: a short sleeve, white, button down, collar shirt, blue skirt and black shoes also she wielded a steel spear. She had blue eyes and hair, cream colored skin and was about Duckers height.
Lastly Sasamaru was sort of like Shina, he wore a boys high school uniform: a white shirt, a black, button down, long sleeve, collar shirt, black pants and black shoes as well he held a sledgehammer in his grip. He had brown hair, light tan skin, green eyes and he was as tall as Keita.
"Its nice to meet you all." I told them.
They returned the hello. When all the greetings were finished and we were all aquatinted, Keita, the leader said that he and his guild had to thank me for saving them so they offered me a drink. I didn't want to be rude so I
accepted the offer and we started for the nearest town which was Tonoso.
(Floor 11: Tonoso, 9:20 p.m)
We got to the town a few hours later and we went into the nearby tavern.
"Here's to us "The Moonlit Black Cats", cheers guys!" Ducker exclaimed.
"Cheers!" they all exclaimed.
"I got another one. Here's to the guy who saved our asses from being eaten! To Takamuro!" Ducker announced.
"To Takamuro!" they exclaimed.
"Um cheers everyone." I said hesitantly.
As they all were thanking me for helping them back in the forest field, I didn't exactly feel like I deserved all their thanks and praise.
"It was nothing, I mean you guys probably would've done the same thing if I were in trouble." I told them.
"Yeah, I guess you're right but still. We have to thank you for your help.
If you hadn't come to help when you did, we probably be standing here right now." Tetsuo explained.
"I can't tell how scary it was before you came. I was so scared of the zombies, so when you came to our aid, I was so relieved." Shina said as she wiped away little tears welling up in her eyes.
"Hey um, Takamuro? Sir? I'm hoping I'm not crossing the asking you this but I was curious. What's your level?" Keita asked.
"Uh, level 20. More or less." I said to him.
As I told him my fake level I looked at my real level. I was around level 40-42.
"So wait? You're around our level AND you're a solo player? You're the greatest I've ever seen sir." Keita said.
"Keita, listen you don't have to call me sir so much or even at all.
I'm not you're superior so you don't have to stick to formalities. I'm only a solo player because I'm always fighting in dead zones where I find huge hoards of zombies. It's not exactly the greatest strategy." I explained.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Well I'm sorry to pull this on you here in public but if you'd like to, we love to have you join our guild." Keita offered me.
When Keita told me that I could join their guild it sort of shocked me.
"Our marksman Tetsuo is the only one we can have on the front lines for our guild. Then we have Shina. I was thinking of trying to switch her to sword and shield but the only problem is that she doesn't think she'll be able to handle it." Keita explained while patting Shinas head.
I thought to myself that maybe joining them would be a good idea but I was still a beater.
"Hey, you know if you join the guild maybe you can teach Shina some tactics so she can know what to do in a fight." Keita said.
Shina pulled away from underneath Keitas hand. "Oh come on. Can you please stop talking about me like I'm so useless?" Shina asked. "Really, you can't just expect me to know how to fight on the front lines, I'd be terrified." Shina said.
"It's no big deal. Just hide behind us." Ducker said.
"Yeah, I mean ever since I could remember you've always been a scaredy cat." Keita said.
They all started to laugh and joke just like everything was normal. I was glad there were people like these still left in the game.
"We always like to joke around like this. It helps take the edge off. You see, in real life, we all go to the same high school and are members of the computer club. Though if you think you'll have trouble fitting in, don't, as far as I'm concerned you're already part of our group. Right?" Keita asked.
"Right!" the rest of them agreed.
When they said all those things I didn't know what to do but then I chose what to do.
"Well, thanks for the drink and the offer. I'll do it. I'll join the black cats!" I exclaimed as I raised my glass.
When I agreed to join their guild they were so happy and as was I.
(The World by Nightmare *Japanese version*)
(I DO NOT OWN THIS SONG!)
Hirogaru yami no naka
kawashiatta kakumei
no chigin
Dare ni mo
jamasaseru wake ni
wa ikanai kara
Kajitsu ga tsugeta
mirai
Yume, risou ni
kaeru
Dare mo ga
Nozonda "owari" o...
Hirogaru yami no
naka kawashiatta
kakumei no chigin
Dare ni mo
jamasaseru wake ni
wa ikanai
Itsuka boku ga
misete ageru
Hikarikagayaku
sekai o
(Floor 20: The Dead Forest, 10:00 a.m)
"Aaaah!"a walker screamed as it landed a hit on Shinas shield.
"Umph!" she grunted as she withstood the attack.
"Shina! Get out of the way I got this guy!" I exclaimed as I slammed my bet against one of the walkers swords out of his hand.
Today we were in a low level dead zone that I suggested for the guild and myself to go to for easy leveling. So far everyone was doing pretty good, they holding up against these dead bastards pretty well. At the moment we were fighting off one last walker but he was pretty tough.
"Tetsuo! Finish him off!" I yelled as I parried the dead creatures other sword out of the way.
"I got this!" he exclaimed as he ran and finished off the zombie with two bullets to the head causing it to vanish into nothing but pixels.
When Tetsuo finished off the zombie he won the experience and the items. Everyone congratulated Tetsuo and I did too. Today was a good days hunting for us. Soon after we returned to town.
(Floor 11: Tonoso, 11:00 a.m)
When we returned to Tonoso, I told everyone I'll meet them by the river. I left them at the hotel we were staying at in town. I went to a gear and weapons store.
I looked around and I found a nice, black, carbon fiber bow with arrows made from the same material also I found a Ithaca M37 shotgun, this gun was a great addition in the Vietnam war.
I decided to buy the gun, bow and arrows and some new clothes.
I left the store and went to meet everyone by the lake and they were already there waiting for me.
"Hey everyone." I said, waving at them and pulling my hood down.
I then sat down next to Keita by the lake while everyone else was a few feet behind us. Keita was reading at a newspaper that he'd bought at a store not far from where we were.
"Wow, the assault team made it all the way to floor 28. That's fantastic." Keita said then he asked, "Takamuro? What exactly does the assault team have that we don't?"
"Well, for one thing, they probably have access to detailed information. The best known possibility is that they know some higher up info brokers. So basically with that information, they'll be able to find out the easiest way to gain EXP, plus they don't share that info with anyone." I replied.
"Yeah. I guess you're right about that. But truly, I think what sets them apart from us, is their will power." Keita retorted.
"What do you mean?" I asked a little lost.
"What I'm trying to say is that they have the will to stick up for their friends or any player for that matter. Truthfully, I like to think that we have that same kind of drive, even if we still need to be protected.
With this being said, our main priority is the safety of each other. One day though, when strong enough, we'll join the elites in the assault team." he explained.
"I understand. That's great goal." I said.
As Keita was about to say something Decker was starting to sneak up on Keita.
"I mean I guess so." Keita said as he started to blush a faint cherry red.
"Hey, leader, give me some love!" Decker said as he put Keita in a headlock.
"Come on, Decker. Let go." Keita said as he was holding still in Deckers headlock.
"So, you really believe that we can join the ranks of The Blazing Marksman or The Holy Hunters?" Tetsuo asked.
"Yeah, of course I do. There's nothing wrong with having high goals. The situation is that we have to reach level 30 before we can try." Keita explained.
"That won't even be possible at the rate and level we're at right now." Shine said.
As they all started to mildly bicker, I started to think that Keitas views on things were great.
If the Black Cats can level up ASAP and reach the front lines then Keitas views could change the elitist views of the assault team.
This little band of players could change the whole system and that made me some what happy.
I interjected into the black cats bickering, "Guys?" I asked.
"Yeah, Takamuro?" asked Sasamaru.
"What is it?" Ducker asked curiously.
"You know, you guys are pretty strong with what I've been able to see you guys do in the field. If you level up fast enough, I believe that you guys will reach the front lines and help all of us beat this game, so that we all can leave." I told all of them.
They all looked at me and we all smiled and laughed. Once we finished our picnic, we cleaned ourselves off and started to walk back to the hotel.
While we were walking back, everyone was messing around and laughing but I was a bit behind everyone.
I started to look at my level, it was 48 and I wondered to myself, would I be able to tell them the truth or would I let them find out for themselves.
(Floor 11: Tonoso, 10:00 p.m)
That night we were all at the hotel and we were gathered in Keita and Tetsuos room.
"Alright, everyone. I have an announcement. After our recent hunts in the fields... We got 200,000 Col!" Keita announced.
Once Keita announced the amount of money we put together, we all got really excited and happy.
"You know, now buying our own house doesn't seem like a fantasy anymore." Tetsuo said.
"Oh, I got an idea. We should upgrade Shinas equipment that she can fight better without so much worry." Sasamaru suggested.
"No, I'm alright. What I have right now is fine." Shina said.
"Come on, don't be so narrow minded. You know, it's not exactly fair to have Takamuro be in front every time." Sasamaru said.
Shina apologized, "Oh, I'm sorry Takamuro."
"No, it's fine. Trust me I don't mind being forward, I actually prefer being in the fight." I said while reassuring Shina.
"Thanks, Takamuro. Shina, I know this is hard for you right now but believe me I know you can do this." Keita said.
Shina nodded in agreement but I saw in her eyes that she doubted herself and her potential. Later that night while everyone was asleep, I got myself ready for some late night hunting.
(Floor 28: Plague Wolf Valley, 11:30 p.m)
I arrived on Floor 28 because there're a lot of zombie wolf packs that hunt in the valley not far from a town on that floor. I started walking up the hill and what surprised me was to see... Zero of all people hunting on the same floor I usually come to. I could see he was crouching at the top of a boulder 70 feet away from the nearest pack.
He was wielding an AR-10 sniper rifle with Leupold M3A scope with a sunshade. He wore a simple form of military style look. Zeros avatar was dressed in black, military grade combat boots, a black cap, sleeveless, camouflage jacket and a black long sleeve shirt.
Zero crouched stone still and followed the instructions I gave him on how to shoot his gun just like the first day I met him. He aimed, breathed in then out and took the shot when he felt the bullet powered up, he did that exact process to every last wolf in the pack he was hunting. Once he finished, he saw me and smirked then he started walking in my direction.
"Hey Takamuro, what's up?" he asked me.
"Nothing much. I thought I'd come out here to hunt. I never thought I'd find you in the same place." I replied.
"Same. But wait. Is... Is that a guild symbol? I never thought in a million years that you would join a guild." he told me.
"Yeah, I thought so too. So I see you've been following the instructions I gave you on how to shoot just like when we first met." I said.
"You better believe it. Hey you know, why don't you come hunting with me for a bit?" Zero asked.
I pondered on the thought and I thought why not, maybe just for a half hour to an hour then I'll head back to Tonoso.
"Sure. I got time." I told him.
"Alright, just like the first time we met. Come on, I know a great spot that loaded with those plague wolves." Zero told me.
I nodded my head in agreement and we started walking to the spot that Zero talked about and we reached it within 10 minutes and he was right.
The entire area was crawling with Plague Wolves.
I armed myself with my bat and Zero armed himself with his rifle and went to the top of tree to keep me covered. Once he was in position, I ran in to attack.
"Aaaaaaaaah!" I screamed as I started smashing the infected wolf heads.
"Let's Rock-N-Roll!" Zero said as he started shooting the wolves that were trying to attack me from behind.
We went on attacking the wolves without mercy. I would switch out my bat with my M37 and started shooting the gun but I couldn't shoot it correctly at least three times so I switched back to bat. We finished off all the wolves within a matter of 45 minutes and Zero got down from the tree and walked over to me.
"Hey, those were some sick moves but why didn't you use your gun?" he asked.
"I couldn't shoot it correctly." I said feeling like an idiot.
"Well, I'll show you. Take out your gun." he said.
I took out my M37 and he just lost it.
"That's a Ithaca M37 shotgun!" he exclaimed. "That's amazing. Anyway, this kind of gun is simple to use. Basically, you shoulder the gun then you aim around the chest and fire. I recommend that you buy a scope, it'll make shooting easier. I recommend a red dot scope." he said.
"Thanks for the advice. I'll make sure to do that tomorrow." I told him.
"Anytime." he said.
We started walking back to the town not far from the valley then once we got there I headed to the warp gate to say goodbye.
"Well, it was good to see you again man." Zero said.
"Yeah, same here. I'll see around." I told him.
"Yep." he said with a grin.
Once we finished our goodbyes, I then walked onto warp gate and was transported back to Tonoso.
(Floor 11: Tonoso, 12:00 a.m)
I returned back to Tonoso and I started my walk back to the hotel but then I got a message from Keita. He wrote saying:
"Hey Takamuro,
It's Keita listen, Shina disappeared from her room and hasn't returned for a while now. We're heading for the dungeon right now to look for her. Please message me as soon as you find out something."
"Shina." I said a little worried.
Once I finished the reading Keitas message, I closed it and went into my skills menu. I searched my skills and found the one I was looking for, it was called "Track" and my silver eyes changed into a green color and I could see Shinas tracks.
I ran in the direction the tracks led to and within a couple minutes of running through the town, I found her sitting in the shadows in the waterways.
"Shina." I said.
"Takamuro." she said in return.
"Everyone's worried about you. They were scared that you ran away or worse." I told her.
She sighed with a tinge of sadness. I walked a couple feet closer to her and sat down at least 10 feet away.
"Takamuro?" she asked.
"Yeah, Shina?" I asked in return.
"We should run away." she said.
"Run away? Run away from what?" I asked a little bewildered.
"From everything. From this town, the monsters, the guild and from ZHO." she said.
"W-Wait. What do you mean? Are you talking about committing suicide?" I asked her a little fear stricken.
"Ha. You know? That doesn't sound like such a bad idea when you think about it. I mean committing suicide would be a better option than the alternative here." she said.
I gasped getting a little freaked out now.
"No, I'm sorry. That's not true. If I had the strength to die, I wouldn't be hiding in town where it's safe. I would be out there risking my life like everyone else." she said.
I sighed in relief and relaxed but I was still feeling as bit uneasy.
"Still though. Why do we have to stay here for some bastard?" she asked.
When she said that she surprised me.
"Why do we have to die and suffer when it's just a stupid video game? What's the point in all this?" she asked.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. There isn't a point in all this." I replied.
We sat there in silence for a couple seconds staring at the water and then she started to speak again.
"I'm so afraid of dying here." she said.
I gasped in shock when she said that. "It's really that bad for you in here, huh?" I asked.
She gasped in fear. "I've been so scared lately that I haven't even been able to get any sleep whatsoever." she said.
I looked at her. The way she was so scared. I felt so sorry that a girl -a person- like her had to suffer through this game. I felt so much sympathy for her suffering and fear of death.
"You won't die. Not as long as I'm around." I told her.
She looked at me in surprise. "Really? But how can you be so sure about that?" she asked.
"Because I'll always be there for you plus you also have the Black Cats. The Black Cats are a strong guild. You will survive this game as long as we're around." I told her.
"You really think that I won't die? Will I be able to get back to reality?" she asked.
"Yeah. Of course you will. I promise that you'll make it back that we'll all make it back." I told her.
She looked at me with happiness and with tears of joy. We started to walk back to the hotel and everyone was already there waiting and they were all happy to see her.
We all walked back to our respective rooms.
I went back to my room and started to look through my stats, skills and inventory.
I was about finished when I heard a knocking at the door so I closed my menu.
"Come in." I told the person at my door.
The door opened and it was Shina.
"Hi Takamuro, I'm sorry to disturb you. I just can't seem to get any sleep." she told me.
I had a nervous look on my face that she didn't notice thankfully.
"Um, okay. Come in then. You can have the left side of the bed." I told her.
"Thank you Takamuro." she said.
"No problem" I told her in return.
That night I started thinking that if I stay in the guild she'll be safe and so will the rest of the group and we'll all make it back to the real world.
I figured that there're probably a lot of players like Shina who have a fear of dying in this world.
But even so there are still players like the Black Cats who laugh, cry and try live as best they can in this world. I never thought about it the way that they do.
"Takamuro?" Shina asked.
I switched my expression to that of a happy one for her and turned over to see her.
"Don't worry. You won't die here. I promise Shina. We'll make it back some day." I told her.
She blushed in surprise at my statement then smiled and went back to sleep.
No matter what happens though I will protect all of you.
(Floor 11: Tonoso (Warp Gate), 10:45 a.m)
"Alright. I'm heading out now. Teleport: Town Of The Living." Keita said and he then covered by a bright blue light and he was gone.
"Man, can't believe it. Who knew buying a house could be this exciting?" Sasamaru said.
"Dude relax, alright? You sound like an old geezer." Ducker claimed.
We all laughed at Duckers claim for a few seconds then Tetsuo suggested that we should go and rack up some extra money while Keita was out.
"That's a great idea then we can buy furniture for our new home." Shina said.
When we were all in agreement to go do some more hunting, Ducker suggested that we should try and go to a dungeon on a higher floor but I then interjected.
"We should stick to our normal hunting spots." I said.
"But if we hunt up there, we'll make more money even faster than where we usually go to." Sasamaru said.
"Yeah and at our levels we got nothing to worry about." Ducker said.
At that point I couldn't change their minds. In the end we went to a higher floor level dungeon.
(Floor 27: Dungeon, 11:15 a.m)
"You see? I told you guys this was going to be so easy. At this rate we should be able to reach the front lines sooner than planned." Sasamaru said.
"Now that's what I'm talking about." Ducker said as he got a surprised look on his face. "Look." he said as he spotted something on a nearby wall.
Once we reached the wall Ducker was looking at, he showed us the spot with a large crack and a glowing light inside it.
Ducker then reached his arm out and touched the crack then the glow went from faint to a mild blinding light, when the light faded the wall with the crack collapsed and revealed a doorway.
"A hidden doorway?" I thought to myself.
Ducker then opened door and we saw that it was an empty room with... A treasure chest?
"A Treasure chest! Alright!" Ducker exclaimed.
Ducker, Tetsuo and Sasamaru went into the room except for me and Shina. I tried to stop them.
"NO, WAIT! Don't go in there! Don't open the chest!" I yelled to them but it was too late.
Ducker opened the chest. Once he did the room started to rumble and parts of the walls in the room collapsed revealing hoards after hoards of zombies.
I jumped in with Shina to try and help them then the door slammed close.
"It was a trap guys! Hurry, we have to get out of here!" I yelled.
Ducker took out his GPS and typed in the location of Tonoso and raised it to the air.
"Teleport: Tonoso!" Ducker yelled but it had no effect. "What? It's not working." Ducker said.
"Sasamaru! Try your GPS!" I yelled but Sasamaru and everyone else tried it but it didn't work.
When we couldn't teleport out of the cavern we decided to fight off the hoards. I took out my bat and started swinging at every walker that I could see then at the corner of my eye I saw that Ducker got thrown down and he was started to be eaten alive and he was screaming in horrid pain.
I tried to run to his aid but I was blocked by more and more of these undead bastards, by the time I got to him it was too late his avatar was transformed into an undead creature.
I looked into his cold white eyes and I ran at him. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!" I screamed as I bludgeoned my bat into his skull.
I then saw that Tetsuo was slashed at multiple times all over and he fell over onto the ground and his avatar started to violently convulse until it stopped and started to rise.
"Tetsuo!" Sasamaru screamed.
Sasamaru tried to slam his sledgehammer into Tetsuos moving corpse but missed.
The monstrosity that was now Tetsuo opened his mouth wide then bit down onto Sasamarus jugular causing him to fall on the ground and in pain, he couldn't even speak.
I looked away for a second then looked back at Sasamaru and saw that his HP was down to zero then his corpse rose up and joined the hoards to kill me and Shina, who were left.
I started to lose my mind to anger and sadness. I started screaming throughout the room striking every walker in the head with bat, one after another.
I looked around and I saw Shina trying to fight them off. "Shina!" I called out but she couldn't hear me.
I kept bludgeoning every single zombie I saw.
I kept powering up my bat every two seconds and striking every single monster with absolute anger and fear.
At this moment I feared losing Shina to these monsters and then I saw it.
She was fighting off every single zombie she could but then it happened.
"SHINAAAAAAAAAA!" I screamed with tears in my eyes as I saw a walker come up behind her and slap its jaw into her neck.
What I saw was horrifying, especially the look she had when it bit her with in 10 seconds her undead body rose and became one of them.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed with absolute rage.
Once Shina was one of them, I blacked out from the surge of adrenaline mixed with anger and the next thing I realize I return to consciousness.
When I awake all I saw was the final dead walker disappearing and seeing that I won the reward from the chest.
I then walked out of the trap room and I walked the way back to the entrance. Once I got there I left the dungeon and I didn't look back the whole time with tears in my eyes.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't save any of you." I said.
(Floor 49: Mordro, 10:30 p.m, 12/24)
I sat at a bench waiting for someone in the square of the town I was in right now.
"I heard that someone in particular has been taking risks with leveling lately." Argo said.
"You got anything new for me or not?" I asked her.
"Nothing that's worth putting a price on." she said.
"You give info brokers a bad name. You know that?" I retorted.
"Hey, chill out. This is a first time event. This wasn't in the Beta whatsoever. All I understand is that at midnight tonight the event boss will appear under a fir tree somewhere in the forest. The bosses name is Bloody Santa.
At the moment all the top guilds are searching for the tree right now." Argo said.
I got up to go and get myself ready for the fight against the even boss.
"You wouldn't happen, I don't know, know where the tree is would you?" Argo asked.
"Probably. But who knows I might be wrong." I said.
"Please tell you're to going solo on this one." she asked.
"What does it matter to you? You're just the info broker and I'm the customer." I said.
Before I left I turned around and went into my menu then I went into my Col amount. I clicked on my amount and paid Argo 2,000 Col.
"What? I told you didn't have to pay me." she said.
"No, you didn't. You said it was nothing charging me for but you didn't say I didn't have to pay you." I said as I walked away back to the hotel I was staying at.
Once I reached the hotel, I went to my room and I started to get myself ready for the fight. I started by looking for my weapons. I went though them and changed my regular steel bat for the carbon fiber one I bought a couple days ago then I chose my carbon fiber bow and arrows as well. Lastly I went through to find my Ithaca M37 and I did.
I started changing my attire as well by changing my regular coat into a winter version of it which kept body heat inside more than my regular one, black, combat boots made for snowy terrain, fingered, black, elastic gloves which keep in body heat as well and I kept my jeans.
I then thought to myself:
In this world, you can never revive the dead but I heard a rumor that if you can beat Bloody Santa, he'll drop a rare item that can help a player revive the dead. I'm going into this fight alone and I'll probably die that way. No one will ever see me, no will ever know that's how I'll die here.
I then started to remember the incident with Keita:
"You're a beater. You had no right to be with us whatsoever!" he said.
He then started to climb on top of the rail we were next to.
"No, Keita! Wait!" I yelled but I was too late again, he had already fell off.
I came back to reality and I kept thinking to myself:
That's right it's my fault. My arrogance above all killed you all.
If I had just come clean in the beginning and told you all that I was a beater instead of hiding it from you, I could've saved all of you the pain and death.
I have to beat Bloody Santa that way I can revive Shina and hear what her last words were.
Even if her last words were that she cursing me, I'll take it because I deserve it.
(Floor 49: Forest Field (Outside of town), 11:50 p.m)
While in my thoughts I walked through the forest and found the path that led to the fir tree and ran straight for it but then I came to a halt because I saw that someone was teleporting to me. When the blue light dissipated I saw that it was Zero.
"You followed me, I'm guessing." I asked him.
"Of course I did. You're after the rare revival item that everyone's after." Zero said.
"Yeah. What of it?" I told him.
"Dude, come on. Don't risk your life in here for some rumor that will turn out to be total crap." he said.
I didn't answer him.
"Man, you seriously can't just be risking your life in this game. Once your HP hits zero that's it, Game Over. In real life, your brain gets fried-"
"Shut up." I said as I cut off his sentence.
"I'm trying to get you to stop all your stupid solo bull crap. Come on, join up with me, I can help you get the boss to drop the item." he said.
"But then there would be no point. I have to do this. ALONE." I said as I raised my bat into an attack position.
He stood there a little shocked but not surprised.
"Takamuro, think about it. It's suicide. I can't let you get yourself killed like that. Come on." he said.
I started to power up my bat when a guild appeared out of a blue teleportation light.
"I guess you were being followed too, weren't you Zero?" I asked him.
"Hahahaha, yep it sure looks that way doesn't it? Who would've thought that I'd be followed by The Holy Hunters, the shadiest guild ever known." he said.
We both were standing side by side facing down the guild that outnumbered us 2 to 30.
"You fuckers." I said in a low voice.
"Oh fuck it. These guys can eat lead. Takamuro, you go on ahead I can handle these guys." Zero said to me from over his shoulder.
"What? No, I'll stay and help you beat these bastards." I said to him.
"No, there's no time. In a few minutes the event boss is going to appear so get your ass in gear and go!" he said as he started to get a devilish look in his eyes.
"Alright. Fine. Stay safe and beat these guys." I told him as I started to run for the location of the event boss.
"Hahahahaha, oh I'll have some fun alright. I'm on!" he said as he shot one of the guild members. "Hahahahaha, gotcha!"
(Floor 49: Fir Tree (Event location), 12:00 a.m)
As Zero held the fort I kept running until I reached the tree then after 5 minutes of running I reached the tree and I made right when the boss about to appear.
"Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho!" Bloody Santa said as he came slamming down onto the ground sending a giant wind of cold air in my direction.
When I looked at him I noticed that his suit wasn't just red because of the fabric but also because of the blood from the dismembered arms and legs that he was devouring from his "toy bag". He carried a giant cleaver.
His voice changed into something more sinister. "Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho! Have you been a good little boy?" he asked.
"No, I haven't. Now, let's do this." I said as I gripped my bat and started powering up.
The event bosses voice then went from being able to talk to nothing but groaning and yelling in that undead voice.
"Raaaaagh!" he yelled as he started to run at me.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaah!" I screamed as I started running at him full speed then jumping into the air and slamming my bat into his head beginning the fight.
(Floor 49: Forest Field, 12:50 a.m)
"Man, where is he?" Zero asked as he was injecting himself with a syringe filled with healing fluid.
I can back the way I came and Zero saw me but he also saw how dead my eyes looked.
"Hey man. How'd it go? You get the item?" he asked as I tossed him the rare item.
"There it is. That's the item." I said.
The item was a syringe but it was filled with a certain violet like color. Zero tapped on the item and it showed instructions on to use it.
"Let's see. Must administer to the affected player... Within 10 seconds?" he said in ultimate surprise.
"The day that someone you know is in terrible and the only way to save them is by using that, use it." I told him as I started walking away back to town.
I was about to walk back through the hidden gate that led to the area we were in when Zero grabbed my shoulder but I didn't turn around.
"Listen Takamuro, stay alive anyway you can. I don't care what ways you use, just stay alive until the end of this game." Zero said as his eyes started to tear up.
Zero then let go of my shoulder and I started to walk back to town while he stood there until I was gone.
(Floor 49: Mordro, 1:25 a.m, 12/25)
I returned back to the hotel and went straight to my room. I entered then sat in a chair at a desk. When I sat down I got a message and I looked at the name in sad surprise.
"Shina." I said.
I clicked on the message notification and a small tape and tape recorder appeared in front of me. I grabbed the tape then put it inside the recorder and pressed play then I heard her voice again:
Merry Christmas, Takamuro.
"If you're listening to this tape right now, it means I didn't make it and you couldn't keep your promise. I made this recording for you to let you know that I am not mad at you and that I don't blame you for my death.
Now to be honest with you I never wanted to leave the town of the living. I knew that someday because of me thinking that way, I would die one way or another. But the thing is that is my problem to bear and no one else is responsible for that.
Takamuro, the day I ran away and you found me, you told me every time that I wasn't going to die and I was great full for that. Even though you said I wasn't going to die I knew would anyway and I knew you would blame yourself for my death but it's not your fault.
By the way I know how powerful you truly are, sorry.
That day you let me sleep in your room I sort of peeked at your level when you were going through your inventory and everything.
I wondered why you kept your real level a secret and I wondered why you joined up with us.
I never came to a conclusion on it though. You know though when I saw your real strength I felt so glad and relieved all together.
Even though I'm dead, I want you to stay alive and keep playing this game until the end to find out why it was made, find out why a weak person like me ended up here, find out why you and I met in the first place.
Please, that's what I wish of you. Looks like I still have some time left, so seeing that it's Christmas I'll sing you a song.
She started to hum a Christmas song and while she did I let out a shudders breath and I started to cry a little."
"I'm sorry Shina." I said while my eyes kept welling up with tears.
She then finished her song and spoke one last time:
"Anyways Takamuro, I'm glad that I met you and that I could be with even for a short time. Thank you, goodbye."
Once she finished there was a short silence and the tape stopped.
"I'm sorry Shina. I'm sorry to all of you." I said while crying softly.
(Shunkan SENTIMENTAL by SCANDAL *Japanese version*)
(I DO NOT OWN THIS SONG!)
Kawashiata hazu no nai
yakusoku ga
Kyou mo
Bokura no mirai wa
ubaou to suru
Hoshigatte ita mono wo
te ni shite mo
Sunao ni
Umaku waraenai no
wa naze darou
Afureru namida wa
yowasa ya
koukai janai
Itami ga unda
kakera de
Donna shunkan datte
unmei datte
Hitotsu dake tashika
na mono ga aru
to shitta
Genkai datte konnan
datte
Akirametakunai yo
Kono mama
Hanasanaide
Kataku nigirishimeta kimi no
migi te no
nukumori
Koko ni aru
kara