Chapter 4: The Ring was not worth it

-December 4th ,6:00 PM-

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?" I screamed happy that the game made it impossible for people outside the room to hear us talk. Charlie spun around a look of shock and fear on her face. In all the time we had been dating I had never yelled at her for anything. I immediately closed the distance between us hugged her close and gave her a kiss.

"And thank you. If you hadn't shown up when you did I wouldn't be here now. Hell we would've lost a lot more players to, so on behalf of all the survivors' thank you. Also sorry for the outburst just had to say that before you felt like you had gotten away with that" I kissed her again.

"I'm sorry, I know I should have listened but I had to prove I'm not useless." She said a tear in her eye.

"Charlie you are nowhere near useless. You have the biggest responsibility in the group." I said wiping the tear away with my thumb.

"And that is?"

"And that is keeping me alive."

"How can I do that if you won't even let me fight." She said pushing me away a look of anger on her face.

"Because if you're safe then I can keep a level head in battle."

"That didn't go so well today did it?"

"Today doesn't count."

"And why is that?" she asked more angry than anything else.

"I didn't have my weapon until half way through the fight."

"That is not a suitable excuse for me. What if you hadn't gotten that skill when you did what would've happened then."

"You would have died. And then I would've killed myself" She went quiet with a look of fear on her face.

"Jason…" she started crying.

"I'm sorry but it's the truth and you need to realize that you are the only thing in this world keeping me going."

"You know the same goes for you. If you had died… I would've…. Killed… myself as well." She said in between sobs

"I know but I grew up playing games like this and I was a beta tester, I have much more experience then you."

"True but if you're fighting then I will be there at your side protecting you from anything that's too strong for just you to handle alone." She said her tears slowing.

"Fine fine I give up. Next time you can come as long as your high enough level for It." as soon as I said it she beamed at me and her tears ending the only trace being her bloodshot eyes. She walked over to me kissed my cheek and got into bed as if the whole argument hadn't happened. Sometimes I hate how good she is at playing me. I sighed and got in bed next to her.

-December 10th ,12:00 AM-

"Why are we out here again?" Ryuk asked for the thousandth time.

"Rumor has it that the first event of the game is gonna be held in this dungeon." I said while I was trying to think of what the event could possibly be, this dungeon isn't exactly a challenge in fact I'd say at this point it was downright easy.

"I know that. What I mean is why are we here now, the event hasn't even been announced yet. Also why are only the guys here?" Ryuk said this time looking at Seamuz and Ace. After the boss battle they decided to stick with us.

"You do remember what tomorrow is to me and Charlie right?" with that Ryuk sat up realizing exactly what tomorrow was. Say what you will about him being a dick but he's still my best friend for a reason, he will always help when I need it.

"OH shit that's right tomorrow's the eleventh. Sweet that means no seeing you tomorrow. Well I'm gonna hit the town and try to find myself a girlfriend" He said cheering up.

"Ha-ha very funny but yes you won't be seeing me tomorrow." I said rolling my eyes and smiling at the thought of him going around hitting on girls.

"And Kallen and Nyssa are distracting Charlie for me." I said answering his other question

"I know I said I would help and all but do you mind if I ask what tomorrow is? I know Ace is curious as well he's just too damn nice to ask." Seamuz asked leaning against the wall going through his menu.

"Yeah I am a little curious?" Ace asked

"Well the rumor for the event says that one of the rewards given Is a ring with a stat boost. I was gonna give to Charl-." Before I could finish I got a message from the server. I opened it.

-EVENT ALERT-

"The Bloodletting cultists are trying to summon a demon we need them stopped"

Location: Cave of The Cultist

Time Limit: 12:10-3:00

Party limit: 10

Possible rewards: Varies depending on how you finish mission. Ring Guaranteed either way

Objective: Stop the cultists or kill the demon

Bonus: Rewarded for killing the demon

"Alright now that the event is live lets go." With that we drew our weapons and headed in. for ten minutes we wondered around killing cultists before Ryuk said what we were all thinking

"This is too fucking easy to be an event, and nothing's changed it's all the same if anything it feels like there are less enemies than normal." Ryuk said a look of disappointment on his face.

"Yeah there are definitely less enemies this time." I said removing the end of my scythe from the body of a cultist as it burst into thousands of pixels, a worried look on my face.

"Why are you guys worried so much, just because there are less enemies doesn't mean it's going to be any easier." Ace said trying figure out why we were so worried.

"That's not why I'm worried. During events enemies don't just disappear their either moved or replaced. What worries is that their supposed to be summoning a demon right? Well from what I remember from other games is that the more people participating in the summoning the stronger the demon. And this place is missing like 30 mobs." Ryuk explained. As he finished you could see the flip switching on in Ace's head. He immediately looked panicked.

"Oh." Was all he could say. We kept hunting mobs for about another hour before we heard something.

"Shit." Ryuk said as we stopped to listen.

"What is it?" Seamuz asked seeming to not care.

"That's chanting."

"And why is that bad?"

"Because were still a half mile away from the end chamber."

"Oh that would be bad." Ace said his voice shaky.

"Don't worry as long as we can interrupt them long enough the summoning will fail." I said putting a hand on his shoulder to calm him. It didn't work. We continued the half mile without interruption. We arrived at the final doors as the chanting stopped. Then one started yelling out.

"ALL THAT IS LEFT IS FOR THE BLOOD OF PURE ONE! AND DESTINY HAS SEEN FIT TO BRING US SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS." And with that the doors opened up. The medium sized cavern the dungeon normally had was replace by a fifty foot black marble hallway complete with stone pillars. We walked in slowly assessing the forty or more cultists standing in a circle around a giant fire. We waited for a few seconds before I realized the NPC was waiting for us to respond.

"And what if we don't want to die today?" I asked acting as if the odds didn't scare the shit out of me.

"Oh we don't need your death just a droplet of blood will do just fine." The cultist said a wicked smile on his face. As he said this I reached for my crystal pouch and pulled out a teleportation crystal, just in case things got too dicey. I just hoped the other saw me and did the same.

"And what if we don't feel like bleeding?" Ryuk said in a mocking tone.

"Then we'll make you bleed!" the cultist yelled and charged us. One by one the others followed suit.

"ATTACK PLAN REAPER! And Ryuk whatever you do don't charge in." I yelled as the cultists closed in. I hoped Ryuk had heard me. We all went back to back so we were looking out at four directions, Ace at my back with Seamuz on my left and Ryuk on my right. Attack plan reaper was that we all group up and switch around to wherever we might be needed so for me it was wherever there was a longer ranged opponent. As the cultists arrived we started cutting them down one by one.

"ATTICUS!" Ace yelled out ducking an axe swing and turning towards me. I placed a hand on his shoulder and vaulted over him bringing my scythe around and cleaving the axe wielding cultist in half. The next ten minutes went on like this hacking, slashing and moving around to cut down more and more enemies. Eventually I heard Ryuk yell and out of the corner of my eye I saw him charge out. The cultists agro'd onto him and less and less stopped coming at us.

"Fuck." I said watching him run at the remaining three cultists.

"What's the problem?" Ace asked confused.

"He's a tank he's not gonna try to dodge them he probably thinks even if he gets hit he just has to kill the guy with his blood before he can make it back to the fire."

"Well that's true isn't it? The killing the guy part that is." Seamuz asked trying to figure out why I was worried.

"Yes that part is true but Ryuk isn't fast enough he's wearing full night armor while the cultists are wearing cloth instead."

"Oh… shit they're gonna summon the demon." Seamuz said looking on. Ace was the only one to go help. I personally wasn't gonna help because I wanted to see what the bonus was. Eventually what was bound to happen happened, a cultist cut Ryuk and made it back to the fire. Immediately the fire shot ten feet into the air as it died out a single man walked out. As he walked Seamuz and I regrouped with Ryuk and Ace. As the man got closer I got a better look at him. He looked to be in his mid-twenties with long flowing white hair. He had no shirt but black steel gauntlet with sharpened fingers on both arms. For leg armor he had silver greaves and a black and bronze kilt. He looked more like an Abercrombie model with armor on then a demon. The only thing that proved he wasn't human was the two black feather wings poking out of his back.

"Demon as the one who summoned you I am your master and as your master I order you to kill these heroes." The cultist by the fire yelled. The demon turned and looked him. The cultist clutched his chest, when he moved his hands there was a sword sticking out.

"I am slave to no man." The demon said turning back to us as the cultist burst into pixels the sword disappearing with him. The other cultists realizing how fucked they were no matter what started to run for the exit. They never stood a chance; they were less than halfway when swords appeared in their backs as well.

"Now that those fools are out of the way I can take my time with you four. But where are my manners, first introductions. My name is Azazel the Forger of hell." Seeing as how a health bar hadn't shown up yet I decided to go with it.

"I am Atticus the life hunter." I said offering my hand for him to shake.

"Oh such an imposing tittle. Tell me how you acquired it?" the demon asked a smirk on his face as he raised his hand to shake.

"By killing every murderer I've met in this world." I said nonchalantly trying not to let my voice give away how scared I was.

"Oh, let's see if you live up to that name shall we." He said smiling as a seven foot white long sword with a skull for a hilt appeared in his left hand. As the sword appeared so did his two health bars.

"Well shit look what you've done now." Ryuk said sarcastically. Before I could respond Azazel leapt back ten feet and hovered in the air.

"He can fly too? That's so fucking unfair." Ryuk said pissed at the demon. Azazel raised his hands and a hundred swords appeared around him in the air. With a flick of his hand he sent them flying at us, lucky for us the pillars were close and we raced for them. We barely managed to make it before the swords landed where we were ten seconds ago. Azazel repositioned himself to try again. We moved again running to the next pillar as he launched more swords at us. if this kept up he would win before we could even hit him.

"FLYING AND SHOOTING SWORDS NOT COOL BRO NOT COOL!" Ryuk yelled as we hid again. In response Azazel just laughed and summoned more swords. Shit we needed a plan and fast. We ran behind another pillar we were exhausted. That's when ace spoke up.

"I've got an idea!" ace said excited.

"Were all ears kiddo!" Ryuk yelled as we ran again.

"Stop running and fight!" Azazel yelled sounding irritated.

"Alright seeing as none of us can reach him now." Ace started

"No shit Sherlock!" Ryuk screamed at Ace.

"We split up next time Ryuk with Atticus and Seamuz with me. We'll agro him and while he's distracted Ryuk throw Atticus, you have the highest strength here."

"Holy shit that might actually work." Ryuk said surprised that Ace could come up with something like that. The next time Azazel launched a volley we split up. It took a few volleys for Ace's group to agro him, but eventually they did. Ryuk cupped his hands for me to step into.

"Launch in t-minus right fucking now!" Ryuk yelled as he threw me as hard as he could. Even with his strength as high as it was I still barely made it but I did.

"HEY ASSHOLE!" I yelled as I neared him. He turned and looked astonished to see me coming nearer. Before he could react I did the stereotypical two handed weapon move and spun in circles connecting three times. Not only did I connect and take a chunk of his health but I also knocked him out of the air.

"QUICK BEFORE HE CAN RECOVER!" I yelled as I landed. Unfortunately demons seem to recover quickly. Before the other could get near him he sent out an AOE attack not only stopping the progress of the other but blasting me back and sending my health into yellow. Before I could do anything Azazel was next to me he kicked me hard enough to send me flying into one of the pillars ten feet away. I gasped in immense pain as I hit the floor. I checked to confirm the worst my health had dropped into the low red. Luckily Ryuk was close enough to stop Azazel from attacking again. While he was defending Ace and Seamuz were able to arrive and help getting in attacks where they could. I quickly popped two health potions putting my health into the green and eliminating the pain. I glanced at Azazel's health and I was surprised. For all that strength and speed his defense was not that high, his health was already down to the last half of his second bar. I smiled and joined the fight.

"RYUK DUCK!" I yelled. Ryuk did accordingly and I placed my hand on his shoulder and leapt over him kicking Azazel hard in the chest sending him back a few feet. Azazel paused for a second and smiled.

"This has been a good fight. But for this last part it shall be a one on one." He said looking at me.

"LIKE HELL WE'D JUST LET YOU FIGHT ONE ON ONE." Seamuz yelled at him. With that we charged at him Seamuz and Ace in the front, Ryuk and I in the back. We had a raging bloodlust in our eyes. But Azazel just kept on smiling. With that close to godly speed he had he nearly teleported by Seamuz and Ace and knocked them aside. He then ducked both mine and Ryuk's swings and spin kicked Ryuk to the side. As they got up and charged him they all ran into something rebounded of off it.

"Neat trick I picked up back in the Crusades." He said his hand raised.

"Now where were we? Owe right." He said turning his attention back to me. Seeing as how I was alone this fight I decided to play it safe and waited. We circled each other for a minute before Azazel charged and swung his sword at my leg. I went to block but his move turned into a feint and went for my neck instead. I kicked my scythe sending it full circle and blocking his attack. I use the momentum from the parry to swing my scythe around my back and at his chest. He noticed and dodged back causing me to barely skim his torso. It wasn't enough to kill him but I still connected.

"You are much faster then I originally thought. You are indeed a worthy opponent." He commented. I shrugged and responded.

"Ryuk has his strength and I have my speed."

"HA this shall be much more enjoyable then." He said. He looked like a kid opening up a Nervegear on Christmas. We continued to circle each other. This time it was my turn to charge I closed the distance between us and swung my scythe up from the ground attempting to cleave him in half. He side stepped me and swung at my left arm. He connected and severed it, in return I spun while taking a step back swing my scythe and connected with his right arm cutting off his hand. I took three more steps back and assessed the situation. We both had low enough health that the next hit would decide it. We both had an advantage. I had a longer reach; he had the fact that losing my arm hurt like a bitch and would continue to until I healed it with a crystal. We both charged ten feet away I started to swing while he positioned his sword for a stab. A split second before being impaled I spun around him to the right and using the momentum swung my scythe around into his side. I turned around to look. He turned wide eyes at the fact that he lost. He started laughing. What was going on his health was at zero he should've died by now.

"That was a good fight indeed. Lucky me I have even more health." He said as another health bar appeared. I moved back into a defensive stance.

"But don't worry I concede. I've decided I like you too much to kill you."

"Wait, what?" I asked confused.

"I don't want to kill you anymore in fact I've decided to give you all gifts." He said and with a clap of his hands message's appeared in front of everyone.

-For clearing the event you have been awarded Death's scythe. As well as the Leaf Ring-

I didn't know what everyone else got but I was happy at the high level weapon I received.

"But that's not all. For besting me I give you another gift." He started.

"Sweet, give me all the shit you've got." Ryuk exclaimed holding up a smaller version of Azazel's sword.

"Yes well the "shit" I've got is for our dear life hunter not you." Azazel said. Ryuk didn't look upset though he just shrugged and started swinging his sword.

"Anyways you should probably heal that arm first." Azazel said returning his attention to me. I realized I was still missing my arm, I slung my scythe across my back went through my menu to grab a crystal and healed my arm.

"Good now give me your hand." Still uncertain as to whether or not I trusted him I didn't move. He rolled his eyes and again with his speed grabbed my hand.

"For Lucifer's sake I already told you I don't want to kill you anymore. Although this might hurt…. A lot." No sooner had he said that then the worst pain I'd ever felt in my life exploded in my hand and traveled up my arm. Everywhere the pain was a black line appeared. After what seemed like hours of excruciating pain it was over just as fast as it had begun. One second the pain was there the next it was gone. When I looked at my arm I had what looked like a pentagram tattooed on my arm and on my hand a star with Azazel written in on the center line.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR!" I yelled at him drawing the attention of my friends, they immediately moved into an offensive stance ready to fight if Azazel tried anything.

"Hey in my defense demon blood is super powerful stuff but does hurt like a bitch. Anyways that mark binds you to me allowing you to call on my help." He explained.

"So I can summon a demon?" I asked.

"Yes but only three time, and while not helping you and after the third summon I will reside in crow form and come with you while fighting. While you are not fighting or when I feel like it I will return to the demon realm to rest. Also in crow form I can only scout around you and tell you enemy positions. And with that I'm leaving." With that he burst into flames and disappeared.

"Wow I survived a demon and all I got was this lousy sword. You got a fucking demon. Something just doesn't seem fair here." Ryuk complained. I rolled my eyes and with that we headed home.

-December 12th , 10:00 PM-

"It's been a great day so far." Charlie said hugging my arm as we walked through the streets of Kaneki. We continued walking for another twenty minutes before heading back to the inn. We got back to or room and prepared to go to bed.

"One last thing." I said opening my menu pulling out a small box. I handed it to her while kissing her.

"Happy two year anniversary."