Author´s note:
Hey back again, sorry for not posting the chapter before, I had deadline for final assigments. but here´s the next chapter, enjoy!
Chapter 5
Darkness.
The umbral side of my mind advancing to take control, I didn't even cogitate. Embracing it, I was made blind. Blind with mindless revenge.
With my oath to protect those that had become my friends shattered by a single blow, I lunged forward; channeling all my rage into my left arm.
"Bastard! Come and fight me!"
My beloved sword Stareyes gone with my dear friend, I had no choice but to fight with [Nightfall Shade], my complementary weapon. My gauge a few dots away from becoming yellow, and not wasting a single second I acted; with lightning-fast speed, I opened my window and materialized it. Feeling the strong leather grip, I sped into action.
Not even caring about my missing limb, I gripped my weapon tighter, amalgamating it. The icon alerting me of my state didn't bother me. Dark and sharp, the weapon in my hand was the perfect personification of my emotions.
Swoosh!
With ambidextrous ability, my left arm had no problem emulating and withstanding the fury within me. The congregation of feeling merged into one, my body responded almost by itself. And now without difficulty, I dodged the incoming attack; the giant shock didn't even strike my avatar, and not even losing me off balance, I was too focused on the single figure in front of me. The one responsible for our comrade's deaths, I only had one thing in mind: to kill it.
Filled with adrenalin and heart pumping at its maximum, I had finally merged with my sword. Feeling like an extension of my arm, it moved at will. Like the flow of water, I let myself go with my emotions and easily dodged everything it threw at me. The darkness surrounding me had become my ally in my fight against the boss. But the almost poetic moment had no meaning to me in, as my brain was too centered and focused on one thing only.
"Kyaaaa!"
Slash!
Slash!
Consecutive hit after consecutive hit, I was in a frenzy. Catching it off guard, I let loose my rage. But not going unnoticed, I quickly became its center of attention. The party fighting it seconds ago now in retreat, I had it all for myself. Its massive body in front and finally facing me directly, we engaged in a two-sided battle. With full attention on me, I was even more determined to obliterate it. My hard-earned stats going at their maximum, I finally unleashed their full potential.
Clang!
Boom!
The mace crashing right beside me, I didn't budge, as I didn't have any more fear. Although part of my mind was spinning with a conflation of feelings, the most part had its sights fixed on the monster. Everything had become easy again; dodging and unleashing sword skills. Losing track of my surroundings and memories, I still retained my training and fighting moves; and with full determination, I put everyone one of them to work.
"Is that all you've got!?"
Roooarr!
Howling out with the same rage, it was as if it understood my threats. And they were answered, answered via a sword skill executed by tis mace; shining brightly, its trajectory fixed and aimed for me. The menacing blue light sped towards me, but I was already prepared.
Clank!
My sword also bright, it parried its attack with a skill of my own. A high-difficulty move, it countered my opponent's skill with a similar one, and with little damage taken; however, it had to be timed perfectly. There seemed to be and infinite amount of abilities that weren't mainstream knowledge, but with my rage centered on the monster, it was just too easy.
With its attack fully blocked, it was certain that it was reading me. The speed of its mace becoming more agile each time I managed to escape it, its rapid learning stemmer was quickly reading my every move in order to determine its next attack. And it was learning fast, as the stage clear of any interference, it was even easier for it to render my attack patterns; with strangely no players countering. But it was better this way, as no one got in the way as I battled it. However, even with the ever changing battle mechanics, I still had a lot in store for the boss; as I was full of surprises.
Woosh!
Weapon flying past me or hitting the surface each time I evaded, I still hadn't taken much damage. With only minor afflictions form the after effects of blows; I felt I had as much endurance left in me as the boss itself; like if we were feeding off the same energy.
Boom!
Hammer hitting the hard surface, I executed a roll and dodged the attack. Landing on my side, exchanging to my knees and thrusting off the ground, I had gathered more and more momentum. Swiftly moving, my pre-motion activated my highest hitting move; seven-hit move [Heptad Sins]. Unlocking it had not been easy, but with the foe in front of me, it was more than worth it. A dark purple light flourished on my sword, and mixed with the already dark blade, it was as if my weapon was devoured by a gloomy flame.
Slash! Slash!
Striking its body, each blow was concentrated with even more anger; Three, four. The desire for vengeance was unstoppable, yet the feeling so refreshing; Five, six. My eyes beginning to be filled with shadows and my sight getting foggy, I ignored them and unleashed the last. And with my remaining blow, I bust my loudest.
"…Seven!"
Thump!
The inside of my head ponded with tremendous force at the same time I unleashed my last attack. The encephalic upper part of my head pulsated with a great force as even an electric surge moved thru my spine. The feeling of a tremendous dizziness took over for a moment as I tried to suppress it.
Thump!
Once again feeling the internal pain, I fell on my knees, as I felt that my brain would explode. My heart not stopping its rapid activity, it fueled the agony. But I had to get out of reach, as I was still inside the danger zone. Two groups taking the opportunity, they had lunged forward and kept the boss from reaching me. Trying hard to raise before I had the next throb, I heard a voice not too far away.
"…Sir! You must retreat!"
Barely realizing it was my comrade, he was meters away, in one of the squads fighting the boss. My men also joining the fight, they had protected me from my demise.
"…I'm alright! …you're …in red…Tak…turn…back!"
Boom!
Without warning, a hit landed at Tak's feet; but with an acrobatic jump, he dodged the huge blow. The sudden attack forcing my comrade closer in; it was a sudden yet dangerous move; but with no time to argue, we had to retreat first in order to secure our safety. And like if he had done it on purpose, he helped me up as I was still agonizing from my unknown internal pain.
"I told you….to head back…"
"I can´t obey that order sir"
"Y-you…dumbass…come, let's…head back… while…while we still have cover"
Holding on to his shoulder, he lifted me as we began to walk to a safer spot. With the cover of the assault team, we were still many meters away from the boss room's door.
Boom!
"Ahhhh!"
The frightful scream reaching us, we turned around and spotted the source. With only fragments signaling the death of another player, it was clear they were losing for the hundredth time. And with the sudden death, the large figure drew closer.
"Run! …I´ll cover you!"
"No! Tak! Come back!"
Thump!
"Arrghh! …"
Not… again… stupid…pain! …
Shit! Too late…..He´s… too far….I must….
"Ahhhh!"
No! …Tak!
Another player's death testified by the shattering sound afar, my heart raced once more. I managed to control it, but it soared out of nowhere. Preoccupied with not only Tak´s safety, as my men were still fighting it as well; but with a critical condition, I managed to stand to search for him. My men in the heat of battle, Tak managed to reach me in order to help me out; but with the need to avoid the attack turning him closer in to the monster's reach and a red gauge, it was almost suicide. He should've stayed back until he was fully recovered.
Thump!
Ahhhh!
The pulsing increasing in intensity and my vision beginning to become blurry once more, I barely spotted Tak a few meters in front of me. Standing brave before the slaughter beast, he braced his spear with strength. The other teams now on a forceful retreat, and with now only him left closest to the boss, it was a matter of time before it targeted him.
"Tak! …fall back!"
Thump!
Shit! ….if I don't do… something…he's… gonna…..
My worst fear taking form, the nightmare occurred.
Pom!
In slow-motion, a giant-sized fist hurled a figure into the air. Shocked, I stood in place with my feet not budging a single inch; right in front of the trajectory. Red particles spewing out of the figure, it sped straight for me. Despite the swift action, it didn't take long before I knew who it was.
"Nooo!"
Crash!
Launching me meters across the floor, the full weight of a body struck down on my avatar. Shattering specks splitting on top of me, my vision went black… Once my ally, and now turning on me, darkness took over.
I saw it.
The celestial light. Right before me. Without a doubt, I was on the verge of reaching it, but I was pulled back.
Probably due to the euphoria, I even saw myself. As if my soul had come out of my body, I saw myself lying on the ground. The ambiance around me dark inside my trance, and after a short while, only a pair of hands, small and delicate, embraced me; it was them, that's what pulled me back. And now with everything clear, and at the same time nothing; my other emotions depleted, sorrow taking the stage.
"Get up Christopher; we need to get out of here!"
The small, almost childish voice resounded in my ears. Somehow transported into this slaughterhouse, he exposed his life to reach me. That voice coming from the one that protected my life, the one who pulled me back; Krakov. And even with his bravery for coming inside the most dangerous place at the moment, all I had in mind was the slaughter that was raging on.
"…It's…my fault…"
"It's not safe here! We have to go!"
"…M-my …men, they're…still…"
Another hand bracing my shoulder appeared as I struggled to stand. The deep and familiar tone of his voice reassured me for a second. Turning to look, it was my former opponent and now associate; Axel.
"Reinforcements are here, they're safe…"
And with his words being recited, dozens of players rushed in, saving us from annihilation. At the same time, a few others rushed out, retreating from battle. And with their arrival, the evident cries of rejoice rang out. But contrary to their happiness, joy didn't spring up inside of me, as I was still too overwhelmed from my procellous returning mix of emotions.
Trying to calm myself, I still couldn't take the familiar fact that haunted me years ago, and now once more rising.
They... died….. And all because of me….