A/N––The end of one arc, so to speak, and the beginning of another. This is one of the last times you'll hear of an insane Eld. The alternative isn't much better. Trust me though. What comes after this is going to be a bit of uncharted territory. P.M. me for ideas, comments, questions, etc. LLAP.
Phase 09 Wilt
The first thing I did was make sure my equipment was at its best. I swapped out a few pieces and took a load of healing potions and gems. I had my double swords strapped to my back. I mentally prepared myself to face Red again. I took a few deep breaths before heading downstairs. The house was still a mess. I was missing my table. A collection of recording cubes were scattered across the floor. I sigh and add them back into my inventory. I meticulously searched the house for them. Then I went and got that one. I stared at it long and hard. I sigh before returning it to my inventory. I had to keep it around.
If I ever sunk that low again I'd look at this video and remember who I failed. And that I owed them to such a drastic degree. I went to my door and suddenly felt as if someone was stepping on my grave. I took a look around at my house. I had a feeling that I wouldn't see this place again. I hoped I was wrong. I go back to the thirtieth floor. I take the time to flip on the hood of my new coat. It hid my face in a deep unnatural shadow. I marched to the dungeon Cain had messaged me about. He was organizing the group when I arrived. He didn't notice me right away but he smiled when he did. "Sol!" He called. We shake hands.
"I hope you don't mind if I take scout." He shakes his head. "I understand. You can solo, but come to us if its to tough." I nod. I immediately head to the entrance. "Good luck." I said over my shoulder. Red almost took a step towards me. I didn't stay long enough for her to make up her mind. I delved into the dungeon.
I stepped onto the ledge and turned. I let myself drop backwards into the abyss. I let myself fall, the whistling wind filling my ears. I righted myself and landed at the very bottom. The darkness of the dungeon was full of bears and six-armed creatures. I sigh, bulky monsters with high attack stats no doubt. Though very slow without a doubt. I look around. Six hordes. At least some thirty enemies. I draw both swords. I plot out my path. First horde, ten meters away. I could probably lead it away and give the others some breathing room when they drop down. I sent a quick message outlining the horde positions. I pick up a pebble from the floor. I test its weight a bit before hurling it. It conked a six-armed beast, a troll, on the back of the head and enraged it. I saw its cohorts come at me from the sides. Smart, flanking me. I dash straight at one. It raised its six arms and slammed them down with a slight glow. But I had already dodged and was slashing away at its sides. An elbow came back and slammed into my face hard. The new pain was astonishing. Real yet not real. But I kept it up, stabbing and slashing vigorously. I slashed off one arm and the monster recoiled. Its health disappeared. The two other trolls moved in on me from the sides. I was caught between their blows. I covered my face with crossed arms. The pain was immense. Eventually one of the trolls kicked me back. I slid away from them for ten feet. They were strong. A full sixth of my health was gone. I smiled. I dashed at them and used Raging Thunder. Bright yellow light effects came off my swords as I did a cross slash with extended reach. The trolls stumbled back, but I unleashed six more paired slashes with extended reach. They quickly fell, wave after wave of slanted and horizontal slashes that reached a good four feet past the tips of my sword. They shattered a minute later. I let out a pent up breath. I heard clapping behind me. I turn to see the guild watching me, Red's guild. I wave at them. "Well I got you some breathing room, I'll be going on ahead." I continued on into the dungeon at a leisurely walk. I was looking for points for ambushes.
Avoiding hordes or leading some away to make it easier on the guild. No sign of PKers. I felt my heart beat fast. I was a bit panicky, had I been betrayed, was she unreliable. I calmed an instant later. I raised my swords, a bear charged. There was something about monster slaying that puts the mind at ease. I brought both swords down in a two hit special that knocked down the bear. I recovered almost instantly and stabbed rapidly, not rapier fast like Red but I was gaining on her speed. The bear yowled and shattered, didn't think they could make that sound. A troll and bear approached me. I sigh as I ready another Raging Thunder and evasive maneuvers afterwards. In the middle of the fight I got an urgent message. I felt my fear solidify but I finished off the monsters in no time. I quickly opened the message. Eld's gone. I can't find him. He's planning something. He sometimes does this when he wants to work without attracting much attention here. Look out for trouble. I shivered.
We were already in a type of dead end. A dungeon could have multiple entrances and exits, even a halfway point that doubles as an escape route. But this one had the one entrance, the exit was still farther ahead, and if the escape route wasn't there then we would have to face the boss of the dungeon. Gems were an option but how to convince players to use those highly priced items. A hunch wouldn't cut it, telling them about my source would destroy any trust. I thought furiously for a moment before messaging Cain. All clear, no chests yet. Anything on your end? A minute later he replied.
Two high quality drops. One random treasure chest in a temporary chamber. Red saved our butts from a respawning horde. I felt a bit relieved. I'd get them to the halfway point at least. I might be able to confide in Red about my misgivings. Though on second thought I'd rather not. I was still to ashamed of last night. My weakest moment in a while. I scan around before continuing forward. Nothing left to do. I had to trigger any traps Eld's PKers might have set up. I looked high and low.
I found a treasure chest and avoided a variety of strong hordes. I sent the guild this info. About three hundred feet forward I felt it. I looked to my right and saw a large hole hidden by the natural shadows. I felt a gaze coming from it. I saw that the main path continued on a while before turning. This hole appeared to be the only deviation. I sent the guild info about where I was going.
I ducked down low and enter the narrow opening. I felt a second presence in the tunnel. I peered farther in with my night vision and saw no one. Not even a disturbed pebble or mote of dust lingering in the air from a footstep. Finally I saw light again, dim corridor light of this dungeon. I step out and check my map. I was just a corridor over, but there was no entrance to the regular route. I scanned around. Nothing. "...Ha..." I turned, a voice, no doubt about it. "Ha...Sol..."
Eld.
He was nearby. "Boo." Red damage light erupted from my side as a black shape darted past. He was here.
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I immediately backed away slowly. I kept a constant watch, my back to the wall. With one sword out and my other hand working my menu I contacted E-stone. He's here, help dungeon on thirty. I sent the coordinates. I turned and headed towards the tunnel. A spear stabbed me in the chest and knocked me flat onto my back. Shapes started to pour in from the tunnel. I scrambled back and ran. I composed a message behind a pillar. Red, get the guild out! I sent it and closed out of the window as an axe swung for my neck.
I rolled away and saw more dark shapes coming for me. Damn it. I took out a teleportation gem and hesitated. "Go. We'll take care of your lady friend." The sheer horror that rose up in my chest couldn't be described. I dropped the gem in my hand and charged. The axeman fell flat on his back as I stomped on his head twice. A spearman knocked me down and stabbed my back. I winced but got onto my knees. His spear protruded out my chest and pinned me to the ground.
I was slowly returning to my feet and glaring back at the spearman. He wavered and slacked a bit on the pressure he applied to his spear. I was ready to surge up when two more spears appeared from the darkness. They had snuck up on me. Three spears now pinned me down to the ground. My health fell at a steady rate. One of the spearmen chuckled.
"How the mighty have fallen." Eld told me. He let another PKer hold the spear before coming towards me. He dropped to one knee and pulled my head up by the hair. I glared at his masked face. "Tommy. Its been a while. How have you been? Can you sleep well at night?"
"Drop dead." He punched me hard and laughed.
"You first." He smiled at me, his demon helm looked more malevolent in the dark. "Now just stay put here, we have business with your lady friend." I felt dread start in the pit of my stomach. "Eld." I snarled as I tried to push up on the spears. He stood and organized his killers. They disappeared into the darkness. "Just stay right here." He said as he pulled out his knife. "Have you ever wondered how far the system can be pushed?" He asked nonchalantly. He placed the blade against my index finger of my left hand, as if getting a feel for the cut he'd make. "I've been doing just that." He wrenched the sword out of my hand before letting the knife fall.
My finger was lopped right off. I felt a dull stabbing pain in my hand that progressed into a roaring fire. I grimaced as the decapitation ailment flashed. A few seconds later the system replaced my finger. "You see fingers and toes are more readily replaced than limps are." Eld explained. The knife spinning from finger to finger, almost like one would a coin. "But the pain sense is magnified a bit." He chopped off the finger again. Then my little finger. The pain didn't subside as fast. "I can do this for hours before they start to cry, not taking the pain. Or days, when they grow use to it, until I just end them." His knife danced from finger to finger, as soon as one appeared it was lopped off.
"But I don't have that time frame with you, yet." He smiled. "But I'm sure I can make you scream." I was ready for him to lop off another finger. He stabbed me in the eye instead. This was ten times as painful. I yelled. "Eyes seem to be sensitive, just like IRL. They are the part that hurts the most from a sharp object being thrusted into them." Eld told me as he pulled out the weapon. He reached into one of his pouches and pulled out a potion. "Drink." He forced half the bottle into my mouth. I choked down the healing draught and I saw my health rise steadily against the damage being inflicted. I spat out the bottle before Eld returned to my hand. "Just stay still for a minute. I want to see if we can cut them off at the joints." He did just that, it only works at the base of the finger, apparently. "Strong willed, as usual." I wanted to tear his head off.
"Sol." All my rage bottomed out. "Get aw––" Eld stood and kicked me in the face, hard. I had my vision blurred as he took a few steps to my left. "Why hello there Red." He said, he gave nothing away. "Its been oh so long. Tell me, where is your guild. Is Pressa still the queen of beauty. Or have you done beat her in that category." Red's face blanched.
"And Fisc, is he still as silent as ever." I tremble slightly. "Oh please, just bring them closer to me. I'd like to meet them all personally." "HHAAA!" I pull myself forward, grabbing my sword and tossing it over my back. One of the spears was pulled out in a hurry. That was enough of a give. I lunged forward, the PKers lost their grip on the spears. Eld smiled as he blocked my slash. I forced him back and his spearmen stood in front of him, though two now had swords instead.
"Still so strong. I'll take pleasure in wiping out your freewill." He said this with obvious joy. It was sickening. I saw my second sword on the ground several meters away. "Sol!" Red called as she kicked it to me. She had definitely gotten fast. I stomped hard on the pommel and caught the spinning blade. Eld smiled, his PKers looked ready to move in. "Withdraw for now." He said. They pulled out gems. "Sto–" He was gone. I stand frozen for a second. I scan around, his PKers were still here somewhere. I lurch forward and drop to my knee. "Damn." I let go of one sword and tug on a spear. I wiggle it but it wasn't coming out. "I got you." Red said as she approached. She pulled out the spear, it didn't hurt as bad as a knife through the eye. "You were right." She said as I drink a health potion. "I was?" She looked at me. "Last night, you told me about the attack Eld would have planned on me. I didn't believe it at first." When did I tell her anything.
I figured after I broke down in front of her I must have read Silvermane's message and told Red. "Why? Your friends are in troub––" It hit me then. "Hey Red." Cain called as they approached. "We saw a lot of players start to dash around, what's the issue."
"Get out of here!" I yell. A PKer lunged out of the shadows. Cain saw this and blocked with his shield. "What the hell?!" "PKers!" I say as I knock away the enemy. The guild was good. They remained composed and formed up. "Teleport away!" Cain said. His guild brought out gems. None of them worked.
"Impossible!" I say as I try myself. It didn't work. A shield knocked me off balance as a second PKer rushed in. Red covered me. Now the PKers started to appear all around. "It must be one of the waypoint teleporters. Eld must still be in the dungeon." Red says to me. That explained how he had escaped. I remember using one of the paired gems when saving Gaia. "Damn, so no escape." Cain said. Hiding his worry very well. "Yeah." I say.
Ten Pkers surrounded us. "They really did some leveling." The mountain called Fisc said. He was not worried at all. His calm and cold voice shocked me at first. But then I felt his calmness spread. I saw the tension in the others ease. He stood next to Cain. "I'll make a hole." He said simple. Cain gripped his shoulder hard. "Second in command Fisc." Fisc was still for a moment before shrugging off the hand. "Hope you have room for one more in this plan." I say as I join Fisc. "Thanks Solo. Get the four on my left, I'l take care of the four on the right." He gave the thumbs up.
"You guys stampede the middle two!" He bellowed before rushing. I lunged forward too. Fisc was something. He used all the advantages of being a tank. Weight, strength, high defense. He was a wall that shoved back PKers. Even as his health dropped steadily he reduced two Pkers to red and the others were in the low yellow. I did much the same. Although I was still in the high yellow health wise. Cain lead the charge through the PKers barring their path. He landed a critical hit on a PKer before Red was there knocking her back. The PKer landed hard, the second brutish PKer lasted a bit longer.
Only because the rest of the guild surrounded him and forced him to stand. His health was very low in the red section before we were dashing along the corridor. "I got point!" I say as I charge. PKers dropped down around me. I unleashed Tempest when they were in range. They were knocked back harshly, and Red took them down. They were on the ground in no time flat. We rounded the corner to see more PKers. "Shoot!" I say sliding under a spear.
Fisc's health was rising rapidly as he battered asides the PKers. Spears jabbed at him from all sides but his heavily armored self was not harmed to bad by them. We managed to get through this obstacle easily. We reached a junction. "Which way?" Saltine asked. I was tempted to make a gut call. "We go left!" Cain said, leading the way. I was a bit flabbergasted at his confidence and composure in this situation. I followed him and we didn't meet a single PKer. But we did meet a large horde of trolls.
We deal with them easily enough. We somehow got separated from the rest of the guild. I was stuck with my back pressed against Cain's. "This is a predicament." He said calmly. I had an idea about him. He was a good person in crisis. When push came to shove he'd make decisive decisions at impulsive speeds, right or wrong he'd persevere. He was a natural leader. He shield bashed an enemy and I covered him from flanking trolls. "SHIFT!" He yelled as a troll used a special.
He dodged and I moved in. My right sword stabbed the monster right in an eye while the other severed its head. The creature disappeared a moment later and was replaced by two more. "There they are!" PKers yelled behind us. Cain was a bit alarmed as he gave the call. "Break off, escape!" Fisc did his thing and burst through the wall of trolls. The rest of the guild was close behind him. Red covered their rear as PKers broke through the trolls. "Come on." I sheathe one sword and grab Cain by the collar of his shirt. I was higher level than him. So I could do this. I dashed at a troll, almost dragging Cain.
The troll slammed its arms down, expecting me to keep up my speed. I didn't, I faltered and stepped onto its arms. "Hold onto to your lunch!" I tell Cain as I launch off the trolls head. We soar through the air for about twenty feet before crashing. We roll for a few meters before finally slamming into a pillar. "Ow." I mutter. "That was stupid!" Cain said, laughing. "Y-yeah." He helps me up.
I looked at the PKers. They were very busy facing the trolls. "Come on." Cain hurried towards his guild. Drinking a potion on the way. I hang back as the guild leads the way. Alert, scanning and checking for hordes or ambushes. Red slowed to walk next to me. "Hey." I was unresponsive for a moment. "Hello." I answer, scanning behind me as I heard shattering. "Look, about last night." I had a sudden urge to dash off.
I'd rather take my chances with PKers than have this conversation. "Look don't try to run off." I looked away. "I just wanted to apologize. Last night I saw something that you probably never wanted anyone to see." I nod. "And I'm sorry for thinking you were just..." "Unstable, delusional, slightly off my rocker." I supplied.
She was quiet as she continued. "I never expected you to have an insider in the Scarlet Abyss. I just thought that you finally gave under the stress of the game." She bowed slightly at me. So that's what happened. "No. I'm sorry. You have an amazing guild here." Fisc was point as he stood in the middle of a junction. "Stick with them and you'll live through this nightmare." I suddenly wanted to grip my swords. "But what about you?" I shrug.
"I'm a lost cause. At this point I'm damaged goods. I'm good to no one when I'm with the group for awhile. Soloing is the last thing I can do." Red kept her voice low. "No, that's not true. Your an amazing person." I grin a bit. "No, I'm a horrible excuse for a person. I'm only slightly above PKers." "Why? You are honest. You are honorable. You take point the most, you get the enemies attention on yourself most of the time so that others don't get as much risk. Your selfless." I shake my head. "I'm not, trust me. I'm very selfish. I couldn't even end it all. I couldn't pay the ultimate price to set things right with the dead." Red's hand came at me.
I braced myself for the blow. "Maybe its because you knew you could do more good for them while alive." She said as she wiped away a tear. We didn't speak at all then. But I had an ache in my chest that made me want to yell to the topmost tier and back. I had found someone who could begin to understand me. Someone I could lament to, to tell the truth to. "...Did you feel the same?" Red asked out of the blue. "Sorry, its nothing." She hurried on and joined her guild. I was left with questions, regret, and hope all in one moment. "Hurry up Sol! We can see the safezone." I felt relief flood me from head to toe. I dash over and got to the door with them. We push through and enter the well lit crystal dome.
The pulsating blue teleporter was set right in the middle. Eld stood in front of it, looking like he had won. And he did. "Welcome, to my arena!" PKers rushed us from behind. They shoved us into the room and drew weapons. "No." I said disbelieving. There must have been thirty of them. "We don't have much time now do we." Eld said as Saltine turned. "Its just one player!" He yelled as he charged. "No, stop!" Red yelled. Players rushed in from the doors on the far end of the dome. Another twenty or thirty PKers. "I think we're more than prepared for E-stone when he gets here." Eld said as he surrounded us.
They slowly forced us to back into a wall, far from the teleporter and either door. "Now what to do, what to do?" Eld said. He had a sword strapped to his back. I had never seen it before. It looked like the single-edged weapon, like a katana. But something was different about it. Looking at it harder, I noticed how it wasn't a katana at all. It was more like a longsword. There was a black haze around the blade that obscured its shape. I stand between the guild and Eld. "You won't get any closer Eld." I had both swords ready for attacking. He started to laugh. "Didn't we already go through this. If I want them dead you can consider them dead." He took a step. Red joined me at my side. "I got your back." She told me as her rapier drew a line in the air. "Perfect, absolutely perfect." Eld said.
Then he seemed to darken.
"Do it now Cain."
I felt the shock go through my entire body. I heard thuds behind me. I turned with a slash but it was still to late. The dagger stabbed me in the back before arcing through the air. Hitting Red in the shoulder. We were paralyzed. Cain didn't have his shield on now. He only had a two-handed claymore. "Cain!" Eld said. Cain bowed deeply. "Teacher." He was smiling as he said that.
Through sheer willpower I was able to turn and look. The guild Firebrand was completely incapacitated. We were all paralyzed. Then PKers rushed forward, dragging away the paralyzed players. They also dragged us away. We were dropped in the middle of the safezone. Meters away from the escape route. The guild and Eld were off towards the door that lead to the depths of the dungeon. Cain stepped on my head as he made for Red. I've only seen that look once before, a look of hurt and betrayal. Jane had had it.
Now Red did to. "Pity Eld didn't let me act it out a bit longer." He said. Tears ran down Red's face as he cupped his hand under her chin. "Who knows, I might have gotten to use you thoroughly before, if I had had the time." I felt seething rage burn within me. "Get away from her!" Cain looked at me. "Shut it loser." He kicked me in the ribs. I coughed a bit once he was done. "Can you just picture it?" He said, he was torturing Red. "Imagine how much it would hurt if I had been able to get closer to you. To know you in a way no one else could. To be the first one you ever felt strongly for. I can only imagine the beautiful face you'd put on when I'd betray you in that eventuality." He was going to die. I was going to murder him!
"You liking the view Sol?" He asked, directing his attention to me. He lifted Red up a bit, and brought her close. She uttered a small sob. "Stop it." I said.
"Stop poking at the animals." Eld ordered.
Cain ignored him for a moment. Red shut her eyes tightly as Cain moved in. "Damn it." Eld's fist came down and knocked Cain off balance. "I told you something. My word is law!" Cain looked terrified as Eld snapped at him. Cain went over and joined the guild as Eld stood in front of Red. "I'm terribly sorry. He doesn't know when to mind his betters. He still is new." Eld went and joined Cain.
"Alright, our look outs say that E-stone is here. With twenty clearers!" That was a decent chunk of our fighting force. But it wasn't enough. It wasn't damn close to enough. "I'll see you all at phase two." The PKers grumbled before lining up at the door to advance. "Don't worry, you'll have some fun in awhile." Eld was without a doubt insane. He only kept five guards with him. Cain also stuck around. The guild was tied up at their feet. "Any minute now you should be able to move." Eld said. And like clockwork my limbs loosened up. I jumped to my feet, my swords were in my hands in seconds. "Settle." Eld said.
I grimaced before I sheathe my blades. I am instantly at Red's side. She's covering her mouth as tears stream down her face. For a second I can't do anything. Not even say a comforting word. The edges of my vision turn red. "You have five minutes until I kill off her guild. Say whatever last words you want, dear, sweet Red." Her eyes snapped open. She seemed lost. She stood then, her hand on her rapier. I knew then what to do. I grip her shoulder hard. "Don't do it." She shrugged off my hand and started towards Eld. She was hurt, her heart and faith broken. Eld had done it. He had done it all.
I pull her back. "Don't do it." I tell her. She glares at me, emotionless. I turn to face Eld. He was smiling. "Eld." His smile wavered for a moment. I must be giving off such an intense killing intent. We stand still for a moment, a minute, three, four. "Sol!" E-stone yelled as he barged in through the doors. "In time, perfect." That's what he waited for. For E-stone to arrive. "Stay ba––" Eld's hands went to his sword as he stood behind kneeling Pressa.
My eyes went wide. In an instant I turned and dashed at Red. I practically tackled her, she had a lost expression as Eld drew his sword. I covered her eyes and turned her away forcefully. Even as I got a front row view of a beheading. The blade effortlessly slice through Pressa's neck. Her eyes had tears in them as the red line glowed like the sun. It engulfed her body and she shattered. Red bucked in my arms. "Don't look." I say as she yells into my shoulder.
"Don't look." Don't watch, don't watch. Don't be like me. Don't become like me. "Eld!" E-stone yelled. He charged, his clearers close behind him. Eld smiled, I could just feel it. He smiled as he went through the motions. Cleaving Saltine down the middle, lopping off Gilland's and René's head in one Crescent.
Then stabbing Fisc through the heart. Out of an entire guild the tank was the only one alive. Eld frowned as Fisc bucked under him. "Just die." He commanded. I saw Fisc ease, then gave a sharp buck, sending Eld stumbling away. That's not the only reason he survived. He rolled away from Eld's rapid thrusts and bought enough time to be saved by the Clearers. E-stone forced Eld to retreat to the end of the room. But the door was there. Red had been reduced to shaking, sobs racked her body. "E-stone don't!" He turned to look at me as the doors were thrown open.
Eld held his ground and soon the rest of the PKers surrounded the clearers. But oddly enough they only corralled them. A few moments later we were introduced to the group of semi-captive clearers. The PKers wore expressionless faces as Eld came forward. "Well that was a thing." Red went still in my arms. "Eld..." She whispered. I gripped her hand tightly as she lunged at Eld. "ELD!" She yelled, droplets of light disappeared in the air as she struggled. Tears. E-stone appeared from the clearers and put a hand on Red's shoulder. I don't know what he did, but Red fell silent. "Good. Now as you can tell I'm just toying with you all. I can have you killed on my command." We tensed. The PKers seemed bored, or reluctant to be here. "Eld. Let my people go." "Oh, why would I ever follow your command? I have all the cards here...Unless you offer me something valuable." This was new.
"I'll duel you." I grabbed E-stone's shoulder. "Tempting offer." Eld said before I could voice my complaint. "But you see I have an objective here." E-stone's hand shook a bit. "So you really are just going to kill us off." He shook his head. "I don't think you understand." Eld told me. He looked all smug and comfortable surrounded by his goons. He pointed first at Red, then at me. "I want her dead and you alive. I can spare her if you come with me." I grimace. "Fine." Red pushes me back. "He's mine." She said. Hatred radiated from her. She was going to kill him. She'd die for it. "Let her come if she wants. Its all up to you Sol. Your the only one of any real importance to me." Red started forwards but I stop her. I can't betray Red like this. Not like this. I close my eyes, tears threatening to overflow.
That's when I settled my mind. "You can't use her." I tell Eld. I turn and launch a blow at Red. The look of shock on her face as she falls, stunned. "E-stone get her out." I walk towards Eld. How did things get to be this bad? HOW? "Good, now then you clearers might want to use that teleporter after we leave." Eld nodded to Cain. "Come now." He placed a hand on my shoulders. He looked over my shoulder. "See ya Red." He started to shove me past Eld. I stopped at his side instead. "You want me to be a PKer, right?" Eld gave me a beaming smile. "That's my aim. I'll take you to the base and break you. Given a week I can have a new member, but with you I say about...a month and I'll have what I really want." He said this calmly. "Well I'll tell you this. I'll be a PKer. But if you want me to be loyal to you, good luck with that." Eld chuckled. "One last thing. I want them to get out first." I jab my thumb over my shoulder at the clearers.
He sighed. "I expected as much so this won't put a damper on my plans as much." "Sol, don't do it." E-stone called to me as he handed Red off to a tank. "But!" Eld interrupted. "You'd have to give me something of value. Kill a player right here, right now." I froze for a moment. "Sol...don't..." The voice was small, it was weak, it was Red's. I sigh. "Don't waste this chance I'm giving you." I say as I look over my shoulder. Red was slowly recovering from the stun status. I close my eyes. In an instant I draw my blades and slash at a wide-eyed Eld. He leapt back, safe. But I expected as much. I swiveled on the ball of one foot and slashed at the PKer closest to me. "CAIN!" His eyes were wide as I slash through his neck, completely. There was a brief silence, then a thunderous sound. Cain fell back and shattered into multiple shards. I wanted to drop and gag. This was revolting. Instead I sheathe my weapons.
"...Good." Eld said quietly as he began to clap.
It was just him doing it. But soon the other PKers followed. Some whistled, stomped their feet, or slammed the butt of their weapons onto the ground in cheers. Eld made a gesture and the PKers made a path to the teleporter. "Get going." I say as Eld leads me away. "Now didn't that feel great?" I spat at Eld when he said that. We head through the door to continue in the dungeon. Half his PKers went on ahead, clearing the dungeon for us. We exited the dungeon and arrived at an altar. PKers began gathering loot while Eld looked around. "I hope you don't hate me to much. You will soon be one of my commanders. The abyss looks forward to having you." I was about to tell him exactly where he can shove his expectations when I saw something. "I have a question for you Eld."
"Ask away Tommy." I minded my tongue as I framed my question. "Who are you in real life, I mean, who are you to me?" Eld smiled. It was different this time. It seemed more genuine. More real. "Soon, Tom. Soon." He turned away from me, and that was all the opening I needed. I leapt at him and kicked off his back. I leapt high into the air and landed on a pedestal. "Eld!" Someone said. "Get him." Several others, Eld included, said.
I dropped down and charged out onto the field. I composed a message. Got away, doubling back to get Eld! I added my current coordinates before I made for a forest. I had some thirty PKers after me. The rest must have stayed to defend Eld. I enter the forest and quickly find a place to wait them out. Ten PKers hang around the entrance. I wait till the rest are out of sight before I rush them. "He's––" I used Raging Thunder to drop them. I ran back out onto the field and headed for the altar. It was inaccessible now. But Eld was leaving it. He had his entourage of five guards with him as he marched, angrily I might add, away. "HEY!" I yelled at him as his guards turned. He drew the black sword that killed Red's guild. I leapt over the row of guards and slashed downward at Eld. He leapt back and made a motion. "I'll fight you for now. Entertain me." Eld flourished his sword and I heard his guards teleport away. "Maybe you can tell me the answer to my question from the prison, if your lucky." Eld grinned. Though after seeing a genuine smile earlier this one was more for keeping his demented image.
"Maybe, if your lucky. Now come fight God." I gave something comparable to a roar. I slashed away at him. Unexpectedly, Eld blocked both of my blades. "I feel like we should do this after I take you to the abyss." I growled. "Die!" We locked our blades. But Eld was stronger. I couldn't grasp it. At best he was at my level. Even if his strength was higher my speed and dexterity should more than be a match for him. Plus I had two swords against his one. "Come after me Sol." He said as he leapt back. I dash after him. Unexpectedly he didn't head farther out into the field like I thought he might. He turned and started heading for the main town. Eld laughed madly. "Over here!" Someone yelled. I saw some of the clearers rush over. They must have appeared nearby.
Though one person didn't escape my notice. "Red." I said astonished as she dashed across the thirty meters separating us. She aimed at Eld, who countered her thrust effortlessly. His fist connected with her gut and glowed. She was sent flying into me. I dropped onto the ground hard. "Ow." I muttered. I looked over at Red, her health bar dropped into the yellow. But with just one hit. "Do you really want to fight with me Red?" He asked as his blade seemed grow even more hazy. I got a bad feeling and surged forward to meet him. "This is the third phase." Eld muttered as he dashed at me. All I saw was a blur before his elbow connected with my sternum. I was sent flying back. I felt time slow for an instant. I was still flying back from Eld's blow. My health had only just started to drop when I saw him drop down from above. The tip of his blade aimed at my heart.
I moved as fast as I could.
Moving one of my blades into position to block. It didn't work out that way. Eld's blade was deflected by mine and we tumbled for several meters. Eld recovered first and showed off an extraordinary jump. He was ten feet away in an instant. I glanced at my health, it pulsated slightly to alert me that I was in the red. With just one clean hit and one deflected thrust he had reduced me to so low a health amount. I shake my head and take out a healing draught. "Stay back!" I say as the clearers surround smiles and swings his sword. It glows purple. I see a blurred black shape go forward, back, to both sides and then stop right in the middle. Eld sheathed his sword and the clearers erupted with damage light. "Extended reach in every direction. An areal special. This is Scorpio!" I was shocked by this. He had a skill even I hadn't have heard of.
He stepped over the downed clearers and smiled at me. "Now th––" I cut him off mid-sentence. I hacked away at him with all my speed. Even he looked pressed dealing with two swords going as fast as I could force them. Eld sighed heavily then. He shoulder bashed me quickly. I lost my balance and he put some distance between us. "I said follow me." Eld then dashed towards the town. "What the hell!?" E-stone yelled as he saw his clearers and Eld. "I got him!" I say giving chase once again. I completely ignored anything else. I followed Eld for as long as I could. He rushed to the teleporter in town and went down to Mythril. After running through town he delayed me in Sid's store. "What th––" Sid started as Eld leapt onto a chair. I tackled him but connected with nothing. I flopped to the ground as Eld escaped. "Eld!" I yelled as I rushed through the doors. Then he escaped to another tier. Alba. Second tier. We crossed swords once again in the Hatchlings' nest. But he managed to get me cornered with seven of the little Rocs. I kept seeing his dark shape ahead of me.
Catching up to him occasionally we'd lock blades until he pulled a trick or two to escape. Finally he went to the twelfth tier. I lost him in the fields. A message arrived for me. Sol, where are you? I responded. Even adding that we were near my house. Near my house, not possible. I seem to walk on autopilot as I head to my isolated home. The first glimpses I catch of it were not good. Fire. PKers. It was definitely not good. I approached my burning home, more rage gathering in me. "Sol." Eld called from behind his PKers. "No..." I heard more PKers surround me from behind. In all, there were ten of them. With two swords I just might be able to take them. I start towards Eld. Two spearmen barred my path and the fighting began. I knocked back the spearmen and turned to face the majority of PKers at my back. "HAAA!" I switched to Vanguard style and immediately charged. The first PKer to rush me had a dagger and shield. With my right blade I thrusted forward while I prepared to thrust under the buckler with my backhand sword. The PKer leapt back as two axe-users charged. I used Feign to knock one into another. I was still in this thrusting position when a spear jabbed my heart. I stumbled off balance before recovering. Eld stood outlined by the blaze of my house. Black smoke choked out the daytime light. I charged him now. Trying to cut the serpent's head off. A mace glanced off my swords and I was being pulled back.
I broke free of one PKers grip and stabbed another in the eye. Then I slammed my elbow hard into the other's nose. They reeled. But the others were within five feet of me. I'd never reach Eld. Not like this. I lost sight of him as the wall of bodies closed in. Accelerate saved me. I attacked the PKers head on, knocking three back. I discovered that this special seemed to have a type of automatic targeting. I appeared at the side of another PKer and knocked her down. After unleashing the remaining hits I appeared behind a huddled group of PKers. I made no sound as I delivered the final barrage. Six of the ten PKers teleported away when their health flashed red. The remaining four put up a tough fight before I was able to knock them down. I didn't kill any of them. Though it felt like the only option at some point. I stood among the downed PKers for a moment. My health pulsated red, it was under a third of what it should be. I scan around for Eld. Alarmed at his sudden disappearance.
"Sol!" E-stone yelled. Red appeared from the surrounding trees with him. "Stay back...He's here." I continue to scan furiously. They come towards me. "Screw it Sol, he can deal with all three of us." E-stone looked really pissed. I would have been grateful for this offer but an axeman suddenly leapt up. His axe glowed as he charged me. I sidestepped the attack before stabbing him in the side. He grimaced and shoulder bashed me back. I felt heat lick at my back as the flames reached for me. The last thing I saw, before everything changed, was the satisfied smirk on the PKer's face. I heard a dull thud. The shocked expressions on E-stone's and Red's face told me everything. I refused to look. I saw the PKers escape, using their teleportation gems. But the health bar kept pulsating. I made myself look down.
Eld's black sword protruded from my chest. Then his hand came around and clapped around my mouth. "There now." He said, pushing the blade all the way up to the hilt. He forced me to arch my back, he slightly lifted me off the ground. I dropped my swords and clutched the blade. "Say good-bye." Eld said. Red was saying something. She dashed towards us, her hand reaching. But Eld leapt back into the flames, adding a burned status to my health bar. He pulled out the blade and left me sprawled out on my back. He watched, complacently. My roof sagged over head and the house groaned. I saw the ceiling come down before I saw a lot of light. Then there was a brief shattering and I heard no more.
Its dark. I can't see anything. There's nothing to feel. I must be dead. I have to be dead. I feel around with my fingers. That's when I realized I was on a stone floor. My dread reached an all time high then. I immediately got onto my knees. A moment later and I had the blindfold off. I looked around. There was a dim glow coming from the stone walls, floor, and ceilings, illuminating my cell. "Your up Sol." Eld said from his seat. The chair looked like it belonged in a decently priced home rather than in this dungeon. I glanced at my health. It was a safe green. Full. I reached for my blades. Nothing was there. I noticed now I was in a simple cotton shirt and pants. I had no gear. "I'd like to be the first to congratulate you. Welcome to the Scarlet Abyss." A symbol pulsated next to my health bar. The symbol for the Alliance of White Wings was dimmed, next to it was the emblem of the abyss.
"Welcome to my guild Sol." I knew everything changed right then and there. Eld would not let me keep my sanity. He'd break me down. He'd use me as a tool. Though for now I kept calm. "...How am I not dead?" Eld smiled at me. "It took some careful planning. I had to speculate on the amount of HP you have, how much defensive capabilities the gear you wore had. Also I had to estimate how much damage you should take before I falsify your death." It seemed like he just improvised. "How long was I asleep?" "About four hours." Its still the same day. I can still get them to realize I'm not dead. If they haven't figured it out already. "Though I have to say, the funeral they're having for all the clearers lost so far is going to be touching."
"What?" Eld didn't smile. "We had some casualties on both sides. I lost two good men while a renegade went on a killing spree. Three clearers died before he was put down by one of my men." Three, no, a total of six people were lost today. "I'll send you the recording. It might bring a few tears here."
"...Bastard." I start to stand. "Now don't hate me. In time I think we can be friends once again. After you learn all my secrets you'll come to realize I'm not to bad."
"Your insane, and that's worse." He sighed.
"Really Tom, don't judge a book by its cover." Eld stood and gripped one of the horns. "I hate wearing this at home. Its a bit stuffy." His helmet rolled away from us as it hit the ground. I felt something, seeing his face. Tears. Sorrow, Anger. Disbelief. "Co...Cooper." He just smiled at me.
"Its been awhile hasn't it. Nice seeing you again Tom." I dropped to the ground. I felt like retching. "Easy there, take deep breaths." He seemed kind as he went towards the door. "I'll free you in a day or so. Your inventory has some survival food. Jerky and the like. Don't try to break the chains though, we had a high level blacksmith forge it. It will keep you in here nice and safe." He opened the cell door. "Wait...Your name..." He turned to me. "Tell me your name." He sighed.
"Fine." He told me. And it started to click into place. "Take care Tom. As a side note, you can't send messages in here. I set up this base like that." I nod numbly as he exits. The door shuts slowly behind him. I stay composed for another minute before I break. "AHHHH!" Eld's helmet stares at me. "AAAHHHHH!" My screams punctuate the air.
I stay on the floor for some time, just screaming. It can't be possible. It can't be. This game was worse than I thought. It use to be a nightmare of hell. Now it was the real deal. This is what Hell looks like. And I silently wished I had never gotten out of that fire. I wished that I would just burn away rather than stand this.
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Some time later, when my screams stopped, I had a visitor. "Hey." She said. I look up slowly. Silvermane is outlined in the doorway. "I swear I had no idea." She said as she closes the door behind herself. She shakes me a bit. I focus on her for a bit. "Look, I'm sorry I couldn't stop Eld." She unshackled me. She helped me reach the chair Eld had sat on. I took deep breaths as I slowly returned to a semblance of normal.
"Eld's gone for now. I can at least let you rest comfortably." She had a canteen in her hand. She handed it to me. I drained it in one go. I close my eyes for a moment. "Can...Can you get me out?" She tensed. "No. I'm sorry. We'd be killed off in a moment." I nod. "I guess there's no helping it. I'll have to sit here for a while longer." Silvermane was quiet for a moment. "Escape is not impossible. But the consequences of it will come to haunt you." Her sister, I forgot. "I...I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking straight." She shook her head. "I can understand. From how bad you were yelling Eld must have done something terrible." I swallowed dryly.
"No, he just showed me his face." She finally noticed his helmet, cast off in a corner of the room. She was quiet for a minute. "...Did he know you?" I kept quiet this time. "We were friends. I didn't remember him for..." I felt nauseous. "Forget it. It still doesn't change the fact of what he is." She gripped my shoulders hard and looked me straight in the eyes. "Though I want to know something right now." She pulled out a dagger and placed it against my neck. "When the time comes will you be able to end it, to end him?" I was quiet for a second. "I...I'm not sure." Her blade pressed against my neck, dropping my health an imperceptible amount.
"But...Yes. I will." She nodded and sheathed her weapon. "Sorry its just that I want to know if I can trust you in here. If your to weak I'd have to cut you loose." "That's a bit cold." For a moment I remembered killing Cain. "No, its survival." "Again, cold, but I can respect that." I feel a bit more grounded now. I stand, wobbling slightly. "I hope we can work towards the same end." We shake hands. "Lets hope we live long enough." I nod. I sit back down and she starts telling me all the possible things Eld might do to me.
"Most likely he'll go for drowning you. The sensation is much the same here, even though the avatars don't need to breathe being plunged underwater still makes your lungs hurt." I nod.
"Be prepared to stay under for ten minutes. Or being plunged, pulled out and plunged again. He does this sometimes to catch them off guard." I shiver a bit. She explains to me a few other tortures. "Its bearable, he'll only leave you on fire for a few minutes after that." I nod. She opens her menu and checks the time. "...He'll be back soon." She shackles me back up. "I'm sorry I can't keep these off you." I shake my head. "Its no problem." She locks the door behind her as she leaves. I decide to calm my stomach by eating some of the jerky. It tasted decent enough. I chew it for a bit, waiting. Eld was coming for me. He would induct me into his group of PKers.
I was already a killer, but killing again wasn't what I had in mind. I swallow the last of the jerky, it tasted bitter. There were only a few people I'd kill. Eld was at the top of my list that comprised only of PKers. Just wait, just you wait for it.
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I shuffle down dim corridors. "Where are we going?" Eld doesn't answer as he leads the way. Blue and Deg are behind me. Shoving me forward. "We're just going to induct you." He sounded grim as he told me that. I prepare myself to suffer. It had been around four days since Eld had abducted me. Now he was finally going to induct me. He had taken his time, he must have debated on how to induct me. We walk for a long time. Turning, climbing stairs, dropping down trapdoors. Finally after walking for an hour we came to a dark room. I take slow, deep breaths as Deg closes the door behind me. I was ready. "Step forward." I did, expecting a spear from my flank. Instead the room lit up. I peered down at the distant ground. "Wha––" Eld kicked me hard. I tumbled through the air and hit the bottom hard. "I'm sorry." Eld said. Metal grates opened in the sheer wall I had fallen down from.
PKers dropped down safely. Armored and with weapons. "I'm sorry Tom. But you'll have to join my side, one way or another." They surged at me. I was no match as I was now, fatigued, slightly starved, deprived of sleep. They knocked me down and chained me to a far wall. "I really am sorry."
"ELD!" I yelled up at him as he left the chamber. Then I was subjected to the cruelest of tortures in game. Being drowned, burned, having my fingers, and later limbs lopped off. I was screaming within hours. The whole time I was fighting to keep a single thought.
"ELD!" I was able to hold onto thoughts of revenge the longest. But those to faded amongst the pain, the constant threat of my life diminishing to zero, and generally being reduced to nothing.
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E-stone wore his best attire for the occasion. The dark cloak was fitting for the event. He had a white flower pinned over his heart. He had on decorative gear that was recently polished. He made his way to the stage that had several obelisks behind it. He looked aged. Tired. He was addressing a crowd of some two hundred players. Only a fraction of the total clearing effort. While the assault group, the clearers who went on to fight bosses was small, the network of information brokers, merchants, blacksmiths, and treasure hunters stretched far beyond the small group gathered here. It was said that the total clearing "group" was closer to a thousand or at the very least several hundreds. But this was just the few that could be gathered here for the impromptu function.
E-stone stood before the clearers. The support and assault groups. He held his head high and began. "Today is a sad day. Today, we are here to honor the lives lost." The obelisks behind him seemed to exert a certain presence. "Today, around ten hours ago, the assault group received a message from the solo clearer Sol. It was about his sudden concern that he feared an attack imminent." There were a few brief conversations about this but they quickly hushed as E-stone raised a hand.
"In response we gathered a small band of clearers just incase. And sure enough we were mobilized because the leader of the killing guild Scarlet Abyss, Eld, had planned an attack on that dungeon and stumbled across a guild trying to clear it." Red looked at E-stone with hollow eyes. "After being captured by the PKers we arrived in time to fall into a trap. We were only able to save one member along with Red of the assault group, who was accompanying the guild in their clearing." Red bowed her head slightly at that.
Fisc was at her side, unreadable. "And now I bring you to the reason why we have decided to now honor the dead. Its because of something that happened. To set us free, Sol did as Eld commanded and was briefly captured. Allowing for our immediate release and safety." There was a pause for applauses and cheers. "Sol's capture and then escape lead to a brief chase for Eld. We, the bulk of the clearers assembled for this, faced heavy opposition. Losing three brave souls in the ensuing battle." There was a pause for mourning. "And then another loss. One I believe hits a lot of players." E-stone took a deep breath.
"As of Twelve o'clock, noon today, after fighting off ten PKers...solo clearer Sol was lost with the subsequent arson of his home." The silence was deafening this time. "Which is why, today, right now, we are mourning our fallen. Sol logged onto this game like all of us, clueless about what he lost and what he had at risk. Now, he has done the clearers a great service. Along with all of our fallen heroes." E-stone blinked hard. Then in a louder voice than before. "Which is why the sacrifices made today, made since the beginning of this hell, will not be forgotten. You will not be forgotten." The last part was directed at the numerous obelisks that dotted the Fields of the lost. The graveyard for players. This was a field location on the first tier. The largest tier that had the most space to contribute should twenty thousand players lose their lives. These words from E-stone rallied the players present, and those watching from a rare broadcasting. Curtesy of the Press.
"This is our promise. This is what we promise. We will free everyone from this prison!" The cheers reached a fever pitch. "From Purgatory!" Players stood now, making the ground shake with their cheers. "From Dæmonica!" The whistles and cheers. Chants and prayers, all concluded around one phrase. "Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!" Then a second chant. "Never forget! Never forget!" E-stone then turned and delivered the salute of Dæmonica. He equipped his sword and shield. Raising the tip of his blade towards the horizon, the last traces of light from the sun were fading as the obelisks gave off their bright, phantasmal glow. Players drew or brought out their weapons and aimed towards the horizon, towards the obelisks. This was a solemn moment of silence. No one dared break it. No one, but him.
He started by clapping. E-stone immediately turned, fire burning in his eyes. But everyone stared. He strolled through the crowd. His black sword out and ready to kill. "Oh yes truly sorry for the near slaughter. But on a bright note I did win." E-stone leapt off the stage with a special. Eld blocked the strike easily. "Touchy, touchy. Are you going to cry you big baby?" Eld forced E-stone back.
Red dashed at him, her rapier gave off a red glow. Eld couldn't avoid that special. He suffered four hits to the chest before he countered. Red slammed hard into the stage as Eld was surrounded. He was grinning from within his old skull mask. "I just came to give my condolences. And for this." Eld raised a teleportation gem. "This is my declaration of war. Beware the Scarlet Abyss." As a finisher Eld took off his helmet. "I swear it, we will show you the true power of the abyss." With that he was gone.
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"I think I acted my part pretty well." Eld mused as he played the recording again. "Can you believe its been a week?" I think I raised my head a bit. I was hanging by my hands at the moment, the torture had worn me down. "..."
"Still not saying a word. To bad. I'm might let you down if you ask." This made me start. I shakily stood under my own power. I made a few incoherent grunting sounds. Trying to form words when I had been screaming since being dropped in here. "Ah...Ah!" Eld starts for the rope ladder on the far end of the torture chamber. "Hel...Help..." He stops on the first rung.
My two tortures drop down next to him. "Help me...me...Help me..." The two torturers regard me for a moment. Contemplating how to hurt me. "Let him have his day to serve." Eld came forward and unshackled me. I dropped to the ground. I contemplated attacking him now. As if sensing my intentions the two torturers raised their weapons. I cowered a bit. "Calm." The PKers sheathed their weapons. "Sol." Eld went down onto one knee and offered me a hand. "If you don't want to go back to the whipping board you'll do what I tell you." I contemplated his offer for as much as I'd like to kill him I preferred to go without to much pain for as long as I could after this experience. I'd contemplate on how much of my soul Eld would have a lease on.
I grip his hand and he helps me stand. He hands me a piece of bread that I scarf down. "Good." He motions for me to follow him. I keep my head down a bit as I follow behind him. "This is much nicer. I'm sorry that I had to break you into this order. But I really need you to join my team for better or worse." I stay silent as he starts up the ladder. I look at the ladder, I hesitantly climb up it. Eld helps me up at the top and he guides me through his fortress. "..." PKers glared at me. "Don't mind them much. Your just fresh meat." I picked up my pace a bit. He takes me to an armory. Was he really trusting me this much? Idiot. I'd get a sword and behead him soon. "Before you try and kill me," He started. "I'd like you to think this through." He scanned the rows of swords and chose one. He presented it to me. "I'm going to put you in a special position that will deal with the clearers. But if you kill me and leave what will stop all those PKers from hunting down your friends and making them suffer ten times what you had to suffer."
I blanched. "Now that you understand the situation." He shoved the sword into my hands. I equip it without thinking. The familiar weight at my side was a bit reassuring. I had to bite my lip to not draw it and end him. "Don't worry. With you in charge the clearing will be better." I stopped as he headed to the door. He smiled at me. That familiar, genuine smile. It made my heartache for a moment. "Welcome to the Necessarius division." Eld said as he threw me some light armor and a coat. I equipped it all and stood geared up for a battle. The half-guard across my chest was shiny and bright. "Now come on Sol. Its time to get you the respect of your men."
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A brief look at what's to come from Eld.
The dark figure marched to the clearers. They had formed up after the four PKers initial strike. The figure held up a hand, it was clenched in a tight fist. The PKers, some reluctantly, backed off and stood behind the figure. All except one. She was the archer who had been hanging back. She followed the figure as he approached the clearers. The figure reached over his shoulder at the sword sheathed there. The blade was darker than black. A blade that seemed to suck in the malice of a PKer and solidify it. This indescribable dark weapon was held lightly as the leader approached. The clearers were wary and tightened their formation. The leader stopped halfway to the clearers. The voice was distorted by the mask he wore but his words were clear enough. "Leave this place." The clearers grimaced. E-stone groaned from the back. "We don't need you murderers here. If we weren't about to kill the boss we'd be condemning your asses!"
There was a general agreement with what E-stone said. Under his mask the PKer leader narrowed his eyes at the guildmaster. "I warned you." He looked over his shoulder at the archer. "Silvermane." She nodded wordlessly and drew an arrow. The Clearers lifted up their shields or readied to dodge an incoming arrow. But they never took their eyes off the dark figure. His sword glowed. He made it level with his shoulder and lunged forward. An unheard of special. The attack extended the reach of the weapon somewhat. Maybe two or three times the length. And the rushing figure closed the gap before anyone noticed this terrifying development. Clearers were blown aside from the blow. Their health took a severe but manageable blow. Silvermane kept cover on the figure as enemies tried to flank him. No one was going to touch him before he was getting to the real prize. With E-stone coming towards him, that prize was drawing closer with every step. "HAAA!" E-stone yelled as he swung his greatsword.
The blade would have cleaved a stone in two, but it was stopped. Blocked more like it. They strained against each other before the dark figure sidestepped clear of the blade and punched hard. E-stone went tumbling and barely kept on his feet. He grimaces before rushing again. Parry, dodge, counter. That's what they did, E-stone at an obvious disadvantage. Their fighting was so fierce that the other clearers dared not approach. And the archer quickly stopped sending volley's of arrows their way, she perched herself on a broken pillar and watched. No one dared to get between these titans fighting, none save one.
She was as quick as a flash. "DOWN!" Red yelled as her rapier rocketed forward. E-stone threw himself to one side as the rapier connected with the dark figure. The figure stumbled back and put some distance between them. His helm had come off his head. The clearers froze. The face that looked back at them was the one they thought was dead. Sol.
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I glared at them. A slight line of red on my cheek. Remembering Eld's words I put on an acrid smiles. "Hello clearers, its so nice to be back." I lunged past Red. E-stone's instincts were top notch, he instantly recovered from the shock and blocked my thrust. But it threw him off balance and I kicked him back into his clearers. My "prize" was here. I turned to Red, my expression neutral.
"Its been way to long Red. How long since you saw me being pulled into that fire?" I ask as I bring my sword down on her. Its a shallow cut, not much damage if any. But the pain is enough to make her act. She leaps away from me and gives me this hurt expression. I feel anger in pit of my stomach. I wordlessly attack her. Fiercely, giving her no quarter. Once, twice, red light glared up from her wounds. We locked swords and our faces were mere inches apart. "...Why?" She asked, still in a semi-stupor. I felt my rage flare as I shove her back. "Lord Eld has said it be done." I spat out angrily.
She looked devastated. I hate, hate, hate you! I think as my rage starts to color my vision. Red listlessly puts her blade up as I continue to assault her. "WEAK!" I yell and headbutt her. She exclaims and stumbles back. Instantly I close the distance between us. I hold her up with one hand tightening around her throat. She grips my wrist with her free hand and tries to pry herself loose. "Advance!" I call over my shoulder.
An explosion of shouts and clashing metal erupts behind me as my PKers surge through the distracted clearers. Red still has full use of her rapier. She could still damage me, or end this. She had tears in her eyes as she looked at me with terror. For a second I felt myself soften, and I briefly saw that in the reflection of her eyes. Her health bar was approaching the halfway point when it all ended. Silvermane was walking towards me with a dagger in her hand. I sheathed my sword. She stood next to me as Red's health turned yellow.
Arrows fell like rain around us, protecting me and Silvermane from any attack. I let my free hand fall limply at my side, in a moment she held my hand. Our fingers interlocked. "Its over after this." She said. I nod. Looking Red dead in the eyes as I drop her. She coughs and is helpless before me. A quick special will end it all. "Its his wish so it must be done." Silvermane reminds me as I turn my head to look at her. She kisses me full on the lips. I had my eyes close, so did she. In the middle of this battle field, she was kissing me, urging me on.
We part and I let go of her hand. I look down briefly at Red, the hurt in her eyes is final. I turn away. "Finish it." I tell her as I approach the Clearers. With my head half turned I watched Silvermane raise the dagger. It glowed. She was ending it. I scrunched up my eyes as my body acted on its own. I gripped her wrist and interrupted before she couldn't stop the special. "Let's go." She looked wordlessly at me, understanding in her eyes. She walks away, I look at her as she disappears into the crowd of fighters. "Let this be the last time we meet, Red." I take steps to follow in Silvermane's wake. "There will be no stopping next time." I move through the wall of bodies and weapons and find Silvermane. Three clearers lay sprawled around her.
I take her hand in mine and bring her close. Tears seemed to gather in my eyes. She used a gem to escape as I gave the call. Amid the strewn bodies of wounded clearers I looked at Red, still on the ground, with E-stone at her side. "We are Necessarius." I say as my troops break away from the clearers. Some had escaped, but my personal guards were still here. All together maybe forty PKers stood behind me.
I gave the signal to retreat. We were done here. They used gems to escape until I was the only one left standing. "Consider this a promo for what's to come. Leave the clearing to killers." Is all I saw before I bring out my own gem. Red looks so frail now. Hurt, confused, betrayed, tortured. Its a tragically beautiful expression, a hauntingly beautiful one. Given a choice I wished to never again or never have seen that look on her face. "Eld says so, let it be known." Red takes a deep breath, tears running down her face. "So––" I teleport away.
Now what lead up to this.
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I stood before a group of clearing level players. Though they all belonged to the Scarlet Abyss. I felt strange, standing here among them. "I'd like you all to meet Sol, he'll be leading you from now on." This group was different. They didn't applaud or cheer, neither did they give me dirty looks. They just looked at me for a moment before returning to their idleness. "Command Sol." I did a salute. "I have your first mission." The PKers looked this way. "You will go to tier seven, Mythril, and you'll deal with the thief guild Roc shadow. Some of your subordinates will get the information needed." I blinked. Confused.
I saw the players start to organize themselves. Equipping gear and checking weapons. "Lead them well." I didn't argue, mostly because I didn't want to go back to the hole. I looked at the players. They would be ready within ten minutes. Though one shape did seem familiar. She stood next to me. "Nice to see you." She said as she checked her bowstring. I nod. "Eld put you in charge of his pet project now. Well at least you don't get some of the more...difficult jobs." I refrained from asking Silvermane what she meant. "Will they listen to me?" She was quiet for a moment. After a while she answered. "They will." Then she bowed to me. I clenched my hands for a moment. How to start this. "...Necessarius." They stood straight. I straightened as well to address them. "As you all know Eld has appointed me to lead you. We have our first mission." Five players stepped forward. "We have the information." One of them said. "Then I guess you are my subordinates." They forwarded me the info. I glance it over. It detailed a lot about this guild. Members, noticeable events, suspected bases. It even had a brief about the type of players they were. I contemplated this for an instant. "Alright. We're moving out." They donned cloaks and filed out of the room.
Silvermane stayed behind to give me advice. "We already have a structure set here." She tells me. "Eld called them squads. We have four full sized squads and if the situation calls for it we can break into eight half squads." She went on to put out a few of the important figures. "The orientation of squad B is mostly set up as agile damage dealers. They usually flank or sneak attack the target while we," She pointed to herself and me. "In squad A act as more a diversion on the front lines. Squad A has a lot of bowmen that double as sword or dagger users. We can be very formidable. Squad C has the tanks. They obviously have their pros and cons. While D squad is what you'd call special." I raised an eyebrow. "They are a random bunch that uses a range of weapons. They have a lot of axe users along with sword and shield users. They're mostly brutes though. Great for breaking through defense lines while squad A destroys the organization of the target with a volley of arrows." I was a bit glad she didn't say enemies. Target sounds so much more distant and nonhuman. Silvemane seemed alienated with what she was about to do. I was thankful for that, she'd make that hard call in the end.