Dang. It's been a long while since I've interacted with the peoples.
Hello!
I'm alive and well, thank you very much.
Spiderwl: Thanks! You say that even though I doubt my own skills. ;-; *Insert edgy depression meme here.*
Don't even know who I've thanked, and not thanked, but thank you to everyone who followed and favorited!
That means you two: Demory & Hw231 for doing both recently! (To when this was written)
But... I feel weird typing out just normal sized chapters for intense moments. But...
Meh.
As always:
Enjoy!
Paranoia and irrationality consumed me when I was first sent in. Though it may test me, I hold strong. I can do this.
I slinked out of the mess hall as quickly and silently as possible. I went out into the courtyard and waited. Waited for something to happen. Anything. And I guess I got what I wanted. I flew from the front gate and into the fountain, shattering the ornate piece that manipulated where and how the water flew through the air. My back was now full of ceramic shard. And I dust off most of it except for the small pieces that lodged themselves in my cut, and the large piece stuck in the underside of my shoulder blade. My attacker was a man with a burly and scarred body. He had a lumberjack beard and a scar over one of his eyes, rendering that eye's iris grey, the other glowing red. His skin was stone grey, and bleach white hairs. The shoulder pads on him seemed cumbersome, the same being said for his mechanical gauntlets/sleeves and his chest plate.
"I've heard of you. You've caught the eye of Amanda, now you've made a big name for yourself as one of the favorites for the competition. Now, let us meet swords!"
He rushed at me only to be blasted by a pulse of base cannon.
Ayy. Nobody remembers this...
I planted the base cannons barrel into the ground, allowing it to blast a remix of Kanye West's Flashing Lights into the loose earth. I looked at my reflection in the water, my mask reminded me of Daft Punk Tron Legacy. The single electric blue bar seemed to pulsate along with the melody and bass line of the song.
Sick. Though, I want to see my grey hair and eyes again.
The bass pounded, knocking up an unready attacker. My mask changed into an oni mask as I thought of the game that I hadn't played for two seasons. I sliced the entirety of his body with my katana, thanking the lord that having two different weapons going at once was cool. Then after he was thoroughly cut, I slammed him into the loose soil, creating a crater before he started getting covered by dirt due to the vibrations.
HASAGI!
I tapped the bass cannon and it turned into the obsidian hilt, and I sheathed the now longsword back into its place.
"What's your name."
"Arthras."
He gladly accepted my hand and I managed to carry his 300+ body onto the fountain to sit.
"Thanks. You seem like quite the man."
"Seriously though, why did you attack me?"
Arthras seemed to think it over. What I didn't realize was that he was brutally honest.
"Well, I was jealous that you got the attention of Amanda and the attention of my daughter's fans. So, I wanted to test you."
"I love your honesty."
He couldn't help but smile at that remark. He stood up and faced me.
"I forgot to say that I am Mega Slider, king of sliders."
"You look like your pure daughter, so I thought so."
He let out a hearty laugh, and slapped my back with the force of a nunchuck at full motion. I gasped for air as my mask went back to the usual bandana around the mouth and nose.
"Don't you go forgetting about my baby Ki. She's beautiful when she's in her normal form."
He seemed to zone out reminiscing about his years with Ki before she was chained up. The look of anxiety and caution mixed to show a glow of frustration from him. Before I knew it, Herobrine was lurking, I felt his presence in the same corner that Amanda managed to false me from. I totally forgot about Ki as I decided to base the next set of questions around Herobrine.
"What do you think of Herobrine?"
"He may be a villain in everyone's eyes', but he wouldn't be taking care of our heirs so well if he was. He would've ended their lives if he was."
"What do you think of his property?"
"The castle is extravagant, I wish for my dungeon to be like this so I can stare out from the grand windows to see my territory, stained glass windows shining brilliant light into my base."
The corner in which Herobrine was in pulsated a pink and returned to a normal shadow, signaling he had left. I knew he was satisfied.
"Well, I'll be taking my leave now Arthras. Se-"
"WAIT!"
Nani!
"Take me... To see my girls' fight."
I nodded solemnly and led him around the large corridors, the man was ashamed of himself. He looked as if he had neglected his daughters, but the truth was that he was a good father. It was just... That the way he dealt with Ki was... Uncalled for. But I could see his way of thinking. His daughter was destroying things, and couldn't control it, so measures were taken to counteract it.
I watched him as he entered the oddly silent room and sat in the back row. The battle began. It only took 72 minutes for Team A to win, which was not surprising as both teams were skilled. Another break came. It was about 3:18 now, as the groups began to prepare for the battle for first place. It was obvious who was going to win, as I managed to whoop Team C's asses pretty handily when we were in our match. And as we predicted, it only took 2 minutes for the match to be claimed by Team A. So first was Team A, second Team C, and third and last was going to be a battle for staying in the competition. So we prepared. The gang was all good with me being captain for all our future games, despite clear abhorrence from Talon. Suddenly and without warning, we were teleported in.
"Shit."
We looked around and it reminded me of the River Somme. The trenches looking freshly built, and the rain poured down like bullets.
"Okay. Here's the plan. They have no ranged weaponry so there will be no suppressing fire. The issue is that they are heavy damage dealers, favoring longer battles and duels. Another one is that the environment will be good for the two assassins on the enemy team, and even if that issue is resolve, Lone and Iris can change the environment at will."
"So we're screwed."
"No. What I'm saying that no normal strategy will work. So here's what were going with. Those who cannot hide or place traps, cover yourself in mud to prevent heat signatures and your smell traveling to the beasts. Those who have traps, work with guerrilla warfare. Basically, erode the front liners slowly either using traps or ambushing a single person. Talon. You're lucky that they can't reach you. So scout and attack any retreating members. This war is going to be one of mental and physical attrition, espionage, and patience. I'll take the flag. We're clear?"
"YES SIR!"
Immediately, I passed out the rations that we spawned in with, good for supplying each person on our time for a week. This was along with a blanket as we knew it was going to get cold with the pouring rain, and all the diseases were going to get spread if we were not careful with sanitation. So, a pack of 12 mobile lavatories were passed out. And we headed our separate ways.
Walking. Trudging. Soldiering on.
I walked through the muddy fields, trenches full of unseen threats. The day seemed to crawl as I continued to trek through the mud and the rain. That was when I found the river. Ink was there. She was patrolling. I decided to enter enemy territory and charged through the river. I made it to the other side and continued on, bidding my companions farewell, knowing well that I have the tiny flag, but continue alone. No grass dared grow. No tree dared flourish. No man dared to speak. And night came upon like an extinguisher for the maroon skies. Stars shone bright enough to light up the world, yet no bright enough to bring attention to themselves. I looked at my map and I was not even 5/8 through the battlefield vertically. I found this sad little un-dug trench. I sat there thinking to myself that I had to do this. I needed to win. I set up camp with my sad little foil-like blanket and an old Filipino weave mat to lay on. I decided to recite Darkest Dungeon quotes for the remainder of this war.
"A moment of respite. A chance to steel oneself against the coming horrors."
I lay there in my specialized hoodie for hunting. It was a raincoat on the outside so mud wouldn't mess up the cotton and polyester inside of it. I couldn't sleep. I was scared. Scared of losing everything right there and then. So I decided to find a little nook in the trench, risking suffocation when I lay in it. But I trusted Earth itself to not betray me like the entities that roamed the land.
"And now... the darkness holds dominion – black as death."
I slept. I slept peacefully that one night. Huddled in the cold. In the dark alone. It was somehow peaceful. Dreams and nightmares alike failed to enter my head.
Blackness. Stillness. Ringing ears. A silent end.
I was awoken by a large explosion. I packed up and stood on the trench board peeking over towards the action. Lich and Ink were duking it out. I wouldn't know if she was distracting, but it was good if it was. I saw iron golems run pass me, sounding like thundering tank treads. I looked around for Rosa, but she was nowhere to be found. I waited till the commotion died down. I lurched myself over the sandbags and onto the field once more. My blade grew heavy, but I decided to change my aesthetics. I changed into a leper from Darkest Dungeon because we were on that theme already. My armor shone dully against the clear sky, my wraps looking badass fluttering in the wind.
Once again, the days past and it was soon realized that it was a 6v1. It was the forth day. The heads on my list consisted of Rosa, Lone, Kitten, Maria, Hilda, and Lich.
Fuck.
I lay there. In the hill elevated above the field in the top left corner of the map. When I said in, I meant in. I had spent a whole day digging with my hands through that cold dirt and debris.
"Without tools of iron, you must rely on flesh and indefatigable purpose."
My hands were numb. Yet I lay there. Not moving an inch, much unlike a leaf in the wind.
Sinon best waifu SAO.
I chuckled at my own thought. Then I saw something coming in the distance. Turns out the three man patrol decided to go back to their side of the river to find me. I had to choose between Maria, Hilda, and Lich before they hid in a trench to nap.
Two hundred and eighty yards. Three hundred and fifteen yards. One hundred and seventy six yards. No winds. Bullet drops at 9.8 m/s. Bullet travel speed 762 m/s. I should aim one notch above their heads (0.5-1 meters at that distance.) Dealing with Lich would be hard so...
Took aim. Took a deep breath. Rested my shoulder. Braced for recoil.
BOOM.
She took a shot to the shoulder, realizing that I hadn't checked the winds in a hour; Suffering was all that I could say she looked to be in. It was extreme watching her hopelessly try to cauterize her wound with a blade.
Shit.
Almost immediately, Maria and Lich rush over, Maria arriving first.
BOOM.
Maria doubles over before being eliminated. Lich stops dead in her tracks and points towards my general direction.
"Death waits for the slightest lapse in concentration."
Practice on the dead trees helped me a bit, and my laptop still receiving internet was good for helping me make up for drop and wind.
BOOM.
A large beam strikes the side of the cliff, trying to scare me out. Yet I remained calm. The beam cuts pass the right side of me, making a high pitched droning sound in my right ear.
It stops.
They stop. Everything stops. The next second, Lone is scaling the cliff to deal with me. Thankfully, the night rushes in right when she finds a way to scale the cliff. A camp can be seen about a stone throws away from me. I crawl up to the top of the cliff.
Sexy af.
A single tree bursting with beautiful golden flowers. I stood there thinking of what would be best to counteract an assassin with high burst damage. I now possessed a vindicator mask with a pavise shield and a poleaxe. She now stood before me. She thought I was blind standing behind a large shield, but that was when she was wrong. A forest grew. She tried to strike me but to no avail, heavy and quick strikes barraged me. Soon, the effectiveness of her attacks were deemed ineffective so she summoned two packs of wolves. One being ender, the others being rabid. The question was should I put down my shield to attack the wolves or fend them off with one hand.
Shit.
I leaned the shield against my back, changing my weapon to that of a halberd. I swung, striking two rabid wolves and CRITing a ender wolf. Soon, my efforts to cull the pack was getting difficult. Minutes sped by, three rabid wolves tried to bite, five were circling me. I took another swing but I was way too tired. Dropping down, I allowed the shield to cover my limp body. Then I wanted to give up. I lay there. Broken. If I couldn't even fight Lone, how could I fight the others in the encampment...
Third Person POV
Time slowed down every single time combat occurred as to ensure that we wouldn't miss tiny details. And watching the boy's attempt at defending himself made the others cringe in sympathy. Then he collapsed. He lay there, allowing the wolves to bite his now numb body. Lone was about to crush him with a boulder until tongues of flame shot out of the shield, consuming everything in the forest. She backed off, seeing as her territory was overwritten. The next moment, we see her looking at burnt land. Cleansed by fire. The shield drops. Nothing is beneath it. It would seem that he would be teleported out, but thats not the case. The competitors wouldn't know this fact. In fact, there-
"HEY! DON'T INTERRU-"
Lone POV
The shield finally leveled with the floor, meaning everyone on Team D had been eliminated. That meant they won. Right? But. At the back of my mind, I felt as if there was something I was forgetting. Or maybe. Missing something. I scurried to the edge of the cliff. Looking over, I see Lich get teleported out due to her injuries, meaning it was me, Hilda, Kitten, and Rosa... But even then, all I saw was a silent encampment.
I guess nothing's wrong?
That was wrong time to calm myself down, as I saw two slimes engulf Kitten and Hilda. Hilda was absorbed within Margaret's slime, making her wither virtually useless. And Kitten was stunned. Swiftly, Shadow flew through the commotion and made an attempt for the flag on top of our camp. Rosa's first strike would be the last she sees of this battle, as Shadow uses her steel arms to boost himself toward the flag. Winning the game for Team D.
"NO!"
And... Teleported out first. We hung our heads in shame. How could we be blind? How could we lose to them? We checked the match time before we antagonized ourselves any further, seeing that the real time length was 2:17, while the simulated time was 116 hours and 20 minutes. Then Margaret and Terra teleported out, leaving only Shadow to come. Then instantaneously, Shadow's form was sitting beside us. He seemed to be more giddy than usual, as his opening was a bit too cocky for my tastes.
"I bet you're asking. 'Where did you learn to fight?' The answer? You know those days I did nothing in the battlefield and was on my beach home? I practiced just in case I picked up different arms. And that turned out alright."
We stayed silent. And Shadow's form teleported away, apologizing, sensing the feel of the room. Shadow walks up to us fro the spawn room and asks if he could be seated. I answer him with a quick nod and he sits down. He shuffles a bit before deciding to speak to all of us.
"Hey. I'm sorry for using such brutal tactics on you guys. We needed to get an edge on you, and that was the only way we could. Don't feel sorry for yourselves... We had a good fight, and that's all that matters. Sometimes, losing is what you need to learn a lesson of a lifetime. So, chin up. This should be your wake up call, not your down fall."
He lifted my chin and stared into my eyes. I felt as if he saw something he could not inside of me as he held me close for a minute that felt like eternity. He let go, walking into the center of the room just to disappear. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks as I realized how close he was to me.
Jake POV
Jesus. Reconciling with a group of people is hard, especially if you weren't friends before.
I walked through the halls, without my suit. I was just walking around as Jake, accidentally running into Xera and Ki.
"Hey guys."
'Hey Shadow.'
"How was your battle?"
'Meh.'
I chuckled. She seems like a nice gal when you listen to her communicate. I gave her a light tap on her non-gear shoulder, and she punched mine.
"Ow. Not fair, I can't hit girls."
'That's what you deserve for hitting the other girls in battle.'
"But that was battle...'
'No butts.'
"Butts? Two Ts?"
She lit up violet when she realized her mistake.
"I was just messing with you!"
She flashed a shade of hot pink when she clenched her fists, but returned to her state of blue.
'Could we eat with you?'
Wait. Did I cook for them as Shadow or as Jake?
"You do realize I'm not Shadow?"
'Stop it silly. I know you and Shadow are the same person. Xera told me. Plus you did respond to me when I said Shadow.'
OOF.
LETHARGIC OOFS!
Extraordinarily, It's weird realizing your character names are not as original as you thought, but even then... I did borrow names from the Mob Talker
Mod.
Oh, It may be weird to ask this but...
NIBBAS, Could we try for some cover art?
So, Pretty please?
Seriously, I want something to get the essence of Jake and all he is, all the while being aesthetically pleasing and eye grabbing.
Obviously, I'm sorry for being a bitch boy, but...
Oh my god... I can't draw or color for shit.
Now, any and all drawings are excepted, no matter the quality!
But... now heres a shitty transitional sentence into outro:
Oops! Too long!
Yet as always:
Sensual Chocolate bo- I mean Ciao!
(Did y'all catch my secret message? No? I thought so.)