Chapter 51

Ritsu POV

I turned around and glared at the voice, sweat flying off of my face. His face was showing as he started climbing out of a portal.

That blonde haired computer virus…

Excitement filled me; I finally get my revenge huh.

The computer virus' face was dimly lit thanks to the light of the fire. He had a large toothy smile. So the feeling's mutual…

"Long time no see (giggle), I've been looking forward to messing with you again. (soft giggles) It's just not fitting doing it to anyone else," I could hear tiny giggles as he spoke.

My glare got sharper, "You…"

He walked closer to me and I instinctually backed away, but he continued anyway, "That flame's tasty, isn't it (giggle)? Doesn't it remind you of something?"

The computer virus was so close he could touch me; the last thing I want is to be touched by him. But the wall keeping me from scooting back more was telling me otherwise.

"(giggles) Does it taste like Dragon Slayer flames?"

My impulsive side was starting to show, but tried to force it back, "H-how…" my voice was barely audible.

He glanced at the egg and then looked me in the eye, "That's an Exceed egg… (giggle) Am I right?"

My strength of will was disappearing fast, "H-How do you know this?!"

Half of his speech was giggles now, "There's that impulsive side I saw (lots of giggles)!"

Now I was offended, "You don't know that!"

He managed to get closer. His face half taken up with a smirk, "Yes I do (dark giggle). Everything there is to know about you, and everyone else, is in our archives."

I lunched forward to punch him away from me, "Archives?! Why would you of all… things… have archives?!"

He dodged it easily, "(giggle) I also learned that your twin sister is none other than Leah Dragneel, the leader of this game, and that you two know a lot about each other. (giggles) Ritsu Dragneel."

The computer virus opened a portal causing a book to fall into his hands. He opened it and started reading from it, "'Ritsu Drageel, son of Natsu and Lucy Dragneel. Twin brother of Leah Drageel. Practices Frozenflame Dragon Slayer Magic taught by Akio and Leanna and their son Hono, of whom the magic originates from. Enjoys drawing and storytelling. Wants to be more strategic but is horrible at it.' (Giggles) Do I need to say more?"

The sweat on my face wasn't only from the heat now, "No way…"

My sister didn't tell me anything about getting personal information from people…

"Your sister programed a system into the game that analyzes your entire self, past and everything, as soon as you enter the game and stores it in a place known as the Archives. Since we took over the game, those archives now belong to us (giggle)."

His smile was back; "You're my first victim, so I did some research on you. (happy giggles) Turns out you have some clear weaknesses."

I really want to punch him in the face… "And what are those?" I growled.

He started reading from that book again… "'Dragon Slayer Magic that has multiple types have a certain limit to how much of a certain element can be eaten. If the user goes beyond that limit, his or her body will start feeling the effects of that element on their own body. Balance must be kept for power to be gained completely' (giggles) Now I wonder why your body feels like it's on fire right now?"

Leah… Why did you make the game get this kind of information…

I didn't reply to him. I only glared. Akio and Leanna warned me of eating too much of one element, but… I didn't know this would happen.

His wide smile was turning into a smirk again, "I also researched you because Lamen and the masters told us to, so Taikutsu could control the maze accordingly."

I glanced at the fire again. Even though my body felt like it was boiling inside, my mouth still watered with the thought of eating it.

What's going on?...

"After I gave him the information, Taikutsu came up with a genius idea (giggles)! To make a fire that would make you addicted as soon as you tasted it!"

My eyes widened.

"That would make it for me, Jigen, much easier to kill you if you do it yourself (dark giggles)!"

With Leah and Mia…

Leah POV

I tried to fall asleep on Mia's back while we were walking, but that earned me a small punch on the head,

"Hey, no sleeping when I'm saving you."

I groaned and complained, "Can you be any slower? Where are we going anyway?"

She growled, "Shut it dummy. You wouldn't be saying that if I left you there to die, and we're trying to find the others if you haven't noticed…"

"And walking in this direction helps us, how?"

"That's it! No more free rides!"

Mia violently shrugged me off her shoulders, growled loudly, and turned away. I glared at her and groaned, scratching my head.

Mia sighed, "By the way, do you know where Ren is? I've actually found everyone's location while I was looking for that computer virus… Well, everyone's but her…."

I felt my heart sink. Ren…

I totally forgot about Ren….

"R-Ren?!" my voice was broken, "Uhh… She was sort of captured inside a lacrima…." It was painful to be this awkward and weak around Mia…

Mia's face turned from frustrated to murderous, "YOU FORGOT ABOUT REN?!"

"No one's perfect, you know! I was injured too!" I screamed at her, defensive.

"That doesn't matter, you… you… stupid idiot!" Mia was so angry that she stumbled on her words, "She's a child, I don't even fully know if she's capable of using magic! She's in serious danger!"

I glared at her. She can use magic actually, "Well it looks like you have a soft spot for Ren."

"Who doesn't?!"

I growled and turned away, "You have a good point…"

"Did you seriously just agree with me?"

"N-no, no I didn't…." I lied.

"You did! Just admit it!"

"As if!"

We broke out into a fight without even thinking about it, but I was right about my physical state… Mia was pushing me back very easily. I really won't survive another fight if I get into a serious one….

Our fight was interrupted by the feeling of melted metal on my shoulder, 'Owwwwwww!" I grabbed my throbbing shoulder.

Some fell on Mia's shoulder too and she gasped in pain.

"What's going on?..." She growled, staring at the iron ceiling.

I huffed, the heat of the hall getting to me once I supported my own weight, "It's really hot in here…. Much more than before…."

"What does that have to do with anything, blondie?..." Mia glared at me.

"Look at your precious iron ceiling and see for yourself!" I glared back.

"I coated the passages with iron so I could tell which were mine…" she mumbled before actually obeying me.

"It's melting… Fast…" she grumbled before scraping the dry iron off her shoulder.

I sensed a presence, similar to the voice inside my head but not. It felt a lot darker….

This is no time to be fighting amongst yourselves, Leah, Mia. Your fight is with us.

I screamed the name of the first person who came to mind, "Aiden?!"

Close. It's Jackson.

"What happened to you?..." I mumbled to myself, hoping he couldn't hear me.

That isn't Jackson… The Jackson I know is too sweet and innocent to be… this…

Clearly you've noticed my personality change, Leah, but I am under no obligation to tell you the reason why.

I twitched at that. I didn't ask. I want to destroy you both no matter what happens to your personalities…. I felt pain when I said those words, do you have any idea how many lives you've taken?

I don't really think it's us, who are taking the lives, Leah, but I have one reason for talking to you right now and this isn't it.

If you haven't forgotten, I have your precious Ren in my hand right now. If you don't find the top floor within an hour, she will die. Better get here quick.

Every muscle in my body twitched. Did he just say he was going to kill Ren?...

Mia glared at me with sweat on her face, He did, were you not paying attention?! We need to get going now!

Since when do I take orders from you?

Do you want Ren to live?

Of course I do!

Then let's… work… together….

I could hear Mia gag on that last sentence.

Not that I wasn't gagging too.

Ugh… The thought of Mia and me working together…

I swallowed. Just make yourself, Leah… It's only this one time…

"Come… on then," I walked down the hall as fast as my body let me with this heat.

Mia caught and passed me quickly, she smirked and said, "Catch me if you can, blondie!" and ran as fast as she could.

"You won't beat me in anything!" I called back to her, forcing myself to run.

We raced to where the center of where the heat was, a small flame lighting a dimly lit, square room.

With Jason and Reo…

Jason POV

I looked around the dim hallway, which was only lit because of my light sword; it was tied behind my back instead of my usual magic sword. Reo had his hands pressed against his blue hair, looking around casually.

In all the years I've known him, I've never understood how he can be so calm about everything.

Nor can I understand how he can be in such a teasing mood all the time… "What happened to the guy who was leading us around earlier, Jason?"

I cringed, "Uhh… I was forcing myself?"

Reo had to stop walking he was laughing so hard, "You forced yourself to be social?"

I snapped, "Yeah! I've been doing that since we started searching for the Dream Key!"

Reo tilted his head back in nostalgia, "Man… It seems like forever since we were concerned about that…"

I smiled at him, ignoring the small pang of anger his words gave me, "That's the whole point we're here, right? This whole computer virus thing just got in the way…"

Mother… Father…

His face started to show pain now… "I know, but this is taking priority for now, isn't it? Lives of a couple million people is more important than the physical state of our parents, right?"

I looked down, "I guess so."

Looking me in the eyes, Reo smirked again, "So who do you think we'll run into?"

I squinted at him, a little confused, "Huh? You mean the computer viruses we're fighting?"

Reo smiled bigger, "Come on, you're Jason Fermandez, one of the most observant people I know, you can figure this out without me telling you."

I walked in silence and thought about it for a few seconds. Who do I think we'll run into?

Then something came to me, "Do you think this hall is a maze?!"

Reo snapped his fingers, "You are right, my friend," he waved his hands in a variety of motions, "guessing the complexity of this hall along with all of the magic signatures around here, I'm pretty sure this is a maze with the members waiting to ambush us."

I laughed lightly, "and how do you know this?"

"It's either my magic or intuition," Reo put his hands behind his hair again, "I've always been able to read an object's magic signature, and instinctually know how to use it's components to make something completely different using it's materials. I've heard Leah talk about her crazy magic with Ristu before, and it seems she has a similar ability. She called them codes."

"I did hear Leah say something like that to Ristu before while I was hiding in the air vents…." I squinted my eyes trying to remember something, "What do you call your magic again? You barely even use it!"

Reo giggled and punched me lightly in the arm, "I call it Magical Crafting. I have the ability to make all of those magical objects you see in a magic shop," he puffed up his chest, "but with a lot more power, variety, and skill."

"Don't let that head of yours get too big…"

"Why would I not?"

We both busted out laughing and kept laughing until we came across a white staircase. Reo looked up it,

"It's pretty long, and I can see some strange codes up there. I think it's one of the computer viruses…"

I walked over and took a look myself, "You think so? Anything could be up this staircase…. It could easily be a trap for all we know."

"I'd say let's go for it. It's not like we have any other option but get lost," he giggled at "lost".

I have a bad feeling, but since he's my friend I'll trust him… "I guess… but don't get us killed…"

"Come on, why would I?"