Chapter 25 – Brewing Intentions
In Gamco Inc. at the development team floor, Mr. Adam and some monitors were scrambling. They were going through technical computer writing to find a trace signature of code. If they could find the first introduction of the advance AIs that were inputted into the game, then they could find a way to disable the virus on a gunslinger's account. Though Adam was one of the creators of the game and remembered the development concept of the AIs, it was a couple of years in the past. A phone rang and the game creator picked it up.
"Adam speaking."
[Have you disabled that kid's account yet?] Mr. Bennett asked.
"…the computer virus is multi-laced with severe encryption coding. My team has been continuously scanning and coding to find weaknesses and access to the account holder."
[So…he still has access?]
"At the current time, yes sir."
[Hmm…looks like I need a helping hand. Continue with gaining access.]
"Yes sir."
Adam hanged up the phone and sighed. The head administrator has been on edge since coming back. The part of needing "extra" help was something the creator had no idea what he meant. Looking back at the monitor, he saw the player's account profile. Preventing them from accessing and controlling the account was from a floating icon of a small she devil. Seeing a smaller version of Eve sent a chill down his spine.
'I wonder where my head was at when I created you,' he thought staring at the virus moving around. Blinking and shaking his head, the game creator went back to trying to decode the virus.
[Alright, the cable is plugged into the headset] Jin messaged.
[…very well…] Selbith replied.
An upload caption occurred on the cell screen as the virus transferred to the helmet. Once the transfer was completed, he removed the cable. Laying down on the bed, he stared at the device. Sighing to himself and preparing for the uncomfortable encounter, he put the headset on. Blinking to see himself in the ambient menu screen, he felt fine.
"…" the sophomore stated. Looking around anxiously, he didn't see the death being. Turning around slowly, a flash of something red came. Without stopping, it invaded his body sending him chills through his body.
"Gah!...ah…ah…I don't think I'll ever get use to you."
[Ah…much better…a bit warmer too.]
"Whoop-dido."
[Silence mortal!]
"Whatever…let's get going," he stated. Shaking off the chills, he selected the game icon. Seeing the ambient environment fade, the free falling occurred. Seeing the environment he was last in unfold, his descent slowed down to barely touching the ground. Seeing his HUD fill in, a message appeared on the bottom.
[…Darling…I've missed you…]
"…" the gunslinger said with a slight paranoid face.
[Alright…who the hell keeps changing the message? Do you know?]
[…don't be an idiot mortal…it's that devil woman]
[…(0.0)…she is the narrator of the game?]
[Voice wise…yes…mind wise…only you]
[…(-_-ii)…lucky me.]
Materializing back on the island warp gate of the water region, no one was going or coming through the transporter. Enabling sneak, he walked up to and into the mirror substance. For a second, his vision started to see light being stretched passed him then seemingly launch forward with tremendous velocity. Once through, the gunslinger found himself back at the "Warp Station" area in the town "Cross Roads".
Looking around, the surrounding area had little people around. Noticing that both energy and thirst meters were flashing, he enabled sneak and started going toward the center town area. A little bit more people were walking about there. Despite no one seeing him, everyone seemed to get a cold chill passing them. Looking around to see if anyone was looking, he silently entered the accessory shop.
Upon walking in the store, the owner was behind the desk looking at her items. She didn't notice the gunner come up to the desk or feel the presence of the death spirit.
"Excuse me…are you open?" he asked causing her to jump with fright. She whipped around with an angry face.
"You could at…least…knock…" she said. Trailing off, she saw a teenage; however, the crimson tinted eyes, dark armor, and an eerie atmosphere made her fear him. Shaking her head, the owner steeled herself knowing that the town was full of different shades of people. It was just the teen didn't seem to be part of the living.
"W-What do you want?" she asked.
He spoke of the items that he was requesting. She quickly got them and saw that he had given her the correct amount of money. The gunslinger collected the items and thanked her before walking out. As she stared at the male, her eyes widen seeing him slowly disappear from sight upon reaching the door. Wondering if the money she received would vanished, she saw the coins were still here. Blinking in fright and confusion, she put the currency with the others and tried to shake off the bad juju feelings from the interaction.
Walking back to the warp station while eating and drinking something, he passed people by without them noticing him. Finishing both items, the East gate was the next destination. There was a group up ahead that were going to the same transport. They hadn't gone through yet so he ran pass them and went through.
[…mortal…why didn't you kill them?] Selbith asked while in mid-travel.
[…(-.-ii)...not this again…]
Reaching the other side, he appeared on a rocky platform and looked around. In the distance down a pathway, there was a large looking town surrounded by bed of flowing magma. How the whole structure stayed intact was beyond his understanding. Walking down the warp gate platform, there was a sign that indicated where they were. The town ahead was called "Lavain". An icon appeared on the HUD and he opened up the "Book of Knowledge".
Lavain was one of the advance towns created before the war with the monsters. Before its creation, only the daring went to this place to test their courage and will to withstand the heat. After a while, settlements started forming. Soon after a power generating unit was built by the mages to harness the raw power of the magma below the sea of lava. Since then, the town has been a symbol of great fortune for no monsters had invaded the establishment.
Closing out of the windows, he walked down the passageway to the town. Looking to the sides, the bright colors of the lava flow illuminated almost everything with its hues. Entering the establishment, there were many people out and about. Local people and players were intermingling with each other. Oddly, none of them appeared to be sweating or discomforted by all the lava around them.
Thinking about and looking at the perimeter of the town, there were high walls. Going to a section and putting his hand on it, the structure was relatively cool to the touch. Blinking in surprise, he wondered if enchanted magic or magic stones were used on or in the walls. Knowing that the based on what he just read about the power generator unit, he wondered if it was cooling the walls as well. Turning around toward the inner portion of town, he saw the usual signs for shops and inns. However, there were two other structures that stood out.
In the center of the town, there was a large tower. Next to it was a power plant looking building. Sneaking alongside the outer wall, the power plant was a geothermal one. That would explain how the town got its energy and probably its ability for bedrock to not melt from the surrounding flows of lava. Upon looking up, there was something suspended in mid air next to the top portion of the tower. It looked like an item of some sort as light seemed to play off of it.
[Can you see what is up there Selbith?]
[…other than a chest, no I can't mortal.]
[Okay. Thanks anyway.]
Looking around the center structure of the town, there didn't seem to be any way to the top from the outside. If access could be found and one reached the top, the hovering chest could be grabbed with a leaping jump. A thought occurred from remembering a previous skill used two dungeons ago. Moving to a more discreet area, he waited for people to not be in his line of path. Seeing an opening and no one looking, the gunner made a mad sprint to the tower.
Arcing his pathway and reaching the base of the structure, he threw his feet upward and bolted up the tower. Doubling his speed with the "Heightener" skill, the top of the tower was reached within a few seconds. Unfortunately, there was no place to grab hold of, stand, or roll into. On the last stride before losing footing, the teen quickly glanced in the direction of the chest and jumped toward it.
Stretching out, he descended on the chest and collided with it and something else. Wrapping his arms around the chest and bring his knees down, the legs impacted with an invisible platform hovering. Despite the tingling feeling of pain on his lower limbs, the unexpected surprise masked the body ache. Letting go of one hand and patting around, he eventually sat down. The sight of seeing right through the floating platform gave a bit of a vertigo effect.
'Don't look…just don't look,' Jin thought. Slapping his face and focusing what was between his feet, he reached for the chest.
[…mortal…stop]
[Huh? What's up?]
[…do you know what will happen if you open that chest?]
[…mmm…no I don't…do you?]
[…(-_-)…I do not…]
Uncertain now about what to do, he got into a crouch position and slowly opened the chest. The obtained item window did not occur and the invisible platform started rumbling. Flattening himself on it and murderously gripping the sides, the floating rock started moving. It went over the tower and slowly made its way to the west wall of the town. Both saw that there was nothing but a continuous flow of lava.
Over the wall, the platform stopped. Directly under it was a small flatten bedrock with a sign on it. Suddenly, the chest and floating transporter vanished causing him to fall down to the place below. Landing hard on his feet, his body jolted from the impact. Waiting till the shock died down a little, he slowly looked up. Immediately squinting, the brightness of the sea of lava was intense. Even the death spirit stretched a phantom hand to cover their eyes. Once used to the level of illumination, they kept their hands over their eyes.
In the flow of molten rock, there was a structure on top of a bedrock formation. It was not being pushed away or melting. Looking down at the sign in front, it indicated this was the path to the "Magma Dungeon". After reading, a small tremor was felt in the ground. Floating rocks ascended from the lava flow and stopped at the same height where they were standing. Once they cooled off and turned into black forming igneous rocks, they lead to the structure.
Running and leaping to each platform was easy. Dealing with the intense radiant heat from what was below them was difficult. Only half way to the structure and sweat was forming all around his body. Upon reaching the structure, the gunslinger was dripping with sweat. The thirst meter went down rapidly and was flashing. To his amazement, the structure was a large water fountain just like the one in first town Stratnum.
Jumping into the knee high pool of water, he blinked in confusion. It was not hot or evaporating. The liquid was mildly cold which made him get on his hands and knees. Dunking his head, the coolness of the water washed over him sending his senses into a spin. Pulling his head out and shaking the excess, the level of heat changed to a comfortable temperature. Cupping his hands, he took multiple drinks till the thirst level was full. Feeling a phantom nagging pull from the spirit, he got up and walked toward the center of the structure.
Wondering if the water fountain was like the one in the previous town, he walked around it. Finding a depression block on the base of the center, it looked like the ones from others he ventured into. Opening up the items menu and selecting the matchlock pistol, it fit the depression causing an audible click to be heard. A middle column in the structure turned revealing an opening and a spiraling down staircase. Taking a quick breath in and out, he picked up the matchlock and made it inside before the turning column closed up.
Like previous dungeons, there were no lights or torches to illuminate the inside. Not that it really mattered; the "Night Vision" skill enabled him to see where he was going. Also by using the sneak skill, objects could be seen in better detail. Going down the steps, its descent was long and deep. Knowing that he should be in the sea of lava; however, the inside was rather cool. There was no burning smell of earth the farther down he went.
Reaching the bottom, there was a narrow passageway to an open room. Slowly peering into the chamber, it was tall and wide. Looking around, the space was rather plain. Only red stones made up the entire wall, floor, and ceiling space. In the middle, there were two lanky imps that had crystallized fire flaring out of their skin. However, what was on the side walls was perplexing.
Two large holes were formed on the walls behind and in front of the imps. Waiting a little bit, a low, deep rumbling was heard from the gaps on one side. Bright magma flowed out of one and arced back to the other hole on the same wall. The snaking liquid rock went by and through the creatures. When the end of the magma vanished, the imps were still in the same place before not hurt or burned.
[…mortal…you'll perish if the liquid rock comes near you] Selbith messaged.
[…y-yeah…I'll keep that in mind] Jin replied pulling his collar. The temperature in the space went high very quickly.
[…what are your plans then?]
[…probably shoot, run, and cover…over and over again.]
[…(-.-)…don't you have something better…]
[…(-.o)…I could transform, do some death touches, wait to regenerate, and repeat…over and over again]
[…(-_-)…I don't like that either.]
[Well…you are rather difficult to please.]
[…(*-_o)…]
[…would mixing it up be better?]
[…perhaps…]
[…(-_-)…as long as there is killing, you fine right?]
[…yes…though I prefer mortals than demons…]
[…(9_9)…whatever.]
Another volley of molten rock came out on the opposite wall and into the hole next to it. Taking out the gun, two head shots made instant kills of the imps. Items that were picked up were crystallized fire fragments. After closing the window, he waited till the next liquid rock flow to appear. When it did and the last segment vanished, the gunslinger bolted hard toward the passageway on the opposite corner. Upon reaching it, the opposite side wall did another snake volley.
Heading down the passageway, it lead to another open chamber. Before venturing into it, horizontal columns of lava came out from a cross in the center. The closer he got, the more radiant heat was felt. Two fire imps were wondering around in the middle of the room. Changing into the Grim Reaper form, he hovered over to them. The monsters saw him and instantly froze with fear. Before they were about to bolt away, Jin touched their heads.
The imps eyes rolled backwards and their skin became white. The lava volley occurred and disintegrated their ashes. Though the gunner didn't feel the scorching heat of liquid rock, a phantom hot flash went through him. After collecting more fire fragments, there was another passageway to the right. Hovering over there, black flames engulfed him and dissipated shortly afterwards.
[…that…felt…odd…]
[…(-.o)…what do you mean mortal?]
[…the magma…went through me…but only a phantom was felt…] he stated looking at his hands intrigued.
[…so what…that's what all Grim Reapers deal with]
[…so…weird]
[…if anything is weird, it's you.]
"…like you are one to talk…" he muttered quietly.
[What did you say mortal!?]
[…nothing…]
Walking down the passageway, another open chamber came up. The magma holes were at the corners of the room. Instead of columns, blazing boulders went from one gap to the opposite one across the chamber. As soon as the engulf rock went into the receiving hole, another one shot out of the corner gaps.
Two imps, that were standing in the middle and dodging the rolling flaring boulders, disintegrated when black orbs impacted with their heads. When a blazed rock reached the halfway point of the room, the gunner bolted to the passageway on the adjacent wall. The residual heat from the continuous fireball made him sweat a little. The narrow hallway turned left up ahead and was much cooler.
Turning the corner, the passageway extended forward a bit till another chamber opened up. Just like the others, the entire room was covered with red stones. However, there were three large circular grates on the floor. A low rumble was heard and a column of magma shot up from the ground. It continued for a little bit before descending back down. Despite being only halfway in the passageway, the heat could be felt.
Waiting for the next molten earth column to ascend from the grates, he dashed forward when the wall of intense fire color and heat died down. Blackness swelled around him with flames littering his body. Now hovering in the room, he made it halfway when the lava gusher came up again. Covering his eyes from the intense light, he remembered seeing a chest in the center of the last grated circle.
When the columns of magma died down, he hovered to the chest and opened it. The item revealed was a fire bracelet that protected one from the most intense heat from liquid rock. Immediately opening up the item window, he equipped the heat resistant accessory. Instantly, the high heat in the room vanished replaced with a lukewarm atmosphere.
At the same time, a familiar eerie presence formed in the room behind him. Black fire consumed him and dissipated putting him back into human form. Turning around, a blue outlined Grim Reaper was hovering above the first circular grate. It sensed him and whipped out its scythe. Whipping out his gun and about to fire, a phantom hand gripped his head.
[…mortal…I want to talk to him]
[…uh…okay]
A column of magma shot up from under their feet and everything was consumed in a blinding white light. Shielding and closing his eyes, he felt the spirit merge out of him. When the bright illumination died down, he opened his eyes. Selbith's translucent red hood form was in front of him. The other death being hovered toward her then stopped. Oddly, it hissed at her.
[Out of the way disgrace. That mortal is mine] it messaged.
[Before we get to the point of who will kill that mortal. Honor me an answer to a question.]
[I do not have to answer to you or anybody. You can ask your question while I end that mortal's existence.]
[…why were our brethren guarding me around my imprisonment?]
[That is easy and simple. You are not pure. He is not pure. Both of you will perish here by my blade.]
[…] Selbith stated from hearing its answer.
Not turning around, the ghost reaper hovered backwards and merged back into Jin. The blue outlined Grim Reaper dashed toward the gunner only to see a pistol pointing at him. All the sudden, the air around the weapon vibrated and a small stream of a bright beam shot out. Upon impact, another volley of a rising lava column burst upward. Upon impact, a massive blaze erupted and exploded.
Combined with the explosion, a small black ball formed in the epicenter. It only lasted for just a couple of seconds as it started vacuuming everything inside of it. From the recoil and being near the blast zone, the gunslinger got flown backwards. Reorienting himself, he shoved his feet toward the wall that was coming. Upon impact, bits and pieces of the red stone cracked and fell to the ground. Both he and the hell spirit felt a strong gravitational pull picking them off the wall. However, the small black ball immediately shrank to nothing and exploded.
A shockwave filled the room sending the teen flying back to the wall. The impact was harder feeling an immense pressure pushing against him. When the force from the shockwave died, normal gravity set in. Falling to the floor, he landed on all fours. Despite groaning and feeling in somewhat pain, he looked with bewilderment.
[…what…was that…] Jin messaged blinking a few times. [That wasn't what I thought it was…right?]
[So they do exist…I thought those were just scientific poppycock] Selbith stated both astonished and contemplative.
[…(0_0)!?...wait!? You're joking?! I made that!?] he messaged still in shock.
[You saw it…you explain it]
[…(o.o)…(-_-)…I can't…so um…about Mr. Blue Death…]
[Don't you say anything…he labeled me as a traitor like you…]
[You mean…all of our brethren see us as…impurities]
[…]
[…guess I'll leave you with your thoughts…]
Enabling sneak, he backtracked to the previous room. The magma boulders were still going at the same pace and rate as before. Only this time, two blue outlined death beings were hovering in the chamber. Not wanting to cause another black hole, he morphed into the Grim Reaper form. Upon getting close to the two hell beings, they looked at him then looked the other way. Both perished after strong punches to their skull. Death gems were the picked up items from defeating them. Avoiding the boulders, he hovered to the passageway to the left and went back into human form.
[Interesting that in the Death form, they don't seem to care…yet they reacted to you when you came out…does that mean if you say merge with me, they believe us as being pure reapers?]
[…more…]
[…more?]
[…I want all of them…dead]
[…um…I don't think this is the time or place to start acting on your xenophobia.]
[YOU HEAR ME JIN! I WANT THEM ALL SLAUGHTERED FOR THIS DISGRACE!] Selbith shouted in rage in his head.
[…(0_0!)…o-o-okay…j-j-just…c-c-calm d-d-down]
Walking down the passageway to the next room was rather difficult and unsettling. The massive amount of anger mixed with her intense viciousness and darkness made walking a challenge. A lot of willpower had to be mustered just to not drop on all fours. The creepiness and sickening feeling inside him swelled to the point where he stopped and put his hands on the wall.
His breathing became erratic and felt his stomach turning. Making throaty burps, he instantly vomited on the ground. The bile instantly started cooked and evaporated filling his nostrils with a burnt acid smell. Pushing away from the wall, he saw his energy and thirst meters flashing. Forcing himself to drink an energy drink, it went down despite feeling lousy. Eventually, he made it to the end of the passageway to an open chamber.