.hack//EVA: Catharsis

Disclaimer: In this universe in the quantum foam, I do not own or in any way shape or form hold a claim to the .hack series or Neon Genesis Evangelion.

A crossover between the worlds of .hack and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Set in early 2015, shortly after the defeat of the fourth angel. CC Corporation, creator of the ALTIMIT OS and the internationally popular MMORPG "The World" has recently recovered from a disastrous fire at their headquarters in Osaka-2, which destroyed most of their game data. Newly released is The World: R2, and to ensure that it becomes popular, several thousand individuals around the world were selected as part of the Renaissance Project, the first wave of new players.

" " denotes speech

'italics' denotes thought

'bold' denotes written word

'bold italics' denotes skill use

Δ Server Eternal City Mac Anu

It was early morning in the Eternal City Mac Anu, and the Adept Rogue known as Skari found himself wandering around almost in a daze. Thanks to the new sensory interface and special controller pack, he found it fairly easy to walk, almost as easy (or maybe it was easier, after all, he hadn't tripped and fallen like he had in battle against Sachiel) as piloting the EVA.

Yet, unlike piloting the EVA, he found that he didn't hate this world of illusion and shadows, where perhaps he had a chance to fit in. No one knew who he was here, and everyone on today had just started not too long ago, so everyone would be at the same level. Still, he thought he could almost feel people looking at him and murmuring among themselves. He wondered why for a bit before remembering: In patterning his character design off of Ayanami, he looked markedly different from many of the more musclebound hulks or scantily clad females.

Secretly, he was glad that the game wouldn't allow you to have a nosebleed, or a geyser might have erupted, staining his robes beyond repair (just as well…there was no way of doing laundry either). But there was a second reason too: Adept Rogue was an uncommon character class, with most having chosen a single other job class so they could specialize in it, and so his choice inspired more than a little curiosity.

For a moment, he felt embarrassed, knowing that because of his choice, he would be weaker than those around him for a while.

'I can't let them know that or I'll just get thrown away. I have to become stronger. As tempting as it is to see this as reality, there's only one thing real about this world and that is the player. So I can't run away…that's not how the game is played. And where would I run? Do I really want to return to that ludicrous world without changing anything about myself?'

His hands drifted down to his sides and his crimson eyes widened to discover a pair of serrated daggers, the Spin Gai Gu. Fingering the blades out of an almost morbid curiosity, he was saved from critically wounding himself by the fact that weapons could not be used in a Root Town.

'I guess it just keeps fights from breaking out so that there is a safe haven around here. It…gives people a chance to learn what to do before they are forced into difficult situation. I kind of like it already.'

On Skari's face was a faraway smile, his mind elsewhere, lost in thought. So much so, in fact, that he didn't notice how close he was meandering towards the river's edge…or that there was someone standing there, watching the flow of the current. At least, up to the point when he tripped and fell, knocking a newly irate Edge Punisher into the water with a rather loud splash. It was silent for a moment, until a head covered with fiery red hair broke the surface and gasped for enough air to curse:

"ANTA BAKA? WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, DUMBKOPF!"

He wanted to apologize, he really did, but almost immediately after the ear-splitting shout, a hand snaked out from the water and pulled him in.

—Splash!—

As soon as Skari hit the water, he knew that he was in trouble. He'd never learned to swim in real life, and he doubted that his character would be able to swim in the game. And the flowing robes (which ironically enough had the shimmering sigil of the element of water woven into them) weren't helping either, quickly becoming soaked and heavy, making movement sluggish.

'Its realistic. Too realistic…what if my character dies here?'

Not wanting to meet a grisly end only about fifteen minutes into the game, he flailed his arms about, seizing hold of the nearest firm object. Maybe that turned out to be a bad move, as the girl he had accidentally pushed into the river was attempting to climb out and he only ended up pulling her back in.

If looks could kill, Skari would already be reduced to a pile of ashes, but even in The World, they weren't that powerful—yet. Still struggling, he felt someone grab his arm and jerk him around, hissing out: "Stop struggling, baka, or I'll just let you drown!"

Reacting to the venom in that voice, he went limp and simply allowed himself to be dragged to the shore with very little resistance.

He dared to look up for a moment at the one who had been both tormentor and savior to him. The first word that came mind to describe her was tall. She stood about 5'8", with fiery red hair in a ponytail falling to the small of her back and piercing blue eyes, scantily clad in black leather armor that barely covered the essentials. She had the sigil of fire on her armor and—

"Hey, baka!"

His expression was vacant for a moment, though he quickly turned his eyes to her face, though he found it hard not to flinch at the tone she was using.

"Yeah, I'm talking to you. Don't you know its impolite to stare? This world has rules too, you know! For someone who looks like an overdressed monk, you're sure a pervert!"

Skari blushed and looked down…he had just been trying to study her character design. He was new to games like this, and he didn't know that he could offend someone so easily. Only one thing to do, he supposed…apologize.

"S-s-sorry."

"I don't want to hear it. There's nothing you can say or do to…"

The redhead trailed off and looked at him intensely, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes. Though looks should have no power in a game, Skari felt uncomfortable under that gaze and fought the urge to squirm. He wanted to move, but those eyes transfixed him, pierced him where he lay. He was just getting to be extremely unnerved when the girl spoke.

"Actually there is something you can do for me," said the redhead suddenly with a seemingly sincere smile, though the glint in her eyes said otherwise. "I've been needing someone to come with me to a field to help me level up. You'll do nicely…don't say anything, just nod, ok?"

Unable to do anything else, Skari nodded, relaxing at the sight of the smile. It wasn't an evil smile or a smirk like what his father could do, so he felt a bit relieved.

'Go with her to help her level up? I guess I could do that.'

Seeing the nod, the girl began walking abruptly brushing past him and headed back to the Chaos Gate, not even glancing back to see if Skari would follow. Curious about where she wanted to take him, Skari got to his feet and stumbled after her, brushing through the crowd and bumping into a few more people in his haste to get to the Gate. Neither noticed the Shadow Warlock or the Tribal Grappler watching from the distance, a pair which glanced at each other and began walking slowly to the Gate as well.

Unsurprisingly, the redheaded girl got there first and turned, putting her hands on her hips and tapping her foot impatiently as she waited. An out of breath Skari arrived shortly afterward, but was unable to get a word in as the girl snapped out "Δ Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground" and vanished in a flurry of golden light.

Shrugging his shoulders, he did the same a moment later and disappeared.

Δ Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground

Skari appeared in a cascade of light, and when he opened his eyes, he saw before him a cathedral, illuminated by sunlight. His jaw dropped open at the sight of this, as it was one of the most beautiful places he'd ever seen, though he quickly closed it once again when he heard gentle laughter drifting towards him from behind.

Turning, he saw the female Edge Punisher from earlier. Without ceasing to laugh, she pointed to the doors and gestured for him to enter first, something that the Adept Rogue would have done in any case. He wanted not only to apologize in any way he could to the girl, but to be able to explore this strange new world he found himself in. Thus he opened the doors and walked into the massive structure without a moment's hesitation, going all the way to the bare altar before turning around to see the redhead enter and shut the door behind her.

"I guess you're wondering why I asked you to come here, since you don't see any monsters, right? That's simple…no one to interrupt us in our…training. And since you're deep inside and I'm at the door, there's no running away."

Where her voice had been calm and non-threatening only a few minutes ago, it now held a dangerous hint of malice to it, a sound that made Skari take a step backwards involuntarily.

"Afraid, are you?" she asked, drawing her sword, which began to rev up much like a chainsaw. "Good, you should be. The name is Eris, and I'm a PK."

With an insane grin, the Edge Punisher lifted her weapon above her head and charged towards him, the sword sending sparks everywhere in her mad homicidal dash. Maybe it was appropriate that she was named after the goddess of discord, since she certainly caused enough of it. Step by step, she got closer and closer, her sword about ready to swing and cleave the petrified Adept Rogue apart with a few blows.

This was...unexpected, to say the least, and Skari, who was still not used to fighting, even if in a game, stood paralyzed by the shock of what had happened. His mind had been stunned by the revelation that Eris was but a PK, and that she had just used him so well. The mantra was in full force now ("mustn't run away, mustn't run away, mustn't run away"), and even if there had been anywhere to run, it was doubtful that he could avoid the end forever. In the grip of indecision, maybe he would have continued to stand there and simply take fatal blows, except—well, except that at that moment, an insidious little voice began to whisper at him from the recesses of his memory once again: 'Center the target, pull the switch. Center the target, pull the switch. Center the target, PULL THE SWITCH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!'

His hands involuntarily twitched down to his daggers and snatched them up as if by instinct, interposing them between him and the whirring blade that came crashing down upon them. Miraculously, he managed to block the blow, and thinking quickly, used the momentum of the charge to spin the irate Edge Punisher around, bringing his other weapon across her gut so that she reeled back, struck.

With a feral war cry, Eris charged forward again, trying to rain a number of heavy blows down upon the impudent Adept Rogue, having activated the skill "Tiger Blitz" to lend her speed and power. But this time, it was Skari whose face twisted into a fierce snarl as he raced toward his foe with his Twin Blade weapons, their sawlike teeth sounding out a grinding hiss in the quiet of the cathedral.

Slash, slash, clank, slash! And another skill was brought into play, that of "Gale Blade." Skari's blades blurred as he struck again and again, managing to use his superior speed and agility to get inside his opponent's reach and land a few blows.

Eris threw back her head and laughed off his attack, though to tell the truth, Skari had managed to do fairly well for his first fight. Unfortunately, Edge Punishers tended to be more heavily armored than Twin Blades, and thus, if Eris could get just one attack in, then—

With one sweeping feint then strike, she managed to break through his defenses, delivering a powerful blow that knocked him backwards into the altar. A wicked grin split her features as she raised her sword…she was going to enjoy striking down this audacious little newbie. She broke into a run, intent on delivering a coup de grace, when she was thrown to the floor, her HP taking a sudden plummet towards the red.

"Rue Kruz!" was the shout that had rent the air, causing orbs of water to materialize and strike Eris, a shout that had come from a small Shadow Warlock leaning against the door of the Cathedral.

"YOU!" she all but spat, turning to look at her attacker, her eyes widening in disbelief. "I KILLED YOU!"

The Shadow Warlock, dressed like a motley fool and holding a grimoire in hand, only laughed. He quickly took an SP recovery potion, and then turned to taunt the one he had attacked.

"Yeah, you did, but you know…payback's a bitch, eh? Rue Kru—"

"Gale Blade!"

While the Shadow Warlock had distracted the Edge Punisher with a rather punishing barrage of water magic, Skari had managed to get up and do one last combo with what remained of his SP, trapping Eris between both of his blades and unleashing barrage damage that struck over and over again. Eris, the once arrogant PK, reeled, hurt and off balance. If she took any more hits, it would be her that lost the day, and…she couldn't have that. It would spoil her will to dominate all others in The World.

"-z!"

But…she had no choice but to die, as a last, unavoidable orb of water magic knocked her to the floor again, causing her body to turn gray and vanish.

Skari's interface beeped as an aura of golden light surrounded him for a few seconds. He had ended up killing the vengeful PK out for his blood and had gained from her death by leveling up. Drained now, he sheathed his blades and slumped against the altar. He looked down at his hands, thinking that he had been responsible for taking the life of another...he felt...horrible.

The one who had intervened shook his head and walked over to Skari, placing a hand on his shoulder. Skari flinched at this, as he was not used to contact in any form, and was surprised to hear a sigh from the Shadow Warlock.

"Let it go. Remember...this is all a game. The worst that your opponent will suffer is a loss of whatever experience from the point last saved. So don't take it so hard...the first kill is always the worst anyway. It gets easier, and think about it this way...she attacked you first, right? Take a breath, let it go."

For the first time, Skari's looked upon the one who had saved him, surprised that the character was not even as tall as he was. In fact, his savior was a rather diminutive figure clad in a fool's ensemble, with jester's cap, breeches, and other similar vestments, not the sort to look distinguished or vengeful at all. But then, looks could be quite deceiving as well, as he had not forgotten. At last, he managed to speak, though he couldn't keep a wary tone from his voice:

"Thanks…but, who are you?"

There was a long and pregnant pause for a moment before the Shadow Warlock spoke, a Tribal Grappler coming up behind him.

"Arano's the name, and this here is Aruna. We're both level 5 and lets just say, I owed her for the exact same thing she was about to do to you."

The Shadow Warlock and Tribal Grappler glanced at one another again, nodding. This time, it was the Grappler, the bulky bodybuilder of a man who spoke, with some obvious reluctantance.

"Er…if you want to come along with us and level up a bit, that'd be alright. How about it? Oh yeah, here are our member addresses."

Skari looked suspiciously at the two of them, wondering if they would try to PK him when he least expected it, though the chime of receiving their member addresses assuaged that fear. The Shadow Warlock Arano seemed like he could guess what was going through his mind, and spoke up then.

"Look, if we wanted to PK you, we could have done in both of you at once. Besides, its more fun to focus on monsters. The only real thing about this world is the people in it, the players and how we play the game. So how 'bout it?"

Hesitantly, the Adept Rogue nodded and walked over to them.

"Alright then. I'm Skari. I guess…this is my member address?"

A ping sounded, noting the successful transmission as Arano nodded.

"A pleasure to meet you Skari, now lets get back to Mac Anu to refill our supplies and then we can be off. You have to get stronger to avoid PKers. Now, you first, we'll be right behind you."

'Here goes' Skari thought, trying to remember the keywords to return to the root town.

"Δ Server, Eternal City Mac Anu!"

Golden spirals of light surrounded him and whisked him away to the root town. Moments later, the other two followed suit, leaving Δ Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground quiet once more.