.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.
" " denotes speech
'italics' denotes thought
'bold' denotes location names
'bold italics' denotes skill use
Δ Server Eternal City Mac Anu
The Edge Punisher known as Eris was…mildly displeased, to put a delicate spin on her mood. Or for a more honest description, perhaps livid would be more appropriate.
She was once again at level 1, the very lowest one could go, and it was all the fault of that perverted Adept Rogue and the meddlesome Shadow Warlock that had saved him, humiliating her in the process. Dark thoughts crossed her mind as she remembered the unexpected spell that had kept her from administering the coup de grace, causing her to wince.
Verdamme interfering stooge! Next time I'll be strong enough to take him on too, and if this had been a fair fight, I could have eviscerated that Warlock easily. But the dumbkopf had to hit me with one of his spells…and water too!
A low growl issued from the back of her throat as she bared her teeth in a snarl, her eyes casting about for a target, any target, blazing with enough anger that she almost seemed to radiate a red battle aura. As those around her were no fools, they kept their distance.
Cowards! She thought, tossing her hair as she stormed through the streets of Mac Anu. Are they afraid to take on the mighty Eris, the Bringer of Strife?
She grinned at that thought, but there was no real emotion behind it, just a rather transparent attempt to convince herself that she was still the best player in The World (at least, according to her rather fickle set of standards). It failed, of course, as scenes of her defeat at Skari's hands replayed over and over in her mind.
That…that wunderkind had been nothing more than a newbie, and Eris had been 3 levels above him. Three! Oh, of a certainty, that wouldn't have mattered if they were both at say…level 30, where a gap of 3 would be trivial, but they weren't. Instead of getting to level 5 with his death, her hopes of quickly ascending to be the most feared player here had been dashed, all by an Adept Rogue with the audacity to stand his ground…and a meddling fool she swore she would crush.
Scheiße! Verdamme Sie! Why did that Scheißkopf have to resist? It wasn't supposed to end like that, with him humiliating me. I need to become much stronger. Strong enough to utterly crush him like the vermin that he is. The baka deserves no better...
For a few minutes, she stewed in her anger, with rather dark thoughts going through her head. As it turned out, the image of Skari impaled upon her blade did have its merits, and now she had found a goal besides that of becoming a Chaotic PK who could strike at will, all but invincible.
But first, I have to train. I have to go out to the fields again and kill some monsters…or more unsuspecting players. Preferably a Shadow Warlock to ease my frustrations.
With that, she did a rapid 180, turning about and…knocking over a passing Blade Brandier. Being a somewhat decent person…oh wait, this was Eris the PK, not some other player in The World. Being a self-centered jerk, she snapped at the figure on the ground.
"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, DUMMKOPF!" she practically spat at the hapless man, expecting him to cower before her.
She was rewarded by an blank stare, as the girl—no, man garbed in tight fitting purple armor, glared at her, straightening his cap, lavishly decorated with roses. It was hard to tell, since the Blade Brandier had long, braided blue hair and was not definitively male. Still, there was a sort of strength about him, not like ice but diamond, sharp and biting, frozen forever as if the arctic winds themselves were his companions.
For a moment, she thought he was Skari, for both had that distinctive long silvery-blue hair, but there was no way that that newbie could have unlocked another job already. Besides, this one had different clothing, and was rather handsome, in a cold way…
In spite of her resolve not to be intimidated, Eris took a step backwards, finding the look unpleasant.
"…Move out of my way, ugly doll," the Blade Brandier snapped icily, as he began to get up, rising to a sitting position.
He…called me…a doll. Who does he think he is to call me a DOLL?
Eris' eyes flashed in anger as she moved to stand over the man, her hands twitching towards her sword.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you call me a doll, you waspish, pathetic wimp?" she shouted at the Blade Brandier, who was all but ignoring her. She waited a few seconds before what was left of her patience expired. "Well? Answer me!"
"…not a doll. An ugly doll," was the simple reply, as the Blade Brandier tripped her and got to his feet, his eyes roaming over her form as if she was indeed nothing more than some hideous vessel to catalogue and avoid.
Seething with rage, she almost drew her sword, before remembering that there was no combat allowed in Mac Anu.
"Well…who are you? Just so I know who to kill in the Arena," she hissed through clenched teeth.
The blue-haired man gave her a dismissive look and turned away, tossing one word over his shoulder as he made for the Chaos Gate.
"Endrance."
Endrance, eh? That Blade Brandier will pay for what he did. He called me a DOLL! He and all blue-haired players will pay…all of them.
Eris trailed him with her eyes as the figure faded into the distance, vanishing in a spiral of golden light to parts unknown. Rising to her feet, she tried to calm herself down by taking slow, deep breaths, her fists clenching and unclenching as her laser-like stare bored through those around her once again. She wasn't exactly making many friends today, was she? Nor could she really afford to make so many enemies, as she was alone.
After a spell of several minutes, her anger subsided to more manageable levels, and she shook her head violently to clear her mind. She needed to train and grow stronger if she wanted to destroy those who had wronged her, but first…she had a small detour to make.
Grumbling about NPCs that overcharged for the basic necessities, she picked up some potions, just in case she would need them. It wasn't that the great Eris, self proclaimed PK and Bringer of Strife, thought she would, but it never hurt to be prepared…hence why she decided to save her game at the specified NPC. She had learned to stow a little of her pride after her earlier defeat. All of that was simply preparation for the hunt though, and she hurried through her tasks until at last she was ready.
As she began to quickstep over to the Chaos Gate, she noticed someone gate in, a newbie from the look of it.
Ah, someone who looks uncertain of where to go or what to do here. A perfect opportunity to gain some experience points.
She smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile. No, it was a nasty, arrogant smile, one that bespoke slime and probably a goodly amount of treachery to come. But, as she often chastised herself, that wouldn't do to greet someone, much less an unsuspecting newbie who might prove to be an easy kill. Thus, the PK forced her expression to soften into a vague imitation of helpfulness as she reached the platform where the portal spun.
Luckily for Eris, her prospective victim had not moved from the platform, instead glancing around as if waiting for someone. Maybe I was right after all, she mused, as she got a better look at the character she planned to kill.
She's just a little girl was the first thought to flash through Eris' mind. Not even 5 feet tall, with…blue-green hair hanging a little past her shoulders, pale skin, golden eyes, and dressed in some kind of white gothic lolita style dress. Hmph! I never saw that character costume as an option when I created my character. Black stockings and a huge white bow on her head…she's just a pervert's dream, isn't she?. Oh well, another kill for me…
Eris cleared her throat, causing the little girl turned to look at her with startled eyes. The PK smiled warmly, waving a hand in greeting.
"Hi, I'm Eris, an Edge Punisher in The World. Can I help you, you look like you're waiting for someone."
The little girl cast her eyes downwards again, murmuring something too softly for Eris to hear. Playing the part of someone kind and gentle, the redhead found herself obliged to ask the little one to repeat herself.
Oh come on little one, tell me. For all I know, you're some 40 year old man using this character to get your kicks out of other players. Just trust me, it's for your—well, my—own good.
The answer came back in a soft, shy voice that wasn't quite a whisper.
"I'm waiting for my brother."
Ah, so she's either a little girl…or good at acting. Scheiße, there's a brother. I have to finish this quickly then, or take her out to a field. Hmm…the best way to do this would be to lie, right?
"Why don't you tell me your name and job class?" Eris said calmly. "If you're who I think you are, your brother sent me to take you to the field where he is."
Again, the voice that wafted to her ears on the breeze in Mac Anu was—again—hardly louder than a whisper. But Eris didn't care…she was one step closer to getting some EXP for the day.
"Aina. Shadow Warlock."
Hearing that, Eris was pleased. A Shadow Warlock was just the class she wanted to face off against, particularly since they were helpless if she got in close with her chainsaw sword. And as a plus, this one had bluish hair as well. Perfect. What was one going to do anyway? Try to block with one of their useless Grimoires, only to see the precious book be torn to pieces by her weapon? Ha! Still, as much of a struggle as it was, she managed to keep her face free of murderous intent, even managing to smile with a bit of warmth.
"Good, then you're just the person I was looking for. Your brother is at…Δ Hidden Forbidden Radiation. Just input the keywords into the Gate and we'll be off."
Aina looked up and smiled brightly at Eris as if the PK was the most wonderful person in the world for giving her that information, before walkng up to the gate and vanishing in a spiral of golden light. The Edge Punisher was taken aback by this, wondering if she should have chosen someone else to PK, someone not as innocent as this obviously trusting girl.
No…trust is for fools. If you trust in other people, you'll only get hurt in the end. The only one you can trust is yourself, so I'm doing her a favor by teaching her how the world works.
Touching her sword for good luck, Eris grinned and gated out as well, wondering what she would find when she reappeared.
Δ Hidden Forbidden Radiation – Lost Ground Arche Kloen Falls
A golden spiral of light flared into existence in midair, cascading down to the ground and vanishing to reveal the form of Eris, level one (and soon to be level two in her mind) Edge Punisher. When she opened her eyes and looked around, her mouth fell upon in a gape at her surroundings. Yes, there was some of the same terrain as in other fields, but all around her were torrents of water, like power all to droplets turned, cascading down an ancient temple's walls.
Wow…this is certainly unexpected. This is a place of power, isn't it?
"The Arche Koeln Falls…The Land of Origins…I remember this place from the Epitaph," came the soft-spoken voice Eris had last heard in Mac Anu. She whirled about to find Ina standing there, hands clasped in front of her. The petite Shadow Warlock had a peaceful look on her face and a happy glow in her eyes.
"The Epitaph?" inquired Eris, a pensive expression on her face.
"Yes, the Epitaph of Twilight, the epic poem on which The World was based. Written in many years ago by Emma Wielant, in the days before Pluto's Kiss."
That was a long time ago…wait, Emma Wielant? I've heard of her…the German writer.
"And how do you know of this Epitaph?" she asked archly.
"My brother talks about it all the time, and told me a little more about Emma. I had the chance to visit her grave not too long ago. 'Creator of legends, rest here now, as your own legend" was written on that headstone.'"
Now this came as a surprise to Eris, who had not expected anyone to be that obsessed with a poem, or to have…wait a minute, Wielant was German, meaning that her grave is in Germany and any inscription written in…
"You know German, then?"
Verdammt! She might be the only other German on this server—
"A little," Aina admitted. "I came to Germany a little while ago. My brother asked me to play The World so that I could spend time with him."
Now, Eris was having second thoughts about going through with her planned PKing. She didn't want to kill someone who was beginning to pique her interest, especially if she knew German and might be able to understand her. Truth be told, it was lonely enough on the Japanese Server, since she hardly ever heard her native tongue, and no one played as she was used to.
Now I feel conflicted…I need to become stronger, but I—
"Thank you for taking me here. Will my brother be here soon?" Ina asked, while looking out over the waterfall around them.
"Yeah, he said he'd be here soon," replied Eris, making a decision and reaching stealthily for her chainsaw sword.
Well, sorry Aina, but I have to do what I have to do.
She quickly drew her weapon and revved up the whirring blade, swinging it just in time to—
"—DIE! Wicked Strike!"
So shouted a quickly descending voice from above, as Eris was slammed backwards into a finger of rock by a viciously spinning Scythe.
What in The World? There's another PK here?
She had managed to block the brunt of the attack with her sword, but Ina had not been so lucky, having been thrown nearly into the churning waters of the falls. That and she had taken much more damage, since Shadow Warlocks wore only robes, while Edge Punishers wore much heavier armor. Out of the corner of her eye, Eris saw the Flick Reaper who had attacked them striding towards Ina, readying a finishing blow.
That's it…NO BAKA IS GOING TO STEAL MY KILL!
"Tiger Blitz!" Eris shouted, rushing at the new arrival and parrying the scythe mid-swing, her blade following the haft of the scythe to slash at one of the Flick Reaper's arms. The other PK jumped back into a guard position warily. "Who are you?"
Eris took a moment to size up her opponent, noting to her shock that it was another girl that looked a little like her, one that under different circumstances she might not mind working with. She seems ruthless enough. This one wore a loose flowing white dress with a blue underskirt, and carried with her a rather deadly looking weapon, a scythe like a demon's claw. Her pale face sported the sigil of darkness and a feral grin that distorted her features, framed by two long streaming pigtails of lustrous black hair.
"In life, I am called the light. In The World, Tomoyami of the Shadow is my name, weakling! What's yours?" taunted a rather sing-song voice, as the Flick Reaper leapt into the air again, bringing her weapon up and around in an attempt to cut down the Edge Punisher where she stood.
Eris knew better than to meet that attack head on, and flipped backwards to avoid it. Occasionally, discretion was the better part of valor, though not for long, if she could help it. She couldn't retreat, since she needed a kill.
This girl probably has issues in real life or something…and she definitely likes power. Damn it, this is MY kill!
Regaining her footing behind the Flick Reaper, Eris raised her weapon in mock-salute of her opponent, who spun about to confront her.
"I am Eris, Bringer of Strife, and your corpse will be the one on the field this day!" she retorted.
Then she charged forward, pointed like an arrow at her enemy, as the chainsaw sword buzzed metallically. She hoped to get inside her opponent's reach, for a Flick Reaper was a medium range, area attack class, and if Eris could get in close, she could do some heavy damage.
But Tomoyami, having fought several other foes today, was expecting something like that. To counter, she leapt back, blocking and striking with viciously quick speed, allowing her to charge a very special attack….one that caused a series of explosions about her, damaging the Edge Punisher and blinding her to the next slash of her scythe.
It was only sheer luck that let the fiery redhead deflect that hit, catching the razor-sharp edge of her opponent's blade between the saw-teeth of hers. Still, the momentum of her charge carried her forward, bringing her inside the Flick Reaper's circle of control, too close for either to use their weapons. Undaunted, Eris lashed out with her armored heel, causing the Flick Reaper to emit an unwitting "oof" as she stumbled back. Seizing the advantage, Eris elbowed her opponent and thencalled out "Tiger Blitz" again, her chainsaw sword whirring as it landed hit after hit, throwing out sparks as it forced the other back.
Tomoyami was furious. Not only had her attack failed, but her intended victim had turned the tables on her. Quickly considering her options, she realized that there was no way to counter by driving forward, not while continually taking damage from that sword. So, doing what she had to do, she tripped herself, falling back onto the ground. The Edge Punisher, who had been leaning forward in an effort to press her attack, reeled, off balance. She stumbled, giving the Flick Reaper enough time to smashing her heel into the redhead's face, bringing about her own weapon for a "Wicked Strike!"
Eris grunted in surprise as she was knocked backwards, the chainsaw sword flying from her hand, spinning through the air until with a thud it embedded itself in the ground next to Ina.
And now I'm defenseless, without even my sword. If I could just get to it…but my class is far too slow…maybe a diversion…
"Hey, Shadow girl, think quick! Fire Storm!" called out Eris, raising her hand as a fireball hurtled down from the sky towards her foe. Immediately after calling down the air strike, she made a mad dash for her sword, tugging at it in desperation.
Come on, come on…bulge, why don't you? Please…I need you…
But the sword remained stuck in the ground, despite her pleading, and she risked a glance over at Ina to see what Ina was doing. The little Shadow Warlock was staying back out of danger, looking upon the combatants with wide eyes.
At least she's not drawing attention to herself…the last thing I need is for her to get killed before I can PK her!
Meanwhile, the Flick Reaper Tomoyami had NOT been expecting a magical attack, and she shrieked in indignation as she felt the heat of the quickly descending burst of fire. There was no way she could avoid it, but maybe—yes, it would work. She leapt up through the fire, taking damage, but more importantly disappearing from sight as she sprang at towards the futilely struggling Eris.
"Give it up, you're helpless, just like your little doll here," Tomoyami sneered, as the relatively motionless Edge Punisher took the blow…and gained an unexpected benefit.
For all the vaunted strength of her class, Eris had been unable to pull her sword out of the ground…until the mighty blow from Tomoyami gave her the needed push. In the last moments before being struck, she had held tightly to the chainsaw sword, and when she was thrown backwards, the force rent the blade from the ground.
Using the momentum of the strike to her advantage, she flipped backwards, landing on her feet with sword in hand. She grinned tauntingly at the disbelieving Flick Reaper, putting on a show despite the fact that her HP was almost gone now. She still had enough for perhaps one last attempt to strike her foe, but wouldn't be able to manage it without help. Seeing no choice, she called out to Ina: "Snap yourself out of it…use a skill now, even if you only have one!"
Then she charged, letting everything ride on one last "Tiger Blitz!"
In the near distance, a slowly approaching figure in a midnight blue yukata watched the battle through crimson eyes, the spray and wind of the waterfalls tousling her unruly mop of azure hair. She flicked open one of the war fans she held and pointed at the Flick Reaper and then the Shadow Warlock, calling out tonelessly: "Dek Corv. Ap Corma."
A dark aura manifested itself around Tomoyami for a moment, even as she made for her opponent one final time. Even a normal strike would finish off the Edge Punisher, she thought to herself.
A similar but more brightly tinted aura flared up around Aina, who, a bit fearful of the fighting that was going on, had just managed to raise herself to a sitting position. Listening to Eris, she pointed at the Flick Reaper and called out "Rue Kruz!"
I just want to help the player who wanted to take me to my brother!
Orbs of water manifested themselves out of the aether and hurtled towards the Flick Reaper, smashing into her and causing her to lose her balance. Tomoyami's HP bar took a disastrous fall to the red, and her eyes widened incredulously at the sight of this.
How could this have—
She tripped, and though she managed to slash at Eris one last time, it was to no avail. Her attack did much less than normal, while the Edge Punisher, herself surprised at surviving, rammed her blade home, impaling Tonoyami, whose mouth worked open and shut in shock. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a slowly approaching figure wielding twin fans.
A Macabre Dancer— was the last thought she had before her character model grayed out and vanished, splintering to pieces.
As might be expected, Eris had leveled up from that battle, and by this time, she wanted nothing more than to finish the job she had come here to do. She surreptitiously took a HP recovery potion, and while Aina remained in place, sagging in relief, Eris lunged—only to find her sword parried by a golden fan, one of two held by a character that reminded her a little too much of Skari.
Just a coincidence, I hope. So…a Macabre Dancer, a Flower of the Battlefield. Well…I can uproot a flower too, if I have to…she's a caster, after all.
"Why do you attack your ally?" was the only thing that the new bluenette said, looking at her with a curious expression.
By now, Eris had had it with interlopers and pretty much lost her temper.
"OUT OF MY WAY, YOU OVERDRESSED DOLL!" she snarled, revving up the chainsaw and intending to run her through as she had just done to the other. She'd make it a chainsaw massacre if she had to—
Clang!
Eris looked on in disbelief as her attack was blocked again almost effortlessly by one raised fan, sparks flying as she pressed with all her strength, not gaining an inch. Risking a glance at the new opponent's face, the Edge Punisher was infuriated by what she saw there: an expression of pity.
How dare she pity me? I'm a feared PK, and she's just some "Flower of the Battlefield."
"You did not answer my question," said the Macabre Dancer in a persistent, insistent tone, her voice dropping down to barely audible as she intoned: "Dek Corv. Ap Corv."
Now it was Eris' turn to have a dark aura manifest about her, as the Macabre Dancer veritably glowed, accenting the paleness of her skin and the gracefulness of her lithe form.
"Look," Eris snapped in a harsh whisper, "I don't know who you are, or what you want, but let me tell you something: I hate interlopers. And for your information, she's not my ally…I was just stopping that PK from stealing MY kill. Trust gets you no where in either world."
She looked over at Aina to see that the little girl was looking on confused. So naïve you are…I need to make sure you are taught a lesson. But when she looked back, crimson eyes stared into her blue ones, demanding Eris' full attention.
"So it is right to simply kill in cold blood as your opponent would have done to you?"
The voice was even, though tinged with what Eris thought might a hint of amusement. The Macabre Dancer's questions certainly had a sense of morbid curiosity to them, but Eris was not in the mood to answer questions. Besides, she was beginning to get flustered, and really didn't want to have to deal with this annoying Wonder Girl who was blocking her attacks so effortlessly. So, using the last recourse of the angry and frustrated, she attacked.
Though first she would try a feint to get her obviously skilled opponent off balance, since she doubted that a direct attack would work.
"Look, I don't want to have to hurt you. Just get out of my way, and I'll let you live. Fire Storm!"
Eris raised her sword threateningly, then called down a fireball from the sky as she rushed in, trying a combination leg sweep and backslash with her chainsaw weapon, taking care to get out of the way before the fire smote her.
The physical blow was blocked without so much as a flinch or hint of anger from the Macabre Dancer, and the fireball struck the area, but missed the intended target, who was apparently more nimble than Eris would have thought. Now Eris lost her cool and gave up any semblance of strategy, settling for hacking and slashing at her opponent.
"WHAT ARE YOU, SOME KIND OF ICE QUEEN? WHY WON'T YOU EVEN REACT?" she shouted. To her surprise, there was an answer.
"Correct. I am Skadi, named for the Goddess of Winter. It is a pity that you will not listen to reason."
Eris bared her teeth at those words, said so dispassionately, as if she meant nothing, not even a challenge to the other. She hated pity with a passion. It meant that you were seen as weak, and that the other person thought of him or herself as superior to the one they pitied. And so the Edge Punisher brandished her blade, revving it up to maximum power as she said almost inaudibly:
"The only reason I need is your character dead at my feet."
She leapt into the air, somersaulting forward while speaking, hoping to catch Skadi off-guard. She failed, as the Macabre Dancer blurred and blocked her blade with one golden fan, while delivering a near-mortal blow to her character with the other.
"You…" was all she managed, looking up to see her opponent holding out her hand, with an item shining with it. A tornado shot from the Macabre Dancer's wrist, almost as if she wore the wind as a bracelet, destroying the last sliver of Eris' HP.
NOOOO! This can't be happening!
The Edge Punisher screamed wordlessly in frustration, as her character begin to grey out and fade from the field. The last things she saw she reverted to the root town was a look of pity on her opponent's face, and the gate-in of a tall steam gunner dressed in mostly in blue tones, with traces of leather scattered through his outfit and a long, flowing scarf. To her shock, the man looked over in her direction and smiled enigmatically, a flash of light coming from the orange sunglasses he wore.
Then he spoke, four words that would linger in her mind for a long time to come:
"Welcome…to the World."