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Chapter 4: Those Who Remain

Loss: Many people underestimate the value of a life most importantly their own. Even the illusion of losing a loved one can break the strongest of souls, bringing them to the brink of insanity trying fruitlessly to bring back those precious to them, or even drive them to seek the destruction of all they deem responsible for their loss.

In another world The guild of Maple tree sat around their guild table in mournful silence. It had been two months since it was found that Maple had died of mysterious causes while playing NWO. Not even the devs could identify the cause, but their compensation had been rather quick. Everyone on Maple's friends list got a small statue along with a large statue to decorate their guild with, and the devs even set up an annual in-game event in her honor. Sally felt the loss worst of all, she participated in much more competitive PVP than usual, and when not doing pvp she seemed off, her mind elsewhere. She felt that something was off with it though, like maple was out there somewhere and when she did find her, she'd do everything in her power not to lose her again.

Meanwhile on Remnant, the sun was just starting to peek on the horizon as Amber was doing her routine patrol of the area surrounding her house, when she was suddenly approached by three cloaked individuals with a purple emblem on their shoulder featuring an Eye surrounded by two circles, in between the circles 3 arrows pointed outwards. Recognising the emblem she got into a defensive possession, drawing her blade and pressing a button on it, causing the blade to expand and blue flames to cover the blade. On the cloaked individual in the middle raised her hand, a ball of orange flames forming within.

"Greetings miss Lavel, I'm sorry to say but today is the day little Maple will be going from 'Amber Lavel is the best mom ever' to 'Amber Lavel was the best mom ever." The mysterious person said in mock apology, seemingly enjoying Amber's defiant expression, seeming to know that deep down, she was terrified about what were to happen to Maple if she died here.

"I won't let you hurt Maple, and I won't let you kill me as easily as you seem to think, you'll fall before you even get the chance, you monstrous fiends!" Amber declared, holding her blade tightly.

The three figures merely chuckled, removing their cloaks revealing a man with silver hair black eyes and a combat vest with pauldrons, a woman with minty green hair, caramel eyes and clothing that really didn't fit the weather to say the least, and a woman with black hair, amber eyes and wore a red and gold dress.

"Your defiance is admirable, but ultimately pointless, you cannot change your fate, and I'm afraid we've been talking for long enough, It's time for you to die!" Cinder proclaimed, drawing a bow, which separated into two short swords, the blades of which ignited in orange flames, Emerald drew a pair of green sickle revolvers, and Mercury merely raised his fists.

Cinder swung her blades, letting loose a wave of flame hurtling towards Amber, who cut a path through it, only to be greeted with the blast of a shotgun boot to the face, bouncing off her aura and sending her flying backwards. Amber backflipped and skidded on her feet once she landed. As Emerald was about to land a horizontal strike with her sickles, only for them to be blocked by Amber's sword, earning the mint-haired girl a kick to the gut, sending her flying. Cinder came from behind to deliver a swift stab to Amber's back, only for her to move out of the way of one, but unfortunately she did not manage to doge the other, which cut through her aura like butter and slashed her side. Amber yelled out in pain, but quickly slashed at Cinder with her blade, causing the fiery villain to be launched into the air.

Mercury tried to kick Amber in the back of the head, only to be caught by the swing of Amber's sword. The flames of which were dreadfully cold. Before Amber could swing at an approaching Cinder her arm was caught by a sickle's chain wrapped around her arm, and soon after felt a bullet pierce through her aura and into her back. Coughing up blood Amber Pulled on the chain holding her arm, pulling Emerald along with it, hitting Mercury who was getting up, but not quite saving her from Cinder, who's swords were now making themselves quite comfortable in her guts. When Amber dropped her sword Cinder pulled back her blades, letting Amber fall onto her back.

[[Cover Move!]]

A voice rang with power, and suddenly a girl in black and red armor with white runes decorating it, bearing a matching shield, appeared at Amber's side, kneeling down next to her.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to get here in time." Maple said, tears welling in her eyes.

"Don't be, It's not your fault. Listen carefully Maple, because I have some important things to tell you." Amber said before coughing up blood.

"Those three are part of the group that brought you to this world, they seek to end the world. Do not Join them, go to Beacon, there you'll find friends who can help you" Amber explained, her breath growing heavier with each moment, her blood soaking the snow beneath her. She grabbed her amulet and put it into Maple's hand. "Take this, as my last gift to you, Maple. I love you, and I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you." And with that, amber went limp, the light of life, fading from her eyes.

"Don't mourn too hard Sapling, Mommy was a weak little bitch anyway." Emerald laughed mockingly.

"Um Cinder, I think your plan just fell apart." Mercury said, chuckling a little. Cinder merely growled in response.

"Kill her." Cinder ordered with a frown, not looking away from the scene in front of her, blood dripping off her blades as she lifted them into a battle ready stance. Just then, the air started to grow windy, and cold, much colder than it currently was. Maple grabbed the amulet with one hand and put her other over the body, causing it to dissolve into magenta cubes which flew into her hand, she put the amulet around her neck and then stood up and looked at the trio, tears running down her cheek, her silver eyes filled with rage a silver flame ignited around her right eye..

"I had ONE thing in this world and you had the nerve to take it away from me!? Was the life I had before you people dragged me here away from not enough for you!? And now I hear you want my life? Well sorry to disappoint but I wasn't called the walking fortress back on my world for nothing!" Maple shouted, rage and sadness filling her voice.

The three braced themselves. Mercury charged in and delivered a shotgun-boosted kick to the side of maple's head, only for nothing to happen, Maple Didn't even flinch, before Mercury could try and jump away Maple grabbed his leg and threw him where he landed at Cinder's feet, causing Cinder's and Emerald's eyes to widen in surprise, though Cinder tried to maintain an unimpressed expression.

"Well then, it looks like our little sapling has some bark, a strong aura, but let's see if you have a bite to match!" Cinder said confidently, sending a column of fire rushing towards Maple, who simply let it wash over her, the flames leaving her unscathed.

"You want to see my bite huh? Very well then, I can comply with your death wish." Maple said menacingly.

[[Machine God!]]

"Machine wha-what now!?" Emerald asked. The trio watched in mounting horror as Maple started to transform, her armor morphing into multiple rows of cannons that surrounded the girl.

"It's my turn! Artillery fire!" Maple shouted, a pair of canons mounted onto her back moved into place, and started spraying a volley of red orbs into the sky, which soon came crashing down to the earth, exploding on impact and leaving small craters in the snow covered field, causing the three villains to have to run, trying to keep themselves from getting hit,cinder trying to shoot fire in hopes to cause them to detonate mid air, only to turn them into fiery orbs of death. By the end of the barrage all three of them were out of breath.

"What kind of monster have we created!?" Emerald exclaimed, her voice filled with horror.

"We can't stay here, we need to retreat!" Cinder announced, ordering her companions to run.

"Not so fast! I'm not letting you get away that easily!" Maple shouted, and four cannons pointed directly at Cinder. Just as maple was about to fire Mercury ran over and shoved Cinder away. "Cinder Move!" He exclaimed before the cannons fired, leaving nothing of him behind, and cleaving a ditch into the snowy field.

"Mercury…" Lamented Cinder as she sat up. She didn't sit for too long though, she stood up hastily and focused, a wall of flame surrounding maple appeared, cinder focused on making it as hot as she could, and once it was as hot hot enough to where the surrounding snow started to melt and she started sweating she grabbed Emerald and bolted for the nearby forest.

"IT'S HOT! SO HOT!" Maple thought to herself in alarm, even her ice runes were having trouble keeping up with the heat. She had to get out of this circle and fast and so she flew upwards and started heading back home, cursing herself for not being able to complete her revenge for her adoptive mother's death. When she got home Maple opened her inventory and put Amber's body on the table and picked up her scroll. It's going to be a long couple of days.