Back with a new chapter, it's been awhile since I updated. I'm checking the stats so I know have some reader, even if it is only a few people .. Enjoy.
Jugatsu looked around contemplating if he should do another dungeon. He decided he should at least the sell the items first. As he began to walk away Skyld appeared behind him.
"Oh hiya,"Jugatsu said upon seeing Skyld.
"It was Dusk,"Skyld replied,"Did you see Azara?"
"No what's going on?"Jugatsu asked slightly surprised and completely confused.
Skyld looked around.
"Umm nothing to worry about I suppose,"Skyld answered.
"I hate when you do that..."
"I got to go now,"Skyld said logging out.
Jugatsu began to head to the item shop to sell the items, when he saw Momiri. He walked over to say hello but someone ran into him knocking him over.
"Oh sorry about that,"The person said, the voice seemed kind of deep like it was male voice.
Jugatsu got up and looked around. He didn't see the person who ran into him and Momiri was gone now.
"Alright...that was weird,"Jugatsu said aloud scratching is head.
He heard snickering coming from behind, so he turned around and noticed two people behind him. He figured they probably heard him talking to himself. He started laughing nervously and slowly walked away, then he started to run. After getting to the item shop Jugatsu took the money for his items and went to the grunty ranch for a break. He sat down just around the corner from where the grunties are raised, and he overheard two players talking about something. He looked around the corner and saw two long arms, no one he knew.
"Yeah they say it's some AI and it glows red,"the first one said.
This caught Jugatsu's attention.
"Oh yeah I think I heard about that on the BBS(Bulletin Board System)," the second one responded.
"Where did it come from anyways?"
"Not sure, never can tell really with CC Corp."
"Did you hear the rumor going around?"
"Umm, which one? I've heard the one about the AI in Mac Anu and about the cloaked player who is said to control it," the second answered.
Jugatsu didn't know whether he should feel insulted or complimented. He was also curious as to how that rumor started.
"They say that the AI originated from an item in a Gott Statue treasure," the first one said.
"Wow, they would really have something that powerful as a common item? Well, I'm surprised he's still playing. I mean he cause CC Corp to close down the entire Delta server. Oh, speaking of rumors, what do you think about the one saying that player is in CC Corp."
"I find that one hard to believe, but it's one of the few that is getting around. I mean they have lots of rumors but these seem to be the most accepted."
"Want to go to a dungeon?"
"Heh, you want an AI like that don't you."
"It would be cool who knows we may get lucky."
"Alright let's go."
The two players walked away. Jugatsu then peered around the corner.
"How am I supposed to control an AI, these rumors are so pointless,"Jugatsu began to say," Unless...the AIs appearing from an item...it can't be the bracelet I got this after that first one appeared."
Jugatsu began to look at the bracelet again before hiding it. He stood up and began to walk around town asking about the rumors. Most of them had the same thing to say, but he came upon a twinblade who seemed to have some factual information. The twinblade was a guy who had long green hair and wore some retro looking clothes. All of his clothes were black except the strip going down his shoulder and the braces for the katars on his arm. He had parachute pants which were connected to the long sleeve shirt.
"Umm hello?"Jugatsu half said, half asked.
"Oh, hello,"the twinblade replied.
"Have you heard anything about the AI that's said to glow red?"Jugatsu asked trying sound like a normal player.
"You aren't one of those players who go around believing these rumors are you?"the twinblade asked back.
"It's obviously fake, I mean I don't contr-,"Jugatsu began to say,"I mean I don't see how this player could control an AI." Jugatsu laughed nervously.
"Good, just so happens I have some real information,"the twinblade responded,"Turns out this AI actually a wandering AI, it can go between map and map without restrictions and has weird abilities. That's not the weirdest thing though, it seems to attack players. Were you there at Mac Anu when it got damaged?" Jugatsu nodded.
"Well I happen to know it was the AI that attacked the town. The server was brought down to repair it, and any players against the system or who have done something against the rules were allowed off the hook for whatever they've done. CC Corp is putting all of their in game force into looking into this AI. They believe players are a small threat compared to this."
"Wait, all their force? The only thing I've seen you could call force was Azara and Remial."
"Yeah it's not to well known but they have an organization of, well, they're like people who watch over the game without actually going in. Azara is the Game Administrator, and Remial, her aid; you only see those two."
"And how do you know about the secret police force or whatever?"
"I don't disclose my sources," the twinblade retorted.
"Fine,"Jugatsu said.
He wanted as much information as he could get if he stuck it out this guy he might learn more.
"As I was saying, they've put their full force into finding about this AI. All I know from what they've heard is that it appears and just by being there it messes with the data. His attacks also can damage this data which isn't supposed to be able to take damage."
"That's something I already know,"Jugatsu thought aloud.
"Huh, so you're telling me you know some of this already?"the twinblade looked surprised,"Who are you anyways?"
Jugatsu was hesitant, he didn't know whether he should say his real name or not. Afterwards he felt it wouldn't matter much. The rumors only said 'cloaked player'. although I'm the only player with a cloak I don't really attract attention from the rumors he thought.
"I'm Jugatsu. Who are you?"he finally said.
"Heh, just call me Zero,"the twinblade replied.
"Anyways I also know the AI is called Dusk, I know about the damaged data, and I also know about his abilities."
"Not bad, you seem to obtain knowledge as easily I do, I'll tell you what. Give me your member address and I'll give you mine. If you haven't heard of me I have a reputation of knowing more then the average players about the insides of CC Corp. You seem to be useful to me. You also seem to be smarter then those ignorant players who believe those pointless rumors,"Zero replied.
Jugatsu gave his member address over and received Zero's.
"Thanks, I have two more things you might find of interest. Turns out there's a player who hasn't logged out in the last 3 days. This happened a little after Dusk appeared."
"Huh? When was he first spotted?"Jugatsu asked.
"Well it wasn't visually confirmed but there a data disruption 5 days ago in a dungeon,"Zero explained,"I think it was Delta Smiling Detestable White Devil."
Jugatsu then realized he's been stuck on for 3 days, he originally assumed it was a day at most, a little over tops.
"Interesting..."Jugatsu said.
Zero waved goodbye and walked off. Jugatsu received a message shortly afterwards. The message was from AnakinseZ and said to meat him by the Chaos Gate, something about a message on the BBS. Jugatsu went ahead and walked over and saw AnakinseZ leaning on one of the poles. Jugatsu waved to him and he walked over.
"So what was the message about?"Jugatsu asked.
"It says someone ran into Dusk into a field,"AnakinseZ said.
"So...what's the big deal?"Jugatsu replied.
"It also said another player saw him on the same map. Don't you think we should go check it out? I have the keywords."
"Probably,"Jugatsu then made a party with AnakinseZ.
AnakinseZ walked up to the Chaos Gate afterwards.
"Theta Bursting Hopeless Aqua Field!"AnakinseZ said.
Jugatsu and AnakinseZ appeared in a grassy field, with windmills scattered about. The wind blowing felt refreshing to Jugatsu.
"Were they any more specific such as a location?"Jugatsu asked.
"The said they saw it when they were entering the dungeon,"AnakinseZ answered.
Jugatsu looked around and started walking in the direction of the dungeon. As they were walking Jugatsu was curious as to why he saw no portals or monsters roaming the field. They soon came to the dungeon entrance it was staircase surrounded by a wall on all sides except one. Jugatsu looked down into the dungeon and saw nothing unusual.
"Think they made up the story?"Jugatsu said analyzing the area,"I see nothing that looks like it was damaged by Dusk."
"Let's just warp out it looks like it was a lie..."AnakinseZ said.
He looked around and noticed Jugatsu was missing. He walked around the dungeon and didn't see him so he tried to go in the dungeon next.
"I found the spot,"Jugatsu said as AnakinseZ walked in.
The first room in the dungeon was where the battle seemed to have taken place. There was a big hole in the middle of the stone dungeon room. Then half of the room was just completely blown away. Looking inside was like looking into an endless hole with the exception of data stream which you could see.
"What was he doing here?'Jugatsu asked he looked into the hole in the center.
He picked up one of the loose chips of stone and threw it in. They watched as the stone kept falling until it disappeared from sight.
"So this is the map?"they heard Azara's voice.
"Yes, at least the BBS said so,"they heard another voice which sounded like Remial.
"Did you delete the post?"Azara asked.
"Yes I also e-mailed the players so they shouldn't post anything again,"Remial answered.
Jugatsu and AnakinseZ looked at each other, then ran around to the other side and entered the next room. They hid against the wall and started to eavesdrop.
"The damage here is extensive too,"Azara said investigating the holes.
"Yes the dungeon also shows no signs of monsters anywhere,"Remial added.
"It seems the effect from the damage is random. Dusk himself probably doesn't even know what is going happen to when he attacks a place,"Azara said.
"What was he after though? This dungeon has no significance what could he gain?"
"No telling,"Azara paused,"Remial give me the names of any players that have entered this dungeon in the last 24 hours."
"The players were...Gankun, Myoshibai, Kite623, and DVST8SHN"
"Hmm, so then I was I wrong,"they could manage to make out what Azara said to herself.
"Should we close off this map?"Remial asked.
"Dungeons are a completely different thing then towns, these are harder to close because maps are so numerous few events allow me permission."
"Oh wait, I just got some more data. Seems Jugatsu and AnakinseZ entered shortly before us,"Remial said out of nowhere.
Jugatsu almost slipped and said something after hearing this, he became nervous.
"This damage was from how long ago?"Azara asked.
"The exact time can't be tracked but somewhere between 10 to 12 hours ago,"Remial answered.
"Then I doubt they have anything to do with it, they probably came here curious,"Azara said.
Jugatsu was surprised, he knew Azara wasn't stupid but her investigative prowess was pretty good, and her questions were good ones to ask as well.
"Is that all?"Remial asked.
"For now don't worry about closing, put an NPC by the dungeon entrance and send a message to the higher ups to begin restoration. That's all we can do at this point,"Azara said.
"They're still working on Mac Anu though,"Remial replied.
"Dusk must be looking for something an AI is smart it wouldn't wander around aimlessly to destroy, if so it would attack towns instead of dungeons,"Azara began,"Mac Anu though, even when we went there he still looked as though he was looking around, looking for something."
"Okay I sent the message and the NPC should be up shortly,"Remial said.
"I think we're done here. Delta is scheduled to return later today?"
"Yes later on tonight, the data is fixed already it just needs to be activated."
"Hmm we should clear out the monsters, I still have yet to do that and I can't hold them up,"Azara said as she warped out.
"You can stop hiding now,"Remial said afterwards.
Jugatsu looked out.
"I knew you and AnakinseZ were there the whole time. I'm just not that violent of a person,"he said with a smile.
Jugatsu laughed nervously. Remial waved at them then warped away.
"Remial is interesting,"AnakinseZ said as him and Jugatsu walked out of the dungeon.
"It's hard to tell if he's an enemy or not,"Jugatsu said,"at least he was nice enough to let us eavesdrop. First the event and now I get information. Not too bad for one day."
"Huh? The event was yesterday,"AnakinseZ replied.
"Damn it's so hard to tell time in here,"Jugatsu said with a sigh.
Yeah, I suppose this is where you could consider the rising action of the story? It stops being so idle around here. Anyways reviews, ect, all welcomed.