Author's Notes: Here we are with chapter 7 of Log On! I'm so excited about the great feedback I've been getting from the story! (I'm also excited because I just started .hackQuarantine! Almost done with the series of games!)
Anyway, here we are with the seventh chapter!
Chapter 7 – The Threat Has Come
Golden week was over, and that meant school was back in session. Both Mai and Ayumi had switched into their short sleeved sailor suits for the summer session of school, while Souchirou and Hiromi had taken off their jackets for the remainder of the year. To celebrate the end of Golden Week, the four had decided to make a quick stop at Start Button to visit before school.
"And like I was saying," Sota had been telling the four kids the latest rumors going around the net. They sat on stools in front of the counter, captivated. A few people sat at computers, playing "The World". "There have been reports of strange disturbances all around the net. Infected areas on the game have become uninfected, but what's more…" he winked. "Is that players all over the world are falling comatose. CC Corp says is has nothing to do with the game, but who would believe that?"
"I see…" Mai nodded, not mentioning what she knew about the infected areas.
"Sota!" Fuko's voice came from inside the employee's area as she came out, scowling. "Are you spreading rumors again? I swear! Next you'll be saying grunties have taken over Tokyo Tower!"
"Hey, it isn't a rumor! It's true!" Sota countered.
"Yeah right! Just like the giant tree in the sky of Dun Loireag?"
"Okay, so that was a joke…"
"Anyway," Souchirou raised an eyebrow and shifted his glasses. "It's not really that important anyway, I'm sure everything will get back to normal soon."
Mai, Hiromi, and Ayumi shot each other looks. "Yeah…" Hiromi nodded. "All we can do with ride it out, right?"
Mai's gaze shifted up to the clock that read "7:40". "Guys, time to go. We don't want to be late for school, AGAIN."
"Yeah," Ayumi nodded and leapt off her stool. "Good old Makuchei High, punctual, if not practical."
"Anyway, see you Fuko, So—OW!" Mai fell backwards as a girl with messy long black hair and black eyes pushed past her, knocking her to the ground. The girl ran forward, not paying any attention to Mai.
"Watch it!" the girl snapped, her voice harsh as she threw open the door and slammed it shut after her. Hiromi helped Mai up; Mai scowling after the girl.
"Who does she think she is? Just bumping into me and not bothering to say sorry!" Mai got up, thanked Hiromi and looked at the stool the girl had been occupying, which was still swiveling around in front of its computer. She gazed at the computer screen and saw that the username was still in the "Log In" box. She glanced at it. "Gabriella?"
"Mai! C'mon, we have to get to school," Ayumi grabbed Mai's arm and led her out the door.
"See ya guys!" Hiromi waved after Sota and Fuko as the four of them rushed out of the glass door to school.
"Class," Mai's homeroom teacher, Sanagawa-sensei, an older man in his 50's or so, spoke to the class as the bell rang and he entered. After they had bowed to him and taken their seats, he cleared his throat and began to speak. "I hope you all enjoyed your Golden Week, but now it's back to school, and we've got a new transfer student joining us."
"Transfer Student?" Mai whispered to Ayumi, who sat next to her.
"I wonder who it is…" Ayumi whispered back.
"Please welcome Miss Ryoko Watanabe," the teacher motioned in Ryoko to the class and Mai's eyes widened as she saw the girl walk in.
She was the girl from Start Button! The one that had knocked Mai down! Because she had been running so fast, Mai hadn't seen that she was wearing the school uniform. As she walked to the front of the class, she tossed her messy long black hair, held back by a violet head band. She faced the room and crossed her arms, as if bored. "Ryoko came from Kobe…she…umm…"
"I got into a fight and got expelled," she shrugged. "I don't see what the big deal is."
"Umm…yes, to be quite frank," Sanagawa-sensei nodded, wiping his brow. "Umm…Ryoko, is there anything you'd like to share with the class about yourself?"
"Don't bother me, I won't bother you," Ryoko told them coldly. "My one and only rule, got that? Anyone who does bother me will get a swift ass kicking, of which they will deserve."
The entire class was silent as Ryoko turned to the teacher. "Where do I sit teach?"
"Umm…how about to the right of Kanzaki-san?" he pointed to Ayumi. "Also…you'll need a guide…"
Mai and Ayumi looked at each other, worried. 'Not me, not me, not me…' Mai silently prayed.
"How about Mai-san?"
'Damn.'
"Whatever…" Ryoko lowered her eyelids and sat down next to Ayumi. She promptly opened up her bag and pulled out a music player. Placing the headphones into her ears, she began to bang her head back and forth to the music.
"Umm…Miss Watanabe," Sanagawa-san called and she opened one eyelid. "We don't allow music players in class."
"Excuse me," Ryoko drawled sarcastically and placed the music player back in her bag. She leaned on her arm on her desk. "Are you gonna start teaching?"
"Umm—uh, yes! Of course…"
Mai didn't talk to Ryoko as she chewed on her pencil absentmindedly…she hoped that she wouldn't have to talk to her all day…
"So guide," Ryoko spoke to Mai at lunch time and Mai facefaulted at her bad luck. "What's the deal around here?"
"Umm…the cafeteria is this way, we go eat our food there."
"Really? I thought we ate it in the janitor's closet," Ryoko rolled her eyes sarcastically and Mai growled under her breath. Hiromi, Ayumi, and Souchirou were all around her, doing their best to provide support.
"She's a nasty one…" Hiromi whispered to Mai.
"I can't believe we have to eat with her…" Ayumi spoke.
"Well you'll just have to put up with it, won't you pom-pom ditz?" Ryoko asked and Ayumi turned around, her eyes narrowed.
"What-did-you-call-me?"
"Pom-pom ditz, cheerleader bimbo, peppy twit," Ryoko shrugged. "You pick."
"LET ME AT HER!" Ayumi tried to thrash at Ryoko with her pom-poms and batons, only to have her friends hold her back. "I'LL KILL HER!"
"What a ditz…" Ryoko cocked an eyebrow and sauntered past the enraged Ayumi, who was now steaming out of her ears, her face red.
"I'm-going-to-get-her…" Ayumi growled.
"Umm…you don't have to sit with us if you don't want, Ryoko," Mai offered as Ryoko joined them at their usual eating spot.
"It's not like I have friends to eat with," Ryoko shrugged. "And since you're my guide, you have to show me around the place all day." She stretched the word "all" and Mai felt herself groaning inwardly.
"Oh…I…guess you're right…" Mai admitted, laughing nervously.
Hiromi looked down at his lunch and smiled. Today was the first day he had actually made lunch for him and Mai to share… He had finally gotten up the nerve to ask her to eat some of his homemade food, and he had even gotten Ayumi not to interfere but being super nice to her. It was perfect. "Umm…Mai!"
"Yeah?" she asked her, turning her head.
"W-would you like to eat some of my lunch?" Hiromi asked. "I made it, as a thank you for the chocolate bar!"
"Sure," she smiled warmly. "I'll eat some."
"Say ahhh!" Hiromi took some of the homemade food in his chopsticks and Mai blushed and opened her mouth.
"Ahhhh!"
"Yum!" Mai opened her eyes and saw Hiromi's eyes popping out of his head as Ryoko chewed on what was on the chopstick. She licked her fingers. "Man! That was good! Who would have known a guy like you could cook?" She grabbed the boxed lunch and began eating. "Can I have some more? You don't mind right?"
"Umm…actually" But it was too late. Ryoko quickly engulfed the entire lunch, leaving the box completely empty. "Y-you…you ate…everything…"
"It was that good!" She laughed, rubbing her now full stomach. "Consider it an honor that I ate it all." She quickly took out her music player, stuck in her headphones and began to listen, her eyes closed.
"She-she-I'm-going-to-kill-her!" Hiromi flared, eyes red, veins bulging.
"I guess this is the library?" Ryoko asked as they passed the large library. "Won't spend much time in there, that's for sure."
"G-guys, try to calm down," Mai tried to assuage the anger of Hiromi and Ayumi, so far to no success. Both of them were still fuming while following Ryoko and Mai around.
"NEVER!" Ayumi screeched under her breath.
"She's a witch!" Hiromi added.
"You are overreacting," Souchirou commented and the two looked at him as if to say "whose side are you on!" "She might be rude and gluttonous, but I am sure that she means well deep down."
"Yum! Ice cream!" Ryoko commented as they passed the school's Student Vendor in which they were selling ice cream. "Hey guys, want some?"
"Y-you're offering to buy us some?" Mai asked and Souchirou triumphantly smiled.
"See? I told you, she is really a good person." Souchirou walked up to the girl. "I would love to have some cream that is iced! I prefer mint flavor."
"Sure!" She smiled warmly. "How about you guys?"
"Umm…I like Strawberry…" Mai said.
"Vanilla," Ayumi said, trying to get over her anger.
"Umm…blueberry swirl," Hiromi said.
"And I like Grape," she smiled as the vendor passed her the five ice cream cones. "Ooops!" She covered her mouth and turned to Souchirou. "I don't have any money!"
"YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY!" The four asked, dumbstruck.
"I guess," she smirked at Souchirou. "You'll just have to pay…"
"M-me!" Souchirou asked, his glasses fogging up. "B-but?"
"He'll pay," she pointed to Souchirou and he looked at the vendors who were still waiting for their money.
"B-but you said you would"
"Hey…" In a second, Souchirou had been hoisted up by the collar and was being held above Ryoko's head by Ryoko. "Pay up, don't you want to treat a lady?"
"O-of course…" Souchirou laughed, not wanting to be pummeled by the girl. He quickly threw down ¥1000 onto the counter.
"Good!" She smiled and threw him down. "Now…" she looked over at the five cones in her hand. "I wonder which one was mine…"
"The Grape..."
"I guess I'll just eat all of them to make sure!" She quickly licked over all five cones, and Souchirou and the other's eyes bugged out of their heads. "Yummy! C'mon, let's keep going on the tour!"
Souchirou watched her skip down the hall, still eating the ice cream. His ears grew red and his glasses fogged up. "Conniving-uneducated-violent-untamed-brat!" He spat and joined Hiromi and Ayumi in their fuming. "I'm-going-to-personally-annihilate-her!"
"Save some for me…" Hiromi snarled.
"And me…" Ayumi growled.
"Uh oh…" Mai sweatdropped. "This is getting bad…"
"Finally!" Ryoko yawned as the afternoon break came around. "That Biology Class was so boring I thought I was going to dissect my own brain to see if I cared at all!"
"I guess," Mai laughed nervously. Hiromi, Ayumi, and Souchirou were sitting across the room, probably plotting Ryoko's downfall. "So…Ryoko! What do you like to do in your spare time?"
"Umm…I like to listen to music," Ryoko shrugged. "That's really pretty much it. None of your business anyway."
Mai frowned. Ryoko really was acting like such a jerk, with no right to do so! After all, they had done nothing to her. Mai decided it was time to use her trump card.
Common Ground.
"So, you like to play "The World"?" Ryoko's eyes shot wide open and she looked at Mai.
"Wh-what did you say?"
"You ran into me this morning at Start Button," Mai told her, smiling. "Remember? You were in a real hurry, probably didn't want to be late on your first day."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"What level are you?" Mai asked. "Maybe we can play together. I'm a level 14 Long Arm."
"I told you, I don't play your stupid game!" Ryoko stood up rather violently, making Mai back off and the other three turn their heads to the situation. "I don't have time for your geek games, I'm leaving..." she stood up and walked out of the room, grabbing her books on the way. "And if we're in the same class next period, don't even think of sitting next to me!"
Mai looked out as Ryoko ran down the stairs of the room. The three others came over to her with confused looks on their faces. "What was that about?" Hiromi asked.
"I asked her about this morning…she said it wasn't her," Mai frowned. "But I'm positive it was…"
"Who cares, as long as she's out of our hair," Ayumi fumed. "Hey guys, let's meet on and get that last level we need to get to Theta server! How about 4:00?"
"Sure, it's a deal," Mai smiled at her three friends, then looked out the door that Ryoko had ran threw.
Mai quickly logged onto "The World" that night to see that there were new board messages. She quickly clicked on them and her eyes widened.
The message from Uteni about her comatose victim friend had been deleted! Mai clicked on it.
Subject: Deleted
xxxxxxxxxxxdeletedxxxxxxxxxxx
"It's…been…deleted," Mai said, her eyebrow arched. She looked down at the one from Wikiwen, and saw that it too had been deleted. "How strange…what's going on here?"
She noticed there was a new message as well…this one…she didn't like.
Subject: Protected Areas
Sender: CC Corp
Due to imbalances and complaints from players, a select few areas have been placed under protection. These areas are not allowed to be entered into. We apologize for the disturbance.
Mai gulped. "No!" she whispered. "Kalen told us…he told us…"
"Why is the infection receding after we beat these bugs?" Iam asked, "It doesn't make much sense."
"That's because the pigs at CC Corp haven't started Protecting the Areas…" Kalen said bitterly, "Once they start, and they will start soon…the infection will spread."
"What do you mean?" Orizo asked.
"The Prism Players use the technology that blocks players from going into areas to infect them," Kalen explained, "But soon…once their power grows, they won't need that anymore."
"If they start protecting the areas, the infection will only spread!" Mai insisted. "B-but…there's nothing we can do…except…"
Mai quickly logged out and sent an e-mail to CC Corp.
Subject: Urgent Matter
Sender: Iam
This is a player, Iam, telling you to please not protect the areas! It's hard to explain why, and I can't really explain at the moment, but please, you've got to believe me! Don't protect the areas!
Mai went back onto the boards and read a new message that had been posted…she knew that this was a lead to finding a protected area.
Subject: Strange Looking Area
Sender: Reiner
Hey, I found this strange looking area that was all messed up. There was only one other guy there that I could see, a long arm and when I tried to talk to him, he walked away! I got creeped out, so I just gated out. The area's protected now, but man was it strange!
The keywords were ∆ Screaming Evil-Eyed Milestone! Does this have anything to do with those coma victims?
Mai looked at it and hoped that something would come up…all she could do now was log into "The World".
Iam materialized in Mac Anu once again to see Orizo, Chikoro, and Zaiten waiting for her, looking solemn. "You guys…read the board messages?"
"Yeah," Orizo nodded. "This is bad…Moyotu and the others will definitely start taking advantage of the protection…"
"We've got to hack those gates and stop the Data Bugs to slow the infection!" Chikoro told them. "Kalen said we use those cores to hack the gates right?"
"And I can hack them," Zaiten nodded. Chikoro laid out the cores.
"We've got…one T, one V, and one O…" Chikoro bit her lip. "Let's see…"
"Hey! Out of the way n00bs, I'm trying to get to the Chaos Gate!" The group looked up, Chikoro throwing the cores back into her pack, and saw a girl with a large axe standing over them. She had short rich chocolate brown hair and brown eyes to match. She had a tiara on her forehead and two cute marking in violet on her face. She had a crop top with two long flowing sleeves and a long skirt, all colored a dark or pale violet. Her shoes were also violet. On her back were two small dark violet wings. (Note: This is Subaru's character design modified, in case you can't tell.) She scowled at them. "Will you move?"
"Hey!" Chikoro scowled. "We're busy here! No need to be so rude!"
"Hmm…" Iam frowned and walked up to the girl who shot her a dark look.
"What do you want?"
Iam got a little closer and smiled. "I'm just examining you. What's your name?"
"Not that it's any of your business," the girl sniffed. "It's Gabriella, what are your guys'?"
"I knew it!" Iam laughed. "Hey Ryoko! It's me, Mai!"
"HUH?"
"HUH?"
Both Gabriella and Iam's friends stepped back from surprise. "H-h-how…you must be mistaken! That's not my name…"
"But it is!" Iam nodded. "At Start Button this morning, when you ran out, you forgot to delete your username from the Log In box, it still said Gabriella."
"I told you that wasn't me!" Gabriella snapped, then covered her mouth, realizing she had just given herself away.
"Oh…it wasn't?" Iam cocked an eyebrow.
"Okay, okay, you caught me!" Gabriella sighed. "So what? I play "The World". I only play it because my little sister does and my parents wanted me to look after her!"
"Really?" Orizo asked. "Where is she now?"
Gabriella blushed. "Umm…she's…in another area right now."
"Then why aren't you going there with her?" Iam asked, smirking lightly.
"I-I was just about to until you dorks got in the way!" She shoved through them.
"She's not on right now is she?" Iam asked. "Does she even have a character?"
Gabriella shot Iam a glare. "So what! Okay, I play the dumb game, what's it to you?"
"Look," Iam reached out her hand to Gabriella, who looked at it warily. "I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I'd like to be friends. Want to go on a dungeon adventure with us?"
"But Iam!" Chikoro whispered. "We have to go to that Protected Area, remember?"
"I'll pass," Gabriella sniffed and the other heaved a sigh of relief. "I have to go to a certain area anyway."
"Which one?" Iam asked.
"∆ Screaming Evil-Eyed Milestone." Iam and the others' eyes widened as Gabriella spoke the name. "Last Sunday I got killed by a super strong monster there and lost lots of EXP points. I got mad so I'm going back to beat it now."
"Y-you can't!" Iam told her.
"She's right," Orizo nodded, trying to convince Gabriella. "It's protected now, you can't go back."
"Protected! Aww dammit!" Gabriella cursed loudly. "This sucks…"
"So I guess you'll just have to go to a new area," Chikoro laughed nervously. "C'mon guys, let's see if we can get there with these cores."
"Huh?" Gabriella asked. "You can get there! Awesome! You know I'm coming now!"
"Smooth Chikoro…" Iam narrowed her eyes and Chikoro blushed. "Umm…we're not sure…"
"Let's see…" Chikoro gave the cores to Zaiten. "Zaiten, use your ring to hack the gates."
"Are those sub-event items?" Gabriella asked. "Where can I get one? I want to go to protected areas too."
"Yo-you can't get them…normally," Iam told her. "Look, Gabriella, it would be better if you just stayed here."
"Are you saying I'd just get in the way!" Gabriella snapped. "Please! I'm a level 14 Heavy Axeman, this area's level 14 too! I'll be fine!"
"I-it's just that…umm…" Iam scratched her head for a reason. "We're umm…doing an event and…"
"An event quest? Now you KNOW I'm coming!" Gabriella smiled and sent her member address to Iam and the others. "Now you have my member address, invite me to a party."
"What do we do?" Orizo whispered. "Should we take her with us?"
"How about this?" Iam suggested. "Zaiten, Gabriella, and I will go to the area while you and Chikoro look around to see if there are anymore protected areas around."
"But what if you can't defeat the Data Bug with only two rings?" Orizo asked. "Koga's took four to beat!"
"But that's before our rings evolved," Iam told him. "I bet it'll take half the power now!"
"She's got a point," Chikoro nodded.
"All right," Orizo sighed. "Chikoro and I will dig up some dirt while you guys go and defeat that Data Bug."
"Okay Gabriella, you'll be going with Zaiten and me," Iam waved to Gabriella and invited her to a party, then Zaiten.
"But…we are faced with a problem," Zaiten pointed out. "I, Zaiten, have no idea how to activate the gate hacking powers of my ring."
"Well, that's simple enough!" A voice spoke loudly and the group looked up, wondering who had spoken to them. Then, a small "thump" came from behind them and the group turned around.
It was Kalen, smiling at them from behind his black goggles. "Who the hell is he?" Gabriella asked and Kalen looked at her. Immediately, his eyes went to her hands and his eyebrow cocked.
"Bringing a non-ring holder to a protected area? Not a wise choice."
"You said our rings have evolved," Chikoro pointed out. "Iam and Zaiten alone should be enough."
"Whatever," Kalen shrugged. "Anyway…" he walked up to Zaiten and smiled. "It's quite simple. Just try to access the area…"
"Umm…if you say so…" Zaiten nodded and walked up to the Chaos Gate. "∆ Screaming Evil-Eyed Milestone!"
A screen flashed saying "PROTECTED: YOU CANNOT WARP TO THIS AREA". "Now what?" Iam asked.
"Uh-uh-uh…" Zaiten stammered and the group looked down to see his ring glowing a bright green. "Now what?"
"You know what to say," Kalen smiled. "Go ahead."
Zaiten gulped and took a large breath. "GATE HACK!"
The screen flashing the "PROTECTED" vanished and into Zaiten's hand dropped a green circuit board with small circular holes in it.
"What the?"
"This is a Gate Hacking Board," Kalen explained. "Your rings have accessed this new type of board that takes circular cores instead of the old ones. CC Corp thought that after they protected the areas, they would have no problem with hacking from the old .hackers. Unfortunately," Kalen raised his eyebrows, a smirk still plastered on his face. "They never thought that we'd get new Data Drainers either. Now…plug in the cores."
"Umm…let's see…" Zaiten looked over the board. "We need one O…" he plugged it in. "One T and one…N."
"N?" Chikoro asked. "We don't have one of those!"
"Here," Kalen placed a small circular core into Zaiten's hand and he fingered it. "That's an N core. Use it to finish hacking that gate."
Zaiten placed the core in and saw the board glow. He looked back at Iam and Gabriella and nodded. "Let us go…" he took a deep breath and yelled. "Gate Hacking COMPLETE!"
In a second, Zaiten's ring glowed and began to grow branches (not tree branches, think of Kite's bracelet) out of it. He raised up in the air and soon, the air around them changed into a stream of light and colors.
"GO NOW!" Iam screamed and they jumped out of the passing light.
Thump thump. The group landed unsteadily on their feet and looked around. The area looked like the other destroyed areas, only slightly darker. "Wh-what is this freaky place?" Gabriella asked. "What just happened?"
"We're in the area," Iam narrowed her eyebrows. "Let's head to the dungeon!"
"H-hey, wait for me!" Gabriella ran after the two towards the dungeon.
"We're here…" Gabriella sighed as they reached the first level of the dungeon. "This is too weird! Let's just kill that monster and get out!"
"We're looking for something too Gabriella," Iam told her.
"Hey!" Gabriella yelled and Iam and Zaiten looked up. Iam's eyebrow raised as she saw another player at the end of the hall.
He was a male long arm with long light purple hair that was divided into two bangs that fell across his face. He had a forehead band colored violet and his sharp eyes were colored violet as well. His top was a white long sleeved jacket that was open to show his chest. He had matching long white pants and lightly colored purple slippers. His jacket and pants had wave like purple markings on them and he had two lavender scratch marks on his face. On his back was a purple handled golden spear.
"Hey!" Gabriella called again. "Do you know why this area is so weird? How'd you get in here, do you have that weird thing too?"
The man just looked at her with his cold eyes and blinked a few times. Then, he swiftly headed into the next room. "Jerk…" Gabriella growled. "Quick, let's go."
"Who was that?" Iam asked Zaiten. "How'd he get here?"
"There is no doubt about it…" Zaiten said grimly. "He is no doubt a Prism Player."
"Finally! The final level!" Gabriella heaved a panted sigh. "At least the monsters in this area are normal, everything else is completely screwed up."
"No sign of that strange player," Zaiten whispered to Iam.
"I know…" Iam told him. "I'm getting anxious."
"Look!" Gabriella laughed and pointed to the final room in the dungeon. "This is the room where that monster beat me! C'mon let's go!"
Iam sighed and walked along with Gabriella, then stopped as she headed in. Just then, purple smog started to rise from the door frame. "Oh no!"
"A Data Bug!" Zaiten nodded. "Quickly Iam-san, let us head in and destroy it!"
"Right!" Iam sprinted forward after Gabriella into the final room of the dungeon.
"WOAH!" Gabriella screamed as she pointed to a giant three headed dog covered with green scales. "What the heck is that! That's not the monster from before!"
"I knew it!" Iam growled. "A Data Bug! Gabriella, just attack it, Zaiten and I will handle it once we get it weathered down!"
"Wait."
Iam, Zaiten, and Gabriella looked up to see the strange player from before floating in the air on his spear, looking down at them. "Wait a minute."
"What the hell?" Iam asked, pulling out her spear and pointing it at him. "Who are you!"
"You are no doubt a Prism Player," Zaiten said calmly. "So, will you tell us what your motivation is?"
"I…am Ryuin," Ryuin said. "The only reason I'm doing this is because Moyotu says we have to…I was assigned to this area. Once my Data Bug defeats you, then I'll use the protection to infect the area permanently."
"Wait! You're only doing this because Moyotu says so!"
"Moyotu has her reasons…" Ryuin shrugged. "Reasons that really aren't any of your business. Moyotu and I happen to have the same goal in mind…her powers and plans will help me achieve my goal."
"Where is Moyotu now?"
"Enough questions," Ryuin snapped. "Kill them my Data Bug."
The Cerberus roared and ran toward Iam. Zaiten quickly sliced its leg and growled and lunged back at him. "La Repth!" Iam called and recovered everyone's HP.
"What the heck?" Gabriella asked as she sliced the monster with her axe. "Its HP is all strange!"
"Just keep attacking!" Iam commanded. "Don't worry about anything!"
"You're nuts!" Gabriella called, yet she kept slicing anyway. "Ani Don!" The spell converged on the monster.
"It's futile…" Ryuin told them in his icy cold voice.
"You're next!" Iam growled. "SUVI LEI!" She called and held up a scroll. Ryuin was frozen to the spot.
"Damn!" He snarled. "My keyboard isn't responding either!"
"Funny? Can't hack out of that?" Iam smirked. "That kind of thing would be grade school stuff for Kalen."
WHAM! The next thing Iam knew, she was on the ground, her lip bleeding and her HP severely damaged.
"Iam!" Zaiten called and passed her a Health Drink to heal herself with. Iam caught it and drank it gratefully.
"Wh-what?" Iam asked and saw Ryuin standing in front of her, his spear at her throat. "How did you get out of the scroll?"
"NEVER – SAY – THAT – NAME – AGAIN!" He screamed, his eyes livid with fury. "NEVER!"
He raised his spear and in a swift motion brought it down to silence Iam. She lifted her hand and screamed. "AHHH!"
"EAT THIS SHIT-FOR-BRAINS!" Ryuin flew backwards into the wall, bleeding profusely as Gabriella stood over Iam, panting.
"Ga-Gabriella?" Iam asked, blinking rapidly to make sure it was her.
"Don't mess with me and my friends!" She screamed, flashing a rather rude sign at him. "Or you're going to get it!"
Iam looked at her, still on the ground. "Fr-friends?"
"Are you going to get up or what?" Gabriella asked Iam and she nodded, getting up. "C'mon, let's deal with that monster first!"
"Right!" Iam nodded, smiling warmly. She drew her spear and launched herself at the monster. "Eat this!" She sliced the monster, and Gabriella gave it a sharp hit with her axe. With a final slash of Zaiten's katana, the words PROTECT BREAK flashed above the monster.
"Zaiten!" Iam called as she out stretched her hand. Zaiten joined her.
"Right!" he nodded and the two took a deep breath and bellowed:
"RED AND GREEN-"
"Wait!" The two looked up to see none other then Prisma above them. "Your rings are not enough to defeat it!"
"What!" Iam asked. "How do you know?"
"Who the hell is that?" Gabriella asked, eyes wide.
"I am Prisma…" she floated down to Gabriella and took her right hand. She touched her thumb lightly and smiled. "You…have a gift that was born from the power of your friendship." When she lifted her hand, on Gabriella's thumb was a violet ring with the carving for "more" inside it. She looked at it and her eyes grew wide. "Now, defeat it with the power of the fifth ring holder."
"Right!" Iam nodded and turned to Gabriella. "Gabriella, use your ring to help us!"
"I-I…I'll do my best…" Gabriella ran up to them and outstretched her hand. "Ready guys?"
"Ready!" the two yelled. All of them stared the monster down and screamed:
"RED, GREEN, VIOLET DATA DRAIN!" The lights flew towards the monster and destroyed its green flakes.
"Now! Get it!" The three ran forward and wore down the monster until it finally dropped down dead.
Iam smiled and wiped her brow. "We did it…" She turned toward Ryuin, who was just starting to get up from his heavy wounds. "Now…for you."
"Do what you want…" Ryuin spat. "One causality is nothing for the Prism Players…"
"How can you say that?" Ryuin looked up to see Iam looking at him, her eyes narrowed angrily. "The Prism Players are your team! Don't they care what happens to you?"
"Teammates are friends!" Gabriella said sharply. "How can these Prism Players just abandon you here?"
Ryuin looked down at the floor, not answering. Finally, he spoke. "Where is Kalen?"
"Huh?" Iam asked.
"Where is Kalen?" He looked up. "You know him…I must find him."
"If you promise not to infect anymore areas and leave players alone," Iam offered. "Then we'll take you to him."
Ryuin looked at them, as if considering their offer. Finally, he took a step forward…
"Ryuin, no!" Iam, Gabriella, and Zaiten looked around as they heard a voice. Golden rings formed in the air, and none other than a blue clad werewolf came out into the room. She landed onto the ground and ran forward to Ryuin.
"Cir-Circeca?" Ryuin asked, dumbfounded. "What are you doing here?"
"Don't go with them Ryuin!" Circeca cried. "We've got to follow Moyotu! They're just trying to trick you…have you already forgotten?" She asked and Ryuin's eyes widened.
"N-no…"
"C'mon…" she threw him over her shoulder and looked at the three, her eyes narrowed. "Don't think you've escaped. Remember, this area has already been infected permanently. Our wave is starting. I'll be back to destroy all of you." And with that, the two gated out.
"Who was that?" Gabriella asked.
"Another Prism Player…" Iam furrowed her brow. "She may have been the one to put in that Data Bug at the area Chikoro and I went to."
"Let's get back to Chikoro-sama and Orizo," Zaiten suggested. "We should alert them of our new ring holder."
"I agree," Iam smiled. "Let's get back."
"Umm…Iam?" Gabriella spoke up.
"Hmm?"
"I…I'm sorry for the way I acted this afternoon," she sighed. "The truth is…I…I was just trying to act tough…like I didn't need any friends. I…I…I'm sorry."
"Did you really get into a fight and get expelled?" Iam asked. "Doesn't sound like you."
"No…I just moved away from my old school. The teacher didn't know so…" Gabriella looked at the ground. "I…I was lonely, so I convinced myself that I didn't need any friends." She bowed to the two. "Please forgive me…"
"But today…" Iam smiled at her and she looked up. "When you protected me, you were pretty tough. You really are a badass!"
Gabriella looked at Iam, confused, and then laughed. "You bet! Did you like the "shit for brains" comment?"
"Loved it!" Iam giggled. "C'mon, let's get back so we can get on friendly terms with the others!"
"Right!" Gabriella nodded and the three gated out.
"Ryuin!" As Ryuin and Circeca warped to a strange area with warped colors and tall buildings, Koga ran up to them, hair now strangely green. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"Have you been fooling with your hair color again Koga?" Circeca asked, ruffling the new colored hair.
"That doesn't matter! Ryuin, you're hurt!"
"I'll tend to his wounds, don't worry," Circeca assured him. "Where's everyone else?"
"Most are gone looking for areas to infect," Koga told her. "Izaile's in his room."
"Let's get your wounds cleaned up…" Circeca said to Ryuin and golden hoops appeared around them as they warped away from Koga.
"Circeca…" Ryuin rasped as Circeca laid him on a wide bed in a strange room full of plants and small blue wolf statues. "Th-they…know Kalen…"
"Shh…" she whispered and paused. She waved her hand over his wounds and they were quickly healed. "Thank goodness…don't scare me like that…"
"I…I would have been fine…" Ryuin assured her, blushing and sitting up as Circeca sat down next to him. "I could have just rewritten my characters HP levels."
"But you were so hurt…" Circeca insisted to him, looking extremely worried. "I'm…I'm worried about you. You should have never attacked her! You should have just gotten out as soon as possible!" She reached her hand out to him.
"Don't lecture me!" he snapped her hand away. She looked extremely hurt and stared at her feet. Ryuin turned to her and took her hand. "Ci-Circeca…I'm sorry…it's just that…"
"I…I understand…" Circeca nodded and looked into Ryuin's eyes. He looked back at her and the two found themselves leaning in closer to each other.
"Get a room you two." The two broke from their trance and looked up to see none other than Moyotu standing in Circeca's room, looking at them.
"M-Moy! This is my room! Doesn't a girl get a shred of privacy!"
"Not when you've got hackers living with you." She started to look grim. "They've gained another ring holder…but as long as CC Corp is protecting the areas, there's no way that they can beat us."
"They…they said they knew Kalen," Ryuin said.
"They do, he's helping them…" Moyotu bit her lip. "Don't worry Ryuin, as long as you keep following me then you'll get your revenge."
"Good," he snarled. "That's all I want."
"Ryuin…" Circeca murmured.
"Now…our next area has been determined," Moyotu snapped her fingers, and the room melted away to reveal the same strange city they had been in before. Koga looked at the three of them. Another person stepped forward, shrouded by shadows. "Isn't that right Yusena?"
"That's right darling!" a peppy voice chirped. "And this time…" it grew suddenly menacing and the speaker smirked, almost all of their teeth showing. "There's no way they'll be able to stop it."
Finished! I hope you enjoyed the PP (Prism Player) romance there! Who would have thought! Evil hackers with unspoken love! Don't worry, it won't always be this mushy. The butt kicking is getting itself on next chapter!
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