.hack/REWARD

Okay, it's been a while, but here it is. The sequel to .hack/PRESENT, .hack/REWARD.

Disclaimer: I do not own .hack.

IMPORTANT: If you have not read my other fic '.hack/PRESENT', I would suggest you look for that story first before you read this one.

CHAPTER 1: Eight Reborn

It was a quiet evening in the aqua capital Mac Anu. Three gold rings appeared and disappeared by the chaos gate as an orange clad, blue haired twinblade logged on. He walked toward the bridge, leaned against the railing and stared into the river that passed under.

"Hey." A voice came from behind him. He turned to see a familiar pink-haired heavy blade. "What's new?" Blackrose asked, walking up next to Kite.

"Uh, nothing much. I just logged on."

"Hm. It's been a week since that incident with that giant box. Everything looks normal." Blackrose said looking around the town.

"HEY!" A bubbly voice came from the chaos gate. Mistral ran up to the two. "You two gotta come with me! If found this really cool area!" The wave master grabbed both twin and heavy blade's hand and ran over to the chaos gate.

Meanwhile, in an isolated part of the World. Eight shadowed figures stood in a circle.

"Hm… perfect" a voice said. Stepping into a sole beam of light was a large, oversized gift box. "I'm lucky to have known about the incident that took place a few months ago. Now… I have created you…" it said to the eight figures. "The EIGHT PHASES!…… uh, version two that is." Eight beams of light shined down upon the eight figures.

The first figure seemed composed of over sized Lego blocks and wielded a long plastic pole. The second seemed like a large floating graham cracker with a few holes punched in it and it was starting to mold. The third was an over sized tree branch with leaves falling off rapidly and with new ones growing just as fast. The fourth figure looked somewhat similar to the second but carried what seemed like a sphere on one end and a short tail on the other. The fifth was a giant mask with two faces on opposite sides. The sixth was an old woman with giant plant roots for legs and had a robotic right arm. The seventh was a snake curled around a sharp wooden spear. The final one was a simple sunflower seed.

The giant box re-looked the eight.

"Okay… not as flashy as the original eight, but it'll do."

"Uh…. Who…where are we?" the first figure asked.

"You eight are all my creations. You are all based off the original eight phases created by an AI known as Morgana. You have all but one purpose…" The box held up a picture of a poorly drawn Kite (think of how Komiyama drew Shugo in .hack/DUSK) "You eight are to eliminate this person. His name is Kite."

"Why are we to destroy this person?" the sixth figure asked.

"There is something I want of him… but I'll explain to you later. For now, just get rid of him!"

"What's in it for us?" the seventh figure asked.

"Yeah! What do we get?" they all asked in unison.

"Oh fine, let's see… oh! Which ever gets rid of this twinblade shall receive 10,000,000 GP."

"What would we use GP for? We can't even buy anything." The second figure asked.

"Yeah, we…" the first one began.

"SHUT UP! Do as I say or I'll delete you all! I created all you eight 'ya know! I can delete you just as easily!" the eight figures stood silent. "That's more like it."

"Hey, what are our names?" the third figure asked.

"Yeah, I don't want to be referred to as to as a figure throughout this whole story!" the fifth figure asked.

"Hm… good point…okay. Your names…" the box's ribbon pointed to the eight figures in order. "Phase 1, Skippy. Phase 2, Incubus. Phase 3, Mr. Maggot. Phase 4, Fidgeter. Phase 5, Gargle. Phase 6, Mecha. Phase 7, Blarnvas. Phase 8, uh… Sunflower."

"Skippy?"

"Incubus?"

"Mr. Maggot?"

"Fidgeter?"

"Gargle?"

"Mecha?"

"Blarnvas?"

"…"

"Yep, they're all perfectly good names."

"THESE NAMES SUCK!" the new phases said in unison. Except the seed that is.

"I mean…Skippy? That's nothing compared to 'Skeith'!"

"Mr. Maggot? I don't have any maggots on me! I want to be called Magus II!"

"Incubus? I'm not a spirit! I'm a graham cracker!"

"…" The phases looked at the sunflower seed that just sat on the ground doing nothing.

"Why the heck would you make this simple seed the final phase?" asked Blarnvas.

"ALL OF YOU, SILENCE!" The box yelled. All phases shut up and stood still.

"Thank you. Just go with your new names. Don't like it? Deal with it. Now then, I'll let you guys go. Eliminate that twinblade! Good luck, and have a nice day." The box said as it warped the eight new phases out of the room.

"AAAAH!" Kite, Blackrose, and Mistral yelled as they were being chased by 4 large Golems at level 99.

"This isn't right! This area should only be at level 50!" Mistral exclaimed.

"Less talking, more running!"

"Right! Ap Do!" Mistral yelled, increasing everyone's speed. Kite turned the other way.

"Drain…" the bracelet appeared and began to expand "Arc!" five arrows were released from the bracelet and spread in a wide arc, draining all four monsters and turning them into scarecrows.

"Huff…huff… I'm too tired to… attack….ugh…" Blackrose said as she sat on the ground exhausted from all the running.

"Let's gate out then. This place has too many strong monsters." Kite said as three gold rings surrounded all three party members.

Unbeknown to the three players, the mysterious gift box was watching through a screen in the isolated room.

"Hm… that bracelet of his can be a big problem. Oh well. It wouldn't matter. When the new phases carry out their roles, my plan will be put into place, and then 'The World' shall be mine! HAHAHAAAAHHAAA!….. why am I even talking to myself?"

"Sir?" a voce came from another screen. "This is Phase 1 version 2. I'm in position. Ready for operation 'Old School'."

"Excellent Skippy. Proceed as planned."

"Yes sir." Skippy closed the link between them. 'Why can't he just refer to me as Phase 1 version 2?'

The gift box looked to another screen where Incubus was shown.

"Is everything good to go on your end?"

"Yes sir. Operation 'Munch' is in place."

"Mr. Maggot" Gift box looked to another screen "What about you?"

"Operation 'Pocket' is good to go."

"Very well. Both of you, don't mess this up!" Gift box closed the link between all of them. "The first three are ready. If all goes well, I will have Kite and his friends right where I want them."

"Sir? Why are you talking to yourself again?" Skippy asked over a newly opened screen.

"Wha? Skippy! I uh… never mind! Get back to your post!" Box said as it closed the screen.

NEXT CHAPTER: OPERATION 'OLD SCHOOL'

Preview: It's been a few weeks since the Spring of Myst event. Kite recieves a strange e-mail telling him about a new area opening up that contains databugs. With nothing better to do, he decides to explore the field, figuring it's just another run after a monster with infinite HP. But to his surprise, the field will be something he'd never expect in the history of 'The World'