Chapter 24: Race

As we hurry down our path each of us in this gamble for one reason or another. We sometimes forget who our ally is and who our enemy is. This difference honestly doesn't matter to some. But to others how they act is how they view themselves and how they see their own code.

The world is covered in orange flames. The skies seem to understand the grim situation with their dusk color. The rocks in the fire seemed to dance an evil dance as if trying to lure them runners into the flames. Panting screams all of them drowned out by the brilliant evil orange color.

Running through the flames I started my race.

Argent was now running along with the young girl, she was panting heavily. She was clearly trying to do something other than play. As if she was typing a code of some sort. Ignoring the fact Argent asked, "I never caught you name what is it?"

The girl was speechless her small character was clearly trying hard to keep up with him. Suddenly she stopped panting and looked up at him with an increased speed in her steps, "I'm Emily." She smiled.

Argent could sense a change in her character. Her eyes were now a fierce red. Argent was in fear slightly by the sight of the blood red eyes. Before he could say anything she stopped and shouted.

Argent turned his gaze forward once again to see the Black Clad soldiers standing in a circle. They were surrounded by a black aura.

"What surprised to see us like this?" The Blade Master stepped forward.

"We have become more powerful than ever now because of this." In turn the Heavy Blade and the Twin Blade stepped forward.

Argent pulled his weapon out and started forward at the three. "Well then you won't mind me trying out your power." His Lance transformed into an ever larger lance its binary flashing. "Let's play."

Cygnus and Kasami had been moving forward for a long time now. The area around them had begun to change as they proceeded to get closer to the mountain. The fire had begun to die down as they path narrowed.

Cygnus had noticed something about Kasami that he just couldn't shake. He knew he had never met her but still he kept on thinking he had seen her somewhere before. "What do you want?" Cygnus was brought of his trance as he saw that Kasami was now staring at him. "I don't have time for you." She began to move forward much faster. In turn Cygnus stretched his wings and began to fly along with her.

Alberio stared around at his surroundings. He was amazed at his luck. He had started on a Plateau almost at the base of the mountain.

The dirty yellow sky reflected off of the fire. The brown rock formations everywhere. Paths upon paths crowded the land at the base of the mountain. Souls upon souls will try to climb this mountain but few will make it to the top. They lack a direction, someone else to look after them.

U.R. and Leonheart were running side by side stride for stride. Each pace leading the closer and closer to the mountain of which they could claim their treasure.

The mountain which had seemed so far away had now begun to appear as if it was in reach. Closer and closer. The firm path had begun to narrow. The walls seem as if they were closing in as they approached the ending to their path.

U.R. halted in his spot and stared out at the valley below them. He could see hundreds of high level monsters waiting for them at the bottom. He looked around and then back at the path before him. It was a long narrow strip above the valley. One slip and you would fall straight to your doom. He smiled, "It doesn't look very safe but I guess we have no choice. Careful of the Wind it just might very well knock us off."

Leonheart shook his head and started forward first.

Argent was now swinging his lance at his opponents. Emily watched the four danced in front of her. Argent slicing and the three dodging and trying to move in to attack. It appeared to be as if they were waltzing.

The three were fading in and out of existence.

"Crap." Argent was growing tired of swinging his weapon at the ghosts. "If I knew it was going to be this hard I would have brought along some haste potions."

The three in black moved back to their starting point. "Give it up we have become more powerful thank you could imagine. Just surrender your soul to us."

"Huh ya you're probably right but then again all I need to do is smack you once and I can beat you." The binary on Argents weapon flashed at it was now even larger than all five of them combined. "Let's see you dodge this!" Argent began to swing with an intense speed again.

The three in black now looked slightly worried as they hurriedly avoided the binary weapon.

My gaze turned as I saw Argent fighting against the black clad three. I chuckled to myself and moved on. I saw U.R. and Leonheart moving across the valley way. "Let's have some fun." I dropped myself down into the valley filled with monsters and began to raise them from their sleep making them violent and take to the skies.

Tiffany sprinting towards the mountain began to grow worried about the others. She could still remember the key code to make her character stronger. The numbers flashed in her head. She had decided to throw away the paper when she sat down on her computer and she wasn't going to ever use them. The dusk in front of her began to grow black and she saw the hacker appear!

Kaisa stretched his arms as he landed on the ground. "Hiding from Recompense is sure a pain but at least it's better than being his slave." He now looked up to see a familiar face. "Tiffany! Long time no see. So you were rescued by someone then." Tiffany remained silent and proceeded past him. "Hey don't be like that. After all without me you won't be able to make it out of this maze alive. The monsters and demons will destroy you."

Tiffany stopped, "And I suppose you hackers would know how to deal with such a problem?" She smirked.

"Actually no. I just figure since you were so weak you would need someone to protect you from getting killed." He snapped back at her.

Alberio now stood in front of the laughing Kunar. "Wow that was sure fun. But I guess all fun must come to an end. But does it really." Kunar began to face Alberio, "Ha. I have time I might as well play around before finding my part of the treasure." He pulled out his weapon.

"Heh. I didn't think it would be this easy for me to start at the beginning and get away with it anyway." Alberio pulled out his staff, "Let's play."

Is anything real anymore? How can I tell if I myself am real? With the unbound chains surrounding me, I am left to wonder who freed me? Or am I really free at all?