Author note: Well here is yet another chapter for this story hope you like. I am considering whether to keep this story stand-alone or crossing it over with another game anime such as Overlord which wouldn't be too hard to tie in just not sure where I want to fully go as of yet, there are a number of virtual worlds that can be touched on out there.
(Edit: 9:/3/2019)
"Yes, I totally planned a good portion of the story," Zeltonica muttered to herself, turning her attention to an Overlord Manga observing a fan fiction opportunity nearly missed.
House Incarnate Chapter:2
It had been many hours since Hiroshi and company set out in the direction of the dungeon indicated on their map which took them through a long winding road which they had met with several merchants caravans, and other commoner humans along the way.
Eventually said road took them into winding forest that seemed to go on forever until eventually giving way to a barren wasteland devoid of all life. Nor did it have monsters at least as far as their eyes could see just as it was on the map the land was paved in the bones of human's and or otherworldly creatures that the party assumed might be the types of inhabitants the game world had within its confines.
Though what they had assumed by the map to be a fortress of some kind resembled that of a vast graveyard instead, with tombstones and or Mausoleums, the largest of the structures looked to be an ancient cathedral from some forgotten era.
"I guess that is where we heading... Damn its huge." Ranma observed as she scanned the scene with her sapphire gaze, with a whistle Nabiki nodded her head in agreement.
Daisuke looking to the ancient graveyard felt shivers run up and down his spine feeling as if something was staring right at him, "I guess... but I feel like it is watching us." he commented.
"Well duh man it would be no surprise if something was watching us... This is where the Dungeon we will be entering is located." Hiroshi dully stated, proceeding forward down a path that would take him and his group down safely into the confines of the said cemetery.
Nabiki, as she and the rest of the group followed Hiroshi down, scanned her surroundings for anything even a bird but as before she observed nothing and with exception of the travelers on the road she hadn't even seen wildlife at all.
"U'm Hiroshi don't you find it weird with exception of the human travelers we didn't see a single creature on the way here? She inquired.
Hiroshi didn't have to think twice going on to say, "They probably haven't implemented the wildlife yet so that is no surprise."
'Check-.' Ranma started to think not finishing the thought as a sinking feeling was in the pit of her stomach, continuing to follow her group, eventually they arrived at the cathedral entrance looking up to observe the ancient stone masonry was covered in moss, and or cobwebs.
"Okay so everyone do a quick inventory of your items and make the ones you want to utilize readily available cause in a dungeon you have to make split-second decisions," Hiroshi said, as he was already in the process of inventorying his pack.
Nabiki and Ranma didn't bother since they didn't have a pack to inventory, though they kept watch while Daisuke was inventorying his.
Moving close Ranma whispered into the brown-haired girl's ear, "So Nab's I am not sure why but I feel like something awful is about to happen."
"I honestly think you are right," Nabiki whispered back since she realized whispering was needed so as to not alarm their two friends. However changing her mind she shook her head negatively realizing alarm might be needed, "Hey guys might I suggest we enter with caution just encase there are traps?"
"Traps? Nah only Trap around here is Ranma." Hiroshi jested, hoisting his pack back on his back to which Daisuke did the same going on to say, "Yea Ranma is a hot little trap though."
Ranma grimaced at her friend's words, going on to say threateningly, "Refer to me as a Trap again and you guys will both be down to half health before we even start the dungeon."
"Hey hey, no need to get testy there, Anyways ladies first," Hiroshi said which both he and his friend started laughing hysterically.
Nabiki sighed at the boy's immaturity, bringing her weapon up at the ready as she started forward into the cathedral, Ranma still glaring at her friends followed her inside.
The girl's continued further inside observing the inside was rather dark with just the moonlight pouring in through the various stain glass windows, the pews were all covered in dust some of them were warped and or broken, up at the front was a decorative gold podium along with the typically stuff that furnished a church of the ancient times.
The girls then turned to the sound of two heavy doors slamming shut behind them, the boys had paused after entering both seemingly shook up from the loud noise having been startled.
Ranma looked up in horror observing a rather large stone falling just above both Hiroshi and Daisuke, she screamed out, "Run!" she quickly turned away squinting her eyes shut, Nabiki looked up just in time to watch as the huge falling stone crushed both her and Ranma's companions as blood splashed out splattering all over their person.
Observing the horrifying scene Nabiki fell to her knees in disbelief, dropping her weapon to the ground attempting to wipe the goo off her person. Ranma eventually gained the courage to look back her eyes going wide at the gory scene before her as she shook her head negatively.
She pondered over the situation, she then spoke her earlier thought aloud finishing it, "Checkmate." as she looked to the red spattering of innards on her dress.
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Sometimes later
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Nabiki still sat frozen staring at the gory scene, the blood on the floor and on her person had started to blacken meaning coagulation had started to set in, Ranma was up by the podium flipping through the pages of an old musty book that was of religious origin.
She eventually stopped leafing through it though she had to admit she was amazed by how complete it was for a video game, she then looked off to one of the stain glass windows as if in deep thought since just earlier she had attempted to use all the might she could muster to no avail it wouldn't break.
She also had attempted to find a way out of the cathedral but it appeared to have no points of exit say for the main doors and those wouldn't budge no matter how much strength and or abilities she used on them.
She crossed the distance between herself and Nabiki preceding to kneel down in front of her, reaching up with both hands she brought the brown-haired girl's gaze up to meet hers.
"Snap out of it Nab's dwelling on that isn't going to help us out of our current situation." she pointedly said, when it seemed she was eliciting no response she proceeded to slap the girl across the face.
With that Nabiki snapped out of her thoughts looking to the red-head, reaching up rubbing where she had been slapped. "Ranma-baby that hurts," she said in a halfhearted.
Ranma looked to her companion apologetically, "Sorry I just need someone to talk to and that is hard to do with you know you starin' at 'em, it won't bring 'em back." she explained.
"It is a video game so they are not dead, right? Certainly, they didn't just die did they... that was so real." Nabiki asked, her disbelief still set in as she memory of the event played acrossed her mind's eye.
Ranma shrugged her shoulders shaking her head negatively, "I would like to believe they are okay, this was a test, right? Yet I haven't found a single mob in this room, nor can we leave this place. Nab's I think we been had and well Kugi' and company haven't bothered to contact us since earlier." she relayed her observation.
"Maybe we can break a window and exit that way?" Nabiki offered only to receive a negative shake of her companions head.
She brought her left hand up cupping her chin, "If we can't even break a window I guess you are right we have been had, but what is the point of locking us in this building I mean, well perhaps it is a glitch and we can just log out." she offered.
"I already tried logging out it doesn't work," Ranma said letting a sigh escape her lips, giving her surroundings a cursory glance in hopes of something she may have missed to no avail.
Unbeknownst to the two girls, an apparition formed up by the podium being that of Kajima who stood there listening to the two of them prattle on, a smirk crossed his lips as the hopelessness of the situation had dawned on the two girls.
"Yea you definitely got had big time you greedy little whore." he said with a chuckle, he turned his gaze directed to the red-head, "And you crossdressing little slut you walked right into our trap."
Both Ranma and Nabiki turned to where the voice came from observing the teen boy who was leading the project they had come to help test.
"Kajima I have to admit I got no excuses you got me I walked right into this, but don't dare call me a slut nor a crossdresser I ain't no pervert," Ranma stated, crossing her arms over her chest glaring at the apparition.
Nabiki leveling a death glare at the apparition, "What is the meaning of this? Where are Daisuke and Hiroshi?" she grilled.
"Oh don't worry you greedy little whore Dai' and Hiroshi is just fine and they woke up not remembering a thing of what went on here," Kajime said not once removing his gaze from the red-head's person proceeding to speak once more. "I'll call you as I wish after all only a slut flaunts her assets for all to see, and you do it quite a bit don't you little slut?"
Ranma in a split second as Kajime finished his words rushed forward at lightning speed lifting her right hand in an effort to deliver a palm strike that past right through the apparition instead she struck the wall causing it to spiderweb, though the cracks sealed instantly.
"Oh save your energy slut you can't hurt me. However with that said," Kajime stated in a venomous tone, then with a slight movement of his right hand Ranma found herself lifted into the air by an unseen force that was crushing her neck causing her to gasp for breath.
After a moment of this Ranma found herself thrown to the ground where she rolled several times finally coming to rest just a foot from Nabiki as she gasped for breath, fixing a glare at the apparition just as a translucent screen appeared depicting a scene of an area surrounded by yellow crime scene tape with investigators taking pictures of two corpses that were lying face down at the edge of what appeared to be a lake in the mud.
Nabiki took a step closer narrowing at the screen as she recognized the familiar red-hair of the corpse laying on the right, she then observed on the corpse on the left realizing exactly what she was seeing feeling sick to her stomach.
The smirk got broader on Kajimes face, gesturing to the screen with his left thumb, "Yea it was tragic can you believe it two lesbian lovers living in the closet had apparently made a suicide pact with one another and took pills before jumping into the cold icy lake together." he stated in a mock sorrowful tone.
"But that..." Ranma trailed, as her horrified eyes locked with the screen as the body on the right was rolled over she recognized her female half but it looked bloated as if it had been in the water for a few weeks.
Then in unison, both girls stated in a mere whisper, "No way..."
"Oh yes, way! This is your reality get used to it you both been dead in the real world for a few weeks now, and this virtual world is all you will ever know from here on, your virtual house incarnate." Kajime relayed, he then went into maniacal laughter.
Ranma still horrified by this news shook her head both furiously and negatively, "No this has to be a trick you couldn't get away with such a crime. People would have seen us enter the arcade and never leave." she said pointedly, attempting to reign in her thoughts and emotions.
"It is not a trick I can assure you I administered the poison myself. Also, I should point out this took months of meticulous planning and trial and error but we have successfully uploaded your consciousness's to a virtual plain of existence." Kajime explained his expression as one of triumph.
Nabiki shook her head negatively once more, crossing her arms over her chest, "Okay so you expect me to believe those really are our bodies, and you have uploaded us into a virtual reality, If you wanted to murder us why bother uploading us at all?" she queried as she was confused.
"Well believe me we all wanted you both gone from our lives, but a few of us didn't like the idea of permanently killing you both so we settled on a half kill idea," Kajime explained, cupping his chin with his right hand.
Ranma blinked with bewilderment at his words, "Half kill? You if this isn't some kind of mind game it looks pretty much like you murdered us quite thoroughly." she angrily stated.
"Well yes we did kill your mortal shells, but before that we collected DNA samples having them put cryo' who knows maybe down the road if someone ever figures out that you two are not simple non player characters they may have the technology to rebuild your bodies and free you from your current virtual existence," Kajime explained.
He then went on to say, "Now before you both start saying how you didn't bring this upon yourselves or how you don't deserve this perhaps you should reflect on what brought us to this point."
"If you are expecting me to beg forget it. No, I ain't going to defend myself at all, to be honest, I acted in defense of Akane when I put a stop to you and everyone's harassment of her and I would do it again in a heartbeat. After all, no way I was gonna let any of you do what you want with my fiancee." Ranma dully said, lifting her right-hand fingers curled to the sky, while placing her left hand upon her hip.
She then went on to add, "To be honest if I hadn't got involved she never would have become involved with any of you she hates all of you utterly so even if I am stuck here for eternity I know that won't change."
"You say that like you know her, but I promise she will change her mind after all without you there to protect her someone will have to step in," Kajime stated with confidence.
Nabiki shook her head negatively once more, "Ranma's right my little sister fervently hates boys like you." she confidently stated.
"Oh you think so do you?" Kajime queried, glaring at the brown-haired succubus.
With a confident gaze, Nabiki grinned, "Of course I do."
'Even in the face of hopelessness they dare have such defiant attitudes...' Kajime trailed in thought, feeling with great frustration hoping at least one of them would grovel at his feet especially the mercenary girl to beg for him not to do anything to her little sister.
"You do realize I could delete your code and permanently kill you both off right?" Kajime threatened, giving both girls a death glare.
Nabiki returned his glare with an equal one, "Go ahead perma-death us, but I think it would defeat the entire purpose of our imprisonment." she said pointedly.
"I see what you're wanting from us but it's not gonna happen, Sure pretending a moment Either of us gets on our hands and knees and begs you to not bother Akane or anyone else for that matter we will be stuck here regardless," Ranma explained, going on to say,
"That and we would have no idea if you kept your word or not since we are stuck in the virtual world. As for what Nabiki said if you delete us basically killing us permanently its would end with the same result so why should we waste our breath, or degrade and humiliate ourselves by begging and groveling at your feet?" she finished, lowering both arms to her side.
Kajime bit his lip, it was now his turn to shake his head realizing the result he was hoping for had no chance to come to fruition, "I guess you both have a point. However I won't delete you, this virtual cathedral will be your tomb, I imagine a few hundred years stuck in here will be maddening for you both, but who knows maybe an adventurer will happen upon the place and let you out?" he offered.
"Hey Kajime mind telling me one thing that is really bothering me?" Nabiki queried, as all of this was seeming rather surreal to her.
Kajime let a weary sigh escape his lips, "What is it you want to know?" he queried, looking expectantly to the mercenary girl turned succubus.
"How is it you gained the technology needed to do all of this I mean this kind of stuff shouldn't exist yet we barely have cellphones?" Nabiki queried, looking to the apparition expectantly.
Kajime seemed to deliberate on whether or not to answer the question, giving a nod as if in agreement with someone else going on to elaborate. "Its alien quantum computing technology that was captured by the government and suppressed from the public, My father works for the government and well they needed some individual's to test the equipment on. With that said I am sure you can figure the rest out for yourself."
"So its basically like some manga's I read quantum computing technology that can create entire simulations of our reality, and in those realities, if those people gain the same tech could create simulations within simulations... Wow so its actually real color me intrigued total matrix stuff." Ranma observed, genuinely feeling impressed.
Nabiki considered her companion's observation, and Kajimes words, the entire thought of such technology made her brain hurt as she barely could even fathom it, yet here she was standing in one such simulated reality.
"Well I'll let you two get settled in, I may drop by again to see how you are doing from time to time but don't hold your breath. At any rate, the irony to us making you both celestial beings is that you both have all eternity to make the most of your situation." Kajime said with a chuckle as his apparition faded from reality.
Sitting down on the stone floor, Nabiki let a tired sigh escape her lips, as she held her head with both hands as the reality of the situation came crashing down on her with full force.
'I can't believe this... is this really happening?' she inwardly thought as she hoped any moment she would wake up from this seeming nightmare at any moment and be in her comfy bed at home, tears started to fall from her eyes her trademark blank mask had shattered as she took in the full gravity of her current predicament.
Ranma scanned her surroundings looking for any way out of the room as she let her illusion spell ability drop revealing her black feathered wings, her gaze soon fell on the mercenary girl observing the tears in her eyes which wasn't characteristic of the girl she had come to know, she walked over sitting down behind the girl pulling her into a comforting embrace wrapping her wings around her person.
'I knew I should have stayed in bed.' she thought to herself, realizing this cathedral may just be their eternal tomb for the rest of eternity.
She then observed in the corner of her view a countdown had started with a text reading: Shut down in process, please log out.
'If only hah.' she inwardly scoffed.
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Time Marches On...
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Logging in October 31 2136... 1%... 45%... 99% Ranma standing at one of the stained glass windows looking out of it though she couldn't see much apart from the fact it was obviously day time when to her only mere seconds ago it was night.
"Well this log in log out crap is so stupid," she muttered.
Giving a nod of her head Nabiki scanned her surroundings observing there had been a change this time being the fact she no longer was wearing the armor she had worn upon entering the game now she was wearing a tattered dress that seemed ready to fall apart at any moment.
Upon inspecting herself, she then looked to her red-haired companion observing she too was wearing similar rags, "I am not sure what has changed, but the items we were wearing appear to have been deleted." she stated as she searched her inventory observing everything was gone.
"Yea... I noticed items vanishing from my inventory as well but it seems I was compensated via currency for said deleted items, also the year is now twenty-one thirty-six which means we haven't been loaded in a very long time." Ranma observed, tapping her index finger on the glass as it never ceased to amaze her on how real it felt.
Nabiki shook her head negatively in disbelief as she remembered the last year before they server shut down occurred it was in early two thousand, "It has to be a glitch... he can't just not have loaded us for that long..."
"Well he did say it was going to be our eternal tomb, he probably never intended for us to get out so theoretically if it's not a glitch we were never loaded into the game, to begin with until now." Ranma dully said, preceding to punch said glass in frustration.
Her thoughts then turned to her family and friends though she was fairly certain by this point they were all just a faded memory in the footnote of time by now, as were both she and her companion for that matter.
"I wonder if that bastard got his way or not?" she questioned aloud which elicited a chuckle from Nabiki who shook her head negatively going on to say, "Who knows... but if I was to wager a bet things didn't go as well as they had planned my little sister can be quite stubborn.
Eventually, the duo settled into their typical routine which had been the case since coming to terms with their new reality, Ranma settled herself sat lotus style in her hands she held the religious book from the podium, whilst Nabiki was sleeping since neither had anything better to do.
"You know Nab's the more I read this book the more I find the hypocrisies of its contents," Ranma said as she turned the page once more.
Opening one eye Nabiki let a small sigh escape her lips. "You keep this up Ranma-baby you will be a true fallen angel." she half jested, going on to say, "Too be honest I don't believe a word of it. I mean from what I read of it the entire purpose was to enslave and control the masses using fear of a never-ending torment in a fictional place called Hell." she explained closing her eye going back to sleep.
"Yea in our old reality that probably is most likely the case." Ranma agreed, tossing the book across the room With an inelegant flip of the wrist where it skidded across the dusty stone floor upon impact, with that done she then closed her eyes proceeding to meditate.
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The Relic Hunters...
Elsewhere outside of the cathedral, and its gloomy surroundings of the ancient cemetery which had long since been reclaimed by nature, though the overgrowth was rather twisted, and a dense fog surrounded the place, along with a very thick forest of trees straight out of a haunted novel that kept the grounds below them almost near dark as if night.
Skeletons and zombies shambled along mindlessly, the sounds of nighttime insects filled the air, along with an eerie howl of the wind that blew through the trees almost sounding as if a banshee was somewhere roaming the forest.
Above the forest the night sky was darkened by thick clouds, every so often patches of clear sky allowed the light of the moon to illuminate the tops of the thick canopy of the forest causing any rays of moonlight that did make it past to make things seem even eerier.
Five figures slowly made their way through the thick underbrush, and fought their way over an old stone covered path that was barely visible, one of these figures was tall human male standing at six feet clad in armor head to toe like a knight from the medieval times, wielding a well crafted long sword, and a steel shield with a red lion for a crest on its front.
The second figure was a short female elf standing at three-foot-two with green short-cropped hair, her eyes amber wearing a black-n-white patterned robe, in her hand, she held a staff that was covered in vines, at the top of the said staff was circlet with a red jewel that floated defying gravity at the center of the circlet.
A third figure looked to be an aging human male standing at five-foot-nine with gray hair, dark brown eyes, his clothing consisting of chain-mail and a black-n-white tunic with a golden religious holy symbol on its front and back, in his hands he held a mace and a shield that also bore a matching religious symbol.
The other two looked to be human twins, both men with raven-hair and green eyes were both tall and lanky and very effeminate looking wearing black-n-white combat leathers, one wielding twin daggers, whilst the other wielded a bow.
"Zachariah why are we following this old path for anyways I highly doubt it leads anywhere." the chain-mail wearing man queried, proceeding to perform a prayer which sent a chain of holy energy into three skeletons that were heading his way turning them to ash.
The armor-clad man leading his party cleaved three zombies in one stroke, spoke over his shoulder, "Because Jacob when I was up in the mountains I swear I saw a cathedral at the center of this dense forest."
"That is our leader for you ever the observant one." the elf girl called, casting an area of effect spell of healing on her party.
The twin with a bow took aim and unleashing a flaming arrow taking down a very large bat that had flown mere inches from Zachariah's head that was preparing to strike.
"I do not ever recall a cathedral being around here... and I've traveled every stretch of this area all that is there is an old cemetery," he called, taking aim this time at a skeleton that was moving in on his group's healer.
The dagger-wielding twin went on to kill six skeletons one after another in quick succession, "Well Perhaps the cathedral is a recent edition perhaps?" he offered, moving on to kill four more creatures.
"Let us hope whatever is in that cathedral is worth all of this boredom," Jacob said, as he continued to destroy the mindless undead that neared his party.
Zachariah forged on ahead leading his party in the most direct path, his party close behind keeping tight with one another to prevent each other from becoming separated.
Two hours later the adventuring party finally made it to the Cemetery gates, once inside the observed the undead were no longer giving pursuit instead appeared to be keeping a distance some forty feet back allowing the group a reprieve.
"I guess the undead won't go near this place," he called to his comrades, giving the cemetery grounds a cursory glance.
Jacob looked to the undead, then like his leader with a cursory glance he observed the cemetery grounds, bending down he placed his gloved hand upon the grass grimacing. "I am not for certain why the ground here is tainted its just the type of place they thrive in."
"Tainted ground or not, I am glad to be away from those nasty icky things." the elf girl called, proceeding to check her inventory.
"Sylvia do you have any of that cheesecake you the made last night left?" the bow wielder inquired, looking to his elf comrade expectantly.
The elf girl revealed to be Sylvia gave a casual nod, "Sure here you go Alpine," she called retrieving a small package from her leather side pouch holding it out, which the bowman took the proffered items.
Alpine wasted no time in unwrapping said cheesecake proceeding to break it in half offering a piece to his twin who took it in hand quickly devouring it.
The group after a brief break made their way around the cemetery exploring the decaying tombstones and moss-covered mausoleums, finding a few items nothing worth substantial value, eventually they turned their sights on the cathedral wasting no time in clearing the distance finally arriving before the massive gates.
The Cathedral being the largest of the structures in the cemetery was also the most ominous looking and decrepit the moonlight that gave a blue hue to the structure only served to increase the spook factor, the stain glass windows above the door were lit up meaning inside there was a light source.
The huge double doors that would allow the group entry was sealed shut and boarded, an engraving was in the stone above the door barely visible due to the darkness, the elf girl gained a fearful expression as she read it feeling shivers run up and down her spine.
"What does it say, Sylvia?" Jacob queried since he didn't wish to waste a light spell.
Sylvia read it once again, feeling once again as if someone walked across her grave, eventually, she spoke up in a shaky tone. "It- it. It says in all caps All ye who enter abandon all hope exclamation point."
Hearing his comrades words the dagger-wielding twin went on to say, "Well you know what that means don't you Alpine Bro'?" he questioned excitedly.
"It means a super tough boss fight Ringo... for copper-plated adventurers, but were both Platinum-plated adventurers so this should be easy," Alpine called confidently, proceeding to add poison to his daggers.
Zachariah placed a firm hand on Sylvia's shoulder to calm her down knowing she hated gloomy places, Jacob looked to the door preceding to cast an illumination spell, as well as one that detected magical traps.
Once it was revealed there were no magical traps on the door, the dagger wielder named Ringo approached checking the door for hidden traps, "Looks like its clear we just need to get these boards off and open the doors and deal with whatever is on the other side." he stated with confidence.
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Winds Of Freedom...
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Inside the cathedral, Ranma opened her eyes, so too did Nabiki both having heard talking on the other side of the sealed large double doors.
"I think we have company Nab's." the red-head commented, proceeding to stand, whilst Nabiki did the same grabbing up her naginata which was the only item in her inventory that hadn't been deleted a wicked aura of darkness radiating from it.
She looked to the door narrowing, "I think you are right... I hope they are friendly."
Both waited patiently listening to whoever it was on the other side of the door being a female speak though it was muffled and what they could make out they couldn't understand a single word meaning it was a language that was foreign to both girls.
Then a male voice was heard, followed by two more all of which both could understand which by what was spoken meant the doors would soon be opened.
The clattering of boards was heard, followed by the creaking of the doors being pushed inward due to the hinges being badly rusted, cool wind rushed in blowing over the two girls, their hair being blown about.
As for the adventuring group, musty stale air hit them, observing just in front of them the inside of the cathedral looked to be ruined, though what caught their eyes were the two individual's on the other side which was celestial beings.
"By all that is Holy," Jacob said jokingly not at all taking the pair seriously given the area in question.
'Hmm, a Demon and an Angel... what an odd Celestial pairing were they both locked in an eternal struggle with one another or something?' Sylvia inwardly wondered, finding such a sight intriguing though she thought the clothing they were wearing was quite ugly since it looked like they both wore rags.
"Well, Nab's looks like the doors are wide open... I smell freedom in that breeze." Ranma called cheerfully and unknowingly in celestial, she was grateful for the fresh air, along with the scenery just past the adventurers even if it did resemble a cemetery.
Nabiki looking past the adventuring group nodded her head, "I concur Ranma-baby that breeze is the best thing I have had the luxury of smelling in a long while." she stated also unknowingly in celestial, turning her attention to the adventurers who were bringing their weapons up brandishing them.
Zachariah and his group watched the two girls who were talking to one another not a single word of what they said was understood at all.
"What did they just say Sylvia?" he questioned, with a puzzled expression.
Sylvia shrugged her shoulders since she too was puzzled, "I honestly don't know I haven't learned the celestial language, if my sister was here she could tell you." she stated, proceeding to cast protection magic on her party.
Jacob then spoke up, "I think the Angel said something about freedom, though I can't be too sure I haven't learned enough of the Celestial language as of yet."
The group then observed the red-head take a few steps towards them, raising her right hand up palm out, her wings spread wide.
"Yo hi boy are we glad to see you guys!" Ranma exclaimed, proceeding to wave only to have an arrow whiz by close enough she felt it graze her cheek which caused her to pause.
She then dodged as several daggers flew her way, then found herself encompassed by a burning light as the chain-mailed adventure called out, "Holy smite!"
"Nab's I think they are trying to kill me!" Ranma exclaimed, closing her eyes due to the brightness of the light that currently was enveloping her person which also was quite hot.
Nabiki looked on owlishly as the entire group seemed to focus their attacks on her companion, she slowly nodded her head, "You know I think you are right..." she trailed, feeling a hot sensation in her back, turning her head almost mechanically she observed the dagger wielder had managed to get behind her and was standing there pulling back the dagger she assumed he stabbed her with bringing in the next one.
She swung wildly with her weapon, the dagger wielder back-peddled effortlessly avoiding the clumsy attack, he then observed the red-head had focused her attention on him at which he beat a hasty retreat to regroup with his friends.
"I don't get it I definitely hit home she took it like it was nothing!" Ringo exclaimed, observing the brown-haired Demon who was facing away from him had no signs of the damage he knew to have inflicted.
Sylvia having watched Ringo successfully stab the demon, yet said demon had no bleeding, and the red-head even though she had dodged the arrows, but had taken almost every magical attack they had used seemed to be still standing not looking as if affected at all.
'No damage, but that is impossible... are they?' she inwardly wondered to herself gaining a wide-eyed expression as if a light bulb went off going on to shout, "Everyone retreat now!"
Eventually, the blinding light from the smite spell dissipated, Zachariah not having heard his comrade rushed in with a precision downward swing in an attempt to cleave the red-head from her head to her toes only for her to catch his blade between the palms of her hands causing it to shatter into pieces much to his surprise.
Ranma then countered with an expert palm strike to Zachariah's chest crushing the plate in, a white light emanated to which the man burst into red mist.
"Zachariah!" Sylvia exclaimed watching the horrific sight with a horrified expression, her knees shaking.
Ranma blinked an equally horrified expression to her features observing her handiwork rained crimson goo all over the floor painting it along with both Jacob and Sylvia in their comrade's blood.
'Okay maybe enhancing that attack was overkill...' she inwardly trailed.
Nabiki having turned around just in time, felt as if she wanted to throw up, though she didn't have time to wretch as she had to dodge a barrage of arrows from the bow wielder which served to annoy her, she then using her naginata as if a javelin threw it in the direction of the bow wielder, the sheer speed it hurled through the air being near-supersonic passing through its target who fell to the ground dead on the spot.
"Alpine!" the dagger wielder shouted observing the demons handiwork, he wasted no time in rushing towards the now disarmed demon, only to find the red-headed Angel in front of him in a near-instant palm striking him to which he was blown backward Knocking the breath out of him losing several points of his health.
"Sylvia heal him; hurry!" Jacob commanded, moving to get between the celestial duo and his companions.
Sylvia with tears in her eyes gave a nod, turning to Ringo calling out, "Cure light wounds!" to which a green aura enveloped the dagger wielder.
Nabiki raised her left hand to which a shackle appeared its long chain connected to the naginata which sprung from its resting place back to her waiting hands. "Ranma-baby I think we should go ahead and finish them if we let them escape more adventurers will come hunting us for what we just did."
"Ye-yea I think you are right... but I didn't mean to do that I didn't want to kill him. Why did they have to go and attack us for anyways?" Ranma questioned, she had to once again close her eyes finding herself near blinded by a bright light of the chain-mail wielders attack he had once more repeated.
Nabiki didn't have to deliberate at all, "Ranma-baby its simple we are monsters and they are adventurers it makes tons of sense why they are attacking us. With that being said please finish them off quickly." she both explained and requested since her limited knowledge of video games told her that if they allowed any of the group to survive it would mean more adventurers would come after them.
With great reluctance Ranma nodded her head, proceeding to rush out of the enveloping light palm striking Jacob the light from before emanated and he too turned into a mist, she then quickly moved to the dagger wielder bringing him into a sleeper, proceeding to snap his neck.
She then turned her attention to the elf proceeding to move in for the kill, only for the girl to blink out of existence her palm passing through where the elf girl once occupied.
"A teleport spell..." Nabiki trailed in observation, she let a sigh escape her lips as she observed no other combatants in the vicinity.
Ranma stood there a moment scanning her surroundings, she looked to the two corpses, "Guess we could see what they have for loot?" she offered.
"I concur, let's hurry the elf girl escaped. Won't be long before she brings reinforcements." Nabiki said, proceeding to walk over with purpose proceeding to bend to one knee and rifling through the Alpines belongings.
Ranma doing much the same with Ringo's corpse, "Too bad things went down this way but you know for some reason I don't feel bad at all whereas when I killed Saffron I felt like utter crap. On the bright side, we are free now." she said retrieving a hooded cloak from the corpse's inventory that was black with white trim looking it over shortly before putting it on slipping it over her wings.
"Probably the fact this is a game... and very true Ranma-baby that we are," Nabiki said retrieving a similar hooded cloak from Alpines inventory proceeding to put it on, observing it concealed her wings, she brought the hood up.
'Well, he had an entire pouch full of gold pieces that's a plus.' she inwardly considered since they were definitely going to need currency of some kind while traveling.
"Gather what you think will be worth something and let's get out of here," Nabiki commanded, proceeding to grab anything she felt had trade value.
Ranma didn't have to be told twice as she was already in the process of doing just that, finding several colorful small bottles of some type of liquid contents, the two daggers, along with a bag of varying coins.
Two hours later the celestial duo made their way out of the forest onto a well-beaten path following it in a southern direction, behind them the entire forest was engulfed by flame burning everything within to ash and cinder.
Looking over her shoulder at the blaze, and the column of smoke wafting into the air Nabiki turned her attention forward, "You know Ranma was burning the entire forest truly necessary?" she queried.
Ranma shrugged her shoulder, crossing her arms behind her head, "To be honest I just wanted to test out my Apocalypse ability I mean think of it this way if that elf girl is bringing reinforcements that fire back there will help cover both our escape and tracks, plus we did a good deed for the day since the hordes of undead we came across will all be removed from the map cleansing the land." she explained feeling quite pleased with her handiwork.
"You practically just committed scorched earth. If there are any people in the forest they will end up torched Ranma-baby... Some might call that an act of evil." Nabiki pointed out, continuing to follow her companion.
Ranma let a wistful sigh escape her lips, "Evil huh... Perhaps you are right. Nab's I think something is wrong with me. I should feel horrified by that prospect and of my actions thus far but I ain't" she commented.
"Maybe its cause this isn't our reality... its a foreign land in a virtual game." Nabiki offered, she paused in her step barely audible were what sounded like screams from within the forest behind them.
She paused in her step looking back to the forest, "Ranma-baby should we go back and may-" she started to say finding herself interrupted by her companion, "Ignore it Nab's its just the wind howling through the forest."
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Five Days Later-
Ash & Embers...
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After five days of burning the entire howling forest was nothing but embers and ash, corpses of the undead as well as any wildlife and or travelers were laying haphazardly having been cooked where the stood or ran in the case of the poor individual's traveling the forest had not run fast enough.
At the epicenter of the blaze where it had begun was the cemetery, the tombstones within were covered in dark soot, the cathedral stood in all its glory not having seemingly to have fallen victim to the intense flames that had scorched the land.
Walking up the path were two adventurers, One being Sylvia the other her older sister who had long raven-hair tied back in a ponytail via red thread, and Heterochromia eyes her left one being bright blue, the right a bright emerald, her clothing matching her sisters, along with a matching staff across her back.
Also throughout the forest were a great many adventurers all both walking and looking around at the great destruction that had been wrought in amazement.
"I can't believe the entire forest burned... this cursed forest has stood for thousands of years only to be reduced to ash in a mere day and a half, even the ancient dead were turned to ash and cleansed from the land. What did you do here little sister?" The elder elf girl inquired, still in utter awe and disbelief at what she was seeing.
Sylvia grimaced shaking her head both rapidly and negatively, "I didn't do this Saiko you know as well as I do that would go against everything we believe in... It had to be them!" she exclaimed with excited emotion that was out of character for her.
"You little firebug you..." the elf revealed to be Saiko teased before trailing off, shooting her sister a questioning look due in part to her outburst, "What do you mean them?" she queried seeming to look around as if looking for someone.
She posed yet another question before her younger sister could answer, "U'm where are Zachariah and Jacob and the twins are they not waiting on us?" she questioned.
Sylvia bit her lip an aura of depression overtaking her, shaking her head negatively, "I... They... they are in there." she choked pointing towards the cathedral with her right index finger.
A few moments later had Saiko run out of the cathedral hunched over throwing up her breakfast, as she did so she observed the boards that had been removed from the cathedral entrance which had engravings on them which she recognized to be ancient warding.
"I am sorry... I didn't know how to explain so I thought it better to show you." Sylvia apologized as she exited the cathedral moving to comfort her sister.
Saiko turned to look back through the door of the cathedral, turning back around she went back to retching at the sight of the very roasted and cooked corpses of the twins, "I... Not even I can bring them back from that Little Sis' I am sorry just what did this to them? What were you even doing here?" she questioned.
Sylvia did her best to explain everything that had transpired during her earlier excursion into the cathedral when her comrades were still alive, the entire time she couldn't help but cry.
"I wow I can't even believe this Zachariah I can understand wanting to explore this cathedral same with the twins, but Jacob should have noticed the wards on the door and steered clear of it," Saiko stated with disbelief as she couldn't believe what she was hearing, yet she knew her sister was not in the habit of making stuff up.
She then went on to say, "I mean what part of 'All ye who enter abandon all hope exclamation point do any of you not understand... You Sis' What were you thinking you should have checked for magical warding spells!" she shouted.
"I- I am-" Sylvia started to say finding herself interrupted by Saiko, "You are telling me two celestial beings were inside one of which was a cross between an Angel and a demon, and the other an Angel literally one hit quit Zachariah with a palm strike turning him to mist... he was Orichalcum class same with Jacob... You literally if that is exactly how it happened you are lucky to be alive!"
Saiko shaking her head in both awe and disbelief at the sheer insanity of it all, as she looked off into the vast open plains that once was a thick forest crawling with undead that had been reduced to cinders, "To top it off one or both of them practically unleashed a high tier level spell of disaster here!" she exclaimed.
"I- I Jacob did cast detect magic I didn't see any magical warding, and I believe they were protected and enhanced by high tier magic which is mind-boggling cause enemies that powerful shouldn't even be in this area considering this whole area is a copper adventuring zone... We came in search of relics." Sylvia explained through sniffles.
Taking a deep breath Saiko did her best to calm her emotions, finally exhaling then took another breath before letting it out, "I am sorry I am overreacting, just yea if they were that powerful and in this zone... I've never heard of such a thing like this happening before."
"You think we could take them to a Temple and bring them back?" Sylvia queried of her sister, her features one of sadness feeling emotionally drained.
Saiko looked to her sister shaking her head side to side, "I... I not even sure we might be able to bring the twins back, but Jacob, and well Zachariah... there isn't anything to bring back." she choked, sitting down on a nearby stone holding her head in her hands.
Sylvia frowned, retrieving two items from her inventory being both adventurer's Orichalcum nameplates holding them in the palm of her right hand, "I have their nameplates maybe that will be enough." she offered halfhearted knowing how fruitless it may very well be given the circumstances.
Notes: Well Ranma and Nabiki are now stuck in a virtual world free to both explore and adventure within it. Course their first real interaction with individual's in the world went sour due to a break down in communications.
I'll write more of this story soon, I may cross it over by then once I figure out a suitable Anime to cross it into.