Chapter .3

"So red avatars fight long range, their desire is for wanting to reach some goal. You listening?" Catherine and Vincent walked down through the city as she explained Brain Burst.

"Yes."

"Then what have I said?"

"Red fight long range, blue fight close range, green have defense, yellow use tricks, and purple have long and close range but poor defense. I got it."

"Good, you catch on fast. You'll need that if you want to survive."

Vincent stopped as the two got deeper into the city. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise Vinny!"

"I don't like surprises, and don't call me that."

Catherine stopped as well and stood in front of Vincent. She leaned close and raised her hand to the side of Vincent's face. "Come now, It's normal for a parent to have nicknames for her child."

Vincent swatted Catherine's hand away. "I'm not your child, now tell me where we're going or I'm going home."

Catherine stepped back and shrugged. "Fine, but without my help you'll be attacked where ever you go."

"And you need my help in some war."

Catherine let out a sigh. "We're going to the Opal legion HQ. It's in the downtown library." Catherine took a hold of Vincent's hand to pull him along, to which he pulled away but fallowed her.

The two arrived at the library, as Vincent went in he saw a girl with long dark hair walk out. She stopped to look up at Vincent with heterochromic eyes, the right eye was purple and the left was pale green. The two looked at each other for a moment then the girl quickly walked away as Vincent watched her. "That girl from fencing class."

"What are you looking at?" Asked Catherine.

"Nothing."

Catherine crossed her arms and grinned. "Can't be nothing if it caught YOUR attention."

"Then it's none of your business." Vincent brushed pasted her to go inside.

In the library Catherine lead the way to a private room. "Okay link in to the network. Oh, and I'm setting my linker to wake me if someone gets near me."

"Why are you telling me that?" Vincent took a seat across from Catherine.

"Well we are alone. Who knows what you'll try to do to me." Catherine crossed her arms over her body, grinning as her body shook.

"Are you going to show me this legion or not?"

Catherine sighed. "At least give a girl some excitement." The two linked into the library network. Inside the two stood in a hall with seemingly endless bookshelves. "That's your virtual self?" Catherine looked over Vincent who looked just like his real world self.

Vincent spun around to see Catherine in a dark red evening dress with a matching butterfly mask. "You could remake yourself in this world and you choose not to?"

"And do what, add animal parts? change my hair color? No thank you."

Catherine shrugged and waved her hand for Vincent to follow. Going down the hall Catherine waved her hand to bring up a menu. she typed on the screen and a book appeared before them, Catherine opened the book and a bright light blinded them.

When the light faded they were on a bridge leading to a sliver palace in the center of a lake. "Where are we?"

Catherine pointed towards the palace. "That's the opal HQ, where the opal legion comes to hang out, get info, meet other members. It's here to keep hidden for the other legions."

Vincent began walking towards the palace. When her reached the door Vincent kicked it hard but the door remained shut.

"Violence won't let you in." Catherine touched the door and a keypad appear, she typed on it and the doors opened.

Inside the two were in a large lobby with countless people moving about. "This is the common area, where other members of the legion can meet up." Catherine pointed to a glass elevator in the center of the lobby. "We'll take that to the planning room. Where we'll introduce you to the leader." They enter the elevator as it takes them up. "Now follow my lead and act nice."

"Whatever."

"I mean it Vincent! This is important!" Catherine looked at him with grave seriousness. The elevator doors opened to let them into a dark room lit by a large map of the city, parts of it in different colors as four people circled around it.

As they stepped in a pale woman wearing a long sliver coat over a shirt, dress pants and shoes of the same color turned to them. "Teal." The woman spoke with a welcoming tone but held a hint of authority.

Catherine kneeled down as the woman approached them. "Vincent!" Catherine panics as Vincent was still standing.

"I bow to no one."

The woman stood before Vincent and looked him over. "So this is what you brought me Teal?"

"And you are?"

"I'm the leader of the opal legion, Opal Commander. And you are?"

"Vincent. Eminence Tyrant."

"Why do you seek to join-"

"Can we cut the crap? Catherine here says you need people for some war. I need to join a legion so people don't attack me all day long."

"How about you show some respect!" One of the others around the map spoke up. He wore a deep blue knight's armor with a battle ax on his back.

Vincent spun towards the knight. "And you are?"

"Byzantine Crusher, and I challenge you!" The knight waved his hand to open a menu, he turned to the opal leader who nods. Seeing a list of names he picked Vincent's.

The world around Vincent broke apart then reformed itself as machinery while his body was encased in his armor. Before him a large blue knight with a huge hammer resting on his shoulder. "Now then, Eminence Tyrant. I-"

Vincent held out his right arm and rapidly fired white beams light as he ran towards his enemy, as his special gauge filled Vincent drew his sword and raised it overhead as he jumped at the blue knight. "Royal Cut!" Vincent's sword glowed bright orange as he brought the sword down on the crusher, severing his arm and taking a fourth of his health.

The knight stepped back and struke Vincent with his hammer, sending him flying away and taking two thirds of his health. "Cretin! You have no honor! Attacking an opponent before a duel begins!"

Vincent pushed himself up, dropping his sword to place the hand on his chest. Vincent raised his right arm, shaking as he opened fire. Byzantine Crusher charged to Vincent as most of the shots missed him.

When the blue avatar was close he raised his hammer and swung it straight down. Vincent sidestepped the hammer and punched Byzantine in the chest. Byzantine Crusher laughed as his health didn't even flinch. "That you're best shot?"

"This is." Energy gathered in Vincent's blaster. "Charge Shot!" The blaster fired a beam of orange light that pierced through the crusher's chest launching him away, landing on his back and taking his health to twenty percent.

Vincent went for his sword but saw the hammer, he picked it up and stood over Byzantine Crusher. "Let me give you a little tip. A fight is about who's left standing in the end. Nothing more." Vincent raised the hammer and crushed his opponent's head.

BP 119 - 149

The world shifted back to the palace planning room as Vincent's armor was removed. "Bastard!" the knight reeled his arm back when the opal leader grabbed his arm.

"That's enough Byzantine. Return to your duties." The knight reluctantly bows, he glares at Vincent for a moment then returned to the table. The leader turned to Vincent. "Impressive. You're a level one but you took down a level three."

Vincent stepped back and crossed his arms. "This mean I'm in?"

The leader waved her hand open a menu, after hitting a few buttons a message appeared in front of Vincent, offering to let him join the opal legion. Vincent pressed yes.

"Welcome to the legion."

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