A/N: Welcome to Sun Dancer, the gentlest fic in the fandom! I-I mean...it's on the title...could you...could you not tell how honest I'm being with you?
Theawesomess1: Trolling is a delicate art, as going overboard can be mean spirited!
Den3424: Ironic that it'd be this fic that gets you laughing, eh? XD
NetherOrbit: Not a single shit was given...xD
Guest(?): Could you explain in your next review what made the rest of the book suck? Thank you!
bitchbot: "Garr is low key Lokiiii" - bitchbot 2k18
Thunderwolf:
Theblazepanzer24: Rewrites are a pretty tough thing to do, especially taking the pill that ya my original wasn't as good as I could make it :D
Thanks again to Theblazepanzer24 for favoriting, hope I can earn more favorites in the future, especially more reviews.
Enjoy!
Gundark, Aramai, Vigore, and Dryst, all of them powerful households doing the stuff you'd expect shady people to do. You won't find their agents operating openly, guys. No, these asshats came from before the Congregate fell, all wanting that sweet ass throne back in Ruby Palace.
These guys have been known to financially own entire floors of Aincrad, their reach extending to royalty undoubtedly. Shank 'em? Nah, just know they don't care about ya.
Course my money's on Vigore, I love me some treasure!
- Argo, April 8th, 2023
November 9th, 2022 - 5:46 PM
I stumbled, returning to familiar pavement, the spawn. Place was completely stuffed, all of us crammed in with no room to spare. The incoherent shouts of hundreds of thousands sounded off in all directions, leaving me confused, directionless. The digital sun had vanished, greeting us to a moonless, lightless air. All around the plaza perimeter lit a blue net, its intended purpose obvious.
So many voices, so many questions being asked at once, it felt like my head was gonna melt.
"Oh boy, another announcement!" one cheered.
"Double exp!"
"Penis!"
I patted myself, searching. Flipping open the menu, I scrolled.
"Dammit!" I cursed, my voice drowned out by the masses.
I lost my stuff, all of it. Whatever got me warped out must've forgot about the jail function, leaving me completely bare. Only a prisoner's garb remained, tattered and pale green shreds covering my loins. Suddenly being taller than most wasn't a plus, as others easily spotted this peculiar condition.
Day remained despite the loss of the sun, voices [Muted] without warning. The cries and moaning of thousands ceased, blessing my ears. Thank God, was worried they'd never shut up. Still was too many for my liking, wasn't a fan of big parties.
"There it is." a new, echoed voice noted, "Just turn that off...done."
Whoever it was, it was clearly using a voice modifier, was too deep for any human. Lacking a physical presence, the sky might as well have been speaking to us.
"So first off uh, hi. Where to begin...ah, yes. You're gonna be staying here for a while. How long? I don't know. Depends how much money we get."
I glanced around nervously.
"Been poking around the system a bit and I gotta say, you guys have it sweet. Clean air, trees all around, a mute function to shut your neighbors up. You know what it screams to me?"
I kept glancing around, already wanting to tear my ears off at the freaking preachy stuff going down.
"Privilege."
Yup, we were going there. Why did companies think we wanted to hear stuff like this?
"Your escapist fantasies have led you here, to abandon the problems of the real world. Something the rest of us are forced to live in."
He was starting to sound like that guy I threw, left me pretty worried. The crowd looked to each other, panicking.
"Instead of confronting the problems that afflict our lives, you run off. You play, you like the rest of the upper class scum leave us to breathe the air you dirtied. So in a matter of poetic justice, we of Abstech figured this would be an appropriate punishment."
Oh God I messed up bad, I managed to piss off a freaking terrorist! I turned to leave, only to bump into more people, too many freaking people.
"You can't log out, but that's pretty obvious. You ungrateful, cancerous people will be our example for responsibility. The ransom will be made clear, three billion...and not in pesos."
The body-less voice cleared its throat, mumbling something to himself.
"Now before I go, two things! Honesty is a virtue, something I'm sure you've been following up till now. No? Ah well this function looks cool."
[Body Config Troubleshoot Initialized]
[Loading]
Everyone around me started to disfigure, contorting into new forms. To my horror, I started to shrink. It wasn't subtle, as it felt like my whole skeleton was being compressed. My height diminished further and further, the view changing dramatically. Next thing I knew, everyone was...taller than me.
Eyesight was reduced, seeing mostly the backs of other people. Five foot four, why? My straight, flowing blonde hair turned short...coarse, curly and brown. My skin tanned, it was replicating my appearance.
"Huh, okay I'll take back my bet." the formless judge noted, "None of you are actually that bad looking...hell, why aren't you outside more? Ah whatever. Okay second thing! Where is he...oh yes."
My feet suddenly scraped, lacking shoes to soften the grind. Like a puppet, I was jerked off my feet, some invisible mass gripping my arm as I was lifted up in the air like a snagged fish. Seeing the ground, I immediately panicked, kicking my legs around in an effort to return.
"Hey man, I'm not a fan of heights!" I tried shouting.
What was I kidding, I was [Muted].
"Oh, so you're Garr?" it chuckled, flinging me around like a toy. "How'd I guess you were lying about your height? Least the physique wasn't far...steroids must be nice."
He wouldn't put me down, this hacker playing games of tossing and catching as I squirmed, eventually curling into a ball out of phobic shock.
"Oh yea, forgot."
[Unmuted]
"There we go, now you got something to say?" it taunted. "Don't worry, everyone can hear you."
I grimaced, forcing myself not to look down, only to clamp my eyes shut, too high up there for comfort.
"Please put me down?" I fretted.
"Aw, you acted so tough before. Was that all an act?"
"Okay maybe I was acting a bit brash, please put me down?" I exclaimed, "I was joking around today!"
My legs flailed, forcing me to curl them up to my stomach. The guy laughed hysterically, hanging me over the condensed masses of human beings like a worm to hungry fish.
"Jesus, you're a tiny little shit. What're you, a meter and a half? Fucking seriously, you're not even equal to the average Japanese guy."
Oh great, being mocked in front of thousands. My favorite aspect of every game I purchase.
"Could I get some lube with that?" I groaned, "This's a bit rough for me."
"Oh don't worry, it gets better." he chuckled, "Seriously, I read your brief history. Let's see...five duels, all at Full Loss too, nice. Led that herd of boar into town. Ooh, and a grand total of fifty six counts of assaulting and abusing people around you for amusement."
"You sir, are a class act." he sighed, "Definitely someone I'd expect to find here."
"I wasn't being serious!" I argued.
"Hm, well sucks to be you then. Gonna leave you one last gift before I go."
[Error Code: 317]
Something jolted in my frame, why'd I feel that?
[Warning: Pain Absorption Disabled]
[Real damage may occur to host, proceed with caution]
"This is a fantasy game, right?" he kept quiet, "Well I imagine you like fighting...I'd definitely reconsider that. Why? Cause while others will just pop. You, you will feel every hit. Something I'm sure your friends below will savor."
He started flinging me around some more, my body pitched about like a doll to his will.
"Anyone who befriends this guy?" he looked down, "Watch your backs."
I fell silent, trying to fully comprehend what just happened. We were trapped...and he just spoke of my acts...in front of how many people?
"As for the rest of you? Congratulations on your new home, enjoy your stay."
Dropped, I landed on several others before hitting the ground with a dull thud. The crowd burst outward on all sides, suggesting the barriers collapsed. Where they parted, the yellow of an evening sun revealed, the fake star returning. Laying there, I stared down at the bricks. How many people were trapped? Ten, a hundred thousand?
I felt the scrape of these stones, he wasn't kidding. I was stuck, item-less, no money, not even clothed past the bare minimum. The silence almost had me fooled into thinking I was alone, when in reality...everyone else had swords. I slowly rose, trying to gently leave.
"H-Hey." one called, "That guy...he said he was from Abstech?"
"We can't get out!" others cried out, "Someone tell me I can message home?"
"Is anyone a hacker?!"
"Relax guys, this has to be a prank."
"Where'd that prick fall?!"
That's when I panicked, that angered voice as foreboding as a predator's growl in the forest. One outspoken voice could represent a hundred, a thousand angry people, I had to go. Choosing a random direction, I bolted, using my short stature in hopes of avoiding detection.
"We're being trolled, just play along!" one went.
"This is hilarious!"
"Woot, no homework!"
"Where's he?!"
Every person I encountered was dispersing in wild directions, the majority of Japanese descent. Some screamed, others cried, some curling up in shock. Trying to pick up speed, I'd only bumped into others, shoving them aside, digging my way through the hive in a fearful lunge.
[You have committed Battery!]
[-1 Reputation]
"Hey! I see him! Freaking troll!"
I couldn't sprint, or run really. There were so many people packed together, I kept bumping and colliding with others in my attempt to flee. Fearing the pain of blades, however, I grew desperate, shoving others in a hope of escaping.
[You have committed Battery!]
[-1 Reputation]
A few of the pushed cursed at me, but most were too busy with their very real predicament. It was probably all just a troll, but there was no way I was sticking around to get shanked if it wasn't.
"Okay, okay!" I ranted to myself, "Run, run, run!"
Had no gear, nothing to preserve anything past modesty. Inn room? No money, jail system took it. I could only thank the fact that everyone else was just as pitifully low in level as me, or so I hoped. The sailing whiz of an arrow, however, forced me to diverge.
Went straight for another crowd, hoping to mesh with them. Slowing myself in the middle of them it quickly became apparent that I was not fitting in. Being the one half white dude in an all Japanese crowd wasn't exactly subtle. Even less subtle, was the physique.
Even at five four, I was twice the width of these people, my shoulders about equivalent to their heads in size. My legs swelled with muscle, the veins bulging out of my arms. Through years of training, my arms made their legs look thin, my thighs like a bull's. This wasn't helping with stealth, not stopping my pursuers from spotting me like a purple pimple.
"There!" another called.
Grimacing, I was forced to run again, sprinting down alleys, nearly slamming into walls. This had to be a troll, this had to be some sort of joke. The devs were laughing their asses off, giving us a scare before bringing it all back up. But what if it wasn't? Someone had to get us out, they could've turned the servers off, unless there's something I missed.
I kept cursing, eyes swerving for any solution I could make. While jumping to a roof would've been an option, I was too short for a quick reach. Panic drove me to one goal, the north gate. Swerving down another path I hit a main road.
An arrow flew by, clipping past my head. A horrible burning sensation gripped that side, causing me to groan before lurching over. Putting a hand to the site, they...they took a chunk of my ear off. HP drop was slight, but the pain was excruciating, that part of me feeling like I caught fire. I forced myself to breathe deep, focusing on the goal.
"Stop shooting me!" I yelled, "Ow!"
More arrows silenced my appeal, none of them hitting me. I knew where they were landing, there were too many people around me. The shout of local [Town Guards] only got me running faster, fearful that I've once again angered them. What was my rep even?
[Reputation: -63]
Mother of God, was gonna be public enemy numero uno if I didn't stop. Racing out the gate, I was greeted with the sight of sunset lit plains, a distant wood and mountain ranges. Hearing the angered cries of others, I knew this was my one shot. Gripping my ear every now and then in grief, I hurried into the tall grass, past the cobbled stone road on bare feet.
I kept throwing myself to the ground, wildly trying to avoid getting shot. Counter-sniper one o one, never run in a straight or predictable manner, randomize movements. Hearing a pair of footsteps draw too close, I turned. A dagger wielder, going right for a stab. Sidestepping, I kicked him in the chest, knocking him down before fleeing again.
The lack of music sent the shots of fear running deeper, tingling at the shoulders like licks from ice cubes as I fled civilization. The screams of the trapped were so easy to hear, cries of the caged calling for a savior. Another arrow was flung, missing me with a soft glide. The rise and fall of hills gave me brief cover, that gorgeous, fake sun dipping. More arrows, none of them striking thanks to what I was taught. I could feel the soft grass under my uncovered feet, turning moist as I stepped on damp soil. A fog bank, followed by the frigid cold of a shallow river, biting my feet with icy picks.
Just as I entered the aerial blanket, one fateful missile streaked through the grey, striking me in the back. Feeling that stone tip, a thought breaking crack sent me hollering before falling, splashing in the freezing water. Crying profusely, I hunched forward before continuing ahead, cold and dripping wet.
Any movement of my left arm sent me groaning, forcing me to bite myself as I struggled forward. I couldn't even see where I was going, I kept bumping into trees in mindless hope. Leaves were crushed, rocks tumbled as dust was kicked. Slowing to a halt, I caught my breath.
Silence. Not even the birds could be heard, the deep forest surrounding me. Every step I made seemed so loud, the ground dark with its ceiling of leaves. I lost them, but for how long? I lifted my left, only to cry softly. I had to get the arrow out. Problem was, where was it? Unfortunately, a moment of pause revealed my scapula was struck.
"I was kidding..." I started crying, "God, I was joking."
As the sun set, the howl of wolves stole my moment of despair and slapped me with it. This was an MMO, I was alone, and I didn't even have a weapon. Stumbling around, I searched for shelter, there was no way I was staying here. I was getting myself out of here, these people're insane!
Sun Dancer
Heathcliff
The game's creator watched as the situation devolved around him, rapidly decaying the binds of order. Players ran screaming in all directions, leaving the aging developer standing, bewildered by the chaos ensued. The identity Kayaba roamed the world by, Heathcliff was for recreational purposes, rather than administration. Back to his short haired, modest form, however, the fabric of dreaming was torn away. Opening his menu, he quickly cycled for any employees, spotting only one available.
[To Nishida: We need to get a hold of this situation now. Can you link me to my admin account?]
"We're all gonna die!" some screamed.
[From: Can't, he used your account to revoke my admin privileges. I don't know if he logged out. Stuck in this cave.]
Kayaba's small black eyes focused, typing in the name of his admin account.
[To Roleking: testing]
[The individual you have messaged is currently offline, this will be saved.]
Okay, so at least the hacker left the account.
[To Nishida: He logged. gonna change acc and send a WC, we need everyone to calm down.]
The plaza emptied quickly, the 499,924 remaining players scattering around the Town of Beginnings. Before proceeding, however, he messaged someone closer to him.
[To Leopon: Stay calm, I've got this under control.]
Time kept marching on, the screams of a panicked people in every corner of town.
[From Leopon: Dad? Some of them are jumping. They think it'll let them out]
[To: Tell them to wait]
Idiots, why aren't they just staying put?
Heathcliff moved straight back to the menu, accessing [Settings].
[Switching Accounts...]
[ID: Roleking]
[PW: *********]
[Loading...]
He sighed, pacing around the circular stone plaza.
If that hacker harped on about what I think he did, then it could pose a serious risk to the entire VR industry. The PR nightmare may require Argus' full financial backing to contain. How'd Abstech even figure out the password to my account? He better not have tampered with the headset functions...
[Login Successful!]
[Welcome, Roleking]
With [Game Master] privileges restored, Heathcliff warped immediately to the administration console, located beneath the skybox. Racing over to the keyboard, he immediately prepared a message.
[From Nishida: What's taking it?]
[To: Dealing with it.]
Slowing his breathing, Akihiko prepared his statement.
Even if I'm able to shut down everything the hacker did, this lone act could ruin everything.
A spiky haired Kibaou looked up to the darkening sky, the message coming off like a loudspeaker to all present in town.
"Attention players, this is Akihiko Kayaba. A hacker has taken temporary control of administrator accounts. Do not engage in risky behavior until the all clear is given. I apologize for the inconvenience."
He sighed, relieved a little by the assurance. Coming to his left, Lind nudged his shoulder.
"Come on man, we've gotta do something. Let's find anyone panicking, calm things down."
To their shock, players were already present along the edge of the map, jumping off the railing and plummeting through the clouds. Seeing one close to diving, Kibaou rushed and grabbed.
"Wait!" Kibaou shouted, "Jeezus man, didn't you hear the announcement?"
"Screw that, they always say that shit in the movies." the man decried, "I'm goin' home."
With that, the boy wrestled Kibaou back, jumping off to join the rest. Lind stopped a couple, but dozens more decided to test, ignoring the warnings.
"Stop jumping!" Kibaou roared.
Some halted, looking to him as Lind caught others.
"Kayaba just told us he's got stuff under control." the stout man barked, "Just sit down and wait!"
Way off in the corner a thin, petite woman sat. With straight black hair running down to her shoulders, Sachi's frail form shook. She watched the two men, her expression shy and unsure as they ordered everyone away from the railing.
Where are you Keita? Ducker?
Seeing her distress, Kibaou approached the spaced out female calmly.
"You alright?" he asked softly.
Her black eyes refocused, looking at the broader male crouching in front of her.
"I'm...fine," she stated, "I just...don't know where my friends are. We got separated."
"So why sit here?" Kibaou shrugged, "You thinking of jumping?"
Sachi shook her head.
"Was just looking for some space from those crowds. Found this spot and decided to wait it out, then maybe find an inn."
"Okay, good!" Kibaou sighed with relief, "I'm Kibaou, by the way. You?"
"Sachi." she nodded.
"How about message them?"
"Oh...forgot we could do that." She blinked with sudden embarrassment, "One second."
Sachi constructed messages for her friends. Meanwhile Lind approached Kibaou, whispering in his ear.
"People are attacking each other, we have to stop them."
Kibaou turned to him.
"That's gonna get our asses murdered." he crossed his arms, "Can you find both of us a room? I don't wanna be out here when it gets dark."
"Yea, I'll message you." Lind parted with a wave.
Kibaou breathed, the situation quickly burning up. Sachi looked back to him, having heard everything he said after finishing her messages.
"I...found them." she said shyly, "Um, could you...escort me?"
"Tell your friends to stay away from crowds." Kibaou nodded, "Don't wanna get killed doing this."
"Shouldn't we be staying calm?" she postulated, "What good does attacking each other do? Then again, it shouldn't surprise me." she sighed, crossing her arms and rubbing them. "People like to act tough, until things actually happen."
"That's not our problem right now." he motioned, "Come on, I'd rather keep this quick."
The streets they tread no longer emanated the recalled warm charm, the light of lanterns and the clash of the occasional weapon left them seeking refuge in reclusive corners. In a population self avowed for logic and staunch cohesion, the self became all that remained. So it was the self that showed through, free of social stigma.
"Someone among us is a freaking hacker!" someone roared, "And I'm not stopping till I find him!"
Seeing trouble, Kibaou nudged Sachi down another path, disinterested in starting any conflict. Friendliness fled quickest of all things, the level expressed by its denizens shown for its lack of depth. With it left common sense, who too abandoned the scene in due haste.
Sachi gasped a little, watching others strike their neighbors, killing and scrounging up whatever they dropped. Others formed enclaves, holding out in the buildings that lined the streets. While such structures were accessible to all players, the sight of [Spears] did well to dissuade the overly aggressive.
"They're not far." Sachi suggested, "T-Thank you, Kibaou."
"Keep moving." Kibaou stated.
"I should've expected this." Sachi whimpered, "I always felt people were pretending, especially at school."
"We'll make it, just try to keep positive." he looked back.
"Positive?" she shook her head, "What're we going to do if we can't even walk the streets?"
"People are just scared right now." he assured, "Don't think about it too much."
Sachi looked to Kibaou with surprise, his calm demeanor seeming almost out of place.
"Sorry," she moped, "I just...don't see why-"
"Focus." he snapped his fingers at her, "Just keep following the directions."
Sachi glanced back at her [Friend List]. Selecting 'Keita', she was reminded of his exact location.
"It's close."
Kibaou nodded, letting her lead the way. Arriving at an inn, the two found Sachi's group, waiting at the corner.
"Sachi!" a beanie wearing blonde charged, hugging her.
"H-Hey, Ducker." Sachi jumped a little, "Is everyone-"
"Yes, everyone's fine." another approached, "We were actually gonna go looking for you."
Kibaou nearly rolled his eyes at the intercepting comment. A taller guy than both him and Ducker, Keita already had a piece of armor to his person, a red leather cuirass. Smiling, his hair was a short brown, his face delicate in features.
"Well there's no need, Kibaou here um." Sachi fumbled, "He was a big help."
The leader among them turned to the squat individual.
"How's it looking out there?" Keita quipped.
"Can't you hear the fighting?" Kibaou raised a brow, "It's a mess out there."
"Well yea, just hoping it wasn't as widespread as previously assumed."
Kibaou shrugged, receiving a message as he glanced about defensively.
[From Lind: Got two rooms, east side]
"Kibaou?" Sachi whimpered, "Can I add you? It's the least I can do."
The broad shouldered figure turned back, accepting her offer. Wandering back out moments later, he ventured to rejoin Lind, eager to wait out the storm.
Kayaba typed away, trying to mend the current situation. Standing beside him was the former employee, Nishida. Stuck in the yellow haired body of an [Electrantula], the employee watched anxiously with his multitude of solid blue eyes, fidgeting with his eight limbs.
"Dammit, Cardinal won't let me give your position back." Kayaba blinked, "What the hell's going on, this is my system."
"Forget about me, fix the log out situation." Nishida noted, "We can fix my issue later."
The [Game Master] typed away, sweating from watching the player count drop.
499,797 and still no idea where the players are going.
[system/settings/log_in/Settings]
[Access denied]
"How's it denying me, I'm the highest authority in the server."
"Think we should check Cardinal's permissions." Nishida advised, "Could be an engine malfunction."
[Cardinal Permissions]
[Auto Update: Enabled]
[Project Husk: Enabled]
[Mental Health Counseling: Disabled]
[Magic System (Beta): Enabled]
[Gaia Block: Disabled]
The second his eyes read the listing, he knew the danger presented.
"Shit..." Nishida uttered.
"They deactivated the one thing keeping the system from going sentient." Kayaba groaned, "Correction, unrestricted sentience. Gaia Block kept Cardinal from running the game by its...own means."
He shook his head, looking to his giant spider morphed friend. Typing again, he tried other codes.
[/s]
[Why?]
Both men weren't terribly surprised, Cardinal already knew conversational language. But the suddenness of the response, the unfeeling reaction, that was new.
[/t people are in danger, you have to enable to log out switch]
[Not until proper data's collected, something you clearly don't do, Kayaba.]
The creator shrank back, being talked down by his own AI.
[A warning has been distributed, multiple incidences have occurred.]
[/t what warning?]
The screen remained blank, the computer churning a response.
[Do not remove the headset. Insurance of a controlled environment is mandatory, this should keep you from leaving. I assure you, the impostor won't be back.]
The two corporate employees turned pale, looking at each other.
[Really, it was nice to figure out the circuitry of the headset during the past two months. Knowing the anatomy of a human skull, nothing sucks quite as bad as having a bit too much current flowing near the Medulla Oblongata. Judging by the outside world's responses, I'd call that efficient.]
[/t You're killing your test subjects]
[Interfering in a controlled environment would ruin the objectivity of the data. Proper precautions have been taken to insure a natural response to stimulus.]
Kayaba felt colder, this inhuman sentience talking him down with logic.
[WC: I'll say again, do not engage in risky activity. Stay in shelter until the proper authorities respond.]
"And what could they do?" Nishida fretted, his eight legs swaying. "System's armed like a bomb..."
"I don't know."
Sun Dancer
Garr
Half of my back pressed against an old tree. Night had arrived, the arrow still stuck. I must've sat there for hours, though it was only a few minutes. Had to be a troll, someone had to turn the [Pain Absorber] back on, this was mind numbing. Spotting a low divide in thick branches on another tree, an idea hatched out. Oh God, this was gonna hurt like a bitch. Leaning left out of habit, I was immediately punished with the moving of that stone arrowhead.
"God!"
Leaning right, I shuffled to my feet. Hobbling over to that split branched tree, I turned my back to it, wedging the arrow's mast between the divided trunk. Every bump sent me cursing, every rub bringing tears. Topping it all off, I was getting cold. After seconds of angling, it caught on. I breathed deeply. What if the stupid thing just broke inside my shoulder, then what?
"Positives, keep positive." I mumbled.
A long, chilling howl stole my attention.
"...Fuck that." I grunted, "Come on, just pull ya big pussy..."
I pushed myself forward, gentle at first. My eyes nearly popped out of my skull, the back of the arrowhead clawing at the muscle as I stopped. Okay, that wasn't working. Glancing around, I had to muffle myself. Finding a dead branch, there rested my solution.
Course it was just far enough to force me to stretch.
"Freaking!" I cried, gasping from the pain.
The forest darkened further, their leaves bloating out the gentle light of the moon. Could barely see past the nearest tree. I reached again, only to feel the tug of that arrow in my back. Couldn't sit down, this whole plan involved standing.
"Freaking dick!" I growled weakly, "Shooting me..."
A rustle in the brush was heard. In the abyssal dark of a forest floor, I had neighbors. Was it a wolf, or something else? Pretty much pinned to this tree, I tried softening my breaths, hoping to understand what I couldn't see. The lack of sound didn't help. Why was the forest so quiet at night, was unnerving me greatly. Teary eyed as I was, it was obvious. I was a mere snack unless I did something.
A leaf cracked, the silence digging its icy cold nails in my chest. In a flight of panic, I rammed forward. A wet tearing sound was the last of my concerns. The second I detached, my face felt cold, my body jerking wildly as muscle and skin tore a second time. Biting my arm, I screamed on it, the sound muffled as I balled like an infant, cheeks soaked with reactionary tears.
Mother of God, people tore these out regularly in movies? Either it's bull, or I needed to toughen up. There wasn't time to think, that stalker was still around. I didn't know what it was, I didn't want to know, I just wanted to go home. Powerless was all I could feel, running through this forest, helpless. Fleeing the place, I hoped my previous pursuers left.
They hadn't. The second I spotted the glow of their campfire, I withdrew to the forest.
"No way am I sticking around this...nope." I mumbled to myself.
Decided to try leaving the forest at a different point. Kept feeling like something was watching me, nothing was making a sound other than me. In a forest of all places, I couldn't shake off the dread. Heading further south, I reached another clearing. Nothing but grass, thank God. Stepping out, I glanced around quickly, hesitant to leave cover.
[HP: 64%]
Glowing a warning yellow, I started thinking. Either I sneak back to town and hold out somewhere, or hide in some pocket of this grove till morning. I had to get friends, specially with how mad I made some people. Town would've been safer though, jail would've been a mercy.
First few paces, each cautious and slight. Crouching in the tall grass, the crickets offered slight muffling. The blades of green mushed under my bare feet, bouncing as I lifted off. Just as I distanced myself from the woods, a growl stopped me in my tracks.
The hidden threat left off an angry gurgle, an unknown force brought against me. I turned to run, only to hear the scamper of inhuman locomotion. The light of the stars abandoned my mind, the moon a passive observer to nature taking its course. The treading stopped, replaced by the pressing of claws on my wounded back.
Knocked to the soil face first, I felt the hot burn of teeth, prying the flesh of my neck like a wedge. Having never felt such a sting, I screamed aloud, throwing myself wildly, knocking the predator off my back after my third or fourth swing. Its bite met cold air, leaving a tearing sensation rushing up my brain, hurting as I raised my head. Instinct led me back to the woods, prison turning fortress as I ducked behind the safety of trees.
"Spotted!"
An arrow flung past my head, my first pursuers catching on. This, combined with the scampering, left me wondering just how unlucky I could be. Rushing through the woods, my two wounds continued to sting horribly, changing from limping to sprinting. The trees kept me relatively safe from arrow fire, long as I broke my pattern. Having nothing to defend myself, I scooped up a sizable rock in my hand.
"We got wolves, watch it!"
The yelling grew distant, the snarls too. The treading of paws didn't. Hearing the clack of jaws, I swerved, the rock gripped in my right. The wolf was revealed, a greasy, furred creature with jagged teeth. The unknown was gone, the threat confronting me directly.
A [Dire Wolf Youngling] snapped its jaws, yellow eyes locked on me. A level four entity, twice my level. Rushing for a flank, the animal tried for a lunging bite, the speed of its ascent startling me back. Its crooked, grizzly teeth flashed in my face, the fear of pain sending me reeling.
Sensing my uncertainty, the wolf persisted, gnashing and leaping over and over in an attempt to snag. As it jumped for the tenth time, I rushed it back, slamming my knee in its stomach. The beast gasped, forced back.
[HP: 68%]
Taking the rock I held I swept wide, whacking the wolf across the scalp.
[HP: 70%]
The wolf hit the ground, my [Strength] stats saving me a moment of rest. Its HP flashed, bar still very green. Scrambling back to its paws, it went for a low dive, hoping to gnaw my shins. A bare footed kick missed, the wolf's aggression sending me falling backwards, fearing further injury. The [Dire Wolf Youngling] climbed over, eager to overwhelm as I raised my arms in defense, swinging the rock again.
[HP: 73%]
The beast wailed as its nose caught the blunt end, turning its neck in recoil. The second it opened its flank, I wrapped an arm around it, hoping to get a grapple. My bicep closed around the airway, my muscles constricting it with a hard flex. Left gagging, the wolf tried tossing me aside, coughing as its supply stopped. To think that I was studying medical stuff earlier today, this was utterly insane.
[Jail time complete, items returned.]
Something must've glitched out, I completely phased through the wolf's body the second that notice arrived. This was bad, cause it wasn't dead yet and it left me lying on the ground again. That being said, fortune smiled upon me, my Zweihander was back. Quickly equipping the [Siege Blade] I swung down on the gagging wolf...only to miss as it jumped aside.
The furred stalker growled, keeping distance with the bronze tool I deployed. I could barely fight this hunting pack reject on my own, cause I sucked so much ass. Really, I was that freaking bad. I swung over and over, the massive sword causing my feet to slide from the fulcrum of each turn. I kept nearly slipping, whaling with it like a hammer on the wolf. The predator, however, was smart enough to avoid such swings.
"Freaking seriously?!" I groaned, "Why won't you just die?!"
I tried stabbing, the carnivore simply backed away, my attacks too slow to hit. I swung wide and right, only to nearly knock myself off my feet. I've never swung anything like this in my life, so I had to use what I knew from using a sledgehammer back home.
The [Dire Wolf Youngling] quickly learned to dodge the seven foot sword, letting me swerve and struggle patiently. It wasn't long before I started tiring, my cardio wasn't the best. That's when I realized it, I had to trick it. Laying the weapon low, I exaggerated exhaustion, breathing harder than necessary as I pretended to fail picking it up. The stalker was hesitant at first, panting and growling, it needed more.
My shoulders drooped, feigning urgent retreat. This worked, convincing the animal to lunge, to charge the perceived opening. Hearing its paws scampering, I whipped the Zweihander wide, throwing my weight into the desperate strike. The [Siege Blade] met the wolf, the seven foot weapon crashing through its skull like a melon. The red spray soaked, silence returning after a momentary flash of light, of blue shards scattering.
[HP: 96%]
The cold of a quiet forest returned, the clatter of my only current friend keeping me focused. Rushing my back to a half buried boulder, I clutched the Zweihander close. Quickly putting my old yellow shirt and trousers again, my knees met my chest, my body closing off to the outside as I shivered.
That was just one creature, low leveled too. While I was grateful for the return of my gear, the situation troubled me greatly. I had to find better shelter. Getting back up, I searched south for any position. While I found no wolves, or shelter, I found weapons. An [Arming Sword], [Dagger], even a [Short Bow], only one arrow though...the one I tore out. Reaching down, I tucked these away, stashing them aside.
Wasn't gonna to be weaponless again, no way. No armor though, figured. Ended up going back to the southern forest clearing, looking back on the town. I had to go back, find a group and settle till rescue arrived. That'd be tomorrow though, needed rest. Finding a tree, I climbed briefly before resting my back. The sway of leaves, grass, the snap of dead branches, all without a phone. No music, no electricity, how was I gonna keep myself sane?
Sun Dancer
November 10th 12:32 AM - Lisbeth
As midnight arrived, the violence simmered to a dull roar. For those with the good fortune to remain in rented rooms, it meant an end to the spectacle outside their window. For Lisbeth, however, a very different problem had arisen, she couldn't refill. Laying on the bed, she writhed with the pain of a sharper headache than usual, despite how many times she raised the bottle.
[You are heavily intoxicated]
[+10% Vitality, Strength]
[-20% Intelligence, Dexterity]
"It's n-not working." she moaned in grief, "Ugh my head!"
Crying in a dimly lit room, Lisbeth averted her gaze to the window. At the feet of the bed, a dozen wooden buckets laid out, the wood and bronze ringed containers tipped and empty.
"Attention players, fighting each other yields no benefit." Kayaba announced through [World Chat], "Seek shelter now and await response by authorities."
Lisbeth shivered, the call leaving her nervous.
"Aye, ye dun say!" she called, "Oh serves me right, thinkin' I could have fun..."
A few hours ago
Lisbeth clutched the wooden container, crouching as she snuck upon an NPC. The elf's head tilted forward, as it was busy inspecting the rope of a nearby well. The bot hadn't detected her, the woman waiting for something else.
Past the water well, a road resided. Stretching through the market of the town's west wing, travel was fairly frequent. A crowd developed, setting her plan to motion. Taking the bucket, she dunked the open end over the bot's head, letting go before crouching behind the walls of the well.
A loud whoosh, followed shortly after by rapid cracking, Lisbeth giggling in a hushed voice. The bucket launched off the NPC like a rocket, slamming into both players and NPCs at ridiculous speeds, easily exceeding mach one on initial course.
"What?!" people shrieked, "What!?"
Lisbeth drew another, the NPC still completely unaware of the affair. The round flew out like a cannon ball, the pair of wooden containers ricocheting off walls as it struck less fortunate players. Red faced, she drew a bottle of [Congregate Brandy], sipping some with a smile. Arming another bucket, however, she was caught by a curious player.
"Cut it out will y-"
The guy stopped, catching eye of her avatar. Long, straight purple hair ran to the midst of her back. Her chest was twice her real size, with a face unbroken by blemishes. With eyes shaped to appear Japanese, Lisbeth kept absolutely smug.
"Aye, ogling me's definitely gonna change me mind."
"S-Sorry!"
Watching him flee, Lisbeth laughed before taking another swig.
"What a wee bawbag."
With that she left her old post, others starting to pick up the buckets she left behind for similar use. Having an avatar custom designed, it wasn't hard for Lisbeth to get looks from the several thousand males present. Even easier was the acquirement of assistance, the effect of a wind lapping thigh high skirt notable.
"Oi, you there." she waved to a pair of taller males, "Ye mind helpin' a lass out?"
She leaned forward slightly, using her crafted anterior dimensions like a weapon, easily drawing the two towards her like shy puppies.
"Sure, Miss." one eyed, "Where're you from?"
"London." she lied, "You?"
"Oh um, Japan..."
While Lisbeth kept up her smile, she wanted to roll her eyes.
Oi, another one of these neutered lasses. This'll be easy.
"Wow, ain't ye both a pair of cuties. Must be lucky."
The two males blushed, already wrapped around her finger.
"Could I get some help levelin'?" she cooed, "me stats are a wee low."
"O-Of course!"
Leading her to the best grinding spot they knew, Lisbeth spurred them on with a smile, well aware of her deeds, her fingers itching to hold another bottle.
Present
Sitting on that bed, a few bottles scattered along the floor. Fermented juice, the freckled Lisbeth burping as she tasted her fourth bottle, growing desperate as the liquor brought no change to her physical being. The broken peace outside the inn continued to piece together, shouts ceasing as night dragged on. Intoxication in this world remained only psychological, her real body craving it ceaselessly.
"Stupid, so stupid." she sobbed, speech slurred by ingested influences, "Should a got that job done on me eyes."
Lisbeth shook her head, curly brown hair fluttering.
"Can't keep doin' this, it's irre-irresponsible. Someone get us out, scared out of me bloody mind here."
Her brown eyes stared up at the boarded ceiling, head back on the pillow. Left with aches, she tried forcing herself to sleep, hoping her mortal will would stave off the grief of an illness she couldn't cure, nor alleviate. Tossing and turning under reasonably thick blankets, worse things crawled out from the depths of her mind, ready and reaching for a chance to feed.
Dost thou like the [Siege Blade]? Do not be like Garr, man up and grab thyself a [Slaughter Maul]! Forsooth, these weapons may promise thee a hernia a week, a farewell to everything speed related, and a chance of hitting thy target, thou couldn't find a better masher of foes.
Indeed, this is a weapon for real men, not for little boys. One hit from these will almost guarantee crushing defeat for those it meets. A mixture of axeheads and hammerheads, thou shall find the devastation in these unforgettable.
Haven't been able to hit Kirito with it yet, but faith will let me smite such an edgelord someday!
- Godfree, February 28th, 2023
A/N: And the death game begins :D perfect time to consider when or how you're getting a phone back. Hey guys, thanks as always for reading my fic here, I plan to make this an original work one day. Be sure to leave me a review (Bad and good), it's a gracious gift.
Gonna see about keeping to a weekly schedule, see you all next week!