Reunion
The nightmare that was tormenting his dreams came clear to Yusei, the moment his eyes landed on an old friend. His aqua blue eyes made his eyes be filled with hate and anger. His teeth were clenched and fist was locked.
"YOU BASTARD!" Yusei shouts with rage.
Fire burst out around Yusei uncontrollably, spiralling around with no sense of direction. He threw a right fist into the male before him who smirked and dodged. Yusei's eyes were dead set on him. Streams of fire came from behind Yusei, targeting the male.
"First time seeing each other and this is how you treat me...Yusei" The male states in a calm tone dodging the attack.
"Die…" Yusei said softly in a deep tone dashing to him. "MAX!"
He threw another fist but the fire followed it creating a tornado like attack that made Max reveal his teeth through his wide grin. He was filled with excitement in his eyes. He quickly gets covered by a dark cloak that shielded him from the fire attack and quickly grabbed Yusei's wrist and flipped him.
"Like I said..I'm not here to fight you" Max said slowly slamming Yusei's chest into the ground and landing on his back.
"Gruh!" Yusei said, spitting out blood.
Max had a good grip on Yusei's hand. One foot was digging into his leg and the other his back. Max stares down at Yusei with the same grin. The darkness spread from his body adding more pressure against Yusei who felt like he was getting pinned by a boulder.
"Careful...you may have numbers" Max said, raising his head a bit to Kira who was ready to attack along with her classmates standing at each entrance of the buildings. "But I have the advantage"
"What do you want?" Kira asked in a serious tone pointing her sword at Max who looked back at Yusei.
"Seems like our reunion is interrupted Yusei...I just wanted to rekindle our friendship-" Max said in a fake tone.
"...bastard...I'm going to kill you," Yusei said through his teeth looking up at Max with one intense eye.
"Such a good look on you...well we will meet again...in a better time" Max said, consumed by darkness and disappearing above Yusei.
"Wait!" Kira said until Tenso placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Leave him be...he isn't important now" Tenso replies staring back at Yusei.
Kira looked at Yusei who was trying to get up. He raised his head in her direction. She felt goosebumps go up her shoulders. His expression dramatically changed from the cold and distance to more like a killer. His eyes weren't empty like before but filled with hate that was consuming her.
"Tenso…" Yusei said slowly which grabbed Tenso's attention. "I changed my mind"
OOO
"So how did it go" Said a female voice in Max's head.
"Great" Max replied while standing near an edge of a cliff with his back against the rocky wall.
He was faced toward a city with tall skyscrapers that were shaped oddly. The sky had a mixture of fiery colours and grey. The sun was hidden by the clouds but shining brightly through them. Between him and the city was the desert.
How are things going on here?" Max asked.
"Everything is running smoothly….the only thing bugging me would be the firewalls so can't fully unlock the master control" she states.
A holographic screen appears in front of Max. There was an image of a black egg shaped stone with dark energy swirling around it. Numbers were increasing on the side of it.
"50 players only...last time it was 40" Max states.
"That's why I'm trying to find a way to pass the firewall to get a wider reach not just gun gale online but the other virtual worlds...to speed up the process but we have to stick with the manual method" she states. "Our hunter will continue to do his job...so you do yours"
"Yusei...I do sense darkness in him but it doesn't seem like it awakened," Max said. "Why are we looking for him now?"
"Don't worry about that….when I see him, everything will make sense for now, bring him here...it might be easier to unlock his power in a world that breaks reality"
The sky glitches for a few seconds along with the cliff Max stands on. The sky quickly went grey with streams of darkness flowing through it from the city to the tip of the tower Max was on.
"Soon we will take everyone's darkness to resurrect the dark lord" the woman with the purple lips said next to Max.
In the distance, a small fairy noticed the dramatic change of the sky which turned back to normal. She also had a small glitch that made her feel a little dizzy. She heard a noise underneath which belonged to a boy wearing a black robe, unconscious on the ground.
OOO
Two Months Later…
Ever since encountering Max, Yusei's personality changed along with his life. Tenso accepted Yusei's request, in giving him the red stone fragment. Yusei soon came to know of its power it has on the user. The stone acts like a tool to help better control the elemental power. It didn't happen instantly, Yusei still needed to work on his control but he wanted to know so much in a short amount of time.
He was stubborn and impatient but a student. There were classes he had to take that taught him a little more about his power and the values the organization has. He met with every of his classmates but gave them the stink eye. He didn't have friends in his old school; he wasn't going to start now.
There was a training exercise class focusing on creating moves with their element. A simple task for most of Yusei's class since they have been here longer. Yusei was easily frustrated and caused some arguments that led to him using his powers against the others. Because of his obsession in getting more power and stronger, he made it difficult to grasp the teachings. His weak skill was swordplay. The teacher of that class was Kira who was the top student. She hardly sweat a muscle, sparring with Yusei who continues to swing his sword like a bat.
During her matches with him, she can tell he is more focused in using up all his energy in his swings making many openings she can use to her advantage. She also noticed he had bad coordination skills with a sword. It's just not for him.
Yusei spends most of his time in the library which was located on the same land of the dojo. He's always alone and no one disturbs him. He was eager to learn about his power and more. He's average in controlling his fire but it wasn't enough for him. He may have accepted a student here but his intentions will remain the same.
Flashback
Rain can be heard outside hitting against the window. Moonlight entered the room, shining on three people. The small boy, Yusei, was frozen in place, shocked with no words to say. The other boy with blond hair had blood on his hands with a creepy wide grin. His bare feet were in a pool of blood which had two bodies, male and female, in it.
"Your turn...Yusei"
Flashback ended
A candle was lit in the library. Yusei's eyes stared at the page intensely. The corner of the book had smoke seeping out. He never felt so full with emotion, with so much anger. Now he understands why that nightmare kept appearing in his mind. It was to remind him of the murderer who killed his parents.
Outside, Kira was in one of three training grounds. She was with her friend who was shooting arrows through every target. Each arrow landed on the red dot. She had long brownish hair that was tied in a ponytail.
"So...how is he?" her friend asked, pulling out another arrow from her back.
"Still stubborn and closed off like before" Kira states leaning against a wooden post with her arms crossed underneath her chest. "The way he goes now...he will end up getting killed"
"Oh" she replies softly.
"I don't understand him...didn't his parents not teach him how to get along with others?" Kira said frustrated.
"Well there might be a reason for his personality" she said softly taking aim.
"If there is, why doesn't he talk?" Kira replies. "We all are here to protect the powerless against the forces of evil- then again...his eyes"
Kira stops herself after remembering how he looked at her after Max left. She felt chills slide down her arms. There was like a switch that shouldn't have turned on. Even during the sparring sessions. There was hate and anger in his movements and his eyes. His emotions are what the darkness feeds off.
"hey...Megan, what if the darkness gets one of us?" Kira said slowly. "Would we be protected by the stones"
After Kira asked that, the arrow misses the center. Megan turns her head to Kira with a small smile.
"As long as we are pure in heart...the darkness won't infect us" Megan states.
"That's good to hear," Kira said exhaling. "Are you done training?"
"Ya just about" Megan states.
"Lets go to our dorms-" Kira said until seeing the library door open from a far.
Megan notices it too. Her eyes slightly widen seeing Yusei walk out stretching his arms. The both girls watch Yusei walk to the direction of the male dorms. Suddenly, he stops and turns his head. The two females quickly hid not wanting to be in his gaze. Yusei continues to walk.
"I can't believe it" Megan said softly.
"Jeez….why does he have to look like we are the enemy 24/7" Kira said annoyed.
"uh..I don't know" Megan said with a small smile. "Lets go"
"Hm?" Kira said, noticing a shift in Megan tone.
OOO
Asuna can be seen flying through the forest with great speed. She had a serious expression not letting even the smallest thing distract her.
"Alright...what's the status now?" Asuna spoke into the speaker portal screen.
"He should be near the waterfall- no wait...it seems like he is moving toward the mountain"
"Where is he even going!" Asuna said irritated and turned direction.
Asuna was getting tired of this cat and mouse game. It's been two months since Kirito disappeared. When Asuna realized Kirito didn't answer his phone, she knew something was wrong. The first week was tough on her without Kirito. She didn't have any clue of where he was. She wandered the streets, asked people around even went to the grocery store where she sent him that day.
She cursed herself under her breath and even called Peter but no answer. She was lost and didn't know who to rely on. Then the call came through Aincrad. Yui told her she knew where Kirito was.
Soon enough, the team knew. Kirito was in the virtual world. Yui had snapshots of where Kirito was. It showed him in different areas of Aincrad as well in gun gale online. This confused everyone on how Kirito got in the game without going through the nerve gear. Asuna remembered the mark that appeared on Kirito's arm. There must be a link on how he entered this world.
The whole gang has been trying to track down Kirito but the issue is that Kirito doesn't stay in one place for so long. Yui explained that there have been glitches in the game recently that started six months ago. They were minor bugs but something strange was happening in Aincrad which affected Kirito. He's been glitched to places like teleportation.
Yui has been able to track his movements at the summer home using a holographic map. There are light blue dots that indicate Asuna and everyone while the black is Kirito. The blue dots were not close but heading in the same direction has the black dot.
Asuna quickly reaches the mountain and tries looking for Kirito while still in the air. She hears an explosion to her right and quickly flies in that direction.
"Kirito!" Asuna shouts, catching a glimpse of Kirito who was falling backward.
His mouth was slightly open and his hair covered his eyes. His arms looked like he was reaching for something. He was endangered is all that Asuna could tell but the issue is, she can't see what is attacking Kirito. She increases her speed and reaches her arm out for him.
"Kirito!" Asuna shouts with tears coming out from the corner of her eyes.
Suddenly, Kirito glitches out of control along with small portions of the environment. Asuna quickly stretches her arm out going for his hand. For a split second, a dark anomaly flashes in front of Kirito then the second after, he is gone.
Asuna's knees hit the ground, sliding a bit but continued to reach. She lay her torso forward and clenched her hand that was supposed to take Kirito's. She slams her fist into the ground.
"Not again…" Asuna said underneath her breath while tears continued to slide down her cheek.
This was a cruel joke someone was playing to her. Tormenting her by taking Kirito away right before her eyes. This wasn't the first time. In total of times where she was close to take him, would be around 20. She had to feel this piercing blow in her heart 20 times and more coming if she doesn't figure out what is happening to him.
"Mommy..are you ok?" Yui asked through the speaker.
"I-I am" Asuna said slowly with a light sniffle and cleaned her eyes. "Where is he now?"
"In the opposite direction where you all are"
"Oh…" Asuna states sitting on her legs. "Tell everyone to meet back at the house"
"Ok"
Asuna tunes in the silence around her, calming her mind and heart. She needed to keep her cool or else, she wouldn't be able to save him. It's funny how she is the one chasing him now. She wonders if this was how he felt when he thought she was dead but actually was trapped in the game but in her case, she knows he is alive. When she does save him, she is going to show how much he means to her. That is her promise to herself and what is making her rise from her feet.
OOO
It was morning and Yusei received a letter from Tenso to meet him at the main building. He reaches there and sees Kira. Instantly, he averts his gaze to Tenso. Kira just let out a sound of annoyance and kept her attention to Tenso.
"Why did you call me here?" Yusei asked.
"It's time for your first mission," Tenso said.
"Wait what?" Kira said surprised.
The organization isn't mainly about school. It prepares the students for future fights against the enemy. As well as missions which consist of appearances of darkness or any activity that will harm people. Yusei has heard about the missions his classmates go to from time to time. It never interests him. He only had one thing in mind. Getting revenge.
"I have been observing him enough to know that he is ready to go on the field" Tenso states.
"But how can he if he doesn't know how to work with others?" Kira said. "Wait a second...you brought me here for a reason...your planning to make me go with him"
"Yes...you have been sparring with him and you are the top of your class...its best to have you be his guardian"
"guardian...I don't need no babysitter" Yusie states in a cold tone.
"You need more than that to watch you" Kira replies back.
"Plus, I don't want to be sent out on missions so no thank you-" Yusei said, turning around.
"This mission might interest you…" Tenso said in a serious tone. "There has been signs of extreme amounts of darkness coming from the national park...similar to the person that attacked you"
Yusei felt his blood boiled. He could hear his heartbeat loudly in him. This was the moment he was waiting for. All his training. He turned his head around. Kira stepped back a bit sensing the killer's intent.
"Right now" Tenso states, then looking to Kira. "Kira you will take the lead"
"Understood," Kira said with a nod.
OOO
Kira reaches the national park with Yusei next to her wearing a dark red scarf around his neck while she wears her yellow scarf. Kira could sense something off about the area but no exact location of where is the main source.
However, Yusei could see large amounts of darkness in front of them. He could sense Max from a mile away. He wasn't going to wait any longer. He started running. Kira was confused where he was going.
"Hey!...Where are you going!?" Kira yells trying to catch up to him.
Yusei jumped to a branch then to the next. Launching further away from Kira who was pissed and had the wind push her further.
"Hang on!" Kira shouts trying to reach for him but senses someone in front of them. She looks ahead to see the blond male wearing a robe. He had an evil smirk on his face.
"Its him," Kira said softly.
"MAX!" Yusei shouts with anger in his expression.
He felt his blood boil underneath his skin. Everything around him became blurry except for Max who was clear in his eyes. A layer of fire consumes Yusei who had one word echoing his mind. "Kill...kill" he thought, remembering that nightmare once again that was fueling his fire that spread into streams that were heading straight for Max.
Kira felt the heat and was surprised to see Yusei unleash so much fire. Not once during the time he was at the dojo, he showed this kind of power. Max didn't look worried but had a wide grin of joy.
"Amazing" Max states seeing the fire come straight for him. He jumps causing the flames to pierce the ground he was standing on.
However, Yusei appeared right next to him slamming his fist right into Max who felt that blow and got pushed back down into the ground. He opened his hands causing the darkness to shield him but Yusei kept banging his fist into it along with his flames that acted like extra arms.
"Like I said before…" Max states feeling the power of each attack getting stronger. "I'm not here to fight you"
Kira's eyes widen, sensing another attack coming underneath Yusei. She quickly runs to him. There was a black circle growing in size. Black metal chains came out of it and claimed Yusei's wrist, ankles and neck.
"Guh!" Yusei said, stopping his fist.
Kira fell to her knees having her arms get tied by the chains against her torso. It was tight making it difficult to breath. There was a force pushing the two straight into the ground.
"Grurhhh you bastard!" Yusei shouts, gritting his teeth at Max who watches with amusement.
"You have grown stronger...that's good but now the true game starts" Max said pulling out a black stone fragment that was the size of a tennis ball with many ridged edges.
"What is that?" Kira asked.
"You will find out" Max throws it at the center of the hole.
A bright flash of darkness consumed the area. Kira couldn't see or feel anything. Yusei on the other hand, kept his eyes locked at Max and still felt the heart burning inside him. A minute later, they disappeared.
OOO
It was dark and soundless. An empty space where there is no ground. Yusei felt himself floating in the abyss. He couldn't feel the weight of his body. It was like his soul and body separated.
"Kill"
The word echoes in the darkness. At first, he thought it was his voice.
"Kill"
The tone was deeper and colder sounding like it was coming out from a creature. Yusei felt himself getting choked. A burst of flames envelopes him.
He opened his eyes and quickly got up. The first thing he saw was buildings that didn't look familiar to him. Towers were reaching further into the sky. He raised his head and notice how the sky had a mixture of hazel and green with a faint darkness swimming like a fish.
"Where are we?" Kira spoke waking up and standing with a confused expression.
A screen pops up in front of Yusei. He had a message. Kira looked at his message.
"Welcome Yusei,
I'm sorry how things turned out but that's part of the game we are playing and I'm not talking about the game you are in. This world is a virtual world of games called Gun Gale Online. Where players all across the world put their minds in and play like it was real. A perfect stage for us to meet again. I gave you a map that tells you my location. Find me, I'll be waiting-"
Yusei quickly pushes the screen with force. His eyes widened after realizing his fire didn't come out. He opens his fit then closes it.
"What the hell is this?" Yusei said softly.
Kira notices it too. She tries summoning her wind but nothing. "This is bad news" she thought unprepared for this. Being trapped in a virtual world with no power. Another screen pops up.
"Ps….your abilities are locked at the moment though unlike the players in this game, you don't return to the real world when you die here...you have one life in boths worlds….so don't die Yusei until we meet"