Chapter 56
Ah, the sleeping on the eve of Christmas Eve is very enjoyable in my opinion. Usually it's snowing which is great to sleep in. But it's also the day before the anxiety of Christmas getting here kicks in.
As you can guess, I'm sleeping peacefully on this night. Nothing new from what I'd usually do but for some reason it feels more calming.
Calm is a really good thing at this point mind you. Last week Blanc gave me one hell of a beating because of that goodbye cheek kiss Rom gave me.
Ever since then I've been taking it easy and am trying to get my good name restored. Seriously, why in the hell did those people listen to Neptune when she said I was a pervert?
Never the less I've been alright for the most part. However I will admit getting sleep like this has become increasingly difficult as of late because of my brother and his girlfriends arguing.
To combat this, I've been spending a lot more time over at Nepgear's place, and even yesterday Martin and I hung out. It's nice to have a guy friend in this unclear harem.
But yes, I haven't been spending as much time here as I'd like to admit. Hell, if anybody saw how most of their arguments went they'd understand me completely.
"Hel… Can you… Ple… Respo…" Hm, that's strange. Usually if a voice in my dreams wants to talk to me it comes in clear not static like. It's probably nothing like usual, just a random voice of a young girl trying to tell me vague information.
"…" My dream self isn't going to respond this time. The voice in question is uncommon but still frequent enough leave me either confused or annoyed.
"Ah, that's better… now onto business. Shall we begin?"
"…" I'm going to treat this like an argument between Maurice and his Girlfriend. Just be quiet and hopefully it will go away quickly.
"I know you can hear me. I tested this connection a few times to make sure I got it right. The least you could do is respond to my call." Alright, I'll indulge it for now. But this is the first good sleep I've received in the past week.
I'll be damned if I have to spend any more time than necessary chatting with imaginary voices. So yeah, I might be just the slightest bit pissy during this talk.
"Ok, I'm listening. But be quick, I haven't gotten much sleep lately."
"O-of course… As I was going to say, there is urgent business we need to discuss. First off… Why have you been neglecting to revisit that cave?"
Again with the cave thing? I never thought I'd see the day when my own subconscious tells me to play a video game.
While that would be a dream to most, this is just plain confusing to me. Out of all the strange events that have happened to me as of late this one takes the cake on weirdness.
"The reason being that it's part of a game and has no bearing on reality."
"If you don't mind I'd like to finish. That cave will shape your destiny for all of eternity… if you accept it that is." Great, more cryptic answers from a cryptic false voice.
"You realize that I have no idea what the hell you're saying right?" I'm honest to my own delusional voice like I'm honest with everything else.
I can tell that the voice is getting slightly irritated with my demeanor. Well who wouldn't be the least bit skeptical about a voice that they only hear in their dreams or when they're knocked out?
"Please… today is the last opportunity you will have to make a stand there. If you don't bad things will happen. I'm afraid I don't have much longer… the power to maintain these connections is great and demanding on my body. So for now… goodbye."
With that, I feel the voices presence fades into the darkness that is my dreamscape. I swear these dreams get weirder every time I have them.
Still though, I'll play along with what my subconscious is saying to me and visit that cave later today when I wake up. Luckily we're all having a Christmas party at Neptune and Nepgear's place later.
Everyone's parents are out again apparently so we're going to have a party and play the game any ways. This all works out I guess. But I'm still convinced that I'm going crazy from these dreams.
Whatever the case is, I'm sure things are about to get hectic once more. Call it an intuition on my part. But in all seriousness I really should continue my slumber.
I'm going to need it for the day to come.
Many hours have passed since I woke up. It was one of those days where I woke up in the afternoon so all in all I'm feeling rather refreshed.
Currently I'm in the kitchen finishing up what I was bringing to the party tonight. A large crock pot full of pork green beans.
As you can tell they've been slow cooking with pork for a whole day now and I just need to add the finishing touches. I think that they'll be good enough that Neptune will try and like them.
I remove the power going to the pot and leave it on the counter for now. I pick up my messenger bag and put it around my shoulder. It contains my computer, some cards, and other fun items.
All that's left is to tell Maurice where I'm going and I'll be one my way shortly. I walk down the hall to his door but stop when I hear an argument brewing.
"Come on baby I'm only like that when I'm drunk."
"You always say that!"
"That's because I'm always drunk!"
It looks like I won't be able to tell him now. Oh well he knows where I'm going so it'll be fine as far as I know.
With that out of the way I go back to my room and grab some gifts I purchased for tonight. One is for Nepgear of course, and the other is for Blanc because I'm her secret santa.
Both are small enough to fit into my bag so carrying them is no issue. At last I grab the pot of green beans and head out the door. My destination, across the street.
Once I get over there finally I knock on the door. Neptune opens it up almost instantaneously which took me back for a second and almost made me drop the green beans.
"Hiya Jack! Come on in and warm your tush!" That's a different way to say take your coat off and stay a while. But I have grown to like Neptune's randomness more.
Even if she did kind of ruin my reputation somehow. I'm still baffled at how most of everyone thinks I'm a pervert still just because she said it.
Oh well, it looks like I've arrived before a lot of the others have. That was to be expected since I live across the street. Nothing to do now but wait till everyone else gets here I guess.
"Mmm! This is super yummy!" Ram praises the pork green beans. Once again I get a kid to enjoy something that's good for them.
The party has gone on for a little while now. Everyone is accounted for and now we're enjoying some food before we get to gaming.
We're not exchanging gifts until midnight because then it'll officially be Christmas. But earlier I pitched the idea to return to the cave tonight. Surprisingly enough they all thought it was a good idea.
So after we get full bellies, we're going to kick some ass. My only concern is the golem at the beginning of the cave. Last time it took everything we had just to beat it.
And I'm sure that there are strong monsters lurking even deeper in the cave. Can we really take them all on in one night?
"Jack, why such the serious expression? It's a party is it not?" Vert's banter stops my momentary diversion and brings me back to reality. She is right, this is a party, and I should be having fun not worrying.
"Yeah… it is. Alright, I'm getting a drink."
"I shall accompany you then."
I get up out of my chair and walk towards the table where some drinks are laid out. Vert is with me currently and pours herself a glass of iced tea.
I'm just going to get myself a glass of that myself. It's calming, and right now I need something to calm my nerves.
To my side I hear Vert giggle about something. Something bad is about to happen to me I can already tell. "What's so funny Vert?"
"I just realized… that you and I are under the mistletoe." Well shit…
Why would someone put mistletoe above the drink table? If Neptune did this just to make me look like a pervert I'm going to make her the Christmas sacrifice this year.
"Worry not, I won't follow through with tradition and make you out to be the monstrous pervert Neptune has made you out to be. So instead I'll settle for a hug."
Vert spreads her arms out wide and walks a step forward. She wraps her arms around me tightly. The worst part is she's continuing to increase the strength of her grasp.
A sign of how much you care for someone usually. However in this case her gigantic melons are pressing hard against my chest. Oh god… they're so soft. And somehow extremely firm at the same time.
"Hm? You look quite flustered Jack, is everything alright?" Vert says while looking up at me. She knows what she's doing and that's the problem.
"Come now Jack, there must be something wrong for your face to be that red." Is she trying to seduce me? No… that can't be the case. She knows I'm with Nepgear and she of all people would respect that.
"U-um Vert… Don't you think that you're a b-bit close?" I stutter out in my nervousness.
"Nonsense, we are friends no? Doesn't that mean some displays of affection are acceptable?" Innocent, or playing innocent at least as always.
"Not when you have a girlfriend and a room full of people who think you're a pervert!" I whisper yell to her.
Vert sighs briefly before letting go of me. She looks almost distraught at releasing her grasp but this could easily just be my imagination. It does have a tendency to play tricks on me.
"Very well… perhaps another time then." She walks away and takes a seat on one of the couches that we'll be playing on shortly.
Which reminds me, we'll begin in about five minutes so I might as well make it to the cave right now to save time. Luckily my computer is already logged in and my avatar is waiting at an inn in Leanbox.
You just have to love how I plan for things in advance most of the time. It might be a turn off to most, but it helps to be prepared rather than clueless.
I fill up my drink and sit down on a couch seat. I put my computer in my lap and resume where I was. Luckily it won't be a problem to get back there.
Martin gave us all teleportation tablets we could use to go back there when need be. He went scouting not too long ago and made them while he was there.
Another thing that Martin is good for on this mission. He can sever magic connections with a skill he obtained on his own. Which means my worrying about the golem from before wasn't worth it.
Giving the festivities a minute to settle down, everyone gets to their respective terminals. Martin takes a seat to my right and Rom sits to my left. It's also worth mentioning that Ram sits on the floor near me as well.
With everyone logged in and ready to go, tonight's adventure will begin in no time at all. Unless something goes horribly, horribly wrong and it all goes to hell.
Looking at my screen now, my character is reading the tablet that was inscribed by Martin. Once all the incantations are read, a flash of light occurs and I'm outside the cave.
I'm not the only one here right now though. Rom, Ram, and Blanc are here as well. And once a minute or so passes, a few more flashes of light happen.
First it was Vert. Next it was Martin. And somehow at the same time, Noire, Uni, and Martin flashed in together. Finally Neptune and Nepgear finish their teleportation as well.
"Alright, listen up please." Neptune speaks to us. "Tonight will not be easy. We may have a way to beat the monster up front, but there is no way of knowing what else lurks in the dark recesses of this cave."
I like how Neptune's personality changes whenever she plays this game. She goes from the lovable goofball to a serious, nonprocrastinating warrior. Such a dramatic change just from one game.
"Now, in the case we make it to the boss class monster tonight, we'll split up into five teams of two. Nepgear and I will be team one. Noire and Uni team two. Rom and Ram team three. Vert and Blanc team four. And Jack and Martin on team five."
Interesting, I've only fought a few boss monsters on my time in this game and never once did we ever split into groups. Maybe since we're all here now and we have no idea of what we're up against this time.
"Why do I have to be paired with colossal rack over there?!" Blanc doesn't seem to agree with Neptune's plan. I think it sounded pretty solid though if it came down to it.
"Probably because the two of you are the most ironic pair out of us all." Martin raises a good point there. I have to take his side on this one here.
"Come now Blanc, it will not be as bad as you make it out to be. As long as you have my back, I will have yours."
"Grrr… fine, but just this once." I thought we'd be getting more of an argument out of those two today. It's a Christmas miracle Charlie Brown.
All of the teams of two pair up before we enter. Even though we're a group now, we need to be ready to disperse at any time. Again, I love Neptune when she gets this way.
"Alright, are we ready to conquer this cave?" Neptune asks with the will of a leader.
"Yeah!" We all shout back at her.
"Then let's advance on the enemy!" I wish this part of Neptune would show in the real world. Instead I have the regular rumor spreading one.
Without further ado, all ten of us walk inside the cave with a feeling of dread engulfing our minds and bodies. It does feel a bit more odd than it did last time.
Even though there's hardly any light at all even from the torches that are mounted to the walls, it looks hazier than it did previously. As if something evil lurks within and corrupts the atmosphere itself.
As we walk, Nepgear floats over to me for a quick talk. "Hey Jack, are you sure we're ready for this?"
"Honestly I have no clue. But we won't know unless we try now won't we?" I'm trying to be the slightest bit more optimistic about the situation we're in.
Nepgear takes it well and floats back towards her sisters' side. Afterwards thoughts fill my mind once more about the dangers the await us.
Not to mention the dream I had last night still lingers about in my mind, refusing to go away. Why exactly is this damn cave so important? It makes no logical sense in the slightest.
My imagination is definitely a wild one I'll give it that. And it can lead to me thinking of some pretty crazy things. I don't know, for all I know that voice I hear in my dreams is some interdimensional being who's all-knowing.
But that would be crazy right? I know I haven't lost it that much yet.
"Erase all your doubts my friend. The time of trial will arrive soon." Martin speaks to me from my side. Since he's paired with me we walk together.
"Alright, just make sure you don't get killed out there." I laugh and joke with him a little.
"hmhmhm, I'll try not to."
Putting my mind back into its normal mode, I think about how long we've been walking. Around five minutes is the time that I would guess. Which means that golem is about to-
*Crash!* The wall to the side of us explodes and out pops the golem that faced us last time.
"Damn, its level increased since we last fought it…" I'm starting to worry again.
Noire uses her large blade to block its spiked hemisphere attack that it used to break through that wall. The creature struck with enough force that even Noire was being pushed back little by little.
"Martin! Make this quick!" Noire shouts a command to Martin. Either because she likes him a lot or because he's the only one who can sever magical links in objects.
"I'm on it Noire!"
Martin slams the bottom of his staff into the ground and the ornament at the top glows bright blue. Out of the light, many thing strings of light escape and make their way to the golem who's attacking Noire with the opening attack it has.
When those strings reach the golem, they go inside the cracks and openings in the rock that it has. Before we knew it the golem's rocks fell to the ground in a huge pile.
The only thing that remained was yellow crusty orb of sorts floating above the pile trying its hardest to stay afloat.
"There's its heart, we must destroy it before it can fully recover." Vert gave us a pretty good battle plan in my opinion.
Neptune flew close to the ground and approached the golem's heart with great speeds. Then she used a speedy combination of hers to destroy it. "Cross Combination!"
All I'll say about it is that was a barrage of blade attacks from the purple haired warlord. Her skill with a blade, her intelligence and battle strategy… Neptune is awesome like this!
The golem's health bar depletes to zero and the heart shatters. Now we claim the spoils of our victory. Due to us being a party, the loot gets distributed evenly among us.
But I've got to get this out here, with Martin here, that mini boss in a sense went down really fast. I'm talking we took it out in less than thirty seconds fast.
"Huh, I got something called Soul Shards." All they appear to be are long blue crystals. Nothing too much if you ask me.
"I can make those into ammo if you want. Soul Shards make excellent bullets and can leave opponents devastated. B-but I'm not doing this for you or anything… Just to increase our odds of winning!" Uni is being as kind as ever I see.
Taking her up on her offer, I hand her the Soul Shards that I received in battle. In about a minutes time she hands me three beautifully crafted bullets fit for an expert marksman.
"Aren't these a bit big for a revolver?"
"Those are the only kind I can make. I'm sure you'll find a way to use them, I wouldn't have made them for you if I didn't think so." She does raise a point there.
Uni is once again a trusted friend to me and gives me something that I can use to achieve my goals. Whether it be in real life or a game like this.
"Are you two done already? The rest of us wanna get going!" Ram said impatiently as usual.
"Nepgear, you're the one with the map of this dungeon. How much further do we have until we reach the end?" Martin wants to know what the best course of action would be.
"Um… it's actually through that door over there." She points to a large door standing away from us. How did we not notice that before?
Also, we're almost at the end already? Damn this is a really small dungeon. Well I guess it would have to be if you put in a guard as strong as the golem. I'm glad we brought Martin to deal with it this time.
"Ok… time to see what lies beyond that door." Blanc has a hint of nervousness in her voice. But then again I think we're all kind of nervous now.
There isn't much time to lose so we walk towards the door. When we reach a certain spot it opens automatically to let us in with ease. That is a very polite door I say.
"Keep your guard up, I sense danger ahead." Vert gives us a warning. Thanks by the way. I can feel it myself too but probably not to the degree that she can.
All of us continue our cautious walk forward, pressing through a thick purple fog for what seems like hours. When in all reality it's taken about two minutes so far to navigate through it.
Once we reach the end of the fog we see a set of stairs leading to a flat area. On said flat area is the throne, and someone appears to be sitting in it right now.
"Welcome, I've been expecting you all for quite some time. About a month now to be exact." Wait… I know this voice. It's the last person I'd expect to run into in a game like this.
"Andrew…"
Confusing fills my mind. As I try to fathom why the hell he is here right now. Things just became a whole lot more complicated…
A/N: A cliffhanger if I've ever seen one I'll say. Some of you might have been expecting this, other have not. Either way it still comes as a surprise in a way.
Now to the sad part of the note. I hate to inform all of you loyal readers of this, but things have become a little complicated on my end once more. Not to the degree that happened last time but major in a way.
Due to reasons that I can't go into detail about right now, I may have to find a new place to write my chapters which could take a while. But have faith, I guarantee that I'll be able to write at least every two weeks.
It's just things have become a bit more complicated than I'd like them to be. Still, I'll try to write because it's the readers who give me hope and fuel. So until then, see you in the next update.