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Mirii's shadow yawned with her right hand in front of her opened mouth. The two Inklings were walking down on the road.
"… hey." Her head turned to her right, with her eyelids lowered in the middle. "You sure love keeping that mouth of yours shut, huh?"
"I want silence." Mirii's head rose a bit. "Enemies might lurk around here…" Her irises tilted left and right.
"Naaah, ghosts aren't around." Her shadow smiles a bit, while closing her eyes.
"Is that because of an unexplained reason decided from the creator? Same for that odd transportation device which carried me in a different area?" Mirii's head turned to her left.
"The fade out effect? Yep!" She grins a bit. "It's because the game doesn't have all the area loaded, you see… that's why you get the fade out effect."
"Hmpf, the creator managed to give personality to this world… yet, it's as fragmented as his head." Mirii snorted. "Still… now that I think about it…" Mirii's right forefinger rested on her right cheek, as her irises pointed upwards. "… why the Squid Cousin building was accessible? What purpose does it have?"
"I'm sure it has pretty much the realistic purpose: in order words, to make the world look real!" Her shadow's eyes opened wide. "It got you right in the aquarium with that lil' trick!"
"… until you helped me." Mirii's eyes squeezed. "Which brings me to the next question… why are you helping me, now? I thought you wanted to steal my identity… and you still confirm to want one."
"… I guess that's what you get, when I see someone coming from the real world." Her shadow's hands went behind her back, while bending a bit forward and closing her left eye. "I didn't really know how to act with you… it's the first time, someone accessed inside this particular game. It's the first time I could interact with a real Squid…"
Her head turned forward, while sighing.
"… at the end, I decided to pretend taking your identity."
"Pretending?" Mirii frowned a bit. "Why lying to yourself…?"
"Well… that's the only thing I could do…" Her shadow's head lowered. "… creating illusions… lying… playing anyone I wish and changing sizes…"
"And not the appearance?" Mirii rose her head.
"No… the creator decided that my appearance is based on which Squid I have to help." Her shadow's eyebrows went up, her mouth downturned. "If another Squid comes in… well… I'll change into that form instantly."
"… so, you are truly an empty shell as you described yourself." Mirii shook her head. "… of course, a pile of data couldn't have any true identity on their own."
"I-I'm not a pile of data!" Her shadow frowned, raising her voice a bit. "… I hate being compared with the NPCs…"
"Who?" Mirii's head turned to her left.
"Characters like the Squid Cousins: you can't play as, nor they have any particular role in the game… but you can interact from them." Her shadow sighed. "They are actors and actress which play their roles for the infinity."
"… aren't you a NPC as well?" Mirii lowered her head, frowning.
"… good question… … me and my friend are indeed a bit different." Her right forefinger points upwards, while nodding. "You can't really call us NPCs…"
"A friend? You have one…?" Mirii's head tilted to her right.
"He helps any Inkling boys… I help Inkling girls!" Her shadow chuckled a bit. "Although, we aren't the same at all… my friend really likes helping others, you know." Her head turned to her right. "He's very proud of his job… I don't really think in the same way he does."
"You want to be real. You repeated that wish"
"It's not just the wish to become real." Her shadow smiles. "It has far more than that… … you are so lucky to be someone. You can talk with everyone you want, you can visit every place you want… speaking of places, I was always curious to know what the other world has to offer!"
Her smile grew, as her eyes closed.
"Visiting the real world… that would be so cool!" Her eyes opened. "Or, the possibility to cultivate a hobby! I could really get myself into drawings or something. Seeing my hands creating a new world for anyone to see… and seeing her faces so surprised and curious to look every details they come across!" She giggles a bit.
Mirii's mouth opened a bit.
"… to think I classified you as one of those annoying characters I have the displeasure to meet. You are indeed raising some very good points about our world…" Mirii's mouth downturned. "A shame you are forced to remain a pile of data…"
"… I knew it… you aren't that cold, at the end." Her red eyes were a bit watery. "You are a kind, kind person inside… sniff… that's why I said all those things at you…"
"My situation is far more complex than that… and right now, it's not the appropriate time to talk about it." Mirii's head rose. "Also… if you want to listen my advice… if there aren't any hopes for you to reach your goals, then you might as well forget about them."
"NEVER!"
Mirii jumped: her shadow was bending forward, while frowning a lot.
"… if I do that…" Her shadow's eyes closed. "That would mean I truly lose."
Mirii's mouth was sealed, her eyes were seeing her shadow breathing with her nose.
"… is there anything I can do to give you the gift of an identity?" Mirii's head rose.
"… well… maybe…" Her shadow's eyes opened, as her head turned to her right. "You are a real being, after all… it all depends from you."
"Uhm… then, I'm afraid that I cannot help you in any single way." Mirii shook her head.
"Oh, come on! Don't say that…" Her shadow went in front of her face. "Think about it! I know you are so kind, gentle…" She smiles a bit. "… and smart! Put all that perfection aside, which is acting like a poison for you… let the kindness speak!"
"… I'll never leave perfection, behind." Mirii rose her head, snorting. "Unfortunately, I don't have any idea what I could possible do to help you… nor I have the time to do just that."
Her shadow gritted her teeth, as her eyebrows went up.
"No… please…" Her red were a bit watery.
"Enough!" Mirii starts walking, passing her shadow. "If you can't stop destiny, let the destiny take over you. End of the discussion."
The fountain had a small, circular wall of white stone around the water. A statue of a Squid was sprouting water from the right tentacle.
"I wonder if water can harm me, just like in the real world… I might as well ask for that." Mirii turns behind. "Listen, I"
Her eyes expanded: her irises were seeing the road, tall walls of stone on the sides. Her eyes blinked multiple times, as her head turned left and right.
"HEY! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Mirii frowned. "WHY ARE YOU HIDING?!"
If you can't stop destiny, let the destiny take over you.
Mirii's irises shrunk.
… you really believe in that? Fine: destiny got the ropes on you. Good luck…
"Th-that's childish!" Mirii grits her teeth, while frowning and looking above. "What I did was just telling the truth! My words were nothing more than advices!"
… you sure can't handle any critiques on your persona, huh. Perfection… bah. More like triumph on everything you see.
Mirii's irises shrunk.
If by helping, you mean to crush whatever Squid you see… then you might as well be sealed inside this world and lose your chance to live as a real Squid. You are evil… that's what you are. YOU ARE AN EVIL SQUID WHO DESERVES TO REMAIN IN THIS PRISON OF ILLUSIONS!
Suddenly, a storm of lightning strikes fell from above: Mirii gasped, as she ducks down with her hands on her head.
PATOOOMM!
Mirii turns behind: water was sprouting from the center, as rubbles were scattered around the fountain. Her irises shrunk, as her mouth opened. She turns her sight upwards, while frowning a lot.
"ARE YOU THE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?! I THOUGHT YOU COULD ONLY SHOW ILLUSIONS!" Mirii grits her teeth.
Above the girl, her shadow appeared while floating in the air.
"… hmpf. What an idiot you are… gulping down all those lies I said to you… but spitting on my face, when I tried to be your friend…"
"I never said such thing!" Mirii's eyebrows were up. "I wanted to help… I-I really wanted"
"SILENCE!"
A thunderbolt fell on Mirii's left side: she jumped, falling on her right side. Her legs kicked in the air, standing back on her feet.
"… you still couldn't get all those hints I was giving to you… the fact I look like you… the fact I was taking some characteristics from your friend, while still being you… the fact I was pointing down that glimmer of kindness you still have… the fact I was talking about me, while still appearing as you…" Her shadow was gritting her teeth.
"… wait… you…" Mirii's irises shrunk. "… you wanted me to become… you?"
"… ha… ha ha ha ha ha! HA HA HA HA HA HA!" Her shadow opened her arms and mouth, showing her pointed teeth. "Oh, you poor fool… if it wasn't for your egoistic nature, I would have gotten my only chance to get into the real world… and you would have been reunited with your friends." She grins widely.
Mirii inhales loudly, while frowning.
"Subliminal hints… hoping to corrupt perfection." Mirii snorted, while her head rose. "Hmpf. What can I say? A dastardly plan full of illogical, idiotic choices coming from the imaginary." Mirii bended forward, while frowning.
"You really think so?! I was offering the best alternative you could wish for yourself… but you chose to keep your evil nature inside you. Now, it's too late… you know my true powers and intentions. You are the one responsible for this mess… YOU ARE THE ONE LETTING THE DESTINY DOMINATE YOUR OWN EGO!"
Her shadow's right arm swings from the left to the right: more thunderbolts fell around Mirii! She sprinted forward, jumping over a small crater on the road.
"WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACHIEVE?!" Her shadow starts flying forward, with her arms and legs stretching sideways. "YOU ARE GOING TO BECOME A POND OF INK!" Her right arm swings.
Mirii jumped on her left, as a thunderbolt landed on her right.
"WHO ARE YOU?!" Mirii frowned, while still looking forward.
"… I'm your worst nightmare…" Her left arm swings.
PATOOM!
A large crater expanded all over the road: Mirii sprinted faster, then jumping up in the air. She rolled on the road, then she jumps back up and proceeds her run.
"… I can't run forever… I want to get rid of that shadow, at all costs." Her head rose. "But how…? She's up in the air…"
Her eyes went up: her mouth opened a bit, her irises shrunk. A circular light was watching her, up in the sky.
Miiiirrriiiiiiii…! Cooommeeeee heeeeerreeeee…
"Nnnnggghhhh!" Mirii's eyebrows went up, as her teeth gritted. "N-no… not now…!"
The girl kept running at full speed. Her eyes expanded.
"… wait… I don't feel tired anymore… …"
PATOOM!
Shards fell from the circular light, now showing a black color. Mirii's head turned to her right, as she watches her shadow still following her.
"… you don't deserve to be saved…" Her red eyes squeezed a bit.
"My only way out?!" Mirii's jaw dropped. "Oh no… no…"
RRROOOOOOAAAARRR!
Mirii returns forward: she slides on the road, as her face became paler. A giant cat was looking her down, hissing loudly. The girl took several steps backwards: her shadow fell behind his head, sitting on him.
"… you… are the creator of this game?!" Mirii's mouth flattened.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Her shadow's sight rose with her head, for a moment. "If you were my friend, I could explain the sad story of Squid King… an Inkling who was left in solitude, while he could realize his last wish!"
Mirii turns behind, sprinting. The cat starts running with all the paws.
"His last wish?! Wh-what are you talking about?!" The girl was breathing loudly.
"SILENCE! I hate you… I HATE YOU!" Her shadow snorted.
"Anf… anf… my legs… my energy…" Mirii's eyelids were lowered, as her pace was decreasing. "I can't… run… any longer…"
The girl fell down with her stomach down.
"… Mirii… please… get up… the cat is coming… … nnngghhh… nnngggghhhh!" She trembles, while gritting her teeth and lowering her eyebrows.
ROOOAAARRR!
"… … huh…?" Jerkily, Mirii turns behind.
Giant Squids were all diving towards the cat, as the beast kept swinging his paws against them.
"Get up! Come on!"
Mirii returns forward.
"… huh… who are you…?"
Her eyes were seeing an Inkling boy covered in shadows.
"I'll explain later!" His right hand moved closer. "Get up!"
"CURSES! CUUURRSSEEESSS!" Her shadow's voice was coming from behind. "Help ME, my friend! Don't you see she's the evil one?! She's the one keeping us inside this game!"
Mirii's left hand was trembling, moving towards his right one: they both grabbed, as the girl stands up. The boy's eyes closed.
"… activate Debug Mode…"
WHOOOM!
The flash disappeared… Mirii was floating in the air, turning herself around. Giant numbers and words were flying in an empty environment which kept changing from green to blue to orange…
"… where am I…?" Her eyes grew. "… what madness I'm looking at…?"
"Welcome to Debug Mode."
Mirii turns her head forward, seeing the Inkling boy covered in shadow. He was smiling.
"… don't worry… you are safe here." His eyes closed. "She'll never get you here…"
"… is there an end in front of this madness…?" Mirii's head rose. "… will I ever have a clear view of this situation…?"
The boy's head lowered.
"I have so many questions inside my head… th-they are begging for an answer." Her eyebrows were up. "Whoever you are… please… help me guide through this pandemonium!"
"… sigh… how to explain this situation…" His head turned to his right, a bit frowning. "At the same time, I don't know if I should getting you involved into this…"
"I demand you explanations!" Her face frowned. "If I'm not finding more sense out of this, I'll never achieve anything!"
She floated a bit forward.
"Who's that girl?! Who's Squid King in the end?!" She snorted.
"… Mirii… I'm sorry for bombarding you with all those information… but right now, I really want you to pay a great attention." His head rose, as his face went neutral. "I'm… Squid King."
Mirii gasped, as she floated a bit backwards. He nodded.
"… but… you are… you are real, right?!" Sweat covered her forehead.
"… I was…" His head went a bit down, as his eyes disappeared inside the darkness. "… nowadays, I'm supervising this game in the name of scientific researches."
Mirii's irises shrunk.
"… Project Neo?!" Her jaw dropped.
"Yes." He nodded. "… I see you are a bit informed about the project." He turned his head to his right, while smiling and closing his eyes.
His hands entered inside his pockets.
"… as I suspected."
Mirii's forehead was feeling dizzy…
"Mirii Kelpshell… just in those days, rumors have that you are snooping around Project Neo, trying to stop it. Is this correct?" His head rose back, still keeping his expression.
"… correct." Her head rose. "This project is harming my friends and city… I want to put a stop on this whole matter."
"Good to hear." His eyes closed. "… that's why I wanted you to enter inside this game."
"You want to help me…?" Mirii's mouth opened a bit.
"… not just that…" His head lowered. "… I also want you to help me…"
Mirii's right forefinger was resting on her right cheek, as her eyebrows were down.
"… how can I help?"
"I want you to… play a game with me." His right fist was on his chin, as the head turned to his right.
"A game?!" Mirii's irises shrunk. "I-I already played this one!"
"This game is nothing like the previous one." His head shakes. "It's more of an experience… a day at work." His hands returned inside his pockets.
"… don't tell me we are moving back in time…?" Her face became paler.
"It's a game. We are not really going in a new place…" His face darkened. "… but I can't complete the game alone. I need another player… the only one who could beat that AI which kept me in the Debug Mode for many years."
"She… kept you?" Mirii's head tilted to her left. "But she referred you as her friend."
"I know… I know…" His head turned to his right. "She's also not aware of this… and many things behind the scene. Because of your resistance against her words, you drove her crazy… thus, she lowered her guard and I could get out." His head returned forward.
"I see…" Mirii lowered her head, while closing her eyes. "But… I still don't understand how did you knew about me and"
"… in Debug Mode, I have access to a special technology which lets me impersonate anyone I want." His hands were moving around. "I can interfere with the real world… albeit, in a limited way." His arms folded. "It took me two days to prepare the papers for the chief… which she sent you in your way to enter inside my realm."
"… were you impersonating that fat guy, me and my friends met on the sidewalk?" Her head rose, as her eyes squeezed a bit.
"Yes." He nodded. "Thankfully, from Debug Mode I could track down Inklings using this game… so, it wasn't too hard finding you at all."
"I see…" Her eyes closed. "… thankfully, that asocial wasn't real at all…"
"… I'm also responsible for making you say that phrase." His head lowered, as his hands went behind his back. "It was all an act… to bring you there and hope you could break that girl down." His eyebrows went up. "Unfortunately, while I was running away… I was arrested by Agents."
"You ran away?!" Mirii frowned, while bending forward.
"If they saw me disappearing… I could get too much attention!" His right hand was waving up and down, near his head's right side. "They would understand everything… and took off your only chance to know more about Project Neo! Also… well…" His irises went down-left. "… my chance to make my last wish come true…"
"Which is…?" Mirii's head rose.
"… I don't think this is the right time for you to know about it…" His face got darker, as his hands entered inside his pockets. "… you'll find out."
"It must be related to your game, though… this point is rather obvious." Her arms folded.
"… before I continue…" His expression was the same. "… you should know more about your current position…"
"I'm in front of you, inside the Debug Room." Mirii nodded.
"No… that would be your consciousness." His face frowned a bit.
Mirii gasped loudly.
"WWWHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT?!" Her whole body became paler.
"… right now… you are resting on a bed… while doctors are keeping an eye on you." His eyes closed. "In the eyes of the others, you are sleeping… for two days."
Mirii kept staying in her same pose, without moving an inch.
"… the doctors claim that if your smartphone would ever shut down… you'd follow that same fate." His eyes were still closed. "… which is not true, since you'll simply wake up. You are not in danger by any means… in fact, the doctors put you in a special room for keeping Inklings alive while sleeping."
His eyes opened.
"… recently, your friends thought to have seen you inside the game… but what are they seeing is a game version of the events which happened earlier. I don't know how exactly they got such thing… maybe it was the operate of that AI, releasing nothing more than a videogame for your friends."
He smiles a bit.
"It has been a long journey, Mirii… I apologize for the sacrifice you had to do, in order to reach such point… but before I'll help you wake up, you must receive a special reward."
Mirii's eyes were staring down the boy: her mouth was sealed.
"… eh eh… I see you are getting yourself prepared for the game." He floats closer to her. "… you can't say anything in this state… or do anything, other than listening to my voice. Once you'll wake up, you'll remember those words as if you read the files hidden in this game."
His right hand petted her left tentacle.
"… before booting everything up, there is only one thing to say… …"
His head lowered.
"… if you happen to remember anything about this game… please… keep the memories in your heart. Forever."
Gradually, a huge light covered everything in sight.