Alright, send in a review or leave in a favorite/follow if you are liking the story so far!
"… what I would give to get out of this virtual world…" Mirii's eyelids were on the middle, as she was sliding on the open Inkling sea. "… if I keep wishing for it, my stress will raise even faster… … ugh!" Her right eye closed. "My eyes must be growing red… I can't ignore this itching feeling on them!"
Her tentacles went near her eyes, slamming against an invisible block: they began pushing and stretching, forcing every bit of their energy into their veins.
Stop! Don't try pulling off the glasses!
Mirii left a moan.
"I can't look at those screens anymore!" Her tentacles pressured the glasses even more. "My eyes are burning! Ow!" Her eyes squeezed, as she stopped. "Can you stop this maleficent game for just a few minutes?!"
K-Kyle! Do something, please!
Hey! Don't hug me like that! How I'm supposed to do anything if you are wrapping me like a present?!
Stop complaining! Can you pause this game or something?!
Sigh… not that I can do much about it, anyway…
"No! I refuse to believe such claim!" Mirii frowned, as her head shook. "There must be an option for such necessity!"
Normally there is one… but this software doesn't allow me to do anything other than adjusting the monitor and registering data!
Not to add more pain on the wound, but this is all your fault-
"M-MY FAULT?!" Several veins popped out from her head. "WHY YOU"
Not you! Kyle!
M-me?!
I have said countless times how this software was full of problems… and you just merely checked in here and did nothing to solve them!
I always check this software every day, Penny! What's up with you-
Listen up, buddy! I can't stand watching one of our customers feeling in pain for this long time… and if everything went fine, I would had even gathered data for our happy researches too! You are going to get some consequences for this, Kyle!
Would you calm down for a sec?! YOU are the one supposed to check the software and even update it! I'm basically doing your job without making you study some software basics!
That doesn't mean anything! A true friend wouldn't leave one into such mess! What I'm going to say to the employer after this?! He will fire me in the instant I will enter inside his office!
That's what you get for leaving all responsibility into others!
Mirii's tentacles went on her sides, as her eyes squeezed.
"I swear, I'm going to splat down those two as soon as I get out of this dump…!" Her tentacles pressed a bit more. "... nnnnnnggghh… th-their voices…!"
Her eyes opened wide.
"BBEEEEEEE QQQUUIIIEEEEEEEEEETT!"
…
"One more shout like that and I will also report how you destroyed my ears as well!" She kept growling. "That will make your employer pay me a high refund and ensure you a doomed future!"
… Kyle, I don't care about your excuses… think outside the box and get her out of there!
Uff… … I-I could try calling one of my friends… but he's sure going to make me pay money for this.
Are you friends with a loan shark?!
Pff, n-not quite… it's just because he hates doing requests at this time of the hour! I will tell you more about him, later… let me do the call and I will be right back in about… 20 minutes.
You are going to make her wear glasses with that time!
It's far from being too late! She just needs to keep her eyes closed for a brief while… would be sweet if she manages to complete the game as well, but I doubt she will do it during that time.
"… hmpf!" Her eyes closed and her head rose. "I don't see how this simple game is going to stop a perfectionist like me… but then again, he must be referring to"
Ah, my friend must know something about the game's rules too! That would be our safety net, if he can't shut the software down…
Not so much, if the goal is a hard task… but in such times, we gotta be more optimistic! I mean, how can you not be optimistic when you see such energetic Squid? It makes me look so old in comparison!
Mirii let a single chuckle out of her mouth.
"… I prefer hearing her without the added jokes…" Her head shook, while grimacing and keeping her eyes shut. "Bah… but right now, what would it be the best decision? Keep waiting and let my eyes heal a bit… or rushing after this virtual objective, whatever it could be?"
Well… Kyle is leaving the office. Tell me, are your eyes still burning?
"Yes, unfortunately…" She sighed. "Although, I can't keep them closed for all this time…"
Huh?
"The character I'm controlling is still somewhere on this world… if the character gets attacked, it will hinder my progress even more." She turned around, gently opening her eyes an inch.
Then, why don't you hide inside a small cave and rest?
"Can I do that?" Her eyes blinked, before looking at the blurry sand below.
I think…? I mean, this game looks very similar to the software I was using before… I would treat it just like that, if I was in you.
"Ugh… it looks like I have no choice…" Mirii opened her eyes wide, as she began sliding towards the ground, gradually tilting horizontally.
She almost touched the blurry floor, now proceeding in line with it: a small dust was leaving behind her tentacles.
Miriiii! Don't talk!
"Gah!" Her eyes expanded. "That foolish girl! What she did for this whole time?!"
Good Squid! Tee hee hee!
Mirii snorted.
You know that I can hear your mind talking, right? We can communicate with each other without any problems at all! That little child is so small, I have no problem-
"That is no child, Kelly… she must have twice your age." Her eyes closed for a moment.
But she's so small! Her pitch voice is even higher than Emi and Eri's!
"I'm making no mistakes!" She frowned a bit. "But enough talking about Penny!"
Oooook, boss!
"B-boss…?!" Her right eye's top side lowered a bit.
Tee hee hee! You say that in the sweeter waters, am I correct?
"… she must still be under the effect of that tea…" Her eyes squeezed a bit.
Watch out! I can see Squids in your way!
"What the?!" Mirii stopped, as she turned in a vertical position and looked ahead. "… curses! More of those non-brainers!"
Three Squids were dashing towards her, as the one in the middle was releasing a black smoke behind it…
While you are having fun, I'm going back to the Shrine and bring you an essence that can protect your eyes… bye bye!
"Really, Kelly?!" Her eyes expanded.
…
Kelly?
"GAH!" Sweat covered Mirii's face. "I-I-I simply confused your name, Penny! I-I'm under pressure here!"
Huh… that's…
Mirii charged after letting out a battle cry.
"Concentration, Mirii… concentrate!" She frowned a lot.
Her head impacted on the Squid to the right, making it flip and explode into a huge pile of small cubes. The black cloud went over her sight, as Mirii began turning around and seeing nothing but darkness.
"Wh-where am I-YEOUCH!" She flipped frontally, while flashing in red. "Curses!" She swam away. "Those fiendish cowards!"
That cloud would help my midnight snacks so much…!
Mirii stopped, as she turned behind and saw the two Squids popping out from the smoke: the left one was still releasing black smoke behind…
"What can I do to attack that Squid…?" Her sight went on the right-sided Squid. "… obviously, I need to attack this one first…" She dashed towards it.
You know, you don't have to attack everything you see… you might get yourself hurt too much!
The aimed Squid went down, as Mirii passed above it.
"Nnnnggh!" She looked back at her target. "What other options do I have?!"
Swim away!
The Squids were rushing towards Mirii… as she retreated, sliding and waving faster and faster.
"Uff… uff…!" She snorted, as sweat was going down from her head. "A-am I getting farther than them…? Pant!"
Ah… I think?
"Penny!" She frowned, panting even more.
Let me check this option I found! … wow! I can see so far ahead!
"Yo-you can really do that?!" Her eyes expanded.
Yeah, I know! Technology is really ahead of us, isn't it?
"Ha ha!" She chuckled.
… I have good news for you! Also a bad one…
"T-tell me all of them! Quick!" Mirii frowned a bit, as she slowed down.
All of them? Very well! The two Squids are not following you anymore.
"Yes!" She stopped, slowly descending. "I-I couldn't take"
Bad news is that I'm seeing nothing but Squids moving around in group! They are even nearby…!
"… noooo…" Her tentacles went in front of her glasses.
Wait… I think I'm seeing a little cave! Double good news!
"Where?!" She turned around, stopping her slow fall.
Can you see the large block?!
"This fog is denying me any decent sighting…" Mirii's tentacles folded.
Then, allow me to be an actual guide instead of being just a comedian… I can safely guide you to the destination!
"Is it near me…?" Her eyelids went on the middle. "I need to take a break…"
Not as near, but don't let discourage you! It's going to be so easy, you can even take a nap while sliding over it.
"… I hope that's the case…" Her eyes closed.
Once you get there, I have a little something to tell you. Something about that name, you mentioned before.
Her eyes reopened wide.