Okay, three disclaimers in a row. This must be a miracle… .Hack/G.U. and all of its characters don't belong to me.
Axel and Hikaru belong to Miffin/Pudding Fiend; as do Ginny and Aurum, which I forgot to disclaim last chapter… DON'T HURT ME MIFFIN!
Eon and Shiruba both belong to me, so don't take them without permission.
The words 'whoobles' and 'puko' belong to me (Though not copyrighted…). The word 'fizzle' also is used, meaning a bunch of scribbled lines above the character's head.
It also seems that my earlier chapters were not clear. I never said Axel, Eon and Hikaru had Avatars, now did I? I said, which is where people may have become confused, that Haseo and the real Epitaph Users THOUGHT that they had Avatars. I ALSO know that I called them Guardians, last chapter as well. So now, please understand that there ARE ONLY EIGHT AVATARS IN THIS STORY. Ginny, Aurum, Shiruba, and the final two, which will only be introduced way later, are not actual Avatars. To understand this fic perfectly, you need to read the whole thing. Whether that makes you wish to discontinue reading this fic or not, is solely up to you.
(Also, I'm trying to get the characters to stop sounding like a 'Mary Sues'…so please bare with me until I do get a chance to do so. Thank you.)
So…onto the story!
Chapter 5: Guild
Eon starred at the AIDA before her, horrified as it charged towards her at full speed.
"Heh…" Shiruba murmured, licking her lips. "Looks like that ol' goat, Capricorn, decided to take me on…" She said, tightening her shoulders in a ready position.
"Um…wha-?" Eon mumbled, but Shiruba answered the question for her.
"You don't do anythin'." She said, not turning to face her. "You just float there, when I get hit, take my damage." She explained.
Eon felt like someone had just kicked her in the stomach.
"I…I take your damage?" She questioned.
"What…? You deaf too?" Shiruba growled. "You take my damage. I fight; you sacrifice yourself to summon me." The giant beast explained. "It's that simple."
"Simple?" Eon demanded, but Shiruba had already dismissed her and began to charge at the AIDA beast.
How could this be happening…?
"I said it's GINNY!" Axel yelled, smacking his head with his fists hard.
HELL NO! I WILL NOT ANSWER TO THAT NAME! The enraged dragon screamed.
"OW!" Axel yelled, before swearing loudly. "Don't need to blow my head apart, worse than it already is!"
"Um…are you all right…?" Atoli asked the Twin Blade.
"All right? I'm perfectly all right! There's just a giant dragon yelling at me in my HEAD!" Axel explained angrily.
Damn straight. Ginny murmured.
Atoli starred at Axel, unsure of suggesting that he see professional help or to keep quiet. Something like this wasn't…normal…
"Do you think that I'm crazy?" Axel asked her suddenly, starring at her seriously.
"I—no! Heavens, no!" Atoli lied.
"You're lying." Axel said, looking at her hard. "You think that I'm crazy, don't you?" He demanded.
"I—I…I think that you're…interesting…" She mumbled.
"I knew it! You do think that I'm crazy!" Axel shouted, pointing at the Harvest Cleric, before grinning manically. "That's good then; 'cause I am crazy. 3"
Atoli starred at him in horror, quickly retreating back to Haseo and the others, hearing him laugh, as if crazed, the whole way.
"Idiot." Haseo mumbled as Atoli moved next to him and hugged onto his arm for comfort.
"He said that he was crazy!" She complained, hugging on tighter.
"He's just a brat that wants attention. Don't pay any attention to him, Atoli." Haseo explained, turning back to the fight. The monstrous canine had just collided head first into the AIDA and bit onto its neck hard. The AIDA recoiled before stretching its head around and sticking its horn into the dog's cheek. Haseo expected the dog to cry out in pain, but instead was shocked to hear Eon cry out instead as a long, red gash appeared across her cheek, extending along her neck.
"Wha…?"
Pi flinched and looked away. Obviously these Avatars were not as kind as the Phases. To injure the player, even within the game? This was unbelievable…
Eon rubbed her left cheek, surprised to see blood. Was this really 'The World'? Shiruba slammed into the beast hard again, quickly withdrawing as it attempted to stick her with its horn again.
"Gotta be faster than that, Capricorn!" The beast taunted, and like a cheat code, the AIDA stopped moving instantly. "Check mate." The dog mused as her long, light blue claws burst into flames and slashed into the beast hard.
Eon felt all of her energy drain as the fire erupted from Shiruba's paws. It was like she was drawing her power into the attack. How was this even possible, for a game…? She felt sick, suddenly; the piercing scream of the AIDA monster did not help with the nausea. She could hear the beast laugh as she raised her large, dark-silver wings; six large, crimson pillars appearing before her body, with light silver and green hexagons floating around them. Eon clenched her eyes shut as she heard the words, "Data Drain!" before feeling a sucking motion that made her stomach do back flips. As soon as the spinning and sucking stopped, Eon peeked through a crack in her eyes. The room was regaining its normal, Beast Statue appearance, and the giant silver dog, Shiruba, was quickly fading away into nothing.
"You did good, brat." The mutt mused, before vanishing completely and dropping Eon to the ground quickly. She landed on her feet, but quickly fell over, her body drained from exhaustion. Slowly, she somehow found the strength to get back up and start for her friends.
"Looks like it's over." Haseo murmured to himself, turning to Pi, Atoli and Endrance.
"What about the players…?" Pi asked, noticing that the blonde, Hikaru, was now getting up with the help of Axel, and Eon was slowly wobbling towards them unsteadily; the gash from previously gone was, as if it was never there.
"That's up to them." Haseo decided, even though it really wasn't his say. "I'm not going to 'shadow' them or anything else. If he wants something like that done, make Yata get his Macabre butt out here and do it himself." He explained, then stalked towards the Warp Panel, and Warped, Atoli and Endrance right behind him.
Pi sighed, but knew that Haseo we right.
This is it for the day. She thought, walking over to the Warp Panel, and leaving to Mac Anu as well.
Axel let Hikaru lean on him, even though they were back to the normal, 'The World'.
"So…now what…?" He asked, noticing Eon. "That was pretty cool!" He exclaimed, but Eon's PC body stopped moving.
Eon threw off the M2D from her eyes and quickly pushed herself from her desk, before leaning over and vomiting into the garbage can next to her.
Okay… She thought, panting. Maybe it's time to rethink that whole, saving 'The World' thing… She told herself, slowly sliding on the M2D once more.
She stood up, ignoring the two of them, and headed to the Warp Panel as well, transferring to Mac Anu. She then saved at the Save Shop before logging out, and throwing herself onto her bed like a sack of potatoes.
"Well, how rude. :o" Axel huffed, putting his hands on his hips. "Oh well…c'mon Hikki! Let's go and fill my quota!" He chirped cheerfully, and the two of them left the dungeon as well.
-Offline: Misaki Residence-
Well…that was…interesting… Ryou thought, lying on his bed, starring at the ceiling. He rolled over to his side; arms behind his neck. After a performance like that, Yata'll want more information on those kids… Ryou told himself silently, frowning. Just what was happening in 'The World'? He was sure that there were only eight fazes, but there was another…Avatar-like monster summoned as well. Was it really an Avatar? Or something hacked…? Ryou could not help but wonder, until he heard the familiar 'fwuum!' from his desktop; he had mail.
He sighed irritably, before getting up and walking over to his M2D. He picked it up, as well as the controller, and put it on, over his eyes. He quickly flipped right for 'The World', to his E-mail, and opened it.
One New Message
Ryou blinked tiredly, before looking at the title, and sender.
Title: A game of Hide and Seek
Sender: Axel
It took a few moments to connect that the sender was one of the kids that were just with him today…the black haired one…?
Ryou sighed again, before opening the E-mail.
"Yo, Whitey-Chan! Axel here; one of the guys that you tried to save, but failed miserably…HA! IN YOUR FACE! YOU LOST BAAAD! YOU GOT SHOWN UP BY A LITTLE GIRL! NYAAAA! 83
Anyways, Hikki and I decided that you should come on a quest with us, since Eon hasn't responded to any E-mails yet. SO DON'T BE LATE, OR HIKKI'LL USE HIS Ultra-Super-Mega-High Voltage-Not For Rent-Hyper-Giant-Zooming-Banana Flavoured-Awesome-Booming-Defeating-Indistructible-Peircing-Shiny-Uber-Duber- One of a Kind-Unstoppable- Death-Bear Beam!
We'll meet at Breg Epona's Quest Shop and four tomorrow. Toddles!"
Ryou stared at the E-mail for a long moment.
"He used two lines of some…attack!" He exclaimed, amazed. Ryou then looked at his clock.
1:28 AM
Who was this guy, to send an E-mail this late? With a small grunt, he climbed back into his bed.
Might as well be ABLE to wake up tomorrow… He thought bitterly, before slowly drifting off to sleep.
-Dual City: Breg Epona-
"All right." Eon muttered to herself, taking a deep breath, and standing just in front of the Chaos Gate of Breg Epona. "Today is the day…" She said quietly. "The day…THAT I GET MY REVENGE!" She announced, all of the nearby players stopping in mid-speech just to look at her. Eon glared back at all of them, who quickly left the general area, and then teleported to Sigma, Returning Disappointment End of Dreams.
Pi warped from the Chaos Gate into Breg Epona. She brushed her long, pink hair for a moment until over-hearing a few nearby players giggling about some town gossip. She strode over to them, making sure to use her PC body's whole appeal.
"What seems to be so funny, boys?" She asked, voice as sexy as possible.
The Beastman turned to her, pink appearing on his snout and cheeks.
"O-oh, n-nothing much. Just talking about the stupid N00b that keeps on teleporting to an area too high for 'em." He answered, his Human friend nodding and chuckling.
"The brat keeps on teleporting back every two minutes!" He explained as the both of them pointed behind her, just to start laughing hysterically.
Pi turned, only to see Eon teleport from the Chaos Gate back into Breg Epona; three big, red, pulsing veins one her head. A large sweatdop appeared on the back of Pi's head as she approached the little dog-girl.
"Um, hello…" She greeted, but Eon just stuck her hand out and silencing her and transported back to Sigma, Returning Disappointment End of Dreams. Pi stared at the Chaos Gate for a few moments, confused until another blue spiral appeared. It was Eon again, this time with four large anger marks.
Pi sweatdropped again.
"D-don't tell me that you're really teleporting to an area too high for your current level..."
"No." Eon answered. "I am merely dying on purpose, over and over again, to see if it will create a time-space portal to the Lost Ground." She said sarcastically, and teleported again.
Less than two minutes later she appeared again, looking ticked off beyond reasoning.
"You know, you should really level up before going there." Pi attempted to reason with her.
"I am levelled up!" Eon argued. "Level seventeen to be exact!" She yelled, before transferring again.
Pi only starred off after her. This was something that she did not see coming today…
Haseo stood in front of the Quest Shop in Breg Epona impatiently. It seemed that he had the worst of luck with people that called him to go Adventuring. He was told to be here at four O'clock! It was already four fifty five! Haseo grunted irritably and glared at all that dared to pass him, all of who which were reduced to snivelling wrecks under the enraged gaze of the 'Terror of Death'.
"Where are they?" he demanded when a familiar, annoying voice yelled "Hey!"
Haseo turned to the Twin Blade running his way; the large, white armoured Lord Partizan sauntering after her.
"Wow, Whitey-chan! You're early!" She mused.
"EARLY?" Haseo yelled, making more players run for cover. "You are fifty five minutes late!" He snarled, pointing to his wrist as if there was a watch there.
Axel blinked, his character looking up thought before suddenly making an 'Oh!' look.
"Wow, time sure flies, doesn't it, Hikki?" He asked his larger friend, who nodded slowly; no emotion showing whatsoever, as always. "Well, any whoobles. Let's go on the Quest, Whitey-chan! :3" Axel purred excitedly.
"Stop calling me that!" Haseo yelled angrily as he approached the Quest Shop at long last. He paused. "I need you in my party first." He reminded them.
"Oh yeah! Here, sir grumpy." Axel said cheerfully as he gave Haseo his Member's Address, Hikaru doing the same.
Haseo added them to his party and quickly scanned over the paper with all of the quests and finally selected 'a game of hide and seek' from the list.
"Do you wish to take this quest…? Very well." The NPC said robotically, Haseo not even paying attention to it as it called the Vital Vista of which this quest was for…now that he thought of it, who was the NPC? He never even read the requirements of this quest! Smooth…
Eon collapsed on to her butt after being sent back to Breg Epona for the twenty third time, after dying in Sigma, Returning Disappointment End of Dreams yet again. A large fizzle appeared over the pup's head as she stared at the gondola moving around the city. She sighed irritably as Pi approached her yet again, obviously about to ask her to stop such a 'foolish' thing. Wow, like she didn't notice that by now…
Seventeen times. That was the number of times that she had seen Eon teleport back to Breg Epona, no doubt after dying. Pi extended her hand, thinking carefully about her next words.
"Why do you insist on going there…?" She asked Eon, looking down at her.
"'Cause, I do." Eon lied easily.
"That's not an answer." Pi stated calmly.
"And that is why it's none of your bee's wax, Pee." Eon hissed angrily.
Pi sighed irritably.
"My name is Pi." She corrected. "And as for why I want to know, going to an area and dying seventeen times is not normal for any player to do." She explained.
"Twenty three." Eon corrected, ears flattening against her head angrily.
Pi choked in the real world for a moment, but quickly corrected herself.
"Twenty three times then." She said, "So what is so important about that area?"
Eon looked up to the Admin, boredom in her expression.
"What if I told you that there was no reason?" She asked.
"Then I wouldn't believe you." Pi answered easily.
"And if I said that a voice in my head told me to…?" Eon asked again.
"Then I'd think that you are crazy." Pi answered without thinking, though the expression on Eon's face told her that she just made a big mistake…
Dr. Kubo walked towards Haseo, his long arms waving back and forth with every step.
"Hello there, adventurers! My name is Dr. Kubo!" he stated, though there was no voice to go with his greeting; only a small 'hrum'.
"I am a scientist that studies the cultivation of Chim Chim's." He explained, Haseo already losing interest in the Vital Vista.
"Just last week I was exploring a field in search of new ways to cultivate my precious little Chim Chims. That was when I found it!" The doctor exclaimed, waving his long arms above his head.
"There was a brand new Chim Chim that I have never seen before on the field! White with a beard, and tall as a King Chim Chim!"
Axel gasped overenthusiastically, Hikaru attempting to do the same, but his robot-like voice did not help.
"But when I approached it, the Chim Chim disappeared before I could collect any data on it. That is where you adventurers come in!" Dr. Kubo explained. "I want you to take this Chim Sphere, and collect data on the new type of Chim Chim! The area words provided should help you find it more easily." He explained, before turning around and leaving the three of them.
Haseo sighed, putting his hand on his forehead tiredly. Not another Chim Chim Quest…
"All right, let's go." Haseo announced as Axel started to bounce up and down uncontrollably.
"Yeah let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's-go-let's-go-let's-go-let's-go-let's-GO! 8D"He yelled cheerfully, dashing off to the elevator before the other two could even say a thing.
"No…come back Axel…" Hikaru said quietly, slowly walking after him.
A sweatdrop appeared on the back of Haseo's head as he watched the two; Polar Opposites. With another small sigh, he followed after the two of them, onto the elevator, though he easily passed Hikaru on the way.
"So, you think that I'm crazy." Eon demanded angrily.
"I—no! I didn't mean—" Pi tried.
"'Didn't mean'?" Eon yelled. "You just said it! You think that I am crazy!"
"No!" Pi attempted to reason. "I didn't mean that!"
"Then what did you mean? You said that you'd think I was crazy if a voice in my head told me to. Well it did. Happy now, pinky?" Eon demanded.
"NO! I didn't mean it. What do you mean 'a voice in your head'?" Pi asked desperately.
Eon stood up angrily, hands tight to her sides and rolled into fists.
"That a voice, in my HEAD, TOLD me to!" Eon screamed.
All of the adventures that were teleporting into Breg Epona or who were leaving to go on an adventure via the Chaos Gate retreated immediately as soon as they heard the fighting. It looked as if it were going to turn to violence at this rate…
"How did a voice tell you that?" Pi demanded.
"Simple, it just did." Eon responded.
"Then what was this voice? Are you crazy?" Pi asked, glaring down at Eon.
"Why would I be crazy? That would be stealing Axel's job! Stupid Shiruba told me to get stronger!" Eon explained.
Pi was silent for a moment. This voice had a name? She shook her head quickly to clear it.
"'Axel's job'?" She asked.
"Yes, Axel. The black-haired, idiot Twin Blade that you were with yesterday." Eon explained.
"She's crazy?" Pi asked.
"He is crazy. Proud of it too." Eon answered.
Pi starred at Eon oddly. 'He' was proud of being crazy? Was that even possible?
"If you're thinking that it's impossible, then I suggest you go and ask him yourself. He'll happily agree with me." Eon sniffed, slowly calming down.
Pi slowly nodded, though didn't intend to ask such a foolish question to someone that she didn't know anything about.
"All right then…then who is this 'Shiruba'…?" Pi asked.
"I dunno what she is…but she's in my head when I'm in 'The World'." Eon explained.
"In 'your head'?" Pi questioned.
"I just said that, pinky. Shiruba is in my head here." Eon repeated.
"How is it possible that you hear voices only in 'The World'?" Pi asked sceptically.
"You tell me that, Pinky." Eon said, giving Pi a positively flat look.
Pi sighed and put her hand onto her forehead. Today was just becoming worse and worse for her…
"All right… so you hear voices…here…" Pi started, Eon still giving her the same flat look. "When did you start hearing it?" She asked, as if she were a psychologist.
"Yesterday, when Shiruba first combined with me." Eon stated bluntly without thinking. Her eyes widened and she quickly covering her mouth when she realised what she just said.
"'Combined'? You mean that your voice is that…thing?"
THING? I'll show you THING, pinky! Wanna go, HUH? Shiruba demanded, making Eon flinch.
"Yes, and you just made her mad." Eon murmured, holding her head to stop the pounding of the beast's voice.
"Made her mad…?" Pi muttered to herself, crossing her arms and thinking of the possibilities. "You mean to say that it has emotions…?" She asked.
"I would presume so, Captain Obvious." Eon answered.
Pi slowly shook her head. How…interesting…
All right, brat. You're gettin' nowhere talking to this hag, so move it on down to Mac Anu. At least THERE, you can get some training in. The beast snarled impatiently.
"Why do you get to make that choice?" Eon asked Shiruba, making Pi look at her strangely; she ignored it.
'Cause, I'm bigger than you, stronger than you, and I doubt that you want t' hurl again after my next summon. She explained.
"That was because you didn't explain that it would be like that! What if I don't call you again? Huh?" She demanded.
There was a short silence before Shiruba answered more seriously.
Do you really think that you can fight those things the way that you are? YOU are nothing. The same thing goes for the other Guardian Masters. You are nothing without us, but we can function even without your support; we only need to be aware of the possible threat of deletion. Shiruba finally answered coldly.
"'Deletion'?" Eon asked.
Yes. With a Guardian Master, Guardians suffer way less damage than when working alone. She explained. Deletion of us is less likely, and comatose condition is less likely for the Master.
"Guardian, huh…" Eon muttered, before looking up at Pi. "What is your big monster-thing called?" Eon asked.
Pi looked surprised. She pursed her lips and paused, thinking it over before finally answering.
"Tarvos: The Avenger." She said.
"I didn't mean that. What is it called?" The little beastman explained more clearly.
"It's name…? An Avatar…" She said slowly.
"Is that so…" Eon murmured. "Looks like we don't have the same thing. Shiruba says that she's a 'Guardian', and that I'm a 'Guardian Master'."
Pi narrowed her eyes a bit in confusion.
"It told you that…? It can communicate with you?"
"Yeah. I already said that five minutes ago." Eon answered easily. "So now that this is clear for both of us, I need to be on my way to Mac Anu." With that she turned to the Chaos Gate.
Pi starred at her for a moment. Guardian Masters…? She thought, then quickly fumbled around her inventory.
"Wait," She said urgently, Eon looking over her shoulder at the Admin. "Here." Pi said, holding out a Guild Key. "This Key will let you into our Guild, Raven." Pi explained, offering it to her.
The little Guardian Master looked at the key distastefully. She really did not like Guilds…
"I'm not the Guild type." She growled coldly.
"I am not asking you to join Raven." Pi explained, still holding the Key out. "This will let you in to Raven. Our Guild Master, Master Yata, would not refuse your assistance." She explained.
"'Assistance'? In what?"
Pi hesitated.
"I cannot tell you about Raven unless you are to come and see for yourself." She explained. "That is how our Guild works."
"Sounds boring and a lot of work." Eon said blandly, but took the Key anyway. "I will think of visiting. I already told you, I don't like Guilds." She stated, before warping to The Eternal City: Mac Anu.
Pi starred off after Eon, slowly crossing her arms in thought.
"I hope that this is okay with Master Yata…" She said quietly to herself, and Logged Out. That was enough 'excitement' for one day…
-Sigma Ruined Smashed BBQ Plate-
"Let's-go-let's-go-let's-go-let's-go-let's-go! 83" Axel repeated, running a good ten paces ahead of the group. Haseo was about ready to throttle him.
First, she makes him wait fifty five minutes later than when she scheduled. Then she starts to go on some rant about how Chim Chim's are evil and must be destroyed the moment that they teleport to the area; and now she hasn't given them a moment's silence for the past twenty minutes! (You would be surprised at the size of the Field that Dr. Kubo gave them; triple the size of a normal Field…)
"ENOUGH!" Haseo yelled, Axel slowly turning and looking at him innocently.
"Enough what, Whitey-chan…?" he asked.
"'Enough what'?" Haseo bellowed angrily. "You have not SHUT UP for one minute since we arrived here! Just shut your yap, and find that Chim!"
"Ohhh…" Axel said thoughtfully. "You're hinting for me to be quiet! ^ ^" She exclaimed.
Haseo let out a furious scream.
"I. AM. NOT. HINTING!" The Adept Rogue breathed, about to attack his party mate.
"Oh…so you want me to be quiet…" Axel muttered, crossing his arms and nodding as if he knew the entire time…which he did… "If you wanted that, then why didn't you say so, Whitey-chan?" He asked cheerfully. "If you will hide with Hikki and me behind that hill over there, then I'll shut up." He explained.
"All right!" Haseo agreed instantly and followed the two of them behind a nearby hill. Why did she want to hide though…?
The answer came in the form of a level one hundred and fifteen Beastman, along with his party of a harvest Cleric human, and an Edge Punisher Beastman, he himself being a Steam Gunner.
Axel did keep his promise to be quiet…but only until his prey had waltzed right into his ambush.
"BUNZAI!" He screamed before sneak-attacking the trio.
"What?" The Steam Gunner yelled, but it was too late for him as Axel used Chaotic Strike on him.
He laughed, crazed as he dashed towards the Harvest Cleric, who was now trying to resurrect his fallen comrade. The Edge Punisher tried to get in his way, but he easily dodged the slow Beastman and stabbed him with his high-levelled Twin Blade, following up by throwing the other one at Cleric and catching him in neck. He went down instantly.
Axel laughed manically as the three of them fell at his feet and slowly disappeared into nothingness.
"That was fun…" He muttered, licking his lips and turning to Haseo. "So, shall we find the Chim now…?" he asked.
Haseo was speechless.
"You just willing PKed three payer, right in front of a famous PKK?" He asked.
"Yeah, so?" He asked, retrieving the Twin Blade that he threw. "Let's go already! I need to fill my quota!" He explained.
"QUOTA?" Haseo demanded. "You are killing players to fill a quota?"
"Yeah, now let's go!" Axel yelled, but Haseo did not budge, and instead, pulled out his Scythe.
"Do you really think that you can get away with that?" he demanded.
Axel sighed exasperatedly.
"You PKK's and your sense of honour and good will…sheesh…" he muttered, holding up his arms in a lazy shrug and shaking his head from side to side. "What will you gain from killing lil' ol' me?" He asked before making a cross with his two index and middle fingers. There was a loud 'poof' and a bunch of smoke surrounded Axel. After clearing out it revealed her younger form with a large Chim Chim backpack.
Haseo starred at him. It was like she wanted to be PKKed!
"Do you have a death wish, or are you just stupid?" He demanded.
The little Axel looked up at him and sighed.
"You would really hurt a little girl?" He asked.
"Hell yeah." Haseo answered as he slowly approached the tiny Twin Blade.
Axel's eyes suddenly welled up to twice their normal size, and he stood there, cowering from the 'Terror of Death'.
"Nooo!" He yelled like a little girl.
Haseo just starred at him. What was he trying to pull? He lifted his scythe, ready to attack, but suddenly was unable to move it.
"Huh…?" Haseo turned to see Hikaru holding the scythe in place.
"How rude." He said calmly. "Do not attack little girls. Fore. Shame." He stated almost robotically. Haseo only stared at him before hearing a rustling sound behind him. He turned his head, only to see the little Axel removing the backpack. What…?
Axel glared up at Haseo.
"You're mean! You need to die!" He announced, holding up the backpack as if about to hit him with it.
"Oh, and what are you going to do with that? Beat me with it? Make me laugh to death?" Haseo demanded, juuuuuust before Axel pulled out the hilt of a long machete.
"No, I'll stab you over and over and over with this." He stated, holding a machete easily twice as long as the Chim Chim bag. How did it even fit?
Haseo struggled to get his scythe back, but Hikaru was much stronger and held it back easily.
"Bye bye, Whitey-chan!" Axel s chirped, his childish voice almost demonic. He was about to stab Haseo when Hikaru intervened.
"No, Axel." He said calmly. "We need him to finish the quest." The Lord Partizan explained calmly.
Axel sighed irritably and thrust the weapon back into the bag.
"Fine, Hikki…" He murmured, glaring at Haseo. "Be thankful that we need you!" He exclaimed, pointing at his eyes with his index and middle finger, and at Haseo and back; meaning 'I'm watching you…'
Haseo could only stare at him. How could this day get any…weirder?
"There it is!" Axel announced, pointing at the ocean.
"What…?" Haseo asked, looking in his annoying companion's line of view. "I don't see anything."
"Well duh!" Axel said, touching his forehead as if Haseo was a complete numbskull. "That's because the God Chim Chim in this quest only appears if you kick the Nue!" He said, pointing at the small lucky animal across a long bridge on another island.
Haseo glared at Axel. How was he supposed to know that? Nue normally called King Chim Chim's! Not 'God's'!
"Fine, whatever." Haseo said dryly, turning towards the bridge, but Axel and Hikaru didn't follow. He turned to glare at them. "What are you waiting for?" he demanded.
"Did you not read the B-B-S?" Hikaru asked.
"Why would I when I was busy waiting for you to show up?" The Terror of Death growled.
"Well, there's a post for this quest. Said that there is a strong monster across the bridge." Axel explained.
"And your point?" Haseo asked impatiently. "We are at a high level, are we not?"
"Yes, but even if this area is at a lower level than our party, the monster is the average level of all of our levels." Hikaru explained monotonously.
"What…?" Haseo asked quietly, before swearing. This was when he had wished that he really did read the BBS…
"So…let's go Whitey-chan! 8D" Axel suddenly announced, racing past Haseo and Hikaru and onto the bridge. "C'mon slowpokes!" He yelled.
Haseo fizzled. First, they stop him to warn him about a monster, then she goes and charges in? What was wrong with her?
"Let us go." Hikaru "cheered" (if it could be considered such a thing) slowly, before trotting onto the bridge like a lumbering bear.
Haseo sighed. Why did he have a bad feeling about this? Maybe it was because he couldn't trust the idiot PKer in his party…or perhaps the Lord Partizan seemed too slow to be able to get an attack in…? Either way, he knew this would not end well…
Haseo gapped at the size of the monster that they had to defeat. How could CC Corp. make such a beast? It was covered in black fur, a large mussel around its mouth, leading down to its chest. There was a large, red mane of fur around its head, and two pointed, black ears on the top of its head. The monster stood on two legs, arms hanging to the ground below it, making it lean over in a hunch. The yellow eyes seemed to glow as it sensed their presence, and it began to drool. The overall size of the beast? About one and a half feet…
"What is that?" Haseo demanded.
"A Devil's Servant" Axel said cheerfully. "Ready to fight, Whitey-chan?" he asked.
"To fight that?" Haseo asked, staring down at it. "I'd step on it before it even got a swing in!" he complained.
"All the better then!" Axel yelled cheerfully.
"Yes, but I would advise that you use magic, White-y-chan." Hikaru said calmly, stepping towards the beast and beginning an Outbreak of Battle.
A large, flaming blue barrier surrounded the three of them and the 'Devil's Servant,' as it was apparently called. Haseo grinned. This would be simple! Right…?
The beast roared loudly…though it sounded more like a cute growl considering its size, and it charged at Haseo. The Rogue merely stood there and let it hit him with one of its overly large paws.
Haseo: -2 HP
"Oh, ouch." Haseo chuckled sarcastically, then kicked the beast as if it were a Chim.
Axel and Hikaru starred at Haseo in horror as the beast went flying.
"You just doomed us all… D8;;;" Axel said slowly, pointing at Haseo.
Haseo only starred at Axel sceptically. "I just doomed us all?" He asked, motioning where the beast was now lying. Hikaru and Axel both nodded, the two of them pointing back at the black monster slowly. Haseo only sighed as he turned his head towards the beast. It stirred, and slowly got back up onto its feet. It let out a small and angry growl before glaring at Haseo, its yellow eyes glowing brightly.
The monster threw out its arms and roared angrily, this time sounding like a real, terrifying roar instead of a growl. Haseo couldn't help but stare at the beast in shock. What was happening? Fire engulfed the monster completely, and it suddenly grew in size tenfold.
The now giant Devil's Servant glared down at Haseo. Its yellow eyes were now slit with red pupils in the center. It screamed furiously and threw its arm down at a surprisingly fast rate. Haseo managed to dive out of the way, just in time before it slammed its fist into the ground. He sighed thankfully, but the Devil was not done yet; it quickly flung the arm back up, rocks coming with it, and backhanded Haseo right in the stomach, sending him flying into the barrier.
Haseo: -2315 HP
Haseo starred at his status bar for a moment in shock. That much damage from one attack? He quickly looked up at the devil's Servant as it raced towards him, its little legs taking extremely fast steps. He closed his eyes as the monster slammed its fist down one more time, killing him.
Damn… He thought, angry at himself. How could this HAPPEN! He was prepared to appear in Breg Epona any moment now. With Axel only reciting a long chain of swears (some from languages he'd never even heard of before), he was sure that their party was a goner.
There was a pause as his character fell to the ground and disappeared in a flash of grey and orange light. He cursed silently at his desk in the real world. This was what they meant by a 'strong monster'… Something that could one-shot even The Terror of Death.
There was a sound of a droplet of water, and Haseo's PC Body reappeared, revived. He blinked in surprise, only to see Hikaru holding up his arm.
"Do not waste it." He said calmly before rushing towards the boss…if you could call a slight jog rushing…
Haseo didn't intend to waste it though. Lesson learned, he dashed towards the monster using the circle button's new hacked dash feature and quickly whipped out his twin guns. In less than a second he activated the Technique 'Justice'. He shot at the monster continuously, but the Devil's Servant seemed to just laugh as the amount of damage was at a minimum of three hit points each. He swore as he released the Double Trigger, but there was no change in damage; the monster still took only a tiny amount. Jumping back to reload his guns, Haseo watched Axel pass him on the way. The Twin Blade didn't seem to be attacking though. She stopped in mid run and whipped out a spell card and used Vak Don.
A number of small meteors rained from the sky and collided with the monstrous Devil, making it fall over onto its back, stunned.
"What're ya waiting for?" Axel screamed as he flung himself at the beast and attacked it continuously with his Twin Blades. The attacks took off way more damage than before as the Devil's Servant waved its arms and legs around to try to push itself back up.
Hikaru slowly pulled out a giant lance, probably even taller than his PC body, and slashed at the beast three times, taking off massive damage with each hit.
Haseo quickly finished reloading his guns and raced at the beast before shooting, taking off extra damage than he would if ranged. The monster screamed in agony before managing to push itself up with its overly large arms and swinging at the three of them, sending them into the barrier and taking off over one thousand Hit Points each.
The Terror of Death grunted as his hit points fell back to critical. Seeing as Axel and Hikaru weren't fairing too well themselves now, he quickly opened his inventory and used a Revive Storm, healing fifteen hundred Hit Points to each of them with his Boost Candle equipped. He then quickly reopened his menu and selected the spell Ani Zot and fired it at the beast without a second thought.
Just like before it fell over and onto his back, allowing them to attack it freely as it struggled to stand.
Axel laughed manically as he struck the monster continuously.
"That's what you get for being so big!" He screamed as he used a Technique similar to Chaotic Strike, but bigger and a lot flashier.
The monster screamed furiously as Hikaru slashed at it as well, before finally pushing itself back up. Apparently noting this, Hikaru slowly opened an eye, then held up a spell card like Axel and used the earth attack, Gan Bolg.
The monster fell for the last time as Haseo finished it off with a Rengeki Justice and a Double Trigger Judgement. It let out a long moan, similar to that of a Heaven's Eater, before vanishing into nothingness.
The barrier quickly vanished as the party received:
3 Healing storms
2 Earth Spikes
30 GP
Haseo starred at the earnings pitifully.
"What kind of Boss gives you 30 GP?" He asked himself.
"That one." Axel answered simply and raced over to the Nue, kicking it as hard as he possibly could.
"You kick! You Kick! I call! I call!" The animal repeated cheerfully, then vanished in a loud 'poof'.
Like magic, a small, bearded Chim Chim appeared in a puff of smoke. It slowly began to waltz around the island, as if in no danger at all… but little did it know that Axel was walking about…
The said lunatic raced towards the tiny Chim before booting it right in the face twice. An exclamation mark appeared over its head and it grew a foot. With its newfound size, the Chim decided to get revenge and attempted to squash the nut. Axel dodged gracefully and kicked it twice more, and again it grew and attempted to smush him. Axel was now enjoying himself as he delivered the final kick, and the Chim finally reduced itself to its original size, defeated.
"Quite an unexpected feat. I will aid you." It said robotically before vanishing in a cloud of pink sparkles.
Haseo could only watch this display oddly. She seemed to like hurting things; just like another Blade Brandier that he knew… Cough, Bordeaux, Cough…
"So, we finished the quest, c'mon! Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Axel yelled impatiently, Hikaru sauntering towards him.
"Yes, let us go." He 'cheered' calmly, turning towards the blue Warp Panel to the left of them.
Haseo could only shrug as he followed the two. There was no point in sticking around here any longer than necessary…
-Dual City: Breg Epona: Quest Shop-
"Thank you very much, Adventurers." Dr. Kubo thanked voicelessly. "As a thank you, here is a gift for you!" he exclaimed as a long, cloaked arm reached towards Haseo and handed him ten Elven Drops.
Haseo took the gift wordlessly, though could sense that the black-haired idiot behind him wanted one from the seemingly burning stare at the back of his PC body's head.
"Now I can continue my research! Come and visit me in Mercenary district in Mac Anu any time!" The Vital Vista announced cheerfully, then waddled off.
"Here, you want some?" Haseo asked, but didn't wait for an answer. He dropped three of the Elven Drops into the Twin Blade's hands, then reached over to Hikaru and gave him three more, keeping the last four for himself. He earned it after the insanity of this mission...
"Hey!" Axel whined. "Why do you get four?" He demanded.
"Because, I do." Haseo said bluntly.
Axel pouted for a moment, then raced over to Hikaru and glomped him.
"All right Hikki, let's go and meet Eon before she fines me again." Axel told his armoured friend, who nodded his head in agreance.
"Fine you?" Haseo asked curiously. "I thought that she was your friend."
Axel stuck his tongue out at the Adept Rogue.
"She is, but that doesn't mean that she won't fine us for being late again." He answered.
Haseo scratched the back of his PC body's head.
"I…see…" He lied.
"Well, see you monkey-butt." Axel said, quickly racing/fleeing towards the elevator before Haseo could kill him.
"M-monkey butt?" Haseo screamed furiously, trying to keep himself from pulling out his guns and shooting him from there.
"Have a good day." Hikaru stated cheerfully, walking off after Axel.
Haseo swore for about the millionth time that day. How could those two stand to be around each other? They were completely different!
He took a deep breath to calm down, then stepped towards the Quest Shop to regain his prize: a Text of Wisdom.
Oh wow, like he needed another one of those…
-The Eternal City: Mac Anu: Alchemy District-
"You. Are. Late." Eon growled, slowly turning to Axel and Hikaru, who cowered under her glare. "Where. Were. You." She asked slowly, her gaze unfaltering.
"OnaquestwithHaseopleasedon'teatmeIdon'ttastegood!" Axel squealed quickly, making a cross with his fingers. He received a small whack to the head, courtesy of Eon.
"I'm fining you fifty thousand GP." Eon said bluntly, giving the two of them a flat look.
"What? FIFTY THOUSAND? We only got thirty from the Devil's Servant!" He whined desperately.
"Yeah, and you were still late." Eon explained, holding out her hand for the money.
Axel sighed exasperatedly. He knew this was a battle that he couldn't win…even if he was one hundred levels higher than her… He gave her the fifty thousand before walking towards the railing overlooking the Ocean of Mac Anu. Leaning against it, he turned his green eyes up to sun.
"So, why'd you want us here today?" He asked, taking out a stick of pocky and munching on it in the real world.
"I got a Guild Key…" Eon murmured, making Axel turn to her amazed.
"You gonna join a GUILD?" He asked incredulously; even Hikaru was looking at her in surprise! "I thought that you hated Guilds!"
"I do, numb-nut!" Eon hissed angrily. "I got it from that Pee person." She held up the Raven Key. "She said that 'all would be explained' if I went there." She explained, using her fingers in quotations.
"What's there to explain?" Axel asked, eating another pocky stick.
"What those monster were. Where they came from. What we are, they are, everything." The dog-girl murmured.
Axel swallowed the stick and slowly nodded.
"Oh, I guess so…" He murmured.
"Yes. I would like to know as well." Hikaru said quietly.
"So…" Eon mumbled. "Do you want to check it out? I can give you a Key so long as I have this one."
Axel finished his third pocky stick and licked his lips.
"Sure, but are you really going to join?" he asked.
"Probably not." Eon answered as she copied two more Raven Keys and distributed them.
"Then, shall we go…?" Hikaru asked quietly.
Axel and Eon nodded silently, and the three of them slowly headed towards the Warp Panel at the entrance of Alchemy District…
OH. MY. GOOOOOOOOD. It was coma splicing HEAVEN! I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL I GET TO THE CHAPTERS MIFFIN STARTED EDITING! This was AWEFUL! I ALSO had to kill about 25 "before"-s. There were STILL a lot after, but not enough to make me wanna kill myself. = =;; I hope this rewrite was a LOT better than before. A ton of words were misspelled or downright wrong, and I added and edited a few more things. So...yeah. I feel I made a biiiig improvement with this chapter just now. e ,e;;; Jya for now, I guess... Whee...