Disclaimer…again…
.hack//G.U. does not belong to me, nor will it ever. XP
Axel and Hikaru, as well as Ginny and Aurum are on loan from Miffin…I hope that she doesn't start charging…
Eon and Shiruba are mine. Do. Not. Take. Them… MINE!
Now, here is what many of you may have been waiting for. My explanation; hence the chapter title! (I am SURE good at titles…not…)
There is a lot of Swearing in this chapter, no thanks to Shiruba and Ginny, so watch for that if you're like me, and don't like swears.
Note to how much thought that I actually, accidentally put into this fic. Yes, accidentally. I do not think up this stuff on purpose. It is a gift from the Maple Syrup Gods…or just an overactive tendency to pay attention to the most subtle things in a game…whatever it is though, enjoy Chapter six, and Please R and R at the end!
Chapter 6: Explanations
"It. Is. So. WEIRD!" Eon exclaimed, pointing at Wise Grunty with her index finger.
"Yeah, that's what I thought the first time that I saw Gao Grunty too…" Axel said, crossing his arms, and cocking his head to the side. "Though…this one is even weirder looking…" He muttered.
"Glasses." Hikaru agreed, before reaching towards the defenceless Grunty, and pulling off the specs, before putting them onto Eon's eyes.
She wobbled for a moment, before walking straight into the back wall of Raven.
"I can't see!" She exclaimed, as she spun around on the spot, and walked straight into Wise Grunty, which her PC body tripped over.
"How rude, nero!" Wise Grunty scolded, making Eon jump back.
"It talked!" She yelled in surprise, before bumping into Axel.
Axel reached down and pulled off the glasses from Eon's head calmly, before throwing them across the room, and towards the door.
"Fetch." He commanded, as Wise Grunty slowly walked towards his lost belonging. Axel turned to Eon, and nodded. "Yep, they talk too!" He explained. "I heard that all Grunties take the personality of their Guild Master, and act exactly like them."
"They also use a special word at the end of each sentence." Hikaru finished, Eon slowly nodding.
"I…see…" She muttered.
"Man, you really haven't ever been to a Guild…" Axel said, grinning. "Considering how long you've played, I'd of thought that you'd at least been invited to one."
Eon held up her fist threateningly at Axel, who ducked his head and covered it with his arms, before slowly relaxing her arm again.
"I was invited to a lot of Guilds." Eon explained. "I just chose to stay away from them."
"Why?" Axel asked.
"Because, I didn't want to be in them." She explained.
"Why?" Axel repeated.
"Because, I didn't feel like it." Eon explained, catching on.
"Why—" Axel attempted to ask, before receiving a hard kick to his gut. His PC body crippled over for a moment, before slowly standing back up. "That wasn't very nice!" He exclaimed, angrily.
"Is that so? Sue me." Eon said angrily, as she turned to look up the stairs, leading towards the Serpent of Lore. "So, is that where we need to go…?" She asked, pointing.
"I do not know." Hikaru said sadly.
"Yeah, Kestrel is a lot different than this dump." Axel explained. "It's so big, that it has its own area!"
Eon nodded slowly.
"So…what do we do then…?" She asked, before hearing the door at the entrance of the Home open.
They all turned to see a familiar, white Adept Rogue walk in, leading two parties; one party of himself, a blue haired steam gunner, and a short, blonde Shadow Warlock, and the other of a blonde Harvest Cleric, a long-haired Blade Brandier, and Mrs. Pee.
"Hi Pee!" Axel yelled cheerfully as Pi entered Raven beside Haseo.
A large, red, pulsing anger mark appeared on the back of her head, as she looked to Haseo and Kuhn, who were giving her a weird look.
"What are you looking at…?" She questioned dangerously, as the two looked away instantly, and focused on the white wallpaper of the level one Guild; as if there was something interesting about it.
Atoli blinked at the three in confusion.
"Why are you here…?" She asked, before Yata slowly stepped out of the Serpent of Lore, and down the steps towards them.
"Hell of I know." Axel answered rudely, as he stretched his arms behind his head, and leaned back on the spot, before nearly falling over.
"I am glad that you could all come." Yata addressed calmly, as he slowly turned to the party of Guardian Masters. "It is a pleasure to meet you all, at last." He said, looking over the top of the rims of his orange glasses. "There are many things that I would like to talk about…"
"Whoa-ho-hoa!" Axel exclaimed suddenly, shooting his hands in front of himself, and holding them in a 'slow down' position. "Talk? About what, exactly? My mom always told me to never talk to strangers." He explained.
"And that is why you kill them…?" Eon asked him with a flat look.
"Yes—NO!" Axel exclaimed, shaking a fist at her. "I only do that 'cause it's m' job!" He explained.
"Really…" Eon muttered, amused. "Could have fooled me." She said, with a shrug.
A large fizzle appeared over Axel's head, as he turned back to Yata.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" He asked.
Yata narrowed his eyes a bit, as he turned around, and started to head up the stairs, and back into the Serpent of Lore, silently; Haseo and the other Epitaph Users quickly following him.
"Well, that sure answered the question, Mr. Mysterious." Axel said in a huff.
Eon sweatdropped.
"Well, at least we know that we go there now…" She reasoned, Hikaru nodding in agreement.
"Well fine then! We'll show him and go in too!" Axel announced; another sweatdrop appearing on Eon and Hikaru's heads.
"Axel, he wants us to follow him." She attempted to reason.
"LIES!" The moronic Twin Blade announced, before dashing into the Serpent of Lore at great speed.
Both Eon and Hikaru sighed exasperatedly, before following him into the dark room.
-
The Serpent of Lore was completely black at first. Eon had trouble trying to see where she was, or if her PC body was going to bump into anything…if not, anyone else.
"Welcome," Yata started, "to the Serpent of Lore!" He announced, before a bright, blue flash filled the entire room.
Eon had to cover her eyes from the sudden brightness, before slowly opening them, to see hundreds of monitors, surrounding them to their sides and front. The only area without screens was the bright, white entrance to this 'mystical' room. She slowly turned to Axel, whose mouth was hanging open, wide enough to fit an entire apple in; and to Hikaru, who had even opened his PC body's eyes, to see the amazing sight.
"Dude…I think that died and went to shiny heaven…" Axel muttered, looking around at all of the screens, before noticing the large, green serpent, spiralling behind Yata. His eyes widened, before he became completely transfixed on the snake; slowly moving around and around and, yet again, around…
Eon looked to Haseo, and the other Epitaph Users, who seemed use to this spectacular room, with serious expressions plastered all over their PC body's faces.
"This is the Serpent of Lore." Yata repeated, slowly capturing Axel's attention again, as well as the other two's. "This is where operation G.U. is under place, and where all G.U. members report when called." He explained, flicking open his fan, before quickly shutting it. "We are all part of Operation G.U." Yata explained, "It is our job to rid 'The World' of AIDA, and other harmful AI's. Do you understand?" He questioned.
Eon nodded slowly, as did Hikaru, but Axel raised his hand in their air, as if in school, and began to hop around on the spot.
"Yes…?" Yata asked, raising an eyebrow, slightly amused.
"I thought that you were Raven. Not G.U. Wasn't G.U. a stupid drawing Guild…?" he asked.
"G.U. is our real name." Kuhn explained. "Raven is just a front. As for the actual Guild, G.U., yes, it is an animation Guild."
"Oh…I see." Axel said, nodding.
"How do you know so many Guilds?" Eon whispered, whiling eyeing Yata to make sure that he wasn't eavesdropping.
"Well, young grasshopper…I have been around for a long time." Axel explained cheerfully.
Eon turned to him sceptically.
"You mean that you've PKed so many different characters, from so many Guilds, that you've memorized all of the decent ones?" She questioned with a flat look on her PC body's face.
Axel fidgeted for a moment, trying to come up with a come back, but only shrugged.
"Yep…" Eon muttered, looking back to Yata.
Yata's PC body starred at Eon unblinkingly, making her slowly shrink back away from him, silently.
"Having explained about our operation," Yata started again, looking at the three of them from the rims of his glasses. "I believe that it is only fair for you to explain about your own, unique powers…Am I wrong…?" He asked tactually.
The three unfortunate Guardian Masters shifted uncomfortably under the seven pairs of eyes on them.
"What now?" Eon asked Axel, using the 'Party Chat' option.
"How the hell am I supposed to know?!" He demanded back, though his character did not dare to move.
"What do we say…?" Hikaru asked, a small crease appearing in his character's forehead.
Well why don't ya tell em what they wanna know?! Shiruba asked, nearly making the three of them jump in shock.
"Maybe because we don't KNOW what they want to know…?" Eon said angrily.
Then ask, idiot. Make them tell you what they want to know, and answer their questions. But remain discrete. Don't let them know that you do not know what they want to ask. Shiruba explained.
Eon gave Axel a slight glance from the corner of her eye, before looking back up to Yata. She slowly opened her mouth in the real world, but it felt dry. She really had no idea what to ask them…
"So…erm…" She muttered quietly. "What do you want to know?!" She blurted out, before twisting her mouth in an awkward angle to keep it shut.
That was one way of asking…
She could have sworn that she heard Axel hit his forehead in the real world, and cry out in pain, since the Party Chat was still on for the other two.
"Wow, very discrete…" Axel muttered sarcastically in the Party Chat, before switching it off with a quiet 'ding'; Hikaru copying.
Yata looked up in thought, as if he wasn't expecting this…which he was…
"Why don't we start with a simple question?" He began. "What are the names of your…Avatars…?" He questioned.
Axel's eyes narrowed.
"Hey you, we won't answer your questions, unless you answer our as well. Got it…?" He demanded. "If we tell you our…Guardian's names, then you have to tell us yours. You all have one if you're here, don't ya?!" He asked.
Yata looked shocked for a moment, but quickly recovered.
"I understand completely; though how unexpected, for one such as yourself, to ask such a…well thought out demand." Yata explained with a small grin.
"Fine then!" Axel said loudly, though a hint of anger in his voice; obviously from being implied 'smart'. "I'm Axel, and my Guardian is called…" He paused, as Ginryuu spoke to him; though only audible to the other Guardian Masters. There was a moment of silence, as Axel looked up at the Dragon's call, before answering. "And my Guardian's name is Ginryuu: The Tempest!"
Wow…Axel can kind of sound…COOL, if he puts his mind to it… Eon thought, looking at the Twin Blade.
"But I just call 'er Ginny for short, 'cause it sounds purdy!" Axel added cheerfully.
A large sweatdrop appeared on the back of Eon's head.
Or not…
Yata slowly nodded his head, before shooting a quick glare at Haseo and Kuhn, who were now giggling at Axel's remark.
They shut up immediately…
"And yours…?" He asked, motioning Hikaru and Eon.
Hikaru slowly opened an eye, before shutting it and answering,
"Aurum: The Protector" He said simply.
Hey, yer up next, squirt! Shiruba announced within Eon's head cheerfully. M' name's Shiruba: The Fangs of Judgement! She explained, pride in her voice.
Eon almost choked on her breath.
Judgement…? She thought, feeling her heart beat harder in the real world.
That's what I SAID. Shiruba said angrily. Are you deaf, or just stupid…? She asked, playfully.
Eon looked down in the real world, ignoring all of the faces in front of her, in her M2D. 'Judgement'. That was what the guy with the funny arm called her…what he told her to 'become'…why she was in a coma for so long…
"Eon…?" She barely heard, before noticing that Axel was looking at her. "It's your turn…you okay…?" he asked.
"Y-yeah…" She mumbled. "I-I'm Eon…and my Guardian is Shiruba: The Fangs of Judgement." She announced, but little emotion was in her voice.
"I see." Yata said quietly. "And to meet your demands, Sir Axel…I shall tell you our Avatar's names." He explained.
Yata pointed at Haseo first; the Adept Rogue, crossing his arms over his chest.
"He is Haseo, the 'Terror of Death'. As for his Avatar; Skeith, also known as the Terror of Death." Yata explained.
He quickly pointed to Atoli.
"Atoli, with the Avatar, Innis: The Mirage of Deceit."
His finger moved over to Kuhn.
"Kuhn, with his Avatar, Magus: The Propagation; and I am Yata, with Fidchell: The Prophet."
He dropped his arm, and motioned Sakubo with his gaze, as well as Pi next to her.
"That is Sakubo, with Gorre: The Machinator, and Pi, with Tarvos: The Avenger." Yata explained, before turning his gaze back to the three of them.
"There is one more Epitaph User, but he is unable to be here for…offline problems…" He said in a low voice. "He is the vessel for Corbenik: The Rebirth."
Axel and Hikaru nodded, but Eon was lost in her own little world still; Yata's words barely reaching her.
"So…is that all of your… 'Epitaph-thingies…?" Axel asked.
Yata nodded in response.
"That is all of the Epitaph Users…which now brings up a question for you three…" He said, another small grin creeping onto his face. "How many 'Guardian Masters' are there…?" He asked, again, tactfully.
Nosy Bastard, ain't he?! Ginny demanded, with a loud and angry hiss. What do our numbers have to do with him?!
Please calm down, Ginryuu… Aurum said calmly.
Ginryuu's got a point, shiny. Shiruba said with a growl. It ain't any of his damn business.
Aurum sighed within Hikaru's head.
Why don't we just tell them…? I am sure that this topic will come up sooner or later… He defended.
Shiruba and Ginryuu growled, but did not argue with the wise dragon.
Every Guardian has an element, as for how many of us there are; it's none of his damn business. Shiruba explained angrily. For THIS world's elements, that is…
Eon slowly nodded, slightly back in 'The World' mentally.
"Shiruba says that there's one for every element." She explained, only to receive strange looks from the group of Epitaph Users.
"Shiruba 'said' so…?" Yata questioned sceptically.
Eon opened her mouth to answer, but Axel beat her to it.
"You saying that she's lying?!" He demanded, gritting his teeth together. "'Cause I don't think that she's lying if I can here Ginny's voice too!" He yelled.
Hikaru furrowed his brows angrily as well…though only looked slightly agitated with his usual face…
"Yes; I hear Aurum too." He explained.
Yata slowly crossed his arms over his chest, before turning around to face the floating sphere behind him.
"Is that so…" he muttered, though to himself.
He closed his eyes in thought for a moment, before quickly flipping his hand over the sphere, and moving it slightly to the left, instantly opening the familiar file of Eon's fight with the AIDA, Capricorn.
He allowed it to play for a few moments, before looking over his shoulder at them, and pausing it, just at the moment that the gash appeared on the dog-girl's cheek.
"Would you explain this then…?" He asked, back facing them.
Eon's stomach tightened as she looked at all of the pairs of eyes, minus Yata's, facing her.
"I…I…dunno…" She admitted, shuffling her feet uncomfortably.
"You cried out in pain…I believe that this area became an AIDA server at that time…but even so…why did you receive that damage, and not 'Shiruba'…?" He asked, slightly looking over his shoulder at her.
She fidgeted a little bit more.
"I…Shiruba…um…" Eon struggled for words, but her mouth was completely dry, and her heart was pounding too fast for her to even think straight.
"We take damage, instead of them." Axel answered for her, eyes facing Yata unchallenged. "That's the rules of the user of our Guardians. We are vessels. They are our strength."
Eon looked up to Axel, and gave him a small grin of appreciation, before Ginryuu ruined the moment completely;
Well, looks like the idiot can sound cool after all…wonder if you can back it up though, against an AIDA Explicant. She said with a growl.
Axel nearly fell over, before slamming his PC body's head with his fist hard.
There was a loud cry of pain, as Axel apparently also hit himself in the real world, before 'order' reclaimed the room.
I'm in your head, nimrod. You can't hit me. Ginryuu explained with a growl of delight.
"I can sure as hell try…" Axel muttered, making Eon giggle.
Yata watched them in silence for a few more moments, before continuing with the 'interrogation'.
He narrowed his eyes in thought, before shutting them.
"What exactly are your 'Guardians'…?" He asked, opening his dark eyes again.
Axel stuck up his index finger, as if about to explain…before her remembered that he had no idea what the answer was to the question.
"Hell of I know." He answered rudely, Ginny agreeing with his remark completely.
"Prototypes." Hikaru blurted out suddenly, making all eyes turn to him. He did not flinch or crumble under the stares, but he did close his eyes and grin calmly, as he normally did…
Prototypes…? Of what? Eon asked Shiruba.
The beast took a long moment to answer, before finally spilling the beans, to her and Ginny's displeasure.
Prototypes of the REAL Avatars. She explained distastefully. There was once an experiment, a long time ago, just before this 'World' was created. An experiment to mimic the God-like powers of Aura. CC Corp. thought that they could stick special man-made monsters into certain, compatible players, and give them the same abilities as her, making this 'World' more interesting…those damn Bastards! They tried to play God with us, who were created for the soul purpose of being the 'God's' of 'The World', but found us 'insufficient', and scrapped us! THEN they attempted to use the actual Avatars, pieces of the AI, Morgonna, and sent a man to insanity. He then burn the building into the ground, and that was when we were finally able to escape to this world; along with the Avatars. You could say that we are 'weaker' then the Avatars in genera though…
What?! Eon demanded mentally. But you BEAT the 'AIDA whatever-they're-calleds'; something that THEY couldn't do! She explained.
Shiruba was silent for another long moment.
There are many differences between OUR strengths, and Avatars. She explained. Avatars combine with a compatible human, and fight along side them. We merely take you as a vessel, and use your own physical health to beat the enemy. The only reason that WE can beat the AIDA Explicants, is because we have the ability to crack their data; an ability unique only to us.
Eon looked up to Axel and Hikaru, who were letting this sink in, both looking mildly tired. She slowly looked back to the Epitaph Users, noticing that they had not heard what Shiruba had just explained, and took a deep breath.
"Shiruba said that they are 'prototypes', of a 'God' project before this game was made…" She explained, noticing the look of interest in almost all of their eyes. "They…are like Avatars…but use our power…our 'strength' to fight…the only reason that they can beat the 'AIDA Explicants', as she calls them, is because they have a special ability to crack their data…something that Avatars don't have…"
She could hear Shiruba let out an angry grunt as she finished, but ignored it.
"I see…" Yata muttered quietly, turning to face the monitor again, and closing the clip. "So that is how it is." He said to himself.
"So you're our Avatars…ancestors…?" Bo asked, sticking his knuckle up to his mouth, in thought.
"Guess you can see it that way…" Axel muttered, scratching the back of his head.
"Amazing…" Kuhn gasped. "I never knew that CC Corp. worked on anything else before that incident…did you, Pi?" He asked.
The Tribal Grappler shook her head.
"I never heard of anything of the sort. I was not working in that division of CC Corp., nor am I now." She explained.
Axel gasped.
"You work for CC Corp. Pee?! SUGOI! Does that mean that you're an Admin?!" he demanded. (Sugoi: cool)
Pi slowly nodded her head, not even bothering to correct the idiot.
Endrance looked down in thought.
"But why did it take until now for them to emerge…?" He asked, holding his arm out in question.
"Because, there was no threat the Avatars could not handle." Hikaru answered easily, one of his blue eyes slightly open. "No reason to come; no reason to work…nonetheless, Eon was in a coma for the past few months." He explained, not noticing the instant glare that Eon gave him.
"You were in a coma?!" Haseo asked amazed. "You never acted like it!"
Eon glared from Hikaru, over to Haseo.
"How do you act like you were just in a coma?!" She demanded angrily. "Besides; it's not like I asked to be in one!"
"Enough!" Yata howled, silencing the room instantly. "We will not get off topic!" He demanded angrily, making all of the Epitaph Users and Guardian Masters shudder.
"Okay, okay!" Axel yelled, sticking his finger in his ear. "What else do you want to know?!" He demanded. "You know that I still need to fill my quota today!"
Yata glared at Axel, but Axel simply ignored it, and pretended to inspect the non-existent earwax on his PC fingertip.
Yata rubbed the bridge of his nose angrily, before looking from the Epitaph users, to the Guardian Masters.
"You said that there are more Guardians, one for every element…if that is so, then how would we find them…?" He asked, holding his arm out in question.
Look around idiot! Ginny howl from within Axel's head, making Aurum sigh.
Each of us has an element here. I am Earth; Ginryuu is Wind…or also called 'Electricity' in other games, similar to this 'World'. Shiruba is 'Fire'. That leaves Water, and Light and Darkness. He explained.
Each of us takes after a server, to put it simply. Shiruba explained. I am the God of the Sigma Server. Remember that Beast Statue…? That's me. Ginryuu and Aurum are of Don Dola's Theta server. Remember the two dragon's at the Beast Statue…? That stands for them. I think that you can see where this is going… She asked.
Eon nodded slowly, before noticing the fact that that still left two servers.
What about the other two servers then…? She asked.
CC Corp. has been fixing the fourth server for a long time…those lazy bums are FINALLY going to add it within the next few days, so level up and check out what that place looks like for reference on the final elements. She explained.
Eon slowly nodded, before re-explaining it to the Epitaph Users.
"I see…modelled after the Beast Statues…" he muttered.
Modeled AFTER the Beast Statues?! Are you just stupid, or behind the times, geezer?! Ginryuu demanded…even though she knew perfectly well that he could not hear them… WE are the models FOR the Beast Statues! Get it through your pea-sized brain!
"Axel, I would not repeat that, if I were you…" Eon whispered to the Twin Blade, who nodded silently. Yata was in a bad enough mood at the moment…no need to set him off completely…yet…
"Is there any more questions…?" Hikaru asked calmly.
Yata looked up in thought for a bit, before shaking his head.
"That was more then enough to take in for one day…" he explained.
"Good, for you and I both, baldy." Axel agreed, before racing out of the Serpent of Lore at full speed, not bothering to look back.
Yata frowned.
"I will keep in touch." He explained, before dismissing them with the wave his arm.
Eon and Hikaru starred at him like he was an idiot, for thinking them to be obedient like dogs…even though Eon was technically part dog in 'The World', before leaving with the rest of the 'gang'.
-
-------------------------------------The Eternal City: Mac Anu: Raven-----------------------------------------
-
"Well, wasn't that educational now, huh whitey-chan?" Axel asked as he slid down the rail to the lower part of Raven's floor.
"Stop calling me that!" Haseo yelled angrily, as Axel quickly spun on his heel and gave him a large grin.
"Whatever you say, whitey-chan!" He announced with a salute, making Eon and Hikaru giggle.
Haseo was not impressed.
He gave a small sigh, as he turned to Kuhn and Endrance to his left.
"What now…?" He asked, ignoring Axel, who was now proceeding with sticking his PC body's fist into his mouth.
Kuhn gave a small shrug.
"I guess that we won't know until Yata contacts us." He explained, Endrance nodding in agreement.
"Then I'll take my leave here!" Sakubo said cheerfully. "If Master En doesn't need me here, then I'm gone!" Saku announced.
Axel spat out the fist and coughed loudly into the Mic.
"YOUR VOICE JUST CHANGED!" He yelled in shock, pointing an accusing finger at the little Shadow Warlock.
Saku gave him an unamused look.
"Yes, for your information, Baka-kun, it did change!" She explained. (Baka: Stupid)
Axel looked from Haseo, to Sakubo in shock.
"Did she go through puberty in the span of thirty minutes?!" He demanded, making half the room fall over.
WHACK!
Eon hit him hard on the head with her fist.
"NO YOU MORON!" She yelled, crossing her arms. "There are other reasons for a voice change in a game!"
Pi rubbed the bridge of her nose in the real world tiredly.
"Sakubo has split personalities." She explained. "Saku is the older sister. Bo is the younger brother."
Axel slowly nodded his head, but Eon looked at him sceptically.
"You had no idea what she just said, did you?" She asked.
"Nope." He answered, before looking at the clock in the real world, only to let out an agitated sigh. "Hey, Hikki and I need to go now! If we wait any longer, there won't be anyone left to fill our quota." He explained, before he turned towards the exit of the Home.
"Wait." Haseo said, glaring at the back of the Twin Blade's head.
"Yeah…?" Axel asked, a small grin on his face.
"Don't PK." Haseo said, crossing his arms over his chest. "If you do, someone will come after you." He explained.
"Oh, like you, whitey-chan…?" Axel asked cheerfully, before narrowing his eyes dangerously. "'Cause, you know that you don't scare us. Hikki and I are some of Kestrel's strongest; right after Gabi in fact!" He explained, "If you want a fight, we'll give you one…and a lot more too…" He said, before slowly turning back to the door, and leaving silently.
Eon watched them leave, before turning to the silent Haseo.
"You know that they aren't kidding." She said, noticing Kuhn and Pi log out behind her. "They are strong, and Axel PK's more then one hundred a day." The dog-girl explained.
Haseo looked at her sceptically.
"No one can slay one hundred players a day." He said.
Eon made a small grunt in argument.
"If that's true, then think of this, Mister 'Terror of Death'. There are three people per party. There can be up to two parties in a normal area, randomly selected and made. What if you were to go to a hot-spot, like a quest area…? How many parties would be there…? They only need to take out thirty-three parties to kill ninety-nine. Over 'one hundred' would be thirty-four." She explained monotonously.
Haseo blinked in shock. Was Axel really wise enough to think up something like that…?
"And how would you know that…?" Saku asked with an interested look on her character's face. "Could it be that you were PKed by him…?"
Eon turned to the little Shadow Warlock, who was grinning smugly.
"For your information, I was. Only at the time, Axel was around my level, and I ended up PKing him instead." She explained, thinking back to the good ol' days. "Later, in Mac Anu, I met up with him and Hikaru, where we got to know each other. That was a few years ago, before I was put into a coma by that jerk." She hissed, before seeing that Sakubo was no longer paying attention, and was complementing the Epitaph User by the name of 'Endrance'.
Eon narrowed her eyes, ignoring how tears were flooding down Atoli's face sympathetically. She thought for a moment of how to possibly get back at the annoying shrimp, before it came.
"Hey, you're Endrance, right…?" She asked, stepping towards the tall Blade Brandier.
Endrance looked away from the minor pain-in-his-side, Sakubo, and to the little doggy-girl.
"Yes, I am." He answered formally.
Eon grinned sweetly.
"You're at a really high level, aren't you? If so, will you level up with me…? I can't go to high areas alone." She explained.
Endrance looked from Sakubo, to Eon, and finally to Haseo. He gave the Adept Rogue a 'what should I do, oh glorious master' look, before Haseo crossed his arms again and nodded; ignoring the hole slowly being burnt into the back of his head by Saku's death glare.
"Very well then." Endrance answered with a small, but slightly pained grin. "Where do you want to go?" He asked.
"Somewhere that I can gain all of my levels back!" Eon announced, before grabbing Endrance's arm, and leading him out of the Guild…but not before discretely turning her head and sticking her tongue out at Sakubo.
-
"That little…" Saku howled furiously. "Trying to steal my Master En?! SHE WILL PAY!" The Shadow Warlock announced, before stomping out of Raven, leaving Haseo and Atoli alone.
"Well this was an…eventful day…" Haseo muttered, before turning to Atoli, who was teary eyed. Haseo stepped back in shock. "Wha-what's wrong with you?!" He demanded.
"That—that was so sad!" She explained, before hugging onto Haseo tightly.
"H-hey! Get off me!" Haseo demanded, before shoving her off with extreme difficulty.
The Harvest Cleric slowly whipped her eyes, before quickly turning on her heel, and running out of the Guild.
Haseo starred off after her, utterly confused.
"What was so sad…?" He muttered to himself quietly, before logging out of 'The World'. That was enough for the day…
-
---------------------------------Delta Flying Beast's Frying Pan---------------------------------
-
Endrance wielded his sword masterfully. He quickly cut down all of the enemies in his path, and sheathed his sword gracefully.
"Sugoi!" Eon called, amazed, as she clapped her hands together enthusiastically. "That was the coolest thing that I've ever seen!" She admitted, before racing over to Endrance.
"It was nothing." He muttered, but did not seem to be focused on her, or anything else in the dungeon for that matter; he starred off into the distance, as if thinking on something, long and hard.
Eon looked up at him, cocking her head to the side a little.
"Hey, are you okay, Mr. Endrance…?" She asked, prodding his arm lightly.
"I am fine." He answered easily, but did not look down at her.
Eon cocked an eyebrow in confusion.
"Are you sure…? You seem a little out of it. I heard that you were once the Arena champ…and I'm pretty sure that Arena champions do not stare off into the distance without thinking on something." She explained thoughtfully.
Endrance gave the dog-girl a quick glance, before walking towards the nearest party of monster with long strides.
He created an 'Outbreak of Battle', but did not with a sneak attack, as Eon would have thought him to do, though it did not matter. He cut down the level thirty-seven enemies like they were slides of bread, and within seconds, the fight was over; the victor, Endrance and the trainee, Eon.
Eon narrowed her eyes angrily, before racing past Endrance and standing in front of him.
"Hey dude, what's the deal?!" She demanded, pointing up at the purple-haired Blade Brandier defiantly.
Endrance continued to walk towards Eon, and pushed her out of the way with a long arm, much to her displeasure, and created another 'Outbreak of Battle' with another party of Goblins. Again, he was the victor by a long shot, and temporarily stopped to look around the field for another party to defeat.
"Endrance!" Eon called angrily, running up to the Brandier and latching onto his arm tightly. "What is wrong with you?!" She demanded.
Endrance stopped walking, and looked down at the girl; a hint of distaste in his eyes.
"Why do you think that there is anything wrong…?" He asked, not even bothering to pull his arm back from her grip. "You have never adventured with me before; therefore, how can you presume that there is anything wrong…?" He questioned.
Eon's ears flattened in shock, as she slowly let go of his arm and backed away slightly.
"I…I just thought that you were acting a little weird… Players don't normally ignore their party completely!" She explained, putting her arms out, palms up in explanation.
Endrance glared down at her with malice in his eyes.
"I did not choose to come here with you." He explained, pulling out his sword, and suddenly pointing at her neck with it. "It was Haseo that chose that for me. I could not care less what happens to you."
Eon looked up to Endrance with large eyes.
"You…you don't need to put it that way! And why did Haseo 'choose' for you?!" She demanded. "Are you not your own person?! Can't you choose for yourself?!"
Endrance's eyes narrowed even more.
"Haseo is the only reason that I get up in the morning. He is, but the most beautiful thing that this 'World' has to offer! A pathetic piece of scrap like you can not evertruly understand. He has endured so much to save this 'World', even risking his own life to save it…yet you 'Guardian Masters' come and try to take it away from him." Endrance said, moving the Blade closer to her neck.
Eon did not flinch; she only looked up into his eyes, unblinking and unafraid.
"He is 'beautiful'…? What are you talking about, Endrance? He is the only reason that 'you get up in the morning'?! Get a hold of yourself and get a grip on reality! Letting someone choose how your life will be run, from inside a video game no less?! What are you? An idiot?!" She demanded, her hands clenched into fists. "I asked you what was wrong, and all that you have to say is that I'm an ugly piece of data?! Well fine then! So are you, believe it or not!" Eon yelled, baring her teeth at him. "If you didn't like me, then why come with me?! WHY DID YOU COME?!"
Endrance grit his teeth together angrily.
"Because, Haseo told me to!" He announced, moving the blade an inch closer to her neck again.
"Is that so…? Seems to me that all Haseo did was nod! Is that really an order? NO! It's not!" she explained, still ignoring the impending possibly of being PKed here and now, by none other than the previous Demon Palace Emperor. "You, Endrance, were the one that made the choice to come here with me; and whether or not you like your choice, live with it!"
"I. Did. Not." Endrance said coldly. "Haseo told me to. He tells me what to do, and I will obey his orders to the ends of the earth!" Endrance explained.
"Really…?" Eon asked. "Then does Haseo tell you to breathe…? Does he tell you to eat? To sleep? To live?!" She demanded. "No, he doesn't! Figure it out, Endrance! You control yourself, and your actions! You could have said no, if you really hated my guts that much this whole time; but you didn't!" Eon said, before standing up straight; the blade less than an inch from her neck. "If you really hate me that much, then PK me." She said, looking up to his eyes calmly.
Endrance paused, unsure of what to do.
"What are you waiting for…? Do you need Haseo to tell you to kill me too…? If so, then why is this sword to my throat? Tell me Endrance, why is it here?" Eon asked strongly.
Endrance's hand shook a little, as he tried to come up with a come back, but nothing came, Haseo didn't order him to do this… She was right!
"I…" he mumbled.
"You what?" Eon asked. "I can't hear you."
"I…" Endrance muttered again, looking down at the ground before him, as if it would give him the answer that he was searching for.
"You don't know, now do you?" Eon asked, before shrugging. "I thought not… Now if you don't have a reason to kill me, then move your sword." Eon said, using her index finger to push it an inch away from her neck.
Endrance slowly took the sword back, and sheathed it into its case, where it vanished. He looked down at the dog-girl, sorrow in his eyes.
"I…" He muttered, but Eon didn't give him a chance to speak.
"Whatever you want to say, it can remain in your head. I don't care if you think me a jerk, ugly, or even an absolute moron; but let me just say this, Endrance, you make your own decisions…so why rely on Haseo to do so for you…? If it is out of respect, then it has gone way too far. Why do you listen to him, and act like this?" She asked calmly, holding out her hand in question.
"I…Haseo saved me…If not for him…I would have no reason to live." Endrance explained, gritting his teeth together hard as he remembered the day that Haseo came to him for help; the day that he said that he 'needed him'.
Eon slowly nodded, before closing her eyes in thought, and leaning back on the spot.
"He gave you a reason to live…? Do you really think that just playing a game is a good reason, Endrance…? Let me tell you something," Eon muttered, opening her eyes again, and looking up at the tall Blade Brandier. "More people, other than Haseo need you. You may not have noticed it, but all of the Epitaph Users in G.U. need you; not to mention Sakubo." She explained with a grin. "So just keep that in mind." Eon muttered, before turning around, and facing the nearest Warp Panel.
"Others…need me…?" Endrance questioned, looking at Eon's back, amazed.
"Heck yeah." She answered with a small grin, looking over her shoulder. "Just as Haseo needed you back then, I needed you today, Endrance! Without your power, I'd of never come this far down, into the dungeon!" She explained.
Endrance looked down in shock, before Eon slowly reached up to him, and tugged on his hand. She gave him a cheerful grin, before pointing at the Warp Panel.
"C'mon, let's go back. I can't play late, and you still hate me!" She announced, before pulling him towards the Panel.
There was a bright blue flash, as Eon teleported back to Mac Anu. Endrance starred off after her for a long moment, before a small smile crept onto his lips.
He was needed…not just by Haseo…but by everyone else as well…
He quickly looked up, and opened the Warp Panel's menu, before teleporting out of the dungeon, and into Mac Anu as well.
-
--------------------------------The Eternal City: Mac Anu----------------------------------
-
Endrance teleported back to Mac Anu, only to see Eon talking with Axel and Hikaru, a few paces from the Chaos Gate.
"Wow, you went adventuring with Endrance…?" Axel asked, before noticing the long-haired Blade Brandier walk up behind Eon.
"Yep yep!" Eon announced, before giving a huge grin from ear to ear. "I levelled up about five times as well!"
"Yatta." Hikaru 'cheered', slowly 'shooting' his hand sup into the air, 'enthusiastically'.
A rather large sweatdrop appeared on the back of Eon's head, as she cheered as well with him and Axel, before she looked questioningly.
"Did you fill your 'quota' already…?" She asked, amazed to see them back so early.
Axel sighed irritably.
"Nope…still have twenty nine…and that's if I don't want to break my record today." He explained.
Eon nodded slowly.
"Then why are you here…?" She asked.
Axel stuck his finger up, as if about to answer, before remembering that they had to reason for being in Mac Anu at this time.
"No clue…C'mon Hikki! Onwards and upwards!" He cheered, before heading to the Chaos Gate, and exiting to another Player Hotspot.
Eon grinned, amused at Axel's weird reasoning, before turning to Endrance.
"Thanks for the adventure today, and putting up with me." She said, giving him a slight bow. "It was fun, and I levelled up too!"
Endrance nodded slightly.
"Yes…" he muttered.
Eon gave the Blade Brandier a large smile.
"I guess that I'll see you whenever that baldy, Yata calls us, huh…?" She asked.
Endrance again, nodded in response.
"Well, until then, Endrance, see you!" Eon bid farewell.
"W-wait!" Endrance said suddenly, making Eon close her menu.
"Yeah…?"
"Thank you…" He said slowly. "For explaining that to me…"
Eon starred at him in silence for a moment, before giving him a heart filled grin.
"You're welcome! Maybe next time we meet, we can adventure again!" She said cheerfully, before logging out with a spiralling, blue light.
-
--------------------------------------Offline: Misaki Residence----------------------------------------
-
Ryou slowly exited 'The World', and entered his desktop, only to see a warning for 'two new messages' in his E-mail inbox. He quickly flipped over to it with the click of a button, and opened the inbox, as he had done so many times before.
There were two new messages in his inbox, both from CC Corp. He slowly read the titles of E-mails, one of them being about the Arena, probably a Title Match, and the other about a new server.
Ryou quickly flipped to the message about the new server, and opened it without hesitation.
"Dear Mr. Haseo,
Thank you for your regular patronage of 'The World'
CC Corp. would like to announce the creation of their newest server; the Epsilon Server.
You will now be able to transport to the Root Town; Saal Haku.
Also, because of your victory in the Sage Palace Tournament, your Guild has been moved to the Home of Saal Haku.
Thank you for your patronage of 'The World'.
CC Corp."
Ryou read through the E-mail quickly, surprised that CC Corp. actually added another server; this must mean that the maximum level was raised as well…from one hundred fifty, to two hundred…
He shut the E-mail and clicked on the e-mail above it, also from CC Corp, titled 'Arena'.
"Dear Mr. Haseo
Thank you for your regular patronage of 'The World'.
CC Corp. would like to introduce the newest addition to 'The World'; the Warrior Palace, in the Root Town, Lumina Cloth.
This Palace is the newest instalment of the server, since it was updated, half a year ago. It is for players of the levels one hundred fifty, to level two hundred; and is an area that PKer's may PK freely within the Arena battles.
The Warrior Palace currently has no Emperor, thus a tournament will be taking place in a week from this date, for all eligible combatants.
The rules for the Warrior Palace are different than the other palaces.
Within the Warrior Palace, parties will be made up of two parties, and two leaders.
This means that if one leader were to die, the other party and their leader may resurrect the other party's fallen members, and leader. This ensures a harder, and more enjoyable fight for both spectators, and combatants.
Items will be allowed in this tournament, but only at the limit of three per party; thus six can be used in all, for both parties combined.
Who the party leader is, does not matter, nor how the parties are created, or who is in them.
There is no limit to the player's level, but it is advised to be above level one hundred and fifty to fight in this Palace.
Once both Parties are taken out for one side, the opposite side becomes the victor, and receives TP (Triumph Points) as well as the usual ranking TP.
The final parties for the semi-finals will be determined by the total number of TP won by each party.
Each win gives one TP to each player that participated in the fight. That means that three TP is given to one party, and six to both in all.
TP is counted for both parties put together, on the final day of the counter, Players will insert their parties into registration, both their own, and the junctioned party, and the points will be counted from their. Once the points are counted, both parties may change their line-up to their advantage, for the semi-finals, and possibly finals.
Since you have defeated the previous Sage Palace Emperor, Taihaku, you have received three TP, and it is requested that you join in the Tournament.
Thank you for your regular patronage of 'The World'
CC Corp."
Ryou starred at the E-mail in shock.
Another 'Palace'…? With these rules too?! CC Corp. must have been coming up with it for quiet a while…especially after Sakaki's Sage Palace invasion…
He closed his eyes tight; they stung from playing too long, but he was use to the pain already. He slowly exited his Desktop, and turned off the M2D.
He took it off and blinked a few times to get use to the dark room. Ryou slowly wobbled over to his bed in the corner of his room, and collapsed onto it. He shut his eyes, and put his wrist over his forehead tiredly.
Tomorrow would be an…interesting day…
So…what did you think…? I really don't know where the 'Endrance yelling at Eon' part came from, but it did, and I wrote it. XP At least it proves that she's smart...
This chapter took SO long! It's almost 8000 words! Holy cheese-toast! it would have been up earlier if I WAS NOT a lazy bum, and fell asleep for two hours, everyday after I got back from school...so sorry for the long wait.
All right people, pay attention to THIS!
I WILL HAVE A CONTEST ON RIGHT NOW, UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY! (OCTOBER 26, 2007) I WANT YOU TO REVIEW, AND AT THE END, GIVE ME THE IDEA FOR WHAT THE NEW ROOT TOWN, SAAL HAKU, LOOKS LIKE!! COME UP WITH ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT, JUST SO LONG AS IT IS REASONABLE!
So, until then, obviously, I will not write…and if no one reviews with any ideas, then I'll just have to work with what I've got.
The Winner, if anyone gives any ideas, will be E-mailed, and I will thank them in the next chapter.
Thank you for your regular patronage of the fanfict.
ZeroYasha!