Chapter Seventeen

Disclaimer

I do not own Mabinogi or any NPC's connected. Either Devcat or Nexon does.

A/N

Truthfully, I have not a clue what is going to be in this chapter. I know how I will end the story but in between is a mystery. As always, I will let the story unfold itself keeping in mind the end game.

Since battling the hellhounds, I have been keeping a low profile. Mostly, I have been leveling up tailoring and cooking skills. Eventually, the official game will end so I must become self sufficient as much as I can. I still hunt but not as much as I used to.

My interactions with Nao have been minimal too. She has noticed it and asked me if anything was bothering me. How can I answer her when I do not even know the answer myself? I know something is bothering me gut cannot figure out what yet.

Well that is a lie. I know what is bothering me. Several months back, the number of players accessing Mabinogi dropped significantly. It seemed only I figured it out. They updated the ARC launcher into Mabinogi. Ever since then, the number of players that can access Mabinogi dropped dramatically. The reason is simple. The update demands certain files ONLY available in Windows 7 or above systems. Many players still have XP systems that sadly could not be updated to Windows 7. So in turn, those players cannot access Mabinogi anymore.

I remember the great update from Window 98/2000 to Windows XP. There were a couple of online games back then but not many. Those games quickly went vanished however. I fear the same thing is happening now. Many games will vanish soon with this upgrade. Windows XP was/is a fantastic platform. Because of it, many MMORPGs doted the internet landscape. A new era of games was at hand. Now I am afraid that era is slowly ending only for another era to start. However, I fear Mabinogi may not last long enough to see the new era.

Another reason I fear for Mabinogi's future is the complexity of the game itself. I fear it became so complex it not fun anymore. That happens a lot with MMORPG, as a lot will testify to it. It is not anyone's fault though. The game just got too popular that the programmers had to find new ways to keep the gamers entertained. However, over a period of time, the more and more content you put into a game tend to have the effect of making the game really unenjoyable at times and tedious at other times.

This is not really my real concern, however. It's just a byproduct. My real concern is why am I here? Why have I not joined with the others up in heaven? By faith, I am a Christian truly believing in the Lord coming down to Earth in the form of Jesus. So why have I not gone to heaven yet since I died on Earth?

I was brought out of my contemplation by a PM Skype chat from Danster, "Jack, one of your guild mates needs your help."

"Why have they not contacted me directly about the request themselves?"

"It's because they are on their way to school right now," replied Danster.

"Dan, I don't understand. How can I help someone who is not even online to help?"

"Did I say he is offline? He is AFK, Jack. Got it? It's JoeyScum01."

"Hmmm, if my intel is correct he was doing his G3 final last night."

"Correct Jack. Two of our most powerful members were escorting him. They were so powerful they could fight the fake Cromm all by themselves. However due to power failures in the real world, they were booted from the system just after entering the final boss room."

"Dan, you know as well as I do that the Goddess Morrighan seals the room after that. How am I supposed to get inside there?"

"I can let you inside it," replied a black winged goddess that just appeared behind Jack.

"Why would you do that Morrighan?"

"Because your guild master is asking for your help. This does not go against anything we have said earlier. I would think it is noble for you to help."

When we teleported into the Boal Dungeon Boss room, I immediately saw Cichol. I understood very quickly which part of the battle this was. I looked over and saw the form of the playing dead afk character. I thought this was fantastic because maybe I can end this g3 final battle without me doing any real battle. I know this goes against the original wishes of the player but his wishes now is not to repeat the last three hours of his game play getting to this point.

"Cichol! Can we talk about this or are we doomed to do this battle."

"Jack! If you are here then that means that player over there is afk and will be for the foreseeable future."

"Correct, Cichol."

"Well in that case I will consider this battle over with him being the victor. I am not stupid. With your new abilities you will make mincemeat out of my stone Cromm Cruaich dragon." After saying that, Cichol disappeared and the real Cromm Cruaich appeared to lift the body of Ruari.

"Wait, almighty Cromm Cruaich. It is you I am destined to battle one day here and not Cichol's stone puppet."

The mighty dragon turned, "That is correct, Jack. We will fight but I will be glitched at the time so I must apologize ahead of time."

I was taken surprise by the creature's knowledge of future and current events. However, I deduced I should not be for Cromm Cruaich is one of the most powerful creatures in Erinn. "That is alright, great dragon. I do understand you will not be yourself during the fight."

I turned to leave via a special wing the goddess had placed into my inventory earlier. Since I am not technically part of original G3 team I will not be able to leave the normal way when the G3 ends. I activate the wing and teleport out. The next place I am is my own homestead.

# # Change in perspective: Third person # #

Cromm Cruaich looked over at a particular corner of the boss room. In a normal g3 bout, this is where Nao appears with Tarlach thus reuniting the three lost warriors proving they are friends to eternity. "Won't you tell him who you really are, Milady?"

Nao materialized suddenly from having been invisible recently. She could not bring herself to make herself known to Jack while he was there. "Jack is in love with Nao. If I tell him the truth about me he will surely turn away from me," cried the white hair twin tailed young woman.

Tarlach, who was also there, stepped out of the shadows, "I am not too sure about that. I think Jack might surprise you. Will you at least consider telling him?"

The person known as Nao looked at Tarlach and thru her tears shook her head yes.