I was paying for my groceries when I saw the news article titled "Cos-Play Revolution or New Age Virus?." I threw it onto my pile and payed for it all.

I was laying in my bed when I remembered the article. I picked it up and began to read it. One paragraph caught my eyes.

"People who say that it is a virus affecting them say that they heard a voice before they were knocked out of the game. The has reportedly voice said:

This is only the beginning of your hell to come.

I jumped up and sent the phrase to everyone.

Aina was sitting on the steps leading out to the streets of Mac Anu when I logged in. I almost didn't recognize her, that is, until she grabbed my wrist.

"Kaden, can I go adventuring with you?" She asked quickly.

"Um, yeah sure... What level are you?"

"One-Thirteen."

"Okay."

We walked to the Chaos Gate and warped to Tartarga, since I could go into any server from there.

"Whoa, what is this place?!"

"This is Tartarga, the city for hackers and unwanted PC's."

"Why are we here?" She asked.

"Well, this is kinda the only way I know how to access the sigma server..."

"Then how did you level up before?"

"Umm..."

How did I? I mean now that I thought about it, I was leveling up on the Theta server, and that was way to weak for me...

"Kaden?"

I shrugged. "I don't know."

"Hmm, well let's get going." She said,

I thought about it for a moment.

"What class are you?" I finally asked,

"Shadow Warlock." She told me.

"Do you mind if I invite someone else along with us? Someone who can heal us...well...more?"

"That's cool." She smiled at me.

I shortmailed Atoli and waited for her.

"A-Aina?!" She stuttered when she got there.

"Hi... Um, Atoli, right?"

"Yeah..." She nodded. "Ready to go?"

We both nodded.

Leveling up with Atoli and Aina was certainly interesting. It was also a nice way to let out unwanted stress. We got so involved in it that by the time we had finished, Aina was Level 125. Kuhn was waiting for us when we got back to Tartarga.

"Hi." Aina chirped

Kuhn ignored her and looked straight at me.

"You read all of that article didn't you?" He asked.

"Yeah, why?" I asked.

"It's 'Reality Factor'" He told me.

"You mean it's making characters leave the game too?"

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Hm, has Yata found anything out yet?"

"No. All he told me was that there was an AIDA phenomenon going on at Sigma Failing Wrath's Betrayal."

"You going to check it out?" I asked.

"No, you two are." He pointed to Aina and I.

"Right. Okay see you later."

I couldn't shake the feeling that Kuhn was angry about something. Regardless, Aina and I went to the designated area and searched for AIDA.

Kaden, we have a G.U. meeting in five.

But, you said to take out AIDA... Didn't you Yata?

No... who told you that?

Kuhn...

At that moment, the area cracked and the screen inverted again. The Morganna woman appeared in front of us.

"Failure... this is your fate..."

"What..."

"We... we want to die..."

Aina cowered behind me.

"We are trapped in hell, kill us now."

"We are all alone." I breathed.

Morganna looked at me and outstretched her hand. I took it hesitantly, and shortmailed Aina.

If anything happens, go to Raven's Home and get Pi.

A light flared between us, and everything seemed to disappear.