“Chiara!” Emi spots her running away towards her dorm room. There’s no way she can catch up in her clutches. By the time she’s already inside her freshman dormitory, the doors would automatically lock without a key. She would have to wait for someone to leave or enter and ask them kindly to let her in. She wouldn’t know anyone else living in Chiara’s dormitory that would let her in. Even if they did, Chiara is clearly ignoring her. “Fine! Be that way you coward!” Emi shouts at the front of the dorm room. “I was going to be straightforward and easy going on her. Next time, I’m not holding back anymore.” Emi thinks to herself, nearly choking up in tears, but keeps her cool as she limps away. Her chest burns with frustration, hurt, and a creeping sense of betrayal. Chiara had seen her, heard her, but still ran away. She pulls out her phone, quickly typing into the group chat:
“Chiara ignored me. We’ll just have to practice this afternoon without her. We’ll be training with the help of Kraken and Glam squad. We all better be mentally prepared to be drilled. We’re going to pull an all-nighter.”
Kael Valorheart halts his party members from proceeding into the ruins any further. It’s an old defensive keep on a hillside with collapsed walls which look like they have been assaulted by arrows, fire spells, and something large enough to make large dents on the fortress’ walls. Bones and rusty equipment litter the decrepit earth. “I don’t like the look of this, fellas.” He keeps a hold of his long-sword on his sheath.
“This must be the realm of the undead.” Rena holds onto her priestess staff tightly, staying in the center of the party formation line in case she needs to heal her party members. She adjusts her white priestess hat which has been enchanted to provide a buff defense against chaotic magic.
“The final boss can’t be too far from here.” Kaz checks if his mana is enough to pull off an invisibility spell on himself. “I have enough to scout ahead, Kael. I can make easy work of any hostiles other than the Draugr King.
“But what if there are traps?” Trisha remarks cautiously, wielding her bow on one hand. “And I’m not talking about the “traps” we encountered at the Mages Guild earlier.”
“Huh? You mean those fair maidens that were hitting on me?” Kael scratches his head. “What do you mean they were traps?”
“Um...forget it.” Trisha dismisses her comment quickly before Kael starts losing his mind again. “It would be best if I go with Kaz and scout ahead. That big cavern ahead of us is making it so obvious that’s where we need to go.”
“Yeah, but what would be the point of scouting if I can’t go alone.” Kaz dismisses Trisha. “A ninja must scout alone, no matter the risks. It’s part of the Ninja’s code after all, believe it.”
“We probably should just stick together, everyone.” Kael suggests. “We all have to work together as a party. You can pull off your cool reflexes and show off later, Kaz. Let’s just try to get that bounty so we can retire tonight, okay?” Kael walks ahead of his party members. “Besides, I’m the Defender of Phantasmagoria! The Savior of Neo Tokyo! The Hero of Formally Greenville Mall, Georgia! Not to mention, the soon to be beloved husband of my dearest Asura!” He places his hands on his heart and sighs with a big grin on his face.
“Why are you so obsessed with that psychopath from Mil-Sim story?” Rena groans while rubbing her own face. “Two of those victories had to be shared with those weirdos. Couldn’t we just make a name for ourselves and...”
“Only temporarily.” Kael suggests. “You just don’t get it, Rena. Asura is one mad ... .uh…” He carefully looks around as if he’s about to bad mouth her but constraints himself for no reason. “She’s got issues, but you know what...I think I can fix her.”
“Oh Kael, you can’t be serious!” Trisha burst out laughing. “Do you even know anything about how women like her are?”
“Of course I do! She just needs a good knight in her life. A supreme gentleman like myself to be her humble servant.”
“Seems more like you're her slave more than anything.” Trisha remarks which causes Kael to give her a baffled dumb look on his face.
“Kael, we don’t mean to crash in on your dreams, so to speak.” Kaz speaks as he plays with one of his Shurikens like a fidget spinner. “But I think Asura is manipulating us for her own reason. She’s a cunning player in Mil-Sim Story. I don’t doubt that. But I don’t see how playing alongside her in that game benefits us...here on our turf.”
“You guys seriously disappoint me.” Kael shakes his head and jumps onto a broken pillar as if to make an inspiring speech as to his reasoning with siding with Asura. Kael dramatically spreads his arms, silhouetted by the eerie glow of the cavern’s entrance behind him. “You all lack vision! You see, my dear comrades, this is not just about a game, nor is it about mere victories or losses! This is about our legacy! About aligning ourselves with power! About securing our place among the top of those who come to our online turf! Like this MMO, for instance.”
“Which nobody even plays.” Trisha rolls her eyes. “We’re like one of the few hundred players that even bother with this high fantasy game.”
“Ah! But we’re one of the most dedicated and strongest parties here! But imagine how much clout and respect we’ll get if we reach the top in a popular game like Mil-Sim Story! Everyone will all flock to our servers! Our party will obtain even more power! We’ll rule this kingdom like demi-gods! NPCs, other players, and even the plot essential NPCs will bow to our glory!” Kael places his hands on his hips as he looks up into the sunset with his eyes squinting despite trying to appear dramatic. “JarPig squad will be the greatest party that has ever logged onto cyberspace!!!”
“HOW DARE YOU INTERRUPT MY SLUMBER WITH THAT BOASTFUL NONSENSE!” A loud rumbling deep voice emits from the cavern behind Kael. The ground shakes with the weight of heavy chains dragging on the ground. Kael in a moment of pure instinct does a roll over jump over to his party members and draws his swords at the caverns ahead of them. The figure emerging from the cavern towers over Kael and his party. It’s a disgusting mash of flesh and bones, dressed in a decaying but heavy armor of iron which has oxidized with age. The being wields a large two handed viking style axe large enough to slice Kael’s entire crew in one swoop. The being’s glowing red eyes glare down upon Kael specifically.
“You foul, Draugr! You interpreted my epic speech to my comrades!” Kael shouts at the vicious being.
“THAT YAPPING IS GETTING ON MY NERVES. IT’S THE MOST ANNOYING THING I’D EVER HEARD IN MY THOUSANDS OF YEARS PROTECTING MY TERF!”
“You don’t scare me you cretin! I grind for hours all morning to take on your ass!”
“FOOLISH MORTAL, YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE ON MORE THAN JUST ME TO LEAVE MY DOMAIN ALIVE!” The Draugr King raises his axe which is struck by a strobe of lighting, Multiple undead viking warriors emerge from the ground, many of which hold swords, spears, and staffs. Kael and his party are now completely surrounded. “PREPARE TO MEET...”
“Yeah yeah yeah….MY END...I heard it a million times from the other bosses. Oh so original!” Kael smirks and shouts to his party members. “Come on, let’s dance with these Skyrim rejects! Do it now Rena!”
“Deus Light!” Rena shoots out a beam of light, blinding all of the undead warriors surrounding them. Kael gets to work with his sword slashing at the mob with exaggerated swings. Trisha wields her bow and uses range attacks at the Draugr King who takes the arrow shots without fretting. Kaz disappears into a puff of smoke and dashes with his hands behind him in an aerodynamic run towards the boss, using his two katanas to slice through enemies undetected while running towards the Draugr King.
“Come on! Is that the best you can throw at me?!” Kael taunts his foes as he swings his sword around like a spastic. Kaz thrusts his swords into the Draugr King but is thrown across the ruin and smashes into a wall.
“Kaz! Hang on!” Rena rushes to Kaz and lifts her staff up into the air. “Heal!” A ray of light emerges from the sky on Kaz and he is rejuvenated back into full health.
“Thanks, Rena. Look out!” He throws one of his ninja stars at an undead warrior about to strike her and makes a critical hit on the undead.
“You have more coming your way!” Trisha fires her arrows from a broken pillar she took position upon. She draws her bow and unleashes ranged attacks on the undead hordes as her friends battle it out on the ground.
“Damn! They keep on coming! How many viking warriors died for this crappy fortress?!”
“FOOLISH MORTAL! YOU CANNOT STOP THE HORDES OF THE DRAUGR. PREPARE TO MEET YOUR END!” He raises his ax and swings it down straight for Kael who dodges with a roll but the weight and impact of the axe breaks the earth near him and causes Kael to lose his balance with the earthquake-like force.
“Ha! You missed! I got something toasty coming up just for you!” He points his sword towards the Draugr King. “Dragon’s Breath!” A string of flames bursts from his sword and strikes the Draugr King who yells in pain. He swings his large oversized ax at Kael again, this time from a horizontal strike. Kael jumps into the air and lands on top of the pole of the axe, running up the shaft and swinging his sword at Draugr's face. He makes a hit but is thrown off from a significant height, taking some damage. He sips a red potion and throws it to the ground, breaking the glass beaker in the process. “This ends now! Prepare to face the true power of Kael Valorheart!” He readies his sword for a major attack and starts screaming as his power charges up (even though the screaming he’s doing isn’t really doing anything to improve his attack). The Draugr King takes no moment of rest when he sees Kael charging up for his attack and goes straight for him, stomping his way towards him, and ready to swing his ax.
Suddenly, a dark violet energy beam strikes through the Draugr King slicing him completely in half. The amount of power that energy beam used absorbed all the light from the sky, pitching the battlefield in almost complete darkness. Kael is just as confused as his party members who look around at the hordes who immediately turn into dust as their king is slain. “Uh...don’t at me. I wasn’t planning on doing that...but I wish I did.” He scratches his head, wondering who could have performed such a powerful blow to the Draugr King, before a familiar voice finally speaks up.”
“What are you idiots doing in this game! Our tournament match is coming up next week and you’re playing this garbage?!”
“Asura!” Kael shouts with glee. He turns around to see Asura, dressed in a somewhat revealing black outfit with thorns and high boots. She’s dressed like a sorcerer of the lawful evil faction. He blushes and gushes over Asura’s appearance in this game. “You look so amazing, my que….I mean Asura!”
“Enough of the formalities Kael. Your squad is supposed to be training for Mil-Sim story and you’re over here casting spells and slaying undead soldiers when the real enemies are those with guns!” She rolls her eyes and mumbles to herself. “This is what I get for siding with these losers.”
“What do you want with us now? Can’t you see we’re in the middle of a quest.” Trisha barks back at Asura while leaping off the broken column to join her party on the ground.
“Your stupid little quest doesn’t matter right now.” She looks over at Kael, she almost wants to gag just by looking at him. “You. I’m afraid your position in your squad is being challenged by one of my minions. Your position over JarPig Squad to be exact.”
Kael’s party members nearly gasp at the news Asura had brought to them, but Kael just smirks and almost chuckles as he speaks. “Ha. So somebody wants to challenge Kael Valorheart for control over my squad. Seems like a stupid way to get humiliated. I’m the greatest warrior that ever graced cyberspace. I pity the poor sod who thinks they can actually defeat me in a duel!” He pats his hand clean on his pants and walks up to Asura. “My dear Asura! It would be my honor to fight for your stead against this wretched amateur who dares to attempt to assert my power! They’ll regret the day they come face to face with the one TRUE leader of Jarpig squad!”
“Yeah yeah yeah...whatever…” Asura sighs in annoyance. “Just hurry up and log into Mil-Sim Story. I’ll have the dual arranged in the way us Vampires settle competition. Don’t make me wait.” She logs off and her avatar disappears into the void.
“Kael, I have a gut feeling that accepting this challenge isn’t a good idea.” Rena frowns as she mentions this to him.
“Oh Rena...Rena...Rena…” Kael shakes his head. “You know that nobody stands a chance against me. This is just going to be a walk in the park. You have nothing to worry about.”
“But Kael...”
“No butts!” Kael jokingly remarks. “I'm more of a boobs kind of guy.” He then speaks up to his party. “Alright everyone! Time for me to show my skills on Mil-Sim Story! Let’s do this….no...I’m not going to say something stupid like that...hm…” He tries to come up with another catch phrase. “Uh...let’s go watch me kick someone’s ass! Oh Yeah!”
Chiara is putting on a new outfit provided to her by Asura and her trusted squad mate and team armor: Lilith. She’s a short girl like Chiara, skinny, with light brown hair which is combed straight with little bangs on her forehead. She’s about the same age as Chiara, being the youngest in Asura’s elite squad. Unlike her peers, her outfit is red like wine with a black bat pattern on her long sleeve battle tunic. Like her squad mates, she dawns a respirator mask through which she speaks through to Chiara.
“Asura has picked out a wonderful outfit for you, my sister.” Lilith speaks with a raspy snake-like voice, almost as if she’s trying to hiss and speak at the same time. Her red eyes scan Chiara’s outfit which is Similar to Asura’s outfit but with a recruits tunic on the top and a layered gothic skirt, leggings, and ankle high combat boots. She is equipped with an Alice style belt and suspenders for holding her gear which she has yet to be issued. “Her highness has put a lot of faith into you. That’s not something she does for most recruits.”
Chiara watches as Lilith retrieves a decorated gun case from her table in the armory. The armory is filled with all sorts of lockers, weapon racks of various rifles, ammo boxes of various calibers, and a gunsmithing table with a bunch of tools, and what appears to be straps for holding hostages in places. Chiara wouldn’t dare to be strapped up on a table with all of these tools. Lilith places the gun case on the table and reveals the contents inside. A highly ornate single shot flintlock pistol in a black dyed wood grip, dark ebony panels, and gold metallic accents with an ivory ram rod, and smooth bore barrel. “I’m being issued…this display piece?” Chiara asks with her eyes looking down at this unusual weapon.
“No need to be perplexed, my sister. This is your piece for your duel with Kael Valorheart.” She hands the box over to Chiara. “A precious gift from her highness, crafted in this workshop by my hands.”
“It’s an incredible piece of work.” Chiara mentions as she holds the pistol in her hand. “How do you make something so ornate like this in Mil-Sim Story?”
Lilith chuckles through her respirator mask, the sound almost like a whispering hiss. “A true artisan does not allow the limitations of a mere game engine to restrict her craft. It took many painstaking hours, and countless resources to forge this masterpiece.” She runs a gloved hand along the edge of the gun case. “Every engraving, every accent, and every fiber of the grip was meticulously designed to be more than just a weapon. It's a statement, my sister. One that will bring you victory in your duel.”
“But what about my opponent?”
“He’ll be using something very similar to keep the odds fair.” Lilith reassures her. “Her highness did tell me to put some extra love into your pistol. Make of that what you will, my sister.”
Chiara raises an eyebrow, glancing down at the ornate flintlock once more. Extra love? That could mean anything coming from Asura. “Is this duel going to be...rigged?”
Lilith’s eyes gleam with amusement behind her respirator. “Rigged? Hah. That’s such a crude term. Let’s just say I have ensured that your weapon is the finest of its kind.” She tilts her head slightly. “Of course, victory still depends on the hands that wield it. These are smooth bore pistols after all.”
Chiara sighs, running her thumb over the gold engravings. “A duel with flintlocks? I never expected to come to this. What are the rules of the duel anyways?”
“Pistols at Ten Paces, Chiara.” Lilith explains to Chiara by lifting a finger. You'll know what to expect when you face your foe, but basically you'll being taking a single shot at each other until one of you is hit."
Chiara furrows her brows. “So, it’s a pure test of nerve and precision?”
Lilith nods, clasping her hands behind her back. “Precisely, my sister. This is the way we settle disputes in our squad. Formal and yet violent. Like a vampire, we have to be vicious, but our violence does not mean savagery. At least to those we see as equals.” She steps closer, her red eyes gleaming behind the respirator. “Even if you were to somehow lose, you’ll be slain honorably. Of course, that means you won’t be worthy of leading your own squad as her highness does but there will be other opportunities for someone of your worth, in our squad.” She pats Chiara on the arm. “Worry not, my sister. Just stand proud, aim your pistol, and make your opponent cry and beg when you defeat him.”
“I’ll make it count,” Chiara says, her voice firm. “No second chances. I’ll put Kael where he belongs!”
Lilith’s smile is almost predatory even though it’s hidden behind her respirator. “That’s the spirit, my sister. Now, go. Prepare. Victory waits for no one.”