> EASTBOARDEN MOUNTAIN CAVERNS, ORC BASTION
The cave was a furnace of chaos.
Steel against steel. Bone against bone. Magic cracked through the damp, stale air like gunshots.
Ren ducked as an orc's crude axe swung overhead, missing by inches. Dirt and debris showering itself down as the blade embedded into the cave wall.
Huh – this brings back memories, doesn't it?
"Ren, Focus! This is not some game!"
I know, I know. Just thought I'd lighten the mood considering we're getting our asses kicked.
He was right. The twenty-person strike team had nowhere near enough manpower to take down the entire bastion. And, no thanks to Haruki's trigger-happy attitude with a hammer, they were stuck.
"ROARRRRR!" exclaimed the orc as it tried to wriggle free.
"Oh, shut up." Ren sliced his blade, clean and true, right through the orcs skull.
Three more orcs barrelled in from a side tunnel.
"Incoming!" Futaba called, voice flat as ever, even as she raised her staff.
A beautiful, arcing sheet of ice sealed the tunnel behind them, freezing two orcs mid-charge. The third made it through – barely – and was instantly flattened with a resounding WHUD.
"That's eleven for me!" Haruki grinned, caressing his hammer. "Oh, Celeste. I love you."
Ren shook his head. "Dude, I told you not to call it that. It's plain old creepy."
"Agreed." Futaba concurred.
"And where'd your–"
CLANG!
A swift parry. Followed by a decisive slash.
Ren turned to the now headless orc, "It's rude to interrupt people, y'know? Ahem. As I was saying – where'd your helmet go?"
"Oh. I dunno. Lost it somewhere."
"Dude! I spent like 20 pelds on that!"
But Ren's complaints fell on deaf ears as Haruki was already onto the next enemy. "Sorry, man! I'll pay you back. Promise."
"You know he won't, right?" Futaba said, casting spells from a small mound.
"Yeah. I know…"
Anyways. How about we get back to work?
"About time."
A loud crash rang out as another team member – some tanky lancer – was ragdolled across the cave.
"Line's breaking on the west flank!" someone shouted.
"Regroup! Everybody fall back!" The strike team leader, a high-level paladin, rumoured to have some sick ass weapon, called out through the chaos. "Healers on standby!"
"Futaba, you go. I'll go fetch Mr. Triggerhappy."
A small nod of agreement.
Ren rushed through the retreating front-line.
"Haruki? Where are–"
CLANG!
What is up with everybody interrupting me today?
Thrust – Twist – Pull. The low-level orc was dead.
Where is this guy? Seriously.
"Ren. Over there."
Fucks sake.
Haruki was in a crater, surrounded by about a dozen orcs. Stupid grin on his face. Wildly swinging his hammer.
"Come on!" He did a full 360, clipping once, sending it flying kingdom come. "Come at me!"
Next to him, a spear wielder was hyperventilating. "Why is he smiling?"
"He's not normal," muttered the mage behind him, clutching onto his staff for dear life.
"Can confirm," added the fourth player – a rogue-type twin dagger girl who looked like she regretted every decision that led her there.
And, as Haruki as ever, he was oblivious.
That guy is so special.
"Agreed."
Now how do I even get there? There's at least 30 orcs between me and him. And that doesn't even count for the dozen-or-so around him…
A voice emerged from behind him.
"I can make a bridge."
"AGH! WHAT THE FUCK!"
"Mind reading. She has to be a witch."
Futaba, silent as ever, stood behind Ren, staff in one hand, rye bread – the VRMMO melon bread substitute – in the other.
"I can make a bridge," she repeated.
Ren clutched his chest. "Yeah– sure. That'd be great. But please–"
CLANG!
Okay, this is getting old now.
Ren didn't even bother using his sword. He just parried, then kicked the little orc away.
"–try not to put me in cardiac arrest. Thanks."
No response. Futaba simply raised her staff, and tore eight boulders from the cavern floor which hovered mid-air across the battlefield.
So she wants me to do parkour.
"Alright. Thanks for the assist. I'll be back with Haruki and the others in a sec." he said, climbing up onto the first boulder.
Ren leapt from boulder to boulder. Making his way? Yes. Elegant? Not in the slightest.
So… Soren.
"Yes?"
Got any–
His foot slipped. Barely holding on.
– tips for me when I end up jumping into that cesspit?
"Don't die."
Great. No. That's completely sound advice. But– I mean. Tactics-wise.
"Let me think…"
Better hurry up. Not a lot of thinking time left.
Ren approached the last boulder – a long jump.
This is gonna hurt…
THUD!
Made it…
They were now right above Haruki and the 'Haruki Fan Club' – although this version seemed much more intent on killing him than trying to get into his pants.
Haruki faltered. "Heh… I was just playing… Okayyyy, guys, this isn't good."
They're about to be done for! Soren? Got any ideas?
"That's it! Summon the hieroglyphics!"
You mean the UI?
"Yes."
Ren pulled up the UI.
Okay. What now?
"Go to the ability tree."
I already told you – Steelthorn Lockdown doesn't work for me for some reas–
"Just do it!"
Alright, alright.
> ABILITY TREE
> ACTIVE ABILITIES:
> STEELTHORN LOCKDOWN [PREREQUISITES NOT MET]
> BLOOD FRENZY
Oh shit. I completely forgot about this.
"Yes. Most likely because you passed out shortly after attaining it."
No need to rub it in.
Ren clicked the info icon on Blood Frenzy.
> ATTAINED WHEN KILLING AN ENRAGED USER [PREREQUISITE MET]
> REQUIRES ENRAGED RUNE TO USE [PREREQUISITE MET]
> ABILITY DESCRIPTION: FOR 45 SECONDS, ENTER A HEIGHTENED STATE OF COMBAT
> + 50% ATTACK SPEED
> + 40% DAMAGE
> + 30% DAMAGE REDUCTION
> DAMAGE TAKEN FUELS FRENZY, INCREASING SPEED AND DAMAGE BY 5% PER HIT.
> WARNING: WHEN ACTIVE, USER CANNOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN FRIEND AND FOE.
Oh cool. So a complete murder switch. Do I go for it?
"I see no alternative."
Ren's finger hovered over the activate button.
Alright then – it's showtime.
CLICK.
> BLOOD FRENZY ACTIVATED
***
Ren's mind clouded. Vision narrowed. Senses heightened.
"Ren, you must–"
Soren's voice faded with every other thought. Every thought but one: Kill.
He leapt.
Steel screamed as his boots struck the first orc skull mid-air, rebounding him toward the cluster around Haruki. He didn't land so much as detonate – a blur of motion, already carving through three more before the first even hit the floor.
"Holy shit, he's like some sort of reaper," the rogue whispered. "Is that even legal?"
Slash – Spin – Stab.
"Is he wearing a cosmetic cape?" the mage muttered.
Blade through throat. Knee through ribs. Foot through face.
An orc screamed – charged – axe high.
Futile.
The axe ripped into Ren's shoulder, but he didn't care. A slice. A throathold. Then he sent the body hurling into its friends like a sack of meat.
Another one lunged – too slow. He ducked low. Slashed high. He wouldn't be getting up.
Three left.
Two came at once. Ren dropped his sword. Didn't need it. He caught the first orc's wrist mid-swing, slamming him into the floor. The second? A punch to the gut, letting out a weak guttural roar as it flew into the wall behind him.
One left.
He retrieved his blade, kicking it up from the ground.
Strike. Parried. Impressive. He shifted weight. Strike. Slice. Dead. Less impressive. The world was a blur of blood, motion, and screams.
"RENNNNN!" Haruki shouted, waving. "DUDE! OH MY GOD! THAT WAS SO AWES-"
Ren turned.
Blank stare.
Twitching smile.
"...uh-oh."
He grabbed by the collar and kicked.
"Wha- AAAAHHHHHH!"
Haruki sailed through the air, arms flailing like a cartoon character, disappearing over a nearby ridge of stone.
***
Hm. It's no melon bread, but it is adequate.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!"
Futaba looked to the ceiling.
What… is that?
"AAAAHHHHHH!"
She sighed.
Pointed her staff toward the ground, she mumbled: "Overgrowth."
A flurry of bushes, vines, and foliage emerged from the desolate cavern floor.
"AAA–MPHHHH" Haruki landed face-first into a mountain of leaves.
He gave a weak, leafy thumbs up. "Thanks Futaba."
***
Ren stood there. Swaying slightly. Then collapsed.
"Is this guy alright?"
"Hold on, I'll cast a healing spell!"
His UI pinged again:
> BLOOD FRENZY - TERMINATED
> ENRAGED RUNE: 2/5 USES REMAINING
Oh shit. It has a use limit. Hehe.
Black.
***
He came to with the taste of iron in his mouth and a splitting headache like someone had tried to do dental work with Haruki's hammer.
Ren blinked. Once. Twice.
A flickering torch cast shadows on jagged stone. The ground beneath him was rough, cold, and damp, and he wasn't entirely sure if the pounding noise was coming from inside his skull or from somewhere deeper in the cave.
"–I don't care if you need healers for the frontline. He just saved your frontline!"
That was Futaba. Maybe. She sounded mad. And stressed. Mostly mad, though.
"You alive, man?" Haruki asked, offering a hand. "Cause if you die, that would totally be my fault and not cool at all."
Ren groaned and took the hand. "Ugh, the things I'd do for a pain absorber."
You good Soren?
"Yes. Although that Blood Frenzy ability was… uncomfortable. I could only spectate – not even speak."
Yeah, sorry, man. I'll try not to use it anymore. Speaking of…
Ren pulled up the UI:
> ENRAGED RUNE: 2/5 USES REMAINING
So I wasn't dreaming. It does have a limit.
"Rightfully so. A proper knight mustn't rely on petty parlor tricks to get by."
I'll keep that in mind.
Ren stumbled along behind Haruki, still feeling like his limbs were reassembled incorrectly.
The battle was winding down. The final clash of steel. The final crunch of bone. The final arrow whizzing past. And the last pockets of orcs were being cleaned up by the strike team – mopping up stragglers after what felt like hours of chaos.
Futaba, still arguing with the strike team leader, cut an orc in half with a wind spell.
"Clear," someone called from the far end of the tunnel. "We got 'em all!"
"We'll get to the Orc King in no time at this pace!"
"Wait for the system message," Haruki said, surprisingly competent. "It's not official until the game says it is."
Ren leaned on his sword. "I'd like to lodge a complaint. That is not a fun ability."
"I dunno man, seems sick as–"
> REPORT RECEIVED
> CASE ID: #608
> THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK
Damn. I wasn't actually serious.
"They actually pick up on that?"
"Yeah. It's happened to me before."
The cave was oddly quiet now. Just the slow drip of water from stalactites, and the soft crackle of torches planted in rocky walls. A few players were laughing, others cheering, one sitting cross-legged typing out a guild post like it was another day at work.
Then came the sound. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just wrong.
A single, metallic drag.
Everyone froze.
Then everyone's UI's pinged.
> WARNING: BOSS RAID INITIATED
> KELMESH: THE FIRST GATEKEEPER
Ren blinked. "This raid didn't say anything about a boss? What gives?"
Did the game even know there was a boss?
> ENTRANCE SEALED UNTIL BOSS IS DEFEATED
> GOOD LUCK
The entrances were already sealed. Thanks game.
Futaba was already moving. "Scatter. Defensive positions. Something isn't right here."
From the far end of the tunnel, through the flickering torchlight, emerged something massive.
Towering, armored from neck to toe in rusted plates and bone charms, with a horned helmet and a massive slab of iron that might've been a sword – or a chunk of a destroyed siege gate. Its eyes glowed dull red, and it didn't roar.
It just kept walking.
Everyone scrambled.
Haruki swore under his breath. "We're not ready for a boss. Not now."
Ren readied his sword, swallowing hard.
Soren? What is this thing?
"..."
Soren?
"... An orc commander."
Will it be a problem?
"Yes."
***
Pulse.
…
A second pulse followed the first.
Then a third. Fourth. Fifth.
Violet runes lit up in perfect formation, five separate ledges ringing the cavern. Floating, rotating glyphs pulsed in eerie unison.
Futaba narrowed her eyes. "What… is that?"
No one answered. Kelmesh hadn't moved faster – but its stride had grown. Meaner. Heavier.
Haruki backed up a step. "Are they… summoning him?"
Ren stared. The glow wasn't just light. It was feeding something. Channelling toward Kelmesh's armour, causing red fractures to glow across its shoulders and chestplate. Like it was overheating – no, overclocking.
"Those aren't summoning runes. They are fueling."
It's not like before. They're enhancing the armour – not the being.
"Exactly."
"Guys, listen!" Ren announced. "We don't stand a chance against this guy's armour unless we take out the mages! If you distract him – I can take them out!"
"Why should we listen to you?" a player shouted.
"Yeah. How would you know?" another joined in.
They don't trust me.
A voice came from behind. "We should."
It was the dual dagger girl.
"Yeah. Cape-guy saved my ass earlier. We should listen to him." the mage added.
Thank god I decided to be a hero.
"Alright," the strike team leader announced. "We'll go with Ren's plan."
No time to hesitate.
Ren sprinted for the ledges, eyes fixed on the five pulsing glyphs above the battlefield. Each one linked to a mage – all feeding raw power straight into Kelmesh's armour.
Alright, Soren. What do we do?
"Move parallel to the others – you must stay concealed from Kelmesh."
Got it.
He hit the incline, sprinted up, and didn't slow.
First mage – gone before it raised its hand. Ren kept running.
> MAGE ELIMINATED : 1/5 GLYPHS INTERRUPTED
He didn't hear the sound so much as feel it. A hollow snap in the air as the glyph dimmed.
Second. Third.
Each mage put up slightly more resistance. A flailing staff. An ice wall. A burst of fire. One almost caught him in the leg. But that's all they were – mages. Support. No match for instinct and Soren's guiding instructions.
Fourth down.
The final one was waiting. It didn't scream. Just watched with glowing eyes as Ren ducked its arcane bolt and carved a clean line straight through his ribs.
> MAGE ELIMINATED: 5/5 GLYPHS INTERRUPTED
Below, Kelmesh staggered, then turned around.
Ren skidded down the ridge, sword in hand. He could feel it – now was the time.
He plunged the blade into the earth.
"Steelthorn Lockdown!"
Nothing.
> ERROR: PREREQUISITES NOT MET
No steel. No lockdown. No surge of energy.
Just failure.
Kelmesh – very much still active – slammed his fist into the ridge.
Ren was quick enough to dodge the blow – not quick enough for the aftermath. His footing broke, and the ground beneath him gave out as a chunk of the ridge collapsed behind him. Cracked stone, loosened by battle, crashed down onto him.
Buried.
Not crushed. Just pinned. Dust flooding his lungs, his vision fading black and grey.
Why didn't it work, Soren?
"I know why. But I cannot tell you."
If this was some stupid lesson, then Ren wasn't having it.
Why? What gives? Why can't you tell me? You know how hard I've worked! Hell, you've been in my head the entire time!
"Because if I do – you'll never earn it. Even if you know how."
***
"His armour's down!" someone shouted. "Let's go on the offensive!"
Kelmesh stumbled, the glow on its armour dimming – but its sword didn't drop. If anything, it moved faster now. Angrier. As if losing its tether had unshackled something worse.
"Shit," Haruki muttered, watching as the orc reared back with its makeshift slab-sword. "He's not done."
He wasn't.
Kelmesh surged forward – no flashy, spell-casting rage, just brute instinct. The sword swept low, catching the entire left flank off-guard, sending them hurtling into the cavern wall.
Futaba threw out a barrier – it shattered under the first swing. The shockwave sent her sliding across the floor, boots skidding.
"Aim for the joints!" she snapped, planting her staff down.
Haruki gritted his teeth, dodging behind a rock outcropping. "You're the boss, boss!"
A rogue squad tried to flank. Kelmesh turned – backhanding them all into the ceiling. The room shook.
It's faster than before. We can't get close… We need to slow it down.
"Haruki! New plan! We need to limit its movement – as much as possible. Do you still have that stone edge ability?"
"You know it!"
"Use it! But don't aim for Kelmesh. Aim at the floor around him!"
"Like needles on the floor?"
"Exactly!"
Haruki slammed his hammer into the ground, causing a ridge of stone to emerge from the cavern floor. Futaba did the same, but with her staff, causing massive craters to form.
It's not enough…
Kelmesh, whilst slower, was still tearing into their lines. They needed an edge. Something fast enough to knock it off balance so that they could lock it down once and for all.
Futaba pointed towards a half-caped assassin running away from the chaos. "You! Assassin! I need you to dash in and knock Kelmesh off balance. I'll create a bridge for you."
"No way, lady. I'm not going anywhere near that thing! I have loot that I don't plan on losing!"
Idiot. It'll all be pointless if we can't take Kelmesh out.
"I can do it." a voice chimed in.
A cloaked figure. Futaba didn't pin them as the assassin type – they were too… proper. Too disciplined. Assassin type players were always sloppy – cocky.
"You sure?" Haruki interjected.
"Yes. I'm sure. I can knock him off balance."
"Alright. I'll set you up. Just follow the rocks."
The figure nodded.
"Haruki, you distract it."
"Is that all I am to you? Bait?" Haruki gave a mocking pout, before running off to the side.
Futaba turned to the cloaked figure. "And… sorry, what's your name?"
They hesitated. "Just call me… Kendall."
"Okay, Kendall, on my signal."
Another polite nod.
Definitely not an assassin type.
"Oi! Kelmy or whatever your name is! I'm right here!" Haruki taunted.
Kelmesh turned to the funny dancing man – raised his sword…
"Kendall, now!"
Futaba raised her staff, three stones raised with it. She turned just in time to see it: a streak of movement – like a phantom – blurring from one rock to another. The phantom pivoted mid-step, launching up and across Kelmesh's chest in a blur of steel and cloth.
Eight slashes – no, nine – Futaba couldn't count. What the hell was that?
"Futaba, Haruki, now!" the cloaked figure called, gracefully hopping off Kelmesh's chest, and onto the ridge above.
They were right, Kelmesh was on the floor. Vulnerable.
Right.
"Overgrowth!"
"Stone edge!"
Kelmesh was trapped. Snake-like vines engulfed his feet, an avalanche of rubble and debris bound his legs – this was it.
Futaba cast an ice spell right on Kelmesh's chest. Brittle. "Haruki – do it!"
"Yes, ma'am."
Haruki leaped into the air.
"THIS! IS! FOR! CELESTE!"
CRACK!
The blow connected square. Center mass. Kelmesh's chest sank – and stayed that way.
> KELMESH: THE FIRST GATEKEEPER DEFEATED
> CONGRATS!
> LOOT DISTRIBUTED TO ALL PARTICIPANTS
> LAST STRIKE BONUS GIVEN TO: LUV.HARUKI
> MVP BONUS GIVEN TO: ITS_FUTABA
Futaba wiped the sweat from her brow, staff still crackling faintly.
Haruki ran over to Futaba, tears in his eyes. "We did it! That was so epic! Oh, I'm going to tell my kids about this one day!"
"Bold of you to assume you'll find someone."
"Asshole."
"And you do know that I'm streaming… right?"
"..."
"Ahem – and that's a quick run through my diverse acting range, if you'd like to contact the one and only, DM me on Instagram @Haruki.Minazuki – and please, no love confessions."
Haruki walked off, fixing his hair.
What is wrong with that guy?
…
Futaba flashbacked to the just before final blow.
***
"Futaba, Haruki, now!" the cloaked figure called.
***
Wait. I never told them my name.
Futaba looked around for the cloaked figure, but they were nowhere to be seen.
Strange.
***
> LOCATION: VELDENREACH INN
Ren, Futaba, Haruki, and 'Celeste' were sitting down at a round table.
"How you holding up, buddy?" Haruki nudged while taking a massive gulp of ale.
"Everything aches."
"I concur."
"Anyways. It paid off! Turns out we'll be reaching the Orc King's lair sooner than expected. They're already sending out another strike team to handle the second gate."
"That quick? Damn."
"Yeah. I didn't even know that we were raiding the first gate! And…" Haruki leaned in. "...I've heard, it's because there have been leaks that we'd unlock a whole new area – everything west of the Eastboarden Mountains."
A searing, bright flash burnt Ren's eyes.
"Wwww-west-t-t-t?"
FUCK.
"Yo, dude. You alright?"
What just happened?
"I… do not know."
Ren let out a dry cough. "Yeah, fine. I think."
"You should be more than fine! You hear what people are saying about you?"
"People are talking about me?"
"Hell yeah dude. Check the forums. People are talking about some guy that cleared a dozen orcs in like twenty seconds."
Ren pulled up the UI, then went to the social tab:
> BuffaloRider189: Dude's crazy. You see how he squad wiped, like, 10 of them?
>Xx.GoblinSlayer.xX: Yeah, this Emerald Flash guy is insane.
> User190176: Emerald Flash? I've heard people calling him The Verdant Reaper?
> Xx.GoblinSlayer.xX: Don't know where you heard that one buddy, I heard people on Its_Futaba's steam calling him Emerald Flash.
> AirConConnoisseur: That cloaked person was also badass – 9 hit combo? They lowkey carried the second half of that raid.
> User190176: Oh what, The Phantom? Yeah. Badass as hell.
> CalvinGaming: Is the 9 hit combo a signature? I swear no ones been able to get theirs working.
> AirConConnoisseur: No clue bro. Might be.
> Haruki.Minazuki: You guys see that other dude? The attractive one with the hammer? I thought he was pretty cool.
> BuffaloRider189: Who? idk who you're talking about, lol.
Emerald Flash? Verdant Reaper?
"Do you see? The cape. It commands. A symbol of our station. The cape, she has carved you a reputation of honour and prestige among warriors. And who wanted a measly meat skewer?"
Oh… Ren hated how smug Soren sounded right now.
Alright, Soren. You win. This time.
"That's actually pretty cool."
"Damn right it is! What do you think they'll call me? The Chosen One? Death incarnate? The Holy Knight?–"
"Okay, Haruki. Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Maybe, do something cool first?"
"Asshole."
Both Ren and Haruki chuckled – but something felt off. Empty.
What though?
…
"Hey Futaba, you've been awfully quiet."
Haruki was right. Futaba had just been sitting there, stirring her – now cold – tea with a spoon for the last 15 minutes.
"Hmm? Oh. It's nothing. I'm just thinking about something that happened back at the raid."
"What is it? Maybe our very own Emerald Flash can help with it." Haruki teased.
"No, that's alright. It's probably nothing."
"If you say so," Haruki perked up. "That reminds me, are any of you up for a super sick quest tomorrow?"
"I'm sorry. I can't. I need to do some digging… I mean, just robotics stuff. Nothing fun really."
"Aw. That's alright. Ren? You up for it buddy?"
"Yeah, sure. Sounds fun. But real quick, Futaba, robotics stuff?"
"... Uh, yeah. We've got a tournament coming up soon."
"Legit? Like what kind?"
"Nothing too abnormal: Navigating robots, problem-solving robots, fighting robots–"
Ren's eyes sparkled.
"Did you say fighting robots? Like as in Hugh Jackman's Real Steel fighting robots?"
"Not to that extent, but yes – something like that."
"Please, please, please can I help out?"
"Sure. If you want."
Score.
Haruki spoke back up. "So, Ren, meet up at the square tomorrow at noon?"
"Sure. I'll be there."