END OF DAYS

Thadius was looking at what used to be a 20ft(6m) wall. After learning his master's last skill, he was tasked to carve out the rock face with it to improve speed and precision. He had finally succeeded.

He proudly climbed the staircase that he had been forming for the last 6 months, using the natural hand holds every few feet for safety. Then he stopped at the top to look at the emerald ocean.

He stood in the same spot he had first stood almost four years ago. If anyone had told him what he'd find up the mountain, he would have gone sooner.

'And now it's done' he thought as he watched the grass dance in the winter wind. Even in the cold, the scene was as beautiful as ever.

He continued along the ledge, lost in thought. His feet carried him to the entrance of his master's compound in minutes, and a gruff voice called out to him inside.

"You've come just in time Thadius, I was about to come for you."

Corban said from his favorite seat on the middle of the training hall.

Yuna was off to the side sweating and gasping for breath. Corban had been giving her extra lessons since he was off doing his training for the final technique. When her eyes met his, a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

"I take that something good happened?"

"Yuna has just mastered Dragon's Grip. Give her a test run would you? I want to be sure..."

Yuna took her stance in the hand-to-hand form of the Dragon's Path sword style. It was a style created as a last result. Corban believed that a swordmaster without a sword should still be just as deadly. What resulted was a martial art based on crippling grabs and bone breaking strikes.

Thadius settled into the Dragon's Tail form as he removed his sword from his hip. The deadliest part of the single-handed Dragon's Tail form, was that it easily incorporated moves from the Dragon's Grip form.

Yuna released her Aura and Thadius did the same. They were at the point where they couldn't give each other any room to breath. A split second of indecision would lead to a bruise our a smack to the back of the head.

"Begin!"

Yuna 'Vanished' from sight. When she mastered 'Hide Presence', it had fused with 'Hide' allowing her to turn invisible.

Thadius spread out his Aura to fill the room. He found Yuna quickly as she tried to circle behind him.

He reached out to grab her, only to find his arm grabbed in return. He dropped to the ground immediately, intending to slam her into the ground.

-5 hp

Yuna lashed out with a strike at his bent knee and triggered a reflex to throw off his timing. This gave her ample time to roll to the ground and reassess her approach.

They circled the training hall, never taking their eyes off the opponent.

Yuna rushed in again, but Thadius was ready. He sent a spin kick to her abdomen that broke her invisibility and launched her to the wall. She kicked out to reposition herself to use the wall as a springboard.

She leaped right at Thadius as he swung down to catch her mid flight. She twisted to catch the blade between her hands, using it as a pivot for her momentum. She flipped over Thadius' head and launched into his back. From there she could snap his neck.....if she was fast enough.

"Stop, I've seen enough." Corban called from his perch.

Thadius and Yuna went to stand in from of their master. He looked down at both of them with pride.

"Kneel."

They obeyed. They were always humbled in the presence of their master.

"I can finally say that I have nothing left to teach you. Both of you have absorbed my techniques and have withstood the training that no one else but myself has completed. I'm proud of you. From this moment forth, you can call yourselves swordsmen.

YOUNG DRAGON

After almost four years of training, Corban has nothing left to teach you. You have succeeded in learning everything from him. Your class, 'Disciple of the Iron Dragon' has advanced to 'Sword Scholar'

+1000 Fighting Spirit

+500 Intelligence Sword's Path

As a Sword Scholar, your body overflows with Fighting Spirit. The Mana stat had been deleted. Skills that use mana cannot be used. Sword Skills that use mana, will adapted to use Fighting Aura instead at only 10% of the original cost. Burden of the Strong

- No experience from lower level enemies

+50% EXP from higher level enemies

+100% EXP and from solo boss kills Sword Insight

Sword skills can be learned through observation, regardless of class. All swords can be identified. Sword level restrictions are ignored. Innate Sword Talent

Points added to Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence are doubled.

"Show stats."

No Title CLASS Sword Scholar NAME Thadius RACE Human FAME: 0 LV. 1 HEALTH 15700/15695 STAMINA 20540/20540 VITALITY 1570 STRENGTH 3052 DEXTERITY 2042 WISDOM 912 INTELLECT 1598 LEADERSHIP 0 CHARM 67 FAITH 677 FIGHTING SPIRIT 5077 ENDURANCE 147 MAGIC RESISTANCE ICE 99% FIRE 0% EARTH 0% DARK -10% WIND 0% LIGHTNING 0% HOLY 15% WATER 0% +Weapon mastery skills gain x10 EXP

Thadius was absolutely dumbfounded. The a penalties were harsh, but the benefits more than made up for it.

"You can learn any sword skill?" he whispered in surprise.

"Don't dwell on it too much. I've survived all these years without learning any foreign sword skills, So you probably won't need them."

"Y-yeah." His master had denied the possibilities, but Thadius was already thinking about the various sword skills he'd heard about.

"Now, I don't have any children, and the number of people who would actually want to live here are few. But I want the both of you to think of this place as yours, and everything in it will go to Thadius for safe keeping."

Corban looked at Yuna as he said it, she offered up no argument. She wasn't the type to argue over possessions.

"Good. Take the rest of the day off. Tomorrow will be the start of the rest of your lives. Your first stop will be the blacksmith in Yune. Give him this, and he'll know what to do." Corban handed Thadius a letter. He was about to remove it from the envelop.

"Don't read it!"

"Oh..."

Corban just shook his head. "Then after that you should head to the Capital. There's a mage there named Beth, she's the one who helped me create the training armor. You find her, and she sort you out. Now off with you!" Corban dismissed them as he went back into his office. Yuna followed him, talking quietly about her new 'Sword Maiden' class.

Thadius went into his room. At long last, he would be leaving the mountain. He layed down and logged out to tell Curtis the good news.

---

Brandon looked around to find Curtis watching a movie on the flat screen.

"Anything good on?" he called to his nurse.

"Not since you almost gave to the Goddess." He chuckled as he turned around in his chair.

"Hey now.."

Curtis raised his hands in defense. "I was going to change the channel if anything went down, so you don't have to worry about peepping Tom's. But seriously, a Goddess? Spill..."

"Even if I described it, you wouldn't understand."

"Damn. I might have to find me a Goddess to worship then. How goes the training? It's been almost a year out here."

"I'm a Sword Scholar now." Thadius smiled as he went over his unique class.

"Shit! Any sword skill?"

"That's my understanding. If I observe them using it, I'll be able to perform it. Though I'm not sure how magical sword skills are going to work."

"That mana penalty is bad news. You're set up for a mage beat down in the near future..."

"Come again?"

"You have nothing in your arsenal that defends against magic, or helps you at attacking enemies from a distance. The first serious mage you come across is going to eat you alive."

"I'll just chase them down. I have the speed."

"Okay. Just you wait. You say that now, but the versatile weapon that is magic, isn't something you just 'chase down'."

"Noted."

"Now do you want a bite to eat while you're here? The chefs just finished cooking, and is been a while since you've had a decent meal."

"Sure."

Curtis and Brandon chatted some more over a warm meal. But after it was done, Brandon logged back in. He was excited, about what tomorrow would bring.

"Happy travels!" Curtis said as he turned on the machine.

"We may run into each other now that I'm free."

"I doubt that. We're on opposite sides of the spectrum."

Brandon didn't get a chance to question him further as a white light flashed.

---

Thadius woke up to a Yuna shaking him. Tears were steaming down her face as she called out to him.

"Thadius!! Wake up!! Please wake up!!"

"Yuna!? What's wrong!?"

Yuna just sobbed in relief, she'd been trying to wake up him for the past hour. Thadius slept like the dead.

She pulled him up and quickly led him to Corban's office. Night had fallen, and the compound glowed with the light of the moon.

Thadius sucked in a breath when he walked into his master's office. Corban lay on the floor with blood over the front of his robes. He was on the floor, leaning against the bed that he had moved in.

"Master..." Thadius whispered in a trembling voice. There was no response.

Then Corban lifted his head and pulled open the front of his robe. Underneath the pure white folds were huge black wounds. They looked like claw marks.

"A poisonous curse. Compliments of the black dragon Morticul."

"We'll get a healer." Thadius whispered, he had never seen his master so haggard.

"It's incurable..."

"Then the gods-"

"Even the gods don't trifle with dragons. Before their might, they are merely flesh and bone. No different than mortals."

"How long?"

"Twenty years. It's weakened me considerably, but I've still got some fight left in me..." Corban declared as he raised from the floor. Yuna helped him back onto the bed.

Thadius watched in silence as his master was reduced to a sickly old man. He would spend the rest of his days on the mountain, waiting for the curse to claim him. Then he would die in his bed. There would be no one at his side with himself and Yuna gone. No one would even know he died.

Thadius knew what he had to do.

He grabbed Corban, bringing an arm over his shoulders and walked him to the training hall. Corban didn't argue, his coughing fit had tired him out. When they reached the hall, Thadius dropped the him in the middle of the floor.

"....!"

"Thadius! What are you doing!" Yuna screamed as she reached down to help Corban.

Thadius released all the pressure he had strengthened over the years on her. She dropped to one knee and looked at him. She had never been truly afraid of Thadius until that moment.

"Move away from him Yuna. He dies today..." Thadius said as he tossed a wooden sword to Corban's feet.

Corban first looked at Thadius with surprise. Then with realization. He wore a serious expression as he grabbed the sword. "Stand back Yuna. Watch what happens next closely." He patted Yuna on the head

He stood up with renewed vigor, and matched Thadius' unwavering gaze. "So it's come to this...Don't disappoint me now Thadius. I won't hesitate to kill you. I know about the Travelers

resurrection ability."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

Thadius lunged at his master.

'Come on, master. Show me something!'

Corban lunged in return, sliding his sword between the gap of Thadius' shield and sword.

-3400hp

The wound had barely nicked him, but nearly a third of his health had been taken. Corban was obviously at a higher level.

Thadius stepped back and unleashed a Dragon Claw. Corban calmly side stepped the cuts and erased his presence to aim for Thadius' neck. In mid swing he stiffened, and Thadius bashed him with the shield to send him rolling outside into the snow.

Had the pain not stopped his master, Thadius knew he would be dead. He would have to fight cautiously, while taking advantage of any weaknesses. Exactly as he was taught.

They danced for hours under the moonlight. Thadius was shown just how vast the gap between master and grandmaster was. Whenever he cut, Corban's sword was a deadly shadow gliding over it to attack. If he pressured Corban with a feint, it was always seen through. If he erased his presence, Corban still watched him like a hawk.

He continually had the edge over Thadius. But then pain would strike him, temporarily giving Thadius the upperhand.

Before long, they had arrived at the ledge where the first met. It was ironic that the place of their first encounter would also witness their last.

Corban unleashed a blinding slash that broke through Thadius' guard, sending his shield arm flying up. With Thadius' vitals exposed, Corban moved to stab his heart.

That is, until a crippling wave of pain gave him pause.

Thadius capitalized on the moment, charging forward with his shield to break opponent's stance. With Corban unable to react in time, he unleashed the sword that had been lying in wait behind his shield.

Thadius screamed as his sword plunged into his master's chest. It had hurt him as much as stabbing himself.

Corban looked down at the sword in his bosom and dropped to the ground. Thadius expertly removed the wooden blade and caught his beloved master before he could touch the ground.

"Sloppy Thadius...to kill a man, you need to aim at his organs.....ngh..not miss them entirely..." Corban gasped in pain.

"And deny my master his last words? Perish the thought." Thadius chuckled weakly. Tears were already falling from his eyes.

Yuna came running up to them, having seen the battle come to its conclusion.

"Your heart will get you in trouble...later Thadius. But....it's also why you're so strong....." Corban smiled as he put his hand to his heart. Blood from his wound was dying his robe a deeper red. He didn't have long.

"I know I wasn't the best opponent you've ever had."

but-"

"Hush Thadius. You've.....given me an opportunity to experience the legacy....that I'll leave behind. That alone is enough."

Yuna dropped down beside them in tears. Thadius pulled his master closer and rocked back and forth.

"Thadius, that Goddess of yours....sounds nice." Corban voice was barely a whisper. Both Yuna and Thadius could feel the fighting spirit leaving his body. It was a massive flood that trickled into the air.

"Want me to put in a good word?"

"I've never been... religious..."

"I know, I know. Just..." Thadius rocked again. The grief was raw, but he needed to stay in control."Just bow your head. I'll take care of the rest.

Corban rested his head against Thadius' shoulder. It was the best he could manage.

Thadius bowed his head in prayer.

"Tegaia, I come to you in a time of great need. My master, though not a man of faith, has asked for you to accept and embrace him as he passes to the next world. He's strong, Goddess. Strong enough to help you in your endeavor when the time comes. So please-"

Corban breaths were becoming shorter. The light was leaving his eyes.

"Please Tegaia!"

Thadius looked down at his master one last time. Corban's eyes were wide in shock and a single tear told down his face. Thadius thought he had failed, that his prayer wasn't fast enough. Then he heard his master whisper his last word.

"Sophia?"

"Thadius...he's...he's.." Yuna was choking on her sobs as she grased her late master's robe.

"I know..."

The Iron Dragon has died. As his first graduate, the title has passed to you. Iron Dragon

You gain fame from kills. The higher the fame or infamy of the foe, the greater the gain. Must be a solo kill.

.....

Thadius ignored the messages as hunched over the body of the man that had taught him so much. The body that was once filled to the brim with fighting spirit appeared old and frail in comparison. Who would've guessed that such a small man had been fighting death for 20 years?

Thadius' tears were those of joy and grief. Corban was gone. But in his last moments, someone he loved had come for him. He gave thanks to his Goddess as the sun rose over the emerald ocean.

---

Thomas Lanyard sat in the waiting room of the Challenger news station. He was the public face of Sonsoft, and had been called to do damage control for resent events. His suit had the sheen of silk, and his hair had already been looked at by the stylist. All he had to do now speak in front of a live audience of millions. No pressure.

Within the first year of its release, Chaos Online had quickly become one of the world's most popular VRMMORPGS. The player base was much lower than the next largest game, but that didn't stop millions from watching.

Compared to other VR broadcasts, Chaos Online had a gritty, dark edge. A simple quest that wouldn't have many people excited to watch, would have viewers on the edge of their seat if it was being completed in Chaos Online.

A bandit raid would draw in startling numbers when every cut, slice and slash could be seen, the audience knew that every player could really feel the pain. They felt the tension of every battle.

Chaos Online: uncut, uncensored, and uncompromising. No one could deny the appeal, so streaming stations all over the world added it to their after hours time slot.

Unfortunately, in a game do close to reality, real world problems began to enter the equations. Players had given in to their desires, and Chaos Online was in the midst of a spiraling crime rate. After witnessing some of these atrocities on screen, the public wanted answers.

And that's were Thomas came in.

"Mr. Lanyard, they're ready for you." the receptionist called from the door.

"Showtime."

Thomas was led down the hall and into a stage where the anchor sat. She was a popular anchor for the Challenge news network, which boasted the highest concurrent viewer rate to date. Thomas would have his work cut out for him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our next guest is the social manager for Sonsoft, Thomas Lanyard."

On cue, Thomas walked out and sat at the table. There were no smiles or hand shakes. She intended this to be a lynching.

"Mr. Lanyard I'd like to get straight into the heart of the discussion,"she stated with a superior look on her face."What can you tell us about the skyrocketing crime rate in Chaos Online. Our viewers are worried about the content of future broadcast."

"That's a broad question, so I'll return in kind. Sonsoft has no control over the players actions. We have no intention to constrict a player's free will."

"So the plan is to do nothing."

"Something is already being done by the players."

"The results are minimal at best, while the crimes increase in frequency. There have been multiple reports of torture, sexual assault, slave trading...the list goes on. Crime syndicates have taken root in every continent. There's also a guild calling themselves 'Paradise' which encourages these behaviors. Not to mention talks of a massive war brewing in the north... Is Sonsoft really going to stand by and do nothing? Let me remind you that you're here to answer questions Mr. Lanyard." She clearly wanted to drive him into a corner.

Thomas waited as if he had to gather his thoughts. In truth, he had been fully prepared to answer.

"I'd first like to point out the case of sexual assault, as it seems to be the most pressing issue. Sanza Cambridge, age 19, was allegedly attacked on air. I'd like to thank the station for their quick response to the situation, cutting the feed before the audience witnessed such an atrocity. However," Thomas looked directly at the reporter."have you heard from miss Cambridge?"

"We have reports-"

"You mean the police report filed by her parents? Yes we have that. Not only was the report filed by someone other than the victim, Sanza herself refused to give a statement. Do you know why?"

"I don't..."

"Young Sanza a.k.a 'Ghostkilla' spent an entire week locked in her room after the incident. From our records, she systematically killed the same four players. Now I say that to say this. In a world where such crimes are possible, vengeance and justice are sure to follow, unlike most cases in reality."

"That still doesn't explain-"

"Do you play Chaos Online?"

"No but-"

"That explains why you underestimate the mental fortitude of our players. You said something about torture? Tell that to the warrior that was torn limb from limb by a mountain troll. Did the viewers care then that he felt the loss of three of his appendages before the game shut him out? Our players are exposed to 'torture' on a daily bases, by choice."

"......."

"Slave trading, crime syndicates..... These things take time to counteract, and in the end, they will always be there. Or are you going to lie to me and say that there is no such thing as organized crime in reality?"

"......"

"When I say that the players are working on it. I mean that the best and brightest are banding together. They encourage each other to travel in groups, they're organizing guilds for the sole purpose of guarding cities and fighting crime."

"So Sonsoft would just let the players take everything into their own hands? That's-"

"Chaos? My dear, that's precisely what we advertised...."