Real Life

As the warmth of the sun faded and existence flashed to oblivion, Akuma vanished as Tyler Mori’s eyelids fluttered to life. As they lifted and Tyler greeted the world once more, an inexplicable sense of loss filled him. He never paid it any mind before, but the emptiness of his room and the silence of the house that haunted him like a ghost pressed on his being as he suffocated on reality.

Removing the helmet, his gold irises took in the room around him, murky and dark even as torrents of light poured in from the cityscape outside. But even the silent room paled in comparison to his lifeless legs that rested on the bed. It tore at him, removing himself from Ascension Online and the ability to walk, fight, and be free, only to return to this desolate life.

Thus, with shaking hands that trembled in a cold anger, Tyler pathetically dragged his body towards his wheelchair with practiced ease. His movements, normally refined and fluid, were hurried as he shuffled with a passion to exit from this reality and return to Ascension Online.

Still, he had already played in the game for over 12 hours. While the time-acceleration of the game made it so only 4 hours had passed in real-life, food still needed to be consumed and facilities needed to be used. Thankfully enough, the use of NeuroWear allowed for the brain to be placed into a deep sleep, allowing for a well-rested mind on only three to four hours of sleep a night. It was a benefit that Tyler put to use as he manually pushed his wheelchair with precision down the empty hallways and towards the kitchen.

Hands, scarred and fragile, moved him into position as he made an onion and sausage omelette. Just as with his fighting style, his movements in all things were fluid and filled with a divine finesse. Fingers glided through the air as his withered muscles worked diligently. Through it all, his focus remained on Ascension Online. Hungering for the NeuroWare helmet that would allow him to live.

It was ironic in a sense. Tyler Mori, eldest son and only living member of the famed Mori Clan, was renowned for his unwillingness to use technology. Even now, his actions and beliefs spoke of antiquated desires. Automated and mechanical wheelchairs that were accompanied by a Third Gen M.A.I.D. who’s AI programming was to assist their user was standard practice for healing patients and disabled individuals. Additionally, Tyler’s deterioration of muscle, figure lined with scar tissue, ill-mended and set bones, and lack of ability to walk were all defects that could’ve been treated with proper Rejuvenation treatments and the use of robotic prosthetics. Even his cooking, done over a superheated microwave stove with a pot and spatula, was a more or less dead tradition.

Yet through it all, Tyler declined such resources and tools that he deemed as extravagant and damaging. However, even with such an antiquated ideology, few laughed or mocked him. For who could mock a man who sought struggle and discipline with such fierce desire? Who could demean a man of such righteous and strict behavior? Only a fool mocks a lion for its desire to hunt a worthy prey instead of a wounded one.

Yet, fools there were plenty in this world. Luckily, so too were there hungry lions...

Ascension Online

Within Ascension Online, in the area known as the Corrupted Forest that bordered one of the Starting Zones for new players that was designated as the Town of Hayton, a lone figured backpedaled slowly as his prey cornered him.

Akuma, holding the [ Copper Claymore ], watched with a smirk as the three Corrupted Panthers crept closer. His critical eyes of gold shone clearly beneath the shade of the towering trees that blocked out the dual sun’s light. Feet, barely able to rise off the ground, tapped lightly on the loose and rocky earth as Akuma found his footing.

Before him, the prowling Corrupted Panthers hissed and clawed at the air in taunting motions towards Akuma. As they did though, he merely let his weapon sway easily in the air. He remained as he was, waiting for his moment. It didn’t take long for it to appear.

To his left, one of the Corrupted Panthers hissed loudly as it darted forward. However the move was merely meant to capture Akuma’s attention as the other two Corrupted Panthers darted forward silently to tear apart their distracted prey. Sadly for them, Akuma saw it coming a mile away.

With a flick of his sword, a rock from the ground was launched to the leftmost Panther that initially attracted his attention. Like a bullet out of the gun, it hurtled through the air before striking the Corrupted Panther centermass. Startled, the creature backed off rapidly from its assault. It was all that Akuma needed to butcher the cats.

Remaining rooted in place, like the trees that towered over him and remained unyielding to the elements, Akuma allowed the two Corrupted Panthers to come to him. As they pounced, fully leaving the ground and its protection, Akuma struck. The [ Copper Claymore ], a bastard of a sword that required two hands and supreme skill, lashed out with chilling precision. Before the leftmost Panther had recovered, it was already over. Its two kin, aglow with white lines that marked were Akuma’s sword struck them, fell dead to the ground. The third Corrupted Panther soon joined them, under the Reaper’s hymn that Akuma sung with his sword as the instrument.

You have Slain a Level 2 [Corrupt Panther]

* Gained 25 Experience

* Gained 1 Rough Fur

You have Slain a Level 1 [Corrupt Panther]

* Gained 15 Experience

* Gained 2 Rough Fur

You have Slain a Level 2 [Corrupt Panther]

* Gained 25 Experience

* Gained 1 Smooth Fur

* Gained [ Belt of the Beast ]

You’ve Reached

LEVEL 4

* 5 Attribute Points available for distribution

Dismissing the screens with a glance, Akuma looked at the sword in thought. “Bulky,” Akuma muttered to himself as he stared down at the sword in his hands, “and a bit unwieldy. Still, the balance and edge... If only all weapons were made with such quality.”

[ Copper Claymore ]

Copper Equipment

Attack: 4 - 9

Equip: +1 Strength

Durability: 19 / 20

Requirement: None

Looking at the information of the weapon with a genuine satisfaction, Akuma minimized the screen before flipping the sword over. Golden eyes glazed over as he ran his thumb across the sword edge. Although no blood was drawn, the slight pain that flared on his thumb and the -1 damage that appeared told him all he needed to know. The weapon truly was a thankful aid to his endeavor. Already his damage had nearly doubled, and once he added the new Attribute points...

“Status”, Akuma called out to no one but himself.

Character Status Screen

Name

Akuma

Race

Human

Level

4

Class

Warrior

Health

100 / 100

Health Regen

+ .25 / sec

Stamina

92 / 100

Stamina Regen

+.5 / sec

Rage

22 / 100

Rage Regen

+1 / sec in battle

Constitution

10

Endurance

10

Strength

21 (20)

Agility

11 (10)

---

10

Dexterity

10

Intelligence

10

Wisdom

10

Luck

1

Charisma

1

Equipment

Skills

Talents

Reputation

As his eyes swept over the Status Screen, the smirk that seemed to find its place so easily on his lips now once more appeared. The Attributes were truly depressing. Barely a third of Akuma’s true ability could be displayed with his current Agility, Dexterity, and Endurance. The only consolation so far was that his Strength had improved to sizable degree, especially as he dumped in the available 5 Attribute Points he had and brought his Strength to a total of 26.

Instead of being depressed at his inability to truly free himself, he was instead...giddy. It was a feeling he hadn’t felt in much too long a time. However, the thought of what kind of Skills and power he would wield through his Attributes as he increased in levels...

Smiling lightly and shaking his head at the thought, Akuma minimized the screen as he adjusted the [ Copper Claymore ] that attached the his new belt, [ Belt of the Beast ]. With a final look at the dead Corrupted Panthers, Zero continued his trek forward. Shaky and ill-equipped legs powered forward through the dense forest floor of roots, rocks, and vegetation of countless varieties.

Away from the green foliage of lush life that was abuzz with birds, bees, and foreign creatures, he continued forward in his unyielding march. The further he crept into the forest, dark and gloomy with tree foliage that blocked out the dual Sun’s warmth and light, the more glaring the devastation of life appeared. Trees, once strong and towering, were afflicted with rot of a dark and corrosive substance. Each shuffling step he took ended in the brittle snapping of leafs and grass that had died and withered away long ago. Animals, once cute and vibrant in energy, transformed to hidden creatures of deformities.

And yet still he continued. Crimson hair spooling down to converge on his shoulders and back. Clothes and armour, black and grey, melded into the surroundings as Akuma eyes gleaned in an excitement that left his smile growing.

It was a smile, feral and canine in nature, that grew only as he traversed further. His eyes, unnaturally brilliant and alive, scanned his surroundings with an appreciation for the Corrupted Forest that few NPCs dared to venture into. Yet it wasn’t the dull and darkened canopy which allowed the gnarled and twisted trunks of corroded trees to be caught in his blinded eyes that shone as the false darkness settled. Rather, as his hearing heightened under the near paranormal silence that weighed heavily, his breathing echoed for only his ears. Breath, hot under the chilled surroundings, huffed out in a gust of icy blue.

Deeper he went, his brooding form with one of the forest. Deeper, shuffle by painstanking shuffle, until his breath echoed out with the heavy panting of four more. The panting of Corrupted creatures that charged blindly to a source of food, only to fall by the wayside under Akuma’s deadly slash.

Deeper he went, his smiling figure one at odds with the forest.

It wasn’t until thirty minutes of arduous adventuring passed with the uneventful slaying of Corrupted creatures, did the first change of scenery occur.

Strips of light, bleeding their orange and red embrace through the thinning canopy, illuminated the way before Akuma. Their glow brought light to the darkness, turning darkness to a pitched violet that settled on the frosty glade. Ice, armoured thick on the ancient trees that bent under age and corrosion, littered the ground that Akuma walked on. As his shuffling form weaved throughout the glade of trees packed tightly together, his [ Novice Warrior Boots ] rattled and slide across the floor.

It was almost pleasant, peaceful under the myriad of seasons that merged together in that area, until a gust of wind whipped through his location. With the arrival of the chilling air, came the noticeable smell of poison, and the iconic high-pitched scream of any woman in any horror movie ever. A scream carried out by a person’s dying breath.

The same scream that he heard before, and which haunted him in his dreams.

Thus, with heart lurching in his throat and hands grasping for his [ Copper Claymore ], Akuma waddled as fast as his legs could carry him. In a mad hobbled sprint, he darted past the rejuvenated forest that glistened with renewed life. Finally, as he stepped past a thicket of trees and underbrush, did he find the source of the scream.

Located in the middle of an open field that was bathed in the heavenly glow of the dual suns of Ionia, Hoth and Raejus, a clearing of life was birthed in the Corrupted Forest. Atop, near the peaks of the trees that reached for the two Suns, zipped past birds and magical creatures which tittered and cackled in gleeful amusement. Beneath them though, on the ground of the lush emerald grass, roved and prowled a pack of ten [ Corrupted Wolf ]s, with a much larger and silver wolf in their lead. Facing them, atop the dead forms of five [ Corrupted Wolf ]s, swayed two figures.

It was all Akuma could make out before the lead wolf, the LVL 5 [Corrupted Silverfang Wolf], howled in hungrily dominance. It’s call, a call heralding the demise of their foe, was answered by ten more who moved with purpose towards the two figures.

In the face of their howls though, a lone voice, gruff with age and filled with scorn, mocked the charging pack of beasts.

“Well git’on with it you mutts. Daddy can’t wait all day now can he?”