Announcement: Due to the postponed release date, this chapter will be 2x longer than the usual. Also, I may be overwhelming busy next week, so there might only be one release instead of the normal two. My apologies, but I will be making that up in the future.

Best regards,

Hikaru Seishin

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-Mystic Lake Underwater Hideout, Nature’s Cradle-

Deep down below the tranquil surface of Mystic Lake, there laid an extensive underground hideout. Spanning across the lakebed, it is composed of many compartments constructed out of opaque glass. Although usually unoccupied and peaceful, this hideout was bustling with activity on this particular day.

On this bright and sunny morning in late January of 3078, the [Night Hawks] Round of 12 was scheduled to meet at their Southern Base at Mystic Lake. They were to meet to discuss the upcoming war with the pioneer guild of Dark Eden, the [Front Lines].

By noon, eleven members have gathered in the small conference room located in the west wing. They sat around a long table, their faces hidden in the darkness. As they waited for the twelfth member to arrive, none of them spoke. Time passed slowly, and the members became increasingly agitated. After an hour of waiting, the figure seated beside the vacant spot of the last member held up a hand, and signaled a nearby guard to come.

“Where is the guild leader?” he whispered, to the sentry, “Has he still not arrived?”

The guard leaned forward so that their conversation won’t be overheard.

“He was last seen near Starlight City around three hours ago.” he reported quietly, “We do not know his current whereabouts.”

The figure gave him a nod, dismissing him back to his position.

Folding his hands in front of him, the man turned his attention back to the group. He opened his mouth to speak.

“Due to unexpected circumstances, our newly-appointed leader cannot be with us currently. As the deputy leader, I shall commence the [Night Hawks] Round of 12 War Strategy meeting in his place.”

He paused, as the members directed their focus to him.

“As you all are well aware, our most respected leader, Mr. [Lincoln], has passed away in his home last night. Although the exact details of the assassination are still unknown, we do know one thing. He was murdered by a member of the guild, [Front Lines].”

The atmosphere in the room became heavy with tension. The deputy leader continued, his expression solemn.

“The culprit is currently being detained in a chamber in the east wing. After five hours of interrogation, he has finally revealed the truth behind his actions.”

The members began to whisper amongst themselves, clearly unsettled by his announcement.

Holding up a hand, he requested them to quiet down.

“The assailant has stated his motive plain and clear. This assassination was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a carefully planned out scheme carried out by the guild’s highest-in-command.”

The room was dead silent. Everyone, including the guards, held their breaths in anticipation of his next words.

“It was ordered by none other than the guild leader of [Front Lines]. This isn’t just a simple assassination plot. Their intentions to eradicate the [Night Hawks] are clear!”

“How dare they betray an old ally of theirs just like that!?” a member said angrily, as the people around him nodded in agreement.

“They have really stepped over the line this time.” Another said.

“Don’t let them get away with this!”

“Show them who’s more superior!”

“Hunt them down one by one, and wipe them all out!”

As the Round of 12 began to shout in fury and frustration, their voices overlapping each other’s in the chaos, the deputy leader looked on, his face composed. Soon, the members began to quiet down once again, and he continued.

“But, since [Front Lines] will not officially declare war, we have taken that matter into our own hands. We will force them to go to war. In the meantime, we will be stockpiling supplies and consulting with our allies. For the next two days, we will prepare to launch a cross-continental attack on all their bases. Seraphim’s Cove, Twilight Shores, Windy Creeks, Kirin’s Cliff and the Mountain of Origins, will all be under siege. Our goal, is to eliminate every trace of their existence from this world. We, shall not, co-exist under the same sky.”

His words met with a chorus of cheers. While the rest of them overwhelmed him with their support, one member remained silent. Eventually, he spoke up, his voice doubtful.

“How exactly do you plan to force [Front Lines] to engage us in battle?”

The deputy leader smiled. With a wave of his hand, he signaled a guard to approach. He whispered something to him, and the guard nodded.

The sentry walked to the top-right corner of the room, pushing some buttons on the wall. A projection of a dimly-lit chamber appeared in front of the members. In the middle of the image, a person sat on a wooden chair, arms tied-up behind.

“We will extend them a negotiation invitation.” the deputy said steadily, “They will accept for sure. After all, we have managed to capture a very important person of theirs as our hostage.”

His smile got bigger, as the hostage looked up directly at them from her seat, her pale green eyes narrowed in resentment.

Fiorae.

“But, in reality, there is no negotiation. While we shall guarantee their safety on the way here…it shall not be such a smooth trip home.”

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-Starlight Beach-

A beautiful lady in a long blue dress stood near the edge of the water, gazing at the vast ocean in front of her. Her silky, red hair flowed gently behind her, flame-like under the bright sunlight.

She sighed wistfully, her blue eyes tinged with sorrow. She began to venture into the water, away from the sandy shores.

“Stop, Myriel, don’t go in any deeper.”

The lady turned her head back, catching sight of a dark-haired young man rushing toward her.

“No, leave me be. There’s no reason for me to continue living.”

She turned her back toward him, walking deeper into the ocean.

The young man stood there, unmoving. Then, something popped up in front of him.

System prompt: Please choose from the following options.

A. “No, it’s a misunderstanding! MY LOVE ONLY BELONGS TO YOU!”

B. “Please…just listen to me first. I can explain…”

C. “If you are going to leave this world, then please take me with you.”

D. Watch and do nothing.

“…”

Lux turned his head around slightly, looking back at a tree. Partially hidden behind it, Serenia was looking at the options in front of her, thinking. After a brief pause, she selected one of the choices, and gave Lux a thumbs-up.

A. “No, it’s a misunderstanding! MY LOVE ONLY BELONGS TO YOU!”

Lux looked at the option chosen, and gave Serenia an Are-You-Serious look. She smirked, signaling for him to do as told.

“No, it’s a misunderstanding. My love only belongs to you.” he said in a monotonous voice.

Myriel stopped moving.

“Lies. Lies. And more lies. Why must you always comfort me with nothing but lies?”

C. “Even if everything I have told you is a lie, my love for you is real. Please…give me another chance.”

She covered her ears, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Stop deluding me with your sweet words! I don’t ever want to see your face ever again!”

Myriel burst into tears.

D. Rush after her and embrace her passionately. “Without you, I can’t live onnnn!!!”

A private chat box appeared beside Serenia, startling her. She tapped on it lightly, curious as to who sent her a message.

System prompt: [1] New Message in [Private Chat].

-[Lux]: I refuse.-

“Tch. He’s no fun.” she said, as she sent a quick reply back.

-[Serene]: Just do it, hurry before we get a bad ending!-

Lux gave a small sigh, before running after Myriel. He took hold of her wrist gently, holding her back.

“Kyaaa!”

In a flash, he pulled her into his arms, one hand resting lightly on her back.

Nice! Keep it up. Conquer her completely. Serenia thought as she sent him another message.

-[Serene]: Now, lean close to her ears and whisper your line softly.-

Lux put his face closer to Myriel’s, his breath tickling her cheeks. She flinched slightly as he said his next words.

“Without you, I can’t live on.”

Her face turned bright red as she released a string of incomprehensible phrases. As she looked into Lux’s calm blue eyes, she blushed even more.

“Y-you idiot! Don’t say those things all of a sudden!” she stammered, as she tried to break free from his embrace, “B-but I was happy. Kind of. So I’ll forgive you this time and only this time, ok?”

B. “Yes, my Goddess. I humbly accept your graciousness.”

Lux ignored the directions, and gave her a nod instead.

Myriel gazed at him for fraction of a second, before closing her eyes, waiting for something.

A. Kiss her lovingly.

B. Kiss her as if all you wanted to do in this world was to kiss her.

C. Kiss her with enough force to make both of you dizzy.

D. Give her a kiss on her forehead.

As the next set of options appeared in front of Serenia, she was speechless for a moment.

Woah…whoever designed this is quite desperate...I have a feeling that he won’t like any of them… She thought, as she looked at Lux.

His face remained expressionless as usual.

You…refused to say the over-exaggerated lines but not the kiss?

She could not justify why she felt slightly upset at this strange logic, but nevertheless, she had to make her choice.

D. Give her a kiss on her forehead.

I picked the one that made most sense, that’s all… She substantiated to herself.

Lux gave Myriel a kiss on her forehead.

“Hmph.” she said, as she buried her face in the front of his coat.

They stood there for a few moments, until the system made its final announcement.

System prompt: Game cleared. Happy ending achieved.

New mission has been unlocked.

Relay mission #26: Join the [Clash of Valor] tournament at Starlight City.

Location: Starlight City. 4 miles west of Starlight Beach.

Rewards: 1,000 EXP, 500 Eden Seeds, Relay progress 26/50.

Time remaining: 19:00:14

Lux stepped back from Myriel, as she vanished along with the “Game cleared” message.

Serenia left her hiding spot, jogging toward him.

“Ah, it’s finally over…” she commented, as she rejoined him, “That was harder than it looked.”

The last ten relays were nothing but running back and forth between different NPCs and acting out various scenes. Added on to the fact that most of them resembled parts of a typical Dating RPG, Serenia could almost feel the tension of being on a timed Continental Boss mission slipping away in this pure nonsense.

“…” Lux did not say anything in response. He began to walk away from the sandy shores and into the forest nearby.

“Erm…good job on the dialogues and actions…We owe the success of the missions to you.” she said, as she trailed after him, “And…you aren’t mad at me because of my selections…right?”

Serenia had to admit that most of her choices were completely opposite to his personality. Some of the lines that she had made him say were indeed…quite cheesy and embarrassing.

“No.” he said simply.

She ran forward to walk beside him, peeking at his face.

“You are sulking, aren’t you?”

“…I’m not sulking.”

She had to stop herself from breaking into an amused smile. Pft…he is definitely sulking.

“I’m sorry, please forgive me. I’ll admit I had too much fun with this, I won’t do it again next time.” she apologized, a hint of amusement still evident in her voice, “And since our next destination is a city, let me treat you to something to make up for this.”

Lux remained silent, so she continued with a smile.

“Alright, deal established! Let’s take a short break while we are there too. We haven’t had a chance to rest since yesterday afternoon. Now, cheer up!”

Serenia skipped in front of him, leading the way to Starlight City.

Lux watched her figure disappear behind a cluster of trees.

Just what, am I doing here. He thought, resigning himself to his fate.

“Hurry, or else I’ll leave you behind!”

With that, he began to move forward, into the forest after Serenia.

-------------------

-Starlight City-

“Hey, pretty Miss. Are you alone? Wanna go somewhere fun with us?”

Serenia ignored the calls of the two guys tagging along with her. She walked past the lively stalls set out on the street, holding a cotton candy stick on each hand.

“Hey, sexy, don’t ignore me! I promise we’ll have a great time together.”

He winked at Serenia, who continued to disregard him.

“Aniki, you are so cool! She’s going to fall for you for sure!” his companion said in awe.

“Who do you think I am? No woman can escape my charms.”

There he took out a comb, and fixed his swept-back hair. Running forward to stop Serenia, he bumped into someone.

“Ah. There you are.” Serenia said, as she handed Lux his cotton candy, “I was looking for you for quite a while.”

“Oh sh*t Aniki, she has a guy already!”

“Hmpf. So what if she has a guy, I’ll just snatch her away from him right in front of his ey-”

He looked up at Lux, and immediately stopped talking.

“H-hey…Aniki? Maybe we should just leave for now…that guy has a Scam-Right-Now-Or-I’ll-Chop-You-Up-With-My-Cotton-Candy-Stick expression…wait, Aniki, why the hell are you blushing!?”

“S-shut up, Bakayaro.” he said, as he stared at Lux, “…S-senpai! Please do whatever you want with me!”

He lunged at Lux, his face showing absolute bliss.

“…Understood.”

Out of nowhere, Lux grabbed him by the collar, and threw him into the distant sky. His companion gave a surprised shriek, dashing after him in panic.

“ANNIIKIIIIIIIIIII!!!! WAIT FOR ME!!!!”

Serenia watched as the events unfold, not the slightest bit interested.

What kind of a third-rate gag comedy was that? She thought, taking a bite out of her cotton candy.

“Well, I found the location of the tournament while searching for you.” she said out loud, as she nodded at Lux’s thanks for his candy.

They strolled down the way she came from, looking at the various items being offered along the path. Soon, they stopped in front of the gates of a large coliseum.

“Here we are.” Serenia said, as they joined the crowd moving into the stadium, “This is where they hold the monthly [Clash of Valor] tournaments.”

As the swarm of people entered and settled down into the seats, the lights hanging from the grand, cathedral ceiling dimmed, leaving the audience in the dark.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 6th monthly tournament of the [Clash of Valor]!”

The voice echoed across the arena, followed shortly by the sudden return of the lights, all focused on the person standing in the middle of the majestic stage.

“My name is Hamletos, your host for today. For those of you who are here for the first time, please allow me to briefly explain how this tournament works.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a system messaged appeared in front of everyone.

“Unlike the typical tournament, the [Clash of Valor] does not permit registration before the day it is set to take place. As you can see in front of you, this tournament offers live registration prior to its commencement. Therefore, now is the time to make your decision. Will you participate in this trial to obtain the title of the [Starlight Champion]? Or will you simply stand by and watch, hiding from the calls of glory? The choice is yours! You now have one minute to decide. On your mark, get set, and…GO!”

Around the coliseum, a string of lights flashed as people accepted the challenge. Lux looked at Serenia, who gave him a nod.

System prompt: Join the [Clash of Valor]?

[Yes] [No]

He chose [Yes]. As soon as he selected that, he disappeared in a pillar of light.

“Time’s up. The participants have been teleported to the preparation room. While they get ready, I will go through the rules.”

There he paused, waiting for the audience to quiet down.

“There are three simple rules. One, battle view will be disabled to make the matches more challenging. The contestant is allowed to forfeit at any time. When Health Point levels reach lower than 10%, the contestant will be automatically withdrawn from the battle, and the victory will go to the opponent. Secondly, apart from recovery and boost items, the participant is allowed to use any skill, weapon, armor…the list goes on and on. Everything, including pets, is permitted. Lastly, the time limit for each battle is three minutes. If no clear victory is announced by then, it will end in a draw.”

A referee ball floated down beside him. He glanced at it, and nodded.

“The preparations are now complete! The tournament will take the form of a 30-round Knock-Out match, hosted over ten battle arenas! The winner will receive not only the title of [Starlight Champion], but also 100,000 Eden Seeds as a reward! Now…ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention to the billboard behind me. The list of pairings has been drawn!”

The audience tensed up in excitement as the light shone on the large screen behind him, illuminating the list of match orders.

“With no further ado, let the [Clash of Valor] begin!”

Lights of every color erupted in the stadium, revealing the ten battle arenas surrounding the main stage. As the referee ball circled around the audience, images flashed across the screen, displaying the enthusiastic expressions of the spectators.

“The first twenty participants are now making their way to their designated stages! Contestants, at the sound of the gong, you may commence! In three, two, one…Round one is ON! ”

The loud alarm sounded across the platforms, as the participants began to fight. The host waved his hand in the air, constructing an energy field to protect the audience. The referee ball zipped around the arenas, exhibiting the action on the billboard.

“Let’s take a look at Battle Arena A. In the West, we have contestant [Light Kagami].”

As the host spoke, the camera zoomed in on the young man standing calmly in his corner. In his hands, he carried a black notebook labeled “Death Poke”.

“In the East, we have contestant [Ralouch Ramperouge].”

The camera switched over to the youth dressed in a black cape.

“What will these two challengers show us today? Let’s find out!”

The audience looked on in hushed silence, as the two approached each other.

“It must be fate that brought us two together this day.” Kagami said, as he opened his notebook, “But, you must go. Using the Death Poke, I’ll win this tournament. Because I’m the only one that can.”

His opponent laughed quietly. “What foolish words are you saying? That you are going to win? Have you realized that the only ones that shall come out victorious…are those that are prepared to lose?”

Kagami laughed as well. “Then, we will see who will come out as the final victor; Good or Evil.”

“The atmosphere is heating up…what will they do next!?”

The host and the audience held their breaths, waiting for one of the contestants to initiate the attack.

A minute passed, and neither one of them moved.

The battle aura surrounding them became more and more intense, as summoned their strength from within, concentrating it all into one single burst of energy…

At the same time, they both addressed the host.

“I forfeit this match.” they said in unison, both seemingly out of breath.

“I will let you go this time. Consider yourself lucky.” Kagami said, as he turned his back to Ralouch, walking off the stage.

“That’s my line.” Ralouch replied, walking off in the opposite direction, “The next time we meet, we will definitely decide the victor, once and for all.”

“….”

The host and the spectators were completely speechless. The exact same thing seemed to be on everyone’s mind:

They…didn’t actually do anything, right?

“…Well, let’s take a look at Battle Arena B! In the West, we have contestant [Pikaru Seishin]. In the East, we have contestant [Yoshii Okana]. It looks like the fight is just about to begin!”

The crowd watched as the two spammed bizarre spells at each other, a cloud of dust rising from the stage.

“Abracadabra! The Fury of the Writer’s Block!” Pikaru shouted, as a large cube fell from the sky, heading toward Yoshii.

“…Urg…you got me there.” Yoshii said, as he fell to one knee from the attack.

“Hohohoho, worship my amazing powers!” his opponent bragged, with a smug look on his face.

Yoshii lowered his head, his expression indecipherable for a moment. Then, he started to laugh.

“Heh…hehehehe…”

…1-800-Somebody-call-a-mental-hospital… The audience thought in harmony.

“I didn’t want to use this but…you left me with no choice.”

As he spoke, a ball of light began to form between his hands.

Is he going to use a finishing move? The spectators thought, staring at him in anticipation.

“...The Ultimate Finishing Move…Su…”

Su..? Pikaru thought, backing away slightly.

“Suicide Bomb!”

In a flash, he ripped his shirt open, revealing the stacks of explosives hidden beneath it.

…What the hell???

“COME AT ME BRO! FEEL THE MIGHT OF MY SHINIES!”

As he spoke, he leaped into the air toward Pikaru…

“Ladies and gentlemen, due to contestant [Yoshii Okana]’s illegal use of explosives and his –cough- lame catchphrases, we have censored the rest of the battle. Please be patient and stay in your seats while we get rid- I mean, sort things out.”

The lights went off.

A few minutes later, the lights came back on again. The audience watched as two NPCs dragged a burnt Pikaru and an equally toasted Yoshii off the stage.

“You…better meet your deadlines.” Yoshii said, with the last bit of his strength, throwing the line over his shoulder as he disappeared from sight.

Is this guy…for real?

The referee ball glided over to the next arena.

“Moving on, we are currently at Battle Arena C. In the West, we have contestant [Lux]. In the East, we have contestant-”

The announcer paused in mid-sentence, staring at the list of participants in front of him in disbelief.

“I’m not hallucinating or anything, right?” he asked the referee ball beside him. It glanced at the sheet of paper in his hands, and shook its “head”.

The host cleared his throat. “Sorry for the interruption. In the East, we have contestant…[The Hot Sexy Phoenix King].”

The lights focused on the man in question. The audience was shocked into another round of silence as the weird appearance of the man became visible.

“I, am the great and all-mighty [Hot Sexy Phoenix King], the one chosen by the undying guardian of flames, the immortal Fire Phoenix.” he said, as he struck a ridiculous pose, “I have descended from the Heavens to bestow upon you all, the power of a deity.”

He got up, his outfit wrapped around him dramatically. The Hot Sexy Phoenix King wore nothing but an elaborate, red cape, covered with blazing feathers. In the place of his pants, he wore a white bath towel. On his hair, sat a headpiece adorned by feathers, in the shape of a bird’s head.

Where…did he get that embarrassing outfit from? The spectators thought in unison.

“So…you are my opponent, huh. Still in noob armor too?” he said, walking toward Lux, “You look very weak, so I’ll be merciful and finish this in one shot.”

He raised his hand, preparing to summon something.

“As a reward for not running away, I will make a special exception for you, and show you my beloved pet. Come forth, Fire Phoenix!”

A magic circle appeared on top of his head, mist beginning to cover the arena. The audience gasped as an enormous shadow of a bird appeared behind him.

The haze cleared away. The viewers stared at the thing he’d summoned.

…Isn’t that just a…normal chicken?

“ATTACK!” The Hot Sexy Phoenix King commanded, pointing his finger at Lux.

“Ba-ba-BAKAAAAK!” the chicken cried, charging at him.

He sent it crashing into the energy field with a casual swing of his hand.

“Y-you, how dare you hurt my most beloved pet!” the Phoenix King said, furious. He withdrew his sword, dashing at Lux.

“This is more than enough for you.” Lux said, as he brought his fist close to his face.

Just as his opponent was about to leap on to him, he swung his arms in a wide arc, catching the Phoenix King square in the jaw and sending him flying backward into the air. He landed a good distance away, flat on the ground and not moving.

After a long pause, he got up shakily, one hand on his injured face.

“…You, are the first one to hit me like that.” he said, staggering toward Lux, “I have been enlightened.”

He stopped in the middle of the arena, his expression hidden underneath his headdress. Then, he looked up.

“I have fallen for your punch! Please hit me some moreeee!”

As he launched himself at Lux once again, Lux’s expression darkened.

“I changed my mind.”

He took a deep breath, shifting one leg slightly behind the other. As the Phoenix King stood, suspended in the air in front of him, he swung his fist at his opponent in a fraction of a second. He attacked him repeatedly, so lightning-fast that his arms seemed to move in a blur on the billboard.

“Is this the legendary, 100-punch-combo we are seeing right now?” the host commented in astonishment, “Contestant [Lux]’s fists are moving so fast that his opponent seemed to be floating in mid-air!”

99, 100. With a wild swing upwards, Lux blasted the Phoenix King to the ceiling, where he slammed into the energy field and left a huge crater before falling down.

“…” The host seemed to have forgotten what he was doing for a second, and then recovered.

“Match set! Victor, contestant [Lux]!”

As the audience exploded into roars of approval, Serenia gazed at the retreating figure of Lux in pity.

Is today…International-Creep-Day?

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-The Office of the Deputy Leader, Mystic Lake Underwater Hideout-

The Deputy Leader of the [Night Hawks] sat alone in his office, making war preparations.

“Well done.” he said, as a person appeared in the darkness behind him.

“How are things going on your side?” the anonymous figure asked, his face hidden in the shadows.

“It is going well, just as planned.” the deputy replied, looking at the documents in front of him, “The promise I’ve made with you, will be kept.”

The anonymous figure smiled. “How ironic. The respected deputy of the guild is conspiring with an outsider, in order to get rid of the leader and succeed the throne. Just what would happen, should your beloved members find out?”

“That is none of your concern. Your job was to eliminate [Lincoln], nothing else. In exchange, I was to frame a member of [Front Lines], and lead the [Night Hawks] to war. You got rid of an eyesore for me, and I will get rid of an eyesore for you. That, is the extent of our relationship.”

His partner chuckled quietly. “Of course, my bad. I will leave you to your duties then. But…it’s quite a shame that your plans didn’t go completely your way. The newly-appointed leader, wasn’t part of your expectations, aren’t I correct?”

At that, the deputy smiled. “Indeed, that was a miscalculation on my part. But, he may prove himself to be useful in the upcoming war. It is never too late to allow him to parade into battle, and eliminate him along with [Front Lines].”

“Your bravery in battle, and sorrow in his loss, will propel you to your rightful place indeed. It is a win-win situation, for both of us.”

As the anonymous figure finished his sentence, he bowed at the deputy, before retreating further into the shadows.

“I will take my leave now. Please do update me on your progress.”

The deputy leader took a sip out of his wine, as the figure disappeared as silently as he came.

Well then, it is time to make the announcements to [Front Lines]. He thought, as he opened up the systems menu.

“System, IDVC invitation to [Front Lines].”

System prompt: The Inter-Dimensional Virtual Chatroom has been created. Confirming access with Guild ID:1 [Front Lines].

He waited calmly for the response.

Access granted. You will be connected with a representative from [Front Lines] in 3…2…1…

The office disappeared, replaced by a vacant, dark space. In the middle, there were two comfortable couches, separated by a glass coffee table.

He walked over to one couch, sitting down. The sound of footsteps echoed in the opposite end, as the other person arrived.

“What is your purpose for requesting a virtual chat with [Front Lines]?”

The man approached him, taking a seat on the empty couch.

“Please do not worry, I have come in peace. I am the Deputy Leader of the [Night Hawks], here to extend an offer of negotiation in the upcoming conflict.” the deputy said, as the man eyed him with suspicion.

“I am the Deputy of [Front Lines], here in the place of our absent guild leader.” Rune said simply, “As for the negotiation offer, I will like you to put that on hold until proper investigations into the loss of your guild leader could be conducted by us.”

The deputy of the [Night Hawks] smiled. “I’m sure that the sudden declaration of war was quite the blow to your guild. But, I assure you that we have made no error in the capture of the culprit. After all, the man himself has confessed to his crimes, and has explicitly stated that it was a command from none other than your very own guild leader.”

Rune narrowed his eyes. “Our guild leader, will never do such a thing. There is no merit in harming an ally.”

There he paused, leaning forward slightly.

“Have you considered the possibility of a conspiracy? In other words, have you ever considered that the ‘culprit’ may have been framed, and his confessions mere lies made up after the fact?”

His opponent’s smile got even wider. “By that, are you suggesting that the [Night Hawks] have purposely killed their own leader, in order to sabotage [Front Lines]?”

“I meant no such thing. It is a mere precaution on my part.”

“Understood. But as things stand currently, you may want to consider coming to the negotiation. Because you see…someone important of yours is waiting for you, at our base.”

Rune’s eyes widened. He had a bad feeling about what the deputy was going to say next.

“Your guild leader, quite a charming lady she is. Don’t you think she will be lonely, all by herself?”

Rune stood up in a flash, grabbing the other deputy by the front of his shirt.

“Return Fiorae to us. Right this moment.”

His adversary’s smile turned into a sneer. “You may not want to exert violence on the rival guild’s deputy, not while our guilds are at war. But in any case, should you decide to attend the negotiations, it will take place at Mystic Lake, in the Southern Base of the [Night Hawks], 24 hours from now.”

With that, the deputy began to fade away, disconnecting from the chatroom.

“While we suggest you come alone, it is fine to bring other members along. That is, if you feel the need to bring others to a peace negotiation.”

There he placed an emphasis on the last part of the sentence, indirectly mocking the other deputy. As he disappeared from the dark space, his last words echoed in the void.

“Don’t forget. If you want to see your guild leader again, come to Mystic Lake. The [Night Hawks]…will give you a warm welcome.”

-------------------

-[Clash of Valor], Final Round, Starlight City-

“Ladies and gentlemen…the most exciting moment of the [Clash of Valor] has arrived! The final round that you all are waiting for…is here!”

The host’s words met with a round of cheers. All the lights focused on the center stage, which was surrounded by a large, green energy field.

“After 30 rounds of hard, gruesome battles, two contestants have emerged from the semi-finals. In the West, we have contestant…[Lux]!”

The crowd roared in approval, as he stepped onto the stage.

“Do not be deceived by his outer appearance, this young man has single-handedly taken out many opponents, without even breaking into a sweat! The most mysterious thing about him is…we don’t even know what class he is! While none of his previous opponent could make him exhibit his skills, or even draw his weapon, could this round be the one in which he will go all out? Let’s wait and see!”

The referee ball zoomed in on Lux, whose expression did not change a single bit.

“Now, let’s take a look at his challenger! In the East, we have contestant [Dante]! This capable swordsman had slashed his way to the finals as if he’d just taken a simple walk in the park! While all of his opponents were knocked out in one strike, against the mystifying [Lux], will he still be able to prove his might, and come out as the top? The rules of this round remain the same. Who will emerge victorious in the next three minutes, and take the title of the [Starlight Champion]? The time to find out has dawned! Contestants, on the count of three, let final round of the [Clash of Valor]…BEGIN!”

The host leaped off the stage. In a flash, Dante charged at Lux, forcing him to leap to the side. He slashed at Lux with blinding speed and precision, giving him almost no time to retaliate.

“Your weapon,” Dante said, as the two broke apart from each other temporarily, “withdraw it.”

“Bothersome.” Lux said simply, as he countered his sword with the back of his hand, sending it flying away from its owner.

Dante stood there silently, his expression unreadable. Then, he smiled.

“…Plight…of Icarus.” he murmured, as his sword re-appeared in his hand.

What happened next seemed to be in slow motion. Before Lux could dodge completely, Dante zipped past him, landing lightly on the other side. The audience watched in shock as a single wound appeared on Lux’s face, blood slowly dripping down.

He…managed to wound Lux!? Serenia thought, as she witnessed the events unfold.

Lux stood there for a fraction of a second more, and then brought a hand to his face, wiping the blood off. He swung his arm to the side, and the audience watched in excitement as a sapphire-blue sword appeared.

“Contestant [Lux] has drawn his weapon! In this fierce blade-dance, which contestant will prove himself superior?”

“That…is more like it.” Dante said, facing the opposite direction as Lux, “Show me what you can do.”

At the same time, they both turned around, their swords clashing together as they engaged in combat. They swung at each other, countering and blocking each other’s blows.

Dante broke away from the deadlock, leaping onto the energy field and dashing upwards. Lux followed. The two circled around the stage, exchanging blows on the way.

“…” the announcer stood there, his mouth hanging open. What the two seemed to be doing is absolutely impossible for a normal human being to achieve. He, and the audience, simply could not believe their eyes. Monsters. Those two were monsters.

“…Judgment of the Twilight Prophecy.”

As Dante sent countless strikes at Lux all at once, the latter leaped away just in time. The place where Lux was standing just moments ago, was now non-existent. The area around the hole began to crack, and the energy field started to fall apart.

People in the audience began to panic, trampling over each other in attempt to get out.

They both landed back onto the stage. Lux turned around, gazing toward Serenia’s location...

“Don’t look away, when you are fighting me.”

In a flash, Dante leaped off the ground, taking Lux with him as the pair crashed into the ceiling. The energy field broke apart completely, the ceiling itself beginning to shatter. Large blocks of debris began to rain down on the audience, as screams erupted in the coliseum. People ran toward the exit in a rush, desperate to get away from the scene of destruction.

“Things are spinning out of control! The contestants show no signs of stopping, yet the situation has taken a turn for the worse! Can the remaining spectators, and the stadium, survive through the last minute of this match!? This- OOF!”

The host was cut off in mid-sentence, as a medium-sized brick hit him on the head. He laid there on the ground, momentarily knocked-out.

The two engaged in a ferocious battle, no longer paying attention to what is happening around them. As the remaining time began to draw to an end, they both braced themselves for the final blow…

System Prompt: Time is up. The match is now over. Please cease all fighting.

The message was displayed on the flashing referee ball, which wedged itself between the two competitors.

They drew apart from each other reluctantly, each banishing their swords with a casual swing of their arms.

“…ow…” a voice said from below the stage.

The host sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his head. He looked at Dante, Lux, and then the referee ball.

“M-match set! Since no victor was determined in the three minutes, the result is a draw!”

There he grimaced.

“Because this is the final round of the tournament, there will be a re-match. Contestants, if you don’t mind, please stay for another round, after the repair NPCs fix up the building within the next 30 minutes.”

Lux looked at the time remaining on the Continental Boss loop, and then replied.

“I can’t.” he said simply, holding up a hand in resignation, “I forfeit.”

The announcer looked at him in astonishment. “In that case…the victory goes to-”

“I forfeit too.” Dante said, shrugging, “There is no point in me winning like that.”

What is with all these forfeits today…? The host thought, as he sighed, partly in relief.

“Ladies and gentlemen, due to both contestants forfeiting, the victory will go to contestant [DBZGokuBoi], who has won against the other semi-finalist in a side match. Congratulations, new [Starlight Champion]! This concludes the 6th monthly tournament of the [Clash of Valor]. Thank you all for attending, and please be safe on the way out…not that there are many of you left in here anyway.”

--------------------

A young man with dark-red hair walked alone in a forest, heading toward his destination. He smiled, recalling the events of the past hour.

That guy…is quite interesting. He is the first person who managed to make me use my skills so early on in the battle.

There he opened up the battle view, watching silently as the character information bar appeared on his head.

[Dante]

Level 50

Class: Warrior

Subclass: Knight

HP: 3, 005 / 5, 410

MP: 3, 420 / 3, 780

In three minutes, he had brought my health points down almost half. What would have happened if the battle went on?

His smile widened. Things were beginning to get exciting.

He did not use a single skill. Is he…holding back? In that case…next time for sure, show me your true power, swordsman [Lux]…because I won’t be holding back either.

The trees gave away to a lake in the middle of the clearing. He walked toward the water, stopping at the edge of the dry ground. He stomped his foot down on the ground once, stepping back as a path appeared, splitting the lake into two. As he descended onto the path, disappearing from sight, the lake returned to its normal appearance, as if no one was ever there.

Slowing down slightly as he neared the end of the passage, Dante nodded at the guards stationed outside the heavy trap-door.

“I’m back.” he said, as he switched to his formal outfit. A midnight-black cape materialized on his back, dropping down to the ground elegantly. In its center, was the symbol of a beautiful, silver hawk.

The emblem of the [Night Hawks].

As the guards opened the door for him, he advanced into the compartment ahead, his cape sweeping dramatically behind him, trailing in the air.

“Welcome back…guild leader.”

To be continued…

Coming March 9, 2015 >