“Why are you breathing so heavily, Cowboy? I thought that people of this fake world didn’t need to breathe,” I said with a smile.

Dueling this boy reminded me of my youth. I wonder if this is how Granadyr felt when crushing me. Such a waste of talent.

“Ah, you’re really pushing me. Usually, people just go for the kill right away so I was surprised. No one I’ve met fights like you. It’s like I’m fighting in reality or something…”

I laughed. What kind of world must he really live in, if he doesn’t know violence in daily life? Truly, a kingdom far greater and more mysterious than my own.

“Breathing, matching the tempo of an opponent's hits, conserving energy, and spending energy. Since this is merely for fun, I won’t use my magic.”

“Hey! Show me some of your magic! It says your subclass is Hero-King even though you’re a Negativer.”

“Negativer? That term does not suit me at all.”

“Ah, it’s part of the game. I’m a Chaoser, so I just like fighting.”

“Chaoser? That sounds more my type then. Whoever made me this Negativer class must have made some grave mistake.”

“I don’t know, you’ve got that whole backstory with the fallen kingdom and it’s all your fault so you want to die in battle. Sounds pretty Negativer to me.”

To learn so much from a child, my honor is fading fast. Negative, huh? My duty has already finished. There is nothing I can do. The betrayal has already been completed, my kingdom’s fate sealed. I asked myself, “What else can I do?”, but there appears to be nothing. Don’t I have something left, if my past were to be dropped here? If I forgot those memories, what would I have left?

“Granadyr... Someday.”

I muttered.

“Huh? What’s that? Come at me again, I want to try that dodging thing you taught me.”

I felt the flow of magic within my body. Condense the air, chill it with ice, form each river and inlet in the blade as if it was steel. Wield it and feel the weight. Breathe and forget the past and future. In a single moment your life can end, or take another’s.

In this world, the weight is lost. Let’s see if I can die, you strange dream.

I laughed and threw myself upon the brave child.

Cowboy had excused himself later that day, telling me to ‘logout’ of the world to get some rest. I do not believe I am the same as you people. This world is the only one I exist in, I believe now.

Wandering the gardens of this strange mansion in another world, I admired the sights. I have appreciation of life, without that I would not have become such a great warrior. Curiosity to see what lies in the truth of the world before my eyes. There was a fountain, with tiers of smaller pools as it towered into the sky streaming down water. There were flowers, bunched in groves with pathways to guide one's walk.

My heart felt still. My battle with Cowboy was nothing to be proud of, but watching him grow and show me tricks I had not thought possible interested me greatly. How far could I go now, that things like breathing were truly unecessary? That I could not fatigue, although with my regeneration that was not much of an issue compared to before it was far different. Being unable to die even if I die, if that were to be the case I am lost.

Is this a hell for me, or a heaven?

“Wow, there really is a troll in the garden. When I got that mail from Cowboy I couldn’t believe it, to think I wasted all that time running around. Hey there, I’m Iroas. This is my guild hall, I’m the leader of the guild Havesiosi. You looking for a guild?”

“Cowboy explained that concept to me. No, I would not submit myself to any nation, group, or person. It would besmirch the honor of my title. It is a wonderful place.”

“Hero-King huh? That’s amazing, I only want to be a hero. Being a king too, sounds like too much responsibility. I’ve got enough trouble running my business…”

“A merchant as well? I have seen many with that talent, they are often greedier than the kings I knew.”

“Well, someone’s got to carry the burden, right? Otherwise the whole society doesn’t run. Where are you from?”

“Will you believe me if I told you I believe it’s from another world?”

“I’m not the type to judge.”

I laughed. It’s just like a merchant to accept whatever speech you’ll give them!

“I believe it must be. This world, so strange. Cowboy said it is created by machines. You, you’re playing this on a machine within your mind. To think that I would be called magically by some human woman who would subdue me and propose to marry me into a world like this. I liked it better on Ethr. At least there, I knew what reality was like. So many new rules, so many strange concepts. What’s wrong with keeping to a good fight? You, you have an aura of one experienced in battle, will you humor me?”

“Fight you? Well, Cowboy said you couldn’t go all out and seem depressed. I’m not sure I’ll be able to do much better, I’m sorry.”

“Oh, come on. You play in this world for fun! There’s no death or fear to be had here, have at me!”

“Okay, okay.”

The pleasant type, who will tell you anything you want to hear. He fancies himself a hero? Let us see, I thought as I walked to the dueling area with him.

“Okay. You don’t have to go easy on me, I’m wondering what you’re really capable of myself. The only beings in this world that have your level are what we call raid bosses. They take a small army to defeat, so I doubt I have much of a chance…”, said the hero.

He was still grumbling? I sped forward on the arena and summoned my array of ice swords. Easy access at every angle, for grabbing in a close melee to gain the advantage of surprise when I used sword after sword to close my distance and overwhelm even the strongest foe.

“‘Negation Reflection’”, Iroas said.

The ice sword snapped and spread into a crystal mist upon my attack. I continued, as did he as we repeated him casting that spell and my swords misting.

“‘Balance Maker’”

I felt pressure along my entire body. So weak. I can’t even get a massage like this! I closed the distance and went for a simple punch, knocking him into the distance. To not even see him spit up spittle from such force to his stomach was yet another insult this world heaved upon me.

“Ah, no wonder. My favorite spell and it doesn’t even phase you. This is impossible for me, I’m more of the casting type you know?”

He was complaining while lying in the sand of the dueling arena. The mages I had trained in melee combat were often like this back home. So underwhelming. The powers in this world are so underwhelming. Is there no one?

My eyes caught an old man. He wore a red sash. I didn’t even feel his presence before now, but he had a light smile on his face as if watching children. At your age, isn’t that the only joy you have left?

“Hello there, are you a part of this guild as well?”, I said.

“Oh, no. I was just interested, so I dropped by. Iroas, how are you doing? Trying hard as always I see.”

I saw him look up with confusion on his face.

“Who are you? I don’t know any old men players. Just don’t destroy anything okay, I put a lot of work into getting everything just right around here…”

“You’re famous, aren’t you Iroas? Don’t worry, I’d just like to chat with this troll here, do you mind leaving us alone?”

He got up.

“Ahgo, come by here every once in awhile okay? I’ll try to setup a group to fight you, that should be more interesting right?”

“Thanks for the bout, hero, and farewell.”

He waved as he wandered off. I didn’t know this world too well, but with people like Cowboy and that hero around perhaps I will welcome staying here.

“I am sorry old man, but I am unable to see the names like everyone else around here is able to, would you tell me yours?”

His stance was self-assured. He is a man of great power and wisdom I am sure.

“It’s Myalor. To the people of the real world, it’s quite well known.”

“The world that all these people live in? Perhaps you could tell me what it’s like?”

“Ah, so curious. Ethr is so far away, it’s like another world isn’t it? Maybe it was never real, like this game here, just a memory you had.”

“I did not see you listening to our conversation earlier, how do you know that name?”

“There are other ways to listen in this world. It’s all in the mind you know. Your mind, read with my mind. Otherwise, how could I know about Granadyr?”

This isn’t good. He wants something. Why intimidate me like this? I don’t see the point.

“Somehow, I have a feeling reading minds is not permissible even in this world. Am I wrong?”

“It’s a crime. Punishable by brain chip removal. The machines in your mind, you see, as Cowboy explained to you.”

“It’s disconcerting to have you mention private conversations so readily. I have no standing in this world to judge you, but for you to speak like this to me I wonder if you have some pressing business?”

“Granadyr. I’m like Granadyr. If we were to fight, it would be like that. I have little interest in fighting though. There are certain elements to your summoning that I wanted to study. I am interested in you, the person who made you, and what that means for the future of humanity,” said Myalor.

I sighed. I survive one superior being’s attack only to find myself in front of another. Well, this is fortunate then. Isn’t it? Do I still seek an ending?

“Will you grant me an ending then if I cooperate with you?”

“No, of course not. From my reading of your story, you did your utmost to please an unpleasable being. Why would you still hold that over yourself! Especially now, someone of your talents and skill, in a world where he cannot truly perish except by someone of my level!”

“So you have enough power to kill me even in this world with no death, and you refuse still. Could you at least tell me of others who would oblige me?”

“I don’t want you to die. In fact, I can make sure that you won’t die, even if others try to erase you entirely.”

“You intend to do this, and against my will? Force me to live on, knowing fully of my failed duty?”

“What if I told you, no one died, you didn’t fail, and Ethr was but a dream?”

No one died? What is he implying?

“A dream, a fake world like this one?”, I guessed.

“Yes, Ahgo. Your kingdom never existed. To you that pain is quite real, but the truth is I know it is just a story made up by the girl who created you.”

“How can you know that?”

If my kingdom was a lie, would I abandon it a second time?

Do I need I tell you that answer!

“I saw her doing it. She didn’t take you from another world. She made you, with memories of another world where you were Hero-King.”

How much will these realities play with me? I just want to fight, this sort of thinking doesn’t suit me at all. I looked at my hand. It’s not real. To me, I had a whole life, if what Myalor says is true then all the weight I carried weighed just as much as anything else in my mind.

There was no greater or lesser thoughts.

There was only this horrible, confusing truth.

How can I protect my honor then? What else can I do? No, this matter, my circumstances and life, were then the result of that foolish girls whims.

There is nothing. Save my kingdom in my mind.

I felt the flow of magic within my body.

Condense the air, chill it with ice, form each river and inlet in the blade as if it was steel.

Wield it and feel the weight.

Breathe and forget the past and future.

In a single moment and forevermore, battle rages on!