Searing and Rosie fell down, weakened and in pain. Their health bars were draining like crazy, I estimated they only had 20 seconds left of life. They was not only paralysed, but were also unable to heal. Searing called me over. With Rosie holding his right hand, I held his left and asked: “What’s.. up buddy?” Searing said: “Don’t make that face, we both knew this day would come.” I replied in tears: “No, you can’t go.. We still have so much to do..” Searing replied: “You’re a great leader, better than myself. Take this and promise me you’ll free everyone including my child.” He handed me a scroll, and I took it and placed it in my inventory. And I listened to his last words to everyone: “Both me and Rosie enjoyed being in the Crimson Vigilante’s, it was great memories. Sadly we have to leave you all now. Please, promise me save everyone else.” We all nodded in tears. “And Luke, make sure you get laid alright? Also, Jason get out with Hailey.” Luke said: “How could you.. Say something like this at a time like this.” Searing laughed in pain and I said: “We’ll always remember you.” Rosie said: As long as I’m with you, I don’t mind if we die together.” Searing held her hand and said: “Yeah, let’s go.” After that, their HP dropped to zero. Searing and Rosie both dropped their weapons, supposedly for us to remember them. They disappeared, holding hands. I yelled out with a fit of rage: “ZAC! I’LL KILL YOU!”

All of the Clearers returned back to the main town Shinpong. I bought a tomb for both Rosie and Searing, and I put their weapons in there to commemorate them. It was time for them, to rest in peace. And time for us, to give them a funeral. We all went towards a hill outside of safe zone, in the 1st part of the maze right outside Shinpong. It was evening by the time everyone had arrived. The sun was setting, and there was a autumn red light shining at their tomb stones. The trees behind us made up for the forest behind. On this not so tall cliff, I dug a hole and buried Rosie and Searing’s respective weapons in them. I began the funeral procedures as I whispered: “May you rest in peace, old friend.” A tear dropped from my face down to the grass, but by the time I was meant to start speaking I was able to stop dripping tears. I said loudly: “Searing, was a good man. He was a kind hearted fellow, with a great sense of leadership. He served as the 1st Lieutenant of the Duguo Army, he was a pure soul with a pure heart. He was not only a friend. He was a mentor, not only towards me but towards all of us. In times he was serious in times he was funny. His story was tragic for a man who had so much good deeds. Despite knowing he would die, he joined us not caring to spend his last moments to help a cause to save lives. So may we have a moment of silence for Searing.” After that, I broke a tear out. Searing was my mentor in a way. He was a great friend. And so was his wife Rosie.

I continued on: “Rosie, was a great woman. She was Searing’s wife, and despite not doing much in the real world she has helped us on numerous occasions not because of her following Searing, but because of her good will to help us. She may have been shy at times, but she was a good woman. She helped our cause, and gave it her all. I believe that she was a great friend to all of us, and a kind woman who would influence happiness and kindness towards everyone around her. So may we have a moment of silence for Rosie.” I saw Hailey and Peaches go into tears. Luke comforted Peaches, while I stepped down and went to Hailey. I thought to myself Guess I should respect your last wish, Searing. I comforted Hailey and she hugged me.

By the time everyone had left, it was only the Crimson Vigilante’s that had remained here. I guess we were all unable to accept Searing and Rosie’s death. This was the first time someone in our guild had died. And we, were unable to accept it. We were all devastated, broken. However, something told me this was the right moment to tell the story that Searing told me. I told everyone, and after hearing it Luke shouted at me: “So you’re telling me this whole time Searing and Rosie was meant to die and he told you to not tell us shit?” I nodded. Luke shouted: “Why Searing! Why! I thought we were all friends.” Terry shouted: “Searing shouldn’t have gone this way, he was a great person. Why does such unfair judgement exist in this world. Why! I demand to know why!” Jingxi and Leo kept their rage quiet. I said: “We all have to accept it, that’s what he told me. We can't afford to lose here and now to the Chinese government. We have to move forward, not backward. We must learn from Searing, and stop grieving at his and Rosie’s death. At least that would be what they would want us to do.

We all didn’t sleep until 3am, as we all recalled our memories about Searing and Rosie. Luke said: “I remember when we first rescued them and Peaches taught them about the NSFW restriction release commands.” We laughed, and I said: “Remember when Luke and Peaches got together and Searing was laughing?” We laughed, while Peaches and Luke blushed remembering the moment they kissed. I teased them further while saying: “Hey did you know in Japan kissing can get you pregnant.” They both blushed bright red, while Terry said: “But didn’t you and Hailey kiss at the first day on the train on the way here?” Both me and Hailey blushed bright red while Hailey said: “Who told you that?” Jingxi said: “That would be me, I knew Jason would help you in the middle of the night without us knowing, inside the beginner zones in NBO so he doesn’t get shipped. I saw the whole thing, you both kissed when Hailey was falling down. Jason sure got that moment well.” She was bright red while her fist glowed pink, Jingxi stuttered while he said: “Hey… What’re you you doing? She yelled at him: “Stalker!” And slapped him right at his face, leaving a bright red hand wound on his face, since this was outside safezone. His health may have dropped only by 1%, but his face was another story. We laughed and Jingxi asked: “What was that for?” I answered: “Come on man, you deserved it.” We all had good memories about Searing and Rosie, and they would forever be our precious friends, even if this was a virtual world. It was still as real as ever, and maybe more so real than the actual real world.

We all went towards our respective inn rooms to sleep, but then I once again heard a knock on my door right before I slept. It was Hailey, and she asked: “Could I sleep with you in the same room?I’m scared.” I nodded, and she placed her bed in my room. She looked over to me, and she asked me: “Don’t you feel sad that Searing and Rosie’s gone?” I replied: “I do, but remember the words you said to me this morning.” She nodded: “I just hope, we don’t end up like them. This world just isn’t fair.” Before I could even respond or tell her my feelings, she feel asleep.

In the next day, we got up ready to advance to the next part of the maze. We were on schedule, actually we were 29 days ahead of schedule. This being the 121st day since we arrived here after all. However, the death count was a different story. Over half the players that entered here had already died. Even though most weren’t the clearers, a lot of players died due to traps in the lower level dungeons. We couldn’t help them, but our only option was to attempt to finish the game as fast as we could. There was only 9864 players left. I woke up and got out the new katana I got. It was named: “Lion’s Pride”. A unfitting name for a katana that came from a dead Lion king. But, I only wanted it for it’s stats. It’s appearance was nothing special like my Wushidao. However, it was still a boss drop. I went over to Terry’s room early in the morning and asked him if he could max out this katana. He responded: “Sure! Since you’ve got all the materials I’ll have it done by breakfast.” After that, he went outside his room with the katana towards the crafting station. I was grateful to have such friends, and I was determined to not lose anymore friends ever since yesterday.

At breakfast, it was the normal breakfast as usual. Although delicious it was nothing as good as the meal we ate several days ago. I said to everyone: “Eat up, you’re going to need your strength for this part of the maze.” Everyone shouted: “Right Jason!” I was clearly more respected than I was before Searing died. I assumed it was because, Searing had told everyone to firmly believe in me. But the question was, did I believe in myself to be a leader? Maybe, maybe not. But, I was determined to give it a try. If Searing’s last wish was for me to become a actual leader, then I shall become the actual leader he was hoping for me to be. Before we left the table, Terry came over to me and handed me the Katana and said: “Here, it’s the same stats as your original one though, not sure if it’ll be of use to you. I think you should sell it.” I replied: “Thanks, but nah. I think I’ll keep this as a spare. You know, incase my first one breaks.” We both laughed, we knew that the odds of my blade breaking without me dying was close to impossible.

After we left the table, we proceeded towards the 6th part of the maze’s 1st town. We checked the town list by swiping at the menu in the teleporter. We checked the town’s name, it was: Mengu. We all shouted: “Teleport Mengu!” A bright blue flash shined and we were teleported to what seems like to be a.. Desert?

No, plains would be more accurate. There was no houses, only tents. And inside the tents lived the different kinds of NPCs. And of course, there was even tents for rent here. I sighed, did the person who design this actually think players would rent tents. Even though this was a town made by a horde of tents, it was still a town and a safe zone. I sighed, what kind of monsters could possibly be in a grassy plain. We stepped outside, and began our journey towards the 6th boss. With Searing and Rosie’s loss in our mind we fought our way through the plains. Encountering Poison Lizards, Mutated Cactus’s, Death Vultures. We fought our way through all of them extraordinarily fast. We were all determined to help Searing and Rosie complete their one mission that they had failed. Retrieving their son and bringing everyone else out of this death simulation so we may all in peace and prosperity once again when we return to our homes in Hong Kong or Macau. In a mere 2 days we swept through everything and reached the dungeon.

The dungeon was a burrow. A enormous burrow which led underground. Inside the burrow there was no monsters, only torches to ignite our way through the elegantly dug out burrow. In the end of the burrow, we found a door. A iron door, with no engravings on it much like the modern military doors we have today. We pushed it open and entered into the Dungeon.