[THE HAVEN]

Jay woke up on the floor with his humming green computer cradled in his arms; it seemed he was alive again. Or at least that was his assumption. For all he knew, this was just some waking detour on his way to the afterlife - that would be just his luck.

He glanced at his leg - there it was: one whole leg. Ten toes wiggled within dull brown shoes, each one fully accounted for. He felt fresher than the day he was born. Not that he could remember that far back - his mother and father were vague memories. Childhood was a blur of beige rooms, VR headsets and elevator rides. It all looked the same, sounded the same, and even smelled the same.

But everything changed the day Anton arrived. He swooped in like a guardian angel, as mysterious as he was loyal. Jay didn’t understand Anton’s motivations, nor did he need to. Some strange fate brought them together, and now some strange fate tore them apart.

He gripped the edge of a desk, dragging himself off the floor. A trail of blood and rainwater extended from the window to his current position. On the edge of the desk was a small silver unit key. Jay’s life had been forfeit over such a simple little thing. Not that he valued his life much anymore; it seemed to be in infinite supply.

This unit was smaller than his previous one; it barely accommodated one person. A closet, a kitchenette, and a bathroom. The furniture was nothing to brag about either. Beige cabinets, a beige wooden desk, and a beige bedspread. It would take some rep points to liven this place up.

He didn’t see much of a point though. Nothing but misery waited for him in Zero Space and no one waited for him outside of it. Neither reality was home anymore.

***

“Girlie girlie girlie, you’re my cinnamon swirlie,” hummed Esara, on auto-pilot. Wiping down counters at Heals took little brain power. That blasted song would now be stuck in her head for hours - just enough time for it to come back around on the store’s rotation.

A lower voice chimed in: “You’re salty and you’re sweet, like an after dinner treat.”

Esara grew tense as Marcen’s round shadow eclipsed her.

“I do love that song,” said Marcen.

An unexpected visit from Marcen. And this time, he wasn’t alone. Two men strutted by Marcen’s side. One of them scowled at Esara with his smooth statuesque face. The other scratched at tattoos and scabs, laughing as he swept his hand across a row of dietary supplements.

“Jerry, Terry, knock that off,” Marcen yelled. “Unless you’re willing to pay for it, hmm?”

“C’mon, you’re barely paying us already!” said Jerry, scratching at a fresh tattoo.

“Who’s this little lady?” asked Terry, staring towards Esara with cold black eyes.

“This little fire-cracker is Esella,” said Marcen. “Or Esara. Whatever. She’s my top employee.”

“Not much to look at,” said Terry.

“Good enough for me!” said Jerry.

Esara glared at them. She imagined Asira sneaking up behind them with both swords, and then --

“Now now, she has a job to do,” Marcen said. “I haven’t seen your little friends for a while. You’ve finally separated from that vagrant crew, hmm?”

“I’m dedicated to my job sir,” Esara said.

“Now now, no need to be so formal,” said Marcen. “We’re friends, aren’t we? You can relax around me.”

Jerry and Terry undressed Esara with their eyes.

“How would you like to relax on floor forty-two with us, hmm?” asked Marcen. “Call it a mandatory team-building exercise. We can close up early today, hmm?”

“No thank you, sir,” said Esara.

Jerry cackled. Terry remained stoic.

“Perhaps you didn’t hear me when I said mandatory,” Marcen said.

“C’mon, we won’t be long,” said Jerry.

“Speak for yourself,” said Terry.

“We’ll just have a few hours of fun,” said Marcen. “Then you can go back to cleaning the counters, hmm?”

“A customer might need their medicine,” Esara said.

“They can get it tomorrow,” Marcen said. “Not all medical emergencies are urgent.”

Marcen ran his hand through Esara’s hair.

“Let’s not do anything regrettable now Esina.”

Esara grabbed Marcen’s fingers --

SNAP

Marcen’s index finger bent sideways. Esara gasped - her reaction was involuntary and irreversible.

A screech escaped Marcen’s plush lips as he bounced across aisles like a pinball, pulverizing stacks of inventory. Everyone on floor fourteen heard his scream.

Jerry howled with laughter. Terry did not.

“JERRY, TERRY,” yelled Marcen. “GRAB HER. YOU WILL PAY, ESARDA!”

Esara cowered as four grubby hands reached towards her.

[ZERO SPACE]

“My life is over,” said Shae.

Smith’s brutoid hands emerged from the darkness, massaging Shae’s shoulders.

“There there, my very poor premium friend,” said Smith. “Your life isn’t over. If it was, you’d be very dead!”

“Not possible,” said Shae. “I couldn’t die, even if I tried.”

“Then be very grateful,” said Smith. “Anyway, your premium account is a gift Shae. You’d be very silly not to use it.”

“Feels like a curse,” said Shae.

“It’s a very wonderful curse,” Smith added. “Anyway, if you want to save your brother, there’s no greater curse to have!”

“It won’t help me save Anton,” Shae said. “I’m weak. Without Anton, I’ll stay weak.”

“You don’t need your brother to get very strong,” said Smith. “You just needed a premium account. And maybe some higher level powers!”

“That won’t help me outside Zero Space,” Shae said.

“There’s very much about premium accounts you don’t know,” said Smith.

Shae glanced up.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” said Shae.

“I can’t tell you everything,” Smith laughed.

“At least tell me that!” Shae begged.

“Some things you’ll have to discover yourself,” said Smith. “Anyway, Zero Space can do more than bring you back to life. You’re at the very beginning of your journey.”

Shae was speechless.

“Anyway, there’s a big tournament happening in town any minute now,” said Smith. “I hear you can get a very powerful material!”

The World Event that Dalli mentioned: it was happening today. Shae didn’t give a damn about guild advancement. But becoming powerful enough to save Anton? He’d fight a million people for that.

“I gotta go,” said Shae.

“Very good luck out there Shae,” said Smith. “You’ll need it!”

***

Just outside of Trader Town was the largest instance-bubble Shae had ever seen. Even the Goblin King’s bubble paled in comparison.

Shae activated his hand interface, cycling to his World Events tab:

World Events NAME LOCATION PARTICIPANTS Many Man Melee Trader Town 247/300 Snurmlarrigh the Invincible Sunlight Forest 0/10 Fire in the Sky Dragon Keep 31/100

Fire in the Sky contained no actual fire. There were however fireflies - exactly one thousand of them. They were subtle glowing things, scattered across a giant castle. Five lucky firefly hunters gained a glowing helmet. Shae found this reward infuriating - the helmet wasn’t even part of a set. It just sat on one’s head like a neon dunce cap. There were few outfits it complimented, but plenty it offended.

Snumlarrigh the Invincible was a single invincible goblin, as his name suggested. Players didn’t know how to bring him down - most assumed he was bugged. Theoretically, defeating him resulted in one player gaining a Level 2 material, but that theory was unproven.

Many Man Melee was the only worthwhile mission, and it was filling up fast; Shae had arrived just in time. He accepted it, causing the bubble to ripple and pulse in acknowledgment. Impossible odds awaited inside, but impossible was Shae’s speciality. If he didn’t take this shot, he wouldn’t have another for months.

Inside the bubble was a side of Trader Town Shae had rarely seen: Colorful streamers fell like static rain. Trumpets harmonized a catchy motif. Crowds of NPCs cheered from windows and rooftops. It felt more like a birthday party than a battle royale.

A ring of players surrounded a podium in the center of town. Atop this podium was a dragonoid NPC in a flashy suit jacket and black pants. Stylish sunglasses hid his bright amber eyes.

Large text appeared in the sky:

300 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

“Ladies, gentlemen, and fellow dragonoids,” said the NPC. “I’m Garola, your charismatic dragonid emcee! I see lots of familiar dragonoid and non-dragonoid faces. A few fresh faces too.”

Shae was positive Garola looked right at him.

“For those of you who didn’t read the rules, it’s pretty simple,” Garola continued. “Just be the last one standing. Shouldn’t be that hard, especially if you’re a dragonoid.”

Shae searched for familiar faces. There were some members from old guilds here, a few Feather Bird frenemies, and a whole lot of randos.

“If you entered with friends, even dragonoid friends, don’t get too comfortable,” said Garola. “There can only be one winner!”

Not far away, Shae spotted the raid captain of the Deadly Skulls - Syadd. The brutoid gripped her flail, scanning the crowd with furious eyes. This was bad. Shae’s head dipped down.

“The game begins when the big bell rings,” said Garola. “May the best dragonoid, or even non-dragonoid win. Take it away, big bell!”

GONG

In an instant, the battlefield was flooded with a monsoon of viscera. Swords, spears, and other pointy things whizzed past Shae. A brutoid fell dead at his feet. A magicoid’s head bounced by. The bottom half of a paranoid slid to a stop. There was no doubt about it - Shae was screwed.

217 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Shae swerved past a swinging sword and dove beneath a warhammer. He rolled past a throwing axe, then scrambled behind a food vendor’s cart.

“Fresh and delicious meat?” asked an NPC food vendor.

“I’m good,” said Shae.

184 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Shae curled up against the food cart. Fighting was the fastest way to lose this battle.

A magicoid wandered in range --

“PIERCING SHOT!”

A battle between two tentacloids raged nearby --

“RICOCHET SHOT!”

A tough-looking dragonoid dominated three weaker foes. Shae turned the tide of battle:

“POISON SHOT!”

5 SP left.

173 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Shae’s trajectory was grim. He scoured his inventory for anything helpful. Unfortunately, he travelled light; his cool jacket fluttered less dramatically when it was weighed down. The only thing in there was --

-- The Green Juice.

Bander’s gift, from the Goblin King mission. Shae had never used it. He gasped - for once, his gross negligence paid off.

156 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Chains rattled. Shae ducked as Syadd entered his periphery. Her six eyes scanned the environment.

“Where is that idiot?” Syadd said. “I swear, I heard his grating voice just now.”

Bez the dragonoid followed her, microphone in hand.

“You hear that folks?” said Bez to his four concurrent viewers. “The Deadly Skulls close in on Shae. What will Syadd do to him? Will she make him eat his own guns? Or maybe she’ll --”

Syadd smacked Bez.

“That microphone is about to interview your asscrack.”

A humanoid in a cyan sailor suit laughed, almost choking on a lollipop. Syadd hoisted him into the air by his long ponytail.

“Auron,” growled Syadd. “Did I say something funny?”

“Nah,” said Auron. “I just like watching Bez get hurt.”

Bez stuck out his tongue at Auron.

“Real mature, kiddo,” Auron said.

“I’m not a kid!” growled Bez.

“You used to be,” said Auron.

“We all used to be!” yelled Bez.

“Fresh and delicious meat?” the NPC food vendor asked Syadd.

“Get that out of my face,” Syadd growled.

A green magicoid dropped down. There was a crazed look in her eyes.

“How dare you threaten my leader with meat,” she said. “PREPARE TO DIE!”

The magicoid lit a red stick of dynamite in her hand. The fuse sparked --

Syadd smacked it away. The explosion knocked the sucker from Auron’s mouth.

“Wagger, do not attack NPCs,” Syadd growled. “Do I have to micromanage all of you?”

“Yes,” said Wagger.

Syadd groaned.

Shae grimaced. Four Deadly Skulls? This was the worst luck imaginable.

“Split up and find him,” said Syadd. “Auron, you’re with me. Bez and Wagger --”

“Booooooring,” yelled Wagger. Lighting two explosive sticks, Wagger fled into the battlefield, vanishing in a cloud of explosions and smoke.

“There she goes again,” said Auron.

Syadd groaned once more.

“Bez, find Tambien and Parper,” said Syadd.

Shae’s eyes widened - six Deadly Skulls?

“Fresh and delicious meat?” asked the NPC food vendor, staring down at Shae.

Shae froze. NPC vendors weren’t supposed to haggle a single person twice. The NPC grinned.

“Should have bought the meat, premium,” said the NPC.

Syadd followed the NPC’s gaze down to Shae. With a tremendous roar, her flail launched the food cart through a second story window.

Shae looked up at Syadd with a sheepish grin.

“SHAE!” Syadd roared.

Her flail swung forward --

-- Shae nudged the NPC in the way. The flail hit the NPC with a meaty thump - he barely budged.

“I will cut you up and sell your delicious meat!” the NPC roared, grabbing an oversized cleaver.

Shae vowed never to eat from NPC food carts again. He bailed, leaving Syadd to her fate.

“Bez, after him!” yelled Syadd.

“PIERCING SHOT!”

A hole in Bez’s head delayed his pursuit indefinitely. 4 SP remaining.

“Auron!” Syadd screeched, deflecting an incoming meat cleaver. “Heals on Bez.”

“Yeah yeah, I saw it,” said Auron. “RAINBOW RISE!”

Auron popped the lollipop from his mouth. His candy lit up and spun like a disco ball, projecting healing rainbow light across Bez.

Bez picked up where he left off, scrambling after Shae.

139 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

A leggoid in a grinning moon mask lurked in a nearby alley, tracking Shae with her crossbow - a perfectly aligned shot. Her finger pinched the trigger --

A golden lance slid through her spine, bursting from her belly. Her wide eyes looked back at a tentacloid in shining knight armor.

“M’lady,” said the tentacloid, tipping his helm.

Her limp leggoid body slid off the lance.

A green puppoid in a tie dye poncho emerged from behind the tentacloid, twirling a dagger between his fingertips. This puppoid had long floppy ears and a cute little nose, just like a puppy dog.

“That wasn’t very chivalrous for a knight like you Tambien,” said the puppoid.

“Her tactics were without honor,” said Tambien. “One must confront their enemies, not snipe them from the shadows.”

Shae scurried by, unaware of his brush with death.

“Tambien,” the puppoid said. “Look who her target was!”

The puppoid pointed towards Shae.

“It’s Shae!” said the puppoid. “He’s headed towards the market!”

The puppoid waved. His poncho threatened to reveal too much.

“Hello Shae --”

Tambien’s tentacle slid across the puppoid’s mouth.

“Parper, I do believe that Shae is our enemy,” said Tambien.

“Oh come now,” said Parper. “Just because the Deadly Skulls and the Feather Birds are at war, that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Let’s go say hi!”

Tambien pondered this. “Actually Parper, that absolutely means we can’t be friends.”

“Right as usual,” said Parper. “But we can still be civil about it. First we’ll say hi, and then we’ll kill him.”

124 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Shae knew the marketplace better than anyone; there were plenty of places to hide. Unfortunately, other players had the same idea. Everyone fleeing the battle was now here, fighting each other.

Shae detoured into a popular merchant’s stand. The merchant wasn’t present, and neither were their wares. That was a shame; Shae wanted to try on a few hats while he was here.

Several players wandered past in matching attire. Blue bandanas, striped suits, and long rubber whips. This was a themed guild, Shae’s least favorite type of guild. If Zero Space was about being yourself; Shae didn’t see the point of conforming to someone else’s standards.

A few of them drew near. Shae aimed his pistols.

“Freeze!” said a voice behind him.

Something hard pressed against Shae’s back.

“Hiya Shae,” said Bez. “You’re coming with me to Syadd, or else I’ll shoot!”

“I know that’s your microphone,” said Shae.

Bez winced. “Um, care to say something to my gun?”

Shae kicked backwards into the dragonoid’s groin. Bez squeaked as he toppled forward, but managed to secure Shae’s leg. They both fell sideways, grappling on the ground.

“RETREAT,” a voice cried. “EVERYBODY RETREAT!”

Shae and Bez called a cease-fire. Both of their heads popped up from behind a counter, witnessing more than a dozen players in their boxers overtake the themed guild, and everyone else in proximity.

“Oh crap,” said Shae.

“Holy snap,” said Bez. “It’s the Underwarriors!”

An armoroid in his skivvies raised a humongous scimitar.

“Our guild has been teased for too long!” yelled the armoroid. “Today, our strength will be exposed to all!”

“We should strip down,” Bez whispered. “We can sneak out of here.”

“I’m not doing that,” said Shae. “And I doubt your viewers want to see that.”

“We don’t have a choice!” Bez said.

“Someone’s back there!” a bare musicoid said, motioning towards the merchant tent.

“Come out with your hands up,” yelled the armoroid. “And your pants down!”

Shae shuddered.

“We need to work together,” said Shae. “Get ready to run.”

Bez reluctantly nodded as Shae rose from cover. The armoroid assessed Shae.

“Your clothes are still on,” yelled the armoroid. “And you have so many clothes. How embarrassing!”

Even without clothing, the armoroid’s exoskeleton would withstand most of Shae’s special bullets. Except for --

“POISON SHOT!”

3 SP remaining. The armoroid hunched over, gripping the impact spot. The bullet’s damage was minimal, but the effect was locked-in.

The armoroid charged towards Shae with declining speed. Something impeded him - the Poison Shot! Not only did it damage other players, it apparently affected their stamina too. Shae pondered this new development before sprinting out of there.

“Underwarriors,” the armoroid choked. “After him!”

Bez followed right after him.

“Erm, after them!” said the armoroid.

Parper and Tambien peeked out from an alley.

“We should abstain from that conflict,” said Tambien.

“Agreed,” said Parper. “But Syadd would want us to say hi.”

Tambien squinted through his visor.

“I believe Shae is heading towards the indie market,“ said Tambien.

“An astute observation,” said Parper. “But we’ll never make it past those Underwarriors.”

“There may be a way,” said Tambien.

Tambien tapped his lance against the ground.

“The Shield Tavern catacombs,” said Tambien. “We can come up directly behind Shae.”

“A brilliant plan!” Parper said. “Shae will be so happy to see us!”

88 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Shae’s weapons were extra-effective against the Underwarriors. He didn’t bother aiming for their plump jiggling bellies, though the temptation was great. Instead, he sprayed their legs with bullets, filling their shins with crippling welts.

Unfortunately, there weren’t enough bullets to go around. Near-naked foes closed in from all sides, slicing and stabbing with oversized weapons.

A massive scythe ripped through Shae’s side.

“Bez!” shouted Shae. “Heals!”

“Sorry Shae,” yelled Bez. “I’m saving my SP for Syadd!”

A heavy throwing dagger entered Shae’s shoulder.

“Damn it,” Shae yelled. “You really want your viewers to see you go down like this? To the Underwarriors?”

Bez winced. The Humiliating Defeats forum was the wrong kind of publicity.

“CARE STARE!”

Shae was restored, moments before a large scimitar crashed down at his side. The armoroid leader had arrived, puking up the last of Shae’s Poison Shot.

“You can’t escape us,” yelled the armoroid. “We’re too hard --”

BOOM

A cloud of smoke dissipated, revealing Wagger the magicoid standing in a crater of bare limbs. Her crazed eyes narrowed at Bez.

“Bez,” asked Wagger. “Are you working with Shae?”

“No,” said Bez. He shoved Shae, gently.

“Syadd won’t like this,” Wagger grinned. “I’d be doing her a favor if I took out Shae and a traitor.”

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” yelled the armoroid. “You will pay with your clothes. And your life!”

Wagger’s twitching eyes darted between Shae and the armoroid.

“You two are lucky you’re boring,” said Wagger.

Wagger lobbed a stick of dynamite into the armoroid’s abdomen. The force of the explosion hurled Shae and Bez backwards.

“Attention all dragonoids, and non-dragonoids,” Garola’s voice echoed. “In case you didn’t notice, the instance bubble is decreasing in size. If it catches you, you will be eliminated. Spectacularly, might I add!”

“This way,” said Shae, crawling below a tent flap.

“Shae, I’m going to get in trouble,” said Bez. “We can’t be seen together.”

“Then don’t be seen!” Shae yelled.

Bez couldn’t argue with that logic. He slipped after Shae.

73 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Deep underground, Parper and Tambien trekked through a torch-lit corridor, lined with spiderwebs, caskets, and the occasional decorative skeleton. The battle raged above, pounding on the ceiling like magicoid-sized hail.

“These catacombs connect to every point of the city,” said Tambien. “We’ll be upon Shae in no time.”

“You’re a genius Tambien!” Parper said.

Tambien blushed beneath his knight helmet, seconds before stubbing his armored toe on something hard - a chewed brutoid corpse.

“Curses!” said Tambien. “It appears I wasn’t the only genius.”

Squeaks and squeals echoed across the catacomb walls. The darkness lit up with hundreds of hungry red eyes.

61 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Above, Bez stomped hard into a downed tentacloid’s jaw. His tail smacked a puppoid into Shae’s spinning foot.

“This way!” yelled Shae, motioning towards a rundown building. “Hurry!”

Shae smashed open a boarded door with his shoulder.

“Wait!” yelled Bez. “There could be an ambush in there!”

“Not possible,” said Shae. “The door was sealed. Come on!”

Bez slammed the door shut behind Shae. They entered a large shack filled with dozens of hollow crates. Dim light poured in from cracked windows on both sides.

“Indie merchants store stuff here,” said Shae. “Most people don’t know about this place.”

“But the bubble’s gonna shrink on us,” said Bez. “We can’t stay here!”

“We’ll be safe for a while,” said Shae. “The indie market’s near the center of town. This place will be the last to go.”

Bez gasped.

“You’re really smart Shae,” said Bez. “People underestimate you a lot.”

Shae tried not to let the compliment go to his head, especially one from a Deadly Skull.

“My guild’s the same way,” said Bez. “Everyone makes fun of me, just because I’m new. They say I’m talented, but they treat me like shit.”

Shae peered through the windows, focusing on the battle beyond.

“I just wish I could prove myself,” said Bez.

Bez leaned against a crate, crossing his arms.

“You know, I bet I could prove myself pretty fast if I beat you,” said Bez.

Shae glanced at Bez. There was a calculating look in the dragonoid’s eyes.

“You really want to do this?” asked Shae. “Now?”

Bez sized up the room. The time for talk was over.

“Fine,” said Shae. “But before we fight, you want an exclusive interview? I owe you one.”

Bez gasped, grinning from horn to horn. He strutted forward, shoving his microphone to Shae’s lips.

“So Shae,” said Bez. “We’re about to do battle. Anything you’d like to say to my viewers before I kick your butt?”

“Yep,” said Shae. “PIERCING SHOT!”

2 SP remaining.

42 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Syadd screeched as a meat cleaver tore through her check. Kicking the vendor NPC away, she secured her flail around his waist.

“STORM SHIELD!”

Syadd’s flail spiraled into a furious whirlwind, slicing the NPC in two. Exhausted and full of nasty cuts, Syadd collapsed across a pile of confetti.

“I cannot believe he pursued me that far,” growled Syadd. “Auron, heals!”

Auron spaced out, slurping on his lollipop. He was entranced by a towering wall of purple energy. It crawled slowly across the battlefield, disintegrating everything in its path. Buildings and vegetation uprooted, spinning upwards into rippling electricity, before scattering into particles.

“Auron,” Syadd growled. “I said, heals!”

Auron almost choked as Syadd’s words finally reached him.

“RAINBOW RISE!”

Syadd was back on her feet. Two of her huge hands wrapped around Auron’s ponytail, hoisting him into the air.

“When I say heals,” growled Syadd. “You heal.”

“I can blow him up for you,” said another voice.

Wagger stood behind them, chewing on a stick of dynamite.

“How the hell are you still alive?” growled Syadd.

“I dunno,” Wagger said. “I saw where Shae went.”

Syadd chucked Auron to the side.

“Take me to him,” Syadd demanded. “And if you run off again, Master Valdi will hear about it!”

35 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Parper and Tambien ran for their lives, a horde of rats in hot pursuit.

“You said this route was safe!” Parper said.

“It’s usually safe,” said Tambien. “The noise above must have upset the rats. This was a grave miscalculation.”

A rusty ladder awaited ahead.

“We’re not going to make it,” said Parper.

“We won’t,” said Tambien. “But you will.”

Tambien stopped running. He turned in his heavy armor, facing the incoming swarm.

“Tambien, what are you doing?” asked Parper.

“This is my burden to bear,” said Tambien. “Your destiny lies elsewhere.”

“Tambien, no!” yelled Parper.

“Say hi to Shae for me,” said Tambien.

The tentacloid lowered his visor, raising his lance in defiance.

“FURY STRIKES!” yelled Tambien.

Tambien’s lance struck every corner of the corridor, buying Parper enough time to scurry up the ladder. As Tambien’s ability depleted, his glimmering figure disappeared within a rodent tsunami.

“Tambien!” yelled Parper.

The rats crawled in and out of his armor, scavenging for scraps of meat.

“Your sacrifice will not be in vain, my friend,” said Parper.

17 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Shae backed up against a wall. A dragonoid and a pteranoid had breached the shack’s windows and now closed in on him from both sides. The dragonoid gripped a bladed frisbee, while the pteranoid spun a glowing red blade.

“Wait, I know this guy,” said the dragonoid.

“Yeah, it’s the dude that got kicked from all those guilds,” said the pteranoid.

“No, it’s the guy who beat the Goblin King,” said the dragonoid. “This guy’s famous!”

That remark went to Shae’s head.

“Wait, yeah, I recognize him from the replay,” said the pteranoid. “I didn’t realize we were fighting a celebrity!”

“Sorry Mr. Celebrity,” said the dragonoid. “It’s everyone for themselves.”

The pteranoid charged forward as the dragonoid hurled his frisbee.

“RICOCHET SHOT!”

This bullet:

-- Parried the pteranoid’s blade.

-- Deflected the dragonoid’s frisbee.

-- Exploded the pteranoid’s forehead.

1 SP remained.

“BOOMERING!”

The dragonoid’s bladed frisbee recalled, severing Shae’s arm on the way.

Shae screamed in agony, leaving his teeth exposed for a dragonoid punch. A follow-up kick ruptured Shae’s kidney. Finally, a horned headbutt gouged out Shae’s eye.

Shae’s saw stars. He could barely lift his pistol past the dragonoid’s leg. A Piercing Shot wouldn’t be fatal there, and a Ricochet Shot required planning.

The dragonoid gripped Shae’s hair.

“Bye bye Mr. Celebrity --”

“POISON SHOT!”

The dragonoid hunched over, woozy with pain. With one last burst of strength, Shae flipped backwards, breaking the dragonoid’s neck with a single well-placed kick.

0 SP remained.

Shae collapsed to his knees, moments away from joining the dragonoid in the spectral plane.

He reached into his inventory, withdrawing the vial of Green Juice. There were only a handful of competitors left, but he wouldn’t survive another battle.

He stared into the thin green vial, his face rippling in its glossy exterior. Would this be enough? If he wanted to win, he might have to do the unthinkable.

9 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Syadd flattened a magicoid. Auron held a pirahnoid’s mouth open as Wagger fed it TNT.

BOOM

“I don’t get how you have so many of those,” said Auron.

“Magicoids get better abilities, since we’re so weak,” said Wagger. “I bet you wish you were a magicoid now!”

“No, not really,” said Auron.

Syadd glanced around - everyone in proximity was dead or dying.

“Shae, show yourself!” Syadd screeched.

“Syadd!” another voice yelled. “Over here!”

Parper stood nearby, leaning his floppy puppoid ear against a rundown shack.

“Where the hell have you been?” Syadd asked.

“I found our friend Shae!” said Parper. “He’s in there, and I think he’s out of SP!”

Auron looked towards the sky. A wall of purple electricity drifted their way. Soon, it would swallow them whole.

“Meh, just let him rot in there,” said Auron. “The bubble will get him soon.”

“No,” said Syadd, spinning her flail. “He’s mine.”

6 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Parper wasn’t the only one eavesdropping. Shae listened in from behind a crate, removing his jacket.

“Shae,” Syadd’s voice called from outside. “I know you’re in there.”

Shae’s pants were the next to go. His bare arms and legs trembled from the cold.

“There’s four of us, and one of you,” Syadd shouted. “Just come out and get this over with.”

5 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Auron read the giant numbers in the sky. “It’s just us now.”

“This is so exciting!” said Parper. “The Deadly Skulls are getting a Level 2!”

“I am getting a Level 2,” said Syadd. “Don’t you forget that!”

Syadd’s six eyes evaluated the building.

“Parper, Wagger, take the windows,” said Syadd. “Auron, you’re with me. No one move until I say so.”

Syadd extended her flail, using chains from her armor.

“Before Shae dies,” said Syadd. “He’ll suffer.”

***

Parper took position at one of the windows. It was dark inside, but Shae’s outline was visible. He leaned against a crate with his head nestled in his arms. It was an odd position, but he was an odd guy.

Parper didn’t have Syadd’s blessing, but the other Deadly Skulls would just get in his way. He was their stealth specialist after all. It would be far easier for him to take down Shae down himself. Or at least disable Shae and leave the finishing blow for Syadd.

The window was already broken, so Parper had no problem slipping in. Taking several silent steps forward, Parper approached Shae’s from behind --

“FATAL BLADE!”

The dagger tore through Shae’s jacket. Black energy rippled through Shae’s clothing. His body shook, convulsed, then limped.

“Sorry about that Shae,” said Parper. “It was really nice to see you though --”

Shae’s head slumped backwards - only it wasn’t Shae’s head. Two dead dragonoid eyes looked back at Parper, enrobed in Shae’s jacket and pants.

“Bez?” asked Parper.

“PIERCING SHOT!”

4 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Wagger heard Shae’s shout from outside. She couldn’t imagine who he was fighting. It was time to take action - Syadd would praise her initiative.

She vaulted inside, treading carefully across broken window glass. On the ground were two corpses, each with a bullet hole: Bez and Parper.

“Uh oh,” said Wagger. “Syadd!”

On cue, Syadd kicked down the door with Auron at her side.

Wagger looked back, just in time to see Shae’s purple eyes pierce through the darkness. She lit two sticks of TNT.

“POISON SHOT!”

Shae snatched one stick of TNT from Wagger’s weakened grip. Kicking Wagger backwards, he chucked his stolen stick at Syadd.

“STORM SHIELD!” yelled Syadd.

BOOM-BOOM

Both sticks exploded simultaneously. Wagger was reduced to ashes. Syadd protected herself with Storm Shield, but Auron wasn’t so lucky: his insides painted the wall red.

Shae and Syadd paused, staring each other down. Both of their abilities were on recharge.

“Shae,” said Syadd. “What have you done?”

2 PARTICIPANTS REMAINING

Syadd’s allies rested in pieces around her. Bez, Parper, Auron and Wagger - all dead at the hands of a puny humanoid, wearing only sunglasses and underwear. Shae’s expression was relentless; Syadd had never seen this side of him before.

“You killed, all of them?” Syadd said. “You’re even stronger than last time.”

Shae remained silent.

“You’ve become a monster Shae.”

With an ear-splitting crack, the shack uprooted, twirling upwards into a churning electric wall.

“No matter,” said Syadd. “I’m the Deadly Skulls raid captain. I slay monsters.”

The electric wall released a demonic howl, sweeping up the surrounding city.

“I watched the Goblin King replay,” said Syad. “I know your tricks.”

Syadd spun her flail.

“I know you have three moves now,” said Syadd. “If you don’t kill me in one blow, I’ll kill you. So that means your Poison Shot is out.”

Syadd admired herself in Shae’s sunglasses.

“Your Piercing Shot comes from the front,” said Syadd. “But your Ricochet Shot can come from behind.”

Shae twitched.

“Your Ricochet Shot is deliberate,” said Syadd. “You have to see the path before you fire it.”

Syadd noticed Shae’s subtle head movement. His sunglasses traced a path across several buildings that lead back to her head. She grinned.

“Which is it going to be Shae?” asked Syadd. “It’s a fifty-fifty shot. Choose wrong, and I’ll kill you.”

Violet bolts lashed out from the shrinking purple dome.

“Choose fast,” said Syadd.

Shae shifted stances. Syadd prepared her flail --

“RICOCHET SHOT!”

Shae swung a pistol towards his mental path. Syadd was on it - her flail swept behind her.

“STORM SHIELD!”

-- Her shield blocked, nothing. A purple Piercing Shot flew forward from Shae’s other pistol, cleaving through the center of Syadd’s snout and exploding out the back of her head.

Syadd plummeted to the ground. Shae approached with deliberate footsteps, a wall of purple death following behind him.

“You, tricked me,” said Syadd.

“Yeah, obviously,” said Shae.

“You bring glory to the Feather Birds today,” Syadd groaned.

“This isn’t for the Feather Birds,” said Shae. “This is for me.”

Shae leapt forward, splattering Syadd’s head with both feet.

1 PARTICIPANT REMAINING

The purple bubble stalled, rippling with distortion, before finally settling into a smooth electric sea.

Party streamers erupted in the sky. An intrusive fanfare blared its usual motif. Hidden NPCs rose from debris and player corpses, harmonizing in a blood-soaked choir.

The dragonoid emcee Garola appeared from nowhere, patting Shae’s shoulder.

“Congratulations!” said Garola. “You may not be a dragonoid, but you still won today’s competition! Take a bow!”

Shae refused. It was bad enough to win this in his underwear. Taking a bow would make it worse.

Garola extended a flowing purple ribbon laced with gold - the Level 2 material. It was a shame Shae had to use it; it would make a great scarf or bandana.

“This competition’s winner, Shae of the Feather Birds!” yelled Garola.

The surrounding NPCs erupted in applause. Shae imagined his spectral-rivals were less enthused.

As Shae grabbed the purple ribbon, Garola reeled him in.

“I saw you cheat with that green juice,” whispered Garola. “And you killed at least three dragonoids. You’re on my shit-list now, premium.”

Shae tried to yank the ribbon away, but Garola held it firm.

“This isn’t the only competition I run,” said Garola. “Next time I see you, you’re shit out of luck.”

Shae ripped the purple ribbon free.

“Let’s hear it again for Shae!” Garola yelled. “And don’t forget: today’s winners may be tomorrow’s losers!”