*Marie*

I sat inside a black limo as I was driven to the last place on Earth I would ever wish to find myself. Ugh. I'll deal with that when we get there in a few moments. I thought back to Zet's latest shenanigans instead. Upsetting an npc was amazing and humorous to watch, she really can piss off anyone. But the scottish fox took the cake for me, she needs a friend. Zet does, that is. And it looks like the fox doesn't care if Zet wants one or not. Although, seeing the fox, Samara? Samantha? Samurai? To be honest, her accent was a bit hard for me to follow… She brought up memories of Pyria, painful memories. Despite their...substantial differences, I can't help but remember how I failed her.

The car slowed and came to a stop before an enormous crowd, some of the individuals held signs pertaining to today's event, others were simply present, in either case there were looks of outrage all around. Great. I read a few signs as I readied myself for facing that crowd. Some read 'SAVE OUR CHILDREN', others 'NO MORE TAXES' and a disappointing amount of "1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10" or variants of it. Honestly, I have no idea what that last one even meant to say but I could guess who it belonged to. Apparently, the Church of Devine Will had gained a following out here in the real world as well. It was one of the first updates I noticed upon waking from the game, to say they've been disruptive would be too kind.

With a deep breath, I exited the vehicle. Immediately I was struck by the overwhelming roar of so many people shouting at once. I couldn't make the words out but one occasionally cut through, 'Taxes', 'God', 'Choice', but the context was missing. The path before me was clear as a line of police held the crowd back, I made my way quickly up the stairs and inside ignoring all shouts clearly directed at me. Quickly being up for interpretation as I was walking under my own power now but I was using Zet's shilelagh to assist me. This amounted to more of a shamble than a walk. As the doors closed behind me the sound became a whisper. But I couldn't breathe, not yet. I still needed to accomplish my task here.

A guard met me and escorted me through the building after a thorough, read: overly thorough and invasive, security check and identity confirmation. When we reached our destination he directed me inside and returned to having all the appeal of well, a concrete, undecorated wall…

Inside the room was chaos, again! Cameras were set up, the audience space was crowded and it looked like all the press was here. Great. At least the seating for Congress members was empty at the moment. A different guard directed me to my seat and then returned to, guarding I guess? As I sat, alone fortunately, I reflected on my mission here. Nothing dramatically exciting but I'm scared shitless anyways. There's a lot of history behind this and none of it is good.

So, we went into the game and encountered Pyria, Greg, and Rokbob? Rokjak? Whatever, an orc. We cleared a mini dungeon, Zet turned to snow while Rokjaw and...Greg ran for it. That's about the time the government of the United States issued an emergency order to pause the game. Apparently mothers everywhere can rejoice because you can pause an online game, just freak out the government and you're golden. It was a knee jerk reaction to the millions dying, with the company being based in America the government was able to get them to comply. Months passed with all of us in stasis while it was debated on what should be done. Apparently pausing a game that long is really bad and some brains started showing signs of deterioration so the game was resumed.

This has left me to wonder if Zet's fear that she was in the 'void' was less affected by the pause and she was conscious for all of it? I really, really hope not. Oh God, that's giving me anxiety just thinking about it! Anyways, time was never slowed in game but it was paused! Once I got out I became an instant celebrity, but no one knows who I actually am. Other than medical staff and lawyers, the latter due to a large portion of proceeds from the streaming I was in (Zet and I were pretty popular to watch).

Well, during that time the Church had become active, as I mentioned earlier. They've been fear mongering, stating the same shit their in game peers do and demanding the government unplug all LGBT+ players and allies. Others are concerned their taxes are being used so 'lazy kids can play video games all day long' and some believe unplugging people won't kill them because the several hundred who died from being unplugged don't matter I guess? And that brings us back to now. In front of Congress. Where I have been ordered to testify. So they can vote if they will turn the game off or not. I'm here not because they told me to come but because Zet's life is on the line and I'm the only one who can save it! Or at least, the only one who can speak about what it was like to live in the game.

The Congress people, persons? Congress filed in and took their seats, in an agonizingly slow manner interrupted by wet hacks of coughing fits. The Speaker presented the days agenda as well as outlining some rules. I had trouble focusing on it all as my mind wandered back to the consequences of failure. Several 'expert' witnesses were called including a Financial Analyst who spoke on the estimated cost to sustain all the remaining players on life support if tax funds were being used to pay for it. A 'priest' of the Church of Devine Will, predictably he cited scripture supporting his views and why Zet and everyone else deserved to die. Classy. Even a neuro something or other testified about the impact on the brain if this continued, though they never pinned down a solid estimate of time. Finally, I was called to stand before Congress.

They read off my name and verified it was me and then launched right into some soft questions. "You were previously one of the victims held captive within the game owned and operated by Glacial Enterprises. Is that correct?"

My mouth dried out in an instant, all the faces, all these cameras all aimed at me. This wasn't right, "Yes sir. I was informed this was a private hearing, to protect my identity…"

The man questioning me sighed and gave an exaggerated look of patience, "Just answer the questions as asked, do not interrupt with your own-"

"On what grounds," a younger woman interrupted him, well younger compared to the fossil who she interrupted. "This was to be a private session-"

"Congresswoman you've been warned to file complaints after sessions have concluded. Further disruptions will be considered to be in contem-"

"In a regular session that would be fine, but she has a right to ask! Her security is at risk. Ms. Marie, were you escorted through a private entrance?"

I shook my head, "No ma'am. "

The old fart spoke first, "A minor inconvenienc-"

"This is unacceptable! How can we ask to be trusted when such 'oversights' occur?" Her face was twisted in sheer outrage, I don't doubt that I'm just a pawn in whatever party fight they have going on but i appreciated the backup.

"You are out of line! This is why The -"

The speaker finally stepped in, "Order! This can be addressed in a letter session. Let us stick to the agenda and continue questioning the witness. You have the floor Congressman."

The old shitstain wore a smug expression and adjusted his tie, ew. A boring basic tie knot, Zet would hate that and judge him for it. She preferred to use an Eldridge or Trinity knot for special occasions. "So, Mrs. Marie. What was it like in the game? You were in there a long time, nearly a year in fact. How did you pass the time?"

I took a deep breath as I prepared to launch into those memories. "Surviving. We were in there a year but for us it was far less time, a few months. I focused on moving forward, finding a way out and not getting killed. We tried t-"

"But you killed."

"I...no-"

He interrupted again, nearly yelling into the speaker this time to cut me off. "You killed an estimated 600-1000 people along with your ….partner. What were you thinking when you did this?"

"No, I didn't kill anyone, I could only-"

"Answer the question."

"I'm trying Congressman. I didn't kill anyone becau-"

"The question I asked you. You are required to answer truthfully before this hearing. What were you thinking when you murdered those people?"

I stared as anxiety began to overwhelm me. What is wrong with these people?! "I didn't murder anyone. I can't answer that question!"

"Answer. The question."

I snapped. I lost my temper. I ran out of fucks to give, take your pick. I lost it and began to yell, I ignored pleas to stop or be silent. "What is wrong with you?! How is that relevant. How is any of this relevant! An analyst for the cost to taxpayers? I've been paying mine and Zet's Bill's, something I can manage due to a settlement with Glacial. They're paying for everyone else's until they wake up! There is no taxpayer fee, that's a fear tactic! The pseudo church who is actually hunting and killing innocents in the game causing them to die out here? For what godforsaken reason are they testifying?"

"Freedom of Religion is a sacred-"

"Oh fuck you! You want to know what it was like? You really want to know? It was terrifying! Every Goddamned day I was scared shitless! I lost my legs! My heart stopped four fucking times and the medical team watching me had to restart it because of the shock! And murder? Not one person Zet or I have 'murdered' has died out here. Not one! But millions of others have, including your little church. Time is what is needed! Time for Zet to end the game. Time for her to realize she can save everyone! This isn't a fucking question to ask if we should pull the plug, we should be asking how we keep everyone alive through this!"

I was left panting after my tirade. What more was there to say? Could I have impacted Congress? Probably not but there are cameras being broadcast across the world…Which unfortunately also recorded my being escorted out by security for 'disrupting the session', I'm pretty sure its normally a crime but they made it clear I was only being kicked out due to my recent ordeal. Ugh, I hope Zet was doing better. I don't think she has much time left…

*Zetsumei*

We crouched behind a rock atop a cliff overlooking our destination. Glaive had been most forthcoming on information regarding Lux, so long as I agreed to not toss him in my inventory during this quest. I don't trust him but, a deals a deal. As Glaive had informed us, our target was obsessed with the idea of a 'World Soul' and had believed it lay in the Frozen North. So now my traveling companions and I found ourselves kneeling atop a glacier watching a small army of The Church patrolling outside what resembled a small church built into the side of another glacier and carved with runes. It gave me a very viking-esque feel.

"I'm guessing about 30 guards down there."

"Ya dinnae see those 10 then eh lassie?" She pointed towards a snow bank to the right of the entrance. I stared at it for a while but saw nothing. I shrugged. "Yer eyes are shite then, best leave the scouting ta me then."

I sighed, fucking fox. So nice, much manners… "Regardless I don't think that changes the plan."

"I dinnae say it did. Try not ta step on me, eh 'erald?"

I shook my head and rose from behind my hiding spot. Little claws dug into my back as she clung to my pauldron in anticipation of the fight to come. Maybe I should make a baby carrier for the wee fox? With a silent chuckle at the image I leapt over the side taking care to fall along the glacier's face. With a thought I coated my hand in an icy claw and grabbed the wall to slow our descent to less lethal speeds. Unfortunately the cracking of ice on ice grabbed the attention of a few guards and the cry of alarm quickly sounded. Two came to investigate as the others tightened the space between them and the entrance while maintaining a few feet between them. Thinking about AOE spells, not bad I had to concede.

We were hidden in shadow and they were blinded by torchlight, with little time until we'd be exposed to the light of the guards I used my powers to coat myself in ice. It was a long shot but while I'm pretty sure I could take them, I did have a normal player with me. And if their Scrollbearer engaged while

I was busy with the guards that… that could be bad.

The crunch of ice and snow was the only noise beyond the pounding of heart as my body was flooded with adrenaline. My hands began to shake and my leg bounced despite my effort to still it. I summoned a new weapon to each hand as they drew closer. An axe of crude design like you might expect to see in a pre-steel era movie. At the center of each was strung a heart which lay still at the moment. I had this weapon in each hand, another old weapon long since outdated. But against non-scrollbearers it didn't really matter and I was still trying different designs to find my aesthetic.

They were only about four feet from us now. My grip tightened on my weapon, thump thump, the twin hearts beat a rhythm. With the first thump I evaporated the ice from my body and leapt forward. I spun and struck the guard on the left down with a twinned diagonal strike over my left shoulder. I felt Samhara shifting her weight as I struck and as I completed my spin, found the decapitated body of the second guard falling to the ground. Cries went up and more guards moved to attack.

The night blossomed into a red inferno as a mage unleashed a ball of flame at us. A thin veil of red enveloped my vision as Samhara cried out in my ear, "I got this one lassie! Save yers fer the Scrollbearer!"

The light grew brighter and the heat blossomed around me, when it impacted the feeble shield it shattered it like glass before a baseball. But the spell was destroyed as well, I saw the mage in the distance beginning to prepare another spell. I reached out with my purple shadows and tore his soul to me. Thump thump, I was already swinging when his body landed where his soul had been and he died with an axe between his eyes. I spit his blood from my mouth as I spied my next target. The twin hearts began to beat like drums in my hands, beating the rhythm of the battle. Nothing too spelltacular this time, I threw my right axe as hard as I could and caught a rushing guard in the chest. The last I saw before turning my attention to the closing ring around me was him sailing through the air in a spray of blood and viscera. Then they were upon us.

They all appeared to be some variation of basic, boring warriors swinging their weapons with strength that paled next to mine. I slashed at the nearest, a shield bearer cloaked in plate mail, clearly a tank. They caught my blow on their shield though this availed them none as my strike shredded through the shield and continued into their shoulder rending their body on two. I heard the clash of sword on body behind me as my foxy friend continually shifted her weight to strike at those behind me. As I lifted my weapon from the ruined body of the tank I felt an impact to my stomach and pain blossomed. I looked down in surprise and found a blade barely penetrating my skin. A thin trickle of blood seeped from the wound. As I stared another warrior struck with a two handed weapon and peripherally I noted a substantial effort went into the blow. This one caught me in the neck and staggered me though I retained my footing. I heard cursing behind me though frankly it seemed rather like our standard conversations by this point, the little potty mouth. Again a small trickle of blood dribbled from the wound that had failed to do any serious damage. Having significantly higher stats definitely helped but the fact they pierced the skin was a strong reminder for me that I'm not invincible. With enough people they could kill even a Scrollbearer….

I sent my Glacial Spikes in a spiral around Samhara and I. The guards immediately jumped away and gave several feet of space. I guess word does get around. Unfortunately for them, I wasn't planning on killing them with it. I summoned a scythe from my inventory, shouted a request to Samhara to defend my back and sent the remaining axe to my inventory. All at once the beating stopped and silence roared over the field. I released the hold on the Glacial Spikes, causing them to disappear and leapt at the guards before me. I spun the scythe like a staff and began my dark reaping. The first guard fell with his head removed, I maintained the momentum of my attack and spun the scythe through the next guards legs. His screams drowned out all other sounds as I kicked the scythe up through the perineum, I think it's not like the game says but it was that general area, and when I pulled it clean a waterfall of blood poured forth as he fell wordlessly to the ground.

I felt my guardian push into me, presumably from the impact of an attack. I began my action in earnest and wove my scythe with all the grace I could muster. Like a baton twirler or Darth Maul facing two jedi, I spun my scythe and used both blade and shaft to strike all who drew near. I spun without ceasing lashing out at every movement. Samhara continued to deflect blows aimed at my back and I began weaving ice spells into my twirling. Soon a small blizzard had formed around us as snow was lashed into the eyes of the attackers repeatedly. Before long I looked around and found only the frozen tundra around me. And corpses, many many corpses. I released the blizzard I had caused and found a bit over a dozen guards inching closer to our location.

"Ready for more Sam?"

"Aye, try tae leave some fer me this time ya greedy wench!"

I grinned and flourished my scythe as I prepared to begin my attack anew. Suddenly the ground shook, light erupted from the temple and a sound I could describe only as the horrific imagining of the specters of every cat to ever exist all fucking at the same time in a microphone positioned too close to the speaker, assaulted my ears. I looked to the temple, something had happened, the sound wasn't showing any signs of stopping.

"Ye have tae go stop whate'er he did!" Samhara screamed into my ear her voice sounding hoarse.

I screamed a response but received no reaction. I tried again putting every ounce of energy I had into my shout and seemed to be heard this time. "What about the guards?"

Samhara leapt down and gave me an open mouthed fox grin before thumping her chest and winking at me. I was still concerned and moved towards her to yell my feelings to her but she was already moving. She leapt onto the chest of the nearest guard who was still grabbing his ears in agony when she ripped his throat out with her jaws. Ok then. She's got this I guess, I determined as she pursued the next guard with the same level of viciousness. I turned to the church's entrance and ran to it as fast as I could. When I passed the doorframe, I slid to a stop in awe.

Shades. Hundreds of them, floated before me. They were a translucent gold I noted. These specters had drawn me short of my charge but as I stated I was shaken by familiarity. I recognized some of the faces around me, though I didn't recognize them as having died by my hand. With so many having died by me I couldn't be completely certain. I also realized every ghost here was facing the same direction. I turned my gaze towards their focus and as I did so notes more ghosts, or are they souls? appeared. Some were definitely the guards outside, though no little fox was appearing so I took that as a reassuring sign.

The front of the room held a pulsating beam of light, too bright for me to look directly at for long. It was surrounded by silver rings every few feet up its length and it ascended into the glacier above us where I could not make out its final destination. The light was flickering like a lightbulb on its last leg. A blot before the base of the light quickly drew my focus, a man in robes that appeared pure white stood before the light with his arms raised above him. He brought them together rapidly and the flickering of the light stopped as the beam darkened entirely.

It flared back to life suddenly and the space around me was devoid of spirits. They had all moved towards the light when it went out. I kept my gaze from that blinding brilliance as I began my march toward Lux, I wanted to be able to see if it went dark again. The sound had reached a crescendo, I could feel my horn vibrating and my teeth were beginning to hurt. The room fell to darkness again and I saw the spirits around me begin towards where the light had been though they moved as though they were being pulled.

Realization struck me, Lux believed this was the World Soul. That meant little to me but these were people who had died recently. I made a snap decision and sent out my purple shadows to as many souls as I could, dozens of threads shot forth and grabbed hold preventing them from continuing towards the darkened light. Others I was unable to grab hold of continued moving and their eyes were wide as though with fear. Keeping a downcast gaze I looked for the spirits closest to the beams location and saw several inside the rings that had encased the light. Without warning the light flared to life once more and the souls could no longer be seen. I watched as dozens of souls only feet from the beam seemed to be consumed by phantom flames and disintegrated.

Believing I had made the right call, that the leader of such a hateful group could only be seeking to commit further atrocities, I knew I needed to take him down before he finished whatever he was up to. I couldn't move and hold the tethered souls however. Taking another gambit I summoned my ice powers in my right hand and manifested the tethers in my left, I placed my left hand onto the ground and used the ice magic of my right in an attempt to freeze them in place. I took several breaths in anticipation, if this failed my tether would be on cooldown and I might lose every soul here...I let go, determining that Lux being stopped was worth the risk of the souls if this failed. It seemed to work but I knew I wouldn't be able to yell until they were pulled to the light.

I turned my sights on Lux and summoned my Frostblades. I charged at him and prepared to Wraith Step for a hopefully quick end to my target. With the screech of a thousand nails on a thousand chalkboards the light flared like a hundred suns and then was gone. No sound, no light. It had all peaked and then...nothing. I felt a wetness in my ears and put a finger to them, when I looked at my hand they were coated in a thick liquid. With only my night vision and the extremely blinding light a moment before dampening its efficacy I could only guess my ears were bleeding.

A beam of light struck me, though it caused me no pain. I looked to the direction it had come from and found Lux chanting soundlessly a ball of light struck me from above. I still felt no pain and was unharmed by it. Pushing from the ground, I Wraith Stepped to Lux and swung my blades at him. He nimbly glided away from me but not without one of my weapons finding his wrist. He screamed silently as his hand froze and fell to the ground shattering without a noise. It dawned on me I was deafened, if not permanently then at least temporarily. Great.

Lux sprouted wings of pure light and flew away from me, placing the spirits between us. I gaped in horror as only the spirits I had tethered remained in the room. They flapped as though caught in the winds of a tornado, or a void seeking fulfillment where the light had been. I began to run to Lux when I saw him fire a lance of light from his palm and sever one of my threads. The previously attached spirit, one of the guards from outside, floated towards where the light had been but burned away by the phantom flame before even making it a foot. Lux looked at me and smiled maniacally. He began to rapidly fire bolts of light at the tethers. I've long held a suspicion about my scroll, about my powers. I decided to trust my suspicions and sliced through the nearest spirits neck. The spirit seemed to blow away like fog in a strong wind, though he blew towards me rather than away. I began teleporting from ghost to ghost cutting them down with my blades.

Lux must have taken note as suddenly I was struck by a beam of inky blackness that caught my left arm. My alabaster skin faded to a wan grey where I had been struck and I dropped my blade. Lux grinned darkly at me and his wings flared with light, from that light stretched shadows. He stretched his hands towards me and the shadows flew forth, I activated my magic shield and the shadows struck it leaving a lattice of cracks across the shield. When it shattered I dove to the side to avoid the shadow strikes. As I rolled to my feet I scanned the room. I had cut down about a dozen spirits out of I'd estimate 4 or 5 dozen. The room was empty. No more tethers. No more spirits.

Lux stood only a few feet away from me and was striding my way. The old 'Your approaching me' meme crossed my mind but I cast it aside in light of the dire situation. Lux appeared to be speaking but I couldn't hear any of it. His wings were gone so I presumed their up time had ended. I was still crouched from my roll as he stopped about 3 feet away. He shook his head and said something before seeming to chuckle as his body shook. I dashed at him and swung my blade at his stomach seeking to bisect him. Agony shot up my arm as though I had punched a steel wall. I dropped my blade and looked back at him, a golden shield had sprung up around him. He appeared to be doubled over in laughter.

Fine then asshole, you like to play with the light and shadows. Then let us. I channeled all of the pain of being alone, the rage at this church, the emptiness of knowing I would die in this forsaken world. I channeled it all, especially the self hatred I felt for how many I had killed, for leaving my children without their papa for so long, into my unbroken hand. All of the emotional shadows that had sprung from the light of my good intentions, from saving Frost, to seeking to save the village, ending Pyria's agony at her behest. My fist was enveloped in purple shadow so dark at its core it seemed to devour the light around it. I swung with all my might at Lux's smug little face. My fist struck his shield and tore through it like a rock against paper.

Rather than granting the quick death my fist may have brought, I opened my hand and grabbed him by the throat. His eyes went wide and he looked like he was trying to tell me something. Too bad I couldn't hear. I pulled him close to my face, until our lips were nearly touching. I leaned even closer until my lips brushed against his and opened my mouth with the most dramatic slowness I could manage. I felt pain radiating through my body as shadows struck me in a feeble effort to save himself. I chuckled at the effort, while it hurt it would all be better soon. I stared into Lux's eyes and saw true terror there, a plea for mercy. Cute. I inhaled suddenly and a red copy of Lux rose from his body. I dropped his corpse without ceremony and inhaled as though I were sucking up some spaghetti. His soul compressed into a pinprick of light and was inhaled. A flash of warmth spread through my body and the radiating pain in my arm stopped as the ingested soul was used to repair my injuries. Sound returned to me as well and I heard padded feet drawing close.

"Yer a chancer lassie." She looked at the corpse of Lux and let out a low chuckle. "Braw. Let's git ya that head and find more cunts tae fight."

I shook my head, exhaustion was beginning to take over. I pulled out an axe and raised it to remove the head. I honestly didn't think I had much more in me to give these fights. Samhara wanted more and I wanted peace. I swung the axe down to finish off just another quest in this incessant grind….