Memories of Fated

Chapter Nine - Not A Game

POV: Ito Tsubaki

The forest we trek through is thick, full of foliage and greenery. The sunlight streams in between the tall trees, as me, Kyo, Tachi and Saki, still wearing her cape, follow everyone else.

"Let's go over it again. We leftovers are supposed to target the boss's helpers" Tachi explains to Saki as we walk.

"I know" Saki replies bluntly. I think that is just the person she is though. Out of all the attempts I have made to talk to her, she hasn't been very open. At all.

"I'll use a sword skill to knock their pole axes up and then you switch in"

"Switch?"

"This is your first time working in a party!" I turn, walking backwards as I stare at her. She must be braver than I thought then. Or stupider.

"Yes," she nods, replying in that same dull tone.

Tachi stops walking, staring blankly at her, eyebrow raised.

"Come on, we will be left behind if we don't hurry up" Kyo gestures to us all to hurry up, ahead of me for once.

I glanced up as I walk, shielding my eyes from the glare of the sun. A raising Greystone tower is opposing before us, the clouds clinging to it like a sort of mist. I assume that's where we are heading.

I groan. "I am bored"

"And I am Kyo, who is, by the way, going insane from the number of times you have said that sentence!" Kyo waves his arms at me, sighing heavier than me.

"I am hungry" I moan.

"We could be dying soon and that's all you can think of?" He droops.

"Sorrrryyyyy" I drag the word out, bored out of my mind as we walk. I start thinking about the boss we are going to face but it is already ingrained into my head.

"It is only a game"

************************

After a lot more moaning, groaning and a couple of dungeon crawlers getting in our way, we eventually find the large carved wooden door that leads to the boss room. Torches the size of a person rage at each side, giving the 100 or so grouped players light to see.

Luke slams his sword into the rock floor. I can imagine this long awful speech he is going to give but he only says a couple of words.

"Listen up everyone, I am only going to say one thing, let's win!"

Everyone has determination etched into their faces as he says the words. Not only am I looking forward to winning but I am also after the last attack bonus drop which is this sweet coat.

"Let's go!" The player places his hand on the door and it swings open automatically, spreading the dungeon room out before us.

It is just a large dark room at first, only the light from the torches to guide us. Up ahead, between all the columns sits the boss, his throne a curved shape and his weapons leaning against it. His crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.

Then the room starts to take on a rainbow hue, the walls of the outside reminding me of the rainbow reflection of washing up soap, the way it swirls into different shades from each colour.

Suddenly, the boss leaps over to us, the impact of his fall sending a blast of wind that sweeps my hair upwards. It extends to his full height in front of us, his red devilish skin and a blue tattoo on his belly standing out as he roars his greeting.

The four green bars scroll upwards at the top. Tiny blue glows of data glow at his feet, the minions materialising one by one.

They run at us and we run back, charging our sword skills as this turns into an all-out battle. The clanging of swords against swords fills the air and shouts from Luke keep us in line.

"Keep the minions off us!" Luke orders us, his blue hair swaying as he turns his head, yelling at squad A and B to switch again.

"Roger" I yell back mock saluting as Tachi knocks the club of the minion with his sword, shouting "switch!"

Before I can move, Saki steps in, her sword movements so fast I can only follow the billowing if her cape as she moves, shattering them into the blue crystals as she strikes.

"Come on, leave some for me!" I joke, striking my sword skill at the next one of them that leaps my way. As the shards of data swim around me, the boss roars. His health bar reaching it's lowest, about to draw the weapon that will be it's final plea.

"Stand back" diable walks forward, the crowd of players ready to swarm around it as our final attack. "I'll go"

No one stops him as he jogs forward. The sword skill he charges is bright yellow, wings forming from his blade. It looks like a phoenix ready to strike and bring hope to those people stick in the town of beginnings.

But instead, the boss draws a different weapon, one different to the beta test. How could a weapon meant for floors above us be here? But all I could worry about is the life of Luke, still unaware of the danger he is in.

"No!" me and Tachi yell in unison "Jump back as far as you can" Tachi finishes but I just stare at him.

He was in the beta?

There is no time to think about that now, as the boss uses one of the nearby stone collum as a jumping platform, launching himself off. He catches another one and descends mercilessly upon Luke, making a large s***h diagonally across his body.

This suddenly doesn't feel like a game anymore.