Meanwhile, Rampage was dealing with her issues. The piece of Cerberus's arm that she had sliced off had formed a buddle of goop on the ground—a puddle of goop that was quickly transforming into a distended, elongated monster that looked similar to Rampage. The two locked into a battle of swords. If it weren’t for the distorted coloration of her enemy, it would be difficult to tell the two apart.
Komodo and Michael had no time to help her; they were dealing with numerous arms flying in their direction. It seemed that the second they would avoid one, another was coming their way. At one point, Komodo managed to strike one of the arms with an attack spell and a piece of the arm fell off. Like the piece of the arm that Rampage was able to dismember, the puddle it created began to transform, and soon there was a duplicate of Komodo standing on the battlefield. It jostled to life and sent a bubble of sludge heading in Komodo’s direction. Luckily, he was able to use a defensive spell to deflect it. Cerberus laughed a maniacal laugh that shook the ground. “Your greatest enemy is yourself,” It said in its deep voice.
Now that the group had realized what happened when they dissected the arms, Michael was hesitant to use his swords. Instead, he attempted to avoid the arms. He advanced on Cerberus, taking a few steps forward every time he dodged an attack. The tactic had been working well for Michael until two arms came at him at once. He managed to dive in between them and perform a summersault maneuver, but when he came out of his roll, another arm was coming directly at him. Michael’s only choice was to raise both swords to protect himself. To his surprise, the blue on his swords brightened as it went through the dark sludge, and the piece had cut away from Cerberus evaporated before it even hit the ground. It appeared that only Michael’s weapons could genuinely destroy Cerberus.
“I can kill it!” Michael yelled to his friends.
“Great, how about you lend a helping hand,” Rampage said. It appeared that the evil version of her was much agiler, and she was having a difficult time keeping it at bay. Michael quickly ran over to her to lend a helping hand. The two of them deflected the duplicate Rampage’s attacks until Michael laid the decisive blow and their enemy dissipated into the air. Both of them turned around and saw that Komodo was not doing so well.
Komodo was still alive, but not for long. The evil Komodo was quicker with its hand movements and was sending barrage after barrage of dark energy orbs in his direction. Fortunately, Komodo had learned a potent defense spell, and it was deflecting the attacks, but there was no telling how long that could last. Michael and Rampage took a lunge in his direction, but their rescue mission was interrupted by a rather large arm descending in front of them. It came crashing down and knocked the two to the ground.
The two got to their feet just in time to avoid another arm. “I have an idea,” Rampage said. “It seems that Cerberus doesn’t attack while we are dealing with a version of ourselves. You go, save Komodo, I’ll manage.”
Michael was hesitant; he saw how much trouble Rampage was having before and didn’t like taking the risk. But, after glancing over at Komodo, he realized that they didn’t have much choice. They wouldn’t stand a chance if they lost him. “Okay,” he responded.
Michael started running. He could feel his legs pounding into his floor as he leapt over yet another stray arm coming in his direction. Taking one look back at Rampage, he could see that Rampage had sliced another arm off with his broadsword and was now dealing with another version of himself. Michael had to hurry, but Cerberus was not making it easy on him. Not only was Michael having to defend against random arms being sent in his direction, but Cerberus had also started shooting out plumes of smoke. These plumes would explode when they came into contact with the ground, and so Michael was now dodging explosions as well.
Komodo’s shield was on its last leg as Michael arrived. He leaped over Komodo and surprised the doppelganger, driving both swords into its heart. Just like that, it was gone. “That was a close one,” Komodo said.
“We aren’t out of the woods just yet, Komodo,” Michael said before having to jump in between Komodo and a falling arm to protect him. Michael continued cutting through arm after arm when he looked over his shoulder and yelled to Komodo. “I think that I have an idea. Can you levitate me up to Cerberus’ head?”
Komodo took a moment to think about the possibilities. “I don’t think that I will have time to levitate you up there, once you are on your way the arms will start to fall on me and I will have to defend myself. What I can do is throw you.”
“Throw me?” Michael said between clenched teeth; the arms were descending from all angles now.
“Yeah,” Komodo said. “I will use a spell to toss you toward Cerberus’ head. You will just have to trust me to throw you in the right place.”
The idea of trust Komodo to toss him in the right direction, when his character’s life was at stake, wasn’t exactly what he had in mind, but what choice did they have. “Okay, I trust you,” Michael said.
“Good,” Komodo returned and started spinning his hands together creating the spell. Michael continued to deflect the arms and moved Komodo when necessary to avoid an exploding plume, but he couldn’t keep this up forever.
“What is taking so long,” Michael yelled.
“I am preparing my defensive spell for after I toss you as well,” Komodo said. “These things take time.”
“Hurry!” Michael yelled.
“Okay, okay, I think I got it, are you ready?” Komodo asked.
“As ready as I will ever be,” Michael said.
“Alright, five, four, three,” Komodo counted down.
“Just toss me already!” Michael said cutting through two arms at once.
Before he could say anything else, Michael found himself floating. The arms were no longer attacking him, they all descending upon Komodo at once and his defensive spell could not handle it. He died. Michael looked over at Rampage, and he too was overwhelmed. Her sword was locked with her doppelganger’s sword, and she was holding off as much as she possibly could, but once Komodo had been dispensed, every arm Cerberus had turned its attention to Rampage, and she was crushed.
He had no idea if this would work, but Michael knew it was now or never. As she soared up toward Cerberus’ head, he could feel its arms closing in on him. With every inch Michael came closer to the head of the beast, his doom became more imminent. Cerberus was not afraid because it let out a loud laugh as Michael came into view of the beast’s eyes. With its mouth wide open, Michael had an idea. He spun in the air and pointed both swords downward. He dove directly toward the monster's mouth. All Michael could do was hope for the best.
For a moment he didn’t feel anything. There was no vibration on his controls that usually indicated a fatal blow; Cerberus did not comment on its victory. All there was was silence. Finally, Michael dared take a peek at his screen. Michael’s character was descending through the belly of Cerberus, and as his swords carved through him, Cerberus began to evaporate. Michael held his posture until his character hit the ground with a loud thud.
As he regained his composure and got up, Michael watched as Cerberus evaporated, just as his doppelganger had. Michael had done it; he had destroyed the evil spirit that haunted Archaic Venture. For a moment, he wasn’t happy though. The prize money, the trip to Los Angeles, and the meeting with Soto Akiyama didn’t move him. He was sad that his friends couldn’t share in the victory. They had died and lost their characters. Just as Michael was about to resign that there was nothing he could do, he felt a slap on his shoulders, “Boy am I glad we picked you up all those weeks ago,” Rampage said. “Imagine if Komodo would have listened to me.”
“Smartest thing you ever did was start listening to me, Rampage,” Komodo said, moving out from behind her.
Michael hugged both of them; he could feel tears welling in his eyes. “I thought you two were dead for good,” he said, a slight quiver in his voice was audible. “I didn’t know what was going to happen.”
“Stop your blubbe
ring,” Rampage said.
“Yeah, you big crybaby,” Komodo said. “You couldn’t get rid of us that easily.”
“Thank god,” Michael said with a smile on his face.
“Excuse me,” said a familiar voice, interrupting the reunion. The group turned around and to their surprise, the wizard—Cometfall—was sitting in his horse-drawn carriage. “Let me be the first to congratulate you three on completing the quest. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy when I added it to the game.”
“Wait,” Michael said confused. “When you added it to the game?”
“Yes, did I forget to mention that Cometfall is my username? My actual name is Soto Akiyama.”
Michael could feel his jaw drop. He also thought that he could hear the jaws of Rampage and Komodo drop too.
“Okay, now that that is out of the way, I am here to explain to you how you will receive your winnings, how it is that you will get to Los Angeles, and I am to elevate your characters—and their weapons—to the next level.”
“Awesome,” Rampage said turning to the others.
“This is unbelievable,” Komodo returned.
“Wait,” Michael said. “I have one question for you.”
“And what would that be,” Soto asked.
“If you are Soto Akiyama, then why did you help us?”
“It is quite simple Michael,” Soto said. The three characters looked back and forth at one another. Michael, being the most surprised.
“How did you know my name?”
“When you register for this game Michael, you upload a lot of personal information. Did you ever wonder why I asked all of that stuff?”
“A little bit,” Michael said. “I guess I just thought that it was standard.”
“Standard to know if you have a disability?” Soto said. “Oh no, my dear boy. I wanted to know this stuff because I wanted to know who, not only deserved the prize but who needed it the most. That group was you.”
The three agreed that this was as good of an explanation as anybody could ask for; besides, Rampage made it pretty clear that she had something else on her mind, “So, now that that is out of the way, let’s talk about those winnings.”
Every one of them laughed, and Soto began explaining to them how everything was to proceed from there. When he was done, he said that the same information had been emailed to each of them and that he looked forward to meeting them in LA a few weeks from then. All of them exchanged their information so that they could call one another and stay in touch before logging off. Michael was so excited about everything that he even hadn’t noticed that halfway through the battle with Cerberus, his leg braces had fallen off.
***
That night at the dinner table, the family was quiet. Mr. Maddox did not want to start an argument before they had to go to the store and return the Oculus Rift. He knew that it would be a touchy subject to broach, both with his son and his wife. Although Mrs. Maddox had agreed the night before, did not mean that she would comply tonight. Once everyone had finished eating was when he decided to finally say something, “So, Michael, do you remember what we talked about yesterday?”
“Do you remember?” Michael retorted.
“Of course I do,” Mr. Maddox said. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You were pretty drunk,” Michael said bluntly.
“Excuse me, young man,” Mr. Maddox said getting angry. “You can’t talk to your father that way.”
“Michael,” Mrs. Maddox jumped in. “I agree with your father; you can’t talk to him that way.”
“I can’t?” Michael asked. “Well, I only do because of the way that you talk about me.”
“What do you mean, Michael,” Mrs. Maddox said aghast. She relished in her ignorance.
“I mean you two—all the time—talk about me like I am not in the room. Do you not think that it hurts to hear you say that I am disabled, that I won’t be able to have a normal life until I fix this problem—if I ever can. I am happy goddammit!” Michael slammed his fists against the table and stood up. “You two do not have the monopoly on happiness, and I am sick and tired of trying to morph my life into something that will make you happy.”
“I am sorry you feel that way son.” Mr. Maddox said while Mrs. Maddox avoided Michael’s gaze.
“Look at me when I am talking to you!” Michael said. “You two fight all the time about me and money. The two are almost synonymous now. I don’t want to hear about it ever again. I am quitting physical therapy, and I am keeping the Oculus Rift.”
“Son, we just want what is best for you,” Mr. Maddox said. “And we can’t afford it without selling your machine.”
“Even though I paid for it?”
“I know,” Mr. Maddox resigned. “I realize that this doesn’t seem fair.”
“It isn’t fair,” Michael interrupted. “And it is not happening.”
“How do you suppose we pay for physical therapy then?”
“Well, even if I needed it anymore,” Michael walked out from behind the table, showing his parents that he could stand up straight and walk normally without his braces. The look of surprise still puts a smile on Michael’s face to this day. “I would pay for it with the ten thousand dollars I just won playing that waste of time.” Michael chose his words carefully to mock his father’s comments earlier. He then went on to explain the prize money and the trip he has received from the game’s creator. Michael showed them the email to prove it. They couldn't believe their eyes. Mr. and Mrs. Maddox were beside themselves. Michael had broken away from his braces and found a way to thwart the family’s financial issues.
“I should have never doubted you, son,” Mr. Maddox said, rubbing Michael’s head.
“No, you shouldn’t have,” Michael said with a smile. “I suppose there is a way that you could make it up to me though.”
“Anything,” Mrs. Maddox said.
“Well,” Michael started. “My two friends, which I won the prize money with want to come visit before our trip to LA. I would like to put them up for a couple of days.”
“Of course, son,” Mr. Maddox said beaming a smile at his wife.
“We would love to meet them!” Mrs. Maddox exclaimed.
“I guess they aren’t fake friends anymore, are they dad?”
Archaic Venture_The Myth Of Cerberus Page 7
