Rowan actually needed to log off, thanks to a reminder from Roth. He’d received in-game mail—apparently from the real-world.
Dear Rowan,
Congratulations on your recent victory, as I have been informed by my people at Synaptic Entertainment. Players are in turmoil but are growing more veracious in their desire for your defeat by the minute. You have done well along with my second niece. I am also writing to remind you it is important to log off regularly so your injured brain can rest. Lunch should be arriving any moment and left outside the door. The attached computer should be simple to operate.
Regards,
Dr. Vincent Roth
Despite Rowan’s lingering resentment, the doctor was right. He had to take care of his body and recovering brain. Slipping back into that pit of insanity wasn’t an option, wasn’t something he’d inflict upon his Gabrielle. She had turned into that horrible girl in the alternate timeline. Whether it was accurate or not didn’t matter—the possibility was real.
And he needed to play this carefully. Roth was in a position of power here. Rowan couldn’t slip up. Right now, his plan was to stay true to the contract and eventually find a way to get back at Roth. There wasn’t any other choice.
He checked the forums once more before logging. It had descended into utter chaos and an end wasn’t in sight. Synaptic Entertainment had been mysteriously quiet apart from one moderator who posted a whole bunch of empty words. Typical PR-speak. No one bought it.
One thread had over ten thousand posts, growing by the second.
The Water Mage Spire Has Fallen. Posted by Hadrian Miser 1 hour 23 minutes ago.
Please, don’t panic.
1. LeMort and Rowan Black (A new player, Necromancer) allied with Zaine Everlight (Previously sealed S Rank World Boss below Greenwood Spine) and attacked the Water Mage Spire. We don’t know why but I suspect it’s because LeMort wants the rich ambient water mana in that location.
2. The city was evacuated in time thanks to the players who held the gate. No NPC lives were lost but a few high-level Water Mages decided to stay and fight. They died at the battle for the spawnpoint. Funerals will be held at Greenwood Capital, also for those killed at Stonehurst.
3. The king and his guard arrived in time along with player/blessed reinforcements and were close to victory. Zaine was only using mid-level generic tank gear. He trapped the king in a sphere of dark fire but the king couldn’t kill him for the reason below. Zaine also killed over 600 which turned out to be an ultimate summoning skill.
4. Zaine committed suicide and gave the killing blow to LeMort and Rowan. This released a massive dark mana explosion and wiped out the raid apart from a few with quick reactions. The Ultimate summoning completed before the dark mana cleared and cleaned up survivors. Lily got a got off an Examine on them. They were Tortured Nihils, Fallen Angel class.
5. The king was heavily weakened and we believed he has been captured.
6. LeMort and Black were promoted to Tier 6 bosses. We suspect this is a reward for landing killing blows on a T8 boss.
7. LeMort has a new class. Occult-Engineer. She can build trebuchets and shield generators identical to those looted from raids. She has voodoo doll minions which can help construct them.
8. Black wasn’t as impressive. Most of their army of around ten thousand or so was Zaine’s Imps. Black raised the first line of defenders and the undead were weaker than the originals. He mainly spammed an ultimate-like blizzard that had no cooldown and tainting ice blasts.
Not as impressive. The words sank knives into his intestines for they were too true. Gabrielle had stolen the show along with Zaine. He’d almost been dead weight, barely a raid leader, making a minimal difference. But he did contribute, his undead saving precious seconds at the end.
Yes, he’d played his part well enough for a new adventurer.
The good players already started to underestimate him thanks to Hadrian’s comment judging from the comments below.
Rowan flicked to the end, finding a stream of new posts, a few catching his eye.
GotA Segway: They’ve captured the city. Whole area is corrupted and reeking with dark mana. The shields are something else. You have to see this.
Not Insane: Damn, I missed it…
No shit. Rowan could’ve used another party member back there.
GotA Segway: Oh crap, they spotted me. They're using those trebuchets as turrets.
Terry Lee: Run dude. Raid’s over.
Lance Rider: No, it’s not. Zaine is dead and they’re only T6 bosses.
Fenris Wood: We’ll have it back by next week. T6s are nothing.
The Dragoon: wtf is happening??? Player world bosses? Wtf is happening over at Synaptic??? A hundred players just lost their houses!
Gordon Blue: Welcome back, Fenris :)
Lance Rider: Hey Fen! Just in time!
CueTee Pie: Lmao Lance. Take a break before you get more NPCs captured. We need to build up our siege capability (and yes I know the darkies could be reading this).
Lily Satou: It’s public knowledge anyway. Not enough crafters and resources to go around.
Lance Rider: Don’t worry, plans are underway. To LeMort and Black, good battle. But you won’t be holding the king or that city for long! We will bring you to justice for the suffering you have wrought here and in the past.
How melodramatic. Rowan rolled his eyes and—
An idea sprouted before he closed the browser: capitalize on their growing division.
In a spurt of furor, he head-butted the button to start a new thread in the general section and thought out his message.
Greetings, everyone! Posted by Rowan Black <1 minute ago.
From this day forward, the Water Mage Spire shall now be known as the Cute Little Evil Apple. Gabby and I only ask for this one mana-rich area to inhabit and raise our innocent Dark Humans who have been given a second life by the gods. Keep to yourselves and we will leave you be. Cross us and your kingdom of light shall fall to my Undead Legion.
Perfect. He hit the post button after rereading twice. The more naive among them would swallow it whole and jab a rift between themselves and the wiser players.
He’d debated on whether to include Zaine’s layer but settled on leaving it out. Attention was currently on this city and rescuing the king. He’d spotted less than a handful of posts mentioning Stonehurst Mine.
However, the city name was less than satisfactory. Rowan had desired a simple Black Spire while Gabrielle had demanded something with more flair. From a distance, the main shield roughly was in the shape of an apple, so it fit—somewhat. And it was her castle so he’d resigned to the suggestion. His fortress was the Draconian Capital.
Gabrielle’s party icon flashed and re-colored. Her body appeared in a wink of light at the spot she’d logged off at. She puffed to Rowan before his brain adjusted to seeing her again in a rush of emotions.
“I saw your thread. Good idea!” Her features were abuzz with glee.
His Gabrielle was back. Perhaps he could stay logged in for a tad bit longer. Maybe half an hour in-game.
And right. The time compression. The forum could be accessed from the real-world and Gabrielle had mentioned she was a fast eater.
“Thanks,” he said, appreciating the rare compliment.
The browser icon at the bottom right shook and dinged. A red exclamation mark sprang next to it.
A reply? He tapped it open.
Ayla Frost: YOU RUINED THE GAME FOR ME! MY HOUSE AND EVERYTHING I BUILT IS THERE! I HATE YOU!
A post appeared before Rowan could respond sarcastically.
Gabby LeMort: Aww sad… Shoulda built it somewhere more secure ^_^ Told ya siding with the light wasn’t a good idea!
And another—before he could react.
Ayla Frost: YOU BITCH!
Gabrielle’s uncontrolled laugh echoed in the chamber. The crystals hummed in resonance.
Gods, that sound was too good, too delicious and sexy. He could tackle he
r and eat her up right now. She’d like that. His body drifted to hers.
Then last part of the taunt seized his eyes. “She’s a darkie?”
“Yup,” she said in between breaths. “But just barely. Mostly water with a tiny dark affinity.”
“So there a more darkies out there? In hiding?” This might be huge.
Her brows furrowed in thought. “Probably. You only need enough psychopathic traits beyond a certain threshold determined by the AI controller. If your affinity for darkness is low enough, you can suppress it to almost nothing.”
“But you said—”
She said in a rush, “Psychopathic or evil or whatever ya call em are what the AI controller uses to sort players. If ya meet a threshold, it gives you a dark mana affinity. It can change over time. If you’re hateful enough you build up an affinity to dark mana over time. Dark mana also distorts your psychological makeup over time so if you’re exposed to it long enough, you could build up an affinity. Some NPCs are born with it like Zaine or the Dark Humans and they’re not entirely evil. Other ways too.”
Rowan tutted in mellow frustration but reigned himself in. “Why didn’t you explain this before?”
She gave him a long stare, calculating, judging, prodding him with that genius-level intellect. “I wanted to see if you’d figure it out yourself, my clever Rowan. Intelligence makes ya strong. Never forget that.”
So many fucking tests in this blooming relationship.
But it wasn’t any ordinary relationship, was it? It was unique as she was and that’s what drew him to her. He’d have to accept her for better and worse, including these nerve-wracking, so-called tests.
Rowan sighed. “I won’t.”
“Good.”
And even though this was only his second in-game day, she was right. His brashness had inured him a handful of times, nearly jeopardizing his promises to her. He couldn’t allow his feelings and damaged brain to get in the way again, ever.
Like now. His baser instincts were screaming to chew out Gabrielle for all these goddamn tests. His higher-capacities suggested to capitalize on the situation by building on his opening post and swaying any darkies out there. The latter was the obvious route he should trek—so he opened his browser once more and replied to Ayla’s outburst, ignoring the chaos which had spilled from the other thread.
Rowan Black: I am a fair ruler and offer you this only once: Join me and turn to the dark, Ayla. I could use another Water-Dark adventurer. Make the right decision.
A block of granite crashed into his chest and squeezed the air out of his lungs. The chamber spun as Rowan tumbled onto the ground. He slapped away the forum, pulse thudding, and reached for his wand, only to find Gabrielle had picked it from his holster. She pinned him with monumental strength, her face marred with suppressed hurt, near-invisible but there. He’d somehow hurt her.
He swallowed. “Gab?”
Her eyes narrowed by a fraction. Her lips parted after six heartbeats. “You’re not trying to replace me are ya?”
Oh. Just another miscommunication and jealously on her part.
Rowan briefly considered using this to manipulate her before shaking his head. Beneath that jovial character laid something damaged, warped, and empty as what slumbered in him. Draesear had shown him exactly what. “I can never replace you. You’re my beautiful, sexy Gabrielle. You’re all I have now and you alone keep me sane.” He took a breath as she seemingly relaxed. “We need more than a handful dark players on our side if we’re going to have a chance to complete the frozen calamity by launch. That’s all.”
Her tongue rolled through her mouth. “Hmmmm… kay. I’m still watchin’ ya though.” She grinned in a abrupt change of expression and squeaked, “Nyaha. Dontcha dare try to get rid of me, Row-row.”
The name rang in his ears and he pulled under the fragile surface of his psyche, the room blurring and Gabrielle’s blinking eyes morphing to worry.
Row-row… The nickname his mother had given him from before he two or three. Her warm, round face looked down at him and smiled a full, pure smile. His father was also there at the side. His ever-useful parents who had treated him fair and well.
They were waiting for his hearing, waiting for his release, waiting for him on the outside world for whatever irrational reason. Like his irrational attraction to Gabrielle. It had been months since their last visit and he had been annoyed because they had brought him nothing. They’d been so hurt, so sad at this change thanks to bloody Roth.
A pang of guilt twisted his heart as sharp heat cracked across his cheek.
“Rowan!” Gabrielle shouted, crouching at his side. She slapped him once more.
Ambiguous stood next to her. “Maybe his VR unit is malfunctioning.”
For the first time in years, he felt like he was once again Rowan. The revaluation left him speechless. An intense, calming sensation sparked in every nerve.
Gabrielle’s lips wobbled. She said in a small, vulnerable voice. “It shouldn’t be. Uncle Vincnet said he’d personally tuned his pod.” He swore she blinked back tears. “He better not be broken…”
Rowan let out a lungful as he settled down, Gabrielle jolting. “I’m fine.”
A facial tick pulled at her eye. She sighed loudly. “Ya sure?”
He hesitated, unsure of whether to bring up his parents. They’d beyond likely disapprove of Gabrielle. She was the exact opposite of a normal girl and his parents were the definition of normal. It could end in a disaster.
A vague half-truth would suffice. Thankfully Ambiguous was here. “I got a message from your uncle and he mentioned something personal. It shook me a bit. He’s also reminding me to log out often due to my condition. The message rambled on for a while about neurology.”
Ambiguous’ brow arched but she wisely kept her mouth shut.
“Kay,” Gabrielle said.
Then poked his head when he only stared into her relaxing eyes. “Well, why aren’t ya logging out? We’ll take care of this place. I don’t want the mush in your skull fried!” She giggled, happy.
Typical Gabrielle.
“Fine,” he drawled and hit the logout button, reaching around and spanking her behind as his view faded to black.
And then his whole body was on fire and his forehead was hot enough to cook him. Wetness coated his upper lip and he tasted blood. Fucking hell. Roth—or the AI controller—had gotten something wrong with his special calibration.
He struggled for air as the VR pod whirred down, the lid opening with a hiss of cold air. His pulse drummed at the maximum beat. White and black circles blotched his vision.
Lifting his stinging arm, Rowan rolled across the pod, thanking the designer who’d made the needles retract slits within the gel.
He tumbled onto the carpet, failing to stand, and craned his neck up to the desk. Roth wasn’t there as the mail suggested.
Moans and whines tumbled through his bloody lips as blood pooled around his head, now leaking from his ears. The room darkened at the corners and Rowan let the peace of death claim him after a final writing struggle for help. His final thoughts were Gabrielle and his parents.
Epilogue
Dorian Dubois swam onto the sandy shore and choked up salty, mana-filled water which was highly effective in washing away the corrupting dark mana and cleaning his wounds. He chucked his empty health potion flash into his pouch, then reached for his staff.
The little dark mana that flowed through his veins had saved him from Zaine’s death. He'd unsuppressed the dark portion of his raging fire at the last millisecond when he'd realized the boy slit his own throat. The move was so surprising, so bizarre that it had caught the whole raid of experienced and veteran players off-guard. They'd been expecting a sudden retreat or trap to detonate but not that—a self-sacrifice which no other dark boss would do. Especially not a Demon-Knight.
Then those winged beings had forced any survivors to retreat or flee, the Royal Guard included. Everyone had died except for a handful according
to the party list. The king, one Royal Guard member, and four players, himself included. By the looks of the King’s party status, he’d been captured. Lily had lost her beasts to the blast and was… not well.
Dorian waved his staff and chanted the short line for a personal portal, summoning a fiery gate that linked to the spawnstone in Enchanters and Light’s Justice’s joint city. He stepped through after thirty seconds of channeling. His Fire Lord ascension had cut down the cast-time on that by an order of magnitude.
Aeon Chronicles Online_Book 1_Devil's Deal Page 49
