The Virtual Realm

by Daniel Perusko

  “You can be really annoying at times, Stacy,” Dusk chuckled.

  All of Stacy’s worries were washed away by the tides of relief. It would seem Dusk was back to his old self; his old abrasive self. She couldn’t help but smile at having her best friend back.

  “If it gets you off your lazy ass, then good.”

  “So what did you have in mind once you got me out of this room?”

  “I was going to ask you to pick up where we left off.”

  A confident smirk appeared on the Phantom’s visage. He had sat on the bench for too long. It was time to get back in the action. It was time to move on with his life. It was time to put one foot forward in front of the other and walk.

  “I was going to suggest the same thing. We have to reach max level as soon as possible. I want out of this world.”

  It occurred to Dusk that there was a way they could speed up the process and level even quicker. He would save it for when they met up with Frost. He knew Stacy wouldn’t like the idea.

  The three virtual pioneers met at the Gate of Stone, ready to scrape off the rust that had accumulated from a week of lazing about like sloths. Dusk prepared himself for what was to come—the proposition he knew Stacy would despise.

  “Stacy, I’ve been thinking about it and...” he paused, knowing his next words might stir the hornet’s nest. “I’ve decided to participate in the PvP tournament.”

  Stacy glared intensely into his very soul in a simmered rage.

  “What?”

  “I’ve decided to help Xyla in the tournament and... I want you and Frost to help out too. Please.”

  “I’ll fight with you.” Frost grinned with gusto. “Count me in.”

  Stacy’s furious eyes wandered to the Knight, crushing him under their weight before shooting back to their original position, piercing through Dusk’s composure. “I’m angry enough that you’re deciding you want to participate in this bloodbath, but you actually think I’m going to have a hand in this?”

  “Please, just this one time,” Dusk pleaded. “We’ll get weapons that are twice as powerful. We’ll be able to get ahead of everyone else in the leveling process.”

  “No,” Stacy said with absolute authority. “I won’t do it, and I can’t believe you’d want to either. Did you forget what happened last time we did PvP?”

  Dusk’s eyes turned somber as the terrible memories flashed through him like fleeting sparks. “I haven’t forgotten, but this is different. The game doesn’t let people die in arenas or battlegrounds. So it really is more like a game and less like real death.”

  “I don’t care.” Stacy dismissed Dusk’s explanation. “I’ve made my decision.”

  Dusk realized this discussion had upset her, but he didn’t care. Her refusal to budge or even hear him out had prevented any semblance of care that he might have had.

  “Why do you hate PvP so much anyways?”

  Stacy sucked in a pocket of air, as if she were about to take a dive into unknown depths.

  “PvP isn’t fun to me. Anything that is competitive, people take it so seriously, when I just want to have fun. Mobs don’t talk shit or complain when you beat them, people do. Bottom line, PvP just isn’t fun for me.”

  Dusk stayed silent, because she had a very good point. He couldn’t deny anything she was saying about the shit talking or the competitive factor. If beating her in an argument and begging wouldn’t work, he would just have to try this from a different angle: Quid pro quo.

  “How about this; if you do this, just this once, I’ll do anything you want in return—a one-time favor.”

  Stacy’s mouth curled into a slight smirk as she realized the implications of this sentence, and the power it would afford her.

  “Anything, huh? I’ll remember you said that.”

  A moment of silence pervaded under the gate as Stacy weighed the two options against one another. She hated PvP, it was true. But if she did this, she could ask her friend to do absolutely anything, and he would have to listen. Which option was more desirable to her? Inwardly, she was smiling wickedly as she thought of the possibilities, though she would not let this show on the outside.

  “Since you want this so badly, I’ll help just this one time. But only this one time; in return, when I call on you for your one-time favor, you can’t refuse no matter what it is. Remember you promised me.”

  Dusk nodded vehemently. The words ‘you can’t refuse no matter what it is,’ echoed unpleasantly through him. Even so, he needed to win this tournament, and so did his friends. Their very future might depend on it. Their lives and everyone else’s may just hinge on these unique weapons.

  “I promise,” he agreed, feeling like he had just signed a contract with a blood seal.

  ~~~~~

  September 26, 2018

  Tsuki stood in the hodgepodge sea of players which had now shaped itself into an orderly line as she basked in the towering sight of the coliseum. This was where the first PvP tournament would take place. The next stage of her mission was underway. She sincerely hoped deep within her heart that a worthy candidate would come out of this primal competition that derived its roots from ancient history.

  She knew all too well that a time would come when they would need a fifth player for their purposes. Hopefully he would fit into Phoenix, making a perfect pentagon, augmenting their teamwork even further. Tsuki laughed inwardly at the fact she allowed herself to get such high hopes for even a moment. Realistically, she would be happy if such a candidate would shine through in this tournament. She dearly wished against all odds that she was not wasting her precious time.

  The line slowly inched forward like molasses, taking up to an hour before she was finally near the forefront. It was a good thing she had gotten there early.

  “Well, well, well,” came a familiar voice from behind.

  “So it’s you. What took you so long, Jed?”

  “I was busy with the missus.”

  “She didn’t want to join you here?”

  Omni had a light chuckle when he reminisced about Scarlet’s reply back then.

  “She said it was a waste of time.”

  “That sounds like her.”

  Tsuki dug her hands into her pockets, feeling around for the trinkets of paper that would decide their fate for the next few hours. As her fingers got a feel of the flimsy stubs, she brought them out of their cottony cave, proudly displaying them for Omni.

  “Good thing I only bought two tickets then, or did Drew come with you?”

  “You and I both know he’s more interested in actually participating in a tournament like this rather than watching.”

  Tsuki merely chuckled at the comment. They both knew Scarlet and Reaper all too well. As amusing as it was, she sometimes wished that those two would give people more of a chance instead of writing them off so quickly. It’s quite possible that the jewel they were looking for may be submerged in the sea of blood that was this tournament.

  At that moment, the usher allowed them passage into the den of gladiators.

  “Well, Jed, what do you say we find our seats, shall we?”

  “Indeed.”

  Tsuki had something like an extra sense that was coursing through her veins like wildfire: pulsating breakers that crashed into the rocky reefs of her consciousness without end. There was something or someone here. Someone with great potential, she could feel it.

  “Do you think we’ll find anyone here that can help us?” Tsuki asked, wanting the mystic’s take on this.

  Omni’s face slowly curved into a clever smile. “Who knows?”

  Tsuki gazed deep into his stoic face. Of course he knew. For some reason, he wanted to keep it secret for now. Perhaps he wanted her to come to the conclusion on her own.

  Omni followed Tsuki to their chosen seats in the front row which offered a good view of the events that would soon unfold. This panorama would allow her to take in everything. Every swipe of the sword, every smoldering ball of fire, every single maneuver would
be visible to her all-consuming eyes.

  “Very nice seats.”

  “I reserved these seats a week in advance and paid a steep price for them.”

  “It will be well worth it.”

  ~~~~~

  The day of the tournament had arrived. This was it. Days and days after skewering Menos, Dusk would once again find himself in the realm of player conflict. He would once again send his blade ripping through human flesh. Was he truly prepared to conquer his fear? Either way, he would never trounce his weakness if he didn’t confront the beast. He would vanquish his inner demons and come out mighty, unbroken, and victorious. The determined Phantom and his staunchest supporter met up with Frost and Xyla to start this tournament of fate.

  Xyla put her hands on her hips as a look of intrigue crossed her face. Stacy was the last person she expected to see. Wasn’t she the one who constantly denounced PvP, condemning it as a barbaric, animalistic blood sport? Yet now here she was, willing to participate in the very activity she had insistently maligned. The sight of this greatly amused Xyla, who had to muster all her inner strength not to burst into an eruption of laughter right then and there.

  “Ohhh? How did you get Stacy to come with you for this tournament? I thought she hated PvP.”

  Stacy responded swiftly and sternly, intent to quell any further questions.

  “Make no mistake, I do hate PvP. Drake promised me a one-time favor for this. He owes me.”

  Of course, now it all made sense. Poor Dusk. She shuddered to think about how Stacy would take advantage of this one-time favor. Oh well, not her problem. Better him than her.

  “A favor, huh? So that’s what it took.”

  “Yep.”

  “Anyways, we still need another player for this, don’t we? It’s a five vs. five tournament,” Dusk stated, trying to change the subject. He didn’t want to think about that right now. Winning, becoming stronger, that was all he cared about.

  An unknown male voice responded to this question eagerly.

  “About that... I can help you guys with that if you want.”

  The voice belonged to a young looking man of average height. He had gingerbread colored hair with thin rimmed glasses resting atop his nose. His build resembled that of a player who was still behind the computer controlling an avatar remotely—a complete nerd in appearance. If anything, this sort of build suited a spell caster. Regardless, it was clear from his heavy plates he was a class that fought on the front lines. On his body was thick armor drenched in a rusty hue—a single small spike protruding from each shoulder pad. A scarlet greatsword that seemed way too big for him weighed upon his back. One end of the sword was a straight edge with several tiny spikes extending like shark teeth. The other side of the sword smoothed off into a rounded edge. The blade extended, nearly dwarfing the man in height.

  Dusk eyed this stranger curiously.

  “Who are you?”

  “Oh right, my name’s Kevlar. I’m a Berserker as you can see. You said you guys needed one more person to help in your PvP, right? I’m by myself. I’ve been looking for people to group with for the tournament. I was a former gladiator in World of Lorecraft.”

  Berserker was the only damage class whose defenses were even more stalwart than that of a Dark Knight. Like the Dark Knight, they had the mobility of a tortoise compared to classes like Phantom or Monk, but the power behind their attacks could shake the ground. They did have a ability to make up for their lack of mobility, which they could use every so often. This move would send them into a line drive, like a baseball thrown by a major league pitcher. They would throw themselves at the enemy, unconcerned with maneuverability, seeking only to go in one direction—forward. Berserkers were a hybrid class, which meant they could build themselves to be a tank or damage dealer, depending upon what they were willing to sacrifice. A Berserker could not be both of these things at once. The biggest downside of this class was its inability to heal itself or others. Berserkers had abilities which increased their damage done, but it caused them to take more damage themselves. A healer would find themselves focusing their attention on Berserkers far too often, as they were gluttons for punishment. If they decided to be tanks, however, it was a different story.

  Stacy’s eyebrows lifted, her expression akin to a deer in headlights.

  “Gladiator? World of Lorecraft?”

  “It means he was one of the top .1% of PvP players in World of Lorecraft, which was a hardcore PvP game,” Dusk answered matter-of-factly.

  This was quite an accomplishment in and of itself, as World of Lorecraft was the only MMO up until now that had what could be considered a challenging PvP. To be the top .1% of PvPers in that game meant you would be the top .1% of PvPers in any MMO that exists. World of Lorecraft was the proving ground for competitive MMO combat.

  “Right you are,” Kevlar nodded. “So, do you guys want my help or not?”

  Dusk rubbed his chin as he thought this through. So, if this player is telling the truth, he might even be as good as me. If we take him into our group, we’ll win for sure. Still, something about him bothers me. I don’t really like his personality. I don’t know why though, it’s something I can’t put my finger on yet. Anyways, this game is bigger than that. I have to put my personal feelings aside for the time being. I hope nothing negative comes of this.

  “Well, we could use it I suppose.” Dusk looked around at everyone in his group to gather opinions, not wanting to be a dictator. “What do you think?”

  “I’m down,” Frost replied; as far as he was concerned, the more the merrier. There was really no one he didn’t get along with.

  “He seems cut and dry and to the point, I like him,” Xyla answered enthusiastically. She wished everyone got straight to the point instead of sugarcoating things. Sweetening words merely made them taste all the more repugnant to her.

  “I don’t care,” Stacy shrugged. “I just wanna get this tournament over with.” She would definitely make sure Dusk repaid her for this.

  “Then it’s settled.” Kevlar grinned smugly.

  Dusk folded his arms and muttered, “Mmm, I suppose so. How long until the tournament starts?”

  “About thirty minutes. How about inviting me to your group?” Kevlar phrased it as a demand more than a request.

  Kevlar received a prompt shortly thereafter.

  Dusk has invited you to a group

  (A) Accept (D) Decline

  Clicking the accept button, his eyes darted around the party list as he assessed the group composition.

  Hmm...Cleric, Phantom, Monk, and Knight. I guess I’ll have to be a damage dealer for this, since we already have a tank.

  Thirty minutes later the tournament had begun. The five players received a prompt which beckoned them to enter their first arena match. Each player was enveloped by a stream of light once they accepted the invitation.

  They found themselves behind a pair of wooden doors with sand lurking beneath their feet. There was a small slit near the top of the doors where they could peek out, a tiny window as to what awaited them shortly. Dusk looked through the slit and found the stands wrapped around into a circle—no—a coliseum. Beyond his expectations, there were spectators filling the seats above. He didn’t think the tournament would be this popular, but it seemed a lot of people were looking forward to this. He felt like he was a real gladiator in the Roman Coliseum of old. There were four stone pillars erected in the arena; two stairways led the way up to the narrow upper walkways, connected by two bridges that crossed in an intersection of havoc in the middle. Kevlar took notice of the surroundings and began relaying his strategy to the group.

  “You, the Cleric, what was your name again?”

  “It’s Stacy.”

  “Right, Stacy. Since you’re the healer, they are gonna be coming after you. There are stairways that lead up to the bridges above; you need to stay up there at all costs. If the enemies aren’t stupid they’ll come after you for sure. That’s when you use your knockbacks
; you have two of them. One only works on one person and the other is an area of effect. Aim your knockbacks to knock them off the bridge if they come after you.”

  “Uh huh.” I know I have these knockbacks already; he doesn’t need to tell me that, she grumbled to herself.

  Kevlar turned to look at Frost.

  “You stay close to Stacy the whole time, using your to protect her from damage. Don’t stray farther than ten meters away from her.”

  “All right, got it!”

  Kevlar craned his neck to finally gaze upon Dusk and Xyla. “You two are with me. We’ll focus down the healer as our first target, and change to a damage dealer if we can’t get the healer down. Make sure to stun the healer before we swap. Each of you has one stun, so Dusk you’ll be the first stun with your . Then the Monk will follow up with . We’ll swap like that between the healer and a damage dealer as many times as needed, got it?”

  Xyla simply nodded, while Dusk stood still, stewing in his perceived indignation, remaining mute.

  “Do you understand, Dusk?” Kevlar asked, seeking an affirmative answer.

  “Yeah.”

  “Good, then don’t fuck it up.”

  “I won’t fuck anything up; just make sure you keep up your end.”

  “That won’t be a problem.”

  The timer until the arena doors opened for the combatants counted down. In five seconds the first fated match of the tournament would begin.

  5...

  Who does he think he is?

  4...

  He thinks he’s hot shit just because he got gladiator in World of Lorecraft?

  3...

  Hell, I did that, as well as a plethora of other achievements in many other games, and he’s treating me like I’m lesser.