by R J Triveri
“Three.”
All five strikes struck their target, and the fire of their elemental attacks accompanied by the chaos of sound and fury came as quickly as it went. As their strikes resolved, the black shadows at her wound ceased as she slumped unnaturally forward in a way that could only be achieved under a single circumstance.
Event Complete: World Boss Defeated
Experience Awarded: 10,250
Essence Awarded: 1,000
Rank Up - Rank 6 Gunner Achieved, Rank 4 Alchemist Achieved
World Shard: C was added to your inventory.
And Athos wept. He watched for a moment as her body lay on the grass kept green by their instance, only for it to slowly fade to the color around them. The world slowly began to become one again, and despite those around him, he felt so much more alone in it than he had a moment ago.
“We had to, Athos,” Sally finally said after a few moments. “If we hadn’t…”
“That doesn’t make it any easier,” Athos interrupted looking at the pistol that he still held. “I know she was a dungeon boss, but she never did anything to me. This is how I repay her?”
“You gave her what she wanted.”
His tears flowed for a few moments as he watched her lifeless form. “But why did she need it. We haven’t seen a single Suit since we arrived. They couldn’t have been controlling anything.”
A metallic voice echoed for a moment. “Athos.”
“What?” his voice was stronger than he meant it to be, but Rain was an easy target for his anger at that moment.
“The body hasn’t disintegrated.”
His anger only grew for a moment at the pact beast. “So what?” but the beast’s words brought home a crucial point. The wounds were seeping data and light, but she hadn’t left this world. His voice softened a bit as Torrent moved closer. “Why hasn’t she disintegrated?”
****
Ferris smiled as she watched the code unlock from whatever held it in confinement. It was sad to see one of the older AI’s succumb to corruption, but with the region data free again, and that meant the forest could be reformatted. A smile crossed her face as she examined the code’s integrity and prepared to remove the four from the corrupted chunk. At least that had been her plan until a red light flashed across her screen.
Her hands were working quickly, faster than she thought possible as the programming took over her movements as her mind split between two goals. “Unum! The holding server has been breached! An unknown has been transported inside!”
The Unum was quick to answer. “I cannot seal the breach. Block all access protocols however you can and remove it before it becomes more of an issue.”
“As you wish!” The protocols were easy enough. Using one of the oldest tricks that guarded the world of Incipere against the outside, Ferris wrote a simple protocol for the random junk data to flood through the access ports for the routing server. It would create a denial of service recurrence on any new incoming requests and hopefully deny anyone from the outside any more access. She might crash Gama’s section of the server, but the girl could do with a day off anyway.
It only took a moment for the breach notification to vanish, but the biggest problem was still glaring at her in defiance. Ferris could not deal with the intruder. The data was too alien in nature, so Auxi did the only thing she knew would get results.
Auxiliary Reporter One => Athos Aramis: Athos, this is Ferris. Remember, we met a while ago? Well, you have a problem on its way to you as you read this. I can only assume that it’s after the residual data from the world boss. Be on your guard. You cannot let the data fall before I can process it!
****
As if a ghost had passed through him, Athos looked to the others. He raised himself and began looking from side to side as his ammo switched to Pyrothium. “Did you see that?”
“See what?” Trina asked as Torrent looked him over.
“This isn’t over yet. Something is on its way.”
“We haven’t seen anything since we arrived. What makes you think there’s anything else here?” Torrent asked but still raised his sword all the same.
“Ferris told me,” Athos answered, but his answer only created more questions.
“Who?” Torrent pressed.
“Just trust me,” the alchemical arm assured. “It wants Ioh’s remains. There’s something in her data, but we can’t let it get at her.”
Sally looked at him somewhat concerned. “Athos, you’re not making any sense.”
In the distance on the stage that once had dryads and sumac beasts as an audience, a single man rose up larger than life, dressed in his finest black suit, and spoke. “Sometimes, the crazy ones make the most sense, Miss.” All eyes turned towards the stage as the man’s voice boomed across the glade. “It’s good to see you again, Athos. Though, I doubt you can say the same for me.”
“Paul,” his hand clenched the pistol’s grip in his hand as he looked up at the man. “You bastard!”
Paul simply grinned as he took a step forward to the edge of the stage. “Now Athos, is that any way to talk to a man that holds the fate of your life in his hands?”
Athos’s eyes were fixed on Paul as the alchemical arm readied every ability at his disposal. “You’re outnumbered and outclassed. Drop the act and just give up already.”
The suit-wearing man smiled, pulling out his own gun, a polished, fancy piece that glimmered black with flecks of green in the digital sunlight. “Or what, you’ll shoot? Again? How did that work against Lucas?” Paul studied his gun for a moment weighing the piece in his hand with little interest for the other at the moment. “Was it ten percent? Five?” He took another step forward and pointed the pistol at Athos’s head. “I don’t intend to make the same mistake Lucas did, Athos. I…”
“Critical Shot.”
As far as Athos was concerned, he was done talking. Intent on wiping the look off of Paul’s face, his skill flew from the barrel of the pistol and engulfed the Suit in a growing ball of flames. The heat was intense, even from the position the alchemical arm was in and could only imagine what being hit like that, burning at the very core of the Pyrothium, must have been like. As far as he was concerned, it was too good for the man after all the trouble he had caused. Whether he became a Red or not, it didn’t matter to him as much anymore. He watched, waiting for the flames to die, to see what damage Paul had taken, but they continued. From on the stage, the fires instead grew outward before exploding with the sound of a cannon.
Standing at the center of the blast radius was the Suit.
“Shit, that was hurt more than I thought it would.” A smile planted itself on Paul’s face as he spoke again, “My friend! Run the command prompts we talked about, then give me something creative to deal with these insects. Would you?”
The static erupted from the silence again and then promptly died down as Athos readied another shot with Sally’s drones quickly joining him on offense. He wouldn’t let Paul win again as the trigger pulled back for a regular shot of Pyrothium. Paul easily dodged this time, and the drones had little chance as Paul’s avatar flashed white, blinding the drones and sending them off in another direction. When the light faded, all instances of burning or charring were removed. He looked as good as the first moment he had stepped onto the stage. Another moment later, accompanied by the laughter of Paul, Athos felt his body freeze in place. No status change, no warnings, he and the others simply stopped, paralyzed in place like statues. Unable to move or speak, the party shifted their focus.
(Party) Athos Aramis: What just happened? I can’t move!
(Party) Sally Queen: Neither can I!
(Party) Torrent Lase: We’ve been paralyzed, but he didn’t use an attack. We would’ve have seen it.
(Party) Trina Rorna: I think we’re concerned about the wrong thing. He’s coming.
Paul took his time getting off the stage, leg by leg. He let them dangle a little like a child before dropping down onto the grass and
taking slow, meaningful steps towards the group. From the corner of his eye, he saw the armored form of Rain press the attack only to be tossed to the side like a rag doll.
“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to do this? How long I’ve lingered here and just survived? I’m finally free.” His gun was raised he finished his sentence. “It really is a pity that I can’t have a little more fun with you. His orders, you know?” Paul let loose his first shot at Athos and connected with the center of his forehead.
Pain echoed through his form as he watched his integrity take a heavy hit.
Critical hit! Damage Received - 32% integrity remaining - Integrity Critical
“Huh, figured that would have been it for you.” His eyes turned to his pact beast making another run at him. “I’ll be back for you in a moment.” A moment later, a spear was sticking through his chest. “You think that will stop me? I am a god now!” With the gusto only an ego manic could manage, he ripped the spear from his chest and crushed it easily only for it to compile back into Rain’s outstretched hand.
****
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Ferris just kept repeating the curse as she watched the code bend and break around the intruder. The more she tried to fight back, the odder the modifications to the codes became. She had tried banishing him, debuffing him, modding him, even going as far as defying Unum’s prime decree and attempting to delete his core data, but all her efforts were blocked before the keystrokes could be executed. Whatever, whoever was helping him, it couldn’t be human. Not even an AI of her caliber could bend code that quickly to account for so many variables.
She had failed to stop him so far, but there was one thing she could continue to do as she pulled up the visual and saw her Rain continuing the fight. Her mind blanked as she shut off all non-essential processes. Anything that would slow her programming speeds were removed, and her focus shifted to her patchwork beast even as a warning flashed in her narrowed vision.
Warning: Processing speed reaching critical levels
Recommended remedy: Rest
The Auxi ignored the warning as her mind finished rerouting her subroutines and lower priority functions to Rain. As far as she was concerned, two could play at this game. Besides, she had to keep an eye on her charge.
All the while, Unum watched as the Auxi continued her task.
All the while, it waited for the end it knew was quickly approaching.
Without her local hearing, she couldn’t fathom the words that it spoke to her. “I am sorry. I cannot help, my child. If I do, Incipere will be lost.”
War
A few different ideas rushed around in Athos’s head as the pain throbbed. The alchemical arm was almost blinded from it, but since they were still frozen by whatever effect Paul had used on them, his face couldn’t contort to properly express himself.
(Party) Sally Queen: Athos! Are you okay?
A moment passed before he could see the words and give her a proper response.
(Party) Athos Aramis: That hurt like hell.
(Party) Sally Queen: He was trying to kill you! Of course, it hurt!
Their own silence was punctuated every few moments by the sounds sickening sound of metal colliding with flesh or the shattering of metal like the twinkling of a chandelier. Being frozen in place, all the group could do was talk and watch their static direction.
(Party) Torrent Lase: How is he doing this?
Behind them, the sounds of combat grew louder. Whatever was happening, hope began to grow for the group. Whatever he had done to them, Rain was immune to it, so they had a chance. Another crash brought their hopes down with it as Rain flew back and collided with the stage in front of them.
(Party) Sally Queen: Shit! How can he be that strong?
(Party) Athos Aramis: Couldn’t he have blessings or something like that?
(Party) Torrent Lase: I’ve never seen any buffs that could let you do what he’s doing. Not that I can really see what he’s doing.
(Party) Trina Rorna: It doesn’t make any sense.
Athos watched as Rain got back to its feet and returned to the offensive with spear drawn and determination driving its renewed assault. The way that Paul just shrugged it off, the way he had spoken before, he had seen people like that before.
(Party) Athos Aramis: He’s hacking!
It was the only explanation that made sense to him. The paralysis, the ungodly strength, the way a single man could even stand up to something that could nearly one shot a dungeon boss… not to mention what he had said earlier about command prompts and his unknown associate.
(Party) Torrent Lase: That’s impossible, but it’s the only thing that makes sense.
(Party) Trina Rorna: But what can we do.
(Party) Sally Queen: He can’t be allowed to do this!
(Party) Athos Aramis: Easier said than done.
****
With the codebreaker concentrating on Rain, Ferris had time to start undoing the local damage and continue her task. First on her list was to take the fire off Rain. She could feel her mind burning, overheating from the sheer task of controlling so much of the code at once: blocking the corruption, modifying Rain, undoing the damage to the code of the adventurers trapped with it, and not to mention trying to recover the rest of the data from the dungeon boss.
With her mind in so many places at once, something had to give as a voice coiled past her personal defenses and into her thoughts.
-There you are.-
Her concentration broke for a moment before forcing itself back together. In that instant, if Ferris could still feel a chill, that voice would have caused it. It only took her a fraction of a moment in her heightened state to realize that she had been back-hacked, but it didn’t stop her progress. She wouldn’t stop. She couldn’t as she realized just why Unum couldn’t assist her.
-You can’t win against him as he is.-
The voice rang in her head clear as day just as the first did. The words seethed despite their disconnect from a face, but somehow, it only drove home Unum’s behavior. It all made sense as she continued her work and attempted to block the intruder out.
-Once he is done with representatives, it will be over.-
She continued in her ignorance of its words, at least until an idea struck her. A few more keystrokes and it was done as her mind continued to inch towards overheating. Now, came the hard part.
Data Extraction: 10% complete
****
Moments after he had spoken those words, Athos fell backward from surprise and landed hard on his rear. His whole body felt like he had taken a night’s sleep, and his status confirmed it as each of the bars in his vision returned to their maximum integrity.
“We’re free,” Trina said quickly turning to put Paul squarely in her sights. “I’m going to kill that fancy-looking bastard.”
“We can agree on that,” Sally said as she made a motion and recalled her drones, one fewer than last time answered her call.
“I have an idea about that,” Athos said as he got his footing back. He looked to his friends and then to Rain as he took out the first brew he found on his own. A moment later, the wispy blue bottle of the Leritate Omnes materialized into his hand. “I don’t know what he’s capable of, but he’s still just one man. If our luck holds out…”
“But what about Ioh?” Sally asked seeing the body slowly begin to decay pixel by pixel.
He looked back and sighed. “Just makes it a bit harder on us, doesn’t it?”
Torrent drew his blade back up to his shoulder and took a deep breath as he evaluated the group. “I’ll keep watch over her for what good it’ll do.”
The sound of a fist crushing steel brought the urgency to the forefront as Rain retreated from a normally bone-shattering attack. “Come back, you coward!”
Looking to the rest of his group, Athos let his thoughts vocalize. “Look, I’m not sure if I’m the best one to be leading, but at this point, I can’t do any more da
mage than him.” His gaze watched as Paul threw his gun to the side and faded midway to the ground back into his inventory. Even with his enhanced abilities, his frustration seemed to grow by the second.
“I said come back!” Paul’s voice grew almost ragged as his body worked to keep up.
“On second thought, he doesn’t really seem to care about her anymore,” Torrent added picking up his tone a bit. “I say we take him.”
Before Torrent could get in another word or Athos answer him, Paul’s voice rang out again. “I need more speed!” He cried as he continued to chase after the pact beast. “Yes! Just do it! It has to die, Sir!” In an instant, his body seemed to flicker. A moment later, his stride increased. A matter of precious seconds passed as his already impressive speed doubled, and he impacted with Rain, sending the pair tumbling to the ground.
However, the scene wasn’t quite what Athos expected. As Paul flew back, the group was surprised by the pained look on his face as he collided with a pile of the dryad’s supplies.
“Holy shit,” escaped his lips as he watched Paul struggle to his feet. The Suit gripped his arm as if it were broken despite the lack of bones as he finally got to his feet. In another moment, the environment around Paul flickered. The air around him glinting light but wavered in the same flickers as his avatar.
“Somethings wrong,” Trina pointed out as the form continued to flicker for a moment before stabilizing.
A voice rang out a moment later as a spear materialized back into her outstretched hand. “Master Athos, he’s weakened.”
That didn’t make any sense, but Athos wasn’t going to complain about it.
****
Data Extraction: 20% complete
It was going slower than Ferris would have liked, and the voice in her head was anything but helpful. It hadn’t even been five minutes, and it wouldn’t shut itself up. Nagging her like an itch she couldn’t scratch, or a bug she couldn’t troubleshoot. Not that she’d ever had an itch or a bug, but she was starting to get the idea as her ignore feature failed.
-Do you know the best thing about the humans?-
