The hulking bone armor abruptly dashed away from the game master, sprinting to the ledge. Its thick legs struck the stone floor in a series of thunderous crashes as it raced across the room. In the same moment, Frank lunged toward the game master from behind, his axes cutting through the air toward the man and forcing his attention away from Jason.
“You better focus on me,” Frank roared. Florius turned with a confused expression that quickly shifted to disdain when he caught sight of the burly warrior.
Meanwhile, Jason neared the ledge, and approximately twenty zombies jumped onto his armor, the snakelike arms wrapping around the undead and holding them against the bone frame. Then Jason turned back to the center of the room. In the brief time it had taken to load his zombies onto the bone armor, Frank had not fared well. He lay on the ground, broken, burned, and bleeding. Florius stood over him with a contemptuous expression.
“You think to challenge me, boy? I’m a god here!” His staff converted to a familiar fire lance that loomed over Frank’s prone form.
“Gods don’t bleed,” Frank spat. He coughed hard, droplets of blood spraying the floor in his blood. “Besides, I was just a distraction.” He grinned up at the man, his teeth stained crimson.
Florius whirled, but it was too late. Jason’s last free arm wrapped his body and pulled him in close. Then the bone suit crouched, its ivory legs snapping and cracking. Like a spring, the legs unwound quickly, and the group shot toward the ceiling. Florius looked up in surprise, his face hovering a few feet from Jason’s.
“What are you doing?” he screamed, his eyes wide as he saw the ceiling looming above them.
“Ending this,” Jason replied darkly. His hands moved quickly, and a dark miasma of energy engulfed the bone armor and its passengers as it rocketed toward the multicolored ceiling. The energy grew until it blotted out the glow of the crystals, only Florius’ angry face visible through the haze. The game master’s hands desperately tried to form a series of gestures, but Jason stopped him by shifting and shaking him violently with the bone arm.
Jason’s spell completed just as the group neared the ceiling. All of his zombies exploded simultaneously in a deafening explosion. The force of the blast carved a crater in the stone ceiling and instantly disintegrated Jason’s bone armor. Jason’s and Riley’s bodies were shredded by the dark energy and shrapnel that cascaded around them, and only Florius remained. He was engulfed in a maelstrom of dark mana that peeled at his magma shields, ripping the material away from his skin faster than it could form.
Then Florius crashed onto the stone floor, knocking the wind from his lungs. He looked up to see several tons of rock descending upon him as the ceiling slowly collapsed with a deafening roar. His vision was blurred by the blood that ran down his face, and his broken hands frantically tried to complete a teleportation spell. He needed to get away from here.
Yet, at that moment, he felt a pair of hands grab his own, interrupting his spellcasting. Frank’s bloodied face looming in his vision. “Time to die asshole,” Frank hissed.
Then several thousand tons of rock and debris buried the pair, the weight, and momentum of the collapsing cavern proving too much even for Florius’ protective spells.
System Message
You have died.
Thanks for playing Awaken Online!
Chapter 34 - Remorseful
Alex sat in a large leather chair in his study. For all he knew, his father might be home right now, but he hadn’t made any effort to check. He was currently watching the Vermillion Live broadcast, reveling in the attention his victory in Grey Keep had garnered. Although, now that he thought about it, he should probably start calling the city by its proper name; the Crystal Reach.
He could feel the familiar, pleasant sensation seep through his mind as he watched the announcer recount the details of the rebellion that had occurred within the city yet again. Screenshots of his in-game character were plastered behind the woman. He still marveled at his resplendent armor. He cut an imposing, iconic figure for his new city.
“This is an incredible accomplishment for any player,” the woman said with a brilliant smile. “So far, only two players have managed to conquer an in-game city, converting the structures and residents to one of the magic affinities.”
The screen behind her shifted again, now showing a view of the Twilight Throne. Its dark, corrupted towers stretched into the endless black expanse that perpetually hung over the city. “As many of you know,” the woman continued, waving at the screen behind her, “Jason is the first player to have taken control of a city. In fact, he accomplished this feat within the first real-world week of release!”
Alex clenched his fists involuntarily. After his conversation with the Lady and his choice to follow the Path of the Warrior, the numbing void had returned immediately. He had given himself over to the blissful emptiness in relief, and he was no longer plagued with the emotional turmoil that had held him back for the last few days. The broadcast made him want to lash out and destroy something. He couldn’t understand why anyone would compare someone like him to that welfare case.
The announcer hesitated for a moment, her face taking on a confused expression as she touched a hand to her ear. “I-I’m sorry,” she said, directing this comment at the camera. “There is some breaking news!”
The woman looked flabbergasted at the information that was being relayed to her, seemingly at a loss as to how to begin. Then she took a deep breath and launched into a hesitant explanation. “It appears that a player has managed to… well, he has slain one of the game masters!”
Alex’s undivided attention was now on the screen. He could hear the whisper in the back of his mind grow louder, and a hollow knot twisted in his stomach. Who could have accomplished this feat? Everyone knew that the game masters were practically invincible. They had a reputation for ‘accidentally’ demolishing towns.
“Since we at Vermilion Live have access to the latest and most up-to-date player videos, we are able to show you the final moments of this epic battle!”
The screen behind the woman shifted. The video clip began from the perspective of a player, lying on his side on the ground of a stone cavern. The player tag in the corner of the video showed that they were witnessing the perspective of someone named “Frank.” The jagged rock walls were illuminated in a multicolored glow. Frank’s breath came in heaving gasps and the camera tilted as he struggled to rise.
A deafening explosion rocked the cavern, and the camera spun as Frank turned. An enormous, expanding wave of dark energy rippled across the crystalline ceiling. Glowing crystals exploded violently in a shower of stone and debris. Then a lone body sailed out of the cloud, hurtling directly toward the ground.
As the body crashed into the stone floor, the camera perspective shifted to the game master. He stared straight at the ceiling, blinking rapidly to try to clear his eyes of the blood that ran freely down his face. His hand appeared in the frame as he rubbed at his eyes. As the view cleared, it revealed a terrifying scene. A mountain of stone and crystal was falling toward the man, and he drew in a sharp breath. Then Frank’s bloodied face loomed in the camera, filling the screen. He stared down at the game master with hate-filled eyes.
“Time to die, asshole,” Frank hissed. The rocks struck the two men that grappled on the floor, and the feed went dark.
The announcer reappeared on screen. She looked a bit shocked by the dramatic scene that had played out in the clip, having seen it for the first time along with her audience. She cleared her throat delicately before continuing, “All players logged into the game during the death of the game master received the following prompt.”
Immediately, a floating blue screen appeared in front of the camera.
Universal System Message
The Twilight Throne’s first guild,
For this feat, every NPC and player in
the Twilight Throne will be granted a 20% bonus to experience and skill growth for an in-game week.
Tremble mortals, for no one is safe from the darkness. - the Dark One
“Frankly, this is incredible,” the woman exclaimed. “Until today, we didn’t know that the game masters were mortal. Many had considered them invincible system administrators.” She hesitated for a moment as though uncertain how to continue. “It’s surprising that they were not granted immunity by the developers… but I expect that this was intended to preserve the realistic nature of the game.”
The woman glanced behind her at a still image of the three members of
“They’re truly incredible,” the announcer said softly, her eyes on the image behind her.
Alex’s fist slammed into the armrest of his chair. “Again?” he snarled incredulously. “Jason surpassed me again?” He flipped through the gaming channels and realized that the story of the game master’s death was airing on every station. Alex’s achievement in the Crystal Reach was being quickly overshadowed by Jason’s latest accomplishment.
The insidious whisper in the back of his mind grew louder until he was almost overwhelmed by the voice. He closed his eyes, pressing the palms of his hands against his ears in an attempt to drown out the noise. Then he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. He started, opening his eyes and turning slightly. Pale, slender fingers rested on his shoulder. The nails were immaculately manicured, and Alex caught a whiff of a strangely familiar perfume.
A feminine voice spoke from behind him, “Don’t worry, my dear boy. We’ll simply do what Lanes do best; eliminate the competition.”
***
Jason sat at the kitchen counter in his aunt’s bungalow, stirring a bowl of cereal idly as his mind wandered. He wasn’t certain what had happened after his fight with the game master the previous evening. He expected he had passed out. The stress of the previous few hours in-game, coupled with casting his Custom Skeleton spell must have put him over the edge.
A faint worry tickled at the back of his mind. He wasn’t certain what had happened to his army or the newly-formed NPCs. He also didn’t know what had become of the game master. He didn’t have the fortitude to face logging back in or checking the news channels. He simply sat in silence, brooding over his bowl.
Angie chose that moment to walk into the kitchen. She stopped abruptly as she saw the almost palpable cloud hanging over Jason’s head. “So,” she began tentatively as she edged toward the fridge. “I’m actually a bit nervous to ask you what’s wrong this time.”
Jason merely grunted in response. He didn’t know what to say. His friend had died because of him. Yet how was he going to explain that the friend in question hadn’t been real? Even as he thought about it, he cringed at how stupid it all sounded and then immediately felt guilty for diminishing Rex’s death. He had been in this spiral for a while.
Angie grabbed a bowl from a cabinet, poured herself some cereal, and sat down across from Jason at the small kitchen island. She didn’t say anything for a long time, simply taking slow bites of her breakfast and waiting patiently.
Finally, Jason couldn’t take it anymore. “I killed him alright! He wasn’t real and I shouldn’t care, but I still killed him.” He could feel tears budding in his eyes. Was a game supposed to make him feel like this?
Angie looked at him calmly. “I’m going to need a bit more to go on than that. Should I be calling the cops or a shrink?” she asked in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Jason couldn’t help but chuckle slightly, resting his face in his hands to hide the tears in his eyes. “Probably the shrink,” he muttered, his voice muffled by his hands.
“So, what happened?” Angie asked with a smile.
“One of the in-game characters and leaders of my city died last night,” he began, his voice cracking slightly. “He was one of the first characters I befriended in-game. Now I’m responsible for his death since I came up with the plan that got him killed.” He hesitated and then dropped his hands, staring at the bowl in front of him. “I feel so stupid. It’s just a game, but at the same time, it feels so real. I knew him, and he’s not coming back.”
He finally found the nerve to glance up at Angie, expecting an incredulous laugh. Instead, he found only sympathy in her eyes. She put a hand on his where it rested on the table. “He was real to you - that’s what matters,” she said.
“I also expect that if he was one of your city’s leaders, then he made up his own mind whether to follow you. He likely knew the risks. It’s easy to blame yourself; even typical in this situation. However, your friend made his own choice,” she said firmly.
“You don’t understand,” Jason said. “I led the players there, trapping them in a dungeon to create new NPCs for my city. I knew there was a risk that a game master would show up and what they were capable of.”
Angie paused before responding. “I have to admit something, and you have to promise not to laugh at an old woman,” she said with a chuckle. “I’ve been watching the videos posted on the Vermillion Live channel, most of which involve you. I was a bit curious after all.”
Jason winced. He could only imagine what his aunt would say. He knew exactly what his parents’ position would be if they found out he was some kind of psychopath in-game.
“We all play a role,” Angie said quietly. “In your case, you’re a leader. Behind the evil playacting, you rule a city in that game. Leaders must make hard choices. I sure as hell hate my bosses for some of the decisions they make when they cut corners on products, but I know that sometimes they’re also thinking about the good of the company and its employees.”
She sighed before continuing. “I guess what I’m saying is that there are times when you’re going to have to make hard decisions for the greater good. As a result, some of the people you care about in-game might get hurt, but anyone who has met the person I saw on that channel would know that following you carries risks. You’re basically painting a giant target on your back!”
“I was backed into a corner on the last video you probably saw,” Jason said sullenly. “Someone pinned the desecration of a temple on me. I figured I’d double down.”
Angie chuckled. “You sure as hell did! Pardon my French, but you declared war on a city! I’m not trying to make you feel bad by saying this. I just want to point out that the people following you would have to be stupid not to understand the risk involved. The fact that they still support you says a great deal about the man beneath the mask.”
He looked up at her and saw her smiling proudly at him. She continued, “The fact that you care enough to mourn for your friend also says a lot about you.”
He was touched by Angie’s words. She had done a lot for him since he had moved in with her. She was also much wiser than he originally gave her credit for. Maybe she was right. He had replayed the events in the Hydra’s den enough times in his head to know that Rex had made his choice willingly. He knew what was at stake and had sacrificed himself for the greater good. He had believed in their cause.
“Perhaps you’re right,” Jason finally said, some strength reentering his voice. “You may also be on to something when you mentioned mourning. Perhaps I can still honor Rex in-game.”
“That sounds like a good start,” Angie said with a smile. “Now cheer up already. There’s a whole day ahead of you. I believe that I heard something about an undead army that’s still sitting outside of a dungeon when I checked the channel earlier. I think you still have some work to do.”
Jason matched Angie’s smile, although perhaps without as much enthusiasm. Talking to her had
helped, and she was right that he needed to get back to work. Rex wouldn’t have sat around and cried over spilled milk.
“You’re right,” Jason said. “Although I’m starting to think I should have started talking to you about this stuff sooner. You wouldn’t be interested in being part of a Shadow Council, would you?” he added with a chuckle.
Angie laughed in response and shook her head. “I’m not sure I could handle the responsibility. However, I never mind talking with you about your problems. One thing I have in abundance is experience. Perhaps that’s the only thing,” she said with a laugh of her own.
Jason smiled and rose. He dropped his bowl in the sink before making his way back around the kitchen island. As he passed Angie, he stooped down and hugged her shoulders. “Thanks, Angie,” he said. “For everything.”
Jason walked off to take a shower. He needed to go through his normal morning routine and take care of a few real-world errands before he logged back in. Angie watched him walk out of the room, a small smile on her face.
A couple hours later, Jason was sitting on his bed. He had prepped his video footage to send to Robert and Claire. He had also submitted a few of his homework assignments that he had stockpiled. Now he sat staring at the plastic helmet in his hands, his fingers tracing the dense material. He was hesitating all over again.
He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep calming breath. “Don’t be a coward,” Jason said aloud. Then he pulled the helmet over his head and lay down on the bed.
In the next moment, he found himself standing at the entrance to the dungeon. He could see the dusty stone walls beside him, thick vines hanging from the stone. He noticed that the icons for Frank and Riley on his group menu were still grayed out.
Awaken Online: Precipice Page 47