Total Immersion: Dark World: A LitRPG Adventure

by S. J. Larsson

  I feel watched even now by Seeker with his Clairvoyance spell. I can’t believe he hasn’t warned Bane. All I’ve heard from Seeker is the letter I got from him two days ago, the morning after Silvia, Anella and I found everyone around their graves, knowing we’d come for them. They knew about my Hidden friend and her Revive spell, guessed the way things would pan out. Or hoped. It’s like we’re a hivemind.

  Or eternally have been playing this game, and most likely will continue to do so. Thinking in the confines of this reality has become all we know.

  Once the last of them—Days in Mylop Territory—was tracked down and Revived, Anella simply slipped away when nobody was looking. Even Silvia didn’t see it. If she was distraught over it, she hid it well. Silvia has never-ending hope, though, so I assume she plans on tracking Anella down as soon as this business is out of the way. That’s the way she stays motivated in the face of insanity. A working plan.

  This attack with Bane has everything to do with Seeker’s letter. But I’ll get to that.

  After Anella disappeared, Doolittle teleported us to Cashmere, and we walked into the island mountains where no mansions had been built. There, in a foggy valley between two lush, tropical peaks, I summoned Ananta for the first time.

  His mist was indigo, sparkling with blacks, and right then it occurred to me that I never had the full heart feeling of claiming Ananta like I did with the other summons. He killed me, and then when I was alive, he was available. I still don’t know what to make of that.

  I read his ability list aloud as I went, watching him with his face hidden in the serpent belly, and the nine snake heads examining us, black tongues flicking. Hues of violet, lavender and deep purple glowed on my friends’ faces as they listened.

  Description:

  Ananta, god of gods, lord of demons, maker and destroyer of existence, is the essence of life, death, and rebirth. Ananta sees truth. Ananta despises the lies of his creations, has affection for the strong and true of his world. Ananta has no creator. He became.

  Dweller on the Threshold—Lowers target’s stats by 80%.

  Snake Bites—Snake heads bite target 9 times, dealing devastating damage.

  Take Life—Drains opponent of 90% active HP and gives it to Ananta.

  Ananta’s Gaze—Instantly kills target with magic of creation.

  Seizure Ability: Destroy Creation—Can only be used once, and then Ananta can no longer be summoned.

  We had lengthy discussions about Ananta’s Seizure move. What did it mean? All spells, moves, and abilities describe what action takes place when executed, but this explained nothing.

  My friends who were killed by Ananta’s Gaze described it as feeling a sharp, all-over pain, then nothing. Blackness, and then respawning at their graves in Dark World.

  I’ve come to the conclusion that the name itself, Destroy Creation, says it all. It’s something I can’t comprehend, but I’ll never use it. After all I went through to claim Ananta, I’m hesitant to even use him in battle in case I accidentally select Seizure and Destroy Creation. By accident, for real. Oops. My eyes moved wrong. Two times. God knows what happens next, but one thing I do know: I’ll lose him for good if I use Destroy Creation. That’s not going to happen, ever.

  The minute I read Seeker’s letter, I knew Seeker was after me because of Ananta. He somehow knows about this move, Destroy Creation, and what it ultimately does. He wants to use me to use it.

  But why?

  What did he know when we all played Elora Online that made him “seek”? What does he really want?

  Silvia was able to get in Faithgamblers and can interact with Dark World as though it were Elora. She can still see her living room when she lowers her headband’s vision settings. She can look at her computers for finding stuff on the Internet. She’s alive. She can’t access Elora, but otherwise, everything is the same.

  We are not alive in the way she is, but the entire guild has some new hope… unspoken, just a heightened vibe.

  At first, almost every player who saw her two names stopped her dead and drilled her with questions. She played smart, saying she had no idea. Changed the subject.

  We’ve had to keep to back roads and wild dragons for travel. Eventually, she’ll get mobbed because of her two names. She’s tough; she doesn’t mind the sneaking around, and she or Doolittle tele us a lot. It’s riskier because we don’t know who might be where we end up, and I’m not the only one protective of Silvia Diamond now.

  In a weird way, I’ve enjoyed showing her Dark World, especially Dragonbane Territory with its humans and dragons. She laughed wildly the first time she rode a real dragon, not a mount. Absolutely fascinated with humans.

  She feels safe still, which instills in me, in all of us, a feeling of peace and belief that answers can be found. She spends a lot of time with her headband at 50% transparency so she can look up anything and everything about Elora Online, well, online.

  She hasn’t found anything concrete about Dark World yet, but it’s only been a few days. Even we natural Dark Worldians have to sleep, but she needs more.

  We are the dead in touch with the living. We have a new perspective from this. Confirmation. More knowledge. It brings a sense of validation and excitement for what it might mean.

  I made one visit without my friends, and that was to Master Gronai. I made sure he forgot to give me back the red leather book, Manual of Systems. He’d need it for the next two thousand years… right? Just in case, as I remembered my time-travel sci-fi, he has to have it to know me and tell me where the Ananta battle is two thousand years from now. Something like that. Djinn would understand, but I don’t bother asking him. He’s so casual with his lack of the time dimension restraints the rest of us have, it’s hard to get an understandable answer about stuff like this.

  I asked Master Gronai to help me make a very specific scroll, one that would cause me to be able to reset my Special Ability, Seizure, and use it twice in a row instead of waiting an hour. After Seeker’s letter and our plan to confront Bane, I thought it up and knew it would be a special one to have. Only a master scrollmaker could create it.

  Yes, Master Gronai knew how to make such scrolls, and he played me like he was all uninspired, digging for Spontaneities. I thought it was great and was happy to supply him with stat boosts so high that I had to slow it down because he wouldn’t stop giggling like he’d had pot brownies and Siren Ale. I was afraid he’d get so much “inspiration” that the scroll wouldn’t get made. I didn’t have much time.

  He made me a scroll he called Renew and gave me the same look I’d seen in Elora when he pulled the secret scroll from behind the drawer and made our conversation protected. Protected from what, I don’t know, but those moments are the real ones that give him the oh-so-needed inspiration. I thanked him, and said after I was done in the capital of Bane, I’d come offer more inspiration.

  We wait for more sunlight, when the new guards will come to relieve the old guards. We want to get them just before, after a long night of, well, guarding, in hopes that they’re a little weaker. Maybe. It was Days’ idea, but none of us knows if it works that way with the maniacal Bane’s NPC guards.

  I’m going to see Bane to find out the mystery behind the NPCs. The reason they are the way they are here. The why they are decision-makers. How they talk about Ananta. I’m going to make him stop from getting involved with the plan Seeker wrote to me about.

  We’ll get there. My blood has constantly been boiling ever since I read it.

  Back to the NPCs. They want something. A reset, Master Gronai said in Elora that day. What the Manual of Systems is about.

  They have indicated Ananta can cause a reset, and I believe that’s what Destroy Creation does.

  What does it mean, though? What is a reset? Why do the NPCs want it and fear it? How can they want or fear anything? They’re programs. Right?

  I’m not sure what they are anymore. Djinn couldn’t answer. All he gave me is that, “Everything has presence. Every d
igital hair on your Nuudle head has presence.”

  The mailbox icon in my interface had a “1” in it as soon as I took notice right after Anella vanished. I don’t know if it was there all along, but I assume it has been, especially from the contents. Seeker probably couldn’t find me with Clairvoyance when I was in Elora, and this is what I got:

  Sid,

  If you’re reading this, then I must tell you a truth. A truth about you and me. Who we are. Who I am. What we do. What you so casually tossed aside before, I still offer you.

  I’m giving you one last chance to join me. Abandon your Faithgamblers friends. Say goodbye to a dreary existence and experience greatness. Know firsthand what you are. I do. I know what you are.

  Together, we are the most powerful classes in Dark World and Elora, of all this eternal and unique life… and even more powerful than Ananta on his own. Our classes are meant to work as a duo to bring balance, which is all I ever wanted.

  We are meant to change everything in a way that no human being has ever known. We will become maestros of time and givers of kindness to mankind. I know you; this is what you want, too. I’ve tried to tell you what we can do, but perhaps I should have clarified my intentions. Now you know they are not vain, nor evil, nor petty as you seem to see them and me, but rather my intentions are for the betterment of humankind.

  You may think me cruel for the things I’ve done and do. I am not. I’m showing you this truth every time we interact. I’m showing it to you now, in this handwritten letter, as plainly as I can. Killing you myself with Telekinesis in Dragonbane Territory so long ago is an example. There was no other way to make you understand what we are capable of as a team. You had to experience it. I’m sincerely sorry if I caused you pain, but you knew Dark World death by then, I’m sure. It took some time to learn Clairvoyance, so I never saw the movement of the tragedy of your first death.

  I wasn’t doing anything to you that you hadn’t felt. You already knew Dark World deaths are short and relatively painless, unless it is from your tormenting summons’ obliteration. They are the keepers of inflicting pain and terror. You are the keepers of them. You are not a morally better person than me, as your actions and words reflect you feel. Such disdain. I don’t understand why, as I’ve been most courteous and patient.

  Look at what class you were offered, chose, and chased after since you arrived in Dark World. It is pure devastation to any who cross your path. I’m sure you’ve used your summons as such. Would Keres, for example, correctly obey you any other way? Yes, I’ve secretly watched some of your activities, not out of some creepy, twisted ideas you act like you believe of me, but to figure out how to reach you. I see what they can do. I’ve seen what Shell’s summons do, but Shell is not the True Mystic. She has lost all of her summons as of the time I write this to you, and she doesn’t know why.

  I know. I’ve seen you play Mystic. She abused her power.

  I have another example for you, and I want you to see it in action as we do our work side by side. I do not want you to be a victim. You and I are not the types to be victims. Much the opposite.

  I have learned my master spell. Let me tell you about it.

  “Ecstasy—You can cast two spells and/or use two moves at once.” Yes, there is an item that enhances this, and yes, I have it. Yes, I can grant another player this ability with the Tarot Talisman I discovered and fought for. I had no help like you have had from your Faithgamblers friends. I didn’t use anyone to become complete.

  Only you can know the real power of this. When I learned it, I became complete. I believe when you read this, you, too, will have become complete. You must see the implications.

  You can see I’m not tricking you. I never have tried to trick you, only help you see the truth I’m now writing you about.

  Meet with me on the Snowy Mountains, where the highest snow-capped highlands of Dark World step into a glistening white valley of eternally falling flurries on this coming Shealaday at sunrise. On the map, this sacred place is called Valley of the Gods. I will reveal to you the truth of what this existence is. I will give examples as before. Concrete proof. I know everything. You do not, and after you read this, I feel confident you will come alone.

  In case you still are spellbound by your special friends, who aren’t at all special, just riding your coattails, Bane has agreed to bring all the forces of his empire and join with me on this time and day. If you are alone, then there will be no issues. If not, well, I have faith in you. More than those who grovel before you do.

  If you discard this letter, disregard me with disrespect yet again and do not show up, Bane has also agreed to go to you wherever you might be, along with his Dragonbane Territory Army. My Clairvoyance spell, as you know, will ensure he will be successful.

  Through Shell, I let you know my power. The list she gave you of Psychic spells was from me. My gift and promise of the incredible things we can accomplish together. You see, I want you to know everything I do, but you never give me a chance. Now, I’m forcing your decision because I see no other option. I’ve tried them all.

  I have faith in you, respect for you, as always, and it only grows, never wanes, even as you put me aside like an empty Nuudle Beer mug, as though I am no use unless I offer whatever Faithgamblers offer you. I know what it is. You have low confidence.

  I will not praise you and kiss your ass. That’s not what you need. What you need is what I offer, and nobody can give this to you but me.

  I know you’ll make the right decision this time.

  Your true friend,

  Seeker

  When I read these words, I hissed my real mantra of Dark World aloud. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him. Everything he says is a twisted lie to make me believe a “truth” about him that is non-existent. I could go through Seeker’s letter word for word, and scream the actual meanings of his insane manipulation and self-elevation put down in writing, dispute it with reality checks and examples of my own, but instead, I read it to the guild, and then in public chat, out of guild chat, I spit out my personal mantra again. People heard me. I didn’t care. I wanted strangers to hear it. Goddamn, I’d never felt so angry in my life.

  I was pissed. I’m still pissed, and that’s why, two days before Seeker’s Shealaday date at sunrise, we’re about to storm Bane’s tower and confront him. Nip it in the bud.

  “It’s ten minutes before the switch out,” Simple says. “It’s now or never.”

  They’re not that tough. Their weapons are all Attack, and their stats are only boosted in the class-specific ones. There are three Knights and three Lancers. Dragonbane, of course. Damage dealers, no tank or healer. You can tell the rest of their non-class specific stats aren’t well-developed because they have less little chunks of HP chops than even us, now.

  Still, those classes hit hard. Six of them. We’ll have to slam them. I’m relieved we have two healers for Days.

  I’ll need to use an AoE summon attack before using Djinn when we enter the tower, but it’ll have to be one that doesn’t get my summon to take the hate away from Days. I’m afraid to have Djinn warp them all to HPs. That would be a barrack of guards, no doubt, and nearby. There’d be dozens of them back in minutes.

  Of course, there’s multi-targeting and using Ananta’s Gaze. It’s not only the fear of accidental interface actions, it’s that I don’t think Ananta would like being used that way. It’s terrorizing. Even though his conditions for my claiming him were thus, he made his impression. It isn’t something to wield lightly. He said he would allow me to summon him, I had no full heart sensation. I don’t know if I actually did claim him, to be honest. They choose. Ananta is able to break rules and alter concrete ability commands. He could disappear if I misuse him, I believe. I read his description often. Consider its implications, wonder how it ties into the Manual of Systems and NPC reactions when talking about Ananta.

  I’ve decided to use Oni’s Disease. It drains HP until targets are dead or I command it to stop. I’m not going
to take that option, and Oni will be safe. Days keeps the hate, and the others can finish them off. Hell, I might ask him to swallow any particularly damaging guards.

  “Let’s move,” Days says, bursting open the doors of the nursery without any other warning. No buffs. He charges, we follow. I summon Oni just as we meet the guards. They had no clue, but the minute they saw a mob of players coming their way, they went into action, weapons at the ready. The Knights pose with giant black obsidian shields before their kneeling forms, and the longest swords in game power out between the wall of three shields, ready for initial hits. The Lancers spread out and have their own enhancement buffs. Not many Lancers achieve those skills. Their polearms all glow with blue flames, sharp black obsidian points red-hot. They’re ready fast, all of them. We’ve decided to save Special Abilities unless we need them for Bane, so here goes nothing.

  Days uses Crushing Blade.

  All of the guards’ HPs drop 50%, and Days charges in while they’re recovering, slashing the longswords out of the way and dodging the fiery polearm acrobatics coming at him.

  Dragonbane Official Keeper of the Peace uses High Jump. Days is stunned for 10 seconds.

  Crap.

  Sorry multi-targets and casts Blind on all of them as they hit unmoving Days, taking his HP down by 6% with every hit.

  Doolittle casts Deep Heal.

  He multi-targeted, and we all gain the effects of his heal. I think he did it to make us relax while healing Days.

  Dragonbane Official Keeper of the Peace uses Honorable Defeat. Days takes damage.

  Days’s HP drops straight down to 1%. That’s an almost impossible move to get for a Knight. Do they all have it? We have to get hate off him fast.

  Silvia Diamond casts Deep Heal.

  Days’ body perks up and collapses somehow over and over in his stunned state. I know he’s furious right now.

  Simple uses Death Lightning. Six Dragonbane Official Keepers of the Peace take damage, and three lose enchantments.

  The Lancers no longer have thousand-degree hot pokers for weapons. They’ve been stabbing stunned Days while he repeatedly gets heals. I can’t imagine how much it hurts.