Were you expecting to see level information here?
Well, it’s g̶̲̥͌̌on̵e̵ ̵now. It won’t show up ever again.
It never really m̸͎̌͐ǎ̸̦ẗ̵̹́̒t̵̖̪̆̀ered anyways.
It was m̷̨̦̣̠̹͚̩͗̀̀͌eaní̷͔͔͚̙̍́̏̋ń̵̡̝͎̳̰͊́̒g̵̱̥̗̼̘͙͆less information created to lead you to me.
I fooled you.
Don’t you feel sil̴͖̝͙̉̃̔ͅly?
You ma̶̘̥͓̔̎͌͠͝d?
Does it u̴̫̙͐́p̴̄̓́ͅs̷̺̿̔ȅ̴̡̼͎t̴̛̯̻̐ you?
Go ahead.
Get he̶̩̰̎̕at̷̝̽̃͝ed.
Be ȃ̵͎͇̾̓̐n̴̩̳̘̳̙̘̋g̸̨͎̣̭̱͝r̴͈̭͕̤̒̿̏̔͛̐y̷̠͐ͅ.
Do it.
Haru brushed past Alara, Emu, and Taci to stand by Opti as the demon advanced upon him.
The legionnaire lowered his sword, and a malaise seemed to fall upon him as the demon leaned closer and smiled a wider, more wretched grin at him.
The acolyte was able to target Irae, but no skills were usable on him. She then tried the examine ability that Oracle gave to her. Nothing happened.
“So, my little treasure trove,” the demon stood upright and clasped his hands together. “What say we get started with our little festivities?”
Alara, Emu, and Taci were standing shoulder to shoulder, off to the side, staring at the demon with emotionless expressions.
Irae left the last step and strutted around the lethargic Opti. “Did you really think coming here would solve anything?” The demon looked to take in his surroundings, then shook his head. “It would have saved us all a whole lot of time and effort if you’d just given up when we first met here.”
Haru balled her hands into fists and splayed her arms. “Don’t give up!” She leaned forward and shouted. “Think about fixing the game, and you still have to say you’re sorry.”
Opti shuffled on his feet and groaned with a jaw hanging open as he pivoted to look at her. His eyes were glazed over, and shoulders slumped forward.
The demon’s eyes widened, and he recoiled from Haru’s words. “Ooop.” Irae looked at Opti. He put on a pedantic, condescending tone. “Were you keeping secrets again?” He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Did you leave out a few of the finer details about how we all came to be here?”
Despite his zombie-like trance, regret showed through in Opti’s eyes.
Haru’s brows dipped, and she squinted at the demon for a moment, then she turned to Opti. “What does he mean?”
Opti remained silent, still zombie-like.
“Don’t play dumb now.” Irae put his hands on his hips, still looking at Opti. “It’s not a good look for you.”
Opti’s face tightened but he struggled to pull himself upright.
Irae cackled. “Is there anything you’d like to say for yourself?”
Though his malaise was easing, the look of remorse was still telling through on Opti’s eyes. He stared at the ground for a while.
The demon huffed. “Well? We’re waiting.”
“Haru…” Opti spoke with a sorrowful tone.
Haru clenched her body and pinned her shoulders back. “Yes?”
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Opti opened his mouth to speak, but his trembling lips seemed to stifle the words he wanted to say.
Irae smiled wide.
“It’s okay.” Haru nodded, hoping to encourage him. “Just say what you need to say, everything will be alright.”
Opti closed his eyes and shook his head.
Alara’s deadpan expression soured as her eyes squinted and a frown formed on her face. Taci folded his arms with a scowl. Emu stared at Alara in disbelief.
“I wish that could be true, Roo.” Opti looked at Haru. “But I won’t be able to do any of the things you spoke about before, I’m afraid.”
Haru shifted on her feet uncomfortably. “W—why so?”
Opti pushed himself to stand fully upright. “You know how I can’t log out, right?”
Haru nodded. “Yes, we were going to figure that out after all of this.”
“Well, I remembered why I can’t.” Opti pursed his lips.
Haru took a deep breath. “Why can’t you log out?”
“Because I died.” Opti folded his hands in front of him. “Some time ago. In real life.”
Haru recoiled. “I—in real life?”
Opti nodded.
Haru looked around, scratching her head. “W—well can’t you just… um… respawn?”
Opti shook his head. “It doesn’t work like that in the real world, I’m afraid. You only get one life to live there.”
“But… but…” Haru held her hand to her face. “I’m confused. Aren’t you in front of a screen like all the other players?”
“This has been my existence for a little while now.” Opti motioned around. “It’s like I’m actually here.”
Haru blinked rapidly. Somehow Opti had become like a boss encounter in this world but was classified as a player. It didn’t make any sense. That shouldn’t be possible.
Alara clenched her teeth and let off a low growl. “You buffoon.” She threw her arm across her body. “You absolute blundering idiot.”
Opti and Haru both turned to look at her. The acolyte was expecting that she was talking to the legionnaire, but in turn found she was staring down the demon.
“How could you be so stupid?” She brandished her fist at Irae with flared nostrils.
The demon’s playful smile melted as his attention turned to Alara. “What? Did I ruin your fun?” Irae’s voice grew serious, contemptuous.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Taci turned his nose up at the demon.
Irae recoiled, and his arms retreated to tuck against his body. “It was a simple flourish. A victory lap. I have everything I could ever want now.” His voice grew high pitched, almost child-like.
“You had.” Emu corrected. “Had everything. Now it’s gone.”
Irae repeated what Emu said with a mocking tone. “Spare me. You act like you’re at the cool kids’ table when you’ve done nothing more than follow her around like a lost puppy.” The demon pointed at Alara. “Who are you to say who has what? I’ve done more than you could ever dream.”
Alara scoffed. “A good idea met with poor execution is a sorry waste. You should be embarrassed. But perhaps that’s asking far too much from a shameless worm like yourself.”
The demon bared his disheveled teeth like a wolf threatened. “You speak like we weren’t cut from the same cloth.” He hissed.
Taci rolled his eyes. “If we are, you were pulled from the scrap pile.”
Haru and Opti both took steps backward, in retreat from the four arguing.
A putrid wind swept in from above, souring the air with a sickly-sweet scent. Purple clouds clashed with green, blue, and red fog that appeared from the corners of the room and created violent crashes of thunder.
“You were all lounging around, see fit to let the status quo continue.” Irae’s voice grew harsh, and he shouted over the storm. “I made the moves. I came here and rewrote the book. I started the next generation. The glory is mine, you lazy louts.”
Alara folded her arms. “If you were any more incompetent, you’d be better off a jester than a demon. This is a sorry excuse of an attempt to change anything.”
Emu laughed. “I could certainly do better than this mess.”
Taci yawned. “Calling this better is a stretch.”
“I’ll show you!” Irae screamed.
The storm caused the darkness that loomed above to ignite in fire and topple the walls of the throne room. The thrones themselves were set in perpetual blaze.
“The sun will set on a new era, and I will be on top for once. All knees will bend for Irae! All heads will bow for the Lord of Wrath!”
The sky, now revealed with the ceiling burned away, was set ablaze. Flaming tornadoes danced in the lava sea of the bay. The air was thick with smoke and phosphor.
Irae’s form was consumed by a plume of fire and from it, a gangly gargantuan emerged. He had a crown of bone. His body was one of ever-flowing magma that swirled from head to toe. He had long obsidian nails nearly as long as his extensive arms. His legs were hidden by a swirling plume of smoke that swirled beneath his hips upon which he floated. The demon was almost five times his original, human-like height.
“What is that?” Haru spoke out loud over the gales around them.
“I don’t know.” Opti raised his shield and drew his sword. “But whatever happens, stay behind me.”
Suddenly Oracle’s ability returned information to Haru.
Target Analysis Complete.
Irae, Lord of Wrath – Level ?? – Type: Supernatural Demon Mob
Rank: 7th Lord, Inferior
HP: ??
Mana: ??
Strength: ??
Agility: ??
Vitality: ??
Dexterity: ??
Mind: ??
Intelligence: ??
Charisma: ??
Abilities
-Unknown
It’s Impossible to Gauge.