COI C145
After a whole night repairing inside the building, with all the magic had gone through. The building is fully repaired in the blink of the night. The loots and the rewards were distributed secretly from one of the facilities hidden in the south area of Fuku City. The next morning, defectors are glad to have save the city, even one of them show a little discomfort. He is one of the hackers. They look at him weird as they playfully joking about his work.
“I hate to admit, but you are someone I never expect like the internet has some weird magic over it. What else this world has that doesn’t involved with magic?”
Digidreamhak16 gives a thump up and said “How do you expect to say to your boss when you found out demon is hiding in the internet too?”
That sarcastic look as they all laugh including him. They respond “There now, just live it up a little. The boss actually beat one. He is the first who takes it down and we’re able to survive another day”
The soothing remarks rejoice them together in harmony, while the hacker didn’t stop thinking about the Dexter Guild’s actions. In reality. The Dexter Guild have prepared to face the demon, it was easily being sealed once again merely hours from its release.
Demons are not predictable, that’s for sure. If it was true, the Fall era shouldn’t even exist and the previous era, Heroes and Demons, should’ve ended quickly like any war. There is no way it would be that easy, they were played from the very beginning. The robot did say something to him
“Oh, look at us, we are the same as human as you, and your city is the most mana efficient while we lack only a handful of magic. Chances you guys to escape from this world is good enough . . .”
His mind paused for a moment as the sign of the symptoms begin, he sways a bit to take control again with his body, he remembers it again harder “. . . enough power to take also the phenomenon who wished to leave after their deaths. Believe me, this is not a mockery for you, hacker man. In reality, this is the world where the dead should not stay here. Preferably, without getting caught from the undying demon holding up your soul that is. There are ways, and I don’t see you getting caught anytime soon while you are dead. You should meet some Enders for a change. Do you know the name Unworthy guild?”
Redemption, Sanctuary, or even Revelation is coming through his head. Such bullshit fantasy keeping his head entertained, as he fears the worst he had to experience before. He checks his device then he hears the cult leader’s message in his head
“It’s time, you’re needed to do some errands”
The hacker, not much to do as his conditions are getting worse. He was surprised that he is the only one getting sick besides his team showing no signs about the trigger. Maybe because he is the only one knows, or did that robot helped him feel it.
He walks out from the city. The first time going out of the border, whereas the valley is engulfed by light dusts. Equipped with safety mask but the exposure still reaches his skin. He sees the guards standing in the outside post with the package next to them. The guards saw him approaching. With their devices scanning him in the far distance, the indicator approved then they give him the package.
“This is the guy we will be giving the package to”
“It is the first time to see someone from Fuku city residence fetching a package here, from the Dexter Guild”
The hacker heard them as he retrieved the package. Once he puts it in his inventory, he flashes out and returned back to the city. The guards nod with expectation
“Not even a ‘thank you’”
“Don’t bother, they have much bad reputation than there is. I can’t believe they have the nerve to reach out their influence now when the train arrived”
“As long as they are return to be productive again. I would love to see this city take back both Mihayara district and Taiyou Industries”
Back inside the central high-rise building, the hacker made it in with the package. Guards from the different company are standing at the door. They step aside as he walks in. Through their devices, they called out to the cult leader
“He brought back the hostage, sir”
“Good, send him to the laboratory. He needs his check-up”
“Of course, sir”
They follow, then escort him to the private labs. Where he is the first person to enter classified rooms. No one knows about it, except for the very important individuals. As what they heard from him is true, then they can watch him in short period of time.
First, he needs to be tested on his conditions, and leaves the package behind as they bring it to the cult leader. A room with a wide one-sided glass window, the cult leader and all of the gang leaders are there, and another one in the package. The guards hand it over as he opens the package and breaks the concealment. The woman breaks free as she wakes up. Surrounded by her peers as her eyes widen from what happened yesterday.
“What! Where am I!?”
They answer “Like you just said, you don’t want to be part of the fight”
“You’re one lucky girl to got yourself caught then brought you back here in one piece”
“So, how was it?”
The female gang leader slowly remembers “I can’t say. That Dexter Guild punk was too fast and I . . . everything went nasty”
The cult leader taps at her shoulder “It is because you were not an obstacle in their way. I am fine that they didn’t do anything to you”
She asked “That’s right, the fight! How did it go?”
They show them their recordings during the fight, and added bonus the loots they have. All from runes from the automatons. Parts and scraps altogether that is worth more than they had to be.
She was not impressed. The gang leaders thought so, her profits are from the revenue she made in the internet. They don’t want to talk about it as her own ego checks on her website.
“Looks like there is no problem in the internet. I’m still not impressed”
After their little reunion. The cult leader speaks out to the gang leaders. “We all know that this facility is top secret. Between the executives, me, and you. But there is one person with us will be joining”
Digidreamhak16 is in the lab doing some tests. It was fast and safe as he goes through it under an hour. The cult leader and the gang leaders watch and see as the data shows his mental health. He pointed out to her
“You can see, if you were involved something severe. You might have the same fate as him”
“What in the hell!? Then you send me to die?”
“No, why would they wanted to kill you? Your job was to check on the woman. She must be very busy to why she didn’t give you the time to react”
The gang leader remembered that she didn’t have a chance to reach her. Quickly gotten ambushed then taken away, this is something she is not aware about nor thinking the danger she had faced inside their territory. Now looking at the data, the hacker had his brain cursed with demonic magic. Replicated to match the control trigger to kill the individual at any time, and this one is readjusted to a dying state. Added to another file to its true origin, the demon has that same ability. The true ability is like a slave collar, caught and strapped with a bomb inside their head. If someone resists, they will instantly die with a trigger.
However, there is also other ways. The Dexter Guild didn’t perfect it, but to quickly triggers it and the alternative is activating it slowly. The hacker is dying, and the gang leaders are freaking out. The cult leader gives them a warning
“There is no cure to stop the trigger. It was slowly developing inside the brain. The magic secretly suffocating the nutrients inside their heads, replacing it with healing magic. As the brain is fully relying on magic, the nervous system ends where it blocked near neck. Just one click and the healing ends, it triggers their deaths”
This magic is impossible to use because it needed special attention where they need to be expose in a long duration of time. The hackers had been working for weeks to get through to the Enders servers. That’s when it all started. Digidreamhak16 is the only person is been readjust to feel the dying brain as the healing wears off. The doctors don’t have enough to time to save him and the others. The final result, they have three days to live since the start of the trigger.
The gang leaders have different reaction to it. The defectors expected it and gives no remorse, others were not too happy, and the few secretly laughing at the back that the people caused this situation to happen are on them. When the test is over, the cult leader ordered them to leave. The hacker comes inside the room and only see a glimpse of them leaving. He is waiting for the results. He will definitely die. The cult leader said to him
“Just like you said, but do you know when will you die?”
“Tomorrow night, I guess. What do you do to the rest of my team?”
The long difficult paused puts him into a difficult decision. Honestly, he will give him the courtesy to live the rest of his days luxuriously but it means joining along with his team. They shouldn’t be rewarded equally. The most obvious practical thing to do is the most common.
“I am not showing your team any favorites, you do understand why”
“I do, sir”
“However, I have something I learn while you were resting last night. This afterlife you mention about. I don’t know what I can do in this world’s nature. I will give you this”
He hands down a note to him. The hacker picks it up and the cult leader leaves. The meeting was swift, and neither of them show no time for mourning.
Inside in the main servers, the users were relief to see the situation was settled. The hackers take their leave as the responsibility they have done caused so much damage in the building. However, the crisis was averted and Dexter Guild had stop interfering the internet, for now. Chelly and It3ch (Lyou) were not too happy about after taken their leave. They were promoted rather than fired. The utilities they have now had increased tremendously. The dark web and the neutral zone were remained untouched. The higher ups no longer needed to access them as it is not populated by the internet users.
It3ch saw one of the hackers come in. He doesn’t know why is not angry to see them again, but this person shows his sincerity on his face. The hacker saw him and wave at them
“Hey! Chelly and It3ch, I need to speak with you”
The two look at each other, they follow him, and he said “No, I need to meet you two personally. See me in the recreation room, I am not feeling so well”
He logs out. It3ch clearly see something is wrong. Chelly sees it too, as she logs out first.
In the recreation room, there’s a bedroom where rows of beds neatly in line. They saw him lying down, where his head is being covered. He waves out to them “Come here, I am sick and I need to tell you quick before I passed out”
The hacker looks at the two as what he had suspected during their work. Sneakily trying to get the tools to their own personal gain. Chelly is, but for It3ch is something more he had never thought of him doing. He casts his spell to close the door and room concealed from any noise going out. The two sense something coming from under the bed as it rolls.
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The robot, physically here in front of them. It looks at the two and turn to the hacker “Oh, we meet again. Sorry for the last meeting, and I expect you made some changes happening to the main servers?”
Chelly nodded as she looks at it confused “Those protocols you given us did actually what you have in mind. Scratched those long narration, and we did actually like that”
“Well, be like that. I’ll snapping my fingers and prove to you I am still useful. If I have one. Never mind, we have something to discuss. If may I wanted a truce?”
“Sure!”
Chelly had a nice experience with it after the threat. After the use of the protocols, it finally separating the connection between their servers to the rest of the world, and leaving it secured better to their own servers as well. As they both busy talking to each other, Digidreamhak16 and It3ch had theirs.
“I know you are the one who implanted your own servers during the development”
“Why would you?!”
He is about to turn his eyes, but the hacker shows him his sources. “You should’ve respected me more to my expertise. I ignored it because there is no harm having your community freeing from the nuisances”
The user, It3ch, had done so much to hide behind their backs. It wasn’t that long he made it to keep in touch with the victims. They are trapped, and seek comfort in this city’s best leisure. The hacker already spotted it too easily.
“Again, I see that the private server is offline for a moment. You thought it would be clever to hide it from us, I mean the hackers, and I know those jackasses will do if they found out about it”
Chelly heard him and while the robot nods his statement.
“What are they on about?”
“That topic is out of my reach. I am the one will say the important part”
The hacker suddenly lies down as his eyes remained open, he still able to breathe and his magic quickly disappears. The robot uses the controls of this room to reactivate the concealment.
“. . . Then there he goes”
Chelly and It3ch witness him fell asleep with his eyes open. Chelly said
“Wheatley?”
“Sigh* Here he goes again. Brain defects are coming in his nogging. There is good news about it though”
“Good news!? He looks like he is brain dead”
It3ch realizes it. The argument in the chat. The consequences, it is already there in front of him.
It3ch was shocked “Wheatley! When did this happened?!”
“It was the fight against the demon. The perfect opportunity for my side to be the dastardly villains. What I said before as I able to harm the two of you. They put it into actions. You see here is the slow version of the hackers’ demise”
“Demise!?”
“It is rather personal and this man is accepting the consequences, but the others will have theirs. Try to imagine the man is like that, but lifeless, haha sorry”
Chelly sees herself smiling that the people who messed with her friend’s private information are gone, but why this man is in need of help?
The hacker knows something he wished to escape this world. He is dying and there was a file in Enders Bridge caught his eyes. Escaping the world after death, it was a title that is written in a foreign language. After decrypted it, he found out about the people who can not escape in this world after they died. An exceptional type of race, where they have no gods nor god who able to reach out to this world to save them. The exemption of the goblin spirits as they stay here for strong rituals. If this is true, he will never find peace. Even though it is bullshit to his head thinking about it. The Horsin world is too notorious for him to find peace.
It3ch has connection with the certain individual who has connection other than the Dexter Guild. A rumored guild that is the polar opposite of them. Known for their spiritual activities and salvation to whom died in this world, this is the only hope he had to escape this hell. With the cult leader’s note and the guidance of the robot, he has the chance to plan it out. If he believed it or not, that’s when he had to find out after his death. His face starts twitching as he recovered another sudden shock. The robot is already explaining things where Chelly is grinning all the way.
“Serves him right and his team to discriminate us and them when they abuse their power”
It3ch puts his finger on his face “. . . The afterlife? I believe there is an afterlife, but why is it so important for him?”
The robot was intrigued “This is Horsin, this is the reality. I can’t explain more since it is widely detailed in a different natural law, the dead reality. However, they will eventually find It3ch’s server, the hackers are gone but you used the company’s resource”
It3ch agreed “True, if they found out about it. The source codes will be easily detectable and removed as they pleased. Will he really going to do it?”
The hacker spoke out “Yes, the robot will be the one will provide everything you needed. Tomorrow night, you’ll two see what happened on my body and the robot will do the rest to seal my soul . . .”
The two had nothing to lose in this agreement. To see him dying, it is already a given that this is his redemption to them. Their server will eventually be found out. If it does, every account will be revealed. They text the others to wait a few more days as they need to settle the problem.
The next night, a private celebration prepared and hosted by the cult leader. All meals prepared and luxurious cuisine are set before them. The guests are; the executives, the defectors, and the staff who know about the incident. At the stage, the first introduction how the cult leader presentations are about the internet. Many were mix about the idea show it off after the demon appeared inside of it. It was resolved thanks to the new programs to seal off their servers from the rest of the world. Giving everyone to relax. The executives were not pleased including the users who are work too hard on this.
The hackers are becoming the center of attention, both good and bad. The program continues as the cult leader introduces the most important event coming to the end of this month.
“. . . To this celebration, our adventurers are allowed to take their week off starting tomorrow. As next week after, you will enter the ruins of Mihayara district. We still have our future as we survived. The internet is OURS!”
A raise from their toasts with their glass raises higher and catch its drinks with their magic. The night went well as the final hours are coming.
The hackers are with the Digidreamhak16 filling their time as they were rewarded in higher position and become the 13th group of the gangs. “We got our recognition boys. We are the 3rd group of the defectors to form a gang under the cult leader’s organization”
“You could see ourselves, Hak? Are you still sick?”
The hacker becomes light headed and he waves his goodbye. “I think this is my night, you guys go ahead”
They continue having their feast through the night. The cult leader receives the message from the robot. The time has come, as he steps in seeing the Digidreamhak16 left the table.
The table is far away from the other guests, secretly hidden away as they feast. They see him coming in as they cheer for his presence. “Bokushi Hidari! It’s nice to come and see us”
“I am checking if you guys enjoyed the last few days of your success”
“We did, we never feel so alive to see so many rewards coming after the other. We did some time inside the pub if you know what I mean”
They laugh and as they raise their drinks. The cult leader follows their cheer. The moment he drinks it he reads their minds as they have shown no negative expression about him.
The feast is great and the rest is filled with nothing but joy of their victory. The cult leader joins the conversation about their discovery and brag about it. “You will definitely see how we can provide you the inventions and the tools to manufactured amazing things from the old-world civilization. If we continue to thrive like this. Everything we had dreamed of will definitely coming into reality”
“Better products, utilities, and the rest of it made into runes and other magic. The future is going to be busy for all of us”
The cult leader continues to listens about the technology they have found inside the internet. Patent websites, already in the works and innovating to their versions. They show him more and more of their designs, until he places his glass.
“It’s all fine because you people are one of the organizations now”
They cheer once more, and the cult leader ask something about a certain information.
“I have heard many stories from the defectors. Especially to you . . .”
They laugh
“. . . I was wondering with all those ghost stories about death”
They stood there in silence as they remembered their experience in the east coast. They never respond to his curiosity as the silent definitely shows their weakness. Digidreamhak16 talk about it before, and it was something he tried to research through the Enders Bridge server. They respond
“I don’t think we can’t talk about it, even after we have such an impressive victory”
“We could talk about it some other time. It’s been months now, but you clearly understand why”
The cult leader bows his dead showing his tipsy face, then gives himself a good laugh.
They laugh along, until they all fell asleep. The cult leader didn’t give them the time of day to meet them as they enjoy their overspending spree. They were provided handsomely and waste it all as they intended. Now, the gang leaders come in secretly to witness the tragedy unfold. Their last breath turned rotten, and the smell already spew out from their mouths. The gang leaders witness the example to those who messed with Dexter Guild. The cult leader’s device is ringing coming from the one of the executives. The investor called him and said,
“We have fully examined your report. Please see us tomorrow for a special meeting”
One of the gang leaders can’t believe her eyes. “If she went serious with me”
“Quit it, you already say that yesterday”
The hackers have passed away and showing them that they face more dangerous opponents. He said to them
“Give respects to those who had done remarkably, and never forget the reality we are facing today and the future. Do you feel the sense of revenge within you all?”
None of them say a word, they examined the dead body as their body releasing toxic mana coming out from their mouths. The presence of magic used by the demon, making it impossible to prove that the Dexter Guild did this.
The hackers are dead, all relax as if they are drunk. The promised of them being the 13th gang left to be forgotten, then another call received. It is the new gang leader.
“This is Chelly, I have received the invitation to be part of the gang. I will take responsibility the actions on this day forward. I won’t let you down”
“I will be assured when the next orders will come. Don’t mess this up and we won’t be causing trouble for all of your fellow members”
The gang leaders watch him standing up from his seat. Lights up his hand with elven magic, flames not in the forms of green light but the fire shines under the dessert sun. The cult leader shows the seal of the elven magic from Circoston as he places it down on their table. The fire spread and burns everything around it. Including the dead bodies, they were engulfed and left no release of heat. He stands there watch the body burns and see the dessert-colored flames flowing out from the room. The guests saw the flames as like bright wind magic flowing on the ceiling. The sounds of clapping reached out to his ears as they walk out from the room.
The flames continue to flow around the building to search the last body. Where it reaches the room where he hid, It3ch made it to bring out the soul from the hacker’s body. Before the flames burn his lifeless corpse, a strange sound coming from the flames. It3ch hears it loud enraging voices echoing. He thought it was the voices of the hackers, but the voice of elven tongue. The translator was able to recognize the language and says,
“Redemption in death? His soul shall find its prophecy within the beads”
Chelly walks in the room and saw the body is burning. It3ch and the robot standing in front of the body. The bed wasn’t burned, only the body itself. They hold the object to conceal his soul. Both of them hears his last word and Chelly comes and see that what the hacker said is true, no grief of his death and only pity in their eyes. All of them died, and she said to him secretly
“Never mention about it, It3ch. Are you going through his will?”
It3ch watches the last remains burned into the air as it vanished. The flames were gone as it treated like fireworks. The night continues the celebration, leaving the three of them what to do next.
The next day, Chelly let It3ch do his own work as she is now the head director in the main servers. Her mother visits her with open arms to finally see that she founded returned to their management.
“I knew you will be promoted, but less than a month. That’s what I want my girl to be”
It3ch did what he had to do to secure his private server. Now, he sends the data to the robot as it secured it for itself. It gains the knowledge what the chats had been talk about in such a long time. The risk to reveal everything to one single robot. The hacker left him many sensitive data into this robot.
The robot had it all, both the hacker’s and the user’s details about this city. The first order for It3ch wants it to do
“I know we have his soul, but first comes first is how I am going to use you something important”
“Bring it, I am going to redeem myself. You’ll be surprised that this AI have some humanity left inside. As long as you are my user, of course”
“Ok, first we need to start it simple. I want you help a girl who is with the Enders. If she is the only woman to help them out from this part of the city and reside at Stranding Island for safety. Then I’ll be willing to fulfill his will”
The robot trying to be confident and at the same time serious about it. To find the girl who is talking about inside the private server. With its old vast knowledge in comprehension and analyses, he proudly answers him
“I’m ready for orders. The girl named Tabitha, whoa, I think she did her own homework”
“Oh yeah, she posts something she needs to know about the city’s danger. I guess she is able to handle herself quite well”
“Searching, yup, she did. What am I supposed to do now?”
“Help her save at least one person in this city”
“Uh, even it involved something dangerous?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I have to show you. Here!”
It inserted itself into his UI, on screen, he sees the victims were holding hostage by a lot known and influenced individuals. Added with the Dexter Guild’s secret files, he asks
“Did your guild know about it?”
“I wish, it would be easier that they would gun them down like pests. Their profiles are mental and there you see one example over there, handful . . .ly uh?”
The suspects have shown so much to deal with. Assumptions regarding their powers and their development to the least. The origins are clear and dangerous, already proving what Tabitha had posted about the threats.
“How about this girl, Junko. Wheatley, can you able to do something about it without knowing it was us?”
“Us or are you mean me? I can hide myself, but I don’t how I can hide you. Let’s see, ah. no. You’ll need to be a part in this. I see through the chat history. You were involved with that Junko’s guy. That person who is not C down. Because look at his connections though”
It3ch sees his connections. There are three people; one from the defectors, one is the Enders, and there is also another one. It is indirectly, and Junko has someone who shared contact with but no traces as there is no contact on their devices.
The robot hears someone is coming. “Oops, time to hide. I hope the orders are finalized. See me under your desk if you need me”
It rolls under his desk and transforms itself into a box then slides underneath like a thick block. It3ch sees Chelly comes in and said,
“When will we reopen the server? I am using a different device to find it, but it was blocked that is looks like spam ads. See”
It’s just Wheatley in the picture floating in space with the text bubble said ‘spaaaace’
“I’m impressed, that hacker left a really good security”
“Yeah”
“Oh, by the way, you need to see this”
She shows him the project. A project continues the use of the internet as the transportation routes. They both know it used for infiltrating when they find an active router network to create teleportation beacon. They both realize they are working with the cult leader. To make Fuku City as the main capital for this entire city, and these two had to play along as their own people surrounded by defectors.