Gigi sighed and rolled her eyes. "I swear, you two. Can't you just get along for like five minutes?" She took a step forward and moved the Soultaker away from Aurora's neck. "It looks like you two have a lot to talk about, so I'd really appreciate it if you both would hash things out before the induction."
"Talk about what?" I snarled, reluctantly lowering my blade. The Soultaker shivered, as if confused. "The past few years would've been a good time to talk."
"Lu, please." Aurora sighed, shaking her head. "We're all here to move forward. Let's not dwell on the past."
"You would know. You're great at moving forward, aren't you?" I spat back.
"What'd you say?" Aurora quietly asked, her eyes narrowing. She'd never been good at ignoring insults, even when she tried.
"Did I stutter? I said, you would know about moving forward, not realizing your shitty choices affect those around you." I don't know why I kept going. Maybe it was because I was so angry, or maybe I just wanted her to feel a fraction of the pain she'd caused.
I expected Aurora to counter, to bring out her broadsword or something, but she simply clenched her jaw.
"Lu, I told you, I did what I had to do. I couldn't stay in a place that held me back."
"You mean, our parents held you back." I tightened the grip on my sword so hard, my knuckles turned white. "I held you back."
"That's not why, Lu," Aurora said through gritted teeth. "It was something else."
"Then, now would be the perfect time to explain," It took all of my willpower not to swing the Soultaker. Instead, I put it away, glaring at my sister.
Aurora glared back, but refused to say anything else. That was all I needed to know.
"I'm leaving," I muttered, turning away from her. "I'll see you at the induction."
As I walked off, I felt a familiar weight settle in my stomach. It was a mixture of anger, hurt, and frustration. I had hoped that we could find some sort of understanding, but it seemed that was too much to ask for. The realization only made me angrier.
"Luquier."
I paused, my fingers curled into fists as I refused to look back. "What?"
"Do you hate me?"
I didn't know how to answer. A part of me definitely resented my sister for leaving me and our parents, with no contact or updates as to how she was doing. But another part of me...I didn't know. I missed her. I wanted to know what had happened to make her think that leaving was the right choice. We had been so close and it just seemed like the sister I once knew was no longer there.
So instead, I continued to walk off without answering. I was too afraid that if I opened my mouth, I'd end up saying something I'd regret. I didn't want to give her any ammunition to use against me, or worse, make her think that I actually did hate her. Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure I didn't.
[System alert: A Player has–]
Even before I processed the message, the Soultaker was already back in my hands as I spun around to block my sister's broadsword. Rage burst forth from me, but it was quickly replaced by confusion as I saw the look of hurt and anger in Aurora's eyes.
"Guys, really?!" Gigi cried out, running up to us. Around us, a couple of Players were watching us nervously. "You can't be civil for 5 minutes? We're not in a Safe Zone!"
"Gigi, stay out of this," Aurora quietly said, not taking her eyes off of me as she tried to steady her breath. "This is between me and my little brother."
"What do you want from me?" I snarled, glaring at my sister. "You don't want to explain anything, you keep pretending that everything's fine, and you only apologize for the pain you caused me. I haven't seen or spoken to you in so long that I almost forgot what you looked like."
Aurora flinched from my words, but kept her composure. Our swords were still locked against each other, occasionally clashing harmlessly. "I never meant to cut off contact with you," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just..."
She trailed off, looking into my eyes for a moment. "I just didn't want you to get hurt."
My anger started to rise. "But you left me to do it on my own," I countered. "You left me with Mom and Dad. You knew what they were like."
Aurora's grip on her sword tightened, and she looked away for a moment before returning her gaze to me. "I know, and I'm sorry for that. But I had no choice. I couldn't stay and I couldn't take you with me."
"So, I'm just supposed to forget that? Just... 'move forward', like you did?" I pushed harder with the Soultaker, causing Aurora to take a step back. "Did you ever think to come back for me?"
She winced, shaking her head. "No, that's not what I meant. I'm sorry if I made it seem like that. It's just... I can't tell you any more than I already have. You have to believe me when I say that I never meant for any of this to happen."
"Why? Mom and Dad are dead. I'm strong enough to solo bosses. Nothing can hurt me anymore." I growled. "What's still stopping you from explaining?"
Aurora looked away, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Because I can't," she whispered. "I wish I could, but I just can't. And I'm sorry for that. I wish there was some way I could make it up to you."
"There is," I knocked her sword away with a heavy swing. "Just leave me alone. I was fine without you all those years, and I'm sure I don't need you now."
The anger in my voice must have reached a new peak, because even as the words left my mouth, I knew they were wrong. I wanted her to stay. I wanted her to explain. I wanted her to make it all go away. But I couldn't say it.
Aurora's eyes twitched, a look of pain and resignation in them as she gazed at me. "Fine," she said softly. "If that's what you want." She turned away from me, her shoulders slumping, and walked back to where Gigi was standing.
I spun around and stormed off, heading to the portal that led to the 29th floor. The Soultaker shivered slightly in my grasp, as if it had been uncomfortable to have been caught in the middle of a spat.
"Hey, Luquier!" I heard Phoebe's voice call out to me, but I ignored her, stepping through the portal.
----------------------------------------
[Soultaker damage: +203]
Easily reaching the castle of the 29th floor, I was far ahead of all the other Players that had entered before me. The encounter with my sister had worked me up to the point where slaying countless sea monsters barely alleviated my emotions. Both Sephera and the Soultaker had been silent as I viciously tore through the mobs without using any of my skills.
The swarms of miscellaneous aquatic abominations were a blur as I used Grim Mantle to slip past them and into the castle, where I immediately barreled down to the throne room.
[Player...]
I paused before the doors of the throne room, sensing the pressure of the upcoming boss. Behind me, the mobs were quickly catching up.
"What?" I muttered back. "I'm about to solo the boss."
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
[I just... wanted to wish you luck. Please be careful?]
I took a deep breath, relaxing my body. I felt a little guilty for losing my cool in front of Sephera and the Soultaker. "Thanks."
I entered the throne room, seeing that it was pretty much an exact replica of the Seahorse Tyrant's stage. Instead of the seahorse though, there was a single man sitting on the throne, looking bored.
[System alert: A Boss has noticed your presence.]
The man on the throne had pale gray skin, with a hint of blue. His hair was black and short, sticking up like spikes. A set of gills lined his neck, and he had slits for pupils. He wore flowing clothes, decorated with pale blue and white trimmings. He kind of reminded me of a monk. As he locked eyes with me, the man grinned, revealing rows of sharp white fangs.
[Name: Shark King Galodon | Level: 29]
[Health: 500000 | Strength: 10000 (?)]
[Speed: 8000 | Magic: 4000]
[Description: The apex hunter of the oceans, he is unmatched in power. His tough skin halves all damage, converting it into Strength.]
"Ah, a new meal for me," Galodon said with a smirk, looking me up and down. "Don't worry, little one. I'll make it quick and painless."
Refusing to make the same mistake twice, I immediately used Grim Mantle, blasting forward and swinging my Soultaker at the boss. He didn't even have time to cry out as the blade easily cleaved through his tough skin, severing his body in half. His ability, while extremely useful, wasn't enough to stop the halved Soultaker's damage as it exceeded his Health.
[System alert: Shark King Galodon has been defeated.]
[Congratulations! Floor 29 has been cleared. Floor 30 has been opened.]
[Main contributors: Player Luquier Vaunt.]
"Ohhh, that was amazing," the Soultaker trembled in my hands. "Such ruthlessness, such dominance. I can feel it reverberating in my body. You might have the edge over my Master in that category."
Despite my initial anger at my sister before, I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. The Soultaker definitely had a knack for making things weird. Or was it a good thing that it snapped me out of my head?
"Hey, man. I told you to quit saying stuff like that," I cringed, trying to keep the Soultaker in check. "I don't need you encouraging me to be... like that."
[Yeah, he's a masochist, so you need to say something else that he'd like :3]
"Oh. I suppose berating his performance would be better then?"
"No, don't- ugh, you guys are distracting me." But even as I said that, I was a little glad that Sephera and the Soultaker were taking my mind off earlier, whether it was intentional or not. Actually, I'd bet my life that they weren't doing it on purpose.
[You have gained 10 (x150) experience points.]
[You have gained 1500 experience points.]
[Level up!]
[You obtained Shark King Galodon's Tough Skin (Passive) Skill.]
I smiled softly. 150075 Stat Points was such a nice pick-me-up. In the back of my mind, I was still worried that it wouldn't be enough. I tapped on the new Skill.
[Tough Skin (Passive)]
[Description: Converts a copied 50% of damage taken into a temporary shield. Shield duration equal to user’s level.]
Eh, not bad. It’d certainly be useful later. I moved on to distribute my Stat Points.
[Level: 1148]
[Health: 82100 | Strength: 40500]
[Speed: 40000 | Magic: 45000]
[Risk: 20000 | Stat Points: 0]
[Experience: 6%]
[Impressive stats aside... why did you put more points into Risk? I know you're wanting to become stronger, but you're already on good pacing. Wouldn't it be better to have put those points into more worthwhile stats?]
"Sephera," I began, noticing the green portal to the 30th floor crack open behind the throne. "Do you know what's waiting on the next level?"
[...]
[Admins aren't allowed to say that. It's more so that we're physically restricted from saying what comes next. Even if I type out the name ******, I'm sure you wouldn't be able to read it.]
"Yeah, I can't," I shook my head. "But we both know what's on the 30th floor."
[...Yeah. You did say you only managed to reach that floor and not beyond.]
"I am... lost," the Soultaker trembled in my hands. "What are you two droning on about?"
I sighed. "Sephera and I know what's on the 30th floor. She's asking why I put more points into Risk instead of other areas, which would definitely help in the short term, but I'm planning for every possible scenario."
"Which is why you should have put more points into Strength, so you can recover more Health or withstand hits," the Soultaker interjected.
[I'd have argued Speed or Magic. *-*]
"Those are definitely smart, but I'm still confident that Risk will help me pull through in this next boss," I said, taking a deep breath. "I mean, I don't want to be caught off guard by something unexpected, you know?"
"I find it difficult to believe such a thing would happen."
"You haven't been used in the towers at all, have you?" I glanced at the Soultaker in my hands.
"No. The most recent memories I have were the last moments before my Master safely sealed me away. I don't recall anything else before you awakened me."
I blinked. "Wait, so that wasn't you who was whispering to me when I sparred against my sister during the interview match?"
[!!!]
"No? I became conscious when you awakened me. Jerk." The Soultaker replied, exasperated.
I was too shaken to correct the sword as I realized that the voice I heard prior might have been my specter. It wasn't the craziest idea; after all, it was a being that was a part of me.
I forced myself to calm down as I walked over to a corner and sat down, resting for the moment. It was incredibly humbling to admit, but I wasn't sure that I could solo the next boss.
It took some time, but the rest of the Players finally caught up to me, entering the throne room and quickly converting it into a rest site. I saw Aurora and Gigi walking in, the former unable to meet my eyes as the latter hesitantly approached me.
"Are you... okay?" Gigi asked. "You just stormed off and cleared the 29th floor so quickly."
"Yeah," I sighed, catching sight of my sister mingling with other Players. "Just needed to clear my head for a bit."
"And your idea of clearing your head is to solo an entire floor by yourself?" The Technomancer smiled wryly, conjuring two comfortable chairs for us to sit in. Okay, that was definitely due to her Title. This woman was amazing.
"I wasn't planning on it," I winced, rubbing the back of my neck. "It was just... I didn't want anyone to drag me down."
"Ouch," Gigi said, shaking her head. "Maybe you don't mean it that way, but it sounds like you don't think other Players can support you. Or that you don't need them."
"It's not that..." I began, then trailed off. The truth was, I didn't know if I could trust anyone else. My entire plan revolved around me being able to handle everything on my own. "It's just that I'm not used to working with others."
Gigi offered a warm smile. "So, you're planning on soloing the 30th floor, then?"
"Er..." I hesitated. "I'm actually going to be honest and say that it might take more than just me to beat this boss."
The Technomancer blinked. "What? Seriously? How are you sure? I'd have thought your stats at this point are crazy."
"The bosses I soloed had ramped up in difficulty," I started, which wasn't a complete lie. It was just easier than explaining that I had played a virtual copy of our reality, which apparently never existed. "I just have a feeling that this next boss will be too much for me to handle."
Gigi's expression softened. "I see. Well, if you're okay with waiting for a bit, some of the Lambda Sector's top Players will be coming soon. Me, Aurora, and two others, I think. Celine was also planning to come by, since she noticed that you had cleared the 28th floor. She told me she tried calling you."
"Oh," I hastily pulled my phone out from my Inventory. 134 missed calls, 356 unread texts. Oops. "I-I'm sorry. I've been a bit preoccupied."
"Really? I couldn't tell," Gigi flashed me a playful smile. "How about you rest now? Like, really rest. We've got some Players who are preparing meals before we tackle the 30th floor."
My stomach rumbled at the thought, and I realized my nonstop clearing had me starving.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
****
[Updating…]
[Name: Luquier Vaunt | Level: 1148]
[Title: Reckless Immortal (A)]
[Health: 82100 | Strength: 40500]
[Speed: 40000 | Magic: 45000]
[Risk: 20000 | Stat Points: 0]
[Experience: 6%]
[Skills]
[Divinity (Passive)]
[Holy Element 1148/1148]
[Death’s Shadow 1148/1148]
[Reap 1148/1148]
[Final Gambit 1148/1148]
[Death Match 629/1148]
[Grim Mantle (Passive)]
[Duplicate 1x]
[Tough Skin (Passive)]
[Items]
[Silver Serpent]
[Soultaker (1251271)]
[Warp Cube (x1)]
[Grudge of the Fallen core (x1)]
[Cloak of the Guide]