Angry yelling could be heard outside the halls of soldiers, these were followed by what sounded like explosions and screams of agony. Some NPCs shuddered to think what was going on outside. The soldiers for the time being backed away from Weed and headed outside; apparently there loomed a greater threat there. Even other players who rushed to finish off Weed backed off hesitantly, they chose to wait and watch. Everyone stayed as silent as possible.
Screams of terrible pain seeped inside the hall; the audience nervously glanced at each other. There were easily over a thousand soldiers defending this castle…it had to be some sort of grand war going on outside. Some players began to step out to see the cause of the commotion. The NPCs begged them not to leave them alone and instead protect them; however the players’ curiosity could not be satiated. They had to see what was unfolding outside. One by one they all stepped out and never returned. The screams of pain never ended…Weed was scared. Although this was just a game and he could log out anytime…he was too scared to do anything. It was the sort of feeling accompanied in a horror movie. Where people like moths are lured away by the flame of a candle only to be led to their crispy death.
Theodore too, who was too shocked a few moments ago by the revelation that Weed was dark natured, was now too absorbed in the commotion outside. He gripped the holy hammer tightly and patiently waited for the screaming to stop….and it did stop. It was disturbingly quiet; a dripping sound could be heard in the distance from a leaky faulty ceiling tile…Seconds crawled like hours and everyone wondered what happened….
‘Tick Tock Tick Tock...’ Weed’s grandfather clock continued to tick away in the background…
Rodriguez shifted uncomfortably the worst was only going to unravel…
*Step* *Step* *Step*
Somebody’s footsteps could be heard echoing through the stairways that led to the hall. They grew louder and louder till they were right outside the grand doors of the hall. A few soldiers who stayed behind and personal body guards of nobles stood on the sides of the door waiting to attack the enemy who dared to open these doors.
‘Was it a single person? ‘Did a single person wipe out the entire dwarven regiment placed outside? And what about the players who left the halls to help the soldiers? What became of them?’ These just some of the many thoughts swirling in the minds of the remaining players.
A long silence enchanted the hall once again…
The soldiers nervously looked at each other, they signaled each other to open the door and check but none of them had the guts to do it. Frustrated by the cowardice of the NPCs, a player volunteered. As he opened the door…some players and NPC’s ducked behind their seats expecting a monster or an explosion…instead there was nobody….
“What the heck?” The human player said as he stood with his sword drawn. He was trembling in fear for need. “It’s all clear.” He shouted out to everyone who was hiding. “Nobody he..”
Before he could complete the sentence his body went flying across the hall and he landed on his neck…he died much before hitting the ground, an instant kill from the blow of the unseen force that flung his body away. Several women, NPCs and players alike, screamed in horror. Some were even reduced to tears. It wasn’t an easy choice to log out, logging out during critical action moments cost players levels, exp or even random items they possessed. It was almost the same punishment as dying except for the lock out period. Even then, a few immediately logged out.
Even the men were scared, nobody saw that coming. They gripped their swords and weapons tightly. Archers moved into position, they weren’t going down without a fight. A single person, stood at the entrance. His cloak was smeared in the blood of his victims. The figure slowly moved forward, the soldiers who stood by the sides of the door dropped dead like flies to the ground. What just happened? How did they die? Nobody had a clue. A few more players (includes men) shrieked as the hurriedly logged out. The choice to log out became a very easy one to make; the enemy in front of them was too strong. Wiping out a 1000 dwarf soldiers…is not an easy accomplishment. He also appeared to be insane based on how he was indiscriminately killing off everyone. The maths was simple, overpowered enemy plus insanity equals log out now and avoid being mutilated like a dog’s rag doll.
There were some players, who were absurd enough to have a go the hooded enemy. Archers launched their arrows and tanks rushed at him brandishing their swords. They were all met with instant K.O.s The enemy moved unrealistically fast as he butchered away those who dared to attack him. Some players dropped their weapons and held their hands up in surrender. It was too late, they too were killed. Shin Ye Sui and Weed were probably the only two players left in the hall.
The hooded figure began walking towards the stage. NPCs clutched to their seats as they hid behind them in terror. There was an overwhelmingly demonic aura flowing through the room lowering the morale of everyone. Theodore stood up slowly; enough was enough.
“I see, I always did wonder which one of would win if we were to fight head on…” Shadow finally broke the long dreaded silence.
It wasn’t just Theodore who was challenging him; Rodriguez and Lisa were getting their act together as well. Rodriguez pulled out a staff and Lisa pulled out her bow. With Shadow in the center and the other three spread out like points of triangle, they slowly began to pace around Shadow.
“I must say Rodriguez, you pulled a good one on me. That letter and the wild goose chase was fantastically daring of you!” Shadow had a cruel tone in his laugh.
“So the four best of friends, all gathered in one room.” He added bitterly.
Snappy moved in front of Weed and began growling at Shadow.
“Oh, I am very sorry Snappy.” Shadow added in a sarcastic tone. “The five of us. I guess that must be the elf behind you? Did he manage to win?”
“…”
“Of course he must have, I mean he had Rodriguez’s mark of approval didn’t he?”
“…” Everyone continued to stay silent as ever. This was tense and delicate moment, where losing your concentration could mean death.
“GIVE ME THE SCALES YOU DAMNED OLD FOOLS!” Screamed a livid Shadow. The halls shook with his scream.
An arrow whizzed by Shadow, Lisa began the charge.
“Graces of heavens!” Rodriguez screamed as he set up barriers one after another to restrict Shadow’s movement. “FAIRY BURST!”
The room flashed white, blinding those were watching.
Theodore lunged the holy hammer at Shadow, straight on. Lisa fired arrows in rapid succession pinning Shadow’s feet to the ground…. The trio huffed trying to catch their breath.
“Wonderful!” Shadow replied back in delight. He spoke as if he were completely unaffected the blitz attack. “Now why don’t we stop pretending and fight seriously?”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Theodore lead Weed away. Lisa and I will hold him back.”
Theodore nodded as he retreated.
“And whatever makes you think, I am going to let him get away?”
“This is!” Replied Lisa as instantly appeared beside Shadow and punched him in the face.
“AAAAAA! MY FACE!” Shadow howled in pain as he gripped in face. Seeing the opportunity Rodriguez cast one holy spell after another. Theodore used the opportunity to drag Weed away who was scared stiff. All though Elementarem Vim was just a game, everything that unfolded was so realistic. The NPCs didn’t behave like typical NPCs, they appeared more natural and human like than ever. Their emotions, dialogues bordered real humans so closely that it was confusing Weed. Were they really NPCs?
Shin Ye Sui was the only player that remained. She was nimble on her feet and managed to evade most spells and attacks that missed Shadow and hit the NPCs which were hiding. Some reporters spend all their lives in a VR game and never witness a single great moment, there are those fortunate few who go on to become stars over night. Shin Ye Sui was determined to become a star tonight. Although her camera man died during Rodriguez’s spell cast she could still relay a live feed to her station from her POV. She was scared and excited. She had done risky VR coverages before but something about Elementarem Vim drew her in.
“IS THAT A PIECE A OF THE DAMNED SCALE?”
A small crack appeared on Shadows black faceless mask.
Lisa looked at her ring; the black diamond stone cracked in two pieces. “I guess so?” She coolly replied. She had wanted to punch Shadow in the face for the longest time ever. “Honey, the ring broke. Could you get me a new one?”
Rodriguez sighed, Lisa had always been cheeky. Whether it was when he first met her or now, she really hadn’t changed all that much. Even the circumstances didn’t seem to affect her mood, here they were fighting a friend turned foe with their life on the line and his newly wedded wife left no opportunity to instigate him further. “You really don’t want to say that in front of him…” He whispered back.
“Say what hubby?” Lisa romantically teased back. Rodriguez lightly banged his head against the staff, she was just plain cruel. Did I really want to marry her? There was most likely something wrong with her emotion switches, one was supposed to be feeling tense, scared or perhaps even excited. Feeling romantic was the last emotion you’d feel in this situation.
“Honey? Hubby?” Shadow asked curiously. “…”
“How do I say this…Rodriguez asked me to marry him!” Lisa shouted as she showed off her ring with a big smile on her face.
Shin Ye Sui was slightly stunned, what began a horror movie was slowly changing into a standup comedy? It was somewhat anticlimactic?
A black sword whizzed through Lisa’s heart and her body lay pinned against the wall. The delightful and warm atmosphere came to a zipping end.
Shin Ye Sui threw up, although it was virtual reality, she did not see that coming. The graphic details were too realistic! The censor board was going to have a go with Unicorn Corp about this!
Rodriguez didn’t even have time to react. All his protective barriers around Lisa just gave away like paper. He rushed to Lisa’s side and grabbed her body as it slipped down when Shadow retracted the sword. He clutched her in his arms tearfully, her life was being drained away slowly. It was a single neat stab to the chest, powerful enough to deliver to death’s door step. This wasn’t Royal Road where Rodriguez could mutter a healing spell and that would take care of everything. Elementarem Vim had stricter rules. Only those of life affinity had the ability to heal could do healing magic.
If Shadow’s faceless mask had a smile, it would be a very wide smile. He enjoyed vulnerable weak people, melodramatic sorrow. He was not being kind by not attacking Rodriguez as he tended to Lisa rather he was enjoying the moment. If words were to describe Shadow, he was the embodiment of pure cruelty.
Shin Ye Sui slowly moved towards the couple, only a while back were they exchanging sweet kisses and now Lisa lay on the verge of death.
“Hey…”Lisa spoke with her life seeping away quickly, she slowly moved her hands and caressed Rodriguez’s sobbing face for one last time. “At least I got to call you hubby...” With that her lifeless hand fell to the ground and her body turned into grey ash before disappearing.
Shin Ye Sui was moved to tears. It was too tragic, virtual but it felt so real. She struggled to continue staring at Rodriguez as she wiped away her tears. It wasn’t just her who was left crying. Half the audience back in RL was moved to tears as well. Even some of the writers and female producers were left sobbing.
Rodriguez slowly stood up; his anger crossed a threshold that he had never felt before.
“Heavens Judgment.” He whispered with his back still facing Shadow.
The last thing Shin Ye Sui saw was her entire screen going white and her character losing all her health…It was a painless quick death. Shin Ye Sui removed her VR console gear and rushed towards the conference room. There must have been standby teams sent to her location! She had to know what happened next! The audience too wanted to know what happened next! Although most of the people in the audience were blacksmithing fans, they were too caught up in the moment! The teams were quickly changing POV’s to the nearest available team for them.
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Authors Note:
1. Thank you so much V4LKYR13 for helping out. Thank you Tewlve for writing this!
2. Hope you all like it. See you in 5.11 a bonus chapter!
3. Will be edited soon.
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Connect to Royal Road – Elementarem Vim next Chapter?YesNo
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