Jet awoke with a metric ton of stone upon her. If wasn't for the Master Builder, someone would be scraping bits and pieces of her from these remains of the pillar of hope.
Did the pillar collapse? What does that mean for this world?
She pulled up her stats.
<<>>
Character Status
Name: JetaGirl
Race: Human
Level: 4
Gender: Female
Class: Mage (Rank 4)
Health: 129
Mana: 123
Stamina: 126
Attributes
Strength: 25
Constitution: 33
Intelligence: 37
Wisdom: 26
Dexterity: 21
Agility: 20
Charisma: 19
Perception: 37
Luck: 24
<<>>
Jet felt like every virtual bone was broken in her body. Although she suffered no physical damage; the pain was almost comparable as she felt when she got stabbed in the real world.
<<>>
System Message: Your health is critically low. Please replenish before setting out again.
<<>>
"In-Por-Ot-Bem."
The immediate area illuminated. She gasped when she caught a glimpse of Argyle. The golem melted into the surrounding stone. An expression of horror was forever etched in rock. The pillar, once a long circular construct, had melted into the golem and the surrounding rock.
How do I get him out?
The confined space made her feel claustrophobic. An urge to tunnel her way out was almost overwhelming. She had the urge to cast a recall spell to travel back to her known good waypoint, but she hesitated.
What am I missing?
"The parchment!" Jet said.
Her words reverberated and echoed back. The effect was unnerving. She couldn't find the magical parchment.
I must have dropped it when the master builder protected me.
“Bem-Un-Por-Cad.”
Jet's hands vibrated as she uttered the words. She thought she saw her fingertips glow red, but it was so brief she couldn't be certain. A portion of the wall exploded, a spray of fine dust covered her avatar.
That stone wall didn't seem that sturdy!
An enormous gaping hole just under the master builder's body. She wriggled through the hole and dropped several feet to a slick surface that was made of some glassy substance. The parchment was encased. A feeling of hopelessness overcame her. The thought of giving up to another player with questionable invention didn't set well with her. She wanted nothing better than to regain her title and be rid of the troublesome player character for good.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"Now my life sucks in-game as well as out of it," Jet said as she punched the glassy surface.
A deafening crackling echoed throughout the chamber. Thousands of cracks formed within the glass. Enormous fissures formed just out of reach. The cave seemed to be collapsing in on itself. She started pounding on the area where the parchment was. The surface shattered like a windshield, but crystalized. She couldn't gain the leverage needed to liberate the parchment. Additional fissures opened in the floor near her location.
Soon there won't be a room left. I'd better get out of here while I can.
As the crystalline structure cracked and crumbled, a large piece broke off containing the parchment. She snatched it and tucked it into her inventory.
<<>>
System Message: * You are encumbered. Please drop some items. Your speed will be reduced by fifty percent.*
<<>>
"Crap, nothing's ever easy."
She ran as fast as her encumbered avatar would allow. She kept up with the collapsing chamber despite her inventory situation—barely. A narrow and flimsy-looking bridge lie ahead. She was about ten yards from reaching it when large chunks of debris fell from the ceiling. Jet cast her shield spell to keep the damage at a minimum. But the weight of the encased parchment was becoming a burden.
I can’t carry this much longer.
She examined the bulky glass-like substance that held the magical scroll. It slipped and slid toward the bridge. She leaped toward it and grabbed it with both hands. The motion and the encased parchment's slick surface caused her to glide across the bridge. She did her best to steer the glassy substance, but it picked up speed and glided to the other side. With no way to slow the motion, she was thrown into a solid wall. About half her health disappeared as she hit the surface. She applied the practical first aid skill to bring up her health without using mana. A glimmer of light caught her eyes. She examined the immediate area. An enormous chasm with a bridge allowing passage. An icy draft gave her the chills and reminded her of the frozen wasteland she was experiencing in the real world. A low humming sound emanated from the crack. She rubbed her avatar's arms as she approached the crack. When she got closer and looked through the open area. A gigantic machine rumbled and clanked. On one side of the machine parchment was sliding out of it. An old man was pulling on the parchment as it left the machine.
“Icarius?”
“I’m so happy to see you, JetaGirl,” the old man said.
“What are you doing here?”
“These old constructs do need to be maintained, otherwise they will crumble.”
“We… tried restoring the pillar, but—”
“I know. The false Magi interrupted you.”
“How do you know?”
The old man smiled.
“I know all about this construct. I have even foreseen my demise.”
“What? How?”
“The prophecy must be fulfilled. The false Magi must kill me and you must let it happen.”
“Why?”
The dungeon master opened a side compartment on the side of the machine and removed a leather satchel and opened it. Jet recognized the parchment and blank vellums contained within.
“It’s the only way to repair this land. Before I go, I must name a successor. And that is you, my dear.”
Jet froze.
No player ever ascended so much. This was unheard of in the Colossal Machine.
“Take these into the endgame arena. You will know when it’s time to put it to use.”
The dungeon master handed her a bracelet with an infinity symbol. She examined the piece of jewelry for other distinguished markings. Except for the symbol, it was plain. An energy that she couldn't place emanated from it. She put in on a stinging sensation on her wrist, then she was teleported into another realm. She recognized the gray rocky terrain of Darkow. its constant twilight and mana creatures were cold and uninviting. Floating above the edge of the land was a floating town and an enormous castle atop a hill. Black clouds gathered around the fortress like maggots feeding on decaying flesh. The mere sight of it sickened her. Gargoyles and gigantic bats flew around the landed on the structure. A moment later, she was teleported back to the master's chamber. The old man gave her a sympathetic look.
"My time is over, but I trust that you will battle this evil and restore the constructs of the machine?"
Jet nodded.
"Good, then I'm sorry for this."
The old man waved his arms about like a madman. He looked like he was trying to draw something. Although she couldn't hear his mumbling, her stomach turned as the gravity of the situation dawned on her. A nasty-looking red portal opened and before she could react, he pushed her through it. She landed hard atop a cold slab.
"No!"
Jet leaped toward the wavering portal. She was almost upon it when it closed. She lost her balance and fell toward the endless nothingness of the pit. Jet grasped the edge of the platform. She slipped as she tried righting herself, but managed to pull herself upright.
Where am I?
Ghostly shapes floated nearby. Most of the souls seemed tormented. Lightning flickered in the distance. A crooked path let upward toward dark gray clouds.
<<>>
System Message: You have partially completed the quest: Restore the Pillar of Hope. 1,867 experience points have been assigned.
Congratulations! You have leveled up. You are now level five.
+12 Health
+12 Mana
+15 Stamina
Please choose from the following spells.
Spell: Locate Party
Use: Find the location of all party members.
Incantation: In-Ot-Em-Vet.
Spell: Freeze
Use: Capture the moisture in the air to freeze your target into place.
Incantation: Bem-Por-Sil-Vet
<<>>
Jet chose the Freeze spell. Her Evocation specialty gave her a bonus in all environmental spells. When she closed her in-game interface, then ascended the path that certainly led to her doom.