FEBRUARY 21st, 2022

I met up with Klein inside the pub only a few minutes away from Glory Park. When I found him he had just finished getting turned down. He turned around, his shoulders sagged.

“How did you find me?” He asked. There were two women at the booth to my right; one wore one of the really skimpy outfits I had seen earlier and the other was dressed more modestly. “There’s booze and women here. It would be like being surprised that fish are found in water.” I said.

“You’re painting me as an alcoholic and creep,” He said.

“And you aren’t?” I asked, turning my head. “Right, anyway, I’m done with my partner search, we’ve got three people, and it’s getting kind of late out,” I said.

“Yeah, okay. I don’t think we’re going to find anyone else here,” Klein said.

“I don’t think you’re finding anyone at all unless they have boobs or booze. Besides, finding them and having them agree to join you are two different things.”

“Right... he said.

“She said she’ll meet us by the fountain once we’re done equipping ourselves at the armory.”

“Ah, I see. I don’t really need to upgrade, my gear is kind of overpowered for this section of the game anyway, but I definitely can see why she would want you to. The armory should be a few blocks down from here, that is, if the rest of the town is the same. I know the guy who runs the joint. He was a beta tester, so we should be able to get some nice prices,” he boasted and puffed out his chest.

“Prices? We actually have to pay?” I asked. We started to make our way out of the pub.

Klein joined beside me. “What game don’t you pay, Dex?” He stepped down the steps two at a time, dismounting on the dirt road below.

“What game don’t you get gold to pay? Last I checked we’re broke.” I said.

“You’re broke, little dude. I have gold saved from beta. The only enemy you’ve gone up against was another player, some of which didn’t seem to have any kind of loot on them I may add. You have got to get the good mobs for the good loot! Wild Orcs! Ferocious Boars!” He said, acting out the various creatures.

“Wait a second, that’s weird, don’t you think?” I asked.

“What, my acting skills are not weird, I’ll have you know, I was top of my class in-”

“No, no, not that. Those Python players, they had no loot. Shouldn’t they have dropped their weapons? Gear? Anything they had?”

“Well, in the beta you drop everything but your essentials. Obviously they aren’t going to have characters running around in the nude, so think of those default clothes as your essentials. That, and your sword.”

“They had robes,” I said.

“Well, those players chose a mage for their starting class, that would be their starting attire and spell, Fireball. The robe is a unique code unlock if I remember right, you had to know a Python member to be able to start as one,” Klein explained.

We made it to a large-scale building that looked to be made entirely of stone brick. A dingy sign hung atop the door. It read “Gregor’s Armory”.

“So, your friends with this Gregor fellow?” I asked.

“Yeah, after beta I guess he was contacted by the dev team over at Technodome asking him to join up to be a part of it all. They must’ve seen something in him from the beta, I guess. I’ve got another friend who works up on one of the higher floors also, I haven’t seen him in quite some time,” he said.

“What’s his username?” I asked, turning my head.

“Oaken, he’s quite a character, that guy.”

“Sounds interesting.”

Klein nodded and looked back toward the giant wooden door. I followed his gaze. It looked like it was made for a man twice my size. I open my menu and head on in. The scene shifted and we were inside the grungy main room. Spider webs amassed underneath the counter tops which were glazed a vermilion shade from the torchlight. Klein walked over to the empty front desk and rang the bell.

“Hey! Gregor, get out here you lazy oaf!” He called out, ringing the bell incessantly.

A large red headed man similar in stature to something like a Viking stumbled out of the back room and rubbed his eyes.

“What want? Gregor is sleeping,” he said in a thick and grungy accent.

He opened his eyes and yawned a big hearty sound, it sent vibrations through my body.

“Oh, is only you, Guile. What do you want?” He looked over at me and laughed

“Guile?” I asked, turning my head.

Klein only slightly cocked his, “My last name. I just used my real name as my username. I hid the Guile bit after beta just because it rolls easier with Klein.”

“Who is puny boy here? He looks like a skeleton who forgot he was dead!” He laughed up a storm.

Klein chuckled. I didn’t.

“This is Dex. He and I are going out to the dungeon on the second floor.”

“Oh, you’re going to solve the game, yes? Save the day?” Gregor asked.

“Correctamundo, I need you to outfit puny here…” he rested his arm on my shoulder—to which I shove him off, “…with the latest and greatest. You think you can do that?”

Gregor looked from Klein back to me and studied me as much as Athena did earlier, “He isn’t bad, but needs work. You owe me, I am supposed to be sleeping now.”

Klein navigated through his menu, “How does…50 Gold sound?”

“It sounds like we have a lot of work to do. Come Shlopka, we have to get you fit for battle.” He stepped into the back room. I looked over to Klein.

“What the hell is a Shlopka?” I asked.

Klein laughed, “It is you my friend, you are the Shlopka.”

Gregor reemerged from his room, wearing his gear. “Come Shlopka, I introduce you to blacksmith. We make you new sword that make your old one cry in river of shame and then drown in river.”

“O-Oh that’s a little dark,” I said.

“No, it is quite bright enough, I have enough torches to keep armory lit, silly Shlopka!” Gregor said and shook his head as he stepped past me. I nervously laughed and looked back to Klein. He gave me a thumbs up and winked.

Something told me that I was going to regret this. I followed Gregor up the stairs to the side. The staircase twisted and bent to proportions that would be impossible to create in the real world. It looked like something straight out of an M.C. Esher painting.

Gregor stopped at a large metal door and he knocked heavily. The force resounded throughout the room beyond. It took a few seconds, but it finally began to open and creaked as it slid against the brick floor. Inside was a girl near an anvil. Her back was turned away from us. She had short-cut purple hair and was wearing a black-stained apron and a heavy pair of gloves.

“Hey, Beth. We have Shlopka who needs a sword. Fix him up one, da?” Gregor heaved out.

Beth turned around and looked at me with an annoyed look. “He’s not really much up for talking, I apologize for that,” she said. “Especially when he doesn’t tell me we have more customers!” She said to Gregor.

Gregor sighed heavily, letting it sink throughout the whole room. It felt like the air just got heavier. It sounded through the entire room.

“Fine fine, let’s do this,” Beth said, nodding her head slowly.

Gregor pushed my back and I stumbled into the room, almost tripping over myself. He then shut the door and I could hear his lumbering footsteps as he chugged down the stairs.

“So, another new player in need of a weapon. Just what I need tonight. Do you have any materials for me?”

“M-Materials?” I stammered out.

She groaned, throwing her hands up in the air, “Why does he always give me the difficult ones? Okay, materials are the loot that you get from monsters you’ve killed. You have killed some monsters, right?”

I shook my head, “No loot, sorry. My friend downstairs is willing to pay, though,” I said, pointing to the door.

“The gold is one thing, but to actually make the sword I need materials. Oh, this is going to be a long night…” She whispered. “We can use some of mine. I have spares, but only because I want to end this as soon as possible. Okay? I need sleep.”

I nod my head, “O-Okay.”

She walked over to the desk beside her and clicked on the window prompt. She emptied the desk of its contents into her inventory and walked back to the anvil, “There’s also another condition I have.”

I cock my head, “What is that?”

She grins, “Since I’m shelling out my rare materials for your sword, you have to pay me back. Since you’re heading out to the higher floors, it shouldn’t be too hard, right? It’s a win-win situation. You’ll be chopping up monsters and be getting all kinds of rare loot. Just bring me back an equal amount to what I’m dishing out here and we’re set,” she said.

“Terms accepted. I’ll pay you back in full, I swear it.” I said.

“Wow, you’re either really brave or really stupid to accept so quickly. I was expecting a little haggling, but that’s totally fine. Let’s get working on that sword.”

She pressed on the command window on the anvil and added the materials. I can’t read what they are, but they sure did look weird. Various metals and what looked to be claws of various animals. The materials were then enveloped in a white light and merge into one object. It began to grow and shrink simultaneously. She equipped her hammer and began to work out the kinks. The whole process was awe inspiring. Then it was complete. It was an azure blue blade with an edge that looked like it could slice a cinder block into pieces.

“Its name is Elcor.” Beth said and handed the sword to me.

“Elcor?” I repeated.

“Each weapon forged is different than one bought in the store, it has its own item name. I’m going to be honest here, that is the highest level sword I have ever forged. I hadn’t expected something with my blacksmith level, especially something from just the first floor.”

“It’s a wonderful sword, thank you Beth,” I said sheathing it. I turn to leave.

“You know, getting a little bit more of those materials than I originally asked for might inspire-”

“Don’t worry about it, I don’t have plans to stay here long, any materials I get I’ll bring ’em here,” I say, and then I head out of the door.

“T-Thank you.”

I walked out of the door the door and continued down the confusing staircase. Klein and Gregor were making small talk as I reentered the lobby. Klein looked straight at me as I walked in, “So Dex, where’s this new sword of yours?” He asked.

I pull out Elcor from its sheath and it glowed with a faint aquamarine aura. I found myself being mesmerized by it.

“Woah, dude! You have to let me borrow that! It’s so cool!” Klein said, practically drooling.

“I’m pretty sure it’s class exclusive, dude,” I said, unable to take my eyes off of it.

“What important is not sword, but man behind sword, Shlopka.” Gregor remarked, his arms folded.

“The sword is pretty important, Gregor.” Klein added.

“Sword may help, but what Gregor think better is armor. Sword isn’t help when your foe can stab your squishy parts easy-like. Gregor will outfit you with the nifty armor of the century!” Gregor laughed.

“Okay Shlopka. I know you have no materials, I heard Beth yelling at you upstairs. I always hear her yelling, it get tiring. So how about we make the same deal? It’s easy, da?”

“So, you want me to fetch you materials too? No problem, I’ll already be out fetching some for one, so two shouldn’t be so bad.”

Gregor smiled, “Da! Is good!” He clapped and opened his menu “Now, here is some armor.” He sent me a solitary black coat. I did like how it matched my hair. The only thing was that its buffs for defense were almost non-existent. It was barely better than the clothes I had on.

“This is it? I thought you were going to make me some super rare piece of armor that won’t get me stabbed?” I asked, the disappointment drained from my face into my voice.

“Da! Is good rare armor. It’s about as rare as mother’s steak dinner!” I equipped the coat and read its name as I did. “Shroud of Darkness”. “Oh! Gregor almost forgot! Armor has special ability! Shroud can ‘shroud’ wearer for time short! Shlopka become poof gone!”

“Huh?”

I opened my menu and saw its description. “Wearer of this item can become invisible for up to 30 seconds in battle.”

“Ah! That is so cool! Thanks Gregor!” I said.

“Ah! There you…are? That’s you’re new gear? I’ll be honest Dex, the sword was a bit more impressive.”

Gregor snorted, “Shlopka doesn’t see fine art when it bites him in the rear. Dexboy see potential in armor.”

Klein’s jaw dropped. “Aw man! Now I’m Shlopka? What does that even mean?!”

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. “Not so fun when you’re under the butt of the joke now, huh?” I turned to Gregor, “It’s just Dex, Gregor.”

He waved me off as if I just told him the moon was made of cheese. “No being of problem. Just remember you made deal with Gregor, so Gregor hold you to deal.”

“Uh…yeah, sure. I’ll keep the deal.” I said.

“Good, good Shlopka!” He laughed once more.

He paid Gregor the 50 Gold and we exited the armory. Once we were outside Klein led the way to the fountain back in Glory Park.

The moon was full as we crossed the park. Not many people were out this late in the game. I checked the clock in my menu—m it was 6:50. We had ten minutes to spare.

The only ones in the park were the ones who were taking charge with us to the second floor. Athena was waiting for us by the fountain just like she said. She was leaning up against the side of the fountain looking up at the stars. The moonlight was shining through her hair brilliantly. She hadn’t seen me –us—looking at her yet. I needed to stop, need to focus on the current objective. We’re not here to stare at girls. Our goal was to get out of this world, not to gawk at pretty…soft…flowing ...No! Stop! Get a hold of yourself.

I was shaken out of my trance by Klein. “Hey dude, you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost or something…” He looked over and saw Athena. His eyes came back to me and the smallest of grins formed on his face.

“No.” It grew. “No,” I repeated, nervousness creeping into my voice. He was smiling enough for two people. “Say a word…any word and I’ll kill you right here,” I said back.

He flexed his arms, “Weeeell, you’d have a pretty tough time with that, Dex,” He said. “C’mon Dex, just tell me, you like her!” He taunted.

“No, I don’t. Now, please shut it before you get too loud,” I said.

“Too loud for what?” Athena jumped into our conversation.

“It’s nothing. He’s just being an idiot.” I ran my hand through my hair, “This is Klein, by the way,” I said. I could tell I was turning crimson. She looked from Klein then back to me, “You didn’t tell me your friend was a beta tester,” She said, her eyes narrowed and a certain venom entered her voice.

“I didn’t think it’d matter. In the end we have someone with experience. What’s wrong with him being a beta tester?” I asked.

She walked past both of us, not even turning back.

“Wait! Athena! Where are you going?” I grabbed her arm and I’m met with a katana pointing right at my face.

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“Beta testers are scum. It matters a lot. I’d rather cut him down here than work with him on anything,” she said,

Klein pushed me aside and strut, “Listen, I don’t know what I’ve done to insult you-” The katana shifted on him now, inches from his face.

“Your existence insults me,” She said.

“Don’t you know that health doesn’t decrease in towns? Slicing him up here won’t do anything.” I explained.

“You don’t think I know that? Towns are safe from player killing…unless that player is a part of a duel.” Athena began.

“A duel?” I asked.

Klein wore a straight face. It was the first time I’d seen him serious. “You’re challenging me to a duel, then?” He asked.

Athena sheathed her blade. “I would. Are you man enough to accept?” She asked.

I stepped back, “Guys, we don’t have to-” Klein put his hand up.

“Dex, let me do this. If Barbie here needs to be taught that I’m not a bad dude, then so be it.” he said.

“You did not just call me Barbie,” She said.

“Hit a nerve?” He asked.

“Accept the damn duel already and I’ll be sure to show you exactly which one,” she barked.

“I will, but how about we up the ante, shall we?”

“How do you mean?” Athena asked.

Klein swiped open his menu, “If you win, you can hand out whatever punishment you deem worthy on me. I will not resist.”

Athena had a glint in her eye, “I’m listening, and if you win?”

Klein raised his hand, “Simple, you explain why it is you hate beta testers so much.”

Athena looked surprised, “That’s it? No sex fantasy or even forcing me to tag along with you?”

Klein shook his head, “I only desire an explanation. That is all. You are free to do whatever you wish afterward.”

Athena showed of a small grin, “Okay, I accept your terms.”

Klein raised his sword—a silver blade named Mitsurugi. Its blue aura surrounded the sleek silver rapier as if it was bound to the light. Athena reflected his pose and brought out her katana. She charged first—closing the distance between them in a matter of seconds like a bullet fired from a gun. Klein stood unmoved.

She swung her katana with both of her arms—reinforcing every single slice. The arc of her blade shone a bright green hue. I was amazed—she worked her sword as if it were an extension to her body. Klein didn’t seem to be so amazed—he just stood there. His health wasn’t decreasing. He was stalling her out. Klein let out a small laugh which caught her attention.

“What are you laughing at?!” She looked over at his health and her face filled with terror when the realization hit. “What?! Why haven’t you-?”

Klein raised Mitsurugi skyward and he slashed it down to create a shock wave headed straight for a confused Athena. She was thrown against the force field, where she sustained heavy damage. She looked up to find Mitsurugi pointed at the tip of her nose.

“I win,” Klein said with a slight grin on his face.

“H-How is that possible?” She stammered.

The force field around them dissipated and the area sunk back into the ground. Klein sheathed Mitsurugi and he offered his hand to help Athena off of the ground. I saw the other players begin cheering—some walked away in a disheveled grunt hoping for the underdog to win. Up on the arena Athena hesitated for a moment. She shook her head and stood up by herself, “I don’t need your help.”

“But you do owe us an explanation.” Klein reminded her.

She sighed and sheathed her sword. “Fine. It’s all about my brother. Out there, he's the only family I have. There wasn’t anything that could have separated us—he’s only a few years older than me so we’ve always been real close.” She fiddled with her thumbs. “Then he found out about the beta for Elysium. It started as all addictions do—a little at first—the taste—if you will. He met a lot of new people. I loved seeing how he glowed after he got off—he had so many stories to talk about. At first I really loved it.”

“At first...” I said.

“I probably sound like I’m policing his hobbies—that isn’t close to the truth. I want him to enjoy his life as much as I knew he wanted me to enjoy mine. We didn’t like all the same things. I...feel guilty because I encouraged this, though. He spent more and more time in this world with the people he met in here—the other beta testers.” She lowered her head. “He was doing online classes for college, but he put less focus on it until he just...stopped—the only college in the whole goddamn state that was so selective about who they let in and he dropped out just to play with his beta buddies.” She was breathing heavier now and clenching her fists. “I had to save him from degrading into nothing.”

Klein took a breath, “I don’t think it is fair to blame me for your brother’s habits,” he said.

“You are all the same. You kept him here!” She yelled.

“I don’t know if it’s my place to say-”

“It isn’t.” Athena said coldly.

“Anyway, if your brother stayed here, then it is because he found enjoyment here, enjoyment he wasn’t getting out there. If the other beta testers weren’t here he’d find something else, that’s how people like us are,” I say.

“People like you?” She asked.

“Us, people who actually play these games find escape in these made up worlds. Maybe your brother was going through a rough time? That’s how we all start,” I said. “Either that, or we just don’t want to deal with what’s outside.”

“Rightly said,” Klein agreed.

“If anything, you should focus your hate on the GameMaster for making this hot mess. That’s what we’re doing,” I said.

Athena was silent. She studied my face. “I apologize.”

“Apology accepted,” I said.

Athena sighed, “I didn’t know what kind of state he could be in, things happened so fast…and you…” she looked to Klein, “…it was your armor, was it not?”

“Hm?” Klein asked.

“Your armor that made you impenetrable,” She said.

“I admit the armor’s secondary effect does come in handy from time to time,” Klein said, smirking.

“Secondary effect?” I asked and turned toward him.

“Yes, it blocks all physical attacks under a certain level. You were wondering about this armor when you first came here, right Dex? That’s why it is so rare. It doesn’t help me against magical attacks, those are my Achilles Heel, so to speak.”

“That sounds completely overpowered,” I said.

“For this part of the game? Sure. I have to say, while I do like some of the game-play, barring the obvious death game, it isn’t balanced all too well.”

“Well, maybe the time that should’ve went into balancing went into turning it into this mess,” I said.

Athena looked up at me, straight faced, “Are you ready?” she asked.

“Ready?”

She turned around and stared up into the sky, “Ready to move on to floor two?”

“Wait, you’re coming with us? For real?” I asked.

“Yes, I’m going to follow your advice. I’m going to focus my anger on the creator of this ridiculous game. And you two are going to help me save my brother,” she said. Her eyes have hardened to a burning gaze.

I nodded, “I’m happy to certainly try.”

“You know...you have quite the knack for picking friends.” Athena said, looking back to me.

“Oh, me? I-uh, just woke up with the guy, er-I mean I spawned in the same place as him. Luck of the draw, I guess,” I said, shrugging.

“Yeah, luck of the draw, y’know, you’re the first person I personally know whose picked the assassin class,” Klein said.

I turned, confused, “Huh, really? Nobody else has picked this class?”

“No, of course others have picked it, I just mean anyone I know. I guess it’s just the low defense that scares people away initially, you have to really know your shit to go through with it…”

“…Or be really reckless,” Athena added.

“Hey now, I handled myself in battle before,” I said.

“You’ve handled yourself in a battle. The floors ahead are going to get so much tougher than just simple Python mages,” Klein said.

“And what about you?” I asked Athena. “You seem to be as new here as I am, and you even lost a duel. How can you call me reckless?”

“I’ve been in here since this stupid game came out,” she said and looked off to the side.

“I’m sure you would’ve done some heavy damage if it weren’t for my armor, you seemed to know a bit on how to control your sword in battle,” Klein said.

“Well...thank you Klein.” Athena nodded slowly. She took a deep breath, “I hate to say it—but I do feel more comfortable searching for my brother with company. I don’t play these games so I’ve been winging it since I’ve come in.”

“Well we’re lucky to have you,” Klein said. “I think we’re ready to go, let’s go meet up with Eldon and the other players, shall we?”

“Who now?” Athena asked.

“The guy leading the way to floor two,” Klein begins.

“The guy who was conducting the speech that you happened to be spying on me,” I said.

“I…I was not spying! I told you I was just looking at…”

“Wait a second, you were spying on him?” Klein asked, his goofy grin returned.

“Okay, listen. I was not spying, I was walking by and saw the commotion and I happened to see you,” she said, an angry look in her eyes.

“Okay, okay,” I say, holding my arms up defensively. “We can just forget it, I’m sorry I brought it up. Let’s just go before the others leave us behind,” I finished.

“Okay,” Athena said and nodded.

“Let’s go then. I’m aching to kill some monsters,” Klein said, his grin grew wider. “Ah it is going to be so GOOD to finally be able to just let out on some mobs, fighting against other players the whole game can get so…samey,” he said.

We walked back to the center of the park where the rally had begun. Over the top of some of the other players’ heads I could see the top of Eldon’s head.

“Hey, come on guys, let's make sure we’re allowed to go and all that, I don’t know if he’s taking a headcount or whatever,” I said, pointing him out.

Athena tried to stand up on her tip-toes, but couldn’t manage to break the crowd—she was only a little shorter than me, maybe an inch or two. She looked disappointed, but nodded her head, “Fuck being short.”

“You’re not that short,” I said

“I’m shorter than you,” she said.

“It doesn’t have to be compared to me, there are plenty of people shorter than you,” I said.

“And there are also people taller…”

I let her response sink into the crowd. Klein lead the way through, “Excuse me! Pardon me!” He said while snaking through.

“Grass is always greener,” I leaned over to say as I followed Klein through the crowd, noticeably less smooth. Other players’ elbows dug into my rib cage, and several of them yelled, “Wait your turn! Back the fuck up! You want a fight?”

We picked up our pace to reach him. He was already talking when we caught up, “Well, what an odd way to encounter an old friend, isn’t it, Eldon?” he said—moreso yelled—to make his voice heard.

Eldon turned his head, slowly at first, and then looked right at Klein, a fire flickered in his eyes. “Well, I can honestly say I didn’t expect to see you here, Klein. What the-” His eyes shifted to Athena. “What are you doing here?”

Athena looked stunned, but she regained her composure, if only slightly, “I’ve come to get you out of here, that’s why! You’ve been obsessed with this game and you-”

“You don’t belong here, Just stay put here and out of the way. You don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into,” Eldon glared at her, it’s a glare I hadn’t seen from anyone else.

Athena wasn’t having any of it, “I come all this way to save you, to help you get back to your life and I don’t even get a thank you? Not even a care that I’m here?” Athena asked, placing her hands on her hips.

“I never asked you to come in here and never asked you to save me. I am not asking you to stay here. I am telling you. I’m not letting you interfere with my life! This is my life,” Eldon’s voice was fierce, the fire I’d seen in his eyes has been turned up twelve notches. His face looked something feral, completely different to the Eldon I’d seen earlier in the day.

Athena stepped back, her determination was replaced with a mixture of hurt and shock..

“Hey, you know that’s uncalled for,” I said, stepping up. Both Eldon and Athena turned towards me. “We need every person we can get on the front lines, or did you forget that we need to escape this game? The whole purpose of not dying here?” I said, stepping closer towards Eldon.

His fiery look turned on me. “Who the hell are you? What the hell, Klein? Bringing some punk kid who doesn’t know his place? He’ll never do any good here,” He barked out, facing Klein.

“Listen man…” Klein started.

“Aaron, stop! He’s just trying to help us all get out of here!” Athena stepped back up.

“I don’t want to get out of here! This is my life!” Eldon snapped, and before I know it Eldon has his sword out and pointed it directly at her. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

“You’re going to seriously say that after all we’ve been through? Are you kidding me?” She barked back at him. “What was your plan, exactly? You were just going to waste away in here and leave me to take care of you?”

“You’re the reason we’re in this situation. And finally when I find a way out you’re here to ruin it. Like always. I’m done. I’m cutting the cord and moving on.”

“I’m not letting you do that,” she said.

“You don’t have any—”

“Fight me,” she said, and the crowd around quieted at the request. “If you’re so stubborn I’ll beat you at your own game and get you out of here myself. I’ll smash your ego to save you.”

A terrible look crossed her brother’s face. “You don’t want to do that.”

“Come on, then!” She commanded, sending the invite. “I’m stuck in this damn game too, so I’ll hound you to the ends of Elysium. So go ahead and accept if you’re as good as everyone seems to think you are.”

I leaned over to Klein, “What is she thinking?”

“She isn’t...” he said.

Eldon’s eyes grew manic and the request was accepted in an instant. “I tried to warn you. I try and I try and you still—” he pulled out his sword and held it out, “...don’t listen.” The arena rose up around them both and the force field reflected around the perimeter. The others around took a step back. Above each of the combatants’ heads was a small info menu. Above Eldon’s was a unique marker.

“Boss?” Klein read, his mind whizzing by at unimaginable speeds.

“Aaron...” Athena looked at her brother with a growing fear in her heart. “What...is that?”

“I told you that you didn’t want to fight. Because now...now I have to kill you.” He looked down and gripped his sword tighter. “FUCK. WHY COULDN’T YOU JUST—“

“Just...what?” Athena cut him off. “Wait around and die?”

Eldon’s eyes glanced to the other players and then back to Athena. “Everything...I did everything to save you. I had everything and sacrificed it all so that you would be okay. I lost everything and you can’t let me have ONE thing—the one thing I have left.”

“That one thing is responsible for the deaths of other people!”

“Fuck everybody else!”

Athena brandished her blade, “I...I see. I didn’t know how much you felt—” a tear slid down her cheek and she wiped it away immediately, gritting her teeth and readying herself. “I hate this part of you.”

“I don’t hate you,” he said. “But I have to because you brought us to this point. You chose this fight.”

Athena shook her head, “No. You chose it by remaining as you are. I trust you didn’t know that this game killed people at the start, but that excuse is used up—worn away. If you continue after our fight what do you plan to do? Are you going to lead these other players into a sense of security only to gut them as a trick?”

He didn’t say a word. “And you’re not going to just give up this spot and join us legitimately in working to escape this game, because you think it’s so special, right? Because fuck everybody else, right?” Again he said nothing. Athena nodded, bit her lip, and closed her eyes for a moment before she rushed Eldon. She whipped her blade, a silver katana named Wo Dao, arced right. Eldon threw his arm out and his sword, a broadsword named Oblivion caught Wo Dao at its peak. The two blades connected and the sound caught in her ears, elongating and distorting. It pounded and repeated until it formed a rhythmic beating in the back of her mind. It was the worst beat she’d ever heard—and she’s lived it for the longest part of her life.

Flash. Pump. Flash. Pump.

She ducked underneath his blade to cut at his back.

Flash. Pump. Flash. Pump.

He spun on his heels and grabbed at his back-plate. It separated from his armor and became a heavy shield which he slammed right into her blade and threw her off balance. He threw out his foot and caught her in the gut. She slammed hard against the ground and the rhythms in her head only grew more intense. She started to writhe and spasm as her eyes rolled to the back of her head—the pain of remembering was paralyzing her.

“You just couldn’t let things be.” Eldon said as he walked over to her. She tried to move out of the way, but he stepped down on the arm that held her sword. She yelled out in pain as the full weight of the armor set in. “You just had to shake everything up like you always did. I had everything!”

Outside the arena I felt a pounding headache rush forward. I threw my hands up to my face as I felt my eyes shaking back and forth. Klein noticed and turned, putting a hand on my shoulder, “Are--” was all I could make out. I heard nothing else as the headache roared past everything else. I blinked and then was looking up at a towering shadow that loomed over me like a demon. As I stared up it looked only to grow taller and taller like a mountain over me. I blinked again and was back outside the duel arena.

Eldon raised his sword up over his sister’s throat. It hung for a moment before her eyes rolled back into place and she looked at him with a mixture of fear and anger. Something snapped inside her and she yelled out. He hesitated, and she swung out her legs in an arc and caught him off his balance. She rolled out from under him and bounced back to her feet. She spun around him and sent two cuts running up and down his now-bare back. The wounds were deep and he cried out. She threw her blade into his back and held it tight—her hands were shaking and she couldn’t stop her tears now.

He was silent—slowly turning his head around to catch her gaze. “You...You’re...going...to...have...to...kill...me.” His hand reached up near his neck and pulled out a necklace from underneath his cuff. It was a single band that carried an orange crystal that was almost comma-shaped. “Because if you don’t,” he coughed out. He was shaking just as much as she was. “I’m going to kill you.”

The crystal glowed with a soft light that pulsed in rhythm with the reverberations inside her head. His legs started to buckle, but he was standing up. The sword was still in his back, but he was still moving.

“I...I can’t.” She said, realizing it. Tears filled her eyes and her hands were losing their grip. “I can’t...I thought I could...see you as him and that would make it easier but it doesn’t.”

“You can.” He said. “Face me as you would him. Do it, or everything I gave up would have been for nothing.”

“I can’t!”

“DO IT.”

“I CAN’T.”

“I HATE YOU!” He screamed.

She swallowed and tightened her grip on the sword. Her sight went far and without another word she plunged it deeper. He straightened as his eyes grew heavy and his body spit into pieces and vanished into nothingness. Athena was frozen in place just staring at the place that her brother was, but now wasn’t. Everything else was silent to her. Everything but the pounding beating even harder.

Flash. Bang. Pump. Bang. Flash. Crash. Bang.

The crowd was murmuring among themselves—the common thread of conversation was confusion.

“How did a newbie kill Eldon like that?”

“Dude, didn’t you hear? That was his sister!”

“She killed her brother like that?”

“He was going to lead us out of here!”

“No you idiot, he was going to lead us into a trap!”

“I don’t believe it!”

The force field dissipated and as the arena sank into the ground, the crystal that hung around Eldon’s neck floated in the air in front of Athena. She clasped her hands around it and held it close to her chest and closed her eyes.

I stood, staring at her. The pounding slowed to a halt as she came to an inner peace with what she had done. It only pounded faster in my head. I felt light headed and I tried to move my hand up to my head—it was weightless. I fell back, almost as easy as breathing—as letting go. My hand reached out toward Klein and Athena almost by habit. Time slowed exponentially. The shadow returned, and it started to smile at me.