Dear Diary,
We made it home. Yay us.
I kinda want to message the Admin and ask if we can stop yet. I feel like we've killed enough to 100% prove Avi knows how to fight.
If we have to do it all again next cycle, I might just give up.
I don't know how the real players manage to do this every single cycle. They must be legitimately insane. I mean, at first it's like a puzzle, and there is some strategy, but after a couple weeks I just feel… numb.
I just want to sleep. I don't even really want to cook.
Avi just has no emotions at all any more. Kimi and Y are doing better, but they've gone from trying to be smart and strategic to just trying to one-shot everything. If it doesn't work they kinda give up.
We didn't fight the dracoraptors. I think they realized how drained we are, cuz they actually acted nice to us. Like, usually they acknowledge we exist and then make it clear they're merely tolerating our presence. But this time they acted kinda sweet. Almost snuggly. That was really... nice.
Other than that, I don't know what's been happening. I don't really care at this point. I just want this cycle to be over.
Goodnight, Dungeon.
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From: Y (Player 793) To: Admin Subject: Avi
Sir,
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
First, allow me to say I understand why Avi needs to change. Players tend to act similarly, which I suspect is by design. Avi is very obviously not a player. If you were to send him into the next dungeon, anyone could tell at a glance he does not belong.
I recognize this, and understand why you pressured him to change.
However, none of us act like typical players. That is the point of you sending us, is it not? I believe you told Kimi and Aya that we are to win in the next dungeon using specifically non-player-like means. How are we supposed to do that if we are forced to act like players?
Again, I understand why Avi in particular is a threat. I presume sending non-players to the next dungeon is in some way forbidden. Avi may as well be the antithesis to a normal player.
If you remove him, though, you're still going to come under suspicion. Kimi and I don't solve problems the same way players do. Nikki certainly doesn't. Lily and Samurai subdue enemies but don't kill them. Mika is far more creative than any player I've seen. Staab and Samuel ask permission before fighting anyone. And Aya acts like some sort of monarch.
In short, even without Avi being his normal animal-hugging self, your group will be flagged for abnormal behavior within a cycle and a half.
Having him spend a cycle learning to fight is good, I will admit. Sending him along, ignorant of what normal players do, would be stupid. You were right to ask him to prove he can fight.
Having said that, I believe forcing him to continue killing would be bad. For everyone. If he has to fight his way through the dungeon next cycle, he will break. I would worry about him attempting some form of suicide, but that isn't an option here. Therefore I have no idea where his mind will lead him, and frankly it frightens me.
Please, decide that he's learned enough, or tell him you've chosen to send Samantha in his place.
Avi is my friend. Please don't break him.
Respectfully,
Y
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From: Admin To: Avi (Player 477) Subject: (Empty)
Ok, good job, you proved you can fight. Continue on fighting next cycle or don't, doesn't matter. You'll be going to the next dungeon either way.
Once you're there, however, I do expect you to use some of the skills you learned this cycle. Don't spend all your time snuggling wolves and taming velociraptors. If you're flagged as a non-player in the first week I will be Highly Unamused.
Admin