With each stride, the landscape blurred into a frenzied whirlwind of motion, the miles passing by in a blur. Highways became nothing more than fleeting glimpses of asphalt beneath my feet, their significance dwindling in the face of the urgent mission that lay before me. As I raced onward, the scenery shifted around me, many small towns that I passed making way to the serene expanse of the countryside. Trees blurred past in a kaleidoscope of greens and browns, their branches reaching towards the sky like outstretched arms.
But despite the beauty of the natural world around me, my thoughts remained consumed by a single, unyielding focus—Aroha. Her safety, her well-being, consumed my every waking moment, driving me forward with a relentless determination that knew no bounds. "Please, stay alive! I'll be there shortly!" I silently pleaded with the universe, my heart aching with the weight of uncertainty and fear. As I continued to run, the landscape began to shift once more, the towering silhouette of a mountain looming in the distance like a silent sentinel. I pressed onward, my pace quickening as I drew closer to my destination. I found myself running along the side of that very mountain, the jagged peaks of Cortez looming on the horizon. With every step, every breath, I drew closer to my goal, the promise of salvation and redemption spurring me onward into the unknown. For Aroha, I would defy the very laws of nature itself if need be.
As I stood before the unassuming facade of the brown building, this is it. It should have someone who can tell me what the Criminal Alliance is doing. The signs outside held 'welcome' indicating that this was a tourism center. I stepped through the walkway, my senses alert to every shadow and every sound. As I pushed open the door and stepped inside, the air seemed to crackle with movement, surprising me.
And then, in an instant, the office around me erupted into a battlefield. Two black knives materialized before me, their deadly edges gleaming with marksmanship as they hovered menacingly at my throat. The hands that wielded them were almost invisible, their presence barely discernible against the backdrop of the dimly lit room. A voice, cold and devoid of sympathy, warned me in no uncertain terms. "Move, and we kill you." it hissed. With a steady hand and a calm demeanor, I glanced down at the glinting blades, my gaze portraying none of the fear that you would expect.
I launched myself into the air, my body propelled by lightning. With precision and speed, my toes hit them, delivering bone-crushing blows to the jaws of both assailants. The sickening sound of breaking bones were like music to my ears as their heads snapped back, their bodies collapsing to the ground in a heap. As I stood over their fallen forms, I felt reluctance towards my power. The assailant to my left lay motionless, his life extinguished in an instant by my stats. I spared him only a fleeting glance, noting the streamlined uniform adorned with a red and white horn—these guys were nobodies. I thought they were stronger.
But the other assailant proved to be of sturdier stock, his body wracked with pain but his spirit unbroken. As I knelt beside him, his defiant gaze met mine with a surprising resolve that belied his injuries. But I knew that his defiance would not last—not against the fury that burned within me, not against the unyielding force of my will. Grabbing him by the hair, I brought him close, his eyes widening. But there was no escape, no reprieve from the inevitable reckoning that awaited him. With a voice as cold as steel, I delivered my ultimatum. "You chose the wrong side," I informed, my words dripping with electricity. "and now, you'll pay the price."
As I confronted the assailant, a softness crept into my voice, "Where is Aroha?" I inquired, my tone betraying none of the seething anger that simmered. His eyes darted to the side, a flicker of recognition crossing his features. "You'll meet her... shortly." he replied cryptically, his voice laced with a hint of malice. Before he could enact whatever twisted plan he had concocted, I seized his arm with a vice-like grip, preventing him from reaching whatever nefarious device lay concealed within his pocket. My voice was low, filled with a deadly calm as I pressed him for answers. "A smoke bomb? Against someone as powerful as me? Tell me, now! Where is she? Or I'll take you to the same place he is!" I warned. As I applied pressure to his arm, his defiance wavered, giving way to fear and desperation. I shifted, to let him see what became of his friend. He recoiled at the sight of his fallen accomplice, his protests silenced by the weight of his impending demise.
"Mercy is a luxury given to those who know their repentance. You don't." I stated coldly, my finger pressed against his lips to silence any further objections. "The next word better be the location of Aroha, or you're done." With a deliberate motion, I withdrew my finger, his next words a damning confession. "She's not here! She's at the top of Ute Mountain, with the Representative of Division!" he confessed, his voice trembling with fear.
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How could someone like him, even in the twisted world of this organization, resort to such underhanded tactics? He's only pretending to be honorable. He's just as much of a bastard as the rest. "Why with him?! How do you know this?!" I demanded, my voice tinged with disbelief and frustration. His response came in a flurry of stammered excuses, his words a jumbled mess. "Uh, uh, uh... because he wanted a great fight!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with excuses. "In the organization, he's someone who wants to fight an equal! He wants you to know this. Even the Heads dare not fight him willingly, lest they lose an arm! Now let me go!"
Aroha, at the mercy of a man who relished in battle, who sought out opponents worthy of his skill and strength. If she's in danger, it brings out 'everything' within me. There was no time to dwell on the enormity of the situation. With extreme power, I lashed out, my fist connecting with his nose with a sickening crunch. His cries of pain silenced as he fell backward, his will extinguished. Division may have thought himself honorable, but in truth, he was nothing more than a pawn in a much larger game—a game that I was determined to win at any cost.
As I stood up, a whirlwind of thoughts churned within me, each one vying for my attention as I grappled with the implications of the new information I had received. Why had Ethan misled me about Aroha's location? Was it a deliberate ploy to throw me off course, or simply a mistake born of faulty intelligence? Police intel isn't always wrong, I must be overreacting. I pushed aside my doubts and uncertainties, focusing instead on the task at hand. Aroha's safety was paramount, and I would stop at nothing to ensure her rescue, regardless of the obstacles that lay ahead. Leaving the office behind me, I sprinted out into the open, the vast expanse of the Ute Mountain range being my next goal. With every step, the dry desert-like plains stretched out before me, their harsh terrain posing a formidable challenge to my progress. My movements became more limited as I traversed the rugged landscape, my weakened shoes struggling to withstand the punishing terrain. With each step, I treaded carefully, mindful of the dangers that lurked in midwestern country.
The final leg of my journey lay before me, a treacherous trek through the unforgiving wilderness of the Ute Mountain range. I took a step forward, a sudden and inexplicable phenomenon unfolded before me—the entire Ute Mountain range became enveloped within a shimmering purple ring. It was see through, but it was visible. The air crackled with energy, and a sense of foreboding washed over me as I realized the gravity of the situation. I stared in disbelief at the imposing barrier that now encased the landscape before me. It was as if the very fabric of reality had been warped, trapping me within its confines and cutting off any hope of escape.
I stumbled backward, my back colliding with the invisible barrier, a sense of disbelief washed over me. What manner of sorcery was this? No, not sorcery. This is a skill. As I attempted to regain my footing, the barrier responded with a resounding force, sending me tumbling back into the enclosed space once more. I landed on my knees, the impact strong. This barrier was no ordinary obstacle. I drew upon every ounce of strength within me, channeling it into a single devastating punch aimed at the barrier. My fist collided with the barrier, a powerful gust of wind erupted from the point of impact, but to my dismay, the barrier remained unyielding. It held firm against my assault, its strength and resilience far surpassing anything I had encountered before.
A voice, cold and calculating, shot throughout the enclosed space. "Ah, Oren, you have arrived at last." it intoned, its tone mocking and taunting. "You are ensnared within the confines of my expertise—the 'Honor Game'." The voice is louder than a loudspeaker! I tightened my fist in frustration at the audacity of Division, his words a twisted mockery of the honor he seemed to care for. This was no game—it was a trap. "To reach me, you must traverse a gauntlet of formidable adversaries," he continued, his words certain as they were hypocritical. "each 'stage' containing a representative or many deputies." "You must dismiss any notions of evasion, Oren-san." he asserted firmly. "My skill holds a unique condition. You are obligated to progress through the designated waypoints and engage in combat at each juncture. There will be no shortcutting your way directly to me." He laid out the reward, "The prize for completion? Your beloved, Aroha."
The purple icon he spoke about materialized in the distance, marking the location of the first battle. Glancing to my right, I saw the quest prompt materialize. I stepped forward, acknowledging the quest that lay before me. There was no turning back now—I'm seeing this through.
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Quest 12: Honor Game - Stage One
Traverse to the first indicator and beat the enemy there.
Requirements:
Beat all enemies who go against you.
Recommendations:
N/A
Rewards:
5000 points
+10 Strength
+20 Speed
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