[Jōbun/Junkitsu's POV]
Huff huff huff huff
Gosh, this is a nightmare! Nah, scratch that, that word is an understatement for the situation I'm currently in.
The worst thing being a mental projection in a Mindscape is that, not having the inventory or status effects. I'm just a plain ordinary fox who can control aura.
Maybe it's because of the immersion factor cranked up to the T. Atleast, the stats screen can be displayed.
Despite the establishment of the Mindscape as a deeper level of the virtual reality, the danger feels real. 'Seems like the genre shifted from adventure to psy-horror.'
The smell of the forest, burnt wood and ashes, the humidity due to the firestorm, the heat beneath my soles as the treaded path exploded into a fire pillar- all of these are too immersive to be virtual. This is like I'm experiencing someone else's dream.
Still, I need to keep my wits and avoid my fate of being burnt to ashes.
Jumping between trees provides a temporary relief from the landmines and occasionally, vantage points. This gives me a wide area to look for the hostage.
The problem is that this forest is vast. It'd take forever to find the Squirrel. Fortunately, the firestorm is pretty far away. 'Gotta maintain the distance as long as possible now.'
'What was that? Sounds like a chime...' Is it earrings? No, this is... this is a chain. She's almost nearby somewhere.
'Is that an open field? Strange...' ...Great, found the Squirrel.
...
"Oof!" Rough landing... but at least I made it.
'What the- This is crazy! Who'd do something like this?!' On a closer reading, the chains are attached to the fibres of the Mindscape. She's tied to this mental world, literally. Not only that, the chains will tighten firmly as she stops moving. 'Man, she doesn't look good...'
But the aura within the contraption has a simple pattern of flow. If this is reversed, maybe the shackle can be broken, theoretically.
*CLINK* "Oh, got it!" There, she's free now. "How are you feeling now, ma'am?"
"Thank you! Thank you so much! I don't know how I'll repay for this!" Woah, easy! Hugging me out of nowhere... does she have an inkling about personal space?
Well, who am I to judge? I've always been a tactile guy, so whatever. Might as well reciprocate the hug.
"Ma'am, keeping pleasantries aside, it's time we find a way out of here. Are you ready to take on the Beast with me?"
"What are you talking about, lad? I was born ready! Lead the way!" Well, her glow in the face returned. Onto the firestorm, the apparatus of the Karmic Beast.
'Wait a second, is it just me or the firestorm is coming here?' *BOOOOM*
Well, that proves it. The Karmic Beast is the firestorm. Dammit, the flames are hot like hell. Wait, did it just look at me? Nah, forget it. I need to slip ahead and get the Squirrel to safety.
...! So fast... I didn't see the Beast coming. More like I couldn't.
"Ghlk!" Dammit, I can't breathe. My windpipe...
.....
'Woah! Thank God I didn't pass out. But my back... oww...'
"Are you happy?" Huh? Who said that?
...! Shit, it's the Karmic Beast! ...Do Karmic Beasts talk?
"Hey, fox! I asked you a question!" Uh oh, this one's pissed. I really need to say my words carefully.
"What for?" ...Uh oh... My ears, please forgive me.
.....
Owww... my ears are still ringing from that outburst of the Beast. Correction, the hostage, Ms. Squirrel herself.
From what she told me, before my entry into the Mindscape, she already had an upper hand against the Karmic Beast and tied her up. Also, she planned on detonating her life force to wipe both herself and the Beast, once and for all, by becoming an living incendiary. Those landmines I tripped were 'adjuvants' for the explosion.
The way the Squirrel chastised me for inadvertently ruining the plan, it was as if there is no way to beat the boss. But I beg to differ, albeit they fell on deaf ears.
"Ma'am, I'm asking you once again- ditch the plan. Rely on me. Fight with me."
"As if! You're nothing but a greenhorn with a bag of tricks and I'm running on fumes. There's no other way. This plan needs to work. I'll make it work!"
"Are you out of your mind?! There's a beastman out there, waiting by your side, hoping that you'd wake up! Imagine I return alone... with a broken promise. Your sacrifice grants only two things, devastation and agony." If this doesn't persuade her, nothing will. "Now, I'm asking you back, will you be happy, knowing that you'll leave him heartbroken?"
"You think I'm doing this because I wanted to?! Of course not. But there's no other way! The monster is too strong, I don't know- I can't- Oh my Goddess... Mother Gaia, this choice is cruel... Too cruel..."
'Oh damn, I think I went too far.' I didn't mean to be harsh or to scare her like that. I just wanted to let her know that she can escape without endangering her life. Who would've thought she'd break down crying?
Although a piteous sight, I saved her from a bad choice. "Listen to me, ma'am. Sacrifice is a last resort, not the go-to option. Defeating Karmic Beasts doesn't require the hosts to die in the process. Trust me, ma'am. You will live. I'll make sure of that."
"Phew... what should I do...?" Thank goodness she listened! I almost became brain-dead, thinking about how to break the bad news. 'Man... that was nerve-wracking!'
The Squirrel lent her ears to me. The plan was iterated: to be well-versed with the mechanics of the mental realm, that is, the Mindscape.
My previous experience with the villain mask was just a fluke. A knack of sorts. I lack the concept of bringing my ideal self to action, which is crucial to tip the odds in our favour. I need to project that I'm stronger than the Karmic Beast. After all, this is a place where imagination dictates reality.
A malevolent presence reminded us that some time had passed, our preparations being adequate at best. Black flames cover the Karmic Beast's skin, with red scleras glowing brightly with bloodlust. This Beast solidified a notion in my mind- this is truly the stage... of the Final Boss.
----------------------------------------
[May 3, 2:00 pm, in the game world]
[Mokkun/Kingumo's POV]
'She's growing colder by the minute. She's almost... lifeless...'
It is an agonizing sight to see, watching your beloved one withering away. Desperately hoping that they'd get up. Deluding yourself that they're listening subconsciously.
I almost cried when I saw the Macaque caressing his wife's hand, gazing at her ring with such tenderness.
On the other hand, seeing brother Jun's body lying on the floor like a mannequin gives me goosebumps. I wonder when he will get up.
While keeping my mind busy with random thoughts, something shone from the corner of my eye. It was brother Jun.
His Beast form grew hotter and brighter, almost turning blue. The flames covered around the mask and started burning it. The mask cracked, with splinters flying and hovering in the air. Finally, the mask broke into pieces and started to orbit above his face.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
The broken pieces of the mask and the flames funneled into a point and transformed into something small, the size of a coin. Seeing that shape, I knew brother Jun did it. 'He got the Pool Token!'
Not only did he defeated the Final Boss, but also he became the 16th player to gain the global status of All-born! On top of that, he became the first and last player to conquer this dungeon. 'Truly, his debut will be a legend, for generations to come! Awesome!!'
Suddenly, everything went white. The theatre vanished. It took a while before everything came back to normal. No, everything became better than before.
The theatre looks refurbished, the damages were all repaired. Everything looks brand-new and beautiful. It's like the theatre is ready to host its first show.
'Who's giggling behind me?' Oh~, it's the Macaque and the Squirrel! Such a nice couple. Might as well go say hi.
...! 'What?! What happened to me?! Did I die? Am I a ghost now?! No! No, no, no!' After everything we've done so far... did we lose, after all?
"Yo, King."
"Aaahhh! Oh, it's you, brother... Next time, give me a heads-up?" He simply bowed. Not sure what's the answer though. I almost got a heart attack because of him. Wait, if he's here, then did he die as well? Am I missing something?
"Brother, I-"
"Shhh... Watch." He simply gestured.
'Fine... let's see what's going on.'
Slowly, we came to understand what we're witnessing. The answers... this place is offering the memories to behold.
----------------------------------------
[May 3, 2:00 pm, in the real world]
The whole gaming community, Danōki included, were witnessing the birth of a star.
The infamous Black-Star Dungeon that devoured the toughest players, Abyss Cathedral, has been finally conquered.
Players were cheering, hooting and dancing in celebration to this joyous occasion and raring to meet the newbie that caused the sensation with his OWD (Open-world Debut).
Seconds later, the V-Sphere glowed white and in that white screen appeared the Fox and his trusty Eagle.
Along with the animals, the players were watching the events unfold before their eyes.
In the beginning, Abyss Cathedral wasn't a dungeon. It was a theatre that extended into a place of worship, built by the Red Squirrels. During a peaceful time, a Squirrel inherited the theatre.
Her love for stage plays grew into an ambition that drove her to travel the world around, to create a drama troupe that would create timeless pieces of visual literature.
In her quest, she met a Macaque, skilled in the art of mask craft. With that first recruitment, she gathered many animals with like-minded passions and great talents.
Along the journey of creating masterpieces, love blossomed between the Squirrel and the Macaque. It grew into a beautiful bond, envied by many. Alas, their love was fraught with peril.
A time of turmoil spanned over their lives, as interspecies relationships were frowned upon all over the world during that time. The couple were among the many pairs, jeered at and oppressed. Still, with support and perseverance, they won the long run. The couple married.
On the day of their wedding, they were rehearsing a celebratory stage play, enjoyed by a few friends, when suddenly, everything went up in smoke and fire. The extremists bombed the theatre. But they didn't take the Cathedral into account, increasing the number of casualties.
Among the dead and dying, the Squirrel rose, not as an animal, but a Karmic Beast, full of vengeance. Despite the satiated revenge, the wrath went out of control and the frenzy infected other animals, creating an outbreak of Beasts.
Hell on Trova was about to be unleashed, when suddenly, the entire building was brought here, along with them.
With the memory concluded, the Fox and the Eagle were brought back, in the theatre hall, with the couple standing before them.
----------------------------------------
[May 3, 2:14 pm, in the game world]
[Jōbun/Junkitsu's POV]
The memory ended, with King and I somehow standing on the stage along with the couple before us. At this moment, the new objective for the Dungeon Quest appeared. To talk to them.
After a lengthy bit of conversation, I found out that the Squirrel's name was Nora and the Macaque, Naban. Together, they're the co-founders of the drama troupe, Artful Dreamers.
It's ironic that a troupe considering themselves as dreams end up becoming nightmares, hell bent on crushing intruders. Us, the players.
As a token of gratitude for saving them and clearing the dungeon, King was rewarded with a key, whereas, I was taken in front of a mirror.
"This mirror will help your powers to be realised. Step in, please." Naban said. "With this, our time has come. For the last time, thank you for saving us."
"Wait, I need to ask you something."
"Sure, do you need anything?" Nora asked.
"Um, although I'm happy to act in a play, I'm not satisfied. There's something missing here."
"Really? What is this deficit that you want to fix?"
"Allow me to host the show. You're the stars now! Dance to your heart's content!" With that said, the interim dance was hosted. The music was serene and beautiful, the couple danced with grace, joy and love.
I conducted this so they can move on peacefully, without any regrets. Cradling in each other's arms, they slowly dissipated into stardust, thus ending the show.
After this, King said that he wanted to try the key, explaining it's used to unlock a vault. I let him go check it out and climbed on the stage to enter the mirror.
Suddenly, the mirror started shining as I got a notification.
[Hidden condition achieved. The Dreamcatcher's Mirror is upgraded into the Artful Stargate]
'Hidden condition? Artful Stargate??' So the hidden condition was the couple's departure? I had no idea. This means the reward might've been upgraded. 'Thank you for the blessing.'
The gilded mirror led me into a room filled with stars and nebulae. 'Wow... it's like space inside here!' Every step I took rippled across the cosmos, as if I'm walking on a shallow pond.
In the middle of the room, there was a luminescent orb of nebula, waiting for me. 'Should I keep my hand on it? Would something happen if I do that? Meh, might as well try it.'
In a flash, all the stars gathered in front of me, displaying my achievements and proficiencies as the nebula glowed brighter until the room became white. 'Forget being amazed, I'm astonished!'
The nebula dissipated to reveal a pair of gauntlets worn over my hands. They are vibrantly decorated, and have a futuristic design.
[Congratulations! You are bestowed the Artifact: Pioneer's Legacy]
[This Artifact is Soulbound]
That means I can't use any other weapons. Good thing, though. I've always been a unarmed fighter for a long time. But I kinda miss having a staff...
I'll check this out later.
Out of the blue, the stars started swarming behind me. They were busy building up a form, to which I don't know why. Finally, the stars formed into a white fox, taller than me.
His blue eyes looked at me with melancholy, serenity and... hope. He spoke no words and smiled. Then, he raised his hand and rested on my head to pat me. All of this seemed familiar to me, that my tail started to wag. Is he someone I know? Or someone who knows he? Only God can tell, I guess.
After that, he disappeared, into the millions of stars he was made out of. 'Man, the graphics are out of this world! But seriously though, who is he?'
I exited out of the mirror to be greeted by King, who looked like he saw paradise. He led me out in a hurry to the vault, disguised as the Box Office. What laid before me almost stole my rationality away.
----------------------------------------
[Mokkun/Kingumo's POV]
Money, money, lots of money!
Mountains of Shards that are numerous as the stars, items that are legendary and powerful, truly, this is paradise for the luxurious! Once again, I tell you!
Earlier, Nora gave me the key to the vault, which got me excited. After the checking out the vault, I discovered the most unbelievable, the most unimaginable and the greatest fact that can make merchants and whales go crazy- the items here are all the losers' stash.
Yes, the vault is a great stash that holds all the losers' items, including mine as loot. That means, the items of those 'teammates' might also be here, if I searched for them. I hope to find some thing to regain lost XP.
'Man, I feel so sleepy...' Just when I was about to get a shut-eye after all the struggle, brother Jun snatched me awake, by the foot.
I wasn't sure and scared as he was sprinting away, holding me as if I was a bag of fast food take-out.
As I was hanging upside-down, I saw a portal. Not just any portal, but the Exit Gate! 'So, he was actually getting us out of here... almost lost my life in here. I must thank brother Jun once this is over.'
He leapt to get into the portal and once again to embark on his Sky Plateau, that was hovering a little bit away from the dungeon as it started to collapse.
When a dungeon get cleared, it undergo a erasure process called Dilapidation. The Gate will turn into a Gravi-flux Ring, consuming that dungeon into nothing. Even the Neth-Aura surrounding the dungeon will be erased, purifying the land.
Now, that ring is coming here.
"Hey, King. What is this thing for?"
"Oh, that one? That Ring's the way you'll get your rewards. You have to stick your hand into it. Any hand is fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Come on, brother... You've trusted me with all my plans so far, why hesitate now?"
"I don't know... looks dubious to me."
"You'll be fine, brother. I have your back, after all."
"Hooo... here I go." Glad my assurance worked. Here comes the fun part~.
"Aaaahhh!!! What's happening to me?!" Brother Jun yelled like there's no tomorrow. "King, what's going on? Help!"
His eyes told me he realised something. "Wait, what?! Why are my levels and stats dropping?! Why am I going to square one?! Let. Me. Go! Raaahhhh!!!"
After the process is over, 39 golden stars, 3 golden spokes and bunch of gemstones lie on the ground, as spawned by the Ring. Brother Jun looked at them with such a dejected look.
"What am I gonna do with these things, read astrology?! King, what am I gonna do now? Tell me, man, bro, hombre, sib! Waaaahhh!" I can't stop giggling as he was wrangling me like a child on tantrum. Man, this takes me back to my noob days. How nostalgic~
"I'll pluck your feathers if I heard one more chuckle." Uh oh, I went too far.
"Ahem, sorry, brother. I'll tell you what happened."
What he went through is what called Tallying, the most powerful roguelite reward mechanic ever implemented in this game. When a player clears a dungeon, the Gravi-flux Ring will read the player's aura and convert their accumulated levels and stats into Level-Up materials. From there, I explained them in detail.
"So, let me get this straight. These Dungeon Stars boost my XP. These spokes here give me the Stars, if I collected them in sets of five. And these Stat-a-gems increase my Stats when I absorb them through my artifact. Did I get it right?"
"You've summed up perfectly, brother!"
"It's a miracle that I've written a dozen of webnovels, considering how much I loathe using too much brainpower..."
"What was that, brother?"
"Nothing. I wanna log out after I've finished with this." With this, his level went upto 23, a huge leap of growth way early into the game. The debut recording isn't even over yet.
This hike solidified himself as the dark horse, that will the world of players upside-down. He doesn't know it now, but I guarantee this.
He's on the path on being the next Zakuro.
[To be continued]