Light Within

No more Logout?

"Ouch!"

             Astral whined in pain, as she landed on the hard, rock floor. Noir, on the other hand, managed to land on the floor, gracefully, with her one feet step first. "Are you okay?", asked Noir. Astral stands up and rubs her butt, "Well, I do if I know, where are we now". After listening to Astral, Noir turned around to see if she knew the answer. "Beat me". Noir scouted around first, leaving Astral who is still looks both amazed and terrified about the place that they had teleported to. Torches hanged around the walls, giving them a glimpse of where they are now. A cold, dark room hallway, with metal bars, each located by their side. Somehow, it looks like they were in the deepest dungeon, where no one would survive down here. "Astral, stay close", commanded Noir, as she feels ominous presence around. She puts her hand closer to her Rapier, in case any suspicious entities about to make their entrance. They both proceed to walk to that eerie hallway, straight to the non-existent exit around and no sounds are heard. Astral started to cling to Noir's arm, as she scared with the eerie scenery down there. "Are you sure we're going into the right way?", asked Astral, shakily. Noir ignored Astral's question, as she picked up some noise coming from the end of the hallway. "Astral, prepare your spell".

            Noir walked further to the front until she reached behind of on the pillar, that connected to the wall. She hid behind it and sneaked behind it to see if anything suspicious coming around. Though it is dark, Noir can sense figures, two of them approaching to their spot. "Mirage". Split images of Noir and Astral roaming around the hallways, giving both of them chances to sneak attack the enemies if they make the first move. Astral, who hid behind Noir, already giving a boost's spell to Noir, just in case if she had to make the first attack, as she, herself does not have much attack spell. As the footsteps grow louder, Noir already had her hand to the Rapier, any seconds, she will draw it. Although not much helping, Astral too, preparing her Defense Wall spell, just in case. "Astral? Noir? Is that you guys?".

"We thought those hallways are just a never-endless maze, when been teleported here".

             Haiz explained, as he and Ritsu, both of them too warped to the lowest, deepest dungeon, as Noir and Astral. Ritsu and Haiz ranked 3rd on the event's ranking, while Astral and Noir still on their fifth. Noir exchanged what she had learned with those two, although it only gave them a vague view on what happening right now. "So, basically, you guys been teleported here, when you defeated only two players right?", asked Haiz, and he continued, "but it kinda weird though". Ritsu nodded as he too shared the same curiosity with Haiz, "Well to be fair, we defeat like, 5 to 7 person, and it understandable if we got into the spot". Noir noticed that Haiz and Ritsu somehow get along, then giggled and tried to tease them, "Aww, aren't you guys a little bit comfortable with each other now". Astral, who noticed it too, pat both of them on their back. "See, I knew it you guys will get along in just minute", told Astral, proudly. Ritsu's face reddened, "I-It is because this guy has much more contribution to our ranking, and I respected him for that". Suddenly, all of their laughter began to fade away, as they heard clapping sounds echoed at the hallways. A broad, wicked smile suddenly appeared behind the deepest, dark hallway, in front of them. 

"Color me impress. Some of you look young but managed to stay on the top of the game. Congratulations".

            Noir already draws her Rapier, Haiz took out his dagger, and Ritsu stood in front of Astral, shielding her. "Who are you? Players...or one of the developers?", asked Noir. The other three looks perplexed when Noir mentioned developers in the question. "What do you mean by developers, Noir? Are they somehow involved in this?", asked Ritsu, confused. The figure continued to clap, "Well, you solved this quite fast, eh, young lady. No wonder you're one of those honourable online players in the other games". Noir looked fiercely, but she remains her composure, "First, no other players get to revoked those ranking that fast. Only someone in the game, or rather I said, Creator, itself can alter that with all their might". The figure shows no sign of disagreement, so Noir continued, "Second, the announcement. Though I don't have much information about that, I assume you're the one who set that up and teleported the top players here". The atmosphere became tenser, but Noir chose to proceed, "Third, I don't know how, but my [Oracle] can sense, that your presence, it is not common, not players nor NPC. My guess? Someone powerful enough to barge in the game, with ease". The figure just smiles, and let itself immersed with the light from the torch, revealing itself. A tall, slender guy, with a suit, with monocles, behind the black mask that covered his eyes, almost as same as Mallow's appearance. "Though I must give you full marks for all the answers, I have to deduct one mark", the guy continued, "I'm not a developer of this game. In fact, I'm not connected to this game at all". Haiz immediately used his [Sneak] when the guy shows himself, but as soon as Haiz wanted to sneak attack, the dagger cut through only the illusion. "Easy there boy, don't waste your energy onto merely projectile like me", said the figure, with a genuine smile, hid his malicious intent. Before they can proceed to attack the man in the suit, more footsteps echoed on the hallway. 

"Now, now, you don't want to be killed by those other players. I hear they quite...ruthless, in some way".

            Astral cast Defence Wall around the group, protecting them from incoming attack. "Ah, a priest in the group. Not bad", the man touches his pointed chin, and continued, "But it is not enough". The man suddenly disappears in the thin air, but his voice echoed, "When the time comes, please, amuse me with your action. I'll be waiting". As soon as the voice stopped talking, duo players, arrive from the front and behind of the group. "We stuck, aren't we?", asked Haiz, giggled. Noir, although still mad from the previous encounter with the mysterious man, she chuckled and replied: "Well, bandit boy. Should we do this like we have done it during our 'special training' before?". Haiz nodded, "You take the front, I'll take them, from behind. Ritsu, if you please, settle them at the back". Ritsu nodded, "Astral, are you in?". Astral boosted all of her friends' attack, including hers, "Let's take 'em down!".

"That was...fast"

            The group immediately gathered at the centre of the hallway, after defeating the remaining enemies. Noir looked at the ranking, "We already beat those from the second and fourth. All that left is the first place". Haiz put back his dagger onto his belt, "Got to explore this place", Haiz continued, "They also might be the same as us, wandering around to find the exit". As they are chatting around, a fireball darted toward them. "Defence Wall! There! Over there!", shouted Astral, as she managed to defend her friends from the fireball. Noir and Haiz, both use their skill to quickly finish the enemies from the end of the dark hallway.

"Speedster. Swan Strike!"

"Sneak. Ruthless Strike!"

            The enemies disappeared, and the ranking changed. "Ritsu and Haiz in the first place, while we're on the second", explained Noir, as she finished checking the rank. Haiz stretched his hands higher as he already has done with the event. "We both can accept our defeat to end this event. I'm okay by being number two", Haiz continued, "How about you, Ritsu?". Ritsu sighed, but he smiled, "Yeah, me too. I need a rest from this". Noir pouted, "I want a fair fight~". Both Haiz and Ritsu looked terrified, and they quickly toggled their Character's tab to log out. A few minutes later, both of Haiz and Ritsu looked confused, so Noir took the chance to tease them, "Decided to fight me, then? I'm ready. Anytime, just come~". Haiz's face looks perplexed, while Ritsu's stuttered, "Actually, no. Something is wrong". Ritsu instructed Astral and Noir to open their tab, "See, look here". Ritsu pointed out the weird thing happened. "No Logout button appeared". All of them now have a worrying look on their face. Suddenly, mysterious laughter began to fill the hallway. They looked at each other. Now, they know that they were in some unsaid situation. The group backed at each other, covering each other from the blind spot.

That laughter began to chanting something unclear words, but as soon as they get to catch the words, their face began to look more terrified. 

"Now, how will you escape this madness?"