.Hack//SEEKERS

[Chaosbahamut123]

ALTIMIT: Lykala's Desktop:

Staring at the blank grey desktop, Lykala realised that now - of all times - he needed a decent wallpaper to distract him. So much had happened in the past forty-eight hours that is was impossible to think straight. Sadly, it was still only the late afternoon, and he could think of little to motivate him to log back in and kill time levelling. With his luck, he would bump into some PK's and get killed again - and chances are Folset wouldn't be there to save him again. With everything that had happened Lykala had almost forgotten that his level was still abysmally low. With little else to do, he trawled through the forums where there was very little of note. Soon, however, his mind had numbed - reading senseless conversations that had nothing to do with him always did that to him. He considered his assignment for Professor Mizuhara, too, but decided against that; knowing her in the classroom, however, he knew he would regret procrastinating.
A small ping caught his attention; he had received a Flash Mail. Darting to his inbox, he was surprised to see Atoli's name, and an attachment. He opened it to see a greetings card, with a picture of a Grunty holding up a cake, eyes open with what looked like joy. He scan-read the text below:

'Hey, Lykala. It's me, Atoli. Sorry for sending this unannounced, but I got the impression you were a little stressed out, so... ^_^; Maybe it was just me. I do that a lot.

So much happened today, and it being your second day in 'The World', I can understand if it's all too much. I'm still struggling to digest it, too!
If you want someone to talk to, even if it's just to chat, I'm here. Then again, you already have those people at Seekers to talk to, like Glacies. So it's okay if you don't.

Atoli.'

He closed the message to find himself smiling. There wasn't much to talk about that they hadn't already covered, but it was nice to know that someone was there. Something in his gut told him that were he to try and talk to Glacies, she would brush it off and insist that everything would turn out alright. He daren't even think about talking to any of the others - especially Faltion, who came off as a bit of a hardass. He opened his inbox again, and selected 'Reply':

'Howdy. Thanks for the email'

Lykala paused. What should he say? His inbox had always been filled with spam and forum notifications, and rarely did the chance for contact like this arise. There were so many things he could ask, so many things that she might take offence to. He decided to be general, slightly vague, and supplied the basic ice-breaker he always fell back on:

'Howdy. Thanks for the email - it's nice to know that someone's there, even if it is just for a chat.

Speaking of, why don't you tell me about yourself? Of course, if you don't want to, that's fine, or I can always go first.

Lykala.'

It was much shorter than Atoli's, perhaps too succint for his liking, but he couldn't think of much else to say. He hit send and hoped she would reply.
He didn't have to wait long. Whilst browsing some art websites he heard another ping. In his inbox, he found another message from someone he had never heard of before. Someone whose name caught his attention for some inexplicable reason. The subject; 'To the Second Key'.

He opened it:

'You have but one path before you. It will lead to secrets you never dreamed of, rewards you have always desired, and sacrifices you have always feared. A path rife with conflict and pain. A path that will place your very soul on the line before the end.
Your path links to many others, but all will reach the same destination. All will rely on you, and the other Seven, to see 'The World' reborn. Are you strong enough to carry that burden?
Our paths will cross, of that I am sure. And when they do, I hope you will show your Champion the strength she will need to share that weight.

Such a task is the fate of a Key of the Twilight.'

His eyes widened considerably. This person - this stranger - knew about everything. How? Who was this guy? And what was all this talk of his soul on the line, and sacrifices he had always feared? Lykala was suddenly hugely afraid, and hugely paranoid. Afraid of the task laid before him, that was all so painfully clear now. What would he do. What could a newbie do to help bring 'The World's rebirth around? He was hardly familiar with the old one!
He took a few deep breaths, then decided to make his third cup of coffee that evening. When he returned, he felt a little calmer, safer in the knowledge that he wasn't alone in all this. There were the other Keys; Kalma, Glacies, Faltion and Michiru among them. He could trust his Guild, even if the others were completely insufferable. Atoli was his Champion, and that was a lot better than having some nameless face - or even worse, the unpredictable and violent Haseo.

Another email, this time from Atoli. Reading it, he relaxed even more:

'About myself? Well... There's not much to say, really. I'm a high school student, and I like animals. I guess that's it. I'm not very interesting, sorry...

How about you? You seem more interesting than me.'

So Atoli was a high school student. That was small comfort - at least she knew the pressures of a day-to-day life, like he. Ever since meeting her, there had been a connection; a similarity that he couldn't quite identify, but a similarity nonetheless. Even though Glacies had saved him from PK's, and even though it was Glacies that had helped him in his first few hours, it was Atoli that sparked his passion for the lore, the beauty, the escapism that his encounters with PK's had dulled considerably. He quickly replied:

'I'm not that interesting myself. Sorry to disappoint! ^_^

I'm a high school student, too. I guess books are my main obsession - I think I might be the bookworm of my literature class, actually. Not the greatest of titles, but hey.'

He sent it, unsure of where the conversation would lead. He also debated telling Atoli about the mysterious message, but decided against it; he'd had enough of all this 'Keys' and 'Gods' Rebirth' malarkey. Right now he felt like being regular, normal, and talking to a new friend helped him do so. They talked about anything that sprang to mind; from food (Atoli, as it turned out, prided herself as a good cook) to pets (Atoli had three birds; Lykala, a cat) and just about everything else in between.
He found that Atoli would never go deeper than she wanted him to, however; if they touched on a subject just a little too personal, she would back off and force a change of subject. She required complete honesty from Lykala; but, as the conversation progressed, he learnt that he did not require it from her. It was enough to know that she had secrets, enough to know the small bits of her personality. He also learnt a little more about Haseo - learnt that Atoli and him had dated a few months back, only for the relationship to crumble due to some issues. He, along with another, were going to meet Atoli a little earlier than when Seekers were due to meet, so that she could get them up to speed. She wanted Lykala to come along, too, and help explain things - for he had the firmest grip on the lore, out of the two. That much he would happily admit, despite modestly adding that Hokuto knew way more. After all, not only had she seen The World's history, she had been a part of it. How big a part she wouldn't discuss, but both her and Professor Watarai had a connection to the original revision that went past regular players.

Lykala looked across to his clock. Ten at night. His coffee cold, and his heart slightly lighter - though no less baffled by current events - he bid Atoli a good night and turned in.

[Tuna]

Yay! You updated with a new part! Like always, I was looking forward to reading this.

xD I was laughing when Lykala called Faltion a hardass! Those were my exact thoughts as well!
While I'm glad that Atoli and Lykala are becoming friends, I'm worried about the mysterious sender! Could it be Haseo talking to Lykala?

Anways, I can't wait to read more of this story! I always look foward to reading this, when I read my favorite fanfictions! Also, I was wondering if what Lykala's real name is? It hasn't been mentioned yet, but I hope it is in the future. ^^

[Chaosbahamut123]

Δ Eternal City Mac Anu:

Stood at the Chaos Gate, Lykala rubbed his eyes and yawned. He'd suffered a sleepless, thought-filled night of his task and that mysterious Flash Mail. School had dragged by and he had only just finished his assignment in time to hand it in to Hokuto. He sat in the small ring around the Chaos Gate, drew his knees up, and sighed.

Bright yellow entered his field of view, causing him to squint. A young man with a huge, electric blue ponytail squatted in front of him. "'Sup?"
Dressed in rich yellow and tan blue markings highlighted soft cheeks and a handsome expression. Lykala tilted his head. "You're looking a little down, there. I was wondering what was up with you."
"Uh... Nothing's up." he was wary; just who was this guy? "Who are you?"
"Eh, no-one important. But smile! Smiling makes the world go round, right?" the stranger grinned a wide, cheerful grin that put Lykala on the back foot. "What's your name, then?"
"I... uh..."
"Kuuuuuuuuhniiieee!" Lykala jumped as a second and third person crowded around him. "What're you doing over heeeere?"
"Yeah! You're supposed to be with us!" whined the third girl, dressed in red.
"Sorry, ladies." he was up and talking to them in an instant, smooth lines delivered effortlessly. "I didn't mean to make you so bored. Let's go find some entertainment for you beauties, hmm?"
"Awh, Kuhnie..."
"Yeah! Let's go!" as they dragged him off, 'Kuhnie' turned back to Lykala and winked apologetically.

As quickly as he had appeared he was gone. Thoroughly confused, Lykala wasn't quite sure of what to think; but whatever he was thinking turned dark when he noticed shaggy grey hair and a unique character model.
Seeing Lykala by the Chaos Gate, Haseo turned away and leaned against the wall. Not that he was bothered by it; he could still remember, quite clearly, the Blade he threatened him with. With harsh red eyes locked firmly on him, Lykala could do little to distract himself, other than pray fervently for Atoli's swift arrival. When that didn't remove the stare he tried to busy himself with stocking up on items; but he had no money with which to stock up. Browsing through Health Drinks didn't exactly entertain him, and so he was left, once more, by the Chaos Gate. He gazed at the calm, swirling blues. Adjusted his seating, fiddled with his hands, sorted his inventory, triple-checked his equipment. Sighed heavily when he realised that, put together, all of these things only ate five agonisingly boring minutes.
And still Haseo stared at him. Annoyed, unnerved, and wondering just what the hell was bothering him, Lykala found his feet walking towards the man before he could stop himself.
Haseo's eyes widened in surprise when he stopped directly in front of him. "Why're you staring at me?"
"No reason." the blunt tone only annoyed Lykala further. He crossed his arms defensively, travelling coat curling around him as if to strengthen the shield.
"Do you have a problem with me knowing about Skeith?" he flinched; Lykala had struck a nerve.
"No, I don't." this time his fists clenched minutely.
"Then what is it? Why the hell are you glaring at me?"
"Because, lil' Haseo here," the man Lykala remembered as being called 'Kuhnie' had joined them, for some strange reason, "Doesn't want to get involved in all this. Right?"
He averted his eyes, exhaling sharply. Lykala looked at 'Kuhnie'. "And you are..."
"Ah! Sorry, didn't mean to confuse ya before. Name's Kuhn - Atoli called me here, so I guess that puts us three together. You're Lykala, right?"
"Atoli's already told you, I guess?" he shook Kuhn's extended hand, and he nodded.
"It was a long read - explaining it to Yata and Pi was a nightmare." he succeeded in confusing Lykala even more. "Sorry. Two other Epitaph Users - the people that can summon the Avatars. They sent me to represent them, 'cuz they can't leave what they're doing today."
"So you can summon one, too?" they certainly came in all types, he mused. Haseo was fierce and quite intimidating; Atoli, subdued and kind; and this guy - Kuhn - seemed so laid back he was horizontal.
"Yep! My Magus, I call him." he held out five fingers, counting each off. "Haseo and Atoli are Skeith and Innis, as you already know. I'm Magus, Yata is Fidchell, and Pi is Tarvos."
"Right. So you're the Propagation?" Kuhn nodded. "That explains the lady-friends, then..."
"Exactl- Hey, wait. What?"
An uncommon grin found Haseo's mouth. "You saw his groupies, huh? The ones that call him 'Kuhnie'?"
"Yeah, those ones." Kuhn backed off a little bit.
"Hey, now. Let's not get into this..."

If Kuhn had been hoping for a rescue, his pleas were answered, for Atoli warped in the moment Haseo was about to press the issue. "Lykala?"
"Hey, Atoli!" Kuhn waved vigorously. "Thank god you're here."
"Hm? Why? Is something the matter?" Haseo and Lykala exchanged a brief glance at the innocent question. Kuhn flustered.
"N-no, no! Just happy to see you, is all!" she smiled kindly, then nodded to Haseo. "Shall we get moving, then?"
They meandered over to the bridge, where any players wishing to speak or discuss things seemed to gravitate to. Right at the heart of the Eternal City, every stream in the city fed into one main canal that this bridge passed over. Stuck in an eternal twilight, it was hard to guess that it was only the early afternoon. "We have a lil' while to fill before this big meeting happens, so how about filling us in on the Guild?"
"Not much to say that Atoli hasn't already said, I think."
"Nothing? Alright then." Kuhn laced his fingers contemplatively, regarding Lykala, analysing him. "How about this Eye, then?"
Once more the Eye was withdrawn from his pouch, and he used it. The same white light from before enveloped them all, yet to everyone else it seemed that nothing happened.
Kuhn looked about his person, enveloped in a vibrant yellow. "Guess that means I'm a Champion, right?"
"Every Phase guards a Key, according to Folset." Lykala explained, eyeing the connection of his and Atoli's auras. Haseo was wrapped in a bright silver. "You must be... Glacies', I think."
"Right." was all he offered by way of a response, his unwillingness to talk spreading like a virus to the rest of the group.
Kuhn - never one to be dissuaded by awkward silences - said, "Hey, we've got some time to kill. Why don't we head out to a dungeon?"
"Count me out." said the silver-haired youth, looking away. Atoli frowned.
"Haseo..."
"Okay. Well, Lykala and Atoli, you wanna go? Get some levels, some equipment? Or take in the scenery?"
"Either's fine with me." Lykala nodded, "Just so long as we avoid the PKs."
"Ah, that won't be a problem." Kuhn clapped his shoulder, causing him to flinch. "I can handle 'em."
"I think what Lykala means is that we should avoid PKs." Atoli corrected, looking pointedly at Kuhn.
"Yeah, that too." he exchanged Member Addresses with Lykala, upon doing so learning that he was an Adept Rogue and a Steam Gunner. "Aha! A Gunner, like me! Nice. Not a very popular job, as of late."
"I heard, yeah." true to forum discussions, most players saw Steam Gunners as secondary to the heavier-damage classes, like Edge Punishers and Lord Partizans. Furthermore, with Lykala picking the 'jack of all trades' Adept Rogue class, it was unlikely that he would be very effective until much later in.
"Well, not to worry. Let's see if I can't teach you some of the finer points. Come on!"

================================================================================

It was mere minutes after Lykala, Kuhn, and Atoli warped out, that Kalma logged in. He caught Haseo's eye, recognised his unique appearance. "Did Atoli send you?" he asked.
"Yeah. If you're looking for the rest, they just left. Kuhn dragged them off." he explained. Kalma turned to stare at the Chaos Gate, then shrugged.
"Not to worry. I'm sure Lykala and Atoli can get him up to speed. The others should be along, soon. Perhaps we should move to the @HOME?"
"Sure, whatever." he replied, beginning to walk. They exited the building housing Mac Anu's link to the rest of The World, and on to the large bridge everyone used to gather on. From their vantage point, Kalma could pick out at least three groups within a few steps of them. Chatting, trading, roleplaying, everything. "Such a sight, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yeah. It's weird, what you recognise when you're not PKing, or PKKing." Haseo answered, with a smile. Despite what Lykala had told him, Haseo seemed perfectly reasonable to Kalma.
"You empathise, then?"
"'Course. We were both feared, once. You still are, I'm guessing."
"Indeed. To The World I am still Broken Blood Kalma." Haseo regarded Kalma with a degree of respect. He understood the isolation such a title gave someone, made worse by appearances. Haseo's had gradually changed over time, over the course of his journey, but Kalma had yet to begin his. "You seem like a man who would rather be at peace, Haseo." Kalma said, unaware of his thoughts. "Perhaps your journey is one you daren't repeat?"
The Adept Rogue sighed heavily, keeping their slow pace. "I lost a lot. I was lucky enough to get it back, but..."
"You fear losing something - or someone - for good?"
Haseo didn't answer. "That's perfectly natural. However, if what Folset said is true, and this world really is falling into darkness... what do you suppose would happen if we do nothing? Would that not mean that you lose everything, too?"
Remaining in silence, Kalma nodded respectfully. "I understand your fears, Haseo, and I don't ask you to join us without considering the implications. But we - Seekers, and Atoli too - have committed to finding out just what this is. If The World really is in danger, then I personally want to keep it safe."
"Why?" Haseo questioned. "For everyone, it's just a game to play, a place to meet people. Why do you want to protect it?"
"Who wouldn't? It may just be pixels and texture files, but for many this world is as real as the one they sit in. I can see that it is for you, too."
"Mmh..." eventually, he nodded. "Alright."
"You agree to help us, then?"
"Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I don't really have a choice, do I? I'm one of the Phases."
"And I, one of the Keys." Kalma supplied, giving some comfort. "Thank you. Let's get you up to speed, then."

[Chaosbahamut123]

Δ Eternal City Mac Anu:

With the rest of Seekers gathered, Kalma decided to start without Lykala and the other two; no doubt he wanted to get to grips with the game, before delving in to its deepest secrets. That, however, meant planning without Folset's Eye. The entirety of the guild met in a back alley not too far from the @HOME; Alkaid, by request of Haseo, had also joined them. He assured them all that she knew about the Epitaph Users and everything he had been involved in, and so was okay to know about this new development in The World's history.
She punched his shoulder grouchily upon arrival. "The heck're you calling me out here for? You know I have assignments and stuff to do."
"Oh, please." Haseo retorted, arms crossed. "I also know you're a heavy procrastinator. So those 'assignments' were probably Arena bouts, right?"
Sneering, Faltion was quick to call their attention. "Anyway, lovebirds. You know why we're here. Now we need to sort out what we're gonna do about it."
"Obviously our first course of action is to unite the Champions." Kalma said. "After all, not only do we know who they are, Haseo and the others have connections to find them. Am I correct?"
"Yeah. Every Phase has unique data in their character that Yata can track. However... we'll have a problem with the eigth Phase, Corbenik." Haseo sighed heavily, as if burdened by a painful memory. Crimson eyes lost their ferocity, their determination; quelled by the past, Kalma was intrigued by him. Perhaps there was more to Haseo's journey than met the eye. Perhaps he had lost something.
Glacies had been staring at Haseo throughout the discussion, unable to see him as a Champion. He had threatened Lykala and seemed quite reluctant to help out in any major part. She sighed; she was supposed to get on with him?
"Why will it be difficult?" asked Kalma, but his answer came from an unfamiliar source.
"Because the Epitaph User for Corbenik has not logged into the servers for nearly eight months." deep-voiced and wizened, the speaker stepped forward, flanked by a woman dressed in revealing red and high-tied pigtails. She adjusted her glasses.
"Yata! Pi!" exclaimed Haseo. "What're you two doing here?"
"It seems Kuhn has wandered off with both Atoli and the Second Key, Lykala. He was supposed to represent us, but fortunately we have enough time to come and explain things ourselves." powerfully built and dressed in a Bhuddist-esque robe, Yata seemed like a man of standing and power; helped along by the various Wave tattoos lining his body. "Ovan - the Epitaph User titled 'The Rebirth' - has disappeared from The World."
Hokuto's eyes flashed with recognition when she looked at Yata, but no-one noticed. Faltion crossed his arms. "So, unless we can find him, we're screwed."
"Of course. I have been monitoring Seekers ever since the incident with Folset, as well as the other Epitaph Users. Whilst no signs of what Folset described have appeared inside the game servers, there have been numerous phenomena in the Sea of Data surrounding it."
"The Sea of Data?" asked Glacies. "What's that?"
"After the original revision of The World was lost in a fire, CC Corporation spliced surviving data with a game-in-progress, to create The World R:2. The data that was not used, as well as waste data from this revision, was dumped in an online repository that we call the Sea of Data." Yata explained. "As for the phenomena, they are varied, but exhibit strange patterns that cannot be explained by the simple fragmentation and degeneration of data over time."
"What kind of phenomena are we talking about here?" said Michiru, "Viruses? Bugs?"
"In a way, yes. Data has been gathering in several operation folders within the Sea, as if drawn by an invisible force. The administrators have not been able to accurately identify the product of this gathering, but something is indeed being born within these masses. Either that, or data is being gathered around something."
"If Folset was right," added Pi, adjusting her glasses again, "Then it's entirely possible that the data is the pantheon mentioned in The World's official backstory."
"Will you be able to gather the Champions?" asked Kalma. "Supposing that this is happening, we'll need to act fast in order to gather the Keys and Champions, and find out what is going on."
"Indeed. I have already contacted the remaining two Epitaph Users in game, Endrance and Sakubo. However, in the case of Ovan, I feel it would be in our best interests to contact his player offline."
"You're joking." exclaimed Faltion. "How're we going to find him?"
At this, Yata turned to Haseo. "We aren't. You, Haseo, are."
Haseo flinched, sighed. "I'm... Does it have to be me?"
"I have not been able to establish contact with him since he stopped playing. You, however, were the last person he contacted prior to leaving. Furthermore... you know the one person able to contact him offline."
Haseo snapped, his tone flicking from dejection to downright rage in mere seconds. "No! I can't do that!"
Pi confronted Haseo with surprising ferocity. "Grow up, Haseo. This is more important than how you feel and how things went before. We need Ovan back."
"I'm sorry, what's going on?" said Glacies, rubbing her head with confusion at the mini-drama unfolding. Haseo's sudden yelling had startled her, and the look in his eyes told her he was not pleased with how casually Pi treated the matter.
"Nothing." Haseo bit back, reeling his rage in. "I'm still not doing this."
Pi shrugged. "Say what you want. But are simple abandonment issues enough to stop you helping us save The World?"
"Enough, Pi." said Yata, quelling her instantly. "We can deal with Ovan later. For now, we must focus on gathering the Keys and reuniting the remaining Epitaph Users."
"For that, we'll need the Eye." suggested Kalma; they all agreed, and Yata contacted Kuhn.

Within the space of five minutes, Lykala had returned to the group; Kuhn and Atoli followed swiftly, too. Yata and Pi introduced themselves, and Pi turned to Kuhn. "Idiot. What were you thinking, wandering off like that? You're supposed to represent us!"
"Sorry, sorry! " Kuhn didn't seem repentant. He nudged Lykala mischievously. "I was out having fun; unlike you sys. admins, I'm only volunteering."
"Hmph! It doesn't lessen your responsibility." chastised, Kuhn shrugged and smiled apologetically.
Yata shook his head, looking almost amused by the antics. Within milliseconds, however, he turned to Lykala, all business again. "If you would use the Eye, please."
He did as he was told, and within moments auras surrounded more than half of those gathered. Haseo and Glacies' auras were linked, as per their guess. Yata and Faltion were both surrounded by wizened orange, Kuhn shone a brilliant yellow, Pi emanated an envious pink, and Michiru a violent red. "Fascinating..." Yata mumbled to himself. "Very well. I have organised a meet with the remaining Epitaph Users in two days time. Meet outside the @HOME hub, and in the meantime, we will also try and locate the Keys. Understood?"
All nodded, and before long, the meeting was dismissed. Yata and Pi wandered off, Haseo left before Atoli could say anything. She watched after him wistfully. "Hey! How 'bout we get back to that area, eh?" Kuhn suggested. Lykala agreed, wanting to keep Atoli's mood bright and her mind busy. "Catch ya later, guys!"
The three vanished. Faltion stretched out and looked to Michiru. "I think we should do the same. Up for joining us, Glacies?"
"Sure." she nodded. Hokuto had already left, excusing herself to mark some work. Kalma waved them goodbye, and set off back the @HOME for Seekers.

[Chaosbahamut123]

Δ Dancing Friend's Myosotis:

Forget-me-nots dotted Lykala's view, as it had done not too long ago. Before Atoli and Kuhn had finished warping into the area, he was quoting something:
"Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of Heaven,
Blossom the lovely stars," he glanced to Kuhn and Atoli, "the forget-me-nots of the Angels."
"Quite the line." Kuhn joked, grinning. "Do you pull with that? What is it, the Epitaph?"
"Nope." Lykala shrugged. "To both questions, as it were. It's a line from Evangeline, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow."
"More poetry?" he asked. "Man, you're quite the literature nut."
"A bookworm, as you said." Atoli smiled and nodded, in recognition of their conversation. Lykala chuckled.
"Yep. I can't write poetry, but I do love a good stanza or two."
"Nice." Kuhn patted his shoulder and gestured to the several groups of monsters that had spawned. Unlike the islands of many major areas, this one was a wide, open grassland. Trees marked a rough, but open-ended path towards the Beast Temple, that was shrouded in overgrowth and ivy. "What's this place's Area Level, again? 17?"
"Mmhm! Lykala, you might want to hang back whilst we fight, just in case." Atoli smiled, drawing her staff. Lykala agreed.
"It's not like I'll be able to do any major damage, but these extra levels should help me out."

They started at a slow pace. Kuhn, being incredibly laid back, was perfectly fine with the simple wandering his other party members enjoyed. He even showed Lykala a few new tricks with his role as a Steam Gunner. "You've gotta give damage, but not take it." he explained, flourishing with his weapon of choice - an intricate, twin-bladed Bayonet with leaves sprouting along the first sections of the blade. It looked immensely rare, and immensely powerful, and showed itself in how quickly it decimated everything Kuhn aimed it at. "Especially with your averaged stats, you gotta be careful. We're like glass cannons, and what's worse, our weapons don't have specific types, like the other physical classes. So when an enemy gets close, we've gotta get away. In a party, it's best to keep a close-combat type around, and a healer, too."
"Right. Makes sense." Lykala nodded and aimed at the closest monster group - two large, white-skinned golems. "Mind if I give it a shot?" though still several levels below the Area Level, Lykala was now in the double-digits; fourteen, to be precise. "No pun intended, of course."
Kuhn grinned, stepped back and nodded. "The floor's yours, Lykala."
Setting his sights on the first of the golems, Lykala could almost feel the rush of wind on his skin that billowed through his hair, that his first shot had caused. It spiralled and span, colliding the with golem and sending it tumbling into its partner. Kuhn sidestepped out of the battle fence, leaving him and Atoli to their devices. "This is your call, aight?"
He found himself smirking, excitement searing through his veins. Tactics were his forte, and using them, this battle would be much shorter. Twirling his Bayonet, he offloaded a second and thrid shot to keep the heat off Atoli. Their attention well and truly focussed on the weakest combatant, they growled and charged in unison.
"Get away from there!" yelled Kuhn, but Lykala almost completely ignored him; he sidestepped just in time to avoid the fists. Atoli winced at how close it was. The shock of the blow sent his coat billowing out behind him.
"Atoli! Zan Rom, there!" he pointed to a space just between their opponents. The Harvest Cleric quickly prepared her spell, hands afluster with sudden action. Staff spinning, crackling with energy, she yelled the incantation. Despite their ungainly weight and thick, gangly muscles, the golems were thrown skywards by the spell. Watching their health meters drop to dangerously low levels, it was only when they were milliseconds from touching the ground did Lykala unleash his own skill.
"Thorn Shot!" he cried, firing left right and centre into the dying winds. Each bullet hit their mark. Each wound pushed the golems' health towards zero. It was the landing that killed them, dealing the last few HP necessary to reduce the meters to zero.
Kuhn watched, mildly pleased by his quick finish. "Impressive! Never expected that from you, Lykala. 'Specially on your first solo run like that."
He grinned, pride assuming control for a moment as he added to Kuhn's brief lecture prior to entering the battle. "There's more to just one player's positioning in a battle. When you've got a Cleric and a Steam Gunner on their own, it's best to keep the heat on the glass cannon. Especially if the former can keep the enemy hindered by Zan Rom or another such spell. Keep them from attacking, and you can deal out damage unhindered."
Kuhn laughed and ruffled Lykala's hair. He grumbled and adjusted it. "You learn fast! I was expecting you to just rely on Atoli for health, but you're a good tactician. Maybe you can be my protege!"
"Eh?"
"Y'know, my student." Kuhn shrugged and adjusted his gloves. "Always wanted a student. Could teach you a lot."
"About what. Women or battles?" he quipped. Kuhn flinched, shook his head; his ponytail wobbled with the slightest movement.
"Harsh, man... harsh."

They kept walking, heading always for the Beast Temple. Lykala was struck by curiosity, and after the next battle, acted on it.
"So, what's Haseo's problem with me, anyway?" he asked, putting his Bayonet away. It was lagging behind his stats now; he made a point to buy a new one when they got back. "He seems fine with everyone else."
Kuhn and Atoli shared a knowing look, then the former answered. "It's complicated. Haseo's like that."
"He just struggles to trust people outside of his social circles." Atoli added quickly, when Kuhn's response didn't satisfy him. "As much as he says he's changed, he can still be the Terror of Death in some respects."
"Old habits die hard, huh."
"Don't take it too personally, Lykala." Kuhn assured. "We all get some lip from him now and then."
About to agree, one look at Atoli told him that some got it more - and worse - than others. "Did something happen recently?"
"Huh?" Kuhn scratched the back of his neck, eyes locked to the distant doors of the Beast Temple. "What makes you think that?"
"Well, from what you're saying, he's usually a nice bloke. But he's been a bit of an arse to me and others, so I can't help but wonder if something's put him in a bad mood."
"Well..." the question put Kuhn in an uncomfortable spot. He fidgeted, cast his eyes downcast and lost his grin. Atoli shifted nervously, fiddled with what little blonde hair her hat didn't cover.
"Eh, forget I asked." Lykala mumbled, focussing on the Beast Temple. "Come on. We're almost at the boss."
Kuhn watched Lykala take the lead, sighing slightly. "He's a bit like you, Atoli." he said, more to himself than to her. Nonetheless, she asked what he meant. "Just a little bit, but anyway. Can't let him wander off on his own with a boss around! Wait up!"
Atoli tilted her head. Lykala was like her? How? Realising that she was being left behind, she quickly hurried herself, questions pushed to one side for the moment.

The boss was a heavy stone guardian, shifting dense limbs as easily as it would paper, or grass. It lumbered to and fro, swaying and dislodging the occasional clump of moss that had found purchase during its slow comings and goings. It didn't even pay Lykala any heed, when he approached. Its life was tied to the seal of the Beast Temple; defeat it, and the seal would break. Simple as that.
Of course, simple had several interpretations. Tiny gems in the guardian's granite skull focussed on Kuhn and Atoli, as they wandered up to him.
Bayonet already in his hand, Kuhn grinned. "You know what they say. The bigger they are..."
Lykala made to step back and give the Steam Gunner the rein, but a hand found the scruff of his neck and pushed him forward. "Nu-uh. You can help, too!"
"But you're, like, ninety levels stronger than the Area Level." said Lykala, raking his fringe away from his eyes. "Wouldn't it be easier to take this thing down on your own and be done with it?"
Mere seconds later, they were wandering through the halls of the Beast Temple. Lykala dusted his travelling coat down, freeing it of the dust that attacked him when the guardian toppled. "Guess that was easier." said Kuhn, laughing. He had a permanent spring in his step, a bounce that Lykala translated as always being slightly hyper - or on a major sugar rush. "Nice plan, Lykala."
"It wasn't much of a plan." he replied. "More of a... kill that thing order."
"Yeah, true." they had already agreed that Lykala should open the treasure offering. Folset's statue guarded it, as usual. When they reached the antechamber where it resided, Kuhn whistled. "So that thing brought you back to life?"
"Sorta. It was less... fat, but it looked like Folset." he recognised the strong tusks and muscular arms of the deity, recalling the incident at the Sorrow Fount. His chest throbbed dully at the thought. Lykala shook his head and opened the chest; Twin Blades, of a low-level but equipped with some decent modifications. "Huh."
"Not something you need?" Kuhn laughed and patted the Rogue's shoulder consolingly. "It happens."
"Yeah, I guess." he pocketed them nonetheless, and was about to thank Kuhn and Atoli for helping him when the ping of a Flash Mail notification cut him off.
Kuhn looked up marginally, as he read it. "Aw, man... Orders from bossman Yata."
"He's your boss?" Lykala raised his eyebrows, surprised.
"Sorta. I volunteer to help with the sys. admins, because of my nature as an Epitaph User." he explained, rolling his eyes. "Which, when put into reality, means that I get called in at whatever hour to do whatever the heck bossman needs."
Forced to excuse himself quite promptly, he waved goodbye to Lykala and Atoli. "You two behave yourselves, now!" he yelled, turning to sprint up the steps of the Temple.
"H-hey!" Lykala shouted after him, but the mischievous volunteer admin had vanished. "What the heck did he mean by that?"
Atoli shook her head, shrugged. Her back was turned on Lykala, to hide the rose tinge she suffered every time someone mentioned anything like that. "He's like that. He did it a lot with myself and Haseo, before..."
She tailed off, and Lykala caught a brief shimmer in her eye that told him to change the subject. "So what now?"
"Oh, I don't know." Atoli mumbled. "I don't feel like visiting any Sorrow Founts today. Why don't we call it a night?"
Noting that not wanting to visit the Founts wasn't even part of the reason she wanted to leave, Lykala was courteous and nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."
"Yeah. See you." she left without another word, with neither a wave nor an embrace of farewell. He made a mental note of how raw the wound was for her, whenever the subject turned to Haseo, and deemed it reasonable to keep the conversation as far away from him as possible.
With nothing left to do, he signed out as well.

[Chaosbahamut123]

OMAKE: Seekers' Guild Chat:

=Hokuto signed in=

<Kalma> - Hey.
<Hokuto> - Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
<Faltion> - wow. thats a lot of i's.
<Hokuto> - I knooow. ^x^

=Lykala signed in=

<Hokuto> - LY! *Glomp*
<Lykala> - Ack! Hey, Prof.
<Faltion> - *snrk*
<Lykala> - What?
<Faltion> - nothing
<Hokuto> - Whaaaat? Spill it! =S
<Lykala> - Is it 'cause I'm a 'teacher's pet'?
<Faltion> - your words, not mine.
<Hokuto> - Don't mind Rocky, Ly. He's just jealous. >D
<Kalma> - ...
<Faltion> - rocky???
<Hokuto> - Yeah! 'Cuz you're such a hardass! XD
<Lykala> - Lol.
<Faltion> - hey! im not a hardass!
<Hokuto> - But you are jealous?
<Kalma> - You never denied that, actually.
<Faltion> - K! dont take their side1!
<Lykala> - Why not? He's entitled to his own opinion.
<Faltion> - yeah and if i wanted yours i'd ask for it.
<Hokuto> - B'aww. Has ickle Rocky lost his dummy?

=Faltion signed out=

<Lykala> - He'll get his revenge sooner or later, won't he?
<Kalma> - I wouldn't worry. Faltion calms down pretty quick.
<Lykala> - *Phew* Good. I don't really want to be on the receiving end of his temper.
<Hokuto> - I'd protect you! <3
<Lykala> - ...Something tells me that I actually am a teacher's pet...
<Kalma> - Nothing wrong with that.
<Hokuto> - Says a man of experience?
<Kalma> - Not particularly. Quite the opposite, actually.
<Lykala> - Huh.

=Michiru signed out=

<Hokuto> - AWW! Michiru was here?? Why didn't she say anything? x.x
<Kalma> - She prefers to listen than to talk.
<Lykala> - I can empathise.
<Hokuto> - Yeah! You're so quiet it's almost unbelievable!
<Kalma> - Is he? I never noticed.
<Lykala> - Apparently I am. Your last report got my parents worried btw, Prof.
<Hokuto> - *HYPERSPACE MALLET STRIIIKE* Stop calling me Prof! It's Hokuto! D<
<Lykala> - Fine, fine. Your last report got my parents worried btw, Hokuto.
<Hokuto> - Really? Why? :S
<Lykala> - They're worried that I have AvPD, becuase of how insular you made me out to be.
<Kalma> - Not helped by how much time you spend on here?
<Lykala> - Lol. What gave it away?
<Kalma> - Parents will be parents.
<Hokuto> - I'll make sure to correct that next report, then! NOW! I haz assignments to mark. D:
<Lykala> - Off for the night, then?
<Hokuto> - Yup! Remember, Ly, you have that essay for me tomorrow too!! Niiiiight! xxxoxoxox

=Hokuto signed out=

<Lykala> - ...I think I should go too.
<Kalma> - To write that essay?
<Lykala> - Yeeeah...

=Lykala signed out=

[Kaori]

I'm very impressed! Your stories are so descriptive and yet has an authentic .hack feel to it, I've seen many post G.U fanfics but yours is undoubtedly the most original and epic one I've read so far, I highly encourage you to keep posting and being creative.

[Chaosbahamut123]

Δ Eternal City Mac Anu:

As was the case with the last time the entirety of Seekers met, it was Lykala and Haseo there first. To the latter's surprise however, Haseo wandered over to him with his hand outstretched slightly, teetering on the edge of offering a hand-shake.
"Hey." said Haseo, voice weighed by the strain of an apology. "Just wanted to aplogise for, well, y'know. Being a bit of an idiot recently. Kuhn lectured me last night on it all."
"Huh?" Lykala stared at the outstretched hand, as if it were an alien object. "Kuhn lectured you?"
"Yeah, but that's not the point. What I'm saying is..." Haseo lingered on his words for some time, before finally forcing out, "Clean slate?"
Lykala continued to stare at Haseo's hand. It was disconcertingly sudden, but he eventually shook it. "Clean slate."
"Good, good," said Haseo, stuffing his hands back into his pockets. After some time, he tried conversation. "So, er... You're an Adept Rogue?"
He nodded in response, eyes fixed on the small street that led to the @HOME hub. Waiting for someone - anyone - to come and end the awkwardness somehow. "Yeah, I am."
"Cool," he replied, crossing his arms and exhaling in a sharp burst. "Er... Atoli doing okay?"
Chocolate eyes whirled to regard Haseo, curious. "Say what now?"
"Atoli. Is she doing alright?" Lykala couldn't tell if that was genuine concern in his eyes, or jealousy. "She hasn't been talking to me recently."
You wonder why? That was Lykala's unspoken thought. Was it not obvious why she was so guarded around him? Politely, he shrugged and took a seat on the brick fence, separating the players from the water. If the laws of the game allowed it, he was sure there would be semi-naked characters swimming through the canal, spouting some text-speak nonsense. There were always some in an MMO, but he directed his attention back to Haseo. "She's... fine. Just on the bus back from her high school."
"H-huh?" Haseo stuttered, unnerved by Lykala's knowledge. "How did you-"
"Flash Mail. We talk a lot," he shrugged and stared at the water, trying to meet both eyes but failing; his fringe obscured his left eye.
"Really?" Haseo leaned against the wall, sighing quietly. "What... what do you talk about?"
"Stuff," not wanting to drop Atoli in trouble, for some reason or another, he didn't elaborate. Haseo seemed to get the hint and gave up. With little else to do, he checked his Flash Mail. Nothing. Not even one from Atoli; presumably, she was home and logging in.

A man dressed in tight-fitting purple, with flowing, braided blue hair and a graceful gait, wandered into the @HOME hub. With increasing confusion, Lykala watched as the man gasped delightedly, upon seeing Haseo. "Ah! My sweet!" he cried, quickening his step. "What a beautiful day it is, to gaze upon your fair countenance."
Lykala choked, swiftly removed his microphone in order to mask his hysterics. Keeping his headset on, he watched Haseo jump and make a feeble attempt at escaping this stranger's advances. "Endrance!" he pushed himself up against the wall, obviously not pleased to see this man on his own - or as close to being alone without actually being alone. "L-Lykaka, um..."
"S-sorry," he choked back tears of laughter and gained a semblance of control over his voice, for mere seconds. "I don't want to interrupt you and your... your friend..."
The microphone was removed once more as Endrance approached, cupping Haseo's cheek with the utmost affection in his soft mulberry eyes. "Do not fret, my dearest Haseo. I shan't harm you in the slightest."
Haseo was amazingly uncomfortable with the arrangement. Lykala continued to remain the silent spectator; until Atoli meandered in. Her eyes widened in uncensored shock. "Oh my god!" she shrieked, hastily clasping her hands over her mouth when she realised just what she had said.
A crash burst from Lykala's character, as his player fell from his chair in stitches. Giving Endrance and Haseo a wide berth, Atoli rushed over to Lykala. "Are you alright?"
He toggled whisper mode on, and attached his microphone once more. "I... I'm f-fine, seriously..." he assured, between broken chuckles.
"Atoli! Help!" Haseo called; Endrance answered, causing Atoli to burst into her own uncontrollable giggles.
"What is it, Haseo? Allow me to assist you..."
"It's you I need assisting with!" he complained - the insult was as effective as water on a duck's back.

Hapless Haseo flailed and protested until he was rescued by a large majority of the group arriving. Michiru's eyebrows arched marginally; Kuhn wolf-whistled, which earned him the reward of Pi slapping his head. A shorter girl that Lykala didn't recognise, dressed in clown-ish colours and a wide-hemmed skirt, clasped her hands over her mouth. "Master En! Master En! What're you doing?!"
Endrance turned his head reluctantly away from the object of his affections. "Oh. It's you, Saku..."
The girl called Saku rushed over to Endrance, arms flailing. "I thought you only had eyes for me!" she whined.
"I have never said that. Not once." Endrance's rebuttal had caused him to let go of Haseo; he seized the opportunity and joined the rest of the group. "Haseo is the only one I- Haseo?"
"Relax, Endrance." Kuhn joked, waving his upset expression off. "There'll be time for your shenanigans later."
Saku pouted, shook her head. "Why're we even here? And who's the guy in the coat?" she pointed to Lykala, who was still recovering from his laughing fit. "He's a newbie! Why's he here?"
"Because he is one of the Keys," said Yata, warping in front of them. Faltion rushed up to join the group in the nick of time.
"Sorry, dudes. I was getting harassed by PK's."
"So you were PKKing?" asked Glacies, to which Faltion nodded.
"Glad you could join us, Faltion. Now, as I was explaining to Saku, Lykala is one of the Keys. Atoli's Key, to be specific."
"Right, right, and these Key thingies-"
"Everything has been explained in the message I contacted you with," he interjected; Saku crossed her arms, turned her nose up.
"I didn't read it! It was Bo's turn yesterday!"
"Bo...?" Lykala looked to Atoli for an explanation.
"Saku and Bo share the same character. Sakubo is their username," as Saku continued to protest, Yata shrugged and cut her off with a simple raising of his hand.
"Read it now, whilst I explain what we at G.U. have come up with. Pi, if you would."
Pi moved to the front of the group, joining Yata. She summoned a small orb, that was the exact same size and shape as Folset's Eye. "This is an Admin Core. We use them to communicate and manage The World when we're away from H.Q., be that at the Serpent of Lore or in the Administrative Lobby. Both are repositories of information, much like the Sea of Data, that we can access to gain information on goings on inside The World. As you can see, the item that Lykala carries - Folset's Eye - is of a similar design."
She gestured for Lykala to join her and place the orb opposite the Admin Core. True to her word, they were incredibly alike. "It would seem," added Yata, staring at both items, "That the similar design indicates a similar function. I will go into this in more detail but, right now, let's find out which Keys we need to find."
They were encased in a familiar shine as Lykala used the Eye. Sakubo was tainted by two shades of scheming purple. Endrance and Michiru's auras linked, as did Haseo and Glacies', Faltion's and Yata's, and Lykala and Atoli's. Pi, Kuhn, Kalma, and Sakubo all remained isolated.
Yata spoke again once the auras faded. "That means we have the First, Second, Fourth and Sixth Keys. As for finding the others, it will be a difficult task."
"Searching for four other players out of 12 million, not including getting Ovan back to The World," Kuhn rubbed his neck, like he did whenever he was thinking or nervous. "Gotta say, guys, we've got our work cut out for us."
"Not necessarily," Yata gestured to Folset's Eye, which shimmered in mid-air; Lykala retrieved it once more, "As I said before, Folset's Eye would appear to be a variant of the Admin Core, designed for locating the Keys and Champions. Therefore, it must access a repository in order to gain that information."
"There are only two official databases, which can access the master servers of The World," said Pi, "The Administrative Lobby, and the Serpent of Lore."
"What about unofficial ones?" asked Kalma. Yata gained a knowledgeable smirk.
"Balbol Museum," Lykala's eyes met Hokuto's - she recognised the name from the Epitaph, of that he was sure.
"Σ Hidden Forbidden Exhibition," Pi pushed her glasses up and retrieved her Admin Core, "Underground that Lost Ground hides a secret repository. CC Corporation isn't sure of its origins, but it is the only other database in The World that can access the master server."
"I wonder," Kalma stroked his chin contemplatively, "If it can do something like that, why hasn't CC Corporation sealed it away?"
"Because it already is sealed," answered Yata, "Without utilising Admin priveleges, it is impossible to gain entry to these archives."
"So... how are we going to get there?" Glacies seemed doubtful, "None of us are administrators, save for you two."
Pi smiled, "But we can extend those priveleges temporarily."
"So we're warping there... when?" Lykala asked, nervous. He wasn't sure about warping outside of using the Chaos Gate.
"Now," Yata stated, and on his prompt, the entire group was encased in an orb of light.

[Chaosbahamut123]

Σ Hidden Forbidden Exhibition (Balbol Museum):

Lykala stumbled heavily upon entering the area - the warp had caught him off-guard. He collided with Glacies, who miraculously caught his momentum and kept him upright. "Y'alright there?" she whispered, teasing.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm good," he assured, smiling his thanks.

The party stood in a huge, open hall. Light came from no visible source, natural or artificial. Yet the grandeur of this area was undeniable. Architecture from every period - Greek, Roman, Victorian, Tutonic among them - flowed seamlessly and gave the gargantuan antechamber a timeless quality not soon forgotten. Lykala was sure to remember this area, if they were to come here just this once.
"You've gotten stronger," said Glacies, falling in to step with him, "Is that Kuhn's doing?"
"Yeah, pretty much," Lykala couldn't take his eyes off the antechamber's filigree designs. It was something he would no doubt ever see again; in this world or the real one. Glacies, too, appreciated the arts and crafts of the Museum, "Almost as strong as you, now."
"Is that important?" she asked, confused. Was that all their relationship was? A competition?
"Yeah. I mean, if I don't get stronger, you'll be stuck dealing with a noob all the time," he explained, "So if I'm around the same level as you, we can fight as equals."
Realization dawned on her; of why he hadn't been out with her recently, or at all since their first meeting, "As a team?"
"Precisely! With Atoli, if that's alright," hearing her name, Atoli glanced back and smiled at Lykala. Glacies nodded, warmed by his plan.

"So what is this place, anyway?" asked Faltion, staring down one of the numerous corridoes branching off from the antechamber.
"Balbol Museum was an archive for this world's pantheon," explained Hokuto, wrinkling her brow in thought, "It's said that Aurora's birth is documented here."
"A big ol' holy diary, then," Faltion, ever the unimpressed cynic, quipped, "Reckon spats between her and her parents argued about going out to parties are in there?"
"Perhaps there would be something slightly more impressive than that," Yata turned off suddenly into one of the larger corridors; Faltion had to spin rapidly in order to keep up, "Aurora - or Aura, whichever you prefer - is the Goddess of Life, after all."
"Guess so. Still, this place is huge. How do you know where you're goin'?"
"I've travelled here before. It is easy to get lost in the Museum. Easier still to lose yourself," Yata gestured to a huge door, sealed and locked by numerous chains that all coiled around one empty socket in the middle.
"So what are we, lost?" Faltion pushed against the door, as the others caught up to them, "'Cuz this thing ain't moving."
Yata examined the door closely. He had explored much of the Museum in his free time, delving into its secrets and trying to find some hint, some clue, as to what was to come. This door was the only one sealed in the entire labyrinth, bound by chains and warded by runes of a language not found in any cultures he knew of. It was fascinatingly frustrating; a puzzle he could not solve!
"Lykala, come here," he eventually said, and hesitantly the weakest member of the group moved to the front, "See this socket? It does not accept an Admin Core. Try placing Folset's Eye there."
He targeted the socket and placed the jewel. For a moment, nothing happened. Hokuto mumbled under her breath, "Talk about an anti-climax..."
Still nothing. The chains rustled quietly, and Yata sighed. "We should split up and explore. Perhaps we will find something."
"Whoa, back up," Faltion raised a hand, shook his head, "You just said that it's easy to get lost here!"
"I know. Which is why..." with a brief gesture to Pi, she summoned her Admin Core and tapped it methodically. The orb began to shine brightly, "When you find something, come back here. Be sure to memorise the route you take. If you get lost, I will not be able to locate you, and if I cannot locate you, I cannot transport you out."
Lykala gulped; directions were not his strongest point. He instinctively edged towards Atoli. "Champions and Keys, stay together. Those who do not have a Key or a Champion, stay in a group," ordered Yata, "Meet back here in twenty minutes."

[Chaosbahamut123]

Σ Hidden Forbidden Exhibition (Balbol Museum):

"Hey, Atoli," whispered Lykala, placing his hand curiously on the wall they followed, "Are you any good with directions?"
"Eh?" she replied, coming to a stop, "N-no... No, I'm not."
Lykala glanced back. They had been wandering for no more than five or so minutes, but already the light of the Admin Core was little more than a speck piercing the inky black. He sighed, leant forward and squinted in order to pick out its rough location. "We're gonna need to be careful about where we wander, Atoli... Atoli?"
He turned around to see her running off, towards a sign in the distance. "Atoli! Where're you going?"
She didn't hear him, coming to a stop where the darkness just started to debilitate his vision. Atoli stared at something above her, presumably the entrance to a corridor. Lykala made his slow way towards her, eyes always fixed on the inevitably vanishing Core. He didn't stop until he accidentally bumped into her. "Sorry. What's up?"
"Look at this sign," she mumbled. The sign read in faded, aged characters, 'Home'.
"Home. S'weird - shall we take a look?" he asked, but Atoli was already pushing the heavy bronze door open. "That's a yes, then."
Inside was a straight corridor that led them to a large, open room. Semi-spherical, reliefs of numerous events decorated the ceiling. In the middle, an orb very much like Folset's Eye floated. It was this that Atoli walked towards, as if drawn by its ethereal glimmer. "Hey, Atoli," Lykala mumbled, caution lacing his voice, "If there's one thing I've learnt from all my film watching, it's to never touch the shiny glowy thing in the middle of an ancient room."
Her hand was already lowering itself towards the orb, bridging the last few inches in slow motion. The moment her glove made contact, the inscriptions of the orb exploded into the air, whirling in a maelstrom of energy to form images and shapes. They solidified in a blinding flash.
Lykala's eyes snapped open the moment it wasn't painful to look. He and Atoli, who was still grasping the strange artefact, now stood in a quiet town. Atoli gasped with shocked recognition. "Th-this is..."
Fascinated, he touched one of the closest buildings; it rippled, an illusion disturbed by interaction. "Where - and what - the hell is this place?"
"It's Narita," Atoli breathed, her tone confusing; glad, yet also fearful, "It's my... my home?"
She stared at a particular house, that seemed isolated somehow. A particular gloominess enshrouded it, weighted the air around the concrete and filled Lykala with an implacable dread just from looking at it. "Your home? This is where you live?"
Atoli removed her hand. The buildings returned to empty symbols and shot back into the orb. Dark reliefs and shadowy murals took Lykala's eyes by surprise - he blinked rapidly in an attempt to adjust.
Lykala stepped forward and placed his hand on the orb. Once more the symbols burst into existence, forming a wetland of some description. He laughed, recognising the place as a particular favorite of his. "Where's this?" Atoli asked, "You don't live out here, do you?"
"No, no!" Lykala chuckled, glad the mood had brightened somewhat. Seeing this place always cheered him up. "This is the Yatsu Higata, which is close to where I live. It's a protected wetland where migratory birds and stuff live."
"Birds?" she tilted her head, prompting him to explain. Lost momentarily in the area, he shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"Yeah. A lot don't come around 'till winter, but there's bramblings, ducks, geese, cranes... Loads. I like to visit when I'm feeling down. It helps me calm down, compartmentalize, or whatever psychologists call it," he nodded, removing his hand, "I just know that it makes me feel better, but anyway. Shall we keep moving?"
They left the strange room, filled with a childish curiosity. Just what was that orb, and how did it work? Why did it show those places?

Kalma checked the sign closest to them. "Past," he recited, crossing his arms, "What are these places, anyway?"
Hokuto chimed in, twirling casually as they explored. "Supposedly, each of these rooms reacts to the visitor's presence, creating images based on each of the sign's names. For example, the Past room would show you memories of your past," she grinned and shrugged, "Supposedly, of course."
"This place is so dull," announced Saku, sighing in the way only a young teen could manage, "Can't we go somewhere else?"
"Now now, Saku," Kuhn chastised, "We can't go wandering off on our own, else we'll get lost."
"You might, but I am a master of direction!" Saku seemed proud of her ability, but Kuhn simply grinned mischievously.
"Yeah? Where's the Admin Core?" Saku strained to see the orb in the darkness, but before long, gave up.
"I'd be safer with Master En!" she excused herself, crossing her arms and huffing. Kalma, hanging back a little ways, found himself amused by the pair's antics. "Why does he have to go with that other woman, anyway?"
"Because she's his Key. They need to befriend one another, even if that means separation from us for a little while," Pi fiddled with her glasses, unfazed by Saku's unruly response; she stuck her tongue out, and refused any more conversation on the matter.
"I wonder," said Kuhn, "Endrance keeps saying he's afraid of girls. Reckon that'll affect his ability to get along with Michiru?"
"Perhaps," Kalma answered, continuing to examine their surroundings, "But Michiru is very quiet. I doubt she will cause much frustration with Endrance."
"Maybe, but Endrance is..." Kuhn sighed and shook his head, trying to paraphrase nicely, "He's... ah... Haseosexual."
Pi scoffed, choking on something behind her character, "Never heard that one before."
"Well, yeah," Kuhn shrugged, "He's only got eyes for Haseo - no offense, Saku."
Saku harrumphed, arms folded and eyes locked away from everything. "Haseosexual. That's a new one," Hokuto giggled to herself. "That aside, though, what're we looking for?"
"I have no idea, to be honest," Kuhn sighed and shrugged, "But Bossman wants us to look, so we're looking."

Faltion sighed, twirling his scythe in an effort to stave the boredom. Yata had decided to stay with the Eye and the door, thus leaving Faltion stuck with him. "Man, this is dull! Can't I go help the others out?"
"It would be best to have two remain by the door, in order to protect the Eye," said Yata, not once moving his scrutinizing eyes from the seal, "Perhaps something will happen, too. In which case we need to be prepared."
"But you're an Epitaph User," he replied, arching a solitary, sarcastic eyebrow, "Surely you can manage on your own."
"If there is one thing about power you do not understand, Faltion, it is the cost at which it comes. I have known you for no more than three days and I can see that already," Yata shook his head, condescending. "They are call Epitaphs of the Cursed Wave for a reason."
"Some kind of hocus pocus illness or something?" Faltion scowled when the smirk that buried itself in Yata's tattoed complexion didn't budge.
"Avatars are the embodiment of their User's dark side. To use them is to give into one's instincts, and consequently risk losing control."
"Hang on," Faltion, quizzical, shouldered his weapon easily on one, bulky arm, "It's just data. How can you lose control with something like that?"
"Haseo once asked a very similar question," replied Yata, "His folly almost cost Kuhn his life, had he not been prepared."
"Right..." even in the darkness, it was easy to pick out Faltion's cynical tone, clearer than daylight itself. "So... what happens when you lose control?"
"The Avatar goes beserk, and attacks anything and everything it can find - without prejudice. Against monsters, that is fine, but against regular players - and even other Epitaph Users - there is a risk of damage to more than just HP and character data," Yata closed his eyes and sighed. Faltion's talk was distracting him. He was supposed to be figuring out why the Eye did nothing, not explaining side-effects to his Key.
"Damage like... Those coma victims last year? And the Doll Syndrome malarkey?"
"That is one of the possibilities."
"The World caused that? I thought those were just net rumours!" Faltion groaned and rubbed his head, "I didn't sign up for this sh-"
"Whether you signed up for it or not is none of my concern," Yata interrupted, "If you want to do something useful, please be quiet and help me figure out why the Eye hasn't unlocked the door."
"No thanks," Faltion sighed and stuck his scythe in the ground, leaning against the wall, "Puzzles are your concern, not mine."
The dull sheen of the Eye glinted in the glow of the Admin Core, "So it would seem..." replied Yata.

"Say, Haseo," Glacies announced, hoping to break the awkward silence between them, "Why don'tcha tell me a little bit about yourself?"
"Eh? Why?" he answered with a question, looking back to her. Having decided a hand of minutes ago to take a break from exploring, in order to avoid getting lost, they sat in the gloom of the Museum.
"Well, if you're my Champion and I'm your Key, we're gonna be spending a fair amount of time together," she explained, hugging her knees. Her long sleeves masked her mouth, "So why not make that time an easy one? Or, better yet, a fun one?"
Haseo could see the logic, but wasn't particularly up for baring his life story to a complete stranger. A feeling made worse by his concern for Atoli. He had never let her go off on her own, especially with someone as low level as Lykala. If something came up, could she handle it? "Yo, Haseo," he barely registered a heavy metal glove waving in front of him, "You're spacing out."
"Sorry," he stared at the Edge Punisher, with a flat smile and a disaffected voice, "There's not much to say. Just some stuff that happened and some things I went through."
"Huh," Glacies grinned, amused by her next notion, "Dark and mysterious, eh?"
"D-dark?"
"You pushed a Blade up against Lykala's throat after I left, from what he told me," she explained, pupilless eyes clouding for but a moment, "That counts as dark."
"Oh... that," he tried to cut through the heavy darkness with his vision, but it came to naught, "It was a misunderstanding."
"I'll bet. Scared the bijebus out of the poor guy," Glacies sighed, "I just wish I knew why it scared him so much. I mean, PKers are one thing, but his reaction? I'unno."
"Why don'tcha ask him?" Haseo deadpanned, not particularly caring. Lykala didn't mean much to him; he was simply a friend of Atoli's. Even Glacies, who was his Key, didn't register on an emotional level. She didn't know him half as well as some people, and those people were the ones he trusted.
Glacies sighed, bounced onto her feet and dusted her battle-dress off, "Come on, you. Let's keep moving, before this bad mood settles on your shoulders."
Haseo ignored the jab and led the way. Glacies, watching him for a few seconds before moving, grumbled to herself, "I much prefer Lykala's silences, than yours."

"Atoli, come check this one out," Lykala pointed to the next sign. They had visited four chambers all together, each one revealing aspects about their person. This one, however, related to neither of them; not 'Home', or 'Friends', or 'Dreams', or even 'Life'. The characters simply read, 'Twilight'.
"Twilight... as in, Epitaph of Twilight?"
"Or Key to the Twilight," said Lykala, patting his chest. He smiled excitedly - maybe they had found something to help! Without thinking he pushed the door open, to reveal a room completely unlike the others. Darkness crushed the pair - nothing new, considering the lighting of the Museum. However, this darkness was far more ominous, and instilled a gut-twisting dread in Atoli. "Lykala? Maybe we should wait for the others..."
But Lykala had vanished into the murky nothingness. Not even a trace of his bright white travelling coat was visible. "L-Lykala?" Atoli breathed, fear creeping like icy ivy down her neck, "Are you there?"
Darkness answered with silence. Panic augmented the fear, turning it into a blood-freezing horror. "Lykala!" she yelled, only to hear her own voice.
The darkness bellowed in a voice so painfully familiar, that she thought herself mad for hearing it, "Slow down? Stop and to enjoy?"
Shadows in the near-distance became corporeal, edging towards her. "You're so irritating!"
Atoli backed away, eyes wild and breath rapid. "H-Haseo?"
His voice was near, yet far - alone, yet all-encompassing. It buried itself in her skin, slithered between her lips, snaked inside her like a perverse poison, "You make me sick." said the shadowy Haseo, drawing his blade, "Just go and die already."

[Chaosbahamut123]

Σ Hidden Forbidden Exhibition (Balbol Museum)

Michiru shut her ears off for just a moment, in order to gather her thoughts. Whilst Endrance was ranting about how he missed Haseo, she was trying to figure out what, specifically, to look for. After all, they weren't entirely sure of what could open the door, but Folset's Eye had seemed slightly dimmer whilst slotted into the hole. Perhaps it needed energy of some sort? But from what? Chim Spheres? She almost laughed at the silliness of the idea. "Oh, if only Haseo were here..." pined Endrance, for the umpteenth time, "This would be so much easier!"
"He is around," said Michiru, looking down one of the corridors. Nothing - just a sign reading 'Hope', "He's just not here next to us."
"Oh, but to have him by my side..." Endrance sighed wistfully, "If only that accursed Alkaid wasn't in the way."
"Alkaid? Don't like her?" Endrance darkened at the mere mention of her name. Michiru shrugged, "Why don't you like her?"
"She stole my beloved Haseo," he replied vehemently, "Surely you know the hatred and sorrow of being replaced?"
Michiru shrugged and continues to explore the corridors ahead. "I guess so, but I'm used to it. Anyway, can we please focus on searching? Haseo's somewhere, if you want to go find him."
"A brilliant plan!" he announced, rushing off into the shadows.
Michiru broke into a run to keep up, "Hey, wait! I didn't mean it seriously...!"

Haseo groaned and shut the door on another viewing room, "This one's got nothing, either," he said to Glacies, who was a little ways off inspecting another. She came into sight, cradling her arm and biting her lip, "Something up?"
"No, nothing's up. I think," she replied, sighing quietly, "But I can't shake the feeling that something's happened."
"Huh? Like what?"
"If I knew, I'd be in a bit more of a hurry," Glacies shrugged, "It might just be boredom."
There was a rumble off in the distance. Dust from the invisible ceiling slithered down into view. "Good call," mumbled Haseo, hands instinctively reaching behind his back. A small green flash signalled him drawing his weapons.
Glacies had never seen anything like them. Blades of pure, amber energy guarded his knuckles, thinner than any edge she had ever seen. Triggers rested comfortably on his finger. She marvelled at the sleek and elegant dual blades for only a moment, as she responded to his caution by drawing her own, heavier Broadsword.

A formless shadow slipped into view, taking a physical form the moment it reached Glacies and Haseo. Claws and thorns spread from lanky arms and a hulking, bulbous back. Gleaming eyes stared at them. "The Twilight is rising," it growled, "None shall stand in the Hidden One's way!"
"Hidden One?!" Haseo exclaimed, only just avoiding a sudden strike that the monster launched. Glacies had a harder time blocking the same attack; her HP dropped dangerously low, "Damnit! Move, Glacies!"
Glacies stepped out of the way and let Haseo take the brunt of the next assault. The difference in strength was astounding. Twirling his weapons, Haseo launched barrage after barrage of bullets, stopping only momentarily to reload. The shadow-beast was quickly decimated, finished by a cry of, "Justice!" from Haseo, followed by a skill in which his guns shot beams of light through it. It faded as quickly as it had appeared, and Haseo wasn't even scathed. "You alright?" he asked Glacies, putting his weapons away.
"Was that... was that Xth Form?" she replied, downing a Health Drink to replenish her HP, "That was some crazy strength just then."
"Yeah, comes with the title," Haseo dismissed, shrugging, "Come on, let's get back to Yata. He needs to hear what we found."
"What we found? That beast? What the heck was it, anyway?" Haseo didn't answer immediately, setting off at a very fast pace. She had to put her weapon away in order to keep up.
"Something I hope I'm horribly wrong about," said he, which left Glacies in confusion.

"Die!" screamed the dark Haseo, slicing at Atoli with a scythe that glowed with death. No matter how confused she was, the Epitaph inside her guided her instincts whilst playing. She dodged easily, but her expression was ravaged by betrayal.
"H-Haseo?! What are you doing?" no response, only another swing from his scythe.
"You're worthless!" he yelled, oblivious to her questions and only parroting the same lines over and again, "Why do I even bother with you?!"
Those twisted words dug deep into old wounds, festering like diseased parasites. Crippling, paralyzing despair overrode Innis's guidance. The next swing bit harshly into her flesh, pain shooting across her abdomen in real life. Atoli gasped, buckled over. She hadn't been in this much agony since...
"Get up!" ordered Haseo, knocking her to her feet with a brutal uppercut, "Stand and fight! Or are you too scared?"
"W-why are you doing this...?" she whispered desperately, coughing and spluttering. Each breath was a strain on her lungs, "Why, Haseo?"
His response was joined by a second voice, inaudible but noticeable, "You're weak, and pathetic, and you do nothing but whine! Who cares about this world, anyway?!"
"I... I thought..." this couldn't be the real Haseo. He would never say such things, she thought. Or would he? Many of their arguments had been about this - what was to stop him becoming like this? "I thought you cared, Haseo..."
Another blow to her gut. The second voice called out again, "...li!"
"Y-you're not the real Haseo!" she tried, but the shadows simply laughed mockingly.
"It's time for you to join your beloved Sa. Ka. Ki." each syllable made her flinch; Sakaki? Everything always boiled down to that. Every spiteful word Haseo spat was because of her lingering vestiges of affecction, how she had acted before meeting him. How she was before Haseo showed her how to be independant, how to help herself. Still he brought it back...
First her, and now the pathetic, weak Atoli was all Haseo saw. She closed her eyes.
Maybe that's all she ever was.

"Atoli!" yelled Lykala. She had vanished in the shadows, and he could here her screaming, her pain, "Atoli, where are you?!"
Nothing. Not even her screams replied. What had happened to her? Lykala wandered blindly, tripping and stumbling in order to find his way towards her. Without her voice he had no idea which way to move.
Something steadied his pace. A hand on his shoulder, and a voice.
"Twilight opens for those who light the stars," it whispered, before vanishing. Thinking brashly, still fearful for Atoli's safety - and his - Lykala drew his Bayonet and fired skyward. The green energy bullet tore through the shadows as though they were nothing more than weak winds. It carried on for some time, before eventually slamming into the ceiling, absorbed by the concrete and fading into a dim, verdant gleam.
Lykala stared at the glow for some time, losing hope with every second of inactivity. He considered firing another blast, but the light suddenly spread out in thin lines, like water flowing through Mac Anu's many canals. They filled intricate designs and reliefs carved into the ceiling, lighting the room as they did so. He turned his attention to finding Atoli in the dying darkness, but something distracted him. Who was the owner of that voice? Who told him to do that? How did he know it would work?
A silhouette curled up on the floor, motionless. "Atoli!" he cried, rushing over to her. She shivered uncontrollably, as if she was having a fit. Her eyes scrunched shut and her fists clenched impossibly tight, Lykala's panic was in no way alleviated by finding her, "Atoli, come on! Wake up!"

"Atoli!"
She opened her eyes. Someone was calling her. Haseo still stood their, scythe raised. "Wake up!" the disembodied voice yelled.
"Are you going to just sit there?" taunted Haseo, "Or are you too scared to answer?"
Atoli struggled weakly to her feet. There were lights in the darkness now. Innumerable, verdant green eyes and figures. A hooded, giant being with needle-like blades that protruded from heavy white sleeves stood behind Haseo.
"Innis..." she whispered, hugging her stomach in a vain attempt to keep what little strength she had from failing her.
"You are weak," said Innis and the shadowy Haseo, in unison, "Your Key calls to you and you cannot answer. What hope do you have of supporting him?"
"I... You attacked me!" she protested, but Innis had none of it.
"This was a trial. You are the Mirage of Deceit. Master of lies, of trickery. You can fool everyone into thinking whatever they like about you, can you not? Is that not how you drag yourself through each day?"
Atoli felt horrible shame piercing her heart. "You are a deceiver, yet you could not see past this simple illusion."
The shadowy Haseo fell away with a soft wave of one of Innis' blades. "I... just want everyone not to worry about me," she mumbled, defeated.
The voice called her name again. Innis spoke one last time, "You will be tested again, upon waking. I hope you have learned your lesson."
"Wait- my lesson?" Innis began to fade away, as the eyes surrounding Her began to intesify and focus.
"How can you deceive, when you are so easily tricked?" She asked, leaning forward so that Atoli could see past Her hood, "Answer your Key's call."
She vanished, leaving Atoli in the darkness, scrutinized by every single eye surrounding her. Judging, seeing past the haze of lies she wove around herself.
Lykala's voice echoed in her ears, as if he were no more than a few steps away. "Atoli!"

"Lykala!" Atoli gasped, shooting into a sitting position. Like surfacing from a long dive she took a long, deep draw from the dusty air around her.
He breathed a sigh of relief and supported her back, "Are you alright? What the hell happened?"
"I... I don't know. First I was walking inside with you, then..." in an attempt to calm down, Atoli examined the room they were in. With the shadows gone, all that was left were the green lines of energy that continued to speard through the reliefs. From them, she picked out a strange, haunting, laughing face. "Innis said... we'd be tested."
"Innis?" Lykala asked, "Your Phase? When did they say that?"
"Just now, but..." the memory of Haseo's scythe cutting through her was immensely painful. She clutched her chest in a fruitless attempt to stem the doubt, "I don't know if we can do it."
The lines of energy rapidly increase their pace, filling the rest of the carvings within seconds. Runes, like the ones that burst from the orbs in the other rooms they had visited, began to fill the air.
Lykala helped Atoli up, Bayonet drawn and wary of the hovering symbols. "If this is the trial, then we might as well give it a shot, right?" he mumbled, more to steel himself than to convince Atoli, "There's nothing to be gained from running. Except maybe survival and a little bit of shame."
The laughing face burst into life, turning a chilly blue with deep-set, abyssal eyes. Two grinning mouths - one within the other - laughed at the pair. Runes slowly spiralled around them, forming two massive, club-like arms.
With its torso built into the walls, the massive monster could not reach Lykala and Atoli, so instead released a deafening roar. Lykala's grip on his Bayonet faltered. "What... the hell?"
Atoli, however, recognised the twin mouths and haunting expression. "Cubia..."

[GyppyGirl2021]

I'm anxious to see how this'll go. Nice writing so far.

Oh yeah, wanted to note something. If Atoli wasn't in the Sage Palace tournament, who exactly could've gone in her place...? I mean, there weren't exactly any other Epitaph Users available besides the ones that had already joined, and the game clearly said that they didn't want any non-EUs joining the tournament... sure Haseo was hesitant to get her involved, but the fact is, there really wasn't a choice. XD

[Shade_Rain]

Wow, I'm amazed that this story took off so well so far. Trust me, I've both written and read .hack fics that ened in utter disaster. Keep it up, aye?

[Chaosbahamut123]

Σ Hidden Forbidden Exhibition (Balbol Museum):

Cubia's roar deafened all those gathered in the Museum. Even Yata and Faltion, who were most probably furthest from the room, heard it loud and clear. Dust was shaken violently from the roofs and caused the pillars to tremble in a dangerous fashion. Kuhn turned to the rest of his group. "The heck was that?"
Saku, instead of quipping or mocking the Steam Gunner, pointed to a gargatuan figure bursting through the wall. "There!"
Two small figures ran from its indefinably powerful attacks. Noticing the white coat as the weakest member of their group, and the sea-green outfit as Atoli, Kuhn was immediately set to protect them both. "Get them behind us!" he yelled to Kalma, who darted ahead to shelter them both.
He pushed Lykala out of the way and took the brunt of one of Cubia's fists. With surprise, he watched as the attack shaved more than half of his hit points off. "This thing...!" he exclaimed, but his other concerns were more pressing, "Lykala! Atoli! Get back!"
He used a healing item just in time to survive a second, equally punishing blow. His health dropped into the red.
Kalma moved back to the gathered group. "That's Cubia! What's that thing doin' here?!" Kuhn exclaimed, backing off a bit. "What happened?"
"I don't know!" replied Atoli, "First we were in this room, then-"
"Save the explanation for later," Kalma interrupted, "Right now, we need to focus on this 'Cubia'. Any ideas, Kuhn?"
Atoli gasped - Kalma's fringe had moved back, to reveal his eyes. "K-Kalma... your eyes!"
"I've got one," said Kuhn, wincing as Cubia released an ear-splitting howl, "But I'll need you all to back off."
"Kuhn!" Pi realised what he was planning and immediately protested, "That should be a last resort!"
Cubia smashed into a pillar and roared again. "Damnit, Pi, we don't have time for this!" Kuhn rebuked, "Move!"
Pi stepped back in time to avoid an energy blast that rocketed from Cubia's mouth. Consigned to watching, Lykala witnessed Kuhn standing off against Cubia; a human, standing off against god-like strength.
"Now... come to me!" he cried, and with a pulse of energy, was enveloped by brilliant yellow markings. They covered his face, arms, clothing, hair - everything, "COME ON! MAGUS!"

There was a gargatuan eruption of energy that enveloped everyone gathered and the colossal Cubia. Light burst from Kuhn's body, quickly forming a long, sinewy, sharp tail adorned by numerous leaves. The arms were elongated and were covered by heavy, golden bracelets. Eyes flickered into existence around the leaves and body, leaving a marble-white mask untouched. "Damn you, Kuhn," Pi mumbled, "Stop using it so recklessly!"
"It?" asked Lykala, staring in awe at the being that stood before them, "What's 'It'? And where the hell are we? Where's Hokuto?"
Kalma looked around. Hokuto had vanished completely. They were stood in an endless stretch of blue space, on seemingly nothing. Lines of character data converged on the horizon, born and killed in perpetuity. Cubia, stood opposite where Kuhn had been, still easily bested him in size.
"You can see them?!" Atoli exclaimed, and Lykala looked at her oddly.
"Is that a big thing?"
"It is. This is Avatar Space," said Pi, not once removing her eyes from Kuhn, "When two beings like the Epitaphs fight, Avatar Space is formed between them. Normally, only Epitaph Users can see other Epitaphs. However, I suppose because you are linked to an Epitaph User, it makes sense that you can see them."
"The Epitaphs? You mean, that's Kuhn's Epitaph?" Lykala looked at Kuhn - or, rather, Magus, "That's Magus?"
"Yes. Kuhn's ability to summon the Epitaph Magus takes form in the Avatar. But summoning one is incredibly risky, so it should only be used as a last resort. However, there's nothing we can do now but watch."
Magus made the first move, backing away from Cubia and commanding his leaves to circle his body. They glowed and formed a verdant green shield between the two. Following that he unleashed countless bursts of energy that seemed naught more than pinpricks on Cubia's skin. The Hidden One unleased its own attack, raining a hailstorm of beams on Magus. Most glanced off the leaf shield with little effect, but the sheer strength of the barrage caused the integrity of the barrier to waver dangerously.
Footsteps could be heard behind them - Haseo and Glacies had entered the Avatar Space. "What the...?" the former mumbled, slowing to an awed half-jog when he was close, "What's Cubia doing here?!"
"No time to explain - Look!" Pi pointed to the tendrils protuding from behind Cubia. They were spawning something; something that darted towards the rest of the group. Each being was comprised of three tentacles that trailed behind them, glowing at the tips and guarded by a chitinous mass on the front. The eye glowed in the middle.
"Gomora!" yelled Pi, summoning her Gauntlets, "Kalma, Haseo, Saku! With me!"
The four formed a small box around the rest of the group. The Gomora flew in fast and fierce, jettisoned by invisible currents. The tentacles stiffened and, like Cubia, blasted energy towards them. Haseo deflected it with his bullets. Pi leapt forward and tackled the closest, laying into it with a brutal assault, and after a small delay Saku joined in with punishingly intense spells. Three fell in the first few seconds, but more poured in.
"We're not gonna be able to hold them long!" yelled Saku, mainly to Lykala and Atoli, "Get back!"

Magus reeled from Cubia's next unrelenting blow. It had cost him, but he was more focussed on distracting the Hidden One from the huge number of tiny seeds dropping from his leaves. His shiled was failing quickly, so he had to act fast. Without it, one blow could mean defeat - or worse.
He backed off, barely avoiding a swipe from Cubia's massive arms. Energy continued to swarm from his fingertips, barely even draining its health. Just a little more...
One of the seeds made contact with Cubia, and burst into an explosion so powerful, it set off the rest of the seeds. Magus was knocked back, and everyone fighting off the Gomoras were knocked to the floor. When the green flames died down, Cubia was still standing; practically unscathed.
"Damnit!" cursed Kuhn, from within Magus. Cubia was practically invincible - last time, it had taken the combined power of all eight Epitaphs to bring it down. Now they only had six with them, and had no way of combining their power. This was going to be very difficult, if not impossible. But they couldn't flee! Avatar Space would only dissipate once the threat had been removed; until then, there was only a way in. Even if Magus was to vanish, Cubia would still remain, and would most likely kill them all!
He had no choice but to fight; but how could he win?

[Kaori]

Oh I see you've continued! keep up the good work chaos! :3