[S] Historic Friendships

[Saber]

Do you believe in ghosts?

“What?” The wall exploded with a furious rage of fire, blasting apart in a blazing glory which not only put Saber into a state of fright, but it also started the assault… and the start of his worst nightmare. Saber grit his teeth and started to reach for his blades. However before he could do so, three four-armed beasts lunged out from the blown out wall and attacked him with a ferocity he could not match. The Assasin clutched his teeth, dug his heels into the ground, and jumped backwards as the beasts from the darkness began to invade his personal space. Well, this was going to be a great time…

* * *
Six hours earlier, Saber was just getting out of his bed at the Tall and Dark Inn. After living in what seemed to be the most unfriendly world he had ever seen, the cheap bed was something comparable to a cloud. It felt amazing and for once in his life, Saber was thankful for the advancement in human “technology”. His back stopped hurting, his bones didn’t ache, and his muscles weren’t as tired because of him having to be awake even in his sleep. It was one of the most refreshing experiences he had been able to experience in the game world he was currently in. Although, that bed wasn’t the only good thing about his staying at the inn. Oh no, there was much, much more.

Down the winding staircase at the opposite end of the hall, there was a massive hall for adventurers and tenants alike. It was a place of gathering for food, gossip, rumors, and even just general conversation. From the moment the sun crested the horizon, the Inn Keeper had the doors open to the public and had a huge smile on his face. Saber tended to be awake just around that same time so he got to see the opening duties of the staff and the owner, though he made sure to stay out of their way. When he could, Saber did help some of the girls with heavy lifting but due to the game world being virtual, it was much easier to increase one’s strength as it was just a stat, not muscle. That helped a lot in Saber’s case; it meant he didn’t have to do a lot of work.

“Mr. Saber.” The owner would nod as Saber appeared from the stairwell’s entrance. The Assassin usually never answered him right away, as he was always fiddling with something on his character. Most of the time it was his scarf, as hiding his identity from much of the general public had become a habit. The owner found such a thing unnecessary, but he had only asked about it once. Now, he only cracked jokes every now and then.

“Warden.” The owner was not a Person of the Land, but a very good merchant player. His story was quite interesting, and Saber spent a few of his mornings talking with the man, if he woke up early enough that was. Since the beginning of the game, Warden had been busying himself with creating a place for Adventurers and “Landers” alike to come in and enjoy themselves during the rough days. In the process, he had become a formidable player in the field on top having a wise mind. He was just at the end of his middle ages, but couldn’t be called old just yet, and doing so would generally mean getting evil glares and snippy chitters from across the hall. Because of his age, experience and job as an innkeeper, he was a good source of information and advice, but Saber respected him greatly because of all those aspects. Abusing such a man would be criminal. Just a few days after returning to London, and a few days after being a tenant at the Warden’s Inn, Saber was already a common face to the Warden. They had developed a stable connection and Saber was humbled by the actions the Warden made to help him in his travels. Whether it was a job he had heard about or a reference for a player to seek out Saber, Warden did much for the Assassin. Saber was thankful for this.

“Anything planned for today, oh great Masked One?” Warden grinned as Saber passed the man. Neither of the two stopped to face the other, as they were both heading to their own routine locations. However, Saber was trailed and met at his table by one of the younger waitresses of the Inn. She didn’t have a menu with her like she normally would have, as Saber had memorized it on the second day of his staying at the Inn.

“Usual?” The woman said softly, as if she was trying not to interrupt the conversation between the two men. Saber nodded and handed her a small sack of coins. He tended to tip her almost every morning as to help the little lady along in her own life. She was a waitress for much of the day, but she was still an adventurer. She had needs.

“Yes, dear, but add a little more chocolate today please.” Keeping the secondary conversation private, Saber didn’t raise his voice too much. The woman made the mental note of extra chocolate, wrote everything down on the notepad she held, took her payment, and strode off towards where the Warden was. However, the person behind him was already working on the food.

“Not at the moment, Warden. However, during my time away from London I did come across a small cave. It was quiet and empty for the most part so I might return to it.” Saber spoke much louder this time around, projecting his words across the empty hall. It didn’t take much due to the place being empty, but it also had a lot of distance to travel. Warden seemed a little confused though. Had he not heard correctly?

“You’re going to check out an empty cave? Why is that?” The Owner took the piece of paper from the waitress when she finally reached him and then whispered something to the female chef behind him. She nodded and continued with what she was doing. When he seemed finished, Saber opened his menu and continued.

“Because it was empty. Not every cave or dungeon has something in it, as you would guess, but that is what made it interesting. The cave was composed of one main tunnel but quickly expanded into an underground cavern. In that cavern, there were remains. I investigated and found that there was a mix of Goblin, and sadly, humanoid. The humanoid bones seemed to be a mix of Elven and Dwarven, but I am no bone expert so I cannot be sure.” The Assassin had recorded much of the information down for reference, including the approximate location of the cave. Pulling up his friend’s list as well as a message box, Saber sent several pieces of the information he had gathered to the Warden, who was calmly listening while handling the concerns and questions from his staff.

“Wait… I know this area. Isn’t this near that Sarum place?” As he read over what Saber had sent him, Warden seemed even more confused, but interested as well. Too bad he was a shopkeeper; he probably wanted to go look himself.

“It is. It’s about a mile walk from that city and it is actually quite hidden. I have it marked on my map so I can find it easily, however, so I won’t have any trouble getting back.” Closing his menu, Saber relaxed in his chair and stared across the hall towards the Warden, who was eyeing his menu hard, so hard that one of his waitresses began to steal a peak.

“Goblins, Dwarven, and Elven…” The innkeeper whispered before looking up towards Saber.
“…Maybe they died fighting each other?” It was a sound question, but improbable.

“If I could have taken a picture of the scene, I would have. I am interested in the cavern not because of the trio being there, but because of how they were placed.” Rather than shout too much information into the air where anyone could easily eavesdrop, Saber decided to walk over to where Warden was standing behind his main counter. There, Saber pulled a napkin out of one of the containers and motioned for a writing utensil. The waitress next to Warden obliged and handed the Assassin her make-shift pencil. Saber immediately began his crude drawing, marking out what the cavern looked like.

“Here is where the entrance was, the stone bridge, and the four other bridges… They all connected to a large central pillar and branched out like a sort of strange star. On that pillar were the bones; and they weren’t opposing each other. Instead, the three races were beside each other, and mixed.” His drawing was terrible, and the fact that it was controlled by the game didn’t help. Even so, it got the point across and Warden could understand it, as well as the Waitress and the Chef. They too were interested and leaned towards the counter to see Saber’s drawing.

“So they died together…? Fighting beside each other and not against?” The waitress asked, causing Saber to nod in response. Warden’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Impossible. We’ve only had problems with the Goblins. Why would any race want to fight beside those savages?” Warden’s reasoning was sound, and that was exactly the question that drew Saber to the cave. He wanted to find out that answer.

“That is why I am going back. I didn’t venture beyond that area before and simply took what I could get. There were no signs of recent movements in the cave and the bones were aged so I feel it is safe to assume that I’ll be the first to go down into the cave since the game began. However, that also frightens me.” Saber returned the pencil to the waitress and thanked here, then he tore up the napkin and tossed it into the garbage provided by Warden.

“Because you don’t know what’s down there, correct?” The Chef asked as she placed two slightly browned pieces of toast onto the table along with a tall glass of chocolate milk. Saber sat down on the stool beside him and decided to eat there rather than return to his old seat; it was a long walk back.

“That, and because Elves, Dwarves, and Goblins were pushed to the point that fighting together was necessary. Whatever is down there in that cave scared those three races into such a corner that they set their racial histories aside in exchange for an attempt at survival. In addition to that, there were no survivors. If there were, there would be a recording of that battle as well as some sort of war parties going down to fight whatever killed that group. There is none of that in any of the books I have read, nor is there a quest from a Lander to search that cave like there sometimes are. If there is something there; I want to know what it is.” As he explained his reasoning behind his curiosity, the Chef eyed him warily. She hadn’t need to though, as Saber always liked her cooking. Even now, as he took a deep bite into the buttered toast, he nodded to her happily.

“Why didn’t you take a look before while you were there?” The waitress said before Warden nodded to her, pointing at the door briefly. She nodded and began to walk towards the entrance to the hall. Saber took a sip from his milk and swallowed his mouthful of food.

“Because I was unprepared both physically and mentally for the task which I would have faced. Dying was not an option then, and it isn’t now, but then there was a much greater risk. I elected not to push my limits and retreated. Now that I am prepared, I hope whatever is in that cave is as well… I’m not exactly a friendly face.” Saber grinned and chuckled as he nipped into the toast again. Warden smirked and reached across the counter, patting the Assassin on his shoulder.

“Your unfriendly face is always welcome here, my friend. I do wish you luck in your trip. If you find or see anything interesting, be sure to bring it back. Even if it is just a story, I always enjoy hearing a good one.” Warden raised his thumb to his paid of lovely waitresses who were standing by at the doors. Saber nodded to the man and continued to eat his breakfast, listening to the doors open behind him.

“I will bring back much more than just a story, Warden. I can ensure you that.” Saber stated as several other Adventurers began to stroll into the inn. Warden chuckled and left his position, electing to go greet some of the new faces. Saber quieted his voice and focused on eating as well as preparing himself for the coming fight… He knew there would be one.

: Word Count :
2185

Coded By Saber of L33T T3@M

[Saber]

Do you believe in ghosts?

A long, slow yawn escaped Saber’s lips as he made his way out of the little inn and he stretched his arms up into the air at the same time. Time was of the essence, but the man was still dragging tail a little it seemed. He felt tired, his eyelids were heavy, and his muscles felt extremely tense. However, that wasn’t enough to force the man back to his bed. Morning was here and his stomach was full, which was probably the reason he was feeling tired, so there was no sense is letting himself fall back asleep. Saber also had a fairly long to-do list today. The first thing on that list was this cave, and that was where he headed to. Right away, Saber pulled his hood over his head, tucked his nose into his scarf, and made his way to London’s gates. Upon his arrival to the gates, the familiar faces were on guard and as Saber closed in, they started to look at him. Though, those three pairs of eyes didn’t make him feel too awkward; these were the men Saber had nicknamed “the Stooges”.

“Well, look who it be!” The man atop the guard tower shouted, pointing his spear menacingly towards Saber. The Assassin waved him off and kept walking.

“Good morning, Saber. Heading out for another adventure?” One of the two on the ground smiled happily towards the approaching adventurer, but the other simply rumbled. Dairus, Ethen, and Westly were the three guards. Dairus always hid in his tower, Westly commanded from the ground, and Ethen… did what Ethen wanted for the most part. Seeing them almost every day was actually a surprise; Saber expected them to be dead. But no, they little runts were still here every morning.

“Always.” His response to the question was curt, but it was a good enough answer for the question provided. Ethen seemed satisfied as well and grinned at the hooded and masked man. A mystery, this Saber was, and that was what seemed to attract Ethen to him. Too bad he was a guy.

“Good luck out there, Adventurer.” Westly said aloud from his position off to the side, but Saber only responded with a nod before he was through the aged gate and off into the wilderness. The player didn’t mind talking with the NPCs around London, however unless they had a Quest for him or something for him to do which would lead to a reward, then they were wasting his time. And today, he needed every second. Sarum was a bit of a hike and would take him an hour or so to get there should he take the main road, and it would take him a fraction of that if he took a shortcut. Yet, said shortcut would most likely be littered with a handful of enemies to face. Should that be the case, he might be slowed down and it could take even longer. But… experience.

“Sod it.” Pulling two of his throwing knives free just in case he needed them, Saber turned off the main road and darted into the forest. He knew how to reach Sarum no matter which way he took because of all his detour walks, and he also knew how to get to his destination once he reached that distant city. In total, he should be mobile above ground for about an hour maximum if he moved quickly enough. Just an hour. That was it. Not a minute… longer…

…Right. Not if I have anything to say about it.

“What the…” Saber’s rush from the main road came to a quick halt as he found himself looking at probably the strangest sight he had seen so far. Not far from the main path, a herd of Boars had begun to congest in one area. Said boars were herding together, scuffing and rubbing up against each other in some giant scene of affection sharing, and Saber had no idea what to make of it. At first, he wanted to just ignore it, but then one of the larger boars in the center looked at him. It was at that moment that Saber realized what this actually was… and then he turned in the completely opposite direction and ran.

“That… that is not a thing.” As he ran, he imagined the sight again and found it imprinting itself in his school. Yes, that was a breeding party for the boars. And yes, that large boar was about to go ham (HAH!). A few moments after Saber decided to run, he began to hear boar roars… And so he ran faster until he had returned to the main road. There, he turned left and took the “normal” way towards Sarum. At least, he would until he got a fair distance away from whatever the hell he had just seen. That would not be the only weird thing he would see today either, or even during his “hour” long trip to Sarum.

No, each time Saber attempted to divert from the main path, he would find something strange blocking him from advancing. Angered bunnies fighting and eating each other, snakes attempting to eat bears whole, upset boars roaring at each other as if they were having escalated marital arguments, and there was even a very loud patch of birds that were singing terribly even though they had beautiful voices. But it wasn’t just the monsters whom were acting weird; People of the Land seemed to be affected as well. There was a man whom thought himself a dog and a woman who thought herself a bird. One man thought he was sitting in a hot tub when he was actually just naked in an algae infested pool of water. Yet, the most frightening was a pair of children who were painted on the trees with the blood of another dead person. Yea Saber couldn’t take that one so he just… left… Finally after that incident, he decided that it would be smart to keep to the main path.

Approximately an hour and a half after he left London, Saber finally reached the outskirts of the zone, Sarum. He wasn’t close to the city yet, but he had reached the Player Camp. Unlike many, he didn’t stop to rest. After that he had seen on his way, Saber didn’t even want to see another human being out of fear that he would kill them if they were somehow acting weird. Such a thing could get him in trouble with others or targeted depending on who he killed.

All Saber wanted was to reach the dungeon. That was it. Why was he put through all of that turmoil? Because he thought he could be quick and that things would be easy. No, things are never easy for Saber. Not even his trip to the dungeon was easy. His route had become infested with Golems, Goblins, and angry trees which seemed to be out to get him. The trip he had predicted to be one-hour long, maximum, had quickly turned into two and a half. Even then, once he actually reached the location for it, it was missing. The small little outcropping had simply vanished, and it left Saber confused, extremely confused. Well, until he finally opened his map and realized how much of a dumbass he was. Using his map, he discovered that he was simply on the wrong side of the hill and the entrance to the little cave was on the opposite side of where he had ended up at.

“You’re an asshole.” I do what I want. Deal with it, squib.

Saber sighed at me as he closed his menu and stood outside of the dark pit in front of him. It was quiet inside, there were no torches, and there was no telling if there was something now lurking just five feet in front of him. Though, he wasn’t going to turn back now. He had prepared for this for a few days and even considered just abandoning it on his way to Sarum a few moments ago. However, he was here now. If he walked away when he was this close, Saber had a feeling that he would regret it. If he didn’t regret it, Warden would make sure he would feel like a wimp and that was obvious. Aside from that, Saber had a bad feeling in his stomach. Usually those kinds of feelings came out to having good reasons behind them. Whenever his gut churned and made an aggravated assault on his mental state, something would hit Saber like a train and he would end up wounded because of something stupid. He ignored the feeling a lot of the time, and he was considering it now… but the fact that those Goblins, Elves, and Dwarves were fighting together was very intriguing… Saber needed to know why.

“Damn it.” Saber spat and sheathed the pair of throwing knives he held in his hands, exchanging them for the hilts of his blades. Narrowing his eyes as he entered the cave, Saber cut off the amount of light entering his eyes and forced his pupils to expand, causing his vision to adapt to the darkness. Although even with that change, it was still very hard to see. However, he didn’t just use his eyes to see, no that was what fools did. With every step, Saber used the sound of his footfalls to tell him how close to the walls he was. He also listened to hear for echoes in front of him. The man could see ahead of him, but he could only see a few feet. It was just like last time when he wandered inside… just this time he knew he would probably come across a lot more. What wasn’t helping the Assassin’s mind was what he had seen earlier. The world seemed to be at an imbalance today… was it because he was coming here? Maybe they were warnings by the game to try and stop him… but he wasn’t going to stop. Not because some boars decided to have a group orgy right beside the gates of London and certainly not because a pair of kids had discovered their artistic talents. Now, if Saber had been approached by a ghost or something, then he probably would have turned away and did something else today. However he had not been approached by any ghosts or feeble beings and the cave was just as uninviting as before. With that in mind, Saber steeled his mind and buckled down… He had fun coming here, as he was in a lighter mood than the one he had awoken with, but as he felt the cool air of the cave replace the warmth of the sun, Saber knew that play time was over.

Taking in the information he knew already, Saber created several scenerios in his mind. He considered himself something of a detective in these situations, and it was the detectives job to figure out the solution to the mystery. However in this case, what Saber knew was barely enough to decide anything aside from that he needed more information. The last time he had come here, the entrance of the cave went on for about five minutes, he was only a minute into the descent and there were no changes. At the end of the descent, a large cavern would open up with four waterfalls and a huge pool at the bottom of said cavern. Five paths would converge onto one large platform which was about a hundred meters below where Saber would, hopefully, pop out at. On that platform was a handful of large stones that had come down from above and there were several skeletons there. Those skeletons belonged to the group of poor souls which had perished long ago. They did not have any weapons, armor, or even clothes on or around them. After their deaths, the killers must have stripped the bodies of literally everything. Beyond that, Saber was at a loss.

But, that would not stop him. It actually fueled him. The unknown attracted Saber more than a beautiful woman’s perfume, and he had been so bothered by what he had previously found that he almost could not sleep anymore because of it. That would end today because today… He would find his answers.

: Word Count :
2064

Coded By Saber of L33T T3@M

[Saber]

Do you believe in ghosts?

A light breeze began to flow in the tunnel, causing Saber to pull his cloak around himself. The air was cold, damp, and stuck to his clothes much like dew would to grass. It made him rumble, but he wasn’t extremely bothered by it. He was quite content with it, actually. The air may have been cold and wet, but it was a sign he had been waiting for during his descent; he was close. Very close. The dark tunnel he walked in was slowly coming to an end and he could feel it now. Rather than taste the dry, dusty walls, his lungs began to fill with the taste of moss, wet rock, and chilled oxygen. His nostrils flared greedily in an attempt to replace the disgusting scent of age with the freshness of cleaner air. With each step he took, the air only got better. It wasn’t much longer before his eyes finally fell on a small speck of light; the exit.

Much like the previous time he had taken the tunnel, around five minutes of walking had passed before Saber reached the end of the dark, dreary slope, and at this end his eyes were illuminated with a beautiful sight. A cave which had been carved out of the bedrock many years ago stretched in all directions to form a large cylinder-shaped cavern. The walls were jagged but had been smoothed slightly to keep the circular shape. The ceiling was high, higher than Saber could see, and the floor of the cavern was covered in a deep pool of water. How deep was an unknown answer, but it was deep enough to cover up all of the rocks which may have been down there. On the left and the right side of the cavern, directly opposing each other, two large waterfalls spilled out of the walls and fed the pool below. From their orientation to each other, it was easy to tell that the cavern had been made directly in the middle of them. Between the waterfalls and directly in the middle of the cave, was the pathway.

This pathway was long, about the size of four football fields attached end to end. Out from the entrance of the tunnel which Saber had appeared, there was a short platform. Beyond that, a set of stairs that led down to a straighter, slightly sloped, walkway. This walkway connected the staircase and entrance to a massive central point; a huge open platform atop a large column of stone. The platform was nearly sixty yards in diameter, and rocky outcropping and ridges lined it. At the opposite edge of the platform, four walkways stretched out to five tunnel entrances with one pathway connecting to two entrances, all of which were dark and empty from where Saber stood. And at this amazing sight, Saber only huffed.

“Right where I left you…” The Assassin mumbled to himself as he took in the familiar sight. Indeed, it was exactly where he had left it. So exact that the coin he had left as a small thief trap was still where he placed it; glimmering in the center of the distant platform. It had not been extremely long since he had been down here, but it has answered one of his questions; very few peoples delve into dungeons. For him, that was good and in this instance, it was even better. Less people meant less tampering, and he didn’t particularly like when people messed with his stuff.

“Here we go.” Clutching his blades, the Assassin made his way down the staircase which lay before him and onto the sloped path, his booth crunching the soft rock beneath him. Pebbles kicked out and dust that had gathered blew away with each step of the player, and the platform drew ever closer. Saber took the time to observe the five doors as well as the bodies which remained on the floor of the platform. The doors were unchanged, unlit, and undisturbed. The bodies were still resting quietly in their eternal slumber. It was a strange sight and it made Saber feel a little uneasy. Though, he was prepared. As he reached the platform, Saber’s first objective was to check the bodies. The last time he had been here, he was quick. Now, he would take his time.

In total, there were forty eight sets of bones; twenty elven, eighteen dwarven, ten goblin. All of the skeletal frames faced the five doors and not a single one was alone. Some were in pairs of two, others in groups. The largest group was a set of ten at the base of the four walkways that led to the five doors. Saber went to them first, and knelt down at the rear of them. Two skeletons, one Goblin, one dwarven, rested directly beside one another. At first, one would think that they had been fighting each other, but with a closer look Saber saw that they were with each other. The Goblin held a Dwarven shield and stood slightly ahead of the Dwarf, its back turned to the smaller humanoid. The Dwarf’s two handed axe was placed slightly further to the left and held by two hands. Both sets of bones had scorch marks. The Assassin rumbled.

Making his way forward, Saber stepped carefully by the pairing and then knelt down again beside the decaying bodies of the front most elves. Their usually gilded armor had been charred and burned, melted to their fleshy bodies which had long sense decayed. Saber leaned down and sniffed at one set of greaves, inhaling the aged smell of oil and fire. With another look around, he could see the dark char color on many of the armored suits that lay on the ground. Even the shields bore signs of flames. However, the flames which burned these armors were different than the everyday campfires. The heat required to singe and melt the high quality elvish wear was extremely high. Whatever had burned the Elves was strong…

Of course, Saber wasn’t solely interested in the front, but he also returned to the bodies near the rear and the center of the platform. Everybody had a partner. Most of the Elves were with others of their kind. However, the Dwarves and Goblins seemed to be a bit closer to one another, as if the Elves were separating themselves from the other two smaller races. If that was the reason, then it would be no surprise to Saber. As one of the Elven race himself in the world, discrimination from some of the NPC races was very obvious. Though, he dealt with it probably a little more easily than the actual Elves themselves. But, that was another topic in of itself.

What surprised Saber about these bodies was that their wounds and the markings on their equipment were similar to those from the front. Burn marks laced the metallic wears of the Elves and Dwarves, while the leather and cloth clothing on the Goblins were nearly completely burned away. Only ash and crisped cloth to make Saber aware of what the Goblin’s had worn into the battle. It was a strange sight, but one which made Saber slightly more wary of what had caused the deaths of the group. Yet, it did not scare him off. Instead it peeked Saber’s curiosity further. He wanted to know what had killed these creatures and wanted to find out what had done it. To do that, he would have to go deeper.

Turning to his right as he stood, Saber looked towards the five doors and grimaced. He would have to pick a door and go into it to hopefully find what had made this mess, and what had caused the three races to come together in this fashion. The only question Saber had now was easy; which door to pick? Each of them looked the same. They were all huge and black, their entryways not allowing any light through; ultimately making Saber blind to the rooms or tunnels beyond. The only true difference between the doors was that the two in the center had a pair of aged and wet torches sticking out of the rock walls. Either they were placed for light, or as markers. Saber took the second guess.

“Might as well.” It didn’t exactly matter what Saber thought, really. He was probably going to have to go into all five tunnels anyways if the case was that there was nothing in any of them and if his luck was horrible. If he was lucky, he might have to just go into two or three tunnels. Though, he doubted he would ever be that lucky. With that in mind, he took the easiest option he could have taken; follow the torches.

Saber sighed to himself as he made his choice and grumbled. This part was going to be the most annoying, and the most difficult. His luck was never exactly great and he never knew himself to pick the correct option first. This was going to be bad, very bad, and it was going to take time. With that on his mind, Saber prepared himself for a long and annoying journey forward. But, he did not hesitate. No matter how long or how annoying this would get, he would keep walking. The Assassin would go until all five tunnels were checked and he realized this was a dead end, or until he found the answers behind the scene he now left behind him. With his mind set, Saber walked across the central path and up to the pair of massive black tunnel entrances at the other side.

A black smog covered them up, denying any attempt to see beyond them as if this itself was an actual dungeon raid. It made Saber extremely aware that this could go even worse if he wasn’t careful. Although a person could be so careful before they ultimately did nothing. That wasn’t an option. So, Saber tucked his cloak around himself and picked a tunnel; left. His head nodded and the man took a step. However, as he did so, the right door released a low howl… Beyond it, a gasp of air escaped and flowed into the open cavern. Saber’s nose wiggled at the sight and he stared at the right door, sternly. After a few moments, he looked up to the left door; there was no response. Either what had just occurred was a bait to trap and trick him, or his goal led beyond and was the reason for the air movement. If that was the case, then picking the right door would be wise. Though, the silence of the left door could have been just as much of a warning as anything else.

“I hate this…” Saber rumbled and snagged a torch out of its place on the wall, pulling it free of the holder it sat in. Once he had it in his hand, Saber summoned forth a match, lit it, and then lit the torch. Once the oily end caught fire, Saber disposed of the match and marched through the right entryway.

: Word Count :
1858

Coded By Saber of L33T T3@M

[Saber]

Do you believe in ghosts?

Just as Saber stepped through the black entryway, his vision went black. He didn’t faint or collapse, but every speck of light suddenly vanished, as if it was all absorbed by the gate he passed through. The air was thin, cold, and still. Dust lingered, filling his nostrils with each breath he took in. Not even his cloth scarf could filter the air it was so thick, but he dealt with it for the longer he stood there, the brighter the room became. Yes, he was now in a room. There was no tunnel, there was no hall. No walls, no windows, no doors, no escorts, and no monsters. The space he was in was wide, open, vacant, and dead. The reaper had made his pass already, possibly thousands of years ago, and Saber’s eyes were gradually falling on the wake of its appearance. A thousand years later, and the reaper’s curse continued to hang on the room Saber was finding himself in. It was to the point where the torch he held was useless, and so he cast it aside. With a hard toss, the Assassin launched his torch inside of the room. The instant he released it; it was gone. No sound, no light, no heat. Nothing. Saber now stood alone.

“neep.” The Assassin hissed and turned to his right, looking towards where he had come; nothing. No light, no door. He was trapped. It was that simple. This place was not a hallway or a room, but a prison. Yes, Saber had been teleported to a pit on the server, where he was most likely never expected to return from. However, if that was the case, then what had caused the air to move? What had caused that humble sigh to come from the entrance when Saber was in the large cavern? Was it just his imagination…? Turning back to his left, the Assassin gazed back towards where he had thrown his torch. It was then that he learned where he was and that he should not have come.

A pair of red eyes split slightly in the distant black, they blinked, and then they slowly opened. A heavy breath whisked at Saber’s feet, pushed at his chest, and eased over his face; the breath of life. His cloak fluttered behind him as the eyes exhaled and the distant creature awoke from its quiet slumber, taking one of its first breathes in centuries. Saber grit his teeth and the Assassin’s fist curled closed, his knuckles turned white. The room began to illuminate, the torches igniting first behind him and then outwards. One by one and in rapid succession, the array of lights turned on and spread outwards. Indeed, Saber’s decision was the correct one, but it was also a mistake. Saber hadn’t just discovered the reason for the fears of the dead outside, but he had learned that following their warnings may have been a better idea than chasing questions. Lights ignited on the opposite side of the room, and finally a throne was lit by four large columns; blue flames burned at their tops. The answer to Saber’s question was now in full view.

“So… you are the cause…” As he stared towards the beast across the way, his body started to burn. His blood boiled, and his eyes narrowed. The skin on his back began to crawl and the hairs all across his body stood on their ends. He could hear his heart throb in his ears as his vision started to turn red.

“Looks like I’m going to get to have a little fun…” The clenched teeth of the Adventurer began to show in the air as his lips pulled into a smile. Across him was no ordinary beast, nor was it something he should challenge. It was an ancient being which was all powerful in war and feared by nearly every race. It was a beast no man in the right of mind would fight alone, and not one the light of heart could stand in front of without being afraid.

The beast Saber found himself staring down was a Dragon. It was not one of the puny young ones or a knock-off Wyvern either. No, this was a full, pure blooded dragon. Its eyes boiled with fire, its scales were as strong as steel, and its mouth was filled with razors for teeth. The body it lay in was massive and Saber was but an ant compared to it. Not only that, but what Saber saw on his display was even more frightening; Level 75, Aged Dragon [RAID], three health bars, status aliments, and a rage meter. This was no ordinary dragon… It was Saber’s worst nightmare, and he was now trapped within its lair. Its skills were unknown to Saber, as were its strengths and weaknesses. Unlike any magicians or people with other, more useful, subclasses; Saber was a simple Assassin. All he had to help him were his weapons, his skills, and any monsters he had tamed. Nothing else. He had no buffs, no weakening skills, and no extra abilities he could call upon in battle. He was a straight up war machine, that was it. But, he didn’t need any of that.

Saber had been through the fires of hell with his own two hands, had fought against the strongest of beasts with his own two blades, and did not falter even when the odds were against him. He had every reason to quit, every reason to give up, and every reason to call for help… but he didn’t. Not even now would he turn and run, nor would he pull open his menu. No. This was his choice. Saber made his decisions and went to the places he went without calling for help because he was not one to burden others. He was here because it was his choice, and he would not bring someone else down here who could potentially be injured. Saber would rather see himself dead than someone he knew. Saber was a fighter, but more importantly… He was an Adventurer.

Following leads, going into dungeons, fighting huge monsters… He did that because he was a player in this world; he was an Adventurer! He wasn’t someone who followed rules or listened to authority. He was here because he wanted to play the game, he wanted to learn about the world, and he wanted to face everything it had to throw at him, and he would face it all head on! He was not a Lander, he was not a support player, and he was not some half-assed player. He was a full blown Adventurer. He was a person who was not happy with the status quo, someone who was not happy with the decent, the okay, or the regular day. He was not content with complacency, with safety, or with the expected. No! He was someone who wrote his own destiny, who wrote his own story! No regrets, no fear, and no second thoughts. Forward! Always forward! That was who he was! A soldier in this game!

And it made him happy to be one….

“Heh…” The Assassin’s lips pulled wide and he stepped forward into the hall. It was time to see what he was made of…

: Word Count :
1214

Coded By Saber of L33T T3@M

[Saber]

Do you believe in ghosts?

“I awake from my slumber to see a puny Elf at my feet…” A low rumble escaped the bellows of the Dragon’s throat, and the entire room shook as it rose from its curled position. Its body, which Saber already knew would be huge, seemed to increase in size until the room seemed almost too small. It was true; this beast was of Raid-boss level, and it would not be easy to bring down. Three or four more people probably would not have eased Saber’s mind, nor would a “full raid” of twenty-four. This beast would need an army to fight it… but Saber didn’t have those resources. All he had to support him were his twin blades, two daggers, a bow and arrows, as well as his own ingenuity. It had got him this far and now he would put himself to the test.

“I can sense your fear, Adventurer… I will give you one chance to turn away and leave this chamber. However should you choose to stay, I will use your bones to pick the flesh of your forefathers from my teeth.” The Dragon smiled, exposing its white fangs as well as the oil cannon behind them. That was no smile of joy or of intimidation; the Dragon was preparing an attack. Even if Saber did turn around, he would be burned to a crisp. The other option was to perish, so said the Dragon. Saber would choose neither…

The Assassin pushed his nose against his scarf and lifted his eyes, glaring at the black dragon before him. His eyes narrowed and his skin bristled. The blood soaked hands he bore clutched his twin blades and he pulled them free, releasing them from their own chambers. The sound of metal sliding free echoed in the room, ringing in Saber’s ears and caused the Dragon’s eyes to narrow as well. The Assassin stared down his foe and flicked his blades out to his side. He would not run. He never had, and he never would. Not today, not tomorrow, and not the day after. No matter what he would face, his heels would dig into the ground and he would stand firm. Running was for cowards, and sometimes the smart. Saber was no genius but he would not quit. War was something he lived for; he thrived in it.

“I see you have made your choice…. So be it… What is your name, Elf? Tell me, so that I may add your name to the list of those who have perished by my blaze.” A massive clawed foot stomped down from the slightly raised circle and closer to Saber as the Dragon moved forward off where it had been laying. Saber didn’t stir, and his grip tightened.

“My name is Saber. Remember it well, dragon, for it is the last name you will ever hear.” The Elf’s voice boomed into the room like a challenge, and Saber took his stance. His left foot slid forward, his left blade raised and turned in front of him. His right arm lifted, the sword pointing straight towards the dragon. His hips twisted, his right foot made a base, and his eyes continued to lock with the Dragon’s. It let out a low, loud laugh and fire began to glow between its teeth.

“I shall remember it, Elf! My name is Albion! Engrave it into your soul!” As he shouted, the Dragon’s massive maw opened and the oil within its core shot forward. The oil sparked on the roof of the beast’s mouth and it ignited. A moment later, the oil-spray ignited and flames shot forward towards Saber’s position. The Assassin tightened his grip, his knuckles straining, and moved. It was time to avenge the men who came before him.

With the flame coming in hot, literally, Saber twirled his blades into a reverse hold and dashed to the left. He moved out of the way of the coming inferno and dodged the initial spray, letting it strike and melt stone behind him. As he moved left, he moved forward, closing the distance between him and the massive dragon at an angle. Yet, he was not home free from the fire. The dragon’s head moved, its mouth remained open, and oil continued to spray outwards as its eyes followed the Assassin. Saber grit his teeth and churned his feet, pumping them with everything he had to escape the fire which wasn’t getting any further away. One step after another, with his arms churning at his sides, Saber pushed his body to the limit and circled around towards the back of the room. Just as he reached the back wall, the flames stopped. The dragon rumbled and stomped to the left and into the room; its tail moved in the opposite direction.

A grunt fell from Saber’s lips and he hurdled up into the air. His feet planted themselves on the wall for just a moment before he launched himself away from it, his eyes set on his target. The massive, muscular tail of the overgrown lizard bashed into the stone structure, causing the aged room to quake and the wall to crack. Rocks and stones fell from the impression the tail left, and several loose stones from above came crashing down. Saber felt some of the smaller stones strike his back as he coasted through the air, and the shockwave from the impact propelled him forward. Two seconds in the air, he lasted, and then his feet struck the hard exoskeleton of the Dragon’s back. It snarled at him, and Saber huffed. With a hard stab, Saber wedged his right blade beneath the first scale he saw and dug it into the Dragon’s body. The massive beast let out a low rumble and its head shot forward towards the player. Saber twisted his sword and yanked, ripping the scale from where it lay. As it came free, he kicked it towards the Dragon’s face and then dove off to the right. The massive jaws slammed closed where Saber once stood, and the extremely strong scale vanished inside of the Dragon’s mouth… for a moment.

A second after clamping its jaws down, the dragon reopened its mouth and bellowed out in pain; the scale had dug itself into the dragon’s gums, causing it to bleed. Its first health barely twitched, but a “Bleeding” effect appeared beside its name. Saber nodded and moved to the Dragon’s underbelly. As he neared the massive beast, Albion sidestepped, turned, and swiped at the Assassin. Just as the massive claw neared him, Saber’s left foot dug into the stone floor and his body lowered. Before the claw could reach him, Saber barreled forward and jettisoned himself out of the way. His head tucked under his body and his hips rolled forward. As the claw whiffed, his heels impacted the ground and then Saber launched himself upwards. He struck at the Dragon’s soft underbelly and sliced it open in several places, causing blood to leak from the wounds for only a few seconds before the game sealed them back up. Saber was only have to get a few swings off before the Dragon stomped away and swiped at him again. The man hopped backwards and then flipped over, bringing his feet over his head to increase his lateral movement as he turned into a ball. The air of the massive Dragon paw caused Saber to lose his balance, and his feet slammed into the ground harshly. The stones beneath him were slick, and dust whipped into the air as the Assassin skidded backwards. But, he didn’t falter yet.

The instant he stopped moving, Saber launched himself forward and his boots stomped at the floor. The health bar of the dragon had budged now, and its health had declined. Saber could see a gap now. With that in mind, he sheathed his twin daggers and sprinted to the right. As he moved, the Dragon rumbled and thrashed his tail around, sweeping the floor with its spiked appendage. Saber grunted and vaulted upwards, his feet impacting the one of the flaming torch-columns. The moment he touched down, the massive tail impacted the base of the blazing pillar and caused the stone to waver. Saber drew a throwing knife and a sigil ignited on its edge. As the column collapsed, Saber launched himself left and threw the knife at the Dragon’s back. It wedged itself into the exposed skin where Saber had ripped off a scale and immediately exploded, blasting apart several other scales and causing the skin to rupture and blister. Albion released a loud, blood curdling roar as it stepped further from its resting circle. Saber touched down on the next burning pillar and then pushed himself back to the ground, landing in a roll as he kept moving. Once his feet impacted the floor, the Dragon’s eyes shined and its body began to glow; the spikes on its back started to heat up. Saber’s eyes narrowed; skill time.

The glowing became more and more aggressive, but Saber kept moving. He closed in on the Dragon and pulled another throwing knife from its holster. As he did so, the skill was activated. Saber slide underneath the Dragon again and the room was suddenly filled with an explosion of sharp, black spikes. The fatally flying projectiles dug into the stone walls, causing them to crack and crumble, and Albion hissed as he saw the player slip into safety underneath him. The Dragon roared loudly into the room again and started to step to the right. Though unlike last time, Saber didn’t stop running. He moved beneath the Dragon’s belly and popped out the other side, hopping up onto the beast’s back. Just as he landed, the dagger he held was wedged beneath one of the Dragon’s scales. Another throwing knife came free from its pouch and Saber sprinted up the massive back of the beast towards its head. It snarled at him, anger bristling in its red eyes as the player toyed with it. Saber only grinned, his eyes slitting as the wicked emotion crossed his face.

The dragon stomped to the right and began to shake itself, risking its own balance to remove the annoying bug on its back. Yet, it was futile. Saber’s boots dug in and he kept himself steady. Spikes wiggled in front of him and the spikes became slick, oil bled from the dragon’s hidden body as its head slowly curved around. A grin crossed the beast’s face; Saber’s eyes hardened. With a flick, Saber snapped his dagger around into a reverse grip and accelerated. Each kick was powerful but his bounds were short. As he closed in on the neck of the dragon, the number of spikes in his way dwindled and eventually his path became clear; clear enough for him to move in a straight line. Yet, the instant he stepped out from the small forest, smoke heaved out from the dragon’s nostrils and its mouth opened. Saber grit his teeth and his left hand twitched. The dragon’s mouth opened and the fuel to its flames began to drip. Saber snapped his fingers.

Behind him, the dagger he had wedged beneath the dragon’s own armor blasted apart, blowing apart a gap in the beast’s hard shell and ignited the wet fluid on its back. Rather than made things bad for Saber, the trap the Dragon set now began to work in his favor. The oil burned, scorching the dragon’s hard metal outer body. In the spots Saber had exposed, the flames burned flesh and smoldered, melting away the skin of the Dragon. The oil which dripped down off its scales only fed the flames. In reaction and because of the pain, Albion roared and its eyes closed in pain, causing it to flinch; oil continued to leak from its mouth and onto its tongue. Saber swirled the dagger still in his hand into a hard, firm grip and then launched it into the dragon’s open mouth; a red sigil burned on the flat metal edge. Right after he released his dagger, Saber dove to the left and off the Dragon’s lower neck. The dagger struck the massive Dragon’s tongue and blasted apart, the explosion causing the dripping oil to ignite and create a thick fireball in the beast’s mouth. Said flames spread quickly, flowing into its upper glands and burning the fuel which was there. Albion began to thrash and whail in pain and agony as both its body and mouth burned. He breathed heavily, spewing flames from its jaws as it tried to get the flames to stop, but they didn’t. The oil which he leaked from his internal storage area caught fire the instant it seeped out and into the open. Albion’s strongest, most frightening weapon had been turned against him and he was feeling every bit of it.

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!” The roar blasted into the room, causing the floor and the walls to quake. Saber ducked and darted as far as he could away from the rampaging beast, watching his handy work as the creature whipped and flailed around helplessly. Though, he was beginning to see a problem. The more Albion thrashed, the worse the room got. The ceiling was weak, old, and was most likely not meant to house a massive beast like Albion. What didn’t help was the fact that Albion’s tail slammed against the walls, slapped down support pillars, and bashed against the floor. The aged and heavy beast stomped around the room, spewing extremely hot flames all around that was causing even the hardest of stones to steam and burn. Saber stood at the door, watching the room slowly begin to collapse.

“Shit.” Saber cursed and his eyes scanned for an exit; something to get him out. Anything!...

But there was nothing. He was stuck in this prison just as much as Albion and at the current rate said prison was collapsing; he would end up buried. As he checked behind him, the black smog threatened him with failure of the Raid and it would most likely cause everything to reset. If he did that, he doubted he would be able to get this far again. Even if he repeated his strategy, Albion was no fool and this game was not the same game he played when he started. The world was changing; it was getting smarter. With that in mind, his eyes turned away from the door and fell back on the dragon. If he was going to be buried alive, Saber would have to trust that he would respawn. That seemed to be the only damn mechanic in this game that hadn’t changed, so it seemed. And so, Saber drew his twin swords and pulled them into a reverse grip.

“Guess I’ve gotta finish this or die trying!” Saber huffed and sprinted forwards and away from the door. His eyes narrowed and he checked the status of Albion’s health. To his joy, the first bar had been almost completely burned away, but the flames were being put under control. The environment was less friendly to the fires as oxygen became scarce and a mix of dust and dirt smothered them. However, Albion’s mouth was still ablaze and as visibility began to decline, Saber used it as a homing target.

“Come on… Get there!” Heavy rocks began to fall from the ceiling, crashing down as Albion’s tail took out one of the last remaining support columns. The walls started to break inwards as the dragon’s body bashed against them. The ceiling started to fall. Saber’s feet smashed into the floor, kicking the player through the debris. His nose pressed hard against the cloth mask. His breathing remained steady, his eyes were fixed forward. He pushed harder and harder, ignoring the sound of the room closing in. One… more… STEP!

“ELF!!!” Albion shouted as its head turned towards Saber, flames billowing outwards.

“DAMN IT!!” Saber roared and dove forward, lunging just underneath the fiery mouth. Flames sprayed forward for an instant before it all went black.

: Word Count :
2678

Coded By Saber of L33T T3@M

[Saber]

Do you believe in ghosts?

“I face the dark, so they may sleep…” A deep breath was pulled from the dusty air. Light filled the once dark space, illuminating the caved in hole that had appeared. The scene was still, aside from the flowing air. It was quite, calm. Not a sound was emitted from the new pit.

“I face the dark, for I am me…” But the air was still heavy, the thirst still there. Deep down, buried beneath the stone, two hearts pulsed. One was filled with evil, hatred, and annoyance. The other throbbed with pride, a will to survive, and a drive to never give in, to never give up. Dark clouds which had once lingered on the horizon now covered the sky, painting it a dark and gloomy shade of gray. Rain did not fall, the heavens did not cry, but they watched with hard eyes as the pile of stone started to stir. At first, it was just a rumble, just a little shake. Pebbles began to roll, falling from the stack of boulders and slabs of stone. There was a cracking, a quaking. The hard crust of the planet shifted.

“Blessed by the Gods, I will walk. Down into the blackest maw! Into the deep, into the fire! I will march with my eyes set, my heart steeled! With my blade and my shield, I will stand even when all is lost, all has failed, and I will not stop until my debt has been paid!” A bright red eye flared to life as the stones rolled; the eye of a beast, of a dragon. It pierced the darkness beneath the stone and glared towards the heavens, cursing them as the sight of the outside realm filled his vision. Albion scowled towards the clouds and his nose flared with smoke. His muscles tensed, his body moved. Then with a powerful thrust, he rose from the stone!

The dragon of old burst from his earth-coffin, his head stretching into the sky, his wings spreading wide! Flames burst from his muzzle and scorched the land around him. Fires lit around the edges of the pit he had once called “home”, given to him by the bastard ancient Kings and Lords. He raised from the ground, freed by his own carelessness, and stepped out into the land. The massive trees which circled the hole in the ground were but splinters to him. He roared loudly, his voice causing the inhabitants of the forest to flee from just the sound. He slammed his feet into the fresh grass and smashed whatever life was beneath his claw with great force. As he got his footing, he swung his tail around behind him, bashing it into the tree line and caused many of said trees to topple over.

However, he only turned once. Albion turned himself around and cast his eyes down into the pit he had risen from, eyeing the stones inside. His revival had caused the mountain of rock to shift and move, creating a massive hole in the center. Just beside where he had moved from, another spot began to come free. It was small, that spot, and not so dramatically moving. At first, nothing came free. But after a few moments of wrestling, a hand burst forth from the ground, punching out of the stone burial.

Pushing the weight off his body, the Adventurer beneath freed himself from his hard prison, forcing the rocks out of his way as he sat up. His clothes were tattered, ripped, and scratched. Blood streaked down his face and cuts lined his legs and arms. He was hurt, bad. The Adventurer’s body burned with wear and tear, and it was tired. He breathed hard and heavy, sucking in the dirtied air without care for what it could do to him. He wanted to breathe, he wanted to live. In his sight and above his head, his health bar flickered with emptiness; he was almost dead. The world he lived in notified him that he had only seven percent health keeping him from dissipating into a crystalized cloud and a pile of items. The man huffed at the sight… but he also grinned.

“Not… done… yet…” The man groaned and slowly leaned forward, putting both of his sliced up hands on the floor. He pulled his knees in and slowly forced himself to stand. He moved slow, but moved with purpose. He would not die here, not yet. Even with the world crumbling around him, he was going to fight it. What he felt right now was nothing compared to what his ancestors had felt. The beast he was fighting was but an ant compared to what his ancestors had seen, and did they run…? No. They carried on. They found a way.

Pain filled his legs; his right calf was injured, most likely broken. His right arm also pinged and barely responded to his actions. He was dying; there was no doubt about that. The player was on the edge of Hell and stood at the gate. He forced his left eye to stay shut as he felt the thick red liquid flow over it. His scarf was ripped and his hood was torn at the seams. His shirt was barely holding on by its threads, and his armor was dented in a few places with scratches covering the slick paintjob. A few of his weapons were missing; his twin blades, one set of his throwing daggers, and one of his actual daggers. They were most likely covered in the stone. Retrieving them would be simple because of the game, but he would have been screwed if he was in real life. With that in mind, he left them where they were. Sure, he was in a game, but cheating… That would make him but a fool. Instead, Saber turned his right eye up towards the light which shown down from the open air above. Beyond the entrance to the hole, he stared towards the dragon.

“Al… bion…” He coughed, spitting up a mix of blood and mucous onto the ground in front of him. The Dragon’s health bar was down to underneath half now. Most of the second bar had been taken by the collapse and only fifteen percent of the second bar remained. As the pace of the decline, predicting his remaining health would be easy. At full strength, it would have taken Saber five minutes of constant fighting to bring the Dragon down. However, now it would be near impossible to get Albion to even fifty percent of his final bar. And yet…

And yet Saber still stepped forward. His left foot shifted and his right leg dragged behind him. He let his right arm hang by his side and drew his dagger with his left. The weapon pulsed with thirst and the Assassin could feel it within his veins. He would not quit, not now. He had come so far and he wasn’t dead yet. He would not die until Albion fell and he swore on the Gods that he would hang that Dragon’s head on top of Big Ben. Yes, the world would know of his victory here… Saber would finish this fight and damn it all he was going to be neeping proud of it.

“The fact that you survived that brings me joy, Adventurer… I feared that I would not be able to retrieve my toothpick!” Albion grinned as he watched Saber climb from the pit. The Assassin grit his teeth and stepped out into the open air. His body continued to burn, but the walk had made him comfortable. His right leg responded more and more with each step, and his right arm gained some use. However, as Saber stepped out, he noticed that the world around him was ablaze. Fires stretched across the forest and burned the homes of those who lived in the trees. It made Saber snarl. The world was burning now, and Albion was the cause. The Assassin squeezed his blade and looked up towards the mighty black dragon.

“I pray for your blessing, Zeus.” The player picked up his right foot and slammed it into the ground before moving in a sluggish sprint. He charged towards Albion and pumped his left arm, his right arm moving weakly to his side. Yet he fought it, he fought the reaper tugging on his ragged body and charged on. This fight was not over.

“Your will amazes me, Adventurer! Allow me to shatter it like glass!” Flames emerged from Albion’s mouth and shot towards the rushing player. Saber winced and moved his right arm, snagging one of his remaining daggers. A sigil appeared on its edge. With a hard flick, he chucked the dagger into the sky at the fires. Upon hitting the flames, the sigil ignited and blasted the fires back for only a second, giving Saber time to dive out of the way as the ground where he was moving towards suddenly blasted apart with heat. He winced hard and slammed into the ground, rolling immediately up to his knees and then rose to his feet.

This dragon was going to die…

: Word Count :
1529

Coded By Saber of L33T T3@M

[Saber]

Do you believe in ghosts?

Just as his mind was determined to fight, the man stepped forward. The sky lit and the dragon’s stomped forward. Its right arm rose and came down with a furious crash, blasting the ground beneath impact point into pieces. Saber managed to dodge it, diving head first backwards and away from the massive, clawed hand. His back slammed against the ground and he winced in pain. His health remained the same, ticking up gradually as it recovered on its own. Yet, he was still far too hurt for it to make much of a difference now. The Dragon was strong and Saber had begun to realize the difference in strength. At first, he was able to whittle away at it, ducking and dodging. But now, Albion was standing and Saber was barely able to recover from just moving…

“g..yeh…” A gasp escaped the lips of the Adventurer, pain surging into his torso as the strain of a cracked rib pinged in his mind. His body ached and he could feel his consciousness fading. His vision blurred whenever he held his eye open for too long and his head was becoming light. His breath ran ragged, and it hurt to breathe too deep. He had only moved a few feet, thrown a single dagger, and dove, but it felt like he was out of energy. The man felt like he may collapse. The world around him burned and the dragon which stood before him looked down at him. It seemed… discontent… Upset almost with the scene that was unfolding. A single defensive move was all which was left in the magazine. There were no more bullets, no more rounds… no more gunpowder. Saber stood, his body trembling. He felt weak, helpless. Was he going to die here…?

Even as he fought it, even as he fought that ever approaching darkness, the Assassin stood tall. He wanted to break down and cry. It hurt. It hurt so much. His body, it felt broken. The pressure and pain that pulsed through his body was immense and his eyes stung. It hurt to stand, hurt to see, and it hurt to breathe. He wanted to die. He wanted the remaining health he had to run out and wished it could all be over… He just wanted the fight to end. His chest throbbed and his lips trembled. The blade in his hand shook and his right arm dangled, limp. Saber’s right eye blinked. Water leaked out from the corner of it, streaking down his cheek as he stared towards the dragon, the Raid boss he had so boldly challenged. The creature he knew he could not fight alone, the beast he had raised his sword to even though he knew he would lose. Yes, it was a Raid boss… There was no way he could win, was there? It was a losing battle from the start…

“Damn it…” The Assassin muttered, his right eye blinking again as he felt to a knee. He dug his dagger into the ground and pushed himself up a little, leaning onto it to keep from falling flat on his face. Saber was tired, so tired of this. Tired of fighting, tired of challenging. He was tired of being alone, tired of doing everything by himself. He was tired of doing these quests, going into these dungeons, and fighting in battles that he always ended up being hurt so badly in. He hated this game, this world, and everything in it. And it cursed him. Nothing was easy, nothing he did was ever right, and there was always some challenge waiting for him. No matter what, it was just one hard climb after another. One more wall, one more barricade, and one more boss. It hurt, and he was tired. Saber was so tired of it all…

He wanted to die, to rest, and to be able to just live his life like a normal person… He was a fool, that’s what he was… He was just a fool who didn’t deserve what he had. He didn’t deserve his level, his gear, or to even be where he was. No, Saber didn’t deserve any of it… He was just some random guy who pushed everyone else away. He was no hero, he wasn’t a best friend, he wasn’t someone’s lover. He was a nobody, that’s all he was. He had nothing to tag to his name, and nothing to show for what he had done. Saber? Who’s that…?

“Heh… I’m such a fool…” The man mumbled, spitting at the ground as his grip loosened on the dagger he held. He should just lay down and accept his fate, shouldn’t he…? Just let it all go… Just let Albion finish him. Yea, that would be right, wouldn’t it? Just let it all end and be over with…

“Adventurer… Rise to your feet.” The voice boomed from in front of Saber, and the Assassin’s head lifted. The dragon he had been so aggressively fighting stared down at him, its eyes hard, its mouth stern. It glared down at the puny man and stood tall; it was proud of itself, wasn’t it…?

“You have fought well and the eyes you have now are not those which you should have. Adventurer, you have proven yourself to me to be someone I can admire… Rise to your feet, and finish what you started. Fight me, Elf, until you cannot hold another weapon!” The Dragon roared out, its voice booming deep in Saber’s core. His body tinged with pain and his grip on his dagger wavered. He felt weak. Even with the dragon’s words, he could not fight anymore… He was done. There was nothing more that he could d—

“Stand.” A voice throbbed in Saber’s mind and time seemed to stop. Saber’s left eye stung and he winced. The voice was familiar, one he had nearly forgotten. A voice of a beast he had fought before, and one he knew well…

“Or do you concede? Like everyone else in this game would when facing the impossible? Will you struggle until your last breath, or will you truly lie down and accept fate? The Gods are watching. Make your decision.” Saber stared towards his blade, his eye locking on to his quivering hand. It hurt; it hurt all over to even kneel. He was in so much pain that remaining upright was nearly impossible, but the demon he now knew as his ally was right. Saber was never one to quit, never one to roll over… He was an Adventurer… And he was a Spartan. Spartans never die.

The weak grip on the dagger tightened and Saber’s legs pushed into the dirt. The Assassin lifted his head and grit his teeth, pulling his lips into a grin. He had seven-percent of his health left. That was enough to survive a small attack by this dragon. He was not dead yet. He could still hold his dagger, and that meant he could still fight. He needed to think, analyze the situation, and act. He had to react, create a battle strategy, and see it through. The barricade before him had been made, the wall built, and the ladder taken away. Saber needed to improvise now. It was all on him. No tricks, no surprises, just him and his wits just like it always was. That alone had got him this far, and that alone was all he needed.

“He’s got forty percent of his health left… He just used a fire attack skill ten seconds ago and it’s got a cooldown of a minute and a half. His wings are broken from the looks of them and most of his spikes are cracked. His armor seems solid but is cracked in most places….” Saber’s eyes glared towards his opponent as he considered his options. He had few, but enough that he could work with. It was better than nothing. His only problem now was putting it into effect. Saber’s right eye narrowed and his teeth grit together. His right hand squeezed and he raised it to his left eye. With a slow, gentle swipe, he cleared his view to the best of his ability. Then, his left eye opened. Half of his vision was red, the other half clear. Saber felt as if he was looking through a veil towards his enemy but it did not matter. The blood that streaked down his face began to dry, but it still dripped down over his eyebrow. It was one of the first times Saber had bled so badly in this world... and the dragon would pay for it.

“Come, Adventurer! Show me how far your will can take you!” Albion roared into the sky, his body glowing as he began to activate a skill. Saber grit his teeth and clenched his right hand. His body still burned, his mind was scattered, but his heart continued to beat. A skill of his own activated and his presence surged into the zone around him; Malicious Intent. The Dragon’s eyes flared and it stared down towards the Elf, and Saber stared back. He twirled his dagger and then sprinted forward.

Saber’s legs pounded into the dirt, his boots rising and falling. He stumbled, staggered, and nearly fell. His balance was off, his mind distorted, and his breath heavy. The man nearly fainted, but his right hand pushed him off the ground when he nearly slipped and he kept moving. Albion’s tail came around in a powerful sweeping motion and Saber caught sight of it. His eyes turned and fixed themselves to the massive weapon. Just as the tail neared him, the air around Saber exploded into smoke; Hazecloud Vault keyed. As the tail entered one end, Saber ejected from the zone of attack and straight into the air above Albion. The smoke was whisked away by the powerful force of the tail, but Saber had already escaped with his life. He landed on the dragon’s lower back and knelt down to take a breath, stabbing his dagger into the beast to support himself. Upon impact, Saber’s health regenerated. Seeing that, Saber braced himself. He ripped his dagger free and sprinted up the Dragon’s back straight for its neck. Albion roared and began to shakes his own body, once again trying to rid itself of the determined pest. Saber huffed and stumbled, but stabbed his blade down when the risk of falling was too great. His health regenerated more and more with each strike, and Saber steadily climbed the dragon. However, time was running out. As Saber reached the base of his target’s large, muscular spine, he only had about thirty seconds to spare. And so, he got to work.

Saber began to attack. He struck at Albion’s neck over and over and over, slicing at an exposed piece in its scales and carved into its flesh. Albion roared as the Assassin cut away at its thick flesh, damaging it over and over. The more Saber struck, the more his health returned. Albion stomped around the circle, flailing and shrieking as the Assassin dug in. He gripped onto a scale with one hand, using the Dragon’s own body to his advantage, and attacked with the other. His blade glowed a bright red as the player furiously struck at his enemy. Saber activated Accel Dance and increased his attack speed, his eyes narrowing on the spot on Albion’s back that he was striking. His arm sped up, slashing harder and faster, harder and faster! FASTER!

The pain started to fade, the bleeding stopped, Saber began to breathe evenly, and his bones stopped aching. The world he now lived in supplied him with energy and the tired, lazy swings turned into violent strikes with power and grace. Thirty percent, forty percent, fifty percent, and sixty… seventy… eighty… Saber’s health climbed rapidly as his arm swung and slashed at Albion, syphoning health from the beast like a leech. The Assassin drank like a baby on a mother’s breast and guzzled down the health he was supplied as Albion thrashed and danced around in the open area until the thirty seconds Saber had taken advantage of had come to an end. Albion’s mouth began to smoke and the dragon whipped its head around, glaring at the pesky insect on its body. However, it was already too late. Saber’s eyes blinked and the hard, defiant emotion returned. He glared towards the dragon, drew a throwing blade, and twirled it around his fingers. As Albion’s mouth opened, an orange sigil appeared on the edge of the dagger. Oil dripped down from the roof of the beast’s mouth and Saber launched his dagger into the beasts mouth. The oil caught fire once more and Abion’s mouth ignited. Yet, the dragon did not falter. A fireball blasted forth and shot towards Saber’s position. The Assassin grinned.

Yanking his dagger free, the player dove down off the dragon’s back and slammed into the ground, landing in a fierce roll before kicking up to his feet. Fire shot down behind him, the sky ablaze with heat as Saber began to sprint. As he moved, he opened his menu and summoned his bow and arrow. The Spartan returned to his instincts and drew his bow. The Ranger clutched his best weapon tight and drew an arrow, drawing it back on the bowstring. Both the projectile and the metal artillery weapon glowed. The souls sealed in the weapons activated their passive buffs and the Assassin’s eyes locked on to his target. As Saber moved, he keyed one more skill; Memory Shot. Immediately, the man began to release his own form of hell. His left hand stayed firmly placed and pointed the bow towards the target, but Saber’s right hand moved like a machine on a mission. One arrow after another fired into the sky and disappeared into space. Just as the arrows vanished, flame from the dragon’s mouth swallowed up the position they were last seen.

The heat was extreme, but Saber raced the clock and kept himself ahead of the inferno which was following him by just a few feet. Sweat dripped down his back and over his brow, his chest burned as he inhaled the dry oxygen, and his nose flared as the hairs inside were singed. His mouth became dry and void of moisture and his clothes started to shrivel up. His cloak caught fire at the tips and began to burn slowly, but Saber continued to run. He continued to fire his arrows into the air and kept his skill active. However, even as the time was up for the Dragon’s fire skill, Saber continued to move and shoot. Each arrow he fired continued to vanish even as he returned to the start of his running circle. As he did so, he keyed one more skill on top of the skill he had running; Arrow Revolver.

A hard kicked allowed Saber to elevate himself up into the sky and the man fired off each arrow his Revolver skill gave him, causing them to vanish into nothing at a very rapid pace. Albion narrowed his eyes on the Assassin and stomped forward, but as he took a step, Saber fired a shot into its shadow; Shadow Bind keyed and Albion found himself slightly restrained. A second shot drilled the shadows again; Atrophy Break. Albion was not bound, but his movement speed plummeted to near nothing as hundreds of tiny, nearly invisible tendrils shot forth and encased its body. As Saber touched down, he pulled one more arrow from his quiver and yanked back on his bow string. The Assassin narrowed his eyes and fired; Congregating Arc. The arrow he fired vanished and dozens appeared surrounding the Dragon from all angles. Another show was loaded onto the bow and Saber’s eyes focused on the Dragon’s head. Albion’s eyes opened wide as he realized the position he was in. Saber released his final shot.

Fatal Ambush.

Just as he released his arrow, the Assassin snapped his fingers. Every single shot he had hidden appeared and shot forward, the arrows formed by the skill Congregation Arc descended, and the attack Saber had just keyed shot towards Albion’s skull. In a split second, arrows buffed by Physical Resistance Pierce and Bonus Damage Against Bosses struck all over Albion’s body, hitting him in almost every spot imaginable. Arrows wedged themselves under scales, stabbed into bear flesh, and struck wounds Saber had previously caused. Arrows riddled the Dragon’s body, piercing all along its back, legs, and even its neck. The one shot Saber had released had also struck home. Fired with high accuracy and the aid of a skill, the arrow lodged itself into Albion’s right eye, effectively causing the beast to shut it as it wailed out in agony. Its health plummeted into the final bar and even further until only seventy-five percent of it remained. However, as it did, the Dragon’s body began to glow. Its voice exploded into the air and Albion’s claws dug into the ground. Its head stretched into the sky and its tail thrashed violently behind it. Saber lowered his bow and looked up towards the heavens. Albion’s call caused the skies around the two combatants to glow a brilliant red and out from above came a sight Saber feared; Wyverns.

Dozens of the small winged reptilians descended from the red clouds and roared loudly as they entered the fight. Saber grit his teeth and ducked as one of them swooped down with the intentions of slicing him with its flaws. As the heavy tail behind it swung at him, the Assassin jumped backwards to avoid it. Albion’s roar came to an end as the twelve creatures appeared, but the Dragon’s body continued to glow, its black body shifting to a bright red. Its scales shifted colors and the spikes on its back grew larger. The end of its tail thickened and spiked, its claws grew and turned into razors. But, Albion’s injured right eye remained closed. Smoke seethed from the beast’s mouth and its teeth protruded boldly from its jaws… Albion, the Ancient Dragon, was on its last leg.

“Your bravery is respectable, Elf! But this is where your fight ends!” Albion roared and his body pulsed. The spikes on his back throbbed for but a moment before they shot out into the air and began to circle the dragon. Saber grit his teeth and watched as a wall of huge, weaponized scales swirled around his opponent like hounds. He spat on the ground and squeezed his bow. Then, his eyes went north; he activated a skill and targeted the Wyverns above. He called on them, asking one of them to come to his aid but at first, none responded. They ignored his Taming skill and simply shouted at him with their voices… But one of them remained quiet. Its wings tilted and the Wyvern descended to the ground beside Saber. It slammed into the dirt and roared at the Assassin loudly, slamming its foot forward as flames fueled its muzzle. Saber drew an arrow and was ready to fight, but the flames died out. The Wyvern lowered its head and bowed.

“Ryzack, is my name, Adventurer. For just this fight, I shall follow you. A being who is determined to face the impossible with such determination is someone I am willing to stand beside.” The Wyvern opened its eyes once he finished speaking and the red orbs flashed blue. The Scout skill took effect and Saber nodded. Ryzack turned his body to face Albion and the Ancient Dragon huffed.

“You young ones are so rebellious… I shall teach you to respect your Elders!” Several of the floating spikes shot forward, barreling towards Saber and Ryzack.

“Adventurer!” Ryzack lowered himself to the ground and nodding its head. Saber nodded in response and quickly mounted the winged beast. A moment later, Ryzack pushed itself off the floor and jettisoned into the sky. The ground beneath them was decimated by the huge spikes and Saber shuddered at the sight; yea, that would’ve killed him.

“Ryzack!” Another Wyvern called out as Ryzack reached the higher altitude, its mouth igniting as the inferno bellowed within its jaws. Ryzack huffed and glanced back towards the player whom was riding him.

“Hold firm, Elf.” The Assassin clutched the Wyvern and lowered himself down to the scaled body of his scouted-ally. As the other Wyvern’s mouth opened and flames burst out in the form of a massive ball, Ryzack dived. His wings folded back and his body streamlined. Saber closed himself down onto the Wyvern as much as possible and squeezed his bow tight. Several other Wyverns joined in the assault, their mouths blasted the hot fireballs at Ryzack. The Wyvern huffed and twirled its body around near the treeline, rolling to the left and then pulled into a hard climb. Its wings spread open and the large creature caught the wind. Saber squeezing on the Wyvern’s scale and groaned as he felt the pressure on his body. Though, as they reached the peak of the arc, Saber inhaled and filled his lungs with fresh air.

“I’ll be going in for a pass, Adventurer. Ready your bow!” Ryzack proclaimed and the Wyvern began to tilt forward. Saber nodded and squeezed his weapon. He looked down towards Albion and grimaced.

“Roger. I can adjust so don’t get too close.” Ryzack laughed at Saber’s response and grinned.

“Do not tell me how to fly, Elf…” The Wyvern pulled his wings back and shot into a hard and fast dive. Albion’s left eye narrowed and flames billowed at its mouth. As the pair neared the tree tops, Ryzack spread his wings, lifted himself and began a hard circle around the massive Boss. Saber sat upright and braced his knees against the dragon’s hard scales, digging his boots into the beast’s body to hold himself in place. Saber drew an arrow and keyed Arrow Revolver. With speed, Saber began to unleash his arrows down onto Albion. One shot after another descended, the first five striking the beasts in its skull. Just after they had all hit, the mouth opened. Ryzack grunted and tucked to the right, shielding Saber from the initial wave of hot air that was exhaled. Then, he rolled back to the right and dove down behind the forest fire. Albion unleashed his flames and blasted the treeline.

“Are you mad?!” Saber shouted as he clinged to Ryzack’s back. The Wyvern laughed and whisked between the burning trees, his wings folded back as he shot through them with grace and speed, then, as he approached a place too thick to challenge, the beast pulled up and shot out from the tops of the trees. Albion adjusted and the wall of floating spikes turned. Suddenly, several of those spikes shot forward. Ryzack’s eyes narrowed and the beasts turned in towards them.

“Focus, Adventurer! Blind him once we get close!” Saber grit his teeth and watched as Ryzack evaded the spikes, twisting, turning, and spiraling through them like a homing missile as he closed in on Albion’s face. The bow in his right hand cut into his skin, the metal weapon refusing to give as he squeezed down on it extremely tightly. Yet, the feeling as numbed as he stared forward with his breath held. He watched Ryzack dance through the avalanche of hard, metallic spires with ease. Albion’s teeth came to bare and the dragon’s remaining eye slitted. The spikes stopped once Ryzack came too close but they began to shift as well, spiraling in between the dragon and the Wyvern. Ryzack opened his mouth and six fireballs emerged, one forming and firing right after the one before it. Ultimately, Albion was blinded as the six shots swirled around in its view. Even so, Albion shot his spikes forward, the projectiles ripping through the fireballs. After his sixth shot, Ryzack suddenly shot upwards and rolled over. Saber pulled back on the drawstring of his bow and dug in his knees.

The pairing appeared above the collision of the fireballs and spikes and Albion looked up, defenseless as he saw the two. Saber’s eyes focused and he took in a deep breath. The arrow head began to glow as an orange sigil appeared. Then, he released as he exhaled. The arrow, shot from only a few feet away, ripped into Albion’s left eye. Just as it entered the tender organ, the sigil ignited. The entire eyesocket of the large beast was blown apart and lit with fire. Albion shouted out into the heavens as it was rendered blind and began to thrash. Blood flowed from the torn open wound and a chunk of the remaining health was pulled downwards further. Twenty percent remained and Albion continued to fight. The spikes which remained floating now began to shot all across the area, spinning and crashing into the trees and the ground. Dozens even went into the skies, striking some of the Ancient Dragon’s own Wyverns. Ryzack moved with a purpose and climbed into the clouds as quickly as he could along with many of the other Wyverns who were smart enough to evacuate the zone. Albion roared and spun in place, his tail and head wagging, his hands stomping and smashing on the ground.

“SABER!!!!” He shouted, his voice a thundering howl as he cursed the name of the Adventurer. Saber held tight on Ryzack’s back and grinned. The Wyvern pulled back and tucked over its head.

“Final pass.” He muttered.

“I’ll finish it.” Blood seeped between Saber’s fingers as his grip remained tight. Ryzack nodded and pulled in his wings. The G-Forces on the roll over caused Saber to squeeze against the Wyvern and he used it to latch himself to the creature. They dove down from the clouds with amazing speed, wind ripping at Saber’s clothes as the tattered wears were yanked back. His arm strained to keep him steady but he only had to hold on for a few seconds before Ryzack pulled up, the tree tops just a few feet below them. Saber sat up and began to fire everything he had towards the thrashing dragon, Congregating Arc, Spark Shot, Death Stinger, Rapid Show, Fatal Ambush, everything the Assassin had, he latched the skills to his arrows and fired them. He filled the sky with iron projectiles and targeted the Dragon’s weak points; knees, neck, and Albion’s head. Many of his debuffs were ineffective, but the damage continued to whittle away at the dragon’s remaining health. Then, when he had nothing left, he activated Memory Shot. Ryzack circled around Albion as Saber began to fire as many arrows as he possible could, filling the sphere around the massive, thrashing dragon with as many arrows as he possibly could.

“Take me down!” Saber ordered and Ryzack looked back.

“What?!” He called out, confused as to why Saber would want that, but the Assassin only smirked.

“Down!” He ordered again. Ryzack huffed and grumbled to himself before diving down towards Albion, swirling low to the ground near him.

“Thank you for your help, Ryzack. I’ll take it from here." Saber pulled himself up onto Ryzack’s back and crouched as the Wyvern took one lass pass around the treeline.

“It was a pleasure, Adventurer. Good luck!” With that, Saber kicked off the Wyvern’s back and Ryzack tore up towards the sky, pulling straight up and flapping his wings hard. The Assassin slammed into the ground and tucked into a hard roll, flowing head over heels over and over until he finally slammed down onto his feet, rising to a knee. Ryzack screeched loudly as he fled the zone, escaping into the distant mountains. Saber bowed his head to the Wyvern, grateful for the assistance, but then… his attention fell on Albion. After hearing Ryzack’s screech, there was only silence. Flames still crackled, but there was no more movement. Albion huffed and his head twisted slowly side to side as he tried to listen for something, anything. Saber remained still, breathing slowly and lightly as he watched the Ancient dragon.

“I know you’re there… Adventurer… It won’t be long until I find you…” He hissed and turned around, his body twisting to face Saber. The Assassin’s eyes narrowed and he keyed another skill; Trinket Work. A moment later, his body was encased with a purple glow. Albion twisted his head to the right, and then to the left. Saber nodded and quickly darted across the open zone, his feet quietly whisking over the low and burned grass. He circled around to Albion’s back just as Trinket Work’s effect wore off and activated another skill; Infinite Nocturne. A few seconds later, his body disappeared from sight.

“…You fool… Thinking you could challenge me so readily… I am the Destroyer of the old lands! Ravager of cities! King of the Dragon Realm! I am the nightmare in the stories your parents told you when you were young! I am the bane of the natural order, the curse of the Gods! I am the Ancient Black Dragon, ALBION!” The Black Dragon roared out loudly and his bloody, damaged eyes shot open. Just as they did, there was a quiet snap. Suddenly, ten arrows fell from the skies all around Albion, stabbing all into its head with extreme precision. He cried out loudly and shook his head fiercely before a light wind fluttered through the opening. Saber jumped out from the Dragon’s shadow, his dagger clutched between his fingers as he emerged. The Assassin lifted up and narrowed his eyes.

“Assassinate.”

In a flash, Saber shot through the sky and landed in front of the Dragon. Albion’s eyes opened wide as the Adventurer appeared so quickly and then its health suddenly crippled. The back-attack caused a huge amount of critical damage and blood splattered out from a large slash across the back dragon’s throat. He staggered, stumbled to the right and let out a low rumble before another skill activated, keyed by the fact that the dragon still stood; Perfect Autopsy. The small mana ball Saber left behind blasted apart, ripping open the wound further and caused Albion to collapse to the ground. Blood pooled on the ground beneath the beast as the wounded and pained Ancient Beast collapsed. Saber turned to face the dragon and sheathed his dagger, summoning forth one more weapon; a large Void Shuriken.

“You… You wretched Elf…” The Dragon groaned as blood mixed with saliva leaked from its throat. Its body was broken and the full effects of the fight began to show as its glowing red armor dimmed; its scales were cracked, many of them broken apart. Albion’s wings were full of holes, scorched with flames, and broken in several places because of the initial cave in. Its back right leg was broken in two places and its front left was ripped open and bleeding. The Ancient Dragon was a lump of living flesh now, and could only watch as Saber walked toward it.

“I will tell you this, Dragon. Your first mistake was thinking I was a simple man, a simple Elf. Your second mistake was thinking I was foolish and stupid. Your third mistake was challenging my will…” Saber called out as the clouds began to thunder. The oversaturated grey skies did not hold back any longer and rain started to fall, thunder and lightning roaring within them.

“Your last mistake was thinking I would quit.” Saber clutched his shuriken and stood a safe distance from Albion’s head, knowing full well that the beast could still move and might consider just eating him.

“Saber… I will remember that name… You are right. I underestimated you, and I regret that. However, I will say that I am not unhappy. You bested me today, Adventurer. Be proud, for I am proud that I was able to fight such a strong being.” Albion grinned and groaned before closing his tired eyes.

“I am old, Adventurer. Old and tired of this realm… Long ago, I was separated from my kin as they traveled North. I was left behind as a young fool. With no way to get home, I lived here and decided to make myself comfortable. And so, I watched wars, fought the bravest men, and burned cities to the ground. I made my home here at the expense of the land around it. I raised a small empire here and ruled with an iron will. Horded gold and treasures in my lair while stomping out all resistance…” As Albion spoke, Saber listened. The tale of the story he had read was now being told to him from the eyes of the dragon which was portrayed as the “evil King Albion”.

“And then, a group of warriors came… A hundred strong and a mix of races. These men came from a distant realm which I had never heard of. They rallied my citizens against me and eventually I found myself in the caverns beneath us. There, they made a last and final stand. They could not kill me, but they could seal me away. With shields and magic, they barricaded me into that hole and closed the doors, locking me away for some time…” The Dragon let out a soft, humbled sight and opened his eyes once more to look at Saber. The dragon was no longer hostile and seemed to have accepted his fate.

“I was wrong to do what I did, and I regret the way I lived. As a young warrior, my only goal was to win wars and conquer lands. As I aged, I grew tired and simply lived for my people. However, the damage had been done and I had lost all of their trust.” The Dragon then dug his claws into the ground and pushed himself slowly off his knees and stood tall, his eyes still fixed on Saber.

“Here me now, Adventurer. I do not hate them. I do not hate the people I protected or the ones I killed. I do not hate the warriors who sealed me, nor do I hate you. You, and they, have shown me that when faced with challenge and the impossible, courage, bravery, and will are enough to change fate. I may have lost today, but I am returning home! I will find my way, and I will see my kin! I am Albion, the King Black Dragon of the Turadir!” The large beast released one more loud outcry, his voice challenging that of the thundering clouds above for several seconds before Saber performed one last attack. The Assassin pulled back his arm and clutched his Shuriken tight. Then, he rotated his body and released it with all of his might. The black, shadowy object shot forward and sliced into Albion’s neck. It rotated at an extremely high speed, cutting through the thick flesh and bone until its cutting connected with the remnants of Saber’s Assassinate skill. Albion collapsed, his neck splitting at the cutting point. Saber watched as the might beast fell to the ground, slamming down with a valiant crash.

“Albion of Turadir…” Saber muttered as he stared at Albion’s closed eyes. The aged, old Dragon rested soundly and his body glowed once more just so that it could burst and dissipate into a cloud of crystals. Saber frowned and lowered his arms as the mound of rewards appeared in the center of everything. The dragon was gone and the area fell silent aside for the thunderstorm. The fires were being put out by the natural water downpour and all of the creatures were steadily returning. It was over…

The Assassin made his way towards the pile of rewards and grimaced as he saw the multitude of items just laying around. There was a countdown timer on everything, so he didn’t exactly worry about anyone coming to steal his treasures. Though, he didn’t exactly care for any of it. All Saber did was reach in and pulled out a small, glowing red orb. It was light and a gentle red haze swirled around it. Inside the orb was a tiny white collection of essence. Upon investigation, Saber’s display illuminated;

Soul of Albion; Within this orb is the culminated essence of a massive black dragon that once ruled over a large territory to the East. The Dragon was separated from its kin and lived in the lands it was left in. He was said to have been evil and violent, but showed sympathy towards the conquered lands in his old age. After a revolt, Albion was sealed into a small cave and left behind to the pages of history. This orb is the soul of that dragon, and a powerful aura can be felt when near it.

The Assassin nodded and deposited the small orb into his inventory. Out of everything, that was all he took. The treasures which lay belonged to Albion, the King who had earned them. As they started to fade and dissipate, breaking one by one into crystal shards, Saber looked up towards the grey clouds, frowning. The Gods had watched a honorable creature fall today, but he would not be gone forever. He would return to the lands at some point, and Saber would see him again. However, it would be under much different circumstances. And with that, he turned away from the hole in the ground as well as the remaining treasures. Saber fixed his scarf, pulled his hold over his head, and opened up his menu. One by one, he returned all of his lost weapons to his inventory. Then, he deposited his bow and arrow so that he was pretty much clean of all weapons. After adjusting his clothes a little and making himself comfortable, Saber reequipped his twin swords, his throwing blades, and his second short-dagger. With everything on, the tired player left the zone and headed back for London.

He needed some tea…

: Word Count :
6328

Coded By Saber of L33T T3@M