“Should I even ask what just happened?” Alfred shouted from the bottom of the pit. His voice echoed up to his companions at the surface, a lot less clear without the efficacy of headphones.
Kiku and Yao turned to look at each other. What now? The Japanese shifted his gaze towards the Englishman who was, unsurprisingly, wearing a troubled expression. Kiku was thinking about apologising, when he saw a form slowly materialise behind the Pirate.
“Look out!”
The form had taken a human shape when Arthur looked behind him. It was wearing a cap, and a red badge appeared on the front before the whole silhouette evaporated. All that was left in its stead was a piece of paper, which hovered in the air for a second then fluttered to the ground.
Arthur turned back to the Asians, who were making their way towards him. “The renowned Internet Police, huh? I wonder how many people actually saw them.”
Kiku asked the blond if he was okay while Yao picked up the paper. He quickly looked it over before handing it to Kiku. “They are rules.”
“I'm getting tired here, guys.” Alfred's voice rang out again, along with the loud thumps from the golem still giving chase.
As if on cue, a few branches rustled overhead, and an armoured shadow emerged from the leaves, jumping straight into the pit. After a second of surprise the three rushed to the edge again, to see the newly arrived stranger charging the creature.
It was a knight, head entirely masked by a helmet, a white cape and a long tunic covering most of the chainmail, a black cross on each shoulder and one down the front of the cloth. He was gripping a broadsword with both hands, with which he proceeded to, in the most literal sense, sweep the golem off its feet. The ground shook under its weight, and the knight immediately jumped on it, raising the blade above his head. The monster made to grab his waist with its rocky arms, but the fighter severed both before the stone fingers could reach him. The pointy metal impaled the creature's head as the chopped off limbs hit the dry earth. The knight paused for a moment, shoulders heaving. Then with a grunt of effort, lifted the skewered head and spun on himself like a discus thrower, to send the rock shattering next to Alfred.
The four observers stayed silent as the dust settled. There was a metallic clang as the knight dropped his helmet, followed by a victorious cry.
Alfred blinked. “Gilbert?”
“That would be me,” he answered, sheathing his sword, then placed his hands on his waist. He looked up to the three elevated onlookers. “What did you think, Kendoka?”
“The techniques are different, but impressive swordsmanship nonetheless, Gilbert.” Kiku appraised.
The warrior began to laugh with pride, but was cut off by Arthur's taunting voice. “You have nothing on King Richard's Crusaders, Teuton!”
“Helfen, Wehren, Heilen, friend!” the German retorted, grin still firmly in place.
Yao let his eyes wander to the nearby trees, until he sighted a vine he deemed long enough. He tugged on it to test its sturdiness, then pushed the loose end over the side of the pit. “Climb up, kids.”
They sat down on the grass a few feet away, in an area that seemed monster-free for now. Kiku took out the Police paper again, summarising as he read :
“Our goal is to reach the maximum level, 100. This is one way to pay our debt and be allowed back in the outside world. The other option is to agree to pay a few millions or possibly go to jail.”
The four listeners instantly blanched. Kiku wondered if he had the same look of terror he was seeing etched on their faces. He certainly didn't feel well.
“Or rather, this is the objective for Yao and I. As the creators of the server, we are responsible for all of you. So even if all players present during the interception were dragged into the game, as long as we both reach Lv.100, we are all set free.”
“But you can only get out of here when we do reach the highest level,” Yao added, and Kiku nodded.
“I, ah... I forgot my helmet in the pit, guys.” Gilbert said, getting to his feet. “I'll be right back.”
He waited for some sort of permission, and only after the four sitting men distractedly muttered their assent did he left.
Kiku continued : “Time in the outside world still goes on normally,” and if they hadn't been pale as snow earlier, this statement drained the remaining colour from their faces, real-life jobs and other responsibilities passing through their minds.
Kiku's voice grew more and more hesitant, as if the paper would spontaneously combust in his hands at any moment. “We will feel any injury we are inflicted, but, in case of death...”
They heard a string of german curses, shouted so loud that had they still been wearing their headsets, the voice would only have been slightly clearer. There was a crumbling noise, then silence. And after a minute, a dejected “Aw, man.”
They were considering going to check up on him when Gilbert resurfaced. Or, that looked like Gilbert, but...
“Do you want the good news or bad news first?”
...he was translucent.
Arthur raised an eyebrow and turned to Kiku, pointing at the ghostly knight. “Is that what happens when-”
“I got my helmet back, but the stupid pile of pebbles respawned in my blind spot, and struck before I had time to say sh-”
“That is what happens, apparently.” Yao confirmed, curiously inspecting the phenomenon.
“Ah well, it was fun while it lasted.” Gilbert sat back down, but there was no clink of metal, no rustling of grass.
“So you can't fight anymore now, you're just... here.” Alfred said, although the uncertainty in his voice made it sound like a question.
“Yeah, I'm as useful as you now.”
“Gilbert,” Kiku rolled the paper, “I know we agreed to all log on at the same time earlier, but isn't there any chance some of us are still outside?”
“I doubt it. Ludwig and I were up there in the Warriors' village together, and Ivan, Francis, and Feliciano launched the game at the same time as us. They must be scattered between the Mages and the Archers' hamlets. And I think that's it. Wait, maybe Antonio made it? I'm not sure.”
Alfred was speaking to himself at the same time, lost in thought. “Hold on, I invited someone too, didn't I? I completely forgot.”
Yao turned to Kiku. “This is going nowhere.”
“Right.” The Japanese picked up the short knife he had placed on the grass at his side, and got up. The rest of the group did the same. “We still have to specialise in our classes to be able to defend ourselves. We'll see who we meet on the way. They must have had the instructions, too.”
As everyone was getting ready, Arthur walked up to Gilbert. “Are you all right, though?”
The German's grin returned full force, and he replied in the best British accent he could manage : “Tis but a scratch!”
The sound of their high-five sent a flock of birds flying into the sky.
Notes : Kendoka : One who practices Kendo, the Japanese fencing. King Richard I of England, a.k.a the Lion Heart, led his army into the Third Crusade. Helfen, Wehren, Heilen : “Help, Defend, Heal” was the motto of the Teutonic Order.
*returns high-five* Hi, German OP. I happen to have great respect and admiration for your country. Thanks for the nice comments, I'm glad you're having fun so far.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
This is no game 2/?
(Anonymous) 2013-11-26 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)Kiku and Yao turned to look at each other. What now?
The Japanese shifted his gaze towards the Englishman who was, unsurprisingly, wearing a troubled expression. Kiku was thinking about apologising, when he saw a form slowly materialise behind the Pirate.
“Look out!”
The form had taken a human shape when Arthur looked behind him. It was wearing a cap, and a red badge appeared on the front before the whole silhouette evaporated. All that was left in its stead was a piece of paper, which hovered in the air for a second then fluttered to the ground.
Arthur turned back to the Asians, who were making their way towards him. “The renowned Internet Police, huh? I wonder how many people actually saw them.”
Kiku asked the blond if he was okay while Yao picked up the paper. He quickly looked it over before handing it to Kiku. “They are rules.”
“I'm getting tired here, guys.” Alfred's voice rang out again, along with the loud thumps from the golem still giving chase.
As if on cue, a few branches rustled overhead, and an armoured shadow emerged from the leaves, jumping straight into the pit. After a second of surprise the three rushed to the edge again, to see the newly arrived stranger charging the creature.
It was a knight, head entirely masked by a helmet, a white cape and a long tunic covering most of the chainmail, a black cross on each shoulder and one down the front of the cloth. He was gripping a broadsword with both hands, with which he proceeded to, in the most literal sense, sweep the golem off its feet.
The ground shook under its weight, and the knight immediately jumped on it, raising the blade above his head. The monster made to grab his waist with its rocky arms, but the fighter severed both before the stone fingers could reach him.
The pointy metal impaled the creature's head as the chopped off limbs hit the dry earth. The knight paused for a moment, shoulders heaving. Then with a grunt of effort, lifted the skewered head and spun on himself like a discus thrower, to send the rock shattering next to Alfred.
The four observers stayed silent as the dust settled. There was a metallic clang as the knight dropped his helmet, followed by a victorious cry.
Alfred blinked. “Gilbert?”
“That would be me,” he answered, sheathing his sword, then placed his hands on his waist. He looked up to the three elevated onlookers. “What did you think, Kendoka?”
“The techniques are different, but impressive swordsmanship nonetheless, Gilbert.” Kiku appraised.
The warrior began to laugh with pride, but was cut off by Arthur's taunting voice. “You have nothing on King Richard's Crusaders, Teuton!”
“Helfen, Wehren, Heilen, friend!” the German retorted, grin still firmly in place.
Yao let his eyes wander to the nearby trees, until he sighted a vine he deemed long enough. He tugged on it to test its sturdiness, then pushed the loose end over the side of the pit. “Climb up, kids.”
They sat down on the grass a few feet away, in an area that seemed monster-free for now. Kiku took out the Police paper again, summarising as he read :
“Our goal is to reach the maximum level, 100. This is one way to pay our debt and be allowed back in the outside world. The other option is to agree to pay a few millions or possibly go to jail.”
The four listeners instantly blanched. Kiku wondered if he had the same look of terror he was seeing etched on their faces. He certainly didn't feel well.
“Or rather, this is the objective for Yao and I. As the creators of the server, we are responsible for all of you. So even if all players present during the interception were dragged into the game, as long as we both reach Lv.100, we are all set free.”
“But you can only get out of here when we do reach the highest level,” Yao added, and Kiku nodded.
“I, ah... I forgot my helmet in the pit, guys.” Gilbert said, getting to his feet. “I'll be right back.”
He waited for some sort of permission, and only after the four sitting men distractedly muttered their assent did he left.
Kiku continued : “Time in the outside world still goes on normally,” and if they hadn't been pale as snow earlier, this statement drained the remaining colour from their faces, real-life jobs and other responsibilities passing through their minds.
Kiku's voice grew more and more hesitant, as if the paper would spontaneously combust in his hands at any moment. “We will feel any injury we are inflicted, but, in case of death...”
They heard a string of german curses, shouted so loud that had they still been wearing their headsets, the voice would only have been slightly clearer. There was a crumbling noise, then silence. And after a minute, a dejected “Aw, man.”
They were considering going to check up on him when Gilbert resurfaced. Or, that looked like Gilbert, but...
“Do you want the good news or bad news first?”
...he was translucent.
Arthur raised an eyebrow and turned to Kiku, pointing at the ghostly knight. “Is that what happens when-”
“I got my helmet back, but the stupid pile of pebbles respawned in my blind spot, and struck before I had time to say sh-”
“That is what happens, apparently.” Yao confirmed, curiously inspecting the phenomenon.
“Ah well, it was fun while it lasted.” Gilbert sat back down, but there was no clink of metal, no rustling of grass.
“So you can't fight anymore now, you're just... here.” Alfred said, although the uncertainty in his voice made it sound like a question.
“Yeah, I'm as useful as you now.”
“Gilbert,” Kiku rolled the paper, “I know we agreed to all log on at the same time earlier, but isn't there any chance some of us are still outside?”
“I doubt it. Ludwig and I were up there in the Warriors' village together, and Ivan, Francis, and Feliciano launched the game at the same time as us. They must be scattered between the Mages and the Archers' hamlets. And I think that's it. Wait, maybe Antonio made it? I'm not sure.”
Alfred was speaking to himself at the same time, lost in thought. “Hold on, I invited someone too, didn't I? I completely forgot.”
Yao turned to Kiku. “This is going nowhere.”
“Right.” The Japanese picked up the short knife he had placed on the grass at his side, and got up. The rest of the group did the same. “We still have to specialise in our classes to be able to defend ourselves. We'll see who we meet on the way. They must have had the instructions, too.”
As everyone was getting ready, Arthur walked up to Gilbert. “Are you all right, though?”
The German's grin returned full force, and he replied in the best British accent he could manage : “Tis but a scratch!”
The sound of their high-five sent a flock of birds flying into the sky.
Notes :
Kendoka : One who practices Kendo, the Japanese fencing.
King Richard I of England, a.k.a the Lion Heart, led his army into the Third Crusade.
Helfen, Wehren, Heilen : “Help, Defend, Heal” was the motto of the Teutonic Order.
OP
(Anonymous) 2013-11-26 10:47 pm (UTC)(link)Heh, iz German OP :P
It's always strange to see my own language in stories like these.
Still like your choice of usernames.
Also, high-five from me, too, because yay!
author
(Anonymous) 2013-11-27 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)Hi, German OP. I happen to have great respect and admiration for your country.
Thanks for the nice comments, I'm glad you're having fun so far.