Act IV - Faux Hero
It is September 7th, 2022, a full four months since MLPR became a Death Game, honestly surprised at how long it's been but progress is steady, Region Bosses are gradually falling and I estimate we'll be free within... hrm, two years? Give or take a month or two. With each boss defeated the world grows stronger and as such we have to improve our skills, which started with the very system added after the fall of the first Vault Warrior. Guilds.
To put it simply, now groups that have been established could now become official and partner with other smaller parties or Guilds, making the organization of large-scale events far more streamlined. I, for one, remained solo, well, solo as in me and my partner, Rain, who is really good with a blade. There was also Skye's team that I joined from time-to-time, at this point, we might as well be a full party of six, five whenever Axel's running a shop on the side of extra Bits. Dude's a haggler, I swear, and Riot's new nickname is 'Lord of Debt'.
Still, things are looking a little less gloomy, or, that's what I'd like to say...
[Temple of the Lost | Boss Arena]
I swung myself back from an ax, lunging with my Blackrock Shield to pulverize the skeleton pony back into its grave, my back hooves bucking two more into Rain's <Horizontal> stroke across half-a-dozen skeletons. "Who the fuck thought the Decons of the Bones was a good idea!?" I was referencing another infamous boss battle that reminded me alot of this scenario, though I say 'Boss Battle' loosely. "Fuck off!" I was angry and tired, and I wanted to sleep. "Who knows, maybe we'll find some enemies of actual worth down here... eventually?" I wasn't excited to care
Throwing Genesis high I kicked off a <Skeleton Archer>, snatching my sword as the comet-like flames scorched across the true edge as I brought it down with <Meteor Fall> the resulting impact decimating the undead as their bones rattled across the withered cobblestone. Just ahead a new target approached one that was far less rotten as its allies, hell it just threw an ax that nearly shaved my bangs as it attempted to hit Rain, all it did was decapitate several of its own guys. "He just gutted his own dudes just to hit us, what the hell?"
"I can handle these boneheads, hyah!" Rain drop-kicked another with a giddy smile. "This is so much fun!" Glad one of us was smiling. Grimacing, I turned my attention to the looming... Diamond Dog? It wore thick leather under black, jagged armor, say for its bare feet and claws. A strange, cage-like mask covering its face as it bore its teeth, eyes pinpricks of fiery orange as it held both hatchets low
"Rrraawr!" He screamed at me, both axes locking around Genesis as he pulled them down to the side to face me directly
"What the fu-"
"Hehehehe... *Sniff* hehehehehe *Sniff*... hehehehe," He just... laughed, almost mockingly before our weapons broke apart. The name, <Dax - Lv. 58> appeared above his head, he was only two higher than me, alot stronger than these skeletal rejects
"Wha... whahahaha, what the hell?" I chuckled as his left ax swung for my head, myself evading to catch my breath. "Oookay then, he's-" I threw my sword forward and he just... backhanded it. "-He just - okay." Steeling my nerves I drew my sword back with a fizzle of gold
Brandishing Genesis forwards the crackling <Rage Spike> tore against his chestplate, the left arm swinging back to smack my cheek, followed by a twirl and swipe of the right, the attack - My eye bulged as I leapt further back than intended, my health was in the green and he just... the red mark on my side faded while leaving me with half my original HP, what the hell is this thing? Rain seemed to have most of the skeletons sent back to the afterlife so left really only Dax, while I coughed he stopped to wave his axes out, as if to impress the skeletons with his might, doing that creepy chuckle again.
"Wait, what?" He just... left, like, he moved out of my peripheral vision and vanished. What. The Fuck. Just Happened? "Oi, Rain, where'd the diamond dog go!?" As I drank a Max Potion she turned to me, evading two sword swipes through the air, kicking both into the ground while eyeing me curiously
"Uhh... I dunno, he just kinda, poofed," Okay, monster's just don't 'poof' from existence, well, not in games like this but I could be wrong, this world's bugs turn it into a dumpster fire half the time so an enemy up and leaving doesn't sound too unbelievable.
Okay, moving past whatever the hell that was. I engaged the skeletons once more alongside Rain, their numbers dwindling into the single digits in only a short amount of time, our sword skills' proficiencies were far stronger than they were, a complete waste of a Region Boss, yeah, you heard me, it was just us and we managed to two-team the easiest Region thus far under Canterlot Castle, even deeper than the Crystal Caves, an old crypt buried under time and eras. It's called the Temple of the Lost, I call it the Temple of the Disappointed, what else was there to say?
"Right," I sighed, looking to Rain. "You can take the rest of the XP, I don't-"
"Rrraawr!" My sentence snagged on the sharp roar. Instinctively my head swiveled around to find... Dax, again. I tried to make a retort but was once more cut off my high horse with an ear-splitting shriek as it swung its arms down. "UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!"
"Are you fucking serious?" I think something wrong happened and it started with something I said. Rolling back my buckler rose to deflect both axes as their spinning forms clanked off my defense, ricocheting back to his hands as both axes were swung down in a sweeping 'X', breaking my guard as I reeled back, my throat almost caught on the left ax as I swung down, slicing through his breastplate with a <Slant> the stun locked him for a moment as I went all out, flaming strokes of Genesis lighting the tomb ablaze with a square of flames, the force knocking Dax back
Dax roared, sweeping through the flames with both hatchets battering against my shield, forcing me to guard almost constantly as my health was chipped through the face of the kite shield, his attacks unrelenting as he stopped to bring both high, swiping down with a tremendous gust of wind to part us both. My health dipped back into yellow as I panted, rubbing my foreleg while some straggler skeletons closed in behind Dax.
His health bar took quite a hit from the flames, giving me just the opening I needed as I drew my buckler forward, Sir Knight's been keeping my blindspots safe this whole time so why stop now? I had given the buckler quite the upgrade but it wouldn't take me much farther so until the utmost limit I kept using it, besides, it unlocked this for me. "Alright, chuckles, here's the punchline! <Acheron's Shield>!"
My back hooves had to sink hard against the ground as the funnel of fire erupted from the center of my shield, a scream of fire tearing apart the cobblestone tomb ahead of me, tearing through the remaining skeletons and Dax's charging form with minimal resistance, the bloom of fire splashing against the far wall as the flames died out immediately, leaving only smoldering flames in my wake, the shards of monsters drifting away. It took seventy-five stamina but it was worth it.
To the left, Dax stood up again, still on fire. "Oh come on..." He then chuckled, waving his head at me before walking away, and he just disappeared into the shadows, leaving me aggravated and unnerved as I continued to watch the shadows for any tell-tale sign he'd return just to gloat. "Rain, we're done here, yeah?"
"Umm..." I saw her head pan up to what I can assume was the 'Congratulations' announcement. "Yep! Mission accomplished, go team!" I leveled my hoof by second nature for hers to bump to mine, then her brow furrowed. "But um, what about that creepy diamond dog, where's he?"
"For both our sakes, hopefully far away." Shaking off the chill I turned with an exasperated look. "Let's just go home." I didn't care that we beat a Region Boss, quote-on-quote, I just lost the last slither of my compassion for anything as of right now
[Canterlot | Central Plaza]
Returning to the beaming lights of the golden city we passed through small pockets of ponies and NPCs, shambling toward a small park bench where a group of three sat nervously, the leader, the pony in armor me and Rain saved before the Trench Region Boss, <Sanguine> spotted us, his helmet bobbing up among his party to greet my dull expression and Rain's chipper wave.
"Hey, guys, we're back with your materials!" I didn't say a word, allowing Rain to be the voice of ease among our transaction as I mulled over the aggravating, and tiresome day. She popped open a trade tab and threw a bag of bones into the menu, the mare of the group beaming with relief. "Should be enough for the Necro Armor, yeah?"
"Yes, thank you both so much," She bowed her head, clutching onto her magic staff tightly. "I don't think we'd have been much help in that dungeon, b-but is it true, was it really a Region Boss?"
I snorted, looking among the trees decorated with some simple lights. "Tch, you mean a half-assed attempt to recreate the Deacons of the Deep, sure, yeah..." My muttering went unheard as Rain brushed off her worry, patting her chest
"We handled it no sweat, you guys just be safe," After completing the trade the trio left with many thanks to us. "They were nice."
"Uh-huh," I didn't care right now, I just felt sour. "Don't worry for me, I wouldn't, I'm just grouchy after that poor attempt at a challenge."
She, in fact, did worry. Frowning slightly while skipping ahead to stop me as we strolled through the park. I went to say something but she just leaned forward to boop my nose. "Nope, you're my crazy cool best friend, so if you're going to mope then I'm going to make you stop, simple," Her... best friend? I stopped to observe her sweet smile as she got distracted looking at the stars, even in this world they were vibrant and crystal clear
A best friend. I... don't think I've ever had one, I've got friends, but I guess none of them were ever the kind of person I can rely on entirely, share even the deepest of secrets with. Though maybe Skye fell under that, he was an oblivious dork at times but he never seemed to mind my occasional rants, heck, he joined in at times. And then there's Rain, this girl hasn't left my side for anything, she's capable on her own four hooves yet always sticks by me and my choices, even when hunting for the elusive missing pieces of Genesis that were still out there.
"Why does she always sit alone?" They always questioned my intentions
"I know right, and with that creepy, bored look on her face." Mocked my expression
"What a weirdo." Ridiculed me in earshot
"Hey, what was her name again?" Forgot I... was even there at all
"-hey, come on!" My mind was pulled away as her hoof tugged on mine. "Let's go explore the town together, never actually saw what it looks like at night other than our usual route."
"I-" I was going to say no, but... "...what the hell, sure," A tiny smile crossed my muzzle. "I will grant you the honor to lead us forward."
In mock fashion she put a wing to her chest, bowing. "Why thank you, miss." We both chuckled as she, like a child, pulled me along on her scheme. "See, told ya I'd make you stop moping!"
Huh, that she did, tch, well played.
To Be Continued...