Chapter 7 - The First Dungeon
It has been 3 months of the incident, many of players are still adjusting their life here in the game, finding jobs around the virtual world in making money for homes to rent and food too. We haven't got a word from Princess Celestia and Princess Luna in what we should do so we did what we can do for now, Golden continue his Baking Internship with Pinkie Pie and for me, I became Twilight's second student with Starlight, however, some of the players are not the patience type. Many of players created Teams, Guilds, or Army in hoping that to find the Void and destroy it but so far no luck in finding it. However, that's the not the only concern. Some of the players were giving in to madness and sadness as a result, the virtual Royal Guards and the Wonderbolts stopped them from commencing suicide. So far half of the players were sent to the Pony Asylum (which I found the design to be like Arkham Asylum from Batman) in hoping to heal them from their broken state. So far most of them were healed for the most part but some......I don't know what to know what happen nor to think about it.
After my training, I decided to walk around of Ponyville when a 'game message' appeared. I read through and see that there's going to be a meeting at the town square in Ponyville. Decide to see this, I headed there as I see lots of players gather around the town square, each holding weapons and wearing armors around them.
"Shining Hazel!" I heard a voice and saw Golden coming towards me.
"Hey Golden, you got the message too?" I asked as he nodded.
"Any idea what's going on?"
"You tell me, I just got here."
While all of the players were chatting, a silence came upon seeing an armored stallion. Armed with a chrome metal that reflects around it yet hint of rust upon it. Blue eyes that shimmer on an ocean view and contrast to his sand like the colored mane on his peach coat. There's a long sword attached to the left side of his body, hanging out.
"I'm glad that you all are here, my name is Gold Sands, the leader of the Rogue One Guilds. I'm the one who sends you the message to all of you."
All of us listened silently, wanting to know what this player what us to know, not even question to know why his guilds are based on a Star Wars movie. But what given fact is that these guilds are known to scout around in Equestria for any sign of The Void.
"I have come to report that there's a way that we can find The Void."
All of us murmur of this news as we glanced at each curiously before he continues speaking.
"You see, The Void has created these 'Dungeons' in which created these monsters born out of chaos and darkness. There were planning something bigger upon in this world. We have located one of the Dungeons close by to this location." he showed a map of Equestria as the location circled is the White Tail Woods. "If we go there, we will capture the Dungeon. That would decrease the numbers of The Void's armies for a while."
More murmurs from other players were heard but for us, we weren't sure about this.
"Now if you check on the inventory, you'll see a map of Equestria. We will meet at this location tomorrow morning at 9:00. To make it easier on the situation in case of boss monsters, each of you partner up with a pony."
All of the players nodded as each of them chose a partner as for us, we glanced at each other.
"I don't know if we should go to this, Shining Hazel."
"I know too, but if those players need our help, then we should at least give our service to help them with their quest," I said as he sighed then nodded as we scroll on the screen as I press a button on a screen appeared.
'You are now partner with Golden Flare.'
"But to make sure of this, we need to tell Princess Twilight and the others about this. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna too." Golden said as I nodded. Knowing that we need to sit still until further notice by the Princesses, we need to report of this to them and see if they can allow us to come with them to help the players capture a Dungeon.
"Now if everyone has a partner, we should-"
"Hold it right there!"
We all turned and saw a grunt like a pony with a scowling expression on the crimson coat and a black mane that matches his goatee. He also has a Viking-like armor around it.
"If we all going then it's clear that all beta testers need to pay a compensation upon bits, weapons, armors, and crystals! The last time that these players did, they only care about is their greedy nature of having the strongest weapons and armors not to mention the bits they collect through each quest."
"Mavern, this is no time to-"
"It is a perfect time! Besides, when I saw one of the rookie players went on a mission in the Dungeons, they just left him to died and only came back to steal the items that this rookie left!"
Most of the players were murmured of this as glared at this player.
"If any beta tester doesn't have the gut to pay them, then they should leave this meeting and never come to this quest."
As if my anger boiled in my veins and being controlled, I swoop down to his level and glared at him.
"If you have any problems about beta testers, then it should be clear that you should get out of this meeting."
"What you say, punk?" Mavern growled.
"Not all Beta Testers are like that and they should not be blamed for the tragedies. Some helped us by sharing information and quest because they knew that we all want to get out from the book that all of us have when we played."
"Like you? How do we know that you're not a beta tester? You got yourself an alicorn avatar that no one ever accesses. Heck, you might even get it through hack!!" Mavern said as more murmured of this. Some even question of me being the only player to have an alicorn avatar.
However, another player stood up got into Mavern's face. He has a lance armors donned in gunmetal and carried a lance spear on the right. He has a long blue mane run through his gunmetal helmet on his green eyes.
"The kid's right. If you have any problems with beta testers, then it's clear that you only carried hatred towards them. Even if this kid a beta tester or not, he's still a player that we all need to treat with equal respect."
Mavern grunted and head back to his seat but not glared at him and me.
Gold Sands cough a bit catching attention as we turned to him "In any case, I was going to say that we're going to close the meeting. Please make sure you got everything set for tomorrow. We will plan a battle tactics before entering."
With that, all of the players left the meeting leaving only me, Golden, and the other player.
"Thanks for helping me."
"It's no problem, I understand what you're going at. Mavern is being a dumbass as usual."
We both nodded as he continues "Speaking of which, I forgot to introduce myself." he raised his hoof "I'm Lance. Lance Edge."
I grasped it firmly "Shining Hazel. And this is my friend Golden Flare."
"Nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you." He turned to me "So I was curious, how you got an avatar of an alicorn?"
After a few minute of explaining to him, he has a surprised expression. "That is mysterious. To think an anomalies developer sent an avatar as a prize that no one heard about, you must be lucky."
"Yeah, but it still raises the question of why me only?" I said.
"You can answer that later. " Lance replied "Any case, we need to get ourselves ready. Hope you got your weapons set and spells too."
We both nodded and he headed out of Ponyville to an open hill with no ponies around to get caught so we can at least train our new swords should we are going to a dungeon. We never got any training ever since we got here but we know how to fight before the closing of the Beta stage. In every combat of MMRPG, you'll need the best weapon with a good amount of strength and durability but that's not the only one. The strategy is another part of Legends of Equestria in which you'll need to work as a team and magic is part of it too. Unicorn user can use their combat magic but the problem is that it'll drain part of their MP (Magic Points) and once it runs out, you need to wait for it to recharged or find an MP gems which every enemy have when defeated. The same for the Pegasus user in which their flight ability have an FP (Flight Points) and the Earth Pony user have an EP (Earth Points) on hard attacks.
As we drew our swords, we begin sparring with each other, testing our new swords Chrono Age gave us on our start of our journey. Sparks of blades clash upon each hit. From using our abilities and blocking every attack, we are much even as well as upon using our final move, our Burst Strike, a feature when having enough magic around you, you can unleash your special attack.
Just as we about to continue, a voice spoke: "Looks like you guys are going somewhere."
We turn and saw Chrono Age walking towards us with gunmetal armors around him including his helmet. On his back, he has a sword on an elaborate scabbard.
"Chrono Age", I said, "What are you doing here?"
"Well from the noise I can hear from a distance, I decide to check it out" he glances at us "It seems that you're training."
"Well, um......" I rubbed the back of my mane/hair then another voice called:
"Guys!!"
We turned and saw Twilight and her friends coming towards us. By our guess of their faces, they have concern planted on them.
"Girls, what are you-?"
"Well, you guys taking so long to get back home and Twilight starting to get worried about you two, including Pinkie." Rainbow explained, "That's when we saw a couple of explosions next to the far part of the town."
The girls nodded and Twilight asked, "Guys, what was taking you so long to get back home?"
We sighed, knowing that they need to know, and we explained what happened. Upon that information, the Mane 7 have widened eyes expression. And from some of the expression, they don't like this information. Not one bit.
"Are these new ponies insane?!!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"I'm afraid not." Golden explained, "They believe that if they can find those Dungeons and stop the Void's monsters' then it might give a chance to find it too."
"But they don't know if that's true or not!" Twilight argued, "They shouldn't go without any confirmed information!"
"They believe they do from their scouts," I said. "So we need to go and help the new ponies so they won't risk their lives."
The girls were stunned at first, but consider that we have accepted the quest, we can't ignore the fact many players are going to risk their life on the first dungeon.
"But do have any training in combat?" Chrono asked and we shook our head.
"Figures, consider that you have no combat training." he muttered, "In that case, I'll train you guys."
All of us glanced at the stone blacksmith pony.
"Chrono......"
"Look, I've been travel across Equestria and I have known to fight. So if you need some swordsmanship, I will provide the training for it."
"But why?"
He shrugged "I just felt like doing this."
"In that case, we'll go with you two." Applejack said, "Just because you guys are going, doesn't mean that we can't just sit back and do nothing."
"Girls....but this is......"
"'Dangerous' we know," Rainbow interrupted, "But you forgot that we face danger before, so you can't talk this out of this!"
As much as we want to, they have their defiant eyes on us. Rainbow's right, they have been through tough times and even dangerous adventures so we can't argue that. Plus, the more ponies, the better even if they are virtual ones.
"All right, then."
The girls cheered and Chrono turned to us.
"All right, we better go start training." he looks around the area "To start, we need to find a better training ground. This area would attract more attention."
"I see," Golden said "any ideas?"
We all in our thinking caps and Twilight got an idea.
"You guys can train near to my castle." we turned to her as she explained, "There's plenty of space so you guys can train."
We nodded and Twilight uses her teleportation spell and we're back at the castle. However, while Chrono and Golden hold their stomach, feeling their lunches about to toss out, I hold my head in dizziness. Surely I already got used to it but I guess not to other ponies' teleportation spell.
"Oh, my stomach........" Golden groaned then glared at Twilight "Please do not do that again."
"Sorry" Twilight said and she came to my side.
"You okay?"
I nodded feeling the headache subsided.
"Yeah, guess I can handle only mine spell, I guess I still need to get used to other's."
After we got our self back to normal, we now begin our training. We drew our sword from teeth/levitate and Chrono pulled his own from his mouth. With everything stand still, the silence was heard with the noise of the crickets and the wind. Then as our eyes met from the standstill, we dash, swing our swords with the bright sparks.
Morning came and all the players were walking at the far east part of the Everfree Forest. After we report the mission to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, we all came in time with the Mane 7, upon the order of the Royal Sister to protect them. Some of the players have mixed reactions of the virtual Mane 7 to join with the mission, but we told them that it was order from the Royal Sister. In addition, Twilight told them that as soon as they finish this Dungeon, they will be confined until then by the order of the Princess of Friendship and the Royal Sister. Some were a bit upset, while some nodded in agreement with her including us even we just want to make sure we trying to protect them from risking their necks.
As we continue trekking across the forest, I begin to wonder if enter a virtual reality online game is anyone's dream come true ever since the novel book of SAO came out. To be honest, I don't know. A lot of people argue so much about the concept of a real life "FullDive" and the "NerveGear" that each side place their opinions on it. Most consider of making it for advanced technology since we continue to grow more and relied more on technology for any purpose. Some were highly negative of this based on how it was used as an escape from reality and people died from it or making comparison with the NerveGear's microwave signal that destroy the brain.
For me, I decide to experience mainly because.......I want to find a meaning in this and escape the reality of the real world. In reality, my stepdad is the strict type, due to the fact he's a manager in his job. My sister able to follow it better, however, I tried to and even though I follow it, my 'rebellious' nature often clash odds against him, mostly getting punished a lot. Despite I was an adult, I still have my childhood heart yet with some understanding and maturity in it. I tried to understand what my stepdad is trying to do: to model me into a responsibility adult even I tried my hardest to be responsible to the reality of the real world. Yet when his strict nature clashed with my childhood heart, I unintentionally excluded him from sharing things of what I did or such mainly because even if I did tell him, he would keep saying the same thing all over again about the reality of the real world. In truth, he doesn't see me that I see things different but I know what reality of the real world is thanks to the Adult Transition Program I'm going to every day. I felt that I don't belong in the reality of the real world so when I start playing Legends of Equestria, I felt that all the things I did in the beta stage and even watch every season of MLP, I felt this is the reality I want to be in.
I was considering to be happy when I got the chance to be here but with the Void trapping us in it, I knew not others share the same desire and neither do I due to my love for my family. And I hope to find a way to get back home.
"Shining Hazel, is there something wrong?" Twilight's voice snapped of my dark thoughts and I turned to her. I shook those thoughts aside, not want to distract anypony from this quest.
"It's nothing, Twilight," I said, "I'm fine."
"You sure?" she furrowed her eyelash and gave a nod.
"Yeah, don't worry about me, " I replied.
Just as she opened her mouth, a voice was heard "We're here!!"
We all turned and from the front, a bronze yet rusty demonic gate was seen with demonic like design on them. From what's in and out, it's giving a cold wind that can freeze up your bones should you dare open it or let something out. I look around and notice some of them, despite having a brave face, it was just masking of their scared expression. I turned to my friends and they even have a scared expression including Golden and me.
Still, they won't allow fear to control them and Gold Sands came in front.
"All right, this is our first Dungeon quest!" he said "Once we enter, we need to stay together and work as a team against the Void's horde of monsters, lurking in the Dungeon. Should we find a boss of the Dungeon, we need to reserve some healing spells, potions, and elixirs before we enter. We're going to make sure that all players are going to be free from the Void's clutches!!"
All of the players roared with only the exception of us and the Mane 7 have a confused expression.
"'Players'?" Rainbow asked.
"Any idea what they meant?" Applejack asked us as we froze upon those questions. Great at the time they have to spill the beans from Gold Sands, we're in a situation that we had, to tell the truth to the AI's or lied to them in which Applejack's AI probably see through it.
Just as our mouth opens, Gold Sands place his hoof on the gate as the gate open, to a dark cavern.
"Let's go!!"
All of them charged at the cavern and we followed them behind towards it. As we walk further into the dark cavern, everything was silence with only the darkness sleeps and the water drips.
Some of the unicorn players use their horns to light up the cavern, I do the same and we continue following them.
"Ohhh, those water really making my mane wet," Rarity complained, earning some players annoyed expression "Why we're going to these caverns? It's really making my hooves soaked."
"Quit bellyaching Rarity," Applejack said, "Remember we got to make sure that we don't let those new ponies get hurt."
"I know, but still....."
"Rarity," I turned to her with an annoyed yet calm expression "I know you don't like getting yourselves dirty but there's a time when we need to get our hooves dirty in a situation like this. Once we're done with this, I'll help you get yourself clean, okay?"
Rarity blushed and giggled "Oh Shining Hazel, I appreciate it but I can handle myself but it was sweet to offer some help."
I nodded and I turned back, I saw Twilight glaring at me.
"What?"
With a sigh, she continues trekking with me behind with the others. Snapping out of my stupor, I follow them quickly.
As we continue trek in the maze, monsters came out in a form of monstrous creatures such as Skeletal Knights, pony like skeleton clad in black knight armors and Gravel Golems, a rock-like monster with crystal spikes around it, all which was created by the Void. Pulling our weapons, all of us racing towards the monsters, roaring in our battle cries. From blades clash one after another, shields sparks from impacts, and magic rebound in collisions, we wasted no time to use our combat skills. From two Skeletal Knights charging at us, we race towards them and swing our blades at them, only to be blocked. Chrono's training helped us to know our enemies. Since these Skeletal Knights have a balance of defense and offensive, we assume that while they have good stats they are known to be somewhat slow so we can't hesitate to strike back. As we dodge quick from the swing of the blades, I twist my body and slice the limbs in pieces then furiously slash in a quick paste. Golden took the chance and swing upward and thrust his sword in rapid succession. Both Skeletal Knights' HP falls down to zero, resulting in deleted into sparks of fragments.
Meanwhile, the other players were struggling with the other Skeletal Knights and Gravel Golems. We rushed towards their aids and through our speed, we point our blades, unleashing our MP Attack, Rage Thrust and send two Gravel Golems to the ground, breaking into pieces. For Lance Edge, he twirls his staff and impaled two Skeletal Knights at precision speed. Then the remaining rush towards Twilight and her friends go into their battle stance and Twilight unleash her alicorn magic, blast them to pieces. Applejack used her apple bucking knocking two Gravel Golems while Rainbow swoop down and knocking three Skeletal Knights, Fluttershy was hiding behind some rocks while Pinkie fire sticky batters to hold to the ground giving Starlight to use her levitate spell and slam to the wall. At one point, Rainbow was knock down by the other Gravel Golems along with other players sending them to the ground. About when the Gravel Golems about to swing their rocky like arms, Fluttershy rushed forward and use her famous 'The Stare'.
Normally, in the show, any animals or anypony were caught by The Stare will freeze in fear. To bronies, The Stare is like looking at a demon's eyes in their view which is why she doesn't use that often like she mentions in Bats! when she is forced to use it on the vampire fruit bats against her will from Applejack's stubbornness.
Giving the flinch that the Gravel Golems did, it safe to say it also works on enemies too though we can't be sure.
With the distraction, I rushed forward and cut through the golems with a clean stroke. Rainbow look up and I offer her hoof which she grabbed it though I didn't see a faint blush on her cheek.
"Thanks."
I nodded then saw Twilight and Starlight having trouble with the last three Skeletal Knights. We both nodded and rushed to aid our friends. Rainbow slammed her hoof at the backs of their heads. With them distracted, I raised my sword and blue energies glow on my blade. With a quick stroke of my blade, I slice through the Skeletal Knights in half, making them into dust.
I came towards them and asked, "You okay?"
Both of them nodded.
"I'm fine, though those skeletal ponies really pack a punch."
"Tell me about it, Starlight," Twilight dusted herself off from the battle "Although, I'm impressed of how you and your friend along with the other new ponies use some kind of magic coming from their weapons."
"You mind tell me what kind of magic you guys conjured from your weapons?" she asked.
Like all other things, I tried to come up with something to avoid telling her our MP Attacks. But my conscious kept bicker me not to lie. As if our minds are battling out until my conscious wins. I should tell them in a different word to avoid suspiciously.
And I came up with only one thing in our mind.
"It's our Skill Magic. It's a kind of magic that we can use upon using weapons," I said, "Only that we need to draw upon our magic which takes a toll upon using it."
"Skill Magic.... a type of magic that can draw from anypony to use its power but drains a few of their strengths." Twilight was taking notes in her scrolls before putting back in her saddle pack.
"Interesting, I never thought a new kind of magic is that powerful yet very risky."
"It is. You just need to be careful on which Skill Magic you're going to perform cause they'll drain your magic."
Both the unicorns nodded and the others came beside us.
"You guys okay?"
All of them nodded and I turned to Rainbow.
"What about you Rainbow?"
"Oh, I-I'm fine, " Rainbow muttered once again hiding her tinted red cheeks from the others.
We all nodded then we heard from Gold Sands to continue on to the boss room and we follow them towards the darkness.
After a series of long mazes, we finally come across a golden demonic gate. We stopped a bit to rest a bit before we can enter through. Most of the unicorn players, even the virtual Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer, use their magic to heal themselves and others. I checked my MP, which I decided to call 'Skill Magic' and turns out I have a few but that means I need to wait a bit longer to recharge. Lucky, most of the players got potions and elixirs from monster drops which are no different from other MMORPG games. I used it to heal myself then to Golden Flare. Once that, I use my elixir to replenish my MP back to green.
"How are you holding up?" I asked.
"I'm fine, feeling refresh thanks to your healing spell," Golden replied then turned to the golden gate "Guess we need to prepare for whatever lurks in that gate."
I nodded and turned to see all of the others are healed.
"Yea, but even with our current level, I felt that whatever the boss monster is going to be," I turned to the door "it's going to be very tough."
"Yeah you're right, but we got to at least try in hope that clearing it may be the answer of defeating the Void," Golden said and I nodded. He's right, there's no hesitation on this.
"So you think the Void is on this gate?" Rainbow asked.
"We can't be sure, Rainbow." I said, "But we have no choice but to go through this."
"Just don't you two do anything stupid," Twilight said, "We'll help you whatever we can help with."
"Okay, and the same for you and your friends, we don't want anything happens to you girls," I said.
After a bit of rest, Gold Sands came in front.
"This is it, whatever is the gate is the first boss monster," he said and mummers of players can be heard. If there's a boss monster, then it's going to be tricky to fight. "From our scouts, this boss monster is called 'Fangaoid the Disaster' a creature that its body is tougher than metal yet faster to attack. It uses a rare broadsword called, 'The Basher' which can create shock waves upon impact on the ground. Although the creature is powerful, there's one fatal weakness, when it use its Basher to smash the ground, it's defense is dropped down drastically. So you need to use your strongest attacks to hit from the front and the back. However, at the yellow, it uses another weapon, raising it's status up so you better prepare to use the 'Switch' command to create an opening for others to attack. The key strategy is working together as a team, never forget that!"
All of us nodded and we prepare our 'Switch' command in our attack command.
"All right, this is it!! "
All of us roared and Gold Sands open the Golden Demonic Gate and all of us charge through with Twilight and her friends follow us. Upon entering, everything was dark, but only emptiness was heard. As the gate closed, blue flames flicker to life all the way to the end and upon it, a creature larger than an Ursa Major, shaped of a monstrous warthog sat down on a crystal like a throne. It opens it's deep blood red eyes at us and it hops out of its throne then roared with a terrifying screech.
Everpony were unnerved from the monster's screeched but we shook those off and prepare our weapons. 3 health bars were displayed in our HUD along with the boss's name and the level status, 25. Since our level is at 20 or lower, if we can continue to switch to parry attacks and hit through, we might have a chance of beating it. If only that easy when more of Skeletal Knights, 4 of them, appeared to defend their master.
A roar of battle cries echoed the room, both players and virtual and the monsters, and all of us charged straight though. Every sparks glitter everywhere upon the noise of metal clashing each other. Blocking, Parry, Thrust, Cleave, Slash, everywhere weapons crash upon each other along with screaming that continue echoing across the battlefield. Magic used in forms of beams, energy, and elementals, hitting everywhere from grounds to walls.
The boss monster jump high and raised its weapons, prepare to squash us. In mere moments, all of us dodge out of the way, shock waves flooded the ground, knocking the aerial ponies to the ground. Even the Skeletal Knights were decimated by that attack.
All of us struggle to get up, taken heavy damage and I glanced around. Some were in the yellow line, half of their health bars were on the last green mark due to their magic defense's skill, and others were close to the red mark. Glanced on Twilight and her friends, I can see their health bars are close to yellow, mostly due to Twilight's magic shield, absorbing the attack. Upon seeing my health and Golden's, we're at bit closer to the red mark. In addition, our MP are recharging slowly after using our strongest magic attacks. Unless we can fight more enemies beside the boss, then it will take about 10 minutes or so to full recharge.
"Is everypony all right?" Applejack asked and all of us straggle to our hooves.
"Barely, that monster knows how to attack all of us in a quick dive." Twilight said.
"So how we going to defeat it?" Rainbow groaned.
"We had to attack from behind with our Skill Magic!" Golden pointed "Since the defensive is lower, we had a high chance of attack head on!"
"Everypony, we need to go into defensive tactics!" Gold Sands commanded "Strike on the back once we parry!!"
A loud shouted was heard and use our potions to heal bits of our health bars. The boss monster prepare its massive broadsword and charged straight. Readied our weapons, timing is everything as the monster raised it up high then swung down, weapons make contact and a loud ring was heard. The monster lose its grip on its broadsword and Golden and I quickly run faster to the back and unfurled our wings for a 'Team Burst' attack. Our weapons, coated in a bluish and yellow lights, swung fast and the sound of a slash noise was heard along with the boss monster's screeched. Along with other player's weapons now coated in different colors, repeatedly swung their weapons in a powerful strike with Lance Edge perform a skydive thrust attack. In addition, from Twilight's magic, Applejack's and Rainbow Dash's team attack, Pinkie's random party cannon that's strangely effective, and Fluttershy's and Rarity's precision aim, we can see the boss monster's health bar dropping down fast until it stopped at the last health bar.
"Guys, it's working, keep it up!!" I shouted and all of us dodge out of the way from Fangaoid's arms swung towards us like mosquito bite down a victim's back.
"Looks like we got it mad!" one of the player shouted.
"Everypony, prepare yourself!" Gold Sands commanded and the Fang Demon Giant bare its fang at us, then to our shocked, it pulls another weapon: a demonic broadsword with teeths etched on the blades. If that wasn't bad enough, it's status goes up than its normal one.
"Another weapon?!" Golden shouted "And it increase's its status?!"
"I thought our scouts got every Intel of it!" Marven shouted.
"Guess that monster saved its' trump card for last when we hit it pretty hard." I gritted my teeth and it slammed its new weapon on the ground. Quakes of rocks flies high and hitting us to the ground in sheer seconds. I grunted in pain and see my health bar now at red mark just like the others are.
At this rate......my mind shouted at this possibility and the monster step forwards towards one particular pony that my eyes widened like in those movies when the prey is now on knees and the hunter prepare for its finish blow: The sword's tip point towards a lavender alicorn.
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!" With a scream that echoing the battlefield, I raised my sword and rush towards my friend despite the injuries as time slow down, the monster thrust the tip towards her with a vicious snarl. Twilight's eyes widened in fear and with her magic drained and injuries numb her, she on the verge of death......until a blade swung towards it, and with a firm strength, I roared, causing the tip to impale on the ground, miss its mark.
But the monster roared and swung its weapon towards me, and I block it using my sword only for me to send me flying towards the ground.
"SHINING HAZEL!!" I can hear Twilight's and her friend's scream including Golden Flare as I see my health now at 1.5%. One more hit and I'm dead!
The boss charged towards me and with my weaken state, I unable to do anything. This is it, I'm done for! As I waited for death to take a blow on me, I didn't feel any pain, save for my injuries, and no sign said "You are Dead". How come I'm not dead?
As I looked, like the others, my eyes widened in horror upon what happened: a chrome armored stallion with rust of battle, cracked into pieces, and the once beautiful peach colored, now stain with a huge red mark on his chest.
"GOLD SANDS!!!!!!!" I screamed and he fell down on the floor. I limp towards him and got on my hind legs and the monster about to attack us, more players use their Skill Magic on the back, distracting them while Twilight and her friends and Golden Flare rushed towards us.
"Hang tight, Gold Sands!! I'll heal you!!" Seeing his health is dropping down almost to zero, I focus on my magic, trying to heal him, but with my MP is lower, I can't cast it. Twilight and Starlight tried to use their magic but like mine, we ran out of it.
Grunted in anger, I searched for any potions to heal until I found the last one. Wasting no time, I press it and about to heal him until, his hoof stop me.
"It's okay........you heal yourself......." he said in a raspy, croaked voice.
"No, I'm not abandon my friends like that!! You got to stay alive!!"
"It's fine, Shining Hazel........."
"No, it's not, Gold Sands!" Applejack shouted, her eyes are watering "You can't just let yourself die in vain!"
"I won't......I'll be going where he is.........That's always the plan........"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Long time ago, a pony who I looked up............ he offer to go into this dungeon and upon that, the boss monster appear.......... He sacrifice himself to save the rest of my friends......... I was grieving for him........he's like my brother........or rather.......he is my big brother........."
All of us were shocked upon his story as I saw his red mark dropping down slowly at 5.
"Now.......I can go........to wherever he is.........waiting for me......."
He turned to me "Shining Hazel, right?" I nodded as he continued "I ask you and your friends........ as a friend,........stop the Void.........save everyone........return us.......back........t...o........h........o.......m...........e....."
A beep was heard and Gold Sands' body cracked, then broken into tiny little pieces sparkling everywhere. My hooves, once tried to hold him, no longer feel him. Fresh tears drip down and I screamed loudly, slamming my hooves on the ground. I can hear Twilight and her friends along with Golden cried for him.
How can this happened to us? All we want is to enjoy this game, now this game has become a death game like in Sword Art Online! Gold Sands is gone, how can his guild can survive without him? How we can survive the game of death like Kirito and the others did?
Loud noise from the battle still echoing and Twilight and her friends turned to the battlefield.
"We had to stop it." Golden Flare said "Before more ponies share the same fate as him."
All of them nodded and Golden about to snap out of my grief, I stand up then heal myself. Then I picked up my sword and Gold Sands' sword and glare at the monster.
With a roared, I charged towards the monster, ignoring my friends' call, and swung both swords in quick stroke. The monster screamed and turned towards me, it raise its weapon and swung down. Hold my sword in a X fashion, I blocked quickly, I parry it, then with another roar, I use my Skill Magic. Blue magic covered the two swords in magic coating, then another swing from my swords on downward diagonal then another on the upper diagonal then repeat the same thing, creating an X on the chest. Everypony was agape at what I'm doing and my right sword thrust towards the chest, Gold Sands' sword glow bright blue with an upper slash on the body.
The monster screamed and in turn, turning into sparks. A 'Congratulation' sign appeared and only silence was heard, until loud cheers was heard.
I knee down, tired from exhaustion and Golden Flare and Twilight, along with her friends, help me up.
"Shining Hazel, you did it!" Golden said and I nodded silently.
"Dude, that was awesome!!" Rainbow said "When did you learn to do that?!"
"Huh?"
"You were just swing your swords that glows and swing around in a rapid pace!" the cyan pegasus explained "Not even I can swing it that fast beside my awesome wings of course."
Now that I think about it, when did I learn to do that? I checked my Skill Magic sets with all the spells but none one of them were any different. If it was a new Skill Magic, I would see a notification of it, but so far none. Judging by the attacks, it almost look like the Starburst Stream that Kirito used it on the Gleaming Eye but very different. But there's something about it that it's familiar to me and yet not, but-
"You bastard!!"
A loud shout was heard that snapped out of my thoughts and the cheering and I glanced at Marven, with armors damaged and also a death glare at me.
"Why did you let Gold Sands die?!"
I stayed silence and my friends furrowed their eyebrows at that player.
"Why did you have that skill at the last moment when Gold Sands die?! Were you keep in secret so that you can allow him to die?!"
"I never intended to allow him to die; he sacrifice himself to save me and the skill that I have, I never had it in my disposal nor I learned it."
"Liar!" Marven shouted at me "You were keep it a secret from all of us!! You killed Gold Sands because of you, Beater!"
I was shocked at that name. Beater. A beta tester and a cheater. The name that describe Kirito back at Sword Art Online. The one that he bears all that pain and hatred from other players back at Arnicard And now, Marven is calling me a Beater when I don't know of what skill that I did.
"Hey, that's enough buddy!!" Rainbow zoomed to his face, her eyes dagger at Marven. "Shining Hazel saved all of us from the monster so you should be grateful that he finished the monster!!"
"At the cost of Gold Sands?! You don't know the pain we're feeling!!" Marven retorted back at her.
"We do know!!" Twilight interject "Gold Sands wanted to die so he can reunited with big brother!!
"You can't place the blame on Shining Hazel!!" Golden Flare said.
"Well if you haven't come, we wouldn't risk of you girls get in our way!!"
My anger boiled at the tone direct towards Princess Twilight. If anything that makes me angry, it's the one that blames my friends despite their good heart intentions. I walked up slowly towards him, despite my pain, and when he glares at me, I did something that I never done it, nor anypony would thought of me doing it: a large hoof swung at Marven's muzzle, knocking him down to the floor, earning a surprised from my friends and the other players.
"Shining Hazel!" Twilight gasped in surprised.
Marven glared at me, holding his throbbing muzzle. Before he can attack me back, a bluish aura caught him and he pulled towards me, now with eyes bore daggers that scared him.
"DON'T YOU BLAME TWILIGHT AND HER FRIENDS FOR THEIR INTENTIONS TO PROTECT US FROM GETTING HURT!! I NEVER ALLOW GOLD SANDS TO DIE IN VAIN, HE SACRIFICE HIMSELF TO SAVE ME BECAUSE OF MY INTENTIONS TO SAVE HER!! HE WANTED TO BE WITH BIG BROTHER THROUGH THIS!! I DID WHAT I COULD TO SAVE HIM BUT HE ALLOW HIMSELF TO DIE AND THE SKILL I DID, I NEVER HAD IT IN MY SKILL LIST, SO IF YOU EVER THINK ABOUT BLAMING MY FRIENDS OR ME, THEN I WON'T HESITATE TO BREAK YOUR BONES!!! GOT IT?!!"
My tone scared half of the players and my friends, including the trembling Marven and he nodded slowly. Then I let him go and I glanced at the players and my friends.
"Let's get out of here."
I walked out of the dungeon while my friends followed me along with other players. I glanced at Gold Sands' sword, his 'Seed of Rising', a balance magic sword with enough skill to be usable for anypony in low level. Overwhelm by the memories of his death, I closed my eyes, trying to pray for him. If I can tell him one thing, my mind said the same thing over and over again.
I'm sorry, Gold Sands.
Once we got back to Ponyville, all of the players headed back to their respective homes even Marven who was glaring at me with my eyes glare at him. After that, we all head to our respective homes with our friends. It was a silence walk to the Castle of Friendship and while Spike came to us, Twilight explained what happened. I decide to head back to my room and sleep for the night. I sat down on my bed and just stared down on the floor. Marven's words echo me to my heart, calling me a beater and blames me for the death of Gold Sands. As much as I want to ignore his words, maybe.........he was right. I killed Gold Sands because of my intentions to protect my friends. I tried so hard to fight it and it was too strong. My skill level wasn't strong enough, costing one of the best player to die. And now, his guild, the Rouge One, will be loss of his beloved leader. I wasn't strong enough and if I can't defeat the Void's monster, how can I keep his promise to free all of us from the game?
"Shining Hazel?" a knock was heard and Twilight came out "Spike is going to make some dinner for us."
I nodded slowly "Okay, but I'm not hungry. I just need to rest a bit."
Twilight came towards me, having a concerned look on her "You okay?"
I sighed and shook my head "No, I'm not."
"You're still troubled from the battle?" I nodded then she sat down next to me.
"It's my fault that Gold Sands is dead. I tried to heal him but he doesn't want to......."
"It's not your fault. You did everything you could-"
"But what it is not enough?!"a couple of tears came dripping across my face "I fought hard to protect all of you, but my strength isn't enough! That monster could have kill you and I did what I could to protect you! Then Gold Sands had to take the hit and died! Now his guild won't able to go forward without him because of me!!"
I covered my faced, the guilt, frustration, sorrow, and pain teared my heart so much that I unable to stop crying due to my exhaustion of the battle and the overwhelming emotions that happened. In fact, I shouldn't cry because my tears won't make any difference nor it would help me to become an adult that I was struggle to become back at Earth. In my despair, a warmth came to me and my vision was blurry but I can make up to see a lavender coat snuggle to my face. I looked up and saw Twilight wrapped her wings and her forelegs in a comforting embrace.
"Twilight......wha...."
"Shhh, it's okay, Shining Hazel, don't speak." Twilight softly quieted him, petting my mane like how my mom did the same when I was sad and lonely. "You can't blame yourself for what you did."
"But.....I....." my chocking voice was promptly cut off by Twilight.
"I know that you tried so hard to protect us, but you can't do everything by yourself. You're just one pony. And beside, the monster is stronger, but we work together as a team, so we don't blame you for what you did."
"Gold Sands......I........"
"I know, even though we haven't got the chance to get to know him more, he deeply care for all of us. So, please....." I can hear sniffles from her and she began to cry too "Don't punish yourself for what you did, because I don't any of my friends to hurt themselves."
My inner adult self crumble away by the overwhelming emotions from her words, and I hugged her tightly on her chest, which she hugged me back. Everything was in silence in our area. Nothing matters but letting our grief and sorrow take over and Twilight's soothing words work hard to heal the heartache of the battle.
Dungeon Quest Complete!
Received Dungeon Key!
(When you finish a Dungeon, you gain a Dungeon Key to access to the next one!)
Level Up!
SHINING HAZEL:
Level: 21
ATK - 665+10
DEF - 665+10
SPEED - 510+10
AGILITY-615+10
MAGIC-765+10
MAGIC GAUGE INCREASED!
(When you unlock a certain level, your Gauges will increase its MAX, allowing you to fill it more)
GOLDEN FLARE:
Level: 20
ATK- 665+10
DEF-510+10
SPEED-615+10
AGILITY-785+10
MAGIC-315+10
FLIGHT GAUGE INCREASED!
Ending - Unfinished (Accel World)
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Nice job!
8320273
Thanks so what's your opinion of the chapter?
8320284 Despite a couple typos, it was good with all the drama in it
It's nice to see this story up dated again, and I finally managed to catch up on what I missed in the past year. Now that the supposed threat has been identified and that we finaly hear a little about what the other player have been up to the plot is now going forward.
One of the elements that hurts the story is the regular reference to SAO from the main characters and the part where they are living the nightmare of the novel. It just hurts the story if you keep making the same references from the characters and living the same experience too, and I would suggest that you stop making those all together. I would also suggest that you take story to a different directions that won't follow so closely to the novel so that it can be it's own story and add your own twists to it. There is already a few stories with the same premise and better executed and I feel that you are not really exploring the trop as much as you could. The main threat part I have a hard time believing as we only have Celestia's word as prof and she only said it to those two which make it hard to know how the other payers got wind of it them selves and making their own quest to find their way home and Celestia(assuming that she is real) not trying to stop non guards ponies from going in harms way. It doesn't need to be very deliberate explanation as to why or not done or maybe even supported by her but at least have en equestrian point of view on the matter.
I will be looking forward to see the next chapter
8323039
Trust me, the story is going to have its own roots set apart from SAO. All it needs is more character developments and how the story would progress through. It's a tough process to do but I'll do my best on it.
8351891
I wish you the best of luck on that.
Would’ve been nice to see this story continue
Hopefully enough time has passed for you to realize that you have been badly copying Sword Art Online in absolutely terrible grammar. You should delete this story.
11144028
I can see that I can reboot the story in a new way. However my grammars are going to be another story.
11144736
No, a reboot will not help here; just delete it. I read a bit of your latest writing, and your grammar is still terrible. If English is not your first language, then pay someone to translate your writings and pay attention to how it is translated. Also, reading stories in second languages helps to understand their grammar rules.
11148933
Sorry but I can’t do that. I decided to continue forward with it. My grammars maybe terrible but that’s not going to stop me from continuing my stories.