Eternal Dream: Online

Kuori moves to cell C-7

Okay, this thing was still intent on killing me. Why can't it go after the other dude that keeps cutting himself? You'd think trying to kill him would be easier than beating on me. I needed to get it to focus its attention on something else. Picking up a small rock I chucked it to the side, hoping the noise would at least draw away the beast's focus. Then I backed away and ducked behind the cover of some ruins. Hopefully the kid wasn't paying enough attention and the monster would be too dumb to figure out where I hid.

Zone 01: The Backwards Wood
Part I - Boxface and Stripe

Location: The Backwards Wood - The Pond of Selfish Desires - Ruined Overlook

Objectives: Defeat Boxface!

Achievement: N/A

Music: Child and Monster

{ } { } { } {R} {R} { } { } { } { } A
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } B
{ } { } {R} { } { } {R} {K} { } { } C
{ } {R} { } {S} {S} { } { } { } { } D
{ } {R} { } { } { } { } { } {R} { } E
{ } { } { } { } {V} { } { } { } { } F
{ } {V} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } G
{ } { } {R} { } { } { } { } {R} {R} H
{Z} { } { } { } { } { } {R} {R} {R} I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Stripe takes 12 damage! [Zeri]

Neutral Phase 6

Sakura uses Twirling Fan!

Stripe takes 5 damage!
Stripe takes 5 damage!
Stripe takes 5 damage!

Sakura waits.

Red Phase 6

Boxface throws a rock at Kuori!

Kuori takes 2 damage!

Stripe moves to D7!

Stripe attacks Kuori! 7 physical damage!

Kuori takes 3 damage!

Calculation Phase 6

Simulacrum is immune to physical damage!

{ } { } { } {R} {R} { } { } { } { } A
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } B
{ } { } {R} { } { } {R} {K} { } { } C
{ } {R} { } {S} { } { } {S} { } { } D
{ } {R} { } { } { } { } { } {R} { } E
{ } { } { } { } {V} { } { } { } { } F
{ } {V} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } G
{ } { } {R} { } { } { } { } {R} {R} H
{Z} { } { } { } { } { } {R} {R} {R} I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Zeri (Novelist)
HP: 26 / 30
MP: 12 / 20
ATK: 1
DEF: 4
INT: 8
SPR: 4
EVADE: 1%
MOVE: 2

Kuori (Self-Proclaimed Tactician)
HP: 15 / 25
MP: 11 / 35
ATK: 1
DEF: 4
INT: 7
SPR: 3
EVADE: 2%
MOVE: 2

Vergil (Thaumanaut)
HP: 6 / 25
MP: 25 / 25
ATK: 5
DEF: 3
INT: 4
SPR: 5
EVADE: 3%
MOVE: 3

Vergil (Simulacrum) [Physical Immunity]
HP: 13 / 13
MP: 0 / 0
ATK: 0
DEF: 0
INT: 5
SPR: 0
EVADE: 3%
MOVE: 3

Sakura (Strategist)
HP: 34 / 35
MP: 8 / 35
ATK: 8
DEF: 7
INT: 1
SPR: 7
EVADE: 2%
MOVE: 2

Boxface (Gerdorc Rider) [Piggyback - Stripe]
HP: 10 / 10
MP: 8 / 50
ATK: 6
DEF: 3
INT: 0
SPR: 3
MOVE: 8

Stripe (Pet Gerdorc)
HP: 11 / 125
MP: 9 / 40
ATK: 7
DEF: 3
INT: 0
SPR: 4
MOVE: 3

Desecrated Ruins (Scenery)
HP: 5 / 5
DEF: 2
SPR: 2

Player Phase 7!

Zone 01: The Backwards Wood
Part I - Boxface and Stripe

Location: The Backwards Wood - The Pond of Selfish Desires - Ruined Overlook

Objectives: Defeat Boxface!

Achievement: N/A

Music: Child and Monster

{ } { } { } {R} {R} { } { } { } { } A
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } B
{ } { } {R} { } { } {R} {K} { } { } C
{ } {R} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } D
{ } {R} { } { } { } { } { } {R} { } E
{ } { } { } { } {V} { } { } { } { } F
{ } {V} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } G
{ } { } {R} { } { } { } { } {R} {R} H
{Z} { } { } { } { } { } {R} {R} {R} I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Stripe takes 12 damage! [Zeri]

Stripe KO!!

Boxface flees!!

- - - - -

All enemies have been defeated!

Part I: COMPLETE!!

EXPERIENCE:

+6 - Stripe
+1 - Completed in 10 or less Player Phases
+1 - No Awakening Activated
+1 - No Player KO

TOTAL EXP: 9

Zeri: 1/10 ---> 10/10
Level UP! (Level 4)
3 Stat Points gained!
1 Skill Point gained!
Next Level: 0/16

Kuori: 1/10 ---> 10/10
Level UP! (Level 4)
3 Stat Points gained!
1 Skill Point gained!
Next Level: 0/16

Vergil: 1/10 ---> 10/10
Level UP! (Level 4)
3 Stat Points gained!
1 Skill Point gained!
Next Level: 0/16

GLOW FOUND: 150

ITEMS FOUND:

Stripe:
- Bottle of Rage x1
- Vile Leather x2

AFFINITY GAINED: 2

- - - - -

Music: N/A

As its giant, hulkish ogre of purple-and-yellow color deteriorated into a flurry of burning ashes, the box-faced child fell predictably against the cold, cracked rubble of the ruins upon which the battle took place, miraculously taking zero damage from Zeri's onslaught of attacks. Biding no time in deciding its course of action, the child squealed an unrelenting yell filled with rage and discontent at the death of his old pal, lifting its box for a mere second to wipe a runny tear from its puffy red cheek. "Why would you do that?! I knew you were bad men just like everything else in this place! Except for Stripe; he kept me alive! He was good! He was a good monster!" The child groaned as it lifted its dirty body from the ground and proceeded to jump off into the wilderness, leaving hastily before the party could even so much as react to the child's quick outburst.

But really, a good monster? In a place like this? In Nightmare Run? It couldn't possibly have been so. The child must've been a beast tamer of sorts.

"Oh jeez," That's right, in Zeri's ridiculous explosion of color and force as well as the child's quick little monologue, the party had entirely forgotten about the young Asian woman who seemed to blend moderately into the scene. "With such violent attacks, I'm absolutely positive those fans I chucked at the ogre are looooong gone." The woman complained, shuffling her little sandaled feet toward the pile of ash as she dusted off her summertime dresswear, colored with bright arrangements of blue and red textiles which resembled a sort of flowery foliage. As she had expected, after kneeling downward and closely inspecting the remains, her precious fans had been reduced to nothing.

"Yeeeaaaap. Just ashes now." She mourned for a second, then moved on. Somewhat artificially, somewhat naturally. Regardles, she moved on, and then she spoke to the party. "So what now? Do you people know each other? I don't know any of you. I don't think." She quickly scanned the party's faces, and then shook her head, "Nope, none of you... God, I wonder where Inky and Walter went off to. Knowing that man he's probably dragged Inky to the edge of this hell already, jeez."

She sighed, redirecting her attention from the ground and back to the party, "So who are you people?"

Cerani's sword whistled silently yet assuredly as it seeped through the hay-stuffed chest of the scarecrow mage. The battle had been won, and Cerani knew it so as the thump of Charlotte's heart no longer rattled against the cold iron of her blade. As her heart stopped shaking, the withering strings that held her hay-bale limbs together seemed to thread apart like a puzzle, gently unwinding into the breeze until nothing but cold whispers of her imminent vengeance echoed through the air. But thus was the nature of the Backwards Wood: nothing truly lived until it had died once.

I had grown used to the strange lunacies and terrors I'd encountered in this strange, twisted land called the Backwards Wood. There was no doubt in my mind I'd face more of it in the near future, so I'd need to harden my mind and stiffen my heart - so that I could protect those I want to protect. But this gentle solace lasted no longer than the woods would allow, as a mellifluous breeze fluttered against my cheek, and a black puff crossed my view. A terrifying black puff, for certain. The second it crossed my eyesight I jumped six steps back and collapsed in a gruesome mess of neon leaves and plant flesh. Well, it was terrifying until I noticed it was no larger than a pencil in diameter - quite adorable, actually. Though I couldn't let my guard down.

"Hello there, friends! Pyou's a friend, a friend!" The black puff cheered, and these tiny little golden dots against its fur blinked like beacons. Were they eyes? Probably. "Pyou is Pyou! As friends, Pyou would like to ask a simple favor of you." It cheered, settling on the tallest stack of violet leaves available and rolling downward to Cerani's ankle. "Ello, Pyou understands that we met approximately six and a quarter seconds ago, but would you mind if Pyou absorbed less than even one-sixteenth of an ounce of your life energy? The red stuff inside your flesh caskets?"

"Pyou is not skilled at soft-skinned anatomy, for shame!" The creature hopped, "Pyou apologizes for the lack of formal introduction, but if Pyou and friends don't hurry, the Pale Garden will sick their Blossom Tigers on us!"

I honestly had no clue how to respond to this thing, so I figured I'd just let CC handle it, especially after I plopped down in a bunch of that flower-corpse shit.

"Pyou may not taste nice in a Blossom Tiger's tummy, but the soft-skinned are known for their succulent meaty taste! We must hurry! May Pyou have your life energy? It is needed if you wish to survive!"

I was relieved when the seemingly never-ending assault came to an abrupt end. The others must have finally brought the thing down. Getting up and leaving my (ineffective) hiding place behind the rubble I managed to catch the last of the little kid that was commanding the monster running off. The monster itself was nowhere to be seen though it didn't take much to figure out what had happened to it judging from the ashes on the ground. Beatrice immediately went to the pile of ashes and pecked at it, trying to scavenge whatever was left of the monster, if there was anything left anyway. Leaving Beatrice to her scavenging of remains I turned my attention to the female who had helped us bring down the massive monster. I didn't pay all that much attention to her during the battle due to having to run for my life. In fact there were relatively few words exchanged throughout my experience in this Nightmare Run game so far.

"Right, well I don't think I know you either. My name is Kuori, and I'm a tactician." I responded to her question, introducing myself as Beatrice flew over and perched on my shoulder. I could tell that she failed to find anything from the ashes that she could pick off and devour. "And this here is Beatrice, my raven. There are many like it. But this one is mine." I added as Beatrice turned her head toward the young woman, fixing her six crimson red eyes on her. She froze in place for a few seconds, not even blinking, before finally taking her attention off of the young woman and turning her head to peck at her feathers.

I stared down at the little black puff, at once thinking of a tribble as he rolled up to me. But uh, this thing is probably not a tribble, at all, considering the fact that it can speak. "Umm." I said, rather intelligently. Life energy? Red stuff . . . oh. Oh dude, that's kinda . . . dude. I took a step back from the thing, warily raising my sword. "You want my blood? . . Am I being threatened here?" I glanced back at Rose and Alex, checking to see if they were okay in case this little guy decided to start something. I mean, he may be adorable but so is a Gremlin until you feed it after midnight, and those little fuckers are scary.

Oh jeez. It seems like CC didn't know how to react any better than I did, but that's a given, seeing that neither of us had ever dealt with a talking ball of fur that wanted to suck our blood. But I agreed with CC, this little thing seemed far too sketchy, especially in an environment where everything either wanted to eat you, burn you, put you on a stick, or all of the above. Shit was sketch, so I intervened:

"S'cuse me, um- Pyou, right?" I stood, wiping as much of the plant-grime from my butt as quickly as I could so that nobody would notice. "I don't think any of us will let you... um... suck our legs, so how about I just toss some blood at you? That'll do, right?"

"The method of obtaining life force from the soft-skinned does not matter to Pyou!" The creature bounced happily as its attention came back to me. The longer I talked to it, the greedier and scarier it seemed, though it was probably just my paranoia.

"Wonderful." With a quick sleight of my left hand, I conjured a small, daggerlike stone and proceeded to slash it gently against my palm, carefully enough to not bruise or rip apart anything super important. Honestly, I felt very little hesitance in the act, not due to any sort of masochistic tendency or whatnot, but due to my utter sense of desperation that had left me dried out and exhausted. I wanted to get somewhere safe. I didn't care how.

So, with bloodied skin and palm, I waved my hand at the puff as if I were feeding a dog a treat, causing loose blood to splatter in its general direction. I needed to treat my wound quickly, or else it might worsen. Who knows what kind of infec-

Jesus Christ, that little puff just got really big, really fast. What? Wait- was it because of my blood? Wow I am so confused.

"Not only does Pyou nearly pentuple,"

Is that even a word? I thought.

"in size, but Pyou also become buoyant in the skies! Ride Pyou to our tree! We promise you safety!"

And suddenly, my wound was the last thing on my mind. It doesn't have any wings or anything; it's just a gigantic ball! Does it just... hover around like that? Like a balloon?

I was about to ask Alex what the hell he was doing, but he was already doing it and then this. My sword wavered in the air as I stared at Pyou, no longer such a little guy. I glanced at the guys again and sheathed my blade, catching the bottom of the sheathe with my left hand, which woah, big deju vu moment. I shook it off, reaching out to touch the black balloon of fur. It was oddly warm and seemed like it would float away if I poked it. Satisfied, I cleared my throat. "Alright, I'm on board. Anything to get the hell outta here."

It was finally done; the giant purple freak disintegrated into a pile of chocolate milk mix and my summoned spirit vanished once again back into my dreamcatcher.. The little bastard went on about his pet. "Wah! Wah! You killed my favorite donkey! He was the best friend I ever had," or something to that nature, I wasn't really paying attention anymore. Unfortunately, I couldn't get my hands on the punk because he sped off to parts unknown in Roadrunner fashion. After all that I could certainly use a glass of water, and speaking of which, I thought I saw the other guy consume a potion of sorts in combat. I wondered what a potion would taste like, or if it came in grape or lemon flavors. Actually, scratch that, I wouldn't trust a "lemon" flavored potion any day of the week. I could just imagine some vendor coming up to me and going, "Hey man, you want some lemon potion? It's really good." And I would say, "Nah, man, get that shit away from me. Do I look like Bear Grylls to you or something?" It would give new meaning to the phrase "being sold a lemon".

Interrupting my train of piss-related thoughts, a woman appeared to be speaking to me, or rather my entire allied group. "They call me Aslan, ruler of Narnia..." I falsely introduced myself. After waiting a short pause I continued, "Just kidding. I'm Vergil... ruler of Narnia. If you don't mind me asking, how did you end up here or do you know anything about this place?" I wasn't necessarily sure if this woman was another NPC in the programming or if she was another player, so I didn't want to insult or confuse her by referring to this entire experience as a game. Instead, I could at least try to gather as much information as possible.

Truthfully, she was terrified of that crazy satan-raven the one called Kuori seemed to foster, but Sakura kept her fear hidden, quite well, actually. "Aww, it's so... adorable..." She didn't mean it, and Kuori could probably tell, but hey, at least she tried.

The Asian woman blinked, twirling her short, dyed brown hair in a nervous fit as she contemplated how to react. These people were weirdos, but honestly, Sakura had no clue what to expect. Ignoring the snide comment about Narnia, the strategist greeted the second man, "Well let's see, I know this place wants to kill me. It really wants to do that." She smirked, "I started playing this... game... with a few of my other friends. Three of them. I lost 'em about an hour ago, maybe? That's what I was doing until I found you people."

I let out a light chuckle in response to the woman's comment about Beatrice. I could tell she was simply being polite, where in China we call it ke qi. Beatrice certainly was a very strange-looking raven, however I wasn't quite sure if six-eyed demon ravens were a common thing in this game. Considering what I have seen so far with the giant purple monster I wouldn't be surprised if there were no normal birds in this game. Chances Beatrice's kind was this game's equivalent of normal ravens. "If by 'adorable' you really mean strange and creepy, then yes." I joked. I certainly didn't see Beatrice as anything close to being adorable or cute, but she was a companion and so far the only thing who I've had any time to bond with. I could tell the woman was somewhat put off by Beatrice and glanced over at my shoulder. Beatrice's eyes, all six of them, met mine and she seemed to understand my intentions as she took off from her spot on my shoulder and landed atop a large rock.

"So you say you were separated from your friends? Perhaps we could help you find them?" I proposed, "It would only be fair for us to return the favor after you've helped us take down that monster."

Sakura's eyes lit up with a sparkling excitement as the tactician offered to help her find her allies. "Really? That'd be pretty considerate of you. I'd appreciate it immensely, as long as your... buddies don't mind." She stated, glancing to the two other men standing atop the ruins, the one who had introduced himself as Vergil and the one named Zeri, who had been bespectacled by curiosity. "Oh, um, I'm Sakura. I think I'm... a strategist or something? Whatever class it is, it's pretty broad. I could provide damage or support depending on what you guys are lack-"

She couldn't believe she hadn't seen it earlier, but the moment she spotting the golden speck of life peering from within a nearby brush, Sakura took action, unveiling another fan and quickly shredding the shrubbery to bits, revealing a little, black puffball stricken with fear.

"Wha-"

The puffball's hair stiffened as it crawled behind a nearby rock as quickly as its pint-sized body could carry it. Despite its small size, one could clearly tell that the thing was terrified, shivering insatiably with fear.

"Ohdearpleasedon'thurtmeI'mjustalittlepuffandIdidn'tdoanythingwrongIpromiseI'mjustvisiting-"

"What?" Sakura's expression remained puzzled, yet awestruck by the fantastic creature before her. It could speak! It was rather cute, too. Truthfully, Sakura had always been a sucker for "the adorable," but she couldn't let her allies know. It was a weakness. At least, she figured it to be a weakness. But, regardless of how hard she tried, she couldn't veil her vibrant-red blushed cheeks from view. "Oh my god it's so adorable..." She muttered painfully, as if the words coming from her mouth scraped against her teeth as she spoke.

"Don'tcomeanycloser!" The ball squeaked in an tone six octaves higher than anything else in the Backwards Wood. As Sakura cracked her neck downward to get a closer look, the puff retreated and squished its fluffy backside against a nearby rock - completely cornered. Now was the time it would die. Now it knew why the rest of the Glow absolutely forbid travel to the Pond of Selfish Desires. Now it knew - it knew nothing but regret.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind." I said and listened to the woman introduce herself to be Sakura. So she was a strategist, I'd have to invite her for a game of chess sometime, or maybe go. That is if chess or go even exist in this game world. My thoughts were interrupted by the woman suddenly turning on a bush and slicing it to little tiny kibbles with her fans. Okay so she was a bit scary, I made a mental note to remind myself not to get on her bad side.

I approached the little puffball that was revealed from Sakura shredding the bush. She was right, it was rather cute. Though it seemed to be absolutely mortified of the Strategist. Not that I blame it considering it probably came pretty close to getting in the way of her fans when she was mutilating the shrubbery. It did seem like it didn't want to kill us and eat our flesh though, so that was a huge improvement from anything I've had the pleasure to encounter so far. Well, best to try to calm this thing down, considering it does seem to possess the ability to speak.

Before I could do or say anything to try to calm it down a streak of black flashed before my eyes and the puffball was gone. Following the streak's direction I saw Beatrice perched atop a nearby rock. He was holding the puffball down with one of her talons while pecking at it with her beak trying to eat the thing. That only lasted for a few seconds however, as it seemed Beatrice wasn't able to tear off anything edible from the puffball. So she simply flew away to a different piece of rubble, pecking around trying to sate her hunger.

"Uh, right. Hey, don't be afraid little guy." I said as I approached the puffball, trying to appear as harmless as possible, "We won't hurt you, long as you don't hurt us. What's your name?"

That was it - death's unforgiving claws swept down with a final sweep, a chilling blur of blackness overcoming the puffball's vision as the demon raven struck it with its claws, ruthlessly pecking at it with an unparalleled aggression. The puffball sat, and it thought, helplessly and regretfully as the raven tossed him around, about his puffball buddies back home; Pyou was right, the Pond of Selfish Desires was a terrifying place, filled with terrifying soft-skinned ogres. He needed to escape. He needed to escape more than he'd ever needed to in his short-lived, puffy life.

"PleaseexcusemeIreallydon'twanttodiesoI'mjustgonnaleavenowpleasedon'tfollowme-"

The creature spat words almost as relentlessly as the bird had pecked, turning as quickly as it could to recede into the deepest, darkest lairs of the Backwards Wood. It needed to escape, and at the first moment it could, in a spurt of fluffy quickness, it fled, leaving behind a visible trail of loose, black hairs that could be traced and followed by the party.

Okay so the thing still freaked out even after Beatrice released him and my (albeit poor) attempt at calming it down. I let out a sigh and stood up from my kneeling position, giving a light whistle to catch Beatrice's attention. She immediately flew to her usual spot, perched upon my shoulder. She knew exactly what I was thinking, probably a result of having linked to my mind. I immediately felt my body change again, pitch black feathers began covering my clothing and arms, creating wings with which I immediately used to take to the sky. My nails protruded into claws and my talons grew on my feet. My braided hair came loose and fell to reach my lower back, occasionally swaying due to a gust of wind.

"After it!" I spoke but it sounded more like a screech. I probably shouldn't have transformed considering it was a bit unusual for a human to turn into a harpy. These people might view me as a freak, a monster, however I wanted to catch up to that fluffball. I took off after it, following the furry trail with incredible speed. I was quicker than I expected, which meant the puffball would have no chance to get away. "Alright you damn thing...I tried doing this the easy way, but you wouldn't have any of it." I muttered as I caught up to the puffball, "Hey, get back here! I just want some questions answered!" I swooped down in an attempt to seize the puffball.

It had been a relieving break for those who managed to thinly escape from the Hanging Tree with only the clothing on their backs. Masquerade and Allindur felt little obligation to fully explore the tree quite yet, and rather preferred sitting by the infirmary awaiting Silver's wounds to heal. To them, a solid break, where they could simply rest their backs against the warm bark of the Home Tree, was more than appreciated after what they'd endured in the much more malicious Hanging Tree.

Due to their relatively low degrees of stamina after the gruesome battles they had survived, the warm, amber-lit air that resonated throughout the Home Tree seemed to silently persuade Masquerade and Allindur into a light, relaxing sleep. The light chattering grumbles of nearby grasshoppers and muttering fireflies resonated through their ears like a lullaby of sorts, a mellifluous and fragile song that seemed to cascade serenity with every note. The Home Tree had proven itself as friendly to them. They no longer felt on edge, and they could relax.

That was, until the harmony of the insects clicked a foul note. Then there was darkness. Flame. Screaming. Blood.

"PleasedearymeIneverdidanythingtodeservethiswhyareyouchasingmeeeeeee-"

As the terrifying "birdman-raven-beast" swept down with its curved claws in a bloodthirsty attempt to cull the poor puffball out of existence, the little creature thinly managed to escape the monster's crackling grasp with a mischievous dodge to the side, allowing it to plop safely into one of the several lavender bushes lining the darkened trail of the Backwards Wood. Unfortunately, for the party and for their newly found compatriot Sakura the strategist, the petit creature managed to slip away without leaving any trail whatsoever.

The party gazed upward to the sky as they searched for some path they could take, for some lovely sign that would tell them where to turn or where to climb. However, they found nothing friendly, accompanied only by the curling branches of laughing, blackened trees and falling, poisonous leaves that hazed the air with a smoggish breeze.

They were lost in a twisted vale, with nowhere to go, nor any path to follow. At least, that's what they believed.

Then they turned their inner eye to the backside of the trail, where they saw a strange coagulation of darkened clouds swirling like a typhoon - over a certain tree - a special tree. Though it seemed no different from the other lavender trees creeping throughout the Backwards Wood at a glance, there was something definitively different. If Masquerade and Allindur were anywhere, they had to be there - at that tree.

But the clouds... they were strange. Clouds didn't exist in this dimension, from what the party had previously seen as they looked up at the blank sky only an hour earlier.

The tree was in trouble, and with nowhere else to go, there they went.

For quite some time, the air-buoyant blob upon which my friends and I rode seemed quite chatty. It really liked to talk about flesh, and how exhilarating the thrill of absorbing "life energy" felt. Honestly, it disturbed me quite a bit, but I had larger qualms to deal with, larger issues. This world wanted to kill Xeno, Cerani, and I. As far as I knew, we were alone.

Music: Burned Village

But then, when our destination grew closer, and our eyes could clearly define the situation before us, the blob deescalated into a quaint, unsettled silence that spread quickly to the three of us. The Home Tree our Glow described had been presented before us, as a twisted, cracked representation of its former state. It writhed in a bloody mess of reckless flames that spouted endlessly into the sky. Branches fell viscously as they melted in the merciless caress of the surrounding heat, manifesting itself into a physical form above the tree as a blackened cloud of swirling death that loomed readily over the foliage with no second thoughts.

Below us, there was true terror. Smaller, fluffier blobs skittered from the various holes that littered the tree, immolated in green flames that quickly ate at their flesh. Before long, the last Glow fled the tree, erupted in violent flames, and withered away into golden-brown ash.

"No..." Our own blackish ball of transportation muttered after a dangerous silence. Its last words were of regret and terror. A serpentine arrow of thorn and vine clawed from the tree and through the sky like a demonic arm reaching toward its prey, piercing our buoyant friend with a serrated claw of twisted nature. A flourish of blood scattered across the sky like confetti, and the Glow upon which we rode dissipated into ash and rode away in the wind.

So, into the burning ruins of the Home Tree we fell...

Masquerade and Allindur's amber-studded solace lasted only minutes before the Home Tree unraveled around them, eldritch tentacles and vines erupting from every visible crack in every visible branch as the tree shattered into pieces, swiftly dropping the pair onto the cold, mud-trodden and ash-ridden ground that quickly became the burial site for hundreds and thousands of Glow.

But... as they gathered their senses amidst the ruins of their peaceful slumber, they could not find Silver through the burning bark and the searing flames that wafted endlessly into the sky.

Where had he fallen?

Was he still alive?

Zone 01: The Backwards Wood
Part J - Krizantema

Location: The Backwards Wood - Home Tree - Accident Site

Objectives: Defeat Crison Artiel, the Weed of the Heart!

Achievement: N/A

Music: Glow in Ashes

{X} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {T} {T} {T} {T} {T} A
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{X} { } { } {X} {X} { } { } {T} { } { } { } {G} { } G
{X} {X} { } {X} {X} { } { } {4} { } { } {T} {C} {X} H
{X} { } { } { } { } { } {X} {X} {X} { } { } {X} {X} I
{X} {X} {X} {X} { } { } {X} {X} {X} {X} { } {X} {X} J
{X} {X} {X} {X} {X} {3} {X} {X} {X} { } {2} { } { } K
{X} {X} { } { } { } { } { } {X} { } { } { } {X} { } L
{X} {1} { } { } { } { } { } {X} { } {X} {X} { } { } M
{ } { } {X} { } { } {X} { } { } { } { } {X} {T} { } N
{ } {S} { } {X} {X} {X} {X} { } { } { } {X} {X} {X} O
{X} {X} { } { } {X} {X} {X} {X} { } { } { } { } {X} P
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9--10--11--12--13-

Boss Encounter

Spoiler:

Laughing Walls

Spoiler:

Legend

Spoiler:

Team Pants may start in any cell highlighted blue, as they have fallen from the sky into the rubble!
Team Tree may start in any cell highlighted green, as they have fallen from within the tree and are stuck amidst the rubble!
Team Pool may start in any cell highlighted pink, as they have found the tree after traveling in the Backwards Wood!
Silver starts where he has been placed, as the infirmary has collapsed around him in the rubble!

I followed the birdman out of the pond, only to soon arrive at a peculiar tree. This game sure had taken its toll on me; I had been attacked by ghosts, raspberry jam-filled piñatas disguised as knights, and yet most of the pain came from summoning that deer creature. I'm surprised none of my family has pulled me away from this game, as they'd always get on my case in sheer minutes if my face wasn't buried into a book. Perhaps the passage of time had slowed on the outside compared to this current world, or maybe it had halted completely. I wasn't really worried about the old world though, to be honest, I was downright sick of my family, and the general stupidity that seemed to infest society.


Still, I was getting sick of the theme of the environment that we were in. Something about the air didn't seem right here, and what's more it seemed as though the trees were laughing at me. I was certainly growing weary of the scenery, and I decided that I had enough. I stepped upon a higher footing and took one good look ahead of me. I was just about ready to declare my inspirational, motivating dialogue... my most articulate... most thought-out... award-winning cowboy speech I would ever give in my entire life. And with a deep breath I shouted to the very heavens above,



"THIS PLACE IS ASS."



Genius, Vergil. Genius.

Vergil starts at B-4

Fucking Kuori. Hell, I don't care. Whatever that thing...that puffball was, it was gone, and we were lost. Why did I follow them? Because I fucking had to. There's no way one person can survive going it alone here. Especially here. Yeesh. Even though I did the majority of damage to our enemies, I would have lost so many battles ago. I can't tank worth shit. Granted, neither can anyone else in our tiny little group, but whatever. It doesn't matter, not with us lost like this.

"Way to chase away the fucking puffball. Stupid bird," I mutter to myself, cursing Kuori's bird and it's existence. I should kill it, just to be rid of it. But no, it's his pet.

...

Right. If Kuori can't keep a leash on that bird, I'll kill it. There. Settled.

Zeri starts in A-4

Silver is forced to start at O2!

The ride here had been uncomfortable for the most part; at least, what I remembered of it had been. Truth be told I blacked out at some point, only stirring briefly when a mass of fuzziness surrounded me. Masq and Allindur had been there for those brief moments, but I had no way of knowing if they stayed nearby. I felt safe though: my empathy appeared to work even when I was locked in my own head. There was a calm here, and I felt secure. Such serenity in this place.... I couldn't help but think of home, or rather, what my home should have been.

Real life was Hell–this world was Hell too, but in a more dangerous sense. Home was like the Glow Tree: tranquility and a sense of quiet happiness. And as I laid in the infirmary, for where else could I have been taken with my injuries, I could not help but embrace the aura this place generated. Sweet composition. It felt like a song I had learned before coming here, in one of real life's rare moments of tranquility, and in that realization I understood the lyrics.

There will be rest, and sure stars shining
    Over the roof-tops crowned with snow,
A reign of rest, serene forgetting,
    The music of stillness holy and low.

I will make this world of my devising
    Out of a dream in my lonely mind.
I shall find the crystal of peace, – above me
    Stars I shall find.

This world was dead, but by entering its nightmarish grasp we had the chance to fix it: to pick up the pieces and make it what it deserved to be. Real life had to be the only Hell now. Certainly the three of us, teamed up with all of the Glow, could manage to make this place the haven it might have been at one point. The place it should always be. With that goal in mind, I fell further into the comfortable pool of peace.

Drifting. . .

The music hit a sour note and all went to Hell again. The fuzzy expanse that had absorbed me disappeared and fear shattered the tranquility. Once more the monster swallowed me and my hands involuntarily went to my stomach. No wound. There should have been some comfort in that, but I only felt dread. Dread and terror. The smell of smoke and a sudden inability to breathe. Shock joined dread and terror–a triple threat that caused me to reel in my unconscious state.

"THIS PLACE IS ASS."

Anger was fashionably late to the party.

All of these emotions tore at my heart and I felt like I was drowning. I coughed, but I could not say for sure that it was because of the smoke. And then I felt the evil. So much stronger than any of the emotions–there was pure evil inside the tree, and I reeled some more. The presence kept expanding, growing closer and closer until I felt it all around me. More fear and dread, this time my own.

I shook.

And then I bolted upright.

"Fucking. Hell." I swore, still shaking as I forced myself to my feet. "FUCKING! HELL!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, quite aware that there was an enemy a few feet away. I threw my arm in it's direction, attempting to bust through it (as my anger definitely made me stronger) instantly. Nothing happened to the damn thing. At least, not that I could tell. "You have got to be fucking kidding me!" I stamped my foot on the ground and threw both hands at the thing once more. There was a little splintering in the wood next to it, but otherwise nothing.

I screamed again.

And then I took a deep breath. "No." I stated, eyes locked on the enemy. "No fucking way in HELL am I going to let this SHIT happen." I pointed at the enemy in my way and watched more of the wood near it splinter and fly in my direction. The pieces of wood bounced off my personal bubble, but I remained resolute. "You and whoever or whatever is controlling you. Yeah. You die now."

The fight was on.