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[indent][indent][indent][color=gray][sub][right][color=#98A9B1][b]Location:[/b][/color] The Dungeon -- The City of Thorinn, Aetheria[/right][/sub][/color]
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This wasn’t happening. It was a-

[i]-all a dream.[/i] 

Kazuki opened his eyes to sunlight, birds and the warm rays on his face. “What’s going on?” 

[color=c4407a]“Finally, he’s awake.”[/color] The snarky voice came from behind. [i]Prisilica[/i] 

[color=plum]“Kazuma, I was worried about you!”[/color] Kazuki smiled, kneeling down by his brother. [color=plum]“But it’s all okay now.”[/color]

Kazuma looked around him, and he saw [i]everyone[/i] standing around. Aaginim and Luci, standing close to each other. Atlas, his arms crossed. Enos grinning, whilst eyeing up the various girls in the party. Leaves, Sif, Siegfried. Everyone was okay. And behind him, his party, all sitting around, eating and drinking as if they were on a picnic. 

[color=d2d586]“The games moderators fixed the hack. Everyone’s okay now.”[/color] Aaginim smiled, and looked over the group. [color=d2d586]“And I’ve got to say. I’m impressed. Everyone did amazing today. I think this dungeon was a great test, and everyone passed with flying colors. Welcome to Mystic Prophecy.”[/color] Everyone cheered, and Aaginim offered Kazuma a hand to help him onto his feet. [color=d2d586]“You were a great leader.”[/color]

[color=dd9c00]”Hey! Why don’t I get a compliment like that?”[/color] Siegfried yelled, crossing his arms. [color=dd9c00]“I didn’t do too bad either!”[/color] 

[color=98A9B1]“You’ve got a long way to go before you can call yourself good, though,”[/color] Kazuma smirked. Seig yelled, and fussed, but everyone in the group laughed. The sun shined brightly, the wind blew a cool and calming breeze, and things were right. 

Benkei opened his eyes to [url=https://youtu.be/Du1wdeNqO8o]death.[/url] To pain. And to the anguish of his allies. Their formation broke quickly as Kazuki dashed to Prisilica’s aid. Benkei yelled, but it fell on deaf ears. Their healer was preoccupied. Graves was busy with Enos; who was dead. [i]Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. They were all going to die.[/i] Graves then attacked, Alja charged, Seele raged. 

Aaginim was limp on the ground. Enos was impaled. Atlas was...gone. Siegfried, Sif and Leaves fought. Priscilia was alive. 

[i]But Aaginim was dead.[/i] 

[i]Enos was dead.[/i] 

[i]You will die. Not your character. Not your avatar. You will die.[/i] The words of the moderators swirled in his head. 

[i]You.[/i] 

Benkei gripped his greatsword’s hilt with every ounce of strength. 

[i]Will.[/i] 

He ran forward behind the group attacking. The world shook. It wasn’t from the monster. No, his own body was fighting him. His breath was labored. He struggled to keep in air. Everything was slowing down in his head. 

[i]Die.[/i] 

He slammed his blade into the ground. [color=98A9B1]“Earthen Sprites. Give me [i]EVERYTHING[/i] you have."[/color] Every ounce of stamina he had, he poured into this strike. His body shook, his heart pounded. His muscles screamed in pain as he delved deep into every reserve he had. 

It wouldn’t be multiple spikes. It wouldn’t be pointed at his allies. It came from beneath. From the earth and stone directly beneath the monster. A stone spire, pointed and aimed to pierce, came from beneath the boss. Benkei screamed. It was a scream of rage. It was a scream of pain. It was a scream of anguish. 

This was real. And Benkei screamed because of how much it horrified him. 

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