[F06] Break the Mirror <<The Gemini>>

[Cosi 0]

Log Entry Two

After helping out Zachariah and the blacksmith, I had the strangest and most sinister encounter ever. My hand is shaking even as I write this. But hear is the story of the Gemini...

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Cosi was just leaving Lyle Tealeaf's Blacksmith shop, making a beeline for the gates because he wanted to go kill some monsters and there was still daylight left, when a hooded figure stepped out of an alley way. Cloaked all in black the man gave off a seriously creepy vibe. He looked straight at Cosi, standing right in his path. 

Cosi went straight for his sword when he remembered: the Town of Beginnings was a safe zone, no damage could be dealt he. So he waited for what the man wanted to say.

"You look pretty strong." The figure said, "I'm looking to test my skills. If you beat me, I'll teach you a hidden skill. What do you say?"

"Uhhh... sure," Cosi responded actually quite terrified of this man. Cosi definitely didn't feel strong. He had leveled up from completing the fetch quest but he was still only level three.   

[Cosi 0]

"Good," He grinned wickedly, "Let's go then.' and he started heading out of the town. Cosi followed the man, hand still on sword, and glared at the back of his head. Waht was this guys game. He was seriously freaky.

Once they made it out of the city Cosi was even more on edge because know the man could attack him if he wanted. Cosi clutched his sword and a bead of sweat dripped from his brow. He had to be ready for whatever this cloaked figure. Whatever happened he would be ready. And whatever happened he would not lose and he would not die. Not so close to the beginning of his adventure. 

They continued walking in silence. Over and away from the rolling hills and burbling brooks to a small thicket of trees that was plenty far from the Town of Beginnings. There they stopped and the cloaked man turned to Cosi and slasher smile on his face.

"If you're ready. Let's begin"

[Cosi 0]

The man threw back his cloak, letting it fall to the ground, and underneath was... Cosi. The man was him. Down to the finest detail. The blonde, unruly hair, his turquoise eyes, his facial structure, all was exactly like Cosi's. Even his armor and sword were carbon copies of Cosi's own equipment. It was like looking in a mirror...

Except for one thing: Cosi's Mirror wore a slanted, sinister grin which Cosi sincerely hoped his own smile didn't look the same. 

"Surprise," Cosi's twin said that grin still painted on his face, then he whipped out his sword and, in one smooth motion, attacked. 

Cosi was too surprised to even pull out his own blade to try and parry but he tried to shift and move, even just sidestep but it was just so surreal. Cosi never thought he'd have to fight his twin- his evil twin- in this game and it did not sit well with him. 

Cosi's Mirror's blade caught him right on his shoulder. Thankfully, his armor took most most of the damage but still pain flared and spots danced across his vision. 

The mirror laughed a thin, cruel laugh so Cosi punched him square in the jaw with his mailed fist. Then winced at the sight of blood dripping down his own face.

Spoiler

Combat:

Roll ID: 103893

MD: 9+1=10 - Minor Crit

Cosi- Hp: 51/60 ENG: 6/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror-Hp: 21/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

As his Mirror spat onto the forest floor and grinned menacingly at him, Cosi pulled his sword free from his scabbard and gave a return stroke. Striking for his Mirror’s unarmored neck, Cosi swung with all his might. 

His Mirror effortless parried, turning aside Cosi’s blow with the flat of his own blade. Cosi stumbled and nearly fell as suddenly there was no resistant behind his sword. Catching himself, Cosis turned around and brought up his sword. 

Cosi’s mirror looked at him, that same crooked grin plastered on his face. No blood came from the abrasion on his face, there was only shimmering red code in that wound. He laughed again, cold and heartless. 

“I can’t believe I thought you would give me a challenge. You can hardly use that sword!” He brought his sword up, the dying sunlight reflecting off of it. 

“At least you’ll whet my appetite for the next person that comes along,” Cosi could hardly believe it but his Mirror’s slasher smile widened even more. 

Spoiler

Combat-

Roll ID: 103896

BD: 5 -miss

Cosi- Hp: 51/60 ENG: 4/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror- Hp: 21/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

Each stood circling the other. They were exactly alike in armor, sword and features, except for their faces. One grinning a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. The other’s face etched with grim determination.  They servayed each other looking for weaknesses. Then, the Mirror struck in a flash, his sword merely a blur of metal, swinging in a high overhead cut aimed at Cosi’s head. He tried to block bringing his sword up and bracing it with both hands and whether by luck or gut reaction he stopped the blade dead though the force of the blow stil resonated through his arms. Cosi grimaced then with all his strength he pushed up and side-stepped letting the Mirror’s sword slide off of his blade and throwing of his balance. The Mirror stumbled past Cosi but managed to stop himself from falling. He spun back facing Cosi, sword point pointed up, and his grin more of a snarl now. 

Spoiler

Combat-

Roll ID: 103914

MD: 3- miss

Cosi- Hp: 51/60 ENG 5/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror- Hp: 21/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

Cosi turned toward his Mirror striking as fast as he could, trying to give him no time to recover or counter-attack. Cosi swung his longsword with both hands, this time not aiming for any spot in particular just trying to hit the Mirror. 

The blow struck true, smashing across the Mirror’s chest piece and knocking him back. However it didn’t seem to do any real damage the armor was too thick and Cosi really didn’t know how to swing a sword. The blade felt alien in his hands. This would take a lot of practice. 

Cosi’s Mirror stumbled slightly but he resisted Cosi’s two handed strike. He swung a feeble counter-attack which, surprisingly, Cosi was able to just barely deflect. The mirror snarled. Sweat had begun dripping down his face as well and as one droplet fell, the world paused for a moment and the two regarded each other both now just alike. The stillness was broken as the Mirror pressed the attack. 

Spoiler

Combat-

Roll ID: 103916

BD: 8- hit

Cosi- Hp: 51/60 ENG: 4/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror- Hp: 20/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

The Mirror rushed forward, taking his sword in two hands, and struck again aiming for Cosi’s head. The blade hissed through the air like a snake coming so fast Cosi barely thought he could avoid it. 

But he did, stepping backwards and ducking as much as he could Cosi watched as the sword blade passed within inches of his face. 

A single strand of cut hair floated past Cosi’s face. He scowled and tried to back and the Mirror but there was no momentum, no real force behind the thrust and it skidded of the plate armor. 

Cosi stood up, wind milling just a tad, and readied himself for the next attack all while two words raced through his head on repeat, don’t die, don’t die, don’t die, just don’t die! Cosi didn’t want to die just yet, no! He wouldn’t die just yet he’d beat this grinning bastard copycat and then he’d go and take a nap cause damn it was getting late and his arms were killing him. 

Spoiler

Combat-

Roll ID: 103917

MD: 5- miss

Cosi- Hp: 51/60 ENG: 5/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror- Hp: 20/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

Cosi didn’t know how much longer he could keep fighting. He knew this wasn’t his real body but the NerveGear was hooked up to his real body back in the real world, every fiber, muscle, and nerve so everything he felt here it felt back there and while Alec had played sports he’d never been in a life or death duel with a mirror clone so... yeah. 

With no tact at all, Cosi swung his sword again just trying to hit the Mirror. The swing was a wild diagonal cut across the Mirror’s chest. It scrapped across the plate throwing up sparks but at the very end the sword blade nicked his neck throwing up red code. 

The Mirror stumbled back from the force of the blow. He felt at his face feeling the cut there. Then he grinned that terrible grin. 

“Maybe this wasn’t such a waste  after all!” He laughed. 

Then suddenly he lunged at Cosi

Spoiler

Combat-

Roll ID: 103920

BD: 8- hit

Cosi- Hp: 51/60 ENG: 4/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror- Hp: 19/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

The Mirror thrust his long sword straight towards Cosi’s unprotected neck with a terrifying fevor and hungry that was reflected in his eyes. The Mirror seemed to not only want to hone his skills but also kill Cosi and he seemed to be slipping a little into the deep end. 

Cosi flinched back trying to avoid the deadly blade and brought his own sword up in a counter in hopes of pushing the thrust aside. 

Cosi turned the strike aside but the point only sank into the unarmored flesh of Cosi’s lower shoulder. The blade cut deep and Cosi heard that whine again, piercing inside his head, and saw the green bar drop into the yellow. 

But through the pain Cosi saw the grinning face of the Mirror and in a small act of vengeance Cosi put his blade against his inner thigh where no armor was and slid the blade across it cutting the flesh. 

As the Mirror grimaced it pain, Cosi pushed him away and gasped as the sword was pulled from Cosi’s wound. 

Spoiler

Combat-

Roll ID: 103921

MD: 10- Crit

Cosi- Hp: 39/60 ENG: 5/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror- Hp: 10/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

Cosi scrambled away from his Mirror, clutching at his should even though there was no blood to staunch, just the blue-green code that gleamed from between his fingers. 

Fear gripped Cosi. He needed to get away before he was killed, before he died for real. He needed to flee. He couldn’t die, not now, not here in this god forsaken game. 

Then as he stumbled away something stopped him. Maybe it was just a gut feeling or maybe it was catching a glimpse of the Mirror in his peripherals. Either way he looked back and saw the Mirror, reflecting exactly what Cosi felt: pain and fear. 

Cosi could win this. 

Pulling a healing potion from his belt Cosi drank it as he stalked back over to the Mirror. A coolness surged through him and Cosi felt rejuvenated. He felt his wounds close and a peace came over him. He was ready.

 Ready for round two. 

Spoiler

Cosi drank a uncommon healing potion

-1 Healing potion

+40Hp

Cosi- Hp: 60/60 ENG: 6/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror- Hp: 10/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

“Why you...” TheMirror cursed under his breath and got back to its feet. He charged, a mad light shining in his eyes, and tried to impale Cosi through the chest. 

Surprised by the sudden surge of wrath, Cosi tried to redirect the wild thrust with his sword. Stepping to the side and pushing with his blade, Cosi was able to easily evad the Mirror’s thrust. 

With nothing to stop him the Mirror went flying, tripping over his own feat and sprawled into the dirt. He turned over into his back looking dazed. He gleamed red from many cuts the shining code flickering in the wounds. This Mirror could only take so much more before it shattered. 

Cosi shifted his grip on his sword grabbing it by the blade with both hands and approached the prone man. 

Time to use his extensive video game knowledge and one of Sword Art Online’s fancy sword arts. 

Spoiler

Combat-

Roll ID:

MD: 1- crit miss

 Cosi- Hp: 60/60 ENG: 6/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror- Hp: 10/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

As the Mirror struggled to catch his breath and tried to rise Cosi walked relentlessly forward, sword blade gripped tightly. He raised the weapon avove his head the reinforced metal cross guard protruding like a hammerhead. And as he stood over the Mirror he swung down with all his might. Light surged from the sword, a turquoise sparking like lightning. 

He smashed the cross guard into the Mirror’s chest piece, denting the plate. He struck again and again till the blow punched through the armor hitting flesh. The third blow knocked the Mirror back into his back. More red code drifted away from him. 

Cosi breathed out heavily. He had put way too much energy into that strike and for too little reward. The Mirror was still kicking. Still, Cosi had the Mirror where he wanted him. He raised his sword once again for another strike. 

Tume to shatter this mirror. 

Spoiler

Combat- Snakebite

Roll ID: 103923

BD: 7- hit 

Cosi- Hp: 60/60 ENG: 3/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror- Hp: 9/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

But before Cosi could strike again the Mirror swept the legs out from under him. 

Cosi fell, his sword flying from his grasp. He hit the ground and felt the air knocked out of him. Spots danced across his eyes but he could still see his Mirror rise, sword in hand, and his slasher smile back on his face. 

“You thought you had me”, the Mirror laughed, “My how the tables have turned.”

The Mirror gripped his sword with both hands, raised in above his head, then thrust downward with all his might straight towards Cosi’s exposed neck. 

Had the Mirror been listening he would’ve heard Cosi say, “falling glass breaks” but he was too enthralled with killing Cosi. He wouldn’t get to.

Cosi brought up his gauntleted hand and just barely tipped the Mirror’s blade so that it plunged into his armored chest. And as he did this he reversed his grip on his longsword, reached behind the back of the Mirror’s leg, and slit his hamstring. 

They both screamed as pain. The Mirror crumpled in agony clutching his leg. Cosi, wounded but not gravely, rose from the ground and regarded his opponent. His identical match. His twin and copy. His mirror now writhing in pain. Broken on the ground. 

“Guess you just honed my edge” Cosi brought the pommel of his sword down on the Mirror silencing his cries. 

As Cosi walked away from that grove of trees under the darkened sky he could just hear the Mirror breathing. Just. 

Spoiler

Combat-

Roll ID: 103924

MD: 7- hit

Cosi-Hp: 51/60 ENG: 5/6 DMG: 2 MIT: 9

Mirror- Hp: 0/30 DMG: 15 MIT: 5

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by Cosi

[Cosi 0]

Cosi stumbled back to the Town of Beginnings not even registering the ding of a level up and additional rewards from completing a quest. All he wanted to do was find a bed somewhere, anywhere so he could fall asleep in it. He didn’t care if it was fake and virtual he just wanted to sleep. His arms might have been both jello and lead weights-useless and heavy- and his chest was killing him, not even plate armor could stop gravity and the weight of a 6’2” man behind a steel sword. So he sheathed his sword and walked back to the gates of town. Cosi was surprised he could find it considering how dark it was and how he was pretty much just asleep on his feet walking. In reality the Town of Beginnings was massive, you really couldn’t miss it no matter how dead tired you were and dark it was outside. 

[Cosi 0]

Cosi could see his health bar slowly regenerating, it seemed the longer he stayed out of combat the passive regen he got. He also noticed the rewards he got for liking the Mirror: extra Col and skill points and a hidden skill called concentration. 

Cosi was so busy looking in his inventory that he didn’t even notice when he walked straight into the main gates of the Town of Beginnings. They were closed. 

Cosi slumped, his head banging against the heavy oaken gate. He’d have to sleep outside. Why him? 

Then he heard something from the aptly named gatehouse atop the wall. 

“Halt! Who goes there? Are you man or beast?”

Cosi cocked his head and looked up. He just make out the outline and see the torchlight of a guard up there. 

“Umm...man,” he called up to the guard. 

“Ah, an adventurer I see! Doing some late night hunting?”he continued talking, “you know I used to be an adven-

At this point Cosi tuned the watchman out. It was nothing but pointless NPC chatter and since he didn’t have a skip button all Cosi could was wait through it. 

[Cosi 0]

About five minutes later and after another guard had joined the conversation about the severity trauma to the petala caused by pointed missile objects Cosi had enough. 

“I’m sorry but could you open the gates? I’m quite tired and don’t fancy sleeping outside the city walls!” 

Both guards stopped mid argument. Then turned to look down at Cosi. They nodded vigorously. 

“Forgive us, Sir. We shall make haste to open the gates.” And with that both guards scurried out of sight and within a couple seconds Cosi heard chains creaking and groaning as the gates were opened. 

A hasty shout was called over the wall,

”You may want to stand back, sir!”

and not wanting to be killed by an enormous wooden gate Cosi took many steps back away from it.

The massive gate creaked upon as chains rattled. The guards only opened it part way as to only allow one Cosi-sized man to slip through. Guess they didn’t want monsters getting into the town? Cosi shrugged. While that would be terrifying, he didn’t think the monsters’ code had or let them do that or they would attack the town during the day when the gates were open. 

[Cosi 0]

Cosi walked through the now open gates, a slow shambling walk, and back into the Town of Beginnings. 

The gate creaked and groaned behind him then closed with resounding boom which actually made Cosi flinch. Still, he moved as fast as his tired body would let him towards the nearest inn. 

And thank the Random Number Gods above that there was one practically right by the town’s entrance right on the main pathway. 

So Cosi stumbled inside and was greeted by a cozy and warm interior. Candlelit lamps glowed softly, a fire burned in a hearth on the other side of the room, and there was at least three potted plants. So a very nice inn. 

Cosi walked up to the innkeeper’s desk and was greeted there by the beaming smile of a short, plump woman. Compared to his mirror me’s smile this one was completely genuine and inviting. 

“What can I do for you, Honey?” She asked, “Need a room for the night?”

[Cosi 0]

“Yes, please” the words practically fell out of Cosi’s mouth as soon as he opened it. He then reached a hand into his belt pouch and fished out a handful of Col, the money of Aincrad. 

“How much is one room?” Cosi questioned the still smiling innkeeper, “Cost wise I mean.”

the smiling woman shook her head  and held up a staying hand

”No charge, Honey. Not for strong adventuring types such as yourself,” she said, “we’d be happy to give you a room for the night.”

She grabbed a key off the wall of keys behind her and moved out from behind her desk. 

“Follow me Honey. I’ll show you to your room.” 

She quickly, actually quite fast for which a short person, moved across the room to the stairs, waited a second for Cosi to catch up, and then she sped up the steps. And so up the steps Cosi followed. 

[Cosi 0]

“Yes, please” the words practically fell out of Cosi’s mouth as soon as he opened it. He then reached a hand into his belt pouch and fished out a handful of Col, the money of Aincrad. 

“How much is one room?” Cosi questioned the still smiling innkeeper, “Cost wise I mean.”

the smiling woman shook her head  and held up a staying hand

”No charge, Honey. Not for strong adventuring types such as yourself,” she said, “we’d be happy to give you a room for the night.”

She grabbed a key off the wall of keys behind her and moved out from behind her desk. 

“Follow me Honey. I’ll show you to your room.” 

She quickly, actually quite fast for which a short person, moved across the room to the stairs, waited a second for Cosi to catch up, and then she sped up the steps. And so up the steps Cosi followed. 

[Cosi 0]

Cosi followed her up to the second story of the Inn and to his trim which was the fifth door on the left. She unlocked the door, gave him the key, and bid him goodnight. 

Cosi nodded his thanks, to tired to speak now, and entered the inn room. The room could’ve been called spartan but there was a cozy warmth to it that reminded Cosi of his own room. There was a window looking into the Town of Beginnings on the west wall with a double bed on opposite side of the room. There was a nightstand to each side of the bed and a dresser on the north wall that had a happy looking, well cared for potted plant atop it. The innkeeper must like  plants. Cosi shrugged and fell face first into the bed. The pillow felt so soft and downy and the quilted blanket felt like angel wings. Cosi was sure he was asleep and snoring in less than ten seconds

Spoiler

Quest Summary:

Rewards- 

3 Additional SP

600 Col

Extra Skill: <<Concentration>>

1 Skill Point and 400 Col for 1 completed page of rp