[F24 - SP] Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

[Bahr 0]

Without waiting for more weird boar language that he could apparently understand, Bahr ran Dracbane through the creature. Then again. And again. Left, then right, then left again, until it was no more. Glimmering blue triangles wafted through the air before slowly dissipating into oblivion, allowing Bahr the opportunity to take a breath of fresh air. No longer did he feel the pain from before, and the gaping wound in his stomach had all but disappeared entirely. Dracbane had done its job.

With the boars dispatched, he turned his attention to the crest of the hill. It was there that he had committed his first sin within the realm of Aincrad. It had been such a lighthearted thing at the time, simply a bit of roughhousing between a boy and his best friend. Bahr had never imagined it would turn out to be something so viceral and permanent. And while he understood now that it hadn't been him who had put the man down for good, the weight of believing he had still remained with Bahr. He'd endured it for years, and often still had to remind himself that he hadn't actually killed him. It was time to approach the situation with a fresh set of eyes.

I'm coming, Zayne.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 853+103=956/1030 | EN: 45+1-7=39/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 4 | BLD: 24 | LD: 3 | VAMPIRIC OFFENSE | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3 

Bahr used [x7] Astral Hell, -7 EN

Bipedal Boar 4: HP: 44-147=0/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134319 | BD: 10, Crit for 21x7=147 | VAMPIRIC OFFENSE HEALS 103 HP | Bipedal Boar 4 defeated

Looting
Bipedal Boar 4
ID: 134320
LD: 9+3=12 | CD: 7
3000 + 5% (Guild Buff) = 3150 col
(4) T3 Materials
(1) T3 Rare Weapon [ID: 134320A]
(1) T3 Uncommon Consumable [ID: 134320B]

 

[Bahr 0]

The trek up the hill seemed much longer than he remembered. It seemed to stretch out in front of him, each step forward carrying him further backward than the last. His heart was pounding mercilessly against his rib cage, and every breath was deep and shaky. He knew what he'd find when he got there. Would it be the Zayne he loved and remembered? Or a cruel, warped bastardization of him? There were a lot of things that Bahr could handle, but fighting the corpse of his best friend rather than his best friend himself would absolutely crush him. He wasn't going to pretend that it wouldn't.

I need a distraction.

Dracbane still needed to be swapped out. It wasn't the perfect distraction, but it gave his hands something to do. As he continued lumbering forward, he opened his menu and briskly navigated to the inventory panel. There sat Dawn's Demise, ready to get back to work after a well deserved rest. He tapped the item and equipped it, Dracbane whisking away from the material realm in a ribbon of light as Dawn's Demise took its place. He took care to place Dracbane into his battle-ready inventory, just in case he needed to use it later. Everything was set. Now Bahr just needed to commit.

He was nearing the top now. He set his jaw and steeled himself for the encounter that remained ahead. Whatever he found there, he had to keep it together. He'd come this far, and too much was riding on this to quit now. Forward momentum was the only way.

DRACBANE (T2 - VAMPIRIC OFFENSE | ACC | BLEED) SWAPPED OUT FOR DAWN'S DEMISE (T3 - FALLEN | FALLEN | PHASE | BLEED)
DRACBANE (T2 - VAMPIRIC OFFENSE | ACC | BLEED) PLACED IN BATTLE-READY INVENTORY

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 956+30=986/1030 | EN: 39+1=40/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 12 | BLD: 36 | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3 

 

[Bahr 0]

When he crested the hill, he saw it. A yellow glint. A lone man stood overlooking the valley below, the sun's rays refracting off of his golden armor and painting its surroundings with amber specks. He had his back turned to Bahr, so he was only able to catch a profile of his face. From what he could see, it wasn't distorted or decayed like the demons before him, which was a relief. But Bahr remained skeptical, knowing that it could all flip in the brink of an eye. He stopped a few paces away from his friend, taking a deep breath as he prepared for what came next.

"Dante."

The armored man craned his head back to look at Bahr over his shoulder, flashing him a cheesy, heartfelt grin. "Apollooooo! Hey bro! Long time no see!" he exclaimed, motioning for Bahr to join him at the ridge. Bahr obliged, taking a spot beside the man and looking out over the valley. It was a breathtaking sight. You could see virtually the entirety of the first floor from here. The Town of Beginnings, all of the outlying settlements, the forest, and every sub-zone. They'd sat here on launch day and taken in the view, just like this. They'd felt so hopeful that this, their final MMO experience together, would be the most amazing and compelling they'd experienced yet. And while taking in the sight once more, Bahr relived a glimmer of that optimism. 

"You know why I'm here, right?" he inquired, flashing his crimson eyes toward Bahr, who shrugged nonchalantly in response.

"Yeah. We've gotta fight."

"Nahh man! You've got it all wrong. I'm here to teach you something," Zayne chortled in response, patting his companion's back. Bahr looked to him, confusion crossing his brows.

"Oh yeah? And what's that?" he shot back, unable to keep Zayne's infectious grin from also spreading through his own cheeks. 

"How should I know, man? It's your fever dream. I'm not even real, I'm just a part of you," he said, shoving an index finger into Bahr's chest which was playfully batted away. There was some truth to it, though, both literally and figuratively. Zayne was a part of him in that this was, in all actuality, Bahr's head space. But he was also a part of Bahr in a much deeper way. They'd grown up together, played together, grown together. And when Bahr had thought he'd died, he carried him with him for years. Hell, he still did.

"I know, man," Bahr replied as he cast his eyes out over the valley, knowing that the true gravity of his words wouldn't be felt by Zayne. The sun was beginning to encroach upon the horizon, the sky slowly shifting from azure to tangerine. 

"Well then," Zayne started as he turned around and took a few steps across the hill. "Guess we better get started."

By the time Bahr turned, Zayne was poised and ready. He stood around fifteen feet away, the staff of his spear clenched tightly within both of his hands, legs spread. Bahr slowly unsheathed Dawn's Demise from the small of his back, clutching its hilt with both hands as he too assumed an offensive posture.

"Yup. Let's do this."

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 986+30=1016/1030 | EN: 100/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 12 | BLD: 36 | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3

 

[Bahr 0]

Bahr was, predictably, the one to make the first move. He closed in on his opponent with more speed and ferocity than he had ever shown the last times he'd fought Zayne, weaving Dawn's Demise past his spear and scoring a direct hit against his breastplate. Thought the hit was solid, the cut was shallow, and Zayne's health bar hardly moved. 

Hardly assuaged by the damage he had received, Zayne lashed out the point of his spear missing Bahr's face by mere centimeters as he dipped backward to avoid it. The Crimson Marauder caught himself on a single palm, using it to support his weight as Zayne's followup attack swiped at his feet and he flung them into the air to avoid it. He planted his boot against the Undying Knight's armor and shoved him backward, giving them both the space they needed to recuperate.

"That was a good hit!" Zayne called out as Bahr rose to his feet, running his fingers over the fresh gash in his armor. 

"I thought so, but apparently your health bar didn't," Bahr replied, pointing to the mostly full green gauge that hovered around him. Zayne chuckled a bit, allowing his hand to fall from his breastplate and wrap around his weapon once more.

"Yeah," he chortled, hunching over and cementing his stance. "Armor's gotten a little tougher since we last crossed blades."

"I can tell!"

So what happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object?
 

Spoiler

Encounter: We Are Broken
HP: 1200
DMG: 150
MIT: 150
ACC: 1
EVA: -1
THORNS: 50
We Are Broken gets its own roll, based on BD. We Are Broken ignores half of DoT damage.
Conditional buff activated at 35% or lower health.

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 1016-50=966/1030 | EN: 100-13=87/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 12 | BLD: 36 | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3 

Bahr used [x13] Galaxy Destroyer, -13 EN
ID: 134322 | BD: 3+4=7, Hit for 19x13=247-150=97 DMG | THORNS DEAL 50 DMG

We Are Broken: HP: 1200-97=1103/1200 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 150 | ACC: 1 | EVA: -1 | THNS: 50
ID: 134323 | BD: 1, Miss

 

[Bahr 0]

They clash. 

When Bahr lunged forward this time, so did Zayne. Their weapons simultaneously flickered into life, Bahr's adopting a crimson hue as tendrils of black whirled around it, Zayne's a brilliant gold that mirrored the light of the sun. Congruently, the instruments of destruction reached for their opponents' left sides, both finding their mark as they pushed past one another. Where Zayne's left bicep now lay ripped open by a huge gash, so too did Bahr's have a clean hole punched straight through it. 

They both ignored the blood and the pain, however, turning around and instantly going in for another pass. For each lightning quick strike that Zayne leveled his way, Bahr had a swift slash to answer to it. Their weapons clashed against one another over and over, sparks flying as the metallic twangs echoed through the field. Eventually, Bahr caught the tip of the spear against the flat side of his blade and shoved, sending both parties sliding back as their boots carved up small dust clouds and tore the grass from the earth. 

There was a thrill from the intensity that surged through Bahr's veins, numbing the pain from the hole in his arm as blood seeped from it in an endless river. There was a guilt that followed the thrill. Was he really getting off on fighting his best friend to the death? Where he'd felt only disgust and anguish with the last fights, this one filled him to the brim with anticipation and adrenaline. There was a wrongness to it that he couldn't resist.

"Hey man," Zayne called out, as though he had picked up on the conflicting feelings. "Remember, it's all in your head. Just cut loose and have fun with it, okay?"

That was such a Zayne thing to say. "Don't worry about me, just have fun." It was exactly what he would have wanted, so Bahr obliged.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 966-50-73=843/1030 | EN: 87+1-13=75/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 12 | BLD: 36 | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3 

Bahr used [x13] Galaxy Destroyer, -13 EN
ID: 134324 | BD: 6 | FALLEN ACTIVATED | Hit for 31x13=403-150=253 DMG | THORNS DEAL 50 DMG

We Are Broken: HP: 1103-253=850/1200 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 150 | ACC: 1 | EVA: -1 | THNS: 50
ID: 134325 | BD: 10, Crit for 152-79=73 DMG

 

[Bahr 0]

A yell escaped his lungs as Bahr closed the distance between them with powerful strides, raising Dawn's Demise over his head in preparation to strike. But it was a feint! As Zayne's spear extended to where intercept the path he predicted Bahr's attack would follow, Bahr stiffly shifted the trajectory of his body and approached from the side instead. The weapon cleaved through the armor effortlessly and into Zayne's side, the force of the blow shoving him backward as the hunk of metal carved through flesh and bone alike. 

But Bahr wasn't done. He charged in with a followup attack. Then another. And another. Zayne found it in him to deflect each one, but his movements were steadily beginning to slow. A wound like that was bound to take its toll as the fight progressed. Bahr knew that if he continued attacking mindlessly, he too would begin to run out of steam, so he ceased the onslaught and took a few steps back, hands wringing the hilt of his weapon.

"Sheesh, Apollo," Zayne groaned, a hand finding the gash as he stood up straight to take pressure off of his lungs. "I forgot what a force you were when you really gave it your all. You've got me down to almost half health already." He wore a grin as he said it, no ill will intended. Bahr even swore he saw a glimmer of pride in the man's eye. "You've gotten strong. Really strong. You know that, right?"

Forward and direct. They'd fostered that sort of attitude together as they'd grown up.

"I question it sometimes. No matter how hard I try, sometimes it feels like it isn't enough. I couldn't even protect you from a damn gob-"

"Don't," he interjected, taking his bloodstained hand from his side and waving it dismissively as he shook his head. "You can't be everywhere at once, and it wasn't your responsibility to protect me. I don't want you carrying that around with you your whole life." There was a beat of silence, and then, "There's a girl, right? I can tell. You always get mushy when that happens." He was grinning coyly, those piercing crimson eyes as intense as a laser pointer. "You should go to her. Be happy. I'll always be a part of you, no matter what happens. So chill, and let the good times roll, alright?"

With that, he assumed an offensive stance once more. Bahr knew the conversation couldn't last forever. The last rays of sunshine were beginning to disappear over the horizon, and he had to keep moving forward. That is, if he could before all of his energy evaporated.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 843/1030 | EN: 75+1-13=63/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 12 | BLD: 36 | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3 

Bahr used [x13] Galaxy Destroyer, -13 EN
ID: 134326 | BD: 10 | PHASE ACTIVATED | Crit for 21x13=273-75=198 DMG | BLEED INFLICTED | BLEED INFLICTS 18 DMG

We Are Broken: HP: 850-198-18=634/1200 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 150 | ACC: 1 | EVA: -1 | THNS: 50
ID: 134327 | BD: 3, Miss

 

[Bahr 0]

Bahr waited for Zayne to make the first move. Zayne waited for Bahr to make the first move. They both hesitantly shifted in place, trying to coax a response out of the other to no avail. All at once, they both leapt forward poising their weapons to strike once the space between them had vanished. Bahr nimbly ducked under the spear as it was plunged forward, leaning into the attack and bringing his blade up from below and carving an uppercut across Zayne's armor. Thick, black energy exploded from the strike, knocking the Undying Knight backward. 

His health bar sat at around a quarter. Still impressive, by all means. Bahr hadn't come across anything else that could handle so many hits from Dawn's Demise and still keep ticking with gas to spare. He waited until Zayne was back on his feet and ready, taking note of the labored breath that escaped his lips. He appeared more serious now than he had before, as though he was determined to leave a more substantial mark on this battle before it had concluded. Bahr couldn't blame him, but he wouldn't make it easy. 
 

Spoiler

Conditional buff activated if We Are Broken is reduced to 35% HP or less: Aincrad's Armor
We Are Broken gains 50 MIT.
We Are Broken now ignores all DoT.

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 843-50=793/1030 | EN: 63+1-13=51/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 12 | BLD: 36 | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3

Conditional buff: AINCRAD'S ARMOR ACTIVE 

Bahr used [x13] Galaxy Destroyer, -13 EN
ID: 134328 | BD: 6 | FALLEN ACTIVATED | Hit for 31x13=403-150=253 DMG | THORNS DEAL 50 DMG | BLEED FAILS TO INFLICT DMG | BLEED EXPIRES

We Are Broken: HP: 634-253=381/1200 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 200 | ACC: 1 | EVA: -1 | THNS: 50
ID: 134329 | BD: 3, Miss

 

[Bahr 0]

No words needed to be spared for this situation. Both of them knew that things were coming to a head, and they didn't have much longer together. Despite the visceral nature of their encounter, they were both enjoying themselves. They'd fought like this in every MMO they'd ever played together. Bahr would scoop up every last scrap of power he could get his hands on, while Zayne sought the staying power to keep himself in the fight. It was the reason why they'd always made such a formidable pairing, and why their fights had always been so interesting. 

Bahr had felt lost in this world without it. It wasn't that he needed someone to take the hits for him, just that he had grown so accustomed to the dynamic. His brushes with death in Aincrad could be partially attributed to that, and his careless attitude when he hadn't yet realized the truth. He'd missed that, and he'd missed this. He'd miss it when it was gone again. But right now, in this moment, he was going to enjoy their final scrap to its fullest.

They dashed forward once more and exchanged blows, Dawn's Demise finding its way into the same side it had carved into earlier, while Zayne's spear punched a hole into the shoulder of Bahr's already wounded arm. It fell limp as the other tightened its grip around Dawn's Demise, Bahr carefully studying Zayne's health bar. It was red now, one more good hit away from total depletion.

The end was near.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 793-50-72=671/1030 | EN: 51+1-13=39/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 12 | BLD: 36 | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3

Conditional buff: AINCRAD'S ARMOR ACTIVE 

Bahr used [x13] Galaxy Destroyer, -13 EN
ID: 134330 | BD: 8 | FALLEN ACTIVATED | Hit for 31x13=403-200=203 DMG | THORNS DEAL 50 DMG 

We Are Broken: HP: 381-203=178/1200 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 200 | ACC: 1 | EVA: -1 | THNS: 50
ID: 134331 | BD: 9, Crit for 151-79=72 DMG

 

[Bahr 0]

Bahr took another pass at Zayne, but failed to put the force into the blow with one arm that he had had with two. It bounced pitifully off of the man's armor, barely even leaving a scratch behind. Zayne, it seemed, was weakened from his wounds as well. He counterattacked with his spear, but the attack was so much slower than it had been before that Bahr had no trouble sidestepping it easily. Another strike shot Bahr's way, but he flicked Dawn's Demise in the way of the spear's tip and weakly deflected it.

The two men stood there for a moment, both hunched over, panting heavily as they gripped their wounds. The sun was long gone by now, leaving them in the quiet darkness that remained. It was a miracle that the battle had carried them from midday into the dead of night, but not surprising. It had become a war of attrition at this point, and thought the end was in sight, it still felt a long way away.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 671-50=621/1030 | EN: 39+1-13=27/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 12 | BLD: 36 | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3

Conditional buff: AINCRAD'S ARMOR ACTIVE 

Bahr used [x13] Galaxy Destroyer, -13 EN
ID: 134332 | BD: 5+4=9, Hit for 19x13=247-200=47 DMG | THORNS DEAL 50 DMG 

We Are Broken: HP: 178-47=131/1200 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 200 | ACC: 1 | EVA: -1 | THNS: 50
ID: 134333 | BD: 3, Miss

 

[Bahr 0]

It wasn't, though. Bahr needed to end it now. If it went on any longer, his energy would be completely depleted and he'd have no chance of winning. So he fueled Dawn's Demise with the last of the energy he could spare, watching as the smoky black tendrils began circling and intermixing with the red. Bahr's attack would be weak with only one arm to guide it, but hopefully Fallen could take care of the rest.

When he plunged the blade foward, Zayne didn't even attempt to stop it. He knew the battle was over. The tip of the sword found its way straight into the first cut Bahr had inflicted and into Zayne's chest. Obsidian energy exploded from Zayne's back, annihilating the armor seated there. When he withdrew the blade, Zayne's health bar had been drained entirely, and the Undying Knight fell backward into the grass. Bahr managed a single step before collapsing forward beside him, his ragged body falling limp as his chest collided with the soft earth.

"Jesus, you kicked my ass," Zayne relented with a frustrated smile as he weakly turned his head to face Bahr. "Always been this way, huh?"

"Not always," Bahr responded wearily. "There was that one time on Asda."

"Oh maaaan, Asda! God, I haven't thought of that game in forever. When you chose the Chaos Faction, and I chose Darkness, right?"

"Yeah. And you went with the spear, I went with the one-handed sword, and we only discovered later that that locked us into which class we would end up being."

"That was such a weird role reversal. Who would have known that the spear would end up being the top DPS, and one-handed sword was pure tank? I remember you getting so frustrated when people would steal the aggro and end up dying because they didn't pace properly."

"Dude, it was like stepping into a totally different world. I never understood why you would yell at me for doing that until I was on the receiving end of it. Turns out even a good tank can drop aggro if the rest of the squad is screwing up."

"You weren't a good tank, dude."

"Really?"

"Pfft, you were horrible. You didn't use your aggro skills enough, your skill tree was jank as hell, and you never figured out how to balance your damage."

"I was that bad?"

"Yeah. I actually started studying the MMOs we played after that before we jumped into them, just to make sure you wouldn't end up being an accidental tank again."

"Sheesh, tryhard."

They both let loose strained chuckles. Bahr only realized now that Zayne's hand had found his, and their fingers had intertwined. Zayne, no, Dante was... crying. Not ugly crying. But tears were sliding across his face and pooling in the grass below.

"I've gotta go."

A moment of silence.

"I know."

"Remember what I told you, alright? Get the girl. Be happy. Don't worry about me. Don't carry me around like that. I'll always be in there, and you can talk to me whenever you want." He gave Bahr's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I love you, man."

"I love you, too."

And then his hand was empty.

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 621-50=571/1030 | EN: 27+1-13=15/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 12 | BLD: 36 | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3

Conditional buff: AINCRAD'S ARMOR ACTIVE 

Bahr used [x13] Galaxy Destroyer, -13 EN
ID: 134334 | BD: 7 | FALLEN ACTIVATED | Hit for 31x13=403-200=203 DMG | THORNS DEAL 50 DMG | We Are Broken defeated

We Are Broken: HP: 131-203=0/1200 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 200 | ACC: 1 | EVA: -1 | THNS: 50

Looting
We Are Broken
ID: 134335
LD: 2+3=5 | CD: 10
19200 + 5% (Guild Buff) = 20160 col

 

[Bahr 0]

He continued to lay in the grass awhile, enough that he actually managed to fall asleep. If he'd had a dream, he couldn't remember it. All he saw was the deepest black he could imagine. That was probably the consequence of falling asleep inside a dream. How many layers could you actually go? It wasn't like this was Inception.

When he came to, the sun had risen again. Miraculous that he hadn't been whisked off to the next stage yet. Was there something that he needed to do first? He tried to push himself off of the ground, but fell when he realized his left arm still wasn't moving. Strange, had the passive healing stopped when he fell asleep? Come to think of it, it was bizarre that he hadn't been attacked by field mobs while he slept. It was like the entire scenario had been put on 'pause' while he recuperated. Though he felt rested, his energy level still read as low, just as it had been when the fight concluded. Seemed he still had some catching up to do if he wanted to survive the final fight.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 571+30=601/1030 | EN: 15+1=16/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 4 | FLN: 12 | BLD: 36 | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3

 

[Bahr 0]

As the passive healing started to work its magic, Bahr slowly regained control of his left arm. His body screamed at him for doing so, but he painstakingly willed it to its feet, recovering Dawn's Demise from where it rested in the grass. He looked around for any indication as to how he could proceed, but was drawing a blank. If nothing else, he had the opportunity to cut down a few mobs and earn back some HP.

So he opened his menu accordingly, shifting through the files until he came to his battle-ready inventory. He tapped on Dracbane and equipped it, replacing Dawn's Demise as it flickered away from the material realm. As though on cue, Bahr was accosted by yet another grouping of Bipedal Boars, which huffed menacingly as they approached. They surrounded Bahr as he weakly raised his weapon, arm still wounded from the fight before. The timing wasn't perfect, but now was as good a time as any to get fixed up. He just hoped they didn't start talking to him again.

DAWN'S DEMISE (T3 - FALLEN | FALLEN | PHASE | BLEED) SWAPPED OUT FOR DRACBANE (T2 - VAMPIRIC OFFENSE | ACC | BLEED)

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 601+30=631/1030 | EN: 100/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 4 | BLD: 24 | VAMPIRIC OFFENSE | LD: 3 | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3

 

[Bahr 0]

Using all the might he could muster, he outstretched his blade and spun, cleaving Dracbane through one mob, then the next, then the next, and finally through the fourth. They all double back from the strike as blood poured from their fresh wounds, but Dracbane had failed to steal any of it from them to fuel Bahr. He huffed in disappointment, steeling himself for the counterattack.

They filed in against him, one after another, in the order they had been struck. Game AI had a funny way of doing that. He dipped and weaved through the rapid succession of attacks before leaping into the air, landing outside of the circle and preparing his blade for the next attack. As confident as he was in his abilities, he knew that he could only dodge for so long if they were all attacking from different angles. It was the safe and smart play to put them on one side, and him on the other.
 

Spoiler

Encounter: Bipedal Boar 5
HP: 500
DMG: 150

Encounter: Bipedal Boar 6
HP: 500
DMG: 150

Encounter: Bipedal Boar 7
HP: 500
DMG: 150

Encounter: Bipedal Boar 8
HP: 500
DMG: 150

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 631/1030 | EN: 100-20=80/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 4 | BLD: 24 | LD: 3 | VAMPIRIC OFFENSE | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3 

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Bipedal Boar 1: HP: 500-228=272/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134336 | BD: 2, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | MD: 7, Miss | -2 EN
Bipedal Boar 2: HP: 500-228=272/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134337 | BD: 5, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | MD: 1, Miss | -2 EN
Bipedal Boar 3: HP: 500-228=272/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134338 | BD: 2, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | MD: 2, Miss | -2 EN
Bipedal Boar 4: HP: 500-228=272/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134339 | BD: 7, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | MD: 8, Miss | -2 EN
-20 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

They lumbered forward, but Bahr was ready. One clean slice, and they were all pushed back yet again. It was pathetic to see the entire herd of mobs pushed around so easily, but Bahr couldn't say that he felt sorry for them. He felt a bit more sorry for himself, in all honesty, for yet again failing to sap away any of their health to use for himself. Not that it made any real difference in the end. How he felt about the situation wouldn't change it.

With any luck, he could steal some away on his next attack, but he wasn't holding his breath. He waited patiently for them to rise as he tightened his grip around the hilt of Dracbane, waiting for the cooldown on his attack to run its course so he could put them all out of their misery. He was done lollygagging. It was time to put this vicious carousel of torment to rest.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 631/1030 | EN: 80+1-20=61/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 4 | BLD: 24 | LD: 3 | VAMPIRIC OFFENSE | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3 

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Bipedal Boar 1: HP: 272-228=44/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134340 | BD: 4, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | MD: 5, Miss | -2 EN
Bipedal Boar 2: HP: 272-228=44/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134341 | BD: 2, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | MD: 6, Miss | -2 EN
Bipedal Boar 3: HP: 272-228=44/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134342 | BD: 6, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | MD: 7, Miss | -2 EN
Bipedal Boar 4: HP: 272-228=44/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134343 | BD: 8, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | MD: 5, Miss | -2 EN
-20 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

At least when he attacked this time, one of the petulant beasts awarded him some pittance of HP. All four of them burst into pixels simultaneously, a loot panel populating that was instantly dismissed. He didn't have any more time to waste on these goons. He needed to get back. To tell her everything that she meant to him. To put this wretched part of his life behind him.

Patience had never been an important asset to Bahr in the past. It had been there, waiting for him to take advantage of it and better his life. But he'd rejected it time after time. Instant gratification was something that was important to him, which was likely part of the reason he'd never found much success in the real world. In Aincrad, he'd been forced to play the long haul. Painstakingly collecting experience through a list of unending quests, fighting monsters in events, helping an old man fish, anything that would propel him forward. He'd been impatient in the beginning, but had learned to slow down and find more enjoyment in his surroundings. Realize the process as a marathon, not a sprint.

But this. This couldn't wait any longer.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 631+103=734/1030 | EN: 61+1-20=42/100 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 79 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 4 | BLD: 24 | LD: 3 | VAMPIRIC OFFENSE | FIREPROOF | PROSPERITY 3 

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Bipedal Boar 5: HP: 44-228=0/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134344 | BD: 3, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | Bipedal Boar 5 defeated | -2 EN
Bipedal Boar 6: HP: 44-228=0/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134345 | BD: 5, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | Bipedal Boar 6 defeated | -2 EN
Bipedal Boar 7: HP: 44-240=0/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134346 | BD: 9, Crit for 20x12=240 DMG | VAMPIRIC OFFENSE HEALS 103 HP | Bipedal Boar 7 defeated | -2 EN
Bipedal Boar 8: HP: 44-228=0/500 | DMG: 150 | ID: 134347 | BD: 3, Hit for 19x12=228 DMG | Bipedal Boar 8 defeated | -2 EN
-20 ENERGY TOTAL

Looting
Bipedal Boar 5
ID: 134348
LD: 7+3=10 | CD: 9
5000 + 5% (Guild Buff) = 5250 col
(4) T3 Materials
(1) T3 Rare Trinket [ID: 134348]

Bipedal Boar 6
ID: 134349
LD: 5+3=8 | CD: 1
5500 + 5% (Guild Buff) = 5775 col
(2) T3 Materials
(1) T3 Uncommon Consumable [ID: 134349]

Bipedal Boar 7
ID: 134350
LD: 8+3=11 | CD: 9
8000 + 5% (Guild Buff) = 8400 col
(2) T3 Materials
(1) T3 Rare Armor/Shield [ID: 134350]

Bipedal Boar 8
ID: 134351
LD: 20+3=23 | CD: 2
8000 + 5% (Guild Buff) = 8400 col
(1) T3 Perfect Trinket [ID: 134351A]
(1) T3 Perfect Weapon [ID: 134351B]

 

[Bahr 0]

He peered into the sky, squinting to adjust his pupils to the sun's unrelenting glow. In contrast to the day before, there were clouds hovering above now. Not quit overcast, but enough that the sun spent just as much time beating down on the landscape as it did saturating the fluffy collections of precipitation. As he watched them go by, something peculiar began to happen. They were coming closer to him. No, he was getting closer to them. He felt no resistance or inertia as the shift took place, only recognized that the clouds were drawing nearer, while the landscape faded away into nothingness.

He now stood amongst the clouds, nothing existing above or below but the endless blue expanse. To his surprise, he found himself alone there, no other presence to perturb him. But he knew it wasn't true. Somewhere close, she was lurking, just waiting to make one of those dramatic entrances she seemed so smitten with. Rather than play her game, Bahr simply waited. She'd get bored soon enough.

[Bahr 0]

"Aww, you're no fun," she chided as her head poked out from behind a cloud. She wore a childish grin, a single brow curled upward while the other remained furrowed. After a moment, she stepped from beyond the fluffy veil into full view. She wore a plain white dress that extended just past her knees, which flowed with the wind in much the same manner her chestnut hair did. He could feel the pressure of her deep green eyes, even from the distance she was. She slowly made her way over to him as they shared the silence, stopping a few paces away and waiting for Bahr's response.

He took a deep breath, then spoke.

"Hi, Scarlet," he said flatly, a sad smile coming to his lips.

"Not gonna use my in-game name?" she inquired, pouting fakely as she put her fists on her hips.

He shrugged. "Never learned it," he admitted, shaking his head.

"Ahh, that's right. We never managed to bump into one another, huh?"

[Bahr 0]

The silence seemed to grow as the conversation went on. Bahr was trying to muster the courage to say what needed to be said, but it was difficult. So Scarlet took the lead instead.

"See you've been hanging around some other chick," she pried, leaning forward and eyeing him scrutinizingly.

"Yeah. Her name's Alyssa, but she goes by Lessa here."

"You dog. Have you even been thinking about me?"

"Of course I have."

"Then why are you out gallivanting around with some other chick?"

He sighed. Why was it always like this? Well, it wasn't always like this. But it was in his mind's eye. He'd relived this exact same conversation over and over again in his head. Why wasn't he thinking about Scarlet? How could he do this to her? Shouldn't she be his priority?

He was sick of it.

"You acted like you didn't see me that way. For so long. I watched you go from guy to guy to guy, and every damn time I was your shoulder to cry on. I'd piece you back together, just so someone else could shatter you again. This process cycled through countless times until finally you paid attention to me. Once. For one night. Then you acted like it just didn't even happen. Deflected and just changed the topic any time I brought it up. And before I knew it, we were trapped here and never saw each other again. I don't even know if you're still alive."

Another sigh.

"It's not fair to me. You rejecting me was fair right up until you didn't, and then acted like nothing happened. Then it became unfair. And I've been unfair to myself to hold onto you for so long. I'll still keep looking for you, but I can't keep putting myself through this."

[Bahr 0]

She simply started at him, eyes wide with disbelief. As though she couldn't comprehend the idea that Bahr wouldn't pine over her forever. Her expression shifted from confused to upset, and from upset to furious. "I guess we better get started, then." A massive ball of flame erupted into existence beside her, the heat poured from its surface causing the very air between them to ripple and ebb. She sank her arm into the flaming orb and retrieved an enormous axe, the staff of which at least double her height with a head that must have weighed as much as she did. The sphere of fire then transferred into the blade, lighting it ablaze.
 

Quote

Encounter: Lasting Standstill
HP: 1200
DMG: 360
MIT: 100
ACC: 3
EVA: 3
FLN: 12
HOLY: 12
THORNS: 50
BLEED: 36
BURN: 36
BLIGHT: 72
PARALYZE

Hey eyed her for a moment, along with the information card that popped up. "I don't think so. I'm tired of fighting this same fight over and over again." He walked forward, scorching his hand as he pushed away her weapon by its flaming head. He didn't flinch, nor did he let go. His hand remained along the axe, guiding it further and further away from him as he approached her. Her took her in an embrace, resting his chin against her shoulder. "I didn't come here to fight you," he said softly. "I came here to say goodbye."

"You think you get a choice?"

"Actually, I do."
 

Quote

Encounter: Scarlet me go
HP: 1/1200
DMG: 0
MIT: 0
ACC: 0
EVA: 0
FLN: 0
HOLY: 0
THORNS: 0
BLEED: 0
BURN: 0
BLIGHT: 0
PARALYZE

"You're not in control here anymore. I am. Really, I always was. But I needed to talk to you before I could make it real."

He squeezed her, and her single remaining HP depleted. "You'll always hold a special place in my heart. But I need to go."

There was a moment of silence. He could feel her tears wetting his neck. Finally, she spoke. "I understand. Go. Be with her."

And then, she shattered.

[Bahr 0]

Once she had gone, the very sky began to splinter and crack. Like a fragile orb of glass, reality began falling away piece by piece in slow motion. The air vibrated turbulently, the disruption to the status quo causing everything to shift and rumble. Beyond the fractured and fading reality was endless white. And when no more reality remained, he was pitched into nothingness. He would not see, hear, feel, smell, or taste anything. 

Then he woke up.

FLOOR 6

He sat beneath the Waterfall of the sage, completely and utterly drenched. Immediately, he opened his menu to check the information. Floor 6. Thirty-one hours after he had first sat down. He'd say he couldn't believe it, but that would be a lie. He'd known this path would be arduous, and he could hardly believe he'd come out on the other side. But he had. Better, stronger. And with the peace of mind that he could finally let go. He owed to himself, and he owed it to her.

He navigated to the messaging panel and started to compose.
 

Quote

To: Lessa

All of me is yours, if you'll be mine.

- Bahr

No. Not like that. Not over a message. He quickly archived it before composing another.
 

Quote

To: @Lessa

I'm taking you on a date. A real one.

Bring something nice to wear, but don't put it on until the time is right.

I'll be there tomorrow morning, around 10AM. If you're not ready by then, I'll go without you.

- Bahr