[PP-F1] 'Beginnings' [Complete]

[Caelam 0]

"It feels so real." Caelam murmured, turning his face up toward the sun. The warmth on his cheeks sent his mind reeling with the realization of just how complete this illusion was. How utterly fooled his senses were by the NerveGear. From the rough material of his tunic to the weight of the naginata holstered on his back, they had thought of everything.

'But it's all a lie,' He reminded himself silently. 'I have to remember that.' Still, virtual or not, a mistake in the game could cost him his life. The NerveGear would dump its charge into his brain and he'd be dead all the same. Casting his gaze out across the rolling plains, the youth wondered just how slim his chances of survival were, and decided he didn't want to know.

After their captor's announcement Caelam had wracked his mind for a solution and decided that his first priority had to be leveling up. Collecting Col was a close second, but a glance at his health bar and the pathetic 5/5 displayed beneath it reminded him that resources would be useless if he died. Swiping a hand through the air in front of him, Caelam brought up his menu and scrolled through the options.

"So, where should we start?" He asked with a glance back at his companion.

[Guest]

"Aye," he muttered his discontented assent to both proclamations, 'It feels so real,' 'but it's all a lie.' Alkor hated both those patterns of thought, because one made him love the game, the other reminded him why he hated it. "Keep thoughts of real life close to your heart. They'll carry you through."

Where he sat, both legs hanging carefree over the side of a boulder next to Caelam, Alkor considered this world and the next. His expression remained grim. "I always remember those days, back home, when we used to write and chat, and talk about everything. But we never really got anywhere with that, did we?"

The topic of the real world was generally taboo in this world, but with Caelam and Alkor, it was different. These two had known each other beyond the veil. Once all this came to an end, Alkor might even call the fella his best friend. "Remind me when we get out of here, and I'll pay for the next round of beers." The wry grin he adopted dispelled the dismal mood instantly, returning them to the task laid out before them.

The chestnut haired youth pointed to a group of small boars, not far from where they had stopped to rest. "We'll start small," Alkor told the younger man, "and learn you the proper use of your chosen weapon. It'll stick with you all the way to endgame, one way or another." He'd chosen swords, but Caelam had picked spears. It was just as well; all paths lead to damage. "Three boars, small HP totals. Just be wary- they do enough to take you down quick if you aren't careful. I'll draw some of the fire so you can worry a bit less," he instructed.

"Whenever you're ready."

[Caelam 0]

Caelam smiled thinly at the jest. "I'm going to hold you to that."

Accessing the skills menu, the youth began to browse through those he could afford. Eventually he decided on a more defensive style and selected Parry. Dismissing the notification that followed, he exited the menu and turned to study the group of boars that Alkor indicated. They didn't look like much, but Caelam was determined not to take any chances.

Reaching back, he tugged his spear free and let it lay against his shoulder. "You know, it's kind of jarring: I've never held a spear in my life, and yet now it feels almost familiar. Talk about a trip." If by some miracle they were both to survive, Caelam resolved to take him up on his offer. It would be comforting, knowing there was someone who had gone through the same things. He suddenly started off toward the boars, keeping a measured pace as he studied the group of virtual enemies.

The boars were positioned in what resembled a lazy arrow formation, the nearest facing Caelam and Alkor, with the other two stationed further back and off to the sides. Only the closest boar noticed them as they approached, though he had a feeling that would change once they closed in. Gripping his weapon tightly, the youth took a steadying breath and glanced over. "How do you want to do this?"

[Guest]

The sound of steel sliding from a scabbard sounded surreal. Alkor faced the trio of swine confidently, though it had not been long since one had given him the fright of death. He was determined to ensure that Caelam wouldn't have to worry about it quite as much as he had. "First, we'll get their attention," he said with a smirk.

Mobs had a designated area of aggressiveness. That was how players figured out how to evade them or move from one area to the next safely. For the sake of battles, players could get ready and approach at their leisure, provided they knew exactly how far from the creature they could get away with being.

His blade flicked harmlessly just above blades of grass, inches from the dirt. Each step he took felt purposed, and with them, his gaze darkened. Alkor's face became heavy with purpose- something it had seldom ever done in the real world. This game had brought out of him parts he had not seen before. It was invigorating, and it was terrifying.

"Left side!" He called, running forward at a quick pace. He fell onto his hip, sliding like a baseball player toward home, and ripped his Anneal blade through the air at the boar as he skidded past. The boar skipped harmlessly over the blade, twisting round to squeal it's fury toward the player who had attacked.

"Now! While they're on me!" Alkor called out to Caelam as he recovered from his blundering attempt to cleave the pig. He barely got his blade up in time to prevent damage, and the impact rocked through him violently. He visibly gritted his teeth, feet digging into the dirt as his blade stopped the twin tusks of the first boar.

Alkor misses! (0 dmg) (Hate +1)

Alkor (13/13)

Caelam (5/5)

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (3/3)

Boar 3 (3/3)

[Caelam 0]

"On it!" Caelam growled, sprinting forward in Alkor's wake. He was only a few steps away from the lead boar as it turned to counter attack. Moving on instinct he planted his lead foot, throwing himself behind a thrust of his spear to the creature's flank. Again Caelam marveled at the programming, at how easy it had been to let it guide his movements. It felt natural as could be. 'Focus!'

Despite his fervor his blade missed its target and sent him stumbling toward the boar on the left. Catching himself, he whirled to face it, leaving Alkor on his own with the first boar. Backing slowly to keep his distance, the youth brought his spear to the fore, placing its blade between them.

"Watch your back," He called, nodding toward the boar encroaching upon Alkor's flank.

Caelam misses! (0 dmg)

Alkor (13/13)

Caelam (5/5)

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (3/3)

Boar 3 (3/3)

[Guest]

"The bad thing about drawing aggro," Alkor called, "is that more than one can be sort of dangerous."

It was a lesson he was learning at the same time as Caelam. Inadvertently, one he wished would be a little less painful than this would doubtless become in very short order. The best he could do for now was try to thin out the onslaught a little bit before it got out of hand. The second boar- behind him- charged, and Alkor twisted his body in an attempt to bring his sword onto a collision course with the monster. If he could just land this hit, he'd be spared a very bad time.

"Good enough," he spat as his blade sliced through the small beast easily. Critical hits, while they didn't happen all that often, we're huge game changers. Especially this time around. The monster scattered into an indeterminate stream of data, leaving behind a beautiful storm of yellow that would have been a marvel, if either player had the time to give it any thought.

"Your turn," Alkor called back to his partner.

Alkor lands a critical hit! (4 damage- 1 base +1 weapon +1 skill +1 crit)

Alkor (13/13)

Caelam (5/5)

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (Dead)

Boar 3 (3/3)

[Caelam 0]

He watched long enough to see Alkor cleave through the mob at his back effortlessly before turning his attention back to his own target. The boar snorted and pawed at the ground as it edged forward. The spear felt heavy in his hands, but what choice did he have save to press the attack? There was only one way forward, and he wouldn't shy away.

Caelam suddenly hopped forward, lashing out in a long, wide arc at his foe.

"Tch!" Another miss, but he'd come closer this time. He felt as if he were on the verge of understanding, simply waiting for things to fall perfectly into place. The boar rushed forward, ducking beneath his blade and springing up to ram viciously into his chest. There was no pain- just a shuddering impact and a lurching feeling in his stomach, like when you expect there to be another step and your foot meets empty air.

He winced as he stumbled backward, then risked a glance at his health bar. It was still green, but before his eyes a chunk was unceremoniously removed. "Damn it."

If he kept making mistakes like that...well, he wouldn't be trapped here for long. Gritting his teeth, he brought his spear up into a guard and advanced once more.

Caelam misses! (0 Dmg)

Alkor (13/13)

Caelam (4/5)

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (dead)

Boar 3 (3/3)

[Guest]

When he saw the boar take a chunk out of Caelam's diminutive health bar, Alkor snorted his chagrin at the fact he couldn't jump in and put a blade through the boar. Instead, he had his own problems to deal with. He kept his blade level, watching the last of the three boars intently.

The beast thrashed toward him, and he threw himself forward to meet the strike head on. "Gah!" He felt the misstep more than he saw it, the boar's tusks goring his arm and jarring his blade out to the side. It wasn't a devastating hit or anything, but it knocked his reprisal to the side and left the boar unharmed.

"No good," he grumbled, "keep going! Only one way to get better, right?" He put on his best, most supportive smirk as he shook out the hit, nodding in the direction of Caelam.

Alkor misses! (0 dmg)

Alkor (12/13)

Caelam (4/5)

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (Dead)

Boar 3 (3/3)

[Caelam 0]

'Well,' Caelam mused humorlessly. 'At least I'm not the only one having an off day.' Of course it had nothing to do with skill, he knew, or effort, or determination. In the end their fates were decided by an algorithm. The notion was slightly unsettling, but he pushed it away. The boar currently preparing for another charge was currently of much greater concern than his own nihilistic musings.

As it rushed forward the youth dropped low, feet and legs somehow knowing just how to position themselves as he brought his spear up in a vicious thrust meant to skewer the boar as it sailed toward him. Grim purpose was etched in every line of his face; he couldn't afford to lose any more health to this mob, and so it had to end now.

'Or not,' He had time to think just before the boar crashed into him, bowling him over. He'd missed again, and the shuddering lurch that shot through him as he picked himself told him that his mistake had cost him another point of precious HP.

"Son of a [censored]. First piece of loot I find had better be an accuracy buff or I'm screwed." He hollered conversationally as he circled around to the side, looking for a fresh angle of attack.

Caelam misses! (0 Dmg)

Alkor (12/13)

Caelam (3/5)

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (Dead)

Boar 3 (3/3)

[Guest]

"Happens to everyone," Alkor assured his friend off handedly

"Just keep at it." As he spoke, the fleet footed youth turned toward the next boar, seeking to skewer it with a vicious thrust.

When his blade split the third boar, Alkor turned his lit up gaze toward Caelam. "See? Last one's yours," he said as though it weren't even a challenge to him. In reality, it wasn't- with his equipment and skills, these boars went down in a single true stricken hit.

He took a step back and sheathed his sword, folding his arms to watch over Caelam like an elder brother. With the excess mobs out of the way, the weaker player wouldn't have to worry about getting overrun.

Alkor deals 3 damage! (1+1+1)

Alkor 12/13

Caelam 3/5

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (Dead)

Boar 3 (Dead)

[Caelam 0]

"Yeah." He answered without taking his eyes off the last remaining mob. Listing lazily to the right, he circled the program, working out a plan of attack. So far the head on approach had failed him miserably, but at level one his options were limited. Should he use the Parry skill he'd acquired? 'No,' Caelam thought to himself. 'Maybe that would've been a viable tactic earlier in the fight, but now my HP is too low to be trading damage. I have no choice but to press the attack. It's all or nothing.'

With a sudden growl he exploded forward, sprinting at the boar. The naginata ripped upward as he neared, poised over his head for one pounding heartbeat before its sudden, slashing descent. The blade whistled as it sliced through the air...and skimmed just past the boar as it launched itself forward in another vicious lunge. 'No!'

Planting his lead foot, Caelam twisted out of the mob's path and turned to follow it. As it landed and circled back for another attack the youth raised his spear. "Come on!"

Caelam misses! (0 Dmg)

Alkor 12/13

Caelam 3/5

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (Dead)

Boar 3 (Dead)

[Guest]

"You've got this," Alkor called to Caelam reassuringly, a hand next to his mouth to give more reach to his voice. It was Caelam's turn to kill one, since Alkor had already taken out two of the boars. He didn't need to prove anything, nor did these enemies even prove much of a challenge for him. Rather, he wanted to get his friend stronger so that they could move up together toward the higher floors. Their goal: the front lines.

"Every journey starts with a single step," he said quietly, more to himself as he watched Caelam dance the deadly waltz with a common, beginner's enemy. It wasn't graceful or elegant, and it lacked the finesse of an upper level fight- not that Alkor had every really seen one of those- but it was something. It was the best either of them could manage, and that was alright.

His gaze bored into the youth. "Keep your guard up," he coached, "wait for an opening. Then, strike!"

[Caelam 0]

Caelam was so intent on the fight that he barely heard his friend's assurances. The boar wasted little time in responding to his invitation, rearing back on its hind legs with a squealing snort before dropping into a charge. As the beast thundered across the space between them, the youth let out a long, slow breath. If his luck didn't turn around soon he risked having his brains fried. Of course Alkor would step in if he could, but having to be rescued wasn't in his gameplan, either.

He came up on the balls of his feet as the beast approached, knowing that if he missed he would need to move quickly to avoid losing more of his precious HP. As twisted to the right and brought his blade arcing around his wake, it seemed like a sure thing. Yet his attack somehow went high, swishing harmlessly over the boar's head.

"Ugh. I don't even want to play anymore. Oh, wait-" He chuckled, mostly in exasperation. At least he'd avoided taking another hit. Hopefully he could land a critical soon and end it once and for all.

[Guest]

Maybe I should step in...? Alkor considered the option silently, though he knew Caelam wouldn't appreciate it if he did. For now, the young swordsman elected to remain back and wait for his friend to deal the last few blows to the boar. If it did come to a point where Alkor needed to intervene, he would do so.

[Caelam 0]

The sun shone brightly on the plains and the gentle breeze wafted through the knee high grass. For all intents and purposes it was a calm and beautiful day, and wholly indifferent to the battle. The youth gripped his spear tightly. For whatever reason the boar paused in its attack, dark eyes watching him closely. Another variation in whatever algorithm governed its attack pattern?

Again he regretted waiting so long to use his ability. While it would have meant trading blows, it also would've been a surefire way to grind the boar's HP down to nothing. Instead he attacked again and again, all with the same result. He glanced at the HP meter hovering above him and grimaced. The boar gave a snort and charged again.

This time when his spear flashed forward and missed the beast's flank by a hand's width, he was expecting it. It didn't take the sting out of his frustration, or do much to hamper the anger burgeoning within him, but this time his resolve didn't falter, and he didn't retreat. Skipping aside to avoid the boar's tusks, Caelam wheeled about and gave pursuit.

Caelam misses! (0 Dmg)

Alkor 12/13

Caelam 3/5

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (Dead)

Boar 3 (Dead)

[Guest]

When the pig rushed past Caelam and started to break and turn, Alkor tapped the mob with a foot to distract it. He looked around- this didn't count as an act of aggression, however, the game would throw Hate onto Alkor for coming into contact with the Boar. Hands tucked into pockets like a true miscreant, Alkor whistled innocently as the beast turned and swiped for him with its tusks. "Now hit it," Alkor said offhandedly. Hopefully, this would create the opening Caelam needed.

[Caelam 0]

"I don't need your help," Caelam started to say, but the words died in his throat. Such a petty remark had little place here, especially when it was so obviously untrue. Gritting his teeth, the youth picked up speed struck once more, throwing himself behind the spear and letting out a shout.

It quickly changed to a growl as his blade whistled past the boar. What in the hell was going on!? This made no sense. Alkor had dispatched two of these creatures effortlessly, and while he was a higher level, the difference in their stats wasn't high enough to explain his failure to land even a single blow.

Caelam misses! (0 Dmg)

Alkor 12/13

Caelam 3/5

Boar 1 3/3

[Guest]

"Here," he offered, slowly drawing his blade from its resting place at his side. "I'll finish this one, maybe. Next time we might go for something smaller...?" He knew it wasn't any fault of Caelam's, but the boy was probably seething from his inability to strike anything. "I know the feeling," he said softly, "Accuracy is harder to grasp than it looks."

Before he could strike, the boar wrested free from him and got far enough for the swing to go wide. Alkor laughed out at the irony. "Welp, looks like I'm not hitting anything, doesn't it?"

He nodded to indicate it was Caelam's time to shine.

Alkor (13/15)

Caelam (3/5)

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (Dead)

Boar 3 (Dead)

[Caelam 0]

Caelam groaned as his companion drew his blade. He'd hoped to avoid Alkor having to intervene, but he had to admit that his constant missing was becoming ridiculous. He tried to keep the exasperation from his face but failed. The way before him seemed insurmountable; if he couldn't even hit this stupid boar then what chance did he have of ever reaching the front lines? Even then he would still be a far cry from escaping.

A half-hearted smile crossed his features as the boar lunged away from Alkor's strike. Its maneuver brought it within range of his spear, so Caelam stepped forward and thrust with his spear, one handed, looking to bury the blade in the creature's ribs. It twisted at the last moment, evading his strike as the youth had expected it to. It circled around at a slow trot, huffing indignantly, and then set its gaze on Alkor once more.

'Obviously his Hate score is way higher than mine,' Caelam silently acknowledged. His shoulders slumped as he resigned himself to observing the rest of the battle.

Alkor (13/15)

Caelam (3/5)

Boar 1 (3/3)

Boar 2 (Dead)

Boar 3 (Dead)

[Guest]

"Just die!" Alkor called out loudly, and he stabbed his blade out for the boar. His eyes burned with an almost crazed hatred of the creature, it's annoyance now far too great to tolerate. Caelam hadn't even managed a single hit, though his experience was slowly rising from the encounter. For that, Alkor caught a bit of relief.

Still, it wouldn't be over until they killed this boar. Once they did that, they could go do something else. Maybe get Caelam a bit stronger before the next attempt. No sooner had he thought it than the boar scattered into oblivion, and Alkor sheathed his blade in frustration. "Let's try something else for now," Alkor said, snorting out his now visible discontent for the entire situation. They might have been there all day.

(All boars are dead, combat ended)