The glass window panes began to rattle violently, pulling me awake in seconds. The sky outside darkened, something massive had blocked out the sun. I crawled over and looked outside. What I saw sent my stomach into a knot.
"Is that… a fucking demon dragon?" I asked my friend, who had joined me beside the window, stealing glimpses. "Holy shit, dude, how the fuck am I supposed to survive with those things flying around?"
"It looks like it was ripped right out of a JRPG, dude…" Daniele crawled over to where he had slept, crawling back under his blanket. "Wake me when it's over…"
"You're really set on staying here?" I asked, joining him on his couch. "You could come with me, you know. I could protect you until something happens." Tugging his blanket down, revealing his face, I continued, "It could be fun. You said yourself you haven't even explored what powers you got in all of this," I said, trying to change his mind.
"I'm gonna stay here, man. If you want to go out and try to be a hero, be my guest." Pulling at his blanket, which I held tightly so as to not let him cover his face again. "Let go… I don't want to waste the effort when the result is just going to be me dying… or worse, I get in your way and get you killed." Winning the game of tug-of-war, he pulled the blanket back over his head.
Satisfied with his answer, I walked back over to where I had slept and sat. "...you'll die here too, you know? Leaving you feels wrong…" Thinking about the time we spent together, a laugh escaped my mouth. "I'll stop this stupid game, if I can. Sit tight and wait, okay?"
"I was joking, Sam. That was a literal dragon, dude… how are you going to kill something like that?"
"Come to me, Sword of the Arbiter."
A hilt cut through space, the mana flowed out of the hole until it closed after being pulled out. "This thing, I think…" I said as I held the sword, aura floating from the blade in waves, disturbing the air. "If I can figure this thing out, maybe I can win this game before it ends."
After I put my sword away, we talked the morning away, talking about the raids we had conquered together and how they had followed each other from RPG to RPG. When the afternoon sunlight hit the cherry blossoms and my things were packed, I left my friend.
As I walked in the opposite direction of the demi-dragon that had flown overhead, for fear of my life, I continued my search for some understanding.
A couple hours into the walk, my system panel flashed, startling me and pulling my mind back to the present.
[ QUEST: INVESTIGATE THE SHIBUYA TRAIN STATION ]
"Seriously… I was just in Shibuya," I complained loudly, changing my course to head back to Shibuya. "Maybe someone or something is there that will help… or not, I guess. It could be a trap."
As I neared the exit of the city, many humanoid demons could be seen patrolling the area, ripping cars open or smashing doors in as they searched. Demon dogs were scattered around the area, all sniffing for their next meal.
I tucked myself behind a building, lowering myself to lower my presence. "I'm going to have to be careful… a few maybe, but this…" I counted the figures in the distance. "This is just too damn much."
"Maybe a skill?" I thought out loud, calling for my system panel. "Let's see…"
I scrolled the skills page, forgoing the hunt for a strength skill and looking for something stealthy. My skill points were still partially glitched out, so spending points from a bank with an unknown bottom would not be smart. I searched for a few minutes until one caught my eye.
[ SKILL: VEIL OF THE BETRAYER ]
[ The user erases their presence from the perception of all entities within range. ]
[ Targets do not forget the user—they simply fail to acknowledge their existence unless directly interfered with. ]
| • Detection is replaced with indifference |
| • Aggression is delayed unless provoked |
| • Awareness returns instantly upon direct action |
[ Cost: Moderate mana over time ]
[ Scaling: Increases duration and resistance to high-tier perception ]
Activating my new skill, I walked as quietly as possible toward the stairs leading into the depths. Midway, I tripped on a rock, sending it and myself tumbling.
The sound drew the attention of the demons in the area, none drawn directly to my area. Some screeched toward each other like they were spreading information.
The last to speak had its eyes locked on me, making me question if the new skill was fully working. I picked my pace up, the demons gaze followed until a noise behind them pulled its attention away.
Using that moment I ran, fumbling down a few stairs before catching my footing and letting the breath I was holding out.
I continued my journey down the tracks, using the idea of there not being any running trains without power.
After an hour I knew I was right as a train came into view, lying idle between stops. Forcing the door open the smell of rot and death entered my senses, causing me to gag uncontrollably in disgust.
"They died stuck in here, starved or they ran out of air… I feel so bad," I walked through the train cart, deteriorating bodies of passengers covered the floor and chairs.
Cart after cart each filled with death, I was forced to continue through each unable to continue without it.
"I hope that's the only train stuck down here… I'm not sure I could handle that again." I said out loud, trying to use my voice to ground myself.
"Are you a player?" A voice called from the shadows. "I mean… Why else would someone be down here." They continued, stepping out and coming into the light. "You were told to come here weren't you?"
As I turned toward the voice my system screen appeared.
[ PLAYER NEARBY ]
[ WARNING_WARNING_WARNING ]