The Clash With Legendaries

It was 17th day of the month of Fibula in the eighteenth year of the game. I have been staying away from the frontlines with Liza since two and half years. That night however, we got an emergency message from Heathway informing us that the 800th Stage's GM has been located and they needed help.

The next morning, I was sitting in the drawing room of our home, as Liza who was already ready spoke up, "What's the matter?" I got up from my thought, "Ah…Nothing, I was just wondering how fast these two years went off." We were supposed to report to the HQ at 12 noon, and it was almost 10 am.

Naren came to the transportation gate to see us off. He'd said he wanted to talk, so the three of us sat down on a bench to the side of the square. Naren gazed up towards the sky above as he began to speak. "I'll be honest…I've been keeping everyone who's on the higher stages, fighting to beat this game, out of sight and out of mind. It might as well have been happening in a different world altogether. Perhaps I gave up on ever getting out of here."

We listened in silence. "As you know, in the electronics business, things evolve a mile a minute. I've been a tinkerer since I was just a toddler, so I managed to keep up until now, but two decades away from the business is too long. If getting home means I'll just be a useless bump on a log feeling sorry for myself, maybe I'm better off staying here and enjoying a good fish, I figured…" He trailed off, a small smile on his lined face. I didn't know what to say to him. There was no way I could imagine what a man in his position had lost, being trapped in Blade Work Saga.

"Me, too," Liza mumbled. "I thought the same thing until about ten years ago. I cried myself to sleep every night. Every day, my family, my friends, my school, my entire reality seemed to break down a little bit more. I felt like I was going crazy. When I slept, all my dreams were of the real world…I did nothing but work on my skills, trying to beat the game as quickly as I possibly could." Surprised, I turned to look at her. I would never have guessed that based on my first meeting with her. Of course, I was never known for being particularly observant of others…

Liza shot a glance at me, then smiled. "But one day about a decade ago, I transported to the front line to tackle the latest dungeon, and I saw someone napping on the grass in front of the dungeon. He seemed to be pretty high-level, which made me angry. I told him, 'If you're just going to waste your time around here, could you please assist us in clearing the dungeon instead?' " She put a hand to her mouth and giggled. "So he says, 'This is the day with the best weather settings in the best season of Arcadian. It'd be a waste to spend it in a dungeon.' Then he points to the grass next to him and says, 'C'mon, relax a little.' I mean, how rude can you get?"

She stifled another giggle, then looked to the horizon. "But that brought me to my senses. This guy is just living his life here, I thought. He isn't losing another day in the real world; he's gaining another day in this world. I never realized anyone saw it that way. So I sent my guild-mates ahead, and I lay down in the grass next to him. The next thing I knew, the breeze was so nice, and the air so warm and comfortable, I dozed right off. No bad dreams—it was probably the deepest sleep I'd had since coming here. When I woke up, it was evening, but he was still there with me, looking exasperated. That was him."

Liza squeezed my hand. She smiled for a moment, then turned back to Naren, who was smiling as he listened to us. "Ever since that day, I stopped having the nightmares. I figured out where he lived, and I'd tried to make time when I could go see him…Eventually, I began looking forward to each new morning. When I realized I was in love with him, I was filled with such joy. I wanted to treasure that feeling. For the first time, I felt glad that I was here…"

Liza looked down, rubbed her eyes with her golden gloves, then took a deep breath. "To me, Naperjet is the reason that I've spent the eighteen years here, the proof that I've lived, and the hope for tomorrow. I put on the Soul Box that day just to find him. Mr. Naren, it might not be my place to say this, but I think you must have found something here as well. This might be a virtual world, where everything we see is just artificial data, but our hearts are real. This means that everything we've experienced and gained here is real, too."

Naren blinked and nodded his head vigorously. I could see his eyes flashing behind his glasses. I had to blink the heat out of my eyes, myself. It was me. I was the one who was saved. There was no meaning to my life, whether in the real world or trapped in this world, until I met her.

"Indeed…indeed," Naren murmured, looking up at the sky. "Just listening to your story was a valuable experience for me, Liza. This is not worth giving up on life. It's not worth it." He gave one big nod and stood. "Well, I've taken enough of your time. You've taught me what I needed to know—that as long as folks like you are fighting above, it's only a matter of time until we make it back to the real world. I can't do anything for you, but…give it everything you've got. Everything."

He clasped my hand and shook it vigorously. "We'll be back. You'll visit us, won't you?" I made a fishing motion and he gave a big nod, his face crinkling. We shook hands once again, then headed for the transportation gate. Liza and I walked into the shimmering heat mirage, faced each other, and spoke together. "Teleport: Granddame!" The white light expanded and eventually blotted out Naren, eternally waving.

We were in the guild war room of 'The Golden Knights' by 11:30 am. Heathway had scheduled the meeting at 12 but surprisingly we get quite a company despite our early arrival. I found out Asri, "Hey Asri! What's the status of the GM?" He turned towards me, "Hey Naperjet! Hi Liza! Long time no see? I thought you were retired as clearers." I joked, "Yeah! If that were so, Heathway would have killed me for asking retirement despite having a GM skill."

We laughed out, and Liza interrupted, "Why don't you and Koruko take a break and enjoy a few days in peace. It's very relaxing." I continued, "Yeah and Liza will teach you how to fish." By the time we finished our little chit-chat, Heathway arrived and entered like a king in his court.

"Thank you everyone for coming here. This time I suppose we're facing quite a strong and dangerous enemy. Our recon squad was almost decimated by the GM but fortunately they managed to get off right in time." Heathway began and then showed a detailed map of the GM lair. "This GM can come out of his lair upto this gate here. However, healing does not work outside its chamber. So now I would like you all to put up ideas for strategy against the GM."

One of the guild leaders came forward "We can lure him out of his lair and ambush him." This idea was however voted out since it had a lot of loopholes. I asked Heathway to give some detailed information about the GM and his lair. He began, "The GM wields a double handed staff, the name of the GM is unknown and it dons a light metal armor. About the lair, well the inner chamber is the same as usual, guarded by a door but the outer chamber has some pillar like structure along the circumference that is about twelve feet high."

Linda, the leader of BDA suggested sending a second recon team, this time to particularly know about the GM and his skills. I, Asri and Liza were particularly asked to go for the recon. The team was selected and was supposed to leave at 4 in the evening and the meeting was disbanded. After the meeting, I went to Heathway, "We need to talk in alone, now." He nodded and led to his chambers. I, Asri and Liza followed him inside and he offered us a seat.

Before even I could begin, he apologized, "I apologize for calling you out from your retirement in such a hurry. I know that I was the one to suggest after the Cordele incident for you to get a break." I interrupted, "It won't be necessary, but I need to talk about taking down the GM. Actually…" I was unable to actualize the words inside my mind, so Asri continued, "…We fear that this time recon will not be successful. So we came up with a back-up plan."

At 4 pm the new recon team consisting of ten tanks, five archers and ten attackers took off for the dungeon. We went through the entire maze-like dungeon right to the outer gate of the lair. I noted the time; it was 5:30 pm and we opened the first gate. As it opened, we saw a dozen pillars surrounding the inner gate where the GM was. I turned to Liza and Asri, "If anything goes wrong get the archers ready."

We proceeded towards the door that had the GM behind it. The door opened almost effortlessly and we got the first glimpse of inside. The room was almost empty and the door leading to the bridge was visible right through. Asri whispered, "Usually the GM lies right in between the entrance door and the exit. Could it be that it has already been defeated."

I wasn't sure of it and wondered, 'We are just outside the room. According to info, we must retreat to the previous door to escape but if the GM can come out, how come he isn't attacking us.' Before I could think of anything else, the recon team moved inside and someone shouted, "Where's the GM?" Surprised, I entered the room and looked here and there. Asri shouted, "Watch out!!!" and pushed me hard. As I fell, I saw a staff-class weapon flying past me. The weapon flew back upwards into the hand of a chimp.

"What is that?" I shouted. The chimp was not standing on ground nor hanging from wall or something. "It is floating on a cloud? What is that GM?" Liza exclaimed. I focused on the GM and tried to bring out the name but he kept on flying here-and-there. At this rate, it was impossible for us to determine his name; so I ordered a swift retreat. The GM flew around laughing and behaving strangely.

We went out the first door and swiftly went to the second when his staff came out and enlarged to block the entire gate. We turned around to see him standing on his cloud while laughing, "You are not going out without my permission." I focused on him to bring out a cursor; it read 'Sun-Wu-Kong – The Monkey King'.

Liza shouted, "Everyone get ready for combat, Archers to position." And jumped to the top of one of the pillars. We took attacking positions and hoped for our plan to work. According to the legend, 'The Monkey King' was nearly invincible and had a wide variety of attacks in its arsenal.

The GM summoned his staff and charged upon us. The tanks soaked up the damage but weren't in sufficient numbers for switch rotation. We distracted it as much as possible and began to wear it out. The so-called battle continued for about an hour when we heard the footsteps of people. The reserve forces under Heathway had come at last.

It was our backup plan; if we didn't return within an hour after entering the dungeon, Heathway would come in with the best manageable assault team. At last the Man of Legend showed up with his backup and we switched out for healing, Heathway came to me as I was under healing effect from a potion, "What's the status?" I replied, panting, "He's the Monkey King, the staff can vary in size and he floats about. Nothing on his special ability." He thanked me and went forward to the assault team to help them.

As the healing finished, and we had our HP's full, we too joined the fight, but attacking a flying enemy was way too difficult for us. Only Archers and Lancers had the chance of hitting him, even my offensive shield ability failed to hit him due to his speed. Except for them all other players only defended against the incoming attacks and protected the main attackers.

The battle went on for hours and hours, even after a full five hour battle the GM's HP only halved; but then he cackled and split into two. The whole fifty-player assault team was awestruck, the only relief we had was that there was only a single staff and both had equal HP, i.e. half of the total one. We were totally dependent on archers and lancers now but the exhaustion of battle was clearly visible on everyone.

The co-ordination between the two chimps was perfect and though their attacking power decreased due to a single weapon used by two along with their defense since one was always open to attacks, they made for it by their speed. I, Asri and Heathway the three GM-level skill users, and probably the strongest players of the game watched helplessly as we couldn't do anything other than to defend and manage the hate.

Somehow we managed to hold our ground and chip out another 25% HP from the chimp duo, and then the two split again; now there were four chimps. The morale of the assault team was dwindling fast. "At this rate, we won't last much longer." I grumbled, Asri continued, "Looks like as their HP halves, their numbers double." The attack power and defense decreased but still their numbers and tactics overwhelmed us totally.

Suddenly, something clicked my mind and I turned to Heathway, "How much time you think we can hold off?" He replied, "An hour or so. Why'd you ask?" I smiled and turned around dashing out of the chamber, "Wait for me." I went running to the transportation gate and shouted the command, "TRANSPORT TRANSOM". I went straight to the guild HQ of the BDA.

At this moment, they were our only hope and I must return within an hour or the existing assault team would perish. The two guards on the front-gate tried to stop me, "I want to talk to Linda! Fast!" A guard exclaimed "Hold On! You must take permission first."

I lost my cool due to the urgency and grappled the guard by his collar, "I don't have time for your little trifles understand. Right now the lives of fifty players are at stake, I want an audience now." The other guard seemed to have understood the grave situation and called up his menu and probably messaged Linda.

A minute later, he said "All right! You may go." I released the guard and charged straight into the HQ and further into the war-room. Linda and the elites of the guild were there waiting for me, supposedly. I passed through the long tables and went straight to Linda, "I want your help to tackle the GM."

She stared at me, "Naperjet! You went there for recon with twenty-five players. I want you to answer me one thing, how come there are fifty players now?" Her question was obvious and I hesitated to give an answer. Sensing my hesitation, she continued, "All right! The war-meeting is dismissed." I shrugged off all my hesitation and spoke up, "We devised a back-up plan that if we didn't come out in time, Heathway would come in with our best elites and now they are being pinned down by the GMs."

A man stood up, "This is absurd. You tried to take on the GM alone and when you are in trouble, you came running to us. I propose we should just let them pay for their betrayal." Similar voices began rising up from the whole meeting, Linda turned towards me, "If I ask for a vote then you're doomed. Anyways…"

A voice interrupted, "I heard something strange, did he just mentioned GMs. I think we should at least listen to him completely before vote." It was Smith, one of the elites in the guild. The chorus voice subsided and Linda asked me to explain the situation completely. I began,

"We went there for recon as planned, the GM lair has two chambers the outer one had about a dozen pillar like structures. After noting everything in the outer chamber, we opened the inner chamber. The GM was not in his original designated place and as we entered the chamber we were attacked by a flying staff.

The staff went flying into the hands of a chimp. It was the GM; its name is Sun-Wu-Kong, The Monkey King. The GM floated on something that looked like a cloud. He has incredible speed, but not very impressive attack or defense. And he has a special ability to split into two each time his HP fell by half. We managed to take down his HP by 75% and now are facing four.

His incredible speed and flight makes us swordsmen helpless and now only lancers, spear wielders and archers are dealing the damage while all others are keeping the GM from attacking them. They won't last long against such an opponent."

The whole room listened patiently as I revealed the details of the fight and after I finished Linda put up a vote, there were twenty-one people in the war-room and the final vote came ten in favor of help and ten against it. The last vote was of Linda's. She turned to me and taunted, "Looks like you got screwed up, Rogue Swordsman. Since you don't have much time, I'll ask this straight."

I was really worried if she would ask me to defect to her guild. Seeing me getting tensed up, she patted me behind "Don't worry, I know it is useless to ask you to defect to our guild. It is well known that even the H-guild leader Diabolos couldn't make you join his side, despite his lucrative offers. Anyways do you have any strategy?"

The question meant that the result of the vote 11-10 in the favor of helping. I felt like I would cry due to happiness, after all I was never a good diplomat or I wouldn't have joined the Golden Knights in the first place. I held my emotions and somehow his them from the emotion re-creation engine and began, "We need all players who have bows, spears, lances and throw-able weapons. We also need a supply team that would back-up everyone with potions and other healing items."

Linda commanded "All right! Send an emergency guild message that we need all archers, lancers and spearmen. Summon all the guild crafters with their best material. We'll leave in 10 minutes. The meeting is dismissed." The room was empty within a minute; I turned to Linda, "Thank You for hearing me and helping me in such a short notice."

She smiled, "You and the sub-commander of the Golden Knights are registered as a couple. Congratulations on your marriage. And regarding this, just promise me a treat in your home." I was almost surprised by this demand but accepted it.

Within ten minutes, there was a huge assault team of nearly 80 players, along with the supply corps. The strategy was explained to the whole team and we went straight to the frontline dungeon. It was about one and half hour since I left and I just prayed that they would hold on.

As we reached the GM chamber, I saw the team holding their ground barely but the GM, now there were sixteen chimps flying here and there. Heathway and Asri saw me and shouted, "Where the heck were you?" I smiled giving thumbs up, "I got re-enforcements." They watched in shock as the 70 player re-enforcements barged in while the ten crafters stood outside with the potions and healing items.

Linda shouted, "Half will engage the GM, the other half help the others evacuate." Everyone from the former assault team came out of the chamber and the crafters gave them a healing potion each. I did a quick head count and fortunately I didn't come any short.

The battle continued as we watched the ranged weapon users to struggle against the multiple GMs. As the health of all GMs went beyond 2%, Linda came to me "Its time, I'll have them evacuate in 2 minutes. You'll have the Final Attack Bonus." I nodded and followed her into the chamber.

Linda ordered the assault team to retreat while I saw that there were more than 30 GMs. I gave out a battle roar to draw the attention of all the GMs, as they all targeted me Linda had everyone to evacuate and went out of the chamber. "Now you will not escape this." I shouted and initiated the offensive shield weapon art Infinity Loop.

The art missed at the first attempt but now it would not miss. There were too many targets now and the arts clairvoyance boost also helped. The shield flew endlessly and I saw the GMs scramble here and there though it didn't help and in a few minutes the number of GMs began to decrease.

Suddenly, I saw them retreating to the inner chamber. I remembered that once the GM goes inside the inner chamber, its healing ability will be enabled. I could not let that happen or all the effort will go to waste, so I rushed towards the door intercepted the GMs and executed a massive area effective weapon art.

The GM abandoned its escape plan and focused their attack on me. The staff changed hands constantly and bore down on me. I wasn't prepared for tanking nor did I have any impressive defenses, so I decided to counter it by counterattack. The number of GM's began decreasing owing to the shield which took out multiple units while the area effective arts of the sword and dagger took others.

I chained all my arts alternating between sword and dagger to create a seemingly endless barrage of slashes, thrusts and stabs. Within half an hour the number of GM's was reduced to one and all my arts were under cool-down. The GM enlarged his staff to enormous size and rushed towards me.

From the side of my vision, I saw my HP stand at 10%. A simple attack from that enormous staff would be enough to plunge that to 0. To make matters worse, because my last few attacks missed; I was in a condition of momentary pause. I prayed for my shield to fly faster and hit the GM before it hit me, but that seemed near impossible.

Just as the enormous staff was about an inch from me, the GM exploded and disintegrated into countless fragments. I saw in shock wondering what just happened in front of me, and then I noticed the axe falling from the position where the GM was a moment ago.

I knew the axe, only one man could handle such an axe and the man was approaching me as the pause ended. He was 'The Legendary Man', Heathway, who smiled, "Sorry Man! I can't let you have all the credit, first the backup and then this." I smiled back and recalled my shield. "Hey, are you tired?" I nodded in negative and thanked him for the concern.

I walked out of the chamber and was greeted by a cheering crowd. Liza gave me a full restorative potion and I slid down a near-by wall exhausted. Asri showed up and sat beside me, "Man! I don't know whether I should be angry for leaving us or be thanking you for the elaborate backup."

Liza joked, "That's up to you to decide, well but I wasn't expecting him to get the full BDA as re-enforcements." Asri nodded, "Yeah! After how we tried to ditch them I thought they would rather let us die here." I sighed off heavily and called up my menu to take a look at the time, it was 10 in the night.

"A six hour battle, guess the game is really about to end." I barely finished when the leaders announced a general celebratory party in the main town of 801st Stage. A common party from both guilds was formed to activate travel to the next Stage.

The same night, a great celebration took place in the main city of 801st Stage. A crowd of over two thousand players gathered in the extra spacious hall who congratulated the leaders for their success against the strongest enemy till now. Liza, Asri, Koruko and I were present a little away from the celebration busy with our own chit-chat.

"I don't like the way they are doing all this. I mean you were the one who got the entire backup and now they are acting as if everything was done by those two only." Koruko grumbled. Asri continued, "You could have told us the plan…" "Would you have agreed if I told you that I was going to get re-enforcements from the BDA. Heathway wouldn't have allowed me leave."

It was quite a hectic day, and our chit-chat continued without acknowledging the crowd around us. As the feast went on, Linda approached us with a bizarre smile on her face. "Naperjet!" she called me. I looked up, "All right! What's up with that goofy smile?" "Aren't you forgetting something? The deal, remember."

"Ah! That… I do remember, the cost of the backup." The trio looked at me suspiciously, "Ah…um… Liza! I should really apologize to put you in such position." Asri jumped in, "Hey! Are you leaving the guild to join the BDA? That's not fair, you joined us after defeat from the commander; you can't give up on us now."

"Oh seriously, if he had made such a deal; it was for you people. What good would have been done if no one survived in the guild?" Koruko reprimanded Asri which soon escalated into a full front argument. I tried to calm them down but to no avail and Linda was enjoying herself.

And finally she spoke up, "I would have love to have him in the guild in return of the favor. But I am not stupid, if I had asked that he would've stormed out of the HQ at that very instant. So instead, I asked him to treat us." I nodded, "And that's why I was apologizing to you Liza. I never got to ask you about this."

Liza sulked, "As if you ever ask me before asking guests to come up. So when are you supposed to treat them." Linda looked at us, "Whenever you are comfortable. We are the guests after all." It was decided to have the feast after two days at hour home in the 331st Stage.

When the celebration was over, it was two in the morning and we decided to go to my former home in the 65th Stage as it would be less of a walk from the transportation gate. It wasn't big like Liza's home in Salzburg but had enough space for the two of us.

Upon entering I slipped into the sofa and dozed off, I woke up at 10 and found Liza still sleeping. 'She deserves the nap.' I thought and left for the kitchen to prepare a swift breakfast. Within half an hour, I had the breakfast prepared and decided to wake Liza up. I went to the room and found her awake, "Good Morning!"

She yawned, "Aah….Good morning! So you made the breakfast. Well, Thanks." We sat down at the table and had a heart-full breakfast. Liza looked in the kitchen behind me, "That crack over there, it was made on that day when I shot an arrow right there to threaten you." I looked back and smiled, "Yeah that's the same spot."

I lost in the memories not of a few years back or even inside the game. The memories of my family came in my mind, I haven't met them since more than a decade and half but the memories of the real world was still quite fresh. I was snapped out by a knock on the main door. "I'll go!" I muttered to myself and went to the main door to open it.

It was a messenger from the Golden Knights, he came with summon for us in the meeting scheduled that day. I sent him back saying that we will inform them about our arrival in prior. I went back and finished the breakfast, "A messenger from Heathway, wants us to be present in the evening tactical meeting."

The rest of the day went smoothly and the meeting was about the strategies for the next stages. Though others wanted us to stay and help the conquest, Heathway accepted our request of leave and we agreed to come back whenever they faced a difficult threat.

We went back to the 331st Stage in the night; our home was just as we left. The next day was agreed for a treat to the BDA elites, so it was best for us to sleep early. After the dinner, I went out for a tour of the farm. To my surprise the crop was 90% ready and could be harvested within a week.

After having a quick walk, I went back and tried to sleep. "Tomorrow's going to be a busy day, better take rest now." Liza teased me. "Yeah! It is but I don't feel like sleeping. Liza why not you tell me about yourself from the real world?" Before I could realize what I was saying, the words had moved out.

I later recalled that it was decided that this world to be considered the real one in order to make it easy to survive. But now it didn't really matter, most of us have spent more time here than in the other world. "Guess we can discuss that later. Good night Liza." I hurried inside the blanket of my bed to avoid any further scrutiny I might face.

The next day, we woke up early and began preparations for the feast that was planned in the evening. I brought some fresh items from the farm while Liza prepared the majority of items. "These are the farm products, do you want anything else?" "Yeah! I want these things from the market to make the special seasonings." She handed over a list containing the names of ingredients.

"All right" I replied and went to the largest market of the stage to continue the shopping. The list had more than fifty items and it took me nearly four hours to get all the items. "Phew! The list is finally over." I muttered to myself and began walking home.

'I wonder why I agreed for such a cumbersome deal. I could have got away by offering a lunch in a restaurant or something.' Lost in my thoughts, I kept walking the road joining Abode Paradise and Rued the main town of the Stage. Absent – mindedly, I tugged into another person walking beside me.

"Sorry, I didn't notice you." I apologized as the guy who took his time getting up. "No. Don't be. Actually I wanted to ask you something." I nodded and he began, "Are you the one who is married to Miss Liza." I nodded, "Hmm… Are you from one of her fan clubs? Let me make it clear, I don't have any of her autographs." The mysterious man shrugged off, "No, I am not. And rest doesn't matter, we'll meet later. Rogue Swordsman"

Saying this, the guy moved on, I wondered 'What a strange guy.' However, I forgot the incident before reaching home and never mentioned it to Liza. As I reached home, I materialized the ingredients and while Liza made the seasonings, I prepared the rest of the food. Before we realized, it was half-past seven and the door knocked.

I opened the door and found Linda and the elites of BDA, as expected. "Wow, you live in quite a peaceful place. I think we should move the BDA HQ here." Linda joked, however no one seemed amused. As we finished the dinner, the guests were seated in the hall while the system finished the dishes.

All of us were engaged in chit-chat when Liza's question got our attention, "I never believed that you would have so easily agreed on helping us in exchange for a feast." Linda rubbed her head, "Actually on first thought, I wished to make the condition of guild switch. But then I realized that if I'd put up that condition then he would have gone on a serious rampage. After all he got inside after attacking one of the guards outside the castle."

I protested, "That was no attack, I just grappled him and pulled him in the air." Liza grumbled, "As if it is any less than an attack." The chit-chat continued till midnight after which the BDA members left. The day left us so exhausted that we didn't even bother to go to our rooms and slept in the hall.