Episode 8-Toys Are Great (6)

The most infamous Star Wars characters were pinning George and me from both sides. It was something so ridiculous I doubted the reality of this situation.

"Ethan, what do we do?"

I thought about it.

"All that's left is up, right?"

After saying that, I jumped several feet into the air and landed on the metal shelves; George trailed behind me. Sadly, Darth Vader and the Inquisitors followed suit. We hopped from metal shelf to shelf - it held our weight for some reason. The ground was a blur below our feet and so was our peripheral vision - George and I flew from shelf to shelf. I thought this was a viable means of escape until I heard the warbled voice of a female.

"Sorry, boys, but you can't get away from us that easily."

As we ran, I heard the ignition of a second lightsaber, a -Clink!-, and the whooshing of an incoming blade heading towards our backs.

"Drop down!!"

Instead of jumping to the next shelf, we hurled ourselves onto the floor. As we did, I looked up and saw a spinning lightsaber flying overhead.

(Damn those things.)

I needed to make a decision.

-!Dudududududu!-

It was hard to think with all of the gunshots. The other soldiers and the Banana man were having the most intense gunfight in other parts of the store, while George and I had to deal with three dark siders.

(Everyone else is dealing with the banana man. All that leaves is Darth Vader, Fifth Brother, and Seventh Sister. We need to fight them and find Toy Master. First, I need to know something.)

-[Herald! Are you there!?]-

-[Yes, I'm watching the scenario!! You're in trouble!]-

-[I know that! I need to know something about the scenario! Do we HAVE to kill the four semblances to clear the dungeon?]-

-[I don't know if I should tell you... but no. The scenario emphasizes killing the four semblances because they make it harder to fight the Toy Master!]-

-[That's all I need to know!]-

I had a hypothesis. If I killed the Toy Master first, would his spell be cancelled, and would his animated puppets become lifeless again?

(Only one way to find out...)

"George, use your stigma."

"Already using it..."

"What do you see?"

I didn't know the full extent of George's stigma. Total War showed the best options to cause chaos and revealed the weak points in an enemy's forces, but I didn't know if it applied in this situation.

-Kaaaa koooo kaaaa koooo-

"Now, now, you can't hide forever~!!"

I could hear the mechanical breathing of Darth Vader and the Seventh Sister's coy voice. Then-

"There you are!!"

-the triumphant, deep tone of the Fifth Brother. He yelled while charging at us.

Raising my sword just in time, I barely blocked his overhead strike. Our blades locked into contact, and my feet slid as I stood my ground under his formidable strength. George had no opportunity to fight with me due to the narrow nature of the aisles.

"Found you two!"

I quickly glanced back and saw the other Inquisitor grabbing her lightsaber from her Imperial probe droid. She reignited one of the blades while staring at George.

"My, it would be such a shame to kill a handsome face like yours."

Anger coursed through my veins as I heard her flirt with George.

"George."

"Yes?"

"I watched this cool anime called Sword Art Online and they have this really cool move."

As I spoke, George slung his rifle onto his back and unsheathed his katana.

"They call it 'switch'!!"

"Urrgh!!"

I evaded an incoming blow, crouched into a stance, and slashed at Fifth Brother's waist. He back-stepped and gave me the opportunity to switch adversaries. As I turned to face Seventh Sister, I heard the frustrated grunting of my former opponent. George was proving to be a capable duelist who wouldn't lose easily. Channeling my rage, I rushed forward while receiving messages.

[Warning! Using your "Anger Lord" attribute will weaken your heart!]

[Warning! This will hasten your infection rate!]

(Damnit!)

[You have disengaged your "Anger Lord" attribute.]

This would be a battle of skill. I engaged Seventh Sister, who had the agile movements of a cat. I slashed and thrust, but she evaded my attacks or blocked them completely. She was purely on the defensive and I was successfully pushing her back.

We were at the end of the aisle - her crimson blade swiped at my head; I sidestepped the cut, parried, and saw an opening for a thrust. I stepped into her guard, and I was about to extend my arm until I saw this incoming message.

[Constellation "General-Slayer" is warning you!]

I realized something at this moment.

(Where is Darth Vader?)

With nothing but pure instinct, I pulled back my extended arm before it was lopped off by an incoming lightsaber. A trick. False confidence. She was luring me to the end of the aisle so Vader could surprise attack me.

"Hm, that didn't work."

Seventh Sister proceeded to jump onto the metal shelf and ignore me. She was heading straight for George.

"George, behind you!"

I couldn't help him right now. It would take everything I had to survive this encounter. Darth Vader walked towards me - he was a monolith of darkness emerging from shadow. His red lightsaber seemed to accentuate the shadows on his helmeted face, which caused my weakening heart to beat faster. His every footstep was heavy and his immensity reminded me of tsunami waves rising from the water. My memories flowed through me. The time and history I accumulated stacked and came to the forefront of my frazzled mind.

(When fighting a battle, use the environment to your advantage.)

I hoped this would work. I jumped high into the air and landed on the metal shelf.

(Pleasedon'tkillGeorgePleasedon'tkillGeorgePleasedon'tkillGeorge. Please follow me...)

Darth Vader followed suit. It was horrifying to see something so immense jump so high. Darth Vader is portrayed as this sluggish cyborg, but the comics illustrated his tenacity; he could jump when he wanted to.

I lured him away - we were several aisles away from the others. I raised my cavalry saber and entered a stance. Sweat erupted throughout my body, heat from stress permeated my neck, and anxiety clouded my thoughts. I breathed in and out and felt the cold air enter my lungs.

Darth Vader's lightsaber crackled as he stared at me from the opposing shelf. We stared each other down. This wasn't a moment of reprieve. No, this was one of the most crucial moments before a fight. Sizing up the opponent, gauging their openings, their weakness, and looking for a opportunity to exploit them. This was my mindset - I could only assume it was his as well. If he could think.

He leapt towards me while swinging his lightsaber. I threw myself to the right in a desperate dodge while regaining my footing. He came at me in full force - it took all of my speed and strength to block his attacks. He lunged for overhead strikes, thrust to penetrate my guard, and swiped for low-blows. I held my own, but it was his feint that went through my defenses. He used a false-edge cut to beat my sword aside and used the momentum from his previous strike to fuel his next one; his lightsaber cut into my right shoulder.

"Uaaagghhhhh!!"

I fell backward while screaming in agony.

[Fragment of the 4th Wall is alleviating the pain.]

Fraggy protected me as much as they could, but I could still feel the searing heat and pain digging into my muscles. Darth Vader stared down at me, his emotionless mask portraying nothing. He used his sword to beat my weapon out of my hand. The Sith Lord raised his lightsaber in the air, above his head. As he did, though, blue sparks decorated his body for a moment. To my shock, he began to speak.

"Your feelings for George Machen are not real."

My heart jackknifed when he said my comrade's name.

"He is but a character."

My stomach churned when he said that. Indignation flooded my mind. I thought about George and what I felt for him. I considered him to be a comrade. Disregarding my time in the "Ender's Game" simulation, I only knew the man for a few days. But for some reason, it felt as if I knew him for far longer. When reading about a character's stories, you develop a connection when sympathizing with their plights. There comes the point when they feel like real people instead of characters composed of text. The feelings that nestle in a reader can be admiration, affection, or hate. Just like so many readers in the world, I developed a connection with a fictional person.

(So, who are the hell are you to say that?!!)

With a swift motion, Vader sliced downward. His lightsaber cleaved through my head.

(Is what would've happened.)

But with all of my willpower, I blocked his attack.

"Hurrrr."

Vader grunted as I single-handedly held his lightsaber in place. I was using the same trick that Ahsoka Tano used in Star Wars: Rebels. I slowly rose up. I pushed against the monstrous force that was pressing me down. I activated all of my power and strained with all of my energy.

[Your skill "Blackening" has been activated!]

[Your attribute "Anger Lord" has been activated!]

[Your stigma "Flames of Muspellheim" has been activated!]

Even if it tore me apart, this is how I validate my feelings for the people who are "characters." I raised my right arm, which was sheathed in black aura and flames. Empowered by my anger, I punched-

"Huurrrwaahh!!"

-my fist into Darth Vader's control panel.

"Hiiiiyaaahh!!!!"

I roared out in rage as I plunged my fist into Vader's armor. The Sith Lord gasped out in agony and buckled, dropping to his knees.

[Warning! Your heart has accrued damage!]

Disregarding this message, I wrapped flames around my arms and expelled all of it towards him.

"Hiiiraahhh!!!"

His mechanical screams accompanied him as he fell off the shelf and onto the ground below. I fell onto my knees while clutching my heart.

(Kokora ga fureru...)

My heart trembled. Was this cardiac arrest? Or just heart palpitations? My heart was beating so quickly, and my chest was hurting. After a moment, the pain faded away, but I still remembered the sensation.

I laughed within my mind. I remembered what was said to me: "Your feelings for George Machen are not real."

(They are real to me.)

***

George was holding his own against the two Inquisitors. Seventh Sister's flirting remarks did not affect him. George was also on par with Fifth Brother's strength. I would turn the tide, though. I ran on the shelves at high speeds and dropped down in front of Fifth Brother.

"Hello there."

Using both of my hands, I clasped his lightsaber hilt and we struggled for it. I tried to yank it out of his hands, but he held onto it for dear life. We wrestled for the weapon.

(I have an idea.)

I strained against him as he pushed me back, but I sidestepped and pulled. His kinetic energy caused him to stumble forward. His lightsaber was in a thrusting position, which meant one end was aimed at his chest.

-!!Kssshhhhh!!-

I activated the second lightsaber blade.

"Uuuwaahhhh!!!"

Fifth Brother fell onto his knees as the plasma blade penetrated his chest. I could hear the sizzling as the heat from the lightsaber singed his skin. I yanked out the blade and he fell to the ground.

[You have defeated one semblance!]

I turned my attention to Seventh Sister. I remembered watching "Star Wars: Rebels" as a kid. One of my favorite quotes floated to the forefront of my mind.

"I do so admire your persistence. Ready to die?"

***

[You have defeated one semblance!]

[One semblance has been defeated!]

I could hear the cheers of relief and victory coming from other parts of the store. It seems that the other men had defeated the Banana man. Seventh Sister currently lay dead at my feet.

"George?"

"I see it. The Toy Master is near the front entrance."

"Okay. Regroup with the others and tend to any wounded. I'll deal with it."

I ignited both of the lightsaber blades and held the weapon above my head.

(I only saw this in the show, but I hope it works.)

The lightsaber began to spin at high speed, and my feet lifted off the ground. I could control my trajectory of flight by turning the lightsaber at a certain angle. I flew near the roof of the establishment, soaring above the shelves. In the distance, I saw the Toy Master hiding in the corner of the store's roof, but I couldn't see them clearly - my mind only registered them as a dark lump.

I sped through the store, but something tore my attention away from the final boss.

!!Tsu-chuchut!!

The sound of space-time ripping open was heard, and I could hear the devious, sly voice of a Dokkaebi. It wasn't Herald's.

[Now, now, this is a tad boring, isn't it?]

I deactivated my lightsaber and stared at the Dokkaebi. It was a white-furred variant wearing a suit and trench coat. What made the creature stand out was the pair of spectacles it wore.

[Hello everyone. I have come to inform you that a Constellation has lent a considerable amount of probability to the Toy Master. They believed that this scenario was a bit too easy, so the difficulty has been raised.]

With a snap of the Dokkaebi's fingers, probability moved like ocean currents.

New messages flooded my vision.

[The Toy Master's animation spell has is extending!]

[Two more semblances are animating!]

(Shit!!)

I turned my back to the Dokkaebi and charged towards the Toy Master. The lightsaber blades whirred above my head as I flew. I was several meters away from the boss, but two objects appeared in the corner of my vision.

It was another Fortnite character. The dark-shrouded one named Raven. The other semblance I saw wore white armor, and its helmet had the characteristic frown.

(Stormtrooper!!)

In the few seconds, I saw them, they aimed their rifles at me and began to fire. All of their shots missed me, except for one.

-!!Shoom!!-

I was nailed in the gut by a plasma bolt.

-!!Shoom!!-

Another shot was fired, and it nailed my hand, singing and breaking my fingers.

"Arrgghhh!!!"

My lightsaber was deactivated, and I fell onto a metal shelf. I was at the edge of it, only a few more meters away from the Toy Master. I couldn't focus, though. I looked at the digits of my hands and saw how broken they were. They were swollen, bent and the blaster fire ripped the skin off. I couldn't even move them.

[Fragment of the 4th Wall is nullifying the pain!]

"Hurrraaa!!!"

As I lay in agony on the metal shelf, I heard a mechanical roar belonging to a beast. I realized something at that moment.

(I-I never-)

I never saw the message "You have defeated one semblance" when I finished attacking Darth Vader.

[Some Constellations are loving your despair.]

[Some Constellations are enjoying your suffering.]

[Some Constellations are pitying your situation.]

The messages from the heavens above... they treated me as nothing but a piece of entertainment. The Constellations were eating my pain and my emotions. To them, I was a form of catharsis.

"Ethan!!"

I heard the frightened cries of George and the stomping feet of Vader.

"Hurrr!!"

I heard the grunts of a man defying a force of nature. I looked back and saw Darth Vader wreathed in flames - the cybernetics in his limbs were exposed. The Sith Lord barreled forward, but George stood in place and blocked his advance. The entire situation felt like that moment in Terminator, where the T-800 rises from the flames.

From my left, I saw two figures coming towards me. Raven from Fortnite and the Imperial Stormtrooper were now in my sight. They saw my slumped form on the shelf, and they raised their rifles. This would be the place I would die.

(Is this how this story ends?)

Maybe it was. I was lucky to make it this far. But the world was geared against me - just like the one before the fall. As I crumbled myself into a fetal ball, I saw the two semblances aim their rifles at my head. I couldn't react. My lucidness faded away at each moment.

-!!BAM!!-

My eyes widened open, and my heart jolted from the sudden explosions. I looked down and saw the semblances that were about to kill me. They were lying on the ground, with holes in their heads. I turned my head to look back and saw Rupert Williams holding his LeMat pistol.

[One semblance has been defeated!]

(Why...?)

[Constellation "Egyptian Thought" wants you to get up!!]

[Constellation "Abyssal Black Flame Dragon" thinks that someone who declared themselves evil should be stronger!]

[Constellation "General-Slayer" says that your journey shouldn't end here.]

[Constellation "Anti-Confederacy" says that you have too many responsibilities to die now.]

Some gazes killed a presence. Some gazes wanted you to fall. These though.... Some gazes encouraged you to get back up and fight.

"Hurr!!"

I stood up and looked back at Rupert Williams. He nodded towards me and turned his attention to George. The men who were still able to stand turned to the fight between George and Vader. I looked back and saw my opponent.

(Toy Master.)

With my broken fingers, I lifted the lightsaber off the shelf and ignited it. I activated Air Steps, and they appeared beneath my feet. I tentatively stepped on it and braced myself. With my remaining strength, I ran forward.

I glanced back and saw George clutching his wounded arm as Darth Vader loomed over him. I saw the men fire their guns and hold their sabers as they faced the Dark Lord. In the time it took me to look back, seconds passed, which felt like an eternity.

As I got closer to the Toy Master, I saw what they were. They were an amalgamation of material fused. They had a spider-like body, with limbs coated in metal - it hid the muscle underneath. Their face was a smiling theater mask, and the torso was a fusion of plastic and flesh. Two spider-like limbs acted as arms, and they had hands at the end.

This was the monster I wanted to kill. My mind wanted to freeze from fear, but I wouldn't allow it. As I took the last Air Step, I jumped forward. Like a comet hurtling towards the earth, I flew towards the Toy Master.

Its metal-wrapped arms extended in my direction, ready to catch me and rip me to shreds. The lightsaber I held in my hand burned brilliantly as I soared. While in midair, I had a thought.

(People always make the things they dread the most.)

The lightsaber in my grasp was animated by this boss. It would be its undoing. I reached the apex of my trajectory, and the Toy Master came for me. With a downward cut, I sliced the limbs. As I did, I aimed the other end of the lightsaber towards the Toy Master's chest and ignited the second blade. The force of my jump launched me into the monster's chest, causing my sword to stab deeper. Soon after, gravity did the rest and pulled me down.

When I dropped to the floor, I looked up and saw the Toy Master. From his chest downwards - it was all sliced in half. The limbs that were plunged into the wall were released, and they dropped onto the ground. I approached the twitching body and cut off the head. As I did, the lightsaber I held started to emit sparks. Moments later, it transformed back into a fragile piece of plastic.

I slumped onto my knees.

(I did it. I won my first boss fight.)

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