Shades of Deception

Gliding over the vastness of this green realm, I quickly scanned the area ahead. This area has a name: the Forest of Wavering Green Titans. A player's mini-map is rendered useless due to the intense haze, and occasionally players can walk into a mist so thick that they can barely see a thing.

I can barely see anything myself, despite being so far up here. With that in mind, the ironclad rule that resides within these parts is to not leave the main path or your party, as one may presume. However, watching this wild goose chase is not very good for my non-existent heart.

The relentless pursuit continued deeper into the forest as the horde of Shades were inching closer to the two players.

"EMIKO, DO IT NOW!" Ji-Soon quickly catapults a small pouch, using a tree branch as momentum, towards her.

A bright pink aura surrounded Emiko's body before she dashed forward, illuminating her presence wildly through the dense fog.

With a decisive vault along the forest's massive roots, she grabbed onto the little bag in midair, and with a swift motion, she rotated her body around before crashing to the ground in front of the vicious hordes.

As the water vapour of the surrounding landscape was launched into compression, Emiko extended out one arm, and the mist began to coil around her palm before tracing a straight horizontal route towards the crowd of .

The flashing light became more intense, with hints of sparkles beginning to glow with a lambent light above her hand. Eventually, a small piece of paper with tiny writing appeared on her palm before gently twinkling before her eyes.

Emiko quickly reached inside the little pocket to take out a kunai that was covered with small nicks along the edges. "How is the durability already this low? What did you do to it?" She hissed, her voice sharp as it echoed through the twisting branches.

"What did you expect?" Ji-Soon shot back, breathless, as they tore through the dense mist.

"We've been crashing into this hellish terrain nonstop! Now, quit complaining and use it before we both die!" His voice was taut with panic, desperately gasping as his words were almost lost in the suffocating mist.

"Stop dictating my actions, ASSHOLE!" She cursed before quickly attaching the talisman to the kunai.

Without hesitating, she hurled it into the mist, its path barely visible before a flurry of projectiles sliced through the fog, striking at the advancing horde with brutal precision.

The tension in the air thickened as the mob closed in, the branches seeming to close around them, leaving no escape.

In that split second, the Shades came to a complete halt before launching vicious attacks on one another.

The enchanted paper, also known as Cupid's Corruption, is a Leere that takes the form of a talisman that resembles an Ofuda and is endowed with a potent charm spell that enables her to temporarily possess her desired target. (An Ofuda is a talisman made out of various materials, such as paper, wood, cloth, or metal. Ofuda are commonly found in both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.)

"Bullseyes!!" Emiko threw a smirk at Ji-Soon before focusing the rest of her mana on the mass destruction.

Cupid's Corruption drains a large amount of mana, which is a type of energy system in the game, whereby it allows players to perform their unique skills and attack sequences that otherwise are impossible to generate without some sort of magic system.

It struck me when I noticed the branch right next to me begin to shake. With my hollow body suspended just a few inches off a tree branch, I was perfectly camouflaged in the fog; however, another individual was able to clearly see them through the dense fog. This one is new; I've not seen this person before.

'Tick, tick, tick!' A faint ticking sound could be heard by Ji-Soon, which caused him to flinch a little.

Over Ji-Soon's head, rustling could be heard as he darted towards Emiko, who was busy destroying the Shades' remains.

"GET DOWN!!" He yelled before tackling Emiko down to the ground.

A thunderous "BOOM!" was let out.

The explosion tore the surrounding vapour as if it were determined to render apart every water particle in the air, leaving a tiny crater amongst the trees.

For a brief while, the surroundings were plainly visible before the haze quickly contracted itself and returned to its former shape.

Upon opening his eyes, Ji-Soon witnesses a large blue barrier rustling in the centre of his vision before fleetingly blinking and dissipating. Sparks erupt from the peculiar apparatus, brushing across his eyes before leaving black stains on the dirt.

"Huh... a force field?" Emiko grasped.

"Talk about dodging a bullet, or rather, a whole ass nuke." Ji-Soon jested while lying strangely comfortably on the ground.

"UGH! Get off me," she grunted.

"Whoops! My bad," as he fell on his rear besides her.

"Sorry about that, you two, but I couldn't help but intervene with that reckless action of yours." A voice came out from the treetops before a green icon came to stumble down onto the leaves.

"Who are you? And what did you mean by reckless action?" Ji-Soon questioned the stranger.

"Here, equip this; you should be able to see with these on." The blurry figure hurled over two pieces of gear that almost resembled an eyeball onto the ground.

"Ewww!!! Grossss!!! What the hell is this?'' Emiko reacted vulgarly before gagging at the sight of it.

"It's a special item that slightly enhances your vision enough so that you can at least see something in this dense fog." Said the mysterious person, whose face was covered by the thick mist.

"Quit making a big fuss and equip it already." Ji-Soon quickly grabbed the item on the ground.

They both gently tap their fingers on the item before a popup menu appears to seek the user's permission to equip the item.

The moment the item was equipped, the two players were stunned by the allure of the forest. The trees, whose enormous trunks were dark brown with sable fractures that gnarled the bark, were shrouded in the softest of clouds.

They turn into shadows against a field of white as Ji-Soon's eyes follow the border of the forest, giving the impression that it was only daytime where they both stood and that twilight was around them. However, the current time shown on the top right of his field of vision is currently 10 p.m.

The mist that once clouded their vision began to dissipate or, instead, fade from view.

The tall, blurry figure that assisted them started becoming easier to see.

The figure shifted into a chiselled, well-built, sharply dressed young man with a dark complexion as their eyes adjusted to see through the fog. The stranger's hair was tied unusually, appearing to be braided in a rope-like fashion and tied back into a ponytail.

Their jaws fell agape in awe, as neither of the two had actually seen a foreigner with such a dark skin tone nor such a bold appearance before now.

Closing her jaw, Emiko angled herself to see above the man's head, and her vision zoomed into his gamertag, somewhat straining her neck due to his tall stature.

"Ko-n- Ko-onpoto?" Emiko tried to pronounce the foreign name.

"It's pronounced Komp-to," the man added, correcting her.

"It's pronounced Konputo, Emiko; you really need to brush up on your Katakana," Ji-soon lectured.

"Shut it; this is the first time I've talked to someone who isn't Japanese; I get nervous alright," she pouted angrily.

"Hahaha, don't worry, when we get out of this game, we can go and watch some western movies to improve your English," Ji-Soon teased as he leaned against a tree.

"As if I'd watch them with you out of all people," Emiko huffed,, crossing her arms as if she were offended by his statement.

"Ahem, sorry to interrupt you, lovebirds," the gentleman's voice voice cut through the fog, halting their bickering.

Emiko shifted her attention towards him as she raised her eyebrows furiously.

"And you... You almost killed us with whatever explosive you threw at those mobs, and why did you have to steal my experience points like that? I obviously could have killed them on my own; I never asked for your help," she said, pushing Ji-Soon aside to confront the tall man.

Kompto stood still, staring down at Emiko with a stern expression, for a few moments before turning his body to face the outskirts of the forest.

The man raised one of his arms to call for his inventory.

"Here," he tossed two clear glasses of bottles that almost resembled a conical flask.

Snatching the items in the air instantly, Emiko scanned the objects under the name

"That should be the same amount of exp as those Shades," the man said, his tone casual but with an underlying seriousness. He took a slow step forward, fog swirling around his boots.

"You asked why I intervened earlier. It's simple—you would've killed yourself if I'd let you finish them off."

Emiko's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He let out a sigh, as if this was a lesson she should've known.

"Once a Shade's HP drops below 10%, it multiplies. They all spawn with full health again. The only way to finish them off is with a high-damage skill—one hit, all at once, to wipe them out completely." He emphasised the point, his gaze steady.

"Trust me, I saved your skin."

The players froze, shock washing over them at the man's words. A gust of wind swept through the trees, making the silence feel heavier.

Ji-Soon broke it first, his voice incredulous. "How do you even know that? This is the first Dusk Protocol, and I'm pretty sure this isn't some event. It's a permanent feature, not region-specific. This should be everyone's first time dealing with this."

The man's gaze shifted slightly, almost amused. "So, you've been playing for over a month and haven't heard of the Encyclopaedia?"

Ji-Soon blinked, his face blank. "Encyclopaedia? What are you talking about?"

Emiko tilted her head, joining in, "Like... an item?"

"Exactly," the man replied, his tone patient.

"Go into your inventory. Check the documentary section. It's there. The book gives you info on every mob—weaknesses, abilities, traits. The Shade's part of the Husk family. One of the strongest enemies in the game, along with all the others that spawn during the Dusk Protocol."

The man's words hung in the silence like a thick mist, slowly seeping into their minds. Ji-Soon's eyes widened as the weight of it settled in.

"Wait... so we could've died?" he asked, his voice trailing off with disbelief.

Emiko stayed silent, her arms crossed, gaze unfocused. She wasn't about to admit her pride had almost cost them.

Ji-Soon shot her a quick glance before clearing his throat.

As he continued to swipe through the digital pages, his fingers gliding smoothly across the screen until something cuaght his eyes.

He paused at a certain grey entry.

"The Clicker Husk, why are there question marks under its name?" Ji-Soon questioned.

"Huh? That's strange; this is also the first time I've seen something like this; maybe it doesn't have any info because no one has encountered it yet." Kompto suggested.

After a while, Ji-Soon took a step forward, the awkwardness of the moment pressing on him. He extended his arm for a handshake, his voice soft but sincere. "Thanks a lot for saving us. We owe you big time."

He didn't quite meet Kompto's gaze, his pride bruised, just like Emiko's. The fog seemed to thicken around them, the air growing colder, as if trying to hide the uncomfortable silence that hung in the space between them.

"No problem, my friends; it's better for players to work together rather than competing for resources all the time; after all, it would help us get rid of this nightmare faster."

"Right, I am hoping my luck hasn't run out yet." Ji-Soon groaned slightly.

"Stop saying luck; the only reason we are both still breathing right now is thanks to me. You should be thankful to me; no amount of luck was gonna save you from those monsters. But then again, I guess you are pretty lucky to have someone like me with you." Emiko continued to indulge in her narcissism.

Ji-Soon raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed. "Right, lucky," he muttered sarcastically, but the slight twitch of his lips betrayed a smirk. He glanced at Kompto, who rolled his eyes, arms folded across his chest.

"Yeah, I'm sure the monsters were real scared of you," Kompto said dryly.

Emiko shot him a glare, but there was a small spark of satisfaction in her eyes as she basked in the attention, her posture straightening even more.

"Ahem!" Emiko harrumphed before turning her head the other way.

"Anyway, Kompto, what was that powerful explosion you produced? Was that your Leere?" Ji-Soon asked, his curiosity piqued.

The stylish man gave a little smirk as if he were anticipating this question.

"Ah, that, my friend, is my trusty watch—Kaleido Pulse," he said, adjusting his sleeve casually. "It's a Leere that masks my visibility from both mobs and players. Think of it as invisibility."

Ji-Soon raised an eyebrow. "So, the explosion?"

Kompto's smirk widened. "I came into contact with one of the Shades while you guys were busy distracting it. I can place an invisible bomb on any target and detonate it at will."

"Fascinating," Ji-Soon muttered, tapping his chin. "You can literally farm XP from mobs without taking a single hit."

Kompto chuckled lightly. "Well, that'd be ideal. But I still have to watch my stamina. Invisibility drains my mana, and I can't keep it up forever. Plus, there's the added benefit of extracting intel from my enemies."

Ji-Soon tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowed. "Intel? How's that work?"

Kompto leaned in, his expression serious. "Once I master my Leere, I can scan mobs and players from a distance. I get their stats, gear, abilities, levels. It's useful, but it comes with a drawback. Closing the gap between fights can be tricky with a Leere like mine."

"So, how do you get around that?" Ji-Soon asked, tapping his fingers on his arm as he thought.

"Easy," Kompto said with a grin. "I use my invisibility along with the terrain to blend in. But if they know where I'm coming from... well, I just get picked off by an area attack."

As the two players continued chatting about their Leere and potential cooperation to reach the next town, Emiko could be seen at the back, baffled at the situation.

She shrugged her shoulders before twirling her body around as she flicked her long, tawny hair.

"Huh? Somethings wrong?" Ji-Soon asked.

Emiko shot a sharp glance at the group before speaking up.

"Yes, there is. Have you all been paying attention? How do you think we're able to talk to him in Japanese? Back at the Castle of Beginning, we were all speaking Japanese, even though we came from different cultures. It's no coincidence. There's no way that many people just happen to speak the same language."

Kompto leaned back casually against a tree before adjusting his watch.

"That's the system's translation program. It converts all spoken languages into our native tongue—like a universal communicator. Makes things easy, though it's not perfect. I mean, you're actually speaking Portuguese to me, just on my end." He shrugged, clearly unbothered by the idea.

"WHAT!? That's kinda cool," as Emiko's mood was completely shifted.

"So, what if it's an in-game text on an infrastructure? Is the system able to translate that into a language that every player across the world could understand?" Emiko pressed closely against Kompto.

"Hey Emiko, give the guy some space, will you?" Ji-Soon nagged her, knowing full well she was leering back at him with another one of those death threats.

Kompto glanced nervously between them, his posture slightly shifting as if uncomfortable. "Uh, haha, don't worry about it, friends," he said, giving a forced chuckle, taking a half-step back.

"Yeah, the system does translate texts from any language so players can understand." He quickly go back to adjusting his watch, eyes flicking toward the ground for a brief moment, almost as if he were trying to hide a flicker of unease.

"Great, you should come with us then; if we team up, we could cover for each other's blindspots," Emiko suggested.

"Well, if you don't mind, I'll gladly join you in your journey."

The man with braided hair gave her a smile before reaching his hand into his trench coat. Shortly after, a faint beeping echoed softly in his ear as his pocket blink red, flashing a few times before fading away.

"We should start going soon; it will take us a few miles before reaching the town. Getting in contact with Kaz and Tang-Ji should be our top priority," Ji-Soon suggested.

As Ji-Soon and Kompto paced themselves ahead to chat about the game world, Emiko at the back was suddenly met with a digital ring from an unknown caller.

'Ring, ring, ring, ring.'

"Hello? Emiko, do you hear me?" A faint crackling sound came through the static, the message distorted but clear enough.

"If you get this message, then I want to let you know we've successfully linked our network to one of V.I.R.M.'s main system frames... without being detected."

The static buzzed for a moment before the voice continued.

"The system coded by V.I.R.M even allows an auto-translator—it's like they're begging to be hacked. We'll be uploading the World Seed onto the USB you should have attached to your capsule. In about a week, it'll be sent to a terminal nearby."

Another crackle distorted the message.

"I want you to locate that terminal... and retrieve the item. Remember the mission—survive, no matter what. Bring it back to me. I'm counting on you... don't disappoint father."

The static cut off suddenly, followed by a low, frustrated mutter from Emiko. "Dammit, fuck! Dammit!" She kicked a nearby rock, her voice muffled as she cursed again. "Stupid terrain. Looks like my audio input is jammed from that fall earlier."