Chapter 17: The Darseren of Floor 1
As Ichio and Livia approached the village, the path opened to a clearer view of their surroundings. The dense forest gave way to rolling hills, dotted with small farms and smoke trails rising in the distance. However, while they moved toward the promise of safety, the scene shifted to another location—a bustling town called Moonscape.
In Moonscape
A crowd of people had gathered in the town square, their faces marked with determination and urgency. Among the scattered murmurs, fragments of conversation could be heard:
"They've finally found the Darseren…"
"This is our chance to invade and clear Floor 1."
"We need to act before it's too late."
At the center of the group stood Elohim Avdi, a party of six individuals who once bore the name Elohim but had renamed themselves after the world's merge. Among them were Sherry Luster, Rosewalt, Takashi, Ronin, Ryoka, and Yasei.
Sherry sat on the edge of a fountain, her head lowered, and her hands clenched tightly in her lap. Her face bore a heavy, pained expression. Rosewalt knelt beside her.
"It's not your fault, you know," Rosewalt said gently. "I should be sad too, given how close we were, but... it wasn't any of our fault. None of us expected that to happen."
Sherry lifted her gaze, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "But at least we could have done something. If we'd tried harder, maybe we could've saved him. Maybe we could've found someone to heal him or something. But instead, we just left him there." Her voice cracked with raw emotion. "Do you think that was the right thing to do?"
Rosewalt sighed. "I don't know if it was right, but we did what we thought was necessary to survive. I can't blame you—or anyone."
Sherry's frustration flared. "Then why are you so calm?!"
Before Rosewalt could respond, Ronin approached and placed a hand on Sherry's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.
"Don't touch me!" Sherry snapped, jerking away. Her voice was sharp. "This is all your fault! It's your fault that all of this happened!"
Yasei leaned toward Ryoka, whispering with a dry smirk. "Oh, he's really done it now."
Ryoka, nodded grimly. "He thought he could take advantage of the situation, but now it's backfiring on him."
Ronin, unfazed by the outburst, straightened up, his expression hard. "If we had stayed or tried to rescue him, we all would've died. Don't you see that? His sacrifice would've been for nothing!"
Sherry shot to her feet, her grief twisting into fury. "I don't care!" Her voice cracked under the weight of her emotions. "He was our friend. And we just left him there—to die like that. How could you?"
As the argument escalated, Takashi stood off to the side, silent and motionless. His eyes were fixed on the ground, but his mind was elsewhere—replaying the events that had led to their current situation.
---
Flashback
The group had been traveling with Ichio when their journey was interrupted by a menacing howl that echoed through the landscape. A massive Fenrir Wolf appeared out of nowhere, its silvery fur gleaming like steel and its glowing red eyes locked onto the party.
"Run!" Ichio shouted as the wolf charged toward them, its speed and strength overwhelming.
The group scattered, trying to escape, but the Fenrir was relentless. Its powerful strides closed the distance effortlessly. Panic set in as they realized they couldn't outrun it.
Ichio skidded to a stop, determination in his eyes. "I'll buy you time. Just go!"
Sherry turned, her voice trembling. "What are you doing? You can't—"
"Just go!" Ichio barked, cutting her off. His hand tightened as he stepped forward to face the beast.
The others hesitated for only a moment before Yasei activated shadow movement.
Ichio drew the Fenrir's attention, striking at it with everything he had. The beast roared in fury, slashing back with claws that shimmered like blades. Blood sprayed across the ground as Ichio took a devastating hit.
Sherry screamed, reaching toward him, but Takashi and Ronin dragged her into the shadow. "We don't have time!" Ronin shouted.
As the portal closed behind them, Sherry caught a final glimpse of Ichio collapsing to his knees, his blood pooling beneath him.
---
Back in Moonscape
Takashi blinked, returning to the present as Sherry's words echoed in his mind.
"We just left him there—to die like that."
Takashi's fists clenched tightly, his guilt and a bit of anger boiling beneath as he grinned slightly.
As the tension between Elohim Avdi members simmered, a man approached their group, his stride purposeful. He was a tall figure with sharp features, wearing leather armor reinforced with metal plates. A spear was strapped to his back, and his presence exuded quiet authority.
He stopped a few paces from them and asked, "Who's the leader of your party?"
Ronin stepped forward without hesitation, a confident smirk on his face. He extended his hand to the man. "That would be me," he said, shaking the man's hand firmly.
The man gave a nod of acknowledgment. "So, you're the Elohim Party? It's an honor. My name's Ganzo, leader of the Malvik party."
Ronin glanced back at his team, then returned his focus to Ganzo. "Well, technically, we're not called Elohim anymore. Since the merge, we've been renamed Elohim Avdi."
Ganzo raised an eyebrow but nodded again. "Elohim Avdi, got it. Well, we'd really appreciate your help. My party and I were the ones who found the Darseren, but defeating the boss is another story. We want to clear Floor 1, but the truth is..." Ganzo paused, his voice lowering slightly. "Back in the game, we were just a low-level party. Even though everyone's ranks have been reset, I know your party is strong enough to make a difference. With your help, we have a chance."
Ronin's expression softened, and he gave a small, dismissive wave. "No problem. We'll help you. That's why we're here, after all."
Ganzo smiled faintly, his gratitude evident. He stepped away, turned to the gathered crowd in the square, and cupped his hands around his mouth.
"Everyone, gather around! Listen up!" he shouted, his voice booming.
---
As the crowd gathered, their murmurs quieted under Ganzo's commanding presence. He stood tall, his spear gleaming under the sunlight, his eyes scanning the faces before him.
"I know many of you are scared," he began, his tone steady but firm. "Not long ago, we were all just people living our ordinary lives. The game—EGO—was supposed to be a fun escape, a place where we could be whoever we wanted and do things we could only dream of. Death wasn't real. If our avatars fell in battle, they'd respawn at a set point, ready to fight again."
He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle over them.
"But that's not the world we're in anymore. The game and reality are one now. There are no respawn points, no second chances. If we die here, we die. This world has become our new reality, and if we want to survive, we have to fight through all the horrors it throws at us."
Ganzo stepped forward, his voice growing louder, more impassioned. "We have to face what's ahead—not just for ourselves, but for the people we've lost, for the ones who couldn't make it this far. Clearing Floor 1 is our first step toward survival, toward reclaiming control of this world. And I know it's terrifying. I know the fear you feel because I feel it too. But fear can't hold us back. It can't stop us. Not today!"
The crowd stirred, whispers of resolve rippling through them.
"We're not just players anymore," Ganzo continued, raising his spear high. "We are warriors. Survivors. And together, we'll fight, bleed, and claw our way to victory. Let's show this world what we're made of!"
A cheer erupted from the crowd, their fear temporarily replaced with determination.
Ganzo stepped back and turned to his party—Malvik. Each member stood ready. He gestured to them as he introduced their roles.
"This is my team," he said. "I'm Ganzo, the leader and a Warrior Axion Class specializing in spears. Luka is our healer, Rex handles ranged combat as our archer, and Lerk is our Artemist."
Ronin nodded in acknowledgment. "Elohim Avdi will follow your lead to the Darseren. Let's get this done."
Ganzo gave a sharp nod. He turned to Lerk, who stepped forward with a small device in hand. It resembled a compass but with intricate glowing runes. Lerk knelt in the center of the square, activating the device.
The ground beneath them began to glow as runes formed a large, intricate circle—a Metra Circle. The coordinates for the Darseren were being set. The air hummed with energy, and a faint breeze swept through the crowd as the Metra took effect.
Ganzo addressed the group one last time. "Step into the circle. Once activated, it'll teleport us directly to the Darseren. Remember—this is it. There's no turning back now."
One by one, the members of Elohim Avdi, Malvik, and the other allied parties stepped into the circle. The glowing light intensified, and with a sudden flash, the world around them vanished.
---
The world stabilized after the teleportation, revealing a towering mountain that loomed before the group. At its base, a massive door carved with intricate runes stood as an ominous entry point. Above the door, an inscription read:
"Welcome to the Emperor's Chamber."
Ganzo stepped forward, his spear gleaming faintly in the dim light. His voice cut through the heavy silence: "Here we are, men. Let's stay sharp, no casualties, no deaths. Everyone comes out alive."
He placed his hands on the door, which groaned in protest as it opened. A wave of musty air escaped, carrying the faint stench of decay. The team steeled themselves, stepping into the shadowy depths of the chamber.
CHAPTER END.