An Act of Bravery

Jacob's body vanished into data particles as his existence left the game. 

Alice shot open her eyelids, baffled at what she had done. She wanted to believe it was a dream or some illusion, but the truth was clear. 

She was the one who killed her own friend, with her very own hands. 

It was a moment marked in her head for the rest of her life.

She couldn't stop replaying it.

Her mind felt like it was shutting down.

The item's effect eventually wore off, and she could gain control of her body, but she was far too gone, mentally, unable to attack the fraud Phantom Mutiny.

She fell to her knees, dropping both her pistols.

"Fufufu~ she's mentally broken, as expected of course." The ginger-haired lady walked forward, stomping her boot into Alice's back, pinning her to the ground, "Now then, it's time to take you home with us, you've been a good little doggy, I should reward you, but that comes later. The men at our guild need pleasure to satisfy their sexual desires, so get up and prepare yourself for a new life."

"Jacob... you idiot..." Alice laid her chin against the ground, sobbing, "You loved me this entire time and you didn't say anything? Nnn... Uwaaaa—Haaaaaa!" She burst into tears, unable to contain her sadness any longer.

The fraud Phantom Mutiny scoffed at her mental pain, unable to help but laugh.

"Kehaha! Look at that, you really broke her, didn't yah boss? You didn't need to do her like that, she's innocent." The Mohawk punk laughed hysterically, slapping his knee and pointing at the broken player. "This is fuckin' hilarious! Like seriously, he fell right into the trap!!" 

"Yes, they fell right into our hands, you're very manipulative; it seems that the rumors were true about you after all." The ginger-haired woman glanced at none other than Henry.

"Why yes, Jacob was someone who took no precautions. He heard my backstory, letting his morality get the better of him. If he didn't bother to help me, I would've simply killed him." Henry stood up from the ground after his shocked expression became a nihilistic smile, "You now have the victims you need—I lured them to you—so don't disappoint me."

"Hmph. You know we don't disappoint anyone, but if we did, you wouldn't hesitate to kill us... isn't that right, Belial? After all, you're the leader of the Swindlers Guild."

"Fuhuhu, you think too cruelly of me, I would never kill such loyal assistants," Belial covered his mouth as he tittered, "Perhaps the rumors about me are becoming quite exaggerated. I'm a man of my word, so If you ruin the Phantom Mutiny's reputation, you will have what I promised you."

"Oh hell yeah," The Mohawk punk slammed his fist into his palm, "The Rainbow shell! I can't wait to get my hands on that item! We're gonna become filthy-fucking-rich!"

Henry, or rather, "Belial", had his body flash in a bright light, changing his clothes.

He wore a black hooded cloak down to his calf, and underneath the cloak was lightweight armor, dark in its appearance, but sturdy as iron, "Now then, may I get all of your names again?" Belial asked with a smile.

"How doesn't the one hiring us not remember our names? Oh well, who cares? Me? My name is Pocchi, nice to meet you." The Mohawk punk exposed himself to everyone, with pride in his voice.

"My name is Isabella, as you should know." Said the ginger-haired woman.

"I see, so, what about the other five behind you? They haven't said a word." Proclaimed Belial.

"You all may speak. Relay Belial your names." Ordered Isabella.

Upon command, a small girl wearing a witch hat would approach, holding a large wooden staff in two hands, "M-My name is... Dorothy... I-it's nice to meet you..."

Another one approached; they seemed to be quite hyperactive from their posture with a large smile spread across their face, "My name is Honora, pleasure to serve you, Lord Belial!" She gave a peace sign, winking at the Guild master.

A tall dark-skinned man walked forward, he held a massive club inside his hand, while his heavyweight armor clanked against the ground, "My name is Bertram, pleasure serving you, Lord Belial."

Some other psycho trailed forward, his tongue hung from his mouth, nearly reaching his abdomen, not to mention he was slanted over like some feline, "My name isssssss Viper Fang, niceeeeee to meet you, lord Belial." The long-tongued individual hissed like a snake, having long exaggerated wordplay.

The last one approached the others, he seemed fairly normal in comparison. Black-haired and blue-eyed, not to mention his average height and cliche fantasy armor, "My name is Archibald, it's a pleasure serving you, lord Belial."

"I see, Pocchi, Isabella, Dorothy, Honora, Bertram, Viper Fang, and Archibald, you've all done a great job. I applaud you for your efforts."

They all bowed before Belial.

"Thank you very much." (All)

"Mmm, yes, but may I ask; who was the one who created Richard? After all, he was just some undead following orders, he wasn't truly my friend."

"I-I did that..." Dorothy slowly raised her hand.

"Ah, I see. Are you the one also controlling the undead underground?" Asked Belial.

"Y-Yes sir! I was ordered to make an overlord, s-so I did just what I was told! I apologize if that wasn't part of your plan, lord Belial."

"Nay, all is well, it was quite entertaining, to say the least. You managed to create Richard and give him false memories about me and his relationship, and I'm assuming he was a player before becoming an undead, right?"

"Y-Yes!" Dorothy, shy as ever, tried not to fall to her knees in his presence.

"Intriguing. You're a powerful necromancer, so keep up the good work, but for now, I need you to bring that boy back to life. His name was Jacob, wasn't it?" Belial turned to face Alice, asking her the question, "No answer? I see, she's mentally crumbled. No matter, we still have the Elf who was following us. Untie his mouth."

"On it." Bertram approached Legolas, removing the ropes around his lips, "If you say anything disrespectful to Lord Belial, you'll be pummeled."

Legolas was panting, looking straight ahead at Alice.

"Alice, can you hear me?!" The elf shouted, trying to get her attention, "Snap out of it, I-I'll save you!"

"You have the audacity to shout such nonsense in front of lord Belial?! Nuh uhh uhhh, I'll have to punish you for that!" Honora, the hyperactive numbskull, would send a roundhouse kick into Legolas' skull, knocking him down, "Tsk tsk tsk!" She wagged her finger. "If you keep saying stuff like that, I'll have to crush your family jewels next."

"Tell me, his name was Jacob, right?" Belial glanced at Legolas, sending shivers up the elf's spine.

"...How can you forget his name? You followed him here, didn't you?!" Cried Legolas.

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember the name of pawns. He was so insignificant that I forgot his name after his death, but now I realize he may become very useful with that lag ability of his."

"You bastard, I'll kill you for saying that! Untie me and fight me, you fucking cunt!!"

"I see. So you wish to fight me? Alright then, Bertram, untie him."

"Yes sir." Bertram walked behind Legolas, crouching down to remove the magical binds around his wrists.

"Alright, now that you're free, we can fight as you please. That's what you wanted after all, right?"

Legolas was quiet as he slowly stood up from the ground, frowning in anger.

He couldn't believe they actually untied him.

("Is he serious? Why did he untie me? Is he planning to kill me right now? No, that can't be it, he's up to something else, but it's hard to read him. His voice is so calm, and his face is too relaxed, it's impossible to scrutinize!")

"Unfold!" Legolas opened his personal hub, catching the attention of others.

"Holy heck, is this guy serious? Is he really gonna fight lord Belial!? Can you believe that Pocchi poo?!" Said Honora.

"Call me that shit again, and I'll kill you. But yeah, he must have a death wish or something."

("I only have one chance at this... and I'm not gonna waste it!")

All of a sudden, Legolas summoned two potions inside his hands, taking everyone by surprise.

"Wait, no! He has a luck potion and teleportation potion, don't tell me, is he gonna-?!" Isabella widened her eyes in shock.

"NOW!" Legolas drank the luck potion, boosting his luck as he ran towards Alice's location, "Alice!!!"

"Kill him, he's trying to escape!" Shouted Isabella.

Everyone followed her orders, attempting to kill Legolas;

Bertram lunged forward with his club to attack, but an undead spawned right in front of him, taking the blow.

Isabella attempted to use her item, Catechize, but she needed to touch her victims for it to work.

She jumped towards Legolas, extending her hand forward.

Catechize was a ring located on the pinky finger of her right hand.

Stretching it forward, Legolas would become victim to this powerful item, but—

"Haaaaaa!" He moved even faster, surpassing Mach 30, completely evading Isabella's touch, "Alice!"

Luck was on his side.

"No way, in order to move that fast, the potion he drank must've been a level 5 luck potion, there's no doubt about it!" Cried Bertram.

"Level 5 luck potion? Was he hiding that from us the whole time!?" Asked Honora.

"Well no shit, Sherlock! Now he's getting away!" Proclaimed Pocchi.

"You've made a foolish decision." Appearing in front of Legolas was Belial, who stretched his hand forward, "I must say, you took me by surprise with your level 5 item, no one would expect a level 30 player to have such a powerful item at their disposal, but those tricks will not go past me."

"Move outta the way!!!" Legolas used his teleportation potion, chucking it towards Belial.

"I see, you're trying to forcibly remove me from the ruins? Interesting. But it won't work."

Quickly switching through his equipment, Legolas pulled out his bow, pulling an arrow on the string.

What was Legolas doing?