Against the Horde

Thirty Minutes Later.

Above the scorched sky resonated corrupted Starlight Energy. The shadows of the levitating ship descends on the great forest.

Appearing out of the fluffy clouds was a black cyclopean battleship. The levitating ship covered a fragment of the Eastern Coast with its ships.

***

"So this is the Eastern Coast eh? Look at the mist. I can tell why it's considered the land of the dead"

A player voiced out. Black haired and brown eyed.

He's stood three feets away from the window, standing on the patterned ceramic tiled floor, black in color.

Glowing runes etched into the walls pulsed with a soft blue light, casting an ethereal glow over the interior.

The control panels hummed with energy, their surfaces adorned with intricate patterns of glowing circuits and mystical symbols.

His eyes glowered at the window glasses of the ship. With his arms folded, he witnessed what's beneath them.

Black fogs engulfed the atmosphere of the Eastern Coast.

The Subjugation Team are already here as they were commissioned to be. Ready to embark on their mission.

The Player chuckled softly. His arms remain folded.

"What seems to be funny Anjui? " a feminine voice questioned.

The player tilted his gaze backward.

Staring at the redhead seen standing before him. Her face brightened up, covering her fingers with black leather gloves.

She hunged a tremendous sized axe behind her. That was her cursed weapon.

"Penelope. Aren't you scared about dying today?" The Player whose name is Anjui questioned.

Still grinning.

"Huh? Dying? No. Why would I be scared of dying when we are criminals on death row"

"I knew what was going to be my fate when I chose to become a pirate and taunted the Empire for years "

"Karma got the best outta me. That's why I'm in this shithole today" the redhead named Penelope explained.

"Tch" 

"Karma really is a bitch huh? Now that we're about to die, I can vividly remember the villages we plundered"

"Well instead of just dying by the hands of some random executioners. This is our opportunity enjoy the last seconds of our life"

Anjui adviced.

"True…True, atleast I can enjoy slashing through some eyeless Nightmares with my battle axe" Penelope giggled.

Anjui approached her with a warm smile displayed on his lips. Standing before Penelope, he placed his right hand on her right cheek.

Their eyes were locked in. Anjui drew her closer for a kiss when they were swiftly interuppted.

{Attention, Attention…..all Subjugation Players to be stationed and ready for their descent}

{in three minutes…..the rear exit will be opened for departure}

{May the gods be with you}

A voice announced from the pilot's cockpit. Through a microphone connected to the battleship.

Penelope giggled as Anjui redrawed back. Gently scratching his hair.

"I guess it's time. Let's meet up with the rest of the party" Penelope stated.

They garadened out of the hall they stayed in. Approaching the main direction where the rear exit is.

The grand staircase swept upward like a ribbon of marble, connecting the decks with elegance and poise.

They walked into the scene. Staring at the Subjugation Players already prepared.

"You guys are late. What took you so long?" The captain of the subjugation party. Captain Jaron Heckler.

A second rate pirate and smuggler captured by the Empire a decade ago. He's being on death row since the last decade.

This is his execution ground.

Jaron faced the two players before him, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Sorry we delayed captain Jaron. I was too busy watching the fogs from the windows, to think we will be entering the Eastern Coast" Anjui spoke out.

"Believe it soldier. This is our death domain" Another player present voiced out.

Attention drifted towards his direction.

Both Anjui and Captain Jaron recognized him because he was also a pirate captured by the Empire.

A player named Jisyk.

"Jsyk it looks like you and Skarr are prepared. I can see the determination in your eyes, have you said your last prayers?" Penelope questioned.

She smiling at the men before her.

"He-he-he-he….last prayers? To who? There's no god. I don't need to believe in any god when death is the only way"

"I don't care if my soul is damned. All I care is enjoying my last battle " Skarr uttered.

"I see. So you're still the super crazed battle maniac who nearly wiped out a sector ten city and made the Empire hunt you down for six years "

Standing beside Captain Jaron was another party member. He isn't a pirate unlike the rest but a war captive.

An ex soldier under the federation, a player sentenced to death but his execution was never finalized.

Olsen watched in reticence.

Observing without uttering a single word. Penelope scoffed at Olsen, turning her attention towards Savitar.

Savitar is spotted standing with his back resting on the wall. He held tightly to his scabbard, this is his cursed weapon after all.

Penelope grinned.

"We've have been so busy that we rarely talk about this kid. He isn't a pirate right? Neither is he a criminal"

"I believe he's yet to be twenty years old. Why did the Empire send him here?" Penelope curiously asked.

All eyes fell upon Savitar.

Savitar let's out a sigh. Slowly opening his half lidded eyes.

"What?" Savitar questioned.

"Penelope is right boy. What did you do that made the Empire send you off here?" Captain Jaron asked.

"Hmmm….nothing much"

"Since we're gonna die anyway. It's not bad thing if I tell you right? I'm an awakened slave who awakened an SSS Rank Skill" Savitar explained.

"What? An SSS rank skill? That's bullshit, if you awakened an SSS rank skill. You should be in the capital not here"

Penelope ranted but Captain Jaron held her back.

"That's enough Penelope. Allow the young man to speak " Captain Jaron said. Penelope took a step back.

"Go on…..let's take it that i believe you awakened an SSS rank skill. Why are you here not in the capital?"

" Penelope may have ranted but she's right. You should be in the capital not here" Captain Jaron said.

Savitar lowered his head in shame.

"It's…it's because my skill is completely useless. Even though it's an SSS rank skill, it neither have any offensive abilities or defensive one"

"Just blunt and useless and I also have low Starlight Output so I was drafted here" Savitar explained.

"I can't even exert my Starlight Energy properly without being strained and penalized by my own body" Savitar added.

His head remained lowered.

"Wow. That's actually sad, now I understand why the Empire drafted you here. A slave with a useless skill is insignificant and worthless"

"I'm certain you were drafted here as a psuedo player right?" Captain Jaron asked.

"Y…yes that's correct " Savitar answered.

"Well cheer up boy. You don't actually expect to be sour when you're about to die right? Have you killed before?" Skarr asked.

"No….not at all" Savitar answered.

"Well today is ya lucky day. We're gonna be hunting down some Nightmares and you can secure your first kill"

"You've got some pretty colored cursed weapon right there boy. I guess it's time for departure " Skarr said.

The air exit opened up. The fervent wind gushed. They could feel a dire contamination of corrupted Starlight Energy in the atmosphere.

{Attention Players. The air exit has been opened, due to the surging radiation within the corrupted Starlight Energ}

{Please put on the designated masks}

{Y'all have three minutes to descend from the Airstair}

{Goodluck}

The microphone went off afterwards. Everyone held their breaths until they emplaced the masks on their faces.

A gas mask which restricts the flow of radiation and contamination of Starlight Energy in the air.

Allowing to breath in oxygen without risk. An innovation owned by the Empire.

"It's time players. Let's leave"

"Remember the plan, I'm sure everyone has a copy of the Eastern Coast's map right? We may be seperated in the Eastern Coast"

"Find the target and eliminate it. It doesn't matter who does it"

"As long as the target is dead. It's a mission complete" Captain Jaron addressed the team for the last time.

A minute later. They stood at the cliff of the Airstair.

Glaring at the world beneath them.

Skarr was the first to dive down excitedly. Descending into the Eastern Coast, Olsen followed.

Penelope and Anjui held each other's hands and they made their dive while holding unto each other.

Jyslk followed.

The rest had left, leaving only Captain Jaron and Savitar.

"Hmph"

"Lovers. Even in death, they're still holding unto each other huh? It doesn't matter. Aren't you going?" Captain Jaron asked.

He turned his gaze to see Savitar standing beside him.

The brazen wind blew. With dusts scattered across the scene.

"Yes I am. I'm just suprised at the world below us, the vapor exerted. There's no volcano in this land"

"Not to talk of the black fog. I can feel the corruption in the air"

"I now understand why the Eastern Coast is considered the land of death" Savitar voiced out.

A dark grin escaped his lips.

"I don't know why. I feel excited" Savitar dived down from the cliff of the Airstair. Diving into the black fog.

Captain Jaron watched with a chuckle.

"What a strange team I have. Even in the face of death, they're all smiling " Captain Jaron was the last to leave.

Entering into the black fog without hesitation.

***

Thud!

Savitar crashed on the ground. He sprained his ankles which resulted him to moan. Slowly getting up to his feets.

He winced softly.

[Notice. You have received a few mediocre injuries, Starlight Energy will be applied to fasten the healing process]

"Oh? So Starlight Energy can be used to heal huh? That's gratifying " Savitar said.

A loud growl erupted from the shadows.

Savitar raised his head to see himself standing in the middle of nowhere. Shrouded in darkness and surrounded by trees.

He eavesdropped into the stillness of the night.

Strange movements heard from the dried leaves scattered across the scene.

Savitar felt the blistering cold waves brush passed him.

He breathed in fresh air. Letting out a loud sigh.

He placed his hand on the Tsuka of his Katana. Quickly positioning himself.

He waited In reticence. Dwelling in the shadows without moving an inch.

Out of the depths came forth rushing Eyeless Nightmares.

Screeches echoed.

They came in hordes. Questing against Savitar in hordes.

"Tch"

"To think i would be fighting a horde the second I landed into the Eastern Coast. Is my luck really that bad?" Savitar asked himself.

He growled.

Savitar unsheathed his blade. Released a slash into the air.

<Amplification>

Cerulean light erupted. Imbuing his cursed weapon with Starlight Energy and enveloping his body to enhance his physical capabilities.

Savitar welcomed the scudding Nightmares.