*BOOOOM*
The giant monstrosity fires its gigantic main cannon at the barrier again. The green shield that's been protecting us for 5 minutes starts to quiver on each impact. Davenport, who's been maintaining it the entire time, is also nearing his limit. His breath is ragged and his muscles spasm with every hit his barrier takes. Surrounding him are Samantha and the Wanderers who are doing immense damage to the boss while also keeping the number of spiders at bay.
+
[4:39]
[4:38]
+
The timer winds down consistently. After the constant barrage from our group, the once proud giant is now showing signs of weakness. It limps as some of its limbs collapse from its weight. Its internal structure and wiring hang from multiple craters caused by Samantha's howitzers. It's a close battle, but our united front is starting to lose stamina.
*KRRRRK*
I look up and see that multiple cracks form as the metallic spiders persistently bash against different points of the dome. Davenport tries to repair it with a wave of his hand but he can't keep up. Samantha and the other attackers, who have been firing away at the horde of minions with their rapid-fire weapons and elements, are also beginning to slow down. Meanwhile, the giant monstrosity slowly lumbers towards us despite being in tatters.
*CREEEAAK* *RUMBLE*
With every step it takes, its low rumbling hum and creaking joints get louder and louder.
+
[3:50]
[3:49]
+
Damn it. Can't this go faster?
*Bang* *Bang*
I do my best to shoot whatever's in my sight with a measly pistol. We've been doing this for what feels to be hours now but their numbers show no sign of dwindling. In fact, as the giant monster takes more damage, the number of spiders on the battlefield almost doubles in size.
"Fuck," I hear Davenport swear under his breath. He falls down on his knees while still straining to hold up the barrier.
"Boss!" Samantha yells from the front.
"I'm starting to run out of mana!" Davenport replies.
Shit. That's the last thing I wanna hear. To make matters worse, it seems the little bugs have taken advantage of the situation and start pouring in from the tiny holes that finally formed. Like speeding bullets, they dash to the machine with no regard for the people who are shooting and slicing them.
+
[2:30]
[2:29]
+
We're so close. But the bugs keep on multiplying. We try to eliminate them as they pour in but eventually, their sheer number pierces through our defenses. At that moment, my stomach churns and Sher's words ring in my ear.
"What am I now?" her words from the precinct echoes through my brain.
[Protect me, Devon Miller]
I couldn't.
"You must cut off everyone," Raph's voice surfaces.
I thought I could do it, but I couldn't protect anything. Not in the real world or in this virtual one.
"NOOOOOO!" in desperation, I fire the pistol without rest even when it starts to burn hot red.
The others also shout their desperate battle cries as they mow through the sea of spiders. But none of it was enough. Eventually, they reach the machine and like ants on a mountain of sugar, they rush to cover it. I watch as the once bright light start to dim with each body that latches itself onto it. It's over. I fall to my knees and silently watch as my friend diminish to nothing.
+
[1:46]
[1:45]
+
Huh? In the corner of my eye, the timer's still ticking down. I look around and notice that everyone has stopped, even the spiders.
"What is going on?" I mutter in disbelief.
+
[Player: George Used Ultimate Skill "Tranquility"]
[You have been stunned]
+
My vision blurs and static fizzles on my Kaleidoscope while my body is frozen in place.
"Argh!" I strain my eyes to take in what's going on and see a solitary figure stretching out their hands against the legion of spiders.
I smile. It's the figure who first welcomed me after I've lost everything. The figure of the man I grew to appreciate.
"George?"
"Now, lassy!" he booms.
Suddenly, a flash of blue flies through the air. It's Samantha. On her shoulder is a gigantic metal cylinder that bursts with yellow energy.
"AAAARRRGH," her voice rips through the air as she descends.
*CRASH*
Upon making impact, the metallic cylinder sends a pulse of yellow lighting along the ground. One by one, the spiders convulse and collapse as the energy touches them. Eventually, no spider is left standing; with one move, Samantha has made a literal field of corpses.
+
[Player: Samantha Used Ultimate Skill "Seismic Cannon"]
[You are slowed]
[Kaleidoscope Integrity Falls to 20%]
+
As the pulse reaches me, my vision blurs further to the point that I can barely see anything. Also, my body feels sluggish; like the morning after I've drank like mad the night before. Is this the power of [Roles]?
The rest of the group who are caught up by Samantha's skill start to regain their footing. Some of them shout complaints while others cheer in adoration to the petite girl who basically turned the tides of battle. Meanwhile, I sigh in relief as the light of the beacon returns to the night sky.
+
[1:10]
[1:09]
+
"H..UR.. H..UR.." an electronic bass tone slowly vibrates through the air.
In the joys of the moment, we've forgotten the main enemy we were fighting against. We all turn to see the shambling body of the giant metallic monster loom over us. When did it get so close? Its torso shakes as it produces the constant bass tone. Is it ... laughing?
*SHRIEK*
All of us instinctively cover our ears as a blast of sound rattles us to the core.
+
[Virus: Amalgamation Used The Ultimate Skill "Recycle"]
[You are Paralyzed by Fear]
+
I watch as everyone's bodies tense up. Some even collapse. At the same time, the corpses that Samantha produced start to shift and move towards the monster. Like magnet, all of the spiders that litter the battlefield latch onto the holes of its torso and rebuild the limbs that it had lost. My heart sinks again.
+
[00:50]
[00:49]
+
We're so close! Only a few seconds and [Concealment] would kick in again. Sher would be safe. But now, my hope that was revived for a moment, turns to fear. Fear that the person who trusted me, despite having literally no reason to do so, will be destroyed forever. As it continues its scornful laugh, the monster rears back on its hind limbs and slowly drives its two hammer-like legs to whatever was left of Davenport's barrier.
*SMASH*
Davenport collapses to the ground as his barrier shatters to a million pieces. The monster's laughter grows more sinister as it slowly rears back once more. This time, aiming at the machine. All of us throw everything we have at it but it merely continues its motion. Then, when its front legs reach their apex, we brace ourselves for impact.
"I FINALLY FOUND YOU, YOU SON OF A BITCH!!" a familiar voice rings in the air as a blur of red zooms through the monster.
*BOOOSH* *CRACKLE*
A sudden burst of flame causes the monster to topple on its back.
+
[00:20]
[00:19]
+
In the literal nick of time, the person who I've wanted to see the most, shows up in a blaze of glory.
"Eleanor..." I whisper as tears begin to form in my eyes.
I can't see clearly anymore but my ears could hear the all too familiar insults of my dear friend. Eventually, the blur got close enough to where I can finally see her outline. All around me, multiple voices cheer at her presence. Wait ... is she floating? And is that a broom she's standing on? I rub my eyes multiple times in an effort to clear them.
"Mass HEAAAAAL," the "Injury Guy" shouts at the top of his lungs.
+
[Player: Ricardo Used Ultimate Skill "Mass Heal"]
[Kaleidoscope Integrity Raises to 45%]
+
After opening my eyes again, I could confirm that I'm not hallucinating. She's standing on a wooden broom as her fire trimmed cloak and oversized witch's hat flutter over her usual outfit. Her arms are crossed and she scowls at me without saying a word. Behind her, the giant rotates its limbs and torso to prop itself up again. Then, its main cannon starts to spin and gathers energy for its beam.
"Uhh... Eleanor, I know it's a bad time right now but-" I sheepishly start but before I could finish, the monster fires its massive beam.
I instinctively brace myself but the impact never came. Without breaking her angry gaze at me, Eleanor summons a massive burning teddy bear behind her. This 10 meter tall animal easily blocks the attack that gave us so much trouble every time it was fired.
"That's not fair," Davenport complains while his face is still on the ground.
Eleanor points a finger at me. "You. We'll talk later," she snaps then turns to an empty space in the vicinity. "And you, fuck off!"
Immediately, hundreds of footsteps rush off into the distance. Eleanor looks at me one last time before flying off to face the monster again with the bear. As much as I would like to savor this moment and shake in my boots in fear of what's waiting for me after this fight, I have another pressing matter to attend to.
+
[00:03]
[00:02]
[00:01]
[Role-players' DLC Successfully Installed]
[Welcome, Player]
+
*Woooosh*
After the countdown finishes, another pulse of energy emanates from the machine. Unlike our previous experience, it's more of a gentle nudge that draws our attention to it. Then slowly, the beacon of light start to retract back to its origins and the cover of night looms over us once again. The glow doesn't disappear completely though. I inch closer towards the machine as the sounds and blazes of battle rage behind me. I look up and see a peculiar object hovering on its apex: a pearly white dodecahedron that constantly shifts and rotates like a Rubik's cube would.
+
[The Omniphage Sheriv Nazar Notices Your Presence]
[The Omniphage Sheriv Nazar Would Like to Make a Pact with Player: Devon Miller]
+
"Sheriv?" I gasp. "What happened to you?"
+
[The Omniphage Sheriv Nazar Urges the Player: Devon Miller To Stop Wasting Her Time]
+
My nostrils flare. "Time after time you put me through hell and all you can do is order me around. You know what? Give me back my anxiety. I can't believe that I was worried about you for a second."
+
[The Omniphage Sheriv Nazar Is Curious If Player: Devon Miller Was Really Concerned]
+
"Argh! I'm sick of this!" I jump and snatch the dodecahedron. "Fine, make a contract."
+
[Congratulations!]
[Class Received: Hero of Gluttony LV. 1]
[Kaleidoscope Integrity: 45%]
[Mana: 0]
[The Omniphage Sheriv Nazar Requests To Be The Kaleidoscope's Main Voice]
[Accept or Decline?]
+
I raise my eyebrow at the notifications I just got. "Accept."
[Aaaah Finally! Referring to myself in the third person got tiring after a while,] a familiar voice rings in my head. But it's different, distant, almost like hearing her through a phone or a hologram.
"Can you explain to me why you thought that making me build this shit is a good idea?" I yell at the dodecahedron. This makes everyone look at me with concern. "Did you make me build a backdoor server to Medacorp's Administrator?" I whisper harshly.
No answer. Damn it. When she's this silent, the answer is always yes.
"Can you at least tell me why you did it?" I sigh. "And what's with this class name?"
*BOOOOM*
I've forgotten that there's still a battle happening. I look and see that at the far distance, the monster has descended to a melted mess. It can't keep up with Eleanor's speed and the bear's wrestling moves prevents it from getting away while continually pushing it away from us. Meanwhile, the heat's intensity keeps on increasing to the point that I could feel the air singe my hair.
[Throw me] she says suddenly.
"What?"
[Throw me to their direction before she finishes it off]
Giving up on any form of explanation, I form the stance of a baseball player and with all my might, I throw the dodecahedron towards the heat of battle. Samantha and Davenport look at me curiously as I watch it fly further than I thought it would. Moments pass and I start to sweat. Then, without warning, multiple dots of bluish white light swirl around the struggling monster. With each revolution, their speed multiplies until finally, a tornado manifests itself.
*WOOOOSH*
As the wind picks up, Eleanor notices that she is slowly being sucked in. Feeling the danger, she bolts away from it and unsummons her bear. The monster roars inside the tornado and tries to break through using its intact limbs and other weapons only to be met with multiple electric shocks.
*ZAP* *ZAP* *ROAAAR*
We watch as the tornado begin to shrink and the monster cries out in pain. It shrinks, and shrinks, and shrinks until eventually, the monster disappears and only the dodecahedron is left. The spectators' eyes track it as it flies back to my side.
[Well, that was a nice meal]
+
[Gluttony's Abyss Current Load: 300%]
[Overeating Skill Discovered]
[Virus Digestion Skill Discovered]
[Time Left for Digestion: 5 hours]
[EXP Received: 0]
+
"Fuck my life..." I mutter to myself before crumpling to the ground.