Many hours have passed, but they felt like an eternity for the elf who tried saving his loved ones.
His eyes were hollow with no signs of life. Was he dead? No. He had experienced something far worse than death—something that couldn't be mustered into words—his sanity had dwindled.
He was lying on his back, staring at the stone ceiling above him as a female leaned forward, blocking his view, and staring him in the eyes.
He could see her expression of joy.
It was as if she enjoyed what she had done.
He couldn't believe what had happened.
He was violated.
Legolas was unable to stop Alice; his body was too weak, and his life points were on the verge of nonexistence.
He questioned everything up to now, wondering why he deserved something like this.
Legolas felt dirty, worthless, and despicable.
His skin was numb, as was his beating heart.
He cried, unable to see the ceiling any longer. Tears blocked his view as Alice put her clothes back on; having destroyed Legolas' mental state, just like her own.
He was unable to muster any words, only chattering his teeth.
"I did what you asked for, now it's my turn to get what I want. You'll return Jacob, right?"
Legolas couldn't hear her voice.
He was in shock.
"Return Jacob to me… please return him…"
"...…"
"Please return Jacob. Please give me Jacob. Please let me see Jacob!"
"....."
"Do you hear me?!"
Legolas couldn't muster a single word.
"Return Jacob to me! Return him, return him, return him!!"
Alice begged with all her might, hoping he would answer.
"Can't you tell that it's me… Alice?"
Alice fell to her hands and knees in defeat until Legolas called her name.
"Who are you?"
"It's me… Legolas…"
Alice frowned, crawling toward the broken elf and hovering above his face.
"Return Jacob to me!!"
That was all she could think about. Legolas and everyone else faded from her memories.
Alice was truly gone.
***
"Now then, bring him back to life, we're waiting on you, Dorothy."
Isabella was standing next to Dorothy as the other members of their group stood behind, waiting for their next plan of action.
They were going to bring Jacob to life and brainwash him into following their orders.
"A-Alright, here I go!" Dorothy held onto her staff, pointing it forward, "Augment Magic, Undead Retrieval!"
Utilizing "Augment Magic" allows the user to amplify a spell to its maximum potential, increasing its potency exponentially.
Undead Retrieval was a common spell that allows the player to resurrect those who have died and turn them into zombies.
Two magical circles appeared, separated from one another.
One was in the air and the other was on the ground, spinning clockwise.
They started to glow crimson red as magical energy accumulated between them both.
Data particles would slowly join together, forming a humanoid body.
"Very good, Dorothy, with you and your Necromancy Magic, we can complete anything together." Pronounced Isabella.
"Th-Thank you, missus Isabella."
Jacob's body came into view as his soul was restored once more.
He was now an undead, belonging to the volition of Dorothy.
"I-I'm back? But how? I thought I was dead?" Jacob glanced at his hands, and then gazed at the grass beneath him, "I'm standing outside? Does that mean…" Before he could finish his words, he looked up to see the fraud Phantom Mutiny, "No, it can't be… not you people! Not again!!"
"Greetings, Jacob, it's good to see the spell worked, even on your soul. I expected things to work differently, considering our souls are fused with our Game Avatars, but I see nothing has changed." Announced Isabella.
"I'll kill you, I'll kill all of you!" He clenched his fists, walking forward, but suddenly stopped, "What—?" He couldn't leave, he was trapped between the magic circles, "What's going on?"
"Dorothy, here, has revived you—and now you're an undead following under her commands. Everything she says must be followed, and if you defy her, she will punish you greatly for it."
"…I'm an undead?" He looked at himself once more, staring at his palms, "But I look the same."
"Glance at your health bar, located in the upper right corner of your field of vision. You'll see for yourself." Said Isabella.
"Wha-" Jacob gazed at his health bar, realizing it was empty, "No way, so it's really true? But how did the resurrection work? A-Aren't we supposed to die permanently once our game avatars perish?"
"As I said before; I'm also surprised. It looks like the spells in this world can also interact with our souls. What a shame. Your life now belongs to the hands of the Phantom Mutiny."
"Be a good boy and listen to my every command…" Muttered Dorothy.
"B-But what about Alice… and Legolas? Where are they? Did you kill them?" Asked the worried Adventurer.
"No, fortunately, we haven't." Responded Isabella.
"Then where the hell are they?! I don't see them anywhere!!"
Crunch—Crunch—Crunch.
Leaves were heard being stepped on as a girl walked from the underground ruins, holding someone by their hair.
"Ah, it seems they arrived. That was quick, did you enjoy yourself?" Asked the smug Isabella as she approached them.
"Yes, I enjoyed myself. The same could be said for him as well, right Legolas?" Alice looked behind her, seeing the naked Legolas gaze at the ground, hollow in his eyes, "For some reason he doesn't wanna talk, did I do something wrong?"
"No dear, you did just what Lord Belial asked of you." Isabella approached the two players, opening her personal hub to bring forth a health potion, "Here, make him drink this, he's practically on the verge of death."
"Yes mam…" Alice grasped the health potion before crouching in front of the elf, holding it to his mouth. "Here, drink up."
"…Who are they?" Jacob looked from afar, unable to see the two players. "More of your guild members?" He asked Dorothy with irritation.
"No, I'm afraid not."
Dorothy was standing next to him, saddened in her expression.
"Wait a minute…" Jacob widened his eyes, feeling his undead heart unable to pulse like before, "Th-That's Alice!"
"Yes, that is Alice."
"What is she doing with Legolas?!"
"…."
"Why are you quiet? Answer me!! What did you guys do to them?!" Shouted the distressed Jacob.
Dorothy slowly approached him, standing on her tippy toes, and whispering into his ear.
"...…" Jacob could hear every word.
He closed his eyes, shaking his head in denial.
"No, no, no! What the absolute fuck?" He started to cry, tears trailing down his cheek, "You're lying, that couldn't have happened… not Alice! Alice would never do something like that!" He pushed Dorothy to the side, "Not her! Don't you ever lie about her like that again! Alice, I love her, she would never do such a thing! I know Alice more than anyone!"
Dorothy stumbled back, tilting her witch hat over her eyes, "I'm sorry, but it is the truth."
"Holy shit, man!" Jacob's legs started to shake like twigs before falling knees, "God… why?!" His lip trembled as he covered his eyes with his arm.
"Just fucking why?! This is fucked up! What was the reason for all of this?!"
Dorothy looked down at him with sorrow in her eyes.
She reached her hand forward, placing it against his shoulder to comfort him.
"Alice!" Jacob fell forward, slamming his forehead into the grass.
He wailed in agony, unable to stop his body from trembling.
Dorothy's hand remained on his shoulder while her expression appeared regretful.
("He's not pushing my hand away? That must mean he's under great stress. His body must feel numb.")
Dorothy closed her eyes, and stood back up, taking her hand from his shoulder.
She didn't wanna bother him any further.
Jacob continued to cry, catching the attention of the fraud Phantom Mutiny around them.
"Jacob?"
But all of a sudden—a voice would reach him.
He knew this voice more than anyone.
His crying would stop as snot would ooze from his nose—looking up to see her.
"…Alice?" Jacob sniffled through his nose, seeing her beautiful smile once more, "Y-You're really Alice… right?"
"Yup, it's me! I missed you so much, Jacob, you had me worried, I thought you died. I endured a lot to bring you back! It goes to show how much I love you!" She crouched to her knees, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Y-You love me?""
"Of course I do, silly. You confessed your love to me, remember? I felt the same way all along!"
"Alice… you loved me from the very beginning?"
"Yup, and now you're all mine, Jacob! Let's start a family together, we'll be the happiest parents in this whole world, okay?!"
"...Alice!" Jacob hugged her back, rubbing his face into her shoulder, "Alright, I'll stay by your side, forever."
"Aaah!?" Alice gasped, feeling her cheeks become red, "I'm so happy to hear that! You belong to me, for eternity!"
"Yes, I do, forever and always…"