He grunted one last time. The message reverberated through the young boy's mind.
In his confusion, he looked around but his eyes became blurry, covered in a dark foggy energy. “Why is Aquarius stabbing me?” As his mind wandered he looked at Aquarius’ eyes. His words echoed, and sound waves reverberated in the air. He focused on his words. Although he was bewildered, he was also amazed.
Arto grunted his pain with each instance the blade submerged further into him. For him, it seemed each second of time became minutes. The dissociation would soon take over his senses. His consciousness was fading. The pain became unbearable.
Aquarius continued to thrust forward, planting himself firmly on the ground and then propelling with insurmountable force towards a nearby wall.
“Meredice 'MS' is merging!”
You did it! The Dark One would be happy it worked.
“It is not merging with me! It merged with someone else!” Aquarius yelled.
Overhearing his words a sound of flesh tearing apart blared through the silence as Aquarius blade pierced through with his chest meeting the hilt of his blade. A pool of blood trickled to the floor.
- a mysterious voice
Transmutation Begin
The voice yelled to Aquarius, yearning for his final task. A mission that he too knew he must complete.
“Kill the boy before he awakens it!” Meredice orders Aquarius.
As the boy held onto Aquarius’ Blade, he began feeling different. His clothes started to feel lighter. It was as if he was losing weight. He glanced to his side and noticed that his bag where he stored all of his items had opened and all of the items inside began flourishing around the two in a whirlwind.
80% Cleared.
It was first an uncommon dagger that flew towards Arto, but suddenly the item gravitated towards them. Arto covered his eyes, in fear that the item would hit him, but it stopped short of him, entering a black orb whirling in the center of his chest.
Arto uncovered his eyes, looking forward, seeing a panting Aquarius laying on the floor. More items scattered through the air, escaping his inventory, and continued to enter the dark ball in Arto’s chest and Aquarius' sword remained lodged.
60% Clear
Aquarius' face became grim. “Just how many items do you have?”
The spiral of equipment continued to enter the Midnight Sunset, until finally Aquarius saw an item that he recognized. The “Illuminous Bracelet.” How do you have that? That’s a limited drop?” A staff emerged, slowly pooling into the darkness. “That’s the Empress’s Tallkeeper!” He glanced, taking note of the items flying around the boy. “That’s the Rulkain’s Furious Axe! Magnus’ Free Chainmail. Quincy’s Barrelshield?”
40% Cleared
Aquarius' eyes turned facing all directions as if he was physically tracking the thought with his eyes, running around. He then came to his feet. “All this time…”
20% Cleared
He began to walk towards Arto. “There’s no way a level 0 brat could have these items! I thought I was feeding them to ?? with items, you were picking them up? You? A mere child? Stealing my loot?” When Aquarius had pronounced the name of the Beast, Arto understood the words, but he had never heard of such a creature. “But how do you remain in the Anomaly? Unless…” The eerie understanding that had come to Aquarius gave him a sense of new purpose.
Aquarius pulled his hand back. “Come forth...“
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0% Clear
Transmutation.
Artos' eyes would fade to white entering a new space. His could see darkness envelope his vision, and soon enough, could not see. All he saw was darkness.
A screen popped up
Complete.
- Become one with Destiny. You became a being of insurmountable strength. Gain 1 Point of Strength based on the number of items Transmuted.
- Become one with Fate. You become instantly rich, gaining notoriety. The Title of Baron of your chosen land. You get 1 million gold per item Transmuted.
- Become one with Creation. You will wield an unique item that was forged by the Merge! Created based on the Transmutation level achieved. This item will be created to support your character, class and level
Arto looked at all options carefully. “If I was to become strong, I could maybe be strong enough to exist in the rooms he's in and not die so easily. He shook his head. “I don't wish to bother him.”
If I become rich I can buy all these items, and impress Aquarius. That won’t do. I won't have time to do that if I die right here. I will choose the first option. His mind reached towards the first choice on the screen, but then he hesitated. Arto looked at the last option and considered its potential.
He gripped his hand. “All this time I’ve never actually held a weapon. Whenever I equip an item it always feels heavy because I lack the stats to use it. I lack the power...”
He glanced at his garments. A dim and dirty cloak that had kept him warm. “I am a glitch. Nothing in this game was made for me. Maybe just maybe if something was made for me…” the thought sat with him reverently. A spark surged through the boys heart. “If I can just have something! Something that allows me to protect those I wish to protect. Maybe I can turn my uselessness into power. Anything that can bring me one step closer to Aquarius without hurting him. I’ll take it. I’ll do it!”
In his mind, heart and soul he reached for the 3rd option.
-100% Cleared. Anomalous Area Unlocked.
Time resumed.
Midnight Marina (Anomalous Zone)
“Come forth Storm Clearer.”
A mystical energy wrapped around his arms, treading down and balling up into his grasp. It grew, forming a magnificent spear wrapped in lightning, pulsing at the frame of its stature. Meanwhile his previous weapon slowly drenched into the orb. As he looked upon the darkness, it had now grown in size, engulfing the boy. The darkness was feral, constantly churning in and out. The Darkness began to shake. Two hands grabbed at its edges pulling itself out.
Aquarius raised his conjured weapon towards the beast emerging. “Don’t come close.” The beast began to walk towards him. “Don’t come close!”
He thrusted his spear forwards only to pierce through the shadow of the beast when. Behind him he heard a crunch of two objects, unimaginably in density, hit each other. He turned to see the beast clash fist with another as tall as the Sea-Hollow's District.
Bo???
The beast held back the unknown creature with an urgent grunt he uttered. “Run. Now!”
Aquarius clenched his weapon raised at the back of the beast.
“Run! Get out of here!” The beast yelled ferally.
Arto didn’t turn back.
All the young boy could think was...
Above the beast head Aquarius counted the number of question marks it had.
??????
The questions marks became to alter and become a single phrase.
Shing?
He was baffled.
He thought. Either way, he knew what he must do.
There was no more time to understand what had occurred.
"Meredice, I'm extracting!"
In the distance a portal appeared. He didn't look back and darted towards it. Before he interacted with it, he twitched. “This time. This time I will let you go. But next time I see you. I will defeat you to get my sword back.”
Aquarius vanished.
As Shing! and the ???? remained he relaxed his hold on the monster. Finally there was a stalemate and both pushed each other back, entering a forwarding motion to strike each other once again.
He raised his wrist to see if the game still recognized him.
The assistant glitched, showing illegible symbols and words. Instead, he heard a robotic woman's voice.
Just as the voice renounced his name, he thought how Aquarius forged his weapons. He clenched his hands and energy began to fill between his fingers. He placed his hands in front of him, and slowly a weapon manifested into his hands. It was a Broadsword, shimmering in an eerie dark-light.
Bound
Spoils Brat - Gain a permanent increase to your stats whenever you pick up an item that was not dropped by a monster you defeated.
! a voice said.
Who Me?
Who are you? How can I understand you?
He opened his eyes. There was now weapon or attack. The beast had stuck his hand out!
You must be new to the Anomaly Wars.
Above his head Arto could see his name.
"I was afraid that player was going to destroy you, so I tried to scare him off. Seemed like it worked." He then turned and faced the white background behind him. Follow me. I'll take you to the rest of us.
I know you probably have many questions!" Boom! pushed his hands into the white background, seeming through. "You'll understand soon enough! Hurry now! They're waiting for you!"
END