Kai was…well, running…for his life… literally.
His day had started out great, normal like every other day. First school, then several hours working part-time, followed by the usual online gaming sessions with Navi and the others.
Until that strange message appeared on the mission screen, and he was dropped into a dangerous trial.
He was suppose to be ending Navi's MPV streak….not streaking across some random planet from monsters that don't exist… or didn't exist…until now…apparently.
"Navi! Lucas! Aura!... I could really use some help right now!… Ugh, stupid spawn, you're supposed to be in a game, not real!" yelled Kai while weaving around a boulder, narrowly avoiding an attack, only to have another Void spawn launch at him.
He sidestepped, but not fast enough, a claw clipping his shoulder and drawing blood; the force caused him to stumble. "Tsk..that fucking hurts", Kai swore, yelling loudly but quickly regaining his balance.
[Yelling will not help your current situation. It will make it worse. Correction, it just did.]
His AI Fred informed him as four more Void spawn joined the six already chasing him.
"Ahhh!!! Leave me alone," he yelled, narrowly dodging a claw swipe, knife flashing as he sliced the leg off, only to watch it instantly reform.
"Oh that is so not fair!" He yelled in frustration, his shoulder bothering him. "Navi, where are you when I need you?…..how do you defeat these things?"
[I have located a teammate nearby. They appear to be heading this way and will arrive shortly]
"Finally, some good news…about time!" Kai exclaimed.
[If you want to …]
"Not now, Fred. Can't you see I'm a little busy here?" Kai interrupted as he sidestepped another beast's claws.
[Shatter the crystals]
'Huh…what are you talking about?" yelled Kai, vaulting a bolder to avoid an attack and hopefully gain some distance.
[The crystals moving across the Void Spawn, shatter them, and they will die]
Kai, for a moment, was silent, stunned by Fred's revelation, then he exploded in a loud voice, 'Wait, you knew this whole time and said nothing"
[You did not ask]
"What do you mean I didn't ask? I've been screaming for help this whole time", Kai argued loudly, using his knives to evade claws, wincing as the force jarred his shoulder.
[Yes, despite being advised otherwise. But you only ask how to kill them now. Then you interrupted when I responded]
'Wait…no", Kai started arguing. "I'm sure I asked…" but fell silent, thinking ", Well damn.." he muttered, distracted, realising that Fred was right.
"Kai, watch out."
Kai's head snapped up at the sound of a familiar voice, only to realise he was surrounded.
Navi leapt from the ledge of a large bolder as he watched Kai's knives flash below, barely dodging claws.
Navi cast Volt Strike, a massive purple bolt of electricity wiping out four Void spawns, their crystals obliterated. The remaining six swarmed Kai.
Navi cast Blaze Shield, flames wrapping around Kai, shielding him from a beast attack while burning its crystal but not destroying it.
[Six Void Spawn, 3-5 meters]
Zythera warned Navi. "Kai, stay close! What spells?" He shouted, parrying a claw attack.
"Arc Bolt, Gloom Shroud!" Kai gasped, his shoulder bleeding.
"Cast Gloom Shroud, now!" Navi ordered. Kai complied, darkness veiling him; the Void Spawn growls, faltering at the sudden change.
They ducked behind a boulder, taking a chance to catch their breath. "Arc Bolt, the ethereal ones," Navi said quietly, "then attack the crystals." Kai nodded, peeking out from behind the bolder and observing the beasts.
Kai's lightning crackled, stunning a flickering beast and slowing its crystal. Kai lunged, knives cracking it, causing it to disintegrate.
Four of the Void beasts swarmed, two shifting incorporeal, circling tightly.
Navi's activated Blazing shield, block claws as two beasts lunged.
"Stun left!" Kai warned, still shrouded in darkness, firing an Arc Bolt as he stunned a beast, his knives shattering its crystal. "That's two down."
Navi slashed, cracking a solid beast's crystal. Kai's bolt stunned it, and Navi's longsword finished it. "Three now", he added to Kai's count.
[Three Void Spawn, 4 meters],
Fred chimed in Kai's head.
The last three pounced, shifting between ethereal and solid.
"Stun right!" Navi charged left, flames burning. Kai's lightning stunned one; he struck, knives shattering another crystal "four down".
Another leapt. Navi's burning shield blocked it, his sword cracking its crystal. Kai's bolt and dagger ended it. "Five now," said Kai.
The final beast flickered, claws slashing at Navi. Kai's Arc Bolt stunned it, and a combined thrust and slash from Navi's sword and Kai's knife—split the crystal as a ripple of energy faded.
[No Void Spawn detected, teammate 2 kilometres ahead].
Zythera informed as Navi eyed Kai's arm; it was still bleeding. "Use a med kit before we continue to find the others."
"We have med kits?" Kai responded, his voice genuinely surprised.
Navi looked at Kai, shocked. "You don't know. Didn't you ask the AI to explain stuff?"
Before Kai could respond, a new voice chimed in Navi's head
[He didn't have time; after choosing a weapon, he spent forever choosing his spells. Then he spent the whole time running while yelling]
"I see." Navi raised an eyebrow at Kai while trying not to laugh. "You really are helpless without me, aren't you?"
"I am NOT…don't listen to anything Fred tells you," Kai insisted, trying to defend himself.
"Yeah. Yeah…" Navi replied, smiling while pulling out a med kit and working quickly to patch Kai's arm.
As he finished, he spoke, "Careful how you use your spells; the suits have a mana limit" Kai nodded, the lingering darkness from his spell fading. "Alright, let's find Aura and Lucas."
********************
An enormous command room divided into sections and filled with screens was crowded…but strangely silent. A heavy weight seemed to fill the air that none of the people in the room dared disturb.
Doors hissed open, and measured footsteps sounded as a figure in military uniform entered, walking across the room and stopping near the central console.
"Trial status", he spoke, his voice firm, commanding.
"Started Admiral", one of the military personnel at the console responded
"Number of participants in this batch", his voice still the same even tone
"3789, sir" came the instant reply
"How are they fairing?" he asked
"Mostly as expected, sir…..however there are some anomalies."
"Oh", the Admiral voice displaying a hit of curiosity. "Explain"