Chapter 20: The Battle

They hid behind a showcase, trembling slightly, the other Knights scattered around surrounding the robber now turned shooter. They looked across to another showcase and seen a couple hiding, terrified. The man keeping the woman shielded as they were the ones closest to the active shooter.

Looking above them, there was a familiar looking man. His heart nearly sank as he recognized him as a Cloud Rider a high ranking Knight, then he becomes multiple.

This was a Super Human, now.

Sups, as everyone likes to call them. ‘Ridiculous to call Villain’s Soups, if Knights weren’t first injected with 98-XBK to track their every move and behaviour patterns then most Knights wouldn’t have such a negative reaction and lash out or gain new powers. Then SK-U11 was brought in to help control those damn powers to use as weapons. Doesn’t help that dormant powers are activated by any type of electrical current.’ shaking those thoughts away the man was now dangerous.

‘To think that would have been me, if I didn’t control it with the help of my Squire training. After taking the 98-XBK and SK-U11 we had to be quarantined for a year, wouldn’t mind drowning myself in that bathtub bed right about now. The sealed bed would make a great- no, no time to think about that. If I lost my mind here then it’s no different than losing it during those fear tests, or being subjected to V4M those damn hallucinations were just as scary as those tests. Still look like a young and beautiful 20 year old though instead of being 55 like I’m suppose to.’ Draven thought and looked around to see where the copies were going.

They looked back to the couple and caught the girls terrified eyes, the man was also scared but tried not to show it. He felt just as scared as them but then his own demeanour changed from scared to calm, he felt so calm as his thoughts travelled to what to do next.

He looked at the girl and held a finger to their lips, he leaned against the showcase and breathed in a few times. He never killed before. He seen Squires go through the process of shooting someone before and freaking out. Clouds they even helped them through it.

Opening his eyes he took his pistol and made sure it was loaded and safety off. He looked around and seen Early behind a pole holding his pistol ready to shoot. Draven locked eyes with his friend and knew that if they didn’t go through with it everyone would be dead.

He nodded at Early and stood up and started shooting at the Sups. He felt numb as the Sups fell like a string was cut from them and soon the main one was killed, making the copies disappear and the ones he killed left behind red puddles they made.

The world was silent for a moment as his breathing felt even.

Blurred people moved about around him, but he didn’t hear it, could hardly see any shape or form as he stared at the red stains. He also didn’t realize that he was smiling until he looked deeper into the puddle and everything cleared.

He felt happy, he felt so ecstatic that he wanted to laugh.

Then he got scared, realizing that this wasn’t suppose to happen.

His hands trembled.

Quickly putting the safety on he dropped the gun and stood still, hands at his side as the numb feeling came back. He felt Early’s hand on his shoulder gently shaking him. Looking at his friend he started to talk, knowing that he would have an answer to what he was feeling.

“Early...” his familiar voice crack, “why? Why am I not like the others?”

Early hugged him tightly, Draven brought his arms up slowly and listened to Early’s heartbeat. It was fast, he was probably scared and figured that something happened to him in his trance.

“It’s ok, Draven it’s ok, your just wired differently. We all react to things differently. You... you rush in when others are in danger. You’re the stupidest Hero I’ve ever met, but that’s who you are. You can’t stand to see others suffer when you can take it way when you can. You love hearing about others troubles because they rely on you when they need it. You love feeling needed. Nothings wrong with you. You just want to help. It’s all you’ve ever wanted to do was help...”

“Almost turned into one, didn’t I?” Draven asked no emotion in his voice as he listened to what Early had said.

“I’ll never understand what you went through, but I know who you are!” Early pulled back and shook him by the shoulders. “You are my Best Friend! You help from the background and you’re happy listening to all the bad things that we went through. Other’s might not like that you laugh when they are in emotional pain, but you have to take the good with the bad and they always come back to you to tell you more about it. After I yell at them.”

“You yell?” they asked giving a small chuckle.

“Oh, yeah. Top of my lungs, I think it gets a bit high pitched too.”

“How does your Wife cope with that in bed?”

“Truthfully I’m gagged,” the two laughed.

“Good job, wouldn’t trust anyone else with him right now,” Draven turned to the voice that spoke and it was from a Cloud Rider. “Sorry Knight Hallow, we’ll file a report about it later.”

“I understand, send someone over and we can talk now,” they said and pulled completely away from Early. They picked up the gun that they had dropped and then stepped on to secure it in place, holstering it they turned and followed the Cloud Rider to a different Knight known as the Devil Dusters. They went to a room and they started the incident report or what went down.

“Draven Hallow, what did you feel?”

“There were people to protect-”

[LOADING]

[SAVE-POINT LOADED]

They shivered trying to sort out the recent vision. ‘Sounds so scary... and painful. Compared to that man I have it easy.’

Looking around they found that Tamer’s were trying to come closer to but got cold feet and ran away. ‘Well at least this is better than having things shoved in my face. But I am curious where Food Giver is, I hope he’s still around. If anyone took the time to understand me it was him.’

They looked at the Slime’s playing off to the side, the Slime Warrior’s standing guard and making sure that the Player’s don’t get too close to them. Nodding they searched the crowd for a familiar shape, ‘Well, no time like the present. Speaking off, I’m going to put on that Skin that I got!’

[ERROR: SKILL POINTS LOCKED]

‘What? I can’t put the stupid thing on?’ exiting the Menu they figured that they would search through the town for their one and only Food Provider. They started bouncing to the gates and entered, to the shock of all the Player’s there. They looked at a Guard and remembered that they always got their underwear stolen by Dinner. Seeing the other Guard they held no significance to them and they ate the Guard.

Regaining energy that way they started their search, first looking into the Tavern.

“Untameable! Welcome back~” It didn’t bother them that the voice was glitched out.

[I had to fix a few things because of you!]

“Cloudy, I’m looking for a Player this time,” they gave the description of the Food Giver and Cloudy gave him his last known whereabouts. They placed a Coin for Cloudy and went on their way to hunt down the Food Giver that owed them a huge debt.

Searching the streets as they went in case he was heading in a different direction, they came across a Guild Board. Looking at it, it was filled with flyers, ‘Purple egg looking thing, a wanted poster of a black person with purple streaks, sparkly swirls, four people staring at a shadow in the middle, a wanted poster of someone with white hair and blue eyes, a castle in a bubble, there’s so many things on here what the hell is this now?’

The Guild Board changed to different pictures, ‘Some Pirates, a scary looking girl, another group of four going on an adventure, someone reaching for a golden egg, another scary looking girl but with white hair instead of black, two people fighting back to back, a less scary looking girl wielding swords, a guy looks like they are shattering or something, a tree trunk smoking, a burning world, a confused looking guy holding a sword, a red head under some cherry blossoms, two people looking at floating islands, cute as elf playing the flute! Is that guy holding a spider? Six superhero looking people, and a blond guy with blue eyes that looks like a cop, there’s so many here I don’t have time for this! Who ever does needs unlimited love and support!’

They walked away from the Board and seen that there was another one on the other side and someone familiar standing before it. Rushing over they ran into their leg and rolled over, sitting up straight and shaking themselves they looked up at Food Giver.

“Well, hello there! You’re up early and full of energy,” he smiled.

“Food.”

“Hahaha! Ah, were the other’s not giving you any?” They shook their head ‘No’ and looked expectantly up at him. “Would you like a worm?”

“What? NO!” They spiked up like a puffer fish and waited for him to just give him an Orange or something.

“I’m sorry, that was a mean joke,” he laughed and gave them a plate filled with pork, rice and vegetables. They bounced happily around them and took the food ‘GENTLY’ from their hand and ate quickly. Food Giver laughed commenting that their hand was still there at least. Sighing they looked at Food Giver and decided to try the Quest. “Oh... well of course we can be friends!”

[FOOD GIVER has agreed to be ACQUAINTANCES]

They didn’t bother reading the actual name and made their own in place, they bounced happily and watched him. Food Giver smiled and started walking, they followed behind until they reached the next Guild Board. “I wonder if I can take this Quest now?”

They accepted a Quest and nothing bother to read the Screen that shoved itself in their face they followed along. They stopped at a spot further from the Flower Path and looked at the world before them, they felt a pulse inside them at seeing such a wonderful sight before them. The hills were as green as ever, the sky crashing down with wisps of clouds meeting the earth. Then they were off again, but before leaving they looked back at the place they called home for so long.

Slime’s bounced happily seeing them off and the Slime Warrior’s nodding to them, the old tree was still and the Player’s surround the entrance watching them- who cares!

“Let’s go!” they bounced along behind the Food Giver and after a while they were face to face with a creature. The fur glistened with white, black and grey, as well as red. It snarled as they came up to it. The Knight smiled and looked over to them and nodded, they turned to face the creature as little Wolvoxus started to show up at the howl of the larger Wolvoxur. They sat back and yawned, partly dozing as the Knight started to take care of the little Wolvoxus.

“With this Blade, I will not Fall! With my Strength I will not die! As long as I stand before the Enemy, THEY WILL FALL!” The Knight yelled as they charged forward and started despawning the Wolvoxus, until only one stood, ‘Sounds like what I said. Meh.”

Knight stood bravely before the opponent, sword out and ready to strike the monstrous beast that stood in their way.