Saturday, 23 August 2001.
Inside ZAGE Tower in Japan, Zaboru sat quietly on the 51st floor, leaning back in his chair with a tired sigh. Recently, there had been far too many things entering his mind at once. The Black Berry Z01 release was still shaking the market, Apple and iPlay were still moving, Illuminati had revealed itself, Arachne had stepped out from the shadows, Akechi had begun restructuring Aoshidan's protection system, and now Zenshin's new school had also become part of the hidden world.
Zaboru had already learned that Kumo School was, in fact, connected to Arachne. Maya had personally visited him and explained the situation. According to her, Kumo School was not the same as Arachne's operational side. It was not a place to train assassins, spies, or anything strange like that. It was a school for unusually gifted children, built to give them proper education, protection, and opportunities without letting powerful families or outside organizations exploit them too early. Arachne swore they would not harm the students there, and from what Zaboru had seen, Kumo School itself had already been famous even before he discovered the Arachne connection.
Still, knowing that his son was going to a school connected to a secret organization did not exactly make him feel relaxed.
"Ahh…" Zaboru muttered, rubbing his temple. "Why is everything becoming complicated now?"
Then, after a moment, he chuckled to himself.
"Heh. At this point, I won't even be surprised if some Arachne guy suddenly appears in a hood and says, 'Nothing is true, everything is permitted.'"
The thought amused him more than it should have. Arachne and Illuminati reminded him far too much of Assassin's Creed from his previous world. The hidden war, secret organizations, the battle over humanity's freedom and control, the strange old symbols, the people moving behind history—it all felt like fiction had become annoying reality. The only difference was that instead of being able to turn off the console, Zaboru now had to live with it.
But today, he did not want to think too deeply about secret societies.
Today, he wanted to play a game.
Zaboru turned his gaze toward the iPlay sitting near the television setup in his private workshop office. Beside it was a fresh copy of The Dark Guild, Apple's long-delayed redemption title for the iPlay. After all the drama, delays, trailers, and ZAGE counterattacks, the game had finally been released today.
And honestly, Zaboru was excited.
He had expected Apple to delay it again, especially since ZAGE's five August games were also releasing today. It was a crowded release window. DOOM 3 on PC, WE 2001, NBA 2K1, Bomberman World, and Cyborg Kuro-chan were all strong enough to dominate attention in their own markets. If Apple had wanted to avoid direct comparison, delaying The Dark Guild again would have been understandable.
But apparently, Apple decided to stand and fight.
Zaboru respected that a little.
"But still," he said with a grin, picking up the game case, "I hope they won't disappoint."
The Dark Guild was supposed to be iPlay's redemption release. Apple's console launch had been disappointing, and the iPlay desperately needed a title that could make players believe in the machine. The trailer had looked genuinely good. Dark fantasy atmosphere, online co-op, four different playable knights, hack-and-slash combat, boss fights, RPG-like progression, and platforming adventure sections. Zaboru had mocked Apple many times, but as a gamer, he honestly wanted the game to be good.
He prepared the iPlay, connected the controller, and glanced briefly at the wide window of the 51st floor. After what had happened with Leonard Epstein, he could no longer look at that window the same way. For a second, he imagined another mysterious visitor suddenly appearing from the sky while he was trying to play.
Then he chuckled.
"Well, I hope no one bothers me when I'm playing…"
He opened The Dark Guild case, took out the disc, and placed it into the iPlay.
A few moments later, the cinematic began.
The screen faded into a ruined village under a black-red sky. Blue fire burned across broken wooden houses, and ashes drifted through the air like snow. A bell rang in the distance, slow and heavy, while villagers ran from dark creatures crawling out of a misty forest. The cinematic quality was impressive. The lighting, camera work, and atmosphere were clearly polished. Apple and ZUSUGA had put real effort into making the game feel grand.
Then the main character appeared.
He was a blond knight wearing dark silver armor, carrying a huge halberd-like spear. His armor was cleaner than the black-haired axe knight from the original trailer, but still scratched and battle-worn. His cloak moved in the wind, and his weapon glowed faintly with pale light.
Zaboru frowned slightly.
"Huh? Did they redesign the characters from the trailer?" he muttered. "Wasn't the main character supposed to be the black-haired knight with the big axe?"
He watched more carefully.
The blond spear knight charged into the village, cutting through a horde of Departed spirits, demonic wolves, and grotesque crawling creatures. His halberd swept in wide arcs, piercing multiple enemies at once before he slammed the shaft into the ground and created a burst of light that pushed back the monsters around him. The cinematic was stylish, violent, and dramatic. Still, Zaboru could not ignore the difference from the trailer.
"Hmm…"
After the opening cinematic ended, the screen moved to the main menu. The Dark Guild title appeared over a massive black gate surrounded by bone-like pillars. Slow choir music played in the background, giving the whole menu a heavy, gothic atmosphere.
Zaboru moved through the options and opened the character screen.
There were four available knights, but also four black silhouettes locked behind progression. The original four knights from the trailer did not seem to be among the starting cast.
Zaboru stared for a moment, then chuckled.
"Ah, I see. So the four knights from the original trailer are unlockable characters."
That actually made sense. It was a slightly risky marketing choice, since people who watched the trailer might expect to play as those characters immediately, but it also gave players something to chase. If the locked characters were powerful or had unique playstyles, it could increase replay value.
Zaboru started a new game.
The game offered one to four players. Since he was alone, he chose single-player. The character selection screen appeared again, this time showing the four starting knights in more detail. The first was Geoff, the blond spear knight from the opening cinematic. He was presented as a balanced reach-based fighter with strong mid-range attacks and holy techniques. The second was a long-haired knight using twin swords, clearly built for speed, combos, and aggressive close-range combat. The third was a short-haired bald knight with heavier armor and a massive hammer-shield combination, probably the tank of the group. The fourth was a smaller knight with a short sword and crossbow, designed for mobility, traps, and ranged support.
Zaboru leaned closer with interest.
"Oh? So even the starting cast has different roles."
He chose Geoff first.
The first mission began in a small village called Elbern, where Geoff had been assigned to help protect the villagers from demonic Dark Creatures. The story setup was simple but effective. A local priest had sent a desperate message to the Dark Guild, an order of warriors hired to fight monsters that ordinary soldiers could not handle. Geoff arrived alone at first, walking through muddy roads, burned fields, and abandoned homes while villagers hid behind locked doors.
The stage started slowly.
Zaboru moved Geoff through the village path, testing the controls. The movement felt responsive. Geoff had a normal light attack, a heavy attack, a guard button, a dodge step, and a special spear throw. The camera was placed behind the character at a comfortable distance, and although it occasionally needed manual adjustment, it was far better than Zaboru expected from an early iPlay 3D action game.
The first enemies appeared: small Departed spirits with twisted arms and glowing eyes. They moved in groups, rushing Geoff from multiple angles. Zaboru tested basic attacks first. Geoff's spear had good reach, allowing him to hit enemies before they got too close. His light combo was three quick strikes ending with a forward thrust, while his heavy attack was slower but could knock enemies back.
Zaboru nodded.
"Hmm. The hit feeling is good."
Then stronger enemies appeared. A horned Dark Creature charged from the side, swinging a large claw toward Geoff. Zaboru instinctively pressed the dodge button at the last moment, and Geoff rolled smoothly to the side. A small flash appeared around him.
Perfect Dodge.
Zaboru's eyes sharpened.
"Oh? There's timing dodge too?"
After a perfect dodge, time slowed for a brief moment, allowing Geoff to counter with a fast thrust that dealt bonus damage. Zaboru tried it again on the next enemy, deliberately waiting until the attack almost landed before dodging. The timing window was tight, but fair. It rewarded skill without feeling cheap.
Then he tested the guard button. When a skeleton soldier swung its rusted sword, Zaboru pressed guard just before impact. Geoff raised his spear horizontally and parried the attack, creating sparks and staggering the enemy. A prompt appeared.
Riposte.
Zaboru pressed heavy attack, and Geoff responded with a clean counterstrike that pierced through the skeleton's chest and shattered it.
Zaboru grinned.
"Okay. That's satisfying."
The combat was more technical than he expected. It was not only button mashing. Players could mash against weak enemies, but stronger enemies clearly required timing, positioning, parry, and dodge. Geoff's spear made him safer at mid-range, but if enemies surrounded him, he had to move carefully. The enemy variety also helped. Departed spirits swarmed quickly but died fast. Skeleton soldiers blocked more often. Dark wolves circled from the side. Crawling demons tried to poison Geoff if ignored too long. Even in the first stage, the game was already asking the player to pay attention.
Then Geoff unlocked his first special ability.
Spear Recall.
Zaboru read the tutorial. Geoff could manually aim and throw his spear at long range, pinning enemies or hitting weak points. After throwing it, he could call the spear back, damaging anything caught in its return path. The aiming used the right analog stick and felt surprisingly precise.
Zaboru threw the spear at a flying demon perched on a broken rooftop. The spear launched forward with a bright streak, pierced the creature, and stuck into the wall behind it. The demon fell, twitching. Then Zaboru pressed the recall button. The spear ripped itself free and flew back to Geoff's hand, slicing through two enemies on the way back.
Zaboru laughed.
"Yo, this is actually cool."
The more he played, the more he understood why The Dark Guild had been delayed. The game had systems. Not perfect systems, but real ones. Combat had weight. Enemy patterns mattered. Each ability had purpose. The dark fantasy atmosphere was strong, and the music responded well to battle intensity. During exploration, the village had breakable barrels, hidden paths, rescue objectives, and treasure chests containing upgrade materials. The first mission even had a small choice: protect a group of villagers immediately or explore a side path to save a trapped blacksmith first. Zaboru saved the blacksmith, which later rewarded him with a temporary weapon upgrade.
That upgrade was Holy Flame.
During the mission's mini-boss fight against a large beast called a Grave Hound, Geoff's spear ignited with pale golden fire. The Holy Flame effect was not permanent, but while active, it dealt extra damage to undead and dark enemies. It also changed Geoff's moves slightly. His heavy thrust released a small flame burst, and his spear recall left a burning trail.
Zaboru leaned forward, smiling with genuine excitement.
"Hey, this is not bad at all."
The Grave Hound was much more aggressive than normal enemies. It dashed across the battlefield, lunged with its jaws, summoned small spirits, and occasionally howled to stun nearby villagers. Zaboru quickly learned the pattern. Dodge the dash, parry the claw swipe, throw the spear when it climbed onto the wall, recall the spear through its body, then attack during the stagger window. For most players, the fight would likely be challenging. For Zaboru, it was still manageable, but not boring.
That mattered.
He was unusually good at games, so most titles became easy for him very quickly. But The Dark Guild at least had enough mechanical depth to keep him engaged. He could already imagine normal players having a great time, especially in co-op.
After clearing stage one, the game moved to a small hub area called the Guild Camp. There, Geoff could upgrade skills, change equipment, accept missions, buy items, and talk to NPCs. The camp had a dark but cozy atmosphere, with tents, blacksmiths, injured soldiers, and a large notice board showing available assignments. Zaboru checked the upgrade tree and whistled quietly.
"Not bad. They actually gave each character progression."
Geoff's skill tree had multiple routes: Spear Mastery, Holy Arts, Guard Technique, and Hunter Movement. Spear Mastery improved combo range and damage. Holy Arts improved elemental attacks and anti-undead bonuses. Guard Technique strengthened parry and shield-like defense. Hunter Movement improved dodge recovery and spear recall speed. It was not an extremely deep RPG system, but for an action beat 'em up adventure game, it was more than enough.
Zaboru played for another hour.
By stage four, he had already fought through a haunted forest, a ruined chapel, and underground catacombs. The environments were varied enough to avoid repetition. The forest used fog and ambush enemies. The chapel had vertical platforms, locked doors, and cursed bells that summoned spirits if not destroyed quickly. The catacombs introduced traps, narrow corridors, and enemies that revived unless their glowing cores were shattered.
The game was honestly good.
Not flawless, but good.
The camera occasionally got caught near walls. Some enemy hitboxes felt slightly awkward. The platforming was not as polished as the combat. And because Zaboru was playing alone, he could feel that some sections were clearly designed to be more fun with four players. There were doors that required AI companions to activate switches, and while the AI worked well enough, it lacked the chaos and coordination that real players would bring.
Still, the core was strong.
After stage four, Zaboru returned to the character select screen. His curiosity finally won. He wanted to test the other starting knights.
The twin sword knight played completely differently from Geoff. His name was Lydan, and he was fast, aggressive, and fragile. His light attacks chained rapidly, and he could dash cancel out of some moves to continue pressure. His special ability allowed him to mark enemies, then teleport a short distance toward them with a slash. The gameplay felt stylish and satisfying, especially when chaining attacks between multiple weak enemies. However, he also died faster if surrounded, forcing more careful dodging.
Zaboru grinned after clearing a short mission with him.
"Ah, so he's the combo addict character."
Next, he tried the bald heavy knight, Barthol. As expected, Barthol was slow but powerful. His attacks had massive impact, and his guard was much stronger than Geoff's. He could plant his shield-hammer into the ground and create a defensive stance that blocked frontal attacks. His special ability let him taunt enemies, drawing them toward him before releasing a shockwave. In co-op, he would clearly protect teammates and control crowds. Alone, he felt heavy but satisfying, especially when smashing groups of skeletons into pieces with one charged attack.
Zaboru nodded approvingly.
"This guy will be popular with players who enjoy being unkillable."
Finally, he tested the smaller knight, Nera. Nera was probably the most technical starting character. She had a short sword for quick close-range attacks, a crossbow for ranged shots, and traps that could slow or damage enemies. Her dodge distance was long, and she could shoot enemy weak points from afar. Her damage was lower at first, but she felt flexible. Against flying enemies, she was much easier to use than the others. Against big enemies, she needed careful positioning.
Zaboru smiled while playing her.
"Okay, this one is for smart cowards."
He laughed at his own comment, then continued testing her mechanics.
After trying all four starting knights, Zaboru leaned back and looked at the screen with genuine satisfaction. He had played long enough to form a fair impression.
"This really isn't bad," he said quietly. "Actually, it's good. The gameplay is solid, character differences are meaningful, and the combat has enough depth. The trailer character switch was a little strange, but if the original four are unlockable, that might even work as motivation."
He looked at the iPlay controller in his hand.
"For now… 8.5."
He nodded to himself.
"Maybe even higher if the later stages and co-op hold up."
There was something refreshing about admitting that Apple had made a good game. As a competitor, Zaboru knew The Dark Guild could help iPlay recover some reputation. As a gamer, however, he liked seeing a serious effort rewarded. This was not a cheap attempt. This was not lazy software carried by marketing. The development team had clearly worked hard.
And because of that, Zaboru felt slightly happy.
"Heh," he chuckled. "Good. At least iPlay finally has something."
Then he glanced toward the locked silhouettes again.
The original black-haired axe knight from the trailer was still there, hidden behind progression.
Zaboru's grin widened.
"Well, now I'm curious."
He selected Geoff again and continued playing.
Outside the 51st floor, ZAGE Tower remained busy with its own August releases, Black Berry reports, Little Steam updates, and global sales monitoring. Apple, Microsoft, ZUSUGA, Illuminati, Arachne, Aoshidan, Kumo School, and everything else could wait for a while.
For now, Zaboru was simply a gamer.
And The Dark Guild had earned his attention.
To be continued.
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