"…and you have no idea how long he's been there?" I asked, trying to digest everything.
"Well, he claims to have been with me for, like, ever. At least my whole life thus far but, never really heard him so, I'm leaning towards calling bullshit on that one." Korbin causally replied, as if the mentioned of housing a dead fucking god in his body was to be treated with the same energy as if I found out he's actually a Sagittarius.
"And he's cool, but also wants to jack your body? How can both those things be true?" I asked, trying to piece together their weirdly budding relationship.
"Because he can't, and he knows it. Not without permission at least." Korbin replied.
"But why? Why the hell would he be there, why wouldn't he just be reborn or some shit?" I asked, not sure how he can trust having some dead god chirping in his brain 24/7.
"Honestly? I think he tried, but failed with me for some re-…oh im sorry, am I oversharing about the guy who tried to spiritual HIJACK MY FUCKING BODY?!" Korbin bursted out, screaming up at the endless abyss like it'd insulted his family line or something. His eyes dropped down to mine as his posture relaxed, waving his hands to request a moment.
"…sorry, he's been real fucking chatty la-" before he could finish, several thumps vibrated along the cold metallic floor. Both Korbin and I whipped our heads around to face the possible intrusion, a rush of exaltation flooding my chest seeing Cassi and Lonni both grinning from ear to ear.
"No WAY, did you guys..?!" I asked, curving my enthusiasm as I realized I might've been assuming, and asking someone who just lost the last round of The Labyrinth Of Lost Legends if they won would be rather shitty. Luckily, my social intuition served me well for a change.
"FUCK yeah we won, baby!" Lonni bursted out, pounding his chest before leaping up and bumping shoulders with Korbin, who was immediately fired up at the news. I slapped Cassi's hand and brought her in for a quick tapping hug, and was about to ask her how they managed it when I spotted Kota behind the both of them. His smile was beaming as per usual, yet he hadn't moved or uttered a word since they'd arrived. Both things he cannot help himself doing in annoying access, instead he sat rolling his right foot around with his hand on his knee.
"You guys weren't watching?" Cassi asked, stumbling as Korbin jumped up on her shoulder letting out a loud 'yeah' right in her ear.
"Nah, we didn't get any screens or anything here. Doesn't matter, how the hell did you guys pull off a 3 on 5?!" I asked, pointing my question toward Kota in hopes he'd join in. The Will Warrior smiled, flicking his chin toward Cass.
"More like a 1 on 5, she must have up the entire other team by herself." Kota said, gesturing a bow toward Cass.
"No kidding, I was stuck behind a massive flamethrower while Kota was fighting to get his leg out of magma. Next thing I knew, the flames disappeared, Cassi arrived, and now we're here." Lonni said, clearly fighting to get his eyes off Cassi, whose very serious expression looked eager to speed past the celebrations.
"Hold on…did anyone else just get a notification?" Cassi asked, looking up. Each of us gave each other a mutually confused glance.
"Not yet, I'm sure we will since we wo-"
"It's giving me the choice to bring everyone." Cassi said, cutting me off mid-sentence.
"To what?" Korbin asked, wrapping his arm up and over Cassi and Lonni's shoulder, practically dangling between the two giants.
"You'll see." She coolly replied.
*ding*
Before I could even check my notifications, the system message displayed itself, fully occupying my vision in big bold letters.
*Congratulations!*
You and your faction (Elysium) have won Until The Last! In doing so, you have successfully completed The Labyrinth Of Lost Legends!
(Your victor has elected to select your faction's rewards as a unit.)
Please prepare to be reallocated to the nearest Treasure Domain!
After a rather awkward couple seconds, the familiar stretching of reality queued me to shut my eyes, not willing to endure the nauseating visuals that came with teleportation. Once I was able to feel again, my eyelids shot open, then nearly winced shut again at the blinding golden light glimmering all around me. After a few blinks to let my eyes adjust, a rush of excitement bubbled in my chest at seeing the glimmering, jewel studded decor that covered the walls, pulsating with mana like hundreds of little hearts beating in sync. Pillars made of glass lining the walkway forward, each one distorting my reflection a little differently as I waved my hand and glanced among them.
Glowing sigil-light chandeliers hovered and spiraled overhead, the gems decorating its many curving arms jingling a pleasant, oscillating chorus as they swung overhead. Behind them glittered a false night sky that took me several seconds to verify wasn't real, as it was painted in gradients that perfectly replicated all of its starry majesty. The floors themselves were gold plated, humming with more pure mana than I may have ever felt in one place. It did have a familiar tickle at the back of my brain that reminded me vaguely of the Qualification Tournament, though I had next to zero concept of mana itself at the time, other than they powered my skills. Korbin let out a loud, impressed whistle from the back of the group, reminding me there were four others here with me in this place.
"Damn. Sure knows how to clean up when it wants to, huh?" Korbin chuckled, jabbing his elbow into Lonni's heavily armored hip. Lonni let out a single wide-eye, big grinned exhale in response, looking more astounded at what he was seeing than amused.
"Welcome, champions!" A deep, booming voice powerfully proclaimed, their voice echoing off the gem-infested walls and into the infinite false-skies. Before I could brandish my twinblades, they somehow stored themselves into my Locket Of Minor Holding's internal storage space.
"This is Elysium's Treasure Domain. Here, you will find the rewards you've earned for your faction, as well as spend your combined Quarterly Points you've accrued with every victorious exit from the Labyrinth's unforgiving Objectives."
"This domain will be available to your faction in every quarterly remaining in your universe's Tutorial. Please venture forth, and enjoy the fruits of your efforts. Make note your selection process is not timed, so do choose wisely. All selections are final."
"…who the hell was that?" I asked after giving the baritone stranger a few moments to ensure they were finally done talking.
"More than likely the System is wearing a new voice, if I had to guess." Cassi replied, her eyes narrow as she scanned the room.
"Maybe it's the System's way of trying to butter us up after killing everything it threw at us?" I offered, wondering if this would turn into some test of ego instead of an actual reward system. I don't see why it wouldn't, considering how little it's given a flying fuck about who was tossed into what objectives.
"Really only one way to find out." Lonni said, pointing over his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing toward the shimmering pathway ahead. With no audible complaints made, the group collectively strolled through the pathway. Energy hummed from every angle, each potent waft of mana like the thickest humidity seeping into my every pore. It was wondrous, watching as the incredible painted night sky's stars actually twinkled as we walked forward.
"Incredible." Kota whispered to himself, scanning our environment with ecstatic curiosity. It was the first time I'd ever heard him speak so briefly, only adding to my own intrigue for this place. The luxurious gem-studded walls slowly curved into a narrow hallway, curving two opposite bends and revealing the blinding rays of golden light that poured from the round, stone archway ahead.
"I see." Cassi said, stepping into the light with her forearm blocking its rays from her eyes. I shot Korbin a confused look, though he merely nodded with a proud grin and followed after her. One by one, we filed through into the light, I of course followed Lonni and used his frame to cover the light. Stepping through the threshold however, my eyes immediately adjusted to brightness. The glamorous walls expanded and bent out, creating a rounded chamber. Scanning the space, several other pathways filled our surroundings.
Cassi elected to continue strolling along the walkway, which looked like a long slab of pure gold glimmering the starlight back off its surface. Ahead stood a massive metallic dark blue door as reflective as chrome that glimmered with a brighter baby blue hue that danced like waves in the ocean as I followed after Cass. Korbin quickly caught up, jogging over from one of the untraversed hallways surrounding the chamber. As Cassi stepped within a few paces of the metallic door, several glowing intricate runes illuminated across its reflective face.
"Cassi Braxwell, Champion of Elysium, confirmed. You may now access your factions Rewards." The gruff, distinguished voice announced coolly. Several metallic clicks noisily triggered within the door, crescendoing slowly until a final heavy thud. The door slowly creaked open as I caught up with Cass, revealing a massive gem snuggly pinched within a bulky golden pedestal, creating a chest-like shape.
"Hey, why'd it say you specifically?" I asked her, more curious at the detail than offended at being ignored.
"I have the most Quarterly Points now." She replied without turning to face me, instead stepping toward the massive translucent gemstone.
"What? No you don't-" I began, though my mouth practically wired itself shut as I opened our Quarterly Score prompt.
[Labyrinch of Lost Legends: Quarterly Score]
TEAM:
POSITION: 2500 (1st)
Points Allocation:
Cassi Braxwell: 952Tom Murphy: 860 Korbin Erickson: 688Lonni Obsidian: 0Derrick Sterling: 0
"Before you get all flustered, a cut of your points transferred to the Magistry members when you two were eliminated-" Cassi said, gesturing to Korbin.
"-and I took out their entire team, effectively ripping it right back along with whatever cut of their own points added on top. Regardless, we won." Cassi finished, reaching out and placing a hand on the large crystal that hummed with palpable levels of mana, just above her knee in height. As her hand touched its surface, a barrage of notifications popped off one after another.
*ding*
Title Unlocked: Labyrinth Of Lost Legends Champion(Epic) - With your contribution, your faction successfully completed one of the most treacherous Trials the Quarterlies have to offer. In doing so, the multiverse itself will forever remember this as the beginning of your faction's Legacy, thanks to you. +8 to all stats(permanent)
A rush of raw power surged through my body as I felt the title lock in, reminding me why I'd both loved and hated leveling up. Some of my admittedly weaker stats like Intelligence or Strength received a near 50% boost, causing excruciating pains throughout my bones, muscles, and head alike. My vitality also nearly doubled, which actually felt like a lone remedy among the shifting and hardening of my bones and organs. I could feel every fiber of my skin multiplying, like a million ants emerging from my pores only to weave over one another. All the same, I knew the odd, burning discomfort was more than worth the outcome. It only took a few moments for the pain to subside, and the deafening silence hanging in the chamber told me everyone was busy reading their own notifications as they rolled through as well.
*ding*
{EVENT REWARDS AVAILABLE}
(Elysium) Quarterly Rewards:
Contemporary Multiversal Athenaeum(Epic)
Oh yeah, I completely forgot about this thing. It was our reward for defeating Phanthu and his half-brothers' simulations. Well, them, and their undead wraith father. And a giant worm created by the god who'd forsaken their planet. Somehow, I almost miss that hellhole of a planet. Then I remember the look on those Khotunn's jagged, stone faces when Phanthu led us into their hidden city and…yeah, I'm glad that's behind me.
*ding*
{QUARTERLY MARKETPLACE AVAILABLE}
Faction: (Elysium) may now access the Quarterly Marketplace.
*WARNING*
(This Marketplace may only be accessed once per Quarterly, meaning you will not be able to make purchases after this instance. All purchases are final. Any unused Quarterly Points will be Converted to TP upon the conclusion of this Quarterly Event.)
*ding*
{'Qualified Early Extraction AVAILABLE}
Your completion of [Labyrinth Of Lost Legends] qualifies your faction for total qualification immunity and therefore an early exit from the Quarterly Events final Objective; Kill Or Be Killed. You will bring all of your earned and purchased rewards, and will retain the status as sole Champions over your universe's Elite Objectives. However, your faction will be removed from contention on the Faction power rankings until the next Quarterly Event. If you choose to stay, additional titles will be available, as well as additional TP and experience multipliers based on your faction's final rank.
[EXIT] Quarterly event?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
"Wait, I don't understand, how are we done already?" Kota asked, being the first to break the group's silent scoffs while reading.
"Yeah, and wasn't Kill Or Be Killed my event?!" I asked, realizing now I never got to take part in the only event that sounded up my alley when we got here in the first place.
"Looks like that's where the Labyrinth merges with the rest of our universe's Quarterly." Cassi slowly answered through a rising, uncertain intonation.
"For all the talking the System does, I really feel like this could've been explained clearer." Lonni added, sounding uncharacteristically frustrated.
"That's probably the point. I can't imagine the multiverse is very 'open note', especially after the Tutorial ends." Korbin replied.
"If it's anything like this Quarterly has been, I don't intend on relying on the Systems ability to take those notes in the first place." I said, earning animated nods of agreement from the group.
"So…I take it then we're finally headed home?" Lonni hesitantly asked, more pleadingly than curiously. Every instinct told me to shoot down his cowardice entirely, seeing as this was a prime opportunity for the group. Sure, we could all be eliminated and drop several slots on the leaderboard, possibly miss out on some great loot and TP along the way. The thing is, leaving now bares the same result, only with 0 chance at any additional rewards for Elysium. I felt my face scrunch in disgust as I inhaled a deep breath in preparation of my rebuttal. Then Lonni's nervously bouncing boot squeaked against the gold plated flooring, and I felt a hundred tiny paws skittering giddily across my back in response.
"Realistically speaking it's probably our safest choice, as I don't really want to lose anything we buy here. Especially if this shop's only accessible one time, I want to get in there now while we still have a surplus of points at our disposal." Korbin said as I took a step behind the group to itch my back.
"It would be a shame to see you 3 off before we are due. Though, the battles we've waged alongside one another befit the legends of the finest warriors. Your company has honored me." Kota proclaimed in a noble yet crestfallen manner, the combination only coming off all the more painfully performative. Still, he's been rather impressive in his own right. Whether I like it or not, he was also part of the team that won the Labyrinth finals for us, something Elysium will probably be greatly indebted to him for.
"Don't worry Kota, I'll be doing everything in my power to get in touch with you as soon as possible." Korbin said, tossing a nefarious half smirk in my direction for just a second before straightening his face for Kota. Kota smiled in response, and gave Korbin an overzealous handshake. Seeing as this was my last chance at clearing this corner of my conscience, I squeezed past Lonni who was giving his own goodbyes to the unbearably noble Will Warrior.
"Hey, Kota." I said, earning a surprised look from him.
"Tom! It's been a pleasure to fight by your side this time, brother! I do hope to see you again soon."
"Yeah, yeah definitely man, you too. Hey look I wanted to um..I just uh…" I sighed, realizing there was no way I could deliver this painlessly, but it felt necessary.
"-..I'm sorry for what happened at the tournament. I got angry at you, projecting a lot of frustration from dealing with total dickheads prior to you and, well, I eliminated you before I realized I was wrong about you. When it comes to having a fighter's spirit man, you're the real deal. Keep that, don't ever let that shit go." I said, extending my hand out to the bronze armored Will Warrior. His eyelids disappeared into his brow, the permanent beaming smile somehow stretching even wider across his smooth face from ear to ear. Kota snatched my forearm firmly, accepting a type of handshake I never offered forcing me to adjust on the fly.
"Never. And, a warrior of your caliber has no reason to apologize, Tom. I saw no dishonor nor did I feel transgressed by your actions. For the shark does not apologize to its prey, nor should the orca who ends the predators life. Sometimes defeat is simply the way of things, that doesn't make it wrong." Kota replied, his surprisingly calm and deliberate speech not at all matching his shakily excited posture.
"That…yeah, that actually makes a lot of sense. Thanks, Kota." I said, shocked at the depth in his statement.
"Of course! You honor me, Thomas, The Storm-Warrior." He happily replied.
"Don't call me that." I shot back.
"Understood." He said with a single nod.
"I'm not sure this is the right decision." Cassi said, earning the mostly silent curiosity of the entire room.
"And why's that?" Korbin quickly asked.
"Everyone just received 8 points for every single stat, right? I'm not sure about your classes, but that's more than 4 levels in one sitting. My bones are still hot from having hardened and layered over one another. I've never felt better, and I'm almost certain the only other groups who're enjoying these boosts were already completely eliminated in the Labyrinth." Cassi quickly replied.
"Not necessarily, people could've lost with a life remaining." Korbin countered.
"Then they'd be sent to a team during the last event like Kota, no?" I added, noting his addition made the loss of Derrick manageable.
"It's actually a choice to stay in the Labyrinth. I simply refused to dishonor my fallen comrades with the cowardice of retreat before battle." Kota interjected, his face still beaming with glee.
"Unless some finalists were like Tom and Korbin and never got eliminated, all of those who placed high enough for notable rewards should be completely out. Even still, it's all the more reason for us to claim our rewards now, keep fighting for first place, and hoard the titles and rewards for Elysium. I'm in no mood for new major players in our region, and I see no better way than to claim 1st place for ourselves." Cassi rattled off in response.
"It will also put a big bullseye on our back for anyone hungry for first place in the future."
"A wise man once told me, 'One who leads cautiously is mindful, and will consider its people. One who does fearfully is cowardly, and will consider themselves.'"
"I never said that." Korbin said, wearing a look of confused disgust.
"I never said you were wise." Cassi calmly replied through a deviously subtle grin before turning back to face the group. Korbin initially postured himself to rebuttal, though his scowl flipped into a satisfied grin the moment her back was turned.
"We can quit, but only if we all admit it's an act of either convenience, or fear. You can live with that if you'd like, my vote clears my conscience." Cassi added. Before anyone could reply, another notification sounded displaying Cass had just voted 'No' to the Early Extraction.
*FIRST VOTE CASTED*
Majority required. Voting timer commencing: 1:59 remaining.
"Way to be, Cass." Korbin sarcastically jeered, earning a chuckle from me and even Cassi herself.
"Shut up, you know I'm right." Cassi shot back.
"That isn't always the question though, is it?" Korbin replied, narrowing his gaze.
"Alright enough, I think you two can mentally spar after this shit." I interjected.
"God, that was so hot." Lonni murmured, his deep grumbly voice carrying throughout our strange little waiting realm and earning the curious eyes of everyone. His were fixated on Cassi's however, until they suddenly went wide as his cheeks quickly reddened, no doubt the moment he realized that wasn't in his head. Cassi blushed as well, though she smiled while keeping her eyes locked on Lonni, who was actively avoiding everyone's gaze.
"Just fuck already, my god." Korbin casually scoffed, only fueling the palpable tension hanging in the air. Or, whatever the fuck we're breathing here.
"Doesn't matter! For fucks sake why am I the voice of- whatever. Right now it's time to vote, and…honestly I agree with Cassi. We've gotten this far for a reason or two, and I didn't die over 2500 times in my own private hell and leave with this-" I said, turning around and pulling my cloak up to reveal the scars wriggling across my back.
"-just to run away from a fight at the finish line. Given the chance, I think we have a real shot at leaving as Quarterly champs." I said, dropping my cloak back down and facing the group again. Most everyone fell silent, Cassi wearing her look of genuine concern openly at having seen the moving nest-like scars skittering and wriggling across my skin. Without any more delay, I voted 'No' to leaving early.
"I can't argue at the opportunity to enjoy one more battle beside you incredible warriors. However I did not receive the option to vote, my fate is all of yours to decide." Kota added unabashedly and without any hesitation. I had to immediately kill the part of me that began liking the ball of corny one liners, seeing that he genuinely believed every delusional proclamation thus far.
"Not really, it's a majority vote. And I also agree, Cassi's correct. There's no sense in running scared now." Korbin added, as the internal chime of his vote echoed through my head. Cassi gestured toward another massive translucent gemstone embedded into the luxurious walls at the end of one of the several surrounding shallow corridors.
"Right, then let's take a look at that Marketpl-"
*ding*
"Now what?!" I frustratedly asked, opening the new notification immediately.
{[FINAL OFFER: Selective Extraction]
Elect **one** member to exit immediately with all earned/purchased rewards.
They forgo future titles/rewards from this Quarterly. Titles gained so far are retained.
Select candidate:
( ) Cassi Braxwell
( ) Tom Murphy
( ) Korbin Erickson
( ) Lonni Obsidian
( ) None
Voting: Majority required. Timer: 2:00
"Oh…this isn't a bad idea actually." Cassi said after a couple brutally silent seconds as everyone read through the new option. More like a blend of the prior ultimatum, as if the system was really aiming for a choice that wasn't picked.
"I certainly don't want to go home." I spoke up first, fearing she might decide to rule me unfit. While she'd claimed to begin looking past the scars for now, I know Cassi, and she's not letting anything go.
"I'm not sure anyone exactly wants to abandon ship after that whole song and dance, champ." Korbin said, sounding surprisingly crestfallen.
"True, but I know who should." Lonni said, now turning to face the group. His cheeks were still flushed from his prior little verbal slip, though he locked eyes with Korbin who stood the opposite side of Cass in our little huddle as he spoke.
"Okay, kind of rude as fuck to put it that way but go for it." Korbin snidely replied.
"Not really, I'm not offending myself." Lonni quickly retorted. Korbin tilted his head curiously.
"Why? You're a tank, I can't imagine you'd have a challenging time lasting in this event." I questioned, confused at his willingness.
"Probably not, but that's not the goal, is it? You said it yourself, Tom. We have a shot at genuinely winning this whole thing. I want to be a part of that, even if it means just securing the Athenaeum." Lonni proudly said, wearing his typical heart-warming grin.
"Do we even know we'll lose it? Seems like we keep pretty much everything." I countered, rereading the system messages.
"If we leave, we do. And I'm sure the rewards we have to our names will remain, but it's possible the system will rip something from us on some technicality. It hasn't exactly been 'transparent' about how things would go up to this point anyhow." Cassi countered.
"I'd rather be safe than sorry, Tom. It's okay." Lonni reassured, placing a hand on my shoulder.
*ding*
>UPDATE…
(Lonni Obsidian) has voted: [Lonni Obsidian] to return with all rewards earned and purchased before exiting (Elysium)s Treasure Domain. Voting timer commences now:
1:59
"Shit…okay, well it seems like you'll get to stick around for the Marketplace section?" I offered, while reluctantly casting my vote to send my friend home. It was strange, feeling both excited he gets a break and the shame at knowing how badly he must want to be out there with us. Then again, maybe we're the ones getting the raw end of this deal, depending on how crazy this 'Kill Or Be Killed' objective gets.
"I'd certainly fucking hope so." Korbin said, as two more chimes sounded. Cassi remained strangely quiet, even as the final notification gave us 30 minutes to spend our Tutorial Points before we'd be teleported to the event, while Lonni went home. Next came time for shopping, something I knew would be incredibly lame due to our points being pooled. The other four huddled around the glittering gem that was the Quarterly Marketplace, but it was far from a group project. Cassi and Korbin had their hands pressed against the crystal, discussing and often arguing over a few purchases I didn't bother listening to. Meanwhile, Lonni and Kota just sort of hovered behind them quietly. A predictable outcome, one I decided to utilize as free meditation time.
Strolling to the center of our luxurious cavern, I plopped down onto the ground and began slowly swaying from side to side. A twitch tickled across my back until I defiantly shrugged my shoulders forward. Before long, my mind drifted away until I found myself standing atop the sands of my place of peace. Waves crashed in beautiful harmony along the shore, the sun shining high in the sky. Several familiar shadowy figures spiraled across the sky, carrying the whispers that belong to faces I'd nearly forgotten. My father, my ex, those I believed to be friends once, all refusing to touchdown on the wriggling tan and black sands that squealed discordantly. A dark fog drifted at my backside, only to ascend into a rain cloud above the colony of rats skittering across the beach.
"Huh, I didn't take my demons for cowards. Go figure." I said aloud with an amused chuckle, as I paced barefooted toward the tide climbing along the sands. A single rat hissed in my path, giving me pause. Before I could react however, the lone rebel was ravenously mauled by a sea of its surrounding brothers and sisters. It didn't take long for their collective squeaks to subside, leaving nothing but tiny cracked bones behind. Stepping over the pile, a rush of exhilaration shot up my spine as I placed a single foot into the water. Excited, I leapt into the next crashing wave, only for a collage of blood soaked soil, teeth, blood curdling screams, and glistening wires flashed through my mind. Unwilling to deal with these memories now, I pulled myself from my meditation, feeling beads of sweat pouring down my cheeks.
"-eed anything else?" Korbin's voice broke through as I exited from my feverish meditation.
"I think we covered everything in the budget, what about you guys?" Cassi asked, turning to face Lonni and Kota.
"I trust your judgment entirely." Lonni replied with his eyes glued to his boots. Cassi smiled while shaking her head, then furrowed her brow in concern before glancing around. She let out a long, disappointed sigh at finding me sitting with my back turned to them halfway across our morbidly thematic little winners realm.
"Tom, you seriously weren't paying attention in the slightest?" Cassi frustratedly asked.
"I heard you guys talk." I countered with the only bit of honesty I could find that didn't look bad.
"Oh no, he was totally spaced out over there." Korbin casually reassured Cassi.
"Look, I'm not nor ever claimed to be the money guy at Elysium. As far as I know, that's Korbin." I carefully pointed out.
"I literally have several accountants." Korbin bluntly replied.
"Whatever. Armies need money, and somebody to ask the money guy for it. Like Generals, which remind me what you are again, Cass?" I asked, only realizing she'd technically been demoted pretty recently in the Tutorial after the question slipped my lips. Cassi's head cocked to the side as her eyes lit up with rage.
"Not what I m-..I mean you're supposed to…you're going to be t…my point stands." I fumbled out, trying to pick up the pieces of my argument for tuning out a stupid shopping spree I'd have no say in anyhow.
"Almost did." Korbin said with a nefarious smirk.
"I spent the perceived equivalent of over 7 fucking years in my own head getting my throat ri-.." I sighed, closing my eyes and collecting my frustration knowing it wasn't their doing.
"-you'll have to excuse me if my memories are a little hazy." I said, opening my eyelids to surprisingly sympathetic stares. Well, from everyone except Korbin, who looked visibly confused at the mutual compassion.
"…that's fair, I'll give you that. We don't have time to go over every purchase though, you'll have to find out with the rest of Elysium when this is all over." Cassi said, breaking the silence. Checking our timer, Lonni only has 30 seconds until he is sent home, and we'd be teleported to the final event of the Quarterlies.
"Right, you're a better man than I for this, big man." l I said, shaking Lonni's thick hand and pulling his heavy frame in for a quick embrace.
"I know you guys got this." He said, patting my shoulder entirely too roughly.
"We'll win this thing for you, big guy." Korbin added.
"For Elysium, my man." Lonni replied. Cassi smiled, though her nails dug into the side of her armor, occasionally creating a subtle squeak. I checked the timer one more time, feeling a burst of urgency realizing it was time.
0:04
"Alright guys, hopefully I'll see you soon out there." Kota said, shaking out his shoulders making his glimmering armor jingle and reflect some light into my eye.
"No Kota, I sincerely hope you don't see any of us." I said, summoning my twinblade back into my palm in preparation.
"Good luck, people. It's been a pleasure. For Elysium." Korbin said.
"For Elysium."
"For Elysium." Cassi and Lonni both echoed back. Memories of me standing over each and every one of their mangled corpses played through my head in a blink.
"For you, Lonni."
"For you, Cassi."
"For you, Korbin."
The glistening jewels and hovering grandeur decorating the halls stretched around my vision as I felt the system pulling me away. A single thought echoed through my mind as my head evaporated in an instant.
For Elysium.