In Search of the Precious Tear II

---Chapter 22: In Search of the Precious Tear II

A double-KO: a phenomenon where two opposing foes defeat one another in unison. In a game like Myth of Genesis Online, with its real-time combat, achieving such a feat against an opposing monster is extremely difficult. Timing for every action taken would be very important, since the actions of any enemy monster couldn’t be easily predicted. After all, this was a dynamic VRMMORPG, where the monsters could take on any number of different attack patterns. Trying to land a finishing blow at the same time one is coming your way leaves only an extremely small window where the hits can land simultaneously. If either one is too slow or too fast, then the whole process is for naught.

“So that’s what happened back then…” Yui said, crossing her arms.

When Yui had revealed the circumstances of the time she first found herself trapped in Myth of Genesis Online, she described ending up in a white void after trying to finish off a boss monster she was fighting alone. The moderator Chronos had deduced that the reason behind this was a double-KO, which caused a glitch in the system, despawning Yui and placing her in the core of the game: the white void. It seems likely that ending up in this place could be the reason for Yui’s consciousness getting stuck in the game.

After spending a few minutes confirming everything with Chronos, Quartz and Yui had made their decision.

“So you both are going to attempt this now?” Chronos asked.

“Yeah, I think so. Right?” Quartz asked, turning towards Yui.

“Yeah! If this can really help me get back, then we should try it!” Yui nodded with determination.

“Very well.” Chronos smiled and reached out his hand.

Quartz and Yui each returned his handshake, and thanked him for what he’d helped uncover.

“I wish you both well.” Chronos spoke. “I must admit, this situation ended up becoming something much stranger than I anticipated… Honestly, it seems like the administrators are keeping some pretty dark secrets.”

“Yeah…” Quartz muttered. Yui merely lowered her gaze.

“Please let me know how it turns out.” Chronos bowed. “I suppose I shall take my leave here.”

“Right. Thanks again.” Quartz waved as Chronos used an item to teleport away.

Quartz and Yui were alone together once again.

“So, um… What boss was it you were fighting back then anyway?” Quartz asked.

“It was Aquaticus.” Yui giggled.

“No way, seriously? You fought that thing all by yourself even back then?” Quartz couldn’t help but laugh too.

“It was really hard! I think I only got as far as I did due to the defense buff from this.” Yui moved aside the collar of her martial arts uniform, showing the defense-boosting swimsuit underneath.

“Well, that’s one of the fun things about games like this, I suppose.” Quartz chuckled.

The pair soon used an item of their own to warp back to the capital, so they could begin their trek out to the Water Cathedral where the sea serpent boss Aquaticus awaited.

---

Within the stone pathways of the Water Cathedral, a pair of footsteps echoed across the halls. Quartz and Yui, hand-in-hand, climbed the final stairway up to the arena on the surface. The sound of the crashing waves could be heard as they emerged onto the stone arena where the large full moon glowed overhead, accompanied by the shining stars of the game’s night sky.

“Yeah, thought so…” Quartz gave a wry smile.

Aquaticus was currently nowhere to be seen.

“I guess that party we passed on the way here took it out after all.” Yui heaved a sigh of relief, feeling a bit glad that she didn’t have to jump into action right off the bat.

“Yep. Guess we just gotta wait for it to respawn.” Quartz looked at Yui.

“It kind of reminds me of when we first met, hehe.” Yui giggled.

The two walked over and took a seat on a ledge at the corner of the oceantop arena. Feelings of nostalgia welled up as the two sat there quietly. Soon, Quartz broke the silence.

“I guess we should temporarily disband the party we’re in, if you’re going to go in and fight it solo.” he commented.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Yui lifted a finger to her chin, giving it some thought.

The two swiftly opened their menus and disbanded their parties. Now the two of them sat in the arena as two separate players. After all, a “warp” upon defeat only happens if an entire party is eliminated in a battle with a monster. In order to trigger the same glitch as before, Yui must fight alone.

“Got a plan?” asked Quartz.

“Not really.” Yui laughed nervously. “I figure I’ll just tank a lot of damage, and carefully measure my strikes until I find an opportunity.”

“Yeah, that’s probably the best way to approach it.” Quartz smiled.

The two sat idly by for a bit longer.

“Quartz… I just wanna say, I’m really glad I met you.” Yui spoke in a soft voice.

“Where’s this coming from?” Quartz asked, blushing a bit.

“I-I don’t know… I just thought I should say it now. After all, we still don’t exactly know what’s going to happen to me if I go to that white void again…” Yui lowered her head.

“… It is scary, but let’s stay positive.” Quartz placed his hand on her shoulder. “We have to believe that you’ll be able to return to the real world.”

“Yeah… Thank you, Quartz.” Yui smiled, a bit teary-eyed.

The pair stared up at the illuminated moon above them.

“It’s been fun, the time we spent together…” Yui reminisced.

“Yeah… You were so different from me, I wasn’t even sure how to act around you at first.” Quartz chuckled.

“You’ve really softened up lately, you know! I notice you smiling a lot more these days!” Yui grinned at Quartz.

“Really? I mean, I guess so…” Quartz looked away, blushing. “It’s like… I think you kinda rubbed off on me. I couldn’t help having fun every day with you around.”

“Hahaha, thank you, Quartz. That’s sweet of you.” Yui smiled.

“Yui…” Quartz turned her way.

Their faces were both quite close together. Immediately the two turned red and looked away from one another.

“You know, Quartz… I think I should say this now but, um…” Yui fiddled with her fingers, trying to get the words out. “But, um… you… Well, I think I really like y-“

“Yui, hold on.”

“Hm?”

Yui turned to look at Quartz, he was facing away from her. Even with his back to her, Yui could tell his face was bright red. Yui couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of it.

“I-If you’re going to say what I think you are, then hold on… Because… um…” now it was Quartz struggling to get out his words. “I, well… I’ve wanted to say the same thing to you…”

“The same thing…?” Yui blinked, slowly realizing what Quartz was saying.

“Yes, but… Face-to-face! In real life!” Quartz slowly turned his blushing expression back toward Yui. “When you make it out of here… Let’s tell each other, okay?”

“… Yeah, let’s!” Yui nodded with a big smile, small tears at the corner of her eyes.

The sound of the waves crashed against the stone down below. Suddenly, the winds around the pair started to change.

“Ah, I think it’s time…” Quartz muttered, glancing up at the air.

“Yeah…” Yui stood up, adjusting her fighting gloves.

The wind coiled around the center of the arena, and with a loud roar, a large blue serpent, Aquaticus, materialized before the two. Its long body writhing about, as its tail slithered down the edge of the arena into the water.

“Okay…” Yui cracked her knuckles as she approached the large beast, before slamming her foot down and getting into a fighting position. With that, Yui unleashed a mighty shout.

“Bring it on!”

[To be continued…]