An unknown bunch of gangster.

…by ‘Bunch of Rockers’. You may only leave the Illusion Barrier after all enemies are defeated.

Who? Why? How did they find him? He had only gotten his powers yesterday. There was no way information about him already had reached anybody. Did Moira sell him out? She didn’t seem the type. Then again, he didn’t really know her. Thoughts raced through John’s mind. He tried Escape I.D.. The message didn't lie, nothing happened. It was surprising to him how calm he was, it must have been the effect of his increased Wisdom or some side effect of ‘Gamer’s Spirit’.

Whatever it was, he was thankful for it as he analysed his situation. He schoolmates were gone, vanished into thin air. He sat alone in a copy of his classroom, even the scribbles at the chalk board at front were the same. This was still the school he knew, just as the forest had been yesterday, but eerily silent.

There was no time to lose. He didn’t know who was attacking him but there was no way that sitting like a duck was a good idea so John rushed up and left the room. In the hallway, he looked at the options he had. He could go to the roof and try to see that attackers, stay on this floor and hide somewhere or go down the stairs to try and leave the building.

All had their up and downsides but in the end, he decided to stay on this floor. He might be able to still make out the attackers from a classroom at the other end of the floor where the windows looked towards the street. He wouldn’t get too far though.

Just as he was about to enter another classroom a claw suddenly broke out of the wall. Three bony long fingers wrapped around his right arm and clamped shut with absolute ****. As the arm kept its grip a spiderlike, greenish face pushed from the wall and rubbed its mandibles together in what seemed like a happy gesture. John, whose thoughts still remained clear somehow, triggered Observe by reflex.

Wall Shadow, Level 23

A monster of the Shadow Lurker family. It hides within walls and stalks its prey until it sees weakness.

Level 23. He was pretty much fucked. At least he would have been if it weren’t for a girl in full fantasy plate armour suddenly running at him and the Wall Shadow with breakneck speeds. The Wall Shadow turned its ugly head just in time to see Moira raise her Warhammer in her left hand. It vanished back into the wall, the hammer hitting the place where the eyes of the best had just been and creating a small cloud of dust and debris.

“Are you okay?” Moira asked. “Yeah.” John said. “The hell is going on?” he asked. “Exactly what I warned you about, somebody is trying to kidnap you and sell you to a Mana Factory.” Moira said, keeping the shield in her right raised. “I already have a hunch who.”

“Do you?” Another voice asked and two more people went around a corner. One was a giant man in his thirties with stubby brown hair and steel eyes. He had a mean look to him and wore a black tank top together with military style brown pants and boots.

The voice however belonged to the girl at his side. She had neon-pink, dishevelled hair which grew to her neck and maybe would have reached all the way to her back if it didn’t curve upwards at the tips, only singular strands rebelled against that trend and fell all the way down to her B-Cup breasts, which were hidden behind a pink shoulder-less sweater that was pulled down far enough to reveal half of her black bra. Her long legs, inside tight blue jeans that accented her firm arse, ended in naked feet inside pink flip-flops. Toe and fingernails alike were painted in a light blue colour. Her face was teardrop shaped with glossy pink lips, parted in a smile revealing a tongue piercing, a fine nose and almond shaped eyes that revealed an Asian heritage. Her blue eyes had pink lights dancing around the iris and right now she was tapping her foot to some beat only she could hear. John used Observe on both.

Travolta Meyer, Lvl 19

Leader of Collide

Age 37, Founder and current leader of the small guild Collide, who are all about finding interesting uses for their powers. Headstrong, enjoy with caution.

Relationship: -10

Jane Hollmey, Lvl 15

Fun Loving Rave Girl

Age 19, Daughter of an Abyss Auction Employee. Innate Fighter with affinity to light and member of Collide. Her love of techno, skimpy outfits and flashy dancing fighting style earned her the name ‘Rave’.

Relationship: 12

Observe Lvl 3:

Now reveals current emotions of the target observed as well

‘Jane?’ John asked himself. Hadn’t that been the girl that was missing according to Thomas? But how come he never saw her before? Not only was she a total, presumably half, Asian hottie but neon-pink hair was not exactly camouflage. Also that Observe Level was poorly timed but he won’t have time to use it again.

“Rave!” Moira shouted at the pink haired girl. “Always stirring trouble!” “Well, duh, it is in the title, Moira, we collide with people.” Rave answered, taunting the Paladin by sticking out her tongue. John made the mistake of blinking. Moira stormed at the two and Rave took a step forward. Moira swung her Warhammer and Rave ducked under it in a fluid movement and tried to punch Moira in the face.

‘No, not punch.’ John barely realized. Their movements were too quick for him but Rave didn’t try to actually connect any of her punches. Instead a flickering light danced around her hands with each of her attacks. Where Moira was efficient Rave was quick, they were evenly matched in John’s eyes. Although a Warhammer might not be the best weapon to use in small corridor.

There was a whole different problem though that everyone apparently forgot. Everyone but John. He saw the small pool of shadow underneath the fighters and started running. “Watch out!” He said and jumped at Rave just in time to save her from the Wall Shadows claws.

“Ey, Gamer, at least buy me diner first.” Rave said as the two of them laid on the ground. “If you insist, how about tomorrow?” John managed to get out before Moira pulled him back on his feet.

Achievement Unlocked: Baby Steps

You actually flirted with someone! Nice going!

Charisma +1

'Very Nice.' John thought and clicked away the window as the bickering in the background continued. “Why would you make your own creature attack you?” Moira asked. “Our creature? Princess, I ain’t got no monsters fighting for me. Not my style.”

“If you guys would listen to me for a second.” John said, “And not attack each other maybe we could talk about this.” “That would mean not pissing of Moimoi here. Sorry, not in my range of abilities.” Rave said but Travolta finally stepped in. “No. We will listen. A Wall Shadow is not an opponent I want to take lightly.” Rave pressed her lips together. “Fine, Baldy.” She said and stepped back. Moira herself took a deep breath and relaxed. “So, John?” She turned to him.

“My ability told me that a ‘Bunch of Rockers’ are responsible for this barrier, that would make these two innocents.” John argued. They all looked at each other. “Yeah.” Moira admitted. “But she still asked for it.” “Princess, if it is you, I will always ask for it.” Rave said and stuck her tongue out again. “ENOUGH!” Travolta shouted into Rave’s ear, which caused her to take a step back, “OW! Baldy that wasn’t nice.” “Jimmie managed to get himself shut out of the illusion barrier because he needed to buy cigarettes and a Wall Shadow is stalking us. Also that ‘Bunch of Rockers’ this kid mentioned.” Travolta looked at Moira, “Girly I think it is best if we work together on this.”

Moira nodded. “My objective is to protect the innocent. As long as we can get out of this Illusion Barrier that objective is fulfilled.” “Well, I want to have fun. Gamer, why don’t we vanish somewhere for a minute?” That sounded tempting but John wondered about something, “How do you know that I’m a Gamer?” “’Cause I went and eavesdropped on you, duh.” Rave said. Before further questions could be raised, shouting filled the hall.