Chapter 10: The Refuge of the Forgotten
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The location was called the Refuge of the Forgotten, one of those rare levels that did not appear on the general map. To get there, we had to go through the ruined temple on the 40th floor, activate three ancient crystals and use the unique key that we knocked out from Loxian. None of the players had ever been there before.
The three of us went there: me, Kirito, and Asuna. Everyone was on edge.
"I'm sure it's a trap," Kirito muttered as we passed a narrow bridge with a black void raging under it.
"Of course it's a trap,— I replied. — But it is in such places that the truth is kept.
Asuna remained silent, but her gaze spoke for her.: She's ready for anything.
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The entrance to the Shelter was hidden behind an illusion. When we reached the gate, it swung open of its own accord, as if it were waiting for us.
Inside, everything seemed to come from another world: ancient architecture, ancient symbols on the walls, statues resembling masked warriors. Light was falling from huge cracks in the ceiling, and there was a sense of... time in the air. It's like history stopped here.
And with it, a sense of observation.
— Am I not the only one feeling this? I asked quietly.
"No,— Kirito replied. — Someone is leading us.
We walked along the central corridor until we came to a massive door with three holes.
—The key,— Asuna said. I took out the crystal I found in Loxian's possession and inserted it. I activated the rest with the help of the found quest items. The mechanism hummed, and the door slowly opened.
There was... something unexpected behind it.
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A huge hall. There is a throne in the middle of it. And there was a player sitting on the throne. Not an NPC. The real one, with a red marker.
"Welcome,— he said. "I'm Wise." One of the founders of the Shadow Faction.
He didn't get up, didn't strain. I was just talking.
"You killed Loxian. That means you're a threat. But maybe you have a chance.
I stepped forward.
— You are one of those who came into the game with a different purpose.
He nodded.
"We were like you once. Players who dream of adventure. But when we realized that there was no way out, we decided to survive... at any cost.
"At the cost of the lives of others?" Kirito asked, clutching his sword.
"It's a game of death,— Wise replied. — There are no heroes here. Only the survivors.
He stood up.
— But now you have a choice. Join us. Or die.
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At that moment, the entrance slammed shut behind us. And the walls began to shake. More than twenty players came out from behind the columns. All with red markers. All with weapons at the ready.
—Fight,— Kirito said. "Ready?"
I nodded.
— This time we are not backing down.
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The battle was chaos. Swords flashed, screams mingled with the thunder of blows. Asuna moved like lightning, her blade flashing through the air. Kirito fought without mercy, his punches were precise and fierce.
I defended them by parrying blows and covering their backs. One by one, we cut down the enemies, but there were many of them. Too much.
And then Wise himself came forward.
— Let's see, Ren, what are you standing for now!
His sword burst into crimson flames. And I realized that this would not be a fight for victory, but for the right to live.