Chapter 29：Final Dance

Marius threw himself to the side of the bed, retching blood onto his carpet.

His body was racked with pain. He was shaking due to the vomiting and his bones felt ice cold. His eyes were bloodshot and lips were cracked and painful. Even his nose was blocked. He was so dehydrated that not even a drop of sweat could be squeezed from his desiccated skin.

Marius had been unable to sleep due to the pain and now he no doubts."

"Today," Marius could barely squeeze a breath out of his lungs. The rigor mortis was beginning. He could feel his toes becoming tense and his left hand was curled into a claw.

Marius had known it would come, but even he was not prepared for the pain.

Clumsily, he slipped the Virtual Reality and plunged into the game.

He awoke in Iron Mountain City.

Checking his Friend's List he saw both Cold Mist and Super Nova were offline. He smiled sadly at the names. He probably wouldn't be able to say goodbye.

Sadly, Marius summoned his Mount and flew out of Iron Mountain City. Behind him, the local Players screamed and pointed.

They had never seen a Pet before, let along a Mount.

It would be his only gift to them.

While he flew, Marius opened his communicator and called Rajan.

"Marius, your online early."

Smiling, Marius replied, "You need to stop stalking me, Rajan. Shivani might get the wrong idea."

"Hah, like that would happen. You seem to be in a good mood. Did something good happen?" Rajan asked.

Marius changed the subject. "I think I found a glitch in your game," Marius said. "The Fire Mountain City Guards. The Level 80 Demon King Ranked ones. They can be farmed for Luck and awesome items if you get Negative Reputation."

"I know," Rajan said happily. "It's the only way you can actually earn Hoy Rank Equipment after level 60. I take it you've got yourself a Dragon Mount?"

"I have. From the sky, you can really tell you put a lot of work into the game Rajan."

"It's a beautiful sight," Rajan agreed.

"I just have one problem with it," Marius said.

"Haha, I figured you would. Please, speak your mind."

"Today is the last day I will be able to enjoy it."

Rajan felt like he had been struck by lightning. Marius' words resounded in his ears and struck at his heart each time.

"Marius..."

"You know where my spare key is," Marius interrupted. "If Shivani needs to, let her come and say her peace. And anyone else that would care."

Tears stung Rajan's eyes and a tremble caught in his throat. "Is there anyone you want me to contact?"

"I'm a simple man Rajan. I don't need anything fancy. But if you could Contact Super Nova and Cold Mist I would appreciate it. Their numbers are on my phone."

"How long?" Rajan almost whimpered the words.

"A few hours. Probably no more than five or six."

Marius felt his heartbreak for the man. He was one of the few friends he had left and right now he was more torn up about this old man's imminent demise than Marius was.

'Marius, you are the last of them," Rajan spoke softly. "After you're gone, I'll have no one left to blame my mistakes on."

Marius smiled. "You've been a man for a long time now. I am proud to call you my friend and of the man, you have become. You are a better man than I am and for that, I am grateful."

Rajan shuddered loudly.

"What have I always told you?" Marius asked.

"You told me a lot of things," Rajan cried, "Most of them were to pull my leg or give me grief."

"But what have 'I' always said to be?"

Rajan smiled through his tears. "Better. To always be better than you."

"Do you know why I told you that?"

"Yes."

"Then live up to it. Raise people to that expectation. You know that they will often fall short, but keep raising them," Marius smiled, "That's the way of progress. And the way of making the future better."

"Asshole."

"Language."

"I will come and sit with you until you go," Rajan promised.

"Then I leave my body to you," Marius replied. "Meanwhile I have a date with your City Challenge System,"

"You found a City Challenge Order?" Rajan was surprised.

Marius smiled and landed his Drake. "Take care of yourself, Rajan. I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world."

"And to you, my friend."

Marius closed the Communicator and looked at the City before him. The dazzling lake acted as the first line of defense with thick iron walls and bridges barring entrance.

"Hello, Great Falls City, Home of the Valkyrie," Marius spoke softly as he opened his inventory.

Yesterday when he met up with the others after his flight, Marius had emptied his inventory and his bank, distributing his wares between Super Nova and Cold Mist. When they had asked why he had simply shrugged.

"Super Nova, you can sell this stuff to help go towards your University funds. And Cold Mist, you can use this junk to help increase your soon-to-be wife's Guild when she brings it over here."

Strictly speaking, it hadn't been a lie. But he had not told them the full story.

How could he tell them that he did not expect to live out the week? That he had been unable to eat or drink in days or that his body was in so much pain he could barely move?

No, he had given away his items and equipment because he did not need it where he was going. But the frugal man in him couldn't see those treasures go to waste.

Name: Midnight Solitude

Class: Night Stalker

Level: 50 (12%)

Occupation: Beast Master

Health: 2,220

Mana: 52,260

Luck: 100

Attack: 322

Defense: 262

Intelligence: 412

Spirit:334

Dexterity: 642

Customized Weapon Silent Night Level 50 - Nobel Grade (100%)

(refine with 100 Holy Grade items to upgrade to Holy Grade)

Attack: 200

Defense: 160

Intelligence: 200

Spirit: 160

Dexterity: 240

Skills: (Void Sword - Range attack that deals Fatal Damage to all Targets within 20x10 units. Costs 1,200 Mana. Cooldown 300 seconds)

(Shadows Dance - Creates four shadow copies of Player to attack Targets at range dealing 130% base damage. Cost 200 Mana. Cooldown 300 seconds)

(Honed Edge - Increases damage by 300% for 30 seconds. Cost 500 Mana. Cooldown 500 seconds)

(One with the Sword - Increases all attributed by 500% for 60 seconds. Will enter a Weakened state, reducing all stats to 5% for 1 hour. Cost 1000 Mana. Cooldown 2 hours)

Lightning Stone Level 4 (x3) Buff - 105% Pierce Damage, 5% chance of Critical Hit

Wind Stone Level 4 Buff - 30% Attack Speed

Taking a breath, Marius took out the City Challenge Order and activated it.

(Player Midnight Solitude has chosen to attack a City. The closest City in your Vicinity is Great Falls City. Do you wish to Challenge the City Lord for OwnerShip Right?)

Marius agreed and the World announcement was released.

(Player Midnight Solitude has Challenged Great Falls City. All Combatants prepare. The battle will start in 1:00:00)

The timer began to count down and Marius waited.

Outside the game, the Forums were going insane. Topic threads were opened discussing how one of the top 3 Players in the game was challenging Great Falls City.

It was through this that Super Nova and Cold Mist learned of Marius' actions

Super Nova had just rolled out of bed to check his alerts when he read the thread.

"Crap!" he shouted as he scrambled to his VR gear.

"What is it?" a sleepy young woman asked.

"The old man has gone and declared War on a City," he said in a rush as he grabbed his equipment.

The young woman opened her eyes amazed. "Why did Mr. G do that? I thought Cities weren't a thing yet."

"They're not. He challenged one of the Main Cities. Great Falls City. I didn't even think they could be Challenged."

The girl laughed. "That's just like him. Are you going to go and fight beside him?"

"Of course I am," Super Nova replied, giving the girl a kiss on the check. "I can't let him fight without me there. Will I see you later?"

"Maybe. Tell Mr.G I say hi?" she asked.

Super Nova laughed. "He doesn't even know we're dating Liz. Do you want to give him a heart attack?"

"He's a tough old man. I'm sure he can take it," She watched, smiling, as her boyfriend placed the VR gear on his head and lay down.

When she was sure he had logged in she pulled her legs up to her chest shook, a tear in her eye.

If Mr. G was doing something reckless in the game, what did that mean? She was too scared to think of an answer.

Cold Mist and his fiancée were doing some research when he saw the alert.

"Honey, isn't that your friend? Midnight Solitude?"

Cold Mist was shocked into silence when he saw the announcement. "Yes," he said after a moment. "Yes, it is."

"Does this mean you're going to go in an help him?" she asked.

Cold Mist's eyes became hard. "So that is why he wanted the City Challenge Order," he whispered.

"What?"

"He must have figured out that he could Challenge an actual City with that thing. Super Nova and I thought it was just for Player made Cities. Stupid!" He shouted scratching his head in frustration.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"If he's declaring a Challenge against Great Falls City then he will be classified as an Enemy of the City for a long period of time, plus the Negative Reputation. Anyone that joins him will suffer it too."

"So if you join him, you won't be able to access Great Falls City without being attacked?"

"I won't even be able to set foot in the Region." Cold Mist corrected her.

"Then what are you waiting for? Go and help him."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Just go. I know you want to," She smiled prettily. "Just don't play for too long."

A few minutes later Cold Mist logged into the game leaving his beautiful fiancée behind. She placed a hand on her swelling belly and looked at the man she loved.

"Men."

0:28:03

Time was going by so slowly that Marius was almost falling asleep. His fatigue had never felt so overpowering before but he endured. He would fight this one last battle.

"Marius, what the hell are you thinking," Super Nova messaged him.

"Nova, I'm just conducting an experiment. Nothing to be too concerned over." Marius replied.

"Experiment huh?" Super Nova questioned. "Does that experiment have anything to do with you pawning off all of your stuff before going off on a suicide mission?"

"Midnight Solitude, where are you?" Cold Mist messaged.

Marius sighed, before giving them both his location. He did not have the patience to message both of them at once.

They both arrived, riding their Mounts.

"Midnight, a good day for a suicide mission?" Cold Mist asked.

"As good as any other," Marius replied coolly.

"So, what is the plan of attack?" Super Nova asked.

"It's a simple one," Marius replied. "I attack, you guys go somewhere else."

"Well that's not very nice," Cold Mist replied, "After we came here to help you crush the City and all that."

Marius eyed the Professional Player. "Fine. While your both here I suppose I will say goodbye to both of you."

"Goodbye?" Super Nova asked concerned.

"It's time," Marius said simply. 'Super Nova, thank you for having my back and going along with my harebrained schemes for the last few months. You're a good kid with a good head on your shoulders. I truly do wish you all the best."

Super Nova was stunned. This was his final goodbye?

"Cold Mist," Marius continued. "You're a proud, arrogant competent young man. I wish you and your fiancée a long and happy life. Though I would recommend spending the best of those years not Playing games for a living and spending as much time as humanly possible with her. Though, to each their own way, so good luck and I wish you all the luck in the world."

"Wait!" Super Nova shouted. "This is actually it? You're actually dying right now?"

"What the fuck man?" Cold Mist shouted, "You can't just drop something like that on us. "

"Well, what the hell do you want me to do?" Marius shot back. "Comfort you guys? I'm the one that's dying here."

"We want to fight alongside you!" The two young men shouted together.

Marius was silenced by their outburst.

"Elizabeth wouldn't forgive me if I let you go out alone," Super Nova continued. "Yes, the girl that delivers your groceries. She's my girlfriend. We got together a few weeks ago. We got to talking and bonded over some old guy we respected and who inspired us. Didn't even know we were talking about the same old man until she let slip your age. Since she can't be here to say goodbye to you then at least let me see you off. You stubborn old bastard."

"My fiancée is pregnant with our first kid," Cold Mist scolded Marius. "When she found out that you were planning on taking on a City she ordered me to come and help you. Not that she could have stopped me, but trust me, I'd rather be with her right now than be playing with you while you die. But unfortunately, you have your stupid rules about us having each other's backs and watching out for one another. And I respect you enough to follow through. Now add us to your damned War Party."

Marius was stunned by the angry outburst from these two. He hadn't realized they felt that way. And Elizabeth had a boyfriend?

He looked at Super Nova in a new light now. And Cold Mist was having a baby?

Damn.

(Player Midnight Solitude has invited you to his War Party. Participation will reduce your Reputation in Great Falls City by 1000 points. Will you accept?)

Both Super Nova and Cold Mist accepted without a hint of hesitation and stood beside Marius waiting for the Countdown to hit zero.

"So, do you have a plan?" Cold Mist asked Marius.

Marius smiled, a small twinkle in his eye. "Did you really just ask me that?"