Chapter 230 - 230)Beyond The Graves

Sephiroth. An unknown figure that existed and rivaled the anomaly that everyone looked up to. He was beaten by Night not once, but twice, and the second time was even more ridiculous than usual. His presence, his demeanor, everything about him enraged Sephiroth, he knew how Luke looked, he knew the real identity, after all, there was no way he couldn't, especially after the stunt that Luke pulled during the Tournament phase.

Ever since the first time he failed, Sephiroth made sure that the only thing he focused on were the tasks or quests that helped him reach level 200 earlier than anyone, but once again, Player Night managed to achieve the impossible. Nearly 100 levels in a single go, that was something people would literally kill for, especially keeping in mind the growth of the game and it's future value.

To the others, it was a reality that they could enjoy and meet others regardless of distance. Some used it as a means of entertainment, some used it to satisfy their curiosity, some used the game as a social media of sorts. To Sephiroth, it was a place to escape to. A place to be himself and be the best, and not a place he would be looked down upon or sneered away.

His identity would be hidden here and he would have nothing to worry about. He could push himself to his maximum, squeezing out every ounce of his potential. He desperately wanted to be the best, and the first, the pioneer in everything the game had to offer, but time after time, a random young kid, constantly stole his reward away from right under his nose.

"Why must you do this to me….." Sephiroth was on his knees looking into the snow, the blood of those he slaughtered all around him. It was obvious he had issues, the number of lives he had taken at this point were probably higher than the combined total of the lives taken by the rest of the players(NPC lives), he single handedly went on a Nordic NPC mass murder, which was rather counter productive considering his primary class.

He had a weird smile on his face, his obsession with being the best had an unknown origin. Just like everything else about him, his identity and past remained in the dark, it was obvious that a player as big and infamous as him would be well off, or at the least, capable of taking care of themselves without any issue.

After the rather sudden and strange incident that occurred to him in game, Sephiroth's entire view changed, quite literally as well. He could see red lines in reality, and it was the most random modification or change that could take place. The lines or thread-like visions he saw coming out of people weren't always present.

It was a convenient and rather broken of an ability that showed the weaknesses of the opponents he faced, and with every movement, the lines would change and show him the next best critical spot. His initial worry of it being rather hindersome was soon removed when he realized that the lines showed up only when he considered someone an opponent.

It was the perfect ability for someone like him, while Luke and Basile had their Unpredictability and their Power, Sephiroth had his mentality. It was his most prominent of strengths, he quite literally had a killer mentality, once he made up his mind to slaughter or to cut down somebody, his next immediate goal would be to make sure that he did so. It was an annoyingly strong urge for him, one that he could ignore by no means.

To him the only logical option at that point was to log out, and as soon as he did, a strong but usual stench entered his nose. He was used to it, but nevertheless, he tried his best to cover up the smell by buying dozens of fragrance enhancers and diffusers. 

"Haah…." He arose from the capsule with sweat dropping from his forehead and hair. His crimson eyes looking around as if he was looking for something, something he should've known the location of. As he stepped out of the capsule his fluffy burgundy hair danced around with tiny little droplets of sweat on the edges. "You were right…" he stumbled around pushing aside the curtains that divided the rooms.

"Of course you were, it's nothing knew for you. Wasn't that what you were the most proud of? Didn't you love the fact that I was weak and useless? He beat me again, that Night beat me again. He's already loved by the world and fcking life itself, he just had to do something that nobody would've expected….again at that…." His movement slowly got sloppier and sloppier, it was almost as if he was drunk, his every step nearly caused him to fall, his body was leaned forward uncomfortably.

He looked around and saw red lines appear out of everything, it was new, another change, which was most likely triggered by his intense feelings. His vision now showed him the weaknesses of objects as well, it wasn't exactly pointless, but it's true worth would be revealed in the future.

"I wasn't the best, once again. Once again I failed. Over and over and over and fckin over…..I tried…I really did….I swear I did.." He fell to his knees and looked up like a child, his hair fell behind his ears revealing his facial features. "But you don't care do you?" he looked down once again, he was right outside a door that seemed to be sealed. For the next few seconds, other than his sniffling and the sound of the air hissing out of the diffusers nothing else could be heard.

"I can't take it anymore...." He slowly stood up and looked at the white door that apparently stood in his path, his eyes filled with nothing but rage and desire to break it down. At the center of the door, at the same level as the door knob, he could see a very bright and clear red line sticking out. Without a second of hesitation, he backed up an inch and punted kicked the door exactly on the line.

*CRRAAAAAAACCCKKKKC*

The door along with the lock were instantly shattered revealing the dust that flowed out from the room, just by the first look, anyone could say that it had been closed for at least a few years.

"I'm coming in…" he growled in a low tone, whatever that was in the room no longer had the element of surprise, after all, nobody who was oblivious of what was inside would react the way Sephiroth just did.

"I wasn't the best…" Sephiroth muttered as he looked to the left, inside a bath tub was a figure that was curled up, the dust and random debris that had gathered over the years was more than enough to kill someone. "I wasn't the best again, it's the same story you always hear no? No no wait, it was a statement you declared, to me…your own son. You were the one who said that no?" he nudged the figure with his leg causing a rattling and creaking like sound to occur, the slight movement revealed dark gray bones that had dust and whatnot all over it.

"It's funny you say that when I'm the one that lived…." He took a deep breath, not caring for how it would impact him, he nodded in agreement to himself and slowly calmed down, "For a father, you're stupid. For a human…you are worse…..were," a smile broke out on his face as he corrected himself.

"You summed up and ruined my life in just a few words, I hate it. What gives you control over me, restrictions and limitations that bound me even through the grave. You're sick, and thanks to you, I'm worse," 

"I've consumed knowledge all for your sake. My wish to be the final king….no…your wish for me to be the final king, I hate it. I despise it. I no longer care for it…" He grabbed the hand of his father's corpse and plucked it out. Sephiroth then took it and placed it on his cheek as he tried to feel the unfamiliar warmth of his father. "Cold…..just like the old times," he recalled the cold hands of his father striking him.

He slowly tightened his grip over the hand, instantly crushing it into nothing more than powder. "Watch me now, from that shitty old grave of yours. Watch me kill everyone, regardless of reality, watch me ruin their lives. This is on you old man….this is what you caused,"

"This is what you've set in motion. So do me a favor and sit quietly…oh and try and enjoy the show," he smiled and walked away dusting his hands off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(A/N: I was moving to college :/ I found 0 time to write in that gap, but I'm more or less settled in, so there's that. Here catch this chapter)