Ryo

Without warning, the fake Ryo struck. Its katana flashed in a sharp arc, forcing Ryo to block instinctively. The force of the impact sent vibrations up his arms, and he stepped back, barely avoiding a follow-up thrust. He countered with a diagonal slash, but the double twisted with uncanny precision, parrying the attack and countering with a strike so familiar it sent a chill down Ryo's spine. The pair moved in a deadly rhythm, each action met with an equally measured response. Ryo lunged, his blade aimed at the doppelgänger's shoulder, but his opponent sidestepped and delivered a kick to his

Ryo stepped into a room, one he did not fully recognize. He had a guess of who it was he had to see in this room. In the center of the room he saw himself. Who he used to be. A man more comfortable to betray those close to him, so that he did not have to be close himself. A person who hated himself more than anything, and wanted to die. Ryo searched for the words to speak. What to tell himself, what would he tell himself? “What can I say to you?” He fumbled out. “I remember how it felt. All that it meant, and all that it didn't.” He said, thinking back to his past actions. “I told myself

His crying ceased, his face hurt from it. He knew that when he opened his eyes he would be back in the void. And sure enough when he did, he was. Ryo got to his feet, wiping at his face. He looked at the shape, who seemed to have nothing to say. “Hey.” The shape looked up back at him. “Hey.” It mimicked. “Lowenthal was a really big turning point for you it seems. A literal savior of yours.” Ryo nodded. “Yeah. He was.” Ryo said, nodding. "He did, a lot for me. Opened my eyes to a lot of things. Gave me the ability to see me, and to fight for me. Instead of just, hating me." Ryo said. "He stop

Ryo and Lowenthal both lay on the cavern floor panting, exhausted from their scuffle. “You’ve got quite the mean left.” Lowenthal said, obviously smiling. “You’ve got a dirty right.” Ryo replied back. “You’re damn right. Ha ha ha.” Lowenthal chuckled back. “I know I’m a memory of yours, and that I’m not really real. Just a figment. But I’m glad I got to be here.” Lowe said. Ryo could feel his eyes welling up again. “I wish that you were still alive. I wish I could talk to you about, all of this. I need help Lowe, I don’t know if I can do this alone. I know that I’m surrounded by people who

The cave continued to echo with the clash of steel on steel as the samurai and ninja traded blow after blow. The confined space amplified their every movement, each strike carrying lethal intent. Ryo's katana arced in wide, deliberate sweeps, its sharp edge whistling through the damp air. Lowenthal darted and weaved, his kunai moving in rapid, precise strikes meant to exploit any opening. Ryo got a decent hit into Lowenthal, but unlike the previous two demons Lowenthal continued his onslaught. A sharp clang rang out as Lowenthal blocked Ryo's downward slash with a kunai, their faces inche

The dim light of the campfire flickered off the jagged walls of the cave as Ryo and Lowenthal squared off. Shadows danced around them, amplifying the tension in the confined space. Ryos katana gleamed like a sliver of moonlight, held steady in his practiced grip. Ryo, cloaked in darkness, crouched low, his kunai reflecting the firelight. Lowenthal moved first, a sudden blur. His footsteps were silent, his form blending with the darkness. Ryo stepped forward, his katana flashing in a precise arc. Metal rang against metal as the kunai deflected the strike. Ryo twisted, rolling to the side a

Ryo learned the truth. That this man, this Lowenthal was friends with Piera and Lee. He felt sick to his stomach. He told Lowenthal where to find them. He looked back on the path, towards the pit. Death is what he deserved. Maybe, death wasn’t real at all. Maybe it was a lie to scare them into playing his game. Maybe if he died, he’d wake up. Maybe all the people he got killed just woke up. Did he deserve to wake up? He could find out. All he had to do was-”Hey! Ryo!” Ryo shook his head, finding himself suddenly at the edge of the precipice again. And once again Lowenthal there behind him

-4 hours later- “Why, did you touch it?” Ryo asked, stuck in the bottom of a hole “How was I supposed to know it was booby trapped?” Lowenthal asked defensively trying to avoid blame. “Because of several reasons. First, the chest was in the middle of a hallway by itself. Second it had glowing runes on it, and third I. Told. You. It. Was.” Ryo said upset at the situation. “And now we’ve been stuck down here without a way out for three hours. Just have to hope that when the trap resets eventually it doesn’t kill us outright.” “Hmm yeah, that would be bad.” Lowenthal said, scratching h

Ryo stood at the edge of the world. His body swaying slightly in the wind as his feet displaced soil that fell into the cloudy nothingness. He remembered standing here, so long ago. He stared into the sky blue sea below him and wondered. “Hey there.” Ryo jumped, not forward but in place. “Sorry to startle you, just trying to figure something out.” A man spoke, his voice slightly shrill but comforting. Ryo turned away and stared back into the sky. “I wouldn’t try to stop me.” Ryo said. “Oh, I don’t plan to. But, I’m lost and need directions. If you know how to get to the seventh floor that’

As Gant faded from sight, so did the cave around him. Ryo took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened his them, he was back in the void. “You were afraid to get close to someone, because you were afraid of losing them. But your actions lost them anyway.” The shape spoke, staring into the far nothingness as if looking for words to materialize in front of it. “It’s-” “Selfish. I hurt them so badly, so that I would be spared the pain.” Ryo said, finishing the sentence. “I was going to say sad.” The shape said, looking over at Ryo. “More doors have appeared for you Ryo. Know that y

Ryo held the handle of his katana by his side, the blade sheathed. Gant rushed Ryo again, eager to slice into him again but was met with harsh steel as Ryo drew his blade quickly. A thin red line appeared on Gant’s body, and Ryo on the other side of him. “So, you do know.” Gant said, dropping his blade. Its clatter echoed across the cave. Ryo sheathed his blade, and turned to face his second demon. “Yeah. It was genuine. Our friendship, their relationship that I was so envious about. Everything, was just so real.” Ryo said. “I wanted to be them, I wanted to be with them, when I was with them I

Gasping for air, Ryo watched as Piera and Lee were carried away. Both of them were screaming at him. Piera in her confusion and calling for him to help her, and Lee in his anger damning him. Ryo knelt on the floor and tried to catch his breath. Gant leaned over, whispering into his ear. “If you’re getting soft, we cans just cut you off.” He threatened. He stepped around to the front of Ryo. “And this is where it ends. This little memory of yours. They get carted off and disappear for months. Your friends, if you should you still call them that. They’re separated from each other and can’t see e

Nets came, followed by the pikemen, then the alchemists with Stun toxins to subdue them. Lee was the first to go down, his heavy armor provided a decent barrier but with the amount of people used in these operations it never mattered. “Ryo! Watch out!” Lee cried out as he raised a fist against his assailants. “Lee, careful!” Piera cried out. She was slammed onto the floor, her glasses sliding against the cold stone. Lee slammed against the wall, a poisoned knife buried into him to prevent him from moving. “Well done Ryo, another fine catch.” A thick accent cut through the darkness, carr

A blinding light had him shield his eyes, and when he removed his hands he could see where he was. A cave, more specifically a passageway. He knew this route, this is where he would promise to take players from the third floor to the fourth one to gather some high end materials. Which would mean, behind him would be someone who didn’t deserve what was going to happen to them. Ryo turned around, knowing who would be there right behind him. “Ryo, are you okay? You look, sick.” The woman said. Her brunette hair went just past her shoulder, the earthen green cloak obscuring most of it. And whate

Ryo felt an immense pain shoot over his body as he lost his vision. Darkness, followed by deep crimson as the pressure grew inside his skull and when it finally subsided he was back in the void. “Those two meant a lot to you it seems. So much so that you wish you acted differently.” Ryo, drenched in sweat yelled at the shape. “Of course I do! Piera, and Lee they’re-” “You’re friends. So you believe.” Ryo gritted his teeth, and closed the gap between him and the shape. He grabbed the thing by the neck and held it aloft by what passed for it’s collar. “You wanted to help them, to save them. Wh

Ryo took a half step back. “Piera, Lee?” He spoke in a hushed whisper. “No. No no no no no.” Ryo said, now realizing what he was doing. What he was about to do. What was about to happen to them. “Uhh, yeah?” “What’s got you all bothered?” Ryo didn’t think, he acted. “BOTH OF YOU RUN AWAY FROM ME NOW!” He said, taking a demanding step forward. The woman flinched, and the man stepped in front. “Whoa pal, what’s going on?” But it was too late. The nets came first, then the manacle team, then the knifes. “Ehh Ryo. Da fuck tha about, eh? You almost let them get away!” A thick accent said

A blinding light had him shield his eyes, and when he removed his hands he could see where he was. A cave, more specifically a passageway. He knew this route, this is where he would promise to take players from the third floor to the fourth one to gather some high end materials. Which would mean, behind him would be someone who didn’t deserve what was going to happen to them. Ryo turned around, not quite sure what he was expecting but went white as a sheet to see them again. “Ryo, are you okay? You look, sick.” The woman said. He brunette hair went to just past her shoulder, the earthen gree

“Maybe you’re right.” Ryo said, thinking on it. “Maybe she did deserve to fall for what she had done. To other people, to me. But, I didn’t want her to die. But I didn’t, want her to suffer either.” “You wanted her to understand. Understand you, your frustrations, your needs and your wants. To be how you imagined her. And then-” “She tried to kill me.” Ryo said, finishing the sentence. “When she hung over that railing she knew she was going to die. She just chose sooner, rather than later.” “And with that realization, another door has appeared.” The shape said moving a hand into empty sp

When he opened his eyes he was back in the void, the shape looming over him. “What an interesting memory.” It said. Ryo jolted up, backing away from the shape. Ryo got to his feet, ready for another sudden fight. “What, was that?” Ryo demanded of the shape in front of him. The shape, responded. “A glimpse into you. A piece that haunted you. A barb that stuck itself into your very soul. A rot that you successfully cleansed.” Ryo shook his head in disbelief. “I don’t feel cleansed. I just watched someone die for the second time!” He shouted. "What is this place?" The voice took a moment before s

“And even if you know that now, why are you fighting to hold on still?” “Because if I drop you now, then I drop something of myself with you. Despite how shitty you were, despite how terrible this place was it helped shape me to who I am now. And if I just toss you aside, what else of myself would I be willing to throw away?” Ryo said still struggling to keep his balance. The wind threatened to throw them both down the ravine, and despite Ryo's best efforts he was unable to pull her up by himself. There was no way that calling for help would work, they were partying too much in the other roo

“Then, what did you want?” Quinzel asked. Ryo flinched at the sudden question. “I, don’t know! You, you left me without a choice!” He screamed, his voice echoing against the rocks below. “I just wanted to stop. I couldn’t take it anymore. Being controlled, being told what to do, being abused by you!” He said still hanging on. “I just, wanted to be free. I felt as trapped as the people I sold to you. I hate you, for everything that you did to me. I hate this place, and everything it did to me. I hate that I thought I loved you, and what I hate the most is that I believed it when you said you

The demon spun back around and slashed at Ryo again. Her dagger clashed with Ryo’s blade, and using her height advantage over him, thrust it aside. Ryo, now on the back foot, tried to make some distance from her blade so as to not get stabbed. Quinzel pressed her attack against him forcing him against the railing behind him, threatening to throw him over. Ryo struggled to to get his feet under him, but the snow and ice made his footing unsteady. Out of options, Ryo pushed back against Quin with all his strength and pushed her off of him for just a second. And that was all he needed as she atte

Ryo raised an eyebrow. A, fedora? What did a hat have anything to do with manners. Perhaps there was an issue with the game automatic translation? It wasn't unheard of, but definitely uncommon. Ryo scoffed when the man used mi'lady. He would pass his vision over to the rabbit woman and take in her apperance. Was she a noble of some sort? No, she couldn't be. At least, not an NPC one. And, since when did nobles wear bunny ears? "Not quite there, but definitely a start. Some more practice and a gentlemen you'll make yourself yet." Ryo said commenting on the sudden improvement of etiquette. Ryo's

“You aint leaving us…” Quinzel said under her breath. “You sure as hell aint leavin’ me!” She screamed as she reached over and grabbed Ryo’s wrists. She shoved him against the railing. Ryo fought against her grip and managed to wrench himself free by placing a leg against her abdomen and shoving. Looking now he saw that she was no longer an orange crystal, but an NPCs enemy health bar. Ryo reached down and reached for his katana and drew it, preparing to defend himself just like he did then. She in turn grabbed her dagger and entered a lower stance. Looking at her now, Ryo noticed that th

Another day, another set of hours set aside to mindlessly look for materials. He couldn't train his cooking if he didn't get more materials, but looking for them was always such a chore. Probably would be more entertaining to Col farm, and just buy them from the general merchants. That was an idea he'd had to try out some day. But today was today, and he was going to put off today's chores somehow. All he needed was to find to right distraction. Something quick, but long enough to waste time. Something big and exciting to keep him awake. And something to justify pulling him away from what he s