SP-FL1) Fresh Start and old Nightmares {Complete}

[Izzrikl 0]

  Dylan rubbed his hip as he walked up the stairs to his suburban home and breathed in the early evening air and looked about with a tired smile. The culldasak was alive as families made their way home from work and school filling the air with motors puttering and kids shouting as they walked home. Opening the door he hung his key ring on it's assigned hook and set his folio case next to the intable and cocked an eyebrow at the note slipped under the glass bowl filled with odds and ends.

" Hey honey, I'm out with Diania getting our hair done and we'll probably get drinks after. There's food in the 'fridge when you get hungry. Try not to work too hard I know the Glover Project is taking a lot of your time, and energy. Love you."

His lip quirked as he walked into the kitchen and pulled out the meal she'd left him and a beer as he settled down and sighed as he took the pressure off his left legs. Pulling the pant leg up into a rough cuff he unhooked the brace and slid the prosthetic off and took a paper towel to wipe away the sweat and itch the scarred skin. After finishing the meal and taking the beer into the bed room and picks up the head piece he'd picked up on a whim while he was in New York a few days ago. He wasn't sure about these new VR systems, but he was curiously about this new Sword Art Online game. He'd played a number of RPGs in his young life, but time and life had stolen a large chunk of his free time. He put the helmet like device on and laid back and closed his eyes with a smirk.

Link Start!

 Opening his eyes slowly he looked down and flexed his hands and looked over both his legs. No brace, or phathom feeling of his left calf and he let out a sigh of pleasure as he stepped forward with purpose. Looking about the starting level is a wash of color and personal that show equal  amounts of excitement and hope much the same as his own much younger looking persona. He kept his hair slightly grey, but he tried to keep it as close to how he figured he would look in his 20-30's. He stepped out of the flow of traffic through the towns roads and fiddled with the menu. Seemed to be an advanced menu set up that we was use to from his days in the Core. He frowned at the memory of tinkering with the annoying pieces of tech that didn't always function as well as they were advertised. He selected the breast plate and the spear from his inventory and equipped them. He rolled his shoulders as he adjusted to the sudden feeling of being encased in armor, and even pulled the long spear off his back and then replacing it without any further testing. Walking about he passes several merchants selling the same starter equipment and other items that he wasn't able to purchase at this time. Shrugging he made to leave to go out into the fields where people were busy testing out their skills on the local boar population, but as he watched his vision was blurred with the sudden blur of light and then he was in the mix of his fellow players and the sky had taken on a crimson hue that reminded him of fresh spilled blood. Seeing that brought long set aside memories to the surface and  a cold sweat broke out on his skin as he watched. The giant hooded form that claimed to be the games inventor and suddenly it was like being back in that hospital bed all over again, but inside of finding out he'd lost a limb instead he was finding out he was trapped in a world that would kill him out of nothing more than cold hearted spite. His heart siezed as it sank in that he would be trapped here while his body was left in the real world along with his work, and his family. What would his wife do when she came home to find him laid out on the bed, the helmet plugged in, and unresponsive. He started to have a moment of panic set in as he thought of her coming home drunk and pulling the helmet off not realizing she would kill him in the process. Looking around he saw many people having the same reactions, some pulling themselves together, or Simply not reacting at all. Swallowing the lump in his throat he willed himself to remain calm and pushed back the panic and despair. Slowly he pushed his way through the crowd and found a bench to sit on and take stock of his situation. Rubbing his temples he wrestled down the dark emotions that were welling up with the knowledge of his imprisonment, but something props itself up in the darkest corner of his mind. Breathing slowly his panic is pushed down and is replaced by something steely and uncompromising in it's desire to survive in this place.

Edited March 4, 2017 by Izzrikl

[Izzrikl 0]

 Standing with renewed purpose and his boots soles resounded like gun shots on the cobbles as he strode towards the gates of the Town of Beginnings and the out lying fields with their spawning monsters. As far as he was concerned with this game the only way to survive was to fight his way forward and take on progressively harder monsters and level up. Pulling his two handed spear from his back and went hunting for boars. Scanning the fields were teaming with players fighting in desperation or in earnest with the same idea he had. Tightening his grip his peripheral was lit with a flash of light and the hairy pig gave a snort and shook it's tucked head in growing rage. His breathing spiking as adrenalin flooded his system and his fingers gripped the wooden haft of his spear, the boar's health bar blossomed into life and his leg muscles flexed driving him toward his target, and the spear lancing forward.

78256

BD-3 

CD-2

LD-14

Mob-6 

Izzrikl 14/20  Boar 15/15

 

 

Edited February 27, 2017 by Izzrikl
Correction to posting

[Izzrikl 0]

Grunting as his spear lanced forward and glanced off the boars tusk and then jerked back as it's attack bashed into his hip knocking him off balance slightly and setting up for another go. His combat healing pulsing to life and the red slash that had blossomed across his lower half pushing it from almost the size of his hand to a few inches wide. Leveling the spear for a fresh thrust he cleared his head and pushed forward to drive the iron spear tip towards the boars eye. Putting the starting skill points into the Combat healing was paying for itself now as it ensured he wouldn't die right a way because this thing was hitting him harder than he was hitting it. Surprising enough each attack didn't actually hurt, but the startle factor was defiantly something he had to coup with. 

78257

BD-9
Mob-10
Izzrikl 11/20 Boar 11/15

 

 

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

Lifting the length of the spear enough that's edge carved a red crease along the boars length and filling the air with the shimmer of crimson sparks. His lips peeling back in the beginning of a smile which turned into a grimace as the boars tusks smashed into his abdomen pushing him onto his back. Rolling with the momentum he came up in a crouch narrowing his eyes as he leveled his spear for another attack. Health bar flicking in the orange before surging back into the green by the slimiest of margins. They circled taking each others measure before rushing in again.

78258

BD-10
Mob-5
Izzrikl 16/20 Boar 7/15

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

Releasing a deep breath as the boar charged him and without conscious thought he stepped to the side and pressed the tip of his spear into the boars flank and an angry red rift opened in the creatures digital flesh like cutting open a rare steak. It gave a wounded squeal as it pulled off the broad blade of the spear, looking at him with baleful red eyes and gave a snort pawing the earth as it lunged at him for another pass. Hearing it was like hearing a piece of steel bend and his mind flickered to a memory of fire and pain the same squeal that took his leg and laid him up for several months. Panic and stoic resolve warred as he made to attack the boar once more.

78259

BD-4
Mob-8
Izzrikl-14/20 Boar 7/15

 

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

Lunging forward with his spear and he thought he had this fight in the bag until the infernal beast reared back and hit front hove smashed into his thigh as he stumbled past digging a divet in the earth with his spear tip. Gritting his teeth as he felt the surge of his skill kick in and bring him back into the green. With the boar's health bar flashing into the red and showing him the light at the end of the tunnel as he thrust his weapon forward for another push. With this much on the line he pushed away the war torn memories in order to focus on the task at hand. Breathing deeply and slowing the thundering of his heart as more adrenaline flooded his blood pushing forward the fight or flight response.

78264

BD-6
Mob-1
Izzrikl 19/20 Boar 4/15

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

His spear tip flashed around and carved a thin line of red along the boars shoulder knocking it aside in its head long charge. It's hooves leaving the ground and rolling over before it slowly started getting to its hooves as if the damage was causing it to suffer from the lose of blood. Lifting his weapon in solid grips he pushed forward eager to finish this fight and earn some experience. His spear punching into it's throat and pinning it in place as it struggled red sparks erupting around his spear tip. Holding the haft in a white knuckled grip as the boars body glowed white and burst into a mote of crystal shards. Closing his eyes he inhaled through his nose and out through his mouth. his body wasn't really here, but he was all to familiar with the after effects of combat, and the riot the chemical cocktail would have been running through his body.

78265

BD-9
Mob-1
Izzrikl 20/20 Boar 0/15

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

Pulling the spear tip from the ground and looked over at the loot screen and studied it. He sighed with some measure of frustration at the drop and passed his hand over the acceptance key and the loot dropped into his bag. compared to other MMO's he'd played the system was right on par with the likelihood of dropping anything you could use. Adding insult to the low levels his digital wallet filled with the games equivalent currency. Unfortunately if he was remembering the few shop signs this wasn't even gonna cut it for purchasing anything of use for out here. Hopefully with the next encounter he could pull something new out of the next monster.

 
78266
Loot-15
CD-11
Col-45

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

With the last flicker of the loot screen he looked about and saw more boars glimmer into existence and puffed slightly as his mind accelerated. This was a combat zone and there was no real time to dwell on how much danger he could find himself in should he over extend himself wading into the surrounding monster. Looking at his spear he locked down the darker thoughts and focused on getting on with killing these beasts. Waiting for another boar to separate from the group he engaged spiking his spear forward. Letting out a deep bellow as he attacked psyching himself up for the fight a head.

78315

BD-4

Mob-2

Izzrikl 20/20  Boar 15/15

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

His intial thrust was off center and they passed each other without touching. He almost laughed at the obsurd notion that the boar was toying with him as it came back around and again he brought the two handed spear to bear in line with it's bulk. It wasn't the M4 Assault rifle he had used so often when traveling across deserts and foreign towns of stone and bustling people. Still it wasn't hard to use the weapon just stick the sharp tip in the creature until it died.

78316

BD-9

Mob-6

Izzrikl 14/20  Boar 11/15

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

Teeth clenching he felt the tusks pass tearing a red slash across his thigh, but his attack had done more damage leaving a trail of scarlet as they squared off again. His health flicked and recovered as he hefted his weapon. Gloves tightening around the long length of the spear as he held it almost like it was an extension of his body. Strange that he could use this archaic weapon so easily even through there was nothing extraordinary he could do with the weapon...yet.

78317

BD-9

Mob-7

Izzrikl 13/20 Boar 7/15

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

They crossed again Red blossoming in the air as they got in their respective attacks. He could see the damage taking its toll as his own flicked orange then filled back into the green by a bare margin. It was like being back in the hot zones again and this was just another fire fight. A deep chuckle bubbled up skating on the edge of madness. This was nothing like crouching in cover as bullets pelleted around him and explosions tore the stone works to rubble about him. No brothers to cover him or cry out in pain and fear as they were pinned down under enemy fire.

78318

BD-4

Mob-10

Izzrikl 10/20 Boar 7/15

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

The Boar got in under his spear and punched a tusk into his gut pushing his health into the yellow as his own spear missed. He fought down panic as he returned to his position and readied for another charge as his health bumped up again. Even with the moments blurring and lengthing he tried to keep his mind from slipping into tunnel vision. Focus was good, but ignoring all else was deadly and here was no exception. It would be to easy to side step into the agro range of a second Boar and his situation would tip from balance to disaster. His shoulders were tying a knot on his spine and neck and pulsing the beginning of a headache. An all too familiar feeling of stress tensing his body and threatening his resolve.

78319

BD-10

Mob-6

Izzrikl 9/20 Boar 2/15

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

Panting he gripped his spear with determination as he studied the boars traces of red wounds and knew this would be it's last charge. Each pass brought them closer to the conclusion of their dance and hopefully he would emerge victorious. Thoughts of his wife and his grown son and the grandson on the way steeled his nerves as the spear tip waived in a tight figure eight. Now would have been a good time to throw something of the magical variety at this thing, but he lamented the lack of magic in this game.

78320

BD-2

Mob-4

Izzrikl 14/20 Boar 2/15

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.

[Izzrikl 0]

Passing  again he spun gripped the spear with frustration as the they missed each other by narrow margins and then again his healt blazed into the green as  his combat healing surged once more. Perhaps this was why Kiaba had left magic out of the game. Leaving the player to rely on his weapon and skill with it to grind and struggle made for an effective tool to weed out anyone who's will could be broken. That thought was enough to make an eyebrow quirk as he turned it over like a new puzzle piece. Strange that he would simply entrap so many and yet force them to either stagnate or fight for one of two outcomes. 

78321

BD-5

Mob-5

Izzrikl 19/20 Boar 2/15

 

 

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl

[Izzrikl 0]

Facing this monster his spear caught the sun light as he prepared to come at the boat again. So far thrusts seem to be the best he could do with the weapon. Sweeping the spear tip seemed like a good way to over extend and leav himself open to attack. Gritting his teeth he forced himself back to focus on the Boar as it snorted and pawed the earth like it was a bull preparing to gore a foolish matador waiving a red cape. A snarl rumbled from his lips as he brought his anger to bear against the monster and thrust the spear forward.

78322

BD-8

Mob-7

Izzrikl 14/20 Boar 0/15

 

 

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl

[Izzrikl 0]

Thrusting the spear tip deep into the pigs flank he pushed it down and pushed on the long haft of the spear. A grunt escaped his lips as the boars hind leg lashed out in its rage and gouged his hip one last time. Gripping the highest portion of the spear he drove it in deeper causing the Boar or shimmer then it burst into shimmering particals. In its absence the spear punched into the earth giving him something to lean against as the monsters loot screen popped into view. Frowning he sighed in disappointment as nothing other than the col amount slid into view. Passing his hand over the acceptance icon and the currency dropped into his wallet bringing his total to ninety even. Not a bad haul so far, but far from adiquete for anything he might want to get in town.

78323

Loot-3

Craft-10

Col-45

Edited February 28, 2017 by Izzrikl

[Izzrikl 0]

Rolling his shoulders he tried to ease the tension in his shoulders and neck. Considering that this wasn't even his true body it was strange that he could still feel strain on his muscles. If he was to guess it must be his own mind making itself adapt to its surroundings. His brow crinkled at that and the unsettling idea of what that meant. Looking down at his left leg he lifted and lowered his boot as if it might vanish all together in the paradox between real and virtual. Of course he'd done the system calibration wearing the suedo leg prosthetic instead of the titanium carbon one he used so he could still run or jog while in his work attire. The conflict between elation of having his leg back and the thought that it was just a hollow promise made him shake his head. The porcine snort brought him around spear leveled. A boar shimmered into existence and cast a baleful glance his way. 

78404

BD-2

Mob-4

Izzrikl 20/20 Boar 15/15

[Izzrikl 0]

Caught off guard he barely hopped aside as the boars tusks racked the air. Panting his heart hammering as he adjusted his grip and felt the muscles tense up again. Almost as if on well oiled gears the spear tip came around and plunged like an arrow into the boars hindquarter and splashed a spray of crimson sparks. 

'At this rate,' He thought as the boars failed attack made it trip over its hooves 'I might start running combat scenarios in my sleep.' Backing and bracing for a renewed charge. His grit held true as he let the spear waivered slightly as he made ready to thrust the spears tip into the pig again like Ahab and the white whale.

 

78405

BD-8

Mob-5

Izzrikl 20/20 Boar 12/15

Edited March 1, 2017 by Izzrikl

[Izzrikl 0]

Another pass and squeal of anger was met with a thrust of the spear and anger turned to pain. Keeping his breathing steady he circled the unsteady Boar and kept the spear ready. This was starting off rather well as far as encounters went as far as he could tell. He'd kept his hair short, not core buzzed down, but enough to keep it well managed. He couldn't imagine fighting in heavy armor like this for this long with a heavy weapon. Right about now sweat would have been pouring and burning his eyes. Thinking this brought him back around to the idea of his leg and it being there regardless of having lost it in war time. He was in decent shape too for pushing pencils but he wasn't in his fighting prime anymore.

78409

BD-10

Mob-1

Izzrikl 20/20 Boar 7/15

 

Edited March 2, 2017 by Izzrikl
Separating and updating word count.