Ep14. Player vs. Player (2)
The speed at which players were arriving—logging in—was far faster than before. Sephirah and Hasselhoff had posted their lure about six minutes ago, and the capacity had increased three minutes prior. Unlike the past, when it had taken tens of minutes to fill just thirty slots, the 128 seemed on track to fill much quicker.
Player Capacity: 47/128
"Mister, how long did it take last time, anyway? There must've been something like this before, right? The other day."
"Even gathering fifteen took about ten minutes, I think."
Sephirah cut in. "The speed's totally different. If it's because my plan's working... that'd be awesome."
"If it works too well, that's a problem too. Suddenly 128 players all gathering here? Terrifying."
Claire fiddled anxiously with the hem of her robe, cycling through phrases in her mind and discarding them. They needed as many as possible for success, she'd worried they might not even hit thirty—how could she think that? Maybe thirty was the sensible limit they could handle. She had no idea these five were probably the most unusual group in the world.
"Sephirah, you set the traps, right?"
"Yeah. Half trigger on press, half on step. Spread 'em wide, but densest around here."
"You think players will fall for that decoy...?"
Click.
With the sensation of something overlaying his vision, Aiden activated Focus. In the world captured by Focus, the most striking element was red. The red marking threats revealed the shapes and structures of deadly traps lurking underground—right beneath the spot they'd fast-traveled to moments ago, primed for sacrifices.
"Players aren't always on high alert. They only start scrutinizing when something feels off."
"So as long as it doesn't catch the eye right away?"
"Exactly. Asked Loqi to handle it, and he made 'em invisible like a pro."
The unexpected answer piqued interest, but Loqi merely startled at his name before zoning out again. The boy might only grunt and sulk, but Sephirah didn't keep him around for nothing.
Player Capacity: 71/128
In the brief moment they'd spent talking, more players had trickled in. Sephirah jolted. "Whoa, everyone quiet now. Players could show any second."
"You talk the most..."
"Hey."
Shh. Sephirah pressed a finger to her lips at Loqi's grumble.
They could track the rising player count in real time, but not when—or where—they'd arrive. So they hunkered behind the rooftop railing, waiting for signs of life below.
Player Capacity: 88/128
The player count climbed irregularly but rapidly. Estimates varied on who'd been lured and how many, but no one was tense yet. They'd prepared. As long as they didn't overwhelm in numbers or strength, no panic. If none came at all, that would be panic—but it wouldn't.
Thud, thud.
Someone appeared silently, strolling the clearing. A few steps, a hop in place, then still. Young man. Head-to-toe pristine white armor, ornate sword hilt. Bland enough to defy description. The oddity: Aiden remembered seeing that armor days ago.
Encountered Player.
The UI confirmed his identity plainly.
Good. One to start.
The arrived player didn't scan around. No thought given to others nearby. Luckily, he missed their rooftop presence entirely. A stealth attack now would kill him before he knew what hit.
"Just one so far... grab him?"
Sephirah floated the idea, but Aiden nixed it. "Exactly because it's one, we stay put. What're you thinking?"
"No eyes on us. Clearing now would make it easier..."
"Not the plan. We wait till they're thick, remember?"
Hmm. Sephirah balanced her wand on one finger, pretending to mull. Anyone could see she had no real thoughts.
"Half capacity filled before the first guest. At this rate, others'll swarm right after—no chance of getting spotted."
Short deliberation, then Aiden: "Make it quick."
"No worries there."
Best to strike fast once permitted. Persuasion done, Sephirah peeked over the railing, arm extended. Wand in right hand.
"......"
The new player seemed incapable of casual chat too. Unaware of the game's changes, fresh into this run, just here to snap event pics and bounce. Suddenly gesturing at empty air mid-clearing—Aiden, the NPC, finally clocked it.
Manipulating his UI. Visible only to him.
UI was handy but obtrusive. Checking messages or stats was as blind as it got. Right now, even blatant spells would be a perfect ambush.
But Sephirah held, biding for the kill shot.
Clack.
Sound of donning gear from the player. Voices were intuitive—no "like," it was equipping.
Sephirah snapped her fingers at the sound, eyes locked.
Bang!!
Explosion from wand tip. Smoke billowed. Recoil flung her arm skyward, but her gaze never wavered.
Player Capacity: 92/128
Helmet off, vulnerability exposed. Splat.
Long black hair and skull burst by three spells.
Player Capacity: 91/128
Armored corpse toppled backward.
"Harsh."
"Done?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah! Kinda..."
Instant kill. Exploiting the known gap. Blood and chunks splattered wide.
Sephirah hadn't considered it an issue until now. "Uh, gotta clean that?"
"Honestly, I thought just the body..."
"Shut it."
"So you agree."
"Sorry..."
Sephirah turned away from Claire's glare, owning the admission.
From a player's view, just the corpse mattered. Hide bodies in closets or bushes in other games—no fuss over gore.
But opponents were players now. "...I'll clean quick."
Unforeseen slip, but handled fast. Hoisted corpse, short-range blinks to roof. Magic erased remnants.
Good?
Sephirah checked her work, satisfied, then pulled a potion from inventory and downed it. Short blinks to roof drained mana. Unlike Aiden, players couldn't fast-travel short-range. Three in a row meant three seconds recovery...
"Guhk...!"
Mid-timer, her position shifted. Mouth covered, no sound—but she scanned. The rooftop. Aiden had yanked her back.
"Quiet, Sephirah."
His face serious over his shoulder, body hidden from view. Minimizing noise.
Sephirah got it, peeled off the hand. "Players...?"
Nod. One finger out—peeked clearing—then three total.
Three at once.
When the first arrived unnoticed, he'd pulled her safe. Players oblivious, UI-gesturing like before. Then two more near-simultaneous.
Inevitable clash began.
"......?"
"......!"
The three froze, baffled. Abandoned Residence had monsters at dusk or night, but no humanoid NPCs. Overlapping events might spawn one, but they knew better. Gear screamed player, not NPC.
Panicking. Can't talk, as expected.
They sensed wrongness but held fire. No reason yet. Knew each other players from experience, but logic screamed impossibility—chaos.
How to act first-thing in a run? Only vigilance.
...Sephirah empathized.
Whoosh.
Players kept arriving: three to more. Others fast-traveled in around the standoff, faint sounds overlapping loud.
The skyrocketing count was no bluff.
"Sephirah, plan's a success."
"Eek."
Visible players: fifteen-plus. Some standard armor and weapons, others bizarre outfits and massive gear. All fresh bait-fish, clueless newbies.
"Alright, then..."
Sephirah signaled Loqi, off to the side. Even aggressive players would gawk tens of seconds at this impossible player meetup. Poor things who couldn't chat without NPCs...
"Blow it."
Firstcomer got his gift.
