Beyond the Virge

Chapter 1: Ready, Set, Go!

Kyle was up first and the katana. Wielding it, he wears a kimono with some shoulder armor and kneepads to complete the entire fit. His messy shaggy black hair was tied up into a bun and his mouth was covered by an oni mask.

Next was Jack. He picked up a claymore and his entire outfit and build changed. He was more muscular and buff. His armor reminded me of a Roman gladiator. He starred in heavy plated armor with shoulder pads. He had armor boots and heavy pants to complete his juggernaut-like build.

"Oh I like this indeed," he chuckles.

Ivy walked up and picked up a halberd and she turned into a heavy soldier as well. She wore heavy armor in black and silver. Her helmet was spiked on top with a foldable front side.

Picking up a pike and shield, Hunter became the leader of the team. He sports a commander's suit with ruffles on his shoulders under his armor and his blonde hair shines within the light of the palace windows.

Axel picked up a book.

"Why'd you pick up a book Axel?"

"I don't know...I felt a connection with it," he says as he opens the book. A bright light shines upon him and as it dims down, his armor appears. It was more like a bartender's outfit. As he looked within a mirror the guards proved he seemed angry. "Why the hell am I wearing this?"

"You sir, are an alchemist. You throw chemicals, buffs, heal, and debuffs on anyone."

"So I'm a support?" Axel says, getting a little angry. His fist was holding tight, but looking around at the guards made him loosen his grip.

Katsumi was next. Looking at the table of weapons, she ended up getting a staff. As it glows gold, she reappears wearing a short pink dress with a black and red uniform underneath.

"Ah yes, good choice Ms. Katsumi. The staff of healing," Elderon says. "With your power of the staff, you can heal anyone and anything. You have the power to heal even the dead."

"Woah..." Katsumi says.

Kiko walks up and picks up some sort of orb. It was made out of gold, but as it started to glow, parts of the orb appeared as it completed with shards orbiting around it and a sharp end at the bottom of the orb. Her outfit is all purple of lashes with a golden chest plate and scale-like ends that she can command on her own to extend to a far distance. All of her outfits match her long pink hair and some of it is wrapped around her head with a purple bow to hold everything together. As Kiko does a random hand motion, the orb follows her motion as a purple lighting bolt fills the area.

Yuki was next. As she walked to the table, she felt connected to a bag of kunai. Grabbing it she dropped to the floor. "Sister!" I say.

"Don't worry young Clover, she's fine," Elderon says.

As Yuki stood up, she started chuckling. She wore a thick yukata and her hair tied in a traditional Japanese manner. Yuki took one of the kunai and hit one of the pillars, but it was able to penetrate the pillar more than halfway through, she then did a tugging action that brought the kunai back to her.

"Now Clover, it is your turn. Choose the weapon that calls to you. Feel its power."

I close my eyes as I hover my hand around the table. Feeling a strong pull, I go towards it. It felt like a string, no, it was smaller and tighter. It was a wire. Opening my eyes, I see two gadgets in my arms. It takes the form of gloves and metallic fingertips with wire threads running through them, and it can be used in various ways to attack, defend against, or immobilize opponents.

"Ah yes. Clover, you have chosen "Haywire." One of the most significant weapons. Go to this dummy and try an attack."

The guards took out a hay bale dummy. Looking at my classmates, then my sister, and thinking of her kunai. Making a shape out of wire, I was able to make a kunai. When I threw it, it punctured the dummy, but I wasn't done. Opening my hand, the wires opened the back of the dummy and wrapped around it. Clenching my fist, the dummy was squeezed into tiny bits.

"Woah, that's insane," Hunter says.

"Good job Clover!" Yuki says, hugging me from behind.

"Hey, how come Clover gets a badass wire while I get a book!? It's unfair!" Axel says.

"Calm down young Axel," Elderon says.

"Cut the bullshit! I want answers!" Soldiers then surrounded him with rifles against his head. He looks around and pouts, saying nothing else.

"Since all of you are getting familiar with your weapons, I need to task all of you with your first mission."

Ms. Kasumi steps in front of Elderon, "What is it, your majesty?"

"There is a cavern within the barren lands of the Archotic lands. Be careful though. There are many armed monsters and the people are begging for help."

"Don't worry, we'll be on our way."

"Wait Ms. Kazumi," Elderan says.

"What's the problem?"

"You forgot that you too have a weapon," he chuckles.

On the table, there was a bow that was covered in black and red. The string looked like a thin flexible wire. Picking it up, she too was changed into a uniform. She sports a cut-up black dress with chest armor. Her black hair is tied into a bun.

"Woah..." she says.

About a month has passed and everyone has gotten stronger. Ms. Kazumi learned a few new skills along with the others of course, except me. Something felt off as I was training with the others. My weapon felt the same as always. No matter how much I learn, there was never anything new. Checking upon the skills bar, there were no special abilities nor special techniques. I checked my levels and I just barely leveled up. Everyone was around the 10s and some even in the 20s. Axel pushed me over about it of course. Yuki thankfully was supportive and has hope. We were now prepared to entire our first cavern.

"Now, you all must be on your way. I wish you luck."

Reaching the cavern, we wished each other good luck, but I felt a dirty look from Axel's direction. It's like he was planning something.

"Alright everyone," Hunter says, taking a deep breath in. "Let's go."

Going inside, we were greeted by many monsters of all sorts; goblins, skeletons, and some bigger enemies, but we had the teamwork to do it. Katsumi was doing a good job healing us as we attacked the constant monsters that dive into us. We soon reach a bridge area where we eventually get surrounded by enemies and the edge of the bridge behind us.

"Be careful everyone, don't fall and watch your back," Ms. Kazumi says.

As I made a goblin explode, I was at the edge of the bridge.

"Hey Clover, I got someone over here!" I hear Axel say. As I turned around, I felt a sharp pain in my chest as I was launched out of the bridge.

"Clover!" I hear someone scream my name.

As I fell lower into the cavern, I hit my head with a rock, knocking me out. Waking up, I felt no pain. I was inside of a pool of blue liquid. Drinking it, I felt stronger like some sort of mana potion, but I was hungry. After hours of walking, I found a high-level demon, but something fell off. Looking at Haywire, it was heavily damaged and it was unable to be used. Running for my life, I was able to hit it with some rocks until there was a small pile of rocks. Throwing one, I was able to kill the demon with the rocks; but his claw was far enough to scratch me in the eye. With no food and no choice, I decided to eat it. I did not want to die. I want to live and kill those that stand in my way.

"Graaaah!" I yell in pain. I felt my stomach turning inside out. I fall to my knees into a puddle of mana, passing out thinking that this might be the end.

"Clover Imaizumi...You are now part-demon..." A deep raspy voice says as I drift out of consciousness.