Game On

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Keep Fighting

Repeating the name to himself over and over, Sean shrugged out absently. "Why is that name so familiar to me?" Jormungandr hinted at a smile, before telling him his deep tone of voice. "He is well known. He is the gold-king. Good luck to you." Nodding, Sean made his way back up to the house. He was so lost in thought that when Lulu called out his name, he hadn't heard it. Only when she slammed into his side did she chuckle up at him. "Where did you go?" Giving her a little shrug, he answered coolly. "Just went for a walk to clear my head." She eyed him suspiciously, but then took his hand and led him toward the house. She rattled on about her goat and leveling up her skills in fishing. It surprised Sean with how normal the conversation was. Even Bob and Wade shared stories from how they learned to use their races and weapons. It was like old times. They laughed and joked. They reminisced and after Mark took Lulu up to bed... they mourned Ethan.

It was hard to believe that he'd never see him again. He didn't want to believe it. He wanted to keep the hope that when this was over... he'd somehow be ok. That they all would be ok. After a few silent drinks to his memory, Bob broke the silence by asking them curiously. "So, this skeleton guy is after you because...?" Mark interjected to answer for him. "He claims to be hunting races. Sean is a Light Elf. They aren't common here. So, he's hunting him." Leaning back in his chair, Bob huffed out gruffly. "I don't understand people... That is just... stupid." Wade grunted in agreement before adding curtly. "Add that with the people killing each other over who plays games better than another... and... we have no chance of getting out of this game." Mark crossed his arms, scolding them lightly. "I refuse to believe that. You wanna go upstairs and tell Lulu that she will never see her parents again? That her future is to die here?" Raising a hand to calm him, Bob told Mark swiftly. "All we are saying is that if we have to rely on people to win this game. We are fucked."

Wade nodded, telling Mark in a low voice. "The beta testers never won the game. They didn't even get close, Mark. I was one of them. And we banned together to try and win it and still couldn't do it. How are we supposed to do it now? These bosses are harder than I remember them being in the beta test. These people are greedy and brutal. To a lot of them, this is still just a game." Bob slipped in after him by saying defeatedly. "For others... this is their life now. They won't risk it to be the ones that die so that others can live." Sean eyed them all, then asked with a weak shrug. "So, where do you fall in that logic? You wanna give up?" Bob sighed heavily, fixing his bearded beard before telling them honestly. "I'm not giving up. Nor do I want to fight this battle. I just... I don't see an outcome where we win this." Wade nodded, answering promptly. "I don't want to die for nothing. I have family that I want to see again." Sean locked eyes with them, before asking a bit sharply. "So, Ethan died for nothing?" The table was silent for a long time.

Straightening up, Sean told them all seriously. "I don't want to die either. I'd gladly just stay right here and live out this new life. But is that fair to players like Lulu? Players that just wanted to have a little fun. That can't win this game alone because they don't do this for a living. Beating games is what WE do. Don't we owe it to them and ourselves to get out of here?" Mark smirked to himself, mumbling out under his breath. "Those that have the ability to do something should... or be content in being guilty of standing idly by." Banging his hand on the table, Mark straightened up and told them with pride. "Damn it, I'm not going to stand idly by. I can fight. I'm going to fight. And if I die so that others can live... then at least they can't say that I didn't try to make things right." Sean shushed Mark a bit, glancing toward the stairs in the hopes that his loud noises didn't wake Lulu. Wade exhaled, then asked with a shrug. "Alright. So, what do we do?" Mark looked at Sean, taking his hand to draw his attention back to them.

Blushing a little, Sean cleared his throat and answered. "Grendel is the next boss. The reports are claiming that he is invincible... but I have a tip that says he isn't." Wade blinked, interjecting curiously. "Grendel? As in the monster thing that Beowulf fought naked?" As he said it, Sean felt the relief hit him as he expressed aloud. "That is why I know it! I knew I'd heard the name before." Bob snickered, but Mark groaned out wearily. "Well, isn't that a son of a bitch... How do we kill it? Flash it to death?" Wade curtly retorted rather seriously. "Actually, Beowulf wrestled its arm off, and it bled to death. Being naked was just him showing that you didn't need weapons to kill... an animal or beast. Why are you all staring like that? I've read things. I went to school." Bob chuckled, then said openly. "Ok. This Grendel. What is it?" Sean leaned on his arms, telling him a little excited. "That is unclear. Everyone has called him something different. Some say he is a deformed human. Others say he is a troll. Others claim he is an ogre. He is a beast in some versions and a demon in others."