After what seemed like forever floating aimlessly, a light appeared in the distance. It started pulling me towards it, slowly at first but it sped up more and more the closer I got until I burst through it. My senses returned near instantly as I realized I was free falling at breakneck speed.
"What's going on?!"
Through the sound of the wind rushing past, I hear the shout of someone else.
"Emi, is that you?!"
"Jack! I'm behind you!"
After flailing around for a bit, I manage to get turned around.
"Jack, what happened, where are we?!"
"I think we made it!"
"Made it, what do you mean?!"
"It was a success, just look down!"
On the ground, which was still approaching too fast for comfort, there were beasts and monsters galore.
"We did it, we're here!"
"That's great Jack, but we're still falling!"
I glanced back to the ground then back to her.
"Hmm, so we are!"
"What do we do?!"
"Brace?"
"What?!"
"Brace!"
Soon after the words left my mouth, my breath followed suit. We hit the ground. Hard. But we were still alive.
"You okay?"
"I think so, what about you?"
I look myself over once.
"Nothing's broken and no bleeding so I'm good."
"That's good, I wouldn't know what to do if you got hurt."
"Really why?"
Emi suddenly got really flustered.
"U-um n-no reason r-really, it's just you have the most experience out of us, s-so it would be really bad if I were here alone, without you, just me, not you, why can't I stop talking please help!"
I walked over and placed a hand on her head.
"It's gonna be okay, just calm down."
She stopped rambling but now she's blushing even harder.
"That being said, we still have a lot of questions that need to be answered."
"Yeah."
Looking around it seems most of the monsters avoid this place.
"We seem safe enough here, so let's take a break and get our bearings."
"Ok"
We sat down on the ground face to face.
"First things first, our location. Where are we in relation to everything."
"I saw a castle town to the east when we were falling."
"Good, let's make getting there our first priority."
"What about the others?"
"Too many unknowns about them right now, we can't worry about them yet, we're still in danger, with no idea just how much danger we're in."
"What do you mean?"
"We don't know how strong the enemies are, how hostile they are, or, in the worst case scenario, what happens when our HP hits zero."
The color drains from Emi's face as I mention the last bit.
"What's wrong?"
"Remember the incident that happened a few years ago when the Full Dive system was publicly released?"
"Oh yeah, thousands of people died because their avatar lost all their HP. Why?"
"My sister was one of the casualties."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but I can't guarantee that isn't the case here too."
I stood up, stretched, and equipped my starting armor and weapons.
"Now then, let's see what we're up against shall we?"
I held my hand out to help her stand. She smiled, took my hand, and followed my example.
"If we're gonna do this then we can't just sit around."
"I like the attitude, but uh, let's not throw away your equipment this time, 'kay?"
"Right!"
After taking a few practice swings in the air, we approached the nearest enemy.
"Wild Boar, Level 3. 57HP and 10Def. That's all the info it shows, my Scan level is too low."
"How do you wanna do this?"
"Let's play it safe, I'll act as DPS and you tank it."
With a nod, she charged at it and bashed her shield against its back leg. A bold 2 appeared above the enemy's head.
The beast turned around and glared at Emi like a bull staring at a red cloth.
"Bring it!"
Not one to turn down a challenge, the Wild Boar charged straight into Emi, causing the number 17 to appear above her.
"You okay?!"
"Yeah, just a scratch."
Taking that as my cue, I charged with both daggers out, connecting in the same spot as Emi's shield.
"Thirteen damage, this might take a while."
Ripping my daggers out, I quickly jump back avoiding its tusks as it whipped around.
"Emi, aggro!"
"Right!"
She jumped into the air and came down sword first, landing o be boar's back. The beast writhes in agony as a 19 appears above it.
"Twenty three health left, let's end this!"
Charging up to the boar, I slash at it wildly with my daggers. 7,5,8, and finally 7.
The Wild Boar let's out a primal roar as it falls to the ground and dissolves. A screen appeared in its place.
