Kaiju Busters Online

Level 5: Red Player

Gomora gave a final roar before he collapsed on the ground, shaking the earth beneath it. I reloaded my sniper rifle and looked at the party status.

My health was red, Tyler was yellow, and Tomiko was orange. I used a health crystal and searched for my team, setting a waypoint where we can meet. I found them at the waypoint healing themselves.

"That was tough," Tyler sighed. "You weren't kidding when you said Gomora would have tough skin."

"Six bars of health with 300 points each," Tomiko sighed. "I'm surprised we didn't die."

A loud shot from a powerful rifle sounded from the North and a bullet impacted itself into Tyler's chest. He fell over, his hands covering the hole in his chest. Another shot and Tomiko dropped. I ducked behind cover and aimed toward the source. I saw a red crystal hovering over a hooded figure on top of the cliffs. It jumped down from the cliffs and landed ten meters from my position.

"Now that we're alone," the figure said. "We can talk about your problems."

The figure stepped into the light, revealing his features. Sky blue hair with piercing green eyes. He wore Super GUTS uniform and held a 3.0 caliber sniper rifle.

"Who are you and what do you want with me," I demanded.

He grinned devilishly. "I'm Hecate. Do you remember me from 7th grade?"

The name struck a nerve. Hecate Toriyaki. The first person to beat me unconscious for my way of life. He was ruthless, with not a drop of mercy in his beatings. He got arrested several times for breaking people's bones in fights or beat downs.

"Yeah," I drew my Scorpion. "I do."

"Good. I heard about your little secret kept between your small group. The nurse, your parents, Tyler, Tomiko. They all learned about your self harm. How? Did you show them?"

I took a step forward. "Why does my life interest you now? You're all the way in Kyoto!"

"Because I learned a new trick from a few Americans near my house." He pulled up a card with a red error sign on it. "This card doesn't exist in KBO. In fact, its illegal in every VRMMO worldwide."

"Why? Does it crash the game servers when used?"

His demonic smile grew worse as he dropped the card. It lit the sky in a purple light and my body became heavier.

"This card has the same script that made SAO the killing game it grew to be known as."

The truth about his words hit me hard and my heart sank. "IRLPK."

"Exactly. Real life player killing. My clan has invaded this server and are now killing players for their joy."

"Tomiko. You bastard! Why would you kill all these innocent players!?"

He drew up a handgun and pulled the trigger. A shot hit my shoulder and a surge of powerful pain hit me.

"I bet that hurts. Now I can truly rid your life from mine."

I fired my Scorpion at the ground and let the dust hide me. I boarded my plane and took off. I set fast travel coordinates to KBHQ to stop Hecate's clan from killing Tomiko and Tyler but a red notification popped up.

'Cannot fast travel when red players are nearby.'

As I finished reading, a hand with a knife appeared in front of me and I stopped the blade from piercing my heart. Hecate's voice spoke up from behind me.

"Why don't you just die? Afraid of harm now?"

"No... I can't... give up on my friends!"

I threw his arm aside and turned around. I kicked Hecate in the chest with a jaw slug follow up. He stumbled back but my sanity had already dropped. I rushed him and sent my fist into his stomach, then I slammed his head into my knee and into the metal walls surrounding us. Hecate coughed up blood but my mind was still lost in the void of adrenaline. I opened the back hatch of the ship and tossed him out. As he began to fall, screaming to his death, I pulled up my sniper rifle, took aim, and pulled the trigger. His body was torn in two and his health bar vanished. He exploded into countless red crystals and died.

As I turned toward the cockpit, I caught my reflection in the metallic wall of the ship where Hecate's blood stained. I saw myself with blood red eyes and a dark aura waving around me like a gentle flame. I stopped and stared at the reflection, fear of myself choking my heart.

What have I become?

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